rotten apple from a liuing tree What haue I gotten by my fall Darknes care miserie affliction sicknesse paine anguish and finallie dreadfull death And alas what shall I be hereafter A stinking carion woormes meate foode for fire dust and claie doong and forsaken rotten consumed blind poore and naked troden vnder the feete of my posteritie and forgotten of all men not knowing where my bodie is which shall vanish like a shadowe and my life shall wither like a leafe and fade as a flower O holie God the more our bodies doo increase the neerer death doth approch the clocke of our conscience doth ring euerie minute the houre of death to be at hand Death approcheth with his sharpe dart and bloudie chariot Awaie saith he to euerie liuing wight For what is he that shall not see death and come to nothing Oh vncertaine life but most assured death His net is cast ouer all flesh now I doo reioice then I lament now am I whole then sicknesse doth come now haue I friends then am I forsaken now at libertie soone after in bondage now yoong then age drawes neere And thus I neuer remaine in one state made light and proud in prosperitie desperate in aduersitie withered and old with care despised in pouertie flattered when I am in health and finally vncertaine when or where I shall die But yet I most humblie praie thee deere father for Iesu Christs sake which suffered a shamefull death for my sins to haue mercie vpon me according to thy great mercie and take not thy holie Ghost from me and lead me not into temptation but deliuer me for into thy hands I commend my soule O thou God of truth Amen An Hymne of the state of all Adams posteritie I Am the fruit of Adams hands through sin lockt in satans bands Destined to deth the child of ire a flaming brand of infernall fire Borne I was naked bare and spend my time in sorowe care And shall returne vnto the dust and be depriued of carnall lust Yet thou father didst Iesus send to pardon them that did offend We laud him in the work of might that we be blessed in his sight The second meditation of the dreadfull daie of iudgement O What feare and sorowe shall happen to the reprobates when they shall stand helpelesse before the terrible dreadfull throne of God to render accounts of all thoughts words works I saie the acts of the flesh and bloud in the extreame day when he shall come with fire and then all creatures in heauen earth and hell shall tremble at his presence Then shall all guiltie consciences be opened euils endlesse punished where that Iudge will not be corrupted That daie doth come that daie is at hand and where as pure harts shall be accepted and no bribes of vaine gifts shall be preferred but iustice without mercie vnto the vngodlie infernall torments to the wicked endlesse care and affliction to the idolater fornicator extortioner persecutour disobedient murtherer blasphemer theefe false witnesse bearer vsurer heretikes witches and malefactors and to all the vessels of reprobation Where as shall be heard wailing crieng lamenting and gnashing of teeth then they mourne that shall neuer die hell fire neuer bee quenched nor the Iudge intreated but the wicked still molested with dolor agonie dread and in his paine absent from God present with diuels monsters infernall This is the second death when both bodie and soule shall remaine in paine as long as God is which is euerlasting This daie is at hand when the elect and all the Saints Patriarchs Prophets Martyrs and all the blessed shall receiue their rewards not of themselues but onlie of Iesu before whom all the blessed shall kneele and cast off their crownes and giue honour to him that sits on the seate whose holie name is blessed of all tongues and kindreds Amen Amen This is the daie when all teares shall be wiped from the carefull eies of the seruants of God which shall neuer be molested nor of worldlings be afflicted but euerlastinglie glorified with the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost three persons and one God who of his mercie defend vs from damnation and that vnspeakeable paine which wee through sinne haue deserued euer to be punished withall but yet are through Iesus preserued by whome we are elected redeemed iustified and brought from sinne death and hell to whom be laud and praise in the world of worlds of Angels and men Amen The Hymne of the daie of iudgement SWéet Iesus of thy mercie our pitifull praiers heare That we may be on thy right hand when thou shalt appeare For thou shalt come with heauenlie power and sit on the throne None shall iudge the quicke and dead but thou Christ alone O Christ cast vs not awaie in that daie of ire When thou shalt send before thée a hot consuming fire To purge all creatures defild with Adams sinne Then a new heauen and earth O Lord thou wilt beginne Then the elect shall be blessed vpon thy holie hill But the wicked shall be damned that haue withstood thy will Thy shéepe shall be safe and defended in the fold The goats shall wander in hunger storme and cold Thy Saints shall behold thée in thy throne of light The reprobates shall euer haue fearefull things in sight Wailing in wretchednesse with euerlasting paine Yet Lord be mercifull our liues are but vaine Our flesh shall fade death hath digd our graue Yet of thy mercie Lord thy sinfull creature saue And blesse vs in the time of grace before the daie of ire When the corrupt elements shall be purgd with fire We laud thee Father c. A generall praier wherein we commend our selues and the whole state of Christs Church vnto GOD. O God thou Father and God of my life suffer me neither to haue a proud looke nor a proud thought turne awaie all voluptuousnesse from me let not the intisements of the world beguile me let not the concupiscence of the eie deceiue me let not the lusts of the flesh take hold vpon me let not rancor and malice reigne in my hart O Lord God for thy sonne our Sauiour Iesu Christs sake I beseech thee that thou wilt not giue me ouer to an vnshamefast and obstinate mind So be it Unto thee Lord almightie the King of mercie bée now and euer eternall honour glorie Unto thee the same Lord of mercie I doo commit my soule and bodie most humblie beseeching thee for thine abundant mercie sake to take the cure of me and to haue mercie on me I doo commit also vnto thy mercie my faithfull friends and well-willers liuing beseeching thee to forgiue vs all and to haue mercie vpon vs and giue vs grace to liue according to thy lawe and to the glorie of thy name that we may doo that which thou requirest of vs that it will please thee of thy mercie to saue and defend vs from all perils bodilie ghostlie this night
to destruction that we may be saued with those few that are appointed therevnto in Iesus Christ to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor praise and glorie for euermore Amen A thanks-giuing for the conuersion of an excommunicate person or other publike offender after penance WE thanke the mercie and goodnesse of our God through Iesus Christ our Lord for the conuersion patient penance doing of this our sister whereby she hath not so much endured the reproch and infamie of hir owne sinnes as in deede she hath confounded and ouercome Satan hir deadlie foe who went about to make hir his continuall slaue and by whose subtile sleights and euill suggestions she hath heretofore beene disobedient to thy holie lawes and wholsome admonitions of thy Church And now O Lord seeing that the spirit of our Lord Iesus Christ hath so farre preuailed in hir that she is returned to our societie let it please thee for the obedience of the same our Lord Iesus Christ so to accept hir that hir former disobedience and sinnes be neuer laid to hir charge but that she may increase in all goodnesse till Satan finallie be troden vnder hir feete and ours by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holie Spirit be all honor and glorie now and euer Amen Before the publike administration of the holie sacrament of Baptisme the better to call to mind our owne vow and promise made long since vnto God praie priuatelie to your selfe and saie O Most blessed fore-goer and guide of Christian people Iesu Christ who submitting and humbling thy selfe vouchsafedst to be baptised of Iohn in the riuer Iordan and wast not onlie baptised in water but also in blood and in the holie Ghost vouchsafe euen so to incline bow and dispose our outwarde life with our inward mind affects and desires in the fulfilling of all righteousnesse so that we being now mortified dead to the old Adam through thy holie witnesse of baptisme by the working and operation of the holie Ghost may alwaie haue our holy couenant in remembrance before our eies that couenaunt vow and promise I saie which we haue taken vpon vs in our baptisme to the intent that we as faithfull champions striuing against the world the flesh and the diuell may vanquish and ouercome them with all other which might be noifull and hurtfull vnto vs Amen Or giue thanks for our regeneration and sanctification as afterward in the praier vpon Whitsundaie Or praie thus for the spirituall washing awaie of thy sinnes HAue mercie on me O GOD according to thy great tendernesse of hart For in wickednesse borne I was and in sinnes my mother conceiued me so that of nature all that I am I am but sin This my confession of the truth I knowe well is right acceptable vnto thee wheras in the most part of others thou hast either hid the same or made it vnknowne Purge and sprinkle mee with the bloud of Iesus Christ thine vnspotted lambe If thou wash me I shall be as white as snowe wash me thoroughlie therfore from mine errours clense me not onlie of my sinnes passed but also of my whole life to come so shall I receiue these glad tidings into my hart that my sins be forgiuen me With the baptisme of spirit in the fire of thine illumination baptise me which is the might efficacie of baptisme which we receiued in our childhood Grant that the same spirit might alwaie conduct vs let this spirituall washing of baptisme continue with vs vntill the infection and vice which we haue by nature of old Adam be perfectlie taken awaie by the death of the flesh through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Or praie that the benefits of both the holie Sacraments may be applied vnto our soules health O Blessed Trinitie and eternall God of one essence giue grace that in euerie combate and especiallie at the point of death being mindfull of thy couenant made with vs at our Christening of thy most comfortable promise anexed He which beleeueth and is baptised shall bee saued we may neuer doubt either of thy mercifull good-will towards vs or of the free remission of our sinnes but by often remembring this signe and couenant may dailie more and more be confirmed in faith and hope of perpetuall happinesse and applie thy benefits which certainlie thou hast promised and faithfullie wilt performe vnto our selues For thy promises made to such as beleeue and trust in thee be not vaine and to no purpose Likewise vphold our soules by the Sacrament of thy Supper that strengthened with the seale of this new testament we may be the more certaine and confirmed touching our reconciliation and euerlasting righteousnesse alwaies beare it fixed in our minds For if the testament of a man which is prooued after the death of the Testator be not small accounted of much more should the last testament and holie Sacrament of our Sauiour Christ remaine pure and in continuall force and remembrance Or praie that we may rightlie and trulie receiue the blessed Sacraments O Most mercifull God and louing father who by thy son Iesus Christ hast abrogated the superfluous ceremonies of the Lawe and hast deliuered vs from the bondage thereof giuing vnto vs sure certaine seals and sacraments of thy grace and our free redemption through the most pretious bloud of thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ Grant O Lord we beseech thee that we may euermore vse them according to thy sonne our Sauiours institution who hath left them as pledges of his great loue towards mankind as continuall remembrances of his most pretious death which he suffered vpon the wood of the crosse for our redemption who by the fountaine of water hath regenerated vs and by his most pretious bloud hath purged vs. Make vs therefore to receiue these holie mysteries without corruption to vse them without alteration to continue them without superstition to the honour and glorie of thy most holie name through Iesu Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie now and for euer Amen After publike baptisme praie and giue thanks secretlie to yourselfe as time will serue saieng WE yeeld thee most hartie thanks O heauenlie Father for that it hath pleased thee to regenerate vs with the fountaine of water by faith in the bloud of thy sonne Iesus Christ and to purge vs from that originall sinne which we receiued of the old Eue. But who is able oh Lord to to giue thee sufficient praises Or who can expresse thy louing kindnesse and great mercies towards mankinde who hast not onlie redeemed him from the yoke of the lawe the bondage of hell and destruction of the diuell but also like a mercifull and louing father euen in our first entrance into this world washedst vs from iniquitie and hast giuen vs the Sacrament of Baptisme euen as a memoriall of our election in thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord whereby
to thy mercies in all euents purpose firmelie as I now doo euerie daie to amend my life Deliuer me my gratious God from all mortall sinne for euer and giue me grace to persecute my vices with sorowe during life And for the satisfaction of these and all my former sinnes as also for all thine ineffable benefits bestowed vpon me and all mankind I offer vnto thee the merits of thy bitter passion those most pretious drops of bloud thou sheddest for me and that inflamed charitie wherewith thou wholie resignedst thy selfe to all thy torments for my sake and in the vnion of this thine oblation on the crosse I offer vp my selfe soule bodie and all I haue of thine within or without me to thine honour and euerlasting glorie I retaine nothing to my selfe but giue all to thee whose it is and make that thine by my will which is thine of iustice Giue me thy grace O my God to liue better herafter and to confesse my sinnes in due time vnto thee Giue me true humilitie continuall repentance and grace both to knowe thee and also my selfe Giue me puritie of hart in all my dooings patience chastitie and perfect charitie Giue me a good life and a good death and in the dangerous houre of my departure the assistance of thy blessed Saints and Angels with whom I may through thy mercie in another world praise and glorifie thee euerlastinglie Amen The Hymne or praier to God the Father BLessed be God father of heauen Which hath strengthned his féeble flocke With stedfast faith and boldnesse euen To beare his crosse burden and yocke These are the last daies perillous Fréelie Christs Gospell to professe Come downe Lord shortlie to iudge vs And take vs from the heauinesse An Antheme WHosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued A praier to God the Father to be vsed before Euening praier O Mercifull Lord and louing Father without whose aid and motion I am not able to stir one member toward heauenlie seruice the burden of this slowe and sinfull flesh doth so ouercharge my weake soule According to thy fatherlie pitie looke vpon me O God and quicken my dull spirit with thy grace to rise out of this mirie puddle and to come before thy presence in humble repentance crauing thy mercie for my miserable sinnes and wickednesse that being released in the bloud and righteousnesse of Iesus Christ I may ioifullie serue honour and praise thine eternall Maiestie through thy deere sonne my mercifull Lord and redeemer to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all glorie and thanks for euer Amen The Hymne of our redemption by Christ. PRaised be God for his excéeding fauour Wich hath giuen vs his sonne to be our Sauiour We are sinners vnrighteous foolish and fleshlie Christ is our mercie-stoole righteousnesse wisdome verelie We are vncleane holden vnder the danger of deth sins exaction Christ is our holines our life our redemption and satisfaction Glorie be to thée O Lord borne of the vndefiled virgin Glorie be to the Father and to the holie Ghost our soules surgin So be it A forme of Priuate Euening praier Our Father which art in heauen c. COnuert vs our Sauiour and turne awaie thy wrath from vs. O God make speede to saue vs. O Lord make haste to helpe vs. Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the be c. Praise ye the Lord. Thanks be giuen vnto God The first Psalme at Euening praier BOw downe thine eare O Lord to my requests and suffer me to exhibit my supplication vp vnto thee For behold night and daie I trace and hunt after thee by all meanes I can To thee onelie earlie and late doo I still call and crie for mercie according as thou hast giuen mee in commandement For when I call to memorie the time of my life euill dispent I quake to thinke vpon thee yea and my spirit faileth me so sore am I afraid of thy iudgements Yet well pondering the processe of thy grace mercie promised me in Christ I cease to despaire knowing that thou O GOD hast not forgotten thy gifts of grace and that thy power to haue compassion is not waxen faint but that both thou canst and wilt put backe thy wrath most iustlie conceiued against me for my sinne In full trust whereof O Lord I come vnto thee beseeching thee to hide my life with Christ within thee and vnder the shadowes of thy wings to defend me that thy grace couenant may be with me euermore Turne not thy mercie from me O Lord nor bring me downe to destruction as I haue deserued but shew thy grace and fauour vnto me that I may liue and being exalted through thy righteousnesse praise thy name most ioifullie Remember my corrupt nature O Lord how short my life is and that thou madest not man for nothing No man can deliuer himselfe from death no man can saue his owne soule from hell thou onelie O Lord must do it namelie to such as beleeue in thee This life passeth as doth a dreame or grasse in the field which to daie is greene and to morrow drie If thou be displeased then we be lost if thou chafe then we shrinke for feare for through sinnes we be dead vnto thee with whome a thousand yeares be but as one daie yea as the least minute of an houre Certesse Lord if thou haue respect to our sins who shall continue Shew me therefore how manie be the daies of my life that I may dispend them wiselie to the praise of thy name least that I foolishlie trusting vpon long life suddenlie might perish come to death Come Lord now vnto vs and comfort vs. Come O God and hide not thy face from me that I be not like vnto those that be hurled into the pit of perdition And after this night of calamitie ouerpassed let the pleasant morning of comfort luckilie shine vpon me that betimes I may heare and feele thy goodnesse for in thee is all my trust Deliuer me this night from the snare of Sathans gard which hunt in the darke how to plucke me from thee Let me not stand in the feare of the night-euill of vnbeleefe and of thy strait iudgement neither let me be afraid of the fleeing arrowe in the daie time Let me not be in feare of that horrible pestilence creeping in through darkenesse I meane let me not be ignorant how detestable my sins be that I dissemble them not nor qualifie them Let me not dread that middaie diuell which abuseth thy Church vnder a title and pretence of holinesse neither let Sathan though he change himselfe into an Angel of light strike anie feare in me But both on the right side and on the left as well in the night as in the daie that is as well in aduersitie as prosperitie and as well in spirituall businesse as in corporall let thy holie Angels diligentlie wait vpon me that I do not stumble then
shall I tread vnderfoot that hellie dragon Yea so shall I of dutie be bound alwaie with couragious spirit to praise and hallowe thy name not onlie in the morrowe when all things shall chance to my harts desire to ascribe all to thy goodnesse without anie deseruing on my behalfe but also in the night of trouble and aduersitie when I shall call vnto mind thy most faithfull and trustie promises that I despaire not thus to praise thy meere and speciall grace and blesse thee saieng Blessed art thou O Lord God of our fathers for thou art praise and honour worthie and to be magnified for euer Blessed be the glorie of thy holie name for it is worthie to be praised aboue all to be magnified for euer Blessed art thou O father O Sonne and O holie Ghost for thou art worthie to be praised and aboue all to be magnified for euer Blessed be thou in the firmament of heauen for thou art praise-worthie for euer O giue thanks vnto the Lord all his creatures for he is kind-harted and mercifull yea his mercie endureth for euer Oh speake good of the Lord all ye works of his in all places of his dominion and let euerie thing that hath breath praise the Lord and giue him thanks for his mercie endureth for euer O that all men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare the wonders that he doth for the children of men Praise thou the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefits yea and all that is within me praise his holie name for his louing mercie and for his truth which endureth for euer worlds without end Amen Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the begin c. The second Psalme MY God my God remember me forsake me not suffer me not to be lost sith both night and daie I crie to thee heare me my Lord. Our father 's trusted in thee and thou helpedst them whensoeuer they called vpon thee at no tune thou failedst them but wast alwaies at hand to assist them Come foorth father most deerelie beloued in my hart restore me from Sathans kingdome Thou drewest me foorth of my mothers wombe and hast preserued me vnto this daie Of thy benignitie and mercie which I beseech thee denie me not at this my neede go not awaie from me for anguish and pensiuenesse of hart drawe nigh vnto me and yet is there none that can helpe me but thou onlie Let me escape from these dangers through thy Christ my sauiour who for my sake hath suffered so spitefull and bitter paines who for me was sore vexed cruellie scourged wounded nailed and hanged on the crosse Let me escape I saie for his bloud sake which he so largelie shed for vs to cause vs obteine forgiuenesse of our sinnes and enioie the new and euerlasting couenant made betwixt thee and vs. Stand not farre from me O Lord my refuge and strength come neere and helpe me deliuer my life from the sword and my soule from the wood dogs from the Lions iawes restore me betweene the hornes of the Unicornes heare thou me Then shall I blowe abroade thy name with all praises vnto my brethren and in the assemblie of the holie persons I shall commend thee Despise not the praiers of the poore turne not awaie thy face heare my crie for I will record this thy goodnesse among the miserable painefull and troublesome consciences that they thereof may take hart of comfort growe in hope cleaue more feruentlie vnto thee blowe abroade thy most glorious name and giue thee euerlasting thanks for their saluation Amen Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. The third Psalme OUT of the furthest angles of the earth on euerie side thou shalt with a mightie voice call men to iudgement Lord God omnipotent to whome nothing is hid Open our eares that we may heare this thy promise I shall be your God In thee constantlie beleeue we with thy foison we be filled Prudentlie thou dost declare and testifie that of our goods and sacrifices thou hast no need and doest not either regard or measure them for all be thine and in thee it lieth to make the things we now possesse to be ours or not ours Thou onlie requirest sacrifices of thanke sgiuing let vs therefore disclose the bottome of our harts to thee let vs knowledge thee to be our God Let vs halowe thy name in all things flowe in thy word render thanks both in weale and wo require thy succours in straits and necessities in which time thou hast promised to helpe vs then shall we so deliuered blase thy name Lord God most iust true of promise and deerest Father thee beseech I to send succours vnto me euen of thine infinite goodnesse For thy renowmes sake for Iesus Christs sake thy beloued sonne and for his pretious bloud largelie shed for vs on the crosse haue mercie vpon me so that once purged I may come againe in fauour with thee Pitie me heare me out of the straits of this sinfull flesh wherewith on euerie side I am hampered in Set me at large againe rid me from mine enimies which seeke to drawe me awaie from thy true seruice In thy comfort let me reioice and be full of spirituall ioie let me euer brute thy name not vnmindfull of thy benefits Releeue me most pitifull God according to thy word which is the truth Most tender father shew me that thy ioifull health Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the begin c. The fourth Psalme THy clemencie and blessing most mightie God we craue and require of thee full instantlie Let thy countenance shine vpon vs haue compassion vpon vs that here in earth wee may find out the waie which leadeth vnto thee and may attaine thy saluation among the Gentils O that all people would confesse thee with louing harts for thy manifold benefits and pleasures which they haue receiued at thy hands who dost with iustice gouerne men and art their leader vpon earth Powre downe Lord thy goodnesse and continuall blessings vpon vs and then shall the earth yeeld vnto thee glorie and praise and to vs fruits for meate Thou God the father blesse vs thou God the sonne blesse vs and thou God the holie Ghost blesse vs yea thou holie blessed and glorious Trinitie grant vs thy continuall blessing O that all the coasts of the earth Lord God would feare and stand in awe of thee Would God that we also might studie to worke no man either pleasure or displeasure that should be against thy will but that we may doo all things according to thy commandements Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the begin c. A contemplation and praier exclaming of the carefull passions of the soule and bodie WO is me carefull carcase and filthie defiled flesh conceiued and borne in sinne depriued of originall iustice compared to a beast in Adam fallen as a
Lord with the hyssope of true repentance and sorowfull contrition that being clensed in the most cleere fountaine of thy grace I may be whiter than snowe and also bee able euer hereafter to serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of liuing through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Wash your hands yee sinners and cleanse your harts ye wauering minded Isaias 4 verse 8. I will wash my hands in innocencie ô Lord and so will I go to thine altar Psal 26 verse 6. Or else praie thus HAue mercie vpon mee O God and pardon the wicked deeds which my hands haue committed Wash my soule with the holie fountaine or well which I beleeue did flow from thy hart and naked side and sanctifie and purifie not onlie my hands and face from filth but my hart soule and conscience also from all contagion of sinne and iniquitie that I may be pure both in bodie and soule and serue thee in holinesse and puritie all the daies of my life So be it Though I wash my selfe with snowe water and purge my hands most cleane yet shalt thou plunge me in the pit and mine owne cloths shall make mee filthie Iob. 9 verse 30. Meditations THinke now of thy vow and promise made to God at thy baptisme to forsake Sathan to renounce the world and to mortifie the flesh and how oft since thou hast broken it and be hartilie sorie therefore Thinke also vpon the vnspeakable loue and mercie of Christ our Sauiour who hath washed vs from our sins in his owne pretious bloud and purged our conscience from dead works to the end we should serue him in holinesse and innocencie of life And consider that it shall little auaile thée to haue washed thy selfe if thou touch filth againe that is if thou confesse thy faults and after commit them againe and so wich the dog returne to the vomit and with the washed sow to the wallowing in the mire againe ¶ When you be made readie first before all things looke that either by your selfe or with your familie with all humblenesse of mind you kneele downe by your bed-side in your parlour or other sweete cleane and conuenient place and there taking both time and leasure to serue the Lord lift vp your hart hands and eies and praie vnto his diuine Maiestie saieng in manner and forme following A premeditation or first forme of praier to be vsed before praier O Mercifull Lord and louing father without whose aid and motion I am not able to stir one member toward heauenlie seruice the burthen of this slowe and sinfull flesh doth so ouercharge my weak soule according vnto thy fatherlie pitie looke vpon me O God prepare my hart to praier and quicken my dull spirit with thy grace to rise out of this miserable puddle and to come before thy presence in humble repentance crauing thy mercie for my miserable sinnes and wickednesse and being released in the bloud and righteousnesse of Iesus Christ I may ioifullie serue honor and praise thine eternall Maiestie through thy deere sonne my mercifull Lord and redeemer to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all glorie and thanks for euer Amen Another meditation before praier VNto thee O heauenlie father doo I heere prostrate on my knees lift vp my hart my hands mine eies and praiers beseeching thy Maiestie and saieng Helpe me O my Lord and God in this my good purpose and holie worshipping or seruing of thee and grant vnto me to make a perfect entrance and beginning this present daie that I maie doo all things in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost For that which I haue hitherto done is nothing at all The Confession and Praier O Father of heauen O sonne of God redeemer of the world O holie Ghost three persons and one God haue mercie vpon me most wretched caitife and miserable sinner I haue offended both heauen and earth more than my tongue can expresse my sins are aboue all mens both in number and greatnesse which I haue committed Whither then may I go And whither should I flee To heauen I may be ashamed to lift vp my face and in earth I find no place of refuge or succour To thee therefore O Lord doo I runne to thee doo I humble my selfe saieng O Lord my God my sinnes be great and innumerable but yet haue mercie vpon me for thy great mercie The great mysterie that God became man was not wrought for little or few offences Thou didst not giue thy sonne O heauenlie father vnto death for small sinnes onlie but for all the greatest sinnes in the world so that the sinner returne vnto thee with his whole hart as I doo heere at this present Wherefore haue mercie on me O God whose propertie is alwaie to haue mercie wherefore haue mercie on me O Lord for thy great mercie I craue nothing O Lord for mine owne merits but for thy name sake that it may be halowed thereby and for thy deere sonne Iesus Christes sake and now therefore Our father of heauen halowed be thy name c. Another Confession and praier OH almightie euerlasting God and most gratious deere louing father I beseech thee for Iesus Christes sake thy most deere and onlie sonne to haue mercie pitie and compassion vpon me most vile wretched and miserable sinner whose innumerable offenses both old new be most horrible heinous and great where through I haue iustlie deserued thy greeuous wrath and euerlasting damnation But now good Lord heere I do appeale to thy great mercie onlie which far surmounteth all thy works as thou hast promised the same in thy holie and infallible word where thou hast said yea and sworne as trulie as thou liuest that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert and liue Ah deere Lord I confesse that I am a great and greeuous sinner and yet now by thy grace and good working of thy holie spirit something turned vnto thee Oh let me liue and not die the euerlasting death of the soule which I so deepelie haue deserued but make me a vessell of thy great mercie that I may liue and praise thy name among thy chosen children for euer Oh let not my horrible sinnes separate me from the sweet sight of thy Maiestie but let thy great power and mercie be magnified in me as it is in Dauid in Peter in Magdalen and in the notable Theefe which was crucified with Christ thy deere sonne in whose most pretious death and bloud-shedding onlie O Lord I put my whole trust and confidence For he onelie hath taken awaie the sinnes of the world he came not to condemne the world but to saue it that none that trulie beleeue in him should perish but haue life euerlasting He saith he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Oh gratious God giue me true earnest hartie and vnfeigned repentance that I may from the verie bottome of my hart continuallie lament my manifold
enimies to helpe thy weaknesse to possesse thee with peace and gladnesse to make thee thankfull to thy redeemer and carefull to lead a godlie conuersation and to comfort thee with their presence in weale and wo thou hast receiued his bodie I saie to indue thee with euerlasting righteousnesse to assure thee of perpetuall blisse and life eternall For with Christ by true faith art thou my soule quickened againe from death of sin to life of grace and in hope translated from corporall and euerlasting death to the euerlasting life of glorie in heauen where now from hencefoorth thy conuersation indeed should be and thy hart and desire alwaie fixed and set Doubt not therfore O my soule of the truth of this matter how great and high so euer these mysteries and things be For it becommeth thy God to doo no little deeds how impossible so euer they seeme to thee But praie to God hartilie that thou maist haue faith to perceiue these great mysteries that by faith thou maist certeinlie knowe and beleeue nothing to be impossible with God Onelie bring thou faith I saie to Christs holie word and Sacraments and thou shalt well feele and perceiue the benefits of Christ conteined therein to thy comfort Let thy repentance shew thy faith also let thy purpose of amendement and obedience of thy hart to Gods lawe hereafter declare thy true beleefe And now endeuour thy selfe O my soule to saie with S. Paule From hencefoorth my conuersation is in heauen from whence I looke for a Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ which shall change our vile bodies that they may be made and fashioned like to his glorious bodie which he shall doo by the same power whereby he rose againe from death and wherby he shall be able to subdue all things vnto himselfe For else what shall it auaile thee O my soule to bee escaped and deliuered from the filthinesse of the world through the knowledge of thy Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ if thou be intangled againe therewith and be thereby ouercome againe Certeinlie it had beene better neuer to haue knowne the waie of righteousnesse than after it is knowne and receiued to turne back-ward againe from the holie and most righteous commandements of God giuen vnto thee so shall the prouerbe be verified of thee where it is said The dog is returned to his vomit againe and the sow that was washed to hir wallowing in the mire againe Oh what a shame were it for thee O my soule being thus so cleerelie and freelie washed from thy sinnes to returne to the filthinesse thereof againe What a great follie were it thus indued with righteousnesse to loose it againe Yea what wilfull madnesse were it to loose the inheritance that thou art now set in for the vile and transitorie pleasures of sinne Finallie what vnnaturall vnkindnesse should it be where thy Sauiour Christ of his meere mercie is come to thee to dwell within thee as thy ghest to driue him from thee and to banish him violentlie out of thee and in stead of him in whome is all grace and vertue to receiue the vngratious spirit of the diuell the founder of all vnrighteousnesse naughtinesse and mischiefe Oh my soule how canst thou find in thy hart I saie to shew such extreame vnkindnes to Christ Iesus which hath now so gentlie called thee to mercie offered and giuen himselfe vnto thee and is now entred into thee Yea how darest thou be so bold to renounce the presence of the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost for where one is there God all whole in Maiestie together with all his power wisedome and goodnesse is and fearest thou not the danger and perill of so traiterous a defiance and departure O my soule aduise thy selfe well what thou dooest consider the dignitie thou art now set in and how thou art therfore cleansed washed sanctified and renewed that thou shouldest from hencefoorth sinne no more but serue God in true holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of thy life that in the end thou maist reigne with him in euerlasting life If thou refuse so great grace whereto thou art called what other thing dooest thou than heape vp thy damnation more and more and so prouoke God to cast his heauie displeasure vpon thee and by his iust plagues to reuenge this thy mockage of his holie Sacraments in so great abusing of them Be verie warie and well aduised therefore I saie O my soule how from hencefoorth thou dooest behaue thy selfe and let not follie loose that thing which grace hath so pretiouslie offered and purchased Let not wilfulnesse and blindnesse put out so great light as is shewed vnto thee but applie thy selfe to liue in Christ that Christ may still liue in thee whose fauour and assistance if thou haue then hast thou euerlasting life alreadie within thee then can nothing hurt thee whatsoeuer is hitherto done amisse and committed Christ thou seest hath offered thee pardon and cleerelie receiued thee into his fauour againe in full suretie whereof thou hast him now presentlie inhabiting and dwelling within thee Onlie take good hart vnto thee shew thy selfe thankefull in thy life and determine with thy selfe to refuse auoid detest and abhorre all such things in thy conuersation as should offend the eies of his mercie Endeuour thy selfe now I saie O my soule that waie to rise vp againe which waie thou hast fallen into the pit or sinke of sin as if by thy tong thou hast offended now thereby rise againe and glorifie God therewithall accustome it to laud and praise the name of God as thou hast therewith dishonoured it And as thou hast hurt the good name of thy neighbour or otherwise hindered him so now intend to restore it to him againe for without restitution God accepteth not thy confession nor yet thy repentance It is not ynough to forsake euill except thou set thy courage to doo good By what occasion soeuer therfore thou hast offended I saie turne now the occasion vnto the honouring of God and profiting of thy neighbour True it is O my soule that sin is strong and affections vnrulie yea and hard it is to subdue and resist thy nature so corrupt and leauened with the sowre bitternesse of the poison which thou receiuedst by thé inheritance of thine old father Adam but yet neuerthelesse be of good cheere for Christ thy Sauiour hath ouercome the world and all other enimies for thee Sin shall not haue power ouer thee for thou art now vnder grace though thy power be weake yet Christ is risen againe to strengthen thee in the battell his holie spirit shall helpe thine infirmities In full trust therefore of this confidence O my soule take a good hart vnto thee I saie be of a good courage in the Lord and put vpon thee all the holie armour of God that thou maist stand fast against the enimies which would againe assault and subdue thee and bring thee againe into their thraldome slauerie and bondage
stirred vp thy goodnesse to displeasure Yet when thou sawest their tribulation and their lowlie submission vnto thee Thou diddest remember thy promise and by and by hadst pitie and compassion vpon them according to the multitude of thy mercies Haue mercie vpon me O Lord God omnipotent haue mercie vpon me for I am a miserable a wretched creature Make me whole I beseech thee whom thou hast striken for my sinne and iniquitie My soule is troubled greatlie and how long O Lord wilt thou not looke towards me How long wilt thou reiect my praier thus crieng out vnto thee Wilt thou heare me at no time How long wilt thou turne awaie thy face from me Where be thine old mercies O Lord whom thou hast stablished in thy truth Wilt thou now O Lord God cease to shew mercie Or wilt thou withdrawe thy goodnesse in displeasure Hast thou cast me awaie for euer that thou wilt neuer hereafter be pleased with me Thine hand is not weakened but it may helpe and thine eares be not stopped that they refuse to heare How long shall my mind be troubled with painfull and heauie thoughts How long shall sorowe torment mine hart How long shall mine enimie haue the vpper hand of me Looke towards me Lord GOD and heare my praier Giue light to mine eies for I haue slept too long in death and my sinnes haue preuailed against me Turne againe O Lord turne againe and deliuer my soule and saue me for thy great mercie sake Lo now is the accepted time now be the daies of health and grace In death who shall remember thee In hell who shall laud or praise thee He that liueth he that liueth shall praise thee and shall make thy mercie knowne Lord rebuke me not in thine anger nor punish me in thy great displeasure Cast not thy darts at me nor laie not thy heauie hand vpon me For I haue borne thine anger a long while of the cup of thy high displeasure I haue droonke verie deepe There is no health in my flesh for feare of thy displeasure I haue no peace nor rest when I behold my sinnes Mine iniquities be gone ouer mine head and like an heauie burden they dailie presse me downe The wounds in my soule doo fester and stinke euen through mine owne follie I am a wretch cast awaie from thy fauour and presence and go moorning all the daie long My soule is full of filthinesse and no part of mee is whole and sound Wherfore mine enimies doo persecute me the more the greatnes of my paine maketh me to rore and crie My heart fainteth and trembleth within me and my strength is gone awaie O Lord thou knowest my desire and thou seest my necessitie Forgiue me all my sinnes O Lord God almightie for thine owne sake and put out of thy sight my hainous offences for according to thy goodnesse thou hast promised forgiuenesse of sinnes to them that doo pennance Haue mercie on me Lord for the glorie and honour of thy name and be no longer displeased with me and then thou shalt surelie be knowne to be iust and true in thy words shalt ouercome when thou art iudged For by this thy great grace shall be knowne that thou takest mercie on them which haue not whereof they may glorie in thy sight And all the dwellers on the earth shall learne and knowe thy goodnesse when thou shalt confer and giue thy benefits to vs for thy great name sake and not after our euill waies and wicked deeds Uerelie Lord God except thou shew vnto vs thy manifold mercies the world shall not haue life nor they that dwell therein And if thou helpe vs not with thy goodnesse how may they which haue offended be raised vp from their sinnes Haue mercie on me O good Father haue mercie on me and for thy glorious name be no longer angrie with me Take me a sinner vnto thy mercie for the name of thy holie Sonne Iesu whome thou hast sent to be the obteiner of mercie for our sinnes through faith in his bloud Behold holie Father behold thy child whome thou hast chosen behold thy welbeloued Sonne in whome thy soule delighteth vpon whome thou hast put thy holie spirit and sent him to preach the Gospell to the poore to heale them which for their sinnes be sorowfull and contrite to comfort them that mourne to preach pardon to the prisoners and sight to the blind Behold thy little one which was borne for vs behold thy Sonne which is giuen to vs whome thou hast not spared but giuen to death for vs all to be a sweet offering and sacrifice to thee Uerelie he tooke vpon him in his bodie our infirmities and he bare our paines He was made weake for our sinnes and he was wounded for our offences The correction for our peace was laid vpon him and by y e strokes that he suffered our wounds were healed All we went astraie like sheepe euerie one followeth his owne waie and thou O Lord puttest on him our iniquitie striking him for the offences of thy people He gaue his bodie to be beaten and his cheekes to be stricken he turned not awaie his face from them that scorned him Through his loue and mercie he hath redeemed them that were lost and by his bloud shead on the crosse he hath pacified all things in heauen and earth He gaue himselfe to death and made his praiers for them which were offenders Looke O mercifull Father and consider who it is that thus did suffer and remember I beseech thee for whome he hath suffered For this is that innocent whome thou gauest to death for vs euen then when we were sinners and shall we not being now iustified by his bloud much rather be saued from wrath through him If we when we were yet enimies were reconciled to thee by the death of thy Sonne shall we not being reconciled much rather be saued by his life Behold that pure and immaculate Lambe which taketh awaie the sinnes of the world by whose pretious bloud we are redeemed from our iniquities Looke vpon that most meeke innocent which like a Lambe was led to his death and being most cruellie intreated once opened not his mouth Behold thine onlie Sonne whome although thou begattest of thine almightie power substance and nature yet thou wouldest he should be partaker of mine infirmitie Which being God in nature thought it no rauine to be equall with God but made himselfe lowe taking vpon him the shape of a seruant and comming in the similitude of sinfull flesh condemned sinne in the flesh submitting himselfe vnto thee O Father euen to the death of the crosse and there put out the hand-writing that was against vs conteined in the lawe written and taking it out of the waie fastned it to his crosse on the which he spoiled potestates and powers and made a shew of them openlie and triumphed ouer them in his owne person Turne the eies of thy Maiestie O Lord God and looke vpon
within booke or without and repent from the bottome of my hart the often omission of it in times past so I wish you good readers which christianlie haue consecrated and vowed to giue your selues to this holie exercise as the Lord I saie in mercie shall giue you grace leisure time and occasion and not suffer you to be tired with anie worldlie necessitie in the name and feare of God to obserue this or that order method forme or direction which he in his word dooth allow of or you knowe best will keepe you in the continuall faith feare and fauour of God For trust me if you will but a little together with me call these ten memorable things to your christian remembrance in this so holie an exercise First the commandements of almightie God himselfe whom in consideration of our owne great miserie and necessitie and common lacke of the christian congregation hath willed vs to call vpon him saieng Praie alwaies with all maner of praiers and supplications in the spirit and watch therevnto with all perseuerance Secondlie his most sweet and comfortable promises made gratiouslie both to heare and grant our godlie and lawfull requests saieng Aske and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall find knocke and it shall be opened vnto you for euerie one that calleth vpon the name of the Lord and departeth from iniquitie shall be saued c. Thirdlie our great and manifold sinnes whereof we are guiltie which will not suffer vs to sit still without care but briueth vs of necessitie to beg his most gratious pardon Fourthlie our feeble flesh and weake nature vnable in euerie respect to doo anie good thing which requireth continuall praier to aid and strength it Fiftlie the wilie subtiltie of our spirituall enimie sathan who priuilie lurketh in the inward parts waiting euen in our best actions to trip and ouerthrowe vs against whom we must by feruent praier vehementlie striue Sixtlie our owne greeuous assalts and cruell temptations which neuer giue vs truce rest nor quietnesse but hasten vs verie much vnto God for helpe Seuenthlie the zeale of the glorie of God and aduancement of his kingdome which ought wholie to drawe and moone vs continuallie to exercise our selues in the seruice of GOD. Eightlie the dailie dangers and continuall calamities that hourelie hang ouer our heads which giue vs all cause enough yea euen the most holie and that with sighs and grones continuallie to flie vnto God our heauenlie father and call vpon him by feruent praiers Ninthlie the infinite benefits and great blessings of God so bountifullie and plentifullie euerie waie powred continuallie vpon vs which giue vs both ample matter and iust occasion hourelie by thankesgiuing euen from the bottome of our harts to praise and magnifie him for the same Tenthlie and lastlie the great excellencie woorthinesse necessitie vertue fruit and profit of true and christian praier consisting partlie in the dignitie of God the commander and partlie in the effect of obteining of whatsoeuer we aske according to his will These things I saie good reader well considered I suppose you will saie here is nothing superfluous but all little enough to so needfull and profitable an exercise of our faith praier I meane as wherein the peace of conscience yea our whole saluation consisteth and whereby God himselfe is said to be present with vs not onelie by his prouidence to watch ouer vs but also by his power to susteine and succour vs and by his goodnesse and mercie to receiue vs into his fatherlie grace and fauour Yea I doubt not but you will willinglie confesse with me I saie that all sorts of deuout women haue great cause and that continuallie to take these lamps into their hands thereby either with vanished Hagar to acknowledge Gods graces towards them or with desolate Naomi to praie that God would blesse their children to be staies and staues of their age to their comfort or with heuie Hanna to powre out their harts before the Lord in teares for a sonne and for his mercie and fauour towards them or with wise Abigael by praier to preuent the mischeefes that hang as well ouer their heads as their families yea or with hir often on their knees to praie for the good prosperitie and preseruation of their gratious gouernour Queene ELIZABETH or with the church and faithfull soule of all christians to long for the kisses of the peace of Christ their spirituall spouse and neuer to cease daie nor night to seeke him whom their soule loueth till by praier and meditation they haue found him or with the wofull daughter of Sion to lament and mourne pitiouslie for their sinnes till their miseries be mitigated and they comforted or with sorrowfull Sara Tobit in fasting and teares to be deliuered from dailie reproches and slanderous roongs or wich vertuous Iudith in sack cloth and ashes to obteine strength and courage mightilie to destroie and ouercome proud Olophernes with all the huge host of his bloudie ruffians or with noble Queene Hester to proclaime a fast and call their virgins families and people together to praie daie and night to the hazarding of their owne liues also if need so require for their owne further preseruation and their peoples and subiects safetie and deliuerance out of the hands of cruell Haman and all his seditious conspirators or with chast and innocent Susanna to appeale to God the high iudge of iudges to be acquitted from a violeut death by false accusation and more vniust condeinuation or with the afflicted church in exile to acknowledge their sinnes and call for mercie to be deliuered from distresse or with the woman of Canaan to flie vnto Christ in all necessities to be releeued both bodilie and ghostlie or with our most gratious Souereigne Ladie Queene ELIZABETH to muse diuinelie of the inward loue of the soule towards Christ their spouse their Lord and father mother and brother or with the vertuous Ladie Queene KATHERINE to vewaile the ignorance of their blind life led in superstition and with hir also in all their troubles to stir vp their godlie minds patientlie to suffer all afflictions for the loue of euerlasting felicitie or with the right godlie Ladie Iane Dudley to endure the crosse to death most patientlie or with good Ladie Tirwit to exercise them selues morning and euening in fruitfull and godlie praiers psalmes hymnes and meditations or with the honourable Ladie Aburgauennie by the like to tread the path to paradise for the health of their soule or with holie Agnus and Eulalia the martyrs to triumph in the victorie of Christs death or with Anne Askew the marryr to praie hartilie for their enimies or with maister Bradfords mother to be petitioners vnto God for the constancie in faith to death of their children or with mistresse Dorcas Alarten carefullie to instruct their whole familie in the principall points of christian religion or with other graue and godlie matrones vnknowne to exhort others to mortification and holinesse of life
and to flie vnto God in all troubles for releefe as he hath commanded That so with the fiue foolish virgins it be neuer too late for them to crie Lord Lord open to vs but that to their comforts and the praise of God with Miriam they may euermore vpon their timbrels sing the song of Moses for their mightie and miraculous delinerance from sathan their spirituall Pharao and with Debora giue great thanks for the victorie got by our Iahel against Sicera and with holie Hannah reioise from the hart and praise God in the temple for the birth of their children and safe deliuerance and with the women of Israel triumph vpon timbrels for the famous victories of Dauids daughter our noble Queene ELIZABETH had against all hir enimies and with the spirituall spouse at the marriage daie sing the sweet song of songs to the glorie of the bridegroome Christ Iesus and with Sara Tobit blesse the name of God for their deliuerance from slanderous reproches and the einil spirit Asmodens that enimie of holie matrimonie and with holie Iudith highlie praise God for hir and hir peoples mightie preseruation out of the hands of their cruell enimies and with the blessed virgine Marie continuallie magnifie the Lord their Sauiour for their high exaltation and fauour with God with men and with angels and with our most gratious Queene ELIZABETH incessantlie to yeeld all possible praise and hartie thanks for their so often mightie and maruellous preseruation and deliuerance from so manie kinds of dangers yea deaths and destruction pretended by sathan and his bloudie ministers dailie against them Finallie that all godlie women taking hereby good occasion with these their holie foremothers continuallie to make their petitions for the preuenting of euils their supplications for the obteining of all things needfull for soule and bodie their intercessions as well for others as for themselues and their thanksgiuings for corporall and spiritual benefits receiued may shew themselues daughters woorthie such mothers virgins woorthie such lamps of perpetuall virginitie and women woorthie such ghostlie weapons of their right christian ministration to helpe their weakenesse praiers precepts and meditations I meane by following their vertues wiselie in the perfect feare of God by bearing the same in the hand of their harts carefullie in the due obedience of their prince and by fighting therewith in Golgatha the field of this spirituall warfare the good fight of faith couragiouslie in the pure loue of their countrie and christian charirie towards their neighbours and at the last in the world to come to the glorie of God their euerlasting comfort togither with the wise virgins and all the elect people of God ioifullie triumph ouer all weaknesse infirmitie and corruption yea ouer sinne death hell and damnation and saie Oh death where is thy sting Oh hell where is thy victorie But now if in wading so far in this argument of praier and in making this bolume so big ante shall thinke or saic that I by mine idlenesse and time thus spent am verie chargeable vnto them and considering the plentie of prater books more portable alreadie extant shall iudge me to haue taken a verie needlesse or bootlesse trauell or to haue laboured in vaine and spent my strength for nothing as he that would addestars to the skie or light a lampe at noone daie and therefore shall deeme me woorthie in their opinions to loose both Oleum operam Oh forgiue me this wrong I praie you and considering that I could not otherwise either satisfie my selfe to go forward in my determined purpose according to the prescript order of this collection or pleasure the simple reader with such plentie and varietie of profitable matter especiallie in so good paper and faire vsuall letter a thing to the aged and feeble sighted reader verie gratefull and much desired Let me intreate you whosoeuer you be to measure the same rather by the goodnesse of the contents of the which the godlie can neuer haue enough than by the bignesse or deerenesse of the volume which to the willing and desirous mind are euer best cheape So no doubt shall the pleasure and profit of the one at the least counteruaile if not far surmount the paine and charges of the other As for my selfe good reader who haue rudelie as you see vndertaken this great labour I protest I haue doone it neither of presumption as he that would vsurpe the office of a Diuine and intrude himselfe into the studies of other professions nor of arrogancie as he that would boast and make great brags of other mens labours nor of enuie as he that went about to make frustrate and insufficient the painfull and godlie works of better learned neither yet of ambition or vaineglorie as he that gaped after the praise and commendation of anie or that would faine seeme to be approoued and registred of anie Chronicler for an author or one that knoweth somewhat who in deed knowes nothing much lesse for all this deserues to be thought of aboue that which anie either of their owne knowledge or by true report doo or shall see in me knowe me to be or heare of me Therefore I saie good reader my iudgement howsoeuer it please others to iudge of me and of mine intent herein is I knowe with the Lord that formed me from the wombe to be his seruant for he is the eie witnesse of mine integritie and simple meaning herein I saie in whom my life is hid and to whom I am made manifest doo line and must die As for my worke so honourable for the verie authors so godlie for the matter so necessarie for the time so profitable for the persons so excellent for the vse and so conuenient to increase pietie and christianitie in the simpler sort howsoeuer otherwise with some carping heads and euill disposed readers with Aesops dog in the manger neuer giuen either to doo well themselues or to iudge rightlie and speake truth of others it is I am right well assured with my God who first put me in mind to take it in hand and in by and through whom onelie I confesse with humble and hartie thankesgiuing after manie a yeeres fore trauell in studie much sweet long watching and great expences I haue now at the length finished the same I trust to his glorie your profit and mine owne comfort Therefore leauing to all and euerie of the woorthie works of other godlie men or women howsoeuer here or elsewhere extant their particular vse in the church of God as they were published and to the honourable authors themselues their due deserued praise and perpetuall commendation to all posteritie with exhortation to all godlie christians reuerentlie willinglie and thankfullie to read receiue and imbrace the same as wherein to the better fulfilling of so heauenlie an exercise of our faith most agreeable to Gods good will and word is perfectlie supplied and accomplished by the rare gifts ornaments and graces of the holie Ghost in the
hide my fault from euerie bodie in giuing me againe the part of thy bed and also in shewing that the multitude of my sinnes are so hidden and ouercome by thy great victorie that thou wilt neuer remember them more so that now thou seest nothing in me but the graces gifts and vertues which it hath pleased thy free goodnesse to giue me O charitie most pretious I do see well that thy goodnesse doth consume my lewdnesse and maketh me a new godlie and ioifull creature The euill that was mine thou hast destroied and made me so perfect a creature that all the good a husband can do to his wife thou hast done it to me in giuing me a faithfull hope in thy promises Now haue I through thy good grace recouered the place of thy wife O happie and desired place O gratious bed O thou right honourable seate of peace rest from all warre high sleepe of honour separate from the earth Doest thou receiue this vnworthie creature giuing hir the scepter and crowne of thine Empire and glorious Realme Who did euer heare of such a storie as to raise vp one so high which of hir selfe was nothing and maketh of great valure which of it selfe was naught The fift Chapter Of the vnion of death and life in the faithfull soule by Christ ALas what is this For casting mine eies on high I see thy goodnes thine vnknowne grace and thy loue so incomprehensible that my sight is woonderfull in beholding thee but looking downeward I might see what I am and what I was willing to be Alas I do see in it the lewdenesse darkenesse and extreme deepenes of mine euils My death which by humblenes closeth mine eie the admirable goodnesse of thee and the vnspeakable euill which is in me thy right highnes pure maiestie my right fragill and mortall nature thy gifts goods beatitude my malice great vnkindnes O how good art thou vnto me and how vnking haue I bene vnto thee this that thou wilt and this that I pursue Which things considered causeth me to maruell how it pleaseth thee to ioine thy selfe to me seeing there is no comparison betweene vs both Thou art my God and I am thy worke thou my creator and I thy creature Now to speake brieflie though I cannot define what it is to be of thee yet know I my selfe to be the least thing that may be compared vnto thee O most happie loue Thou madest this agreement when thou didst ioine life death together but y e vnion hath made aliue death life dieng and life without end haue made our death a life Death hath giuen vnto life a quickning y t through death I being dead may receiue life and by death I am rauished with him which is aliue I liue in him otherwise of my self I am dead And as concerning bodelie death to me it is nothing but a comming out of prison death is to me life for through death I am aliue And as this mortall life filleth me full of care and sorowe so death yeeldeth me content O what a godlie thing is it to die that the soule may liue For in deliuering hir from this mortall death she is deliuered from the death miserable and matched with hir most mightie louer Is not then the soule blamelesse which faine would by to haue life Yes trulie and ought to call death hir welbeloued friend O sweet death pleasant sorowe mightie king deliuering from all wickednes O Lord those which trust in thee and in thy death are mortified by the hope they haue in thy passion Thus with a sweet sleepe dost thou put them out of that death which causeth manie to lament O how happie is the same sleepe vnto him which when he awaketh doth find through thy death life euerlasting For death is none other thing to a Christian man but a libertie or deliuerance from his mortall band and the death which is fearefull to the wicked is pleasant and acceptable to them that are good bicause that death through death is destroied Therefore my God if I were rightlie taught I should call death life the end of labour and beginning of euerlasting ioie For I knowe that long life doth let me from the sight of thee O death come and doe thine office on me that I may see my spouse or else sweet loue transforme me in thee and then shall I the better tarie the comming of death O sweet Lord let me die that I may liue with thee For there is none other that can deliuer me but thou onelie O my Sauiour through faith I am planted and ioined with thee O what vnion is this sith that through faith I am assured to thee and may call thee father brother sonne and husband O my father what paternitie O my brother what fraternitie O my child what delectation O my spouse what coniunction is this A father full of humilitie a brother hauing our similitude a sonne engendred through faith and loue a husband louing and releeuing in all extremitie But whom dost thou loue Alas it is she whom thou hast withdrawne from the snare wherin through malice she was bound and hast put hir in place name and office of a daughter sister mother and wife O my Sauiour it is a great sauour of sweetnesse right pleasant and delectable when a soule after the hearing of thy word shall cal thee without feare his father his brother child and spouse such a soule doubtlesse may continuallie burne in loue Is there anie loue vnlesse it be this maner of loue but it hath some euill condition Is there anie pleasure to be hereto compared Is there anie honour to this but may be accounted shame Yea is there anie profit equall to this Moreouer to conclude is there any thing that I could more earnestlie loue Alas no. For he that vnfeinedlie loueth God reputeth all these things wordlie of lesse valure than the dunghill Pleasure profit and honour of this world are all but vanitie and trifles vnto him which hath found God Such loue is so profitable honourable abundant in grace that I dare saie she onlie sufficeth the hart of a godlie soule and yeeldeth hir so constant that she neuer desireth or would haue other For whosoeuer hath God as he ought to be had accounteth all other things superfluous or vaine Now thanked be my Lord and my father through faith I haue gotten the same loue wherfore I ought to be satisfied and content Now haue I thee my father for defence of my want on foolishnes and my long youth Now haue I thee my brother for to succour my sorowes wherein I find no end Now haue I thee my sonne for my feeble age as an onlie staie Now haue I thee a true and faithfull husband for the satisfieng of my whole hart And now sith I haue thee I will and doo forsake all them that are in the world holding thee fast that thou maiest no more escape me Seeing now that I haue possessed
thee I will look vpon none other thing that might keepe me backe from the beholding of thy diuinitie Seeing that I doo heare thee I will heare nothing that letteth me from the fruition of thy voice Seeing that I may freelie talke with thee I will common with none other Seeing it pleaseth thee to put me so neere thee I will rather die than to touch anie other and seeing I serue thee I will serue none other Seeing that thou hast ioined thy hart with mine if it depart from thee let it be punished for euer For the departing from thy loue is harder than any damnation I doo not feare the paine of ten thousand hels as I doo feare the once loosing of thee Alas my God my Father and Creator doo not thou suffer that the enimie inuenter of all sinne haue anie power to make mee to loose thy presence For whosoeuer shall feele the losse of thy loue shall saie he would rather be bound for euer in hell than to feele the paine thereof one moment of time O my Sauiour doo thou not permit that euer I depart from thee againe but that it may please thee to put me in such a place that my soule through wantonnesse of sinne be neuer separated from thy loue The sixt Chapter Of the longing of the soule by death to feede with Christ IN this world I can not perfectlie haue this my desire which thing maketh mee feruentlie to desire the departing from this bodie of sinne not fearing death nor anie of hir instruments For what feare ought I to haue of my God which through loue offered himselfe and suffered death not of debt or dutie but onlie bicause he would for my sake vnder the power of mortall death Now is Iesus dead in whom we are all dead and through his death we all shall liue I meane those which through faith are partakers of his passion For euen as the death before the great mysterie of the crosse was hard to euerie man there was no man but was feared therewith considering the copulation of the bodie and the soule their order loue and agreement so were their sorowes extreme in departing of the one from the other But since it hath pleased the sweet Lambe to offer himselfe vpon the crosse his great loue hath kindled a fire within the hart so vehement that euerie true beleeuer esteemeth the passage of death but a plaie or pastime and so prouoketh other constantlie to die And euen as the feare of death doth retrograde vs so ought loue to giue vs a desire to die For if true loue be vnfainedlie within the hart of man he can feele none other thing bicause loue is so strong of it selfe that she keepeth all the room and putteth out all other desires suffering nothing there but God onlie For wheresoeuer true and perfect loue is there is remembred neither feare nor sorowe yet our owne pride to attaine honour causeth vs to seeke death by manie strange waies As if a man to haue his foolish pleasure putteth himselfe in ieopardie of life if a merchant to obtaine riches doth danger himselfe somtime for a small value if the theefe conceiuing of roberie or murther crueltie or deceit doth so blind a man that he doubteth nothing the danger of death neither yet misfortune when he seeketh to aduenge himselfe or doth any other euill if the furie of sicknesse or the rankenesse of melancholie causeth a man fiercelie to wish for death or oftentimes to drowne hang or kill themselues Such euils are sometimes so great that they cause their pained patient to choose death for libertie If it so be then that these paines full of euils and imperfections cause them not to feare the hazard of death but rather to thinke that death tarieth too long alas what ought true laudable loue to doo What ought the loue of the eternall creature to wish Should she stir a hart in such wise that she being maistered with such affections should feele none other thing in hir Alas yea For death is a pleasant thing to the soule which is in loue with God and esteemeth the passage easie thorough the which she commeth out of prison For the hard waie where through she commeth can be no let for hir to embrace hir husband O my Sauiour how good and pleasant is the same death through whom I shall haue the end of all sorowes by whom I shall enioie thy sight without impediment and be transformed into the likenesse of thy maiestie O death through thy force I trust to haue such honour as vpon my knees with crieng and weeping I dailie doo desire Therefore come quicklie and make an end of my sorowes O happie daughters right holie soules ioined to the citie Ierusalem open your eies and with pitie looke vpon my desolation I beseech you that for me and in my name ye doo shew vnto my deere and best beloued my God my friend my King how that euerie houre of the daie I doo languish for his presence O sweet death come vnto me and louinglie bring me vnto my Lord God O death where is now thy sting and dart Alas are they banished from mine eies Is not rigour changed into sweetnesse seeing that for my sake my friend did suffer vpon the crosse whose death doth so encourage me that death I wish to followe him The seuenth Chapter Of the trust the soule hath in the merits of hir Redeemer against the dread of hell and desperation SIth then that death is so pleasant to me that it pleaseth me more than it feareth me then ought I to feare nothing but onlie the right iudgement of GOD. My sinnes with his iust ballance shall be weied and all that I haue done openlie shall be shewed my thoughts and words shall be better knowne than they were written in a roll Wherefore I may not thinke that charitie would offend iustice and truth For certaine it is whosoeuer liueth vnfaithfullie shall be punished in euerlasting paine For God is iust and his iudgement righteous and all that he doth is perfect in all things What am I then considering mine owne righteousnesse A wretch and poore creature I knowe that all the works of iust men are so full of imperfection that afore God they are more filthie than mire or other vilenesse What will it be then concerning the sins which I haue committed whereof I feele the burden importable I can nothing else saie but that I haue woon by them damnation Is this the end Shall despaire then be the comfort of my great ignorance Alas my God no For the inuisible faith causeth me to beleeue that all things which are impossible to man are possible vnto thee so that thou doo conuert my worke which is nothing into some good worke of thine in me which is speciallie faith Then my Lord who shall condemne me Or what Iudge will damne me Sith that thou which art my Iudge art also my father my spouse and my refuge
Alas what father Such as doth neuer condemne his child but alwaies doth excuse and defend him Then I perceiue to haue none other excuser but Iesus Christ which is my spouse and my redeemer whose death hath restored me my lost inheritance For he made himselfe my man of lawe shewing his so worthie merits afore his father wherewith my great debt is so aboundantlie recompensed that in iudgement it is nothing O redeemer here is a great loue I find but few such men of lawe O sweete Iesus it is to thee that I am a debtor yet doest thou both praie and speake for me And moreouer when thou doest see that I am poore with the aboundance of thy goods thou doest paie my debts O incomprehensible sea of all goodnesse O my deare father doest thou vouchsafe to be my Iudge not willing the death of a sinner O Iesus Christ crucifier and sauiour of the soule friend aboue all friends thou being my man of law didst excuse and speake for me where thou couldst iustlie haue accused mee I feare no more therefore the crueltie of mine enimie for the lawe by thee is satisfied for all the paiment is so made by my sweete spouse that the lawe can aske nothing of me but it is paid by him For as I beleeue that he hath taken all my sinnes vpon him and hath giuen me in place of them his owne goodes in aboundance so O my Sauiour thou presenting thy vertues doest content the lawe And when she will reproch me of my sinnes thou doest shew hir how willinglie in thine owne flesh thou hast taken the discharge of them through the coniunction of our mariage Also vpon the Crosse through thy passion thou hast made satisfaction for it Morouer thine onlie charitie hath giuen me this that thou hast for me deserued Therefore seeing thy merite to be mine the lawe can aske nothing of me Now then will I feare no more the iudgement but with desire more than with perforce I will tarrie the time that I shall see my Iudge and heare a iust iudgement of him I knowe that thy iudgement is iust and that there is no fault therein though mine infidelitie is woorthie to suffer the cruelnesse of hell For if I do onlie consider my deseruing yet I can see nothing in it that can keepe me from the fire of hell For true it is that the torment of hell was prepared for the Diuell and his children So if anie man haue set his minde to be like to the Diuell by sensuall appetite then ought he as the Diuell to be paid with a like reward But if a man through contemplation of the soule do hold of thee his Angell of counsell vertue and perfection he is sure to obtaine heauen which is a place of thy deseruing for him then shall the wicked be punished with the same punishment which they ought to haue to whom they haue ioined themselues For sith they folowed Satan they must enioie such place as is for him and his Angels prepared Now I considering the diuersitie of both the sorts am little comforted in spirit by this For I cannot denie but that I am more like the Diuell than the Angell of light wherefore I feare and tremble For as the Angell is pure and perfect so am I vnpure and vnperfect and am nothing like vnto him But thus I confesse that to the other I am so like in my dooings and so accustomed in his waies that of his paine and torment I ought to be partaker For the cruell sinne which hath bound me in hell is so great and his force so strong that it letteth nothing to come from it neither feareth it the contrarie assault But he whose force lieth in this kind of strength knoweth not how his strength goeth awaie when a stronger than he commeth in place I could neuer yet see that anie man by merite or paines taking could euer yet vanquish that hell saue onlie he which did the great assault through his vnspeakable charitie when he humbled himselfe to the crosse whereby he hath vanquished and ouercome his enimie and robbed hell of his power so that now it hath no more force and strength to keepe that soule which putteth hir trust in God Then beleeuing in the great strength that my sauiour hath I do not set by hell and sinne For sinne can haue no hold of me vnles it be to shew how my God is mercifull strong mightie and a puissant vanquisher of all the euils within my hart If by sinnes forgiuenesse is the glorie of my most louing sauiour then ought I also to beleeue that my glorie is increased by his loue and that I am planted and graffed in him His honour onlie doth honour all his and his riches doo replenish euerie one with his goods Then death hell and sinne are ouercome by him O gluttonous hell where is thy defence Thou cruell villaine sinne where is thy tyrannous power O Death where is thy sting and victorie which are so much spoken of Instead of death thou death giuest me life and so doest thou contrarie to thy will Also thou sinne couetest to drawe each creature to damnation Thou giuest me a ladder to reach thereby that godlie Citie Ierusalem yet wouldst thou of thy cursed nature that mine eternall maker should loose his creature but through his loue and grace the sorie remembrance of thine vncomlinesse doth cause hir by repentance againe to come and submit hir selfe vnto God whose inestimable goodnesse causeth thee to loose thy whole labour which thou takest in hand For the number that thou pretendest to haue thou shalt not haue because that the comfortable shadowe of Christ his passion is such a mightie protection to the soule that he needeth neither to doubt death sinne nor hell Is there anie thing then that can pull me backe if God be willing through the gift of faith to drawe me to him I meane such a faith as we must needes haue to obtaine the high graces from aboue and also such a faith as through charitie doth ioine the humble seruant to his maker Now I being ioined vnto him ought to haue no feare of trauell paine nor sorowe For whosoeuer doth willinglie suffer anie maner of death paine or sorowe for the truth as Christ did he shall feele in such torment great comfort consolation for his soule knowing all this I my self am weake yet with God I am right strong Through his comfort I may do all things and his loue is so constant and permanent that it varieth not for anie worldlie thing Who can then withdrawe me from his grace Surelie the great height of heauen the depth of hell the breadth of the whole earth neither death nor sinne which dailie doth warre against me can separate me one minute from the great loue and charitie that my heauenlie father through Iesus Christ hath vnto me His goodnesse is such that he loueth me which hath not all times loued him and if I now loue
good and bad bitter and sweete ioie and sorrowe and for all things that shall befall vnto me hartilie to thanke thee Keepe me Lord from sinne and I shall then neither dread death nor hell O what thanks ought I to giue vnto thee which hast suffered the greeuous death of the crosse to deliuer me from my sinnes and to obtaine euerlasting life for me Thou gauest vs most perfect example of patience fulfilling and obeieng the will of thy father euen vnto the death Make me wretched sinner obedientlie to vse my selfe after thy will in althings and patientlie to beare the burden of this corruptible life For though this life be tedious and as an heauie burden to my soule yet neuerthelesse thorough thy grace and by example of thee it is now made much more easie and comfortable than it was before thine incarnation and passion Thy holie life is our waie to thee and by following of thee we walke to thee that art our head and Sauiour and yet except thou hadst gone before and shewed vs the waie to euerlasting life who would endeuor himselfe to followe thee Seeing we be yet so slowe and dull hauing the light of thy blessed example and holie doctrine to leade and direct vs. O Lord Iesu make that possible by grace that is to me impossible by nature Thou knowest well that I may litle suffer and that I am anon cast downe and ouerthrowne with a little aduersitie wherfore I beseech thee O Lord to strengthen me with thy spirit that I may willinglie suffer for thy sake all maner of trouble and affliction The second Chapter A confession of our infirmities with a desire to rest in God aboue all things LOrd I will knowledge vnto thee all mine vnrighteousnesse and I will confesse to thee all the vnstablenesse of my hart Oftentimes a verie little thing troubleth me sore and maketh mee dull and slowe to serue thee And sometime I purpose to stand stronglie but when a little trouble commeth it is to mee great anguish and greefe and of a right little thing riseth a greeuous temptation to mee Yea when I thinke my selfe to bee sure and strong and that as it seemeth I haue the vpper hand suddenlie I feele my selfe readie to fall with a little blast of temptation Behold therefore good Lord my weakenesse and consider my frailenesse best knowne to thee Haue mercie on me and deliuer me from all iniquitie and sinne that I bee not intangled therewith Oft times it greeueth mee sore and in a maner confoundeth mee that I am so vnstable so weake and so fraile in resisting sinfull motions Which although they drawe me not alwaie to consent yet neuerthelesse their assaults bee verie greeuous vnto mee And it is tedious to mee to liue in such battell albeit I perceiue that such battell is not vnprofitable vnto mee for thereby I knowe the better my selfe and mine owne infirmities and that I must seeke helpe onlie at thy hands O Lord God of Israel the louer of all faithfull soules vouchsafe to behold the labour and sorowe of mee thy poore creature Assist mee in all things with thy grace and so strengthen me with heauenlie strength that neither my cruell enimie the feend neither my wretched flesh which is not yet subiect to the spirit haue victorie or dominion ouer mee O what a life may this bee called where no trouble nor miserie lacketh Where euerie place is full of snares of mortall enimies For one trouble or temptation ouerpassed another commeth by and by and the first conflict yet during a new battell suddenlie ariseth Wherefore Lord Iesu I praie thee giue me thy grace to rest in thee aboue all things and to quiet mee in thee aboue all creatures aboue all glorie and honour aboue all dignitie and power aboue all cunning and policie aboue all health and beautie aboue all riches and treasure aboue all ioie and pleasure aboue all fame and praise aboue all mirth and consolation that mans hart may take or feele besides thee For thou Lord God art best most wise most high most mightie most sufficient and most full of all goodnesse most sweet and most comfortable most faire most louing most noble most glorious in whom all goodnes most perfectlie is And therefore whatsoeuer I haue besides thee it is nothing to mee For my hart may not rest ne fullie bee pacified but onlie in thee O Lord Iesu most louing spouse who shall giue mee wings of perfect loue that I may flie vp from these worldlie miseries and rest in thee O when shall I ascend to thee and feele how sweet thou art When shall I wholie gather my selfe in thee so perfectlie that I shall not for thy loue feele my selfe but thee onlie aboue my selfe aboue all worldlie things that thou maist vouchsafe to visit mee in such wise as thou dooest visit thy most faithfull louers Now I often mourne and complaine of the miseries of this life and with sorowe and great heauinesse suffer them For manie things happen dailie to mee which oftentimes trouble mee make mee heauie and darken mine vnderstanding They hinder mee greatlie and put my mind from thee and so encumber me manie waies that I can not freelie and cleerelie desire thee ne haue thy sweet consolations which with thy blessed Saints be alwaie present I beseech thee Lord Iesu that the sighings and inward desires of my hart may moue and incline thee to heare mee The third Chapter A recounting of Gods benefits with praier to obtaine a free and cleane mind with hartie wisdome and deliuerance OIesu King of euerlasting glorie the ioie and comfort of all Christian people that are wandering as Pilgrims in the wildernes of this world my hart crieth to thee by still desires and my silence speaketh vnto thee and saith How long tarieth my Lord God to come to mee Come O Lord and visit mee for without thee I haue no true ioie without thee my soule is heauie and sad I am in prison and bounden with fetters of sorowe till thou O Lord with thy gratious presence vouchsafe to visit me and to bring me againe to libertie and ioie of spirit and to shew thy fauourable countenance vnto me Open my hart Lord that I may behold thy lawes and teach me to walke in thy commandements Make me to knowe and folowe thy will and to haue alwaies in my remembrance thy manifold benefits that I may yeeld due thanks to thee for the same But I knowledge and confesse for truth that I am not able to giue thee condigne thanks for the least benefit that thou hast giuen me O Lord all gifts and vertues that anie man hath in bodie or soule naturall or supernaturall be thy gifts and come of thee and not of our selues and they declare the great riches of thy mercie and goodnesse vnto vs. And though some haue mo gifts than other yet they all proceed from thee and without thee the least cannot be had O Lord I accompt it for a
and euer and especiallie all things that shall turne to thy displeasure And with all my hart I thanke thee most mercifull Lord for the great benefits that thou hast bestowed vpon me largelie in this world afore manie creatures which are more woorthie a thousand times than I but my most gratious Lord I wot and knowledge verelie that all good gifts doo come freelie from thee of thine abundant mercie Wherefore with all my hart I thanke thee and all worship praises and thanks be to thee and none other Therefore I saie with the Prophet Dauid Not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name be giuen all honour glorie Also I commit to thy mercie mine enimies persecutors and slanderers beseeching thee to turne their harts and to giue vs grace one to forgiue another from the verie botome of our harts that from hence-foorth we may liue in loue and charitie to thy glorie and to the increase of thy kingdome I doo commit to thy mercie our Queene Elizabeth and this Realme beseeching thee to incline hir hart to all godlinesse and vertue that she may long reigne ouer vs in peace and tranquillitie to liue in thy feare and call vpon thy holie name and to be readie at all times to set foorth thy blessed lawes and commandements and that thou O omnipotent God with thy mightie hand and stretched out arme wilt confound all Idolatrie and superstition and set vp thy true and holie religion that thy faithfull seruants may triumph and reioice in thee with merie harts and sing vnto thy praise that this the mightie hand of GOD hath brought to passe and to thy name giue the honour and glorie to whome all honour and glorie is due I doo commit vnto thy mercie all those that in this transitorie life be in sorowe sicknesse neede tribulation or anie other aduersitie and speciallie all those that for the profession of thy Gospell and the defence of the saine doo put their liues vnto the edge of the sword O Lord for thy mercies sake forgiue them and vs our offences past comfort them in their greeuous afflictions strengthen them in their weakenesse send them patience in their tribulations abate the pride of their and our enimies asswage the malice of them confound their wicked deuises that we and they being armed with thy mightie defence may be preserued euermore from perils to glorifie thee which art the onlie giuer of all victorie through y e merits of Christ So be it I commit to thy mercie all those that doo faithfullie professe thy holie Gospell beseeching thee to giue vs grace to liue according to thy lawes that by well dooing we may stop the mouthes of the vngodlie aduersaries of the Gospell and thereby win them to the right waie that we may all with one hart and one mouth glorifie thee O Lord God in the daie of visitation to whome all honour and glorie is due And now O my most mercifull Lord and louing father I finallie commit vnto thy mercie my wretched soule and bodie humblie beseeching thee to haue mercie vpon me according to thy great bountifull mercie and according to the multitude of thy tender compassions doo awaie I beseech thee my most greeuous iniquities Unto God the father the sonne and the holie Ghost be now and euer eternall honour and glorie world without end Amen A praier at night going to bed THe God of Angels and men the founder of all creatures visible and inuisible in whose hand is life and death light and darknesse and all the motions of soule and bodie without whome there is no good gift nor perfect quietnesse of conscience but onlie vanitie and vexation of mind and vtter confusion of soule and bodie and finall torments in the horrible pit of darknesse now my Lord God darknesse doth approch this daie hath lost his beautie I as vnworthie of thy benefits most humblie praie thee this night to blesse me and with thy holie Angels assist me thy holie spirit this night lighten me which hast of earth made me and by thy creatures doest nourish me and with thy bloud hast consecrated me with thee to dwell eternallie in glorie when death hath dissolued me which am but vanitie c. And banish Sathan from me that neither mine owne conscience now vexe me nor mine old offences trouble me I most humblie beseech thee this night to pardon me which haue sore offended thee in thought word and deede against thy diuine maiestie which sore repenteth me Saue me good Lord this night sleeping from dreadfull dreames and painefull slumber deliuer me that I may awake in Christ and rest in peace So be it The Hymne or praier for night PRaise ye the Lord his seruants all lift vp to him your hands The night singers in Gods courts in all Christian lands Praise we the Lord our God king which made the earth heuen His blessing be on vs this night which made the planets seuen Into thy hands O Lord our God our soules we do commend This night from sinne Sathans power thy mercie vs defend We laud thee Father for thy grace We praise the Sonne which made vs free We thanke the holie Spirit for our solace Which is one God and persons three Amen Another Hymne or praier to be said when ye go to bed I Go to bed I hope to sléepe God knoweth when I shall rise My soule O Lord defend and kéep from it turne not thine eies This daie I haue committed sinne a hundred times and more I was conceiued and borne therein forgiue me Lord therefore To thée I will my soule betake sinfull it is to sée For I do knowe thou canst it make as pure as néede to bée Forgiue me mine offences all my soule Lord do not kill To thée I will betake my soule accept my zealous will Thy pardon Lord I trust to haue as Dauid had and mo My soule I trust thou wilt now saue from death damned wo. In thée O God I put my trust to guide and aide me still To kéepe me alwaies true and iust according to thy will Thou God of might great renowme I trust thou wilt me kéepe Lord with thy leaue I will lie downe to take my rest and sléepe So be it M. W. The Antheme WE looke for our sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ which shall change our vile bodie that it may be like to his glorious bodie according to the power whereby he is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe Amen Let vs praie Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. * Our Father which art in heauen c. VIsit we beseech thee O Lord this our dwelling and driue from it all the assaults of our enimie let thy holie Angels dwel in it which may keepe vs all this night in thy peace and euer let thy blessing be vpon vs. Grant this O most mercifull father for thy sonnes sake Iesus Christ who with thee and
the holie Ghost liueth and reigneth one God world without end Amen SAue vs O good Lord waking and keepe vs sleeping and be so mercifull to vs that with Christ we may wake and quietlie to rest in peace So be it The conclusion after Euening praier O Lord Iesu Christ that art in heauen perfect God and man heare my praiers haue mercie vpon me and praie vnto thy father for me Be thou my mercifull mediator vnto thy father that I might find mercie for my sinnes at all times and thy holie Angels to guide me this night and all the time and daies of my life and at the generall daie of iudgement that I may be partaker of that ioifull voice of thine saieng Come hither ye blessed and possesse euerlasting life Amen The Blessing GOD euen our owne GOD blesse vs and graunt vnto vs and all our faithfull and deere freends his continuall benediction and health Yea let thy mightie hand and outstretched arme O Lord be still my defence thy mercie and louing kindnesse in Iesu Christ thy deere sonne my saluation thy true and holie word my instruction thy grace and holie spirit my comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end So be it ¶ Certaine godlie sentences written by the Ladie E. T. Vse inuocation of Gods holie name Thinke vpon the needie once a daie The life to come forget not Further the iust sute of the poore Prefer Christ his kingdome Offend not in euill doing Set little by the iudgement of man but feare the iudgement of God Be at peace with all men Vse to be acquainted with the godlie Helpe to pacifie displeasure Hastilie iudge not anie bodie Kill anger with patience VVith pitie rebuke Make much of modestie Harbour a harmelesse hart Let no good deed Speake in season He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life In being well occupied thinke not long Lose as little time as ye may Be alwaies one Fauour the friendlesse Be not vnthankefull Trust not the world Deceiue none Rather take hurt than do anie Auenge not Let once be amended Fauour not flatterie Looke cheeflie on your selfe Do not forget your charge Let your mind be occupied well Vse pleasures after a meane Once you were not heere Awaie you must and turne to dust Finis ê™ E. T. The Praiers made by the right Honourable Ladie Frances Aburgauennie and committed at the houre of hir death to the right Worshipfull Ladie MARIE Fane hir onlie daughter as a Iewell of health for the soule and a perfect path to Paradise verie profitable to be used of euerie faithfull Christian man and woman A fruitfull praier to be said in the Morning AL mightie God and most mercifull father the fountaine of all felicitie from whom onelie proceedeth all good gifts most humblie I beseech thee of thine abundant mercie exceeding kindnesse so to direct and gouern me this daie and euer with thy good guiding Spirit that all my thoughts words and deeds may onelie be occupied in thy seruice faith feare and loue and so assist and strengthen me with thy grace O most mercifull and louing father for thy sonne Iesus Christ his sake that neither sinne death hell nor Sathan haue the dominion and vpper hand of me Indue my hart with the true vnderstanding of thy true and liuelie word that I may be readie and prone manfullie to fight vnder the standard of my glorious captaine Iesus Christ against the world the flesh and that cruell Serpent the old Leuiathan which hunteth continuallie like a roring Lion seeking the vtter destruction of my soule Make me constant in time of temptation that when or at what time my rebelling and sinfull flesh shall intise me to lust after the pompes and vanities of this wicked world I may by a strong liuelie and vnspeakable faith through the bitter torments that my Sauiour Christ Iesus suffered for me and all that faithfullie beleeue and call vpon him so mortifie and subdue the old Adam that I may be dead and buried from sinne and all iniquitie and the new man Christ Iesus may continuallie dwell and reigne in me by whose meanes I shall be garnished and decked by the means of a fruitfull faith with immortalitie and heauenlie blessednesse Uouchsafe O Lord I beseech thee according to the multitude of thy mercies to looke vpon me and by thy celestiall prouidence so illuminate the eies of my soule that I may continuallie watch for the glorious comming of thine annointed son Iesus Christ Roote out O Lord in and from me the vile and corrupt branches of rapine deceit auarice luxurie concupiscence and all vngodlinesse let the motions of my mind altogether depend vpon thee prepare my tongue to publish thy praise let my lips be locked vp from all scurillitie and vncomlie talke let mine eares loath and abhor to heare thy glorious and blessed name blasphemed and thy truth to be by anie Sectarian ill spoken of slandered keepe and defend me vnder the wings of thy comfortable protection from all errours schismes and detestable heresies Make me without faining firmelie and constantlie to build vpon the truth wherein is perfectlie set forth thy great mercie and diuine iustice Let the zeale of thy promises in all distres be my chiefest ioie and consolation giue me grace from aboue that as I make my boast of thy mercies and louing kindnesse by vertue whereof I am by my Sauiour Christ Iesus quickened from death to life and in his deerest death and pretious bloud-shedding regenerated and borne anew not of water but of the spirit by faith So Lord I may with thine abundant loue shewed to me ward and the whole posteritie of Adam I may be afraid wilfullie or of a set purpose to transgresse thy commandements and so incur therby thy displeasure that the effects of thy iustice in the day of thy comming to iudgement be pronounced against me to the vtter destruction of bodie and soule Make me alwaies willing good Lord to heare thy word by the power wherof my faith is increased and there withall plant in me perfect loue and obedience and so direct my footesteps in this vale of miserie that I may tread the path that leadeth to thee with whom my soule thirsteth to rest euen as vehementlie as the Hart longeth after the water brookes Grant this O mercifull God for the honour and glorie of thy name sake Amen A fruitfull praier to be said at the going to bed of euerie Christian. MOst mercifull Father I most wretched and vnwoorthie sinner prostrate my selfe before the throne of thy heauenlie grace yeelding vnto thee most humble and hartie thanks that hast of thine exceeding loue and fauour preserued me this daie from all perill and danger humblie beseeching thy diuine Maiestie this night to preserue me for the loue of thine onlie sonne and my sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ mediatour and aduocate who continuallie pleadeth and maketh intercession to thee for me and all the rest of thy chosen children presenting his bloudie
What shall I do Whether shall I go I can not hide me from his sight How oft haue I trespassed against him How oft haue I deserued his displeasure And yet how seldome hath he punished me How oft hath he beene good and mercifull vnto me How oft haue I promised and vowed amendment and how little and seldome haue I performed it This is a wofull case Who will haue pitie on me I dare not lift vp mine eies towards heauen because I haue sinned against it and in earth I can looke for no refuge because I haue beene a slander and shame vnto it What then Should I despaire No God is mercifull and a good Sauiour he doth visit them that liue in darknes and is a cheerfull light to them that sit in the shadowe of death He willeth vs to forgiue our brother though he offend seuentie tunes yea infinitelie And God is more mercifull than anie man can be and he must be the onlie refuge and comfort he will not despise his creature the image of himselfe Returne thee therefore O my soule vnto thy Lord God praie to him humblie on thy knees for grace and continue to bewaile thy sinnes past because that he which loueth thee prouoketh thee dailie with his gratious gifts and blessings to loue him and will not leaue thee vntill he haue made perfect his worke begunne and brought his mercie to full effect in thee What naturall cause beginneth his worke and leaueth it in the halfe waie imperfect The vertue of seed sowne doth not cease till the fruit be brought to perfection yet that nature worketh not at once but first prepareth the matter and then disposeth and makes it fit to receiue the shape which is the perfection and end thereof And as by naturall order and right course things do proceede and increase by little and little from the lesse to the more euen so doth God first dispose vs to his mercie and then increasing his goodnesse dailie bestoweth on vs in the end the treasure of his grace and inheritance of euerlasting ioies What bird forsaketh hir yong till they be able to liue of themselues and yet no auaile for their paine commeth to them Uerie loue worketh in naturall causes to bring foorth their affects to perfection If it be so in creatures what will the Creator doo which is loue it selfe and infinite goodnesse he will withdrawe thee from thy sinnes make thee cleane and pure and finallie blesse thee with eternall life which he hath prepared for thee O Lord I come to thee sad and mourning I sit at thy feete humblie waiting for thy mercie Thou art my hope and helper according to thy great mercies haue mercie vpon me Amen A praier to be purged from sinne and vncleannesse TAke awaie from me O Lord the burden of my corruption which by the continuall exercise of my sinne and wickednesse hath wounded my soule wofullie with the dangerous darts of transgression so that I feele my putrifaction abounding and my festered conscience ouerladen with vncleannesse so that I haue no other meane nor remedie but to prostrate my selfe before the throne of thy glorious maiestie beseeching thee intirelie of thy gratious goodnesse to salue my sores with the comfortable oile of thy mercie Thou onlie O Iesu art the sweete Physition of my soule sprinkle vpon me hysope and I shall be made whiter than snowe If thou of thine exceeding bountie and fauour good Lord wilt vouchsafe to wash awaie the spots of my sinne and wickednesse that heapeth thine indignation and furie against me I shall then excell the gold that hath beene purified in the fornace seuen fold Let it therefore good Lord and mercifull father seeme pleasant vnto thy diuine maiestie to touch my corrupted and vncleane hart with the heauenlie finger of thy grace that I may bring foorth the fruits of true repentance which are more acceptable to thy glorious and diuine presence than the offering of calues bullockes sheepe goates or anie other burnt offerings or sacrifice of peace A contrite and sorowfull soule is the thing that thou doest most delight in An humble and a lowlie spirit is the oblation that thou dooest desire A cleane and pure hart O Lord my God I knowe thou dooest loue and fauour Wherefore I beseech thee to purge me from my sinne and inquitie of thy great mercie Let the bitter deploration of mine offences and hartie contrition through thy glorious merits and painefull passion O Iesu be the onlie meane and waie to set me free from the powers of hell death and damnation And sith I am by thy goodnes begotten and borne anew strengthen me good Lord that I neuer slide nor fall from thee but that I may continuallie beare in my remembrance the state wherevnto I am called by thee Through thine aboundant loue and kindnesse wipe awaie good Lord all my sins out of thy remembrance Cleanse me in the bloud of thy spotlesse Lambe Iesus Christ and I shall be made cleane pure and safe Graunt this most mercifull God for the honour and glorie of thy name sake through the bitter death of thy sonne Iesus Christ my onlie mediatour and aduocate to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be giuen all laud glorie power and praise for euer and euer Amen Another praier of the penitent for mercie O Lord I am a sinner my sinnes are heauie vpon me the burden of them is intollerable refresh me with thy grace wash awaie mine offences and I shall be whiter than the snowe Let the cheerefull beames of thy countenance shine vpon me and giue light to the darkenesse of my life We can looke for nothing as deserued but punishment due to our offences Wherefore good Lord not according to thy iustice but in the multitude of thy mercies deale with thy seruant Remember not the sinnes of my forefathers thinke not on the milde meanour of my youth passed haue pitie on thy creature which according to the likenesse of thy selfe thou hast made and shaped of earth How long wilt thou turne thy face awaie from me Forsake me not O my God but renew in me thy holie spirit Plucke awaie from me all that withdraweth me from thee Graffe in my hart thy grace that I may loue thee and feare thee and so finallie reioice in thy goodnesse with the elected and praise thee in thy woonderous works for euer Graunt this most mightie God for our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor and glorie for euer and euer Amen Another praier to be said of the sinfull soule MY sinfull life increasing and my sinnes still abounding good Lord to whome shall I flee or to whome shall I resort for succour From offending thee I can not cease neither daie nor night and my sinnes are heauie vpon me pressing me downe euen to hell such is the weight thereof Moreouer when I prepare my selfe to amendment of life and thinke stedfastlie to serue and please thee euen
soone after doth my corrupt and infected nature offend and displease thy diuine Maiestie so that I am prone and readie to run headlong into all kind of wickednesse and sin such is my strength such is my force or rather weakenesse in perfourming those things which thou requirest at my hands So that good Lord I am readie vtterlie to despaire and forsake thee vnlesse thou of thy great mercie and pitie send thine aide from aboue and powre into me thy most healthfull grace that I may make hast to flee vnto thee with most bitter teares a sorrowfull hart and bowing knees lamenting my sinfull life and greeuous offences committed against thee trusting most assuredlie and faithfullie in the merits of my Sauiour Iesus Christ that by his most bitter death bloud-shedding which is of far greater force vertue and effect in preseruing me than all my sinnes and offences are in condemning and casting me awaie for whose sake I most assuredlie beleeue all my sinnes and offences are cleerelie forgiuen and shall neuer be laid to my charge but that I shall enter with thee in the last daie into thine euerlasting kingdome there to be with thee for euermore to whome be all honour praise and glorie for euer and euer Amen A praier to God the father ALmightie God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ whome no desert merit or worthinesse of ours but thine owne great clemencie mercie and pitie caused to send downe thine onlie begotten sonne into this world to beare the burden of our sinnes with the which we most miserable sinners were ouerladen and that he should suffer most cruell torments yea and also most bitter and shamefull death and sanctifie the reprochfull name of the crosse with the renting of his blessed bodie and shedding his most pretious bloud thereon thereby to make attonement betweene thee and vs thereby to paie the raunsome for our soules thereby to consummate and finish the perfection of our redemption and saluation Which thing it was thy good will that he should doo not onelie to asswage thy wrath indignation but also to bring vs againe into thy grace and fauour and that we being deliuered out of the bondage of sinne and hell might serue thee in righteousnesse and holinesse all the daies of our life and by the free gift and benefite of his death and passion be made partakers of his resurrection and of thine endlesse and vnspeakable glorie Wherefore my God my maker my Lord my King seeing thou hast so aboundantlie bestowed thy heauenlie gifts vpon me and all mankind and hast so plentifullie powred out thy grace and fauour on vs that for our sakes thou wouldest not spare thine owne sonne how shall we escape thine indignation which for this care and kindnesse of thine are most carelesse and vnkind And among all other which waie shall I poore creature turne me How shall I who haue beene most vnthankefull for thy benefits and most vnmindfull of them be so bold as to lift vp my hart or hands vnto the heauens and to call vpon thee Thou of thy singular goodnesse didst so prouide that the wickednesse of old Adam should be purged and washed awaie with the bloud of Iesus Christ but I haue wilfullie fallen into sinne againe Thou madest me the child of light but I haue made my selfe an inheritour of darkenesse Thou madest me thine by creation I haue made my selfe the child of perdition What shall I now therefore do Shall I doubt of anie further mercie and forgiuenesse No no sweete Lord so great is thy mercie which surmounteth all thy workes so large are thy promises so sure is the performance of them to all such as take hold thereof so deere in thy sight are the merits of thy sonne Iesus so acceptable vnto thee is the hartie repentance of a sinner that with the remembrance thereof I am prouoked to crie vnto thee saieng Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee I am no more worthie to be called thy child Neuerthelesse behold thou me not as I am a greeuous offender but as thy creature Haue now no respect to mine offences but behold my repentance thinke not vpon my wickednesse but vpon the wounds of my Sauiour Iesus Looke not vpon my false hart which hath wauered from thy lawes but behold the bleeding hart of thy sonne Iesus Christ which was pierced to release me and set me free My sinnes I cast vpon thy backe beseeching thee that his merits may beare them and thy mercie pardon them Heare me O Lord my God heare me for I knowe the more earnestlie that I seeke for and desire thine aide the readier thou art to stretch foorth thine hand to helpe me Heare me therefore O Lord bow downe and incline thine eare vnto my praier inspire me so with thy holie spirit that I may loue thee aboue all things and that I neuer faile to put my hope and trust of saluation in him whome thou wouldest to be my redeemer and sauiour Make me by the forsaking of all wickednesse so to rise from falling into sinne that I may obtaine the true seruing of thee with innocencie and purenesse of life Graunt this O Lord for Iesus Christs sake to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie Amen A praier vnto God the sonne O Most sweet sauiour O most mercifull redeemer O bountifull Iesu the sonne of God who although thou art high yet thou art most humble although thou art omnipotent thou art also most meeke and as thou art most mightie so art thou most mercifull To thee O Christ the guide of all felicitie the father of heauen hath giuen all power both in heauen and in earth Thou art the true pastor of our soules thou art our Messias Thou castest off none that sue vnto thee but as thou hast taken awaie the hand-writing that was against vs and hast fastened it to thy crosse so art thou readie to impart the merits of thy passion vnto all such as with true repentance of their sins call vpon thee faithfullie Wherefore my sweet Iesus I most faithfullie and vnfeinedlie acknowledge the benefits that thou hast bestowed vpon me and stedfastlie beleeue that thou being an immaculate lambe in whose mouth was neuer found guile didst suffer most cruell torments at the hands of sinners for the loue of vs most wretched sinners For the which cause I most hartilie beseech thee and most humblie praie thee to accept me into the number of them whom thou wilt make coinheritours of thy bitter paines And although I of my selfe be most vnworthie thereof yet thy merits can make me woorthie to them do I flie crauing that I may be so armed and defended by them that I may subdue the world the flesh and the diuell euen as thou hast gloriouslie conquered sinne death and hell Thou seest O my sauiour how I am dailie and hourlie beset with these three enimies and so hardlie beseeged of them that without thy helpe I can by
no meanes escape but that I must needs be a praie vnto one of them Strengthen me therefore O Lord that neither the one with carnall lusts neither the other with delectable pleasures nor Sathan himselfe with all his craftie and subtile deuises get the dominion ouer me Thou hast bought me thou hast paid for me take thou me saue keepe and defend me be alwaies readie at the voice of my crieng powre into me thy grace patientlie to abide thy diuine will and pleasure in all things Make me both at this present and all the daies of my life to haue in mind and profoundlie to roote in my hart the mysteries of thy painefull passion and so to be filled with the remembrance thereof that sin may no more enter into me and that Sathan mine old enimie may well perceiue that he hath neither part nor fellowship in me but that I am both bodie and soule altogether thine to whome be all praises world without end Amen A praier vnto God the holie Ghost O Holie Ghost O blessed and holie spirit comforter of them that be afflicted thou proceeding from the Father and the Sonne art the true instructor and teacher of the diuine and heauenlie veritie Wherefore I with all humilitie praie thee to renew and make in me a cleane hart to graffe a right spirit in me to guide and gouerne me that I may thinke nothing speake nothing doo nothing but that onlie which shall please thee And whereas I haue not ceased to offend my Lord God and maker and most greeuouslie to transgresse against Iesus my redeemer and sauiour I praie thee that I may haue inward sorowe repentance and shame thereof and that euer hereafter I may performe my dutie as I ought to doo and so bring foorth the fruits of repentance that the passion of Iesus Christ may defend me from all sinne and wickednesse and bring me to the ioies of paradise So be it A godlie praier for the true worshipping of God which may be vsed in the Church before common praier STablish our harts and minds O most gratious God in the true woorshipping of thy diuine maiestie make vs to beleeue thy holie and sacred Gospell wherein we are dailie and hourelie instructed to loue feare honour and obeie thee to hate sinne and iniquitie to renounce all superstitious ceremonies whereby thy worship is defaced thy glorie prophaned and thine honour greatlie diminished Giue vs the grace to hate sinne and iniquitie to renounce and forsake the vanities and wanton pleasures of this wicked and sinfull world Arme vs we beseech thee to mortifie and bring vnder the rebellious appetites and straieng lusts of the flesh And finallie giue vs power from aboue to withstand Sathan the prince of darknesse and all his damnable ministers who by diuers temptations prouoke and allure vs from godlie puritie and perfect integritie which passeth onlie from Christ Iesus vnto vs who is the fulnesse of our perfection and holinesse to all kinds of euill impietie and vncleannesse by meanes whereof thy worship is greatlie prophaned and of a set purpose contemned Make vs constant to skirmish against the world sinne death and hell and by the power of a fruitefull faith giue vs grace to resist and bridle the concupiscence of our flesh in such sort that our soules may triumph with victorie and continue constant in woorshipping thee from whom passeth the fulnesse of our ioie Prepare our harts and minds good Lord now and euer to spread foorth the glorie of thy name Kéepe our tongues from all filthie talke and vncomelie gesture least by the exercise of such sinne we contemne thy worship and prouoke thee to displeasure and indignation Set thou a watch before the gates of my mouth that my lips by thy grace may be alwaies made open to sound foorth thy praise and euerlasting glorie Be mercifull to our offences thinke thou not on our vnrighteousnesse but vpon thy clemencie Forgiue them freelie and pardon gratiouslie our sinnes make vs faithfull in Christ Iesus Shorten the dangerous daies of iniquitie increase the number of thy chosen and peculiar Saincts Hasten thy comming O sauiour Christ that we with the felowship of the Saints heauenlie Angels and the blessed companie of Martyrs may celebrate thy praise and worship thee in thy glorious kingdome before the father our God and the holie Ghost to whome be praise for euer Amen Another praier that we may liue so vprightlie in this life that at the last we may dwell in the euerlasting tabernacle O Lord seeing that the righteous shall dwell in thy tabernacle graunt me I beseech thee a pure and vndefiled soule O what is the shape of the earth wherein Gods enimies haue abiding in comparison of the woonderfull beautie of heauen wherein righteousnesse doth dwell in comparison of that place wherein Angels Archangels all good men yea and God himselfe is abiding What are the pleasures of the world wealth honour companie of our parents and friends wherein all our pleasure and sweetenesse is mixed with sowrenesse and sorowe wherein euerie perfection hath his imperfection What is all this to the vnspeakeable ioie in the kingdome of God What is the companie of friends heere in comparison to the companie of Abraham Isaac and Iacob the Patriarches and Prophets and all the Saints of God Oh the felicitie of euerlasting life which is without all discommodities perpetuall without all perill and molestation Oh the glorious maiestie the singular mirth and passing ioies of the life to come The eie hath not seene nor the hart of man is able to conceiue in anie part the happie estate of the blessed soules in heauen Oh how amiable are thy tabernacles My soule hath a desire to enter into the courts of the Lord. My hart and my soule reioice in the liuing God blessed be they that dwell in thy house they may be alwaies praising thee One daie in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere I had rather be a dore-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of vngodlinesse The Lord God is a light and defence My soule is athirst for God euen for the liuing God When shall I come before the presence of my God My flesh longeth after thee in a barren and drie land where no water is Good Lord remember me and graunt that I may weare the white garments of innocencie with thine elected in thine euerlasting kingdome Amen A praier against the felowship of the vngodlie PRotect and defend me O heauenlie Father and most mercifull God from the felowship of the vngodlie men which dailie imagine mischiefe in their harts to harme the innocent Keepe me from the counsels of the foolish and vngodlie which speake proud things against the glorie of thy blessed name Defend me from faithlesse and deceiptfull ones whose guiltie stomaches are gorged with grudge enuie malice hatred disdaine and all vncharitablenesse For their throtes are like vnto an open sepulchre or swallowing graue their tongs are giuen
to slander and backbite their neighbours the poison of Adders lieth hidden vnder their lips and in fine they as thine enimies blaspheme thy holie and blessed name and contemne thy testimonies O Lord giue me thy grace to be conuersant with good and godlie men such as fauour thy glorious Gospell and doo their indeuour to practise thy precepts to the glorie of thy holie and blessed name Make me by their example to exercise my selfe in the heauenlie veritie that thereby I may be instructed in the liuelie knowledge of thy commandements and obtaine such wisdome from aboue that by faith I may cleaue to thee and the felowship of those that feare thy holie name and so auoide the companie of the wicked and vngodlie worldlings which haue laid snares to intrap mee Graunt this O most mercifull Father for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake who euer liueth and reigneth with thee and the holie Ghost to whome be all laude glorie power and praise for euer and euer Amen A praier to be said before or after the Sermon MOst mightie GOD which by thy word hast made all things whose voice the flouds and hils doo knowe whose heast both quicke and dead heauen and hell obey at whose displeasure the diuels in hell doo tremble let thy word so lighten our harts that by our good works we may testifie our profession seeing that the tree which beareth not fruit shall be cut downe throwne into the fire Grant that I may not onelie be a hearer but also a dooer of thy holie word that so finallie I may be partaker of thine euerlasting ioie and blisse O Lord grant me wisdome to knowe thee and grace to followe thee in true humilitie that as thou didst suffer to be spitted at and smitten of thine enimies so we may beare the displeasures of the world and rage of our enimies with patience Thou hast blessed the little ones and reuealed vnto them the things hidden from the wise For thou wilt haue mercie where it pleaseth thee O set thy feare alwaies before mine eies make me to vnderstand wisdome secretlie and graffe thy faith so in my hart that I may both knowe thee and loue thee and glorifie thy holie name for euer Amen A praier for faith O Blessed Sauiour Iesus sonne of the euerliuing God the vnspeakeable ioie of thy seruants most present cōfort to sinners which camest into the world to saue offenders which so louedst the world that thou sparedst not thy most pretious bloud to redeeme the losse of our first father Adam and to make vs coheires of the forfeited inheritance with thy selfe that all which beleeue in thee might be saued Good Lord which hast promised to them that knocke it shall be opened and that they which seeke shall find grant I beseech thee that I may search thy holie lawes and find the truth of thy holie word that I may alwaies constantlie confesse and shew thee and thy goodnesse as well in my words as liuing Inspire me with thy holie spirit that I may knowe thee stedfastlie trust in thee and serue thee in praiers and well-dooing all the time of my life O most mercifull Lord and Sauiour of the world for the glorie of thy name sake I beseech thee to heare my praiers My soule reioice in God my sauing health for hee hath been good to thee he hath kept thee from the snare of the hunter and blessed thee The Lord is a mercifull God let all the earth feare him let the mouths of all men sound praises vnto him God is a good Lord and dailie increaseth his good gifts to his seruants the Lord will increase my faith in him and I shall be saued So be it A praier to be said before the receiuing of the Lords Supper OMnipotent GOD and father euerlasting whose mercie is infinite and whose kingdom hath none end vouchsafe I beseech thee of thine exceeding goodnes to increse our faith that as thy ghests repaire to the table of thy sonne Iesus Christ who hath left vnto vs before he gaue his bodie to be crucified and his bloud to be shed largelie on the crosse for our redemption as a pledge of his great loue and abundant kindnesse the celebration of his glorious supper wherein as it were in a looking glasse the death of our great maister the high shepheard of our soules Iesus Christ is most liuelie set foorth vnto vs. Giue vs grace therefore from aboue rightlie to vnderstand the diuine mysteries offered vnto vs thereby and not to wrest or wring the same contrarie to thy will Let it be far from our thoughts good Lord to leaue thine eternall veritie and to build on the doctrine of men who following their owne imaginations run headlong to the gaping gulph of danger and destruction Plucke the scales of ignorance from our eies that we may cleerlie descerne and behold by the light of thy glorious Gospell how we may truelie communicate and participate the fruits of thy grace represented vnto vs in this comfortable Sacrament Indue vs plentifullie with such pure knowledge that we may not once thinke or saie after anie grosse forme or carnall maner we feede vpon or eate thy flesh reallie or carnallie but make vs alwaies constantlie to beleeue that thy glorious bodie is ascended vp into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of thy Father concerning thy humanitie and cannot be thence remooued till the time that thou shalt come with legions of Angels to iudge the quicke and the dead before whose presence shall run a consuming fire And moreouer wee doo most humblie beseech thee so to confirme vs in the truth of thy blessed testament that we may confesse thy diuine nature to be equall with the Father and the holie Ghost and to beleeue that thy power is not a power particular but a power generall and such as doth and shall gouerne in heauen and earth in the deepe and lowe waters yea and in the nethermost parts of hell Strengthen vs therefore good Lord that stand least that in falling from the true knowledge of thee we perish euerlastinglie And sith thou hast called vs by thy word as thy ghests to this blessed banket wherin y e mouths of our carnall bodies are fostered fed with bread and wine so Lord confirme our faith in thee that the mouths of our soules may feed spirituallie vpon thy sweetest flesh and drinke thy deerest blood and so be nourished to euerlasting life and heauenlie blessednesse Which reward as a dowrie due thou hast promised to all those that faithfullie build vpon thee which art the rocke and strong piller of our saluation And as these most holie mysteries must set foorth vnto vs most liuelie thy death and passion so make vs thankefull to thee for the same and thereby giue vs grace to print in our harts thy great loue and exceeding clemencie that sparedst not to giue thy bodie to the most vile shamefull and slanderous death of the Crosse and thy bloud to be shed
to displeasure The burden of my sinnes are intollerable for the which I must acknowledge and earnestlie from the bottome of my hart confesse that iustlie thou hast corrected and visited me yet not in the fulnesse of thy furie but according to thy fatherlie loue and kindnesse And albeit thy rod lie heauie vpon my shoulders yet in this time of thy correction I am comforted greatlie knowing assuredlie that thou correctest and simitest where thou louest thou woundest and healest againe thou throwest downe to hell and liftest vp againe to heauen such and so great is thine omnipotencie that thou rulest aboue the firmament in earth flouds and the lowermost parts of hell In heauen the Angels Archangels the soules of thy Saints the blessed companie of Martyrs giue thee praise glorie and veneration The sun the moone and glistering stars ech one of them in their course and qualitie shew themselues obedient vnto thy will In earth the beasts of the field and the seelie feathered foules of the aire in their order seeme to set foorth thy glorie and praise In the deepe waters the fishes of the sea are readie to obserue thy will and in their maner they as thy creatures giue thee due honour and reuerence But among these man whom thou by thy diuine will and pleasure hast indued with reason and in his creation concerning the inward man hadst fashioned him to thy similitude and likenesse is now most prone and willing to be by the ministers of darknesse seduced and carried awaie from vertue to vice from godlinesse to all impietie from obedience to wilfull breach and contempt of thy precepts so that diligence is banished by negligence And such is the power of our flesh that our eies which should haue their chiefest contemplation and delight in perusing and reading thy glorious and sacred Gospel wherein we may behold thee crucified and slaine O sweetest Sauiour Christ Iesus perfect God and perfect man by whose innocent death bloudie passion attonement is made betwixt thy Father and vs are so dazeled with the dimme and darke mists of Sathan that they are occupied in the beholding of mundane and transitorie pleasures all which in effect vanish and weare awaie euen as the flower that either is parched by the force of Phoebus radiant beames or by Winters stormes and horie frosts consumed Our eares which thou hast giuen to vs to heare and vnderstand the sacred and diuine mysteries conteined in thy holie lawe are made deafe of purpose so that they glorie more in fables and lothsome leasings than they conceiue delight in the zealous predication of thine Euangelicall and heauenlie doctrine Our harts are hardened like the Adamant so that for the greatest part they can not brooke thy testimonies they continuallie lust and desire to be satisfied with worldlie wealth honour and dignitie And who beholdeth not in these daies what cruell conflict and bloudie fight there is betwixt good conscience and filthie auarice the roote of all mischiefe and euill Naie who seeth not in this age plaine dealing murthered by deceit and faithlesse fraud Who now beholdeth not true meaning strangled by forged flatterie and loathsome leasings The bowels of compassion and pitie are shut vp by violent oppression and tyrannie Our feete are willing to tread the paths of pride fornication and vncleannesse Our hands are readie to offer wrong and iniurie to the innocent yea and in fine whatsoeuer thou hast giuen vnto vs to spread and set foorth thy glorie and honour is by sinne so corrupted that we make the members of our bodies which by grace and of pure loue are ingraffed in the bodie of Christ the rich and great shepheard of our soules the verie members of Sathan So that of set purpose our transgression abounding we flie from Christ the rocke and strong piller of our saluation and run head-long to death and vtter destruction of bodie and soule Yet like a louing God and mercifull Father thou callest vs home againe by thy word wherin not onlie thy mercies but also thy terrible threats are thundered foorth against vs for our impenitencie But when neither thy manifold mercies freelie of thine abundant goodnesse offered vnto vs in Iesus Christ can mooue nor stir vs to handfast contrition neither yet thy terrible comminations and thretnings can reclame nor call vs backe from the dangerous puddle of our sins then thou sendest forth thy plagues and punishments as pestilence famine bloudie sword intending thereby to driue vs to amendment of life and to acknowledge thine omnipotencie But when thou beholdest our true repentant harts our sobs and sighing teares powred foorth before the throne of thy diuine Maiestie thou withdrawest from vs the terror of thine indignation and vengeance the rod of thy correction is laid aside thy displeasure iustlie conceiued against vs for the continuall exercise of sinne is vtterlie forgotten and by the intercession of thy sonne Iesus Christ that sitteth on thy right hand in glorie permanent and euerlasting like a louing Father and most mercifull God the siluered scepter of peace is offered vnto vs with all other thy gratious benefits that thine anger is conuerted to clemencie thy displeasure is turned to louing kindnesse and in fine thine indignation is so calmed by thine abundant grace and mercie that like a louing and gentle Father thine armes are stretched foorth ioifullie to embrace and receiue vs to thy fauour againe All this I knowe to be most certaine and true For when or at what tune soeuer we shall appeare before the gates of mercie and by the meanes and power of a constant and liuelie faith knocke therat thou art redie to open vnto vs not for anie of our deserts but for the merits of Iesus Christ the fulnesse of thy diuine miseration compassion and pitie And whensoeuer we shall call vpon thee with lowlinesse and meekenesse of our harts and minds bewailing wofullie our heinous offences committed against thee thine eares are most attentiue to heare willinglie doest grant vs our petitions Wherefore O most gratious and louing father we come vnto thee with sorowfull and contrite harts beseeching thee for the loue of thine annointed sonne Iesus Christ our Messias Sauiour and Redeemer to behold and looke vpon vs with the eies of compassion and pitie And albeit we haue worthilie deserued this thy plague and punishment yet respect thou not our deseruings least in thy furie and indignation we be confounded perish Haue an eie rather to thy sonne Iesus Christ behold his bloudie wounds which yet are fresh and greene and neuer stint bleeding Thinke vpon the bitter and painefull torments that he suffered for vs vpon the crosse in whose name we beseech thee fauourablie to looke vpon our infirmities mercifullie to heare our praiers and petitions offered vnto thee and gratiouslie for the glorie of thy name sake to take and withdrawe from vs this thy heauie rod of correction which our sinfull liues and contempt of thy precepts haue heaped heauilie on our
beloued Saints and redie to crowne them with euerlasting glorie In thee are legions of Angels singing of sweet Hymnes and songs that set foorth the praise and honor of thy name in thee are the felowship of heauenlie citizens in thee resteth the sweete solemnitie of all such as returne from this miserable pilgrimage vnto thy glorie the companie of the Prophets Apostles and victorious armie of Martyrs holie men and women which haue vanquished the pleasures of the world haue their abiding with thee There are yoong children and maidens which haue passed ouer their daies in holinesse of life publishing thy praise in all puritie and pietie Euerie one reioiceth in his degree though not equall in glorie yet like in ioies and gladnesse For there reigneth perfect charitie God is all in all whose Maiestie without end they see continuallie and still in beholding him their loue increaseth Of this eternall blessednesse the holie Apostle Peter had as it were a shadowe or a tast vpon the mount Thabor at the transfiguration of Christ from whence he desired he might not depart Paule also had a proofe of it when he was rapt or taken vp into the third heauen where he heard words and sawe things so maruellous and secret as far passeth all mans vnderstanding and such as were not to be told or reuealed vnto men Moses his face became so bright through the conuersation that he had with the diuine glorie vpon mount Sinai that the Israelites could not abide it What then shall become of vs when perpetuallie with thee which art the Lord of all glorie we shall be conuersant after the maner of thy children and familiar friends Who is he then that will not seeke and desire by all meanes possible to be a dweller there both for the desire of peace ioie and eternitie and for the perfect sight of God Contrariwise who is able to expresse the torments appointed for the vngodlie and vnrepentant liuers in that deadlie place called Hell which Sathan himselfe abhorreth What other thing can be there but continuall paines eternall tribulation and infinite calamitie repleat with all euils There dwell wicked and ouglie Angels whose horrible lookes bring sudden feare greeuous paines and fearefull death with continual clouds of euer-during darknes There is nothing but howling wailing lamentation and mourning without all end fearfull scriches confused cries are there in all places suddenlie raised There the woorme of conscience neuer dieth in that damnable dungeon there is fire vnquenchable and perpetuall gnashing of teeth The miserable soule findeth there no rest but is afflicted with all kind of torments and such as can neuer be expressed all which endure for euer Alas little auaileth it those that are subiected as firebrans of hell to crie vnto the Lord for he will not heare them Then shall they knowe that all things which they had in this life are vaine and such things as they thought to be pleasant to be found more bitter than gall or poison Then where is the pleasure of the flesh so termed falslie For there is none other pleasure but to feare the Lord. Then shall they confesse and saie that the iudgement of God is true and righteous saieng Did we not heare of this and yet would not be conuerted from our wicked deeds But then shall nothing preuaile No sorowe can find comfort no complaints anie remorse no torments ease nor painfull passions an end such and so exceeding are the vexations of the second death wherewith all the bodies and soules of the vnrighteous shall for euer be enuironed Sith therefore O heauenlie Father and most gratious God it seemeth good to thine eternall wisdome by the knowledge of thine euerlasting truth to giue me knowledge of thine inestimable mercie offered freelie vnto me in Iesus Christ my mercifull Sauiour in whose bloudie death and painfull passion I am assured of eternall life and blessednesse Giue me grace to print in my remembrance thy manifold mercies that feeding my soule by faith in thee I may attaine vnto those endlesse ioies that thou hast prepared for thine adopted sonnes and chosen children in the kingdome of euerlasting righteousnesse and so escape those euerlasting torments which thou hast prepared for the diuell and his Angels From the which place of wofull vexation and endlesse miserie deliuer me O heauenlie Father for the loue of Iesus Christ his sake to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all laud and praise for euer Amen A praier to be said of the sicke at the houre of death MOst mightie art thou O Lord in all thy deeds and most holie in all thy waies Blessed be the name of my father my God and glorious Creator who by his diuine power and celestiall prouidence of nothing made all things fish flesh foules fruites trees hearbes and all other things whatsoeuer are conteined both in heauen earth seas and the nethermost parts thereof Man concerning the outward parts thou by thy celestiall prouidence and fatherlie bountie framedst and createdst of claie but concerning the inward substance of thy creature man thou didst fashion and make him euen according to thine owne similitude and likenesse Moreouer such and so great was thy loue and good will towards him that all the creatures or works of thy creation serued to this vse In earth thou madest him lord and king ouer the fruits thereof the beasts of the field the foules of the aire and the fishes of the little flouds and great waters In the firmament thou hast placed the glistering Sunne with his orient beames to giue him light by daie and therewith thou hast giuen him the Moone and the starres to gouerne him by night For the which cause aboue all other the works of thy creation man should and ought of right to giue thee that glorie that to thee belongeth But alas such and so great is the corruption of our fraile and sinfull flesh that for all these thy graces wee are carried awaie from thee and enter into contempt of thy precepts For which cause thou oftentimes doost correct and punish vs to the intent we might thereby feeling thy rod of correction be driuen to imbrace hartie and true repentance But when thy threats and the stripes of thy displeasure laid vpon vs can not take place amongst vs thou oftentimes giuest vs vp to folowe our lusts and affections but at last when thou dooest behold our enormities thou in a moment by the power of thy diuine iustice restrainest the rope of our disordered libertie and cuttest in sunder the bridle of our voluptuousnes either by sudden death sword fire famine sicknesse or other the diuine sentences of thy conceiued ire to the intent that other thy creatures might by the terrour of thy iustice auoid sinne and learne to amend their liues least they fall into the like calamitie or danger True and most true it is good Lord that by the exercise of sinne we are the children of death and destruction but by grace of
the almightie and victorious conquerour sweete Iesus Christ we are the adopted sonnes of thy Father and made fellowe-heires with thee our perfect Emanuel In whose name with all humilitie and lowlinesse of hart and mind I come vnto thee in this great extremitie of sicknesse and danger of death beseeching thee to be present with me to forget mine offences to thinke vpon thy mercies And although I haue not deserued so much as the least drop of thy fauour by meanes of the great burden of my sinnes which are in the presence of thy diuine Maiestie most ouglie and loathsome to behold yet respect thou not O Father mine iniquitie but haue an eie I beseech thee to the merits of my Sauiour Christ Iesus to whom as my Mediator Sauiour and Redeemer I appeale who hath promised comfort and sweete consolation to all those that in his name flie vnto thee for releefe I confesse that woorthilie thou hast visited me with this sicknesse and disease and yet not according to the multitude of my sinnes but in the fulnesse of miseration and fatherlie pitie Giue me grace therefore in these bitter brunts of death who vehementlie at this present beginneth to combat with fainting and feeble life constantlie to cleaue vnto thee Let not the pleasures of this wicked world be a let or impediment for me to come vnto thee let not my fraile and feeble flesh subiect to sinne which hath through my transgression made me a bondman to death mooue me to despaire in thy great mercie neither yet let the caueling aduersarie the enimie of mankind at my last end triumph ouer me Giue me patience to suffer and gladlie to beare and abide this thy scourge and visitation and so fortifie me in soule and bodie that so long as life shall endure in me I may neuer cease to call vpon thy holie and blessed name Yea and when death is most busiest make thou me most constant yea when he seeketh most stronglie to assaile my feeble bodie giue me thy grace good Lord that I may in spirit hart mind and all the powers of my soule giue praises vnto thee that of thy grace and inestimable kindnesse hast sent thy sonne Christ Iesus to ransome me by his bloudie death and passion from the power of hell Giue me grace therfore now that thou hast appointed thy messenger death to finish the daies of my pilgrimage and to call me by his summons from out of this vale of miserie and wretchednesse to build stedfastlie vpon him and faithfullie to hope for life and saluation in alone through him Let the remembrance of my former wickednesse be no more thought vpon let mine offences be blotted out of thy glorious sight Behold my sorowfull true repentant hart which come vnto thee with teares not building on my merits but vpon thy mercies Though I be sinfull thy sonne my Sauiour is righteous though I be wicked yet he is most holie though I be full of impietie yet he is full of all goodnesse though I haue greeuouslie offended thee yet he hath fullie contented thee though I haue transgressed thy lawe yet he hath fulfilled the same and hath promised in his bloud to wash awaie their sinnes that by faith continue in him constant to the end I therefore in this my great and painfull agonie beholding death to be at the gates of my bodie come vnto thee by the vertue of a fruitfull faith beseeching thee when thou shalt see it meete and conuenient that he shall dissolue the bands of this vading life which endureth but a while for a thousand yeeres are as yesterdaie in thy sight to take my soule into thy glorious and blessed hands and so to confirme me in thy truth that at the last when it shall please thee by the sound of a trumpe to raise my bodie from the graue when and in which time bodie and soule shall vnite and come before thy presence I may by faith in thee passe ouer the mount of my corruption shake off the bands of sinne be set free from death and destruction and being by the vertue of thy righteousnesse made holie I may triumph with happie victorie ouer sinne death and all the powers of hell and enter with thee and the felowship of thy chosen Saints into euerlasting rest Grant this most louing Father for Christ Iesus sake to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be rendred all laud glorie honour and praise for euer Amen The Lord God be mercifull to me pardon and forgiue me my sinnes looke vpon me with his gratious and blessed countenance preserue me from the second death and euerlasting destruction of bodie and soule The Lord God iustifie me in his death and bloud cloath me with his euerlasting righteousnesse and register my name in the booke of life The Lord God comfort my guiltie conscience with the euerlasting light of his bountifull fauour and lot my place among his Saints in his heauenlie kingdome The Lord God for his mercies sake after this my bodilie death giue me the fruition of his presence in his rich palace of endlesse glorie to whose mercifull protection I commend with all humilitie and reuerence my soule Lord Iesus preserue me Lord Iesus comfort me Lord Iesus refresh me Lord Iesus praie for me For onlie into thy hands that hast redeemed mee O Lord God of truth I commend my soule Amen A deuout meditation to be vsed after praier REmember not O Lord God thine anger against me an offender but be mindfull of thy mercie towards me a true penitent Forget that through pride I haue prouoked thee to ire and fauourablie harken vnto my praier What is Iesus but a Sauiour Therefore O bountifull Iesu be thou my Sauiour rise vp in thine owne strength to helpe me Saie vnto my soule I am thy safegard In thy goodnesse doo I trust in thee is my helpe And forasmuch as thou hast willed that we should without ceasing seeke and sue vnto thee behold I beeing counselled and foretold by thy commandements doo now both aske seeke and knocke But thou which commandest me to aske graunt that I may receiue thou biddest me seeke make me to find thou hast taught me to knocke open vnto me that stand knocking strengthen me that am weake restore me that am lost reuiue me that am dead by sinne make me to serue thee to liue to thee to giue my selfe wholie to thee I knowe my God that because thou madest me I owe my selfe vnto thee and for that thou hast redeemed me I should owe thee more than my selfe But behold I haue no more to giue neither can I giue my selfe vnto thee vnlesse thou make me willing therevnto Take thou me draw me vnto thee that as I am thine by creation so I may be thine by following of thee which liuest and reignest for euer and euer Amen A Praier deciphering in Alphabet forme the name of the right Woorshipfull Ladie MARY FANE M MOst mightie art thou Lord in all thy deedes
may with the enimies of mans felicitie be vanquished and subdued and I by him may liue in Iesus Christ E EXpell and roote out in and from my remembrance the detestable branches of wrath pride concupiscence vaine-glorie and all other horrible vices and noisome euils that heape vp thy greeuous displeasure against me Take from me all abuse let me neuer blaspheme thy blessed and glorious name let my tong be purged by thee from all corrupt and vncomelie talke let all my thoughts be occupied in thy seruice faith feare and loue Make me good Lord alwaies obedient to doo thy will and to walke in the waies of thy commandements and to delight in thy blessed testimonies And graunt me thy grace that by the hearing of thy Euangelicall and heauenlie doctrine my faith may be increased made strong and fruitfull to exercise the works of charitie and loue to all men and chieflie to those that constantlie fauour thy Gospell and continue faithfull in Christ Iesus Euermore I saie good Lord giue me thy blessings from aboue and let my hart my soule and tong be euer readie for thy gratious benefits receiued to publish and set foorth thy glorie and praise in weale and wo in pouertie and prosperitie in time of peace and in time of danger Stretch foorth thy hand to protect me and I by thee deliuered from all perils shall make my boast of thy mercies freelie showne vnto me without my deserts and with the felowship of thy Saints giue such honour praise and reuerence vnto thee as of right and bounden dutie I ought to doo And forasmuch as not euerie one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of God and Christ make me not then a professor of thy word with my lips but an earnest louer of the same a faithfull folower of thy commandements least at the comming of the great and rich Bridegroome Iesus Christ I be refused as were the fiue vndiscreet and foolish virgins that wanted oyle to garnish their Lamps For if thou O Lord passe by and finde me vnprouided the gates of thy grace being fast shut vp and locked close I shall then stand knocking and calling the Lord all in vaine For thou wilt giue answere thou knowest me not and being forsaken of thee I shall perish euerlastinglie Giue me grace therefore O good Lord to be readie prepared with my wedding garment and oyle in my Lampe that I may continuallie watch thy comming and so enter with thee as thy ghest to the rich banqueting house of euerlasting glorie Amen F From sinfulnesse preserue me Lord R Renew thy spirit in my hart A And let my tongue therewith accord V Vttering all goodnesse for his part N No thought let there arise in me C Contrarie to thy statutes ten E Euer let me most mindfull be S Still for to praise thy name Amen A As of my soule so of my bodie B Be thou my guider O my God V Vnto thee onlie I do crie R Remoue from me thy furious rod. G Graunt that my head may still deuise A All things that pleasing be to thee V Vnto mine eares and to mine eies E Euer let there a watch set bee N None ill that they may heare and see N No wicked deede let my hands do Y Yn thy good paths let my feete go Finis ¶ Certaine praiers made by godlie women Martyrs The praier of Agnes the Martyr at hir death O Eternall Gouernour vouchsafe to open the gates of heauen once shut vp against all the inhabitants of the earth and receiue my soule oh Christ that seeketh thee The song of Eulalia the Martyr at hir death BEhold O Lord I wil not forget thee What a pleasure is it for them O Christ that remember thy triumphant victories to attaine vnto those high dignities The praier of Anne Askue the Martyr before hir death O Lord I haue mo enimies now than there be heares on my head yet Lord let them neuer ouercome me with vaine words but fight thou Lord on my side For on thee cast I my care With all the spite they can imagine they fall vpon me which am thy poore creature yet sweete Lord let me not set by them which are against me for in thee is my whole delight And Lord I hartilie desire of thee that thou wilt of thy most mercifull goodnesse forgiue them that violence which they doo and haue done vnto me Open also thou their blind harts that they may hereafter doo that thing in thy sight which is onlie acceptable before thee and to set foorth thy veritie aright without all vaine phantasies of sinfull man So be it O Lord So be it The praier that maister Bradfords morher said and offered vnto God in his behalfe a little before his martyrdome AH good Father which dooest vouchsafe that my sonne Iohn Bradford being a greeuous sinner in thy sight should find this fauour with thee to be one of thy sonne Christ his captaines and men of war to fight and suffer for his Gospels sake I thanke thee and praie thee in the same thy deere sonne Christs name that thou wouldest forgiue him his sinnes and vnthankfulnesse and make perfect in him that good which thou hast begun in him Yea Lord I praie thee make him worthie to suffer not only imprisonment but euen verie death for thy truth religion and Gospell sake As Hanna did applie dedicate and giue hir first child and sonne Samuel vnto thee euen so doo I deere Father beseeching thee for Christs sake to accept this my gift and giue my sonne Iohn Bradford grace alwaies trulie to serue thee and thy people as Samuel did Amen Amen Other godlie praiers taken out of the Psalmes written by a godlie harted Gentlewoman POnder my words O Lord consider my meditation O harken thou vnto the voice of my wofull mourning my King and my God for vnto thee will I make my praier Heare my voice O Lord betimes earlie in the morning will I direct my praier vnto thee for thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickednesse neither shall anie euill dwell with thee Thou hatest all them that worke vanitie leade me therefore in thy righteousnesse O Lord for I am weake and without thee I haue no strength at all therfore O Lord God rebuke me not in thine indignation neither chasten me in thy heauie displeasure Haue mercie vpon me O Lord and deliuer my soule Oh saue me for thy mercie sake I am almost wearie of my groning Euerie night wash I my bed and water my couch with my teares O Lord my God in thee haue I put my trust saue mee from all them that persecute me and deliuer me O Lord my God if I haue done anie such thing as is laid to my charge or if there be anie such wickednesse in me then let mine enimie persecute my soule and take me captiue Hast not thou O Lord my God defended me from such vngodlinesse Oh how long wilt thou hide thy selfe from me
propertie thereof is to wash doth signifie the washing of our soules which is done for vs through the bloud of Iesus Christ in the forgiuenes of our sins The water also is put vpon the head in signe of death neuerthelesse in that it is done but for a little time it is a figure of our resurrection The Supper was instituted of our Lord to assure vs that by the communion of his bodie of his bloud our soules are nourished in hope of life euerlasting The bread and the wine signifie vnto vs the bodie bloud of Iesus Christ which haue the same propertie towards our soules that the bread and wine haue towards our bodies namelie to nourish strengthen The right vse of cōmunicating at y e supper is chieflie a man to proue himselfe whether he haue true faith with repentance charitie towards his neighbours FINIS D. M. A godlie exhortation to mortification of our sinfull affections and to holinèsse of life written by a vertuous Gentlewoman IF yee liue after the flesh you shall die but if ye through the spirit doo mortifie the deeds of the bodie ye shall liue For as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sonnes of God Rom. 8. This also we knowe the season that we should now awake out of sleepe For now is our saluation neere the night is passed the daie is come nie let vs put on the armor of light let vs walke honestlie as it were in the day light not in eating and drinking neither in chambering and wantonnesse neither in strife and enuieng but put yee on the Lord Iesus Christ and make no prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it Rom. 13. The reward of sinne is death but eternall life is the gift of God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6. Deerlie beloued abstaine from fleshlie lusts which fight against the soule and see that ye haue honest conuersation among the Gentils that wheras they backbite you as euill dooers they may see your good works and glorifie God in the daie of visitation 1. Peter 2. I saie walke in the spirit and fulfill not the lusts of the flesh For the flesh lusteth contrarie to the spirit and the spirit contrarie to the flesh These are contrarie one to the other so that ye can not doo whatsoeuer ye would but and if ye be led of the spirit then are ye not vnder the lawe The deeds of the flesh are manifest which are these adulterie fornication vncleannesse wantonnes worshipping of images witchcraft hatred variance zeale wrath strife seditions sects enuieng murther dronkennesse gluttonie such like Of the which I tell yee before as I haue told you in times past that they which commit such things shall not be inheritours of the kingdome of God They trulie that are Christs haue crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof Galat. 5. Let no filthie communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to edifie withall as oft as neede is that it may minister grace vnto the hearers and grieue not the holie spirit of God Phil. 4. Followe not thy lusts but turne thee frō thine owne will For if thou giuest thy soule hir desires it shall make thine enimies to laugh thee to scorne Sirac 18. An adulterous woman shall be troden vnder foot as mire of euerie one that goeth by the waie Sirac 9. Ye adulterers and women that breake matrimonie knowe ye not how that the friendship of the world is enimitie to God-ward Whosoeuer will be a friend of the world is made enimie of God Submit your selues to God and resist the diuell and he will flie from you drawe nie to God and he will drawe nie to you Clense your hands ye sinners and purge your harts ye wauering minded suffer afflictions sorrowe ye and weepe let your laughter be turned to mourning and your ioie to heauinesse Cast downe your selues before the Lord and he shall lift you vp Iames. 4. For the children of adulterers they shall come to an end and the seed of an vnrighteous bed shall be rooted out And though they liue long yet shall they be nothing regarded and their last age shall be without honour If they die hastilie they haue no hope neither shall they be spoken to in the daie of knowledge For horrible is the death end of the vnrighteous Wisd 3. The children of the vngodlie are abhominable children and so are all they that accompanie with the vngodlie The inheritance of vngodlie children shall come to naught and their posteritie shall haue a perpetuall shame and confusion Wo be vnto you ye vngodlie which haue forsaken the lawe of the highest If ye doo liue ye shall be cursed if ye die the curse shall be your portion Labour to get thee a good name for it shall continue surer by thee than a thousand great treasures of gold Sirac 41. The Lord alloweth the righteous but the vngodlie and him that delighteth in wickednesse doth his soule abhor Upon the vngodlie he shall raine snares fire and brimstone storme and tempest this shall be their portion to drinke For the righteous Lord loueth righteousnesse Psal 11. As for sinners they shall be confounded out of the earth and the vngodlie shall come to an end Psal 103. Another godlie exhortation to moue vs to praier and to cause vs to be in a continuall readinesse to waite on our Maister Christ when he shall come againe to iudge both the quicke and dead written by the same godlie Gentlewoman REioice in the Lord alwaies and againe I saie reioice let your softnesse be knowne to all men The Lord is euen nie at hand be carefull for nothing but in all praier and supplication let your petitions bee manifest vnto God with giuing of thanks Be feruent in spirit applie your selues to the time reioice in hope be patient in tribulation continue in praier Rom. 22. Take heed therefore how ye walke circumspectlie not as vnwise but as wise men redeeming the time bicause the daies are euil Wherfore be ye not vnwise but vnderstand what the will of the Lord is And be not dronken with wine wherin is excesse but be filled with the spirit speaking vnto your selues in Psalmes and Hymnes and in spirituall songs singing and making melodie to the Lord in your harts giuing thanks alwaies for all things vnto God the Father in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ submitting your selues one to another in the feare of God Epes 5. Praie alwaies with all maner of praiers and supplications in the spirit and watch therevnto with all instance and supplication Ephes 6. Uerelie verelie I saie vnto you saith Christ Whatsoeuer yee aske the father in my name he will giue it you Aske and yee shall receiue that your ioie may be full And when thou praiest thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are for they loue to praie standing in the Synagogues and in the corners of the streetes because they
than to giue hartie and continuall thanks by all possible meanes vnto God who besides that he is God and therefore hath bound all men vnto himselfe by good right hath bestowed vpon vs so manie peculiar benefits And againe what can be more ioifull and more to be desired than such a testimonie of his fatherlie loue who hath deliuered vs from so manie not onlie dangers but deaths also CAP. IIII. GO to also O all ye Kings Princes Gouernours and Iudges of the earth hold vp your hands humblie vnto God the eternall KING acknowledge his power which sitteth vpon the most high heauens from all eternitie as it were vpon a chariot and maketh a terrible and most mightie sound from the clouds O yee mightie Monarchs and Potentates of the world now worship and praise ye the LORD our GOD together with me doo him all possible reuerence and reioice vnto him with feare and trembling as I doo O ye Kings and all ye of power giue place vnto the Lord giue vnto the Lord I saie the honour of all glorie and power giue vnto the Lord the maiestie and glorie due vnto his name fall downe before his footestoole and worship him in his most holie temple for he is holie and seeke his glorie carefullie as I doo For this chieflie becommeth all Princes to doo whom God of his vnspeakable fauour hath consecrated vnto himselfe and brought them into the most high state of dignitie aboue others but speciallie it becommeth me to reioice and to set foorth thy praises O God after a most exquisite maner in whom thy most excellent Maiestie doth so gloriouslie shine and who haue receiued so manie rare and singular benefits of thee from my conception to this houre Go to then O my deere soule and mine inward bowels giue thanks vnto God with all your power praise the Lord O my soule and declare thy selfe that thou art mindfull of all his benefits For what honour is not the Lord woorthie of which of his vnspeakable mercie and compassion hath forgiuen thee all thy sinnes healed the deadlie wounds thereof cured thy diseases borne thine infirmities redeemed thy life from death preserued thee from miserie renewed thy youth like the Egle that liueth most long and adorned thee so richlie with all his benefits as testimonies of his singular goodnes and fatherlie mercie towards thee Go to therefore with me you mightie spirits being his apparitours and the diligent executioners of his will so soone as ye heare him speake celebrate yee the praises of the Lord. O yee mightie armies of his most obedient souldiours praise the Lord I saie O ye euen the verie Angels worship him as your Lord and King Praise ye the Lord O all his works in what place soeuer of his dominion and whatsoeuer hath breath let it sound and set foorth his glorie finallie thou my deere soule set thou foorth the praise of God CAP. V. AND I O my God my King euen I thy handmaid and annointed in thankefull remembrance and worthie memoriall of thy woonderfull works and benefits wrought and shewed vnto me continuallie doo againe as it is meete render vnto thee this acceptable sacrifice of praise and thankesgiuing I paie the vowes vnto thee which I haue promised both secretlie among the faithfull and openlie before the whole assemblie of thy people and that in the courts of thy house O Lord and in the midest of the Citie Ierusalem wherein by thy power and benefit I thus flourish I will praise thee with my whole hart and magnifie thy name for euer because I haue experience of thine infinite goodnesse in my selfe and am deliuered from so manifold dangers of death and destruction Neither will I be ashamed to sing foorth thy praises also in songs before the assemblie of the mightie and before the verie Angels that stand about thine arke I will together with all Angels Spirits soules and with all Kings Queenes virgins and creatures both in heauen and earth incessantlie magnifie thee in the palace consecrated to thy Maiestie and will sing of thy mercie and truth because thou hast gotten vnto thee now at the length most great honour for that thou hast so maruellouslie aboue expectation surelie performed vnto me that which thou didst promise in thy word I with the residue of the people of my dominion as a mother with hir daughters and the virgin with virgins being for this cause replenished with incredible ioie and comforted with thy iudgments O Lord will reioice in thee which seeing nothing in me that should so moue thee hast neuerthelesse embraced me with so great fauour and mightilie also defended me and with all the iust I will magnifie the holie remembrance of thee so great a King continuallie which sitting vpon thy most holie throne rulest the whole earth and exaltest thy selfe far aboue all that is aloft anie where For to this end chieflie thou O Lord hast consecrated and set me ouer them that I should diligentlie exercise the rites of thy diuine worship among them Therefore I will delight my selfe in setting foorth thy praises more and more and I will testifie my selfe in my whole life to be desirous of thy honour and glorie to whome all honour and glorie of right belongeth O my God my King I will highlie extoll thee and celebrate thy name for euer and euer I will consecrate all the daies of my life to set foorth thy glorie and will amplifie thy name with songs that neuer shall haue end For thou art great O Lord and no praise is sufficient for thee neither can anie man attaine to thy greatnesse For thy woonderfull works endure not for one generation and age alone but as one age succeedeth another so likewise must some men commit the memoriall of them vnto others vnlesse they will be negligent in dooing their dutie Wherefore trulie be it far from me thy handmaid that anie thing should be of greater authoritie with me than that I should carefullie thinke that the brightnesse of thy Maiestie which shineth vnto vs in the verie dailie vse of things and that thy deeds to me and my people-ward are greater than can be comprehended by the admiration or capacitie of all mortall men and women And doubtlesse Lord though verie manie be most blockish and woonderfull thankelesse yet can there neuer be wanting some which shall euen against their willes confesse at the least thy terrible power euen ouer all princes and people of the world But admit that others be silent and vnthankefull yet I will neuer cease to declare thy greatnesse and the nations most far off shall heare me publishing thy praises and singing vnto thee for deliuering and sauing me by thy power whome thou hast chosen and loued But God forbid that I alone should labour to doo this my dutie For verelie there will be alwaies some assemblie which will by all meanes testifie the remembrance of thy peculiar goodnesse and thy most vndoubted promises Namelie that thou art most mercifull and
praier to bee vsed of all christians 2 l. pag. 139. Before one begin his worke 2. l. pag. 226. Another to the same purpose ibid. Before one begin to studie his lesson 2. l. 227. Before or after the sermon 2. l. pag. 162 231. At burials 2. l. pag. 168. Before the receiuing of the holie communion 2. l. pag. 163. After the receiuing of the Lords supper 2. l. 166. ¶ Graces A praier before meate 2. l. pag. 229. A praier after meate ibidem ¶ Confessions Lamentations and complaints A confession before morning praier 2. l. 103. Another before euening praier 2. l. pag. 117. A confession of a penitent person for his sinne 2. l. pag. 148 149 153. An humble confession of sinnes to the glorie of God 2. l. pag. 37. A lamentation complaint of a sinner bewailing the ignorance of hir blind life led in superstition with hartie repentance in faith to obteine remissiō through Christ 2. l. pag. 42. A christian bewailing of miserable ignorance and blindnesse of men 2. l. pag. 60. ¶ Contemplations Of Christs passion 2. l. pag. 111. Of the carefull passions of the sinfull soule bodie 2. l. pag. 128. ¶ Meditations Of the spirituall loue betweene CHRIST the bridegroome and the faithfull soules of his church the brid 1. l. pa. 8. Of the inward loue of the christian soule towards Christ 2. l. pag. 1. Of the soules slauerie by sinne and redemption by Christ ibid. Of the soules affinitie with Christ 2. l. pag. 5. Of the soules infidelitie and apostasie from God 2. l. pag. 10. Of the intire affection and loue of God towards the sinfull soule of man 2. l. pag. 15. Of the vnion of life and death in the faithful soule by Christ 2 l. pa. 21. Of the longing of the soule by death to feed with Christ 2. l. pag. 24. Of the trust the soule hath in the merits of hir redeemer against the dread of hel and feare of damnation 2. l pag. 27. Of the incomprehensible loue of Christ to the sinfull soule of man and of the benefits that come of a true faith 2. l. pag. 31. ¶ Of true faith and what it worketh in the soule of a sinner 2. l. pag. 45. Of the great loue of God towards mankind and of the inward beholding of Christ crucified 2. l. pag. 49. Of the glorious victories of Christ ouer all enimies 2. l. pag. 51. Of the schoole of the crosse wherevnto wee ought to submit our selues and of the booke of the Crucifix wherein we ought often to looke 2 l. pag. 58 Of the miserable ignorance and blindnes of men much to be bewailed 2. l. pag. 60. Of the fruits and rules of true Christianitie to be followed 2. l. pag. 64. Of the fruites of infidelitie and of the office of weakelings to be eschued 2 l. pag. 66. Of carnall gospellers by whose ill liuing Gods truth is shamefullie slandered 2 l. pag. 69. Of the vertues and properties of Gods children following their vocation 2. l. pag. 73. Of amendement of life in all estates 2. l. pag. 77. ¶ Of our frailtie and miserie 2. l. pag. 113. Of the dreadfull day of iudgement 2. l. pag. 129. Of the vnspeakeable ioyes of heauen and the vntollerable paines of hell 2. l. pag. 198. ¶ Praiers ¶ The Lords praier 2. l. pag. 221. The Creed or articles of christian faith 2. l. pag. 222. The ten commandements 2. l. pag. 222. ¶ The praiers also Of Hagar 1. l. pag. 1. Of Naomic 1. l. pag. 6. Of Hannah 1. l. pag. 6. Of Abigael 1. l. pag. 8. Of Sarra Tobit 1. l. pa. 39. Of Iudeth 1. l. pag. 41. 43. Of Q. Hester 1. l. pag. 46. Of Susannah 1. l pag. 48. Of the Church 1. l. pa 48. Of the woman of Canaan 1. l. pag. 49. Of the fiue foolish Virgins 1. l. pag. 49. Of the Queenes Maiestic 2. l pag. 1. 35. 36. Of Q Katherin 2. l. pag. 37. 80. c. Of L. Iane Dudly 2. l. pag. 98. Of Ladie Tirwit 2. l. pag. 103. c. Of the L. Aburgaueny 2. l. pag. 139. Of Agnes the Martyr 2. l. pag. 214. Of Eulalia the martyr ibid. Of An Askew the martyr idid Of Mistres Bradford 2. l. pag. 215. Of a certeine godlie Gentlewoman ibid. Of mistres Dorcas Martin 2. l. pag. 221. ¶ Proper praiers to be vsed onelie of the Queens most excellent Maiestie 3. l. pag. 253 c. 261. 273. 275. 276. 277. 279. 280. 297. The Kings heast 3. l. pag. 307. The Queenes vowe 3. l. pag. 321. ¶ Praiers to God the Father 2. l. pag. 121. 154. To God the Sonne 2. l. pag. 156. To God the holie Ghost 2. l. pag. 157. To the blessed Trinitie 2 l. pag. 114. ¶ Alphabeticall praiers desifering the name of the Queens Maiestic 3. l. pag. 280. 297. 303. The name of the L. Aburgaueny 2. l. pag. 207. 213. ¶ For the whole estate of Christes church 2. l. pag. 131. For faith 2. l. pag. 162. For the true worship of God 2. l pag. 158. For remission of sins and to obtaine a vertuous life 2. l. pag. 144. For the obtaining of grace and mercie 2. l. pag. 147. 150. 152. For to be purged from fin and vncleanenesse 2. l. pag. 151. For the obtaining of mercie and mittigating of miseries 189. 190. c. For wisedome to gouerne well 3. l. pag. 279. For humilitie 2. l. p. 170 For the obtaining of Gods grace and all good gifts of the spirit 2. l. pag. 170. For to liue vprightlie and to dwell in the euerlasting tabernacles 2. l. pag. 159. 168. 169. For patience and meeknesse to beare all afflictions 2. l. pag. 184. For the preachers to speake the word of God boldly 2. l. pag. 231. ¶ Against presumptuous pride and vaine glorie 2. l. pag. 172. Against couetousnesse and too much care of the world 2. l. pag. 173. Against lieng and eull imaginations 2. l. pag. 173. Against the feare of worldlie casualties 2. l. pag. 192. Against the fellowship of the vngodlie 2. l. p. 161 Against all vices generallie 2. l pag. 174. ¶ In time of sicknesse For a sick child 1. l. p. 49 Of tho sick at the houre of death 2 l. pag. 202. To die in faith c 2. l. pag. 168. ¶ In time of plague In the time of any common plague c 2. l. p. 180 ¶ In time of battell In the 2. lamp pag. 178. ¶ In time of anie trouble In banishment 1. l. pa. 1. Against barrennesse 1. l. pag. 6. Against enemies of the Church c 1. l pag. 8. A lamentation of miseries and plagues for our sinnes 1. l. pag. 25. c. 28. 33. 34. 38. To be deliuered from reproch 1. l. pag. 39. For deliuerance from enemies 1. l. pag. 41. For strength to ouercome all enemies 1. la. pag. 43. For deliuerance out of the hands of traitours c 1. l pag. 46. 2. l. pag. 36. Of one wrongfullie condemned to death 1. l. pag. 48. Of
repentance and cease not to praie for the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes Labour perseuerantlie in thy dutie then shalt thou find mercie and righteousnesse and be made woorthie to enter in as a faithfull virgin and beautifull ghest with that ioifull bridegroome to the feast of eternall mirth and delicacie there to dwell in ioies for euer Amen Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall shew light vnto thee Ephes 5 verse 14. Being well wakened before you arise praie thus WIth eies hart and hands lifted vp O blessed God and glorious Trinitie I most entirelie thanke thee for all thy bountifull benefits bestowed vpon me and all mankind especiallie for that it hath pleased thee now in mercie to awake my bodie to inlighten mine eies to quicken my senses and to reuiue and renew me whole againe as it were from the death of sleepe and that by the same spirit that raised Iesus from the dead I thanke thee that thou hast not couered me with a spirit of slumber nor shut vp mine eies in obscure darknes to cause me to sleepe a perpetuall sleepe neuer to awake againe nor to rise from the euils wherein I laie as by my sinnes I haue iustlie deserued O good Father grant also I beseech thee that as thou hast awaked my body from sleepe and made mine eies to preuent the morning light so vouchsafe in like mercie thoroughlie to awaken quicken lighten and deliuer my soule from all drowsinesse sleepe of sinne securitie and darknesse of this world that from hence-foorth it neuer become emptie faint dead or irksome with longing after the vanities of this brittle life but liuelie quicke and readie to serue and glorifie thee together with my bodie with all good works of true christianitie Oh deere God that is but sleepe to thee which is death to vs I hartilie beseech thee therefore after death to restore to life that which now is awaked out of sleepe and in the meane while to make my bodie such a minister of godlinesse to my soule in this present life that at the last when in the bessed resurrection it shall be awaked vp after thy likenesse out of the long sleepe of death and called to appeare before thee and all the holie Angels it may ioifullie arise and be partaker with the same of euerlasting happinesse in the life to come and ioifullie behold thy face among the righteous that so I maie be fullie satisfied both in bodie and soule with thy glorious presence and ioies eternall through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust for the deaw is as the deaw of herbes and the earth shall cast out the dead Esaie 26 verse 19. Awake I saie to liue righteouslie and sinne not 1 Cor. 15 verse 34. Meditation HEre call to mind the great mirth and blessednesse of the euerlasting resurrection and remember to muse vpon that most cléere-light bright morning and new clearnesse of our bodie after the long darknesse they haue béene in all then shall be full of ioie Hearing the clocke strike praie thus with your selfe GRant vnto me O Lord God I beseech thee both an happie healthfull houre of liuing and a ioifull and blessed houre of dieng And whatsoeuer I doo or whatsoeuer I am let the houre of thy sudden comming so runne in my mind and keepe me watching that I may euer thinke I heare this voice sounding in mine eares Arise yee dead and come to iudgement In all time of our tribulation in all time of our wealth in the houre of death and in the daie of iudgement good Lord deliuer vs Amen Let your loines be girt and your lamps burning and be ye alwaies watchfull and readie prepared For at an houre when ye thinke not will the Sonne of man come to iudge both the quicke and the dead Luke 12 verse 40. Meditation CAll oft to thy mind the houre of thy death and be carefull so to liue euerie houre in Gods fauour as though euerie houre were indéede to thée the last houre to die in his faith Remember also that as there is no houre or instant of time in all our life wherein we haue not the vse of Gods great benefits so ought there to be no moment wherein we are not bound to haue him in perpetuall remembrance before our eies to serue loue and praise his name and that to the vttermost of our power with all our hart soule and strength So soone as ye see the daie breake and light appeare in the skie praie O Day-star most bright O light most glorious and true from whence this light of the daie dooth spring O light which lightest euerie man that commeth into this world without whome all is most horrible darkenesse How is light giuen to them that are in miserie and life to a wretch that hath a heauie hart I looked for light and behold I haue found it I wished for daie and lo the starres of the twy-light doo appeere and I see I thanke thee the dawning of the daie Darkenesse dooth no longer possesse the night nor the shadowe of death staine the daie For the blacke mantell is gone and the thicke clouds are dispearsed so that the light dooth begin to shine and spread it selfe abroad to our comfort O that the night of perturbations being ouerpassed the morning light of comfort and grace might likewise spring in our hart O that darkenesse might so be expelled that light might be kindled and the daie of gladnesse and ioie luckilie shine vpon vs that beeing translated from darkenes to light from perishing into safegard from death to life from hell to heauen we might continuallie praise thee who onlie hast immortalitie and dwellest in the light that none can attaine vnto Amen Or saie thus BLessed be the Lord God of Israel which hath redeemed his people and deliuered vs out of the hands of all our enimies and giuen vs free remission of all our sinnes through the tender mercie of our God whereby also the daie spring from an high doth now visit vs to giue light to them that laie in darkenesse and in the shadowe of death and to guide our feete into the waie of peace that we might serue him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the daies of our life Amen Ye shall doo well if ye take heed vnto the word as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place vntill the daie dawne and the daie-star appeare in your harts 2. Peter 1 verse 19. Meditation MUse a little how much the light and eie of the mind and soule is better than of the bodie And remember that we ought therefore much more to care for the soule that it may sée well than for the bodie Thinke also that beasts haue bodilie eies as well as men but men onlie haue eies of the mind and that such as are godlie wise At the Sun-rising praie O Lord Iesus Christ which art the true Sunne of the
sinnes and wickednesse my great ingratitude and vnthankefulnesse towards thee for all thy mercifull benefits so aboundantlie powred vpon me through Iesus Christ which wouldest vouchsafe he being thine owne deere darling in whome was and is all thy whole pleasure and delight to giue him for me to the verie death of the Crosse yea and that when I was thine vtter enimie of mercie inestimable and loue incomprehensible Who euer sawe such a thing God became man and was crucified for me that by his death I might liue Alas that euer I should become so wicked a wretch and vnkind a creature to displease so louing kind and mercifull a God and father Oh forgiue me forgiue me for thy great mercie sake for thy truth and promise sake and I will neuer trespasse againe against thy diuine Maiestie anie more but will gladlie serue thee in true holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of my life by the grace and assistance of thy good and holie spirit the which I beseech thee to giue me also that he may gouerne me and guide my hart in thy true faith feare and loue that in all my deeds words and thoughts I may glorifie thy holie name which liuest and reignest with the sonne and the holie Ghost three persons and one God to whome be all honour glorie praise thanks power rule and dominion for euer and euer Amen Another confession of sinnes proper for the Sabaoth daie OH my most mercifull father the father of mercies and God of all consolation and comfort my God my father I most wretched sinner confesse and acknowledge my selfe vnfeinedlie with hart mind mouth now before thee to haue most greenoushe offended thy high Maiestie and goodnesse I recognise and acknowledge my selfe to be full of sinne full of vnfaithfulnesse and a seruant vnprofitable For all thy holie commandements haue I transgressed and broken First I haue not set all my whole beleefe confidence trust and hope in thee I haue not loued and honoured thee with all my hart with all my soule mind and powers of my soule Secondlie I haue diuided thine honour and worship from thee and giuen it to thy creatures and dead things imagined of mine owne fond fantasie I meane in the adoring and worshipping of images Thirdlie I haue abused thy most holie name by false and deceitfull swearing to the hinderance of my neighbour and idlelie and vainlie haue I vsed thy holie name I haue not said nor done neither thought all things to thy glorie Fourthlie in the Saboth daie I haue not giuen my selfe to hearing reading learning the holie Scriptures neither haue I giuen meate to the hungrie drinke to the thirstie lodged the harbourlesse clothed the naked visited the sicke comforted nor releeued the poore and men in prison For I haue not expended of how great weight these words of thy sonne my Sauiour Christ are neither beleeued him saieng In as much as ye haue done these things vnto one of the least of these my brethren ye haue done it vnto me Matth. 25. But I haue bestowed and spent my gold and siluer after my lewd lust and concupiscence in excesse of meat and drinke in gorgeous apparell of my bodie of my children seruants and house c. where I should not haue bestowed it or else not so largelie delicatelie nicelie and excessiuelie haue bestowed it as I haue not regarding in the meane time to suffer the deere beloued brethren of Iesu Christ to go naked and to perish for cold and hunger I haue I saie not ceased from mine owne sinfull will and lusts praieng at all times thy will and not mine to be fulfilled Furthermore I haue not honoured my father and mother I haue not so much set by them esteemed them and had them in such reuerence as thou commandest me nor obeied them neither comforted releened or helped them I haue slaine I haue broken wedlocke I haue stolne I haue sold by false weights and measures and borne false witnesse finallie I haue coueted my neighbours house I haue desired his wife his seruant his cattell his other goods vnlawfullie Thus most greeuouslie haue I sinned infinit waies O Lord omitting and leauing thy commandements Oh Father to fulfill the desire of my flesh the world and the diuell Wherefore I crie thee mercie my God most mercifull father and most humblie I desire and beseech thee for the loue which thou bearest to thy deer sonne mine onelie whole and entire Sauiour Iesu Christ to haue mercie on me and to forgiue me most miserable sinner euen in his bloud and for his pretious death sake For when I went about to seeke thee to trust vnto thee or to doo anie thing to thy glorie yet would not this lust and concupiscence that contagious originall poison and fleshlie dregges drawne of our father Adam suffer me perfectlie to doo that I would haue done Through this naturall concupiscence I striue and fight dailie against the holie Ghost in me which vnlawfull lust and desire I knowledge to be a greeuous sinne against thy highnes if thou shouldest iudge me straitlie after thy Lawe without the which concupiscence I cannot be Wherefore I being a wretched yea a most abhominable wretched sinner in my selfe cleerelie destitute of all righteousnesse of all godlinesse of all holinesse and all deseruings am come now by faith before thee vnto Christ his mercie seate and righteousnesse vnto his goodnesse deseruings and satisfactions desiring thee O most mercifull father for his deaths sake that his righteousnesse his wisedome his holinesse his goodnesse his merits and satisfactions may be mine and serue for my forgiuenesse and saluation For like as thou gauest me him to die for my sinnes euen so beleeue I that thou hast giuen me with him all his to be mine and to serue me for my saluation Wherefore glorie honor worship empire and rule be to thee oh father with the sonne and the holie ghost for euer world without end So be it Another Confession of sinnes for Sundaies to be vsed in the forenoone or afternoone O Most mercifull Lord God my tender and deere father vouchsafe I hartilie beseech thee to looke downe with thy fatherlie eies of pitie vpon me most vile and wretched sinner which lie heere prostrate in heart before the feete of thy bottomlesse mercie For I haue sinned against the throne of thy glorie and before thee O most deere Father insomuch that I am not worthie to be called thy daughter Yet neuerthelesse forasmuch as thou art the God and Father of all mercie and comfort and againe desirest not the death of a sinner but like a true Samaritan takest thought for my sillie wounded soule make me I praie thee by infunding of thy pretious oile of comfort into my wounds ioifullie to run with the lost sonne into the lap of thine euerlasting pitie For lo thou art my hope and trust in whom I onlie repose my selfe hauing in thee full confidence and faith And so I saie with a verie faithfull
earnestlie repentant for my sinnes which grace my soule desireth and coueteth verie much and except it come of thy gift I cannot haue it but by the holie Ghost which dooth mollifie the hard harts of sinners and prouoketh them to weeping Giue me the grace of teares like as thou gauest to our forefathers and mothers whose examples wee ought to followe that I may bewaile my selfe in all my life like as they did bewaile themselues daie and night Giue me the deaw of thy grace from aboue and also a deaw of teares beeneth that my teares may be vnto me in stead of bread daie and night and that I may be made in thy sight O Lord my God by the fire of thy prouocation a fat acceptable sacrifice Make me to be mortified and killed vpon the altar of mine hart and that I may be receiued of thee as a fat and a sweet smelling sacrifice Giue vnto me O good Lord a plentifull flowing and cleere well of teares in the which I may wash continuallie this fowle and spotted sacrifice For although I haue offered vp my selfe wholie vnto thee by the helpe of thy grace yet neuerthelesse in manie things I offend thee dailie bicause of my great fragilitie and weakenesse Giue me therefore the grace of teares and continuall repentance O blessed God and most especiallie through the great sweetnesse of thy loue and the remembrance of thy mercies prepare this table for thy seruant in thy sight and giue me power that as oft as I list I may be satisfied of it Grant vnto me for thy goodnesse and pittie that this thy cup replenished and filled full may satisfie my thrist that my spirit may couet thee and that my mind may burne in thy loue forgetting all vanitie and miserie Heare O my God heare O light of mine eies thou that art the stirrer vp and quickener of my dull eares heare what I desire and aske and giue me grace to aske that which thou hearest O pittifull Lord which art woont to be easilie intreated be not hard to be intreated of me bicause of my sinnes but for thy goodnesse receiue the praiers of thy seruant and grant me the effect of my petition and desire Amen A godlie and diuine Meditation of the ioies of the celestiall para dise to be vsed at conuenient times in the church that is either before or after publike seruice for to that all men present ought to be attentiue O My soule let vs returne to the heauenlie citie wherin we be registred made free citizens For like as we be fellowe-citizens of the Saints and houshold-meanie of God and like as we be the heires of God and coheires with Christ so let vs a little consider the happie roialtie of our citie so far foorth as it is possible for vs to consider it Let vs saie with the Prophet O how glorious things are spoken of thee thou citie of God! For thou art the dwelling place of all them that reioice the ioie of the whole earth is founded vpon thee There is not in thee anie age nor miserie of age there is not in thee anie maimed person anie lame man anie crooke backe nor anie mishapen bodie For all be growne vp to perfect men after the full measure of the age of Christ What blesseder thing can there be than such a life where there is no feare of pouertie nor weakenesse of diseases No man is harmed there no man is displeased there no man enuieth there There is no burning of couetousnesse no desire of meate no ambitious suing for honour and authoritie There is no dread of diuell no snares of feends no feare of hell fire There is no death neither of bodie nor of soule but pleasant life assured of immortalitie Then shall there be no miseries then shall there be no debates but all things shall be at agreemeut bicause all the Saints shall agree in one Peace and mirth hold all things togither all things are there calme and quiet There the seuen lamps of Gods spirits are still burning before the throne of God and there is continuall light not such as is now heere but so much the brighter as it is much happier For as we read that citie shall need no sunne nor moone nor light artificiall because the Lord almightie shall shine in it and the Lambe as a lampe shall be the light of it where the Saints and wise Uirgins shall shine as the stars for euer without end and such as haue taught manie in the waie of righteousnesse shall be as the brightnesse of the skie Where there shall be no night no darkenesse no meeting of clouds no painfulnesse of heate or cold but there shall be such a temperatnesse as neuer eie hath seene eare heard nor hart of anie man conceiued There shall be no companie sauing onlie of them that are accounted woorthie to enioie the same whose names are written in the booke of life But yet it is far aboue all these things to be in fellowship with the companies of Angels Archangels and all the heauenlie Powers to behold the Patriarchs and Prophets to see the Euangelists and Apostles to woonder at the hosts of Martyrs and Confessors to view the companies of Uirgins and to see all the Saints yea and also to see our owne parents and kindred Glorious are these things O my soule but much more glorious is it to behold the present countetenance of God O happie plesantnesse O plesant happinesse to see the Saints to be with the Saints and to be a Saint Yea a passing excellent glorie shall it be when we shall see God in himselfe and when we shall both see and haue him in our selues for euer and euer of whom we shall neuer haue seene ynough O my soule let vs thinke vpon this I saie with a diligent mind let vs long after this with our whole hart let vs sigh hartilie desire earnestlie and wish continuallie that we may soone come vnto them vnto that citie aboue whereof so glorious things are spoken and wherein is the habitation of all that reioice Amen Another diuine Meditation of the happinesse of the soules that are with God especiallie to be vsed when you haue sung a Psalme after a funerall Sermon HAppie is the soule which being let loose from the earthlie prison flieth vp freelie into heauen and there beholdeth thee hir most sweete Lord face to face and is no more disquieted with anie feare of death but reioiceth in the euerlastingnesse of incorruptible glorie For it is safe and out of perill and hencefoorth feareth neither enimie nor death It possesseth thee hir mercifull Lord whom she hath long sought and euer loued And accompanieng hir selfe with the quiers of Psalme-singers she singeth continuallie the sugred songs of euerlasting mirth to the glorie of thee O King Christ O gratious Iesu For she is as it were made drunken with the bountifulnesse of thy house and thou makest hir to drinke of the streame of thy pleasures Happie
beeing made thine adopted children we may by the sanctification of thy spirit inherit the euerlasting kingdome through the same Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Or praie for the fruits of Baptisme thus MOst heauenlie and eternall father we thy humble seruants entirelie desire thy fatherlie goodnesse that as thou hast begun in vs a newe birth washed vs with the fountaine of regeneration whereby we are made members of thy bodie and elected into the number and felowship of thy Church and congregation so thou wouldest powre vpon vs the grace of thy spirit to direct our liues according to this beginning in holinesse and purenesse that we may mortifie the lusts of the flesh resist the assaults of Sathan and auoide the alurements of the wicked world remembring alwaies that Baptisme doth represent vnto vs our vocation quenching those sparks of concupiscence that we all drawe from the old Adam and quickning vs in those good fruits of Christ our Sauiour who continuallie preserue vs with his holie spirit for euer and euer Amen Or praie for the continuance of the true institution of the Sacraments thus O Most mightie and most mercifull God by whose power the heauens and earth and all things therein are created who hast placed euerie thing in a most excellent order and hast framed man after thine owne similitude and image raising him from hell to heauen from wo to ioie from damnation to saluation and hast giuen him through thy sonne Iesu Christ a most sure bond of thy promise made in the beginning to mankind for the redemption of the world sending thine onlie begotten Sonne Iesu Christ to performe the same who made one onelie oblation and sacrifice for the sinnes of the whole world and did ordaine and institute two most holie Sacraments to continue the remembrance of the same make vs euer mindfull we beseech thee of these thine inestimable treasures Continue oh Lord this thy fauour towards vs. Let not tyrants preuaile against thy Church but let thy mightie power be shewed that the sacred rites may cōtinue in thy Church that the enimies may be ouerthrowne as the Turke who would vtterlie destroie those most holie Sacraments which thou hast ordeined for our saluation as the Anabaptists which like heretikes alter thy most holie institution as the Atheists who bred in them great corruption Conuert them we beseech thee O Lord and establish vs in the truth of thy holie spirit by thy mightie power that both now and euer wee may continue in the right institution of thy Sacraments which thy Sonne our Sauiour Christ hath left most perfect vnto vs to the endlesse ioie and consolation of our soules To whome therefore with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour glorie and praise world without end Amen Prouerbes 9. verse 1. WIsedome hath built hir house and hewen out hir seauen pillers she hath killed hir victuals drawne hir wine and prepared hir table she hath sent foorth hir virgins and crieth vpon the high places of the citie saieng Who so is simple let him come hither and to him that is destitute of wisedome she saith Come and eate of my meate and drinke of my wine that I haue drawne Canti 5. I AM come saith Christ vnto his spouse the Church into my garden my sister my spouse I gathered my mirrh with my spice I ate my honie-combe with my honie I dranke my wine with my milke Eate ô freends drinke and make ye merrie ô welbeloued Reuelation 19. HAppie and blessed are they which are called vnto the Lambes supper Christian praiers to be said before at and after ye receiue the holie Communion and first An effectuall meditation of the right Christian beleefe in the holie Sacrament of the Lords supper and of the woorthie and fruitefull receiuing the same to our comfort and saluation to be diligentlie read before you receiue O My soule let vs now carefullie consider first whether we bee come namelie to the celestiall table heauenlie banket greate feast costlie repast and sumptuous supper of the most puissant glorious mightie and magnificent King of kinges and Lord of lordes Iesus Christ thy most mercifull maker righteous redeemer souereigne sauiour and deere spouse and that of necessitie as both forced therevnto by his iust commandement and also allured and inuited by his mercifull promises Secondlie O my soule let vs rightlie knowe and diligentlie marke what things are heere presentlie set before vs on this holie Table and prouided for vs in this blessed banket to taste of namelie that the deintie dishes and the refection and meate which we must in verie deede seeke for onelie in this sacred supper are no vaine ceremonies no bare signe no vntrue figure of a thing absent no earthlie bodie no carnall meate nor anie fleshlie substance but as the sacred Scripture saith and other holie men doo rightlie tearme and call them The Bread and Cup of the Lord a heauenlie refection the sweet deinties of our sauiour the nourishment of our soules an inuisible meate a spirituall foode a ghostlie substance which all are heere now most mercifullie offered and exhibited vnto vs and all other faithfull soules as the soueraigne preseruatiue against death the conseruatorie to euerlasting life the comfortable medicine of the soule the salue of immortalitie the pledge of eternall health the defence of faith the hope of the resurrection the memorie of Christ the annuntiation of his death finallie the communion of the bodie and bloud of the Lord Iesus in a maruellous incorporation which by the holie Ghost the verie bond of our perfection with Christ is through faith wrought in the soules of the faithfull whereby not onlie their soules doo liue to eternall life but also they surelie trust to win to their bodies a resurrection to immortalitie In the which also we may not onlie heare see taste and knowe the mercie of God our Creator sealed the sanctification by Christ our redeemer towards vs confirmed the remission of our sinnes through the holie Ghost our comforter and regenerator fullie satisfied and established but also most sensiblie and effectuallie to our further comfort in deed feele wrought in vs the tranquillitie of conscience the increase of faith the strengthening of hope and the long spreading abroad of brotherlie loue and kindnesse with manie other sundrie maruellous graces and benefits of God most profitable vnto vs. Which things well considered and weighed my soule O with what feruent affection and earnest zeale ought they now to inflame our hart and kindle our mind greedilie to couet and desire the participation of these most holie mysteries yea often to long and hunger after this healthsome bread and continuallie thirst for this diuine heauenlie and blessed food Thirdlie and lastlie O my soule let vs aduisedlie call to mind and well vnderstand the cause wherefore wee are now come vnto this holie table of the Lord which indeed is onlie to this end that we should now be godlie ghests not idle gazers hungrie eaters not steruing
lookers on to feede our selues and not to hire others to feed for vs that so we may liue by our owne meate and not perish for hunger while other deuoure all We are come togither I saie O my soule with this congregation assembled presentlie to celebrate a sacrifice not priuatelie in one kind for the dead nor to make a mysterie a sacrifice nor of a communion to make a priuate eating nor of two parts to haue but one nor yet to applie it for the dead and so we to loose the fruit that are aliue No no my soule God forbid that we should come to celebrate this holie mysterie after anie such sort or to anie such vse or purpose For that were to declare our selues vnwoorthie of the Lord yea to be accursed of him for committing such spirituall blasphemie and robberie But knowe that we are come hither now publikely and openly at this the Lords boord to minister doo that which he himselfe a little before his death vouchsafed in his owne person most wiselie kindlie and louinglie to inuent prouide institute ordeine doo establish and command as a most necessarie waie and meane for it the better to take some place in vs and not to be frustrate of it end and purpose Yea to doo that which his holie Apostles also afterward togither with the godlie fathers in the primitiue Church both vsed practised authorised and confirmed according as it was deliuered and giuen by the first author thereof onelie that is to saie euen openlie and publikelie to celebrate in the Lords most happie commemoration and remembrance at this his holie table the heauenlie memorie of that most maruellous worke and deere bought benefit of our redemption and saluation wrought by Christ Iesus to our endlesse consolation profit commoditie and eternall saluation in his with all reuerence named most pretious death painfull crosse bloudie passion And wite thou well O my soule that like as Moses Aaron and Phinees long since did somtimes eate Manna in the wildernesse then spirituallie vnderstanding those visible things euen so now we in like maner spirituallie vnderstanding these holie mysteries for it is the spirit that quickeneth and giueth life the flesh profiteth vs nothing as saith our Sauiour must here also spirituallie hunger spirituallie taste spirituallie eate the flesh of Christ and spirituallie drinke his bloud indeed in these holie mysteries by faith onlie and assured constant beleefe that the blessed bodie of Christ was crucified and his pretious bloud shed vpon the Crosse for our saluation And so receiue this the Lords supper euen for a token badge or cognizance of this faith and saluation in Christs merits declaring therby euermore his death and passion with thanks-giuing vntill he come Neither must we now so much as once dreame of anie grosse or carnall eating or fleshlie feeding or thinke that we are come at this present to feed our senses and bellie to corruption for that were baselie to abiect and bind our selues to the elements and creatures and so to declare our selues drowned in deed in the dirtie lake of blindnesse and ignorance but onlie and in truth to nourish and feed our inward man to immortalitie and life euerlasting namelie that as our outward man is nourished by letting in this bodilie meat into the stomach that is helthsome and sound to be digested so our inward man may be spirituallie fed and satisfied by receiuing the meate thereof into our soule and hart sound and whole in faith And therfore we shall not need now at this present time in dooing these things to whet our teeth O my soule but as S. Cyprian saith with sincere faith to breake and diuide this holie bread For surelie without faith which indeed is the onelie instrument most necessarie in the right vse of all these holie mysteries it is impossible to please God heerein neither can the vnbeleeuers and faithlesse folke feed vpon the Lords pretious bodie nor enioie the eating and drinking of this so high and diuine nourishment of spirituall food Yea to haue anie other eating than spirituallie by faith onelie is plaine idolatrie It behoueth vs therfore O my soule diligentlie to ponder weigh and consider of these things that now at the last we may not onelie vnfeinedlie and thoroughlie trie prooue and examine our selues our owne consciences and liues but also humblie acknowledging our faults vnto God hartilie repenting our former sinfull life asking mercie of GOD the Father for Christs sake and gladlie forgiuing all our offenders effectuallie and carefullie there withall plucke vp euen the verie roots of heathenish infidelitie and all distrust in Gods mercifull promises to the end we may thereby in verie deed shew our selues liuelie plants of the fruitfull oliue liuing branches of the true vine and woorthie members of Christs mysticall bodie euen such as haue our life our abiding our vnion and as it were our incorporation with him Finallie O my soule we must not now like chattering Iaies so much regard or consider these earthlie elements and terrene creatures which we see with our corporall eie and still remaine so but especiallie and in deed haue respect to the heauenlie graces and benefits which our faith beholdeth in and by them Neither must we by anie meanes cleaue to these inferiour or base things which lie here beneath and are visiblie discerned but leauing them altogether wee must rather resemble and plaie the parts of the Egles who flie mount vp thither where the dead bodie lieth that is giuing credit to the words of Christ who saith The words that I speake are spirit and life And againe remembering that God willeth such as will be true worshippers of him to worship him in spirit and truth we must now so behold the bread and wine with our naturall eies that we may neuerthelesse especiallie lift vp the eies of our mind to heauen and looke vp by faith vpon the holie bodie and bloud of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ God and man as he is there sitting at the right hand of God his Father in equall glorie power and maiestie alwaies seeking it there where the sunne of righteousnesse euermore shineth continuallie holding fast and still cleauing by faith onlie to the rocke whence we may sucke in deed the sweetnes of euerlasting saluatin So shall we O my soule now repenting hartilie our former fowle life being in perfect loue and charitie with all men maruelling with reuerence and feare at these sacred things now touching these holie and fearfull mysteries with our mind receiuing them with the hand of our hart and taking them fullie with our inward man by faith onelie be sure at this holie table euen now presentlie to receiue not onlie the outward Sacrament but the spirituall thing also not the figure but the truth not the shadowe but the bodie and that not to death but to life not to our destruction but to our saluation which God euen our owne God for his mercies sake grant vs now effectuallie to
with thy presence fill me with thy comfort spirituall deinties Make my faith strong to beleeue thy word and promises that being made holie as thou art holie I may now holilie taste and see how sweet thou art in this life by inchoation and in the life to come perfectlie pleasantlie and perpetuallie enioie thy heauenlie table O our Father giue vs this daie our dailie bread that we may walke in the strength thereof daie and night vntill we come to thy holie hill of Horeb. My sweet Lord let me feed vpon thee My life enter into my soule O sweet loue O louing sweetnesse let my bellie eate thee and my soule be refreshed by thee the heauenlie Bridegrome For thou art the bread and fountaine of life yea all things indeede whereby the righteous liue which loue thee Thee doo I couet loue and woorship with whome I shall dwell reigne and be blessed Upon thee doo I call for my soule which thou preparest to receiue thee through the desire which thou breathest into it Come therefore O purger of sinnes thou which art the curer of wounds the strength of the feeble the comforter of the sorowfull the worship and honour of all them that liue and the onelie health of the dead Come I saie O blessed Trinitie and enter into my soule come I beseech thee and haue mercie vpon me make me meete for thee that thou maist possesse that which thou hast both made and redeemed sanctified and preserued that I may haue thee as a seale vpon my hart Giue me thy selfe O God my God restore thy selfe vnto me for nothing else can suffice thy seruant and mercifullie graunt vnto me according to the multitude of thy great mercies that my basenesse may please thy Maiestie my vilenesse thine almightie power O sweet Christ O Charitie my God dulcet honie snowie milke the foode of Angels make me to growe in thee that I may eate thee with a sauorie taste Make me to ouercome the enimie of my saluation that thou maist vouchsafe to giue me according to thy promise to eate of the tree of life which is in the middest of the Paradise of God and of the Manna that is hid and that I may one daie or other be called vnto the Lambes supper and eate bread at thy table in the kingdome of GOD among the blessed ones O deere God I praie thee let my mind thus kindeled with the loue of thee flie euen till it come to the beautie of thy celestiall house to the throne of thy glorie and there let it be fed at the dining table of the heauenlie citizens in the place of full feeding by the plentifull running streames and pleasant pastures Behold Lord I stand at the doore and knocke I beseech thee by the bowels of thy mercie wherewith thou being the daie-spring from an high hast visited vs open the hand of thy pitie to a wretch that knocketh and vouchsafe mercifullie to bid me enter into thee that I may rest with thee dwell with thee and sup with thee and thou with me and that I may be refreshed to the full of thee which art the liuing sweet white-bread and heauenlie repast wherewith when I am once fed and that my strength is come perfectlie vnto me againe I may ascend vnto the more high things neuer from hencefoorth hunger or thirst anie more so greatlie after vanities So be it When ye are about to receiue the bread lift vp your hart and eies vnto God in heauen and saie O Father I hartilie thanke thee who hast giuen thine onlie begotten son to take vpon him our naturall bodie which bodie was once offered to thee vpon the altar of the crosse for the health welth and saluation of all sinners for whose sake O father I beseech thee to haue mercie vpon me and in remembrance of whose most bitter death and painfull passion with all possible thanks for all thy benefits brieflie comprised therein I now in trembling and feare receiue this holie bread to feed therby in my soule on Christs blessed bodie which was giuen for me and that onelie by faith to mine euerlasting comfort and saluation and thine eternall glorie Amen Or thus O Heauenlie Father and blessed God I render vnto thee most hartie thanks for all thy benefits which thou hast shewed vnto me most wretched sinner but especiallie for that most sweet smelling sacrifice which thine onlie begotten sonne offered vnto thee on the altar of the crosse by giuing his most pure vndefiled bodie vnto the death for the redemption of mankind In remēbrance wherof according to thy welbeloued sonnes ordinance I now receiue this holie bread most intirelie beseeching thee that I may both be partaker of the merits of thy deere sonnes bodie breaking and also lead a life woorthie of so great a benefit vnto the glorie of thy name Amen When you see the wine behold it with your corporall eies For as Christ saith it is wine but lift vp your soule vnto Christ in heauen whose bloud is there alwaie fresh and liuelie before the Father to sprinkle and quicken thee and praie saieng O Lord Iesu Christ Sonne of the liuing GOD which being vpon the crosse with thy hands spred abroad for the redemption of all mankind diddest drinke the most bitter cup of thy passion I beseech thee vouchsafe now to drawe the mouth of the soule that thirsteth after thee vnto the high flouds and flowing streames of thine eternall abundance and satietie yea drawe me wholie vnto thy selfe which art the liuing well to the intent I may according to my capacitie drinke of that wherevpon I doo liue O my God my life thou didst saie with thy holie and blessed mouth If anie man thirst let him come vnto me and drinke O well of life grant vnto my thirstie soule alwaie to drinke of thee that according to thy holie and true promise waters of life may flowe out of my bellie O well of life replenish and fill my mind full of the riuer of thy pleasures make my hart to be drunken as it were in thy loue that after the maner of them that be drunken with wine which forget all things saue the cup so I may forget all vaine and earthlie things and continuallie haue nothing else in my remembrance but thee onelie thy bitter death thy painfull passion and pretious bloud-shedding Come I praie thee into my hart and make it drunken with the abundance of thy plentifulnesse so that I may forget all temporall things make me I saie throughlie drunken with thy cup that I may forget euen my selfe and vtterlie renounce all mine owne vngodlinesse sinne O Christ which art the euerlasting suffisance that shalt be giuen to the hungrie and thirstie refresh vs continuallie with the most exquisite and well furnished banket of thy blessed Sacraments and make vs drinke plentiouslie of the holie cup of thy blessed spirit and grace Let the inspiration of thy most sweet spirit succeed like springs of water
and let not perpetuall food be wanting to our weakenesse wherewith to feed and replenish vs. Let me taste of the pleasant riuers of the holie Ghost that I may be refreshed and that my soule may be cooled with the sweet liquors thereof so that I burne hencefoorth with no iniquitie or lust to sinne Make me to quaffe hartilie the cup of thankes-giuing yea let my bowels be filled with the pleasant wine of thy loue and refresh me continuallie with the most sweet riuers of thy heauenlie consolation Thou art my life whereby I liue the hope that I sticke vnto the glorie that I desire O giue me vnderstanding cheere vp my loue Lift thou vp my soule and drawe the mouth of my spirit which thirsteth after thee vp to the water streames that are aboue Uouchsafe sweet Iesu in the midst of my monings sore complaints and deepe sighs of my hart to take vp my sad and sorowfull mind to the top of the high mountains euen to the beds of sweet spices putting me in a place of pasture by the riuers of sweet waters where thou preparest a table diuerselie furnished for thy friends against they come to refresh mine appalled spirits to cheere vp my heauie hart make it merie Through the which deinties I being at the length well refreshed may forget my manifold miseries and the vanities of this life and rest in thee which art the true peace euerlasting passing all vnderstanding Lord God which art the sanctifier of the Saints I beseech thee consecrate and make me meete for thy dwelling and continue thou euer with me vouchsafe all to besprinkle me with the bloud of thy onlie begotten sonne by which one souereigne thing both in bodie and soule I may be reuiued with a maruellous comfortable ioie O Lord these are thy great benefits wherewith thou wilt releeue the want of thy thirstie children grant I beseech thee that I may drinke on thy cup with a glad mind willing hart pure conscience and clensed spirit and bring to passe by thy mercie that this drinke which I shall now drinke may be to my health and saluation Finallie grant O good God that I may through thy most rich spirit and his eternall deinties enioie the princelie palace of heauen and quaffing verie abundantlie of the well-spring of life which is with thee I may by the excellent benefit of thy glorious passion death resurrection and light behold the brightnesse of perpetuall felicitie and see thee face to face where my mind may be fed and full satiate with the meate and drinke of life without end For like as the hart thirsteth after the water springs so thirsteth my soule after thee O Lord my GOD and King Amen When you are about to receiue the wine or cup praie I Thanke thee deere father that thou didst not spare thine onelie and most deerlie beloued sonne Iesus Christ to shed euen his most pretious bloud vpon the altar of the Crosse for to wash awaie our sinnes In remembrance whereof I now in trembling and dread drinke of this cup humblie beseeching thee O Father that the crucifieng of his blessed bodie and shedding of his pretious bloud may be meritorious to my saluation Amen Or else thus O Blessed and mercifull Father thy loue towards me sinfull creature is so exceeding great and vnspeakable that I can not but giue vnto thee most humble thanks namelie for the shedding of the most pretious blood of thy deere sonne Iesu Christ by the vertue whereof thy wrath stirred vp against me wretched sinner is pacified my ransome is paid the lawe is fulfilled mine enimies are ourcome and put to flight In remembrance of this so noble a victorie and of so great a benefit I am come vnto this thy table O mercifull father to drinke of this cup desiring thee that as my outward man is comforted by the drinking of this wine so likewise my inward man may be comforted and made strong by true faith in the pretious blood of thy most deere sonne O Lord and my heauenlie Father giue me thy holie spirit which may so rule and gouerne my hart that I neuer be vnthankfull nor forgetfull of this thine exceeding kindnesse but to traine my life according to thy blessed will that whatsoeuer I doo speake or thinke may be vnto the glorie of thy blessed name and the health of my soule through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen After you haue receiued the holie Communion giue God thanks and saie I Thanke thee good Lord of thine infinite goodnesse that thou this daie hast fed me with thy blessed bodie bloud in the Sacrament desiring thee meeklie that this Sacrament which I haue receiued may be to me a purgation and clensing of my sins a fortitude spiritual strength against my frailtie a sure defence against worldlie troubles and aduersities a purchasing of grace and pardon a medicine of life and a continuall remembrance of thy blessed passion so that in the waie it may conduct me when I stumble it may vphold me and when I am fallen it may raise me so that by good continuance in thy will to euerlasting glorie it may bring me And so order the tallage and taste of my hart that I neuer seeke other sweetnesse but thee that I neuer seeke other louer but thee nor none other comfort beside thee so that I care for none other delight but thee nor anie other honour but thine And giue mee such perfect loue towards thee wherewith I may come to as great merit in heauen as though I had spent all my life daies in the remembrance of thy blessed passion and gratiouslie deliuer me from all tribulations of bodie and soule captiuitie anguish and perils This grant not onlie vnto me but also vnto all thine elect and chosen Christian people heere and else-where for thy holie name sake Amen Another thanks-giuing after the Communion I Thanke thee O Christ Lambe of God for offering thy selfe vpon the altar of the crosse to thy Father an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet sauour to God for our sinnes to reconcile vs vnto him for certaintie whereof and confirmation of our faith thou hast instituted on our behalfe this holie Sacrament of the supper that as oft as we receiue the same we may celebrate thy memorie and with thankes-giuing remember the merit and fruit of thy passion I beseech thee by thy bitter death stirre vp our minds that by often receiuing this thine ordinance and institution we may consider how bitter a death thou didst suffer on our behalfe and how great the loue was which draue thee to take so cruell and shamefull a death to saue vs and withall continuallie yeeld as we are bound hartie thanks vnto thee for the same and after the like sort answer to our power that vnspeakable good will by our good life and carefull obseruation of thy commandements and may when either through frailtie of our flesh or by anie other fault preuented we sinne runne by and by
vnto thee by repentance and through consideration of this new and eternall couenant touching the remission of sinnes made with vs be erected and vpholden vnto a liuelie and puissant hope O sweet Iesu grant that being fast linked vnto thee by this holy mysterie I may receiue power strength from thee beleeuing thy promises and be wholie addicted therevnto without anie doubting that so my conscience in feare and troubles may haue perfect consolation Suffer me not to be separated from the members of thy bodie which is the Church whereof thou art head fulfilling all in all but graunt that abiding in thy word and kingdome I may be without fault in the foundation and without sinne against my conscience and walke worthie this Sacrament forsaking vtterlie and renouncing the diuell and all idolatrie all vices and carnall desires which fight against the soule For we cannot be partakers of the Lords table and of the diuels too Make me also to remember that by this Sacrament I am bound to doo good vnto others For as manie graines of corne doo make one loafe and manie grapes make one wine so being manie yet are we but one loafe and one bodie in asmuch as we all participate of one bread and drinke of one cup. Ioine vs therefore togither O Sauiour of the world at this common banket through the band of loue that we may be fastened vnto thee our head that as thou didst die for vs so we againe may not feare to suffer and to giue our liues for the glorie of thy name that we neuer be separated from thee neither in life nor death Make vs also hartilie to loue one another like the true and liuelie members of thy bodie that if neede require we may giue our liues for our brethren Suffer not concord of minds to be broken For he that receiueth the mysterie of vnitie and keepeth not the bond of peace he doth not receiue the mysterie for himselfe but a testimonie against himselfe Giue grace therefore that leauing aside all wrath fiercenesse maliciousnesse and enuie we may forgiue one another euen as thou forgiuest vs and beare one with another for the better auoiding of strife dissention sectes and pernicious heresies Keepe this thine ordinance and right vse of thy Sacrament amongst vs euermore that this good worke and diuine ceremonie may alwaies be a note and badge of our publike profession whereby we are knowne from pagans and tokens of loue confession and thankefulnesse Remoue awaie all abuses and prophanations of this holie and sacred supper together with the horrible and idolatrous adorations inuented by Sathan and his members to the shamefull deforming of thy godlie goodlie institution but maintaine I humblie beseech thee the true and vnpolluted vse thereof till thy pleasure is to returne in the clouds to iudgement with great power and glorie that it neuer be out of remembrance and last of all at our resurrection from death appoint vs places of thine heauenly table where we may taste the new wine in the kingdome of thy father abiding with thine elect Angels and blessed Saincts for euermore Amen A meditation of the trust which a Christian soule ought to haue in the passion of our Lord Iesu with a thanks-giuing vnto God for the manifold benefits thereof I Might despaire verelie because of my manifold sinnes and negligences without number if it were not that thy word O God was made flesh and dwelt amongst vs. But I can not neither dare I now despaire because that seeing when we were enimies we were reconciled by the death of thy Sonne who being obedient vnto thee to the death yea euen to the shamefull death of the Crosse hath taken awaie the hand-writing of our sinnes and nailing the same to his crosse hath crucified both sinne and death How much more are we now reconciled and saued by him For all the hope certitude and surenesse of all my trust is in his pretious bloud which was shead for vs and for our saluation In him doo I take hartening and by meanes of him who sitteth at the right hand of God and sueth for vs I looke backe with a carelesse eie and now trusting in him in whome I am alreadie risen againe and receiued alreadie mounted vp into heauen and there doo sit among the Angels I haue a desire to come vnto thee not hauing mine owne righteousnesse but that which I haue through the same thy Sonne our Lord Iesu Christ For the which O most mercifull God and most gentle louer of mankind we giue thee thanks who through Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord when we were not didst mightilie make vs and when we were lost through our sinnes most maruellouslie didst deliuer and recouer vs againe To thy goodnesse I saie doo I giue thanks and manifold praises doo I shew foorth to thee with all my hart mind which through the vnspeakable loue wherewith thou hast vouchsafed of thy maruellous goodnesse to loue vs wretches and vnworthie to be beloued didst send the same thine onelie begotten Sonne from thy bosome vnto our Common-weale to saue vs sinners which were at that time the children of perdition and damnation I render vnto thee all possible thanks for his holie incarnation and natiuitie and for the blessed virgin Marie his mother vpon whom he did vouchsafe to take flesh for vs and for our saluation to the intent that like as he is verie God of God so he might be verie man of man I giue thee condigne thanks for his passion and crosse for his death and resurrection for his ascension into heauen and his seate of his Maiestie on thy right hand I giue thee thanks I saie for that most sacred shedding foorth of his pretious bloud wherewith we are redeemed and also for the most holie and quickening sacrifice of his blessed bodie bloud which this daie and dailie in thy Church we feed of and drinke of wherewith also we are washed cleansed and sanctified are made partakers of the onelie high diuinitie Finallie I giue thee thanks for the maruellous and vnspeakable charitie and loue wherewith thou didst loue vs vnwoorthie persons and didst saue vs by thine onelie and beloued sonne For so thou didst loue the world that thou gauest thine onlie begotten sonne to the intent that none which trulie beleeue in him shuld perish but haue euerlasting life And this thing verilie is euerlasting life to knowe thee and also Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent to be verie God by an vpright faith and works woorthie for such a faith Wherefore with all my hart and mouth I doo confesse praise and blesse thee O God the father vnbegotten and thee O God the sonne onlie begotten also thee O holie Ghost and comforter To thee O blessed trinitie be all glorie and praise thanks togither with all power dominion and might in the world of worlds for euer Amen A meditation to be vsed after the receiuing of the holie Communion to stirre vs vp through the
consideration and knowledge of so great a benefit to giue God thanks therefore and to be gratefull for his goodnesse BLesse the Lord O my soule and all mine entrailes laud his most holie name Forget not O my soule the infinite mercies and continuall benefits receiued of his most liberall hand amongst the which well maist thou reckon that which hath been this daie giuen thee that so infinite a Maiestie should vouchsafe to visite thee to enter into thy homelie habitation and with surpassing clemencie wholie to giue himselfe to thee in this most maruellous Sacrament O thou incomprehensible God no lesse pitifull than puissant what shall I saie seeing the depth of thy bottomlesse mercies hath vouchsafed to impart it selfe to the depth of mine vnspekable miseries What thanks can I yeeld thee for so great kindnesse and loue who wot right well that if all the members and muscles of my bodie were turned into tongues yet could I not condignelie thanke thee for the least of all thy benefits How much lesse able shall I then be with one tongue to laud and thanke thee for this present gift being of so great and inestimable a value If Elizabeth the mother of the fore-runner Saint Iohn Baptist being visited of the most sacred virgin Marie thy mother when she perceiued thy presence illuminated with the holie Ghost was so astonished thereat as she cried out alowd and said Whence haue I this that the mother of my Lord dooth come to me How much more iustlie am I to be astonished and to crie out Whence haue I this that the onlie sonne of that most blessed virgin euen my Lord himselfe and Lord of all Angels heauen and earth and of all the creatures of the world hath visited me entred into me honoured me fostered me and filled me in this most woorthie Sacrament Whence haue I this that a Lord so high so puissant so woorthie of all worship hath vouchsafed to come vnto mee a most wretched worme to me the most heinous sinner of all sinners to me that haue so manie times offended him to me that with my lewdnesse and abhominations haue so oft banished and expelled him out of me Woorthilie did the holie Prophets Iob and Dauid woonder at thy diuine clemencie at what time they said What is man that thou so magnifiest him What is the sonne of man that thus thou visitest him But much greater reason haue we most wretched caitifs to saie the same in these our daies What is man that thou hast thus extolled him as for man to make thy selfe man and to giue thy selfe in foode to man wherewith he may euerie daie be visited and refreshed And albeit all men may maruell at this thy diuine clemencie vsed towards man much more yet may I maruell which of all men am the basest and vnwoorthiest If Dauid when king Saule would haue chosen him for his sonne in lawe reputed himselfe vnwoorthie and said What am I or what is my life or my fathers linage that I should be a sonne in lawe to a king How much more cause haue I now to saie the same seeing the King of all kings hath admitted mee to so high a dignitie What am I or what is my fathers offspring What other am I than a vessell of corruption a sacke of doong and filth ingendred of a most vile stinking matter touching my flesh which ere long shall yeeld food to woormes and am concerning my soule all soiled with sinne fraught with ignorance and forgetfulnesse with manie mo defects and wicked inclinations What other is my life than a vanitie a puffe of wind a smoke and shadowe that quicklie vanisheth a confusion and disorder a continuall exercise of sinne and transgressions of thy commandements Such hath my life mine exercises and mine inclinations beene such also is my father Adams offspring and all his ancient familie sith all that descend of him are generallie borne thus blemished thus bent and all like children of a traitour as he was adiudged to suffer death Wherefore O most puissant Prince and dreadfull King aboue all kings thou knowing me and my life to haue been such much woorse than I either knowe or can imagine hast vouchsafed to receiue me not for a sonne in lawe but for thine owne child and as a yoonger one right tenderlie beloued For such are fathers accustomed most of all to cherish as now thou hast cherished and fed me with this Angels bread wherein is found all sauour and all diuine delight S. Luke reporteth how one of those ghests that were at table with thee in a prince of the Pharisies house should saie Blessed are those that shall eate the bread of life in the kingdome of heauen but much more happie am I if I can knowe it and gather fruit out of it which in this life rate the bread wherein is the selfe-same God spirituallie by faith conteined and therewith receiue a pledge to eate him in his euerlasting kingdome Happie eke are all those that shall dispose themselues to repaire to this most gratious banket wherein are found all sweet tasts and sauours all riches and renowme and all the things that happilie be to be desired Yea what is it that man may long for that is not here offered him If he desire delights and pleasures here be the sincerest the choisest the sweetest If he wish for wealth behold here the treasure that inricheth both heauen and earth If state and souereigntie be sought for behold here the highest dignities that can be possiblie atchieued Sith by meanes of this most venerable sacrament the soule is vnited to God and resteth associated and reuerenced with quires of Angels that assist about it Wherefore O ye blind beguiled children of Adam what other pleasure profit doo you prowle for Why doo you as Esaie saith spend your monie and not vpon bread Why imploie you your trauell and not in this that may satiate and content you Why loose you such satietie such sweetnesse and such treasure as is here conteined in this gift Doo not thou so O my soule doo not thou so be not thou henceforth anie more blind see thou seeke not anie carnall contentations hauing meanes to be a partaker of this meere spirituall and celestiall delight Take no more taste and pleasure in the food of death whereof thou earst didst feed hauing this bread of life giuen and granted vnto thee Regard not the pomps and most vaine vanities of this world seeing thou maiest enioie in this Sacrament the true happinesse and good things which in the world cannot possiblie be atteined Imbrace and keepe this treasure which sufficeth to make thee trulie happie possesse this good which exceedeth all good content and quiet thy selfe in this repose which may abundantlie satiate thy desire and be not ingratefull to this thy benefactor but yeeld him hartie thanks as well for this as all other benefits heretofore from the beginning bestowed vpon thee Howbeit my gratious and mercifull Lord
how can I yeeld thee woorthie thanks the debt I owe thee being so great and mine abilitie to discharge the same so small With all my hart and with all my might and power I thanke thine infinite liberalitie for hauing created me to thine owne likenesse and similitude and for hauing for my conseruation created likewise so great varietie of other creatures and much more doo I laud blesse thee for that with thy pretious death and bloud-shed thou hast redeemed me ye a O Lord now I doo with all my bowels and powers of my body soule thanke thee blesse thee adore thee for hauing left vs this he auenlie and most woorthie Sacrament and for giuing me miserable wretch the grace eftsoons to receiue it that eftsoones I may thereby be made partaker of the fruit of thy redemption And bicause these my thanks and praises be slender weake and vnwoorthie of such gifts as I haue receiued I beseech thy sweet sonne Iesus Christ to supplie my want Here vouchsafe to sound perpetuall peales of praises for me euerlastinglie to adore thee for mee to reuerence thee for me and to offer the continuall sacrifice of thanks-giuing for me And yet for that all that I can doo is finite is not correspondent to the value of the benefit I haue this daie receiued being infinite Those most holie and gratefull thanks which thou Lord Iesu gauest to thy Father minding to grant vs this so inestunable a gift euen those same which are infinite doo I offer both to him and thee together For verelie beleeue I that for this cause didst thou yeeld them that so incomparable a gift should not be destitute of condigne graces and thanks And now doo I humblie beseech thee of thy most bonntifull clemencie that seeing it hath pleased thee to satiate and honour me with thy most worthie presence in this venerable and redoubted Sacrament thou wilt also vouchsafe to grant me thy grace to be alwaies gratefull and to answere woorthilie to this most happie visitation This hath alwaies beene thy woont my Sauiour and Redeemer that where through thy goodnes thou hast vouchsafed to enter there hast thou departed of thy blessings most abundantlie heaping grace vpon grace and mercie vpon mercie Thou enteredst into Matthew the Publicans house and from a Publican thou madest him thy Disciple an Apostle Thou enteredst into Zacheus house when by and by he was changed from his old custome and health was giuen to all his houshold Thou enteredst into Sunon Peters house drauest awaie the ague from his wiues mother leauing hir whole and comforted Eft soones didst thou enter into Martha good Marie Magdalens house and what tongue can tell the spirituall riches thou gauest to that house and the ineffable graces thou endowedst those two sisters with Finallie the figure of this Sacrament to wit the arke of the old Testament because it entred into Obed Edoms house was cause that thy blessings were powred vpon him and all his paieng plentifullie for the harborough that in that house was offered thee Wherefore O most sweet and welcome ghest seeing through thy goodnesse thou hast vouchsafed this daie to enter into my poore cottage send downe withall thy holie blessings thereon by meanes whereof I may woorthilie answer vnto this thine incomparable mercie Cleanse and fine this house Lord from all the filth thou seest in it Repaire and doo some cost on it least it decaie and fall to ruine driue out the darkenesse in it with the glistering beames of thy light adorne and decke it vp with the vertues and graces of the holie Ghost that being thus cleansed repaired adorned and illuminated it may please thee to dwell therein and neuer to depart Tarrie still with me O Lord my comforter the night draweth nigh without thee shall I remaine in darkenesse and so be sore endangered O therefore I saie tarrie thou still with me and depart not from this lodging Thou hast affirmed O eternall truth how thy whole delight is to dwell with the children of men and how thou standest knocking at the doore ready to euter and sup with such as shall open and let thee in Behold how I haue giuen thee free entrance into me and thou of thy goodnesse hast admitted me to the sweet supper of thy most sacred bodie Abandon me not therfore my souereigne Lord ne depart thou from me drawe me after thee knit and tie me fast to thee yea drawe me quite out of my selfe sith I am much better in thee than in me In thee I liue in me I die in thee I remaine firme and constant in me I decaie and come to naught Renew me therefore O my sanctifier and through loue transforme me into thee grant me so to liue in thee as that I onlie liue to thee I onlie loue thee I onlie delight in thee that thou be mine onlie ioie mine onlie comfort mine onlie foode wherewith my soule may in such sort be refreshed as that all other meats seeme loathsome and vnsauorie to it This onlie haue I chosen this onlie shall suffice me with this alone will I liue contented satisfied and happie vntill the desired daie come when I shall feed of thee in another forme and enioie thee continuallie in the companie of all the elect and blessed Saincts of the celestiall court where with the Father and the holie Ghost thou liuest and reignest euerlastinglie Amen Another fruitfull meditation of the Christian soule exhorting to thankefulnesse newnesse of life and holie conuersation in deepe consideration of the great benefits of Christ receiued in the Sacrament to be read after the receiuing of the holie Communion in the Church if time serue or at home especiallie on Easter daie THat thou maist not doubt O my soule of so great wealth and felicitie as is wrought for thee in these holie mysteries of Christ whereof now thou hast beene a partaker by his glorious death and resurrection let vs a little refresh our selues with the contemplation thereof as it were chaw the cud by calling them often to our remembrance that so taking great delite in the sweet taste thereof we may the lesse feele or perceiue the bitternesse of this miserable life Go to therefore O my soule call to mind now I saie and wee that therefore thou hast receiued into thine owne possession the euerlasting veritie euen our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to confirme to thy conscience the truth of all this matter Thou hast receiued him if in true faith repentance of hart thou hast receiued him if in purpose of amendment of life thou hast receiued him for an euerlasting gage and pledge of thy saluation Thou hast receiued his bodie which was once broken and his blood which was once shed for the remission of thy sinnes thou hast receiued his bodie to haue within thee the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost for to dwell with thee to indue thee with grace to strengthen thee against thine
may dispend them wiselie to the praise of thy name least that we falselie trusting vpon long life might come vnto death Oh good God how fraile and corrupt a worke be we indeed Euen but verie dust and ashes and the length of our daies be as the flower in the field No man can deliuer himselfe from death no man can saue his owne soule from the graue thou onelie O Lord must doo it namelie to such as beleeue in thee O my GOD haue mercie vpon me and take mee not awaie vnprouided in the middest of my daies but let me go to my graue in a full age Let me remember mine end that when I shall depart out of this life I be not depriued of euerlasting life Let me beare alwaies before mine eies the shortnesse of this life and what a vanitie and what a thing of naught it is as well the men themselues as all their things and affaires Staie my feete O Lord that at no time they slip with some cruell zeale or enuie that I might haue at the vngodlie which for the most part passe their liues quietlie and die more quietlie I beseech thee let not thy chosen persons be discouraged nor offended by this thy godlie prouidence in ordering of worldlie things nor shrinke from thee by reason thereof but rather let vs remember in what dangers in verie deed these vngodlie be in and with how vnhappie a conclusion and terme they close finish their happie course And againe on the contrarie part what pleasantnesse of conscience and what comfort and quietnesse shall followe this our vnquietnesse Finallie O good God in the daie of my buriall when all my friends shrinke from me doo not thou forsake me when my father and mother husband and children forsake me vouchsafe thou O Lord to take me vp and defend me from the roring lions that wait for their praie lead mee safelie through the vnknown countrie bring me happilie to the streets of the heauenlie Zion wherein is the habitation of all that reioice in thee and there set mee amongst thine Angels before the face of thine owne Maiestie where with the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessors Uirgins yea and with all my deere parents and faithfull friends in full measure of happinesse passing excellent glorie and superabundant ioie of thanks-giuing and praise I may magnifie thee my God among thy chosen holie ones for euer and euer Amen Sée another praier in the Ladie Aburgauennies praiers Another meditation of death O GOD what other thing doo wee daily in this present life than heape sinne vpon sinne and hourd trespas vpon trespas So that this daie is woorse alwaies than yesterdaie by increasing as daies so sins and therefore thine indignation good Lord against vs but when we shall be let go out of the prison of this bodie and so taken into thy blessed companie then shall we be in most safetie of immortalitie and saluation then shall come vnto vs no sicknesse no need no paine no kind of euill to soule or bodie but whatsoeuer good we can wish that shall we haue and whatsoeuer we loath shall be farre from vs. Oh deere Father that we had faith to behold these things accordinglie Oh that our harts were persuaded thereof and our affections inflamed with the desire of them Then should we liue in longing for that which now we most loath Oh helpe vs and grant that we being ignorant of things to come and of the time of our death which to thee is certaine may so liue and finish our iournie here that we may be readie and then depart when our departing may make most to thy glorie and our comfort through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another sweet meditation of the longing of the soule to be with God out of Saint Augustine O Kingdome of all worlds eternall wherein is ioie surmounting all ioies and the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding wherein also the soules of all holie folke doo rest and reigne with thee O Lord in euerlasting ioie mirth and gladnesse When shall I enter into thee that I may see my God which dwelleth in thee When shall I go thither behold this great sight What is it that holds me backe Wo is me that my soiourning is prolonged wo is me how long shall it be said vnto me Wait and wait againe And now to what purpose is my waiting My Lord God doo we not wait and watch for the Sauiour our Lord Iesus Christ to come and repaire our base bodies vnto the likenesse of his glorious bodie We wait and watch like wise virgins with our loines girt and our lamps burning for the Lord our Bridegroome when he should come from the Bridehouse to fetch vs into his wedding Come Lord Iesus and tarie not come Lord Iesu Christ come visit vs in peace come lead vs prisoners out of prison that we may reioice before thee with a perfect hart come our Sauiour thou that art longed for of all nations and people come shew thy countenance vnto vs and we shall be safe come my light and my redeemer my GOD and my spouse take my soule out of prison that it may giue praise vnto thy name How long shall I be tossed in the waues of my mortalitie crieng vnto thee Lord and thou hearest me not Lord heare me how I crie vnto thee out of this huge sea and bring me to the hauen of endlesse blisse Happie are they O God which are conueied out of this sea and haue obteined to arriue at thee the safest harborough of all hauens O happie are they indeed which are escaped alreadie from sea to shore from banishment home into their owne countrie and from prison into a palace enioieng their wished rest Blessed are they that alreadie haue gained the garland of endlesse glorie which they sought for here by manie tribulations and ioie now in happie mirth for euer O blessed are they indeed O treble and foure-times blessed are they which being alreadie quite rid of all miseries haue atteined to the kingdome of beautifulnesse and euerlasting blissefulnesse and are assured of their vnappearable glorie For there is ioie endlesse mirth sorowlesse health griefelesse waie without labour light without darknesse life without death Happie therefore I saie are those that alreadie haue escaped the shipwracke of this present miserable life and obteined the grace to come to so great ioies in heauen But alas we are yet still in the waues of the sea longing for thee O Lord the hauen of our sea O Ierusalem the heauenlie countrie of ours O quiet countrie we looke towards thee and ken thee a farre off Wee hale thee from this sea we sigh vnto thee out of this vale of miserie and labour with teares if we may by anie meanes attaine vnto thee O Christ God and the onlie hope of all mankind our refuge and strength whose brightnesse inlighteneth our eies a farre off as the beames of the sea-starre dooth in the mistie darknesse
and to the end for thine owne glorie sake And wee beseech thee O Lord to heale not onlie our heads and limmes but also our harts and soules that we may both in the lawfull keeping of thy Sabboth and all other thy commandements be obedient vnto thee the Lord of the Sabboth And as thou hast taught vs the right keeping of the Sabboth to stand chieflie in dooing of good one vnto another giue vs grace continuallie to keepe this Sabboth inuiolable and vnprophaned that we may onlie doo those things which are holie and acceptable vnto thee and may ceasse from all our lewd works and waies And especiallie O Lord grant that we may auoid carefullie the first step of the ladder that leadeth to that horrible sinne of blasphemie which is not to be forgiuen neither in this world nor in the world to come Amen Ghostlie Meditations with the which it is meete for vs Christians to occupie our selues once in the daie or at the least for those whose leasure will not serue once in the weeke and that euerie Sundaie and holie daie which the Author found in an old and ancient written copie for the excellent matter therin conteind hath thought it good now to publish it to the glorie of God and profit of his Church FIrst let vs call to our memorie the bountifull goodnesse of almightie GOD extended towards vs in the creation of the firmament the earth the sea and all that therein is conteined which he hath made for our onelie comfort and the seruice of vs. And let vs here with also consider the greatnesse and omnipotencie of his power which was able with his word onlie of nothing to make althings those so wonderfull works that they are not able to be comprehended within the compasse of mans reason Call we also to mind the vnsearchablenesse of his diuine wisedome through which in so goodlie order continuallie he both can doth conserue all those things and lastlie let vs not forget his incomparable loue towards vs who of his onlie meere goodnesse without anie part of ablenesse of our deserts hath prouided all these things for our vse and not onlie that but hath moreouer made vs of capacitie and vnderstanding to discusse and knowe how to vse the same for the seruing of our necessities as the diuersitie of times and occasion requireth Let vs not therefore shew our selues vnto him vnthankfull Nextlie let vs call to mind from how sundrie perils as well ghostle as bodilie he hath and dooth from time to time preserue vs namelie from perils on the land perils by water perils of fire perils through sicknes from imprisonment from open shame from slanders from extreme beggerie from famine from pestilence and other horrible diseases from sudden and shamefull death and sundrie other mischiefes which we may vnderstand to haue happened and dailie doo perceiue to happen vnto others which should in like sort haue happened vnto vs if through his mercifull goodnesse we had not beene therefrom preserued and herewith let vs also call vnto mind our health our wealth and all other Gods good gifts which he hath lent vnto vs and render vnto him most humble thanks therefore Also let vs thinke how he hath made vs of no vile sort nor condition but euen vnto his owne likenesse indued with the most pretious gifts of reason vnderstanding memorie and will which noble gifts he hath giuen vs to the intent we should with these honour him accordinglie which if we doo not but doo abuse the same to worldlie vaine and fantasticall delights we may then assure our selues not onelie to make a straight account thereof but also to be most greeuouslie punished therefore Moreouer let vs call to mind how mercifull and like a most louing Maister and Sauior Christ the Sonne of God and second person in Trinitie Lord and king ouer all rule and power descended downe from the bosome of his Father and from his heauenlie throne into this miserable world and here tooke vpon him our fraile flesh suffering in the same by the space of three and thirtie yeeres hunger thirst cold watch pouertie euil report hatred disdaine slanders rebukes checks taunts scornes buffets binding beating whipping wrongfull accusation false condemnation yea and at the last most vile spitefull cruell and shamefull death and that innocentlie and giltlesse thereby to deliuer vs from our gilt and the eternall death which all we by the transgression of our first parent Adam had most iustlie deserued And herewith let vs also thinke what reproch shame it is to vs to repine or grudge to suffer the like for his sake sith he being both our Lord and Maister of the singular loue he did beare vnto vs hath suffered all those for our sakes should not we then being but seruants or rather vile slaues in respect of him disdaine or repine at that which he not onelie our Maister but King ouer all kings hath not disdained to suffer Also let vs consider how that by the merits of his most bitter passion and his grace giuen vnto vs in the Sacrament of baptisme he hath forgiuen vs cleerelie clensed vs and vtterlie discharged vs of all our former sinnes Herevpon let vs call to mind how oft since that time we haue offended him by falling againe into deadlie sinne therewith let vs call to remembrance the particularitie of our offences the greeuousnesse of the same how long we haue continued in them without repentance taken for them and then let vs weigh the abundance of his great mercie first how gratiouslie he hath abidden the time of our repentance how readie he hath beene to forgiue vs vpon due repentance taken and perfect confession without dissimulation made thereof vnto him Remember we also how lewdlie how wickedlie and how sinfullie we haue bestowed the short time which God hath here in this world lent vnto vs to fight and warre continuallie against our most mortall aduersaries the world the flesh and the diuell which trauell without ceassing to worke our euerlasting destruction and to bring vs to euerlasting death and to beereue vs from the life eternall ioies endlesse Thinke we also if God of his great mercie had not gratiouslie spared vs life vntill we had repented that wickednes in what wretched condition and most extreme torments of hell paines had we beene in now and so should haue continued for euer world without end But how deere then should those short pleasures and vaine delights of the flesh haue beene vnto vs Let vs also call to mind the houre of death the vncerteintie of the time thereof and that we knowe not when where or in what maner it shall be but like as we are most certeine we can not escape it so are wee as sure if we happen then to depart this life in deadlie sinne that we shall then not onelie die the bodilie death but also the spirituall death which is eternall death both of bodie and soule Let vs therefore
endeuour our selues so to liue as though euerie houre should be vnto vs the last houre and by that meanes we shall not be vnreadie how suddenlie soeuer death shall steale vpon vs nor yet shall we feare his cōming Furthermore let vs thinke what shall become of our wretched bodies and vile carcases which we haue sought by all meanes to pamper whose ease wee haue so much procured which we haue so delicatelie nourished which we haue so finelie araied whose vaine pleasures we haue so much followed doubtlesse it shall then become an abhominable stinking carion from which those which be now our most deerest friends shall be forced to turne awaie their heads stopping of their noses for the verie noisomnesse of the corrupt sauour and euill stinch thereof Let vs also consider what shall then auaile vs for our possessions and riches which we haue sought for so busilie and so greedilie to heape togither We must then leaue behind vs and of them shall carie awaie nothing with vs sauing a heauie burden of conscience of such part of them which we doo vnlawfullie possesse wrongfullie withhold or else haue euill gotten Let vs then weigh what shall become of our soule when it shall leaue the bodie to rot in the earth and it selfe shall be called into iudgement before the high Iudge where it shall be forced to make a streight account of all works words and thoughts Where it shall be able to conceale nothing but the verie secrets of all our dooings shall then be made open and that which here we be ashamed to confesse shall then be manifest and the booke shall be opened in which all our deeds and thoughts shall be rehearsed before the whole companie of heauen and then shall be said to euerie one of vs Behold this man and his works then shall our conscience accuse vs all our euill deeds as witnesses shall come in against vs. The diuell shall be there readie to drawe vs with him into eternall perdition and with the terriblenesse of his countenance shall put vs in horrible feare Then shall we tremble and quake and desire to haue respite for the amendement of our former wicked life and to repent vs of our sinfull liuing but then in no wise it may bee granted vs for asmuch as then mercie must giue place to iustice Let vs now therefore while God doth lend vs time repent in time which if we doo vnfeinedlie then may we assure our selues to receiue mercie and forgiuenesse of God for asmuch as he willeth not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert and liue Then let vs also weigh with our selues what a noble thing our soule is how greeuous hir wounds were for the curing of the which our Sauiour Christ was of necessitie wounded Yea if those had not beene vnto death and that death eternall the sonne of God should neuer haue suffered Shall we then lightlie esteeme of the losse of the soule vnto whom we may perceiue so much compassion to be shewed of so great a Maiestie Then sith he hath shed his teares for vs let vs likewise nightlie wash our beds with cōpunction of hart and continuall teares for verie heauinesse that wee haue so greeuouslie offended so louing a Maister And sith he hath shed his pretious bloud for vs shed we ours also in a sort that is to saie with dailie affliction and mortifieng of our bodies And let vs not haue regard what the flesh desireth but what is most conuenient for our soules health For then shall our soules be glorious when they shall returne to our Lord God by true repentance and penitence Let vs then call to remembrance the louers of this world that were here among vs not long agone what is now become of them and that nothing remaineth of them but dust and woormes They haue beene men as we are they solicited and vsed all kind of mirth they banketed they were gorgiouslie apparelled they were verie pleasant and led their daies in all worldlie delights but suddenlie and as it were in the midst of their iolitie death arested them caried them downe into hell Here the flesh of them is appointed to feede the woormes and there their soules be euermore tormented in the vnquenchable flame of hell fire where now they find no profit of all those fleshlie pleasures worldlie reioicings and euill concupiscence And for so short and vaine pleasures what continuall torment and miserie doo they now endure where they neuer see light neuer receiue ease of their paine nor comfort of their heauinesse where the fire continuallie burneth them and yet neuer consumeth them nor by his long burning leeseth anie part of his heate Where the woorms doo gnawe their conscience where the diuels which are their tormentors waxe neuer wearie in tormenting of them or take anie pitie on them nor will be intreated to mitigate anie part of their torment Where nothing shall be heard but weeping lamentation groning and wofull criengs Where they shall sauour and smell nothing but horrible stinch and corrupt aire Where they shall see nothing but the monstrous shape of the horible tormentors the diuels Wherefore let vs now aduise our selues whether in folowing of the vaine worldlie pleasures we will giue our soules in like sort to be eternallie tormented or else in refusing them for the little times of paines we shall here suffer to reioice with Christ and to be blessed Saints in heauen for euer For whilest we are here in this world God dooth set before vs both fire and water that is to saie saluation and damnation that vnto which we will we may stretch our hands Let vs lastlie consider what comfort it is and shall be to all saued soules to see God and the brightnesse of his face to liue with God to possesse God which is high and perfect goodnesse and where the perfect goodnesse is there is the highest and most perfect felicitie there is the chiefe and perfect charitie eternall suretie and sure eternitie true gladnesse full knowledge all beautie all blisse In this sort shall the man be blessed with God in whose conscience shall be found no sinne he shall see God after his owne desire he shall possesse to pleasure and enioie to gladnesse he shall flourish in eternitie he shall shine in veritie he shall ioie in righteousnesse and as he shall haue eternitie of continuance so he shall haue facilitie of knowledge and felicitie of rest He shall be delighted in God whose countenance is amiable whose face is beautifull whose speech is pleasant He is delectable to behold sweet to possesse pleasant to enioie In him vnderstanding is made cleere affection is purified that we may loue and knowe him as he is so that then wee shall not need to seeke anie thing besides him For the whole is found in him so much as is to be desired or may possiblie reioice or delight vs. Let vs to conclude finallie thinke what madnesse doth then possesse vs so
vnthankefulnesse doth greatlie displease thee which is the roote of all spirituall euill and a wind that blasteth and burneth vp all good damming vp the fountaine of thy godlie mercie for euer Through it the works that be dead alreadie reuiue not and the works that be aliue doo die out of hand and recouer not againe But I thy creature will giue thanks to thee O Lord least I be vnthankefull to thee my deliuerer for the deliuering of me How often had that dragon swallowed me vp long ago but that thou O Lord hadst plucked me out of his mouth How often haue I sinned he stood readie to snatch me vp but that thou didst defend me O Lord my God When I dealt wickedlie and when I brake thy commandements he stood waiting to carrie me awaie to hell but thou withstoodest him I offended thee and thou didst defend me I feared thee not and yet thou didst keepe me I started awaie from thee and yeelded my selfe to mine enimie and yet thou didst fraie him awaie that he should not take mee These good turnes hast thou done for me O Lord my God I wretch wist it not For so hast thou often times deliuered me out of the diuels chaps plucked me out of the lions mouth and manie and sundrie waies brought me backe againe from hell though I wist it not For I haue gone downe to the verie gates of hell but thou hast held me from going in I drew neere to deaths dore but thou hast not suffered it to take me in Also thou hast oftentimes preserued mée from bodilie death O my sauiour when I haue beene attached with sore sicknesses and when I haue beene in manie dangers by sea and by land thou hast alwaies stood by me deliuering me from fire and from sword and from all perill and mercifullie preseruing me Trulie Lord thou knowest that if death had dispatched me at that time hell had receiued my soule and I had beene damned for euer but thy mercie and thy grace preuented me rescuing me from bodilie death and also from the death of my soule O my Lord God These and manie other good turnes hast thou done for me I saie and I was blind and wist it not vntill thou inlightenedst me Now therefore O light of my soule my Lord God my life whereby I liue the sight of mine eies wherewith I see behold thou hast inlightened me and I perceiue how I liue through thee And I yeeld thee thanks though little woorth and slender and farre from thy benefits howbeit yet such as my frailtie hath to giue For thou onelie art my God and my gratious maker which louest our soules and hatest none of the things that thou hast made Behold I am the chiefe among the sinners whom thou hast saued that I may be an example vnto others of thy most merciful louing kindnes I will acknowledge thy great benefits vnto thee For thou hast plucked me out of the bottome of hell once and twise and thrise and an hundred times and a thousand times Yea I alwaies made toward hell and thou didst alwaies bring me backe againe when thou mightest iustlie haue damned me if thou haddest would but thou wouldest not O Lord my GOD bicause thou louest mens soules and bearest with mens sinnes that they might repent all thy waies be full of mercie Now therefore O Lord my God I see these things and discerne them by thy light and my hart is astonished at thy great mercie towards me in that thou hast deliuered my soule from the bottome of hell and brought me backe againe to life For I was starke dead and thou hast made me thoroughlie aliue againe Therfore am I altogither beholden to thee for my life And whole as I am I yeeld my selfe wholie vnto thee Let my whole spirit my whole hart my whole bodie and my whole life liue vnto thee my sweet life For thou hast deliuered me whole that thou mightest possesse me whole thou hast made me whole new againe that thou mightest haue me whole againe And therefore let me loue thee O Lord my strength let me loue thee O mine vnspeakable ioie and let mee liue hencefoorth not to my selfe but vnto thee All my whole life which was perished in mine owne wretchednesse is reuiued againe in thy mercie For thou art a pitifull and mercifull GOD and manie are thy compassions towards thousands in them that loue thy name And therfore O Lord my God thou my sanctifier hast commanded me in thy lawe that I should loue thee with all my hart with all my might yea euen from the bottome of my hart at all houres and times wherein I enioie the benefits of thy mercie For I should perish for euer but that thou rulest me euer I should euer die but that thou euer quickenest me yea euerie moment thou bindest me vnto thee in as much as euerie moment thou bestowest thy great benefits vpon me Therfore like as there is no houre or instant of time in all my life that I haue not the vse of thy benefits so ought there to be no moment wherein I should not haue thee in remembrance before mine eies and loue thee to the vttermost of my power But this I am not able to doo except thou make me able of whom commeth euerie good gift and excellent gift in whom there is no change nor intercourse of darknes For to loue thee commeth not of our owne will or of our owne running but of thy mercie Lord it is thy gift whose all good things are Thou commandest vs to loue thee giue vs that which thou commandest and command what thou wilt Another meditation of Gods great benefits VNto thee O souereigne light O ghostlie Physician the health of my soule will I now euer giue praise with all my whole hart for all thy benefits wherwith thou feedest me from my youth vnto mine old age and euen till my last gaspe I beseech thee by thy selfe forsake me not For thou madest me when I was not thou redeemedst me when I was forlorne thou inlightenedst me when I was in darknesse thou raisedst me when I was dead yea when I was both forlorne and dead thou camest downe from the bosome of thy Father to me tookest mortalitie vpon thee Thou being my King camest downe to thy seruant To redeeme thy seruant thou gauest thy selfe to the intent that I might liue thou tookest vpon thee to die and ouercamest death Thou diddest set me vp againe by abasing thy selfe lowe I was vndoone I was gone farre awaie in my sinnes I was sold to sinne then camest thou for me to bring me out againe and thou didst loue me so well that thou gauest thine owne blood for my ransome Lord thou hast loued me more than thy selfe For thou diddest find in thine hart to die for me Upon this condition hast thou with so deere a price brought mee backe againe from banishment ransomed me out of bondage rescued me from punishment called mee
Father making intercession for vs sounded continuallie in the eares of God Worke so that we be not found in the number of those into whome sathan hath entred which blaspheame thee despise thy benefits and destroie themselues vtterlie Increase our faith and knowledge of thee that the eternall Father through thy sacrifice being pleased may forgiue all our sinnes and receiue vs into that companie which is glorious in thine eies Under the crosse standeth thy noble but sorowfull mother hir sister and other good women with thy disciple Iohn whome thou louedst O blesse vs and of thy goodnes ioine vs to that companie In thy mother there shineth a notable light and strength of faith she beholdeth in thee hir Sonne those sights than which none could be more greeuous in this world she sawe the rage of thine enimies and thine intollerable torments yet she beleeued notwithstanding the greeuousnes of thy paine the shedding of thy pretious bloud the flight of thy disciples the crueltie of thine enimies and the odiousnes of thy death she beleeued I saie O the force of faith that thou wast God by nature and shouldest rise againe and reigne euerlastinglie ouercome death and the diuell and subdue all thine enimies O Sonne of God kindle within vs we praie thee the like sparks of faith giue vs grace with thine elect neuer to be ashamed to stand vnder thy crosse And as thou euen of an entire good will mercifullie among thy seruants didst speake vnto and comfort thy pensiue and moorning mother so speake vnto vs and thy troubled Church in miserie comfort hir with thy sweet voice and presence Thou commendedst thy mother to thine Apostle Make vs vnfeignedlie to loue the Church thy sweet and true mother and grant that euerie of vs may cherish the same louinglie and mainteine it to the vttermost of our powers Especiallie guide the Preachers that they may loue the mother nourish the vnitie of pure doctrine auoid the seed of heresies and remooue all stumbling-blockes all occasions of hindering of faith and praier in yoong Christians At thy sides hang two theeues punished for their sinnes according to the lawe and their deserts whereof one desperatelie powring out blasphemous speeches the other godlie requiring thy fauour he ended his daies All mankind Lord doo likewise hang in miseries for their sinnes whereof some are so captiued in their minds that at the point of death they scoffe blaspheme and desperatelie to their vtter condemnation finish their daies but giue vs grace we beseech thee that we may imitate the example of the gratious theefe which before his passage out of this life moued by infallible arguments of thine almightinesse and mercie required pardon of his offences and obteined the same according to his request Giue grace that we may imitate his hartie repentance his sorowe for sin his notable faith his zealous confession and other good works of his We beseech thee mercifull Lord be mindfull of vs. O Lord be mindfull of vs. Thou sittest in the kingdom of thy Father we are in the miseries of the world but be thou mindfull of vs. Begin thy kingdome in vs heere in this world and in euerie combate of our conscience especiallie at the point of death pronounce to our hearts this comfortable absolution This daie shalt thou be with me in Paradise Shew vnto vs thy paradise that departing out of this life we may find rest for our soules Open to our soules the gates of Paradise place them in the seates of immortalitie and state of blisse where thy Father togither with the blessed companie of Angels and men sheweth himselfe euen as he is In the meane while thy combate is not yet finished thou criedst in most pittifull maner My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Thy diuinitie was not then separated from thy humanitie which neuer lost that which once it tooke neither surcessedst nor dooest thou surcesse at anie time to be equall and one with thine eternall father but then was the houre of thy humiliation wherein after a woonderfull and vnspeakable maner thy diuinitie hid it selfe as it were and would haue this obedience to be showne and thought not best to destroie the Iewes thine enimies and murtherers Yea it hid it selfe that the streames of Gods displeasure against the sinnes of men should so fall vpon thee O Christ that they should wrestle with extreame torments such as for a certeine space thou perceiuedst no comfort notwithstanding thy diuinitie confirmed thine humane nature which was to suffer all the passions For thy diuinitie could not suffer anie passion at all therefore it confirmed the same that there might be a sufficient satisfaction for the sins of men For they which haue endured most greeuous torments could neuer abide these for if God comfort vs we may abide the punishment of men and then it may be said Though bodies greefe did feele Yet had their soules great ioie And vertuous hope did strengthen so That paines did naught annoie But intollerable is it for a creature to suffer the punishment of God and be saued thereby Wherefore O Sonne of God in displeasure bee mindfull of thy mercie be thou our protection that the wrath of thine eternall father doo not destroie vs. Euen a little taste of Gods displesure bursteth in peeces all the bones of men like a lion And therfore by and by after thou vtteredst the like complaint saieng I thirst thy soule languished through the greatnesse of thy paines Thy spirits were resolued through thy woonderfull greefe of hart Thy bowels dried awaie and no moisture abode in them and therefore trulie didst thou both inwardlie thirst and desire some vertue and comfort from thy Father and outwardlie to haue thy bodie refreshed O Iesu Christ which art the fountaine of eternall life giuing the water which quencheth all thirst from whose bellie springeth the well of life suffer vs not to taste such a greeuous thirst as did that merciles rich glutton in hell which neuer was quenched but with the godlie to saie My soule stucke vnto my iawes I had no quietnes in my bones Lord in thy iudgements correct me not in thy furie least I come vnto nothing If thou obseruest iniquities O Lord Lord who shall be able to abide Thus doo thy Saincts crie I saie in their troubles Wherefore kindle not thy wrath altogither against vs. Cease not to comfort our weake nature striuing against thy iudgements with the iuice of thy word and comfortable waterings of thy spirit Unto thee did thine eternall Father manifest his presence and comfort for our sakes when some while after being better quieted thou saiedst It is finished Thou gauest thanks to thine eternall father for helping thee whereby the sacrifice of welfare to the elect for euermore was fulfilled Oh most sacred Priest imprint within vs this celestiall conclusion this notable finishing of thy sacrifice that vndoubtedlie we may thinke that by this sacrifice the remission of sinnes and life eternall is purchased for vs.
whither soeuer I turne me I may behold aboue me thee crucified and whatsoeuer I see it may appeare to me ruddie with thy most pretious bloud that thus be holding I may fixe my sight in nothing but onlie in thee which liuest and reignest one God world without end So be it I haue sinned I haue offended my God my God haue merceie on me A praier wherein through commemoration of Christes passion we desire pardon of our sinnes and continuance in vertue and godlinesse BEhold O pitifull Father thy most pitifull Sonne which suffered for me being so wicked Behold O most mercifull King who suffered and remember as thou art louing and kind for whom he suffered Is not this O my Lord that innocent whō although he were thy Sonne thou didst deliuer to redeeme and ransome a seruant Is not this the author and beginner of life which being led as a sheepe to be killed and being made obedient to thee euen vnto death was not afraid to take vpon him the most cruell and sharp kind of death Call to remembrance O thou distributer of all health that this is he whome although thou didst beget him by thy power yet notwithstanding thou wouldest haue to be made partaker of thine infirmitie and weakenes Trulie this same is thy God head which did take vpon him thy nature which was hanged vpon the gibbet of torment or crosse which in the flesh which he had taken vpon him did suffer sorrowfull punishment Turne the eies of thy Maiestie O Lord my God towards the worke of thine vnspeakable pitie Looke on thy deere Sonne whose whole body is stretched foorth Marke the harmelesse hands and pure which doo drop and distill downe innocent bloud And I beseech thee be pacified and pardon the wicked deeds which my hands haue committed Consider his bare and naked side being thrust through cruellie with a speare and renew and wash me with the holie fountaine or well which I beleeue did flowe from thence Marke the vnspotted feet which haue not stood in the waie of sinners but alwaies haue walked in thy lawe how they are pierced through with sharpe nails and make perfect my steps in thy paths and make me of thy louing kindnesse to hate all waies of iniquitie Remoue from me the waies of iniquitie and make me of thy mercie to choose the waie of truth I beseech thee O King of holie men by this holie one of all holie ones and by this my redeemer to make me runne the waie of thy commandements that I may be vnited and knit vnto him in spirit which did not disdaine to be clad in my flesh Doest thou not looke vpon and marke O pittifull Father the head of thy most deerelie beloued Sonne a yong man how it leaned vpon his shoulders when it was past the most pretious death Behold O my most gentle creator the humanitie and gentlenes of thy beloued Sonne and haue compassion vpon the feeblenes of thy weake and feeble handie-worke Behold O most glorious parent the torne and rent members of thy most kind louing child and remember gentlie what substance I am of Behold the paines of him that is God and man and release and loose man which is thy creature out of miserie bondage of sinne Behold the punishment of him that did redeeme and pardon the offences of them that be redeemed This is he O Lord whome thou didst strike for the sinnes of the people although he be thy welbeloued in whome was found no guile and yet neuerthelesse was he reckoned amongst them that were full of iniquitie Looke downe therefore O Lord thou louer of labouring and laden harts with the eies of thy pittie see the altar of the crosse where thy sonne thine onlie beloued babe is slaughtered Behold O father of heauen this thy bleeding babe whom for our sakes thou hadst made vnder the lawe a curse therof in giuing him to the death euen the acursed shamefull death of the crosse that he might thereby redeeme vs wretches that were his enimies from the lawe and from the curse and condemnation of it O looke vpon him I saie which is the sauiour of the world and who in his sufferings and in his life and death hath fulfilled all the prophesies behold him that was made a castawaie of the Iewes and a scorne of the Gentiles which endured treasonable hate of his friends and deadlie terrors in his troubled soule that we might haue peace of conscience and be reconciled vnto thee And let his shame and ignominie I praie thee be our honour and triumph his wounds our medicine his curse our blisse and his death our life finallie so lighten our minds I beseech thee with thy holie spirit that we may be able to conceiue and vnderstand the height and depth the length breadth and by all meanes the infinite measure of this so exceeding loue towards vs that the sight and knowledge of so great loue may so inflame vs with the loue of thee againe that all our thoughts and deeds may wholie be set vpon thee shewing our thankfulnesse vnto thee in all obedience vnto thy word and glorieng in nothing but in thy Christ and him crucified that in the end we may inioie the full fruit of all his passions and of this thine vnspeakable loue towards vs in our euerlasting saluation through Iesus Christ our onelie Lord and redeemer to whom with thee O father and the holie Ghost be giuen all praise honour and glorie for euer and euer Amen Another godlie meditation or praier wherin we declare vnto God the Father that the passion of his Sonne before rehearsed was for our reconciliation and attonement with God BEhold O almightie God Father of my Lord Iesus Christ I beseech thee of thy benignitie and gentlenesse to haue mercie vpon me because of the most pretious thing that I could find the same I haue offered deuoutlie vnto thee the thing of most estimation that I could imagine I haue presented humblie vnto thee I haue left nothing but I haue declared it vnto thy Maiestie There is nothing remaining that I may adde more because I haue committed and betaken my whole hope vnto thee I haue sent vnto thee mine aduocate and spokes-man euen thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus I haue sent thy glorious child to be a mediator betwixt me and thee I haue sent I saie an intercessor by whome I trust to get pardon and forgiuenes of my sinnes In a word I haue sent the word which word as I haue said was sent for my misdeeds And behold I haue rehearsed vnto thee the passion of thy most holie Sonne Iesus Christ which passion I beleeue was suffered for me I beleeue that the God-head which was sent of thee did take vpon him mine humanitie and nature in the which he thought not scorne to suffer buffets bonds spittings mocks yea he tooke vpon him to suffer the crosse nailes and dart I beleeue also that his manhood being of this my nature during
is the daie which the Lord hath made we will reioice and be glad therein and euermore sing Halleluiah Halleluiah The Praier OF thy woonderfull victorie and resurrection from death and glorious kingdome O Sonne of God it was said In that daie the roote of Iesse shall stand to be a signe to the people vnto him shall the nations flie and his rest shall be glorie Thou art that blessed branch of Dauid thou tookest mans nature vpon thee and camest of the line of Dauid but in the time of thy humiliation thou wast but a sprig as it were in a drie ground a notable and heauenlie plant but oppressed with miseries Thy soule dried awaie being beaten with the mightie tempest of Gods displeasure against our sinnes notwithstanding that goodlie roote through the power of thy diuine nature was not vtterlie choaked Thou art deliuered from the midst of death and by thy diuine power thou standest victoriouslie ouer thine enimies and art readie to bring vs thy souldiers from all euils and make vs partakers of thy most glorious conquest in thy kingdome which is altogither otherwise than the triumph and glorie of this world Death endeth all the pride power and pompe of this world but thy death and rest is glorious thy kingdome and glorie beginneth when our life is ended O Christ Sonne of God how woonderfull was thy rest Man at the first was made to be a noble and holie Temple wherein a perpetuall Sabboth should be celebrated and a diuine nature should abide filling and comforting him with plentie of heauenlie riches But this rest was turned into vnquietnes and this ioie into sorowe through the hatred of sathan thine enimie which prophaned this temple and sabboth brought in an horrible misorder and wickednes Wherefore it pleased thine almightie Father of his goodnes to send thee his onlie Sonne from his owne bosome to restore againe this Sabboth Hence it was that after a woonderfull manner in the daie of the great Sabboth according to the lawe of Moses thine humane nature through death which separated the soule from the bodie rested in the sepulchre and the word which forsooke not that nature no not at the graue reuiued that flesh the third daie and so thou rosest againe when the time of our redemption was expired victoriouslie vnto thy kingdome and giuest an eternall Sabboth and rest to such as flie vnto thee O Sonne of God call thou sinners euen vs miserable and vncleane persons vnto that sacred feast which in this world through thee the cheefe Priest is begun and shall be then made perfect when the elect for euermore shall followe the Lambe whithersoeuer he go Put on vs the festiuall garment the garment of thy righteousnes and benediction that we putting awaie the leauen of malice and wickednes may celebrate the feast in the sweet bread of sinceritie serue thee in purenes of liuing and truth This yeare from thine incarnation 1582. are passed 3091 yeares since the first passouer which the Israelites did celebrate going out of Egypt so long hast thou preserued thy Church and we beseech thee preserue it euerlastinglie notwithstanding the rage of the diuell and his ministers And as thou defendedst thy people which eate of the Lambe and moreouer going through out Egypt slaiedst in thy righteous iudgements all the first borne in the land so assist vs that with a liuelie faith we may feed on thee the true Lamb. Keepe vs among all the miseries of this last age of the world The carcases remaining were cast awaie and condemned but thy oblation is gratefull in the sight of God it appeaseth the wrath of the eternall Father and by the eating of thee which art the Lamb of God taking awaie the sinnes of the world righteousnes and life is giuen to beleeuers The word raiseth againe and quickneth the flesh that vnto vs ingraffed therevnto by faith the like life may be giuen and the bodie of sinne mortified in vs and thou liue and reigne in vs for euermore wherefore let thy glorious rest be in vs. We are made of earth and after sinne our bodies were appointed to the earth yea the vngodlie shall abide for euer in the earth and neuer appeare in thy glorious heauen But after thou touchedst the death with thy liuelie flesh thou madest it light thou tookest awaie the heauinesse thereof Through the blast of the first serpent manie times euen mans flesh is turned into verie serpents And in the graue of the wicked more horrible is the filth of spirituall dragons and serpents which deuour them euerlastinglie and keepe them in perpetuall death But thou O Sonne of God makest the graues of thy saincts euen pleasant chambers as it were Thou driuest far awaie from thence all filthinesse of sathan Thou settest about them the watchmen euen thy pure Angels which bring their soules into paradise commending them into the hands and bosome of thy Father and keepe also their ashes which both were and shall be at thy returne the house of the holie ghost Beautifie vs in like manner with this thy glorie of true knowledge and calling vpon thee Be present with vs at the point of death receiue our soules at their departure into thine hands shew thou thy comfort ioie till at the resurrection of mankind thou crowne thine elect with perfect endlesse glorie a taste wherof might be seene in those fortie daies after thy resurrection Neuer was there so goodlie a world as that was when thou rosest from death and broughtest out of their graues a great companie of thy Saincts as the Scripture plainelie but breeflie for the vngodlie doth testifie Familiarlie did the holie fathers and matrones remaine with thy sweet mother and Apostles Pleasant speeches and much talke was made no doubt of the miseries of man of the vnspeakable benefits gotten by thee and of the glorie of eternall life O Lord raise thou vp our harts that with a true desire we may long to come into this faire companie Let vs turne our selues in cogitation vnto that holie assemblie Let vs hearken vnto and learne thy wisedome reuealed in thy word In this life thy Church is in darkenesse in miseries men are occupied in the obseruation of outward ceremonies as those godlie women they will annoint thy bodie Manie times thy Church seemeth to be depriued of thy sweet presence and vttereth these sorrowfull words They haue taken awaie my Lord and I can not tell where they haue laid him But O Sonne of God amend the mortall darkenesse within vs kindle in our soule thine inward seruice which pleaseth thee manifest thy selfe vnto vs in affliction speake these comfortable words in our calamitie vnto vs Weepe not that euen in death we may thinke with our selues that thou art present and after death rise againe to the fruition of eternall life with thy blessed Saincts Amen Another ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie Father who hast raised vp thy Sonne for our iustification as thou gauest him to
congregation by the egge and singular seed of thy first promise made in Paradise Thou gatherest such as beleeue and depend thereon vnder thy wings by thine intercession against the wrath of God which is a consuming fire and by thy liuelie heate thou nonrishest them powring vpon them thy spirit which is a substantiall fire flowing from the brest both of thee and thine eternall Father expelleth the coldnesse of our nature and quickneth such as are ingraffed in thee vnto a new life Thou encounterest with Kites rauening birds raging spirits and all the mortall infernall enimies for the safegard of thy poore chickens Wherefore keepe vs we humblie praie thee among thy chickens which with a woonderfull and entire affection acknowledge thy voice when thou callest which couer themselues vnder thy wings and drawe from thy brest most godlie comfort in their greefe of hart and strength against all enimies And O comfortable ghest of the soule leaue not our houses desolate cease not to fill vs by thy continuall presence with thy life and righteousnesse giue vs the true comfort of mind that before all worldlie things we may prefer the confession of thy truth euen as that reuerend old man Zacharie father of Iohn Baptist betweene the temple and the altar with his bloud as with a pretious burnt sacrifice did confesse thee to bee the Messias sent frō thine eternall Father Saue vs from bloud-shedding O Lord our Sauiour that we wrap not our selues in paines most intollerable wherwith thine enimies which haue defiled themselues with the innocent bloud of thy martyrs are oppressed And as thy glorious martyr and trustie Deacon of thy Church Steeuen when most heinous faults were laid vpon him as though he had proclaimed defiance both to God and his Church did continue constant in thy faith vsing a most excellent and effectuall forme of praier for his enimies thy persecutors conteining the summe of true doctrine sawe the heauens open and thee O Sonne of God standing on the right hand of thy Father to whom at the point of death he commended his soule so assist vs with thy grace that wee by his example may learne both to loue and praie for our enimies and that we feare not the peruerse opinions of the wicked world Be thou with vs in trouble according to thy promise open to vs the heauens shew vs thy liuelie countenance by thy good presence comfort our sorowfull minds make it knowne vnto vs that thine eternall Father is pacified through thee And finallie when our soules shall depart frō our bodies receiue them we hartilie beseech thee into thine almightie hands Giue grace that quietlie we may rest and fall asleepe till at the resurrection of mankind thou bringest thy Church and chosen to thy visible presence in the heauens where thou remainest and watching full tenderlie ouer thy flocke thou placest the same at the right hand of thy Father Amen 4. On Saint Iohn the Euangelists daie Being the Disciple whom Christ so deerlie loued and who at the resurrection of Christ was 22. yeeres old and liued in all eightie nine yeeres With the bread of life and vnderstanding shall the Lord féed him and giue him the water of wholsowe wisedome to drinke O Sonne of God full sixtie and seuen yeeres did thy beloued disciple Iohn among great miseries greeuous combats spread abroad thy Gospell in Asia the lesser where much idolatrous seruice curiositie and Greekish lightnesse was vsed He rested himselfe not onelie corporallie vpon thy bosome or shoulders being conuersant with thee in the earth and loued of thee as thy kinsman but spirituallie also drue from thy breast the spirit of wisdome replenishing his mind and hart with heauenlie light strength of faith and celestiall vertues He sawe the wofull destruction of his countrie and beheld the tragicall ouerthrowe of his nation He sawe the decaie of that Common-weale that was ordeined of God and of that temple which in all the world was the onelie temple of God He encountered with Ebion and Cerynthus most wretched heretikes which were the trumpets of Sathan to blowe abroad damnable opinions which as the first Cain by the prouocation of the diuell did contumeliously deale with the Sonne of God derided his promise And as afterward the nations by their monsterous multitude of feined gods did reiect Christ and his benefits so in a desperate boldnes did they set themselues against heauen and blasphemouslie detract from the Sonne of God his diuinitie But thanks be to thee O Sonne of God which art the substantiall image and word of the eternall Father thou hast by the doctrine and authoritie of this thy blessed Apostle Euangelist S. Iohn not onlie inlightned thy Church greatlie with the bright beames of thy heauenlie light of diuine knowledge but also by the testimonie of thy iudgement with horrible punishment cut off those blasphemers and heretikes that troubled thy Church and deliuered the truth of that article vnto vs. O preserue this light among vs henceforward that we may attaine thereby to thine euerlasting gifts and suffer vs not to bee wrapped anie more in idolatrous darknesse and superstition which is contrarie to thy glorie Mo enimies also Lord hath Sathan stirred vp to deface this thy truth and glorie euen the horrible power of the Turks which with brazen faces both blasphemouslie deale with thee and persecute thy Church confessing thy truth but suffer not O Sonne of God suffer not we beseech thee the true knowledge of thee by the power of Sathan and his ministers to be blotted out but keepe for thy selfe an holie seed among vs which against all the gates of hell may professe thee to be the eternal Sonne of the euerliuing God to whom the whole societie of Saints with one consent doth ascribe all power all knowledge all heauenlie vertues and willeth all praiers and supplications to bee directed to thee alone which art God alone Maintaine also among vs the true sense of the difference betweene humane righteousnesse and thine Grant that willinglie we may obeie thee leading vs vnto the exercises of true repentance vnto the crosse vnto troubles and vnto death where our will is truelie bound and obeieth altogither Giue grace likewise that we mooue not vnnecessarie strife through pride ambition and curiositie as did Samosatenus Arrius and manie mo but may followe thee and in our vocation both in teaching and learning and liuing may continue in the truth of doctrine that we may be found in that companie which thou louest intirelie and wilt prouide for vntill thou returne Amen 5. On the holie Innocents daie VVhich washed their garments in the bloud of the Lambe euen in their infancie by the crueltie of Herod The soules of the righteous are in the hands of God and there shall no torment touch them O Sonne of God in the time of thine humiliation euen from thy natiuitie and infancie trulie diddest thou taste the streame of mans miserie Poorlie thou wast borne naked and despised in
in a cleere and perfect light shall behold thee Amen 7. On the feast daie of the purification of Saint Marie the virgin and mother of Christ. The word became flesh and dwelt among vs Halleluiah O Eternall Father of thine onelie Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Christ which in the Common-wealth of Israell ordeined according to thy wisedome and adorned with excellent statutes necessarie for the state of mankind and signifieng secret and heauenlie things didst make diuers lawes concerning vncleannesse and the keeping of women with child and another for the first borne and that not onlie to put vs in mind of order in this life and thankefulnesse towards thy ministerie but also to teach that this our giltie and polluted nature like the foule and menstruous cloath of a woman is washed by the bloud of thy Sonne which is thy first borne thy substantiall image and the word sounding thy will whome from the heauens thou commandest to be harkened vnto Gouerne vs by thy first and onlie begotten Sonne Giue vs thy holie spirit that earnestlie we may bewaile our vncleannesse and pollusion aske helpe at thy mercifull hand be purified by the bloud of thy Sonne and be redeemed by him vnto true integritie and cleannesse which pleaseth thee that for his sake we may be adopted into thy children and find fauour in thine eies And as that good old man father Simeon notwithstanding that publikelie little or no talke was vsed of thy benefits by reason of the manifold sects then sproong vp and horrible tyrannie of Gouernours yet was confirmed by thy holie spirit in the truth and receiued a singular promise that he should see the Messias so by the same thy spirit kindle in vs faith whereby we may escape the palpable and curssed darkenesse of idolatrie which in the world welnigh is vsed And grant that we may apprehend thy Sonne who as this daie was presented in the Temple in substance of our flesh and in his armes depart in peace and be presented vnto thee with pure and cleane minds Assist vs that from our harts as did good father Simeon and holie Iacob we may firmelie keepe him among the feares of conscience and pangs of death Grant that he may be our light inflaming the darkenesse of our feeble minds with the brightnesse of his glorie Blot out all our doubtings heale the diseases of our soule and kindle that benefit and excellent light of true religion that being made followers in the spirituall societie of thy people Israell whose glorie is thy Sonne witnessing that among that people the promises and reuelations of the essence and will of the true God were made we may also come to thy glorie which our nature needeth and be adorned by thy Sonne with the heauenlie blessing of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and receiuing righteousnesse and eternall life Amen 8. On Saint Matthias daie Thou hast exalted one chosen out of the people to publish thy lawe blessed be thy name O Lord. ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie Father who because the Scripture must needs haue beene fulfilled which the holie Ghost through the mouth of Dauid spake before of the Traitor Iudas who was guide to the Iewes that tooke Iesus thy deere Sonne our Lord and who now in reward of his iniquitie for betraieng thine innocent Sonne his Lord and Maister went hoong himselfe in the feeld of bloud called Acheldama till he burst asunder in the midst and all his guts and bowels gushed out didst afterward at the earnest praiers and petition of the rest of thy disciples choose thy faithfull seruant Matthias out of all the companie that followed thee or had their conuersation with thine Apostles to be of the number of thy twelue Apostles and ordeinedst him to be a witnesse with them of thy Sonnes resurrection as it is written in the 109. Psalme Let his habitation be void and no man be dwelling therein and his Bishoprike or charge let another take grant we beseech thee that thy Church being alwaie preserued from hirelings traitors and false Apostles may be ordered and guided by godlie faithfull and true pastors and ministers O Christ Sonne of God greatlie didst thou reioice at the gathering of the Church and high thanks didst thou yeeld to thy Father because he had chosen an holie seed out of mankind and suffered not their pains to be altogither frustrate We thanke thee also from our harts for reioicing at our well-doing and for repressing the diuell by thy power that some may be saued Gather heereafter we beseech thee from among vs a righteous people pleasing thee And although miserable and ouglie be the outward shew of thy Church and they which seeme to be the light of the world despise thy wisedome euen as neither Tiberius the Emperour with the Senate of Rome neither the Princes and Priests of the Iews would vouchsafe to heare thee wandering with thy Disciples Christian auditorie yet assist vs that these sinister iudgements of the world doo not dismaie vs but that we may bring our minds into a godlie captiuitie acknowledge thee by a true and liuelie faith to be the Sonne of thine eternall Father receiue the words from thee which from the bosome of thy Father vtterest the counsell concerning the restitution of man to whom all things both in heauen and earth are giuen for vs which are thy parteners Leade vs by thine hand by thy word and spirit before the presence of thy Father shew vs in a new light inwardlie in our soules the presence of thy Father which is pleased with vs for thy sake Abide thou among vs. Powre on vs by thy spirit the beginning of that light and righteousnes which appeareth in thee being the light of light lightning the darkenes of our nature Behold O good Samaritane and Physician of our soules to thee doo we lift vp our hands we are wounded we labour and are heauie laden thine enimie hath spoiled vs and wounded vs to the death We are so burthened with the weight and greeuousnes of sicknesse that our soule is comfortlesse readie to faint and fall into death and damnation Wherfore comfort our miserable soule with thy ioifull wine and oile with thine heauenlie and quickening balme raise vs from death vtter thy comfort to our harts and grant that our soules may find rest and gladnesse in thee Put on vs thy sweet yoke tame our flesh by thy spirit Raise vp in vs new motions and holie cogitations agreeable to thy will and word Thou art meeke in deed not desirous of reuengement Thou hast not throwne miserable man into euerlasting damnation as thou didst the diuels but hast suffered punishment for vs in thy bodie and praied for thine enimies Thou art meeke and lowlie in hart Thou flangest thy selfe vnder all angels and men thou tookest our fraile and fowle flesh vpon thee thou she wedst not the power of thy diuinitie in the time of thy passion but hidst if it might be thy diuinitie after a woonderfull
health and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousnesse Thou shalt open my lips O Lord and my mouth shall shew thy praise For thou desirest no sacrifice else would I giue it thee but thou delightest not in burnt offerings The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit a broken and contrite hart O God shalt thou not despise O be fauourable and gratious to Sion build thou the walles of Hierusalem Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousnesse with the burnt offerings and oblations then shall they offer yong bullocks vpon thine altar 5. Domine exaudi Psal 102. HEare my praier O Lord and let my crieng come vnto thee Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble incline thine eares vnto me when I call O heare me and that right soone For my daies are consumed awaie like smoke and my bones are burnt vp as it were a firebrand My hart is smitten downe and withered like grasse so that I forget to eate my bread For the voice of my groaning my bones will scarse cleaue to my flesh I am become like a Pellicane in the wildernesse and like an Owle that is in the desert I haue watched am euen as it were a Sparowe that sitteth alone vpon the house top Mine enimies reuile me all the daie long and they that are mad vpō me are sworne togither against me For I haue eaten ashes as it were bread and mingled my drinke with weeping And that because of thine indignation and wrath for thou hast taken me vp and cast me downe My daies are gone like a shadowe and I am withered like grasse But thou O Lord shalt endure for euer and thy remembrance throughout all generations Thou shalt arise and haue mercie vpon Sion for it is time that thou haue mercie vpon hir yea the time is come And why thy seruants thinke vpon hir stones and it pitieth them to see hir in the dust The heathen shall feare thy name O Lord and all the kings of the earth thy Maiestie When the Lord shall build vp Sion and when his glorie shall appeare When he turneth him vnto the praier of the poore destitute and despiseth not their desire This shall be written for those that come after and the people which shall be borne shall praise the Lord. For he hath looked downe from his Sanctuarie out of the heauen did the Lord behold the earth That he might heare the mournings of such as bee in captiuitie and deliuer the children appointed vnto death That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion and his woorship at Hierusalem When the people are gathered togither and the kingdomes also to serue the Lord. He brought downe my strength in my iournie and shortened my daies But I said O my God take me not awaie in the midst of mine age as for thy yeares they endure thoroughout all generations Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth and the heauens are the worke of thy hands They shall perish but thou shalt endure they shall all waxe old as doth a garment And as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed but thou art the same and thy yeares shall not faile The children of thy seruants shall continue and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight 6. De profundis Psal 130. OUt of the deepe haue I called vnto thee O Lord Lord heare my voice Oh let thine eares consider well the voice of my complaint If thou Lord wilt be extreame to marke what is done amisse oh Lord who may abide it For there is mercie with thee therefore shalt thou be feared I looked for the Lord my soule doth wait for him in his word is my trust My soule flieth vnto thee Lord before the morning watch I saie before the morning watch O Israell trust in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercie and with him is plentious redemption And he shall redeeme Israell from all his sinnes 7. Domine exaudi Psal 143. HEare my praier O Lord consider my desire hearken vnto me for thy truth and righteousnesse sake And enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified For the enimie hath persecuted my soule he hath smitten my life downe to the ground he hath laid me in the darkenesse as the men that haue beene long dead Therefore is my spirit vexed within me and my heart within me is desolate Yet doo I remember the time past I muse vpon all thy works yea I exercise my selfe in the works of thy hands I stretch foorth my hands vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirstie land Heare me O Lord and that soone for my spirit wareth faint hide not thy face from me least I be like vnto them that go downe into the pit O let me heare thy louing kindnes betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust shew thou me the waie that I should walke in for I lift vp my soule vnto thee Deliuer me O Lord from mine enimies for I flee vnto thee to hide me Teach me to doo the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy louing spirit leade me foorth into the land of righteousnesse Quicken me O Lord for thy name sake and for thy righteousnesse sake bring my soule out of trouble And of thy goodnesse slaie mine enimies and destroie all them that vexe my soule for I am thy seruant Glorie be to the Father to the Sonne and to the holie Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and euer shall be world without end Amen Heerevnto you may adde as occasion and time will serue these select and notable Psalmes of Dauid as they are at large in the Psalter that is to saie the 5 7 13 17 22 25 31 35 42 43 55 56 57 69 71 77 86 88. Other Psalmes or Praiers compiled out of holie Scriptures verie necessarie to be vsed of the afflicted soule for obteining the remission of sinnes and mitigation of miseries O Lord of lords GOD almightie great and dreadfull which by thy word hast made heauen earth the sea all things conteined in them Nothing is able to resist thy power thy mercie is ouer all thy works All things be vnder thy dominion and rule both man and beast and all liuing creatures Thou art mercifull to whome thou wilt and hast compassion on whome it pleaseth thee Thy counsell shall stand for euer and whatsoeuer thou wilt shall be done Power dominion and glorie is thine which art aboue all things and in all things and in vs all Thou art Father of mercies and God of all grace peace and comfort which wilt not the death of a sinner nor delightest in the damnation of soules O Lord God which art rich in mercie and of thine especiall loue towards vs euen when we were thine enimies didst send into the world thine onelie begotten Sonne Iesus Christ that whosoeuer beleeueth dulie in him
Sunne to set bicause we expect his arising againe in the morning no more ought we as men without hope to be sorie for the death of the bodie knowing that in the morning light of the resurrection it shall eftsoones arise receiue the soule againe to ioie or paine eternall VVhen the candles or lamps be light praie THanks be giuen to thee O Lord which after daie when night commeth hast giuen vs for the remedie of darknesse this artificiall light of the candle or lampe whereby we see and discerne those things in this night of our bodies which are expedient for vs to vse But especiallie we render immortall praise vnto thine holie Maiestie for the light of thy doctrine which thy Sonne against the horrour of sinne and ignorance hath brought vnto vs for a remedie against death eternall Grant we beseech thee O Lord of light and Maister of all truth that the most thicke and obscure clouds of our minds may be so driuen awaie and expelled by the lampe of thy grace and candle of knowledge and right vnderstanding that in bodie corporallie and in soule spirituallie wee may euer see by both these lights to glorifie thee both in our liues and in our deaths Thy word ô Lord is a lampe to our feete and a light vnto our paths O light thou our candle and make our darknesse to be light that with our lamps euer burning we may still watch for thy comming Amen Meditation THinke now that as without this materiall light of the candle all would be horrour and vncouth darknesse euen so without the spirituall light of Gods diuine word and wisedome all our light is darknesse our knowledge errour and our life death and vtter confusion Thinke also that as the candle is not put vnder a bushell but set on a candlesticke to giue light to all in the house so likewise ought we to let the light of our faith shine bright before men that other séeing our good works may therefore glorifie God Euening praiers for Sundaie to be said kneeling by the bedside before you make you vnreadie ¶ Here you may saie one of the confessions for the Sabboth daie as before pag. 384 387. WE render vnto thee euerlasting praises most mercifull Father for that of thy gratious fauour and loue towards vs thou hast vouchsafed to preserue vs this daie and the rest of our life hitherto vnder the shadowe of thy most mercifull protection beseeching thee also to take vs into thy tuition this present night and euer that we be not tempted with anie suggestion of Sathan but being thoroughlie armed with the holie Ghost we may haue power and force to resist his assaults by a sure faith and confidence in the bloud of thy blessed Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus Giue vs grace to repent vs of our sinnes vnfeinedlie to craue remission of them vncessantlie to imbrace thy holie word and commandements sincerelie and to expresse them in our liuing effectuallie whereby we may walke vprightlie in our conuersation with sure and certaine hope of the resurrection to eternall life by the merits of Christ Iesus that with the wise virgins we may be found waking and watching for his comming when he shall come to iudge the world with equitie and to reward euerie man according to the works of his bodie Grant vs grace most mercifull Father to behaue our selues so vprightlie in this life that then we may be made partakers of thy kingdome with thine elect there to liue in eternall ioie and felicitie world without end Amen Another Euening praier on the Lords daie O Almightie and eternall God Father of our Lord Iesu Christ which togither with thy Sonne and the holie Ghost didst create man after thine owne likenesse and breath into him the breth of life the which through thy goodnes continueth at thy pleasure Thou hast made of one bloud all mankind and assigned times and length of our life in this world thou giuest life to the people on the earth and breth to the walkers therein which if thou take awaie they shall depart and be turned into dust We blesse thee heauenlie Father and with all our harts giue thee thanks not onelie for sauing vs this daie from dangers but also from our cradles for defending both our soules and bodies from death Wherefore magnifie the Lord O our soules and our spirits reioice in God our Sauiour For he hath looked vpon the basenesse and afflictions of his seruants He that is mightie hath done for vs great things and holie is his name Wherefore we will praise the Lord for euermore bicause his mercie endureth from generation to generation on such as feare him We will shew foorth his power in the euening and when we go to bed we will remember his mercie Arise now our soules in the night praise your God In the beginning of the watches powre out your harts like water before the face of the Lord. For the Saints will be ioifull with glorie sing lowd vpon their beds Wherefore we also will praise thee continuallie and will confesse thy name for euermore For thou art the God which delighteth our harts and maketh our soules merie Therefore in the night we will thinke vpon thy benefits and our spirits shall consider of thy woonderous works For thou hast commanded that thy mercie be celebrated in the daie time and thy truth in the night season O our Lord and God of mercie gentlenesse patience pitie and truth which she west mercie vnto thousands and blottest out all our offences we lift vp our soules vnto thee and from our harts we praie thee put not before thine eies the horrible confusion vncleannesse and wickednesse of our minds being replenished with loathsome darknesse and ignorance full of doubtings and errors Our harts and will are turned from thee our God and all the powers and strength both of our soules and bodies are defiled and filthilie weakened but Lord of thy great merice blot out our offences looke vpon the troubles and dolours of our harts and forgiue all our sinnes For lo our soules are wounded and can not be holpen but onelie through mercie There is no health in our flesh bicause of thine anger neither is there rest in our bones bicause of our sins For our iniquities haue gone ouer our heads and as an heauie burden haue pressed vs down Our wounds are putrified and corrupt bicause of our foolishnesse Asswage thine anger and turne from thine indignation Pardon our faults remit all punishment and restore in vs the light of thy goodnesse which was lost O Lord heare O Lord forgiue harken O our God for thine owne sake For thy name is called vpon by vs. O God of heauen and earth in this euening tide doo we call vnto thee that remitting our sinnes which this daie especiallie we haue committed against thee in breaking thy Saboth and prophaning this our holie daie with our vnholie deeds speech and cogitations thou wouldest receiue vs into thy
God Grant also that both being in bed asleepe and awake we may alwaies remember our death which is a passing to an immortall life and withall our ioifull resurrection to euerlasting glorie Finallie at our last gaspe when our harts pant our strength faileth our sight departeth our hearing is deafe our mouth dumbe when our feet cannot go nor our hands feele when all our senses forsake vs giue vs O blessed Trinitie some sense of eternall life that we may tast in this world the beginning of thine euerlasting ioie and at our departure out of this world behold by faith thy diuine presence and so sleepe quietlie to eternall life Amen Amen Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord into thy hands we commend our soules because thou hast redeemed vs. Lord Iesu receiue our spirits At mid-night if you happen to awake praie HAue mercie vpon me O God after thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies doo awaie mine offenses Turne thy face from my sinnes and put out all my misdeeds Make me a cleane hart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holie spirit from me I will remember thee O God in my bed and thinke vpon thee now that I am waking because thou hast beene mine helper Euen now in the night season while thou holdest mine eies waking I saie will I thinke of thee my creator and make my praiers vnto thee my redeemer and God of my life that my soule may not refuse hir comfort In my bed now by night will I seeke thee whom my soule loueth O let me find thee and my soule embrace thee For with my soule doo I desire thee now in the night season and with my spirit within me will I seeke thee in the morning Yea at mid-night I will arise vp to giue thanks vnto thee O Lord because of thy righteous iudgements and in the night watches I will lift vp my hands towards thy holie place and blesse thee and powre out my hart before thee and saie Haue mercie vpon me O God haue mercie on me a most miserable sinner From the snares of the diuell O Lord deliuer me from the mid-night euill defend me and in the houre of death helpe me Our father which art in heauen c. Meditation AT mid-night there was a crie made Behold the bridegrome commeth go out to meet him blessed are those virgins whom the Lord when he commeth shall find waking O my soule let vs therfore take héed watch and praie that wée may bée found prepared with our Lamps burning readie to enter with our spouse and Lord Iesus vnto the wedding In the night when you heare the clocke strike praie THE clocke of our conscience dooth ring euerie minute the houre of death to be at hand O mercifull God grant vnto me therefore I beseech thee a happie houre blessed departure out of this life whensoeuer it shall please thee to call me hence and cause my soule to flie out of this bodie Be mercifull vnto me O God be mercifull vnto me a most miserable sinner and deliuer me from the houre of temptation death and damnation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Meditation HE that hath ears to heare let him heare The daie of the Lord will come as a théefe in the night Watch therefore because yée know neither the daie the time nor the houre when the sonne of man will come to iudgement VVhen you giue your selfe to sleepe againe and commend your selfe last to God Praie INto the hands of thy vnspeakable mercie O Lord I commend my wretched soule and bodie my senses speech counsell thoughts works all things belonging vnto me my lieng downe and rising vp my faith and conuersation the whole course and end of my life the daie and houre of my departure out of this world finallie my death buriall rest and resurrection beseeching thee O Lord now suffer mine eies to sleepe mine eie lids to slumber the temples of my head to take some rest that my bed may comfort me and my couch giue me some refreshing Grant that I may so sleepe gouerne and end my life that I may sleepe in peace and rest in thee Sticke thou to me O my God euen to the end that sleepe with rest and rest with quietnesse quietnesse with euerlastingnesse may receiue me For lo I giue my selfe once againe to sleepe and rest in the name of thee O Father Sonne and holie Ghost euermore crieng and saieng Haue mercie on me O glorious Deitie Haue mercie on me O triumphant humanitie Haue mercy on me O blessed Trinitie and receiue my spirit yea rather thy spirit into thy holy hands send me a ioifull resurrection with all thy Saints elect people Amen Amen The Conclusion NOt vnto vs O Alpha not vnto vs O Omega but vnto thy name O Iehoua be giuen all the glorie for thy louing mercie and for thy truths sake For thou hast directed the thoughts of our harts and prospered the works of our hands vpon vs euen thou I saie O Lord hast gouerned all our counsels enterprises from heauen hast gratiouslie wrought all our works for vs. O let our mouthes therfore be filled with thy praise and make vs continuallie thankefull that we may giue woorthie honor and glorie to thée for so great graces and manifold benefits bestowed vpon vs. And now forsomuch as thou hast giuen euerie one of vs that portion of thy graces that hath pleased thée and hast commanded vs to occupie and vse them to thy honor till thou come grant vs whether we haue receiued little or much that we doo not idelie or slothfullie neglect our dutie herein Suffer vs not I saie O swéet Christ with the rest of the world to fall asléep in the pleasant vanities of this life and to forget the waiting for thy comming but rather stirre vs vp by thy holie spirit faithfullie to vse thy gifts giuen vnto vs and in all warie watching fasting and earnest praier continuallie to prosper and go forward in our holie calling prouoking one another by good example to followe thée in true worship and due obedience and grant that all ambition vaine glorie hypocrisie and dissimulation being remooued our chéefe care may be in all our dooings studies and labours euer to séeke the increase of thine honor and the aduancement of thy kingdome and so with a single eie respecting the praise which is of thée looke and wait for the reward and recompense of our labours not of men but of thée that in that daie of thy second comming which shall be sudden and fearefull to the wicked we may with ioie and comfort méet thy sonne in the aire and when thou shalt heare our accounts we may also receiue of thée through our redéemer Iesus not onlie praise and commendation as thy good and faithfull seruants whose liues are hid in thée but also obtaine the finall