Prayer O Most mercifully louing God who gatherest and keepest thy beloued vnder thy wings as the Henne doth her Chickens defending them by thy mightinesse from all the perils and misfortunes which their weakenesse and the Deuils suggestions might bring vpon them I giue thee most humble and heartie thankes that thou hast safely protected me this day from all bodily dangers and mischances from the crueltie of Fire the mercilesnesse of Water the rage of the Sword the spoyle of Sicknesse and the vnsparing hand of Death which hath suddenly and vnexpectedly ouertaken many feasting and rioting But now O Lord and aboue measure am I to glorifie and prayse thy euerlasting goodnesse that with thy assisting grace thou hast blessed me from horrible sinnes and transgressions crying vnto thee for Iudgement Incest committed with the neerest of our bloud and remotest from the bloud of our Sauiour Murther of mans bodie with the slaughter of our owne soule Rape of Virgins with the deflowring of our owne vertue and many other offences which thou vnknowingly hast taken from vs deliuering vs from the occasions which hanging ouer vs were vnperceiued readie to deuoure vs. Continue O Lord thy louing kindnesse and in the darkenesse of this Night shoot forth thy beames into our soules that wee may inwardly behold and meditate vpon thy neuer-ending mercies Ouer-shadow vs with a companie of Angels who may watch and guard our sleeping bodies lest the Deuill enter and vnawares surprize vs. Keepe from vs O Lord all wanton and lasciuious dreames vaine and idle fancies that hauing peaceably and quietly obtained an vntroubled and vnpolluted Repose wee may awake in thy feare to remember all thy kindnesses employing both soule and bodie to doe him homage and seruice by whose mightie and louing power wee haue enioyed them safe from the oppositions of all our enemies WEDNESDAY 7. Morning Prayer ALmightie and euer-liuing God the first Beginner Mouer and Creator of all things being I render thy diuine Maiestie humble and heartie thanks for the quiet Repose and Rest of the passed Night humbly entreating thee of thy fauour and goodnesse by thy holy direction and assistance to gouerne and commaund all the actions of this day that they may bring forth a Comfort and Repose of a good Conscience Giue O Lord vnto me thoughts pure and vndefiled beseeming the presence of so great and holy a Maiestie before whom I continually stand speeches sparing and modest with the consideration of an account to be made for them that my actions arising from these may be a warrane to me in the peace of a settled mind a profitable example to my weake brethren and a neuer-ending glorie and honour to thee whose workemanship I am Take from me O blessed and carefull Father the occasions of sinne and the oportunitie of committing them Let no euill companie the Nets of Satan ensnare my weake and fraile determinations seducing me by wantonnesse or the desire of vaine-glorie or what other secondarie cause soeuer to the forgetting thee and my owne dutie and saluation Giue me grace and strength O blessed and all louing Creator to labour in the vocation thou hast ordained for me and blesse O Lord the labours of my hand that I may see the comfort and encrease of them for which let thy holy and euer-comforting Spirit inflame me with a burning desire of thankfulnesse and humble acknowledgement that I may not lose thee for not praysing honouring and adoring thy holy Name to vvhich bee ascribed all honour and glorie world without end NOONE. 8. A Prayer or Meditation acknowledging Gods benefits with an humble Confession of our sinnes WHat is Man O Lord that thou doest so much respect him Or the Sonne of Man that thou giuest heed vnto him Why hast thou sent thy onely Begotten who in glorie excelleth all Creatures to be a Sacrifice for him and giuen thy Angels charge ouer him Why hath thy owne hand conducted him and Miracles made way for him Is he not O Lord slime of the Earth created of nothing and without thy mercie should be happie to returne to nothing Was he able to helpe thee when he had no being in thy great Workemanship Or when it was made vvithout thee could he distinguish it Was he not last formed and all other things for his vse and seruice And in requitall of all this thy exceeding and infinite bountie did hee not leaue thee his onely God and Creator and take part with thy enemie against thee And hast thou yet gathered him to thee and by thy reuealed Will left him thine heire of all those glorious Possessions whose Title cannot be questioned Those inestimable Riches which neither Theeues nor Moths can beguile him of or take away What excellencie is there O mercifull Father in this thy handy worke to deserue such innumerable and vn-imitable benefits What can hee O Lord repay thee for these great and vnspeakable bounties What proportion can there be of a finite vncertainetie with an euerlasting and infinite Deitie With what admirable and vnconceiuable Art doest thou fashion him in the Wombe How wonderfully and strangely doest thou bring him forth How carefully after and most louingly doest thou cherish and succour him his Parents being thy Nurses in whom thou hast inspired such Nature and Loue towards him that they account and call that Trouble a Blessing How most prouidently for this despised Clay didst thou in the beginning diuide the great Time disposing the one halfe for the Rest and Repose of this thy Creature rocking him asleepe with thy all-powerfull and fauourable hand And when he comes in progresse of time to exercise and vse that Reason and Vnderstanding in which thou hast made him lord ouer all thy Creatures what O Father of all Comforts and Blessings doth he returne thee for this thy care and blessings How does he in part and to his power answere these thy exceeding great and high benefits Doth he walke in the Way which thou hast instructed him Or is his delight in seeking after thy Commaundements Doth he not leaue the knowne Path reuealed in thy Word and wander after Vanities searching for their footsteps which lead vnto destruction O all mercifull and louing God whose Charitie and Bountie doth well expresse thy Godhead and Power since it is not in Mortalitie to loue so abundantly so feruently so causelessely graunt I beseech thee euen for the bowels of thy mercie to inflame my heart with the like desires and affections that I may loue thee aboue my selfe with all my soule with all my heart all my vnderstanding despising all things in respect of thee since there is nothing great glorious and high nothing of infinite Beautie euerlasting Maiestie vnspeakable Charitie but God alone who hath filled euery thing with his Blessing with his Being with his Presence who confines all things without being confined who is was and euer shall be of endlesse power honour and glorie Amen 9. Euening Prayer LEt me neuer be vnthankfull O Lord that
to the blinde a staffe to the lame and a most heauenly and neuer-erring Physician to all that labour vnder any disease Come vnto mee saith our blessed Lord all yee that are oppressed and I will ease you O mercifull and generall comfort as certaine to be done as it is spoken I prostrate my selfe humbly before thee and desire thee of thy infinite mercy if such be thy will and pleasure to let this transitorie and bitter cup passe from me yet not my will but thy blessed will bee done who alone knowest what is fittest to tame my stubborne and rebellious affections and to morrifie in me all vaine and aspiring thoughts that I may wholly desire to bee dissolued and liue with thee where eternall and neuer-ending peace and piety haue their habitation 82. A Prayer to our blessed Sauiour MOST mercifully louing Lord Redeemer and Sauiour of the world I wretched and detestable sinner leprous all ouer and more spotted with sinne then the blessed Iob with sores which no Poole can euer cure all humble prostrate my selfe before thee not desiring thee to lay thy blessed and happy-making hand vpon so vlcerous a creature nor to cast thy pittying and fauourable eye vpon so displeasing and hatefull an obiect but onely O Lord if so poore and vnworthy a worme may aspire to request of so high and great a Deitie one word from thy heauenly lips to make me whole but say the word O Lord and I shall passe the Snow in whitenesse and cast my sicke and aged imperfections renewing my selfe like the strong Eagle at thy command whole Legions of sinnes which carry mee head-long to ruine and perdition shall passe from mee and I remaine praysing and gloryfying thy holy name the numnesse and deadnesse of my vncharitable hand vpon thy Word shall stretch it selfe forth and bee exercised in deeds of loue and mercy vpon thy Word my wilfull and naturall blindnesse shall bee taken away and I restored to a perfect and good sight gloriously beholding thee in thy reuealed Wil and wonderfully in thy workes vpon thy Word I shall easily heare and fully vnderstand thy Diuine and heauenly Mysteries and lay them vp in my heart for my comfort and consolation The Iewes O Lord had eares and heard not eyes and saw not hands and felt not thy apparant and astonishing miracles they saw before their eyes the blind receiue their sight the dead restored to life they heard with their eares the dumbe speake and glorifie thy holy Name they felt thy naturall and heauenly begotten Bodie and yet beleeued not Blessed are they which haue not seene and haue beleeued But say the word O Lord and I shall be made partaker of that heauenly benediction acknowledging thee the Son of the euer-liuing God borne of the blessed Virgin crucified vnder Pontius Pilate giuing ouer thy life buried and rising againe on the third day for the redemption and saluation of mankinde I shall lay hold of thy precious Passion and bury all my misdeeds in thy life-giuing wounds to bee washt away with thy vnualuable bloud for euer will I kneele for this Word for euer remaine a deuout and humble Petitioner that all these things may bee done vnto mee and I become a new creature spirited anew with thy holy Spirit for euer praysing and magnifying thy holy Name louing it aboue my selfe and adoring it to the end all generations may approoue thy power in the conquest of hell death and sinne Amen 83. A Prayer in time of Lent O Benigne and bountifull Sauiour our onely Aide Comforter and Redeemer the preseruer of all Mankinde the glorie and hope of all mortality who whilst thou wandredst here amongst vs putting on perfect Humanity sufferedst thy selfe to be carryed into the Wildernesse and tempted of the deuil gloriously ouercomming him by prayer fasting to leaue vnto vs the ordinary ready meanes to resist all his subtill suggestions prescribing the same meanes to thy Apostles for the dispossessing Satan and hast also left vs many examples in thy holy Prophets blessed Fore-runner who liued in the Woods on Locusts and wilde Hony giuing vs a liuely and perfect Patterne who didst all for our example of thy owne blessed abstinence and moderation Grant O mercifull and blessed Sauiour that wee may this blessed and holy time of Lent attend more especially the spirituall food of our soules chastising and subduing the lusts and heate of the flesh by temperate and thrifty dyet lest of a seruant hee become a Master rebelling against the Spirit Mortifie in vs O Lord all wilde and loose desires ranging and disordered appetites which sowe dissention betwixt me and thee making me fearefull to enter and vnworthy to stand in thy presence and plentifully enrich mee with thy grace that I may do thy workes seriously meditate on thy Passion and take it to heart detesting and abandoning my sinnes the onely cause so great a Lord was so meanely intreated so gentle a Sauiour so vngently vsed and so mercifull and louing a Redeemer so vnmercifully and hatefully tormented by his owne subiects and seruants in the recouerie of their inheritance and freedome And if the children of men after the decease of a louing father expresse their griefe to the world by putting on mourning garments confining themselues to their Chamber and through anguish of heart forbearing their necessarie food was euer a worthier cause or a sorrow better beseeming the sonnes of Adam or a time more conuenient then in the yeerely obseruing and celebrating the dayes of their Lord and Masters torments and funeralls who dyed and was persecuted for them Grant vs therefore O Lord we may fast and deuoutly pray bitterly lamenting our sins and misdeeds which gaue thee vp to the death of the Crosse 84. A Prayer against temptation LEade vs not into temptation O Lord but deliuer vs from all euill sinne lyeth in waite to betray vs and Satan baiteth vs with opportunity he knoweth O mercifull Father our affections and by our actions ghesseth at our thoughts our inclinations he is cunning in and in subtilty who can surpasse him He deceiued our first parents whom thou hadst endued with excellent and Angell-like vnderstanding colouring his malice with carefull pretences many of thy choysest seruants he hath beguiled and triumphed neither is his inueterate and cankred enuy mitigated his power abated his knowledge decayed or his delight in wickednesse measured or lessened He is mighty in perswasions mighty in the meanes and most cunning in applying them He hath conquered the world that world our flesh and our flesh vs Who can suspect so great offers for dissimulation or mischiefe And who so neere and inseparable a friend which tendreth them Thus are the wisest O blessed Lord and Sauiour by a seeming shew of what is good circumuented thus the strongest with their owne confidence ouerthrowne Against so powerfull an enemie so powerfully followed but by thy neuer-yeelding grace what hope of resistance Stay him O Lord in his swiftnesse and bring
may not onely endeuour well purpose good things and perhaps beginne a reformation and vertuous amendment but continue O Lord and perseuer all my life long that by the practice of a holy and religious life I may bee weaned and with-drawne from the transitory and seducing pleasures which gawdinesse and custome haue made strong in mee and awaite the subuersion and rooting out of all things good and vertuous settle firme in me O Lord an vnwearied determination of a daily progresse and going forward in thy seruice since to stand still is to expect the enemie and bridle and take from me the feeds and bloomings of vice that I deceiued with their seducing yeeld not to them but perfectly and zealously labouring to follow the steps of so good and great a Maiestie may at last receiue the hire which thou hast reserued for those that diligently employ themselues in thy Vineyard 75. A Prayer in Affliction MOST gracious Redeemer which art alwaies mercifull alwaies a preseruer whether thou send vs ioy or sadnesse for great is thy mercy which by outward afflictions as by a sharpe medicine heatest the inward man and by temporary troubles preparest vs for euerlasting ioy euen as thy selfe hast opened the way for vs to true felicitie by thy owne steps Grant that I may drinke this cup patiently and obediently as giuen of thee But these troubles O blessed and meek Sauiour fall heauy on me my proud and enuious disposition grudging and repining at them Giue me O Lord in cure the happie and heart comforting spectacle of thy precious Passion that beholding thee ouer-flowed with bloud and sweate cruelty hauing vsed seuerall torments to let it forth I may account my selfe happie in so sweet a societie and my rancour and swollen desires ambitiously puffed vp with malicious and aspiring thoughts may at this sight fall low and bee asswaged the venemous and poysoning sting of the subtill serpent bee drawne and cast from me by beholding thee the example of all patience and gentlenes Endue me O Lord with an absolute contempt of all these vaine and gawdie shadowes whose pompe and outward glorie are rated at so high an estimation Let me look inwardly onely and all my care be to be richly and sumptuously attired within Let mee aime at no peace but that of a good conscience fearing onely thy rebuke and displeasure but for thy sake highly esteeme all the contempt the world can throw vpon me the scoffes disdaine and base regard they can afflict me with the reuilings slanders imputations which enuie and ill tongues can lay vpon me since promotion and high respect are no badges of thy seruants commendation and gracefull language no titles of thy followers nor security and worldly felicitie any testimonies of thy loue and fauour to which onely O glorious example of all vertue let me ambitiously aspire thorow the burning Furnaces the Lyons Den the Axe Stones or what new crueltie soeuer Tyrants witty onely in mischieuous inuentions can for the professing thee inflict vpon mee since to lose all the world and win thee is a purchase vnualuable vnspeakeable which grant for thine owne Names sake I may happily attaine Amen 76. A Prayer in extremity of sicknesse O Iesu Christ the onely hope of them that liue and eternall life of them that die I wretched sinner submit my selfe wholly to thy Diuine Will whether it pleaseth thee my soule shall longer remaine in the prison of this my bodie to serue thee or depart out of this world I am sure what is cōmitted to thy mercy can neuer perish I wil lay down this my fraile and miserable body with a willing minde namely in hope of resurrection which renders it to me againe much more happie Strengthen O truely-mercifull and all-louing Sauiour my soule with thy grace against all temptations against all the assaults of Satan Inuiron me with the shield of thy mercy by which in times past thou restoredst thy Martyrs vnconquered against grieuous torments and cruell deaths I see nothing in my selfe which can bee a help vnto me all my hope is in thy inestimable goodnesse I haue no merits or good workes to alledge to thee but alas I behold on euerie side many wicked and sinfull offences many malicious and enuious transgressions many lewde and lasciuious acts which are here readie to accuse and condemne and as much as their exclamations can further desirous to throw me to euerlasting hell and perdition What Aduocate so mercifull as thy selfe Who so powerfull And who more willing and readie Who can better deliuer what must at this time preuaile for me being a story of thy owne loue and mercy Who can shew the skars of those honourable wounds which were gotten in the redemption of mankinde but thy Almightie selfe Who the print of those lashes which all ouer skarrified thy innocent flesh for the painting and artificiall discolouring ours Who with fortie dayes Fasting expiated our riotous and superfluous Feasts but thy most mercifull selfe Wash away O Lord with thy precious Bloud the contagious spots of my hainous offences and let thy neuer-failing Iustice answere in iudgement for my presumptuous iniustice thy great and mightie merites be an acceptable propitiatorie for the multitude of my misdeeds and grant O louing and all-gracious Lord that thy grace may increase aboue my sicknesse let not my faith faile my hope faint my charity waxe cold nor humane infirmity ioyned with the feare of death cast mee into the bottomelesse gulfe of despaire but that when the eyes of my body are shut and closed vp the euer-waking eye of my minde may looke vp and bee comforted in thee and that when the vse of my tongue shall be taken from me my soule may then incessantly and continually cry vnto thee O Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit to whom bee honour and glorie world without end 77. A Prayer in the Spring time O Almightie and euer-liuing God the powerfull Creator of heauen and earth ordaining them with their seuerall Lights and Ornaments for the necessarie vse of mankinde appointing them in their distinguisht seasons to yeeld food and sustenance for the maintenance of thy People Wee giue thee humble and heartie thankes for this moderate and timely Spring refreshing the decayed earth with the kindly heate of the Sun and temperate falls of raine and water renewing in vs a comfortable expectation of our Resurrection in beholding how thy mercifull and All-able hand hath freshly apparelled the naked and barren fields beautifying them with seuerall sorts of flowers loading the Trees disroabed and withering with new buds and blossomes the earth her selfe shooting forth her seeds long time buried in her womb with the hope of a happie and plentifull increase to the great ioy and consolation of thy seruants Grant I beseech thee that wee being renewed and borne againe by holy Baptisme and hauing cast and throwne off the old man may become new creatures neuer more to returne to our old sinnes but