O Merciful and most louing Father which hast no desire in the death of a sinner but rather that hee conuert and liue I acknowledge vnto thy highnesse all mine offences by mee committed which I cannot hide I consider the vile state wherto through sinne I am brought for thereby I haue worthilie lost thy fauour and am fallen from thy grace which while thou withdrawest from me I can doo no good thing nor thinke one good thought My sinne causeth thee to put mee out of thy remembrance and to forget me delaying to giue me that which is my strength and comfort But howe long wilt thou forget mee Lorde for euer How long wilt thou hide thy face from mee Howe long will thou withdraw thy grace from me Thou knowest my hartie contrition and sorrow for that I haue vnkindly forsaken thee and thy seruice and serued thine enimies the deuill and sin But trusting surelie in thy promises made to all men by the mouth of thy prophet Ezechiell that is if the sinner will turne away from all his sinnes that hee hath committed and keepe all thy commandements doubtlesse he shall liue and not die as for all his sinnes he did before thou wilt not thinke vpon them I most humblie beséech thee that as my sinnes were the cause why thou diddest put me out of thy remembrance euen so let my heartie penitence for them cause thee to put my sinnes out of thy remembrance Suffer me not long to remaine in this perpletitie of minde and to take sorrow in my heart from daie to daie continuallie fearing the punishment due to my sinne and looking still for thy comming into my soule by grace to deliuer me Hope hath caused me long to looke for thee that art my life and my helth Thy long delaie in comming hath much increased my desire My feruent desire at length is now turned to a vehement pain wherfore make hast lord to help my sick soul Let not mine enimie the deuill long triumph ouer mee whose propertie is to treade vnder his feete like a cruell prince all those that hee vanquisheth And that treading is dangerous and terrible for hee treadeth them downe to the pit of hell and to eternall death He did long holde in captiuitie all mankind vntill the comming and passion of Christ for our redemption And since through his craftie traines hath brought to vtter confusion manie of those that professe thy true religion Wherefore behold Lord and consider my miserable estate and heare my humble petition touching my deliuerance out of his danger Lighten the eie of my hart and vnderstanding with the light of thy grace and comfort thereby expelling the darkenes of ignorance Lighten also one other eie of my soule which is the light or eie of the affection The sight of this eie is so dim that it hath no perfect true iudgement yea it is blinded with the vanities of this world that one thing in appearance séemeth to be twentie things like the sight of deceytfull eies of glasse yea sometime the concupiscence therof is so great that the eie is cleane put out and the sight lost Mankind entreth into such league of a mitie with the diuell that hee is contented to haue one of his eies put out to win his fauour as the inhabitantes of Iabes were agreed to haue their right eies put out according to the desire of Nahas king of the Ammorites had not king Saule and the Prophet Samuell saued them there from and ouercome the said Nahas and his hoast Euen so moste mercifull Father I beséech thée saue my said eie of affection that it be not put out by our enimie the Deuill that it sléepe not in sinne which is the cause of eternall death Manne maie fall by frailetie and arise againe yea the custom of sinne maketh a man often to fall But to lie still sléeping and slumbring in sinne as dooth the swine in foule mire ingendreth obstinacie in amendment and delaie of penitence till the latter houre at which houre who can bee sure to haue thy grace at his pleasure that is onlie at thy will Lorde not at our commandement Wherefore I most humblie praie thee to send me the light of thy grace while I haue heere time and space of repentance that at my latter end mine enimies saie not reioicing and boasting that they had the vpper hand ouer me As the Philistines the figure of the wicked spirites after the death of king Saul in the mount of Gelboe cut off the head of Saul and sent it with his harnesse through their country for a shew they bare it also into the temple of their gods of a pride and ioy that they had of his death in such fashion will those cruell enimies that trouble mee reioice if I be cast downe or if I doo once swarue from thee and thy faith and so die without repentance They assault mankind by pleasant suggestion to sinne they wrastle with vs causing delectation therein They strike vs and wound vs when wee consent thereto They foile vs and bring vs vppon our knees when wee doo at anie time commit or go about the filthie action of sinne And by the custome thereof they giue a great fall with such violence that wee haue much to doo to rise againe But if we happen to die therin impenitent then they haue the victorie ouer vs. Then reioice and triumph they thereat euen as the conquerour triumpheth in his newe gotten conquest Then will they cast vs in a pit lay a stone of abstinencie vppon vs that we shall not arise againe And as there is much ioy in heauen when one sinner forsaketh his sinne and returneth vnto thee by pennance in like manner is there ioyfull triumphing among the wicked spirits in hell when one soule forsaking thée dieth in deadlie sinne but all my trust is in thy mercie O lord For although thou hide thy selfe in a cloud that my praier should not go thorough it vnto thine eares yet are not thy mercies cleane gone neither dooth thy louing kindnes cease Thou art therfore Lord my portion and in thy mercie still will I hope in none other creature knowing for certaine that as God thou onelie maiest helpe mee and as my louing father thou wilt helpe me Wherefore in thee my heart shall be ioyfull and in thy sauing helth which is thy sonne Iesus our Sauiour and redeemer The Philistins knowing the presence of thine ark to be in the camp of the Israelites the daie of their battell were sore afraid saieng who shall deliuer vs out of the hand of this mightie God Much more will I be glad and take sure trust in thee O Lorde hauing the presence and comfort of thy liuelie grace And in token of the victorie which thou hast giuen mee ouer mine enimies I will not cease as I haue good cause to sing the praise of the Lord that so louinglie hath dealt with me and praise the name of the most high all the
of the worlde O holie ghost the sweet comforter O the diuine essence thrée persons and one God haue mercie vpon me most vile caitife and miserable sinner I haue offended both against heauen earth more than my toong can expresse Whither then may I go or whither should I flie To heauen I may be ashamed to lift vp mine eies and in earth I finde no place of refuge or succour To thée therfore O Lord do I come to thée doo I humble my selfe saieng O Lord my God my sinnes be great but yet haue mercy vpon me for thy great mercie The great mysterie that God became man was not wrought for little or few offences Thou diddest not giue thy sonne O heauenlie Father vnto death for small sinnes onelie but for all the greatest sinnes of the world so that the sinner returne to thee with his whole heart as by grace first receyued from thée I doo héer at this present Wherefore haue mercie vpon me O God whose propertie is alwaies to haue mercy haue mercie vppon mee O Lorde for thy great mercie I craue nothing O Lord for my owne merits but for thy names sake that it may be hallowed thereby and for thy déere son Iesu Christes sake And therfore I continue forth my crie vnto thee from the bottom of my heart saieng Our father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name c. Our Father TO none doth this name Father more truelie belong then vnto thée O God our father For both they which haue begotten vs fostered vs do bring vs vp and also our spirituall pastors which do instruct vs are called fathers But thou O Lord art the father of all creatures which are vpon the earth whome thou hast made of somewhat as thou madest man but of nothing which none else coulde do These thou dooest féede and preserue which else shoulde returne to their nothing againe These thou dooest gouerne teach and stirre vp to do their seuerall and proper offices Thou hast made all things therefore thou art the father of all but more speciallie man whom thou hast formed after thine owne similitude and image Thou dooest rule and gouerne all thinges as thy seruants but man as thy sonne To other liuing creatures thou hast giuen out of thy plentifull storehouse good giftes but vppon man thou hast powred them forth with full hande and hast adorned him with a liuing soule of all giftes one of greatest excellencie Thou doost driue forward al other creatuers as it were with a certain secret spurre but thou gently teachest and instructest vs. Other creatures thou dooest violentlie draw but vs thou doost fatherly teach and direct In al these fatherlie properties we wonder at thy power and adore and worship thy wisedome But amongst al thy fatherly mercies there is one which with great delectation wee consider as more profitable for vs namely our adoption by which thou hast made vs thy sonnes thorough Iesus Christ the sonne of the omnipotent essence and diuine nature Wonderfull is this goodnes of Christ and most swéet is his loue toward vs who wil not haue vs to be terrified with seruile feare and therefore hath not taught vs to cal thee his father Our lord which is a name of power but Our father which is a name of loue He concealeth thy greatnes and setteth forth thy goodnes the sooner to allure vs. What man considering rightlie his vile nature and corrupt will dare cal thee father except thou command him What vngratious and inferiour seruaunt will presume to call his king father except he be beside himselfe But how much greater difference is there betweene thée and vs then betweene a mortal king and a seruant which do not differ in condition of nature but onely in state of fortune We compared with thee in nature are most far different Thou art the essence and the incompresensible fulnes of all things which art all in all and wee are vtterlie nothing And in condition of worthinesse and excellencie wee being with thée compared are vnhappie and most miserable bondslaues of sin and the diuell which is the most vile and execrable state but thou art the most blessed lord of al. We are ignorance and darknesse but thou art wisedome and light Thy excellencie is infinit our shame and reproch more than can be expressed mans mind is not able to comprehend the difference betwéene thée and vs. But thy onlie sonne hath giuen vs boldnes to call thee Our father that we by adoption might be made partakers of that excellent dignitie to be called sonnes through his fauour and grace which he alone in right of his diuine nature possesseth Nowe howe more néerelie and trulie art thou the father of all those that are baptised in thy name and that are purged and clensed by the bloud of thy sonne Christ to whome beeing reconciled with thee and receiued into thy fauour thou hast giuen the earnest of Euerlasting blisse the loue of thee and an assured faith and confidence in thee and thereby perfect peace and rest of conscience Oh howe often do we féele to our great comfort thy fatherlie goodnesse Thou dooest giue vs light in darkenesse thou holdest vs vp when we stumble and are readie to fall thou turnest from vs manie wicked euils which hang ouer our heades and changest them into good and in all goodnes thou doost establish and preserue vs. What dooe our fathers helpe vs which are onelie fathers in name by whom wee haue nothing but that which hirelings and seruants haue that is to say the necessaries of this present life But this is the true fatherhood wherof we may rightlie reioyce by which we haue an euerlasting inheritance Oh woonderfull clemencie of thy son Christ which vouchsafed on vs the dignitie of his proper inheritance What wilt thou not giue O father vnto thy sons now which thou shalt thinke profitable for them We haue attained the greatest gifte that thou shouldest bee called and be indéed our father how then can we misse and bee destitute of thy fatherlie affection and liberalitie towardes vs And forasmuch as wee all which truelie are called Christians are knit togither in one knot of loue and are therfore members of one bodie and so one thing therefore that which wee aske for our selues wee craue of thee O Father for our brethren also And for this cause wee call thee iointlie togither Our father Beséeching thée that as thou vouchestsafe to be called of vs Our father so thou wilt make vs thy obedient children that not with mouth alone but with heart and mind wee may truelie feare thée serue thee loue thee and call thee our father to the honour and glorie of thy holie name Amen Which art in heauen THou art alone O Lord and we are not That being which we haue is heere in Earth that is to saie in the middest of manie tempestes and floudes of all manner of calamities wherewith we are continuallie turmoiled But thou both art and also
to loue thee aboue all things so thou wouldest that we loue our neighbours also not in word and toong but in deede and veritie Let this thy will good Father bee fulfilled in vs. And we heartilie praie thée that as in prosperitie we can bee well contented with thy wil so also whensoeuer it shall please thée either for the punishment of our sinnes either for the tryall and exercise of our fayth or for anie other cause as shal séem best to thy fatherlie wisdom to afflict vs with diseases with languishing sicknesses with iniuries and reproches with persecutions or any other crosse whatsoeuer we may patientlie and willinglie euen from our heart saie Thy will bee doone For if we bee not vnder chastisement whereof all thy children are partakers in this life then might we déeme our selues bastards and not sonnes And séeing thy onelie sonne our Sauiour in whose mouth there was no guile for vs miserable and sinfull men vouchedsafe to stand as a méeke lambe dumbe before the fleecer and opened not his mouth but bearing the chastisement of our peace in the moste bitter agonie of death when hee sweat water and bloud most mildelie submitted himselfe to thy holie will wee heartilie praie thee for the same our Christs sake that we may bee appliable to thy will in all thinges after the example of thy deer sonne and maie without murmuring or grudging vnfeinedlie say Thy will be done Jn earth as it is in heauen THe celestiall creatures O God are prest and readie to obaie thy diuine will and whatsoeuer thou commandest them they doo it speedilie Among which are thy angels who alwaies stood stedfast in thy truth since the first beginning and doe still stande in thy presence to serue thee as ministring spirits to defend and gard thine elect These angels doo reioise in heauen for the fulfilling of thy will in the conuersion and repentaunce of sinners yea so prompt is their seruice and so willing is their obedience that nothing is more pleasant vnto them then when thy will O God is performed and executed The blessed saints also departed this life in soule and spirit haue the fulnesse of ioy in thy presence and the pleasures also which are at thy right hand for euermore This thy wil hath brought to passe And therfore being frée from the cares and labours of this life they doo still execute thy holie will falling before thee which sittest in the heauenlie throne and worshipping thee which liuest for euermore and sayeng Thou art worthie O Lorde to receyue glorie and honoure and power for thou hast created all things and for thy wils sake they are and haue beene created As the angels and saints doo thus rest on thy will O God alone euen so other celestiall bodies also doo obeie the same The perpetuall motion and true course of the heauens the sunne the moone and the stars do continuallie kéepe their prescribed order whereunto thou hast appoynted them The temperate and flourishing springtide the hot and dry summer the fruit full haruest and the chilling cold winter haue their times and returnes from yeare to yeare according vnto thy diuine will In the execution whereof they haue thus continued more than fiue thousand and sixe hundred yeares and yet in that same remaineth and endureth still stable and firme Make in like manner O Heauenlie Father wee beséech thee our stubborne disobedient and rebellious wils pliant tractable and obedyent to thy most holie will O that this flesh putting off the olde Adam which is made of earth might submitte it selfe so willinglie vnto thy will as that inwarde manne dooth which is regenerate and illuminated by thy holie spirite and therefore with groanes and sighes desyreth to doo thy will O that it might please thee to breake in sunder for euer the bandes of sinne wherewith our spirit is tied that beeing frée wee might serue thee continuallie as thou wilt O Father wee heartilie praie thee and for Christs sake humblie beséech thee disburthen vs of this earth wherewith we are ouerwhelmed and make vs heauenlie that thy name maie bee sanctified in earth as it is in heauen that wee may desire thy kingdome to come in earth as it is in heauen that wee may will thy will to bee done in earth as it is in heauen that nowe here in earth wee may begin to bee such as one day through thy grace and mercy we shall bee in heauen Where wee shall for euer praise thee and our lord Iesus Christ to whome with the holie Ghost bee all honour and glory world with out end Amen 4 Giue vs this day our daily bread A prayer for all needfull thinges both for the soule and bodie WE are O Father in our selues miserable and néedie beggers but thou art rich in mercie to all that call vppon thee Out of thy heauenlie treasure therefore wee beseech thee plentifullie powre downe thy giftes vppon vs and especiallie giue vs that breade that heauenlie Manna the spirituall foode of our soules thy omnipotent word Iesus Christ by whose word and blessed spirit we are fedde comforted and euermore preserued to come vnto eternall life For thou hast so loued the worlde that thou hast giuen thy onelie begotten sonne that euerie one which beléeueth in him should haue euerlasting life This foode thou dooest giue of thy meere grace make vs by faith to take and digest it And to the end we may be the more able to go forwarde in that state of life where vnto thou hast called vs helpe O God our infirmities and sustaine our earthlie bodies with that corporall food which from sunne to sunne wee can not spare We depende O Lorde vpon thy fatherlie prouidence which openest thy handes and replenishest euerie liuing thing Thou féedest the yoong Rauens that call vpon thee Thou dooest minister food to the hungrie lions when they roare after their prey and thou doost cloth and apparell the lillies and grasse of the field Therfore we humblie beséech thee let thine eie attend vpon vs to féede cherrish and preserue vs in such wise that wee may bee more apt to glorifie thy holy name Break this bread O Father to thy sonnes and giue it vnto them at such time and in such measure as is most méet and conuenient for them so shall it be most swéete and sauorie and wholsom for the children Thou onelie canst giue it thou onelie knowest howe to giue it thou onely art woont to giue it and wilt giue it still vnto thy children in the best measure If thou giue it not wee cannot haue it For who is he among the sons of men that can make the smallest graine of wheat or other seed to growe or the least hearbe to spring without thee It is thou O Lord that doost make the grasse to grow for cattell and herbe for the vse of men It is thou that giuest bread wine to strengthen and make glad the heart of man and Oyle also to make him haue a
chéerfull countenance Wee that plant and water are nothing Thou art all in all that giuest the increase Therefore we stand like poore beggers at thy doore crauing thy dailie almes and saying Giue vs this day our daylye bread And also we praie thee O Father that as thou makest these creatures of thine ours by thy frée gift so also they may bee ours by our labour and studie in that vocation whervnto we are called Giue vs thy grace wee beséech thee that wee eate not our breade with idlenesse that wee take not from our brethren theyr bread by rapine theft oppression vsurie briberie extortion and by such other vnlawfull meanes but that wee may receiue from thy liberal and most merciful hands our owne bread in the sweate of our owne browes that wee may bee blessed in the labour of our owne hands And as thou hast from daie to daie all the daies of our life hither to fed vs most liberally and preserued vs so wee beseech thee good lord that forsomuch as this daie wee doo hunger and thirst and shall daylie so long as wee are in this flesh stand in need of thy goodnesse thou wilt vouchsafe to giue vs this day our daylie bread And when thou hast satisfied our mouth with good things giue vs O Father contented mindes that wee followe not the insatiable lusts of our flesh which beeing neuer contented with thy good gifts abuse them intemperatly and deuise and desire new daintie dishes for lust and cause vs to say with the wanton Israelites Can God prepare a table in the wildernes Can he giue bread also prepare flesh for his people Represse in vs these carnall delights giue vs temperance that we maie liue not to eat but eat to liue For thy kingdome O God is not meate drinke but a reioysing in the holie ghost And as for the bellie and the meate thou shalt destroy them both If therefore it shall please thy goodnesse to giue vs our daylie bread in abundance giue vs also aboundance of thy grace that we be not proude intemperate or luxurious but that wee maie vse thy gifts to the relieuing of our faint and weake bodyes to the comfort and helpe of our brethren and also to the honour and prayse of thy holie name Make vs mindfull thankfull O heauenlie Father for thy great goodnesse that wee doo not sit downe at thy table as thy ghestes to eate thy bread and drinke thy drinke and then to rise vp to plaie and so to forget thee the author giuer of all good gifts Far be this grosse vnthankefulnesse from vs. For the oxe knoweth his owner and the asse his maisters crib and shall wee forget thee The horse loueth his keeper and the dog will fight for his maister The brute beare and the fierce Lion are thankefull to them that féede them And the earth yeeldeth fruite to him that tilleth it and shall wée so far degenerate that we shall bee more vnreasonable then brute beastes Farre be this O Lorde from thy children Make vs therefore O father to receiue our daylie breade with thankesgiuing that hauing thee alwaies before our eies which art the giuer of all good thinges and refreshest the hungrie soule with goodnes and considering also our owne néede and necessitie we may continuallie for our daily bread ascribe vnto thée our father with thy sonne our sauiour and the holie ghost our comforter all honour praise and glorie for euer and euer Amen 5 And forgiue vs our trespasses A praier for remission of sinnes WHen wee present our selues O father before thy diuine Maiestie sathan our aduersarie our continuall accuser and sworne enimie dooth trouble vs and striketh our consciences with the sting of our sinnes which aforetime wee haue committed agaynst thée Howe darest thou saith hee miserable man presume to come into the presence of God with thy praiers with what face canst thou call him thy father when as thou at no time hast shewed thy selfe an obedient son Art thou not ashamed to pray that he will sanctifie and glorifie his name when as thou dooest daylie prophane and dishonour the same what reason hast thou to desire him to come vnto thee with his kingdome which hitherto hast not submitted thy selfe vnto him and hast not suffered him to raigne in thee Also why doest thou praie that the will of God maie bee doone in thee when as thou hatest his will and willinglie runnest into disobedience Is it not impudent temeritie that thou askest thy daylie bread of God when as thou hast so ledde thy life hitherto that thou rather deseruest to bee called a dog then a sonne hast thou forgotten that the Lord hath said It is not meete to take the childrens bread and to giue it vnto dogges These such like heauie cogitations O Lord our enemie dooth assayle our mindes to discourage vs and to drawe vs away from calling vppon thy name But we being here taught by thy son Christ our sauior to make our petitions to thee and also he hauing giuen vs boldnesse to haue accesse vnto thee and hauing also giuen vs the earnest of his holie spirit whereby we crie Abba Father doo repell these gréeuous temptations and fierie darts of the diuell crieng vnto thee with true repentance Forgiue O father our trespasses and sinnes for wee haue sinned in déede agaynst heauen and agaynst thee and are no more worthie to bee called thy sonnes but haue in our selues deserued the wages of sinne eternall death For wee haue all sinned wee haue all gone out of the waie and are become vnprofitable Wee are Lorde conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquitie all the thoughts of our hearts are euill euen from our natiuitie we haue not beene so thankefull vnto thée for the benefits bestowed on vs as becommeth vs we haue manie waies abused thy gifts wee haue not receiued thy worde with that reuerend regarde that appertained to the same neither haue wee obeyed thy will therein reuealed yea in manie things wee offend all And although wee be renewed by the immortall seede of thy worde yet the corruption of our nature and the dregs of sinne remaine still in vs and the lawe of sinne in our members which holdeth vs captiue against the will of the spirit hath place in vs which is the cause that wee breake thy holie commandements We are therefore O father in respect of our guiltines inforced to crie vnto thée Forgiue vs our sinnes and thou in respect of the punishment which wee thereby haue deserued must forgiue vs for thy sonnes Christs sake or els wee shall for euer perish For if thou Lord doe in extremitie and iustice looke vppon our sinnes whoe shall abide it If thou enter into iudgement with thy seruant what flesh shall bee iustified in thy sight Wherefore we appeale to the high throne of thy mercie humblie beseeching thee O most louing God and mercifull Father according to thy great mercie and according to the multitude of thy compassions
thy grace and mercie may reigne continuallie in our hearts so that we may be worthie to bee partakers of thy realme of glorie and maiestie Grant that vnto the verie death we refuse not to follow thy diuine will and that wee according vnto the example of the celestiall citizens agréeing togither quietlie vnited in spirit all controuersie in opinions set apart the lustes of the flesh being subdued and the flattering assaults of the world and the diuel ouercom neuer wrastle agaynst thy most holie will but obeie it in all things Grant O Lord for our bodie néedfull sustenance that we may the more freely serue thée Giue vs wee beséech thee O mercifull father that heauenlie bread the bodie of thy son Iesus Christ the verie foode and health of our soules giue vs the bread of thy diuine precepts that wee may trulie walke and liue after them Giue vs the bread of thy heauenlie worde which is the strong castle and sure defence of our foules that wee being wel fed filled with this food may worthilie come to the celestiall feast where is no hunger Grant O Lord that we patientlie bear and suffer our enimies and such as hurt vs and willinglie to forgiue the offences committed agaynst vs so that wee may find thee Lorde in forgiuing vs our trespasses milde and mercifull Grant O Lord that we be not vtterlie ledde into temptation that thereby we should bee lost but in all perilles of temptation and in the middest of the stormie tempests of tribulations let vs thy children receyue and féele thy fatherly succor ready to helpe vs least that wee ouercome with the craftie deceiptes of the temptor should be drawn into euerlasting destruction but when we be well assailed approoued and purged with the fire of temptation then let vs finish our course and so well and valiantlie fight that wee maie for euermore liue with thee in that heauenlie citie where agaynst thee no manner of temptation can preuaile Finallie grant most mercifull father that we through thy benigne goodnesse maie bee deliuered from all euils present or to come both of bodie and soule and that at the last the yoke of the foule feend being shaken of we may possesse the heritage of thy heauenlie kingdome which thy sonne with his pretious blood bought for vs thy children and therefore euer to haue the fruition of celestiall delectation accompanied with Angels and blessed Saints thorough the helpe benignitie and grace of our Sauiour Iesus Christ to whome and to thee our Father and to the holie ghost bee glorie and honour nowe and for euer Amen A praier for the morning I Render vnto thée O almightie and most mercifull father most heartie thankes by thy déerelie beloued sonne Iesus Christ for that thou hast vouchsafed of thy fatherlie goodnesse and frée mercie to giue mee this night sweete sleepe quiet and most comfortable rest and for somuch as it hath pleased thee safely to preserue me this night from all perilles hurts and dangers I wretched sinner most humblie beseech thee that thou of thy gratious goodnesse wilt vouchsafe to shewe the like kindenesse towards mee this daie in defending cherishing comforting and gouerning mee and all my counsels studies and labours in such wise that I may neither thinke speake or doo anie thing that may be displeasant to thy fatherlie goodnesse dangerous to my selfe or hurtfull to my neighbour but that I maie euermore by thy gratious gouernance so lead my life that whensoeuer it shall please thée to call mee from this vale of miserie and soile of sorrowe I may receiue the crowne of euerlasting ioy and felicitie which thou hast prepared for thy faithfull seruantes and them that loue thee graunt this mercifull god for thy deer sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another praier to be said in the morning O Almightie most gentle God I most hartilie giue thee thankes for the swéet sléepe and comfortable rest that thou hast giuen me this night And forsomuch as thou hast commanded by thy lie word that no man should be idle but alwayes occupied in vertuous exercises euerie man according to his calling I most humblie beséech thee that thine eyes maie attende vpon me dailie defend me in sorrow succour mee cherish comfort and gouerne all my counsels studies labors in such wise that I may spende this day according to thy wil without hurt that I may eschew al things that should displease set thée alwaies before mine eies liue in thy feare and euer work that that maie bee found acceptable before thy diuine maiestie vnto the praise of thy most holie name through Iesu Christ our lord who liueth and raigneth both now and euer Amen An Euening praier ALmightie God who as thou hast made the daie for labour and trauell so hast thou created the night for rest refreshing our wearied minds and bodies Wee most humbly beséech thée that as the night darkeneth and shadoweth all thinges so thou wouldest for thy deere sonne Iesus Christes sake hide our sinnes remoouing them from thy sight and putting awaie the memorie of them by eternall obliuion that as our bodies shall haue the rest of sléepe so also our mindes by hope of thy mercie maie enioy the rest of a quiet conscience and so being wholie refreshed wee may awake and rise vnto thy seruice the next day and all the dayes of our life as that when death shall come from the which it is as easie for thee to raise vs as from bodilie sleepe wee may rest in hope of the most ioyfull resurrection wherein our bodies shall awake vnto the euerlasting day vnto the which and vnto the kingdome of thy sonne wee beséech thée bring vs for the same our Sauiour Iesus Christs sake Amen An other praier for the Euening THis our mortall bodie which thorow sinne daylie decaieth and diminisheth must at the last altogither perish and become earth whereof it is come and made and then shall our vanitie which wee through our owne ignorance haue made vnto our selues take an end But most mercifull creator maker of all things vouchsafe so to breake diuide and dissolue me thy poore creature who am gathered knit and made of thee and grant that I may alwaies haue in mind thy dissolution and of whome I am knit togither hauing an eye to what place I must go to the intent that I not being prepared be not broght without the nuptiall or bridall garment before thy iudgement seate For like as when the daie is once past we giue our selues to rest euen so must wee this life being ended rest in death Nothing is more like life than the day nor nothing more like death than the night and nothing so like the graue then the couch or bed Thus good God kéepe and defend vs from al euil grant vs now liuing in impotencie and feeblenesse of our selues that through thee we may bee preserued this night and euer Amen The confession of our sinnes vnto God the Father
forwarde in that good course like a louing nurse vnto thy church Giue her wisdom vnderstanding to do that thing which is acceptable vnto thee profitable for vs her subiects and hurtfull to none Grant her O Lorde a perpetuall time long life and continuall felicitie Protect her as the apple of thine eie and deliuer thou her not into the handes of her enimies Giue her victorie O God we beséech thée ouer all thine her enimies and blesse all her godlie actions in such wise that all the worlde maie knowe and the posteritie to come may say that thy mightie arme hath raised vp in England a Debora a Iudith an Hester and a nourcing Queene for thy Church Make her to reioyce in thy strength and mightily to triumph in thy saluation Grant her the desires of her heart and denie not the petitions of her lips Let thy heauie hand O Lord light vpon her enemies and thy right hand find out all such as hate her and enuy her prosperitie Saue our Queene O louing father from all her enimies which either secretlie or openlie go about to bring her life to the graue and her glory to the dust Let her finish her course O God in a good age an old woman and of great yeares to the comfort of thy church and the glorie of thy name and to her euerlasting saluation thorough Iesus Christ in thy heauenlie kingdome Amen A Psalme of praises and thanksgiuing to God for his benefites PRaise the lord ye that feare him magnifie him all ye of the séede of Iacob For hee hath not abhorred nor despised the affliction of the poore neither hath hee hidde his face from him but when he called vnto him hee heard him Sing praises vnto the lord all yee his saintes and giue thanks to him for a remembrance of his holinesse For who is God beside the Lord and who is mightie saue our God Praise ye the Lord with me and let vs magnify his name togither Thy mercie O Lord reacheth vnto the heauens and thy faithfulnes to the clouds How excellent is thy mercie O God therefore the children of men trust vnder the shadow of thy wings Thou art the father of the fatherlesse and a iudge of the widowes euen God in his holie habitation Thou art the god which helpest vs and powrest thy benefits vpon vs. Thou art our god of whom commeth saluation God is the Lord by whom we escape death Blessed is the people O lord that can reioyce in thée they shall walke in the light of thy countenance Thou Lord art slew to anger and of great mercie Thou hast not dealt with vs after our sins nor rewarded vs according to our iniquities O speak good of the Lord al ye works of his in all places of his dominion praise thou the Lord O my soule Another MY hart is fixed O God my heart is fixed I will sing and giue praise Vnto thee O my strength will I sing for God is my defence and my mercifull God For thy louing kindnesse is better than life it selfe my lips shall praise thée As long as I liue will I magnifie thee on this maner and lift vp mine hands in thy name My soule shall be satisfied as it were with marrow and fatnesse when my mouth praiseth thée with ioifull lips I will alwaies giue thanks vnto the Lord his praise shall be in my mouth continually I sought the Lord and hee heard me and deliuered mee out of all my feare Praised be God which hath not put backe my praier nor his mercie from me Thou hast deliuered me fro my strong enimie and from them that hate me and hast drawne mee out of manie troubles Thou hast giuen mee the shield of thy saluation thy right hand hath staied me and thy louing kindnes hath caused me to increase What reward shall I giue vnto the Lord for all the bene fits he hath done vnto me I will thanke thée O Lord my God with all my heart and will praise thy name for euermore For great is thy mercie toward me and thou hast deliuered my soule from the nethermost hell Therfore my praise shall be of thée in the great congregation my vowes will I perform in the sight of them that feare thee Thou art my god and I wil thanke thee thou art my God and I will praise thee Blessed be the Lorde God euen the God of Israel which onelie dooeth woonderous things And blessed be the name of his maiestie for euer and all the earth shall be filled with his Maiestie Amen A Psalme of blessedfulnesse BLessed is he whom thou O Lorde dooest elect and causest to come vnto thée he shall dwell within thy courts Blessed is he whose wickednesse is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquitie and in whose spirit there is no guile Blessed is the man that putteth his trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord and delighteth greatlie in his commandements Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will euer praise thee Blessed is the man that doth not walke in the counsell of the wicked nor stande in the waie of sinners nor sit in the seate of the scornfull Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee in whose heart are thy wayes Blessed are they that are vpright in their way and walke in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that kéepe iudgement and doo righteousnesse at all times Blessed is he that considereth the poore and néedie the Lord shall deliuer him in the time of trouble Blessed is the man whome thou chastisest O Lorde and teachest him thy law Blessed are they that kéepe his testimonies and seek him with their whole hart Secrete Meditations of the hart to stir vs vp vnto godlinesse BY creation I am a man made of earth therefore transitorie mortall Yet indued with a minde that is to say with vnderstanding reason and iudgement by which I may vnderstand that most excellent goodnesse which is God and may bee ioyned with him in immortalitie and blessednesse But my reason vnderstanding and iudgement beeing by the malice of Sathan corrupted I do neglect this happinesse I rather séeke to enioy the delights and pleasures of my flesh In the most vile transitorie things I occupie my whole minde I ouerwhelme my selfe wholie with earth of heauenlie I make my selfe earthlie and change my selfe from a reasonable man into a brute beast But god who once loued me in his sonne Christ dooth not forsake mee but calleth mee still outwardlie by his word and inwardlie by his holie spirite and knocketh at the doore of my heart and minde that I might loue him feare him and serue him Yet I am deafe and blind and being more stonie hearted than flint dooth féele nothing O vnthankefull wretch that I am which doo neglect and despise so great benefites God gently offereth to lead me by the hande and I stubbornlie turne awaie my face from him Awake my soule lift vp thy selfe and lette vs not thus wallow in our filthines stoutlie striue thou agaynst wicked custome tread vnder thy foote these contemptible and vile delightes and couet after the most excellent things Nowe God calleth I will hearken to him hee leadeth me and I will follow him he offereth himselfe and I will take the oportunitie hee sheweth the waie to euerlasting blessednesse I will not turne away my face but will séeke to attaine ¶ Print these things in thy minde and let them not be in vaine and ineffectuall cogitations but put them in practise and thou shalt receiue the fruit FINIS To Jesus Christ I Iesus my ioy and comfort onlie good E Euer to stand and neuer to decay S Sathan be fel be fierce and furious wood V vorld do thy worst sin do thou not stay S Speed you to spil plie to beare the sway C Crosse be my share carking be my hire H Hartbreak my cōfort sadnes my feast R Railing my recōpence by toongs of fire I Iesus be mine these things are he lest S So art thou mine ful fixed in my thoght T Trusty O Christ O world vile vaine and nought 1598 SVBLIME DEDIT OS HOMINI ¶ Printed at London Peter Short dwellin Bredstreet hill at the signe of the Star