and a stretched out power thou which gauest thy lawe vpon Mount Sinai thou which spakest by thy Prophetes and last of all in these latter dayes by thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ whom thou wouldest should be made a second Adam that as by the first ▪ we are Children of wrath carnall and full of concupiscence so by him we might be made children of grace and spirituall by communicating with him the qualitie merites vertues and grace of his flesh through the operation of his holie spirite as he communicated with vs the substance of our flesh in the wombe of the Virgin Marie in the operation of the same holie spirite being that blessed seede which was promised to Adam Abraham Isaac Iacob and Dauid which should bruse the Serpentes heade which should bring the blessing on all nations which should reigne ouer thy house for euer and mightily ouercome thine and our enimies as indeede he did by his incarnation natiuitie circumcision exile baptisme fasting temptation doctrine miracles workings agonies bloudie prayer passion death resurrection and ascension and yet he still doth by his meditation and intercession for vs and at the length will on all partes fully accomplish by his comming to iudgement which will be soudenly in the twinckling of an eye in the blast of a trumpet and shoute of an Archangel when he shall be seene with thousandes of Saintes innumerable thousands of Angels al the whole world being on fire all the people that euer were are or shall be then standing before his tribunall or iudgement seate to render an account of that they haue done in this body be it good or bad Thou I say this God which art holy righteous true wise pure chast mightie mercifull good gratious a hater of sinne a reuenger of vnrighteousnes c. wouldest that I which am borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquitie which by nature am a childe of wrath and in whome dwelleth continuall enimitie against thee that I which am nothing but sinne and one that doth euil always before thee should call thee and beleeue thee this God and Father of our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ to be in very deed my father that is thou wouldest I should be most assured that thou of thine owne good wil which thou barest to me wards before I was yea before the world was hast in Christe chosen me to be thy childe and through him art become my most louing Father from whome I should looke for all good things be most certenly persuaded that looke howe much thou art more then a man so much thy loue and fatherly prouidence towardes me passeth the loue and prouidence of any father towards his childe in louing me caring howe to helpe me prouiding for me nurturing me and helping me in al my needes So certaine thou wouldest haue me to be of this that to doubt of it doth most displease thee and dishonour thee as though either thou were not true or not able to doe these thinges or else becamest not my father in respect of thine owne goodnesse in Christ only but also in respect of my worthines and deserts And that I should not wauer or doubt of this that thou art my deare Father and I thy childe for euer through Iesus Christ it is required in the first commaundement which saith I am the Lord thy God thou shalt haue none other Gods but me Againe thy sonne doth here commaund me to call thee by the name of father Moreouer in the first article of my beliefe I professe the same in saying I beleeue in God the Father almightie Besides this there are many other things to confirme me herein as the creation and gouernement of the world generally and of euery creature particularly for all is made and kept for man and so for me to serue me for my commoditie necessitie and admonition Againe the creatiō of me in that thou hast made me after thy Image hauing a reasonable soule body shape c. where thou mightest haue made me a toade a Serpent a Swine deformed frantike c. Moreouer thy wonderful conseruation nourishing and keeping of me hitherto in my infansie childhood youth c. all these I say should confirme my faith of thy fatherly loue But of all things the opening of thy selfe by thy word and promise of grace made after mans fall first to Adam then to Abraham Isaac Iacob and so to other being published by the Prophetes from time to time last of all accomplished by thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ in whom thy promises are yea and Amen the opening of thy selfe thus I say in and by Christ is the most chiefe and sure certificate that thou art my father for his sake I thy deare child although of my selfe I am most vnworthy For thou according to thy promises hast not spared thy deare sonne Iesus Christe but giuen him to the death of the Crosse for my sinnes Thou wouldest he should be made flesh of our flesh and bloud of our bloud in the wombe of the Uirgin Marie by the operation of thy holie spirit that we by the working of the same spirite through the merites of his flesh and bloud might be made flesh of his flesh and bloud of his bloud that is as he hath the substaunce of our flesh and bloud euen so we might haue and for euer enioy in him and through him the qualities vertues and gifts of righteousnesse holinesse innocencie immortalitie and glorie wherewith he hath endued our nature in his owne person for vs all that as nowe in faith and hope we haue the same so in his comming we might fully enioy them in verie deede for then shall our bodies nowe vile be like to his glorious bodie Herein appeareth thy loue not that we loued thee but that thou louedst vs and hast giuen thy Sonne for vs Herein doest thou commend vnto vs thy loue that when we were yet sinners Christe thy deare sonne dyed for vs so that nothing should separate vs from thy loue in Christ Iesus neither affliction anguish persecution famine neither life nor death c. For if when we were enimies we were reconciled vnto thee by the death of thy sonne much more we being reconciled shal be saued by his life And that I should not doubt hereof but certainely be persuaded all this to pertaine to me where I might haue bene borne of Turkes and Infidels loe thou wouldest I should be borne of Christian Parents brought into thy Church by Baptisme which is a Sacrament of adoption and requireth faith as well of remission of my sinnes as of sanctification and holinesse to be wrought of thee in me by thy grace and holie spirite Where I might haue bene borne in an ignorant time Region thou wouldest I should be borne in this time and Region wherein is more knowledge reuealed then euer was here or in many places is Where I
from whom thye Sunne goeth downe giueth no light I meane thy grace which is alwaies cleare as the midday Darke night vnto them is the midday which depart from thee In thee is neuer night but alwayes day light most cleare This corporall Sunne hath his courses nowe vp nowe downe but thou deare Lord if we loue thee art alwayes one O that this blocke and veile of sinne were taken away from me that there might be alwaies cleare day in my minde Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as we are not sorrie when the Sunne goeth downe bicause we knowe it will rise againe euen so we should not sorowe for death wherthrough the soule and bodie doe part asunder for they shall eftesoones returne and come together againe in most glorious wise So long as the Sunne is vp wilde beastes keepe their dennes Foxes their burrowes Owles their holes c. but when the Sunne is downe then come they abroade so wicked men and hypocrites kepe their dennes in the time of the Gospell but it being taken away then swarme thei out of their holes like Bees as this day doth teach When the candles be light pray MOst thicke and darke cloudes do couer our mindes except thy light O Lord doe driue them away Thy sunne O most wise worker is as it were a firebrand to this worlde Thy kingdome whereby light commeth both to soule and bodie is a firebrand to the spirituall world After day when the night commeth thou hast giuen for the remedie of darkenesse a candle After sinne for the remedie of ignoraunce thou hast giuen thy doctrine which thy deare sonne hath brought vnto vs O thou that art the authour and master of all trueth and art the true light make vs so to see that the dimnesse of our mindes may be driuen cleane away Lift thou vp the light of thy countenaunce vpon vs and send ioy and gladnesse into our hearts Psal. 4. Thy word is a lanterne to my feete and a light vnto my pathes Psal. 119. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that the knowledge which God giueth vnto vs by the candlelight whereby we see those things in this night of our bodies which are expedient for vs should make vs to wish much more for this doctrine of God and spirituall light of our soules and when we get it the more to esteeme it and diligently to embrace it Againe that as all would be horrour without candlelight so there is nothing but meere confusion where Gods word taketh no place When you make your selfe vnreadie pray THis our life and weake knit bodie by reason of sinne by little little shall be dissolued so shall be restored to the earth from whence it was taken then will be an end of this vanitie which by our follie we haue wrought to ourselues O most meeke father so doe thou vntie me for thou art he that hast knit these our weake members together that I may perceiue my selfe to be losed dissolued and so may remember both of whome I was made also whither I must goe least I be had vnprouided vnto thy tribunall seate Put off the olde man with his lustes and concupiscences Col. 3. Ephe. 4. Be content with Ioseph to put off thy prison apparell that thou mayest put on newe Gen. 41. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as we do willingly put off our garments bicause we shall receiue them againe when the night is past so we should not willingly forsake our bodies when God by death shall call vs bicause we shall receiue them againe in the resurrection of the iust When you enter into your bed pray THe day nowe ended men giue them selues to rest in the night and so this life finished we shall rest in death Nothing is more like this life then euerie day nothing more like death then sleepe nothing more like to our graue then our bed O Lorde our keeper and defender graunt that I now laying me downe to rest being vnable to keepe my self may be preserued from the craftes and assaultes of the wicked enimie And grant further that wheÌ„ I haue run the â—ace of this life thou wouldest of thy mercy call me vnto thee that I may liue and watch with thee for euermore And nowe gratious God giue me to take my rest in thee and bring to passe that thy goodnesse may be euen in sleepe before my eyes that sleeping I be not absent from thee but may haue my dreames to drawe me vnto thee and so both soul and bodie may be kept pure and holie for euer I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest Psal. 4. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as this troublesome day is nowe past and night come and so rest quietnesse and pleasant sleepe which maketh most excellent Princes poore wretches alike euen so after the tumults troubles teÌ„ptations and teÌ„pestes of this life they that beleeue in Christ haue prepared for them an hauen and rest most pleasant and ioyful As you are not afraide to enter into your bed and to dispose your selfe to sleepe so be not afraide to dye but rather chearefully prepare your selfe therevnto Thinke that nowe you are nearer your end by one dayes iourney then you were in the morning When you feele sleepe to be comming pray O Lord Iesus Christ my watchman and keeper take me into thy protection Graunt that my body sleeping my minde may watch in thee and be made merrie by some sight of that celestiall and heauenly life wherein thou art the king and prince together with the father and the holie Ghost where the Angels holy soules be most happie citizens Oh purifie my soule keepe cleane my bodie that in both I may please thee sleeping and waking for euer Amen A GENERALL CONfession of sinnes with other prayers for the Morning and Euening to be vsed in families and publike assemblies O Most mercifull and louing father whose loue is infinit whose mercie endureth for euer we sinfull creatures trusting in thine vnspeakable goodnesse and loue toward vs do appeare this morning before thy diuine maiestie most humbly confessing our manifolde sinnes and innumerable transgressions of thy commaundements and fatherly will. Against thee onely against thee O Lorde haue we sinned we acknowledge our offences we accuse our selues vnto thee O mercifull Lord and will not hide our vnrighteousnesse We find in our selues nothing but ignorance of thy wil disobedience mistrust doubtfulnesse in thy goodnesse and incredulitie hatred and contempt of al spirituall things selfeloue confidence in our selues feruent lusting after earnall things of this world and this tree of our corrupt nature bringeth foorth continually in vs none other fruites but rotten and vnsauorie workes of the flesh in thoughtes wordes and doings vnto condemnation Wherefore we humbly beseech thy fatherly goodnesse euen for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake whome thou hast set foorth for a purchaser of mercy to vs through faith in his bloud make our heartes cleane take away our stonie heartes
howe foolish we are to fantasie things which we can not carrie with vs and to contemne conscience which will alwayes be a companion to vs to our ioy if it be good but to our shame and sorrow if it be euil and corrupt Finally howe vnnaturall we are which so little desire to be at our home to be with our onely father Master fellowes and friends When you are about to receiue your meat pray thus THis is a wonderfull mysterie of thy worke O maker and gouernor of the world that thou doest sustaine the liues of men and beastes with these meates Surely this power is neither in the bread nor foode but in thy will and word by which word al things do liue and haue their being Againe howe great a thing is it that thou art able continually to giue sustenaunce to so many creatures This is spoken of by thy prophete in setting foorth thy prayses All things looke vp to thee and thou giuest them meate in due season thou openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing euerie liuing thing These doubtlesse are wonderfull workes of thine Almightinesse I therefore heartily pray thee O most liberal Lord and faithfull father that as thou by meate through thy word doest minister life to these our bodies euen so by the same word with thy grace thou wouldest quicken our soules that both in soule and bodie we may please thee til this our mortall carkasse shall put on immortalitie and we shall neede no more any further foode but thee onely which then wilt be all in all Taste and see howe good the Lord is Psal. 34. Blesse the Lord O my soule which feedeth and filleth my mouth with good things Psal. 103. Occasions to Meditate Thinke a little how great Gods power is that made vs Also thinke howe great his wisedome is to preserue vs But most of all thinke howe many things are giuen to our vse howe wonderfull it is to giue vs life but most of all to propagate and aduaunce to immortalitie the life of the soule by his onely becke Last of all thinke that God by his prouidence for thy body would haue thee to confirme thy faith of his prouidence likewise for thy soule In the meale time pray O Most liberall distributer of thy giftes which giuest vs al kinde of good thinges to vse and being pure giuest pure things being holie giuest holie things graunt to vs thy grace that we misuse not these thy gratious giftes giuen to our vse and profite Let vs not delight in these things but let vs delight in thee from whome they come as necessarie for vs for a season till we come vnto thee Graunt vs to be conuersant amongest thy giftes soberly purely temperately and holily bicause thou art so Then shall we not turne that to the poyson of our soules which thou hast giuen for the medicine of our bodies but vsing thy benefites thankfully we shall finde them profitable both in soule and body Occasions to Meditate Thinke that the meats and drinkes set before you are giuen to you to vse and not to abuse Thinke they are giuen to profite and not to hurt you Thinke that thei are not giuen to you alone but vnto others also by you In eating and drinking thinke that you doe but feede the wormes Remember the poore prisoners the sicke the afflicted c. as though you were in their case Thinke vpon the food of your soul Christes bodie broken and bloudshed Desire the meate that lasteth for euer labour for it Christes meate was to do his fathers will. After your meate pray BY corporall meates thou doest sustaine our corporall daily life ready otherwise to perish The which surely is a great worke but yet this is much greater more profitable and more holie that thy grace O Iesu Christ doth preserue vs from the death of the soule For this life we ought much to thanke thee and bicause thou doest prolong it with thy good giftes we most heartily praise thee Howe be it this life is but the way to eternall life which we beseech thee for thy deathes sake that thou wilt giue vs and so shall we not onely giue thee as we may thankes for a time for temporall things but also eternall thankes for eternal things O graunt to vs these our desires for thy mercies sake Amen Occasions to Meditate Thinke nowe that God hath giuen thee this his blessing of foode and sustenaunce and thereto time that thou mightest as repent so seeke his glorie and the commoditie of thy brethren therefore goe thereabouts but first pray for grace well to begin Againe consider how thou hast bene partaker of other mens labours as of the Husbandmans the Milners the Bakers the Bruers the Butchers the Cookes c. See therefore that thou be not a drone Bee but rather such a one as may helpe the hiue If God haue thus fed thy body which he loueth not but for thy soules sake howe can it be then but that he will be much more readie to feede thy soule Therefore take a courage to thee and goe to him for grace accordingly Cogitations for about the midday As thy bodie is nowe compassed on euerie side with light so see that thy mind may be also As god giueth thee thus plentifully this corporall light so pray him that he will giue thee the spirituall light Thinke that as the Sunne is nowe most cleare so shal our bodies be in the day of iudgement As nowe the Sunne is come to the highest and therfore will beginne to drawe downeward so is there nothing in the world so perfect glorious whiche when it is at the full will not decrease and so weare away When you come home againe pray THere is nothing O Lord more like to thy holie nature then a quiet mind Thou hast called vs out of the troublesome disquietnesse of the world into that thy quiet rest and peace which the world can not giue being such a peace as passeth all mens vnderstanding Houses are ordained for vs that thereby we might be defended from the iniurie of the wether from crueltie of beastes from disquietnesse of people and rest from the toyles of the world O gratious father graunt that through thy great mercy my body may enter into this house from outward actions but so that it may become boxom and obedient to the soule and make no resistaunce againste the same that in soule and body I may haue a godly quietnesse and peace to praise thy holie name Amen Peace be to this house and to all that dwell in the same Matt. 10. Occasions to Meditate Thinke what a returne and howe merrie a returne it will be to come to our eternall most quiet and most happie home then will all griefe and sorrowe cease What so euer here is pleasant and ioyfull the same is nothing but a verie shaddowe in comparison of that which is to come At the Sunne going downe pray HOwe vnhappie are they O Lord
and giue vnto vs a true and liuely faith working in vs vnfained repentance and amendment of our sinnefull life Haue mercy vpon vs and forgiue vs our sinnes for thy Sonnes sake certifie our consciences of remission of the same by thy holy spirite by whose operation so mortifie in vs our olde man the whole body of sinne that we continually dying vnto sinne may walke in newnesse of life to the glorie of thy holie name through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen An other confession of sinnes O Eternal God and most merciful father we confesse and acknowledge here before thy diuine maiestie that we are miserable sinners conceiued and borne in sinne and iniquitie so that in vs there is no goodnesse for the flesh euermore rebelleth against the spirite whereby we continually transgresse thy holie precepts and commaundements and so purchase to ourselues through thy iust iudgement death and damnation Notwithstanding O heauenly father for as much as we are displeased with our selues for the sinnes we haue committed against thee and doe vnfeinedly repent vs of the same we most humbly beseech thee for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercy vpon vs to forgiue vs al our sinnes and to increase thy holy spirit in vs that we acknowledging from the bottome of our harts our owne vnrighteousnesse may from hencefoorth not onely mortifie our sinfull lustes and affections but also bring foorth such fruites as may be agreeable to thy most blessed wil through Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour whome thou hast already giuen an oblation and an offering for our sinnes and for whose sake we are certainly persuaded that thou wilt denye vs nothing that we shall aske in his name according to thy will. For thy spirite doth assure our consciences that thou art our mercifull father and so louest vs thy children through him that nothing is able to remoue thy heauenly grace and fauour from vs To thee therfore with the sonne and the holy Ghost be all honour and glorie world without end So be it A prayer to be said in the Morning O Eternall GOD and heauenly father seeing that by thy great mercy we haue quietly passed this night graunt we beseech thee that we may bestowe this day wholy in thy seruice so that all our thoughts wordes and deedes may redound to the glory of thy name and good example of our brethren And as it hath pleased thee to make the sunne to shine vpon the earth to giue vs bodilie light euen so vouchsafe to illuminate our vnderstanding with the brightnesse of thy spirit to direct vs in the way of righteousnesse so that what thing so euer we shall applie our selues vnto our speciall care and purpose may be to walke in thy feare and to serue and honour thee looking for all our wealth prosperitie to come from thy only blessing and that we may take nothing in hand which shall not be agreeable to thy most blessed will. Furthermore that we may in such sort trauell for our bodyes and for this present life that we may haue alwayes a further regard that is to the heauenly life which thou hast promised to thy children and in the meane season that it may please thee to preserue and defend vs both in bodie and soule to strengthen vs against al the temptations of the diuell and to deliuer vs from all perils and daungers that may happen vnto vs if we be not defended by thy godly power And for as much as to begin well and not to continue is nothing we beseech thee to receiue vs not onely this day into thy holy protection but also for the time of our whole life continuing and increasing in vs daily thy grace and good giftes therof vntill thou shalt bring vs to that happie state where we shal fully and for euer be ioyned vnto thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour which is the true light of our souls shining day and night perpetually And to the end that we may obtaine such grace at thy hand vouchsafe most mercifull father to forgiue and forget all our sinnes which we haue heretofore committed against thee and for thine infinit mercies sake to pardon the same as thou hast promised to those that aske of thee with vnfeined heart for whom as for our selues we make our humble petitions vnto thee in the name of thy sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ in such sort as he hath taught vs saying Our father c. An other prayer to be said in the Morning O Almightie and most gratious God we hartily thanke thee for the sweete sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuē vs this night past and for as much as thou hast commaunded by thy holy word that no man should be idle but all occupied in godly and vertuous exercises euery man according to his calling we most humbly beseech thee that thine eyes may attend vpon vs daily defend vs cherish comfort gouerne vs and al our counsels studies and labors in such wise that we may spend and bestowe this day according to thy most holy will setting thee alwaies before our eyes lyuing in thy feare working that may be found acceptable before thy diuine Maiestie through Iesus Christ our lord So be it An other prayer for the Morning WE humblie and heartily giue thankes vnto thee O heauēly father through thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ that to thy innumerable benefites hitherto powred vpon our soules and vpon our bodies thou hast kept vs this night past from many euills both spirituall and corporall and nowe of thy mercy doest offer giue vs time to repent and to amend our liues so that we might liue hencefoorth not as we will but as thou wilt and as our bodyes doe drawe continually nearer and nearer their end the graue I meane so our soules might approch to their end that is heauen and not hell for in one state we stand not still but either we are nearer nearer the happie state of life or else the vnhappie condition of death eternal Wherefore we beseech thee to be mercifull vnto vs good father and as of thy goodnesse thou giuest vs time to repent and liue godlie so of the same thy goodnesse in Christe we humbly beseech thee to giue vs thy gratious gift of true holie perfect perpetuall repentaunce that we may more and more lament our former sinfull life trusting vnfeignedly in thy rich mercy through the merites of Iesus Christe for the pardon of all our sinnes and that we may vnfaignedly purpose and effectually labour to amende our liues this day so long as we haue to liue in all our doings and wordes and euen in our verie thoughtes to the praise of thy holie name and good example of our brethren And for as much as thou knowest our weaknesse our ignoraunce and great vntowardnesse to carrie any great crosse or affliction we beseech thee our sweete father so to temper and order al things towards vs this day
is riche though we be sinners yet he is righteous though we be fooles yet he is wise though we be impure yet is he pure and holie for his sake therefore be mercifull vnto vs. Call to minde how thou hast promised that thou wilt powre out of thy cleane waters and wash vs from our filth and cleanse vs from our euills Forget not that thou hast promised to take from vs our stonie heartes and to giue vs soft heartes new hearts and to put into the middest of vs right spirites Remember thy couenant namely that thou wilt be our God and we shall be thy people that thou wilt put out of thy memorie for euer all our vnrighteousnesse and hast promised to write in our mindes and heartes thy lawe and testimonies Remember that thou dost straitly charge vs to haue none other Gods but thee saying that thou art the Lord our god O then declare the same to vs all we heartily nowe beseech thee Forgiue vs our sinnes forget our iniquities cleanse vs from our filthinesse wash vs from our wickednesse powre out thy holie spirite vpon vs Take from vs our hard heartes our stonie heartes our impenitent heartes our distrusting and doubtfull heartes our carnall our secure our idle heartes our impure malicious arrogant enuious wrathfull impatient couetous hypocriticall and epicurical harts and in place therof giue vs new harts soft harts faithfull hearts mercifull hearts louing obedient chast pure holy righteous true simple lowly and patient hearts to feare thee to loue thee to trust in thee for euer Write thy lawe in our harts graue it in our mindes we heartily beseech thee Giue vs the spirite of prayer make vs diligent and happie in the workes of our vocation take into thy custodie and gouernaunce for euer our soules and bodies our liues and all that euer we haue Tempt vs neuer further theÌ„ thou wilt make vs able to beare and what so euer thou knowest we haue neede of in soule or bodie deare God and gratious father vouchsafe to giue vs the same in thy good time and alwayes as thy children guide vs so that our life may please thee and our death praise thee through Iesu Christ our Lorde for whose sake we heartily pray thee to graunt these thinges thus asked and al other thinges necessarie for soule and body not onely to vs but to al others also for whom thou wouldest that we should pray specially for thy children that be in thraldome in exile in prison miserie heauinesse pouertie sicknesse c. Be mercifull to the whole realme of England and graunt vs all true repentance and turne from vs the euils that we so wickedly haue deserued Pardon our enimies persecutors and slaunderers and if it be thy pleasure turne their hearts Be mercifull vnto our parents brethren and sisters friendes kinsefolkes and familiars neighbours and such as by any meanes thou hast coupled and lincked to vs by loue or otherwise and vnto vs poore sinners here gathered together in thy holie name graunt thy blessing and holie spirite to sanctifie vs and dwel in vs as thy deare children to keepe vs this day and for euer from all euill to thy eternall glorie and our euerlasting comfort the profite of thy Church which mercifully maintaine cherish and comfort strengthening them that stand so that they neuer fall lifting vp them that be fallen and keepe vs from falling from thy truth through the merites of thy dearely beloued sonne Iesu Christ our onely Sauiour which liueth and reigneth with thee and the holâ—e Ghost to whome be all praise and honour both nowe and for euer Amen I. B. A prayer for the true knowledge of the mysterie of our redemption in Christ. O Almightie God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ and by him also our father the father of all mercy God of all consolation haue mercie vpon vs and heare our prayers We most humbly beseech thee for thy deare sonne Iesus Christes sake for his merites and cruell death which he suffered to deliuer vs from eternall death and the power of darknesse send into our heartes thy spirit of truth to worke in vs a true liuely stedfast faith that the cleare light and brightnesse of thy Gospell the glorie of Christ may shine vnto vs and lighten our mindes that we may learne and vnderstand the wonderfull and vnspeakable riches of the misterie of our redemption in Christ and by Christ. O Father of glorie giue vnto vs the spirite of wisedome and bring vs into the true knowledge of this thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christe and the knowledge of thy selfe Open and lighten the eyes of our mindes and vnderstanding that we may knowe what the hope is wherevnto thou hast called vs and howe rich the glorie of thine inheritance is vpon thy Saints and the exceeding greatnesse of thy power towardes vs that by true faith by vnderstanding knowledge of thine eternall wisedome which is Iesus Christe we may be in deede as we are called true Christians and vnfeigned professors of thy holy name to worship thee in spirite and trueth and to set forth the glory of thy grace giuen vnto vs in Christe Iesu our lord Amen O deare Father write in our heartes loue of thy lawe hate to all sinne thankfulnes of heart and continuall heate of thy holie spirite for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake To whome with thee and thy holie spirite be all honour maiestie glorie thankes rule empire and dominion for euermore Amen A forme of thankesgiuing for our redemption and prayer for the strength increase of faith Lord increase our faith Luk 17. ETernall prayse and thankes be giuen vnto thee deare God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ which hast blessed vs with all spirituall blessing in heauenly things by Christ in that thou hast chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world was laide that we should be without blame before thee through him by whome we haue redemption through his bloud euen the forgiuenesse of our sinnes in whome after we heard the word of truth the gospell of our saluation wherein we beleeued we are sealed with the holie spirite of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance which spirite hath and doth beare witnesse vnto our spirits that we are thy children and therefore cryeth in our heartes Abba Father And thus most gratious father when thou hast once giuen the earnest pennie of our saluation into our heartes thou doest not repent of thy gift and calling neither wilt thou at any time breake thy couenant of grace and mercie in Christ thy Sonnes merites confirmed in vs by that seale and loue token For what though we be weake in our beliefe shall our vnbeliefe make thy promise of no effect No thou wilt alway be found true but all men are liars And yet Lord thou doest most gratiously beholde and accept be it neuer so little a sparke of faith We say therefore and cry vnto thee with one
them In like manner it goeth with riches estimation friends learning c. yea although we be in these most temperate yet when there wanteth the spirit our regeneratour we are so drowned in them that we vtterly neglect to lift vp our mindes to the good pleasure of God to the end we might imitate and followe God our maker by yeelding our selues ouer duly to vse his gifts to the common priuate vtilitie of our neighbors But now God only is life and eternitie and can not but demaund of vs his handie worke that we should render our selues and all we haue to the ende wherefore wee were made that is to resemble for our portion his goodnesse as they which be nothing else but witnesses and instruments of his mercie So that when wee wholy doe naturally striue against that kinde of life wherevnto he hath created vs by seeking alwais our selues what other thing ought to insue but the he should againe destroie vs and take away his notable giftes wherewith he therfore indued vs that by all kind of wel doing we should resemble his image yea what other thing may ensue but that hee should leaue vs and that eternally that we might feele and by experience proue howe bitter a thing it is to leaue the Lorde in whome is all goodnes Oh that I might therefore finde such fauour in thy sight deare father that thou wouldest worke in me by thy holie spirit a true knowledge of all good things and heartie loue to the same through Christ Iesus our Lord and onelie Sauiour Amen I. B. A Meditation of death and the commodities it bringeth WHat other thing doe we daily in this present life but heape sinne vpon sinne and hoorde vp trespasse vpon trespasse so that this day is worse alwaies thē yesterday by increasing as daies so sinnes and therefore thy indignaiion good Lord against vs but when we shall be let go out of the prison of this bodie 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 what so euer good we can wish that shall we haue and what so euer we loath shall be farre from vs O deere father that we had faith to behold these thinges accordingly O that our hearts were persuaded thereof and our affections inflamed with the desire of them Then should we liue in longing for that which nowe we most loath Oh helpe vs and graunt that we beeing ignorant of thinges to come and of the time of our death which to thee is certain may so liue and finish our iourney here that we may be ready and then depart when our departing may make most to thy glory and our comfort through Christ. What is this life but a smoke a vapour a shadowe a warrefare a bubble of water a worde grasse a flower That thou shalt die it is most certeine but the time no man can tell when The longer in this life thou doest remaine the more thou sinnest which will turne to thy more paine By cogitation of death our mindes be often in manner oppressed with darkenesse because wee doe but remember the night of the body forgetting the light of the mind and of the resurrection Hereto remember the good things that after this life shall insue without wauering in certeintie of faith and so shall the passage of death bee more desired It is like a failing ouer the sea to thy home and countrie it is like a medicine or purgation to the health of soule bodie it is the best Physition it is like to a womans trauell For as the childe being deliuered commeth into a more large place then the wombe wherein it did lie before so thy soule beeing deliuered out of the bodie commeth into a much more large and faire place euen into heauen I. B. A meditation vpon the passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. OH Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of the euerliuing God by whom all thinges were made and be ruled and gouerned thou the liuely Image of the substance of the Father the eternall wisedome of God the brightnes of his glorie God of God light of light coequal coeternal and consubstantial with the Father thou which of the loue thou hadst to mankinde when he was fallen from the fellowshippe of God into the societie of Sathan and al euill didst vouchsafe for our redemption to become a mediator betweene God and man taking to thy godhead our nature as concerning the substance of it and so becamest man also the heire of all and most mercifull Messias which by the power of thy Godhead and merites of thy manhoode hast made purgation of our sinnes euen by thine own selfe whilest thou was here on earth beeing nowe set on the right hande of thy father for vs euen concerning our nature in maiestie glorie and power infinite I pray and humbly beseech thy mercie to graunt me at this present to rehearse some of thy passions and sufferinges for me the last night that thou wast here before thy death that thy good spirite might therby be effectuall to worke in me faith as well of the pardon of my sinnes by them as mortification of mine affections comfort in my crosses and patience in afflictions Amen In the middest of thy last supper with thy deare apostles these things could not but be before thee namely that they all would leaue thee the most earnest would forsweare thee and one of the twelue should most traiterously betray thee which were no smal crosses vnto thee Iudas was admonished of thee to beware but when he tooke no heede ▪ but wilfully went out to finish his worke contemning thy admonition counsell he could not but vexe thy most louing heart After supper there was contention amongest thy Disciples who should be greatest after thee yet dreaming carnally of thee and thy kingdome hauing this affection of pride and ambition busie amongest them notwithstanding thy diligence in reprouing and teaching them After thy admonition to them of the crosse that would come therby to make them more vigilant so grosse were they that they thought they coulde with their two swordes put away all perils which was no little greefe vnto thee After thy comming to Gethsemane heauinesse pressed thee and therfore thou wouldest thy disciples to pray Thou didst tell to Peter and his fellowes that thy hart was heauie to death Thou didest will them to pray being carefull for them also least they should fall into tentation After this thou wentes◠a stones cast from them and diddest pray thy selfe falling flat and groueling vpon the earth but alas thou feltest no comfort and therefore thou camest to thy disciples which of all others were moste sweete and deare vnto thee but loe to thy further discomforte they passe neither of thy perils nor of their owne therefore sleepe apace After thou hadst awaked them thou goest againe
Psal. 6. Psal. 89. Psal. 57. Eccle. 2. Iob. 13. Luk. 15. Ephe. 5. Esai 53. Heb. 9.10 Esai 59. A prayer to God the sonne Iohn 14. A prayer to the holy ghost Zach. 12. A thanksgiuing to the sonne A thanksgiuing to the holy Ghost 1. Pet. 5. Num. 29. Deu. 9. Ios. 7. Matth. 13 Luke 11. Rom. 8. Iames. 5. 1. Iohn 5. Rom. 12. WisdoÌ„ 9 â–ª 2. Cor. 3. Iohn 19. Philip. 2 Psal. 40. 1. Pet. 1. 1. pet 5. Luke 17. Psal. 95. Heb. 3.15 1. Iohn 2 1. Tim. 2. Rom. 15. 1. Cor. 1. Ephe. 4. Ioh. 21. Math. 28. 2. Iohn 9. Mark. 6. Pro. 21. Rom. 17. Ioh. 16. Rom. 13. Iohn 16. Iohn 16. 2. Cor. 2. Rom. 12. Iacob 5. 2. Cor. 1. Heb. 13. Heb. 13. Rom. 8. Psal. 41. Iohn 1. 1. Pete 1. Actes 2. Math. 10. Luk. 21. Gene. 1. Ephe. 2. Galat. 1 Gen. 3. Actes 4. Heb. 9. Apoc. 5 Iohn 3. Heb. 8. Heb. 4. 1. Pet. 1. Esa. 43.53 Matth. 3.17 Iere. 31. Heb. 8. Rom. 5. Heb. 2. Iohn 6. Gen. 3. Rom. 5 Ephe. 3. Ephe. 2. Ioh. 6.17 Gene. 6. Rom. 3. Esai 64. Psal. 5.12 Rom. 7. Math. 16. 1. Cor. 2. Luk. 11. Mark. 10. Matth. 16 Luk. 22. 1. Cor. 11. Iohn 8. Galat. 5. Rom. 8. 1. Pet. 1. Ephe. 5. Ephe. 2. Heb. 4. Rom. 3. Math. 25. Philip. 3. Ephe. 1. Ephe. 2. Apoc. 13. Rom. 3. Ephe. 2. Titus 3. Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 10 Rom. 4. Iohn 6. Luk. 25. Galat. 5. 1. Tim. 4. Ephe. 5. 2. Pet. 3. Matth. 5. 1. Pet. 2. Esai 64. Psal. 77. Esai 49. Psal. 10. â—sal 104. â—sal 147. Psal. 77. Psal. 77. Matth. 11 Rom. 8. Rom. 8. Ephe. 1. Rom. 8. Matt. 27. Psal. 9 5. Osee. 6. Actes 1. Ionas 3. Psal. 51. Lamen 3 Esai 64. Iudeth 8 Iob. 11. Sapi. 124 Esa. 65. Tobias 3 Iob. 5. Oseas 6. Sapie 22 Psal. 6. Psal. 25. Baruc. 3. Ionas 2. Danie 9. Psal. 70. Pal. 85. Psalm 94 â–ª Psal. 62 â–ª Psalm 50 Psal. 40 Psal. 17. Pal. 33. Psal. 27. Psa. 106. Psal. 86. Psa. 103. Psal. 57. Psa. 108. Psal. 103 Psam 71. Psalm 68 Psal. 47. Psal. 145. Psal. 72. Psa. 104. 1. Tim. 4. Tim. 2 Iohn 6. 1. Cor. 10 Ephe. 9. Psal. 38. Luke 15. Psal. 38. Rom. 7. Psal. 51. Psa. 51. Psal. 9. Psal. 25. Psalm 2â— Psal. 63. Psal. 130 Iob. 15. Psal. 83. Esai 52 Esai 61. â—sal 119 Psal. 25. Psal. 119. Psalm 36 Psal. 119 Psal. 141. Psa. 119. Mat. 27. Actes 7. The olde man. The new man. Why the olde man is stroÌ„ger then the new In what respect one maÌ„ is both an old man also a new maÌ„ How one man may be called alwaies sinnefull alwais iust Why the olde man oftentimes preuaileth against the new maÌ„ The olde man so mightily preuaileth somtimes against the new man in the children of God that the spirit and seede of God seemeth to be vtterly taken froÌ„ them whereas in deede it is not so as afterward to their great coÌ„fort they finde and feele 2. Pet. 1. The law pertaineth to the olde man and the Gospel to the new man. What the lawe is What the Gospel is The conscience feared beaten downe with the terror of Gods iudgmeÌ„t against sin may not look vpon the lawe but fle to the Gospel for relief coÌ„fort Iohn 13. WheÌ„ the conscience is quiet at peace with God the law serueth only to kepe downe the olde man Num. 25. The Table AN introduction to prayer fol. 17. A meditatioÌ„ concerning prayer 49. A meditation vpon the Lords prayer 68. Priuate prayers for the morning euening other times of the day 132 VVhen you avvake out of your sleepe eod VVhen you beholde the day light 134 VVhen you arise 135. VVhen you apparell your selfe 136. VVhen you are made readie to beginne the day vvithall 138. Cogitations meet to begin the day vvithal 139 VVhen you goe foorth of the dores 143 VVhen you are going ann iourney 145 VVhen you are about to receiue your meat 148 In the meale time 150 After your meat 152 VVhen you come homâ— againe 155 At the Sunne going dovvne 156 VVhen the candles be light 158 VVhen you make your selfe vnready 160 VVhen you enter into your bed 161 VVhen you feele sleepe to be comming 163 A general confession of sins vvith other prayers for the morning and euâ—ning to be vsed in families and publike assemblies 165 An other confession of sinnes 167 A prayer to be said in the morning 169 An other 172 An other 173 An euening prayer 176 An other 181 An other 183 A prayer for remission of sinnes 185 A prayer for the true knovvledge of the mysterie of our redemption in Christ. 197 A forme of thankesgiuing for our redemption and a prayer for the strength and increase of faith 200 A thankesgiuing to God for his greate benefites 202 A prayer for true mortification 205 A meditation for the exercise of true mortification 211 A meditation of the coÌ„ming of Christ to iudgment and of the revvard both of the faithfull and vnfaithfull 215 A meditation of the life euerlasting the place vvhere it is the incoÌ„parable ioyes therof 222 An other meditation of the blessed state felicitie of the life to come â–ª 231 A meditation of the presence of God. 238 A meditation of the prouidence of God. 240 A meditation of Gods povver beautie goodnes c. 245 A meditation concerning the sober vsag of the body that it may be subiect and obedient to the soule 249 An other meditation concerning the sober vsag of the body and pleasures in this life 252 A meditation of death and the commodities it bringeth 256 A meditation vppon the passioÌ„ of our sauiour Iesu Christ. 259 A prayer to Christe crucified 267 A Prayer to Christ ascended and reining in glorie 268 A prayer for true repentance 272 A praier for the strength increase of faith 273 A prayer for the true sense and feeling of Gods fauour and mercie in Christ. 274 A prayer against our spirituall enimies the diuell the vvorlde and the flesh 279 A praier for the present helpe in tentation 281 Remedies against sinfull motions and tentations 284 A prayer for the auoyding of Gods heauie vvrath and vengeance for our sinnes 286 An other 263 A prayer to be said of such as suffer any kind of crosse 595 A prayer of the afflicted for the profession of gods vvord 299 A prayer to God the father â–ª the sonne and the holy ghost 302 A thankesgiuing to God the father the sonne the holy ghost 307 A prayer to God for his heple and protection against the obstinat enemies of the truth 310 A prayer for the afflicted and persecuted vnder the tirannie of Antichrist 312 A prayer to be said before the preaching of gods vvord 314 A prayer to be saide after the preaching of gods vvord 316 A prayer to be said before the receiuing of the communion 323 A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the communion 326 A lamentation of a sinner afflicted in conscience for his offeÌ„ces 327 A prayer for the sicke 338 A prayer to be said at the houre of death 339 A prayer for a vvomaÌ„ vvith child 343 A psalm to be said in the time of any common plague sicknesse or other crosse and visitation of God. 346 A Psalme of thankesgiuing for deliueraÌ„ce froÌ„ the plague or any other kinde of sicknesse or affliction 350 Prayers to be saide before meales after 354 An other prayer to be said before meales 455 An other 356 A thankesgiuing after meales 357 An other thankesgiuing after meales 359 An other 360 An other 361 Prayers commonly called Lidleys Prayers with certaine godly additions A ConfessioÌ„ of sins 362 A confession of sins and a prayer for the remission thereof 374 A prayer for the true knovvledge and vnderstanding of the vvord of God. 380 A prayer for the leading of a godly life 383 A prayer for the deliuerance from sin to be restored to Gods grace fauour againe 387 A prayer necessarie to be said at all times 489 A prayer for grace and remissâ—on of sinnes 392 Prayers taken out of the first Psalme 395 Prayers taken out of the second Psalme 400 A prayer vvhich M. Iohn Bradford said a little before his death in Smithfield 404 The Letanie 409 For the Queenes maiestie 420 For Bishops and ministers of the Church 421 For raine 421 For faire vvether 422 In the time of dearth famine 423 In the time of vvarre 423 In the time of any coÌ„moÌ„ plage or sicknes 424 For the strength and comfort of the holy ghost 425 For sure hope and trâ—â— taste of euerlasting life 426 For the true knovveledg of god his vvord a life agreeable to the same ibid. For the strength increase of faith 427 For a godlie life 428 For the true perseuerance and assured hope of eternall life 429 A prayer for the obteining of our petitioÌ„s 429 A godly instruction conteining the summe of all the Diuinitie necessarie for a Christian conscience 431 FINIS Imprinted at London by Henrie Middleton dwelling in Fleetestreate at the signe of the Faulcon
it pleaseth thee to heare my prayers and assuredly wilt saue me for euer But alas howe farre am I from these lamentings and reioycings By reason whereof I deserue damnation Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me and of thy goodnesse grant me thy holie spirite to reueale to me my blindenesse obliuion and contempt of thy kingdome power and glorie with the greatnesse of my doubtings that I may heartily as lament them so haue them pardoned and taken from me through the merites of Iesus Christ thy sonne Againe giue me thy holy spirit to reueale to me in such sort thy kingdom power glory and eternitie that I may always haue the same before mine eyes be moued with the admiration thereof labour effectually to set foorth the same and finally as to haue the fruition thereof after this life so to increase in an assured certaine and liuely expectation of the same that I may alwayes and in all thinges reioyce in thee through Christ and giue lauds thankes and prayses perpetually vnto thy most holy name Oh blessed Father Sonne and holy Ghost three persons and one God to whome be all honour and glorie world without end Here thinke that if the kingdome power glorie and eternitie be Gods which is our Father what our dignitie is which be his children If the power be our fathers of whome should we be afraid If the diuell be subiect to the Lordes power and kingdome as he is howe can the subiect haue power ouer vs which be sonnes and heires in that he hath not power ouer Porkets without the prouidence and permission of God Therefore full well should we pray Lead vs not into temptation rather then let vs not be lead into temptation for power is the Lords and the diuell hath none but that he hath of Gods gift No he were not able to receiue power if God did not make him able although the execution of it is rather of Gods permission Giue all thankes prayse and glorie to God our Father through Christe our Lord and Sauiour So be it Iohn Bradford PRIVATE PRAYERS for the Morning and Euening and for other times of the day When you awake out of your sleepe pray thus MOst mercifull God and father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ I most humbly thanke thee for the sweete sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuen me this night past beseeching thee that like as thou hast nowe awaked my bodie from sleepe so thou wouldest awake my soule from the sleepe of sinne and darkenesse of this world and that which thou hast now awaked out of sleep thou wouldest after death whereof this sleepe is but an image restore and raise againe to life euerlasting O gratious God make my bodie I heartily pray thee such a companion or rather a minister of godlinesse to my soule this day and all the time of this present life that in the life to come it may be partaker with the same of euerlasting happinesse through Christe Iesus our Lord. Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall shew light vnto thee Ephe. 5. Occasions to Meditate Here call to mind the great mirth blessednes of the euerlasting resurrection Also remember to muse vpon that most cleare light that bright morning and newe clearenesse of our bodies after the long darkenesse which they haue bene in All then shall be full of vnspeakable ioy and felicitie When you behold the day-light pray O Lord God thou most glorious true light from whence this light of the day and sunne doth spring and shine vnto vs O light which lightenest euerie man y commeth into this world O light whiche knowest no night nor euening but art alway a midday most cleare and faire without whom al is most horrible darkenesse and by whom al things are most cleare and bright O thou wisedome of the eternal father of mercies lighten my minde that I may see those thinges only which please thee and may be blinded to al other things Grant me so to walke in thy wayes by the light of thy holy worde that nothing else may be light and pleasant vnto me Lighten mine eyes Oh Lorde that I sleepe not in death least mine enimies say I haue preuailed against him Psal 30. Occasions to Meditate Muse a while how much the light and eye of the minde and soule is better then of the bodie Also howe much more we ought to care for the soule that it may see well then for the bodie Moreouer that beastes haue bodily eyes as well as men but men only haue eyes of the minde and that such as are godlie wise When you arise pray OUr first parents cast downe them selues from a most excellent high honorable state into shame miserie into the deepe sea of all wickednesse and mischiefe but oh Christ thou putting forth thy hand didst raise them vp againe Euen so we except we be raised vp by thee shall lie still for euer O good Christe our most gratious redeemer as thou doest mercifully rayse vp now this my body euen so I beseech thee raise vp my minde and heart to the true knowledge loue of thee that my conuersation may be in heauen where thou art If you be risen with Christ thinke vpon those things that be aboue Col. 3. Occasions to Meditate Thinke howe foule the fall of Adam was by reason of sinne and so of euery one of vs from the height of Gods grace Againe thinke vpon the inestimable benefite of Christe by whose helpe we daily arise againe from our fallings When you apparel your selfe pray O Christe clothe me with thine owne selfe that I may be so farre from making prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lustes therof that I may cleane put off all desires and crucifie the kingdome of the flesh in me Be thou vnto me a garment to keepe me warme and to defend me from the cold of this world If thou be absent deare Lorde all things are colde weake and deade but if thou be with me all things are warme fresh and chearefull c. Graunt therefore that as I compasse this my bodie with this garment so thou wouldest cloth me wholy but specially my soule with thine owne selfe Put vpon you as the elect of God bowels of mercie meekenesse loue peace c. Col 3. Occasions to Meditate Call to minde a little howe we are incorporate into Christ. Againe howe he doth cloth vs gouerne and nourish vs and vnder his winges protection prouidence preserueth vs. When you are made readie to begin the day withall pray O Almightie God and most mercifull father thou knowest and hast taught vs also something to know that the weakenesse of man and woman is great that without thy grace they can neither doe nor thinke any good thing Haue mercie vpon me I humbly beseech thee thy most weake fraile and vnworthie childe Lighten my minde that I may with pleasure looke vpon good things only Inflame my hart
and for euer that we be neuer further proued tempted then thou wilt make vs able to beare and so to helpe vs in the same as may be most to thy glorie and our saluation thorough Iesus Christe our Lorde Amen An Euening prayer O Lorde God father euerlasting and full of pitie we acknowledge and confesse that we be not worthie to lift vp our eyes to heauen much lesse to present our selues before thy diuine Maiestie with confidence that thou wilt heare our prayers and graunt our requestes if we consider our owne wretched deseruings For our consciences do accuse vs our sinnes witnes against vs we knowe that thou art an vpright Iudge which doest not iustifie the sinners and wicked men but punishest the faultes of such as transgresse thy commaundementes Yet most mercifull father since it hath pleased thee to commaund vs to call vpon thee in all our troubles and aduersities promising euen then to helpe vs when we feele our selues as it were swallowed vp of death desperation we vtterly renounce all worldly confidence and trust flee to thy souereigne goodnesse as our only stay and refuge beseeching thee not to call to remembrance our manifold sinnes and wickednesse whereby we continually prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligence nor our vnkindenesse which haue neither worthilie esteemed nor in our liues sufficiently expressed the sweete comfort of thy holie Gospel reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience death of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who by offering vp his bodie in sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompence for all our sinnes Haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lorde and forgiue vs our offences Teach vs by thy holy spirit that we may rightly way them and earnestly repent vs for the same and so much the rather O Lord our God because that the reprobate and such as thou hast forsaken can not praise thee nor call vpon thy name but the repenting heart the sorrowful mind the conscience oppressed hungering and thirsting for thy grace shall euer more set foorth thy praise and glorie And albeit we be but wormes dust yet thou art our creatour and we be the worke of thy handes yea thou art our father and we thy children thou art our shepheard and we thy flock thou art our redeemer and we thy people whome thou hast dearely bought thou art our God and we are thine inheritance Correct vs not therefore in thine anger O Lord our God neither according to our desertes doe thou punishe vs but mercifully chastice vs with a fatherly affection that all the worlde may knowe that at what time so euer a sinner doeth repente him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart thou wilt put away all his wickednes out of thy remembrance as thou hast promised by thy holie Prophet Finally forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to rest in as thou hast ordeyned him the day to trauell graunt O deare father that we may so take our bodily rest that our soules may continually watche for the time that our Lord Iesus Christe shall apeare for our full deliuerance out of this mortal life and in the meane season that we be not ouercome by any fantasies dreames or other temptations but may fully set our mindes vppon thee loue thee feare thee and rest in thee in such sort that our verie sleepe also may be to the glorie of thy holy name Furthermore that our sleepe bee not excessiue or ouer much after the insatiable desire of the flesh but onely sufficient to content our weake nature that we may the better be disposed to liue in all godly conuersation to the glorie of thy holie name and profite of our brethren through Iesus Christe our Lorde in whose name we make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs. Our father which c. Almightie and euerliuing God vouchsafe we beseech thee to graunt vs perfect continuance in thy liuely faith augmenting and increasing the same in vs daily vntill we growe to the full measure of our perfection in Christe whereof we make our confession saying I beleeue in God the father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lorde turne his fauourable countenance towardes vs and graunt vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God and the communion of the holie Ghost be with vs and remaine with vs for euer So be it 2. Cor. 13. An other Euening prayer MOst mercifull God and tender Father which besides thine inestimable mercies declared and giuen vnto vs in the making of the world for our sakes in redeeming of vs by the death of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christe in the calling of vs to the knowledge of thy blessed worde in keeping of vs hitherto in thy holie Church and in thy most gratious gouerning of vs and all things hitherto for our singular wealth and commoditie hast also most fatherly cared for vs and kept vs this day from all daungers both of soule and body giuing vs health food apparell and all other thinges necessary for the comfort and succour of this poore and miserable life which many other do want for these and all other thy good gifts and gratious benefites which thou of thine owne goodnesse only and fatherly prouidence hast hitherto powred vppon vs and doest presently powre vppon vs and many other wee most humbly thanke thee and praise thy holy name beseeching thee that as all things are now hidden by meanes of the darkenes which thou hast sent ouer the earth so thou wouldest vouchsafe to hide and burie all our sinnes which this day or at any time heretofore wee haue committed against thy holy commaundementes and as nowe wee purpose to lay our bodies to rest so graunt the garde of thy good Angels to keepe the same this night for euermore and when soeuer our last sleepe of death shall come graunt that it may be in thee good father so that our bodies may rest both temporally and eternally to thy glorie and our ioye through Iesus Christ our Lorde So be it An other Euening praier O Eternall God and most mercifull father who this day and al the time of our life hast gratiously defended nourished and preserued our soules and bodyes and made such fatherly prouision for vs poore sinners the of thy louing kindnesse we haue rich portions not only in the creatures of heauen and earth but also in that plentiful redemption which thy most deare sonne Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs graunt vnto vs O merciful father the assistance of thy grace and holie spirite that as our bodies shall nowe take their naturall rest euen so our soules and mindes at the beholding of thy goodnesse towardes vs may quiet themselues in thee and conceiue such inward
Lord which are taught of thee and instructed by the spirite of godly wisedome and vnderstanding which by their preaching will seeke not themselues but thee because they are godly and can so do because they are wise vnderstande Giue to the preacher of thy worde here present out of the treasures of thy wisedome that which hee may powre vpon vs to our saluation and vnto vs giue thy grace holy spirit O Lord so to heare and to receiue thy worde that the good seede whiche falleth vppon vs be not choked with thornes or withered away with heate or deuoured by the foules of the aire but may growe vp in a good grounde and fructifie with great increase A prayer to be saide after the Preaching of Gods worde ALmightie God most mercifull father wee heartily beseech thee that this seed of thy worde nowe sowen amongest vs may take suche deepe root that neither the burning heate of affliction or persecution cause it to wither neither the thornie cares of this life do choake it but that as seede sowne in good ground it may bring forth thirtie sixtie and an hundreth folde as thy heauenly wisedome hath appointed And because we haue neede continually to craue many things at thy handes we humbly beseech thee O heauenly father to graunt vs thy holy spirit so to direct our petitions that they may proceed from such a feruent minde as may be agreable to thy most blessed will. And seeing that our infirmitie is such that we are able to do nothing without thy helpe and that thou art not ignorant with howe many and great tentations we poore wretches are on euerie side compassed and inclosed let thy strength O Lorde susteine our weakenesse and assist vs with thy grace that we may be safely preserued against all the assaults of Sathan who goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking to deuoure vs Increase our faith O mercifull Father that wee doe not swarue at anie time from thy heauenly worde Augment in vs hope and loue with a carefull keeping of all thy commandements that no hardnes of hart no hypocrisie no concupiscence of the eies nor inticements of the world doe draw vs away frō thy obedience And seeing the times are dangerous wherin we liue let thy fatherly prouidence defende vs againste the violence of all our enemies and specially againste the furious rage of that Romishe idoll enemie to thy Christ. Furthermore for as much as by thy holy Apostle we bee taught to make our prayers and supplications for all men we pray not onely for ourselues here present but beseech thee also to reduce all such as be yet ignorant from the miserable captiuitie of blindnesse and errour to the pure vnderstanding of thy heauenly trueth that we all with one consent and vnitie of minde may worshippe thee our onely God and sauiour We beseech thee also most deare father for all pastors and ministers to whome thou hast committed the dispensation of thy holy worde and charge of thy chosen people that both in their life and doctrine they maye be found faithfull setting onely before their eyes thy glorie and that by them all poore sheep which wander and go astray may be sought out and brought to thy folde Againe that it would please thee to deliuer thy Church from such idle sheepeheardes wolues and hirelinges as seeke themselues and their bellies and not thy glory and the safegarde of thy flocke Moreouer because the heartes of rulers are in thy handes wee make our prayers vnto thee for all Princes and Magistrates to whome thou haste committed the administration of iustice especially O Lorde for the Queenes Maiestie that it would please thee to indue her with thy plentifull grace and principall spirite that she may with a pure faith acknowledge Iesus Christ thy onely sonne to be King of all Kinges and gouernour of all gouernours euen as thou hast giuen all power vnto him both in heauen and in earthe so work in her heart that she considering whose minister she is may hartily seeke and zealously promote thy true honour and glory carefully traueling to bring thy people committed to her charge yet remaining almoste in all partes of this realme in miserable blindnesse and darke ignorance to the true knowledge of thee ruling and guidinge them as she is taught commaunded by thy holy word Also we beseech thee to indue all such as are in any authority vnder her with thy grace and holy Spirite that they may be founde vprighte faithfull in their calling fauourers and furtherers of thy holy Gospell maintainers defenders of the true Preachers and ministers therof and such as in singlenes of heart wil seeke not themselues but thy glory and the commodity of thy people And for that we be all members of the mysticall body of Christe Iesus wee make our requestes vnto thee O heauenly father for all such as are afflicted with any kinde of crosse or tribulatiō as warre plague famine sickenes pouertie imprisonment persecution banishment or any other kinde of thy roddes whether it be griefe of body or vnquietnesse of minde that it would please thee to giue them patience and constancie till thou sende them full deliueraunce out of all their troubles Finally O Lord we most humbly beseech thee to shew thy great mercie vppon-our brethren which are persecuted cast in prison and daily condemned to death for the testimonie of thy trueth and though they be vtterly destitute of all mans aide yet let thy sweete comforte neuer depart from them but so inflame their heartes with thy holy spirite that they may boldly and cheerefully abide suche triall as thy godly wisedome shall appoint so that at length as well by their death as by their life the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ may increase and shine through all the worlde In whose name we make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our father which art c. A prayer to be saide before the receiuing of the communion O Father of mercie and God of all consolation seeing all creatures do acknowledge and confesse thee to be their gouernour and Lorde it becommeth vs the workemanship of thine owne handes at all times to reuerence and magnifie thy godly maiestie Firste for that thou hast created vs to thine owne image and similitude but chiefly because thou hast deliuered vs from that euerlasting death and damnation into the which Sathan drewe mankinde by the meanes of sinne from the bondage whereof neither man nor Angell was able to make vs free but thou O Lord rich in mercie infinite in goodnes hast prouided our redemption to stande in thine onely and welbeloued sonne whom of very loue thou diddest giue to be made man like vnto vs in all thinges sinne excepted that in his bodie he might receiue the punishment of our transgression by his death to make satisfaction to thy
shed on the crosse for my sake Now most merciful Sauiour let all these thinges profite me that thou freely hast done for me which hast giuen thy selfe also for mee Let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spottes and fowlenesse of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my vnrighteousnes Let the merites of thy passion and bloudsheding be the satisfaction for my sinnes Giue me Lord thy grace that the faith of my saluation in thy bloude wauer not in mee but maie euer bee firme and constant that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that loue waxe not colde in me finally that the weakenesse of my fleshe be not ouercome with the feare of death Graunt me mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my bodie yet the eyes of my soule may still beholde and looke vppon thee and when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet my heart may crie and say Lord into thy handes I commend my soule Lord Iesu receiue my spirite A prayer for a woman with childe THou art wonderfull O Lord in al thy workes and what so euer thy good pleasure is that doest thou easily bring to passe neither is there any thing vnpossible with thee that thou wilt haue done And albeit this thy almightie power sheweth it selfe aboundantly in al thy works yet in conceiuing forming and bringing foorth of man it shineth most euidently At the beginning O Father when thou madest man and woman thou commandedst them to increase multiplie and replenish the earth If through the subtill inticementes of Sathan they had not transgressed thy commaundement by eating the forbidden fruite the woman whome thou hast appoynted to be the instrument and vessell to conceiue nourish and bring foorth man through thy wonderful workmanship had without any labour paine or trauel brought foorth her frutie But that which thy goodnes made easie sin and disobedience hath made harde painefull daungerous and without thy speciall helpe and succour impossible to bee brought to passe so that nowe all women bring foorth their childrē in great sorowes paines and troubles Notwithstanding that which through their owne imperfection and feeblenes they are not able of thēselues to passe thou through thine vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest vnto a ioyfull end We therefore being fully persuaded of thy fauour and goodnesse of thy present helpe and of thy sweete comforte in all miseries and necessities knowing also by the testimonies of thy holy word how great and intollerable the paines of women are that trauell of childe if through thy tender mercie they bee not mitigated and eased most humbly pray thee for Iesus Christes sake thy son our Lorde to helpe and assist this thy seruaunt nowe in trauell and labour that by thy almightie power shee may safely bringe foorth that which by thy goodnes she hath conceiued and that thy louing kindnes may make that easie and tollerable vnto her which sinne hath made hard and painefull Ease O Lord the paines which thou most righteously hast put vpon her and all women for the sinne and disobedience of our graundmother Eue in whom al we haue sinned Be present with her in her trouble accordinge to thy mercifull promise Giue her strength and make perfect that which thou hast so gratiously begun Let thy power be shewed no lesse in the safe bringing foorth then in the wonderfull forming and fashioning of that she beareth Make her a glad and a ioyfull mother that she through thy goodnesse being safely deliuered and restored to health againe may liue and praise thy blessed name for euer A psalme to be saide in the time of any common plague sicknes or other crosse and visitation of God. O Come let vs humble our selues and fall downe before the Lorde with reuerence and feare For he is the Lord our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his handes Come therefore let vs turne againe vnto our Lorde for he hath smiten vs and he shall heale vs. Let vs repent and turne from our wickednesse and our sinnes shal be forgiuen vs. Let vs turne and the Lorde will turne from his heauie wrath and will pardon vs and we shall not perish For we acknowledg our faultes and our sinnes are euer before vs. We haue sore prouoked thine anger O Lord thy wrath is waxed hote and thy heauie displeasure is sore kindled against vs. Thou hast in thine indignatiom striken vs with greeuous sickenesse and by and by we haue fallen as leaues beaten downe with a vehement winde In deede we acknowledge that our punishmentes are lesse then our deseruinges but yet of thy mercie Lorde correct vs to amendment and plague vs not to our destruction For thy hand is not shortned that thou canst not helpe neither is thy goodnesse abated that thou wilt not heare Thou hast promised O Lord that afore we crie thou wilt heare vs whilest we yet speake thou wilte haue mercie vpon vs. For none that trust in thee shall be confounded neither any that call vpon thee shal be despised For thou art the onely Lord who woundest and doest heale againe who killest reuiuest bringest euen to hell and bringest backe againe Our father 's hoped in thee they trusted in thee and thou diddest deliuer them They called vppon thee and were helped they put their trust in thee and were not confounded O Lorde rebuke vs not in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauie displeasure O remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy thinke thou vpon vs O Lord for thy goodnes Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord for we are weake O Lord heale vs for our bones are vexed And nowe in the vexation of our spirits and the anguish of our soules we remember thee and we crie vnto thee heare Lord and haue mercie For thine owne sake and for thy holy names sake incline thine eare and heare O mercifull Lord. For we doe not powre out our prayers before thee trusting in our owne righteousnes but in thy great and manyfold mercies Wash vs throughly from our wickednes and cleanse vs from our sins Turne thy face from our sins and put out all our misdeedes Make vs cleane heartes O God and renne a right spirite within vs. Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glorie of thy name O deliuer vs and be mercifull vnto our sinnes for thy names sake So we that be thy people sheepe of thy pasture shall giue thee thanks for euer and will alwaies be shewing foorth thy praise from generation to generation Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. A psalme of thankesgiuing for deliuerance from the plague or any other kind of sicknes trouble or affliction LOrd thou art become gratious to thy lande thou hast turned away the afflictions of thy
lord Amen A prayer taken out of the second Psalme WE perceiue most mercifull mightie God that not onely Antichrist but also the power and strength of the whole world coÌ„spireth against thee and against thy Christ which thinke the Gospel and â— building vp againe of thy Church to be an intollerable bondage harde yoke Wherefore they labour by all possible meanes to breake a sunder the societies and congregations of the faithfull and cast away all discipline But forasmuch as thou sittest in heauen and 〈◊〉 not ignorant what the diuell or wicked flesh goeth about laugh thou to scorne their â—aine counsels and bring their purposes to nought Let them feele thine anger to bekindled against them and make them astonished at the fiercnes of thine indignatioÌ„ so that they may not be able to destroy thy Church ouer whom thou hast apointed Iesus Christ our onely sauiour to be a gouernour that in it he might raigne by his word and spirite with inuinciblâ— might and power Wherefore grant vnto vs although vnworthie and shrinking children such faith and constancy that we may finde him and also coÌ„fesse him to be our onely king and that we may nothing doubt but that we be his nation people and heritage being most assured of this that he is of such strength and power that with his word more strong then yron he is able to destroy whom he will and breake them in peeces like earthen pots Therefore O God turne the Kings and Princes of the world vnto thee that they may be wise and vnderstand whereby they may vnfaignedly acknowledge imbrace and kisse thy sonne least when his anger shall once be kindled they perishe and be destroyed for euer And when it shall be thy good pleasure make them blessed for euermore which coÌ„mit themselues to thy gouernance and protection by Christ Iesus our Lord â–ª Amen Out of the same Psalme MOste Mightie and mercifull Lord God though the diuell rage the powers of the world daily rise vp and the flesh with al her bondslaues coÌ„spire against the kingdome of thine onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our Lord yet make vs to vnderstand with constant faith to be persuaded that thou deridest contemnest al such whoÌ„ thou caust in thine anger fierce displeasure when thou wilt sodenly destroy and bring to nought In this faith seeing we are somtimes so weak that being ouercome with sundrie kindes of terrour and dread we are not so obedient to thy coÌ„maundements as we ought to be â–ª we therefore beseech thee for thy great â–ª goodnes sake to bee mercifull vnto vs and grant that we may constantly beleeue thy son our king and our redeemer to haue the highest power and dominion with thee in all thinges For seeing thou hast begotteÌ„ him thou hast also deliuered to him all nations to be ruled by his power as his own inheritaÌ„ce Graunt therfore vnto vs that yet at the length we may be wise vnderstand in such sort as we may serue thee with all due feare and worship that in the last day we be not dashed in peces as earthen vessels with the rodde of thine indignation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A prayer which M. Iohn Bradford said a little before his death in smithfeelde MErciful God father to whom our sauiour Christ approched in his feare and neede by reasoÌ„ of death and found comfort gratious God and most bounteous Christ on whoÌ„ Stephen called in his extreme neede and receiued strength most benigne holy spirit which in the midst of all crosses and death didst comfort the Apostle S. Paul with more consolations in Christ then he felt sorrowes and terrors in the world haue mercie vpon me a most miserable vile and wretched sinner which now drawe neere the gates of death deserued both in soule and bodie eternally by reason of my manifolde horrible olde and newe transgressions â–ª which to thine eyes O Lord God are open and knowne Oh be mercifull vnto mee and forgiue mee for the bitter death and bloodsheading of thine onely sonne Iesus Christ. And though thy iustice do require in respect of my sinnes that nowe thou shouldest not heare mee contemning thy dayly callings yet let thy mercie which is aboue al thy works and wherewith the earth is filled let thy mercie I say preuaile towardes me through the merites and meditation of Christ our sauiour for whose sake it pleaseth thee to bring mee foorth nowe as one of his witnesses and a record bearer of thy veritie and trueth taught by him to giue my life therfore Of which dignitie I doe acknowledg deare God that there was neuer any so vnworthie and vnmeete no not the theefe that hanged with him on the crosse I humbly therefore praye thee that thou wouldest accordinglie ayde helpe and assist me with thy strength and heauenly grace that with Christ thy sonne I may finde comfort with Stephen I may see thy presence and gratious power with Paul and al others which for thy names sake haue suffered afflictions and death I may finde so presente with mee thy gratious consolation that I may by my death glorifie thy holye name set foorth and ratifie thy veritie comfort the hearts of the heauie confirme thy Church in thy truth conuert some that are to be conuerted and so depart out of this miserable world where I do nothing but daylie heape sinne vpon sinne and enter into the fruttion of thy blessed mercie whereof nowe giue and increase in me a liuely tast sense and feeling where through the terror of death the tormentes of fire the paines of sinne the dartes of sathan and the dolours of hell may neuer ouercome me but may be driuen away through the working of that most gratious spirit which now plentiously indue withall that through the same spirite I may offer as now I desire am readie to do in Christ and by him my selfe wholy soule and body to be a liuely sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight deare father whose I am and always haue beene euen from my mothers wombe yea euen before the worlde was made to whom I commend my selfe faith and name familie friends country and all the whole Church yea euen my verie enimies according to thy good pleasure beseeching thee intirely to giue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word againe with godly peace to the teaching and setting forth of the same Oh deare father now giue me to com vnto thee so purge and purifie me by this fire in Christes death and passion through thy spirite that I may be a burnt offering of sweete smell in thy sight which liuest and reignest with the sonne and the holy Ghost nowe and euermore worlde without end Amen The Letanie O God the father of heauen haue mercie vppon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen c. O God the sonne redeemer of the world haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the sonne redeemer