teares for oure synnes making them soft and meeke to receiue the print of thy holy word and seale of thy blessed spirire writing with thy fynger thine own laws in thē so that thou maist read thine owne hande acknowledge thine owne seale so passe by vs when thou shalt bring thy iudgement vppon the face of the earth for the iniquities thereof whereof thou haste giuen and still giuest frō time to time diuers tokens which we beseech thee may be profitable vnto vs whilste first of al we acknowledge thy hande striking vs and thy counsayle callinge vs thereby torepentaunce that thy heauier iudgementes doe not fall vpon vs to our vtter destruction Moreouer we thank thee O Lorde for that it hath pleased thee to be the watch-mā and as it were the spie of this Church and common wealth and haste foreseene all the stormes treasons comming againste it and againste thine annoynted oure Souaraigne whōe thou in mercye hast appoynted to rule ouer it and hast scattered them and brought thē to naught and haste pursued certaine of thine enemyes and ours vnto death be seeching thee to continue this watchfull and carefull eye ouer vs still to doe vs good and to pursue the rest of thine enemies and ours vnto the graue giuing notwithstanding repentāce vnto them vnto whom thou haste left place of repentaunce And to this ende raise vp the harts of our most gratious QVEENE her honourable Counsell thy Magistrates that as they sit in thy seate and are called by thy name so they maye execute thy iustice which thou so well approouest of whereof also thou wilt require a straighte accompt at their hands Wee desire thee also to shewe these thy graces to all other Churches of thine namely thy Church of Englande that it may enioye that peace that thou hast giuen it and graunt that the same be referred to that end wherfore thou hast giuen it namelye to the ful establishment of the throne of thy dear sonn our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST to the building of his Kingdome there Wee besech thee also for the churches which thi hād hath plāted long since especiallye those from whō we haue receiued knowledge in time of our ignorāce places of refuge in time of persecution that it woulde please thee to continue thy louing kindnes towards them and therefore cause them to continue their faith toward thee obedience towards thy holy worde And whensoeuer it shal bee thy pleasure to try them with any kinde of affliction it woulde please thee to graunt vnto them that they maye put their truste in thee hauing regarde to the truth of thy promises and to the good experience that they haue of thy helpe in times past and thereby conceiue comfort hope O Lorde euen of life in death and of saluation in destruction We praye thee also good lord that we may haue the feeling of the miseries of our brethren as members of the same body those that liue by the same spirite And therefore we pray thee that according to the manyfold troubles that thou shalt visite them with it woulde bee thy good pleasure to measure out rhy grace in such plentifull maner that thy children maye patiently beare and ioy fullye attende for the good howre wherein thou wilt pul them out of all their troubles And especially we pray thy maiesty for our brethren that are afflicted for thy Gospell sake namelye those that suffer imprisonment or otherwise in any nation for the clearer testimony of it that it woulde please thee to giue thē patience in all theire troubles wisedom and mouthes to defend thy cause against all those that rise vp againste it that thou woldst blesse their trauels and sufferings for that for which they are taken which is to giue a freer course of thy gospel into al places And therewithall wee beeseeche thee for the churches of France and Flaunders which are so miserably racked and torn in sunder and which are almost consumed with these fierie trials that it wold plese thee to looke vpon the sighings and gronings the teares that fall from their eies continually the bloud that is shed in all the partes of the Lande the bodies that lye vnburied to bee meate to the foules of the ayre and Fishes of the Sea the lonenes of wiues lacking ther husbāds children their fathers euery frend his freind And for asmuch as those thynges are come vppon them for thy names sake let it be thy good pleasure to helpe them considering that they are forsaken of all their friends roūd about and therefore praye thee that thou wouldest not looke vppon our sinnes nor the sins of our forefathers wherby we deserue not onelye this correction but vtter destruction as Sodom Gomorrha but rather to looke vpthy mercies which were before them whereby thou hast sayde that although we doe offend and thou doest correct vs yet thou wilt not take awaye thy mercies from vs but wilt leaue a remnant which thou wilt multiply and make as the starres of the heauen and as the sandes of the sea Looke also O lord vpon the outragiousnes and cruelty vnfaithfulnes and blasphemy of the enemies wherewithal they blaspheme thee and prouoke thee to thy face and therefore in thine owne cause and for thine own sake take the matter into thine owne handes and pay into the Bosomes of thine enymies double and treble of that they haue giuen to thee Notwithstanding those amongest them that belong to thine holy election hasten their calling that afterward thy iudgement may hasten vpon the earth and the inhabitants therof may learn to knowe thee by thy iudgementes that would not vnderstand and come to thee by the louing callinge of thy Gospell Wee pray thee O Lorde for our brethren that are vp in arms in both those coūtries that thou wouldst goe before them and come behinde them and on euerye syde of them couer their heads in the daye of battell teache their handes to fyght their fingers to war giue them wisdom valiantnes and good succes in al their enterprises strike a dizinesse maze of spirite into the enimies hearts and take away from them al force and disappoint all their counsels And vpō our brethren in Flāders we beseeche thee that thou wouldest comfort them ouer all thy troubles that they haue receiued and breaches that haue beene made in vpon them where there are new forces euery day gathered new sleights inuented to destroy thē it maye please thee to scatter their forces and bring their sleights to nothing Yea grant also O lord that that which they haue deuised against thy children may come vppon their own heades And for oure Brethren in Fraunce wee beseeche thee O Lorde what straights so euer thei be in thou wouldest deliuer them and althogh they be forsaken in the iudgement of all the world and in their own iudgementes notwithdanding thou that hast the issues of death in thine owne handes deliuer those that are appoynted to
their craft and oure simplicitye their watchfulnesse and oure sluggishnesse their long experience and our rawnesse their preparation our nakednesse and that wee haue not only nothing to helpe vs but also to carry about vs our own concupiscences readye to betraye vs into the handes of our enemies it maye please thee to furnish vs from aboue giuing vs the strength of thy holy spirit in the inner man reaching vnto vs the compleat harnes of thy grace wherewith we beeing armed on both sides maye be prepared at all assaies against all assaults of our enemies And forasmuch as in this weakenesse wee oftentimes giue backe and sometimes runne away wee pray thee O Lord that with the hand of faith wee may lay holde on the victory of our Sauiour Iesus Christ that albeit we be not able to ouercome in our owne persons yet notwithstaÌ„ding we may ouercom in his who hath ouercommed for vs all so bee partakers of those promises that thou hast knit vnto that glorious victory And we most humblye thanke thee also for those graces both of the bodye and soule which pertaine to this present life desiring thee to increase them vppon vs and in vs so farre foorth as thou seest wee haue neede of to thy glory the commodity of others and our owne comforts therfore we beseech thee Lord to teach vs with thy holy Spirite the lawfull vse of theÌ„ that thou wouldest not suffer our harts to bee rooted in them but that at all times we maye be willing to part from them And whensoeuer it shall please thee to call for vs wee may willingly goe vnto thee as childreÌ„ to their deare Fathers strangers vnto their own Country and members of the body vnto their Head and so much the gladder by how much thou Lord art better then all the men in the worlde and the kingdome that thou hast prepared better then all the kingdomes thereof We pray not only for our selues O most mercifull Father but for all those that thou hast appointed to eternall life beseechinge thee to gather the number of those that are to bee gathered those that thou haste alreadye called thou wouldest alwayes keepe and to this end good Lorde rayse vp faithfull ministers both of thy church and common weale whose heartes thou wouldest fyll with the graces of thy holy spirit meete for their callinges meete also for these dangerous times roote out from among thy church al rauening and deuouring beasts which to fyll their own bellies distroy thy flok ease thy selfe of all hirelings idle shepherds which haue no care nor skil to feed thi flok with the holsom food of thy blessed worde nor to rule them with that equitye wherewithall thou wilte haue thy people to bee ruled those Pastoures that thou haste giuen it woulde please thee to increase the number of them those that are fallen asleepe and carried awaye with the corruptions of these tymes that thou wouldest awake letting them vnderstande the charge that thou haste committed vnto them the trust that thou hast put them in and the accoÌ„pt that thou wilt take at their handes Be gratious O Lorde vnto this lande of ours and enter not into iudgement with the horrible sins of it namely the coÌ„tempt light esteming of thy holye worde so many yeares offred vnto vs and we being trusted withall so manye nations better then we being passed by which woulde haue brought foorth the fruit thereof more theÌ„ we haue don and we not onely haue brought forth no good fruit but rotten vnsauory to prouoke rhy Maiestye withall notwithstanding all these our sins it would please thee in that loue wherwithall thou haste firste loued vs when we hated thee in that long patience wherein thou hast hitherto born with vs and dost yet beare tarriest for our repentance to grant vs heartie and earnest repentaunce our heartes being effectually touched with thy holye Spirite strikinge these rockye hearts of ours that thei maye bee resolued into riuers of teares for oure synnes making them soft and meeke to receiue the print of thy holy word and seale of thy blessed spirite writing with thy fynger thine own laws in theÌ„ so that thou maist read thine owne hande acknowledge thine owne seale so passe by vs when thou shalt bring thy iudgement vppon the face of the earth for the iniquities thereof whereof thou haste giuen and still giuest froÌ„ time to time diuers tokens which we beseech thee may be profitable vnto vs whilste first of al we acknowledge thy hande striking vs and thy counsayle callinge vs thereby to repentaunce that thy heauier iudgementes doe not fall vpon vs to our vtter destruction Moreouer we thank thee O Lorde for that it hath pleased thee to be the watch-man and as it were the spie of this Church and common wealth and haste foreseen al the stormes and treasons comming againste it and againste â—hine annoynted oure SOVERAIGNE whome thou in mercye hast appoynted to rule ouer it and haste scattered them and broughte them to naught and haste pursued certayne of thyne Ennemyes and ours vnto death be seeching thee to continue this watchfull and carefull eye ouer vs still to doe vs good and to pursue the rest of thine enemies and ours vnto the graue giuing notwithstanding repentaÌ„ce vnto them vnto whom thou haste left place of repentaunce And to this ende raise vp the harts of our most gratious QVEENE her honourable Counsell thy Magistrates that as they sit in thy seate and are called by thy name so they maye execute thy iustice which thou so well approouest of whereof also thou wilt require a straighte accompt at their hands Wee desire thee also to shewe these thy graces to all other Churches of thine namely thy Church of Englande that it may enioye that peace that thou hast giuen it and graunt that the same be referred to that end wherfore thou hast giuen it namelye to the ful establishment of the throne of thy dear sonn our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST to the building of his Kingdome there Wee besech thee also for the churches which thi haÌ„d hath plaÌ„ted long since especiallye those from whoÌ„ we haue receiued knowledge in time of our ignoraÌ„ce places of refuge in time of persecution that it woulde please thee to continue thy louing kindnes towards them and therefore cause them to continue their faith toward thee obedience towards thy holy worde And whensoeuer it shal bee thy pleasure to try them with any kinde of affliction it woulde please thee to graunt vnto them that they maye put their truste in thee hauing regarde to the truth of thy promises and to the good experience that they haue of thy helpe in tymes paste and thereby conceiue comfort hope O Lorde euen of life in death and of saluation in destruction We praye thee also good lord that we may haue the feeling of the miseries of our brerhren as members of the same body those that liue by the same spirite
dothe come from thy heauēly maiestye they may with obedient heartes humblye obey her in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Counsayle and all the magistrates of the realm that being lightned through thy holye spirite they maye defend thy truth suppresse wickednesse and maintaine equitie Beholde all the Pastors and Preachers of the worde blesse their labors increase the number of them place ouer euery Churche a paineful watchman remoue all idle Lubbers confound the power of Antichriste and turne the heartes of the people that they maye be obediēt to thy truth Blesse the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxenforde and all the Studentes of the same with al Schooles of lerning Beholde all those that bee afflicted with any kinde of crosse that they may profit by thy correction in newnesse of lyfe Lastly for our selues here gathered wee render most hearty thanks to thy maiestie O Lord which hast hitherto frō our infancye preserued vs by thy mercie from all perils and daungers both of soule and body whervnto fraile man is subiect that thou haste sent vno vs all thinges necessary for this presēt life as health foode apparell and suche like which manye of thy dear children do want being notwithstanding as preciousely boughte with the precious blod of thy deare Sonne as we be yet lye in mysery and calamity oppressed with pouertye nakednesse imprisonment and banishment in which case also dear Father thou mightest haue brought vs saue onelye that thou dealest heerein more fauourably with vs then with them For the which thy louing kindnesse we giue thee harty thanks desiring thee that as thou hast hitherto thus fauourablye in mercy preserued vs by thy protection and euen presently this daye haste brought vs past al the dangers thereof so we beseeche thee good Lord in like fauour behold vs this night that we taking our naturall rest and quietnesse may thorough thy protection bee defended that our bodyes resting our souls may be occupied in beholding thy fauor and mercy toward thy children stil looking for the comming of Lorde and Sauioure hs IESYS CHRIST for oure full redemption Grant that our sleepe bee not immoderate according to the lust of our fleshe but as much as is sufficient to refreshe oure weake nature that being thus refreshed both the body and the mind maye bee more able to do their seuerall office and function in that vocation wherein thou hast placed vs. Graunt that we laying our bodies downe to rest maye bee thereby put in mind of oure long rest of death that as we do now lai down our bodies in bedde so wee maye bee thereby admonished that hereafter they shall bee laid downe in graue to bee consumed to Duste Earth and Ashes from whence they were taken That wee hauing this before oure eyes maye bee styrred vpp in minde warelye to walke in this our pilgrymage not knoweing when the time shal be of our departure but alwayes to bee founde ready with our lampes of our pure faith clearely burning that we may bee accepted to meete the Bridegrome when our mortal earthly and corruptible bodies shal be made like to the glorious body of our lord and sauiour Christ Iesu there to raigne with him in perpetuall ioye and consolation togeather with all the elect children of God continually lauding with all the heauenly multitude the glorious maiesty of thee our Lord God heauenly Father in our Lorde and sauiour Iesu Christ For these and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be needfull for vs and thy whole Church we praye vnto thee as he him self hath taught vs saying Our Father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord tourne his fauourable countenaunce vnto vs and grant vs his peace The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the holye Ghoste be with vs preserue and keepe vs this day and euermore Amen A forme of euening prayer necessary to be vsed of all christians in their houses and families O Lorde prepare our hartes to pray bow down thine eares deare Father and heare vs open thine eyes looke vppon vs for thy deare Son Iesus Christes sake and receiue our humble confessiō that we make to thee againste our selues which haue broken all thy lawes and therefore deserue to hauethy heauy iudgments powred vpon our heades to our vtter destruction if thou shouldest enter into iudgement with the leaste of oure sinnes whereof wee haue so great and infinite thousands notwithstanding we praye thee to turne away thy face from our sinnes and for IESVS CHRISTES sake to forgiue vs all that is past and graunt that we may haue the assurance of the forgiuenes of our sinnes sealed vp by thy holy spirite in our consciences whereby we knowing that we are at one with thee maye haue our harts kindled with thy loue so feruently as it maye waste in vs all that is againste thy holy will And for this cause we beseech thee good Lord to go forward with the work of our new byrth that thou haste begunne in vs and neuer take away thy hande vntill such time as thou hast made an end of it and to this end we beseech thee to slaye in vs euerye daye more and more the old man with his concupiscences nailing them to the crosse of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ and causing vs to feele the power of his passion in our bodies and in oure soules that we beeing partakers thereof maye come also to the felowship of thy holye resurrection not onelye in that we shall once appeare before thee hauing these our base bodies chaunged and made like vnto his glorious bodye but also that wee maye in the mean time rise from the death of sin to all newnesse of life and that our good works may so shine before men that they seeing them may glorify thee our heauēly father not only they that are of the self same Religion with vs but but those also that are enimies vnto thy truth may rather in the time of their calling by the voyce of thy Gospell yeeld themselues to be one sheepfold with vs. And we moste humbly thank thee O Heauenly father for all thy louing kyndenesses bestowed vppon vs from time to time and especially for that olde and ancient Loue wherewithall thou hast loued vs before the beginng of the worlde for that also that thou calling vs by the voyce of thy Holye Gospell in that good tyme that thou appoyntedst for vs hast giuen vs faith hope and loue and all other graces which thou knowest to bee needfull for vs which we beseeche thee to increase in vs with mighty increases according to that thou seest we haue neede of hauing regarde to oure manifold enemies that wee haue to wrestle with and that we haue not to striue with fleshe and bloud but againste the Diuels themselues And therefore considering their strength and our weakenesse
beloued of the Lorde and that thy graces may abound as the waters of the sea in the Prince and in the people in the Church and in the Common wealth from day to day till the day of our translation into the kingdō where iustice inhabiteth where we also shal inhabite and raign with thee according to thy promise for euer Grant vs these things O mercifull Father for thy deare sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we craue them at thy mercifull hande praying furthermore for them as hee hath taught vs to pray Our father which art in heauen c. A PRAYER TO be sayd in visiting of the sicke O Our good GOD Lord Father the Creator and conseruer of all thinges the fountaine of all goodnes benignitye like as among other thine infinite benefites whiche thou of thy great goodnesse and grace doest distribute ordinarilye vnto all men thou giuest them health of body to the end that they should the better know thy great liberalitye so that they might be the more readye to serue glorifye thee with the same so contrarywise when we haue ill behaued our selues in offending thy maiestye thou hast accustomed to admonishe vs and call vs vnto thee by diuers and sundry chastisementes thorough the which it hath pleased thy goodnes to subdue and tame our fraile flesh but especiallye by thy grieuous plagues of sicknesse and diseases vsing the same as a meane to awake stir vp the great dulnes and negligence that is in vs all and aduertising vs of oure euill life by such infirmities dangers especially when as they threaten the verye death which as assured messengers of the same are all to the flesh full of extreame anguishe and torments althogh they be notwithstanding to the spirit of the elect as medicines both good wholsom For by thē thou dost mooue vs to retourne vnto thee for our saluation and to cal vpon thee in our afflictions to haue thine helpe which art oure dear and louing father In consideration wherof wee most earnestlye praye vnto thee oure good God that it wold please thine infinite goodnes to haue pitty on this thy poore creature whome thou hast as it were bounde and tied to the bed by most grieuous sicknesse and brought to great extremitie by the heauinesse of thine hand O Lorde enter not into a count with him to render the rewarde due vnto his workes but through thine infinite mercye remitte all his faults for the which thou hast chastised him so gently and beholde rather the obedience which thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde hath rendred vnto thee to witte the sacrifice which it hath pleased thee to accept as a full recompence for all the iniquities of thē that receiue him for their iustice sanctificatiō yea for their onely sauiour Let it please thee O GOD to gyue him a true zeale and affection to receiue and acknowledge him for his onely redeemer to the end also that thou maist receiue this sicke person to thy mercy qualifiyng all the troubles which his sins the horror of death and dreadfull feare of the same may bring to his weake conscience neither suffer thou O Lord the assaults of the mighty aduersary to preuaile or to take from him the comfortable hope of saluation which thou giuest to thy dearely beloued children And for as much as we are all subiect to the like state condition and to bee visited with like battel when it shal please thee to call vs vn to the same we beseech thee moste humblye O Lorde with this thy poore Creature whom thou now presently chastisest that thou wilt not extende thy rigorous iudgement against him but that thou wouldest vouchsafe to shew him thy mercye for the loue of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde who hauing suffered the most shamefull and extreame death of the Crosse bare willinglye the fault of this poore patient to the end that thou mightest acknowledge him as one redemed with his precious bloud and receiued into the communion of his body to be participant of eternall felicity in the companye of thy blessed Aungels wherfore O Lord dispose moue his hart to recieu by thy grace with all meekenesse this gentle and fatherly correction which thou haste layde vpon him that he maye indure it patientlye and with willing obediēce submitting himself with heart and minde to thy blessed will and fauourable mercye wherein thou now visitest him after this sort for his profit and saluation It may please thy goodnesse O Lord to assist him in all his anguishes and troubles And although the tongue and voyce bee not able to execute their office in this behalf to set forth thy glorye that yet at the least thou wilt stirre vp his hart to aspire vnto thee only which art the onlye fountaine of goodnesse thou wilt roote and settle in his hart the sweet promises which thou hast made vnto vs in Christe Iesus thy sonne our Sauiour to the intent he may remaine constant against all the assaultes and tumult which the enemy of our saluation maye raise vp to trouble his conscience And seeyng it hath pleased thee that by the death of thy dear Son life eternall shoulde be cōmunicated vnto vs and by the shedding of his bloud the washing of our sinnes should be declared and that by his resurrediō also both iustice and immortality shoulde bee giuen vs it may please thee to apply this holy and wholsome medicine to this thy poore Creature in such extremitie taking from him all trembling dreadfull feare to giue him a stout courage in the middes of all his present aduersityes And for as much as all thinges O heauenly father be knowne vnto thee and thou canst according to thy good pleasure minister vnto him all such thinges as shall be necessarye and expedient let it please thee O Lord so to satisfie him by thy grace as may seeme most meete vnto thy diuine maiesty Receiue him Lorde into thy protection for he hath his recourse accesse to thee alone make him constant and firme in thy commaundements and promises and also pardon all his sinnes both secreat and those which are manyfest by the which hee hath moste grieuouslye prouoked thy wrath seuere iudgementes against him so as in place of death the whiche both he and al we haue iustlye merited thou wilt graunt vnto him that blessed life whiche we also attend looke for by thy grace and mercy Neuerthelesse O heauenlye Father if thy good pleasure bee that hee shall yet lyue longer in this worlde it may then please thee to augment in him thy graces so as the same maye serue vnto thy glorye yea Lord to the intent he may conforme himselfe the more diligentlye and with more carefulnes to the example of thy sonne Christ Iesus and that in renouncing him selfe he maye cleaue fullye vnto him who to gyue consolation and hope vnto all sinners to obtaine remission of all their sins