not bee safe but was cast downe frō thence through pride and arrogancy How should I bee safe whilest I commit this sinne so much and so often heere on earth Purge me therefore O God from Pride and leade me by thy Heauenly hand vnto Humility and lowlines of heart Lord God how much am I ouerwhelmed with wrath and anger how suddainly incensed vpon how small and slender occasions am I moued by wrath to vse reproach and to seeke reuenge to forsake Charity to seeke others harme and to aduenture mine owne ruine so that my minde cannot be peaceable and quiet Sodainely by anger reason is disturbed loue and good will forsaken Faith broken and fury drawing mee almost to madnesse by which I breake the bounds of Christian Charitie I beseech thee good Lord who feest how much I am subiect to this finne make me more patient and peaceable suppresse this passion of anger in me that I may passe by small offences and may not bee sodainely prouoked vnto impatience O Lord infuse into me moderation and modestie temperance and sobriety by which and especially by the assistance of thy holy Spirit I may bee able to master anger and passion the furies of my minde and the enemies of my Soule And if anger at any time seize on mee graunt that it may be setled on the zeale of thy truth and the seruice of thee my God for the suppressing of superstition and the seeking to vindicate thine honour against such as seeke to dishonour thee by Atheisme profanenesse and impiety yet so as I sin not by rashnesse or reuiling but by making a difference betwixt the persons and their peruersenes reseruing Charitie to the one and labouring reformation of the other take from me O Lord God enuy and malice suffer me not to fret at the prosperity of any no not of the wicked and impious persons whose bounds are set beyond which they shall not bee able to goe much lesse let me enuy them who walke in vpright waies But if through offence or iniuries I haue been at any time prouoked to proceede against them yet let mee not continue with them in contention through dislike or disgust to wish them euill But teach me by singlenesse and sincerity of heart to shunne the malicing of any man that so shewing mercy and meekenesse I may receiue mercy from thee that art the Lord of mercy to whom bee giuen Honour and glory now and for euer Amen A Prayer of Thankesgiuing after deliuery from Sickenesse and Danger of Disease THou O Lord most mighty and mercifull hast sent sickenesse as a scourge for sinne as a tryall of our Faith and testimony of thy fauour when it pleaseth thee to restore health Thou hast visited me and brought me neere the gates of Death yet hast thou deliuered mee from danger to the end I might publish thy praise and lead a more godly life Feare came vpon mee on euery side my flesh Spirit did faint but thy holy hand did sustaine mee and helpe mee vp What praises most gracious God shall I render vnto thee for thy protection and preseruation But that I doe as I am able And O Lord inable me more to laude thee more to call vpon thy name and to shew thy workes vnto the people to sing vnto thee prayses for this thy mercy in deliuering me from the danger of Death And now that thou hast restored mee to health O Lord restore mee to thy fauour And as thou hast giuen strēgth vnto my body so blessed God strengthen my Soule against Sinne and Satan that I may liue to giue thee Glory and during this fading life I may bee made faithfull in keeping thy Commandements seruing thee in sinceritie of soule and seeking thy glory both now and at all times Amen A Prayer for the mainetenance of Peace O LORD God most mighty and gracious Our sinnes are great and grieuous our pride malice and ambition begets contentions whence growes Warres and Desolation Blood-shedding and destruction thou that art the Lord of Hostes seest it is in the hands of Princes to make warres but it is in thy power only to end them and to saue thy people Great are the gatherings and forces already of armed men ready to destroy one another and great is like to be the slaughter Except thou most mercifull God be pleased to pacifie the minds of the Princes and of the People and to saue them who otherwise will fall to slaughter Take yet most gracious God thine owne Cause into thine own hand help thy people that professethy truth lest they perish Preserue them from perills Saue good Lord such as serue thee in truth and call vpon thee in sincerity of heart Let not the Mightie ouerwhelme thy chosen Children but either let the Oppressors feele thy power or make them to incline their heartes vnto peace and so saue the effusion of bloud and temper the hearts of Christian Princes that they may come to the Knowledge of the truth that Mercy and Truth may meet together that righteousnesse and peace may kisse each other So bee it good Lord. FINIS LONDON Printed by Aug Mathewes for Robert Swayne and are to bee sold at his Shop at the Signe of the Bible in Britaines Burse
O Lord graunt that wee ouerweane not our selues thinking our selues wiser then our Parents Teachers Magistrates or Superiours but that wee may performe all their lawfull Commandements without grudging or delaying◠lest by disobedience we dishonour them procure thy curse thy displeasure and our own danger Let vs not bee like to cursed Cam the discouerer of his Fathers nakednesse But that wee may so keepe this thy Commandement that in honouring them wee may receiue honour from thee and that happines which thou hast promised that our dayes may bee long and blessed not onely in this Land which thou hast giuen vs to liue heere vpon earth but euen in the Land of the Liuing where thou dost raigne for euer and where we may remaine in thy glorious presence euermore to giue thee Praise Amen Thou shalt doe no Murder MOst merciful GOD that giuest life desirest not the death of sinners nor that wee by sinne or violence should slay our owne soules or our Brethren that beare thine Image Wee beseech thee to teach vs wherein wee commit murther by our hands tongues or hearts that so wee may shunne the sinne and punishment that followeth the same O Lord wee slay our owne soules by our manifold and great sinnes wee murther other mens soules by causing them to commit sinnes by which wee take from our selues and them the life of grace O Lord we slay our soules by extinguishing the inspirations of thy holy spirit not suffering it to purge our sinnes by Prayer and Repentance not receiuing or retaining but reiecting those good motions and holy desires which thy grace giues vnto vs. Wee commit Murther if not of the liues of men yet of their good Names In our hearts by Anger Wrath and Enuy with our tongues by slander reproach sowing of sedition cursing and euill speaking with our hands done vpon the persons of our selues by Violence Drunkennesse Adultery and other Distempers whereby either the soules or liues of our selues or of others are destroyed by not succouring them as wee are able with counsell correction or charitable reliefe when they stand in need of vs by these many other waies most mercifull GOD we murther either our own soules or bodies or the soules and bodies of our Neighbours O Lord God therefore who hast giuen vs soules and bodies giue vs grace and assistance not to destroy them in our selues or others but purifie our hearts and affections inlighten our vnderstandings kindle zeale to thy glory and truth which may saue our owne soules and settle vs to seeke the saluation of others and not to be a meanes of our own or of other mens subuersions Plant in our hearts Charitie Meekenesse and Mercifulnesse towards all men sobriety in our desires carriage and conuersations a desire to seeke the good and not the hurt of our Neighbours Remoue from vs Pride Presumption Cruelty and hardnes of heart whereby we slay our owne soules and destroy the liues estate or estimation of our brethren So wee being thus fenced by the grace and good gifts of thy holy Spirit with faith and feare to offend thy Majesty may thereby learne to keepe this thy holy Commandement to the sauing and not the destroying of the soules and liues of our selues and others Graunt this good Lord for thy mercies sake Amen Thou shalt not commit Adulterie O Lord GOD thou by thy holy Word hast taught vs that there is spirituall and corporall Adultery Thou hast commanded not to commit them Yet our corrupt natures drawe vs to both We forsake thee our God the true Spouse of our soules by adhering in confidence worship or disordinate affection vnto the corruptible creatures and so adulterating thy seruice and Worship become forgetfull of thee following more our own lusts pleasures or profits then thy precepts O God full of power who hast created vs thy poore creatures who seest and searchest the secret corners of our hearts vnsearchable and secret vnto our selues Cleanse these secret yet strong and preuailing lusts which drawe vs to commit the Spirituall and Carnall Adultery restraine our vnchaste lookes and inticing aspects one of another Cause vs to refraine wanton speeches to abstaine from Drunkennes and excesse of Diet which are the Instrumentes and prouocation to Idolatry To forbeare pampering of our bodies Gorgiousnes Curiosity of apparell which drawes vs to ouer-much delight of our selues and to a desire to defile our bodies with Adultery Fornication other filthy bestiall Contaminating of our owne bodies corrupting of others and breaking the boundes of this thy holy Commandement That wee should not commit Adultery spirituall against thee or corporall against one another and both against thy Lawes Keepe vs therefore O Soueraigne Lord within the compasse of this thy holy Commandement by thine own power and prouidence By and for which onely we shall be able to giue thee laude and glory now and for euer Amen Thou shalt not steale THou O gracious GOD who hast giuen vs sufficiencie requirest of vs contentednesse with that we haue And though we thinke wee haue lesse then wee neede and haue much lesse then wee desire yet thou O our good God the giver of all wee haue doest onely know what is best for vs Our seuerall estates haue neede of meanes for maintenance according to our callings but wee doe not rightly measure the lawfull and right means by which wee should come to this competency wee go by vngodly means to seeke it wee onely weigh what wee would haue but doe not consider so well where and how it may be godly and lawfully gotten which makes vs to take from our Neighbours and others what belongeth vnto them O Lord therefore take from vs Couetousnes the roote of deceit and false dealing stealthes of things we want or would haue Extortion to get any thing by colour of Iustice and bribing to pervert Iustice Violence to take any thing by force power or strong hand from others Negligence and slothfulnes in our seuerall estates and callings which breede beggery necessitie and robbery Send vs lawfull christian and honest care to prouide things necessarie without deceipt cosening or double dealing discretion and frugality in the disposing of our Estates whereby wee may prouide things needefull without being burthēsome to others or forced to steale or purloine frō them Graunt good Lord therefore that our endeauor may be to get what is sufficient for our selues without doing wrong vnto others Diligence in our callings without ouermuch care cruelty couetousnesse or circumuention Iust dealing with all men Frugalitie without miserie Contentednesse with our estates And if we haue plenty to vse it prouidently and charitably auoyding misery or mispending not seeking any thing by vniust or vnlawfull meanes nor keeping it by frande or falsehood O Lord GOD graunt that wee robbe not thee of thine honour by stealing from our selues in sloth and security that time which wee should spend in thy seruice but that we may keep this thy holy Commandement with
doe faithfully call and trust on thee Wee most miserable and wretched sinners doe confesse vnto thee against our selues to our owne shame and to thy glory that wee were borne and conceiued in sinne that wee haue liued and continued in sinne that our whole liues haue beene nothing else but a heaping vp of sinne and iniquity against thy Holy and Heauenly Maiestie That there is no sinne in his owne nature so heynous or to thee so displeasing but either wee haue committed or else wee haue a pronenesse to commit the same The sinnes of our youth of our riper age and of our later euen of these last time shaue flowed one vpon another and haue polluted our soules defiled our bodies and displeased thy Maiestie so that there is nothing due vnto vs if thou shouldst deale with vs according to our deserts but death and destruction in this life Hell and perdition in the life to come Whither then should we flie for succour and reliefe If we goe vnto Man his breath is in his nostrils that perishing he perisheth If wee goe vnto Angels or to any power in Heauen they haue no power but what they receiueâ— from thee We come therefore vnto thee whose mercy is aboue all thy workes beseeching thee in the multitude of thy mercies to haue compassion on vs. And in that loue which thou shewedst vnto Mankind in sending thy Son to suffer for vs and to saue vs sinners that thou wouldst by his blood death and suffering wash away our sinnes And since thou hast sent him to Redeeme vs suffer vs not to be destroyed O Lord GOD graunt vs penitence and true repentance for our sins past watchfulnesse ouer all our wayes for time to come Care to keepe thy Comman dements strength to withstand the temptations of Satan Humility of heart patience in the times of tryall and aduersitie Constancy in calling vpon thee Feruency in praier Faith in thy promises Assurance of thy loue Assistance in Temptations Deliuerance from dangers of soule and body The right and Sanctified vse of thy creatures Charitie towards our neighbors and contentednes with our estates To this end gracious God take from vs all those things that take vs from thee and giue vs those graces that may make vs to loue thee and declare vs to be intirely beloued of thee Take from vs hardnesse of heart dulnesse and slownes in comming to thy seruice Neglect of those Holy duties thou requirest vs to doe Contempt of thy Commaundements Misbeliefe Vnbeliefe Despaire and doubting of thy mercy Distrust of thy prouidence Giue vs aboue all things Faith stedfaâ—â—ly to beleeue in thee feruour in thy seruice faithfulnesse in maintenance of thy trueth courage to lay downe our liues for the continuance of thy glorious Gospell thankefulnesse for all thy vnspeakable mercies a loue of those that serue thee in sin cerity of heart Liberalitie according to our abilities to those that are in distresse and danger for doing that they ought to do And when thou hast fitted vs for thy seruice and furnished our hearts with thy good graces then send vs the ioy of thy Holy Spirit a detestation of our former euill courses delight in keeping thy Lawes a desire to bee dissolued in thy good appointed time a meditation of our fraile liues and a preparation for our vncertaine deaths And now O blessed Lord wee pray not for our selues alone here present but for thy despised dispersed and distressed flocke throgh the face of the earth It is a little flocke O Lord increase it It is dispersed O Lord gather theÌ„ together into thy fold It is despised distressed Lord succour defend support them Let not the wild Boares destroy thy Vineyard nor the fat Bulles of Basan inuiroÌ„ and ouerwhelme thy chosen ones those that loue thy trueth Thou hast heretofore hedged thy Syon Thou hast mightily and miraculously defended thy chosen Israel Thy hand is not shortned thy power is still the same Let not therefore those that loue not thy trueth or them that loue it say where is now their God Be mercifull to our soueraign to all the Royall Progeny Gouerne the Gouernours of this Land Giue them true wisdome sincere vncorrupt and couragious hearts Innoble the true Nobility with Loyaltie to their Prince and State the leading of a good life and the longing for a better Inspire the Clergie with care and diligence to discharge their duties in their seuerall places Make the Commons of this Kingdome more iust more holy more conscionable in their courses more carefull of the common safety and prosperity of the publike State touch vs all with a zeale of thy feruice and truth an inward reuerence of thy most holy Maiestie a remorse of our former irreligious life That so when wee shall part from this place wee may part from our sinnes but not from sorrow for hauing committed them but may leaue them and leade a better life till wee bee brought from death to that life where sorrow and sin raigneth not where death hath no dominion and where complaints controuersies are not known but haue their ende This life good Lord graunt vs to leade in thy feare and in the ende to inioy that life where ioyes doe last for euer by the mercies of thee our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen A Prayer against Pride anger and Enuy. O LORD God who seest and searchest the secrets of all mens hearts Thou that knowest how subiect I am to Pride Anger and Enuie My heart good Lord is puffed vp with pride it swess with selfe conceipt vaine glory and ostentation I take too much pride of those parts of my Bodie as beautie strength and stature and make my selfe beleeue they are much more faire and fashionable then indeede they are So am I efflated and blowne vp like a bladder with conceit of mine owne knowledg wit vnderstanding and skill making them greater and more goodly vnto my selfe then they are or can bee These foule faults gracious God sometimes I finde in my selfe but nothing so often as I commit them And though now I confesse it yet I haue no power of my selfe to forsake this sinne by which our first Parents fell out of Paradise and we his sinnefull Progeny follow the same steppes and are ready thereby to runne headlong vnto Hell O yet most merciful father clense me from this corruption cure me and I shal be cleane graunt me a lowly penitent and humble heart Teach me to thinke worse of my selfe for my sins then of other men whose faults I know not that I may not thinke so well of my selfe to contemne others O teach me to learne meckenesse of thee my Sauiour who in thy humanitie hast ledde vs to the way of humblenes and meeknesse both of thy precepts and practise Thou hast said learne of me for I am meeke O sweet Sauiour what precept could bee sweeter better or what Example could bee more Holy and perfect If Lucifer an Angel of Heauen could