thy heauenly wisedome inspire my hart with faith hope and charitie giue me grace to bee humble in prosperitie patiente in aduersitie obedient to my rulers in all my doinges faithfull dealing truely with all men to liue chastly in wedlock to abhorre adulterie fornication and all vncleanes to doe good after my power vnto all men to hurt no man that thy name may be glorified in mee during this present life and that I afterwarde may atteine euerlasting life through thy mercie and the merites of thy death and passion Amen A prayer for grace and remission of sinnes O Lorde God mercifull father I poore wretched sinner come vnto thee in the name of thy dearly beloued son Christ Iesus my sauiour beseeching thee for his sake to be mercifull vnto me and to cast all my sinnes out of thy sight euen through the merites of his bloodie death Poure vpon me O Lord thy holy spirite of grace and wisedome to gouerne and leade my bodie and soule in thy holy worde and commaundementes Shewe thy mercy vpon me and so lighten the naturall blindenesse and darkenesse of my hart through thy grace that I may dayly be renewed by thy holy spirite Open my hard hart and grosse eares to heare and reade thy worde and heauenly voyce and to beleeue and followe it in my conuersation and euer to hold fast that blessed hope of euerlasting life Mortifie and kill all vice in me that my life may expresse my faith in thee Mercifully heare the humble supplication of thy seruaunt and graunt mee thy peace all my dayes Gratiously pardon my infirmities and defende me in all dangers both outwardly in my bodie goodes and name and inwardly in my soule against all euill tentations and subtile baits of sathan that roaring lyon seeking whome he may deuour Graunt O Lord that I and euerie member of thy Church in his vocation and calling may truly and godly serue thee Grafte in my heart the loue of thy name increase in me true religion replenishe me with all goodnesse and of thy great mercy keepe me in the same vnto the end Giue vnto me the spirite of praier true humilitie perfect patience and continuall ioye in the holy ghost I commend vnto thy protection O Father my house and all that thou hast giuen me my whole familie my wife and children ayde me that I may well holily gouerne nourish and bring them vp in thy feare and seruice And forasmuch as in this worlde I must alwayes be at warre not with one sort of enimies but with an infinite number not onely with fleshe and blood but with the diuell which is the prince of darknes grant me thy grace that being armed with thy defence I may stand in this battell with an inuincible constancie against al corruption which I am incompassed with on all sides vntill such time as I hauing ended the cōbate which during this life I must susteine in the end I may atteine to thy heauenly rest which is prepared for me through Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A prayer taken out of the first Psalme ALmightie and moste gratious God take away from vs al euil counsel and then our sinnes suffer vs not to runne into an vngodly and wicked life and finally keepe our mindes farre from the contempt of godlynesse and scorning of vertue and in the steade of these euills graunt that we may continually bee occupied in thy law and sacred scriptures that we be not caried about like the wicked as light duste and fruitelesse chaffe with euerie blast of affection and doctrine but rather that wee as trees planted by the water brookes indewed with the life of thy spirite and faith may also bring foorth the fruites of good workes and that what so euer we take in hande may prosper and tend to the praise and glorie of thy name and furtherance of our saluation and at the last when the wicked shall fall away in thy iudgement ▪ we may stand stedfast and be made perfect through Iesus Christ our lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmighty God we are sufficiently taught that greeuous calamities and miserable plagues doe therefore dayly vexe and trouble thy Church because we haue not ceased to followe the counsel of the vngodly which being once knowne we ought to haue eschewed The way also of the wicked we haue not shunned yea we haue not ceased to walke their race by continual transgressing of thy commaundementes we haue also of long time contemned all godly correction and discipline and whatsoeuer hath beene taught vs out of thy word hath bin too little regarded ▪ yea without all shame neglected and scorned Wherefore it is no maruell if we in the steede of that happinesse and quiet peace which we alas haue too long abused be nowe compelled to suffer all heauie greeuous and most bitter plagues But now O God in humblenes of heart we flee vnto thee confessing our greeuous offences and we most humblie and hartilie beseech thee that those euils which we so foolishly and wretchedly haue committed thou wilte mercifully forgiue vs and frame our minds wholy to the obedience of thy lawe in such wise that our heartes may be occupied both day and night in nothing else but in the meditation of thy holy scriptures for so shall we giuing credite to thy wordes bringe foorth seasonable and pleasant fruite and shall not be spoyled of the graces of the Holy Ghost yea our doinges shal neuer be without happy successe Nowe we are tossed hither thither not vnlike to leaues and chaffe with the wind of aduersitie and affliction yet grant O most mercifull father that our life perish not with the wicked but that the cause of the iust may bee defended by thy singular prouidence and protection so that in iudgement and in the companie of the iust we may be able to stand and not to be confounded through Iesus Christ our lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmightie God for as much as we haue nowe learned that a great part of our felicitie so long as we liue here consisteth in this that we refraine from vngodly counsell and wicked manners and also auoyd the company of those that despise and deride all good thinges and that in the stead of these euils we giue our selues to the heauenly study of thy holy lawe to be occupied and exercised therein both daye and night whereby wee doe perceiue that wee haue verie much erred and strayed from this way of our saluation yea we haue in these thinges most wickedly offended therefore wee beseech thee euen for thy mercies sake that thou wilt pardon our offences and that hencefoorth by the continual studie and exercise of thy word thou wilt vouchsafe to make vs fruitfull plantes that we may not onely bring forth wholsome fruits in thy Church whiles we liue here but also may be able in the other worlde to stande in iudgemente before thee who best knowest the way of the iust through Iesus Christ our
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
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
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
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
God rule in your heartes VVhen ye shall stande and pray saith S. Marke forgiue if ye haue any thing against any maÌ„ that your father also vvhich is in heauen may forgiue you your trespasses for if ye vvill not forgiue your father vvhich is heauen vvill not pardon you your trespasses Moreouer we must haue such a feâ—ling of our owne miserie and wretchednesse as may worke in vs an earnest sorrowe and vexation of mind for the same Example whereof we may see in the deare seruauntes of God when they say that out of the deepe deepenesse and out of the middes of the iawes of death they vtter vnto the Lorde a sorrowfull voyce He that desireth mercie must haue a feeling of his owne miserie And therefore saith Dauid Heale my soule O lord for I haue sinned against thee There is no health in my flesh saith he because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne Thiâ— anguish and sorrowe stirreth vp in Gods children a feruent desire to obtaine comfort helpe and succour at Gods hand and therefore such as feele themselues oppressed with great calamities hauing by the helpe of man no hope of deliueraunce doe crye vnto God with afflicted heartes as Dauid did in his distresse â–ª My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God. And as the Hart being vvounded brayeth for the riuers of vvater so panteth mâ— soule after thee O God. This is that godly sorrowe which S. Paul saith worketh in Gods children repentance to saluation The Lord is nigh to them saith Dauid that are of a conâ—rue heart vvill saue all such as are afflicted in spirite To him vvill I looke euen vnto him saith the Lord that is afflicted and broken hearted and trembleth at my vvordes Therefore Dauid calleth the time of trouble the fit and conuenient time for the faithfull to fly vnto God by prayer And albeit they bee not at all times in like distresse or continually groaning vnder the burdeÌ„ of present euils yet must thei needs be euer in dread of new daungers and carefully afraide of further troubles to followe As trouble and feare therefore are the verie spurs to stir them vp to heartie and feruent prayer so by occasion thereof they haue more free accesse vnto God as though he did thereby call them vnto him This godly sorrowe for sinne and feruent desire and longing for Gods louing mercie and fauour commeth not of our selues â–ª but of the speciall goodnesse of God for we are of our selues dull without all lust to pray yea so great is our imperfection that wee know not how to pray as we ought and therefore the spirite helpeth our infirmitie instructeth vs what is right and guideth our affections He maketh intercession for the Saints saith S. Paul according to the vvill of God and that vvith sighes and groninges vvhich cannot be expressed that is he stirâ—eth vp our heartes giueth vs a desire and bouldnesse to pray and causeth vs to mourne when wee are by any meanes hindered from it and feele not our selues moued therevnto with such feruent zeale affection as we shoulde be Now although we knowe that it is the onely worke of the holy Ghost thus to moue and incline our hearts to prayer notwithstanding we may not be negligent slothfull to dispose and stirre vp our selues therevnto but rather contrariewise so often as we feele our selues colde and not disposed to prayer as we ought to be we must make our supplication vnto the Lorde that it woulde please him to inflame vs with his holy spirit whereby wee maye be framed to pray with such feruencie of minde as we ought to doe When we are cast downe by the sense and feeling of our owne infirmitie sinne and miserie Yet must we pray notwithstanding in sure and stedfast hope to obteine our requestes â–ª These be thinges indeed contrarie in shew to ioyne with the feeling of the iuste vengeance of God sure affiance of fauour which things do yet very well agree in that it is the goodnesse of God onely that raiseth vs vp being oppressed with our owne euils from the which of our selues wee cannot rise For as repentance and faith are knit as coÌ„panionâ— together albeit the one driueth vs downe with feare and the other lifteth vs vp againe with comforte so in praying they must needes goe together And this agreement Dauid expresseth in few wordes I vvill saith he in the multitude of thy mercies enter into thy house and in the temple of thy holiâ—es I vvill vvorâ—hippe thee vvith feare Therefore when we are once touched with true repentance and feeling of our own miserie wee must withall haue such a persuasion of Gods fauour and mercie towardes vs in all our prayers that they shall be accepted of God so farre foorth as it shall be necessarie for vs This is the assurance saith S. Iohn that vve haue in God that if vve aske any thing according to his vvill hee heareth vs. Jf we haue not a sure trust and confidence in the mercie and promises of God it is vnpossible to make our prayer to him aright and whosoeuer doubteth whether God heareth his prayer that man obteineth nothing for to such prayers God hath made no promise But contrariewise he saith VVhat sâ—eye shall aske in prayeer if ye beleeue ye shall receiue it And againe vvhatsoeuer ye desire beleeue that ye shall obteine it and it shall be done vnto you Aske saith Saint Iames in faith and vvauer not for hee that vvauereth is like to the vvaues of the sea vvhich are tossed of the vvinde and caried avvay And why shoulde wee wauer or doubt seeing the holy scriptures testifie of God that hee is faithfull iust and true in all his wordes and promises saying The Lord is faithfull in all his vvords he vvill euer be mindefull of his couenaunt the trâ—the of the Lorde indureth for euer And although our faith be not so strong and therefore our prayer so hearty and zelous as it ought to be yea though our faith be faint and colde yet let vs hold fast this principle that our prayers are not frustrate or in vaine For our comfort herein we haue an example in the father which brought his son first to the Apostles afterwarde to Christ and saide If thou canst Lorde helpe and yet afterwardes he acknowledged the weakenes of his faith â–ª desired to be made strong I beleeue Lorde saith he helpe mine vnbeleefe Howe often doe the children of God complaine of this imperfection and imbecillitie of faith Such as are exercised in true prayer doe feele that in crauing of God the forgiuenesse of their sinnes they bring scarcely the tenth part of that sacrifice which Dauid speaketh of where he saith An acceptable sacrifice to God is a troubled spirite a broken and an humble heart O God thou vvilt not despise Many times they are driuen to wrastle with their
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 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
and substantiall God but that we might knowe how that after the iudgement such a mysterie of his mediatourship shall not be in heauen as is now in earth Then thou blessed Trinitie God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost shalt be al in al thou shalt be the end of our desires thou shalt be looked vpon without end thou shalt be loued without lothing thou shalt be praised without wearinesse Although lothsomenesse be wont to followe fulnesse yet our fulnesse in the contemplation of thy pleasures shal bring with it no kinde at all of lothsomenesse Satietie of ioyes shal be in the beholding of thee Pleasures are on thy right hande for euer We shall bee satisfied when we arise after thine image I meane in the resurrection O deare father shewe thy selfe vnto vs and we aske no more Oh graunt vs with thy saintes in euerlasting life to praise with perpetual prayses thy holy name Happie then and happie againe were wee if that day were come that we might singe with thy Angels elders and innumerable thousands a new songe and say Thou Christ Iesu which wast slaine art worthy to receiue power riches and wisedome and strength honor and glorie and blessing In this blessed life all kinde of maladies griefes sorrows and euils be far away and all full of all kinde of mirth ioy and pleasure Oh that we might see now a little with saint Iohn that holy citie newe Ierusalem descending from heauen prepared of God as a bride trimmed for her husband Oh that we might now somthing heare the great voyce speaking out of the throne Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwel with them and they shall be his people and hee shall bee vnto them their GOD he will wipe away all teares from their eyes and death sha be no more nor weeping nor crying nor sorrowe for the former thinges are gone I. B. An other meditation of the blessed state and felicitie of the life to come THis body is but a prison wherein the soule is kept and that verily not beautilfull nor bright but most foule and darke disquiet fraile filled vp with much vermine venomous vipers I mean it concerning our affections standing in an aire most vnwholsome prospect most lothsome if a man consider the excrements of it by the eyes nose mouth eares handes feete and al the other partes So that no Bocardo no Little ease no Dungeon no Bishops prison no Gatehowse no sinke no pit may be compared in any poynt to be so euill a prison for the body as the bodie is for and of the soule wherethrough the children of GOD haue bene occasioned to cry lament their long being in it Oh saith Dauid Howe long shall I lye in this prison Oh wretch that I am saith Paule who shall deliuer me out of this bodie of sinne which is an heauie burden to the soule as the wiseman saith And the godly cry now let thy seruant depart in peace O the I were dissolued had put off this earthly and frayle tabernacle Take me vnto thee and bring my soul out of this prison that it may giue thanks vnto thee O Lord. For so long as we be in this bodie we can not see the Lord yea it is as an heauie habitation and depresseth downe sore the spirit from the familiaritie which it else should haue with god This world life is an exile a vale of miserie a wildernesse of it selfe being voyde of all vertues and necessaries for eternall life full of enimies sorrowes sighings sobbings gronings miseries c. In daunger to hunger colde heate thirst sores sicknesse tentations trouble death and innumerable calamities being momentanie short vnstable and nothing but vaine and therfore is compared to a warfare a womans trauell a shaddowe a smoke a vapour a word a storme a tempest in the which Gods people feele great molestatiōs griefes troubles now of satan him selfe nowe of the world now of their owne flesh that so wonderfully diuersly daungerously and contrarily that they are inforced to cry O Lord when shall we come and appeare before thee when shall this miserie end when shall we be deliuered out of this vale of miserie out of this wildernes out of these continuall afflictions and most perillous seas But where thou art Lorde and deare Father of mercie there is not onely no prison no doloures no sorrowe no sighings no teares no sicknesse no hunger no heate no colde no paine no tentations no displeasure no malice no pride no vncleansure no contention no torments no horror no sinne no filth no stinche no dearth no death no weeping no teares no miserie no mischeefe there is I say not onely no such thing or any euill noysom or displeasant thing but all libertie all light all pleasantnesse all ioye reioycing mirth pleasure health welth riches glorie power treasure honour triumphe comfort solace loue vnitie peace concorde wisedome vertue melodie meeknesse felicitie beatitude and all that euer can bee wished or desired in most securitie eternitie and perpetuitie that may be thought not onely of man but of Angels an Archangels yea aboue al thoughtes The eye hath not seene the like the eare hath not heard nor no heart is able to conceiue in any point any part of the blissefull beatitude which is with thee most deare Lorde and Sauiour most gratious God and comforter Where thou art O blessed God the Archangels Angels Thrones Powers Dominatiōs Cherubines Seraphines Patriarches Prophets Apostles Martyrs Uirgins Confessours and righteous spirites cease not to sing night and day Holy Holy Holy Lorde God of Hostes Honour maiestie glorie power empire and dominion be vnto thee Oh God the creator O Lord Iesu the Redeemer Oh holy spirit the comforter In recordation of this O howe thy children reioyce howe contemne they the pleasures of this worlde Howe little esteeme they any corporall griefe or shame howe desire they to be with thee Howe amiable are thy tabernacles Oh Lorde GOD of hoastes say they My soule hath a desire to enter into the Courtes of the Lord my heart and my soule reioyceth in the liuing GOD blessed are they that dwell in thy house that they may be alwayes praising thee For one day in thy Courtes is better then a thousand elsewhere I had rather be a doore keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tentes of vngodlinesse for the Lord God is a light and defence And againe Like as the Hart desireth the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O god My soule is a thirst for God yea euen for the liuing god When shall I come to appeare before the presence of God My soule thirsteth for thee my flesh also longeth after thee in a barren and dry land where no water is They thy children I meane O Lorde desire the day of that their redemption Still they cry Let
First concerning our corruption and naughtinesse what a thing is it that power riches authoritie beautie goodnes â–ª liberalitie truth iustice all which thou art good Lord can not moue vs to loue thee Whatsoeuer thinges we see faire good wise mighty are but euen sparcles of that power beautie goodnesse wisedome which thou art For to the ende thou mightest declare thy riches beautie power wisedome goodnesse c. thou hast not only made but still doest conserue all creatures to bee as Dauid saith of the heauens declarers setters forth of thy glory as a book to teach vs to know thee How faire thou art the beauty of the Sunne Moone Starres light flowers riuers fieldes hills â—irdes beastes men and all creatures yea the goodly shape and forme of the whole worlde doth declare How mightie thou art wee are taught by the creation of this world euen of naught by gouerning the same by punishing the wicked mightie Giants thereof by ouerthrowing their deuises by repressing the rages of the sea within her bounds by stormes tempests fires These such like declare vnto vs thine inuisible almighty terrible power whereby thou subduest all things vnto thee Howe rich thou art this worlde thy great and infinite treasure house doth well declare What plentie is there not onely of thinges but also of euerie kinde of thinge Yea how dost thou yearly and daily multiply these kindes How many seedes dost thou make of one seede Yea what great increase dost thou bring it vnto These can not but put vs in remeÌ„braÌ„ce of the exceeding riches that thou hast For if to thine enemies which loue thee not as the moste part in this world be if to them thou giuest so plentifully thy riches here what shall we thinke that with thy selfe thou hast laid vp for thy friendes Howe good thou art all creatures generally and particularly do teach What creature is there in the world which thou hast not made for our coÌ„moditie I will not say how that thou mightest haue made vs creatures without sense or reason if thou haddest would But amongest all things none doeth so teach vs thy great loue towardes vs as doeth the death of thy most dearely beloued sonne who suffered the paines terrors thereof yea and of hell it selfe for our sakes If this thy loue had bene but a small loue it would neuer haue lasted so long nor Christ should neuer haue died I.B. A Meditation concerning the sober vsage of the bodie that it may be subiect and obedient to the soule THis our bodie which God hath made to be the Tabernacle and mansion of our soule for this life if we consider it accordingly we could not but vse it otherwise than we do that is we would vse it for the souls sake being the guest thereof and not for the bodie it selfe and so should it be serued in things to helpe but not to hinder the soule A seruant it is therfore it ought to obey to serue the soul that the soul might serue God not as the bodie will neither as the soule it selfe will but as God will whose wil we should learne to know behaue our selues thereafter The which thing to obserue is hard for vs nowe by reason of sinne which hath gotten a mansion house in our bodies and dwelleth in vs as doth the soule To the which sinne I meane we are altogether of our selues inclined because we naturally are sinners and born in sinne by reason wherof we are ready as seruants to sinne and to vse our bodies accordingly making the soule to sit at reward and pampering vp the seruant to our shame Oh therefore good Lord that it would please thee to open this geare vnto me and to giue me eyes to consider effectually this my body what it is namely a seruant lent for the soule to soiourne in and serue thee in this life yea it is by reason of sinne that hath his dwelling there become now to the soule nothing else but a prison and that most streit vile stinking filthie and therfore in danger of miseries to many in al ages times and places till death haue turned it to dust whereof it came whither it shall returne that the soule may returne to thee from whence it came vntill the day of iudgement come in the which thou wilt raise vp that body that then it may be partaker with the soule and the soule with it inseparably of weale or woe according to that is done in and by the same bodie here now in earth Oh that I could consider often and hartily these things then should I not pamper vp this bodie to obey it but bridle it that it might obey the soule then should I flie the paine it putteth my soule vnto by reason of sinne and prouocation to all euill continually desire the dissolution of it with Paul and the deliuerance from it as much as euer did prisoner his deliuerance out of prison for alonely by it the diuell hath a dore to tempt and so to hurt me in it I am kept from thy presence thou from being so conuersant with me as else thou wouldest be by it I am restrained from the sense and feeling of all the ioyes and comforts in manner which are to be taken as ioyes and comfortes in deede If it were dissolued and I out of it then could Satan no more hurt me then wouldest thou speake with me face to face then the conflicting time were at an end then sorrowe would cease and ioy would increase I should enter into inestimable rest Oh that I could consider this accordingly I.B. Another Meditation coÌ„cerning the sober vsage of the bodie and pleasures in this life THe beginning of all euill in our kinde of liuing springeth out of the deprauation and corruptnesse of our iudgement bicause our will alwaies followeth that which reason iudgeth to be followed Nowe that which euery maÌ„ taketh to be friendly and agreeing to his nature the same doth he iudge necessarily to be good for him and to be desired This is meate drinke apparell riches fauour dignitie rule knowledge and such like bicause they are thought good and agreeing either to the bodie or to the minde or to both for they helpe either to the conseruation or to the pleasure of man accounted of euerie one amongest good things Howbeit such is the weaknesse of our wit on the one part the blindnesse and too much rage of our lustes on the other part that we being left to our selues can not but in the desire of things which we iudge good and agreeing to our nature by the iudgement of our senses and reason we can not I say but ouerpasse the boundes wherby they might be profitable vnto vs and so we make them hurtfull vnto vs which of themselues are ordeined for our health What is more necessary then meat and drinke or more agreeing to nature but yet howe fewe be there which doe not hurt them selues by
Iuda thou coÌ„querour of hel and death euer liuing and immortall thou art nowe risen from death for vs thou art now ascended to thy father and our father and sittest at his right hand in glorie suffer vs to come neare vnto thee that wee may kisse thee yea Lorde thou louer of our soules come thou rather vnto vs and kisse vs with the kisse of thy mouth that we may bee glad and reioyce in thee drawe vs that we may runne after the sauour of thy sweete oyntmentes that wee may beholde thee in righteousnesse and when thy glorie shall appeare we may be satisfied for in thy presence there is fulnesse of ioy and in thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore A prayer for true repentance MOst gratious God mercifull Father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ because I haue sinned don wickedly and through thy goodnesse haue receiued a desire of repentaunce wherevnto this thy long suffering doth drawe my harde hart I beseech thee for thy great mercies sake in Christ to worke the same repentance in me and by thy spirite power and grace so to humble mortifie and feare my conscience for my sinnes to saluation that in thy good time thou maist comfort and quicken me again through Iesus Christ thy dearely beloued sonne So be it I. B. A prayer for the strength and increase of faith O Merciful God and deare father of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ in whome as thou art well pleased so hast thou commanded vs to heare him for as much as he often biddeth vs to aske of thee and also promiseth that thou wilt heare vs and grant vs that which in his name we shal aske of thee loe gratious father we are bold to begge of thy mercie through thy sonne Iesus Christ one sparkle of true faith and certaine persuasion of thy goodnesse and loue towards vs in Christ where through I being assured of the pardon of all my sinnes by the mercies of Christe thy sonne may bee thankefull to thee loue thee serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life I. B. A prayer for the true sense and feeling of Gods â—auour and mercie in Christe OH Lord God and deare Father what shall I say that feele all things to be in maner with me as in the wicked Blind is my mind crooked is my will and peruerse concupiscence is in mee as a spring or stinking puddle O howe faint is faith in me How little is my loue to thee or to thy people How great is selfe loue Howe harde is my heart â–ª By the reason whereof I am moued to doubt of thy goodnes towardes me whether thou art my mercifull father and whether I be thy childe or no. In deede worthily might I doubt if that the hauing of these were the cause not the fruite rather of thy children The cause why thou art my father is thy mercie goodnes grace truth in Christe Iesus which can not but remain for euer In respect whereof thou hast borne me this goodwill to bring me into thy Church by baptisme and to accept me into the number of thy children that I might be holie faithfull obedient and innocent and to call me diuerse times by the ministerie of thy worde into thy kingdome besides thy innumerable other benefites alwayes hitherto powred vppon me All which thou hast done of this thy good will which thou of thine owne mercie barest to mee in Christ and for Christe before the worlde was made The which thing as thou requirest straitly that I should beleeue without doubting so wouldest thou that in all my needes I should come vnto thee as vnto a Father and make my mone without mistrust of beeing heard in thy good time as most shall make to my comfort Loe therefore to thee deere Father I come through thy sonne our Lord mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for me and pray thee of thy great goodnes and mercie in Christ to bee mercifull vnto me that I may feele in deede thy sweete mercie as thy childe The time Oh deare Father I appoint not but I pray thee that I may with hope still expect and looke for thy helpe I hope that as thou for a little while hast left mee so thou wilt come and visite me and that in thy great mercie whereof I haue need by reason of my great miserie Thou art wont for a little season in thine anger to hide thy face from them whome thou louest but surely O Redeemer in eternal mercies thou wilt shew thy coÌ„passions For when thou leauest vs O Lord thou doest not leaue vs verie long neyther doest thou leaue vs to our owne losse but to our iucre and aduauntage euen that thy holie spirite with bigger portion of thy power and vertue may lighten and cheare vs that the want of feeling of our sorrowe may be recompenced plentifully with the liuely sense of hauing thee to our eternall ioy and therefore thou swarest that in thine euerlasting mercie thou wilt haue compassion on vs Of which thing to the end we might be most assured thine oth is to bee marked for thou saiest As I haue sworne that I will neuer bring any more the waters to drown the world So haue I sworn that I wil neuer more be angry with thee nor reprooue thee The mountaines shal remoue and the hilles shal fall downe but my louing kindenesse shall not moue and the bonde of my peace shall not faile thee Thus saist thou the Lord our mercifull redeemer Deare father therefore I praye thee remember euen for thine owne truth and mercie sake this promise and euerlasting couenant which in thy good time I pray thee to write in my hart that I may know thee to be the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent that I may loue thee with all my heart for euer that I may loue thy people for thy sake that I may be holie in thy sight through Christ that I may alwayes not only striue against sinne but also ouercome the same daily more and more as thy children doe aboue all thinges desiring the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doing of thy will here on earth as it is in heauen c. through Iesus Christ our redeemer mediatour and aduocate Amen I. B. A prayer against our spirituall enemies the diuel the worlde and the flesh O Lord God the diuell goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuour the flesh lusteth against the spirite the world persuadeth vnto vanities that we may forget thee our Lord God so for euer be damned Thus are we miserably on euery side beset and besieged of cruell vnrestfull enemies and like at euery moment to perish if we be not defended with thy godly power against their tyrannie We therefore poore and wretched sinners despairing of our owne strength which in deede is none most hartily
pray thee to indue vs with strength from aboue that wee may bee able through thy helpe with strong faith to resist sathan with feruent prayer to mortifie the lustes of the fleshe with continuall meditation of thy holy lawe to auoide the foolish vanities and transitory plesures of this wicked worlde that through thy grace we being set at libertie from the power of these our mortall enemies may serue thee here in true holines and righteousnes and after be partakers of the euerlasting ioyes prepared for thy children which as they are greate and vnspeakeable so are there fewe that doe enioye them For straight is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth therevnto fewe there be that find it Notwithstāding O God thou hast a little flock to whom it is thy pleasure to giue that ioyfull kingdome whose names are written in the booke of life Make vs therefore of the number for Iesus Christs sake and place vs amongest those thy sheepe which shall stande on thy right hand to receiue the blessed inheritaunce and dwell with thee for euermore A prayer for present helpe in tentation DEare father to whom it is more easie to do all thinges then for me to thinke any one good thing Loe doe thou but speake a worde and thy deadlie sicke seruaunte my soule shal be made whole Helpe O Lord for thy great mercie sake for thy truth sake and for thy deare sonne Iesus Christ sake and let thy strength suffice against my weakenesse and thy holy spirit against my sinfull flesh and old man. Thou art faithfull O Father who hast promised that I shall not be tempted further then ▪ thou wilt make me able to beare Giue nowe therefore thy grace and strength vnto thy seruaunt that I may with a strong faith in thine infallible truth and promised mercie vanquishe and subdue what so euer rebelleth against thy most blessed wil. Preserue and keepe holy my soule and body and let them not be defiled made a dungeon of diuels wicked spirits through delectation in sinne Behold deare father the postes thereof are sprinkled with the pretious bloud of thy deare son of thy great mercie they are made the temple and tabernacle of thy holy spirite Shall now alas the diuell the worlde or the fleshe plucke from thee that thing which presently crieth to thee with assured trust in thy promised helpe Nay father ▪ but graunt that I may by thy mightie power turne all their crafts deceits and raging assaultes vnto the increase of my faith that by experience of thy fatherly assistance in this my present temptation I may with assured hope trust in thy ready helpe comfort ouercome my saide enemies hereafter in like assaultes and prayse thy holy name for the victorie through Iesus Christ our Lord. My sonne if thou wilt come into the seruice of the Lorde stande fast in righteousnesse and feare and prepare thy soule to tentation Eccle. 2. Remedies against sinneful motions and tentations First remember that sinne is so heinous a thing that God by his iustice might worthily damne thee for the same and is therefore to be abhorred as a sweete poyson a flattering death and destruction of the soule which would out thee off from God thy Sauiour and make thee a bondslaue to sathan thy deadly enemie Auoide therefore euen at the first the occasions thereof and betimes quash out the braines of the children of Babylon against the harde stones whiles yet they be young and weake least when they be growen elder and stronger they dash thee to peeces And for remedie against the same flee vnto God who commandeth thee to call vpon him in thy troubles and promiseth to deliuer thee and wil not suffer thee to be further tempted then he wil make a way out whereby thou shalt escape and doubt not but hee that causeth thee to hate the sinne which thy nature is to loue will deliuer thee also from the daunger thereof and make thee to triumph ouer sathan to his confusion to Gods glorie and to thy great comfort which are causes that our tender louing father sendeth tentations vnto vs and he that is not tempted what is he Now after thou hast obteined the victorie remember two thinges first to giue most heartie thankes to God for his grace and assistance whereby thou hast ouercome and be not vnthankfull in any wise and then that he who continually goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuour will not be long or farre away from thee but wil attempt againe the same or as euill wayes to ouercome thee Watch therefore and pray A prayer for the auoyding of Gods heauie wrath vengeance for our sinnes OH Lord God strong mightie great and fearefull which dwellest in the heauens and workest great wonders wee thy miserable children here vppon earth doe moste humbly beseech thee to be merciful vnto vs to pardon our offences and to forgiue vs all our sinnes O Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruantes for if thou doe there shall no fleshe be saued in thy fight We confesse and acknowledge O Lorde that it is our sinnes whiche hath moued thee to wrath and to shewe such fearefull tokens of thy displeasure towardes vs in these our dayes first with fire from heauen betokening thy hote burning indignation and wrathfull displeasure for sinne which aboundeth at this daye then with such horrible and monstrous shapes against nature as were neuer seene here in our dayes nor in any time before vs which do betoken to vs none other thing but thy plagues to come vpon vs for our degenerate and monstrous life and conuersation and nowe besides all this by great mortalitie plague and pestilence thou hast terribly threattened vs fatherly warned vs mercifully called vs to repentance The axe is set to the roote of the tree and if wee bee not as rotten members without all sense and feeling wee may perceaue our fearefull destruction and desolation to bee at hande vnlesse wee speedily repent and turne to thee because wee haue bene so long taught out of thy most holy and sacred word yet no fruits of repentance or Christian life will appeare Woe and alas to these our dayes that neither preaching by word most comfortable nor preaching by fire most terrible nor preaching by monsters most strange and ougly neither yet by plagues and pestilence most horrible will stirre vp our stonie heartes and awake vs from our sinnes We feare O Lorde that the Turkes with all the rest of the vnbeleeuing will condemne vs in the last day which if they had bin so long instructed by the comfortable preaching of thy word and sweet promises of thy Gospel or seene the woonders which we haue seene no doubt their righteousnesse would haue shined at this day to our great shame and confusion Thou hast no lesse warned vs O Lorde of thy fearefull displeasure heauie plagues at hand for our great wickednesse then thou
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
seruants Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure and turned thy selfe from thy wrathfull indignation For if thou Lord hadst not helped vs it had not failed but our soules had beene put to silence But when we said our feete haue slipped thy mercie O Lord helped vs vp In the multitude of the sorrowes that we had in our heartes thy comfortes haue refreshed our soules Our soules wayted still vpon the Lorde our soules hanged vpon his helpe our hope was alwaies in him In the Lordes word will we reioyce in Gods word did we comfort our selues For the Lorde saide Call vpon me in the time of trouble and I will heare thee and thou shalt praise me So when we were poore needie sickly in heauines the Lord cared for vs he was our helper and our deliuerer according to his word In our aduersitie and distresse he hath lift vp our heades and saued vs from vtter destruction He hath deliuered our soules from death he hath fed vs in the time of dearth he hath saued vs from the noysome pestilence Therefore will we offer in his holy temple the oblation of thankesgiuing with great gladnes we wil sing and speake prayses vnto the Lorde our Sauiour We will giue thankes vnto the Lord for he is gratious his mercie endureth for euer The Lord is ful of compassion and-mercie long suffering plenteous in goodnes and pitie His mercie is greater then the heauens and his gratious goodnesse reacheth vnto the cloudes Like as a father pitieth his owne children euen so is the Lord mercifull vnto them that feare him Therefore will we praise thee and thy mercies O God vnto thee will we sing O thou holy one of Israel Wee will sing a newe song vnto thee O God we wil praise the Lord with Psalmes of thankesgiuing O sing prayses sing prayses vnto our God O sing prayses sing praises vnto our king For God is the king of the earth sing prayses with vnderstanding We wil magnifie thee O God our king we will praise thy name for euer and euer Euery day will we giue thankes vnto thee and praise thy name for euer and euer Our mouth shal speake the praises of the lord let all flesh giue thanks to his holy name for euer and euer Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel for euer and blessed be the name of his maiestie world without end ▪ Amen Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. Praiers to be saide before meales and after AL things depend vpon thy prouidence O Lord to receiue at thy hands due sustenāce in time cōuenient Thou giuest to them and they gather it thou openest thy hand and they are satisfied with all good thinges O heauenly father which art the fountaine and full treasure of all goodnesse we beseeche thee to shewe thy mercie vpon vs thy children and sanctifie these giftes which we receiue of thy mercifull liberalitie graunting vs grace to vse them soberly and purely according to thy blessed will so that hereby we may acknowledge thee to be the authour and giuer of all good thinges and aboue all that we may remember continuallie to seeke the spirituall foode of thy worde wherewith our soules may be nourished euerlastingly through our sauiour Christ who is the true bread of life which came downe from heauen of whom whosoeuer eateth shall liue for euer and raigne with him in glorie worlde without end So be it An other prayer before meales WHether ye eat or drinke saith S. Paul or whatsoeuer ye doe else let al be done to the praise and glorie of God. Eternal and euerliuing God father of our Lord Iesus Christ who of thy most singular loue which thou barest to mankinde hast appointed to his sustenaunce not onelye the fruits of the earth but also the foules of the aire the beasts of the field and fishes of the sea and hast commaunded thy benefites to bee receiued as from thy handes with thankesgiuing assuring thy children by the mouth of thine Apostle that to the cleane all thinges are cleane as the creatures which be sanctified by thy worde and prayer grant vnto vs so moderately to vse these thy giftes present that our bodies being refreshed our soules may bee more able to proceede in all good workes to the praise of thy holy name through Iesus Christ our lord So be it Our father which art in heauen c. An other O Eternal God the verie God of peace and all consolation which broughtest againe from death our Lorde Iesus the great sheepheard of the sheepe through the bloud of the euerlasting couenant make vs fruitfull in all good works to doe thy wil and worke in vs that which is acceptable in thy sight Sanctifie vs throughout and keep our whole spirit soule and body faultles vnto the comming of thy deare Sonne our Lorde Iesu Christ. Thou art faithfull O Father who hast promised this who also shalt bring it to passe to thee therefore be giuen euerlasting praise honour and glorie Amen A thankesgiuing after meales LEt al nations magnifie the Lorde let all people reioyce in praysing and extolling his great mercies For his fatherly kindnesse is plentifully shewed foorth vpon vs and the trueth of his promise endureth foreuer We render thankes vnto thee O Lord God for the manifolde benefites which we continually receiue at thy bountifull hand not onely for that it hath pleased thee to feeede vs in this present life giuing vnto vs al thinges necessarie for the same but specially because thou hast of thy free mercie fashioned vs a newe into an assured hope of a farre better life the which thou hast declared vnto vs by thy holy Gospell Therfore we humblie beseech thee Oh heauenly father that thou wilt not suffer our affections to be so intangled and rooted in these earthly and corruptible thinges but that we may alwayes haue our mindes directed to thee on high continually watching for the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ what time he shal appeare for our full redemption To whome with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour and glorie for euer and euer So be it An other thankesgiuing after meales GLorie praise and honour be vnto thee most mercifull and omnipotent father who hast fedde and daily dost feede of thy most bontifull goodnes all liuing creatures we beseeche thee that as thou hast nourished these our mortall bodies with corporall foode so thou wouldest replenish our soules with the perfect knowledge of the liuely word of thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be praise glorie and honour for euer So be it ¶ An other MOste bountifull and gratious God which feedest all flesh and hast promised that asking of thee wee shal not lack if we first seek thy kingdome and the righteousnes thereof we feeling presently the benefite of this thy gratious promise in
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