mercie compassion towardes our Brethren yea euen towards our Enemies Fourthly to loue one another inwardly in heart as our selues yea euen our enemies and them that hate vs. Que. What is the seauenth Commandement An. Thou shalt not commit Adultery Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. We are forbidden in this seauenth Commaundement first all Adultery Fornication and all other vncleannesse in our bodies Secondly all vnpure thoughts and lustes of the heart Thirdly all other things which might intice to such vncleannesse as all vnchast behauiour filthy talke and songs wanton apparrel leud and idle pastimes gluttony drunkennesse houses of open whoredome and whatsoeuer else may allure vs to vncleannesse Fourthly on the other side he commandeth vs to keepe our bodies and soules chaste and pure as Temples of the holy Ghost Or if the guift of Chastity be not giuen vs then to vse the lawful remedy appointed by God which is marriage Que. What is the 8. Commandement An Thou shalt not steal Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. In this eighth Commandement the Lord God forbiddeth all stealing and robbing in ouâ—ward deeds Secondly he forbiddeth all stealing in heart that is all desire of any mans Goodes wrongfully Thirdly hee forbiddeth all false and wrongfull dealing Fourthly on the other side he chargeth vs that we bee content with the portion of goodes which the Lord giueth vs to apply our selues in our vocation and calling to get our owne liuing and liue of that which is our owne and also to be helpfull to others Que. What is the 9. Commandement An. Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy Neighbour Qu. What is the meaning of this Commandement Ans The Lord God in this ninth Commandement doth command vs first that we should neuer speak falsly in witnesse-bearing Secondly that not onely in witnesse-bearing but also in other matters wee should neuer lye flatter or dissemble Thirdly that we should neuer tell any false tales behinde our neighbors backe or heare them of others that we shold neuer beleeue any euill spoken of them behind their backes vntill we fully know the certainty Fourthly in priuate offences to speake nothing although it be true to the hurting of our Brothers good name if by priuate admonition hee may be wonne Que. What is the 10. Commandement Ans Thou shalt not couet thy neighbors house Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. Heeâ—e the Lord God in plaine words doth forbid all inward desire whatsoeuer is vnlawfull to be done although we neuer consent vnto it as the rebellion of the flesh all corruption of the old man all blot of originall sinne so that by this Commaundement most clearely we may see the Image of that man that pleaseth God euen such an one in whom nothing is impure neither in will nor nature Que. Canst thou fulfill all these Commandements of God without breaking any one of them An. These are the Commandements of Almightie God the perfect fulfilling whereof no flesh can attain vnto No although I do all that I can yet I breake them daily both in thoght word and deede Que. What punishment doth God appoint for breaking any one of these An. The punishment for the breaking of the least Commandement euen in thought yea if it were but once broken in all my life is the euerlasting curse of God which containeth al the torments that can bee deuised both of soule and body and in the Scripture is called by diuers names to expresse the paine as hel fire the worme that neuer dyeth vtter darknesse burning Lake second death damnation and such like Qu Is there nothing which a man can do in the World to serue as a sufficient recompeÌ„ce to God for one sinne An. No althogh I should giue all my goodes vnto the poore or suffer my bodie to be whipped all my life long or suffer any other punnishment which might be deuised it is not sufficient for one of my least sinnes Que. Yea but God is mercifull will he therefore punish sin so sharply thinkest thou An. Our God indeede is mercifull but he is also iust and true and therefore must needes of iustice and trueth punish mans sinne with the punishment which hee hath appointed Que. Seeing then this punishment must needs bee suffered are we in our selues able to suffer and ouercome it An. None is able to suffer and ouercome this great punishment of sinne being onely man Quest Is there then no meanes at all whereby we may be saued from those pains euerlasting An. The pains which our sinnes deserue must needes bee suffered by man beecause that God of his iustice must needes bee suffered by man because God of his iustice must needes punnish sinne in man which vvas committed by man and therefore our Sauiour Christ being euerlasting God became also man and hath fully suffered whatsoeuer was due for mans sinne Que. Are not then all people discharged seeing the punnishment is paid An. None are discharged sauing those that take holde vpon Christ and his merites with a true Faith Que. What callest thou this true Faith An. This true and liuely Faith is a full perswasion assurance of my hart grounded vpon the promise of God and wrought in me by the holy Ghost whereby I am fully assured that whatsoeuer Christ hath wrought for mans saluation pertayneth not onely to others but euen to me and is whollie mine as surely as if I performed the same in mine owne person Que. How can it be that thy sinnes are forgiuen thee yet according to Gods trueth fullie punished with the punishment which God hath appointed for sinnes An. By this my true faith I see my sinnes both to bee forgiuen and yet fully punished for in Iesus Christ to satisfie Gods iustice they be fully punished and yet to me they be forgiueÌ„ because in me they be not punished but in Christ for me to set forth Gods mercy and therfore shall neuer be laide to my charge In this manner therefore I see the Lord my God to be both mercifull iust Que. Yea but although the punishment of my sins be paide in Christ yet seeing there can no vnrighteousnesse dwel with God how canst thou stand before Gods iudgement seate as righteous and iust s ing thou hast no righteousnesse but such as is staind with so many sins An. I stand as iust righteous before the Throne of God not clothed with mine owne righteousnesse which I haue wrought in mine owne person but with the righteousnes of Iesus Christ Which righteousnes being taken hold vppon by a true faith is made mine thus am I iust in the sight of God not in respect of mine owne workes which I haue done but taking hold vpon Christ his Workes to be mine by Faith Quest Doth not this make men to runne into all sinne wickednesse An. No for this true faith as soone as it hath wrought in vs through the holy ghost doth frame our hearâ—s anew
and causeth vs to detest hate loathe and abhorre sinne in all men but especially in our selues and maketh vs to haue our whole delight and ioy in those things which be agreeable vnto Gods Will and causeth vs likewise to shew and expresse the same in our life and conuersation or else it is no true Faith but a dead Faith Que. Rehearse the summe of this faith An. I beleeue in God the Father Almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his only Sonne our Lord which was conceyued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Marie He suffered vnder Pentius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into hell and the third day he rose againe from death He ascended into Heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie From thence shall he come to iudge both the quick and the dead I beleeue in the holy Ghost The holie Catholike Church The Communion of Saints the forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie and the life euerlasting So be it Que. What is the effect of this Creed An. This Creed contayneth foure especiall pointes First what we ought to beleeue concerning God the Father Secondly concerning God the Son Thirdly concerning God the holie Ghost Fourthly concerning Gods people called the Church Que. What beleeuest thou in the first part concerning God the Father An. First I beleeue that God the Father thorough Christ into whose bodie I am grafted by faith is not only a Father of other faithfull but euen my Father therefore loueth mee Secondly that hee is Almighty that is that hee hath all power in his hand guiding and ruling all things so that nothing can be done in heauen earth or hell without his prouidence Que. What beleeuest thou in the second part concerning God the Sonne An. I beleeue that Iesus Christ one God in substance with the Father and the holy Ghost tooke flesh of the Virgin and is become perfect man as I am in al things sinne onely excepted and in my Nature hath wrought for mee whatsoeuer was needfull for my saluation Que. What meanest thou when thou sayest Hee suffered vnder Pontius Pilate Ans Because that manner of death which men do suffer by the sentence of the Iudge and vnder the Title of Iustice is more shameful slanderous and terrible then if a man should dye naturally in his bedde Therefore Christ took on him our person to shew himselfe before an earthly Iudge and to bee condemned by the mouth of Pilate hee being then Iudge that therby we might be cleared before the iudgement seat of God Que. What meanest thou when thou sayest Christ was crucified dead and buried An. First I meane in that he was crucified that he suffered the death of the crosse which was an abhominable and cursed death to deliuer mee from the curse vvhich was due for my sinnes Secondly forasmuch as death was a punishment due vnto man for sinne therfore our Sauiour did suffer death and by suffering ouercame death For in his death doth lye the principall point of our saluation for if he had not beene truely dead wee should be yet subiect to eternall death and damnation Thirdly he was buried for the more greater confirmation of his death and Resurrection And in the intent to make it more certainely knowne vnto vs it pleased him also to bee buried after the common maner of men and that by two notable persons Nicodemus and Ioseph of Aramathia which was done also by the wil consent of Pilate who caused the body to be deliuered to them Que. What meanest thou concerning this that Christ descended into hell An. Where it is said that Christ descended into Hell therby I beleeue that Christ did not onely suffer in his body the punishment due to my body but also in his soul the punishment due to my soule which was the Torments of hell second death sorrowes of death and abiection from God as it doeth appeare by the anguish of his soule in the garden when drops of blood yssued out of his body and also vppon the Crosse by his lamentable crie to his Father For in miserable case had we beene if he had suffered onely the punishment due to our bodies and not to our soules Que. What fruite hast thou by the death of Christ Ans First I beleeue that this death and punishment which Christ suffered is the appeasing of Gods wrath a full satisfaction to God for all my sinnes Secondly that as he is dead for sinne so he will cause sinne to die in my mortall body Que. What profit hast thou by the rising againe of Christ An. First I am assured by his rising from death that he hath ouercome death hel and sinne and hath finished my iustification Secondly that as he is risen from death so he causeth mee as a member of him to rise from sin and delight in righteousnes Thirdly his rising againe is a sure pledge to me that my body shal in like manner rise againe Que. What is the meaning of this that Christ ascended into heauen An. Christ as touching his manhead is onely in Heauen but in his Godhead and comfort of his holy Spirite hee is with vs to the end of the world Que. What good gettest thou by the ascending of Christ into heauen An. First Christ his ascending into heauen is a sure pledge vnto mee that I shal in like maner as a member of him by his power be receyued into heauen in that same nature wherein he is ascended Secondly Christ hauing ascended into Heauen maketh continuall intercession for me Que. What is the meaning of this that Christ sitteth on the right hand of God the Father An. Christ sitteth on the right hand of the father that is hath all power giuen him of the Father ouer all things whatsoeuer Que. What fruite dost thou receiue by this that Christ shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead Ans To mee that am a member of Christ it is a singular comfort vvhen I know assuredly that none shal be my Iudge but he that is my Sauiour But terrible it will be to those that flee from Christ when they shall see him come to iudg them whom they in their life time refused Que. What beleeuest thou in the third part concerning God the holy Ghost An. I beleeue that GOD the holy Ghost sealeth into my heart all Christes benefites to be mine and maketh sinne to dye in me and stirreth me vp to righteousnes and holinesse of life Que. Seeing there is but one onely God why namest thou the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost An. Because God hath so opened himselfe in his Word that these three sundry persons are in substance but one true and euerlasting God Que. Now let vs come to the fourth part What callest thou the Catholicke Church Answer The Catholicke Church is the whole company of faithful people that euer were since the beginning of the world in all places which also
blessed Lawes and Commandments the greatnesse of my sinnes and wickednesse yea I see O Lord my God the whole course of my life to be almost nothing else but a continuall breaking of thy holy Lawes and Commandements The thoughts of my heart eyther in vanitie or else open wickednesse are in number infinite daily in the aboundance of them causing my mouth to speake and my bodie to execute and doe contrarie to thy holie will And againe O Lord I see thy heauie wrath vengeance and iudgement against sin to be intollerable that euen the least wicked thoughtes and most secret cogitations of my heart procureth thy heauy wrath and euerlasting curse the torments of hell and euerlasting fire euen although I had but once in all my life broken any of thy Commandements so much as once in thought And I know O Lord GOD that thou art true and iust and canst not abide sinne and wickednesse but will iustly punish euerie sinne euen with the selfesame torments of hell which thy iustice hath appointed This O Lord my God throweth me downe and euen amazeth me so that I know not what to doe I looke into my selfe viewing mine owne power whether I am able to ouercome this punishment of my sinne or no and I see that all euen the most exquisite punishment which I can deuise of my selfe in whipping of my body as long as I liue wearing Hair-cloth pining my selfe with fasting or any other paine I see I see O Lord that all this punishment is not sufficient for one of my least sinnes because it deserueth euen the euerlasting paines of hell I looke to Heauen I see there is no Saint nor Angell able to abide and ouercome this punishment of sinne I looke to men in this woâ—ld euen to the Popes Treasure that wicked man of sin and I see that neyther his Masse nor Purgatory Pilgrimage Pardons Pennance Satisfactions nor any of such like wicked stuffe alas I see they are nothing for the satisfying for one of my least wicked thoughts seeing the punishment is due by the iust decree and sentence of thy euerlasting cursse Wherefore I am driuen out from my selfe and all that I can doe to seeke this punishment dischargd other wher or els to quaile vnder the burden I see there is no help for me in Angels Saints nor Mortall men but onely in that perfecte man Christ Iesus thy deare Sonne in whom I see the full punishment of my sinne wholy paide satisfied discharged and ouercome death vanquished the paines of hell in victory swalowed vp the cursse satisfied and the eternity of the punishment thorough his euerlasting power ouer-reached This I see O Lord by the eyes of faith being through thy holy spirit wholy assured that all the whole punishment of sinne payd by my Sauiour Christ is not onely paide for other men but euen also for mee and my sinne This assurance of faith beeing thine onely worke in me I beseech thee in mercy to strengthen and increase for I feele it often full of wauering and doubting Grant that I may dayly more and more in my soule and conscience feele my selfe knit and ingrafted into the body of thy Sonne whereby I may be assured that whatsoeuer hee hath done pertaineth to me and is fully and wholy mine that I may through the power of his death feele sinne dayly dye in mee and thorough the power of his resurrection feele my selfe risen from sinne to haue my full ioy and comfort in those things which bee agreeable to thy holy will onely detesting hating and abhorring from my heart all things which be contrary to thy will and pleasure that euen in this life I may still looke for his endlesse ioy felicity vsing the things of this world as though I vsed them not till that good time that it shall please thee to call me to thine euerlasting kingdome of glory there to raigne with my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ for euer and euer Amen A Prayer vpon the Lords prayer The first petition Our Father which art in heauen O Most mighty Lord and eternall God who hast by thy deere sonne Chrtst Iesu our Lord and Sauiour reconciled vnto thy selfe all things in Heauen and earth and in him hast made an euerlasting bonde and Couenant with vs thy faithfull Children that thou wilt not onely be our God but also our most louing and mercyfull Father whereof as a pledge uhou hast giuen vs thy holy spirit of adoption wherby we may with boldnesse and full trust and confidence come to thee by hearty prayer as vnto our most louing and mercyfull Father being assured that thou wilt not deny ought which thou knowest shall be expedient for vs grant wee beseech thee deere Father that being fully perswaded in our hearts of this thy Fatherly loue and affection toward vs we may be stird vp to make our petitions with such an affection ardent desire loue and reuerence to thy Maiesty that our minds be not carried away with by-thoughts creeping in but without all wandring may be fully bent and attentiue to the things we aske and fully staid vppon thy mercifull and iust protection Hallowed be thy name WE then beseech thee deere Father that thou wilt strenghen our hearts with thy holy spirit that considering thou hast made al things for the glory of thy name so we may in all our doings enterprises counsels and purposes cheifely aboue all things seeke thy glory that wee may fully acknowledge thee not onely the Auther of all things but the Ruler Guider and Gouernor of all things both in heauen and earth that we neuer diminish thy incomprehensible glory by attributing vnto our selues any power strength or ability to doe will or thinke that which is good but from our hearts we may acknowledge all our goodnes to come from thee yeelding for the same continuall praise thankesgiuing to thy glorious Name that we neuer by distrusting thy mercyfuâ—l prouidence dishonour thy Name but that euen in our greatest desires we may put our full confidence in thee not looking vpon our weaknes but staying vppon thy power promises by harty prayer flying vnto thee our onely refuge that our whole life may be framed according to thy holy will in all pointes that thy glorious name in vs may be sanctified and that we be not an occasion that thy holy Name be any way blasphemed throgh our wicked life and conuersation The Second Petition Thy kingdome come LEt thy Kingdome most mercifull Father appeare and manifestly be declared in all the world but especially amongst thy Church faithfull Flocke declare thy selfe Lord and King ouer them ruling them by the scepter of thy holy word force of thy holy spirit Encrease the number of faithfull Pastors and Preachers among the people blesse their labours to the increase of this kingdome of thy deere sonne Iesus Christ and to the destruction of the kingdome of Sathan and Antichrist Suppresse the rage of the Enemies that they mâ—y
so to keepe vs vnder that wee more effectually may giue our selues to serue thee Or if it bee thy will and pleasure more abundantly to blesse vs and our trauaile to send vs abundance of all things wee beseech thee deare Father giue vs a thankfull heart to acknowledge them to bee thy good giftes and frame our hearts with such liberality that wee may be contented to distribute them according to the necesity of thy children being assured that thou hast to this ende made vs Stewards ouer them that maist at his hands require much on whome thou hast bestowed much so that we hauing the due estimation of thy benefits which we ought to haue may both reuerence thy goodnesse in thy benefits and supply the want of our bretheren to the releefe of their necessity and furtherance of thy glory The fift petition Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. AND whereas most mercifull Father thy Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ hath in our nature paide the ransome and debt of all our sinnes which wee haue from the beginning of our life committed and do dayly commit wee beseech thy gracious gooodesse that thou wilt by thy holy spirit in our hearts assure our soules and consciences with a liuely faith that by that same one onely sufficient sacrifice the punishment of our sinnes is paide thy wrath appeased and thy Iustice satisfied whereby our consciences may be quieted set at peace with thee our mercifull Father and God Let vs deare Father feele in our soules and consciences that wee are vnited to thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ and made one body with him and heires with him of euerlasting glory so coupled and ioyned with him that wee are members of his body so that whatsoeuer hee hath done in his body wee may bee assured that it is ours that his righteousnesse is our righteousnesse his sanctification and holinesse is ours the curse condemnation and death which hee suffered is the same curse condemnation and death due for our sinns that wee know that our sins bee done away and cleane forgotten and forgiuen by thy mercifull loue goodnesse declared in offeâ—ing vp thy Sonne to death for vs wee may be driuen to loue thee vnfainedly from the bottome of our hearts for this thine vnspeakable loue And considering that thou hast in mercy pardoned so many our haynous offences we may gladly bee moued to forgiue one another their offences and put out of our heart all rancour malice hatred toward ouâ— Bretheren knowing that we are all members of one body Christ our Sauiour that so surely as we haue forgiuen them that offend vs we may be so certainely assured that our mercifull Father hath forgiuen vs like as we haue forgiuen our Bretheren The sixt petition Lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill ANd for as much most heauenly Father as we of our selues bee feeble and fraile and weak and haue a strong and subtile Aduersarie Sathan the Diuell who goeth about continually like a roaring Lyon seeking whome hee may deuoure we beseech thee strengthen vs by thy holy Spirit that wee may withstand his subtle suggestions and motions hold thou vs by thy mercifull hand and keepe vs alwaies in thy safegard and protection that wee be not ouercome in the mighty assaults of our aduersary And forasmuch as he often vseth euer our owne flesh armed against vs to conquer vs we beseech thee deare Father mortifie subdue and kill in our flesh all subtle suggestions and sinfull motions of Sathan that we yeeld not our selues as slaues thereunto but continually fight against them and bring them into subiection of the Spirit Grant vnto vs deare Father that we may not be drawne through the subtile and sliely torments of Sathan to haue our delight pleasure in the vanities of this world but by thy grace might and power may so in the prosperity of this life bee vpholden that our minds with full ioy and comfort may be lifted vp to our perfect consolation in our Lord and Sauiour Christ and in him take our full and perfect ioy and consolation so that no vaine delight of this world put vs from the same neyther any sharpe aduersaty as pouerty misery or calamity through the malice of the diuell driue vs to dispaire of thy mercifull goodnesse towards vs but alwaies being through thy grace and assistance defended we may be fully perfectly armed against all the subtile intrappings of Sathan and rest wholy in thy mercifull defence and aide For thou hast O Lord and eternall God in thy gouernment all things in heauen and earth all power dominion ouer all creatures Angels and diuels to rule them according to thy good pleasure and will to the profit and commoditie of thy Church and euery faithfull member thereof and to thine incomprehensible glorie that in all things in all ages for euer and euer thy glorious Name may be exalted and thy faithful flocke edified thâ—ough Christ our Lord Amen A Confession of sinnes with Faith and Repentance O Mercifull and heauenly Father we thy Seruants doe humbly pâ—ostrate our selues before thy Maiesty acknowledging here in thy sight our haynous offences committed against thy Maiesty seeing and beholding thy heauie wrath against them wee feele our selues laden O Lord our God with a huge company of horrible sins whereof the very least beeing but conceiued in thought is sufficient in iudgment to throw vs downe to the euerlasting burning lake Our owne consciences O Lord do beare witnesse against vs of our manifold transgressions of thy blessed Law of our security sencelesse blindnesse running headlong to destruction committing sinne after sin although not notorious to the world yet horrible before thine eyes The thoughts of our harts rise vp in iudgement against vs the vanity of our talke before thy Maiesty condeÌ„neth vs the wickednesse of our deeds from thy sight reiecteth vs all our wicked thoughts words and deeds with the inward corruption of our nature doe altogether as it were a whole lumpe loade of sinne lye heauy vpon vs and with their intollerable waight doe euen presse vs downe to Hell Wee doe daily groane vnder the burthen of them inwardly lamenting our owne folly too greedily running into them In heauen earth or hell wee see none able to sustaine the waight of them but euen thy dearely beloed Sonne Iesus Christ who in mercy infinite and compassion endlesse hath sustained and ouercome that endlesse punishment due vnto them in him therfore in him most mercifull Father and through him we come to thee being fully assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept take that full recompence which hee thy deare Sonne hath made for vs as a iust ransome for the sinne of all those who with a true Faith take hold on him In him therfore we see thine anger towardes vs appeased thy wrath satisfied and our debts paide Increase in vs good Lord wee beseech thee this liuely
and feeling faith for we feel it oftentimes in vs very weake and troubled with many doubtes Increase it in vs O Lord that wee may through thy holy spirit bee assured that the punishment of our sinne is fully in thy Sonne discharged Make vs O Lord our God to feele the same in our soules and consciences that Iâ—sus Christ is ours and all that hee hath done that we are ingrafted into his body and made one with him and therefore fellow-heires with him of euerlasting life Let vs not onely haue these words in our mouths good Lord but through thy holy Spirit let vs feele the comfort of them in our hearts fully sealed setled in vs that we feeling our selues inwardly before thy Iudgement seate discharged and our consciences towards thee appeased may bee swallowed vp with an vnfained loue towards thy heauenly Maiesty and towards our Bretheren for thy sake Make sinne to die in vs daily more and more that wee may hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne and wickednesse in all men but especially in our selues that wee mâ—y strongly through thy holy Spirit sette our selues in open defiance against all sin and wickednesse that wee please not our selues in our sins but straightly examining sin by the iust rule of thy holy Lawes wee may vtterly from the bottome of our hearts condemne euen the least sinne in our selues hauing our whole ioy comfort and consolation vpon those things which bee agreeable to thy blessed will alwaies being afraide to doe any thing contrary to the same that wee may euen from the bottome of our hearts examine and try our thoughts before thy presence that they bee vpright vnfained not hypocritical in outward shew only appearance but that euen all the corners of our hearts being opned and disclosed before thee we may euen as though it were openly before the face of the whole world bring them in shew knowing that a double heart is destitute in thine eyes and that wee may walke alwayes as before thine eyes not onely before the eyes of man being more carefull to walk circumspectly in this respect that we haue thee to be a viewer of our doings a thousand fold more then the eyes of man That thus wee may walke as becommeth thy Children not onely in outward shew but also in sincerity of hart abhorring euen the least sinne in our selues striuing resisting and fighting against sinne not nourishing the same in our breast but earnestly embracing and studiously seeking after those things which bee pleasant in thine eyes that neyther the feare of man nor losse of goods life landes possessions or friends draw vs away from thee to doe anie least thing contrary vnto thy will and pleasure neither the fauour and friendship of man nor yet the flattering enticements of this World nor the vaine promotions of the same do mooue vs â—ny whit from the true and endlesse ioy delight pleasure which we ought to haue in those things which be agreeable to thy will and the constant performance of the same but that alwayes to the end of our life wee may continue in thy pathes growing and increasing from faith to faith from strength to strength till at length we shall come to thine euerlasting rest Amen ¶ A Prayer for the prosperous estate of the whole Church O Lord our God and heauenly Father forasmuch as by thy holy word we are commanded in our Prayers not onely to be mindefull of our selues but also of all other thy children yea euen of our enemies wee commend vnto thy diuine Maiestie all thy whole true and Catholicke Church and euery member thereof that as it hath pleased thy goodnesse by the bright beames of thy holy word to shine ouer the whole world whereby thou hast expelled driuen away caused to vanish the darke and misty cloudes of ignorance and superstition so thou wouldest vouchsafe by thy holy Spirit to touch the hearts of men that they may ioyfully imbrace that thine so high a Treasure sent amongst vs that through our vnthankefulnesse wee prouoke not thy Maiesty in anger to take it from vs. Crush bruise and destroy with the breth of thy mouth the mightie power of that man of sin which so proudly exalteth himselfe aboue al that is called God Let not thy simple flocke deere Father in whose consciences he so long time hath yet doth sit as God bee any longer poisoned with his sweet inticing poisons but so lighten their harts that they may perceiue his iuglings embrace the sweet and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting reuealed in thy glorious Gospell And forasmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy aboue all Nations of the earth to powâ—e down the sweet showers of thy heauenly graces vpon this our English Nation aboundantly in more plentifull wise watering the same with the giftes of thy holy Spirite in promoting thy Gospell and ouerthrowing Idolatrie we beseech thee continue thy fauour towards the same and vttery roote out all Remnants Reliques and Monâ—ments of Idolatrie that thy glorious name may be throughly exalted in sincere pure and holy worship And as thou hast in mercie from amongst vs in this thy Church vtterly banished all false venomous and poisonfull doctrine wherewith the soules of thy Children heretofore haue beene wounded â—o death and in place thereof hast placed the true and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting wherewith the soules of thy children may be fedde and norished to euerlasting ioy so in like mercie and fauour we beseech thee deare Father establish in the same thy Church a true perfect and sincere regiment therof according to the prescript rule of thy blessed Word all fantasies of mans brains and dreames of humane policie vtterly abolished that thy glorious Maiesty onely may be exalted in the light of thy glorious Gospel and that thy Church may flourish increase being through thy protection aided supported maintained and defended we beseech thee â—â—thy holy Spirit guide and rule euery part and member thereof especially thy seruant Iames our King whome thy gracious fauor and mercifull prouidence hath appointed a cheefe member of the same vnder whose winges next vnto thy protection it hath a cheefe succour and support Grant vnto him O Lord a pure and perfect zeale aboue all things to promote thy glorie first cheeflie in labouring and endeuoring of himselfe earnestlie in wiping away and purging out of the Church all blots and deformities to reduce the same to a pure sincere forme of worshippe agreeing to thy blessed word vtterly to remooue all stumbling blockes which stay and hinder the course of thy Gospell Giue in like manner O Lord GOD the spitit of wisedome discretion gouerment that with equitie and iustice he may see this whole Realme which thou hast committed to his charge peaceably quietly gouerned that hee may studiouslie labour that as well through the whole Realme vertue be exalted vice abandoned as especially in his owne house and Court that all wicked
illustrious Prince Palatine the Lady Elizabeth with their Princely Issue Blesse the Lords of his Maiesties most honourable Priuie Counsell the Magistrates Ministers of this Land Shower downe thy blessings O Lord vpon both the Vniuersities and all Schooles of Learning Comfort all those that bee afflicted with any kind of crosse that they may profit by thy correction to newnesse of life And lastly gracious Lord God we come vnto thee for our selues heere gathered together rendering vnto thy glorious Maiesty most hearty Thankes which hast hitherto from our infancy presetued vs by thy mercy from all perils and daungers both of soule and body whereunto fraile man is subiect that thou hast sent vnto vs euerie thing necessarie for this present life as health foode apparrell and such like which many of thy deere Children do want being notwithstanding as preciouslie bought with the precious bloud of thy deere Sonne as we be yet be in misery and calamity oppressed with pouertie nakednesse imprisonment and banishment in vvhose case also deare Father thou mightest haue brought vs saue onely that thou dealest herein more fauourably with vs then with them For the which thy louing kindnesse we giue thee hearty thankes desiring thee that as thou hast hitherto thus fauorably in mercie preserued vs by thy protection and euen presently this day hast brought vs past all dangers therof so we beseech thee good Lord in like fauour to behold vs this night that we taking our naturall rest and quietnes may through thy protection bee defended that our Bodies resting our soules may bee occupied in beholding thy fauour and mercie towardes thy Children still looking for the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ for our full Redemption Graunt that our sleepe bee not immoderate according to the lust of our flesh but as much as is sufficient to refresh our weake nature that being thus refreshed both the body and the mind may be more able to doe their seuerall office and Function in that Vocation wherein thou hast placed vs. Grant that we laying our bodies downe to rest mâ—y be thereby put in minde oâ— our long rest of death that as we do now lay down our bodies in bed so we may be therby admonished that heereafter they shall be layde downe in the Graue to bee consumed to dust earth ashes from whence they were taken That we hauing this before our eyes may be stirred vp in minde warily to walke in this our Pilgrimage not knowing when the time shall be of our departure but alwaies to be found readie with ouâ— Lampes of pure faith clearly burning that we may be accepted to meete the Bridegroome when our mortall earthly and corruptible Bodies shall be made like to the glorious body of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ there to reigne with him in perpetuall ioy and consolation together with all the Elect children of God continually lauding with thy Heauenly multitude the glorious Maiesty of thee our Lord God and heauenly Father in our God and Sauiour Iesus Christ For these and whatsoeuer else thou knowst to be needfull for vs and thy whole Church we pray vnto thee as he himselfe hath taught vs saying Our Father c. The Lord blesse vs saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs The Lord turne his fauourable countenance vnto vs and graunt vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesu Christ the loue of God the Father and the most comfortable Fellowship of God the holy Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this night forth and for euermore Amen A forme of Prayer dayly to bee vsed of all faithfull Christians in their houses or elswhere ALmighty God and mercifull Father in and thorough Iesus Christ our Lord in whom and by whom we trust that thou art our God and Father we most humbly heere prostrate our selues before the Throne of thy Maiestie beseeching thee first good Father and God to pardon all our sinnes which wee confesse and acknowledge against our selues bâ—seeching thy gracious Spirit to worke in vs the knowledge of them daily more and more that thereby we may coâ—e vntâ— true Repentance for them together therewith vnto the knowledge of the heighth bredth depth and fulnesse in all sorts of thy grace and mercie whereby through Iesus Christ thou hast forgotten them and remoued them as farre from vs as the East is from the West And althogh we know by them too well good Lord that wee haue as much as in vs lay lyeth laboured to prouoke thine anger against vs heaping sinne vpon sinne and multiplying offences and transgressions against thy high grace and Maiesty breaking thy holy word Commandements yet thou O Lord hast not beene as Man nor thy affections as the affections of the Sonnes of men but hast continued gracious and mercifull and bountiful vnto vs in pardoning our sinnes and daily renewing in vs with the morning thy graces diuers and manifold Therefore we beseech thee most mercifull Father so to giue vs thy holy Spirit that wee prouoke thee no more that thou rise not against vs to destroy vs as we haue deserued for we haue bene are dry as stubble and yet thou hast not dispersed and consumed vs we haue beene vnfruitfull and thou hast not cut vs downe yea Lord we haue brought forth wild and sower Fruite corrupt and detestable and yet thou lettest thy raine to fall and Sun to shine vpon vs. Make vs therefore wee beseech thee sorry as becometh thy Children for that wee haue disobeyed thee so mercifull and louing a Father and frame vs daily and fashion vs to the likenesse of thy wel beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord that in knowledge and true holinesse wee may glorifie thee before the world and by the fruits of godlinesse and righteousnesse be assured and made certaine of thy holy Spirit and of the loue wherewith thou louest vs. Make vs thankfull deere Father for the infinite vnspeakeable benefites of our election to life and euerlasting glory before all time and for our creation redemption and sanctification in time to bring thy glorious counsell to passe Worke in vs certaine faith and assured hope in thy promises the true feare of thy Maiesty perfect hate and detestation of all disordered and sinfull affections Worke in vs eternal loue of thy trueth and Gospell sincere affection and loue towards thy Children and amongst our selues patience knowledge vertue loue compassion with all graces of thy kingdome that in all on behauiour thou O God mayest be glorified in vs. Also wee beseech thee most mercifull Father for the benefites of this life That as thou art not onely the God of our spirites and soules but also of our bodies so it would please thee notwithstanding our sinnes to grant vs thy blessings of health peace and maintenance of which by thy gracious prouidence some of vs doe feele the want and some of vs haue for long time enioyed
seeing that I erre as a child before such a Father which canst not but off thy Fatherly pitty and compassion but rather as thou hast bought mee vnto thee to bee an heire of thy kingdome by the bloud of thy naturall Sonne my Sauiour Iesus Christ so am I sure that thou wilt lighten mee in the end with full fruition of the bright light of thy countenance that I may see thee and know that as this thy Sonne knoweth thee yea see thee and know thee my Father face to face to know thâ—e as I am knowne Thus rest I onely in thy hands O my God crauing of thee to encrease my knowledge in thy holy word whereby I may know thy good will pleasure And knowing the same giue mee O Lord thy holy Spirit to conduct and lead mee in the same all the daies of my life that in sinceritie of faith and purenes of liuing and conuersation thy glorious Maiesty bee magnified in mee for euer Giue mee grace therefore most mercifull Father that for so high a treasure left among vs as is this thy most holy word I may be thankfull reuerently embrace accept and esteeme of the same as the most precious iewell in earth bee thereâ—n confirmed more strongly that all things therein contayned to be most certaine and vndoubtedly true not by any mortall man but by thy most holy Spirit in man penned and written to the comfort and behoofe of man that I may most humbly lowly and with most high reuerence submit my selfe thereunto as becometh thy Maiestie and thy word proceeding out of thy most blessed mouth that I may reuerently with humblenesse and obedience read heare and occupie my selfe in the same to the comfort of my soule and encrease of thy glory Lighten mine vnderstanding most deere Father with thy holy Spirit that I may learne cleerely to conceiue and vnderstand the things therein contained which no mortall man can conceiue saue those who haue learned of thee whom thou by thy holy Spirit dost lighten and instruct Guide mee deerâ— Father with thy holy Spirit that hauing the true vnderstanding of the mysteries therein contained I may be fully established and confirmed in the true knowledge of thee my deere Father of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour throughly in conscience perswaded that I haue my full and perfect saluation life euerlasting in him and through his attonement made through his death and passion that I doe not vainly abuse the knowledge of thy sacred word to satisfie vaine curiositie or bragge of knowledge but onely to the releeuing of my hungry and wounded conscience to the loosing of my fettered soule and the appeasing of my sorrowfull heart that I may to the end of my life walke in sincerity before thee my heauenly Father in the comforts of thy deere Sonne our Sauiour vpholden still by the mercifull power of the holy Ghost to thine euerlasting praise and glory world without end Amen A Thanks-giuing after the hearing or reading of the word of God O Eternall God and most mercifull Father I yeeld vnto thee most heartie thankes for all thy benefits bestowed vppon mee especially that it hath pleased thy heauenly goodnesse to shine into my heart through the light of thine holy Spirit in the Mysteries of thy holy word and that thou hast framed my heart and mind to take such vnspeakeable ioy and comfort in thy most blessed holy word and the embracing of my saluation therein offered vnto mee For these thine vnspeakable mercies I beseech thee O Lord make mee thankfull that I may acknowledge the great benefit thereof and esteeme of so inestimable a treasure aboue all earthly possessions or treasures And O Lord my God for so much as I wander in this present life among many and infinite dangers whereby I am euery moment in perill of sliding backe and falling from this feruent zeale of thy euerlasting truth which thou hast kindled in my brest if otherwise thou doe not stay mee by thy mercifull hand and for so much as I learne out of thy most blessed and holy word that it is not sufficient to haue begunne well vnlesse I continue to the end not sufficient to hold my hand to the plough and looke backe I craue at thy hands in the name of thy beloued Sonne my Lord and Sauiour Christ that this thy worke which thou hast begun in mee thou wilt in mercy encrease in me more and more and continue it euen to the end of my life that I doe not waxe cold secure dull or faint but continually encreasing in true zeale I may still more and more be delighted with reading hearing and meditating of thy holy word I may thereby also daily encrease in true knowledge of thy blessed will from faith to faith that I may euen from the bottome of my heart so sincerely professe thy true Religion that all hypocrisie vaine-glory and fained holinesse vtterly through thy holy Spirit rooted out of my heart I may onely hold my selfe contented that I may haue the eyes of thy Maiesty beholding my inward heart minde whereby I onely studying to be allowed before thy Maiesty may vtterly reiect all the vaine praise of men which might puffe mee vp or the scoffing iests taunts or reproches of the vngodly which might else driue me downe To this end O Lord my God that I may encrease and daily more and more be confirmed in thy mercies begun in mee I beseech thee stirre vp true sincere Preachers and Messengers who daily may stirre vp my minde and heart otherwise by nature dull to the ioyfull embracing of the glad tidings of peace Leaue mee not destitute O Lord my God of the meanes which thou hast appointed for the encrease of a liuely faith true zeale which meane is onely the Ministery of thy blessed and holy word but make mee alwaies carefull for the seeking of it and so prouide O Lord my God that I may alwaies haue it comfortably receiue it and sweetly digest it Keepe mee by thy holy Spirit O Lord that I neuer be seduced by erronious doctrine but that onely I may giue eare vnto thy voice that cleauing onely vnto thee I may in this present life which thou hast giuen mee so occupy my selfe and vse this good time which thou hast appointed that I may still looke for the comming of thy deere Sonne to receiue mee into the euerlasting rest prepared for all the elect and chosen whereby I shall for euer remaine together with my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with thee the holy Ghost be all honor and glory world without end Amen A Prayer before the receiuing of the Sacrament O Lord Iesus Christ which art the sweete comfort of all that call vpon thee and the sure succour of all such as sue vnto thee behold mee a most sinfull creature and foule offender which bowing the knees of my heart with all humilitie before thee confesse vnfainedly that I am
not worthy to entertaine and receiue thee into my sinfull vncleane house Neuerthelesse most louing Lord which hast said that who so eateth thy flesh drinketh thy blood shall dwell in thee and thou in him haue mercy vppon mee O haue mercy vpon mee most mercifull Sauiour and behold mee most miserable sinner prepared at this present not only to let thee in vnder the roofe of my mouth but also to lodge thee in the house of my heart O bountifull Iesu be my gracious Redeemer and grant that I receiue not the Sacrament of thy body and blood vnworthily purchasing thereby vnto my selfe death and damnation but rather be made through faith in thee a worthy receiuer a meete member of thy blessed body and so by the strength of this heauenly foode may not onely bee enabled to cast away all my former sinnes and most beloued corruptions but may also walke before thee in all constant holines to the making sure of mine election Grant this I beseech thee for thine owne mercy sake Amen A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the Sacrament O Sweete Sauiour which with thy precious salue of compassion curest the foule and filthy sores of our sinnes and prouidest for vs all necessarie preseruatiues against the poyson of the soule-infecting maliciousnes heare I beseech thee the humble supplications of me thy poore seruant which heere present my selfe before thee at this present and grant that this my receiuing of the Sacrament of thy blessed body and blood may be a true testimony vnto my conscience that I haue through faith in thee receiued full remission of all my sinnes and offences past and am now become as it were a new Creature in thy sight I beseech thee likewise grant that casting away all my former workes of wickednesse I may henceforth walke in newnesse of life and godly conuersation bringing forth such fruits of true conuersion as may mooue others by my example to honor praise thy holy name And that running the whole race of my life in dutifull obedience toward thee I may when it shall please thee to thinke meete receiued among the number of thine elect into that euerlasting happinesse where wee shall bee perfect in holinesse Amen A Prayer for Constant perseuerance in praying when wee are dull to prayer O Lord God most mercifull Father according to thy commandement in mine afflictions and necessities I seeke to thee for succor by continuall prayer calling vppon thy Name I call vppon thee in the day time and in the night season doe I poure out my prayers vnto thee and yet for all that I feele mee nothing released but oftentimes worse and worse which maketh me many times deare Father almost to doubt of thy goodnesse that thou dost reiect my Prayers and giuest no heed vnto them whereby I doe almost thinke that it is no boot for me to pray seeing I feele no release but O Lord this is but weaknesse in me and the frailty of flesh which will not willingly bee subdued vnto thy Spirit which my frailty I beseech thee O Lord forgiue me For thou dost O Lord God see my conflicts and lookest vppon my continuall sighes and petitions but thou dost deferre prolong thy helpe the longer dost not at first helpe me to this end that I may see fully mine owne weaknes learne by little and little to subdue my rebellious will to thy good will who knoweth better what is meet for mee then I my selfe Therefore O most deare Father strengthen mee by thy holy Spirit that I may still perseuere and continue in prayer and with longing desires patiently waite for thee O Lord being assured that although it appeare not yet thou art alwaies present with mee and hearest my sighes and complaints and wilt when thou seest thy time declare thy selfe manifestly in the renewing my heart with spirituall ioy stirre vp O Lord my dull sluggish nature to call vpon thee continually appointing thee neyther time nor the meanes of my deliuerance but leauing all to thy good will and pleasure I may in the meane time neuer cease my continuall prayer to call for thy mercifull helpe vntill such time as it shall please thy goodnesse to send mee full deliuerance I feele my selfe O Lord oftentimes very vnwilling to pray for that I doe not fully perceiue my prayers to be heard but doe go on still languishing in my sorrowes as though thou hadst no care of mee But this my dulnesse I beseech thee O mercifull Father pardon in me and grant that I may be raised vppe to pray for aide and releefe of thee continually although I should see no signe of fauour yet that I may continue still with the faithfull Woman of Canaan and neuer cease in heart mind and mouth till thou grant my requests at thine appointed time when thou knowest it shall be most for my behoofe and for thy glory And that when thou shalt mercifully looke vpon mee to deliuer mee I may then fully with my whole heart acknowledge thy goodnesse toward me and let it neuer stirre out of my heart but continue thankfull for the same all the daies of my life whereby thy glorie in mee may be declared and my soule releeued thorough Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for all times O Lord God Father of mercy and God of all consolation without whom wee haue neither hope nor comfort we poore wretched sinners beseech thee of thy Fatherly goodnesse to looke vpon vs and to make vs partakers of thy gracious goodnesse so that euermore wee may set foorth thy honor and glory let our conuersation bee such that a great many beholding our good workes may glorifie thee our heauenly Father and so direct our waies that we may hold forth the profession of thy Gospell as a Lanterne to lighten the steps of a great many that they may turne to the and prayse thy name in their visitation Thus O Lord wee beseech thee to deale with vs that in deed wee may be vessels of honor vnto thee now to set forth the glory of thy name and after this transitorie life to behold thy glory who hast immortallitie alone and dwellest in light that no man hath approched vnto remoue farre from vs our sinnes and iniquities that they may not separate betweene vs and thee blotte out of vs our offences and make our prayers righteous that thou mayest fauourably grant our requests looke vppon vs with thy fauourable mercy that thou mayest haue pittie vppon vs and behold vs in the righteousnesse of thy beloued Sonne Christ Iesus and that wee may be presented faultlesse in thy sight and thou accepting vs as holy we may haue the grace euermore to set forth thine honor and glory and to speake of thy praises in the midst of all thy people Let vs loue O Lord the things that are good and hate the things that are euil let vs delight in all things that may please thee and let vs
we shall at length attaine the hauen Haue mercy vpon me thy poore seruant and vouchsafe mee this grace of hope to establish my wauering spirit that neither things present may discourage me from the hope of a good issue nor things to come may confound mee in the pursuit thereof as being so farre aboue my capacitie so exceeding my desart For I confesse O Lord vnfeignedly before thee by reason of this body of sinne which I carrie about mee I am a stranger from thee as all my Fathers were and in regard of my inward blindnesse cannot see afarre off to the price of the high calling that is set before mee and therefore am subiect to many distractions slauish feares both to diuert or stay mee in my iourney and to disappoint me of the marke which I should hasten too so that I manytimes misse of my way and manytimes am ready to giue ouer in the midst of my race O grant me the refore holy Father to liue by hope in what thou hast promised that I neither may be confounded in any present distresse nor yet may rest in any present comfort whatsoeuer that I may not bee deceiued with the counterfeite thereof nor yet may settle my selfe in any true measure of the same O grant me a liuely hope that I may not feare in death and giue me to apprehend that blessed hope of the appearance of Iesus Christ that I may attaine to the resurrection of the dead And that I may improue my vnfeigned hope in thee alone O strengthen my weake Faith to see more clearly within the vaile that so I may be strong in hope to enioy what yet I see not make me more acquainted with the secrets of thy speciall prouidence that by mine owne experience of thy wonderfull dealing in bringing contraries out of contraries euen light out of darknesse I may hope for the accomplishment of thy promises though neuer so impossible to humaine capacitie Aboue all make more expert the riches of the glorie of that great mystrie euen Christ in mee the hope of glory that so I may not bee weary nor faint in my mind let the ayme of my hope be to see thee who art inuisible and in thee those vnspeakable mercies which as yet I doe not see And grant me blessed Lord an vndaunted and inuincible hope euen to hope aboue hope that no oppositions may confound me Let my hope be patient that I may waite for that I yet enioy not and purifie my hope daily in the expectation of what I shall be that so I may be purged and fitted to the enioying therof season my hope with ioy that I may not quaile in any present troubles and quicken my weake fainting hope with the strong cries and groanes of thy blessed Spirit that I may fasten on the inestimable glory which is laid vpp for mee let the hope of the life to come stablish mee in thy blessed feare and so make mee liuely and diligent in all present occasions enableing me to hold fast the profession of my hope without wauering and to sanctifie my God in giuing a reason of my hope with meeknesse and feare to those which may demaund it And that I may not be disappointed of my hope comfort me O Lord with the sweet and glorious fruits thereof that seeing it is the hope of saluation and eternall life which is surely laid vp for me in the highest heauens grant mee in all occasions to lay hold vpon eternall life that I may not bee ashamed of my hope O let me haue hope euen in death because I haue hope in the resurrection from the dead And let the hope of what I enioy not humble mee daily in the sense of my imperfections which are the cause thereof that so I may daily feare and depart from euill And seeing I am a prisoner of hope O grant mee daily to groane vnder this body of sinne which I carry about me that so I may long for my glorious deliuerance from this body of death and in the hope of this deliuerance cause mee in all my troubles to commit my selfe in well doing into the hands of thee my faithfull Creator that so I may bee keept by thy mighty power through Faith Grant mee these things O God of my hope euen for thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ his sake the hope of mine endlesse glory to whome with thee O righteous Father with God the blessed Spirit the Comforter be ascribed all glory power dominion and thankesgiuing for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for the obtaining and encrease of Loue. HOly Father who out of the boundlesse riches of thy free Grace didst so loue me that thou gauest thine onely Sonne to death for me that being redeemed from the bondage of sinne and snares of destruction I might bee translated from death to life and therefore didst loue me first that I might serue thee in loue and offer vp my self a Free-will Offering gracious and acceptable before thee in all holy obedience and hast hereby assured me that I am beloued of thee if all my workes bee done in loue louing thee for thy selfe and all other things for thy sake Looke graciously vpon me thine vnworthy seruant and shedde thy loue into my heart by thy blessed Spirit that I may loue thee aboue all things and all things in for thee And that I may so loue thee that I may be more vnited vnto thee and fully at the length enioy thee O grant me first to know thee in Iesus Christ the Sonne of thy Loue that so I may know what loue in him thou hast shewed me that when I was dead in sinne thou diddest raise me vppe in him from dead workes that I might serue thee the liuing God in the newnesse of Spirit that so discerning in this liuely Mirrour of thy Loue vnto me mine owne vnworthinesse of thy loue and inability to loue thee againe I may wholly deny my selfe that I may be found of thee in Christ and by his power be enabled to loue thee againe Grant me therefore gracious God to trust perfectly in Iesus Christ that I may feele my selfe to be beloued of thee in him and inflame my hart with the loue of Christ that so in him I may loue thee againe And seeing nothing in me was able to hinder this thy loue in him to me Oh grant me that nothing within me or without me may hinder or separate my Loue from thee And seeing of thine owne free grace thou diddst loue me in him oh grant me for his sake onely to loue thee seeing hee thought nothing no not his precious blood too deere to expres his loue vnto me oh let mee thinke all things base in comparison of my loue vnto him Seing he loued me in deeds not only in words both doing for me what I could not do and suffring for me what I could neuer haue endured oh grant me to loue thee againe not in words but in deeds both dooing
preuailed against my vnworthynesse Thou mightest for my sinnes haue left me to perish in mine extremities but thou hast compassed mee about with ioyfull deliuerance thou mightest haue made my wombe a graue to burie the dead or in affoording life to another thou mightest haue procured my death but yet thou hast not onely made my wombe a wel-spring of life but restored life vnto me also for the cherishing thereof Marueilous O Lord are thy workes infinite are thy mercies my soule by present experience knoweth it well O my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy Name My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits Thou hast heard my prayers and looked vppon my sorrow thou hast redeemed my life from death and healed mine infirmities and crowned mee with thine euerlasting compassions O giue me I humbly pray thee a thankfull heart not onely now while the memorie and sense of thy fauour is fresh before mee but continually euen so long as I haue any being Grant that I may learne by this liuely euidence of thy power and mercy for euer heereafter to depend onely on thee Quicken mee also to all holy duties that my thankfulnesse may appeare in my pure and Christian carriage Make mee a kind and carefull mother willing to vndergoe the paine and trouble of education Let no nicenesse or curiositie hinder mee from those seruices to which both nature and religion hath appointed me let me also be carefull when time requireth to season the fruite thou hast giuen mee with the sauing knowledge of thee and thy deere Sonne that my desire may manifestly appeare to be set for the encrease of thy Kingdome Vouchsafe so to order my affections and to bring them in obedience vnder thee that if it should be thy pleasure either now or heerafter to take this Infant from me I may as willingly part with it as thou freely gaue it me And now O God perfect in mee that strength which thou hast begunne make me to grow in care to serue thee faithfully both in the duties of pietie and in other businesse of my place and calling that I may bee a comfort to my husband and example to my neighbours a grace to my profession and a meanes of glorie to thy Name through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for those who are employed in the assistance of a trauailing woman HOly Father who hast commanded vs to serue one another in loue and hast made this the triall of our true loue vnto thee and our neighbour that wee helpe them in the time of need Be present we pray with vs â—y thy gracious Spirit to seale vp the pardon of our sinnes that they hinder vs not in this businesse and to assist vs with such conscience and diligence that our labour may not bee in vaine Wee confesse O Lord that wee are not worthy of â—ny gâ—â—d for our selues much lesse that wee should smother the good of others neither that any labour of ours can further thy good without thy speciall Grace enabling vs therein and accepting the same Accept vs therefore wee pray thee in the blood of thy Son shed thy loue into our hearts by thine holy Spirit that all our labour may be done in loue In loue to thy Maiesty who enablest vs to all good and in loue to our Christian Sister especially to her soule And therefore keepe vs wee pray thee from all idle sauours and superstitious conceits as auaileable heereunto from all rotten and vnsauoury speech which may interrupt the worke and teach vs to seeke helpe onely from thy Grace vsing al gracious communication both among our selues and to the comfort of the distressed that shee may only depend vpon thy mighty power applying all diligence and wisedome in affoording seasonable helpe for the easing of the paine or furthering of the birth Furnish vs with skill and her with strength patiently to awaite the appointed time of her deliuerance and knit all our hearts vnto thee that wee may feare thy Name obseruing the passages of thy prouidence in this and all other thy great workes and studying to giue thee praise and glory for the same in Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A thankesgiuing vpon the blessing of their labour in the Deliuerance HOly Father who hast reuealed thy selfe in thy word to bee a God that hearest prayer and hast now made good this promise vnto vs thine vnworthy seruants in hearing our prayers in the behalfe of this distressed woman Giue vs hearts we humbly pray thee to conceiue wisely of this thy great kindnesse and open our mouths we beseech thee that wee declare this thy goodnesse for the comfort of others that by this liuely example we may beleeue in thy great Name What hast thou not done heerein O Lord euen aboundantly aboue what wee could thinke or aske And what can we repay vnto thee worthy of so great saluation Wee confesse our selues vnworthy to aske much lesse to obtain for our selues yet behold thou hast heard our cries and releeued this thy desolate seruant It is not enough that thou hast giuen ease and deliuerance to the Mother vnlesse also thou didst liue to her Babe that so in it her life might bee againe receiued yea thou hast made our cup to run ouer with ioy and gladnesse who were almost ouerwhelmed with sorrow and dispaire Thine O Lord bee the onely glorie and praise heereof O fill our hearts with thankefulnesse that our reioycing may bee in trueth and humble vs vnfeignedly in the consciences of our owne vnworthinesse that we may giue thee the onely glory of all thy mercies Let our humility appeare in seruing each other in loue and let our loue bee manifest in prouoking each other to trust in thee alone for the time to come let our confidence in this prepare vs to this or the like occasion that so we may finde a gracious issue in our greatest extremities And let our experience of thy good hand heerein weane vs from the loue of the world wherin wee are like continually to meet with what will oppose or ensnare vs and prouoke vs to long for our dissolution when all teares shall be wiped from our eyes And let our desire to bee with thee make vs alwaies ready for thee in all sobriety modesty humility patience and perseuerance that so wee may bee found faithfull when our Maister commeth And that wee may bee found in peace at his glorious appearance O grant vs daily to deny our selues that still wee may bee found of thee in the righteousnes of our Sauiour may by the power thereof be daily accepted of thee by the efficacie of the same may bee more and more conformed to thine holy Image and so may at length be fully satisfied therewith And as thou hast now added one vnto the number of mankinde shewing thy wisedome and power in the framing of him in the wombe in bringing him
might dayly grow vp in Christ to perfect holines therfore though corruption remaine in mee yet seeing it doth not raigne in mee here is my comfort that I am not vnder the Law but vnder Grace though I am sometimes as no better then lost in my selfe yet this is that I may still deny mine owne righteousnesse that I may be found of thee in Christ for the concerning of present corruption for the auesting of my person in him to bee enabled thereby to perfect holinesse Onely gracious God grant mee heere I pray thee still to iustifie thy wisedome in condemning mine owne folly and to aduance thy free and constant grace in the acknowledging of mine owne corruptions True it is holie Father that as thou madest man righteous at the first but he sought many inuentions to his owne ouerthrow so didst thou so restore me againe by thy power of Christ vnto a more durable state of holinesse that neither shall I euer fall away from thee finally neither though thou hast left corruption in mee yet seeing thy end heerein was to make mee still deny my selfe that I might stand fast in Christ in whom thou hast ingrafted mee therfore neither might I haue falne at al into such feareful distraction if I had kept me close vnto my hold neither though I haue fallen by letting goe my hold yet shall not my falling make thy truth without effect nay rather shall proue a meanes to make good the same And therefore I doe heere vnfainedly acknowledge before thee blessed Lord mine owne folly in letting goe my hold thou hast not beene wanting with all meanes to preserue me vpright but I haue beene wanting to the meanes and so I haue beene wanting vnto thee and to my selfe thou hast willed mee to liue by faith euen when I haue feeling of thy loue and my inward pride hath peruerted thy gracious feeling to make mee liue by sence and behold the Sunne when it shineth and so by peruerting the comfort of thy Spirit as an occasion to the flesh I haue iustly greiued thy Spirit and so thou with drewest thy face from mee and I haue beene troubled Troubled in my soule for the losse of thy fauour troubled of the world by seeking false remedies there from troubled in my Spiâ—it by the confusion of those remedies as breeding some times hardnesse of heart and so bringing forth troubles by exposing to outward euils and hindering in the vse of spirituall remedies sometimes herevpon breeding further trouble and inward horror and anguish of spirit many times laying the axe to the very roote challenging the maine And yet in all this farre lesse then I haue deserued that so I might haue hope in thy free grace for my recouerie And in all this aduancing thy righteousnesse in abasing my folly that so I might still renounce mine owne righteousnesse and labour to bee found in Christ for my recouery and perfection Onely keepe me here holy Father from presumptuous sinne that it may not haue dominion ouer me to turne thy grace into wantonnesse and then lead mee into thy priuy Chamber stay me with thy flaggons that I may not onely not sleepe in death but also awake and sing out of the dust and out of the deepe to admire thine infinite wisdome and to see thee who art inuisible that I may bee raised vp againe O giue me therefore most mighty Lord to condemme mine owne folly for being wise in mine owne eies in turning thy fauour as an occasion to the flesh grant mee to thanke my selfe that of the flesh I haue reaped such confusion and giue thee thankes the more thou hast sustained mee in the graue Grant me out of experience of mine owne foolishnesse to giue thee the glory of thy free goodnesse and out of the experience of thy power in my weaknesse to comfort my selfe that thou wilt returne againe And that thou maist vndoubtedly returne with speed O strengthen my weake faith I humbly pray thee with thy precious promises that thy foundation stands sure whatsoeuer my building may be thou knowest who are thine O let it comfort my fainting spirit that all things shall worke together for the best to those whome thou hast chosen that so I may wisely compare one thing with another things past with things present by those things to come that so I may liue by faith in the iudging of my present estate by looking behind and before and not be cast off my hold either by present temptations or future feares O establish me with thy precious promise that thou wilt keepe me to the end that so I may liue by faith in casting my selfe vppon thy mighty power and committing my selfe in weldoing into thine holy hands Teach mee to deny mine owne wisedome that I may trust perfectly in thy mercy and grant me in things to rely vppon the wisedome of thy word which is able to make mee wise and perfect to saluation Let thy word keepe me in all my waies that I may not decline to the right hand or to the left and let my supplications be alwaies manifest at the throne of grace that so I may be carefull for nothing O let me not in any case greiue thine holy Spirit any more but grant mee to entertaine and cherrish the motions therof by turning them into feruent prayers and conscioaÌ„ble practices seasonable to the occasion weane mee from the loue of the world that I may haue fellowship in thy loue and purge my heart from secret wickednesse that it bee not stolne away from thee keepe mee alwaies close vnto thee that I may not fall into open wickednesse and giue mee grace alwaies to remember my end that I may be still prepared against the comming of my Maister Sauiour Iesus Christ And so still accept me gracious Father as I am in him and not in my selfe as I would be in thee and not what I am in corruption as I shall be with thee not what I am in this present world enabling me still to desire aboue what I can do and to beleeue aboue what I can thinke or desire and so lead mee forward by thy power through the vally of teares that though I somtimes slippe yet I may vp againe though I stray a while yet I may thereby mend my pace follow close after the marke not looking on my selfe mine owne worth or inability but still looking vnto Iesus the Authour and finisher of my faith that so I may in him bee more then Conqueorr and so fighting still the good fight of faith I may finish my course with ioy and lay hold of eternall life in due season And so fil me O God of grace with all ioy in beleeuing that so I may liue by faith that I may bee readier to die in faith and to giue vp my soule by faith into thy holy hands apprehending by faith the Resurrection from the dead that so I may bee translated from death to life
and enioy for euer thy glorious presence Grant these things O Gracious Lord according to thy goodnesse in Iesus Christ my Sauiour and blessed Redeemer Amen A Prayer for obtaining Triall and cherishing of the holy Spirit of God GLorious and euerlasting Lord God Father of all Spirits and soules of the righteous who hast reuealed thy selfe in thy sacred word to be a Spirit holy and incomprehensible eternall infinite immortall all-sufficient and therefore wilt be worshipped in Spirit and truth And hast in the riches of thy mercy promised to send thy holy Spirit the Comforter into our hearts to lead vs into all truth and to comfort vs in all our tribulations and so to seale vs vp to the day of Redemption Looke downe graciously vppon mee thy poore and forlorne seruant whose poâ—tion is in this valley of miserie to wander in darknesse and walke many times in the valley of the shadow of death altogether ignorant of my way and so subiect to continuall error and wholy destitute of all direction therein and so necessarily exposed to continuall danger For mine owne heart within me is no better then a guide to betray me to error and the glory of the world is nought else then a baite to deceiue me either by clogging mee in the way that I may faint in my iourney or diuerting mee from my right home that I may set vp my rest in mine Inne or build my foundation vpon the sands And mine old aduersarie still compasseth and watcheth all opportunities from both either to sinke mee with dispaire that I may perish in the way or to swell me with presumption that I may not enter into the straight gate And euen so did it fare with me Blessed Lord all the daies of my vanity before I knew thee in Christ As mine owne heart misled mee into all error through my wilfull ignorance so it betrayed mee hereby to all occasions of sinne without which I swallowed more greedily then my appointed food and blessed my soule therein as my cheefest happines and so was faster bound in the chaynes of Sathan as being led captiue at his will to euery lust and reioycing therin as my greatest liberty And so also hath it in part befalne mee since my liberty in Christ by whome though I receiued the free Spirit to lead mee in the way of thy statutes and so haue somtimes obeyed the motions thereof to the euidencing of my glorious libertie yet such hath beene the power of my corruption preuailing ouer mee that I haue many times greeued thy good Spirit by my manifold back-slidings and to my sense and apprehension seemed vtterly to haue quenched the same so strong haue I found my corruption to lead mee captiue into many desperate euils so little life and comfort haue I found in prayer hearing thy word especially in my endeauour to repentance either to resist temptations or release my selfe out of the snares thereof And yet thou hast promised that thy Spirit shall abide with mee for euer and still methought in my greatest wandrings on the right hand and on the left methought I heard the voyce of thy Spirit behind me saying This is the way walke in it Me thouhgt I haue heard the voyce of my beloued many times knocking at the doore of my heart when I haue beene asleepe in the bed of my securitie saying Open vnto mee my Loue my Doue my vndefiled yea I haue felt him puting in his finger at the hole of the doore to open it for mee that so I might arise and let him in And haue I not many times arose to entertaine him and loe he was gone Did I not follow after him to seeke him and yet found him not Haue I not many times smarted soundly for my folly because I would not open betimes Haue not the watch-men that should haue cherished mee wounded me iustly for my carelesnesse Haue they not pluckt away my vaile to discouer my nakednesse the more that so my face being couered with shame I might seeke thy face more humbly And yet O my God I am still to seeke of thee though thou still callest on mee to seeke thy face and my heart in some poore measure answereth Thy face Lord will I seeke Yet what fellowship can there be betweene light and darknesse what hope haue I to find thee seeing I want my guide vnto thee yet thou art not wanting vnto mee to tender this holy guide and my guide is not farre from me though I know it not yea thou art euer with me to keepe mee from vtter fainting and thine holy Spirit is within mee helping me to crie vnto thee O harken therefore I humbly pray thee vnto the groanes of thine owne Spirit and haue mercy vppon thine owne seruant for greeuing the same Restore to mee the ioy of thy saluation that I may discerne the seale of thy Spirit and establish mee with thy free Spirit that I may euer bee with thee O make mee wise to trie the Spirits whether they bee of God or no that neither I may be deluded by a Spirit of error and withall may be able to discerne the worke and euidence of thine holy Spirit from the motions and testimonie of mine owne ignorant and dâ—ceitfull heart Grant me therefore Gracious Father to plead mine interest in thy Spirit by such true meanes and endeauors as may vndoubtedly auouch it to proceed from thee and may apparantly conuince that it dwelleth in me Giue mee to discerne the means wherby thy Spirit is conuayed vnto mee that after I haue heard thy word and beleeued therein then I haue beene sealed with the Spirit of promise grant mee to discerne the maner how it tooke possession of mine heart that to make way for it fit habittation it cast downe euery Imagination that enabled it selfe against thy wisedome that it onely might rule and gouerne mee Spiritually and that withall thereby my house was swept and cleansed from the Dominion of sinne that Iesus Christ thereby might wholy gouerne mee And grant mee to auouch the truth of thy Spirit dwelling in me not somuch by my entertainment and apprehension thereof because it bloweth where it lifteth and though I may heare the sound thereof yet I know not whence it comes nor whether it goes but rather by the nature and qualitie of thy Spirit which will leaue it true stampe in my receiued Spirit in euery qualitie thereof for the assuring my possession thereof by resemblance therto though yet surely and absolutely according to the Nature of the Spirit neither working it at all times alike nor at any time in full measure but still working according to the capacitie of the vessell and the maine end the glorie of God that still it power may bee seene in my weaknesse that the glorie may be of God and not of Man And therefore as I may not challenge a right in thy Spirit vnlesse I find some liuely resemblance and effects of it holy nature in mee as to be