and to shewe vs those wayes whiche thou hast appointed vs to walke in And as thou renuest this morning so renue thy mercies and as thou causest the Sunne comfortably to shine to our bodily eyes so vouchesafe we pray thee to be Sun vnto our bodies and to our soules by the beames of thy holy Spirit and Starr of thy blessed Word shining into the middes of our hartes to driue away all the night and darkenesse of all prophanenesse to chace away all want of true feare of thy good Maiestie and in place thereof bring in loue towardes thy Glorie zeale of thy House loue also towardes our brethren especially those that thou aboue the rest commendest vnto vs that we may loue them with that loue wherewithall thou haste first loued vs whiche is pure vncorrupt vehement and euerlasting and therefore wee pray thee to ridde our hartes of al naughtie and corrupt loue and whatsoeuer is vnmeete to be in those vessels that are to serue such a mightie Prince as thou art and in those houses wherein it pleaseth thy Maiestie by thy holy Spirite to dwel and therefore on the other side good Lord chace away from vs all rancor and malice all pride enuiousnesse disdainefulnesse vncharitablenesse vnnaturalnesse vnkindnesse and whatsoeuer is contrarie to that loue whereof thou hast giuen vs a liuely example in our sauiour Iesus Christ vnto the which example graūt good Lorde that we may alwayes haue our eyes lifted vppe and therein holden and caused thereby to profite vntil suche time as we come to that perfection whereunto thou haste appointed we shall come Vouchsafe moreouer by the comming of the selfe same Spirite to scatter in vs al the night darkenesse of ignorance and forgetfulnesse and of all those thinges whiche perteine to the clearer and fuller knowledge of thy trueth Take from vs all negligence all want of iudgement and discretion and deliuer vs from all those thinges whiche thou knowest to be hinderaunces to vs either to walke in that greate calling of Christianitie whereunto thou hast called vs or in those seuerall and particular callinges wherein thou hast placed euery one of vs that we may walke so good Lorde bothe in the one and in the other that thy Name may bee glorified in bothe Amen Euening prayer O Lord prepare our hartes to praye bow downe thine eares deere Father and heare vs open thine eyes and looke vpon vs for thy deere Sonne Iesus Christes sake and receiue our humble confession that we make to the against our selues whiche haue broken al thy lawes and therefore deserue to haue thy heauie iudgements powred vppon our heades to our vtter destruction if thou shouldest enter into iudgement with the least of our sinnes whereof we haue so greate and infinite thousands notwithstanding we pray thee to turne away thy face from our sinnes and for Iesus Christes sake to forgiue vs all that is past and graunt that we may haue the assurance of the forgiuenesse of our sinns sealed vp by thy Holy Spirite in our consciences wherby we knowing that we are at one with thee may haue our hartes kindled with thy loue so feruently as it may waste in vs all that is against thy holy Will. And for this cause we beseech thee Lord to goe forwarde with the worke of our new byrthe that thou hast begunne in vs and neuer take away thy hand vntill suche time as thou hast made an end of it and to this ende we beseeche thee to slay in vs euery day more and more the olde man with his concupiscences nailing them to the crosse of thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ and causing vs to feele the power of his Passion in our bodies and in our soules that we beeing partakers thereof may come also to the felowshippe of his holy Resurrection not only in that we shal once appeare before thee hauing these our base bodies chaunged and made like vnto his Glorious bodie but also that we may in the meane time rise from the deathe of sinne to all newnesse of life and that our good workes may so shine before men that they seeing them may glorifie thee our Heauenly Father not onely they that are of the selfe same religion with vs but those also that are enimies vnto thy trueth may rather in the time of their calling by the voice of thy Gospel yeelde themselues to be one sheepefolde with vs And we most hūbly thanke thee O Heauenly Father for all thy louing kindenesses bestowed vppon vs from time to time and especially for that olde and auncient Loue wherewithall thou haste loued vs before the beginning of the worlde for that also that thou calling vs by the voice of thy holy Gospell in that good time that thou appointedst for vs hast giuen vs faith hope ▪ loue and all other graces which thou knowest to be needefull for vs whiche we beseeche thee to increase in vs with mightie increases according to that thou seest we haue neede of hauing regarde to our manifolde enimies that we haue to wrestle with and that we haue not to striue with flesh and bloud but against the diuels themselues And therfore considering their strength and our weaknesse their craft and our simplicitie their watchfulnesse and our sluggishnesse their long experience our rawnesse their preparation and our nakednesse that we haue not only nothing to helpe vs but also do carrie about vs our own cōcupiscences readie to betray vs into the handes of our enimies it may please thee to furnishe vs from aboue giuing vs the strength of thy holy Spirite in the inner man reaching vnto vs the compleate harnesse of thy Grace wherewith we being armed on bothe sides may be prepared at all assayes againste all assaultes of our enimies And for as muche as in this weakenesse we oftentimes giue backe and sometimes runne away we pray thee O Lorde that with the hande of Faith we may lay holde on the victorie of our Sauiour Iesus Christ that albeit wee be not able to ouercome in our owne persons yet notwithstanding we may ouercome in His who hathe ouercommed for vs all and so be partakers of those promises that thou hast knit vnto that glorious victorie And we moste humbly thanke thee also for those graces both of the bodie soule which perteine to this present life desiring thee to increase them vpon vs and in vs so farre forth as thou seest we haue neede of to thy Glorie the commoditie of others and our owne comfortes therefore we beseeche thee Lorde to teache vs with thy holy Spirite the lawful vse of them that thou wouldest not suffer our hartes to be rooted in them but that at all times we may be willing to parte from them And whensoeuer it shal please thee to cal for vs we may willingly goe vnto thee as children to their deere Fathers straungers vnto their owne Countrie and members of the bodie vnto their Heade and so muche the gladder by howe muche thou Lorde
¶ Maister D. his councell to all that are his as also a briefe lesson for all estates KEepe counsell Vse not manye wordes Tell the truth Be slow to speake Brydle thine anger Appease debate Hinder no mans good name Take heede of drinke Remember thy ende Be mercifull Trie before thou trust Repose no confidence in a reconciled aduersarie Sorowe not for that which can not be got agayne Reioyce not in thy neyghbours crosse Striue not with thy ouer match Reueale not thy secretes to thy wife nor to thy children for women and children say all they know Three things vndid the Romanes reigne priuie grudge yong heaves and priuate gayne Beare with others as thou would haue others heare with thee Be not to rashe hasty bolde nor wyse in thine owne conceyte Doe not speake all thou knowest Doe not beleeue all thou hearest Doe not doe all thou canst Doe not say all thou seest Beholde the ende ere thou beginne Haue mynde on death and feare to sinne For death shall reape that lyfe hath sovvne And lyfe shall spring vvhere death hath movvne If thou by God arte set on hie Remember yet that thou shalt die Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the Soule Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the Mynde Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the and bodie If thou flie ydlenesse Cupid hath no might His Bowe lyeth broken his fire hath no light FEARE GOD And keepe his Commaundements GODLY priuate prayers for housholders to meditate vpon and to say in their families MARK 11.24 ¶ What so euer ye desire when ye praye beleeue that ye shall haue it and it shall bee done vnto you ROM 10.13 ¶ Whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lorde shall bee saued Psal. 55. verse 16. ¶ I will call vnto God and the Lorde will saue me Euening and morning and at noone will I pray and make a noise and he wil heare my voyce ¶ Godly priuate prayers for housholders to be saide in their Families A prayer conteyning the effect of the Housholders Catechisme ALmightie God and most mercifull Father I see in thy blessed lawes and commaundementes the greatnesse of my sinnes and wickednesse yea I see O Lord my god the whole course of my life to be almost nothing els but a continuall breaking of thy holy lawes and commaūdements The thoughts of my harte either in vanitie or els open wickednesse are in number infinite daily in the aboundance of them causing my mouth to speake my body to execute and do contrary to thy holy will. And againe O Lord I see thy heauie wrath vengeāce and iudgment against sinne to be intollerable that euen the least wicked thought and most secreat cogitation of my harte procureth thy heauy wrath and euerlasting curse the tormente of hell and euerlasting fire euen although I had but once in all my life broke any of thy commaundements so much as once in thought And I know O Lord God that thou art true and iust canst not abide sinne and wickednesse but wilt iustly punish euerie sinne euen with the selfe same tormentes of hell whiche thy iustice hath appointed euen for euery sinne This O Lord my God throweth me downe and euen amaseth me so that I knowe not what to do I looke into my selfe vewing mine owne power whither I am able to ouercome this punishment of my sinne or no and I see that al euē the most exquisite punishment which I can deuise to my selfe in whipping of my body as long as I liue wearing haire cloth pineing my selfe with fasting or any other paine I see I see O Lorde that all this punishmēt 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 Sainte nor Angel able to abide and ouercome this punishment of sinne I looke to men in this worlde euen to the Popes treasure that wicked man of sinne and I see that neither his masse nor purgatory pilgrimage pardons penance satisfactions nor any of suche like wicked stuffe alas I see they are nothing for the satisfying for one of my least wicked thoughts seeing the punishmente is by thy iuste decree and sentence thine euerlasting cursse Wherefore I am driuen out from my selfe and all that I can do to seeke this punishmente discharged other where or else to quall vnder the burthen I see there is no healpe for me in Angels Saintes nor mortall men but onelie in that perfecte man Christe Iesus thy deere sonne in whome I see the full punishment of my sinne wholy payd satisfied discharged and ouercome death vanquished the paines of hel in victorie swalowed vp the curse satisfied and the eternitie of the punishmente through his euerlasting power ouerreachead This I see O Lord by the eyes of faith being through thy holy spirite wholy assured that all the whole punishment of sinne payd by my Sauiour Christ is not onely payd for other men but euen also for me and my sinne This assurance of my faith being thine onely woork in me I beseech thee in mercy to strengthen increase for I feele it often ful of wauering doubting Graunt that I may daily more and more in my soule and conscience feele my selfe knit and grafted into the body of thy sonne whereby I may be assured that whatsoeuer He hath done pertaineth to mee and is fully wholy mine that I may through the power of his death feele daily sinne die in me and thorough the power of his resurrection feele my selfe risen from sinne to haue my full ioy and comforte in those things which be agreeable to thy holy wil vtterly detesting hating and abhorring from my hearte althinges which be contrarie to thy will and pleasure that euen in this life I may still looke for this endlesse ioy and felicitie vsing the thinges of this worlde as though I vsed them not till that good time that it shall please thee to call mee to thine euerlasting Kingdome of Glorie there to reigne with my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ for euer and euer Amen A prayer vppon the Lordes prayer O Moste mighty Lorde and eternall God who hast by thy deere sonne Christe Iesu our Lord and Sauiour reconciled vnto thy selfe all things in heauen and earth and in him haste made an euerlasting bond and couenaunte with vs thy faithfull children that thou wilt not onely be our God but also our moste louing and mercifull Father whereof as a pledge thou hast giuen vs thy holy Spirite of adoption whereby wee may with boldenesse and ful trust and cōfidence come to thee by harty praier as vnto our moste louing and mercifull Father being assured that thou wilt not deny vs any thing which thou knowest shal be expediēt for vs graunt we beseech thee deare Father that wee being fully persuaded in our harts of this thy fatherly loue and affection towards vs may be sturred
contente with that estate of life which it pleaseth thy goodnesse to excercise vs withal in this world whither it be in aduersitie or prosperitie in sicknesse or health in ignominie or glorie in quietnesse or trouble in sorrow or gladnesse Graūt vs deere Father this willing and patiente minde that euen in our greatest distresse wee may be content with thy good will and not to murmur or grudge againste thy Maiestie knowing that thou wilte lay nothing vppon vs but that whiche shall turne to our goodnesse or profite And that wee may patiently abide whatsoeuer it shall please thee to lay vppon vs that we be assured in our heartes that thou wilt not lay more vnto vs then thou wilte giue vs strength to beare and euen in our greatest afflictions wilte finde a way for our deliuerance and that thy power and strength is more fully declared when wee feele our selues vtterly voyde of all strength and see no way of deliueraunce that we may in our most grieuous assaults conflicts and anguishe of minde submitte our selues wholy to thy blessed will and looke for our deliueraunce at thy hand when thou knowest it shal be moste expedient for vs and most for thy glorie leauing the time and meane of deliueraunce to thy good Will and pleasure and that in the meane time wee neuer cease but call vppon thee by hearty prayers continually as thou haste commanded vntill suche time as thou shalt heare our petitions And although after many and sundry callinges vppon thee thou seeme not to regarde vs but rather deale more extreamely with vs yet notwithstāding strengthen vs so with perseuerance in prayer that we faint not but stil continue in praier being assured that although we feele our selues nothing released yet wee may quiet our selues herein that wee as thy children haue layd our complaints griefes and sorrowes in the bosome of thee our heauenly Father who wilt as a louing Father whē he seeth it moste conuenient healpe vs And that although thou seeme nothing to graunte our requestes yet wee honour thee in calling vppon thy Name seeing thou doeste accepte it as a moste chiefe honour to bee called vppon in the day of trouble And forasmuche deere Father as thou doeste by thy mighty power nourish feede sustaine preserue and maintaine all liuing creatures yea euen the verie yong fowles and beastes wee beseech thee to sende vnto vs thy children ouer whome thou haste a more speciall care all thinges necessarie for this our present life that wee hauing sufficient may walke euery one in our calling in sinceritie pure holinesse before thy face acknowledging all our benefits of richesse wealth health meate drink apparell and all our substance to bee thy mere gifts bestowed vppon vs and deliuered vnto vs from thy handes that wee bee not drawen from thee through setting our mindes to muche vppon them but so moderately vse them as thy benefites for a time bestowed vppon vs knowing that thou wilte at our handes require an accompte howe wee haue vsed them That wee do not carefully gape or seeke after them but discretely to thy glorie vse them acknowledging in them thy goodnesse liberalitie towardes vs And seeing moste mercifull Father that it is not our trauaile labour paines studie or endeuour whiche is able to gette vs our liuing but onely in so muche as it pleaseth thy goodnesse to blesse and prosper them wee beseeche thee that if through our greate trauailes and paines we be yet still in poore and meane estate that thou wilte giue vs a contented hearte knowing that thereby thou letteste vs vnderstande that it is thy good will and pleasure so to keepe vs vnder that wee more effectually may giue our selues to serue thee Or if it bee thy wil and pleasure more aboundantly to blesse vs and our trauaile to sende vs aboundaunce of all thinges wee beseech thee deere Father giue vs a thankefull hearte to acknowledge them to bee thy good gifts and frame our hearts with such liberalitie that we may be contented to distribute them according to the necessitie of thy children beeing assured that thou haste to that end made vs Stewards ouer them that thou mayest at his handes require muche on whome thou haste bestowed muche so that wee hauing the due estimation of thy benefites whiche wee oughte to haue may both reuerence thy goodnesse in thy benefites and supply the want of our brethren to the reliefe of their necessitie and furtheraunce of thy Glory And whereas moste mercifull Father thy Sonne our Lorde and Sauiour Christe Iesus hath in our nature payed the raunsome and debte of all our sinnes whiche wee haue from the beginning of our life committed and do daily committe we beseeche thy gratious goodnesse that thou wilte by thy holy Spirite in our hearts assure our soules and consciences with a liuely faith that by that same one alone sufficient sacrifice the punishment of our sinnes is payed thy wrath appeased and thy iustice satisfied whereby our consciences may be quieted and set at peace with thee our mercifull Father and god Let vs deere father feele in our soules and consciences that wee are vnited and knitte to thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ and made one body with him and heires with him of euerlasting glorie so coupled and ioyned with him that wee are members of his body so that what so euer he hath done in his body we may be assured that it is ours that his righteousnesse is our righteousnesse his sanctification and holinesse is ours the cursse condemnation and death which he suffered is the same cursse condemnation and death due for our sinnes that wee knowing that our sinnes bee done away and cleane forgotten and forgiuen by thy mercifull loue goodnesse declared in offering vp thy sonne to death for vs wee may be driuen to loue thee vnfaynedly from the bottome of our heartes for this thine vnspeakable loue And considering that thou haste in mercy pardoned so many our hainous offences wee may gladly be moued to forgiue one another their offences and put out of our hart al rancour malice and hatred towarde our brethren knowing that wee are all members of one body Christe our Sauiour that so surely as wee haue forgiuen al them that offend against vs wee may be so certainely assured that thou our mercifull Father haste forgiuen vs like as we haue forgiuen our brethren And forasmuche moste heauenly Father as wee of our selues be feeble fraile and weake and haue a strong and subtile aduersarie satan the diuel who goeth aboute continually like a roaring Lion seeking whome he may deuour wee beseeche thee strengthen vs by thy holy spirit that we may withstande his subtile suggestions and motions holde thou vs by thy mercifull hand and keepe vs alwaies in thy safegarde and protection that wee bee not ouercome in the mighty assaultes of our aduersarie And forasmuche as he often vseth euen our owne fleshe armed againste vs to conquer vs wee beseech thee
holy word wee are commanded in our prayers not onely to be mindefull of our selues but also of all others thy children yea euen of our enimies wee commend vnto thy Maiestie all thy whole true and catholike Churche and euery member thereof that as it hath pleased thy goodnesse by the brighte beames of thy holy woorde to shine ouer the whole worlde whereby thou haste expelled driuen away and caused to vanishe the darke and mistie cloudes of ignorance and superstition so thou wouldest vouchsafe by thy holy spirite to touche the heartes of men that they may ioy fully embrace that thine so high a treasure sente amongest vs that through our vnthankfulnesse we prouoke not thy Maiestie in anger to take it from vs Crush bruse and destroy with the breath of thy mouth the mightie power of that man of sinne whiche so proudly exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called god Let not thy simple flocke deere Father in whose consciences he of long time hath and yet doth sitte as GOD bee any longer poysoned with his sweete enticeing poysons but so lighten their heartes that they may perceiue his iuglynges and embrace the sweete 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 powre downe the sweete showers of thy Heauenly Graces vppon this our Englishe nation aboundantly in more plentifull wise watering the same with the giftes of thy holy Spirite in promoting thy Gospell and ouerthrowing idolatrie wee beseech thee continue thy fauour towarde the same and vtterly roote out all remnantes reliques and monumentes of idolatrie that thy Glorious Name may be throughly exalted in sincere pure and holy worshippe And as thou haste in mercy from amongst vs in this thy Churche vtterly banished all false venemous and poysonfull doctrine wherewith the soules of thy Children heretofore haue bene wounded to death and in place thereof haste placed the true and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting wherewith the soules of thy children bee fedde and nourished to euerlasting ioy so in like mercy and fauour wee beseeche thee deere Father establish in the same thy Church a true perfecte and sincere regiment thereof according to the prescripte rule of thy blessed woord all fantasies of mans braine and dreames of humaine policie vtterly abolished that thy glorious Maiestie onely may bee exalted in the lighte of thy glorious Gospel that thy Church may flourishe and increase beeing through thy protection ayded supported maintained and defended we beseech the by thy holy spirit guide rule euery part member therof especially thy seruant ELIZABETH our Queene whome thy gratious fauour and mercifull prouidence hath appointed a chiefe member in the same vnder whose winges next vnto thy protection it hath a chiefe succour and supporte Graunte vnto her O Lorde a pure and perfecte Zeale aboue all thinges to promote thy Glorie first and chiefly in labouring and endeuouring of her selfe earnestly in wiping away and purging out of thy Churche all blots and deformities to reduce the same to a pure and sincere fourme of worshippe agreeing to thy blessed woorde vtterly to remoue all stumbling blockes which stay and hinder the course of thy Gospel giue her in like manner O Lorde the spirite of wisedome discretion and gouernement that with equitie and iustice shee may see this whole Realme which thou hast committed to her charge peaceably and quietly gouerned that shee may studiously labour that as wel thorough the whole Realme vertue be exalted vice abandoned as especially in her owne house and court that all wicked vanities of this worlde al licentious and inordinate life all flattering and dissimulation beeing vtterly banished the feare of thy Glorious Maiestie may so reigne in the heartes of all within her palace and courte that their liues and conuersation may bee agreeable to thy blessed wil in sinceritie and true holinesse and integritie of life that from them as from the heade may shine puritie of life and conuersation as an example and patterne of true Godlinesse to the whole Realme Preserue her we beseech thee good Lorde from all conspiracies and treasons that if it bee thy good wil she may haue a long and quiet reigne ouer vs to the benefite of thy Churche and the aduauncement of thy glorie Indue the whole counsel good Lord with true and perfect wisedome that in all their consultations and counsels hauing thee present before their eyes they may consulte of those thinges which principally and chiefely may be for the aduancemēt of thy glorie the cōmoditie of thy churche and next for the quiet peace and gracious gouernment of this realme So lighten al inferiour Magistrates of this Realme good Lorde with the brightnesse of thy holy Spirit that vnderstanding thy wil they may zealously defend mainteine and further the course of the Gospel with the sword of iustice cut off the wicked and cherish the godly Defende and gouerne by thy holy Spirite the Pastours of thy Churche and labourers in thy vineyard that they may zealously earnestly and diligently feede thy flocke committed vnto them with the foode of life thy blessed word wherewith their soules may be nourished to Life Euerlasting Increase the number of them deere Father place ouer euery flocke a godly learned paineful Pastor who may painfully and carefully trauail euery one in his charge to bring thy people which nowe alas in moste partes do wander and go astray like loste sheepe to the true knowledge of thee their Lord and God and of thy deare sonne Christe Iesu their Sauiour And for thy mercie we beseeche thee to take pitie vpon thy poore and simple flocke roote out all rauening wolues which haue craftily crept into thy sheepefolde and do make hauocke of the soules of thy simple flock Cast out al hirelings time seruers dumb dogs which to fill their bellies only haue thrust themselues among thy sheep do pitifully suffer the flock of Christ thy sonne to be deuowred and scattered of the woolfe Stirre vp good Lord and place in their roomes faithfull sheepheardes which diligently painefully carefully and earnestly may labour in thy vineyard seeke to winne the soules of thy people out of the tyrannie and power of satan to the freedome of thy deere sonne Christ Iesu our Lorde And that thy Churche may better be furnished with Godly learned Pastours we beseeche thee prosper and increase in all Godly knowledge all Schooles of learning especially the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxforde Graunt deere Father vnto al the students of the same that the chiefe ende of all their studies may be to the furtheraunce of thy Churche and maintenance of the common wealthe Blesse their studies deere Father that all vaine studies set aside they may so fructifie and profite in all profitable godly sciences that hereafter they may become profitable members in thy church godly vpholders of the cōmon wealth Grant good Lord to al the whole
and all our life long being assured that thou wilt once call vs to yeelde an account of our stewardshippe indue vs we beseeche thee with those gifts and graces which be needeful for vs in our calling that with a pure and sincere conscience we may vse them to the benefite of our brethren and discharge of our owne consciences beefore thy Maiesty We beseech thee O Lord that in al our consultations woordes and workes this day and the whole course of our life we may always haue thee present before our eyes knowing that thou seest euen the very deepe thoughtes of our hartes whiche alwayes may be as a bridle to pull vs backe that we neither do nor yet consent vnto any sinne or wickednesse but that alwayes we may be so exercised in the affaires of this life that we looke stil to the end of our course whē it shal please thee to bring vs through the pilgrimage of this life to our euerlasting rest with thy deere Sonne Iesus Christe our Sauiour In whose name for these mercies and whatsoeuer thou knowest to be needful for vs and for the whole Churche we pray vnto thee as he himselfe hath taught vs in his holy word saying Our Father whiche art c. The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lorde turne his fauourable countenance toward vs and graunt vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christe the loue of God the Father the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the holy Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this day and euermore Amen ¶ Euening prayer for priuate houses and Families O Gratious God louing Father c. As in the beginning of the morning prayer reding so forth til ye come to this marke ‡ * ‡ Then read this folowing for the Euening Lastly for our selues here gathered we render most hartie thanks to thy maiestie O Lord which hast hitherto from our infancie preserued vs by thy mercie from all perils and daungers bothe of soule bodie wherevnto fraile man is subiect that thou hast sent vnto vs al things necessarie for this present life as healthe foode apparel and such like whiche many of thy deere children doe want being notwithstanding as preciously bought with the precious bloud of thy deere sonne as we be and yet lie in miserie and calamitie oppressed with pouertie nakednesse imprisonement and bannishment in which case also deere Father thou mightest haue brought vs saue onely that thou dealest herein more fauourably with vs then with them For the which thy louing kindenesse wee giue thee hartie thankes desiring thee that as thou hast hitherto thus fauourably in mercie preserued vs by thy protection and euen presently this day hast brought vs past all the daungers thereof so we beseech thee good Lorde in like fauour beholde vs this night that we taking our natural rest and quietnesse may through thy protection be defended that our bodies resting our soules may be occupied in beholding thy fauour and mercie towarde thy children stil looking for the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesu Christ for our full redemption Graunt that our sleepe be not immoderate according to the lust of our fleshe but as muche as is sufficient to refreshe our weake nature that beeing thus refreshed bothe the bodie and the minde may be more able to doe their seuerall office and function in that vocation vvherein thou haste placed vs. Graunt that wee laying our bodies downe to reste may be thereby put in minde of our long rest of deathe that as we doe nowe lay downe our bodies in bedde so wee may be thereby admonished that hereafter they shal be laide downe in graue to bee consumed to duste earthe and ashes from whence they were taken That wee hauing this before our eyes may be stirred vppe in minde warely to walke in this our pilgrimage not knowing when the time shal be of our departure but alwayes to be founde readie with our lampes of pure faithe clearely burning that we may be accepted to meete the Bridegrome when our mortall earthly and corruptible bodies shal be made like to the glorious bodie of our Lord and sauiour Christ Iesu there to reigne with him in perpetuall ioy cōsolatiō together with al the elect children of God continually lauding with all the heauenly multitude the glorious Maiestie of thee our Lorde God and heauenly Father in our Lord and Sauiour Iesu christ For these and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be needefull for vs and thy whole Churche we pray vnto thee as he himselfe hathe taught vs saying Our Father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vppon vs and bee mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance vnto vs and graunte vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the Holy Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this night and euermore Amen A prayer to bee saide before the studying or reading of holy Scripture O Heauenly Father what soeuer I am what so euer I haue whatsoeuer I know it is only by thy free grace For by nature I am the childe of wrath and I am not borne a newe of fleshe and bloude neither of the seede of man or of the will of man Fleshe and bloude cannot reueale the mysteries of thy Heauenly Kingdome vnto mee but by thy blessed will I am that I am and by the same knowe I that I knowe Therefore O Father do I commit into thy handes onely my saluation If my knowledge bee small yet I doubte nothing but that I am the childe of thy euerlasting kingdome and therefore by thy mightie power I shall growe when it shall bee thy good will and pleasure to a more full and riper knowledge as of a more perfecte age wherein my faith shal bee fully able to comprehend and perceiue the breadth deapth heigth and largenesse of thy greate mercies and gratious promises But seeing O Father this power of full knowledge and perfecte reuelation passeth all power naturall and remaineth onely in thy power and the light of thy spirite O Lord do thou whatsoeuer it shall please thee to open vnto me and all the rest of thine elect seruaunts and children depending vppon thee so muche of the lighte of thy countenaunce as may be moste for thy Glorie and our comforte yea and at suche time as shall seeme good to thy wisedome fatherly mercie In the meane while thus resting wholy vpō thee neither can I despaire neither wil I be to much careful althogh I cannot attaine to the knowledge of many of thy works neither to the vnderstanding of many places of thy scriptures But I will confesse vnto thee the weakenesse of my faith waiting alwais for the further reuealing of thy glorious light to be vttered vnto me thy poore seruant when thou shalt thinke of