euerlasting kingdome and thy dominion endureth throughout al ages In thine hande is strength and auctoritie none can resist thy power We beseech thee be merciful vnto al in captiuitie and oppressed with most greeuous slauerie especiallie vnto such as for the confession of thy Gospel doe suffer persecution banishment imprisonment perils of life of good name and of goodes comfort them with thy Spirit deliuer them from cruel bondes by thy diuine power and grant such lawful meanes according to thy wisedome that thy faithful may be deliuered O Lorde bring home thy captiues exiled for thy Name sake that they may confesse thee and extol thy goodnes O that God woulde heare the mournings of the imprisoned and deliuer the sonnes appointed vnto death O that God would bring home the captiuitie of his people then should we be like such as dreame and our mouthes shoulde be filled with laughter and our tong with ioie Then should they saie among the Gentils The Lord hath done great things for them yea the Lord hath dealt maruelouslie with vs we are made iocond Turne our captiuitie O Lord as the riuers in the South For thou alone art our assister of whom commeth saluation thou deliuerest such as are bounde by thy power and despisest not the groanings of the afflicted Praised be God continuallie which helpeth vs and poureth out his benefits vpon vs which letteth loose his captiues and that without gifts or rewarde freelie for his holie Name sake Therefore shal the people worship thee O Lord and praie vnto thee for thou saiest vnto the bound Come out and to those that sit in darknes Come to light O Lord cal into minde thy manifold mercies deale with vs according to thy woonted goodnes and giue not thine inheritance into the hands of thine enimies least they make sale of vs and spoile our lande Forgiue our sinnes and transgressions let not aliens haue dominion ouer vs neither let our houses passe vnto strangers let vs not be as exiles and pupils without a Father neither our mothers as widowes without husbands let not our old men be wanting in our ports nor yet our coūtrie lament for the waste which the enimie would make Heale the sorrowes of the daughter of thy people and be merciful to our sinnes for the glorie of thy Name sake Breake thou the chaines of the imprisoned and deliuer such as are bound with manacles and fetters cast of their yoke that they may praise thee for euer Bring them out of darknes and the shadow of death Breake the gates of brasse and smite the bars of iron in sunder that they may know that thou art their Lorde when thou hast broken the bonds of their yoke and deliuered them out of the hands of those that serued themselues But if it be thy wil for the trial of their faith and pacience to detaine some in exile and seruitude a longer time then comfort such with thy spirit and mitigate their paines that they may finde fauor in the sight of them whom they are compelled to serue and cast not them of for euer Aboue al keepe them in the confession of true faith and Christian religion against al false worshippings that so they may comfort themselues with the gratious pardoning of their sinnes through Christ and their harts may be sealed with the earnest of the holie Spirit bearing witnes to their spirits that they are deliuered from perpetual captiuitie and bondage of hel O Christ our Redeemer deliuer our soules from the chaines of darknes and snares of death which sufferedst thy selfe to be bound that thou mightest vnloose the most hard bands and knots of our transgressions and wast sent of thine eternal Father into this world to preach libertie vnto captiues and deliuerance to such as are shut vp Grant that being entangled with the cordes of iniquitie we giue not our members as weapons of vnrighteousnes vnto sinne Breake in peeces the chaines of Satan and turne vs into thy flock that none vnrighteousnes haue dominion ouer vs. Deliuer him that is in bondage vnto Satan and bring forth the bound by the blood of thy couenant out of the pit wherein is no water that he ▪ spoile and kil vs not Giue grace also that being snarled with humane traditions we entrap not our consciences by false opinions but may serue thee our true God in Christian libertie and neuer abuse the same to the offence of any Take vs miserable men out of the bodie of this death which maketh vs captiues to the lawe of sinne which is in our members that deliuered from sinne and death we may serue thee in true vprightnes and euerlasting life which raignest for euer one God in the trinitie of persons Amen 7. A praier against the tentation of the flesh O Merciful God we miserable men acknowledge confesse that in vs that is in our flesh there dwelleth no good thing But in sinne we were borne and our mothers conceaued vs of corrupt seede For our nature is defiled and prone vnto al wickednes euen from our youth so that by the strength of our proper reason we cannot sauor those thinges which belong to the Spirit For the natural man speaketh and fauoreth of earthlie things and of himselfe is not meete so much as to thinke anie thing that good is without the assistance of thy power Vnto thee doe we crie with our whole harts that it woulde please thee to open vnto vs by thy Spirit the true knowledge of thine essence and wil as thou hast reuealed thy selfe in thy worde that we may not folow the sence of our flesh in iudging of spiritual things neither by our blinde baiardlie reason measure thine heauenlie saiengs For blood and flesh perceiue not the things which belong to the Spirit and the fleshlie mind is enmitie against God for it is not obedient vnto the Lawe neither can be And they which are in the flesh cannot please God. Seing therefore that in vs abideth the seede of sinne which is concupiscence and a proanes vnto wickednes is ingraffed into vs by nature yea and original sin through our first parents doth oftentimes prick vs vnto impietie For euerie one is tempted when he is drawen awaie and enticed with the baite of his owne concupiscence then when lust hath conceaued it bringeth forth sinne and sinne when it is furnished bringeth forth death Giue vs grace that we folow not the concupiscence of our flesh neither prouoke our sences by vnbrideled libertie but stoutlie to resist them For vnles that wicked concupiscence be driuen from our mindes it wil neuer cesse til it haue brought forth deadlie sinne Wherefore assist vs that we may tame these bodies of ours bring them into subiection least our flesh being ouerlustie doe offende and ouerpasse the prescribed limits Assist vs we beseech thee to crucifie our flesh
thee and may be thine properlie abiding in thy kingdome serue thee with a willing minde in righteousnes and true holines so that at length in the latter daie we may rise againe with our bodies vnto a blessed life and so both in bodie soule being redeemed from al euils in perpetual blisse happines may triumph with al thine holie Angels Patriarches Prophets and al thine elect and endued with vnspeakable and euerlasting ioie may praise thee our Sauior which hast ascended aboue al the heauens sittest at the right hand of God the Father almightie with whom thou liuest and reignest for euermore Amen 3. A praier for Faith. O Eternal God and heauenlie Father which art Alpha Omega the beginning the ending thou art the cause and absolute perfection of our life and saluation the euerlasting and infinit good from whom proceedeth euerie good giuing and euerie perfect gift to wit from the Father of lights with whom is no variablenes neither shadowing by turning We beseech thee in the Name of our Sauior Christ thy Sonne that through thine holie Spirit thou wilt plant in our harts a true knowledge of the same thy Sonne and keepe vs therein euermore make it plentiful and prosper euerie daie that replenished with the knowledge of thy wil in al wisedome and spiritual vnderstanding we may walke worthie the Lorde pleasing thee in al things being fruitful in al good works and encreasing in thy knowledge strengthened in al might through his glorious power vnto al patience and long suffering with ioiefulnes and may abounde in faith and word and knowledge and al diligence For this cause we bowe our knees vnto thee Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ of whom is named the whole family in heauen in earth that thou wilt grant vs according to the riches of thy glorie that we may be strengthened by thine holie Spirit into new men that Christ may dwel in our harts by faith being rooted and grounded in loue may be able with al Saints to comprehende the true knowledge of thine essence and wil according vnto thy word reuealed No man hath seene thee O God at anie time neither hath anie behelde the countenance of thy Maiestie For no man knoweth the Sonne which is of thy verie substance but thou the Father alone neither hath any knowen thee but the Sonne he to whom he doth reueale thee Wherefore we beseech thee of thine infinit goodnes and mercie draw vs vnto him let him bring vs vnto thee Giue the knowledge of saluation to thy people by the remission of their sinnes through thy tender mercie that in thy Sonne we may find righteousnes euen remission of sinnes reconciliation and newnes of our mindes through the holie Spirit whereby we may become heires of eternal life being iustified by the grace of Christ in whom we beleeue which was offered for our sinnes For he taking our punishment vpon himselfe did satisfie thy iustice fullie and washed vs by his pretious blood from al our iniquities and reconciled vs in the bodie of his flesh through death to make vs holie and blameles and without fault in thy sight Make vs therfore strong in faith and constant to resist al the ingins of Satan and proceeding from faith to faith to attaine that righteousnes which is auaileable before thee by the redemption which is in Christ Iesu whom thou hast appointed to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood that iustified by his grace we may haue peace of conscience and free accesse vnto the Father Holie and merciful God we humblie beseech thee which hast raised in vs the sparkles of true faith make perfect this good which thou hast begon in vs and bring it vntil the daie of our Lord Iesu Christ wherby abounding more and more in knowledge and in al iudgement we may allow the better and be pure without offence vntil that daie filled with the fruite of righteousnes which are by Iesus Christ vnto the glorie and praise of God. Wherefore appoint thy strength establish O God which thou hast wrought in vs that fighting a good fight we may retaine faith a good conscience least vnder persecution and aduersities being tossed we make shipwrack of our faith Helpe our weake and feeble faith which is like the graine of mustard seede within vs that encreasing dailie more and more it may take deepe roote and remaine firme alwaies and immoueable and neuer vanish awaie among so many sectes and diuisions in this worlde Extinguish al the doubtings of thy wil sticking in our corrupt nature let vs not mistrust thy promises of eternal and temporal benefits but applieng thy promises vnto our selues alwaies giue credit vnto thy worde and so depending wholie therevpon contrarie to al sense of humane reason we shal obteine a crowne of immortal glorie Grant likewise heauenlie Father that our faith be not barren vaine or dead without good workes and fruites of the Spirit but effectual working by charitie that we may receiue the ende of our faith euen the saluation of our soules and behold thee whome we now see by faith as it were in a glasse darklie in another world looking vpon thy Maiestie face to face in Christ our Sauior our Lord and God Amen 4. A praier for the Kingdome of God. MErciful and gratious God which hast called vs vnto thy kingdome and glorie and of thy fatherlie and good pleasure enioined vs this care that first and afore al things we should seeke thy Kingdome and the righteousnes thereof We beseech thee through and for thy Sonne our Lorde and Sauior Christ his sake teach our weake minds gouerne our wil and harts that without inuerting this thine appointed order we may first seeke that thou maiest shine within vs apprehende thy righteousnes by a true and liuelie faith and be vnited vnto thee our eternal King. Grant therefore that thy worde may be preached euerie where plainelie and purelie without fraud and that we may cast downe al our imaginations and euerie hie thing that is exalted against thy knowledge and leade our vnderstanding captiue to the obedience of the worde which thou hast deliuered and obey thy Gospel in al simplicitie of faith according to the good plesure of thy wil to the praise of the glorie of thy grace Assist vs O our Father which art in heauen that both thy word may be purely and sincerely preached we thereby as becometh the sonnes of God reformed in our liues Giue vs thine holie Spirit that we may beleeue thy word through thy grace and so leade a godlie and virtuous life in this worlde and liue hereafter with thy sonne in eternal blisse Breake thou of and hinder al the consultations and deuises both of the diuel the worlde and the flesh which do neither sanctifie thine
with al the affections and desires thereof for the better seruing thee and walking in the Spirit For we are debtors not to the flesh to liue after the flesh but the deedes of the flesh being mortified to liue renued after the holie Spirit in righteousnes and true holines Sanctifie vs holie Father that we defile not our selues with carnal vices with riotousnes bellicheere nor by vnlawful pleasure casting of thine holie Spirit that we make our bodies the houses of filthie feends which carie awaie and cast headlong al intemperate and secure persons into euerlasting destruction Be it far from vs that we make our members the members of harlots whereby thy holie Spirit is banished and man becommeth a denne for theeues and a sink of filthines Gouerne vs that we may shun the works of the flesh and be careful to doe the works of the Spirit as thy chosen seruants And forasmuch as the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit contrarie to the flesh for they are contrarie and continuallie striue together be thou merciful vnto vs O God helpe vs with thy diuine power that the holie Spirit which thou didst poure into vs at our baptisme may beare the rule in our members and preuaile ouer the flesh and al the affections of the same Extinguish the flames of carnal desires and represse our raging lustes so shal we auoide enormous offences and shun the wicked actions of our owne inuentions And if at any time being subdued by flesh and blood we shal wander from the path and direction of the Spirit to something vnseemelie for our calling impute not we praie thee that fault vnto vs but remember that we are flesh and conuert vs by thy diuine power And seeing that flesh of itselfe is vnbridelie and wilde not abiding correction but is like a fat wanton calfe which is not vsed to labor put thy yoke vpon vs tame our flesh by thy Spirit that walking soberlie and modestlie we may bridle the same and humble it vnder thy commandements by withdrawing of delicious fare For with ouermuch fine fare our mindes waxe wanton and ouerlustie Aide vs that by temperance moderation abstinence from superfluous meats drinks we may bind our flesh to the direction of the holie Spirit and mortifie our bodies of sinne so shal we praise and magnifie thy Name which liuest in vs worlds without ende Amen 8. Euening praier on Friedaie WE wil praise thee O eternal God Father of our Lorde IESV Christ for maruelous things hast thou done for vs thou hast deliuered our soules from death and our feete from falling Blessed be God which hath heard our praiers and brought vs out of the lake of miserie out of the myre and claie which set our feete vpon the rock and ordered our goings which hath saued vs this daie from al perils and comforted our soules Wherefore we wil extol thee and celebrate thy Name euerie daie and at night wil we talke of thy righteousnes We wil magnifie the Lord our God and bow our selues at his footestoole for he is holie We wil praise thee O Lord because thou hast set vs vp and hast not made our foes to triumph ouer vs Thou hast brought our soules from hel and saued our liues from them that go downe into the pit Wherefore we wil sing praises vnto thee and yeelde thee thanks for a remembrance of thy holines O most louing Father here prostrating our selues before thy feete we beseech thee in the Name of thy Sonne who suffered for vs a most cruel death blot out al our transgressions whereby we haue offended thy Maiestie and especiallie those which this day we haue committed Be merciful vnto vs O Lord for thy Name sake For greatlie haue we sinned and our offences are mo than the sande of the sea We haue prouoked thee vnto anger and done euil in thy sight But now we bend the knees of our hart requiring thy mercie O Lord we haue sinned we acknowledge our sinnes with griefe and sorow Pardon O pardon our sinnes and destroie vs not together with our iniquities neither reserue euil for vs for euer but of thine infinit goodnes saue vs miserable and most vnworthie men For thou O Lord according to thy wonted mercie hast promised forgiuenes of sinnes to al repenters Therefore we wil praise thee continuallie al the daies of our life al the host of heauen praise thee worldes without end Who is such a God as thou that pardonest wickednes and forgiuest the offences of the remnant of thine heritage Thou keepest not thy wrath for euer for thy delight is in mercie Thou turnest againe and art merciful vnto vs thou puttest downe our wickednes castest al our sinnes into the bottome of the sea In this euening now the Sunne is gone we praie thee O God depart not from vs which art the Sunne of righteousnes neither let thine aide be far from vs but abide with vs O Lord for it draweth toward night and the daie is far spent Forsake vs not O Lord our God neither depart from vs for tribulation is at hand and there is none to helpe O GOD of our saluation make haste to helpe vs haue a regard to our defence redeeme our soules in peace from those that war against vs. Deliuer vs from such as marke our goings Plucke our feete out of the snare and leade vs in the path of righteousnes that our feete slip not and we take a fal Guide vs by thy wisedome that when we walke it may leade vs when we sleepe it may keepe our feete and when we wake we may talke thereof And therefore sleeping we wil not feare but rest quietlie and our sleepe shal be sweete we wil not quake at the sudden terror neither at the ranging of the vngodly when it happeneth The Lord shal be on our side and protect our feete that we be not taken yea the Lord shal be our light and saluation in darknes He is our hope which hath appointed vs so high a refuge Let none euil come vnto vs neither suffer the whip to be nigh our tabernacle O Lord be thou our watchman and protector that trobles vaine cogitations doe not inuade vs and neither the feare of death ouerwhelme vs nor the sleepe of night alter our thoughtes and vnderstanding when we should take our rest and ease in our chambers but grant vs a good quiet sleepe and after the same to rise vp in the morning and to render due thanks and praise to thee our most merciful protector For our helpe is from the Lord which hath made both heauen and earth He wil not suffer our feete to be mooued and he that keepeth Israël wil not sleepe to whom be praise now and euermore Amen 1. On Saturdaie Morning praier O Lord God maker of al things which art feareful
be without fault in the foundation without sinne against my conscience and walke worthie this Sacrament forsaking vtterlie and renouncing the Diuel and al Idolatrie al vices and carnal desires which fight against the soule For we cannot be partakers of the Lordes table and of the Diuels to Make me also to remember that by this sacrament I am bound to do good vnto others For as manie graines of corne do make one loafe and manie grapes make one wine so being manie yet are we but one loafe and one bodie inasmuch as we al participate of one bread and drinke of one cup. Ioine vs therfore together O Sauior of the world at this common banquet through the band of loue that we may be fastened vnto thee our head That as thou diddest die for vs so we againe may not feare to suffer and to giue our liues for the glorie of thy name that we neuer be separated from thee neither in life nor death Make vs also hartilie to loue one another like the true and liuelie members of thy bodie that if need require we may giue our liues for our brethren Suffer not concord of mindes to be broken For hee that receiueth the mysterie of vnitie and keepeth not the bond of peace he doth not receaue the mysterie for himselfe but a testimonie against himselfe Giue grace therefore that laieng aside al wrath fiercenes maliciousnes and enuie we may forgiue one another euen as thou forgiuest vs and beare one with another for the better auoiding of strife diâ—fension sectes and pernicious heresies Keepe this thine ordinance and right vse of thy Sacrament among vs euermore that this good worke and diuine ceremonie may alwaies be a note and badge of our publike profession whereby we are knowne from Pagans and tokens of loue confession and thankefulnes Remooue awaie al abuses and prophanations of this holie and sacred supper together with the horrible and Idolatrous adorations inuented by Satan and his members to the shameful deforming of thy godlie and goodlie institution but maintaine I humblie beseech thee the true and vnpolluted vse thereof til thy pleasure is to returne in the cloudes to iudgement with great power and glorie that it neuer be out of remembrance And last of al at our resurrection from death appoint vs places in thy heauenlie table where we may taste the new wine in the kingdome of thy father abiding with thine elect Angels and blessed Saintes for euermore Amen A praier for the Sick. O Almightie and merciful God Father of our Lord Iesu Christ which through corporal diseases both puttest me in minde of my mortalitie and also callest to repentance For thou wilt not the death of a sinner but that he conuert and liue Vnto thee doe I crie O Lorde rebuke me not in thine anger neither chastise me in thy wrath haue mercie on me O Lorde for I am weake O Lorde heale me for my bones are vexed My soule is also trobled verie sore but Lorde how long wilt thou delaie Returne deliuer my soule O saue me for thy mercies sake Heale me O Lord and I shal be whole saue thou me and I shal be saued For thou art my praise Thou hast wounded and thou wilt heale me thou hast strooken and thou wilt cure thou dost kil and restore to life againe Wherfore if this my sicknes be not vnto the death helpe me vpon the bed of my sorow Turne the whole palat of my weaknes into ioie Maie it please thee O Lorde to deliuer me out of the myre For the graue wil not acknowledge thee nor death confesse thee but the liuing I saie the liuing wil extol thee for euermore O Lorde heale me that I may praise thee al my life long through my Sauior Amen Another praier for the Sick. O Christ Iesu Sonne of the liuing God our Redeemer and our Mediator for euermore in our weake flesh thou wentest about the earth preaching the glad tydings of the kingdome touching the forgiuenes of our sinnes and curing euerie sicknes and euerie disease among the people For thou hast truelie taken vpon thee our infirmities and borne our paines For where sinne abounded there thy grace did more abound Wherfore I praie most humblie beseech thee be merciful vnto me heale my soule For I haue sinned against thee strengtheÌ„ it by the sweete comfort of thy Gospel and confirme my faith then if it be thine heauenlie pleasure restore health vnto my weake bodie If thou wilt thou canst make me cleane onelie doe but speake the worde and I shal be healed For it is not herbes nor plasters that restore health but thy worde O Lord which healeth al things It is thou Lord which hast the power both of life and death thou leadest vnto deaths doore and bringest vp againe But if it be more expedient for me to die than to liue then deale with me according to thy wil O Lord and commande my spirit to be receaued in peace the which I commende into thine hands thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth which liuest and raignest with the Father and the holie Ghost one God for euermore Amen Another praier for the Sick. O Eternal God which art ful of coÌ„passion and mercie slowe to anger and great in kindnes thou forgiuest our falts couerest our sinnes and dost not impute our iniquities vnto vs Vnto thee doe I bende my praier beseeching thee to pardon al my sinnes and to heale al mine infirmities Saue my life from destruction and compasse me about with mercie and louing kindnes For thou art the God of my saluation mine helper in thee hath mine hart trusted Despise not the workes of thine owne hands neither suffer him to perish whom thou hast created and redeemed O Christ lambe of God which takest awaie the sins of the world and washest vs from al our offences by thy pretious blood encrease my faith that firmelie I may apprehende the saluation promised Blesse thou my soule at hir departure from the bodie that euermore I may reioice with thee And holie Ghost eternal God which art the best Comforter in al extremities be thou present I beseech thee at the houre of my death and impart thy sauing health vpon me that mine hart doe not faint nor be trobled Amen Reuel 7 12. Praise and glorie and wisedome and thankes and honor and power and might be vnto our God for euermore Amen a Lactantius de diuino praemio cap. 4. Cicero lib 2 de Natura Deorum b Gene. 1 6. Psalme 8 6. Causes why daily praier is necessary 1. From the end of mans creation 2. From the commandementes of God. c Psa. 50 15. d Mark. 13 verse 33. e Colos. 4 2. 3. From the promise of God to here our petitioÌ„s f Luk. 11 9. g Iohn
cold and vnfruitful ground may become profitable let vs both outwardlie embrace thy doctrine with a care and inwardlie feele the operation therof in our minds and so rushing out of the bowels of the earth and deliuered from tentation bring out plentiful fruite to the glorie of thine holie Name Worke so within vs that the Diuel take not away the seede of thy word sowen in our harts let it not waxe barren neither let vs be forgetful nor like vnfruiteful hearers which heare thy word to their iudgement and greater condemnation Furthermore keepe vs in thy faith and feare that come what crosses and aduersities there can we may continually stick vnto thee in al our miseries Likewise aide vs O God of our saluation that the seede of thy word be not choaked among vs through cares riches and pleasures of this world And finallie assist vs that we be neuer found in the companie of mockers into whome the Diuel hath entered and blinded their minds and therefore make a so of at the preaching of thy word which walking after the lusts and desires of their owne flesh doe wrap themselues in the horrible confusion of their owne desires and shameful wickednes whereby like mad men they cast themselues headlong into euerlasting destruction O Christ Sonne of God fountaine of al mercie and compassion which art the Lorde of the whole flock and chiefe Byshop of our soules worke thou effectuallie by thy ministers speake within vs vnto our harts the voice of thy Father grant that we may truelie discerne the same and distinguish it from the howling of woolues For thy doctrine is pure conuerting the soules the testimonie of the Lord is sure and giueth wisedome vnto the simple Grant therefore that al of vs hearing thy word may receiue the same to our learning amendment comfort and instruction which is in righteousnes and in an honest and good conscience that hauing heard the same we may keepe it bringing forth fruit with patience and continue in the same al our life time and neuer be tossed or carried about with euerie winde of doctrine And thou holie Spirit eternal God kindle our cold harts with the fire of thy loue cherish vs with thine healthful heate and purge the filthines of our corrupted nature keepe vs in thy lap and worke within vs righteousnes and a life acceptable in thy sight Regenerate and transforme vs into newe men make vs diligent in the study of thy word beate into our minds a true feare and loue of thy name that al vncleannes and superfluitie of malice being cast off we may receiue with meekenes thy word ingrafted which is able to saue our soules in this world by inchoation hereafter in ful perfection Amen 7. A praier against false Prophets MErciful GOD louer of mankinde which hast forewarned vs of thine vnspeakeable goodnes to take heed of false Prophets comming vnto vs in sheepes clothing being for al that inwardlie rauening woolues And forasmuch as in the latter daies wherein we liue it was prophecied there should be perilous times wherein the Diuel doth transfigure himselfe into an Angel of light and false teachers with subtile workemen hauing put on the person of Christ and of his Apostles doe transforme themselues into the ministers of righteousnes carrieng the shew of godlines but denie the power therof And besides sith by thine holie Spirit thou hast foretold that the wicked man the sonne of perdition should come and carrie awaie many vnto eternal death and perpetual damnation Grant merciful God that embracing the loue of thy truth we may shun al spirits of lieng together with al errors and shew of falshood and at no time be carried away from the true sense of thy worde neither wander from the scope of our saluation but perseuering constantlie and firmelie vnto the ende in thy word may abide in the vnitie of the true catholike faith Christian religion and be neuer deceaued any waie neither by signes nor miracles nor lies neither by anie deceaueablenes of vnrighteousnes through the craft and subtiltie of men whereby they beset vs but following thy truth simplie in loue may continue salfe from al corruption and constant in the profession of the truth Keepe vs omnipotent and eternal God from al fanatical opinions from seducing spirits which sowe errors and deadly contentions in thy Church from false teachers which priuilie bring in pernitious heresies and denie euen the Lord which hath dearelie bought them By whom the waie of the Lorde is il spoken of and which make sale of their hearers through couetousnes Keepe vs from greeuous and greedie wolues which spare not the flock but cruellie deuour thy beloued sheepe through the poison of their liues and erronious doctrine From men speaking peruerse things to draw disciples after them and to engender schismes to the tearing in peeces the vnitie of the Church From men of wicked and corrupt opinions raising dissentions sondrie offences From tares which the enuious man which is the Diuel soweth and scattereth among good wheat ▪ From false Prophets which speake the visions of their own hart not from the mouth of the Lorde which preach their owne dreames and fancies seducing the people with lies From theeues and robbers of soules which kil both bodie and soule and cast them headlong into hel fire Deliuer vs from the rage of the Diuels thine enimies which in their members vtter out most horrible outcries against the truth and departing frō the rule of thy doctrine propose the fained opinions of their owne inuentions manifestlie repugnant to thy Commandements Keepe thine elect in this most wicked world that being seduced into foule errors they swarue not from the truth Shorten the euil daies of this dangerous and troblesome time Dispatch that sonne of iniquitie by the breath of thy mouth and cut him of through the brightnes of thy comming Cause thy word O God to sound in our eares purelie and syncerelie and make vs to follow the same with our whole hart true faith Christian obedience and throughlie to vnderstand the manifold precepts of thy pure word that so approuing the good we may shun the waies of strangers leading from the right waie Be thou our shepherd O eternal God so shal we want nothing put vs in the places of thy greene pasture and bring vs vnto the waters of comfort leade vs in the pathes of righteousnes for thy Name sake that we may haue hope and not be confounded in that daie when thy Sonne our Lord shal appere which liueth with thee and raigneth in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God for euermore Amen 8. Euening praier on the Lordes daie O Almightie and eternal God Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which together with thy Sonne and the holie Ghost didest create man after thine owne
likenes and breath into him the breath of life the which through thy goodnes continues at thy pleasure Thou hast made of one blood al mankind and assigned times and length of our life in this worlde Thou giuest life to the people on the earth and breath to the walkers therein which if thou take away they shal depart and be turned into dust We blesse thee heauenlie Father and with al our harts giue thee thanks not onelie for sauing vs this daie from dangers but also from our cradels for defending both our soules and bodies from death Wherefore magnifie the Lord O our soules and our spirits reioice in God our Sauior For he hath looked vpon the basenes and affliction of his seruants He that is mightie hath done for vs great things and holie is his Name Wherfore we wil praise the Lorde for euermore because his mercie endureth from generation to generation on such as feare him We wil shew forth his power in the euening and when we go to bed we wil remember his mercie Arise now our soules in the night praise your God In the beginning of the watches poure out your harts like water before the face of the Lord. The Saints wil be ioieful with glorie and sing loude vpon their beds We wil praise thee continuallie and wil confesse thy name for euermore for thou art the God which delighteth our harts and maketh merie our soules Therefore in the night we wil thinke vpon thy benefites and our spirits shal consider of them For thou hast commanded that thy mercie be celebrated in the day time and thy truth in the night O our Lord and God of mercie gentlenes patience pittie truth which shewest mercie vnto thousands and blottest out al our offences we lift vp our soules vnto thee and from our harts we pray put not before thine eies the horrible confusion vncleannes and wickednes of our mindes being replenished with lothsome darknes and ignorance ful of doubtings and errors our harts and wil are turned from thee our God and al the powers and strength both of our soules and bodies are defiled and filthilie weakened But Lord of thy great mercy blot out our offences looke vpon the trobles and dolor of our harts and forgiue al our sinnes For lo our soules are wounded and can not be holpen but onely through mercie There is no health in our flesh because of thine anger neither is there rest in our bones because of our sinnes For our iniquities haue gone ouer our heads and as an heauie burden haue pressed vs downe Our wounds are putrified and corrupt because of our foolishnes Asswage thine anger and turne from thine indignation pardon our faults remit al punishment and restore in vs the light of thy goodnes which was lost O Lord heare O Lord forgiue harken O our God for thine owne sake for thy Name is called vpon by vs. O God of heauen and earth in this euening tide doe we cal vnto thee that remitting our sinnes thou wouldest receiue vs into thy protection and keepe vs this night that the diuel haue no power ouer vs. Be thou watchful ouer vs O eternal Sauior least the subtil tempter apprehend vs For thou art made for vs an euerlasting protector For behold whether we sleepe or wake whether we liue or die we are thine thou art our creator and redeemer Stand therefore on our behalfe in the watch with the armie of thy celestial warriers thine Angels which being filled with perfect goodnes and perpetual integritie behold thy face alwaies in the heauens Expel from vs and our houses wicked spirits which be our mortal enimies that they damage vs in no case and deliuer vs from persecutors which laie snares for our destruction Turne not away thy mercie and truth from vs. O God assist vs that peaceably we may rest and sleepe in quiet We wil lay vs downe in peace slepe for thou Lord alone makest vs to dwel in safetie without danger Hide vs in thy Tabernacle O Lord that sitting in thy secret place and abiding vnder the shadowe of thy wings we may saie vnto thee Lorde thou art our keeper and our refuge O God we wil trust in thee and wil feare no danger And although we were in extreeme darknes yet wil we not feare Though we should walke in the mids of the shadow of death yet wil we dread none euil For thou art with vs thy rod and thy staffe they doe comfort vs. Let thy mercie O God follow vs al the daies of our life that we may dwel in thine House in longnes of daies praising thee euermore with the Sonne and holie Ghost one true God raigning worlds without ende Amen 1. On Mondaie Morning praier BLESSED be the Lorde God which alone doth woonderous things and blessed be the name of his Maiestie for euermore which hath set the Sunne to lighten the daie and ordained the Moone with the course of stars to go before the night O most hie God the day is thine and the night is thine thou hast framed the light and the Sunne By thine vnspeakeable wisedome thou hast distinguished the daie and the night and so hast thou decreed that while the world shal last this course of times and daies shal neuer haue an ende so that man in the night may rest and againe when daie comes go about his busines and labor vntil the euening O Lord thy truth endureth for euer thou laiedst the foundation of the earth and it endureth by thine appointment the daie doth last for al are thy seruants For these and al other thy benefites we praise thee greatlie giue thee thanks for thy exceeding glorie euen as it becometh vs euerie daie to preuent the Sunne rising to blesse thine holie Name and to worship thee at the appearing of the daie star We extol thine infinite goodnes in like sort for keeping vs this night past both from the power and tyrannie of Satan from the snares subtiltie of al our enimies and finallie from dangers both of soule and bodie For of thy singular goodnes and fatherlie care thou hast made vs quietlie to sleepe and rest this night againe thou hast suffered vs to awake and opened our eies giuing them power to see and behold the morning light which now appeareth Therfore we wil sing of thy power praise thy mercie in the morning for thou art our defence and refuge in the daie of our troble O our helper we wil praise thee with al our harts and glorifie thy Name for euer For great is thy mercie toward vs thou hast deliuered our soules from the lowest graue Hadest not thou bin our defence innumerable euils had ouerwhelmed vs so that we should not haue risen to praise thy Name Had not thy word bin our comfort we had without doubt perished in our
affliction Wherefore we wil not for euer be forgetful of thy iustifications for they haue reuiued vs. Vnto thee Lord wil we list vp our eies on hie from whence our helpe shal come Betimes in the morning doe we cal vpon thee that thy mercie may preuent vs and thy goodnes ouertake vs quicklie Let thy fauor preuent vs as doth the Sunne which rising spreadeth his beames ouer al the partes of the earth and as the light of the morning when the Sunne appeareth earelie when it shineth without the cloudes After the same sort giue vs thy cleerenes and shew thy countenance ouer vs that lightened by thy word we may walke al this day long circumspectlie and warelie in the waies of thy commandements that being blinded in the daie time we runne not into darkenes neither grope at noone day as in the night wandering from the pathes of thy iudgements O God be merciful vnto vs and blesse vs shew vs the light of thy countenance and be gracious vnto vs That we may know thy way vpon earth and thy sauing health among al nations O most merciful GOD turne thine eies of compassion vpon vs and haue mercie on vs Looke vpon vs with thy fauorable coūtenance and turne not thy face from thy seruants Open our eies that we may consider the wonderful things in thy Lawe and make vs in the morning to behold thy glorie O God guider of our life forsake vs not neither giue vs a prowd looke and turne from vs the filthines of desire Remooue from our harts al concupiscence and take from thy seruants too ouerbolde a stomack suffer vs not to run headlong into riotousnes and bellichere let not vnlawful loue ouercome vs and giue not thy seruants ouer into impudent mindes Turne our eies that they behold no vanitie and strengthen vs in thy waie grant that the offences in this world ouerthrow vs not Beholde Lord our soules lust after thy saluation and we long for thy worde We beseech thee O Lord with a most ernest affection and humbly craue at thy merciful hands that this daie and euermore thou wilt keepe vs and al ours from the arrow flieng in the daie from the pestilence and plague that destroieth at noone tide Hide vs vnder thy wings and vnder thy feathers we wil haue hope Blinde the eies of our enimies that they see not and make their loines alwaie to tremble But open thine eies ouer vs and be thou vnto vs a mightie protector this daie a firmament of strength a couering against heate and parching a shadowe at noone tide a defence from offending an assister from falling a comforter of our soules a lightener of our minds and a giuer of health and happines in Christ our Lorde Amen 2. A thankesgiuing for our redemption O Iesu Christ Sonne of the liuing God which art the eternal word that was in the beginning the true substantial image of thine eternal Father the character and brightnes of his glory begotten of him before al worlds of one vndiuided essence of like maiestie and equal glorie We worship thee light of lights verie God of verie God begotten not made of one substance with the Father by whom al things were made We thanke thee for al thy benefits generallie speciallie for that at an appointed time according to the eternal counsaile and decree of the Father thou didst voluntarilie for vs men and for our saluatiō descend from heauen and was incarnate by the holie Ghost borne of the vnspotted and pure virgine Marie and truelie toke our flesh vpon thee and saued vs miserable wretched and damned sinners and deliuered vs from death and power of Satan not with golde and siluer but by thine holie and precious blood and by thine vndeserued passion and death and that of thine infinite goodnes and mercie without any merits or worthines of ours For al which we yeeld thee most hartie thanks as we are bounde For thou alone being iust hast satisfied by thine obedience the iudgement of the Father and on our behalfe offering the sacrifice of thy bodie hast deliuered vs from the tyrannie of death whereby we were held captiues For so great was the displeasure of thy Father against our sinnes that no creature could asswage the same but thou alone O onely begotten Sonne of God. O Christ most merciful God how inestimable is thy loue towards al mankind how infinite and vnspeakable thy goodnes how woonderful thine humilitie For thou being iust didst die suffer for the vniust A greater loue can no man haue than to giue his life for his friend but thou commendest thine abundant most burning affection toward vs in that being voide of al fault thou wouldest suffer death for our sakes being as yet strangers thine enimies and hast reconciled vs by thy death vnto thy Father and appeased his most heauie displeasure forgiuing al our sinnes and cancelling the hand writing which was against vs which was contrarie vnto vs hast taken it out of the way and fastened it vpon the crosse And hast spoiled principalities and powers and made a shew of them openlie triumphing ouer them by thy selfe and by thy profitable arising againe from the dead hast repared our true righteousnes which consisteth in the forgiuing of our sins and hast made vs acceptable to thy Father whereby wee please him through our reconciliation thou dost comfort our harts by the preaching of thy Gospel which worketh in vs the beginning of eternal life and by thine holie Spirit thou kindlest in vs like motions vnto thy selfe whereby we please thy Father through thee and thine obedience O Lord Iesu Christ lambe of God which takest awaie the sins of the world haue mercie vpon vs thou which sauest vs through thine owne merit virtue grant vs thy grace that the fruit of thy most sacred passion may worke effectually and profitablie within vs let not the labor which thou hast taken the paine that thou hast suffered for our redemption be in vaine through our vnthankfulnes O thou eternal intercessor word of God and his wisedome which outwardlie speakest vnto vs by the preaching of the Gospel instruct inwardlie our troubled harts by thy liuely word and effectual consolation that being mindful of thy sacrifice and suffering for our sinnes we may feele true comfort and peace of the holie Spirit in our harts Kindle in our brests a liuelie faith depending vpon thy benefits that being deliuered from the feare of hel we may finde righteousnes in thee eternal life For thou didst suffer for our sinnes rise againe for our iustification that liuing we shold her after not liue to our selues but to thee which diedst and rosest againe for vs. Grant therefore that likewise being quickned we may rise againe from al our sinnes and liue in
and bitternes which descendedst in Iordan vpon our Lorde and Sauior Christ in the likenes of a doue that we may be void of bitter enuie and contention in our harts and haue no roote among vs that bringeth forth gal and wormewood O thou substantial flame proceeding from the brest of the Father and his eternal Sonne lighten our harts with the fire of chaste burning loue thou which apperedst at the feast of Pentecost vnto the Apostles in clouen tongues like fire see vnto our coldnes and comfort vs with thy quickening heate and breathings that we may receiue thy chrisme and annointment O thou ghest of the soule make thee a mansion place within the secret parts of our harts that we may be an house for thy diuinitie which may dwel perpetuallie in our members and neuer depart from vs through our Lorde and Sauior Christ Amen 3. A praier for a stedfast hope BLessed be God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which according to his abundant mercie hath begotten vs againe vnto a liuelie hope by the resurrection of his Sonne from the dead to an inheritance immortal and vndefiled and that vadeth not away reserued in heauen for such as beleeue on him through the confession of the truth which is according to godlines vnder the hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie hath promised before the world began For we are saued by hope But hope that is seene is no hope For how can a man hope for that which he seeth But if we hope for that we see not we doe with patience abide for it For such is the wil of almightie God that we shal not haue saluation as long as we are here in this world but onelie in hope nourishing the same as it were clasped in our armes but then we shal perceiue the same in deede when we depart from hence one daie For hope is the vnseparable companion of Faith. For how can that be hoped for which is not beleeued And this hope depending vpon the promise of God is so certaine as if the thing it selfe were present For God which hath promised to vs saluation is truth and can neither deceaue nor be deceaued Wherefore we beseech thee O eternal Father autor of hope and comfort fil vs with al ioie and peace in beleeuing that we may abounde in hope through the power of the holie Ghost and aboue hope in hope beleeuing may neuer doubt of thy promises but in a sure confidence of hart applie to our selues the remission of sinnes and verilie beleue that we please thee through Christ looking in a certaine and strong hope through sufferance for the saluation of our soules in the life to come And albeit the helpes of our happines appeare not in this world yet let vs retaine a stedfast hope amōg al the terrors and feares of conscience and neuer suffer the same to be taken from vs by any snares of Satan but expecting that blessed appearing of the glorie of the mightie God and of our Sauior Christ which hath giuen himselfe for vs alwaies fasten the same vpon the good things absent and to come O thou onelie begotten Sonne of God which hast loued vs and giuen vs euerlasting comfort hope through grace comfort our harts establish vs in euery word and good worke that we stick not vncertaine neither be tossed betweene hope feare but may hold fast the confidence gedst thy selfe downe from the hiest top of glorie to vtter shame putting on our flesh thy Maiestie being hid and dissembled for a time And so becamest thou obedient vnto thy Father not onelie in obeieng him with greater reuerence than anie other creature else did but also in offering vp thy selfe a sacrifice for sinnes thereby to redeeme vs being bondslaues through pride vnto sin and death to exalt vs to an hope of eternal life and withal by thine example to teach vs and to propose an example of true lowlines and humilitie saieng Learne of me for I am meeke and lowlie in hart We beseech thee through thine humilitie and passion giue vnto vs a contrite spirit a contrite and an humbled hart which thou despisest not O lord For thou art neere vnto al them which are of a trobled hart and wilt saue such as are humble in spirit Thou regardest their praiers giuest to them thy grace and thy secrets are reuealed vnto the lowlie Grant therfore that we following thy footesteps may humble our selues from the hart without hypocrisie Turne our harts that they be not wickedlie humbled after the maner of hypocrites which bow themselues and are sad casting downe their faces towards the earth whose inward parts notwithstanding are ful of deceit O God holie Ghost which art the ruler of our mindes and the giuer of good gifts which not onelie commendest but also commandest vs to haue benignitie lowlines modestie and patience that being clothed therewithal we may endeuour to facion our selues after thee thinking modestlie and soberlie of our selues Gouerne thou our minds that we may be subiect one to another not onelie honoring but also preuenting one another in dooing the same and alwaies applieng our selues to humilitie may seeke thy glorie and the profit of our neighbor Let neither pride nor luxuriousnes haue dominion either in our sence or speech neither let vs lift vp our pecocks feathers nor extol our eielids through arrogancie neither glorie in proude and vaine opinions but by humblenes of minde submitting our selues one to another may thinke others better than our selues and consider what our condition is For man taken from the earth must returne vnto the same and be the heire of wormes and serpents Especiallie our request is that we be not puffed vp in spiritual gifts remooue arrogancie pride from vs that our harts be not lifted vp nor yet our eies exalted neither let vs wade in greater higher things than becommeth vs cause vs to frame and tame our minds like a child newlie weaned which is lowly with his mother Let our minds be weaned like a childe knowing not what pride meanes Keepe the prowde diuel that he prouoke vs not to sinne nor to swel vp through a vaine perswasion of fleshlie righteousnes neither wickedlie to boast of thy gifts abusing them to our owne glorie and contempt of others Suffer vs not to seeme wise in our owne eies Amende this vice ingraffed in vs by nature that no man loue or like himselfe too wel and in respect of himself contemne others hauing not the like or not so excellent gift as he hath Suffer not good wits teachers armed with publike auctoritie to be pricked and tickled with the spurs of pride curiositie to the moouing of idle questions and disputations either through ambition or hatred For that is not the wisedome descending
thou we beseech thee an iron piller vnto vs that such as are our enimies preuaile not against vs and be thou a brazen wal betweene vs and al our aduersaries that they come not nie vs to our hurt Giue vs this night a good sleepe that quietlie without cares and anguish of minde we may rest this night let not troblesome dreames and fantasies in which is vanitie disquiet vs Let our sleepe be sweet helthful to our bodies that waking in the morning we may rise in good helth and delight in thee our God. Grant also that both being in bed a sleepe and awake we may alwaies remember our death which is a passage to an immortal life and withal our ioieful resurrection to euerlasting glorie Amen 1. Morning praier on Thursdaie O Christ which art the light and the daie dwelling in the light that no man can attaine vnto the brightnes and cleerenes of the eternal Father the bright morning Star driuing away the darcknes of night and bringing the light of the daie ouer the face of the earth We wil blesse thee in our life time and lift vp our hands in thy Name with thankesgiuing because thou hast bin our defender Thou hast beheld our miseries and hast not put vs into the handes of our enimies which did whisper against vs imagine euil toward vs they spake euil of vs that when we slepe we might rise no more But thou O Lord tookedst compassion vpon vs and didst raise vs againe thou didst aide vs with thine arme of strength and defend vs against al our enimies and their inuasions with thy mightie power Vnder the shadow of thy wings we rested quietlie in thy lap we laie secure and safe We slept and toke our rest and yet rose againe For the Lord defended vs and was our aide God is in the mids of vs therefore we wil not be mooued God wil helpe vs and that right earelie that we may reioice in his saluatiō O thou onelie begotten Sonne of God which sittest at the right hand of God thine almightie Father we most humblie beseech thee by thy glorious ascention into the heauens wherby thou didst pierce the thick cloudes that thou mightest put away our iniquities like a cloude wype away our sinnes wherby thou which art the Sonne of righteousnes art hidden that neither our soules can behold thee neither our praiers ascende vnto thee like a myst Let thy light shine ouer vs this daie like the cleere daie star piercing the thick mystes to the expelling of the darknes of our vnderstanding For thou art the true light lightning euerie man that commeth into this world Clarifie our harts and driue away the darknes of error and ignorance that as at the breaking of the daie darkenes doth vanish so al the darknes of our mindes may be remoued that we continue not in the dongeon and shadow of death but may approch to thy word as to a candle shining in a darke place vntil the daie dawne and thou the day star arise in our harts Let thy worke appere to thy seruants and thy magnificence towards the sonnes of men The glorious maiestie of the Lorde be vpon vs and prosper the workes of our hands vpon vs O prosper the works of our hands Let vs not forgetting thy commandements decline from them either to the right hand or to the left but make vs to meditate vpon them rising out of our beds bind them for a signe vpon our hands and tie them to our fingers write them on the table of our harts that the memorie of them at no time depart out of our minds O Lorde we haue called vpon thee daie by daie we haue stretched out our hands vnto thee In our troble doe we lift vp our hands vnto thee O Lorde beseeching thee most humbly to kepe vs this daie and al our life time from the place of hel and to deliuer vs from the clawes of the vngodlie O Lord be merciful vnto vs we haue longed for thee be thou our helpe and shield our saluation in the time of troble Send downe thine hand from aboue and deliuer vs Stretch forth thine arme with power strengthen thine hand lift vp thy right hand to saue vs. Arise now O Lorde put forth thine hand forget not the poore Breake thou the power of the vngodlie and malitious that we without feare of danger may confesse and praise thee Though we walke in the middes of troble yet wilt thou refresh vs against the furiousnes of our enimies wilt thou stretch forth thine hand and thy right hand shal saue vs that al may knowe and vnderstand that this is thine hand and that thou hast saued vs. Therefore we wil praise the Lord which stood at the right hand of the poore to saue his soule from the persecutors O most mightie protector keepe vs likewise from al bodilie harme Deliuer vs from the myre that we perish not deliuer vs from such as hate vs and from the deepe waters that the fluds ouerwhelme vs not neither the deepe swalow vs vp protect vs with thine hand that we perish not by thy firie darts Thou God rulest the virtues of the elements which thou hast created and guidest the raging of the sea For thou art the God which framest the mountaines makest the winds and declarest vnto man what his thought is thou makest the morning and darknes and walkest vpon the hie places of the earth the Lord God of Hostes is thy Name worlds without ende Amen 2. A thankesgiuing vnto God for our foode WE thanke thee King of glorie Lord of heauen earth because thou hast from our youth to this present houre maruelouslie nourished vs giuing vs meat drinke and clothing with al other thinges pertaining to the sustentation of this our life Naked and bare came we out of our mothers wombes we brought nothing into the world but whatsoeuer we haue thou gauest the same yea it was afore we were borne and in our mothers wombe didst thou ordaine things necessarie for this life and sufferest vs to enioie al things abundantlie Alwaie thou hast a care of vs as a father hath of his children neither art thou ignorant that we stand in neede continuallie of thy blessings and dailie are destitute of new reliefe al which thou giuest after thy wonted and vnspeakable goodnes We acknowledge that whatsoeuer we haue or possesse it is thy gift confesse thee to be the fountaine of al good things and perceiue thy Fatherlie goodnes to be spread not onelie ouer al mankind but also ouer the brute creatures Thou giuest meat to al flesh thou giuest fodder to the Cattel and feedest the yong rauens that cal vp-vpon thee For corporal goodes are not distributed among men by chance or without thy prouidence neither be they
nature the children of wrath and of death aliens and strangers from the testaments of promise hauing none hope and without God in the world but now are fellowe Citizens with the Saints and of the housholde of GOD built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophetes Iesus Christ being the head corner stone which sustaineth the whole building by his word of power Heare vs thy seruants making supplication for such as yet haue not heard the sound of thy Gospel neither knowen thy Name but sitting in darknes and in the shadow of death haue their minds darkned and are alienated from the life of God by the ignorance that is in them and are carried away vnto dumbe Idols and fained Gods euen as they are led and runne to worship that which is no God. Giue grace that thy word may be knowen among them and preached in euerie land and the sound thereof go out into the endes of the worlde that thou also maist be found of them which sought thee not and famous among such as neuer asked after thee Send forth thy worde that they may be healed walke no more in the vanities of their minde O God Father of our Lord Iesu Christ King of glorie giue them the Spirit of wisedome and reuelation through the confessing of thee lighten their mindes that they may know what the hope is wherevnto thou hast called vs and how precious the glorie is of thine inheritance in the Saints and how excellent the greatnes of his power is toward vs which beleeue according to the working of his mightie power which thou hast wrought in him when he was raised by thee from the dead and placed at thy right hand in heauenlie places aboue al principalities and powers Open the harts of vnbeleuers that hearing thy word they may acknowledge thee the onelie true God Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent and may worship thee the Father in the Sonne the Sonne in thee the Father with the holie Ghost euen as thou hast reuealed thy selfe Take the vale from the harts of the Iewes least being blinded in the reading of the old Testament they stumble at the stone and rock of offence by incredulitie and hardnes of their harts that thy Sonne Christ crucified and preached be not vnto them a stumbling block and thy Gospel the sauor of death vnto death but that being conuerted by true faith to the knowledge of thee the Father in the Sonne their face being vncouered they may behold thy glorie knowing by the writings of the Prophets the Messias which thou hast appointed to be the Sauiour of the world Likewise gather thou the Gentils to whom thy Gospel the word of the crosse is meere foolishnes into thy Congregation that they may embrace thy mysterie casting of al fleshlie wisedome and leade al their cogitations captiue to the obedience of the Gospel Moreouer our praier and supplication is not onelie for those aboue mentioned but also for such as either although they resist not thy truth and pure religion openlie and obstinatelie professe our religion yet mingled with manie superstitions and abuses worshipping and calling vpon Saints departed out of this life or be addicted to outward ceremonies and rudiments of this world burdening their consciences with mans obseruations and traditions of their fathers or trusting to their owne righteousnes or rather to the workes and deedes of the flesh refuse and make little account of thy righteousnes which is the true iustification and go about to establish their owne righteousnes But Christ is the ende of the Lawe for righteousnes to as manie as beleeue And an other foundation can no man laie than that is laide in thy Sonne the Messias which is the waie the truth the life and the ende of the Lawe For by his perfect obedience and fulfilling of the Lawe by his innocent and bitter death he hath restored vnto vs true saluation and perfect righteousnes that euerie one which beleeueth on him might not perish but haue euerlasting life O God the sight of the blind bring them home againe which through ignorance either are entangled in doubtful labyrinthes and grosse errors or countenance polluted religion that lightened by thy spirit they may returne into the right waie And such as with impudent faces and stiffe necks do obstinatlie with an affected ignorance withstande thine holie Spirit whose senses the God of this worlde hath blinded that the light of thy glorious Gospel shine not ouer them represse bridle their malice that by slaughters persecutions they nether troble nor destroy thy Church Amen 6. A praier for our benefactors O Merciful faithful and louing God rewarder of al good workes Forasmuch as ingratitude is the most odious detestable vice of al the which both thou doest abhor no wise man can abide as a thing deseruing infinit paines and rigorous punishment For he which rendreth euil for good euil shal not depart from his house And the hope of the vnthankful shal melt away like the winter ice and flow away as vnprofitable water We beseech thee giue vs grateful mindes alwaies remembring benefits receiued least forgetting the merits exhibited vpon vs we fal into the filthie and abhominable fault of ingratitude But gouerne vs with thine holie Spirit that we may alwaies giue thanks vnto thee a most bountiful God for such benefits as thou hast bestowed not vpon vs onelie but vpon al mankind For creating vs after thine owne image for redeeming vs being sinners forlorne and condemned for deliuering vs from sinne death and hel by the most holie and pretious blood of thy deere Sonne for bestowing thy righteousnes thine holie Spirit and euerlasting life vpon vs for conseruing our soules and bodies safe and sounde finallie for giuing and that abundantlie al such things as are necessarie for the sustentation of this life and besides for thy merciful protection against al dangers al which thou doest of thy meere mercie and Fatherlie goodnes without any merits or worthines of ours And therefore we wil extol thee O God of our life and yeeld thanks to thy Name O most hie For thou art gratious and thy mercie endureth for euer We wil giue thee thanks O Lord among the people we wil sing to thee among the nations For the greatnes of thy mercie reacheth vnto the heauens So infinite and great are thy benefits conferred vpon vs O Lord that we are vnable to conceiue them in our minds Notwithstanding our mouthes shal speake of thy righteousnes and saluation for we know none end thereof What recompence shal we make to the Lord for al the benefits that he hath done vnto vs We wil take vp the cup of saluation and cal vpon the Name of the lord We wil pay our vowes vnto the Lord in the presence of his
hir frute in due season O Lorde in our trobles we wil seeke thee earelie in the morning and returne vnto thee our GOD which art readie as the spring of the daie and wilt come vnto vs as the fructifieng raine and as the timelie and latter shoure which doth good to the earth be thou in like maner a refuge vnto the poore and a timelie helper in our troble We wil loue thee deerelie O Lorde our strength thou art our rock and our defence our Sauior our God and our might in whom we wil trust our buckler the horne of our saluation and our refuge Keepe vs Lord from the hands of the vngodlie preserue vs from wicked men which are purposed to ouerthrow our goings The proude haue laide a snare for vs and spred a net abroad with cordes yea and set traps in our waie But deliuer thou our soules from death and our feete from falling For thou art righteous O Lorde and dwellest in the middes of vs doing none iniquitie but earelie earelie euerie morning bringest thou forth thy iudgement into light and wilt not be drawen awaie from sauing vs that we be not hurt of bloodie felowes of theeues murtherers whose feete are swift to shed blood In thy Name O Christ King of eternal glorie we wil tread vpon the Serpents and Scorpions ouer the whole power of the enimie and he shal not hurt vs for thy worde shal saue vs which liuest and rulest with the Father in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God for euermore Amen 2. A thankesgiuing for the passion of Christ. WE thanke thee O Lord Iesu Christ God and man for that of thine onlie and free mercie without any works or worthines at al of ours thou hast redeemed vs and damned men through thy most innocent and holie passion O sweete Iesu how bitter and great were thy paines how horrible and cruel thy punishment how greuous and lamentable thine affliction how bloodie thy wounds thy dolors how diuers and thy death how shameful which thou sufferedst for vs How inestimable was the loue that mooued thee to endure such and so great torments to reconcile vs to the Father In the mount of Oliues through our infinite sinnes lighting vpon thee and sense of the most heauie displeasure of thy Father against our wickednes that didst sweate contrarie to our common nature blood that the drops like blood trickled vpon the earth so after a maruelous maner blood came out of thee being expelled through the resolution of the spirits nature being broken and languishing by reason of thine intolerable sorrowes and torments And therefore thy Disciples being fled thou didst voluntarilie commit thy selfe into the handes of the cruel Iewes which brought thee most rigorouslie bounde without compassion from the presence of one corrupt Iustice vnto another more cruel where thou being falselie accused was vniustlie condemned contemptuouslie spit vpon opprobriouslie obraided and buffeted most iniuriouslie For our offences thou wast wounded and for our wickednes broozed for the offences of thy people thou wast beaten killed and with sharpe thornes crowned and contumeliouslie dealt withal For our sinnes thou wast cruellie handled a worme not a man a verie scorne of men and the outcast of the people Thy looke was odious and il fauoured a man thou wast ful of sorrowes without forme or beautie so that they had no lust vnto thee Besides some couered thine eies and laide vpon thy face with their fists exasperating thy torments with manie scoffes and mockes Thy blessed bodie was so mangled and cut with stripes that euen an Ethnike pittieng the same vttered these words Behold the man. Finallie for our enormous offences thou wast hanged like an accursed wretch betweene two theeues afflicted with a most odious kind of death pierced through the hands and the feete whereby thou didst encounter with most extreeme torments which were so great that for a space thou wast after a sort without al maner comfort and so constrained through thy great sorowe and greeuousnes of paine to drinke vineger so in the extremitie of paine thou didst giue vp thy Ghost cōmending the same vnto thy deere Father in wonderful patience like a sheepe lead to the slaughter and as a lambe quiet before the shearer thou didst not open thy mouth to raile yea that was so far from thee that thou praiedst for thine enimies that so by thy torments hauing quited vs from al guilt aswel of fault as of punishment we might be healed For to this ende didst thou be are the burden of our sinnes vpon the woode of the crosse that thou mightest recouer the peace of soules for such as are healed by thy stripes and obteine the true righteousnes for as manie as beleeue on thee that the wrath of thine eternal Father which is a consuming fire doe not deuour vs. O Iesu Christ sonne of the liuing God for these torments al other thy passions we wil honor praise and thanke thee for euermore beseeching thee most humblie that thy passions may worke and take effect in vs and be a present most wholesome medicine in al necessities and that alwaies being mindful of the same we may reioice therein make it a comfort for our selues against al the tentations of Satan and the force of sinne the Law that thy crosse may be an ensample to vs that walking in thy steps we render not rebuke for rebuke but may imitate thy long suffering and praie for such as curse vs and finallie may so thinke vpon and celebrate the cause of thy death that the consideration thereof may vtterlie both extinguish al the flames of vnlawful concupiscence and burie the enticements of the flesh and also raise vp the seede of godlines and nourish the loue of virtue within vs that so being wholie dead vnto sinne we may liue vnto righteousnes serue thee which barest our sinnes in thy bodie vpon the crosse but liuest now and raignest with the Father in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God for euermore Amen 3. A praier for true repentance O Lord God which artful of compassion mercie long suffering and of great goodnes thou continuest thy mercie for thousands taking awaie iniquitie sinnes and offences thou callest vs after thy woonted mercie by thy worde to repentance and hartie conuersion For vnto al and euerie one is repentance and forgiuenes of sinnes preached in thy Name Moreouer we knowe the riches of thy lenitie patience and long suffering in this that thou dost not suddainelie at vnawares take awaie sinners from the earth neither ouerwhelme them by by through thy iustice in their wicked deedes doing but giuest them a space to repent which is a most notable argument that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he be conuerted
infinite that it can neither be augmented nor diminished For looke how hie the Heauen is in comparison of the earth so great is thy mercie also towardes them which feare thee And as far as the East is from the West so far hast thou set our sinnes from vs. For as a Father pittieth his owne children euen so art thou merciful to al which feare thee Yea though a Mother doe forget hir infant and take no pittie on the sonne of hir wombe yet wilt not thou forget vs for we are written vpon thine hands The mercie of the Lord is vnchangeable infinite and neuer faileth but dailie ariseth newe and fresh vpon vs. The merciful goodnes of the Lord endureth for euer and euer vpon them which feare him his righteousnes vpon childers children such as keepe his couenants and thinke vpon his commandements to doe them Thy mercie is on such as feare thee from generation to generation The mercie that a man hath reacheth vnto his neighbor but the mercie of the Lorde is vpon al flesh chastening and teaching and nurturing yea euen as a shepheard turneth againe his flock so doth he al them which receiue chastening nurture and doctrine Merciful art thou vnto al them which receiue correction and diligentlie seeke after thy iudgements And although for a while thou forsakest vs yet afterward in much fauor wilt thou gather vs together In the time of thy wrath thou hidest thy face from vs for a little season but for al that thy mercie towarde vs is euerlasting Blessed be thy Name O God of our Fathers which when thou art angrie shewest mercie and in the time of troble forgiuest the sinnes of them which cal vpon thee This thy goodnes and ouerabounding mercie which hath bin from the beginning and for euer shal continue ouer al which vnfainedlie repent neuer languishing or failing but abiding perfect alwaies in the highest degree we wil praise and confesse from one generation to another For gratious and merciful is the Lord patient and long suffering bent to shew fauor and meruelouslie gentle towards al that cal vpon him Praise the Lord al ye heathen and glorifie him al nations For his merciful kindnes is euer more and more toward vs. We wil not keepe back thy louing mercie and truth from the great congregation withdraw not thou thy mercies from vs O Lorde let thy kindnes and truth alwaie preserue vs. O let thy merciful kindnes be our comfort according to thy worde vnto thy seruants O deale with thy seruants according to thy great mercie and teach vs thy statutes that in like maner we may be merciful toward al men without respect of persons or hope of gaine willinglie without morositie that in thy iudgement we may finde mercie through the passion and death of thy sonne Iesus Christ which liueth raigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God worlds without ende Amen 3. A praier for an happie departure out of this worlde O Most gratious God thy yeares endure throughout al generations thy daies are without ende or beginning but the daies of man surelie are determined which he can not ouerpasse and the nomber of his moneths are knowen to thee thou hast appointed him his bounds which he cannot go beyonde Thou hast nombred our daies which vade awaie sodainelie like the grasse For we are soone dispatched and easelie consume Our daies are like a shadowe and wither awaie like grasse A man in this world is euen like a vapor that vanisheth awaie For al flesh is grasse and al the glorie thereof as the flower of the fielde which florisheth in the morning and afterwarde withereth and vadeth Behold our daies are to be measured they are as it were a spanne long and our age is nothing in respect of thee And verilie euerie man liuing is altogether vanitie Our age is folden together and taken awaie from vs like a shepherdes cotage our life is cut of by our sinnes like the thred of the weauer which is sodainlie broke of Wâ— are but strangers in this woâ—â—de and soiourners as were our fathers our daies on the earth also are but as a shadow and we are as nothing in respect of thee Our life speedilie goeth awaie like the weauers shuttle and it abideth not Wherefore Lord let vs know our end and the number of our daies that we may be certified how long we haue to liue and what is yet to come Instruct vs O Lord that being alwaies mindful of our mortalitie we neuer promise to our selues manie yeeres nor long liues in this pilgrimage of ours so shal we not liue securelie deferring our conuersion to thee from daie to daie nor yet put confidence in this fraile and vncertaine life as did that rich man saieng Soule thou hast much good laid vp in store for manie yeeres take thine ease eate drinke and be merie Whose soule notwithstanding was taken from him the same night But giue grace that in thy feare we may dailie prepare oâ— selues to depart out of this prison for nothing is more certaine than death though nothing more vncertaine than the houre thereof Therefore let vs haue alwaies before our eies an image and meditation of our departure the better to know the fleeting and vanitie of this combersome and vncertaine life that we may liue to thee our God being sounde in faith and strong in hope loking with cherefulnes for the daie of our departure the ioiful appearing of thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Redeeemer and as long as we abide in this tabernacle of our bodies with al studie ministering to our faith virtue to virtue knowledge to knowledge temperance to temperance patience to patience godlines vntil this tabernacle being laid awaie we shal passe ouer to our dwelling place not made with hande but euerlasting in the heauens where we shal be clothed with eternal glorie immortalitie when this earthlie house is put of and destroied Grant also that trusting firmelie to thy promises we may be readie and glad to returne to our euerlasting and celestial country for while we are in this bodie we wander froÌ„ thee our God for now we walke in faith not in the enioieng and possession of eternal goodes wherfore whether we be at home or from home let vs endeuor our selues to be acceptable in thy sight Make vs faithful and wise seruants alwaies loking for the comming of our Lord for we know not when he wil come at the euening or at midnight whether at the cock crowing or in the dawning least by a suddaine houre of death being ouertaken and as it were caught in the foulers trap we be found vnreadie but contrariwise by prudent watching in true conuersion and repentance may continuallie couet to be dissolued and to be with