few that doo enioy them For straight is the gate and narow is the way whiche leadeth vnto life and few there be that find it Notwithstanding O heauenly father thou hast a litle flocke to whom it is thy pleasure to geue y e glorious kingdom of heauē Ther is a certaine number of sheep that heare thy voice whom no man is able to pluck out of thy hand whiche shal neuer perish to whō also thou shalt geue eternall life Make me therfore O lorde of that number whom thou frō euerlasting hast predestinate to bee saued whose names also are written in the book of life Pluck me out of the cōpany of y e stinkking gotes whiche shal stād on thy left hand be damned place me among those thy sheep whiche shal stand on thy right hand and be saued Graunt me this o mer cifull Father for thy deere sonnes sake Iesu Christ our Lorde So shal I enioying this singular benefite at thy hand being placed in thy glorious kingdom sing per petuall praises to thy godly maiestie whiche liuest and reignest with thy deerely beloued sonne and the holy ghost one true and euerlasting God c. ¶ A thanks geuing vnto God for all his benefites THy benefites toward me O moste louing Father are so great infinite whether I haue respect vntomy body or vnto my soule that I finde not in my self how to recompence any part of thine vnspeakable goodnes toward me But y u whiche needest none of my goods knowing our beggery yea ournothing requirest of vs for a recompēce of thy kindnes only y e sacrifice of praise and thanks geuing o lorde and mercifull father what wurthi thanks am I pore wretched sīner able to geue the Notw tstāding trusting on thy merci fauorable kīd nes I offer vnto thee in the name of Christe the sacrifice of praise euer thanking the moste hartely for all thy benefites whiche thou hast be stowed vpon me thine vnprofitable seruaūt from the beginning of my life vnto this presēt houre moste hūbly beseeching the to continew thy louing kindnes to ward me and to geue me grace to walke wurthy of this thy fatherly goodnes that whē thou shalt call me out of this carefull life I may enioy y t thy moste singulare last benefite whiche is euerlasting glori through Iesus Christe our Lord to whom with thee and the ho li ghost be al honour praise for euer and euer Amen ¶ A praier to be said at the houre of death O Lorde Iesu whiche art the only helth of all mē liuing the euerlasting life of thē which die in thy faith I wretched sinner geue and submit my self wholy vnto thy most blessed wil. And I being sure that the thing cā not perish whiche is cōmitted vnto thy merci O lord geue me grace that willingly I may leaue this fraill wicked fleshe in hope of the resurrection whiche in better wise shal restore it to me agaī I beseeche thee moste merciful lorde Iesus christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strōg my soule agaīst all temptacions And that thou wilt couer and defend me with the buckler of thy mercy against all y e assaults of the deuill I see knowledge y e there is in my self no help of saluation But al my confidence hope trust is in thy moste mercifull goodnes I haue no merits nor good wurks whiche I may alledge before thee Of my sinns euill wurks alas I see a great hepe but thorow thy mercy I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes but take accept me for rightuos and iust to be y e enheritour of euerlasting life Thou mercifull Lorde wast borne for my sake y u didst suffer bothe hunger thirst for my sake thou didst preache teache thou didst pray and fast for my sake thou didst al good wurks deeds for my sake Thou sufferedst moost greuous paines and torments for my sake And finally thou gauest thy moste precious body to die thy bloud to be shed on the cros for my sake Now moste mercifull sauiour let all these things profit me whiche thou freely hast geuen me that hast geuē thy self for me Let thy bloud clense and washe away the spots and foulnes of my sinnes Let thy righte ousnes hide couer my vnrighteousnes Let the merites of thy passion bloud be satisfaction for my sinnes Geue me Lorde thy grace that my faith and saluation in thy bloud wauer not in me but euer be firm constant that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that charitie wax not colde in me finally that the weaknes of my fleshe bee not ouercome with fear of death Graunt me mercifull sauiour that whē death hath shut vp the eies of my body yet that the eyes of my soule may stil beholde and look vpon thee that when death hath takē away the vse of my tung spech yet that my hart may cry say vnto thee In manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meū that is to say O Lorde into thy hāds I geue and commit my soule Domine Iesu accipe spiritum meum Lorde Iesu receiue my soule vnto thee Amen ¶ Certain Godly Meditations made in the forme of prayers by S. Augustine whiche if thou wilt rede them quietly with a feruent spirit they will stir thee muche to deuocion ¶ A prayer wherin through cōmemoration of Christes passion we desire pardon of oure sinnes and continuaunce in vertue and godlines BEholde O pitiful father thy most pitifull sōne which suffred for me being so wicked Be hold o most merciful king who suffreth and remember as thou art louing and kinde for whom he suffred Is not this O my Lorde that innocent whom allthough he were thy sonne thou didst deliuer to redeme raunsō a seruant Is not this the author and beginner of life whiche being led as a sheep to bee killed beeing made obediēt to thee euen vnto death was not afraid to take vpō him the moste cruell and sharp kinde of death Cal to remembraunce O thou distributor of all helth that this is he whom althoughe thou diddest beget him by thy power yet not withstanding thou wouldest haue to bee made partaker of mine infirmitie and weaknes Truly this same is thy Godhed whiche did take vpō him my nature whiche was hanged vppō the gibbet of tourment or cros whiche in the fleshe whiche he had taken vpon him did suffer sorowful punishment Turn the eyes of thy maiestie O Lord my God toward the wurk of thine vnspekeable pitie Look vpō thy deere sonne whose whole body is stretched forth Mark y e harmles and pure hands whiche doo drop and distill down innocent bloud And I beseeche thee bee pacified and pardon the wicked dedes whiche my hands haue cōmitted Consider his bare naked side being thrust thorow cruelly with a spear and renue and wash me with
minde vnto thee It pleaseth me to talke of thee to hear of thee to write of thee to confer meditate of thee to rede euery day of thy blessednes and glory and to muse often times in my minde of the things I haue red concerning thee that at the least by suche meanes I being vnder the sweet refreshing and comfor ting of thy liuely air may pas from the vexations ieoperdies labours traueils of this mortall life that will soon perish y tin passing I may lay my weary head in thy bosom to slepe or to rest a little for this cause doo I enter into the plesaūt medow of the holy scriptures in plow ing I pluck the goodliest green herbes of sentences and in reading I doo eat them and in frequenting I doo meditate and as it were cud them and in gathering them together at the last I lay them vp in my memory that by suche meanes when I haue tasted of thy sweetnes I may sumwhat les feel the bitternes of this moste wretched life O thou moste happy life oh kingdom whiche art blessed in deed whiche lackest death whiche art without ende no time doth successifly pas at any time to thee Wheras continual day without night knoweth no time wheras that capitain and conquerour is accōpanied with those queres of angels singing of himnes songs they sing vnto God with out ceassing the balet of Balets of Sion Oh moste noble head which art compassed about with a perpetuall crown oh that par dō and forgeuenes of my sinnes were graunted vnto me and thē immediatly this burden of my flesh laid awai that I might enter into thy ioyes to haue true rest and that I might get within the goodly beutifull walles of thy citie to receiue a crown of life at the hand of our Lord that I might be amongst those moste holy queres that I might stand with the moste blessed Spirites of the creator of glory that I might see presently the countenaunce of Christe that I might behold alwaies y e moste his vnspekeable light incōprehensible which cā not be cōteined as in a place And so I should not onli be out of al feare of death but also I might reioyse alwayes at the gifte of euerlastyng incorruption Amen ¶ Heare doo wee complain that we be not moued nor pricked in our contem plation and prayer like as the angels be which tremble at the sight of God PArdon me O Lorde pardon me mercifully forgeue me haue mercyvpō me spare mine ignoraunce and my great vnper fectnes doo not reproue me as a rash felow because I dare be so bolde which am but thy seruaūt but would to God I were ether a good seruaunt or none vnprofitable nor euill seruaunte And therfore am I an euill man because I prayse blesse wurship thee which art our God almighty terrible and very much to be feared I wurship thee I saye without contricion of hart and without a well of teares For if so be that the angels when they wurship and praise thee doo trē ble being fulfilled with marueilous gladnes I whiche am a sin ner whiles I stande before thee saying praises and offeringe sacrifice why am I not afraid in my harte why am I not pale in my countenaunce why doo not my lippes quake and tremble why is not all my body afraide and why doo I not mourne and bewaile before thee after suche ▪ a sorte that teares might springe out of mine eyes I wolde fayne but I am not able because I can not doo that whiche I desire to doo This maketh me truly wōderfully to maruell that I am no more moued when I see with the eyes of my faith thee which art so fearfull But who can doo any thing without the helpe of thy Grace Except thou make our stony hartes to relent we of oure selfs ar not able to mollifie them but all our healthe dependeth vpon thy great mercye O wretche that I am how is my soule made without any feeling or perseueraunce that it is not afrayde with ouer muche feare whiles it standeth before God sīgeth to him his owne praises Alas how is my hart so hardned that myn eyes doo not gush out great fluddes of teares without ceassing when I whiche am but a seruaunte or bondman doo cō mon and talke in my Lorde and masters presēce Yea a mā with God a creature with a creatour I that am made of the slime of the earthe doo speake with him that made al things of nothing Put me before thee ▪ O Lorde and what so euer I perceyue of my self in the secrets of my hart I doo not keep it close from thy brotherly eares Thou art riche in mercy liberall in rewards geue mè of thy goods that with them I may serue the. For with nothīg els cā we serue or please thee but with thin owne giftes whiche thou hast vouchsaued to bestow vpon vs. Fasten I beseche thee thy feare in myfleshe Let my hart reioice and be glad to feare thy name Would God my sinfull soule feared thee so muche as that holy man the whiche saide I alwayes feared God as though it were greate swellīg fluddes should come and tumble vpon me O God the geuer of all good thinges geue me emongst thy praises a well of teares with the purenes of hart and reioising of mind that I loving thee perfetly and wurthily praising thee may feel taste and sauour in the palace of myhart how swet and pleasaūt thou art O Lorde as it is written Doo ye tast and see how sweet delectable the Lorde is Blessed is the man that putteth his trustin him Blessed is y t people whiche knoweth glad and ioifull praising Blessed is the man whose stregth is in thee in whose hart ar thy wayes which going thorow the vale of misery vse it for a well Blessed ar the cleane in hart because they shall see God Blessed are thay that dwell in the house of the Lorde they shal praise thee worlde without end ¶ A veri deuoute prayer for the geuing of thankes O Lorde Christe which art the wurd of the father whiche came into this world to saue sin ners I beseche thee by the most louing bowels of thy mercy to amend repaire my lyfe make better my dedes take thou thorderyng of my maners take from me that whiche noyeth and hurteth me and displeaseth the and geue me that which thou knowest will please thee proffit me Who can make clean y t which is cōceiued of an vncleane sead but thou alone Thou art the god almighty of infinite pietie which dost iustifie and make righteous euen those that were wicked mē and raisest again to life thē that were dead in sin thou chaungest sinners and they are no sinners Take away therfore from me what so euer is in me that pleaseth not thee for thine eyes doo see muche vnperfectnes in me Lay thy hand I besech the of thy pitie on me
assaults of the deuill from thy wrath from euerlastyng damnation Good Lorde deliuer vs. From all blindnes of hart from pride vaine glory and hipocrisy from enuy hatred and malice all vncharitablenes Good Lorde deliuer vs. From fornication and all deadly sinne from all the deceits of the world y e fleshe the Deuill Good Lorde deliuer vs. From lightenīges and tempests from plague pestilence famine from batell and murder and frō sodain death Good Lorde delyuer vs. From all sedition and priui conspiracie from all false doctrine heresy from all hardnes of hart and contempt of thy wurde and Commaundemente Good Lorde deliuer vs. By the mistery of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuitie and and circumcisiō by thy baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lorde deliuer vs. By thine agony bloudy sweat by thy cros and passion by thy precious deathe buriall by thy glorious Resurrection and ascēcion and by the comming of the holy Ghost Good Lorde deliuer vs. In all time of our tribulation in al time of our welth in the hour of death in the day of iudgmēt Good Lorde deliuer vs. We sinners doo beseeche thee to hear vs O Lorde God and that it may please thee to rule and go uern thy holy Churche vniuersally in the right way We beseeche thee to hear vs good lorde That it may please thee to keep and strengthen in the true wurshipping of thee in righteousenes and holines of life thy seruaunt Elizabeth oure moste gratious Queen gouernoure We beseeche thee to hear vs good lorde That it mai please the to rule her hart in thy faith feare and loue and that she may euermore haue affiaunce in thee and euer seek thy honour and glory We beseeche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please the to be her defender and keper geuing her the victori ouer all her enemies We beseeche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops Pastoures and Ministers of the Churche with true knowledg and vnderstanding of thy wurde and that bothe by their preaching and living they may set it furthe and shew it accordingly We beeseche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please thee to endu the Lordes of the counsell all the Nobilitie with grace wisdom and vnderstanding We beseeche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please thee to bles and keep the magistrats geuing them grace to execute iustice and to maintain truthe We beseeche thee to hear vs c. That it may please thee to blesse and keep all thy people We beseeche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please thee to geue to all nations vnitie peace and concorde We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to geue vs an hart to loue and dread the and diligently to liue after thy Commaundements We beseeche thee to hear vs. That it may please thee to geue all thy people increace of grace to hear meekly thy wurd and to receiue it with pure affecciō to bring foorth the fruits of y e spirit We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to bring into the way of truthe all suche as haue erred and are deceyued We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to strēgthen suche as doo stand and confort and help the weak herted to raise vp them that fall and finally to beat down Sathan vnder our feet We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to succour help and confort all that be in daunger necessitie and tribulation We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring of childe all sick persons yung children and to shew thy pitie vp on all prisoners and captiues We beseeche thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to defēd and prouide for the fatherles children and widowes and all that be desolat and oppressed We beseeche thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to haue mercy vpon all men We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to forgeue our enemies persecuters slaūderers to turn their harts We beseeche thee to heare vs. c That it may please thee to geue and preserue to our vse the kind ly fruits of y e earth so as in due time we may enioy them We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to geue vs true repētance to forgeue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignoraunces and to endue vs with the grace of thy holi spirit to amende oure liues according to thy holy wurde We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. ¶ Sōne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sōne of God we beseeche thee to c. O Lambe of God that takest a way the sinnes of the worlde Graunt vs thy peace O Lambe of God that takest a way the sinnes of the world Haue mercy vpon vs. O Christe heare vs. O Christe heare vs. Lorde haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christe haue mercy vpon vs. Christe haue mercy vpon vs. Lorde haue mercy vpon vs. Lorde haue mercy vpon vs. ¶ Oure father whiche art in heauen c. And lead vs not into temptaciō But deliuer vs from euill Amen ¶ The versicle O Lorde deal not with vs after our sinnes ¶ Answere Neither rewarde vs after oure iniquities O God merciful father that dispisest not the sighing of a contrite hart nor the desire of suche as be sorowfull mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in al oure troubles and aduersities whensoeuer they op pres vs. And gratiously hear vs that those euils whiche the craft and sutteltie of the deuill or man wurketh against vs be brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnes they may be dispersed that we thy seruaūts being hurt by no persecutions may euermore geue thanks vnto thee in thy holy Churche through Ie sus Christ our Lorde ¶ O Lorde arise help and deliuer vs for thy names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs y e noble wurcks that thou diddest in their daies and in the olde time before them ¶ O Lorde arise help vs and deliuer vs for thy honour Glory to the father the sonne to the holi ghost Asit was in the beginning is now c. Amen From oure enemies defēd vs O Christe Graciously looke vpō oure afflictiōs Pitifully behold the sorowes of oure hart Mercifully forgeue the sinnes of thy people Fauourably with mercy heare oure prayers O sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpō vs. Bothe now and euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christe Graciously heare vs O Christe graciously heare vs O Lorde Christe O Lorde let thy merci be shewed vpon vs. As we doo put