which are in Heauen haue mercie vpon me and be thou my mercifull mediator for me vnto thy Father that I may be saued O holy Ghost God conqual with the father the sonne haue mercie vpon me worke thy diume power in me thorow thy gracious mipiration Drame me vnto Iesus Christ that I may finde fanour and be saued Amen The second part As concerning my bodie that I bequeathe vnto the earth from whence it came My Consission I Knowledge and confese with all my heart that I am a sinner yea such a sinner as hath neede of the grace mercie and fauour of God My faith ioyned with hope I beleeue that the Lord will haue mercie vpon me for he hath first made me and if it shall please him he may saue me This I beleeue whether I liue or dye I am the Lords My hope I Hope that I shall find both grace and mercie for my sinnes of God the Father euen for Iesus Christes sake in him I beleeue he is my redeemer he liueth for euer and euer He maketh intercession for sinnes So this I know that now I am a corruptible body but I hope through Christ to rise an vncorruptible body Now a mortall bodie but through Christ and his merites I hope to haue though now an earthly bodie then an heauenly bodie For as many as shall be saued shall shine in the kingdome of God as bright as the Sunne This my faith and hope I lay vp in my minde the mind of my Soule trusting onely to be saued thorowe the merites of Iesus Christ God and man which is in Heauen From whence we looke againe the which shall change our vile bodie and make it like his owne most glorious bodie whereby he is ablel to subdue all things vnto himselfe O Christ haue mercie vpon mee thou hast redeemed mee O Christ saue me A Prayer for the Sicke OH how sicke am I My weakenesse increaseth more and more Lord be mercifull vnto me and giue mee grace pacientlie and thankefullie to beare the crosse and in the middest of this my sickenesse alwaies to say Thy will O heauenly Father bee done and not mine Another Prayer for the Sicke O Lorde Iesus Christ which art the onely health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them which dye in thy faith I wretched sinner giue submic my selfe wholy to thy most blessed will And I being sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed vnto thy mercie most humbly beseech thee O Lord to giue me grace that I may now willinglie leaue this fraile wicked flesh in hope of the resurrection which in better wise shall restore it to me againe I beseech thee O most mercifull Iesu Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all temptations and that thou wilt couer and defend my with the Buckler of thy mercie against all the assaults of the Diuell I see and acknowledge that there is in my selfe no helpe of life and fasuation 〈◊〉 my considence hope and trust i◠in thy most mercifull goodnesse I haue no merites 〈◊〉 good workes which I may alleage before thée Of sinnes and euill works alas I see a grace heape but through thy mercie I trust to be of the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes but take and accept me for righteous and iust and to be the inheritour of euerlasting glorie Thou O most mercifull Lord waste borne for my sake Thou diddest suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake Thou diddest preach and teach thou diddest pray and fast for my sake Thou didest all good woorkes and deedes for my sake Thou sufferedst most greeuous paynes and torments for my sake And finally thou gauest thy most precious body to dye and thy most blessed blood to be shed on the Crosse for my sake Now most mercifull Sauiour let all these things profite me which thou freely hast giuen me which hast giuen thy selfe for me let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spottes and foulenesse of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my vnrighteousnesse Let the merites of thy passion and blood be the satisfaction for my sinnes Giue me Lord thy grace that my faith and perswasion in thy blood wauer not in me but euer be firme and constant that the hope of thy mercie and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that Charitie waxe not colde in me finally that the weakenesse of my flesh be not ouercome with the feare of death Graunt me also O most mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my bodie yet the eyes of my Soule may still behold and looke vnon thee and that when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue and speech yet that my heart may crye and say vnto thee O Lord into thy hands I giue and commit my soule Lord Iesu take my Spirit A thankes giuing to God for the departure of the faithfull out of this vvorld O How can we most louing Father render vnto thee sufficient thankes for thine inestimable goodnesse toward thy faithfull seruants Whom thou calling out of this wetched world vouchsafe to place in thy heauenly Ringdome among the glorious companie of thy holy Angels and blessed Saints O full precious is the death of the faithfull in thy sight Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord. For they are at rest from their painfull trauels and labour The soules of the righteous are in thy hand O God and the paine of death shall not touch them In the sight of the vnwise they appeare to dye but they are in peace They shine as the sparkes that runne through the red bush They glister as the shyning heauen They are as the starres world without end They are as the Angels of God They are clad with white garments and haue golden Crownes vpon their heads Tey doe seruice day and night before the glorious Throne of thy Diuine Maiestie They neither hunger nor thirst any more neither doth the Sunne or any heate fall vpon them for the Lambe which is in the middest of the Throne gouerneth them and leadeth them vnto the liuing fountaine of waters They followe the Lambe whithersoeuer he goeth They haue such ioyes as eye hath not seene nor eare hath heard neither is there any heart able to thinke them infinite and vnspeakeable are thy treasures O Lord which thou hast layde vp for them that depart in thy faith For these thy fatherly benefites toward the soule of the faithfull and for that it hath pleased thee to call this our Christian brother from this vale of miserie vnto thy heauenly kingdome we giue vnto thee most heartie thankes humbly beseeching thee that thou wilt take like care for vs and so gouerne vs with thy holy Spirit both in sicknesse and in health that we may liue a good and godly life in this present world and whensoeuer it shall be thy good pleasure to call vs hence we may with strong faith
riches so a man be content with that he hath For we brought nothing into the world and it is a plaine case that we carrie nothing out When we haue food and raiment let vs therewith be content They that will be rich fall into temptations and suares and into many foolish and noyseme lustes which drowne men in perdition and destrucion For Couetousnisse is the roote of all euil which while some lusted after they erred form the faith and tangled themselues with many sorrowes Deut. 6. These words which I commaunde thee this day shall be in thyne heart and thou shalt whet them in thy Children and shalt talke of them when thou art at home in thine house and as thou walkest by the way and wheÌ„ thou liest downe and when thou risest vp and thou shalt binde them for a signe vpon thine head And they shall be papers of remembraunce betweene thine eyes and thou shalt write them vpon the posses of thy house and vpon thy gaies Deut. 3. Take heede and heare all these words which I commaund thee that it may go wel with thee and with thy Children after thee for euer when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God Deut. 6. See thou do that which is right and in the sight of the Lord that thou mayst prosper Deut. 12. He shal not de after al these things that we do here this day euery man what see moth him good in his owne eyes but whatsoeuer I commaund you take héeâ—â—e do and put nought thereto nor take ought thereiroÌ„ Deuter. 27. Curied bee he that maintaynech not all the words of the law to do them Galat. 3. Christ hath deliuered vs from the curse of the law in as much as he was made accursed for vs for it is written Cursed is euery one that hangeth on trée that the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Iesus Christ that we might receiue the promise of the Spirit through faith Ierem. 31. This is the Testament that that I wil make with the house of Israel After those dayes say the Lord I will put my Lawes in their minds and in their hearts I wil write them and their sinnes and iniquities I wil no more remember And I will be with my people The svveete and louing promises of almightie God in such as keepe his Commaundements Deut. xxviij IF thou hearken diligently vnto the voyce of the Lord thy God to obserue and doe all his Commaundements Blessed shalt thou be in the towne and blessed in the fields Blessed shall be the fruite of thy bodie the fruite of the ground and the fruite of thy Cattell the fruite of thyne Oxen and the flockes of sheepe Blessed shall thy Barnes be and thy siore blessed shalt thou be both when thou goest out and blessed when thou commest in The Oration of Iob in his most grieuous aduersitie and losse of goodes Iob. 1. NAked came I out of my mothers wombe and naked shall I turne againe and the Lord hath taken away as it hath pleased the Lord so is it done now blessed be the name of the Lord. A Prayer in prosperitie I Giue thee thankes O God Aloughtie which not onty hast indued me with the giftes of nature as reason power and strength but also hast plentifully giuen me the substance of this world I acknowledge O Lord that these are thy gifts and confesse with holy Saint Iames that there is no perfect nor good gift but it commeth from thee O Father of light which giuest freely castest no man in the teeth I acknowledge with the Prophet Agge that gold is thine and Siluer is thine and to whome it pleaseth thee thou giuest it to the godly that they may be the disposers and distributers thereof and to the vngodly to heape vp their damnation with all Wherefore my most mercifull God I humbly beseech and desire thee to frame in me with the holy Spirit a faithfull heart and readie hand to distribuce these thy good gifts accoding to thy will and pleasure that I treasure not vp heere where theeues may rob and moths corrupt but to treasure vp thy heauenly kingdome where neither Theefe may steale nor moth defile to myne owne comfort whom of thy mercie thou hast promised to reward therfore to the good example of the humble and meeke of the Congregation and to the glorie of thy name To whome with thy Sonne and holy Ghost be al honor and praise world without end Amen A godly prayer to be sayd in thy aduersitie and trouble O Lord GOD without whose will and pleasure a Sparrowe doth not fall on the ground saeing it is thy will and permission that I should be in this miserie and aduersitie and séeing also thou doest punish mee with aduersitie and trouble not to destroye mée and cast me away but to call me to repentaunce and saue mee for whom thou doest loue him doest thou chasten Furthermore seeing afflictions and aduersitie worketh patience and who so patiently beareth tribulation is made like vnto our Sauiour Christ the head Finally seeing that in all tribulation and aduersity I am in assurance of comfort at thy gracious hands for thou commaundest me to call vpo thee in time of tribulation and hast promised to heare and succour me grant me therefore O almightie God and mercifull Father in all trouble and aduersitie to be quiet without impatience and mururing without discouraging and desperation to praise and magnifie thee to put my whole trust and confidence in thee for thou neuer forsakest them that trust in thee but workest all for the best to them that loue thee and seeke the glorie of thy name Tot hee he glocie for euer So be it A prayer to be sayd before the receiuing of the Communion O Father of mercie and God of all consolation seeing all creatures doe knowledge and confesse thee to be their gouernour and Lord it becommeth vs the workemanship of thine owne handes at all times to reuerence and magnifie thy godly Maiesti e First for that thou hast created vs to thine owne Image and similitude but chiefly because thou hast deliuered vs from that euerlasting death and damnation into the which Sathan drewe mankinde by the meanes of sinne from the bondage whereof neither man nor Angell was able to make vs free but thou O Lord rich in mercie and infinite in goodnesse hast prouided our redemption to stand in thine onely and welbeloued sonne whom of very loue thou diddest giue to be made man like vnto vs in all things sine xcepted that in his bodie he might receiue the punishment of transgression by his death to make satisfaction to thy iustice and by his resurrection to destroy him that was the author of death so to bring againe life to the world from which the whole spring of Adam was most iustly exiled O Lord we acknowledge that no creature was ble to comprehend the length and the breadth the deepenesse and
thee for them that put their trust in thee amongst whom account me for thy mercies sake Againe this eternall life and the place appoynted for them that be thy seruants all men doe graunt to be with thee because thou art euery where therefore eternall life is euery where For they by thy word doe knowe that in almuch as no man can see thee and liue this eternall life and thy blessed presence is most pleasant and had in fruition after in an other world whereunto by corporall death they dodepart and are translated to a place aboue them where thou dwellest in a light whereunto no man can approach Abrahams bosome they reade was aboue as the place of the wicked was alowe and beneath Helias was caught vp into Heauen and thy Sonne our deare Sauiour prayed that where he is those also might be which thou haddest giuen him and might see his glorie Now here deare Fatehr we learne by thy ppirit was ascended and taken vp in his very bodie into heauen whether Stephen looking vp and saw thy Christ standing on thy right hand to whom he prayed Oh Lord Iesus receiue my spirite Graunt I beseech thee gracious God and Father that I may haue a cleane heart more and more to see thee and so in spirit to see and looke often vpon this place whither bring me at the length in bodie also I humbly pray thee Now what a thing this euerlasting life is no man is able to conceiue much lesse able to vtter For the peace of God which is eternall life passeth all vnderstanding The eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither can mans heart conceiue those things which thou deare God hast prepared for them that loue thee Whatsoeuer therefore can be spoken or imagined of the kingdome of the clearnesse ioy and felicitie of the same is nothing in comparison as we may see by the Prophets which because they could not otherwise vnder corporall things haue shadowed the same so that the confidence of eternall life what a thing it is can in no wise be tolde Howbeit somewhat we may be brought into some sight of it by earthly things to thinke on this sort If God hath giuen heere so many things in a strange place how many are the great good things that be at home If in a prison are so many mercies how many are they in the Palace If the wicked haue so many benefites what is the siore prepared for thy seruants Oh Lord If thy Children finde such comforts in the day of teares and mourning what shall they finde in the day of the Marriage If which beastes men being haue the vse of innumerable blessings Oh how many are the blessings which they shall enioy with thy Angels and with thee thy selfe O deare God when they shall see thee and haue the fruition of thee in whom is fulnesse without lothing of all good and faire things so that nothing can be more desired and that for euermore This thy children doe not see as they now beleeue it I say that euen in their bodies they shall see it for euer as Iob said They beleeue that they shall see thee and their owne eyes behold thee when these our corporall eyes our bodies being raysed shall doe their duties Such a knowledge of thee they beleeue to haue as shall not be onely intellectuall and by faith as now it is but euen a full sight and fruition yea a coniunction and fellowship with thee Now they see but in a glasse euen in a darke speaking but then they shall see face to face For faith though it be the substance of things hoped for and a certaine darke sight of thee yet it may not be compared to the reward of faith and glorious sight which we shall see in the life to come when faith and hope shall cease Now thy children knowe that they be thy Sonnes though it yet appeare not what they shal be We know say they that when our Christ God and man shall appeare then shall we be like vnto him for we shall see him euen as he is Oh great prerogatiue to see Christ is he is Which is not to be considered so much for the manhood as for the godhead it selfe as Paule doth also write that when all things are subiect vnto the sonne then shall he be subiect vnto thee deare Father also so that God may be all in all And therefore Christ our Sauiour prayed for vs that we might knowe thee the only true God not that our Christ thy Sonne is not with thee the true coequall and substantiall God but that we might knowe how that after the iudgement such a mysterie of his mediatorship shall not be in heauen as it is now in earth Then thou blessed Trinitie God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost shall be all in all thou shalt be the ende of our desires thou shalt be looked vpon with out ende thou shalt be loued without loathing thou shalt be praised without wearinesse Although lothsomnes be wont to followe fulnesse yet our fulnesse in the contemplation of thy pleasures shall bring with it now kynd at all of lothsomnesse Societie of ioyes shall be in the beholding of thee Pleasures are on thy right hand for euer We shal be satisfted when we arise after thine Image I meane in the resurrection Oh deare father show thy selfe vnto vs and we aske no more Oh graunt vs with thy Saints in euerlasting life to praise with perpetuall praises thy holy name Happie then and happie againe were we if that day were come that we might sing with thy Angels Elders and innumerable thousands a newe song and say thou Christ Iesus which wast staine art worthie to receiue power and riches and wisedome and strength and honour and glorie and blessing In this blessed life all kind of maladies griefes sorrowes and euils be sarre away and all full of all kind of myrth ioy and pleasure Oh that we might see now a little with Saiut Iohn that holy Citie nowe Ierusalem descending from Heauan prepared of God as a Bride trimmed for her husband Oh that we might now something heare the great voyce speaking out of the throne behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and he shall be vnto them their God he wil wipe away all teares from their eyes and death shall be no more nor weeping nor crying nor sorrowe for the former things are gone A prayer of death and the commoditie it bringeth WHat other thing do wee daylie in this present life then heape sinne vpon sinne and hoorde vp trespasse vpon trespasse So that this day is worse alwayes then yesterday by increasing of dayes so sinnes and therefore thy indignation good Lord against vs but when we shall be let goe out of the prison of this bodie and so taken into thy blessed companie then shall we be in most safetie of immortalitie and saluation
then shall come vnto vs no sickenesse no neede no payne no kinde of euill to soule or bodie but whatsoeuer good we can wish that shall we haue and whatsoeuer we loath shall be farre from vs. O deare Father that we had faith to behold these things accordingly Oh that our hearts were perswaded thereof and our affections inflamed with the desire of them Then should we liue in longing for that which now we must lothe O helpe vs and graunt that we being ignorant of things to come and of the time of our death which to thee is certaine may so liue and finish our iourney here that we may be readie and then depart when our departing may make most to thy glorie and our comfort through Christ What is this life but a smoke a vapor a shadow a warfare a bubble of water a word grasse a flower That thou shalt dye it is most certaine but the time no man can tell when The longer in this life thou doest remaine the more thou sinnest which will turne to thy more paine By cogitation of death our mynds be often in a manner oppressed with darkenesse because we doe but remember the light of the bodie forgetting the light of the minde and for thy resurrection Hereto remember the good things that after this life shall ensue without wauering in certeintie of faith and so shall the passage of death be more desired It is like a sayling ouer the Sea to thy home and countrie It is like a medicine or purgation to the health of soule and bodie it is the best Phisition it is like to a womans trauaile For as the childe being deliuered commeth into a more large place then the wombe wherein it did lye before so mysoule being deliuered out of the bodie commeth into a much more larger and fayrer place euen into heauen A deuout prayer to be said daylie O Almightie and eternal God which vouchsafest that we as it were heaueuly Children should euery one of vs call thee our heauenly Father Graunt that among vs be purenesse and example of innocent life thy most holy name may be sanctified that all other Nations beholding our goodnesse and vertuous deedes that thou workest in vs may be stirred to hallowe and glorifie thee Graunt O Lord that the kingdome of thy grace and mercie may reigne continually in our hearts so that we may be worthie to be partakers of the Realme of glorie and maiestie Graunt that vnto the very death we refuse not to followe thy diuine will and that we according to the example of the celestiall Citizens agreeing together quietly vnited in spirite all controuersie in opinions layd apart the lustes of the flesh being subdued and the flattering assaultes of the world and the Deuill ouercome neuer wrastle against thy most holy will but obey it in al things Graunt O Lord for our bodie needefull sustenaunce that we may the more freely serue thee Giue vs we beseech thee O mercifull Father that Hearuenly bread the bodie of thy Sonne Iesus Christ the very foode and health of our soules giue vs the bread of thy diuine precepts that we may truely walke and liue after them Giue vs the bread of thy heauenly word which is the strong fortresse and sure defence of our Soules that we being well fed and silled with this foode may worthily runne to the celestiall feast where as is no hunger Graunt O Lord that we paciently beare and susfer our enemies and such as hurt vs and willingly to forgiue the offences committed against vs that so we may finde the Lord in forgiuing vs our trespasses milde and mercifull Graunt O Lord that we be not vtterly led into temptation that there by we should be lost But in all perilles of temptation and in the middest of the stormie tempests and tribulations let vs thy children perceiue and feele thy fatherly succour readie to helpe vs least that we be ouercome with the naughtie craftes and deceites of the tempter should be drawne into euerlasting destruction but when we be well assayed approoued and purged with the fire of temptation then let vs finish our course and so well and valiantly fight that we may for euermore liue with thee in that heauenly Citie where and against the which no manner temptation canpreuaile Finally graunt most mercifull Father that we through thy benigne goodnesse may be deliuered from all euils present and to come both in bodie and soule and that at the last that yoke of that foule feend being shaken off we may possesse the heritage of the heauenly kingdome which thy Sonne with his precious blood bought for vs thy children and there fore euer to haue the fruition of celestiall delectations accompanied with Angels and blessed Saints through the helpe benignitie and grace of our Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom and to thee our father and to the holy Ghost be all glorie and honour now and euer Amen Another Prayer O Heauenly father God almightie I pray and beseech thy mercie beningly to behold me thy vnworthy seruant that I may by thy gift of thy holy Spirit feruently desire thy kingdome that I may knowne thy will and worke thereafter Giue me O Lord wisdome Make me constant patient and strong in thee Keepe me Lord from the sleightie inuasion of the olde wilie Serpent Defend me from the counsailes and cursings of euill tongues let thy mightie arme be my shield against all the malignitie of the wicked world Remember not O Lord myne offences instruct prepare me to repent and to be sorie for my sinnes Make me to loue iustice and hate wrong to doe good and abstaine from all euils that I may be worthie to be called thy child To thee be honour and glorie for euer and euer Amen A deuout Prayer LORD hearken to my wordes consider the thought of my heart Behold how lowde I crye vnto thee let my iust prayer enter into thy cares which vnfeignedly commeth from my heart Heare me Lord for I am poore and destitute of mans helpe Take care for my Soule saue me thy Seruant which wholy trust in thee haue mercie vpon me O Lord for I will neuer cease crying to thee for helpe For thou art milde and more mercifull then any tongue can expresse as often as aduersitie assayleth me I will crye and call for helpe vnto thee I will call vpon thee in the day time and in the night my cry shall not be hid from thee O thou God of the heauens and maker of the waters and Lord of all creatures heare me a poore sinner calling vpon thee and putting my whole trust in thy mercie Haue mercie vpon me for thy manifold mercies sake forgiue me al myne offences Amen The Letanie O God the father of heauen haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the father c. O God the sonne redeemer of the world haue mercie vpō vs miserable sinners O God the sonne c. spare vs good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast