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
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
heigot of that most excessent loue which moued thee to shew mercie where none was deserued to promise and giue life where death had gotten the victorie to receiue vs into thy grace when we could do nothing but rebel against thy maiestie O Lord the blind dulnesse of our corrupt nature will nto suffer vs sufficiently to weigh these thy most ample benefites yet neuerthelesse at the commaundement of Iesus Christ our Lord we present our selues to this thy Table which hee hath left to bee vsed in remembrance of his death vntill his comming againe to declare and witnesse before the world that by him alone we haue receiued libertie and life that by him alone thou doest acknowledge vs to be thy children and heires that by him alone wee haue entraunce to the trone of thy grace that by him alone we are possessed in our Spiritual kingdome to eate and drinke at his Table with whom we haue our conuersation present in Heauen and by whom our bodies shall be raised vp againe from the dust and shall be placed with him in that endlesse ioy which thou O father of mercie hast prepared for thine elect before the foundation of the world was laid And these most inest imable benefits we acknowledge and confesse to haue receiued of thy free mercie and grace by chine onely beloued sonne Iesus Christ For the which therefore we thy congregation moued by the holy Spirice render to thee all thankes praise and glorie for euer and euer Amen ¶ A thankes giuing after the receiuing of the holy Communion MOst mercifull father we render to thee all praise thankes honour and glorie for that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercy to graunt vs miserable sinners so excellent a gift and treasure as to receiue vs into the fellowship and companie of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lord whom thou hast deliuered to death for vs and hast giuen him vnto vs as a necessarie foode and nourishmēt vnto euerlasting life And now we beséech thée also O heauenly father to graunt vs this request that thou neuer suffer vs to become so vnkind as to forget so worthie benefites but rather imprint and fasten them sure in our hearts that we may grow and inicrease dayly more and more in true faith which continually is exercised in all manner of good workes and so much the rather O Lord confirme vs in these perillous dayes and rages of Sathan that we may constantly stand and continue in the confession of the same to the aduauncement of thy glorie which art God ouer all things blessed for euer Amen A comfortable Prayer O Lord God almigbtie and Father most mercifull there is none like thee in heauen or in earth which workest all things for the glorie of thy name and the comfort of thine elect Thou diddest once make man ruler ouer all thy creatures and placed him in the garden of all pleasure but how soone alas did he in his felicitie forget thy goodnesse Thy people Israel also in their wealth did euermore run astray abusing thy manisld mercies like as all flesh contimually rageth when it hath gotten libertie and externall prosperitie But such is thy wisedome adioyned to thy mercies deare Father that thou seekest all meanes possible to bring thy children to the sure sence and liuely feeling of thy fatherly fauour And therefore when prosperitie will not serue then sendest thou aduersitie graciously correcting all thy Children whom thou receiuest into thy houshold Wherfore I wretched and miserable sinner render vnto thee most humble and heartie thankes that it hath pleased thee to call me home to thy folde by thy fatherly correction at this present whereas in presperlite and aduersitie I did neglect thy greace offered vnto me For the which negligence and many other grieuous sinnes where of I now accuse my selfe before thee thou mightest most iustly haue giuen me vp into a reprobate minde and induration of hart as thou hast done others But such is thy goodnesse O Lorod that thou séemest5 to forget al my offences and hast called me of thy good pleasure from all idolatrie to professe thy name and to suffer some Crosse amongst thy people for thy truth and Gospel sake and so to be thy witnesse with the Prophets and Aposties yea with thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ our head to whom thou doest being heere fashion me like that in his glorie I may also be like him when he shall appeare O Lord God what am I vpon whom thou shouldest shewe this great mercie O most louing Lord forgiue me my vnthankefulnesse and all my sinnes for Iesus Christes sake O heauenly Father increase thy holy Spirit in me to teach my heart to crye Abba deare Father assure me of thy eternall election in Christ to reueale thy will more and more towards me to confirme mee so in thy trueth that I may liue and dye therein and that by the power of the same Spirite I may boldlie giue an account of my faith to all men with humblenesse and meekenesse to the glorie of thy most holy name Thorowe Iesus Christ our Lor and onely Sauiour So be it A meditation for a vvoman vvith childe and specially vvhen she entreth in to trauell O Almightie and mercifull Father which of thy bountifull goodnesse hast fructified my wombe and of thy gracious blessing hath created mee a reasonable creature I most heartily thanke thee not only for this thy gracious gift but also for that thou hast at all times since I conceiued preserued me from all perils both of soule and bodie and hast so moderated all my nips pinches throwes and pangs that I haue hetherto right well escaped them I acknowledge O Lord iustly for our sinfull transgression of thy commaundements thou saidst vnto the first woman and in her to vs all I will increase thy sorrowe when thou art with childe with paine shalt thou bring forth thy children And our paines therefore that we suffer in this behalfe are none other thing but a worthie Crosse layde vpon vs by thy godly ordinance to the which with heart and minde I humbly submit me trusting surely and being fully perswaded in my faith that thou callest none into perrill and daunger but both thou canit and wilt at conuenient season deliuer them Thou most gracious GOD hast commaunded vs in all our trouble to call vpon thee for ayde and helpe and not only hast commaunded vs but also of thy mercifull goodnesse hast promised to vs good deliuerance saying Call vpon mee in the time of trouble and I will deliuer thee O good Lord how greatly doe these words comfort my hart and sustaine my sillie soule Who would not greatly reioyce that knoweth certainely almighty God to be present with him in his trouble Saith not God thus Or euer they cal saith he I shall aunswere them while they are yet but thinking how to speake I shal beare them and in the Psalme I am with him saith God in his trouble out of which I