What shall I do Whether shall I go I can not hide me from his sight How oft haue I trespassed against him How oft haue I deserued his displeasure And yet how seldome hath he punished me How oft hath he beene good and mercifull vnto me How oft haue I promised and vowed amendment and how little and seldome haue I performed it This is a wofull case Who will haue pitie on me I dare not lift vp mine eies towards heauen because I haue sinned against it and in earth I can looke for no refuge because I haue beene a slander and shame vnto it What then Should I despaire No God is mercifull and a good Sauiour he doth visit them that liue in darknes and is a cheerfull light to them that sit in the shadowe of death He willeth vs to forgiue our brother though he offend seuentie tunes yea infinitelie And God is more mercifull than anie man can be and he must be the onlie refuge and comfort he will not despise his creature the image of himselfe Returne thee therefore O my soule vnto thy Lord God praie to him humblie on thy knees for grace and continue to bewaile thy sinnes past because that he which loueth thee prouoketh thee dailie with his gratious gifts and blessings to loue him and will not leaue thee vntill he haue made perfect his worke begunne and brought his mercie to full effect in thee What naturall cause beginneth his worke and leaueth it in the halfe waie imperfect The vertue of seed sowne doth not cease till the fruit be brought to perfection yet that nature worketh not at once but first prepareth the matter and then disposeth and makes it fit to receiue the shape which is the perfection and end thereof And as by naturall order and right course things do proceede and increase by little and little from the lesse to the more euen so doth God first dispose vs to his mercie and then increasing his goodnesse dailie bestoweth on vs in the end the treasure of his grace and inheritance of euerlasting ioies What bird forsaketh hir yong till they be able to liue of themselues and yet no auaile for their paine commeth to them Uerie loue worketh in naturall causes to bring foorth their affects to perfection If it be so in creatures what will the Creator doo which is loue it selfe and infinite goodnesse he will withdrawe thee from thy sinnes make thee cleane and pure and finallie blesse thee with eternall life which he hath prepared for thee O Lord I come to thee sad and mourning I sit at thy feete humblie waiting for thy mercie Thou art my hope and helper according to thy great mercies haue mercie vpon me Amen A praier to be purged from sinne and vncleannesse TAke awaie from me O Lord the burden of my corruption which by the continuall exercise of my sinne and wickednesse hath wounded my soule wofullie with the dangerous darts of transgression so that I feele my putrifaction abounding and my festered conscience ouerladen with vncleannesse so that I haue no other meane nor remedie but to prostrate my selfe before the throne of thy glorious maiestie beseeching thee intirelie of thy gratious goodnesse to salue my sores with the comfortable oile of thy mercie Thou onlie O Iesu art the sweete Physition of my soule sprinkle vpon me hysope and I shall be made whiter than snowe If thou of thine exceeding bountie and fauour good Lord wilt vouchsafe to wash awaie the spots of my sinne and wickednesse that heapeth thine indignation and furie against me I shall then excell the gold that hath beene purified in the fornace seuen fold Let it therefore good Lord and mercifull father seeme pleasant vnto thy diuine maiestie to touch my corrupted and vncleane hart with the heauenlie finger of thy grace that I may bring foorth the fruits of true repentance which are more acceptable to thy glorious and diuine presence than the offering of calues bullockes sheepe goates or anie other burnt offerings or sacrifice of peace A contrite and sorowfull soule is the thing that thou doest most delight in An humble and a lowlie spirit is the oblation that thou dooest desire A cleane and pure hart O Lord my God I knowe thou dooest loue and fauour Wherefore I beseech thee to purge me from my sinne and inquitie of thy great mercie Let the bitter deploration of mine offences and hartie contrition through thy glorious merits and painefull passion O Iesu be the onlie meane and waie to set me free from the powers of hell death and damnation And sith I am by thy goodnes begotten and borne anew strengthen me good Lord that I neuer slide nor fall from thee but that I may continuallie beare in my remembrance the state wherevnto I am called by thee Through thine aboundant loue and kindnesse wipe awaie good Lord all my sins out of thy remembrance Cleanse me in the bloud of thy spotlesse Lambe Iesus Christ and I shall be made cleane pure and safe Graunt this most mercifull God for the honour and glorie of thy name sake through the bitter death of thy sonne Iesus Christ my onlie mediatour and aduocate to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be giuen all laud glorie power and praise for euer and euer Amen Another praier of the penitent for mercie O Lord I am a sinner my sinnes are heauie vpon me the burden of them is intollerable refresh me with thy grace wash awaie mine offences and I shall be whiter than the snowe Let the cheerefull beames of thy countenance shine vpon me and giue light to the darkenesse of my life We can looke for nothing as deserued but punishment due to our offences Wherefore good Lord not according to thy iustice but in the multitude of thy mercies deale with thy seruant Remember not the sinnes of my forefathers thinke not on the milde meanour of my youth passed haue pitie on thy creature which according to the likenesse of thy selfe thou hast made and shaped of earth How long wilt thou turne thy face awaie from me Forsake me not O my God but renew in me thy holie spirit Plucke awaie from me all that withdraweth me from thee Graffe in my hart thy grace that I may loue thee and feare thee and so finallie reioice in thy goodnesse with the elected and praise thee in thy woonderous works for euer Graunt this most mightie God for our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor and glorie for euer and euer Amen Another praier to be said of the sinfull soule MY sinfull life increasing and my sinnes still abounding good Lord to whome shall I flee or to whome shall I resort for succour From offending thee I can not cease neither daie nor night and my sinnes are heauie vpon me pressing me downe euen to hell such is the weight thereof Moreouer when I prepare my selfe to amendment of life and thinke stedfastlie to serue and please thee euen
repentance and cease not to praie for the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes Labour perseuerantlie in thy dutie then shalt thou find mercie and righteousnesse and be made woorthie to enter in as a faithfull virgin and beautifull ghest with that ioifull bridegroome to the feast of eternall mirth and delicacie there to dwell in ioies for euer Amen Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall shew light vnto thee Ephes 5 verse 14. Being well wakened before you arise praie thus WIth eies hart and hands lifted vp O blessed God and glorious Trinitie I most entirelie thanke thee for all thy bountifull benefits bestowed vpon me and all mankind especiallie for that it hath pleased thee now in mercie to awake my bodie to inlighten mine eies to quicken my senses and to reuiue and renew me whole againe as it were from the death of sleepe and that by the same spirit that raised Iesus from the dead I thanke thee that thou hast not couered me with a spirit of slumber nor shut vp mine eies in obscure darknes to cause me to sleepe a perpetuall sleepe neuer to awake againe nor to rise from the euils wherein I laie as by my sinnes I haue iustlie deserued O good Father grant also I beseech thee that as thou hast awaked my body from sleepe and made mine eies to preuent the morning light so vouchsafe in like mercie thoroughlie to awaken quicken lighten and deliuer my soule from all drowsinesse sleepe of sinne securitie and darknesse of this world that from hence-foorth it neuer become emptie faint dead or irksome with longing after the vanities of this brittle life but liuelie quicke and readie to serue and glorifie thee together with my bodie with all good works of true christianitie Oh deere God that is but sleepe to thee which is death to vs I hartilie beseech thee therefore after death to restore to life that which now is awaked out of sleepe and in the meane while to make my bodie such a minister of godlinesse to my soule in this present life that at the last when in the bessed resurrection it shall be awaked vp after thy likenesse out of the long sleepe of death and called to appeare before thee and all the holie Angels it may ioifullie arise and be partaker with the same of euerlasting happinesse in the life to come and ioifullie behold thy face among the righteous that so I maie be fullie satisfied both in bodie and soule with thy glorious presence and ioies eternall through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust for the deaw is as the deaw of herbes and the earth shall cast out the dead Esaie 26 verse 19. Awake I saie to liue righteouslie and sinne not 1 Cor. 15 verse 34. Meditation HEre call to mind the great mirth and blessednesse of the euerlasting resurrection and remember to muse vpon that most cléere-light bright morning and new clearnesse of our bodie after the long darknesse they haue béene in all then shall be full of ioie Hearing the clocke strike praie thus with your selfe GRant vnto me O Lord God I beseech thee both an happie healthfull houre of liuing and a ioifull and blessed houre of dieng And whatsoeuer I doo or whatsoeuer I am let the houre of thy sudden comming so runne in my mind and keepe me watching that I may euer thinke I heare this voice sounding in mine eares Arise yee dead and come to iudgement In all time of our tribulation in all time of our wealth in the houre of death and in the daie of iudgement good Lord deliuer vs Amen Let your loines be girt and your lamps burning and be ye alwaies watchfull and readie prepared For at an houre when ye thinke not will the Sonne of man come to iudge both the quicke and the dead Luke 12 verse 40. Meditation CAll oft to thy mind the houre of thy death and be carefull so to liue euerie houre in Gods fauour as though euerie houre were indéede to thée the last houre to die in his faith Remember also that as there is no houre or instant of time in all our life wherein we haue not the vse of Gods great benefits so ought there to be no moment wherein we are not bound to haue him in perpetuall remembrance before our eies to serue loue and praise his name and that to the vttermost of our power with all our hart soule and strength So soone as ye see the daie breake and light appeare in the skie praie O Day-star most bright O light most glorious and true from whence this light of the daie dooth spring O light which lightest euerie man that commeth into this world without whome all is most horrible darkenesse How is light giuen to them that are in miserie and life to a wretch that hath a heauie hart I looked for light and behold I haue found it I wished for daie and lo the starres of the twy-light doo appeere and I see I thanke thee the dawning of the daie Darkenesse dooth no longer possesse the night nor the shadowe of death staine the daie For the blacke mantell is gone and the thicke clouds are dispearsed so that the light dooth begin to shine and spread it selfe abroad to our comfort O that the night of perturbations being ouerpassed the morning light of comfort and grace might likewise spring in our hart O that darkenesse might so be expelled that light might be kindled and the daie of gladnesse and ioie luckilie shine vpon vs that beeing translated from darkenes to light from perishing into safegard from death to life from hell to heauen we might continuallie praise thee who onlie hast immortalitie and dwellest in the light that none can attaine vnto Amen Or saie thus BLessed be the Lord God of Israel which hath redeemed his people and deliuered vs out of the hands of all our enimies and giuen vs free remission of all our sinnes through the tender mercie of our God whereby also the daie spring from an high doth now visit vs to giue light to them that laie in darkenesse and in the shadowe of death and to guide our feete into the waie of peace that we might serue him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the daies of our life Amen Ye shall doo well if ye take heed vnto the word as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place vntill the daie dawne and the daie-star appeare in your harts 2. Peter 1 verse 19. Meditation MUse a little how much the light and eie of the mind and soule is better than of the bodie And remember that we ought therefore much more to care for the soule that it may sée well than for the bodie Thinke also that beasts haue bodilie eies as well as men but men onlie haue eies of the mind and that such as are godlie wise At the Sun-rising praie O Lord Iesus Christ which art the true Sunne of the
might dailie more and more trace thee out yea I haue a great while sore longed with so godlie affection as I could to celebrate thee in the frequented assemblies of the godlie which trulie I will now doo accordinglie by the grace and assistance of thy holie spirit and that with a most readie and ioifull mind as it behooueth And that this mine enterprise and beginning may proceede to a further good successe and amendment of my maners and imbettering of my life doo thou finish the thing O God which thou hast begun in me and make me continuallie to increase from faith to faith Yea so renew and shape me againe in innocencie and righteousnesse O grations Lord I beseech thee that as a person new borne of thee I may insearch thee againe and againe both in the dawning of the daie morning noone euening and night Now lead me forooard O Lord I beseech thee in thy righteousnesse let thy louing spirit direct my feete and make thy waies plaine before my face bicause of my mortall and inuisible enimies And doo thou vouchsafe luckilie to conduct my bodie this daie vnto thy materiall temple and to bring my soule at the last vnto thy holie hill and blessed mountaine which thou hast purchased with thy right hand that I may rest both bodie and soule in heauen and remaine with thee foreuer Amen Or praie thus O GOD the word who art the light by whom light was made who art the waie truth and life in whom there is no darknes ouersight vanitie nor death shine foorth O Lord my light mine inlightening and my welfare whom I will reuerence my Lord whom I will honour my Father whom I will loue my Iudge whom I will feare my Bridegroome whom I will cleaue vnto and keepe my selfe an vndefiled spouse Shine foorth O euerlasting light shine foorth I saie and lighten the Lampe of my virginitie with the oile of thy diuine grace and mercie that this blind soule of mine which yet sitteth in darknesse and shadowe of death may see the light and eschew darknesse see the waie and eschew straieng see the truth and eschew leasing see the life and eschew death And guide thou my feete vnto the waie of peace that by thy mercifull protection I may see the light walke in the light and neuer stumble vpon the snares of Sathan but may now passe thereby into the palace of thy woonderfull tabernacle and be able to climbe vp euen vnto the holie house and temple with the voice of gladnesse and confession there to abide and receiue at thy hands both mercie righteousnesse health blessing and euerlasting saluation with my fellowe-citizens thy Saints and houshold menie Amen Another godlie praier to be said either going towards or being in the Church LOoke what earnest and feruent desire soeuer the old fathers had O most mightie GOD to come vnto the place wherein thou hadst appointed a tabernacle to thy selfe for that time euen the like am I kindled withall in beholding the repairing of thy sacred Church and to see therin a very great companie of godlie men women lawfullie assembled together for the aduancement of thy glorie hearing thy holie doctrine dulie receiuing of thy blessed Sacraments accordinglie Wherefore I humblie beseech thee which art my God my King that I may this daie reioice to be there For what felicitie soeuer may be attained vnto in this fraile life I doubt not but it will light vpon the sacred companie of the godlie there assembled Giue eare therefore O excellent Father vnto mine earnest praiers grant that I make none other account of thy blessed house than thy will and pleasure is I should doo For a more blessed thing it were for me to haue one daies meeting and abode therein than if I abide neuer so great a time of continuance in the congregation of the vngodlie or in such a one as is not lawfullie assembled with the aduantage and ouer-plus of all the pleasures of this transitorie world Seeing that therefore thou art our most splendent light and strong defence cause our assemblies on the earth O God so to redound to thine vnspeakable glorie that our assured hope by comming in the end vnto thee in the euerlasting tabernacles of the heauens may be augmented and verie much increased through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen VVhen you enter into the Church meditate thus with your selfe and saie LORD who shall ascend into thy high hill Or who shall rise vp in thy holie place Euen he that hath cleane hands and a pure hart and hath not lift vp his mind vnto vanitie nor sworne to deceiue his neighbour He shall receiue the blessing from the Lord and righteousnesse from the God of his saluation This is the generation of them that seeke him euen of them that seeke thy face O Iacob Lift vp your heads O ye gates and be ye lift vp ye euerlasting doores and the King of glorie shall come in euen the Lord of hosts most mightie and strong Open me the gates of righteousnesse O Lord that I with the righteous nation that keepe thy truth may go into them and giue thanks vnto thee This is the gate of the Lord the righteous shall enter into it Yea blessed are they that doo thy commandements O God For their power shall be in the tree of life and they shall enter in through the gates into the holie citie new Ierusalem But without shall be dogs and inchanters and whooremongers and murderers and idolaters yea there shall enter into it none vncleane thing neither whatsoeuer worketh abhomination or maketh lies but they onlie which are written in the Lambes booke of life Amen Or thus LOrd who shall enter into thy sanctuarie to consider thy mightie power except thou open it vnto him And who shall open it if thou shut it Trulie O Lord my God I sillie worme and claie am not able to enter into thine euerlastingnesse vnlesse thou which hast made all things of nothing doo lead me in Yea I knowe Lord I knowe and confesse that I am vnwoorthie to enter vnder thy roofe but yet I beseech thee let a blessed entrance to the house of eternall felicitie whither I haue dailie a feruent desire to come be set open and made as a free passage vnto me O God And giue mee leaue now I praie thee though a dog and an vnwoorthie wretch euen for thine owne honour sake to enter into thy holie house and to approch thy sacred presence and confound not thy seruant that seeketh thee and putteth all hir trust and confidence in thy mercie Oh suffer me not I saie good Lord to knit vp and finish my last daies with malefactors and wicked persons but grant that after my long and dailie trauell in this transitorie world I may in the end at length be permitted through thy mercie to enter the courts of thy diuine presence and with thine elect and chosen seruants for euer inhabit the hauen of eternall felicitie through
to passe that I may be satisfied with it and glorifie thee eternallie Amen The Praier THE daie now ended men giue themselues to rest in the night and so this life finished we shall rest in death Nothing is more like this life than euerie daie nothing more like death than sleepe nothing more like to our graue than our bed O Lord our keeper and defender grant that I now laieng me downe to rest being vnable to keepe my selfe may be preserued from the crafts and assaults of the wicked enimie and grant furthermore that when I haue tunne the race of this life thou wouldest of thy mercie call me vnto thee that I may liue and watch with thee for euermore And now O gratious God giue me to take my rest in thee bring to passe that thy goodnesse may be euen in sleepe before mine eies that sleeping I be not absent from thee but may haue my dreames to drawe me vnto thee and so both in soule and bodie may be kept pure and holie for euer Amen I will laie me downe in peace and take my rest for it is thou Lord onlie that makest me dwell in safetie Psal 4. 9. Another praier to be vsed of the husband and wife so soone as they are laid in their bed O Lord our GOD our protector and defender which diddest gratiouslie preserue and keepe thy seruant holie Tobie when he laie with his wife Sara by the gard of thine holie Angel so that Sathan was bound and had no power ouer them keepe vs also O King of kings and Lord of lords this night and euermore that that subtill Serpent by no meanes haue power to vexe or greeue vs but that we may slepe this night in the remembrance of thee into whose tuition and keeping we commit vs both bodie and soule which hast bought redeemed vs with the pretious bloud of that immaculate Lambe thy deere sonne and our deere beloued Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie Amen Meditation REmember now that you be néerer your end by one daies iournie than you were in the morning Also that this troublesome daie is past and night come and ther withall rest quietnesse and pleasant sléepe which maketh most excellent princes and poore wretches all alike for the time euen so after the tumults troubles temptations and tempests of this life if we beléeue in Christ we haue prepared for vs an hauen and rest most pleasant ioifull and perpetuall VVhen you put out the candle saie THE light of the vngodlie shall be put out and the light of his candle shall not shine the light shall be darke in his dwelling and his candle shall be put out with him yea full often shall the candle of the wicked be put out and their destruction shall suddenlie come vpon them so that all shall be horror and full of darknes with them O Lord let not our candle be put out nor the light that is in vs be turned into darknesse but lighten thou our candle and make thou our darknesse to be light yea lighten thou our darknesse we beseech thee O Lord that we sleepe not in death and by thy great mercie defend vs from all perils and dangers of this darke and dredfull night and lighten illuminate thou euerie darke corner of our habitation with thy light that our candle go not out by night for the loue of thy Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it A little while after saie O God although we were in extreame darkenesse yet will we not feare and though we should walke in the midst of the shadowe of death yet will we dread none euill For thou art with vs thy rod and thy staffe doo comfort vs. Now therefore that we lie in darknesse be thou our protector bring vs to thy light and saue vs from vtter darkenesse where is weeping and gnashing of teeth that we may behold thee in that cleere light of the perpetuall morning where shall be no darknes no night nor need of anie candle or materiall light but thou Lord wilt inlighten vs with vnspekable glorie So be it VVhen you feele sleepe to be comming and dispose your selfe to rest praie O Lord Iesu Christ my watchman and keeper take me to thy care grant that my bodie sleeping my mind may watch in thee be made merie by some sight of that celestiall and heauenlie life wherein thou art the King and Prince togither with the Father the holie Ghost where thine Angels and holie spirits be most happie citizens Oh purifie my soule keepe cleane my bodie that in both I may please thee sleeping and waking for euer Amen Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit For thou hast redeemed me ô Lord thou God of truth Psal 31 6. Another praier to be said last of the husband and wife before they giue themselues to sleepe O Lord assist vs that peaceablie we may now rest and sleepe in quiet Let our eies sleepe but let our harts wake vnto thee O lighten thou our eies that we sleepe not in death that Sathan hurt vs not and our enimie saie I haue preuailed against thee but watch ouer vs O eternall sauiour least the subtill tempter ouertake vs and we sleepe a perpetuall sleepe and wake no more For thou art made our euerlasting helper and protector Giue vs this night a good sleepe that quietlie without cares and anguish of mind we may take our rest Let not troublesome dreams and vaine fantasies and apparitions of the night nor the diuell disquiet vs. Defend vs this night from vncleane and troublesome spirits let not their rushings ragings and misrule disquiet vs. Keepe vs good Lord from sights of Sathan from snares and illusions of the diuell But admonish our soules of miseries to come euen as thou didst arme the Patriarches and Prophets by dreames and visions in the night when sleepe came vpon them from dangers nigh at hand through thine heauenlie oracles so gouerne and preserue vs in sleepe that our soules come not into danger danger neither fall vpon the swoord and pit of perils Let vs not sleepe in sinne and contempt of saluation as doo the children of night and darkenesse but make vs of the number of those which sleepe in Iesus and whome thou O Lord in the resurrection of the iust comming of thy Son shalt not suffer to be preuented with sleepe but wilt bring with thine elect to meete him in the clouds that whether we wake or sleepe we may liue togither with him and obteine euerlasting saluation through the merits of his death passion In thy name O sweet Iesu will we giue sleepe to our eies and slumber to our eie lids O Sauiour of the world saue vs Lord watching and keepe vs sleeping that in peace we may both rest and wake and let our sleepe be sweet and healthfull to our bodies that waking in the morning we may rise in good health and delight in thee our
rotten apple from a liuing tree What haue I gotten by my fall Darknes care miserie affliction sicknesse paine anguish and finallie dreadfull death And alas what shall I be hereafter A stinking carion woormes meate foode for fire dust and claie doong and forsaken rotten consumed blind poore and naked troden vnder the feete of my posteritie and forgotten of all men not knowing where my bodie is which shall vanish like a shadowe and my life shall wither like a leafe and fade as a flower O holie God the more our bodies doo increase the neerer death doth approch the clocke of our conscience doth ring euerie minute the houre of death to be at hand Death approcheth with his sharpe dart and bloudie chariot Awaie saith he to euerie liuing wight For what is he that shall not see death and come to nothing Oh vncertaine life but most assured death His net is cast ouer all flesh now I doo reioice then I lament now am I whole then sicknesse doth come now haue I friends then am I forsaken now at libertie soone after in bondage now yoong then age drawes neere And thus I neuer remaine in one state made light and proud in prosperitie desperate in aduersitie withered and old with care despised in pouertie flattered when I am in health and finally vncertaine when or where I shall die But yet I most humblie praie thee deere father for Iesu Christs sake which suffered a shamefull death for my sins to haue mercie vpon me according to thy great mercie and take not thy holie Ghost from me and lead me not into temptation but deliuer me for into thy hands I commend my soule O thou God of truth Amen An Hymne of the state of all Adams posteritie I Am the fruit of Adams hands through sin lockt in satans bands Destined to deth the child of ire a flaming brand of infernall fire Borne I was naked bare and spend my time in sorowe care And shall returne vnto the dust and be depriued of carnall lust Yet thou father didst Iesus send to pardon them that did offend We laud him in the work of might that we be blessed in his sight The second meditation of the dreadfull daie of iudgement O What feare and sorowe shall happen to the reprobates when they shall stand helpelesse before the terrible dreadfull throne of God to render accounts of all thoughts words works I saie the acts of the flesh and bloud in the extreame day when he shall come with fire and then all creatures in heauen earth and hell shall tremble at his presence Then shall all guiltie consciences be opened euils endlesse punished where that Iudge will not be corrupted That daie doth come that daie is at hand and where as pure harts shall be accepted and no bribes of vaine gifts shall be preferred but iustice without mercie vnto the vngodlie infernall torments to the wicked endlesse care and affliction to the idolater fornicator extortioner persecutour disobedient murtherer blasphemer theefe false witnesse bearer vsurer heretikes witches and malefactors and to all the vessels of reprobation Where as shall be heard wailing crieng lamenting and gnashing of teeth then they mourne that shall neuer die hell fire neuer bee quenched nor the Iudge intreated but the wicked still molested with dolor agonie dread and in his paine absent from God present with diuels monsters infernall This is the second death when both bodie and soule shall remaine in paine as long as God is which is euerlasting This daie is at hand when the elect and all the Saints Patriarchs Prophets Martyrs and all the blessed shall receiue their rewards not of themselues but onlie of Iesu before whom all the blessed shall kneele and cast off their crownes and giue honour to him that sits on the seate whose holie name is blessed of all tongues and kindreds Amen Amen This is the daie when all teares shall be wiped from the carefull eies of the seruants of God which shall neuer be molested nor of worldlings be afflicted but euerlastinglie glorified with the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost three persons and one God who of his mercie defend vs from damnation and that vnspeakeable paine which wee through sinne haue deserued euer to be punished withall but yet are through Iesus preserued by whome we are elected redeemed iustified and brought from sinne death and hell to whom be laud and praise in the world of worlds of Angels and men Amen The Hymne of the daie of iudgement SWéet Iesus of thy mercie our pitifull praiers heare That we may be on thy right hand when thou shalt appeare For thou shalt come with heauenlie power and sit on the throne None shall iudge the quicke and dead but thou Christ alone O Christ cast vs not awaie in that daie of ire When thou shalt send before thée a hot consuming fire To purge all creatures defild with Adams sinne Then a new heauen and earth O Lord thou wilt beginne Then the elect shall be blessed vpon thy holie hill But the wicked shall be damned that haue withstood thy will Thy shéepe shall be safe and defended in the fold The goats shall wander in hunger storme and cold Thy Saints shall behold thée in thy throne of light The reprobates shall euer haue fearefull things in sight Wailing in wretchednesse with euerlasting paine Yet Lord be mercifull our liues are but vaine Our flesh shall fade death hath digd our graue Yet of thy mercie Lord thy sinfull creature saue And blesse vs in the time of grace before the daie of ire When the corrupt elements shall be purgd with fire We laud thee Father c. A generall praier wherein we commend our selues and the whole state of Christs Church vnto GOD. O God thou Father and God of my life suffer me neither to haue a proud looke nor a proud thought turne awaie all voluptuousnesse from me let not the intisements of the world beguile me let not the concupiscence of the eie deceiue me let not the lusts of the flesh take hold vpon me let not rancor and malice reigne in my hart O Lord God for thy sonne our Sauiour Iesu Christs sake I beseech thee that thou wilt not giue me ouer to an vnshamefast and obstinate mind So be it Unto thee Lord almightie the King of mercie bée now and euer eternall honour glorie Unto thee the same Lord of mercie I doo commit my soule and bodie most humblie beseeching thee for thine abundant mercie sake to take the cure of me and to haue mercie on me I doo commit also vnto thy mercie my faithfull friends and well-willers liuing beseeching thee to forgiue vs all and to haue mercie vpon vs and giue vs grace to liue according to thy lawe and to the glorie of thy name that we may doo that which thou requirest of vs that it will please thee of thy mercie to saue and defend vs from all perils bodilie ghostlie this night
vp them that fall and finallie to beate downe Satan vnder our feete we beseech thee to heare vs good Lord Amen A verie necessarie praier against hypocrites false teachers and deriders of the Gospell WHosoeuer they be O almighty God that make a true account of sincere goodlinesse and pure religion are exceeding sorowfull if they see the sacred Church scattered wholesome doctrine derided the praises of thy diuine name had in contempt and such things as appertaine to a deuout woorshipping of thee turned vnto heathenish gewgawes and voluptuous pleasures To the intent therfore these things may in no wise happen as now vnto vs which we see not to be far off we powre foorth dailie before thee with great submission these our dolfull complaints That thou wouldest first of thine exceeding great goodnesse and louing mercie blot out all our heinous sinnes and offences being in a maner infinite and exceeding greeuous committed not onelie through weakenesse and ignorance but also done oftentimes both maliciouslie and of set purpose Be fauourable I saie O God vnto our greeuous sinnes and turne awaie from vs in such sort the most fierce wiles and subtil laiengs await of Antichrist as thy sacred Church be not depriued of all blessed ioie and spirituall gladnesse O Lord I beseech thee shew some experiment and proofe of thy selfe declare thy name and thy power amongst those thy spitefull enimies Bring downe Antichrists kingdome with all his vngodlie sects and schismaticall factions Certes ouerlong it hath oppressed vs yea and at this verie daie it still letteth hindereth and holdeth vnder foote verie manie which else speedilie would haue run to the kingdome of libertie and beleeued the Gospell Pull it therfore downe O Lord with all his stumbling blocks euill examples peruerse doctrine and neuer suffer it to recouer againe Lord thou both seest and right well perceiuest how the cruell malicious and vngodlie Antichristians would inuade the Church being so puft vp with pride inflamed with furie scorning as well diuine lawes as humane with like statelinesse and equall contempt dooing nothing with courtesie and faithfulnesse but practising mischiefe and naughtinesse and endeuouring so much as in them lieth that thy blessed word may no where flourish that true religion might be vtterlie extinguished that the perfect inuocating and calling vpon thy glorious name might be quite rooted out and to bring all things to naught by forged tales mens traditions politike deuises diuelish deceipts and verie much outrage But as for thy beloued Israel sith she hath by thy great mercie enioied so long peace and blessed tranquillitie let hir be ioined more and more vnto thee hir welbeloued so as she may continuallie laie sure hold vpon thy worthie praises Suffer not the mouths of hir good and wholesome instructors to be closed vp and put to silence Permit not thy due honour to be had in obliuion nor yet let the hymnes and songs wherwith thou art highlie praised and celebrated be vsurped of such as will haue the same in derision and scorne Finallie we humblie beseech thee O excellent father that what wrath or indignation so euer is due vnto vs by reason of the heinous sinnes we haue wickedlie committed thou wouldest yet for the glorie of thy famous name turne it frō thy sanctified Church thy deere spouse and powre out the same rather vpon them who with an enimielike rage and most malicious affection imagine nothing else but quite to marre and vtterlie laie waste thy blessed heritage and in deede be no lesse aduersaries to thy blessed name than of our peace and quietnesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for vnbeleeuers that all men may embrace the Gospell VNto thee doo we crie O Lord father and maker of all men which art rich vnto all that call vpon thee and which commandest the light to shine out of darkenes For thou wilt that all men should be saued and come to the knowledge of the truth And therfore of thy great loue thou diddest call vs to the participation of the lot of the Saints in light which are by 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 houshold of God built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ beeing the head corner stone which susteineth the whole building by his word of power Heare vs thy seruants making supplication for such as yet haue not hard the sound of thy Gospell neither knowe thy name but sitting in darkenesse and in the shadowe of death haue their minds darkened and are alienated from the life of God by the ignorance that is in them and are caried awaie vnto dumbe idols and fained gods euen as they are led and run to worship that which is no God Giue grace that thy word may be knowne among them and preached in euerie land and the sound there of go out into the ends of the world that thou also maist be found of them which sought thee not and famous among such as neuer asked after thee Send foorth thy word that they may be healed and walke no more in the vanities of their mind O God father of our Lord Iesu Christ King of glorie giue them the spirit of wisedome and reuelation through the confessing of thee inlighten their minds that they may knowe what the hope is wherevnto thou hast called vs and how pretious the glorie is of thine inheritance in the Saints and how excellent the greatnesse 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 all principalities powers Open the harts of vnbeleeuers that hearing thy word they may acknowledge thee the onlie true God and Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent and may worship thee the father in the sonne and the sonne in thee the father with the holie ghost euen as thou hast reuealed thy selfe Take the vaile from the harts of the Iewes least being blinded in the reading of the old Testament they stumble at the stone and rocke of offence by incredulitie and hardnesse of their harts that thy Sonne Christ crucified and preached be not vnto them a stumbling blocke and thy Gospell the sauour 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 Gentiles to whome the Gospell the word of the Crosse is meere foolishnesse into thy congregation that they may embrace thy ministerie casting off all fleshlie wisedome and leade all their cogitations captiue to the obedience of the Gospell Moreouer our praier and
may dispend them wiselie to the praise of thy name least that we falselie trusting vpon long life might come vnto death Oh good God how fraile and corrupt a worke be we indeed Euen but verie dust and ashes and the length of our daies be as the flower in the field No man can deliuer himselfe from death no man can saue his owne soule from the graue thou onelie O Lord must doo it namelie to such as beleeue in thee O my GOD haue mercie vpon me and take mee not awaie vnprouided in the middest of my daies but let me go to my graue in a full age Let me remember mine end that when I shall depart out of this life I be not depriued of euerlasting life Let me beare alwaies before mine eies the shortnesse of this life and what a vanitie and what a thing of naught it is as well the men themselues as all their things and affaires Staie my feete O Lord that at no time they slip with some cruell zeale or enuie that I might haue at the vngodlie which for the most part passe their liues quietlie and die more quietlie I beseech thee let not thy chosen persons be discouraged nor offended by this thy godlie prouidence in ordering of worldlie things nor shrinke from thee by reason thereof but rather let vs remember in what dangers in verie deed these vngodlie be in and with how vnhappie a conclusion and terme they close finish their happie course And againe on the contrarie part what pleasantnesse of conscience and what comfort and quietnesse shall followe this our vnquietnesse Finallie O good God in the daie of my buriall when all my friends shrinke from me doo not thou forsake me when my father and mother husband and children forsake me vouchsafe thou O Lord to take me vp and defend me from the roring lions that wait for their praie lead mee safelie through the vnknown countrie bring me happilie to the streets of the heauenlie Zion wherein is the habitation of all that reioice in thee and there set mee amongst thine Angels before the face of thine owne Maiestie where with the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessors Uirgins yea and with all my deere parents and faithfull friends in full measure of happinesse passing excellent glorie and superabundant ioie of thanks-giuing and praise I may magnifie thee my God among thy chosen holie ones for euer and euer Amen Sée another praier in the Ladie Aburgauennies praiers Another meditation of death O GOD what other thing doo wee daily in this present life than heape sinne vpon sinne and hourd trespas vpon trespas So that this daie is woorse alwaies than yesterdaie by increasing as daies so sins and therefore thine indignation good Lord against vs but when we shall be let go 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 sicknesse no need no paine no kind 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. Oh deere Father that we had faith to behold these things accordinglie Oh that our harts were persuaded thereof and our affections inflamed with the desire of them Then should we liue in longing for that which now we most loath Oh helpe vs and grant 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 iournie here that we may be readie and then depart when our departing may make most to thy glorie and our comfort through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another sweet meditation of the longing of the soule to be with God out of Saint Augustine O Kingdome of all worlds eternall wherein is ioie surmounting all ioies and the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding wherein also the soules of all holie folke doo rest and reigne with thee O Lord in euerlasting ioie mirth and gladnesse When shall I enter into thee that I may see my God which dwelleth in thee When shall I go thither behold this great sight What is it that holds me backe Wo is me that my soiourning is prolonged wo is me how long shall it be said vnto me Wait and wait againe And now to what purpose is my waiting My Lord God doo we not wait and watch for the Sauiour our Lord Iesus Christ to come and repaire our base bodies vnto the likenesse of his glorious bodie We wait and watch like wise virgins with our loines girt and our lamps burning for the Lord our Bridegroome when he should come from the Bridehouse to fetch vs into his wedding Come Lord Iesus and tarie not come Lord Iesu Christ come visit vs in peace come lead vs prisoners out of prison that we may reioice before thee with a perfect hart come our Sauiour thou that art longed for of all nations and people come shew thy countenance vnto vs and we shall be safe come my light and my redeemer my GOD and my spouse take my soule out of prison that it may giue praise vnto thy name How long shall I be tossed in the waues of my mortalitie crieng vnto thee Lord and thou hearest me not Lord heare me how I crie vnto thee out of this huge sea and bring me to the hauen of endlesse blisse Happie are they O God which are conueied out of this sea and haue obteined to arriue at thee the safest harborough of all hauens O happie are they indeed which are escaped alreadie from sea to shore from banishment home into their owne countrie and from prison into a palace enioieng their wished rest Blessed are they that alreadie haue gained the garland of endlesse glorie which they sought for here by manie tribulations and ioie now in happie mirth for euer O blessed are they indeed O treble and foure-times blessed are they which being alreadie quite rid of all miseries haue atteined to the kingdome of beautifulnesse and euerlasting blissefulnesse and are assured of their vnappearable glorie For there is ioie endlesse mirth sorowlesse health griefelesse waie without labour light without darknesse life without death Happie therefore I saie are those that alreadie haue escaped the shipwracke of this present miserable life and obteined the grace to come to so great ioies in heauen But alas we are yet still in the waues of the sea longing for thee O Lord the hauen of our sea O Ierusalem the heauenlie countrie of ours O quiet countrie we looke towards thee and ken thee a farre off Wee hale thee from this sea we sigh vnto thee out of this vale of miserie and labour with teares if we may by anie meanes attaine vnto thee O Christ God and the onlie hope of all mankind our refuge and strength whose brightnesse inlighteneth our eies a farre off as the beames of the sea-starre dooth in the mistie darknesse
haruest thou wilt vouchsafe to bring vs into thy wished barne like good and clensed corne that is to saie into thine euerlasting kingdome there to rest with thy chosen Abraham Isaac and Iacob in all eternitie So be it The song of Anania Azariah and Misael wherein they exhort all creatures both in heauen and earth to praise and magnifie the Lord their maker O All ye works of the Lord blesse yee the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye Angels of the Lord blesse yee the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye heauens blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye waters that be aboue the firmament blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O all ye powers of the Lord blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye sunne and moone blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye starres of heauen blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye showers and dew blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye winds of God blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye fire and heate blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye winter and summer blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye dewes and frosts blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye frost and cold blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye yee and snowe blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye nights and daies blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye light and darknesse blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye lightenings clouds blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O let the earth blesse the Lord yea let it praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye mountaines and hils blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O all ye greene things vpon the earth blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye welles blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye seas and flouds blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye whales and all that moue in the waters blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O all ye fowles of the aire blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O all ye beasts and cattell blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye children of men blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O let Israel blesse the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye priests of the Lord blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye seruants of the Lord blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye spirits and soules of the righteous blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye holie and humble men of hart blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O Ananias Azarias and Misael blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Of the incomprehensible praise due vnto God for all his works and benefits HOW shall I do O Lord Whence shall I haue praise to praise thee withall For like as thou madest me without mine aduise as it liked thy selfe best so hast thou praise without me as it liketh thee Thou thy selfe Lord art thiue owne praise All thy works creatures both in heauen and earth praise thee according to thy manifold greatnesse Thy praise O Lord is incomprehensible no hart can comprehend it no tong can measure it no eare can receiue it for these things passe awaie but thy praise O Lord continueth for euer Thoughts haue a beginning and thoughts haue an end voices make a sound and foorthwith passe awaie the eare heareth and the hearing ceasseth but thy praise standeth fast for euer Who is he then that can praise thee What man is able to vtter foorth thy praises Thy praise is euerlasting and not transitorie That man praiseth thee which beleeueth thee to be thine owne praise The man praiseth thee which acknowledgeth himselfe vnable to attaine to thy praise O praise perpetuall which neuer fadest in thee is our praise in thee shall my soule be praised It is not we that praise thee but it is thou thy selfe that dooest it both thy selfe and in thy selfe and we also haue praise in thee Then haue we true praise when we haue praise of thee when light alloweth light for thou beeing the true praise yeeldest vs true praise And looke how often we seeke for praise at anie other bodies hand than thine so often doo we forgo thy praise because the other is shadowish but thine is euerlasting If we hunt after the transitorie praise we loose the eternall praise O praise eternall O my Lord God of whome is all praise without whome there is no praise I am not able to praise thee without thee Let me haue thee and I will praise thee For what am I of my selfe Lord that I should praise thee I am but dust and ashes I am but a dead and stinking dog I am but woormes and rottennesse I what am I to praise thee O most mightie Lord God How can the breath of no better than flesh praise thee which dwellest in euerlastingnesse Can darkenesse praise light or death life Thou art light I darkenesse thou life I death Can lieng praise truth Thou art truth and I am a woman no better than vanitie it self How shall I then praise thee O Lord Shall my wretchednesse praise thee Shall stinch praise sweet sents Shall mans mortalitie which is heere to daie and gone to morrowe praise thee Shall man which is but rottennesse or the sonne of man which is but woormes praise thee O Lord can he praise thee which is bred borne and brought vp in sinfulnesse Praise is not seemelie in the mouth of a sinner O Lord my God let thine owne incomprehensible power let thy vnbounded wisedome let thine vnspeakable goodnesse let thine ouerpassing mercie let thy superabundant pitie and let thine euerlasting vertue and Godhead praise thee Praised be thou by thine owne almightie puissance and also by thy singular gratious goodnesse and louingnesse whereby thou hast created vs O Lord the life of my soule Of Gods manifold benefits generallie with an humble thanks-giuing vnto his Maiestie for the same AND I thy handmaid whome thorough thy goodnesse thou hast created will to the vttermost of my power praise thee my God my creator my preseruer and my deliuerer with all my hart and call to mind all the good that thou hast done me from my youth vp to this instant For I knowe that
in a cleere and perfect light shall behold thee Amen 7. On the feast daie of the purification of Saint Marie the virgin and mother of Christ. The word became flesh and dwelt among vs Halleluiah O Eternall Father of thine onelie Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Christ which in the Common-wealth of Israell ordeined according to thy wisedome and adorned with excellent statutes necessarie for the state of mankind and signifieng secret and heauenlie things didst make diuers lawes concerning vncleannesse and the keeping of women with child and another for the first borne and that not onlie to put vs in mind of order in this life and thankefulnesse towards thy ministerie but also to teach that this our giltie and polluted nature like the foule and menstruous cloath of a woman is washed by the bloud of thy Sonne which is thy first borne thy substantiall image and the word sounding thy will whome from the heauens thou commandest to be harkened vnto Gouerne vs by thy first and onlie begotten Sonne Giue vs thy holie spirit that earnestlie we may bewaile our vncleannesse and pollusion aske helpe at thy mercifull hand be purified by the bloud of thy Sonne and be redeemed by him vnto true integritie and cleannesse which pleaseth thee that for his sake we may be adopted into thy children and find fauour in thine eies And as that good old man father Simeon notwithstanding that publikelie little or no talke was vsed of thy benefits by reason of the manifold sects then sproong vp and horrible tyrannie of Gouernours yet was confirmed by thy holie spirit in the truth and receiued a singular promise that he should see the Messias so by the same thy spirit kindle in vs faith whereby we may escape the palpable and curssed darkenesse of idolatrie which in the world welnigh is vsed And grant that we may apprehend thy Sonne who as this daie was presented in the Temple in substance of our flesh and in his armes depart in peace and be presented vnto thee with pure and cleane minds Assist vs that from our harts as did good father Simeon and holie Iacob we may firmelie keepe him among the feares of conscience and pangs of death Grant that he may be our light inflaming the darkenesse of our feeble minds with the brightnesse of his glorie Blot out all our doubtings heale the diseases of our soule and kindle that benefit and excellent light of true religion that being made followers in the spirituall societie of thy people Israell whose glorie is thy Sonne witnessing that among that people the promises and reuelations of the essence and will of the true God were made we may also come to thy glorie which our nature needeth and be adorned by thy Sonne with the heauenlie blessing of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and receiuing righteousnesse and eternall life Amen 8. On Saint Matthias daie Thou hast exalted one chosen out of the people to publish thy lawe blessed be thy name O Lord. ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie Father who because the Scripture must needs haue beene fulfilled which the holie Ghost through the mouth of Dauid spake before of the Traitor Iudas who was guide to the Iewes that tooke Iesus thy deere Sonne our Lord and who now in reward of his iniquitie for betraieng thine innocent Sonne his Lord and Maister went hoong himselfe in the feeld of bloud called Acheldama till he burst asunder in the midst and all his guts and bowels gushed out didst afterward at the earnest praiers and petition of the rest of thy disciples choose thy faithfull seruant Matthias out of all the companie that followed thee or had their conuersation with thine Apostles to be of the number of thy twelue Apostles and ordeinedst him to be a witnesse with them of thy Sonnes resurrection as it is written in the 109. Psalme Let his habitation be void and no man be dwelling therein and his Bishoprike or charge let another take grant we beseech thee that thy Church being alwaie preserued from hirelings traitors and false Apostles may be ordered and guided by godlie faithfull and true pastors and ministers O Christ Sonne of God greatlie didst thou reioice at the gathering of the Church and high thanks didst thou yeeld to thy Father because he had chosen an holie seed out of mankind and suffered not their pains to be altogither frustrate We thanke thee also from our harts for reioicing at our well-doing and for repressing the diuell by thy power that some may be saued Gather heereafter we beseech thee from among vs a righteous people pleasing thee And although miserable and ouglie be the outward shew of thy Church and they which seeme to be the light of the world despise thy wisedome euen as neither Tiberius the Emperour with the Senate of Rome neither the Princes and Priests of the Iews would vouchsafe to heare thee wandering with thy Disciples Christian auditorie yet assist vs that these sinister iudgements of the world doo not dismaie vs but that we may bring our minds into a godlie captiuitie acknowledge thee by a true and liuelie faith to be the Sonne of thine eternall Father receiue the words from thee which from the bosome of thy Father vtterest the counsell concerning the restitution of man to whom all things both in heauen and earth are giuen for vs which are thy parteners Leade vs by thine hand by thy word and spirit before the presence of thy Father shew vs in a new light inwardlie in our soules the presence of thy Father which is pleased with vs for thy sake Abide thou among vs. Powre on vs by thy spirit the beginning of that light and righteousnes which appeareth in thee being the light of light lightning the darkenes of our nature Behold O good Samaritane and Physician of our soules to thee doo we lift vp our hands we are wounded we labour and are heauie laden thine enimie hath spoiled vs and wounded vs to the death We are so burthened with the weight and greeuousnes of sicknesse that our soule is comfortlesse readie to faint and fall into death and damnation Wherfore comfort our miserable soule with thy ioifull wine and oile with thine heauenlie and quickening balme raise vs from death vtter thy comfort to our harts and grant that our soules may find rest and gladnesse in thee Put on vs thy sweet yoke tame our flesh by thy spirit Raise vp in vs new motions and holie cogitations agreeable to thy will and word Thou art meeke in deed not desirous of reuengement Thou hast not throwne miserable man into euerlasting damnation as thou didst the diuels but hast suffered punishment for vs in thy bodie and praied for thine enimies Thou art meeke and lowlie in hart Thou flangest thy selfe vnder all angels and men thou tookest our fraile and fowle flesh vpon thee thou she wedst not the power of thy diuinitie in the time of thy passion but hidst if it might be thy diuinitie after a woonderfull
Sunne to set bicause we expect his arising againe in the morning no more ought we as men without hope to be sorie for the death of the bodie knowing that in the morning light of the resurrection it shall eftsoones arise receiue the soule againe to ioie or paine eternall VVhen the candles or lamps be light praie THanks be giuen to thee O Lord which after daie when night commeth hast giuen vs for the remedie of darknesse this artificiall light of the candle or lampe whereby we see and discerne those things in this night of our bodies which are expedient for vs to vse But especiallie we render immortall praise vnto thine holie Maiestie for the light of thy doctrine which thy Sonne against the horrour of sinne and ignorance hath brought vnto vs for a remedie against death eternall Grant we beseech thee O Lord of light and Maister of all truth that the most thicke and obscure clouds of our minds may be so driuen awaie and expelled by the lampe of thy grace and candle of knowledge and right vnderstanding that in bodie corporallie and in soule spirituallie wee may euer see by both these lights to glorifie thee both in our liues and in our deaths Thy word ô Lord is a lampe to our feete and a light vnto our paths O light thou our candle and make our darknesse to be light that with our lamps euer burning we may still watch for thy comming Amen Meditation THinke now that as without this materiall light of the candle all would be horrour and vncouth darknesse euen so without the spirituall light of Gods diuine word and wisedome all our light is darknesse our knowledge errour and our life death and vtter confusion Thinke also that as the candle is not put vnder a bushell but set on a candlesticke to giue light to all in the house so likewise ought we to let the light of our faith shine bright before men that other séeing our good works may therefore glorifie God Euening praiers for Sundaie to be said kneeling by the bedside before you make you vnreadie ¶ Here you may saie one of the confessions for the Sabboth daie as before pag. 384 387. WE render vnto thee euerlasting praises most mercifull Father for that of thy gratious fauour and loue towards vs thou hast vouchsafed to preserue vs this daie and the rest of our life hitherto vnder the shadowe of thy most mercifull protection beseeching thee also to take vs into thy tuition this present night and euer that we be not tempted with anie suggestion of Sathan but being thoroughlie armed with the holie Ghost we may haue power and force to resist his assaults by a sure faith and confidence in the bloud of thy blessed Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus Giue vs grace to repent vs of our sinnes vnfeinedlie to craue remission of them vncessantlie to imbrace thy holie word and commandements sincerelie and to expresse them in our liuing effectuallie whereby we may walke vprightlie in our conuersation with sure and certaine hope of the resurrection to eternall life by the merits of Christ Iesus that with the wise virgins we may be found waking and watching for his comming when he shall come to iudge the world with equitie and to reward euerie man according to the works of his bodie Grant vs grace most mercifull Father to behaue our selues so vprightlie in this life that then we may be made partakers of thy kingdome with thine elect there to liue in eternall ioie and felicitie world without end Amen Another Euening praier on the Lords daie O Almightie and eternall God Father of our Lord Iesu Christ which togither with thy Sonne and the holie Ghost didst create man after thine owne likenesse and breath into him the breth of life the which through thy goodnes continueth at thy pleasure Thou hast made of one bloud all mankind and assigned times and length of our life in this world thou giuest life to the people on the earth and breth to the walkers therein which if thou take awaie they shall depart and be turned into dust We blesse thee heauenlie Father and with all our harts giue thee thanks not onelie for sauing vs this daie from dangers but also from our cradles for defending both our soules and bodies from death Wherefore magnifie the Lord O our soules and our spirits reioice in God our Sauiour For he hath looked vpon the basenesse and afflictions of his seruants He that is mightie hath done for vs great things and holie is his name Wherefore we will praise the Lord for euermore bicause his mercie endureth from generation to generation on such as feare him We will shew foorth his power in the euening and when we go to bed we will remember his mercie Arise now our soules in the night praise your God In the beginning of the watches powre out your harts like water before the face of the Lord. For the Saints will be ioifull with glorie sing lowd vpon their beds Wherefore we also will praise thee continuallie and will confesse thy name for euermore For thou art the God which delighteth our harts and maketh our soules merie Therefore in the night we will thinke vpon thy benefits and our spirits shall consider of thy woonderous works For thou hast commanded that thy mercie be celebrated in the daie time and thy truth in the night season O our Lord and God of mercie gentlenesse patience pitie and truth which she west mercie vnto thousands and blottest out all our offences we lift vp our soules vnto thee and from our harts we praie thee put not before thine eies the horrible confusion vncleannesse and wickednesse of our minds being replenished with loathsome darknesse and ignorance full of doubtings and errors Our harts and will are turned from thee our God and all the powers and strength both of our soules and bodies are defiled and filthilie weakened but Lord of thy great merice blot out our offences looke vpon the troubles and dolours of our harts and forgiue all our sinnes For lo our soules are wounded and can not be holpen but onelie through mercie There is no health in our flesh bicause of thine anger neither is there rest in our bones bicause of our sins For our iniquities haue gone ouer our heads and as an heauie burden haue pressed vs down Our wounds are putrified and corrupt bicause of our foolishnesse Asswage thine anger and turne from thine indignation Pardon our faults remit all punishment and restore in vs the light of thy goodnesse 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 doo we call vnto thee that remitting our sinnes which this daie especiallie we haue committed against thee in breaking thy Saboth and prophaning this our holie daie with our vnholie deeds speech and cogitations thou wouldest receiue vs into thy
hide my fault from euerie bodie in giuing me againe the part of thy bed and also in shewing that the multitude of my sinnes are so hidden and ouercome by thy great victorie that thou wilt neuer remember them more so that now thou seest nothing in me but the graces gifts and vertues which it hath pleased thy free goodnesse to giue me O charitie most pretious I do see well that thy goodnesse doth consume my lewdnesse and maketh me a new godlie and ioifull creature The euill that was mine thou hast destroied and made me so perfect a creature that all the good a husband can do to his wife thou hast done it to me in giuing me a faithfull hope in thy promises Now haue I through thy good grace recouered the place of thy wife O happie and desired place O gratious bed O thou right honourable seate of peace rest from all warre high sleepe of honour separate from the earth Doest thou receiue this vnworthie creature giuing hir the scepter and crowne of thine Empire and glorious Realme Who did euer heare of such a storie as to raise vp one so high which of hir selfe was nothing and maketh of great valure which of it selfe was naught The fift Chapter Of the vnion of death and life in the faithfull soule by Christ ALas what is this For casting mine eies on high I see thy goodnes thine vnknowne grace and thy loue so incomprehensible that my sight is woonderfull in beholding thee but looking downeward I might see what I am and what I was willing to be Alas I do see in it the lewdenesse darkenesse and extreme deepenes of mine euils My death which by humblenes closeth mine eie the admirable goodnesse of thee and the vnspeakable euill which is in me thy right highnes pure maiestie my right fragill and mortall nature thy gifts goods beatitude my malice great vnkindnes O how good art thou vnto me and how vnking haue I bene vnto thee this that thou wilt and this that I pursue Which things considered causeth me to maruell how it pleaseth thee to ioine thy selfe to me seeing there is no comparison betweene vs both Thou art my God and I am thy worke thou my creator and I thy creature Now to speake brieflie though I cannot define what it is to be of thee yet know I my selfe to be the least thing that may be compared vnto thee O most happie loue Thou madest this agreement when thou didst ioine life death together but y e vnion hath made aliue death life dieng and life without end haue made our death a life Death hath giuen vnto life a quickning y t through death I being dead may receiue life and by death I am rauished with him which is aliue I liue in him otherwise of my self I am dead And as concerning bodelie death to me it is nothing but a comming out of prison death is to me life for through death I am aliue And as this mortall life filleth me full of care and sorowe so death yeeldeth me content O what a godlie thing is it to die that the soule may liue For in deliuering hir from this mortall death she is deliuered from the death miserable and matched with hir most mightie louer Is not then the soule blamelesse which faine would by to haue life Yes trulie and ought to call death hir welbeloued friend O sweet death pleasant sorowe mightie king deliuering from all wickednes O Lord those which trust in thee and in thy death are mortified by the hope they haue in thy passion Thus with a sweet sleepe dost thou put them out of that death which causeth manie to lament O how happie is the same sleepe vnto him which when he awaketh doth find through thy death life euerlasting For death is none other thing to a Christian man but a libertie or deliuerance from his mortall band and the death which is fearefull to the wicked is pleasant and acceptable to them that are good bicause that death through death is destroied Therefore my God if I were rightlie taught I should call death life the end of labour and beginning of euerlasting ioie For I knowe that long life doth let me from the sight of thee O death come and doe thine office on me that I may see my spouse or else sweet loue transforme me in thee and then shall I the better tarie the comming of death O sweet Lord let me die that I may liue with thee For there is none other that can deliuer me but thou onelie O my Sauiour through faith I am planted and ioined with thee O what vnion is this sith that through faith I am assured to thee and may call thee father brother sonne and husband O my father what paternitie O my brother what fraternitie O my child what delectation O my spouse what coniunction is this A father full of humilitie a brother hauing our similitude a sonne engendred through faith and loue a husband louing and releeuing in all extremitie But whom dost thou loue Alas it is she whom thou hast withdrawne from the snare wherin through malice she was bound and hast put hir in place name and office of a daughter sister mother and wife O my Sauiour it is a great sauour of sweetnesse right pleasant and delectable when a soule after the hearing of thy word shall cal thee without feare his father his brother child and spouse such a soule doubtlesse may continuallie burne in loue Is there anie loue vnlesse it be this maner of loue but it hath some euill condition Is there anie pleasure to be hereto compared Is there anie honour to this but may be accounted shame Yea is there anie profit equall to this Moreouer to conclude is there any thing that I could more earnestlie loue Alas no. For he that vnfeinedlie loueth God reputeth all these things wordlie of lesse valure than the dunghill Pleasure profit and honour of this world are all but vanitie and trifles vnto him which hath found God Such loue is so profitable honourable abundant in grace that I dare saie she onlie sufficeth the hart of a godlie soule and yeeldeth hir so constant that she neuer desireth or would haue other For whosoeuer hath God as he ought to be had accounteth all other things superfluous or vaine Now thanked be my Lord and my father through faith I haue gotten the same loue wherfore I ought to be satisfied and content Now haue I thee my father for defence of my want on foolishnes and my long youth Now haue I thee my brother for to succour my sorowes wherein I find no end Now haue I thee my sonne for my feeble age as an onlie staie Now haue I thee a true and faithfull husband for the satisfieng of my whole hart And now sith I haue thee I will and doo forsake all them that are in the world holding thee fast that thou maiest no more escape me Seeing now that I haue possessed
forgiue vs our iniquities Whosoeuer calleth on thy name shall be saued Thou hast no pleasure in the death of a sinner but rather desirest that they should liue and be conuerted Thou hast so loued the world that thou not onlie didst become man and tooke our nature vpon thee but wert content also to suffer most cruell death on the Crosse to purge our nature from mortall sinne and corruption and adorne it with immortalitie and eternall glorie not onelie in thine owne person but in vs also to satisfie the iustice of the Father for our sinnes Oh blessed shepheard thou doubtedst not to spend thy most pretious blood to saue thy beloued sheepe from rauine and spoile Good Lord so increase thy grace in me that thy holie word may take roote and flourish in me that the good seed may not be choked with thornes So order my liuing that when by course of nature I shall be dissolued from the prison of my bodie I may come to thee that when thou more bright than the sun shalt come in the midst of the legions of Angels in thy shining glorie and Maiestie to iudge the quicke the dead I may be in the number of the blessed ones whom thou shalt call to possesse the kingdome prepared for them by thy Father saieng Come ye blessed children of my Father receiue the kingdome prepared for you before the beginning of the world Thou which didst die and rise againe wilt raise and bring to life all those that are dead beleeuing in thy faith So be it A praier to liue well GOod Lord so rule the eies of my hart that they being kept simple and pure my bodie may be a cleere and shining temple of thy holie spirit So kindle in vs the loue of thy glorious sonne that we following his steps may doo that which is good and decline from the euill so that our light shining before men we may glorifie thee by our good works with thy blessed sonne our Sauiour and the holie Ghost to whose infinite Maiestie in trinitie and vnitie be all honour and glorie for euer Amen A praier for humilitie O Lord I am a sinner and sorie for mine offences I can not make satisfaction for my defaults If I haue anie good thing it commeth of thee The most acceptable sacrifice to thee is a contrite and humble hart O God let mee not be oppressed with the waues of sinne let mee not sinke into the whirlepoole and gulph of despaire Thou which liftest vp the fallen and raisest the humble and meeke clothing them with purple and settest them vp with princes in the seates of honour thou which despisest the imaginations of the proud and resistest their enterprises blesse me in all my dooings send mee happie successe in all mine affaires that I may reioice in thy goodnesse with thine elected for euer and euer Accept my humble suite good Lord I beseech thee for the glorie of thy name sake Amen A praier for the obteining of Gods grace O Almightie and mercifull God shine we beseech thee through the power of our Lord Iesus Christ and the comfortable working of thy sacred spirit the heauenlie comforter vpon our minds and harts with the glorious beames of thy heauenlie grace Giue vs such plentie of wisedome and vnderstanding from aboue that through the knowledge of thee the man of sinne that is our fraile and feeble flesh with the wicked lusts and desire of concupiscence may lie dead and buried in vs. Giue vs good Lord the feeling of thy grace that by the vertue and diuine operation of thy word the eies of our soules may be illumined and made so light that the Prince of darkenesse with all his vnrighteous ministers may be expulsed and banished from our memories So establish vs in thy truth that our harts minds and thoughts may continuallie be occupied in thy testimonies that thereby thou good Lord effectuallie shining in our harts by the vertue of thy good spirit we may learne to knowe and vnderstand what is the fulnesse of our calling and how rich thou art in the glorie of thy celestiall and heauenlie heritage of thy Saincts and that excellent greatnesse of thy power and louing kindnesse towards vs which beleeue without faining thy holie Gospell according to the might and force of thy strength which thou shewedst in Christ Iesus when thou didst raise him from the dead and didst set him on thy right hand far aboue all empire power authoritie and dominion and euerie name that is named not onlie in this world but in the world to come By whose pretious death and deerest bloud-shedding we are assured that sinne death and hell are vanquished ouercome and vtterlie destroied And if we beleeue without wauering we shall in him be able to resist all the power of hell and in Christ as conquerors to triumph with victorie ouer sinne death and Sathan and at the last to haue and enioie the fruition of his rich and glorious kingdome which he by most painefull agonie bloudie stripes greeuous and bloudie wounds and lastlie by his most painefull death purchased for his chosen and elect To whome for our sanctification iustification redemption and our saluation be rendred with his celestiall Father and the holie Ghost all laud glorie power honour and dominion for euer and euer Amen A praier against presumptuous pride and vaine-glorie WE heare O heauenlie Father and are dailie taught and instructed out of thine eternall word how greatlie the greeuous sinne of presumption pride and vaine-glorie displeaseth thy diuine maiestie We are learned that for the practise of this pestilent and heinous euill thou hast not spared the verie Angels but hast throwne them in thy displeasure for their pride vaine-glorie and presumption from beatitude to miserie from ioie without end to perdurable paine from brightnesse of thy glorious presence to vtter extreame and palpable darkenesse from the glorious fruition and participation of thine euerlasting kingdome to the bottomlesse pit of hell death damnation and endlesse flames of fire Besides this we are taught that by the transgression of Adam whose haughtie presuming through the entisement of the subtile and perillous allurement of the Serpent thought to be as thy selfe but in fine thy iustice condemned him and all his posteritie This pestiferous sinne of pride drowned him in the flouds of all dangerous euils as gluttonie luxurie and such other perils that had not thy mercie taken effect to keepe and hold plea for his and our safegard and thy sonne Christ embased the glorie and power of his diuine essence and taken vpon him our flesh and fraile nature sinne onlie except who freelie offered his innocent bodie to the death of the crosse we had perished euerlastinglie and beene vtterlie confounded Print therefore good Lord and write these examples in my memorie that I fall not from thy fauour by the exercise of this detestable sinne Make me still to consider that the proud and disdainefull are alwaies abhorred in thy sight And sith
permanent vnchangable and vnmooueable lift vp the head of thine handmaid as it were of an Unicorne being annointed by thee with fresh oile and laden with new benefits continuallie Thou art he I saie by whose power consisteth whatsoeuer is high in the world euen by thy might which as it establisheth the kingdoms and policies whereby mankind is preserued so also by these testimonies of thy most mightie power the inhabitants of the earth being conuinced doo tremble and keepe silence And this peace being restored in my dominion thou causest that my people againe doo leade their liues both daie and night in comfortable peace godlie tranquillitie Wherefore thou hast giuen me great cause of new ioie and to reioice in thee O Lord my God who hast thus mercifullie dealt with me thine handmaid and especiallie bicause thou hast granted vnto me to ouercome all mine enimies how manie and how mightie soeuer and to compose and set my kingdome in peaceable order and to place in Iuda the throne of iudgement and iustice being directed by thy word O GOD which I haue and whereof I glorie still will glorie To conclude I doo reioice bicause thou Lord art my louing shepheard and feedest me in the greene pastures and sweet medowes of thy word with ioie and solace making me that was sometime as a barren woman without comfort now a ioifull and glad foster mother of manie spirituall children to thee Yea euen in the verie sight of mine enimies dooest thou O most bountifull Father prepare a deintie table for me and reaching vnto me a full cup thou giuest me drinke of thy pleasant springs and causest thy goodnesse and mercie thy bountie and liberalitie to followe me wheresoeuer I become blessing both me and my people with all thy blessings continuallie Finallie it is thou O Lord onlie who of thy singular goodnesse hast assuredlie fortified my hill woonderfullie with honour health peace and securitie and that dooest presentlie keepe me in safetie and causest me quietlie to lie downe and take my rest in thee Thou doost ward the gates of my Cities with bars and mightilie multiplie and cherish thy familie my citizens Thou bringest me into amitie with my neighbors and feedest me with the finest flower of wheate And these things verelie doo testifie most plainlie both thine infinite goodnesse and power yet surelie they are nothing in comparison of that benefit of the doctrine of saluation and holie word which thou hast bestowed vpon thy people and deliuered vnto vs as a rule to lead our liues both godlie and honestlie neither is there anie nation vnder heauen with whom thou hast so dealt as with vs herein Therfore hauing such experience of thy support I will comfort my selfe in thee my strength my shield in whom my hart doth rest neither will thine Annointed trust in anie other but onelie in thee which giuest power vnto Princes Euen I will blesse and praise thee O Lord which thus hast blessed both me and my people with thy continuall blessings And in this my present blessed state I will not cease to magnifie thee O Lord my deliuerer but I will declare set foorth before all people the maruellous works which thou my God hast done for me and whereof I my selfe from the beginning of my life vnto this houre haue had good proofe experience The fourth part of the Vow conteining fiue Chapters CAP. I. OH Lord my God how excellent is thy name ouer all the earth Aduancing mee thus to glorie far aboue my deserts I as one nothing able to compasse such great mercies am euen astonished with the admiration of thine excellent liberalitie and fatherlie prouidence ouer me O how greatlie doo these so manie and so great benefits binde me vnto thee And what shall I giue againe vnto thee for all thy bountie which thou hast bestowed vpon me Uerelie I will paie that which onlie I am able namelie I will take in my hands the Lampe which thou hast ordeined for thine annointed and will therein continuallie magnifie thy mercie I will take in my hands I saie the cup of thankefull sacrifice and calling vpon thee by name O Lord I will testifie openlie that I knowledge this my deliuerance and honour to be onelie of thee And those things which I vowed vnto thee O Lord when I was in danger will I now paie in the presence of all the people For thou art he by whose benefit I remaine aliue thou art my defence my tower my sauiour my sheeld my refuge finallie thou art he who onelie hast subdued all this people vnto me and therefore well deseruest the renowme and praise of all these victories by most worthie right Wherefore by good right O Lord I will declare thy praises euen with a sounding voice And bicause it becommeth all men and women that haue receiued benefits of thee and to whome thou grantest the vse of this life and deliuered from so manie not dangers but deaths to doo this thing diligentlie and continuallie I will labour to commit the memoriall of thy benefits vnto others and exhort them to accompanie me in the dutie of thankefulnesse earnestlie and saie CAP. II. O All yee holie spirits the apparitors of the Lords Maiestie which are diuided into innumerable garrisons go yee before others in this his praise and sound them foorth euen from the most high heauen O yee Citizens of Zion reioice yee in the Lord your King and Gouernour and set foorth his praise far and wide not onlie priuatelie but also publikelie Praise the Lord I saie for his infinite goodnesse and euerlasting mercie deserueth the same O you the innumerable multitude whome God hath deliuered out of manifold dangers and foorth of the hands of your enimies and persecutors praise the Lord for his infinite goodnesse and euerlasting mercie deserueth the same and acknowledge this thing with me For how manie hath he gathered from the beginning of the world which were scattered from the East and the West from the North and South Ocean sea How manie wandering wretches in the waste wildernesse and seeking a Citie commodious to dwell in halfe dead and killed with famine and thirst crieng vnto thee O God in their extreame miseries hast thou heard and drawing them foorth of their distresse hast brought into the right waie and led them into commodious Cities of refuge to dwell in peace O let these men therefore set foorth this thy great mercie before thee O Lord thy selfe and shew foorth thy maruellous works to other men who hast thus refreshed them panting for thirst and fed them so mercifullie being hunger-starued How manie also being shut vp in darke prisons and euen as it were in the darkenesse of death being chained in their mind with sorow and in their bodies most strictlie with iron fetters And that worthilie I confesse because they did not obeie thy commandements oh God which are engrauen in the minds of all men but rather followed their owne lusts than the wholesome counselles
of thee their God Notwithstanding when thou O God thereby well hadst tamed their fiercenesse and hadst brought them to this point that they could find no help in anie thou gratiouslie heardst them crieng vnto thee in their distresse and deliueredst them from their miserie and broughtst them from the dongeons of the prisons and darkenesse of death breaking their iron fetters in sunder O praise yee therefore this so great mercie of the Lord before him and declare his woonderfull actes to other mortall men who hath broken the brasen gates and hath dashed in peeces their iron barres How manie also being driuen awaie through persecution vnto that prophane Babylon euen auoiding so much as laie in you the sight of the wicked enimies did confesse with most dolefull silence euen with abundance of teares both your sinnes and sorowes at the flouds of Euphrates being mindfull of Zion And though you caried your harps euen to be your comfort in so great calamitie yet being outragiouslie mocked and derided in your miserie by the enimie that draue you awaie into most miserable captiuitie you were faine to hang them vp vpon the sallowe trees and make no noise in the sight of the persecutors as they that sawe more cause rather to mourne than sing in that time and place Notwithstanding the Lord did not forget you for euer but seeing the crueltie of the persecutors in his good time turned awaie your captiuitie mourning and restored you to libertie and ioie againe so that you liue and see the daie wherein Babylon is destroied and hir children dashed against the stones For the Lord hath giuen hir prosperitie vnto vs to deale with them againe as they haue dealt with vs. Yea the Lord hath armed his people with double edged swords in their hands wherewith they may punish the prophane Gentiles and auenge the crueltie of the oppressed also may drawe their kings and nobles bound in chaines and iron fetters euen to execute the iudgements appointed and commanded by thee O Lord. And this verelie is the dignitie and the honour of all them whome God hath receiued to his fauour Wherefore O ye glorious people vpon whome the Lord hath bestowed so manie benefits now see that yee in this your great quietnesse and rest sing triumph Praise the Lord in deede O Israel and delight thy selfe in setting foorth his praise continuallie whose worke thou art as it were newlie formed being deliuered from so manie not dangers but deaths What shall I speake Lord furthermore of them who by their owne foolishnesse going in the waie of wickednesse and being oppressed by manifold plagues and diseases doo dailie suffer the reward of their madnesse and loathing all manner of meate are at deaths dore whom notwithstanding thou O Lord diddest heare crieng vnto thee in their miserie and thou deliueredst them out of their distresse yea thou speaking but one word diddest take awaie all the cause of their deadlie disease and restoredst them to health Let these men also I saie praise this thy so great mercies O Lord and publish thy maruellous works before other mortall men Let them offer the sacrifices of praise vnto thee O God in the middle multitude of the people standing about them and let them rehearse with great ioie what he hath done for them in the assemblie of the cheefest Go to therefore O all yee people praise the Lord our God together with me who when wee were oppressed with Pharaos tyrannie was mindfull of vs and with a strong force deliuered Israel from the slauerie of Egypt and hath giuen this dominion to be possessed by ELIZABETH his handmaid for his mercie endureth for euer CAP. III. O All yee people I saie tribes kindreds and inhabitants of the earth both noble and simple rich and poore clap your hands and praise this most holie God with most ioifull voices Giue vnto the Lord the praise of all power worship and glorie giue him the honour due vnto his name and maiestie For lo he is come to gouerne the earth The Lord himselfe reigneth amongst you and gouerneth the whole world with a iust and righteous gouernement and ruleth altogether with the scepter of his iustice and truth Go to therefore O yee yong striplings and old men yong children maidens matrones and you also all other that loue feare God come I praie you praise y e name of y e Lord euen of our most mightie IEHOVA together with mee For he alone deserueth most high praise as he that is more deepe than the verie earth and more high than the heauens and far aboue all the powers and potentates of the world Go to also O ye damsels and virgins stir vp your ioie to daie with songs of praise vpon timbrell lute but voide of wantonnesse so that your ioie may tend to the glorie of God your onlie strength and celebrate this daie of your deliuerance as festiuail to the Lord our deliuerer O ye Uirgins and damsels vnmaried now reioice with me I saie and sing vnto the Lord a triumphant song Praise the Lord also O ye brides in your marriage songs with glorie and maiestie that ye liue to see my daies and that the flower of your youth is not consumed in the flame of Gods furie For the time was when you being desolate and vnmarried did remaine pensife without your marriage songs and liued solitarie sitting at home among the soote of pots but now the women that durst not come out of their houses come foorth glittering like gold and shining like dooues as white as snowe and boldlie diuide the spoile of the enimie Go to therefore O ye damsels of Iuda and multitude of Uirgins seeing ye haue so great cause to reioice shew not your selues vnthankfull in anie wise but praise the Lord together with me in Hymnes and celebrate his name with spirituall songs for his victories goodnesse and mercie towards vs. Come foorth yee daughters of Zion I saie and breake out into gladnesse with me reioice you of the iust iudgements of God vpon our enimies yea compasse you Zion round about account hir towers consider diligentlie hir wals and bulworks and set foorth the praises of hir peace and palaces so that yee may spread foorth the memorie thereof euen to all posteritie And doo you let all men to vnderstand that this is God euen our owne God for euer which hath not forsaken vs neither will leaue vs no not in the last minute of our life Go to now therefore I beseech you let vs altogether praise the Lord as we are bounden let the whole companie of vs Uirgins plaie vpon the Timbrels on euerie side and corner of the citie Zion one exhorting and answering another by course and that with new and excellent songs of praise to the glorie of God Let vs magnitie that mightie and eternal name of his for it is holie let vs continuallie come before the Lord and worship him for he is holie For what should we rather doo
pleased thy gratious goodnesse freelie of thine owne accord to elect and choose vs to saluation afore the beginning of the world and euen like continuall thanks be giuen vnto thee for creating vs after thine owne image for redeeming vs with the pretious bloud of thy deere Sonne when we were vtterlie lost for sanctifieng vs with thy holie spirit in the reuelation and knowledge of thy sacred word for helping and succouring vs in all our need and necessitie for sauing vs from all dangers of bodie and soule for comforting vs so fatherlie in all our troubles and afflictions for sparing vs so long and giuing vs so large time of repentance These benefits O most mercifull father like as we acknowledge to haue receiued of thine onlie goodnesse euen so we beseech thee for thy deere sonne Iesus Christes sake to grant vs alwaie thy holie spirit whereby we may continuallie growe in thankefulnesse towards thee be led into all truth and comforted in all aduersitie Strengthen our faith O Lord kindle it more and more in feruentnesse and loue towards thee and our neighbours for thy sake Suffer vs not most deere father to receiue thy word anie more in vaine but grant vs alwaie the assistance of thy grace and holie spirit that in hart word and deede we may sanctifie and doo woorship to thy holie name that we may help to amplifie thy kingdome and that whatsoeuer thou sendest we may bee hartilie well content with thy good will and pleasure Suffer vs not to lacke the thing O father without the which we can not serue thee but blesse thou so all the works of our hands that we may haue sufficient and not to be chargeable but rather helpfull vnto others Be merciful O Lord vnto our offences and seeing our debt is great which thou hast forgiuen vs in Iesus Christ make vs to loue thee and our neighbors so much the more Be thou O father our Captaine and defender in all temptations Hold thou vs by thy mercifull hand that we thereby may be deliuered from all inconuenience and end our liues in the sanctifieng and honouring of thy holie name through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ¶ On the seuenteenth daie of Nouember commonlie called The Queenes daie Sundrie formes of Christian praiers and thanks-giuings vnto God for the preseruation of the most vertuous Ladie Elizabeth our most deare and dread souereigne Quéene of England France and Ireland defender of the faith c. verie necessarie to be vsed as generallie of all faithfull subiects continuallie so especiallie of the Mother and hir Daughter vpon the seuentéenth daie of Nouember and euerie Sabboth and holie daie in honourable remembrance of that ioifull Sabboth rest and peace from carefull mourning which that memorable seuententh daie brought to vs the banished exiles of England and persecuted members of Christ by the most happie entrance of hir most roiall and excellent Maiestie into this hir Emperiall Crowne and kingdome A Psalme Mother COme O all you that feare God come hither I praie you and giue eare a while and reherse with me y e great benefits that he the Lord hath bestowed vpon vs. Daughter For lo when the most mightie men gathered their power against vs and laie in wait for our life they conspired togither to worke our destruction as though the Lord had determined the same and exhorted one another saieng God hath forsaken them therefore persecute them now flieng awaie and take them being destitute of all helpe Moth. These men our aduersaries I saie wheresoeuer we remoued or went by sea or by land laie in wait most diligentlie for vs yea multitudes of the cruell enimies did not ceasse craftilie to enuiron and beset vs round about and ran vpon vs with gaping mouthes like raging and roring lions of malicious minds to bring vs to extremitie and to deuoure vs. Daugh. For thy sake O Lord alone were we killed euerie daie neither were we in anie better condition than sheepe appointed of butchers to the slaughter Moth. Manie of vs wandered in the waste wildernesse and sought strange cities commodious to dwell in halfe dead and killed with famine and thirst ouerwhelmed with the shadowe of death and being cast downe by the burthen of our miseries laie downe flat cleauing to the earth Daugh. The bands of death compassed vs round about and bound vs most wicked men like most raging flouds made vs afraid enuironing vs round about Moth. We were snared and cast fast bound with chaines into most darke dungeons yea we tasted the heate of the fire and the force of the water Daugh. Then we called vpon the Lord in these extremities We called vpon the Lord I saie and he heard our voice out of his high palace and receiuing into his eares the crie that we made vnto him he deliuered vs from our miseries and distresse Moth. He gathered vs home which were scattered from the East the West from the North South and brought vs from the dungeons of the prisons and darkenesse of death breaking the fetters and giues of iron in peeces Daugh. The Lord hath deliuered our life from death he staid the teares of our eies and established our feet that they did not fall he hath brought vs out of our distresse Hence haue we our light whereby he causeth vs to shine and hath driuen awaie our darkenesse Moth. Therfore will we praise thee O Lord among the nations and will sing lauds vnto thy Maiestie yea we will declare thy power and will shew foorth thy praise and mercie earlie in the morning because thou hast defended vs and wast our refuge in extreme dangers Daugh. Oh acknowledge and declare ye openlie that the Lord is good for his bountious goodnesse is for euer Let all the sincere worshippers of the Lord now confesse that his louing kindnesse is perpetuall Praise ye the Lord. Moth. Glorie be to the Father and to the c. Daug. As it was in the beginning is now c. ¶ The Versicles Mother O Lord shew thy great mercie vpon vs miserable sinners Daughter And grant thine euerlasting helth and saluation vnto vs. Moth. O Lord saue Elizabeth our gratious Queene and Gouernor Daugh. Which putteth hir onlie confidence in thee O God hir tower Moth. Oh send hir still continuall helpe from thy most holie place Daugh. And euermore from dangers all defend thou hir most roiall Grace Moth. O let not the infernall fo haue anie aduantage of hir Daugh. Nor let the wicked enimie once approch to hurt hir Moth. Indue hir ministers alwaie with righteousnesse and equitie Daugh. And make thou thy chosen seruants full ioifullie to praise thee Moth. O Lord saue thy people from all perils and dow them with thy gifts Daugh. And blesse thou thine inheritance with all thy bountious benefits Moth. In our time O Lord giue vs thy peace which passeth all vnderstanding Daugh. Bicause none other God dooth fight for vs but onelie thou our King Moth. O soften thou our hardened
is the daie which the Lord hath made we will reioice and be glad therein and euermore sing Halleluiah Halleluiah The Praier OF thy woonderfull victorie and resurrection from death and glorious kingdome O Sonne of God it was said In that daie the roote of Iesse shall stand to be a signe to the people vnto him shall the nations flie and his rest shall be glorie Thou art that blessed branch of Dauid thou tookest mans nature vpon thee and camest of the line of Dauid but in the time of thy humiliation thou wast but a sprig as it were in a drie ground a notable and heauenlie plant but oppressed with miseries Thy soule dried awaie being beaten with the mightie tempest of Gods displeasure against our sinnes notwithstanding that goodlie roote through the power of thy diuine nature was not vtterlie choaked Thou art deliuered from the midst of death and by thy diuine power thou standest victoriouslie ouer thine enimies and art readie to bring vs thy souldiers from all euils and make vs partakers of thy most glorious conquest in thy kingdome which is altogither otherwise than the triumph and glorie of this world Death endeth all the pride power and pompe of this world but thy death and rest is glorious thy kingdome and glorie beginneth when our life is ended O Christ Sonne of God how woonderfull was thy rest Man at the first was made to be a noble and holie Temple wherein a perpetuall Sabboth should be celebrated and a diuine nature should abide filling and comforting him with plentie of heauenlie riches But this rest was turned into vnquietnes and this ioie into sorowe through the hatred of sathan thine enimie which prophaned this temple and sabboth brought in an horrible misorder and wickednes Wherefore it pleased thine almightie Father of his goodnes to send thee his onlie Sonne from his owne bosome to restore againe this Sabboth Hence it was that after a woonderfull manner in the daie of the great Sabboth according to the lawe of Moses thine humane nature through death which separated the soule from the bodie rested in the sepulchre and the word which forsooke not that nature no not at the graue reuiued that flesh the third daie and so thou rosest againe when the time of our redemption was expired victoriouslie vnto thy kingdome and giuest an eternall Sabboth and rest to such as flie vnto thee O Sonne of God call thou sinners euen vs miserable and vncleane persons vnto that sacred feast which in this world through thee the cheefe Priest is begun and shall be then made perfect when the elect for euermore shall followe the Lambe whithersoeuer he go Put on vs the festiuall garment the garment of thy righteousnes and benediction that we putting awaie the leauen of malice and wickednes may celebrate the feast in the sweet bread of sinceritie serue thee in purenes of liuing and truth This yeare from thine incarnation 1582. are passed 3091 yeares since the first passouer which the Israelites did celebrate going out of Egypt so long hast thou preserued thy Church and we beseech thee preserue it euerlastinglie notwithstanding the rage of the diuell and his ministers And as thou defendedst thy people which eate of the Lambe and moreouer going through out Egypt slaiedst in thy righteous iudgements all the first borne in the land so assist vs that with a liuelie faith we may feed on thee the true Lamb. Keepe vs among all the miseries of this last age of the world The carcases remaining were cast awaie and condemned but thy oblation is gratefull in the sight of God it appeaseth the wrath of the eternall Father and by the eating of thee which art the Lamb of God taking awaie the sinnes of the world righteousnes and life is giuen to beleeuers The word raiseth againe and quickneth the flesh that vnto vs ingraffed therevnto by faith the like life may be giuen and the bodie of sinne mortified in vs and thou liue and reigne in vs for euermore wherefore let thy glorious rest be in vs. We are made of earth and after sinne our bodies were appointed to the earth yea the vngodlie shall abide for euer in the earth and neuer appeare in thy glorious heauen But after thou touchedst the death with thy liuelie flesh thou madest it light thou tookest awaie the heauinesse thereof Through the blast of the first serpent manie times euen mans flesh is turned into verie serpents And in the graue of the wicked more horrible is the filth of spirituall dragons and serpents which deuour them euerlastinglie and keepe them in perpetuall death But thou O Sonne of God makest the graues of thy saincts euen pleasant chambers as it were Thou driuest far awaie from thence all filthinesse of sathan Thou settest about them the watchmen euen thy pure Angels which bring their soules into paradise commending them into the hands and bosome of thy Father and keepe also their ashes which both were and shall be at thy returne the house of the holie ghost Beautifie vs in like manner with this thy glorie of true knowledge and calling vpon thee Be present with vs at the point of death receiue our soules at their departure into thine hands shew thou thy comfort ioie till at the resurrection of mankind thou crowne thine elect with perfect endlesse glorie a taste wherof might be seene in those fortie daies after thy resurrection Neuer was there so goodlie a world as that was when thou rosest from death and broughtest out of their graues a great companie of thy Saincts as the Scripture plainelie but breeflie for the vngodlie doth testifie Familiarlie did the holie fathers and matrones remaine with thy sweet mother and Apostles Pleasant speeches and much talke was made no doubt of the miseries of man of the vnspeakable benefits gotten by thee and of the glorie of eternall life O Lord raise thou vp our harts that with a true desire we may long to come into this faire companie Let vs turne our selues in cogitation vnto that holie assemblie Let vs hearken vnto and learne thy wisedome reuealed in thy word In this life thy Church is in darkenesse in miseries men are occupied in the obseruation of outward ceremonies as those godlie women they will annoint thy bodie Manie times thy Church seemeth to be depriued of thy sweet presence and vttereth these sorrowfull words They haue taken awaie my Lord and I can not tell where they haue laid him But O Sonne of God amend the mortall darkenesse within vs kindle in our soule thine inward seruice which pleaseth thee manifest thy selfe vnto vs in affliction speake these comfortable words in our calamitie vnto vs Weepe not that euen in death we may thinke with our selues that thou art present and after death rise againe to the fruition of eternall life with thy blessed Saincts Amen Another ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie Father who hast raised vp thy Sonne for our iustification as thou gauest him to
faults and keepe thy seruant from presumptuous sinnes Send me helpe from thy sanctuarie and giue mee mine harts desire Saue me from the Lions mouth and lead me in the paths of righteousnesse that I may ascend into thy mountaine and stand in thine holie place hauing innocent hands and a pure hart Remember not the sinnes of my youth nor my rebellions Gather not my soule with the sinners neither giue me vnto the lust of mine aduersaries But so fauourablie harken thou vnto the voice of my petitions that calling vpon the glorie of thine holie name thou doo heare me and haue mercie vpon me And so trusting in thee let me neuer be confounded but forgiue the punishment of my sinne Let thy mercie O Lord be vpon me as I trust in thee and deliuering me out of all my feare saie vnto my soule I am thy saluation And because I trust vnder the shadowe of thy wings giue me mine harts desire and haste thee to helpe mee O my Lord my saluation Lord let me knowe mine end and the measure of my daies what it is let me knowe how long I haue to liue Incline vnto me and heare my crie bring me out of the lake of miserie out of the mirie claie and set my feet vpon the rocke and order my goings Deliuer me in the time of trouble that I may go into thy glorious house for thou art the God of my strength Let not my steps go out of thy paths that I may loue righteousnesse and hate iniquitie Be thou mine hope and strength for thou art a great King ouer all the earth Thou which art a God for euer deliuer my soule out of the power of hell for it hath receiued thee And when thou shalt appeare to iudge vs haue mercie vpon me according to the multitude of thy mercies and take not thine holie spirit from me O most gratious GOD in that houre hide thy face from my sinnes and put awaie all mine iniquities Create in me a cleane hart O God renew a right spirit within me that I may appeare like a greene oliue tree in the house of my God and there with Iacob reioice and euerlastinglie be glad with Israel Saue me O God by thy name and by thy power iudge mee Hide not thy selfe frō my supplication but be mercifull vnto me Send thou from heauen and saue me from the reproofe of them that would swalowe me vp Breake their teeth O God in their mouths breake the iawes of the yoong lions O Lord. Thou art my defence and my mercifull God Helpe me with thy right hand and vnder the couering of thy wings let me be protected when thou art to render euerie man according to his works While my soule thirsteth for thee hide me from the conspiracie of the wicked Sith all flesh shall come vnto thee put not backe thy mercie from me Neither take from me thine holie spirit but cause thy face to shine vpon me Send me a good passage O our God which sauest vs that the deepe swallowe me not vp nor the pit shut hir mouth vpon me Be thou mine helper and my deliuerer O Lord make no tarieng Sith in thee O Lord I doo trust let me neuer bee confounded when thou shalt iudge the people Lo they which withdrawe themselues from thee shall perish Oh let not me oppressed returne ashamed Bicause thou art a righteous iudge thou makest lowe and thou exaltest and who shall stand in thy sight when thou art angrie Thou art the God that dooest woonders As thou nourishedst thy people with bread in y e wildernesse and didst not turne them from their lust so let thy grace refresh me an hungrie soule make haste and let thy tender mercies preuent me And thou my defender giue me the bread of teares and the bitternesse of a troubled mind in the time of tribulation and grant withall that from the honie of the rocke I may taste the sweetnesse of inward consolation O God who iudgest betweene the innocent and the sinners who alone art the most high ouer all y e earth haue mercie vpon me and giue grace and glorie who hast ordeined a lawe Forgiue the iniquitie of mine hart couer all my sinnes and saue thou thy seruant that trusteth in thee O God who laiest the foundations of thy Church vpon the holie mountaines incline thine eare vnto my crie Let thine hand therefore establish me and turne me not vnto destruction but deliuer me from the snare of the hunter from the pestilence and from the plague that destroieth at noone daie that being planted in thine house I may flourish like a palme-tree growe like a Cedar in Libanon bringing out fruit euen in mine old age bicause holines becommeth thine house O Lord for euer Be thou my refuge O my God the rocke of mine hope for thou Lord art a great God a great King aboue all gods When thou wilt iudge the world with righteousnesse and thy people in truth I shall enioie light with the righteous and ioie with the vpright in hart Let thy right hand and thine holie arme preserue mee Thou which sittest vpon the Cherubims make mee to come before thy presence with ioifulnesse that I may walke in the vprightnesse of mine hart in the midst of mine house Let a froward hart depart from me but cause mine eies to be turned vnto the faithfull that I may sit with them walking in a perfect waie when through thy iudgement thou shalt cut off all the workers of wickednesse from the citie O Lord heare my praier and let my crie come vnto thee Hide not thy face from me in the time of trouble incline thine eares vnto me Pardon all my sinnes and redeeme my soule from destruction Satisfie my longing with good things thou which lookest vpon the earth and it trembleth and broughtest foorth thy people with ioie and thy chosen with gladnesse Make me to keepe iudgment and to worke righteousnesse at all times Bring me out of darknesse and out of the shadowe of death that with a prepared hart I may sing and giue praise Saue me O Lord according to thy mercie that in the glorie of Saints in the assemblie and congregation of the iust my righteousnesse may endure for euer and mine horne be exalted with glorie That while thou raisest the needie out of the dust and liftest vp the poore out of the doong making Iudah thy sanctification and Israel thy dominion I may blesse thee O Lord from hencefoorth and for euer then shall I walke before the Lord in the land of the liuing Breake thou my bonds and confirme thy mercie towards me when I call vpon thee in my trouble O Lord heare me and set me at large Teach me O Lord the waie of thy statutes that I may liue and keepe it vnto the end Giue me vnderstanding both to search thy lawe and to obserue it also with mine whole hart I haue gone astraie like a lost sheepe O seeke thy seruant and deliuer
protection and keepe vs and all ours this night that the diuell haue no power ouer vs. Be thou watchfull ouer vs O eternall Sauiour least the subtill 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 celestiall warriers thine Angels which being filled with perfect goodnesse and perpetuall integritie behold thy face alwaies in the heauens Expell from vs and our houses wicked spirits which bee our mortall 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 peaceablie we may rest and sleepe in quiet We will laie vs downe in peace and sleepe For thou Lord alone makest vs to dwell 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 Lord thou art our keeper and our refuge O God we will trust in thee and will feare no danger And although we were in extreame darknesse yet will wee not feare Though we should walke in the midst of the shadowe of death yet will we dread none euill for thou art with vs thy rod and thy staffe they doo comfort vs. Let thy mercie O God followe vs all the daies of our life that we may dwell in thy house in longnesse of daies praising thee euermore with the Sonne holie Ghost one true God reigning worlds without end Amen Another more large Euening praier with Confession O Lord God Father euerlasting and full of pitie we acknowledge and confesse that we be not woorthie to lift vp our eies to heauen much lesse to present our selues before thy Maiestie with confidence that thou wilt heare our praiers and grant our requests if we consider our owne deseruings For our consciences doo accuse vs and our sinnes beare witnesse against vs and we knowe that thou art an vpright iudge which dooest not iustifie the sinners and wicked men but punishest the faults of all such as transgresse thy commandements Yet most mercifull Father since it hath pleased thee to command vs to call on thee in all our troubles and aduersities promising euen then to helpe vs when we feele our selues as it were swallowed vp of death desperation we vtterlie renounce all worldlie confidence and flie to thy souereigne bountie as our onlie staie and refuge beseeching thee not to call to remembrance our manifold sinnes and wickednesse whereby we continuallie prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligence and vnkindnesse which haue neither woorthilie esteemed nor in our liues sufficientlie expressed the sweet comfort of thy Gospell reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience and death of thy Sonne who by offering vp his bodie in sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompense for all our sinnes Haue mercie therefore vpon vs O Lord forgiue vs our offences Teach vs by thy holie spirit that we may rightlie way them and earnestlie repent for the same and so much the rather O Lord because that the reprobate such as thou hast forsaken can not praise thee nor call vpon thy name but the repenting hart the sorowfull mind the conscience oppressed hungering and thirsting for thy grace shall euer set forth thy praise and glorie And albeit we be but woorms dust yet thou art our Creator and we be the worke of thy hands yea thou art our Father and we thy children thou art our shepheard and we thy flocke thou art our redeemer we the people whom thou hast bought thou art our God and we thine inheritance Correct vs not therefore in thine anger O Lord neither according to our deserts punish vs but mercifullie chastise vs with a fatherlie affection that all the world may knowe that at what time soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sins from the bottome of his hart thou wilt put awaie his wickednesse out of thy remembrance as thou hast promised by thy holie Prophet Finallie we humblie thanke thee O mercifull Father by thy deerelie beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour for all thy benefits bestowed vpon vs from the beginning of the world to this time for our election our creation our redemption our sanctification continuall preseruation and namelie for that of thy mercie and goodnesse thou hast preserued vs this daie and all the time of our life hitherto from all misfortunes hurts and dangers bodilie ghostlie And forsomuch as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to rest in as thou hast ordeined him the daie to trauell and that whither we sleepe or wake liue or die we are alwaies thine grant O deere Father that we may so take our bodilie rest this night that our soules and harts being kindled with the light of thy countenance may continuallie watch for the time that our Lord Iesus Christ shall appeare for our deliuerance out of this mortall life And in the meane season take thou O God care and charge of vs and all ours that we perish not in the works of darkenesse and that we not ouercome by anie fantasies dreames or other temptations may fullie set our minds vpon thee loue thee feare thee and rest in thee Furthermore that our sleepe be not excessiue or ouermuch after the insatiable desires of the flesh but onlie sufficient to content our weake nature that enioieng sweet sleepe and comfortable rest both in bodie and mind we may healthfullie and ioifullie rise againe and be the better disposed to liue in all godlie conuersation and perfect obedience of thy word to the glorie of thy holie name and profit of thy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we furthermore make our humble petitions vnto thee not onlie for our selues but for all others whome thou wouldest we should continuallie praie for saieng as he in his holie word hath taught vs Our Father which art in heauen c. O Lord increase our faith strengthen it in thy manifold sweet promises and grant vs a perfect continuance therein to our liues end whereof we humblie make our confession saieng I beleeue in God c. Let thy mightie hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercie and louing kindnes in Iesu Christ thy deere Sonne our saluation thy true holie word our instruction thy life holie actions our imitation thy grace holie spirit our comfort consolatiō vnto the end in the end and the blessing of God almightie Father Sonne and holie Ghost be with vs and remaine with vs now euer Amen A forme of generall praier to be vsed in priuate houses and families euerie Euening O Lord prepare our harts to praier for if we praie with our lips onlie our praiers