that it often happeneth wheÌ„ we think least thereon it commeth sodamly as the lightninge and taketh vs vnwares VVherefore grant Oh GOD of my life that I may haue such continuall care foresighte and dylligent respect vnto the direction of my dealinges cogitations and wordes that I loade not my poore soule so muche with the burden of scenlesse securitye sinne and iniquitye that the bodye beeing sodainly intangled with the snare of deathe it bee carryed where there is no reste no ioye no comforte or consolation but continual mourning weeping and anguishe of minde as the Glutton spoken of in thine holy Gospell who going on blindly loosly and carelesly without regarde eyther of thee or remem braunce of his ende in moste detestable couetousnes and all kinde of wickednes was sodainly taken from hys mucke wealth which he had wrongfully gotten and myserably whorded vppe and yet denying poore Lazarus the croomes that fell and were taken from his table but was carried by the deuyll and his Angells into euerlasting and moste bitter tormentes where was weeping and gnashing of teeth Oh my sweete Lord let not mine heart be so blinded with the vale of vanitie nor nouseled in the delightes of this world so intangeled in the nette of concupiscence nor clad in the weedes of wilfull forgetfulnes of mine estate that I bee taken as the ritch man who deuising within him selfe to enlarge hys Barnes wherin he might conuey his graine so much encreasing who standing in his euill conceite of couetousnes thinking himselfe most secure was taken vnawares from his aboundaunce and left hys riches he knew not to whom Oh most gratious and most louing God a most vnhappy end wherin steed of heauenly contemplations and godly cogitations which thou requirest at al times of such as are thine but especially at the houre of death there appeared a most horrible intent of couetousnes which thou vtterly abhorrest a manifest token good Lorde of forgetfulnes of his ende and an argument that hee was the childe of Sathan But thou shewest mercye to as many as conuert and turne to thee Oh my most louing father lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not in sinne nor wander in darknes according to the will of the fleshe that I fall not vnawares into the dungion of distruction death and hell but make me alwaies ready and willing to come vnto thee euen with desire when it pleaseth thee to call me by laying thy hande by any plague or sicknes vpon me let me not drawe me as it were backwarde when thou inuitest me to the sweete banquet of thine heauenly kingdome as by the worde and gospell preached and reueiled vnto vs which is an especiall calling vs or when I feele my selfe distempered greeued or vexed with any kinde of sicknes plague or disease which is another of thy callinges and an especiall warning that we must dye or when by course of time in extreame age wee may imagine our ende to be neere but Lord when I am at my dayly busines and laboure when I eate or drinke when I am in my best temperature health in childehoode and young yeeres at all times and in all places giue me grace to thinke that death standeth at mine elbowe alwayes ready to strike mee that I sleepe not in sinne and securitie till the time sodainly come of my departure and so be taken vnprouided and perish withour repentaunce who can perswade him selfe to liue long and see many daies especially in daungerous and contagious times of sicknes and seeing so many examples dayly to the contrary euen in the most temperate time of health some we see at their Mothers pappes by humaine indgement likely to liue sodainely to giue vppe the ghoste some in theyr youth some in middle yeeres yea when grauest experience aboundeth to be sodainly called away to be no more seene Al which notwithstanding Oh Lord such is the blindnes of our nature that we think this world a coÌ„tinual being for vs and couer euen with greedines to see many dayes where we heape sinne vpon sinne to the ouerburdening of our poore soules seldome or not at all thinking to dye Graunt sweete Lorde that as I desire to liue so I may haue a greater desire to liue well that I may make an happy ende abandoning all feare of death that the cogitation thereof may dwell in peace with in the mansion of mine heart and when it shall approche neere vnto me I flie not from it but may goe foorth with ioy to meete the same considering that it is a meane to ende my cares and to begin my ioy it is the finishing of sorrow and enteraunce into blisse which made thy seruaunt Paule to say That he desired to be deliuered of the burden of this life and to be with thee where is nothing but ioyes vnspeakable and contrarie heere on earth nothing but care and woe which mooued thy seruaunt Iob to call this life a warfare and this world a wildernes and vale of misery where is nothing but conflictes betweene the flesh and the spirite dayly increase of sinne and continuall care of vanities Oh good God giue vs carefull hearts to loue thee while we liue heere giue vs continual feare vnfeyned zeale perfit faith godly care to doo good to all men and earnest desire to come vnto thee who art the ende of all trouble and laboure and the beginning of ease the ende of strife and the beginning of peace the ende of all misery and the beginning of all blisse wherevnto sweete Lord graunt that with vnseyned desiâ—e we may faithfully endeuour our selues to come and to take possession of that thy most glorious kingdome where thy sonne is gonne before to direct vs the way and where thou sittest to iudge according to euerye mans desertes making all those that thou findest with the Lampe of true faith burning in their harts partakers of the euerlasting ioyes thereof In number of whome Oh sweete Lord accept me heere that I may appeare among them in the world to come through Iesus Christ our Lorde in whose name I commend my selfe into thy handes to liue for euer in thee sweete God Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose OH God in whose handes consisteth the life of all mankind for thy Sonne Jesus Christes sake vouchsafe to giue me grace to sett before mine eyes as a most certaine mark where vnto this frayle body of mine must tende it selfe the Image of that which is to the faythfull the ende of payne and beginning of pleasure the ende of misery and beginning of blisse but to the secure and careles the ende of their pleasures and beginning of eternall paynes Ueuchsafe me therefore earnest desire of seruing thée and leading my life according vnto thy will that wheÌ„ so euer it pleaseth thee to call me I be not through feare striken with doubt of condemnation but euen at my laste gaspe through vnfayned faith in Jesus Christ may take
with Hipocrites but blesse the Lord in fayth and thou shalt be blessed OH God of vnspeakable mercie father of meruailous louing kindnes the onelie giuer of all good and perfect giftes who art more readie to giue then we to aske hearing befor we cal and giuing before we desire thinges necessary for vs I yeelde thee humble thankes for thy continuall fauour and louing kindnes towards vs thy creatures for whose saluation when we were lost thou wast contented euen of thy meere loue to sende thine onely delight into this world thy sonne Iesus Christe taking humaine nature vpon him and abyding the most bitter pangs of death vpon the Crosse to redeeme vs againe into thy fauour which by our disobedience was lost from darcknes wherevnto our blindnes had broughte vs into the lighte of trueth from ignoraunce and errour to wisedome knowledge Oh what greater comfort what greater ioy what a greater benefite coulde thy diuinitie haue bestowed vppon silly man then being of a castaway to bee made a saued soule of a lost sonne made the child of God and of a poore banished wretch to bee made an inheritor of the kingdome of heauen Lorde if it were possible for vs to yeelde vnto thee as manie thankes and prayses as coulde fill euen thine eates at the ful did yeelde our bodies and soules to bitter torments in hell for thy sake frō which thou hast redeemed vs it were nothing in recompence of the least parte of thys thy loue in giuing this sacrifice thy sonne in whom was thine onely and whole delight to pacifie thine owne displeasure and to purchase thy fauour and loue againe a thing most merueilous that the offended shoulde seeke tha'ttonement with the offendour and after so vnspeakable a meane and yet requiring nothing at our hands but thankfulnes obedient harts Lord I yeelde thee all possible thanks I yeelde thee thankes euen frō the bottome of mine heart from the very depth of mine vnderstanding who hast deserued more then we can by any means in desire satisfie or any way requite not onely in gyuing thy sonne for vs but in leauing vnto vs a continual rememberance of the same thy gospel wherin consisteth the rule for our direction vnto thee euen thy word which although heauen and earth passe and perishe yet shall not one iotte thereof as thou hast promised deminishe or decay without the which we shoulde haue continued in our accustomed blindnes These thy benefites are vnspeakable yet sweete Lord the creating of vs after thy likenes making vs after thine owne image deserueth no lesse praise and thanks where it lay in thy power to haue fashioned vs after sundry other formes as of wormes in the earth fishes in the sea beasts of the land most owgly and most straunge hauing neither the knowledge of thy will sence or seeling of thy goodnes which is the sweetest comfort in the world yea without the which is no true comfort at all nor enioy any quality either of body or minde which is any thing at all comparable to the gifts which thou hast endued mankinde withall I thanke thee also sweete Lord for all other thine vnspeakable mercies benefits as for feding vs clothing vs protecting vs hetherto giuing vs al thīgs necessary both for our soules bodies lord as of thy free fauor meere mercy thou hast vouchsafed vnto vs thy creatures all these and many other vnspeakable benefittes So vouchsafe the like loue and tender care towardes vs alwaies that we may prosper in our vocations goe forward in the daily seruice of thee and through the merites of thy sonne Iesus Christ obteyne pardon for our sinnes past and liue in thy faith feare and loue heereafter enioying all thinges requisite for mine owne and for the releefe of those whom thou hast committed vnto me and also for all other thy seruauntes so that we may haue sufficient and not be chargeable but rather helpfull to others for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake graunt it Amen Oh Lorde increase my fayth A deuoute prayer or Meditation that we may alwaies haue consideration that we must dye which as it is good at all times so especially in the time of any common plague or sicknes a godly meditation Remember as thou art a man So must thou dye none helpe it can No thing more sure the time vnsure Wherefore take heede liue not secure SYlenas the Philosopher hauing it but by the instinct of nature before the publishing of the gospell could see furder into the estate of man in those dayes then wee endeuour to vnderstande liuing too securelye nowe in the cleere light of the same For his opinion was that if wee consider with our selues what we are whereof we are and what we shall be wee coulde not but lament our miserable estate This saying of his was meruailous then when men liued in darknes but muche more meruailous that it is no better considered nowe in the time of the light of truth For wher we shoulde haue great care to liue well wee liue in wicked securitie and where we shoulde haue greater care to dye well wee foolishlye thinke to liue for euer But let vs perswade our selues and not only perswade but fully resolue our selues that we shall dye and let vs endeuour to make a good ende for a good ende excuseth a badde life paste And euen so likewise is an euill ende a greate argument of an euyll life For sake sinne and imbrace deathe wyllynglye so shalt thou seeme happye in this life and not vnhappye at the howre of death In the morning thinke not to liue tyll night and at night thinke not to liue tyll morninge So shalt thou lyue so muche the more cyrcumspectlye and bee alwayes readye to dye Account thy selfe in thys worlde but as a gueste that lodgeth for a nyght and departeth in the morning and as a wandryng Pylgrime of no certayne abode lyst vppe thy mynde to God Ecclesi 4 hauing heere no certayne Citty for if thou liue tenne or an hundred or a thousande yeeres there is no helpe but the graue muste bee thine end Blessed are they Reu 14. that dye in the Lorde VVherefore prepare thy selfe to dye not in your owne wisedome for that will deceiue you But in the wisedome of GOD that your hope may be sure his ioyes yours and his goodnes your inhearitaunce OH God the onely giuer of life the mainteyner and preseruer thereof and the life after death graunt me continuall due consideration that as this bodie of myne is builded vpon an earthly foundation and framed of the substaunce of dust and clay which is not durable the glory thereof vanishing like the flowre of the fielde which is soone cutte downe and withered So the same beeing the mansion or rather the Prison of my poore soule so frayle weake and feeble subiect to so many infirmities diseases greefes and maladies yea to so many causes that procure the dissolution of bodye and soule
A pensiue mans practise Very profitable for all personnes wherein are conteyned very deuout and necessary prayers for sundry godlie purposes VVith requisite perswasions before euery prayer VVritten by Iohn Norden Psalm 55. In the euening and morning and at noone day I will call vpon the name of the Lorde and that instantly and he will heare mee Iames. 5. 13. If any be afflicted let him pray AT LONDON Printed by Hugh Singleton 1584. To the Reader GEntle Reader for asmuch as I know the Callender to be a thing for diuers respects purposes very necessary and in nothing hurtfull to be anâ—exed vnto this Booke I haue requested the Printer to extende so much the more his paines for thy profit to collect some principall Rules and most necessary for thy vse to be therevnto added as heereafter may appeare A necessary Almanacke for 16. yeeres The yeere of our Lord. Dominicall Letter Leape yeere GoldeÌ„ number Easter day The first day of Lent Whit sunday 1584 D E 8 19. Aprill 3. March 7. Iune 1585 C  9 11. Aprill 24. February 30. Ma. 1586 B  10 3. Aprill 26. February 22. May. 1587 A  11 16. Aprill 1. Mar. 4. Iune 1588 F G 12 7. Aprill 21. Feb. 26. Ma. 1589 E  13 30. Mar. 12. Feb. 18 May. 1590 D  14 19. Aprill 4. March 7. Iune 1591 C  15 4. Aprill 17. February 23. May. 1592 A B 16 26. March 9. February 14 May. 1593 G  17 15. Aprill 28. February 3. Iune 1594 F  18 31. March 13. February 19. May. 1595 E  19 20. Aprill 5. March 8. Iune 1596 C D 1 11. Aprill 25. February 30. May. 1597 B  2 27. Ma. 9. February 15. May. 1598 A  3 16. Aprill 1. March 4. Iune 1599 G  4 8. Aprill 21. February 27. May. Note that the Golden number and Dominicall letter doo chaunge the first of Ianuary Note also that the yeere of our Lord beginneth the 25. day of March which day is thought to be the day vpon which the world was created and the day wherein Christ was conceiued in the wombe of the Virgin Mary A Rule to know howe many dayes be conteyned in euery moneth in the yeere Thirty dayes hath Nouember Aprill Iune and September The rest haue thyrty and one Except it be February alone Which alwaies hath 28. meere VVhen it is no Bissextile or leape yeere A note of the Moneths weekes dayes and houres throughout the whole yeere The yeere conteineth Monethes 12. Weekes 52. Dayes 365. Houres 8766. Daie Naturall hath 24. houres Daie Artificiall hath 12. houres Ianuary hath xxxj dayes Sunne riseth at vii xlviii minutes Setteth at iiii and ii minutes 1 A Circum The first day of this Moneth Christe was circumcised Luk. 2 21. The tops of the mountaines appeared vnto Noah Gen. 8. 5. The Jsraelites put away their wiues Ezra 10. 16. 2 b   3 c   4 d   5 e   6 f Epipha  7 g  The 5. of this Moneth worde was brought vnto Ezechiel y e Prophet that the Cittie Jerusalem was sinitten Eze 33. 21. 8 A   9 b   10 c   11 d   12 e  The sixt of this Moneth Christ was worshipped of y e wise men Mat. 2. 1 c. baptised Mat. 3. 15. turned water into Wine Ioh. 2. 1. c. as testifieth Epiphanius 13 f   14 g   15 A   16 b   17 c   18 d  The 10. of this Moneth Nebuccadnezzar King of Babel mooued thervnto by the rebellion of Zedechiah besieged Ierusalem most fiercely as may appears 2. King 25. c. Ierem. 52. 4. Also Ezechiel was willed to vtter his parable Eze. 24. 1. c. 19 e   20 f   21 g   22 A   23 b   24 c   25 d   26 e  Paule called and conuerted the 25 of this Moneth Act. 9. 3. 27 f   28 g   29 A   30 b   31 c   Februarie hath xxviii dayes Sunne riseth at vii and xi munites Setteth at iiii and xlix minutes 1 d  The first of this Moneth Moses repeated the Law vnto the children of Israell Deut. 1. 3 2 e Purification of Mary  3 f   4 g   5 A  The 2. of this Moneth our Sauiour was presented to the Lorde and Marie purified Luk. 2 22 6 b   7 c   8 d   9 e  The ninth of this Moneth Noah 40 dayes after he had seene the tops of the Mountaines sent out of the Arke a Rauen and afterwarde a Doue which returned Gen. 8 6 c. 10 f   11 g   12 A   13 b   14 c   15 d  The 15 of this moneth the Jewes spend merilie together for that y e spring of the yéere dooth enter then as they thinke 16 e   17 f   18 g   19 A   20 b  The 16 of this moneth Noah the second time sent out a Doue which returned with an Oliue braunch in her bill Gen 8 10. 21 c   22 d   23 e   24 f Mathias  25 g apo The 24. of this moneth Zachariah was commaunded to Prophesie Zach. 1 7 Mathias was elected into the number of the Apostles Act 1 26 26 A   27 b   28 c   29 d   March hath xxxi dayes Sunne riseth at vi and xix minutes Setteth at v. and xli munutes 1 e  The temple of Jerusalem was finished the third day of this moneth Ezra 6 15 in the 1 of Esdr. 7 5 it is said to be the 23 of this moneth 2 f   3 g   4 A   5 b  The tenth of this Moneth Christe was aduertised that Lazarus was sicke Ioh. 11. 3 6 c   7 d   8 e  A feast was celebrated among the Jewes for the ouerthrowe of Nicanor the 13. of this moneth 2 Mac 15. 37. also vpon the same day all the Jewes vnder Ashuerosh were commaunded to be put to death Esther 3. 13 vppon the same day the Jewes had a priuiledge giuen them to stay all their enemies Esther 8. 12 this day the Jewes also solemnized for theyr ioyfull deliuerance Esther 8. 17 9 f   10 g   11 A   12 b   13 c   14 d   15 e   16 f   17 g   18 A   19 b  The 14. day of this moneth was called of the Jewes Mardocheus day 2 Mac 15 37. also Purim as may appeare Esther 9 21. 26. 20 c   21 d   22 e   23 f  The 15.
143 6. Lord let me heare thy louing kindnesse betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust So let vs yeelde his maiestie due prayses for his continuall louing kindnes towardes vs saying OH almightie God father of our lorde Iesus Christ who hast vouchsafed of thy thy great fauour loue euen from my childhood vnto this day to take such fatherly care of me that nothing hath destroied or hurte me but haue beene saselie preserued bothe day and night froÌ„ sodaine death and from all other perrils and dangers incident vnto mankinde haue all my life beene preserued And of thy free fauour and loue without aâ—â—e deserte or merite of mine to my great comforte enioyed the sweete benefite of sleepe and rest which is most wholesome for my poore and weake body yea and so good a nuâ—â—iture therevnto as good soile to the barraine field or thy timely showres to the dry ground or meate acceptable to the hungry stomacke Oh sweete Lord such hath beene thy fatherly care of me this night past that the sleepe which thou hast giuen me is most coÌ„fortable bothe to my bodie and soule in so much as I am the more aptly giuen to the execution of my worldlie busines and the seruice of thy diuine maiestie this morning wherein asist me sweete Lorde with the helpe of thine holie spirite comfort and defende me this day and euer with thy mercifull ayde that none affliction hurte or misfortune dismay me no tribulation or anguish of minde draw me from thee no worldlie care delight or fantasie carrie me at any time into anie wicked cogitation action or speeche for Lord I knowe that it is not thy wil that any euill shouldedwell in vs or that we shoulde at anie time offende thee but to keepe our hearts pure and vndefiled as a fitte receptacle for thy Maiestie Yet thou sufferest sometimes vnlawfull affections to haue the vpper hande to the end that we feeling our weaknes and corruption should wholie confesse all our strength all our godlie cogitations and workes to proceede from thee And for that all flesh is full of sinne and that the iust fall seauen times a day forgiue Lord my wickednes mine offences and sinne committed either this night past by foolish dreames fantasies or other temptations or at anie time since I came into this miserable worlde beeing a moste sinfull creature and that beeing pardoned by thy mercie in Iesus Christ I may proceede in the residue of my dayes gouerned by thy holie spirite voyde of all offences vsing my vocation and calling so as may be to the setting foorth of thy glorie maintenaunce of thy fauoure towardes me and getting those thinges which may be sufficient for the maintenaunce of mine estate heere and for the reliefe of such as are committed to my charge And graunt me alwaies such regarde of seruing thee as thine hande may alwaies directe mee to good and happy successe in all mine affayres Blesse thou the worke of mine handes good Lorde and graunt mee so to flye ydlenes the mother and Nurce of all euill that both this day and all my life I may by godlie care and trauaile get me a sufficient competent liuing heere that I be no burden and charge to such as are rich and welthie nor depend vpon the succor helpe and furtheraunce of others whose helpe is moste slippery and deceitfull Least that in hope thereof I giuing my selfe to ydlenes and loytering when their helpe shalbe with-holden from me I be driuen as the wise man sayth to goe in a ragged coate to want my foode But contrary wise Oh Lorde graunt that I may so imploy my selfe to laboure and dilligent execution of thy busines this day and euer that I may through my blessing luckelie prosper therein and shew my selfe so helpefull to the poore impotent and needy as the fruite of my trauaile shall extende vnto That thou maiest fulfill in me that most sweete promise of thine That who so considereth the poore and needye thou wilt deliuer him in the tyme of trouble Lord thy mercie is infinite and thy loue towardes vs vnspeakeable wherefore giue me grace alwayes to serue thee yea at all times and in all places both in laboure and rest welth and pouertie sicknes and health yea all my life and at the howre of my death that I may passe this day and all the rest of my transitorye life in the fulfilling of thy lawes and be readie at thy fauourable becke and call to come and appeare before thy throne of mercie in perfect hope of thy louing receiuing me into the bosome of thy sweete imbracinges not for my woorthines or dâ—serces which is but corruption but for the merites of thy sonne Iesus Christ there to rest inioying the fruites and benefit of his death and bitter passion in whose name I referre my selfe and all mine both this day and euer vnto thy Fatherlie protection humbly beseeching thee to direct almy thoughtes wordes and actions vnto my liues ende Good God Amen Oh Lorde increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose I Thanke thee most mercifull Father my maker and preseruer that thou hast so louinglie vouchsafed to tender my safety this night past giuing me sweete sléepe to the refreshment of my feeble and weake bodye So of thy goodnes vouchsafe to extend y e like louing fauour to wardes me this day whereby I may bée both safelie preserued from all kinde of euill and imploy my selfe dilligentlie vnto the execution of my vocation to the releefe of mee and mine and to thy glory Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A prayer for the Queene What so thou he pray God alwayes To blesse our Queene with happy dayes Whose wisedome vnder God so long Hath kept this Realme from sorrame wrong THe vnspeakeable benefite of our long peace and gratious tranquilitie may without manie circumstaunces or manie wordes suffice to mooue thankfull mindes to praise the God of Heauen for his vnspeakable loue towardes vs in giuing vs so gratious a gouernesse vnder whom we haue not only these xxv yeeres peaceablye liued but enioyed the comfortable passage and foode of the gospell when manie other nations haue wanted the same to the famishing as it were of their poore soules wherefore considering that wee may if not the more to our shame feede thereof at ful and thereto freendlie intreated and inioyned not onelie which is generall by the word it selfe but by seuerall iniunctions sette forth for the further aunce of Gods glorie and our profit by her maiestie in England onelie And therefore as we ought for all men so especiallie we are commanded to pray for the good prosperous estate of Kings and Princes and those in authoritie 2. Tim. 2. Let vs as we haue vnspeakable cause beseeche God of his goodnesse fauourably to looke vpon our most gratious Queene Elizabeth to graunt vnto her a prosperous raigne with manie and happie dayes to the plesure of him and comfort of vs Let
vs not forgitt it leaste God forgett vs. ALL possible thanks we giue vnto thee Oh Lord of mercy King of all the Kinges and kingdomes of the earth for that thou hast vouchsafed to place ouer vs thy little flocke of thys Realme so pure a guide of true religion Elizabeth by thine heauēly prouidēce our Queene vnder whom enioying the free libertie of the true seruice of thee we rest in a quiet estate bothe of bodie and minde We humbly pray thy fauourable regarde to beholde with mercifull eies the same thy seruant our soueraigne Lady and gouernes And so fructify her heart with the good graine of thine holye spirite that she alwayes inclined by the working thereof to the settinge foorth of thy worde may walke according to the truth of the same sincerelie that we thy seruants and vnder thee her subiects seeing her godly example may be ashamed to fall frō that due forme of honouring thy name which for thy glory shee hath through thy grace by the rule of thy worde prescribed vnto vs. Banish good Lord from her heart all ignoraunce and print therein perfect wisdome and knowledge of thine heauenly will giue her an obedient minde abounding withall humilitie towardes thy diuine maiestie Saue and defende her from the tyrannie of forraine power and authoritie and from all such as profesle not inwardlie vnfeyned zeale of thy Gospell giue her godlie Counsellors and such zealous and true harted ministers of thy wyl that she and we according to the trueth of euerye our seueral functions may truelie serue thee in this life and in the ende for euermore raigne with thee in thine heauenly kingdome for Iesus Christes sake our only Redeemer Aduocate and sweete Sauiour Amen Oh Lord increase our fayth A prayer for the Sunday morning Let labour passe let prayer bee This day the cheefest worke for thee AS the Lorde hath assigned vnto mā sixe dayes of seauen for his necessarie trauaile So hath he expreslie commanded Gen. 2. the seauenth to be hallowed and kept onely for the seruice of him wher in all busines sette aparte we should referre our selues to prayer to the hearing or reading of the worde of the Lorde without any vngodlie exercise at all wherfore as did Dauid Psal. 55. 6. euery day so let vs especiallie this day instantlie call vppon the name of the Lord and he will heare vs. And with Esay Esay 26. Let our soules with a longing desire in the night seeke vn to the Lorde and in the morning earelie call vppon his name so shall our dooings please him all shall goe well with vs. And especiallie vpon this day which the Lord hath reserued for the seruice of himselfe Nu. 1◠Punishing such euen with death who breake the same as appeareth in the booke of Numbers by him who was at the commaundement of the Lorde stoned to death for gathering stickes on the Sabaoth day Esay 56. Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabaoth day vndefiled seruing the Lorde in prayer Esay 58. Not in seeking his ownewil nor speaking a vaine word Pray that it may bee honoured and not abused dishonoured as it is least God the Creator of it and vs punish our disobedience OH almightye Father most wholesome protectoure keeper both of soules and bodyes of the faithfull I yeelde the humble and hartie thankes for defending sauing mee thy sinfull creature this night past and all my life hethervnto frō suddaine death and from other perrils daungers wher into my sillie soule and weake bodie are subiecte to fall And wherewith I am so besette that had I not beene preserued by thee it could not otherwise haue beene but my bodie had perished and my sillie soule beene carryed into eternall perdition But most sweete Lord my strong Castell defence my shield buckler my sure refuge and succour who hast continuall regarde of the safety of thy seruants that thou neuer sufferest them to bee ouercome with any kinde of euill nor to fall into any kinde of daunger vouchsase to forgiue me what soeuer I haue committed and doone against thy diuine will eyther sleeping or waking this night or anie time secretlie or openlie heeretofore by reason of the corruption which remaineth in me And vouchsafe that as I haue quietlie passed this night so I may enioy at thy merciful hands whatsoeuer thy fatherlie prouidence shall thinke meete and conuenient for mine owne and for the releefe of such as thou hast committed vnto my charge and gouernement Establish good Lorde within my weake feeble bodie strength to withstande all euill motions of the flesh all vngodlie desires of the minde worldlie vanities that I may feruentlie as I ought continuallie both in the morning and at night and at noone day yea and at all times and in all places truely serue thee without hypocrisie dissimulation or mallice And for thy mercies sake keepe mee this day and all the rest of my transitory life from suddaine and vnprouided death keepe my tongue and lips that I speake or vtter nothing which may be eyther vncomelie to be spoken or whereof may redownde hurt or hinderaunce to my selfe or others but that I may endeuoure as much as in me lyes to speake and vtter those thinges which may be to the setting foorth of thy glorie maintenaunce of peace and concorde and to the reducing such into the right way as wander and goe astray As for slaundering lying backbyting falsewitnes bearing enuie and such like good Lorde take vtterly from me And keepe mine heart and minde from the moste damnable sinne of murmuring against thee and from dyspayre that in all aduersities tribulations and troubles I may alwayes beare a patient contented faithfull and a thankfull minde with full perswasion that if thou suffer mine aduersaries being maliciousliebent against me to reuile me persecute me to molest or hurte me or if thou permitt either fire to consume me or my substaunce or any other casuall meane to diminish mine estate and stay of my liuing or if I sustaine losse of freendes sicknes of bodie or hurt of my limmes it proceedeth not but by thy diuine prouidence yea onelie of thy meere loue and fatherlie care which thou hast of mine amendment for nothing happeneth to those whome thou louest breede it within theyr weake mindes neuer so great greefe or fall it out neuer so contrary to theyr desires but it bringeth with it some secrete working for their good Wherefore in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ I most humbly beseeche thee that thou wilt vouchsafe to settle in mine heart such perfection of patience as what soeuer eyther this day or heereafter shall happen or befall vnto me I may accept it as a most wholesome medicine for my so deadlie disease of securitie and so in hope of thy louing kindnes and mercie to goe forwarde this day and all my life in perfect loue vnfeyned zeale and continuall obedience to thy will In hearing thy worde attentiuelie in reading the
haue vnto thine hands praying thee to direct me by thy grace wisdome to the bestowing it according vnto thy will In the name of thy sonne Iesus Christe to whome with thee and the holy ghost bee continuall laude and prayse for euer and euermore Amen Oh Lord increase our fayth A short prayer to the like purpose OH God almighty the gyuer of all good thinges the onely stay of mankinde their guide and comfort giue grace vnto mee thy seruaunt that as thou hast blessed my store and increased my wealth in somuch as I haue not onely that which may suffice mine owne necessary want but haue also sufficient to releeue others in neede Driue from mine heart all naturall desire of more and giue me a will to distribute and according to the aboundaunce of my wealth to feede the hungry cloth the naked and to doo all thinges els which thou requirest of them on whom thou bestowest thy blessinges to the furtheraunce of godlines and not to liue to my selfe and for my selfe onely but to the helpe of all that want my furtheraunce That laying vppe a good foundation in the ende I may leaue the world willingly and purchase through Jesus Christ thy kingdome eternallie Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A prayer to be sayd of a woman with childe As Eue thy Grandame causde thy thrall Pray to the Lord case it he shall For as by Eue thy thraldome came Christ Iesus since to â—ase the same PRay that GOD may mittigate the paines of your trauaile which by reason of the transgression of your Graundmother Eue God hath pronounced to be great saying vnto her and in her vnto you all in sorrowe Gene. 3. shall you bring foorth Childe And you daily see that th'extremity thereof doth often ende the dayes of manye a sister of yours before that howre healthfull and strong And therfore I thinke it a parte of great wisdome to prepare addresse yourselues against that howre euen to giue vp the ghost for without the mercifull helpe and fauor of almightye God you can not escape death wherefore I wish as many as are in that case to betake them humbly on their knees vnto him in harty praier without whose outstretched arme no womaÌ„s helpe can bee auailable in that behalfe pray therfore pray that God of his tender mercy will vouchsafe you an howre wherin you may be happily deliuered OH mercifull God and omnipotent father maker and Creatour of all thinges who in the beginning haddest placed mankind in most vnspeakable happines where they should haue continued had not our first parents brokeÌ„thy precept and will wherby they procured thine heauy indignatioÌ„ against theÌ„ selues their posteritye for euer so that the earth for their sakes was accursed denying thinges necessary for their vse with out their great labour industry paines and sweat of body And vnto vs the daughters of Eue for her transgression thou haste appoynted moste greeuous paines and torments of body in the trauaile of childbirth saying that in sorrowe and great paynes wee shall bring foorth childe Oh sweete Lord for as much as thou art almighty and bringest all thinges to passe according vnto thy good pleasure and shewest thy selfe in no thing more omnipotent then in the conceyuing forming and bringing mankinde into the world which although it were in the beginning ordeyned most easie by the subtilty of our continuall enemy sathan in causing our first parents to transgresse thy commaundement and to breake thy will by tasting the forbidden fruite it is nowe most painfull greeuous and perilous In so much Oh sweete Lorde as without thine especiall grace fauour and mercy it is altogether impossible to bee brought to pasâ—e our imperfection and feeblenes is such that of ourselues we are not able to endure the least of all the panges and sorrowes that dooth accompany this kinde of trauaile Wherfore sweete Lord mine humble and moste hartie desire vnto thy maiestie is that thou wouldest vouchsafe to extende vnto me and to all women in this my like case thy mercy and louing fauour to mittigate the paines thereof that we may be able patiently to endure and continue the panges of the same at the howre appointed Make that easie and light vnto vs which our desertes haue made burdensome and heauy that the burden wherewith I am now loden may fortunately be deliuered from the shoulders of my weake body Sende vs all good Lorde happye deliueraunce that we may be made ioyfull mothers And vouchsafe vnto me and to all that haue conceiued and be with Childe strength to bring foorth that which thine omnipotencie hath so wonderfully wrought in vs. Be present with vs in our trauailes Oh Lorde helpe vs most mercifull God and mightily deliuer vs. Let thy power might and loue be no lesse manifested in the deliuery then in the forming of thy creature that beeing through thy goodnes made glad and ioyfull mothers we may obteyne our perfect strength againe and liue to prayse and please thee for euermore Amen Oh Lord increase our fayth A short and most necessary prayer alwaies to be sayd of one with child OH Lord whose goodnes we haue offended and deserued infinite plagues looke vpon me and pardon me laye aside thy iustice and shewe thy mercy let me haue the benefit of thine helping hande and not feele the wright of thine heauy hande Fauourably lighten me of this burden in thy good and gratious time and in the howre and instaunce of my deliuery be present with mee Lorde and tender my safety through Jesus Christe Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A thankes giuing to God after the deliuery As God hath now deliuered thee So well thy prayse deserueth hee For if he had not stoode thy freende These panges of thine had wrought thine end FOr asmuch as it hath pleased almighty God of his great goodnes to giue thee good deliuerance and to ridde thee from the great paynes perril wher with thou were euen nowe afflicted Fall down humble and prostrate thy selfe in heart with the reste that are present giuing no lesse vnfeyned thanks vnto his omnipotent maiestie for his holy help in sauing thee then thou diddest or oughtest to pray for his aide happely to deliuer thee and let not the ioy or glad tydings of a son or a daughter born into the world or the departure of theÌ„ so much possesse thine heart but that it may be alwayes ready to gyue prayse o God for thy safe deliuery as did Hannah who being deliuered of a sonne giue harty thankes to God And thinke not that the extreame plunges of the very birthe beeing past thou art presently acquited of al daunger for the weaknes frailty rawnes of your health is many dayes after great And therefore what soeuer thou be tendringe thine owne safety prayse God continually praying for strength and he will giue it thee for vnthankfulnes is a meane to purchace in steeâ—e of Gods fauour his indignation to punish a newe OH almightye