receyue of thy merciful liberality Amen A thankesgiuing after meate O Lord God which of thy great bountie and fatherly kindnesse hast at this time most plentifully fedde our weake bodies giue vs grace continuallie to bee thankefull vnto thy Maiestie for these and all other thy benefites most aboundantly at all times bestowed vpon vs thorow Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen A note to knowe the beginning and ending of the foure Tearmes of the yeare HIllarie Tearme beginneth the three twentie of Ianuarie which if it be Sunday then the next day following and endeth the twelft of Februarie Easter Tearme beginneth seuentene dayes after Easter and endeth foure dayes after Ascension day Trinitie Terme beginneth the next day after Corpus Christi day and endeth the wednesday fortnight after Michaelmasse Tearme beginneth the ninth of October if if be not Sunday and endeth the eight and twentie of Nouember The Queenes Maiesties Iudges neither sit in Westminster hall nor heare anie matters pleaded in these dayes following Namely on the Ascension Saint Iohn Baptist All Saints the Purification of Marie nor the Sabboth dayes Note also that the Eschequer openeth eight dayes before any Terme begin except Trinitie Terme in which it openeth but foure dayes before Speciall Medita tions for all times and for all per sons _ 〈◊〉 meditate with thy self and thinke what god is namely a diuine spirite or spirituall bring and therefore will bee worshipped in spirite and 〈◊〉 Consider howe that this blessed God being diuided into a Trinitie of persons the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost yet all one in substance and essence hath by his almightie power created all things both spirituall and temporall visible and inuisible whatsoeuer And as he hath created them by his omnipotent power so doth hee rule and gouerne them by his prouidence according to his good will and pleasure And therefore think that nothing commeth to passe by fortune or chance but by his heauenlie determination and appointment Consider how he hath created thée after his owne siâ—itude and likenesse and therefore oughtest thou to be holic as he is holie How he hath predestinate and chosen thee before the foundations of the world were layde to euerlasting saluation in Iesus Christ how he hath and doth iustifie thee that is acount thée iust and righteous by a true and liuelie fayth in the blood of his Sonne howe he doth call thée to the knowledge of his will and to the state of grace First by the secret working of his spirite secondlie by the preaching of his word thirdlie by the sight and vse of all his creatures of infinite varietie Confider howe he made thée holy pure and righteous and howe thou by thy rebellion pride infidelitie and disobedience madest thy selfe sinsull and wicked Then consider howe hee sent his owne sonne Christ Iesus to redéeme thée by the shedding of his blood Who as he is our onelie saniour and redéemer so is he our onelie mediator and aduocate and onelie to be called vppon inuocated and neither Angel nor saint martyr nor confessor patriarch nor father nor any other creature whatsoeuer Consider with thy selfe that as he hath fulfilled all things for vs reconciled vs to his father so is he now ascended into the heauens to prepare a place for vs who at the great day of accounts shall come againe in the same shape and with the same bodie that he receyued of Marie to iudge both the quicke and the dead and to rewarde euerie man according to his works Thinke that after the generall iudgement our bodies being made immortall and incorruptible shall bee vnited againe to their proper soules and for euer inherite the euerlasting kingdome of heauen where is such ioy as no heart can conceiue no tongue no not of Angels themselues expresse nor any penne is able to write These and the like meditations ended render most heartie thanks vnto god in the name of Iesus Christ for all his benefites and blessings in mercie bestowed vppon thee pray for grace to bee thankfull craue pardon for â—hy vn thankfulnesse and the morning approching exercise thy selfe as followeth Precepts and directions for the morning WHen thou arisest in the morning lift vp thy handes thy eyes thy soule and mind towards heauen giuing God heartie thanks as generally for all his graces and louing kindnesse shewed towards thée in Christ so particularly for the quiet rest and sléepe which hee hath giuen to thy bodie that night Pray for his protection and assistance in the residue of thy life which done meditate thus with thy selse Meditations in the morning SAy thus to thy selfe This day which I now enter into is my last day nay this moment my last breath I haue no fréehold of my life fee simple of my dayes no charter of my yeares no not for one minute of an houre or twinckling of an eye Death yea infinite deathes daylie waite vpon me and threaten my destruction yea my body it self earieth in finit deaths in it selfe being indéed the efficient cause of it owne miserie and calamitie Think also that as shy bodie now resesh out of thy materiall bâ—d so shal it rise out of the bed of thy graue at the great day of the Lord and appeare before the tribunall seat of God all naked as euer thou wast borne there to receiue either the incorruptible crowne of euerlasting glorie or else the iust rewarde of perpetuall confusion Thinke also that as thou risest forth of thy bed to be occupied and emploied in the labours and trauailes of this life so shouldest thou arise out of the bed of sinne to serue the liuing God in holines and righteousnes all the dayes of thy life Meditations to bee conside red of at the rising of the Sunne AS now this temporall Sunne in the heauens representing vnto vs the true Sunne of God Christ Jâ—sus is now risen and hath spread his beames vppon the whole face of the earth so shall the sonne of God indéed at the time appointed manifest himselfe to the whole worlde in vnspeakable glorie to iudge all flesh and to reward euerie worke vnder the Sunne according to the qualitie and merite of the same Thinke also what infinite glorie is treasured vp in the kingdom of heauen for the elect and chosen of God after this life For if this Sunne in the element being made but one lie for mans vse and to giue light to the world for a time bee so glorious as no mortall eie without teares can beholde the same how much more glorious shall we think the ioies of heauen to be prepared for the elect after this life Thinke also that the Sunne in the element doth not onelie giue light to the world by his radiations and glistering beames but also doth quicken reuiue fructifie and cause to growe all naturall thinges vpon the whole face of the earth so Christ Iesus the sonne of God doth not onelie inlighten man by the beames of his grace and inspiration of
A perfect Pathway to Felicitie Conteining godly Meditations and praiers fit for all times and necessarie to be practized of all good Christians Imprinted at London by Richard Yardly for Humfrey Lownes 1592. To the right worshipfull vertuous and godly Gentlewoman mistresse Katherine Milward most faithfull spouse to the no lesse worshipfull wise and religious Gentleman master William Milward esquire P. S. wisheth all hapie successe in this life with increase of worship and in the life to come eternall felicitie in the heauenlie Hierarchie by Iesus Christ. TWo things per aduenture right worshipfull may be maruailed at concerning this litle booke as namely first why I haue published it considering the great number of bookes either of the same or verie like argument extant in these dayes Secondly wherfore I haue dedicated it rather vnto you then to anie other For the first I protest before God who knoweth the secrets of all hearts I haue not published it either for vainglory lucre or gaines nor yet for any other priuate respect of my owne whatsoeuer but at the instant request and earnest desire of one of my verie good friends and alliance also who yet being liuing and the onely man that hath borne the whole charges of the impression thereof both can and I know will if need should require iustifie the same against any that should auerre the contrarie And for the second when I considered with myselfe howe much b und I haue alwaies beene to your worship euer since the time that I was first acquainted with you for your good opinion you haue euer coÌ„ceiued of me sundrie other your courtesies shewed towards me far beyond my deserts or expectation As also when I called to remembrance your feruent zeale â—hich you haue euer borne to the word of God holy religion your exquisite knowledge therein your carefull indeuour to put the same in practise and to frame your life therafter Briefly when I remembred your maruailous humilitie and lowlinesse of mind your wonderfull modestie gentlenesse and affabilitie your rare continencie and integritie of life with infinite the like vertues and graces wherewith God hath beautified adorned your worship aboue manie others I say when I remembred these things with many mo I could do no lesse hauing so fit an occasion giuen me by reason of my friends importunacie then to dedicate these my labors to your worship though not as a guerdon answerable to your deserts yet as an infallible testimonie pledge and token of my thankful good wil and gratefull heart towards you And albe it that in respect of the form or methode of the booke for herein I haue not studied to be curious it may seeme to be base and contemptible and such as is farre vnworthie to be exhibited to so wise so discreet so godly and religious a gentlewoman yet in regard of the matter which is heauenlie and diuine I most humbly beseech you to accept therof and to permit the same to go forth to the view of the worlde vnder the gard of your protection and to patronize both the author the booke against the poysoned tongues of railing Phormions and flouting Momusses to whom all good things are had in disdaine And in so doing both God shall bee glorified by you the church Saints shall praise God in you and I my selfe besides that I will not rest vnthankfull to you to the death will not cease also to pray to God for you And tâ—us I most humblie take my leaue From my Chamber this present 10. of April 1592. Your worships in the Lord. Philip 〈◊〉 To the curteous Rea der grace mercie and peace GEntle Reader I haue beene constrayned â—horowe the importunacie of my friend to publish this little treatise or manuel of praiers meditations praying thee in brotherly loue christian charitie which as Paul saith couereth the multitude of sinnes that if any thing haue passed my penne either thorow lack of due coÌ„sideration or the presse thorow want of diligent attention thou wilt yet either friendly amend it with thy pen or else silently passe it ouer And if any thing seem harsh rough or vnfiled thinke that in this kind of argument I haue not studied to be curious besides impute the cause thereof to straitnesse of time which would not suffer mee so much as to write out my copy twise nor being once writ scarce to read it ouer againe Thus friendly Reader I coÌ„mit thee to God praying thee to censure al things to the best and to helpe mee with thy praiers that both thou and I and all the elect of God in his good time appointed may come to the full fruition and possession of all the ioyes and glorie of heauen which God the father hath promised vnto vs thorow his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and Siuioâ—r Thine in the Lord. P. S. Certaine Graces to bee saide before and after meat O Lord our God wee giue thee most heartie thanks for all thy benefits which thou in mercie hast vouchedsafe to bestow vpon vs and namely O Lorde for these thy creatures which at this present we shall receiue of thy bounteous liberalitie beseeching thee to giue vs grace to vse them both at this and all other times to thy honour and glorie and to the refreshing of our hungrie bodies that therby we may be made more apt to doe those things which thou hast commaunded vs in thy holy word Grant this O Lord for Iesus christ his sake our onely Sauiour Amen Thankesgiuing aâ—ter meate WE yeelde thee heartie thanks O most mercifull father for all thy benefites most liberally bestowed vpon vs and especially at this time for feeding vs so plentifully and graunt good father that wee neuer abuse them but that wee may alwayes vse them in such sort as we neuer offende thy maiestie therby Grant this O father for Iesu Christs sake Another prayer before meate O Gracious GOD vouchsafe to looke vppon our weakenesse and want and giue vs at this time those things which may be to our comfort sanctifie these thy gifts that our bodies beeing replenished we may be thankefull and enioy at thy mercifull handes the bread of eternall life to the releefe of our poore soules through Iesus Christ. An other praier after meate WE thank thee most bountiful Lord for this thy fatherly feeding our huÌ„gry bodies so likewise wee beseech thee feede our hungrie soules with the breade of eternall life that after this life is ended wee may ascend where christ Iesus our onely redeemer is gone before Amen A praier before meate AL things depend vppon thy prouidence oh Lord to receiue at thy gracious handes due sustenance for the maintenance of their needy bodies thou giuest it them and they gather it thou openest thy hande and they are satisfied with all good things O heauenly father which art the verie fountaine of al goodnesse we beseech thee to shew thy mercies vpon vs thy children and sanctifie these giftes which wee
man behind his backe but in all things so 〈◊〉 thy selfe that thou maist neither dishonour thy God nor giue either offence or euill example vnto anie at the table Dinner being ended giue God thankes as followeth A thankes giuing to God after dinner MOst holy father Lord of heauen and earth I giue thée thanks in the name of Iesus Christ for all thy benesites and blessings in mercie bestowed vpon mee euer since I was borne And namelie O Fa ther I praise thée for feeding my hungry body as alwaies heretofore so now presentlie at this time with earthlie foode beséeching thée to féede my soule likewise with the celestiall foode of thy holie worde And I pray thée good Lord that as thou hast giuen vnto mee the vse of these earthlie creatures in great measure so thou wilt in mercie vouchsafe to giue vnto me the continuall supplie of al my necessities and wants néedefull either for my soule or bodie to the end and in the end thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. Meditations after dinner THinke thus with thy selfe As the mouth of my bodie whereby I receyue corporall sustenance is flesh and bloud so the mouth of my soule whereby I receyue the spirituall foode of eternall life is faith towardes God hope in his promises loue from a pure heart towards the brefhren for his sake Thinke also that as the Sun is now in his highest ascent degrée and therefore of necessitie must néedes decline and go downward And as the day also is now at the midst or full and therefore must needs in like maner draw towards his end so my life being once come to his full ripenesse and maturitie must of force draw towards his end which is death the reward or salary of sinne These things thus performed dispose thy selfe to the labors of thy vocation as before doing all things to the glorie of him that made thée and one day will require a straite account of thée for all thy labours and workes done vnder the Sunne Directions how to behaue thy selfe before and after Supper WHen the daie is ended and the night approcheth first praise God for thy preseruation and protection that 〈◊〉 beséeching him to take 〈◊〉 care ouer thee that night This done arraine thy selfe as it were at the barre and call thy conscience to accounts demaunding of thy selfe as wel what good thou hast omitted and hast not done as the euill which thou hast committed and shouldest not haue done And as well repent for the one as be sorowfull for the other This doue drawe towards the table in reuerent maner praâ—g GOD to sanctiâ—e his câ—atures vnto thée either in this or the like forme A thankes giuidg to God before Supper FAther of mercy and God of all trueth looke downe I beséech thée from the throne of thy heauenly pallace vpon vs thy humble seruants albeit most wretched and miserable sinners sanctifie both our bodies and soules by the presence of thy holie spirite and blesse these thy creatures vnto vs giue them strength to nourish our bodies and our bodies their naturall powers and force euerie member to performe his office and dutie according as thou hast appointed as thou séest to bee best for thy glorie and the sustaining and repairing of our ruinous and weake natures And we pray thée good father also to féede our soules with the celestiall Manna of thy blessed worde and bring vs once to suppe with thée in the kingdome of heauen thorow the precious bloud of Iesus Christ. Then sall to thy meate reuerentlie as before at dinner hauing alwaies a diligent eie that thou abuse not the good creatures of God by gluttonie drunkennesse gourmandise or anie other kinde of riot or excesse Remember that nature is satisfied with a little and what is more then wil suffice nature is super fluous and one daie thou shalt be accomptable for it to the great iudge of all the earth Thy bodie being satisfied forget not to relieue the necessitie of the Saints according to thy abilitie that God maie blesse thée and multiplie thy store When Supper is ended giue God thanks eyther as followeth or otherwise as the spirite of God shall illuminate thy heart A thankesgiuing to God after Supper OH Lord our god most gracious holie father we render all praise and thankesgiuing to thy soueraigne maiestie for all thy benefites and blessings so plentifully bestowed vppon vs. And namelie we thanke thée holie father for these thy good creatures which thou hast at this present in full measure giuen vnto vs. Oh Lord make vs thankfull for them pardon our vnthankfulnesse for Iesus Christ his sake Finally make vs al thy true obedient and faithfull seruants and bring vs to euerlasting life in thy good time for thy great mercies sake in thy beloued Amen Directions of Christian behauiour after supper THe rest of the time after Supper vntill thou goest to bed spend with thy familie either in singing of Psalmes and spirituall songs singing and making melodie to the Lord in your hearts or else in conferring reasoning disputing talking of the word of God in reading expounding or interpreting of the same Then when time calleth thée to go to bed call thy whole housholde togither in some conuensent place make publike confession of your sins to God the Father craue pardon and forgiuenesse for Iesus Christs sake and pray for grace to bee able to resist sinne hereafter with all meanes waies and allurements leading there unto Which done repaire to thy chamber reuoluing with thy selfe these and the like things following Meditations when thou coÌ„ mest into thy chamber WHen thou art come into thy chamber call to thy remembrance what euill thou hast committed that day past either in thought word or déed towards GOD or towards man and the good which thou shouldest haue done and hast not done Iâ— thou hast sâ—ne or heard anie good thing in anie man note it learne it and praie for grace to follow it If againe thou hast séene or heard anie cuill in anie man note it in thy selfe and pray for grace to eschue it This done knéele downe by thy bed side confesse thy sinnes to GOD the father craue pardon for Iesus Christ his sake and pray to him to protect thée that night and to defend thée vnder the shadowe of his wings from all perilles and daungers both bodilie and ghostly Thy clothes being put off meditate thus with thy selfe Oh what a filthie vncleane and vgglesome carkasse doe I beare aboute with me that for verie shame had néede to be couered with garments Thinke also from what an excellent state and dignitie in regard of thy first creation thou art fallen by reason of the â—ilthines of sin Then thinke that if thy apparell were giuen thee for verie necessities sake to couer hide thy shame withall what reason hast thou to be proude therof For should a begger bee proude of the cloutes that wrap his sores Thinke also that
of a Christian the most excellentest name or title in the world so I may in my life and conuersation bring forth the fruits of true Christianitie that thy holie name bee not blasphemed nor euill spoken of amongst the heathen which know not thee Make me able and willing oh my good God to doe thy will and to stoppe the mouthes of all them that lyinglie falselie and deceitfullie go about to take my good name from me Finallie bring me to euerlasting life in thy appointed time thorow the merits of thy son Iesus Christ to whom be praise for euer A praier for patience in sicknesse THy holie Apostle O Lorde dooth teach vs that thou doost chastice euerie childe whom thou receyuest and that him whom thou chastenest thou louest and further that if we be not vnder â—hastisement we are bastards and not children therefore most holie father in as much as thou hast at this present laide vpon me thy heauy rod of correction and chastisement as a iust punishment for my sins I most humblie beséech thée good father for Iesus Christs sake to giue me the excellent gift of pacience and contentation of mind Make me O Lord to humble my selfe vnder â—hy hand to rest contented with thy good will and pleasure and not to repine grudge or murmur against thy iudgements but in all things to submit my will to thy blessed will being assured that thou workest all things for the best to them that loue thée knowing most certenlie that thou workest my saluatioÌ„ by these meanes subduest the flesh to the spirite and renuest me in the inward man that I may serue thée in newnesse of life to the praise and glorie of thy blessed name thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. A praier for the assistance of Gods bolie Angels in any extremitie or neede whatsoeuer FOrasmuch oh most gracious Lorde God as thou hast created thy holie Angels not onelie for the execution of thy blessed will but also for the preseruation protection and defence of shine elect and chosen vpon earth and for that I thy poore seruant weake and féeble am at this present and at all times and in all places sundrie waies assaulted with infinite both spirituall and corporall enemies which daylâ— séeke my destruction I beseech thée good father looke down from heauen vpon me send thy holy angels those ministring spirits to take care charge of 〈◊〉 to watch ouer me to pitch their tents round about me and to saue and defende me from all the raging furie and cruell tyrannie of all my enimies Let me not fal into their hands O Lord lest they be too proude and say where is now his God But abaâ—e thou their pride asswage their malice confound their deuises and bring their counsels to naught and make them â—ares to take the mselues with all Finallie graunt O Lord that I being deliuered and set â—rée from all perils and dangers and from all the rage and fâ—rie of mine enemies may giue thée thanks and so wholie to rest vpon thy mercies Grant this oh Father of all mercie thorowe Iesus Christ our Lord and for his saké Amen A praier against sudden death O Lorde our God who in thy secret iudgements as a punishment for sinne hast appointed euerie man to die once keepe me I beséech thée from sodaine death and from euerlasting condemnation Make me alwaies readie and prepared good Lord that the day of my departure hence come not soddenlie vppon mee to my vtter destruction for euer Make me also mindâ—ull and willing to die knowing that so long as we are at home in the bodie we are strangers from thee Teach me to number my daies O Lord that I maie know how long I haue to liue Giue me also not only true repentance for all my sinnes but also sufficient time and space to repent in that I neuer depart hence in thy wrath and heauie displeasure Giue me a true faith and a constant hope looking for yâ— accomplishment of thy promises made vnto vs in thy beloued as also a zealous care and feruent desire to walke in the true obedience of thy blessed lawes and holy commandements that after the finall dissolution of this life I may dwell with thée for euer in the kingdome of heauen thorow Iesus Christ Amen A praier for one that is sicke and at the poynt of death O Lord our God who as thou hast appoynted all men to die once so hast thou ordained sicknes and diseases as ordinarie meanes to bring him to the same and as it were to summon him to the doome I a poore wretch and iniserable sinner visited by thy hande with extreame sicknesse and grieuous diseases most humblie beséech thée for Iesus Christs sake to looke downe from heauen vpon me with the eies of thy pitie and compassion Pardon and forgiue me all my sinnes which are the causes both of sickenesse and death it selfe Enter not into iudgement with mo O lord for no flesh is righteous in thy sight Punish me not O Lord my God according to my deserts neither in this life nor in the life to come for then I must néeds perish so manifolde are my sinnes and so hainous are my transgressions Giue mee grace that I may willinglie leaue this wicked world in ful certain hope of the blessed resurrection of my bodie to eternall life in thy good time Make strong my soule O Lord against all temptations of the wicked enemie and strengthen my faith that I neuer wauer nor fall away from thée neither for loue of life nor feare of death Grant good father that I mate humble my selfe vnder thy hand and take pacientlie whatsoeuer it shall please thée in mercie to laie vppon mee without all grudging and murmuring whatsoeuer And if it be thy blessed wil restore me to health of body againe as thou didst thy seruant Ezechias prolonging his life xv yeares more that I may praise thee al the daies of this my transitorie and miserable life but if it séemeth better vnto thee to take me out of this wretched worlde at this present thy blessed will bee done onâ—lie this oh father giue thy holie Angels 〈◊〉 to carrie and conueigh my soule into thy euerlasting kingdome of heauen there to reigne with thée for euer thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A praier for those that be rich and wealthie MOst gracious God and louing father who giuest thy blessings and thy benefites sundrie waies to maÌ„ to some more to some lesse according to the purpose of thy will and as thou séest to be best for thy glorie and their good I praise thée and I thanke thée for that it hath pleased thée in thy great liberalitie to bestow vpon mee thy vnworthie seruant so great a portion of earthlie riches temporall blessings I beséech thee to giue meâ— grace that I may vse them to thy honour and glorie and to the comfort and helpe of others that haue néed being assured that thou hast made me a steward of
hee might glorifie thée therewith I pray 〈◊〉 holie father so to qualifie the affections of my minde and to order the words of my mouth that in all my thoughts wordes and déedes I maie do worship to thy glorious name thorow Iesus Christ thy onelie begotten sonne to â—hom with thy blessed maiestie and the holie spirit be all honour and glorie for euer A praier against drun kennesse MOst mercifull and holie father who in thy great liberalitie hast giuen vnto man the fishes of the sea the foules of the heauens and the beasts of the earth with other thy good creatures of infinite varietie for the sustentation and maintenance of this his life and hast commaunded them to bee receyued with praise and thankesgiuing vnto thée for the same I beséech thée therefore O Lord my good God and holie father to giue me grace to vse all thy creatures both soâ—erlie and temperatelie and alwaies to rest thankefull vnto thée for them Giue me grace blessed Lorde that I neuer abuse them nor offend thee in them thorow drunkennesse gluttonie or anie other kind of superfluity riot or excesse knowing that the abusing of thy good creatures reacheth euen to thy owne reuerence Finallie grant that I walking in al sobriety and integritie of life may at the 〈◊〉 receiue the reward of euerlasting glorie in the kingdome of heauen thorow Iesus Christ and for his sake Amen A praier against slouthfulnes and idlenesse WE are faught O Lord in thy holie worde that solenesse is the mother nurse of al wickednes and sinne for the bodie being idle the mind is naturallie occupied in vaine thoughts and foolish imaginations and so consequently made weaker readier for the enimie to assault I beséech thée therfore oh my good God kéepe me from all idlenesse and slouth and grant that I may be alwaies occupied in some good thing to the glorie of thy name and the benefite of my brethreâ— And as it may please thée O Lord in mercy to keepe my bodie from all maner of idlenesse slouth so I beséech thée to kéepe my soule euer exercised in bolie meditations and 〈◊〉 contemplations thinking alwaies of thée louing thée and euer praysing thée in all things till I come to the perfect fruition of thy heauenly ioies thorow Iesus Christ. Amen A praier for those that 〈◊〉 persecuted for the truth OH Lord Iesus Christ who comming into this miserable worlde and taking our nature vpon thée didst thereby not onelie deliuer vs from sinne but also remembring thy mercies diddest also leaue vnto vs the iâ—imable treasure of thy blessed word as a perfect direction and rule for vs to frame our liues by and which alone is able to saue our soules Blesse therefore this thy holie word vnto vs make it a worde of power to regenerate and beget vs a new vnto eternall saluation of our bodies and soules And strengthen all thy seruants which in anie place are persecuted imprisoned condemned and dailie put to death for the sincere profession of the same and for the testimonie of a good conscience Be mercifull vnto them O Lord and although they séeme destitute of all mans ayde or worldly comfort yet let thy swéete comfort and grace neuer depart from them O Lord let no further triall be laid vpon them then they may be made able by thee to beare And as thou hast by the power of thy might not onlie vanquished and ouercome all corporall and bodilie enemiâ—s where or whatsoeuer but also thy and our spirituall aduersaries so strengthen all thy seruans that suffer anie kind of crosse persecution trouble or veration either in bodie or mind for the constant profession of thy holie worde and sacred religion Giue them patience good Lord to beare thy crosse thankfullie with strength to go thorow and to perseuere to the end euen to the effusion of their bloud knowing that they who denie thée before men thou wilt denie them before thy heauenlie father and his holie Angels in heauen And for that there is no true wisdom whereof thou art not the authour inspire their hearts with the spirite of true wisedom knowledge and vnderstanding that they may know thy will aright and that they may bee able by the same spirite to confound and ouerthrow all the enimies of thy truth Grant this swéets Iesus for thy holie names sake Amen A praier for Godly wisedome IConfesse good Father that so long as we beare about vs this earthâ—e tabernacle imprisoning the soule that our nature is so corrupted as it alwaies rebelieth against the spirit accompting that true wisedome which is nothing but méere foolishnesse in déed Wherefore good Lorde vouchsafe to send downe thy holie spirite euen the spirite of wisedome which waiteth vpon thy throne into my heart that I may know and vnderstand what things are good and acceptable before thée that I may attaine euerlasting life thorow the merits of thy sonne his most bitter death passion Amen A praier for grace to be mindfull to die OH lord our God in whose handes standeth the life and death of all mankind vouchsafe I beséech thée for thy sonne Christ his sake to make me mindefull and readie to depart out of this miserable and transitory life And al though my bodie doth creep here vpon the earth yet let my conuersation bee alwaies in heauen from whence we looke for a sauiour euen Iesus Christ the righteous who shall chaunge our vile bodies and make them like to his glorious bodie by the mightie power whereby he is able to subdue all things to himselfe Teach me good Lord to know that wee are al here strangers pilgrims and haue in this worlde no dwelling place but looke for one to come in regarde whereof giue me grace I be séech thee willinglie to forsake this wicked worlde with all the vanities therof to hunger thirst after that life which neuer shall decay Make me good Lorde to estéeme all things in this worlds as dongue that I may winne Iesus Christ. And for that that remembrance of death terrifieth vs from sin as thy seruant Salomon beareth record giue mee grace I most humblie intreat thée alwaies to remember and beare in mind that I am mortall and therefore must once of necessitie depart hence either to euerlasting glorie or else to euerlasting paines and confusion both of bodie and soule Oh Lord assist mee with thy holie spirit that I male so liue in this present euill world as I may not feare either but whensoeuer he approcheth I may with bolde confidence crie out say Oh Death where is thy sting oh Hell where is thy victory Grant this O Lorde my God for Iesus Christ thy onelie begotten sonne his sake Amen A Thanks-giuing to God for all his graces blessings bestowed vpon vs. SUCH is thy liberalitie and mercie O Lord towards mankinde that for all thy blessings and benefits both inâ—nite and inestimable beâ—owed vppon him thou requireth nothing againe but thankfull hearis to thee Wherfore most holy father I render al praise and thanks to thee from the bottom of my heart generallie for all thy benefites and blessings for all thy great mercies and louing kindnesse shewed towards me in Iesus Christ and particularly for that it hath pleased thée to elect and chuse mee in Christ Iesus to euerlasting saluation before the foundations of the world were layde for creating me after thine owne similitude and likenesse for redéeming of me by the death and passion of thy owne Son Iesus Christ when I was 〈◊〉 lost and cast awaie for euer for regenerating and renuing of me by thy holie Spirit for sanctifying of me by the same spirit for instilling into my heart a true a liuely and tustifying faith in Iesus Christ for giuing me grace to be penetent and sorowfull for my sinnes for inspiring my heart with a true and constant hope looking for the accomplishment of all thy gracious promises made vnto me in thy beloued without all doubting or â—uering For giuing me wisedonie vnderstanding and knowledge in some competent measure I praise thée and I thanke thée also O Lord for feeding nourishing clothing and sustaining my bodie euer since I was born for defending of me from infinite perils and daungers yea from infinite deathes which at diuerse times and in sundrie places haue laine in waite for me and threatned my destruction and into which I had certainlie fallen had I not béene by thy gracious goodnes supported protected defended Last of all I thanke thee good Lord and I prayse thée for thy swéete promises of euerlasting saluation made vnto mee in Iesus Christ. For these and all other thy most gracious benefites and blessings oh most glorious Father I prayse thée moste humblie beséeching thée for Iesus Christ thy sonne his sake to pardon and forgiue mee my great vnthankefulnesse ingratitude and vnkindnesse towards thee and from hencefoorth giue mee thy holy grace that I may procéede from thankfulnesse to thankfulnesse from gratitude to gratitude and from kindnesse to kindnesse towards thée that I be neuer accounted amongst the number of those ix vnthankefull leapers who being cleansed from their leprosie returned not againe to giue thée thanks Graunt these my petitions vnto me oh most benigne father with all other good thinges which thou knowest to be necessarie for me better then I can either wish or desire euen for the glorie of thy great name for the truth of thy promises and for Iesus Christ thy Sonne his sake my onelie Lorde Sauiour Kedéemer Mediatour and Aduocate to whome with thy blessed Maiestie and the holie Spirite one true and euerlasting GOD bee all honour glorie prayse dominion power and thanksgiuing for euermore Amen Vni Deo trino sit omnis gloria FINIS