not onely this correction but vtter destruction as Sodom and Gomorra but rather to looke vpon thy mercies which were before them whereby thou hast saide that although wee doe offend and thou doest correct vs yet thou wilt not take away thy mercies from vs but wilt leaue a remnant which thou wilt multiplie and make as the Starres of the Heauen and as the sandes of the Sea. Looke also O Lord vpon the outrageousnesse and crueltie vnfaithfulnesse and blasphemie of the enimies wherewithall they blaspheme thee and prouoke thee to thy face and therefore in thine owne cause and for thine owne sake take the matter into thine owne handes and pay into the bosomes of thine enimies double and treble of that they haue giuen to thee Notwithstanding those amongst them that belong to thine holy election hasten their calling that afterwards thy iudgement may hasten vpon the earthe and the inhabitants thereof may learne to know thee by thy iudgements that would not vnderstand and come to thee by the louing calling of thy Gospel Wee pray thee O Lorde for our brethren that are vp in armes in both those countries that thou wouldest goe before them and come behinde them and on euery side of them couer their heades in the day of battel teache their handes to fight and their fingers to warre giue them wisedome and valiantnesse and good successe in all their enterprises strike a dizinesse maaze of spirit into the enimies harts and take away from them all force and disappoint al their counsels And vpon our brethren in Flaunders we beseeche thee that thou wouldest comfort them ouer all the troubles that they haue receiued and breaches that haue beene made in vpon them and where there are newe forces euery day gathered new sleights inuented to destroy them it may please thee to scatter their forces and bring their sleightes to nothing Yea graunt also O Lorde that that which they haue deuised against thy children may come vpon their owne heades And for our Brethren in Fraunce wee beseeche thee O Lord what streights so euer they be in thou wouldest deliuer them and although they be forsaken in the iudgement of all the world and in their own iudgements notwithstanding thou that haste the issues of death in thine owne handes deliuer those that are appointed to deathe And finally we most humbly thanke thee for that it hath pleased thee to keepe vs this day and al the dayes and times of our liues beseeching thee that thou wouldest receiue vs this night into thy holy keeping that we may haue quiet rest not of bodies alone but of our soules also resting from all those thinges that are contrarie to thy moste holy will attending while thou raisest vs vppe in the morning to do all those thinges that thou haste appointed vs These things we desire of thee and al other things which thou knowest to be more needefull for vs and thy whole Church better then we ourselues do know for Iesus Christes sake saying the same prayer that he himselfe hath taught vs Our Father c. A prayer for the Queene O Gratious Lorde and moste mercifull father we acknowledge thee the Lorde of Lordes and the Kinge of Kings creating at the beginning and ruling all thinges euermore in heauen and earthe accordinge to thy wonderful wisdome and power and our selues to be thy poore seruantes the worke of thy handes the sheepe of thy pasture subiected to thy highe Maiestie and depending vppon thy fatherly prouidence for al thinges Neuerthelesse seing thou in thy wisdome annoyntest Kings and Queenes appoyntinge them to rule ouer thy people to sitt as Lieuetenantes in thy seate to minister iustice and most of all as Fathers and Nurses to mainteine cherish thy Church commaundinge vs not onely to obey and honour them but moreouer to pray for thē as watching ouer vs for our good we therfore beseech thee for thy greate names sake for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercy to all Kings and Princes that mainteine thy glorious Gospel but especially we praye thee to blesse our gratious Queene in all spirituall blessinges in Christ Iesus and in all temporall blessinges accordinge to thy good pleasure that in the greate measures of thy effectual Lawe she may more and more finde great increases of vertue and wisdome and strength in Christ Iesus to the faithful and happy discharge of her dutie that her holines and ioy and zeale of thy house may be multiplied and euerlasting And seeing it hath pleased thee of thy singular mercie to giue her this especiall honour firste to suffer for thy Glorious trueth and afterward miraculously deliuering her out of the handes of her enimies to set a Crowne vppon her heade and to make her the instrument to aduaunce thy Glorie and Gospel for whiche she suffered and to bring it out of darkenesse into light out of persecution into this great and long peace as we giue thee most hartie thankes for this singular benefite so wee beseeche thee to make her and vs euermore thankful for it and in thy good pleasure still to preserue her for the continuance of these blessings towardes vs with all increase from time to time to thy Glorie the benefite of the Churche and her infinite peace in Christ Iesus the Prince of Peace And furthermore we pray thee for her and the estate that such as be enimies of the Gospel and her enimies also for the defence thereof may not despise the peace offered them to repentance but that they may account thy long suffering and her peaceable and vnblouddie gouernement an occasion of saluation to their soules and unfeigned loue to the trueth their mercifull souereigne Otherwise if they still remaine disobedient to the trueth disobedient to her highnesse and daungerous to the state then O GOD of our Saluation as thou haste discouered them so discouer them still as thou haste preuented them so preuent them still and let their eyes waxe wearie with looking and their harts faint with waiting for the comming of that which yet commeth not neither let it come O Lord we beseeche the but a blessed and a long reigne to her and peace to Sion for euermore Also deere Father so blesse so loue so in thy Spirite sanctifie and keepe her that shee may in the Spirite of counsell and fortitude so rule that other sister also namely this her Common wealth that they may flourish together and growe vp together as Palme trees in beautie and in strength giueing ayde and helpe one to another that in the Churche the Glorie of God may appeare as the Sunne in his brightnesse and that the lande may flowe with milke and honie and true peace aboūd therin as in the triumphant reigne of Debora These graces O Lord are great and we miserable sinners vnworthie of the least of them therefore looke not to vs but to thy selfe not to our iniquities but to thy greate mercies acceptinge the death and passion of thy sonne as a full raunsome for al our offences throwing thē into the bothome of the sea and making his crosse and resurrection effectuall in vs to all obedience and godlines as becommeth thy Saincts that to all other thy good blessinges towarde our gratious Souereigne this may be added that she gouerneth blessedly ouer a blessed people a people blessed of the Lorde and beloued of the Lorde and that thy graces may abounde as the waues of the sea in the Prince and in the people in the Churche and in the common wealth frō day to day til the day of our translatiō into the kingdome where iustice inhabiteth where we also shal inhabite and reigne with thee according to thy promise for euer Graunte vs these thinges O mercifull father for thy deare sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we craue them at thy mercifull hande prayinge furthermore for them as he hath taught vs to pray Our father whiche art c. Our father which art in heauen Holowed be thy name Thy kindome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily bread Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Lead vs not into temptation Our father which art in Heauen Holowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily bread Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse againste vs. Leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill
¶ Maister D. his councell to all that are his as also a briefe lesson for all estates KEepe counsell Vse not manye wordes Tell the truth Be slow to speake Brydle thine anger Appease debate Hinder no mans good name Take heede of drinke Remember thy ende Be mercifull Trie before thou trust Repose no confidence in a reconciled aduersarie Sorowe not for that which can not be got agayne Reioyce not in thy neyghbours crosse Striue not with thy ouer match Reueale not thy secretes to thy wife nor to thy children for women and children say all they know Three things vndid the Romanes reigne priuie grudge yong heaves and priuate gayne Beare with others as thou would haue others heare with thee Be not to rashe hasty bolde nor wyse in thine owne conceyte Doe not speake all thou knowest Doe not beleeue all thou hearest Doe not doe all thou canst Doe not say all thou seest Beholde the ende ere thou beginne Haue mynde on death and feare to sinne For death shall reape that lyfe hath sovvne And lyfe shall spring vvhere death hath movvne If thou by God arte set on hie Remember yet that thou shalt die Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the Soule Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the Mynde Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the and bodie If thou flie ydlenesse Cupid hath no might His Bowe lyeth broken his fire hath no light FEARE GOD And keepe his Commaundements GODLY priuate prayers for housholders to meditate vpon and to say in their families MARK 11.24 ¶ What so euer ye desire when ye praye beleeue that ye shall haue it and it shall bee done vnto you ROM 10.13 ¶ Whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lorde shall bee saued Psal. 55. verse 16. ¶ I will call vnto God and the Lorde will saue me Euening and morning and at noone will I pray and make a noise and he wil heare my voyce ¶ Godly priuate prayers for housholders to be saide in their Families A prayer conteyning the effect of the Housholders Catechisme ALmightie God and most mercifull Father I see in thy blessed lawes and commaundementes the greatnesse of my sinnes and wickednesse yea I see O Lord my god the whole course of my life to be almost nothing els but a continuall breaking of thy holy lawes and commaūdements The thoughts of my harte either in vanitie or els open wickednesse are in number infinite daily in the aboundance of them causing my mouth to speake my body to execute and do contrary to thy holy will. And againe O Lord I see thy heauie wrath vengeāce and iudgment against sinne to be intollerable that euen the least wicked thought and most secreat cogitation of my harte procureth thy heauy wrath and euerlasting curse the tormente of hell and euerlasting fire euen although I had but once in all my life broke any of thy commaundements so much as once in thought And I know O Lord God that thou art true and iust canst not abide sinne and wickednesse but wilt iustly punish euerie sinne euen with the selfe same tormentes of hell whiche thy iustice hath appointed euen for euery sinne This O Lord my God throweth me downe and euen amaseth me so that I knowe not what to do I looke into my selfe vewing mine owne power whither I am able to ouercome this punishment of my sinne or no and I see that al euē the most exquisite punishment which I can deuise to my selfe in whipping of my body as long as I liue wearing haire cloth pineing my selfe with fasting or any other paine I see I see O Lorde that all this punishmēt is not sufficient for one of my least sinnes because it deserueth euen the euerlasting paines of hell I looke to Heauen I see there is no Sainte nor Angel able to abide and ouercome this punishment of sinne I looke to men in this worlde euen to the Popes treasure that wicked man of sinne and I see that neither his masse nor purgatory pilgrimage pardons penance satisfactions nor any of suche like wicked stuffe alas I see they are nothing for the satisfying for one of my least wicked thoughts seeing the punishmente is by thy iuste decree and sentence thine euerlasting cursse Wherefore I am driuen out from my selfe and all that I can do to seeke this punishmente discharged other where or else to quall vnder the burthen I see there is no healpe for me in Angels Saintes nor mortall men but onelie in that perfecte man Christe Iesus thy deere sonne in whome I see the full punishment of my sinne wholy payd satisfied discharged and ouercome death vanquished the paines of hel in victorie swalowed vp the curse satisfied and the eternitie of the punishmente through his euerlasting power ouerreachead This I see O Lord by the eyes of faith being through thy holy spirite wholy assured that all the whole punishment of sinne payd by my Sauiour Christ is not onely payd for other men but euen also for me and my sinne This assurance of my faith being thine onely woork in me I beseech thee in mercy to strengthen increase for I feele it often ful of wauering doubting Graunt that I may daily more and more in my soule and conscience feele my selfe knit and grafted into the body of thy sonne whereby I may be assured that whatsoeuer He hath done pertaineth to mee and is fully wholy mine that I may through the power of his death feele daily sinne die in me and thorough the power of his resurrection feele my selfe risen from sinne to haue my full ioy and comforte in those things which be agreeable to thy holy wil vtterly detesting hating and abhorring from my hearte althinges which be contrarie to thy will and pleasure that euen in this life I may still looke for this endlesse ioy and felicitie vsing the thinges of this worlde as though I vsed them not till that good time that it shall please thee to call mee to thine euerlasting Kingdome of Glorie there to reigne with my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ for euer and euer Amen A prayer vppon the Lordes prayer O Moste mighty Lorde and eternall God who hast by thy deere sonne Christe Iesu our Lord and Sauiour reconciled vnto thy selfe all things in heauen and earth and in him haste made an euerlasting bond and couenaunte with vs thy faithfull children that thou wilt not onely be our God but also our moste louing and mercifull Father whereof as a pledge thou hast giuen vs thy holy Spirite of adoption whereby wee may with boldenesse and ful trust and cōfidence come to thee by harty praier as vnto our moste louing and mercifull Father being assured that thou wilt not deny vs any thing which thou knowest shal be expediēt for vs graunt we beseech thee deare Father that wee being fully persuaded in our harts of this thy fatherly loue and affection towards vs may be sturred
holy word wee are commanded in our prayers not onely to be mindefull of our selues but also of all others thy children yea euen of our enimies wee commend vnto thy Maiestie all thy whole true and catholike Churche and euery member thereof that as it hath pleased thy goodnesse by the brighte beames of thy holy woorde to shine ouer the whole worlde whereby thou haste expelled driuen away and caused to vanishe the darke and mistie cloudes of ignorance and superstition so thou wouldest vouchsafe by thy holy spirite to touche the heartes of men that they may ioy fully embrace that thine so high a treasure sente amongest vs that through our vnthankfulnesse we prouoke not thy Maiestie in anger to take it from vs Crush bruse and destroy with the breath of thy mouth the mightie power of that man of sinne whiche so proudly exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called god Let not thy simple flocke deere Father in whose consciences he of long time hath and yet doth sitte as GOD bee any longer poysoned with his sweete enticeing poysons but so lighten their heartes that they may perceiue his iuglynges and embrace the sweete and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting reuealed in thy Glorious Gospell And forasmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy aboue all nations of the earth to powre downe the sweete showers of thy Heauenly Graces vppon this our Englishe nation aboundantly in more plentifull wise watering the same with the giftes of thy holy Spirite in promoting thy Gospell and ouerthrowing idolatrie wee beseech thee continue thy fauour towarde the same and vtterly roote out all remnantes reliques and monumentes of idolatrie that thy Glorious Name may be throughly exalted in sincere pure and holy worshippe And as thou haste in mercy from amongst vs in this thy Churche vtterly banished all false venemous and poysonfull doctrine wherewith the soules of thy Children heretofore haue bene wounded to death and in place thereof haste placed the true and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting wherewith the soules of thy children bee fedde and nourished to euerlasting ioy so in like mercy and fauour wee beseeche thee deere Father establish in the same thy Church a true perfecte and sincere regiment thereof according to the prescripte rule of thy blessed woord all fantasies of mans braine and dreames of humaine policie vtterly abolished that thy glorious Maiestie onely may bee exalted in the lighte of thy glorious Gospel that thy Church may flourishe and increase beeing through thy protection ayded supported maintained and defended we beseech the by thy holy spirit guide rule euery part member therof especially thy seruant ELIZABETH our Queene whome thy gratious fauour and mercifull prouidence hath appointed a chiefe member in the same vnder whose winges next vnto thy protection it hath a chiefe succour and supporte Graunte vnto her O Lorde a pure and perfecte Zeale aboue all thinges to promote thy Glorie first and chiefly in labouring and endeuouring of her selfe earnestly in wiping away and purging out of thy Churche all blots and deformities to reduce the same to a pure and sincere fourme of worshippe agreeing to thy blessed woorde vtterly to remoue all stumbling blockes which stay and hinder the course of thy Gospel giue her in like manner O Lorde the spirite of wisedome discretion and gouernement that with equitie and iustice shee may see this whole Realme which thou hast committed to her charge peaceably and quietly gouerned that shee may studiously labour that as wel thorough the whole Realme vertue be exalted vice abandoned as especially in her owne house and court that all wicked vanities of this worlde al licentious and inordinate life all flattering and dissimulation beeing vtterly banished the feare of thy Glorious Maiestie may so reigne in the heartes of all within her palace and courte that their liues and conuersation may bee agreeable to thy blessed wil in sinceritie and true holinesse and integritie of life that from them as from the heade may shine puritie of life and conuersation as an example and patterne of true Godlinesse to the whole Realme Preserue her we beseech thee good Lorde from all conspiracies and treasons that if it bee thy good wil she may haue a long and quiet reigne ouer vs to the benefite of thy Churche and the aduauncement of thy glorie Indue the whole counsel good Lord with true and perfect wisedome that in all their consultations and counsels hauing thee present before their eyes they may consulte of those thinges which principally and chiefely may be for the aduancemēt of thy glorie the cōmoditie of thy churche and next for the quiet peace and gracious gouernment of this realme So lighten al inferiour Magistrates of this Realme good Lorde with the brightnesse of thy holy Spirit that vnderstanding thy wil they may zealously defend mainteine and further the course of the Gospel with the sword of iustice cut off the wicked and cherish the godly Defende and gouerne by thy holy Spirite the Pastours of thy Churche and labourers in thy vineyard that they may zealously earnestly and diligently feede thy flocke committed vnto them with the foode of life thy blessed word wherewith their soules may be nourished to Life Euerlasting Increase the number of them deere Father place ouer euery flocke a godly learned paineful Pastor who may painfully and carefully trauail euery one in his charge to bring thy people which nowe alas in moste partes do wander and go astray like loste sheepe to the true knowledge of thee their Lord and God and of thy deare sonne Christe Iesu their Sauiour And for thy mercie we beseeche thee to take pitie vpon thy poore and simple flocke roote out all rauening wolues which haue craftily crept into thy sheepefolde and do make hauocke of the soules of thy simple flock Cast out al hirelings time seruers dumb dogs which to fill their bellies only haue thrust themselues among thy sheep do pitifully suffer the flock of Christ thy sonne to be deuowred and scattered of the woolfe Stirre vp good Lord and place in their roomes faithfull sheepheardes which diligently painefully carefully and earnestly may labour in thy vineyard seeke to winne the soules of thy people out of the tyrannie and power of satan to the freedome of thy deere sonne Christ Iesu our Lorde And that thy Churche may better be furnished with Godly learned Pastours we beseeche thee prosper and increase in all Godly knowledge all Schooles of learning especially the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxforde Graunt deere Father vnto al the students of the same that the chiefe ende of all their studies may be to the furtheraunce of thy Churche and maintenance of the common wealthe Blesse their studies deere Father that all vaine studies set aside they may so fructifie and profite in all profitable godly sciences that hereafter they may become profitable members in thy church godly vpholders of the cōmon wealth Grant good Lord to al the whole
Commons of this Realme that their hartes being touched with a sincere feare and reuerence of thy heauenly Maiestie acknowledging thy mercie in placeing ouer them a Godly Princesse they may euery one in their callings walke in all true and humble obedience vnto her in thee and for thee without resistance tumults insurrections conspiracies or rebellions knowing that to resist the higher powers is to rebell against thy Maiestie Finally we beseeche thy goodnesse so guide gouerne the hartes of all the whole Realme of euery degree that euery one in his calling being by thy grace supported may so occupie his talent that thy Glorie in all thinges may be aduanced thy Churche inlarged and this whole Realme into sincere Godlinesse vertuously reduced Moreouer we beseech thee O Lord our God in mercie behold all those which suffer persecution for thy glorious wordes sake whither it be imprisonmente deathe or banishment or whatsoeuer else strengthē them good Lord that they hauing thee always before their eyes and the glorie laide vp for thē in the life to come may continue constant in defēding thy truth without feare of man or vaine allurementes of the world that whether it come by life or death they may glorifie thy Holy name in continuing in the trueth to the end Preserue in like maner we beseech thee all others thy children whom it hath pleased thee with any other kinde of crosse to chasten for their amendement whither by pestilence famine warre pouertie imprisonment sicknesse or banishment trouble of conscience vexation of spirit disquietnesse of minde want of spirituall comforte or whatsoeuer kinde of affliction of body or mindes thou doest trie them with that by thy holy spirit being fully assured that thou by this thy correction mindest to call them backe to a feeling of their sinne and due consideration of their life and conuersation that they may patiently abide thy Fatherly trial looking for aide help and comfort from thee when it seemeth most conuenient to thy godly wisedome and beeing by thy merciful hande once deliuered may acknowledge thy singular power worke giueing al laude and praise to thy glorious Name and afterwards al the dayes of their life studie to liue before thee in sinceritie and perfect holinesse euen to their liues ende Amen Morning prayer for priuate houses and Families O Gratious God and louing Father according to thy commaundement wee do here presente our selues before thy Maiestie humbly prostrating ourselues before the throne of mercy acknowledging and confessing from the bottome of our hearts that wee be miserable sinners daily breaking thy commaundements both in thought woord and deede wherein wee iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to bee vtterly throwne from thy presence yet O Lorde wee see thy goodnesse againe towardes vs who not suffering vs thus to perishe in our sinnes hast sent thine owne deere Sonne Iesus Christ to take vpon him whatsoeuer is due to reconcile make vs at one with thee againe In him therefore good Lorde and through him do wee come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that wee feeling the greeuousnesse of our sinnes and groneing vnder the burden of them may feele the release and ease of them in that we be through thy holie Spirit assured and stedfastly beleeue that Christ hath borne the burden of them euen for vs Graunte O Lorde that we beeing assured hereof in our consciences may through thy holy Spirite bee renued in the inner man to hate deteste and abhorre sinne and to studie to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life Wee do not onely pray for our selues but also for all thy whole Church especially suche as bee persecuted for thy woorde graunte vnto them that whither it be by death or life they may glorifie thy Name to their liues ende Bee mercifull to this Churche of Englande and Irelande wee beséeche thee good Lord and preserue euery part and member of the same especially thy Seruaunte Elizabeth our Queene graunt her all such giftes as bee needeful for so high a calling to the aduauncement of thy Glory and benefite of this common wealth to the establishing of a perfect gouernemēt of thy Church according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of all superstition and reliques of antichriste to the gouerning of her Subiectes in all peace and tranquillitie Defende her O Lord from all conspiracies treasons and rebellions and so woorke in the hearts of all her Subiects that knowing her authoritie doth come from thy Heauenly Maiestie they may with obedient heartes humbly obey her in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Counsell and the Magistrates of the Realme that beeing lightened through thy holy Spirite they may defende thy trueth suppresse wickednesse and maintaine equitie Beholde all the Pastours and Preachers of the woorde blesse their laboures increase the number of them place ouer euery Churche a paineful watchman remoue all idle Lubbers and confounde the power of antichriste and turne the heartes of the people that they may bee obedient to thy truth Blesse the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxforde and all the Studients of the same with all Schooles of learning Beholde al those that bee afflicted with any kinde of crosse that they may profite by thy correction in newnesse of life ‡ * ‡ Lastly for our selues here gathered together we hartily craue at thy hands that it would please thee to make vs thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for all thy loueing kindnesse shewed vnto vs euen from our infancie especially that thou haste this present nighte deliuered vs from all daungers both of body and soule whereinto many haue fallen as wee into like manner should haue done if wee had not bene stayed with thy mercifull hande that thou haste also graunted vnto vs so sweete and comfortable reste and haste nowe presently broughte vs to the beginning of this day For these thinges good Lorde wee yeelde vnto thee most hartie thankes beseeching thee to make vs more and more daily thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for them and pardon our vnthankfulnesse And as thou hast safely preserued vs vnto this present houre from al the daungers of this life so we beseeche thee continue thy fauour towards vs this day and the whole course of our life Defend vs O Lord that we nowe entring into the affaires of this day be not drawen away with the vaine allurementes of this world to sinne and wickednesse that wee walke not in the shadowe of death that we be not intangled in the snares of sinne that we stumble not at the blockes of iniquitie that we finally fall not into the pitte of deathe and destruction but being shadowed vnder thy winges we may cheerefully and constantly go on forward to the end of our course Graunt vnto vs O Lord our God that this good time whiche thou grauntest vnto vs in this life be not idely or vainely of vs consumed but that euery one of vs may be diligently exercised in his calling this day