vnaduisedly oppressed of sinne nether causelesse doo cease from good woorkes for so it may com to passe that wee shall labour in vaine Geue thefore vnto vs a firm faith wanting no strength which not onely may instruct vs to a better kinde of life but also in that same may happely goe forward euer emong encrease as the Prophet saithe Psal 13. Illuminate mine eies that I slepe not least whilest the Christian life but begonne wee negligently goe forward and finallie come againe into Sathans power Graunt that wee may constantly endure and thy kingdome to come may performe and consummate the rule begonne in vs Take vs from this life which is ful of sinne and daungers make vs to desire that other life and let vs beginne and continew to hate this graunt that wee do not feare death but rather wish and desire it let vs cast out of our minde the loue of this life that thou onely maist raigne in vs. Thy will be donne IF we should conferre our wil with thine it is alwaies naught but thy will is euer best whiche deserueth that wee shoulde loue and desire that Therefore haue mercy vpon vs deare Father and let not any thinge be donne after our will. Graunt if any thinge happen contrary to that wee woulde wee may patiently beare it temper so our brickle mettall beyng the woorke of thy handes that if any either speake or holde his peace doo or omitte any thinge contrary to our will that thereby we be not prouoked to anger and impatience Let vs not blaspheme complaine crie out iudge condemne or maliciously accuse others therfore but graunt that wee may quietlie geue place to those whiche worke contrary to our will and praise them geuinge thankes as to those which stirre vp thy will whiche is good againste ours which is yll And further assist vs that we may paciently beare all trouble neede pouerty sicknesse slaunder imprisonmente and all other discommodities and acknowledge al these to happen vnto vs by thy wil that our wil may be mortified let vs paciently beare iniuries and take from vs the desire of reuengement suffer vs not to encounter one euill with another nor resist force with stronge armes but graunte thy will whiche hath throwne vs into those euils may satisfie vs that with thankes geuing wee may beare aduersiries Yf any yll come contrary to that wee woulde graunt wee beseeche thee that we iudge not that calamitie to proceede either of Sathan our wicked enimie or of yll men but of thy deuine will whiche dooth Minister all thinges so that it may let our will whereby thou mightest the better raigne and beare rule in vs Graunt that wee may patiently and with ioyfull minde die leaste beinge ouercome with impatience or desperation wee seeme lesse obedient to thy will. Graunt that al members of our body eyes tongue harte hands and feete folowe not their owne delightes but ouercom and constrained may doo al thinges after thy will. Take from vs O Lorde a hardned and vntractable hart free vs from frowardnesse obstinate and stubberne minde graunte that wee may obey thy will that wee committe our selfe wholy to thy iudgement in all things whether they perteine to the body or the soule whether they be momentary or eternall take from vs these horrible vices that wee impeache not the fame of any flaunder anie rashely iudge accuse or condempne them that vice of the tongue I beseeche thee amende in vs And teache that if others committe any euill wee may retaine and hide it to thee only let vs shewe it and leaue it to thy iudgemente that wee may remit what is committed againste vs and let vs take pity vpon them teach vs to know that none can hurt vs but he shal more disprofite him selfe before thee that we may be the rather stirred to mercie then to anger in any thing let vs not reioyce if they be throwen into calamitie which either haue not obeyed our will or whose life hath been little allowable to vs neither lette vs hate their good successe Geue vs this day our daily breade THE breade is our Lord Iesus Christe whiche feedeth and refresheth the soule Thou therfore heauenly father graunt vs this through thy mercie that the life woordes and deedes of Christe with his Passion may be euery where truely preached acknowledged folowed kept Graunt that both his dooinges and sayings may be ensample to vs to the whiche wee may compare our life liue more rightlie Confirme vs that in calamities and trouble his Crosse and passion may strengthen and comfort vs Assiste vs that by his deathe our deathe may be ouercomme in true Faithe that wee may constantly folowe him being our Captaine to eternall life Bringe to passe that they whiche haue taken vpon them the ministery of thy woorde may happily teach with the greate profite of the hearers woorke that those which heare thy word acknowledge Christe and diligently goe forwarde Let it com to passe that the straunge and wicked sectes who teache not Christe be throwen out of his Churche Let the true vnderstandinge of thy woorde so shine in Bishops and Pastours and likewise vpon all Magistrates whether they haue care of the bodie or Soule that beinge illuminate with thy grace they may rightly teache vs and be exsample vnto vs as wel in Doctrine as in pure life Let not the weak in fâ—â—th be offended through the Sinnes of the Maiestrates Pourge vs O Lorde from all heresiâ—s and wicked Faith that wee may be singly and daily fed with one bread may abide agreeable in Christes woordes teach vs by thy grace tâ—at wee may well studie vpon Christes Passion and rightly holde that and let his imprinted steppes sticke and be founde in vs. Graunte that the Ministers of thy Church may treate and vse the Holy Sacrament worthely and to the greate profite of thy Churche And furthermore that wee and all Christians may in his kinde worthely and to his soule health receiue the Sacramente Geue vs peace and concorde take from vs warres contention ambition priuy hatred bloudie hartes vsurping hands and al other kinde of strifes that those thinges which wee haue to the sustentation of our body wee may enioy with thanks geuing Geue vnto thy seruant Elizabeth our most gratious Queene and Gouernoure thy equall guiftes to her estate and dignity with vprighte Iudgememente in all thinges and to all magistrates true faith and single iudgement with loyall mindes to keepe the publique peace that her ioyes and Rule may longe stande and multiply Take from al Subiectes Sedition and disobedience teache vs by thy Holy spirite to order housholde affayres that wee may instruct our Children and Families to worship praise and glorifie thee Graunt O good Father that our childreÌ„ and family fall not into any sin and wickednes neither be ouerthrowen in any daunger or calamity whether it be either of bodie or Soule Comforte and deliuer thou moste louinge Father the captiue the hungry thirstie
Meditations and Praiers gathered out of the Sacred Letters and Vertu◠〈◊〉 Writâ—â—â— Disposed i◠〈…〉 â—â—bet of to 〈…〉 〈…〉 Coâ—â— out of the Lâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—cred Mindes Multae tribulationeâ— Iustorum de omnibus liberabit eos Dominus Psal 34. ¶ Imprinted at London by William How. An. 1571. E Elect by will of mightie loue in Royall Roumth to sitte L Liuyng in Chaste Dianas Lawe with Sacred Sabas witte I Iuno disâ—â—â—ide with stately Rule hath 〈◊〉 Heauenly Maâ—â— Z Zenobia serues â—ise Pallas sâ—â—â— fayre Venus seekes her graâ—â— A â—lso wiâ—◠〈◊〉 Heauenly doâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—dome to define B Bounde 〈◊〉 she be to Natures Law or if shee be Diuine E Empiring vs vnwoorthy wightes whose gratitude may gayne T That our renowmd Elizabeth H Here Nestors yeeres may raine To the Highe puisant renoumed Princesse of al Vertue our moste redoubted Soueraigne Lady Elizabeth of Englande Fraunce and Irelande Queene Defendour of the Christian Faithe your Maiesties trewe and Loyall seruant Iohn Conwaye Prayeth all thinges beseeminge the Height of your Royall Desent Imperiall Crowne and dreadefull Dignitie TReadinge the weary March of this lothsome Laborynthe besieged with the horrible Hoste of Satan our Anciente foe wee finde moste regarded Prince to the blessed Soule no waie so sure a shielde and Fortresse as the vnspeakeable vâ—rtuâ— of daiely Praier the same deckings mans brickle Body with the perfectnesse of true Glory assistinge his decaied partes with sounde healthe nourishinge his vitall Spirites with sweete confirmed hope geuinge the furious Fend of Hell pininge pounishmente and moste bitter conflicte And beinge faithfull huÌ„mble and feruente is not onely to our Celestial Father the moste sweete Oblation and Sacrifice but to euery true Christian a moste blessed comfortable exercise wherein as wee laie abroade our yrksome transgressions by naturall defectes to the Almightie requiringe the Fortresse of his Holy Promisse to defende vs from this politike and wicked Warriour So by often conference as it were euen with the Deitie it selfe wee are trained Souldiers to the Battayle of eche affliction By Praier Dispaire is auoided and the horrible sinne of Presumption ouerthâ—owen all Impurenesse laide aparte all Rancour foregotten and rigorous Enuie dissolued to milde Loue els shall wee wante the thinges wee praie for Then if Praier doothe onely enforce vs to a reformation of our misdeedes purchasing vs a stately Mansion in the House of God free from the heauy yoke of Sinne and Deathe The Holy Augustine rightely spake these woordes Oratio est Animae Sanctae praesidium Angelo bono Solatium Diabolo SuppliciuÌ„ gratum Deo Obsequium Poenitentiae Religionis Laus tota perfecta Gloria Spes certa Sanitas incorrupta And also Cassidorus Oratio posita est per quam Ira Dei suspenditur Venie procuratur Poena refugitur Praemiorum Largitas impetratur Et nullus indè respuitur nisi qui in ea tepidus inuenitur Let vs therfore presente the Highest with this Incense of true Prayer discoueryng our mindes and confessing our vnwoorthinesse with assured hope to receiue the benefite of his sweete Promisses due to eche penitente Soule that asketh in the simplenesse of harte with teares and stedfastnesse reiectinge all tremblinge hope whiche then gaineth our true perfection therein and also confirmeth these further woordes of Augustine Si pura casta sit Oratio Coelos penetrans vacua non redibit O sweete Sentence nay ô more blessed trauaile so imploied where nothinge is founde so necessarie to the loste Childe nothing more pleasant to the afflicted man nothinge more profitable to the weake despairinge minde neither any thing so well beseeming euerye estate arminge them with able force to encounter the wicked Serpent Againste whose malignities as the Heauenly giftes of prudente skill and Learning are shrined in Royal Seate of your vnspotted Life associate with moste lowely nature â—he true Victors of Regale renowne exercisinge eche vertue in proper kinde that iustly maie procure you euerlastinge rewarde of vndefiled Battaile so vnder Bulwarke of those Angelical beauties pearsinge highest poincte of starry Firmamente and mounte I saie of Heauenly Humilities vniuersally resoundinge all Europe and makinge Englande specially blessed im imboldened to laye before your Highnes these woordes of Salomon Kinge touchinge this effect who called his housholde to Praier and commended the force thereof Because saithe he I communicate with God of good thinges I will haue Honour of the Elders I wil be founde a ready younge man in Iudgement In conspectu potentium admirabilis ero facies principuÌ„ mirabuntur me Create is the force of Prayer to a Prince that loueth it greater to him that vseth it greatest to him that needeth it The comforte whereof moste puisant Prince holdeth backe my ouer feebled spirite from her laste steppe to that vglye Hell of desperation deeming there was neuer earst infelicitie in any degree equall to mine whose foes by sinister suggestions haue not onely vsurped the rewarde of my single intent and true seruice but Zoylus hath stirred the ministers of your heauy wrathe against mee to the abandonyng of my desired libertie suppression with vtter ruine of my poore sequell and buried my halfe liuinge Carkas in the graue of deepe forgetfulnes where my voice is hoarsed with cryinges and my tongue fainted with vtteringe the griefe of my sorowfull minde No doubte a iuste scouâ—ge to the hidden faultes of my passed life but to the very case of my committing wherein I am wounded maymâ—d wronged and lost it needeth a true Confession and not a false Defense in any thinge by mee thought or donne to the preiudice of your Royall person Crowne State or Dignitie I professe before the Almighty as innocent as the Childe vnseparate his Mothers intrayles Teste seâ—pso whose wrathe I craue in IudgmeÌ„t to my thoughts of any harme to your Highnesse wherein amidst my sorrowes yet I ioye sithence my miserable matter concerns your excellencie and my punishment at your Noble pleasure continued or released whiche in weary state I attende powringe my pitiful plaintes before the Maiestie of the Highest to dissolue your woorthy harte to accustomed leuitie and to fortifie abâ—ade of these sweete woordes in your Royall breaste rendred to a sely suiter that your Highnesse woulde ioyâ— with any inferior of my Friendes in the triall of my truthe Wherin O gracious God what els dothe your Highnesse but scourge the schorchyng Phaëton that goeth too faste and wantes a slower reigne for whilest you wishe my truthe whiche hath no want I waile my vnwoorthinesse and fall into deepe Hell of Desperation Nihil enim est quod tantum me terreat nec est aliquidquod tantum me delectet QuaÌ„tum huius tuae in me bonitatis commemoratio terret inquam me indignitas propria sed me delectat haec tua virtus excellentia beinge assured my whole studie force trauell nor aduenture shal euer be able to CaÌ„cell the Recordes of your Princely thoughtes touchinge my true Loyalty whiche no Antecedent of passed life can
thy sighte oh Lorde whosoeuer thinke they are cleane and haue not sinned they deceiue themselues Therefore I confesse oh Lorde I haue not committed one sin but rather infinite sins and acknowledge if thou shouldest obserue mine iniquities I were not hable to abide it Enter not therfore into iudgemente with thy Seruaunte oh Heauenly Father for no fleashe is rightuous in thy sighte let the penssue harte from whence my praiers commes pearse thy Celestiall Throne Bow down thy mercie Lord and wash mee with the bloud of my Sauioure Christe cloathe mee with his humilitie and reuiue mee with his Resurrection Remember Lorde thou haste spoken by the mouthe of thy seruaunt Esaye That if my sinnes be as redde as Scarlette they shal be made as white as snowe And furthermore thou delightest not in the deathe of any sinner but that he rather liue and be conuerted Lord thy woordes neuer failed and thy compassions haue no end by vertu of the one and substance of the other purify me from all mine iniquitie I neede not to tel thee Lord if time woulde not faile mee the large examples of thy manifold mercies besides thi compassions shewed on thy Seruaunte Mary Magdeleyn Peter and Paule with whom Lorde let me be so cleansed purified and receiued as O may with them be Coheyres of thy euerlasting ioyes Amen AS the barraine and vnthanckefull soyle whiche after good vse diligence of the Tiller geueth forth Darnell for good seede so euer dooth the fainte harted and vngratefull freend in the Harueste of thy necessitie But if thou wouldest choose him by vertue of the Grape and suffer him to be olde as thou dost thy wine then shouldest thou drink him with pleasure AT midnight my tonge and lippes shall singe praise of thy holy name and my Spirite shall glorifie thee sittinge aboue the highest Cherubins Awake Lorde awake denie mee not for thy names sake â—â—â—gh otherwise vnwoorthy of â—â—y porcion in thy ritche guiftes to the worlde Lorde thou hast so loued the world that thou madest thy dere beloued sonne to clime the steps of death who bare the Image of thy substaunce and brightnes of thy glory to purge our mortalitie and sinne I beseeche thee therfore as thou haste so vouchsaued also saide by the mouthe of thy Seruauntes that thou haste geuen him to that most dreadfull death of the Crosse to put away al sin and to satisfie thy iustice Lorde and mercifull Father let me now for al be so deliueâ—â—â— and cleerely purged by this pitifull passion of thy deere sonne my Sauiour that I may say and singe with the blessed Cherubins and Seraphins Apostles Sainctes and Virgins Holy Holy Holy Lorde God on highe all Honour Power Dominion and Glory be dewe to thee for euer and euer Amen ¶ The Versicle FOr thy deare Sonnes sake O Lorde heare and receiue my Prayers The Answere ANd in thy truthe and mercy pardon mine offences and graunt mee thy grace ¶ The Collecte O Lorde Iesus Christ sonne of the pure Virgin Marie thou thou art not only the sweet spouse of my soule healthe but with God the Father a moste meke Mediatour full of Mercie Truthe wash away my sinnes with the most precious bloud of thy holy passion make me ritch in thy mercy and my Faithe so strong in thee that assisted with thy grace and holy Spirite to all duty and workes in this life towardes thee I may enioy afterwards the glory of thy blessed Kingdom with thy holy saincts and Virgins in euerlasting honoure and triumphe Amen ¶ The Prayer O Lord Iesus Christ whiche hast redeemed all mankinde from sinne Death Hell thou which hast saide I am the way truthe and life A way in Doctrine Commaundementes and examples Truth in promises Life in rewarde I pray thee by thine ineffamable loue wherwith thou hast vouchsafed wholie to bestowe thy selfe for our securitie that thou wilt not suffer mee euer to stray from thee bicause thou art the way nor at any time to distruste thy promises which art Truthe and perfourmest what so euer thou promisest neither let me rest in any other thing because thou arte eternal life without the whiche there is nothinge that ought to be desired neither in heauen nor in Earthe By thee we learne the sure and expediente passage vnto true healthe that wee wander no longer in the Labor in the of this world Thou haste exactly taught what to beleeue and what to doo what to hope for and in whome wee ought to rest By thee wee learne how wee were of that first Adam vnfortunately borne By thee wee are assured ther is no hope of helth but through Faith in thee that thou arte the onely brightnesse which geuest lighte to all men trauailing the darke Deserts of this worlde where is nothinge but a profound dimnes wherby we can neither see our calamity nor from whence wee oughte to seeke remedy of our euil Thou diddest vouchsafe to descende into the Earthe disdainedst not to take our nature vppon thee that by thy doctrine thou mightest shake of the dimnesse of our ignoraunce by thy commaundements mightest directe our feetâ— in the way of Truthe Peace By the exaÌ„ples of thy life thou hast shewed vs the way to immortalitie and by thy steppes hast restoared to vs a plaine easie and profitable way out of an vneuen and roughe way So thou arte made vnto vs a waye which knoweth no erroure in the whiche leaste wee should be wearie thou haste vouchsafed to vpholde vs in thy benignitie with greate and sure promises for who can be weary accoumpting him selfe ready through thy steppes to enter thy Heauenly Heritage Therfore whilest we be in this iorney thou wouldest be a sure hope vnto vs to be in steede of a staffe vnto vs wherewith we are susteined Neither was thy goodnesse content with this but knowing the weakenes of our fleash in the meane while with the comfort of thy Spirite doost so refreashe our strengthe whereby wee runne cheerefully And as thou being made vnto vs a way doost driue away al errour So being made Truthe doost take away all distrust Finally beinge made life vnto vs dooste reuiue the dead in sin to liue by thy Spirite releeuing all thinges vntill in the resurrection al mortalitie vtterly abolished we may alwaies liue with thee and in thee when Christe shall be to vs all in all For eternall life is to knowe the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghoste to be one true God whoÌ„ now through Faith wee beholde only in a Glasse and Ridell and then seeing more feloly the glory of the Lorde wee shal be transformed into the same Image Therfore I beseeche thee most mercifull Sauioure that thou wouldest nourishe Faithe in thy Seruaunte that I may neuer wauer in thy heauenly doctrine Encrease obedience that I neuer turne from thy Preceptes Fortifie constancie that entring into thy steppes it be not pulled backe nor through the terroure or intisements of Sathan ouerthrowne but maie
thy sake exercising iustice mercie and Truthe to all thy Creatures and neuer suffering me to doo that may mooue thy wrath but more and more assisted with thy grace may encrease thy loue and likinge and finally obtaine thy ioyes euerlasting Amen H HEare these my Prayers sweet Lord Iesu and for thy exceedinge Loue whiche broughte thee from the Sacred seate of thy Fathers breast into the woâ—be of the blessed virgin to bannish Death and Sinne to redeeme mans nature whereby in thy astere Passion as thou haste restoared mee and with so blessed a Shielde defended mine eternall deathe by the self same Loue call mee that haue wandred home againe to thy Folde renewe me with thy Spirite coÌ„firme mee with stronge faithe nourish in me such thi abundant loue garnish mee with thy plentifull grace lade mee with infallible hope of thy mercie finally restore all partes in mee which are decaied and quicken in mee what so is dead should liue that my spirite set at libertie from Terrestriall thinges thou maist euer dwell in mee And my Soule and body assisted with thy ritche guifte of all these may fully purely safely and strongly settle them in thee To whom be praise both nowe and euer Amen R REnder mee thy grace O Lorde that from this day I neuer becomme enimies with thee againe but that I only rest in thee Guide me with the clere light of thy woorde thorowe the dark desertes of this wretched world where no misery nor trouble lacketh wher euery place is ful of snares of mortal enimies yea wheron trouble and temptations ouerpassed and other ensueth and the first enduringe a newe battaile suddainely assayleth wherby I neuer haue peace and wante wherwith to war. wherfore with contrite hart I crie Lorde Lorde assist me with the power of thy holy Spirite and as thou hast coÌ„maunded I come vnto thee prayinge the guifte of all these my requests and specially Lord I require the swoord of my Sauâ—â—ur Christ true and firm faith that established in thy Truthe holding that for my defence may be safely armed against all mine enimies strong to cut downe the thornes which shal spring in my way of passage vnto thee in whom sweete sauiour aboue all honour glory triumphe sway rule power dignity make me settle al my ioyes yea aboue all healthe ritches bewtie fame and felicitie to desire thee loue thee and magnifie thee which geuest all and therfore of al to be beloued sought art most worthy Amen E EAse O Lorde the paines I suffer the troubles of my soule let the fountaines of thy grace ouerflow my barraine bodie and the floudes of thy mercie batten my feeble spirite let thy louing kindnesse couer mine infirmities and thy suffered drops of dewe vpon the Crosse drownde mine iniquitie Thy worde is Truthe and thou hast saide Thy delight is not in the death of a Sinner but wouldest he shoulde conuerte and liue Teache me therfore to number my dayes in the loue of thy Lawes that I alwayes thirste after thy Kingdome and neuer forgeat thee but in this that I haue here begonne may perseuer increase setting at naught all worldly pompe respect of persones and mans helpe and only cleaue to thy omnipotente power mercie strengthe and goodnesse wherin Lorde make mee so ritch as I neuer haue power to swerue from thee nor wante thy grace to resiste all temptations neither yet thy strengthe to treade downe mine enimies and so my harte shall ioyfully liue and geue thanckes to thee my God of all truth mercy and victory Amen G GOD merciful Father of my redeemer Christ which hast promised to heare the peticions of them that aske in thi Sonnes name geue downe thy feare into my harte conioyne thy holy spirite to the felowship of my soule poure vpoÌ„ me the blessed dewes of thy grace enritche mee with thy high vnderstandinge and send wisdome in her glory from thy Sacred seate to dwel in me that shee may guide mee vphold mee and labour with mee to the end that in al my trauelles enterprises proceedinges and studies I may preuaile to thy glorie Do this deare Father for the triumphe of thy name Bow downe thine eares mercifullie heare and receiue the summe of all my requests and graunt that all thinges which I aske according to my necessity I may effectually obtaine to thy glorye and profite of my soule through Iesus Christe my Lorde AmeÌ„ I I Geue and committe into thy hands deere Lorde my Spirite yea rather I may say thy Spirite seeing thou hast geuen it mee lincte it to my body for a season and seing it is thy image and Figure made after thine owne likenesse seeinge thy deere Sonne did clime the dyrefull steppes of death for redemption therof O most fauorable Father and meeke God of al mercy and compassion I eftsoones coÌ„mende this my Spirite into thy hande I am thine what so euer I am receiue thine I beseeche thee preserue mee and comforte mee for no man can help me besides thee Onely thou arte the sureste resister of all mischiefe thou arte O God the readieste help in all trouble thou arte my hope and strength In thee do I put my trust lette mee not be confounded let mee neuer be rebuked thou art my strong rock and my Castell thou art my sauioure my portion is in thy hands Lighten thy face vpon thy Seruaunt and saue mee O Lorde in thy Mercie Amen N NO brickel nor corrupt gold or Siluer hath redeemed my soule O Heauenly Father but the precious bloud issuinge from Christ as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spotte make mee therefore O Lorde for his sake to put on his humility patience vertu and vnspotted life rendring such accompt of this my Pilgrimage as beste may agree to his merite and thy mercie Let mee not be founde vnthankfull in so sweete a Lorde and sauiour what is most rightuous acceptable and pleasante in thy sight let mee alwayes O God preferre in faith works and what so euer is to approoue mee vnworthy of his tender and surmountinge loue that may alter his louing kindenesse or exchaunge his wonted compassion towards mee Lorde let me euer faile in strength to do it but assisted by thee I may euerlastingly be founde to liue in him Amen A ALmighty God which fliest with the winges of the Ayre ridest vpoÌ„ the Cherubins hast Empyre aboue the starry Firmaments Thou thou that sittest in Sacred seate most hie beholdeynge the wretchednesse of man in this lowe Earthe attending through thine own loue his deserts when with any occasion thou may offer thy mercie Bowe downe thy pitifull eies and fauour in me the Image of thy selfe as thou diddest vouchsafe in Zache when thou calledst him out of the Figge thee enritche my eares with the same voyce of Remission and Gladnesse as thou diddest his incline thine eares heare these cries oh louing redeemer for though I am but Dust Earth and Asshes yet I am bolde strengthened
with thy truth and merites of Christes deathe and passion to lay my Prayers before thee requyringe mercy and forgeuenesse of all my sinnes and also the assistance of thy Grace to do thy will all the daies of my life and to obtaine all these my petitions through Iesus Christ thy deere Sonne and my only sauiour to whom with thee and the Holy Ghoste be all Honour power Dominion and Glory for euer and euer Amen A Meditation vpon the Lordes Prayer ¶ Our Father which art in Heauen TRuely thou O almighty father haste iuste cause to execute thy seuere iudgemente vpon vs sinners whiche so often and greeuously moue thy wrath and indignation againste vs but sithence by thy mercy thou dooste not onely pardon but also commaundeste and teacheste by thy Sonne Iesus Christe that wee should holde thee for a Father wee pray thee throughe him that thou wilt geue vs a full and sure truste in thy Fatherly clemency and that we may likewise feele some taste of that security whiche thy Children haue and with ioye call thee Father acknowledge thee loue thee and in all our troubles call vpon thee defende and guide vs that wee may perpetually abide thy children let vs not goe out of thy protection Though we be the children of wickednes yet let vs not holde thee in steede of a seuere Iudge whē thou wilt that wee shall not onely call thee Father but our Father and that wee pray not in our owne name alone but in the name of all thy Children Geue vs therefore an vniforme and brotherly loue that in deede wee may perceiue our selues to bee Brothers and Sisters and thee our generall Father Let vs pray for all the rest no otherwise then Fathers were wont to pray for their children neyther suffer any of vs to seeke his own and forget his brother but taking away what enuie hatred or discord so euer raigneth emonge vs that as becommeth Gods children wee may mutually loue one another and truely call thee not Father but our Father Of our carnall and earthely Father we receiue this brickle body and he is such a one as is subiect to death neither are wee sure how longe he shall remaine a father Furthermore if aduersity happen he can not chaunge that but thou arte a Heauenly Father truely farre better and more Nobler So much more righte is it then that we contempne for thee our Father Countrey Kindred Ritches Fleashe Bloude yea and what so euer is in this worlde vnder the scope of Heauen This also graunt to vs that we may be thy heauenly Children whom thou doest teache that we shall regarde nothinge but the soule healthe and that heauenly Heritage leaste in this carnall and earthly Countrey deceiued stirred vp or letted by ritches wee become heyres of sensuality but truly let vs say our heauenlie Father and that truely wee may be thy heauenly Children Halowed be thy name ALmighty God heauenly father thy holy name is miserably prophaned many wayes in this worlde scorned taunted and blasphemed when it is applied to those thinges in whiche is no glorye of thy Deitie yea many abuse it imployinge it to sinne and truly that vnwoorthy life in a Christian man deserueth to be called a prophanation of thy holy name graunt therefore to vs good Lorde through thy mercy that wee may beware of all those things by which the honoure and glory of thy name is diminished and purifie vs that the Artes of Magike may be abolished let people cease to enchaunt Diuels or other Creatures by thy name see that all distrust and supersticion perish Heresie and wicked Doctrine also whiche notwithstandinge they preferre thy name yet they deceiue many lette them perishe and be broughte to nothynge graunte that thy people be not deceyued through any outwarde shewe of truthe rightuousnesse or holynesse Suffer not any man to forsweare hym selfe lye or deceyue others by thy name Take from vs O Lorde all false aydes which take vpon thē a shewe of thy name remooue from vs that spyrite of Pryde and vaine glory and the study of prayse and glory Graunt that in all our troubles and euiles we may cal vpon thy holy name yea in the feare of our consciēce and euen when deathe assaileth let vs not be forgetful of thy holie name See that in al our successe both in wordes and deedes wee may praise and worship thee onely and not seeke out of these ours but the glory of thy name which alone possessest al things take from vs O Lorde that most foule vice of ingratitude Plant in vs such good woorkes and life that others may be allured to vs not to our but to thy praise and glory Lorde let not others be offended through the vices or euill workes which yet remaine in vs least thy name for our sinnes should be ill spoken of or not henceforth praised Suffer vs not to aske any thing of thee either momentary or eternall which agreeth not to the glory of thy holy name praise if wee do aske any suche thinge of thee in that heare vs not graunt vs so to liue as becommeth Gods Children that wee seeme not vnworthy of thy holy name Thy kingdome come IN this miserable and wretched life all kindes of sensuall apetide and wickednesse beare rule in vs and the euill spirite head and fountaine of all sinne hath gouernmente But in thy kingdome O Lorde grace and vertue guide the sway and Iesus Christe thy deere sonne true patrone of all grace and vertue holdeth Empyre Thou therefore deere Father fauoure vs with thy grace Geue vnto vs a true constant faith in Christe fortifie vs with a firme hope in thy mercie wherwith our weake and feble conscience may be raised vp from the feling of sinnes lade vs with an earnest loue both towardes thee and al other thy good Creatures Take frō vs distrust desperation and hatred remooue from vs the delightes of the fleash and plant in their steede an earnest studye of chastitie with perfect faith in thee which may worthely winne the reward of vndefiled battaile Make vs free O Lorde from discordes ambition warre and discention and let thy kingdome come and let vs leade a peaceable mutuall and quiet life Graunt that neither zeale anger or other vices with the whiche dissemblinge hatred are nourished raigne in vs but a milde simplicity brotherly loue al kinde of duties contentment and humility suffer vs not to be affected with immoderate sorrowe and heauinesse but let vs feele the pleasantnesse of thy grace and mercie and that in fine all my sinnes may be taken away wee abounding through grace and vertu in good works may be thy kingdome I say our minde our soule with al our strength whiche thou hast powred on vs may obey thy commaundementes and beare thy gouernment and neither folowe themselues the world the fleash nor the Diuell See Lord that this thy kingdome happely begonne in vs may so growe and be increased that wee be not
with such singuler varietie of liuing Creatures Trees plants Fruites and all other thinges then the fabrication of so many pure Celestiall Soules So that who durste be bolde to affirme had not the Prophet manifestly spoken it that the mercies of God doo excell the glorie of his handiwoorkes Holy Scripture somtime termeth the mercie of God greate somtime to great and sometime it amplifieth the force therof by the name of multitude or number The Kingly Prophet Dauid in one selfe place comprehendeth both the greatnesse and multitude of heauenly mercie saying Haue mercie on mee O God after thy great goodnesse accordinge to the multitude of thy mercies doo away mine offences Wheare great iniquity is there needeth muche compassion If thou but weighe howe heynous the offence of Dauid was thou wilt acknowledge the greatnesse of Goddes goodnesse If thou consider how ofte he offended in that sinne thou shalt se the multitude of his mercies That God whiche is our Kinge our Father our Maister our spouse prescribeth no determinate nuÌ„ber of offences but as oft as throughe true repentaunce wee return to him he forgetteth and forgeueth the punishment whâ—ch he threatneth to vs he enterteineth vs emongest his Familie leadeth vs into the chaumber of his loue and receiueth not vs onely but forgetteth our offences He bringeth the lost sheepe vpoÌ„ his shoulders to the staules and biddeth the Congregation of the chosen to his reioysinge He goeth to meete the Prodigal Sonne returning froÌ„ his longe and lothsom iorney and putteth a Robe and a Ringe vpon him and commaundeth the fatteste Caulfe to be killed for him What other thinge doothe this signifie but the immense or as I may say the ouermuch mercie of God It is no meruaile though his mercie excede which loueth vs so exceedingly Paule feareth not to write thus to the Ephesians We are saith he by nature becom the Children of wrath But God which is ritche in mercie for his tender loue wherewith he loued vs when wee were deade to sinne hath raised and reconciled vs againe to Christe S. Iohn in his Gospel more plainely expresseth the maruailous loue of God our Father towardes vs saying So God loued the worlde that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne that who so beleeueth in him shoulde not perishe but haue euerlasting life Wherunto Paule aptly agreeth He that spared not his onely Sonne but gaue him for vs all hath he not geuen vs al thinges togeather with him This so great loue this so great kindnesse doth it not worthily appeare vnmeasurable because wee haue nothinge whiche wee haue not freely receiued of god What so euer wee doo what so euer we possesse it commeth by the mercie of God Yea it is the mercy of god that made the Angelles and created the worlde If he had wroughte it to himselfe his power and policie might haue ben praised but sith to our vse he hath framed al these thinges shall wee not acknowledge his mercy to be maruailous For whome haue the Celestiall Ayres their course to whome lendeth the sunne his beames by day the Moone with the Starres their brightnesse by nighte but for Man For whose vse made he these thinges of nothing For whose sake but for mannes onely doo the hanging Cloudes geue their shade and bedewe the pleasant fieldes Why blowe the windes why flowe the Riuers why spreade the Springes why encrese the Seas but for the vse of manne Who reapeth the commodities of the fertle earth which engendreth so many liuinge thinges suche wealthy store but manne Ther is nothing that God hath not made subiect to man onely he woulde that man should be obedient vnto him Many times our mercifull God sendeth aduersity either to cleare vs of our transgressions or to deterre vs from sinne or to minister occasion of weldooing Thus was Abraham tried so was Iob prooued with many miseries thus is euery one whiche liueth in Iesu Christe tried in this world with sundry afflictions as the Gould with the fire where are those that murmure againste God when either infirmity of health or deathe and losse of wife and children or decay of worldely wealthe happeneth to them nothinge knowinge that these are the manifeste signes of a mercifull god Let vs geue eare to the counsel of Salomon My sonne saith he despise not the woorde of God nor forsake his correction For whome the Lorde loueth he chasteneth and delighteth in him as a Father in his sonne The Apostle Paule hath the like saying to the Hebrewes Whom the Lord loueth he correcteth and rebuketh euery Childe that he receiueth Then by Paules counsell when any storme of aduersity ariseth let vs stand fast in the Truthe knowinge that he offereth him selfe to vs as to his children like a mercifull god If the loue of God lend vs prosperity let vs geue him thankes and be carefull that wee abuse not his bountie It miserie oppresse vs let vs neuerthelesse geue thanks to him and commit our selues to his Iudgemente To obtaine healthe thou geuest thy selfe vp to the Phisicion thou yeeldest thy selfe to the Coarde Sawe and searing of the Chirurgion And to enioy euerlasting health feareste thou to trust thy Creatoure thy Maister thy Father and onely Sauiour Thou darest not say to the phisition thus and thus cure mee And wilt thou prescribe to God the meanes of thy sauinge health Let euery one of vs descend into the deapthâ— of his conscience let vs consider how oft and how greeuously we haue offended God how his benefites are defiled with our iniquities and so wee shall see how much wee are indetted to his infinite mercy which hathe borne with our frailty so gently which by so many meanes calleth vs to repentaunce whiche so wâ—â—lingly pardoneth the penitente and conuert Truly he is greatly to be lamented which refuseth the fountain of euerlasting life and neuer by repentance returneth whence he departed The Prodigall childe straied farre leaft and forsooke his Fathers house and yet returned Peter was farre gone when he denied his Maister thrise but yet remembringe the woordes whiche Iesus spake to him he recaÌ„ted and wepte bitterly How gently dooth the Lorde in Hieremie vnder the person of the wife which hauing forsaken her Husbande gaue her selfe to euery man call his people to repentance Return my children be conuerted saith he because I am your husbande But oh wretched is the man that stoppeth his eares at this voyce of the Lordes To daie saith the Psalme if you heare my voyce hardeÌ„ not your hartes This is our daie as longe as wee liue in which the Lorde ceaseth not to call vpon vs to repentaunce offering vs prepared pardon God him selfe in Ezechiell dooth not onely promise remission to him that forsaketh his euill but voweth obliuion of all his former offences For after he had reckened all the erroures which man fell into he added If the wicked man will be soary for his sinnes keep my commaundements and doo the thing that is right he shall liue and not die