thee debter and guiltie in my roome It is I that trespassed and thou makest satisfaction It is I that committed rapine and thou makest restitution It is I that sinned and thou vndergoest the passion O Iesu most benigne I acknowledge the bowels of thy mercie and the fierie heat of loue Thou seemest to loue me more than thy selfe seeing thou deliverest vp thy selfe for mee O most innocent Iesu what hast thou to doe with the sentence of death O thou most beautifull amongst the sonnes of meÌ„ what hast thou to doe with spittings vpon thee O thou most righteous what hast thou to doe with whips and bonds These thinges belong not vnto thee They are all due vnto mee But thou of thine vnspeakable loue didst descend into the prison of this world and take vpon thee the shape of a servant and most willinglie vndergoe the punishment that was due vnto mee I was for my sinnes to bee adjudged to the lake that burneth with everlasting fire But thou by the fire of loue beeing burnt vpon the altar of the crosse doest free mee from it I was to bee cast away for my sinnes from the face of my heavenlie Father And thou for my sake complainest that thou art forsaken of thy heavenly Father I was to bee tormented of the devil his angels for ever and thou of thine infinite loue dost deliver thy selfe vnto the ministers of Satan to be afflicted and crucified for me As many Instruments as I see of thy passion so manie tokens doe I see of thy loue towards mee For my sinnes are those bonds those whips and those thorns which afflicted thee al which of thine vnspeakable loue thou enduredst for mee Thy loue was not yet satisfied with taking my flesh vpon thee but thou wouldest make it as yet more manifest by that most bitter passion of thy soule and bodie Who am I most mightie Lord that for mee disobedient servant thou thy selfe wouldst become a servant so manie yeares Who am I most beautifull Brydegroome that for mee the most filthie vassall of sinne and whore of the devill thou hast not refused to die Who am I most bountifull Creatour that for mee most vile creature thou hast not beene afrayde of the passion of the crosse I am to thee most loving Brydegroome the true spouse of blood for whom thou doest poure foorth such plentie of blood I am to thee most beautifull Lillie a thorne indeede that is full of prickles It is I that layde vpon thee a heavie and sharpe burthen with the weyght whereof thou wast so squeezed that drops of blood did distill aboundantlie from thy sacred bodie To thee Lord Iesu my alone redeemer and Mediator for this thine vnspeakable loue will I sing prayses for ever AMEN PRAYER VI. Hee rendereth thankes for our calling by the word VNto thee O Lord my God is most due all praise honour and thanksgiving for that thou wouldest by the preaching of thy word make manifest vnto vs that thy Fatherlie will and determinate counsell concerning our salvation By nature 〈◊〉 are darknesse wee sit in darknesse and in the region of the shadow of death But thou by the most cleare light of the Gospell doest dispell this darknesse In thy light doe we see light that is in the light of thy word wee see true light that lighteneth everie one that commeth into this world What vse were there of a treasure that is hid and a light that is put vnder a bushell I doe therefore declare with thankfulnesse that great benefite in that thou hast by the word of thy Gospell revealed vnto vs that treasure of benefits in thy Sonne How beautifull are the feete of those that bring good tydings and tell of salvation This peace of conscience and salvation of the soule by the preaching of the Gospell thou doest yet declare vnto vs and call vs vnto the kingdome of thy Sonne I was led into the by-paths of errours as it were a weake and miserable sheepe But thou hast called mee into the way again by the preaching of thy word I was condemned and vtterlie lost But thou in the word of thy Gospell doest offer vnto mee the benefits of Christ and in the benefits of Christ thy grace and in thy grace remission of sinnes and in remission of sinnes righteousnesse and in righteousnesse salvation and life everlasting Who can sufficientlie in words expresse those bowels of thy mercie yea who can in mynde conceaue the greatnesse and the riches of thy goodnesse The mysterie of our salvation kept secret from eternitie by the manifestation of thy Gospel thou doest lay open vnto vs. The counsels which thou hadst concerning our peace before the foundations of the world were layde thou doest reveale vnto vs by the preaching of thy word which is a lanthorne vnto our feete whiles wee goe through this darksome valley into light everlasting What had it profited vs to haue beene borne vnlesse by Christ thou hadst delivered vs when wee were captivated through sinne What had it profited vs to haue beene redeemed vnlesse thou hadst by thy word declared vnto vs the great benefit of our redemption Thou doest spread foorththy hands vnto vs all the day Thou knockest at the gaâ—â— of our heart everie day callest vs all vnto thee by thy word O Lord most benigne how manie thousand thousands of men doe liue in the blindnesse of Gentilisme and in errours and haue not seene that light of thy heavenlie word which thy bountie hath granted vs of all men most vnthankfull Alace how often through our contempt and vnthankfulnesse doe wee deserue that thou shouldest take from vs the candlesticke of thy word But thou of thy long patience doest make as if thou sawest not our sinnes of thy vnspeakable mercie doest yet continue vnto vs that most holie pledge and most precious treasure of thy word For which thy great benefite wee render vnto thee eternall thankes and wee humblie beseech thee to continue it still vnto vs. Amen PRAYER VII Hee rendereth thankes vnto God for the expectation of our conversion I Render vnto thee most mercifull Father immortall thankes for that thou wouldest with so great patience and long-suffering expect my conversion and hast brought mee out of the path of sinne vnto the fellowship of thy kingdome How great is thy long-suffering that thou hast not cast mee away from thy face and thrust mee downe into everlasting torments whereas I haue deserved it a thousand times How manie thousands hath death prevented before they could attaine vnto true repentance How manie sinners hath the devill made obstinate that they might not obtaine forgivenesse of their sinnes There was no distinction in nature betweene mee and them onelie thy goodnesse and long-suffering My offence was no lesse than theirs but thy grace did abound Thy mercie stroue with my miserie I went on in my sinne and thou didst goe on in thy mercie I differred my
GERARDS PRAYERS OR A DAYLIE PRACTICE OF PIETIE Divided into foure parts 1 Of Confession of Sinnes 2 Of Thanksgiving for benefits 3 Of Petitions for our selues 4 Of Supplicatiōs for our neighbours Written originally in the Latine Tongue by Iohn Gerard Doctor in Divinitie and Superintendent of Heldeburg Translated and revised By Ralph Winterton Fellow of Kinges Colledge in Cambridge Wherevnto is added a Morning and Euening Prayer for a Familie Printed in ABERDENE by Edward Raban 1638. To the Reader DIstressed soule if thou conceav'st what 't is To mount vnto the tower of endles blisse Embrace this Work It reacheth to the Skie And higher if beyond it ought doeth lie Mans dull capacitie weake humane sense Wide worlds expansion starres circumference Can not it comprehend Prayer passeth even To GODS Pavilion to th' imperiall Heaven That is the Golden Chayne fixt to Gods eare Knocke Hee 'll open Call He will heare This surelie this is blessed lakobs Ladder On which our soules climbe by CHRIST to CHRIST'S FATHER Fayth is Prayers chiefe Attendant CHRIST the Way GOD'S Sprite both moues and help vs 〈◊〉 to pray True loue admittance gayn◠humble confession Both helps Devotion and procures Remission THE FIRST PART Of Confession of Sinnes THE ARGUMENT The Meditation of our Sinnes comprehendeth in it these two heads Of originall and actuall sinnes Actuall sinnes are committed in thought word and deed By the committing of evill and by the omitting of good Agaynst GOD our neyghbour and our selues The offences of our youth are manie and our daylie infirmities many We are often tempted of the flesh and we do often yeeld vnto it Wee partake many tymes in other mens sinnes and in many things wee are defectiue our selues Wee are convicted of our sinnes by all the creatures and wee behold the sexeritie of GODS anger agaynst our sinnes in the Passion and Death of CHRIST PRAYER I. Hee weygheth and considereth the grievousnesse of originall sinne HOlie GOD and just Iudge I know that I was conceaved and borne in sinne I know that I was formed of vncleane seede in the wombe of my mother That poyson of sinne hath so corrupted and putrified my whole nature that no facultie of my soule is free from the contagion thereof That holie pledge of the divyne image which was committed vnto mee in our first father is perished in mee There is no power at all in mee to begin to come vnto the saving knowledge of thee the feare of thee confidence in thee and loue of thee There remaineth no sufficiencie in mee to performe obedience vnto thy cōmandements My will is averse from thy law And the law of sinne in my members beeing repugnant to the law of my mynde maketh my whole nature become corrupt and perverse I wretched and miserable man doe feele the power of sinne cleaving fast to my members I doe feele the yoke of wicked concupiscence grievouslie pressing me For although I am regenerate and renewed by the spirit of grace in the laver of baptisme yet am I not as yet whollie free from the yoke and captivitie of sinne For that roote of bitternesse which lyeth hidden in mee doeth alwayes desire to put forth new branches The law of sinne reygning in my flesh doeth striue to captivate mee I am full of doubts distrust and desire of myne owne honour Out of my heart proceede wicked cogitations Filthie thoughts defile mee throughout in thy sight Out of that poysoned fountaine flow foorth rivers of poyson Enter not therefore into judgement with thy servant O LORD but bee propitiou◠vnto mee according to thy great mercie The deepe of my miserie calleth vpon the deepe of thy mercie For this vncleannesse and filthinesse of my polluted nature I offer vnto thee the most sacred conceptiō of thy Sonne For mee hee was borne For mee therefore hee was conceaved For me he was made sanctificatiō righteousnes For me therefore he is become purification and cleannes Throgh him for him thy Sonne haue mercie on mee O thou most highest and set not in the light of thy countenance that hidden corruption that cleaveth to my nature but looke vpon thy beloved Sonne my Mediatour and let his most holie and immaculate conception succour my miserie Amen PRAYER II. Hee recalleth to our memorie the sinnes of our youth HOlie GOD and just Iudge Remember not the offences of my sinnes that are past How manie venemous fruits hath the vicious roote of concupiscence that is inherent in mee brought foorth In my chyldhood what an innumerable brood of actuall transgressions hath the evill of originall sinne hatched The verie thoughts of my heart are wicked and perverse even from my chyldhood yea even from my tender infancie For when I was an infant but of one day I was in no wayes innocent before thee As manie as the dayes of my lyfe are so manie offences doe burden me yea manie more by farre in number seeing that the just man falleth seaven tymes in one day But if the just fall seaven tymes in one day then I wretched and vnjust man without doubt haue fallen seaventie tymes seaven tymes As my lyfe hath increased so hath the web of my sins increased as much as hath beene added to my lyfe by thy bountie so much hath beene added to the course of my sinnes by the wickednesse of my corrupt nature I examine my lyfe that is past and what else doe I beholde but a filthie stinking cloake of sinne I attend vnto the light of thy precepts and what doe I finde in the course of my yeares that are past but darknesse and blindnesse The tender flower of my youth ought to haue beene crowned with vertues and offred to thee for a sweet savour The best part of my age past did owe it selfe vnto thee the best Creatour of nature But the dirtie filth of my sinnes hath most foullie polluted the flower of my age and the stinking mud of my offences hath in a wōderfull miserable māner defiled me The first age of man is amongst all the rest the fittest for the service of GOD But I haue spent a good part thereof in the service of the devill The memorie of many sinnes which the vnbridled loosenesse of my youth hath committed is set in my sight and yet there are manie more which I cannot call to memorie Who knoweth how oft hee offendeth cleanse thy servant from secret faults For these offences of my youth I offer vnto thee holie Father the most holie obedience and perfect innocencie of thy Sonne who was obedient to thee vnto death even the death of the crosse When hee was but a chylde of twelue yeares olde hee performed holie obedience vnto thee and began to execute thy will with great alacritie This obedience I offer vnto thee just Iudge for a pryce and satisfaction for the manifolde disobedience of my youth Amen PRAYER III. Hee reckeneth vp our
rashlie vpon my neighbour Thy holie will requireth that my spirit minde soule be free from coÌ„cupiscence But how often doth my flesh solicite mee to sinne and contaminateth my spirit with wicked concupiscences As a fountayne doeth abound with continuall bubbling of water So doeth my heart alwayes swell with evill concupiscence For these and all other my sinnes and defects I offer vnto thee most holie Father the most perfect obedience of thy Sonne who loved all men with perfect loue and in whose mouth was found no guyle in whose words and deeds no aberrations no corruption in nature To this propitiation I flee with true fayth and by fayth I sucke out of his wounds as much as is sufficient to justifie mee and saue mee Haue mercie on mee my GOD and my Father Amen PRAYER VI. Hee showeth that wee often partake in other mens sinnes HOlie God and just Iudge Thou hast committed vnto mee not only the care of mine own soule but also the care of my neighbours But how often doeth my neyghbour through my negligence suffer great losse of godlinesse How often doe I neglect freelie and boldlie to chyde him when hee sinneth How often doe I being hindred eyther by favour or feare reproue him for his sinnes more slightlie than I ought In pouring out prayers for his salvation I am too remisse in reprehending his sinnes I am too-too timerous in furthering his salvation I am too sloathfull insomuch that thou mayest justly require at my hands the blood of my neyghbour that perisheth If there were in mee a perfect and sincere loue of my neyghbour surelie from thence would proceed freedome in reproving of sinne If the fire of sincere charitie did burne in my heart surelie it would breake foorth more clearlie into the spirituall incense of prayers to be made for the salvation of my neyghbours For a man to pray for himselfe it is a duetie of necessitie But to pray for the salvation of his neyghbour it is a deede of charitie As often therefore as I neglect to pray for the salvation of my neyghbour so often I condemne my selfe for the breach of the commandement of the loue of my neighbour My neighbour dieth the death of the bodie and sorrow filleth all with lamentation and mourning when as yet the death of the bodie bringeth no hurt to a godlie man but rather giveth him a passage into a celestiall countrey My neighbour dieth the death of the soule and behold I am nothing troubled at it I see him die and grieue not at all when as yet sinne is the true death of the soule and bringeth with it the losse of the inestimable grace of God eternall lyfe My neighbour delinquisheth against the king who can onlie kill the bodie and beholde I seeke by all meanes his reconciliation but hoe sinneth against the King of all kings that can cast both bodie and soule into hell-fire and yet I beholde it in securitie and consider not that this offence is an infinite evill My neighbour stumbleth at a stone and I runne presentlie to saue him from a fall or otherwise to raise him vp if hee bee fallen Hee stumbleth at the corner stone of our salvation and beholde I securelie passe by it and labour not with care and diligence to lift him vp againe Mine owne sinnes are grievous anough And yet I haue not beene afrayde to participate in other mens sinnes Bee propitious O God vnto me great sinner and overburdened To thy mercie I flee in Christ and through Christ promised vnto mee I come vnto this lyfe beeing dead in sinne I come vnto this Way having gone astray in the path of sinne I come vnto this Salvation being by reason of my sinne guiltie of damnation Quicken mee guide mee and saue mee thou which art my Life my Way and my Salvation for ever and ever Amen PRAYER VII Hee showeth that wee are manie wayes convinced of sinne HOlie God and just Iudge If I looke vp to heaven I thinke with my selfe that I haue manie wayes offended thee my GOD and Father I haue sinned against heaven and before thee I am not worthie to bee called thy sonne If I looke down vpon the earth I thinke with my selfe how I haue abused thy creatures by my sinnes I haue infinitelie abused not onlie the darknesse of the night but also the light of the day to worke workes of darknesse If I looke vpon the examples of sinners vpon whom thou in thy just judgement hast inflicted punishment I finde that the weyght of my sinnes will counterpoise theirs If I looke vpon the examples of the Sayncts I finde that I come farre short of them in my holie service of thee If I thinke vpon the Angell my keeper I finde that often I put him to flight by my sinnes If I thinke of the devills I finde that I haue often given place to their suggestions If I weygh with my selfe the rigour of thy lawe I finde that my lyfe is manie wayes irregular If I looke vpon my selfe I finde that the verie cogitatioÌ„s of my heart doe accuse mee before thy judgement If I thinke vpon the houre of death to come I finde that it is the just reward of my sinnes and vnlesse thou of thy meere mercie for Christ his sake shalt receaue mee the gate and entrance into everlasting death If I thinke vpon the judgement to come I finde my deserts such that thou mayest justlie call mee to the most exact account and punish my sinnes according to the strict severitie of thy law If I thinke vpon hell I finde that I haue deserved by my sinnes the most just punishment there If I thinke vpon eternall lyfe I finde that I haue by my sinnes justlie fallen away from all hope of attaynment All thinges therefore convince mee of my sinnes Onlie thou thou O my God bee not thou extreame against mee To Christ thy beloved Sonne my onlie mediatour I betake my selfe By him I most firmlie belieue I shall obtayne thy grace remission of my sinnes Thy creatures accuse me the booke of my conscience accuseth mee both the tables of thy divyne law accuse me Satan accuseth mee day and night But take thou vpon thee my patronage O sweet Iesus To thee the poore man is left bereft of all solace of the creatures All my refuge is placed in thy satisfaction for my sinnes and in thy inteâ—cession at the right hand of the Father for mee My soule take thou the wings of the morning and lyke a doue hide thy selfe in the clests of the rocke that is in the wounds of Christ thy Saviour Hyde thy selfe in this rocke till the anger of the LORD bee passed by and thou shalt finde rest and thou shalt finde protection and thou shalt finde deliverance therein AMEN PRAYER VIII Hee by the effects of contrition argueth vs to bee convicted of the haynousnesse of sinne HOlie God and just Iudge My heart is
doe yet all serue him To thee bee praise and honour for ever who art the Creatour and Conserver of all thinges Without thee the true sunne I should vanish away as doeth the shadow Without thee the true life I should presentlie depart out of this lyfe Without thee the true beeing I should suddenlie fall to nothing To thee onlie is due that I liue moue and haue my beeing Therefore to thee alone will I liue and adhere for ever Amen PRAYER III. Hee rendereth thankes for our redemption wrought by Christ. I Owe vnto thee O eternall and Almightie GOD most heartie thankes for that thou hast created mee when I was nothing But much more for that thou hast redeemed mee when I was lost and condemned I did hang in the jawes of hell And thou didst plucke mee out by the blood of thy Sonne I was the slaue of Satan but thy grace hath delivered mee out of the power of the devill and translated mee into the kingdome of Christ I owe my selfe whollie vnto thee because thou createdst mee whollie My tongue ought alwayes to prayse thee because thou gavest it vnto mee My mouth ought alwayes to set foorth thy prayse because the aire and breath which it draweth is thyne My heart ought alwayes to cleaue vnto thee with perpetuall loue because thou didst forme it All my members ought to bee readie for thy service because thou didst wonderfully frame them how many and how great soever they be But if I owe my selfe whollie vnto thee because thou createdst mee What shal I repay vnto thee for redeeming mee out of slaverie and captivitie The lost sheepe thou hast delivered out of the clawes of the infernall wolfe The fugitiue slaue thou hast pluckt out of the prison of the devil The lost grâ—at thou hast sought out with great carefulnesse In Adam I fell and thou hast erected mee In Adam I was captivated in the bonds of sinne but thou hast set mee at libertie In Adam I was lost and againe thou hast saved mee What am I worme that thou shouldest be so solicitous for redeeming mee What am I worme that thou shouldest bee so prodigallie bountifull for saving mee If thou hadst altogether cast off our first parents after their fall and hadst throwne them with all their posteritie out from the presence of thy glorie into the lowest pit of hell there is none of vs could justlie complaine of anie wrong done vnto him For they had receaved and wee had receaved for our deedes a just reward What else could wee haue desired or expected from thee who createdst vs after thine owne image furnishedst vs with power and sufficiencie to haue kept our innocencie But in this thou didst manifest thy incomprehensible and vnspeakeable loue towards vs in that thou didst promise vnto our first parents after their fall thy Sonne for their Redeemer and in the fulnesse of tyme didst sende him vnto vs to call vs from death to lyfe from sinne to righteousnesse and from the infernall pit vnto celestiall glorie O thou lover of man whose delight is with the sonnes of men who can worthilie set foorth the prayse of thy loue to man Yea who can in mynde conceaue the worthinesse thereof These are the incomprehensible riches of thy goodnesse This is the infinite treasure of thy gifts which the slendernesse of our capacitie and vnderstanding cannot conceaue Was a servant so deare vnto thee that thy Sonne must bee delivered to death for his redemption Was an enemie so much to bee beloved that thou shouldest appoynt thy most beloved Sonne to be his redeemer My soule is astonisht with the verie consideration of this thy goodnesse and doth whollie turne and dissolue it selfe into the loue of thee AMEN PRAYER IV. Hee rendereth thankes for the incâ—rnâ—tion of the Sonne I Render thanks vnto thee Iesâ— Christ thou alone Mediatour and Redeemer of mankinde for that thou hast in the fulnesse of tyme personallie vnited vnto thee the true humane nature and hast vouchsafed to bee borne of a Virgin How great is thy loue to man in that thou dâ—â—â—â— not assume the nature of Angels but the seedâ— of Abraham How great is the misterie of godlinesse that thou beeing verie GOD wouldest bee made manifest in the flesh How great is the inclination of thy pitie that descending from heaveâ— for my sake thou hast endured to bee borne of a Virgin For mee most vile creature Creator Almightie thou art become man For mee most abject servant most glorious Lord thou hast put on the shape of a servant that by taking flesh vpon thee thou mightest set my flesh at libertie To mee thou art borne Whatsoever celestiall good therefore thou bringest with thee in thy Nativitie shall bee mine To meâ— thou art given And therefore all thinges with thee My nature in thee is more glorified than it was in Adam dishonoured For thou doest assume it into the Vnitie of thy Person whereas it was weakened with accidentall corruption onelie by Satan Thou art flesh of my flesh and bâ—â—â— of my bone Thou art my brother And what canst thou denye vnto mee seeing thou art most nearlie joyned vnto mee in the same flesh affection of brotherlie loue Thou art the brydegroome who according to the good pleasure of thy heavenlie Father hast coupled vnto thee by a personall league the humane nature as a spouse To the joy of those nâ—â—tials I doe proclaime thankfullie acknowledge that I my selfe am invited I wonder now no more that the heaven the earth the sea and all thinges that are in them were made for man by God seeing that God himselfe would for man become man Thou canst not vtterlie divorce mee and cast mee away from thee seeing that thou canst not deny that thou art a man and therefore my brother Thou canst not altogether forget mee because thou hast graveâ— mee in thyâ—e â—wâ— hands For the verie communion of the flesh doeth daylie and continuallie put thee in mynde of mee Thou canst not altogether forsake mee seeing that it hath pleased thee to conâ—oyne vnto thee tire humane nature in a most neare bond of personall vnion Although therefore my sinnes doe hinder mee yet the communion of nature doeth not repell mee I will adhere whollie vnto thee because thou hast whollie assumed mee whollie Amen PRAYER V. Hee rendereth thankes for Christs passion HOw great thankes doe I owe vnto thee O most holie Iesu for that thou hast taken vpon thee the punishment of my sinnes and hast endured hunger thirst cold wearinesse reproaches persecutioÌ„s sorrowes povertie bonds whips pricking of thorns yea and that most bitter death of the crosse for mee sinner How great is the flame of thy loue which forced thee of thyne owne accord to throwe thy selfe into that sea of passions and that for mee most vile and vnthankfull servant Thy innocencie and righteousnesse made thee free from all sufferings But thy infinite and vnspeakable loue made
I am receaved into the heavenlie familie being made the sonne of my heavenlie Father the brother of Christ and the temple of the holie Ghost This is an holie and heavenlie laver In it therefore I am washed and purged from all my vncleannesse It is the laver of regeneration renovation By it therefore I am regenerated and renewed by the grace of the holie Ghost Whatsoever Christ my Saviour merited by his most holie obedience and by the effusion of his most precious blood of all that hee hath left the saving fount of baptisme as a pledge Therefore the conferring of baptisme is the besprinkling of the blood of Christ. That precious blood of Christ doeth make mee cleane from all my sinnes and maketh mee whiter than snow in the sight of God O eternall God thou hast made an eternall covenant with mee in baptisme vnto which I haue alwayes recourse by true and serious repentance Thou hast betroathed mee vnto thee for ever in judgement and righteousnesse in grace and mercie Thou hast given mee an earnest and pledge of thy Spirit in baptisme Therefore thou wilt not cast mee away from thy face but beeing mindfull of thy promise thou wilt leade mee into the joyes of the celestiall marriage As at the baptisme of Christ my Mediatour and head the heavens were opened So by the communion of the same baptisme thou hast opened vnto mee the gate of paradise As at the baptisme of Christ the holie Ghost descended vpon him and a voyce from heaven did testifie that hee was the beloved Sonne of GOD So by the same communion of the same baptisme I am made a partaker of the holie Ghost and adopted to bee a sonne of GOD. For which inestimable benefite I will giue thankes vnto thee my GOD for ever AMEN PRAYER XIII Hee rendereth thankes for the sacrament of the Lords Supper HOw great thanks doe Iowe vnto thee most high God for that in the most sacred mysterie of the supper thou doest feed me with the bodie and blood of thy Sonne What is there in heaven or in earth of more pryce and excellencie than that bodie which is vnited to thy Sonne personallie What more certaine testimonie and pledge of thy grace can there bee than the precious blood of thy Sonne poured out for my sinnes on the altar of the crosse The verie pryce of my redemption thou bestowest vpon mee that I may haue a most certaine testimonie of thy grace towards me As often as I fall through my sinnes from the covenant of baptisme So often by true repentance and the saving vse of this supper I am restored vnto it agayne It is a sacrament of the new Testament and it alwayes enricheth mee with new gifts of the Spirit In this bodie lyfe it selfe dwelleth and therefore it refresheth me quickneth mee vnto everlasting lyfe By the effusion of this blood satisfaction is made for our finnes And therefore by the drinking thereof the remission of my sinnes is confirmed vnto mee Christ sayeth it Trueth it selfe sayeth it Whosoever shall eate my flesh and drinke my blood hath eternall lyfe and I will raise him vp at the last day that is to the lyfe of glorie For this is the bread of lyfe which descended from heaven that whosoever shall eate thereof may not die but haue everlasting lyfe It is the eating by fayth that Christ so commendeth which must needs be added vnto the sacramentall eating that so that which was appoynted to lyfe may bee receaved by vs vn to lyfe I come therefore with true fayth vnto this heavenlie banquet beeing firmlie perswaded that the bodie which I eate was delivered vnto death for mee and the blood which I drinke was poured foorth for my sinnes I cannot in anie wise doubt of the remissioÌ„ of my sinnes when as it is confirmed by the participation of the pryce which was offered for my sinnes I cannot in anie wise doubt of Christ his dwelling in mee when hee sealeth vnto mee the same by the communion of his bodie and blood I cannot in anie wise doubt of the assistance of the holie Spirit when my Infirmitie is strengthened with such safegard I am not afrayde of Satans assaults when as this Angelicall foode doeth make mee strong to fight I am not afrayde of the allurements of the flesh when as this quickning and spirituall foode doeth corroborate mee by the vertue of the Spirit These taken and drunke doe make Christ to dwell in mee and mee in Christ. The good sheepherd will not suffer the sheepe that is fed with his owne bodie and blood to bee devoured by the infernall wolfe Neyther will the power of the Spirit suffer mee to bee overcome by the weaknesse of the flesh To thee O Saviour most benigne bee prayse honour and thanksgiving for ever and ever Amen PRAYER XIV Hee râ—â—ndâ—reth thankes to God for preserving vs from sundrie evills TO thee O eternall and mercifull GOD I render eternall thankes for that thou hast hitherto preserved mee from infinite evills and dangers and hast kept me safe by the guard of thy holie Angells Thy privatiue blessings by which thou doest keepe mee from evill are more in number than thy positiue by which thou doest conferre good vpon mee As manie evills of soule and bodie as I see in others so manie tokens doe I see of thy mercie towards mee For my deliverance from those evills is to be attributed as due onlie to thy goodnesse How great is the power of the devil How great is his subtiltie As often therefore as that malignant and most subtile spirit and our most potent adversarie doeth labour to doe vs anie mischiefe so often by the buckler of thy benignitie and by the guard of the holie Angells being protected I haue beene able to escape his nets But who can reckon vp the treacherous assaults and invasions of the devill Who can therefore reckon vp the riches of thy bountie When redst that I may bee able to endure and overcome all the violent invasions of the infernall powers Let my last word in this lyfe be the same with which thou didst consummate all vpon the crosse and receaue my soule which thou hast redeemed with so deare a pryce when I shall commend it into thy hands Let a blessed resurrection follow a blessed death In that great day of thy severe judgement delyver mee from that cruell sentence thou which in my lyfe didst with thy readie helpe protect mee Let my sinnes bee covered with the shadow of thy grace and overwhelmed in the bottome of the sea Let my soule bee bound vp in the bundle of the living that with all the elect I may come into the fellowship of everlasting joye Amen THE FOURTH PART Of Supplications for others THE ARGUMENT The meditation of our neyghbours wants and indigencies concerneth the common good welfare of the Church common-wealth and maketh vs looke vpon others miseries as our owne This is
nature Receaue them into the everlasting tabernacles of the citie which is aboue whoÌ„ thou hast vsed as thy instruments to conferre vpon mee so manie and so liberall benefits My heart propoundeth vnto thee the infallible promise of thy word that thou wilt of thy meere free grace recompence even a cup of colde water How much more then wilt thou bee liberall and bountifull to those that with full hand bestow benefits of all kyndes vpon those that want Let not thy graces cease to runne downe vpon them that poure foorth so plentifullie vpon others Let the fountayne of thy goodnesse alwayes spring vnto them from whom such plentifull rivers of liberalitie doe flow Grant I beseech thee most mercifull GOD that they which â—ow temporall thinges so liberallie may reape with much increase things spirituall Fill their soules with joy that feede the bodies of the poore with meat Let not the fruit of their bountie perish though they show it by bestowing of the goods that perish Giue vnto them that giue vnto others thou that art the giver of everie good gift blessed for ever Amen PRAYER VI. He prayeth for enemies and persecutors LORD Iesu Christ the onelie begoten Sonne of GOD that hast prescribed vs in thy word this rule of charitie Loue your enemies blesse them that curse you doe good to them that hate you pray for them that despitefullie vse you and persecute you I beseech thee who art most gracious and most readie to forgiue to forgiue myne enemies and the persecutours of the Church Giue vnto mee the grace of thy holie Spirit that I may not onelie forgiue myne enemies from myne heart but also pray for their health and salvation even from my soule Whet not against them the sword of severe revenge but anoynt their heads with the oyle of thy mercie and compassion Extinguish the sparks of hatred and anger that are in their hearts that they breake not foorth into the infernall flames of hell Let them know and acknowledge that Our lyfe is but a vapour and a smoake that soone vanisheth away that our bodie is but ashes dust that flyeth away that they beare not immortall anger in their mortall bodies nor entertayne into this brittle tabernacle of clay their soules enemie Let them know lykewyse that inveterate hatred is their greatest enemie because it killeth the soule and excludeth them from the participation of heavenlie lyfe Illumiminate their myndes that they beholding the glasse of thy divyne mercie may see the deformitie of anger and hatred Governe their wills that beeing moved by the example of thy divyne forgiuenesse they may leaue off and cease to bee angrie and to doe harme Grant vnto mee mercifull GOD that as much as in mee lyeth I may haue peace with all men and turne the hearts of myne enemies to brotherlie reconcilement Let vs walke with vnanimitie and concord in the way of this lyfe seeing that wee hope all for a place in our celestiall countrey Let vs not disagree vpon earth seeing that wee all desire to liue together heereafter in heaven Wee call vpon thee our Lord and our God which art in heaven And it is not meet for the servants of the same Lord to fall out one with another Wee are one mysticall bodie vnder Christ our head And it is base and shamefull for the members of the same bodie to fight one with another They which haue one fayth and one baptisme ought to haue one spirit and one mynde Neyther doe I pray alone for my private enemies but also for the publike enemies and persecutoures of the Church O thou which art trueth it selfe bring them into the way of trueth O thou which art power it selfe bring to nought their bloodie endeavours and attempts Let the brightnesse of thy heavenlie trueth open their blinde eyes that the raging madnesse and desire to persecute which they haue in their myndes may heereafter cease Let them know O LORD and acknowledge that it is not onelie a vaine thing but also verie dangerous to kicke against the prickes Why doe they imitate the furie of wolues when as they know that the blâ—â—â— of Christ the immaculate Lambeâ—â— as poured out for vs Why doe they thirst to shed that innocent blood for which they know that the blood of the verie Sonne of GOD was poured foorth vpon the altar of the crosse Convert them O LORD that they may bee converted vnto thee from their heart and so obtayne the fruit of their conversion in this life and in that which is to come Amen PRAYER VII Hee supplieateth for those that are afflicted and in miserie ALmightie eternall and mercifull GOD which art the Saviour of all men especiallie of the â—â—ythfull and by the Apostle hast commanded vs to make prayers for all men I intreate thee for all those that are afflicted and in miserie that thou wouldest support them by the consolatioÌ„ of thy grace and succour them by the ayde of thy power Indue with power and strength froâ— aboue those that labour and sweâ—â— in the most grievous agonie of Satans tentations Make them partakers of thy victorie O Christ thou which didst most powerfullie overcome Satan Let the cooler of thy heavenlie comfort raise vp those whose bones are become dry with the fire of griefe and sorrow Beare vp all those that are readie to fall and raise vp those that are alreadie fallen Bee mercifull vnto those that are sicke and diseased and grant that the disease of the bodie may bee vnto them the medicine of the soule and the adversities of the flesh the remedies of the spirit Let them know that diseases are the handmaydes of sinne and the forerunners of death Giue vnto them the strength of fayth and patience O thou which art the most true Physician both of soule and bodie Restore them againe vnto their former health if it bee for the everlasting salvation of their soules Protect all those that are great with childe and those that bee in labour Thou art he that doest deliver children out of the straytes of their mothers wombe doest propagate mankinde by thy blessing be present with those that bee in labour O thou lover and giver of lyfe that they be not oppressed with an immoderate weyght of sorrows Nowrish those that are orphanes and destitute of all helpe and succour Defende the widows that are subject to the reproaches of all men thou which hast called thy selfe the Father of the fatherlesse and the Iudge and defender of the widows Let the teares of the widows which flow downe from their cheekes breake through the clowds and rest not vntill they come before thy throne Heare those that bee in danger by sea which cry to thee and sende vp their sighes vnto thee seeing before their eyes their neighbours suffer shipwracke Restore libertie vnto those that are captiue that with a thankfull heart they may sing of thy bountie Confirme those that suffer persecution