sufficiently preach forth the infinite power of thy hand which had created him such a one I wil not neither can I ascend higher then thy word teacheth me to enquire wherefore thou wouldest not so establish the blessed being of this the greatest and chiefest of thy visible workes that he might not fall I haue matter enough to occupy the strength of my soule to meditate vpon to haue in detestation yea euen before thy Maiestie to accuse the pride of our nature which thought not it selfe in honor sufficient vnlesse it were equall with thy deitie freeing it selfe from all feare and obedience vnto thee and by that rash ingratitude cast himselfe headlong from innocency into sinne from life into temporall and eternall death To thee O Lord belongeth righteousnesse and to man confusion shame and thou after thy good pleasure shewest mercy to whom thou wilt shew mercy The vaine Philosophie and foolish curiositie which is not content with the simplicitie of Christian faith retained within the limits of thy sacred Oracles shal make much enquiry about this fall of Adam to the end if she could to penetrate into thy secret counsaile about the creation and end of thy workes yea euen in that which toucheth the election and reprobation of mankind shee dareth in this bottomlesse pit to dicourse of thy infinite iustice the argument of thy incomprehensible glory measuring both the one and the other with her terrestiall conceits for to declare in her imaginations thy grace to the elect and thy iudgement against the reprobate daring to pleade their cause as also she will resolue of their estate after this life and of the qualitie of their punishments But thy children O heauenly Father instructed by thy doctrine through the light of thy spirit will in their hearts humblie reuerence thy decrees which are alwayes iust euen in the first condemnation of al mankinde and will be content to magnifie thy goodnesse for the grace that it hath pleased thee to bestow vpon them in Iesus Christ adopting them by him of thy free mercy into thy family For they haue learned in thy schoole that the inaccessible brightnesse of thy iudgements dazleth the best sighted mindes and spirits yea wasteth and consumeth them when they presume to approach to enquire the secret causes This doe I know neither will I know any more that all things doe worke for the best in thy elect because that hauing known them before all ages thou hast also predestinated them to be made conformable to the image of thy Son called and iustified them to be glorified The vessels of wrath prepared to perdition do feele none of these free mercies and celestiall riches whereof it comes that when they thinke vpon death they see nothing but feareful horrible damnable all intollerable paine without diminution or end an infernall diuelish and endlesse torment a gnashing of teeth with blasphemy and dispaire a perpetuall disquiet both in body and soule an eternity to their woe and damnation and which is worse a most merciful God whom they shall know to be in heauen and yet not to bee their God but their aduersary soueraigne Iudge to be as seuere and rigorous to them as he shall be gentle and fauorable to his children This is in summe all that the reprobate may expect or hope for in death This also maketh that when they find they are vtterly destitute of the pledge of their fredome which thy elect O Lord doe carry with them in this sinne of nature namely faith in Christ dead for their sinnes and risen againe for their righteousnesse these miserable men departe this their earthly habitation with great griefe and trembling vsually at the hower of death casting forth many woeful sobbes infallible fore-runners of their misery at hand As in truth they want no more thereof but the proofe that they are going to make of the eternall torments with the diuells in the burning lake of fire and brimstone which is neuer quenched giuen to the soule presently vpon the temporall death and to both body and soule in the day of the resurrection of all flesh I say in the second eternall death a death which continueth without dying and without consuming or destroying that which it makes to languish for euer in a furnace always burning deuouring and consuming amongest which vnspeakeable torments yea such as mans thought is not able to conceiue this paine is not the least to the damned but rather an other cruell death that they neuer haue any motion of the spirit to repent or conuert vnto thee the onely and true God I beseech thee therefore O Lord that as thou hast giuen me grace to belieue that by thy grace I am made a vessell of mercy I may liue in the life of the righteous sanctified by the spirit of Christ to depart happily in him and so to ascend vnto thee into thy new Sion and there to receiue the price of the victorious crown which this great Sauior of the elect hath purchased for the perfection of their glory So be it The one and twentieth Prayer For the Morning O Lord euen in the morning heare my voice Earlie in the morning will I direct my praier vnto thee and will looke vp O Lord I crie vnto thee and earlie shall my praier come before thee Let my helpe and beginning be in the name of god Father Sonne and holi-ghost who hath made heauen and earth Psal 5. 88. O Lord my God eternal and almightie to whom I owe all glory and obedience I doe humbly prostrate my selfe before thy face and lift vp my heart and voice to thee my Father which art in heauen to sanctifie thy name to craue thy mercy and to giue thee thankes for thy benefits I acknowledge of thy prouidence and benignitie that hauing passed this night vnder thy gard and protection I may yet see the light of the day in the workes of thy hands contemplate the greatnesse of thy power and here below enioy those temporall benefites that thou powrest plentifully or largely vppon thy creatures But because of thy vnmeasurable bountie thou makest earthlie things common to all men and that the effects of the Sonne doe stand vs no steede but for the life of the bodie I beeseech thee merciful Father more and more to raise vpon my heart thy eternall light our Lord Iesus Christ and by the vertue of thy spirit so to scatter the darkenesse of my vnderstanding and to breake the hardnesse of my heart that so farre as it may suffize for my saluation I may apprehend the glorie of thy Kingdome and the mysteries of christian faith together with the dutie of my calling that I may constantly walke in the same in a good conscience and as before thee the searcher of our harts with all my thoughtes worshipping and louing thee in spirit and trueth according to thy word louing also in thee my neighboures as my selfe to pleasure them so farre forth as I may by
thee towards this great God who being pittifull doeth see and heare thee in thy sufferings who vnder his hand holdeth both the disease the cure the paine and the rest life and death to make the one as profitable and heathfull vnto thee as the other Then will I say with a contrite heart yet full of confidence I haue sinned against thee O my God I haue grieuously offended thee I deserue to be throughly chastized and the diuells that I doe endure are farre lesse then my offences which onely death and hell are able to counterprise But thy grace and compassion greater then my sinnes are eternall vpon all those whom thou hast washed fructified and iustified in thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ of which number I doe belieue I am and that in him and for his sake thou wilt make me blessed forgiue mee my debts in his name and ease me of my anguish wherein I remaine without strength I beseech thee from the botome of my thoughts in the bitternes of my hart and with the words of Dauid O eternall God heare my prayer petition let nothing hinder my crie for comming vnto thee hide not thy face from me bend downe thine eare vnto me in the day of my trouble make haste and deliuer me in the day that I call vpon thee for my dayes are vanished like smoake and my bones are dried like chaf my heart hath bin smitten and withered like the grasse that I haue forgotten to eate my bread O Lord all my desire is before thee comfort the soule of thy seruant shall any man tell of thy mercies in the sepulchre or thy faithfulnesse in the graue Thus then O mercifull God bearing my self in thy chastisements I will in all patience waite for the seasonable succour of thy hand as being well assured that while it is in comming thou wilt not suffer thy spirit of consolation to forsake mee in the middest of my tribulation that my present heauinesse shall be vnto mee the watch of some ioy at hand and that at all aduentures the last of my sorrowefull dayes shall be the first of my rest in eternall life And therefore I will againe say with the Apostle Behold I am here deale with me at thy pleasure and with thy seruant Iob Albeit God should slay me yet will I trust in him and reprooue my wayes in his presence with Saint Agustine O Lord smite here cutte here burne here so that thou doost pardon mee for euer Amen Our Father which art in heauen c. The seauen and twentieth Prayer At the visitation of the sicke Is there any among you sicke let him call the elders of the Church and let them pray for him and annoint him with oyle in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith shall saue the diseased and the Lord shall raise him vp and if hee haue committed any sinnes they shall bee forgiuen him Iames 5. O LORD our GOD who art all righteousnes goodnesse we knowe that among thy corrections wherewith thou wakenest vs to our duties it pleaseth thee many times to tame our flesh with sundry diseases for thou dost by the pains that we suffer aduertize vs of the cause of our euills which is sinne and of the punishment due to the same namely death whereof the infirmities of the body are the ordinary meanes And also thou doest withall put vs in minde of the great day of thy Iudgement which after death doeth ensue to life euerlasting full of glory and beatitude to the elect and of reproach and torments to the rebrobate But of these things the flesh so long as it feeleth it selfe at ease hath least care to heare Sith therefore it hath pleased thee O iust and mercifull Father with thy rod to visite this poore sicke person here present afflicting him for his offences as himselfe doth with vs confesse we beseech thee that in pardoning him for the loue of thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ thou wilt make this chastizement to profit him to his correction so that he may with quiet obedience beare thy visitation submitting himselfe volunrarie with all his heart to thy holy will who strikest him not as a seuere iudge but as a most merciful Father whereby he may learne to repose his whole trust assurance in thy loue as in him that art the author of his lif canst preserue him whither it be to abide below here in thy church or that thou wilt gather him into thy kingdome of heauen Thus Lord on th' one side awakning in his soule by his sickenes on th' other the feeling of humane miseries make him with the eies of his faith to behold the eternall blessings thou reseruest for him in thy Paradice to liue happy for euer so that he may with patience easly digest the bitternesse of that potion that thou hast powred foorth vnto him bending his principall desire to enioy thy presence in heauen But thou knowest O mercifull Father that the spirit of thy children is willing but their flesh is alwayes frayle and full of great mistrust especially in the bitternesse of afflictions Assist therefore this sicke person with the plentie and strength of the giftes of thy spirite that he may ouercome all the enemies of his peace and be thou his shield against the assaults terrors of death especially if his conscience do trouble and accuse him for his inward and hidden sins which are open in thy sight Then let the holy Ghost the perpetuall comforter of all faithfull soules vouchsafe to represent vnto him for his defence the passion and sacrifice of our Lorde Iesus who hath himselfe borne vpon the crosse al our iniquities that so he might absolue and discharge vs before thy iudicial throne according to the infinite merite of his righteousnesse and open the gate of thy Kingdome to all that shall beleeue and be baptized in his name Thus this poore patient being comforted in feeling through a liuely stedfast faith the fruite and vertue of that earnest penie of saluation that Christ hath left vs in his Church namely remission of sinnes for his sake also that this hope which is neuer confounded doth keepe his spirit quiet that he may call vpon thee O Lord and sanctifie thy name euen to his last gaspe neuer fearing the temptations of Sathan of death or of hel as beeing assured that Christ hath ouercome them ledde them in triumph breaking their bonds so that he may in all Christian confidence cry out with thy Apostle O death where is thy sting O hel where is thy victory In this manner O mercifull God let this sicke person be by our prayers commended vnto thee and vouchsafe if it be thy pleasure to restore him to health with encrease of thy graces that he may yet amongest vs serue to thy glory If not but that thou hast otherwise appointed to bring him into thy rest thy will bee done and accepted both by him and vs in
of the sanctified spirits whereof wee liue and shal liue for euer blessed Besides O heauenly Father it pleaseth thee to giue vs heere belowe in the following of our course a conuenient leisure to meditate vppon the most wonderfull effects of thy spirite in vs the singular woorke of our new birth the progresse of our faith the fruites of our loue the feeling of our peace in the hope of our saluation to come when wee shal by Christ be wholly vnited vnto thee alone I beseech thee therefore my GOD to giue mee grace in these godly and spirituall considerations to acknowlege thy great benignitie in the gift and vse of this humane life and to know how I am to cherish and nourish the same because it is vnto vs as a treasure abounding in al excellencies riches and prerogatiues which it hath pleased thee to impart to our nature the Image of thy glory So that remaining constant in my vocation in the pathes of thy Kingdome and free from the cares of the world and all the vanities therof I may so loue this life that it may bee wholy deare vnto me onely to know worship and serue thee and my neighbours according to the place whereto thou dost call mee and carefully to meditate to the same end how thou doest alwayes minister iustice iudgement and mercy whereby I may learne to liue content in thee onely and of thy goods vsing the same with acknowledgement and alwayes reioycing in well doing alwayes assured that thus fighting a good fight and keeping the faith I shal obtaine the crowne of eternall righteousnesse in the kingdome of glory So be it The eighteenth Prayer Vpon temporall death Our life is but a vapour which appeareth but for a while and then vanisheth away For the reward of sinne is death and the sting thereof is sinne But thanks be to God who hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ. Rom. 6 1. Cor. 15. O eternal god with whom a thousand yeares are as one day one day as a thousand yeres and whose iudgements so diuerse are holy iust and incomprehensible Where is the man so gallant or prowd who thinking vpon the vanitie and shortnesse of his life doeth not easily asswage his pride and presumption euen to the end that hee extend not his temporall cogitations too farre but keepe them bounded within the limits of thy law and referre the euent to the good pleasure of thy will The vertue of our fairest daies is but affliction of minde and miserie of our flesh we fall as by a gushing of waters wee passe away as a dreame or a smoake our eares doe consume like grasse that withereth from night vnto morning and the longest time of our course whereof sleepe nibleth awaie a good part is but threescore and tenne yeares or foure-score for the strongest bodies whilest in euerie moment of life the nearest and sinallest daunger that threatneth vs seemeth to be death which as our shadow followeth vs at the heeles and laugheth at our goodly deuises vntill she hath scattered them in the winde brought vs into ashes But which is worse where is the man so holy and perfect that doth not tremble and quake if there bee represented vnto him O Lord the tribunall seate of thy soueraigne iustice where we all after death must appeare Thy indignation against sinners is manifest and there is none righteous thy vengeance is readie against rebellion whereof wee bee all guiltie which doth also cause that death is vnto vs not only as a temporall ending as concerning the flesh whereat nature is mooued and abashed but also an interior feeling of the curse fallen vppon sinne yea euen an entry into eternall death vnlesse there be for vs with thee our Father Redemption in our Lorde Iesus Christ I beseech thee therfore my God to giue mee grace to knowe how to meditate euerie day of my life vpon this sentence of the holy ghost That it is decreed that al men shal die once and after that shall the iudgement followe to the ende that while I creepe vppe and downe in this earthlie myre I suffer not my selfe to be deceiued with the deceiptfull baites of the pleasures of this worlde neyther with the allurements of the diuell who still seeketh by his suttleties to race out of our hearts the remembrance of death so for to detaine vs in the thoughts of vanitie and to entangle vs in the snares of our Iusts Grant me rather O Lord to knowe the vilenesse and bitternesse of this miserable life to the end that withdrawing my affection from mortall things I may bee able to direct and stay my selfe in things stedfast and eternall And also that therby the remembrance of death may daily be vnto mee as a trumpet to waken and call mee to the pursuite of my life in the path of thy truth to kindle in mee a holie desire soone to departe out of the world wherin the longer a man soiournes the more is hee loaden with infernall Marchandize which is the filthines of sinne and the more he cutteth him selfe off from that portion of soueraign felicitie which is in the life to come Truely he that hath most yeares hath most iniquitie and hee that croucheth most in the mire of the world rotteth most And therfore to the Children of darkenesse the vncleannes of the flesh is a pleasant habitation But to the children of light to the immortall spirites to the regenerate heartes heauen is much more desiderable Grant therfore my God that as I dayly grow towards my end so I may liue the more cheerefully learning in thy schoole to preferre thy eternal life before the light of the Sunne the glory of heauen before the vanitie of the earth the glorious habitation in paradice before the painefull tumults of the worlde the societie of Angells before the fellowshippe of mortall men the onelie blessed and permanent life before the passing shaddowe of this life which is fruitfull in anguishes ryotes and labours the triumph before the combat the present possession of soueraigne good before the hope of enioying and that attending this hauen of health I may know how to prepare my selfe by continuall meditation in these excellent Christian consolations that happy are they that die in the Lord for they rest from their labors That death is to them no death but a sleepe in regard of their bodies then freed from the miseries of life and that as for the soule which findeth it selfe deliuered from the tyrannie of sinne it is to her a change to a better life That this death is to all faithfull the time of receiuing the garlands for their race the crowns of their labours That to them shee is an acceptable issue of a laborious trauell their deliuerie from all terror and feare and the stedfast accomplishment of their vocation to felicitie which made the Apostle to say Alas wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this bodie of death I desire
thy grace but because my ignorance and imperfections doe carrie mee far from such wisdome and fulfilling of righteousnesse beeing a poore sinner weake in faith slowe in hope colde in charitie and polluted with many offences that make mee worthie of death and of hell I beseech thee my God in thy fatherly loue to bear with these my defects and to forgiue mee my trespasses in the name of thy Sonne our Mediator and Sauiour accepting his sacrifice as a full satisfaction for my sinnes and imputing vnto mee his righteousnesse to life euerlasting Yea and to the same end also vouchsafe to encrease in my soule the giftes of thy Spirite so as I may from better to better prosecute my life in the path of thine elect being through thy power freed from the temptations of the Diuell the worlde and my owne flesh and by thy blessing preserued from the dangers and miseries of this poore life alwayes notwithstanding content with whatsoeuer it shall please thee to bestow on me Sith thou art my Father I cannot but expect a happy end of all my estates hauing alredy receued of thy mercy the assured pledge of saluation forgiuenesse of sinnes But Lord graunt especially that this thy grace in Iesus Christ may be vnto mee a comforte and light all the dayes of my life especiallie in the darkenesse of my death to retaine and holde me fast in the hope of my saluation that with a liuelie faith at my last gaspe I may speake these words of my Sauior vpon the crosse Into thy handes O Father I commend my spirite whereby my soule also inwardly may heare the same Christ saying vnto mee as vnto the poore penitent theefe Sonne reioyce this day thou shalt be with me in Paradice so that full of peace by the effects of thy spirit I may cheerfully leaue my body to the earth assured of the resurrection and that my soule may by the angels be guided to the rest of the blessed and vouchsafe O Lord to do the like fauor to all men euen as I craue these thinges in the prayer which thy Sonne hath taught me Our father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this daie our dayly bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory world without end Amen Likewise my God encrease in me faith working euerie good worke and giue me grace constantly to perseuere and therof to make confession euen to my last gaspe saying I beleeue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his only Sonne our Lord who was conceiued by the holie Ghost borne of the Virgin Marie suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead and buried hee descended into hell the third day hee rose againe from the dead he ascended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almightie From thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleeue in the Holy-Ghost the holy Catholike Church The communion of Saints the forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the flesh and the life euerlasting This is my faith O Lord wherin I will liue and die as also in the obseruation of thy holy commandements comprized in these two That wee loue thee with all our hart with all our soule with all our strength and with all our thoughtes and our neighbours as our selues Thus thy grace O my God and Father be with me and thy blessing vpon all the workes of my hands So be it The two and twentieth Prayer Among the Family At noone at night in the morning will I crie vnto God and the Eternal shall deliuer me I wil make a noise and hee shall heare my voyce saide Dauid and Daniel kneeled down three times a day in his house prayed vnto and magnified his God Psal 55. 18. Dan. 6. Our help and beginning be in the name of God O LORD our GOD and our Father onelie great in glorie of infinit power It hath pleased thee so far forth to honour men poore Wormes of the Earth that they may in ful confidence in thy loue and bountie present themselues before thy face to magnifie thy name to talke of thy beneficence and to craue thy mercy Wee humblie beseech thee therfore by thy spirit to dispose of our souls our hearts and our lips to glorifie thee and so to call vppon thee that our vowes may be acceptable vnto thee and our prayers heard wee confesse our selues in thy presence to bee so great sinners that our vnworthinesse will not suffer vs to look vp vnto heauen without feare that thou shouldest in thy iust wrath thunder vpon vs neither can wee cast our eyes vpon the earth but we shall see as it were hel open for the reward of our wickednesse for we are not only as the children of Adam conceiued and borne in sinne worthy of thy curse but also by our owne faults lusts vncleanenesse bad thoughtes and wicked works whereinto throgh our corruption and frailtie wee doe daily fall which also in our consciences are so many witnesses to condemne vs and as it were heraultes that doe denounce vnto vs death and hel But O Lord thy mercies do infinitely exceede our malice and thy eternall compassions are vppon sinners that conuert and turne vnto thee Thou art that pittifull Father that gladly receiued his prodigall and vnthriftie Son That louing shepheard that carefully seeketh the lost sheepe that charitable phisition that freely commeth to the sicke to cure them Wee therefore the children of thy loue the sheepe of thy folde and the poore in spirit doe most humbly beseech thee in the name of thy welbeloued Sonne our mediator Iesus Christ to vouchsafe to take away all our calamities in pardoning our sinnes because thou hast giuen vs this great Sauiour in the worlde to the end that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting We are baptized in his name wee haue receiued his gospell and he giueth vs his body in thy church for spirituall foode that we may liue in him and of him for euer blessed Giue vs grace therefore O our God with a true and liuely faith vphelde by hope and doing euery good worke to apprehend to the glorie of thy name and the peace of our soules these great benefits that are purchased for vs in the death and passion of the same our redeemer that wee may incessantly yeelde praysings vnto thee and liue in holinesse according to thy worde For the performance hereof vouchsafe to encrease the giftes of thy spirit in our hearts whereby the desires of the flesh and vanities of the worlde may bee mortified and the pure fire of thy loue so kindled that we may loue honour and serue thee with all our soules with all our
felicitie to finish my course in singing thy praises and so leauing this terrestriall life to ioyne my selfe altogether to the celestial with those blessed spirits in the ful contemplation of thy face to sing with them without ende this song of perfect ioy Glory be to the Father that hath created vs Glorie bee to thee Sonne that hath redeemed vs Glory be to the Holy-Ghost that hath sanctified vs Glorie bee to the most high Trinitie one onely God and Lord whose kingdome is euerlasting The fift Prayer For the obtaining of the knowledge of God in Iesus Christ The word was made flesh and dwelled among vs full of grace and truth the Image of the inuisible God which is Christ the Lord who by himselfe hauing purged our sinnes sitteth at the right hand of the Maiesty in the highest places Ioh. 1. Col. 1. Lu. 2 Heb. 1. O GOD and Father of our Lord CHRIST IESVS of all them whom in thy loue thou hast giuen to him to be his brethren it hath beene thy good pleasure to settle our true and only felicitie in the knowledge of thy holy name and the effects of thy grace But we are vnable to know thee or to feele the efficacy of thy loue towards vs but only in the same Christ who is the brightnesse of thy glory and the engrauen character of thy person God with thee and man with vs. By this thy eternall word thou hast created all the world giuing vnto vs the first testimony of the manifestation of thy wisedome and prouidence But thou giuest vnto vs a more singulare benefite in the miraculous worke of our redemption which doeth moreouer represent vnto vs both thy great goodnesse and loue and thy Iustice infinit power Thy loue in that thou hast vouchsafed freely to redeeme man who prowde and vnthankefull withdraweth himselfe from thee his Father and Benefactor to surrender himselfe vnto Sathan the ennemy to our saluation and of the honor of thy name Thy Iustice in that thou hast not spared the blood of thy innocent sonne to the end in his sufferings to iustifie thy goodnesse and mercie Thy power in that for the accomplishing of this supernatural worke thy word which from all eternitie was resident in thy bosom of one essence glory with thee was made flesh Neuerthelesse I doe very well know that the depth of these profound mysteries cannot bee discouered to our sences likewise that the treasures of thy wisedome of thy counsell of thy iudgements are a very bottomlesse gulph and thy wayes vnpossible to bee found out Also O Lord I doe not rashly enter into that place which is forbidden mee neither will I imitate my first Father Adam who coueting to knowe too much stretched forth his hand vnto the forbidden tree desiring one onely fruite was depriued of all the rest I doe onely with flexible heart embrace and carefully in my cogitation according to the measure of thy gifts meditate vpon that secret of godlinesse which I haue receiued by the preaching of thy gospell and doe in part know it attending vntil that beeing deliuered from sinne corruption I may see thee face to face and in presence behold that which now I see as it were in a very darke Glasse I beseech thee therefore my God vouchsafe by the light of thy spirit to addresse and guide mee to the faithfull knowledge of this great Sauior whom thou Father hast promised from the beginning and in the latter times reuealed in signes and wonders surpassing all miracles to the end that being instructed by his doctrine I may by him and in him know thee to be the eternall liuing God and the God of thy people that according to his word I may worship and serue thee in spirit and trueth and in his name call vpon thee only in full confidence of thy mercy accompting him the onely subiect thereof and the onely mediatour of my saluation who died for my sinnes and rose againe for my righteousnesse euen O Lord because it pleased thee in this maner to ordaine of the estate of humane nature the worke of thy hand For who was thy councellor and what haue wee that wee haue not receiued graunt me therfore in the study and meditation of so manie mysteries so high and so wholesome that I may humbly condiscend to thy diuine counsells in worshipping them with this resolution of thy Apostle that I will not knowe any thing but Christ neither possesse any thing but him sith that in him the treasures of all wisdome doe consist and that they who lodge him in their harts haue thee O God verily present and doe enioy thee and thy benefites Make mee also to feele and confesse this necessitie common to all the children of Adam that for the cancelling of this obligation which held vs bound to eternal death the iust reward of sinne wee were forced to haue this great King of heauen holy innocent and seperate from all sinners to be our high Priest our sacrifice and oblation vppon the Altare of the crosse to the end O Lord that according to thy vnsearchable decree grounded vpon mercy iustice thy welbeloued sonne hauing to himselfe vnited our nature the bondslaue of sathan might leade it to the combate directing it how to ouercome this great aduersarie And this hath he done obtaining for vs the victory when he brake the sting of death and the bonds of hell and that hee rose out of the sepulchre carrying with him this humane nature as the earnestpeny of our hope to thy right hand into heauen Of this so singular a benefit let the remembrance be alwaies before my face that I may offer vnto thee O my God the sacrifice of thanksgiuing all the dayes of my life so that hauing my redeemer for a perpetuall obiect and sure foundation of my Faith in the knowledge of thy name I may throughly learne Christ not onely to beleeue by his word the sacred history of his conception and birth with his office of a soueraigne King great Prophet and perpetuall law-giuer of his church also his passion death resurrection and ascention but also that in ful assurance in his promises I may appropriate to my selfe the gifts and graces which he purchased for vs by fullfilling that charge that he had receiued from thee O father to th' end through him to make vs worthie of thy saluation so as I may comfort and wholy repose my selfe vpon his obedience and righteousnesse shewing forth and sealing this my hope by good workes to thy glory O eternall God and the peace of my conscience So be it The sixth Prayer For obtaining the gift of the Holy-ghost By the eternall Spirite Christ hath offered himselfe to GOD the Spirit which soundeth the profound things of God which also testifieth with our spirit that we are the children of God Heb. 9.1 Cor. 2. Rom. 8. O Lord God almightie wee doe learne in thy word the vnchangeable trueth how without confounding any thing in
the couenant of life the gospel of thy peace and the assured testimonies of thy mercies Vnto this grace of inestimable valewe doth my timerous soule direct her vowes in searching thee O great king of Heauen throughout the course of thy faithfull testimonies which minister wisedome to the ignorant the holie Scriptures I beseech thee therfore my God vouchsafe to direct and guide mee in the vnderstanding of this eternall trueth through the operation of thy spirit the true teacher of our soules that being by him instructed I may accomplish and make my selfe perfect in these foure cheefe principles of the doctrine of Saluation which are fullie taught at large The knowledge of thee the true God and the God of thy people the knowledge of faith of pietie and of righteousnesse Whereby I may obtaine the end of my being and therein euen my Soueraigne felicitie which is to know thee to glorifie thee for my GOD to beleeue thee and in thee Iesus Christ and in Iesus Christ to loue feare and serue thee according as thou doest commaund vs and in all things to obserue equity towardes all men For thus are thy children bound to learne according to the measure of the gift of thy grace thy fatherly loue in thy welbeloued sonne namelie by conioyning thereto the feare of thy name that is to say that reuerence that causeth vs in humilitie and obedience to shunne euil and do good and to embrace righteousnesse and charity Walking in this sort O Lord vnder thy conduct in the Communion of Saints I shall want nothing to my comfort or perfection in good time a depart my life beeing ended to receiue peace and perfect ioy in the eternall habitation of the blessed soules So be it The eight Prayer That we may not depart from the Church Christ hath loued the Church and giuen himselfe for her to the end hee might sanctifie her after he hath purged hir by the washing of water through the word Shee is the house of God the prop and piller of truth the gates of hel shall not preuaile against her Eph. 5.1 Tim. 3. Ma. 16. ALmighty God righteous and mercifull who in thy iustice wrath for the iniquitie and disobedience of man diddest once smite the world with the ouerflowing of waters and in thy mercie and loue diddest extend thy singular fauour vppon the Arke of thy seruant Noah sauing him and his family from the generall inundation intending in that small flocke of the faithfull to preserue and keepe thy chosen people that they might for euer serue to thy glory I learn out of thy word that thou wilt no more destroy the earth in that maner and therefore thou hast left vs the rainbow to remaine for a signe Neuerthelesse what else is our poore life languishing in the infection of sinne but a deluge of euills and running streame of miseries that falleth vpon al men indifferently leadeth them vnto death In one onelie thing therefore must my soule take comfort that as Noah was preserued from the vniversall shipwracke in his wodden Mansion by the promise that he kept in his heart so that a thousand falling on his right hand and a thousand on his left hand hee remained sound and safe vnder thy wing euen so I hold my selfe assured against the assaults of sin and in the middest of the woefull rockes of this world yea euen in the straits of the graue that thou wilt alwayes preserue from all calamities and miseries those who stand fast in the Arke of thy Church grounded vppon thy word in the gospel of reconciliation to the Lord Iesus and depart in his faith For as likewise according to thy Iustice thou diddest euen from the beginning pronounce the sentence of death against our Fathers because of their transgressions euen so it pleased thee euen then also to comforte them in thy mercie with the promise of life in this great Redeemer to come to the end that embracing him by faith they and their children holding this foundation should erect vnto thee a temple of liuing stones holy and stedfast for euer for the sanctification of thy name and the blessednesse of thy elect And these are they O Lord who first in the time of the Patriarks then vnder the law and lastly vnder the gospel beleeued thy word worshipping thee according to the same in certaine mysteries of religion in all places whither it pleased thee to call gather and sanctifie them by the remission of their sinnes in the blood of thy sonne regenerating them to euery good worke by thy holy spirit of the same grace giuing them from age to age diuerse visible signes for sacraments in thy Church so indeede she is thy house and the pallace of thy glory where thy truth is lodged which shee vpholdeth and aduaunceth by her holy ministery preseruing it also that it should not fall into decay and that the remembrance thereof should not bee lost from among men Whereof likewise proceedeth the stabilitie of the Church which the endeuours of sathan cannot shake because the foundation of her faith doctrine is grounded vpon the true and immooueable rocke euen the pure confession of the name of Christ I do therefore beseech thee my God inasmuch as thy mercy and goodnes hath brought me in and hetherto held me vp in this mansion house of thy graces that thou wilt vouchsafe more more to illuminate my hart minde to make me see and meditate vpon the spirituall magnificence of this thy habitation to the end that the sacred porches thereof may bee all my loue and the only delight of my eyes her canticles the sole harmony of my eares and that I may so affectionate my selfe to her celestiall beauty and riches that I may hold one day in thy Church more deere then a thousand elsewhere That this so sweet company I say of thee O our Father of thy Sonne our redeemer of the holy-ghost our comforter of so many thousands of Angels of elect which liuedhere beneath in the visible kingdome of thy glory and by infinite wonders in the Communion of saints may be my whole desire and the sole subiect of my delights that I may neuer depart therfrom notwithstanding whatsoeuer assaults and temptations I am to endure according to the condition of the militant Church and vnder this her gallant poesie To beleeue to doe well and to suffer affliction sith that namely there is not any such mishap or so much to be feared as to be out of this holie Temple wherein onely abideth all light truth saluation and life and in all other places darkenesse lying shipwracke and death haue their dwelling For so through thy grace O my God praying and meditating I shall spend my dayes in ioy expecting in peace my last hower to participate in the triumph of the same Church aboue and to liue eternally in thy rest Amen The ninth Prayer For the obtaining of the efficacie of holy Baptisme Iesus comming to his
of thy Sonne crucified and risen againe and in his bloud shed for the washing of our soules when at his holie Table the sacred signes are by his ordinance deliuered vnto vs and that we doe receiue them as hee hath commanded expecting that aboue in heauen without any exterior meanes we may eate this bread of life and drinke this sweete drinke in the company of the Angels of all the blessed then at the ful inioying of our vnion with thee O great God and the ioy of our beatitude accomplished O most desired daie wherein we shall be fed and satisfied with this celestiall bread that we may neuer die nor thirst againe in this newe life where thou O eternall God shalt bee wholy in vs. Oh happie are wee already who already in Christ in the communion of the faithfull do taste the sweetnes of this celestiall banquet wherin we shall see thee and face to face contemplate Father Word Spirit one only and true God beeing filled with thy glory in endlesse peace To the end therfore that according to thy Commaundement O Lord I may worthily present my self to this holy banquet of sacred foode which the Angelles doe admire and honour which also thou dost not communicate but to thy flesh I beseech thee giue mee grace well to discerne the bodie of my Sauiour in trying my selfe according to his word so as my hart may be cleansed from sinne and vncleanenesse and replenished with thy loue and with euery other spirituall vertue to the end that euen this day harbouring therein this great King of heauen I may encrease in the faith and hope of my saluation by his holines and righteousnesse I haue reposed al my confidence in thy mercy I neither seeke nor hope for any good or grace but from thee my God and in thy sonne and for his sake I doe desire in my place with simplicitie to celebrate the remembrance of his death in the holy church to the glory of thy name and the peace of my soule I renounce the deadworkes of the flesh and the lusts thereof I doe put off all enmitie and malice with a good intent to embrace the liuely workes of the spirit and to dwell in loue and charitie with my neighbours I do belieue in the promises that Christ the infallible truth hath pronounced with his owne mouth That at his holy table he will truely make me partaker of his body and blood to the end I may possesse him wholy and in such sorte that being made flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone he may liue in mee aad I in him for euer Helpe O Lord the weakenesse of my faith support mee in my infirmity and in that desire which thou giuest me to profit in the sound knowledge of thy mysteries and in the practise of the pathes of thy kingdome conioyne vnto the same desire the performaunce of the deede For it is onely by the vertue of thy spirit in sinceritie of heart that I shall this day receiue from the same Iesus the effect of his word in participating truely in his new and eternall testament the couenant of grace so to perseuer in this blessed societie of his Bodie that from him I may incessantly gather strength and life and vnited with him I may also attaine to bee one with thee my Creator Grant mee therefore that in this maner I may with thy Church celebrate the most holy remembrance of our Lord and of the worke of our redemption to the end that so receuing this great sacrament of his body with a newe augmentation in all heauenlie grace with so much the greater confidence I may againe call vpon thee my God and my Father and more more glorifie my selfe in thy mercies So be it The eleuenth Prayer For thanksgiuing after the Communion And when they had sung a Psalme they went out vnto the Mount of Oliues Mat. 26. O Lorde my God my Father euen from the bottome of my heart and with all my soule I yeelde thee praise and thankes for that it hath pleased thee to enlarge so great a benefite to mee miserable sinner as to haue drawn and receiued mee into the sacred Communion of thy son Iesus Christ my sauiour The heauen of heauens are not able to comprehend him yet doth he so farre honour vs as to vouchsafe to communicate with vs yea euen to enter into vs poore wormes of the earth For such was thy good pleasure O Lord to deliuer him once to the death for the redemption of thy elect and as to euery one of them so doest thou this day giue him to mee to be my foode and spirituall sustenance that I may liue of him and in him blessed both in body soule eternally I beseech thee therefore O mercifull Father so to blesse in me this holy and mysticall action that my vnworthinesse make it not vnprofitable vnto me that the pretious bloud of thy sonne bee not in vaine shed for mee and offered me to drinke but that washed in the same and cleansed from my sinnes I may obtain that iustification and holines that beseemeth thy children who haue this most holy one to be their hoste and head thy spirit for their light Let me not be so wretched as to abuse these sacred meates which thou dost communicate to thy houshold of faith onely the prouision whereof cost thy welbeloued son Iesus so deere Rather my God grant that in true efficacie I may participate in this sacrament of his body to encrease in faith loue and all other thy gifts that I may neuer abandon thy holy couenant Alas whither should I go but to thee the fountaine of eternall life by Christ who is the fulnes thereof and by whom it runneth into vs Cast from me all carnall cogitations and delights and all these earthly baites which turne to gall and corruption because I haue in my bowels an incorruptible foode more sweeter then honny the bread of Angels the bread of heauen the bread of life which with out any sacrament wee shall feede on aboue without ende where Christ according to his promise shall with vs drinke the fruite of the new vine yeelding vppe vnto thee the kingdome O eternal God that thou maist be all in all I doe therefore resigne my self into thy hands and vnder thy conduct that I may runne my race in ioy and a good conscience before thy face and before men And that I may departe in peace when my houre is come because Christ is my life To thy name therefore O almighty Creator to thee Redeemer of the elect to thee Comforter of the faithfull who by thy secret vertue doest worke this vnspeakeable and miraculous coniunction of our soules with the body of the Lord. To thee Trinity Father Word Spirit one only and true God be all honour and glory Amen The twelfth Praier To obtaine the gift of Faith The law was our schoolmaister to bring vs to Christ that wee might bee
to bee dissolued and to be with Christ howbeit if notwithstanding in the infirmitie of my flesh the fearefull Image of death trouble me in the straites of my departure If the world that doth alwayes too much bewitch vs maketh my thoughts then bowe to his will If Sathan pitcheth his assaults and snares and vpon the remembrance of my sinnes setteth hell before my face moreouer if my owne perturbations keepe me from apprehending thy eternall consolations in such most necessarie extremities vouchsafe my good God and father in these anguishes to approach vnto me to saue me from the running and swift streame of such brookes that they may not carrie meaway to perdition illuminate my thoughts with thy spirite waken my soule out of the sleep of death renew my hart by the vertue of thy spirit and put into my hands the staffe of thy assured conduct to bring mee out from the laborinth of this sorrowful passage causing me with the eyes of my faith to behold my righteousnes vpon the crosse of my Sauiour the discharge of my debts in his sacrifice my victorie in his combats my life in his death my glorie and ioy in his resurrection that so replenished with peace I may cheerfully resigne my bodie to the earth as assured that it shall rise againe and my soule to heauen with these last words of Christ Into thy hands O Father I commit my spirit So be it The nineteenth Prayer For heauenly life Hee that heareth my worde and beleeueth in him that sent me hath life euerlasting and I wil raise him again at the latter day Father concerning those whome thou hast giuen me my desire is that they may be where I am that they may be with me to beholde my glory Iohn 5. 6. 17. O Soueraign Father of al thinges by a singular priuiledge Father of the children whome it hath pleased thee to adopt in our Lord Iesus Christ to be coheires with him in the celestiall life I learne in thy word that this inheritance blessed estate is acontemplation of the glory of this great Sauiour of the elect in an vnspeakeable beatitude onely worthy to be loued and to bee sought incessantly night and day with the lamp of thy trueth Which is to see him as he is true God and true Man and perfectlie to enioie his presence with communicating of all his goodnesse to be in the ioy of his Lord as a loyall seruant and to beholde him face to face in his diuine essence one with the father and with the holy ghost one onelie God in soueraigne Maiestie which is to be vnited and conioyned with him and by him vnto thee O eternall GOD who art all light and life of the soule at her departure out of her earthly habitation afterward reuested with it flesh in that great day of the glorious comming of the same Christ when hee shall wholy render vppe vnto thee the kingdome of thy grace that thou maist be all in all To be briefe which is both in body and soule to be in him and to liue of his glory And this also is the eternall life a life accomplished in knowledge in loue in righteousnesse in rest in honour in beautie in constancie in ioy felicitie and peace a life wherin the Angels and Saintes incessantly do sound out and celebrate O Lord thy great name in perfect and rauishing melodie replenished both with a desire and a fulnesse of the celestiall bread Iesus Christ God man without this desire breeding any griefe or this fulnesse any molestation In summe a life which by the full view that wee shall haue of thy eternall deitie O almightie GOD shall make vs knowe thee as thou hast knowne vs and as thou art in Trinitie of persons Father Word Spirit and in vnitie of essence likewise to loue thee according to the excellency of thy nature with our whole heartes and thoughts and our whole strength and might and in this loue to obtaine our perfect full contentment To this heauenlie life O Lord my soule directeth her flight this is the marke that shee aymeth at the end whereto shee tendeth and the reward that she by thy grace promiseth her selfe for seeking after thy welbeloued Sonne in whome it pleaseth thee to be my God and my Father Oh! I shall indeede goe and liue in this holy and sacred place of the habitation of thy glorie and there shall contemplate that which neuer eye sawe vnder the heauen neyther eare hath heard nor heart comprehended of the solide Riches whiche thou doost keepe from all eternitie for thy children I shall see I say these diuine wonders in thy sanctuary in thy light inaccessible for all flesh knowing in the brightnesse of thy countenance thy infinite power O Father thy incomprehensible wisedome O Sonne and thy incomparable vertue O Holy-ghost one onely true God A knowledge so singular and pretious that therein resteth all the felicitie of the Angels and saints their only plentiful reward their scepter the diademe of their glory and the full and perpetuall ioy that couereth their heads as with a crowne of victory in a peace durable for euer I beseech thee therfore O Lord to giue mee grace that withdrawing my affection more and more from the darke cloysters of the earth sprinckled with teares I may lift vp my desires to the lightsome habitation of thy deitie where the treasures and incomparable ioyes of thy paradise do remaine in an eternall life So that I may finishe my course in an earnest and perpetuall meditation of this angelical and diuine being and comforting my self incessantly night and day in that the promise is made vnto mee through my sauiour Iesus Christ to the end that in my last hower come out of my misery and entered into my felicitie I may with a happy flight goe take my rest aboue in thy peace O my God which surmounteth all vnderstanding and for to sing Psalmes of thanksgiuing vnto thee without end So be it The twentieth Praier Vpon eternall death Of those that sleepe in the dust of the earth some shall awake to euerlasting life others to rebuke and shame without end Their worme shall not die and their fire shall not be quenched there shal be weeping gnashing of teethe Dan. 12. Esay 66. Mat. 15. ALmighty god for whose glorie all nations are created Thou which art the mightie and the faithfull God keeping thy couenant and free mercy with a thousand generations of those that loue thee and obey thy commandements which giuest againe the very same vnto those that hate thee and rebell against thee with euery of them euen to their face whose will is the iust and soueraigne cause of all that is done in heauen and in earth whose counsailes are vnsearchable and iudgements most profound and admirable O Father and gouernor of all things thou hast euen from the beginning of thy vnspeakable good nesse framed man and reclothed him with such an excellency as did
giue vnto vs for the sustenance of our life that we may vse the same soberly and with thanksgiuing as thou hast commanded But aboue all things giue vs grace to desire and especially to seeke the spirituall bread of thy word wherewith our soules may be fed eternally in the name to the glory of the Father Sonne and Holy-ghost one only and true God who liueth and raigneth world without end Amen The foure and twenieth Prayer After meales among the Family Whether wee eate or drinke or whatsoeuer wee doe we must doe all to the glory of God 1. Cor. 10. O Eternall God our Father we yeeld thee thanks for that it hath pleased thee to nourish and feede vs ministring vnto vs all that is needefull for this life and making vs to enioy so many temporall benefites as thou doest largely poure vppon vs thy creatures wee beseech thee of thy goodnesse vouchsafe to continue them the rest of our dayes But aboue al wee praise thee for the spiritual foode that by thy word thou giuest to our soules to the ende they may for euer liue in blisse through Iesus Christ our redeemer to whome with the Father and the Holi-ghost one onely and true God be all honour and glory for euer Amen The fiue and twentieth Prayer Euening Prayer for the Houshold It is a good thing to giue thanks vnto the Lord and to sing praises vnto thy name O most high to tell of thy trueth in the night season I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest for it is thou Lord onelie that makest mee dwell in safetie Psal 92. 4. O Lord our god and Father as thy people of Israel offered vnto thee their euening sacrifice so doe we offer vnto thee the oblation of our humble and contrite heartes that wee may glorifie thy name and obtaine remission of our sinnes We praise thee therefore and yeeld thee thanks for thy benefites namely for that it hath pleased thee to let vs passe this day vnder thy protection and safegard without the which wee might haue incurred manie miseries and dangers But because by our corruption and frailetie we haue diuersly offended thee in thought worde and deed and that thy mercie is vppon all those to whom thou vouchsafest to be a Father in our Lord Iesus Christ and that call vpon thy name wee beseech thee to forgiue vs our sinnes and to accept of his righteousnesse in the merit of his death in discharge of our debts so that as euery thing is nowe hidden from our eies by the night which thou giuest vs for the rest of our bodies so our offences may be buried out of thy sight in the sepulchre of the same Christ whereby our soules may haue in him their spirituall rest Alas we know that Sathan the Prince of darkenesse lieth alwaies in waite to hurt vs seeking principally to make a breach into our hearts when we stand least vpon our guarde but O Almightie God in thy presence also are the thousands of Angels to watch on those whome thou hast called to the inheritance of thy saluation of which number wee doe beleeue our selues to be through the mercie which it hath pleased thee to shewe vs. Giue vs grace therefore to be deliuered from the temptations of the diuel from vncleanenesse and troublesome dreames whereinto our infirmity doth leade vs and also from all other dangers to the ende our bodies receiuing through thy blessing a peaceable and quiet sleep for their ease our mindes may watch more freely vnto thee who art their rest and their life and in the meditation of thy loue that to morrowe wee may arise so much the readier to glorifie serue thee euery one in his vocation Thus running our race in the path of thy elect we may with ioy expect the desired hower for our flesh to rest in the earth that our soules may be lodged in heauen and at the last day be raised againe in glory with al the Saints to enioy the accomplishment of our felicitie Howbeit in the meane time whilst we comfort our selues in this hope O heauenlie Father we doe recommend vnto thee the peace preseruation of thy church the estate of this Kingdome and all such as be afflicted with sicknes or anie other tribulation beseeching thee to giue to thy children and seruants whereof to take comfort and alwayes to reioyce in thy goodnes This is it that we doe beleeue in thy worde Yea this is it that wee doe craue of thee in the name of our mediator Iesus Christ by that Prayer which hee hath taught vs. Our father which art in heauen c. Thy blessing therefore O our God and Father the peace of our Lorde Iesus with the comfort of the holy Ghost be giuen to vs by thy grace and remaine with vs for euer Amen The sixe and twentieth Prayer Of him which suffered much by sicknesse When you shal be sicke be not slowe to pray to God and he will heale thee Hee healeth those that are broken in heart and cureth their greefes If they touched the gates of death and crie vnto the Lord in their distresse hee will deliuer them from their troubles Eccles 18. Psal 147. 107. O Lord my GOD and father now it is that in these griefs and paines that oppresse me I doe better then heretofore I haue acknowledge the corruption and frailtie of my nature and the iustice and goodnesse of thy hand that visiteth mee The originall of all flesh is in infection his temporall habitation is in dust continually tossed to and fro with stormes her end is a prey to the wormes and all hir glory is buried with her in the earth Yet is man so blinde and depraued that for a shorte time wherein he enioyeth any prosperity health hee looseth the knowledge of his fraile condition he swells and strayeth from the principall end of his being and slideth away into the follies and vanities of the world Thus might I many times haue made ship wracke among these lamentable rockes haddest not thou my GOD stretched forth thy rod of tribulation vpon mee in my most happy prosperities to preuent my ruine It is as euen to this day thou doest admonish me of thy discipline which maketh me to humble my selfe in thy sight and to feele my misery that with heart and voyce I may confesse that thou art iust O soueraigne iudge and good O gentle Father who wilt thus with one medecine castize and cure the vlcer of my sins Come therefore thou vapor of the earth thou shadow of life thou corruptible flesh sith God for thy instruction and amendment giueth thee trauaile put off thy selfe and submitte thee to his spirite and thy spirite to the Father of spirits and thy affections to his will Thus with all thy strength and minde lift vppe thy selfe towards this Fatherly hand from whence the stripe commeth that grieueth thee towards this arme of the almightie that hath cast the stone that bruseth
al quiet obedience Receiue him into thy heauenly Hierusalem for hee hath his whole recourse vnto thee by one onelie mediatour Iesus Christ and all his confidence is in thy mercy In steade of bodilie death graunt him the life of his soule amongest thy Angels vntil that by the resurrection of all flesh in the great day of the LORD he may liue a whole man in the contemplation of thy glory And to vs all heere present likewise graunt thy grace that we may as we ought beholde in this myrror the shortnesse and vncertainetie of our dayes that hereafter we may not desire anie thing so much as to employ them carefully to thy honour and seruice For all these thinges doe we pray vnto thee in the name of thy Sonne in that Prayer which himselfe hath taught vs Our father which art in heauen c. The eight and twentieth Prayer For him that feeleth his death at hand Wee knowe that if this earthly tabernacle be destroyed we haue a building giuen of God that is a house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens The body is sowen in corruption it shall rise againe in incorruption 2. Cor. 5. 1. Cor. 15. O GOD my God and FATHER iustly was man thy creature when by sinne he had turned from thee who art the life cast headlong into the curse both of temporall and eternall death for thy Maiestie being infinitely offended ought also in iustice to require a punishment without end which beginneth euen in this life in many miseries and is perpetuated hell whereto death is as it were the gate O Lord The cause of so lamentable a mishap is in our nature But in thee is pittie and compassion O mercifull Father who after thy vnspeakeable goodnesse makest the temporall death which to all men is ineuitable and to the reprobate an entry into hel to change his qualitie concerning the Elect beeing vnto them a ioyfull passage to that happinesse which is in heauen For Iesus Christ thy eternall Son to purchase vs this benefit did put on our flesh and therein healed the wound of sinne by his righteousnesse and by his oblation satisfied for our debt triumphing by his resurrection ouer Death Sathan and Hel for the saluation of those to whome thou giuest grace to belieue in his name Now then my God sith it hath pleased thee of thy great loue thus to accomplish the high mysterie of our redemption I beseeche thee grant mee to feele the fruite and efficacy thereof through the vertue of thy spirit euen to the last gaspe of my life that then I may render to thee my soule in peace For I am baptized in the name of Christ I belieue his holy gospel and am fed with his body and blood in the holy Church True it is O Lord that the remembrance of my sins whereof my conscience doeth accuse mee doeth greatly trouble me for the darkenesse of my vnderstanding hath kept me from knowing thee aright and the corruption of my heart from worshipping thee in spirit and truth according to thy word I haue neglected this pretious treasure euen the voice of my Redeemer and by my slackenesse made the seede therof vnfruitfull in my soule many times preferring the loue of my selfe and the vanities of the world before the loue that I owe vnto thee my Creator and my neighbour for thy sake I haue not affected the crosse of thy Sonne that I might cheerefully carry mine after him in renouncing all my concupiscences neyther haue I applied thy chastizement to an vpright amendment of life I haue beene weake in faith slow in hope cold in charitie vnpatient in tribulation and more stiffe in retaining other mens offences against mee then ready to pardon them what more shal I say my God Also many other sins which I cannot expresse which being euen at this day hidden from mee in my infirmities doe ouerwhelme my soule were it not for the repentance that thou grauntest mee and the trust that I haue in thy mercy through the righteousnesse of my Sauiour Iesus Christ which it pleaseth thee in thy Fatherly loue to make mine I see nothing but matter of dispaire His sacrifice giueth mee peace with thee his blod cleanseth me his obedience absolueth me his woundes doe cure mee In his torments my soule findeth her rest for of all these benefites doe I feele thy promise sealed in my heart by thy spirit which maketh me to crie vnto thee Abba Father and assureth me that thou wilt of thy free mercy in the name of thy Sonne and for his sake giue mee remission of my sinnes and eternal life being illuminated therefore by this celestiall light I doe with the eies of my mind behold the ship that shall carry me ouer from earth to heauen no farther off from the presence of my Redeemer then was that of his Disciples when they rowed against the tempest to whom he said feare not for it is I. For in like maner commeth hee to meete mee to say vnto me Feare not assure thy selfe be constant It is I not the death which thou maist peraduenture feare but hee that hath broken the sting thereof that hath led it in triumph that hath broken the barres and bonds euen in hell and who therefore doeth make thee to ascend from the graue into the Pallace of my glorie Thus my God strengthened by thy grace with Christian hope which is not confounded and couered vnder the buckler of Faith which the darts of the diuell cannot wound I am able with a strong motion to paâ—â—e in peace from this prison of nature with these last words of Iesus Christ vpon the crosse Into thy hands O LORD I commend my spirit and the same Christ saying vnto me as to the poore theefe that was dying Sonne reioyce this day thou shalt be with me in Paradice FINIS