defend mée vnder the winges of thy coÌ„fortable protection from al errors sismes and detestable heresies make me with out fayning firmely constantly to builde vpon the truth wherein is perfectly set forth thy great mercie diuine iustice Let the zeale of thy promises in al distres be my chiefest ioy and consolation and giue me grace from aboue that as I make my boast of thy mercies and louing kindnes by vertue wherof I am by my Sauiour Christ Iesus quickned from deathe to life in his dearest death and precious bloudsheding regenerated borne a new not of water but of the spirit by fayth so Lorde I maye with thy aboundaunt loue showne to mée warde the whole posteritie of Adam I may bée afrayde wilfully or of a set purpose to transgresse thy commaundementes and so incurre therby thy displeasure that the effectes of thy iustice in the day of thy coÌ„ming to iudgement be pronounced against mee to the vtter destruction of bodie soule make me alwais willing good Lord to heare thy worde by the power wherof my faith is increased and therewithall plante in mée perfite loue and obedience and so directe my footsteppes in this vale of miserie that I may treade the pathe that leadeth to thée with whome my soule thirsteth to rest euen as vehementlye as the Hart longeth after the water brookes Graunt this O merciful God for the honor and glorye of thy names sake Amen ¶ A fruitfull Prayer to bee sayde at the gâ—yng to bedde of euery Christian. MOste mercyfull Father I moste wretched and vnworthye sinner prostrate my selfe before the Throane of thy heauenlye grace yeelding vnto thée moste humble and heartye thankes that hast of thy excéeding loue and fauor preserued mee this day from al perill and daunger humbly beséeching thy diuine maiestie this night to preserue me for the loue of thy onely sonne my sweetest Sauiour Iesus Christ my Mediatour aduocate who continuallye pleadeth and maketh intercession to thée for mée all the rest of thy chosen children presenting hys bloudy wounds and his glorious body al to be scourged in thy diuine presence who thereby doth mittigate thy wrathe indignation iustly conceiued agaynst me a miserable and wretched creature and all mankynde Make me Lord still to confesse myne vnworthynesse and weakenesse to be suche and so great that of my selfe I am not worthye to lift vp myne eyes to heauen much lesse to be called thy sonne such and so great is the burthen of my sinne and iniquitie so that by the meanes of my corruption filthinesse I acknowledge my selfe to be the child of death and destruction yet build I still on thy promises good Lord and in this greate daunger I come vnto thée with teares saying O father I haue sinned agaynst heauen and agaynst thée and am no more worthy to bée called thy sonne of my selfe I haue nothing but by thée I haue al things of my selfe I acknowledge I haue iustly deserued the heauy senteÌ„ce of thine yre but by grace of thee O mightie Emanuel I am regenerate and borne agayne from death to life from daunger to ioy from perill to peace from bondage to libertie so in fine from Hell damnation to blisse saluation Such is the effect of thy mercie so abundant is thy loue towardes me and all those that with contrite heartes presente themselues vnto thée Increase my fayth lord that it may abound in good and fruitfull workes so fortifie mée y t I neuer swerue from thy veritie giue mée thy grace from aboue O merciful Iesus that I may neuer shrinke from thy sacred testimonies And more ouer I with all humilitie and reuerence of heart and mynde beséeche thée thys night whiche thou hast ordayned for man to rest in thou wilt gard and protecte mée with thy good guidyng spirite and albeit my sinfull flesh shall sleepe slumber yet graunt good Lorde that my soule may continually kéepe watch and ward let not the enemie finde me slumbering and sléeping as careles in the cradle of sinfull Securitie leaste that whilest I am vnarmed that is naked destitute of thy grace and fauour he enter in and breake vp the house of my sinnefull bodye and make such hauocke spoile that my infected and leaporous soule deformed by meanes of myne iniquitie and wounded with the dangeruos Darts of transgression bée throwne with the body of sinne to the Lake of destruction wherein is continuall wayling and gnashing of téeth Make me stil O good Lorde to consider that the bed is a plaine patterne and similitude of the Graue which continually calleth for me and all other thy Creatures make me to vnderstand that when I am layd of my self without thy heauenly prouidence I can not bée able to ryse agayne make me to acknowledge that sléepe is the very figure of death to whose stroak at thy appoynted pleasure I must submit my selfe Indue me with loue charitie to all men let my Lampe O Lord be garnished with Oyle that whensoeuer or at what tyme soeuer thy messenger death shall drawnie and knock at the gates of my house I maye at hys sommons in the daye of the resurrection of the dead be ready to attend on thée and thy bride with my burning Lampe that is with a stedfast fayth when as by thée I shalbe clothed a newe for my mortall body shall then be couered with immortallitie the corruption of my sinful rebelling flesh shal be changed to incorruption and perfite puritye thy righteousnesse shalbe mine thy merites shal make me perfite holy by vertue wherof hell shal loose his victory death shall loose his sting my fayth and hope shal haue ende and rewarde I wyth thy Saintes continuallye dwell in loue and charitie with thée the Heauenlye Bridegrome Christ Iesus To whome with the father and the holy ghost be ascribed all lawd glory power prayse and dominion for euer Amen A Prayer for the remission of sinne and to obtayne a vertuous life FOr as muche as O Bountifull Lorde it is most méete right and iust that all fleshe shoulde prayse magnifie and worship thée and shoulde without ceasing giue thankes vnto thée who onely art the Creator and maker of all thinges as well visible as inuisible who onely art the Treasure of all goodnesse the Well of life onely God and Lord whom the Heauens and Heauens of Heauens the Sunne the Moone the Starres the earth the Sea with all that mooue therein yea the heauenly companie of martyrs the soules of the Prophets and Apostles Aungels Arckeaungels togither with the soules of al iust righteous persons do lawd glorifie It is moste requisite that ech mortal creature liuing in this worlde shoulde also acknowledge thy magnificence wherefore most mercifull Father I wyth my hart and mouth do acknowledge thée to be my king Lorde the giuer of all goodnesse I confesse thee to bee omnipotent reuerent merciful long suffering God of all consolation comforte mercie
What are the plesures of the world welth honour company of our parentes and friendes wherein all our pleasure swéetenesse is mixed wyth sowernesse and sorrowe wherein euerye perfection hathe hys imperfection What is all this to the vnspeakable ioy in the kingdome of GOD what is y e company of frinds c. here in comparison to the companye of Abraham Isaac Iacob the Patriarches Prophets and all the Sayntes of God O the infelicitie of euerlasting lyfe whiche is without all discommodities perpetuall without all perrill and molestation Oh the glorious maiesty the singuler myrth and passing ioyes of the lyfe to come the eye hathe not séene nor the hart of man is able to conceiue in any part the happy estate of the blessed soules in heauen Oh howe amiable are thy Tabernacles my soule hathe a desire to enter into the Courts of the Lorde my harte and my soule reioyce in the liuing god blessed be they that dwel in thy house they may be alwayes praysing thée One daye in thy Courtes is better than a thousande else where I had rather to be a dore kéeper in the house of my God than to dwel in the Tents of vngodlinesse The Lorde God is a light and defence My soule is a thirst for God euen for the lyuing GOD. When shall I come before the presence of my God My flesh longeth after thée in a barren and dry land where no water is Good Lord remember mée and grant that I maye weare the white Garmentes of innocencye with thyne elected in thy euerlasting kingdome Amen A thankesgiuing for benefites receyued at Gods hand O Moste mercifull father I yeeld thée moste humble thankes for thy greate benefites bestowed vppon me a sinner of thy frée mercye onely thou haste of thy fatherly loue brought mée vp tenderly and instructed me in thy holy lawe thou hast giuen me knowledge and vnderstandyng thou hast preserued me from many daungers euils which diuers men haue felte thou hast blessed me with helth quietnesse ioy plentye and wealth which a number do want thou hast taken care of me and done all thinges for me O Lorde thoughe I can deserue nothing but punishment by thy iuste displeasure yet good Lorde I trust to thy goodnesse I ask thy mercye and not iustice and for thy mercies sake I beséeche thée to continue thy grace and to increase thy good gifts towards me and haue me in thy protection till my lyues end good Lord blesse me that I may enioy the fruites of the earth and vse them to thy honour and glory good Lord be thou my ayde and guyde me in al my doinges my buckler and defence in all daungers that I may freely and ioyfullye sing prayses to thée whiche liuest and raygnest one God almightie and incomprehensible worlde wythout ende Amen A Godly Prayer MOst mightie God which by thy worde hast made all thinges whose voyce the floudes and hilles doe knowe whose heast both quick and dead heauen and hell obey at whose displeasure the Diuels in hell doe tremble let thy worde so lighten our heartes that by oure good workes we may testifie our profession séeing that the Trée whiche beareth not fruite shall be cut downe and throwne into the fyre Graunt that I may not onely be a hearer but also a doer of thy holy word that so finallye I maye bée partaker of thy euerlasting ioye and blisse O Lorde graunt mee wisedome to knowe thee and grace to followe thée in true humilitie that as thou didst suffer to be spitted at and smitten of thine enemies so wee may beare the displeasures of the world and rage of our ennemies wyth pacience thou hast blessed the little ones reuealed vnto them the thinges hidden from the wyse for thou wilte haue mercye where it pleaseth thée O set thy feare always before myne eyes and graft thy fayth so in my hart that I may loue thée and glorifie thy holy name for euer Amen A godly Prayer to be sayde of euery christian GOod Lord whiche wyth thy handes doest stay the frame and engyne of the earth and rulest the course of the swifte heauens disposing and ordering all thinges by thy diuine prouidence whiche hast appoynted boundes to oure life which we cannot passe I beséeche thée that by my liuing I learning to dye mortifying by thy spirite the affections of the fleshe though not expelling them yet subduing the rage of them I maye at the last by the Hauen of Deathe land in the moste gloryous Citye of euerlastyng lyfe where our bodyes whiche are nowe darcke myserable and corruptible shall be moste brighte glorious and incorruptible lyke to the immortall shining bodye of oure Lorde Iesus Chryste we shall be lyke to Christ oure Sauyour euen as he is so shall we be as we haue borne the Image of the earthlye so shall we beare the Image of the heauenly and shyne lyke to the sunne as the face of Christe did in his transfiguration Oh Lord Iesus blessed Sauiour whiche by thy deathe haste tryumphed ouer sinne and deathe Thou hast troden on the sting of the monster oure hydeous enemye the Gates of Hell haue not preuayled againste thee graunt to me true and liuely fayth by which men passe from earth to heauen from death to eternall life This can we not do without thée thou must be our Mediator for a child of a nights birth is not pure in thy sight In sinne were wee borne and by nature wee are the children of perdition and fyrebrandes of Hell but thou O blessed Sauiour arte the perfection of the Lawe to them that beleue As death came by synnes so by thy death and precyous bloodeshedding is death conquered and exiled and wée that beléeue washed and cleansed of our sinnes al the prophets beare witnesse that they whiche beléeue in thy name shall receiue remission of their sins If we confesse our synnes thou arte righteous to forgiue vs our iniquities Whosoeuer calleth on thy name shal be saued thou hast no pleasure in the death of a sinner but rather desyrest y t they shoulde liue be cōuerted thou hast so loued the world that thou not only didst become man and tooke our nature vpon thée but were content also to suffer most cruel death on the Crosse to purge our nature from mortal sinne and corruption adorne it with immortality eternall glorye not only in thyne own person but in vs also to satisfy the iustice of the father for oure sinnes O blessed shepheard thou doubtest not to spende thy most precious bloode to saue thy beloued sheepe from rauine spoile Good Lorde so increase thy grace in mee that thy holye woord may take roote florish in me that the good séed may not bee choaked with thornes so order my liuing that when by course of nature I shalbe dissolued from the pryson of my bodye I may come to thée that when thou more brighter then the sunne shal come in the middest of the Legions of
all inwarde heauinesse thought and care for any losse and discommodity receiued by worldly goods and alwayes to thinke that as well pouertie as riches néedinesse as aboundance sicknesse as health aduersity as prosperity come from thée and that it is knowne to thine vnserchable iudgement onely why and wherfore thou sendest eyther of these vpon vs and therefore let not my minde bée troubled with any feare of thinges to chaunce sauing onely to feare to displease thée but alwayes to be merry in thée with sobernesse and to cast all my care of worldlye affayres vppon thée For as much as thou hast commanded that we shoulde not be careful what to eat or what to drink or with what rayment we should be clothed for y u wilte not sée the righteous forsaken or their children begging their breade and that thou tournest all thinges to the best to them that serue thée and flie vnto thée for succour in the tyme of their distresse Let this O Lord be euer more fresh in my memorye grauen in my heart and redy in my mouth so that I leauing all néedlesse feare may alwayes giue thanks vnto thée and prayse thy holye name Amen The prayer vnto God the Father ALmightie God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ whome no deserte merite or worthinesse of oures but thyne own great clemencie mercy and pity caused to send downe thyne onely begotten sonne into this world to beare the burthen of our sinnes with the which we moste miserable sinners were ouerladen that he shoulde suffer moste cruell tormentes yea and also most bitter and shamefull death and sanctifie the reprochefull name of the Crosse with the renting of his blessed bodye and shedding his most precious blood thereon Thereby to make attonement betwéene thée vs thereby to pay the ransome for our soules thereby to consumate and finish the perfection of oure redemption and saluation Whiche thing it was thy good will that he should doe not only to aswage thy wrath and indignation but also to bring vs agayn into thy grace and fauour that wée being deliuered out of the bondage of sinne hell might serue thee in righteousnes and holynesse all the dayes of oure life and by thy frée gift and benefite of his deathe and passion be made partakers of his resurrection and of thyne endlesse vnspeakable glory Wherefore my God my maker my Lord my kyng séeyng thou hast so aboundauntly bestowed thy Heauenly giftes vpon me all mankind and hast so plentifully poured out thy grace and fauour on vs that for our sakes thou wouldst not spare thy owne sonne How shal we escape thine indignation whiche for this care and kindnesse of thyne are most carelesse and vnkynd and among all other which way shall I poore creature turne me how shall I who haue bene moste vnthankefull for his benefites and moste vnmindefull of them be so bolde as to lifte vp my hart or hands vnto the heauens and to call vpon thée thou of thy singuler goodnes diddest so prouide that the wickednesse of olde Adam shoulde be purged and washed away with the bloud of Iesus Christe but I haue wilfullye fallen into sinne againe Thou madest me the child of light but I haue made my selfe an inheritor of darknes thou madest mée thyne by creation I haue made my selfe the childe of perdition What shall I now therefore do shall I doubt of anie further mercie and forgiuenesse No no sweet Lord so great is thy mercye whiche surmounteth al thy works so large are thy promises so sure is the perfourmance of them to al such as take hold thereof so deare in thy sight are the merites of thy sonne Iesus so acceptable vnto thée is the harty repentance of a sinner that with the remembrannce thereof I am prouoked to crye vnto thée saying Father I haue sinned agaynst heauen and agaynst thée I am no more worthye to bée called thy childe Neuertheles behold thou me not as I am a gréeuous offendour but as thy creature haue nowe no respect to mine offences but behold my repētance think not vpon my wickednesse but vpon the wounds of my sauiour Iesus looke not vpon my false hart which hath wauered from thy lawes but behold the bléeding hart of thy sonne Iesus Chryst whiche was pierced to release me and set me frée my sinnes I cast vpon his back beséeching thée that hys merites may beare them and thy mercy pardon them Heare me O Lorde my God heare me for I knowe the more earnestlye that I séeke for desire thyne ayd the readier y u art to stretche forth thine hand to help me Heare me therfore O Lord bow downe and incline thy eare vnto my praier inspire me so with thy holy spirite that I may loue thée aboue al things and that I neuer fayle to put my hope trust of saluation in him whome thou wouldest to be my Redéemer and sauiour Make mée by the forsaking of all wickednes so to rise from falling into sinne that I may obtayne the true seruing of thée with innocency and purenesse of life Graunt this O Lorde for Iesus Christes sake to whom with thée and the holye Ghoste be all honor and glory Amen A Prayer vnto God the Sonne O Most sweete Sauiour O moste mercifull Redéemer O bountifull Iesu the sonne of God who although thou art highe yet thou art moste humble although thou arte Omnipotente thou arte also moste méeke and as thou art most mightie so art thou moste merciful To thée O Christ the guyde of al felicitie the Father of heauen hath gyuen all power both in heauen and in earth Thou art the true Pastor of our soules thou art oure Messias y u castest off none that sue vnto thée but as thou hast taken awaye the hande wryting that was agaynst vs and hast fastned it to thy Crosse so art thou ready to imparte the merits of thy Passion vnto all such as with true repentaunce of their sinnes call vppon thée faythfully Wherefore my swéete Iesus I most faythfullye and vnfaynedlye acknowledge y e benefites that thou hast bestowed vpō me and steadfastlye beléeue that thou being an Immaculate Lamb in whose mouth was neuer found guyle didst suffer most cruell torments at the hands of sinners for the loue of vs moste wretched sinners for the which cause I most hartily beséeche thée and most humbly pray thée to accept me into the number of thē whome thou wilt make Coinheritours of thy bitter paynes and although I of my selfe be moste vnworthy thereof yet thy merites can make me worthy to them doe I flye crauing that I may be so armed and defened by them that I maye subdue the world the fleshe and the Deuill euen as thou hast gloriously conquered sin death and Hell Thou seest O my Sauiour how I am daily and howerly beset with these thrée ennemies and so hardly beséeged of them y t without thy help I can by no meanes escape but that I must néedes be a
happye and safe whom God the mighty God of Israel keepeth the sunne shal not burne him by daye nor the Moone by night Thryse blessed is hée that feareth the Lorde for hée shall see happy dayes As the Hart thyrsteth after the water springes so my soule hath longed for my Lorde the liuing God When shall I come to appeare before thy presence to sée thée in thy glorious Maiestie face to face O Lord let thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesus that I may see the day of my redemptiō Good Lord make hast to helpe mée All glory maiesty and Empire be vnto God the Creatour God the redéemer and God the holy comforter for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to bee sayd of the sinfull soule MY synfull life increasinge and my synnes still abounding good Lord to whom shall I flye or to whome shall I resorte for succoure from offendinge thée I cannot cease neyther day nor nighte my sinnes are heuy vpon me pressing mee downe euen vnto Hel such is the weight thereof Moreouer when I prepare my selfe to amendmente of life and thinke stedfastly to serue please thée euen soone after doth my corrupt and infected nature offend and displease thy Deuyne maiesty so that I am proane ready to runne headlong into all kynd of wickednes sin such is my strength such is my force or rather weaknesse in performing those things which thou requirest at my handes So that good Lord I am ready vtterly to dispayre and forsake thée vnlesse thou of thy great mercy and pitty send thyne ayde from aboue and poure into mee thy moste healthfull grace that I may make hast to flye vnto thée with most bitter teares a sorrowfull heart and bowing knées lamenting my sinfull lyfe and gréeuous offences committed agaynste thée trusting most assuredlye and faythfullye in the merites of my sauioure Iesus Christ that by his most bitter death and bloodshedding which is of farre greater force vertue effect in preseruing me then all my sinnes and offences are in condemninge and casting mée away for whose sake I moste assuredly beléeue all my sinnes and offences are clearly forgiuen and shall neuer be layd to my charge but that I shall enter with thée in the laste day into thy euerlasting kingdom there to bée with thée for euermore to whom be all honor praise and glory for euer and euer A Prayer for the obtayning of Gods grace SHyne wee beséech thée O almighty and mercifull God through the power of oure Lorde Iesus Christe and the comfortable woorking of thy sacred Spirite the heauenlye comforter vpon our myndes and harts with the glorious beams of thy heauenly grace geue vs such plenty of wisedom and vnderstanding from aboue that thorow the knowledge of thee the man of ūn that is our frayle féeble fleshe with the wicked lustes and desyre of concupiscence may lye deade and buryed in vs giue vs good Lord the feeling of thy grace that by the vertue and deuine operation of thy worde the eyes of our soules may bee illumyned and made so light that the Prince of Darknesse with all his vnrighteous ministers may bee expulsed and banished from our memories and so establish vs in thy truth that our harts myndes and thoughts may continuallye be occupyed in thy testimonies that thereby thou good Lorde effectually shyning in our hearts by the vertue of thy good spirite we may learn to know and vnderstand what is the fulnes of of our calling and how ritche thou arte in the glory of the celestiall and Heauenlye heritage of thy Sayntes and that excellent greatnes of thy power and louing kyndnes towardes vs which beléeue without fayning thy holy Gospell according to the might and force of thy strength which thou shewedst in Chryst Iesus when thou didst rayse him from the dead and didst set him on thy ryght hande farre aboue all Empire power authority and dominion and euery name that is named not onely in this worlde but in the world to come by whose precyous death dearest bloodshedding wee are assured that sinne Death and hell are vanquished ouercome and vtterlye destroyed and if wée beléeue without wauering we shall in him bee able to resiste all the power of Hell and in Christ as Conquerours to tryumphe with victorye ouer sinne Death and Sathan and at the last to haue and enioye the fruition of his riche and glorious kingdome which hee by moste paynfull agonye bloody strypes gréeuous and bloodye woundes and lastly by his most painfull death purchased for his chosen and elect To whom for our sanctification iustification redemption and our saluation bee rendred with his Celestial Father and the holye Ghoste all lawd glory power honor and dominion for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for a woman that is great with childe to be repeated by her hartily before her trauel which will bee maruaylous comfort vnto her Thy wisedome Lord in all thy wayes and power great to perfourme it We cease to search and onely praise they passe so farre the reach of wit And thus we muse and maruaile much of all thy works and yet wee finde No marueile nor no wonder such as daily forming of mankinde Of such beginning such an ende and of such seede such frune to growe With Dauid well we may contende to mase to muse and nothing knowe The matter earth the shape from Heauen doth knit both soule and flesh in one Whereof such stryfe is them betweene from whēce they came they would be gon And yet in all thy wonders great thy mercy Lord doth farre passe all Which doest vouchsafe to worke this feate in mee pore wretch thy bond and thrall And as good Lord then doest me make thy shop to shape the worke therin Thy handworke so do not forsake but ende the thing thou doest begin Thy goodnes Lord did once make light this burthen now which sore doth greeue Untill which woe did wrap each wight the wilfull worke of woeful Eue. That Eue hath lost let Christ restore that guilt hath made let grace amend Why should the fault of Eue do more then grace in Christ God it defende Oh Lord the time approcheth neare that throwes of Eue I must sustaine And that I may the same wel beare increase my strength or lesse my paine Thy wil this burthen on me layd thy goodnesse eke wil ease the same Where Christ hath once the raunsome payd why should the deed of Eue bring blame Thus O Lord I me in thy will doe put eke wholly in thy hand I will not once swarue from thy skill to dye or liue to fall or stand A Godly and earnest Prayer in time of trauayle or Childbyrth of euery Christian faithfull woman ALmighty GOD my Heauenlye and moste mercifull Father I feele thy promised punishmente at this presente to take effect on mee which for the guilte and transgression of my progenitours hath bene by thy deuyne maiesty iustly pronounced agaynst me and the whole generation of Adam great
whose guiltie stomacks are gorged with grudge enuie mallice hatred disdayne and al vncharitablenes for their throts are like vnto an open sepulchre or swallowing graue their tongues are giuen to slaunder and backbite their neighboures the poyson of Adders lyeth hidden vnder their lippes and in fine they as thyne enemies blaspheme thy holye and blessed name and contemne thy testimonies O Lorde gine me thy grace to be conuersant with good godly men such as fauoure thy gloryous Gospell doe their indeuour to practise thy preceptes to the glorye of thy holye blessed name make mee by their example to exercise my selfe in the heauenly verity that thereby I maye bee instructed in the liuely knowledge of thy commandements obtaine such wisedome from aboue that by saythe I may cleaue to thee the fellowship of those y t feare thy holy name and so auoyde the company of the wicked and vngodly worldlinges whiche haue layde snares to intrap mée Graunt this O most mercifull Father for thy sonne Iesus Christ hys sake who euer liueth raigneth with thee and the holye Ghost to whome be all lawd glorye power and prayse for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to be purged from syn and vncleannesse TAke awaye from mée O Lorde the burthen of my corruption which by the continual exercise of my sinne and wickednesse hath wounded my soule wofullye with the daungerous dartes of transgression so that I feele my putrifaction abounding and my festred conscience ouerladen wyth vncleannesse so that I haue no other meane or remedye but to prostrate my seffe before the Throane of thy glorious Maiestye beséechyng thee intyrely of thy gracyous goodnesse to salue my sores wyth the comfortable Oyle of thy mercye thou onely O Iesus arte the swéet phisition of my soule sprinckle vppon mée Isope and I shall be made whyter than snow if thou of thy excéeding bounty and fauour good Lord wilt vouchsafe to washe awaye the spottes of my sinne and wickednesse that heapeth thy indignation and furye agaynst me I shall then excell the Gold that hath beene purified in the Furnace seuen folde let it therefore good Lord and mercyfull Father seeme pleasaunt vnto thy deuyne Maiestye to touche my corrupted vncleane heart wyth the heauenlye finger of thy grace that I maye bryng foorth the fruites of true repentaunce whiche are more acceptable to thy glorious and deuyne presence then the offering of Calues Bullockes shéepe Goates or any other burnt offring or sacrifice of peace a contrite and sorrowfull soule is the thing that thou doest moste delight an humble and a lowlye spirite is the oblation that thou doest desire A cleane and pure heart O Lorde my God I knowe thou doest loue and fauoure wherefore I beseeche thée to purge me from my sinne and iniquitie of thy great mercy let the bitter deploration of myne offences hartye contrition thorough thy glorious merites and paynefull passion O Iesus be y ◠only meane and way to set me frée from the powers of hell death damnation and sith I am by thy goodnesse begotten and borne anew strengthen me good Lord that I neuer slyde nor fall from thée but that I maye continuallye beare in my remembrance the state whereto I am called by thée thorowe thy aboundaunt loue and kyndenesse wype away good lord all my sinnes out of thy remembraunce cleanse me in the bloude of thy spotlesse Lambe Iesus Chryste and I shall be made cleane pure and safe Graunt this moste mercifull God for the honour and glory of thy name sake thorow the bitter deth of thy sonne Iesus Christe my mediatoure and Aduocate to whom with thée and the holye Ghoste be giuen lawd glory power praise for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to be sayde in tyme of peace and prosperitie GIue vs good Lorde the comfortable and healthfull spirite of thy grace and aboundaunt fauoure that wee maye wythout ceasing make oure continuall boast of thy prayse we know and from the bottomes of oure heart confesse that thou hast dealte more louinglye with vs then thou hast done with our next neighboures whose painefull miseries and bloudy broyles may be a sufficient warnyng vnto vs to hate oure sinne iniquitie least the like calamitie or euer we be aware doe compasse hedge vs rounde about giue vs grace therefore in time of peace and happie prosperitie so to walke that thy fatherlye blessing bée not withdrawn nor taken from vs and the rod of thy sharpe correction be layde vppon our neckes euen in such sorte as thou hast visited oure brethren in other Countreyes whose bodyes by the meanes of cyuill discention haue béene made a praye to the sworde we heare and vnderstande that not farre off but euen hard at the gates of our borders the father is readye in armes to séeke the destruction of hys sonne the sonne is as gréedye to gape for the blood of his father we heare how vyolentlye the brother thirsteth after the bloude of hys brother frind is against friend neighboure agaynst neighbour young men are murthered olde men are sodaynlye slayne manye a wife is husbandlesse many a childe is desolate and fatherlesse the cruel harted enemy spareth none he maketh hauocke no teares can staye hym from hys affectioned Tyrannye the tender infantes are haled from the earnfull paps of their wéeping mothers and torne to péecemeale before the sorrowfull eyes of their carefull parentes Olde age is contemned godly Matrons are abused Uirgines are deflowred and rauished by violence a spectacle or extreame crueltie for vs to beholde and a glasse of great carefulnesse for vs to looke vppon that haue worthely deserued like or far greater punishmentes yet withholdeste thou from vs thy scourge although our offences are so great and diuers that might heap vp the sentence of thy excéeding iustice agaynst vs in place of war and bloudye battayle thou hast giuen vnto vs prosperitie and perfit peace in place of penury dearth scarcity thou hast giuen vs increase fulnesse and great plentie in stead of discorde and discention thou hast sent vs vnitie and concorde and by thy celestiall prouydence wee are defended from the cruell enemie and from the domesticall and ciuill warre and besides these thy gracious giftes to heape vp our consolation ioye thou hast giuen vs thy true and lyuely word as a Lanterne to direct and guide our footsteps from vanitie to vertue from wickednesse to godlye wisedome from lycentious libertie to newenesse of life and godly conuersation besides all these thyne inestimable graces fréelye bestowed vppon vs thou haste giuen vs godly zealous Preachers whiche plenteously breake vnto vs out of thy eternall testamēt the breade of life whereon good Lord giue our soules such power to féede by fayth that they maye be nourished to eternall ioye and we by the diligent obseruing and obeying of thy commandementes maye be preserued from all kind of discention and peaceably enioye the fruites of pure peace trustie tranquilitie Grant this
O mercifull father for thy Sonne Christes sake oure onely Sauioure and Redéemer Christ Iesus A godly and fruitfull prayer to be sayd in tyme of bloudy Battaile O Lorde oure heauenlye father and euerlyuing God wée thy wretched and most miserable Creatures confesse and acknowledge wée haue worthelye deserued the rod of thy correction and punishment and doe merite manye sharpe and bitter stripes that knowing thy blessed glorious wyll haue of set purpose contemned thy deuine and heauenly precepts for which cause the sentence of thy wrath is sharpely kyndled agaynste vs euen as it hathe béene against thy chosen people Israell in the dayes of oure forefathers who glorying in their wickednesse were plagued in the fulnesse of thy indignation the sworde of their enemies beset them rounde about and hemmed them in on euery side the Iebusits the Amonits the Philistines and the Amorites oppressed them diuersly theyr strong holds were rased their Citties were besieged theyr houses were ransackt theyr goodes and theyr riches were caryed awaye by force of the bloud-thirstie enimie theyr yong men were ledde awaye captyue their virgines were woefully deflowred but in fyne when thou Lord God diddest beholde their heartie and earnest contrition thou didst withdrawe thy frowning countenance and sent them spéedy and safe deliueraunce one whyle thou Lorde sentest them Moyses to bring them out of the seruitude of Pharao the stony and stubborne hearted king of the Egyptians another whyle Iepthah sette them frée from the sworde of the Amonites wherewith they were greeuouslye afflicted and to make thy power excellent glory fully known thou gauest Sampson suche fortitude to bridle y e prowde Philistians Ouer and besides these thou of thy loue and myraculous goodnesse hast made feeble women mightie and victorious conquerours Debora was a shield to thy people Iudith comforted the distressed Bethulians and cut off y e head of prowd Holophernus that thy selfe good Lorde when thou beheldest their teares and harty sorrowe for their offences did prepare thy selfe to goe forth with their hostes thou thy selfe wyth the breathe of thy Nostrels diddest confounde and ouerthrow their enemies so good Lord be thou nowe present with vs in the fulnesse of thy deuyne power looke vpon vs wyth the eyes of thy fauourable pittie forget our corrupt and moste filthye offences let our contrite and sorrowful harts be a meane to vanquish thy displeasure conceiued agaynst vs bée thou present with vs in this tyme of necessitie and trouble set thy hand to help and assist vs agaynst the enemy be thou present with vs in this tyme of perrill daunger goe thou forth with our hostes then shall wee be assured to preuayle let not the multitude of furious foes dismaye vs for victory we doe know consisteth not in the power nor strength of many men the strengthe of horses armor nor weapons but it is thou O merciful father that giuest y e conquest where and to whome thou pleasest To thée therfore in this great extremity we flie and appeale beséeching thée of thyne inestimable loue and kyndenesse for the loue of our sauiour Christ Iesus to looke vppon our true repentante hearts and in the fulnesse of thy misseration and pytties to set vs free from the power of the raging enemye and to pardon our sinnes and greeuous offences that henceforth wée vow and dedicate our harts and mindes wholy to walk in integritie and newnesse of life Whiche graunt good Lorde to whome with thy sonne Christ Iesus and the holye Ghost be prayse and glorye attributed for euer and euer worlde wythout end Amen A Prayer agaynst presumptuous pryde and vayne glory WE heare O Heauenly father and are daylye taught and instructed out of thy eternall worde howe greatlye the gréeuous sinne of presumption pryde and vayne glory displeaseth thy deuyne Maiestye wée are learned that for the practise of this pestilente and haynous euill thou haste not spared the verye Aungels but haste throwne them in thy displeasure for their pryde vayneglory and presumption from beatitude to miserye from ioy wythout end to perdurable payn from brightnesse of thy glorious presence to vtter extreme and palpable darkenes from the gloryous fruition and participation of thy euerlasting kyngdome to the bottomlesse pit of hel Death damnation and endlesse flames of fire besydes this we are taught that by the transgression of Adam whose hawtye presumyng thorowe the intisemente of the subtle and perillous alurement of the Serpente thought to bee as thy selfe but in fine thy iustice condemned him and all hys posteritie this pestiferous sinne of pryde drowned him in the floudes of all daungerous euils as gluttonye luxury and suche other perils that had not thy mercye taken effect to keepe and hold Plea for his and oure sauegarde and thy sonne Chryst imbrased the glory power of his deuyne Essence taken vpon him our fleshe and frayle nature sinne onely excepted who freely offered his innocente bodye to the death of the Crosse we had perished euerlastinglye and bene vtterly confounded Print therefore good Lord and wryte these examples in my memorye that I fall not from thy fauour by the exercise of thys detestable sinne make me still to consider that the proud and disdaynfull are always abhorred in thy sight and sith it is thy good will and gracious pleasure to regard the humble and lowly man giue me such méekenesse from aboue that I maye continuallye present thée with the Sacrifice of a gentle méeke and contrite spirite that I may auoyde the plagues and punishmentes which thou hast prepared for the prowd and hawty minded Graunt this good Lord for Iesus Christ his sake my onely Mediatour and Aduocate who liueth and raigneth with thée and the holy ghost in glorye permanent and maiestye euerlasting A Prayer to be sayde in tyme of affliction and trouble O Eternall and euer lyuing god the father of al consolation and comforte vouchsafe of thyne infinite loue kindenesse to strengthen mée with thy heauenly grace paciently to beare and wyth meekenesse to suffer this Crosse of affliction and trouble which thou hast layde vpon mée for the vse of sinne and iniquitie I knowe O gracious and louing father that my deserts are suche as worthely haue prouoked thée to displeasure the burthē of my sinnes are intollerable for the whiche I must acknowledge and earnestly from the bottome of my heart confesse that iustlye thou haste corrected and visited mee yet not in the fulnesse of thy furye but according to thy fatherlye loue and kyndnesse and albeit thy rod lie heauy vpon my shoulders yet in thys tyme of thy correction I am comforted greatlye knowing assuredlye that y u correctest and smytest where thou louest thou woundest and healest agayne thou throwest downe to Hell and thou liftest vp to Heauen such and so great is thy omnipotencie that thou rulest aboue the Firmament in earth flouds and the lowermost partes of hell in Heauen the Aungels Arckaungels the souls of thy saints the blessed company of
So now O Lord we beséech thée of thyne aboundaunte goodnesse to increase oure fayth y t it may waxe strong in thée and fruitfully to exercise the workes of Charitie and loue to all menne that thereby as wee haue now bene at the celebration of thy gloryous and blessed Supper so we maye whensoeuer it shall please thee to call vs to thy heauenly banquet be found furnished not emptie not naked but armed couered with fruitful fayth and trueth and so as thy guestes or vesselles of honoure enioye the participation of thy heauenlye and riche pallace wheras ioyes neuer fade but continually indure take from vs the burthen of oure corruption sette vs frée from the cursed clogge of sinne deliuer vs from the snares of death and destruction giue vs willyng myndes to obey heare thy commandementes cleanse thou oure heartes from all iniquitie and giue vs grace henceforth to walk in newnesse of life and godlye conuersation that thy name may be glorified and we saued in the daye of thy comming to iudgemente Grant this for Iesus Chryste hys sake our Mediatour and aduocate Amen A Godly Meditation often to be remembred O GOD my Lorde my harts delight with whoÌ„ my soule longeth to dwell in that heauenly Ierusalem wherin is continual health eternall felicitie happie libertie and perfite blessednes where men shal be like vnto the Angels of God and iust men shall shyne as the Sunne in the euerlasting kingdome wherein is no heauynesse no sorrowe no griefe no feare no labour no death no disease no lack no hunger no thirst no cold nor heate no wearinesse of fasting nor temptation of the enemy no will to sinne nor power to do euil no old age no lame or deformed person no feare of pouertie or weakenes by disease but a quiet harbor of all ioy and euerlasting happines wher men in the societie of Aungels shal continually dwel wythout anye infirmitie of the fleshe For there is infinite ioye and eternal blisse from whence none shall bée remooued that once by thy prouidence shall enter therin There is rest from labors peace from y e enemy a new kinde of ioy delight such as no hart can coÌ„ceyue saue onely by taking a meruaylous delight and excéeding pleasure in the beholding of thée my Lorde God my gloryous redéemer and the heauenlye comforter whiche proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne O heauenly Ierusalem thou art swéete and beautifull in all thy ioyes and delyghtes there are no suche myseries in thée as we féele and suffer in this poore and miserable life There is in thee no darknes nor change of tyme the shyning of the Moone the twinckling brightnes of the starres giueth not light in thée but onely the God of all power glory maiesty the light of lightes for in thée the sonne of Iustice giueth light to those that are adopted in his blood to euer-during blessednesse The bright imaculate Lambe a moste beautifull light is thy light that doth illuminate hys chosen Children The king of kings is in the midst of thée enuironed on eche side with hys beloued Saintes and redy to crown them with euerlasting glorye In thée are Legions of Aungels singing of swéete Hymnes and songs that set forth thy prayse and honour of thy name In thée are the fellowshippe of heauenlye citizens In thée resteth the swéete solemnity of al such as returne from this miserable pylgrimage vnto thy glory the companie of the prophets Apostles victorious armie of Martyrs holy men women which haue vanquished the pleasures of the worlde haue their abyding with thée There are yong children maideÌ„s which haue passed ouer their dayes in holinesse of life publishing thy praise Euery one reioiceth in his degrée though not equall in glory yet like in ioyes gladnesse for there raigneth perfect charitie God is al in all whose maiestie without end they sée continually and still in beholding him their loue increaseth Of this eternall blessednes the holy Apostle Peter had as it were a shadow or a taste vppon the Mount Thabor at the traÌ„sfiguration of Christ from whence he desired he might not depart Paul also had a proofe of it when hee was rapt or takeÌ„ vp into y e third Heauen where he hearde words and sawe thinges so maruailous secrete so far passing al mans vnderstanding such as were not to be told or reuealed vntomeÌ„ Moyses his face became so bright through the conuersation that he had with the deuine glory vpon Mounte Sina that the Israelites coulde not abide it what then shall become of vs when perpetuallye with thée which art the Lorde of al glory we shal be conuersaunt after the manner of thy children and famylier friendes Who is he then that will not séeke and desire by all meanes possible to be a dweller there both for the desire of peace ioy and eternitie and for the perfect sight of God Contrariwise who is able to expresse y â— torments appointed for the vngodly and vnrepentant liuers in that deadly place called Hell which Sathan himselfe abhorreth what other thing can be there but continuall paines eternal tribulation infinite calamitie repleate with al euils There dwelleth wicked vgly Aungels whose horrible looks bringeth sodaine feare grieuous paines and fearefull death with continual clouds of euer during darknes There is nothing but howling wayling lamentation and mourning without all ende fearefull â—criches and confused cries are there in all places sodaynly raysed There the worme of conscience neuer dyeth In that damnable dungeon there is fire vnquenchable and perpetual gnashing of toeth The miserable soule findeth there no rest but is afflicted with all kinde of torments and such as can neuer be expressed all which indure for euer Alas little auayle it those that are subiected as fire brandes of bell to crye vnto the Lorde for he will not heare them then shall they know that all things which they had in this life are vaine and such thinges as they thought to be pleasaunte to bee found more bitter then Gall or poyson Then where is the pleasure of the flesh so tearmed falsly for there is none other pleasure but to feare the Lorde Then shall they confesse and saye that the iudgement of God is true and righteous saying did we not heare of this yet woulde not bee conuerted from the wicked déedes but then shall nothinge preuayle No sorrowe canne finde comforte no complaintes no remorce no tormentes nor paynefull passions an ende such and so increasing are the vexations of the seconde death wherewithall the bodyes and soules of the vnrighteous shal for euer be inuironed Sith therefore O heauenly father most gracious God it seemeth good to thy eternal wisdome by the knowledge of thy euerlasting trueth to giue mee knowledge of thyne inestimable mercy offered fréely vnto mée in Iesus Christe my mercifull Sauyour in whose bloody death paynefull passion I am assured of eternal life blessednesse Giue me
grace to printe in my remeÌ„brance thy manifolde mercies that feeding in soule by faith in thée I may attaine vnto those end lesse ioyes that thou haste prepared for thy adopted sonnes and chosen children in thy kingdome of euerlasting righteousnesse And so escape those euerlastinge torments which thou haste prepared for the Diuel and his Angels from the which place of woefull vexation and endlesse miserie deliuer me O heauenly father for the loue of Iesus Christ his sake to whome with thée and the holy Ghost be all lawde and praise for euer Amen A prayer to be sayde at the hower of death MOst mightie art thou O Lorde in all thy déedes and most holy in all thy wayes blessed bee the name of my father my God and glorious creator who by his deuine power and celestiall prouidence of nothing made all things fish fleshe fowles fruits trées herbes all other thinges whatsoeuer are contayned both in Heauen earth Seas and the nethermost partes thereof Man concerning the outward parts thou by thy celestial prouidence and fatherly bounty framedst and createdst of clay but concerning the inward substance of thy creature man thou didst fashion make euen according to thine owne similitude and likenesse Moreouer such and so great was thy loue and good wil towards him that all the Creatures or workes of thy creation serued to his vse In earth thou haste made him Lorde king ouer the fruits therof the beastes of the Field the Foules of the ayre and the fishes of the little floods and great waters In the Firmament thou hast placed the glistering Sunne with his oryent beames to giue him light by day and therewith thou hast giuen him the Moone the stars to gouerne him by night for the which cause aboue all other the workes of thy creation man shoulde and ought of right to giue thée that glory that to thée belongeth But alas such and so great is the corruption of our frayle and sinful flesh that for all these thy graces we are carryed away from thée and enter into contempt of thy precepts for which cause thou ofteÌ„times doest correct and punish vs to the inteÌ„t we might therby feeling thy rod of correction bee driuen to imbrace harty and true repentance but when thy threates and the stripes of thy displesure laide vpon vs cannot take place amongest vs thou oftentimes giuest vs vp to follow our lustes and affections but at last when thou doest beholde our inormities thou in a moment by the power of thy deuine iustice restrayned the rope of our disordered libertie and cuttest in sunder the Brydle of our voluptuousnesse eyther by sodayne death sworde fire famine or other thy deuine sentences of thy conceiued yre to the intent that other thy creatures might by the terrour of thy Iustice auoyde sinne and learne to amende their liues least they fall into the like calamitie or daunger True and moste true it is good Lorde that by the exercise of sinne we are the children of death destruction but by grace of the almightie and victorious conqueror swéet Iesus Christ we are the adopted sonnes of thy father and made fellowe heires with thee our perfect Emanuel in whose name with all humilitie lowlinesse of heart mind I come vnto thée in this great extremitie and daunger of death beséeching thée to bée present with mee to forget mine offences to thinke vpon thy mercies and although I haue not deserued so much as the least drop of thy fauor by means of the great burthen of my sins which are in the presence of thy diuine maiesty most vgly and loathsome to behold yet respect thou not O Father mine iniquity but haue an eye I beséech thée to the merits of my sauior Christ Iesus to whom as my mediatour sauiour Redeemer I apeale who hath promised comfort and sweete consolation to all those that in thy name flye vnto thée for reléefe I confesse thâ—e worthily thou hast visited me and yet not according to the multitude of my sins but in the fulnes of miseration and fatherly pitie giue me grace therefore in these bitter bruntes of death who vehemently at this present beginneth to combat with fainting féeble life constantly to cleue vnto thée let not y e plesures of this wicked worlde bee a let or impediment for mée to come vnto thée let not my fraile feeble flesh subiect to sin which hath thorow my transgression made mee a bondman to death moue me to dispaire in thy great mercy neither yet let that cauilling aduersary y e enemy of mankinde at my last end triumph ouer mée gyue me patience to suffer and gladly to beare abide this thy scourge and visitation and so fortifie mée in soule and body that so long as life shall indure in mée I may neuer cease to call vpon thy holy and blessed name yea and when death is most busiest make thou me most constant yea wheÌ„ he séeketh most strongly to assayle my féeble body giue mée thy grace good Lorde that I may in spirite hart minde and all the powers of my soule giue praises vnto thée that of thy grace inestimable kindenes hast sent thy sonne Christ Iesus to raunsome me by his blodie death and passion from the power of hell Giue me grace therefore nowe that thou hast appoynted thy messenger death to finishe the days of my pilgrimage and to call me by his sommons from out this vale of misery wrecchednesse to build stedfastly vpon him faithfully to hope for life saluation in and alone thorow him let the remembraunce of my 〈◊〉 wickednes be 〈…〉 vpon 〈…〉 thy glorious â—ight bâ—hâ—â—de my sorrowâ—â—l true repentant heart which come vnto thee with teares not building on my merites but vppon thy mercies though I be sinful thy son my sauiour is righteous though I be wicked yet he is most holy though I be full of iniquitie yet he full of all goodnes though I haue grieuously offended thee yet he hath fully contented thee though I haue transgressed thy lawe yet he hath fulfilled the same hath promised in his blood to wash away their sinnes that by faith continue in him constant to the ende I therefore in 〈…〉 gâ—â—at and â—aynefull â—â—onie beholding Death 〈◊〉 heate at the gates of my body come vnto thee by the vertue of a fruitefull fayth beséeching thée when thou shalt see it méete and conuenient that hee shall dissolue the bandes of this fadyng life which endureth but a whyle for a thousand yeres are as yesterday in thy sight to take my soule into thy glorious and blessed hands and so to confirme mee thy truth that at the last when it shall please thée by the sounde of a trumpe to raise my body from the graue when and in which time body and soule shal vnite come before thy presence I may by faith in thée passe ouer the mount of my corruption shake off the bands of sin be set frée from