the ende and in the end so be it O Lord increase our fayth A PRAIER TO BE sayde of the childe before he study his lesson PSALME 119. Wherein shall the childe addresse his way In guiding him selfe according to thy Worde Open myne eyes I shall knowe the maruails of thy Lawe Giue me vnderstanding and I shall keepe thy Lawe yea I shall keepe it with mine whole heart LOrde which art the fountain of all wisdome and knowledge seeing it hath pleased thee to giue mee the meane to bee taught in my youth for to learne to guide me godly and honestly all the course of my life it maye also please thee to lighten myne vnderstandinge the which of it selfe is blind that it may comprehende and receiue that doctrine and learning which shall bee taught me it may please thee to strengthen my memory to keep it wel it maye please thee also to dispose my hart willingly to receiue it with such desire as appertayneth so that by my ingratitude the occasion which thou giuest me be not lost That I may thus do it maye please thee to powre vpon me thine holy spirit the spirite I say of al vnderstāding truth iudgement wisdom learning the which maye make mee able so to profite that the paines that shall be taken in teaching me be not in vaine And to what study soeuer I applye my selfe make me O lord to addres it vnto the right end that is to know thee in oure Lord Iesus Christ that I may haue full trust of saluation in thy grace and to serue thee vprightly according to thy pleasure so that whatso euer I learne it may be vnto me as an instrumēt to helpe me therevnto and seing thou dost promise to giue wisdom to the little and humble ones and to confound the proude in the vanity of their wits likewise to make thy selfe knowne to them that be of an vpright heart and also to blinde the vngodly and wicked I beseech thee to fashion me vnto true humility so that I may be taught first to be obedient vnto thee and next vnto my superiors that thou haste appoynted ouer me Further that it may please thee to dispose mine heart vnfaynedly to seek thee and to forsake all euill and filthye lusts of the flesh that in this sort I may nowe prepare my self to serue thee once in that estate which it shalplease thee to appoint for me whē I shall come to age A PRAIER TO BE sayde before a man begin his worke PSALME 25. The Lorde reuealeth his secretes vnto them that fear him and maketh them to knowe his alliance O Lorde God moste mercifull Father sauiour seeing it hath pleased thee to commaunde vs to trauaile that we may relieue our neede we beseech thee of thy grace so to blesse our labor that thy blessing may extende vnto vs without the which we are not able to continue that this great fauour may be a witnes vnto vs of thy boūtifulnes assistance so that thereby we may know the fatherlye care that thou hast ouer vs. Moreouer O Lorde wee beseech thee that thou wouldest strengthen vs with thy holye spirit that we may faith fullye trauaile in our estate vocation without fraud or deceit and that we maye indeuour oure selues to followe thine holy ordināce rather thē to seek to satisfy our greedy affections or desire to gaine And if it please our labour giue vs a minde also to help thē that haue need according to that ability that thou of thy mercye shalt giue vs and knowing that all good thinges come of thee graunt that wee maye humble oure selues to our neighbours not by any meanes lift our selues vp aboue them which haue not receiued so liberal a portion as of thy mercye thou hast giuē vnto vs. And if it please thee to trye exercise vs by greter pouerty and need then our flesh would desire that thou wouldst yet O Lorde grant vs grace to know that thou wilt nourish vs continually through thy bountifull liberality that wee bee not so tempted that we fall not into distrust but that wee may patiently waite till thou fill vs not onely with corporall graces and benefites but cheefely with thine heauenly spirituall treasures to the intent that wee may alwayes haue more ample occasiō to giue thee thankes and so wholly to rest vppon thy mercyes Heare vs O Lorde of mercy through Iesus Christe thy sonne our Lorde Amen APR AIER FOR the Morning O Gratious God and louing Father according to thy cōmandement we do here present our selues before thy maiestye humblye prostrating our selues before the throne of mercy acknowledging and confessing from the bottome of our heartes that wee bee miserable sinners dayly breaking thy commandementes both in thought word and deede wherein we iustlye deserue euerlasting damnatiō to be vtterly throwne frō thy presence yet O lord we see thy goodnes againe towardes vs who not suffering vs thus to perish in our sins hast sent thine owne deare Son Iesus Christ to take vppon him whatsoeuer is due to reconcile and make vs at one with thee again in him therfore good Lorde and throgh him do we com vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that we feeling the greeuosnes of our sins and groning vnder the burden of them may feele the release ease of them in that we be thorough thy holy spirit assured and stedfastly beleeue that Christ hath borne the burden of them euen for vs. Graunt O Lorde that wee being assured hereof in oure consciences may thorough thy holye spirite be renued in the inner man to hate detest and abhorre sinne and to study to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life We do not only pray for our selues but also for all thy whol church especially such as bee persecuted for thi word graunt vnto them that whether it be by death or life they may glorifye thy name to theire liues end Bee mercifull to this Church of England and Irelande wee besech thee good lord and preserue euery part member of the same especially thy seruaunt ELIZABETH oure Queene graunt her all such giftes as be needeful for so high a calling to the aduancement of thy glory and benefite of this commō wealth to the establishing of a perfect gouernment of thy Church according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of al superstition and reliques of Antichrist to the gouerning of her subiectes in all peace and traquillitie Defend her O lord from all conspiracies treasons rebellions and so woorke in the harts of all her subiects that knowing her authorise doth come frō thy heauenly maiestie they may with obediēt harts humbly obey her in thee for thee Preserue the whol counsell the. Magistrats of the realme that being lightened through thy holy spirite they maye defend thy truth suppresse wickednes maintain equity Beholde all the Pastors Preachers of the worde blesse their labours
increase the number of them place ouer euerye Church a painfull watch man remooue all idle lubbers confound the power of Antichrist tourne the heartes of the people that they may be obedient to thy trueth Blesse the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxenforde and all the Studentes of the same with all Schooles of learning Beholde all those that bee afflicted with any kind of crosse that they may profit by thy correction in newnesse of life Lastly for our selues heere gathered together wee heartily craue at thy handes that it woulde please thee to make vs thankfull vnto thy maiestie for all thy louing kindnes shewed vnto vs euen from our infancy especially that thou haste this present night deliuered vs frō all dangers both of body and soule wherinto many haue fallen as we in like maner shoulde haue doone if wee had not beene stayed with thy merciful hand that thou hast also graunted vnto vs so sweet comfortable reste and haste now presently brought vs to the beginning of this daye For these thinges good Lord we yeelde vnto thee moste harty thanks besehcing thee to make vs more more daylye thankfull vnto thy maiestye for thē pardon oure vnthākfulnes And as thou hast safely preserued vs vnto this presenthowre frō all the daungers of this life so we beseech thee continue thy fauor towardes vs this day the whole course of our life Defend vs O lord that we now entring into the affayres of this daye bee not drawne away with the vayne alluremēts of this world to sinn and wickednes that we walk not in the shadowes of death that we be not intangled in the snares of sinne that wee stumble not at the blockes of iniqnity that we finallye fall not into the pit of death and destructiō but being shadowed vnderthy wings we may cheerfully and constantlye goe on forward to the end of our course Graunt vnto vs O Lorde our God that this good time which thou grantest vnto vs in this life bee not idly or vainly of vs consumed but that euerye one of vs maye bee diligentlye exercised in his calling this day and all our life long being assured that thou wilt once call vs to yeelde an account of our stewardship Indue vs we besech thee with those giftes and graces which bee needfull for vs in our calling that with a pure and sincere conscience we may vse them to the benefite of our brethren and discharge of our own consciences before thy maiesty We beseech thee O Lord that in all oure confultations words works this day and the whole course of oure life wee maye alwayes haue thee present before our eyes knowing that thou seest euen the very deepe thoughts of our harts which alwais maye bee as a brydle to pull vs backe that wee neither do nor yet consent vnto anye sinne or wickednes but that alwayes we may be so exercised in the affayres of this life that we loke still to the ende of our course when it shall please thee to bring vs through the pilgrimage of this life to our euerlasting reste with thy deare Sonne IESVS CHRIST oure Sauiour In whole name for these mercies and what soeuer thou knowest to be needefull for vs and for the whole Church we pray vnto thee as he him selfe hath taught vs in his holye worde saying Our father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shyne vppon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lorde tourne his fauourable countenaunce towards vs grant vs his peace The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the holye Ghoste be with vs preserue and keepe vs this day and euermore Amen A CONFESSION of sinnes with faith and repentance O Merciful and Heauenlye Father wee thy seruaunts do humbly prostrate our selues before thy maiestye acknowledging heere in thy sight our hainous offences committed against thy maiestye seeing and beholding thy heauye wrath againste them wee feele oure selues laden O Lorde our God with a huge companye of horrible sinnes wherof euen the verye leaste beeing but conceiued in thought is sufficient in iudgement to throw vs down to the euerlasting burning lake Our owne consciences O Lorde do beare witnes against vs of oure manyfolde transgressions of thy blessed law of our security sencelesse blindnes running head-long to destruction committing sinne after sinne although not notorious to the world yet horrible before thine eye The thoughtes of oure hartes rise vp in iudgement against vs the vanity of our talke before thy maiestye condemneth vs the wickednes of our deedes from thy sight reiecteth vs al our wicked thoghts words and deeds with the inward corruption of our nature do altogeather as it were a whole lump and loade of sinne lye heauie vppon vs and with their intollerable weight do euen presse vs down to hell Wee do daylye grone vnder the burthen of them inwardly lamenting our owne folly so greedily running into them In Heauen Earth or Hel wee see none able to sustaine the weight of them but euē the dearlye beloued Sonne Iesus Chrst who in mercy infinite and compassion endlesse hath sustained and ouer come that endlesse punnishement due vnto them in him therefore in him most meeifull father through him wee come to thee being fully assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept and take that ful recompence which hee thy deere Sonne hath made for vs as a iust raunsome for all the sinnes of all those who with a true faith take houlde on him In him therefore we see thine anger towards vs appeased thy wrath satisfied and our debts payde Increase in vs good Lord we beseech thee this liuely and feeling faith for wee feele it oftentymes in vs verye weake troubled with many doubtes increase it in vs O Lorde that wee may through thy holy spirite bee assured that the punnishement of our sinnes is fully in thy sonne discharged Make vs O Lorde our God to feele this same in our soules and consciences that IESVS CHRIST is ours and all that hee hath done that we are graffed into his body and made one with him and therfore fellow heires with him of euerlasting life Let vs not onely haue these wordes in our mouthes good Lord but through thy holye spirite lette vs feele the comfort of them in our heartes fully sealed and setled in vs that we feling our selues inwardly before thy iudgment seat discharged and our consciences towardes thee appeased may bee swallowed vp with an vnfained loue towarde thy heauenly Maiestie and towardes thy brethren for thy sake Make sin to dye in vs dayly more more that we may hate detest vtterly abhor all sin and wickednesse in all men but especiallye in oure selues that wee maye strongly thorough thy holye spirite sette our selues in open warre defiance against all sinn and wickednesse that we please not ourselues in our sinnes but straitlye examining sin
teares for oure synnes making them soft and meeke to receiue the print of thy holy word and seale of thy blessed spirire writing with thy fynger thine own laws in thē so that thou maist read thine owne hande acknowledge thine owne seale so passe by vs when thou shalt bring thy iudgement vppon the face of the earth for the iniquities thereof whereof thou haste giuen and still giuest frō time to time diuers tokens which we beseech thee may be profitable vnto vs whilste first of al we acknowledge thy hande striking vs and thy counsayle callinge vs thereby torepentaunce that thy heauier iudgementes doe not fall vpon vs to our vtter destruction Moreouer we thank thee O Lorde for that it hath pleased thee to be the watch-mā and as it were the spie of this Church and common wealth and haste foreseene all the stormes treasons comming againste it and againste thine annoynted oure Souaraigne whōe thou in mercye hast appoynted to rule ouer it and hast scattered them and brought thē to naught and haste pursued certaine of thine enemyes and ours vnto death be seeching thee to continue this watchfull and carefull eye ouer vs still to doe vs good and to pursue the rest of thine enemies and ours vnto the graue giuing notwithstanding repentāce vnto them vnto whom thou haste left place of repentaunce And to this ende raise vp the harts of our most gratious QVEENE her honourable Counsell thy Magistrates that as they sit in thy seate and are called by thy name so they maye execute thy iustice which thou so well approouest of whereof also thou wilt require a straighte accompt at their hands Wee desire thee also to shewe these thy graces to all other Churches of thine namely thy Church of Englande that it may enioye that peace that thou hast giuen it and graunt that the same be referred to that end wherfore thou hast giuen it namelye to the ful establishment of the throne of thy dear sonn our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST to the building of his Kingdome there Wee besech thee also for the churches which thi hād hath plāted long since especiallye those from whō we haue receiued knowledge in time of our ignorāce places of refuge in time of persecution that it woulde please thee to continue thy louing kindnes towards them and therefore cause them to continue their faith toward thee obedience towards thy holy worde And whensoeuer it shal bee thy pleasure to try them with any kinde of affliction it woulde please thee to graunt vnto them that they maye put their truste in thee hauing regarde to the truth of thy promises and to the good experience that they haue of thy helpe in times past and thereby conceiue comfort hope O Lorde euen of life in death and of saluation in destruction We praye thee also good lord that we may haue the feeling of the miseries of our brethren as members of the same body those that liue by the same spirite And therefore we pray thee that according to the manyfold troubles that thou shalt visite them with it woulde bee thy good pleasure to measure out rhy grace in such plentifull maner that thy children maye patiently beare and ioy fullye attende for the good howre wherein thou wilt pul them out of all their troubles And especially we pray thy maiesty for our brethren that are afflicted for thy Gospell sake namelye those that suffer imprisonment or otherwise in any nation for the clearer testimony of it that it woulde please thee to giue thē patience in all theire troubles wisedom and mouthes to defend thy cause against all those that rise vp againste it that thou woldst blesse their trauels and sufferings for that for which they are taken which is to giue a freer course of thy gospel into al places And therewithall wee beeseeche thee for the churches of France and Flaunders which are so miserably racked and torn in sunder and which are almost consumed with these fierie trials that it wold plese thee to looke vpon the sighings and gronings the teares that fall from their eies continually the bloud that is shed in all the partes of the Lande the bodies that lye vnburied to bee meate to the foules of the ayre and Fishes of the Sea the lonenes of wiues lacking ther husbāds children their fathers euery frend his freind And for asmuch as those thynges are come vppon them for thy names sake let it be thy good pleasure to helpe them considering that they are forsaken of all their friends roūd about and therefore praye thee that thou wouldest not looke vppon our sinnes nor the sins of our forefathers wherby we deserue not onelye this correction but vtter destruction as Sodom Gomorrha but rather to looke vpthy mercies which were before them whereby thou hast sayde that although we doe offend and thou doest correct vs yet thou wilt not take awaye thy mercies from vs but wilt leaue a remnant which thou wilt multiply and make as the starres of the heauen and as the sandes of the sea Looke also O lord vpon the outragiousnes and cruelty vnfaithfulnes and blasphemy of the enemies wherewithal they blaspheme thee and prouoke thee to thy face and therefore in thine owne cause and for thine own sake take the matter into thine owne handes and pay into the Bosomes of thine enymies double and treble of that they haue giuen to thee Notwithstanding those amongest them that belong to thine holy election hasten their calling that afterward thy iudgement may hasten vpon the earth and the inhabitants therof may learn to knowe thee by thy iudgementes that would not vnderstand and come to thee by the louing callinge of thy Gospell Wee pray thee O Lorde for our brethren that are vp in arms in both those coūtries that thou wouldst goe before them and come behinde them and on euerye syde of them couer their heads in the daye of battell teache their handes to fyght their fingers to war giue them wisdom valiantnes and good succes in al their enterprises strike a dizinesse maze of spirite into the enimies hearts and take away from them al force and disappoint all their counsels And vpō our brethren in Flāders we beseeche thee that thou wouldest comfort them ouer all thy troubles that they haue receiued and breaches that haue beene made in vpon them where there are new forces euery day gathered new sleights inuented to destroy thē it maye please thee to scatter their forces and bring their sleights to nothing Yea grant also O lord that that which they haue deuised against thy children may come vppon their own heades And for oure Brethren in Fraunce wee beseeche thee O Lorde what straights so euer thei be in thou wouldest deliuer them and althogh they be forsaken in the iudgement of all the world and in their own iudgementes notwithdanding thou that hast the issues of death in thine owne handes deliuer those that are appoynted to
death And finally we most humbly thanke thee for that it hath pleased thee to keepe vs this daye and all the dayes and times of our liues beseeching thee that thou wouldst receiue vs this night in to thy holye keeping that we may haue quiet rest not of bodies alone but of our soules also restinge from all those thinges that are contrarye to thy most holy wil atēding while thou raisest vs vp in the morning to do al those thinges that thou hast appointed vs. These thinges wee desire of thee all other things which thou knowest to bee more needfull for vs and thy whole Church better then we ourselues do know for Iesus Christes sake saiing the same praier that hee hym selfe hath taught vs. Our father c. A forme of euening prayer necessary to be vsed of all christians in their houses and families Psal 55. vers 16. I vvill call vnto GOD and the Lord vvill saue me Euening Morning and at noone will I pray make a noise and hee vvill he are my voice VVE mostehumblye beseeche thee O gratious God and heauenlye Father euen for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake to pardon and forgiue vs all our sinnes in thought worde and deede committed against thy holy lawes and commandementes to tourne away from vs gratiouslye all those plagues which we most iustlye haue deserued for them both in this lyfe and in the lyfe to come working in our harts euery day by the holye spirite more true and vnfayned sorrow for thē with greater care euer hereafter to know thy blessed wil reuealed in thy worde and to order all our opinions and doings according to the same so much the rather O Lorde because of thy manyfolde blessinges wherby thou dost dayly mooue vs herevnto for the which O heauenlye father make vs more hartely thankfull specially for our recreation at the firste after thine owne holinesse righteousnesse for our redemption by IESVS CHRIST when wee were vtterly loste for that knowledge of our Sauiour which by the preaching of thy blessed Gospell thorough thy holye Spirite thou haste wrought in oure heartes for true repentaunce for fayth hope and loue for watchfulnesse in oure dooinges and all other gyftes of thy grace pertayninge to oure saluation all which graces O Lord are verye weake in vs because of the greate wickednesse of oure heartes striuing against thy holy spirite so as in thy wrath thou mightest iustlye forsake vs vtterly yet O Lorde let it bee thy grations pleasure to increase them in oure heartes euerye daye euen so long as we lyue in this worlde as of thy goodnesse thou haste begun that thereby the assuraunce of oure saluation maye be more certaynelye sealed vppe vnto oure owne consciences that so wee maye also learne to bee more truelye thankfull vnto thy MAIESTIE for the benefites of this lyfe Namelye that thou hast hitherto euer since wee were borne giuen vs those thinges that were needfull for oure bodies as health foode apparrell and such like that thou hast kept vs from many daungers comfort vs in all our troubles and strengthen vs in all our weaknesse and giuing vs grace this daye to labour faithfully truelye in our callinges hauing brought vs safelye paste all the daungers thereof vnto this present howre O Lorde forgiue vs the sinnes of this daye and of oure whole life and speciallye our great vnthankfulnesse for these thy manifold blessings and in IESVS CHRIST thy deare sonne continue them towardes vs euer hereafter both in soules and bodies and speciallye this night receiue vs into thy blessed keeping preserue vs from all daungers from sin frō al vngodly dreames and fansies graunting vnto vs cōfortable rest so as wee maye bee the better strengthened to serue thee faithfully in our calling and giuing vs grace alwayes both sleeping and waking to bee readye when thou shalt call vs out of this miserable worlde Last of all because thou hast commanded vs to pray for others also wee beseech thee good Lorde be mercifull to all Nations specially to those Churches where thy Gospell is truely preached continue thy mercy towards this realme preserue oure Queene blesse her Counsell and all in aucthoritye with necessarye graces increase the number of faythfull Preachers strengthen the Godly lighten the ignoraunt conuert the wicked be merciful vnto al scholes and places of learning to all our friendes and kinsfolkes and others afflicted in bodye or in soule graunting to euerye one of them as to oure selues those necessarye graces whiche thou knoweste to bee needfull for euery one of vs in oure seuerall estates and callinges to the glorye of thy name and the better assurance of our saluation through CHRIST IESVS in whose name we aske of thy maiesty as hee hath taught vs. Our Father c. Euening prayer for priuate houses and families O Gratious God and louing Father according to thy cōmandement wee doe heere presente our selues before thy maiesty humbly prostrating our selues before the throne of mercy acknowledging and confessing frō the bottome of oure heartes that we be miserable sinners daylye breaking thy commandementes bothe in thought word deed wherein wee iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to be vtterly thrown from thy presence yet O Lorde we see thy goodnes again towardes vs who not suffering vs thus to perish in our sinnes haste sent thine owne deare son Iesus Christ to take vppon him whatsoeuer is due to reconcile and make vs at owne with thee agayne In hym therefore good Lorde through him do wee come vnto the beseching the for his sake that wee feeling the greeuousnesse of our sinnes and groning vnder the burthen of them maye feele the release ease of them in that wee be through thy holy spirit assured and steadfastly beleeue that Christe hath born the burthen of them eaueu for vs. Graunte O Lorde that we beeing assured hereof in our consciences maye through thy holy Spirit bee renuee in the inner man to hate detest and abhorre sinne and to studie to liue accordinge to thy blessed will duringe our whole life Wee do not onelye pray for our selues but also for all thy whole Churche especiallye such as bee persecuted for thy worde graunt vnto them that whether it bee thy death or life they may glorify thy name to their liues end Be merciful to this Church of England Irelande wee beseeche thee good Lorde to preserue euery part and member of the same especially thy seruant ELIZABETH our queen graunt her all such gifts as bee needefull for so high a calling to the aduauncement of thy glory and benefite of this common wealth to the establishishing of a perfect gouerment of thy Church according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of al superstition and reliques of Antichriste to the gouerning of her subiects in al peace and tranquility Defende her O Lorde from all conspiracies treasons and rebellions and so worke in the heartes of all her subiectes that knowing her authoritye
their craft and oure simplicitye their watchfulnesse and oure sluggishnesse their long experience and our rawnesse their preparation our nakednesse and that wee haue not only nothing to helpe vs but also to carry about vs our own concupiscences readye to betraye vs into the handes of our enemies it maye please thee to furnish vs from aboue giuing vs the strength of thy holy spirit in the inner man reaching vnto vs the compleat harnes of thy grace wherewith we beeing armed on both sides maye be prepared at all assaies against all assaults of our enemies And forasmuch as in this weakenesse wee oftentimes giue backe and sometimes runne away wee pray thee O Lord that with the hand of faith wee may lay holde on the victory of our Sauiour Iesus Christ that albeit we be not able to ouercome in our owne persons yet notwithstaÌ„ding we may ouercom in his who hath ouercommed for vs all so bee partakers of those promises that thou hast knit vnto that glorious victory And we most humblye thanke thee also for those graces both of the bodye and soule which pertaine to this present life desiring thee to increase them vppon vs and in vs so farre foorth as thou seest wee haue neede of to thy glory the commodity of others and our owne comforts therfore we beseech thee Lord to teach vs with thy holy Spirite the lawfull vse of theÌ„ that thou wouldest not suffer our harts to bee rooted in them but that at all times we maye be willing to part from them And whensoeuer it shall please thee to call for vs wee may willingly goe vnto thee as childreÌ„ to their deare Fathers strangers vnto their own Country and members of the body vnto their Head and so much the gladder by how much thou Lord art better then all the men in the worlde and the kingdome that thou hast prepared better then all the kingdomes thereof We pray not only for our selues O most mercifull Father but for all those that thou hast appointed to eternall life beseechinge thee to gather the number of those that are to bee gathered those that thou haste alreadye called thou wouldest alwayes keepe and to this end good Lorde rayse vp faithfull ministers both of thy church and common weale whose heartes thou wouldest fyll with the graces of thy holy spirit meete for their callinges meete also for these dangerous times roote out from among thy church al rauening and deuouring beasts which to fyll their own bellies distroy thy flok ease thy selfe of all hirelings idle shepherds which haue no care nor skil to feed thi flok with the holsom food of thy blessed worde nor to rule them with that equitye wherewithall thou wilte haue thy people to bee ruled those Pastoures that thou haste giuen it woulde please thee to increase the number of them those that are fallen asleepe and carried awaye with the corruptions of these tymes that thou wouldest awake letting them vnderstande the charge that thou haste committed vnto them the trust that thou hast put them in and the accoÌ„pt that thou wilt take at their handes Be gratious O Lorde vnto this lande of ours and enter not into iudgement with the horrible sins of it namely the coÌ„tempt light esteming of thy holye worde so many yeares offred vnto vs and we being trusted withall so manye nations better then we being passed by which woulde haue brought foorth the fruit thereof more theÌ„ we haue don and we not onely haue brought forth no good fruit but rotten vnsauory to prouoke rhy Maiestye withall notwithstanding all these our sins it would please thee in that loue wherwithall thou haste firste loued vs when we hated thee in that long patience wherein thou hast hitherto born with vs and dost yet beare tarriest for our repentance to grant vs heartie and earnest repentaunce our heartes being effectually touched with thy holye Spirite strikinge these rockye hearts of ours that thei maye bee resolued into riuers of teares for oure synnes making them soft and meeke to receiue the print of thy holy word and seale of thy blessed spirite writing with thy fynger thine own laws in theÌ„ so that thou maist read thine owne hande acknowledge thine owne seale so passe by vs when thou shalt bring thy iudgement vppon the face of the earth for the iniquities thereof whereof thou haste giuen and still giuest froÌ„ time to time diuers tokens which we beseech thee may be profitable vnto vs whilste first of al we acknowledge thy hande striking vs and thy counsayle callinge vs thereby to repentaunce that thy heauier iudgementes doe not fall vpon vs to our vtter destruction Moreouer we thank thee O Lorde for that it hath pleased thee to be the watch-man and as it were the spie of this Church and common wealth and haste foreseen al the stormes and treasons comming againste it and againste â—hine annoynted oure SOVERAIGNE whome thou in mercye hast appoynted to rule ouer it and haste scattered them and broughte them to naught and haste pursued certayne of thyne Ennemyes and ours vnto death be seeching thee to continue this watchfull and carefull eye ouer vs still to doe vs good and to pursue the rest of thine enemies and ours vnto the graue giuing notwithstanding repentaÌ„ce vnto them vnto whom thou haste left place of repentaunce And to this ende raise vp the harts of our most gratious QVEENE her honourable Counsell thy Magistrates that as they sit in thy seate and are called by thy name so they maye execute thy iustice which thou so well approouest of whereof also thou wilt require a straighte accompt at their hands Wee desire thee also to shewe these thy graces to all other Churches of thine namely thy Church of Englande that it may enioye that peace that thou hast giuen it and graunt that the same be referred to that end wherfore thou hast giuen it namelye to the ful establishment of the throne of thy dear sonn our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST to the building of his Kingdome there Wee besech thee also for the churches which thi haÌ„d hath plaÌ„ted long since especiallye those from whoÌ„ we haue receiued knowledge in time of our ignoraÌ„ce places of refuge in time of persecution that it woulde please thee to continue thy louing kindnes towards them and therefore cause them to continue their faith toward thee obedience towards thy holy worde And whensoeuer it shal bee thy pleasure to try them with any kinde of affliction it woulde please thee to graunt vnto them that they maye put their truste in thee hauing regarde to the truth of thy promises and to the good experience that they haue of thy helpe in tymes paste and thereby conceiue comfort hope O Lorde euen of life in death and of saluation in destruction We praye thee also good lord that we may haue the feeling of the miseries of our brerhren as members of the same body those that liue by the same spirite
And therefore we pray thee that according to the manifold troubles that thou shalt visite them with it woulde be thy good pleasure to measure out thy grace in such plentifull maner that thy children maye patiently beare ioyfullye attende for the good howre wherein thou wilt pul them out of all their troubles And specially we pray thy maiesty for our brethren that are afflicted for thy Gospell sake namely those that suffer imprisonment or otherwise in any nation for the clearer testimony of it that it woulde please thee to giue thē patience in all theire troubles wisedom and mouthes to defend thy cause against all those that rise vp againste it that thou woldst blesse their trauels and sufferings for that for which they are taken which is to giue a freer course of thy gospel into al places And therewithall wee beeseeche thee for the churches of France and Flaunders which are so miserably racked and torn in sunder and which are almost consumed with these fierie trials that it wold plese thee to locke vpon the sighings and gronings the teares that fall from their eies continually the bloud that is shed in all partes of the Lande the bodies that lye vnburied to bee meate to the foules of the ayre and Fishes of the Sea the lonenes of wiues lacking ther husbāds children their fathers euery frend his freind And for asmuch as those thynges are come vppon them for thy names sake let it be thy good pleasure to hepe them considering that they are forsaken of al their friends roūde about and therefore praye thee that thou wouldest not looke vppon our sinnes nor the sins of our forefathers wherby we deserue not onelye this correction but vtter destruction as Sodom Gomorrha but rather to look vpō thi mercies which were before them whereby thou hast sayde that although we do offende and thou doest correct vs yet thou wilt not take away thy mercyes from vs but wilt leaue a remnant which thou wilt multiply and make as the starres of the heauen and as the sandes of the Sea Looke also O Lord vpon the outragiousnes and cruelty vnfaithfulnes and blasphemy of the enemies wherewithall they blaspheme thee and prouoke thee to thy face and therefore in thine owne cause and for thine own sake take the matter into thine owne handes and pay vnto the Bosomes of thine enymies double and treble of that they haue giuen to thee Notwithstanding those amongest them that belong to thine holy election hasten their calling that afterward thy iudgement may hasten vpon the earth and the inhabitants therof may learn to knowe thee by thy iudgementes that would not vnderstand and come to thee by the louing callinge of thy Gospell Wee pray thee O Lorde for our brethren that are vp in arms in both those coūtries that thou wouldst goe before them and come behinde them and on euerye syde of them couer their heads in the daye of battell teache their handes to fyght their fingers to war giue them wisdom valiantnes and good succes in al their enterprises strike a dizinesse maze of spirite into the enimies hearts and take away from them al force and disappointall their counsels And vpō our brethren in Flāders wee beseeche thee that thou wouldest comfort them ouer al their troubles that they haue receiued and breaches that haue beene made in vpon them where there are new forces euery day gathered new sleights inuented to destroy thē it maye please thee to scatter their forces and bring their sleights to nothing Yea grant also O lord that that whiche they haue deuised against thy children may come vppon their own heades And for oure Brethren in Fraunce wee beseeche thee O Lorde what straights soeuer they be in thou wouldest deliuer them and althogh they be forsaken in the iudgement of all the world and in their own iudgementes notwithstanding thou that hast the issues of death in thine owne handes deliuer those that are appoynted to death And finally we most humbly thanke thee for that it hath pleased thee to keepe vs this daye and all the dayes and times of our liues beseeching thee that thou wouldst receiue vs this night into thy holye keeping that we may haue quiet rest not of bodyes alone but of our soules also restinge from all those thinges that are cōtrary to thy most holy will attending while thou raisest vs vp in the morning to do al those thinges that thou haste appoynted vs. These thinges wee desire of thee all other things which thou knowest to be more needfull for vs thy whol church better then we our selues do know for Iesus Christs sake saying the same praier that he him self hath taught vs. Our father c. A PRAYER FOR the Euening O Lorde God Father euerlasting and full of pitty we acknowlege and confesse that we be not worthye to lift vp oure eyes to heauen muche lesse to present oure selues before thy maiesty with confidence that thou wilt heare our prayers and graunt our requestes if we consider our owne deseruinges for our cōsciences do accuse vs our sinnes do witnes against vs and we know that thou art an vpright Iudge which dost not iustifie the sinners and wicked men but punni shest the falts of al such as transgresse thy commandements yet most mercifull Father since it hath pleased thee to Commaunde vs to call vpon thee in all our troubles aduersityes promising euen then to helpe vs when we feel our selues as it were swallowed vp of death and desperation We vtterly renounce al worldlye confidence flye to thy Soueraigne bounty as our only stae and refuge beseeching thee not to call to remembraunce our manifold sinnes and wickednes whereby we continuallye prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligence and vnkindnes which haue neither worthely esteemed nor in our liues sufficiently expressed the sweet cōfort of thy Gospell reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience death of thy sonne Iesus Christ who by offering vp his body in sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompence for all our sinnes Haue mercye therefore vppon vs O Lorde and forgiue vs our offences Teach vs by thy holye spirte that we maye rightly weigh them and earnestly repent for the same And so much the rather O Lord because that the reprobate and suche as thou hast forsaken cannot praise thee nor call vpon thy name but the repenting hart the sorrowfull mind the conscience oppressed hungring and thirsting for thy grace shall euer set foorth thy praise glory And albeit we be but wormes and duste yet thou art our Creator we be the worke of thy hands yea thou art our Father and we thy children thou art our she p-heard and we thy flock thou art our redeemer and we thy people whō thou hast bought thou art our God we thine inhertiance Correct vs not therfore in thine anger O lord neither according to oure deserts punish
beloued of the Lorde and that thy graces may abound as the waters of the sea in the Prince and in the people in the Church and in the Common wealth from day to day till the day of our translation into the kingdō where iustice inhabiteth where we also shal inhabite and raign with thee according to thy promise for euer Grant vs these things O mercifull Father for thy deare sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we craue them at thy mercifull hande praying furthermore for them as hee hath taught vs to pray Our father which art in heauen c. A PRAYER TO be sayd in visiting of the sicke O Our good GOD Lord Father the Creator and conseruer of all thinges the fountaine of all goodnes benignitye like as among other thine infinite benefites whiche thou of thy great goodnesse and grace doest distribute ordinarilye vnto all men thou giuest them health of body to the end that they should the better know thy great liberalitye so that they might be the more readye to serue glorifye thee with the same so contrarywise when we haue ill behaued our selues in offending thy maiestye thou hast accustomed to admonishe vs and call vs vnto thee by diuers and sundry chastisementes thorough the which it hath pleased thy goodnes to subdue and tame our fraile flesh but especiallye by thy grieuous plagues of sicknesse and diseases vsing the same as a meane to awake stir vp the great dulnes and negligence that is in vs all and aduertising vs of oure euill life by such infirmities dangers especially when as they threaten the verye death which as assured messengers of the same are all to the flesh full of extreame anguishe and torments althogh they be notwithstanding to the spirit of the elect as medicines both good wholsom For by thē thou dost mooue vs to retourne vnto thee for our saluation and to cal vpon thee in our afflictions to haue thine helpe which art oure dear and louing father In consideration wherof wee most earnestlye praye vnto thee oure good God that it wold please thine infinite goodnes to haue pitty on this thy poore creature whome thou hast as it were bounde and tied to the bed by most grieuous sicknesse and brought to great extremitie by the heauinesse of thine hand O Lorde enter not into a count with him to render the rewarde due vnto his workes but through thine infinite mercye remitte all his faults for the which thou hast chastised him so gently and beholde rather the obedience which thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde hath rendred vnto thee to witte the sacrifice which it hath pleased thee to accept as a full recompence for all the iniquities of thē that receiue him for their iustice sanctificatiō yea for their onely sauiour Let it please thee O GOD to gyue him a true zeale and affection to receiue and acknowledge him for his onely redeemer to the end also that thou maist receiue this sicke person to thy mercy qualifiyng all the troubles which his sins the horror of death and dreadfull feare of the same may bring to his weake conscience neither suffer thou O Lord the assaults of the mighty aduersary to preuaile or to take from him the comfortable hope of saluation which thou giuest to thy dearely beloued children And for as much as we are all subiect to the like state condition and to bee visited with like battel when it shal please thee to call vs vn to the same we beseech thee moste humblye O Lorde with this thy poore Creature whom thou now presently chastisest that thou wilt not extende thy rigorous iudgement against him but that thou wouldest vouchsafe to shew him thy mercye for the loue of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde who hauing suffered the most shamefull and extreame death of the Crosse bare willinglye the fault of this poore patient to the end that thou mightest acknowledge him as one redemed with his precious bloud and receiued into the communion of his body to be participant of eternall felicity in the companye of thy blessed Aungels wherfore O Lord dispose moue his hart to recieu by thy grace with all meekenesse this gentle and fatherly correction which thou haste layde vpon him that he maye indure it patientlye and with willing obediēce submitting himself with heart and minde to thy blessed will and fauourable mercye wherein thou now visitest him after this sort for his profit and saluation It may please thy goodnesse O Lord to assist him in all his anguishes and troubles And although the tongue and voyce bee not able to execute their office in this behalf to set forth thy glorye that yet at the least thou wilt stirre vp his hart to aspire vnto thee only which art the onlye fountaine of goodnesse thou wilt roote and settle in his hart the sweet promises which thou hast made vnto vs in Christe Iesus thy sonne our Sauiour to the intent he may remaine constant against all the assaultes and tumult which the enemy of our saluation maye raise vp to trouble his conscience And seeyng it hath pleased thee that by the death of thy dear Son life eternall shoulde be cōmunicated vnto vs and by the shedding of his bloud the washing of our sinnes should be declared and that by his resurrediō also both iustice and immortality shoulde bee giuen vs it may please thee to apply this holy and wholsome medicine to this thy poore Creature in such extremitie taking from him all trembling dreadfull feare to giue him a stout courage in the middes of all his present aduersityes And for as much as all thinges O heauenly father be knowne vnto thee and thou canst according to thy good pleasure minister vnto him all such thinges as shall be necessarye and expedient let it please thee O Lord so to satisfie him by thy grace as may seeme most meete vnto thy diuine maiesty Receiue him Lorde into thy protection for he hath his recourse accesse to thee alone make him constant and firme in thy commaundements and promises and also pardon all his sinnes both secreat and those which are manyfest by the which hee hath moste grieuouslye prouoked thy wrath seuere iudgementes against him so as in place of death the whiche both he and al we haue iustlye merited thou wilt graunt vnto him that blessed life whiche we also attend looke for by thy grace and mercy Neuerthelesse O heauenlye Father if thy good pleasure bee that hee shall yet lyue longer in this worlde it may then please thee to augment in him thy graces so as the same maye serue vnto thy glorye yea Lord to the intent he may conforme himselfe the more diligentlye and with more carefulnes to the example of thy sonne Christ Iesus and that in renouncing him selfe he maye cleaue fullye vnto him who to gyue consolation and hope vnto all sinners to obtaine remission of all their sins
the light of thy glorious gospell and that thy Churche flourishe and increase beeing thorough thy protection ayded supported maintayned and defended we beseeche thee by thy holy Spirit guid and rule euerye parte and member thereof especially thy seruaunt ELIZABETH our Queene whome thy gratious fauoure and prouidēce hath appointed a cheefe member in the same vnder whose winges next vnto thy protection it hathe a cheefe succour and support Graunt vnto her O LORDE a pure and perfecte zeale aboue all thynges to promote thy Glorye first and chiefly in laboring and endeuoring of her self earnestly in wiping away and purging out of thy Church all blots and deformityes to reduce the same to a pure sincere forme of worship agreing to thy blessed word vtterly to mooue all stumblinge blockes which stay and hinder the course of thy gospell giue her in like maner O Lord the spirite of wisdome discretion and gouernment that with equitye and iustice she maye see this whole Realme which thou hast committed to her charge peaceablye and quietly gouerned that she may studiously labour that as wel thorough the whole realm vertue be exalted and vice abandoned as specially in her own house and Court that all wicked vanityes of this world all licentious inordinate life all flattering and dissimulation being vtterly banished the feare of thy glorious Maiestye maye so raigne in the heartes of all within her pallace Court that their liues and conuersation may be agreable to thy blessed wil in sincerity and true holines and integrity of life that from them as from the head maye shine puretye of life and conuersation as an example and patterne of true Godlines to the whole Realme Preserue her wee beseech thee good Lord from all conspyracies and treasons that if it be thy good will shee may haue a long quiet raigne ouer vs to the benefit of thy Church the aduancement of thy glory Indue the whol coūsel good lord with the true perfect wisdom that in all their consultatiōs coūsels hauing thee present before their eies thy mai consult of those things which principally and cheefely may be for the aduauncement of thy glory the cōmodity of thy church and next for the quiet peace and gracious gouernmente of this realm So lightē al inferior magistrats of this realm good Lord with the brightnesse of thy holy Spirite that vnderstanding thy will they may zealously defend maintain further the course of the Gospell with the swoord of iustice cut off the wicked cherish the godly Defend and gouern by the holye spirite the Pastours of thy church labourers in thy vine yarde that they maye zealously earnestly and diligētly feed thy flock committed vnto them with the foode of lyfe thy blessed word wherwith their soules maye bee nourished to life euerlasting Increase the number of them deare Father place ouer euerye flocke a godly learned and painful Pastor who may painfully and carefully trauail euery one in his charge to bring thy people which now alas in most partes doe wander and goe astray like lost sheepe to the true knowledge of thee their lord God and of their deare Son Christe Iesu their Sauiour And for thy mercy we beseech thee to take pity vpon thy poore and simple flocke roote out al rauening wolues whiche haue craftilye crept into thy sheepefolde and do make hauocke of the soules of thy simple flocke Cast out all hirelinges time-seruers and dumbe Dogges whiche to fill theire bellyes onelye haue thrust them selues among the sheep do pitifully suffer the flock of Christ thy sonne to bee deuoured and scattered of the wolfe Stir vp good Lord place in their rooms faithfull shepheards which diligently paynfully carefully and earnestly may labour in thy vineyard seek to win the souls of thy people out of the tyranny and power of Satan to the freedome of thy deere son Christ Iesu our Lord. And that thy Church may be furnished with Godly learned pastors we beseeche thee prosper and encrease in all Godly knowledge all Schooles of learning especiallye the two vnyuersities CAMBRIDGE and OXFORD grant deer father vnto all the students of the same that the cheef end of all their studyes maye be to the furtheraunce of thy Church and maintenance of the common wealth Blesse their studies deare Father that all vaine studies set a side they may so fructify and profit in all profitable and godly sciences that heereafter they may become profitable members in thy Church and godly vpholders of the common wealth Graunt good Lord to all the whole Commons of this realm that their hartes beeing touched with a sincere fear and reuerence of thy heauenlye maiestye acknowledging thy mercy in placing ouer them a godly Princesse they may euery one in their callinges walke in all true and humble obedience vnto her in thee for thee without resistaunce tumultes insurrections conspiracies or rebellions knowing that to resiste the higher powers is to rebell against thy maiesty Finally we beseech thy goodnesse so guid and gouerne the harts of all the whole realme of euery degree that euery one in his calling being by thy grace supported may so occupy his Talent that thy glory in al thinges may be aduanced thy Church enlarged this whole realm into sincere godlinesse vertuously reduced Moreouer we beseech the O Lord our God in mercye beholde all those which suffer persecution for thy glorious wordes sake whether it be imprisonmēt death or banishment or whatsoeuer els strengthen then them good Lord that they hauing thee alwais before their eies and the glorye layde vp for them in the lyfe to come may cōtinue constaunt in defending thy truth with out feare of man or vain alluremēts of the world that whether it come by lyfe or death they may glorify thy holye name in continuing in the truth to the ende Preserue in like maner wee beseech thee all others thy children whome it hath pleased thee with anye other kinde of Crosse to chasten for their amendment whether by pestilence famine war pouerty imprisonment sicknes or banishment trouble of conscience vexation of spirite disquietnes of mind want of spirituall comfort or what soeuer kind of affliction of bodye or minds thou doest try them with that by thy holy spirite beeing fully assured that thou by this thy correction mindest to call them backe to a feeling of their sin and due consideration of their life and conuersation that they maye patiently abide thy Fatherly triall looking for aide helpe and comfort from thee when it seemeth most conuenient to thy godly wisdome and beeing by thy mercyfull hande once deliuered may acknowlege thy singular power and worke giuing all laude and praise to thy glorious Name and afterwardes all the dayes of their life studye to liue before thee in sincerity and perfect holinesse euen to their liues ende Amen A PRAYER FOR all estates O Lorde God Father of light with whōe is no chaunge neither yet shadow of