thy grace but because my ignorance and imperfections doe carrie mee far from such wisdome and fulfilling of righteousnesse beeing a poore sinner weake in faith slowe in hope colde in charitie and polluted with many offences that make mee worthie of death and of hell I beseech thee my God in thy fatherly loue to bear with these my defects and to forgiue mee my trespasses in the name of thy Sonne our Mediator and Sauiour accepting his sacrifice as a full satisfaction for my sinnes and imputing vnto mee his righteousnesse to life euerlasting Yea and to the same end also vouchsafe to encrease in my soule the giftes of thy Spirite so as I may from better to better prosecute my life in the path of thine elect being through thy power freed from the temptations of the Diuell the worlde and my owne flesh and by thy blessing preserued from the dangers and miseries of this poore life alwayes notwithstanding content with whatsoeuer it shall please thee to bestow on me Sith thou art my Father I cannot but expect a happy end of all my estates hauing alredy receued of thy mercy the assured pledge of saluation forgiuenesse of sinnes But Lord graunt especially that this thy grace in Iesus Christ may be vnto mee a comforte and light all the dayes of my life especiallie in the darkenesse of my death to retaine and holde me fast in the hope of my saluation that with a liuelie faith at my last gaspe I may speake these words of my Sauior vpon the crosse Into thy handes O Father I commend my spirite whereby my soule also inwardly may heare the same Christ saying vnto mee as vnto the poore penitent theefe Sonne reioyce this day thou shalt be with me in Paradice so that full of peace by the effects of thy spirit I may cheerfully leaue my body to the earth assured of the resurrection and that my soule may by the angels be guided to the rest of the blessed and vouchsafe O Lord to do the like fauor to all men euen as I craue these thinges in the prayer which thy Sonne hath taught me Our father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this daie our dayly bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory world without end Amen Likewise my God encrease in me faith working euerie good worke and giue me grace constantly to perseuere and therof to make confession euen to my last gaspe saying I beleeue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his only Sonne our Lord who was conceiued by the holie Ghost borne of the Virgin Marie suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead and buried hee descended into hell the third day hee rose againe from the dead he ascended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almightie From thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleeue in the Holy-Ghost the holy Catholike Church The communion of Saints the forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the flesh and the life euerlasting This is my faith O Lord wherin I will liue and die as also in the obseruation of thy holy commandements comprized in these two That wee loue thee with all our hart with all our soule with all our strength and with all our thoughtes and our neighbours as our selues Thus thy grace O my God and Father be with me and thy blessing vpon all the workes of my hands So be it The two and twentieth Prayer Among the Family At noone at night in the morning will I crie vnto God and the Eternal shall deliuer me I wil make a noise and hee shall heare my voyce saide Dauid and Daniel kneeled down three times a day in his house prayed vnto and magnified his God Psal 55. 18. Dan. 6. Our help and beginning be in the name of God O LORD our GOD and our Father onelie great in glorie of infinit power It hath pleased thee so far forth to honour men poore Wormes of the Earth that they may in ful confidence in thy loue and bountie present themselues before thy face to magnifie thy name to talke of thy beneficence and to craue thy mercy Wee humblie beseech thee therfore by thy spirit to dispose of our souls our hearts and our lips to glorifie thee and so to call vppon thee that our vowes may be acceptable vnto thee and our prayers heard wee confesse our selues in thy presence to bee so great sinners that our vnworthinesse will not suffer vs to look vp vnto heauen without feare that thou shouldest in thy iust wrath thunder vpon vs neither can wee cast our eyes vpon the earth but we shall see as it were hel open for the reward of our wickednesse for we are not only as the children of Adam conceiued and borne in sinne worthy of thy curse but also by our owne faults lusts vncleanenesse bad thoughtes and wicked works whereinto throgh our corruption and frailtie wee doe daily fall which also in our consciences are so many witnesses to condemne vs and as it were heraultes that doe denounce vnto vs death and hel But O Lord thy mercies do infinitely exceede our malice and thy eternall compassions are vppon sinners that conuert and turne vnto thee Thou art that pittifull Father that gladly receiued his prodigall and vnthriftie Son That louing shepheard that carefully seeketh the lost sheepe that charitable phisition that freely commeth to the sicke to cure them Wee therefore the children of thy loue the sheepe of thy folde and the poore in spirit doe most humbly beseech thee in the name of thy welbeloued Sonne our mediator Iesus Christ to vouchsafe to take away all our calamities in pardoning our sinnes because thou hast giuen vs this great Sauiour in the worlde to the end that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting We are baptized in his name wee haue receiued his gospell and he giueth vs his body in thy church for spirituall foode that we may liue in him and of him for euer blessed Giue vs grace therefore O our God with a true and liuely faith vphelde by hope and doing euery good worke to apprehend to the glorie of thy name and the peace of our soules these great benefits that are purchased for vs in the death and passion of the same our redeemer that wee may incessantly yeelde praysings vnto thee and liue in holinesse according to thy worde For the performance hereof vouchsafe to encrease the giftes of thy spirit in our hearts whereby the desires of the flesh and vanities of the worlde may bee mortified and the pure fire of thy loue so kindled that we may loue honour and serue thee with all our soules with all our
for our sinnes according to the scriptures and that hee was buried that he rose againe the third day O Lord God gouernour of the whol world immortall invisible and onely wise for whose glory al things are It hath pleased thee according to the decree of thy vnserchable counsel that man formed after thy image falling through mistrust and curiositie should by faith be restored to the excellency of his nature as he sought knowledge aboue thy commaundement and so strayed from thee and wandred out of thy kingdome so he should be revnited and reduced into the path of saluation by beleeuing thy onely word in the promised Messias bending the power of his soule to the knowledge of thee in embracing the preaching of the crosse which the world would accompt folly But because we al are borne blind corrupt in our vnderstanding and wil it therfore followeth that all the imaginations and thoughts of our hearts are at all times nothing but euill our knowledge but vanitie our learning but ignorance our iudgment but errour our virtue but pride our wisedome but folly the viuacitie of our spirit but the instrument of ruine our delight but filthinesse our faith but incredulitie our hope but fancie our charitie but coldnes to be briefe our pietie but hipocrisie or superstition and our righteousnesse but couetousnesse or ambition So O Lorde we of our selues are not capable somuch as of any good thought vntill thou that knowest how to drawe light out of darkenesse doest returne to recreate'vs and by thy spirit to shine in the firmament of our soules to the end to frame vs to euery faithfull disposition and obedience and so to make vs beleeue in the gospell of thy grace and in the mysteries of our saluation I doe therefore beseech thee my God according to the'fficacy of thy vertue to change in me all that I haue of my selfe euen my rockie and stony heart and to make it pliable and flexible vnto the voice of my Redeemer who is come according to thy promise to the end that with a ful and liuely faith I may cleaue to his eternall truth for to comprehend according to the measure of the gift of thy grace the summe and perfection of al spirituall wisedome which is taught vs in the articles of the true faith and sound principles of religion Surely my soule is ouermuch enclined to incredulity and mistrust neither is it any way able to pierce into these high and profound secrets of pietie where we haue a full declaration of all the figures and prophesies of the Lawe with a most pure and perfite doctrine of foure pointes which are the end of all religion and in regard whereof it is called Catholike For we find thee there thou only and true God the Father authour and gouernour of all things by thy almightie power goodnesse and prouidence Next is our Lord Iesus Christ thy word and eternall wisedome therein taught vnto vs together with the holy history of our redemption Thirdly wee there find the Holy-ghost the infinite vertue of thee the father and of the sonne three persons of one sole and simple essence and in equality of glory And finally therein is shewed vnto vs the Church with a description of these celestiall graces which thou pourest vpon her whereof the forgiuenesse of sins is the summe and life euerlasting the onely scope Giue therefore vnto me O merciful father of this thy spirit of reuelation of grace and of mercy to the end that the brightnesse and operation therof may make my soule capable of these great mysteries of thy Kingdome so farre forth as may be expedient for me to know for the seruice of thy glory and my owne saluation that I may obtaine the onely true and sound knowledge whose subiect and end is the onely true solide soueraign good both of men and angells namely to know thee to glorifie thee and him whome thou hast sent the Sauiour of the worlde So that with my hart I do belieue before thee and before al men I do with my words and workes confesse this acceptable message of the Messias come borne in the Cittie of DAVID which is CHRIST the lord God manifested in the flesh iustified in the spirit seene of the Angelles preached to the Gentiles beleeued by the elect and exalted into glory for our righteousnesse holinesse and glorification And further also O Almightie Lord print in my heart the feeling knowlege of this thy vnspeakable goodnesse and loue extended vnto vs miserable sinners in that thou hast giuen vnto vs in sacrifice thy only Sonne sauing vs by the onely merits of his death to the end that as the efficacie of thy loue hath redounded vnto mee wretched creature so I may also sufficiently meditate vppon thy great mercie incessantly yeelde thankes vnto thee and feele thy eternall consolation vntil that I departing in peace towardes thee my Father which art in Heauen may obtaine full knowledge of those things that thou hast giuen me to belieue and in the perfect contemplation of the same the soueraigne good of Angells and Saints So be it The third Praier Vpon the Decalogue or ten Commaundements God spake all these words saying Heare O Israel I am the Lord thy god that hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage Thou shalt haue none other Gods before me c. Exod. 20. O Lord GOD Almightie the Author of all righteousnesse and perfection of life Yea euen thou that arte essentially Iustice perfection and life I doe truly know that man created righteous perfect and by cleauing to thee blessed but free and mutable hath through sin turned from thee plunging himselfe headlong into the sinke of vnrighteousnesse imperfection and death The which hath depriued him of all power to obey the Law and consequently beereaued him of the reward of eternall blessednesse And albeit of especiall grace thou doost call vs by the Gospel to the free righteousnes of Christ to the end that beleeuing in him wee might confesse him for the obtayning of saluation Yet are we neuerthelesse so much inclined to distrust corruption and disorder that hardly we are entred into the waie of his vocation but we retyre immediatly straying out of that course which might purchase vnto vs the prize and so through our workes denie our faith and our profession Now as the first principal manner of thy honour O onely true GOD consisteth in beleeuing reposing our whole confidence in thee alone so the second and inseperable from true faith resteth in obedience to thy holy and good will For we must be doers of that which thy holie worde teacheth vs and not hearers only deceiuing our selues Thou hast chosen and adopted vs to be thy Children but it is vpon this condition that wee should be reformed to the Image of Iesus Christ the first borne inheritour of all things Thou hast chosen vs to be his Temple now his habitation
felicitie to finish my course in singing thy praises and so leauing this terrestriall life to ioyne my selfe altogether to the celestial with those blessed spirits in the ful contemplation of thy face to sing with them without ende this song of perfect ioy Glory be to the Father that hath created vs Glorie bee to thee Sonne that hath redeemed vs Glory be to the Holy-Ghost that hath sanctified vs Glorie bee to the most high Trinitie one onely God and Lord whose kingdome is euerlasting The fift Prayer For the obtaining of the knowledge of God in Iesus Christ The word was made flesh and dwelled among vs full of grace and truth the Image of the inuisible God which is Christ the Lord who by himselfe hauing purged our sinnes sitteth at the right hand of the Maiesty in the highest places Ioh. 1. Col. 1. Lu. 2 Heb. 1. O GOD and Father of our Lord CHRIST IESVS of all them whom in thy loue thou hast giuen to him to be his brethren it hath beene thy good pleasure to settle our true and only felicitie in the knowledge of thy holy name and the effects of thy grace But we are vnable to know thee or to feele the efficacy of thy loue towards vs but only in the same Christ who is the brightnesse of thy glory and the engrauen character of thy person God with thee and man with vs. By this thy eternall word thou hast created all the world giuing vnto vs the first testimony of the manifestation of thy wisedome and prouidence But thou giuest vnto vs a more singulare benefite in the miraculous worke of our redemption which doeth moreouer represent vnto vs both thy great goodnesse and loue and thy Iustice infinit power Thy loue in that thou hast vouchsafed freely to redeeme man who prowde and vnthankefull withdraweth himselfe from thee his Father and Benefactor to surrender himselfe vnto Sathan the ennemy to our saluation and of the honor of thy name Thy Iustice in that thou hast not spared the blood of thy innocent sonne to the end in his sufferings to iustifie thy goodnesse and mercie Thy power in that for the accomplishing of this supernatural worke thy word which from all eternitie was resident in thy bosom of one essence glory with thee was made flesh Neuerthelesse I doe very well know that the depth of these profound mysteries cannot bee discouered to our sences likewise that the treasures of thy wisedome of thy counsell of thy iudgements are a very bottomlesse gulph and thy wayes vnpossible to bee found out Also O Lord I doe not rashly enter into that place which is forbidden mee neither will I imitate my first Father Adam who coueting to knowe too much stretched forth his hand vnto the forbidden tree desiring one onely fruite was depriued of all the rest I doe onely with flexible heart embrace and carefully in my cogitation according to the measure of thy gifts meditate vpon that secret of godlinesse which I haue receiued by the preaching of thy gospell and doe in part know it attending vntil that beeing deliuered from sinne corruption I may see thee face to face and in presence behold that which now I see as it were in a very darke Glasse I beseech thee therefore my God vouchsafe by the light of thy spirit to addresse and guide mee to the faithfull knowledge of this great Sauior whom thou Father hast promised from the beginning and in the latter times reuealed in signes and wonders surpassing all miracles to the end that being instructed by his doctrine I may by him and in him know thee to be the eternall liuing God and the God of thy people that according to his word I may worship and serue thee in spirit and trueth and in his name call vpon thee only in full confidence of thy mercy accompting him the onely subiect thereof and the onely mediatour of my saluation who died for my sinnes and rose againe for my righteousnesse euen O Lord because it pleased thee in this maner to ordaine of the estate of humane nature the worke of thy hand For who was thy councellor and what haue wee that wee haue not receiued graunt me therfore in the study and meditation of so manie mysteries so high and so wholesome that I may humbly condiscend to thy diuine counsells in worshipping them with this resolution of thy Apostle that I will not knowe any thing but Christ neither possesse any thing but him sith that in him the treasures of all wisdome doe consist and that they who lodge him in their harts haue thee O God verily present and doe enioy thee and thy benefites Make mee also to feele and confesse this necessitie common to all the children of Adam that for the cancelling of this obligation which held vs bound to eternal death the iust reward of sinne wee were forced to haue this great King of heauen holy innocent and seperate from all sinners to be our high Priest our sacrifice and oblation vppon the Altare of the crosse to the end O Lord that according to thy vnsearchable decree grounded vpon mercy iustice thy welbeloued sonne hauing to himselfe vnited our nature the bondslaue of sathan might leade it to the combate directing it how to ouercome this great aduersarie And this hath he done obtaining for vs the victory when he brake the sting of death and the bonds of hell and that hee rose out of the sepulchre carrying with him this humane nature as the earnestpeny of our hope to thy right hand into heauen Of this so singular a benefit let the remembrance be alwaies before my face that I may offer vnto thee O my God the sacrifice of thanksgiuing all the dayes of my life so that hauing my redeemer for a perpetuall obiect and sure foundation of my Faith in the knowledge of thy name I may throughly learne Christ not onely to beleeue by his word the sacred history of his conception and birth with his office of a soueraigne King great Prophet and perpetuall law-giuer of his church also his passion death resurrection and ascention but also that in ful assurance in his promises I may appropriate to my selfe the gifts and graces which he purchased for vs by fullfilling that charge that he had receiued from thee O father to th' end through him to make vs worthie of thy saluation so as I may comfort and wholy repose my selfe vpon his obedience and righteousnesse shewing forth and sealing this my hope by good workes to thy glory O eternall God and the peace of my conscience So be it The sixth Prayer For obtaining the gift of the Holy-ghost By the eternall Spirite Christ hath offered himselfe to GOD the Spirit which soundeth the profound things of God which also testifieth with our spirit that we are the children of God Heb. 9.1 Cor. 2. Rom. 8. O Lord God almightie wee doe learne in thy word the vnchangeable trueth how without confounding any thing in
the three persons of thy most simple Deitie or separating the onelie and indiuisible substance thereof each person retaineth that which is proper to it selfe in the workes of thy hands especiallie in that which concerneth our saluation So the beginning of all and euery action is properly attributed vnto thee O Father of the whole world and to Iesus Christ the wisdome the counsel and the order to dispose all things and to the Holy-ghost the virtue and supporter of all thy workes According whereunto we also doe acknowledge from thy loue and from thy eternall decree that which thou hast prouided for vs in thy sonne very God made very man such a mediatour and sauiour as was necessary for vs and we do render vnto him the honour of the fulnesse of thy loue towards vs and of that perfect obedience which he hath yeelded to thy ordinance euen to the death of the crosse for vs in most bitter anguish as also from the vertue of the Holy-ghost wee doe confesse the efficacie and healthfull application of this great principal worke-manship of our redemption But thy wisdome O Lord resteth wholy in mysterie that is to say it is hidden except vnto those to whom thy spirit giueth sight For true it is that Christ calleth all men vnto him by his Gospel spreading forth to that effect his light throughout the whole world Whoso followeth him shall not walke in darkenesse for hee is the Sunne of righteousnesse and the way to go to heauen But his sheep only do heare his voice and follow him as also hee knoweth them and giueth vnto them life euerlasting euen by the meere efficacie of his spirit which quickeneth lighteneth all thy elect O God to make them in thy word to behold the onely lampe of thy kingdome the knowledge of saluation the stedfast good of the soule and the sure and only means to obtaine the same all people may reade thy sacred writings only they can gather the sence to the peace of their soules whom it pleaseth thee as a Father to illuminate from aboue For so may they see howe in the crosse of Iesus they doe obtaine their triumph in his shame their glory in his paine their peace in his teares their ioy in his sorrowe their comfort in his death their life in his resurrection the fulnes of their hope I beseech thee therefore my God to powre vpon me this thy spirit of wisdome and reuelation and grace and mercie through the force of his beames to scatter the darkenesse of my vnderstanding and with the propertie of his fire to purifie my peruerse affections with his celestiall lamp to kindle in my hart the true zeale of his glorie with his holie oyntment to enbaulme my conscience with his sacred oyle to reioyce and refresh my bowells and with his vertue to renew in me an vpright spirit to the end that my soule thus cleansed from the dead workes of the flesh may be replenished with faith working all righteousnesse whereby to ouercome all the enemies of my peace Sathan the flesh the world and my owne lusts But aboue al things O Lord make that by the efficacy of thy holy spirit I may obtaine the true and firme consolation of the faithful soule the height of his ioy of his quiet and content and the infallible direction to his perfection namely the assurance that thou my heauenly Father hast adopted mee into the number of thy children by that grace that thou hast giuen vs in Christ who was made our wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption And that being so ouershadowed with the hope of Christians which neuer at all confoundeth I may bee supported euen to the end of my dayes by thy holy spirite which then especially may help my weakenesse that I may yeeld vnto thee O my God my last groanes to thee acceptable and to me salutiferous as being in the throne of thy glorie approoued capable of the contemplation thereof in the heauenly Ierusalem through thy goodnesse and mercy in Iesus Christ our Lord To whom with thee O Father and the holy spirit one onely God bee all honor glory and dominion for euermore So be it The seuenth Prayer To craue of God the light of his word God hauing at sundrie times and in diuers manners spoken to our Fathers by the Prophets In these last dayes hee hath spoken vnto vs by his Sonne All Scripture is giuen from aboue by inspiration and is profitable to teach to conuince to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be accomplished and perfectly instructed to al good workes Heb. 1. Tim. 3. LOrd GOD eternall who knowest that euerie man is but flesh and that flesh is but corruption so that although thou hast endued him with a reasonable soule which doth distinguish him from other creatures yet his light is notwithstanding conuerted into darknes when therby he seeketh to penetrate into the glorie of thy kingdome and the mysteries of thy grace who knowst that this poore blind borne destitute of thy supernaturall light doeth in lieu of his God forge to him selfe an idol and instead of truth taketh lies for thy worde his owne inuentions for goodnesse vanitie and for the path to life the way to death And albeit thou hast euen from the beginning made thy selfe as it were visible to man in the table of the Vniuersall worlde that thou hast many times reuealed thy selfe vnto him in a liuely voyce by thy eternall worde in Heden Horeb in the burning bush and elsewhere afterward by thy prophets insinuating thy selfe by thy spirit into their harts thoghts to the end by their ministrie to instruct thy people and finally that thou hast also manifested thy selfe in greater light by thy owne worde made flesh for our redemption and speaking vnto vs by his mouth Yea which is more that thou hast so farre graced vs that this thy word of life hath beene and stil remaineth among vs faithfully collected in the sacred registers of the holy scripture so to be vnto vs the image of thy glory the Lawe of thy Kingdome the ladder to Heauen the gate to paradice the trumpet of saluation to be briefe the treasury of piety vertue wisdome consolation and perfection Yet the flesh neuerthelesse ignorant rash and peruerse hath neither eyes to perceiue these spirituall riches nor eares to heare the wholsome doctrine but dooth rather disdaine it as it were some deuised discourse vnprofitable voice or howsoeuer it be suffering it self to be carried away with it owne feeble imaginations taketh in this verely the thorne for the rose the leafe for the fruite and the huske for the kernell And thus are wee all borne in this error in this calamitie in this waie to mortall ruine vntill that thou O mercifull God makest vs to be borne againe of the spirite and in will to make our thoughts capaof the light of thy word through true faith to apprehend the mysteries of thy kingdome
the couenant of life the gospel of thy peace and the assured testimonies of thy mercies Vnto this grace of inestimable valewe doth my timerous soule direct her vowes in searching thee O great king of Heauen throughout the course of thy faithfull testimonies which minister wisedome to the ignorant the holie Scriptures I beseech thee therfore my God vouchsafe to direct and guide mee in the vnderstanding of this eternall trueth through the operation of thy spirit the true teacher of our soules that being by him instructed I may accomplish and make my selfe perfect in these foure cheefe principles of the doctrine of Saluation which are fullie taught at large The knowledge of thee the true God and the God of thy people the knowledge of faith of pietie and of righteousnesse Whereby I may obtaine the end of my being and therein euen my Soueraigne felicitie which is to know thee to glorifie thee for my GOD to beleeue thee and in thee Iesus Christ and in Iesus Christ to loue feare and serue thee according as thou doest commaund vs and in all things to obserue equity towardes all men For thus are thy children bound to learne according to the measure of the gift of thy grace thy fatherly loue in thy welbeloued sonne namelie by conioyning thereto the feare of thy name that is to say that reuerence that causeth vs in humilitie and obedience to shunne euil and do good and to embrace righteousnesse and charity Walking in this sort O Lord vnder thy conduct in the Communion of Saints I shall want nothing to my comfort or perfection in good time a depart my life beeing ended to receiue peace and perfect ioy in the eternall habitation of the blessed soules So be it The eight Prayer That we may not depart from the Church Christ hath loued the Church and giuen himselfe for her to the end hee might sanctifie her after he hath purged hir by the washing of water through the word Shee is the house of God the prop and piller of truth the gates of hel shall not preuaile against her Eph. 5.1 Tim. 3. Ma. 16. ALmighty God righteous and mercifull who in thy iustice wrath for the iniquitie and disobedience of man diddest once smite the world with the ouerflowing of waters and in thy mercie and loue diddest extend thy singular fauour vppon the Arke of thy seruant Noah sauing him and his family from the generall inundation intending in that small flocke of the faithfull to preserue and keepe thy chosen people that they might for euer serue to thy glory I learn out of thy word that thou wilt no more destroy the earth in that maner and therefore thou hast left vs the rainbow to remaine for a signe Neuerthelesse what else is our poore life languishing in the infection of sinne but a deluge of euills and running streame of miseries that falleth vpon al men indifferently leadeth them vnto death In one onelie thing therefore must my soule take comfort that as Noah was preserued from the vniversall shipwracke in his wodden Mansion by the promise that he kept in his heart so that a thousand falling on his right hand and a thousand on his left hand hee remained sound and safe vnder thy wing euen so I hold my selfe assured against the assaults of sin and in the middest of the woefull rockes of this world yea euen in the straits of the graue that thou wilt alwayes preserue from all calamities and miseries those who stand fast in the Arke of thy Church grounded vppon thy word in the gospel of reconciliation to the Lord Iesus and depart in his faith For as likewise according to thy Iustice thou diddest euen from the beginning pronounce the sentence of death against our Fathers because of their transgressions euen so it pleased thee euen then also to comforte them in thy mercie with the promise of life in this great Redeemer to come to the end that embracing him by faith they and their children holding this foundation should erect vnto thee a temple of liuing stones holy and stedfast for euer for the sanctification of thy name and the blessednesse of thy elect And these are they O Lord who first in the time of the Patriarks then vnder the law and lastly vnder the gospel beleeued thy word worshipping thee according to the same in certaine mysteries of religion in all places whither it pleased thee to call gather and sanctifie them by the remission of their sinnes in the blood of thy sonne regenerating them to euery good worke by thy holy spirit of the same grace giuing them from age to age diuerse visible signes for sacraments in thy Church so indeede she is thy house and the pallace of thy glory where thy truth is lodged which shee vpholdeth and aduaunceth by her holy ministery preseruing it also that it should not fall into decay and that the remembrance thereof should not bee lost from among men Whereof likewise proceedeth the stabilitie of the Church which the endeuours of sathan cannot shake because the foundation of her faith doctrine is grounded vpon the true and immooueable rocke euen the pure confession of the name of Christ I do therefore beseech thee my God inasmuch as thy mercy and goodnes hath brought me in and hetherto held me vp in this mansion house of thy graces that thou wilt vouchsafe more more to illuminate my hart minde to make me see and meditate vpon the spirituall magnificence of this thy habitation to the end that the sacred porches thereof may bee all my loue and the only delight of my eyes her canticles the sole harmony of my eares and that I may so affectionate my selfe to her celestiall beauty and riches that I may hold one day in thy Church more deere then a thousand elsewhere That this so sweet company I say of thee O our Father of thy Sonne our redeemer of the holy-ghost our comforter of so many thousands of Angels of elect which liuedhere beneath in the visible kingdome of thy glory and by infinite wonders in the Communion of saints may be my whole desire and the sole subiect of my delights that I may neuer depart therfrom notwithstanding whatsoeuer assaults and temptations I am to endure according to the condition of the militant Church and vnder this her gallant poesie To beleeue to doe well and to suffer affliction sith that namely there is not any such mishap or so much to be feared as to be out of this holie Temple wherein onely abideth all light truth saluation and life and in all other places darkenesse lying shipwracke and death haue their dwelling For so through thy grace O my God praying and meditating I shall spend my dayes in ioy expecting in peace my last hower to participate in the triumph of the same Church aboue and to liue eternally in thy rest Amen The ninth Prayer For the obtaining of the efficacie of holy Baptisme Iesus comming to his
giue vnto vs for the sustenance of our life that we may vse the same soberly and with thanksgiuing as thou hast commanded But aboue all things giue vs grace to desire and especially to seeke the spirituall bread of thy word wherewith our soules may be fed eternally in the name to the glory of the Father Sonne and Holy-ghost one only and true God who liueth and raigneth world without end Amen The foure and twenieth Prayer After meales among the Family Whether wee eate or drinke or whatsoeuer wee doe we must doe all to the glory of God 1. Cor. 10. O Eternall God our Father we yeeld thee thanks for that it hath pleased thee to nourish and feede vs ministring vnto vs all that is needefull for this life and making vs to enioy so many temporall benefites as thou doest largely poure vppon vs thy creatures wee beseech thee of thy goodnesse vouchsafe to continue them the rest of our dayes But aboue al wee praise thee for the spiritual foode that by thy word thou giuest to our soules to the ende they may for euer liue in blisse through Iesus Christ our redeemer to whome with the Father and the Holi-ghost one onely and true God be all honour and glory for euer Amen The fiue and twentieth Prayer Euening Prayer for the Houshold It is a good thing to giue thanks vnto the Lord and to sing praises vnto thy name O most high to tell of thy trueth in the night season I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest for it is thou Lord onelie that makest mee dwell in safetie Psal 92. 4. O Lord our god and Father as thy people of Israel offered vnto thee their euening sacrifice so doe we offer vnto thee the oblation of our humble and contrite heartes that wee may glorifie thy name and obtaine remission of our sinnes We praise thee therefore and yeeld thee thanks for thy benefites namely for that it hath pleased thee to let vs passe this day vnder thy protection and safegard without the which wee might haue incurred manie miseries and dangers But because by our corruption and frailetie we haue diuersly offended thee in thought worde and deed and that thy mercie is vppon all those to whom thou vouchsafest to be a Father in our Lord Iesus Christ and that call vpon thy name wee beseech thee to forgiue vs our sinnes and to accept of his righteousnesse in the merit of his death in discharge of our debts so that as euery thing is nowe hidden from our eies by the night which thou giuest vs for the rest of our bodies so our offences may be buried out of thy sight in the sepulchre of the same Christ whereby our soules may haue in him their spirituall rest Alas we know that Sathan the Prince of darkenesse lieth alwaies in waite to hurt vs seeking principally to make a breach into our hearts when we stand least vpon our guarde but O Almightie God in thy presence also are the thousands of Angels to watch on those whome thou hast called to the inheritance of thy saluation of which number wee doe beleeue our selues to be through the mercie which it hath pleased thee to shewe vs. Giue vs grace therefore to be deliuered from the temptations of the diuel from vncleanenesse and troublesome dreames whereinto our infirmity doth leade vs and also from all other dangers to the ende our bodies receiuing through thy blessing a peaceable and quiet sleep for their ease our mindes may watch more freely vnto thee who art their rest and their life and in the meditation of thy loue that to morrowe wee may arise so much the readier to glorifie serue thee euery one in his vocation Thus running our race in the path of thy elect we may with ioy expect the desired hower for our flesh to rest in the earth that our soules may be lodged in heauen and at the last day be raised againe in glory with al the Saints to enioy the accomplishment of our felicitie Howbeit in the meane time whilst we comfort our selues in this hope O heauenlie Father we doe recommend vnto thee the peace preseruation of thy church the estate of this Kingdome and all such as be afflicted with sicknes or anie other tribulation beseeching thee to giue to thy children and seruants whereof to take comfort and alwayes to reioyce in thy goodnes This is it that we doe beleeue in thy worde Yea this is it that wee doe craue of thee in the name of our mediator Iesus Christ by that Prayer which hee hath taught vs. Our father which art in heauen c. Thy blessing therefore O our God and Father the peace of our Lorde Iesus with the comfort of the holy Ghost be giuen to vs by thy grace and remaine with vs for euer Amen The sixe and twentieth Prayer Of him which suffered much by sicknesse When you shal be sicke be not slowe to pray to God and he will heale thee Hee healeth those that are broken in heart and cureth their greefes If they touched the gates of death and crie vnto the Lord in their distresse hee will deliuer them from their troubles Eccles 18. Psal 147. 107. O Lord my GOD and father now it is that in these griefs and paines that oppresse me I doe better then heretofore I haue acknowledge the corruption and frailtie of my nature and the iustice and goodnesse of thy hand that visiteth mee The originall of all flesh is in infection his temporall habitation is in dust continually tossed to and fro with stormes her end is a prey to the wormes and all hir glory is buried with her in the earth Yet is man so blinde and depraued that for a shorte time wherein he enioyeth any prosperity health hee looseth the knowledge of his fraile condition he swells and strayeth from the principall end of his being and slideth away into the follies and vanities of the world Thus might I many times haue made ship wracke among these lamentable rockes haddest not thou my GOD stretched forth thy rod of tribulation vpon mee in my most happy prosperities to preuent my ruine It is as euen to this day thou doest admonish me of thy discipline which maketh me to humble my selfe in thy sight and to feele my misery that with heart and voyce I may confesse that thou art iust O soueraigne iudge and good O gentle Father who wilt thus with one medecine castize and cure the vlcer of my sins Come therefore thou vapor of the earth thou shadow of life thou corruptible flesh sith God for thy instruction and amendment giueth thee trauaile put off thy selfe and submitte thee to his spirite and thy spirite to the Father of spirits and thy affections to his will Thus with all thy strength and minde lift vppe thy selfe towards this Fatherly hand from whence the stripe commeth that grieueth thee towards this arme of the almightie that hath cast the stone that bruseth