poure his benefits plentifully vpon vs as long as the World endureth Lord God thou hast created made of thine infinite goodnesse and vnspeakable mercie for Mans comfort thy blessed Sunne-shine to be a perpetuall bright Lampe and Candle to be an ingenderer nourisher comforter of all liuing things in this inferiour VVorld This great worke and Fatherly prouidence of God ought to cause vs to praise and magnifie him alwaies and to make vs remember his manifold benefits that hath so louingly created all things for mans sake O Lord as thy merâ—ies abound towards vs so grant that we may be as plentifull iâ— vertuous liuing and conuersation and that wee doe not thorow our wicked liues and euill behauiour pull vpon our felues thy wrath and displeafure in a busing thy good Creatures and in hoording vp the treasure of this VVorld from our needâ—ull and poore Bretheren and so purchase that curse which the wisedome of God vâ—tereth by the mouth of Salomon where he saith Who so hoordeth vp his goods shall bee cursed among the people but blessing shall light vppon his head that is liberal to the poore Bring it forth therefore ye couetous that yee may bee partakers of the blessing which is prepared for the righteous And as our Sauiour Christ saith They that are whole neede not the Phisician but they that are sicke You therefore that are sicke and haue neede seeke the helpe of that good Physician in time for there is better remedie to be had in the beginning then after a long delay and tarrying for the preseruation of our sicke soules Lord make vs earnestly and diligently to seeke helpe of the Heauenly Physician which is the pertect curer both of body and soule and make vs to apply those heauenly medicines the Precepts of thy most holie Word to the great and almost incurable diseases of our infected soules in seeking whereof we be all too remisse and slack But yet spare vs good Lord spare thy people and correct vs not in thine anger but in thy merâ—y thinke vpon vs for thou art the God of mercy long suffering slow to continue displeasure and ready to forgiue But alasse how shouldest thou cease to punish shouldest shew mercy when wee cease not to sinne and offend but continue still in our wiâ—â—ednesse without repentance What sufficient excuse can wee make or what reasonable let can we lay that thou oughtest not to punish vs Whereas there was neuer more godly preaching neuer more exhortation to repentance seldome the like crying out against sinne neuer more disswading from couetousnesse and vsurie there be daily admonitions to forsake swearing continual calling from all wickednesse beside the number of godly learned Bookes made and set forth and yet cannot all these moue vs once to repent or to desist and forsake our wonted wicked waies and filâ—hy affections Defend mee Lord by thy right hand and giue a gracious caâ—e to my request for all mans stayes are but vaine Lord condâ—â—t me in thy waies 〈◊〉 I may giue thankes to â—â—ee for thy mercie and goodnesse who neâ—er leauest them destitute that put their assured trust in thee who liuest and raignest one God World without end Amen A Prayer for Seruants with their dutie O Christ my Lord and Sauiour who being the Son of the liuing GOD â—â— GOD himselfe from euerlasting didst not disdaine at the wil of thine Heauenly Father to make thy selfe of no reputation to become Man to take vpon thee the shape of a Seruant and to obey thy Fathers Commandement to the death yea euen of the Crosse for our saluation refusing no seruice no trauell no labour no paine that might make vnto the comfort of mankinde We most humbly beseech thee to giue all thy Seruants grace to practise thy humilitie and obedience that as thou most willingly didst serue and obey thy Heauenly Fathers good pleasure so they in like manner may with most hearty affection serue and obey their bodily Masters in all things that are agreeing with thy blessed Word not with eye-seruice as Men-pleasers but in singlenesse of heart fearing God that whatsocuer they do they may doe it heartily euen as to the Lord and not vnto Men. For as much as they are sure that they shall receiue the reward of thy Heauenly Inheritance of thee O Lord Christ while truly and faithfully they serue their bodily Masters Grant that so many as are vnder theyoake may count their Masters worthy of all honour that the name of God and his Doctrine bee not euill spoken of and that they may obey them with all feare not onely if they bee good and curteous but also though they bee sroward and please them in all things not answering them againe not picking ought from them but shew good faithfulnesse that in all things they may bring credit to the doctrine of thee our GOD and Sauiour to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour praise and glory for euer and euer Ameu Seruants ought to account their Masters worthy of all honour I Tâ—â— 6. 1 and to be subiect vnto them with all feare not onely to the good and curteous but also to the froward 1 Pet. 2. 18 and to please them in all things not answering againe and to be no filchers nor deceiuers of them in any thing but shew all good faithfulnes Tit. 2. 9. 10 in singlenesse of their hearts as vnto Christ not with seruice to the eye as Men-pleasers but as the seruants of Christ doing the will of GOD from their hearts with good will seruing the Lord and not Men. Ephe. 6. 5. 6. 7. A Prayer for Children and their dutie AS thou O mercifull Father hast giuen commandement vnto all Fathers and Mothers to bring vp their Children in thy feare nurture and doctrine so likewise thy good pleasure is that children should honour and reuerence their Parents diligently giue care vnto their vertuous instructions and faithfully obey them As thou hast promised health honour glorie and riches long life and all that good is vnto them that honour reuerence and humbly obey their Fathers Mothers so hast thou threatned vnto disobedient Children ignominy euil same contempt shame dishonor pouerty sicknesse short life and such other plagues Yea in thy holy Law thou dost not onely pronounce them accursed that dishonour their Fathers and Mothers but thou also commandest that if anie Childe be stubborne and disobedient and will not heare but rather despise the commandement of his Father and Mother the same should bee stoned to death without mercy so greatlie doest thou abhorre disobedience and rebellion against all persons but especially against Parents I therefore heartily wishing that the plagues of thy fierce wrath for thou O Lord art a consurning fire may bee farre from them most humbly beseech thee to engraue in the hearts of all Children of whatsoeuer age kinde estate or degree they be true honour heartie reuerence and vnfeined obedience towards their Pareâ—ts Giue them
measure beyond the streÌ„gâ—â— of man in so much that we doubt whether wee liue 〈◊〉 no receiuing the sentence 〈◊〉 dâ—ath within our selues sâ— that in our opinion we comâ—prehend no deliuery no euasion but lie open to the direct accomplishment there of Yet in this exigent anâ— extremitie we come to Goâ— by these meanes of Prayer being almost beyond hope without expectation and bâ— his gracious and mercifulâ— pleasure wee are deliuered Therefore let vs here in râ—â—â—ue comfort his Maiestic â—ut of his great clemâ—nrie â—ath and doth deliuer vs daiie not onely from the death of our bodies when wormes â—nd rottennesse haue made â—heir last and long prey vpâ—on them but from the â—eath of our minds when the spirit is buried vnder â—orrowes and no Greature â—ound in Heauen or Earth to giue it comfort Be our minds be our afflictions neuer so many and great though in our weake â—magination we can imagin â—o deliuery no release when all earthly comforts forsake â—s yet let not vs forsake thiâ—â—efuge let vs not despaire in his mercifull helpe â—o more then Iâ—â—â— did who being in the bottome of the Sea and within a prison in that bottome in such an affliction so great so strange as greater nor stranger could not be to humane reason or more without hope yet said Ioâ—â—â— 2. 2. I cried in â—inâ— affliction vnto the Lord and hee heardme◠〈◊〉 of the beâ—ty of hâ—â—â— crâ—ed I and thou heâ—r dâ—st my voice Therefore in our aduersitie and wants how great greeuous soeuer they oppresse our weakenesse yet let vs neither distrust or despaire of his mercifull helpe but let vs pray still in hope in all the anguish of minde â—â—d let our prayers bee with such a confidence and zeale of loue to GOD as the feruencie thereof may ascend vp to his Throne and there rest in his pittifull eye and armes of mercy In our prosperity be it neuer so flourishing let vs pray nay pray continuallie In our health and prosperitie let vs pray to continue it In our sicknesse and aduersity let vs pray to release vs. For if wee consider our estates rightly wee shall perceiue many reasons to the exercise of Prayer daily to feek his sauour and the long continuance thereof without whose mighty protection and care ouer vs we are ready to fall into a thousand dangers of vndoing both the body and soule and to perish continuallie And therefore let vs well consider and take heed both in time and season with words sutahle in our Petitions to our purpâ—se and intention in giuing thankes for his great benefits daily poured vpon vs with intrestie in our Petitions for necessities to bee implored by vs in the time of sicknesse in the time of our health in the time of our aduersity in the time of our prosperity Let vs come before him suting our words in the habite of our occasions with such a fitnesse and decencie that they fall not harshly from the purpose ascend into the eares of the Almighty LORD the true patterne of all wâ—sdome and goodnesse who hath giuen vs the first and best forme there of himselfe who hath both taught vs to pray and taught vs how to pray and who will both heare our petitions and grant our requests contained therein as farre as seemes expedient to his vn searchable wisedome that knowes our wants before hee heares our complaints our necessities better then we our selues And because meditation is so excellent a thing so readie so swift so powerfull so vnseparated from vs that it cleaues vnto vs when all other meanes faile and forsake vs therefore we should the more earnestly imbrace it more zealously imploy it more dearely esteeme it It finds vs out comfort in our greatest extremities and miseries our wayes being hedged vp as with thornes that we cannot stirre to deliuer our selues therehence When we are ouer flowen with the deluge of sinne as with a floud iudgements inuiron vs on euery side this is the Dâ—ue that brings vnto our Soules the Oliue branch of comfort But alasse we kill the life thereof through the coldnesse of our deuotioâ— and carelesnesse of our deliuerie and vnfit preparation thereunto and find not the sweetnesse and successe that else wee might expect and obtaine at the hands of GOD thereby Let these things be oftentimes our meditation and study that so despising the vaine things of this transitorie life and passing our steps in the path-way to feâ—icity we may at the last obtaine the reward which our Sauiour CHRIST hath promised Come ye blessed of my Father Euen so let vs resolue with our selues that for as much as wee haue begunne our Pilgrimage in the Spirit neuer to end it in the Flesh and that if all the World would fall away from GOD and his Word yet wee and ours will serue the LORD So shall we be sure in the ende of this our Pâ—lgrimage which we haue passed with feare to enter into that spirituall Canaan which CHRIST our IEHOVA hath promised vs which LORD for thy mercy sake grant vs. Amen Come ye blessed c. Go ye cursed c. THE SOVLES Alarum-bell The Second Part. Containing diuers godly PRAYERS most fit to comfort the wounded consciences of all such penitent sinners who hope for saluation through the merits of Christ Iesus By H. Thompson At London printed by Io. Beale 1618 TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE and my very good Lord WILLIAM Lord Eurye Baron of Maâ—lton Heâ—ry Thompson wisheth all honour grace and spiritualâ— gifts by Iesus Christ our Lord. BEing willing Right Honourable and my verie good Lord in the sight of all the World to leaue some publike testimonie of my humble dâ—â—ty and vâ—fâ—ined good will towards your Honour I thought I could no better way performe it then by dedicating these poore labours of mine to bee shrowded and harboured vnder your Honours fauourable protection beseeching your Honour to accept this my humble and bounden dutie And as I dedicate it to your Honour so I humbly craue that it may bee defended for GOD hath set you in authoritie to maintaine his Word and loue his Religion which hee hath prescribed in his holy Gospell Hee hath honoured you that you should honour him and hath set you up that you should maintaine him and wholly trust in him and liâ—e to him as a sâ—ay that can neuer faile neither in this World nor tâ— the World to come All other things shall faile for all flesh is grasse and the glory of man is as the flower of the field but GOD is euerlasting his Word is euerlasting and they that are begotten to him by the iâ—â—â—rtall seede of his Word shall liue for euer and this life beginneth and groweth and increaseth in the true knowledge of GOD to the increasing of our faith and â—â—â—king in vs as the seale of our adoption that true sanctification that maketh vs to liue vnto GOD by righteousnesse purely to worship hiâ—â—ccording to his Word anâ— with brotherly
pleased thee of thy maruellous humility patience and loue towards man kinde to descend from the high Throne of Heauen to be incarnate by the Holie Ghost and borne of the Virgin Marie and here to suffer trouble paine for our sakes I doe beseech thee for thy bitter death and passion deliuer me from all euill and from the euerlasting paines of hell and vouchsafe through thy great mercie and goodnesse to leade me whither thou diddest leade the Thiefe crucified with thee And I beseech thee thorow thy clemencie to vouchsafe vnto mee O Lord God King of Heauen and Earth the ioyes prepared for thy chosen and so direct sanctifie and gouerne my heart my thoughts my words and deeds in thy sacred Law by keeping thy Commandements that here euer through thy helpe O Sauiour of the World I may bee safe and free and by thy bitter death passion may be broght to the glory of the resurrection so remaine in euerlasting life Amen A Prayer in temptation O Mercâ—full Lord and Sauiour iesus Christ the onely refuge of a desolate and afflicted soule O God thou that hast made mee and redeemed mee in whom â—ll things are possible vnto me and without whom I am able to doe nothing thou seest who I am that here prostrate my prayers and poure out my heart vnto thee what I would haue and what is fittest for mee thou knowest My soule is buried 〈…〉 and blood and would be â—â—â—ne dissolued and come vnto thee I am vrged against my will and violently drawne to think that which from my-heart I detest and to haue in minde the poyson and bane of my soule O Lord thou knowest mee for thy hands haue framed me and with flesh and skinne thou hast cloathed mee and loe this flesh which thou hast giuen me draweth mee to my ruine and fighteth against the spirit if thou helpest not I am ouercome if thou forsakest mee I must needes faint why doest thou set mee contrary vnto thee and makest mee greeuous and a burthen vnto my selfe Diddest thou create mee to cast me away Diddest thou redeeme mee to damne me for euer It had beene good for mee neuer to haue beene borne if I were borne to perish O my most mercifull Father where is thy olde and wonted mercies where is thy gracious sweetenesse and loue towards me become how long shall mine enemie reioice ouer mee and humble my life vpon earth and place me in darkenesse like the dead of the World What am I Lord that thou settest mee to fight alone against so mightie subtile and cruell enemies that neuer cease to bid mee a pâ—rpetuall battaile O Lord why doest thou shew thy might against a leafe that is tossed with euery wind and persecutest a drie stubble wilt thou therefore cast away the worke of thy hands wilt thou banish mee from thy face and take thy holy Spirit clean from me Alasse O my good Lord whither shall I goe from thy face or whither shall flie from thy Spirit or shall I flie from the incensed but to the appeased whither from thee as iust but vnto thee as mercifull Doe with mee Lord that which is good in thine eies for thou wilt doe all things in righteous iudgement oneâ—y Lord I desire to remember I am but flesh blood sraile of my selfe and impotent to resist shew thy selfe a Sauiour vnto me and either take away mine enemies or grant mee grace that without wound or fault by thee and with thee I may ouercome them sweet Lord Amen FINIS A Table to find out the principall Prayers contained in this Booke THe way how to commend our selues to GOD in the 〈◊〉 aâ— our vprising Page 285. A Prayer before wee settle our selues to our Deuotions p 287. A Morning Prayer p. 291. Another Prayer for the Morning p. 296. Another Morning Prayer p. 308. A short Prayer for the Morning p. 312. A Meditation to be vsed before thou goest to bed p. 314. A Prayer for the Euening p 322. A Prayer for the Night p. 333 A Prayer to GOD for grace and to despise the vanity of the World p. 338. A Prayer to GOD to defend vs from euill company and to keepe ouâ— tongues from vttering ill words p. 346. A Prayer to GOD for bâ— great goodnesse vnto Man p. 354. A Prayer to GOD to deliuer vs from our ghostly enemies p. 357. A Prayer to GOD daily to bee said p 358. A Prayer to be vsed at all times p. 360 A Prayer to be daily saide vnto our Lord Iesus Christ p. 362. A prayer for the remission of sinnes p. 367. A general prâ—yer for all kind of sin p. 380. A 〈◊〉 Faith p. 3â—â— A prayer vnto GOD that we may liue in his 〈◊〉 and that hee will turne his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 394. A 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 with their duty 400. A 〈◊〉 for children their duty p. 404. A prayer against whoâ—â—dome p. 410. A prayer for a Woman with child p. 414. A Thanksgiuing vnto God 〈…〉 deliuerance p. 41â— A prayer for a siâ—ke Man p. 421. A prayer to bee saide before the receiuinâ— of the holy Communion p. â—24 A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of â— holy Communion p. â—38 A prayer to 〈◊〉 saidâ— at the receiuing of the mystery of Christs Body in the Communion p 441. A prayer to bee saide at the receiuing of the mystery of Christs blood in the holy Communion p. 442. A morning salutation to GOD for wisedome for grace and forgiuenesse of sinnes p. â—44 A prayer for the King p. 454. A 〈◊〉 prayer to our Lord. p. 〈◊〉 A prayer in 〈◊〉 p. â—59 FINIS