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
helpe me and to relieue me in all my necessities considering thou arte in heauen euen according as being in al places thou art as it were in no place for thou art wholie an infinite spirite and inaccessible light whose name is I am namelie of a sole true essence eternall immutable and incomprehensible and from whom all nature whether celestiall or terrestriall doeth through grace borrowe his essence and subsistence Thus arte thou aboue in such wise that being out of euery place thou art aboue all this great vniuersall world in the seate of thine own glory from whence thou doest embrace both heauen and earth and with thy prouidence sustaine them As also in some sorte thou art aboue al things because they doe all depend and beare themselues vppon thee who likewise dost by thy subtilitie pierce into them more neerly vnto euery creature then the same is to it selfe Howbeit thou art in heauen so far forth as that the exquisite workes of thy hands do the better appeare therein And thou doest in an especiall maner inhabite the high heauen for there doeth thy Maiestie shine with open countenaunce beside thou art with thy gracious presence in the soules of the righteous which do harbour thee as a Father in their heartes Hallowed be thy name FOr O Lord sith thou art my father reason requireth that aboue all things I should desire thy honour But euerlastingly for euer and euer thy name is holy the glory therof infinit My praier then bringeth nothing to thy greatnes and excellencies but yet I may heere desire that thy name both of it self and by it selfe most holy may be sanctified and exalted in me and in all men and in all places whereby my selfe do also obtaine that holines which is conuenient for the true childe of such a father vnto whome all vncleanenesse is displeasing Thy kingdome come But who can impeach thy Kingdome O eternall God who hast created al things for thy seruice Thou raignest ouer al for the heauen is thy throne and the earth thy foote-stoole Yet I beseech thee be vnto me as a father in mercy not as a Iudge in thy iustice thou raignest in thy worde which thou hast reuealed and inspired and I beseech thee euen for thy glory sake that this thy booke of life may bee opened to all people that thereby all nations may worship thee thou raignest in thy Church and I pray that the number of thy elect may be shortly fulfilled Thy kingdome is thy grace and I beseech thee to make mee as capable thereof as thou art liberall Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen MY will O Lord is altogether peruers and depraued except it bee formed by thine wherin resteth and consisteth all my good create in me this holy will and giue mee grace to fulfil it in al my thoghts workes for what can I haue but what thou giuest mee To the end that in obedience of faith I may doe that which shall bee acceptable in thy sight euen as the Angells in heauen do obey thy voyce Giue vs this day our dailie bread FOR Christ our Lord and Doctour hath so contriued the petitions which we make vnto thee that in seeking first the glorie of thy name hee will that with al we should haue experience of the riches of thy goodnesse in all things necessary for this life Thus wilt thou O merciful Father recompence with infinite benefits euen our simple cogitations of the brightnesse of thy glory and crowne thy giftes in vs with grace for grace We do therefore dayly craue our bread and thou dost also giue it vs that is to say euen all that is necessarie for our maintaynance heere beneathe yet doest thou present vs with one bread farre more excellent and profitabl euen the bread of angels and of the blessed spirits giue mee therefore O Lord Iesus Christ God and man that of him I may liue for euer that my vnderstanding may bee enlightned with his truth and my heart kindled with the fire of his loue that I perish not And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. OVr sinnes as debts do bind vs to death which is their rewarde and to hell which is their graue they are as a strong barre to keepe vs from comming to thee O most holy God yea which is more they are as a clowde that shadoweth thine eyes from looking fauourably vpon vs. And therefore the most conuenient preparation to prayer is with an humble and truely penitent heart to feele and confesse our sinnes for so thou wilt vouchsafe to grant vs remission of the same in the name of thy sonne our Sauior in imputing vnto vs his righteousnesse Yet herein O Lord is thy free mercy very great that thou also giuest vs power to pardon those that doe offend vs and by so dooing to obtaine thy grace for what offence can any man commit against vs poore worms of the earth considering that we do so often and so grieuously offend O King of glory and in such sorte that if euery creature should arme it self to hurt vs yet would not the least iniurie that we commit against thee be sufficiently reuenged Yet dost thou vouchsafe thus to testifie thy infinite goodnesse accepting as a sweete sacrifice the oblation of our harts reconciled and fully vnited with our neighbours like as contrarywise no part of a hateful and peruerse heart can delight thee And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill FOr as through thy mercy thou sufferest not Satan the author of all temptations to seduce thy children neither sinne to ouercome them so when thou wilt punish man in thy iustice they remaine depriued of thy protection and vnder the power of the diuell to be subiect to his tyrany and to liue in a reprobate sence hereof doe we therefore reape this singular consolation that this great aduersarie of our saluation can doe nothing against vs vnlesse thou giue him leaue and whereas sometimes thou causest vs to be tempted thou doest it as a father to chastice vs for our transgressions or to make vs more triumphant and victorious in the triall which it pleaseth thee to make of our faith and hope for thy glory and our owne good or for the edification of our neighbours For thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer LIke as O my God and father I began my prayer by the hallowing of thy name so is it meete and iust that I should end it by the exaltation of the same as thy children who bounding their vowes with the onely care of thy honour may assure themselues to obtaine the fulfilling of the same in the sole perfection of thy glory So be it The second Prayer Vpon the Symbole or Articles of Beliefe I beleeue in God the Father Almightie c. 1. Cor. 15. Before all things I haue deliuered vnto you that which I haue receyued namely that Christ died
cannot be but holy for thy spirit dwelleth therein Thou hast redeemed vs with the price of his blood and that to the ende thou maist bee glorified both in our bodies and soules Thou hast freed vs from sinne euen to the ende we might be seruants to righteousnes Thou hast giuen vs the Sauiour of the World to be our iustification but to the end also that we possesse him in sanctification Thou wouldest that he should die for all men euen to make him liue in thy elect and they in him And this is the reason wherfore the institution of our faith together with the spirituall consolations that support the same is accompanied with the ten precepts of thy law the certaine and assured meanes to honor and serue thee in liuing religiously to thy glory vprightly to the profit of our neighbours For albeit in the Gospel wee be free from the rigor punishment of the Law yet neuertheles the rule of pietie and holie life contained in the Decalogue abideth with vs as a perpetuall patterne whereby to frame our temporall course of life And accordingly we do also consider of it in two partes according as it pleased thee O Lord to write it with thy finger and to deliuer it vnto Moses in two tables of stone for thy people whereof the first containeth foure Commandements of our duetie towardes thee and the second sixe of that which wee owe to our neighbors Also the summe fulfilling of all these holy precepts importeth that wee loue thee O onely true GOD with our whole heart soule and thought and then all other men especially the houshold of faith as our selues But O Lord such is the weakenesse of all flesh that there is no man able to attain to the perfection of thy Law and yet thou willest that here in thy children shoulde comfort themselues that there is left vnto them some measure to approach thervnto and so to bee acceptable vnto thee namely when with their whole strength preuented by thy grace they studie to attaine the end of thy word walking going forward by the steps thereof still with sighing for their infirmities For al the faithfull may so belieue that with thee their Father there is mercy for them in thy welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ I beseech thee therfore O my God to cast vpon me the eye of thy clemencie and goodnes therby throgh th' effects of thy spirit to restore in my soule the breaches of sinne to illuminate my vnderstanding and to possesse my hart with the loue of thy truth to the end that in all knowledge and obedience of faith I may constantly walke in the paths of thy lawe so that I may worship scare loue thee as the Lord to whome I wholy owe my selfe for thou hast created mee and which is more redeemed mee from eternall death whence I do also learne to loue all men in thee for thy sake because they beare thy image so that perseuering thus in the duty of my vocation I may so much the rather feele thy peace in my conscience and thy blessing vppon all the workes of my hands that filled with dayes I leaue my life to enioy rest eternally Amen The fourth praier To one only God in Trinitie of persons God in the beginning created Heauen and earth The word was with god and this word was God And the spirit of GOD mooued vpon the waters Gen. 1. Iohn 1. O Eternall true and only God in three persons coequall almightie of one sole and simple essence inuisible and infinite The Father the word and the holy Ghost who being the soueraign good sufficient to thy selfe needing no newe matter wouldest not for euer inioy thy glorie alone but according to thy vnmeasurable altogether incomprehensible goodnesse reueale thy selfe at thy good pleasure in foure workes altogether diuine singular The creation of the world of all nature the redemption of mankinde the building thy church thy graces the same O Lord who only art in trueth permanent and stable through whome euery thing is that is in respect of whome all is lesse then nothing who giuing by thy word beeing to that that was not at all hast out of a confused voyd and dark substance drawne light beauty and order stretching forth the heauen as a vault or tent vnder the same the earth and the inhabitants thereof who hast made al things in number weight and measure from whose prouidence doeth proceede the moderation and gouernement of all that is whether it liueth feeleth or vnderstandeth O holy thrice holy admirable and amiable who being righteous wouldest not suffer man made after thy image to go vnpunished when he had sinned and who beeing mercifull hast not left him without grace who being good hast not neglected the least of thy works euen to the haire of a beast the lightest fether of a fowl and the least flower or leafe of grasse in euery of these things grauing certaine tokens of thy glory and maiesty by the harmonie agreement of al these smal creatures with the greatest of the world O Father and moderator of all things I beseech thee let thy eternall wisedome reach to me euen through the light of thy spirit which seeth all things which soundeth all thinges which searcheth into all things and which with his presence of grace maketh his residence in al peaceable cogitations to lift them vp by the effects of his gifts vnto the fanctuarie of thy supercelestiall pallace there to make them see heare and worship in spirit truth the diuine maruels of thy Kingdome the mysteries of the adoption of thy elect So that being thus taught by the most sacred Oracles I belieue in hart and with vnderstanding meditate vpon the true eternall existence of thee O Father borne of none the first Soueraigne and Almighty cause of al things and especially of our saluation throgh thy loue Of thee O Sonne eternally begotten by the Father and by whom he hath made all his works who art the principall cause which giues vs life happines according to the fulnesse and perfection of thy loue and of thee O Holy Ghost from al eternitie proceeding from the Father the Son and by whome all creatures doe subsist and saluation is communicated vnto vs three persons of properties distinct yet not seperate in vnitie of essence and equalitie of glory in thee one and true God not created infinit and almighty the God of thy people And that through this healthfull knowledge I doe worship serue and call vpon thee only for euer without declining from thy word Wherupon likewise through a stedfast faith in thy promises depending vppon an assured hope and true loue I doe more and more draw vpon my self the sauour of thy holie blessings to the end that as the Angels aboue doe praise thee the powers of heauen do blesse thee all the spiritual armies do magnifie thee I likewise may heere belowe haue this
Disciples spake vnto them saying All power is giuen vnto me both in heauen in earth Goe yee therefore and teach all nations Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy-ghost and teaching them to obserue all that I haue commaunded you Mat. 28. O Eternall God only good wise thou hast vouchsafed by thy Sonne that great prophet to teach vs that whosoeuer is not borne of water and the spirite cannot enter into thy kingdome and that flesh and blood are not capable of the sight of thy glorie Thou O Lord art essentially holinesse and righteousnes How then can vncleanenesse and iniustice approach neere vnto thee So it is that wee are by our nature corrupted and by sinne polluted wherby the Sentence of death both first and second hath ouertaken all men howbeit of thy infinite mercy thou hast vouchsafed to saue from a gulph of miseries those that in thy vnsearchable counsaile are predestinate to life redeeming them from hell and making them to bee borne againe in Iesus Christ thy eternall woorde by the which thou haddest first giuen them beeing And these are they that are borne of water and the spirit into thy church through the efficacie of the sacred mysteries of thy grace specially of holie Baptisme that being clothed anew in the nature and righteousnes of Christ their Sauiour they may become new creatures pure and pretious before thee Nowe through thy great mercy O my God I haue in thy holy Temple receiued this sacred pledge of thy couenant and of our new birth in thy name and in the name of thy Sonne and of the Holy-ghost according to thy ordinance as it hath pleased thee in the renewing of thy Church by the preaching of the Gospel to manifest thy selfe farre more cleerely in three persons of thy deitie then vnder the figures and shadowes of the Law For in Christ replenished with grace and trueth thou hast made thy selfe visible who hath reuealed himselfe and the Holy Ghost also by plentifully spreading the beames of his glory vpon vs through the brightnesse of his works altogether diuine and miraculous Wee cannot so much as apprehend the vertue and efficacy of the sacrament of baptisme vnlesse wee begin by the meditation of thy free mercie in thy Sonne and so doe proceede in the contemplation of him performing his office euen so farre forth as to die for vs and with him wee doe conioyne the Holy-Ghost through whome Christ dooth wash vs in his blood regenerateth vs and maketh vs partakers of all his benefits This O Lord I knowe by thy word that like as the sacrament of baptisme is vnto mee a certaine earnest penie of my saluation so must it in my own conscience and before men be vnto mee a perpetuall testimonie of my faith and of my hope So onely dooth this sacrament obtaine his perfection and fulnes namely when that shadowed in the washing of my body with the signe of water is effectually wrought within my soule throughout the whole course of my life For in like manner was the shadow of the couenant fulfilled in cutting awaie the fore-skinne from the Children of Israel when by the circumcision of their harts they became carefull to walke in the statutes of Gods Lawe I beseech thee therefore O my God as I carrie in my forehead the holy marke of Christians so vouchsafe with thy finger to graue in my hart this diuine Character to the ende that I may euermore beare and bring forth such fruite and effects as may be acceptable in thy sight and profitable to my selfe that as my Lord Iesus by his spirite working in mee washeth away my sinnes and regenerateth my soule so I may likewise by the efficacie of his owne vertue and receiuing from him grace perseuere in the faith of my Baptisme readie to euery good worke And that as I was baptised into his death so likewise to be buried with him by being dead vnto sin so that I may bee grafted with him to the similitude of his resurrection in glory liuing no longer to sinne but to righteousnes whereby thy name O eternall God may be sanctified and I crowned in my latter day with the crowne of immortalitie amongest the company of thy blessed ones So be it The tenth Prayer ¶ For the Communion in the holy Eucharist Iesus tooke bread and when he had giuen thanks he brake it and gaue it to his disciples and said Take eate this is my body Then taking the cup and giuing thankes hee gaue it them saying Drinke yee all for this is my blood the blood of the Newe Testament which is shed for many to the remission of sinnes Ma. 26. ALmightie euerlasting god according to thy loue and infinite goodnesse it hath plesaed thee that not onely to redeeme vs from sinne from death and from hell and in all points to make vs blessed thy onely sonne the brightnesse and fulnesse of thy glory should take vpon him humane flesh and after hee had taught vs the way to heauen should die vppon the crosse for the accomplishment of his office but also that this great benefite might still bee present to our perpetuall comfort and for the encrease and support of our faith that his body risen againe in glory for our righteousnesse and perfection ascended into heauen and sitting at thy right hand should also bee communicated vnto vs here beneath in thy Church in the mystery of the Eucharist to bee our foode and nourishment vnto holy and eternall life Thus is there sealed in our hearts that promise that hee hath made vnto vs in the gospel that hee will at all times make vs partakers of his flesh and of his blood and in this Communion giue vnto vs the true and sound foode of our soules that in him who is the liuing bread discended from heauen wee may obtaine our peace and felicitie O mightie prouidence of the Lord who called vs to communicate in his body before his death to the end to shew vs that by death he should not be destroyed and that he would neuer leaue his Church O what a refreshing is this in this our earthly pilgrimage and what a delicious banquet in the bread and wine consecrated by the word of Christ to eate his glorious flesh and to drinke his precious blood when by faith in his promises and by the vertue of his holy spirit hauing our hearts cleansed and lifted vp on high his life together with all his graces and blessings is made ours O infinite blessed is that flocke that hath so liberal a shepheard that will norish it with his bloud to the end it may liue in him and of him free from all languishing and miserie O what a comfort is it in this vally of teares to finde meanes to feede vpon such food as will not perish but reioyce all our sences and make vs to liue eternally For so and with such efficacie O Lord doe wee communicate in the bodie
of thy Sonne crucified and risen againe and in his bloud shed for the washing of our soules when at his holie Table the sacred signes are by his ordinance deliuered vnto vs and that we doe receiue them as hee hath commanded expecting that aboue in heauen without any exterior meanes we may eate this bread of life and drinke this sweete drinke in the company of the Angels of all the blessed then at the ful inioying of our vnion with thee O great God and the ioy of our beatitude accomplished O most desired daie wherein we shall be fed and satisfied with this celestiall bread that we may neuer die nor thirst againe in this newe life where thou O eternall God shalt bee wholy in vs. Oh happie are wee already who already in Christ in the communion of the faithfull do taste the sweetnes of this celestiall banquet wherin we shall see thee and face to face contemplate Father Word Spirit one only and true God beeing filled with thy glory in endlesse peace To the end therfore that according to thy Commaundement O Lord I may worthily present my self to this holy banquet of sacred foode which the Angelles doe admire and honour which also thou dost not communicate but to thy flesh I beseech thee giue mee grace well to discerne the bodie of my Sauiour in trying my selfe according to his word so as my hart may be cleansed from sinne and vncleanenesse and replenished with thy loue and with euery other spirituall vertue to the end that euen this day harbouring therein this great King of heauen I may encrease in the faith and hope of my saluation by his holines and righteousnesse I haue reposed al my confidence in thy mercy I neither seeke nor hope for any good or grace but from thee my God and in thy sonne and for his sake I doe desire in my place with simplicitie to celebrate the remembrance of his death in the holy church to the glory of thy name and the peace of my soule I renounce the deadworkes of the flesh and the lusts thereof I doe put off all enmitie and malice with a good intent to embrace the liuely workes of the spirit and to dwell in loue and charitie with my neighbours I do belieue in the promises that Christ the infallible truth hath pronounced with his owne mouth That at his holy table he will truely make me partaker of his body and blood to the end I may possesse him wholy and in such sorte that being made flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone he may liue in mee aad I in him for euer Helpe O Lord the weakenesse of my faith support mee in my infirmity and in that desire which thou giuest me to profit in the sound knowledge of thy mysteries and in the practise of the pathes of thy kingdome conioyne vnto the same desire the performaunce of the deede For it is onely by the vertue of thy spirit in sinceritie of heart that I shall this day receiue from the same Iesus the effect of his word in participating truely in his new and eternall testament the couenant of grace so to perseuer in this blessed societie of his Bodie that from him I may incessantly gather strength and life and vnited with him I may also attaine to bee one with thee my Creator Grant mee therefore that in this maner I may with thy Church celebrate the most holy remembrance of our Lord and of the worke of our redemption to the end that so receuing this great sacrament of his body with a newe augmentation in all heauenlie grace with so much the greater confidence I may againe call vpon thee my God and my Father and more more glorifie my selfe in thy mercies So be it The eleuenth Prayer For thanksgiuing after the Communion And when they had sung a Psalme they went out vnto the Mount of Oliues Mat. 26. O Lorde my God my Father euen from the bottome of my heart and with all my soule I yeelde thee praise and thankes for that it hath pleased thee to enlarge so great a benefite to mee miserable sinner as to haue drawn and receiued mee into the sacred Communion of thy son Iesus Christ my sauiour The heauen of heauens are not able to comprehend him yet doth he so farre honour vs as to vouchsafe to communicate with vs yea euen to enter into vs poore wormes of the earth For such was thy good pleasure O Lord to deliuer him once to the death for the redemption of thy elect and as to euery one of them so doest thou this day giue him to mee to be my foode and spirituall sustenance that I may liue of him and in him blessed both in body soule eternally I beseech thee therefore O mercifull Father so to blesse in me this holy and mysticall action that my vnworthinesse make it not vnprofitable vnto me that the pretious bloud of thy sonne bee not in vaine shed for mee and offered me to drinke but that washed in the same and cleansed from my sinnes I may obtain that iustification and holines that beseemeth thy children who haue this most holy one to be their hoste and head thy spirit for their light Let me not be so wretched as to abuse these sacred meates which thou dost communicate to thy houshold of faith onely the prouision whereof cost thy welbeloued son Iesus so deere Rather my God grant that in true efficacie I may participate in this sacrament of his body to encrease in faith loue and all other thy gifts that I may neuer abandon thy holy couenant Alas whither should I go but to thee the fountaine of eternall life by Christ who is the fulnes thereof and by whom it runneth into vs Cast from me all carnall cogitations and delights and all these earthly baites which turne to gall and corruption because I haue in my bowels an incorruptible foode more sweeter then honny the bread of Angels the bread of heauen the bread of life which with out any sacrament wee shall feede on aboue without ende where Christ according to his promise shall with vs drinke the fruite of the new vine yeelding vppe vnto thee the kingdome O eternal God that thou maist be all in all I doe therefore resigne my self into thy hands and vnder thy conduct that I may runne my race in ioy and a good conscience before thy face and before men And that I may departe in peace when my houre is come because Christ is my life To thy name therefore O almighty Creator to thee Redeemer of the elect to thee Comforter of the faithfull who by thy secret vertue doest worke this vnspeakeable and miraculous coniunction of our soules with the body of the Lord. To thee Trinity Father Word Spirit one only and true God be all honour and glory Amen The twelfth Praier To obtaine the gift of Faith The law was our schoolmaister to bring vs to Christ that wee might bee
after follow them into heauen whereby I shall therefore bee the rather mooued to giue thee thankes for the time that thy goodnesse hath giuen mee to enioy their presence to the comfort of my life and not as it were by a certaine kinde of ingratitude towards both thee and them mourne for their ioy and felicitie In all other forrowes and griefes that should lesse trouble vs giue me grace my Lord that I be not mooued to bitternesse or anger but that with a quiet minde I may beare al and tread vnder feete the thornes of my life as being assured in the end to finde both the costs and reward To the same end also touch my heart earnestly with the feeling of thy benefits namely of those which thou hast liberally granted vs for the necessities of this life lest as an ingrateful wretch I should forget them after the maner of carnall men that are neuer content with thy benefites but doe enioy them without any acknowledgement and which is more are ready to complain if they haue not all their vanities at a wish yea which is worst of all when they haue often eaten at the table of thy Sonne doe lift vp their heele against him wherein they are worse then beasts that doe acknowledge those that feede and dresse them and doe humble themselues in their presence O most mightie GOD deliuer mee from the counsell of these wicked ones and hypocrites and let mee not sit vpon the seate of these scorners with whom godlinesse is folly and the equitie of thy law but a sporte But whether I walke or stand stil whether I do or suffer grant O Lord that I may alwaies walke as in thy presence to the glory of thy holy name and that my soule may take counsaile and be satisfied in thy righteousnesse whilst in all patience I waite for my deliuerance from all paine and the perfection of my felicity at my departure from this carnall habitation when according to thy promise I shall be receiued into thy kingdome in the company of the Angels Saints there to behold thy glory eternally So be it The seuenteenth Praier For the good vsage of mans life Thus sayeth the Lord let not the wiseman boast of his wisedome neither the strong man of his strength neither the rich man of his riches but let him that boasteth doe it because hee hath vnderstanding and knoweth me that I am the Lorde who shewe mercie iudgement and iustice vpon the earth Ieremie 9. O Lord great wonderfull in thy works thou in thy wisedome hast made and ordained them all wherevpon the heauens without speaking do declare thy glory and the earth is full of thy riches But especially vppon man hast thou powred forth thy most aboundaunt treasures in that thou hast created him to thy likenesse excellent in all good things and established him the possesser of the world Lord of all other creatures the mirror of thy wisedome the beames of thy light the pattern of thy goodnes and the most noble instrument of the sanctification of thy name therfore hast thou endued man with an immortal spirit capable of reason to the end I say that in beholding here beneath the exquisite workes of thy handes and vsing them without interruption hee might knowe loue feare and honour thee as his father and benefactor Yea cleaue vnto thee for euer vsing his lif according to the principall end thereof True it is that by originall sinne wee are all fallen from the most singular qualities necessarie for the holding of our right course to so great felicitie Yet haue we not so put them off as to rest altogether naked for all that is re-established in vs and in a farre better condition by thy grace in our Lord Iesus Christ who cloatheth vs anewe with the newe man in a quickening spirite and furnisheth vs with his light to the end that in the serious meditation of thy visible workes in the right vse of the benefites which wee taste therin we might apprehend the celestial inuisible things and acknowledge thee the authour and persection of all that is That is how the heauens appearing to our eyes and the greatnesse and the beautie and the motions therof in so many sorts so wel ordered so profitable do make vs with our inteligence to penetrate euen vnto thee the admirable creator of all things and in the excellencie of the same to meditate vpon the height and depth of thy excellency to the end to sing vnto thee Psalms of thanksgiuing and in the selfe same to finde rest and comforte for our souls Also wheras the sunne lighteth and warmeth vs the day reioyceth vs the aire quikneth vs the earth feedeth vs the water moysteth vs and the night ministers to vs rest from our labours and which is more O Father of all the world whereas thou maintainest orders and gouernments that thou pullest down the prowd and exaltest the humble that thou extendest thy punishments vppon the earth and the inhabitants thereof that thou visitest them with mercy exercising thy iudgements vpon small families as well as vpon great Monarchies according as there is nothing in nature that taketh place more or lesse in respect of thy infinite glory surely in all these things O inuisible GOD thou makest thy selfe to bee seene and giuest vs cause to sing to thy name with a most excellent inducement to passe ouer our life soberly But if wee turne vnto our selues to consider our owne nature especially the faculties of the soule and the reason thereof which directeth the body and giueth diuerse vertues to all the senses and that we represent to our selues the admirable coniunction of the immortall essence with the mortall Indeed ruminating these workes of thy hands and vnable to comprehend the causes and secrets of the same wee yeeld our selues ouercome that we may preach forth the victory of thy soueraigne wisedome and say with the Prophet Thy knowledge is too maruelous for vs and so high that we cannot approch thereto But if proceeding beyond this Booke of Nature wee come to reade in the Booke of the Lambe slaine for our ransome and to see and meditate vpon the husbandrie of thy sheepefold and the aboundance of celestiall blessings in the same O Lord what height and depth of wisedome of charitie of mercy of iustice is in the same O the greatnesse of ioy and peace to the illuminate hearts that can penetrate into all these diuine mysteries when we come to thy church to learne thy law to heare the gospel to worship and call vpon thee and to sound forth thy praise wee are as it were in the sanctuary of thy kingdome and before thy face among the Angels to contemplate and celebrate thy glory Also when wee doe communicate in the sacred signes of thy couenant we see wee touch we taste with our eyes with our hands with the pallat of our soules the water of washing regeneration and the bread of life the foode
of the sanctified spirits whereof wee liue and shal liue for euer blessed Besides O heauenly Father it pleaseth thee to giue vs heere belowe in the following of our course a conuenient leisure to meditate vppon the most wonderfull effects of thy spirite in vs the singular woorke of our new birth the progresse of our faith the fruites of our loue the feeling of our peace in the hope of our saluation to come when wee shal by Christ be wholly vnited vnto thee alone I beseech thee therefore my GOD to giue mee grace in these godly and spirituall considerations to acknowlege thy great benignitie in the gift and vse of this humane life and to know how I am to cherish and nourish the same because it is vnto vs as a treasure abounding in al excellencies riches and prerogatiues which it hath pleased thee to impart to our nature the Image of thy glory So that remaining constant in my vocation in the pathes of thy Kingdome and free from the cares of the world and all the vanities therof I may so loue this life that it may bee wholy deare vnto me onely to know worship and serue thee and my neighbours according to the place whereto thou dost call mee and carefully to meditate to the same end how thou doest alwayes minister iustice iudgement and mercy whereby I may learne to liue content in thee onely and of thy goods vsing the same with acknowledgement and alwayes reioycing in well doing alwayes assured that thus fighting a good fight and keeping the faith I shal obtaine the crowne of eternall righteousnesse in the kingdome of glory So be it The eighteenth Prayer Vpon temporall death Our life is but a vapour which appeareth but for a while and then vanisheth away For the reward of sinne is death and the sting thereof is sinne But thanks be to God who hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ. Rom. 6 1. Cor. 15. O eternal god with whom a thousand yeares are as one day one day as a thousand yeres and whose iudgements so diuerse are holy iust and incomprehensible Where is the man so gallant or prowd who thinking vpon the vanitie and shortnesse of his life doeth not easily asswage his pride and presumption euen to the end that hee extend not his temporall cogitations too farre but keepe them bounded within the limits of thy law and referre the euent to the good pleasure of thy will The vertue of our fairest daies is but affliction of minde and miserie of our flesh we fall as by a gushing of waters wee passe away as a dreame or a smoake our eares doe consume like grasse that withereth from night vnto morning and the longest time of our course whereof sleepe nibleth awaie a good part is but threescore and tenne yeares or foure-score for the strongest bodies whilest in euerie moment of life the nearest and sinallest daunger that threatneth vs seemeth to be death which as our shadow followeth vs at the heeles and laugheth at our goodly deuises vntill she hath scattered them in the winde brought vs into ashes But which is worse where is the man so holy and perfect that doth not tremble and quake if there bee represented vnto him O Lord the tribunall seate of thy soueraigne iustice where we all after death must appeare Thy indignation against sinners is manifest and there is none righteous thy vengeance is readie against rebellion whereof wee bee all guiltie which doth also cause that death is vnto vs not only as a temporall ending as concerning the flesh whereat nature is mooued and abashed but also an interior feeling of the curse fallen vppon sinne yea euen an entry into eternall death vnlesse there be for vs with thee our Father Redemption in our Lorde Iesus Christ I beseech thee therfore my God to giue mee grace to knowe how to meditate euerie day of my life vpon this sentence of the holy ghost That it is decreed that al men shal die once and after that shall the iudgement followe to the ende that while I creepe vppe and downe in this earthlie myre I suffer not my selfe to be deceiued with the deceiptfull baites of the pleasures of this worlde neyther with the allurements of the diuell who still seeketh by his suttleties to race out of our hearts the remembrance of death so for to detaine vs in the thoughts of vanitie and to entangle vs in the snares of our Iusts Grant me rather O Lord to knowe the vilenesse and bitternesse of this miserable life to the end that withdrawing my affection from mortall things I may bee able to direct and stay my selfe in things stedfast and eternall And also that therby the remembrance of death may daily be vnto mee as a trumpet to waken and call mee to the pursuite of my life in the path of thy truth to kindle in mee a holie desire soone to departe out of the world wherin the longer a man soiournes the more is hee loaden with infernall Marchandize which is the filthines of sinne and the more he cutteth him selfe off from that portion of soueraign felicitie which is in the life to come Truely he that hath most yeares hath most iniquitie and hee that croucheth most in the mire of the world rotteth most And therfore to the Children of darkenesse the vncleannes of the flesh is a pleasant habitation But to the children of light to the immortall spirites to the regenerate heartes heauen is much more desiderable Grant therfore my God that as I dayly grow towards my end so I may liue the more cheerefully learning in thy schoole to preferre thy eternal life before the light of the Sunne the glory of heauen before the vanitie of the earth the glorious habitation in paradice before the painefull tumults of the worlde the societie of Angells before the fellowshippe of mortall men the onelie blessed and permanent life before the passing shaddowe of this life which is fruitfull in anguishes ryotes and labours the triumph before the combat the present possession of soueraigne good before the hope of enioying and that attending this hauen of health I may know how to prepare my selfe by continuall meditation in these excellent Christian consolations that happy are they that die in the Lord for they rest from their labors That death is to them no death but a sleepe in regard of their bodies then freed from the miseries of life and that as for the soule which findeth it selfe deliuered from the tyrannie of sinne it is to her a change to a better life That this death is to all faithfull the time of receiuing the garlands for their race the crowns of their labours That to them shee is an acceptable issue of a laborious trauell their deliuerie from all terror and feare and the stedfast accomplishment of their vocation to felicitie which made the Apostle to say Alas wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this bodie of death I desire
to bee dissolued and to be with Christ howbeit if notwithstanding in the infirmitie of my flesh the fearefull Image of death trouble me in the straites of my departure If the world that doth alwayes too much bewitch vs maketh my thoughts then bowe to his will If Sathan pitcheth his assaults and snares and vpon the remembrance of my sinnes setteth hell before my face moreouer if my owne perturbations keepe me from apprehending thy eternall consolations in such most necessarie extremities vouchsafe my good God and father in these anguishes to approach vnto me to saue me from the running and swift streame of such brookes that they may not carrie meaway to perdition illuminate my thoughts with thy spirite waken my soule out of the sleep of death renew my hart by the vertue of thy spirit and put into my hands the staffe of thy assured conduct to bring mee out from the laborinth of this sorrowful passage causing me with the eyes of my faith to behold my righteousnes vpon the crosse of my Sauiour the discharge of my debts in his sacrifice my victorie in his combats my life in his death my glorie and ioy in his resurrection that so replenished with peace I may cheerfully resigne my bodie to the earth as assured that it shall rise againe and my soule to heauen with these last words of Christ Into thy hands O Father I commit my spirit So be it The nineteenth Prayer For heauenly life Hee that heareth my worde and beleeueth in him that sent me hath life euerlasting and I wil raise him again at the latter day Father concerning those whome thou hast giuen me my desire is that they may be where I am that they may be with me to beholde my glory Iohn 5. 6. 17. O Soueraign Father of al thinges by a singular priuiledge Father of the children whome it hath pleased thee to adopt in our Lord Iesus Christ to be coheires with him in the celestiall life I learne in thy word that this inheritance blessed estate is acontemplation of the glory of this great Sauiour of the elect in an vnspeakeable beatitude onely worthy to be loued and to bee sought incessantly night and day with the lamp of thy trueth Which is to see him as he is true God and true Man and perfectlie to enioie his presence with communicating of all his goodnesse to be in the ioy of his Lord as a loyall seruant and to beholde him face to face in his diuine essence one with the father and with the holy ghost one onelie God in soueraigne Maiestie which is to be vnited and conioyned with him and by him vnto thee O eternall GOD who art all light and life of the soule at her departure out of her earthly habitation afterward reuested with it flesh in that great day of the glorious comming of the same Christ when hee shall wholy render vppe vnto thee the kingdome of thy grace that thou maist be all in all To be briefe which is both in body and soule to be in him and to liue of his glory And this also is the eternall life a life accomplished in knowledge in loue in righteousnesse in rest in honour in beautie in constancie in ioy felicitie and peace a life wherin the Angels and Saintes incessantly do sound out and celebrate O Lord thy great name in perfect and rauishing melodie replenished both with a desire and a fulnesse of the celestiall bread Iesus Christ God man without this desire breeding any griefe or this fulnesse any molestation In summe a life which by the full view that wee shall haue of thy eternall deitie O almightie GOD shall make vs knowe thee as thou hast knowne vs and as thou art in Trinitie of persons Father Word Spirit and in vnitie of essence likewise to loue thee according to the excellency of thy nature with our whole heartes and thoughts and our whole strength and might and in this loue to obtaine our perfect full contentment To this heauenlie life O Lord my soule directeth her flight this is the marke that shee aymeth at the end whereto shee tendeth and the reward that she by thy grace promiseth her selfe for seeking after thy welbeloued Sonne in whome it pleaseth thee to be my God and my Father Oh! I shall indeede goe and liue in this holy and sacred place of the habitation of thy glorie and there shall contemplate that which neuer eye sawe vnder the heauen neyther eare hath heard nor heart comprehended of the solide Riches whiche thou doost keepe from all eternitie for thy children I shall see I say these diuine wonders in thy sanctuary in thy light inaccessible for all flesh knowing in the brightnesse of thy countenance thy infinite power O Father thy incomprehensible wisedome O Sonne and thy incomparable vertue O Holy-ghost one onely true God A knowledge so singular and pretious that therein resteth all the felicitie of the Angels and saints their only plentiful reward their scepter the diademe of their glory and the full and perpetuall ioy that couereth their heads as with a crowne of victory in a peace durable for euer I beseech thee therfore O Lord to giue mee grace that withdrawing my affection more and more from the darke cloysters of the earth sprinckled with teares I may lift vp my desires to the lightsome habitation of thy deitie where the treasures and incomparable ioyes of thy paradise do remaine in an eternall life So that I may finishe my course in an earnest and perpetuall meditation of this angelical and diuine being and comforting my self incessantly night and day in that the promise is made vnto mee through my sauiour Iesus Christ to the end that in my last hower come out of my misery and entered into my felicitie I may with a happy flight goe take my rest aboue in thy peace O my God which surmounteth all vnderstanding and for to sing Psalmes of thanksgiuing vnto thee without end So be it The twentieth Praier Vpon eternall death Of those that sleepe in the dust of the earth some shall awake to euerlasting life others to rebuke and shame without end Their worme shall not die and their fire shall not be quenched there shal be weeping gnashing of teethe Dan. 12. Esay 66. Mat. 15. ALmighty god for whose glorie all nations are created Thou which art the mightie and the faithfull God keeping thy couenant and free mercy with a thousand generations of those that loue thee and obey thy commandements which giuest againe the very same vnto those that hate thee and rebell against thee with euery of them euen to their face whose will is the iust and soueraigne cause of all that is done in heauen and in earth whose counsailes are vnsearchable and iudgements most profound and admirable O Father and gouernor of all things thou hast euen from the beginning of thy vnspeakable good nesse framed man and reclothed him with such an excellency as did
sufficiently preach forth the infinite power of thy hand which had created him such a one I wil not neither can I ascend higher then thy word teacheth me to enquire wherefore thou wouldest not so establish the blessed being of this the greatest and chiefest of thy visible workes that he might not fall I haue matter enough to occupy the strength of my soule to meditate vpon to haue in detestation yea euen before thy Maiestie to accuse the pride of our nature which thought not it selfe in honor sufficient vnlesse it were equall with thy deitie freeing it selfe from all feare and obedience vnto thee and by that rash ingratitude cast himselfe headlong from innocency into sinne from life into temporall and eternall death To thee O Lord belongeth righteousnesse and to man confusion shame and thou after thy good pleasure shewest mercy to whom thou wilt shew mercy The vaine Philosophie and foolish curiositie which is not content with the simplicitie of Christian faith retained within the limits of thy sacred Oracles shal make much enquiry about this fall of Adam to the end if she could to penetrate into thy secret counsaile about the creation and end of thy workes yea euen in that which toucheth the election and reprobation of mankind shee dareth in this bottomlesse pit to dicourse of thy infinite iustice the argument of thy incomprehensible glory measuring both the one and the other with her terrestiall conceits for to declare in her imaginations thy grace to the elect and thy iudgement against the reprobate daring to pleade their cause as also she will resolue of their estate after this life and of the qualitie of their punishments But thy children O heauenly Father instructed by thy doctrine through the light of thy spirit will in their hearts humblie reuerence thy decrees which are alwayes iust euen in the first condemnation of al mankinde and will be content to magnifie thy goodnesse for the grace that it hath pleased thee to bestow vpon them in Iesus Christ adopting them by him of thy free mercy into thy family For they haue learned in thy schoole that the inaccessible brightnesse of thy iudgements dazleth the best sighted mindes and spirits yea wasteth and consumeth them when they presume to approach to enquire the secret causes This doe I know neither will I know any more that all things doe worke for the best in thy elect because that hauing known them before all ages thou hast also predestinated them to be made conformable to the image of thy Son called and iustified them to be glorified The vessels of wrath prepared to perdition do feele none of these free mercies and celestiall riches whereof it comes that when they thinke vpon death they see nothing but feareful horrible damnable all intollerable paine without diminution or end an infernall diuelish and endlesse torment a gnashing of teeth with blasphemy and dispaire a perpetuall disquiet both in body and soule an eternity to their woe and damnation and which is worse a most merciful God whom they shall know to be in heauen and yet not to bee their God but their aduersary soueraigne Iudge to be as seuere and rigorous to them as he shall be gentle and fauorable to his children This is in summe all that the reprobate may expect or hope for in death This also maketh that when they find they are vtterly destitute of the pledge of their fredome which thy elect O Lord doe carry with them in this sinne of nature namely faith in Christ dead for their sinnes and risen againe for their righteousnesse these miserable men departe this their earthly habitation with great griefe and trembling vsually at the hower of death casting forth many woeful sobbes infallible fore-runners of their misery at hand As in truth they want no more thereof but the proofe that they are going to make of the eternall torments with the diuells in the burning lake of fire and brimstone which is neuer quenched giuen to the soule presently vpon the temporall death and to both body and soule in the day of the resurrection of all flesh I say in the second eternall death a death which continueth without dying and without consuming or destroying that which it makes to languish for euer in a furnace always burning deuouring and consuming amongest which vnspeakeable torments yea such as mans thought is not able to conceiue this paine is not the least to the damned but rather an other cruell death that they neuer haue any motion of the spirit to repent or conuert vnto thee the onely and true God I beseech thee therefore O Lord that as thou hast giuen me grace to belieue that by thy grace I am made a vessell of mercy I may liue in the life of the righteous sanctified by the spirit of Christ to depart happily in him and so to ascend vnto thee into thy new Sion and there to receiue the price of the victorious crown which this great Sauior of the elect hath purchased for the perfection of their glory So be it The one and twentieth Prayer For the Morning O Lord euen in the morning heare my voice Earlie in the morning will I direct my praier vnto thee and will looke vp O Lord I crie vnto thee and earlie shall my praier come before thee Let my helpe and beginning be in the name of god Father Sonne and holi-ghost who hath made heauen and earth Psal 5. 88. O Lord my God eternal and almightie to whom I owe all glory and obedience I doe humbly prostrate my selfe before thy face and lift vp my heart and voice to thee my Father which art in heauen to sanctifie thy name to craue thy mercy and to giue thee thankes for thy benefits I acknowledge of thy prouidence and benignitie that hauing passed this night vnder thy gard and protection I may yet see the light of the day in the workes of thy hands contemplate the greatnesse of thy power and here below enioy those temporall benefites that thou powrest plentifully or largely vppon thy creatures But because of thy vnmeasurable bountie thou makest earthlie things common to all men and that the effects of the Sonne doe stand vs no steede but for the life of the bodie I beeseech thee merciful Father more and more to raise vpon my heart thy eternall light our Lord Iesus Christ and by the vertue of thy spirit so to scatter the darkenesse of my vnderstanding and to breake the hardnesse of my heart that so farre as it may suffize for my saluation I may apprehend the glorie of thy Kingdome and the mysteries of christian faith together with the dutie of my calling that I may constantly walke in the same in a good conscience and as before thee the searcher of our harts with all my thoughtes worshipping and louing thee in spirit and trueth according to thy word louing also in thee my neighboures as my selfe to pleasure them so farre forth as I may by
strengths and with al our mindes and louing our neighbours as our selues to pleasure them in all dueties of loue to our power Strengthen vs likewise with thy vertue O almightie God against the temptations and assaults of Sathan deliuering vs victoriously preseruing vs also from such dangers and miseries as euery where follow vs at the heeles in this life and aboue all giuing vs grace in whatsoeuer estate wee be still to be content with thy will which can neuer be other than good and iust and to vs profitable because wee are of the number of thy children So let thy peace be in vs and vpon all the workes of our handes that wee may happily passe the rest of our dayes walkeing euery of vs in his familie in the duty of our vocation in a good conscience as before thy face to whom nothing is hid and meditating diligently vpon the shortnesse and afflictions of this our life that so wee may aduance thee and finally end in the wisedome of true christians whereby wee may principally learne to desire heauen and patiently to take all humane crosses and whatsoeuer may seeme to vs most greeuous to the flesh knowing that all things shall turne to our good alalwayes prouided that constantly we perseuere in thy seruice for so shal wee liue and die with Christ that we may enter into his ioyes in heauen there to behold his glory Furthermore howsoeuer vnworthie sinners wee are yet O Lord in as much as thou hast commanded vs to pray one for another to the aduancement of thy Kingdome wee pray to thee for all men that it may please thee so to worke that they who as yet haue not the knowledge of thy holy gospel may by the preaching thereof and the illumination of thy holy spirite be brought to know thee the only and true GOD and him whome thou hast sent Iesus Christ to saue the Worlde Also that they whom thou hast already visited with this grace as our selues may dayly encrease in thy spirituall blessings So that altogether we may worship thee with hart mouth in one spirite one faith and one baptisme And sith thou hast also ordained gouernements and callings that all people may be gouerned in the feare of thy name and to common commoditie We beseech thee to inspire guide and blesse our Queen and all Princes Magistrates and Superiours that haue the gouernement of thy sword vpon earth that euery of them raigning in godlinesse and righteousnesse may employ their power which they hold from thee to cause thee to be serued honored and to the tranquillitie peace and reliefe of their subiects wholy submitting themselues and their people to thy holy word Likewise for the publishing of thy word in al places vouchsafe more more with thy giftes to enrich the Pastors and Doctors of thy Church and daily to raise vp more to execute in a good conscience their charge to the edification and perfection of thy holy Temple whereof in generall O Lorde and of euerie faithfull vouchsafe to shewe thy selfe the Almighty protector to the confusion of all the aduersaries of the name of Christ and of his holie Church We also pray thee for all those whom thou visitest with tribulation whether it be sickenesse of body or anguish of soule that thou O mercifull Father vouchsafe to giue them comfort patience to the bearing of their calamities and deliueraunce from their afflictions Asking all these things of thee in the name of thy Sonne our Mediatour and as he hath taught vs to pray Our Father which art in heauen c. We also besech thee O Lord to encrease and confirme vs in the Catholike Faith of thy Church to the end it may take liuely roote in our soules to fructifie to all righteonsnesse and good workes and that euen to our last gaspe we may make like confession thereof as we doe now both with hart and mouth I beleeue in God the Father Almighty c. And because the faith of thy children O Lord is inseperable from the obedience due to thy word especially in the tenne commaundements of the law and that thou doest ordaine that wee should haue them perpetually in our hearts and mouthes to keepe them and to teach them to our families giue vs grace to our powers to conforme our selues to the same euen as wee vnderstand that they were deliuered from thy mouth saying Heare Israel I am the Lord thy God that brought thee out of the land of Aegypt out of the house of bondage 1 Thou shalt haue no other Gods before mee 2 Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image or the likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath or in the water vnder the earth Thou shalt not bow downe to them nor worship them for I am the Lord thy God a iealous God that visiteth the sins of the fathers vppon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me shew mercy vnto thousands of them that loue me and keepe my commandements 3 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 4 Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabaoth day sixe dayes shalt thou labor and doe all that thou hast to doe but the seauenth day is the Sabaoth of the Lord In it thou shalt do no manner of thing thou and thy sonne and thy daughter and thy man-seruant and thy maide-seruant and the stranger that is within thy gates for in sixe dayes the Lord made heauen and earth and the sea and all that therein is and rested the seauenth day wherefore the Lord blessed the seuenth day and hallowed it 5 Honour thy father mother that thy dayes may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee 6 Thou shalt do no murther 7 Thou shalt not commit adulterie 8 Thou shalt not steale 9 Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour 10 Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife nor his man-seruant nor his maide-seruant nor his oxe nor his asse nor any thing that is his And the summe of all these commandements is this That wee loue thee O Lord with al our hearts and with all our mindes and our neighbours as our selues Thy blessing therefore O our GOD and Father with the peace of our Lord Iesus and the comforte of the Holy-ghost be thus giuen vnto vs by thy grace and remaine with vs for euer Amen The three and twentieth Prayer Before meate among the Family The eyes of all creatures looke vp vnto thee O Lord thou giuest them meate in due season thou openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing euery liuing thing c. Psal 145. O euerlasting GOD and Father we beseeche thee to extend thy blessing vppon vs thy poore children seruants and vppon the foode which it pleaseth thee of thy goodnes to