good father help me that I might heartily loue thee complaine to thee in all my needes alwaies by prayer to powre out my heart before thee Amen Iohn Bradford A meditation vpon the Lords prayer Our Father THou good Lorde which madest heauen and earth the sea and all that is therein together with thy dearlie beloued sonne Iesus Christ and with thy holy spirite thou the same God which openedst thy selfe to Adam by thy promise thou the god of Abraham Isaac Iacob thou which broughtest thy people of Israel forth of Egipt with a mightie hand and a stretched out power thou which giuest the Lawe vpon Mount Sinai thou which spakest by thy prophets and last of all in these latter daies by thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ whom thou wouldest should be made a second Adam that as by the first wee are children of wrath carnall and full of concupiscence so by him wee might bee made children of grace and spirituall by communicating with him the qualitie merites vertues and grace of his flesh through the operation of his holy spirite as hee communicated with vs the substance of our fleshe in the wombe of the Virgin Marie in the operation of the same holy spirite being that blessed seede which was promised to Adam AbrahaÌ„ Isaac Iacob and Dauid which should bruse the serpents heade which shoulde bring the blessing on all nations which should reigne â—uer his house for euer and mightily â—uercome thine and out enemies as in deede he did by his incarnation natiuitie circumcision exile baptisme fasting temptation doctrine miracles workings agonies bloudie prayer passion death resurrection and ascension and yet hee still doeth by his mediation intermission for vs and at the length will on all partes fully accomplished by his com ming to iudgement which will bee sodainly in the twinckeling of an â—ie in the blast of a trumpet and shoute of an Archangell when hee shall bee seene with thousandes of Saintes innumerable thousands of Angels al the whole world being on fire al the people that euer were are or shall bee then standing before his tribunall or iudgmente seate to render an account of that they haue done in this bodie be it good or bad Thou I say this God which are holy righteous true wise pure chast mightie mercifull good gratious an hater of sinne a reâ—enger of vnrighteousnes c. wouldest that I which am borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquitie which by nature am a childe of width and in whome dwelleth continuall enmitie against thee that I which 〈◊〉 nothing but sinne and one that doth euil alwaies before thee should call thee and beleeue thee this God and Father of our Lorde Sauiour Iesus Christ to be in veâ—ie deede my father that is thou wouldest I should be most assured that thou of thine owne good will which thou barest to me wards before I was yea before the worlde was hast in Christ chosen mee to be thy Childâ— and through him art become my most louing Father from 〈◊〉 I should â—ooke for all good things be most certeinly perâ—â—â—aded that looke howe much thou art more than a man so much thy loue and fatherly prouidence towardes mee passeth the loue and prouidance of any father towardes his childe in louing mee caring howe to helpe mee prouiding for mee nurturing mee helping me in all my needes So certaine thou mouldest haue mee to hee of this that to doubt of it doeth most displease thee and dishonour thee as though either thou were not true or not able to doe these thinges 〈◊〉 else becamest not my father in respect of thine owne goodnesse in Christ only but also in respect of my worthinesse and descrets And that I should not 〈◊〉 or doubt of this that thou art my deare Father and I thy childe for euer through Iesus christ it 〈◊〉 required in the first 〈…〉 saith I am the Lord thy God thou shaâ—â— haue none other Gods but me Againe thy sonne doth here commaunde mee to call the by theâ—name of father Moronuer in the first article of my beleefe I professe the same in saying I beleeue in God the Father almightie Besides this there are many other thinges to confirme me he erein as the creation and gouernement of the worlde generally and of euerie creature particularlie for all is made and kept for man and so for me to serue me for my commoditie necessitie and admonition Againe the creation of me in that then hast made mee after thy things hauing a reasonable soule bodie shape c. where thou mightest haue made me a Toad a Serpent a Swine deformed frantick c. Moreover thy wonderful conâ—etuation nourishing keeping of mee 〈◊〉 in my infanâ—◠〈…〉 c. An these I say shoulde confirme my faith in thy fatherly loue But of al things the opening of thy selfe by thy word and promise of grace made after mans fall first to Adam then to Abraham Isaac Iacob and so to other being published by the Prophets from time to time and last of all accomplished by thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ in whom thy promises are yea and Amâ—n the opening of thy selfe thus I say in and by Christ is the most thiefe and sure certificat that thou art my father for his sake I thy deare child although of my selfe I am most unworthy For thou according to thy promises hast not spared thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ but giuen him to the death of the Crosse for my sinnes Thou wouldest he shoulde he made flesh of our flesh and bloud of our bloude in the wombe of the Virgin Marie by the operation of thy holy spirite that we by the working of the same spirite through the merrits of his flesh and bloud might be made flesh of his fleshe and bloud of his bloud that is as he hath the substance of our fleshe and bloude men so we might haue and for euer enioy in him and through him the qualities vertues giftes of righteousnesse holinesse innocencie immortalitie and glory wherewith he hath endued our nature in his owne person for vs all that as nowe in faith and hope we haue the same so in his comming we might fullie enioy them in verie deed for then shall our bodies nowe vile bee like to his glorious bodie Herein appeareth thy loue not that we loued thee but that thou louedst vs and hast giuen thy Sonne for vs. Heerein eocst thou commend vnto vs thy loue that when wet were yet sinners Christ thy deare sonne died for vs so that nothing shoulde seperate vs from thy loue in Christ Iesus neither affliction anguishe persecution famine neither life nor death c. For when wee were enimies wee were reconciled vnto thee by the death of thy sonne much more wee being reconciled shal be saued in this life And that I shoulde not doubts
for whom thou wouldest I shoulde praie Here think vpon the state of religion the life of the professors of the Gospel that thou maist lament some pray for some and giue thankes for some Let thy kingdome come THy Kingdome is in two fortes to be considered vniuersally and particularly vniuersally according to thy power wherwith thou gouernest al things euery where in earth heauen hell diuels Angels men beastes foules fishes and all other creatures Of this kingdome spake Dauid when he saide His kingdom ruleth ouer all Particularly thy kingdome is to be considered according to thy grace wherewith thou raignest onely in thy Church elect people ruling and gouerning all and euerie member of thy Church to thy glorie and their eternal comfort Not that out of this Church I exclude thy power for as there with thou defendest thy people so thou punishedâ— thy enimies but because thy grace is specially considered beeing as it were the verie keeper that keepeth and guideth thy people The time will be when this kingdome of grace and power now being as dinstinct shal be vnited and made one kingdome of glorie which will be when Christ shall giue vp his kingdome into thyne handes that is in the resurrection When death the last enimie shall be subdued and thâ—â—â— shalt be all in all In the meane season this kingdome of grace is miraculously and mightiely propagated enlarged and gonerned by the true Ministerie of thy woord and sacramentes through the working of thy holy spirit and this is the meane and waie whereby as thou didst first plant so doest thou enlarge amplifie and preserue the same This kingdome of grace begunne continued and inlarged by the true preaching of thy Gospell and ministration of thy Sacramentes is the thing which Christ teacheth here thy children to pray for that it might come that is to say that thy Gospel might so mightily purelie and plenteouslie bee preached maugre the heade of all thine enemies that the number of thine electe might bee brought in and so the kingdome of thy glorie might appeare So that as I see thy children desire pray and labour that thy Gospell might bee trulie preached hearde and liued in themselues and in others so they lament the not preaching and refusing the not lining and not beleeuing thy Gospell yea they lament the lingring of y e comming of thy Christ for in his comming they know they shall be like vnto him and hauing this hope they purifie themselues as he is pure By reason heereof I see first that I am farre from this desire and lamenting which thy children haue I see my ignorance of thy kingdome and power euery where also of thy grace in thy Church only and of thy glory when al the enemies of thy grace shal bee cast downe and thy glorie and power shall embrace each other I see my ignorance howe acceptable a seruice to thee is the true preaching and the hearing of thy Gospel for els thou hadst not needed to haue placed this petition next to the petition of the sanctifying of thy name Againe I see heere mine vnableneesse to enter into thy kingdome and to attaine to it for els what neede shoulde I haue to pray for that to come from thee which otherwise may be atchieued Thirdlye I see my peruersity and contempt of thy kingdome grace for although I see my want yet I woulde not desire thy kingdome to come if thou diddest not commande me so to pray and if I woulde haue praied for it thou wouldest not haue commaunded me Last of all I see thy goodnesse which wilt bring thy kingdome and that as generally by sending foorth ministers to preach truly so particularlye by regenerating mee more and more and by giuing me as grace heere so glorie elsewhere for thou wouldest not I should pray for that which thou wilt denie So that I haue great cause to lament and reioice To lament because of my miserable state and condition because of my sinne ignorance rebellion peruersity Sathans power contempt of thy grace thy Gospell and ministery here or elsewhere To reioice because of thy goodnesse great mercie which hast brought me into thy Church keepest me in it aud wilt do so still Also because of the ministerie of thy word sacrameÌ„acute ts by which the holy Ghost is and will be effectuall and finally because of the great glory whereunto thou hast called mee and which now thou wilt giue vnto mee asking the same But alas how vnthankefull I am and sorrowlesse Lord thou knowest for my heart is not hid from thee Oh be merciful vnto me and forgiue me good father and graâ—nt me the spirit of thy children to reueale vnto mee my ignorance of thy kingdome my pouertie and peruersitie that I may lament the same and daily labour for thy helpe and thy holye spirite to suppresse the kingdome of sinne in my selfe and in others Againe graunt me that same thy holie spirit to reueale to me thy kingdome of power grace and glorie to kindle mine affections to regenerate me more and more to raigne in me as a peece of thy kingdome to giue to me to desire to pray and to labour for thy kingdome both to my selfe and to others effectually to thy glorie and to assure my conscience of thy goodnes that thou wilt giue me grace glorie c. Here call to minde the state of the ministery and ministers the light and life of Gospellers the errors and heresies which men be intangled withall Thy will be done AS thy power is infinit so is thy wisedome accordinglie Whereby as we may perceiue that nothing is or can bee done against thy power or otherwise than by it so is there not nor cannot be any thing done against or otherwise then by thy omnipotent and secret wil which is alwaies as tâ—ou art good holie and iust how farre so euer it seeme otherwise to our foolishe reason and iudgement and therefore here we are taught to pray that thy wil may bee done here without sinne on mans behalfe as it is on the Angels behalfe in heauen Againe for as much as thou art incomprehensible of thy selfe as well concerning thy power as concerning thy wisdome we may not according thereto search thee but rather adore and worship thy maiestie and tremble at thy iudgments and works and therefore praie alwaies we may bee content with thy wil and be buxomr and obedient thereto And for as much as thou hast reuealed vnto vs somuch of thy wil in thy word writtenas is necessary for vs in this life to knowe yea as wee can attaine vnto a little further wee ought to take al things done against the same as â—â—nne and transgression although thou canst vse the same sinne to serue thy preuidence of the which prouidence we cannot nor may not iudge further than thou hast and shalt open it vnto vs. So that this petition Thy wil be done is
to lament and reioyce To lament because I consider not these thinges in prayer in such sorte as should moue mee to admiration and gratitude because I consider not thy power and wisedome generally in all things because I am so carelesse for thy kingdome and because I am so full of dubitation and doubting of thy goodnesse To reioyce I haue great cause because thou reuealest these things vnto me on this sorte because of thy power kingdome and glorie which maketh to the hearing of my prayers and helping of mee because thou wilt vse me as thine instrument to set forth thy kingdome power and glorie and because iâ— pleaseth thee to heare my prayer and assuredly wilt saue mee for euer But alas howe farre am I from these lamentings and reioycinges By reason whereof I deserue damnation O bee mercifull vnto mee and forgiue me and of thy goodnesse grant me thy holy spirite to reueale to mee my blindnes obliuion contempt of thy kingdome power and glore with the greatnes of my doubtings that as I may heartily lameÌ„t them so haue them pardoned taken from mee through the merites of Iesus Christ thy sonne Againe giue me thy holy spirit to reueale to me in such sort thy kingdome power glorie eternitie that I may alwaies haue the same before mine eies be moued with the admiration thereof labour effectually to set forth the same finally as to haue the fruition thereof after this life so to increase in an assured certaine and liuelie expectation of the same that I may alwaies and in all thinges reioyce in thee through Christ and giue laudes thanks and praises perpetually vnto thy most holie name Oh blessed Father Sonne and holie Ghost three persons and one God to whome bee all honour and glorie world without ende Hâ—ere thinke that if the kingdome power glorie and eternitie bee Gods which is our Father what our dignity is which be his children If the power bee our fathers of whome should wee bee afraide Let the diuell bee subiect to the Lordes power and kingdom as he is how can the subiect haue power ouer vs which be sonnes and heirs in that he hath not power ouer poâ—kets without the proudence and permissioÌ„ of God Therefore ful well should wee pray 〈…〉 power is the Lords and the Diuel hath none but that he hath of Gods gift No he were not able to receiue power if God did not make him able although the execution of it is rather of Gods permission Giue al thanks praise and glorie to God our Father through Christ our Lord and Sauiour So be it Iohn Bradford PRIVATE PRAIERS for the Morning and Euening and for other times of the day When you awake out of your sleepe pray thus MOst mercifull God and Father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ I most humbly thanke thee for the sweete sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuen mee this night past beseeching thee that like as thou hast nowe awaked my bodie from sleepe so thou wouldest awake my soule from the sleepe of sinne and darkenesse of this worlde and that which thou hast new awaked out of sleepe thou wouldest after death whereof this sleepe is but an image restore and rayle againe to life euerlasting O gratious God make my body I heartilie pray thee such a coÌ„panion or rather a minister of godlinesse to my soule this day all the time of this preseÌ„t life that in the life to come it may be partaker with the same of euerlasting happines through Christ Iesus our Lord. Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead Christ shal shew light vnto thee Ephes 5. Occasions to medâ—tate Here call to minde the great mirth blessednesse of the euerlasting resurrection Also remember to muse vpon that most cleare light that bright morning and new clearenesse of our bodies after the loÌ„g darknes which they haue bin in All then shall be ful of vnspeakable ioy and felicitie When you beholde the dailight pray O Lorde God thou most glorious and true light from whence this light of the day sunne doth spring and shine vnto vs O light which lightenest euery man that commeth into this world O light which knowest no night nor euening but art al way a midday most cleare and faire without whom all is most horrible darkenesse and by whome al thinges are most cleare and bright O thou wisedome of the eternall father of mercies lighten my minde that I may see those thinges onely which pleasethee and may be blinded to all other thinges Grant me so to walk in thy waâ—â—s by the light of thy holie word that nothing else may bee light and pleasant vnto me Lighten mine eies Oh Lord that I sleepe not in death least mine enemies say I haue preuailed against him Psal 30. Occasions to meditate Muse a while howe much the light and eie of the mind and soule is better than of the bodie Also howe much more we ought to care for the soule that it may see well than of the bodie Moreouer that beasts haue bodily eies as wel as men but men onely haue eies of the mind and that such as are godly wise When you arise pray OVR first parentes cast downe themselues from a most excellent high and honorable state into shame miserie and into the deepe sea of all wickednesse and mischiefe but oh Christ thou putting forth thy hande didst raise them vp againe Euen so wee except we be raised vp by thee shal ly still for euer O good Christ our most gracious Redeemer as thou doest mercifully raise vp now this my bodie euen so I beseech thee raise vp my minde heart to the true knowledge loue of thee that my conuersation may be in heauen where thou art If thou be risen with Christ thinke vpon those things that be aboue Col. 3 Occasions to meditate Thinke howe foule the fall of Adam was by reason of sinne and so euerie one of vs froÌ„ the hight of Gods grace Againe thinke vpon the inestimable benefite of Christ by whose helpe wee daily rise againe from our fallings When you apparrell your selfe pray O Christ cloath mee with thine owne selfe that I may be so far from making prouision for the flesh to fulfill the Iustes thereof that I may cleane put off all desires and crucifie the kingdome of the flesh in mee Be thou vnto me a garment to keepe me warme and to defend me from the cold of this world If thou be absent deare Lorde all thinges are colde weake and dead but if thou be with me all thinges are warme fresh and cheerefull c. Graunt therefore that as I coÌ„passe this my body with this garment so thou wouldest cloath me wholy but specially my soule with thine owne selfe Put vpon you as the elect of God bowels of mercie meekenesse loue peace c. Col. 3. Occasions to meditate Call to minde a little howe we are incorporate into Christ Againe howe he doth cloath vs
to prayse thy holy name Amen Peace bee to this house and to all that dwell in the same Math. 10. Occasions to meditate Thinke what a returne and howe merrie a returne it will bee to come to our eternall most quiet and most happie home then will all griefe and sorrow cease Whatsoeuer here is pleasant and ioyfull the same is nothing but a verie shadowe in comparison of that which is to come At the Sunne going downe praie HOwe vnhappie are they O Lorde from whome thy Sunne goeth downe giueth no light I meane thy grace which is alwaies â—â—eare as the midday Darke night vnto them is the midday which 〈◊〉 part froÌ„ thee In thee is neuer night but alwaies day light most cleare This corporall sunne hath his courses nowe vp nowe downe but thou deare Lorde if wee loue thee art alwaies one O that this blacke and vaile of sin were taken away from mee that there might bee alwaies cleare daie in my mind Occasions to meditate Thinke that as wee are not sorie when the Sunne goeth downe because we knowe it shall rise againe euen so we should not sorrow for death where through the soule and body doe parte a sunder for they shal eftsoones returne and come together againe in most glorious wise So long as the Sunne is â—p wilde beastes keepe their 〈◊〉 Foxes their burrowes Owles their holes c. But when the Sunne is downe then come they abroad so wicked men and hypocrites keep their dennes in the time of the Gospell but it being taken awaie then swarme they out of their holes like Bees as this day doth â—each When the candles be light pray MOst thicke and darke cloudes do couer our mindes except thy light O Lorde doe driue them away Thy sunne O most wise worker is as it were a firebrand to this worlde Thy kingdome whereby light commeth both to the soule and bodie is a firebrande to the spirituall worlde After day when the night commeth thou hast giuen for the remedie of darkenesse a candle After sinne for the remedie of ignorance thou hast giuen thy doctrine which thy deare sonne hath brought vnto vs O thou that art the author and master of all trueth the true light make vs to see that the dimnesse of our mindes may be driuen cleane away Lift thou vp the light of thy countenaunce vpoÌ„ vs and send vs ioie gladnes into our heartes Psal 4. Thy worde is a lanterne to my feete and a light vnto my paths Psal 1â—9 Occasions to meditate Thinke that the knowledge which God giueth vnto vs by the candle light whereby wee see those things in this night of our bodies which are expedient for vs shoulde make vs to wish much more for this doctrine of God spirituall light of our soules when wee get it the more to esteeme it and diligently to embrace it Againe that as all woulde bee horrour without candle light so there is nothing but meere confusion where Gods worde taketh no place When you make your selfe vnreadie pray THis our life and weake-knit bodie by occasion of sin by little little shall be dissolued and so shal be restored to the earth from whence it was taken then will be an end of this vanitie which by our folly wee haue wrought to our selues O most meek father so do thou vnite me for thou art he that hath knit these our weak members together that I may perceiue my selfe to be loosed and dissolued and so may remember both of whome I was made also whither I must goe least I be had vnprouided vnto thy tribunall seat Put off the olde man with his lustes and concupiscences Col. 3. Ephes 4. Be content with Ioseph to put off thy prison apparrell that thou maiest put on newe Gen. 4. 1. Occasions to meditate Thinke that wee doe willinglie put off our garments because wee shall receiue them againe when the night is past so we should willingly forsake our bodies wheÌ„ God by death shall cal vs because we shall receiue them againe in the resurrection of the iust When you enter into your bed praie THe daie nowe ended men giue themselues to rest in the night and so this life finished we shall rest in death Nothing is more like this life than euery day nothing more like to our graue then our dedde O Lorde our keeper and defender graunt that I now laing me downe to rest being vnable to keepe my selfe may be preserued from the craftes assaultes of the Wicked enemie and graunt further that when I haue run the race of this life thou wouldest of thy mercie call mee vnto thee that I may liue â— watch with thee for euermore And nowe gracious God giue mee to take my rest in thee and bring to passe that thy goodnes may be giuen in sleepe before my eies that sleeping I bee not absent from thee but may haue my dreames to draw me vnto thee and so both soule and body may be kept pure and holie for euer I will lay mee downe in peace and take my rest c. Psal 4. Occasions to meditate Thinke that as the troublesome day is nowe past and night come and so rest quietnesse and pleasant sleepe which maketh most excellent princes and poore wretches alike euen so after the tumults troubles temptations and tempests of this life they that beleeue in Christ haue prepared for them an hauen and rest most pleasant and ioyfull As you are not afraid to enter into your bedde and to disposâ— your selfe to sleepe so be not afraide to die but rather cheerefully prepare your selfe thereunto Think that now you are neerer your end by one daies iourney than you were in the morning When you feele sleepe to be comming pray O Lord Iesus Christ my watchman and keeper take mee into thy protection Graunt that my bodie sleeping my minde may watche in thee and be made merrie by some sight of that celestiall and heauenlie life wherein thou art the King and Prince together with the father and the holy Ghost where the Angels and holie soules be most happie citizens Oh puriâ—â—e my soule keepe cleane my body that in both I may please thee sleeping and waking for euer Amen A GENERALL CONfession of sinnes with other praiers for the Morning and Euening to be vsed in families and publicke assemblies O Most mercifull and louing father whose loue is infinite whose mercy endureth for euer wee sinfull creaturs trusting in thine vnspeakeable goodnesse and loue towarde vs doe appeare this morning before thy diuine maiestie most humblie confessing our manifolde sinnes and innâ—merable transgressions of thy commandements and fatherlie will Against thee only against thee O Lorde haue we sinned wee acknowledge our offencesâ— wee accuse our selues vnto thee O mercifull Lord and will not hide our vnrighteousnesse We finde in our selues nothing but ignorance of thy wil disobedience mistrust doubtfulnesse in thy goodnes and incredulitie hatred and contempt of all spiritual things selfeloue
vertue may lighten and cheere vs that the want of feeling of our sorrow maye to recompensed plentifully with the liue y â— senâ—e of hauing thee to our eternal ioy therefore thou swarest that in thine euerlasting mercy thou wilt haue compassion on vs. Of which thing to the ende we might bee most assured thine oth is to bee marked for thâ—n sayâ—stâ— As I haue sworne that I will neuer bring anie more the waters to drowne the world So haue I sworne that I wil neuer more bee angrie with thee nor 〈◊〉 thee The mouâ—t◠〈◊〉 shall 〈◊〉 the hilles shall fall downâ— but my louing kindnesse shall not mooue and the bond of my peace shall not faile thee Thus saiest thou the Lord our mercifull redeemer Deare Father therfore I praie thee remember euen for thine owne trueth and mercie sake this promise and euerlasting couenaunt which in thy good time I may thee to write in my hart that I may know thee to bee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent that I may loue thee with all my heart for euer that I may loue thy people for thy sake that I may bee holie in thy sight through Christ that I may alwaies not onely striue against sin but also ouercome the same dayly more and more as thy children do aboue al things desâ—ring the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doing of thy will heere on earth as it is in heauen c. throguh Iesus Christ our redeemer mediator and aduocate Amen I. B. A praier against our spirituall enemies the diuell the world and the flesh O Lorde God the diuell goeth about like a roring Lyon seeking whome hee may deuoure the flesh lusteth against the spirite the worlde perswadeth vnto vanities y â— we may forget thee our Lord God so for euer ve damned Thus are we miserably on euery 〈◊〉 befet and â—eâ—â—eged of cruell a vnrestful enemies and like euerie momente to perish if we be not defended with thy godly power against their tyrannie Wee therefore poore and wretched sinners despayring of our owne strength which indeede is none most heartily praie thee to indue vs with strength from aboue that wee may bee able through thy helpe with strong faith to resist Sathan with feruent praier to mortifie the lustes of the fleshe with continual meditation of thy holie lawe to auoide the foolish vanities and transitorie pleasures of this wicked worlde y â— through thy grace wee beeing set at libertie from the power of these our mortall enemies may serue thee heere in true holinesse and righteousnes and after be partakers of the euerlasting ioyes prepared for thy children which as they are great and vnspeakeable so are there fewe that doe inioy them For straite is the way and narrowe is the gate that leadeth therunto and few there be that find it Notwithstanding O God thou hast a litle flock to whom it is thy pleasure to giue that ioyfull kingdome whose names are written in the booke of life Make vs therefore of that nuÌ„ber for Iesus christes sake place vs amongest those thy sheepe which shal stand on thy right hande to receiue that blessed inheritaunce and dwel with thee for euermore A prayer for present helpe in tentation DEare father to whom it is more easie to doe all thinges then for mee to thinke anie one goodthing Loe doe thou but speake a worde and thy deadlie sicke seruaunte my sonle shall be made whole Helpe O Lorde for the great mercy sake for thy trueth sake and for thy deare sonne Iesus Christs sake set thy sterngth suffice against my weakenesse and the holy-spirit against my sinfull flesh and olde man Thou art faithfull O Father who hast promised that I shall not bee tempted further than thou wilt make me able to beare Giue nowe therefore thy grace and strength vnto thy seruaunt that I may with a strong faith in thy in fallible trueth promised mercie vanquish and subdu whatsoeuer rebelleth against thy most blessed will Preserue and keepe holie my soule and bodie and let them not bee defiled and made a dangeon of diuels wicked spirits through delectation in sinne Behold deare Father the postes thereof are sprinkled with y e precious bloud of thy deare son and of thy great mercy that are made the temple and tabernacle of thy holy spirit Shall nowe alas the Diuell the worlde or the flesh plucke from thee that thing which presently cryeth to thee with assured trâ—st in thy promised helpe Nay father but graunt that I may by thy mightie power turne al their crafts decrits and raging assaultes vnto the increase of my faith and that by experience of thy fatherlie assistance in this my present temptation I may with assured hope and trust in thy readie helpe and comfort ouercame my saide enimies heereafter in like assaults prayse thy holy name for the victory through Iesus Christ our Lord. My sonne if thou wilt come into these rule of the Lorde stande fast in righteousnes feare and prepare thy soule to tentation Eccles 2. Remedies against sinfull motions and tentations First remember that sinne is so hainous a thing that God by his iustice might worthilie damne thee for the same and is therefore to bee abhorred as a sweete poyson a flattering death destruction of the soule which woulde cut thee off from God thy Sauiour and make thee a bondslaue to Sathan thy deadlie enemie Auoide therefore euen at the first the occasions thereof betimes quash out the braines of the childreÌ„ of Babylon against the hard stones whiles yet they bee young and weake least when they be growne elder stronger they dash thee to peeces And for remedie against the same flee vnto God who commandeth thee to call vpon him in thy troubles and promiseth to deliuer thee and wil not suffer thee to be further tempted than hee will make away out whereby thou shalt escape and doubt not but he that causeth thee to hate the sinne which thy nature is to loue will deliuer thee also from the daunger thereof and make thee to triumphouer Sathan to his confusion to Gods glorie and thy great comfort which are causes that our tender louing father sendeth tentations vnto vs he that is not tempted what is he Nowe after thou hast obtained the victory remember two thinges first to giue most heartie thankes to God for his grace and assistance whereby thou hast ouercome and bee not vnthankefull in anie wise and then that hee who continually goeth about like a roring Lion seeking whome he maie deuoure wil not be long or farre away from thee but will attempt againe the same or as euill waies to ouercome thee Watch therefore and praye A prayer for the auoiding of Gods heauie wrath and vengeance for our sins OH Lord God strong and mighty great and feareful which dwellest in the heauens and workest great wonders we thy miserable children heere vpon