of our spot corruption of our frailtie deadlie fall and most readie inclination to all wickednes and to crie continuallie vnto thee to attaine such strength of thine heauenlie grace through the working power of thine holie spirit that the sleights of satan may be preuented we inwardlie purged of all bitternes fiercenes lightnes inconstancie idlenes pride stoutnes and of all impuritie and wickednes and to liue in our calling with meeknes mildnes peace humblenes quietnes exercising all maner of puritie clennes sobernes godlines and holines as becommeth vnfeigned professors and the true daughters of holie Sara following hir example in all obedience and well dooing to thine honour and glorie and our eternall saluation through Iesus Christ thy sonne our euerlasting Sauiour who liueth and reigneth with thee and the holie ghost in all honour and glorie worlds without end Amen A praier to be said of all deuout women for the light of ladie Vertues lampe and recouerie of hir frends and hand-maids grace repentance faith hope and saluation lost and for the ransoming of their soules from the captiuitie of sinne O Most mightie God and heauenlie king vouchsafe to haue respect vnto vs miserable women which are so wrapped in wretchednes in this world that we are altogither vnworthie to be comprehended within the compasse of thy compassion O Lord of all flesh if it be lawfull for vs disobedient seruants to charge thee our beneficiall Lord and master with thy freendlie vndeserued promises behold then we thy hatefull hand-maids craue that thou haue no pleasure nor delight in the death of vs filthie sinners Thou art the same God thou wert when thou didst redeeme vs with the pretious sanguin oile of thy deere sonne thy grace is yet as great thy goodnes no lesse glorious thy power is inuincible thy diuine Deitie not diminished thy bountie nothing abated and that which must be our onelie helpe thy mercies as much manifold It pleased thy maiestic to send messengers into the world that they might encounter with the seruants of satan namelie thy grace ladie vertues pilote to encounter with vaine desires repetance to banish sinne ladie vertue with hir freends faith and hope to driue awaie the dread of death and desperation and finallie saluation to preuent the force of the hellish furies But alas thou seest O Lord how fraillie we haue dealt with thee with thy messengers thou knowest likewise that we haue not beene in readines willinglie to receiue or accept the light of ladie vertues lampe when it shined vpon vs to guid vs in the waie to euerlasting life but haue too retchleslie extinguished it with worldlie vanities and wilfullie shadowed it with our sinnes whereby we haue fallen from vertue not she by vs but we by wanting hir doo vade faith not by vs but we with want of faith doo faint hope not by vs but we with want of heauenlie hope doo halt they of themselues are strong but we without them are weaker than weaknes it selfe Recouer vs in them O God that we who now shame to shew our selues in thy presence may find through Christ some occasion of countenance when we come with our lamps of pure faith cleerlie burning in our hands to meete the bridegrome and implore thy fauourable sentence in the great iudgement daie of thy comming O vouchsafe yet once againe to extend thy manifold mercies for ransoming our soules from the captiuitie of sinne We without thine aid are miserable we without thy fauourable regard are more than miserable and woorse than woorst wretched Suffer not the works of thine hands which thou hast ordeined for the increase multiplieng of thy kingdome to be flames of infernall fire and to burne in the gulfe of horrible hell as we iustlie haue deserned for so be astlie abusing our selues and the gifts of nature and grace which thou hast giuen vnto vs. It is thy power not our priuiledge it is thy grace not our goodnes it is thy mercie not our merits that must stand vs in steed To vse circumstances in our sute O God what auaileth it Thou knowest our desire before we demand thou knowest our want before we wish thou knowest what we need before we aske thou knowest our sute before we seeke O vouchsafe therefore to supplie what we sue for heare vs and helpe vs make vs worthie to attaine vnto that freedome which we haue forsaken let thy mercie preserue that which thy power hath made and wisedome beautified Thy glorie O God shall be thine if anie benefite be ours thou knowest our necessitie and we hope thou dooest pitie our miserie Yet bicause it pleaseth thee to be praied vnto we therefore come vnto thee humblie in spirit though fraile in flesh It is thou not our sâ—lues that must make the flesh agreeable to the spirit It is thou not our selues that must ouer-rule our nature with thy grace our lusts with thy loue our soules with reason And although thou knowest how to bring it to passe better than can be surmised in our thoughts we craue yet Lord that thou wilt graffe in vs thy grace make vs readie to repentance let the light of ladie vertues lampe shine still on vs to guid vs in the waie to euerlasting happines Uouchsafe also to haue fauourable regard vnto those on whom the light of hir lampe hath shined and that such on whom it hath not shined may be at thy will and pleasure vnshadowed Grant I saie that wheresoeuer shee curteouslie offereth the vse of hir lightned lampe it may be freendlie accepted both in court and countrie Let manie buie it but mo vse it let manie craue it but mo hold it and when they haue it let them not shadowe or extinguish it with worldlie vanities nor quench it with the water of sinne and when they receiue it let them be in readines both to vse and preserue it with all diligence willingnes Finallie grant that all may mainteine the light thereof not onelie during their naturall liues but after to all posteritie at the disposition of thy diuine power and prouidence Moreouer frame in vs a fixed faith to the fort of thy felicitie Let hope haue onelie respect to saluation that we may supplie the place thou hast prepared for the wise virgins Let thy diuine power direct the discontinuing of our soules captiuitie Let thy pitie be prest to make thy mercie mitigate our miserie Let thy grace guide vs and thy mercie O God obteine freedome for vs that our lamps beeing replenished with the oile of thy merits we may walke in the light thereof with hartie hope to the gates of heauen now wide open to meete the great King and all the mightie multitude of angels who with vnspeakeable glorie shall come readie to receiue vs most royallie and intirelie to entertaine and accompanie vs to the celestiall palace and paradise of all pleasure there with all the holie companie of Angels Archangels Powers Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessors Uirgins yea
husband and all such as iustlie attempt anie wars against their enimies and mightilie to defend them against their aduersaries that they may receiue through thy puissance a glorious victorie and noble triumph Sâ—nd thine holie Angell vnto him and them that he may pitch his tents among them and ouerthrow their enimie for them Giue vnto my husband and all Captaiues and souldiers thy grace so to behaue themselues in the seruice of wars with all godlines honestie and compassion that thou maisâ— haue a pleasure to be present among them to be their chiefe and grand Captaine and valiant defender Suffer not him and his felow souldiers to be discouraged for the multitude of their enimies but being armed with strong faith let him and them wholy depend on thee the most mightie conquerour with whom it is all one to helpe in few or in manie and with that prince like warriour Dauid boldlie to saie in the midst of their troubles The Lord is my light and my defence whome shall I feare The Lord is my health and the defender of my life of whom shall I be afraid Though mine enimies pitch pauillâ—ons against me yet shall not my hart feare though men of war rise against me I will trust in the Lord my God And when thou hast giuen him the victorie ouer his enimies giue him also a thankefull hart that he may confesse to haue got the victorie not by his horsse bowe nor gun nor yet by his owne strength and policie but by thine almightie power and so be encouraged for euer after to magnifie thy holie name Amen Or thus OH Lord the world is nothing else but a sea of trouble heere the diuell stormeth there the world frowneth on euerie side the flesh assaulteth vs so that our life may well be tearmed a warfare and our daies a treasure of dangers Oh Lord with the anchor of thy mercie vp-hold vs that wâ—e sinke not in the sea of this troublous time but guide vs with thy holie spirit that our liues may please thee and we in our death praise thee through Iesus Christ our Lord. Defend O Lord the righteous cause of my husband thy seruant now gone a warfare Assist him with strength against his enimies with the wisedome of thy spirit against the policie of man that being thoroughlie armed and guided by thee he may fight manfullie in thy quarrell to the building of thy Church and vtter rebuke of hir aduersaries Without thee O fountaine of goodnes and God of his estate I know he can doo nothing arme him therefore with thy grace with the buckler of thy word and complet armour that he may be able not onlie to war with but also ouer-match Sathan his deadlie foe and all his hellish band that setteth it selfe against thee and thine annointed Enrich him O God with thy mercie that he may be able to take vpon him the white raiment of faith and being clothed with it may stand sure against the foming ministers of the diuell that no storme may ouer-turne or dismaie him O Lord keepe thou him from all wrastling affections from inordinate motions defend him O God and let all discord be remoued wherby the Pellicane children desirous of bloud may be disseuerd but nourish O God of loue thy babes with the spirit of patience that he and they being of one mind may doo their duties applie their endeuours and bend their forces and whole strength to the reedifieng of our mother Sion the Church which trauelleth with sorowes and sinketh in the mists of heresies vnlesse thou pull hir out by the hand of thy mercie which doo O gratious God I beseech thee and plant the tree of peace among vs let it flourish to the gladding of our hearts that all dissention cut off we may be linked in one knot of christian vnitie gathered into one sheepfold to be guided by thee our onlie and one shepheard Let not the members of thy bodie be sundred but cherish and nourish them with a full persuasion of brotherhood in the vnitie of our sauiour and thou our onlie father to whome with the holie Ghost be euerlasting glorie praise dominion now and for euer Amen A fruitfull praier to be said with teares of all godlie women in the time of bloudie battell when they see their husbands themselues and their children and familie citie and countrie in danger of destruction and sacking by the cruell enimie O Lord our heauenlie father and euer-liuing God wee thy wretched and most miserable creatures confesse and acknowledge wee haue woorthilie deserued the rod of thy correction and punishment and doo merit manie sharpe bitter stripes that knowing thy blessed and glorious will haue of set purpose contemned thy diuine and heauenlie precepts for which cause the sentence of thy wrath is sharplie kindled against vs man woman and child euen as it hath been against thy chosen people Israell in the daies of our fore-fathers who glorieng in their wickednes as we haue done were plagued in the fulnesse of thine indignation as wee iustlie are The sword of their enimies beset them round about and he mined them â—n on euerie side The Iebusites the Ammonites the Philistines the Ammorites oppressed them diuerslie their strong holds were rased their cities were beseeged their houses were ransackt their goods confiscate and their riches were carried awaie by force of the bloud-thirstie enimie Their yong men were led awaie captiue their virgins were wofullie defloured but in fine when thou O Lord God didst behold their hartie and earnest repentance and contrition thou didst withdrawe thy frowning countenance and sent them speedie and safe deliuerance One while thou Lord sentest them Moses to bring them out of the seruitude of Pharao the stonie stubborne harted king of the Egyptians another while Iepthah set them free from the sword of the Ammonits wherwith they were greeuouslie afflicted And to make thy power and excellent glorie fullie knowne thou gauest Samson such fortitude to bridle the proud Philistines Ouer and besides these thou of thy loue and miraculous goodnes hast made feeble women mightie and victorious conquerours namelie Debora was a shield to the people Iudith comforted the distressed Bethulians and cut off the head of proud Holophernes that thou good Lord when thou beheldst their teares and hartie sorowe for their offences didst prepare thy selfe to go foorth with their hosts thou thy selfe I sate with the breath of thy nostrels didst confound and ouerthrowe their enimie Euen so good Lord thou most mightie and mercifull God which art King of glorie and Lord of hosts the gouernour of all creatures and the onlie giuer of all victories whose power no creature is able to resist and who alone art able to strengthen the weake against the mightie and to vanquish infinite multitudes of thine enimies with the countenance of a few of thy seruants calling vpon thy name and trusting in thee Be thou now present with vs in the fulnes of thy diuine power
hir instant desire must now being preuented with vntimelie labour and birth through perillous trauell needs drinke of the cup of Rahels and Phinees wiâ—es potion and go the waie of all flesh then O Lord thou in whose hands are the harts of all flesh arme hir we humblie beseech thee with thy perpetuall grace peace patience and perfect confidence in thee increase hir faith helpe hir vnbeleefe annoint hir with the oile of gladnes in thee ease hir of hir extreme paines be thou nigh vnto hir and driue the diuell far from hir aid hir with thy holie angels giuing hir grace so quietlie to take this thy fatherlie chastisement and visitation in good woorth that in this hir painfull life yea and in the verie end thereof she with perfect memorie sure trust commending hir selfe wholie to thee may in hart ioifullie still saie and we hir deere sisters and faithfull freends and neighbours for hir as followeth When she is departing and yeeldeth vp the ghost then adde and saie this that followeth FEtch now againe Lord God Father into thy holie hands that which thy puissant might hath shapen command thy holie angels now to aid hir and safelie to bring hir to thee and now place thou hir amongst thy chosen children and blessed heirs in thine eternall kingdome prepared for them that are written in the booke of life Fetch now againe Lord God sonne that which thou of thy meere mercie hast so wiselie gouerned and bought with thy pretious bloud now ioifullie receiue hir and saie vnto hir as thou saiedst vnto the penitent theefe This day shalt thou be with me in paradise Take againe now Lord God holie Ghost that which thou of thy onelie fauour hast louinglie kept and guided in this region of sinne and vale of miserie and now louinglie leade thou hir with Rebecca and Lazarus to eternall ioie and rest This grant hir O holie and most blessed Trinitie good Lord almightie three persons and one verie God vnto whome be all honour praise and glorie for euer and euer Amen Amen Another praier while she yeeldeth vp the ghost THE mightie God of angels and former of all things visible and inuisible in whose hands is onelie life and death light and darknes and all the motions of the soule and bodie without thee most mightie God all things had beene nothing and of nothing all things are made by thee without thy Christ and thy blessed spirit which is one coeternall Trinitie all flesh were accursed all consciences molested and all soules vtterlie damned from light into darknes from freedome into euerlasting reprobation but by Iesus Christ thine onelie sonne we thanke thee deere father of all mercie that now it hath pleased thee to take to thy mercie at this present time our deere sister S. B. whom thou hast elected consecrated and now she shall by thy mercie and pitie be sanctified vnto thee in the death of Christ to be a citizen of eternall glorie Now we perceiue that flesh and bloud doth forsake hir and all hir worldlie strength faileth hir now are the organes yeelding vp the heauenlie sound hir soule commeth now vnto thee good Lord receiue it to thy mercie into thine euerlasting glorie where as Abraham Isaac and Iacob Sara Rebecca Rahel and the blessed virgin Marie are continuallie To thee oh heauenlie Father be incessant honour glorie for euer and euer Amen After hir departure let the women kneele downe also and giue thanks as followeth ALmightie God with whom doo liue the spirits of them that depart hence in the Lord and in whom the soules of them that be elect after they be deliuered from the burden of the flesh be in ioie felicitie thou I saie O mercifull God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ who is the resurrection and the life in whom whosoeuer beleeueth shall liue though he die and whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in him shall not die eternallie who also taught vs by his holie apostle S. Paule not to be sorie as women without hope for them that sleepe in him we giue thee hartie thanks for that it hath pleased thee to deliuer this woman our sister out of the wofull miseries of this sinfull world meekelie beseeching thee O Father to raise vs from the death of sinne vnto the life of righteousnes that when we also shal depart this life we may rest in Christ as our hope is this our sister doth and that it may please thee of thy gratious goodnes shortlie to accomplish the number of thine efect and to hasten thy kingdome that at the generall resurrection in the last daie we with this our sister and all other departed in the true faith of thy holie name being found acceptable in thy sight may haue our perfect consummation and blisse both in bodie and soule in thy eternall and euerlasting glorie and receiue that blessing which thou O Christ shalt then pronounce to all that loue feare thee saieng Come ye blessed children of my Father receiue the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world Grant this we beseech thee O mercifull father through Iesus Christ our onlie mediatour redeemer and sauiour Amen A praier and thanks-giuing to be vsed of the mother or women about hir after the child is baptised ALmightie and euerlasting GOD who hast vouchsafed to regenerate this infant by water and the holie ghost and hast giuen vnto it forgiuenes of all his sinnes and receiued it into the number of thy children and heires of eternall life I thanke thee for thy gratious goodnes fauour mercie towards it And I humblie beseech thee also O Lord to strengthen it so with thy holie ghost the comforter that it may lead the rest of his life according to this good beginning Let thy fatherlie hands I praie thee be euer ouer it and blesse ti dailie increase it with thy manifold gifts of grace giue it the spirit of wisedome vnderstanding the spirit of counsell strength the spirit of knowledge and true godlines fulfill it with the spirit of thy holie feare faith and praier and so lead this child in the knowledge and obedience of thy holie word that being euer defended with thy heauenlie grace it may continue therein for euer and dailie increase in thy holie spirit more and more vntill in the end he obteine the gift of euerlasting life in thy celestiall kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen If the child or yong infant be verie sicke and lie sore pained with anie greefe or whensoeuer else it be visited with anie dreadfull diseaâ—e praie ouer it and saie as followeth Lord heare our praiers And let our crie come vnto thee Let vs praie O Mercifull Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ the onelie begotten Sonne of the liuing Father redeemer of all men through all ages whose nature is pitifull not onelie to the strong and stout but also to the weake and simple as babes infants and children we here assembled most hartilie desire and praie
and make choice or ordinarie election and that thy counsell standeth not in anie mans power neither can anie man alter or diminish thy purpose Wherfore I most humblie beseech thee most mercifull father that if this coniunction of our minds and loue be thy worke and counsell that thou vouchsafe for the glorie of thy name to giue vs some token and true certificate thereof by the increasing and stedfastlie stablishing our godly loue in thee that thou wilt performe the same in vs in thy good time to thy glorie and our comfort that we may the more perfectlie loue and rightlie serue thee But if it be a false persuasion or temptation of the enimie to deceiue vs and to drawe vs from thee then good Lord for thy deere sonne Christes sake I beseech thee so to alter our loue and change our minds so order and guide vs that we may soone be certified thereof that thereby we may flie all occasions of euill and the more zealouslie cleaue vnto thee and in our trieâ—g to stand stedfast in patience so that neither selfe-will nor the lusts of our corruptions doo deceiue vs and if it be for chastening which I confesse we haue not onlie deserued but sore and greeuous punishment for our manifold and greeuous sinnes yet for thy deere sonne Iesus Christes sake oh deere God which hast said that thou delightest not in our destruction I most humblie beseech thee that we may by thy mercie come againe into thy fatherlie fauour and after our great sorrowe and heauines we may obteine perpetuall ioie and consolation and be receiued into the fellowship of thy faithfull fruitfull seruants and Saincts Grant this deere father for thy beloued sonne Iesus Christes sake our onlie peace and mediatour So be it Another praier to be vsed of anie woman before the solemnisation of hir marriage I Beseech thee O father which art neither made nor begotten marrie me now and for euer vnto thy sonne marrie mee vnto him in righteousnesse and iudgement in godlinesse in mercie and in compassion marrie me I saie vnto him in faith that I may trulie knowe thee my Lord and God which wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he repent and liue O thou onlie begotten sonne of God ioine me now I beseech thee vnto thy bodie that ingraffed in thee I â—ay drawe from thee the iuice of life and of heauenlie wisedome Defend me O holie Ghost and thine whole Church against the rage of Sathan the world the flesh and the diuell and let all things that I doo please thee for thou O glorious Trinitie art my husband which louest me my God whom I worship and the head whervnto I am subiect To thee be glorie and praise both of men and Angels now and for euer Amen Another praier to be vsed of the man or woman a little before they be married O Eternall Father of thy welbeloued sonne our Lord and sauiour Christ which art the maker and king of all creatures we thanke thee from the bottome of our harts for that thou hast not cast mankind fallen from thy grace through sin into euerlasting destruction as thou didst the diuell but of thine vnspeakable goodnesse and secret counsell thou broughtest foorth thy sonne Iesus and madest him an husband that hauing taken our flesh vpon him he might marrie the faithfull vnto himselfe Immortall praise and glorie to thee for reuealing this thy couenant to mankind from time to time by teachers and for calling vs to his heauenlie marriage by thy ministers we beseech thee by and for the same thy sonne so to change and confirme our hearts by thy spirit that adorned with the wedding garments of righteousnesse faith holie loue chaste minds and good conscience and without all hypocrisie dissimulation and without the sinne against our owne conscience wee may approch to this honourable estate of matrimonie and be found in the number of thine elect Let vs now trulie be espoused in faith and vertue to thine heauenlie spouse and be ingraffed in his flesh Let vs be two in one flesh and so cleaue to him that we may be one spirit and so drawe the heauenlie motion of faith comfort ioie and eternall life from him that alwaies we may be though two bodies yet but one soule Finallie our troublesome race beeing finished bring vs with thine elect vnto thy visible companie that for euermore we may remaine in the spouse of the vniuersall Church in eternall companie and comfort Amen Another meditation and praier declaring how Christ adorneth the nuptiall feast with his bodilie presence O Eternall true and almightie God which at the first creation of the world after thou hadst made man an image of thy wisedome and goodnesse bearing such shape as thine eternall sonne at a time determined did take vpon him and afterward of thy secret counsell through thy word didst vtter these words It is not good for man to be alone Thy will it was that from a few euen two the whole multitude of mankind should proceed and a sacred Church honouring thy name religiouslie and sincerelie deliuering vnto posteritie to come the true knowledge of thy word should proceed Thy will it is that both our weake nature may liue purelie in the lawfull state of marriage and thy Church multiplied more and more through the generation of the godlie O gratious God which art pure from all spot of impuritie and wouldest that the cleere vnderstanding of holinesse should shine in vs that approching vnto thee in praier we might discerne thy goodnesse from the nature of incestuous and polluted gods By thy chaste and holie spirit we humblie beseech thee purge our harts that in an holie and chaste conuersation we may be coupled togither to serue thee vtterlie renouncing thine enimie the diuell which is the author of incestuous lawes contrarie to thy commandements forbidding men to marrie for none other end but that both the one by licentiousnesse of life might be forgotten and flocks of wicked men through their lewd conuersation be withdrawne from thee to eternall miserie Be it far from vs O God that so much as in thought we should either so dishonour thy sacred maiestie or hurt our selues And we beseech thee strengtheÌ„ vs weak ones with thy diuine power that we neuer be drawne from thee our God through sinfull desires of the flesh which hinder our praiers the onelie comfort of the Saincts distressed in this miserable life neither forgo the sweetnes and ioie of a godlie conscience through hardnesse of hart and horrible blindnesse wherewith lewd liuers are commonlie punished nor when the course of this mortall life shall be cut off we feele not those torments appointed for the wicked according to that terrible threat Euerie soule which shall commit these abhominations shall perish from among the people And thou O sonne of God which hast ordeined the loue of married folks to be a mysterie of a woonderfull and heauenlie thing instill into our minds and breasts
of his worke or finallie by following his diâ—elish temptations and the wrath of our harts in giuing place without anie resistance to euerie thing preiudiciall and hurtfull to this our blessed state and honourable degree But giue vs grace rather good Lord we entirelie beseech thee before all things to take heed that by no meanes we giue anie occasion to our ghostlie enimie to let or hinder our praiers and holie exercises through dissention or discord and diligentlie to applie our selues stoutelie to resist euill and to weed out by little and little the noisome wâ—eds of vncomelie demeanour vnchristian behauiour rude maners churlish conditions euill dispositions and vngodlie extremities out of our hearts and minds with the wholesome precepts of thy diuine word the which giue vs grace diligentlie both to heare reade meditate and imitate day and night that in time we dooing our duties each to other as therein we be taught of thee may reape and feele the fruit thereof hourelie to both our comforts in Christ and thy glorie And because it cannot otherwise possible be but that offences shall sometimes either be giuen or taken betwixt vs by reason of the manifold discommodities that come with this commoditie suffer vs not good Lord we beseech thee to stand stiffe at anie time in our owne opinions faults or wilfulnesse or to mainteine impudentlie and incorrigiblie our errours by friuolous excuses and vngodlie reasonings neither yet busilie to find fault each with others calling each for others dutie towards our selues and in the meane time neglecting our duties both to thee our selues and others yea rather giue vs the grace of thy holie spirit to acknowledge our faults and follies each to other with charitable forgiuing one another and mutuall reconciliation that we may be well pleased and contented one with another and in all things each of vs beare and forbeare others infirmities and weakenesse Grant that either of vs may doo our best diligentlie to performe our duties one to the other as becommeth and we haue vowed and promised as namelie to praie hartilie and often one for another to labour to the vttermost of our powers to frame vse and occasion our selues to softnesse meekenesse gentlenes lenitie and long sufferance bearing well in worth such ouersights as chance and passe in our life and conuersation and still drawing during life the sweet yoke of our fellowship equallie in one concord of hart and agreement of mind so shall it come to passe that all strife and debate shall be cleane banished and pleasant loue sweet amitie and continuall concord shall be embraced of vs so shall we haue our harts staied in stable truth and comfort in all perils and necessities and most happelie passe through the dangers of the troublesome sea of this wretched world in great ioie and peaceable quietnesse to our comfort our neighbours profit and thy glorie which God grant Finallie if thus we doo godlie and christianlie vse our holie state of matrimonie we shall not onlie be armed on euerie side the better to escape the snares of the world the flesh and the diuell but also enioie the ioifull iewell and most singular benefit of a quiet conscience yea so shall all discommodities worldlie or ghostlie be taken away from vs and all things both spirituall and temporall turne to our commoditie and pleasure To conclude so shall our praiers be heard and gratiouslie granted vnto vs and God euen our owne God continuallie followe vs with his benediction and blesse vs both within and without at home and abrode and giue vnto vs all those his good gifts and benefits perteining or needfull either to our bodies or soules which he hath so often promised in his word to powre vpon all such as loue feare serue him both heere and in the life to come the which good things that they may the better be fulfilled and more effectuallie happen and come vnto vs heere present in the due time as thou seest need and we hartilie wish and desire we humblie praie thee O most excellent father who art in deed the verie authour of our marriage to be now and alwaies present with vs by thy grace and holie spirit plentifullie powred into our harts which may perpetuallie continue loue concord and charitie betweene vs and luckelie defend keepe and mainteine vs in this honourable estate that neither we be ouercome with anie temptation nor with anie aduersitie Finallie grant vs thy blessing fauour and protection in this world and in the world to come endlesse ioie and eternall felicitie through the onlie merits of our sauiour Iesus to whome with thee and the holie Ghost our maker redeemer and sanctifier be euerlasting praise honor and glorie both now and for euer Amen Another praier to be vsed of married folkes to liue chastlie and purelie in holie matrimonie and to auoid the filthie lusts of whoredâ—me FOrasmuch as O heauenlie father we trulie acknowledge thee an holie and righteous God our onelie God and maker the knower most trulie of our weakenes and infirmitie our readie and gratious helper our guide and director to holinesse and the onlie author of the blisfull state of matrimonie whereby all thy chosen children might liue in chastitie and holinesse and auoid the vnchast life of whoredome and vncleannesse Grant vnto vs we beseech thee that being called by the spirit vnto that holie state for our lawfull remedie to saiue our weakenesse to quench the raging lusts of old Adam and in holines to beget children for the increase of thy kingdome we may liue togither therein in thy faith feare and loue dutifullie louinglie and peaceablie with modestie in lowlinesse and chastitie all the daies of our liues that both our conuersations togither in all respects being coupled with feare and framed with one consent according to thine holie will and to the godlie edifieng of others representing by it in all points the mysterie figured betweene Christ and the congregation thou maist haue pleasure in our godlie behauiours Blesse vs in all our enterprises and make vs fruitfull and ioifull parents And to the increasing of our ioie O Lord in thee we humblie praie thee that thou wilt of thy great mercie giue both vnto vs and to the offspring of our bodies lawfullie begotten thine heauenlie grace that as we most christianlie endeuouring our selues to traine them vp in thine holie nourture and doctrine so they likewise by the infusion of thine heauenlie grace may haue their hearts prepared to receiue and hold sure for euer the onlie word of righteousnesse that lightneth clenseth best ruleth and most trulie directeth the soules of the righteous to the plaine and most pleasant path that leadeth to the life euerlasting through the merits of Christ Iesus thy sonne our Lord Amen Another praier to be vsed of such married couples as where the woman is not past child-bearing O Mercifull Lord and heauenlie father which by thine almightie power hast made all things of naught which also after other
his mercifull Father through thine holie spirit working in his hart by whose diuine power he may so preuaile against Satan that in the end obteining the victorie he may be exalted vnto the libertie of thy kingdome Amen Heere you may saie or sing to the glorie of God and your owne edifieng the 103. the 30. and the 116. Psalmes of Dauid A praier to be vsed of a woman at hir purification or Churching O Eternall father of thine onlie sonne our Lord and sauiour Christ which in the common-weale of Israel ordeinedst according to thy wisedome adornedst with excellent statutes necessarie for the state of man-kind and signifieng secret and heauenlie things didst make diuers lawes concerning vncleannes and the keeping of women with child and an other for the first borne and that not onelie to put vs in mind of order in this life and thankfulnes towards thy Maiestie but also to teach that this our giltie and polluted nature like the fowle menstruous cloth of a woman is washed by the blood of thy sonne which is the first borne thy substantiall image and the word sounding thy will whom from the heauens thou commandest to be harkened vnto Gouerne me by thy first and onlie begotten sonne and giue vnto me thy most defiled amd polluted hand-maid thy holie spirit that earnestlie I may bewaile mine vnworthines vilenes and vncleannes aske helpe at thy mercifull hands be this day purified both bodie and soule by the blood of thy Sonne and be redeemed by him vnto true pietie holines and inâ—egritie which pleaseth thee that through him I may be presented vnto thee with a pure and cleare mind and for his sake I may be adopted into thy children find fauour in thine eies Amen Or you may giue thanks and praie as in the booke of common praier and saie to your selfe or with the Minister as followeth FOr-as-much as it hath pleased thee O almightie God of thy goodnes to giue me safe deliuerance and hast preserued mee in the great danger of child-birth I therefore heere in the Church and congregation giue hartie thanks vnto thee O God and saie Psalme 121. I Haue lifted vp mine eies vnto the hils from whence commeth my helpe My helpe commeth euen from the Lord which hath made heauen and earth He will not suffer my foote to be mooued and he that keepeth me will not sleepe Behold he that keepeth Israell shall neither slumber nor sleepe The Lord himselfe is my keeper the Lord is my defence vpon my right hand So that the sun shall not burne me by day nor the moone by night The Lord shall preserue me from all euill yea it is euen he that shall keepe my soule The Lord shall preserue my going out and my comming in from this time foorth for euermore Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. Let vs praie Lord haue mercie vpon me Christ haue mercie vpon me Lord haue mercie vpon me Our father which art in heauen c. O Lord saue me thy sinfull seruant which put my trust in thee Be thou vnto me a strong tower from the face of mine enimie Lord heare my praier and let my crie come vnto thee Let vs praie O Almightie God which hast deliuered me thy most vnwoorthie handmaid and sinfull seruant from the great paine perill of child-birth I hartilie thanke thee and humblie praise thy holie name for euer and euer Grant me now also I beseech thee most mercifull father that I through thy helpe may both faithfullie liue and walke in my vocation according to thy will in this life present and also may be partaker of euerlasting glorie in the life to come through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Praiers to be said for women with child before or in trauell by the Mid-wife husband or anie other man or woman THou O Lord art woonderfull in all thy works and whatsoeuer thy good pleasure is that dooest thou easilie bring to passe neither is there anie thing impossible with thee that thou wilt haue done And albeit this thine almightie power sheweth it selfe abundantly in all thy works yet in the conceiuing forming and bringing foorth of man it shineth most euidentlie At the beginning O heauenlie Father when thou hadst made man and woman thou commandedst them to increase multiplie and replenish the earth if through the subtill entisements of Satan they had not transgressed thy commandements by eating of the forbidden fruit the woman whom thou hadst appointed the organe instrument and vessell to conceiue nourish and bring foorth man through thy woonderfull workmanship had without anie labour paine or trauell brought foorth hir fruit But that which thy goodnes made easie sinne and disobedience hath made hard painfull dangerous and if thy helpe were not impossible to be brought to passe so that now all women bring foorth their children in great sorrowes paines and troubles Notwithstanding thou shewest thy selfe vnto thy creatures a father of mercie and God of all consolation For that which through their owne imperfection and feeblenes they are not able of themselues to bring to passe thou thorough thine vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest vnto a fortunate end Wee therefore being fullie persuaded of thy bent and readie goodnes of thy present helpe of thy sweete comfort in all miseries and necessities knowing also by the testimonies of thy holy word how great and intollerable the pains of women are that trauell of child if through thy tender mercies they be not mitigated and eased most humblie praie thee for Iesu Christs sake thy sonne and our Lord to assist and helpe as all other women else-where in like case so especiallie this thy seruant S. B. here now in trauell labour that by thine almighty power both they she may safely bring foorth that by thy goodnes they or she hath conceiued and that thy louing kindnes may make that easie and tollerable which sinne hath made hard and painfull Ease O Lord the paines which thou most righteouslie hast put vpon hir and all women for the sinne and disobedience of our grand-moother Eue in whome all we haue sinned and giue both vnto thy seruant here present and vnto all such as haue conceiued and be with child strength to bring foorth that which thou woonderfullie hast wrought in hir and them Be present now with hir them in their trouble according to thy mercifull promise helpe hir and them and deliuer them Let thy power be shewed no lesse in the safe bringing foorth than in the woonderfull framing or fashioning of the child Make perfect that which thou hast so gratiouslie begun in hir them so that it may come vnto good succes Make hir and them glad and ioifull mothers that she and they through thy goodnes being safelie deliuered and restored to their old health and strengths may liue and praise thy blessed name for euer Amen Another praier for a woman with child IN the beginning of the world
hast numbred all our daies which vade awaie suddenlie like the grasse for we are soone dispatched and easilie consumed A man in this world is euen like a vapour or shadow that quicklie vanisheth awaie For all flesh is grasse and the glorie thereof as the floure of the field which flourisheth in the morning and afterward withereth and vadeth Behold our daies are to be measured they are as it were but a spanne long and our age is nothing to speake of Our age is folden togither and taken awaie from vs like a shepheards cotage our life is cut off and our daies shortened by our sinnes like the thred of the weauer which is suddenlie broken off We are but strangers in this world soiourners as were our forefathers our daies on earth also are but a shadowe our life speedilie goeth awaie like the weauers shuttle and it abideth not We are as nothing Lord in respect of thee and verelie euerie man liuing is altogither vanitie yea infancie childhood youth middle age and old age all are but meere vanitie Wherefore O Lord teach me to number my daies that I may yet applie mine hart vnto wisedome and bring foorth more fruit euen in mine old age O let me knowe mine end and the number of my daies that I may be certified how long I haue to liue and what is yet to come Instruct me O Lord that being alwaies mindfull of my mortalitie I neuer promise to my selfe manie yeres nor long life in this pilgrimage of ours so shall I not liue securelie deferring my conuersion to thee from daie to daie nor yet put confidence in this fraile and vncertaine life as did that rich man saieng Soule thou hast much good laid vp in store for manie yeres take thine ease eate drinke and be merie whose soule notwithstanding was taken from him the same night But giue me grace that in thy feare I may dailie prepare my selfe to depart out of this prison and lothsome dungeon of my soule Now let me remember thee my Maker in the daies of my old age and in the yeres wherein I find no pleasure but paine and greefe whiles the sunne the light the moone and starres begin to waxe darke and the clouds of continuall miserie seeme to remaine after the raine to the increasing of my greefe Now let me thinke on thee my Creator whiles my hands the keepers of the house of my bodie doo tremble and the strong men my legs doo bow themselues and the grinders my teeth doo cease or stand still bicause they are few and they that looke out by the windowes mine eies I meane waxe darke and dimme Now let me remember thee my Maker whiles the doore of my lips and mouth beginneth to be shut by the base sound of the milner or grinding when my iawes I saie are scarse able to chawe my meat And I rise vp at the voice of the bird or crowing of the cocke bicause I can not sleepe And whiles all the daughters of musike euen my windpipe and eares are abased and become deafe and not able to heare singing Whiles I am afraid to climbe high bicause of my weaknes and stoope downe for feare least anie thing should hit me Whiles feare is in the waie I tremble as I go and am afraid of stumbling Whiles the almon tree my head doth florish with white heares and the verie light grashopper is a burden vnto it to beare And whiles all lust is past and driuen awaie Now I saie O Lord euen now yet let me call to mind thee my creator before I go to the house of mine age or long home the graue I meane and the mourners go lamenting my death about the streetes Or euer the siluer lace the sinewes and marowe of my backe bone be taken awaie and or the golden ewer or well of that litle yellow skin that couereth my braine-pan be broken or the pitcher of my two great veines be crackt at the well of my liuer or the wheele my head be broken vpon the cisterne of my hart out of the which the powers of life are drawne Euen now I saie at the least O my Creator let me remember thee before I which am but dust doo returne againe to the earth from whence I came and my spirit and soule returne to thee O God that gauest me it For all is but plaine vanitie and nothing more certaine than death though nothing more vncertaine than the houre thereof Therefore let me haue alwaies before mine eies an image and meditation of my departure the better to knowe the fleeting and vanitie of this combersome and vncertaine life that I may liue to thee my God being sound in faith and strong in hope looking with cheerefulnes for the daie of my departure and the ioifull appearing of thy sonne Iesus Christ my redeemer And as long as I abide in this tabernacle of my decaied and forworne bodie let me with all studie minister to my faith vertue to vertue knowledge to knowledge temperance to temperance patience to patience godlines vntill this tabernacle being laid awaie I shall passe ouer to my long home and dwelling place not made with hands but euerlasting in the heauens where I shall be clothed with eternall glorie and immortalitie when this my earthlie house is put off and destroied by death Grant also O God that trusting firmelie to thy promises I may be readie and glad to returne from this vale of miserie to mine euerlasting and celestiall countrie for while I am in this bodie I wander from thee my God For now I walke in faith not in the full and perfect enioieng and possessing of eternall good wherefore whether I be at home or from home let me endeuour my selfe to be acceptable in thy sight Make me a faithfull seruant and wise virgin alwaie hauing the lampe of faith readie light and with the oile of thy grace and merits prepared in my hand and still looking for the comming of the bridgrome my Lord and Sauiour Iesus for I knowe not when he will come at the euening or at midnight whether at the cocke-crowing or in the dawning of the daie least by a sudden houre of death I beeing ouertaken and as it were caught in the fowlers trap I be found vnreadie and haue a repulse among the foolish virgins but contrariwise by prudent watching in true conuersion and repentance I may continuallie couet to be dissolued and to be with Christ my redeemer Grant also deere Father that at the verie point of death hauing escaped all hardnes and temptations I may triumph like a conquerour behold the presence and power of thine holie spirit and let my last words be that which thy sonne did vtter vpon the altar of the crosse saieng Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and when my spirit is taken from me heare yet O God the grones of my hart And the houre glasse of life death being outrun and come let thy seruant and hand-maid depart
our owne parents Kindred to enter and sing psalmes of praise and songs of thanks-giuing to thine immortall Maiestie to whom with thy Sonne and holie Ghost be euerlasting laud perpetuall praise and greatest glorie both now and for euer Amen Another praier made vpon the similitude of the ten virgins Matth. 25. O Lord Iesu Christ thou good spouse and heauenlie bridegroome giue me grace like the wise virgins both with a right intention and vpright dealing to doo good works and also to perseuere and continue in the same watchfullie and diligentlie vnto the end And bicause it is not sufficient to haue once giuen my selfe to followe thee vnlesse I continue doo thou teach me wiselie to make prouision in time that hauing plentie of the oile of thy grace and gifts in the lampe of my soule I may neuer contemne thine honor nor faile in the mid-way but being found readie and watchfull I may be thought worthie to enter ioifullie with thee vnto the wedding I beseech thee also O Lord make knowne vnto mee mine end before it come and suffer me not to depart this life before I haue confessed my faults and thou haue forgiuen me my sins that in the hour of my death neither thy wrath may fall vpon me nor the power of darkenes hurt or inuiron me but let me be found such a one at the daie of examination and triall as I did appeare and shew my selfe at the day of my regeneration and baptisme through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Amen A generall Confession of sinnes with a praier for mercie and grace verie necessarie to be vsed at all times O Almightie God my heauenlie father I confesse and acknowledge that I am a miserable and wretched sinner haue manifold waies most greeuoustie transgressed thy most godlie commandements thorough wicked thoughts vngodlie lusts sinfull words and detestable deeds in my whole life In sin am I borne and conceiued and there is no goodnes in me inasmuch as if thou shouldest enter into thy narrowe iudgement with me iudging me according to the same I were neuer able to abide or suffer it but must needs perish and be damned for euer so little helpe comfort or succour is there either in me or in anie other creature Onlie this is my comfort O heauenlie father that thou didst not spare thine onlie deere beloued Sonne but didst giue him vp vnto the most bitter and most vile slanderous death of the crosse for me that he might so paie the ransome for my sins satisfie thy iudgement still and pacifie thy wrath reconcile me againe vnto thee and purchase me thy grace fauour and euerlasting life Wherefore through the merit of his most bitter death and passion and through his innocent bloud-shedding I beseech thee O heauenlie father that thou wilt vouchsafe to be gratious and mercifull vnto me to forgiue and pardon me all my sins to lighten my hart with thy holie spirit to renew confirme and strengthen me with a right and a perfect faith and to inflame me in loue towards thee and my neighbour that I may hencefoorth with a willing and glad hart walke as it becommeth me in thy most holie commandements and so glorifie and praise thee euerlastinglie And also that I may with a free conscience and quiet hart in all manner of temptations afflictions or necessities and euen in the verie pangs of death crie boldlie and faithfullie vnto thee and saie I beleeue in God the father Almightie c. But O Lord God heauenlie father to comfort my selfe in affliction and temptation with these articles of the Christian faith it is not in my power for faith is thy gift and forasmuch as thou wilt be praied vnto and called vpon for it I come vnto thee to praie and beseech thee both for that and for all other things necessarie for me and thy whole Church euen as thy deere beloued Sonne our Sauiour Christ Iesus hath himselfe taught vs and from the verie botome of my hart I crie and saie O our father which art in heauen c. A praier for the Queenes Maiestie and the Realme O God most excellent creator and preseruer of all things we cast our selues downe before the feet of thy maiestie and inwardlie feeling how vnworthie we are to haue our praiers heard of thee we dare not lift vp our eies to heauen Neuertheles whereas we are conceiued in sin and therefore as all Adams children deserued vntimelie death yet thy fatherlie hand hath brought vs foorth and caused vs to be borne yea and granted vs to liue in this blessed time of thy Gospell to the intent that dieng with Christ we should rise againe to eternall life But alas wretches that we are we haue deserued thy iust indignation by returning to our old vomit and yet thy grace surmounteth our sinne continuallie calling vs to thy sheepfold by the voice of thy gospell Blessed be thy holie name for sending vs that light when we were in darknesse that spirituall drinke when we were in deadlie thirst that heauenlie foode when we were hunger-sterued And like honour and praise be ascribed to thee onelie O Lord for giuing vs such so wise so zealous so godlie and carefull gouernours of thy chosen Church of England whom thou hast raised vp by the light of thy gospell to guid vs in the same thy light and to feed vs with the same thy heauenlie food We magnifie thy name daie and night for that inestimable benefit of thine bestowed vpon vs thy people of England in calling thy chosen creature the nurse of this thy church our Queene and Gouernour from worldlie vanities to the care of thy kingdome and into the communion of thy saints by the preaching of the Gospell when we gaue not sufficientlie attentiue and diligent eare to thy blessed word albeit thou didst correct hir and other ingratfull creatures of this our nation with thy rod yet euen in this point also thy clemencie surmounteth our double wickednes For behold when as thy iustice might haue depriued vs of hir thou of thine infinite mercie didst deliuer hir out of prison set hir free from the lions iawes crowned hir with a diadem of gold and put the roiall scepter of this realme in hir hand Moreouer O singular and most pretious treasure of treasures thou through hir meanes and ministerie hast brought againe Christ Iesus once banished out of England These most mercifull Father be the principall iewels of thine inestimable riches bestowed vpon vs which the more excellent they are the lesse are we worthie of them bicause we haue misbehaued our selues towards thy maiestie in dailie sinning more and more against thee in so much that feeling the same in our conscience we be driuen well neere to despaire But when we call to mind thy sure and sweet promises in Christs pretious blood we are thereby refreshed and recouering strength by hope approch to thy throne boldlie not offering anie thing for the satisfaction of our sinnes but onelie
crauing that the oblation of thine annointed which is the iustifier and sanctifier of all that are to be iustified and sanctified may make vs cleane and so receiue vs into thy tuition And seeing obedience pleaseth thee better than the fat of sheep and the sacrifice of our lips better than the flesh and blood of beasts grant that we may finish our mortall race in shewing foorth thy praise and keeping thy holie will And forasmuch as thou hast thought good to set vp thy seruant our Queene a woman and a fraile vessell ouer vs to gouerne this kingdome and that she must render an account thereof a hard thing so to doo before the iudgement seat of thy Sonne Christ send downe we beseech thee O Father send downe such grace from thy high throne vpon thy daughter our Queene Elizabeth as thou knowest most necessarie for the performance and execution of so great a charge Thou hast giuen hir Councellers grant that she may vse their counsell happilie indue them with godlie righteous and carefull harrs that they may be both willing and able simplie faithfullie to consult and also prouidentlie to prouide aswell for thy church as for hir and vs hir people It is thy grace O Lord that we hir people renewed with thy word doo suffer our selues to be nourished with the same send foorth therfore faithfull shepherds godlie and true teachers to feed vs and driue awaie all hirelings and rauening woolues from this flocke of thine and of thy sonne Iesus Christ. Besides this so blesse vs the sheepe of thy pasture that we may neuer denie thee the chiefe honour our Queene thy deputie hir obedience and our neighbours mutuall loue Furthermore of thy goodnes mainteine peace and tranquillitie defend our Queene hir kingdome and countrie from bloudie warres and especiallie protect hir and vs from hollowe harts from ciuill tumults and conspiracies which haue shaken the greatest part of Christendome And bicause the affliction of euerie poore creature apperteineth to hir in so much as she is thine inspire the magistrates vnder hir with thy holie spirit that they may willinglie and carefullie mainteine iustice and prouide for the releefe of Christs poore members whose treasures both she and we and all others are whom thou hast blessed with thy earthlie benefites Heare our praiers we beseech thee for the sake of thy sonne Iesus Christ our redeemer to whom with thee and thy holie spirit bee all honour and glorie for euer Amen Morning and Euening praiers A praier to be said in the morning ALmightie and eternall God my Creator and louer I praise adore and blesse thee for that in mine offences and vngratefulnes thou hast so mercifullie and leisurelie forborne and suffered me to liue euen vnto this houre wherevnto by thy benefites thou hast brought me giuing to me thine vnworthie and reprochfull hand-maid both life and necessaries therevnto belonging appointing angels to be my keepers O good God who knoweth whether til euening my life shall be prolonged or what death is appointed for me Oh mercifull Lord God and heauenlie Father that I may with hartie repentance truelie repent my sinnes and inwardlie bewaile that euer I offended thy godlie maiestie suffer not my soule to depart this bodie before it be through thy mercie perfectlie reconciled adopted vnto thee by thy grace bedeckt with thy merits and vertues inflamed with perfect charitie and acceptable vnto thee according to thy will O mercifull Lord Iesu Christ if these things which I desire doo stand with thy pleasure grant them I beseech thee although I be not worthie to be heard Yeeld and giue I beseech thee of thine infinite mercie that by the merits of thy passion I may be purged from all my sinnes and that at the houre of my death I may be striken with true and vehement contrition and beeing knit with thee in perfect charitie I may immediatlie die vnto thee my sooeet Redeemer safelie and freelie from all damnation Neuertheles in all these my requests O best beloued Iesu I doo fullie and wholie offer and resigne my selfe vnto thee to be altogither disposed and ordered according to thy will and to suffer for thy glorious name sake desiring this one thing at thy hands that thou wilt remember my fragilitie vnworthines vnstablenes and miseries togither with thine owne goodnes and most charitable mercie praieng thee neuer to forsake or leaue me but that thou wilt alwaies possesse and gouerne me according to thy will Amen Another Morning praier OH Lord my God and most benigne Sauiour Iesus Christ who when I was not didst creat and make me capable of the souereigne and onelie good and being made a thrall and bondslaue through my forefathers trespasse didst redeeme me with thy most pretious blood and losse of thy sacred life abiding the torments due to my trespasses to acquite and rid me from the same For these O Lord and all other thine inestimable benefites namelie for hauing preserued me this night past and all the time and daies of my life hitherto I yeeld thee most humble zealous and obedient thanks offering my selfe wholie to thee as I am wholie thine beseeching thee also of thine infinite clemencie to preserue me this daie and euer from anie waies offending thee and to direct all my thoughts words and works to thine euerlasting glorie Mine estate and calling is as thou knowest O Lord inuironed with manie difficulties and dangers and through mine euill customes and wicked inclinations hardlie can I without thy speciall assistance passe this daie no not one minute thereof without offending thee in manifold sinnes Keepe vnder therefore O Lord my concupiscence and refresh my conscience with the dewes of thy diuine grace O giue me strength I praie thee to fight the good fight of faith more coragiouslie and perseuerantlie than hitherto I haue done and make thou me able to subdue all wicked suggestions of the enimie Trulie Lord heere in humilitie and sinceritie of hart I protest neuer willinglie by thy gratious fauour to offend thy lawes and commandements anie more I detest all sin and whatsoeuer may anie waies displease thy sacred maiestie I desire to loue thee feare thee and serue thee this daie and euermore and to direct all mine actions to thine honor and glorie Assist me Lord with thy grace and enrich my pouertie with the plentie of thy merits for in the vnion of that charitie wherwith thou discendedst from heauen in the blessed virgins wombe and afterward offredst vp thy selfe on the crosse in sacrifice for our sinnes in the vnion of this thy incomprehensible charitie I saie I offer vnto thee whatsoeuer I shall doo thinke or speake this day beseeching thee through thy mercifull goodnes to accept gouerne blesse and enrich me and all that I go about in such sort as thy glorie may be thereby procured my neighbours welfare occasioned and mine owne soule better fortified and prouided To thee my sweet and onlie sauiour Christ with the Father and the
contrariwise both reioice and hast great delight and pleasure to be resident and dwell in chaste pure cleane and virginall mindes I thine humble handmaid meekelie beseech thee both for my selfe and all other virgins and maidens that as through thy benignitie and gentlenesse we beare and carrie about in this our weake fraile and earthen vessels the same most excellent and notable treasure so through thy goodnesse and fauour we may keepe and preserue it safe and whole vnpolluted or defiled anie manner of waies as we ought Make vs gladlie to reuerence our elders and by the good motherlie admonitions and sincere honestie of the best and most godlie women to institute frame and order our trade of liuing Cause vs also to bridle our lusts and appetites and continuallie to exercise our selues with labour both of bodie and mind in patience and sufferance that we may be apt and fit both for maidenlie and husâ—ifelie affaires Let vs not giue our selues to much idlenesse deintie fare euill companie and dissolute pastime and in all the recreation of our spirits let vs beware of intemperancie and lightnesse and alwaies vse reuerence shamefastnesse and modestie Take from vs O God all nicenesse wantonnesse prodigalitie and lasciuiousnesse especiallie in the presence of our elders Let vs euer both in time and place remember our selues to be women and not beasts yea yong women and not babes and therefore to take heed that our manners and conditions exceed the manners and properties both of beasts and of babes neither let vs thinke our selues women or matrones wise enough of our selues to teach our selues but being free from all selfe-weening selfe-loue and presumption let vs rather knowe that we lacke as yet manie instructions and godlie lessons and giue vs grace to learne them at their hands whomethou doest appoint ouer vs to gouerne and teach vs that so we dailie more and more pleasing thee with pure harts and vndefiled bodies may with those wise virgins come vnto that blessed life which knoweth no corruption in the which thou togither with the Father and his Sonne my louing Spouse and heauenlie Bridegroome liuest and reignest one immortall and inuisible God blessed and praised for euer and euer Amen Another praier to the same effect MOst sweet Lord Iesu Christ my heauenlie spouse which art the glorie of the Father and the brightnesse of the euerlasting light I thine vnwoorthie handmaid beseech thee for thine incomprehensible diuine Maiestie that thou wilt giue vnto me a godlie preparation of mind puritie of hart simplicitie of spirit and cleannesse and chastitie of bodie Oh kill I beseech thee sweet Iesu and vtterlie extinguish in me all inordinate lusts pull out and plucke vp by the rootes what vice soeuer is in me and take quite awaie whatsoeuer displeaseth thee in me So rule temper and dispose all both mine outward and inward senses as also all the force and powers of my mind that through thy grace I may refraine preserue and keepe my selfe from all vniust and naughtie workes from all euill cogitations and thoughts from all wicked and peruerse purposes willes intents and affections which fight against thy holie and blessed commandements Grant moreouer that I may loue thee aboue all things that nothing may delight or please me but thou alone that I may seeke will desire and couet nothing that is contrarie and repugnant to thy heauenlie will and good pleasure Finallie grant O most gentle Iesu that heere in this world I may so godlie liue and vertuouslie behaue my selfe both in this my single life and afterward that in the last daie of my life I may be found readie with the wise virgins pure holie cleane and vndefiled and so through thee the celestiall Bridegrome most happelie enter and be caried into the celestiall countrie of ioies eternall Amen A praier to be said for all virgins and maids generallie O GOD the former of our bodies and the inspirer of our soules which neuer despisest anie age reiectest no sexe nor esteemest anie estate or condition vnwoorthie of thy grace but art the Creator and redeemer of all defend with the shield of thy protection all those thy seruants and handmaids whom it hath pleased thee to indue with the gift of continencie and virginitie that they which yet be free from the sweet yoke of matrimonie by the helpe of thy grace subduing all sinfull motions and concupiscences of the flesh and being giuen to all good works and holie exercises both of the bodie and mind may be vnseparablie vnited to the loue and obedience of thy Sonne their spouse Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ We beseech thee also O Lord minister and giue thou vnto them weapons of defence not carnall but spirituall that thou gouerning both their members and senses sinne and wickednes may neuer be able to beare rule in them nor preuaile against their bodies or soules and that they alwaie liuing in thy feare grace and fauour Satan the friend to the bad and so to the good may not be so bold to claime them as his whose vessels thou hast consecrated to glorifie thy name in puritie of life O let the dew and moisture of thy heauenlie grace quench and asswage their naturall heate and let the fire of perpetuall chastitie inflame their harts and minds Let not their modest â—nd shamefast faces be blotted with anie reproch neither let securitie or negligence at anie time be hurtfull vnto them Take from them all occasions of offence and suffer them not to endure anie open infamie but let there be in them a warie chastitie adorned and inarmed with a liuelie faith firme hope and sincere charitie that their minds by thy gift being thus prepared to continencie their vertue by the power of thy grace may be of force to incounter with the suggestions of Satan vanquish all his mightie assaults and that by despising things present and transitorie they may euer followe with desire and at the last obtaine the ioies to come Finallie make them O Lord alwaies to prefer abstinence and temperance before banketing or bellie-cheere and cause them to giue themselues to the reading of holie scripture to diuine contemplations and meditations before feasting wantonnes and excesse or riot that being fed with praieng filled with instruction and illuminated with watchings and holie exercises they may purelie performe and fulfill the office of true virginitie in this their state of single life and become meete spouses for the bridegroome And lastlie grant O gratious God that thou thus defending and shielding these thy seruants both externallie and internallie with the spirituall weapons of thy grace and holie vertues they and euerie of them may be well able to passe through the pikes of Satans host and run their race in all holinesse puritie and honestie without anie offence to thee or the world to the confusion of Satan and the exaltation of thy glorie through the same Lord Iesus Christ their euerlasting spouse and our most blessed redeemer to whom
with thee O Father and the holie Ghost be all praise honour and glorie for euer and euer Amen Of Uirginitie reade more in the beginning of the sixt Lampe A lamentation of anie woman virgin wife or widowe for hir virginitie or chastitie lost by fornication or adulterie not vnapt also to be vsed of anie Christian sinner or sinfull soule adulterated and fallen awaie by sinne from hir spirituall spouse Christ Iesus CAP. I. IN the bitter affliction griefe of minde and torment of conscience I go about to speake vnto him that sitteth vpon the tribunall seat accompanied with the Saints in heauen And how can I speake when as the tong is tied and the lips dare not once mooue or wag The tong doth not his office the throte is dammed vp all the senses and instruments are polluted with iniquitie but I will proceed on and first I will fall to the ground on my knees and make mine humble supplication vnto the blessed spirit that he will helpe me seelie wretch which dare not by reason of the horror and superfluitie of my sinne craue ought at the hands of God Yea and I beseech you also O yee Saints both holie men and women of God liuing here with watrish eies and wet cheekes soken in dolor and paine to fall downe before the mercie-seate of God to intreate and make intercession for me miserable sinner Wo is me bicause of the sorowe of mine hart Wo is me that my soule is thus afflicted Wo is me that am compassed thus on euerie side and shut vp in my sinne and that there is no health in me Wo is me O mother that euer thou broughtest me foorth a righteous woman to be conuersant in vnrighteousnes for a religious woman to fall into extreme impietie an heire of the kingdome of God but now an inheritour of the kingdome of the diuell Wo is me O mother which broughtest me foorth a perfect Christian yet a wretch found walowing in all impietie a virgin beautified with honour and dignitie yet in the end blemished with shame ignomiâ—â—â— a woman beset with manie euils choked vp with infamous dooings Wo is me O mother which broughtest me foorth as an high and loftie turret yet suddenlie turned downe to the ground as a fruitfull tree yet quicklie withered as a burning lampe yet foorthwith quenched as a running fountaine yet by and by dried vp Wo is me that euer I was bedecked with all gifts and graces and now seeme pitifullie depriued of all But who will minister moisture vnto the temples of my head And who will giue streames of teares vnto mine eies that I may bewaile my selfe in this my sorowfull plight Alas O chastitie how shall I bewaile thee Alas O virginitie how shall I lament thee O all you my friends and kindred tender my case pitie my person in that I am dangerouslie wounded Pitie me O all ye my friends and kindred in that I am now become an abiect person Pitie me O ye my friends in that I am now with sorowe come to naught Pitie me O ye my friends in that I haue now troden vnder foote the seale and cognizance of my profession and ioined in league with the diuell Pitie me O ye my friends in that I am reiected and cast awaie from the face of God and man it is for my lewd life that I am thus polluted and noted with open shame Bewaile me whome the Angels haue bewailed bewaile me whome all the Saincts haue bewailed bewaile me whome euerie woman hath bewailed Bewaile me O all ye virgins and women vnder heauen in that I am fallen from my glory and haue so wilfullie quenched the lampe of pure virginitie The Lord made and ingraffed me a fruitfull vine but in steed of pleasant clustred grapes I brought forth pricking thornes therefore bewaile me also for that in steed of grapes I brought forth brambles But let the welspring of teares be stirred vp and let my cheekes be watred let them flowe vpon the earth and moisten it for I am soken in sinne and borne in mine iniquities I see my virginitie lament ouer me I see all ioie sorowing for mee I see the spider ouer my seate building with cobweb by reason of mine absence I see and behold my selfe all sorowfull and pensiue Euerie creature sorroweth at my case for I was woont heeretofore to powre out praises vnto God for them all Alas what haue I felt and how am I fallen Alas how am I thus come to naught There is no sorrowe comparable to my sorrowe there is no affliction that exceedeth my affliction there is no bitternesse that passeth my bitternesse there is no lamentation more lamentable than mine neither is there sinne greater than my sinne and there is no salue for me CAP. II. WHere is that good shepheard of the soules Where is he that went downe from Ierusalem to Iericho which also salued and cured him that was wounded of the Iewes Where is he that came from Iudea to the Citie Sichem in Samaria which also there liuelie touched the woman of Samaria with hir faults and yet gaue hir drinke of his spirituall grace and life to hir and others conuersion Where is he that in the Temple so mercifullie deliuered hir that was taken in adulterie and would not suffer hir to be condemned to death as she had deserued Where is he I say that healed the sinfull sinner Marie Magdalen by casting out of hir seauen Diuels and forgiuing hir manie sinnes bicause she loued much to hir perpetuall fame and glorie Seeke me out also O Lord and cure my wounds deliuer me from my deserued condemnation heale me O God haue mercie vpon me and forgiue me all my sinnes which am fallen from the higher Ierusalem which haue broken the vow I made in my baptisme which haue prophaned my cognisance and polluted the holie temple my bodie in that I haue dealt too iniuriouslie with thy blessed name Alas that euer I was seduced alas that euer I fell against thy will and commandement What shall I saie Or what shall I doo most wretched caitife that I am I being defolate of so great comfort am vexed with sorowe for verie greefe of hart that I am cast out from the sight of thine eies Wo be vnto me from how great goodnesse into how great mischiefe am I fallen Whether purposed I to go and whither am I come Where am I and where am I not Whom did I studie to atteiâ—e vnto and what euils haue I obteined I went about to lighten others and behold I haue darkned my selfe I endeuoured to bring others from death to life but alas I haue brought my self from life to death I that minded to present others before God haue presented my selfe before the Diuell I that desired to be found a friend and a fauourer of godlinesse and chastitie am found a fo and a furtherer of vncleannesse and iniquitie I that should haue set my selfe against the assemblies of the wicked and reprooued