defend mée vnder the winges of thy coÌ„fortable protection from al errors sismes and detestable heresies make me with out fayning firmely constantly to builde vpon the truth wherein is perfectly set forth thy great mercie diuine iustice Let the zeale of thy promises in al distres be my chiefest ioy and consolation and giue me grace from aboue that as I make my boast of thy mercies and louing kindnes by vertue wherof I am by my Sauiour Christ Iesus quickned from deathe to life in his dearest death and precious bloudsheding regenerated borne a new not of water but of the spirit by fayth so Lorde I maye with thy aboundaunt loue showne to mée warde the whole posteritie of Adam I may bée afrayde wilfully or of a set purpose to transgresse thy commaundementes and so incurre therby thy displeasure that the effectes of thy iustice in the day of thy coÌ„ming to iudgement be pronounced against mee to the vtter destruction of bodie soule make me alwais willing good Lord to heare thy worde by the power wherof my faith is increased and therewithall plante in mée perfite loue and obedience and so directe my footsteppes in this vale of miserie that I may treade the pathe that leadeth to thée with whome my soule thirsteth to rest euen as vehementlye as the Hart longeth after the water brookes Graunt this O merciful God for the honor and glorye of thy names sake Amen ¶ A fruitfull Prayer to bee sayde at the gâ—yng to bedde of euery Christian. MOste mercyfull Father I moste wretched and vnworthye sinner prostrate my selfe before the Throane of thy heauenlye grace yeelding vnto thée moste humble and heartye thankes that hast of thy excéeding loue and fauor preserued mee this day from al perill and daunger humbly beséeching thy diuine maiestie this night to preserue me for the loue of thy onely sonne my sweetest Sauiour Iesus Christ my Mediatour aduocate who continuallye pleadeth and maketh intercession to thée for mée all the rest of thy chosen children presenting hys bloudy wounds and his glorious body al to be scourged in thy diuine presence who thereby doth mittigate thy wrathe indignation iustly conceiued agaynst me a miserable and wretched creature and all mankynde Make me Lord still to confesse myne vnworthynesse and weakenesse to be suche and so great that of my selfe I am not worthye to lift vp myne eyes to heauen much lesse to be called thy sonne such and so great is the burthen of my sinne and iniquitie so that by the meanes of my corruption filthinesse I acknowledge my selfe to be the child of death and destruction yet build I still on thy promises good Lord and in this greate daunger I come vnto thée with teares saying O father I haue sinned agaynst heauen and agaynst thée and am no more worthy to bée called thy sonne of my selfe I haue nothing but by thée I haue al things of my selfe I acknowledge I haue iustly deserued the heauy senteÌ„ce of thine yre but by grace of thee O mightie Emanuel I am regenerate and borne agayne from death to life from daunger to ioy from perill to peace from bondage to libertie so in fine from Hell damnation to blisse saluation Such is the effect of thy mercie so abundant is thy loue towardes me and all those that with contrite heartes presente themselues vnto thée Increase my fayth lord that it may abound in good and fruitfull workes so fortifie mée y t I neuer swerue from thy veritie giue mée thy grace from aboue O merciful Iesus that I may neuer shrinke from thy sacred testimonies And more ouer I with all humilitie and reuerence of heart and mynde beséeche thée thys night whiche thou hast ordayned for man to rest in thou wilt gard and protecte mée with thy good guidyng spirite and albeit my sinfull flesh shall sleepe slumber yet graunt good Lorde that my soule may continually kéepe watch and ward let not the enemie finde me slumbering and sléeping as careles in the cradle of sinfull Securitie leaste that whilest I am vnarmed that is naked destitute of thy grace and fauour he enter in and breake vp the house of my sinnefull bodye and make such hauocke spoile that my infected and leaporous soule deformed by meanes of myne iniquitie and wounded with the dangeruos Darts of transgression bée throwne with the body of sinne to the Lake of destruction wherein is continuall wayling and gnashing of téeth Make me stil O good Lorde to consider that the bed is a plaine patterne and similitude of the Graue which continually calleth for me and all other thy Creatures make me to vnderstand that when I am layd of my self without thy heauenly prouidence I can not bée able to ryse agayne make me to acknowledge that sléepe is the very figure of death to whose stroak at thy appoynted pleasure I must submit my selfe Indue me with loue charitie to all men let my Lampe O Lord be garnished with Oyle that whensoeuer or at what tyme soeuer thy messenger death shall drawnie and knock at the gates of my house I maye at hys sommons in the daye of the resurrection of the dead be ready to attend on thée and thy bride with my burning Lampe that is with a stedfast fayth when as by thée I shalbe clothed a newe for my mortall body shall then be couered with immortallitie the corruption of my sinful rebelling flesh shal be changed to incorruption and perfite puritye thy righteousnesse shalbe mine thy merites shal make me perfite holy by vertue wherof hell shal loose his victory death shall loose his sting my fayth and hope shal haue ende and rewarde I wyth thy Saintes continuallye dwell in loue and charitie with thée the Heauenlye Bridegrome Christ Iesus To whome with the father and the holy ghost be ascribed all lawd glory power prayse and dominion for euer Amen A Prayer for the remission of sinne and to obtayne a vertuous life FOr as muche as O Bountifull Lorde it is most méete right and iust that all fleshe shoulde prayse magnifie and worship thée and shoulde without ceasing giue thankes vnto thée who onely art the Creator and maker of all thinges as well visible as inuisible who onely art the Treasure of all goodnesse the Well of life onely God and Lord whom the Heauens and Heauens of Heauens the Sunne the Moone the Starres the earth the Sea with all that mooue therein yea the heauenly companie of martyrs the soules of the Prophets and Apostles Aungels Arckeaungels togither with the soules of al iust righteous persons do lawd glorifie It is moste requisite that ech mortal creature liuing in this worlde shoulde also acknowledge thy magnificence wherefore most mercifull Father I wyth my hart and mouth do acknowledge thée to be my king Lorde the giuer of all goodnesse I confesse thee to bee omnipotent reuerent merciful long suffering God of all consolation comforte mercie
all inwarde heauinesse thought and care for any losse and discommodity receiued by worldly goods and alwayes to thinke that as well pouertie as riches néedinesse as aboundance sicknesse as health aduersity as prosperity come from thée and that it is knowne to thine vnserchable iudgement onely why and wherfore thou sendest eyther of these vpon vs and therefore let not my minde bée troubled with any feare of thinges to chaunce sauing onely to feare to displease thée but alwayes to be merry in thée with sobernesse and to cast all my care of worldlye affayres vppon thée For as much as thou hast commanded that we shoulde not be careful what to eat or what to drink or with what rayment we should be clothed for y u wilte not sée the righteous forsaken or their children begging their breade and that thou tournest all thinges to the best to them that serue thée and flie vnto thée for succour in the tyme of their distresse Let this O Lord be euer more fresh in my memorye grauen in my heart and redy in my mouth so that I leauing all néedlesse feare may alwayes giue thanks vnto thée and prayse thy holye name Amen The prayer vnto God the Father ALmightie God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ whome no deserte merite or worthinesse of oures but thyne own great clemencie mercy and pity caused to send downe thyne onely begotten sonne into this world to beare the burthen of our sinnes with the which we moste miserable sinners were ouerladen that he shoulde suffer moste cruell tormentes yea and also most bitter and shamefull death and sanctifie the reprochefull name of the Crosse with the renting of his blessed bodye and shedding his most precious blood thereon Thereby to make attonement betwéene thée vs thereby to pay the ransome for our soules thereby to consumate and finish the perfection of oure redemption and saluation Whiche thing it was thy good will that he should doe not only to aswage thy wrath and indignation but also to bring vs agayn into thy grace and fauour that wée being deliuered out of the bondage of sinne hell might serue thee in righteousnes and holynesse all the dayes of oure life and by thy frée gift and benefite of his deathe and passion be made partakers of his resurrection and of thyne endlesse vnspeakable glory Wherefore my God my maker my Lord my kyng séeyng thou hast so aboundauntly bestowed thy Heauenly giftes vpon me all mankind and hast so plentifully poured out thy grace and fauour on vs that for our sakes thou wouldst not spare thy owne sonne How shal we escape thine indignation whiche for this care and kindnesse of thyne are most carelesse and vnkynd and among all other which way shall I poore creature turne me how shall I who haue bene moste vnthankefull for his benefites and moste vnmindefull of them be so bolde as to lifte vp my hart or hands vnto the heauens and to call vpon thée thou of thy singuler goodnes diddest so prouide that the wickednesse of olde Adam shoulde be purged and washed away with the bloud of Iesus Christe but I haue wilfullye fallen into sinne againe Thou madest me the child of light but I haue made my selfe an inheritor of darknes thou madest mée thyne by creation I haue made my selfe the childe of perdition What shall I now therefore do shall I doubt of anie further mercie and forgiuenesse No no sweet Lord so great is thy mercye whiche surmounteth al thy works so large are thy promises so sure is the perfourmance of them to al such as take hold thereof so deare in thy sight are the merites of thy sonne Iesus so acceptable vnto thée is the harty repentance of a sinner that with the remembrannce thereof I am prouoked to crye vnto thée saying Father I haue sinned agaynst heauen and agaynst thée I am no more worthye to bée called thy childe Neuertheles behold thou me not as I am a gréeuous offendour but as thy creature haue nowe no respect to mine offences but behold my repētance think not vpon my wickednesse but vpon the wounds of my sauiour Iesus looke not vpon my false hart which hath wauered from thy lawes but behold the bléeding hart of thy sonne Iesus Chryst whiche was pierced to release me and set me frée my sinnes I cast vpon his back beséeching thée that hys merites may beare them and thy mercy pardon them Heare me O Lorde my God heare me for I knowe the more earnestlye that I séeke for desire thyne ayd the readier y u art to stretche forth thine hand to help me Heare me therfore O Lord bow downe and incline thy eare vnto my praier inspire me so with thy holy spirite that I may loue thée aboue al things and that I neuer fayle to put my hope trust of saluation in him whome thou wouldest to be my Redéemer and sauiour Make mée by the forsaking of all wickednes so to rise from falling into sinne that I may obtayne the true seruing of thée with innocency and purenesse of life Graunt this O Lorde for Iesus Christes sake to whom with thée and the holye Ghoste be all honor and glory Amen A Prayer vnto God the Sonne O Most sweete Sauiour O moste mercifull Redéemer O bountifull Iesu the sonne of God who although thou art highe yet thou art moste humble although thou arte Omnipotente thou arte also moste méeke and as thou art most mightie so art thou moste merciful To thée O Christ the guyde of al felicitie the Father of heauen hath gyuen all power both in heauen and in earth Thou art the true Pastor of our soules thou art oure Messias y u castest off none that sue vnto thée but as thou hast taken awaye the hande wryting that was agaynst vs and hast fastned it to thy Crosse so art thou ready to imparte the merits of thy Passion vnto all such as with true repentaunce of their sinnes call vppon thée faythfully Wherefore my swéete Iesus I most faythfullye and vnfaynedlye acknowledge y e benefites that thou hast bestowed vpō me and steadfastlye beléeue that thou being an Immaculate Lamb in whose mouth was neuer found guyle didst suffer most cruell torments at the hands of sinners for the loue of vs moste wretched sinners for the which cause I most hartily beséeche thée and most humbly pray thée to accept me into the number of thē whome thou wilt make Coinheritours of thy bitter paynes and although I of my selfe be moste vnworthy thereof yet thy merites can make me worthy to them doe I flye crauing that I may be so armed and defened by them that I maye subdue the world the fleshe and the Deuill euen as thou hast gloriously conquered sin death and Hell Thou seest O my Sauiour how I am daily and howerly beset with these thrée ennemies and so hardly beséeged of them y t without thy help I can by no meanes escape but that I must néedes be a
ingrafte in me Unto myne eyes let there be giuen aboundance of weeping And let my handes be occupied With often almes gyuing O thou my king quench out of me all foule fleshly desire And with the loue of thee alone set thou my hart on fire O my Redeemer dryue away the spirite of pride from me And graunt to mee that great treasure of meeke humilitie Take from me O my Sauiour the furious rage of yre The shield of pacience giue to me the which I doe desyre O Creator roote out of mee all spitefulnesse of mynde And graunt in steede thereof agayne meekenâ—sse that I may fynde O Bountifull father giue me a fayth that shall indure With hope agreeing therevnto and charitie most sure O thou my guyde keepe from my lips all lying vanitie And from my minde driue farre away all vayne vnconstancie All wauering takâ— from my heart and from my mouth scoffing With all proud lookes glottony backbiting slandering Couetousnesse wipe cleane away with curiositie The fond desire of vayne glory with all hipocrisie Let me neuer the poore despise nor yet the weake oppresse And let me not blaspheme for then I dye remedilesse O thou which didst mee forme and make take all rashnesse from me And leaue me not such a minde as will not with peace agree Take from me ydlenesse and sloth with heauie lumpishnesse Take from me disobedience and also stubburnnesse O my God for thy deare Sonnes sake I humbly beseeche thee To graunt me the works of mercy aboundance of pitie That I may thee both loue feare and eke pitie the poore Make mee good men alwayes to loue and wicked to abhorre Make me so little to esteeme those thinges that worldly bee With harte and voyce that I maye craue in Heauen to be with thee amen ¶ Beeyng tempted by the ghostly ennemy as all that feare God are to doubt in any article of the Catholike Fayth to dispayre in Gods mercye to yeelde to melancholye fantasies to bee vexed with vnkindnes of friends or the malice of ennemies to bee troubled with sicknesse or any other wayes oppressed with griefe of body and mynde say deuoutly as followeth I Humblye accept moste mercifull Iesus this heauie temptation whiche nowe I suffer at the handes of thy diuine prouydence and would a greater if thou please to laye it on me for thy sake Who hath ordayned this from the beginning for the tender loue thou bearest to the health of my sinfull soule and I most hartily thanke thée for it I confesse I haue deserued worse for my sinne and vnkindenesse towardes thée and I am not worthie to receyue any comfort or consolation at thy handes therefore to the honor of the passion and death whiche thou wyllinglye sufferedst on the Crosse I offer my selfe to sustayne this or any other aduersitie with al my hart not séeking other ways ease or reliefe then in and by thee O Lorde and as thy good will and pleasure shal appoint yet this one thing I craue and beséech thée for the tender loue thou bearest to mée and all mankinde for in mée is no vertue or ought that is good to helpe and assist me with thy holy spirite as my trust is thou wilt who promiseth that no man shall be tempted more than he shalbe able to beare and giue me all what euer shalbe necessary to sustayne with patience this painfull Crosse temptation which thy deuine wisdome hath apointed for me to the inteÌ„t that I bearing y e same wyllingly with thée here in this worlde may conceiue assured hope to bée partaker of thy glorye in the worlde to come grant me my request moste mercifull Sauioure not for my merite or deseruing but onely for the merites of thy death and bitter passion I humblye beséeche thée Amen A Prayer for the obtayning of grace and mercy O Moste mercifull Lorde God whose Maiestie is incomprehensible and power infinite whose magnificence is exalted aboue the heauens vouchsafe I beséech thée from thy high Throne to beholde the worke of thy handes Haue pitie on the vnhappy desolate condition of thy creature I am a sinner conceiued in sin of my selfe I haue no good thing wherefore O Lord I cleaue to the Altare of thy mercy Thou art my Ankor my hope my refuge staye Therefore O Lorde haue mercy vpon me for no flesh can be iustified in thy sight Thou knowest the frayltie weakenes of men we are taught by the fall of Peter y t we can doe nothing wythout thée Graunt vs therfore good lord thy grace without which in this world we are lyke by the waues of temptations to be swallowed in the gulph whyrlepoole of sinnes to be drownd as the ship without Ankor Pylate in euerye Tempest to runne on the Rocke and perishe Guide vs therfore by thy grace good Lorde thorow the flouds of this carefull worlde that wee maye rest for euer in the pleasant Porte and happye hauen of euerlasting ioy with thyne elected thorough our blessed Sauiour Iesus Chryst. To whome wyth thée and the holye Ghoste bée all honour and glorye in all worldes Amen A Prayer for the Penitent O Lord I am a sinner my sins are heauy vpon me the burthen of them is intolerable refresh me with thy grace washe away mine offences I shall be whiter than the snow let the chéerfull beames of thy countenance shine vppon mée and giue light to the darknes of my life We can looke for nothing as deserued but punishment due to oure offences Wherfore good lord not according to thy iustice but in the multitude of thy mercies deale with thy seruant Remember not the sinnes of my forefathers think not on the misdemeanor of my youth passed haue pitie on thy creture which acording to the likenesse of thy selfe thou hast made shaped of earth How long wilt thou turne thy face away froÌ„ me forsake me not O my God but renewe in me thy holy spirit Pluck away from me all that withdraweth mée from thée Graft in my hart thy grace y t I may loue thée and feare thée and so finallye reioyce in thy goodnesse with thy elected and prayse thée in thy wondrous works for euer Graunt thys most mightie God for our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake To whome with thée and the holye Ghost be all honour and glory for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for Fayth O Blessed sauiour Iesus sonne of the euerliuing God the vnspeakeable ioye of thy seruantes moste present coÌ„fort to sinners which camest into y e world to saue offenders whiche so louest the world that thou sparedst not thy most pecious blood to redéeme the losse of oure first father Adam to make vs Coheires of the forfaited inheritance with thy selfe that al which beléeue in thée might be saued good Lorde whiche hast promysed to them that knocke it shal be opened that they whiche seeke shall finde graunt I beséeche thée that I maye search thy holye lawes and finde
the trueth of thy holye worde that I may alwayes constantly confesse shewe thée thy goodnesse as well in my words as lyuing Inspire me with thy holye spirite that I may know thée stedfastlye trust in thée and serue thée in prayers well doing all the tyme of my life O most mercifull Lord and sauiour of the world for the glory of thy names sake I beséeche thée to heare my praiers My soule reioyce in God thy sauing healthe for he hath bene good to thée he hath kept thée frō the snare of the hunter blessed thée The lord is a merciful God let all the earth feare him let the mouthes of all men sounde prayses vnto hym God is a good Lord dayly increaseth his good giftes to his seruants the Lord wyll encrease my fayth in hym and I shalbe saued Amen A Prayer for righteous iudgement O Lord God of all iustice whiche in equall Ballance doest weigh the cause of the Prince and of the poorest man whiche despisest not the sutes of the simple whiche deliuerest the Captiue and comfortest the desolate and carefull O Lord whiche hast blessed them that are poore in spirite reléeue thy seruaunt oppressed with griefe remoue from me the clowdes of my sorrowes O Lorde stretche forth thy mightie hand and helpe me let me not sincke in the Seas of slaunder and shame Thou knowest the secretes of my heart defend me in myne innocencie Pleade thou my cause agaynst the vngodly whiche haue layd their nets for me O God thou which hast deliuered Ioseph Danyell Mardocheus and Susanna from captiuitie and instant death and didst cloath them with honoure good Lorde strengthen me and be my defendour against all euils and let not the poysoned arrowes of malicious tongues doe me any harme Graunt these my prayers good Lorde I bseeche thée for our Sauioure Iesus Chryst his sake Amen A Prayer agaynst lying and euill imaginations O Lorde cleanse my heart I beséeche thée from all impure and wicked cogitations and thoughtes and giue me a cléere conscience shamefast eyes innocente handes and a tongue to tell the truth Séeing that there is nothyng hidde that shall not be discouered good lord I beséeche thée to search my thoughtes and renewe in me thy holye spirite directe my féete in thy wayes that walking after thée in the pathe of the righteous I may passe thorow this vale of misery bearing thy banner stowtly in my warfare and obtaine euerlasting ioy the promised hire to such as here haue paciently borne thy crosse and valiauntlye fought with the armoure of fayth against temptations and all euils vouchsafe O Lorde to graunt my peticions I most humbly beséech thée for thy onely begotten sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake Amen A thankesgiuing for the goodnesse of God to vs. O Almightie God and euer ruling King whose infinit power maiesty our wyts cannot comprehende whose glorious brightnesse with our mortall eyes wee cannot behold whose wonderous workes manyfold mercyes the tongues of mē cannot sufficiently declare Good Lord I yéeld thée most humble thankes for thy singuler great gifts and benefites bestowed vppon me a sinner Good Lord thou hast blessed me with knowledge with increase and plenty of all thinges thou hast giuen me friends health and rest That I shoulde eate my meate with ioy and prayse thée in al thy gifts works I know that I haue no good thing but it commeth from thée and onely for thy mercies sake thou hast so regarded me thy seruaunt wherfore good lord I beséech thée to grant me thy grace withall that I maye vse these thy gifts to thy honour and glory the comfort of them that néede that vsing the talent whiche thou hast lente mée I maye become a good seruaunt and obtayne eternal blisse the promised hire to suche as doe well Uouchsafe good Lord for thy sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christe his sake to heare my prayers ALmightie God refreshe me with thy grace I beséech thée comfort me wyth thy mercye and blesse mée that safe from all euils frée from feare of all daungers in peace and quietnesse I may sing prayses to thy holy name and reioice in thée with thine elected for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to liue well GOod Lorde so rule the eyes of my heart that they being kept simple and pure my bodye may bée a cleare and shining temple of thy holy spirite so kindle in vs the loue of thy glorious sonne that we following his steps may doe that which is good and declyne from the euill so that our light shyning before men we may glorifie thée by our good works with thy blessed sonne our Sauiour and the holye Ghost To whose infinite maiestie in trinitie and vnitie be all honour and glory for euer Amen A confession for the penitent O Moste mercifull Lorde God I haue offended against the Throane of thy Maiestye my sinnes are euer before myne eyes I am not worthy to liue or enioy the fruites wherewith thou hast blessed the earth my owne conscience is my tormenter bringing testimonie and witnes against me The Sunne doth hyde hys light agaynst mee and the place is the worse wherein I become O Lorde what shall I doe shal I dispayre No thou art mercifull and more ready to forgiue then we to aske I will confesse my sins to thée I am weary of my sinfull life I am sory in my soule for myne offences wherefore good Lorde thou whiche doest case them that are laden and refreshe them that trauayle thou which hast promised mercy to the penitente looke on thy seruant with thy chearefull countenaunce beholde me with those pittying eies with whiche thou didst Mary Magdalen and the woman taken in Adulterye thou whiche hast shedde thy bloode on the Alter of the Crosse offering thy moste precious bodye an eternall Sacrifice for our sinnes dispyse not that whiche thou hast redéemed Thou which camest into the world to cal sinners to repentaunce and to saue the lost shéepe of Israell haue mercye vppon me leade me by thy grace to the Foulde among thy Sheepe for they go in sweet Pasture are not in daunger of Wolues for thou art their shepheard and kéepest good accounte of euery one of them thoughe I haue gone astray wandring from thy flocke and borne the markes of the worlde yet good Lord disclaime not thy right I beséeche thée but take me vnto thée that I may be safe vnder the shaddow of thy winges He may sléepe soundly whome thou doest kéepe thou arte the watchman of Israell All honour and glorye be vnto thée for euer A Prayer for humilitie O Lorde I am a sinner sorry for mine offences I cannot make satisfaction for my defaultes if I haue any good thing it cōmeth of thée The moste acceptable sacrifice to thée is a contrite and humble hart O God let me not be oppressed with the waues of sinne let mée not sinke into the Whyrlepoole and gulph of dispayre thou which liftest
vp the fallen and raysest the humble and méeke cloathing them wyth purple setteth them vp wyth Prynces in the seates of honor thou whiche despisest the imaginations of the proude and resistest their enterprises blesse me in all my doynges send mée happy successe in all my affayres that I maye reioyce in thy goodnesse with thyne elected for euer euer Accepte my humble sute good Lorde I beséeche thée for the glorye of thy names sake Amen A Prayer to be deliuered from enemies and dangers O Moste mightie Lorde God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob which didst lead the children of Israell thorow the red Sea and made the streames of Iordane runne back into their springes agayne that thy people mighte passe throughe the middest thereof good Lorde whose heastes the floudes obey at whose voyce the hils doe leape and the earthe doeth tremble O moste mightie Lorde which canst destroy the prowdest kings with very Flyes and Ants whiche made little Dauyd to tryumphe on the Gyaunt Golyath which deliueredst his enemy King Saule into his handes gauest Gedeon thy seruaunt wyth hys few Souldioures victorye of so manye Legyons of strong men Thou which hast subdued so many mighty kings and sundrye Nations vnto thy people Israell O God whiche workest all in all things which giuest victory alwayes as séemeth best to thy vnsearchable wisdome defende me alwayes I beseeche thée agaynst myne enemies all euils that my ship tossed and beaten in the waues of this worlde may rest in thy happye Hauen of euerlasting ioy My soule cleaueth vnto thy mercye as to an holye Sanctuary O God if thou shouldest not be mercyfull who could abyde the heat of thy displeasure but thou O Lorde arte good to thy seruauntes and I hope to sée thy goodnesse in the land of y e liuing All glory be to thée moste high and mercyfull God for euer euer Amen The Penitent longeth for comfort HOwe long O Lorde wilt thou tourne awaye thy face from mee Howe long wilte thou be angrye wyth thy seruauntes How long shall I abyde mourning solitarye as the byrd that hath lost hir young O Lorde thinke on mée in thy mercies and doe not correct me in thy wrathe for then shall I become as the duste and smoke in the winde O Lorde forsake not thy seruaunt Israell whome thou hast chosen my heart comforted in thy mercyes shall reioyce and I will sing vnto thée and praise thée in thy good works and Myracles which thou hast done in our forefathers time A godly Meditation I Altogether vnhappy and comfortlesse haue greeuouslye offended my Lorde God what shall I doe whether shall I goe I cannot hyde me from hys sight how oft haue I trespassed against hym howe oft haue I deserued his displeasure and yet howe seldome hath hée punished me howe oft hathe hée béene good and mercyfull vnto mée howe ofte haue I promised vowed amendemente and howe little and seldome haue I perfourmed it this is a woefull case Who will haue pittye on me I dare not lift vp myne eyes towarde Heauen because I haue sinned against it and in earthe I can looke for no refuge because I haue béene a slaunder and shame to it What then should I dispayre No God is a mercifull and a good sauiour hée dothe visite them that liue in darcknesse and is a chearefull light to them that sit in the shaddowe of death He willeth vs to forgiue our brother though he offend seuentie times yea infinitely And God is more mercifull than any man can be and he must be the onely refuge and comfort he will not despise hys creature the image of himselfe returne thée to thy Lorde God praye to him humbly on thy knées for grace and continue to bewayle thy sinnes past because that he whiche loueth thée prouoketh thée dayly with hys gracious giftes and blessings to loue him wil not leaue vntil he haue made perfite his worke begone brought his mercye to full effecte in thée What naturall cause begynneth his worke and leaueth it in the halfe way imperfite the vertue of the seede doth not cease till y e fruit be brought to perfection yet that nature worketh not at once but first prepareth the matter and then disposeth and makes it fit to receiue the shape which is the perfection and ende thereof and as by naturall order and right course things doe procéede and increase by little and little from the lesse to the more euen so doth God first dispose vs to his mercy and then increasing his goodnes daylye bestoweth on vs in the ende the treasure of his grace the inheritance of euerlasting ioies What bird forsaketh hir yong till they bée able to lyue of themselues and yet no auayle for their paine cōmeth to them very loue worketh in naturall causes to bring foorth their affectes to perfection if it be so in creatures what will the Creator doe which is loue it selfe and infinite goodnes He wil withdraw thée from thy sins make thée cleane and pure and finally blesse thee with eternal life whiche he hath prepared for thée O Lorde I come to thée sad and mourning I sit at thy feete humblye wayting for thy mercie thou art my hope and helper according to thy great mercyes haue mercy vpon me Amen A Prayer agaynst Couetousenesse or too much care of the worlde GOod Lord seeing that it is thy pleasure that wée shall not bée carefull for worldly thinges if a Sparrow falleth not on y e ground without thy foresight howe muche more care doest thou take of vs thy children good Lord thou féedest the byrdes of the ayre and cloathest the Lyllyes of the Field which take no care Wherefore good Lorde so prouide for our necessitie sickenesse wée beséeche thée that wee casting all our care vppon thée maye chieflye studye to please thée and serue thée and not to be so wrapped entangled in the desires of worldly thinges like little children who for light trifles of no valure will forsake the moste ample inheritance that is So in like manner those whome the Scripture calleth the children of this worlde are so adicted to trifles are so giuen to transitory moment thinges that for them they dispise the inheritaunce to come and in comparison of them they contemne euerlasting felicitie of heauenly thinges Graunt vs therfore good Lord that we be not so ouercome with the desire of worldly transitorie things that thereby wee loose the ritch inheritance of euerlasting life Graunt this good Lord which liuest and raignest King of all Kinges for euer and euer Amen A Prayer that we may liue vprightly O Lorde seeyng that the righteous shall dwel in thy tabernacle graunt mée I beséech thée a pure and vndefiled soule O what is the shape of the earth wherein Gods ennemies haue abyding in comparison of the wonderfull bewtie of Heauen wherein righteousnes doeth dwell in comparison of that place wherein Aungels Arckaungels all good men yea and God himselfe is abyding
Aungels in the shyning glorye and Maiestye to iudge the quicke the dead I may be in the number of the blessed ones whom thou shalt call to possesse thy kingdom prepared for them by thy father saying Com ye blessed children of my father receiue y â— kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the worlde Thou whiche didst dye and ryse agayne wilt rayse and bring to life all those that are dead beléeuing in thy faith Comfortable Exhortations against the manifolde assaultes of Sathan IF thou perceyue that the storme of temptation doth verye often and greeuously assault thee dismay not therefore thy selfe neither bee displeased with thy selfe as though almighty God nothing regarded thee but rather thanke him that hee instructeth and teacheth thee as one to bee hys heyre that he punisheth correcteth thee as his most deare sonne that he proueth assayeth thee as his welbeloued friend It is a manyfest and great token that man is reiect from the mercy and fauour God when hee is troubled with no temptation In thy temptatioÌ„ remember the holy Apostle S. Paule which being wrapt to the misteries of the thirde heauen was vâ—xed with the aungel of sathan remember the temptation of the holy man Iob other which were grieuouâ—ly troubled with their offences O happy fortunate man in whome this earthly Adam is so mortified and subdued that it in no wise resisteth the spirit but whether thys perfit quyetnes may be in any I will not affirme peraduenture it is not necessary to be For Paule in this life notwithstanding his highe perfection and grace had a motion of the flesh to vexe trouble him And when he thrice desyred God to be deliuered from the sayd motion He only had this answer Paul my grace is sufficient for vertue is made perfit by vexatioÌ„ Paul was vexed by pride that he should not be proud to be perfite strong in God he was caused to be weak feeble For he carryed the treasure of heaueÌ„ly reuelation in a frayle britle vessel that the honor victory should only be in God not in himself this one example of Paul is eruditioÌ„ lerning in many things when that we be intised moued to sin that we diligently cal to almighti god by prayer Remember that Dauid the Prophet King Salomon Peter the Apostle notwithstanding they were great lightes examples of holynesse yet they fell into grieuous and great sins whom almighty God peraduenture suffred to fall for this cause speciallye that thou shouldest not dispaâ—re Lyft vp thy selfe therefore vppon thy feete and with high courage bolde stomack returne againe into battayle agaynst thy enemies not onely more fierce and bold but also more ware diligent and think with thy selfe what intollerable and inuincible temptations Christ suffred for thee wherin there appeared no help comfort ayd nor defence anye where wherein God and the whole worlde seemed to be his most cruell and malycious enemyes when that he cryed alowd My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Truely this was a most grieuous paynfull and bitter temptatioÌ„ which Christ suffred for vs that he might make the way of the crosse easy for vs. Therefore prepare thou thy â—elf paciently to drink of that Cuppe which Christ Iesu thy head hath so willingly dronke on for the saluation of al mankynd And seeing therefore that Christ so willingly put himselfe in subiection and dipped himselfe in those so horrible and intollerable sorrowes and calamities oure moste louing and heauenly Father willing the same out of doubt he also vnderstandeth and knoweth our infirmitye out of doubt hee taking compassion on vs will not extreamly deale with vs but will rather beare with our imbecillitye and weakenes Doth not he himselfe calling al men vnto him say Come vnto me al yee that labor and are heauy laden and I will refresh you what more greater comfort I pray you can be giuen vs. How could Christ speak more mercifull vnto vs. There bee manye things that greeuously vex trouble man but what thing can more cruelly vex torment his conscience ouerwhelmed with sin then when he doubteâ—h of the mercy of God when he dreadeth least God be his aduersary and will reiect him when he is not able to conceiue this fayth of his mercy doth imagine himself to be cast away as a dry member that is cut of Be present here O Iesus Christ with thyne ayde help here we haue need of thy comfort let not this blacke violent horrible teÌ„pest of troubls ouerthrow drown wretched man but there is no cause why we should doubt Christ is true he wil make his promises to appear he wil help vs refresh vs. Therfore where as thy faith is not strong ynough wheras thou feelest thy self to doubt of Gods mercy and haste well neare no fayth at all strayght waies cal vpoÌ„ God bewail tho misery lack of belief before him seek for his aid succour by feruent prayer he wil both help refresh thee he hath taken vpon him thus to do he wil bring it to pas but take heed thou cease not to call vpon god beseech thou without al ceasing the Father of all consolation comfort with sighs from the bottom of thine hart that he turne not his face from thee lay thy weakenes vppon him poure out into his bosom all things which trouble torment thee Crye out with his disciples O Lord increase my fayth Lykewise say thou with the Father of the lunaticke child lord I beleâ—ue help thou mine vnbeliefe Make hast O lord to help mee before that I oppressed wyth this weight be drowned O moste louing mest merciful Father lord God of my health our only help and refuge Enter not into iudgemente with thy seruauntes Christ is my righteousnes redemption and innocencye whiche suffred most bitter and cruell death for my sake Let those things mooue thee O Father of all compassion haue mercy vpon me for thy sons sake confirme and strengthen my hearte by Faythe in Christ Comforte mee with the consolations of the holy ghoste that I may enioy the true ioyes of euerlasting lyfe through the merites of my Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the holy ghost be all praise and glorye for euer and euer Amen A Psalme to be sayd at all tymes REioyce in GOD my soule for he is my lighte and my defence my helpe the lanterne to my féete he hath heard my prayer when I called on him he hath holpen me in my néede he hath deliuered mee in my daungers The Lorde is the kéeper of my life from whome shall I shrinke whom shall I feare lying prostrate at the féete of my Lorde I bewayled my case and hée heard my complaint he forsaketh not his seruaunts Wherefore if armies of men stoode vp agaynst mée I shoulde not feare for if God be on my syde who can preuayle against mée Hée is
whose guiltie stomacks are gorged with grudge enuie mallice hatred disdayne and al vncharitablenes for their throts are like vnto an open sepulchre or swallowing graue their tongues are giuen to slaunder and backbite their neighboures the poyson of Adders lyeth hidden vnder their lippes and in fine they as thyne enemies blaspheme thy holye and blessed name and contemne thy testimonies O Lorde gine me thy grace to be conuersant with good godly men such as fauoure thy gloryous Gospell doe their indeuour to practise thy preceptes to the glorye of thy holye blessed name make mee by their example to exercise my selfe in the heauenly verity that thereby I maye bee instructed in the liuely knowledge of thy commandements obtaine such wisedome from aboue that by saythe I may cleaue to thee the fellowship of those y t feare thy holy name and so auoyde the company of the wicked and vngodly worldlinges whiche haue layde snares to intrap mée Graunt this O most mercifull Father for thy sonne Iesus Christ hys sake who euer liueth raigneth with thee and the holye Ghost to whome be all lawd glorye power and prayse for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to be purged from syn and vncleannesse TAke awaye from mée O Lorde the burthen of my corruption which by the continual exercise of my sinne and wickednesse hath wounded my soule wofullye with the daungerous dartes of transgression so that I feele my putrifaction abounding and my festred conscience ouerladen wyth vncleannesse so that I haue no other meane or remedye but to prostrate my seffe before the Throane of thy glorious Maiestye beséechyng thee intyrely of thy gracyous goodnesse to salue my sores wyth the comfortable Oyle of thy mercye thou onely O Iesus arte the swéet phisition of my soule sprinckle vppon mée Isope and I shall be made whyter than snow if thou of thy excéeding bounty and fauour good Lord wilt vouchsafe to washe awaye the spottes of my sinne and wickednesse that heapeth thy indignation and furye agaynst me I shall then excell the Gold that hath beene purified in the Furnace seuen folde let it therefore good Lord and mercyfull Father seeme pleasaunt vnto thy deuyne Maiestye to touche my corrupted vncleane heart wyth the heauenlye finger of thy grace that I maye bryng foorth the fruites of true repentaunce whiche are more acceptable to thy glorious and deuyne presence then the offering of Calues Bullockes shéepe Goates or any other burnt offring or sacrifice of peace a contrite and sorrowfull soule is the thing that thou doest moste delight an humble and a lowlye spirite is the oblation that thou doest desire A cleane and pure heart O Lorde my God I knowe thou doest loue and fauoure wherefore I beseeche thée to purge me from my sinne and iniquitie of thy great mercy let the bitter deploration of myne offences hartye contrition thorough thy glorious merites and paynefull passion O Iesus be y ◠only meane and way to set me frée from the powers of hell death damnation and sith I am by thy goodnesse begotten and borne anew strengthen me good Lord that I neuer slyde nor fall from thée but that I maye continuallye beare in my remembrance the state whereto I am called by thée thorowe thy aboundaunt loue and kyndenesse wype away good lord all my sinnes out of thy remembraunce cleanse me in the bloude of thy spotlesse Lambe Iesus Chryste and I shall be made cleane pure and safe Graunt this moste mercifull God for the honour and glory of thy name sake thorow the bitter deth of thy sonne Iesus Christe my mediatoure and Aduocate to whom with thée and the holye Ghoste be giuen lawd glory power praise for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to be sayde in tyme of peace and prosperitie GIue vs good Lorde the comfortable and healthfull spirite of thy grace and aboundaunt fauoure that wee maye wythout ceasing make oure continuall boast of thy prayse we know and from the bottomes of oure heart confesse that thou hast dealte more louinglye with vs then thou hast done with our next neighboures whose painefull miseries and bloudy broyles may be a sufficient warnyng vnto vs to hate oure sinne iniquitie least the like calamitie or euer we be aware doe compasse hedge vs rounde about giue vs grace therefore in time of peace and happie prosperitie so to walke that thy fatherlye blessing bée not withdrawn nor taken from vs and the rod of thy sharpe correction be layde vppon our neckes euen in such sorte as thou hast visited oure brethren in other Countreyes whose bodyes by the meanes of cyuill discention haue béene made a praye to the sworde we heare and vnderstande that not farre off but euen hard at the gates of our borders the father is readye in armes to séeke the destruction of hys sonne the sonne is as gréedye to gape for the blood of his father we heare how vyolentlye the brother thirsteth after the bloude of hys brother frind is against friend neighboure agaynst neighbour young men are murthered olde men are sodaynlye slayne manye a wife is husbandlesse many a childe is desolate and fatherlesse the cruel harted enemy spareth none he maketh hauocke no teares can staye hym from hys affectioned Tyrannye the tender infantes are haled from the earnfull paps of their wéeping mothers and torne to péecemeale before the sorrowfull eyes of their carefull parentes Olde age is contemned godly Matrons are abused Uirgines are deflowred and rauished by violence a spectacle or extreame crueltie for vs to beholde and a glasse of great carefulnesse for vs to looke vppon that haue worthely deserued like or far greater punishmentes yet withholdeste thou from vs thy scourge although our offences are so great and diuers that might heap vp the sentence of thy excéeding iustice agaynst vs in place of war and bloudye battayle thou hast giuen vnto vs prosperitie and perfit peace in place of penury dearth scarcity thou hast giuen vs increase fulnesse and great plentie in stead of discorde and discention thou hast sent vs vnitie and concorde and by thy celestiall prouydence wee are defended from the cruell enemie and from the domesticall and ciuill warre and besides these thy gracious giftes to heape vp our consolation ioye thou hast giuen vs thy true and lyuely word as a Lanterne to direct and guide our footsteps from vanitie to vertue from wickednesse to godlye wisedome from lycentious libertie to newenesse of life and godly conuersation besides all these thyne inestimable graces fréelye bestowed vppon vs thou haste giuen vs godly zealous Preachers whiche plenteously breake vnto vs out of thy eternall testamēt the breade of life whereon good Lord giue our soules such power to féede by fayth that they maye be nourished to eternall ioye and we by the diligent obseruing and obeying of thy commandementes maye be preserued from all kind of discention and peaceably enioye the fruites of pure peace trustie tranquilitie Grant this
O mercifull father for thy Sonne Christes sake oure onely Sauioure and Redéemer Christ Iesus A godly and fruitfull prayer to be sayd in tyme of bloudy Battaile O Lorde oure heauenlye father and euerlyuing God wée thy wretched and most miserable Creatures confesse and acknowledge wée haue worthelye deserued the rod of thy correction and punishment and doe merite manye sharpe and bitter stripes that knowing thy blessed glorious wyll haue of set purpose contemned thy deuine and heauenly precepts for which cause the sentence of thy wrath is sharpely kyndled agaynste vs euen as it hathe béene against thy chosen people Israell in the dayes of oure forefathers who glorying in their wickednesse were plagued in the fulnesse of thy indignation the sworde of their enemies beset them rounde about and hemmed them in on euery side the Iebusits the Amonits the Philistines and the Amorites oppressed them diuersly theyr strong holds were rased their Citties were besieged theyr houses were ransackt theyr goodes and theyr riches were caryed awaye by force of the bloud-thirstie enimie theyr yong men were ledde awaye captyue their virgines were woefully deflowred but in fyne when thou Lord God diddest beholde their heartie and earnest contrition thou didst withdrawe thy frowning countenance and sent them spéedy and safe deliueraunce one whyle thou Lorde sentest them Moyses to bring them out of the seruitude of Pharao the stony and stubborne hearted king of the Egyptians another whyle Iepthah sette them frée from the sworde of the Amonites wherewith they were greeuouslye afflicted and to make thy power excellent glory fully known thou gauest Sampson suche fortitude to bridle y e prowde Philistians Ouer and besides these thou of thy loue and myraculous goodnesse hast made feeble women mightie and victorious conquerours Debora was a shield to thy people Iudith comforted the distressed Bethulians and cut off y e head of prowd Holophernus that thy selfe good Lorde when thou beheldest their teares and harty sorrowe for their offences did prepare thy selfe to goe forth with their hostes thou thy selfe wyth the breathe of thy Nostrels diddest confounde and ouerthrow their enemies so good Lord be thou nowe present with vs in the fulnesse of thy deuyne power looke vpon vs wyth the eyes of thy fauourable pittie forget our corrupt and moste filthye offences let our contrite and sorrowful harts be a meane to vanquish thy displeasure conceiued agaynst vs bée thou present with vs in this tyme of necessitie and trouble set thy hand to help and assist vs agaynst the enemy be thou present with vs in this tyme of perrill daunger goe thou forth with our hostes then shall wee be assured to preuayle let not the multitude of furious foes dismaye vs for victory we doe know consisteth not in the power nor strength of many men the strengthe of horses armor nor weapons but it is thou O merciful father that giuest y e conquest where and to whome thou pleasest To thée therfore in this great extremity we flie and appeale beséeching thée of thyne inestimable loue and kyndenesse for the loue of our sauiour Christ Iesus to looke vppon our true repentante hearts and in the fulnesse of thy misseration and pytties to set vs free from the power of the raging enemye and to pardon our sinnes and greeuous offences that henceforth wée vow and dedicate our harts and mindes wholy to walk in integritie and newnesse of life Whiche graunt good Lorde to whome with thy sonne Christ Iesus and the holye Ghost be prayse and glorye attributed for euer and euer worlde wythout end Amen A Prayer agaynst presumptuous pryde and vayne glory WE heare O Heauenly father and are daylye taught and instructed out of thy eternall worde howe greatlye the gréeuous sinne of presumption pryde and vayne glory displeaseth thy deuyne Maiestye wée are learned that for the practise of this pestilente and haynous euill thou haste not spared the verye Aungels but haste throwne them in thy displeasure for their pryde vayneglory and presumption from beatitude to miserye from ioy wythout end to perdurable payn from brightnesse of thy glorious presence to vtter extreme and palpable darkenes from the gloryous fruition and participation of thy euerlasting kyngdome to the bottomlesse pit of hel Death damnation and endlesse flames of fire besydes this we are taught that by the transgression of Adam whose hawtye presumyng thorowe the intisemente of the subtle and perillous alurement of the Serpente thought to bee as thy selfe but in fine thy iustice condemned him and all hys posteritie this pestiferous sinne of pryde drowned him in the floudes of all daungerous euils as gluttonye luxury and suche other perils that had not thy mercye taken effect to keepe and hold Plea for his and oure sauegarde and thy sonne Chryst imbrased the glory power of his deuyne Essence taken vpon him our fleshe and frayle nature sinne onely excepted who freely offered his innocente bodye to the death of the Crosse we had perished euerlastinglye and bene vtterly confounded Print therefore good Lord and wryte these examples in my memorye that I fall not from thy fauour by the exercise of thys detestable sinne make me still to consider that the proud and disdaynfull are always abhorred in thy sight and sith it is thy good will and gracious pleasure to regard the humble and lowly man giue me such méekenesse from aboue that I maye continuallye present thée with the Sacrifice of a gentle méeke and contrite spirite that I may auoyde the plagues and punishmentes which thou hast prepared for the prowd and hawty minded Graunt this good Lord for Iesus Christ his sake my onely Mediatour and Aduocate who liueth and raigneth with thée and the holy ghost in glorye permanent and maiestye euerlasting A Prayer to be sayde in tyme of affliction and trouble O Eternall and euer lyuing god the father of al consolation and comforte vouchsafe of thyne infinite loue kindenesse to strengthen mée with thy heauenly grace paciently to beare and wyth meekenesse to suffer this Crosse of affliction and trouble which thou hast layde vpon mée for the vse of sinne and iniquitie I knowe O gracious and louing father that my deserts are suche as worthely haue prouoked thée to displeasure the burthē of my sinnes are intollerable for the whiche I must acknowledge and earnestly from the bottome of my heart confesse that iustlye thou haste corrected and visited mee yet not in the fulnesse of thy furye but according to thy fatherlye loue and kyndnesse and albeit thy rod lie heauy vpon my shoulders yet in thys tyme of thy correction I am comforted greatlye knowing assuredlye that y u correctest and smytest where thou louest thou woundest and healest agayne thou throwest downe to Hell and thou liftest vp to Heauen such and so great is thy omnipotencie that thou rulest aboue the Firmament in earth flouds and the lowermost partes of hell in Heauen the Aungels Arckaungels the souls of thy saints the blessed company of
martyrs giue thée prayse glory and veneration the Sunne the Moone and glistering starres eche one of them in their course and quallitie shewe themselues obedient to thy will in earth y e beasts of the field and the siely fethered fowles of the Ayre in their order séeme to sette forth thy glorye and prayse in the déepe waters the fyshes of the Seas are readye to obserue thy will and in their manner they as thy creatures giue thee due honour and reuerence but amongest these man whome thou by thy diuine will and pleasure haste indued with reason and in his creation cōcerning the inward man hast fashioned hym to thy similitude and lykenesse is nowe moste prone and willing to be by thy ministers of darckenesse seduced and carryed awaye from vertue to vyce from godlinesse to all impietie from obedyence to wilfull breache and contempt of thy precepts so that diligence is banished by negligence and suche is the power of oure flesh that our eyes which should haue their chiefest cōtemplation and delight in perusing and reading thy glorious and sacred Gospell wherein wée maye beholde thee crucified and slayne O swéetest Sauiour Christe Iesus perfite God and perfite manne by whose innocent deathe and bloudy passion the attonement betwixte thy Father and vs are so daseled wyth the dimmy and darke mysts of Sathan that they are occupyed in the beholding of mundane and transitorye pleasures al which in effect vanish weare away euen as the Flower that eyther is parched by the force of Phebus radiant beames or by Winter stormes and horye frostes consumed oure eares whiche thou haste gyuen vnto vs to heare and vnderstande the sacred and deuine misteries contained in thy holy lawe are made deafe of purpose so that they glory more in fables lothsome leasinges then they conceiue delight in the zealous predication of thy Euangelicall and heauenlye doctrine our hartes are hardened like the Adamāt so y t for the greatest parte they cannot brooke thy testymonies they continually luste and desire to bee satisfied with worldly welth honor and dignitie and who beholdeth not in these dayes what cruel conflict and bloody fyght there is betwixte good conscience and filthy auarice the roote of all myschiefe and euill Naye who seeth not in this age playne dealing murthered by deceyte and faythlesse frawd Who nowe beholdeth not true meaning strangled by forged flatterye loathsome leasinges the bowels of cōpassion and pitty are shut vp by vyolent oppression tyranny our féete are willing to tread the pathes of pryde fornication and vncleannesse our hands are ready to offer wrong iniurie to the innocent yea and in fine whatsoeuer thou hast giuen vnto vs to spreade and set forth thy glory and honor is by sinne so corrupted that wee make the members of our bodyes which by grace and of pure loue are ingrafted in the body of Christ the riche and great shepheard of oure soules the verye members of Sathan so that of set purpose our transgression abounding wée flye from Chryst the rocke and strong piller of our saluation and run headlong to deathe and vtter destruction of body and soule yet like a louing God and mercifull Father thou callest vs home agayne by thy word wherin not onely thy mercies but also thy terrible threats are thundered forth agaynst vs for our impenitencye but when neyther thy manifolde mercies fréely of thy aboundant goodnes offred vnto vs in Iesus Christ can moue nor stir vs to handfast contrition neyther yet thy terrible comminations and threatnynges can exclayme nor call vs backe from the daungerous puddle of our sinnes then y u sendest foorth thy plagues and punishmentes as pestilence famyne and bloudye sworde intending thereby to driue vs to amendement of lyfe and to acknowledge thy omnipotency but when thou beholdest oure true repentaunt heartes oure sobs and sighing teares powred foorth before the Throane of thy deuyne Maiestye thou withdrawest from vs the terroure of thyne indignation and vengeaunce the Rodde of thy correction is layde aside thy displeasure iustly conceiued against vs for the continuall exercise of sinne is vtterly forgotten and by the intercession of thy sonne Iesus Chryste that sitteth on thy right hande in glorye permanēt and euerlasting lyke a louyng Father and moste mercyfull GOD thy Syluered Scepter of peace is offered vnto vs wyth al other thy gracyous benefites that thy anger is conuerted to clemencye thy displeasure is tourned to louing kindenes and in fine thy indignation is so calmed by thyne aboundant grace and mercye that lyke a louing and gentle father thyne armes are stretched foorth ioyfullye to imbrace and receiue vs to thy fauoure agayne all thys I knowe to be moste certaine and true for when or at what tyme soeuer wée shall appeare before the gates of thy mercye by the vertue and power of a constant and liuely fayth knock thereat thou art readie to open vnto vs not for any of oure desertes but for the merites of Iesus Christe the fulnesse of thy deuyne misseration compassion and pittye and whensoeuer we shal cal vpon thee with lowlynesse and méekenesse of our harts and myndes bewayling wofully our heynous offences committed against thée thine eares are most attentiue to heare and willyngly doest graunt vs our peticions wherefore O moste gracious and louing father we come vnto thée with sorrowfull and contrite harts beséeching thée for the loue of thine anointed sonne Iesus Christe our Messias sauioure and redeemer beséeching thée to beholde looke vppon vs wyth the eyes of compassion and pitie albeit wee haue worthely deserued this thy plague and punishmēt yet respect thou not our deseruings least in thy furie indignation we be confounded and perishe haue an eye rather to thy sonne Iesus Christ beholde his bloudy woundes which yet are freshe gréene and neuer stint bléeding thinke vpon the bitter and painfull tormentes that hee suffered for vs vppon the Crosse in whose name we beséech thée fauourably to looke vpō our infirmities mercifullye to heare our prayers and peticions offered vnto thée and graciouslye for the glorye of thy names sake to take and withdraw from vs this thy heauie rodde of correction whiche our sinfull liues and contempt of thy preceptes hath heaped heauily in oure necks giue vs pacience to suffer whatsoeuer it shall please thée to lay vppon vs giue vs grace alway to call and cry vpon thy holy blessed name and faythfullye with teares to say vnto thée continually Spare vs good Lord spare thy people whō thou hast redéemed with thy precious bloode neither yet good Lorde be thou angrye with vs for euer Grant this O mercifull father for the loue of thy onely sonne Iesus Christ to whome wyth thée and the holye Ghost bée all honor glorye and prayse ascribed for euer Amen A prayer to be sayd before the receyuing of the Lords supper OMnipotent God and father euerlasting whose mercy is infinite and whose kingdome hathe no ende vouchsafe I beséeche
and euer worlds with out end Amen A prayer against the councels of the ennemyes of God and of his diuine verite AH Lorde thou puissant strong mightie God which destroyest the councels of the vngodly riddest away the tyrantes of this world out of the earth at thy pleasure so that no councell or strength at all can resist thine eternal wisdome and euerlasting determination which thou hast to fore appointed by thine vnsearcheable wisedome from the beginning We thy poore creatures simple wretches and vnprofitable seruants doe most instantly and hartely desire thee for the loue that thou haste to thy welbeloued and onely begotten sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ that thou wilt looke vpon thy cause for it is time O Lorde and bring to naught all those things that are or shall bée appoynted determined and fully agréed vpon among the wicked against thée and thy holy word Let not the enemies of thy trueth so miserably oppresse thy seruauntes which seeke thy glory tender the aduauncement of thy pure religion and aboue all thinges wish in their heartes that thy most holie name may onely be glorified among all nations Whatsoeuer the vngodly goe about contrary to thy glory and thy worde let it not take effect O swéete father yea rather destroy it vtterly bring it to nought that all men may knowe that thou alone art that almightie and euerlasting God which rulest and subduest all inhabiters of the earth from the highest to the lowest after thy moste holye will and pleasure But to them that walk not in the councell of the vngodly nor tread not y e way of sinners giue thou good lucke prosperous successe in thy name that their holy trauailes and vertuous enterprises may come vnto a godly end Defend them that they sit not in the chaier of the pestilent scorners which spitefully rayling on thy trueth do defend with high tirannie both their wicked doctrin and liuing Grant to thy seruantes the mouthe of thy wisedome which no man may resiste whereby they may know y t thou alone art the Lorde that none is to be compared vnto thée al the enemies of thy Godly truth with their wicked counsels destroyed and put out of the way we may with feruēt minds receiue the trueth of thy most holy word order our life according to the same sing perpetuall prayses to thy most blessed name worlde without end through Iesu Christ thy sonne our Lord. So be it A prayer for the vnitie concord and perfect agreement in things concerning Christian religion O Euerlasting and merciful God which art the God of peace loue vnitie and concord not of strife debate discorde and confusion thou seest how miserably thy holy congregation is rent torne and deuided into diuers sectes whyle fleshly mē leauing the holsome instruction of thy most blessed word which is the alone truth and righteousnesse set foorth and maintaine euery mā as his fansie leadeth thinges of their owne brayne inuented by carnall wisedome without the authoritie of thine vndefiled lawe And hereof commeth it to passe that so great dissention reign now a dayes in the worlde and that so manye and diuers sectes schismes and heresies spring vpp in euerie place vnto the great perturbation of the christian publicke weale For so long as men set aside the rules and ordinances of thy holie Scripture and appoynt things of their own imagination and stiffely defend them it cannot come to passe that christian peace and vnitie of spirite with heartie concorde can haue place among vs. Therefore we wretched sinners to whome knowledge of these thinges thorow thy grace haue chanced doe pray and moste feruently desire thy great mercy that for asmuch as there is but one euerlasting God and one heauenly father which thou art and one fayth and one baptisme which we al professe y e cal on thy name thou wilt thorow thy onely spirit gather togither such as are dispersed into diuers sects into y e vnitie of true pure vnderstanding of thy word by fayth bring them againe whose mindes are disseuered into one bodye that there may be no dissention among them But specially O most mercifull father graunt that we which doe breath and for our little power labour vnto the true vnitie in Christ may lay aside al dissension and seeke that thine only euerlasting trueth which is contained in thy word that wee together may growe into one iudgement sentence and minde yea and that which floweth and commeth forth from the intelligence and vnderstanding of our Lord Iesu Christ and euermore guide and leade vs agayne vnto him that we with one perfect agréement of minde and with one mouth may praise magnifie thée the celestial father of our Lord Iesu Christ through the same Iesu Christ thy sonne the holy ghost So be it A prayer for spiritual ioy O Lorde Iesu the redéemer and comforter of mankinde which hast prepared for them that forsake the vaine pleasures of this worlde for thy loue farre better delectations pleasures through y e holy ghost that most swéete comforter which the worlde knoweth not measuring the griefes of this life with inwarde and secret comforts and renewe to vs as a certayne gage or pledge of the glorie that hereafter shall come wherewith we being refreshed comforted may run vnto thée with the more chearefull minds I beséech thée that the annoynting of thy sprite may continually beate out of me the tediousnes of euils and make my minde merry with healthfull ioy and be annoynted thorow thy aboundant mercie with the oyle of gladnesse and ghostly comfort which liuest and reignest with the father and the same spirite very GOD worlde without ende Amen A prayer vnto Christ our sauiour for the glory of heauen O Lorde Iesu Christe which art the onely and euerlasting sonne of God the father which also becamest man for oure sake that thou shouldest bring vs vnto God y e father and therfore thou going vnto the father occupiest hys right hand graunt that we may be cōuersant now with thée thorowe fayth in the holy Ghost after an heauenly manner and that after this exyle and banishment we being illumined with thy brightnesse may remaine with thée for euer which liuest and reignest with God the father the holy ghost very God world without end Amen Thanks gyuing to God for his benefites O Lorde God our heauenly father we right hartely thanke thée for thy manifold and inestimable benefites which thou haste giuen to vs deseruing nothing lesse than to receiue of thy boūtie so great kindnesse We thanke thée that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercie first to create and make vs according to thy likenes and to place vs in ioyful Paradise there perpetually to haue remayned if through the subtile and deceitefull suggestions of Satan our aduersarie we had not transgressed thy most holy commandment We thank thée also O most bounteous father for thy louing kindenesse which thou shewest
happye and safe whom God the mighty God of Israel keepeth the sunne shal not burne him by daye nor the Moone by night Thryse blessed is hée that feareth the Lorde for hée shall see happy dayes As the Hart thyrsteth after the water springes so my soule hath longed for my Lorde the liuing God When shall I come to appeare before thy presence to sée thée in thy glorious Maiestie face to face O Lord let thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesus that I may see the day of my redemptiō Good Lord make hast to helpe mée All glory maiesty and Empire be vnto God the Creatour God the redéemer and God the holy comforter for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to bee sayd of the sinfull soule MY synfull life increasinge and my synnes still abounding good Lord to whom shall I flye or to whome shall I resorte for succoure from offendinge thée I cannot cease neyther day nor nighte my sinnes are heuy vpon me pressing mee downe euen vnto Hel such is the weight thereof Moreouer when I prepare my selfe to amendmente of life and thinke stedfastly to serue please thée euen soone after doth my corrupt and infected nature offend and displease thy Deuyne maiesty so that I am proane ready to runne headlong into all kynd of wickednes sin such is my strength such is my force or rather weaknesse in performing those things which thou requirest at my handes So that good Lord I am ready vtterly to dispayre and forsake thée vnlesse thou of thy great mercy and pitty send thyne ayde from aboue and poure into mee thy moste healthfull grace that I may make hast to flye vnto thée with most bitter teares a sorrowfull heart and bowing knées lamenting my sinfull lyfe and gréeuous offences committed agaynste thée trusting most assuredlye and faythfullye in the merites of my sauioure Iesus Christ that by his most bitter death and bloodshedding which is of farre greater force vertue effect in preseruing me then all my sinnes and offences are in condemninge and casting mée away for whose sake I moste assuredly beléeue all my sinnes and offences are clearly forgiuen and shall neuer be layd to my charge but that I shall enter with thée in the laste day into thy euerlasting kingdom there to bée with thée for euermore to whom be all honor praise and glory for euer and euer A Prayer for the obtayning of Gods grace SHyne wee beséech thée O almighty and mercifull God through the power of oure Lorde Iesus Christe and the comfortable woorking of thy sacred Spirite the heauenlye comforter vpon our myndes and harts with the glorious beams of thy heauenly grace geue vs such plenty of wisedom and vnderstanding from aboue that thorow the knowledge of thee the man of ūn that is our frayle féeble fleshe with the wicked lustes and desyre of concupiscence may lye deade and buryed in vs giue vs good Lord the feeling of thy grace that by the vertue and deuine operation of thy worde the eyes of our soules may bee illumyned and made so light that the Prince of Darknesse with all his vnrighteous ministers may bee expulsed and banished from our memories and so establish vs in thy truth that our harts myndes and thoughts may continuallye be occupyed in thy testimonies that thereby thou good Lorde effectually shyning in our hearts by the vertue of thy good spirite we may learn to know and vnderstand what is the fulnes of of our calling and how ritche thou arte in the glory of the celestiall and Heauenlye heritage of thy Sayntes and that excellent greatnes of thy power and louing kyndnes towardes vs which beléeue without fayning thy holy Gospell according to the might and force of thy strength which thou shewedst in Chryst Iesus when thou didst rayse him from the dead and didst set him on thy ryght hande farre aboue all Empire power authority and dominion and euery name that is named not onely in this worlde but in the world to come by whose precyous death dearest bloodshedding wee are assured that sinne Death and hell are vanquished ouercome and vtterlye destroyed and if wée beléeue without wauering we shall in him bee able to resiste all the power of Hell and in Christ as Conquerours to tryumphe with victorye ouer sinne Death and Sathan and at the last to haue and enioye the fruition of his riche and glorious kingdome which hee by moste paynfull agonye bloody strypes gréeuous and bloodye woundes and lastly by his most painfull death purchased for his chosen and elect To whom for our sanctification iustification redemption and our saluation bee rendred with his Celestial Father and the holye Ghoste all lawd glory power honor and dominion for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for a woman that is great with childe to be repeated by her hartily before her trauel which will bee maruaylous comfort vnto her Thy wisedome Lord in all thy wayes and power great to perfourme it We cease to search and onely praise they passe so farre the reach of wit And thus we muse and maruaile much of all thy works and yet wee finde No marueile nor no wonder such as daily forming of mankinde Of such beginning such an ende and of such seede such frune to growe With Dauid well we may contende to mase to muse and nothing knowe The matter earth the shape from Heauen doth knit both soule and flesh in one Whereof such stryfe is them betweene from whēce they came they would be gon And yet in all thy wonders great thy mercy Lord doth farre passe all Which doest vouchsafe to worke this feate in mee pore wretch thy bond and thrall And as good Lord then doest me make thy shop to shape the worke therin Thy handworke so do not forsake but ende the thing thou doest begin Thy goodnes Lord did once make light this burthen now which sore doth greeue Untill which woe did wrap each wight the wilfull worke of woeful Eue. That Eue hath lost let Christ restore that guilt hath made let grace amend Why should the fault of Eue do more then grace in Christ God it defende Oh Lord the time approcheth neare that throwes of Eue I must sustaine And that I may the same wel beare increase my strength or lesse my paine Thy wil this burthen on me layd thy goodnesse eke wil ease the same Where Christ hath once the raunsome payd why should the deed of Eue bring blame Thus O Lord I me in thy will doe put eke wholly in thy hand I will not once swarue from thy skill to dye or liue to fall or stand A Godly and earnest Prayer in time of trauayle or Childbyrth of euery Christian faithfull woman ALmighty GOD my Heauenlye and moste mercifull Father I feele thy promised punishmente at this presente to take effect on mee which for the guilte and transgression of my progenitours hath bene by thy deuyne maiesty iustly pronounced agaynst me and the whole generation of Adam great
and intollerable are these bitter pange and piercing paynes that in this my trauaile of Childe-byrth I indure and abyde Now féele I as it were a cruell and sharpe conflicte betwixt death and lyfe now féele I O Lord the rod of thy correction according to thy iustice layde heauy vpon me for the vse and exercise of sinne and iniquitie yet when it shall please thée good Lord looke vpon mée wyth the eyes of Fatherlye compassion and pittie and according to the multitude of thy manifold mercyes bée thou now present with mée arme me with perfite pacience ioyfullye to beare thy correction and in the midst of these my sharpe and bitter bruntes of griefe giue me grace styll to call vppon thée strengthen me a poore wretched woman giue mée comforte and heauenly consolatioÌ„ from aboue when thou shalt thinke it meete conuenient send me safe deliuerance that I may enioy the fruite of my wombe the sight whereof shall adorne deck me anew wyth ioy and gladnesse Otherwise good Lord if in this season thou determine to take me hence vnto thy self by thy messenger Death to whose stroake all Creatures when thou thinkest it méete and expedient shall bowe make mée constant faithfull in thée whose I am whether I dye or liue forget my sins and offences committed by mée agaynst thee let the bloude of the Lambe Iesus washe awaye my deformitie let the spottes of my corruption bee purged and taken awaye let my infected soule that is putrified therein be purified therein Giue mée grace alwayes whether I liue or dye to call vpon thée continually giue me power to pitch ny confidence onely and alone in the bloudye woundes of Christ Iesus to whome in this my distresse I flye and appeale for remedie and comforte Graunt this O gracious God which liuest and raignest worlde without end Amen A Prayer to be sayde of euery woman after the tyme of deliueraunce HOw muche and how greatly am I bound to laud prayse and extol thée O my Lorde God euen nowe was I assayled in my body being a wretched and sinfull woman with sundry and diuers dolors and gréeuous grypes of perrillous paynes in such sort that my Agonyes abounding Death himselfe séemed to mée to knocke at the gates of my bodye thy rodde of Iustice lay so heauy vpoÌ„ me so that I iudged my self a creature more méete for the graue whose clamor I thought stil sounded in my eares then to reape the benefite of life By my paynes Lorde God in this my trauayle I am forced to confesse acknowledge that thou arte iuste in thy promises and art ready to punishe sinne and iniquitie by this my safe and sure deliueraunce I am bounde to acknowledge that wyth thy iustice thou alwayes frequentest pittie commixing thy mercye iustice together in such sort y t I must needes confesse thee to bée most righteous mercifull I cannot O my God but protest that thou hast dealte fauourablye with mee and those paines which I abode were layde vpon me for my sinne and wickednesse and yet haste thou not dealte seuerely with mee neyther giuen sentence agaynst mée in thy fury which haue iustlye deserued the same for hadst thou O Lorde respected my desertes I had porished euerlastingly and béen vtterly confounded my greuous grones throwne forth vnto thée pierced the verye Bowels of thy annoynted sonne Iesus Christ who beholding my agonyes and bitter payns became an intercessor to thée for mée thorow whose earnest intreaty and louing meditation thou coÌ„uertedst thy displeasure to mercie and for hys sake alone that dyed vppon the crosse for my offences thou hast asswaged my torments and in tâ—e fuâ—nesse of thy bâ—â—nty louing kindnesse thou hast giuen me a liuing soule to glad my hart for the which I am bound of right to giue thée harty and humble thankes humblye be séeching thée being now faint and féeble in body to strengthen me in soule mind and heart that my tongue maye be the Organ that may continually publish forth thy euerlasting prayse Graunt this O gracious God for the loue of thy onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ. To whome wyth thée and the holye Ghoste bee giuen all lawde power dominion for euer and euer Aâ—â—â— A godly prayer for the true worshipping of God EStablyshe oure hartes mindes O moste gracious God in the true worshipping of thy deuine Maiestye make vs to beléeue thy holye and sacred Gospell wherein wée are daylye and hourely instructed to loue feare honoure and obeye thée to hate sinne and iniquitie to renounce al superstitious ceremonies whereby thy worship is defaced thy glory prophaned and thine honoure greatlye dyminished Giue vs thy grace to hate sinne and iniquitie to renounce and forsake the vanities and wanton pleasure of this wicked and sinfull worlde arme vs we beséeche thée to mortifie and bryng vnder the rebellyous appetites and straunge lustes of the fleshe and finallye giue vs power from aboue to wythstande Sathan the prince of darcknesse and all his damnable ministers who by diuers temptations prouoke and alure vs from godly puritie and perfite integrity which passeth onely from Chryste Iesus to vs who is the fulnesse of oure perfection and holynesse to all kinde of euill impietie vncleannesse by meanes whereof thy worship is greatlye prophaned and of a set purpose contemned Make vs constant to skirmishe agaynst the worlde sinne death and hell and by the power of afruitfull faith giue vs grace to resist and brydle the concupiscence of oure fleshe in suche sorte that oure soules may triumph with victorye continue constant in worshipping thee from whome passeth the fulnesse of oure ioye prepare oure heartes and myndes good Lorde to spreade foorth the glory of thy name keepe oure tongues from al filthy talk and vncomely iesture least by the exercise of such sinne we contemne thy worship and prouoke thée to displeasure and indignation set thou a watche before the gates of my mouth that my lippes may by thy grace be always made open to sound forth thy prayse and euerlasting glorye be mercifull to our offences think thou not on our vnrighteousnes but vppon thy clemencye forgiue thou fréely and pardon graciously our sinnes make vs faythfull in Christe Iesus shorten the daungerous dayes of iniquitie increase the number of thy chosen peculier saintes hasten thy comming O sauior Christ that we with the fellowship of thy saintes heauenly Angels and the blessed company of Martirs may celebrate thy prayse and worship thée in thy glorious kingdome before thy father oure God and the holy Ghost to whom be prayse for euer Amen A Prayer agaynst the fellowship of the vngodly PRotect defend me O heauenlye and most mercifull father from the fellowship of the vngodly men whiche dayly imagine mischiefe in their heartes to harm the innocent kepe me from the counsayles of the foolish and vngodly whiche speake proud things against the glorye of thy blessed name defend me from faithlesse and deceiptfull ones
thée of thine excéeding goodnesse to increase our fayth that as thy Guestes repayre to the Table of thy sonne Iesus Christ who hath lefte vnto vs before he gaue hys bodye to be crucified and his blood to be shedde largely on the Crosse for our redemption as a pledge of his great loue and aboundant kindenesse the celebration of his glorious Supper wherein as it were in a looking Glasse the death of our great mayster the high shephearde of our Soules Iesus Chryste is moste liuely set forth vnto vs giue vs grace therefore from aboue rightly to vnderstand the deuyne mysteries offred vnto vs thereby and not to wreste or wring the same contrary to thy will Let it bée far from oure thoughtes good Lord to leaue thy eternall veritie and to builde on the doctrine of men who following their owne imaginations run headlong to the gaping Gulphe of daunger and destruction plucke the Scales of ignoraunce from oure eyes that wee maye cléerly disearne and behold by the light of thy glorious Gospell howe wee maye truelye Communicate and participate the fruites of thy grace represented vnto vs in this comfortable Sacramente indue vs plentifully with such pure knowledge that we may not once think or say after any grosse fourme or carnall manner we feede vppon or eate thy fleshe reallye or carnallye make vs alwayes constantly to beleeue that thy gloryous body is ascended vp into heauen sitteth on the right hand of thy father cōcerning thy humanitie and cannot be thence remoued till the time that thou shalt come with Legions of Aungels to iudge the quick and the dead before whose presence shall runne a consuming fyre and moreouer wee doe moste humblye beséech thée so to confyrme vs in the trueth of thy blessed Testamente that we maye confesse thy deuine nature to be equall with the father and the holy Ghoste and to beléeue that thy power is not a power perticuler but a power generall and suche as doth and shall gouerne in Heauen and Earth in the déepe and low waters yea and in the neathermoste partes of Hell strengthen vs therefore good Lord that stande least that in falling from the true knowledge of thée we perish euerlastingly and sith thou hast called vs by thy worde as thy Guestes to this blessed banquet wherein the mouthes of our carnall bodies are fostered and fedde with bread and Wyne so Lorde confirme oure faith in thée that the mouthes of oure soules may féede spiritually vppon thy swéetest flesh and drink thy dearest bloud and so bée norished to euerlasting life and heauenlye blessednesse which rewarde as a dowrie due thou haste promised to all those that faythfully◠build vpon thée whiche art the Rock and strong Piller of oure Saluation and as these must set forth vnto vs most liuely thy death passion so make vs thankfull to thée for the same therby giue vs grace to prynte in oure heartes thy greate loue and exceedyng clemencye that sparedst not to giue thy bodye to the moste vylde shamefull and slaunderous death of the Crosse and thy bloud to be shed for oure offences indue vs wyth loue and charitie to all menne make vs readie to forgiue loue and pardone oure enemies persecuters and slandoers tourne oure heartes and myndes from al impietie couetousnesse blasphemie pride glottonie fornication and al other detestable euils and if at any time we haue defeated y ◠fatherlesse of hys right the widow of hir dowrie or gathered together our goodes wrongfully by vyolence oppression fraud by collusion or deceyt giue vs grace to make restitution and to ask wyth sorrowfull playnte flouds of teares from the bottome of our heartes pardon and free forgiuenesse of thée for such and all other our offences whatsoeuer wee haue don or cōmitted in thought worde will and deede agaynst thy deuyne Maiesty or any other oure brethren Take away from vs all bitternesse curssed speaking and backbyting gyue vs grace to come worthelye by the vertue of a true fruitefull fayth to this holye and blessed Supper that oure soules féeding faythfully on thy swéetest fleshe and drinking thy dearest bloude wée may both in bodye and soule be nourished by thée to euerlasting and endlesse glorye in Heauen where with thee and the fellowshippe of thy chosen sayntes we shall enioy the fruition of thy euerlasting kingdome whiche thou haste ordayned for all those that onely and alone without wauering do build vpō thée sanctifie and make cleane our harts and minds by the power of the holye Ghost the verye comforter of thy chosen purge thou our canckred consciences infected wyth sinne by the working of thy good grace least that by the presuming to this thy table O Lorde we incurre thy displeasure and being vnrepentant for oure offences wee be founde vnméete Guestes to come to thy holy banquet and so we eate and drinke to the vtter confusion of oure soules and bodies giue vs grace therefore good Lord to conuerte vs wholye vnto thée and we shall bee tourned from all our sinne and iniquity giue vs grace to rest onely vppon thée and wee shall be made safe giue vs thyne ayd from aboue we beséeche thée by fayth to striue with the man of sinne and so to vanquishe him that he maye die in vs we may liue to thée which art the giuer of life Graunt this O most gracious God for Iesus Christe hys sake to whome with thée and the holye Ghoste be giuen all prayse honour and glorye for euer and euer Amen A Prayer or thankesgiuing to be sayd after the receyuing of the Communion WE giue thée moste harty thanks O heauenly father that hast at this present fed refreshed our hungry Soules with the fleshe blood of our sauior Christ not carnallye but spirituallye giue vs grace therefore continuallye by the meanes of an increasing and fruitefull fayth to beleue that thy flesh is meate in déede and thy bloud is drinke in déede and that vnneaths wée eate thy flesh drinke thy bloud wee cannot enter into thy kingdome nor be saued in the daye of thy commyng Giue vs grace therfore being vnprofitable seruantes and vnworthely called by the reason of the multitude of oure sinnes to banquet at thy table whereas the celebration of thy Supper hath bene vsed and thy death by the vysible Elementes of breade Wine represented vnto vs to offer vp vnto thée continually the fruites of true repentaunt and sorrowfull heartes that thy name may be glorified wée by thy grace comforted thy displeasure bee tourned to loue thy wrathe to compassion oure sinnes pardoned and forgotten our names written in the booke of life And as it hath pleased thee at thys present to accompt vs for thy guests not onelye to féede vs wyth visible creatures namely breade and wyne but also in soule whiche is thyne owne similitude to cherishe vs wyth thy flesh blood whereon by the vertue of a liuely fayth we haue to oure great comfortes most plentifully fed
So now O Lord we beséech thée of thyne aboundaunte goodnesse to increase oure fayth y t it may waxe strong in thée and fruitfully to exercise the workes of Charitie and loue to all menne that thereby as wee haue now bene at the celebration of thy gloryous and blessed Supper so we maye whensoeuer it shall please thee to call vs to thy heauenly banquet be found furnished not emptie not naked but armed couered with fruitful fayth and trueth and so as thy guestes or vesselles of honoure enioye the participation of thy heauenlye and riche pallace wheras ioyes neuer fade but continually indure take from vs the burthen of oure corruption sette vs frée from the cursed clogge of sinne deliuer vs from the snares of death and destruction giue vs willyng myndes to obey heare thy commandementes cleanse thou oure heartes from all iniquitie and giue vs grace henceforth to walk in newnesse of life and godlye conuersation that thy name may be glorified and we saued in the daye of thy comming to iudgemente Grant this for Iesus Chryste hys sake our Mediatour and aduocate Amen A Godly Meditation often to be remembred O GOD my Lorde my harts delight with whoÌ„ my soule longeth to dwell in that heauenly Ierusalem wherin is continual health eternall felicitie happie libertie and perfite blessednes where men shal be like vnto the Angels of God and iust men shall shyne as the Sunne in the euerlasting kingdome wherein is no heauynesse no sorrowe no griefe no feare no labour no death no disease no lack no hunger no thirst no cold nor heate no wearinesse of fasting nor temptation of the enemy no will to sinne nor power to do euil no old age no lame or deformed person no feare of pouertie or weakenes by disease but a quiet harbor of all ioy and euerlasting happines wher men in the societie of Aungels shal continually dwel wythout anye infirmitie of the fleshe For there is infinite ioye and eternal blisse from whence none shall bée remooued that once by thy prouidence shall enter therin There is rest from labors peace from y e enemy a new kinde of ioy delight such as no hart can coÌ„ceyue saue onely by taking a meruaylous delight and excéeding pleasure in the beholding of thée my Lorde God my gloryous redéemer and the heauenlye comforter whiche proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne O heauenly Ierusalem thou art swéete and beautifull in all thy ioyes and delyghtes there are no suche myseries in thée as we féele and suffer in this poore and miserable life There is in thee no darknes nor change of tyme the shyning of the Moone the twinckling brightnes of the starres giueth not light in thée but onely the God of all power glory maiesty the light of lightes for in thée the sonne of Iustice giueth light to those that are adopted in his blood to euer-during blessednesse The bright imaculate Lambe a moste beautifull light is thy light that doth illuminate hys chosen Children The king of kings is in the midst of thée enuironed on eche side with hys beloued Saintes and redy to crown them with euerlasting glorye In thée are Legions of Aungels singing of swéete Hymnes and songs that set forth thy prayse and honour of thy name In thée are the fellowshippe of heauenlye citizens In thée resteth the swéete solemnity of al such as returne from this miserable pylgrimage vnto thy glory the companie of the prophets Apostles victorious armie of Martyrs holy men women which haue vanquished the pleasures of the worlde haue their abyding with thée There are yong children maideÌ„s which haue passed ouer their dayes in holinesse of life publishing thy praise Euery one reioiceth in his degrée though not equall in glory yet like in ioyes gladnesse for there raigneth perfect charitie God is al in all whose maiestie without end they sée continually and still in beholding him their loue increaseth Of this eternall blessednes the holy Apostle Peter had as it were a shadow or a taste vppon the Mount Thabor at the traÌ„sfiguration of Christ from whence he desired he might not depart Paul also had a proofe of it when hee was rapt or takeÌ„ vp into y e third Heauen where he hearde words and sawe thinges so maruailous secrete so far passing al mans vnderstanding such as were not to be told or reuealed vntomeÌ„ Moyses his face became so bright through the conuersation that he had with the deuine glory vpon Mounte Sina that the Israelites coulde not abide it what then shall become of vs when perpetuallye with thée which art the Lorde of al glory we shal be conuersaunt after the manner of thy children and famylier friendes Who is he then that will not séeke and desire by all meanes possible to be a dweller there both for the desire of peace ioy and eternitie and for the perfect sight of God Contrariwise who is able to expresse y â— torments appointed for the vngodly and vnrepentant liuers in that deadly place called Hell which Sathan himselfe abhorreth what other thing can be there but continuall paines eternal tribulation infinite calamitie repleate with al euils There dwelleth wicked vgly Aungels whose horrible looks bringeth sodaine feare grieuous paines and fearefull death with continual clouds of euer during darknes There is nothing but howling wayling lamentation and mourning without all ende fearefull â—criches and confused cries are there in all places sodaynly raysed There the worme of conscience neuer dyeth In that damnable dungeon there is fire vnquenchable and perpetual gnashing of toeth The miserable soule findeth there no rest but is afflicted with all kinde of torments and such as can neuer be expressed all which indure for euer Alas little auayle it those that are subiected as fire brandes of bell to crye vnto the Lorde for he will not heare them then shall they know that all things which they had in this life are vaine and such thinges as they thought to be pleasaunte to bee found more bitter then Gall or poyson Then where is the pleasure of the flesh so tearmed falsly for there is none other pleasure but to feare the Lorde Then shall they confesse and saye that the iudgement of God is true and righteous saying did we not heare of this yet woulde not bee conuerted from the wicked déedes but then shall nothinge preuayle No sorrowe canne finde comforte no complaintes no remorce no tormentes nor paynefull passions an ende such and so increasing are the vexations of the seconde death wherewithall the bodyes and soules of the vnrighteous shal for euer be inuironed Sith therefore O heauenly father most gracious God it seemeth good to thy eternal wisdome by the knowledge of thy euerlasting trueth to giue mee knowledge of thyne inestimable mercy offered fréely vnto mée in Iesus Christe my mercifull Sauyour in whose bloody death paynefull passion I am assured of eternal life blessednesse Giue me
death and destruction and being by the vertue of thy righteousnesse made holy I may triumph with happie victorie ouer sinne death and al the powers of hell and enter with thée the felowship of thy chosen Sayntes into euerlasting rest grant this most louing father for Christ Iesus sake to whom with thée and the holy ghost be rendred al laude glory honour and prayse for euer Amen THe Lorde God bee mercifull vnto me pardon forgiue me my sinnes looke vpon me with thy gratious and blessed countenaunce preserue mee from the second death and euerlasting destruction of body soule The Lord God iustifie me in his death bloode cloath mée with his euerlastinge righteousnes and register my name in the booke of life The Lorde God comfort my guiltie conscience with the euerlasting light of his bountiful fauor lot my place among his saints in his heauenly kingdome The Lord God for his mercies sake after this my bodily death giue me the fruition of his presence in his right palace of endlesse glory to whose mercifull protection I commend with al humilitie and reuerence my soule Lord Iesus preserue me Lord Iesus comfort me Lord Iesus refresh mée Lorde Iesus praye for me for only into thy hands that hast redéemed mee O Lorde God of truth I commend my soule Amen A prayer vnto the holy Ghost against the temptations of Satan the malicious and wicked spirite AH Lord the euerlasting and heauenly spirite which sanctifiest and quicknest the hartes of the faithfull For as much as there is an other spirit which cōtrary to thy heauenly mocions moueth and prouoketh vnto infidelitie malice lying pride wrath whoredome fornication glotonie dronkeship enuy couetousnesse contention errour deceyte hypocrisie straunge religion fayned holinesse impietie desperation c. which is called the Prince of the world the great dragon of Hell the authoritie of all euilles the father of lying and a murtherer from the beginning to whom it is euident that we are poore wretched and miserable fallen away frō God walke in th◠lustes of the flesh liue after the trade of the world and doe that that is pleasaunt to the corrupt affections and are far away estraunged from the citie of righteous Israel as straungers partaine nothing vnto the couenaunt and promises of grace Wherefore while we thus consider this our damnation and the word of thy promise and commandement we are earnestly mooued to flie vnto thée humblie to desire and beséech thée trusting that we shal obtayne For thou promisest and also commaundest to trust an looke for this that through the good will of thy spirite thou wilt gather receaue vs into thy people that we may bee made a spirituall Israell renew vs that is to say beget vs a new vnto repentance godly liuing turne vs with an earnest zeale of our heart drawe vs vnto thée that from henceforth we may abstaine from the workes of darkenesse death Destroye in vs the kingdome of sinne that is to say exclude frō vs not onely euill words déeds but also plucke out of our minds all euil thoughts noysome coūcels furious effectes and the stinking course of this flesh Turne vs from euil wayes vnto the right path of repentance Let our members be so addict to righteousnes and sanctification that they may bee made fitte to serue thée Let vs increase and be plenteous in al such works as bee pleasaunt vnto thée Forsake vs not in tentatiō but rather strēgthē vs with that thy secret vertue inward power Bring to passe that we giue no eare to his flattering deceits nor yet to his beautyfull glistering falaces least he corrupt our mindes and abuse our flesh vnto our destruction which at the beginning full craftely hee brought to passe by his subtyle and swéete suggestions but rather throwe downe and treade vnder our féete this our cruel enemie that we being frée frō his deceitfull tyranny may through thy ghostly inspiration obtayne such peace and quietnes in our harts that we may serue thée with a cleane bodie and pure mind through Iesu Christ vnto the laude prayse and glory of God the heauenly father So be it A prayer for true repentaunce and for the comming of the kyngdome of Christ. O Lord and our God Iesu Christ the scripture testifieth of thee that when thou wast in the worlde thou diddest preach repentance and the comming of the kingdome of heauen and after thou wast risen agayne thou saidest that it behoued thée so to suffer on the thirde daye to rise agayne from the deade and that both repentaunce and remission of sinnes shoulde be preached to euery creature in thy name And that whosoeuer beléeued were baptised shoulde bee saued Agayne than full louingly diddest bid them that labor and are laden to come vnto thée and promised that thou wouldest vnlade refreshe them Uerely it is no small company of wicked spirites cleueth which is also a roring Lyō and earnest accuser of the sons of God yea and such an enemy of God and of thē that pertain vnto him as by no means neither will nor may be reconciled Therefore we all of vs which thorow thy grace are bound and giuen ouer to serue God most humbly beséech thée O holy spirit that thou wilt defend vs against al the wicked temptations and pernicious breathings of the most wicked spirite that all vice excluded all vertue and godlinesse may spring growe increase in vs vntil we be made perfect auncient in Christ Iesu our Lord in his holy law Take away infidelity and engraffe in our brest a true and vnfayned faith Take away pride wrath enuye debate whoredome glotonye dronkeshippe couetousnesse errour hypocrisie with all kinde of vngodlines and print in our hearts humilitie loue chastity and concord purity of life temperance sobriety mercy liberality towarde the poore truth pure holynesse with all kinde of vertue Take awaye from vs all that euer is of Sathan the flesh and the world and giue vs that which onely commeth from the heauenly father and from his onely begotten sonne and from thée that holy spirit Teach vs all trueth enarme vs with the shield of true faith that we may so quench the firie dartes of Sathan Graunt that wee may so watch and shewe such diligence that wee may perceiue his craftie assaultes and daungerous vnto thee that wee liue not heare after in the fleshe but rather that wee abhorre from all filthinesse and impuritie thereof and that we being brought into the kingdome through thy precious bloud may obtayne dayly more more perfect remission of our sinnes So be it A prayer for the knowledge of Gods wyll O Lord God our heauenly father giue vs grace that wee may neuer cease diligently to cal vpon thée with most humble minds to desire thée that through thy great mercies we may be fulfilled with plenteous and rich knowledge of thy diuine will and that wée may encrease dayly more
vnto vs when we were all perished and lost through the sinne of Adam For when thou mightest iustly haue condemned vs cast vs into perpetual damnatioÌ„ thou like a father of singuler great loue haddest pity on vs and sauedst vs by the death passion of thy welbeloued sonne oure Lorde and sauioure Iesus Christ which gaue himselfe a ransome for all our sinnes and paide sufficient price by his precious bloud for all the wickednesse that wée euer committed in times past or hereafter shall commit thorowe oure frailtie and weakenesse so that we repent and beleue Neyther wast thou thus contented he should onely dye for oure sinnes but thou didst raise him also againe for our iustification to make vs righteous in thy sight Moreouer after that hee hadde shewed himself vnfainedly aliue to his apostles by manifest and euident tokens certayne dayes after hys resurrection thorowe the power of his Godhead ascended vp into heauen perfect God and perfect man where he sitteth now on the right hand and maketh intercession for vs being our onely Mediatour and alone Aduocate From thence we looke for him to come againe at the day of Iudgement not as a cruell Iudge to condemne and cast vs away into perpetuall damnation but as a most louing Lorde and gentle Sauiour to cary vs with him into perpetuall glory there alwayes to remayne in euerlasting ioye praysing thée worlde with out end For these thy most bounteous giftes and for other innumerable which dayly thou giuest vnto vs of thy great mercy wee thanke thee most gentle mercifull father desiring thee with all humblenes of minde that thou wilt giue vs grace through thy holie spirit not to be vnthankful but to walke worthy this thy kindnes and so to behaue our selues in this wretched worlde according to thy word that at the last day we may be found in the number of them to whome thy onely begotten Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ shal say come ye blessed of my father possesse that kingdome which was prepared for you from the beginning of the worlde Lord let it so come to passe Amen An other confession of our sinnes to our Lord Iesus Christ. O Lorde Iesu Christe whiche art the onely and alone Phisicion of the wounded conscience we poore miserable sinners trusting on thy goodnesse and grace doe here briefly declare vnto thée the euill trée of oure heart with the rootes braunches leaues fruits of the same which all we vnfaynedly confesse to be euill and wicked For thou doest no lesse consider weigh and ponder the inward lustes of oure heart which is froward and vnsearchable then these outward grosse sinnes that we wickedly commit eyther in word or déede Therfore we beséech thée pray thée euen so heartily as our weaknes will suffer although we be very vnapt to praye that thou wilt mercifully circumcise cut away our stony heart yea for this olde heart create in vs another new hart replenish it with thy spirite water it and make it moyst with the iuyce or humoure of heauenly grace and wyth the fountaynes of Spirituall waters that the inwarde poyson and the noisom iuice of the flesh may be dried vp the custome of the olde man abolished our heart after this no more bring foorth thorns and cockle fit stuffe â—or the fire but spirituall fruits in righteousnes and holinesse vnto euerlasting life So be it Grace before meate GIue thanks to God the Lorâ— oâ— might as it becommeth Christians right And euer when thou 〈◊〉 thy meate Remember God before thou eate And then God will remember thee Anâ— wiâ—h his food will nourish thee And after thiâ— life ended is Wee shall remayne with him in blisse God saue his vniuersall Church Our noble Queene defend Gâ—aunt that thy people may enioy thy peace vnto the end Grace after meate OF Dyues and Lazarus the scripture telleth plaine How Dyues liued in welth ease and Lazarus in great paine The rich man he was clothed wel and 〈◊〉 of the best But Lazarus for hunger great could haue but 〈◊〉 rest But full of sores lay crying stil for some man to reâ—â—eue him With 〈◊〉 that fell froÌ„ Diâ—es 〈◊〉 wherof no man did giue him Thus perished poore Lazarus and that for lacke of food And also the rich glutton died for all his worldly good Therefore all yee that present be remember this thing well That how this man vnmerciful is buryed now in hell From the which torments great the Lord vs all deliuer And grant we may be mercifull while we liue here togither Then shaâ— we raign with Lazarus with ioyes that be indinabâ—e Euen by the bloud of Iesus Christ for our heaâ—th most profitable Now therfore lord we thee beseech to make vs all consent Grace before meate To pity those that haue most neede and the our sinnes repent Grace before meate ALl that is and shall be set vpon this â—ord Be the 〈…〉 by the Lords word So be it Grace after meate HE that is king and Lord ouer all Bring vs to the table of lyfe eternall Grace before meate THanks be giuen vnto our lord Iesus Christ both nowe and alwayes for these and all other his benefitâ— so mercifully louingly and aboundantly powred vpon vs. Amen Grace after meate THe God of all glory and peace who hath created redemed and presently fed vs be blessed for euer anâ— euer Amen FINIS