therefore O Lord we pray thee blesse her and the fruit of her Wombe let thy mercie be no lesse shewed in the birth then in the wonderfull forming and fashioning of that she beareth Guide all our hands that are about her and laie to thy helping hand with vs. Giue her an easie speedy deliuerance But if it be thy will to laye any greater weight of thy wrath vpon her acording to thy doome yet good Lord we beseech thee let thy holy spirit so comfort her inwardly with thy promises made to all and thy goodnes shewed to others that neither her naturall frailtie northe temptations of Sathan nor the extremities of her Throwes cause her to faint Comfort her helpe her finish thy worke in her ô thou preseruer of mankind that she being safely deliuered and her Babe preserued they may both liue to thy will and pleasure and wee altogether prayse thy holy Name through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer after the deliuerance of women Lo children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the wombe is his reward O LORD God by whom all men and women are wonderfully fearefully made we giue thee most humble thankes that in thy iudgement towards this our Sister thou hast remembred mercie in giuing her safe deliuerance together with a comely fruit of her body Good Lord wee pray thee continue thy great goodnesse towardes her and keepe her from all further annoyance and dangers of Child-bed Preserue her day and night sleeping and waking that so in her time shee may be restored to her former health and strength and walke in her vocation according to thy will with thanksgiuing Giue thy blessing to the Infant now borne that it may in due time increase in wisedome and stature and fauour with God and man that it may be partaker of the sacred Seale of holy Baptisme borne anew by the power of thy Spirit liue a holy and sanctified life in this world afterward be made heire of euerlasting life O Lord blesse the mother also for the BABES good that shee may haue strength meanes to bring it vp to thy glory and vse all such good endeuours as become a carefull and naturall Mother Lord giue thy grace to all vs which haue beene eye-witnesses of this thy mercy and goodnesse and let this and all other thy workes daily put vs in minde to be thankeful vnto thee for our creation preseruation and all other thy good gifts to call vpon thee loue and feare thee walking in thy sight in all sobrietie chastitie and godlines from this day forward for euermore for IESVS Christs sake Amen ¶ The Childrens Prayer in their Parents life time A wise sonne maketh a glad Father but a foolish son is the heauinesse of his mother O HEAVENLY Father Father of our Lord Iesus Christ and all that beleeue in him endue mee I beseech thee with thy holy Spirit that I may be a babe of thy heauenly Family regenerate and made a new creature in the same Christ Iesus my Sauiour Make mee by all meanes to honour my Parents after the example of thy Sonne our Sauiour and not by any means to breed their sorrow griefe that when thou shalt see it good to make mee ancient and blesse mee with children then I may haue ioy in them by their obedience and holinesse Ioyne O Lord vnto the towardnesse of my Nature the ayde of thy grace that I be not seduced by false teachers to corruption either in Faith or manners but that all my vnderstanding and conceits may tend to the good of my soule and the bettering of my life Restraine O Lord the vntamednesse of my youth which at this time is wont to begin to shew it self that I neuer passe the limites of thy good pleasure Keepe me from wandering concupiscence and idlenes from wicked company naughtie fellowship Forgiue me all the misdemeanors which I haue at any time committed against thee my parents and giue mee abilitie and grace to help them in their weakest age and greatest neede remembring the paines which my mother endured for mee and the charges of my father Make mee obedient vnto them and all other my betters teachers and Gouernours help me in all dangers and necessities and grant mee thy fauour all the dayes of my life and thy kingdome at the end for Iesus Christs sake Amen Another Prayer of Children Commit thy way vnto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to passe O LORD GOD I beseech thee to lead my Parents in the way of thy Trueth and righteousnes Gouerne all their actions to thy glory the good of thy CHVRCH and the discharge of their duties Defend and deliuer them from all their enemies and from all deceits and dangers that I who am a childe in age vnderstanding and discretion may by their godly wisedome care and painefulnesse be brought vp in all godly instructions nourture and good order and so liue and serue thee in righteousnesse and holinesse all my daâ—es Grant mee ô Lord an obedient and dutifull mind not onely towards my Parents but all such as it shall please them to make instructors and Rulers ouer mee that I may submit my selfe to their godly admonitions and gouernment Incline my heart now in my tender years to seek for wisedome and good learning with all diligence Preserue mee from all euill wayes and lewd companie Mortifie O Lord the raging lustes and follies of youthful affections O Lord pardon and forgiue mee all my sinnes that I may liue in thy feare and dye in thy fauour so receiue the inheritance of that place which thou in heauen hast prepared for mee through Iesus Christ my onely Lord and Sauiour Amen The Orphans or fatherlesse Childes prayer When my Father and my Mother forsake me then the Lord will take me vp O Lord GOD the succour of all them that are in distresse and Father of the Fatherlesse I poore Orphane by thine appointment depriued of my Parents and chiefest stay in this World beseech thee to heare my desire to set thine eyes vpon mee for good Haue pitty vpon me O Lord and in all perils necessities stretch out thine helping hand deliuer me appoint me faithfull Patrons Gardians which will be touched with an earnest care of my wel-fare that I may be brought vp in thy feare vnto euery good worke Giue mee grace to be obedient to those that haue the ouer-sight of mee to hearken to good counsell to feare thee and flye euill company Grant that I may finde fauour and vpright dealing at the handes of them that haue the ouersight of mee and before all other Gouernors Iudges whatsoeuer Let me not be oppressed by the mightie nor seduced by the craftie and subtile but deliuer me from greedie and deuouring cormorants dissembling friendes that would make a pray of me Let me not run too and fro to seeke my bread but prouide
bond or free LEad me ô Lord I beseech thee in the way of thy Trueth and righteousnesse Gouerne all mine actions to thy glory the good of thy Church and the discharge of my dutie Defend and deliuer me O Lord from all temptations from all mine enemies and from all deceits and dangers Blesse O Lord I beseech thee my Lord Master and Mistresse with all heauenly wisedome vnderstanding and godlynesse and with worldly health and happinesse that I who am their Seruant may by them and vnder them receiue not onely the spirituall food of my soule but also the temporall sustenance of my bodie doing my seruice not outwardly as desirous to please men but with singlenesse of minde from the heart as fearing thee O Lord my God that thereby I may receiue that reward which thou hast promised Giue me ô Lord an obedient and duti-full mind towards them that I may submit my selfe to their honest and lawfull commandements and do them true and faithfull seruice with all humblenesse and patience Grant me grace ô Lord to frame my life according to thy holy word nourish mutual loue and good wil between me my fellowes preserue me from all euill wayes from lewd company from idlenesse Keepe my minde from euill thoughts my tongue from lewd vaine speeches and my body and euery member thereof from all sinfull actions Mortifie in mee O Lord the raging lusts and follyes of youthfull affections O Lord pardon and forgiue me all my sins and grant me grace to loue honour and serue thee in holines righteousnes all my dayes that I may glorifie thee in this world and be glorified of thee in the world to come through Iesus Christ my onely Lord and Sauiour Amen The Maydes prayer Let thy hand-mayd I Pray thee speake in thy audience and heare the words of thine hand-mayd BLessed LORD which in former times hast not despised the low estate of thy Hand-mayds when they sought vnto thee vouchsafe to lend thine eares to the heartie desires of mee thy poore seruant Consider O Lord that in the labours both of body and minde I am the weaker vessel of lesse capacitie and more infirmitie and bestow vpon my youth such competent strength that I may grow in stature wisedome and fauour with God and man As I grow vp in years so Lord let me grow vp in grace Crowne my Virginitie with chaste and religious thoughts and my body and mind with godly watchfulnesse to waite for thy comming with the wise virgins Giue me grace to thinke alwayes that a good Name and honest reputation is better then any dowry to a modest Maide Make my behauiour meeke my talke sober my body chast and keep me from lewd wanton company that I partake not with them in the follies of youth Pardon my fore-past vanities and by the power of thy Spirit enable my weaknesse to auoyde all euill Defend me from slanderous and bad tongues surmising mindes and wicked temptations I beseech thee O Lord make mee faithfull and trusty wise and warie in the ordering of such goods as are committed to my custody by my Master or Mistresse father or mother Marry me vnto thee O Lord in righteousnes in iudgement in mercy and compassion and if it be thy will hereafter to call mee to the honorable estate of corporal Matrimonie make me to follow Rachel in loue Rebecca in wisedom Sara in faithfulnesse and obedience to my husband and all other worthy Matrons in modestie and honestie for Iesus Christs sake our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen The Prayer of one afflicted in conscience for sinne O Lord heare O Lord forgiue O Lord hearken and doe deferre not for thine owne sake O my God O Most mercifull God which by the sending of thy Sonne into the world hast brought to passe that where sinne abounded there grace abounded much more I forlorne wretch disquieted in mind and afflicted in conscience for feare of thy iudgements vpon my sin doe with bended knees and teares vnfeined a most humble supplyant beg craue of thee some succour and reliefe open ô open the gates of thy mercy to the greatnes of my miseries my abiect countenance witnesseth my distressed minde My spirit is sorrowfull my heart is heauie my words are stopt with sighes and my plants watered with teares to thee I hold vp my hands to thee I lift vp my heart to thee I pray requiring thee of mercie O Lord what shall I desire of thee that deserue nothing at thy hands what can I hope for that am euen heartlesse Lord if thou hast said Shall not my soule be auenged on such a one as this remember thy promise else where I will haue mercy on him that could finde no mercy and let it light vpon me if Sathan presume God hath forsaken him thinke vpon the decree for the seed of the Woman and let the power of thy Sons Passion defeate all the deuises of the deuill against me O Lord heare mee speedily if thou doe not then I am out of hope my conscience accuseth me my memory giues euidence against me my reason condemneth mee My spirit is weary of this bondage and I haue bid my life farewell My conscience is clogged when I behold the bloody wounds of my soule the voyce of ioy and mirth is gone from me I am deepely plunged in discomfort I haue neither worth to appease thy wrath nor patience to endure thy indignation I pray thee therefore send the comfort of thy holy Spirit into my heart and strengthen my faith that I be not swallowed vp with ouer much heauinesse O Lord let thy Maiestie appeare in thy mercy forgiue my sinnes the vnhappy ground of all this woe and I am recouered of all mine infirmities Trye not the lawe with mee lest I come to iudgement sanctifie all those good means vnto me wherein I seeke reliefe as Prayer Conference Reading and hearing of thy holy WORD Moderate and mitigate my vexation increase Faith establish hope graunt patience and keepe mee from despaire Take away this Cup from me if it be thy will if not suffer mee not to be tempted aboue my strength I haue an humbled and contrite heart O LORD looke vpon me I go mourning all the day long and am like vnto him that is at the point to die O Lord comfort me thou that wilt not breake a bruised Reed spare me thou that delightest not in the death of a sinner reuiue me though my heart condemne mee yet good Lord acquite me relieue me release me say vnto my soule I am thy saluation Hearken Lord vnto my Prayer and grant my requests for Iesus Christs sake Amen The Sicke-mans Prayer Naked came I out of my Mothers wombe and naked shall I returne thither O Louing LORD and most holy Father I poore wretch thy seruant feeling in this sickenesse which thou hast layd vpon mee the punishment of that corruption transgression that is in mee and all flesh doe most willingly submit
our sinnes as the haires of our heads so many our enemies as the stars in the skye and so fierce and strong the Tempter as a roaring Lyon that as the Man of God was angry with the King of Israel because when he bad him smite the earth with his dart he smote onely thrice who should haue smiten fiue or sixe times that he might haue beene assured of the ouerthrow of his enemies So GOD that bids vs continue in Prayer will be angry with vs if wee pray not againe and againe as the importunate widdow in the Gospel prosecuted her suite yea to speake of Deuotion as he doth of compassion if we pray not seuen times yea seuentie times seuen times that wee may obtaine a blessing I speake to them that haue vnderstanding iudge you what I say and I shall pray vnto the Holy One of Israel in heauen that your inspirations may be heauenly your desires holy your Prayers here feruent and frequent there acceptable before the throne of his Maiestie to the reliefe of your necessities and to the setting forth of his glory in IESVS Christ Amen The faults escaped in some copies amend thus Pag. Lin. for read 4 6 Father Trinity 103 19 hope heart 114 14 apparelled appalled 229 4 Marke Make. 327 6 be begin THE most absolute prayer and best Rule of all holy Petitions is that which our Lord Sauiour taught his Disciples A Prayer large for matter short for Phrase and sweet for order which I hauing thus paraphrased as you see thought not so good to insert it into this bundle as to place it here alone before them all as a Supplication not appropriate to any one part but apperaining giuing life to all and fit to conclude euery one A Paraphrase vpon the Lords Prayer OVR FATHER By right of Creation Merit of Mercie Gracious prouision Which art in Heauen The seate of thy Maiestie The inheritance of thy children The kingdome of blisse Hallowed be thy Name By the thoughts of our hearts By the words of our mouthes By the works of our hands Thy Kingdome come Of grace to inspire vs. Of power to defend vs. Of glory to crowne vs. Thy will be done In weale and woe In fulnesse and wane In life and death In Earth as it is in Heauen In vs as it is in thine Angels Willingly readily faithfully Without murmur Let Deceit Giue vs this day our daily Bread For the nourishing of our bodies For the feeding of our Soules The reliefe of all necessities And forgiue vs our debts Whereby thou art dishonoured Our Neighbour wronged or Our selues indangered As we forgiue our debtors That haue hurt vs in our bodies Hindred vs in our goods Wronged vs in our good Name And lead vs not into temptation Of the wicked World The entising flesh or The enuious Deuill But deliuer vs from euill Forgiue that is past Remoue that is present Preuent what is to come For thine is the Kingdom Power glorie To rule and gouerne all To command and do all In all by all All in all Now and for euer At this present In this world and In the world to come AMEN As thou say'st So it is As thou promisest So it shall be As we pray So be it Lord. PRAYERS Beginning with the letters of the name ELIZABETH E EVery day O Almighty GOD and heauenly Father will I pray vnto thee to haue mercy vpon me and to keepe me in thy grace fauour and loue Euery day will I giue thankes vnto thee ô Lord IESV the Sonne of GOD for thy gratious redemption of my body and soule from sinne death and hell Euery day will I laud thy holy Name ô holy Ghost Gods Spirit hearts ioy elects comforter beseeching thee blessed Trinitie in sacred vnitie to replenish my heart with all charitable desires and heauenly inspirations necessary to Saluation Amen L LAy too thy helping hand ô Lord strengthen my weake condition and powre thine oyle of grace into my wounded heart that I may be able to walke in the wayes of thy commandements without reproofe and receiue comfort in all my needs and necessities Amen I IT is pitie and compassion ô LORD alone which must couer mine vnworthinesse therefore renouncing all merite in my selfe I flie vnto thee for succour Leaue me not ô Lord but preuent mee with thy goodnesse now and euermore Amen Z ZEalous O LORD I am of thy truth Wherefore I pray thee sanctifie my heart to a right conuersation in this world Direct me by thy lawes that I neuer step beyond the limites of my duetie and suffer me not to enter into any action which eyther may dishonour thee or bring my life into infamie Amen A ADmit me O mercifull Lord to thy gracious fauour many are the dangers of this life and I haue no patron to defend mee but thee Heauen is thine and the earth is thine keepe me on earth as one of thine and bring mee to Heauen to raigne with thee Amen B BLessed Lord I haue sinned but my pardon is with thee If I were as sinfull as Marie Magdalen as outragious as the prodigall sonne and as bashfull to come neere as the Publican yet Iesus hath made satisfaction for my sinne therefore in mercy forgiue mee now and euermore Amen E ENter not into iudgement with a poore creature O LORD dust and ashes is my state here onely I am created after thine Image for a better world destroy not then the worke of thine owne hands but shew thy mercy and goodnesse vnto me this day and euermore Amen T THinke vpon me O LORD thy word neuer failed and thy compassions haue no end By the vertue of the one and the substance of the other purifie me from all iniquitie and leade me into all truth this day and euermore Amen H HAue mercy vpon mee O LORD accept my Prayers which I powre out before thee and graunt my requests Mercifully prosper the things that I take in hand saue mee from mine enemies a blessed life and a happie end good Lord send me AMEN Supplications OF SAINTS The first part Daniels deuotion DAN 6. 10. Hee kneeled vpon his knees three times a day and prayed This part containeth priuate Prayers For Morning Noone and Euening euery day in the weeke Also foure other Prayers for Morning and Euening and two Prayers vpon the Passion of our Lord Iesus Sunday Morning Prayer Psal 145. 10. All thy works prayse thee O Lord and thy Saints shal blesse thee Psal 119. 170. O let my Supplication come before thee deliuer mee according to thy word OH LORD GOD Almightie Father and thou welbeloued Sonne of the Father Iesus Christ with the holy Ghost holy blessed and glorious Trinitie eternall God Lord of the Sabbath and the fountaine of all wisdome I do not present these my Supplications before thee for my righteousnesse but for thy great mercies I trust in them truely without diffidence I trust in them only without any
for mee O Lord I pray thee food and rayment and so furnish me in this short time of my Pilgrimage that I may haue a competent liuing Blesse my studies and endeuours increase my yeeres and knowledge to sitte alwayes my estate and calling direct mee with thy Spirit and blesse mee now and euermore for Iesus Christs sake Amen The Schollers Prayer The Commaundement is a Lampe and the Law is light reproofe of instructions are the way of life O Lord God which hast said If any man lacke wisedome let him aske of GOD which giueth to all men liberally and reprocheth no man and it shall be giuen him I beseech thee breath into my Soule the Spirit of Vnderstanding that in my childe-hoode I may learne and as I grow further into yeares practise the study of those things only that are agreeable to thy lawes Haue mercy vpon me lighten mine vnderstanding with the beams of thy diuine wisedom that I may haue iudgement to make the best choise witt and capacitie to conceiue and memorie to retaine beare away all such good things as I shall either heare or read Lord hew and square the rough table of my heart prepare it and make it smooth fit to receiue into it the impressions of thy diuine grace and wisedome Graunt that I may carefully seek for the pearls of true knowledge and obediently submit my selfe to all those that are my teachers and haue the ouersight of mee Giue me such a desire to attaine vnto knowledge that my study through thy working may be a pleasure vnto me and that I may not wilfully lose or vainely bestow that precious time which neuer can be called againe Poure into mee thy holy Spirit that all my trauell paines in study being blessed by thee I may plentifully reap the fruit of my labours and be thankfull vnto thee O louing Father be thou my Schoole-maister to instruct mee and let all my studies be referred to the right end that I be neither infected with Heresie nor partaker of any Sect or Schisme Lord when I shall haue attained vnto any measure of knowledge let it not puffe me vp to stand high in mine owne conceit or be proude of thy gifts but let mee be wise vnto sobrietie and cary my selfe humbly lowly and modestly and so order all my studies endeauors good Father that I may firmely resolue speedily be and constantly continue in performing any thing that is agreable to thy will that so euery thing may serue mee for the furtherance to a godly and vertuous life the discharge of a good conscience through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ¶ The Souldiers Prayer The Lord is a man of Warre his Name is Iehouah O LORD God of hosts which teachest my hands to fight and my fingers to battell I humbly besech thee to haue mercy vpon me that am subiect to so many dangers euery day that I fall not before mine enemies Touch my heart that I may truely feele my sins and worthily lament them before thy Maiestie and since I haue vndertaken this seruice not for any couetousnesse or reuenge of blood but in obedience to my Prince to defend a righteous cause suffer me not I beseech thee to giue my members as weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sin but to looke carefully vnto my wayes seeking to discharge my duty towards thee and to acquit my selfe in all loyaltie towards my Prince O Lord gird mee with strength and make my way vpright conduct me with thy hand encourage mee with the Trumpet of thy Word arme me with faith and hope to thee-ward and strengthen mee to the combate Blesse all our company in our attempts and suggest vnto vs the best meanes to saue our selues and defeat the purposes of our enemies Arme vs with thy grace that wee may manfully fight in thy quarrell make our name fearefull to our enemies and abate their Pride Range vs within the limites of truth and honesty that we be not giuen to those vices which accompany the War vile affections inordinate motions and merciles cruelties Lord it is nothing with thee to help with many or with no power Helpe vs O Lord our God for we rest on thee and in thy Name are wee come against this multitde O Lord thou art our GOD let not man preuaile against thee Keepe vs O Lord from treasons mutinies and conspiracies either against our Prince or Captaines Lord heare the mournings of all Captiues detained in the hands of their enemies and worke meanes for their deliuerance And if it please thee at any time to lay that crosse vpon vs or otherwise to expose vs to death in the field then Lord keepe vs in thy Faith that wee may liue and die thy Souldiers fighting the good fight of hope fixed in thee and dye in thy fauour for Iesus Christs sake Amen The Seruants Prayer He that is called in the Lord being a seruant is the Lords freeman O Lord God which hast made vs all one in Christ Iesus whether we be bond or free I beseech thee grant me a contented mind that during the time of my bondage I bee not ashamed of that condition of life wherein thou hast placed me Cloath me in the liuery of a true Christian and grant mee alwayes to beare the minde of an honest man Giue me grace to obey and be subiect to mine earthly MASTERS with all feare whether they be good and curteous or froward and to performe their designes which Crosse not thy Commaundements Vouchsafe O LORD to send mee an vnderstanding heart to manage my businesse aright and make mee faithfull withall to be circumspect and diligent to doe all things for the best Grant mee a single and true heart without Hypocrisie and dissimulation that I doe not passe ouer my yeares with an eye-seruice as a man-pleaser but iustly and sincerely that I may in my time procure that Christian libertie and freedom which I serue for Lord blesse my Master in all his affaires and dealings let him not be subiect to any thoughts of crueltie towards me Strengthen my body to performe that businesse that I am appointed vnto and keepe mee from murmuring and grudging against any of my betters enuious detracting from the estimation of others Especially ô Lord keepe mee from euill company that I be neuer entised to spend wastefully or embezell any thing committed to my custody nor hearken vnto the perswasion of any such as wish not well vnto my Lord and Master Send peace and quietnesse betweene mee and my fellowes that in loue and kindnesse wee may all with one heart and one minde constantly chearfully ioyne together to follow our Masters businesse and serue thee and after this life become free-men of the new Ierusalem in heauen in the blessed company of all faithfull people for Iesus Christs sake Amen ¶ Another of the same Whatsoeuer good thing any man doth the same shall he receiue of the Lord whether he be