will thy might to resist all errour and wicked imaginations thy wisedome to know the truth For I confesse and knowe O Lord that all worldly wit policie knowledge and strength is but foolishnes in thy sight Therefore I aske and continually craue good Lord that helpe and most humbly desire that thy holy spirit may guide all the imaginations thoughts and desires of my heart not onely altering in me my fleshly minde but also inabling me in body soule and spirit to serue thy blessed maiestie for this I know the most perfect amongst men lacking thy wisedome are nothing worth And great reason because the thoughts of mortall men are miserable and our forecastes are vncertaine And why Our nature surely is so vitiated and our will so depraued and our vnderstanding so corrupted that it museth most yea altogether on vaine things Therefore good Lord I beséech thée comfort my sicke soule that it may walke in thy lawes and wayes and worke thy will And Lord like as thou knowest the secrets of my heart and the desires of the same and séest indéede that I would verie earnestly walke in thy trueth and worke the workes of the same truth so Lord I beseech thee refresh my soule according to thy mercifull calling where thou saidst Come to me all that labour and are laden and lowly of heart and you shall finde rest to your soules and I shall refresh you O Lord I miserable sinner would gladly labour in acceptable wayes and haue some care that my good will and desire might not swarue from thée but bee wholy bent towardes thée and like as thou knowest the same to bee vnfained in mee because it is thine own worke So Lord refresh me with thy mercifull grace that now and for euer I may bée stedfast in the true faith and that I may be alwayes obedient vnto thy lawes and commaundements and that I may neuer swarue from the holy and blessed ordinances of thy true and catholike Church which is thy spouse and for the most part speaketh thy words of truth and life but that I may vse them receiue them and honour thée in them so farre forth as they concerne thy worship and are according vnto thy most holy will and pleasure as in things which thou hast left to declare thy loue vnto vs and by them to assure our hope and to exercise our faith that it should not bee idle nor wauering whereunto howsoeuer I bee proue thorough the corruption of my nature and Satans malice against me as I am on the other side vnwilling and vnable to doe that which is good yet O Lord sith all things are possible with thée though they séeme neuer so vnpossible to vs help and reach out thy most mightie and mercifull hand O most louing father I know that by my sins I am not worthie thy blessed comfort nay I am most worthie to be depriued of that and all other fauours but Lord sith thou hast said that in what houre soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sins thou wouldest no more remember them and also thou wouldest not despise the sighing of a contrite heart I am bold in confidence and trust of thy mercie méekly and with a lowly heart to call to thée for grace and helpe in this troublous time of temptation and trying of our faith I am as one laden yea ouer laden with ignorance not knowing the height of thy heauenly misteries nor the deceitfull déepnes of the craftie and subtill arguments and perswasions of my ghostly enemies which daylie doe assault my sinfull soule and so burden the same that it can finde no rest Therefore O Lord like as thou knowest my will and heartie desire is to serue thée notwithstanding these suggestions within me and without me and that I haue a desire to liue and dye in thy most holy faith so Lord I beséech thée neuer suffer the subtill perswasions contrarie to thy truth to take place or roote in my heart But like Lord as thou hast created my heart and giuen me in som measure a will to order the same according to thy blessed will so Lord I humbly yéeld the same againe into thy hands desiring thée by thy holy spirit so to direct my wayes words and workes that now and alwayes they may be accepcable in thy sight And good Lord suffer not my soule to perish which thou hast bought so dearely with thy most precious bloud for the which great mercie sake of thine heretofore shewed vnto mee haue mercie on me continually and mak mee poore in spirit and low of heart and content with my vocation submitting my selfe wholy into thy hands so that my desire may bee to thy will and that no desire remaine in me but onely to doe thy will and pleasure And grant I beséech thée that I may haue none other trust but only in thée which art onely to be trusted and all trust it selfe and none besides thée Graunt further O Lord that my poore soule may rest in thée yea in thée alone for thou hast sayd they shall neuer be confounded that put their trust in thée which trust Lord graunt me neuer to forsake for any vaine trust or temptation or tribulation that may any manner of way fal out to vexe my poore soule but graunt me thy holy spirit to comfort and defend mee from all things that should procure thy displeasure As thou art in Trinitie one God and Lord ouer all which liuest and raignest world without end To thée bee all honour glorie and praise for euer Amen A prayer that wee may haue the feare of God before our eyes in all our doings O Almightie and euerlasting God thy holy word teacheth vs that thou art not onely a father but also a Lord not onely a forgiuer but also a reuenger not onely a Sauiour but also a iudge and as thou being a father a forgiuer and a Sauiour doest pardon and shewe mercie so thou being a Lord a reuenger and a iudge punishest and condemnest Neither doth thy holy scripture onely set foorth vnto vs a Gospell which comforteth vs quickneth vs sheweth vs glad and ioyfull tidings forgiueth our sinnes and quieteth our consciences and bringeth vs vnto euerlasting life but also a law which reproueth accuseth condemneth vs woundeth and slayeth our conscience yea and throweth vs down headlong into the déepe dungeon of hell And as the holy Gospell lifteth vs vppe and maketh vs glad with the hope of remission and forgiuenes of our sinnes so doth the lawe plucke vs downe and almost driue vs vnto desperation for feare of thy plagues and euerlasting punishments so that we not onely loue thée as a father a forgiuer a Sauiour but also feare thée as a Lord a reuenger a iudge For asmuch therefore O most gracious God and merciful Sauiour and most righteous iudge as this doth so mightily put away sinne and make vs to walke in the way of thy commaundements namely reuerently to feare thée and to stand in awe
if my bones were all to broken when I heare my enemies raile vpon me and say to mee day by day where is thy God Why turnest thou thy face from these thinges O Lord why hast thou no regard of my trouble I earnestly make my prayers daily in thy sight and the heauines of my hart I doe shew vnto thée My spirit is carefull and troubled within mee and desperation hath entred into my heart Is it thy pleasure O Lord God to cast away thine own handie workes Deliuer my soule from â—â—rruption and my life from euerlasting darknes What auaileth it mee that euer I was borne if thou cast mee straight into damnation séeing that the dead shall not praise thée nor any of them which go down to hell I haue sinned what shal I doe to thée why hast thou put me to be contrarie to thée I am wearie of mine owne selfe Why searchest thou out my sinnes so narrowly when there is no man that can escape out of thy hands If I would say that I were righteous and without sinne then thou mightest worthily condemne me to the fire prepared for the diuell and his angels But I confesse that I am a sinner and doe humble my selfe here in thy sight Surely if a man would â—â—and with thee in iudgement he shall not bee able to answere one word to a thousand things wherewith thou mightest charge him This maketh me to feare all my deedes knowing that thou sparest not him that offendeth If I looke vppon thy power O how mightie and strong art thou If I shall call for iudgement who shall defend my matter or speake for me To thee O Lord I call and crie to thee my God I make my humble sute Turne away thine anger from mee that I may know that thou art more mercifull to mee than my sinnes deserue What is my strength that I may endure or what is the ende of my trouble that my soule may patiently abide it My strength is not a stony strength and my flesh is not made of brasse There is no helpe in my selfe and also my strength flieth away from me Although thou hide these things in my heart yet I know that thou wilt remember me at length For thou art true and iust O Lord God thou doest not condemne vniustly which rewardest man according to his deserts All this is come vnto me because I haue forgotten thee and not vsed my selfe truely in thy testimonies My heart hath turned backeward and I haue followed the desires of my flesh And thou hast surely knowne this thing which knowest the secrets of the heart Lay not against mee O Lord the sinnes of my youth nor haue in remembrance my old iniuries done against thee Daily sorrow â—â—commeth me and sadnes possesseth my heart I looke after peace but I cannot haue it I looke for a time of health but my griefe continueth still When the time of thine anger is past let mercie come yet am I vnhappie more and more Woe and alas that euer I sinned my heart therefore mourneth and is sad al mirth and ioy is vanished from me How am I wasted how miserably am I confounded because I haue forsaken and cast away thy law Death hath ascended by the windowes pearcing the inward parts of my heart Wâ—â—â— I daily one while must secretly with my selfe another while with loud voyce crye out and complaine the meane time my life draweth néere to the pit Who shall giue mee a place to rest in from all my griefts and troubles And I will forsake all men and get away from them Who shall giue me water to my head and a fountaine of teares to mine eyes that I may bewaile my sinnes both night and day And I will looke for him which may saue me and deliuer me from the wrath to come I haue no trust neither in life nor death but I feare thy iudgement O Lord and the paines prepared for sinners The feare of my sinne maketh mee carefull and the burden of my conscience oppresseth me sore O God which tenderly louest mankind and art a most righteous Iudge sâ—are mee now I beséech mee and shewe mee some fauour while time is Forgiue that which I feare put away that which I dread before I depart hence and shall not returne againe My sinnes doe vexe and trouble mee sore they bee so great that none can be greater Alas my fall alas my miserie alas the griefe of my plague and stroke certainly my sinne is the cause of all this and so I will take it and suffer it A Psalme in which he giueth thankes to God that his enemies haue not gotten the vpper hand of him I Wil magnifie and praise thee O Lord God for thou hast exalted me and set me vp and mine enemies haue not gotten the vpper hand of me O Lord of hoâ—â— I haue cried vnto thee and thou hast saued me Thâ—â—â—ast brought my soule out of hell thou hast holden mee vp from falling into the déepe Lake from whence no man returneth Thou hast not closed me vp in the hands of mine enemies but thou hast set my féete in a place both wide and broade I haue sought thée and thou hast heard mee thou hast brought me into libertie out of great distresse Thou haâ—â—â—urned my sorrowe into 〈…〉 hast ceased my mourning and compassed mee round about with mirth Thou hast declared thy great magnificence in helping thy seruant Thou hast â—â—ne meruailously with me in my miseries Thou hast regarded the â—â—ne of the poore thou hast not turned away thy face from me I will bee singing and speaking of thy mercies and I will publish to other thy fidelitie and truth so long as I shall liue My mouth shall neuer cease to speake of thy righteousnes and of thy benefits which be so many that I cannot number them But I will giue thee thankes till death take mee away I will sing in the praise of thée so long as I shall continue I will triumph and reioyce in thy mercie for thou hast looked vpon my necessities and regarded my soule in distresse Thou hast béene my sure refuge and the strength of my trust and hope I thanke thee Lorde of thy goodnesse alway and for thy excéeding mercie Thou hast béen my comâ—orâ—â—n the time of my trouble thou hast been merciful vnto me O Lord and hast reuenged the wronges that mine enemies haue done to me According to the multitude of the heauie thoughts that I had in my minde thy comforts haue cheared and lightned my heart Thou hast sent me now ioyes for the dayes wherein I was in sorrowe and for the yeares in which I suffered many a painefull storme Thou hast called to remembrance the rebuke that thy seruant hath beene put to and how furiously mine enemies haue persecuted me O Lord God of hosts who may bee compared vnto thée thou art great and greatly to be praised Thou art high vpon all 〈◊〉 earth thou art exalted fa◠〈◊〉 all gods â—â—orie and
thée in ioy and the right vse of al thy gifts with the good seruant in the mid night of death which shall suddenly steale vpon me like a theefe ere I beware Be thou to me at that time of neede O Lord a tower of strength a place of refuge and a God to defend mee euery manner of way and namely against that face of the feend who like a roring lion will be then ready to deuoure me against desperation which then wil be ready to grieue assault me Let theÌ„ thy comfort cleaue fast vnto mee thy mercie kéepe mée and thy grace guide me Then especially recouer againe Lord God the Father that which thy puissant might hath shapen Fetch then againe Lord GOD the Sonne that which thou hast so wisely gouerned and bought with thy precious bloud Take againe thou Lord God holy Ghost that which thou hast kept preserued so louingly in this region of sinne and vale of miserie three persoÌ„s and one very GOD vnto whom be praise and honour for euer and euer Amen A Psalme wherein the sinner desireth ot bee heard of God HOwe long O Lord shall my mind be pressed downe with painefull sorrowes How long O God wilt thou reiect my prayers which daylie I powre out before thée wilt thou Lord heare me at no time or wilt thou now cease to shew mercie Hast thou O Lord cast me away for euer and wilt thou neuer hereafter bee pleased with me Thy hand is not weakned but it may helpe and thine eares are not stopped that they should refuse to heare I beséech thée O my God for Iesus Christes sake to regard the teares that fall let the sighings and inward desires of my heart mooue incline thée to heare mee I haue béen a stubborne froward childe to thée I haue not feared thée but haue béen euer disobedient stubborne against thee I am in prison and bound in fetters of sorrow and so shal be til thou with thy gracious presence shalt vouchsafe to visite mee and bring me againe to libertie ioy Keepe thy mercie therefore for me always O Lord and the couenant which thou hast made with mée oh let it be surely performed Keepe mee Lord from sinne and so shall I dread neither death nor hell and as thou hast béen alwayes mercifull to penitent sinners so now good Lord forgiue me my sinnes Keepe my heart to thee and then shall it reioyce in thy mercie because thou hast looked on mee and hast regarded my soule in my great distresse Let mee neuer hereafter goe away from thy waies and leaue me not now in the déepenes of my troubles Loe now be the daies of health and grace now is the accepted time for in death who remembreth thee O Lord or in hell who shall praise thee Lord beholde therefore my weaknesse and frailnesse best knowne vnto thee and looke downe from heauen vpon the sorrow and heauines of me thy poore creature Mollifie my heart O Lord GOD that I may returne to thee and walke in thy waies for I haue wandred too long in the way of sinners Make a perpetuall league with me that thou wilt put thy feare into my heart that I neuer swarue from thée againe O Lord my prayers be euer vnto thee let thy anger bee turned from mee that I may finde fauour in thy sight O Lord looke thou not vpon the hardnes of my hart but as thou art a mercifull God so now bee mercifull vnto me and forgiue me that wherein I haue offended thée A Prayer MOst righteous God and merifull father in Christ for thy great mercie sake hearken to these my humble prayers which I make before thée and consâ—der Lorde the desires and thoughts of my hart Let my loud cryings come vnto thée let mine vnfained prayers enter into thine eares Heare me O Lord for I am destitute of thy helpe Take care for my soule saue me thy seruant which wholly trusteth in thee Haue mercie O Lord haue mercie vpon me for I will neuer cease crying vnto thée for thy helpe and mercie In the day time â—ll I call on thee and in the night my crie shall not be hid from thee O thou God of the Heauens and maker of all creatures heare me a most wretched sinner calling on thee and take away from mee all my sinnes and make stedfast my faith and confidence in thée in thy merciful promises that I putting my trust in them may haue as thou hast promised euerlasting life thorough Christ Iesus thy Son our Lord. Amen A Psalme that may bee sayd For Euening Prayer COnsider and heare mee O Lord my God lighten the eies of my soule that I sléepe not in death for if I bee cast downe they that trouble me wil reioyce at it Defend mee therefore O God from the way of the vngodly and out of the hands of the vnrighteous and cruâ— man deliuer me Euen in thy feare doe I worship O Lord toward thy holy temple bee mercifull vnto me and heare the request of my heart For happy are they whom thou hearest and regardest in the needfull time of trouble Haue mercy vpon me O God haue merce vpon me euen as thou hast promised to them that loue thy name I will call on thée O Lord my strength I 〈◊〉 trust in thée O thou ground of my saluation Keepe thy seruant therefore O Lord from presumptuous sins lest they get the dominion ouer mee and so shall I be vndefiled innocent from the great offence Let I beséech thee O Lord the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart bee alwaies acceptable in thy sight O Lord God my strength and my redéemer â—â—t my prayers bee set forth in thy sight as the incense and let the lifting vp of my hands be an euening sacrifice O Lord graunt mee thy light that I being deliuered from the darknesse of sinne may come to the very light which is Christ Turne thee vnto mee O Lord and shew mee the light of thy countenance Yea Lord heare my praier also I beséech thée And let my crie come vnto thée O Lord God I beséech thée for Christ Iesus sake to lighten my darknes both outward and inward of thy great goodnesse to deliuer me from all the dangers of this night either bodily or spirituall that thou being my sauiour in watching and my kéeper in sleeping I may wake in Christ and rest in peace through thy sonne Iesu Christ who liueth and raigneth with thee in vnitie of the holy ghost world without end Amen O Lord into thy handes I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed mee O Lord thou God of truth A prayer of a sinner to be sayd dayly before hee goeth about any worldly busines O My celestiall Father be now mercifull vnto mée thy repentant sinfull seruant fled from mine enemies to thy helpe and succour Impute not vnto me my sinnes for Christs sake for I haue heard thy Fatherly voyce and yet
it soundeth daylie in my eares out of heauen promising mee and affirming coÌ„stantly thy selfe to be appeased pleased and at one with mee for thy Sonnes sake whome thou commandest me to heare and beléeue whom I am sure is made of thee my righteousnes my satisfactioÌ„ my reconciliation my peace maker my mediator intercessor with his praier my fulfiller of the law my deliuerer my whole holy accoÌ„plisher of all my iust desires my Sauior Christ Iesus God man in whose name this day I attempt take in hand all my iust doings according to my vocation for his glory my neighbours profit desiring thy gracious goodnes most merciful Lord and father for thy dearly beloued sons sake to prosperit to giue it happie encrease whatsoeuer I take in hand according to thy will graunt me grace to finish the same O holy father blesse all things I take in hand with thy blessed increase and let mee not séeke mine owne will but euer to pray that thy will be fulfilled in all thinges now and for euer So be it Thou maiest if thou wilt after this say the Lords Prayer And so hauing coÌ„mended thy selfe to almighty God maiest fall to some honest and vertuous exercise according to thy calling but whatsoeuer thou doest doe it with purenes of heart and with singlenes of eie yea so doe it as though God were present and looked vppon thee as vndoubtedly he doth A Prayer HEare vs O heauenly King Father of mercie our life our swéetnes our hope for vnto thée doe we crie euen we which are the banished children of Eua vnto thee doe we sigh wéeping and wayling in this vale of lamentation come therefore our aduocate cast vpon vs those mercifull eyes of thine and after this our banishment shew to vs the glorious light in thy heauenly kingdome O mercifull O holy O swéete Sauiour in all our troubles and heauinesse O Iesu our health and glorie succour vs. Amen Another Prayer O Iesu Christ the Son of God our Redéemer which deiectedst and humbledst thy selfe from that glorious state and shape of thy Godhead to the shape of our vile seruitude because thou wouldest reconcile vs being the children of wrath and damnation to thy father so make vs the children of grace wee beséech thée graunt vs such an excellent measure of thy grace that wee may euer followe euen thée thy selfe in all blessed obedience and may euer finde and féele thée to be our present mediator before our father for all ghostly giftes whom wee acknowledge with perfect faith to be our Sauiour which art the liuing God with the father and the holy Ghost liuing and raigning without end Amen A Prayer O Pitifull Lord God alwayes shewing thy mercie vpon me a grieuous sinner I humblie acknowledge the same yet Lord notwtstanding I cannot but hartily pray thée to heare my prayer though I haue bin a sinner I am now thorough thy grace sorie therefore and purpose by thy goodnes assistance to take no more pleasure therein but am glad and willing to exercise the trueth and to forsake all vaineglorie Wherefore therein I humbly pray thée to fortifie mée with thy grace to withstaÌ„d my secret enemie in all my temptations and to assist mee so that thy most holy spirit of sapience and vnderstanding may haue continuall dwelling in mee direct mee vnto the obedience of thy pleasure and will that so I may at the last inherite thine eternall rest Another Prayer OMnipotent and mercifull God Father eternall which doest not despise sinners bewayling with contrite heart the offences which they haue committed against thy high Maiestie wée pray thée by thy grace to drawe vs néere to thée and heare our prayers and forgiue vs our offences comfort vs in our afflictions and forgiue Lord them that oppresse vs and graunt that our ghostly enemie haue no power to deuour vs as he desireth but that we strongly withstanding his fraudes and snares to our comfort may die in the true Catholique faith and rest with thée eternally our Lord Iesu Christ Amen Sundrie holy petitions to our Sauiour Iesus Christ LOrd Iesu haue mercie on mée and forgiue mee my great offences which I haue done in thy sight Grant mée grace also for the loue of thée to despise all sinne and worldly vanitie Lord Iesu inable mee to wcstand and to ouercome the temptation of sinne and the malice of my Ghostly enemie to spend my time in vertue and labour acceptable to thée Lord Iesu strengthen me in soule and bodie to performe the works of godlynes and vertue to the glory and praise of thy name and that afterwards I may come to euerlasting ioy and felicitie Graunt me a stedfast purpose mercifull Iesus to amend my life and recompence those yeares which I haue mispent to the displeasure of thée in euil thoughts delectations consentings words workes and euill customes and also in bâ—eaking thy lawes whereby I haue deserued damnation And good Lord inlighten me so with thy ghostly wisedome that I may knowe thy goodnes those things which are most acceptable to thée and confirme me so with thy grace that I may giue good examples to all men Make me profitable that none be hurt by mee guide me to help those with good counsaile which haue offended thee make me proceede from vertue to vertue vntill I shall cléerely sée thée in thy Maiestie Let mee not returne to any of my wonted sinnes specially those sinnes which I haue sorrowed for and by confession haue iustly accused my selfe of Let not the horrible sentence of endlesse death nor the terrible iudgement of damnation nor thy wrath ire and indignation mercifull Lord fall vpon mée But let thy mercie and merits my Sauiour euer bée betwéene them and me Lord Iesu graunt mee grace to flie euill company and when I come among them for thy passion I beséech thée to preserue mee that no occasion of any eyther mine owne or their sin ouercome mée and send mée ghostly comfort strength by the true loue of thy worde and power of thy spirit shed abroad into my heart Kéepe my mouth good Lord from slaunderous speaking lying false witnesse bearing cursing swearing vncharitable chidinges dissolute laughing words of vanity make me blessed Lord with child-like reuereÌ„ce to remeÌ„ber that thou presently hearest mee which of al my words shalt iudge me Lord Iesu make me to perseuer in the blessed seruice of thée in religious exercise all holie and vertuous affaires Lord keepe my soule and bodie make me flée sinfull delectation and patiently to suffer iniuries and rebukes as which my disobedient heart to thée haue deserued more theÌ„ all men can inflict or lay vpoÌ„ me prouide good Lord that state of life for mee which thou knowest shall most tend to thy honour and my eternall felicitie Lord Iesu graunt mee grace at all times but specially in the time of prayer to fixe my minde on thée then also effectually to remember my
of saluation in him alone whom thou hast appointed to bee our onely redéemer and Sauiour Make vs alway readie and able to render vnto thée most humble and heartie thankes for this thine incomprehensible mercy and goodnes towardes vs finally so to make vs professe the death of thy dearely beloued Son that wee renounce and forsake all sinne yea that wée may alwaies féele it in our selues and plainely shew it forth to others that wee arise with him in newnes of life in righteousnes innocencie and all true holines after this life may raigne with him in euerlasting glorie heare vs O heauenly Father for our Lord Iesus Christes sake Amen ALmightie God our heauenly Father wée beséech thy gracious goodnes now and at all times so to assist vs that like as thy onely begotten and dearely beloued sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ according to his blessed will suffered death willingly and bitter passion for our redemption and saluation hauing thereof foresight perfect knowledge so in like maner when it shall please thée so lay any crosse and afflictions vpon our backs that we may both willinglie vndergoe it patiently beare it powerfully ouercome it to thy euerlasting glorie other mens spirituall benefit and our owne endlesse saluation through Christ Heare vs herein O heauēly father for our Lord Iesus Christs sake Amen O Our Sauiour and redéemer Iesus Christ which in thy last Supper with the Apostles didst giue thy blessed bodie blood vnder the visible elements of bread and wine graunt vs grace wee beséech thée euer stedfastly to beléeue and sincerely to acknowledge in this most blessed Sacramēt not onely thine infinite and Almightie power but also thine incomprehensible loue towards vs yea assist so that when we come to the participation of these blessed mysteries we may alway worthily receiue the same according to thy holy ordinances in such sort as that thereby we may alwaies obtaine strength of faith in the truth of thy promises encrease of holines by the vniting of the spirit with thee our head and by thee and thy spirite with all the company of them that bee truely thine which bee thy spirituall and mysticall bodie and our spirituall and Christian brethren Herein heare vs O Christ our Sauiour for thy names sake Amen ALmighty GOD and our most louing Father in Christ whose holy Apostle Peter presuming of his owne power strength did miserably fall not onely in the deniall of his maister Christ for feare of an handmaide but also in sorswearing and cursing himselfe if euer he knew him grant vs grace we beseech thee mercicifull Father that we neuer presume of our own might power but that being in our own harts humble lowly and acknowledging our infirmitie frailtie and weakenes we may euer in all our affaires receiue at thy hand outward inward strenght cōfort also and may thereby bée inabled vnto the acceptable performance of thy holy and blessed will Heare vs O heauenly Father for our Lorde Iesus Christs sake Amen O Our blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ which in that great heauines of thy soule intolerable anguish which thou sustainedst before thy passion diddest fall down vpō thy face in praier vnto thy heauenly Father giue vs grace also the aide of thy holy spirite that wee likewise in all heauinesse of minde and troubles of this world may run euermore by most humble and constant prayer vnto the onely ayd strength and comfort of thée our heauenly father heare vs our Sauiour Christ for thy names sake Amen ALmighty God eternal father we doe remember that in the condemnation of thy onely and dearely beloued innocent Lambe our Sauiour Iesus Christ the Iudge did sitte witnesse was brought Christ himselfe was presented and condemned and all truth there was troden vnder foote all vnrighteousnes did raigne and innocencie comdemned In consideration whereof we cannot but intreat thée O most gracious Lord and Father to graunt vnto our heads and rulers such a notable measure of grace and assistance euen from thine owne selfe that they may euer in all their iudgements iudge according to true iustice and equitie without corruption partialitie and wicked dissimulation and that to the beating down of wickednes and sinne and to the maintenance of thine euerlasting truth iustice honour and glorie Heare vs our heauenly Father for our Lord Iesus Christs sake Amen A prayer for trust in God O Most gracious most wise guide and our almightie Sauiour Iesus Christ who doest lead them the right way to immortall blessednes which truly and vnfainedly trusting in thee commit themselues to thée grant vs grace we pray thée not only to sée this that we be blinde and féeble indeede but also that we may so take and repute our selues that so wee may not presume of our selues to sée to our selues but may alwaies wholie commit our selues vnto thee to bee guyded by thee and from thee may bee inabled so far to sée that alway wee may haue thée before our eies to follow thee being our guide to be ready at thy call most obediently and to commit our selues wholy vnto thée that thou which onely knowest the way and art alone the way indéed mayest lead vs the same way to all heauenly desires To thée with the Father and the holy Ghost be glory for euer Amen A prayer of any captiue according to the forme of Dauid when he was hid in the caue WIth my voyce I crie to thée afore thée I open my lamentations in thy bosome I disclose the secret words of my heart my dolours and griefs I shew vnto thee my heart is almost like to brust so great is my discomfiture Thou knowest all my fashions O Lord and thou séest well enough how the vngodly haue laid their snares for me Loe I cast mine eyes on this side that side as well on my friends as kinsfolkes but all is in vaine none of them all helpeth me And againe I cannot run away I am so laden and ouercharged with yrons O Lord my maker and father vnto thée I crie thou art mine onely shot-anker defence helpe Thou art my portion heritage in all countries yea I haue none other possession but thée onely To thee therefore I sticke altogether knowing certainly that nothing can goe amisse with mee when I am vnder the shadowe of thy wings and thou guidest me Consider then my lamentable complaint behold howe I am lowe brought by the cruell pursuers which bee much more of power than I am defend me deliuer me from all this prison horrible feare of sinne death that I may set out thy name This once obtained the godly folke shall flocke about me and shall not stint to giue thee thankes when they sée that thou riddest me forth of these dangers to the high praise of thy name Lord bee mercifull vnto vs take part with vs then we shall for euer lift vp and magnify thy glorious name Amen A prayer for
firie anger of thy threatning is aboue all measure heauie to sinners but the mercie of thy promise is great and vnsearchable for thou art the Lord God most high aboue all the earth long suffering and excéeding mercifull and sorie for the malice of men I haue prouoked thine anger and haue done euill before thee in committing abominations and multiplying of offences And now I bowe the knées of my heart requiring goodnes of thee O Lord I haue sinned Lord I haue sinned and knowe my wickednesse I desire thee by prayer O Lord forgiue mee O Lord forgiue me and destroy me not with mine iniquities neither doe thou alwayes remember my euils to punish them but saue me which am vnworthie after thy great mercie and I wil praise thee euerlastingly all the dayes of my life for all the power of heauen prayseth thée and vnto thée belongeth all glorie world without ende Amen A prayer of Ieremy Iere. 17. HEale me O Lord and I shall be whole saue thou me and I shall bee saued for thou art my praise Be not thou terrible vnto me O Lord for thou art he in whom I hope When I am in perill let my persecutors be confounded but not me Thou shalt bring vpon them the time of their plague and shalt destroy them right soone Amen A prayer of Ephraim or Israel in the Prophet Ieremie Ierem. 31. O Lord thou hast chastened me and thy chastening haue I receiued as an vntamed calfe conuert thou me and I shall be conuerted for thou art my Lord God for as soone as thou diddest turne me I repented my selfe and when I vnderstood I smote vpon my thigh I confessed and was ashamed because I suffered the reproach of my youth The prayer of Iesus the sonne of Sirach in necessitie and for wisedome Eccles the last chap. I Thanke thee O Lorde and King and praise thée O God my Sauiour I will yéeld praises vnto thy name Thou hast deliuered my body from destruction for thou art my defender and helper from the snare of the false tongue and from them that are occupied in lyes Thou hast béene my helper from such as rose against me and hast deliuered me according to thy great mercie and thy holy names sake thou hast deliuered mee from the roaring of them that prepared themselues to deuoure me out of the hands of such as sought after my life from the multitude of them that trouble me and went about to set fire vpon me on euerie side so that I was not brent in the middest of the fire From the déepe of hell thou deliueredst mee from the vncleane tongue from lying words from the wicked iudge and from the vnrighteous tongue My soule shall praise the Lord vnto the death for my life drew neere vnto hel downeward they compassed mee round about on euery side and there was no man to helpe mee I looked about mee if there were any man that would succour mee and there was none Then thought I vpon thy mercie O Lord and vpon the acts that thou hast done of olde namely that thou deliuerest such as put their trust in thée and riddest them out of the handes of the false Paynimes Thus lifted I vp my prayer from the earth and prayed for deliuerance from death I called vpon the Lord my Father that hée would not leaue mee without help in the day of my trouble and in the time of the proude I will praise thy name continually yéelding honour and thankes vnto it and so my prayer was heard Thou sauedst me from destruction and deliueredst me from the vnrighteous time Therefore will I acknowledge and praise thee and magnifie the name of the Lord. When I was but young ere euer I went astray I desired wisedome openly in prayer I came therefore before the temple and sought it very busily and I will séeke for it to my last houre Then will it flourish vnto me as a grape that is soone ripe My heart reioyced in it then went my feate the right way yea from my youth vp sought I after it I bowed downe mine eare a little and receiued it I found in myselfe much wisdome and prospered greatly in it Therefore will I giue the glorie vnto him that giueth me wisedome for I am aduised to doe thereafter I will be iealous to cleaue vnto that that is good so shal I not be confounded My soule hath wrestled with it I lifted vp my hands on high then was my soule lightened through wisedome that I acknowledged my foolishnes I ordered my soule after it I found her in cleanenesse I had my heart in it from the beginning and therefore shall not I be forsaken My hart longeth after it and therefore I got a good treasure Through it the Lord hath giuen mee a new tongue werewith I will praise him Oh come vnto me yee vnlearned and dwell in the house of discipline withdraw not your selues from it but commune on these things for your soules are very thirstie I opened my mouth and spake O come and buy wisdome without money and bowe downe your necke vnder her yoke and let your soule receiue discipline it is euen at hand and readie to be found Behold with your eyes how I haue had but little labour and yet haue much rest Oh receiue wisedome and you shall receiue plentie of siluer and golde in your possession let your minde reioyce in her mercie and be not ashamed of her praise worke your worke betimes and shee shall giue you your reward in due time A prayer to our Lord Iesus Christ MOst mercifull Lorde Iesus Christ which wast sent from the most highest tower of the father almightie into this world to relieue sinners to gather together them that were scattered abroade to redeeme them which were punished to loose them that were in prison to their countrie againe to heale them that were sore to comfort them that were wayling and sorrowful Vouchsafe I beseech thée of thy singular goodnes to comfort mee in the punishment that I am in And thou Lord Iesu Christ that diddest restore mankind in peace and concord to the high inheritance of Paradize whom thou boughtest with thy precious bloud and diddest make peace betwéene God men vouchsafe to assure euen thy singular mercie towards me cause me to féele reconciliation betwéene me and mine enemies and vouchsafe to shew thy glorie vpon mee and to quench the anger of them al and put away from me their hatred and cease the malice that they beare against mee and as thou diddest not onelie allaie Esau his malice against his brother Iacob but also diddest deliuer Iacob from the same so asswage the rage of my enemies and deliuer me with thine almightie power from them that owe mee malice and from their laying await and desires as thou diddest deliuer Abraham from the hands of the Chaldées and Ioseph from the hands of his brethren Lot from the citie of Sodome thy seruants Moses and Aaron from the power of Pharao
weaknes of my flesh bée not ouercome with the feare of death or any other temptation whatsoeuer Yea graunt me mercifull Sauiour I humbly beséech thee that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my bodie yet that the eyes of my soule may still beholde and looke vpon thée and may assuredly féele thée in my selfe for my selfe to bee the mightie conqueror of death and the deuil sinne and hell and all other enemies of mine whatsoeuer so that when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue and spéech yet that my heart may cry and say vnto thée O Lord into thy hands I giue and commend my spirit Lord Iesus receiue my soule vnto thée Amen The prayer of Salomon for to obtaine wisedome 1 King 2. THOU hast shewed Lord vnto thy seruant Dauid my Father great mercie when hee walked in thy sight in truth and iustice and in vprightnes of heart with thée Thou shewest vnto him thy great mercie and gauest him a sonne sitting vpon his throne as it is at this day And now Lord God thou hast made thy seruant to raigne in the roome of Dauid my Father I am a very babe and know not how to goe out and in And thy seruant is in the middest of an infinite number which thou hast chosen which cannot bee numbred nor counted for multitude Wherefore giue to thy seruant an heart apt to bee taught and full of vnderstanding to iudge thy people that I may discerne betwéene good and bad For who is able to iudge this thy mightie people A prayer for obtaining of wisdome Sapient 9. GOd of our fathers and Lord of mercie thou hast made all things with thy word and ordained man through thy wisedome that hee should haue dominion ouer the creatures which thou hast made that hee should order the world according vnto equitie and righteousnes and execute iudgement with a true heart giue mee wisedome which is euer among the children of Israel For I thy seruant and sonne of thy handmaide am a féeble person of a short time and too young to the vnderstanding of thy iudgements and though a man bee neuer so perfect among the children of men yet if thy wisedome be not with him he shall be nothing worth Oh send thy wisedome out of thy holy heauens and from the throne of thy Maiestie that she may be with me and labour with me that I may knowe what is acceptable in thy sight for she knoweth and vnderstandeth all things and she shall conduct me right soberly in all my workes and preserue mee in her power so shall my workes bee acceptable Amen A prayer for a competent liuing Prouerb 30. TWo things Lord I demand that thou wilt not deny mee vntill I dye vanitie and words of leasings remoue farre from me pouertie or riches giue me not onely giue me that is necessarie for my liuing least being in full abundance I might be prouoked to denie thée and say Who is the Lord or being compelled by necessitie I might steale and forsweare the name of God Another Prayer GOod Lord God and swéete Sauiour Iesus Christ the sonne of the euerlasting God grant vnto me most fraile sinner and miserable wretch this grace and mercie that I may euer haue present before the eyes of my soule thy holy life thine example and behauiour and that according to any measure of mercie thou hast béen pleased or shalt be pleased to bestowe vpon me I may in liuing and manners follow the same And cause mee good Lord to profite grow and increase therein to such a notable measure as may be acceptable vnto thée being thine own grace and comfortable to my selfe as comming from thée for the saluation of my soule Lighten Lord and make cleere and bright my heart with the glorious light of thy grace that it euer may goe before mee and follow mee in all my acts so that by thy grace and power conducting and guiding I may accomplish and fulfill al that may please thy goodnes and vtterly eschue and auoide all that in any wise should displease the same Vouchsafe sweete Sauiour I beséech thée to direct and order all my cogitations and thoughts all my spéech and wordes all mine acts and déedes in thy law and commaundements in thy monitions and counsels and take me good Lord wholly so vnto thée that here in all things doing thy will I by grace may bee one of the soules that thou hast appointed to euerlasting saluation thorough Christ Iesus Amen A deuout prayer to our Lord God O LORD which hast vouchsafed of thy vnspeakeable goodnes to make me and ordaine me thy creature to liue in this transitorie life giuing me a reasonable soule by the which inlightned with the truth of thy word I know thée to be my Lord my God and my maker which also I may in some sort well perceiue by the visible sight of thy wonderfull workes as by heauen the earth and the creatures in them contained together with the commodities blessings that we daylie receiue by them at thy hand all which declare the great loue that thou hadest in our first creation and also doe expresse the singular care and prouidence that yet still thou hast for vs and further doe declare to vs thée to be the only God and Lord ouer all and that there is none aboue thée and that there is no wisdome knowledge power or strength of value besides thée and yet further also thou knowing our necessarie néede of thy holy of thy most louing fauour hast not disdained to say to me and to other thy people by thine owne most blessed word to the great comfort of all our consciences Aske and it shall bee giuen séeke and yee shall finde knocke and it shall be opened to you And yet for further declaration of thy great loue toward vs hast most familiarly sayde If we that be euill can giue vnto our children when they aske good things how much more then shall our heauenly Father giue his holy spirit to them that earnestly desire it What a swéete and comfortable saying is this In confidence of this truth O most blessed Lord I wretched sinner doe aske at thy hands mercie and grace confessing my selfe to bee a most wicked and abominable sinner in thy sight most weake of all other to stand to or in thy truth most fraile to fall and readie to breake all thy holy commandements by the kéeping of which we are knowne to bee thy true seruants O most mercifull Lord God I acknowledge my selfe daylie and hourely to breake the same but where I haue thus offended thy diuine Maiestie I humblie for Christ Iesus sake aske of thee mercie and forgiuenes minding by thy most mightie assistance neuer hereafter to offend in the same And Lord that I may bee the better perswaded of the assured performance of the same I humbly aske and desire thy strength continually to make me stand fast in faith thy knowledge and power from thée to worke thy blessed
delighted in into a wildernes Wilt thou Lord be auenged of these things Wilt thou holde thy peace and scourge vs euer so grieuously Before the receiuing of the Sacrament say thus LOrd although I be not worthy to receiue thee into the house of my soule for mine innumerable offences and sinnes done against thy great goodnes yet trusting in thy great pity and infinite mercie I come to receiue thy blessed body not grossely and carnally as the blinde suppose but spiritually and by faith together with all the fruits and effects of thy sufferings yea as a sicke creature to thee that art the health of life vncleane to thée that art the well of mercie and holynes blinde by ignorance to thee that art the light euerlasting needy of grace and power yea of will to any good thing to thée that art the King of heauen and earth and workest therein whatsoeuer pleaseth thée naked of good works to thée that art the author of all grace I come as a wretch to thée my Lord and maker all desolate and comfortles to thee my refuge and succour for besides thée there is no consolation I come as a sinner to thée that art the mediator betwéene God and man I come as a caitife to thée my most mercifull Sauiour I come all sinfull to thee granter of remission and pardon I that am dead by sin come to thee the restorer of life euill to thee that art all goodnesse hard hearted to bée relieued by the infusion of thy superaboundant grace desiring thée to heale mine infirmitie and sicknes to wash away my sinne and filthines to lighten my blindnes to reduce me to the right way when I am out thereof to comfort me desolate of goodnesse Haue mercie on my wretchednesse pardon my sinfulnes giue me the light of grace thus buried in sin that I may receiue thee to be the spirituall foode and nourishment of my soule and that with such chastitie of body with such purenes and cleannes of soule with such contrition of heart and abundance of wéeping teares with such spirituall ioy and gladnes with such dread and reuerence with such strong faith stedfast hope and vnfeigned charitie with such obedience and humilitie with such loue deuotion faithfulnesse and thankefulnesse as it is beséeming for such a Lord to be entertained and receiued withall and that to the comfort of my conscience in this life and my endlesse saluation at the last And be not displeased good Lord that I a sinner with an vncleane heart and polluted minde or sure I am not so sanctified outwardly and inwardly as were fit come hither this day to receiue the blessed sacrament of thy precious body and bloud by a liuely faith but remember mercifull Lord that thou refusedst not the sinfull Magdalene being penitent from the kissing of thy most blessed féete And in likewise despise mee not ne put thou me away as vnworthie from this blessed Sacrament for my sinnes and vnkindnes though I confesse thou maist iustly doe so and doe me no iniurie but graunt thou mee godly sorrow of heart plentie of vnfaigned teares to testifie vnto my heart the washing away of my sinnes and wickednes so that with a pure heart and cleane conscience I may this day come to and be partaker of the holy Communion to thy glory and the comfort of my soule and conscience whilest I receiue therein an effectuall pledge of euerlasting life with all holy saints in heauens glory and of the fellowship of thy people in this present life these things being wrought in mee by thy holy spirit inwardly as well as offered vnto me by the outward and visible elements Grant mee blessed Iesu so reuerently and religiously to receiue the Sacrament of thy flesh and bloud that thereby I may assuredly feele my selfe incorporated into thy Church as a sound member of thy body here on earth and though as yet I be not méete or fit by reason of my filthinesse to bee numbred among the simplest and lowest of thy seruants but rather to be reiect for my sinfulnes yet good Lord of thine infinite power I knowe thou canst and of thy singular goodnesse I hope thou wilt and therefore am also the more bold humbly to intreate thee to make me equall and like to thine elect and chosen seruants Come thou father of the fatheries come comfort of the comfortles come I beséech thee and cleanse my soule from contagiousnes of sinne for it is not conuenient and according that there should bee any vncleannes where thou then the fountaine of all true holines yea holines it selfe shouldest come in and dwel Come therefore good Lord and apparell my soule and body both with such ornaments of vertue and grace that it may delight thee therein to abide And as thou disdainedst not to touch the sore Leapers with thy holy hands so good Lord vouchsafe to annoynt my sinfull soule with the oyntment of remission and pardon of sinnes and so to replenish it with strength and power against sinne and to fill it with abilitie to doe good duties that in this life by stedfast hope firme faith and vnfeigned charitie I may so encrease in vertue from day to day that I may attaine to the glorious fruition of thy Godhead in the kingdome of heauen where I may see thee face to face world without ende Amen After the receiuing of the Sacrament say thus I Thank thée good Lord of thine infinit goodnes for that this day thou hast vouchsafed to féed me with thy blessed body in this holy Sacrament of thine and that by a liuely faith thou hast made me a fruiteful partaker thereof humbly desiring thée further to graunt that this thy blessed Sacrament which I haue receiued may bee powerfull in mee to lessen in me and purge from mee the power of my particular iniquities and to fit mee to all good workes of blessed obedience yea make it in me a fortitude and a spirituall strength against my frailtie a sure defence against worldly troubles and aduersitie a sure seale of grace and pardon a medicine of life and a continuall remembrance in my minde and heart of thy blessed passion so that in the way it may conduct and guide me and when I am out of the way it may reduce mee when I stumble it may vpholde mee and when I am falling it may raise me so that by this and other gracious helpes that thou hast ordained and by good continuance and daily growth in the obedience of thy will I may be brought to euerlasting glorie And during my life vpon earth vouchsafe so to order the tallage and taste of my heart that I neuer féele other swéetenes but thee that I neuer seeke other but thee that I care not for any other delight but thee neither that I regard any other honor but thine And giue me such a sound loue towards thee and in thee and for thee towards my brethren that in it I may continually and comfortably féele that I