surelie haue perished in my trouble The lawe of my God is more deerer vnto me than thousands of siluer and gold yea all the riches in the world is nothing woorth in comparison of thy word For it is more comfortable than the most costliest and pretious restoratiue that anie Physician can make For it comforteth nourisheth and preserueth the soule leading it vnto life euerlasting Oh Lord God of hosts who is like vnto thee Thy truth most mightie God endureth for euermore I will alwaies giue thanks vnto thee for the great benefits that thou hast bestowed on me The righteous shall heare thereof and reioice with me yea and the vnrighteous shall feare the Lord and saie Doubtlesse there is a GOD that defendeth his seruants and he also doth punish the wrong dooers Thou art the God that dooest woonderous things O Lord who may be compared vnto thee For thou deliuerest me thy poore oppressed seruant from the hand of my strong enimie yea from such a one as was too mightie for me to deale withall Thou hast I saie mightilie defended me and now O Lord be mindfull of me and command my spirit to be receiued in grace when it is thy good pleasure Amen An instruction for Christians conteining a fruitfull and godlie exercise as well in wholsome and fruitfull praiers as in reuerend discerning of Gods holie Commandements and Sacraments translated out of French into English by a right vertuous and godlie Matrone and Gentlewoman named Mistresse DORCAS MARTIN Psalme 119. verses 37 133. From vaine desires and worldlie lusts Turne backe mine eies and sight Giue me the spirit of life and power To walke thy waies aright Direct my footesteps by thy word That I thy will may knowe And neuer let iniquitie Thy seruant ouerthrowe The Lords praier OUr Father which art in heauen halowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this daie our dailie bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill for thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen The Articles of the Christian faith I Beleeue in God the father Almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onlie sonne our Lord which was conceiued by the holie Ghost Borne of the virgin Marie Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into hell The third daie he rose againe from the dead He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the father almightie From thence shall he come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleeue in the holie Ghost The holie Catholike Church The communion of Saints The forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie And the life euerlasting Amen The ten Commandements of Almightie GOD Exod. 20. The Preface HEarken O Israel I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage The first Table _1 THou shalt haue none other gods before me 2 Thou shalt make thee no grauen image neither anie similitude of things that are in heauen aboue neither that are in the earth beneath nor that are in the waters vnder the earth Thou shalt not bow downe to them nor woorship them For I am the Lord thy God a gealous God visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children vpon the third generation and vpon the fourth of them that hate me and shewing mercie vnto thousands in them that loue me and keepe my commandements 3 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him giltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 4 Remember the Sabboth daie to keepe it holie Sixe daies shalt thou labour and doo all thy workes but the seauenth daie is the Sabboth of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt not doo anie worke thou nor thy sonne nor thy daughter thy man-seruant nor thy maide-seruant nor the stranger that is within thy gates For in sixe daies the Lord made the heauen and the earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seauenth daie therfore the Lord blessed the Sabboth daie and halowed it The second Table _5 HOnour thy father and thy mother that thy daies may bee prolonged vpon the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee 6 Thou shalt not kill 7 Thou shalt not commit adulterie 8 Thou shalt not steale 9 Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour 10 Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house neither shalt thou couet thy neighbours wife nor his seruant nor his maide nor his oxe nor his asse neither anie thing that is thy neighbours The Summe THou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thine hart with all thy soule and with all thy mind This is the first and the greatest commandement And the second is like vnto this Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe On these two commandements hangeth the whole Lawe and the Prophets Matth 7. verse 12. Whatsoeuer ye would that men should doo to you euen so doo ye to them For this is the Lawe and the Prophets Iohn 15. verse 12. This is my commandement that ye loue one another as I haue loued you Iohn 13. verse 35. Heereby shall all men knowe that you are my disciples if ye loue one another A praier to be said in the Morning when one awaketh Our helpe be in the name of the Lord who hath made heauen and earth O My God and father I most humblie praise and thanke thee for this that of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie it hath pleased thee to watch for me this night whiles I slept preseruing me from so manie kinds of dangers wherevnto this miserable life is subiect O Lord I beseech thee bring into my memorie thy other great and innumerable benefits also according as I may be able to comprehend them to the end that I may likewise render thanks for the same least I be vngratefull towards thy maiestie as thou hast done me this good not to forget that thou alone hast preserued me from all inconuenience And herewithall I beseech thee most gratious father through thy mercie to continue this thy fatherlie care which thou hast for me vntill such time as I shall rest in that happie sleepe whereof they reioice which sleepe in peace through our Lord Iesus Christ thy sonne who in the vnitie of the holie Ghost liueth and reigneth God with thee eternallie So be it The exercise of an housholder with his familie to praie in the Morning O Our God Father Sauiour seeing it hath pleased thee to giue vs grace to passe this night to come vnto this daie present vouchsafe now also to bestowe this goodnesse vpon vs that we may emploie our selues altogether to thy seruice in such wise that we neither thinke saie or doo anie thing but onlie to please thee
intituled Miserere mei Deus Haue mercie vpon me O God which in most deuout manner she said to the verie end with these hir last words LORD into thy hands I command my spirit ¶ Morning and Euening praiers with diuers Psalmes Hymnes and Meditations made and set forth by the Ladie ELIZABETH Tyrwhit A Confession to be said before Morning praier I Doo acknowledge and confesse vnto thee O most mercifull and heauenlie father mine often and grieuous offences that I haue committed against thy diuine Maiestie from my youth hitherto in thought word and deed leauing vndone those things which I ought and should haue done and dooing those things which I ought not to haue done prouoking thy wrath and indignation against me And now lamenting this my wickednes I appeale vnto thy mercie saie with the Publicane O Lord GOD be mercifull vnto me a most wretched sinner forgiue all that is past saue and defend me from euill and confirme me in good life to the glorie of thy name So be it A praier to be said at our vprising I Doo thanke thee my most mercifull and heauenlie Father by thy deerelie beloued sonne Iesu Christ that this night thou hast giuen me sleepe and rest preseruing me from hurt and perill I crie thee mercie for mine offences and most humblie beseech thee that thou wilt likewise this daie keepe me from sinne and all euill so that all my thoughts words and works may please thee I doo commit my selfe both bodie and soule and all things that I go about into thy hands beseeching thee that thine holie spirit may abide with me least my deadlie aduersarie the diuell haue power ouer me Amen Another praier at our vprising OBlessed Iesu this daie I commend me and all my proceedings into thy hands this daie I most humbly praie thee to helpe me which hast made me to thine owne image and in thy bloud hast clensed me which art my hope in heauiuinesse my comfort in care and trust in trouble Although sweete Lord my conscience accuseth me and the lawe condemneth me yet thy pretious death and testament hath deliuered me with thee to reigne in glorie after death hath arrested me the earth consumed me yet good Lord I trust in the resnrrection to dwell with thee eternallie through thy promise made to me and to all that doo beleeue in thee and call vpon thy holie name Thy kingdome come this daie to me from Sathan deliuer me with the bread of Angels feede me from fleshlie lusts purge me from sudden death and deadlie sinne O Lord take me Giue me an hart to beleeue in thee and that all my senses may obey thee and of thy mercie accept my praiers this daie before thee which art one God in Trinitie to whom be all honour and glorie Amen The Hymne or praier to the sonne of God THe beamie sun large light doth giue chase away the night So blesse vs with thy benefits endue vs with thy spirit Swéet dews frō heuen to earth God grant of peace quiet mind That we may serue the liuing God as his statutes doo bind O mightie Lord our helpe at néed driue far awaie the féend That sinne nor hell doo vs molest when as our life shall éend Thou art the euer lasting daie which shinst in euerie place And féedest euerie liuing wight with plentious gifts of grace Into thy heauenlie hands déere God my spirit I doo commend This day from sin and Sathans power thy seruant me defend We laud thée Father for thy grace We praise the Sonne which made vs frée We thanke the holie Spirit for our solace Which is one God and persons thrée An Antheme HIs deerlie beloued sonne God did not spare but for vs all deliuered him How shall he not with him giue vs all things also A praier to God the father to be vsed before Morning praier OUr mercifull father which in teaching vs to praie by thy sonne Christ hast commanded vs to call thee father and to beleeue that we are thy beloued children who stirrest vp none of thine to praie but to the intent that thou wouldest heare them giuing vnto vs also all things more effectuallie and plentiouslie than we can either aske or thinke We do beseech thee for thy sonnes sake to giue vs grace to beleeue and knowe assuredlie that thy sonne our Sauiour Christ is giuen of thee vnto vs to be our Sauiour our righteousnesse our wisdome our holines our redemption and our satisfaction O Lord suffer vs not to trust in anie other saluation but in thy sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it The Hymne of our redemption by Christ. PRaise we our father louinglie which gentlie vs preserued When we forsooke him wretchedlie death by sinne deserued His mercie was so bountious that though we from him fell Fréelie in Christ he pardoned vs and vs redéemd from hell Glorie be to the Trinitie the Father Sonne and spirit liuing Which art one God persons thrée to whom be praise without ending Amen A forme of priuate Morning Praier Our father which art in heauen c. O Lord open thou my lips that my mouth may speake and shew foorth that which is to thy glorie and praise And shut my mouth from speaking of anie thing whereby I should offend thy diuine maiestie or be hurtfull to my neighbor O God make speede to saue vs. O Lord make haste to helpe vs. Glorie be to the Father and to the Sonne and to the holie Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and euer shall be world without end Amen Praise ye the Lord. Thanks be giuen to God The first Psalme at Morning Praier O Lord heare my words marke my crieng O my King and my God for vnto thee onelie come I to praie neither doo I looke for succour anie where else than of thee O Lord I beseech thee that thou wilt gratiouslie hearken to my petitions that thy grace may spring in my hart with the morrowe light of thy comfort the night of care and perturbation being ouerpassed suffer me not to perish with the vngodlie folke whome thou cursest I come running to thee not trusting in mine owne righteousnes but to thy great and manifold mercies O Lord with the rule of thy iustice will I be directed For thy name sake make plaine thy waie before me and my waie before thee least the spirit of malice doo turne me thence Let them reioice that repose themselues and trust alwaies in thy mercie let them sing Hymnes and Psalmes which doo glorie and reioice in thee let them triumph which loue thy name Defend me O Lord with thy grace as with a shield in time of perill to the intent that when I am assaulted with them I may yet with constant cheere growe vp vnto my full perfection Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the c. The second Psalme OH Lord GOD and father I beseech thee by Christ our Lord that of thine infinite
Christ for this thy blessed oblation haue mercie on me now and in the houre of death that in the dreadfull daie of iudgment sinne death and hell may not preuaile against me sinfull creature but haue mercie vpon me according to thy greatest mercie which is this thy death and passion for which be praise to the holie Trinitie for euer and euer Amen The Hymne of the passion of Christ IEsus which is the liuelie well of wisdome And the heauenlie truth of the father eternall Which from heauen to this world did come To deliuer vs thrales from paines infernall Of Iudas was sold and of the Iewes taken And of his Disciples at midnight was forsaken We laud thee father for thy grace We praise the sonne which made vs free We thanke the holie spirit for our solace Which is one God and persons three In the dawning of the daie they did him fast bind And before Pilate he was then conuented False witnesse against Iesus they did then find When the cruell Seniours in iudgement him presented Beaten was his bodie defiled was his face And yet God and man the verie well of grace We laud thee father c. When thrée houres were past before Pilates throne All the people cried Kill Iesus the Iewes king His crowne was thornes in purple he made mone With a crosse ouer Cedron they did him bring And prepared his deadlie place on Galgatha hill To suffer pains for Adams gilt so was his fathers will We laud thee father c. The sirt houre approched his painefull end When on the trée his bodie they nailed In heauen was his helpe in earth he had no freud He died betwéene two théeues on him the Elders railed Then he thirsted for his elect which subiect were to thrall Unthankefullie they offred him vinegre mingled with gall We laud thee father c. This verie God Gods onlie begotten child Said to his father Why hast thou me forsaken Yet receiue this sacrifice and my spirit vndefild The heauens were darkned asunder the stones were shaken Bloud and water then sprang from this blessed lamb Then graues opened the dead aliue foorth came We laud thee father for thy grace c. The second Meditation or praier of our frailtie and miserie O Miserable wretched woman that I am how may I be compared to any of thy saints that shall dwell in thy Tabernacle or holie hill For they loue to be in holie contemplation and I in the vaine multitude forgetting thee they be meeke and I vnpatient they do not forget thee but my good Lord when do I remember thee but when affliction enforceth me or the lamentable fall of my breethren constraine me to thanke thee Thou most mightie and fearefull God of hosts thy holie name be blessed foreuer Amen What shall I saie my God Thou art most good and I euill thou holie and I miserable thou art light and I am blind thou art the blessed ioie and I am carefull and full of sorowe My Lord thou art the Physician and I the miserable patient I am nothing but vanitie and corrupt as euerie liuing man is What shall I saie O Creator but this that I am thy creature and shall I perish Thy hands haue made me and were wounded for me thy bloud was shed for me and hath washed me thy holie Ghost hath sanctified me and taught me yet Lord my daies are nothing What should I mortall creature thus talke with my selfe Lord God but that need hath no lawe Sorowe hath compelled me to seeke comfort sicknesse enforceth me to folowe the Physician conscience pricketh me to crie to thee my Lord for a heauenlie cordiall of comfort which am in great discomfort borne of a woman full of miserie and shortnesse of time and passe awaie like a shadowe neuer content with one estate but in earth remaine for euer The Hymne to God the Creator O Creator to thée thy creature I call Who made of mould do liue in paine And sicke in soule my flesh is thrall O wo is me my daies be vaine Yet vnto God I call for grace My soule in heauen to haue a place A praier to the blessed Trinitie Let vs praie O Holie blessed and glorious Trinitie three equall and coeternall persons but one God almightie haue mercie vpon me vile abiect abhominable and sinfull wretch meekelie acknowledging before thy diuine Maiestie my long continued life in sinne euen from my childhood hitherto Then good gratious Lord as thou giuest me the grace to acknowledge them so giue me grace not in word onlie but in hart also with sorowfull contrition to repent and vtterlie to forsake them Forgiue me also those sinnes through which by mine owne fault wicked affection and euill custome my reason is with sensualitie so blinded as I cannot discerne them for sinne Illuminate my hart good Lord and giue me grace to acknowledge them Forgiue me my sinnes negligentlie forgotten and bring them to my mind with grace to be throughlie repentant for them O mercifull God grant me thy grace so to despise sinne and all worldlie vanities that I may saie with the blessed Apostle Saint Paule The world is crucified to me and I to the world Christ is to me life and to die is my gaine and aduantage I desire to be loosed and to be with Christ Lord giue me thy grace to amend my life and to haue an eie to mine end without anie grudge or feare of death which to them that die in thee is the gate of eternall life Almightie God teach me to doo thy will take my right hand and leade me in the true waie from mine drawe me after thee bind my mouth with snaffle and bridle when I will not drawe vnto thee Oh gratious God all sinfull feare all sinfull sorowe and pensiuenesse all sinfull hope all sinfull mirth and gladnesse take awaie from me On the other side concerning such feare such heauinesse such comfort consolation and gladnesse as shall be profitable for my soule doo with me according to thy great goodnesse O Lord giue me grace in all my feare and agonie to haue recourse to that great feare and wonderfull agonie that thou my sauiour hadst at the Mount of Oliuet before thy most bitter passion and in the meditation thereof to conceiue ghostlie comfort and consolation profitable for my soule Almightie God take from me all vaine-glorious minds all appetites of mine owne praise all enuie couetise gluttonie sloth and lecherie all wrathfull affection all appetite of reuenging all desire of delight of other mens harmes all pleasure in prouoking anie person to wrath and anger all delight in taunting or mocking anie person in their affliction or trouble And giue vnto me O Lord an humble quiet peaceable patient charitable kind tender and pitifull mind in all my words my works and thoughts to haue a tast of thy holie and blessed spirit Giue me good Lord a full faith a firme hope a feruent charitie a loue to thee good Lord incomparable
to thy mercies in all euents purpose firmelie as I now doo euerie daie to amend my life Deliuer me my gratious God from all mortall sinne for euer and giue me grace to persecute my vices with sorowe during life And for the satisfaction of these and all my former sinnes as also for all thine ineffable benefits bestowed vpon me and all mankind I offer vnto thee the merits of thy bitter passion those most pretious drops of bloud thou sheddest for me and that inflamed charitie wherewith thou wholie resignedst thy selfe to all thy torments for my sake and in the vnion of this thine oblation on the crosse I offer vp my selfe soule bodie and all I haue of thine within or without me to thine honour and euerlasting glorie I retaine nothing to my selfe but giue all to thee whose it is and make that thine by my will which is thine of iustice Giue me thy grace O my God to liue better herafter and to confesse my sinnes in due time vnto thee Giue me true humilitie continuall repentance and grace both to knowe thee and also my selfe Giue me puritie of hart in all my dooings patience chastitie and perfect charitie Giue me a good life and a good death and in the dangerous houre of my departure the assistance of thy blessed Saints and Angels with whom I may through thy mercie in another world praise and glorifie thee euerlastinglie Amen The Hymne or praier to God the Father BLessed be God father of heauen Which hath strengthned his féeble flocke With stedfast faith and boldnesse euen To beare his crosse burden and yocke These are the last daies perillous Fréelie Christs Gospell to professe Come downe Lord shortlie to iudge vs And take vs from the heauinesse An Antheme WHosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued A praier to God the Father to be vsed before Euening praier O Mercifull Lord and louing Father without whose aid and motion I am not able to stir one member toward heauenlie seruice the burden of this slowe and sinfull flesh doth so ouercharge my weake soule According to thy fatherlie pitie looke vpon me O God and quicken my dull spirit with thy grace to rise out of this mirie puddle and to come before thy presence in humble repentance crauing thy mercie for my miserable sinnes and wickednesse that being released in the bloud and righteousnesse of Iesus Christ I may ioifullie serue honour and praise thine eternall Maiestie through thy deere sonne my mercifull Lord and redeemer to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all glorie and thanks for euer Amen The Hymne of our redemption by Christ. PRaised be God for his excéeding fauour Wich hath giuen vs his sonne to be our Sauiour We are sinners vnrighteous foolish and fleshlie Christ is our mercie-stoole righteousnesse wisdome verelie We are vncleane holden vnder the danger of deth sins exaction Christ is our holines our life our redemption and satisfaction Glorie be to thée O Lord borne of the vndefiled virgin Glorie be to the Father and to the holie Ghost our soules surgin So be it A forme of Priuate Euening praier Our Father which art in heauen c. COnuert vs our Sauiour and turne awaie thy wrath from vs. O God make speede to saue vs. O Lord make haste to helpe vs. Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the be c. Praise ye the Lord. Thanks be giuen vnto God The first Psalme at Euening praier BOw downe thine eare O Lord to my requests and suffer me to exhibit my supplication vp vnto thee For behold night and daie I trace and hunt after thee by all meanes I can To thee onelie earlie and late doo I still call and crie for mercie according as thou hast giuen mee in commandement For when I call to memorie the time of my life euill dispent I quake to thinke vpon thee yea and my spirit faileth me so sore am I afraid of thy iudgements Yet well pondering the processe of thy grace mercie promised me in Christ I cease to despaire knowing that thou O GOD hast not forgotten thy gifts of grace and that thy power to haue compassion is not waxen faint but that both thou canst and wilt put backe thy wrath most iustlie conceiued against me for my sinne In full trust whereof O Lord I come vnto thee beseeching thee to hide my life with Christ within thee and vnder the shadowes of thy wings to defend me that thy grace couenant may be with me euermore Turne not thy mercie from me O Lord nor bring me downe to destruction as I haue deserued but shew thy grace and fauour vnto me that I may liue and being exalted through thy righteousnesse praise thy name most ioifullie Remember my corrupt nature O Lord how short my life is and that thou madest not man for nothing No man can deliuer himselfe from death no man can saue his owne soule from hell thou onelie O Lord must do it namelie to such as beleeue in thee This life passeth as doth a dreame or grasse in the field which to daie is greene and to morrow drie If thou be displeased then we be lost if thou chafe then we shrinke for feare for through sinnes we be dead vnto thee with whome a thousand yeares be but as one daie yea as the least minute of an houre Certesse Lord if thou haue respect to our sins who shall continue Shew me therefore how manie be the daies of my life that I may dispend them wiselie to the praise of thy name least that I foolishlie trusting vpon long life suddenlie might perish come to death Come Lord now vnto vs and comfort vs. Come O God and hide not thy face from me that I be not like vnto those that be hurled into the pit of perdition And after this night of calamitie ouerpassed let the pleasant morning of comfort luckilie shine vpon me that betimes I may heare and feele thy goodnesse for in thee is all my trust Deliuer me this night from the snare of Sathans gard which hunt in the darke how to plucke me from thee Let me not stand in the feare of the night-euill of vnbeleefe and of thy strait iudgement neither let me be afraid of the fleeing arrowe in the daie time Let me not be in feare of that horrible pestilence creeping in through darkenesse I meane let me not be ignorant how detestable my sins be that I dissemble them not nor qualifie them Let me not dread that middaie diuell which abuseth thy Church vnder a title and pretence of holinesse neither let Sathan though he change himselfe into an Angel of light strike anie feare in me But both on the right side and on the left as well in the night as in the daie that is as well in aduersitie as prosperitie and as well in spirituall businesse as in corporall let thy holie Angels diligentlie wait vpon me that I do not stumble then
and euer and especiallie all things that shall turne to thy displeasure And with all my hart I thanke thee most mercifull Lord for the great benefits that thou hast bestowed vpon me largelie in this world afore manie creatures which are more woorthie a thousand times than I but my most gratious Lord I wot and knowledge verelie that all good gifts doo come freelie from thee of thine abundant mercie Wherefore with all my hart I thanke thee and all worship praises and thanks be to thee and none other Therefore I saie with the Prophet Dauid Not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name be giuen all honour glorie Also I commit to thy mercie mine enimies persecutors and slanderers beseeching thee to turne their harts and to giue vs grace one to forgiue another from the verie botome of our harts that from hence-foorth we may liue in loue and charitie to thy glorie and to the increase of thy kingdome I doo commit to thy mercie our Queene Elizabeth and this Realme beseeching thee to incline hir hart to all godlinesse and vertue that she may long reigne ouer vs in peace and tranquillitie to liue in thy feare and call vpon thy holie name and to be readie at all times to set foorth thy blessed lawes and commandements and that thou O omnipotent God with thy mightie hand and stretched out arme wilt confound all Idolatrie and superstition and set vp thy true and holie religion that thy faithfull seruants may triumph and reioice in thee with merie harts and sing vnto thy praise that this the mightie hand of GOD hath brought to passe and to thy name giue the honour and glorie to whome all honour and glorie is due I doo commit vnto thy mercie all those that in this transitorie life be in sorowe sicknesse neede tribulation or anie other aduersitie and speciallie all those that for the profession of thy Gospell and the defence of the saine doo put their liues vnto the edge of the sword O Lord for thy mercies sake forgiue them and vs our offences past comfort them in their greeuous afflictions strengthen them in their weakenesse send them patience in their tribulations abate the pride of their and our enimies asswage the malice of them confound their wicked deuises that we and they being armed with thy mightie defence may be preserued euermore from perils to glorifie thee which art the onlie giuer of all victorie through y e merits of Christ So be it I commit to thy mercie all those that doo faithfullie professe thy holie Gospell beseeching thee to giue vs grace to liue according to thy lawes that by well dooing we may stop the mouthes of the vngodlie aduersaries of the Gospell and thereby win them to the right waie that we may all with one hart and one mouth glorifie thee O Lord God in the daie of visitation to whome all honour and glorie is due And now O my most mercifull Lord and louing father I finallie commit vnto thy mercie my wretched soule and bodie humblie beseeching thee to haue mercie vpon me according to thy great bountifull mercie and according to the multitude of thy tender compassions doo awaie I beseech thee my most greeuous iniquities Unto God the father the sonne and the holie Ghost be now and euer eternall honour and glorie world without end Amen A praier at night going to bed THe God of Angels and men the founder of all creatures visible and inuisible in whose hand is life and death light and darknesse and all the motions of soule and bodie without whome there is no good gift nor perfect quietnesse of conscience but onlie vanitie and vexation of mind and vtter confusion of soule and bodie and finall torments in the horrible pit of darknesse now my Lord God darknesse doth approch this daie hath lost his beautie I as vnworthie of thy benefits most humblie praie thee this night to blesse me and with thy holie Angels assist me thy holie spirit this night lighten me which hast of earth made me and by thy creatures doest nourish me and with thy bloud hast consecrated me with thee to dwell eternallie in glorie when death hath dissolued me which am but vanitie c. And banish Sathan from me that neither mine owne conscience now vexe me nor mine old offences trouble me I most humblie beseech thee this night to pardon me which haue sore offended thee in thought word and deede against thy diuine maiestie which sore repenteth me Saue me good Lord this night sleeping from dreadfull dreames and painefull slumber deliuer me that I may awake in Christ and rest in peace So be it The Hymne or praier for night PRaise ye the Lord his seruants all lift vp to him your hands The night singers in Gods courts in all Christian lands Praise we the Lord our God king which made the earth heuen His blessing be on vs this night which made the planets seuen Into thy hands O Lord our God our soules we do commend This night from sinne Sathans power thy mercie vs defend We laud thee Father for thy grace We praise the Sonne which made vs free We thanke the holie Spirit for our solace Which is one God and persons three Amen Another Hymne or praier to be said when ye go to bed I Go to bed I hope to sléepe God knoweth when I shall rise My soule O Lord defend and kéep from it turne not thine eies This daie I haue committed sinne a hundred times and more I was conceiued and borne therein forgiue me Lord therefore To thée I will my soule betake sinfull it is to sée For I do knowe thou canst it make as pure as néede to bée Forgiue me mine offences all my soule Lord do not kill To thée I will betake my soule accept my zealous will Thy pardon Lord I trust to haue as Dauid had and mo My soule I trust thou wilt now saue from death damned wo. In thée O God I put my trust to guide and aide me still To kéepe me alwaies true and iust according to thy will Thou God of might great renowme I trust thou wilt me kéepe Lord with thy leaue I will lie downe to take my rest and sléepe So be it M. W. The Antheme WE looke for our sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ which shall change our vile bodie that it may be like to his glorious bodie according to the power whereby he is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe Amen Let vs praie Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. * Our Father which art in heauen c. VIsit we beseech thee O Lord this our dwelling and driue from it all the assaults of our enimie let thy holie Angels dwel in it which may keepe vs all this night in thy peace and euer let thy blessing be vpon vs. Grant this O most mercifull father for thy sonnes sake Iesus Christ who with thee and
the holie Ghost liueth and reigneth one God world without end Amen SAue vs O good Lord waking and keepe vs sleeping and be so mercifull to vs that with Christ we may wake and quietlie to rest in peace So be it The conclusion after Euening praier O Lord Iesu Christ that art in heauen perfect God and man heare my praiers haue mercie vpon me and praie vnto thy father for me Be thou my mercifull mediator vnto thy father that I might find mercie for my sinnes at all times and thy holie Angels to guide me this night and all the time and daies of my life and at the generall daie of iudgement that I may be partaker of that ioifull voice of thine saieng Come hither ye blessed and possesse euerlasting life Amen The Blessing GOD euen our owne GOD blesse vs and graunt vnto vs and all our faithfull and deere freends his continuall benediction and health Yea let thy mightie hand and outstretched arme O Lord be still my defence thy mercie and louing kindnesse in Iesu Christ thy deere sonne my saluation thy true and holie word my instruction thy grace and holie spirit my comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end So be it ¶ Certaine godlie sentences written by the Ladie E. T. Vse inuocation of Gods holie name Thinke vpon the needie once a daie The life to come forget not Further the iust sute of the poore Prefer Christ his kingdome Offend not in euill doing Set little by the iudgement of man but feare the iudgement of God Be at peace with all men Vse to be acquainted with the godlie Helpe to pacifie displeasure Hastilie iudge not anie bodie Kill anger with patience VVith pitie rebuke Make much of modestie Harbour a harmelesse hart Let no good deed Speake in season He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life In being well occupied thinke not long Lose as little time as ye may Be alwaies one Fauour the friendlesse Be not vnthankefull Trust not the world Deceiue none Rather take hurt than do anie Auenge not Let once be amended Fauour not flatterie Looke cheeflie on your selfe Do not forget your charge Let your mind be occupied well Vse pleasures after a meane Once you were not heere Awaie you must and turne to dust Finis ê™ E. T. The Praiers made by the right Honourable Ladie Frances Aburgauennie and committed at the houre of hir death to the right Worshipfull Ladie MARIE Fane hir onlie daughter as a Iewell of health for the soule and a perfect path to Paradise verie profitable to be used of euerie faithfull Christian man and woman A fruitfull praier to be said in the Morning AL mightie God and most mercifull father the fountaine of all felicitie from whom onelie proceedeth all good gifts most humblie I beseech thee of thine abundant mercie exceeding kindnesse so to direct and gouern me this daie and euer with thy good guiding Spirit that all my thoughts words and deeds may onelie be occupied in thy seruice faith feare and loue and so assist and strengthen me with thy grace O most mercifull and louing father for thy sonne Iesus Christ his sake that neither sinne death hell nor Sathan haue the dominion and vpper hand of me Indue my hart with the true vnderstanding of thy true and liuelie word that I may be readie and prone manfullie to fight vnder the standard of my glorious captaine Iesus Christ against the world the flesh and that cruell Serpent the old Leuiathan which hunteth continuallie like a roring Lion seeking the vtter destruction of my soule Make me constant in time of temptation that when or at what time my rebelling and sinfull flesh shall intise me to lust after the pompes and vanities of this wicked world I may by a strong liuelie and vnspeakable faith through the bitter torments that my Sauiour Christ Iesus suffered for me and all that faithfullie beleeue and call vpon him so mortifie and subdue the old Adam that I may be dead and buried from sinne and all iniquitie and the new man Christ Iesus may continuallie dwell and reigne in me by whose meanes I shall be garnished and decked by the means of a fruitfull faith with immortalitie and heauenlie blessednesse Uouchsafe O Lord I beseech thee according to the multitude of thy mercies to looke vpon me and by thy celestiall prouidence so illuminate the eies of my soule that I may continuallie watch for the glorious comming of thine annointed son Iesus Christ Roote out O Lord in and from me the vile and corrupt branches of rapine deceit auarice luxurie concupiscence and all vngodlinesse let the motions of my mind altogether depend vpon thee prepare my tongue to publish thy praise let my lips be locked vp from all scurillitie and vncomlie talke let mine eares loath and abhor to heare thy glorious and blessed name blasphemed and thy truth to be by anie Sectarian ill spoken of slandered keepe and defend me vnder the wings of thy comfortable protection from all errours schismes and detestable heresies Make me without faining firmelie and constantlie to build vpon the truth wherein is perfectlie set forth thy great mercie and diuine iustice Let the zeale of thy promises in all distres be my chiefest ioie and consolation giue me grace from aboue that as I make my boast of thy mercies and louing kindnesse by vertue whereof I am by my Sauiour Christ Iesus quickened from death to life and in his deerest death and pretious bloud-shedding regenerated and borne anew not of water but of the spirit by faith So Lord I may with thine abundant loue shewed to me ward and the whole posteritie of Adam I may be afraid wilfullie or of a set purpose to transgresse thy commandements and so incur therby thy displeasure that the effects of thy iustice in the day of thy comming to iudgement be pronounced against me to the vtter destruction of bodie and soule Make me alwaies willing good Lord to heare thy word by the power wherof my faith is increased and there withall plant in me perfect loue and obedience and so direct my footesteps in this vale of miserie that I may tread the path that leadeth to thee with whom my soule thirsteth to rest euen as vehementlie as the Hart longeth after the water brookes Grant this O mercifull God for the honour and glorie of thy name sake Amen A fruitfull praier to be said at the going to bed of euerie Christian. MOst mercifull Father I most wretched and vnwoorthie sinner prostrate my selfe before the throne of thy heauenlie grace yeelding vnto thee most humble and hartie thanks that hast of thine exceeding loue and fauour preserued me this daie from all perill and danger humblie beseeching thy diuine Maiestie this night to preserue me for the loue of thine onlie sonne and my sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ mediatour and aduocate who continuallie pleadeth and maketh intercession to thee for me and all the rest of thy chosen children presenting his bloudie
and soule This fraile life is nothing else but a continuall warfare in this world our sinnes most like to cruell enimies assault vs on euerie side againe our daies are but few in number Guide me therefore with thy grace so to spend my small short and transitorie time in this world the verie fountaine welspring and vale of all miserie that I may be made a member of Christ partaker of thine eternall felicitie To the which seeing that through mine owne desert I shall neuer be able to aspire for sinne trulie so aboundeth in me that ech deed and act of mine is not onelie infected but altogither polluted therwith none other remedie haue I to ease my selfe none other salue to heale my sore but onelie to take hold of that promise of thine wheras thou saiest Come vnto me all ye that ye that labour and be ouerladen and I will refresh you This is my hold-fast this is mine anchor and sure staie For verelie sweet Sauiour when I looke vpon mine owne frailnesse and behold how readie I am to offend thee then I quake for feare then I am almost in vtter despaire but as soone as I call to mind thy great loue and kindnesse and how that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he should repent and liue and that in what daie soeuer he doth hartilie repent and call vnto thee thou wilt heare him then I am releeued then I am not a little comforted knowing surelie that thou wilt performe that which thou hast promised in faithfull assurance whereof I now saie vnto thee Turne thou me O my God and I shall be turned from all my wickednesse deliuer me Heale my soule which is wounded with sinne for I doo acknowledge mine iniquitie and am hartilie sorie for mine offences correct me O Lord but yet not in thy furie looke not vpon my weaknesse but thinke vpon thine owne worthinesse remember thy louing kindnesse and in the abundance and multitude of thy mercies wipe cleane awaie pardon and forget all my sinnes through which I haue either in word deede or though or anie other kind of way offended thee blot them out of thy remembrance and let the bloud of that immaculate lambe Iesus Christ wash them awaie let mine old offences so decaie and die in me that I neuer commit them any more or by anie meanes renew them in thy sight And in the meane time doo not withdrawe thy grace from me but cause me to doo all that which good is O Father remoue thy wrath awaie from me and restore vnto me thy fauour turne thou thy louing countenance vnto me and plentifullie powre foorth thy mercie vpon me Incline my hart to doo that onelie which is acceptable in thy sight guide thou my footesteps in thy paths and suffer me not at any time to straie from thy waies let me alwaies haue the feare of thee in my hart and the remembrance of thy benefits fresh in my memorie and if at anie time through weakenesse and failtie I doo transgresse thy commandements yet doo not therefore reiect and cast me out of thy sight but be thou that good Samaritane and powre the oile and wine of mercie and forgiuenesse into those wounds which sinne shall make in me Disdaine me not for my reuolting but haue mercie vpon me according to thy great goodnesse and according to the multitude of thy mercies wipe awaie mine iniquitie Hide me vnder the shadowe of thy wings and protection lighten mee with thy holie spirit Make me thy seruant so indue me with thy grace that I may vnfeinedlie with hart and voice serue honour and praise thee all the daies of my life Amen Another praier for the obteining of grace and mercie O Most mercifull Lord God whose Maiestie is incomprehensible power infinite whose magnificence is exalted aboue the heauens vouchsafe I beseech thee frō thy high throne to behold the worke of thy hands haue pitie on the vnhappie and desolate condition of thy creature I am a sinner conceiued in sinne and of my selfe I haue no good thing wherefore O Lord I cleaue to the altar of thy mercie Thou art my anchor my hope my refuge and staie Therefore O Lord haue mercie vpon me for no flesh can be iustified in thy sight Thou knowest the frailtie and weakenesse of men We are taught by the fall of Peter that we can doo nothing without thee Graunt vs therefore good Lord thy grace without which in this world we are like by the waues of temptations to be swallowed in the gulph and whirlepoole of sinne to be drowned as the ship without anchor and Pilote in euerie tempest to runne on the rocke and perish Guide vs therefore by thy grace good Lord through the flouds of this carefull world that we may rest for euer in the pleasant port and happie hauen of euerlasting ioie with thine elected through our blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie in all worlds Amen A Confession to be said of the penitent person O Most mercifull Lord God I haue offended against the throne of thy Maiestie my sinnes are euer before mine eies I am not worthie to liue or enioie the fruits wherewith thou hast blessed the earth Mine owne conscience is my tormenter bringing testimonie and witnesse against me The Sunne doth hide his light against me and the place is the woorsse wherein I become O Lord what shall I doo Shall I despaire No thou art mercifull and more readie to forgiue than we to aske I will confesse my sinnes to thee I am wearie of my sinfull life I am sorie in my soule for mine offences Wherefore good Lord thou which dooest ease them that are laden and refresh them that trauell thou which hast promised mercie to the penitent looke on me thy seruant with thy cheerefull countenance behold me with those pitifull eies with which thou didst Marie Magdalen and the woman taken in adulterie Thou which hast shed thy bloud ou the altar of the Crosse offering thy most pretious bodie an eternall sacrifice for our sinnes despise not that which thou hast redeemed Thou which cammest into the world to call sinners to repentance and to saue the lost sheepe of Israel haue mercie vpon me and leade me by thy grace to the fold amóng thy sheepe for they go in sweet pasture and are not in danger of Wolues for thou art their shepheard and keepest good accompt of euerie one of them Though I haue gone astraie wandring from thy flocke and borne the marks of the world yet good Lord disclaime not thy right I beseech thee but take me vnto thee that I may be safe vnder the shadowe of thy wings He may sleepe soundlie whome thou dooest keepe Thou art the watchman of Israel All honour and glorie be vnto thee for euer Amen Another godlie Confession and meditation of the penitent I Altogether vnhappie and comfortlesse haue greeuouslie offended my Lord God
to slander and backbite their neighbours the poison of Adders lieth hidden vnder their lips and in fine they as thine enimies blaspheme thy holie and blessed name and contemne thy testimonies O Lord giue me thy grace to be conuersant with good and godlie men such as fauour thy glorious Gospell and doo their indeuour to practise thy precepts to the glorie of thy holie and blessed name Make me by their example to exercise my selfe in the heauenlie veritie that thereby I may be instructed in the liuelie knowledge of thy commandements and obtaine such wisdome from aboue that by faith I may cleaue to thee and the felowship of those that feare thy holie name and so auoide the companie of the wicked and vngodlie worldlings which haue laid snares to intrap mee Graunt this O most mercifull Father for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake who euer liueth and reigneth with thee and the holie Ghost to whome be all laude glorie power and praise for euer and euer Amen A praier to be said before or after the Sermon MOst mightie GOD which by thy word hast made all things whose voice the flouds and hils doo knowe whose heast both quicke and dead heauen and hell obey at whose displeasure the diuels in hell doo tremble let thy word so lighten our harts that by our good works we may testifie our profession seeing that the tree which beareth not fruit shall be cut downe throwne into the fire Grant that I may not onelie be a hearer but also a dooer of thy holie word that so finallie I may be partaker of thine euerlasting ioie and blisse O Lord grant me wisdome to knowe thee and grace to followe thee in true humilitie that as thou didst suffer to be spitted at and smitten of thine enimies so we may beare the displeasures of the world and rage of our enimies with patience Thou hast blessed the little ones and reuealed vnto them the things hidden from the wise For thou wilt haue mercie where it pleaseth thee O set thy feare alwaies before mine eies make me to vnderstand wisdome secretlie and graffe thy faith so in my hart that I may both knowe thee and loue thee and glorifie thy holie name for euer Amen A praier for faith O Blessed Sauiour Iesus sonne of the euerliuing God the vnspeakeable ioie of thy seruants most present cōfort to sinners which camest into the world to saue offenders which so louedst the world that thou sparedst not thy most pretious bloud to redeeme the losse of our first father Adam and to make vs coheires of the forfeited inheritance with thy selfe that all which beleeue in thee might be saued Good Lord which hast promised to them that knocke it shall be opened and that they which seeke shall find grant I beseech thee that I may search thy holie lawes and find the truth of thy holie word that I may alwaies constantlie confesse and shew thee and thy goodnesse as well in my words as liuing Inspire me with thy holie spirit that I may knowe thee stedfastlie trust in thee and serue thee in praiers and well-dooing all the time of my life O most mercifull Lord and Sauiour of the world for the glorie of thy name sake I beseech thee to heare my praiers My soule reioice in God my sauing health for hee hath been good to thee he hath kept thee from the snare of the hunter and blessed thee The Lord is a mercifull God let all the earth feare him let the mouths of all men sound praises vnto him God is a good Lord and dailie increaseth his good gifts to his seruants the Lord will increase my faith in him and I shall be saued So be it A praier to be said before the receiuing of the Lords Supper OMnipotent GOD and father euerlasting whose mercie is infinite and whose kingdom hath none end vouchsafe I beseech thee of thine exceeding goodnes to increse our faith that as thy ghests repaire to the table of thy sonne Iesus Christ who hath left vnto vs before he gaue his bodie to be crucified and his bloud to be shed largelie on the crosse for our redemption as a pledge of his great loue and abundant kindnesse the celebration of his glorious supper wherein as it were in a looking glasse the death of our great maister the high shepheard of our soules Iesus Christ is most liuelie set foorth vnto vs. Giue vs grace therefore from aboue rightlie to vnderstand the diuine mysteries offered vnto vs thereby and not to wrest or wring the same contrarie to thy will Let it be far from our thoughts good Lord to leaue thine eternall veritie and to build on the doctrine of men who following their owne imaginations run headlong to the gaping gulph of danger and destruction Plucke the scales of ignorance from our eies that we may cleerlie descerne and behold by the light of thy glorious Gospell how we may truelie communicate and participate the fruits of thy grace represented vnto vs in this comfortable Sacrament Indue vs plentifullie with such pure knowledge that we may not once thinke or saie after anie grosse forme or carnall maner we feede vpon or eate thy flesh reallie or carnallie but make vs alwaies constantlie to beleeue that thy glorious bodie is ascended vp into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of thy Father concerning thy humanitie and cannot be thence remooued till the time that thou shalt come with legions of Angels to iudge the quicke and the dead before whose presence shall run a consuming fire And moreouer wee doo most humblie beseech thee so to confirme vs in the truth of thy blessed testament that we may confesse thy diuine nature to be equall with the Father and the holie Ghost and to beleeue that thy power is not a power particular but a power generall and such as doth and shall gouerne in heauen and earth in the deepe and lowe waters yea and in the nethermost parts of hell Strengthen vs therefore good Lord that stand least that in falling from the true knowledge of thee we perish euerlastinglie And sith thou hast called vs by thy word as thy ghests to this blessed banket wherin y e mouths of our carnall bodies are fostered fed with bread and wine so Lord confirme our faith in thee that the mouths of our soules may feed spirituallie vpon thy sweetest flesh and drinke thy deerest blood and so be nourished to euerlasting life and heauenlie blessednesse Which reward as a dowrie due thou hast promised to all those that faithfullie build vpon thee which art the rocke and strong piller of our saluation And as these most holie mysteries must set foorth vnto vs most liuelie thy death and passion so make vs thankefull to thee for the same and thereby giue vs grace to print in our harts thy great loue and exceeding clemencie that sparedst not to giue thy bodie to the most vile shamefull and slanderous death of the Crosse and thy bloud to be shed
for our offences Indue vs with loue and charitie to all men make vs readie to forgiue to loue and pardon our enimies persecutors and slanderers Turne our harts minds from all impietie couetousnesse blasphemie pride gluttonie fornication and all other detestable euils And if at anie time we haue defeated the fatherlesse of his right the widowe of hir dowrie or gathered togither our goods wrongfullie by violence oppression fraud collusion or deceit giue vs grace to make restitution and to aske with sorowfull plaints and fluds of teares from the bottome of our harts pardon and free forgiuenesse of thee for such and all other our offences whatsoeuer wee haue done or committed in thought word will and deed against thy diuine Maiestie or anie other our brethren and sisters Take awaie from vs ali bitternes cursed speaking and backbiting Giue vs grace to come woorthilie by the vertue of a true and fruitfull faith to this holie and blessed supper that our soules feeding faithfullie on thy sweetest flesh and drinking thy deerest bloud wee may both in bodie and soule be nourished by thee to euerlasting and endlesse glorie in heauen where with thee and the felowship of thy chosen Saints we shall enioie the fruition of the euerlasting kingdome which thou hast ordeined for all those that ouelie and alone without wauering doo build vpon thee Sanctifie and make cleane our harts and minds by the power of thy holie Ghost the verie comforter of thy chosen Purge thou our cankred consciences infected with sinne by the working of thy good grace least that by the presuming to this thy table O Lord we incur thy displeasure and being vnrepentant for our offences we be found vnmeet ghests to come to thy holie banket and so we eate and drinke to the vtter confusion of our soules and bodies Giue vs grace therefore good Lord to conuert vs wholie vnto thee and we shall be turned from all our sinne and iniquitie Giue vs grace to rest onlie vpon thee and we shall be made safe Giue vs thine aid from aboue we beseech thee by faith to striue with the man of sinne and so to vanquish him that he may die to vs and we may liue to thee which art the giuer of life Grant this O most gratious God for Iesus Christ his sake to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be giuen all praise honour and glorie for euer and euer Amen A praier or thankesgiuing to be said after the receiuing of the Communion WE giue thee most hartie thanks O heauenlie Father that hast at this present fed vs and refreshed our hungrie soules with the flesh and bloud of our Sauiour Christ not carnallie but spirituallie Giue vs grace therefore continuallie by the meanes of an increasing and fruitfull faith to beleeue that thy flesh is meate indeed and thy bloud is drinke indeed and that vnneths we eate thy flesh and drinke thy bloud we can not enter into thy kingdome nor be saued in the daie of thy comming Giue vs grace therefore being vnprofitable seruants and vnwoorthilie called by the reason of the multitude of our sinnes to banket at thy table whereas the celebration of thy supper hath beene vsed and thy death by the visible elements of bread and wine represented vnto vs to offer vp vnto thee continuallie the fruits of true repentant and sorowfull harts that thy name may be glorified we by thy grace comforted thy displeasure turned to loue thy wrath to compassion our sinnes pardoned and forgotten and our names written in the booke of life And as it hath pleased thee at this present to account vs for thy ghests and not onlie to feede vs with visible creatures namelie bread and wine but also in soule which is thine owne similitude to cherish vs with thy flesh and bloud wheron by the vertue of a liuelie faith we haue to our great comforts most plentifullie fed so now O Lord we beseech thee of thine abundant goodnesse to increase our faith that it may wax strong in thee and fruitfull to exercise the works of charitie and loue to all men that therby as we haue now been at the celebration of thy glorious and blessed supper so we may whensoeuer it shall please thee to call vs to thine heauenly banket be found furnished not emptie not naked but armed and couered with fruitfull faith and truth and so as thy ghests or vessels of honour enioie the participation of thy heauenlie and rich palace whereas ioies neuer vade but continuallie endure Take from vs the burden of our corruption set vs free from the cursed clog of sinne deliuer vs from the snares of death and destruction Giue vs willing minds to obeie and heare thy commandements clense thou our harts from all iniquitie and giue vs grace henceforth to walke in newnesse of life and godlie conuersation that thy name may be glorified and we saued in the daie of thy comming to iudgement Grant this for Jesus Christ his sake our mediatour and aduocate Amen A godlie praier to be said of euerie Christian especiallie at burials GOod Lord which with thy hands doest staie the frame engin of the earth and rulest the course of the swift heauens disposing and ordering all things by thy diuine prouidence which hast apointed bounds to our life which we can not pas I besech thee that by my liuing I learning to die mortifieng by thy spirit the affections of the flesh though not expelling them yet subduing the rage of them it may at the last by the hauen of death land in the most glorious citie of euerlasting life where our bodies which are now darke miserable and corruptible shall be most bright glorious and incorruptible like to the immortall and shining bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ We shall be like to Christ our Sauiour euen as he is so shall we be And as we haue borne the image of the earthlie so shall we beare the image of the heauenlie and shine like to the sunne as the face of Christ did in his transfiguration Oh Lord Iesus blessed Sauiour which by thy death hast triumphed ouer sinne and death thou hast troden on the sting of the monster our hidious enimie the gates of hel haue not preuailed against thee grant to me a true and liuelie faith by which men passe from earth to heauen from death to eternall life This can we not doo without thee thou must be our mediatour For a child of a nights birth is not pure in thy sight In sinne were we borne and by nature we are the children of perdition and firebrands of hell but thou O blessed Sauiour art the perfection of the lawe to them that beleeue As death came by sinnes so by thy death and pretious bloudshedding is death conquered and exiled and we that beleeue washed and clensed of our sinnes All the Prophets beare witnesse that they which beleeue in thy name shall receiue remission of their sinnes If we confesse our sinnes thou art righteous to
this perfect quietnesse may be in anie I will not affirme peraduenture it is not necessarie to be For Paule in this life notwithstanding his high perfection and grace had a motion of the flesh to vexe and trouble him And when he thrise desired God to be deliuered from the said motion he onelie had this answere Paule my grace is sufficient for vertue is made perfect by vexation Paule was vexed by pride that he should not be proud to be perfect and strong in God he was caused to be weake and feeble For he caried the treasure of heauenlie reuelation in a fraile and brittle vessell that the honour and victorie should onlie be in God not in himselfe This one example of Paule is erudition and learning in manie things when that we be entised and moued to sinne that we diligentlie call to almightie God by praier Remember that Dauid the Prophet King Salomon and Peter the Apostle notwithstanding they were great lights and examples of holinesse yet they fell into greeuous and great sinnes whome almightie God peraduenture suffered to fall for this cause speciallie that thou shouldst not despaire Lift vp thy selfe therefore vpon thy feete and with high courage and bold stomach returne againe into battell against thy enimies not onlie more fierce and bold but also more ware and diligent And thinke with thy selfe what intollerable and inuincible temptations Christ suffered for thee wherein there appeared no helpe comfort aide nor defence anie where wherein God and the whole world seemed to be his most cruell and malicious enimies when that he cried alowd My GOD my GOD why hast thou forsaken me Trulie this was a most greeuous painefull and bitter temptation which Christ suffered for vs that he might make the waie of the crosse easie for vs. Therefore prepare thy selfe patientlie to drinke of that cup which Christ Iesu thy head hath so willinglie dronke on for the saluation of all mankind And seeing therefore that Christ so willinglie put himselfe in subiection and dipped himselfe in those so horrible and intollerable sorowes and calamities our most louing and heauenlie father willing the same out of doubt he also vnderstandeth and knoweth our infirmitie out of doubt he taking compassion on vs will not extremelie deale with vs but will rather beare with our imbecillitie and weakenesse Doth not he himselfe calling all men vnto him saie Come vnto me all yee that labour and are heauie laden and I will refresh you What greater comfort I praie you can be giuen vs How could Christ speake more mercifullie vnto vs There be manie things that greeuouslie vexe and trouble man but what thing can more cruellie vexe and torment his conscience ouerwhelmed with sinne than when he doubteth of the mercie of God When he dreadeth least God be his aduersarie and will reiect him When he is not able to conceiue this faith of his mercie and doth imagine himselfe to be cast awaie as a drie member that is cut off Be present heere O Iesus Christ with thine aide and helpe heere we haue neede of thy comfort let not this blacke violent and horrible tempest of troubles ouerthrowe and drowne wretched man But there is no cause why we should doubt Christ is true he will make his promise to appeare he will helpe vs and refresh vs. Therefore whereas thy faith is not strong ynough whereas thou feelest thy selfe to doubt of Gods mercie and hast well-neere no faith at all streightwaies call vpon God bewaile thy miserie and lacke of beleefe before him seeke for his aide and succour by feruent praier and he will both helpe and refresh thee he hath taken vpon him thus to doo and he will bring it to passe But take heede thou cease not to call vpon God beseech thou without ceasing the father of all consolation and comfort with sighes from the bottome of thine heart that he turne not his face from thee laie thy weakenesse vpon him and powre out into his bosome all things which trouble and torment thee Crie out with his disciples O Lord increase my faith Likewise saie thou with the father of the lunatike childe Lord I beleeue helpe thou mine vnbeleefe make haste O Lord to helpe me before that I oppressed with this weight be drowned O most louing and most mercifull father Lord God of my health our onlie helpe and refuge enter not into iudgement with thy seruants Christ is my righteousnesse redemption and innocencie which suffered most bitter and cruell death for my sake Let those things moue thee O father of all compassion haue mercie vpon me for thy sonnes sake confirme and strengthen my hart by faith in Christ comfort me with the consolations of the holie Ghost that I may enioie the true ioies of euerlasting life through the merits of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be all praise and glorie for euer and euer Amen A godlie meditation of the vnspeakable ioies of heauen and the intollerable paines of hell verie often to be remembred O God my Lord my harts delight with whom my soule longeth to dwell in that heauenlie Ierusalem wherein is continuall health eternall felicitie happie libertie and perfect blessednesse where men shall be like vnto the Angels of God and iust men shall shine as the Sunne in the euerlasting kingdome wherein is no heauinesse no sorrowe no greefe no feare no labour no death no disease no lacke no hunger no thirst no cold nor heate no wearinesse of fasting nor temptation of the enimie no will to sinne nor power to doo euill no old age no lame or deformed person no feare of pouertie or weaknesse by disease but a quiet harbour of all ioie and euerlasting happinesse where men in the societie of Angels shall continuallie dwell without anie infirmitie of the flesh For there is infinite ioie and eternall blisse from whence none shall be remoued that once by thy prouidence shall enter therein There is rest from labours peace from the enimie a new kind of ioie and delight such as no hart can conceine saue onlie by taking a maruellous delight and exceeding pleasure in the beholding of thee my Lord God my glorious redeemer and the heauenlie comforter which proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne O heauenlie Ierusalem thou art sweet and beautifull in all thy ioies and delights There are no such miseries in thee as we feele and suffer in this poore and miserable life There is in thee no darkenesse nor change of time the shining of the Moone the twinkling brightnesse of the Stars giueth not light in thee but onlie the God of all power glorie maiestie the light of lights For in thee the Sun of iustice giueth light to those that are adopted in his bloud to euer-during blessednesse The bright and immaculate Lambe a most beautifull light is thy light that doth illuminate his chosen children The King of kings is in the middest of thee enuironed on ech side with his
when thou openest thy hand they are satisfied with good things O Lord in whom consisteth the fulnesse of all good things vouchsafe to extend thy blessing vpon vs thy poore seruants sanctifie vnto vs thy gifts which we receiue of thy liberalitie that we may vse them soberlie and purelie according to thy good will and by this meanes to knowledge thee to be the Father and author of all goodnesse still seeking principallie the spirituall bread of thy word whereby our soules may bee nourished eternallie through Iesus Christ thy sonne our Lord So be it Matthew 4. verse 4. MAn liueth not by bread onlie but by euerie word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Grace after meate LEt all nations praise the Lord let all people sing praise vnto him For his mercie is multiplied vpon vs and his truth endureth for euer We render thanks vnto thee O Lord God for all the benefits that we receiue continuallie at thy hand for that it pleaseth thee to sustaine vs in this corporall life ministring vnto vs all our necessities and speciallie for that it hath pleased thee to regenerate vs into the hope of a better life which thou hast reuealed vnto vs by thy holie Gospell We beseech thee not to suffer our affections to be here rooted in these corruptible things but that we alwaies haue an higher respect waiting for our Lord Iesus Christ vntill he appeere in our redemption So be it A praier to be said before sleepe Exhortation LEt vs all fall downe humbling our selues before the high and soeuereigne Maiestie of our good God and Father acknowledging vs to be as we are namelie poore and miserable sinners praieng hartilie vnto him as followeth O Lord God Father eternall we beseech thee that it will please thee to cast the eie of thy fatherlie mercie vpon vs thy poore seruants not laieng to our charge so manie faults and offences whereby we are worthie to be brought vnto thy iudgement and whereby wee cease not to prouoke thy wrath against vs. And forasmuch as we are too vnwoorthie to appeare before thy holie Maiestie vouchsafe to receiue vs in the name of thy welbeloued sonne our Lord Iesus Christ accepting the merits of his death and passion for a recompense of all our faults regarding rather the obedience which he hath rendred vnto thee and not the manifold faults that we dailie commit against thy Maiestie O Lord God seeing it hath pleased thee to create the night for mans rest so as thou hast ordeined him the daie to trauell grant vs grace so to take our bodilie rest this night that our soules may alwaie watch vnto thee that our harts be lift vp in thy loue and that we so renounce all earthlie cares that we succour our selues according as our infirmitie requireth Let vs neuer forget thee but let the remembrance of thy goodnesse and grace continue alwaie printed in our memorie and by this meanes our consciences also shall haue their spirituall rest as our bodies take theirs Furthermore let not our sleepe be excessiue to accomplish the ease of our flesh beyond measure but onelie to satisfie the frailtie of our nature that we may be disposed to serue thee Moreouer let it please thee to preserue vs vnderfiled both in our bodies and in our spirits and to keepe vs against all dangers that our verie sleepe may be to the glorie of thy name And seeing the daie is not so passed but that we haue offended thee manie waies according as we are poore sinners so that all is now hid through the darknesse that thou sendest vpon earth vouchsafe also to burie all our faults through thy mercie least we thereby bee taken from thy presence Let it please thee also O Lord God to illuminate vs by thy holie spirit in the true vnderstanding of thy holie will and bring to passe also that we may yeeld vnto thee the loue and feare that true and faithfull seruants doo owe vnto their masters and children vnto their parents seeing it hath pleased thee to shew vs such grace as to receiue vs into the number of thy seruants and children Amen The praier of the Church of the faithfull to speake the word of God with all boldnesse Acts 4. verse 24 c. O Lord thou hast made the heauen the earth the sea all things that be in them Which through thine holie spirit hast said by the mouth of Dauid thy seruāt Wherfore haue the nations raged the people haue imagined vaine thoughts The kings of the earth haue assembled and the princes are come togither against the Lord and against his Christ For trulie Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentils and the people of Israel haue gathered themselues together in this citie against the holie child Iesus whom thou hast annointed to doo those things which thy hand and thy counsell hath determined to be done And now Lord behold their threatnings giue vnto thy seruants that they may speake thy word with all boldnesse so that thou stretch foorth thine hand that healing signes and woonders be done by the name of thy holie child Iesus Amen ¶ The maner how to examine such yong persons as be willing to receiue the Supper of our Lord Iesus Christ Mother IN whome beleeue you Child In God the Father and in Iesus Christ and in the holie Ghost Mother The Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost are they more than one God C No. M Must God be serued after his owne commandements or after the traditions of men C He must be serued according to his owne commandements and not according to the commandements of men M May you accomplish Gods commandements of your selfe C No. M Who is it then that accomplisheth them in you C The holie spirit M And when God giueth you his holie spirit can you perfectlie accomplish them C No. M And yet notwithstāding God cursseth reiecteth all such as do not sincerelie fulfill his cōmandements C It is true M By what meanes then shall you be saued and deliuered from the cursse of God C By the death passion of our Lord Iesus Christ M How is that C Because that by his death he hath restored life vnto vs and reconciled vs vnto God his father M And whome praie you vnto C To God M In whose name praie you C In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ who is our aduocate and intercessor M How manie Sacraments are in the Christian Church C Two M Which be they C Baptisme and the Lords Supper M What is the signification of Baptisme C It hath two parts For our Sauiour doth therein represent vnto vs the remission of our sinnes then our regeneration or spirituall renouation M And the Supper what signifieth it vnto vs C It signifieth vnto vs that by the communion of the bodie and bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ our soules are nourished in hope of the life euerlasting M What is it that the bread and wine which
Lawe and sincere Religion which I professe Let backbiters together with such as are proud and those that dare shameleslie presume anie thing be vtterlie rooted out but contrariwise let there be space in especiallie for such as be verie zealous of the truth that they onlie may be conuersant with me before thee and cause me to feede them with a singular faith and innocencie and minister all things diligentlie vnto them Finallie let not the enimies of thy Gospell I beseech thee O gratious and mightie God thus despise thy grace offered them vnto repentance but those that are to be conuerted conuert and turne them O God speedilie if it be thy will Make thou Saule at the length to become a Paule and let not the persecutor persist in his errours but let them rather accompt thy long suffering and my peaceable and vnbloudie gouernement an occasion of saluation to their soules and of vnfeigned loue to thy Church Otherwise if they will needes remaine still disobedient to thy truth disloiall vnto me dangerous to the state and enimies to their Countrie and Common-wealth then O God of my saluation arise and helpe to wound the head of thine enimies and the hearie scalpe of such as go on still in their wickednesse Let thy right hand find out them that euerie daie prouoke thee and reuenge thy selfe on those blasphemous hypocrites that thus proudlie contemne thee to thy face And as thou hast discouered them and their peeuish practises against thee and thine annointed so discouer them still As thou hast preuented their diuelish purposes and execrable intents so preuent them still Yea let their firie eies waxe wearie with looking their bloudie harts and hands faint with waiting for their golden daie and that which commeth not yet neither let come O Lord I beseech thee but in thy good time and according to thy will a blessed and healthfull reigne vnto my selfe much ioie and comfort to my subiects and long peace to Zion for euermore Lastlie O most mightie God looke what remaineth yet of the happie building enlarging and finishing of thy Church and to the establishing and planting of thy Religion perfectlie therein according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word and full discharge of my dutie when I shall be called to render an accompt before the iudgement seate of Christ because that without thee I can do nothing neither is it possible to please thee do thou O father of light from whome all good gifts doo come and proceede vouchsafe to powre downe plentifullie of thy principall spirit vpon me and so rauish my hart with the flame of the loue of thee and thy people with an earnest zeale of thy house that with Ioseph I may carefullie and faithfullie prouide for thy people with Moses painefullie leade them out of the deserts of errour and oppression and with Ioshua bring thy people into the land of promise with Debora fight thy battels with Iahel knocke Sisera of Roome in the temples of his vsurped headship with Iudith cut off the head of proud Holophernes with Hezekias and Iosias roote out and destroie all superstition and relikes of idolatrie with Dauid and Salomon finish and consecrate to eternitie thy glorious Temple among thy people and with them all most earnestlie and continuallie to praie vnto thee for their saluation That heere on earth for the time after their vertuous example dooing that which is good in thy sight reigning blessedlie ruling prudentlie and like a louing mother and tender nursse giuing my fostermilke the foode of thy word and Gospell aboundantlie to all in all places of my dominion and endeuouring my selfe faithfullie to discharge the great trust committed vnto me when thy sonne to whome not onlie the sea and windes but all creatures are subiect shall come as King of kings to require an accompt of the charge committed vnto me I may be found faithfull and not faile finallie in heauen but in the purenesse of my virginitie and holinesse of mine innocencie be presented to the Lambe my souereigne Lord and onlie God my heauenlie Bridegroome and spirituall spouse my euerlasting King deere Christ and onlie sweet Sauiour Iesus there to see the Saincts and to be a Sainct and with all the holie Patriarches Iudges Kings and Queenes yea with all the Archangels Angels Saints Martyrs Confessors Uirgins and the whole companie of thy celestiall and blessed spirits to reigne with him ouer spirituall powers and principalities for euer and sing the sugred songs of my wedding-daie to my perpetuall ioie and thine eternall praise O most glorious Trinitie the Father the Son and the holie Ghost one inuisible God almightie blessed for euer and euer Amen Amen Another praier to be said of the Queenes Maiestie BLessed art thou Lord God of Sabbaoth for vnto thee apperteineth all magnificence and power and glorie to thee belongeth all honour and authoritie For whatsoeuer is either in the heauens aboue or in the earth beneath it is thine Thine O Lord is the kingdome thou art aboue all Princes Kings Riches are thine glorie is thine and thou art Lord ouer all In thee remaineth vertue and power greatnesse and gouernement O God of my fathers and Lord of mercie which hast made all things by thy word and by thy wisdome appointed man to rule the creatures which thou hast made and to gouerne the world with equitie and iustice I praise thee and extoll thy glorious name for appointing me thy seruant to rule and gouerne this thy people committed vnto my charge Now therefore gratious Lord fauourablie behold me that I may treade the path of truth righteousnesse and sinceritie of hart in thy sight Let me not abuse mine authoritie but gouerne with lenitie and gentlenesse the people vnder me that liuing a godlie and honest life mankind may enioie their desired peace Giue therefore vnto thy seruant an hart desirous of instructions that I may iudge the people and discerne betweene good and euill and neither declining to the right hand or to the left stoutelie and valiantlie mainteine the cause of the righteous Grant me counsell and assistance to doo such things as are gratefull vnto thee good for thy Church and profitable for my people and Common-weale Giue me thy wisdome and reiect me not from thy children for I thy seruant and handmaiden am a fraile woman of a short time and full weake in the vnderstanding of iudgements and the lawes Thou hast chosen me a Gouernour of thy people and a Iudge of thy sonnes and daughters send mee therefore wisdome from thy sacred heauens and from the seate of thy magnificence that it may be with me and labour with me whereby I may perceiue what is acceptable in thine eies and learne that I haue no power of my selfe but from thee which art Almightie and reignest ouer the kingdomes of men giuing them at thy pleasure Graunt that I neuer conceiue proudlie of my selfe but may receiue in patience the discipline of thy Lawe Make me wise and
circumspect that I neither offer iniurie to anie man neither suffer anie to be iniuried that so equitie may be mainteined and iustice among men preserued Let me at no time vnder the shew and colour of equitie vphold or countenance a wicked cause neither yet without sufficient examination and triall of both parties giue sentence against anie Allow me such Counsellers Gouernours and Ouerseers as are of courage fearing God dealing vprightlie hating couetousnesse that by them the burthen charge and care which I susteine may be somewhat lightened Endue both me and them with thine holie spirit that with earnest studie and watchfull minds we may discerne betweene matters that no man through our negligence haue the ouerthrowe in a righteous cause but that sentence be rightlie pronounced betweene a man and his brother and a stranger without respect of anie person in iudgement Let vs heare as well the little as the great and feare no man because the iudgement is thine which standest in the companie of iudges and among the gods thou plaiest the Iudge for the iudgement is not of man but of the Lord and whatsoeuer we shall iudge it will come vpon vs. Wherefore let thy feare be with vs that we may doo all things with care and circumspection that we prooue not children in vnderstanding neither giue our selues to lusts pleasures but to eate our meate in due season and that for strength not for dronkennes For thou wilt make earnest and diligent inquirie of all our works and search all our cogitations because we are thy seruants and deputies to gouerne men of a verie short life and he which is to daie a King to morowe may be dead for we be all mortall and subiect to one and the same corruption Besides an horrible iudgement is nigh for such as walke not after the will of thee our God for he that is most lowe shall finde mercie but the mightie shall be mightilie tormented for thou which art the Lord ouer all regardest not the person of anie neither doest thou feare the greatnesse of the mightie because as well the great as the small are the workemanship of thine hands thy care is equall ouer all thou giuest to godlie Princes eternall happinesse which art the Iudge both of the quicke and dead liuing and reigning with thy Son in the vnitie of the Spirit a God for euermore Amen Another FOrasmuch as it hath pleased thee O King of kings and Lord of lords to appoint me among other a Ruler of thy people giue mee grace I beseech thee so to minister the Common-weale and so to execute mine office that I may please thee and hurt no man in all my dooings but iudge equallie and iustlie rule according to thy will shew my selfe a Mother vnto thy people and so be haue my selfe in all mine enterprises that I seeking thy glorie the furtherance of thy blessed Gospell and the weale of thy subiects may when thou shalt render to euerie one according to his deedes be found blamelesse in thy sight through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another OAlmightie God Lord of heauen and earth which hast appointed me thy seruant to bee a gouernour of thy people and a ruler ouer men I most humblie beseech thee send me thy wisdome from aboue whereby I may vprightlie iudge thy people rightlie discerne betweene good and euill and constantlie continue in dooing my dutie without respect of persons Giue me power and wisdome to do that is gratefull in thy sight profitable for my subiects and good for the continuance of peace Let me alwaies remember that I haue no power of my selfe but of thee and that the iudgement is not of man but of thee my God which standest among the iudges and plaiest the Iudge among the gods Giue me grace likewise to consider that one daie how soone I knowe not thou wilt bring me to a reckning and make diligent inquirie how I haue behaued my selfe in my place and office For I thy seruant haue but a short race to run and such is the state of vs all he which is to daie a King to morrowe may be dead And forasmuch as an horrible iudgement shall be giuen vpon such as rule not vprightlie nor walke after thy will for mightie men shall mightisie be tormented thou being Lord ouer all wilt spare no person nor feare anie greatnesse for thou hast made the small and great and carest for all alike I beseech thee gratious and eternall God giue mee grace to learne what thy will is and to deale wiselie to infer none iniurie vnto anie nor to suffer anie to be iniured to countenance none euill cause nor to slide from the path of iustice For I thy seruant am a fraile person of a short time and full weake in the vnderstanding of iudgments and the lawes Send me therefore wisdome from the throne of thy Maiestie that she may be with me labour with me that I may knowe what is acceptable in thy sight and be led by hir in all my dooings and preserued by hir power so shall my works be acceptable and then shall I gouerne thy people righteouslie in Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen Another HEare mee O LORD thou high and mightie God whose Maiestie may not bee comprehended whose worde is true whose commandement is strong thou that ridest vpon the Cherubins fliest with the wings of the wind Thou God of all mercie most woorthie to be sought before whome the hosts of heauen stand with trembling whose ordinance is dreadfull whose lookes drie vp the depths whose hands rule the starrie firmament whose goodnesse onelie giueth the fruits of the earth whose wrath maketh the mountaines to melt and consumeth the wicked whose truth beareth witnesse and mercie saueth the sorowfull sinner Thou thou incomprehensible Creator that neuer tookest beginning and wantest end Sith of nothing thou hast wrought me with the woonders of the world to thy most seemelie shape and vouchsafest thy dririe death and passion to drowne the danger of my sinful deserts and hast as a carefull captaine cherished my bodie with comfortable gifts vnto this present daie continue O God such goodnesse towards me vnwoorthie which doo here with contrite hart and bowed knees appeale to the heigth of thy mercie and louing kindnesse to accept mine vnequall thanks for the same humblie beseeching thy fatherlie goodnesse that thy holie hand may stil renew in me thy former gifts plentiouslie powred vpon me from the prime of my birth vnto this present not remembring good Lord mine vnwoorthinesse of the same nor frailtie of my passed yeeres that speaketh against me but altering the ministers of thy wrath into mild mercie Grant I beseech thee that through the assistance of thy holie spirit I may be led to correct that is amisse and that I may now perseuere in setting ordering and reforming all my trauels counsels and studies as best may accord with thy blessed will and cancell the bonds of my heauie charge wherein
for into thy hands I commit me Amen E ENter thy iudgements in the tables of my hart destroie mine affections with thy loue send thy wisdome from the holie heauens and from the seate of thy Maiestie that she may be with me and labour with me that I may knowe what thing is acceptable before thee and may iudge the people righteouslie and discerne betweene good and euill G GRatious Lord thou that art the most high God aboue all the earth long-suffering and of much mercie sorowing the sinnes of man and of thy great goodnesse hast promised to the penitent remission of sinnes Lord I haue sinned mine iniquitie is multiplied aboue the sands of the sea and there is no hope of life in me because I haue stirred thee to anger in multiplieng offences before thee And now O Lord trusting in thy mercie I bow the knees of my hart beseeching thee of thy goodnesse destroie me not togither with mine iniquitie For the dead whose soules are out of their bodies can neither praise nor thanke thee but the sorowfull hart and the thirstie soule ascribe praise vnto thee O Lord I powre my praiers before thee and require mercie in thy sight saue me which am vnwoorthie and reserue not eternall punishment for mee For thine owne sake I aske it and will praise thee all the daies of my life Amen I ILluminate my hart O Lord with the light of thy word leade me Lord in thy waie and I shall enter into thy truth Print thy feare in my hart that I may reioice in thee Let thy word be a lanterne vnto my feet and a lampe of light vnto my paths so shall I not erre from the right waie but walke like a pure and wise virgin with an vpright hart chaste mind and cleane conscience and single eie before thee this daie and euermore Amen N NEuer will I cease to call vpon thee most mightie God of hosts which sittest vpon the Cherubins and hast dominion ouer all the kingdoms of the earth Thou which madest the heauens all things comprehended in them bow downe thine eare and heare open thine eies and behold saue mee from the hand of mine aduersaries suffer no euill to happen vnto me that all the people may knowe that thou alone art my God Amen A ASsist mee O Lord my God with thy heauenlie grace and renew in mee a right spirit that I may receiue strength ablenesse to doo thy righteous will and to stand against all the assaults of wilie Satan that they may haue no place in mee but that the old man which I beare about in my bodie may be crucified and dailie die in me that the desire of sinne errour and of worldlie vanities may vtterlie be destroied that I may euermore be renewed in the spirit of my mind that the life of my Sauiour Christ may alwaies appeare in me to whome with the Father and the holie Ghost be all honour triumph and glorie for euer and euer Amen The versicle EUen now and euer vouchsafe O LORD for thy deere sonnes sake to heare my humble petitions The answere REceiue my praiers I saie O GOD and in thy truth and mercie pardon mine offences and grant mee thy grace The Collect. O Emanuel my Lord and my GOD Iesus Christ sonne of the pure virgin Marie thou art not onelie the sweete spouse of my soule but with God the Father a most meeke Mediatour full of mercie and truth Wash awaie my sinnes with the most pretious bloud of thy holie passion make me rich in thy mercie and my faith so strong in thee that assisted with thy grace and holie spirit to all duties and works in this life towards thee I may enioie afterwards the glorie of thy blessed kingdome with thy holie Saints and pure Uirgins in euerlasting honour and triumph Amen The Praier O Roote of Iesse my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ which hast redeemed all mankind from sinne death and hell thou which hast said I am the waie truth and life The waie in doctrine commandements and examples truth in promises life in reward I praie thee by thine ineffable loue wherewith thou hast vouchsafed wholie to bestowe thy selfe for our securitie that thou wilt not suffer me euer to straie from thee bicause thou art the waie nor at anie time to distrust thy promses which art the truth and performest whatsoeuer thou promisest neither let me rest in anie other thing bicause thou art eternall life without the which there is nothing that ought to be desired neither in heauen nor in earth By thee we learne the sure and expedient passage vnto true helth that we wander no longer in the Laberinth of this world Thou hast exactlie taught what to beleeue and what to doo what to hope for and in whom we ought to rest By thee wee learne how wee were of that first Adam vnfortunatelie borne by thee we are assured there is no hope of health but through faith in thee that thou art the onlie brightnesse which giuest light to all men trauelling the darke desarts of this world where is nothing but a profound dimnesse wherby we neither see our calamities nor frō whence we ought to seeke remedie of our euill Thou vouchsafedst to descend into the earth disdainedst not to take our nature vpon thee that by thy doctrine thou mightest shake off the dimnesse of our ignorance by thy commandements mightest direct our feete in the waie of truth peace By the examples of thy life thou hast shewed vs the waie to immortalitie and by thy steps hast restored to vs a plaine easie profitable waie out of an vneeuen and rough waie So thou art made vnto vs a waie which knoweth no error in the which least we should be wearie thou hast vouchsafed to vphold vs in thy benignitie with great sure promises For who can be wearie accounting himselfe redie through thy steps to enter thy heauenlie heritage Therefore whilest we be in this iournie thou wouldest be a sure hope vnto vs to be in steed of a staffe vnto vs wherewith we are sustained Neither was thy goodnes content with this but knowing the weaknesse of our flesh in the meane while with the comfort of thy spirit dooest so refresh our strength whereby we run cheerefullie And as thou being made vnto vs the waie dooest driue awaie all errour so being truth dooest thou take awaie all distrust Finallie being made life vnto vs dooest reuiue the dead in sinne to liue by thy spirit releeuing all things vntill in the resurrection all mortalitie vtterlie abolished we may alwaies liue with thee and in thee when Christ shall be to vs all in all For eternall life is to knowe the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost to be one true God where now thorough faith we behold onlie in a glasse and riddle And then seeing more felowlie the glorie of the Lord wee shall be transformed into the same image Therefore I beseech thee most mercifull Sauiour that
hart trusting in thy mercie I beleeue in thee O God the Father in thee O God the Sonne and in thee O God the holie Ghost three persons and one true and verie God besides whom I acknowledge none other God in heauen aboue nor in earth beneath Yea and I poore sinner doo accuse my selfe vnto thee deere Father that I haue sore and greeuouslie offended thine almightie goodnesse and diuine Maiestie in committing of mine exceeding greeuous and manifold sinnes and wickednesse For I haue not kept the least of thy most blessed commandements like as thy righteousnesse may require and demand the same of me I haue I saie not honoured thee like my God nor dreaded thee like my Lord loued thee like my Father trusted in thee like my Sauiour and Creator Thy holie and dreadfull name vnto which all honour and glorie belongeth haue I vsed in vaine I haue not sanctified the Saboth and holie daies with works which be acceptable vnto thee nor instructed my neighbour in vertue accordinglie I haue not honoured my father and mother nor beene obedient vnto them through whom as by an instrument thou hast wrought my comming into this world The high powers and rulers which take their authoritie of thee I haue not beene willinglie obedient vnto I haue not kept my hart pure and cleane from man-slaughter yea had not thy mercie and grace defended me the better I should haue committed the verie deed also I likewise am not pure from theft nor from adulterie nor from false-witnesse-bearing but haue in my hart and mind wished and desired my neighbours goods and things I haue folowed the great Prince of the world Satan which hath beene a lier from the beginning in concupiscence of the flesh in pride of liuing in lieng in deceitfulnesse in lecherie in hatred and enuie in backbiting in despaire and also in mis-beleefe My fiue wits also haue I fowlie mis-vsed and spent in hearing seeing smelling tasting and also feeling which thou hast giuen me to vse to thy honour and glorie and also the edification and profit of my neighbour But in what maner soeuer I haue offended and sinned against thine eternall Maiestie for no man knoweth throughlie his sinnes as the Prophet witnesseth whether it hath beene by daie or else by night yea euen from my childhood vnto this daie were it in works words deeds or thoughts secretlie or openlie O my mercifull God I am sorie for it euen from the bottome of my hart yea my soule mourneth for sorrowe most mercifull Father that I am not a thousand times sorier than I am Howbeit in token of great repentance though all harts be knowne well inough to thee I doo knocke and strike my breast and saie in bitternesse of hart and soule Lord God Father haue mercie Lord God Sonne haue mercie Lord God holie Ghost haue mercie Spare me of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie good Lord now and all the daies of my life hereafter and let me haue part of thine abundant grace so as I maie change my sinfull life and put out of me the old man with all his concupiscences and also that I maie die vnto the world and that the world may be a crosse vnto me and so go foorth in a new life Strengthen me O Lord in a true humble hart in perfect loue hope and trust in thee Giue my soule grace to desire thee onlie in thee onlie to reioice and repose my selfe and that I may vtterlie renounce and forsake the vaine affiance of this world so that thou maist find me readie with the good seruant and wise virgins in the midnight of death which shall suddenlie steale vpon me like a theefe ere I be aware Be thou vnto me at that time of need O Lord a tower of strength a place of refuge and a defensible God namelie against the face of the feend who like a roring Lion shall be then most readie to deuoure me and against desperation which then shall be busie to greeue me Let then thy comfort cleane fast vnto me thy mercie keepe me and thy grace guide me Fetch then againe Lord God Father that which thy puissant might hath shapen Fetch then againe Lord God Sonne that which thou hast so wiselie gouerned and bought with thy pretious bloud Take then againe Lord God holie Ghost that which thou hast kept and preserued so louinglie in this region of sinne vale of miserie Three persons and one true and also verie God to whom be all laud and praise for euer and euer Amen Another confession of sinnes and praier for mercie and grace commonlie called Conditor coeli OH maker of heauen and earth King of kings and Lord of lords which of nothing didst make me to thine image and likenesse and diddest redeeme me with thy pretious bloud whom I a sinner am not woorthie to name to thinke on neither to call vpon I most humblie desire thee and meekelie praie thee that gentlie thou behold me thy wicked seruant and haue mercie vpon me which hadst mercy of the woman of Canaan Marie Magdalen which didst forgiue the Publican and the theefe hanging on the Crosse Unto thee I confesse my sinnes most holie Father which if I would I cannot hide from thee Haue mercie on me O Christ for I am a wretch and haue sore offended thee in idolatrie in superstition in blasphemie in prophaning of thy Saboths in disobedience to my gouernours in pride in couetousnesse in gluttonie in lecherie in vaine glorie in hatred in enuie in murder in adulterie in theft in lieng in backbiting and false-witnesse-bearing in sporting in dalliance in dissolute wanton laughing in idle words in vncleane thoughts in hearing in tasting in touching in thinking in sleeping in working and finallie in all waies in which I a fraile woman and most wretched sinner might sinne My default my most greeuous default Therefore I most humblie praie and beseech thy gentlenesse which for my helpe didst descend from heauen which didst hold vp Dauid that he should not fall into sinne haue mercie vpon me O Christ which didst forgiue Peter thine Apostle that did forsweare and forsake thee Thou art my Creator and helper my maker and redeemer my gouernour my Father my Lord and God my King and my spouse Thou art my hope my trust my strength my defense my redemption my sanctification my life my helth and resurrection Thou art my stedfastnesse my refuge succour my light and onlie hope I therfore most hartilie and humblie desire thee to helpe me defend me and make me strong comfort me make me stedfast make me merie giue mee light and visit me reuiue me againe which am dead for I am thy making and thy worke Oh Lord despise me not I am thy seruant thy bond-woman although euill although most vnworthie and a detestable sinner But whatsoeuer I am whether I be good or bad I am alwaies thine Therfore to whom shall I flee except I flee vnto thee If thou cast me off who
vnholie may appeare before thee graunt that both now at this present and so oft heereafter as I shall enter into this holie place and Tabernacle of the congregation and appeare before thee I may be throughlie sanctified both bodilie and ghostlie by the diuine graces of thy spirit the better therein to serue and worship thee The which thing that I may euen now this daie the better accomplish and doo according to thy will as I hartilie desire and to the glorie of thy name and the full discharge of my christian dutie I most entirelie beseech thy Maiestie first to sanctifie purifie cleanse make happie and keepe holie my wretched soule and sinfull bodie the posts whereof deere father are sprinkled with the pretious bloud of thy deere Sonne who most deerelie bought them O comfortable ghest of the soule leaue not our houses desolate cease not to fill vs by thy continuall presence with thy life and righteousnesse Dresse cleanse and sweepe the foreletten cottage once againe I saie good Lord with the beesome of thy celestiall grace and heauenlie felicitie from all the pollution and filth of sinne and wickednesse Once againe O Christ vouchsafe to cast out of the house of my soule that vncleane spirit and foule feend Sathan mine old ghest and enimie with the finger of God and when he is cast out of me giue me grace to watch still continuallie by hartie and earnest praier that he enter not againe into me For being once mine old ghest he knoweth euerie hole and corner of my house Therefore grant me grace to watch continuallie I saie O Lord by feruent praier and vertuous works proceeding from a firme faith least he returne into the house from whence hee was cast out and finding it emptie swept and garnished he go and take vnto himselfe seuen other foule spirits worsse than himselfe and they enter in also and dwell there with him and so mine end be woorsse than my beginning which God forbid Oh suffer not the holie house Lord of thy Diuinitie and Temple of the holie Ghost my bodie and soule I meane cleansed with thy bloud and decked with thy righteousnesse to bee by my mortall enimies defiled spoiled or made a cage of vncleane birds a dungeon of diuels a den of theeues a hell of wicked spirits and a sinke of sinne through delectation in sinne and infidelitie Withdrawe not thy hand from me let me not returne vnto my vomit like the dog let not mine end be worse than my beginning as hapned to Caine Saule Iudas Arius and manie mo But as by thy great mercie my body and soule are made the temple tabernacle of y e holie spirit so by the same thy rich mercie infinite goodnes grant that the same may now become thy holie habitation sacred seate of euerlasting glorie and so be purified cleansed throughlie sanctified and made cleane by thy diuine inspiration and gratious presence that no heapes of soile dregs of dust or remnants of filth be to be found in any priuie or secret corner of this thy spiritual temple to offend y e celestiall eies of thy diuine maiestie so shall thy holie Hall which is my clensed soule in all reuerence deuotion godlie worship this daie and euer resound in the Church all places of thy dominion with thy perpetuall praises to thine eternall glorie Amen Another praier to serue God sincerelie in the Church O LORD God our celestiall Father whose fidelitie and truth is stablished in the high heauens among thy chosen beleeuers who also art woonderfull in the congregation of the faithfull and most mightie of all power and present euerie-where beholding all things done in all places on earth Forasmuch as thou O gratious God hast chosen this house that thy name might be called vpon therein and that it should be an house of praier and petition for thy people mercifullie promising therewithall that wheresoeuer two or three be gathered together in thy name there thou wouldest be in the middest of them and whatsoeuer they beleeuing asked of thee it should be done vnto them Behold we therefore whome by thy grace thou hast elected to be thy people and heritage and with whome thou hast made an eternall couenant and promise to helpe heare assist and confirme in all goodnesse righteousnesse and holinesse doo heere now at this present through the motion of thy good spirit assemble and gather our selues together in thy name with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee and according to our bounden dutie with one mind and mouth in spirit and truth to laud and magnifie thy holie name and maiestie Humblie beseeching thee O Lord to haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners to purge vs and iustifie vs through faith from all our offences old and new to inflame and lighten the lamps of our harts with the oile of sanctification which is thy holie spirit and so there-through to sanctifie our soules to prepare our harts and dispose all our members wholie to true pietie godlinesse and deuotion that we may be woorthie continuallie to lift vp in this holie place of thy glorious presence and diuine habitation pure harts innocent hands and most feruent praiers vnto thee in heauen Grant also O gratious God that we with one hart and voice in all holinesse and godlinesse trembling dread Christian reuerence humble obedience spirituall worship and diuine seruice may incessantlie giue all honour and glorie vnto thee and for euer to celebrate thy most holie name and Maiestie in this thy holie temple as it apperteineth euen by offering vp dutifullie vnto thy diuine Maiestie the most sweet and acceptable sacrifice of broken and contrite harts of zealous and true repentance of humble and vnfeined confession of pure and incessant praier and of most woorthie and condigne lauds and praises that so wee may continue blessed in thy holie mountaine for euer and in the end according to thy faithfull promise obtaine euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen How the soule should rightlie worship and praise the Lord in all places O GOD the true and the souereigne life of whom in whom all things doo liue whatsoeuer things doo liue trulie and in happie state O God euen goodnesse and goodlinesse from whom through whom in whom are all good goodlie things which art good and goodlie God whose faith quickeneth hope erecteth and loue linketh vs. God who hast commanded vs to praie vnto thee and makest thy selfe to be found and openest to him which knocketh God whom none seeketh but the admonished and no man findeth but the purged God whom to knowe is life whom to serue is to reigne whom to loue is the saluation and ioie of the soule Thee both with my lips and with mine hart and with all my strength I doo praise blesse and worship To thy clemencie and goodnesse I doo yeeld humble thanks for all thy benefits and to thy Maiestie doo I sing holie holie holie O blessed Trinitie
earnestlie repentant for my sinnes which grace my soule desireth and coueteth verie much and except it come of thy gift I cannot haue it but by the holie Ghost which dooth mollifie the hard harts of sinners and prouoketh them to weeping Giue me the grace of teares like as thou gauest to our forefathers and mothers whose examples wee ought to followe that I may bewaile my selfe in all my life like as they did bewaile themselues daie and night Giue me the deaw of thy grace from aboue and also a deaw of teares beeneth that my teares may be vnto me in stead of bread daie and night and that I may be made in thy sight O Lord my God by the fire of thy prouocation a fat acceptable sacrifice Make me to be mortified and killed vpon the altar of mine hart and that I may be receiued of thee as a fat and a sweet smelling sacrifice Giue vnto me O good Lord a plentifull flowing and cleere well of teares in the which I may wash continuallie this fowle and spotted sacrifice For although I haue offered vp my selfe wholie vnto thee by the helpe of thy grace yet neuerthelesse in manie things I offend thee dailie bicause of my great fragilitie and weakenesse Giue me therefore the grace of teares and continuall repentance O blessed God and most especiallie through the great sweetnesse of thy loue and the remembrance of thy mercies prepare this table for thy seruant in thy sight and giue me power that as oft as I list I may be satisfied of it Grant vnto me for thy goodnesse and pittie that this thy cup replenished and filled full may satisfie my thrist that my spirit may couet thee and that my mind may burne in thy loue forgetting all vanitie and miserie Heare O my God heare O light of mine eies thou that art the stirrer vp and quickener of my dull eares heare what I desire and aske and giue me grace to aske that which thou hearest O pittifull Lord which art woont to be easilie intreated be not hard to be intreated of me bicause of my sinnes but for thy goodnesse receiue the praiers of thy seruant and grant me the effect of my petition and desire Amen A godlie and diuine Meditation of the ioies of the celestiall para dise to be vsed at conuenient times in the church that is either before or after publike seruice for to that all men present ought to be attentiue O My soule let vs returne to the heauenlie citie wherin we be registred made free citizens For like as we be fellowe-citizens of the Saints and houshold-meanie of God and like as we be the heires of God and coheires with Christ so let vs a little consider the happie roialtie of our citie so far foorth as it is possible for vs to consider it Let vs saie with the Prophet O how glorious things are spoken of thee thou citie of God! For thou art the dwelling place of all them that reioice the ioie of the whole earth is founded vpon thee There is not in thee anie age nor miserie of age there is not in thee anie maimed person anie lame man anie crooke backe nor anie mishapen bodie For all be growne vp to perfect men after the full measure of the age of Christ What blesseder thing can there be than such a life where there is no feare of pouertie nor weakenesse of diseases No man is harmed there no man is displeased there no man enuieth there There is no burning of couetousnesse no desire of meate no ambitious suing for honour and authoritie There is no dread of diuell no snares of feends no feare of hell fire There is no death neither of bodie nor of soule but pleasant life assured of immortalitie Then shall there be no miseries then shall there be no debates but all things shall be at agreemeut bicause all the Saints shall agree in one Peace and mirth hold all things togither all things are there calme and quiet There the seuen lamps of Gods spirits are still burning before the throne of God and there is continuall light not such as is now heere but so much the brighter as it is much happier For as we read that citie shall need no sunne nor moone nor light artificiall because the Lord almightie shall shine in it and the Lambe as a lampe shall be the light of it where the Saints and wise Uirgins shall shine as the stars for euer without end and such as haue taught manie in the waie of righteousnesse shall be as the brightnesse of the skie Where there shall be no night no darkenesse no meeting of clouds no painfulnesse of heate or cold but there shall be such a temperatnesse as neuer eie hath seene eare heard nor hart of anie man conceiued There shall be no companie sauing onlie of them that are accounted woorthie to enioie the same whose names are written in the booke of life But yet it is far aboue all these things to be in fellowship with the companies of Angels Archangels and all the heauenlie Powers to behold the Patriarchs and Prophets to see the Euangelists and Apostles to woonder at the hosts of Martyrs and Confessors to view the companies of Uirgins and to see all the Saints yea and also to see our owne parents and kindred Glorious are these things O my soule but much more glorious is it to behold the present countetenance of God O happie plesantnesse O plesant happinesse to see the Saints to be with the Saints and to be a Saint Yea a passing excellent glorie shall it be when we shall see God in himselfe and when we shall both see and haue him in our selues for euer and euer of whom we shall neuer haue seene ynough O my soule let vs thinke vpon this I saie with a diligent mind let vs long after this with our whole hart let vs sigh hartilie desire earnestlie and wish continuallie that we may soone come vnto them vnto that citie aboue whereof so glorious things are spoken and wherein is the habitation of all that reioice Amen Another diuine Meditation of the happinesse of the soules that are with God especiallie to be vsed when you haue sung a Psalme after a funerall Sermon HAppie is the soule which being let loose from the earthlie prison flieth vp freelie into heauen and there beholdeth thee hir most sweete Lord face to face and is no more disquieted with anie feare of death but reioiceth in the euerlastingnesse of incorruptible glorie For it is safe and out of perill and hencefoorth feareth neither enimie nor death It possesseth thee hir mercifull Lord whom she hath long sought and euer loued And accompanieng hir selfe with the quiers of Psalme-singers she singeth continuallie the sugred songs of euerlasting mirth to the glorie of thee O King Christ O gratious Iesu For she is as it were made drunken with the bountifulnesse of thy house and thou makest hir to drinke of the streame of thy pleasures Happie
age of the fulnesse of Christ which is the head by whom the whole bodie being coupled and knit together by euerie ioint for the furniture thereof according to the effectuall power which is in the measure of euerie part receiueth increase of the bodie vnto the edifieng of it selfe in loue O most holie Father keepe vs by thy name that wee may be one in thee and that among vs which are beleeuers there may be one hart and one mind O Christ our onlie Sauiour and Mediatour which before thy passion didst praie that we might be one in thee euen as thou art in thy Father grant that thy Church may be at concord and agree in one true faith and confession Let there continue among vs a godlie counsell let there be one agreement in faith one mind in praier that we may growe vp in thee and that all our harts may be coupled togither by the bond of the spirit vsing thy gifts as they should be to the aduancement of thy glorie and to the common profit both of thy Church and Common-weale and walking woorthie our calling wherevnto we are called with all humilitie and gentlenesse with all lenitie forbearing one another through charitie being carefull to keepe the vnitie of the spirit in the bond of peace Represse the furiousnesse of Satan which soweth dissention among thy flocke to weaken our faith and to hinder our praiers whereby thy glorie is defaced Grant therefore that we prooue not desirous of vaine glorie prouoking one another and enuieng one another that we bite not one another to our destruction For of emulation springeth contention which being once inflamed boile out into mortall diuisions And as manie as maintaine emulations contentions and factions are carnall and walke as men Wherefore take from vs the zeale of the flesh which is foolish and let all enuie wrath pride and arrogancie be far from vs. Likewise let vs auoid foolish and vnlearned questions knowing that they engender strife and contention and serue for nothing but to the subuerting of the hearers ingraffing of errors Where a desire of strife is there certainlie God dwelleth not and they which raise tumults of nothing and disquiet thy flocke those wilt thou O sonne of God destroie Come holie spirit replenish the harts of the faithfull here assembled and else where and inflame in them the fire of thy loue which once didst gather the nations into the vnitie of the faith through the diuersitie of tongues Ioine our harts togither that wee may nourish christian concord among vs and that wee all glued as it were together in louing harts may be of one mind in thee so shall thy pure doctrine zealouslie be mainteined and no false interpretation of the scripture obstinatelie be defended Bring home to thy fold all such as are turned from the vnitie of true religion that thrre may be one pastor and one fold To such as are gone out from vs grant constancie that they may continue with vs teaching the Gospell to the saluation of the hearers And if it happen that anie contrarie to the doctrine which they haue learned raise dissention and offences grant that we may auoid them least the harts of the simple through their sweet persuasions and flatterie be deceiued O God author of peace and concord giue grace that euerie of vs may thinke the same thing acording to our Sauior Christ Amen ⧠The Letanie O God the Father of heauen haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the Father of heauen haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the Sonne redeemer of the world haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the Sonne redeemer c. O God the holie Ghost proceeding from the Father the Sonne haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holie Ghost proceeding from c. O holie blessed and glorious Trinitie three persons and one God haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O holie blessed and glorious Trinitie c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sinnes spare vs good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most pretious bloud and be not angrie with vs for euer Spare vs good Lord. From all euill and mischiefe from sinne from the crafts and assaults of the diuell from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From blindnesse of hart from pride vaine glorie and hypocrisie from enuie hatred and malice and all vncharitablenesse Good Lord deliuer vs. From fornication and all other deadlie sinnes and from all the deceits of the world the flesh the diuell Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightening and tempest from plague pestilence and famine from battell and murther and from sudden death Good Lord deliuer vs. From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnesse of hart and contempt of thy word and commandement Good Lord deliuer vs. By the mysterie of thy holie incarnation by thy holie natiuitie and circumcision by thy baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agonie and bloudie sweat by thy crosse and passion by thy pretious death and buriall by thy glorious resurrection and ascension and by the comming of the holie Ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In all time of our tribulation in all time of our wealth in the houre of death and in the daie of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. We sinners doo beseeth thee to heare vs O Lord God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holie Church vniuersallie in the right waie We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to keepe and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnesse and holinesse of life thy seruant Elizabeth our most gratious Queene and Gouernour We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to rule hir hart in thy faith feare and loue and that she may euermore haue affiance in thee and euer seeke thy honour and glorie We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to be hir defender and keeper giuing hir the victorie ouer all hir enimies We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops Pastors and Ministers of thy Church with true knowledge and vnderstanding of thy word and that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it foorth and shew it accordinglie We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to indue the Lords of the counsell and all the Nobilitie with grace wisdome and vnderstanding We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute iustice and to mainteine truth We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe all thy people We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue to all nations
heare the praiers of thy people which they shall make in this place of thy holie temple behold now that thou hast shut vp heauen and there is no raine giuen vnto the earth but a drought doth vtterlie destroie the fruites of the earth for our sinnes and iniquities we come vnto thee and confesse our sinnes wherewith we haue prouoked thee thus to anger against vs and thy creatures for our sakes We I saie whome thou dooest iustlie thus afflict with drought and barrennesse of the earth returne vnto thee with all our harts in fasting weeping and mourning beseeching thee by hartie and earnest praier to haue mercie vpon vs and deale not with vs as we haue righteouslie deserued Heare thou now in heauen and pardon the sinnes of thy seruants and giue raine vnto the land that thou hast giuen the people to inhabit Heare O Lord I saie the crie of man and beast and open the treasures of the heauens and giue vnto vs moderate showres to water the earth that our cattell may bee satisfied and our drought ceasse Oh Lord hast thou vtterlie reiected vs or doth thy soule abhorre thy people for euer that thou hast so long plagued vs with drought and want of water Our iniquities in deede testifie against vs and our rebellions are more than can be numbred For we haue sinned against heauen and against thee and haue beene verie noisome to the earth and all thy creatures therin But O Lord thou hope of Israel thou comfort helpe and sauiour of all that are in trouble haue mercie vpon vs haue mercie vpon vs and doo not abhorre vs nor cast vs off for euer O Lord are there anie among the gods of the Gentiles that can send raine Or can the heauens of themselues giue showres to the earth Is it not onlie thou O Lord our God which hast made heauen and earth and dooest all things by thy mightie power that must doo it O saue the people therefore that call vpon thee O let the daie come wherein thou wilt vouchsafe to heare vs O Lord when I saie thou wilt heare the heauens and the heauens may heare the earth the earth heare the corne and the wine and the oile and they all heare one another and thou heare Israel that thou maist haue mercie vpon vs and cause to come downe for vs the raine euen the first raine and the latter raine in the first and second moneths in due seasons vpon the earth that our barns may be full of wheate and our presses abound with wine and oile our cattell serue to labour by thy blessing that both man beast may cease their mourning and haue cause to reioice in thy mercie Graunt vs this O father for Iesus Christs sake our onlie mediator and aduocate to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor and glorie now and for euer Amen Another praier for the fruits of the earth O Lord God almightie King of heauen and earth which of thine abundant goodnesse doost adorne and replenish the earth with all kind of fruit and graine whereby the life both of man and beast is susteined we beseech thee euen for thy free mercie that thou wouldest vouchsafe to blesse our feelds and ground and to make them prosperouslie to yeeld their corne and increase For without thy blessing and fauour neither can the earth of it selfe bring foorth anie whit nor we by our paines make the same to prosper Wherefore grant to all things springing from the earth a meet temperature of aire that luckilie they may take and increase Keepe our fruit vpon the face of the earth from all infection of the aire from thunder haile from vntimelie showers from too great drinesse and ouermuch heate from woormes hurtfull and beasts deuouring it before their prime and from all other corruption that our land in thine anger be not desolate and denie vs fruit enioieng hir wofull Sabboth Shut not vp the heauens in thine indignation for our sinnes that it be not as iron nor the earth as brasse wherby it can not be tilled ploughed nor sowne and so come to a verie plaine and vtter wildernesse but of thy goodnesse giue vs both the earlie and latter raine that we may haue abundance of all fruit and a ioifull haruest with a plentifull vintage O God send a gratious raine vpon thine inheritance and giue thy blessing that our ground may bring foorth hir fruit Cause thy raine to powre downe in due season that it may be raine of blessing whereby both trees may giue their fruit the ground yeeld foorth hir graine Grant also that the aire be pure from infection our bodies free from sicknesse to our whole Realme peace and quietnesse that safelie without trouble we may enioie thy gifts Driue awaie and repell from vs malediction and the destroier Giue vs not in stead of raine dust and ashes but open thy good treasures and visit the land with thy blessing make it drunken and enrich it abundantlie Thy riuer O Lord is full of water prepare our corne and dispose our earth to prosper water abundantlie the furrowes of the same and cause the raine to descend into the vallies thereof make the same soft with showers and blesse our buds Crowne the yeere with thy goodnesse and let thy clouds drop fatnesse let them drop vpon the pastures of the wildernesse and make the little hils reioice on euerie side Let the plaines be replenished with sheepe and the vallies with corne that the inhabitants of the earth may reioice and be merie O Lord thou causest grasse to growe for cattell and herbs for y e vse of man thou bringest foorth bread out of the earth wine to make glad the hart of man oile to make the countenance cheerfull bread for to strengthen the hart Haue therefore a care O heauenlie Father of the seed and other things springing from the earth keepe them both in cold raine ice and snowe from the beating of winds and iniurie of weather Preserue them in extreame heat drinesse moistnesse and such like that they perish not afore their time Roote out the destroier that there be neither blasting mildew nor grashopper neither caterpiller hurting the fruits of the earth Keepe vs O Lord in the time of dearth that we perish not for hunger nor be confounded in the perilous time For thou art our God and Creator which satisfiest the thirstie soule and fillest the hungrie with goodnesse which hast said I will not faile neither forsake thee whereby being faithfull we may saie The Lord is with vs therefore we will not feare what man can doo vnto vs. Behold we miserable great sinners doo confesse our wickednes with groning griefe of hart crieng vnto thee which art in heauen Heare our praiers in thy dwelling place be mercifull to thy people which haue sinned against thee and forgiue vs all our iniquities wherein we haue transgressed against thee By our sinnes wee haue brought all these
generall earthquake praie OH eternall mightie and most louing Father which hast no desire of the death of a sinner but that he conuert and liue and vnto whom nothing is so pleasant as the repentant contrite and sorowfull hart of a penitent person For thou art that kind father that fallest most louinglie vpon the necke of the lost sonne kissest imbracest and feastest him when he returneth from the puddle of pleasures and swill of the swine and disdainest not the repentant praier of thy poore and sinfull seruants whensoeuer with true faith they returne and call vpon thee as we haue most comfortable examples in Dauid Manasses Magdalen Peter and the theefe vpon the gibbet We most hartilie and humblie beseech thy fatherlie goodnesse to looke downe from the throne of thy mercie-seate vpon vs most miserable and sinfull slaues of Satan which with fearfull and trembling harts doo quake and shake at the strange and terrible tokens of thy wrath and indignation appearing most euidentlie vnto vs by the shaking moouing of the earth which is thy footestoole whereby if we be not vtterlie destitute of grace we be warned that thy cōming-downe amongst vs to visit our sinnes in most terrible maner can not be farre off seeing thou treadest so hard vpon this thy footestoole the earth which we most shamefullie haue polluted and defiled with our most wicked sinfull and rebellious liues notwithstanding thy continuall crieng and calling vpon vs by thy seruants the prophets and preachers by whome we haue learned thy will but haue not followed it We haue heard much and done little yea nothing at all but like most peruerse and vnthankfull children haue made a mocke of thy word derided thy ministers and accounted thy threatenings trifles and thy warnings of no weight or moment Wherefore we haue iustlie deserued to taste most deeplie of the bitter cup of thine anger and bengeance by wars famine pestilence yea and eternall death if thou shouldest not temper the rigour of thy iustice with the mildnesse of thy mercie But such is thy fatherlie affection towards vs that thou shewest thy selfe slowe to anger long suffering and of much patience and mercie yea thou art a thousand times more readie to forget and forgiue than we to aske and require forgiuenesse Therefore though we be not woorthie of the least mite of thy mercie yet gratious Lord looke not vpon vs and our sinnes but vpon thine owne selfe and thy sonne Iesus Christ the fountaine of grace the treasure of mercie the salue of all sicknesse the iewell of ioie and the onlie hauen of succour and safetie By him we come to thee in him and for him we trust to find that we haue lost and gaine that he hath got He is the scale of Iacob by whom we climbe vp to thee and thou by the Angels of thy mercie cōmest downe to vs. Him we present vnto thee and not we our selues his death and not our dooings his bloudie wounds and not our detestable deseruings whose merits are so great as thy mercie cannot be little and our ransom so rich that our beggerlie and beastlie sinnes are nothing in thy sight for the great pleasure and satisfaction that thou takest of his paines and passion Turne this late earthquake O Lord to the benefite of thine elect as thou didst when thou shookest the prison loosedst the locks fetters and chaines of thy seruants Paule and Silas and broughtst them out of prison and conuertedst their keeper so gratious Lord strike the harts of tyrants with the terrour of this thy woorke that they may knowe that they are but men and that thou art that Samson that for their mocking and spiting of thee and thy word canst shake the pillers of their palaces and throwe them vpon the furious Philistines heads Turne thy wrath oh Lord from thy children that call vpon thy name to the conuersion or confusion of thine enimies that despise and abhorre thy name and deface thy glory Thou hast knocked long at their doores but they will not open to let thee in Burst open therefore the brasen gates of their stonie harts thou that art able of stones to raise vp children to Abraham And finallie so touch our harts with the finger of thy grace that we maie deeply muse vpon our sinfull liues to amend them and call for thy mercie to forgiue and pardon them through Christ our Lord who liueth with thee and the holie Ghost three persons and one eternall God to whome be all dominion and glorie with praise and thanks-giuing for euer and euer Amen Or else praie thus O Almightie God and most mercifull Father which willest not the death of a sinner but rather that hee should returne and liue we thy seruants most humblie confesse that we haue most greeuouslie offended against thy diuine Maiestie and prouoked thy heauie wrath against vs in that we haue not beleeued and folowed thy Gospell preached vnto vs nor beene thankfull for thy manie verie great benefits bestowed vpon vs yea and being warned by the dangers of other haue beene too carelesse to serue thee oh Lord the Father of all mercie and the God of all consolation which in thy wrath remembrest mercie We acknowledge that in the late terrible earthquake which suddenly shooke vs out of our houses and dwelling places thou didst warne vs of thy iustice and that we for our great vnthankfulnesse and disobedience haue deserued most iust iudgement O Lord we thy seruants being vile earth and miserable sinners yet trembling and quaking at the remembrance of that terrible looke of thy wrathfull displeasure neuer to be forgotten most humblie craue pardon for our sinnes and grace to conuert vnto thee in time Conuert vs O Lord and we shall be conuerted Mollifie our hard harts grant vs a contrite spirit and to turne vnto thee vnfeinedlie in fasting weeping praier Enter not into iudgement with thy seruants spare thy people O Lord spare them and let not thine heritage be brought to confusion Haue mercie vpon vs for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake Giue vs grace hencefoorth to amend our liues and to serue thee in holines and righteousnesse So we acknowledging thy iustice and remembring alwaies that fearefull signe of thy furie in the memorable earthquake which thou sentest y e sixt of Aprill in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred fourescore we shall praise thee for thy mercie and glorifie thy holie name for euer through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen At the sight of a blasing starre or other meteors or prodigious signes of Gods iudgment in the heauens praie to preuent the euils foreshewed thereby and saie O Almightie Lord and God whose workemanship is the whole world the heauen and the earth with all the beautie and blessings of the same at the presence of whose power all things doo quake and tremble whose indignation when it threatneth vengeance vnto sinners is vnsufferable and whose promises of mercie are vnmeasurable bicause thou art euen the most high Lord ouer
iniquitie shall be suppressed and thy chosen children be fullie endued with that perfect glorie in the which now our Lord Iesus Christ reigneth to whome with thee O father and the holie Ghost be all honour praise and glorie now and euer Amen In time of inuasion by the Turke and Infidels that make warre in anie part of Christendome praie and that earnestlie as followeth OMnipotent and eternall God father of our Lord Iesus Christ maker preseruer and mainteiner both of heauen and earth together with thy coeternall sonne and the holie Ghost we haue sinned O Lord with our fathers we haue done amisse and dealt wickedlie and therfore we confesse that by thy righteous iudgements we are iustlie punished and haue trulie deserued that barbarous nations and cruell Turks making inuasion into Christendome should spoile vs of our goods ouerthrowe Schooles Churches Common-weales make pitifull hauocke of the promiscuous mixt or confused multitude of sillie weake people as they were sheepe prepared to the shambles and carrie miserable men from the sweet bosoms of their deere freends into far and barbarous nations to a slauerie more greeuous than death O God it is thou which hast repelled vs yea thou makest vs a shame to the nations for our sinnes and goest not foorth to war with our armies Thou makest vs to turne our backs vpon our enimies so that they which hate vs spoile our goods Thou lettest vs to bee eaten like sheepe and hast scattered vs among the heathen Thou sellest thy people for naught and takest no monie for them Therefore he the heathen come into thine inheritance thy holie Temple haue they defiled they haue destroied our townes and houses and brought them into an heape of stones The dead bodies of thy seruants haue they giuen to be meate to the fowles of the aire and the flesh of thy Saincts vnto the beasts of the land Their bloud haue they shed like water on euerie side and there was no man to burie them We are become an open shame to our enimies a verie scorne and derision vnto them that are round about vs. O Lord in these mischieuous warres and in the middest of fatall or mortall punishments which threaten an horrible mutation of worldlie empires we flie vnto thee saieng Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glorie of thy name O deliuer vs and be mercifull vnto our sinnes O Lord deale not with vs according to our sinnes neither reward vs after our iniquities but haue mercie vpon vs and that soone for we are come to great miserie Looke vpon our aduersitie and miserie and forgiue vs all our sinnes Consider our enimies how manie they be and they beare a tyrannicall hate against vs. Thou which aforetime didst remit the offences of thy people diddest couer all their sinnes and didst turne awaie thine heauie indignation from them turne vs we humblie beseech thee O God our Sauiour and remooue awaie thy displeasure from vs also that in true repentance wee may please thee for thy sonne Christs sake Wilt thou be displeased at vs for euer Or wilt thou stretch thy wrath from one generation to another Oh let the sorowfull sighing of the prisoners come before thee according to the greatnesse of thy power preserue thou those that are appointed to die Powre out thine indignation rather vpon the heathen that haue not knowne thee and vpon the kingdoms that haue not called vpon thy name that all nations may knowe that thou takest vengeance of the bloud of thy seruants that is shed Consider the mortall threatenings of our enimies that they exercise not their crueltie vpon vs and saie triumphantlie Where is now their God Keepe from our necks the greeuous yoke of the Turkish bondage and represse the furiousnesse of all tyrants which labour to spoile and make hauocke of thy Church to abolish true doctrine praiers and pure religion that they may bring in paganisme and build vp idolatrie errours and blasphemous ceremonies Defend our Churches our politike gouernance our Schooles and Uniuersities our cities and dwelling places Suffer not good studies learning religion and lawes being ouerthrowne these our townes to be reduced into stables for sauage Mahomets Turkish tyrants or other bloudie tyrants which hate thee and vs extremelie Arme the right arme of our gratious Queene and hir Nobles as also all other Christian Emperours Kings and Potentates that they may fight for our lawes liues and libertie Teach their hands to warre and their fingers to fight Increase in them an inuincible courage of mind that inflamed through the zeale of thy religion they may valiantlie withstand the Turks which are the mortall enimies of thy deere Sonne and of his Church Guide thou the hands of such as doo fight in the cause of thy religion and grant them happie successe ouer all their enimies For a king is not preserued by his great armie and a giant shall not be saued by the multitude of his host nor warlike strength but the victorie proceedeth from the heauens At thy rebuke O God the chariot and horses fall downe Thou shalt take awaie the courage of princes and art terrible vnto the kings of the earth O be thou our helpe in trouble for vaine is the helpe of man Through thee O mightie Iehoua we shall doo great acts and thou wilt tread our enimies vnder thy feet that they come to naught through our Lord Iesus Christ Amen A thanks-giuing vnto God for the Christians victorie had against the Turks O Mercifull Father O Lord God of hosts the onelie protector and defender of thine heritage against whome no might no power nor counsell can preuaile who of thy great mercie without our merit or deseruing hast at all times protected defended vs from the cruell hand of our enimies and mightilie deliuered vs euen out of the mouth of the roring Lion we yeeld vnto thee O father for these thy great goodnesses and mercies most humble hartie thanks and especiallie O father we praise thy holie name that at this present thou hast saued and deliuered thy people from the great assaults and dangers of that same professed mightie enimie of Christian Religion the Turke and also hast giuen vnto the people which fought thy battels battelled vnder thy banner and trusted onlie in thy helpe so great and notable a victorie for the which O Lord God we doo laud and magnifie thy holie name for euer through Christ our Captaine Redeemer and Sauiour beseeching thee for thy mercifull goodnesse that thou wouldest sheeld vs vnder thy mightie protection for euer that we hauing the fruition of godlie peace through thy mercie may the rest of these few daies which we haue to liue lead a peaceable and a quiet life in all pietie and honestie through Christ our Lord to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour glorie and praise for euer and euer Amen O God whose nature and propertie is euer to haue mercie and to forgiue receiue our humble petitions And though
for their Maister and Gouernour they shall be destitute neither of the meate nor drinke of thy most wholesome doctrine and Sacraments Whereby it is manifest that if we pine awaie so long as we liue in this miserable and wretched life for the hunger and thirst of true and perfect goodnesse it happeneth for this cause in that wee haue forsaken thee and followed strange guides wherof and of none other come the great perils and miserable troubles of mind which fall vpon vs. Wherefore we humblie beseech thee O most faithfull and louing shepheard to call vs backe from errours into the right and perfect waie Correct the vices of the wandering and straieng flocke with the rod and sheephooke of thy righteousnesse so that we may feed at length orderlie purelie and chastlie of the most wholsome delicates of thy sacred word blessed Sacraments by which meanes the whole head hart and all the powers of our mind may be made fat and well liking and we alwaies so vnderpropped with thy louing mercies as we may finallie enioie in thy house the souereigne delights and deinties of euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another praier to be said before the Sermons at the Court. ALmightie God and most mercifull Father who hast in thine infinite wisedome hidden honour in shame and life in death that thou mightest make foolish the wisdome of this world and that hee that glorieth should glorie in the Lord giue vs grace that we stumble not as some did at the base estate and small shew that outwardlie appeared in thy sonne but that rather denieng our owne wisedome to seeke for our saluation where thou hast hidden laid it vp for vs that is in the simple ministerie of thy Gospell that it may haue such place amongst vs as it may reforme both Kingdoms and Courts and our priuate houses and persons that we may ioie in the present light of that lampe to our feet and followe it whither it goeth giuing no rest to the dealers of it till they haue satisfied our hungrie soules withall assuring our selues that we shall not want things needfull for this life but shall be nourished by thee haue thine assistance and helpe to deliuer vs from all trouble and finallie the enioieng of thy presence where anie trouble shall not come neere vs anie more but we shall be satisfied and haue perfect ioie in the sight of thee our most louing God and Father in Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be praise and glorie for euermore Amen Another ALmightie God and most mercifull Father who hast annointed thy sonne with thy holie spirit and sent him to preach the Gospell that we who before were in prison and bondage to sinne and to death might by him be set at libertie and haue our wounded harts healed by faith of his sweete doctrine grant vs that we loue not bondage rather than libertie nor death rather than life but that we may so receiue his word as we may attaine to euerlasting freedome and life by it And for as much O Lord as thou declarest that for contempt of thy word thou dooest oftentimes withdrawe the preachers of it euen from those to whom they seemed especiallie to haue beene sent grant vs so to receiue the teachers of thy truth as they may be continued amongst vs to our euerlasting comfort in thee to whom with the sonne and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie for euer Amen Another praier against hardnesse of hart and contempt of the word of God FOr as much as thy sacred doctrine O most mightie God is especiallie taught in the sacred Church wherby both thou thy selfe art manifestlie knowne singularlie preached and highlie magnified and we also thereby still called to heauen and heauenlie things it behooueth vs as manie as professe to be of thy schoole greatlie to reioice to be there and as thy faithfull Disciples with all our harts to desire for to giue diligent eare vnto thee alone and thy most wholsome instructions For thou hast oftener than once as thou diddest vnto the Israelites both by thy sacred Scriptures and also through the ministers of thy blessed word protested vnto vs on this wise Giue eare vnto me O my people acknowledge me trulie to be thy God not in words I saie onelie but in mind verelie and with a perfect and most pure worshipping But we alas haue turned our harts from thy holie words and so wretchedlie despised the doctrine of thy sacred lawe and Gospell that we haue alwaies hitherto beene a slander vnto the same But now are we verie hartilie sorie for it who trusting in the death and bloudshedding of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour doo with great feruencie and most earnest praiers lamentablie call vpō thee for pardon of all our sinfull crimes And seeing we acknowledge thee to be our onlie God we earnestlie desire thy gratious goodnesse to grant vs this request that we may now and from hence-foorth for euer giue eare onelie vnto thy diuine Maiestie and honour thee alone neither make anie thine equall or prefer anie thing before thee Suffer not our sinfull hart which of nature is disposed vnto euill to be hardened at thy fatherlie and friendlie admonitions make the same soft we hartilie praie thee with the inspiration of thy good grace and holie spirit neither suffer vs whom thou of thine infinite goodnesse and not for our merits sake hast chosen to be thy blessed people and sheepe of thy pasture to striue struggle against thy blessed commandements like vnto the stiffe-necked Iewes who wouldest oftentimes put therto the traill of thy mightie power But grant thou O most deere and excellent Father who speakest alwaie peaceable matters and those things which are for our singular commoditie that we which haue heretofore beene maruellous rebellious stubborne burdenous and troublesome vnto thee may now become thy tractable conformed and obedient children and euer hereafter haue so great a regard to thy blessed words that with verie attentiue minds we may giue good eare to those things which thou speakest and willest vs to doo So dooing we shall not onlie be saued adorned with glorie but also euerie thing of ours shall be replenished with goodnesse truth righteousnesse and peace Faith shall abound and through the same shall we be plentiouslie iustified through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnesse of hart and contempt of thy word and commandement good Lord deliuer vs. That it may please thee to giue to all thy people increase of grace to heare meekelie thy word and to receiue it with pure affection and to bring foorth the fruits of the spirit we beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to bring into the waie of truth all such as haue erred are deceiued to strengthen such as doo stand and to comfort and helpe the weake-harted and to raise
supplication is not onlie for those aboue mentioned but also for such as either although they resist not thy truth and pure religion openlie and obstinatelie professe our religion yet mingled with manie superstitions and abuses worshipping and calling vpon Saints departed out of this life or be addicted to outward ceremonies and rudiments of this world burdening their consciences with mans obseruations and traditions of their fathers or trusting to their owne righteousnesse or rather to the works and deedes of the flesh refuse and make little accompt of thy righteousnesse which is the true iustification and go about to establish their owne righteousnesse But Christ is the end of the lawe for righteousnesse to as manie as beleeue and another foundation can no man laie than that is laid in thy sonne the Messias which is the waie the truth the life and the end of the lawe For by his perfect obedience and fulfilling of the lawe by his innocent and bitter death hee hath restored vnto vs saluation and perfect righteousnesse that euerie one which beleeueth on him might not perish but haue euerlasting life O God the sight of the blind bring them home againe which through ignorance either are intangled in doubtfull labyrinths and grosse errours or countenance polluted religion that lightened by thy spirit they may returne into the right waie And such as with impudent faces and stiffe neckes doo obstinatelie with an affected ignorance withstand thine holie spirit whose senses the god of this world hath blinded that the light of thy glorious Gospell shine not ouer them represse and bridle their malice that by slaughter and persecutions they neither trouble nor destroie thy Church Amen After the Sermon reade some of these sentences of Scripture exhorting to the diligent obseruing and following of Gods word beard Deuteronomie 28 verse 1. IF thou shalt obeie diligentlie the voice of the Lord thy God walke in his ordinances and obserue keepe and doo all his commandements which I command thee this daie then all these blessings shall come on thee and ouertake thee Blessed shalt thou be in the citie and blessed in the field c. But and if thou wilt not obeie the voice of the Lord thy God to keepe and doo all his commandements and his ordinances which I command thee this daie then all these curses shall come vpon thee and ouertake thee Curssed shalt thou be in the citie and curssed in the field c. as in the whole Chapter Ecclesiasticus 35. WHO so keepeth the lawe bringeth offrings inough he that holdeth fast the commandements offereth an offering of saluation Matthew 7. WHO soeuer heareth of me saieth Christ these words and doth the same I will liken him to a wise man which hath builded his house on a rocke c. But whosoeuer heareth these my words and doth them not shall be likened vnto a foolish man which hath builded his house vpon the sands c. Luke 11. BLessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it Luke 12. THE seruant that knoweth his maisters will and doth it not shall be beaten with manie stripes Romans 2. THE hearers of the lawe are not righteous before God but the dooers of the lawe shall be iustified Iames. 1. WHerefore be yee dooers of the word and not hearers onelie deceiuing your owne selues For if anie heare the word and doo it not he is like vnto a man that beholdeth his naturall face in a glasse For when he hath considered himselfe he goeth awaie and forgetteth immediatlie what manner of one he was But who so looketh in the perfect lawe of libertie and continueth therein he not beeing a forgetfull hearer but a dooer of the worke shall bee blessed in his deed Iohn 15. NOw are yee cleane through the word which I haue spoken vnto you Abide in me and I in you c. I am the vine yee are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth foorth much fruit For without me can ye doo nothing If yee abide in me and my word abide in you aske what yee will and it shall be done vnto you Reuelation 2. FOR he that ouercommeth and keepeth my words vnto the end to him will I giue power ouer nations Reuelation 3. REmember therefore how thou hast heard and receiued and hold fast and repent Hold that I saie which thou hast that no man take thy crowne and watch Then giue thanks and praie vnto God after the Sermon and saie IMmortall praise and thanks be giuen vnto thee O almightie God and most mercifull father who hast giuen vs so pretious a gift of thy holie word and vouchsafed vs to heare so glad tidings of thy sacred Gospell by the hand of this thy minister who presentlie by thy mercy hath vttered it vnto vs. And seeing thou hast delt so gratiouslie with vs in the free publishing of thy Gospell amongst vs this foure and twentie yeeres that it seemeth thou hast euen lifted vs vp to heauen with the cities wherein our Sauiour taught most in his being vpon the earth and hast now in a manner throwne them downe to hell and left in them a terrible and a fearfull example of thy iudgements against those that walke not woorthie the graces offered vnto them Grant vs so to profit by this their chastisement and correction that as of thy grace thou hast reuealed thy will vnto vs which otherwise we could neuer haue knowne so now strengthen vs O Lord that we neuer refuse thy Gospell in vnbeleefe nor seeke in the persons of the preachers of it anie causes and pretences of our infidelitie but hauing thy word alwaies in our harts and thy praises in our tongues we may walke woorthie thy so great graces bestowed vpon vs and haue our conuersation in heauen that after wee may be taken vp thither vnto thee alwaies to glorifie thee with thy Sonne and the holie Ghost Amen A thankes-giuing for the knowledge of God in his word WE giue thee thankes O Father Lord of heauen and earth because thou hast hid the mysterie of thy word which is the Gospell of our saluation by thy Sonne from the wise and men of vnderstanding in this world and hast reuealed the same to babes of base degree certeinlie such was thy good pleasure Thou hast giuen vs all things in thy Sonne whom none knoweth but thou Father neither dooth anie knowe thee except thy Sonne and he to whom thy Sonne shall reueale thee We worship thee we praise thee we glorifie thee we giue thee thanks for the hid wisedome which thou didst determine before the world for our glorie which was neuer knowne to the princes of this world nor at anie time to the sonnes of men as it is now reuealed by the spirit to whom the communion of the mysterie which was hid from all ages but is now opened to thy Saints to whom thou wouldst haue made knowne what be the riches of this glorious mysterie It is thine owne working
Iesus Christ our Lord and onelie Sauiour to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be giuen all honour glorie praise and thankes-giuing not onelie of me miserable sinner and vnwoorthie wretch but also of all men Angels and creatures both in heauen and in earth from this time foorth for euermore Amen Luke 15 verses 6 7. Reioice with me saith Christ For I haue found my sheepe which was lost yea I saie vnto you there is ioie in heauen in the presence of the Angels of God ouer one sinner that repenteth more than ouer ninetie and nine iust persons which neede no repentance A praier to be vsed for the conuersion of anie notorious sinner that doth open penance in the Church PItifull God omnipotent Lord and mercifull Father who for that good will thou bearest vnto vs in Iesus Christ thy deere sonne wilt not the death and destruction of a sinner but rather that he by the inspiration and moouing of thy holie spirit conuert and liue who also doost witnesse the vertue and strength of thy word to be such that it causeth the mountaines to shake the rocks tremble and the flouds to drie vp behold we thy children and people here prostrate before thee most humblie beseech thee for Iesus Christs sake pitifullie to looke vpon all sinners and especiallie vpon this our sister here present who once was baptised in thy name and hath professed hir selfe subiect to this religion and vnto the discipline of thy Church though Satan alas now for a while hath so blinded hir that wilfullie shee hath contemned both the one and the other But O Lord as thou alone knowest so maist thou alone change and mollifie the harts of the impenitent sinners thou I saie which by the voice of the prophet Nathan awakedst Dauid from his deadlie securitie and who without anie prophet didst beate downe the pride of Manasses in the prison after that he had filled Ierusalem with all kind of impietie thou which turnedst the hart of Peter at the onelie looke of thy deere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ after that fearfullie with horrible imprecations hee had thrise denied and openlie forsworne thee thou which openedst the eies of the blind excommunicate man and causedst him to beleeue thy saiengs which forgauest the woman taken in adulterie sentst hir awaie vncondemned of thee hir accusers thou I saie O Lord whose mercies without measure endure for euer To thee doo we praie for this our sister heere presentlie punished and dooing open penance for hir offences earnestlie desiring thee O father of mercies first so to pierce and moue hir heart with the feare of thy seuere iudgements which sufferest no child of thine to go vncorrected in this world to the end they may escape vnpunished in the world to come and so to open hir eies that she may begin to see and vnderstand how fearefull and terrible a thing it is to fall into thy hands and to prouoke thy wrath and indignation against hir Let it please thy Maiestie by the vertue of thy holie spirit so to mollifie hir hard hart I saie that she may now at length feele how greeuouslie she hath offended both against thee and the Church and giue hir thy grace to acknowledge accuse and damne as well before vs whome she hath offended as before thy presence this hir contempt and sinne so notorious and damnable least that by hir obstinacie and wilfull rebellion thy Church and congregation being further prouoked be compelled with greefe of harts to cut hir quite off from thy mysticall bodie whome we O Lord vnfeinedlie desire to receiue within the Church as a liuelie member of thy deere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ Heare vs mercifull father call backe againe this our deere sister from eternall destruction where-into Sathan would leade hir that we all who before thy presence euen for hir rebellion and transgressions doo mourne may receiue hir againe with gladnes and ioie and so render praise and honour vnto thee before this thy holie congregation We grant our selues O Lord vnworthie whome thou shouldest heare because we cease not to offend thee by our continuall transgressing of thy holie precepts Looke not vpon vs mercifull father in this our corrupt nature but looke downe to thy deere sonne whome thou of thy meere mercie hast appointed our head high Bishop aduocate mediator and onlie propitiator In him and in the merits of his death we humblie beseech thee mercifullie to behold vs and suffer not the most innocent bloud of thy deere sonne shead for vs and this our penitent sister to be prophaned by the tyrannie and sleight of Sathan but by the vertue of the same let our sister be brought to vnfeined repentance and conuersion that so she may escape that fearfull indignation into the which she appeareth to haue fallen Grant I saie O Lord vnto this our sister the repentance of the hart and sincere confession of the mouth to the praise of thy name to the comfort of thy Church and to the confusion of Sathan And vnto vs grant O Lord that albeit we cannot liue altogether cleane from sinne and void of offences yet that we fall not into the like horrible crimes of impietie and contempt to the dishonour of thy holie name to the slander and offence of our brethren and sisters and infamie of thy holie Religion and Gospell which we professe Let thy godlie power O Lord so perpetuallie assist and strengthen our weakenesse and conduct vs in all the course of our whole life that neither the craft of Sathan nor the tyrannie of sinne drawe vs vtterlie from the obedience required in true Christians but that contrarilie beeing subiect to the voice of thy Church and to the ministers of the same vnder thee by holinesse and innocencie of life we may declare to the wicked generation what difference there is betweene the children of light and the children of darkenesse that all men seeing our good works may praise thee in the daie of visitation This we aske of thee O heauenlie Father in the boldnesse of our head and mediator Iesus Christ praieng furthermore as he hath taught vs Our Father c. Another praier to be said of the beholders of anie offender in the Church or else-where ALmightie God and most mercifull father whose iudgements are vnsearchable and whose waies are past finding out teach vs to iudge wiselie of this our sister and all other afflicted with thy hand not condemning them but rather profiting by them that their example may leade vs to repentance and bringing foorth such fruits as thou requirest of all those that are planted in thy Church least by continuing fruitlesse we prouoke thee at the last to the cutting of vs downe And because thou hast giuen vs a sauiour able to heale all our infirmities deliuer vs by him O Lord from all the bonds of Sathan that being set at libertie by him we may fore-see the straight doore and enter into it leauing the wide gate that leadeth
beeing made thine adopted children we may by the sanctification of thy spirit inherit the euerlasting kingdome through the same Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Or praie for the fruits of Baptisme thus MOst heauenlie and eternall father we thy humble seruants entirelie desire thy fatherlie goodnesse that as thou hast begun in vs a newe birth washed vs with the fountaine of regeneration whereby we are made members of thy bodie and elected into the number and felowship of thy Church and congregation so thou wouldest powre vpon vs the grace of thy spirit to direct our liues according to this beginning in holinesse and purenesse that we may mortifie the lusts of the flesh resist the assaults of Sathan and auoide the alurements of the wicked world remembring alwaies that Baptisme doth represent vnto vs our vocation quenching those sparks of concupiscence that we all drawe from the old Adam and quickning vs in those good fruits of Christ our Sauiour who continuallie preserue vs with his holie spirit for euer and euer Amen Or praie for the continuance of the true institution of the Sacraments thus O Most mightie and most mercifull God by whose power the heauens and earth and all things therein are created who hast placed euerie thing in a most excellent order and hast framed man after thine owne similitude and image raising him from hell to heauen from wo to ioie from damnation to saluation and hast giuen him through thy sonne Iesu Christ a most sure bond of thy promise made in the beginning to mankind for the redemption of the world sending thine onlie begotten Sonne Iesu Christ to performe the same who made one onelie oblation and sacrifice for the sinnes of the whole world and did ordaine and institute two most holie Sacraments to continue the remembrance of the same make vs euer mindfull we beseech thee of these thine inestimable treasures Continue oh Lord this thy fauour towards vs. Let not tyrants preuaile against thy Church but let thy mightie power be shewed that the sacred rites may cōtinue in thy Church that the enimies may be ouerthrowne as the Turke who would vtterlie destroie those most holie Sacraments which thou hast ordeined for our saluation as the Anabaptists which like heretikes alter thy most holie institution as the Atheists who bred in them great corruption Conuert them we beseech thee O Lord and establish vs in the truth of thy holie spirit by thy mightie power that both now and euer wee may continue in the right institution of thy Sacraments which thy Sonne our Sauiour Christ hath left most perfect vnto vs to the endlesse ioie and consolation of our soules To whome therefore with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour glorie and praise world without end Amen Prouerbes 9. verse 1. WIsedome hath built hir house and hewen out hir seauen pillers she hath killed hir victuals drawne hir wine and prepared hir table she hath sent foorth hir virgins and crieth vpon the high places of the citie saieng Who so is simple let him come hither and to him that is destitute of wisedome she saith Come and eate of my meate and drinke of my wine that I haue drawne Canti 5. I AM come saith Christ vnto his spouse the Church into my garden my sister my spouse I gathered my mirrh with my spice I ate my honie-combe with my honie I dranke my wine with my milke Eate ô freends drinke and make ye merrie ô welbeloued Reuelation 19. HAppie and blessed are they which are called vnto the Lambes supper Christian praiers to be said before at and after ye receiue the holie Communion and first An effectuall meditation of the right Christian beleefe in the holie Sacrament of the Lords supper and of the woorthie and fruitefull receiuing the same to our comfort and saluation to be diligentlie read before you receiue O My soule let vs now carefullie consider first whether we bee come namelie to the celestiall table heauenlie banket greate feast costlie repast and sumptuous supper of the most puissant glorious mightie and magnificent King of kinges and Lord of lordes Iesus Christ thy most mercifull maker righteous redeemer souereigne sauiour and deere spouse and that of necessitie as both forced therevnto by his iust commandement and also allured and inuited by his mercifull promises Secondlie O my soule let vs rightlie knowe and diligentlie marke what things are heere presentlie set before vs on this holie Table and prouided for vs in this blessed banket to taste of namelie that the deintie dishes and the refection and meate which we must in verie deede seeke for onelie in this sacred supper are no vaine ceremonies no bare signe no vntrue figure of a thing absent no earthlie bodie no carnall meate nor anie fleshlie substance but as the sacred Scripture saith and other holie men doo rightlie tearme and call them The Bread and Cup of the Lord a heauenlie refection the sweet deinties of our sauiour the nourishment of our soules an inuisible meate a spirituall foode a ghostlie substance which all are heere now most mercifullie offered and exhibited vnto vs and all other faithfull soules as the soueraigne preseruatiue against death the conseruatorie to euerlasting life the comfortable medicine of the soule the salue of immortalitie the pledge of eternall health the defence of faith the hope of the resurrection the memorie of Christ the annuntiation of his death finallie the communion of the bodie and bloud of the Lord Iesus in a maruellous incorporation which by the holie Ghost the verie bond of our perfection with Christ is through faith wrought in the soules of the faithfull whereby not onlie their soules doo liue to eternall life but also they surelie trust to win to their bodies a resurrection to immortalitie In the which also we may not onlie heare see taste and knowe the mercie of God our Creator sealed the sanctification by Christ our redeemer towards vs confirmed the remission of our sinnes through the holie Ghost our comforter and regenerator fullie satisfied and established but also most sensiblie and effectuallie to our further comfort in deed feele wrought in vs the tranquillitie of conscience the increase of faith the strengthening of hope and the long spreading abroad of brotherlie loue and kindnesse with manie other sundrie maruellous graces and benefits of God most profitable vnto vs. Which things well considered and weighed my soule O with what feruent affection and earnest zeale ought they now to inflame our hart and kindle our mind greedilie to couet and desire the participation of these most holie mysteries yea often to long and hunger after this healthsome bread and continuallie thirst for this diuine heauenlie and blessed food Thirdlie and lastlie O my soule let vs aduisedlie call to mind and well vnderstand the cause wherefore wee are now come vnto this holie table of the Lord which indeed is onlie to this end that we should now be godlie ghests not idle gazers hungrie eaters not steruing
with thy presence fill me with thy comfort spirituall deinties Make my faith strong to beleeue thy word and promises that being made holie as thou art holie I may now holilie taste and see how sweet thou art in this life by inchoation and in the life to come perfectlie pleasantlie and perpetuallie enioie thy heauenlie table O our Father giue vs this daie our dailie bread that we may walke in the strength thereof daie and night vntill we come to thy holie hill of Horeb. My sweet Lord let me feed vpon thee My life enter into my soule O sweet loue O louing sweetnesse let my bellie eate thee and my soule be refreshed by thee the heauenlie Bridegrome For thou art the bread and fountaine of life yea all things indeede whereby the righteous liue which loue thee Thee doo I couet loue and woorship with whome I shall dwell reigne and be blessed Upon thee doo I call for my soule which thou preparest to receiue thee through the desire which thou breathest into it Come therefore O purger of sinnes thou which art the curer of wounds the strength of the feeble the comforter of the sorowfull the worship and honour of all them that liue and the onelie health of the dead Come I saie O blessed Trinitie and enter into my soule come I beseech thee and haue mercie vpon me make me meete for thee that thou maist possesse that which thou hast both made and redeemed sanctified and preserued that I may haue thee as a seale vpon my hart Giue me thy selfe O God my God restore thy selfe vnto me for nothing else can suffice thy seruant and mercifullie graunt vnto me according to the multitude of thy great mercies that my basenesse may please thy Maiestie my vilenesse thine almightie power O sweet Christ O Charitie my God dulcet honie snowie milke the foode of Angels make me to growe in thee that I may eate thee with a sauorie taste Make me to ouercome the enimie of my saluation that thou maist vouchsafe to giue me according to thy promise to eate of the tree of life which is in the middest of the Paradise of God and of the Manna that is hid and that I may one daie or other be called vnto the Lambes supper and eate bread at thy table in the kingdome of GOD among the blessed ones O deere God I praie thee let my mind thus kindeled with the loue of thee flie euen till it come to the beautie of thy celestiall house to the throne of thy glorie and there let it be fed at the dining table of the heauenlie citizens in the place of full feeding by the plentifull running streames and pleasant pastures Behold Lord I stand at the doore and knocke I beseech thee by the bowels of thy mercie wherewith thou being the daie-spring from an high hast visited vs open the hand of thy pitie to a wretch that knocketh and vouchsafe mercifullie to bid me enter into thee that I may rest with thee dwell with thee and sup with thee and thou with me and that I may be refreshed to the full of thee which art the liuing sweet white-bread and heauenlie repast wherewith when I am once fed and that my strength is come perfectlie vnto me againe I may ascend vnto the more high things neuer from hencefoorth hunger or thirst anie more so greatlie after vanities So be it When ye are about to receiue the bread lift vp your hart and eies vnto God in heauen and saie O Father I hartilie thanke thee who hast giuen thine onlie begotten son to take vpon him our naturall bodie which bodie was once offered to thee vpon the altar of the crosse for the health welth and saluation of all sinners for whose sake O father I beseech thee to haue mercie vpon me and in remembrance of whose most bitter death and painfull passion with all possible thanks for all thy benefits brieflie comprised therein I now in trembling and feare receiue this holie bread to feed therby in my soule on Christs blessed bodie which was giuen for me and that onelie by faith to mine euerlasting comfort and saluation and thine eternall glorie Amen Or thus O Heauenlie Father and blessed God I render vnto thee most hartie thanks for all thy benefits which thou hast shewed vnto me most wretched sinner but especiallie for that most sweet smelling sacrifice which thine onlie begotten sonne offered vnto thee on the altar of the crosse by giuing his most pure vndefiled bodie vnto the death for the redemption of mankind In remēbrance wherof according to thy welbeloued sonnes ordinance I now receiue this holie bread most intirelie beseeching thee that I may both be partaker of the merits of thy deere sonnes bodie breaking and also lead a life woorthie of so great a benefit vnto the glorie of thy name Amen When you see the wine behold it with your corporall eies For as Christ saith it is wine but lift vp your soule vnto Christ in heauen whose bloud is there alwaie fresh and liuelie before the Father to sprinkle and quicken thee and praie saieng O Lord Iesu Christ Sonne of the liuing GOD which being vpon the crosse with thy hands spred abroad for the redemption of all mankind diddest drinke the most bitter cup of thy passion I beseech thee vouchsafe now to drawe the mouth of the soule that thirsteth after thee vnto the high flouds and flowing streames of thine eternall abundance and satietie yea drawe me wholie vnto thy selfe which art the liuing well to the intent I may according to my capacitie drinke of that wherevpon I doo liue O my God my life thou didst saie with thy holie and blessed mouth If anie man thirst let him come vnto me and drinke O well of life grant vnto my thirstie soule alwaie to drinke of thee that according to thy holie and true promise waters of life may flowe out of my bellie O well of life replenish and fill my mind full of the riuer of thy pleasures make my hart to be drunken as it were in thy loue that after the maner of them that be drunken with wine which forget all things saue the cup so I may forget all vaine and earthlie things and continuallie haue nothing else in my remembrance but thee onelie thy bitter death thy painfull passion and pretious bloud-shedding Come I praie thee into my hart and make it drunken with the abundance of thy plentifulnesse so that I may forget all temporall things make me I saie throughlie drunken with thy cup that I may forget euen my selfe and vtterlie renounce all mine owne vngodlinesse sinne O Christ which art the euerlasting suffisance that shalt be giuen to the hungrie and thirstie refresh vs continuallie with the most exquisite and well furnished banket of thy blessed Sacraments and make vs drinke plentiouslie of the holie cup of thy blessed spirit and grace Let the inspiration of thy most sweet spirit succeed like springs of water
of the stormie sea to guide vs vnto thee our hauen Lord gouerne our ship with thy right hand by the helme of thy crosse that wee perish not in the waues that the tempest of the water drowne vs not and that the deepe swalowe vs not vp but with the hooke of thy crosse plucke vs backe out of this vast sea vnto thee our onlie comfort whom we see waiting for vs a farre off as the morning-starre and as the daiesunne of righteousnesse in maner with weeping eies vpon the shore of the heauenlie countrie Behold we whom thou hast ransomed doo crie vnto thee yea euen we as yet thy banished exiles whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloud doo crie vnto thee heare vs O God our Sauiour the hope of all the ends of the earth and of all them that be in the sea a farre off We be conuersant in a troublesome sea and thou standing vpon the shore lookest at our perils Oh saue vs for thy name sake that we perish not And Lord grant vs so to keepe our course betweene Scylla and Charybdis and to hold so with thee that we may escape the dangers of both and come safe to land without losse of ship or fraight Amen Another meditation of the happinesse of the good soule hence departing at burials HAppie is the soule which departing from the earthly bodie goeth directlie into heauen secure it is and quiet and feareth neither enimie nor death For it enioieth continuallie thy presence O God vncessantlie beholdeth the most glorious Lord whome she hath serued and loued and whom now at the length full ioifullie and gloriouslie she hath attained vnto And this glorie of so great blessednesse neither time shall diminish nor anie wicked person take awaie The daughters of Zion haue seene hir and counted hir blessed euen the Queenes and the concubines haue praised hir saieng Who is she that commeth vp out of the desert abounding in pleasure leaning vpon hir welbeloued Who is she that looketh foorth as the morning faire as the Moone pure as the Sunne terrible as an armie with banners How cheerefullie goeth she out hastneth runneth when all amazed shee heareth hir beloued saieng vnto hir on this wise Arise my loue my faire one and come awaie For behold the winter now is past the raine is changed and gone awaie the flouds appeere in our earth the time of the singing of the bird is come and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land The fig-tree hath brought foorth hir yong figs and the vines with their small grapes haue cast a sauour Arise my loue my faire one and come awaie my doue that art in the holes of the rocke in the secret places of the staires shew me thy sight let me heare thy voice for thy voice is sweet and thy sight comelie Come awaie my chosen my faire one my doue mine vnspotted one my spouse come awaie and I will put thee into my bed-chamber because I haue longed after thy beautie Come awaie that thou maist triumph in my presence with mine Angels whose companie I haue promised thee After manie perils and labour come awaie enter into thy maisters ioie the which no man shall take from thee Amen Another which may be vsed on all Saincts daie OH happie are all thy Saincts O Christ which haue passed ouer the sea of this mortalitie and attained vnto the hauen of perpetuall quietnesse securitie and peace where they are at rest and alwaie ioifull and merrie Wherfore of thy tender loue I beseech thee O Christ who art without care of thy selfe be carefull for vs who needest not to care for incorruptible glorie haue thou a consideration of our manifold miseries O our God who hast chosen a people to thy selfe and endued them with glorie making them both immortall of thine immortalitie and ioifull through thy blessed sight I beseech thee be thou alwaies mindfull of vs and helpe vs who as yet in the salt seas of this life are tossed with the surges about vs. O thou goodlie gate who art raised into a maruellous highnesse helpe vs vile pauement lieng much beneath thee giue vs thine hand and raise vp such as lie vpon the ground that waxing strong out of weakenesse we may be made couragious in battell Make thou intercession for vs continuallie and vncessantlie praie for vs wretches and most negligent sinners that through thy praiers we may be conioined to the holie companie of saincts for otherwise we shall neuer be saued For alas we are verie fraile weakelings of no courage creatures giuen to the seruice of the bellie and flesh hauing in vs almost no sparkle of vertue and yet placed vnder thy confession O Christ we are borne by the wood of the crosse through this great and wide sea where are things creeping innumerable both small beasts and great wherein the most cruell dragon is alwaie prepared to deuour vs wherein be the dangerous rocks Scylla and Charybdis with other such like innumerable things whereby the heedlesse and wauering in faith make shipwracke Wherefore O Christ praie for vs O good Christ praie thou we saie for vs that through thy good praiers and merits we may deserue ship and merchandise being saued to attaine vnto the port of perpetuall saluation quietnesse peace and securitie which neuer shall haue end Amen After the seruice and common praier ended praie thus O Iesu Christ the verie true Aaron and onlie high Bishop of our soule which in thine own name art gone vp into the most holie place and bearest our names before the Lord vpon thy shoulders for a continuall remembrance Forsomuch as our offerings and sacrifice cannot be so perfect but that through our frailtie some fault and imperfection shall be found therein in thy sight vouchsafe we beseech thee O holiest of all holies and our most perfect high priest in mercie to beare the iniquities of our publike praiers and common sacrifice which we thy people with one accord by thy grace haue heere at this time made and offered vnto God the Father in thy name Pardon O pardon our dulnesse and coldnesse in deuotion and let this our oblation be alwaies vpon thy forehead to cause these our burnt offerings to be presented and accepted for a sweet sauour of rest before the Lord our God that through thy onelie mediation he being pacified our sinnes pardoned and we gratiouslie reconciled and sanctified may be woorthie often to haue accesse to thy mercie-seate to woorship thee in thy holie Temple and now as thy seruants to go in peace to glorifie thee in all holie obedience to thy word to doo vnto the poore as much as we can So be it Or else thus ALmightie God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee and dooest promise that when two or three be gathered togither in thy name thou wilt grant their request fulfill now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may
by the diuell man thou hast againe of thine infinite goodnesse through thy sonne prepared a sumptuous supper and great feast And for as much as thy people among whom the tower of thy daily iunkets was placed togither with the most part of the world do despise thy holie table and suffer themselues to be caried about vnto the bankets of Satan and vaine pleasures of this world Thou hast vouchsafed to call vs most vnwoorthie wretches being lame blind and beggerlie in this last age of the world that the number of thine elect may be filled yea thou compellest some lieng in the high waies and about hedges by reason of the troubles and decaie of kingdoms through the preaching of thy word to come to the participation of thy banket We humblie beseech thee bring vs to thine heauenlie table appoint vs a place therein euermore Grant that from thy sonne which is the bread and liuelie wine we may drawe nourishment and iuice that the drinesse of our nature may be watered and we at length taste of thy supper in the table of euerlasting life and drinke the new wine of thy sonne enioieng his visible sight in the blessed societie of all thine elect Amen When you begin to eate immediatelie blesse and saie LORD God which art the sanctifier of thy Saints and the euerlasting suffisance that shalt be giuen to the hungrie blesse thou from heauen these thy good creatures and great benefits which thou hast created to releeue the want of thy hungrie children and to be receiued with thanks-giuing with thy celestiall benediction that they may be as a healthfull medicine or remedie to our humane nature And grant that by the inuocation of thy holie name we now soberlie taking and temperatelie and thankfullie tasting hereof may therewithall receiue both helth of bodie and safegard of soule through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Or else praie thus for the sober vsing of your meate and drinke GRant O most mercifull God that so long as we wander in this wretched world we may so take our meate and drinke for the infirmitie of our flesh that we neuer be corrupted by fine fare wherein the flesh delighteth neither yet by anie foolish superstition nor that we be drawne awaie at anie time from temperance and sobrietie but let vs alwaies remember so to vse our abundance that when we abound in all things most plentifullie we may giue our selues to moderate abstinence continuallie as also that we may patientlie beare all pouertie and hunger when it commeth and that wee may so vse libertie in our meates and drinks that alwaies the glorie of thy name O Lord may be before our eies and that such frugalitie may appeare in all our life that we may continuallie seeke that satietie and fulnesse whereby we shall be satiate for euer most abundantlie when the glorie of thy countenance shall appeere vnto vs in the heauens through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen When you take salt meditate a little to your selfe and saie EUerie man shall be salted with fire and euerie sacrifice shall be seasoned with salt Salt is good but if the salt be vnsauourie wherewith shall it be seasoned O God giue vs grace to haue salt in our selues and to haue peace one with another let all our communication now be so well sauoured and powdered with salt that is to saie seasoned with godlie wisedome that we knowing how and when to speake all our talke may tend to the glorie of thy name and the edifieng of our owne soules through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen In the meale time LET one of your children or seruants that best can reade this caution following and after that some chapter or portion of the Scripture distinctlie and reuerentlie that all at the boord may giue diligent eare therevnto The cautions or remembrances to be said of the child in the meate time REmember that these meates and drinkes heere set before you are giuen you of God to vse but not to abuse in surfeting and dronkennesse Remember that they are giuen you to profit your bodies and not to hurt your soules Remember that they are not giuen to you alone but vnto others also that need the same by your liberalitie and almes to their releefe In eating and drinking remember that you doo but feed the woormes and pamper the carcasse and ouercharge your soule if yee surfet with taking too much In the midst of your mirth and abundance remember the poore prisoners the sicke and the afflictions of Ioseph and his persecuted members as though yee were in their case Finallie remember the food of your soules Christs bodie broken and his bloud shead Desire the meate I saie that lasteth for euer Labour for it and harken diligentlie to his word which now shall be read vnto you And first let vs praie A praier to be said of the child or seruant in the meale time before the reading of the Chapter out of the Bible O Lord which hast prouided these earthlie creatures for the feeding of our mortall bodies direct vs carefullie to seeke and with delight to tast of thy most holie word that we may by that immortall seed be begotten to be thy children and thereby be nourished and fed vntill we become perfect men in thy Sonne Christ Iesus So be it Or else thus BLessed Lord which hast not onlie created all things for mans sustenance but also hast caused all holie Scripture to be written for our learning grant vs to be so conuersant among these thy gifts purelie and holilie because thou art so that we may in such sort also now both reade thy word heare it marke learne and inwardlie digest this heauenlie food of our soules that being well refreshed and vertuouslie transformed both in bodie and soule we may holilie walke in the strength thereof to glorifie thee through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen After the Chapter read saie thus BLessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it Grant therefore we beseech thee O Lord that we may not onlie be readers and hearers of thy word but dooers and followers also of the same that beeing now fed and nourished at thy hands both in soule and bodie we may heere bee apt and readie to doo all good works which thou hast prepared for vs to walke in and in the life to come be receiued to thine eternall kingdome of glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another thanks-giuing after the receiuing of our bodilie sustenance and reading of some part of Gods holie word or spirituall food O Lord our God the onlie giuer of all good gifts who of thy great mercies hast made vs partakers both of the heauenlie gifts of thy holie word to feed our minds and of thine earthlie creatures for the necessarie sustenance of our weake bodies grant we beseech thee that through thy grace these thy gifts may be made perfect vnto vs. Giue strength vnto our meate that it may be our healthfull nourishment not to
breed in vs anie carnall desire of our vaine life but to enable our bodies with all good works during the time of this present pilgrimage that so thy good creatures may be our good releefe so long as thou wilt and so much as thou knowest to be expedient for vs thy seruants to finish our daies which thou hast numbred in the edifieng of thy Saincts and glorifieng of thy holie name And because O Lord we knowe nothing of our selues but our ignorant harts are full of darkenesse therefore we beseech thee that this thy word which is thine eternall wisdome that now we haue read and wherein we haue had our conference may be in our minds a burning lampe and shining light of thine onlie truth in our harts and in our soules a fruitefull seed of a new birth so that thine owne image may be happilie againe restaured in vs that we may bee made before thee a holie and righteous people by the inward working of thy gratious spirit dailie strengthening our harts in earnest loue of thy truth and carefull obedience of thy commandements through Iesus Christ our onlie mediator who in the sacrifice of his owne bodie hath purchased vnto vs all thy fauour and hath giuen vs boldnesse to call vpon thee vnto whome O father with thee and the holie Ghost bee all honour and glorie world without end Amen Another praier after meate on the Lords daie SAnctified be thy name O eternall father who by thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord dooest euermore protect and prouide for thy Church both spirituall and corporall blessings bestowing most liberallie vpon vs all good things asked according to thy will Lift vp thine eies O Christ and behold thy miserable people which depend altogither vpon thy prouision and acknowledge our selues to be fed and defended miraculouslie by thee Assist vs that we also may withdrawe our eies from the consultations of flesh and bloud and looke vpon thee our Lord by whose blessing we eate and store our selues And albeit all worldlie helps do faile yet bee thou a firie wall still about vs and feed and defend thy Saincts in the feelds of comfort vntill thou begin that ioifull Passouer and euerlasting Sabboth and bring vs out of the wildernesse out of the sea and penurie into the court of ioie wealth satietie and euerlasting welfare In the meane while make vs thankfull for the benefits which we enioie Let vs gather vp the remnants or fragments cast from thy sumptuous and rich banket vnto vs. Preserue our baskets and blesse our store euen the arts and schooles of learning that by them thy doctrine may be spread abroade in the world Make vs not onlie to honour thee for these thy corporall benefits but much more for giuing thy selfe vnto vs which art the bread of life Be thou our King defending vs in this life against the power of Sathan and feed vs with thy heauenlie bread which may nourish vs to eternall life and happinesse Amen Another praier after meate that daie you haue receiued the holie Communion SEeing that of thy free grace and mercie O almightie God thou hast made vs partakers this daie of all thy riches both in spirituall and corporall things in Christ Iesu who of our selues are vnwoorthie to haue gathered the crumbs vnder thy table make vs more and more mindfull of so great mercies and continuallie thankefull to thee for so manifold benefits and to walke woorthie the honour and dignitie thou hast done vnto vs that we may receiue the full accomplishment of thy loue towards vs in the life to come through the same our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie world without end Amen Another thanks-giuing vnto God for our food to be read and meditated vpon after meate WE thanke thee O King of glorie Lord of heauen and earth because thou hast from our youth to this present houre maruellouslie nourished vs giuing vs meate drinke cloathing with all other things perteining to the sustentation of this present life Naked and bare came we out of our mothers wombs wee brought nothing into the world but whatsoeuer we haue thou gauest the same yea it was afore we were borne and in our mothers wombe didst thou ordeine things necessarie for this life and sufferedst vs to enioie all things aboundantlie Alwaie thou hast a care of vs as a father vseth his children neither art thou ignorant that we stand in need continuallie of thy blessings and dailie are destitute of new releefe all which thou giuest after thy woonted and vnspeakable goodnesse We acknowledge that whatsoeuer we haue or possesse it is thy gift and confesse thee to be the fountaine of all good things and perceiue thy fatherlie goodnesse to be spread not onlie ouer all mankind but also ouer the liuing creatures Thou giuest meate to all flesh thou giuest fodder to the cattell and feedest the yoong rauens that call vpon thee For corporall goods are not distributed among men by chance or without thy prouidence neither be they atteined by the onlie industrie and power of man Thou giuest and we gather thou openest thy hand and all liuing creatures are filled with thy blessing For without thee all our endeuours be in vaine and if thou blesse not our labours we doo but eate the wind and receiue no profit Great is thy mercie O Lord which disdainest not to prouide for sinfull flesh O Lord our God great are thy woonderous works which thou hast done for vs the which we can not so much as in thought comprehend muchlesse in words expresse When we would report and vtter them we found them more than we could recite but notwithstanding thine infinite benefits can not be comprehended of mortall man yet will we not surcease to set foorth thy praise nor hide thy goodnesse from the sonnes of men but will declare it and speake of thy truth from one generation to another Blessed art thou O our God for euer and euer all that is either aboue in the heauens or in the earth beneath is thine All things come from thee and from thine hands we receiue whatsoeuer we possesse and all these things of thy meere mercie without our merits or woorthinesse Therefore we will magnifie the Lord which doth mightie things in all corners of the earth which dooth nourish vs from our mothers wombs and giueth vs all good things Grant vs likewise quietnesse of mind and peace in our time that thy grace may abound toward vs continue and defend vs while we liue O almightie and mercifull father by thy breath we take life the which through thy blessing doth abide in vs. In thee we liue moue and haue our being For man liueth not by bread onlie or by his owne wisedome and forecast neither art thou bound with a fatall chaine of second causes but by thy decree and will we enioie life and all things created at thy becke doo continue while thou thinkest good
much to thirst after the bitter potion of sinne to followe after vanities of this world to suffer the incommodities of this slipperie life and the dominion of Sathans tyrannie and not rather to flee vp to the felicitie of Saincts to the fellowship of Angels and to the solemnitie of the heauenlie ioies where we shall see behold and enioie the plentifull aboundant riches of the inestimable treasures of Gods goodnesse for euer and euer world without end Amen A meditation of Gods woonderfull works and a thanks-giuing for our creation O Most heauenlie father and eternall God which art neither made nor begotten but before all worlds from euerlasting diddest beget a Sonne an image of thine owne substance we honor thee we praise thee we glorifie thee we yeeld thee most hartie thanks for all thy benefits especiallie for creating the heauens the Sunne Moone and all the starres by thy liuelie word for gouerning through thy wisdome and for thy gratious mainteining them The Sunne in his vprising doth manifest the daie a woonderfull worke of the highest Great is the Lord which made and commanded the same to take his course from the top of heauen vnto the end thereof The ornaments of heauen be the glorious starres the Lord on high doth lighten the world at his commandement they keepe their order and will not faile nor be wearie in their watch O Lord our God how woonderfull is thy name in all the world which hast set thy glorie aboue the heauens Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings wilt thou be praised because of thine enimies that thou maist confound thine aduersaries and him that enuieth thy renowme We see the workemanship of thy hands the Moone and Starres which thou hast ordeined and we will signifie thy glorie vnto all nations and among all people will we declare thy woonderfull things For thou art mightie O Lord and worthie to be praised great is thy vertue and thy power woonderfull We thanke thee holie father God of heauen because thou hast created by thy word of power the vniuersall world with all the creatures and whatsoeuer is liueth or moueth in the same By thy wisdome thou dooest gouerne and by sending of thy spirit as yet doest vphold and cherish the same For all woods fruitfull trees stones graine flowers herbes and all the grasse of the feeld hast thou ordeined for the vse of man Wee magnifie thee O God most wise for creating the Sea and springs of water by the power of thy word and for giuing them vertue to bring foorth fishes of all kind to be eaten of man We blesse thee O eternall God for making the superiour and lower regions of the aire with all birds and feathered fowles of sundrie kinds for the food of man We glorifie thee for giuing the whole frame of this earth with all the creatures in the same vnto mankinde and setting man ouer the works of thine hands hast subiected all things vnder his feet all sheepe and oxen yea and all the beasts of the feeld the fowles of the aire and the fish of the Sea which walke through the paths of the Sea Especiallie we praise thee our Lord and maker for making vs thy creatures reasonable men and women according to thine owne similitude for giuing vs reason and all the senses and for preseruing vs hitherto Thou didst nourish vs and that woonderfullie being within our mothers wombe and out thereof hast thou brought vs sound in all parts without imperfection and yet continuest thy fauour and dooest keepe vs against all dangers and deliuerest vs from all euill and all these things dooest thou of thy fatherlie and diuine goodnesse without anie merit or desert of ours for all which we are bound to thanke thee to praise thee to serue honor and obeie thee We extoll thy sacred name O God most high for separating from the rest a Sabboth daie that so men ceassing from their handie labour might the better serue and celebrate thine honour Who is he that can recite all the power of the Lord or declare all his works Who can number out all his praises No man can vtter all his benefits Notwithstanding although we be miserable men and wretched sinners and therefore most vnmeete to extoll thee according to thy deserts yet will we not be still we will praise thee euermore to the vttermost of our power We will declare thy iustice and mercie and while we liue we remember thy goodnesse and at no time forget thy benefits O our soules praise the Lord we will praise the Lord during our life we will sing to the Lord while we haue breath We will bee mindfull of our maker euen from our youth and seeke him euermore yea euen vnto our old age and graie head O God forsake vs not vntill we haue declared thy power vnto all nations that are to come Praise the Lord all ye nations praise him all ye people For his louing kindnes is great toward vs and his truth endureth for euer Praise ye the Lord in his Sanctuarie praise him in the firmament of his power praise him in his mightie acts praise him according to his excellent greatnesse Let euerie thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord Amen Another meditation and thanks-giuing for the creation of the world MOst mightie most wise and most maruellous Lord GOD which of nothing hast created heauen and earth with all that is therein and hast prepared with due new properties euerie worke which thou hast brought foorth by thy diuine word holie commandement and hast ordeined and established all the holie works of thy hands so that they yet stand and serue to the vse and seruice of men For through the course of the heauens which neuer stand still is ingendered vnto vs all that euer we haue need of and through the same course also dieth withereth and rotteth all that is old bicause that for the old and decaied there should arise vp new and fresh And this course hast thou O mightie God made so maruellouslie and so agreeably that man thorough the agreeable works of thine hands without anie other externall learning teaching or instruction might come to the knowledge of that which is inuisible in thee that is thy holie exalted and euerlasting blessed Godhead and inuisible might Insomuch as there is none that can make himselfe vngiltie and inexcusable of misbeleefe or ignorance how farre soeuer he be departed from thy holie word For the verie heauens giue knowledge inough of thy diuine glorie the which though they haue no tongue to speake neither doo we heare anie thing of their mouth yet neuerthelesse their voice is gone out to all corners of the world and there is no place but men heare their voice sounding in their eares For no man is so farre distant from them but he both feeleth alwaies the benefits that come from the heauens and also seeth continuallie thy maruellous handie works which the firmament dooth shew and declare vnto
vs. We thanke thee we praise thee and we laud and magnifie thy glorious name O most meeke Lord for all thy benefits especiallie for that thou hast not thought it inough for thee to haue giuen vs the heauens and earth and all that is therin to serue vs and to instruct vs but also hast vouchsafed to send thine onlie deere beloued Sonne our Sauior Iesus Christ downe amongst vs into this vale of teares and after that he was ascended into heauen hast left vs thy holie word and sent thy holie Ghost into vs to the intent we should learne of him all truth in thy word might in deed behold more effectuallie better and cleerer thy Godhead We now also praie and humbly beseech thee O most mercifull God that thou wilt gouerne vs and driue awaie from vs all fleshlie conuersation to the intent we may hencefoorth liue a godlie and ghostlie life so that we through the flesh may not be hindered to passe our pilgrimage in such perfection as thou requirest in Christian men but that we may knowe and discerne and vse to thy glorie the vnmeasurable great good things which thy large and bountifull hand hath giuen and reached vnto vs through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A meditation of mans creation O Almightie Lord God that hast created heauen and earth and all that is therein of naught but especiallie hast made man vnto thine owne godlie image infunding and creating in him a reasonable soule not mortall nor transitorie as are the soules of vnreasonable beasts but such a soule as liueth like the spirit or ghost of God for euer By which soule man knoweth thee to be his God doth beleeue thee and shall behold thee And with soule and bodie together thou hast made man aboue all other creatures so much superiour and hast so highlie exalted him that thou hast made him prince and chiefe gouernour lord and captaine ouer all thy other creatures that be in the earth and hast cast them all vnder his feet and subiection O most mercifull Lord powre into vs thy heauenlie light through which we may euer haue in due regard the vile and lothsome stuffe or matter that thy godlie hand hath made vs of and how thou hast neuerthelesse exalted vs so mightilie of miserie Let vs knowe I saie O Lord that man is crept out of the dust and mire and the woman but out of the rib of hir husband to the end we may not by anie meanes be puffed vp with pride by vaine-glorie and presumption of the great glorie wherewith thou hast vouchsafed to endue and cloath vs but that in true humilitie we may impute and exhibit all things vnto thine onlie goodnesse clemencie grace and mercie And that we may bee drawne thereby vnto the loue of thee and to kindle the lampe of our soules which is cold in thy loue with the light of thy grace so that we may diligentlie fulfill and accomplish all that thou hast commanded vs and leaue that which thou hast forbidden vs like as it becommeth thine obedient children so that we both here in this vale of miserie and also afterward in that heauenlie paradise being vndefiled and like vnto thee may be found like as thou hast created vs like vnto thine owne similitude image likenesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another meditation of mans creation THine almightie hand O GOD keeping alwaies at one staie created the Angels in heauen and the feelie woormes vpon earth and yet was neither higher in the one nor lower in the other For like as none other hand could haue created an Angel so could none other hand haue created a woorme like as none other could haue created heauen so could none other haue created a leafe of a tree like as none other could haue made a bodie so could none other make a haire white or blacke but onlie thine almightie hand wherevnto all things are possible alike For it is not more possible with thee to create a woorme than an Angel nor more impossible to spread out the heauen than a leafe nor easier to fashion a haire than to fashion a bodie nor vneasier to stablish the earth vpon the waters than the waters vpon the earth but all that thou listest to doo that hast thou done According as thou listedst thou hast made all things in heauen and in earth and in the sea and in all deepe places and among all other things thou hast made me according as thou listedst couldest and knewest how to doo it Certes Lord thy hand could haue made me some stone or some bird or some serpent or some beast and it knew how to haue done it but it would not bicause of thy goodnesse Why then am I not a stone some tree or some beast Trulie bicause thy goodnesse hath so ordeined it and bicause thou louedst me first And why hast thou done so to me O maker of heauen and earth and of the bottomlesse deepe who hast no neede of me Wherevpon commeth it that thou hast thus loued me For lo I am bicause thou hast created me and the cause that thou didst create me and account me in the number of thy creatures was thy fore-ordinance from euerlasting before thou madest anie thing euen from the beginning before thou didst spread all the heauens when as yet there were no deepes neither haddest thou yet made the earth nor founded the mountaines neither were anie water-springs yet broken out Before thou madest all these things I saie which thou madest by thy word thou foresawest by the most assured prouidence of thy truth that I should be thy creature and also thou willedst that I should be thy creature And whence commeth this to me O most gentle Lord most high God most mercifull Father and alwaies most meeke What had I deserued What kindnesse had I shewed that it should like thy roiall Maiestie to create me I was not and thou diddest create me I was nothing and of nothing thou madest me somewhat And what maner of somewhat Not a drop of water not fire not a bird or fish not a serpent or some of the brute beasts not a stone or a block not of those sort of things which haue but being onelie or of those things that haue but onelie being and growing nor yet of those kind of things that haue but onlie being growing and feeling But aboue all these things it was thy will to haue me both of that sort which haue but being onlie for I am and of those that haue no more but being and growing for I am and growe also of those kind of things which haue both being growing and feeling for I am and also doo both growe and feele Yea and thou hast made small ods betweene me and the Angels For I haue receiued reason to knowe thee and thy hand as well as they But I did well to saie there was some ods betweene vs. For they haue the happie knowledge of thee alreadie in possession and I
exceeding riches that thou hast For if to thine enimies which loue thee not as the most part of this world be if to them thou giuest so plentifullie thy riches heere what shall we thinke that with thy selfe thou hast laid vp for thy freends How good thou art all creatures generallie and particularlie do teach What creature is there in the world which thou hast not made for our commoditie I will not saie how that thou mightest haue made vs creaturs without sense or reason if thou hadst would But amongst all things none dooth so teach vs thy great loue towards vs as dooth the death of thy most deerlie beloued sonne who suffered the paines and terrors thereof yea and of hell it selfe for our sakes If this thy loue had beene but a small thing it would neuer haue lasted so long nor Christ would neuer haue died Praiers and meditations to be vsed in the foure seasons of the yeere and first In the Spring-time ALmightie renewer of all things Lord Iesu which hast made this most goodlie world for our sakes which hast garnished the heauens with so manie lights vnto the vse of the daie and the night which temperest the earth with sundrie times and seasons ordeined by thee to be the nourisher of man and beasts and now thou being restored to life all things renew and confirme to vs the hope of resurrection promised by thee The medowes afore being withered waxe greene againe with new grasse the herbs are garnished with diuers gems of flowers the corne herbeth seeds buried in holes shoote foorth trees being dead afore waxe yoong againe with new boughes and being goodlie decked with new blossoms giue vs hope of fruit The sunne it selfe increaseth the grace of his light brieflie the whole face of nature springing againe whithersoeuer we turne our eies dooth speake out and preach thy goodnesse towards mankind wherethrough with sundrie solaces thou dooest ease and mitigate to vs being through our fault driuen out of Paradise our deserued exile Grant I saie O good God that we which being borne againe through baptisme haue put off the old man made now a new creature neuer slide againe to old age but that we may be euer greene with perpetuall innocencie by the pleasant breathing on of thy spirit that we may be adorned dailie more and more with the flowers of vertues proceeding to fruit woorthie of that Gospell which with the Father and the holie Ghost reigne through all worlds Amen In the Summer MOst wise Gouernor and Ruler of all things Iesu Christ behold the yeere obeieng thy commandments waxeth hot with the feruour of the sunne preparing ripe fruits vnto the vse of thy seruants humblie we beseech thee which art our true Sunne without whom nothing is bright in our soules neither bringeth foorth anie fruit stretch the beames of thy grace into the earth of our spirits that daily they may waxe hot more more with the fire of thy gratious loue and that they may bring foorth sundrie fruits of wholesome good works For thou hast witnessed in thy holie Gospell that thou art singularlie delighted with this meate and drinke This is the raine that thy feruent loue thirsted for this is also the meate that the holie Apostle Paule hungered for euen before he vnderstood and did knowe what it meant Thou camest into the world to send fire among vs neither diddest thou desire anie thing more than that it should be kindeled except our hart be touched with the beames of thy grace Increase Lord Iesu that that thou hast giuen finish that that thou hast begun vntill we growe to perfect men vnto the measure of thy fulnesse Thou hast put off mortalitie but thou hast not put off loue towards vs but euen now fulfillest the office of a mightie and friendlie Aduocate for vs with God the Father to whom equall in power and authoritie thou reignest with the holie Ghost Amen In Haruest WE giue thanks vnto thee most mercifull Father maker of heauen and earth that by thy good prouidence the yeere is waxen ripe powring out vnto vs plentious abundance of victuals grant we humblie beseech thee that as thy bountiousnes ministreth sundrie and rich abundance of fruits to the susteining nourishment of our bodies so by the grace of thy spirit without which there is no good thing brought foorth is nourished or liueth let the affection of godlinesse waxe ripe and be made vp in our minds that abiding in the faith of thine onelie begotten Sonne through all our life wee may be fruitfull in good works and also receiue a plentifull haruest in the resurrection of the iust by the same our Lord Iesu Christ which liueth and reigneth with thee in the companie of the holie Ghost for euer Amen In Winter O God the most wise maker and gouernor of the world at whose commandement by time appointed course is changed and turned into it selfe by the same behold as it were the old age and death of the yeere Winter is come whose sadnesse and incommodities be more easie vnto vs bicause of the plesantnes of the Spring time which shall shortlie succeed According to the ensample of the yeere our inward man flourisheth in his childhood is feruent in youth waxeth ripe in mans age falleth awaie and dieth in his old age but the hope of liuing againe asswageth the houre of death which is sure vnto vs euen for this cause that thy sonne hath promised it which is the euerlasting truth which also can no more be deceiued or deceiue than hee can cease to be thy sonne Through this thy sonne our inward man knoweth no old age or death but by his gift it euer flourisheth with innocencie it is euer feruent in the studie of godlinesse it euer bringeth foorth fruit and powreth out that that she hath receiued vpon other and as much as the bodies courage faileth so much more the spirit flourisheth We beseech thee that thou wilt maintaine and increase those things which thou hast vouchsafed to giue vs through thine onelie begotten sonne which liueth and reigneth with thee for euermore Amen Another praier to be said at all times and seasons of the yeere O Euerlasting GOD Creator of all things in whose hands lieth the disposition of all times and seasons qualifie we beseech thee the inclinations of thy creatures heauen and earth with such naturall and kindlie moderation as may most serue to the commoditie health and welfare of all mankind that we may receiue the fruits of the earth to our comfortable sustentation dulie honoring and praising thy holie name therefore Mortifie within vs the old roots of our natiue iniquitie killing them as it were with the winter of a cold lust to ensue them Sowe the seeds of thy grace within vs that wee may spring vp in all godlinesse Send vs the feruencie of thy spirit that we may shew foorth the ripe fruits of a liuelie faith that when it shall be thy good pleasure to appoint thy final
by thine owne name and sealed me with thy blood that the remembrance of thee should be euermore with me and that he should neuer depart from my hart who for my sake shunned not the crosse Thou hast annointed me with the oile wherewith thou thy selfe wert annointed that I might be called a Christian after thy name Christ Behold thou hast registred me vpon thine hands to the end that the remembrance of mee might be alwaies present with thee yet notwithstanding so as if the remembrance of thee be alwaies present with me Thus then haue thy loue thy grace and mercie alwaies preuented me For thou hast oftentimes deliuered me from manie and great perils O my deliuerer When I went astraie thou broughtest mee backe againe when I was ignorant thou taughtest mee when I sinned thou diddest chastise me when I haue beene in heauines thou hast cheered me when I haue beene in despaire thou hast recomforted me when I haue beene fallen thou hast lifted me vp when I haue stood thou hast vpholden me when I haue gone thou hast guided me when I haue come thou hast receiued me when I haue slept thou hast watched me and when I haue cried vnto thee thou hast heard me O Lord where shall I haue words to vtter the signes of thy singular loue toward me considering thine innumerable benefits wherin thou hast brought me vp from the beginning Namelie euen from the benefit of the creation when at the first beginning thou madest me of nothing after thine owne image in honouring and aduancing me among the creatures which thou madest and innobling me with the light of thy countenance which thou imprintedst vpon the lampe of my hart thereby disseuering me as well from sensible as from senselesse creatures and abasing mee but little beneath the Angels And yet was all this but a small matter in the sight of thy Godhead For without ceassng thou hast dailie nourished this vnprofitable woorme which stinketh with sinne with all the singular and exceeding great store of thy good gifts and benefits and thou hast as it were suckled and strengthened me thy little tender babe with the teates of thy comfort For to the intent that I should wholie serue thee thou hast appointed all thy creatures to serue me These and manie other good turnes hast thou done vnto me O Lord my God the life of my soule for all which I render vnto thee againe most humble and hartie thanks-giuing beseeching thee O Lord that it may be a pleasure to me wretch that I am to be alwaies talking of them alwaies thinking vpon them and alwaies giuing thee thanks for them O my God shew me I saie how much I am bound to loue thee make it appeare to me how much I ought to please thee Open me the doore of thy light that I may enter in and both knowe acknowledge vnto thee with my whole hart that thy mercie is great toward mee and that thou hast deliuered my hart from the bottome of hell so as I might euer praise thee for all thy good gifts and loue thee with all my hart and with all my soule and with all my mind and with all my strength yea and that with the verie bowels and intrailes of my hart and of all my sinewes O Lord my God the blessed sweetnesse of all that delight in thee whose name is woonderfull and praise woorthie through heauen and earth So be it Another forme of thanks-giuing vnto God for all his benefits and praier for grace to confirme and increase the same O Most highest almightie and eternall God whose glorie replenisheth heauen and earth If thy holie and celestiall powers doo neuer cease in lauding thy most holie Maiestie how should we cease earthlie and lowlie seruants which are redeemed with the pretious bloud of thy onelie sonne And for as much as thy louing kindnesse and fauour in especiallie worketh towards vs we also ought continuallie to giue thanks for thy great goodnesse but haue mercie O mercifull father For the necessitie of this life dooth not suffer vs to thanke thee continuallie Wherefore though not continuallie as I ought I worship thee my maker with trembling feare I giue thee thanks for all thy benefits that when I was nothing thou madest mee gauest me a liuing soule quickened with thy holie spirit formed mee with thine owne image that it might be able to receiue thee which art the high God By thy prouidence thou hast brought me to those things that are expedient for me giuen to me knowledge and true faith in thee and planted a godlie mind in me and instructed me in the mysteries of thy holie word Sacraments But oh Lord how dare I recite thy benefits by number seeing thy louing kindnesse is an vnsearchable bottomlesse sea and an innumerable For I can not so soone giue thanks for thy benefits shewed of old as new haue euen ouerwhelmed me Oh Lord how great a benefit is this that I may to thee giue thanks For what fellowship hath vnrighteousnesse with righteousnesse What partaking darkenesse with light What agreement filthinesse with puritie Follie with wisedome Mortalitie with thee that art immortall Oh my vilenesse Oh thy goodnesse Yea though the spirit were readie yet is the flesh fraile but thou O Lord if thou wilt canst make me strong And so O most mercifull father vouchsafe that I may euer giue thanks and laud to thee For what good gift did I euer desire of thee but thou first willedst it to me Who better knoweth what is good for me than thou And because I need a mediator accept thine innocent Sonne Iesus Christ with his crosse and passion bloud-shed death and resurrection for me I haue not this deserued but thou father of thy mercie and truth hast by the same thy deerelie beloued Sonne promised and giuen vs thy mercie and fauour Open therefore O my mercifull Father for this thy deerelie beloued Sonnes sake euen this daie thy woonted hand of mercie and fulfill my mind and hart with a good will and let thy right hand defend me And if my sinnes which I acknowledge to be great and innumerable therefore I repent and am hartilie sorie doo let thy goodnesse O father wipe them awaie for this is thy glorie to forgiue sinnes and therefore no flesh may reioice before thee for thou Lord onlie art pure and without sinne Haue mercie vpon me thy bondseruant and vppon all people and O father bring them vnto the knowledge of thee that art onlie God and of Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent the onlie sauiour and redeemer mediator and aduocate for vs and after this present life bring vs to eternall blisse and felicitie by the deere merits of thy Sonne Iesus Christ For thine is the power kingdome and glorie for euer Amen Another to the same effect HOnour and praise be giuen to thee O Lord God almightie most deere father of heauen for all thy mercies and louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs in that it hath
crosse whereon his glorious bodie was broken and his pretious bloud shead a sufficient ransome a full satisfaction a iust recompense of thy iustice and lawe for all them that beleeue and embrace thy Gospell and sacred truth But O Lord our good God be mercifull vnto vs who by our infirmitie through the fall of this lordlie man our great grandfather Adam can not now liue in anie peaceable or good condition and state without Magistrates and Kings to rule and gouerne vs. We therefore most humblie and hartilie beseech thy diuine Maiestie for the loue of thine onlie Sonne Iesus Christ to looke downe with thy fatherlie compassion vpon thy seruant Elizabeth our most gratious Queene and dread souereigne Graffe in hir roiall hart by the working of thy holie spirit thy manifold good gifts and benefits as wisdome grace perseuerance in thy truth increase of faith and affiance in thee Defend hir O Lord with thy mightie hand and outstretched arme graunt vnto hir a most honourable long and prosperous reigne ouer vs. Moreouer O Lord if the seruice of golden vessels in thy Temple at Ierusalem were acceptable vnto thee vouchsafe this thy seruant to be esteemed in thy sight as a most honourable ornament in the new Ierusalem not built with monie by the labour of the seruants of the first Salomon but bought with the pretious bloud of the second Salomon thy Sonne our Sauiour Behold hir and make hir to be O Lord as the pretious stone or signet of thine owne hand as the apple of thine eie as the white lillie and sweet rose of the inclosed garden and as the deere doue of thy delights for thy truth sake to the enimies whereof make hir name most dreadfull and to the Church wheresoeuer dispersed most acceptable and ioifull Confound and put to shame O Lord all those that with or procure anie euill to hir roiall person and heroicall virginitie or diminution of hir kingdomes and imperiall dignitie ouer them And when for the multitude of our sinnes O Lord thou wilt punish vs with the wind of thy displeasure by taking from vs this our fragrant and sweet smelling flower which we beseech thee for thine own name sake long to defer then O Lord plant hir in the garden and paradise of thy presence where she may growe and dwell in felicitie incomparable which the eie hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither euer came it into the vnderstanding of man those ioies which thou hast prepared for hir and all thine elect Moreouer O Lord grant thy heauenlie wisedome and grace vnto all vs hir subiects that we may aduisedlie consider and dutifullie call to our remembrance the manifold blessings that we so long time haue enioied and doo presentlie possesse through thy mercie by hir ministerie authoritie and the execution of hir kinglie office vnder the which we doo not onlie reape and peaceablie enioie the fruits of our labours and other corporall commodities but also that which is more woorth than all this euen the freedome and libertie of conscience the preaching and hearing of thy most holie word and the administration and receiuing of thy holie Sacraments For all which and manie other thy blessings O Lord worke in vs thy grace to yeeld vnto thy diuine Maiestie all possible and continuall praises and thanksgiuing that it be not said vnto vs Are there not ten cleansed or Is not England preserued from all tyrannie enioie all these benefits But where are now their returning to giue thanks Quicken our memories therefore O Lord that we neuer be forgetfull of thy great goodnesse towards vs and make vs more and more for thy sake reuerentlie to feare hir dutifullie to obeie hir and faithfullie to loue honor and serue hir as our naturall louing prince and mother and as the meane by whome we receiue all these thy good blessings that hir Maiestie perceiuing our diligence and readinesse to obeie and serue hir may be the oftener put in mind to feare honor loue serue obeie thy diuine and incomparable Maiestie Furthermore inspire hir roiall hart O Lord with thy diuine grace that as she hath begun to set foorth and mainteine thy sacred truth so she may zealouslie and boldlie increase perseuere continue in the same whereby the filthinesse and nakednesse of Antichrist may be more and more reuealed superstition more and more abolished remoued and that old lieng serpent roring Lion sathan our ancient enimie may be more and more restrained kept backe from his malicious purpose in seeking to deuour and draw vs all in ignorance securitie Grant all this O Lord to our great comfort hir honor and immortall fame yea to the discharging of hir owne conscience kinglie dutie and euermore reward crowne these thine owne good gifts in hir O Lord not for the worke sake but for Iesus Christs sake And when thou shalt to our great sorowe and losse but to hir great ioie and profit take hir from vs crowne hir O most mercifull God with a crowne of euerlasting glorie and giue hir the full possession of that eternall kingdome purchased by the blood of that immaculate Lambe thine onlie Sonne our Sauiour and Redeemer Iesus Christ to whome with thee and the holie Ghost three persons and one immortall and euerlasting God be all honour dominion praise and thanks-giuing for euer and euer Amen Another praier for the Queenes Maiestie and for the state present and to come in our posteritie O Most gratious Lord GOD and King almightie iust euerlasting vpon whose wil dependeth the rule staie and direction of althings both in heauen and in earth giuing men power and dominion ouer the people and nations of the world to whom being obedient to thy most holie will and commandements thou giuest wise careful industrious vertuous happie and prosperous kings princes rulers and magistrates to rule and to gouerne to the peace blessing comfort and wealth of the same but the vnrighteous people lasciuious contemptuous idolatrous superstitious blasphemous and rebellious against thy word and Maiestie shall be deliuered ouer to the hands and tuition of foolish idle dissolute negligent and vnfortunate princes rulers and gouernours by whose brutish disorder loosenesse and follie the state beautie strength and bonds of peace iustice loue and gouernement shall be neglected broken disturbed spoiled and by intestine hatred and discords or else by forren vanquishments and discomfitures destroied whereby both land and people are left a praie to the inuasion spoile and rauine of the greedie and victorious destroier who in his mercilesse rage executeth the plagues of thy iust wrath O Lord so that man woman child beast foule nor fish scapeth the stripes thereof Their countries townes cities and dwellings burnt spoiled rent torne and made waste iustice lawe discipline nurture ciuill fellowship honest arts and exercises religion knowledge and feare of thee scorned banished and persecuted and the land being filled with abhomination beastlie tyrannie slaughter bloud robberie theeuerie
thy wisedome hath vnfolded their wickednesse thy prouidence hath preuented their purpose All honour praise with thanks-giuing in the congregation and by euerie member thereof be giuen to thee O GOD of grace O Lord of pitie O Father of mercie for euer and euer And now we beseech thee O mercifull Father be not prouoked with our sinnes to giue vs ouer to the lust of our enimies doo not make vs a reproch to these heathen Let not the Iewes the Turke the Papist in our ouerthrowe triumph against thee saieng Where is now their God But of thy rich mercie in Christ forgiue our sinnes by thy renewing spirit amend vs and worke out this good worke which thou hast begun among vs. Confound bring to naught the attempts of these and the like enimies as thou didst at Babel infold them in the follie of their owne counsels as thou diddest Achitophel by thine Angel sinite their force as thou didst to Senacherib in their desperate attempts let them be drowned as was Pharao in their treasons ouertake them as thou didst Absolon If anie of them are to be conuerted turne them as thou diddest Manasses otherwise let them feele their due punishment as did Dathan with his conspirators that of these also may be left an example of thy iustice to the posteritie We doo likewise most humblie beseech thee to continue thy goodnesse towards vs euer of thine old woonted mercie deliuer our Queene Elizabeth from euill direct hir in the true knowledge of thee to acknowledge thy benefits towards hir and hir dutie towards thee Kindle more and more in hir hart zeale to serue thee hir selfe and to haue thee serued of vs entirelie Guide hir still to gouerne vs iustlie in godlie peace Giue vnto vs also which are subiects thankefull harts to thee faithfull to hir in thee charitable towards all men that all which liue vnder hir gouernment counsellers ministers and euerie other in their place and calling may be throughlie sanctified in holinesse to liue before thee Thus prolonging hir reigne ouer vs doo thou in hir plant thy religion among and in vs so that it may with power reforme and rule vs and remaine to our posteritie after vs that the praise of thy name may continue in the harts mouths of the English nation that England may saie for euer The Lord be praised A thanks-giuing vnto God for his benefits bestowed vpon this Realme of England in suppressing the late Rebellion with praier for the preseruation and prosperous estate of our gratious Queene Elizabeth ALmightie and euerlasting God the maker of heauen and earth and Lord of all creatures by whose mightie hand the humble and lowlie are aduanced and the proud and stubborne are thrust vnder foote We thy seruants giue thee most hartie thanks for thy great and bountifull goodnesse which thou hast of late without our deseruing bestowed vpon vs both in deliuering vs from the cruell tyrannie and bondage and persecution wherewith we were of late oppressed and also in restoring vs againe to our former peace and quietnesse and to the free exercise of our faith by the direction of thy sacred Gospell still maugre the heads of all our enimies mainteined by thee amongst vs to our comfort For which thy singular benefits and gratious liberalitie O excellent father because we are in no wise able to render vnto thee woorthie thanks therfore we make our humble sute and request vnto thee O Lord that it may please thee for thy holie name sake to accept our good willes in this behalfe and to giue vs grace all the daies of our life to remember this maruellous worke of thine that partlie by the Christian deuout and feruent praiers of thy humble handmaiden our most gratious Queene and other of thy people and partlie by the sure confidence and trust that hir Grace euermore did put in thee thou hast without the force or strength of men put down not onlie hir enimies but also thine and all those that did both fight against thee and thy truth and trauelled by all meanes to disanull and quite ouerthrowe the state of the Church and religion now established which woonderfull and myraculous act as thou hast most gratiouslie begun so we beseech thee for thy tender mercies sake to go forward with it and so to establish it as thy glorie may be aduanced thereby and all the craftie deuises and malicious assaults of the diuell and his ministers cleane ouerthrowne and subdued And now O Christ thou King of kings Prince of peace Ruler of Israel haue mercie vpon our most deere souereigne Ladie Elizabeth and grant that as thou hitherto hast most singularlie blessed hir and adorned hir Maiestie with manie thy speciall good graces blessings and benefits for thy glorie and to our comfort so with all thankefuluesse therefore vnto thy Maiestie we continuallie hartilie and faithfullie praie thee that the ioie of thy heauenlie countenance may still most gratiouslie shine vpon hir to humble hir soule before thee to be hir guide and director to sheeld preserue and defend hir from the will and power of all hir enimies and that both thine and hir aduersaries may from time to time be made thine and hir footstoole and be euer kept vnder hir feet as mire in the streets or as thinne scoom filthie fome light chaffe withered haie or burnt stubble before the wind We beseech thee also O Lord thou scepter of Israel that hir scepter may yet growe greene burgen fructifie and flourish in the fruits of true happinesse with glorie victorie princelie honor dutifulnesse healthfull sweetnesse tendernesse beautie and comlinesse in hir most roiall state and calling euen as the Palme-tree safelie and well set in a soile of all happinesse and that hir throne regall may steddilie stand for euer without winding shaking swaruing tottering or nodding euen as the seate of Salomon and that the daies of hir Graces regiment may be vnto vs for thy glorie as the daies of heauen and after this life ended make hir partaker of the brightnesse of thine and thy fathers euerlasting glory among thine annointed and elect in the celestiall kingdome of euerlasting renowme Grant this O Christ thou most mercifull King and Gouernor that sittest vpon the seate of Dauid and hast obteined an euerlasting kingdome for all the chosen Israelites euen for thy mercies sake Amen Another praier for the Queene and the estate of this Realme GRatious Lord and most mercifull Father we acknowledge thee Lord of lords and the King of kings creating at the beginning and ruling all things euermore in heauen and earth according to thy woonderfull wisedome power and our selues to be thy poore seruants the worke of thy hands and the sheepe of thy pasture subiected to thy high Maiestie and depending vpon thy fatherlie prouidence for all things Neuerthelesse seeing thou in thy wisedome annointest Kings and Queenes appointing them to rule ouer the people to sit as lieutenants in thy seate to minister iustice and most
praiers for hir life and safetie and shall dailie wish all prosperitie vnto hir And seeing the safetie of all the families of our nation consisteth in the preseruation of hir Maiestie let vs hartilie as we haue good cause praie incessantlie for hir Grace and for the safetie and welfare of the Church and of all those that loue and fauour hir therein Defend O God with thine owne hand this woorthie woman and sacred Queene whose endeuour thou hast vsed to restore peace to thy Church and religion to thy people O saue this woorthie Princesse Elizabeth I saie whome for this purpose thou hast indued with most rare and singular wisedome power constancie and roiall gifts of grace And grant that all men may dutifullie honour and obeie hir as a prince of peace a mother of Israel a nurse of thy Church woorthilie for hir vertues set ouer vs by thee O God to reigne Finallie grant that in this gouernement of our pastor chiefe shepheard there may want neither integritie vprightnesse in taking of counsell neither wisedome in performing all hir enterprises according to thy will Then shall wheate be reaped euerie-where with full handfuls in the verie tops of the mountaines the corne growing as high as the trees of Libanus and there shall be such a multitude of inhabitants in the cities that they may almost seeme like plants springing out of the earth yea then shall hir noble memorie and roiall fame be for euer euen durable as the sunne and our Queene Elizabeth be an example of all pietie and felicitie vnto all kingdoms nations of the world which shall accept hir blessed among women But vnto thee O Lord the Prince of the celestiall companies and the author of all things for so woonderfull rare gifts in hir Maiestie shall all possible praise be especiallie giuen yea the fame of thy glorie be praised and magnified for euer and euer and let it fill both heauen and earth So euen so let it be O God Amen Another dailie praier for the perpetuall happinesse of our sacred and most gratious Souereigne and Queene Elizabeth O Almightie God King of kings and Lord of lords in thine hand is all power both in heauen and in earth thou confirmest kingdoms againe doost alter them according to thine heauenlie pleasure we praise thee we magnifie thee we extoll thine holie name for that it hath pleased thee to appoint ouer vs a good and gratious Queene which dooth gouerne with counsell and rule with wisdome Grant hir we beseech thee continuall peace long life and much happines and deliuer not hir Maiestie into the hands of hir enimies Rule thou hir mind that she may serue thee alwaies in feare and reioice in trembling let hir maintaine and imbrace pure religion defend hir people in the profession of Christs Gospell against all errors and superstition whatsoeuer Giue hir wisedome and vnderstanding to doo such things as are gratefull in thy sight profitable for vs hir subiects and hurtfull to none O God eternall Father heare the petitions of Elizabeth our Queene in all hir troubles the name of Christ our Sauiour glorifie hir and the comfortable aid of the holie Spirit vphold hir now and euermore Be mindfull of hir grace for hir good Lord remember all hir offerings make hir praiers acceptable in thy sight Giue to hir according to hir harts desire fulfill all hir petitions and prosper all hir purposes that we may reioice in thy saluation and triumph in the name of thee our God Blesse hir Lord euermore that wee may knowe that hir protector is in the clouds Harken vnto hir from thy holie heauens Oh send hir helpe from thy sanctuarie and aid hir from aboue by thy mightie right hand which bringeth saluation Let all hir enimies plainlie knowe O GOD that thou wilt saue thine annointed For though some trust in horses and other in chariots yet will we remember the name of our God they shall fall and be ouercome but wee couragiouslie will persist O Lord protect hir Maiestie and heare vs when we call vpon thee that in thy strength she may reioice and mightilie triumph in thy saluation Grant hir the desire of hir hart and denie not the petitions of hir lips For thou hast preuented hir with notable blessings and put a crowne of pure gold vpon hir head She hath asked life of thee and thou wilt giue hir a long life Great is hir glorie in thy saluation honour and fame hast thou put vpon hir Thou hast ordeined hir for exceeding blessednesse and doost comfort hir hart with thy cheerfull countenance And why Bicause she delighteth in Christ and doubteth not of thine euerlasting mercie O God that giuest victorie vnto kings and didst deliuer Dauid from perill of the sword saue and redeeme our deere Queene Elizabeth and deliuer hir from the hands of the children of another deuotion than she is whose mouth vttereth vanitie and their right hand is a right hand of falshood Yea let hir hand O Lord light vpon hir enimies and thy right hand find out all such as hate thee and enuie hir prosperitie Put them into a burning fornace in the time of thy displeasure the Lord in his anger shall consume them and fire shall deuour them Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth and their seed from the sonnes of men bicause they intended euill against thee and imagined mischiefe against the innocent which they could not bring to passe Therefore wilt thou turne them into flight and bend thy bowe against their faces Triumph O Lord in thy vertue and we will sing out thy glorie and commend thy power Saue our Queene O mercifull God in despite of all hir enimies which either secretlie or openlie go about to bring hir life to the graue or hir glorie to the dust Lord shield our Souereigne exalt thine annointed let thine hand assist and thine arme strengthen hir Neuer let hir foes preuaile against hir nor the child of wickednesse bring hir to destruction Banish from hir Court all hir priuie enimies and preserue hir euermore from dissembling friends Mercie and iudgement be Queene Elizabeths song vnto thee O Lord let hir sing thy magnificall mercies Worke in hir roiall hart an endeuour to be fullie instructed in the perfect waie of thy roiall lawes for so much as thou hast made hir Queene ouer this Relme With thy grace open hir hart instruct hir and lead hir vp and downe in the midst of hir people in perfectnesse of hart Let hir neuer set before hir eies anie diuelish thing Cause hir to detest the worke of back-sliding from God let that take no hold in hir Driue far awaie from hir the men of froward harts let hir not once be acquainted with euill persons Who so priuilie slandereth his neighbor let hir destroie him Who so hath also a proud looke and an hautie stomach cause hir to loath him Settle hir eies vpon such in the land as are faithfull that they may dwell
Lord God heauenlie King God the Father almightie O Lord the onlie begotten Sonne Iesu Christ O Lord God Lambe of God Sonne of the Father that takest awaie the sinnes of the world haue merrie vpon vs. Thou that takest awaie the sinnes of the world haue mercie vpon vs. Thou that takest awaie the sinnes of the world receiue our praiers Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father haue mercie vpon vs. For thou onlie art holie thou onlie art the Lord thou onlie O Christ with the holie Ghost art most high in the glorie of God the Father to whome be all kingdome power honor and glorie world without end Amen 13. On euerie Sundaie holidaie or weekedaie Of Christ his second and last comming to iudgement The Preface THE kingdome of heauen is neere at hand euen at the doores Take heed watch and praie The sonne of man shall come as a theefe in the night suddenlie and vnwares at an houre that ye knowe not Take heed watch and praie Euen Iesus which was taken vp from vs into heauen shall so come againe to gather vs vnto him as he was seene to haue gone into heauen Come Lord Iesu Behold he commeth with clowdes and euerie eie shall see him yea euen they which pierced him through and all kindreds of the earth shall vaile before him Come Lord Iesu Our God shall come and shall not keepe silence there shall go before him a consuming fire and burne vp his enimies on euerie side the hilles shall melt like waxe at the presence of the Lord a mightie tempest shall be stirred vp round about him Come Lord Iesu He commeth he commeth to iudge the earth and with righteousnesse to iudge the world and the people with equitie and truth Come Lord Iesu Therefore yet a verie little while O my soule take heed watch praie and he that shall come will come and will not tarrie Come Lord Iesu Surelie I come shortlie saith Christ and my reward is with me to giue to euerie one according as his works shall be either good or bad For I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end the first and the last Blessed are they that watch and keepe my commandements vnto the end Come Lord Iesu Euen so saith the spirit and the bride Come Lord Iesu come quicklie Amen Amen Halleluiah The praier to haue Christs sudden comming euen in our remembrance and that we may be in a readinesse against his most glorious appearing The Preface Vt supra Iesus The Praier BEholding O heauenlie Father the daie of accompts ouer all flesh to be euen now at hand namelie the last daie the daie of iudgement the great and notable daie of the Lord wherein the whole generation of mankind from the beginning of the world shall rise againe shall appeare both in bodie and soule before the presence of the most iust iudge thine eternall Sonne and our righteous God to receiue their owne doome for weale or wo for life or death for ioie or paine and that eternallie with the saincts in heauen or for euer with the diuels in hell we beseech thee most humblie O gratious God to haue mercie vpon all thine inheritance dispersed in these our euill and dangerous daies in the midst of this wicked most sinfull and vntoward generation vpon the face of the earth amongst whome we are most miserablie entangled contemned cruellie dealt withall and stirred to all abhominations O heauenlie Father we acknowledge before thee in our selues the greatnesse of our owne frailtie our corrupted lust to lewdnesse the fulnesse in our selues of our owne iniquitie and our accustomed inclination at all times to wickednesse O Father of mercies tender vs in our weakenes haue compassion vpon our infirmities pardon our sinfulnesse and grant vnto vs thine holie spirit to worke speedie mortification in vs to keepe lowe the pride of our flesh to humble our soules in thy sight to strengthen vs in righteousnesse to feare alwaies thy iudgements to thinke vpon thy wrathfull indignation and vpon the houre of the vengeance to come when thou for our wickednesse shalt turne awaie thy face from vs. Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord haue mercie vpon vs for Christ Iesus thy Sonne sake and so prepare all our harts soules and bodies to the necessitie of the time that we may haue therein good regard to our selues that our harts be not ouercharged with excesse of eating surfeting and dronkennesse or otherwise vexed with the cares of this wretched world to hinder vs and to drawe vs backe from our carefull attendance or diligent waiting for the Lords sudden comming to iudgement but that we may continuallie attend wait watch and praie for the speedie appeerance of his glorious Maiestie that when he shall at the rising againe of all flesh by the sound of the last trumpet come to iudge both the quicke and the dead we may be then in a readinesse to meet him aboue in the heauens and there to stand before his presence to behold the glorie of his most gratious countenance to see how in mercie he shall separate vs from the wicked as sheepe from the goates to set vs also on his right hand to giue the sentence of blessing vpon vs and to commend vs vnto the kingdome of thee his heauenlie Father which he himselfe hath prepared and so pretiouslie purchased with the price of his own bloud there with him with thee O Father and with the holie Ghost to liue in euerlasting ioie and felicitie Grant this O heauenlie Father euen for the onelie merits sake of that thy deere Sonne and our Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen Another meditation of the signes which shall appeare before the end of the world IT is thy saieng O Sonne of God that in the last and doting age of the world both greater and more greeuous miseries and confusions among men should bee than euer were and also for all that that thou which art the defender of thy Church in the midst of such calamities and crueltie of thine enimies wilt preserue some remnant of the faithfull that thy seruice be not vtterlie extinguished before the end of this world Wherefore being oppressed through the intollerable burden of miseries heaped therefore vpon vs bicause the sins of this withering world are most greeuous and lamentable but especiallie for that Sathan thine enimie seeth the daie of iudgement to be verie nigh at hand wherein his abhomination shall openlie be laid before all thy chosen creatures and he be cast hedlong into eternall torments which makes him extreamelie to rage against thy chosen flocke and to seeke by all meanes that possiblie he can to withdrawe vs from thee and to make vs blaspheme thy sacred Maiestie Wee as it standeth vs vpon flie vnto thee with all humblenesse of mind in these our extremities The whole frame of this world groaneth also with thine elect and earnestlie desireth to be renewed Therefore according to thy gratious admonition we call into mind the signes
enioie although heere they bee tormented prisoned burned solicited of Sathan tempted of the flesh and intangled with the world wherethrough they are inforced to crie Thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesu c. How amiable are thy tabernacles Like as the hart desireth the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O God Now Lord let thy seruant depart in peace I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ We moorne in our soules waiting for the deliuerance of our bodies c. Oh gratious Lord when shall I find such mercie with thee that I may repent beleeue hope and looke for these things with the full fruition of those heauenlie ioies which thou hast promised and prepared for all them that feare and loue thee and so rest with thee for euermore Amen 2. Peter 3 10 11 12. The daie of the Lord will come as a theefe in the night in the which the heauens shall passe awaie with a noise and the element shall melt with heate and the earth with the works that are therein shall be burnt vp Seeing therefore that all these things must be dissolued what manner persons ought yee to be in holie conuersation and good liues looking for the hastning vnto the comming of God by the which the heauens beeing on fire shall be dissolued and the elements shall melt with heate ¶ Other godlie Praiers to be vsed vpon euerie Saincts daie as they fall orderlie in the yeare And first 1. On Saint Andrewes daie My hart is readie O God my hart is readie prepared to séeke thée and to followe thy Lawe O let me not go wrong out of thy commandements WE thanke thee O Sonne of God head and keeper of thy Church for gathering to thy selfe out of the vncleane companie of men an holie Church which is knit to thee in true confession righteousnesse and life Manie times didst thou repeate thy promise touching the bringing of man fallen into thy fauour againe and by the continuall preaching of thy Ministers hast giuen vs the light thereof Thou didst in like manner appoint a tower and ordeine the Commonwealth of Moses in the middest of that part of the world inhabited from whence it might be heard of all mankinde At the length thou appearedst in the flesh brakest the bands of the old testament and entredst into a new couenant with vs and calledst thine holie Apostle Andrew and the rest to be the publishers and witnesses of thy truth and gauest them authoritie to preach and sufficient testimonie that they publish the truth Mainteine among vs this light that we may giue credit to thy Ministers and their writings as to a voice sounding from heauen that we may be citizens of that companie which is builded vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles in which building thou art the corner stone bearing the whole house by the word of thy power Grant that imitating the examples of Saint Andrew and the rest of the holie Doctors and Apostles who by thy grace readilie obeied the calling of thy Sonne Iesus Christ and followed him without delaie we also being called by thy holie word may likewise foorthwith giue ouer our selues obedientlie to followe thee and thy holie commandements Of them it it is said They went foorth and sowed their seed with teares but they shall returne with ioie Giue also to thy Church in all ages for euermore faithfull and holie teachers which may be fishers of men reteine the forme of sound doctrine dispense thy mysteries faithfullie and gather to thy kingdome great companies till the number of thine elect being filled the net shall be cast off and thy whole Church enioie thy visible and blessed sight for euermore Amen 2. On Saint Thomas daie I beléeue O Lord helpe mine vnbeléefe and increase my faith LOthsome is the darkenesse and horrible the streames of diffidence and mistrust euen in the elect as the Apostle Thomas albeit he had sensiblie heard the voice of the Sonne of God seene the miracles which bare testimonie that he taught and preached the truth yea albeit in mind inwardlie he beheld the presence of his Lord yet beleeued he not the resurrection of Christ which is the principall article of our faith neither gaue he credit to such as had seene the Lord liuing againe which doubting thou didst suffer in him for the more confirmation of the faith But confirme thou vs as thou didst confirme this thy weake disciple Thomas and grant vs so perfectlie and without all doubt to beleeue in thy Sonne Iesus Christ that our faith in thy sight neuer be reproued Strengthen our frailtie by thy liuelie presence Appeare to vs in the night that humane darkenesse doo not extinguish the light in vs. Bring thy gifts into houses shut vp into our poore cottages which are in great danger by reason of thine enimies Speake thou vnto vs with thy blessed voice outwardlie by thy word and inwardlie by thy spirit working thy peace within vs that filled with the sense of thy presence we may rest coupled through thee in the spirit vnto thine eternall Father Take vs vp being fraile and fallen downe in this life Shew vs thy woonders that in the fight of our conscience with the displeasure of thine eternall Father we may remember thy merits Laie vs miserable and weake ones in thy side and wounds that we may be hid and couered from the wrath of God and sucke from thy bodie the water which washeth all our vncleannesse and the liuelie nourishment of thy bloud which may strengthen vs into euerlasting life that we be not vnbeleeuers but in the number of the faithfull and from our hart may imitate that noble confession of this thine Apostle Saint Thomas and against all the blasphemous spirits and thine enimies acknowledge that thou art the Lord and our God euen that God which from the beginning hath beene present with his Church both externallie by his Ministers and inwardlie by the secret working of his holie spirit which may euermore defend his Church against the rage of his enimies and by a couenant with mankind knitteth the faithfull to his owne flesh Grant O Sonne of God and mightie Iehoua that firmelie we may beleeue this thy promise depend vpon thee hope of thine aid against hope begin our saluation from thy word reuealed that beleeuing in thee our Sauiour which art Christ our high Priest King we may find eternall life in thee Amen 3. On Saint Steeuens daie VVho was the first that was martyred and shed his bloud for Christ crucified They gather themselues togither against the soule of the righteous and condemne the innocent bloud O Christ our Lord and sauiour which with greefe of hart didst bewaile the ingratitude of the Iewish nation which both vnkindlie contemned thy benefits killed thy Prophets most cruellie we beseech thee make vs euermore to haue in mind and acknowledge the greatnesse of thy loue towards mankinde Thou art that naturall hen Thou begettest to thy selfe a
harts to the extinguishing of the fowle darknesse of our filthie flesh and quicken vs to the bringing out of that fruit which both may please thee and profit thy Church so shall we escape the vnquenchable fire into which they which depart from thee are cast and be sure to obtaine whatsoeuer we shall aske at thy mercifull hands in true faith and feare For thy Father is glorified through our willingnesse which is also his gift to obeie him Furthermore as thou hast instructed thy holie Church with the heauenlie doctrine of thine Euangelist S. Marke giue vs grace likewise that we be not like children caried awaie with euerie blast of vaine doctrine but firmelie to be established in the truth of thy holie Gospell And thou holie Ghost come thou incessantlie into our harts first to instruct our minds with thine heauenlie and eternall will and being instructed confirme vs in the feare of thy Maiestie that at no time we depart from the path of thy commandements For our continuance in the race of the commandements of God is a speciall argument that we loue God vnfeinedlie whom we see not And secondlie that we may find ioie and comfort in all our troubles crosses and persecutions whatsoeuer that in this life we may alwaies abide among the companie of the regenerate and in the other be made partakers of eternall happinesse ordeined for the elect before the beginning of the world Amen 11. On Saint Philip and Iames daie The heauens declare the glorie of God and the firmament sheweth his handie worke O Sonne of GOD whom truelie to knowe is euerlasting life and without whom no man commeth vnto the Father grant vs perfectlie to knowe thee to be as thou hast said of thy selfe the waie the truth and the life as thou hast taught Saint Philip other the Apostles Bring vs wandering trauellers into the waie of saluation shew vnto vs thy truth quicken vs by thy spirit lead vs to thy Father that by thee and thine humane flesh now exalted and glorified the light and life of thine heauenlie Father may be spred in vs. Make vs miserable exiles citizens of thine euerlasting kingdome prepare vs places mansions where we may drawe from thee which art the true vine of eternall life in the house and table of thy Father the new iuice of heauenlie comfort and may continuallie be there where thou art that trulie thine eternall Father may be glorified in vs Amen 12. On Saint Barnabas daie Praise the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefits O Christ Sonne of GOD which art perfect charitie louing vs to the end and sufferedst vpon the altar of the Crosse a most shamefull death for our sakes to deliuer vs from death and damnation and to allure vs by that thine example vnto mutuall amitie and good-will we beseech thee inflame our cold harts with the burning affections of hartie loue And as thou hast indued thine holie Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the holie Ghost so let vs not be destitute of thy manifold gifts nor yet of grace to vse them alwaie to thine honour and glorie as he did Giue vs grace I saie first aboue all things to loue thee the true and onelie God with the Father and the holie Ghost with all our harts with all our soule and with all our strength that continuallie we may cleaue vnto thee with full purpose of hart as this thine holie Apostle exhorteth Raise vp secondlie a desire of brotherlie good-will towards our neighbours that we may helpe one another and as members of one bodie haue a mutuall compassion ech of other so that we may loue among our selues vnfeinedlie and abound in mutuall good-will that our harts may be vnblameable in holinesse before God Inflame our breasts that by thine example we may loue euen our verie enimies and blesse them which curse vs doo good to them which hate and hurt vs leauing reuengement alwaies vnto thee For he which loueth not his brother knoweth not God but abideth in death and dooeth vainelie boast against the truth Wherefore let not the Sunne go downe vpon our wrath but make vs quiet putting on tender mercie kindnesse humblenesse of mind meeknesse and aboue all charitie which is the bond of perfection the end of the cōmandements and fulfilling of the lawe so that by loue our faith may be fruitfull and we at no time seuered from thee For thou art loue and he that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God and God in him so that we shall be no more seruants but friends in dooing the will of the heauenlie Father through the gratious good-will of thee his onelie begotten Sonne our Sauiour which hast chosen vs to bring foorth fruit whereby we shall so please his and thy sacred Maiestie that we shall be sure to obteine whatsoeuer we aske at his hands through faith in thy name Amen 13. On Saint Iohn Baptists daie I giue mine owne selfe the blame and take repentance in dust and ashes O Eternall Father of our Lord Iesu Christ wee yeeld thee most hartie thanks for gathering to thy selfe for and through thy Sonne an holie companie praising and celebrating thy goodnesse for euermore Also for sending from time to time teachers adorned with excellent gifts and warrants from heauen to spread foorth and publish the truth to mankinde among whome we knowe right well that the famous fore-runnner of thy Sonne euen the holie and reuerent Saint Iohn the Baptist excelled He by thy prouidence was woonderfullie borne and sent to prepare the way of thy Sonne our Sauiour by preaching repentance He was the first publisher of the new Testament the first purger of the Gospell from the grosse errours of the superstitious Pharises the spreader abroade of the articles of our faith and the imprinter of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God in the harts of men We humblie beseech thee gather from among vs an eternall Church Teach our harts by thine heauenlie spirit that vnfeignedlie we may listen to and loue the doctrine which Iohn soundeth to the world Make vs so to followe his doctrine and holie life I saie that we may trulie repent according to his preaching and after his example constantlie speake the truth boldlie rebuke vice and patientlie suffer for the truth sake as he did that being ingraffed into thy flocke we may become his disciples and bring foorth fruit woorthie repentance and behold the diuinitie which he sawe so shall we be deliuered from the wrath of God and admitted into the fellowship of eternall life Amen 14. On Saint Peters daie Their spéech is gone out into all lands and their words into the ends of the world O Lord Iesu Christ Sonne of God which art the word of the eternall Father and the Embassador sent frō the beginning vnto thy Church speake thou inwardlie to our harts thine heauenlie wisedome lighten our nature vnderstanding with thy newe light that being demanded in euerie anguish we may trulie acknowledge and confesse
and happie in the works of our vocation take into thy custodie for euer our soules and bodies our liues and all that euer we haue Be gratious and fauourable oh Lord to all men and euen to our verie enimies and according to thy good will and purpose forgiue them their sinnes conuert vnto thy truth all those whom thou hast appointed in Iesus Christ to saluation Be mercifull O God to all our brethren and sisters that suffer anie kind of persecution or affliction whether in mind or in bodie especiallie such as suffer for thy name and Gospell giue them patience constancie and stedfast hope till thou send them full and good deliuerance of all their troubles Be gratious to all those whom thou hast coupled and linked to vs in loue and friendship whose harts thou hast mooued to praie for vs to wish vs good to succour and helpe vs in our necessities grant vs all thy blessing and holie spirit to sanctifie vs in the vnitie of faith and dwell in vs for euer Finallie oh Lord haue mercie vpon mine husband children and familie which thou hast giuen vs make me to be content with him as thy gift and increase thy feare in our harts that we may trulie loue thee and one another of vs in thee so that we may be pure both in soule and bodie and may godlie liue togither according to thine holie ordinance Giue him an hart of wisedome and vnderstanding and set thy feare alwaie before mine eies that as Ioseph cast off all surmises of the mis-behauiour of Marie his spouse and obeied the word of thine holie Angel so he may beare with mine imperfections and bee obedient in word deed and thought to all that is thy will Oh Lord giue vs the power of thy spirit to gouerne our selues holilie and to rule and bring vp these our children and familie in all godlie feare nurture information of the Lord and knowledge of thy holie word and that we may be alwaies vnto them an example in all godlinesse and vertue to the praise of thine holie name Plant in mine hart all vertues that be necessarie and requisite in a Christian woman giue mee grace so to vse them and all other good gifts which I haue receiued at thy mercifull hands as may be most to thy glorie and praise to my consolation and saluation and to the profit of thy Church Behold Lord although I am but dust earth and ashes yet I haue taken vpon me and am bold to come and make these petitions and requests vnto thee not trusting in mine owne woorthinesse or righteousnesse which I doo acknowledge with the Prophet to be stained and defiled but onlie in thy great mercie and promise and through the merits of Christs death bloud-shedding to laie mine humble praiers before thee requiring mercie pardon and forgiuenesse of all my sinnes and also the assistance of thy grace to doo thy will all the daies of my life and to obteine all these my petitions O therefore heare me speedilie good Lord forgiue me fauourablie O Lord and tarie not ouerlong but for thine owne sake doo it and for thy deere Sonne Iesus Christs sake in whom all thy promises are Yea and Amen which is our onelie Redeemer Mediator Sauiour and Iustifier to whom with thee O Father and the holie Ghost be all honour glorie and praise now and euer Amen Another good and godlie praier to be said at all times of euerie Christian both man and woman O Almightie and euerlasting GOD Father Sonne and holie Ghost thou that hast made heauen and earth and all things in them conteined haue mercie vpon me poore wretched sinner dailie assaulted with all kind of miserie and wretchednesse I beseech thee O Father for the loue of thy Sonne Iesus Christ consider my weakenesse frailtie and imperfection and haue mercie vpon me Increase thy graces in me my souereigne Sauiour my deere Redeemer and mine onelie Iustifier For I come vnto thee O Lord according to the words of our Sauiour Christ who hath said Come vnto me all ye that labour and are laden and I will ease and refresh you Oh most mercifull Father ease me of and from the great burden of my sinne which I haue vnrighteouslie committed against thee either in thought word or deed and refresh my soule dailie with thy mercies Sprinkle me with the sweet hysop of thy mercie and then shall I be cleane wash me and then shall I be whiter than snowe Powre vpon me ioie and gladnesse and make my bones reioice which thou hast smitten Turne thy face from my sinnes and put out all my misdeeds Make me a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not awaie from thy presence and take not thy holie spirit from me Oh giue me the comfort of thy helpe againe and stablish me with thy free spirit Then shall I teach thy waies vnto the wicked that sinners may be conuerted vnto thee Deliuer me from bloud guiltinesse O God thou that art the God of my health that my tongue may praise thy righteousnesse Open my lips O Lord then shall my mouth shew foorth thy praise Consider mine imperfection and helpe it with thy mercies Remember thine old woonted mercies and faithfull promises made vnto our forefathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob and all other Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs and other thy Saints in our Sauiour Christ Iesus who being compassed with infirmitie and weakenesse of the flesh came vnto thee O Lord as vnto the well and euerlasting fountaine of their health and saluation and thou mercifullie susteinedst them keepedst them deliueredst them in all their temptations and tribulations If their feet at anie time slipt or went out of the waie and committed sinne against thee yet thy mercie was alwaies readie so that thou by thine holie spirit diddest procure them to repentance so that they turned againe vnto thee which conuersion and turning againe thou mercifullie acceptedst at their hands For bicause they were desirous to liue perfectlie in thy sight thou preseruedst them so that they were found faithfull before thee O Lord thou art the same and thy yeeres endure for euer I beseech thee O Father beare mine imperfection and helpe it likewise with thy mercie if at anie time I happen to fall and commit sinne against thee as thou saiedst by thine holie Apostle Paule Let thy grace at all time be sufficient for me in such wise that I may immediatelie turne againe by true repentance vnto thee which conuersion and turning againe accept alwaies at mine hands for Iesus Christs sake so shall I be found perfect before thee For although the spirit bee willing yet is the flesh vntoward and weake Therefore doo I not leaue mine owne righteousnesse before thee For I knowe and confesse in me that is to saie in my flesh is nothing but plaine miserie wretchednesse and sinne Therefore doo I come vnto thee and beseech thee for Christes sake to extend thy mercifull hand towards me
protection and keepe vs and all ours this night that the diuell haue no power ouer vs. Be thou watchfull ouer vs O eternall Sauiour least the subtill tempter apprehend vs. For thou art made for vs an euerlasting protector For behold whether we sleepe or wake whether we liue or die we are thine thou art our Creator and redeemer Stand therefore on our behalfe in the watch with the armie of thy celestiall warriers thine Angels which being filled with perfect goodnesse and perpetuall integritie behold thy face alwaies in the heauens Expell from vs and our houses wicked spirits which bee our mortall enimies that they damage vs in no case and deliuer vs from persecutors which laie snares for our destruction Turne not away thy mercie and truth from vs. O God assist vs that peaceablie we may rest and sleepe in quiet We will laie vs downe in peace and sleepe For thou Lord alone makest vs to dwell in safetie without danger Hide vs in thy tabernacle O Lord that sitting in thy secret place and abiding vnder the shadowe of thy wings we may saie vnto thee Lord thou art our keeper and our refuge O God we will trust in thee and will feare no danger And although we were in extreame darknesse yet will wee not feare Though we should walke in the midst of the shadowe of death yet will we dread none euill for thou art with vs thy rod and thy staffe they doo comfort vs. Let thy mercie O God followe vs all the daies of our life that we may dwell in thy house in longnesse of daies praising thee euermore with the Sonne holie Ghost one true God reigning worlds without end Amen Another more large Euening praier with Confession O Lord God Father euerlasting and full of pitie we acknowledge and confesse that we be not woorthie to lift vp our eies to heauen much lesse to present our selues before thy Maiestie with confidence that thou wilt heare our praiers and grant our requests if we consider our owne deseruings For our consciences doo accuse vs and our sinnes beare witnesse against vs and we knowe that thou art an vpright iudge which dooest not iustifie the sinners and wicked men but punishest the faults of all such as transgresse thy commandements Yet most mercifull Father since it hath pleased thee to command vs to call on thee in all our troubles and aduersities promising euen then to helpe vs when we feele our selues as it were swallowed vp of death desperation we vtterlie renounce all worldlie confidence and flie to thy souereigne bountie as our onlie staie and refuge beseeching thee not to call to remembrance our manifold sinnes and wickednesse whereby we continuallie prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligence and vnkindnesse which haue neither woorthilie esteemed nor in our liues sufficientlie expressed the sweet comfort of thy Gospell reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience and death of thy Sonne who by offering vp his bodie in sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompense for all our sinnes Haue mercie therefore vpon vs O Lord forgiue vs our offences Teach vs by thy holie spirit that we may rightlie way them and earnestlie repent for the same and so much the rather O Lord because that the reprobate such as thou hast forsaken can not praise thee nor call vpon thy name but the repenting hart the sorowfull mind the conscience oppressed hungering and thirsting for thy grace shall euer set forth thy praise and glorie And albeit we be but woorms dust yet thou art our Creator and we be the worke of thy hands yea thou art our Father and we thy children thou art our shepheard and we thy flocke thou art our redeemer we the people whom thou hast bought thou art our God and we thine inheritance Correct vs not therefore in thine anger O Lord neither according to our deserts punish vs but mercifullie chastise vs with a fatherlie affection that all the world may knowe that at what time soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sins from the bottome of his hart thou wilt put awaie his wickednesse out of thy remembrance as thou hast promised by thy holie Prophet Finallie we humblie thanke thee O mercifull Father by thy deerelie beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour for all thy benefits bestowed vpon vs from the beginning of the world to this time for our election our creation our redemption our sanctification continuall preseruation and namelie for that of thy mercie and goodnesse thou hast preserued vs this daie and all the time of our life hitherto from all misfortunes hurts and dangers bodilie ghostlie And forsomuch as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to rest in as thou hast ordeined him the daie to trauell and that whither we sleepe or wake liue or die we are alwaies thine grant O deere Father that we may so take our bodilie rest this night that our soules and harts being kindled with the light of thy countenance may continuallie watch for the time that our Lord Iesus Christ shall appeare for our deliuerance out of this mortall life And in the meane season take thou O God care and charge of vs and all ours that we perish not in the works of darkenesse and that we not ouercome by anie fantasies dreames or other temptations may fullie set our minds vpon thee loue thee feare thee and rest in thee Furthermore that our sleepe be not excessiue or ouermuch after the insatiable desires of the flesh but onlie sufficient to content our weake nature that enioieng sweet sleepe and comfortable rest both in bodie and mind we may healthfullie and ioifullie rise againe and be the better disposed to liue in all godlie conuersation and perfect obedience of thy word to the glorie of thy holie name and profit of thy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we furthermore make our humble petitions vnto thee not onlie for our selues but for all others whome thou wouldest we should continuallie praie for saieng as he in his holie word hath taught vs Our Father which art in heauen c. O Lord increase our faith strengthen it in thy manifold sweet promises and grant vs a perfect continuance therein to our liues end whereof we humblie make our confession saieng I beleeue in God c. Let thy mightie hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercie and louing kindnes in Iesu Christ thy deere Sonne our saluation thy true holie word our instruction thy life holie actions our imitation thy grace holie spirit our comfort consolatiō vnto the end in the end and the blessing of God almightie Father Sonne and holie Ghost be with vs and remaine with vs now euer Amen A forme of generall praier to be vsed in priuate houses and families euerie Euening O Lord prepare our harts to praier for if we praie with our lips onlie our praiers
vnitie peace and concord We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue vs an hart to loue and dread thee and diligentlie to liue after thy commandements We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue all thy people increase of grace to heare meekelie thy word and to receiue it with pure affection and to bring foorth the fruits of the spirit We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to bring into the waie of truth all such as haue erred and are deceiued We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to strengthen such as doo stand and to comfort and helpe the weake-harted and to raise vp them that fall and finallie to beate downe Sathan vnder our feete We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort all that be in danger necessitie and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring of child all sicke persons and yoong children and to shew thy pitie vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse children and widowes and all that bee desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to haue mercie vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to forgiue our enimies persecutors and slanderers and to turne their harts We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindlie fruits of the earth so as in due time we may enioie them We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue vs true repentance to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to endue vs with the grace of thy holie spirit to amend our liues according to thy holie word We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. O Lambe of God that takest awaie the sinnes of the world Grant vs thy peace O Lambe of God that takest awaie the sinnes of the world Haue mercie vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Our father which art in heauen c. The Versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The Answere Neither reward vs after our iniquities Let vs praie O God mercifull father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite hart nor the desires of such as be sorowfull mercifullie assist our praiers that we make before thee in all our troubles and aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and gratiouslie heare vs that those euils which the craft and subtiltie of the diuell or man worketh against vs be brought to naught and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that we thy seruants being hurt by no persecutions may euermore giue thanks vnto thee in thy holie Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy name sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble works that thou diddest in their daies and in the old time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thine honour Glorie be to the Father and to the Sonne c. As it was in the beginning is now and euer c. From our enimies defend vs O Christ Gratiouslie looke vpon our afflictions Pitifullie behold the sorrowes of our harts Mercifullie forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauourablie with mercie heare our praiers O sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon vs. Both now euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Gratiouslie heare vs ô Christ Gratiouslie heare vs ô Lord Christ The Versicle O Lord let thy mercie be shewed vpon vs. The Answere As we doo put our trust in thee Let vs praie WE humblie beseech thee O Father mercifullie to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glorie of thy name sake turne from vs all those euils that we most worthilie haue deserued and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercie and euermore serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of life to thy honour and glorie through our onlie mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for the Queenes Maiestie O Lord our heauenlie father high and mightie King of kings Lord of lords the onlie ruler of princes which dooest from thy throne behold all the dwellers vpon earth most hartilie we beseech thee with thy fauour to behold our most gratious souereigne ladie Queene Elizabeth and so replenish hir with the grace of thy holie spirit that she may alwaie incline to thy will and walke in thy waie Indue hir plentifullie with heauenlie gifts graunt hir in health and wealth long to liue strengthen hir that she may vanquish and ouercome all hir enimies and finallie after this life she may attaine euerlasting ioie and felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for Bishops and Curates ALmightie and euerlasting God which onlie workest great maruels send downe vpon our Bishops and Curates and all congregations committed to their charge the healthfull spirit of thy grace and that they may trulie please thee powre vpon them the continuall dewe of thy blessing Grant this O Lord for the honour of our Aduocate and Mediatour Iesu Christ Amen A praier of Chrysostome ALmightie God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee and dooest promise that when two or three be gathered together in thy name thou wilt grant their requests fulfill now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them granting vs in this world knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen 2. Corinth 13 verse 13. THE grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the fellowship of the holie Ghost bee with vs all euermore Amen ¶ Other godlie Collects and praiers to be vsed after the Letanie as occasion serueth and first In time of drought for raine O GOD heauenlie father which by thy sonne Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that seeke thy kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof all things necessarie to their bodilie sustenance send vs wee beseech thee in this our necessitie such moderate raine and showers that we may receiue the fruites of the earth to our comfort and to thy honor through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another ALmightie God mercifull Father who in thy holie word hast promised to