am translated out of darknes into light and be well assured that thou wilt gratiously deliuer mee from all tribulations of body and soule captiuitie anguish and perils together with all the elect and chosen Amen A deuout Prayer O My Lord Iesu with al my mind with all my might I do laude thee and praise thée for thine innumerable benefites which thou hast shewed vnto mee heretofore and shewest daily but alas good Lord sure I am of this that I cannot praise thée as I would and as my dutie requireth wherefore I méekely beséech thee both to accept this my bounden dutie and seruice and also to supplie and fulfill mine insufficiencie so that thy absolute righteousnesse and obedience may for mee be acceptable before thy father and may to mee and in me bee comfortable to my soule O swéete Iesu I loue thée as my God my maker and my redéemer what though I loue thee not so feruently as I ought to doe yet I humbly beséech thée to accept me according to that I haue and not according to that I haue not and the rather because that I haue is thine which I pray thée so to acknowledge and daylie more and more increase that my peace in hee and loue towards thée may more and more abound O sweete Sauiour heare me hereâ—â— euen so be it The complaint of a penitent sinner which is sore troubled and ouercome with sinnes O Lord God mercifull and patient and of much mercifulnesse and truth which of thy abundant charitie and according to thy great mercie hast taken vs out from the power of darknes and hast saued vs by the fountaine of regeneration and new birth and the renewing of the holy Ghost whom thou hast shed vpon vs aboundantly by Iesus Christ our Sauiour If I haue found grace and fauour in thy sight suffer me to speake a word vnto thée and be not displeased with me Why dost thou euer forget me and leauest me in the midst of my troubles and evils Where is become thy zeale and strength where is the multitude of thy tender affections and of thy mercies O Lorde may not hee which is fallen rise vp againe Or may not hee which hath gone away from thee returne vnto thée againe Shall my sorrow â—â—er indure shall my â—ound be vncurable and neuer healed How commeth it to passe that I still turne away from thee surely Satans malice and mine owne corruption carie me violently But stay me O Lord and turne me yea cause me to turne for of my selfe I cannot returne In asmuch as it is not giuen to man to direct his 〈…〉 wayes neither to 〈◊〉 perfect his owne proceedings For in thy hand is the life of euery liuing thing and the spirit also of euery man Thou shewest thy mercy to whom thou wilt and thou art gracious to them whom thou fauourest Thou doest kill and thou doest quicken thou leadest downe to Hell gate and bringest vp againe Thy eyes beholde the wayes of euery man and thou searchest the hearts of men There is no place so secret or darke wherein sins may hide themselues from thee Nor any man may so lurke and hide themselfe in Caues but thou shalt sée him which doest fulfill both heauen and earth in euery paâ—t Why hast thou cast me away from thy presence and â—â—est me for thine enemie Why hast thou layd vpon my head the heauie weight of my sinnes séeing no man is able to beare thy displeasure What meaneth it that thou shewest thy power against a wretch why destroyest thou me for the sins of my youth If I haue sinned what shall I doe to thée and if my sins be encreased what shall I doe If I do iustly what shal I giue to thée or what shalt thou receiue aâ— my hand My wickednesse shall hurt my selfe and my righteousnesse shall not profit me The life of man is a temptation vpon the earth and if I haue sinned as all mâ—â— haâ—e what may I 〈◊〉 â—hall 〈◊〉 man be found 〈…〉 without sinne 〈…〉 or shall any man 〈◊〉 withouâ— fault in his deedes How may a mortall mâ—â— be pure of sinne in thy sight or how may hee which is borne of a woman be righteous Remember O Lord I beseech thee that thou hast made me of the earth and that thou shalt bring mee againe into the â—ust of death My dayes paâ—â— and vâ—nish away like 〈…〉 waste daily there is no taâ—ying My life flieth as the winde and considereth not that which is good I was but lately borne in this world and shortly I shall be taken away hence by death I neuer continue still in one state The dayes of my life bee few and short thou hast appoynted an end which I shall not passe Naked and bare I came out of my mothers wombe and naked and bare I shall returne againe truly all men liuing are but vanitie Haue pitie O Lord on them that are in miserie and despise not the workes of thy hands Though we sin yet are we vnder thée for we know thy power and strength and if we sinne not then are we sure that thou regardest vs. Cease thy indignation O Lord and turne it from mee and cast all my â—â—nes behind thy backe Take away thy plagues from mee for thy punishment hath made mee both feeble and faint For when thou chastisest a man for his sinnes thou causest him by and by to consume and pine away Whatsoeuer is delectable in him perisheth like vnto the cloth that is eaten with moaths Would God I had one 〈◊〉 defend me a while vntill thy anger were turned away or that thou wouldest remember me I am cleane cast away from thy presence shall I neuer hereafter see thy face againe Beholde I haue opened the griefs of my soule the day of my sorrowes haue taken me The flouds of tribulation compasse mee round about and the streames of thy fury run ouer me And I cry vnto thée O Lord God but thou hearest me not I aske mercie but thou reiectest my prayers Why thrustest thou downe a poore wretch from thy presence or why forsakest thou mee so longe time Why takest thou not away mine inâ—â—uitie and why puttest thâ—â— not away the wickednesse of my heart Arise and tary no longer O Lord arise and reiect me not for euer Haue mee in remembrance I beséech thée for I throughlie tremble and shake for feare Yet will I not holde my tongue but cry stil vnto thée with a mourning and an heauie hearâ— Turne away the stroke of thy veâ—â—eance from me and bring my 〈◊〉 out of troubles into rest I am here no long continuer but a pilgrime and a stranger as all other mortall men be And what is man that thou shouldest bee angrie with him or what is mankinde that thou shouldest bee so heauie Lord vnto vs What wilt thou bring sorrow vppon sorrow I pant for paine and finde no rest My sorrow grieueth me when I should eate and sodaine sighes ouerwhelme my heart I am as
mée iudging mée according vnto the same I were not able to suffer or abide it but must needes perish and be damned for euer So little helpe comfort or sucour is there either in me or in any other creature whatsoeuer Only this is my cōfort O heauenly father the thou diddest not spare thy only dearely beloued Son but diddest giue him vp vnto the most bitter most vile and slaunderous death of the Crosse for mee that so hee might in his obedience pay the ransome for my sinnes satisfie thy iudgement still and pacifie thy wrath recōcile mée vnto thée againe purchase mée thy grace and fauour and euerlāsting life Wherefore through the merites of his most bitter death and passion through his innocent bloudshedding I beséech thee O heauenly Father that thou wilt vouchsafe to bee gracious mercifull vnto mee to forgiue and pardon me all my sinnes to lighten my heart with thy holy Spirit to renew confirme and strengthen mee with a right and stedfast faith and to enflame mee in loue towardes thee and my neighbour for thy sake that I may henceforth with a willing and a glad heart walke as it becommeth mee in the obedience of thy most godly and most blessed Commandements and so glorifie and praise thée euerlastingly and also that I may with a frée conscience a quiet spirit in al manner of temptations afflictions and necessities and euen in the very pangs of death boldly faithfully say I beleeue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Mary Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate Was crucified dead and buried Hée descended into hell The third day hée rose againe from the dead Hee ascended into Heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almightie from thence he shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beléeue in the holy Ghost The holy Catholike Church The communion of Saints The forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie And the life euerlasting Amen But O Lord heauenly Father to comfort my selfe in afflictions temptations with the assured féeling of these Articles of the Christiā faith it is not in my power for faith is thy gift And therefore forasmuch as thou wilt be praied vnto and called vpon for it I come vnto thée to pray and beséech thée both for that for al my other necessities bodily and spirituall euen as thy dearely beloued sonne our Sauiour Christ Iesus himselfe hath taught vs and from the very bottome of my heart I cry and say vnto thée Our Father which art in heauē halowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will bée done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day 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 vnto the lappe of thy pitie For loe thou art my hope and trust in whom I onely repose my selfe hauing in thee ful confidence and faith so that now I may say with a very faithfull heart trusting in thy mercie I beléeue in thee O God the Father in thee O God the Sonne and in thee O God the holy Ghost thrée persons and one true and also verie God besides whom I acknowledge none other God in heauen aboue nor in earth beneath And yet I poore sinner cannot but accuse my selfe vnto thee deare Father that I haue fore and grieuously offended thy almightie goodnesse and Maiestie in the committing of mine exceeding grieuous and manifold sins and wickednes For I haue not kept the least of thy most godly and blessed commaundementes like as thy righteousnes may require indéed doth demād the same of me I haue not I say honoured thee like my God dread thée like my Lord loued thée like my father nor trusted in thee like my creator my sauiour Thy holy and dreadful name vnto which al glory honour belongeth haue I vsed in vaine I haue not sanctified the Sabboth day with workes which bee acceptable to thée nor instructed my neighbour in vertue accordingly I haue not honored my parents nor bin obedient vnto thē through whom as by an instrumēt thou hast wrought my comming into this world The high powers and rulers which receiue authoritie of thee I haue not willingly obeyed I haue not kept my heart pure and cleane from malice and manslaughter yea had not thy grace and mercy defended mee the better I should haue committed the verie deede also I likewise am not pure from theft nor from adulterie nor frō false witnesse bearing but haue in my heart and mind wished and desired my nighbours goods and thinges I haue followed the great Prince of this Worlde Sathan which hath been a lyer from the beginning in concupiscence of the flesh in pride of liuing in deceiptfulnes in lecherie in hatred and also enuie in backbiting in despaire and also misbeléefe And as I haue abused my will vnderstanding which are faculties and powers of my soule so my senses also which thou hast giuen mee to vse to thy glorie and my neighbours good and mine own lawfull delight I haue misused and mispent in hearing séeing smelling tasting and feeling also things that I should not or else suffring thē to be too violētly caried to things I might haue vsed But in what manner soeuer that I haue offended and sinned against thy eternall Maiestie for no man knoweth throughly his sinnes as the Prophet witnesseth whether it hath béen by day or else by night yea euen from my childhood vnto this day were it in workes wordes or thoughts secretly or openly O my mercifull God I am sorie for it euen from the very bottome of my heart yea my soule mourneth for very sorowe most mercifull Father that I am not a thousand times more sorie than I am howbeit in token of great repentance though all hearts bée knowne well enough vnto thée I doe knocke strike my breast and say in bitternesse of heart and soule Lord GOD the Father Sonne and holy Ghost haue mercie Spare mee of thine infinite mercie deare Lord now and all the daies of my life let me bee made partakers of thine abundant grace in such sort that I may chaunge my sinfull life and put thou out of mee the olde man with al his concupisences and lustes graunting mee grace dayly to die vnto the world and that the world may bée crucified vnto mee and I so dayly goe forward in newnes of life Strengthen mee O Lord in a true humble heart in sound loue hope and trust in thée giue my soule grace to desire in thée onely to reioyce and repose my selfe that I may vtterly renounce and forsake the vaine assistance of this world so that thou mayst finde me readie to méete
of saluation in him alone whom thou hast appointed to bee our onely redéemer and Sauiour Make vs alway readie and able to render vnto thée most humble and heartie thankes for this thine incomprehensible mercy and goodnes towardes vs finally so to make vs professe the death of thy dearely beloued Son that wee renounce and forsake all sinne yea that wée may alwaies féele it in our selues and plainely shew it forth to others that wee arise with him in newnes of life in righteousnes innocencie and all true holines after this life may raigne with him in euerlasting glorie heare vs O heauenly Father for our Lord Iesus Christes sake Amen ALmightie God our heauenly Father wée beséech thy gracious goodnes now and at all times so to assist vs that like as thy onely begotten and dearely beloued sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ according to his blessed will suffered death willingly and bitter passion for our redemption and saluation hauing thereof foresight perfect knowledge so in like maner when it shall please thée so lay any crosse and afflictions vpon our backs that we may both willinglie vndergoe it patiently beare it powerfully ouercome it to thy euerlasting glorie other mens spirituall benefit and our owne endlesse saluation through Christ Heare vs herein O heauēly father for our Lord Iesus Christs sake Amen O Our Sauiour and redéemer Iesus Christ which in thy last Supper with the Apostles didst giue thy blessed bodie blood vnder the visible elements of bread and wine graunt vs grace wee beséech thée euer stedfastly to beléeue and sincerely to acknowledge in this most blessed Sacramēt not onely thine infinite and Almightie power but also thine incomprehensible loue towards vs yea assist so that when we come to the participation of these blessed mysteries we may alway worthily receiue the same according to thy holy ordinances in such sort as that thereby we may alwaies obtaine strength of faith in the truth of thy promises encrease of holines by the vniting of the spirit with thee our head and by thee and thy spirite with all the company of them that bee truely thine which bee thy spirituall and mysticall bodie and our spirituall and Christian brethren Herein heare vs O Christ our Sauiour for thy names sake Amen ALmighty GOD and our most louing Father in Christ whose holy Apostle Peter presuming of his owne power strength did miserably fall not onely in the deniall of his maister Christ for feare of an handmaide but also in sorswearing and cursing himselfe if euer he knew him grant vs grace we beseech thee mercicifull Father that we neuer presume of our own might power but that being in our own harts humble lowly and acknowledging our infirmitie frailtie and weakenes we may euer in all our affaires receiue at thy hand outward inward strenght cōfort also and may thereby bée inabled vnto the acceptable performance of thy holy and blessed will Heare vs O heauenly Father for our Lorde Iesus Christs sake Amen O Our blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ which in that great heauines of thy soule intolerable anguish which thou sustainedst before thy passion diddest fall down vpō thy face in praier vnto thy heauenly Father giue vs grace also the aide of thy holy spirite that wee likewise in all heauinesse of minde and troubles of this world may run euermore by most humble and constant prayer vnto the onely ayd strength and comfort of thée our heauenly father heare vs our Sauiour Christ for thy names sake Amen ALmighty God eternal father we doe remember that in the condemnation of thy onely and dearely beloued innocent Lambe our Sauiour Iesus Christ the Iudge did sitte witnesse was brought Christ himselfe was presented and condemned and all truth there was troden vnder foote all vnrighteousnes did raigne and innocencie comdemned In consideration whereof we cannot but intreat thée O most gracious Lord and Father to graunt vnto our heads and rulers such a notable measure of grace and assistance euen from thine owne selfe that they may euer in all their iudgements iudge according to true iustice and equitie without corruption partialitie and wicked dissimulation and that to the beating down of wickednes and sinne and to the maintenance of thine euerlasting truth iustice honour and glorie Heare vs our heauenly Father for our Lord Iesus Christs sake Amen A prayer for trust in God O Most gracious most wise guide and our almightie Sauiour Iesus Christ who doest lead them the right way to immortall blessednes which truly and vnfainedly trusting in thee commit themselues to thée grant vs grace we pray thée not only to sée this that we be blinde and féeble indeede but also that we may so take and repute our selues that so wee may not presume of our selues to sée to our selues but may alwaies wholie commit our selues vnto thee to bee guyded by thee and from thee may bee inabled so far to sée that alway wee may haue thée before our eies to follow thee being our guide to be ready at thy call most obediently and to commit our selues wholy vnto thée that thou which onely knowest the way and art alone the way indéed mayest lead vs the same way to all heauenly desires To thée with the Father and the holy Ghost be glory for euer Amen A prayer of any captiue according to the forme of Dauid when he was hid in the caue WIth my voyce I crie to thée afore thée I open my lamentations in thy bosome I disclose the secret words of my heart my dolours and griefs I shew vnto thee my heart is almost like to brust so great is my discomfiture Thou knowest all my fashions O Lord and thou séest well enough how the vngodly haue laid their snares for me Loe I cast mine eyes on this side that side as well on my friends as kinsfolkes but all is in vaine none of them all helpeth me And againe I cannot run away I am so laden and ouercharged with yrons O Lord my maker and father vnto thée I crie thou art mine onely shot-anker defence helpe Thou art my portion heritage in all countries yea I haue none other possession but thée onely To thee therefore I sticke altogether knowing certainly that nothing can goe amisse with mee when I am vnder the shadowe of thy wings and thou guidest me Consider then my lamentable complaint behold howe I am lowe brought by the cruell pursuers which bee much more of power than I am defend me deliuer me from all this prison horrible feare of sinne death that I may set out thy name This once obtained the godly folke shall flocke about me and shall not stint to giue thee thankes when they sée that thou riddest me forth of these dangers to the high praise of thy name Lord bee mercifull vnto vs take part with vs then we shall for euer lift vp and magnify thy glorious name Amen A prayer for
sicke thou canst heale me Though I bee dead and buried thou canst reuiue mee For thy mercie is much more then mine iniquitie Thou canst forgiue me more then I can offend Therefore O Lord do not consider nor haue respect to the number of my sins and to the grieuousnes therof but according to the greatnes of thy mercie forgiue mee and haue mercie on me most wretched sinner Say vnto my soule I am thy saluation and the rather speak this again because thou hast said and alwayes performed it I will not the death of a sinner but rather that hee liue and bee conuerted and turne to me O Lord be not angrie with me I pray thée most meeke father for thy great mercie sake yea I most humbly beseech thée that thou wouldest for Christ Iesus sake vouchsafe to bring me to blisse that neuer shall cease Amen Another Prayer O Bountifull Iesu O sweete Iesu O Iesu the sonne of the pure Virgin Mary full of mercie and truth after thy great mercy haue pittie on mee I pray thée by the same precious bloud which for vs miserable sinners thou wast content to shed on the altar of the crosse that thou wilt vouchsafe cleane to remoue and take away all my wickednes and not to despise mee I humbly requiring this and that in and for thy most holy and blessed name O Lord Iesus This name of thine Iesus is the name of health what is Iesus but a Sauiour O my Sauiour Iesus Christ that hast created and redéemed me with thy precious bloud suffer me not to be damned whom thou hast made of naught and whom thou hast redéemed with a most precious ransome Oh let not my wickednesse destroy that thy almightie goodnes hath made and formed Lord Iesu reknowledge that which is thine indéed and wipe cleane away that which withdraweth or withholdeth me from thée Now and in all time of mercie haue mercie one mee and confound not me in the time of thy terrible iudgemēt And though I wretched sinner for my most grieuous offences haue by thy very iustice deserued eternall paine yet I doe appeale from that exact righteousnesse of thine to thy singular goodnesse and stedfastly trust in thine vnspeakeable mercie wherefore I pray thée as a louing father and mercifull Lord to take pittie on me Lord Iesu what profit is my bloud séeing I must descend into eternall corruption eternally They that bee dead shall not magnifie thee nor likewise all they that go to hell O most mercifull Iesu haue mercie on me therefore and deliuer me yea be alwayes comfortable vnto me and accept me a wretched sinner into the number of them that shall be saued And fith thou art the health of all them that trust in thee and thou hast giuen grace in some measure to beléeue haue mercie on me endue me with thy grace wisedome charitie chastitie and humilitie yea and in all mine aduersities vphold me with stedfast patience so that I may sincerely loue thee and in thée waite and looke to be glorified and haue mine onely delight in thee world without end Amen Another Prayer O Glorious King which among thy Saints art praised and neuerthelesse incomparable thou art in vs Lord and thy name hath béene called vpon by vs. Therefore doe not forsake vs Lord God and in the day of iudgement vouchsafe to glorifie vs among thy saints and elect O blessed King Amen If thou be sicke or in tribulation say thus LOrd God which doest punish and scourge thy people not after their deseruing neither yet to destroy them but to conuert them mercifully to thée and yet notwithstanding knowest that thorough our frailties wee are readie in the middest of thy corrections to fall away graunt vs we pray thée and that for Iesus Christs sake the strength and comfort of thy blessed spirit that to the glorie of thy name other mens good and our owne consolation wee may both patiently beare and graciously profit by and at the last bee mightily deliuered from this maladie which worthily wee doe suffer as the chastisement of our sinne and the time of faith Amen A very godly and necessarie prayer to bee sayde most specially at the houre of death O LORD Iesu Christ which art the health of all men liuing and euerlasting life to them that beléeue in thée and dye in thy faith I wretched sinner giue ouer and submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will I being sure by the promises of thy worde and the pledge of thy spirit that the thinge cannot perish which is committed to thy mercie In full perswasion whereof O Lord giue me grace that willingly I may leaue this fraile and wretched flesh in hope of the resurrection which in most perfect manner shall restore it mee againe And further I beséech thée most mercifull Lord that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all temptations And that thou wilt so couer and defend mée with the buckler of mercie against all assaultes of the Diuel that he may not any manner of way preuaile vpon me I see and acknowledge there is in my selfe no hope of saluation but all my confidence hope and trust is in thy most mercifull goodnes I haue no merites nor good workes at all which I may any manner of way alleadge before thée sinnes and euill workes alas I sée a great yea an innumerable and infinite heape notwithstanding through thy mercie I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes but take and accept me for righteous and iust and to be the inheritour of euerlasting life in and by the obedience of thy sonne and my Sauiour who was borne for my sake who did suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake who did both preach and teach for my sake who did pray and fast for my sake who did all good workes and déedes for my sake who suffered most grieuous and painfull torments for my sake and finally who gaue his most precious body to dye and bloud to bee shed vpon the crosse for my sake Now therefore most mercifull Sauiour I humbly beséech thee which hast giuen thy selfe for mee to make all these things and euery other grace of thine which thou hast fréely giuen me profitable to me and powerfull in me Let thy bloude clense mee and wash away the spottes and foulenes of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my vnrighteousnes by the merits of thy passion and bloud which I acknowledg to be the onely price of satisfaction for my sins offences Strengthen me so good Lord by thy grace that my faith and saluation in thy bloud wauer not in me but may euer bée firme and constant Lord let not the hope of thy mercie and life euerlasting euer decay in mee but let it alwayes rest and be felt pourefully in me and that euen to and in the last gaspe And graunt further I pray thée that charitie ware not cold in me finally that the
to euerlasting blessednes through Christ Iesus Amen A Prayer against worldly carefulnes O Most deare and tender father our defender and nourisher endue vs with thy grace that wee may cast off the great blindnes of our minds and carefulnes of worldly thinges and may imploy our whole studie and care in kéeping of thy holy lawes and yet that wee may trauaile and labour for our necessities in this life like the birdes of the aire and the lillies of the field without carefulnesse for thou hast promised to be carefull for vs and hast commanded that vpon thée we should cast all our care which liuest and raignest world without ende Amen A Prayer against the diuel IEsu Christ our Lord which by the mouth of thy holy Apostle S. Peter didst say that our aduersarie the diuell goeth about like a roring lyon séeking whom hee may deuour wee know the truth of this by our owne experience and féele that hee is busie and fierce and breaketh in vpon vs so that if thou helpe not hee will soone deceaue vs with his craft ouerturne vs with his might and with his crueltie teare vs in péeces But if thou which hast vanquished him wilt appeare but as it were a farre off thou wilt make him afraide and with thy onely looke put him to slight Vouchsafe O Lord to receiue vs into thy tuition being but infants weake féeble and vnskilful lest the â—â—â—rce and cruell beast all to teare vs yea giue vs grace alwayes not onely to beare before vs the sworde of the spirit in our sight and to tarrie it in our hands but also couragiously to vse it as from thée that so our enemies may well know that we doe our busines by thy counsaile aid and strength and in thy power may bee put to flight to thy glorie and our euerlasting comfort through Christ Amen A thankes-giuing vnto God for all his benefites WE verie humbly in Christ thanke thée O heauenly Father for thy manifold and inestimable benefits which thou hast giuen to vs both for our soules and bodies yea and that fréely of thine owne goodnes not onely without but contrarie to our deseruing We thanke thée that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercie first to create and make vs according to thine owne image and likenes and to place vs in ioyfull Paradise where we should haue continually remained in a blessed and quiet state if through the subtile and deceitfull suggestions of Satan our old enemie we had not transgressed thy holy commandements We thanke thee also O most gentle Father for thy louing kindnes which thou shewedst to vs when wee were all perished and lost through the sinne of our first parents Adam and Heua For when thou mightest iustly haue condemned vs and cast vs into perpetuall damnation thou like a father of singular great loue hadst pitty on vs and sauedst vs by the death and passion of thy welbeloued sonne our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe a ransome for all our sinnes and payed a sufficient price by his precious bloud for all the wickednesse that wee at any time heretofore haue committed or hereafter shall commit through our frailtie and weakenes so that wee beléeue thy promises and repent and amend our liues Neither wast thou thus contented that hee onely should die for our sinnes but also diddest raise him vp againe for our iustification and to make vs righteous in thy sight Moreouer after that he had shewed himselfe vnfainedly to liue to his Apostles by manifest and euident tokens certainelie through the power of his Godhead hee ascended vp into heauen perfect God and perfect man where he now sitteth on thy right hande and maketh intercession for vs being our alone mediator and aduocate from thence we looke for him to come againe at the day of iudgement not as a fearefull Iudge to condemne and cast vs away but as a most louing Lord and gentle Sauiour to carry vs with him into euerlasting glorie there world without end to remaine in such ioyes as eye hath not seene nor eare hath not heard nor yet any heart is able to thinke For these thy most bounteous giftes and for all other thy benefites which thou daylie giuest to vs of thy great mercie both for our body and soule wee humbly thanke thee most mercifull Father beséeching thee to giue vs grace through thy holy spirit not to bee either vnmind full of them or vnthankefull for them but to walke worthy of this thy kindnes and so behaue our selues all our life time in this wretched world according to thy holy will that at the last day we may bee found in the number of them to whom thy onely begotten soone shall say Come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of this world Lord let it so come to passe euen for Christ Iesus sake Amen A deuout Prayer to bee daylie sayd O Almighty and eternal God which vouchsafedst that wee as it were heauenly children should euery one of vs call thee our heauenly father Grant that among vs by purenes and example of innocent life thy most holy name may bee sanctified that all other nations beholding our goodnesse and vertuous liuing that thou workest in vs may bee stirred to hallow and glorifie thée Grant O Lord that the kingdome of thy grace and mercie in this life may so rule and raigne continually in our hearts that we may bee by thée accepted and accounted as worthie in Christ to bee partakers of thy kingdome of glorie and maiestie in the life to come Grant that vnto the very death yea and in death it selfe also wee refuse not to follow thy diuine will but that wee according to the example of the celestiall citizens agréeing together quietly vnited in spirit all controuersie in opinions contrarie to thy holy truth being laide apart and the lust of the flesh being subdued and the flattering assaults of the world and the diuell ouercome we may willingly faithfully and constantly obey thy blessed will in all things Graunt O Lord for our bodie such a measure of necessarie and néedefull sustenance that thereby we may be the better enabled more freely and hearefully to serue thée and abound in all good workes towards thy saints and seruants here vpon earth knowing that our goodnesse reacheth not to thee but to the excellent that are in the world whom wee beseech thée make vs more and more to delight in and to loue for thy sake Giue me grace O Lord not onely patiently to beare and suffer our enemies and such as hate vs together with the iniuries which they doe lay vpon vs making good vse of them for thy glorie and our instruction but also vnfaignedly to forget and forgiue whatsoeuer they haue deuised sayd or done against vs euen as wee our selues would gladly obtayne at thy mercifull hands and féele in our selues the frée pardon and full forgiuenesse of all our transgressions And for such temptations
if my bones were all to broken when I heare my enemies raile vpon me and say to mee day by day where is thy God Why turnest thou thy face from these thinges O Lord why hast thou no regard of my trouble I earnestly make my prayers daily in thy sight and the heauines of my hart I doe shew vnto thée My spirit is carefull and troubled within mee and desperation hath entred into my heart Is it thy pleasure O Lord God to cast away thine own handie workes Deliuer my soule from â—â—rruption and my life from euerlasting darknes What auaileth it mee that euer I was borne if thou cast mee straight into damnation séeing that the dead shall not praise thée nor any of them which go down to hell I haue sinned what shal I doe to thée why hast thou put me to be contrarie to thée I am wearie of mine owne selfe Why searchest thou out my sinnes so narrowly when there is no man that can escape out of thy hands If I would say that I were righteous and without sinne then thou mightest worthily condemne me to the fire prepared for the diuell and his angels But I confesse that I am a sinner and doe humble my selfe here in thy sight Surely if a man would â—â—and with thee in iudgement he shall not bee able to answere one word to a thousand things wherewith thou mightest charge him This maketh me to feare all my deedes knowing that thou sparest not him that offendeth If I looke vppon thy power O how mightie and strong art thou If I shall call for iudgement who shall defend my matter or speake for me To thee O Lord I call and crie to thee my God I make my humble sute Turne away thine anger from mee that I may know that thou art more mercifull to mee than my sinnes deserue What is my strength that I may endure or what is the ende of my trouble that my soule may patiently abide it My strength is not a stony strength and my flesh is not made of brasse There is no helpe in my selfe and also my strength flieth away from me Although thou hide these things in my heart yet I know that thou wilt remember me at length For thou art true and iust O Lord God thou doest not condemne vniustly which rewardest man according to his deserts All this is come vnto me because I haue forgotten thee and not vsed my selfe truely in thy testimonies My heart hath turned backeward and I haue followed the desires of my flesh And thou hast surely knowne this thing which knowest the secrets of the heart Lay not against mee O Lord the sinnes of my youth nor haue in remembrance my old iniuries done against thee Daily sorrow â—â—commeth me and sadnes possesseth my heart I looke after peace but I cannot haue it I looke for a time of health but my griefe continueth still When the time of thine anger is past let mercie come yet am I vnhappie more and more Woe and alas that euer I sinned my heart therefore mourneth and is sad al mirth and ioy is vanished from me How am I wasted how miserably am I confounded because I haue forsaken and cast away thy law Death hath ascended by the windowes pearcing the inward parts of my heart Wâ—â—â— I daily one while must secretly with my selfe another while with loud voyce crye out and complaine the meane time my life draweth néere to the pit Who shall giue mee a place to rest in from all my griefts and troubles And I will forsake all men and get away from them Who shall giue me water to my head and a fountaine of teares to mine eyes that I may bewaile my sinnes both night and day And I will looke for him which may saue me and deliuer me from the wrath to come I haue no trust neither in life nor death but I feare thy iudgement O Lord and the paines prepared for sinners The feare of my sinne maketh mee carefull and the burden of my conscience oppresseth me sore O God which tenderly louest mankind and art a most righteous Iudge sâ—are mee now I beséech mee and shewe mee some fauour while time is Forgiue that which I feare put away that which I dread before I depart hence and shall not returne againe My sinnes doe vexe and trouble mee sore they bee so great that none can be greater Alas my fall alas my miserie alas the griefe of my plague and stroke certainly my sinne is the cause of all this and so I will take it and suffer it A Psalme in which he giueth thankes to God that his enemies haue not gotten the vpper hand of him I Wil magnifie and praise thee O Lord God for thou hast exalted me and set me vp and mine enemies haue not gotten the vpper hand of me O Lord of hoâ—â— I haue cried vnto thee and thou hast saued me Thâ—â—â—ast brought my soule out of hell thou hast holden mee vp from falling into the déepe Lake from whence no man returneth Thou hast not closed me vp in the hands of mine enemies but thou hast set my féete in a place both wide and broade I haue sought thée and thou hast heard mee thou hast brought me into libertie out of great distresse Thou haâ—â—â—urned my sorrowe into 〈…〉 hast ceased my mourning and compassed mee round about with mirth Thou hast declared thy great magnificence in helping thy seruant Thou hast â—â—ne meruailously with me in my miseries Thou hast regarded the â—â—ne of the poore thou hast not turned away thy face from me I will bee singing and speaking of thy mercies and I will publish to other thy fidelitie and truth so long as I shall liue My mouth shall neuer cease to speake of thy righteousnes and of thy benefits which be so many that I cannot number them But I will giue thee thankes till death take mee away I will sing in the praise of thée so long as I shall continue I will triumph and reioyce in thy mercie for thou hast looked vpon my necessities and regarded my soule in distresse Thou hast béene my sure refuge and the strength of my trust and hope I thanke thee Lorde of thy goodnesse alway and for thy excéeding mercie Thou hast béen my comâ—orâ—â—n the time of my trouble thou hast been merciful vnto me O Lord and hast reuenged the wronges that mine enemies haue done to me According to the multitude of the heauie thoughts that I had in my minde thy comforts haue cheared and lightned my heart Thou hast sent me now ioyes for the dayes wherein I was in sorrowe and for the yeares in which I suffered many a painefull storme Thou hast called to remembrance the rebuke that thy seruant hath beene put to and how furiously mine enemies haue persecuted me O Lord God of hosts who may bee compared vnto thée thou art great and greatly to be praised Thou art high vpon all 〈◊〉 earth thou art exalted fa◠〈◊〉 all gods â—â—orie and
wretchednesse faithfully to call for helpe of thée Yea good Lord giue me grace to order my life and the workes of my body soule with actuall intent to please thée that through thy merites and mercie at the end I may obtaine the reward of thy infinite ioy and eternall felicitie Let the water and bloud which can from thy blessed heart bee powerfull to wash my soule from sinne and iniquitie and to purchase mee abundāce of thy grace faithfully to serue thée O my Lord my might my life my light lead me féede me and spéede me in the pilgrimage of this mortalitie graunt me O Lord by the merits of thy passion and power of thy most excellent and glorious godhead whatsoeuer thy Wisedome knoweth most expediēt for me which howsoeuer in my miserable life I am most vnworthy of yet vouchsafe them vnto me all the time of my pilgrimage but specially at the houre of death when I shall be accused before thée haue mercie on mee breake my froward heart and make it obedient to thée Preserue me also good Lord from sodaine and vnprouided death and of thy owne singular grace and goodnesse graunt mee these supplications in this prayer which now I haue made to thée according to thy will Yea by thine owne mediation purchase for mee and bestow vpon mee a holy life and blessed ending and grant I beséech thée after my bodily death euerlasting life with endlesse blisse and felicitie thorow thy merites and bitter passion O Lord Iesu who with the Father and the holy Spirit liuest and raignest euer one God world without end Holy Trinitie one very God haue mercie on me Amen A deuout prayer to our Lord Iesu Christ O My soueraigne Lord Iesu the very sonne of almightie God and of the most cleane and glorious virgin Marie who sufferedst bitter death for my sake and all mankind and diddest rise againe the third day I beseech thée Lord haue mercie vpon me that am a wretched sinner but yet thy creature and for thy precious passion saue mee and kéepe me from al perils bodily and ghostly and specially from all things that might turne to thy displeasure And with all my heart I thanke thee most mercifull Lord for thy great mercies that thou hast shewed me in the great dangers that I haue béen in as well in my soule as in my body and that thy grace and endlesse mercie hath euer kept me spared me and saued me from the houre of my birth to this present time For these I say and al other thy mercies I humblie thanke thée Lord Iesus Christ further desiring thée that thy mercie may preserue me alway And I crie thée mercie with all my whole heart for my great offences for my great vnkindnes for all my wretched and sinfull life and for this in particular that I haue not or cannot leade my selfe as becommeth thy seruant I thanke thée also with all my heart my most gracious Lord for the benefites and graces that thou hast giuen mee so largely in this world afore many other of thy creatures vpon whom if it had béene so thy good pleasure thou mightest a thousand times better haue bestowed them than vpon me But most gracious Lord I wot and knowledge verily that it commeth of thée wherefore with all my heart I thanke thee continually crying and saying all honour praise and glorie bee vnto thée O Iesu with the Father and the holy Ghost for euer and euer Amen Another prayer for an householder O Lord GOD almightie most mercifull and heauenly father thorough Christ I fréely confesse that thou art my life my soule and my bodie yea al the good which I haue and all whatsoeuer is mine hast thou giuen vnto me that of thine owne singular grace and goodnes Now sith of thee I haue receiued it and in me there is corruption to abuse it make vpright and order thou O Lord God of heauen all that is in my house And teach mee and mine to handle and guide all these outward things after thy godlie will we being thereby more and more prouoked to loue thée and in thée and for thée euery one of vs to profit another I say vnto thée I beléeue Lorde helpe my vnbeléefe And yet in this weakenes I cannot but intreate thée not to forsake me nor my wife my children nor any of my householde Defend vs Lord from sin before thée from shame in the world and from sicknes in our selues according to thy good pleasure Send vs thy holy Angell to guide and guarde vs that so wee may be defended in the whole course of our liues and may be lead forth the right way so as we may not talke doe or thinke any thought against thy holy commaundements and will but thereafter to liue worshipping thée and praising thée for euermore thorough Christ Iesus our Lord thy onely welbeloued Sonne Amen Blessed be the Father the Son and the holy Ghost Let vs praise him and exalt him world without end Amen An other Prayer ALmightie GOD our heauenly Father in Iesus Christ wée vnfeinedly confesse before thée that thy mercie and goodnes towards vs is infinite and without measure It is thy mercie and no goodnes that is in vs or of vs which mooued thée to send into the worlde thine onely begotten and eternall Sonne to take our nature vpon him and therein to worke the mysterie of our redemption and saluation as thou hadst appointed and spoken before by the mouthes of all thy Prophets which were from the beginning And likewise it was thy blessed will thy mercie and goodnes towardes vs that thy heauenly Sonne did suffer persecution trouble and aduersitie was betraied of his owne friend and disciple Iudas traiterously taken caried awaie to bée falsly accused and vniustly condemned to bee cruelly beaten scourged and finally with most scornefull rebukes to be put to the most painfull shamefull death that could bée deuised All this O heauenly Father was doone through thy mercy and blessed will for our sakes that not only to answere and satisfie thy iust wrath and anger which we had deserued and dayly doe deserue both for the offences of our first parents our actuall transgressing of thy holy commādements but also to restore vs againe to thy grace and fauour to indue vs with thy heauenly gifts that wée might serue thée in holynes and righteousnes all the dayes of our life And finally to make vs by the benefite of thy dearely beloued Sonnes passion and also through the price of his most precious bloud partners with him of his infinite and vnspeakeable glory and blisse in heauen Wherefore O heauenly Father wee béeséech thée powre vppon vs thy holy spirit and make vs in our hearts clearely to sée comfortably to féele and most stedfastly to beléeue this thine infinit gracious goodnes shewed and giuen vnto vs in thine owne sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ and with this beliefe make vs to put all our confidence and hope
firie anger of thy threatning is aboue all measure heauie to sinners but the mercie of thy promise is great and vnsearchable for thou art the Lord God most high aboue all the earth long suffering and excéeding mercifull and sorie for the malice of men I haue prouoked thine anger and haue done euill before thee in committing abominations and multiplying of offences And now I bowe the knées of my heart requiring goodnes of thee O Lord I haue sinned Lord I haue sinned and knowe my wickednesse I desire thee by prayer O Lord forgiue mee O Lord forgiue me and destroy me not with mine iniquities neither doe thou alwayes remember my euils to punish them but saue me which am vnworthie after thy great mercie and I wil praise thee euerlastingly all the dayes of my life for all the power of heauen prayseth thée and vnto thée belongeth all glorie world without ende Amen A prayer of Ieremy Iere. 17. HEale me O Lord and I shall be whole saue thou me and I shall bee saued for thou art my praise Be not thou terrible vnto me O Lord for thou art he in whom I hope When I am in perill let my persecutors be confounded but not me Thou shalt bring vpon them the time of their plague and shalt destroy them right soone Amen A prayer of Ephraim or Israel in the Prophet Ieremie Ierem. 31. O Lord thou hast chastened me and thy chastening haue I receiued as an vntamed calfe conuert thou me and I shall be conuerted for thou art my Lord God for as soone as thou diddest turne me I repented my selfe and when I vnderstood I smote vpon my thigh I confessed and was ashamed because I suffered the reproach of my youth The prayer of Iesus the sonne of Sirach in necessitie and for wisedome Eccles the last chap. I Thanke thee O Lorde and King and praise thée O God my Sauiour I will yéeld praises vnto thy name Thou hast deliuered my body from destruction for thou art my defender and helper from the snare of the false tongue and from them that are occupied in lyes Thou hast béene my helper from such as rose against me and hast deliuered me according to thy great mercie and thy holy names sake thou hast deliuered mee from the roaring of them that prepared themselues to deuoure me out of the hands of such as sought after my life from the multitude of them that trouble me and went about to set fire vpon me on euerie side so that I was not brent in the middest of the fire From the déepe of hell thou deliueredst mee from the vncleane tongue from lying words from the wicked iudge and from the vnrighteous tongue My soule shall praise the Lord vnto the death for my life drew neere vnto hel downeward they compassed mee round about on euery side and there was no man to helpe mee I looked about mee if there were any man that would succour mee and there was none Then thought I vpon thy mercie O Lord and vpon the acts that thou hast done of olde namely that thou deliuerest such as put their trust in thée and riddest them out of the handes of the false Paynimes Thus lifted I vp my prayer from the earth and prayed for deliuerance from death I called vpon the Lord my Father that hée would not leaue mee without help in the day of my trouble and in the time of the proude I will praise thy name continually yéelding honour and thankes vnto it and so my prayer was heard Thou sauedst me from destruction and deliueredst me from the vnrighteous time Therefore will I acknowledge and praise thee and magnifie the name of the Lord. When I was but young ere euer I went astray I desired wisedome openly in prayer I came therefore before the temple and sought it very busily and I will séeke for it to my last houre Then will it flourish vnto me as a grape that is soone ripe My heart reioyced in it then went my feate the right way yea from my youth vp sought I after it I bowed downe mine eare a little and receiued it I found in myselfe much wisdome and prospered greatly in it Therefore will I giue the glorie vnto him that giueth me wisedome for I am aduised to doe thereafter I will be iealous to cleaue vnto that that is good so shal I not be confounded My soule hath wrestled with it I lifted vp my hands on high then was my soule lightened through wisedome that I acknowledged my foolishnes I ordered my soule after it I found her in cleanenesse I had my heart in it from the beginning and therefore shall not I be forsaken My hart longeth after it and therefore I got a good treasure Through it the Lord hath giuen mee a new tongue werewith I will praise him Oh come vnto me yee vnlearned and dwell in the house of discipline withdraw not your selues from it but commune on these things for your soules are very thirstie I opened my mouth and spake O come and buy wisdome without money and bowe downe your necke vnder her yoke and let your soule receiue discipline it is euen at hand and readie to be found Behold with your eyes how I haue had but little labour and yet haue much rest Oh receiue wisedome and you shall receiue plentie of siluer and golde in your possession let your minde reioyce in her mercie and be not ashamed of her praise worke your worke betimes and shee shall giue you your reward in due time A prayer to our Lord Iesus Christ MOst mercifull Lorde Iesus Christ which wast sent from the most highest tower of the father almightie into this world to relieue sinners to gather together them that were scattered abroade to redeeme them which were punished to loose them that were in prison to their countrie againe to heale them that were sore to comfort them that were wayling and sorrowful Vouchsafe I beseech thée of thy singular goodnes to comfort mee in the punishment that I am in And thou Lord Iesu Christ that diddest restore mankind in peace and concord to the high inheritance of Paradize whom thou boughtest with thy precious bloud and diddest make peace betwéene God men vouchsafe to assure euen thy singular mercie towards me cause me to féele reconciliation betwéene me and mine enemies and vouchsafe to shew thy glorie vpon mee and to quench the anger of them al and put away from me their hatred and cease the malice that they beare against mee and as thou diddest not onelie allaie Esau his malice against his brother Iacob but also diddest deliuer Iacob from the same so asswage the rage of my enemies and deliuer me with thine almightie power from them that owe mee malice and from their laying await and desires as thou diddest deliuer Abraham from the hands of the Chaldées and Ioseph from the hands of his brethren Lot from the citie of Sodome thy seruants Moses and Aaron from the power of Pharao