desolate And why Because the enimie hath gotten the vpper hand and preuailed Zion casteth out hir hands and there is none to comfort hir the Lord hath laid the enimies of Iacob round about him and Ierusalem is as a menstruous woman who for hir pollution is separate from hir husband and is become abhomination in the middest of them The Lord is righteous for I haue rebelled against his commandements prouoked his countenance to anger O heare I praie you and take heede all ye people behold my sorowe and consider my heauinesse my virgins my maidens and my yong men are led awaie prisoners and gone into captiuitie I called for my louers but they deceiued me for my priests and counsellers but they perished and died for hunger in the Citie euen whiles they sought for meate to saue their liues and refresh their soules Behold O Lord and consider how I am troubled my bowels swell my wombe is disquieted my hart turneth about within me and I am full of heauinesse because I rebelled stubbornelie the sword spoileth me abroade as death doth at home They heare my mourning but there is none that will comfort me all mine enimies haue heard of my trouble and are glad thereof because thou hast done it but thou wilt bring forth the daie and time that thou hast pronounced and calledst when they also shall be like vnto me Let all their wickednesse come before thee and do thou vnto them as thou hast done vnto me for all my transgressions and trespasses For my sorowe is verie great my sighes are manie and mine hart is heauie The second lamentation of Zion ALas how hath the Lord darkned the daughter of Zion in his wrath and brought hir from prosperitie to aduersitie How hath he cast the beautie and honour of Israel downe from heauen vnto the earth and giuen hir a most sore fall not remembring his owne footestoole the Temple of Ierusalem in the daie of his wrath when he was angrie The Lord hath cast out and destroied all the habitations of Iacob without anie fauour all the strong places or holdes of the daughter of Iuda hath he broken in his wrath and throwne them downe to the ground and not spared hir kingdome and the princes thereof hath he prophaned and polluted In the wrath of his fierce indignation he hath broken all the horne or power and strength of Israel he hath drawne backe his right hand of succour from before the enimie yea a flame of fire was kindled in Iacob which hath consumed deuoured vp all round about He hath bent his bowe like an enimie his right hand was stretched vp and fastned as an aduersarie and euerie thing that was pleasant to the eie to see he hath slaine he hath powred out his wrath like a fire into the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion The Lord is become as it were an enimie he hath deuoured Israel and consumed all his palaces yea all his strong holds hath he destroied and filled and greatlie increased the daughter of Iuda with much sorrowe and heauinesse lamentation and mourning For he hath destroied his tabernacle as a garden his solemne meetings or congregation hath he put downe yea the Lord hath brought it so to passe that the high solemne feasts and sabboths are cleane forgotten in Zion and hath despised in the heauie displeasure and indignation of his wrath both the king and the priest The Lord hath forsaken his owne altar and hath abhorred his owne Sanctuarie he hath giuen the walles of hir palaces and towers into the hand of the enimies who haue made a noise with blasphemous shoutings and criengs in the house of the Lord as in the daie of solemnitie and feasting when the people were accustomed to praie The Lord hath determined to breake downe the walles of the daughter of Zion he spread out his line and hath not withdrawne his hand from destroieng therefore he maketh the insensible things euen the rampart turrets and walles as it were to take part of the sorowe and to mourne lament because they fell downe and were destroied together Hir gates are sunke downe to the ground hir bars are broken and smitten in sunder hir king and princes are caried awaie to the Gentiles they haue not the lawe neither haue hir Prophets anie vision from the Lord. The Senatours and Elders of the daughter of Zion sit vpon the ground and keepe silence they haue cast vp dust and ashes vpon their heads and girded themselues with sackcloth the virgins or maides of Ierusalem hang downe their heads to the ground Mine eies do faile through weeping and abundance of teares my bowels swell my liuer is powred vpon the earth for the great hurt and destruction of the daughter of my people bicause the children babes and sucklings faint and sowne in the streetes of the Citie They haue said to their mothers Where is bread and drinke when they sowned and fell downe as the wounded in the streetes of the citie and when they gaue vp the ghost and died in their mothers bosome What thing shall I take to witnesse against thee Or what thing shal I liken to thee O daughter Ierusalem Thy calamitie is so euident that it néede no further proofe To whome then shall I compare thee O thou virgin daughter Zion to comfort thee withall For the breach in thy hart is like the breach in a maine sea Who may heale thee Thy false Prophets haue looked out vaine and foolish things for thee and they haue not discouered thine iniquitie or shewed thee of thy wickednesse to turne awaie thine affliction and to keepe thee from captiuitie but they to flatter thée in thy sinnes haue seene or looked out for the false prophesies and causes of banishment and destruction All that passe by the waie clap their hands at thee hissing and wagging their heads vpon the daughter Ierusalem and saie Is this the Citie that men call so faire the perfection of beautie and the ioie of the whole earth Al thine enimies gape vpon thee with open mouths they hisse at thee and grinde their teeth saieng Let vs deuoure it for certainlie this is the daie the time that we looked for is come we haue found and seene it The Lord hath fulfilled the thing that he was purposed to doo and performed his word that he had deuised and determined of old time long ago he hath throwne downe destroied and not spared he hath caused thine aduersarie to reioice and triumph ouer thee and hath set vp the horne or power of thine enimie Their hart cried vnto the Lord O thou wall or citie of the daughter Zion let thy teares run downe like a riuer daie and night take thee no rest neither let the apple of thine eie cease or leaue off wéeping Arise stand vp and crie in the night in the beginning of the watches powre out thy hart like water before the face of the Lord lift vp thine hands towards him for the liues of the
inrollment of their condigne praises and memorable dooings to all posterities but especiallie for that I might hereby as much as in me lieth incourage prouoke and allure all godlie women of our time in some measure according to their seueral gifts giuen them of God to become euen from their youth more studious imitators and diligent folowers of so godlie and rare examples in their vertuous mothers that as they either in sex name or estate are equall with them so in learning wisedome good industrie and in all holie studies and vertuous exercises commendable for women they would dailie endeuour themselues to become like them that so being lightened by their good examples both of life and doctrine they may shine also together with them on earth as burning lampes of verie virginitie and in heauen as bright starres of eternall glorie which God for his owne name sake grant Amen VVhat ceremonie euerie woman ought by Gods word to vse in the time of praier publike or priuate 1. Corinth chapter II verse 4 c. EVerle man praieng or prophesieng hauing anie thing on his head dishonoureth God his head but euerie woman that praieth or prophesieth bare headed dishonoureth hir husband hir head For it is euen one verie thing as though she were shauen Therefore if the woman be not couered let hir also be shorne and if it be a shame for a woman to be shorne or polled as in deed it is then for shame let hir be couered and keepe hir haire trussed vp vnder a kercher For a man ought not to couer his head but ought to be polled and bare for somuch as he is the image and glorie of God in whom his maiestie and power dooth shine concerning his authoritie ouer his wife and other of Gods creatures subiected vnder his dominion and rule But the woman is the glorie of the man or receiueth hir glorie in commendation of man and therefore is subiect for the man is not of the woman but the woman of the man neither was the man created for the womans sake but the woman for the mans sake Therefore ought the woman to haue power on hir head that is some thing to couer hir head in signe of subiection bicause of the angels to whom also they shew their dissolution and shame and not onelie to Christ and his church or congregation where they praie Iudge you in your selues also is it comelie that a woman praie vnto God bare headed Dooth not nature it selfe teach you that if a man haue long haire like a woman it is a shame vnto him but if a woman haue long haire it is a praise vnto hir for hir haire is giuen vnto hir for a couering and to the end she should trusse it vp about hir head to declare that she must couer hir head But if anie man list to be contentious we haue no such custome neither the church of God ¶ The first Lampe of Virginitie conteining the diuine PRAIERS HYMNES or SONGS made by sundrie holie women in the Scripture something explaned in the hardest places for the better vnderstanding and edifieng of the vnlearned Reader and first The praier of Hagar the handmaid of Sarai which she made in hir trouble and banishment wherein she rebuketh hir owne dulnesse and acknowledgeth Gods graces who was present with hir euerie-where Genesis 16 13. THou GOD lookest on me haue I not also looked here after him that seeth me The song of thankesgiuing of Moses which Myriam the Prophetesse and sister of Aaron together with all the women sang vpon Timbrels to the praise of God for the people of Israëls deliuerance out of the hands of Pharao c. Exodus 15 1. SIng ye vnto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriouslie the horse and his rider hath he ouer throwne in the sea The Lord is our strength and praise and he is become our saluation he is our God and we will glorifie him hee is our fathers God and we will exalt him The Lord is a man of war Iehouah is his name in battell he stil ouer commeth is euer mindfull of his promise Pharaos chariots and his host hath hee cast into the sea his chosen captaines also are drowned in the red sea The deepe waters haue couered them they sunke to the bottome as a stone Thy right hand Lord is become glorious in power thy right hand O Lord hath all to dashed the enimie And in thy great glorie thou hast ouerthrowne them that rose vp against thee thou sentest foorth thy wrath which consumed them as the stubble Through the blast of thy nostrils the waters gathered together the fluds stood still as an heape and the deep waters congealed together in the hart or depth of the sea The enimie said I will pursue them I will ouertake them I will diuide the spoile and my lust shall be satisfied vpon them I will drawe my sword mine hand shall destroie them Thou didst blowe with thy winde the sea couered them they sanke as led in the mightie waters Who is like vnto thee O Lord among the gods or mightie men of the world Who is like thee so glorious in holinesse fearefull in praises shewing woonders Thou stretchest out thy right hand the earth swalowed them Thou in thy mercie hast caried this people which thou hast redeemed and deliuered and thou wilt bring them in thy strength vnto thine holie habitation the land of Canaan or Mount Zion The people and nations shall heare and be afraid sorowe shall come vpon the inhabitants of Palestina Then the Dukes of the Edomites shall be amazed and trembling shall come vpon the great and mightiest men of the Moabites all the inhabitants of Canaan shall waxe faint harted Feare and dread shall fall vpon them bicause of the greatnes of thine arme or power they shall be as still as a stone till thy people passe through O Lord till this people passe through which thou hast gotten or purchased Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in the mountaine of thine inheritance which is Mount Zion the place Lord that thou hast made and prepared for to dwell in euen the sanctuarie O Lord which thine hands shall establish The Lord shall reigne for euer and euer For Pharao on horsebacke went with his chariots and horsemen into the sea and the Lord brought the waters of the sea vpon them but the children of Israel went on drieland in the mids of the sea Sing ye therefore vnto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriouslie the horse and him that rode vpon him hath he ouerthrowne in the sea The song or thankesgiuing of Deborah and Barak after the victorie giuen of God by the hands of Iaël against Sisera Iudges 5 2. PRaise ye the Lord for the auenging of Israel and for the people of Zabulon and Nepthali that offred themselues gladly and became so willing to resist their enimies Heare O ye kings harken O ye princes I euen I will sing vnto the Lord I will sing praise
all the daie long He hath filled me with bitternesse and made me dronken with woormewood and with great anguish and sorowe he hath made me loose my senses He hath smitten my teeth in peeces with stones and rolled me in the dust Thus my soule was farre off from peace I forgat prosperitie and all good things And I said My strength and mine hope is perished from the Lord. O remember yet my miserie and my trouble the woormewood and the gall Yea in remembring my soule doth still remember them and is humbled within me I consider these things in my hart and therefore I get hope againe Namelie it is of the Lords mercies that we are not vtterlie consumed for our wickednesse for truelie his pitifull compassions faile not New mercies shall the Lord shew vpon thee earlie in the daie springing euerie morning O Lord great is thy faithfulnesse for we féele thy benefits continuallie The Lord is my portion saith my soule therefore will I hope in him O how good is the Lord vnto them that put their trust in him and to the soule that seeketh after hun The good man with silence and patience doth both trust and waite for the health and saluation of the Lord. It is good for a man to take and beare the yoke vppon him in and from his youth vp He sitteth alone and murmureth not but is patient and holdeth him still and keepeth silence because he hath taken and borne the Lords yoke vpon him He laieth his face vpon the earth and humbleth himselfe waiting with patience if there may happen to be anie hope of succour He offreth his cheeke to the smiter he will be content with reproches For the Lord will not forsake for euer But though he send affliction and punish yet will he haue compassion and according to the multitude of his mercies he receiueth to grace againe For he doth not plague willinglie nor delighteth to afflict the children of men but doth it of necessitie for our amendment To treade all the prisoners of the earth vnder his feete To ouerthrowe the right of a man before the face of the most high To condemne a man in his cause the Lord hath not pleasure in such things What and who is he then that saith And it commeth to passe And the Lord commandeth it not For without his prouidence nothing is done Out of the mouth of the most high proceedeth not euill and good both prosperitie and aduersitie Wherefore then mourneth the liuing man when God afflicteth him Let him mourne and be sorowfull for his owne sinnes for which he suffereth Let vs search and trie and looke well vpon our owne waies and remember our selues and turne againe to the Lord. Let vs without hypocrisie lift vp both our harts and our hands vnto God that is in the heauens and saie We haue sinned and rebelled therefore hast thou not spared Thou hast couered vs in thy wrath and persecuted vs thou hast slaine without anie fauour Thou hast hid thy selfe as in a cloud that our praiers should not passe through Thou hast made vs the offscowring and reffuse in the mids of the people All our enimies haue opened their mouths against vs and gape vpon vs. Feare and snare is come vpon vs yea desolation and destruction Whole riuers of waters gush out of mine eies for the destruction of the daughter of my people Mine eie droppeth without staie and ceaseth not for there is no rest Till the Lord looke downe from heauen consider Mine eies breake mine hart and I am ouercome with wéeping bicause of all the daughters or people of my Citie Mine enimies hunted and chased me sore like a bird yea and that without a cause They haue shut vp my life in a dungeon and cast a stone vpon me The waters flowed ouer mine head then thought I Now I am destroied I called vpon thy name O Lord out of the deepe pit and lowe dungeon Thou hast heard my voice stop not thine eare from my sighings and crieng Thou drewest neere vnto me in the daie when I called vpon thee and hast said Feare not O Lord thou hast maintained the cause of my soule and hast redeemed my life that was in danger O Lord thou hast seene my wrong take thou my cause vpon thee and iudge it Thou hast seene all their vengeance and all their deuises against mee Thou hast hard their reprochfull despitefull words O Lord yea and all their imaginations against me The lips also of those that rise against me and their deuises and whisperings that they take against me all the daie long Behold also their sitting downe and their rising vp how I am now their song Reward them O Lord according to the works of their hands Giue them sorrowe of hart and an obstinate hart euen thy curse to them Persecute them O Lord with thine indignation and root them out and vtterlie destroie them from vnder the heauen The fift lamentation or praier of Zion CAll to remembrance O Lord what is come vpon vs consider and behold our confusion and reproch Our inheritance is turned to the strangers and our houses to the aliens We are vnderlings without fathers and our mothers are as widowes We haue drunken our water for monie and our wood haue we by sale sold vnto vs. Our necks are vnder persecution we are wearie and haue no rest Aforetime we yeelded our selues to the Aegyptians and now we haue submitted our selues to the Assyrians onlie that we might be satisfied haue bread inough Our fathers which now are gone haue sinned and we must beare their wickednesse Seruants haue the rule of vs and no man deliuereth vs out of their hands We must get our liuing with the perill of our liues bicause of the drought of the wildernesse Our skin is made blacke like as an ouen bicause of the trouble famine and verie sore hunger They rauish and defile the wiues in Zion and the maidens in the citie of Iudea The princes are hanged vp by their enimies hand they haue not honoured the old sage mens faces They haue taken the yoong men for slaues to grind and the boies fainted vnder the burden of wood not able to abide it The elders haue ceased from the gates so that there were no more lawes nor forme of Commonwealth and the yoong men from their songs The ioie of our hart is gone our danse and melodious meeting is turned into mourning The garland or crowne of our head is fallen Wo now vnto vs and alas that euer we sinned Therfore our hart is full of heauinesse and for these things our eies are dimme with wéeping Bicause of the hill or mountaine of Zion which is destroied and desolate insomuch that the foxes runne vpon it But thou O Lord remainest for euer and thy seate throne from generation to generation world without end and therefore thy couenant and mercies can neuer faile Wherefore dost thou forget vs for euer and forsake vs so long time
shall not perish but haue euerlasting life Haue mercie vpon me haue mercie vpon me according to thy great mercie And according to the multitude of thy mercies put awaie mine offences O God most holie wash me from my wickednesse and make me cleane from mine vncleannesse For I acknowledge O Lord my heinous sinnes and accuse my selfe of mine vnrighteous deeds I confesse against my selfe the wickednesse of mine hart which hath beene euer vnfaithfull and rebelling against thy precepts I haue beene an vntrue and froward child to thee and haue prouoked thee with my vanities O holie Father I haue offended thy diuine Maiestie and am not woorthie to be called thy child Bicause I prouoked thee to anger through the multitude of my sinnes and haue not exercised my selfe in thy righteous lawes I haue turned backe from thy waies and done euill before thee I haue done wickedlie and vniustlie behaued my selfe leauing thy commandements and murmuring against thy correction I haue turned my selfe awaie and not kept my promise made vnto thee I haue walked in an euill waie after mine owne thoughts and fantasies choosing the things that thou wouldest not O Lord God almightie I haue not feared thee nor shewed due reuerence vnto thee but I haue beene disobedient and stubborne vnto thee As a common harlot is without shame euen so am I without shame of my sinnes for behold I speake vnto thee and yet I sinne more and more I haue left that which is good and gone backe from thee and I haue not put my trust and hope in thee my maker but haue sought for helpe and safegard otherwise I haue ploughed wickednesse and reaped iniquitie and eaten the fruit of lies bicause I haue trusted in mine owne waie I haue cast thy lawes behind my backe not regarding thy commandements nor leauing mine owne lewd customs I haue not giuen my hart to returne to thy paths for I would not knowe thee but haue fallen through mine iniquitie I neuer vnto this daie turned trulie vnto thee with all my hart but as a woman that breakech hir fidelitie and promise vnto hir husband euen so O LORD God I haue broken my promise vnto thee For I haue liued abhominablie and haue had no remorse nor repentance for my euill deeds but haue run from sinne to sinne following the lewd desires of my hart Thou knowest all things O Lord how I haue prouoked thee to displeasure by my lewd inuentions and none of all my sinnes be hid from thee I hated thy discipline and correction and regarded not thy words and saiengs I haue not done penance for my malice but haue increased in much vanitie Mine hart hath beene void of truth and my hands haue wrought vnrighteousnesse My tongue hath spoken sinfullie and I haue laboured with the imaginations of mine hart to find out lies and deceits and no truth hath beene in my waies I haue accustomed my tongue to speake trifles and vanities fulfilling my fleshlie desires and thoughts my purposes and inuentions haue beene contrarie to thy will whereby I haue offended the eies of thy Maiestie Thou hast seene all these things O Lord and hast holden thy peace and yet they were euill in thy sight and displeased thee In thine anger thou hast cast me awaie and art diuided from me now manie daies Thou hast giuen me vp to the desires of my hart to doo the things which be not seeming Wo I am that I haue gone from thee great is my miserie that I haue led my life in sinne Wo is me that I haue forsaken thee to doo my deuises not after thy mind to accomplish my thoughts which haue not proceeded of thy spirit but haue heaped vp sinne vpon sinne Mine infamie and reproch is dailie before mine eies and for shame I dare not shew my face And now O Lord God why forgettest thou mee Why keepest thou awaie so long thy mercie from me Heare now my cause gratiouslie although thou hast beene displeased with me a great while for thou art mercifull be not angrie alwaies I beseech thee Cast not awaie a contrite and penitent person a wretch and an abiect which humblie calleth vpon thy name Turne againe a little toward me O Lord God and forgiue me my mischieuous deeds Order me not according to my sinnes nor punish me as my wickednesse deserueth Shew not foorth thy power against a poore wretch persecute hir not so sore which is without all strength Turne not thy face awaie from my praiers but according to thy promise take me againe vnto thy fauour For I am thine O righteous Father whom thine onlie deere Sonne hath redeemed with his pretious bloud And now my soule abhorreth mine old conuersation and of thee which art iudge of all men I aske mercie I doo submit my selfe vnto thy mightie hand for after thine anger thou shewest mercie and in the time of tribulation thou dooest forgiue sinnes I acknowledge that I am a sinner beseeching thee Lord God almightie of thy goodnesse to doo with mee according to thy great mercie I am confounded and ashamed to lift vp mine eies vnto thee for my sinnes are ascended vp vnto thy sight Against thee O Father against thee haue I sinned and done euill before thee thou seest that mine iniquitie is great Trulie I haue beene an offender against thee euen from my cradle and since I sucked my mothers brests I haue not ceased to doo euill Behold I was begotten in iniquitie and my mother brought me into this world defiled with sinne For the corne of an euill seed is sowne in mine hart and how much wickednesse hath sproong thereof vnto this daie thou knowest O Lord. I can not shake off my sinnes and offences but I carie still with me the infamie of my youth Behold Lord I am sold vnder sinne and in my flesh I find not that which is good For the good that I would that doo I not but the euill that I hate that I doo All the thoughts and imaginations of mine hart haue beene set to doo euill euer since I was yoong O why doo I die in my sinnes Lord God seeing thy will is not that a sinner die but returne from his sin and liue For thou art good and mercifull and according to thy great mercie sauest them that be vnwoorthie For albeit no man is able to beare the punishment which thou doost threaten against sinners yet the mercie which thou hast promised is great and vnsearchable Thou hast shewed mercie a thousand times heretofore to make the same glorious as it is euen yet still The old fathers in their necessities cried vnto thee and thou diddest deliuer them they put their trust in thee and they were not confounded When they were at their wits end and wist not what to doo this was their onelie refuge to lift vp their eies to thee Thou didst saue them for thy name sake to shew in them thy might and strength Manie a time they prouoked thee through their iniquities and
precepts and examples meet for meditation instruction and imitation to all posteritie And now in most dutifull maner commending and appropriating so diuine exercises of the church vnto your Maiestie the most naturall mother and noble nursse thereof the cause of a virgine to a Virgine the works of Queenes to a Queene your owne praiers to your selfe to whom indeed the particular interest and due praise and honour thereof iustlie belongeth I here prostrate on my knees in most humble maner meekelie beseech your excellent Maiestie gratiouslie of your woonted clemencie to pardon and forgiue this my too rash and bold enterprise attempted both with bashfulnesse feare and trembling and fauourablie as in like cases you are accustomed to accept these your liege subiect his great labors and painfull trauels in good part which he not to instruct your Highnesse of whose notable learning I am not able to speake but onelie for a monument of the hartie loue he beareth both to the church his deere mother and to your Maiestie his dread Souereigne hath in a godlie zeale and conscience bestowed to the good and profit of his countrie That by your Graces good liking and princelie approbation they may be both patronized against the wicked and practised of the godlie And so manie by that means with due reuerence and great honour to so honourable works may receiue these lamps as from your bountifull hand to inlighten them by your good industrie in all vertue and to prepare them by your holie example like wise virgins to perseuerance in all good works of the spirit And that therein manie may often looke and labour mightilie for your Highnesse as they are bound in feruent praier and manie mo thanks I saie be giuen of manie faithfull harts on your Maiesties behalfe for the benefit of such and so manie needfull and readie helps ministred and afoorded by your painfull hand and princelie affabilitie to your euerlasting comfort and renowme the praise of God and glorie of his deerest sonne Iesus Christ your sweet spouse Whom now for a conclusion as I began I most entirelie beseech that as of his owne good will he first loued his church my deere mother and gaue himselfe freelie for hir to sanctifie and clense hir in the most holie fountaine of water through the word to make hir vnto himselfe a beautifull virgine and glorious spouse without spot or wrinkle that she should be holie pure perfect and without blame before him so he will vouchsafe in like mercie still both to cherish defend and maintaine the same in his continuall grace religion and holinesse that she may yet bring foorth more fruit in hir age and members to his glorie and also as your spirituall spouse to set your Maiestie a most woorthie and mightie gouernor of the same euer as a seale vpon his hart to tie you fast as a signet or bracelet vpon his arme to beare you still in his owne bosome to set his eie ouer you continuallie for your health wealth and prosperitie to bend his desires alwaies towards you to doo you good that so your Highnesse may be kept in his continuall grace peace and fauour long to reigne ouer vs and also defended and preserued euermore from all bodilie and ghostlie perils and enimies to your euerlasting comfort and the reioice of all christian harts Finallie the Lord blesse your Maiestie euen out of Sion with all his heauenlie gifts and spirituall graces that hauing the principall heroicall spirit of your holie father good king Dauid doubled yea trebled in your noble and princelie hart you may as in numbers of yeeres beyond manie ages so in singular pietie and godlines far surmount excell your most noble progenitors that the remembrance of you our good Iosias may to all posterities be like the composition of the most pretious perfume of the Apothecarie and as sweet as honie in all mouthes and as harmonicall musicke at a banket of wine that in you our zealous Hezechias I saie we may still remaine in happie peace and haue an hiding place from the wind and a refuge from storms and tempests and riuers of waters to quench our thirst and temperate shadowes to shrowd vs from parching heate in a drie land so shall the harts of manie thousand virgins in England and else-where be ioifull and thankfull to God and your Maiestie so shall the daughters of Ierusalem sing ioifullie the sweet songs of Sion in their owne land with great triumph to their celestial King reigning on high ouer all yea so shal all your faithfull and louing subiects I saie in all humble obedience and dutifull seruice both towards God your Maiestie and their countrie resound by all possible meanes to all posterities your most excellent and woorthie praises vntill the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be all empire honor dominion and praise now and for euer Amen Your Maiesties humble faithfull and obedient subiect THOMAS BENTLEY Lampas Virginitatis ECce tibi lucet Princeps clarissima lampas In tenebris gressus dirigat illa tuos Siquaeris librum cur lampada virginis istum Inscribam causas dico fuisse duas Vna est quòd talem praefert ecclesia lucem Expectans sponsum virgo pudica suum Altera quòd manibus virgo reginea librum Sumit cuiverae lampadis instar erit Dum Domino litat sacris indicit honorem Nuncupat Christo vota secunda suo Anna sibi lucem sibi Debora praetulit istam Inque suis Princeps ELIZABETHA malis Sic didicit lenire suas sic fallere curas Praesentémque sui poscere regis opem Quem non plena sacris placant altaria donis Non oblatorum corpora caesaboum Ille Deus Deus ille humili libamine vocum Irae deponit iusta flagella suae Illecebras carnis vincunt mundique furores Et sathanae faciunt fulmen inane preces Afflictis illae praestant solatia rebus Illis caelestes effodiuntur opes Hoc oleo plenam Domino qui lampada praebet Ille sacrificio nobiliore litat To the Christian Reader grace and truth in Christ HAuing my selfe taken no small comfort good Christian Reader by the reading and pervsing of diuers verie godlie learned and duiine treatises of meditations and praier made by sundrie right famous Queenes noble Ladies vertuous Virgins and godlie Gentlewomen of al ages who to shew themselues woorthie paternes of all pietie godlinesse and religion to their sex and for the common benefit of their countrie haue not ceased and that with all carefull industrie and earnest indeuour most painfullie and diligentlie in great feruencie of the spirit and zeale of the truth euen from their tender maidenlie yeeres to spend their time their wits their substance and also their bodies in the studies of noble and approoued sciences and in compiling and translating of sundrie most christian and godlie bookes a tast whereof you haue here in the second Lampe as
them among princes and to make them inherit the seate of glorie for the pillers of the earth are the Lords and he hath set the world vpon them therefore he may dispose all things at his pleasure and prefer whom he will to honour He will keepe the feete of his Saints so that they shall neither walke nor fall into any euill the wicked shall keepe silence in darkenesse for in his owne might shall no man be strong The Lords aduersaries shall be destoried and out of heauen shall he thunder vpon them y e Lord shall iudge the ends of the world and shall giue power vnto his king Iesus exalt the horne of Christ his annointed The song of the women of Israël in the praise of Dauids victorie ouer Goliah 1. Samuel 18 7. SAule hath slaine his thousand and Dauid his ten thousand The praier or wish of Abigaël for king Dauid against his enimies 1. Samuel 25 24 OH my Lord I haue committed the iniquitie and I praie thee let thine handmaid speake vnto thee and heare thou the words of thine handmaid Let not my Lord I praie thee regard this wicked man Nabal for as his name is so is he Nabal is his name and follie is with him but I thine handmaid sawe not the yoong men of my Lord whome thou sentest Now therefore my Lord as the Lord liueth as thy soule liueth the Lord I say that hath withholden thee from comming to shed blood and that thine hand should not saue thee nor reuenge thée on thine enimies So now I pray God that thine enimies and they that intend to doo my Lord euill may be as Nabal and I praie thee forget the trespasse of thine handmaid c. The song of Sion or the familiar talke and mysticall communication or diuine dialogue of the speciall loue betwene the spirituall bridegrome Iesus Christ and the bride the faithful soule his sanctified chaste and holie spouse the Church commonlie called The Song of songs or Ballat of ballats made by king Salomon Cantic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. The Church or faithfull soule speaketh to Christ O That thou wouldest kisse me with the kisses of thy mouth euen with thy peace which passeth all vnderstanding for thy loue O Christ is better and more pleasant vnto me than wine and that bicause of the good and pleasant sauour of thy most pretious balmes or ointments euen of thy great benefits which I taste and féele from thée Thy name O Christ is as a sweet smelling ointment when it is powred out and shed foorth thy mercie is set foorth and published by preaching thy Gospell therefore the Uirgins euen they that are pure in hart and conuersation doo loue thee Drawe thou me O swéete Christ vnto thee and wee will run after thee for otherwise I confesse we can not come to thée except we be drawne of thée The King hath brought me into his priuie chambers and reuealed vnto me the secret ioies not knowne to the world we will therefore be glad and reioice in thee yea wee thinke more of thy loue than of wine For they that be righteous loue thee aboue all things I am blacke I confesse through the spots of sinne persecution and troubles O ye daughters of Ierusalem but yet comelie faire and welfauoured through faith in the blood of Christ in whose fauour I haue confidence and trust as the fruites or tents of the Kedarens or Arabians and as the hangings or curtens of Salomon which within were all set with pretious stones and iewels Maruell not therfore at me bicause I am so blacke nor regard or consider me by the outward apperance for why the sunne euen the corruption of nature through sinne and affliction hath looked and shined vpon me Yea and my mothers children euen mine owne brethren which should haue most fauoured me were angrie against me and hauing euill will at mee they made me the keeper of the vineyards but mine owne vineyard haue I not kept such alas hath béene mine owne negligence Therefore féeling my faults and imperfections I flie now vnto thée O Christ my spirituall husband onlie for succour beséeching thée and saieng Tell me O thou whom my soule loueth where thou feedest the sheepe O shew me I saie where thou liest and makest them rest at the noon day for why should I be like hir that turneth aside or goeth wrong about the flocks of thy companions whome thou hast called to the dignitie of pastors in thy Church and yet they like apostataes not onelie set foorth their owne false dreames and traditions in stéed of thy true doctrine but also are become the domesticall enimies that persecute the Church Christ speaketh to his Church or the faithfull soule O Thou the fairest among women if thou knowe not thy selfe but art ignorant in my waies then go thy way foorth after the footsteps of the flock of sheepe euen after the doctrine of the Apostles and feede thy goates and kids by the tents of the shepheards and learne of the true pastors and spirituall doctors I haue compared thee O my loue vnto the troupe of horses in the chariots of Pharao bicause that for thy spirituall beautie and excellencie there was no worldlie treasure to be compared vnto thée Thy cheekes and thy neck are beautifull as the turtles and behanged with spangles chaines and goodly iewels a neckband also imbrodered with gold and studs or buttons of siluer will I make thee The Church WHen the King sitteth at the table and is at his repast hee shall smell my Nardus or spikenard for I reioice that I am admitted to the companie of my husband Christ yea my welbeloued is as a bundle of Mirrh vnto mee and he shall lie betwixt my brests for he is most déere vnto me my welbeloued I saie is as a cluster of Camphire vnto me in the vineyards of Engedi wherfore so long as I followe my Christ I can not erre from the true faith of saluation CHRIST O How faire art thou my loue Oh how faire art thou Thine eies are like the dooues eies behold most acceptable art thou vnto me and I commend thy beautie The Church OH how faire art thou also my beloued How welfauoured and pleasant art thou Our bed euen the hart of the faithfull where thou O Christ dwellest by thy spirit is all greene bedecked with flowers the beames or seelings of our house are of Cedar trees and our crosse ioints of Cipresse I am the rose of the field and the lillie of the vallies CHRIST YEa like as the lillie among the thornes so is my loue among the daughters for my Church is to be preferred before aboue all other things yea so am I also among mine enimies The Church LIke as the apple tree among the trees of the forest so is my welbeloued among the sonnes of men I can not but testifie my loue and great desire towards him for my delight is to sit and rest vnder his
coales thereof are fierie coales and a verie vehement flame of the Lord so that manie waters are not able to quench loue neither may the streames of fluds drowne it yea if a man would giue all the substance of his house for loue he should count it nothing but would greatlie contemne it We haue a little sister namelie the Church of the Gentils she is but yoong and hath no breasts but wanteth both the old and new testament What shall we doo for our sister when she shall be spoken for If she be sure and firme as a wall we will build vpon hir a siluer palace and if she be a doore we will keepe or fasten hir with boords of Cedar trees If the Church be sure and fast she is méete for the husband to dwell in and we the Apostles will preach to them that are called inwardlie of God to saluation Yea I am a wall and my breasts are as towers For I doo promise fidelitie constancie vnto my spouse Christ Then was I as one that hath found fauor and peace in his sight Salomon the Lord Christ hath a vineyard at Baal-hamon and this vineyardlet he out vnto kepers that euerie one for the fruit therof should giue him a thousand peeces of siluer But my vineyard which is mine is in my sight before me to thee O Christ the spirituall Salomon apperteine a thousand peeces of siluer and two thousand to them that keepe the fruit thereof euen the greatest profit which is life euerlasting obteined by the grace of God and not by our merits O thou that dwellest in the gardens thy Church where thy companions or faithfull ones hearken vnto thy voice O let me heare it also that my companions may hearken vnto the same O my welbeloued Christ if thou flie awaie and depart from vs thy faithfull ones for a while yet we beseech thee be like vnto the Roe or as the yong Hart vpon the sweet smelling mountaines of spices and make haste we praie chae to come againe and helpe vs in our troubles Amen The foure lamentations of the daughter of Zion the Church wherin with weeping sighing howling and with an heauie and wofull hart she sorowfullie bewaileth hir miserable estate being plagued of God and forsaken of hir spouse Christ for his sinnes vnfaithfulnesse and rebellion Lament 1. The first Lamentation ALas how doth the citie Jerusalem remaine so solitarie and desolate that sometime was full of people How is she become like a widowe How is she brought vnder tribute that was great among the nations ruled the lands and prouinces as princesse She weepeth sore continuallie in the night and the teares run downe by hir cheekes so that shée taketh no rest For among all hir louers she hath none to comfort hir yea all hir next friends trangresse against hir and haue dealt vnfaithfullie with hir and are become hir enimies Iuda is caried away captiue bicause of hir crueltie affliction and great bondage or seruitude and oppression of their seruants and the poore she dwelleth now among the heathen and findeth no rest all hir persecutours tooke hir in the strait places where shee could not escape The waies and streets of Zion mourne and lament bicause no man commeth anie more with mirth and ioie as they were woont to the solemne feasts all hir gates are desolate hir priests sigh and make lamentation hir virgins are discomfited hir maides are carefull and she hir selfe is in great heauinesse Hir aduersaries are the chiefe rulers ouer hir and hir enimies prosper For the Lord hath chastened and afflicted hir for hir great wickednesse and hir children are gone into captiuitie before the enimie for the multitude of hir transgressions And from the daughter of Zion all hir beautie is gone and departed hir princes are become like harts that finde no pasture euen as men pined awaie with sorowe and haue no courage and they are driuen awaie and gone without strength before the enimie and pursuer so that they haue no more power Now Ierusalem remembred in the time of hir miserie and affliction bare estate and rebellion all hir toie and pleasure that she hath had in times past seeing hir people is brought downe vnder the power of the enimie and there is no man for the helpe hir The enimies stand looking at hir and laugh and mocke hir Sabboth daies that is hir Religion and seruing of God to scorne Ierusalem hath greeuouslie sinned therefore is she come in decaie and had in derision all they that had hir in honour now despise hir because they haue seene hir filthinesse yea she sigheth and turneth backward as she that is ashamed of hir selfe Hir filthinesse is in hir skirts and manifest yet she was not ashamed of hir sinne nor remembred hir last end therefore is hir downe-fall so woonderfull and there is no man to comfort hir O Lord behold mine affliction and consider my trouble for mine enimie hath the vpper hand and hath proudlie magnified himselfe The enimie hath put his hand to all the pretious things that she had yea euen before hir eies came the heathen and entred in and out of hir Sanctuarie whome thou neuerthelesse didst command and forbid to come within thy Church and congregation All hir people sigh and seeke their bread with heauinesse and looke what pretious or pleasant thing euerie man hath that giueth he for meate to saue his life and refresh his soule Consider O Lord and see how vile I am become Haue ye no regard to pitie me all yee that passe by this waie Behold and see if there be anie sorowe like vnto mine wherewith the Lord hath afflicted or troubled me in the day of his fierce and fearefull wrath and learnc to beware by mine example From aboue hath he euen GOD sent downe a fire into my bones which preuaileth and burneth them cruellie he hath spred or laid a net for my feete turned me backe and throwne me wide open he hath made me desolate so that I am dailie in heauines and must euer be mourning The yoke of my transgressions is bound fast to God his hand they are wrapped or wreathen and come vp vpon my necke so that by no meanes it can be shaken off or remitted but onlie of his speciall grace and mercie He hath made my strength to faile the Lord hath deliuered me into their hands neither am I able to rise vp and quit my selfe from them that haue me in bondage The Lord hath troden vnder foote and destroied all my valiant and mightie men that were in the middes of me he hath proclauned an appointed time and called an assemblie to slaughter and destroie all my best yoong men The Lord hath troden downe the virgin the daughter of Iuda like as it were grapes in a wine-presse Therefore do I weepe and mine eies euen mine eies gush out with water because the comforter that should quicken me and refresh my soule is far from me My children are driuen awaie and
yong children that faint and die for hunger in the corners of all the streets Behold O Lord and consider to whome thou hast done thus Shall y e women then eate their own fruit euen their children of a span long Shal the Priest and the Prophet be slaine in the Sanctuarie of the Lord The yong the old lie on the ground in the streetes my virgins and my yong men are slaine and fallen with the sword thou hast slaine them and put them to death in the daie of thy wrathfull indignation yea euen thou hast killed them and not spared My terrours euen mine enimies whom I feared that are round about me hast thou called as it were to a feast-daie so that in the daie of the Lords wrath none escaped neither was anie left behinde those that I haue nourished and brought vp hath mine enimie destroied and consumed The third lamentation of Zion HOw is the gold or the princes become so dimme the most fine gold so changed How are the stones of the Sanctuarie or the priests so scattered in the corner of euerie streete The noble men of Zion that were alwaie in honour and cloathed with the most pretious gold how are they esteemed and now become like the earthen vessels the worke of the potters hand of small estimation and without anie honour The Dragons though they be cruell yet for pitie drawe out their breasts and giue sucke to nourish their yong ones but the daughter of my people is become cruell and the women forsake their children like the Estriches in the wildernes which forsake both egge and bird The tongs of the sucking children cleaue to the roofe of their mouths for verie thirst the yong children aske bread but there is no man that giueth it them They that were woont to fare delicatelie perish in the streets they that afore were brought vp in purple and scarlet now make much of doong For the iniquitie of the daughter of my people is beecome greater than the wickednesse of zodome that suddenlie was destroied and not taken with hands nor anie camps pitched against hir Hir Nazarites or absteiners were purer than the snowe and whiter than the milke their colour in bodie was fresh red as corall and their beautie like the polished Saphyr so greatly were they once in Gods fauour But now their faces be verie blacke as a cole in so much that none can knowe them in the streetes their skinne cleaueth to their bones it is withered and become like a drie stocke and they are in greatest abhomination vnto him They that be slaine with the sword are happier than they that are killed or die with hunger For they fade and pine awaie as they were striken through for the lacke of the fruits of the field and foode The women which of nature are pitifull haue sodden their owne children with their hands that they might be their meate in the miserable destruction of the daughter of my people The Lord hath performed his heauie wrath he hath powred out the furiousnesse of his wrathfull displeasure he hath kindled a fire in Zion which hath consumed the foundations thereof Neither the kings of the earth nor all the inhabitors of the world would haue beleeued that the enimie and aduersarie should haue entred and come into the gates of Ierusalem Which neuerthelesse contrarie to all mens expectation is come to passe for the sinnes of hir Prophets and the iniquities of hir Priests that haue shed the bloud of the iust and innocent in the midst of hir As blind men went they stumbling in the streets and stained or polluted themselues with bloud so that the heathen would not touch their garments But they cried vnto them Depart and flee ye polluted Awaie get you hence touch not those priests for they are vncleane and be remoued Therfore they fled awaie and wandered yea they haue said among the heathen They shall no more dwell there The anger wrath countenance of the Lord hath scattered them and shall neuer looke more vpon them nor regard them For they themselues neither regarded nor reuerenced the face of the priests nor had compassion or pitie of their Elders Wherefore our eies failed whiles we yet looked for our vaine helpe of man For in our waiting we haue looked for the Aegyptians a nation people that could doo vs no good nor saue vs. They hunt our steps and lay so sharpe wait for vs that we can not go safe in the streets our end is neere at hand our daies are fulfilled for our end is come Our persecutors are swifter than the Eagles of the aire they pursued followed vpon vs ouer the mountaines and laid wait for vs in the wildernesse The verie breath of our nostrels euen Iosias the king and the annointed of the Lord himselfe in whome stood our hope of Gods fauour and on whome depended our state and life was taken in their nets and slaine of whome we said Under his shadowe we shall be preserued aliue among the heathen And thou O daughter Edom that dwellest in the land of Huz go to be glad and reioice at our destruction and fall yet be thou sure thou shalt not escape For the cup of Gods wrath shall passe through and come vnto thee also thou shalt be dronken and discouer thy nakednesse and vomit vp thine owne shame Be of good comfort therefore O thou daughter Zion thy sinnes are fullie punished and thy punishment accomplished For after seuentie yeres thy sorowes shal haue an end He will no more carie thee awaie into captiuitie but thy wickednesse O daughter Edom shall he visit and will discouer thy sins so that the wicked shall be tormented for euer The fourth lamentation or complaint of Zion I Am she that through the rod of his wrath haue experience of miserie He droue me foorth and led me yea into darkenesse but not into light Surelie against me is he turned he turneth his hand dailie against me My flesh and my skinne hath he made to waxe old and my bones hath he brused and broken He hath builded against me and closed me in with gall and trauell He hath set me in darke places as they that be dead for euer He hath hedged me in that I can not get out and he hath laid heauie linkes and chaines vpon me Also though I crie and call pitiouslie yet heareth he not my praier He hath stopped vp my waies with hewen or squared stones and made my paths crooked He laieth waite for me like a Beare and as a Lion in a hole or secret places He hath stopped vp my waies and broken me in peeces he hath laid me waste and made me desolate He hath bent his bowe and made me a marke to shoote at with the arrowe The arrowes of his quiuer I saie hath he shot at me and they are entred euen into my reines I am laughed to scorne and had in derision of all my people and they make songs or ballets vpon me
Turne thou vs vnto thee O Lord and so we shall be turned renew our daies as in old times But thou hast vtterlie banished and reiected vs and thou art exceedinglie angrie and displeased against vs. The praier and thankesgiuing of Sarra Tobits wife which in hir virginitie with fasting and weeping for the space of three daies and three nights she made to be deliuered from the shame and reproch wherewith hir fathers maids vpbraided hir Tobit 3 11. BLessed art thou O Lord my God and thine holie and glorious name is blessed and honourable for euer Let all thy works praise thee for euer O God of our fathers which when thou art wroth shewest mercie and in the time of trouble thou forgiuest the sinnes of them that call vpon thee Unto thee O Lord turne I now my face vnto thee lift I vp mine eies and saie I beseech thee O Lord loose me out of the bonds of this rebuke or else take me vtterlie awaie from out of the earth that I may heare no more anie reproch Thou knowest O Lord minc innocencie that I neuer had desire vnto man and that I haue kept my soule cleane from all vncleanlie lusts Thou knowest O Lord I say that I am pure from all sinne with man and that I haue neuer polluted my name nor the name of my father in the land of my captiuitie I haue not kept companie with those that passe their time in sport neither haue I made my selfe partaker with them that walke in light behauiour I am the onelie daughter of my father neither hath he anie man child to be his heire neither anie neere kinsman or child borne of him to whom I may keepe my selfe for a wife An husband haue I consented to take not for my pleasure but in thy feare and my seuen husbands are now dead one after another and why should I liue to endure so great reproch as to be counted a murtherer of my husbands Now peraduenture either I haue beene vnwoorthie of them or else were they vnmeete for me But if it please not thee that I should die as I desire for thou happilie hast kept me to another husband command then to looke on me to pitie me that I doo no more heare reproch For why thy counsell is not in the power of man but euerie one that serueth thee is sure of this that if his life be in trieng he shall be crowned and if he be in trouble that God no doubt shall deliuer him if his life be in chastening that he shall haue leaue to come vnto thy mercie For thou hast no pleasure in our damnation And why After a storme thou makest the weather faire and still after weeping and heauinesse thou giuest great ioie Thy name O God of Israel be praised for euer Amen And at the same time were hir praiers heard before the maiestie of the great God The praier of Iudith which she made with fasting and teares for the deliuerance of hir people the Bethulians out of the hands of Holophernes and the Assyrians host that besieged their citie Iudith 9 2. O Lord God of my father Simeon which gauest him a sword for a defence against the enimies and to take vengeance of the strangers which vsed violence in their vncleannesse and opened the wombe of the maid Dinah and defiled hir that rauished the virgine and discouered the thigh with shame and polluted the wombe to hir reproch confusion For thou hadst commanded that it should not so be yet they the Sichemites I meane did things for the which thou gauest their princes to the slaughter For they were deceiued and washed their beds with bloud And hast striken the seruants with the gouernors the gouernors vpon their thrones Thou that gauest their wiues for a praie and their daughters to be captiues and all their spoiles for a bootie vnto thy children and seruants the Israelites that thou louedst which were mooued with thy zeale and abhorred the pollution of their bloud and called vpon thee for aid O God O Lord my God heare me also a widowe and helpe mee I beseech thee For thou hast wrought the things afore and these and the things that shall be after and thou considerest the things that are present and the things that are to come For the things which thou dost purpose are present and saie Behold we are heere and looke what thou hast taken in hand and deuised it came euer to passe For all thy waies are readie prepared and thy iudgements are put in thine euerlasting foreknowledge O looke now vpon the armies of the Assyrians like as it was thy pleasure sometime to looke vpon the host of the Aegyptians when they being weaponed persecuted thy seruants and put their trust in their chariots horsemen and in the multitude of their men of war but thou lookedst vpon their host casting a thicke darknes before them And when they came into the deepe the waters ouerwhelmed them euen so Lord behold and let it go with those Assyrians which are multiplied by their power and haue exalted themselues with horses horsemen which glory in the strength of their footmen that trust in shield speare and bowe and do not knowe that thou only art the Lord our God which breakest the battels and destroiest the wars from the beginning The Lord is thy name and it apperteineth vnto thee to be called Lord. O lift vp thine arme now like as euer from the beginning and breake thou their strength by thy power cause their force to fall by thy wrath For they haue purposed yea and make their vaunt and boast to vnhalowe and defile thy sanctuarie to pollute the tabernacle where thy glorious name resteth and to waste spoile and cast downe with sword and weapons the horns of thine altar Behold their pride and bring to passe O Lord that the blasphemie of this enimie Holophernes may be cut downe with his owne sword and send thy wrath vpon their heads Giue into mine hand which am a widowe the strength that I haue conceiued that he may be taken with the snare of his eies in me and that thou maiest smite him with the lips of my loue Smite I saie by the deceit of my lips the seruant with the prince and the prince with the seruant O giue me a stedfast mind that I may despise him and his strength and that I may destroie him This shall bring thy name an euerlasting remembrance if thou abate his strength and ouerthrowe him by the hand of a woman For thy power O Lord standeth not in the multitude of men nor thy might in strong men neither hast thou anie pleasure in the strength of horses neither was there from the beginning anie proud persons that pleased thee But in the praier of the humble and meeke hath thy pleasure beene euermore Thou I saie O Lord art the helpe of the humble and little ones the defender of the weake and the protector of them that are
propertie thereof is to wash doth signifie the washing of our soules which is done for vs through the bloud of Iesus Christ in the forgiuenes of our sins The water also is put vpon the head in signe of death neuerthelesse in that it is done but for a little time it is a figure of our resurrection The Supper was instituted of our Lord to assure vs that by the communion of his bodie of his bloud our soules are nourished in hope of life euerlasting The bread and the wine signifie vnto vs the bodie bloud of Iesus Christ which haue the same propertie towards our soules that the bread and wine haue towards our bodies namelie to nourish strengthen The right vse of cōmunicating at y e supper is chieflie a man to proue himselfe whether he haue true faith with repentance charitie towards his neighbours FINIS D. M. A godlie exhortation to mortification of our sinfull affections and to holinèsse of life written by a vertuous Gentlewoman IF yee liue after the flesh you shall die but if ye through the spirit doo mortifie the deeds of the bodie ye shall liue For as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sonnes of God Rom. 8. This also we knowe the season that we should now awake out of sleepe For now is our saluation neere the night is passed the daie is come nie let vs put on the armor of light let vs walke honestlie as it were in the day light not in eating and drinking neither in chambering and wantonnesse neither in strife and enuieng but put yee on the Lord Iesus Christ and make no prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it Rom. 13. The reward of sinne is death but eternall life is the gift of God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6. Deerlie beloued abstaine from fleshlie lusts which fight against the soule and see that ye haue honest conuersation among the Gentils that wheras they backbite you as euill dooers they may see your good works and glorifie God in the daie of visitation 1. Peter 2. I saie walke in the spirit and fulfill not the lusts of the flesh For the flesh lusteth contrarie to the spirit and the spirit contrarie to the flesh These are contrarie one to the other so that ye can not doo whatsoeuer ye would but and if ye be led of the spirit then are ye not vnder the lawe The deeds of the flesh are manifest which are these adulterie fornication vncleannesse wantonnes worshipping of images witchcraft hatred variance zeale wrath strife seditions sects enuieng murther dronkennesse gluttonie such like Of the which I tell yee before as I haue told you in times past that they which commit such things shall not be inheritours of the kingdome of God They trulie that are Christs haue crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof Galat. 5. Let no filthie communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to edifie withall as oft as neede is that it may minister grace vnto the hearers and grieue not the holie spirit of God Phil. 4. Followe not thy lusts but turne thee frō thine owne will For if thou giuest thy soule hir desires it shall make thine enimies to laugh thee to scorne Sirac 18. An adulterous woman shall be troden vnder foot as mire of euerie one that goeth by the waie Sirac 9. Ye adulterers and women that breake matrimonie knowe ye not how that the friendship of the world is enimitie to God-ward Whosoeuer will be a friend of the world is made enimie of God Submit your selues to God and resist the diuell and he will flie from you drawe nie to God and he will drawe nie to you Clense your hands ye sinners and purge your harts ye wauering minded suffer afflictions sorrowe ye and weepe let your laughter be turned to mourning and your ioie to heauinesse Cast downe your selues before the Lord and he shall lift you vp Iames. 4. For the children of adulterers they shall come to an end and the seed of an vnrighteous bed shall be rooted out And though they liue long yet shall they be nothing regarded and their last age shall be without honour If they die hastilie they haue no hope neither shall they be spoken to in the daie of knowledge For horrible is the death end of the vnrighteous Wisd 3. The children of the vngodlie are abhominable children and so are all they that accompanie with the vngodlie The inheritance of vngodlie children shall come to naught and their posteritie shall haue a perpetuall shame and confusion Wo be vnto you ye vngodlie which haue forsaken the lawe of the highest If ye doo liue ye shall be cursed if ye die the curse shall be your portion Labour to get thee a good name for it shall continue surer by thee than a thousand great treasures of gold Sirac 41. The Lord alloweth the righteous but the vngodlie and him that delighteth in wickednesse doth his soule abhor Upon the vngodlie he shall raine snares fire and brimstone storme and tempest this shall be their portion to drinke For the righteous Lord loueth righteousnesse Psal 11. As for sinners they shall be confounded out of the earth and the vngodlie shall come to an end Psal 103. Another godlie exhortation to moue vs to praier and to cause vs to be in a continuall readinesse to waite on our Maister Christ when he shall come againe to iudge both the quicke and dead written by the same godlie Gentlewoman REioice in the Lord alwaies and againe I saie reioice let your softnesse be knowne to all men The Lord is euen nie at hand be carefull for nothing but in all praier and supplication let your petitions bee manifest vnto God with giuing of thanks Be feruent in spirit applie your selues to the time reioice in hope be patient in tribulation continue in praier Rom. 22. Take heed therefore how ye walke circumspectlie not as vnwise but as wise men redeeming the time bicause the daies are euil Wherfore be ye not vnwise but vnderstand what the will of the Lord is And be not dronken with wine wherin is excesse but be filled with the spirit speaking vnto your selues in Psalmes and Hymnes and in spirituall songs singing and making melodie to the Lord in your harts giuing thanks alwaies for all things vnto God the Father in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ submitting your selues one to another in the feare of God Epes 5. Praie alwaies with all maner of praiers and supplications in the spirit and watch therevnto with all instance and supplication Ephes 6. Uerelie verelie I saie vnto you saith Christ Whatsoeuer yee aske the father in my name he will giue it you Aske and yee shall receiue that your ioie may be full And when thou praiest thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are for they loue to praie standing in the Synagogues and in the corners of the streetes because they
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
permanent vnchangable and vnmooueable lift vp the head of thine handmaid as it were of an Unicorne being annointed by thee with fresh oile and laden with new benefits continuallie Thou art he I saie by whose power consisteth whatsoeuer is high in the world euen by thy might which as it establisheth the kingdoms and policies whereby mankind is preserued so also by these testimonies of thy most mightie power the inhabitants of the earth being conuinced doo tremble and keepe silence And this peace being restored in my dominion thou causest that my people againe doo leade their liues both daie and night in comfortable peace godlie tranquillitie Wherefore thou hast giuen me great cause of new ioie and to reioice in thee O Lord my God who hast thus mercifullie dealt with me thine handmaid and especiallie bicause thou hast granted vnto me to ouercome all mine enimies how manie and how mightie soeuer and to compose and set my kingdome in peaceable order and to place in Iuda the throne of iudgement and iustice being directed by thy word O GOD which I haue and whereof I glorie still will glorie To conclude I doo reioice bicause thou Lord art my louing shepheard and feedest me in the greene pastures and sweet medowes of thy word with ioie and solace making me that was sometime as a barren woman without comfort now a ioifull and glad foster mother of manie spirituall children to thee Yea euen in the verie sight of mine enimies dooest thou O most bountifull Father prepare a deintie table for me and reaching vnto me a full cup thou giuest me drinke of thy pleasant springs and causest thy goodnesse and mercie thy bountie and liberalitie to followe me wheresoeuer I become blessing both me and my people with all thy blessings continuallie Finallie it is thou O Lord onlie who of thy singular goodnesse hast assuredlie fortified my hill woonderfullie with honour health peace and securitie and that dooest presentlie keepe me in safetie and causest me quietlie to lie downe and take my rest in thee Thou doost ward the gates of my Cities with bars and mightilie multiplie and cherish thy familie my citizens Thou bringest me into amitie with my neighbors and feedest me with the finest flower of wheate And these things verelie doo testifie most plainlie both thine infinite goodnesse and power yet surelie they are nothing in comparison of that benefit of the doctrine of saluation and holie word which thou hast bestowed vpon thy people and deliuered vnto vs as a rule to lead our liues both godlie and honestlie neither is there anie nation vnder heauen with whom thou hast so dealt as with vs herein Therfore hauing such experience of thy support I will comfort my selfe in thee my strength my shield in whom my hart doth rest neither will thine Annointed trust in anie other but onelie in thee which giuest power vnto Princes Euen I will blesse and praise thee O Lord which thus hast blessed both me and my people with thy continuall blessings And in this my present blessed state I will not cease to magnifie thee O Lord my deliuerer but I will declare set foorth before all people the maruellous works which thou my God hast done for me and whereof I my selfe from the beginning of my life vnto this houre haue had good proofe experience The fourth part of the Vow conteining fiue Chapters CAP. I. OH Lord my God how excellent is thy name ouer all the earth Aduancing mee thus to glorie far aboue my deserts I as one nothing able to compasse such great mercies am euen astonished with the admiration of thine excellent liberalitie and fatherlie prouidence ouer me O how greatlie doo these so manie and so great benefits binde me vnto thee And what shall I giue againe vnto thee for all thy bountie which thou hast bestowed vpon me Uerelie I will paie that which onlie I am able namelie I will take in my hands the Lampe which thou hast ordeined for thine annointed and will therein continuallie magnifie thy mercie I will take in my hands I saie the cup of thankefull sacrifice and calling vpon thee by name O Lord I will testifie openlie that I knowledge this my deliuerance and honour to be onelie of thee And those things which I vowed vnto thee O Lord when I was in danger will I now paie in the presence of all the people For thou art he by whose benefit I remaine aliue thou art my defence my tower my sauiour my sheeld my refuge finallie thou art he who onelie hast subdued all this people vnto me and therefore well deseruest the renowme and praise of all these victories by most worthie right Wherefore by good right O Lord I will declare thy praises euen with a sounding voice And bicause it becommeth all men and women that haue receiued benefits of thee and to whome thou grantest the vse of this life and deliuered from so manie not dangers but deaths to doo this thing diligentlie and continuallie I will labour to commit the memoriall of thy benefits vnto others and exhort them to accompanie me in the dutie of thankefulnesse earnestlie and saie CAP. II. O All yee holie spirits the apparitors of the Lords Maiestie which are diuided into innumerable garrisons go yee before others in this his praise and sound them foorth euen from the most high heauen O yee Citizens of Zion reioice yee in the Lord your King and Gouernour and set foorth his praise far and wide not onlie priuatelie but also publikelie Praise the Lord I saie for his infinite goodnesse and euerlasting mercie deserueth the same O you the innumerable multitude whome God hath deliuered out of manifold dangers and foorth of the hands of your enimies and persecutors praise the Lord for his infinite goodnesse and euerlasting mercie deserueth the same and acknowledge this thing with me For how manie hath he gathered from the beginning of the world which were scattered from the East and the West from the North and South Ocean sea How manie wandering wretches in the waste wildernesse and seeking a Citie commodious to dwell in halfe dead and killed with famine and thirst crieng vnto thee O God in their extreame miseries hast thou heard and drawing them foorth of their distresse hast brought into the right waie and led them into commodious Cities of refuge to dwell in peace O let these men therefore set foorth this thy great mercie before thee O Lord thy selfe and shew foorth thy maruellous works to other men who hast thus refreshed them panting for thirst and fed them so mercifullie being hunger-starued How manie also being shut vp in darke prisons and euen as it were in the darkenesse of death being chained in their mind with sorow and in their bodies most strictlie with iron fetters And that worthilie I confesse because they did not obeie thy commandements oh God which are engrauen in the minds of all men but rather followed their owne lusts than the wholesome counselles
of thee their God Notwithstanding when thou O God thereby well hadst tamed their fiercenesse and hadst brought them to this point that they could find no help in anie thou gratiouslie heardst them crieng vnto thee in their distresse and deliueredst them from their miserie and broughtst them from the dongeons of the prisons and darkenesse of death breaking their iron fetters in sunder O praise yee therefore this so great mercie of the Lord before him and declare his woonderfull actes to other mortall men who hath broken the brasen gates and hath dashed in peeces their iron barres How manie also being driuen awaie through persecution vnto that prophane Babylon euen auoiding so much as laie in you the sight of the wicked enimies did confesse with most dolefull silence euen with abundance of teares both your sinnes and sorowes at the flouds of Euphrates being mindfull of Zion And though you caried your harps euen to be your comfort in so great calamitie yet being outragiouslie mocked and derided in your miserie by the enimie that draue you awaie into most miserable captiuitie you were faine to hang them vp vpon the sallowe trees and make no noise in the sight of the persecutors as they that sawe more cause rather to mourne than sing in that time and place Notwithstanding the Lord did not forget you for euer but seeing the crueltie of the persecutors in his good time turned awaie your captiuitie mourning and restored you to libertie and ioie againe so that you liue and see the daie wherein Babylon is destroied and hir children dashed against the stones For the Lord hath giuen hir prosperitie vnto vs to deale with them againe as they haue dealt with vs. Yea the Lord hath armed his people with double edged swords in their hands wherewith they may punish the prophane Gentiles and auenge the crueltie of the oppressed also may drawe their kings and nobles bound in chaines and iron fetters euen to execute the iudgements appointed and commanded by thee O Lord. And this verelie is the dignitie and the honour of all them whome God hath receiued to his fauour Wherefore O ye glorious people vpon whome the Lord hath bestowed so manie benefits now see that yee in this your great quietnesse and rest sing triumph Praise the Lord in deede O Israel and delight thy selfe in setting foorth his praise continuallie whose worke thou art as it were newlie formed being deliuered from so manie not dangers but deaths What shall I speake Lord furthermore of them who by their owne foolishnesse going in the waie of wickednesse and being oppressed by manifold plagues and diseases doo dailie suffer the reward of their madnesse and loathing all manner of meate are at deaths dore whom notwithstanding thou O Lord diddest heare crieng vnto thee in their miserie and thou deliueredst them out of their distresse yea thou speaking but one word diddest take awaie all the cause of their deadlie disease and restoredst them to health Let these men also I saie praise this thy so great mercies O Lord and publish thy maruellous works before other mortall men Let them offer the sacrifices of praise vnto thee O God in the middle multitude of the people standing about them and let them rehearse with great ioie what he hath done for them in the assemblie of the cheefest Go to therefore O all yee people praise the Lord our God together with me who when wee were oppressed with Pharaos tyrannie was mindfull of vs and with a strong force deliuered Israel from the slauerie of Egypt and hath giuen this dominion to be possessed by ELIZABETH his handmaid for his mercie endureth for euer CAP. III. O All yee people I saie tribes kindreds and inhabitants of the earth both noble and simple rich and poore clap your hands and praise this most holie God with most ioifull voices Giue vnto the Lord the praise of all power worship and glorie giue him the honour due vnto his name and maiestie For lo he is come to gouerne the earth The Lord himselfe reigneth amongst you and gouerneth the whole world with a iust and righteous gouernement and ruleth altogether with the scepter of his iustice and truth Go to therefore O yee yong striplings and old men yong children maidens matrones and you also all other that loue feare God come I praie you praise y e name of y e Lord euen of our most mightie IEHOVA together with mee For he alone deserueth most high praise as he that is more deepe than the verie earth and more high than the heauens and far aboue all the powers and potentates of the world Go to also O ye damsels and virgins stir vp your ioie to daie with songs of praise vpon timbrell lute but voide of wantonnesse so that your ioie may tend to the glorie of God your onlie strength and celebrate this daie of your deliuerance as festiuail to the Lord our deliuerer O ye Uirgins and damsels vnmaried now reioice with me I saie and sing vnto the Lord a triumphant song Praise the Lord also O ye brides in your marriage songs with glorie and maiestie that ye liue to see my daies and that the flower of your youth is not consumed in the flame of Gods furie For the time was when you being desolate and vnmarried did remaine pensife without your marriage songs and liued solitarie sitting at home among the soote of pots but now the women that durst not come out of their houses come foorth glittering like gold and shining like dooues as white as snowe and boldlie diuide the spoile of the enimie Go to therefore O ye damsels of Iuda and multitude of Uirgins seeing ye haue so great cause to reioice shew not your selues vnthankfull in anie wise but praise the Lord together with me in Hymnes and celebrate his name with spirituall songs for his victories goodnesse and mercie towards vs. Come foorth yee daughters of Zion I saie and breake out into gladnesse with me reioice you of the iust iudgements of God vpon our enimies yea compasse you Zion round about account hir towers consider diligentlie hir wals and bulworks and set foorth the praises of hir peace and palaces so that yee may spread foorth the memorie thereof euen to all posteritie And doo you let all men to vnderstand that this is God euen our owne God for euer which hath not forsaken vs neither will leaue vs no not in the last minute of our life Go to now therefore I beseech you let vs altogether praise the Lord as we are bounden let the whole companie of vs Uirgins plaie vpon the Timbrels on euerie side and corner of the citie Zion one exhorting and answering another by course and that with new and excellent songs of praise to the glorie of God Let vs magnitie that mightie and eternal name of his for it is holie let vs continuallie come before the Lord and worship him for he is holie For what should we rather doo
I beholding the excellent iudgements of thy iustice in crowning thy gifts in the righteous seuen times a daie doo I celebrate thy praises neither doo the watchmen doubtlesse so carefullie keepe their watch as I am diligent in meditating thy Heast and commandements CAP. II. ANd bicause O Lord though man be increased with neuer so high dignitie riches and honours yet if he want thy wisedome hee shall be counted to differ little or nothing in this life from the brute beasts which wholie perish For he doth not long remaine in this worldlie pompe and glorie but all his power shall vanish and flowe awaie like water spilt on the ground and brought to naught I will therefore number my daies while I haue time so that I may betimes applie my hart vnto thy wisedome endeuour my selfe to learne thy statutes by thine instruction and to be taught the true knowledge ioined with such a iudgement whereby I may discerne all things aright as it were by tasting a sauourie thing bicause I desire to depend on thy commandements and to fulfill thy Heast Uerelie Lord I will meditate thy commandements continuallie and will applie my whole mind to obserue thy waies I will delight my mind I saie in thy statutes neither will I at anie time forget thy words For neither hast thou O Lord my heauenlie father commanded mee anie thing vnaduisedlie in thy Heast neither are they things that I shuld onlie vnderstand or lightlie consider of but thou hast wiselie spoken and commanded them vnto me that they should be obserued and kept of me with all diligence And would to God that my maners and state might so be ordered by thy gouernement that I might sincerelie seeke to please thee and holilie walke after the rule of the doctrine prescribed by thee that I might most constantlie perseuere in keeping most carefullie thy statutes For then verelie I should leade an vpright and blamelesse life at harts ease with a quiet mind and all things should go well with me yea by that meanes shall I onelie worship thee rightlie and purelie without following this or that maner of worship not prescribed by thy lawe nor alowed by thy word Therefore am I fullie purposed to keepe thy statutes firmelie to the end and to hold the waie prescribed by thy word For I haue chosen this as the true waie and I doo prefer this before all other things O Lord I endeuour my selfe I saie with a pure hart to cleaue fast vnto those things which are approoued by thy testimonies of the which my good purpose grant I beseech thee that I doo neuer repent But direct me that am well entred into the waie of these thy precepts and inflame me wholie more more with great desire both of true knowledge ioined with iudgement wherby I may discerne all things aright and also keepe thy lawes as well in prosperitie as aduersitie vnto the end of my life that I may finish the whole course of my reigne by the direction of thy precepts which are mine onelie counsellers thy mercie and thy truth being my two keepers and assistants wherevpon I also onlie trust Neither am I O Lord of their number who haue no regard whither they walke in the right or wrong waie before thee but I haue searched carefullie by good aduise what waie I should keepe and I haue fastened my steps in those paths which thou hast testified doo please thee Neither haue I staied when I did knowe the matter so to be but straightwaies bent my selfe to obserue thy commandements and beene most willing and readie to accomplish thy will in all things that might aduance thy glorie Oh how do I loue thy doctrine Surelie thou knowst Lord that I am woont to consume whole daies and nights in meditating of thy lawes And I doo find by experience that I haue not done this in vaine For I haue proued to be much wiser by thy precepts than all mine aduersaries which labour with all their power to destroie me of how great dignitie or authoritie soeuer they be For I haue obteined by thy gift a wisdome that will neuer forsake me Yea thou hast made me better learned than my teachers and maisters euen because I haue giuen my selfe wholie not to mans inuentions but to meditate those things onlie which thou hast giuen vnto vs for sound learning Finallie I am more skilfull than anie of the ancient because I was bent not onelie to knowe thy commandements but also to keepe them in deede For I held backe my feete that I should not go the waie that leadeth vnto euill but that I should alwaies rather hold the waie which thou hast taught vs by thy mouth Thy precepts O Lord haue bene and shall be like a burning Lampe in my hand and as a light shining before me to shew me the waie that I shall go yea they haue taught me the true wisdome And therefore I now abhor the other guids rules of the order of this life as wicked and false For I see all the most absolute and perfect works come to an end yea both the decrees lawes which mans wisdome doth set downe to be subiect vnto change and at length euen to come to naught Onlie thy precepts most true and most stable are prolonged without measure and without anie end Wherefore I am wholie consumed being inflamed with the loue of thee because I see thy words despised of mine aduersaries Surelie I feele thy words more pleasant and sweet to my mouth than if I had tasted honie yea thy precepts are more pretious vnto me than anie gold or iewels be they of neuer so high price and estimation I doo and will still affirme that all thy commandements are the most certaine and perfect rule of thy iustice and truth to direct me to equitie and godlinesse and therefore I vtterlie abhor as a thing appointed to deceiue vs whatsoeuer leadeth vs from them neither will I at anie time forsake thee nor turne from thy lawes but rest vpon thee my teacher and ghostlie instructer O Lord thou knowest that I hate and abhorre all deceits I saie and that I embrace thy doctrine yea and that I neuer conceiued more greefe of anie thing than when I did perceiue those men that are thine and mine enimies to despise thy word so stubbornelie and impudentlie Mine eies verelie doo swimme with teares when I behold the generall contempt of thy doctrine and too bold prophanation of all thy holie Heasts and lawes the which thing I neither would nor could dissemble For euen so oft as I perceiued thy glorie to be diminished I burnt with sorowe I accompted my selfe to be wounded with the reproches cast out against thee Uerelie there is nothing more pure than thy words Wherefore I euen I thy seruant doo embrace them with an incredible loue and desire yea I haue bound my whole heart for euer euen to my last gaspe to obserue thy statutes CAP. III. IAm determined O Lord to
imbrace with most great loue those things which thou hast testified vnto me and to keepe all thy Heasts most diligentlie yea I will so behaue my selfe in this my gouernement that none shall worthilie complaine of me that I haue committed anie thing against them contrarie to right and equitie For I doo beare thy Heast in my hand as a Lampe ordeined of thee for to lighten me in thy perfect paths and waie And I laie vp thy word in my hart as a pretious treasure least I offend thee in anie least thing And how sincerelie I doo this that is how without all hypocrisie I applie my selfe to fulfill thy commandements and to accomplish and doo to the vttermost of my power all things that thou hast testified vnto me it is best knowne vnto thee who being my witnesse and priuie to all my thoughts and doings I doo whatsoeuer I doo O Lord vnto whome I appeale and whome I can not deceiue though I would I am throughly knowne and manifest vnto thee I saie For no part of my life is vnknowne vnto thee whether I sit or I rise yea thou doest euen vnderstand all my thoughts a far off and thou obseruest narrowlie my walking and my lieng downe neither is anie of those things hidden from thee which I go about For thou knowest euen my words O Lord before my tongue pronounce them I submit my selfe O God in this thing therefore to thy triall how I doo prefer the consideration of thy woonderfull works words and benefits before all others which are so great verelie that I am not able once to accompt the summe of them nor to reach to the height depth length and bredth of thy great mercies towards me For I find them mo than the sands of the sea or the heares of my head Wherefore I onlie refer my selfe to thee my God I saie that thou maiest throughlie prooue thine handmaid and see if my hart be not altogether fixed vpon thee and vtterlie search out all my thoughts to write them downe in thy booke of consciences Finallie consider Lord I praie thee whether I haue prouoked the vngodlie with giuing anie offence as thou knowest me innocent so preserue thou me and gouerne the course of my life with thy counsels Yea thou knowest O Lord that I haue neuer bent mine eies to high things nor entangled my selfe willinglie with great matters whereby I might win to my selfe the opinion of excellencie aboue all other neither yet haue reached vnto such things as were aboue my capacitie But contrarilie vnlesse I haue bene content with my state howsoeuer and haue staid my mind to depend wholie on thee as they teach the weaned child to forget the Nursse and to regard the mother alone vnlesse I saie I haue so behaued my selfe hitherto as the weaned infant let me in deede be refused of thee Therefore according to this mine innocencie O Lord by the assistance of thy grace I will proceed yea surelie Lord according to my power as I haue begon in thee so I will endeuour my selfe to end in thee and to walke with thee vprightlie and setting all my confidence in thee alone I am fullie minded to continue to the end of my life without wauering in the faith of a right Christian feare and loue to thee That I stand vpright in the waie of thy truth I doo attribute it onlie vnto thee O Lord my God and will therefore magnifie thy name in the publike congregation And I doubt not but thou O Lord thine owne selfe wilt sullie performe the worke that I haue enterprised by thine authoritie For this is thine euerlasting mercie testified by thy word neither wilt thou I knowe leaue the worke vnperfect which thou hast once begun by me and in me And now surelie mine eies are still alwaies bent vpon thy goodnesse and I haue appointed thy truth to be the guide and leader of my life yea I vnfeinedlie vow and make a solemne promise before thee and all thy holie Angels that I will giue all possible diligence both that I may throughlie knowe the right waie appointed by thee and also may obserue the same purelie in my house and Realme I will neuer set before me to doo anie wicked thing but will endeuour my selfe to godlines more and more and keepe my hands pure from all iniurie and wrong that I may so liue the true life and spend the whole course of this my peregrination in setting foorth thy glorie CAP. IIII. HEnce from me therefore ye wicked ones that I may keepe the precepts of my God so much more purelie For I abhor the wauering and wanderings to and fro in religion and I count thy word and doctrine most deere and pretious I will forsake them that are of corrupt maners neither will I take such vnto me I will put far from me the authors of euill counsels neither will I embrace at anie time the thing that I knowe to be euill Yea Lord thou knowest how carefullie I haue auoided the companie of these most vaine men and I haue fled awaie from these deceitfull dealers They that run after another God I vtterlie detest Their drinke-offrings of bloudie sacrifice which I am afraid euen once to name will I not offer All such abhomination my soule doth vtterlie abhor For I as thou knowest loue righteousnesse and holinesse and hate whatsoeuer is against it And bicause they hate thee O Lord which art righteousnesse it selfe therefore doo I againe hate them and doo euen abhor them bicause I perceiue them to rise vp against thee I hate the superstitious crue of the vngodlie I saie vtterlie and count them for my greatest enimies much lesse will I ioine my selfe vnto them or can abide to winke at their wickednesse and rebellion Yea I fullie determine to exercise thy power giuen vnto me and to destroie the wicked and prophane vtterlie that thy Church may be well purged and free from these cruell and bloud-thirstie hypocrites from these men I saie which speake blasphemie against thee so great and so proud is the crueltie of those not of mine enimies so much as of thine For they abuse thy holie name and Maiestie Those superstitious men I saie Lord that beare thy name in hypocrisie shall haue their mouthes stopped and be put to silence in the congregation and that bicause they be deadlie enimies to thy word and holie Gospell which I professe Therefore bicause they resist not me but thee O God thy selfe therefore thou shalt carie in thy hand a cup full of troubled wine and full of dregs the which thou shalt giue to all the wicked to sucke vp and to drinke euen the verie dregs thereof Yea with the edge of the sword will I cut off the horns of the wicked and rebellious and will execute the iudgement appointed and commanded by thee my God vpon them till they be consumed that the honor dignitie of thy Saints may flourish in Israel in all pietie and peace All those
and feede thee with the heritage of Iacob thy father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Esaie 58 verses 13 14. Yea blessed is he that keepeth the Sabboth and polluteth it not and keepeth his hands from doing anie euill Esaie 56 verse 2. Then his threatenings where he saith Yee shall therefore keepe the Sabboth for it is holie vnto you he that defileth it shall die the death therefore whosoeuer worketh therein the same person shall be euen cut off from among his people Exod. 31 verse 14. Of going to Church AND to the end you may the spéedilier addresse your selfe to frequent the Church often not alone but with your whole familie as you ought first call diligentlie to your mind some of these sentences of holie Scripture following ¶ Esaie 66 verse 23. AND it shall come to passe that from Moone to his Moone from Sabboth to his Sabboth all flesh shall come to worship before me saith the Lord. ¶ Esaie 2 verses 2 3. AND it shall come to passe in the latter daies the hill of the Lords house shall be prepared in the height of the mountaines and shall be higher than the hilles and all nations shall prease vnto him and a multitude of people shall go speaking thus one to another Come let vs ascend to the hill of the Lord c. ¶ Agge 1 verses 4 5 6 c. Zach. 14. THus saith the Lord of hostes Consider your owne waies in your harts ô yee people get yee vp to the mountaine and fetch wood and build this house and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified saith the Lord. Is it time for your selues to dwell in seeled houses and this house lie waste Ye haue sowne much but ye bring little in ye eate but ye haue not ynough ye drinke but ye are not filled ye cloath you but ye be not warme and he that earneth wages putteth it into a broken bagge ye looke for much and lo it came to little And when ye brought it home I did blowe vpon it and why saith the Lord of hosts Because of my house that is waste and you run euerie one into his owne house Therfore vpon you is the heauens staied from deaw and the earth is staied from yeelding her increase and I haue called for a drought vpon the land and vpon the mountaines and vpon the corne and vpon the wine and vpon the oile and vpon all that the earth bringeth foorth vpon men and vpon cattell and vpon all the labour of thy hands c. Thus hauing well perused and weied these holie sentences stir vp your selfe and exhort all your children seruants strangers and neighbours about you with chéerefull minds willinglie and diligentlie to resort to the Church especiallie euerie Sundaie and Holiedaie saieng vnto them as followeth An exhortation to be vsed of Maisters and Dames euerie Sundaie morning COme let vs ascend to the hill of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob and he will there instruct vs of his waies and teach vs how to walke in his paths For out of Zion shall come a lawe and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem and hee shall giue sentence among the heathen and shall reforme the multitude of the people Come therfore I saie let vs cheerfullie ascend and go vp to Ierusalem the hill and house of the Lord. O let vs go our waies into his gates with thanks-giuing and into his courts with praise that we may present our selues to daie holie before the Lord and serue him with gladnesse ¶ When you be going towards the Church the better to expell idle thoughts and noifull cogitations and to prepare your harts to deuotion euen by the waie as ye go meditate and saie with your selfe some of these Psalmes and praiers following the which also for more readinesse would be learned by hart and said without booke Praiers to be vsed going to Church A Psalme I Was glad when they said vnto me We will go into the house of the Lord our feete shall stand in thy gates O Ierusalem Ierusalem is builded as a Citie that is at vnitie in it selfe For thither the Tribes go vp euen the Tribes of the Lord to testifie vnto Israel and to giue thanks vnto the name of the Lord. For there is the seate of iudgement euen the seate of the house of Dauid O my soule praie for the peace of Ierusalem they shall prosper that loue it Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the c. Another Psalme LORD I haue loued the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth yea the zeale of thine house hath euen eaten me Therefore will I wash my hands in innocencie O Lord and so will I go to thine altar that I may shew the voice of thankes-giuing and tell of all thy woonderous works in the great congregation Behold I will go with the multitude that by the motion of the spirit are brought forth into thy house O God euen vpon the multitude of thy mercies in thy feare will I among such as keepe holiedaie worship towards thy holy Temple make haste vnto thy Tabernacle to vnderstand thy worthie wais diuine wil. For vnto thee O God which hearest the praiers vnto thee shall all flesh come to worship thee in Zion praier shall be made euer vnto thee and dailie shalt thou be praised in Ierusalem O therefore let the congregation of thy people come about thee O God that they may shew all thy praises within the portes of the daughter of Zion and reioice in thy saluation Remember also I beseech thee good Lord according to the fauour that thou bearest vnto thy people and visit me with thy saluation that I may see the felicitie of thy chosen children and reioice in the gladnesse of thy people giue thee thanks with thine inheritance O make me one of the houshold of faith and congregation of them that seeke thee euen of them that seeke thy face O Iacob saieng Lo I come to fulfill thy will O God O send out the light of thy truth that they may leade me and bring me vnto thy holie hill and to thy dwelling and that I may go vnto the altar of God euen vnto thee the God of my ioie and gladnesse With ioie and gladnesse I saie cause thou me to be brought to thy mansion house and to enter into the Kings palace That I may ascend vnto the hill of the Lord and rise vp holilie in his holie place That I may receiue the blessing from the Lord and righteousnesse from the God of health and saluation Another verie godlie praier to be vsed going to Church either at morning or euening praier IAm now entred into the voiage of saluation conduct me O Lord luckilie vnto the port that deliuered by thee from the verie death I may escape all dangers and come to the verie life Behold Lord my hart hunteth thee out and would God I
such things as be allowed and pleasant vnto thee least at anie time cleauing to superstition and hypocrisie I doo worship thee amisse but fill my hart with grace and stuffe it with sweetnesse of spirit euen as my bodie is stuffed with abundance of meats Lord rid me out of mine vngodlinesse plucke from me mine ignorance of thee banish my slothfulnesse of insearching thee Compell my flesh through thy spirit to his bounden dutie and obedience and bring to passe that I may now alwaies applie my selfe wholie without wearinesse and drinesse of mind vnto the right sincere worshipping and seruing of thee here in thy presence O Lord open thou my lips and then shall my mouth extoll thy renowmed name and publish thy praise not with fained lips but with a full glad hart lustie stomach and quicke spirit and saie with the congregation Our Father c. As at euening praier in the Church Another Meditation before Euening praier in the Church SEing thou hast beautified all those with a notable promise O most mightie God which are knit together in the honouring of thy blessed name so that thou wilt not onlie be present with them but also bestowest excellent gifts and benefits vpon these men whosoeuer they are that excell in sincere faith and pure godlinesse and haue an exceeding desire to be often in the blessed congregation in so much as there is nothing which they more couet or desire than to appeare diuers times in the daie before thee in the sacred assemblies yea it ought to be a most pleasant thing vnto vs to celebrate thy high praises perpetuallie and shew foorth thy maruellous works without ceasing For the performance whereof godlinesse would require that wee should not onlie doo the same in the daie time but also in the night season We will therefore lift vp pure hands in all places touching the publishing of thy glorious name and render perpetuall thankes according to our bounden dutie for thine vnspeakable goodnesse and louing kindnesse extended towards vs. But seeing that this ought to be done in the most sacred and holie assemblies our earnest request is to haue thee present heere with vs and to bestowe thy plentifull blessings vpon thy beloued Israel First deliuer vs wee humblie beseech thee from our heinous faults enorme sinnes and lewd corruptions wherewith we haue greatlie defiled our selues And then let our weake and feeble harts be strengthned in thy blessed waie and the withered powers of our mind which are dried vp watered with the holie Ghost that we being altogither repaired and wholie renewed may continuallie celebrate and praise thee and haue a great desire to direct our praiers vnto thy mercie-seate with a most holie intent as Christians ought to doo Cause vs now not constrained and brought thereto by compulsion but of a willing hart to come before thy presence and become true worshippers of thee yea and such as doo thinke it a goodlie matter to spend not onlie houres but daies and nights yea and all our yeares and life in the sincere seruice and right worshipping and honouring of thee in the sacred Church Let nothing be so deere and pretious vnto vs as to continue in the praises and commendations of thy glorious name from morning to night praieng both publikelie and priuatelie for all other as well as for our selues Graunt O excellent father that we in giuing due thanks for thy benefits may ioifullie sing double praises to thy glorious name for euermore that our minds I saie may dailie more and more bee strengthened hartilie to confesse couragiouslie to extoll and aboue all things to exalt thy wonderfull praises vncessantlie through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Psalme of exhortation to praier in the morning or euening O Come let vs worship fall downe and kneele before the Lord our maker and let vs hartilie reioice in the strength of our saluation Let our soules reioice I saie in the mercie of the Lord and not be ashamed to publish his praise Let vs doo our duties betimes both earlie and late and he will giue vs a reward in his due time For a good thing it is to giue thanks vnto the Lord and to tell of his louing kindnesse earlie in the morning O come therefore praise the Lord with me and let vs magnifie his name together Bring hither the booke take the Psalter and sing vnto the Lord a new song Let vs sing praises I saie lustilie vnto him with a good courage and shew our selues glad in him with Psalmes euen now in the time appointed and vpon our solemne feast-daie For great is the Lord and highlie to be praised in the Citie of our God euen vpon his holie hill of Zion Glorie be to the c. As it was in the c. Another Psalme exhorting all creatures to praise God O Praise the Lord of heauen yee Angels of his ye Saincts that excell in strength and fulfill his commandements yee seruants of his that harken to the voice of his words and doo his pleasure Praise him in the height ye children of Zion and be ioifull in your King with glorie For God is verie greatlie to be feared in the counsell of his Saincts and to be had in reuerence of all them that are about him Praise him all yee heauens and ye waters that bee aboue the heauens O God the verie heauens shall praise thy woonderous works and thy truth in the congregation of the Saincts Yea let heauen and earth praise thee the Sea and all that moueth therein O sing vnto the Lord all the whole earth woorship him and stand in awe of his iudgements ye multitude of Isles Praise the Lord O Ierusalem praise thy God O Zion Praise the name of the Lord O yee seruants of the Lord yee that by daie or by night stand in the house of the Lord euen in the courts of the house of our God O all yee righteous that loue and seeke the Lord and be true-harted towards him praise his holie name and magnifie him all yee seed of Israel that feare and dread his Maiestie Praise the Lord also all ye heathen and nations of the world worship you him and glorifie his name For he is great passing all praise Praise the Lord O ye Kings of the earth Princes and all Iudges of the world yea worship him all yee gods For he is higher than the heauens and far exalted aboue all gods O yee kindreds of the people ascribe vnto the Lord the worship power and honour due vnto his name bring presents and come into his courts with praise Let the people praise thee O God yea let all the people praise thee both yong men and maids old men and children let them all remember thy holie name and declare thy power from one generation to another world without end O speake good of the Lord all yee works of the Lord in all places of his dominion Let euerie thing that hath breath praise the Lord. For his
name onlie is most excellent and his praise aboue heauen and earth Praise the Lord O my soule and all that is within me praise his holie name My mouth shall speake the praises of the Lord and let all flesh giue thanks vnto his holie name for euer and euer Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the c. A Psalme of Gods presence in the Church THE Lord hath chosen Zion to be an habitation for himselfe he hath longed for hir saieng This shall be my rest for euer here will I dwell For I haue a delight therein Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himselfe shall be their God with them The Lord is in his holie Temple euen among thousands of thine Angels as in the holie place of Sinai Gods seate is in heauen the Lord is in the midst of the holie place euen of the Tabernacle of the most high This is Gods hill euen an high hill in the which it pleaseth him to dwell yea the Lord will abide in it for euer As the hilles stand about Ierusalem euen so standeth the Lord round about his people from this time foorth for euermore Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the c. Another Psalme of the beautie of Gods house and the soules delight to be therein O GOD wonderfull art thou in thy holie places euen thou God of Israel It is well seene O God how thou goest how thou my God and King goest in the Sanctuarie The singers go before the musicians follow after in the midst are the virgins plaieng with the timbrels Thou Lord hast giuen thy word plentiouslie and great is the companie of the preachers The Lord is King he sitteth betweene the Cherubins the Lord is great in Zion and high aboue all people Thou O God art gone vp on high thou hast led captiuitie captiue and receiued gifts for men yea euen for thine enimies that thou Lord mightest dwell among them Righteousnesse and equitie are the habitation of thy seate mercie and truth shall go before thy face Glorie and worship are before thee power and honour are in thy sanctuarie This therefore shall be my resting place here will I dwell O Lord euen in the temple and tabernacle of the mightie God of Israel For I haue a delight therein Lord here is verie good being for vs. For such as bee planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God They shall bring foorth more fruit in their age and shall be fat and well liking that they may shew how true thou my Lord and strength art and that there is no vnrighteousnesse in thee Yea blessed is the man whom thou choosest and receiuest vnto thee he shall dwell in thy courts and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house euen of thy holie temple Blessed I saie are they that dwell in thy house they will be alwaie praising thee For in thy temple doth euerie man speake of thine honour and that bicause holinesse becommeth thine house O God for euer This therefore shall be my resting place euen here in thy temple will I dwell For it is a good thing for me to be here continuallie in thy tabernacle before thee my God for euer Yea here doo I wait for thy mercie and louing kindnesse O God euen in the mids of thy temple O when wilt thou come vnto mee that I may walke in thy house with a perfect hart and praise thy name for euer Amen Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the c. A psalme for the prosperitie of the Church and that all people may praise and blesse the Lord. REturne O Lord to thy many thousands of Israel Arise now I saie to come into thy resting place thou and the arke of thy strength when the people are gathered together and the kingdoms also to serue the Lord. O thou shepheard of Israel thou that sittest vpon the Cherubins be fauourable and gratious vnto Zion build it vp and let thy glorie and worship appeere therein throughout all generations Decke hir priests with health and hir Saints shall reioice and sing Let the priests be clothed with the white reines of righteousnesse and let thy Saints sing Psalmes with ioifulnesse Giue vs thy word still plentiouslie and let the companie of the godlie preachers be great Let none touch thine annointed ones nor doo thy prophets anie harme O Lord saue thy people and giue thy blessing vnto thine inheritance feed them and set them vp for euer Let the congregation of the people come about thee O God that they may offer the sacrifice of righteousnesse and shew foorth thy praises within the ports of the daughter of Zion In this daie of thy power let the people make their humble supplication before thee and offer the free-will offrings with an holie worship In the Temple let euerie man speake of thine honor euerie good man sing of thy praise without ceasing O let the nations reioice and be glad let the people praise thee O God yea let all the people praise thee and all creatures both in heauen and earth blesse thee and saie Blessed be thou O Lord God of our fathers For thou art praise and honor-worthie yea and to be magnified for euermore Blessed be the holie name of thy glorie For it is worthie to be praised and magnified in all worlds Blessed be thou O God in the holie Temple of thy glorie For aboue all things thou art to be praised yea and more than worthie to be magnified for euer Blessed be thou in the throne of thy kingdome For aboue all thou art worthie to be praised and well spoken of and to be more than magnified for euer Blessed be thou that sittest vpon the Cherubims lookest through the deepe For thou art worthie to bee praised and aboue all to be magnified for euer Blessed be thou in the firmament of heauen For thou art praise and honor-worthie for euer Blessed be the Lord God euen the God of Israel which onlie doth woonderous things and blessed bee the name of his Maiestie for euer and the earth shall be filled with thy Maiestie Amen Amen Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time foorth for euermore Blessed I saie be the Lord God of Israel from euerlasting and worlds without end and let all the people saie Amen Amen Blessing and glorie and wisdome and thanks and honour and power and might be vnto our God for euermore Amen Amen Amen A praier to be vsed at your first comming into the Church for a pure and cleane soule SEeing that by the good motion and happie conduction of thy holy spirit O gratious God I am now entred into this thy holy house the Church and most sacred place on earth to worship thee and forasmuch as holines apperteineth to thee O Lord for thou art holie and nothing
is the fellowship of the heauenlie citizens and glorious is the solemnitie of all them that returne from the sorrowfull trauell of this our pilgrimage to the pleasantnes of beautie to the beautie of all brightnesse and to the flower of all excellencie where thy citizens behold thee continuallie O Lord. Nothing that may trouble the mind is offered there to the eare What songs what instruments what Carols what melodie what musicke soundeth there without end There sound alwaies most pleasant tunes of Hymnes and Psalmes most sweet melodie of Angels and most woonderfull ditties of songs which are sung to thy glorie by the celestiall inhabitants with heauenlie harmonie No harshnesse no gallie bitternesse nor iangling discords haue anie roome within thy realme For there is neither naughtie person nor naughtinesse There is none aduersarie nor impugner neither is there any inticement of sinne There is no needinesse no shame no bralling no mis-vsage no excusing no feare no vnquietnesse no penaltie no doubtfulnesse no violence no discord or contention But there is perfect peace full of loue continuall reioicing and praising of God carelesse rest without end and euerlasting gladnesse in the holie Ghost O how luckie should I sillie wretch be if I might heare the most pleasant Psalmes Hymnes and Carols of thy citizens and their sugred songs aduancing the praises of the souereigne Trinitie with due honour but ouer happie should I be might I once attaine to sing a song my selfe I saie to sing one of the sweet songs of Zion to our Lord Iesus Christ Another longing after the ioies of heauenlie Zion O Lightsome and glorions house of God I haue loued thy goodlinesse and the place where the glorie of the Lord God who both enioieth and hath created thee doth dwell In mine exile I sigh after thee both night and daie mine hart longeth my mind coueteth and my soule desireth to come vnto the societie of your happinesse My praier vnto him which made me is that he would possesse me in thee bicause he hath made both me and you For I desire your holie fellowship and woonderfull glorie not for anie merit of mine owne but I trust to attaine therevnto through the price of his bloud namelie of Iesus Christ whereby we be redeemed I confesse I haue gone astraie like a lost sheepe and haue too long dwelled out of my natiue soile and am far awaie cast from the face of the Lord my God into this blindnesse of banishment who driuen out of the ioies of paradise I bewaile with my selfe dailie the miserie of my captiuitie and sing a wofull song with great lamentation when I remember thee O mother Ierusalem while my feete doo but stand in thy courts O sacred and comlie Zion and I am not able plainlie to looke into thine inner places Notwithstanding I haue good hope vpon the shoulders of my good shepheard thy Creator to be brought back vnto thee that I may triumph againe with that vnspeakable ioie where withall they be cheered which dwell with thee before God his Maiestie and our Sauiour Christ which hath abrogated through his flesh the hatred and pacified all things both which are in heauen and which are in earth by his bloud For he is our peace which made of both one and ioining the two contrarie wals together hath promised that he will giue the euerlasting felicitie of your happinesse in himselfe after the like maner and measure when he said They shall be like the Angels of God in heauen Another longing or desire of the soule after the supernall Ierusalem O Mother Ierusalem the holie citie of God and the deerly beloued spouse of Christ after thee dooth mine hart couet and my soule exceedingly is in loue with thy beautie Oh how comlie how glorious how honourable art thou Thou art all faire there is no spot in thee Triumph and reioice O beautifull daughters of the Princes For the King hath a pleasure in thy fairenesse and loueth thy goodlie personage O thou fairer than the children of men But what is my beloued O thou fairest among women of the welbeloued My welbeloued is white and ruddie the chiefe of ten thousand Like as the apple trees of the forest so is my welbeloued among the sonnes of men Under his shadowe had I delight Lo now I sit and his fruit is sweet vnto my mouth My welbeloued put in his hand by the hole of the doore and mine hart was affectioned towards him In my bed by night I sought him that my soule loued I sought and I found him I hold and will not let him go vntill he bring me into my mothers house into the chamber of hir that conceiued me For there thou wilt giue mee thy teates most abundantlie and perfectlie and wilt satisfie mine hart with a maruelous satietie so that I shall neither hunger nor thirst anie more Oh happie shall my soule be yea happie and alwaies happie shall I be could I once get to behold thy glorie thine happinesse thy beautie thy gates thy wals thy streets thy manifold mansions thy noble citizens and thy mightie King in his Maiestie For thy wals are of pretious stones thy gates of the richest pearls and thy streets of the pure gold wherein is soong the ioifull Halleluiah without intermission Thy manifold buildings are founded vpon squared stones builded vpon Saphyres inclosed with golden wals whereinto none shall enter but the cleane neither shall anie vncleane person inhabit it Beautifull art thou become O mother Ierusalem and sweete in thy comforts No such thing is in thee as we suffer in this world and as we behold in this wretched life There is neither darknes nor night nor anie change of times in thee There shineth not in thee either the light of the lampe or the brightnesse of the moone or the glittering of the starres but the God of God light of light euen the sunne of righteousnesse euermore doth enlighten thee The white and vnspotted lambe is thy pure and cleare light thy sunne the cleerenesse and euerlasting contemplation of this most glorious king is all thine happinesse He is the King of kings in the middest of thee and you are his ministers about him There be the singing quires of Angels there be the companies of supernall citizens there the solemnitie of all which haue returned from this wofull peregrination vnto thy ioies There be the prudent Prophets the twelue Apostles the victorious host of infinite Martyrs and the sacred conuent of holie Confessors is there There be both vpright men and holie virgins which haue ouercome the pleasures of this world and the weakenesse of sexe There be those yoong men and maidens old men matrons which haue spent their time in godlie conuersation There be the sheepe lambs that haue escaped the snares of this world where they now triumph in their seuerall mansions The glorie of each particular man differeth but common is the ioie of them all There full and perfect charitie doth reigne
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
for not worthilie preparing themselues and for misvsing the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and manie died thereof as thine holie Apostle Saint Paule hath taught vs. Since which time O Lord as the Monuments of thy Church and other Chronicles doo declare thou hast from time to time so plagued with pestilence not onelie cities but also whole countries for these and other like causes that we may iustlie looke for the comming of our Sauiour so manie and so horrible pestilences haue beene among vs alreadie All which causes O Lord for the which thou hast so afflicted thy people are through the malice of Satan and our wilfull consenting vnto him growne so ripe in vs that were it not for the exceeding greatnes of thy mercie and compassion we should all presentlie perish and that woorthilie so horrible and outragious are our iniquities For we loath not onelie the plentifull prouision of wholesome victuals and apparell which thou hast giuen vs for our bodies more abundantlie than to manie nations trauelling by all meanes to get wherewith to pamper our flesh with wines spices silks and other vaine costlie and delighting things but the pretious Manna of our soules thy holie word and Sacraments we can not awaie with we are so full that we are glutted therewith We so little esteeme the heauenlie kingdome which our Sauiour hath so deerlie prepared and kindlie promised to vs that we abhor it and are readie to stone those few that commend it and exhort vs for our owne good to trauell thitherward better liking and crediting those false prophets the Epicures and Atheists that with their lies discourage vs therefrom What murmuring and grudging make we against the ministers of thy word which thou of thine especiall goodnesse hast in mercie giuen vs How despise wee our bishops preachers and other ministers of thy holie Sacraments whom thou hast commanded vs to reuerence and honour Did not we through our wicked liues wretchedlie leese the Arke of thy holie word and the true ministration of Sacraments not manie yeeres agone which the popish Philistines tooke from vs And now when thou through thy plagues laid vpon them hast miraculouslie sent it againe see how hold we be with the Beth-samites vnreuerentlie to receiue it For manie make of it a gazing-stocke to serue their eies and tongues rather than a lawe to obeie and followe in their liues Yea the knowledge of thy truth goodnesse and mercie breedeth in manie of vs a carelesse securitie and a contempt of thy holie ordinances For we presume vpon thy mercie and promises not regarding the conditions nor anie of thy commandements which in our baptisme we vowed to obserue Yea we make thy Gospell a cloke of our couetousnesse vnder colour whereof we seeke our owne lucre and hide all our wicked and filthie practises If the Corinthians deserued to be plagued for abusing thy holie Sacraments how much more are wee woorthie of fierce wrath that not onelie abuse it but also abhor contemne it bicause it is ministred as it ought For thou knowest O Lord what a sort there are which bewitched with the diuell and the Popes doctrine doo vtterlie abhor Christs holie communion and sauing for feare of the lawe would neuer come at it In what sort these receiue and how they be prepared is not vnknowne vnto thee How rashlie also and vnaduisedlie and vnprepared the common multitude doo frequent it partlie appeareth in that manie of them neuer forgiue old offences nor reconcile themselues nor in anie thing doo amend their old sinnes and vices Seeing then that we Lord the common sort and multitude doo thus abound in all kind of wickednesse how can it be but that thou of thy iustice must suffer our magistrates to offend also in somewhat to the end thou maist iustlie take vengeance of our sinnes For these manifold heapes of sinnes and wickednesses O Lord thou hast iustlie at this present sent this dangerous pestilence among vs as thou hast often and long time threatened by the mouthes of thy faithfull preachers who continuallie haue called vpon vs to staie thy wrath by earnest repentance amendement of life but we haue alwaies beene deafer and deafer The delight in our sinnes not onlie stopped our eares but also hardened our harts against their hartie and friendlie admonitions And in that we now O Lord doo begin to feele and acknowledge our sinnes it commeth more of thy rigour in plaguing vs than of anie good inclination of our selues Mollifie therefore O Lord our flintie harts with the suppling moisture of thy holie spirit Make vs to reuerence thee as children for loue of thy mercies and not to dread thee like slaues for feare of punishment Seruants Amen Maister or Maistres O deere Father reclaime vs thy lost children O mercifull Sauiour pitie vs thy putrified members O holie Ghost repaire vs thy decaied temples O holie and glorious Trinitie haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners Seruants Amen Maister Grant vs O Lord such true repentance as may through the bloud of our Sauiour blot out the staines of our heinous iniquities Forgiue vs our sinnes O Lord forgiue vs our sinnes for thine infinite mercies sake Seruants Amen Maister Forgiue vs our blasphemies idolatries and periuries Forget our vaine and outragious oths As thou hast by thy rigour and plagues forced vs to acknowledge thee to be our iust and righteous Lord so let vs through thy mercie and forgiuenesse feele thee to be our mild louing Father and giue vs grace for euer hereafter to reuerence this thy glorious name Seru. Amen Maister Take from vs O God the care of worldlie vanities Make vs content with necessaries Plucke awaie our harts from delighting in honours treasures and pleasures of this life And ingender in vs a desire to be with thee in thine eternall kingdome Giue vs O Lord such taste and feeling of thine vnspeake able ioies in heauen that we may alwaie long therfore saieng with thine elect Hasten thy kingdome O Lord take vs to thee Seru. Amen Maister Make vs O Lord obedient to thy will reuealed in thy holie word Make vs diligent to walke in thy commandements Forgiue vs our contempt and murmuring against the magistrates and ministers whom thou hast in thy mercie appointed make vs obedient vnto their godlie lawes doctrine Saue and preserue O Lord thine annointed our QVEENE ELIZABETH that she in thy grace and feare may long reigne amongst vs. Giue peace to all Christian nations Mooue vs by thy spirit to loue one another as the members of our bodie that we may all doo thy will in earth as it is in heauen Seru. Amen Maister Dig out of vs O Lord the venemous roots of couetousnesse and concupiscence or else so represse them with thy grace that we may be contented with thy prouision of necessaries and not to labour as we doo with toile strength guile wrong and oppression to pamper our selues with vaine superfluities Feed our soules O
may dispend them wiselie to the praise of thy name least that we falselie trusting vpon long life might come vnto death Oh good God how fraile and corrupt a worke be we indeed Euen but verie dust and ashes and the length of our daies be as the flower in the field No man can deliuer himselfe from death no man can saue his owne soule from the graue thou onelie O Lord must doo it namelie to such as beleeue in thee O my GOD haue mercie vpon me and take mee not awaie vnprouided in the middest of my daies but let me go to my graue in a full age Let me remember mine end that when I shall depart out of this life I be not depriued of euerlasting life Let me beare alwaies before mine eies the shortnesse of this life and what a vanitie and what a thing of naught it is as well the men themselues as all their things and affaires Staie my feete O Lord that at no time they slip with some cruell zeale or enuie that I might haue at the vngodlie which for the most part passe their liues quietlie and die more quietlie I beseech thee let not thy chosen persons be discouraged nor offended by this thy godlie prouidence in ordering of worldlie things nor shrinke from thee by reason thereof but rather let vs remember in what dangers in verie deed these vngodlie be in and with how vnhappie a conclusion and terme they close finish their happie course And againe on the contrarie part what pleasantnesse of conscience and what comfort and quietnesse shall followe this our vnquietnesse Finallie O good God in the daie of my buriall when all my friends shrinke from me doo not thou forsake me when my father and mother husband and children forsake me vouchsafe thou O Lord to take me vp and defend me from the roring lions that wait for their praie lead mee safelie through the vnknown countrie bring me happilie to the streets of the heauenlie Zion wherein is the habitation of all that reioice in thee and there set mee amongst thine Angels before the face of thine owne Maiestie where with the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessors Uirgins yea and with all my deere parents and faithfull friends in full measure of happinesse passing excellent glorie and superabundant ioie of thanks-giuing and praise I may magnifie thee my God among thy chosen holie ones for euer and euer Amen Sée another praier in the Ladie Aburgauennies praiers Another meditation of death O GOD what other thing doo wee daily in this present life than heape sinne vpon sinne and hourd trespas vpon trespas So that this daie is woorse alwaies than yesterdaie by increasing as daies so sins and therefore thine indignation good Lord against vs but when we shall be let go out of the prison of this bodie and so taken into thy blessed companie then shall we be in most safetie of immortalitie and saluation then shall come vnto vs no sicknesse no need no paine no kind of euill to soule or bodie but whatsoeuer good we can wish that shall we haue and whatsoeuer we loath shall be farre from vs. Oh deere Father that we had faith to behold these things accordinglie Oh that our harts were persuaded thereof and our affections inflamed with the desire of them Then should we liue in longing for that which now we most loath Oh helpe vs and grant that we being ignorant of things to come and of the time of our death which to thee is certaine may so liue and finish our iournie here that we may be readie and then depart when our departing may make most to thy glorie and our comfort through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another sweet meditation of the longing of the soule to be with God out of Saint Augustine O Kingdome of all worlds eternall wherein is ioie surmounting all ioies and the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding wherein also the soules of all holie folke doo rest and reigne with thee O Lord in euerlasting ioie mirth and gladnesse When shall I enter into thee that I may see my God which dwelleth in thee When shall I go thither behold this great sight What is it that holds me backe Wo is me that my soiourning is prolonged wo is me how long shall it be said vnto me Wait and wait againe And now to what purpose is my waiting My Lord God doo we not wait and watch for the Sauiour our Lord Iesus Christ to come and repaire our base bodies vnto the likenesse of his glorious bodie We wait and watch like wise virgins with our loines girt and our lamps burning for the Lord our Bridegroome when he should come from the Bridehouse to fetch vs into his wedding Come Lord Iesus and tarie not come Lord Iesu Christ come visit vs in peace come lead vs prisoners out of prison that we may reioice before thee with a perfect hart come our Sauiour thou that art longed for of all nations and people come shew thy countenance vnto vs and we shall be safe come my light and my redeemer my GOD and my spouse take my soule out of prison that it may giue praise vnto thy name How long shall I be tossed in the waues of my mortalitie crieng vnto thee Lord and thou hearest me not Lord heare me how I crie vnto thee out of this huge sea and bring me to the hauen of endlesse blisse Happie are they O God which are conueied out of this sea and haue obteined to arriue at thee the safest harborough of all hauens O happie are they indeed which are escaped alreadie from sea to shore from banishment home into their owne countrie and from prison into a palace enioieng their wished rest Blessed are they that alreadie haue gained the garland of endlesse glorie which they sought for here by manie tribulations and ioie now in happie mirth for euer O blessed are they indeed O treble and foure-times blessed are they which being alreadie quite rid of all miseries haue atteined to the kingdome of beautifulnesse and euerlasting blissefulnesse and are assured of their vnappearable glorie For there is ioie endlesse mirth sorowlesse health griefelesse waie without labour light without darknesse life without death Happie therefore I saie are those that alreadie haue escaped the shipwracke of this present miserable life and obteined the grace to come to so great ioies in heauen But alas we are yet still in the waues of the sea longing for thee O Lord the hauen of our sea O Ierusalem the heauenlie countrie of ours O quiet countrie we looke towards thee and ken thee a farre off Wee hale thee from this sea we sigh vnto thee out of this vale of miserie and labour with teares if we may by anie meanes attaine vnto thee O Christ God and the onlie hope of all mankind our refuge and strength whose brightnesse inlighteneth our eies a farre off as the beames of the sea-starre dooth in the mistie darknesse
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
of all as fathers and nursses to mainteine and cherish thy Church commanding vs not onlie to obeie and honor them but moreouer to praie for them as watching ouer vs for our good We therefore beseech thee for thy great names sake and for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercie to all Kings and Princes that mainteine thy glorious Gospell but especiallie we praie thee to blesse our gratious Queene Elizabeth in all spirituall blessings in Christ Iesus and in all temporall blessings according to thy good pleasure that in the great measures of thine effectuall lawe she may more and more find great increase of vertue and wisedome and strength in Christ Iesu to the faithfull and happie discharge of hir dutie that hir holinesse and ioie and zeale of thy house may be multiplied euerlasting And seeing it hath pleased thee of thy singular mercie to giue hir this especiall honor first to suffer for thy glorious truth and afterward miraculouslie deliuering hir out of the hands of hir enimies to set a Crowne vpon hir head and to make hir the instrument to aduance thy glorie and Gospell for which she suffered and to bring hir out of darkenesse into light out of persecution into this great and long peace as we giue thee most hartie thanks for this singular benefit so we beseech thee to make hir and vs euermore thankefull for it and in thy good pleasure still to preserue hir for the continuance of these blessings towards vs with all increase from time to time to thy glorie the benefit of thy Church and hir infinite peace in Christ Iesus the Prince of peace And furthermore we praise thee for hir and the estate that such as be the enimies of the Gospell and hir enimies also for the defence therof may not despise the peace offered them vnto repentance but that they may accompt thy long suffering and hir peaceable and vnbloudie gouernement an occasion of saluation to their soules and vnfeigned loue to the truth and their mercifull Souereigne Otherwise if they stil remaine disobedient to thy truth disloiall to hir Highnesse and dangerous to the state then O God of all saluation as thou hast discouered them so discouer them still as thou hast preuented them so preuent them still and let their eies ware wearie with looking and their harts faint with waiting for the comming of that which yet commeth not neither let it come O Lord we beseech thee but a blessed and a long reigne to hir Grace and and peace to Zion for euermore Also deere Father so blesse so loue so in thy spirit sanctifie and keepe hir that she maie in the spirit of counsell and fortitude so rule that other sister also namely this hir Common-wealth that they may flourish together and growe vp together as Palme-trees in beautie and in strength giuing aid and help one to another that in the Church the glorie of God may appeare as the Sunne in his brightnesse and that the land may flowe with milke and honie and true peace abound therein as in y e triumphant reigne of Debora These graces O Lord are great and we miserable sinners vnwoorthie of the least of them therefore looke not to vs but to thy selfe not to our iniquities but to thy great mercies accepting the death and passion of thy Sonne as a full ransome for all our offences throwing them into the bottome of the sea and making his crosse and resurrection effectuall in vs to all obedience and godlinesse as becommeth thy Saincts that to all other thy good blessings towards our gratious Souereigne this may be added that she gouerneth blessedlie ouer a blessed people a people blessed of the Lord and beloued of the Lord and that thy graces may abound in the Church in the Common-wealth from daie to daie till the daie of our translation into thy kingdome where iustice inhabiteth where we also shall inhabit and reigne with thee according to thy promise for euer Grant vs these things O mercifull father for thy deere Sonne our Lord Iesus Christes sake in whose name we craue them at thy mercifull hand praieng furthermore for them as he hath taught vs to praie Our Father c. Psalme 72. Another praier for the prosperous estate and flourishing reigne of our right vertuous souereigne Queene Elizabeth O GOD without whose wisedome no kingdome can stand who of a speciall consideration hast ordeined this kingdome in the familie of Dauid teach our Queene Elizabeth whome thou hast appointed the rules of right gouernement teach I saie the Daughter of this thy Dauid whome thou hast chosen to thy selfe the rule of righteousnesse that she may iustlie gouerne not hir people but thine especiallie that she may defend the poore against the iniuries of the mightie thus the people being scattered heere and there in the mountaines and hilles being safe vnder a iust gouernment shall abound with all the commodities of peace Grant this vnto hir that she being far from all tyrannie may be a sure refuge for the poore that she may comfort the families oppressed with pouertie and iniuries that she may keepe vnder y e false accusers with most sharpe punishment so will it come to passe O Lord that the state of this kingdome being ordered by thine authoritie all men as it is meete shall acknowledge and feare thee and not for anie short continuance of time but that the Sunne and Moone shall sooner ceasse their course than thou shalt faile to be woorshipped And thou againe wilt powre downe vpon thy people from heauen all good things like a showre comming downe vpon the new mowne medowes and none otherwise than thou vsest to water the earth with showers in due season whilest Elizabeth reigneth thus gouerned by thy grace and holie spirit the iust shall flourish and great peace shall be so continued as is the firme course of the starres and the Queene hir selfe shall haue dominion from the one sea to the other euen frō Euphrates to the farthest coasts of the earth The inhabitants of the countries of the desert shall come vnder hir yoke falling downe vnder hir feet and hir enimies falling downe before hir shall licke the dust of the earth The kings of Silicia and of the Ilands shall offer presents vnto hir The Ethiopians also and the Arabians shall bring hir gifts finallie all Kings shall haue hir in admiration for hir renowme and vertue and all nations shall reuerence hir name and maiestie For hir righteousnesse shall bee praised through out all the whole world because she heareth the crie of the poore and doth defend the needie forsaken of other She hath mercie on them that are needie and she refresheth those that are in danger of their life She defendeth the poore against the iniurie of the mightie neither doth she suffer the violence done vnto them to be vnreuenged Therefore thou O God wilt keepe hir safe and gold shall be brought vnto hir out of the midst of Arabia all men shall make
and properlie vpon all the holie Feasts and Saints daies throughout the yeere as they fall in order and are commonlie kept here in the Church of England and Ireland And first vpon the principall Feast daies of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ that is to saie On Aduent Sundaie In memorial of Christ his First comming in the flesh Christmas daie In memorial of Christ his Natiuitie and birth On New yéeres daie In memorial of Christ his Circumcision On Twelfe daie In memorial of Christ his Apparition On Ashwensday the 1. day of Lent In memorial of Christ his Fasting On First Sundaie in Lent In memorial of Christ his Temptation On Maundie Thursdaie In memorial of Christ his Last Supper On Good Fridaie In memorial of Christ his Passion On Easter daie In memorial of Christ his Resurrection On Ascension daie In memorial of Christ his Ascension On Whitsundaie In memorial of Christ his Sending of the holie Ghost On Trinitie Sundaie In memorial of Christ his The blessed Trinitie On Euerie Sundaie holie-day and working-day In memorial of Christ his Last comming to iudgment 1. On Aduent Sundaie Of the comming of Christ in the flesh The Preface BE of good cheere and feare not O you that are of a fearfull hart for behold your God commeth his owne selfe to take vengeance on his enimies and will deliuer you Hosanna to the sonne of Dauid O daughter Zion be glad O daughter Ierusalem reioice For lo the King commeth vnto thee euen the righteous thy Sauiour lowlie meeke and simple riding vpon the fole of an asse and bringing his recompense with him Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. Out of Zion hath God appeared in perfect beautie Hosanna in the highest Remember me O Lord according to thy fauor that thou bearest vnto thy people O visit me with thy saluation Hosanna Shew me thy waies O Lord and teach mee thy path Hosanna in the highest Hosanna The praier THE time is now at hand when the Church calleth into mind the benefits of the sonne of GOD which taking vpon him our fraile nature appeared to the world and came to visit vs in great humilitie And at the last daie and resurrection of all mankind will come againe in his glorious Maiestie to iudge both the quicke and the dead and shew himselfe both to punish his enimies with euerlasting paines and to adorne his Church and chosen people with eternall glorie Wherefore O Sonne of God Lord and Sauiour Christ which as this daie in roiall pompe didst enter into the holie citie Ierusalem for a publike testimonie of thine appearing remooue all impediments we praie thee that may hinder thy comming and make a plaine and most easie waie for thy selfe vnto vs. Gather vs we beseech thee into that companie which are prepared to receiue thee the King of all kings and which set foorth thy glorie in spirituall songs not onelie this daie through all the world but also continuallie and beare palmes of victorie before thee and spred their garments in the waie for ioie of thy comming Assist vs that being greatlie separated from the damned crue of diuels and wicked persons wee may sound and set foorth thy truth in perfect confession and righteousnesse all the daies and time of our life Bee thou our King both here in this world and hereafter in the world to come replenishing vs against all the wicked enterprises of thine enimies and making vs though babes and littleones to extoll and magnifie thy name for euer Keepe vs thy weake children depending vpon thee and running vnto thy lap euen as infants vnto their parents Make vs to followe thy words which through thy spirit doo sound within vs and powre thy wisedome into vs miserable men and women that the pride and power of thine enimies may be confounded Grant that with gratefull minds we may publish abroad thy glorious victorie according to our calling and abilitie cherish thy ministers and venter both our life liuing for the maintenance of thy truth Moreouer blesse vs O thou blessed seed of Abraham by the vertue of thy presence number vs among thy chosen which haue their names from thee And finallie giue vs grace now in the time of this mortall life so to cast awaie from vs the works of darknes and to put vpon vs the armour of light that in the last daie of thy second comming in the clouds we may rise through thee to life immortall and so being adorned with that glorie which thou hast receiued from thine eternall Father we may perpetuallie praise and extoll thy Maiestie both heere in this world and for euermore in the world of worlds to come Amen Hosanna to thee O sonne of God in the highest Hosanna 2. On Christmas daie Of the natiuitie and birth of Christ our Sauiour The Preface A Child is borne vnto vs and a sonne is giuen vnto vs. Glorie be to God on high Unto vs is borne this daie in the citie of Dauid a Sauiour which is Christ the Lord. Halleluiah The Lord sent a word vnto Iacob the same is come into Israel an euerlasting Prince of peace Halleluiah Mercie and truth are met togither righteousnesse and peace haue kissed each other truth shall flourish out of the earth and righteousnesse hath looked downe from heauen vpon vs to speake peace vnto his people and gladnesse to his Saints Halleluiah Of the fruit of thy bodie will I set vpon thy throne and in Zion shall I make the horne of Dauid to flourish Halleluiah The Sunne commeth foorth of his tabernacle the heauens as a bridegroome out of his chamber and reioiceth as a Giant to run his course Halleluiah He shall giue his Angels charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy waies they shall beare thee in their hands that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone Halleluiah For thou art fairer than the children of men full of grace are thy lips bicause God hath blessed thee for euer yea God euen thine owne God hath annointed thee with the oile of gladnesse aboue thy fellowes Halleluiah Therefore in this daie of thy power shall the people offer the free-will offerings with an holie worship bicause the dew of thy birth is of the wombe of the morning Halleluiah Glorie be vnto God on high in earth peace and good will towards men Halleluiah Halleluiah Halleluiah The Praier NOW is the ioifull time wherein all Saincts both in heauen and earth doo magnifie and praise almightie God for the incarnation of his onlie begotten Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ who as this daie was borne of the pure Uirgin Marie the which also the holie Angels of the Lord did celebrate with a most heauenlie song And no doubt the blessed companie of the elect departed out of this world enioieng the comfortable sight of God replenished with eternall wisedome light and righteousnesse yeeld most humble thanks vnto the Sonne of God their Sauiour and Redeemer for his incomprehensible goodnesse declared vnto mankind
reuiled beaten scourged spit vpon and most miserablie handled Thou wentest through Ierusalem to the place of execution euen to the mount of Caluerie a great crosse to hang thee vp was laid vpon thy backe to beare and drawe as long as thou wast able Thy bodie was racked to be nailed to the tree Thy hands were bored through and thy feet also Nailes were put through them to fasten thee thereon Thou wast hanged betweene heauen and earth as one spued out of heauen and vomited out of the earth vnworthie of anie place The high Priests laughed thee to scorne The Elders blasphemed thee and said God had no care for thee The common people also laughed and cried Out vpon thee Thirst oppressed thee but vineger onlie and gall was giuen thee to drinke Heauen shined not on thee the Sunne gaue thee no light the earth was afraid to beare thee sathan euen then tempted thee and thine owne humane senses caused thee to crie out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Oh wonderfull passions which thou sweet Iesus sufferedst for me and all mankind In them thou teachest me in them thou comfortest me for by them God is my father my sinnes are forgiuen me By them I should learne to feare God to loue God to hope in God to hate sinne to be patient to call vpon God and neuer to leaue him for anie temptations but with thee to crie Father into thy hands I commend my spirit Amen The praier wherein we confesse our selues to be the verie cause of all these Christ his passions WHat hast thou committed oh Lord that thou shouldest bee so iudged what hast thou offended that thou shouldest be so cruellie handled and ordered what was thy fault what was thine offence what was the cause of thy death what was the occasion of thy condemnation I Lord I am the cause of thy sorowe the fault is in me that thou wast killed for I haue deserued thy death I committed the offences that were aduenged vpon thee Oh maruellous kind of iudgement and vnspeakable disposition or ordering of mysteries The vniust man offendeth and the righteous is punished The guiltie doth euill and the innocent is beaten The euill doth trespasse and the good is condemned That which the euill man deserueth the same doth the good and iust suffer That which the seruant doth amisse the maister maketh amends That which man trespasseth God suffereth it Oh thou which art the Sonne of God how lowe did thine humilitie descend How greatlie did thy charitie euen as it were waxe hot and burne towards vs How far did thy pitie exceed Whither did thy benignitie and gentlenes growe and extend How far did thy loue stretch How far came thy compassion For I did wrongfullie and thou wast punished I committed the mischeeuous deeds and they were aduenged vpon thee I did the fault and thou submittedst thy selfe to the torments I was proud and thou wast humble and meeke I was swelled and puffed vp thou wast extenuate and appaired I was disobedient neuerthelesse thou being obedient barest the paines and punishments of disobedience I obeied and was as it were a seruant to all excesse and gluttonie and thou wast punished with scarsitie and lacke of food The tree did drawe me in my grandmother Eue vnto vnlawfull concupiscence and desires but perfect charitie led thee vnto punishment and to endure the torments vpon the crosse I presumed being forbidden but thou didst smart therefore I tooke my pleasure with delicatenesse thou wast vexed with the crosse I abound and haue plentie of all pleasures thou art all to torne with nailes I doo taste the pleasant sweetnes of the apple and thou the bitternes of gall Behold O king of glorie mine iniquitie and vngodlinesse and thy pitie and goodnes is manifest Behold mine vnrighteousnes and thy iustice is plainelie declared What thing O my God and my King shall I render vnto thee for all these things which thou hast bestowed vpon me For nothing can be found in the hart of man that may worthilie recompense such rewards Can mans wit excogitate or imagine anie thing that is woorthie to be compared vnto thy diuine mercie Neither is it the office of a creature to go about to recompense fullie and iustlie the aid helpe of a Creator There is trulie O Sonne of God in this thy maruellous dispensation and appointments some what in which my frailenesse may helpe a little if so be that my mind once pricked and stirred by thy visitation doo punish the flesh with the vices also and euill concupiscences thereof And this thing if thou wilt grant and giue me grace to doo then shall it begin as it were to suffer and susteine sorrowes and greefes because that thou also didst vouchsafe to die for my sinnes and so by the victorie of the inward man it shall be armed thou beeing a captaine for the externall and outward victorie forasmuch as the spirituall persecution once ouercome it shall not be afraid for thy sake to be obedient vnto the materiall sword and crosse of this world and so the slendernesse of my state and condition if it please thy goodnes shall be able according to the little power thereof to answer vnto the greatnes and excellencie of my Creator And this is y e heauenlie medicine O good Iesu this is as it were a preseruatiue of thy loue this I beseech thee by thine accustomed ancient mercies to powre into my wounds the fowle and filthie matter of the venemous contagion and infection once cast awaie which may refresh and restore me to my former puritie and cleanenesse that when I haue tasted of the pleasant sweetnes which is to abide in thee it may make me to despise and vtterlie set naught by the entisements of this world and to feare for thy sake none aduersities thereof and that I remembring thine euerlasting nobilitie excellencie may alwaies abhor and disdaine the troubles of this transitorie world And as thou O Lord wast crucified for me so I beseech thee crucifie me with thee that I may rise againe with thee to euerlasting life Thy flesh was crucified for me crucifie with thee O Christ the kingdome of the flesh which hath dominion in me that I may put off the old Adam and by newnesse of life may be transformed into thee the second Adam sinne infidelitie and the whole tyrannie of sathan being vanquished and ouercome Bring to passe O Lord that by thy crosse and painefull suffering thy yoke may be to me made light and thy burthen easie that willinglie and gladlie following thee I may come whether thou art gone that is to thy father most blessed and immortall from whome nothing shall afterwards be able to separate vs Amen I haue sinned I haue sinned my God my God haue mercie vpon me God forbid I should reioice in anie thing but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ whereby the world is crucified vnto me and I vnto the world Galath 6. Another
health and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousnesse Thou shalt open my lips O Lord and my mouth shall shew thy praise For thou desirest no sacrifice else would I giue it thee but thou delightest not in burnt offerings The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit a broken and contrite hart O God shalt thou not despise O be fauourable and gratious to Sion build thou the walles of Hierusalem Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousnesse with the burnt offerings and oblations then shall they offer yong bullocks vpon thine altar 5. Domine exaudi Psal 102. HEare my praier O Lord and let my crieng come vnto thee Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble incline thine eares vnto me when I call O heare me and that right soone For my daies are consumed awaie like smoke and my bones are burnt vp as it were a firebrand My hart is smitten downe and withered like grasse so that I forget to eate my bread For the voice of my groaning my bones will scarse cleaue to my flesh I am become like a Pellicane in the wildernesse and like an Owle that is in the desert I haue watched am euen as it were a Sparowe that sitteth alone vpon the house top Mine enimies reuile me all the daie long and they that are mad vpō me are sworne togither against me For I haue eaten ashes as it were bread and mingled my drinke with weeping And that because of thine indignation and wrath for thou hast taken me vp and cast me downe My daies are gone like a shadowe and I am withered like grasse But thou O Lord shalt endure for euer and thy remembrance throughout all generations Thou shalt arise and haue mercie vpon Sion for it is time that thou haue mercie vpon hir yea the time is come And why thy seruants thinke vpon hir stones and it pitieth them to see hir in the dust The heathen shall feare thy name O Lord and all the kings of the earth thy Maiestie When the Lord shall build vp Sion and when his glorie shall appeare When he turneth him vnto the praier of the poore destitute and despiseth not their desire This shall be written for those that come after and the people which shall be borne shall praise the Lord. For he hath looked downe from his Sanctuarie out of the heauen did the Lord behold the earth That he might heare the mournings of such as bee in captiuitie and deliuer the children appointed vnto death That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion and his woorship at Hierusalem When the people are gathered togither and the kingdomes also to serue the Lord. He brought downe my strength in my iournie and shortened my daies But I said O my God take me not awaie in the midst of mine age as for thy yeares they endure thoroughout all generations Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth and the heauens are the worke of thy hands They shall perish but thou shalt endure they shall all waxe old as doth a garment And as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed but thou art the same and thy yeares shall not faile The children of thy seruants shall continue and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight 6. De profundis Psal 130. OUt of the deepe haue I called vnto thee O Lord Lord heare my voice Oh let thine eares consider well the voice of my complaint If thou Lord wilt be extreame to marke what is done amisse oh Lord who may abide it For there is mercie with thee therefore shalt thou be feared I looked for the Lord my soule doth wait for him in his word is my trust My soule flieth vnto thee Lord before the morning watch I saie before the morning watch O Israell trust in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercie and with him is plentious redemption And he shall redeeme Israell from all his sinnes 7. Domine exaudi Psal 143. HEare my praier O Lord consider my desire hearken vnto me for thy truth and righteousnesse sake And enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified For the enimie hath persecuted my soule he hath smitten my life downe to the ground he hath laid me in the darkenesse as the men that haue beene long dead Therefore is my spirit vexed within me and my heart within me is desolate Yet doo I remember the time past I muse vpon all thy works yea I exercise my selfe in the works of thy hands I stretch foorth my hands vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirstie land Heare me O Lord and that soone for my spirit wareth faint hide not thy face from me least I be like vnto them that go downe into the pit O let me heare thy louing kindnes betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust shew thou me the waie that I should walke in for I lift vp my soule vnto thee Deliuer me O Lord from mine enimies for I flee vnto thee to hide me Teach me to doo the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy louing spirit leade me foorth into the land of righteousnesse Quicken me O Lord for thy name sake and for thy righteousnesse sake bring my soule out of trouble And of thy goodnesse slaie mine enimies and destroie all them that vexe my soule for I am thy seruant Glorie be to the Father to the Sonne and to the holie Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and euer shall be world without end Amen Heerevnto you may adde as occasion and time will serue these select and notable Psalmes of Dauid as they are at large in the Psalter that is to saie the 5 7 13 17 22 25 31 35 42 43 55 56 57 69 71 77 86 88. Other Psalmes or Praiers compiled out of holie Scriptures verie necessarie to be vsed of the afflicted soule for obteining the remission of sinnes and mitigation of miseries O Lord of lords GOD almightie great and dreadfull which by thy word hast made heauen earth the sea all things conteined in them Nothing is able to resist thy power thy mercie is ouer all thy works All things be vnder thy dominion and rule both man and beast and all liuing creatures Thou art mercifull to whome thou wilt and hast compassion on whome it pleaseth thee Thy counsell shall stand for euer and whatsoeuer thou wilt shall be done Power dominion and glorie is thine which art aboue all things and in all things and in vs all Thou art Father of mercies and God of all grace peace and comfort which wilt not the death of a sinner nor delightest in the damnation of soules O Lord God which art rich in mercie and of thine especiall loue towards vs euen when we were thine enimies didst send into the world thine onelie begotten Sonne Iesus Christ that whosoeuer beleeueth dulie in him
are abhominable O teach vs therefore by thy holie spirit to praie rightlie according to thy will and giue eare gratiouslie to our calling O Gratious Lord louing Father according to thy commandement we doo heere present our selues before thy Maiestie humblie prostrating our selues before thy throne of mercie acknowledging and confessing from the bottom of our harts that we be miserable sinners dailie breaking thy commandements both in thought word and deede wherein we iustlie deserue euerlasting damnation and to be vtterlie throwne from thy presence Yet O Lord we see thy goodnesse againe towards vs who not suffering vs thus to perish in our sinnes hast sent thine owne deere Sonne Iesus Christ to take vpon him whatsoeuer is due to reconcile and make vs at one with thee againe In him therefore good Lord and through him doo we come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that we feeling the greeuousnesse of our sins and groaning vnder the burthen of them may feele the release and ease of them in that we be through thy holie spirit assured and stedfastlie beleeue that Christ hath borne the burthen of them euen for vs. Grant O Lord that we being assured heereof in our conscience may through thy holie spirit be renewed in the inward man to hate detest and abhorre sinne and to studie to liue acording to thy blessed will during this whole life We doo not onlie praie for our selues O Lord but also for all the whole Church especiallie such as be persecuted for thy word grant vnto them that whither it be by death or life they may glorifie thy name to their liues end Be mercifull to this Church of England and Ireland we beseech thee good Lord and preserue euerie part and member of the same especiallie thy seruant Elizabeth our gratious Queene and Gouernour Grant hir all such gifts as be needfull for so high a calling to the aduancement of thy glorie and the benefit of this Common-wealth to the establishing of a perfect gouernement of thy Church according to the prescriptrule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of all superstition idolatrie and relikes of Antichrist to the gouerning of hir subiects in all peace and tranquillitie Defend hir O Lord from all conspiracies treasons and rebellions and so worke in the harts of all hir subiects that knowing hir authoritie doth come from thy heauenlie Maiestie they may with obedient harts humblie obeie hir in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Counsell the Magistrates of the Realme that being lightened by thy holy spirit they may defend the truth suppresse wickednesse and mainteine equitie Behold all the pastors and preachers of thy word blesse their labours increase the number of them place ouer euerie Church a painefull watchman remoue all idle lubbers and confound the power of Antichrist and turne the harts of the people that they may be obedient to the truth Blesse the two Uniuersities Cambridge and Oxford and all the students of the same with all the Schooles of learning Behold all those that be afflicted with anie kinde of crosse that they may profit by thy correction in newnesse of life Lastlie for our selues heere gathered togither we render most hartie thanks to thy Maiestie O Lord which hast hitherto from our infancie preserued vs by thy mercie from all perils and dangers both of soule and bodie wherevnto fraile man is subiect that thou hast sent vnto vs all things necessarie for this present life as health food apparell and such like which manie of thy deere children doo want being notwithstanding as pretiouslie bought with the pretious bloud of thy deere Sonne as we be and yet lie in miserie and calamitie oppressed with pouertie nakednesse imprisonment and banishment in which case also deere Father thou mightest haue brought vs saue onlie that thou dealest heerein more fauourablie with vs than with them For the which thy louing kindnesse we giue thee hartie thanks desiring thee that as thou hast hitherto thus fauorablie in mercie preserued vs by thy protection and euen presentlie this daie hast brought vs past all the dangers thereof so we beseech thee good Lord in like fauour behold vs this night that we taking our naturall rest and quietnesse may through thy protection be so defended that our bodies resting our soules may be occupied in beholding thy fauour and mercie towards thy children still looking for the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesu Christ for our full redemption Grant that our sleepe be not immoderate according to the lusts of the flesh but as much as is sufficient to refresh our weake nature that being thus refreshed both the bodie the mind may be more able to doo their seuerall office and function in that vocation wherein thou hast placed vs. Grant that wee laieng our bodies downe to rest may be thereby put in mind of our long rest of death that as we doo laie downe our bodies in bed so we may be thereby admonished that hereafter they shall be laid down in graue to be consumed to dust earth and ashes from whence they were taken that we hauing this before our eies may be stirred vp in minde warilie to walke in this our pilgrimage not knowing when the time shall be of our departure but alwaies be found readie with our lamps of pure faith clearelie burning that we may be accepted to meet the bride groome when our mortall earthlie and corruptible bodies shall be made like to the glorious bodie of our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus there to reigne with him in perpetuall ioie consolation togither with all the elect children of GOD continuallie lauding with all the heauenlie multitude the glorious Maiestie of thee our Lord God and heauenlie Father in our Lord and Sauiour Iesu Christ In whose name for these thy mercies and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be needfull for vs and thy whole Church we praie vnto thee as he himselfe hath taught vs saieng Our Father which art in heauen c. The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance towards vs and grant vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the most comfortable felowship of the holie Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this night and euermore Amen VVhen you vncloth yourselfe and make you vnreadie to bedward praie THis our life and weake knit bodie by reason of sinne by little and little shall be dissolued and so shall be restored to the earth from whence it was taken then will be an end of this vanitie which by our foolishnes we haue wrought to our selues O most meeke Father so doo thou vntie and loose me for thou hast knit me togither that I may perceiue my selfe to be loosed and dissolued and so may remember both of whom I was made and also whither I go least I be had vnprepared vnto thy tribunali and iudgement
be ransomed with his owne goods and that one man woman might loue another the more hartilie God I saie appeared in the shape of a man to the end that both bodie and soule might be made blessed by renewing the eie of the mind in his Godhead and the eie of the bodie in his manhood so that whether man went in or out he might find food in him laid vp in store by him in his humane nature Most iniurious therefore is that man or woman to Gods diuinitie that so by hating of their brethren and sisters their owne flesh contemne Christ and offend his humanitie The Thanks-giuing ILift vp my hart vnto thee O God for it is verie meet right and my bounden dutie that I should at all times in all places giue thanks vnto thee O Lord holie father almightie and euerlasting God because thou didst giue Iesus Christ thine onlie Sonne to be borne as this daie for me and all mankind who by the operation of the holie Ghost was made verie man of the substance of the blessed Uirgin Marie his mother and that without all spot of sinne to make vs cleane from all sinne Therefore with Angels and Archangels and with all the holie companie of Saincts and Uirgins in heauen I laud and magnifie thy glorious name euermore praising thee and saieng Holie Holie Holie Lord God of hostes heauen and earth are full of thy glorie Glorie be to thee O Lord most high Amen 3. On Newyeares daie Of Christ his circumcision in the flesh The Preface CIrcumcise the foreskin of your hart and be no more stiffenecked Deuter. 18. Be ye circumcised in the Lord I saie and cut awaie the foreskin of your hart and euill affections all ye inhabitants of Iuda and Ierusalem Iere. 4. For the circumcision of the hart which consisteth in the spirit and not in the letter is the true circumcision whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 4. Yea we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and reioice in Christ Iesus and haue no confidence in the flesh Philip. 3. For circumcision verelie auaileth if thou keepe the lawe but if thou be a breaker of the ordinances of the lawe thy circumcision is made vncircumcision c. Rom. 2. Oh that my waies were made so direct that I might keepe thy statutes so shall I not be confounded Order my steps in thy word and so shall no wickednesse haue dominion ouer me I will keepe thy ceremonies O forsake me not vtterlie Halleluiah The Praier O Lord Iesus Christ Sonne of the liuing God we thanke thee forasmuch as after thy decree concerning the redemption of mankind from the beginning thou hast beene present with thy Church outwardlie by speaking vnto hir by thy ministers and inwardlie by kindling thy light and righteousnesse in the harts of the faithfull Thou hast ratified thy promises by outward signes and ceremonies whereby euerie man may applie the benefits vnto himselfe So did thy burnt offerings and sacrifices testifie of thee which afterwards should be slaine The flames of fire which from heauen did set on fire the offerings did witnesse of thy presence that as manie as should behold thy benefits with a true faith thou wouldest quicken with the sacrifice of thine holie spirit which inflameth true knowledge and good motions within the godlie That life was giuen to them of thy meere mercie the first parents did knowe full well when it was said that a woman shall bring foorth And because the mediator was called that seed of the woman and withall promised to be the subduer of Sathan they knew that he should be both God and man The same promise was repeated vnto Abraham the father of the faithfull And forasmuch as restraint was made vnto a certaine nation thou didst adde a new rite of circumcision whereby not onelie the posteritie of Abraham was discerned from other nations but also it was a testimonie admonishing of the seed to come which was Christ who should take our weake flesh vpon him and beare our nature and bring both Iewes and Gentils vnto eternall felicitie Wherefore we yeeld thee humble thanks forasmuch as hitherto thou hast continued this sound of thy person and office notwithstanding the great raging of thine enimies for appearing at the length in the flesh for giuing thy selfe vnto vs for a Newyeares gift of inestimable price for being made vnder the lawe a cursse to saue vs wretches from the cursse of the lawe and to restore vs vnto innocencie lost through sinne For which cause thy blessed will was as vpon this daie to be circumcised in the flesh and now first of all to shead thy pretious bloud for vs that are of vncircumcised harts and lips and all to shew that thou camest in deede of the verie seed of Abraham and wast subiect to the lawe cursse and condemnation for vs and that our corrupt nature by thy holinesse might be sanctified and haue through thee an obedience to answere the same withall We beseech thee therefore grant vs the true circumcision of the spirit that our harts all our members being mortified from all worldlie and carnall lusts we may in all things obeie thy blessed will and heere staie our selues and put our trust in thee that thus hast humbled thy selfe so lowe for vs that we may be exalted by thee And from our harts we praie thee ioine vs to that holie companie that did wait for thy redemption before it came and doo reioice in it now it is come and performed and with the sacred host of Angels to giue all glorie renowme vnto thee for bringing thy peace which passeth all vnderstanding vpon the earth and declaring so great kindnesse and good will towards vs as to giue thy selfe and thereby euerlasting ioie and blisse for a Newyeares gift of worthie memoriall and inestimable value to be our owne for euer and euer Speake hencefoorth to our harts with thy louelie voice Lighten the lampe of our minds with thy heauenlie knowledge Confirme vs with thy blessed Sacraments which are the certaine tokens of thine vndoubted regeneration and quickning of vs. Oh take awaie the cursse the wrath of God damnation the works of the flesh and the diuell Grant me I beseech thee that thy grace may dailie mortifie my concupiscence of pleasures in things of this world that is of wealth riches glorie libertie fauour of men meates drinks apparell ease yea and life it selfe that the horror and impatiencie of more greeuous things may be weakened and I accustome my selfe to denie my will in more easie and pleasant things of this life and for euer become obedient and readie in all Christian patience to doo thy good will in all things hartilie and willinglie to serue thee and doo whatsoeuer may please thee Make me I saie through the effectuall power of thy grace and holie spirit working in me most miserable wretch to hate abhor flie and subdue all adulterie whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturall lusts
euill concupiscence inordinate desires wantonnes tendernes delicatenes idlenes dronkennes gluttonie slothfulnes distrust despaire ignorance weakenes wilfulnes idolatrie superstition hypocrisie heresie error sects variance strife wrath enuie slanders lieng swearing curssing vaine-glorie pride couetousnes theft deceit flatterie and whatsoeuer else O Lord fighteth or rebelleth against thy holie spirit And strengthen me so with thy might that I may not onlie drawe all these mine earthlie members and horrible vices before rehearsed vnder my feet but also fight continuallie against them subdue them so that they may all turne to the best for me as meet matter whereon I may exercise my faith powre foorth hartie praier and giue thee most hartie thanks for victorie Finallie worke in me thy blessing with all the fruits of the spirit righteousnes peace loue ioie in the holie Ghost long-suffering gentlenes goodnes faithfulnes meekenes temperance strength patience and such like Grant vs the remission of our sinnes righteousnes and life Restore in our minds thy lawe and begin such a new conformitie this new yeare in this our life and conuersation as may be perfect in the life to come Be thou our sauiour by thy power and merit that in our minds we may perceiue that thy Father is at peace with vs through thy death and find thee dwelling within vs to eternall life and happinesse Amen Halleluiah 4. On the Epiphanie or twelfe daie Of the apparition of Christ and the three Kings and their offerings to Christ The Preface GET thee vp beetimes and be bright O daughter Ierusalem For thy light commeth and the glorie of the Lord is risen vpon thee Lift vp thine eies looke round about thee For behold the Gentiles shall come to thy light and kings to the brightnesse that springeth foorth vpon thee The multitude of camels and dromedaries that bring the riches of the Gentiles shall couer thee all they of Saba Mada and Epha shall come bringing gold incense and shewing foorth the praise of the Lord. All these gather themselues and come to thee thy sonnes shall come vnto thee from farre and thy daughters shall gather themselues to thee on euerie side frō the east and from the west The isles also shall wait for me and speciallie the ships of Tharsis that they may bring thy sonnes and daughters from farre and their siluer and their gold with them vnto the name of the Lord thy God vnto the holie one of Israel that hath glorified thee Strangers shall build vp thy wals and their kings shall doo thee seruice yea kings princes and the host of the Gentils shall see and arise and worship thee For I haue made thee the light of the Gentiles that thou maist be my health vnto the end of the world Thou shalt suck the milke of the Gentils and kings brests shall feed thee kings I saie shall be thy nursing fathers and Queenes shall be thy nursing mothers And those shall come kneeling vnto thee that haue vexed thee and all they that despise thee shall fall at thy feet before thee with their faces flat vpon the earth and licke vp the dust of thy feet Yea euerie people and kingdome that serueth not thee shall perish and be destroied with vtter destruction and thou shalt knowe that I am the Lord the Sauiour and Redeemer euen the mightie one of Iacob and that whosoeuer putteth his trust in me shall not be confounded They that dwell in the wildernes I saie shall kneele before the Kings sonne his enimies shall licke the dust The king of Tharsis and of the isles shall giue presents the kings of Arabia Saba shall bring gifts All kings shall fall downe before him all nations shall doo him seruice He shall liue and vnto him shall be giuen the gold of Arabia Praier shall be made euer vnto him and dailie shall he be praised The Lord declared his saluation his righteousnesse hath he openlie shewed in the sight of the heathen All the world shall worship thee O God sing of thee and praise thy name most high The Lord is King the earth may be glad thereof yea the multitude of isles may reioice and bee glad thereof Bring therefore vnto the Lord O ye mightie bring presents and gifts vnto the Lord O ye kindreds and nations of the world Come I saie into his courts with praise and speake good of his name Ascribe vnto the Lord onelie the strength power kingdome and glorie worship God I saie O ye gods kings iudges and rulers of the earth worship him with an holie worship and giue him the honor due vnto his name O make his praises to be glorious in your liues and conuersation For he it is that hath exalted you and is himselfe exalted farre aboue all gods and his praise and glorie is aboue heauen and earth Halleluiah The Praier OEternall God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which after a woonderfull maner reuealedst thy selfe at the baptisme of Christ standing in the water of Iordan at such time as thou diddest testifie of thy sonne and the holie Ghost appeared in the likenesse of a dooue gouerne vs by thine holie spirit that in true faith we may obeie thee kindle in our minds a true knowledge of thy benefits bring to passe that approching vnto thee in our praiers we may discerne thee the true God aboue all feined gods in mind turne our selues into that banke of the water into the companie of those godlie auditors and beholders before whom this noble appearing was made Speake vnto vs by thy sonne in the holie Ghost and turne vs vnto true obedience And as thou broughtest godlie auditors vnto the sight of Christ which taking our flesh vpon him became our mediatour and thou eternall Father spakest out of the cloud and the holie Ghost appeared in the likenes of a dooue so bring to passe that in this life we may depend vpon the benefit of thy soone which coupled our nature vnto his to make an eternall couenant with vs. Cause the heauens in like maner to be opened vnto vs that we may heare thy voice and thy spirit rest vpon vs. Worke in vs the beginning of eternall life vntill in thy visible presence we shall be hold thy diuinivntill in the heauens not darklie and in a cloud but face to face beeing made like thy sonne And as those Christian Magicians or Philosophers of Persia some remnants of the schoole of Daniel by the conduct and leading of a starre came from farre to see thee and gaue a notable testimonie of the birth of Christ Iesus our Sauiour so mainteine euermore for thine owne glorie sake some congregation which may set foorth and celebrate thy benefits Grant that that luckie starre the light of faith may rise vnto vs which seeketh thee in Bethlem in a manger in thy word reuealed in the ministerie that we wander not from the right waie neither seeke fained bywaies of humane opinions seruice Suffer not the lampe of thy light to be extinguished either