let him come to this holy Table let him eate the Bread and drinke the Bloud of that Lambe that taketh away his sinnes and will present him pure vnto the Lord. The Lords eye is pure and can abide no wickednesse The Sacrament is holy touch it not rashly If thou haue not on the wedding Garment of sincerity come not the Lord will finde thee out and thrust thee forth of his presence among the vnbeleeuers whose portion shall be with the Diuell and his Angels Let vs therefore search and examine our wayes let vs lift vp our hands with our hearts vnto God in the Heauens and feede on this holy mysterie the life of our soules in remembrance of Christs death vntill his second comming O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer to be said at the receiuing of the holy Communion OH most gracious Lord God mercifull and louing Father in Jesus Christ my Redéemer in whom thou art also my Father by Adoption in and by thy Sonne my soule O Lord which was lost in Adam bought and redéemed by the Death and Passion of Jesus Christ doth earnestly long and entirely desire to be more and more assured that I am fully and really vnited vnto thée againe in him and therefore I doe hunger and thirst to partake of those meanes whereby that sweete and precious vnion may be confirmed in mée Increase my knowledge more and more of thy sauing truth reuealed vnto vs in thy word and increase my faith to beléeue what thou hast taught for our saluation let me take perfect and assured hold of my regeneration wrought in me by Baptisme the seale of thy promise set vpon mée when I knew not thy Law wherein as I promised to forsake sinne and cleaue vnto righteousnesse so Lord let the operation of thy holy Spirit then promised worke in my soule a true detestation of the workes of darknesse and loue vnfained to thy celestiall and diuine light And for that thou in Christ hast left vnto vs a second seale of thy loue and our adoption the Sacrament of the body and bloud of that immaculate Lambe who for a remembrance of his death our frée adoption by him instituted the same at his last supper with his Disciples and commanded thy Saints dispersed through the world through all generations to this day and for euer to the end of the world to communicate of this holy Sacrament in commemoration of that high and most preuailing sacrifice the offering of thy Son vpon the Crosse for our redemption and attonement with thée And therefore most louing Father I come in the name of him thy Son not of my selfe presuming but in all humblenes through his merits vnto this holy Table to partake with the rest of thy Saints by adoption here at this time gathered together of this holy and heauenly banquet humbly begging at thy hands for his sake that it may please thée to prepare my heart which of it selfe is not onely dull but prophane teach me being of my selfe not onely ignorant of this sacred mystery but too much knowing sinne Sanctifie me by thy holy Spirit who of my selfe am not onely corrupt but wholly prone to euill euermore consequently vnworthy to eat at this holy Table to partake of thy loue so vnspeakable Oh forgiue me Father in thy Christ here represented vnto vs ingraft in me a liuely assurance that my sinnes are done away by his bloud giue me faith to beléeue in him who by faith is made ours and we in him thine by adoption elected euen of thy frée mercy and made heires with Christ Jesus of eternall glory whereof this holy mystery is the most assured pledge Oh make me a worthy partaker of so precious a benefit And for that sinners Lord are not admitted to this sacred banquet of sauing foode where shall I appeare whose sinnes drew downe from heauen him whom thou most dearely louedst and betraid him to the Crosse how then shall I presume to appeare in this holy assembly appointed for thy Saints onely a Table of sanctitie whereof none partake but such as are frée from sinne Who then Lord dare presume to eate of this bread or to drinke of this Cup onely those whom thou hast called who though sinners by nature yet are they thy children by grace and so their sinnes are not imputed vnto them for whom Christ by his death hath satisfied apprehended by faith shewed forth in newnesse of life and wrought in vs by his righteousnesse in whose name accept me good Father and let the garment of his innocency couer my sinnes and so let me come to this holy Table And as a new man shaped in holinesse and righteousnesse let mée euermore henceforth walk before thée and more delight in thy Commandements then in any or in all worldly things let me by thy power be powerfull ouer Satan let his instigations neuer preuaile in me and let all corrupt affections die in me and let mee wholly die to sinne and liue to righteousnesse and true holinesse And for that I liue among men of diuers dispositions giue me grace to loue all but to couet to conuerse onely with such as are thine as néere as I may to reuenge me of none but to forgiue all wrongs and iniuries and so farre to forget them as I may studie and endeuour to doe good vnto all especially to such as are of the communion of Saints And enlighten mine vnderstanding more and more that I may seé and consider alwayes mine owne weakenesse wants and imperfections that I may so much the more beare with others by how much I cannot but confesie I come farre short of my duty to theé who so offendeth mee most I offend thée much more And therefore good Father frame in my heart loue vnfained true patience and liuely obedience Leaue me not either to the dulnesse peruersenesse or pride of mine owne nature or to mine owne corrupt will make mée little and lowly in mine owne eyes and giue me humblenesse of spirit and indue me with all heauenly vertues that I may rrsemble my first estate of innocency and let my present estate of grace come neere to resemble thy dearest children yea thy selfe who as thou forgauest vs in him that was Lord of all and for vs became as a seruant by his bloud washed away our sins offering his most innocent body a sacrifice for our sinnes whose rent body and spilt bloud being here represented vnto vs by bread and wine I doe most humbly pray theé that wée may be accepted worthy receiuers of his true body and bloud signified thereby and that we may féele euen instantly a renewing of our mindes our hearts to be changed from all corrupt affections and our soules swallowed vp with the due contemplation of this most sacred mystery wherein thou giuest vs not onely thy visible creatures of bread and wine to refresh our weake bodies but thine owne Sonne to saue our soules and bodies Oh who is worthy to open the
in the yeere Thirty dayes hath Nouember Aprill Iune and September The rest hath thirty and one Except it be February alone Which alwayes hath twenty eight meere When it is no Bisextile or Leape-yeere A note of the Moneths weekes dayes and houres throughout the whole veere The yeere containeth Moneths 12. Hours 69478 Weekes 5â— Dayes 365. Day Naturall hath 24 houres Artificiali 12 An Alminacke for ten yeeres The vere of our Lord. The prime Sundaies letter Leape yeere Ashwednesday the first day of Lent Easter day Whit sunday 1620 1 B A Mar. 1. Apr. 16. Iune 4. 1621 2 G  Feb. 14 Apr. 1. May 20. 1622 3 F  Mar. 6. Apr. 21. Iune 9. 1623 4 E  Feb. 16. Apr. 13. Iune 1. 1624 5 D C Feb. 11. Mar. 28. May 16. 1625 6 B  Mar. 3. Apr. 17 Iune 5. 1626 7 A  Feb. 12. Apr. 9. May 28. 1627 8 G  Feb. 7. Mar. 25 May 13. 1628 9 F E Feb. 27. Apr. 13. Iune 1. 1629 10 D  Feb. 18. Apr. 5. May 24. TO THE RIGHT Vertuous and godly Lady the Lady MARGERY KILLEGREVVE wife vnto the right Worshipfull SIR WILLIAM KILLEGREVVE KNIGHT IT pleased you RIGHT worthy LADY heretofore to affoord this little Treatise kinde allowance to enter vnder your Roofe and to accept it as a friendlesse Pilgrime committed to your shelter protection and such hath beene the opinion of your selfe the Patrones touching the same that many others in imitation of your kinde acceptance of it haue likewise fauourably censured it and friendly receiued it not for his sake that sent it to seeke friends but for yours I assure me that shewed it and me friendship And now the Booke simple as it is being dispersed into the hands of many with the poore Title of A poore Mansrest becomes to be more and more richly regarded And therefore I could doe no lesse after this seauenth Impression but reuiew it and augment it and recommed it again vnto your fauourable tuition nothing doubting but the longer it passeth abroad in the worlds view the more it shall increase in your high commendation that will vouchsafe to countenance so poore a Guest Your Ladiships euer at commandment Io. NORDEN To all that are in any distresse rest and consolation in Christ IESVS I Am out of doubt by mine own experience that this little Booke intituled The poore Mans rest shall bring no lesse vnto thee then the title importeth if thou faithfully vse it it offereth thee the meane by perseuerance and practice to attaine vnto the rest of the soule not as the rich man vainely promising rest vnto his Soule through the superfluous fulnes of worldly blessings was sent suddenly to hell but that rest which Christ himselfe promiseth Mat. 11. 29. Where he saith Take my yoke on you learn of me that I am meek lowly in heart ye shal finde rest for your soules True rest commeth not by the pleasures of this life but by the yoke of Christ namely by his corrections which consisteth in troubles in crosses in afflictions in miseries in want in hunger in nakednesse in imprisonment in banishment in things displeasing to flesh bloud Why then should we seeme to kicke against Gods louing chastisements and milde corrections which as an easie yoke he putteth on our necks as a light burthen he laieth on our shoulders He tryeth vs but a little while will neuer ouer-charge vs if we seeke rest and reliefe and power and strength to beare it at his hands not at the hands of mortall men whom yet the Lord in mercy vseth to comfort his afflicted Children Why then couet we not to bevisited with the rod rather then to be left to the liberty of this wicked worlds vanities that are only the baits of confusion And therefore saith Eliphas Iob 5. 17. Blessed is the man whom GOD correcteth Paul 2 Thes. 1. 5. affirmeth that it is a token of GODS righteous iudgement to punish his Children here that they may be accounted worthy of the Kingdome of God and that they be not coÌ„demned with the world and it is a righteous thing with him to recompence tribulatioÌ„ to them that trouble you but to you that are troubled rest not the outward rest of the body while it abideth on the earth thogh woldly men hold liberty and lust and health and honour possessions and authority and wealth and waâ—â—onnesse and vanity and fulnesse yea and filthines a sweet and more certayne rest then the rest peace of a good conscience which in all the assaults of sin and Sathan in all trials troubles and crosses in pouerty sicknesse taunts and ignominy and in most bitter misery if thou canst say truly with Paul Gal. 6. 14. God forbid that I should reioice but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ wherby the world is crucified vnto me and I vnto the world thou shalt haue rest for thy soule And therefore what if ye be cast down as into the gulfe of disdaine among men and seeme out-casts in the world cast-awaies of the world for your troubles trials sake and because of the want of the worlds glory thinke it not strange nor grudge hut reioyce for it ministreth vnto you occasion to flye worldly confidence to take hold of the heauenly promises it worketh discord between you Belial and concord betweene you and Christ raising your thoughts from earth to heaue because as the body is earthly being furnished with the worlds pleasing vanities is loth to depart and leaue them so the soule being fettered by naturall carnall affections is held also captiue and cannot lift it selfe vp by the wings of desire of heauenly things vntill the body be depriued of her delights here then hath the Soule inner man scope sanctified by the spirit of God to mount by the wings of Faith vnto her rest namely to a resolute contentation to abide the Lords leasure purpose in all things yea when we seeme to be meerly forsaken of the world we should neither feare nor be faint-hearted knowing that our Redeemer liueth But as the Lord of life saith Seeke yee my face Psal. 27. 8. Let vs answere with Dauid Thy face O Lord will we seeke For this is the rest that poore men must seeke this is the rest that will fill vs better then the Gluttons feast is more precious then the health of the body then the wealth of the world then the pleasures of the flesh The gold of al the Indies cannot purchase it the Kings of the earth by force cannot obtaine it nor the wisest of the world comprehend it But thou poore man who so thou be in what case soeuer thou art poore and needy sicke and weake hated despised threatned and abused apprehended and imprisoned or in what miserable case else soeuer euen thou shalt attaine vnto this rest if thou seeke it instantly praying faithfully if thou be patient and grudge
desire to appeare before his glorious presence that I may sée the good things that he hath laid vp in heauen for them that are his For I am weary of my groaning I faint vnder the most cruell burthen of the miseries which hée for my sinnes hath laid iustly vpon mée here in this mortall life O God the Rocke of my strength Lord of mercy why sufferest thou 〈◊〉 thus to languish and finde no reliefe why mourne I daily and haue no comfort why cry I vnto thée and thou hearest not why doe my sorrowes increase â—â—th I séeke thée vnfainedly Defend mée O defend mee in this time of my greatest danger relieue me in the time of my most néede preserue me from the mercilesse and cruell men feede mee with the hid treasures of thy loue and multiply thy blessings vpon me for I am poore miserable and past helpe vnlesse thou helpe mee and sustaine me O Lord. Be not farre away from me and put me not altogether to confusion let me not vtterly perish while there is none to helpe I am ignominious in the sight of all men by reason of my miseries miserable by reason of my sins I am a reproch vnto my neighbours and many iest and laugh at my fall Insomuch as I am ashamed to be seene of men and wish I were able to flye out of the earth and that I might once be where I might with ioy behold thée in thy triumphant Throne where is neither hunger nor thirst nor nakednesse nor want nor ignominy nor sinne nor death but all fulnesse and glory and truth and ioy and life eternall O swéet being with thée most happy dwelling and abiding with thée But loe Lord this place so glorious these ioyes so swéet and these comforts so sure are not attained vnto but with vnfauoury affliction in this life This future happy and immortall life cannot be without the death and suffering of this mortall body And therefore Father eternall be it vnto me in this fraile life euen as thou wilt that I may possesse thée and the ioyes with thée of eternall life Afford mée thy fauour let mee inioy thy blessings euen here in this life that I may here beginne to ioy in thee and here beginne to praise thée among the children of men that they may sée and consider that though great are the troubles and miseries and afflictions which the Righteous suffer here thou yet deliuerest them out of all So shall J also giue thanks vnto thée thy praise shall be in my mouth continually my soule and mâ—ne inward parts shall glory in thée and glorifie thée I will say vnto thée O mine hope and my fortresse thou art my God in thee will I trust when thou shalt make mée glad againe I will be glad in thée and when I reioyce I will reioyce in thée for it is thy selfe onely that comfortest the abiect and deliuerest the poore from them that persecute them Awake therefore in time O Lord awake preserue me that I perish not in these miseries and lest I being as one forgotten and forsaken of thée be censured a cast-away among such as sée me and so being depriued of the occasion of praising thée for my deliuery I be driuen from one sorrow to another and all my hope turned into distrust of any recouery Hide not thou therefore thy face forget not my miseries and be not carelesse of mine afflictions for euer My soule is beaten downe euen to the dust my heart fainteth my hands become weake my knées waxe féeble mine eyes are dimme and all the parts of my body are vexed and I goe continually mourning in my miseries O sée regard my miserable plight looke vpon my griefes and ease the intollerable burthens of my calamities for though thou hast made a great wouÌ„d by thy corrections yet O Lord thou canst cure it againe with spiritual comfort not with-hold the outward good things ordained for the comfort of thy Children in this life Turne thy face vnto mee which I instantly seeke send downe thine aide which I heartily craue and haue mercy vpon mee for I am most desolate and poore Rise vp O Lord rise vp thou that art louing and bountifull let me rise vp againe by thee that am throwne downe by thee and though my sinnes as a sword haue cut me from thy fauour let the righteousnesse of thy beloued vnite me vnto thee againe in such sort as nothing may separate me from thee for euer O Lord increase my Faith A Motiue to the seauenth Prayer In which the poore distressed man sheweth his desire to hold fast the Promises of God and to shew himselfe thankefull THE poore Man being lately in an extreame agonie neere vnto despaire by reason of his sinnes and miseries he here begins to rowze himselfe vp againe sodainely crying out that the Lord is yet his hope and therefore promiseth to hold fast by him and not to giue ouer for euer no whatsoeuer troubles doe befall him and miseries assaile him yea howsoeuer the world and worldly things be moued against him he armeth himselfe with faith in God to stand with patience in all Nay such is his assurance of a more blessed being after this little time of tryall that hee affirmeth these crosses that happen here to be but trifles and of no weight to be borne in respect of the future happinesse yet because hee will not seeme senselesse of Gods corrections and be idle in well doing hee still solliciteth the Lord for some tokens of his loue here namely that hee will binde vp his sores and heale his wounds with his holy helpe and that he will renue him with spirituall vnderstanding and cleanse his affections that he may thinke speake and doe all to the glory of his name and that his tongue may be an instrument to praise him before the children of men for his deliuery promising to continue constant till the time appointed The seauenth Prayer in distresse O Lord thou art yet my hope and strength thou art a helper in trouble and doest not hiâ—e thée for euer from thy distressed Children Therefore I will yet hold fast by thée and will yet trust in thée while I liue and haue breath I will not vtterly faint nor feare though greater stormes yet arise thâ—n hither to I haue endured though the Earth tremble vnder mée and all thy creatures rage round about mée I will say still and confesse and acknowledge that thou art my God and therefore thou wilt not suffer me to be vtterly lost or perish altogether No Lord though the earth be moued and though the mountaines be tumbled into the middest of the Sea though the waters roare and swell and the loftie hils tremble at the furie thereof yet will I not be discouraged because I haue thée my Saluation Should I then faint at the small afflictions which as little darts thou shootest at me in loue not to kill mee but to put me in minde of my vanitie and forgetfulnesse
shalt be fed and shalt haue cause to reioyce in him and to sing praises vnto his name for trusting in him his mercy shall compasse me about and comfort mee with ioyfull deliuerance yea none that trusteth in him shall perish The eyes of the Lord are vpon them that trust in him trust in him O my soule then shalt thou say I sought the Lord and hee heard mee and deliuered mee and relieued mee and defended mee and brought mee out of all my dangers O how good and how gracious is this God who sendeth his Angels to encampe about such as truely trust 〈◊〉 him that no perill or feare or crosse or temptation hurt them Blessed are they that trust in him Feare the Lord O my soule trust in him cry vnto him cease not to doe good be not weary of well doing for nothing wanteth to them that feare him Delight thy selfe in the Lord and he shall giue thee thy hearts desire commit thy vvay vnto the Lord and trust in him and he shall bring all things to good end for thee Waite patiently vpon the Lord hope in him feare not though the earth be moued and though trouble inuiron thée round about for the Lord out of heauen shall send and saue thée and shall not suffer thée to perish altogether O God remember thy promises how thou hast said thou wilt not faile mée I beléeue it Lord Lord helpe mine vnbeliefe Upon thée I haue béene stayed from my youth and it is onely of thy mercy that I had not béene confounded long agone for of my selfe I haue fallen but thou Lord hast raised me of my selfe I perish but through thée I haue béene euer preserued Consider this O my soule and forget not the benefits of the Lord how hée hath made thée as Mount Sion that can neuer be moued Let neither pouerty or sicknesse or losse or enemies or any crosses or whatsoeuer troubles driue thée from trust in this God and assure thée that neither life nor death nor things present nor things to come shall dismay thée his mercies and goodnesse and blessings and fauour loue shall follow thée and féede thée and relieue thée and protect thée and saue thée from all dangers for eueâ— O Lord increase my Faith Faith is the ground of things which are hoped for the euidence of things that are not seene Heb. 11. 1. Aboue all take the shield of faith wherewith ye may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked Ephes 6. ver 16. I beleeued and therefore I spake Psal. 116. 10. They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion that cannot be moued Psal. 125. 1. A necessary Meditation concerning the vncertainty of mans happinesse in this life and the certainty of the endlesse happinesse of the children of God in the life to come notvvithstanding their present miseries here MJne eyes haue séene and mine heart hath duely considered the fickle and fraile and féeble and vncoustant happinesse of man in this life yea I my selfe haue found by experience that this world administreth vnto man no periect comfort while hée liueth vpon the earth Yet flesh bloud the foolish outward man besotted with the vaine delights of sinnes deceits and snared with the baits of vaine hope the pleasures and comforts and glory and ease and fulnes of earthly vanities thinketh himselfe safe and in state of such sure and neuer-failing happinesse that he walloweth in the mire of deceiuing security vntill at vnawares the hand of the liuing God be stretched out against him and either turneth his hope to despaire his glory into shame his ease into trouble his fulnesse into want or all the vaine things wherein he delighteth into griefe and sorrow O my soule trust not therefore in the transitory trash and pelfe wealth of this world for it deceiueth and deuoureth men and as the rust and canâ—er eateth and wasteth iron so doth the loue thereof deuoure thy trust in God and thy practice of better things Trust not in worldly friends for their words are vaine their promises not performed nor their helpe worth thy hope It is better to put confidence in the Lord then to trust in Princes for they who haue their breath in their nostrels are but men whose power is of the earth and whose hands are féeble and their deuices vaine Some trust in chariots and some in horsemen but O my soule trust thou in the liuing God be doing good and thou shalt remaine when the foolish man that beleeueth in flesh and dependeth on earthly meanes shall fall and perish Be not carried away O my soule therefore with the hope of any mans helpe nor feare what man can doe against thée for suddenly is thy friend taken from thée and he that séeketh thy destruction brought to a fearefull end Thy happinesse is not to haue heapes of gold and siluer many friends and all earthly abundance for the abuse of these are dangerous because they draw thée from séeking God and they are short and bring thée to destruction leauing thy carkase naked in the graue and thy selfe O my soule in the mercilesse pit What auailed the rich mans worldly pleasures when hée went suddenly to hell What hindred the beggers pouerty when hee went immediately to heauen How was Iob impouerished hauing mighty wealth What miseries doe follow the mightest men is daily séene and how terrible the end is of such as haue not the Lord their strength but put their trust in the multitude of their riches Who can say The wealthy man is happy When he sléepeth he sléepeth in feare when he walketh he walketh in danger and when hee is in his best age strongest body and best state hée suddenly dieth and leaueth his wealth he knoweth not to whom And who can say the poore fearing God is vnhappy in his basenesse and want and iâ—nominy sith hée setteth his hope vpon the neuer-failing God he séeketh his helpe from heauen and is fed as with the dew thereof onely hope sustaineth him and his want is timely supplied with wished necessaries and his heart comforted in his déepest miseries he lieth downe in faith and patience and thankefulnesse and the Lord sustaineth him and when he dieth he liueth and raigneth and reioyceth in God his Sauiour O that I might haue no delight in the vaine things of this world O my soule be at peace within mée when I haue warres without me be contented and grudge not when I want the outward fulnesse of worldly things for I sée and consider that carnall meanes cannot saue me but the mercies of the Lord wherein he affordeth vnto his faithfull ones all things to enioy Though he make me a reproach among my friends and though hée suffer me to stand a gazing stocke before the eies of the wicked who triumph in their owne glory gotten by their owne hands and deuices and the Lord none of their counsell I will not yet be dismayed neither will I be moued at their prosperity for I
thy promise ease my burden giue me quiet and comfortable sléepe and refreshment to my restlesse body and to blesse all those good meanes which shall be prescribed vnto mée that they may tend to my cure and amendment for without thy blessing they are of no force and vertue that I with thy blessed Seruants Iob Lazarus Dauid and others hauing experience of thy might truth and mercy in my reliefe and amendment may with all ioy and loue praise thée truely serue thée and more confidently relye vpon thée all the dayes of my life yea and for the instruction and incouragement of the afflicted publish and declare the infinite and excéeding Power of thy might and compassion Uouchsafe O most gracious Father to incline thine eares to this mine humble Petition and to grant me all other things néedfull and necessary for my soule and body for thy deare Sonne Christ â—esus sake my onely Sauiour and Redéemer to whom with thy Maiesty and thy blessed Spirit thrée persons and one God al-powerfull and sufficient be ascribed and giuen all honour praise and glory now and alwayes Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer to be said at the point of Death O Lord God Almighty I assuring my selfe my time is come my soule waxeth heauy euen vnto death vouchsafe therefore O Lord to cast downe thine eyes vpon mée bedew my heart with the Oyle of thy grace forgiue mée my sinnes confirme my faith shorten my pangs of Death expell Sathan for thine infinite mercy helpe mée in this my last conflict looke vpon Jesus Christ thy Sonne my Sauiour and Redéemer into thy most blessed and gracious hands I commit my soule refuse it not O God but accept me for it is thy owne workemanship and let me depart in thy feare and rise againe in thy mercifull fauour that I may attaine and come to thy eternall and most wished ioyes of heauen for and through the merits of my blessed Sauiour Christ Jesus to whom with thée and the holy Ghost be all glory honour and praise for euermore Amen O Lord increase my Faith and receiue my soule A Confession of sinnes with a very necessary Prayer to be said of poore distressed men Morning and Euening and at all times else as they shall be thereunto moued O Father ful of mercy I yéeld vnto thée all praise and thanks for thy continual most swéet fauors and especiall graces bestowed frankely on me thy vnworthy Creature for Electing me to saluation for Creating me for Redéeming mée for Relieuing mee and for Preseruing me euermore Great is thy loue in Christ my Sauiour infinite thy Power vnspeakeable thy Mercies Relieue me alwayes and direct nice in all things let thy will be a Law vnto my will that my corrupt affections draw me not to consent againe to the vnsauoury lusts of my carnall will which to this day haâ—h ouer-much miscarryed mée into the vaine destres of this wicked Worlds pleasures the baits of that mortall aduersary deceiuing Sathan the defiled fruits of my sinnefull flesh and the cords whereby I haue beene drawne from vertue to vice from sanctity to sinne from light to darkenesse from Heauen to dreadfull Hell My sinnes O Lord haue beene many and continuall my seruing of thee cold and seldome O forgiue mee and let not my yeeres consume any longer in vanity let mine hands hate to handle vnholy things let my heart harbour no more the hatefull thoughts of vnrighteousnesse and let my soule be so seasoned with the spirituall dew of thy blessed Word that my Soule and Body being sanctified to euery good work I may cast off the vnprofitable works of darkenesse and onely cleaue to the true seruice of thée who art ful of grace and truth Be vnto me the sweet sauour of life vnto life be vnto me the light of truth that my life be not vnprofitable in good things nor my soule depriued of thy sacred spirit without which man is poore possessing all worldly riches base in most high worldly honour and dead liue he neuer so strongly in the flesh Therefore Father full of mercy be mercifull vnto mée full of power protect mée prouident relieue mee most sacred sanctifie me Let the eyes of thy fauour be alwayes on mée let the relieuing hand of thy helpe be alwayes toward mée be vnto mée a strong Castle a Restfull refuge a Fountaine of reliefe the Supply of my wants my Protector my Sauiour my Guide and my wisedome my will and my zeale Be vnto me my Jesus my Christ my Father my Physition my lot and my portion be vnto me all in all that nothing want in mée which thou likest nor any thing dwell in mée which thou mislâ—kest that I being a sanctified vessell of heauen may be a fit Mansion for thy sacred Maiesty to abide in by thy blessed Spirit Yéelde me O Lord yéelde me continuall shelter vnder thy relieuing wings foster mée with the hid treasures of thy loue and learne mée so to liue that I may euer liue in thée and thou in me make that vnion betwéene my will and thy Word that I will nothing but as thou hast willed and blot out all mine vnworthinesse and in stead thereof imprint the merits of thy Sonne in whom Lord Almighty let me be also partaker of the good things of this life let not pouerty vtterly depriue me of a competent estate here but blesse thou the workes of my hands prosper thou my endeuours and raise vp gracious meanes for me that I may liue not lack things necessary Thou art all sufficient and in thy gifts manifold thy loue is without limitation and thy will without contradiction what thou decréest shal stand and what thou willest shall come to passe Will thou therefore will thou thy creatures which thou hast ordained for the good and seruice of thy children â—o serue my vse that I and mine may be sustained by thy prouidence for what am I Lord that I should stand vpon mine owne power wit or policy which are weaknesse and foolishnesse before thée Thy Word preuaileth speake and all things in heauen and earth shall obey thée yea thine heauenly Angels shall be ministring Spirits for my good and all the fruits of the earth shall adde comfort to my wretched estate Good Father sanctifie mée within and without and fructifie my calling blesse my endeuours and teach me to vse my function iustly and as I ought that I may so prosper in this present life that I may truly pay all men their due and owe nothing to any man but good will a thing to mee impossible but to thee easie to bring to passe To thee therefore I referre mée wholly blesse me that being blessed I may prosper that prospering I may praise thée and in praising thée please thée and be here comforted of thée and liue righteously in thee through the merits of thy beloued Sonne Christ Jesus who hauing purchased all things for this life and in the life to come for me be with thée and
which the world cannot giue that both our hearts and workes may answere thy Commandements and that our dayes through thy protection may be alwayes quiet from trouble Speake thou peace vnto all people especially to thy Saints Let thy saluation be nigh them that feare thée that glory may dwell within our Land Let mercy and Truth méete together yea let Justice and Peace imbrace each other Let Truth arise out of the Earth and Righteousnesse looke downe from Heauen Let the Mountaines and the Hils bring Peace to the people and Shéepe of thy Pasture Blesse Lord all Countries Cities Townes and places where thy Word doth abide and is purely preached and increase the number of them in the vniuersall World O Lord send them much peace that delight in thy Law let them be without stones to stumble at and blesse them with prosperity within their places O eternall God which hast called vs in peace grant wée may haue peace with all men and let vs highly account of holinesse without which none can sée the Lord nor haue peace in the Lord. Represse the Diuell the breaker of godly Concord and Christian Peace which 〈◊〉 aging throughout al Nations soweth euery where the séede of strife and discord as the Séeds-man of falshood and lâ—es O God of Peace which makest an end of Warre throughout the World protect vs from War and slaughter scatter the Kingdomes that delight in Warre breake and hinder all euill Counsels and the purpose of such as minde after nothing else but the shedding of innocent bloud Let them come to shame and perish through their owne imaginations that practise euill against thy Church Giue all men a desire of peace contented mindes in their vocation and a care to aduance the welfare of that place where they inhabite Where Strife Contention and Discord is amongst men reconcile their hearts and mindes that these flames fires may speedily be put out for thou canst conclude a Truce for vs and all Men and make the Wolfe to dwell with the Lambe and the Leopard to lye downe with the Kid. Make our Tabernacles safe and quiet that about them there may be arich tranquillity which may abound like the Streame running ouer his Bankes and our righteousnesse as the Waues of the Sea which is neuer dry In thee shall wee haue our wished peace and the worke of righteousnesse shall be peace and her fruit rest and quietnesse for euer and thy people shall dwell in the Innes of peace and in sure dwellings and in safe places of comfort Heare vs O Lord of peace and grant that thy peace which passeth all vnderstanding may kéepe our hearts and mindes in the loue of our Lord Jesus Christ who liueth and raigneth with thée in the vnity of the holy Spirit now and for euermore Amen O Lord increase our Faith in Peace A Prayer to be vsed of a Widdow Doth not the teares runne downe the Widdowes checkes and her cry is against them that causeth them for from her cheekes doe they goe into heauen and the Lord which heareth them doth accept them Ecclus. 25. 15. Shee that is a Widdow indeede and left alone trusteth in God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day But shee that liueth in play is dead while shee liueth 1 Tim. 5. 5 6. O Eternall and most mercifull God which according to thine holy will hast made mée a poore distressed Widdow by taking away my beare and louing husband out of this transitory world vnto thée do I cry in this my misery haue mercy on mée I humbly beséech thée and forgiue all mine offences which I haue committed against thy diuine â—aiesty be fauourable vnto mée O Lord and take pitty on mée for I am alone and comfortlesse Behold mine affliction and misery relieue my wants as thou didst relieue that Widdow of Sarepta whom thou diddest most miraculously preserue by the Prophet Elias take the like compassion on mée assist mée behold my necessity and deliuer mée out of all troubles Grant likewise that I may finde fauour in the sight of all Gouernours and Magistrates that I be not iniured contrary to equity In like manner let mée finde amongst men Christian consideration and commiseration of my present â—state and succour with godly counsell protect mée from false tongues which are like rasors cutting deceitfully and as the sharpe arrowes of a mighty man Kéepe mée O Lord from slander and from the tongues of wicked men which with poysoned words haue bent themselues to cast downe the poore and néedy and to destroy such as are of vpright conuersation I humbly betéech thée O Lord to giue mée grace to liue in this mine estate of widowhood chastly and godly shewing my selfe an example of godlinesse to others putting alwayes my hope and affiance in thy mercy let me with all patience and fortitude indure all crosses laid vpon me and continue faithfully in making of supplicatious night and day vnto thée Looke how the eyes of a seruant are vpon her Mistresse so are mine eyes bent vpon thée my Lord vntill thou haue mercy on me Haue mercy therefore O Lord on mée for I am full of infirmity heare me O Father euen for Christs sake thy Sonne and my Sauiour to whom be giuen all praise and honour now and euermore Amen A Prayer for one that prepares himselfe for marriage House and riches are the inheritance of the fathers but a prudent wife commeth of the Lord Pro. 19. 14. Well is hee that dwelleth with a wife of vnderstanding Ecclus. 25. 8. Blessed is he that hath a vertuous wife for the number of his yeares shall be double an honest woman recouereth her husband and she shall fill the yeares of his life with peace A vertuous woman is a good portion which shall be giuen as a gift vnto such as feare and serue the Lord Ecclus. 26. 1. 2. 3. O Heauenly God euerlasting and most powerful Father I do prostrate my selfe before the throne of thy Maiesty humbly thanking thée in that thou hast formed mée in the wombe of my mother and suffered mée to be borne such as I am maintained me likewise from mine infancy to this instant and preserued me from infinite perils for it is through thy goodnesse and fatherly blessing that I haue attained to the yéeres I am now in and in that time thou hast taught mee by thy holy word to know Jesus Christ thy beloued Sonne the onely ioy and comfort that a Christian can haue because in the true knowledge of him consisteth eternall life and therefore I cannot sufficiently yéelde thée praise for the infinite and innumerable benefits thou hast bestowed on me Neuerthelesse because thou hast commanded vs to call vpon thée in all our necessities and most louingly hast promised to heare vs let it now please thée graciously to helpe me For I haue found and proued that in regard of mine owne natures corruption I cannot continue chaste and blamelesse except I vse the meanes which thou