Apostle S. Paule with more consolations in Christ than he felt sorrowes and terrors in the world haue mercie vpon mee a most miserable vile and wretched sinner which now draw neere the gates of death deserued both in soule and bodie eternallie by reasoâ— of my manyfolde horrible olde and newe transgressions which to thine eies O Lorde God are open and knowen Oh bee mercifull vnto mee and forgiue mee for the bitter death and bloudshedding of thine onely sonne Iesus Christ And though thy iustice do require in respect of my sinnes that nowe thou shouldest not heare mee conteraning thy dailie callinges yet let thy mercie which is aboue al my workes and wherewith the earth is filled let thy mercy I say preuaile towards me through the merits and mediation of Christ our fauiour for whose sake it pleaseth thee to bring me foorth now as one of his witnesses and a recorde bearer of thy veritie and trueth taught by him to giue my life therefore of which dignitie I do acknowledge deare God that there was neuer any so unworthie and unmâ—ete no not the thiefe that hanged with him on the crosse I humbly therefore pray thee that thou wouldest accordingly aid helpe and assist me with thy strength and heauenly grace that with Christ thy Sonne I may finde comfort with Stephen I may see thy presence and gratious power with Paule and al others which for thy names sake haue suffered afliction and death I may 〈◊〉 present with mee thy gratious 〈◊〉 that I may by my death glorist thy holy 〈◊〉 set forth and retifie thy veritie comfort the hearts of the heauie confirme thy church in thy truth conuertsome that 〈◊〉 be conuerted 〈◊〉 so depart out of this 〈…〉 where I do nothing but daiâ—e heape 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 and enter into the fruition of thy blessed mercie whereof howe giue and increase in me a liuely taste 〈◊〉 and feeling where through the terâ—our of death the tormentes of 〈◊〉 the paines of â—â—me the dartes of Sathan and the dotours of hell may neuer ouercome 〈◊〉 but may be driâ—en away through the working of y â— most gratious spirit which now 〈…〉 me withall y â— through the samespirit I may offer as nowâ— I 〈◊〉 readie to doe in Christ and by him myselfe wholy soule and bodie to be a liuely sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight deare father whose I am and al waieâ— haue beene euen from my mothers wombe yea euen before the worlde was made to whome I commend my selfe faith name familie and friendes countrie and all the whole Church yea 〈◊〉 my verie enimies according to thy good pleasure beseeching thee intirely to giue once more to this Real me of England the blessing of thy word againe with godly peace to then teaching and setting foorth of the same O deer father now guide me to come vnto thee so purge and purshe me by this fire in Christes death passion through thy spirite that I may be a buâ—nt offering of sweete 〈◊〉 thy sight which liuest and raignest with the sonne and the holy 〈◊〉 now 〈◊〉 euermore world without 〈◊〉 Amen The Letanie O God the Father of heauen haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen c. O God the sonne redeemer of the worlde haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the sonne redeemer of c. O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the father and the sonne haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost c. O holy blessed glorious Trinitie three persons and one God haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou bengeance of our sinnes spake vs good Lord spare thy people whome thou hast redeemed with thy most precious bloude and be not angry with vs for euer 〈◊〉 Spare to good Lord. From all 〈…〉 from sinne from the crafts and assaults of the deuill from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From blindnesse of heart from pride vaine glory and hypocrisie froÌ„ 〈◊〉 hatred and malice and all 〈…〉 Good Lord deliuer vs. From fornication and all other 〈◊〉 sin and from all the deceits of the world the flesh and the diuell Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightning and tempest from plague pestilence famine from battâ—l murther from sodaâ—ne death Good Lord deliuervs From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrine and herisie from hardnesse of heart contempt of thy word commandement Good Lord deliuer vs. By the misterie of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuitie and circumcision by thy baptisme fasting temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agonie and bloudy sweat by thy crosse and passion by thy glorious resurrection and assention and by the comming of the holy Ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In all time of our tribulation in all time of our wealth in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. We sinners do beseech thee to heare vs O Lorde God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holy Church vniuersally in the right way We beeseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to keepe strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnes and holines of life thy seruant Elizabeth our most gracious Queene and goâ—ernor We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to rule her hearte in thy faith feare a loue and that she may euermore haue affiance in thee and euer seeke thy honour glorie We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to be her defender and keeper giuing her the victorie ouer all her enemies We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to illuminate all bishops pâ—stors Ministers of the church with true knowledge vnderstanding of thy worde and that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it forth and she in it accordingly We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to endue the Lorde of the councell and all the nobilitie with grace wise dome and vnderstanding We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to blesse keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute iustice and to maintaine trueth We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to blesse keepe all thy people We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue to all nations vnitie peace and concord We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue vs an heart to loue and dread thee and diligently to liue after thy commandements We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue all thy people increase of grace to heare meekely thy worde and to receiue it with pure affection
therefore should not onlie be thankfull for the same but also stirred vp therby to seeke loue and worship him Secondlie that we shuld be wel perswaded of his good prouidence toward vs when wee vnderstand that he doth not onely promise that he will neuer faile vs but also hath his hand alwaies streched out to help them that call vpon him Thirdlie that our faith of reconciliation and forgiuenesse of sins should bee exercised through the asking of those corporal things And herein we must speciallie and aboue al things seek the glorie of God therfore we must praie for these corporall thinges in such sort that we may offer therwith our obedience vnto God Here of we haue examples of Christ when he said Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me neuerthelesse not as I vvil but as thou vvilt with this obedience to the will of God spake Dauid when he desired to be brought again into his kingdom saying If I shal find fauor in the sight of the lord hee vvill bring me againe but if hee shall saie vnto me thou doest not please me I am ready let him doe as it seemeth good And Iob saith Though he kil me yet vvill I put my trust in him Therefore for as much as we doe knowe that it is the lot of Gods children to bee alwaâ—e vnder the crosse and therfore concerning those corporall benefites we know not how or what to aske as wee ought wee must herein offer our obedience vnto God abiding his good will pleasure so long as it shall see me good vnto him to exercise vs in the want thereof who suffereth vs sometime to be afflicted for our chastisment and for the probation of our countenance and also that we may receiue with greater gladnesse if to his diuine wisdome it seeme expedient for vs that which with ardent desire we long looked for S. Paule saith VVhen vve are iudged vve are chastened of the Lorde because vve should not bee condemned vvith the vvorld But when we pray for spiritual things we must aske them absolutely and without condition for hereunto doe pertaine the chiefe promises of the gospell of the which God would haue vs most assured Verilie verilie I saie vnto you saith Christ hee that beleeueth in me hath euerlasting life As sure as I liue saith the Lord I vvill not the death of a sinner but that he returne and liue To the promise of God wee must ioyne examples wherby we learne that God hath hard holpen those that call vpon him For all deliuerances whether they bee of other wherof the scripture are ful or of our selues whereof wee haue experience are examples of Gods promises Hereby did Dauid comfort himfelfe in the anguish and heauinesse of his heart saying I vvill remember the vvorks of the Lord and call to mind thy vvoonders of olde time Thou hast mightilie deliuered thy people euen the sonnes of Jacob and Ioseph Againe I vvill be glad and reioice in thy mercie for thou hast seene my trouble thou hast knovvn my soule in aduersitie And thus being warned both by promises and examples let vs learne to cast our care vpon the Lord to call vpon him and to looke for help at his hande So shal our faith by little little be more firme and certaine and our heart shal rest in hope and exspectation of Gods help But for asmuch as of our selues we are vnwoorthie to appeare in Gods sight whose terrible Maiestie comming once into our minde it is impossible but that we should flie from him as a fearfull Iudge therefore he hath giuen vnto vs a Mediatour euen our Lord Iesus that he being a meane between God and vs might chaunge the throne of dreadfull glorie into the throne of grace that we by his merites hauing accesse vnto God might haue assured trust to find grace in his sight If anie man sinne saith S. Iohn vve haue an Aduocate vvith the father Jesus Christ the iust and he is the Reconciliation for our sinnes To him saith Saint Peter beare al the Prophets vvitnesse that through his name at that beleeue in him shall receiue forginenesse of their sinnes By vvhome saith Saint Paule vve haue boldnesse and enteraunce in all confidence through faith in him And againe VVee haue not an high priest vvhich cannot haue compassion on our infirmities but vvas in all points tempted like as vve are sinne excepted let us goe ' boldlie therefore unto the throne of his grace that vve may receiue mercie and find grace to helpe in time of neede And as wee are commanded to call vpon God and haue a promise also to be heard euen so we are commanded to make our praiers vnto him in the name faith confidence of this our mediator and wee haue no promise to be heard without him in whom are all the promises of God yea and Amen confirmed and fulfilled And no man commeth to the father but by the sonne For he is our mouth whereby we speake to the father hee is our eie whereby wee see the father and he is our right hande whereby we offer ourselues to the father VVhatsoeuer therefore we aske in his name wee haue a promise to obtaine it Veriliâ— veriliâ— saith Christ I saie vntoyou vvhatsoeuer yeâ— shall aske the father in my name hee shall giue it you in my name that is for my sake your highe Bishop praying for you Hetherto yee haue not asked anie thing in my name aske and yee shal receiue In that day ye shall aske in my name and vvhat soeuerye aske I vvil doe that the father maie be glorified in the sonne Of praier there be two parts petition and thankesguing By petition we poure foorth out desires before God requiring first those thinges that may set forth his glorie and then such benefites as are profitable and necessarie for vs. By giuing of thankes wee praise and magnifie his benefites bestowed vppon vs acknowledging that whatsoeuer good things we enioy we haue receiued theÌ„ of his free goodnes and liberalitie Therfore Dauid ioyned those two partes together in one verse when he saith Call vpon me in the day of necessitie I vvill deliuer theeand thou shalt glorifie me The scripture commaundeth vs to vse both and that continuallie For our necessitie is so great our life is so full of troubles and calamities and so many daungers hang ouer our heades euerie moment that wee haue all cause ynough yea euen the most holie with sighes and groanings continually to flie vnto God and call vpon him in most humble wise But this we may better perceiue in things pertaining to the soule For when shal so many great sins whereof we know our selues guiltie suffer vs to be without care not to craue pardon of God for the same when will Sathan giue vs rest and quietnesse when will he cease to range about seeking whom he may destroy when shall
gouerne and nourish vs and vnder his winges protection prouidence preserueth vs. When you are made readie to begin the day withall pray O Almighty God and most mercifull father thou knowest and hast taught vs also something to knowe that the weakenesse of man and woman is great and that with out thy grace they can neither do nor think any good thing Haue mercy vpoÌ„ me I huÌ„bly beseech thee thy most weake fraile and vnworthy Childe Lighten my mind that I may with pleasure looke vpon good things onely Inflame my hart with the therof that I may carefully court them and at the last by thy gratious conducting may happily attaine them through Iesus Christ our Lorde I distrusting altogether mine owke weakenes commend a offer my selfe both soule and body into thy hands Thy louing spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousnesse Cogitations meete to begin the daie withall Thinke first that man consisteth of soule body that the soule is from heauen heauenly firm and immortall but the body is from the earth earthly fraile and mortall Againe thinke that though by reason of sinne wherein you are conceyued and borne the partes of the soule which do vnderstande and desire bee so corrupt that without speciall grace to both partes you can neither know nor loue anie good thing in Gods sight much lesse then doe that is good yet this notwithstanding thinke that you are regenerate by CHRISTES resurrection which your Baptisme requireth you to beleeue and therefore haue both those partes some thing reformed both to knowe and to loue and therefore to doe also some good in the sight of God through Christ for whose sake our poore doings are accepted for good the euil and infirmitie cleauing therevnto not beeing imputed through faith Thinke that by faith which is Gods seede for they which beleefe we are borne of GOD and made Gods children giuen to those that bee ordayned to eternall life thinke I say that by faith you receiue more and more the spirite of sanctification through the vse of Gods worde and sacramentes and earnest prayer to illuminate your mindes vnderstanding iudgement and reason and to bowe forme frame and inflame your affections with loue and power to doe that which is good therefore vse you the meanes aforesaid accordinglie Thinke that by this spirite you are through fayth coupled to Christ as a liuelie member and so to God and as it were made one with him and by loue which springeth out of this faith you are made one also with al that be of God and so you haue fellowshippe with GOD and all good men that euer were or shall be in al the good that God and all his saintes haue or shall haue Thinke that as by faith and loue through the spirite of GOD you are now entred into his communion the blessednesse wherof no tongue can expresse so after this life you shall first in soule and in the last day in body also enioy for euer the same society most perfectly which nowe is but begunne in you Thinke then of your negligence that doe so little care for this your happie estate Thinke vpon your ingratitude to God for making you redeeming you calling you and solouingly adopting you Thinke vpon your folly in fantasing so much earthly and bodily pleasures Thinke vpon your deaâ—nee blindnes which heare not God nor see him he calling you so diligently by his works word and sacraments Thinke vpon your frowardnes which will not be lead of God and his spirit Thinke vpon your forgetfulnesse and in consideration of your heauenly estate how your bodie is the temple of the holy Ghost your members are the members of Christ the whole world and all things there in are your owne Therefore say vnto your soule O my soule arise follow God contemne this world purpose well and pursue it long for the â—ords comming be readie and 〈…〉 And forsomuch as you must liue to Gods pleasure see the vocation and state of your life wherevnto God hath called you and pray to God for grace knowledge abilitie to take the most profitable things in hand wel to begin better to go on and best of all to ende the same to Gods glorie to the profite of your brethren and thinke that time lost wherein you speake not or do not or at the least thinke not somthing to Gods glorie and the commoditie of your brethren When you go forth of the doores pray NOw must I walke among the snares of death stretched out of Sathan and of his mischieuous ministers in the worlde carrying with mee a friende to them both a foe to myselfe euen this bodie of sinne and sinnefull flesh Oh graund captaine Christ leade me and guide me I beseech thee Defend mee from the plagues and subtilties wherof I am in daunger Graunt that I may take al things that happen as I shoulde doe and setting mine eyes vpon thee onely I may so goe on foreward in thy waies as by nothing I be hinde red but rather furthered so that all my doings may tend to thy glorie Shewe mee thy waies O Lorde and teach me thy paths Psal 25. Occasions to meditate I Consider howe vainelie the moste part of men are occupied howe many waies they trouble and cumber themselues thereby much alienating their mindes from the knowledge and cogitation of that which they shoulde most esteeme and so become a let and an offence to others As in going abroad you will see that your apparell bee seemely in the sight of men so see how seemely you appeare in the sight of God When you are going any iourney praie THis our life is a pilgrimage From the Lord we came and to the Lorde wee make our iourney howbeit through daungerous and perillous waies which our cruel the enemies hâ—ue and do prepare for vs being nowe more then starâ—â— blinde by reason of sinne O Christ which arâ— a most true loades man and guide and also most expert faithfull and friendly put thou ouâ— thine hand open mine eies make thy high waie knowen vnto mee which thou diddest first enter into out of this corruptible life and hast prepared the same for vs to immortalitie Thâ—â— art the way leade vs vnto the father by thy selfe that all wee may bee one with him as thou and hee together be one Shewe mee the way that I shoulde walk in for I lift vp my soule vnto thee Psal 124. Or praie thus MErcifull father thou art wont to send to thy seruants and men of simple heartes thine Angels to be their keepers as it were guids as elder brother to watch vpon thy weake children So diddest thou to yong Tobias to Iacob to Abrahams seruant to Iosua c. O gratious GOD though wee bee much vnlike vntothem so many are our sins yet for thine owne goodnesse sake sende thine holy angels to pitche their tentes about vs to hide vs defend 〈◊〉 from Sathan his slaues to carie vs
of the gift and calling neither wilt thou at any time breake thy couenant of race and mercy in Christ thy sonnes merites confirmed in vs by that seale loue token For what though wee be weake in our beleefe shal our vnbeleefe make thy promise of no effect No thou wilt alway bee founde true but all men are lyars And yet Lord thou doest most graciously behold accept bee it neuer so little a sparke of faith We say therfore cry vnto thee with one y e wept said I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeleefe Yea that little be it neuer so little is thy meere gift also The which as thou hast begun so most merciful Lord increase the same more more to the peace and comfort of our conscience and the glorie of thy name through Iesus Christ Amen A thankesgiuing to God for his great benefites HOnour and prayse bee giuen to thee Lorde God almightie most deare Father of heauen for all thy mercies and louing kindenesse shewed vnto vs in that it hath pleased thy gracious goodnesse freelie and of thine owne accorde to elect and choose vs to saluation afore the beginning of the worlde and euen like continuall thankes bee giuen vnto thee for creating vs after thine owne image for redeeming vs with the precious bloud of thy deare Sonne when we were vtterlie lost for sanctifying vs with thy holie spirite in the reuelation and knowledge of thy sacred word for helping and succouring vs in all our neede and necessity for sauing vs from all daunger both of bodie and soule for comforting vs so fatherlie in al our troubles and afflictions for sparing vs so long and giuing vs so large a time of repentance These benefites O most mercifull Father like as we do acknowledge that wee haue receiued of thy onelie goodnesse euen so wee beseech thee for thy deere sonne Iesus Christ his sake to graunt vs alwaies thy holy spirite whereby we may continually growe in thankefulnesse towardes thee be lead in all trueth and comforted in all aduersitie Strengthen our faith O lorde kindle it more and more in feruentnesse and loue towardes shee and our neighbours for thy sake Suffer vs not most deere Father to receiue thy word any more in vaine but graunt vs alwaies the assistance of thy grace and holy spirite that in heart word and deede we may sanctifie and doe worship to thy holy name that wee may helpe to amplifie and increase thy kingdome and that whatsoeuer thou sendest we may heartily wel be content with thy good wil and pleasure Suffer vs not to lacke the thing O Father without the which wee cannot serue thee but blesse thou so all the workes of our hands that we may haue sufficient and not to bee chargeable but rather helpefull vnto other Bee mercifull O Lorde vnto our offences and seeing our debt is great which thou hast forgiuen vs in Iesus Christ make vs to loue thee and our neighbors so much the more Be thou O father our captayne defender in all temptations holde thou vs by thy mercifull hande that we thereby may be deliuered from al inconueniences and end our liues in the sanctifying and honouring of thy name through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen A prayer for true mortification O God my creator preseruer and euerlasting defender where first in my creation I was made like vnto thine owne likenesse the deuil alas hath since by Adams fall made mee vgly monstrous and euill fauored like to him self For what are nowe Lorde mine earthly members but as thine Apostle writeth adulterie whoredome vncleanesse vnnaturall lustes euill concupiscence couetousnes which is the worshipping of Idols such other for the which thy wrath is wont to come vpon the children of vnbeleefe Neuerthelesse Lord of thy great mercy and goodnesse against this so greate a mischiefe a much greater remedy thy fatherly prouidence hath or dayned for thou hast sent Iesus Christ thy deare only natural sonne into this world the vale of miseries to loose the workes of the deuill and to take away my sinnes Therefore Sathan hath nowe nothing to brag of for through Christ al that beleeue in thee and so become thy children do ouercome the world the flesh the deuil And this is the victorie which ouercometh them al euen our faith That faith I meane which is perswaded that whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ shall not perish but haue euerlasting life That faith which beleeueth the testimony to be true which thou God the father doest testifie of thy sonne so making thee no lyar and this is y â— testimonie that thou hast giuen vs eternall life That faith which beleeueth that thou Father who raisedst vp Christ from death shalt also quicken our mortall bodies through thy holie spirit dwelling in vs. That faith which beleeueth it to bee true which thy Sonne Christe affirmed with a double oth saying Verily velily I say vnto you hee that beleeueth in mee the works that I doe the same shall hee doe and greater workes than these shall he doe because I goe to my Father And finally that faith which beleeueth that nowe Christ hath been lift vpon the crosse he shal drawe all thinges vnto him This faith I say is the victory which ouercommeth our enemies the deuil the world and our flesh Thou therfore deare father which hast promised to giue whatsoeuer I shall aske in thy deare sonne Iesus name for thy great mercie and infallâ—ble truethes sake do now in mee y e thing that he came for loose in me the workes of the diuel take away my sinnes I beseech thee make stedfast my faith and confidence in thy promised mercies and merciful promises so that I assuredlie beleeuing in thee may haue as thou hast promist euerlasting life making thee deare God no â—iâ—r may beleeue feele know in my heart and conscience that the same euerlasting life is thy meere and free gift vnto mee yea all readie of thy great goodnes vndoubtedly giuen me being now traslated from death to life Of a thankfulnesse wherof Lord cause me now dailie to mortifie my earthlie members yea deare father â—â—th thy spirit which raysed vp christ from death dwelleth within me doe thou who raisedst Christ froÌ„ death quicken my mortal bodie throgh thy spirit so dwelling within me I beseech thee yea Lord Iesu according to thy promise because thou art now gone to thy father make mee worke this woÌ„derful great work that thou speakest of I meane make me being of my selfe but a lumpe of sinne and a monster most vgly as the vices whereon the members of my earthlie body are aboue declared to be compact doe proone make me I say yet through thy grace to hate abhorre flee and subdue all adultery whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturrall lusts euill concupiscence vnordinate desires wantonnesse tendernesse delicatenesse idlenesse drunkennesse gluttonie slouthfulnesse distrust despaire ignorance
greeuously tormented in sundry places for the true profession of thy holy Ghospel who in their extreme necessities cry for comfort vnto thee Let not thy long suffering O Lord be an occasion either to increase the tyranny of thy enimies or to discorage thy children but with speede O Lorde consider their greate miseries and afflictions Preuent the cruell deuise of Hamon stay the rage of Holophernes breake off the counsel of Achitophell Let not the wicked say Where is now their God Let thy afficted flocke feele present aide and releefe from thee O Lord looke down vpon them with thy pytiful eye from thy holy habitation sende terrour and trembling among their enemies make an ende of their outragious tyranny beate backe their boldenesse in suppressing thy truth in destroying thy true seruants in defacing thy glorie and in setting vp Antichrist Let them not thus proudly aduance themselues against thee and thy Christ but let them vnderstande and feele that against thee they fight Preserue and defend the Wine which thy right hande hath planted and let all Nations see the glorie of thine annointed Amen A prayer to be saide before the preaching of Gods worde ALmightie God and most mercifull father whose worde is a lanterne to our feete and a light vnto our steppes we most humbly beseech thee to illuminate our mindes that wee may vnderstand the misteries conteined in thy holy lawe and into the selfe same thing that wee godly vnderstand we may be vertuously transformed so that of no part wee offend thy diuine maiestie through Iesus Christ our Lord. An other IN this great darknes of our souleâ— O Lord thou shinest diuers waieâ— vnto vs by the light of thy grace but in nothinge so effectually as in the preaching of thy worde Greate is the Haruest as thou thy selfe hast saide and the workmen are few The greatest part of men are ignorant wrapped in miserable blindnesse and fewe there bee that teach thy worde truely and as they ought Wee beseech thee therefore to sende foorth woorkemen into thy haruest Sende â—eachers O Lord which are taught of thee and instructed by the spirite of godly wisdome and vnderstanding which by their preaching will â—eeke not themselues but thee because they are godly and can so doe because they are wise vnderstand â—iue to the preacher of thy worâ—e are present out of the treasures of by wisdome that which hee may â—â—wre vpon vs to our saluation and â—â—to vs giue thy grace holy spirite O Lord so to heare and to receiue thy worde that the good seede which falleth vppon vs bee not choked with thornes or withered away with heate or deuoured by the foules of the aire but may grow vp in a good-grounde and fructifie with greate increase A prayer to be sayde after the preaching of Gods worde ALmightie God and most mercifull Father wee heartely beseech thee that this seede of thy worde noâ— sowen amongest vs may take such deepe roote that neither the burning heate of affliction or persecutiâ—e cause it to wither neither the thâ—â—â—nie cares of this life doe choke it be that as seede sowen in good ground it may bring foorth thirtie sixtie 〈◊〉 an hundred folde as thy heauenâ—â— wisedome hath appointed And â—â—â—cause wee haue neede continually to craue many thinges at thy hands we humbly beseech thee O heauenly father to grant vs thy holy spirite so to direct our petitions that they may proceede from such a feruent minde is may be agreeable to thy most blessed will And seeing that our infirmitie is such that wee are able to doe nothing without thy helpe and that thou art not ignorant with howe manie and â—reate tentations wee poore wretches are on euery side compassed and inclosed let thy strength O Lorde â—ustaine our weakenesse and assist vs with thy grace that wee may be fafeâ—pre serued against all the assaultes 〈◊〉 Sathan who goeth about like a â—aring Lyon seeking to deuour vs. Increase our faith O merciful Father that wee doe not swarâ—e at aâ—etime from thy heauenly worde Augment in vs hope and loue with a carefull keeping of all thy commandements that no heardnes of heart no hypocrisie no concupiscence of the eyes nor intisements of the worlde doe drawe vs away from thy obedience And seeing the times are dangerous wherein wee liue let thy fatherly prouidence defende vs against the violence of all our enimies and specially against the furious rage of that Romish Idoll enimie to thy Christ Furthermore for as much as by thy holie Apostle wee bee taught to make our prayers and supplications for all men wee praye not only for our selues heere present but beseech thee also to reduce all such as bee yet ignorant from the miserable captiuitie of blindnesse and error to the pure vnderstanding of thy heauenly trueth that wee all with one consent and vnitie of minde map worship thee our onely God and sauiour Wee beseech thee also most decare Father for pastors and ministers to whome thou hast committed the dispensation of thy holy worde and charge of thy chosen people that both in their life and doctrine they may bee founde faithfull setting onely before their eyes thy glorie and that by them all poore sheepe which wander and goe astray may be sought out brought to thy fold Againe that it woulde please thee to deliuer thy church from such idle â—hâ—pe heardes wolues and hirelings â—s seeke themselues and their bellies and not thy glorie and the safegarde of thy flocke Moreouer because the heartes of â—ulers are in thy handes wee make our praers vnto thee for all Princes and Magistrates to whome thou â—ast committed the administration of iustice especially O Lord for the Queenes Maiestie that it woulde please thee to Indue her with thy plentifull grace and principall spirit that she may with a pure faith acknowledge Iesus Christ thy onely sonne to bee King of all Kinges and gouernour of all gouernours euen as thou hast giuen all power vnto him both in heauen and earth and so work in her heart that shee considering whose Minister shee is may heartely seeke and zealously promotâ— thy true honour and glorie carefully trauelling to bring thy people comemitted to her charge and yet remaining almost in all partes of this Realme in miserable blindenesse and darke ignorance to the true knowledge of thee ruling guiding them as shee is taught and commanded by thy holy worde Also wee beseech thee to indue all such as are in any authoritie vnder her with thy grace and holie spirite that they may bee found vpright and faithfull in their calling fauoureres and furtherers of thy holy Ghospell maintainers defenders of the true Preachers and Ministers thereof such as in singlenes of heart wil seeke not themselues but thy glory and the commâ—â—tie of thy people And for that wee bee all
worke in vs that which is acceptable in thy sight SanctifiE vs thoroughout and keepe our whole spirit soule and bodie faultlesse vnto the comming of thy dear sonne our Lord Iesus Christ Thou art faithful O Father who hast promised this who also shall bring it to passe to thee therfore be giuen euerlasting praise honour and glorie Amen A thankesgiuing after meales LEt al nations magnifie the Lord let all people reioyce in praysing and extolling his greate mercies For his fatherly kindnesse is plentifully shewing foorth vpon vs and the truth of his promise endureth for euer Wee render thankes vnto thee O Lord God for thy manifold benefits which we continually receiue at thy bountifull hand not onely for that it hath pleased thee to feede vs in this present life giuing vnto vs al things necessarie for the same but especially because thou hast of thy free mercie fashioned vs anewe into an assured hope of a farre better life the which thou hast declared vnto vs by thy holie Gospel Therefore we humbly beseech thee Oh heauenly father that thou wilt not suffer our affections to bee so intangled and roâ—ted in these earthly corruptible things but that we may alwayes haue our mindes directed to thee oâ— high continually watching for the coÌ„mming of our lord Isesus Christ what time he shal appeare for our full redemption To whom with thee and the holy Ghost bee all honor and glorie for euer and euer So bee it Another thankesgiuing after meales GLorie praise and honour be vnto thee most mercifull and omnipotent Father who hastfed and daylie doest feede of thy most bountifull goodnesse al liuing creatures we beseech thee that as thou hast nourished these our mortal bodies with corporall food so thou wouldest replenish our souls with the perfect knowledg of the liuely word of thy beloued son Iesus Christ to whom with thee the holy Ghost be praise glorie and honour for euer So be it Another MOst bountifull and gratious God which feedest all flesh and hast promised that asking of thee we shall not lacke if wee first seeke thy kingdome the righteousnes thereof we feeling presently the benefit of this thy gratious promise in feeding our bodies with this corporal foode do rendervnto thee most harty thanks for the same beseeching thee likewise to feed our soules with that heauenlie foode which perisheth not but abideth vnto euerlasting life so that we being norished by thy goodnesse both in bodie soule may be apt readie to do al good workes which thou hast prepared for vs to walke in through Iesus Christ our Lord. Vnto him that loueth vs and washed vs from our sinnes in his bloud and made vs Kings and Priestes vnto God his father be all glory power and dominion for euermore Amen Another THe God of glorie who hath created redeemed and presently fed vs be blessed for euermore Amen The God of all power who hath called from death the greate pastor of the sheepe our Lord Iesus comfort defend the flock which he hath redeemed by the bloud of the eternall Testament increase the number of true preachers represse the rage of obstinate tyrants lighten the harts of the ignorant releeue the pains of such as be afflicted but specially of those that suffer for the testimonie of thy truth and finally confound Sathan by the power of our Lord Iesus Christe So be it Prayers commonly called Lydleys prayers with certayne godly additions Before thou prayest forgiue if thou hast any thing against any man and come not to GOD with a double heart but lift vp pure handes without wrath or doubting 1. Tim. 2. AL mightie and most mercifull Father I thy poore creature work of thy hands acknowledge confes vnto thee my manifolde sinnes and â—ffences which I froÌ„ my youth vp vnto this day haue committed against thee in thoughte word deede beseeching thee for Iesus Christ thy deere sonnes sake to haue mercie vpon mee and to pardon the same according to thy greate mercie which hast promised that At what time soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart thou wilt put his wickednesse out of thy remembrance O Lord I confesse that I was borne in sinne and conceiued in wickednesse and am by nature a childe of wrath for in my flesh dwelleth no good thing and of my selfe I am not able to thinke a good thought much lesse to doe that thou in thy lawe requirest of mee saying Cursed is he that continueth not in all thinges that are written in the lawe to doe them Againe thy lawe is spirituall but I am carnall sould vnder sinne Therefore O LORD I come vnto thee for grace which hast said Aske ye shal haue seeke ye shall find knock it shal be opened vnto you to preuent draw my will vnto all goodnesse for none can come vnto thee except he be drawn except we be borne from aboue we cannot see the kingdom of God Therefore O Lord renew in mee a right spirit that I may receiue strength and ablenes to doe thy righteous will Grant that I may euer desire and will that which is most pleasing and acceptable to doe thy will Thy will be my will and my will be alwayes to follow thy will Let there be euer in mee one will one desire with thee and let me neuer desire to will or not to will but as thou wilt Graunt mee that aboue all things I may rest in thee and fully quiet pacifie my heart in thee for thou Lord art the true peace of the heart and the perfect rest of the soule Thou knowest Lord what is most profitable expedient for me where fore doe with mee in al things as it shall seeme best vnto thee For it may not be but well that thou dost which doest most iustly and blessedly dispose al things after thy most godly wisedome Therefore whether it be by prosperitie or aduersitie losse or gain sicknesse or health life or death thy will be done Cast out of my heart al vnprofitable cares of worldly thinges and suffer me not to be lead with the vnstable desires of earthly vanities but giue me grace that all worldlye and carnal affections may bee mortified die in mee Graunt vnto mee the strength of thy holie spirite to subdue this body of sinne with the whole lustes thereof that it may be obedient both in wil minde and members to do thy holy wil Assist me with thy grace O Lord that I may be strenthened in the inwarde man and bee armed with thy holy armor which is the breast-plate of righteousnesse the shielde of faith the hope of saluation for an helmet and the sworde of the spirit which is thy holy word that I may stand perfect in all that is thy will be found worthy through Christ to receiue the crowne of life which thou hast promised to all them that loue thee Giue me grace that I may esteeme
Teach mee to doe the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy good spirit leade me vnto the land of righteousnesse A prayer for deliuerance from sinne to be restored to Gods grace fauour againe OH Almightie and euerlasting Lorde GOG which hast male heauen and earth and all thinges therein contained O incomprehensible vnitie Oh alwaies to bee worshipped most blessed trinitie I humblie beseech thee and pray thee by the assumption and crucified humanitie of our Lorde Iesus Christ that thou wouldest incline and howe downe the great depth of thy Deitie to the bottomlesse pit of my vilitie Driue me from al kind of vice wickednes sin Create in mee a cleane heart and renue in me a right spirit for thy holy names sake Oh Lorde Iesu I beseeche thy goodnesse for the exceeding great loue which drew thee out of thy Fathers bosome into the wombe of the holie virgin and for the assumption of mans nature wherin it pleaseth thee to saue mee and to deliuer mee from eternall death that thou wouldest drawe mece out of my selfe into thee my Lord God and graunt that this my loue may recouer againe to me thy grace to increase make perfect in me y t which is wanting to raise vp in me y t which is faln to restore to me that which I haue lost and to quicken in mee that which is dead shoulde liue so that I may become comformable vnto thee in al my life conuersatioÌ„ thou dwelling in me I in thee my heart being coupled with thy grace setled in thy faith for euer Oh my God loose and set at libertie my spirit from al inferior things Gouerne my soule and so work that both in soule and body I may be holie liue to thy glorie world without end Amen I. B. A prayer necessarie to be said at all times O Bountifull lorde Iesu O sweet Sauiour O Christ the sonne of God haue pittie vppon mee mercifully heare mee and despise not my prayers Thou hast created mee of nothing thou hast redEemed mee from the bondage of sinne death hell neither with gold nor siluer but with thy most precious body once offered vpon the crosse and thine owne bloud shed once for al for a ransome Therefore cast me not away whome thou by thy greate wisedome haste made Despise mee not whome thou hast redeemed with such a precious treasure nor let my wickednesse destroye that which thy goodnesse hath buâ—lded Now whiles I liue O Iesu haâ—e mercie on mee for if I die out of thy fauour it wil be too late afterwarde to call for thy mercy Whiles I haue time to repent looke vpon mee with thy mercifull eies as thou diddest vouchsafe to looke vpon Peter thine Apostle that I may bewayle my sinful life obtayne thy fauour to liue and by therein I acknowledge that if thou shouldest deale with me according to thy iustice I haue deserued euerlasting death Therefore I appeale to thy highe throne of mercy trusting to obtayne thy fauour not for my merites but for thy desertes O Iesu who hast giuen thy selfe an acceptable sacrifice to thy father to appease his wrath to bring all finners truly repenting amending their euil life vnto his fauour againe Accept mee O Lorde among the number of them whom thou hast in Christ elected and chosen to saluation Forgiue me my sinnes giue mee grace to leade a godly and innocent life graunt mee thy heauenly wisedome inspire my hearte with faith hope and charitie giue mee grace to be humble in prosperity patient in aduersity obedient to my rulers in al my doinges faithfull dealing truly with al men to liue chastly in wed locke to abhore adultery fornication and al vncleannesse to do good after my power vnto al men to hurt no man that thy name may be glorified in me during this presentlife that I afterward may attain euerlasting life through thy mercie and the merites of thy death and passion Amen A prayer for grace and remission of sinnes O Lorde God mercifull Father I poore wretched sinner come vnto thee in the name of thy dearely beloued sonne Christ Iesus my Sauior beseeching thee for his sake to be merciful vnto me to cast all my sinnes out of thy sight euen through the merites of his bloudie death Powre vpon mee O lorde thy holy spirite of grace and wisedome to gouerne lead my body and soule in thy holy work commandements Shew thy mercy vpon mee so lighten the natural blindnes and darkenes of my heart through thy grace that I may daily be renewed by thy holie spirite Open my heard heart grosse eares to heare and reade thy worde and heauenly voyce and to beleeue and followe it in my conuersation and euer to hold fast that blessed hope of euerlasting life Mortifie and kill all vice in mee that my life may expresse my faith in thee Mercifully heare the humble supplications of thy seruaunt and graunte mee thy peace al my daies Graciously pardon my infirmities and defend mee in al daungers hath outwardlie in my bodie goods and name and inwardlye in my soule against al euil temptations and subtile baites of sathan that roaring Lyon seeking whome hee maye deuoure Graunt O Lorde that I and euery member of thy Church in his vocation and calling may trulie and godlilie serue thee Graft in my hearte the loue of thy name increase in mee true religion replenish mee with all goodnesse and of thy greate mercie keepe me in the same vnto the ende Giue vnto mee the spirite of praier true humilitie perfect patience and continuall ioy in the holy Ghost I commend vnto thy pratection O Father my house all that thou hast giuen me my whole family my wife children and mee that I may wel and holily gouerne nourish and bring them vp in thy feare seruice And forasmuch as in this worlde I must alwayes be at war not with one sort of enimies but with an infinite number not only with flesh bloud but with the diuel which is the prince of darknes grant mee thy grace that being armed with thy defence I may stand in this battaile with an inuincible constancy against all corruption which I am incompassed with on all sides vntil such time as I hauing ended the combat which during this life I must sustaine in y e end I may attaine to thy heauenly rest which is prepared for mee through Christ our Lorde and Sauiour Amen A praier taken out of the first Psalme ALmightie and moste gracious GOD take away from vs all euil counsel and then our sins sufer vs not to runne into an vngodlye and wicked life and finally keepe out mindes farre from the contempt of godlinesse and scorning of vertue 〈◊〉 in the steade of these euils grant 〈◊〉 we may continually bee occupied in thy law and sacred scriptures that we be not carried about like the wicked as like dust and fruitlesse chaffe with
to bring foorth the fruites of the spirâ—te We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to bring in to the waie of trueth all such as haue erred and are deceiued We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand and to comfort and helpe the weake hearted and to raise vp them that fall and finally to beate downe sathan vnder our feete We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort al that he in daunger necessitie and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by lande or by water all women laboring of childe all sicke persons and yong children to shewe thy pittie vpon al prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to defende and prouide for the fatherles children and widowes and al that be desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to haue mercie vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to forgiue our enimies persecutors and slaunderers and to turne their hearts We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to out vse the kindly fruits of the earth so as in due time we may enioy them We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue vs true repentance to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to indue vs with thy holy spirit to amend our liues according to thy holy word We beseech thee to heare vs c. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God we beseech thee c. O lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Graunt vs thy peace O lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Haue mercie vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Our father which art in heauen c. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euil Amen The versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The answere Neither reward vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God mercifull father which despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desires of such as be sorrowfull mercifully assist our praiers that we make before thee in all our troubles aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs gratiously heare vs that those euils which the craft and subtiltie of the diuell or man worketh against vs bee brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that me thy seruantes being hurt by no persecution â—aie euermore giue thankes vnto thee in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble workes that thou diddest in their daies and in the olde time before them Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thine honour Glorie 〈◊〉 to the father and to the Sonne and to the holy ghost As it was in the beginning is now euer shall be worlde without end Amen From our enimies defend vs O Christ Gratiously looke vpon our afflictions Pitifully behoulde the sorrowes of our hearts Mercifully forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauorably with mercy heare our prayers O Sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon vs. Both nowe and euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Graciously heare vs O Christ graciously he are vs O Lord Christ O Lorde let thy mercy be shewed vpon vs. As we doe put our trust in thee Let vs pray VVE humblie beseech thee O Father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glorie of thy names sake turne from vs all those euils that we most righteously haue deserued and graunt that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercie euermore serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of liuing to thy honor and glorie through our onely mediatour aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A prayer for the Queenes Maiestie O Lord our heauenly father high and mighty king of kings Lord of Lords the onely ruler of princes which doest from thy throne beholde all the dwellers vpon the earth most hartily we beseech thee with thy faâ—our to behold our most gratious soueraine Ladie Queene Elizabeth so replenish her with thy grace of thy holy spirit that she may al waies incline to thy wil walk in thy waies endue her plentifully with heauenly gifts grant her in health welth loÌ„g to liue strengthen her that she may vâ—â—quish ouercome al her enemies finally after this life shee may attaine euerlasting ioy and felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A prayer for Bishops and Ministers of the Church ALmightie and euerliuing God which onely workest great marueiles send down vpon our Bishops and Pastours and al congregations committed to their charge the health full spirit of thy grace and that they may truely please thee powre vpon them the continual dewe of thy blessing Graunt this O Lorde for the honor 〈◊〉 aduocate and mediatour Iesus Christ For Raine O GOD heauenlie Father which by thy son Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that seeke thy kingdome and thy righteousnes thereof al things necessarie to their bodily sustenance send vs wee beeseech thee in this one 〈…〉 moderate rained showers that wee may receiue the fruits of the earth to our comfort and to thy honor thorough Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 Lorde Amen For â—aire weather O Lorde God which for the 〈◊〉 of man drodest once drowne all the worlde except eight persons afterwarde of thy great mercie diddest promise neuer to 〈◊〉 it so againe we humblâ—e 〈◊〉 if that although we for our 〈…〉 haue worthyly deserued this plague of raine and waters yet thou wilt send vs such weather whereby 〈◊〉 may receiue the fruits of the earth in due season and learne both by thy punishment to amend outlines and for thy clemencie to giue thee praise glorie through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen In the time of dearth and famine O Merciful God and heauenly father whose gift it is that y e raine dothfal the earth is fruitfull man and beastes increase and fishes doe multiply beholde we beseech thee the afflictions of thy people and graunt that the scarcitie dearth which we doe now most iustly suffer for our iniquitie may through thy goodnes bee mercifully turned into cheapnes and plenty for the loue of Iesus Christ our Lorde to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be praise for euer Amen In the time of warre ALmightie God king of al kings and
gouernour of all thinges whose power no creature is able to resist to whome it belongeth iustly to punish sinners and to be mercifull to them that truely repent saue and deliuer vs we humbly beseech thee froÌ„ the hands of our enimies abate their pride asswage their malice and confound their deuises that wee being armed with thy defence may be preserued from all perils to glorifie thee which art the onely giuer of all victorie through the merites of thy only sonne Iesus Christ our Lord So be it In the time of anie common plague or sicknesse O Almightie God which in thy wrath in the time of King Dauid diddest stay with the plague of pestilence threescore and ten thousand and yet remembring thy mercie didst saue the rest haue pittie vpon vs miserable sinners that 〈◊〉 are visited with great sicknesse mortalitie that like as thou diddest then commaund thine Angel to cease from punishing so it may now please thee to withdrawe from vs this plague grieuous sickenesse through Iesus Christ our Lord. A prayer for the strength and comfort of the holy Ghost ALmightie most mercifull God which giuest to thine elect people thy holy spirit as a sure pledge of thy heauenly kingdome wee most humbly beseech thee so to replenish our hearts with the grace of thy holy spirit that he may bear witnes to our spiritâ— y e we be thy children heires of thy kingdome that by thy gratious working of this thy good spirite we may kil al carnal lustes vnlawful pleasures concupiscences and euil affections contrarie to thy most blessed pleasurs concupiscences and euill affections contrarie to thy most blessed wil through our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ So be it For 〈◊〉 hope and sure taste of euerlasting life O Almightie God which hast prepared euerlasting life for al those that be thy faithfull seruants grant vnto vs 〈◊〉 hope of this 〈◊〉 euerlasting y t whites we bee heere in thit miserable world we may haue some tast and feeling of it in our heartes through the merits of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ So be it For the true knowledge of God and his word and a life agreeable to the same GRaunt vnto vs O mercifull God we most heartelie beseechâ— thee knowledge and true vnvnderstanding of thy blessed will and word that all ignorance being expelled we maie know what thy wil and pleasure is in all things and how to doe our duetie and truly to walke in our vacation and that also wee may expresse in our liuing those thinges that me doe knowe that wee bee not onely knowers of thy wil woorde good Lord but also may be heartie faithfull workers of 〈◊〉 same through our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ So be it A prayer for the strength and increase of faith O Almighty and euerlasting God which not onely 〈◊〉 euerye good and perfect gift but also increasest those giftes that thou haste giuen â—e most humbly beseech thee 〈◊〉 in vs y e gift of faith that we may true lie beleeue in thee in thy promises made vnto vs in Christ su our Lorde and that neyther our negligence nor infirmitie of the flesh nor by grieuousnesse of tentations neither by the subtil craftes and assaultes of the diuel wee be driuen from this faith in the bloud of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ So be it For a godly life ALmighty God giue vs grace that we may cast away the works of darknes put on vs the armour of light now in the time of this mortall lifâ— in the which thy soâ—l Iesus Ihrist came to visit vs in great humilitie that in the last day when be shal come again in his glorious maiesty to iudg the quick the dead we may rise to the life immortall through him who liueth raigneth with thee y â— holie Ghost now and for euer So be it A prayer for the true perseuerance and assured hope of eternall life BLessed God which hast caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning grant that we may in such wise heare them reade them marke them and inwardly printe them in our heartes that by patience comfort of thy holy word we may imbrace and euer hold fast the blessed hope of euerlasting life which thou hast giuen vs in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it A prayer for the obtaining of our petitions ALmightie God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee and doest promise that when two or three be gathered together in thy 〈◊〉 thou wilt grant their requests fulfill now O Lorde the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them graunting vs in this world knowledge of thy truâ—â— and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen The end of the Letanie A GODLIE INSTRVction conteining the summe of all the diuinitie necessary for a Christian conscience Made by Iohn Bradford A Man that is regenerate and borne of GOD the which thing that euerie one of vs bee our Baptisme the Sacrament of regeneration doth require vnder paine of damnation and therefore let euerie one of vs with the Virgin Marie say Bee it vnto mee O Lorde according to thy worde according to the sacrament of baptisme wherin thou â—â—st declared our adption and let vs lament y â— doubting hereof in vs 〈◊〉 against it as we shall be made able of the Lorde a man I say that is regenerate consisteth of two men as a man may say namely of the old man and of the newe man The old man is like to a mightie Giant such a one as was Goliah for his birth is now perfect but the newe man is like vnto a little child such a one as was Dauid for his birth is not yet perfect vntil the day of his generall resurrection The olde man therefore is more stronger lustie and stâ—ring then is the newe man because the birth of the new man is but begun now and the olde man is perfectlie borne And as the oldeman is more stirring lustie and stronger than the newe man so is the nature of him cleane contrarie to the nature of the new man as being earthly and corrupt with Sathans seed the nature of the newe man beeing heauenly and blessed with the celestial â—eed of God So that one man in as much as hee is corrupt with the seede of the serpent is an olde man and in as much as he is blessed with the seede of God from aboue hee is a new man And as in as much as hee is an olde man he is a sinner and an enemie to God so in as much as he is regenerate hee is righteous and holie and a friend to God the seede of God preseruing him from sinne so that he cannot sin as the seede of the serpent wherewith he is corrupt euen from his conception inclineth him yea inforceth him to sinne and nothing
the Lorde is and are becom new creatures by the heauenlie regeneration through the doctrine of the gospell should like holie and innocent babes lay aside all such workes of the flesh which do depriue a man of the kingdome of God And Saint Paule commaundeth vs that laying aside those cursed vvorkes of darknesse vve should in the steed thereof put on euen as the elect of God holie and beloued tender mercie kindness humblenesse of minde meeknesse long suffering forbearing one another forgiuing one another if anie haue a quarrell to another as Christ forgaue vs end aboue all these things saith he put on loue vvhich is the bond of perfection let the peace oh God rule in your hearts vvhen ye shall stand and praie saith Sâ— Marke forgiue if ye haue anie thing against anie man that your Father also vvhich is in heauen maie forgiue you your trespassesâ— for if yee vvill not forgiue your father vvhich is in heauen vvill not pardon you your trespasses Moreouer we must haue such a feeling of our owne miserie and wretehednes as may worke in vs an earnest sorrowe and vexation of minde for the same Example whereof wee may see in the deare seruantes of God when they say that out of the deep deepenesse and out of the middes of the iawes of death they vtter vnto the Lord a sorrowfull voice He that desireth mercy must haue a feeling of his owne miserie And therefore saith Dauid Heale my soule O Lord for I haue sinned against thee There is nothing in my flesh saith hee because of thy displeasure neither in there any rest in my bones because of my sin This anguish and sorrowe stirreth vp in Gods children a feruent desire to obtain coÌ„fort help and succour at Gods hande and therfore such as fâ—ele themselues oppressed with great calamities hauing by the help of man no hope of deliuerance doe crie vnto God with afflicted hearts as Dauid did in his distresse My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God and as the hart being vvounded braiâ—th for the riuers of vvater so panteth my soule after thee O God This is that godlie sorrow which S. Paule saith worketh in Gods children repentaunce to saluation The Lorde is nigh to them saith Dauid that are of a contrite heart and vvill saue all such as are afflicted in spirite To him vvill I looke euen vnto him saith the Lord that is afflicted and broken hearted and trembleth at my vvordes Therefore Dauid calleth the time of trouble the fit and conuenient time for the faithful to fly vnto God by prayer And albeit they be not at al times in like distresse or continuallie groning vnder the burthen of present euils yet must they needes bee euer in dread of new daungers and carefully â—ffraid of further troubles to follow As trouble and feare therfore are the verie spurs to â—ir them vp to heartie and feruent prayer â—o by occasion thereof they haue more free accesse vnto God as though he did therby call them vnto him This godly sorrow for sinne and feruent desire and longing for Gods louing mercie and fauour commeth not of our selues but of the speciall goodnesse of God for we are of our selues dul and without al lust to pray â—ea so great is our imperfection that wee know not howe to pray as wee ought and therefore the spirite helpeth our infirmities instâ—ucteth vs what is right and guideth our affections Hee maketh intercession for the Saintes saith 〈◊〉 Paule according to the vvill of God and that vvith Vighes and grâ—anings vvhich cannot be expressed that is hee stirreth vp our he arts giueth vs a desire and boldnesse to pray causeth vs to mourn when we are by any meanes hindred from it and feele not our selues moued therunto with such feruent zeale and affection as we should be Now although wee knowe that it is the only work of the holie Ghost thus to moâ—e and incline our heartes to prayer notwithstanding we may not be negligent slouthfull to dispose and stirre vp our selues therevnto but rather contrariwise so often as we feele our selues colde and not disposed to praier as we ought to be wee must make our supplication vnto the Lorde that it woulde please him to inflame vs with his holie spirit wherby we may be framed to pray with such feruencie of mind as we ought to doe When we are cast downe by the sence feeling of our owne infirmity sinne aud miserie Yet must we pray notwithstanding in sure and stedfast hope to obtaine our requests These be things in deed contrarie in shewe to ioyne with the feeling of the iust vengeance of God sure affiance of fauour which things doe yet verie wel agree in that it is the goodnesse of God onlie that raiseth vs vp being oppressed with our owne euils from the which of our selues we cannot rise For as repentance and faith are knit as companions together albeit the one driueth vs downe with feare and the other lifteh vs vp again with comfort so in praying they must needs go together And this agreement Dauid expresseth in few wordes I vvill saith he in the multitude of thy mercies enter into thy house and in the temple of thy holinesse I vvill vvâ—rship thee vvith feare Therefore when wee are once touched with true repentance and feling of our own miserie we must withall haue such a perswasion of Gods fauor and mercie towards vs in all our praiers that they shall be accepted of God so far foorth as it shall be necessary for â—s This is the assurance saith S. Iohn that vve haue in God that if vve aske anie thing according to his vvill he heareth vs. If we haue not a sure â—rust and confidence in the mercie and promises of God it is vnpossible to make our praier to him aright and whosoeuer doubteth whether God heareth his prayer that man obteineth nothing to such praiers God hath made no promise But contrariwise he saith vvhatsoeuer ye shall aâ—ke in praier if ye beleeue ye shall receiue it And againe VVhatsoeuer yee desire beleeue that yee shall obtaine it and it shal be done vnto you Ask saith Saint Iames in faith and vvauer not for hee that vvauereth is like to the vvaues of the sea vvhich are tossed of the vvind and caried avvaie And why should wee wauer or doubt seeing the holie scriptures testifie of God that he is faithful iust and true in all his wordes and promises saying The Lord is faithfull in all his vvordes hee vvill euer bee mindfull of his couenant the trueth of the Lorde endureth for euer And although our faith be not so strong and therfore our prayer so hearty and zealous as it ought to be yea though our faith be faint and cold yet let vs hold fast this principle that our praiers are not frustrate or in vaine For our comfort herein we haue an example in the father which brought his sonne first to the Apostles and
in their handes that wee come not into further danger that thou wilt delmer vs out of for thine owne sake His angels are ministers for them that are heirs of saluation Heb. 1. Sathan sleepeth not but seeketh al waies to destroy vs. 1. pet 5. Occasions to meditate Thinke some thing howe wee are straungers from our countrie from our home from our originall I meane from God againe thinke vpon our madnesse that doe linger and loyter so gladly in this our iourney and pilgrimage also how foolish wee are to fantasie thinges which we cannot carrie with vs and to condemne conscience which will alwaies be a companien to vs to our ioy if it bee good but to our shame and sorrowe if it be euill and corrupt Finally howe vnnatuturall we are which so litle desire to be at our home to be with our only father master fellowes and friends When you are about to receiue your meat praie thus THis is a wonderfull mystery of thy worke O maker and gouernour of the world that thou doest sustaine the liues of men and beastes with these meates Surely this power is neither in the bread nor foode but in thy will and worde by which worde all things do liue haue their being Againe howe great a thing is it that thou art able continually to giue sustenance to so many creatures This is spoken of by the Prophet in setting forth thy praises All thinges looke vp to thee and thou giuest them meate in due season thou openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing euerie liuing thing These doubtlesse are wonderfull workes of thine almightinesse I therefore heartily pray thee O most liberal Lord and faithful father that as thou by meate through thy word dost minister life to these our bodies euen so by the same word with thy grace thou wouldest quicken our soules that both in soule and bodie we may please thee til this our mortall carcasse shal put on immortality and we shall neede no more any further foode but thee onely which then will be all in all Taste and see howe good the Lorde is Psal 14. Blesse the Lorde O my soule which feedeth filleth my mouth with good things Psal 103. Occasions to meditate Think a little how great Gods power is that made vs. Also thinke howe greate his wisedome is to preserue vs. But most of all thinke howe manie things are giuen to our vse how wonâ—derfull it is to giue vs life but most of all to propagate and aduance to immortalitie the life of the soule by his onely beeke Last of all thinke that God by his prouidence for thy body would haue thee to confirme thy faith of his prouidence likewise for thy soule In the meane time pray O Most liberall distributer of thy gifts which giuest vs all kinde of good thinges to vse and being pure giuest pure thinges being holy giuest holy thinges graunt to vs grace that wee misuse not these thy gratious giftes giuen to our vse and profite Let vs not delight in the thinges but let vs delight in thee from whome they come as necessary for vs for a season till we come vnto thee Graunt vs to be conuersant amongest the giftes soberly purelie temperately and holily because thâ—â— art so Then shall we not turne that to the poyson of our soules which thou hast giuen for the medicine of our bodies but vsing thy benefites thankefully we shall finde them profitable both in soule and bodie Occasions to meditate Thinke that the meates and drinks set before you are giuen to you to vse not to abuse Thinke that they are giuen to profite and not to hurte you Thinke that they are not giuen to you alone but vnto others also by you In eating and drinking thinke that you doe but feede the wormes Remember the poore prisoners the sicke the afflicted c. as though you were in their case Thinke vpon the food of your soule Christs bodie broken and bloudshed desire the meat that lasteth for euer labour for it Christes meate was to do his fathers will After your meate praie BY corporall meates thou doest sustaine our corporall daily life readie otherwise to perish The which surely is a great worke but yet this is much greater more profitable aud more holie that thy grace O Iesu Christ dooth preserue vs from the death of the soule For this life wee ought much to thanke thee and because thou dorst prolonge it with thy good giftes we most heartilie praise thee How be it this life is but the way to eternall life which wee beseech thee for thy deathes sake that thou wilt giue vs and so shall we not onely giue thee as wee may thankes for a time for temporall things but also eternall thanks for eternall things O grant to vs these our desires for thy mercies sake Amen Occasions to meditate Thinke nowe that God hath giuen thee this his blessing of foode and sustenance and thereto time that thou mightest as repent so seeke his glory and the commoditie of thy brethren therefore goe there abouts but first pray for grace well to beginne Againe consider how thou hast beene partaker of other mens labours as of the Husbandmans the Milners the Bakers the Bruers the Butchers the Cookes c. See therefore that thou bee not as a drone Bee but rather such a one as may helpe the hiue If God haue thus fed thy body which he loueth not but for thy soules sake howe can it bee then but that hee will bee much more ready to feed the soule Therfore take a courage to thee and goe to him for grace accordingly Cogitations for about the midday As thy bodie is nowe compassed on euery side with light so see that thy mind may be also As God giueth thee thus plentifullie this corporall lighte so pray him that hee will giue thee the spirituall life Thinke that as the Sunne is nowe most cleare so shal our bodies be in the day of Iudgement As now the Sunne is come to the highest and therefore will beginne to drawe downeward so is there nothing in the worlde so perfect and glorious which when it is at the full will not decrease and so weare away When you come home againe pray THere is nothing O Lord more like to thy holy nature than a quiet minde Thou hast called vs out of the troublesome disquietnesse of the world into that thy quiet rest and peace which the world can not giue being such a peace as passeth all mens vnderstanding Houses are ordained for vs that thereby we might be defended from the iniury of the weather from crueltie of beasts froÌ„ disquietnesse of people and rest from tâ—yles of the worlde O gracious father grant that through thy great mercie my body may enter into this house from outward actions but so that it may become â—uxome and obedient to the soule and make no resistaunce against the same that in soule and body I may haue a godlie quietnesse and peace
and that wee may vnfainedly purpose and effectually labour to amend our liues this day so long as wee haue to liue in all our doings and wordes and euen in our verie thoughtes to the prayse of thy holy name and good example of our doings and words and euen in our brethren And for as much as thou knowest our weakenesse our ignorance and great vntowardnesse to carrie anie great crosse or affliction wee beseech thee our sweete Father so temper and order all things towards vs this day and for euer that we bee neuer further proued tempted than thou wilt make vs able to beare and so to helpe vs in the same as may be most 〈◊〉 thy glorie our saluation through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An Euening prayer O Lord God Father euerlasting and full of pitie wee acknowledge and confesse that wee bee not worthy to lift vp our eies to heauen much lesse to present our selues before thy diuine maiestie with confidence that thou wilt heare out praiers and graunt our requests if wee consider our owne wretched deseruings For our consciences doe accuse vs our sinnes witnes against vs wee know that thou art an Vpright Iudge which doest not â—ustifie the sinners and wicked men but punishest the faultes of such as transgresse thy commandements Yeâ— most mercifull Father since it hath pleased thee to commaunde vs to caâ—â— vpon thee in all our troubles and aduersities promising euen then tâ— helpe vs when we feele our selueâ— as it were swallowed vp of death 〈◊〉 desperation we vtterly renounce alâ— wordly confidence and trust flie to thy soueraigne goodnes as our only stay and refuge beseeching thee not to cal to remembrance our manifold sinnes and wickednesse whereby we continually prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligeÌ„ce nor our vnkindnes which haue either worthelie esteemed nor in our liues sufficieÌ„tly expressed the sweet comfort of thy holy Gospel reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience and death of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who by offering vp his bodie in sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompence for all our sinnes Haue mercie therefore vpon vs O Lorde and forgiue vs our offences Teach vs by thy holy spirit that we may rightly weigh them earnestly repent vs for the same and so much the rather O Lord our God because that the reprobate such as thou hast forsakeÌ„ caÌ„not prayse thee nor cal vpoÌ„ thy name but the repenting heart the sorrowfnl minde the conscieÌ„ce oppressed hungring thirsting for thy grace shall euermore set forth thy praise and glorie And albeit we be but wormes and dust yet thou art our creator and we be the worke of thy handes yea thou art our father we thy childreÌ„ thou art our shepheard and we thy flocke thou art our redeemer and wee thy people whome thou hast deerelie bought thou art our God and wee are thine inheritance Correct vs not therefore in thine anger O Lord our God neither according to our desertes doe thou punish vs but mercifully chastice vs with a fatherly affection that all the worlde may knowe that at what time so euer a sinner dooth repente him of his sinne from the bottom of his hart thou wilt put away all his wickednesse out of thy remembraÌ„ce as thou hast promised by thy holie Prophet Finally forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to rest in as thou hast ordayned him the day to trauell graunte O deare father that we may so take our bodily rest that our soules may continuallie watch for the time that our Lord Iesus Christ shall appeare for our full deliuerance out of thâ—â— mortalll life and in the meane seasoÌ„ that wee be not ouercome by anie fantasies dreames or other temptations but may fully set our mindes vpon thee loue thee feare thee and rest in thee in such sort that our very sleepe also may be to the glorie of thy holie name Furthermore that our sleepe bee not excessiue or ouermuch after the insatiable desire of the flesh but only sufficient to contente our weake nature that wee may the better be disposed to liue in all godlie conuersation to the glorie of thy holy name profit of our brethren through Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs. Our Father which art c. Almightie and euerliuing God vouchsafe we beseech thee to graunt vs perfect continuance in thy liuelie faith augmenting and increasing y e same in vs dailie vntil we growe to the full measure of our perfection in Christ whereof wee make our confessior saying I beleeue in God the father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and bee mercifull vnto vs the Lordâ— â—urne his fauorable countenaunce towards vs and graunt vs his peace The grace of the Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God and the communion of the holy Ghost bee with vs and remayne with vs for euer So bee it 2. Cor. 9. 13. An other Euening prayer MOst mercifull God and tender father which besides thine inestimable mercies declared giuen vnto vs in the making of the world for our sakes in the redeeming of vs by the death of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ in the calling of vs to the knowledge of thy blessed worde in keeping of vs hitherto in thy holie Church and in thy most gratious gouerning of vs and all thinges hitherto for our singular wealth commoditie hast also most fatherlie cared for vs and kept vs this daye from all daungers both of soule and bodie giuing vs health foode apparell and al other things necessary for the comfort and succour of this poore and miserable life which manie other doe want for these and all other thy good giftes and gracious benefites which thou of thine own goodnesse onely and fatherly prouidence hast hitherto powred vpon vs and doest presently powre vpon vs and many other we most humbly thanke thee and praise thy holy name beseeching thee that as all things are now hidden by meanes of the darkenesse which thou hast sent ouer the earth so thou wouldest vouchsafe to hide and burie all our sinnes which this daie or at anie time heeretofore wee haue committed against thy holie commandements and as nowe wee purpose to laye our bodies to rest so graunt the gard of thy good Angels to keepe the same this night for euermore and whensoeuer our last sleepe of death shall come grant that it may be in thee good father so that our bodies may rest both temporally and eternally to thy glorie and our ioy through Iesus Christ our lorde So be it Another Euening prayer O Eternall God and most mercifull-father who this day and al the time of our life hast graciouslie defended nourished and preserued our soules and bodies
but all libertie all light all pleasantnesse all ioye reioycing mirth pleasure health welth riches glorie power treasure honor triumphe comforte solace loue vnitie peace concorde wisedome vertue melodie meekenesse felicitie beatitude and al that euer can be wished or desired in most securitie eternitie and perpetuitie that ma bee thought not onely of man but of Angels and Archangels yea aboue all thoughts The eie hath not seene the like the eare hath not hearde nor no hearte is able to conceiue in anie point anie parte of the blisseful beatitude which is with thee most deare Lorde and sauiour most gracious God and comforter Where thou art O blessed GOD the Archangels Angels Thrones Powers Dominations Cherubines Seraphins Patriarches Prophets Apostles Martyrs Virgins Confessours and righteous spirites cease not to sing night and day holy holy holy Lord God of Hoasts honour maiestie glorie power empire and dominion be vnto thee Oh God the creatour O Lord Iesu the redeemer O holy spirite the comforter In recordation of this O howe thy children reioyced Howe coÌ„temne they the pleasures of this worlde How little esteeme they anie corporall griefe or shame How desire they to be with thee Howe amiable are thy tabernacles O Lorde GOD of hostes say they My soule hath a desire to enter into the Courtes of the Lorde my hearty and my soule reioyceth in the liuing GOD blessed are they that dwell in thy house that they maie bee alwaies praysing thee For one daie in thy Courtes is better than a thousand elsewhere I had rather be a doorekeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tentes of vngodlinesse for the Lorde God is a light and defence And againe Like as the Hart desire the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O God My soule is a thirst for God yea euen for the liuing God When shall I come to appeare before the presence of God My soule thirsteth for thee my soule also longeth after thee in a barren and dry land where no water is They thy children I meane O Lorde desire the daie of that their redemption Still they crie Let thy kingdome come They crie Come Lord Iesus They lift vp their heades looking for thy appearing Oh Lorde which wilt make their vile bodies like to thine owne glorious and immortall bodie For when thou shalt appeare they shall bee like vnto thee Thy Angels will gather them together and they shall meete thee in the cloudes and bee alwayes with thee They shall heare this ioyfull voyce Come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning Then shall they be like to thy Angles Then shall they be like vnto the Sonne in thy kingdome Then shall they haue crownes of glorie and be indued with white garments of innocencie and righteousnesse hauing palms of victory in their hands Oh happy is he that may but see that immortall and incorruptible inheritaunce which they shall inioy for euermore Amen I. B. A meditation of the presence of GOD. THere is nothing that maketh more to true godlinesse of life than the perswasion of thy presence deare father and that nothing is hid from thee but all to thee is open naked euen our very thoughts which one day thou wilt reueale and open either to our prayse or punishment in this life as thou diddest Dauids faultes which he did secretly 2. Keg 12. or in the life to come Matth 25. for nothing is so hid that shall not be reuealed Therfore doth the Prophet saie Woe to them that keepe their secret thoughts to hide their counsell from the Lorde and doe their workes in darknesse saying who seeth vs Graunt mee therefore deare God mercie for all my sinnes especyallie my hid and close sinnes Enter not into iudgemeÌ„t with mee I humbly beseech thee giue me to beleeue truely in the Christ that I neuer come into iudgement for them and that with Daâ—id I might so reueale theÌ„ vnto thee that thou wouldest in thy great mercie couer them And graunt further that henceforth I may alwaies thinke my selfe continually conuersane before thee so that if I do well I need not to passe of the publishing of it as hypocrites 〈◊〉 If I think o do any euill I may â—â—â—th with know that the same shall not alwaies be hid from men Graunt mee that I may alwaies haue in minde that daie wherein the hid workes of darknesse shall be illuminated and also that sentence of thy sonne that nothing is so secret which shall not be reuealed So in trouble and wrong I shall finde comfort and otherwise be kept through thy grace from euill which doe thou worke I humbly beseech thee for Christs sake I. B. A meditation of the prouidence of God THis ought to bee vnto vs moste certaine that nothing is done without thy prouidence O Lord that is that nothing is done bee it good or bad sweete or sowre but by thy knowledge that is by thy will wisedome and ordinaunce for all this knowledge both comprehendâ—â— in it as by thy holie worde wee are taught in many places that euen y e life of a sparrow is not without thy wil nor anie libertie or power vpon a porket haue all the diuels in Hell but by thy appontment and will which will we alwaies must beleeue most assuredly to be al iust and good howsoeuer otherwise it seeme vnto vs for thou art maruellous and not comprehensible in thy waies holy in all thy workes But hereunto it is necessarie also for vs to knowe no lesse certainlie that though all thinges bee done by thy prouidence yet the same prouidence hath many diuers meanes to worke by which meanes beeing contemned thy prouidence is contemned also As for example Meat is a meane to serue thy prouidence for the preseruation of health life heere so that he which contemneth to eate because thy prouidence is certaine and infallible the same contemneth thy prouidence In deede if it were so that meate could not be had then should we not tie thy prouidence to this meane but make it free as thou art free that is that without meate thou canst helpe and giue health and life for it is not of any neede that thou vsest any instrument or meane to serue thy prouidence Thy power and wisedome is infinite and therefore shoulde wee hang on thy prouidence euen when all is cleane against vs. But for our crudition and infirmities sake it hath pleased thee by meanes to worke and deale with vs heere to exercise vs in obedience and because we cannot else so great is our corruption sustaine thy naked and bare presence Graunt me therefore deere Father I humbly beseech thee for Christes sake that as I somthing now know these things so I may vse this knowledge to my comfort commodity in thee that is grant that in what state soeuer I be I may not doubt but
the same doth come to mee by thy most iust ordinance yea by thy mercifull ordinance for as thou art iust so art thou mercifull yea thy mercie is aboue all thy workes And by this knowledge graunte me that I may humble my selfe to obey thee looke for thy helpe in time conuenient not onely when I haue meanes by which thou maiest work and are so accustomed to do but also when I haue no meanes but am destitute thereof yea when al meanes be directlye and cleane against mee grant I say that I may yet stil hang vpon thee and thy prouidence not doubting of a fatherly ende in thy good time Againe least I should contemne thy prouidence or presume vpon it by vncoupling those thinges which thou hast coupled together preserue mee from neglecting thy ordinary lawfull meanes in all my needes if so be I may haue them with good conscieÌ„ce vse them although I know thy prouidence bee not tied to them further than pleaseth thee graunt that I may with diligence reuerence and thankefulnes vse them thereto my diligence wisedome and industrie in all thinges lawfull to serue thereby thy prouidence if it so please thee howbeit so that I hang in no parte on the meanes or on my diligence wisedome and industrie but onely on thy prouidence which more and more perswade mee to bee altogether fatherlie and good how farre soeuer otherwise it appeare seeme yea or else is felt of me By this I being preserued from negligence on my behalfe and despaire or murmuring towardes thee shall become diligent and patient through thy meere and alone grace which giue and increase in me to the praise of thy holy name for euer through Iesus Christ our Lorde and onelie Sauiour Amen I. B. A meditation of Gods power beauty goodnesse c. BEcause thou lord wouldest haue vs to loue thee not onelie doest thou wil entice allure and prouoke vs but also doest commaund vs so to doe promising thy selfe vnto such as loue thee threatning vs with dam nation if we do otherwise Whereby we may see both our great corruptioÌ„ and naughtinesse and also thine exceeding great mercie towards vs. First concerning our corruption and naughtinesse what a thing is it that power riches authority beautie goodnes liberalitie trueth iustice all which thou art good Lorde can not mooue vs to loue thee Whatsoeuer things wee see faire good wise mightie are but euen sparkles of that power beautie goodnesse wisedome which thou art For to the ende thou mightest declare thy riches beautie power wisedome goodnesse c. thou hast not onely made but still doest conserue all creatures to be as Dauid saith of the heauens declarers setters foorth of thy glorie and as a booke to teach vs to knowe thee How faire thou art the beauty of the Sunne Moone Starres lights flowers riuers fieldes hilles birdes beastes men and all creatures yea the goodlie shape and forme of the whole world doth declare Howe mightie thou art wee are taught by the creation of this world euen of nought by gouerning the same by punishing the wicked mightie Giants therof by ouer throwing their deuises by repressing the rages of the sea within her boundes by stormes tempestes fires These and such like declare vnto vs thine inuisible almighty terrible power wherby thou snbduest al things vnto thee Howe rich thou art this worlde thy great and infinite treasurehouse doth well declare What plentie is there not onelie of thinges but also of euery kinde of thing Yea howe dost thou yearely and daily multiply these kinds How many seeds dost thou make of one seede Yea what great increase dost thou bring it vnto These cannot but put vs in remembrance of the exceeding riches that thou hast For if to thine enemies which loue the not as the most part in this world be if to them thou giuest so plentifully thy riches heere what shall we thinke that with thy selfe thou hast laid vp for thy friends Howe good thou art all creatures generally and particularly do teach What creature is there in the world which thou haste not made for our commoditie I wil not say how that thou mightest haue made vs creatures without sense or reason if thou haddest woulde But among all thinges none doth so teach vs thy great loue towardes vs as doth the death of thy most dearelie beloued sonne who suffered the pains terrors thereof yea and of Hell it selfe for our sakes If this thy loue had been but a small loue it would neuer haue lasted so long nor Christ should neuer haue died I. B. A Meditation concerning the sober vsage of the bodie that it may be subiect and obedient to the soule THis our body which God hath made to bee the tabernacle and mansion of our soule for this life if we consider it accordingly we could not but vse it otherwise than we do that is we would vse it for the souls sake being the guest thereof and not for the bodie it selfe and so should it be serued in things to helpe but not to hinder the soule A seruant it is therefore it ought to obey serue the soule that the soule might serue God not as the body will neither as the soule it selfe will but as God will whose wil we should learne to know and behaue our selues therafter The which thing to obserue is harde for vs nowe by reason of sinne which hath gotten a mansion house in our bodie dwelleth in vs as doth the soule To the which sinne I meane wee are altogether of our selues inclined because we naturally are sinners and borne in sinne by reason whereof wee are redie as seruantes to sinne and to vse our bodies accordingly making the soule to sit at reward and pampering vp the seruant to our shame Oh therefore good Lorde that it would please thee to open this geare vnto mee and to giue mee eies to consider effectually thâ—s my body what it is namely a seruant lent for thee soule to soiourne in and serue the in this life yea it is by reason of sin that hath is dwelling ther become nowe hto the soule nothing else but a prison and that most strait vile stinking filthy and therefore in danger of miseries to many in al ages times and places till death haue turned it to dust whereof it came and whither it shall returne that the soule may returne to thee from whence it came vntill thâ— day of iudgement come 〈◊〉 the which thou wilt raise vp that bodie that then it may be partaker with the soule and the soule with it inseparably of weale or woe according to that is done in and by the same bodie here now in earth Oh that I coulde consider often and heartily these things then should I not pamper vp this body to obey it but bridle it that it might obey the soule then should I flie the paine it putt â—t my soule vnto by reason of sinne and prouocation
that Father to whome we are made Children of adoption through thee Oh our head raigning on high in glorie forget not vs thy poore members heere on earth whereunto abasing thy selfe thou camest downe and sufferedst for vs most cruell death Out of this thy throne of Maiesty glore thou puttest vs in assured hope and confidence that wee also shall attayne to that blessed place whither thou art gone before to take possession for vs. Oh our stroÌ„g tower of defence and succour what can hurt vs nowe trusting in thee Most vnhappie are they which are ignorant of thee Most happy are they which alwaies behold thee Blessed are they which haue knowne thee heere in the dayes of their mortalitie But more blessed are they which see thee in the heauens and shall see thee reigning with thy father in ioyes incomparable Oh Lorde the onelie ioye and comfort of our souls shew vs thy louing countenance embrace vs with the armes of thy mercie receiue vs O good Ioseph thy younger brethreÌ„ with the kisse of comfort powre into our hearts thy holy spirite pluck vs vp from the earth earthly things open our eies and lift them vp vnto thee open thy mouth call vs vnto thee open our eares that wee may heare thee so that whatsoeuer we do speake or thinke it may bee directed vnto thee alone our redeemer mediator and aduocate If ye be risen againe with Christ seeke the thinges which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God set your affection on thinges that are aboue and not on thinges which are on earth Col. 3. Another THou Lord diddest put away Marie Magdalen from the kissing of thy feete because thy flesh was not yet exalted and she knew not yet the dignitie of thy clarified bodie and beautified with the glorie of immortalitie but was addicted only to thy bodily presence She yet sought the liuing among the dead neither was it knowne to her that thou was equall with thy father Wherfore thou wouldest not suffer her so much as to kisse thy feet because it was a thing vnworthy for thy maiesty Oh thou mighty Lion of the tribe of Iuda thou conquerour of hel and death euerliuing and immortall thou art nowe risen from death for vs thou art now ascended to thy father and our father and sittest at his right hand in glorie suffer vs to come neere vnto thee that wee may kisse thee yea Lorde thou louer of our soules come thou rather vnto vs and kisse vs with the kisse of thy mouth that wee may bee glad and reioyce in thee drawe vs that wee may runne after the sauour of thy sweete oyntments that wee may behold thee in righteousnesse and when thy glorie shall appeare wee may bee satisfied for in thy presence there is fulnesse of ioy and in thy right hande there are pleasures for euermore A prayer for true repentance MOst gratious God and mercifull father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ because I haue sinned done wickedlie through thy goodnesse haue receiued a desire of repentaunce whereunto this thy longâ— suffering doth drawe my hard heartâ— I beseech thee for thy great mercies sake in Christ to worke the same repentaunce in mee and by the spirite power and grace so to humble mortifie and feare my conscience for my sinnes to saluation that in thy good time thou maiest comfort and quickeÌ„ me again through Iesus Christ thy dearely beloued sonne So be it I. B. A prayer for the strength and increase of faith O Merciful God and deare father of our Lorde Sauiour Iesus Christ in whome as thou art well pleased so hast thou commaunded vs to heare him for as much as hee often biddeth vs to aske of thee and also promiseth that thou wilt heare vs and graunt vs that which in his name we shall aske of thee loe gracious father wee are bold to beg of thy mercie through thy sonne Iesus Christ one sparkle of true faith and certaine perswasion of thy goodnesse loue towardes vs in Christ where through I being assured of y e pardon of all my sins by the mercies of Christ thy sonne may be thankful to thee loue thee a serue thee in holinesse and righteousnes al the daies of my life I. B. A prayer for the true sense and feeling of Gods fauour and mercie in Christ OH Lorde God and deare Father what shall I say that feele all thinges to bee in manner with mee as in the wicked blind is my mind crooked is my will and peruerse concupiscence is in mee as aspring or stinking puddle O howe fainte is faith in mee How little is my loue to thee or to thy people How greate is selfe loue Howe harde is my heart By the reason whereof I am mooued to doubt of thy goodnesse towardes mee whether thou art my mercifull father and whether I bee thy childe or 〈◊〉 In deede worthily might I doubt of that the hauing of these were the cause and not the 〈◊〉 rather of thy children The 〈◊〉 why thou art my father is thy mercie goodnesse grace and trueth in Christ Iesus which cannot but remaine for euer In respect whereof thou haste borne me this good will to bring me into thy Church by baptisme and to accept me into the number of thy children that I might bee holy faithfull obedient and innocent and to cal me diuers times vp the ministerie of thy worde into thy kingdome besides thy innumerable other benefites alwayes hitherto powred vpon mee All which thou hast done of this thy good will which thou of thine owne mercie barest to mee in Christe and for Christe before the world was made The which thing as thou requirest straitely that I should beleeue without doubting so wouldest thou that in all my needes I should come vnto thee as vnto a Father and make my moâ—e without mistrust of being heard in thy good time as most shall make to my comfort Loe therefore to thee deare Father I come through thy sonne our Lorde mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for mee and pray thee of thy great goodnesse and mercy in Christ to bee mercifull vnto mee that I may feele in deede thy sweete mercie as thy childe The time Oh deare Father I appoint not but I praie thee that I may with hope fâ—ll expect and looke for thy helpe I hope that as thou for a little while hast left mee so thou wilt come and visit mee and that in thy great mercie wherof I haue neede by reason of my great miserie Thou art wont for a little season in thine anger to hide thy face from them whom thou louest but surelie O Redeemer in eternal mercies thou wilt shew thy compassions For when tho â—eauest vs O Lord thou doest not leaue vs verie long neyther doest thou leaue vs to our own losse but to our lucre aduantage men that thy holy spirite with bigger portion of thy power and
earth do most humbly beseech thee to be mercifull vnto vs to pardon our offences and to forgiue vs all our sinnes O Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruantes for if thou doe there shall no flesh bee saued in thy sight Wee confesse and acknowledge O Lorde that it is our sinnes which hath moued thee to wrath and to shewe such fearefull tokens of thy displeasure towardes vs in these our daies first with fire from heauen betokening thy hote burning iud gnation and wrathful displeasure for sinne which aboundeth at this day then with such horrible and monstrous shatmpes against nature as wer neuer seen heere in our daies nor in any time before vs which doe betoken to vs none other thing but thy plagues to come vpon vs for our degenerate monstrous life and conuersation and now besides all this by great mortalitie plague and peâ—ilence thou hast terribly threatned vs fatherly warned vs and merciâ—ully called vs to repentance The axe is set to the roote of the tree and if wee bee not as rotten members without all sense and feeling wee may perceiue our carefull destruction and desolation to bee at hande vnlesse wee speedilie repente and â—arne vnto thee because wee haue â—â—ene so long taught out of thy most holy and sacred worde and yet no fruites of repentance or Christian life will appeare Woe and alas to these our daies that neither preaching by word most comfortable nor preaching by fire most terrible nor preaching by monsters most straunge and ouglie neither yet by plagues and pestilence most horrible will stirre by our stonie heartes and awake from our sinnes Wee feare O Lorde that the Turkes with all the rest of the vnbeleeuing will condemne vs in the lust day which if they had bin so loÌ„g instructed by the comfortable preaching of thy word sweet promises of thy Gospell or seene the wonders which we haue seene no doubt their righteousnes would haue shined at this day to our greate shame and confusion thou hast no lesse 〈◊〉 vs O Lorde of thy fearefull displeasure heauy plagues at hand for our great wickednes than thou diddest the Israelites of that horrible destruction which came vpon them whome thou first in mercie diddest cal to repentaÌ„ce by the preaehinge of thy worde but when no warning would serue thou diddest sende them monstrous and fearefull â—â—gnes and tokens to declare that thy visâ—â—ation was not far off But they like vnto vs at this day did alwaies interpret these things after the imagination of their own vaine hearts promising to themselues peace wheÌ„ 〈◊〉 struction was ouer their heades Which things when we do cal to minde for asmuch as they are written for our learning Example and warning it maketh vs to tremble and quake for feare of thy iust iudgements For if thou hast thus dealt with thine owne deare and thoseâ— children in take of thy great wrath against sinne what shall wee looke for who doe no lesse deserue thy fearfull scourge for of mercie it is that thou doest thus long forbeare vs and liue as though there were no God at all to be reuenged vppon our sinnes It maketh vs to feare crye inwardly in our soules Come Lorde Iesu holy and true in all thy doings shorten our dais bring this our pilgrimage to an eude suffer vs not to heape sinne vpon sin vntil the day of vengeance least wee be caught vp amongest the number of the wicked reprobate which shall neuer fee thy louing countenance It maketh vs to cry to thee O Lorde Let thy kingdome come and end this our sinfull life wherein we doe nothing but prouoke thee to wrath Correct vs not O Lorde in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauie displeasure And though to vs belongeth nothing but shame confusion though our offences haue deserued to be visited with the rod and our sinnes with scourges yet in mercie Lord with fatherlie correction chasten vs and thy louing kindnesse take not away from vs. To thee wee flie for succour vnder the wings of thy mercie shall be our refuge vntil thou turne thy wrathfull countenaunce from vs. Wee knowe that thy mercie is aboue all thy workes and euen as greate as thy selfe Therefore will wee saie with holie Iob Though thou kill vs yet will wee put our whole trust in thee Thou camest to comfort plucke out of the dungeon of Hell such wretches as wee are Thou art the good Samarican that camest to heale our deadlie woundes thou art that good Phisition that camest to cure our mortall infirmities thou art the good Shepheard that camest to seeke vs wandring lost sheepe to bring vs to thy sold againe and more than that thou art our brother flesh of our flesh bone of our bones which hast tasted of our infirmities felt our temptations borne the burden of our sinnes therefore at thy hands we looke for mercie against the day of vengeance And though thou punish vs yet our hope is euer shal be that thy rodde shall no further touch vs than shall make to thy glorie our coÌ„moditie and the strengthening increase of our faith Let this thy Preaching sundrie wayes O Lord be sufficient for our warning and graunt that wee maye speedily and from the bottome of our heartes repent endeuour to doe thy righteous and blessed will reuealed in worde and frame our liues according to the same that wee maie here liue in thy feare al the dayes of our life after this our sinful course is ended may dwel with thee in thy blessed kingdome through the death merites of Iesus Christ our onely redemer So be it Another prayer for the auoyding of Gods deserued wrath hanging ouer vs for our sinnes VVHen wee looke backe and beholde our sinnefull life past what a dungeon of errours vice and wickednes openeth himself vnto vs So that there is no maÌ„ but he must needs be ashamed of himself wheÌ„ he calleth to mind what he hath bin trembleth when he confâ—aereth the wickednes â—S sinful course of his life to come for who shall vndertake that the rest of our aâ—fe shall bee anie better than is past Howe can wee then sufficientlie magnifie prayse thy great mercy which hast deferred thy punishment so long Beholding therfore this our dangerous miserable state wee come vnto thee O thou great and mightie Iudge in trembling feare humbly beseeching thee not to heape vpon vs thy deserued vengeance but let thy tender kindnesse loue thou dearest to Iesus Christ thy Sonne our gracious Lord redeemer couer our iniquities for whose sake though wee deserue al extremity thou doest pardon vs. If thou Lord shalt straitly marke our iniquities O Lorde who shall bee able to abide it psal 103. A prayer to be saide of all such as suffer any kinde of crosse ALmighty God king of al kings and gouernour of all thinges whose power no treasure is able
â—â—omised saying This is my couenant â—â—at I haue made with them my spirite â—hich is in thee and my worde which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy feede for euer Preserue those kingdomes common weales which giue harborough to thy people and maintaine the ministerie of thy holy worde and Gospell that the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ may increase and shine throughout all the world O Iesu Christ Sonne of the euerliuing God crucified for vs and raised also from the dead and nowâ— raigning at the right hand of thy father that thou maist giue giftes vnto 〈◊〉 which hast saide Come vnto mee all yee that labour are heauie loaden and I will refresh you Hauâ— mercie vpon vs praie for vs vnto thy eternall father sanctifie and gouerne vs with thy holy spirit helpâ— and succour vs in all our necessitieâ— as thou hast promised saying I willâ— not leaue you comfortlesse O holy and blessed spirite together with the father and the son one true and euerlasting God full of maiestie and power which with thy heauenly inspiration quickenest the mindes of those that afore were dead in sinne makest ioyfull the heartes of the faithfull penitent bringest into the way of truth all such as haue erred and gone astray comfortest the soules of such as hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and plenteously inrichest those with diuers giftes which aske them in Iesus Christes name purifie our heartes wee beseech thee and inflame them with the fire of thy loue replenish them with thy heauenly benefites and spirituall blessinges that they may bee made meete temples for thee leade â—s into all truth which art the onely fountaine of truth and mortifie in vs whatsoeuer proceedeth not of thee Or else pray thus O Holie spirite powred vnto the Apostles which hast promised vnto vs by the Sonne of God our Redeemer to kindle in vs a true knowledge and inuocation of God as it is written I will poure vpon you the spirit of grace and of compassion make to arise in our hearts a true feare of God and faith and knowledge of thy mercie which the eternall father of our Lord Iesus Christ hath promised vnto vs for his sonnes sake Be our comforter in all our counsels and daungers Illuminate our vnderstanding and fill our herrtes with newe affections and spirituall motions and renewe vs both in soule and bodie that wee may die to sinne and liue to righteousnes and so in true obedience may praise the father of our Lord Iesus Christ and his sonne our redeemer and thee also our comforter euerlastingly A thanksgiuing to God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost VVE render thanks vnto the O Almightie and eternall God with thy deare sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ and with thy holy spirite for that of thine exceeding great goodnes thou hast made thy selfe knowen vnto vs by most assured and euident testimonies and for that thou hast gathered and chosen vnto thy selfe a perpetuall Church and wouldest that thy Sonne our Lorde Iesus Christe shoulde suffer death to restore vs from death to life for that thou hast giuen to vs thy Ghospel the Holye Ghost for that thou forgiuest vs our sinnes deliuerest vs from the power of the deuell and from eternall death and giuest vnto vs euerlasting life finally for that thou hast visited vs with manye great benefites giuing vs life foode doctrin peace in such places as we haue liued in hast diminished the pains which we haue iustly deserued Wee giue thankes vnto thee O Lorde Iesus Christ sonne of the liuing God crucified for vs and risen againe because thou hast coupled vnto thee our humaine nature and of thy inestimable loue didest giue thy selfe to death for vs turning vppon thee the greate wrath of GOD the Father conceiued against vs to reconcile vs vnto him and to purchase vs eternall redemption because thou hast brought vs to this grace wherein we stande and reioyce in hope of the glorie of GOD because thou dost preserue cherishe and defend thy church against the Diuell and all thine enemies because thou giuest and renewest often the light of thy Gospell and maintainest the ministerie of thy worde because thou doest forgiue vs our sinnes and giuest vnto vs euerlasting life because thou art our mediatour and makest continuall intercession for vs and finally because thou dost succour and preserue vs in all our necessities dangers and afflictions Wee giue thankes also vnto thee Oh holy spirite the giuer of life which wast powred vppon the Apostles because thou kindlest thy light in our heartes because thou rulest instructest admonishest and helpest vs because thou gouernest and guidest the labours and workes of our vocation and sanctifiest vs to eternall life A prayer to God for his helpe and Protection against the obstinate enemies of the truth MOst righteous Iudge God of all mercie and comfort which by thy secret iudgment and wisedome doest suffer the wicked to triumph and increase for a time for trial of the faith of thy welbeloued little flocke and the mortifiing of their lusts but at length to the vtter confusion of thy enemies and ioyfull deliuerance of thy people looke downe wee beseech thee on thy dispersed sheepe oute of thy holy habitation in heauen and strengthen our weakenesse againste their furious rages abate their pride ass wage their malice confound their deuises wherewith they lift vp them selues against Christ Iesus thy sonne our Lorde and Sauiour to deface his glorie and to set vp Antichrist Wee be not able of our selus to thinke a good thought much lesse to stande against their assaultes except thine vndeserued grace and mightie arme defende and deliuer vs. Performe thy promises made to Iacob stoppe the mouthes of the cursed Edomites Cal them to repentance whom thou hast appointed to saluation bring home them that runne astray lighten the blinde and teach the ignorant forgiue all those that wilfully and obstinately rebell not against thy holie will Let thy fearefull threatninges pearce our stâ—nie heartes and make vs tremble at thy iudgements Make the examples of them whom thou hast ouerthrâ—wne in their owne deuises as Cain Cham Nymrod Esau Pharaoh Saul Achitophel Iudas such other to be a warning for vs that we set not vp our selues against thy holy will Grant free passage to thy holy worde that it may worke effectually in vs the worke of life and blessed hope of our saluation to the eternall praise of thy maiestie through our mediatour Christ Iesus to whome with thee and the holy ghost three persons and one God bee praise and thankesgiuing in all congregatioâ—s world without end So be it A praier for the afflicted and persecuted vnder the tyranny of Antichrist O Mercifull Father who neuer doest forsake such as put their trust in thee stretch forth thy mightie arme to the defence of our brethren by the rage of enimies persecuted and
dies of mercy and look vpon this thy sicke seruantâ— who most earnestly destreth pardoÌ„ forgiuenesse Renue in him most louing Father whatso euer hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the Diuell or by his owne carnal will and frailtie Preserue continue this sicke member in the vnitie of the Church Consider his contrition accept his teares asswage his paine a shall bee seene to thee most expedient for him And for as much as he putteâ—h his full trust onely in thy mercie impute not vnto him his former sinnes but take him vntoty fauour through the merits of thy most dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ A praier to be said at the houre of death O Lorde Iesus Christ which arl the onely health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them that die in thee I wretched sinner doe submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will and being sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed vnto thy mercie willinglie now I leaue this fraile and sinneful flesh in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise restore it to meE againe at the lost day in the resurrection of the iust I beseech thee most mercifull Lord iesus Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all tentations and defende mee with the buckler of thy mercie against all the assaultes of the diuell I see and acknowledge that there is in my selfe no hope of saluation but all my confidence hope and trust is in thy rich mercie and goodnesse I haue no merites or good workes which I may alledge before thee of sinnes and euill workes alas I see a great heape but yet through thy mercie I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes but wilt accept and take mee for righteous and iust and to bee an inheritour of Euerlasting life Thou mercifull Lorde wast borne for my sake thou diddest suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake thou diddest teach pray and fast for my sake all thy holy actions and works thou wroughtest for my sake thou sufferedst most greeuous painEs and torments for my sake Finally thou gauest thy most precious bodie and bloud to be shed on the crosse for my sake Now most merciful Sauiour let all those thinges profite mee that thou freely hast done for mee which hast giuen thy selfe also for mee Let thy blond clense and wash away the spottes and fowlnesse of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my righteousnesse Let the merites of thy passion and bloodshedding be the satisfaction for my sinnes Giue mee Lord thy grace that the faith of my saluation in thy blood wauer not in me but may euer be firme and constant that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in mee that loue waxe not colde in mee Finally that the weakenesse of my flesh bee not ouercome with the feate of death Graunt mee mercifull Sauiour that when death hath thut vp the eies of my body yet the eies of my soule may stil behold and looke vpon thee when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet my hearte may crie say Lorde into thy handes I commend my soule Lord Iesu receiue my spirite A praier for a woman with childe THou art wonderfull O Lorde in all thy workes and whatsoeuer thy good pleasure is that doest thou easily bring to passe neither is ther any thing vnpossible with thee that thou wilt haue doon And albeit this thy almightie power sheweth it selfe abundantly in all thy workes yet in conceiuing forming and bringing forth of man it shineth most euidently At the beginning O Father when thou madest man and woman thou commaundest them to increase multiplie and replenish the earth If through the subtile inticementes of Sathan they had not transgressed thy commaundement by eating the forbidden fruite the woman whome thou haddest appointed to be the instrument vessell to conceiue nourish and bring foorth man through thy woonderful workmanship had with out any labour paine or trauaile brought forth her fruite But that which thy goodnes made easie sin and disobedience hath made harde painfull daungerous and without thy speciall helpe and succour imposible to bee brought to passe so that nowe all women bring forth their childreÌ„ in great sorrows paines and troubles Notwithstanding that which through their own imperfection and feeblenes they are not able of themselues to passe thou through thine vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest vnto a ioyfull ende Wee therefore being fully perswaded of thy fauour and goodnesse of thy present helpe and of thy sweete comfort in all miseries and necessities knowing also by the testimonies of thy holy word how great and intollerable the paines of women are that trauell of child if through thy tender mercy they be not mittigated and eased most humbly praye thee for Iesus Christes sake thy son our Lorde to helpe and assist this thy seruant nowe in trauell and labour that by thy almightie power shee may safely bring foorth that which by thy goodnesse shee hath conceaued and that thy louing kindnesse may make that easie and tollerable vnto her which sinne hath made hard and painefull Ease O Lorde the paines which thou most righteously hast put vpon her and all women for the sinne and diso bedience of our Graundmother Eue is whome al we haue sinned Be present with her in her trouble according to thy mercifull promise Giue her strength and make perfect that which thou hast so gratiousLie begun Let thy power be shewed no lesse in the safe bringing forth than in the wonderfull forming fashioning of that shee beareth Make her a glad and ioyfull mother that shee through thy goodnes being safely deliuered and restored to health again may liue and praise thy blessed name for euer A Psalme to be saide in the time of any common plague sicknesse or other crosse and visitation of God O Come let vs humble our selues and fall downe before the Lord with reuerence and feare For he is the Lord our God and we are the people of his pasture and sheepe of his handes O come therefore let vs turne againe vnto our Lorde for he hath smitten vs and he shall heale vs. Let vs repent and turne from our wickednesse and our sinnes shall be forgiuen vs. Let vs turne and the Lorde will turne from vs his heauy wrath and will pardon vs and wee shal not perish For we acknowledge our faultes and our sinnes are euer before vs. Wee haue sore prouoked thine anger O Lorde thy wrath is waxed hote thy heauy displeasure is fore kindled against vs. Thou hast in thine indignation stricken vs with greeuous sicknesse and by and by wee haue fallen as leaues beaten downe with a vehement winde In deede wee acknowledge that our punishmentes are lesse than our deseruings but yet of thy mercy lord correct vs to amendment and plague vs not to our