thée I can doe nothing When thou powrest vppon vs thy creatures thy good giftes and benefites When thou bestowest vppon vs prosperitie health wealth and such like thou doest it to this intente that we acknowledging the same should thereby be encouraged to serue honoure and humblye obey thée and alwayes prayse and magnifie thy glorious name contrariwise when thou strykest vs with thy rod of correctiō as plaguing vs with great mortalitie suffering our enemies to inuade vs robbers for to spoyle vs pouertie to oppresse vs or fire to consume those thinges which thou hast lent vs for the maynteynaunce of oure bodyes in this mortall life Thou doest it to put vs in mynde that we haue transgressed thy Commaundementes that we haue not harkened vnto thée neyther done that which is acceptable in thy sight but willingly falling into the puddle of sinne and following oure own appetites haue prouoked thy iust wrathe and indignation against vs. Thus thou dealest w t vs O Lord to the intent that we suffering bodily punishment féeling the smart of the same may therby be admonished of our duetie and with true compunction of heart desire to be released frō thy scourges whiche we haue deserued and worthily receaue and then acknowledge our selues to be lost children straying shéepe may bothe see and be ashamed of oure vnbrydled affections wilfulnes which haue brought vs to calamitie misery with y e true penitent to say We are not worthy most mercifull father to lifte vp our eyes or voyce vnto thée for our manifold sinnes and wickednesse neuerthelesse presuming vppon thine aboundaunt mercie who refusest none that doe call vpon thée moste lamentablye we doe cry haue mercy vpō vs O Lorde haue mercye vpon vs miserable sinners being nowe gréeuouslye afflicted with the burthen of punishment and affliction which thou hast layde vpon vs put thou therfore away all displeasure conceiued agaynst vs thy poore creatures and graunt vs that being warned by thys we maye euer hereafter serue thée in newnesse of life and neuer committe anye thing whiche shall displease or offend thée This O heauenly father I acknowledge to bée oure duetie but althoughe I for my parte haue not perfourmed the same as I ought to doe yet I beséeche thine inestimable goodnes not to execute the rigoure of thy iustice vppon me but to staye thine hand and before thou giue me any greter wound to behold my humilitie and repentaunce which beyng not able to recompence and satisfie the trespasses which I agaynst thée haue cōmitted do offer vnto thée according as the poore Widdowe did al that which I am able to giue that is a sorrowfull contrition of hearte for my former offences done and paste Thy Iustice as it is right so is it rigorous to sinners thou art so iealous so much doest detest sinne that thou sparest not to punnishe thy very elect and chosen seruants when as they fall into it Who was more acceptable in thy sighte then that holy Prophet king Dauid of whom thou thy selfe didst say I haue found a man according to mine own heart euen Dauid my seruaunte yet neuerthelesse diuers sundrye wayes didst thou punishe him when that he had swarued from thy testimonies Thou sufferedst him to be molested with the insurrection of hys owne sonne thou didst sende the Prophet vnto him to offer him the choyce of plagues which thou wouldest sende vpon him for his wicked lyuing but when he with sorrowfull sighes trickling teares tourned vnto thée cōfessing his fault crauing pardone and promising amendment of life thou forgatest thine anger and forgauest his offence Other of thy chosen Uessels thou hast permitted to bée gréeuouslye tormented and vexed by sundrye troubles and aduersities onely to trye their faith and stedfastnesse towardes thée as thou didst suffer that pacyent man Iobe for to be most cruelly intreated by that enemie of all mankinde to haue his houses burned and spoyled his cattle taken away his seruauntes driuen into bondage his Children to be slaine his own body to be afflicted with most loathsome diseases plagues and sores and all this thou didst not for any euil déede of his but to shew thine Omnipotencie and power for when thou hadst tride hym to the vtmost and founde that his ennemie the Deuill coulde not preuayle agaynst hym or by any 〈◊〉 and griefe 〈◊〉 him to blaspheme and speak euil of thée thou didst reduce him to health thou didst enriche him agayne thou didst restore vnto hym agayn his children friends familye and all his goodes with muche more than euer he before possessed shewing most manifestlye that thou wilte re warde them moste plenteously which doe loue thée follow and obserue thy commandementes Wherefore I beséech thée to giue me grace that what soeuer waye it shall please thée to visite mée wyth thy punishment I may take it paciently and say Naked came I into this world and naked shall I retourne to the earth agayne the Lorde giueth the Lorde taketh away euen as it pleaseth the Lorde so be it Suffer mée not to dispaire or to thinke that thou dealest vniustlye with me but to say Shall I receiue prosperitie at the Lordes hande and not to be content with aduersitie alwaies to think vpon this Happy are they whom thou dost punish for though thou make a wounde thou also giuest a playster thoughe thou smitest thy hande maketh whole agayne my iniquitie is greate but be thou mercifull vnto my wickednesse O deliuer me from thyne anger and presse mée not farther than I shall be able to beare but now that I acknowledge that what soeuer trouble thou haste sent me or wilt laye vppon me is either for the punishment of mine iniquitie or for the triall of my constancie I maye with repentant Dauid finde remission of my sinnes and with patient Iobe release of my aduersitie and obtayn such fauor in thy sight that thou neuer agayne so gréeuously punishe me but that I may so passe this life that I may afterward liue with thée to whō be honour and glory for euer and euer Amen A prayer agaynst the feare of worldly casualties O Most bountifull and louing Father myne onlye guyder and comforter the Wel of mercie the true light of the worlde take awaye the darkenesse of my mind lighten my heart and sences indue me with thy grace arme me so strongly with sure hope confidence truste in thée that I neuer be driuen into feare eyther by the subtle inuasions of our ghostlye ennemye Sathan or by the craftie wylinesse of the worlde neither yet by losse damage hurte or hindrance of any of those vain and transitory things which we in this world doe possesse But alwaies whatsoeuer shal become of them to thinke that they are but thinges lent and not oure owne that we shall make a streight accompt for the vse or abuse of them Whereby the more wée possesse thereof the greater shall be our payne if we abuse them Wherefore take from me
all inwarde heauinesse thought and care for any losse and discommodity receiued by worldly goods and alwayes to thinke that as well pouertie as riches néedinesse as aboundance sicknesse as health aduersity as prosperity come from thée and that it is knowne to thine vnserchable iudgement onely why and wherfore thou sendest eyther of these vpon vs and therefore let not my minde bée troubled with any feare of thinges to chaunce sauing onely to feare to displease thée but alwayes to be merry in thée with sobernesse and to cast all my care of worldlye affayres vppon thée For as much as thou hast commanded that we shoulde not be careful what to eat or what to drink or with what rayment we should be clothed for y u wilte not sée the righteous forsaken or their children begging their breade and that thou tournest all thinges to the best to them that serue thée and flie vnto thée for succour in the tyme of their distresse Let this O Lord be euer more fresh in my memorye grauen in my heart and redy in my mouth so that I leauing all néedlesse feare may alwayes giue thanks vnto thée and prayse thy holye name Amen The prayer vnto God the Father ALmightie God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ whome no deserte merite or worthinesse of oures but thyne own great clemencie mercy and pity caused to send downe thyne onely begotten sonne into this world to beare the burthen of our sinnes with the which we moste miserable sinners were ouerladen that he shoulde suffer moste cruell tormentes yea and also most bitter and shamefull death and sanctifie the reprochefull name of the Crosse with the renting of his blessed bodye and shedding his most precious blood thereon Thereby to make attonement betwéene thée vs thereby to pay the ransome for our soules thereby to consumate and finish the perfection of oure redemption and saluation Whiche thing it was thy good will that he should doe not only to aswage thy wrath and indignation but also to bring vs agayn into thy grace and fauour that wée being deliuered out of the bondage of sinne hell might serue thee in righteousnes and holynesse all the dayes of oure life and by thy frée gift and benefite of his deathe and passion be made partakers of his resurrection and of thyne endlesse vnspeakable glory Wherefore my God my maker my Lord my kyng séeyng thou hast so aboundauntly bestowed thy Heauenly giftes vpon me all mankind and hast so plentifully poured out thy grace and fauour on vs that for our sakes thou wouldst not spare thy owne sonne How shal we escape thine indignation whiche for this care and kindnesse of thyne are most carelesse and vnkynd and among all other which way shall I poore creature turne me how shall I who haue bene moste vnthankefull for his benefites and moste vnmindefull of them be so bolde as to lifte vp my hart or hands vnto the heauens and to call vpon thée thou of thy singuler goodnes diddest so prouide that the wickednesse of olde Adam shoulde be purged and washed away with the bloud of Iesus Christe but I haue wilfullye fallen into sinne againe Thou madest me the child of light but I haue made my selfe an inheritor of darknes thou madest mée thyne by creation I haue made my selfe the childe of perdition What shall I now therefore do shall I doubt of anie further mercie and forgiuenesse No no sweet Lord so great is thy mercye whiche surmounteth al thy works so large are thy promises so sure is the perfourmance of them to al such as take hold thereof so deare in thy sight are the merites of thy sonne Iesus so acceptable vnto thée is the harty repentance of a sinner that with the remembrannce thereof I am prouoked to crye vnto thée saying Father I haue sinned agaynst heauen and agaynst thée I am no more worthye to bée called thy childe Neuertheles behold thou me not as I am a gréeuous offendour but as thy creature haue nowe no respect to mine offences but behold my repētance think not vpon my wickednesse but vpon the wounds of my sauiour Iesus looke not vpon my false hart which hath wauered from thy lawes but behold the bléeding hart of thy sonne Iesus Chryst whiche was pierced to release me and set me frée my sinnes I cast vpon his back beséeching thée that hys merites may beare them and thy mercy pardon them Heare me O Lorde my God heare me for I knowe the more earnestlye that I séeke for desire thyne ayd the readier y u art to stretche forth thine hand to help me Heare me therfore O Lord bow downe and incline thy eare vnto my praier inspire me so with thy holy spirite that I may loue thée aboue al things and that I neuer fayle to put my hope trust of saluation in him whome thou wouldest to be my Redéemer and sauiour Make mée by the forsaking of all wickednes so to rise from falling into sinne that I may obtayne the true seruing of thée with innocency and purenesse of life Graunt this O Lorde for Iesus Christes sake to whom with thée and the holye Ghoste be all honor and glory Amen A Prayer vnto God the Sonne O Most sweete Sauiour O moste mercifull Redéemer O bountifull Iesu the sonne of God who although thou art highe yet thou art moste humble although thou arte Omnipotente thou arte also moste méeke and as thou art most mightie so art thou moste merciful To thée O Christ the guyde of al felicitie the Father of heauen hath gyuen all power both in heauen and in earth Thou art the true Pastor of our soules thou art oure Messias y u castest off none that sue vnto thée but as thou hast taken awaye the hande wryting that was agaynst vs and hast fastned it to thy Crosse so art thou ready to imparte the merits of thy Passion vnto all such as with true repentaunce of their sinnes call vppon thée faythfully Wherefore my swéete Iesus I most faythfullye and vnfaynedlye acknowledge y e benefites that thou hast bestowed vpō me and steadfastlye beléeue that thou being an Immaculate Lamb in whose mouth was neuer found guyle didst suffer most cruell torments at the hands of sinners for the loue of vs moste wretched sinners for the which cause I most hartily beséeche thée and most humbly pray thée to accept me into the number of thē whome thou wilt make Coinheritours of thy bitter paynes and although I of my selfe be moste vnworthy thereof yet thy merites can make me worthy to them doe I flye crauing that I may be so armed and defened by them that I maye subdue the world the fleshe and the Deuill euen as thou hast gloriously conquered sin death and Hell Thou seest O my Sauiour how I am daily and howerly beset with these thrée ennemies and so hardly beséeged of them y t without thy help I can by no meanes escape but that I must néedes be a
the trueth of thy holye worde that I may alwayes constantly confesse shewe thée thy goodnesse as well in my words as lyuing Inspire me with thy holye spirite that I may know thée stedfastlye trust in thée and serue thée in prayers well doing all the tyme of my life O most mercifull Lord and sauiour of the world for the glory of thy names sake I beséeche thée to heare my praiers My soule reioyce in God thy sauing healthe for he hath bene good to thée he hath kept thée frō the snare of the hunter blessed thée The lord is a merciful God let all the earth feare him let the mouthes of all men sounde prayses vnto hym God is a good Lord dayly increaseth his good giftes to his seruants the Lord wyll encrease my fayth in hym and I shalbe saued Amen A Prayer for righteous iudgement O Lord God of all iustice whiche in equall Ballance doest weigh the cause of the Prince and of the poorest man whiche despisest not the sutes of the simple whiche deliuerest the Captiue and comfortest the desolate and carefull O Lord whiche hast blessed them that are poore in spirite reléeue thy seruaunt oppressed with griefe remoue from me the clowdes of my sorrowes O Lorde stretche forth thy mightie hand and helpe me let me not sincke in the Seas of slaunder and shame Thou knowest the secretes of my heart defend me in myne innocencie Pleade thou my cause agaynst the vngodly whiche haue layd their nets for me O God thou which hast deliuered Ioseph Danyell Mardocheus and Susanna from captiuitie and instant death and didst cloath them with honoure good Lorde strengthen me and be my defendour against all euils and let not the poysoned arrowes of malicious tongues doe me any harme Graunt these my prayers good Lorde I bseeche thée for our Sauioure Iesus Chryst his sake Amen A Prayer agaynst lying and euill imaginations O Lorde cleanse my heart I beséeche thée from all impure and wicked cogitations and thoughtes and giue me a cléere conscience shamefast eyes innocente handes and a tongue to tell the truth Séeing that there is nothyng hidde that shall not be discouered good lord I beséeche thée to search my thoughtes and renewe in me thy holye spirite directe my féete in thy wayes that walking after thée in the pathe of the righteous I may passe thorow this vale of misery bearing thy banner stowtly in my warfare and obtaine euerlasting ioy the promised hire to such as here haue paciently borne thy crosse and valiauntlye fought with the armoure of fayth against temptations and all euils vouchsafe O Lorde to graunt my peticions I most humbly beséech thée for thy onely begotten sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake Amen A thankesgiuing for the goodnesse of God to vs. O Almightie God and euer ruling King whose infinit power maiesty our wyts cannot comprehende whose glorious brightnesse with our mortall eyes wee cannot behold whose wonderous workes manyfold mercyes the tongues of mē cannot sufficiently declare Good Lord I yéeld thée most humble thankes for thy singuler great gifts and benefites bestowed vppon me a sinner Good Lord thou hast blessed me with knowledge with increase and plenty of all thinges thou hast giuen me friends health and rest That I shoulde eate my meate with ioy and prayse thée in al thy gifts works I know that I haue no good thing but it commeth from thée and onely for thy mercies sake thou hast so regarded me thy seruaunt wherfore good lord I beséech thée to grant me thy grace withall that I maye vse these thy gifts to thy honour and glory the comfort of them that néede that vsing the talent whiche thou hast lente mée I maye become a good seruaunt and obtayne eternal blisse the promised hire to suche as doe well Uouchsafe good Lord for thy sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christe his sake to heare my prayers ALmightie God refreshe me with thy grace I beséech thée comfort me wyth thy mercye and blesse mée that safe from all euils frée from feare of all daungers in peace and quietnesse I may sing prayses to thy holy name and reioice in thée with thine elected for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to liue well GOod Lorde so rule the eyes of my heart that they being kept simple and pure my bodye may bée a cleare and shining temple of thy holy spirite so kindle in vs the loue of thy glorious sonne that we following his steps may doe that which is good and declyne from the euill so that our light shyning before men we may glorifie thée by our good works with thy blessed sonne our Sauiour and the holye Ghost To whose infinite maiestie in trinitie and vnitie be all honour and glory for euer Amen A confession for the penitent O Moste mercifull Lorde God I haue offended against the Throane of thy Maiestye my sinnes are euer before myne eyes I am not worthy to liue or enioy the fruites wherewith thou hast blessed the earth my owne conscience is my tormenter bringing testimonie and witnes against me The Sunne doth hyde hys light agaynst mee and the place is the worse wherein I become O Lorde what shall I doe shal I dispayre No thou art mercifull and more ready to forgiue then we to aske I will confesse my sins to thée I am weary of my sinfull life I am sory in my soule for myne offences wherefore good Lorde thou whiche doest case them that are laden and refreshe them that trauayle thou which hast promised mercy to the penitente looke on thy seruant with thy chearefull countenaunce beholde me with those pittying eies with whiche thou didst Mary Magdalen and the woman taken in Adulterye thou whiche hast shedde thy bloode on the Alter of the Crosse offering thy moste precious bodye an eternall Sacrifice for our sinnes dispyse not that whiche thou hast redéemed Thou which camest into the world to cal sinners to repentaunce and to saue the lost shéepe of Israell haue mercye vppon me leade me by thy grace to the Foulde among thy Sheepe for they go in sweet Pasture are not in daunger of Wolues for thou art their shepheard and kéepest good accounte of euery one of them thoughe I haue gone astray wandring from thy flocke and borne the markes of the worlde yet good Lord disclaime not thy right I beséeche thée but take me vnto thée that I may be safe vnder the shaddow of thy winges He may sléepe soundly whome thou doest kéepe thou arte the watchman of Israell All honour and glorye be vnto thée for euer A Prayer for humilitie O Lorde I am a sinner sorry for mine offences I cannot make satisfaction for my defaultes if I haue any good thing it cōmeth of thée The moste acceptable sacrifice to thée is a contrite and humble hart O God let me not be oppressed with the waues of sinne let mée not sinke into the Whyrlepoole and gulph of dispayre thou which liftest
vp the fallen and raysest the humble and méeke cloathing them wyth purple setteth them vp wyth Prynces in the seates of honor thou whiche despisest the imaginations of the proude and resistest their enterprises blesse me in all my doynges send mée happy successe in all my affayres that I maye reioyce in thy goodnesse with thyne elected for euer euer Accepte my humble sute good Lorde I beséeche thée for the glorye of thy names sake Amen A Prayer to be deliuered from enemies and dangers O Moste mightie Lorde God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob which didst lead the children of Israell thorow the red Sea and made the streames of Iordane runne back into their springes agayne that thy people mighte passe throughe the middest thereof good Lorde whose heastes the floudes obey at whose voyce the hils doe leape and the earthe doeth tremble O moste mightie Lorde which canst destroy the prowdest kings with very Flyes and Ants whiche made little Dauyd to tryumphe on the Gyaunt Golyath which deliueredst his enemy King Saule into his handes gauest Gedeon thy seruaunt wyth hys few Souldioures victorye of so manye Legyons of strong men Thou which hast subdued so many mighty kings and sundrye Nations vnto thy people Israell O God whiche workest all in all things which giuest victory alwayes as séemeth best to thy vnsearchable wisdome defende me alwayes I beseeche thée agaynst myne enemies all euils that my ship tossed and beaten in the waues of this worlde may rest in thy happye Hauen of euerlasting ioy My soule cleaueth vnto thy mercye as to an holye Sanctuary O God if thou shouldest not be mercyfull who could abyde the heat of thy displeasure but thou O Lorde arte good to thy seruauntes and I hope to sée thy goodnesse in the land of y e liuing All glory be to thée moste high and mercyfull God for euer euer Amen The Penitent longeth for comfort HOwe long O Lorde wilt thou tourne awaye thy face from mee Howe long wilte thou be angrye wyth thy seruauntes How long shall I abyde mourning solitarye as the byrd that hath lost hir young O Lorde thinke on mée in thy mercies and doe not correct me in thy wrathe for then shall I become as the duste and smoke in the winde O Lorde forsake not thy seruaunt Israell whome thou hast chosen my heart comforted in thy mercyes shall reioyce and I will sing vnto thée and praise thée in thy good works and Myracles which thou hast done in our forefathers time A godly Meditation I Altogether vnhappy and comfortlesse haue greeuouslye offended my Lorde God what shall I doe whether shall I goe I cannot hyde me from hys sight how oft haue I trespassed against hym howe oft haue I deserued his displeasure and yet howe seldome hath hée punished me howe oft hathe hée béene good and mercyfull vnto mée howe ofte haue I promised vowed amendemente and howe little and seldome haue I perfourmed it this is a woefull case Who will haue pittye on me I dare not lift vp myne eyes towarde Heauen because I haue sinned against it and in earthe I can looke for no refuge because I haue béene a slaunder and shame to it What then should I dispayre No God is a mercifull and a good sauiour hée dothe visite them that liue in darcknesse and is a chearefull light to them that sit in the shaddowe of death He willeth vs to forgiue our brother though he offend seuentie times yea infinitely And God is more mercifull than any man can be and he must be the onely refuge and comfort he will not despise hys creature the image of himselfe returne thée to thy Lorde God praye to him humbly on thy knées for grace and continue to bewayle thy sinnes past because that he whiche loueth thée prouoketh thée dayly with hys gracious giftes and blessings to loue him wil not leaue vntil he haue made perfite his worke begone brought his mercye to full effecte in thée What naturall cause begynneth his worke and leaueth it in the halfe way imperfite the vertue of the seede doth not cease till y e fruit be brought to perfection yet that nature worketh not at once but first prepareth the matter and then disposeth and makes it fit to receiue the shape which is the perfection and ende thereof and as by naturall order and right course things doe procéede and increase by little and little from the lesse to the more euen so doth God first dispose vs to his mercy and then increasing his goodnes daylye bestoweth on vs in the ende the treasure of his grace the inheritance of euerlasting ioies What bird forsaketh hir yong till they bée able to lyue of themselues and yet no auayle for their paine cōmeth to them very loue worketh in naturall causes to bring foorth their affectes to perfection if it be so in creatures what will the Creator doe which is loue it selfe and infinite goodnes He wil withdraw thée from thy sins make thée cleane and pure and finally blesse thee with eternal life whiche he hath prepared for thée O Lorde I come to thée sad and mourning I sit at thy feete humblye wayting for thy mercie thou art my hope and helper according to thy great mercyes haue mercy vpon me Amen A Prayer agaynst Couetousenesse or too much care of the worlde GOod Lord seeing that it is thy pleasure that wée shall not bée carefull for worldly thinges if a Sparrow falleth not on y e ground without thy foresight howe muche more care doest thou take of vs thy children good Lord thou féedest the byrdes of the ayre and cloathest the Lyllyes of the Field which take no care Wherefore good Lorde so prouide for our necessitie sickenesse wée beséeche thée that wee casting all our care vppon thée maye chieflye studye to please thée and serue thée and not to be so wrapped entangled in the desires of worldly thinges like little children who for light trifles of no valure will forsake the moste ample inheritance that is So in like manner those whome the Scripture calleth the children of this worlde are so adicted to trifles are so giuen to transitory moment thinges that for them they dispise the inheritaunce to come and in comparison of them they contemne euerlasting felicitie of heauenly thinges Graunt vs therfore good Lord that we be not so ouercome with the desire of worldly transitorie things that thereby wee loose the ritch inheritance of euerlasting life Graunt this good Lord which liuest and raignest King of all Kinges for euer and euer Amen A Prayer that we may liue vprightly O Lorde seeyng that the righteous shall dwel in thy tabernacle graunt mée I beséech thée a pure and vndefiled soule O what is the shape of the earth wherein Gods ennemies haue abyding in comparison of the wonderfull bewtie of Heauen wherein righteousnes doeth dwell in comparison of that place wherein Aungels Arckaungels all good men yea and God himselfe is abyding
¶ The perfect path to Paradice Contayning diuers most ghostly and wholsome Prayers fruitfull and Christian Meditations for the comfort of euery afflicted conscience Published in these dangerous dayes of wickednesse and deliuered to all those that feare God and hope for saluation in Christ Iesus as a spirituall weapon to beate downe sinne sathan and all the power of hell c. By Iohn Phillips Matthew 3. Repent and amend your lines for the kingdome of God is at hand ¶ Imprinted at London in Fleetstreete by H. Iackson 1588. To the Right Honourable Lord Robert Deuorax Erle of Essex and Ewe Visecounte of Herrifard and Bourchire L. Ferres of Chartley Bourchire and Louaine Maister of the Queenes Maiesties horsse Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Iohn Philips his humble well-willer wisheth the feare of God continuall health of body and minde peace and quietnesse of conscience with all other the giftes of grace prrceeding from God the Father through the intercession of Christ Iesus c. RIght honorable when I call to memory how apt and redie wee are of our selues to fall into the filthy quagmire of the olde Adams corruption wherein wee are moste monstrously soyled with all kindes of wickednesses which make vs detested in the eyes of our heauenly father whose loue wee by the exercise of our notorious euils dayly committed against his deuine maiestie we most wilfully conuert to hatred I am driuen into no small admiration But truly as these are the dangerous dayes of wickednesse wherein sinne aboundeth and iniquitie hath obtayned the preheminence and vpper hand so it is expedient for all those that haue the feeling of GODS grace in their consciences to arme thēselues in this worldly Laberinth of vncleannesse with a liuely faith and earnest repentance and to continue in prayer and supplication to the almightie to abridge these dayes of wickednesse and to hasten his comming For vnlesse this perillous season as Christ himselfe hathe foretolde vs should be shortned wherein sinne is exalted to the subuersion of vertue there shoulde no fleshe be saued It shall bee necessary for vs therefore that seeke dayly and hourely by the vsuall practise of our innumerable euiles to offend the Lord our gracious God whose heauy indignation we haue worthely heaped vp vnto our selues and whose vengeaunce wee haue iustly deserued Nowe euen nowe and hencefoorth for cuer to return with Dauid from our impieties to mourn with Magdalin for oure iniquities to weepe with Peter for our offences and to crye out with the prodigal child for the mispending of oure portions ryotously Yea and thē the Lord our God whose wrath we haue kindled vp agaynst vs like consuming coales of fire beholding the sorrowes of oure contrite hartes the grieuous gronings of our sinful soules and our wet and blubbered eyes weeping for oure wickednesses wil repēt him of these plagues that he had prepared to poure forth vpon vs for our destructiōs Yea he wil cast aside the vioals of his wrath yea hee wil in his mercy quenche the burning coales of his furie Yea he will vnbend the bowe of his anger and breake asunder the arrowes of his displeasure wherewith he had in his diuine iustice prepared to wound vs For faithful praier and hartie repentance are acceptable to God The which weapons if we wil take vpon to vse vndoubtedly in steede of cursinges wee shal obtayne blessings in steed of penury we shal reape plentie in steed of battel wee shal haue peace in steed of sicknesse wee shal finde health yea and at the last of vncleane vessels we shalbe made vessels of honor and heires of his heauenly kingdome God for hys sonne Christ his sake giue vs the grace therefore whilest mercy as yet keepeth his indignation at a baye to continue in prayer and to shew vs hartie repentant for our sins for the day of oure visitation draweth nigh Thus ceasing right honorable I leaue you to the merciful protection of the almightie beseeching him in this life to blesse and defend you from al peril and daunger to continue your health to his good guiding wil prouident pleasure to giue you victorie ouer al the enemies of God and hir royal maiestie and in the world to come to crown your head with honour and glorie Your honours in al humilitie and reuerence IOHN PHILIPS ¶ When that thou preparest thy selfe to pray look that thou with all humblenesse of mynde kneelest downe and lifting vp thy hart thy handes and thine eyes vnto heauen to God the Father almightie praye on this manner O Lorde open thou my lippes that my mouth may speake and shew forth that whiche is to thy glorie and praise A prayer for the Morning O Omnipotent Father and euerliuing GOD the Fountayne of al felicitie from whom onely procéedeth all good giftes most hūblie I beséech thée of thyne aboundante mercye and exceding kindnes so to direct and gouerne me this day and euer with thy good guyding spirite that all my thoughts words and déeds maye onely be occupyed in thy seruice fayth feare and loue and so assist strengthen me with thy grace O most mercifull and louing father for thy sonne Iesus Christ his sake that nether sinne death hell nor Sathan haue the dominion vpper hande of mée Indue my heart with the true vnderstanding of thy true and liuely word that I may be ready proane manfully to fight vnder the standerd of my glorious captain Iesus Christ agaynst the world the flesh that cruell Serpente the olde Leuiathan which hunteth continually like a roaring lion seeking the vtter destruction of my soule Make me constant in time of temptation y e whē or at what time my rebelling and sinfull fleshe shall intice me to luste after the pomps and vanities of this wicked worlde I may by a strong liuely and vnshakeable fayth thorowe the bitter tormentes that my sauiour Christe Iesus suffered for me and al that faythfully beleue and cal vpon him so mortifie and subdue the olde Adam that I maye bée dead and buryed from sinne and all iniquity the new man Christ Iesus may continually dwell and raign in mee by whose meanes I shall be garnished decked by the meanes of a fruitfull fayth with immortalitie heauenly blessednes vouchsafe O Lord I beséech thée according to the multitude of thy mercies to looke vpon mée and by thy celestiall prouidence so illuminate the eyes of my soule that I may continually watche for the glorious cōming of thy anoynted son Iesus Christ. Roote oute O Lorde in and from me the vilde and corrupt branches of rapine deceipte auarice luxurie concupiscence and all vngodlinesse let the motions of my minde altogether depende vppon thée prepare my tongue to publishe thy prayse let my lippes be locked vp from all scurillitic vncomely talke let myne eares loathe and abhorre to heare thy glorious and blessed name blasphemed thy trueth to be by any Sectarian ill spoken of and slaundered kéepe and
defend mée vnder the winges of thy coÌ„fortable protection from al errors sismes and detestable heresies make me with out fayning firmely constantly to builde vpon the truth wherein is perfectly set forth thy great mercie diuine iustice Let the zeale of thy promises in al distres be my chiefest ioy and consolation and giue me grace from aboue that as I make my boast of thy mercies and louing kindnes by vertue wherof I am by my Sauiour Christ Iesus quickned from deathe to life in his dearest death and precious bloudsheding regenerated borne a new not of water but of the spirit by fayth so Lorde I maye with thy aboundaunt loue showne to mée warde the whole posteritie of Adam I may bée afrayde wilfully or of a set purpose to transgresse thy commaundementes and so incurre therby thy displeasure that the effectes of thy iustice in the day of thy coÌ„ming to iudgement be pronounced against mee to the vtter destruction of bodie soule make me alwais willing good Lord to heare thy worde by the power wherof my faith is increased and therewithall plante in mée perfite loue and obedience and so directe my footsteppes in this vale of miserie that I may treade the pathe that leadeth to thée with whome my soule thirsteth to rest euen as vehementlye as the Hart longeth after the water brookes Graunt this O merciful God for the honor and glorye of thy names sake Amen ¶ A fruitfull Prayer to bee sayde at the gâ—yng to bedde of euery Christian. MOste mercyfull Father I moste wretched and vnworthye sinner prostrate my selfe before the Throane of thy heauenlye grace yeelding vnto thée moste humble and heartye thankes that hast of thy excéeding loue and fauor preserued mee this day from al perill and daunger humbly beséeching thy diuine maiestie this night to preserue me for the loue of thy onely sonne my sweetest Sauiour Iesus Christ my Mediatour aduocate who continuallye pleadeth and maketh intercession to thée for mée all the rest of thy chosen children presenting hys bloudy wounds and his glorious body al to be scourged in thy diuine presence who thereby doth mittigate thy wrathe indignation iustly conceiued agaynst me a miserable and wretched creature and all mankynde Make me Lord still to confesse myne vnworthynesse and weakenesse to be suche and so great that of my selfe I am not worthye to lift vp myne eyes to heauen much lesse to be called thy sonne such and so great is the burthen of my sinne and iniquitie so that by the meanes of my corruption filthinesse I acknowledge my selfe to be the child of death and destruction yet build I still on thy promises good Lord and in this greate daunger I come vnto thée with teares saying O father I haue sinned agaynst heauen and agaynst thée and am no more worthy to bée called thy sonne of my selfe I haue nothing but by thée I haue al things of my selfe I acknowledge I haue iustly deserued the heauy senteÌ„ce of thine yre but by grace of thee O mightie Emanuel I am regenerate and borne agayne from death to life from daunger to ioy from perill to peace from bondage to libertie so in fine from Hell damnation to blisse saluation Such is the effect of thy mercie so abundant is thy loue towardes me and all those that with contrite heartes presente themselues vnto thée Increase my fayth lord that it may abound in good and fruitfull workes so fortifie mée y t I neuer swerue from thy veritie giue mée thy grace from aboue O merciful Iesus that I may neuer shrinke from thy sacred testimonies And more ouer I with all humilitie and reuerence of heart and mynde beséeche thée thys night whiche thou hast ordayned for man to rest in thou wilt gard and protecte mée with thy good guidyng spirite and albeit my sinfull flesh shall sleepe slumber yet graunt good Lorde that my soule may continually kéepe watch and ward let not the enemie finde me slumbering and sléeping as careles in the cradle of sinfull Securitie leaste that whilest I am vnarmed that is naked destitute of thy grace and fauour he enter in and breake vp the house of my sinnefull bodye and make such hauocke spoile that my infected and leaporous soule deformed by meanes of myne iniquitie and wounded with the dangeruos Darts of transgression bée throwne with the body of sinne to the Lake of destruction wherein is continuall wayling and gnashing of téeth Make me stil O good Lorde to consider that the bed is a plaine patterne and similitude of the Graue which continually calleth for me and all other thy Creatures make me to vnderstand that when I am layd of my self without thy heauenly prouidence I can not bée able to ryse agayne make me to acknowledge that sléepe is the very figure of death to whose stroak at thy appoynted pleasure I must submit my selfe Indue me with loue charitie to all men let my Lampe O Lord be garnished with Oyle that whensoeuer or at what tyme soeuer thy messenger death shall drawnie and knock at the gates of my house I maye at hys sommons in the daye of the resurrection of the dead be ready to attend on thée and thy bride with my burning Lampe that is with a stedfast fayth when as by thée I shalbe clothed a newe for my mortall body shall then be couered with immortallitie the corruption of my sinful rebelling flesh shal be changed to incorruption and perfite puritye thy righteousnesse shalbe mine thy merites shal make me perfite holy by vertue wherof hell shal loose his victory death shall loose his sting my fayth and hope shal haue ende and rewarde I wyth thy Saintes continuallye dwell in loue and charitie with thée the Heauenlye Bridegrome Christ Iesus To whome with the father and the holy ghost be ascribed all lawd glory power prayse and dominion for euer Amen A Prayer for the remission of sinne and to obtayne a vertuous life FOr as muche as O Bountifull Lorde it is most méete right and iust that all fleshe shoulde prayse magnifie and worship thée and shoulde without ceasing giue thankes vnto thée who onely art the Creator and maker of all thinges as well visible as inuisible who onely art the Treasure of all goodnesse the Well of life onely God and Lord whom the Heauens and Heauens of Heauens the Sunne the Moone the Starres the earth the Sea with all that mooue therein yea the heauenly companie of martyrs the soules of the Prophets and Apostles Aungels Arckeaungels togither with the soules of al iust righteous persons do lawd glorifie It is moste requisite that ech mortal creature liuing in this worlde shoulde also acknowledge thy magnificence wherefore most mercifull Father I wyth my hart and mouth do acknowledge thée to be my king Lorde the giuer of all goodnesse I confesse thee to bee omnipotent reuerent merciful long suffering God of all consolation comforte mercie
ingrafte in me Unto myne eyes let there be giuen aboundance of weeping And let my handes be occupied With often almes gyuing O thou my king quench out of me all foule fleshly desire And with the loue of thee alone set thou my hart on fire O my Redeemer dryue away the spirite of pride from me And graunt to mee that great treasure of meeke humilitie Take from me O my Sauiour the furious rage of yre The shield of pacience giue to me the which I doe desyre O Creator roote out of mee all spitefulnesse of mynde And graunt in steede thereof agayne meekenâ—sse that I may fynde O Bountifull father giue me a fayth that shall indure With hope agreeing therevnto and charitie most sure O thou my guyde keepe from my lips all lying vanitie And from my minde driue farre away all vayne vnconstancie All wauering takâ— from my heart and from my mouth scoffing With all proud lookes glottony backbiting slandering Couetousnesse wipe cleane away with curiositie The fond desire of vayne glory with all hipocrisie Let me neuer the poore despise nor yet the weake oppresse And let me not blaspheme for then I dye remedilesse O thou which didst mee forme and make take all rashnesse from me And leaue me not such a minde as will not with peace agree Take from me ydlenesse and sloth with heauie lumpishnesse Take from me disobedience and also stubburnnesse O my God for thy deare Sonnes sake I humbly beseeche thee To graunt me the works of mercy aboundance of pitie That I may thee both loue feare and eke pitie the poore Make mee good men alwayes to loue and wicked to abhorre Make me so little to esteeme those thinges that worldly bee With harte and voyce that I maye craue in Heauen to be with thee amen ¶ Beeyng tempted by the ghostly ennemy as all that feare God are to doubt in any article of the Catholike Fayth to dispayre in Gods mercye to yeelde to melancholye fantasies to bee vexed with vnkindnes of friends or the malice of ennemies to bee troubled with sicknesse or any other wayes oppressed with griefe of body and mynde say deuoutly as followeth I Humblye accept moste mercifull Iesus this heauie temptation whiche nowe I suffer at the handes of thy diuine prouydence and would a greater if thou please to laye it on me for thy sake Who hath ordayned this from the beginning for the tender loue thou bearest to the health of my sinfull soule and I most hartily thanke thée for it I confesse I haue deserued worse for my sinne and vnkindenesse towardes thée and I am not worthie to receyue any comfort or consolation at thy handes therefore to the honor of the passion and death whiche thou wyllinglye sufferedst on the Crosse I offer my selfe to sustayne this or any other aduersitie with al my hart not séeking other ways ease or reliefe then in and by thee O Lorde and as thy good will and pleasure shal appoint yet this one thing I craue and beséech thée for the tender loue thou bearest to mée and all mankinde for in mée is no vertue or ought that is good to helpe and assist me with thy holy spirite as my trust is thou wilt who promiseth that no man shall be tempted more than he shalbe able to beare and giue me all what euer shalbe necessary to sustayne with patience this painfull Crosse temptation which thy deuine wisdome hath apointed for me to the inteÌ„t that I bearing y e same wyllingly with thée here in this worlde may conceiue assured hope to bée partaker of thy glorye in the worlde to come grant me my request moste mercifull Sauioure not for my merite or deseruing but onely for the merites of thy death and bitter passion I humblye beséeche thée Amen A Prayer for the obtayning of grace and mercy O Moste mercifull Lorde God whose Maiestie is incomprehensible and power infinite whose magnificence is exalted aboue the heauens vouchsafe I beséech thée from thy high Throne to beholde the worke of thy handes Haue pitie on the vnhappy desolate condition of thy creature I am a sinner conceiued in sin of my selfe I haue no good thing wherefore O Lord I cleaue to the Altare of thy mercy Thou art my Ankor my hope my refuge staye Therefore O Lorde haue mercy vpon me for no flesh can be iustified in thy sight Thou knowest the frayltie weakenes of men we are taught by the fall of Peter y t we can doe nothing wythout thée Graunt vs therfore good lord thy grace without which in this world we are lyke by the waues of temptations to be swallowed in the gulph whyrlepoole of sinnes to be drownd as the ship without Ankor Pylate in euerye Tempest to runne on the Rocke and perishe Guide vs therfore by thy grace good Lorde thorow the flouds of this carefull worlde that wee maye rest for euer in the pleasant Porte and happye hauen of euerlasting ioy with thyne elected thorough our blessed Sauiour Iesus Chryst. To whome wyth thée and the holye Ghoste bée all honour and glorye in all worldes Amen A Prayer for the Penitent O Lord I am a sinner my sins are heauy vpon me the burthen of them is intolerable refresh me with thy grace washe away mine offences I shall be whiter than the snow let the chéerfull beames of thy countenance shine vppon mée and giue light to the darknes of my life We can looke for nothing as deserued but punishment due to oure offences Wherfore good lord not according to thy iustice but in the multitude of thy mercies deale with thy seruant Remember not the sinnes of my forefathers think not on the misdemeanor of my youth passed haue pitie on thy creture which acording to the likenesse of thy selfe thou hast made shaped of earth How long wilt thou turne thy face away froÌ„ me forsake me not O my God but renewe in me thy holy spirit Pluck away from me all that withdraweth mée from thée Graft in my hart thy grace y t I may loue thée and feare thée and so finallye reioyce in thy goodnesse with thy elected and prayse thée in thy wondrous works for euer Graunt thys most mightie God for our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake To whome with thée and the holye Ghost be all honour and glory for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for Fayth O Blessed sauiour Iesus sonne of the euerliuing God the vnspeakeable ioye of thy seruantes moste present coÌ„fort to sinners which camest into y e world to saue offenders whiche so louest the world that thou sparedst not thy most pecious blood to redéeme the losse of oure first father Adam to make vs Coheires of the forfaited inheritance with thy selfe that al which beléeue in thée might be saued good Lorde whiche hast promysed to them that knocke it shal be opened that they whiche seeke shall finde graunt I beséeche thée that I maye search thy holye lawes and finde
What are the plesures of the world welth honour company of our parentes and friendes wherein all our pleasure swéetenesse is mixed wyth sowernesse and sorrowe wherein euerye perfection hathe hys imperfection What is all this to the vnspeakable ioy in the kingdome of GOD what is y e company of frinds c. here in comparison to the companye of Abraham Isaac Iacob the Patriarches Prophets and all the Sayntes of God O the infelicitie of euerlasting lyfe whiche is without all discommodities perpetuall without all perrill and molestation Oh the glorious maiesty the singuler myrth and passing ioyes of the lyfe to come the eye hathe not séene nor the hart of man is able to conceiue in any part the happy estate of the blessed soules in heauen Oh howe amiable are thy Tabernacles my soule hathe a desire to enter into the Courts of the Lorde my harte and my soule reioyce in the liuing god blessed be they that dwel in thy house they may be alwayes praysing thée One daye in thy Courtes is better than a thousande else where I had rather to be a dore kéeper in the house of my God than to dwel in the Tents of vngodlinesse The Lorde God is a light and defence My soule is a thirst for God euen for the lyuing GOD. When shall I come before the presence of my God My flesh longeth after thée in a barren and dry land where no water is Good Lord remember mée and grant that I maye weare the white Garmentes of innocencye with thyne elected in thy euerlasting kingdome Amen A thankesgiuing for benefites receyued at Gods hand O Moste mercifull father I yeeld thée moste humble thankes for thy greate benefites bestowed vppon me a sinner of thy frée mercye onely thou haste of thy fatherly loue brought mée vp tenderly and instructed me in thy holy lawe thou hast giuen me knowledge and vnderstandyng thou hast preserued me from many daungers euils which diuers men haue felte thou hast blessed me with helth quietnesse ioy plentye and wealth which a number do want thou hast taken care of me and done all thinges for me O Lorde thoughe I can deserue nothing but punishment by thy iuste displeasure yet good Lorde I trust to thy goodnesse I ask thy mercye and not iustice and for thy mercies sake I beséeche thée to continue thy grace and to increase thy good gifts towards me and haue me in thy protection till my lyues end good Lord blesse me that I may enioy the fruites of the earth and vse them to thy honour and glory good Lord be thou my ayde and guyde me in al my doinges my buckler and defence in all daungers that I may freely and ioyfullye sing prayses to thée whiche liuest and raygnest one God almightie and incomprehensible worlde wythout ende Amen A Godly Prayer MOst mightie God which by thy worde hast made all thinges whose voyce the floudes and hilles doe knowe whose heast both quick and dead heauen and hell obey at whose displeasure the Diuels in hell doe tremble let thy worde so lighten our heartes that by oure good workes we may testifie our profession séeing that the Trée whiche beareth not fruite shall be cut downe and throwne into the fyre Graunt that I may not onely be a hearer but also a doer of thy holy word that so finallye I maye bée partaker of thy euerlasting ioye and blisse O Lorde graunt mee wisedome to knowe thee and grace to followe thée in true humilitie that as thou didst suffer to be spitted at and smitten of thine enemies so wee may beare the displeasures of the world and rage of our ennemies wyth pacience thou hast blessed the little ones reuealed vnto them the thinges hidden from the wyse for thou wilte haue mercye where it pleaseth thée O set thy feare always before myne eyes and graft thy fayth so in my hart that I may loue thée and glorifie thy holy name for euer Amen A godly Prayer to be sayde of euery christian GOod Lord whiche wyth thy handes doest stay the frame and engyne of the earth and rulest the course of the swifte heauens disposing and ordering all thinges by thy diuine prouidence whiche hast appoynted boundes to oure life which we cannot passe I beséeche thée that by my liuing I learning to dye mortifying by thy spirite the affections of the fleshe though not expelling them yet subduing the rage of them I maye at the last by the Hauen of Deathe land in the moste gloryous Citye of euerlastyng lyfe where our bodyes whiche are nowe darcke myserable and corruptible shall be moste brighte glorious and incorruptible lyke to the immortall shining bodye of oure Lorde Iesus Chryste we shall be lyke to Christ oure Sauyour euen as he is so shall we be as we haue borne the Image of the earthlye so shall we beare the Image of the heauenly and shyne lyke to the sunne as the face of Christe did in his transfiguration Oh Lord Iesus blessed Sauiour whiche by thy deathe haste tryumphed ouer sinne and deathe Thou hast troden on the sting of the monster oure hydeous enemye the Gates of Hell haue not preuayled againste thee graunt to me true and liuely fayth by which men passe from earth to heauen from death to eternall life This can we not do without thée thou must be our Mediator for a child of a nights birth is not pure in thy sight In sinne were wee borne and by nature wee are the children of perdition and fyrebrandes of Hell but thou O blessed Sauiour arte the perfection of the Lawe to them that beleue As death came by synnes so by thy death and precyous bloodeshedding is death conquered and exiled and wée that beléeue washed and cleansed of our sinnes al the prophets beare witnesse that they whiche beléeue in thy name shall receiue remission of their sins If we confesse our synnes thou arte righteous to forgiue vs our iniquities Whosoeuer calleth on thy name shal be saued thou hast no pleasure in the death of a sinner but rather desyrest y t they shoulde liue be cōuerted thou hast so loued the world that thou not only didst become man and tooke our nature vpon thée but were content also to suffer most cruel death on the Crosse to purge our nature from mortal sinne and corruption adorne it with immortality eternall glorye not only in thyne own person but in vs also to satisfy the iustice of the father for oure sinnes O blessed shepheard thou doubtest not to spende thy most precious bloode to saue thy beloued sheepe from rauine spoile Good Lorde so increase thy grace in mee that thy holye woord may take roote florish in me that the good séed may not bee choaked with thornes so order my liuing that when by course of nature I shalbe dissolued from the pryson of my bodye I may come to thée that when thou more brighter then the sunne shal come in the middest of the Legions of
Aungels in the shyning glorye and Maiestye to iudge the quicke the dead I may be in the number of the blessed ones whom thou shalt call to possesse thy kingdom prepared for them by thy father saying Com ye blessed children of my father receiue y â— kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the worlde Thou whiche didst dye and ryse agayne wilt rayse and bring to life all those that are dead beléeuing in thy faith Comfortable Exhortations against the manifolde assaultes of Sathan IF thou perceyue that the storme of temptation doth verye often and greeuously assault thee dismay not therefore thy selfe neither bee displeased with thy selfe as though almighty God nothing regarded thee but rather thanke him that hee instructeth and teacheth thee as one to bee hys heyre that he punisheth correcteth thee as his most deare sonne that he proueth assayeth thee as his welbeloued friend It is a manyfest and great token that man is reiect from the mercy and fauour God when hee is troubled with no temptation In thy temptatioÌ„ remember the holy Apostle S. Paule which being wrapt to the misteries of the thirde heauen was vâ—xed with the aungel of sathan remember the temptation of the holy man Iob other which were grieuouâ—ly troubled with their offences O happy fortunate man in whome this earthly Adam is so mortified and subdued that it in no wise resisteth the spirit but whether thys perfit quyetnes may be in any I will not affirme peraduenture it is not necessary to be For Paule in this life notwithstanding his highe perfection and grace had a motion of the flesh to vexe trouble him And when he thrice desyred God to be deliuered from the sayd motion He only had this answer Paul my grace is sufficient for vertue is made perfit by vexatioÌ„ Paul was vexed by pride that he should not be proud to be perfite strong in God he was caused to be weak feeble For he carryed the treasure of heaueÌ„ly reuelation in a frayle britle vessel that the honor victory should only be in God not in himself this one example of Paul is eruditioÌ„ lerning in many things when that we be intised moued to sin that we diligently cal to almighti god by prayer Remember that Dauid the Prophet King Salomon Peter the Apostle notwithstanding they were great lightes examples of holynesse yet they fell into grieuous and great sins whom almighty God peraduenture suffred to fall for this cause speciallye that thou shouldest not dispaâ—re Lyft vp thy selfe therefore vppon thy feete and with high courage bolde stomack returne againe into battayle agaynst thy enemies not onely more fierce and bold but also more ware diligent and think with thy selfe what intollerable and inuincible temptations Christ suffred for thee wherin there appeared no help comfort ayd nor defence anye where wherein God and the whole worlde seemed to be his most cruell and malycious enemyes when that he cryed alowd My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Truely this was a most grieuous paynfull and bitter temptatioÌ„ which Christ suffred for vs that he might make the way of the crosse easy for vs. Therefore prepare thou thy â—elf paciently to drink of that Cuppe which Christ Iesu thy head hath so willingly dronke on for the saluation of al mankynd And seeing therefore that Christ so willingly put himselfe in subiection and dipped himselfe in those so horrible and intollerable sorrowes and calamities oure moste louing and heauenly Father willing the same out of doubt he also vnderstandeth and knoweth our infirmitye out of doubt hee taking compassion on vs will not extreamly deale with vs but will rather beare with our imbecillitye and weakenes Doth not he himselfe calling al men vnto him say Come vnto me al yee that labor and are heauy laden and I will refresh you what more greater comfort I pray you can be giuen vs. How could Christ speak more mercifull vnto vs. There bee manye things that greeuously vex trouble man but what thing can more cruelly vex torment his conscience ouerwhelmed with sin then when he doubteâ—h of the mercy of God when he dreadeth least God be his aduersary and will reiect him when he is not able to conceiue this fayth of his mercy doth imagine himself to be cast away as a dry member that is cut of Be present here O Iesus Christ with thyne ayde help here we haue need of thy comfort let not this blacke violent horrible teÌ„pest of troubls ouerthrow drown wretched man but there is no cause why we should doubt Christ is true he wil make his promises to appear he wil help vs refresh vs. Therfore where as thy faith is not strong ynough wheras thou feelest thy self to doubt of Gods mercy and haste well neare no fayth at all strayght waies cal vpoÌ„ God bewail tho misery lack of belief before him seek for his aid succour by feruent prayer he wil both help refresh thee he hath taken vpon him thus to do he wil bring it to pas but take heed thou cease not to call vpon god beseech thou without al ceasing the Father of all consolation comfort with sighs from the bottom of thine hart that he turne not his face from thee lay thy weakenes vppon him poure out into his bosom all things which trouble torment thee Crye out with his disciples O Lord increase my fayth Lykewise say thou with the Father of the lunaticke child lord I beleâ—ue help thou mine vnbeliefe Make hast O lord to help mee before that I oppressed wyth this weight be drowned O moste louing mest merciful Father lord God of my health our only help and refuge Enter not into iudgemente with thy seruauntes Christ is my righteousnes redemption and innocencye whiche suffred most bitter and cruell death for my sake Let those things mooue thee O Father of all compassion haue mercy vpon me for thy sons sake confirme and strengthen my hearte by Faythe in Christ Comforte mee with the consolations of the holy ghoste that I may enioy the true ioyes of euerlasting lyfe through the merites of my Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the holy ghost be all praise and glorye for euer and euer Amen A Psalme to be sayd at all tymes REioyce in GOD my soule for he is my lighte and my defence my helpe the lanterne to my féete he hath heard my prayer when I called on him he hath holpen me in my néede he hath deliuered mee in my daungers The Lorde is the kéeper of my life from whome shall I shrinke whom shall I feare lying prostrate at the féete of my Lorde I bewayled my case and hée heard my complaint he forsaketh not his seruaunts Wherefore if armies of men stoode vp agaynst mée I shoulde not feare for if God be on my syde who can preuayle against mée Hée is
happye and safe whom God the mighty God of Israel keepeth the sunne shal not burne him by daye nor the Moone by night Thryse blessed is hée that feareth the Lorde for hée shall see happy dayes As the Hart thyrsteth after the water springes so my soule hath longed for my Lorde the liuing God When shall I come to appeare before thy presence to sée thée in thy glorious Maiestie face to face O Lord let thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesus that I may see the day of my redemptiō Good Lord make hast to helpe mée All glory maiesty and Empire be vnto God the Creatour God the redéemer and God the holy comforter for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to bee sayd of the sinfull soule MY synfull life increasinge and my synnes still abounding good Lord to whom shall I flye or to whome shall I resorte for succoure from offendinge thée I cannot cease neyther day nor nighte my sinnes are heuy vpon me pressing mee downe euen vnto Hel such is the weight thereof Moreouer when I prepare my selfe to amendmente of life and thinke stedfastly to serue please thée euen soone after doth my corrupt and infected nature offend and displease thy Deuyne maiesty so that I am proane ready to runne headlong into all kynd of wickednes sin such is my strength such is my force or rather weaknesse in performing those things which thou requirest at my handes So that good Lord I am ready vtterly to dispayre and forsake thée vnlesse thou of thy great mercy and pitty send thyne ayde from aboue and poure into mee thy moste healthfull grace that I may make hast to flye vnto thée with most bitter teares a sorrowfull heart and bowing knées lamenting my sinfull lyfe and gréeuous offences committed agaynste thée trusting most assuredlye and faythfullye in the merites of my sauioure Iesus Christ that by his most bitter death and bloodshedding which is of farre greater force vertue effect in preseruing me then all my sinnes and offences are in condemninge and casting mée away for whose sake I moste assuredly beléeue all my sinnes and offences are clearly forgiuen and shall neuer be layd to my charge but that I shall enter with thée in the laste day into thy euerlasting kingdom there to bée with thée for euermore to whom be all honor praise and glory for euer and euer A Prayer for the obtayning of Gods grace SHyne wee beséech thée O almighty and mercifull God through the power of oure Lorde Iesus Christe and the comfortable woorking of thy sacred Spirite the heauenlye comforter vpon our myndes and harts with the glorious beams of thy heauenly grace geue vs such plenty of wisedom and vnderstanding from aboue that thorow the knowledge of thee the man of ūn that is our frayle féeble fleshe with the wicked lustes and desyre of concupiscence may lye deade and buryed in vs giue vs good Lord the feeling of thy grace that by the vertue and deuine operation of thy worde the eyes of our soules may bee illumyned and made so light that the Prince of Darknesse with all his vnrighteous ministers may bee expulsed and banished from our memories and so establish vs in thy truth that our harts myndes and thoughts may continuallye be occupyed in thy testimonies that thereby thou good Lorde effectually shyning in our hearts by the vertue of thy good spirite we may learn to know and vnderstand what is the fulnes of of our calling and how ritche thou arte in the glory of the celestiall and Heauenlye heritage of thy Sayntes and that excellent greatnes of thy power and louing kyndnes towardes vs which beléeue without fayning thy holy Gospell according to the might and force of thy strength which thou shewedst in Chryst Iesus when thou didst rayse him from the dead and didst set him on thy ryght hande farre aboue all Empire power authority and dominion and euery name that is named not onely in this worlde but in the world to come by whose precyous death dearest bloodshedding wee are assured that sinne Death and hell are vanquished ouercome and vtterlye destroyed and if wée beléeue without wauering we shall in him bee able to resiste all the power of Hell and in Christ as Conquerours to tryumphe with victorye ouer sinne Death and Sathan and at the last to haue and enioye the fruition of his riche and glorious kingdome which hee by moste paynfull agonye bloody strypes gréeuous and bloodye woundes and lastly by his most painfull death purchased for his chosen and elect To whom for our sanctification iustification redemption and our saluation bee rendred with his Celestial Father and the holye Ghoste all lawd glory power honor and dominion for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for a woman that is great with childe to be repeated by her hartily before her trauel which will bee maruaylous comfort vnto her Thy wisedome Lord in all thy wayes and power great to perfourme it We cease to search and onely praise they passe so farre the reach of wit And thus we muse and maruaile much of all thy works and yet wee finde No marueile nor no wonder such as daily forming of mankinde Of such beginning such an ende and of such seede such frune to growe With Dauid well we may contende to mase to muse and nothing knowe The matter earth the shape from Heauen doth knit both soule and flesh in one Whereof such stryfe is them betweene from whēce they came they would be gon And yet in all thy wonders great thy mercy Lord doth farre passe all Which doest vouchsafe to worke this feate in mee pore wretch thy bond and thrall And as good Lord then doest me make thy shop to shape the worke therin Thy handworke so do not forsake but ende the thing thou doest begin Thy goodnes Lord did once make light this burthen now which sore doth greeue Untill which woe did wrap each wight the wilfull worke of woeful Eue. That Eue hath lost let Christ restore that guilt hath made let grace amend Why should the fault of Eue do more then grace in Christ God it defende Oh Lord the time approcheth neare that throwes of Eue I must sustaine And that I may the same wel beare increase my strength or lesse my paine Thy wil this burthen on me layd thy goodnesse eke wil ease the same Where Christ hath once the raunsome payd why should the deed of Eue bring blame Thus O Lord I me in thy will doe put eke wholly in thy hand I will not once swarue from thy skill to dye or liue to fall or stand A Godly and earnest Prayer in time of trauayle or Childbyrth of euery Christian faithfull woman ALmighty GOD my Heauenlye and moste mercifull Father I feele thy promised punishmente at this presente to take effect on mee which for the guilte and transgression of my progenitours hath bene by thy deuyne maiesty iustly pronounced agaynst me and the whole generation of Adam great
and intollerable are these bitter pange and piercing paynes that in this my trauaile of Childe-byrth I indure and abyde Now féele I as it were a cruell and sharpe conflicte betwixt death and lyfe now féele I O Lord the rod of thy correction according to thy iustice layde heauy vpon me for the vse and exercise of sinne and iniquitie yet when it shall please thée good Lord looke vpon mée wyth the eyes of Fatherlye compassion and pittie and according to the multitude of thy manifold mercyes bée thou now present with mée arme me with perfite pacience ioyfullye to beare thy correction and in the midst of these my sharpe and bitter bruntes of griefe giue me grace styll to call vppon thée strengthen me a poore wretched woman giue mée comforte and heauenly consolatioÌ„ from aboue when thou shalt thinke it meete conuenient send me safe deliuerance that I may enioy the fruite of my wombe the sight whereof shall adorne deck me anew wyth ioy and gladnesse Otherwise good Lord if in this season thou determine to take me hence vnto thy self by thy messenger Death to whose stroake all Creatures when thou thinkest it méete and expedient shall bowe make mée constant faithfull in thée whose I am whether I dye or liue forget my sins and offences committed by mée agaynst thee let the bloude of the Lambe Iesus washe awaye my deformitie let the spottes of my corruption bee purged and taken awaye let my infected soule that is putrified therein be purified therein Giue mée grace alwayes whether I liue or dye to call vpon thée continually giue me power to pitch ny confidence onely and alone in the bloudye woundes of Christ Iesus to whome in this my distresse I flye and appeale for remedie and comforte Graunt this O gracious God which liuest and raignest worlde without end Amen A Prayer to be sayde of euery woman after the tyme of deliueraunce HOw muche and how greatly am I bound to laud prayse and extol thée O my Lorde God euen nowe was I assayled in my body being a wretched and sinfull woman with sundry and diuers dolors and gréeuous grypes of perrillous paynes in such sort that my Agonyes abounding Death himselfe séemed to mée to knocke at the gates of my bodye thy rodde of Iustice lay so heauy vpoÌ„ me so that I iudged my self a creature more méete for the graue whose clamor I thought stil sounded in my eares then to reape the benefite of life By my paynes Lorde God in this my trauayle I am forced to confesse acknowledge that thou arte iuste in thy promises and art ready to punishe sinne and iniquitie by this my safe and sure deliueraunce I am bounde to acknowledge that wyth thy iustice thou alwayes frequentest pittie commixing thy mercye iustice together in such sort y t I must needes confesse thee to bée most righteous mercifull I cannot O my God but protest that thou hast dealte fauourablye with mee and those paines which I abode were layde vpon me for my sinne and wickednesse and yet haste thou not dealte seuerely with mee neyther giuen sentence agaynst mée in thy fury which haue iustlye deserued the same for hadst thou O Lorde respected my desertes I had porished euerlastingly and béen vtterly confounded my greuous grones throwne forth vnto thée pierced the verye Bowels of thy annoynted sonne Iesus Christ who beholding my agonyes and bitter payns became an intercessor to thée for mée thorow whose earnest intreaty and louing meditation thou coÌ„uertedst thy displeasure to mercie and for hys sake alone that dyed vppon the crosse for my offences thou hast asswaged my torments and in tâ—e fuâ—nesse of thy bâ—â—nty louing kindnesse thou hast giuen me a liuing soule to glad my hart for the which I am bound of right to giue thée harty and humble thankes humblye be séeching thée being now faint and féeble in body to strengthen me in soule mind and heart that my tongue maye be the Organ that may continually publish forth thy euerlasting prayse Graunt this O gracious God for the loue of thy onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ. To whome wyth thée and the holye Ghoste bee giuen all lawde power dominion for euer and euer Aâ—â—â— A godly prayer for the true worshipping of God EStablyshe oure hartes mindes O moste gracious God in the true worshipping of thy deuine Maiestye make vs to beléeue thy holye and sacred Gospell wherein wée are daylye and hourely instructed to loue feare honoure and obeye thée to hate sinne and iniquitie to renounce al superstitious ceremonies whereby thy worship is defaced thy glory prophaned and thine honoure greatlye dyminished Giue vs thy grace to hate sinne and iniquitie to renounce and forsake the vanities and wanton pleasure of this wicked and sinfull worlde arme vs we beséeche thée to mortifie and bryng vnder the rebellyous appetites and straunge lustes of the fleshe and finallye giue vs power from aboue to wythstande Sathan the prince of darcknesse and all his damnable ministers who by diuers temptations prouoke and alure vs from godly puritie and perfite integrity which passeth onely from Chryste Iesus to vs who is the fulnesse of oure perfection and holynesse to all kinde of euill impietie vncleannesse by meanes whereof thy worship is greatlye prophaned and of a set purpose contemned Make vs constant to skirmishe agaynst the worlde sinne death and hell and by the power of afruitfull faith giue vs grace to resist and brydle the concupiscence of oure fleshe in suche sorte that oure soules may triumph with victorye continue constant in worshipping thee from whome passeth the fulnesse of oure ioye prepare oure heartes and myndes good Lorde to spreade foorth the glory of thy name keepe oure tongues from al filthy talk and vncomely iesture least by the exercise of such sinne we contemne thy worship and prouoke thée to displeasure and indignation set thou a watche before the gates of my mouth that my lippes may by thy grace be always made open to sound forth thy prayse and euerlasting glorye be mercifull to our offences think thou not on our vnrighteousnes but vppon thy clemencye forgiue thou fréely and pardon graciously our sinnes make vs faythfull in Christe Iesus shorten the daungerous dayes of iniquitie increase the number of thy chosen peculier saintes hasten thy comming O sauior Christ that we with the fellowship of thy saintes heauenly Angels and the blessed company of Martirs may celebrate thy prayse and worship thée in thy glorious kingdome before thy father oure God and the holy Ghost to whom be prayse for euer Amen A Prayer agaynst the fellowship of the vngodly PRotect defend me O heauenlye and most mercifull father from the fellowship of the vngodly men whiche dayly imagine mischiefe in their heartes to harm the innocent kepe me from the counsayles of the foolish and vngodly whiche speake proud things against the glorye of thy blessed name defend me from faithlesse and deceiptfull ones
whose guiltie stomacks are gorged with grudge enuie mallice hatred disdayne and al vncharitablenes for their throts are like vnto an open sepulchre or swallowing graue their tongues are giuen to slaunder and backbite their neighboures the poyson of Adders lyeth hidden vnder their lippes and in fine they as thyne enemies blaspheme thy holye and blessed name and contemne thy testimonies O Lorde gine me thy grace to be conuersant with good godly men such as fauoure thy gloryous Gospell doe their indeuour to practise thy preceptes to the glorye of thy holye blessed name make mee by their example to exercise my selfe in the heauenly verity that thereby I maye bee instructed in the liuely knowledge of thy commandements obtaine such wisedome from aboue that by saythe I may cleaue to thee the fellowship of those y t feare thy holy name and so auoyde the company of the wicked and vngodly worldlinges whiche haue layde snares to intrap mée Graunt this O most mercifull Father for thy sonne Iesus Christ hys sake who euer liueth raigneth with thee and the holye Ghost to whome be all lawd glorye power and prayse for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to be purged from syn and vncleannesse TAke awaye from mée O Lorde the burthen of my corruption which by the continual exercise of my sinne and wickednesse hath wounded my soule wofullye with the daungerous dartes of transgression so that I feele my putrifaction abounding and my festred conscience ouerladen wyth vncleannesse so that I haue no other meane or remedye but to prostrate my seffe before the Throane of thy glorious Maiestye beséechyng thee intyrely of thy gracyous goodnesse to salue my sores wyth the comfortable Oyle of thy mercye thou onely O Iesus arte the swéet phisition of my soule sprinckle vppon mée Isope and I shall be made whyter than snow if thou of thy excéeding bounty and fauour good Lord wilt vouchsafe to washe awaye the spottes of my sinne and wickednesse that heapeth thy indignation and furye agaynst me I shall then excell the Gold that hath beene purified in the Furnace seuen folde let it therefore good Lord and mercyfull Father seeme pleasaunt vnto thy deuyne Maiestye to touche my corrupted vncleane heart wyth the heauenlye finger of thy grace that I maye bryng foorth the fruites of true repentaunce whiche are more acceptable to thy glorious and deuyne presence then the offering of Calues Bullockes shéepe Goates or any other burnt offring or sacrifice of peace a contrite and sorrowfull soule is the thing that thou doest moste delight an humble and a lowlye spirite is the oblation that thou doest desire A cleane and pure heart O Lorde my God I knowe thou doest loue and fauoure wherefore I beseeche thée to purge me from my sinne and iniquitie of thy great mercy let the bitter deploration of myne offences hartye contrition thorough thy glorious merites and paynefull passion O Iesus be y ◠only meane and way to set me frée from the powers of hell death damnation and sith I am by thy goodnesse begotten and borne anew strengthen me good Lord that I neuer slyde nor fall from thée but that I maye continuallye beare in my remembrance the state whereto I am called by thée thorowe thy aboundaunt loue and kyndenesse wype away good lord all my sinnes out of thy remembraunce cleanse me in the bloude of thy spotlesse Lambe Iesus Chryste and I shall be made cleane pure and safe Graunt this moste mercifull God for the honour and glory of thy name sake thorow the bitter deth of thy sonne Iesus Christe my mediatoure and Aduocate to whom with thée and the holye Ghoste be giuen lawd glory power praise for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to be sayde in tyme of peace and prosperitie GIue vs good Lorde the comfortable and healthfull spirite of thy grace and aboundaunt fauoure that wee maye wythout ceasing make oure continuall boast of thy prayse we know and from the bottomes of oure heart confesse that thou hast dealte more louinglye with vs then thou hast done with our next neighboures whose painefull miseries and bloudy broyles may be a sufficient warnyng vnto vs to hate oure sinne iniquitie least the like calamitie or euer we be aware doe compasse hedge vs rounde about giue vs grace therefore in time of peace and happie prosperitie so to walke that thy fatherlye blessing bée not withdrawn nor taken from vs and the rod of thy sharpe correction be layde vppon our neckes euen in such sorte as thou hast visited oure brethren in other Countreyes whose bodyes by the meanes of cyuill discention haue béene made a praye to the sworde we heare and vnderstande that not farre off but euen hard at the gates of our borders the father is readye in armes to séeke the destruction of hys sonne the sonne is as gréedye to gape for the blood of his father we heare how vyolentlye the brother thirsteth after the bloude of hys brother frind is against friend neighboure agaynst neighbour young men are murthered olde men are sodaynlye slayne manye a wife is husbandlesse many a childe is desolate and fatherlesse the cruel harted enemy spareth none he maketh hauocke no teares can staye hym from hys affectioned Tyrannye the tender infantes are haled from the earnfull paps of their wéeping mothers and torne to péecemeale before the sorrowfull eyes of their carefull parentes Olde age is contemned godly Matrons are abused Uirgines are deflowred and rauished by violence a spectacle or extreame crueltie for vs to beholde and a glasse of great carefulnesse for vs to looke vppon that haue worthely deserued like or far greater punishmentes yet withholdeste thou from vs thy scourge although our offences are so great and diuers that might heap vp the sentence of thy excéeding iustice agaynst vs in place of war and bloudye battayle thou hast giuen vnto vs prosperitie and perfit peace in place of penury dearth scarcity thou hast giuen vs increase fulnesse and great plentie in stead of discorde and discention thou hast sent vs vnitie and concorde and by thy celestiall prouydence wee are defended from the cruell enemie and from the domesticall and ciuill warre and besides these thy gracious giftes to heape vp our consolation ioye thou hast giuen vs thy true and lyuely word as a Lanterne to direct and guide our footsteps from vanitie to vertue from wickednesse to godlye wisedome from lycentious libertie to newenesse of life and godly conuersation besides all these thyne inestimable graces fréelye bestowed vppon vs thou haste giuen vs godly zealous Preachers whiche plenteously breake vnto vs out of thy eternall testamēt the breade of life whereon good Lord giue our soules such power to féede by fayth that they maye be nourished to eternall ioye and we by the diligent obseruing and obeying of thy commandementes maye be preserued from all kind of discention and peaceably enioye the fruites of pure peace trustie tranquilitie Grant this
death and destruction and being by the vertue of thy righteousnesse made holy I may triumph with happie victorie ouer sinne death and al the powers of hell and enter with thée the felowship of thy chosen Sayntes into euerlasting rest grant this most louing father for Christ Iesus sake to whom with thée and the holy ghost be rendred al laude glory honour and prayse for euer Amen THe Lorde God bee mercifull vnto me pardon forgiue me my sinnes looke vpon me with thy gratious and blessed countenaunce preserue mee from the second death and euerlasting destruction of body soule The Lord God iustifie me in his death bloode cloath mée with his euerlastinge righteousnes and register my name in the booke of life The Lorde God comfort my guiltie conscience with the euerlasting light of his bountiful fauor lot my place among his saints in his heauenly kingdome The Lord God for his mercies sake after this my bodily death giue me the fruition of his presence in his right palace of endlesse glory to whose mercifull protection I commend with al humilitie and reuerence my soule Lord Iesus preserue me Lord Iesus comfort me Lord Iesus refresh mée Lorde Iesus praye for me for only into thy hands that hast redéemed mee O Lorde God of truth I commend my soule Amen A prayer vnto the holy Ghost against the temptations of Satan the malicious and wicked spirite AH Lord the euerlasting and heauenly spirite which sanctifiest and quicknest the hartes of the faithfull For as much as there is an other spirit which cōtrary to thy heauenly mocions moueth and prouoketh vnto infidelitie malice lying pride wrath whoredome fornication glotonie dronkeship enuy couetousnesse contention errour deceyte hypocrisie straunge religion fayned holinesse impietie desperation c. which is called the Prince of the world the great dragon of Hell the authoritie of all euilles the father of lying and a murtherer from the beginning to whom it is euident that we are poore wretched and miserable fallen away frō God walke in th◠lustes of the flesh liue after the trade of the world and doe that that is pleasaunt to the corrupt affections and are far away estraunged from the citie of righteous Israel as straungers partaine nothing vnto the couenaunt and promises of grace Wherefore while we thus consider this our damnation and the word of thy promise and commandement we are earnestly mooued to flie vnto thée humblie to desire and beséech thée trusting that we shal obtayne For thou promisest and also commaundest to trust an looke for this that through the good will of thy spirite thou wilt gather receaue vs into thy people that we may bee made a spirituall Israell renew vs that is to say beget vs a new vnto repentance godly liuing turne vs with an earnest zeale of our heart drawe vs vnto thée that from henceforth we may abstaine from the workes of darkenesse death Destroye in vs the kingdome of sinne that is to say exclude frō vs not onely euill words déeds but also plucke out of our minds all euil thoughts noysome coūcels furious effectes and the stinking course of this flesh Turne vs from euil wayes vnto the right path of repentance Let our members be so addict to righteousnes and sanctification that they may bee made fitte to serue thée Let vs increase and be plenteous in al such works as bee pleasaunt vnto thée Forsake vs not in tentatiō but rather strēgthē vs with that thy secret vertue inward power Bring to passe that we giue no eare to his flattering deceits nor yet to his beautyfull glistering falaces least he corrupt our mindes and abuse our flesh vnto our destruction which at the beginning full craftely hee brought to passe by his subtyle and swéete suggestions but rather throwe downe and treade vnder our féete this our cruel enemie that we being frée frō his deceitfull tyranny may through thy ghostly inspiration obtayne such peace and quietnes in our harts that we may serue thée with a cleane bodie and pure mind through Iesu Christ vnto the laude prayse and glory of God the heauenly father So be it A prayer for true repentaunce and for the comming of the kyngdome of Christ. O Lord and our God Iesu Christ the scripture testifieth of thee that when thou wast in the worlde thou diddest preach repentance and the comming of the kingdome of heauen and after thou wast risen agayne thou saidest that it behoued thée so to suffer on the thirde daye to rise agayne from the deade and that both repentaunce and remission of sinnes shoulde be preached to euery creature in thy name And that whosoeuer beléeued were baptised shoulde bee saued Agayne than full louingly diddest bid them that labor and are laden to come vnto thée and promised that thou wouldest vnlade refreshe them Uerely it is no small company of wicked spirites cleueth which is also a roring Lyō and earnest accuser of the sons of God yea and such an enemy of God and of thē that pertain vnto him as by no means neither will nor may be reconciled Therefore we all of vs which thorow thy grace are bound and giuen ouer to serue God most humbly beséech thée O holy spirit that thou wilt defend vs against al the wicked temptations and pernicious breathings of the most wicked spirite that all vice excluded all vertue and godlinesse may spring growe increase in vs vntil we be made perfect auncient in Christ Iesu our Lord in his holy law Take away infidelity and engraffe in our brest a true and vnfayned faith Take away pride wrath enuye debate whoredome glotonye dronkeshippe couetousnesse errour hypocrisie with all kinde of vngodlines and print in our hearts humilitie loue chastity and concord purity of life temperance sobriety mercy liberality towarde the poore truth pure holynesse with all kinde of vertue Take awaye from vs all that euer is of Sathan the flesh and the world and giue vs that which onely commeth from the heauenly father and from his onely begotten sonne and from thée that holy spirit Teach vs all trueth enarme vs with the shield of true faith that we may so quench the firie dartes of Sathan Graunt that wee may so watch and shewe such diligence that wee may perceiue his craftie assaultes and daungerous vnto thee that wee liue not heare after in the fleshe but rather that wee abhorre from all filthinesse and impuritie thereof and that we being brought into the kingdome through thy precious bloud may obtayne dayly more more perfect remission of our sinnes So be it A prayer for the knowledge of Gods wyll O Lord God our heauenly father giue vs grace that wee may neuer cease diligently to cal vpon thée with most humble minds to desire thée that through thy great mercies we may be fulfilled with plenteous and rich knowledge of thy diuine will and that wée may encrease dayly more
and euer worlds with out end Amen A prayer against the councels of the ennemyes of God and of his diuine verite AH Lorde thou puissant strong mightie God which destroyest the councels of the vngodly riddest away the tyrantes of this world out of the earth at thy pleasure so that no councell or strength at all can resist thine eternal wisdome and euerlasting determination which thou hast to fore appointed by thine vnsearcheable wisedome from the beginning We thy poore creatures simple wretches and vnprofitable seruants doe most instantly and hartely desire thee for the loue that thou haste to thy welbeloued and onely begotten sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ that thou wilt looke vpon thy cause for it is time O Lorde and bring to naught all those things that are or shall bée appoynted determined and fully agréed vpon among the wicked against thée and thy holy word Let not the enemies of thy trueth so miserably oppresse thy seruauntes which seeke thy glory tender the aduauncement of thy pure religion and aboue all thinges wish in their heartes that thy most holie name may onely be glorified among all nations Whatsoeuer the vngodly goe about contrary to thy glory and thy worde let it not take effect O swéete father yea rather destroy it vtterly bring it to nought that all men may knowe that thou alone art that almightie and euerlasting God which rulest and subduest all inhabiters of the earth from the highest to the lowest after thy moste holye will and pleasure But to them that walk not in the councell of the vngodly nor tread not y e way of sinners giue thou good lucke prosperous successe in thy name that their holy trauailes and vertuous enterprises may come vnto a godly end Defend them that they sit not in the chaier of the pestilent scorners which spitefully rayling on thy trueth do defend with high tirannie both their wicked doctrin and liuing Grant to thy seruantes the mouthe of thy wisedome which no man may resiste whereby they may know y t thou alone art the Lorde that none is to be compared vnto thée al the enemies of thy Godly truth with their wicked counsels destroyed and put out of the way we may with feruēt minds receiue the trueth of thy most holy word order our life according to the same sing perpetuall prayses to thy most blessed name worlde without end through Iesu Christ thy sonne our Lord. So be it A prayer for the vnitie concord and perfect agreement in things concerning Christian religion O Euerlasting and merciful God which art the God of peace loue vnitie and concord not of strife debate discorde and confusion thou seest how miserably thy holy congregation is rent torne and deuided into diuers sectes whyle fleshly mē leauing the holsome instruction of thy most blessed word which is the alone truth and righteousnesse set foorth and maintaine euery mā as his fansie leadeth thinges of their owne brayne inuented by carnall wisedome without the authoritie of thine vndefiled lawe And hereof commeth it to passe that so great dissention reign now a dayes in the worlde and that so manye and diuers sectes schismes and heresies spring vpp in euerie place vnto the great perturbation of the christian publicke weale For so long as men set aside the rules and ordinances of thy holie Scripture and appoynt things of their own imagination and stiffely defend them it cannot come to passe that christian peace and vnitie of spirite with heartie concorde can haue place among vs. Therefore we wretched sinners to whome knowledge of these thinges thorow thy grace haue chanced doe pray and moste feruently desire thy great mercy that for asmuch as there is but one euerlasting God and one heauenly father which thou art and one fayth and one baptisme which we al professe y e cal on thy name thou wilt thorow thy onely spirit gather togither such as are dispersed into diuers sects into y e vnitie of true pure vnderstanding of thy word by fayth bring them againe whose mindes are disseuered into one bodye that there may be no dissention among them But specially O most mercifull father graunt that we which doe breath and for our little power labour vnto the true vnitie in Christ may lay aside al dissension and seeke that thine only euerlasting trueth which is contained in thy word that wee together may growe into one iudgement sentence and minde yea and that which floweth and commeth forth from the intelligence and vnderstanding of our Lord Iesu Christ and euermore guide and leade vs agayne vnto him that we with one perfect agréement of minde and with one mouth may praise magnifie thée the celestial father of our Lord Iesu Christ through the same Iesu Christ thy sonne the holy ghost So be it A prayer for spiritual ioy O Lorde Iesu the redéemer and comforter of mankinde which hast prepared for them that forsake the vaine pleasures of this worlde for thy loue farre better delectations pleasures through y e holy ghost that most swéete comforter which the worlde knoweth not measuring the griefes of this life with inwarde and secret comforts and renewe to vs as a certayne gage or pledge of the glorie that hereafter shall come wherewith we being refreshed comforted may run vnto thée with the more chearefull minds I beséech thée that the annoynting of thy sprite may continually beate out of me the tediousnes of euils and make my minde merry with healthfull ioy and be annoynted thorow thy aboundant mercie with the oyle of gladnesse and ghostly comfort which liuest and reignest with the father and the same spirite very GOD worlde without ende Amen A prayer vnto Christ our sauiour for the glory of heauen O Lorde Iesu Christe which art the onely and euerlasting sonne of God the father which also becamest man for oure sake that thou shouldest bring vs vnto God y e father and therfore thou going vnto the father occupiest hys right hand graunt that we may be cōuersant now with thée thorowe fayth in the holy Ghost after an heauenly manner and that after this exyle and banishment we being illumined with thy brightnesse may remaine with thée for euer which liuest and reignest with God the father the holy ghost very God world without end Amen Thanks gyuing to God for his benefites O Lorde God our heauenly father we right hartely thanke thée for thy manifold and inestimable benefites which thou haste giuen to vs deseruing nothing lesse than to receiue of thy boūtie so great kindnesse We thanke thée that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercie first to create and make vs according to thy likenes and to place vs in ioyful Paradise there perpetually to haue remayned if through the subtile and deceitefull suggestions of Satan our aduersarie we had not transgressed thy most holy commandment We thank thée also O most bounteous father for thy louing kindenesse which thou shewest
vnto vs when we were all perished and lost through the sinne of Adam For when thou mightest iustly haue condemned vs cast vs into perpetual damnatioÌ„ thou like a father of singuler great loue haddest pity on vs and sauedst vs by the death passion of thy welbeloued sonne oure Lorde and sauioure Iesus Christ which gaue himselfe a ransome for all our sinnes and paide sufficient price by his precious bloud for all the wickednesse that wée euer committed in times past or hereafter shall commit thorowe oure frailtie and weakenesse so that we repent and beleue Neyther wast thou thus contented he should onely dye for oure sinnes but thou didst raise him also againe for our iustification to make vs righteous in thy sight Moreouer after that hee hadde shewed himself vnfainedly aliue to his apostles by manifest and euident tokens certayne dayes after hys resurrection thorowe the power of his Godhead ascended vp into heauen perfect God and perfect man where he sitteth now on the right hand and maketh intercession for vs being our onely Mediatour and alone Aduocate From thence we looke for him to come againe at the day of Iudgement not as a cruell Iudge to condemne and cast vs away into perpetuall damnation but as a most louing Lorde and gentle Sauiour to cary vs with him into perpetuall glory there alwayes to remayne in euerlasting ioye praysing thée worlde with out end For these thy most bounteous giftes and for other innumerable which dayly thou giuest vnto vs of thy great mercy wee thanke thee most gentle mercifull father desiring thee with all humblenes of minde that thou wilt giue vs grace through thy holie spirit not to be vnthankful but to walke worthy this thy kindnes and so to behaue our selues in this wretched worlde according to thy word that at the last day we may be found in the number of them to whome thy onely begotten Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ shal say come ye blessed of my father possesse that kingdome which was prepared for you from the beginning of the worlde Lord let it so come to passe Amen An other confession of our sinnes to our Lord Iesus Christ. O Lorde Iesu Christe whiche art the onely and alone Phisicion of the wounded conscience we poore miserable sinners trusting on thy goodnesse and grace doe here briefly declare vnto thée the euill trée of oure heart with the rootes braunches leaues fruits of the same which all we vnfaynedly confesse to be euill and wicked For thou doest no lesse consider weigh and ponder the inward lustes of oure heart which is froward and vnsearchable then these outward grosse sinnes that we wickedly commit eyther in word or déede Therfore we beséech thée pray thée euen so heartily as our weaknes will suffer although we be very vnapt to praye that thou wilt mercifully circumcise cut away our stony heart yea for this olde heart create in vs another new hart replenish it with thy spirite water it and make it moyst with the iuyce or humoure of heauenly grace and wyth the fountaynes of Spirituall waters that the inwarde poyson and the noisom iuice of the flesh may be dried vp the custome of the olde man abolished our heart after this no more bring foorth thorns and cockle fit stuffe â—or the fire but spirituall fruits in righteousnes and holinesse vnto euerlasting life So be it Grace before meate GIue thanks to God the Lorâ— oâ— might as it becommeth Christians right And euer when thou 〈◊〉 thy meate Remember God before thou eate And then God will remember thee Anâ— wiâ—h his food will nourish thee And after thiâ— life ended is Wee shall remayne with him in blisse God saue his vniuersall Church Our noble Queene defend Gâ—aunt that thy people may enioy thy peace vnto the end Grace after meate OF Dyues and Lazarus the scripture telleth plaine How Dyues liued in welth ease and Lazarus in great paine The rich man he was clothed wel and 〈◊〉 of the best But Lazarus for hunger great could haue but 〈◊〉 rest But full of sores lay crying stil for some man to reâ—â—eue him With 〈◊〉 that fell froÌ„ Diâ—es 〈◊〉 wherof no man did giue him Thus perished poore Lazarus and that for lacke of food And also the rich glutton died for all his worldly good Therefore all yee that present be remember this thing well That how this man vnmerciful is buryed now in hell From the which torments great the Lord vs all deliuer And grant we may be mercifull while we liue here togither Then shaâ— we raign with Lazarus with ioyes that be indinabâ—e Euen by the bloud of Iesus Christ for our heaâ—th most profitable Now therfore lord we thee beseech to make vs all consent Grace before meate To pity those that haue most neede and the our sinnes repent Grace before meate ALl that is and shall be set vpon this â—ord Be the 〈…〉 by the Lords word So be it Grace after meate HE that is king and Lord ouer all Bring vs to the table of lyfe eternall Grace before meate THanks be giuen vnto our lord Iesus Christ both nowe and alwayes for these and all other his benefitâ— so mercifully louingly and aboundantly powred vpon vs. Amen Grace after meate THe God of all glory and peace who hath created redemed and presently fed vs be blessed for euer anâ— euer Amen FINIS