seruants Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure and turned thy selfe from thy wrathfull indignation For if thou Lord hadst not helped vs it had not failed but our soules had beene put to silence But when we said our feete haue slipped thy mercie O Lord helped vs vp In the multitude of the sorrowes that we had in our heartes thy comfortes haue refreshed our soules Our soules wayted still vpon the Lorde our soules hanged vpon his helpe our hope was alwaies in him In the Lordes word will we reioyce in Gods word did we comfort our selues For the Lorde saide Call vpon me in the time of trouble and I will heare thee and thou shalt praise me So when we were poore needie sickly in heauines the Lord cared for vs he was our helper and our deliuerer according to his word In our aduersitie and distresse he hath lift vp our heades and saued vs from vtter destruction He hath deliuered our soules from death he hath fed vs in the time of dearth he hath saued vs from the noysome pestilence Therefore will we offer in his holy temple the oblation of thankesgiuing with great gladnes we wil sing and speake prayses vnto the Lorde our Sauiour We will giue thankes vnto the Lord for he is gratious his mercie endureth for euer The Lord is ful of compassion and-mercie long suffering plenteous in goodnes and pitie His mercie is greater then the heauens and his gratious goodnesse reacheth vnto the cloudes Like as a father pitieth his owne children euen so is the Lord mercifull vnto them that feare him Therefore will we praise thee and thy mercies O God vnto thee will we sing O thou holy one of Israel Wee will sing a newe song vnto thee O God we wil praise the Lord with Psalmes of thankesgiuing O sing prayses sing prayses vnto our God O sing prayses sing praises vnto our king For God is the king of the earth sing prayses with vnderstanding We wil magnifie thee O God our king we will praise thy name for euer and euer Euery day will we giue thankes vnto thee and praise thy name for euer and euer Our mouth shal speake the praises of the lord let all flesh giue thanks to his holy name for euer and euer Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel for euer and blessed be the name of his maiestie world without end ▪ Amen Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. Praiers to be saide before meales and after AL things depend vpon thy prouidence O Lord to receiue at thy hands due sustenāce in time cōuenient Thou giuest to them and they gather it thou openest thy hand and they are satisfied with all good thinges O heauenly father which art the fountaine and full treasure of all goodnesse we beseeche thee to shewe thy mercie vpon vs thy children and sanctifie these giftes which we receiue of thy mercifull liberalitie graunting vs grace to vse them soberly and purely according to thy blessed will so that hereby we may acknowledge thee to be the authour and giuer of all good thinges and aboue all that we may remember continuallie to seeke the spirituall foode of thy worde wherewith our soules may be nourished euerlastingly through our sauiour Christ who is the true bread of life which came downe from heauen of whom whosoeuer eateth shall liue for euer and raigne with him in glorie worlde without end So be it An other prayer before meales WHether ye eat or drinke saith S. Paul or whatsoeuer ye doe else let al be done to the praise and glorie of God. Eternal and euerliuing God father of our Lord Iesus Christ who of thy most singular loue which thou barest to mankinde hast appointed to his sustenaunce not onelye the fruits of the earth but also the foules of the aire the beasts of the field and fishes of the sea and hast commaunded thy benefites to bee receiued as from thy handes with thankesgiuing assuring thy children by the mouth of thine Apostle that to the cleane all thinges are cleane as the creatures which be sanctified by thy worde and prayer grant vnto vs so moderately to vse these thy giftes present that our bodies being refreshed our soules may bee more able to proceede in all good workes to the praise of thy holy name through Iesus Christ our lord So be it Our father which art in heauen c. An other O Eternal God the verie God of peace and all consolation which broughtest againe from death our Lorde Iesus the great sheepheard of the sheepe through the bloud of the euerlasting couenant make vs fruitfull in all good works to doe thy wil and worke in vs that which is acceptable in thy sight Sanctifie vs throughout and keep our whole spirit soule and body faultles vnto the comming of thy deare Sonne our Lorde Iesu Christ. Thou art faithfull O Father who hast promised this who also shalt bring it to passe to thee therefore be giuen euerlasting praise honour and glorie Amen A thankesgiuing after meales LEt al nations magnifie the Lorde let all people reioyce in praysing and extolling his great mercies For his fatherly kindnesse is plentifully shewed foorth vpon vs and the trueth of his promise endureth foreuer We render thankes vnto thee O Lord God for the manifolde benefites which we continually receiue at thy bountifull hand not onely for that it hath pleased thee to feeede vs in this present life giuing vnto vs al thinges necessarie for the same but specially because thou hast of thy free mercie fashioned vs a newe into an assured hope of a farre better life the which thou hast declared vnto vs by thy holy Gospell Therfore we humblie beseech thee Oh heauenly father that thou wilt not suffer our affections to be so intangled and rooted in these earthly and corruptible thinges but that we may alwayes haue our mindes directed to thee on high continually watching for the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ what time he shal appeare for our full redemption To whome with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour and glorie for euer and euer So be it An other thankesgiuing after meales GLorie praise and honour be vnto thee most mercifull and omnipotent father who hast fedde and daily dost feede of thy most bontifull goodnes all liuing creatures we beseeche thee that as thou hast nourished these our mortall bodies with corporall foode so thou wouldest replenish our soules with the perfect knowledge of the liuely word of thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be praise glorie and honour for euer So be it ¶ An other MOste bountifull and gratious God which feedest all flesh and hast promised that asking of thee wee shal not lack if we first seek thy kingdome and the righteousnes thereof we feeling presently the benefite of this thy gratious promise in
feeding our bodies with this corporall foode do render vnto thee most heartie thanks for the same beseeching thee likewise to feede our soules with that heauenly foode which perisheth not but abideth into euerlasting life so that we being nourished by thy goodnes both in bodye and soule may be apt and readie to do all good works which thou hast prepared for vs to walke in through Iesus Christ our Lord. Vnto him that loued vs and wasshed vs from our sinnes in his bloud and made vs kinges and Priestes vnto God his father be all glorie power dominion for euermore Amen An other THe God of glorie who hath created redeemed and presently fed vs be blessed for euermore AmeÌ„ The God of all power who hath called from death the great pastour of the sheepe our Lorde Iesus comfort and defend the flocke which hee hath redeemed by the bloud of the eternall testament increase the number of true preachers represse the rage of obstinate tyrants lighten the heartes of the ignorant releeue the paines of such as be afflicted but specially of those that suffer for the testimonie of the trueth and finally confound Sathan by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ. So be it PRAYERS COMMONly called Lidleys prayers with certaine godly additions Before thou prayest forgiue if thou hast any thing against any man come not to GOD with a double heart but lift vp pure handes without wrath or doubting 1. Tim. 2. ALmightie and moste mercifull father I thy poore creature and worke of thy handes acknowledg and confesse vnto thee my manifoulde sinnes and offences which I froÌ„ my youth vp vnto this day haue committed against thee in thought word and deede beseeching thee for Iesus Christ thy deare sons sake to haue mercie vpon me and to pardon the same according to thy great mercie which hast promised that At what time so euer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart thou wil put al his wickednesse out of thy remembrance O Lord I confesse that I was borne in sinne and conceiued in wickednesse and am by nature a Childe of wrath For in my fleshe dwelleth no good thing and of my selfe I am not able to thinke a good thought much lesse to do that thou in thy law requirest of me saying Cursed is he that continueth not in all thinges that are written in the law to do them Againe Thy law is spiritual but I am carnall fold vnder sinne Therfore O Lord I come vnto thee for grace which hast said Aske ye shal haue seeke ye shal find knock it shal be opened you to preuent draw my wil vnto all goodnes for none can come vnto thee except he be drawen and except we be borne from aboue we cannot see the kingdome of God. Therefore O Lorde renewe in mee a right spirit that I may receiue strength and ablenes to do thy righteous will. Graunt that I may euer desire will that which is most pleasing and acceptable to thy will. Thy will be my will and my wil be alwayes to followe thy will. Let there be euer in mee one will and one desire with thee and let mee neuer desire to will or not to will but as thou wilt Graunt me that aboue all thinges I may rest in thee and fully quiet and pacifie my heart in thee for thou Lord art the true peace of the heart and the perfect rest of the soule Thou knowest Lord what is most profitable expedient for mee wherfore doe with mee in all things as it shall seeme best vnto thee For it may not bee but well that thou dost which doest moste iustly blessedly dispose all thinges after thy most godly wisedome Therefore whether it be by prosperitie or aduersitie losse or gaine sickenesse or health life or death thy will be done Cast out of my heart all vnprofitable cares of worldly thinges and suffer mee not to be led with the vnstable desires of earthly vanities but giue me grace that all worldly and carnall affections may be mortified die in me Graunt vnto mee the strength of thy holy spirite to subdue this body of sinne with the whole lustes thereof that it may bee obedient both in will minde and members to doe thy holy will. Assist me with thy grace O Lord that I may be strengthened in the inwarde man and be armed with thy holy armour whiche is the brest-place of righteousnes the shielde of of faith the hope of saluation for an helmet and the sworde of the spirite which is thy holy word that I may stand perfect in all that is thy will and bee found worthie through Christ to receiue the crowne of life which thou hast promised to all them that loue thee Giue me grace that I may esteme all thinges in this world as they be transitory soone vanishing away and my self also with them drawing towardes mine ende For nothinge vnder the sunne maye longe abide but all is vanitie and affliction of spirite Oh Lorde God which art sweetenes vnspeakeable turne into bitternes vnto me al transitorie and earthly delightes which may drawe mee from the loue of eternall thinges and for all worldly comfortes giue me the sweete comfort of thy holy spirite for thou Lorde art my ioye my hope my crowne and my glorie Blessed are they that for the loue of thee set not by the pleasures of this world but crucifie the flesh and the lustes therof so that in a cleane pure conscience they may offer their prayers vnto thee and be accepted to haue companie with thee together with thy Angels heauenly spirits O euerlasting light sende downe the beames of thy brightnes lighten the inward partes of my hearte Open my hearte that I may beholde thy lawes and teache mee to walke in thy commandementes Beholde my weakenes O Lord and consider my frailenesse best knowen vnto thee Faine would I cleaâ—e fast to heauenly thinges but worldly affections and tentations plucke mee back they daily rebell and suffer not my soule to liue in rest Which although they drawe mee not away to consent yet neuerthelesse their assaults be verie grieuous vnto me Oh what a life may this be called where no trouble nor miserie lacketh where euery place is full of snares of mortall enemies For one trouble or tentation ouerpassed an other commeth by and by and the first conflict yet during a newe battell sodenly ariseth Tedious it is to me to liue in such battel but I perceiue such conflictes are not vnprofitable for me whilest I know my selfe and mine infirmities the better and am thereby compelled to seeke helpe at thy hand It is good for mee O Lord that thou hast thus exercised and humbled me that I may learne to dread thy secrete and terrible iudgements which scourgest euery childe that thou receiuest which bringest down to the gates of hel and bringest backe againe I yeeld thee thanks therefore that thou hast not
permanent thinges and lesse mindfull of transitorie things By reason hereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lament bicause I am so earthly minded so litle desirous of my home so vnthankefull for thy prouidence and fatherly protection here on earth To reioyce bicause of my home and the great glorie thereof bicause thou doest so prouide for me here bicause thou doest so correct and chasten me c. But alas I am altogether a wretch earthly and vnthankfull not onely for these corporall benefites health riches friends fame wisedome c. for thy fatherly correction sicknesse temptation c. but also for thy heauenly benefites for Christ Iesus for the promise of thy spirite for thy Gospell c. yea euen for heauen it self and thy whole glorie as the Israelites were for the land of Canaan and therefore neuer enioyed it but perished in the wildernesse I am proud in prosperitie and forget thee waxing secure and carelesse I am impatient in the crosse and too much consider worldly discommodities Oh deare father forgiue me for thy Christes sake all mine vnthankfulnesse loue of this world contempt and obliuion of thy heauenly benefites and graunt me thy holy spirite to illuminate the eyes of my minde with the light and liuely knowledge of thy presence power wisedome goodnesse in thy creatures but specially in Christe Iesus thy sonne so by the same spirite inflame myne affections that I may desire nothing in earth but thee and to be present with thee that my conuersation may be in heauen continually from whence graunt me still to looke for the Lorde Iesus to make this my vile bodie like vnto his owne glorious and immortall bodie according to his owne power by which he is able to doe all things As thou hast giuen me to be thy childe so I pray thee giue me these things whiche be the properties of thy children giuen from thee in thy good time Hallowed be thy name THy name is that whereby thou art knowne for names serue to discerne know one thing from an other Nowe though thou art knowne by thy creatures yet in this our corrupt state they serue but to make vs excuselesse Therefore most properly liuely and comfortably thou art knowne by thy holy worde especially by thy promise of grace and freely pardoning and receiuing vs into thy fauour for Christ Iesus sake For the which goodnesse in Christe thou art praysed and magnified according to thy name that is so much as men knowe thee in Christe they magnifie thee praise thee which here thou callest hallowing or sanctifying Not that thou art the more holy in respect of thy selfe but in respect of men who the more they knowe thee the more they cannot but sanctifie thee that is thei cannot but as in them selues by true faith loue feare spirituall seruice honour thee so also in their outward behauiour and wordes they can not but liue in such sort as other seeing them may in and by their holinesse and godly conuersation be occasioned as to knowe thee so to sanctifie thy name accordingly and therefore thou settest foorth here vnto me what is the chiefe principall wish and desire of thy children and people namely that thou in Christe mightest be truely knowne and honoured both of them selues and of other inwardly and outwardly as by the contrarie a man may easily perceiue that the greatest sorrowe and griefe thy people haue is ignorance of thee false seruice or religion and wicked conuersation Against the which they pray and labour diligently after their vocations as they for the obtaining of the other both to other and to them selues doe take no small paine in prayer studie and godly exercise By reason hereof I see that I am farre from this desire and lamentation which is in thy children I see mine ignoraunce of the true knowledge of thee and thy name for else it had not needed thee so by thy word to haue reuealed thy selfe I see also mine owne ignorance of the excellencie of the same for else wouldest thou not haue tolde me that the sanctfying of thy name is the chiefest thing thou requirest of euery man. Againe I see my great want of holinesse for else thou needest not to teach me to seeke and pray for that I want not Moreouer I see my great peruersitie which would not seeke at thy handes for sanctification although I see my neede thereof For the which thou wouldest not haue commaunded me to pray if I seeing my want would haue prayed vnto thee for the same Last of all I see thy wonderfull goodnesse which wilt vndoubtedly giue vnto me sanctification and holinesse for thou wouldest not that I should aske for that thing that thou wilt not giue me So that I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament bicause I am so farre from this desire and lamentation which thy children haue Also bicause of my ignorance pouertie peruersitie vnthankfulnes c. but most of all bicause thy holie name word and religion is so blasphemed both in doctrine in liuing of many especially in this realme To reioyce I haue great cause for thy exceeding goodnesse and mercie which wouldest so disclose thy selfe by thy workes word and Gospell which wouldest open these things thus vnto me and also giue vnto me and others sanctification in thy sight by faith and in the sight of men by purenesse of life and godly conuersation But alas I do heartily neither the one nor the other that is lament or reioyce as thou father whiche searchest my heart doest right well knowe Oh be merciful vnto me and forgiue me yea giue me of thine owne pitie thy holie spirite to reueale and open to my minde effectually my miserable estate and condition my ignorance peruersitie my carelesnesse for thy true honour and dishonour in such sort that I may heartily lament these euils and haue thē pardoned taken from me through Iesus Christ our Lord. Againe good Father giue me the same thy holie spirite to reueale to me thy name worde and Gospell that I may liuely know thee vnfainedly loue thee heartily obey thee and aboue all thinges desire and labour by all meanes lawfull that all godlinesse in doctrine and conuersation may be exercised both in me and in all others for whom thou wouldest I should pray Here thinke vpon the state of religiō and the life of the professors of the Gospell that thou maiest lament some pray for some and giue thankes for some Let thy kingdome come THY kingdome is in two sortes to be considered vniuersally and particularly Uniuersally according to thy power wherewith thou gouernest all things euery where in earth heauen hell diuels Angels men beastes foules fishes and all other creatures Of this kingdome spake Dauid when he said This kingdome ruleth ouer all Particularly thy kingdome is to be considered according to thy grace wherewith thou reignest
from whom thye Sunne goeth downe giueth no light I meane thy grace which is alwaies cleare as the midday Darke night vnto them is the midday which depart from thee In thee is neuer night but alwayes day light most cleare This corporall Sunne hath his courses nowe vp nowe downe but thou deare Lord if we loue thee art alwayes one O that this blocke and veile of sinne were taken away from me that there might be alwaies cleare day in my minde Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as we are not sorrie when the Sunne goeth downe bicause we knowe it will rise againe euen so we should not sorowe for death wherthrough the soule and bodie doe part asunder for they shall eftesoones returne and come together againe in most glorious wise So long as the Sunne is vp wilde beastes keepe their dennes Foxes their burrowes Owles their holes c. but when the Sunne is downe then come they abroade so wicked men and hypocrites kepe their dennes in the time of the Gospell but it being taken away then swarme thei out of their holes like Bees as this day doth teach When the candles be light pray MOst thicke and darke cloudes do couer our mindes except thy light O Lord doe driue them away Thy sunne O most wise worker is as it were a firebrand to this worlde Thy kingdome whereby light commeth both to soule and bodie is a firebrand to the spirituall world After day when the night commeth thou hast giuen for the remedie of darkenesse a candle After sinne for the remedie of ignoraunce thou hast giuen thy doctrine which thy deare sonne hath brought vnto vs O thou that art the authour and master of all trueth and art the true light make vs so to see that the dimnesse of our mindes may be driuen cleane away Lift thou vp the light of thy countenaunce vpon vs and send ioy and gladnesse into our hearts Psal. 4. Thy word is a lanterne to my feete and a light vnto my pathes Psal. 119. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that the knowledge which God giueth vnto vs by the candlelight whereby we see those things in this night of our bodies which are expedient for vs should make vs to wish much more for this doctrine of God and spirituall light of our soules and when we get it the more to esteeme it and diligently to embrace it Againe that as all would be horrour without candlelight so there is nothing but meere confusion where Gods word taketh no place When you make your selfe vnreadie pray THis our life and weake knit bodie by reason of sinne by little little shall be dissolued so shall be restored to the earth from whence it was taken then will be an end of this vanitie which by our follie we haue wrought to ourselues O most meeke father so doe thou vntie me for thou art he that hast knit these our weake members together that I may perceiue my selfe to be losed dissolued and so may remember both of whome I was made also whither I must goe least I be had vnprouided vnto thy tribunall seate Put off the olde man with his lustes and concupiscences Col. 3. Ephe. 4. Be content with Ioseph to put off thy prison apparell that thou mayest put on newe Gen. 41. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as we do willingly put off our garments bicause we shall receiue them againe when the night is past so we should not willingly forsake our bodies when God by death shall call vs bicause we shall receiue them againe in the resurrection of the iust When you enter into your bed pray THe day nowe ended men giue them selues to rest in the night and so this life finished we shall rest in death Nothing is more like this life then euerie day nothing more like death then sleepe nothing more like to our graue then our bed O Lorde our keeper and defender graunt that I now laying me downe to rest being vnable to keepe my self may be preserued from the craftes and assaultes of the wicked enimie And grant further that wheÌ„ I haue run the â—ace of this life thou wouldest of thy mercy call me vnto thee that I may liue and watch with thee for euermore And nowe gratious God giue me to take my rest in thee and bring to passe that thy goodnesse may be euen in sleepe before my eyes that sleeping I be not absent from thee but may haue my dreames to drawe me vnto thee and so both soul and bodie may be kept pure and holie for euer I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest Psal. 4. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as this troublesome day is nowe past and night come and so rest quietnesse and pleasant sleepe which maketh most excellent Princes poore wretches alike euen so after the tumults troubles teÌ„ptations and teÌ„pestes of this life they that beleeue in Christ haue prepared for them an hauen and rest most pleasant and ioyful As you are not afraide to enter into your bed and to dispose your selfe to sleepe so be not afraide to dye but rather chearefully prepare your selfe therevnto Thinke that nowe you are nearer your end by one dayes iourney then you were in the morning When you feele sleepe to be comming pray O Lord Iesus Christ my watchman and keeper take me into thy protection Graunt that my body sleeping my minde may watch in thee and be made merrie by some sight of that celestiall and heauenly life wherein thou art the king and prince together with the father and the holie Ghost where the Angels holy soules be most happie citizens Oh purifie my soule keepe cleane my bodie that in both I may please thee sleeping and waking for euer Amen A GENERALL CONfession of sinnes with other prayers for the Morning and Euening to be vsed in families and publike assemblies O Most mercifull and louing father whose loue is infinit whose mercie endureth for euer we sinfull creatures trusting in thine vnspeakable goodnesse and loue toward vs do appeare this morning before thy diuine maiestie most humbly confessing our manifolde sinnes and innumerable transgressions of thy commaundements and fatherly will. Against thee onely against thee O Lorde haue we sinned we acknowledge our offences we accuse our selues vnto thee O mercifull Lord and will not hide our vnrighteousnesse We find in our selues nothing but ignorance of thy wil disobedience mistrust doubtfulnesse in thy goodnesse and incredulitie hatred and contempt of al spirituall things selfeloue confidence in our selues feruent lusting after earnall things of this world and this tree of our corrupt nature bringeth foorth continually in vs none other fruites but rotten and vnsauorie workes of the flesh in thoughtes wordes and doings vnto condemnation Wherefore we humbly beseech thy fatherly goodnesse euen for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake whome thou hast set foorth for a purchaser of mercy to vs through faith in his bloud make our heartes cleane take away our stonie heartes
and giue vnto vs a true and liuely faith working in vs vnfained repentance and amendment of our sinnefull life Haue mercy vpon vs and forgiue vs our sinnes for thy Sonnes sake certifie our consciences of remission of the same by thy holy spirite by whose operation so mortifie in vs our olde man the whole body of sinne that we continually dying vnto sinne may walke in newnesse of life to the glorie of thy holie name through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen An other confession of sinnes O Eternal God and most merciful father we confesse and acknowledge here before thy diuine maiestie that we are miserable sinners conceiued and borne in sinne and iniquitie so that in vs there is no goodnesse for the flesh euermore rebelleth against the spirite whereby we continually transgresse thy holie precepts and commaundements and so purchase to ourselues through thy iust iudgement death and damnation Notwithstanding O heauenly father for as much as we are displeased with our selues for the sinnes we haue committed against thee and doe vnfeinedly repent vs of the same we most humbly beseech thee for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercy vpon vs to forgiue vs al our sinnes and to increase thy holy spirit in vs that we acknowledging from the bottome of our harts our owne vnrighteousnesse may from hencefoorth not onely mortifie our sinfull lustes and affections but also bring foorth such fruites as may be agreeable to thy most blessed wil through Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour whome thou hast already giuen an oblation and an offering for our sinnes and for whose sake we are certainly persuaded that thou wilt denye vs nothing that we shall aske in his name according to thy will. For thy spirite doth assure our consciences that thou art our mercifull father and so louest vs thy children through him that nothing is able to remoue thy heauenly grace and fauour from vs To thee therfore with the sonne and the holy Ghost be all honour and glorie world without end So be it A prayer to be said in the Morning O Eternall GOD and heauenly father seeing that by thy great mercy we haue quietly passed this night graunt we beseech thee that we may bestowe this day wholy in thy seruice so that all our thoughts wordes and deedes may redound to the glory of thy name and good example of our brethren And as it hath pleased thee to make the sunne to shine vpon the earth to giue vs bodilie light euen so vouchsafe to illuminate our vnderstanding with the brightnesse of thy spirit to direct vs in the way of righteousnesse so that what thing so euer we shall applie our selues vnto our speciall care and purpose may be to walke in thy feare and to serue and honour thee looking for all our wealth prosperitie to come from thy only blessing and that we may take nothing in hand which shall not be agreeable to thy most blessed will. Furthermore that we may in such sort trauell for our bodyes and for this present life that we may haue alwayes a further regard that is to the heauenly life which thou hast promised to thy children and in the meane season that it may please thee to preserue and defend vs both in bodie and soule to strengthen vs against al the temptations of the diuell and to deliuer vs from all perils and daungers that may happen vnto vs if we be not defended by thy godly power And for as much as to begin well and not to continue is nothing we beseech thee to receiue vs not onely this day into thy holy protection but also for the time of our whole life continuing and increasing in vs daily thy grace and good giftes therof vntill thou shalt bring vs to that happie state where we shal fully and for euer be ioyned vnto thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour which is the true light of our souls shining day and night perpetually And to the end that we may obtaine such grace at thy hand vouchsafe most mercifull father to forgiue and forget all our sinnes which we haue heretofore committed against thee and for thine infinit mercies sake to pardon the same as thou hast promised to those that aske of thee with vnfeined heart for whom as for our selues we make our humble petitions vnto thee in the name of thy sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ in such sort as he hath taught vs saying Our father c. An other prayer to be said in the Morning O Almightie and most gratious God we hartily thanke thee for the sweete sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuē vs this night past and for as much as thou hast commaunded by thy holy word that no man should be idle but all occupied in godly and vertuous exercises euery man according to his calling we most humbly beseech thee that thine eyes may attend vpon vs daily defend vs cherish comfort gouerne vs and al our counsels studies and labors in such wise that we may spend and bestowe this day according to thy most holy will setting thee alwaies before our eyes lyuing in thy feare working that may be found acceptable before thy diuine Maiestie through Iesus Christ our lord So be it An other prayer for the Morning WE humblie and heartily giue thankes vnto thee O heauēly father through thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ that to thy innumerable benefites hitherto powred vpon our soules and vpon our bodies thou hast kept vs this night past from many euills both spirituall and corporall and nowe of thy mercy doest offer giue vs time to repent and to amend our liues so that we might liue hencefoorth not as we will but as thou wilt and as our bodyes doe drawe continually nearer and nearer their end the graue I meane so our soules might approch to their end that is heauen and not hell for in one state we stand not still but either we are nearer nearer the happie state of life or else the vnhappie condition of death eternal Wherefore we beseech thee to be mercifull vnto vs good father and as of thy goodnesse thou giuest vs time to repent and liue godlie so of the same thy goodnesse in Christe we humbly beseech thee to giue vs thy gratious gift of true holie perfect perpetuall repentaunce that we may more and more lament our former sinfull life trusting vnfeignedly in thy rich mercy through the merites of Iesus Christe for the pardon of all our sinnes and that we may vnfaignedly purpose and effectually labour to amende our liues this day so long as we haue to liue in all our doings and wordes and euen in our verie thoughtes to the praise of thy holie name and good example of our brethren And for as much as thou knowest our weaknesse our ignoraunce and great vntowardnesse to carrie any great crosse or affliction we beseech thee our sweete father so to temper and order al things towards vs this day
that wept and saide I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeliefe Yea that little be it neuer so litle is thy meere gift also The which as thou begun so most mercifull Lord increase the same more and more to the peace and comfort of our conscience and the glorie of thy name through Iesus Christ. Amen A thankesgiuing to God for his great benefites HOnour and praise be giuen to thee O Lorde God almightie most deare father of heauen for all thy mercies and louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs in that it hath pleased thy gratious goodnesse freely and of thine owne accorde to elect and choose vs to saluation afore the beginning of the world and euen like continuall thankes be giuen vnto thee for creating vs after thine owne image for redeeming vs with the precious bloud of thy deare Sonne when we were vtterly lost for sanctifying vs with thy holie spirite in the reuelation and knowledge of thy sacred word for helping and succouring vs in al our neede and necessitie for sauing vs from all dangers both of bodie and soule for comforting vs so fatherly in al our troubles and afflictions for sparing vs so long and giuing vs so large a time of repentance These benefites O most mercifull father like as we do acknowledge that we haue receiued of thy onely goodnesse euen so we beseech thee for thy deare sonne Iesus Christes sake to graunt vs alwayes thy holie spirite whereby we may continually growe in thankefulnesse towardes thee be led in all trueth and comforted in all aduersitie Strengthen our faith O Lorde kindle it more and more in feruentnesse and loue towardes thee and our neighbours for thy sake Suffer vs not most deare father to receiue thy word any more in vaine but graunt vs alwaies the assistance of thy grace and holy spirite that in heart word and deede we may sanctifie and doe worship to thy holy name that we may helpe to amplifie and increase thy kingdome and that what so euer thou sendest we may be heartily wel content with thy good will and pleasure Suffer vs not to lack the thing O father without the which we can not serue thee but blesse thou so all the workes of our hands that we may haue sufficient and not to be chargeable but rather helpefull vnto other Be mercifull O Lorde vnto our offences and seeing our debt is great which thou hast forgiuen vs in Iesus Christ make vs to loue thee and our neighbors so much the more Be thou O father our captaine and defender in all temptations holde thou vs by thy mercifull hande that we thereby may be deliuered from all inconueniences and end our liues in the sanctifying and honouring of thy name through Iesus Christ our lord Amen A praier for true mortification O God my creator preseruer and euerlasting defender where first in my creation I was made like vnto thine owne likenesse the diuell alas hath since by Adams fal made me ougly monstrous and like euill fauoured to him selfe For what are nowe Lord mine earthly members but as thine Apostle writeth adulterie whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturall lustes euill concupiscence couetousnesse which is the worshipping of Idols and such other for the which thy wrath is wont to come vpon the children of vnbeliefe Neuerthelesse Lorde of thy great mercy and goodnesse against this so great a mischiefe a much greater remedie thy fatherly prouidence hath ordained for thou hast sent Iesus Christ thy deare only natural Sonne into this worlde the vale of miseries to loose the workes of the diuell and to take away my sinnes Therefore sathan hath nowe nothing to brag of for through Christ all that beleeue in thee and so become thy children do ouercome the world the flesh and the diuell And this is the victorie which ouercommeth thē all euen our faith That faith I meane which is persuaded that who so euer beleeueth in Christ shall not perish but haue euerlasting life That faith which beleeueth the testimonie to be true which thou God the father doest testifie of thy sonne so making thee no liar and this is the testimonie that thou hast giuen vs eternall life That faith which beleeueth that thou father who raisedst vp Christ from death shalt also quicken our mortall bodies through thy holie spirite dwelling in vs That faith which beleeueth it to be true which thy Sonne Christe affirmed with a double oth verily verily I say vnto you he that beleeueth in me the workes that I doe the same shall he doe and greater woorkes then these shall he doe bicause I goe to my father And finally that faith which beleeueth that nowe Christe hath bene lift vp on the crosse he shal draw al things vnto him This faith I say is the victorie which ouercommeth our enimies the diuell the world and our flesh Thou therfore deare father which hast promised to giue what so euer I shal aske in thy deare sonne Iesus name for thy great mercie and infallible truthes sake doe nowe in me the thing that he came for lose in me the workes of the diuel take away my sinnes I beseech thee make stedfast my faith and confidence in thy promised mercies and mercifull promises so that I assuredly beleeuing in thee may haue as thou promisest euerlasting life making thee deare God no liar may beleeue feele and knowe in my heart and conscience that the same euerlasting life is thy meere and free gift vnto me yea alreadie of thy great goodnesse vndoutedly giuen me being nowe translated from death to life Of a thankfulnesse wherof Lord cause me nowe daily to mortifie my earthly members yea deare father sith thy spirit which raised vp Christ from death dwelleth within me doe thou who raisedst Christ frō death quicken my mortall bodie through thy spirite so dwelling in me I beseech thee yea Lord Iesu according to thy promise bicause thou art now gone to thy father make me worke this wonderfull great worke that thou spakest of I meane make me being of my selfe but a lumpe of sinne and a monster most ougly as the vices whereon the members of my earthly bodie are aboue declared to be cōpact doe proue make me I say yet through thy grace to hate abhorre flee and subdue all adulterie whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturall lustes euill concupiscence vnordinate desires wantonnesse tendernesse delicatenesse idlenesse dronkennesse gluttonie slothfulnesse distrust despaire ignorance weakenesse wilfulnesse idolatrie superstition hypocrisie heresie error sects ▪ variance strife wrath enuie slaunders lying swearing cursing vainglorie pride couetousnesse theft deceit flatterie and what so euer else O Lorde fighteth or rebelleth against thy holy spirite and then O Father I will boast make vaunt against myne enimie the diuell that I haue done greater workes then thy deare sonne Iesus did at what time hee spake these wordes among the Iewes because albeit he vanquished Sathan yet in as much as hee
is no manner of weeping teares infirmitie hunger colde sickenesse enuie malice nor sinne but alwayes ioy without sorow mirth without measure pleasure without paine heauenly harmonie most pleasant melodie saying and singing Holie holie holie Lord God of hoastes c. Finally the eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man that they shall then inherite and moste surely enioy although here they be tormented prisoned solicited of Satan tempted of the flesh and intangled with the world wherethrough they are inforced to cry Thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesu c. Howe amiable are thy tabernacles Like as the Hart desireth the water brookes c. Nowe let thy seruant depart in peace I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ. We mourne in our selues wayting for the deliueraunce of our bodyes c. Oh gratious Lorde when shall I finde such mercie with thee that I may repent beleeue hope looke for these things with the full fruition of those heauenly ioyes which thou hast prepared for all them that feare thee and so rest with thee for euermore I.B. A meditation of the life euerlasting the place where it is and the incomparable ioyes thereof THat there is an euerlasting life none will denie but such as wil denie god For if he be true and iust which he must needes be or els he is not God then can there not be but an eternall life That he hath both spoken it and promised it in Mat. 25. 1. Cor. 15. Heb. 4.11.13 1. Pet. 1. it plainely appeareth elsewhere in very many places So that to deny an euerlasting life is to denie God to denie Christ and all that euer he did also to denie all pietie and religion to condemne of foolishnesse all good men Martyres Confessors Euangelistes Prophets Patriarches Finally the denial of eternall life is nothing else but a deniall of the immortalitie of the soule and so a plaine making of man nothing better then beastes If it be so let vs then eate and drinke for to morrowe we shall die Lord preserue vs from this Saduceall and Epicuriall impietie and graunt vs for thy mercies sake deare God that we may be assuredly persuaded that there is in deede an eternall life and blisse with thee for them that put their trust in thee amongest whome accompt mee for thy mercies sake Againe this eternal life and the place apointed for them that bee thy seruantes all men do graunt to bee with thee Albeit they do not thinke that because thou art euerie where therfore eternal life is euery where For they by thy worde do knowe that in as much as no man canne see thee and liue this eternall life and thy blessed presence is most pleasant and had in fruition after in an other world wherevnto by corporall death they doe depart and are translated to a place aboue them where thou dwel lest in a light whervnto no man can approch Abrahams bosom they read was aboue as the place for the wicked was alowe and beneath Helias was caught vp into heauen and thy deare Sonne our Sauiour prayed the where he is those also might be which thou haddest giuen him and might see his glorie Nowe he deare father we learne by thy spirite was ascended taken vp in his very body into heauen whither Stephan looked vp saw thy Christ standing on thy right hande to whome he prayed O Lord Iesu receiue my spirite Graunt I beseech thee gratious God and father that I may haue a cleane heart more and more to see thee and so in spirite to see and looke often vpon this place whither bring me at the length in bodie also I humblie pray thee Nowe what a thing this euerlasting life is no man is able to conceiue much lesse able to vtter For the peace of God which is eternal life passeth al vnderstanding The eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither can mans heart conceiue those thinges which thou deare God hast prepared for them that loue thee What so euer therefore can be spoken or imagined of thy kingdome of the clearenesse ioy and felicitie of the same is nothing in comparison as we may see by thy prophetes which bicause they could not otherwise vnder corporall thinges haue shaddowed the same So that the confidence of eternall life what a thing it is can in no wise be tolde Howbeit somwhat wee may be brought into some sight of it by earthly thinges to thinke on this sort If God haue giuen here so many things in a strange place how many are the great good things that be at home if in prison are so many mercies how many are they in the Palace If the wicked haue so many benefites what is the store prepared for thy seruantes Oh Lord If thy children finde such cōforts in the day of tears mourning what shall they find in the day of the marriage If with beastes men beeing haue the vse of innumerable blessinges Oh how many are the blessinges which they shall enioye with thy Angels and with thy selfe O deare God when they shall see thee and haue the fruition of thee in whō is fulnes without lothing of all good and faire things so that nothing can be more desired that for euermore This thy chidren do not so see as they now beleeue it I say that euen in their bodies they shall see it for euer as Iob saide They beleeue that they shall see thee and their owne eyes beholde thee when these our corporall eyes our bodies being raised shall do their duties Such a knowledge of thee they beleeue to haue as shall not be only intellectuall and by faith as now it is but euen a full sight and fruition yea a coniunction and fellowship with thee Now they see but as in a glasse euen in a darke speaking but then they shall see thee face to face For faith though it be the substance of things hoped for and a certaine darke sight of thee yet it may not be compared to the reward of faith and glorious sight which we shall see in the life to come when faith and hope shall cease Nowe thy children knowe that they be thy sonnes though it yet appeare not what they shall be We know say thei that when our Christ God and man shal appeare then shal we be like vnto him for we shall see him euen as he is Oh great prerogatiue to see Christ as he is which is not to be considered so much for the manhood as for the godhead it selfe as Paule doth also write that when all things are subiect vnto the Sonne then shal he be subiect vnto thee deare father also that God may be al in al. And therfore Christ our Sauiour prayed for vs that we might knowe thee the onely true God Not that our Christ thy Sonne is not with thee the true coequall
thy kingdome come They cry Come Lord Iesus They lift vp their heads looking for thy appearing Oh Lord which will make their vile bodies like to thine owne glorious and immortall bodie For when thou shalt appeare they shall be like vnto thee Thy Angels wil gather them together and they shall meete thee in the cloudes and be alwayes with thee They shall heare this ioyfull voyceâ— Come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning Then shal they be like to thy Angels Then shall they be like vnto the Sonne in thy kingdome Then shall they haue crownes of glorie and be indued with white garments of innocencie and righteousnesse hauing palmes of victorie in their handes Oh happy is he that may but see that immortall and incorruptible inheritance which they shall inioy for euermore Amen I. B. A meditation of the presence of God. THere is nothing that maketh more to true godlinesse of life then the persuasion of thy presence deare father and that nothing is hid from thee but all to thee is open and naked euen our verie thoughts which one day thou wilte reueale and open either to our praise or punishment in this life as thou didest Dauids faults which he did secretly 2. Reg. 12. or in the life to com Math. 25. for nothing is so hid that shall not be reuealed Therfore doth the prophet say Wo to them that keepe secrete their thoughtes to hide their counsell from the Lord and do their workes in darknesse saying who seeth vs Graunt mee therefore deare God mercie for all my sinnes especially my hidde and close sinnes Enter not into iudgement with me I humbly beseech thee giue mee to beleeue truly in thy Christ that I neuer come into iudgement for them and that with Dauid I mighte so reueale them vnto thee that thou wouldest in thy great mercie couer them And graunt further that hencefoorth I may alwaies thinke my selfe continually conuersaunt before thee so that if I do wel I neede not to passe of the publishing of it as hypocrites do if I thinke or do any euil I may forthwith knowe that the same shall not alwayes be hid from men Graunt me that I may alwayes haue in minde that day wherein the hid workes of darknesse shal be illuminated and also that sentenee of thy sonne that nothing is so secret which shall not be reuealed So in trouble and wrong I shal finde comfort and otherwise be kept through thy grace from euill which doe thou worke I humbly beseech thee for Christes sake I.B. A meditation of the prouidence of God. THis ought to be vnto vs most certaine that nothing is done without thy prouidence O Lord that is that nothing is done be it good or bad sweete or sower but by thy knowledge that is by thy will wisedome and ordinaunce for all these knowledge doth comprehend in it as by thy holy worde wee are taught in many places that euen the life of a sparrowe is not without thy will nor any libertie or power vpoÌ„ a porket haue all the diuells in Hell but by thy appoyntment and will which will we alwaies must beleeue most assuredly to be all iust and good how so euer otherwise it seeme vnto vs for thou art maruellous and not comprehensible in thy wayes and holy in all thy workes But herevnto it is necessarie also for vs to knowe no lesse certeinely that though all thinges be done by thy prouidence yet the same prouidence hath many and diuerse meanes to worke by which meanes beeing contemned thy prouidence is contemned also As for example Meat is a meane to serue thy prouidence for the preseruation of health and life here so that hee which contemneth to eate because thy prouidence is certeine and infallible the same contemneth thy prouidence In deede if it were so that meate could not be had then should we not tie thy prouidence to this meane but make it free as thou art free that is that without meate thou canst helpe and giue health and life for it is not of any neede that thou vsest any instrument or meane to serue thy prouidence Thy power wisedome is infinite and therefore should we hange on thy prouidence euen when all is cleane against vs But for our erudition infirmities sake it hath pleased thee by meanes to worke and deale with vs here to exercise vs in obedience and because we cannot â—lse so greate is our corruption susteine thy naked and bare presence Graunt me therefore deare father I humbly beseech thee for Christes sake the as I something now knowe these things so I may vse this knowledge to my comfort commoditie in thee that is graunt that in what state soeuer I be I may not doubt but the same doth come to mee by thy most iust ordinance yea by thy mercifull ordinance for as thou art iust so art thou merciful yea thy mercie is aboue all thy works And by this knowledge graunt mee that I may humble my selfe to obey thee and looke for thy helpe in time conuenient not onely wheÌ„ I haue meanes by which thou maiest worke and art so accustomed to do but also when I haue no meanes but am destitute therof yea wheÌ„ all meanes be directly and cleane against mee graunt I say that I may yet still hang vpon thee and thy prouidence not doubting of a fatherly end in thy good time Againe least I should contemne thy prouidence or presume vppon it by vncoupling those thinges which thou hast coupled together preserue me from neglecting thy ordinarie lawfull meanes in all my needes if so be I may haue them with good conscience vse theÌ„ although I know thy prouidence be not tied to them further then pleaseth thee and grant that I may with diligence reuerence and thankfulnes vse them and thereto my deligence wisedeme and industrie in all thinges lawefull to serue thereby thy prouidence if it so please thee howbeit so that I hang in no part on the meanes or on my diligence wisedome and industrie but onely on thy prouidence which more and more persuade me to be altogether fatherlie and good howe far so euer otherwise it appeare and seeme yea or else is felt of me By this I being preserued from negligence on my behalfe and despaire or murmuring towards thee shall become diligent and patient through thy meere and alone grace which giue and increase in me to the praise of thy holy name for euer through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen I. B. A Meditation of Gods power beautie goodnesse c. BYcause thou Lord wouldest haue vs to loue thee not onely doest thou will entice allure and prouoke vs but also doest command vs so to do promising thy self vnto such as loue thee and threatning vs with daÌ„nation if we do otherwise Wherby we may see both our great corruption naughtinesse also thine exceeding great mercie towards vs.
compassion make to arise in our heartes a true feare of God and a true faith and knowledge of thy mercie which the eternall father of our Lorde Iesus Christ hath promised vnto vs for his sonnes sake Be our comforter in all our counsels and daungers Illuminate our vnderstanding fill our heartes with newe affections and spirituall motions and renewe vs both in soule and bodie that we may die to sinne and liue to righteousnesse and so in true obedience may prayse the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ his sonne our redeemer and thee also our comforter euerlastingly A thankesgiuing to God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost WE render thanks vnto thee O almightie eternall GOD with thy deare sone our Lord Iesus Christ with thy holy spirit for that of thine exceeding great goodnesse thou hast made thy selfe knowne vnto vs by most assured and euident testimonies for that thou hast gathered and chosen vnto thy selfe a perpetuall Church wouldest that thy sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ shoulde suffer death to restore vs from death to life for that thou hast giuen to vs thy Gospel and the holy Ghost for that thou forgiuest vs our sinnes deliuerest vs from the power of the diuell and from eternall death and giuest vnto vs euerlasting life finally for that thou hast visited vs with many great benefites giuing vs life foode doctrine peace in such places as we haue liued in hast diminished the paines which we haue iustly deserued We giue thankes vnto thee O Lorde Iesus Christ sonne of the liuing God crucified for vs and risen againe because thou hast coupled vnto thee our humane nature and of thy inestimable loue diddest giue thy selfe to death for vs turning vpon thee the great wrath of God thy father conceiued against vs to recoÌ„cile vs vnto him and to purchase vs eternall redemption because thou hast brought vs to this grace wherein wee stande and reioyce in hope of the glorie of GOD because thou doest preserue cherishe and defende thy Church against the Diuell and all thine enemies because thou giuest renewest often the light of thy Gospell and mayntainest the ministerie of thy worde because thou doest forgiue vs our sinnes and giuest vnto vs euerlasting life because thou art our Mediatour and makest continuall intercession for vs finally because thou doest succour and preserue vs in all our necessities daungers and afflictions We giue thankes also vnto thee Oh holy spirit the giuer of life whiche wast powred vpon the Apostles because thou kindlest thy light in our hearts because thou rulest instructest admonishest and helpest vs because thou gouernest and guidest the labours and workes of our vocation and sanctiâ—iest vs to eternall life A prayer to God for his helpe protection against the obstinate enemies of the trueth MOst righteous Iudge God of all mercie and comfort which by thy secrete iudgement and wisedome doest suffer the wicked to triumph and increase for a time for trial of the faith of thy welbeloued litle flock and the mortifying of their lustes but at length to the vtter confusion of thy enemies and ioyfull deliuerance of thy people looke downe wee beseeche thee on thy dispersed sheep out of thy holy habitation in heauen and strengthen our weakenes against their furious rages abate their pride asswage their malice confounde their deuises wherwith they lift vp themselues against Christ Iesus thy sonne our Lord sauiour to deface his glory and to set vp Antichrist We be not able of our selues to thinke a good thought much lesse to stande against their assaults except thine vndeserued grace and mightie arme defende and deliuer vs Performe thy promises made to Iacob and stoppe the mouthes of the cursed Edomites Call them to repentaunce whome thou hast appointed to saluation bring home them that runne astray lighten the blind and teach the ignorant forgiue all those that wilfully and obstinatly rebell not against thy holy will. Let thy fearefull threatnings pearce our stonie heartes and make vs tremble at thy iudgementes Make the examples of them whome thou hast ouerthrowne in their owne deuises as Cain Cham Nimrod Esau Pharao Saul Achitophel Iudas and such other to be a warning for vs that we set not vp our selues against thy holye will. Graunt free passage to thy holie worde that it may worke effectually in vs the worke of life and blessed hope of our saluatioÌ„ to the eternall praise of thy maiestie through our mediator Christe Iâ—sus to whom with thee the holy Ghost three persons and one God be praise and thankesgiuing in all congregations world without end So be it A prayer for the afflicted and persecuted vnder the tyrannie of Antichrist O Mercifull Father who neuer doest forsake sucâ— as put their trust in thee stretch foorth thy mightie arme to the defence of our brethren by the rage of enemies persecuted and greeuously tormented in sundrie places for the true profession of thy holy Gospel who in their extrem necessities crie for comforte vnto thee Let not thy long suffering O Lord be an occasioÌ„ either to increase the tyranny of thy enemies or to discourage thy children but with speed O Lorde consider their great miseries and afflictions Preuent the cruell deuise of Haman stay the rage of Holophernes breake off the counsell of Achitophell Let not the wicked say Where is nowe their God. Let thy afflicted flocke feele present aide and releefe from thee O Lord looke downe vppon them with thy pitifull eye from thy holy habitation send terrour and trembling among their enemies make an ende of their outragious tyrannie beate backe their boldenesse in suppressing thy truth in destroying thy true seruantes in defacing thy glorie and in setting vp Antichrist Let them not thus proudly aduaunce themselues against thee and thy Christ but let them vnderstand and feele that against thee they fight Preserue and defende the Uine which thy right hande hath planted and let all Nations see the glory of thine anointed Amen A prayer to be saide before the preaching of Gods word ALmightie God and most mercifull father whose word is a lanterne to our feete and a light vnto our stepes wee most humbly beseech thee to illuminate our minds that we may vnderstand the mysteries conteined in thy holy lawe and into the selfe same thing that we godly vnderstand wee may bee vertuously transformed so that of no parte we offende thy diuine maiestie through Iesus Christe our Lorde An other IN this great darkenes of our souls O Lord thou shinest diuers ways vnto vs by the light of thy grace but in nothing so effectually as in the preaching of thy worde Great is the Haruest as thou thy selfe hast saide and the workmen are few The greatest part of men are ignorant wrapped in miserable blindnes and fewe there be that teach thy worde truely and as they ought We beseech thee therefore to sende foorth workemen into thy haruest Sende teachers O
shed on the crosse for my sake Now most merciful Sauiour let all these thinges profite me that thou freely hast done for me which hast giuen thy selfe also for mee Let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spottes and fowlenesse of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my vnrighteousnes Let the merites of thy passion and bloudsheding be the satisfaction for my sinnes Giue me Lord thy grace that the faith of my saluation in thy bloude wauer not in mee but maie euer bee firme and constant that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that loue waxe not colde in me finally that the weakenesse of my fleshe be not ouercome with the feare of death Graunt me mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my bodie yet the eyes of my soule may still beholde and looke vppon thee and when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet my heart may crie and say Lord into thy handes I commend my soule Lord Iesu receiue my spirite A prayer for a woman with childe THou art wonderfull O Lord in al thy workes and what so euer thy good pleasure is that doest thou easily bring to passe neither is there any thing vnpossible with thee that thou wilt haue done And albeit this thy almightie power sheweth it selfe aboundantly in al thy works yet in conceiuing forming and bringing foorth of man it shineth most euidently At the beginning O Father when thou madest man and woman thou commandedst them to increase multiplie and replenish the earth If through the subtill inticementes of Sathan they had not transgressed thy commaundement by eating the forbidden fruite the woman whome thou hast appoynted to be the instrument and vessell to conceiue nourish and bring foorth man through thy wonderful workmanship had without any labour paine or trauel brought foorth her frutie But that which thy goodnes made easie sin and disobedience hath made harde painefull daungerous and without thy speciall helpe and succour impossible to bee brought to passe so that nowe all women bring foorth their childrē in great sorowes paines and troubles Notwithstanding that which through their owne imperfection and feeblenes they are not able of thēselues to passe thou through thine vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest vnto a ioyfull end We therefore being fully persuaded of thy fauour and goodnesse of thy present helpe and of thy sweete comforte in all miseries and necessities knowing also by the testimonies of thy holy word how great and intollerable the paines of women are that trauell of childe if through thy tender mercie they bee not mitigated and eased most humbly pray thee for Iesus Christes sake thy son our Lorde to helpe and assist this thy seruaunt nowe in trauell and labour that by thy almightie power shee may safely bringe foorth that which by thy goodnes she hath conceiued and that thy louing kindnes may make that easie and tollerable vnto her which sinne hath made hard and painefull Ease O Lord the paines which thou most righteously hast put vpon her and all women for the sinne and disobedience of our graundmother Eue in whom al we haue sinned Be present with her in her trouble accordinge to thy mercifull promise Giue her strength and make perfect that which thou hast so gratiously begun Let thy power be shewed no lesse in the safe bringing foorth then in the wonderfull forming and fashioning of that she beareth Make her a glad and a ioyfull mother that she through thy goodnesse being safely deliuered and restored to health againe may liue and praise thy blessed name for euer A psalme to be saide in the time of any common plague sicknes or other crosse and visitation of God. O Come let vs humble our selues and fall downe before the Lorde with reuerence and feare For he is the Lord our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his handes Come therefore let vs turne againe vnto our Lorde for he hath smiten vs and he shall heale vs. Let vs repent and turne from our wickednesse and our sinnes shal be forgiuen vs. Let vs turne and the Lorde will turne from his heauie wrath and will pardon vs and we shall not perish For we acknowledg our faultes and our sinnes are euer before vs. We haue sore prouoked thine anger O Lord thy wrath is waxed hote and thy heauie displeasure is sore kindled against vs. Thou hast in thine indignatiom striken vs with greeuous sickenesse and by and by we haue fallen as leaues beaten downe with a vehement winde In deede we acknowledge that our punishmentes are lesse then our deseruinges but yet of thy mercie Lorde correct vs to amendment and plague vs not to our destruction For thy hand is not shortned that thou canst not helpe neither is thy goodnesse abated that thou wilt not heare Thou hast promised O Lord that afore we crie thou wilt heare vs whilest we yet speake thou wilte haue mercie vpon vs. For none that trust in thee shall be confounded neither any that call vpon thee shal be despised For thou art the onely Lord who woundest and doest heale againe who killest reuiuest bringest euen to hell and bringest backe againe Our father 's hoped in thee they trusted in thee and thou diddest deliuer them They called vppon thee and were helped they put their trust in thee and were not confounded O Lorde rebuke vs not in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauie displeasure O remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy thinke thou vpon vs O Lord for thy goodnes Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord for we are weake O Lord heale vs for our bones are vexed And nowe in the vexation of our spirits and the anguish of our soules we remember thee and we crie vnto thee heare Lord and haue mercie For thine owne sake and for thy holy names sake incline thine eare and heare O mercifull Lord. For we doe not powre out our prayers before thee trusting in our owne righteousnes but in thy great and manyfold mercies Wash vs throughly from our wickednes and cleanse vs from our sins Turne thy face from our sins and put out all our misdeedes Make vs cleane heartes O God and renne a right spirite within vs. Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glorie of thy name O deliuer vs and be mercifull vnto our sinnes for thy names sake So we that be thy people sheepe of thy pasture shall giue thee thanks for euer and will alwaies be shewing foorth thy praise from generation to generation Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. A psalme of thankesgiuing for deliuerance from the plague or any other kind of sicknes trouble or affliction LOrd thou art become gratious to thy lande thou hast turned away the afflictions of thy
hee forsaketh his wickednes and turneth to thee For thou knowest thine own handie worke thou remembrest what wee are thou seest that wee are but weake and feeble flesh Looke not therefore vppon my sinnes O Lord but looke vpon the face of thine annoynted For he hath borne our iniquities he hath caried our sorrowes He was wounded for our transgressions he was broken for our iniquities the chastisemeÌ„t of our peace is layde vpon him He gaue his body to be beaten and his cheekes to be striken he bare the sinnes of many and prayed for the offenders He came to bring glad tydinges to the poore to binde vp the broken harted to preach libertie to the captiues to comfort them that mourne in Sion and to giue vnto them beautie for ashes the oyle of ioye for mourning the garment of gladnes for the spirite of heauinesse that they might be called trees of righteousnesse and the planting of the Lord. For his sake therefore O Lord be mercifull vnto me and say vnto my soule behould I am come to thee thy health and thy saluation A prayer for the true knowledg and vnderstanding of the word of God. LEt my prayer come before thee O Lord and giue me vnderstanding according to thy word Blessed art thou O Lorde teach me thy statutes That with my lips I may declare all the iudgementes of thy mouth That I may delight in the way of thy testimonies aboue all riches That I may meditate in thy precepts and consider thy wayes That I may take pleasure in thy statutes and not forget thy word Be good vnto me thy seruant O Lord that I may liue keep thy word Open mine eyes that I may see the wonders which are in thy lawe I am a stranger vpon earth notwithstanding hide not from me thy commaundements For my hart languisheth with the desire that it hath to thy iudgments Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellers I will praise thee with an vpright hart when thou hast taught mee the iudgements of thy righteousnesse Shew me thy wayes O Lorde teach me thy pathes Leade mee foorth in thy truth and teach mee for thou art my God and my saluation in thee doe I trust all the day long Make mee vnderstand the way of thy precepts and I wil consider thy wonderous workes Thy handes haue made me and fashioned me giue mee vnderstanding that I may learne thy coÌ„mandementes That they which feare thee seeing me may reioyce because I haue trusted in thy word Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruaunt and teach me thy ordinances Thou art good and gratious therefore according to thy goodnesse teach mee thy statutes O Lord of whose goodnesse the earth is ful teach me thy ordinaÌ„ces O Lord I beseech thee accept the sacrifice of my lippes and teach me thy iudgementes The righteousnesse of thy testimonies is euerlasting graunt me vnderstanding and I shall liue Deale with thy seruant according to thy mercies and teach me thy statutes I am thy seruant graunt me vnderstanding that I may knowe thy testimonies My lippes shall shewe foorth thy praise when thou hast taught me thy statutes My tongue shal talke of thy word for all thy commaundementes are righteous For in thee is a wel of liâ—ing waters and euer flowing in thy light shall we see light A prayer for the leading of a Godly life I Crie vnto thee with my whole hart heare me O Lord and guide me that I may keepe thy stautes I call vpon thee saue mee that I may keepe thy testimonies Let my prayer bee directed in thy â—ight as incense and the lifting vp of my handes as an euening sacrifice I haue gone astraye like a lost sheepe seeke thy seruaunt for I doe â—â—â—â— heauen and earth and all thinges therein conteined Oh incomprehensible vnitie Oh alwayes to bee worshipped most blessed Trinitie I humbly beseech thee and pray thee by the assumption and crucified humanitie of our Lorde Iesus Christ that thou wouldest incline and bowe downe the great depth of thy deitie to the bottomlesse pit of my vilitie Driue me from al kinde of vice wickednes and sin Create in me a cleane heart and renue in me a right spirit for thy holy names sake Oh Lorde Iesu I beseech thy goodnes for the exceeding great loue which drewe thee out of thy fathers bosome into the wombe of the holy Uirgin and for the assumption of mans nature wherein it pleased thee to saue me and to deliuer me from eternall death that thou wouldest drawe me out of my selfe into thee my Lorde God and graunt that this my loue may recouer againe to mee thy grace to increase and make perfect in me that which is wanting to raise vp in me that which is falne to restore to me that which I haue lost and to quicken in me that which is dead and should liue that so I may become conformable vnto thee in all my life and conuersation thou dwelling in me and I in thee my heart being soupled with thy grace and setled in thy faith for euer Oh my God loose and set at libertie my spirit from al inferior things Gouern my soule and so worke that both in soule and body I may be holy and liue to thy glory world without end Amen I. B. A prayer necessarie to be saide at all times O BouÌ„tiful Lord Iesu O sweete sauiour O Christ the sonne of God haue pittie vpon mee mercifully heare mee and despise not my prayers Thou hast created me of nothing thou hast redeemed mee from the bondage of sinne death and hel neither with Gould nor Siluer but with thy moste precious bodie once offered vpon the crosse and thine owne blood shedde once for all for a ransome Therefore cast me not away whom thou by thy great wisedome hast made Despise me not whom thou hast redeemed with such a precious treasure nor let my wickednesse destroy that which thy goodnes hath builded Now whiles I liue O Iesu haue mercie on me for if I die out of thy fauour it will be too late afterward to call for thy mercie Whiles I haue time to repent looke vpon me with thy mercifull eyes as thou didest vouchsafe to looke vpon Peter thine Apostle that I may bewaile my sinfull life and obteine thy fauour to liue and die therein I acknowledg that if thou shouldest deale with me according to thy iustice I haue deserued euerlasting death Therefore I appeale to thy highe throne of mercie trusting to obteine thy fauour not for my merites but for thy desertes O Iesu who hast giuen thy selfe an acceptable sacrifice to thy father to appease his wrath and to bring all sinners truly repenting and amending their euill life vnto his fauour againe Accept me O Lord among the number of them whom thou hast in Christ elected and chosen to saluation Forgiue me my sinnes giue me grace to leade a godly and innocent life graunt me
father and to the sonne and to the holy ghost As it was in the beginning is nowe and euer shal be world without ende Amen From our enimies defende vs O Christ. Gratiously looke vpon our afflictions Pitifully behold the sorrows of our heartes Mercifully forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauorably with mercie heare our prayers O Sonne of Dauid â–ª haue mercie vpon vs. Both now and euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ. Gratiously heare vs O Christ gratiously heare vs O Lord Christ. O Lord let thy mercie be shewed vpon vs As we doe put our trust in thee â–ª Let vs pray WE humbly beseech thee O father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glorie of thy names sake turne from vs all those euils that we most righteously haue deserued graunt that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercie and euermore serue thee in holines and purenes of liuing to thy honour and glorie through our onely Mediatour and aduocate Iesus Christ our lord Amen A prayer for the Queenes Maiestie O Lord our heauenly father high and mightie King of Kinges Lord of Lords the onely ruler of princes which doest froÌ„ thy throne beholde all the dwellers vppon the earth moste hartily we beseech thee with thy fauour to behold our most gratious soueraigne Ladie Queâ—ne Elizabeth and so replenish her with the grace of thy spirite that shee may alwayes incline to thy will and walke in thy feare indue her plentifully with heauenly giâ—es graunt her in health and welth long to liue â—â—rengthâ— her that she may vanquish and ouercome all her enimies and finally after this life she may atteine euerlasting ioy and felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord â–ª Amen A prayer for Bishops and Ministers of the Church ALmightie and euerliuing God which onely workest great maruels send downe vpon our Bishops Curates al congregations commited to their charge the healthfull spirite of thy grace and that they may truly please thee powre vpon them the continual dewe of thy blessing Graunt this O Lord for the honour of our aduocate and mediatour Iesus Christ. For rayne O God heauenly father which by thy sonne Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that seeke thy kingdome and the righteousnes thereof all things necessarie to their bodilie sustenance sende vs we beseech thee in this our necessitie such moderate raine and showers that we may receiue the fruites of the earth to our comforte and to thy honour through Iesus Christ our lord Amen For faire weather O Lord God which for the sinne of man diddest once drowne all the world except eight persons and afterwarde of thy greate mercie diddest promise neuer to destroy it so againe we humbly beseech thee that although we for our iniquities haue worthily deserued this plague of raine and waters yet thou wilte sende vs such weather whereby we may receiue the fruites of the earth in due season and learne both by thy punishment to amend our liues and for thy clemencie to giue thee prayse and glorie through Iesus Christ our lord Amen In the time of dearth and famine O Merciful God and heauenly father whose gift it is that the raine doth fall the earth is fruitfull man and beastes increase fishes do multiplie beholde wee beseech thee the afflictions of thy people graunt that the scarcitie and dearth which we do now most iustly suffer for our iniquitie may through thy goodnes be mercifullie turned into cheapnes and plentie for the loue of Iesus Christ our Lorde to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be prayse for euer Amen In the time of Warre ALmightie God king of al kings and gouernour of all thinges â–ª whose power no creature is able to resist to whome it belongeth iustly to punishe sinners and to be mercifull to them that truly repent saue and deliuer vs we humby beseech thee from the handes of our enimies abate their pride asswage their malice and confounde their deuises that wee being armed with thy defence may be preserued from all perils to glorifie thee which art the onely giuer of all victorie through the merites of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ our lord So be it In the time of any common plague or sickenesse O Almightie God which in thy wrath in the time of king Dauid didst slay with the plague of pestilence threescore and ten thowsand and yet remembring thy mercie didest saue the rest haue pitie vpon vs miserable sinners that nowe are visited with great sicknesse and mortalitie that like as thou didest then commaunde thinâ— Angell to cease from punishing so it may now please thee to withdraw from vs this plague greeuous sicknes through Iesus Christ our Lord. A prayer for the strength and comfort of the holy ghost ALmightie and moste mercifull God which giueth to thine elect people thy holy spirit as a sure pledge of thy heauenly kingdome we most humblie beseech thee so to replenish our heartes with the grace of thy holy spirit that he may beare witnesse to our spirites that wee be thy children and heires of thy kingdome and that by the gratious working of this thy good spirit we may kill all â—aâ—nall-lustes vnlawâ—full pleasurs concupiscences and euil affections contrarie to thy most blessed wil through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it For sure hope and true taste of euerlasting life O Almighty God which hast prepared euerlasting life for al those that be thy faithfull seruauntes graunt vnto vs sure hope of this life euerlasting that whiles we be here in this miserable world we may haue some taste feeling of it in our harts through the merites of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it For the true knowledge of God and his worde and a life agreeable to the same GRaunt vnto vs O mercifull God wee most heartely beseech thee knowledge and true vnderstanding of thy blessed will and worde that all ignorance beeing expelled we may know what thy will and pleasure is in all thinges and how to doe our dutie and trulie to walke in our vocation and that also we may expresse in our liuing those things that we do know that we be not onely knowers of thy will and worde good Lorde but also may be hartie and faithfull workers of the same through our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it A prayer for the strength and increase of faith O Almightie euerlasting God which not onely giuest euerie good and perfect gift but also increasest those giftes that thou hast giuen we most humbly besâ—ech thâ—e to increase in vs the gift of faith that we may tâ—â—â—ly beleeue in thee and in thy promises made vnto vs in Christ Iesu our Lord and that neither by our negligence nor infirmitie of the fleshe nor by greeuousnes of tentations neither by the subtile crafts and assaultes of the diuel we be driuen from this faith in the bloude of our Lord Sauiour Iesus
William Laud Arch-B of Canterbury Prymat of England W.M. sâ—ulps CHRISTIAN Praiers and holie Meditations as wel for Priuate as Publique exercise Gathered out of the most godly learned in our time by Henrie Bull. Wherevnto are added the praiers commonly called Lidleys praiers PSAL. 55. In the Euening and Morning and at Noone vvill I pray vnto the Lorde and he vvill heare my praier ¶ AT LONDON Printed by Henrie Middleton dwelling in Fleetestreate at the signe of the Falcon. Ianuarie hath xxxj dayes 1 A The Circumcision of Christ. 2 b On which day Noe being in the Arke vpon the waters began to see the tops of the high mountaines Gene. 8.13 3 c 4 d 5 e  6 f The Epiphanie Or apparition of our Lord Iesus 7 g 8 A  9 b  10 c The 10. Nabuchodonosor besieged once againe Ierusalem 2. Reg. 15. 11 d 12 e  13 f  14 g  15 A The midde Winter after Ptolomaeus 16 b  17 c The 17. the good Prince Scanderbeg king of Epirus a scourge to the Turke as vpon this day died 1466. 18 d 19 e 20 f  21 â— Â 22 A The 22. the Duke of Somerset as vpon this day was beheaded 1552. 2â— b 24 c  25 d  26 e  27 f The 27. Saint Paul as vpon this day of a persecuter was conuerted as he ioinneyed vnto Damascus Actes 9.3 28 â— 29 A 30 b  31 c  Februarie hath xxviii dayes 1 d  2 e The Purification of Marie 3 f As vpon this day Christe our Sauiour was offered vnto the Lord in the Temple at Ierusalem and his mother the Virgine Marie was purified according to the Lawe Luk. 2.22 4 g 5 A 6 b 7 c 8 d  9 e  10 f  11 g The 11. Noe fourtie daies after he had seene the toppes of the mountains sent out the Rauen and after that the Doue which returned Gen. 8. 12 A 13 b 14 c 15 d  16 e  17 f  18 g The eighteene day Noe put out once againe the Doue which brought an Oliue braunche 19 A 20 b 21 c  22 d  23 e  24 f Matthie Apostle 25 g The Doue was sent the third time returned no more to Noe. 26 A 27 b  28 c  March hath xxxâ— dayes 1 d  2 e  3 f The thirde the Temple of Ierusalem was wholie finished and consecrated 1. Esdras 6. 4 g 5 A 6 b  7 c  8 d  9 e  10 f The 10. as vpon this day Christ being on the other side of IordeÌ„ was aduertised of the sicknesse of Lazarus Ioh. 11.3 11 g 12 A 13 b The 13. the feast of Hester was celebrated bicause that day was appointed to put the Iewes to death 14 c 15 d 16 e The 16. Lazarus was raised vp againe Iohn 11. 17 f 18 g  19 A  20 b The 20. Christ made his entrance into Ierusalem 21 c 22 d  23 e  24 f The 24. he made his Supper 25 g Annuntiation of Marie 26 A The 25. was taken 27 b The 26. was crucified 28 c The 27. he rested in the Sepulchre 26 d The 28. he rose againe from death 30 e  31 f  Aprill hath xxx dayes 1 g Noe vncouered the Arke Gene. 8. 2 A The tabernacle was prepared by Moses Exod. 40. 3 b 4 c  5 d Iesus Christ the eight day after his resurrection appeared againe to the Apostles which were assembled where S. Thomas was present 6 e 7 f 8 g 9 A  10 b The 10. the people of Israel went ouer Iorden drie footed Iosua 3.4 11 c 12 d The 13. Assuerus gaue out proclamation to put all the Jewes within his kingdome to death Hester 3. 13 e 14 f 15 g The 14. was the celebration of the Passeouer 16 A 17 b The 15. the people came out of Egypt Exod. 22. 18 c 19 d The 18. the people went ouer the red sea drie footed Pharao was drowned with all his hoast 20 e 21 f 22 g The 22. the people came to Mara the waters whereof they could not drinke Exod. 5. 23 A 24 b 25 c Marke Euangelist 26 d The 24. the reuelation was made to Daniel of that which should come to passe from the time of the Kinges of Persia vnto Christ and from thence vntil the ende of the world Dan. 10.11.12 27 e 28 f 29 g 30 A May hath xxxj dayes 1 b Philip and Iacob 2 c  3 d The ascension of Christ into heauen fourtie dayes after his resurrection Mark. 6. 4 e 5 f 6 g God commaunded Noe to carrie victuals into the Arke Gen. 6. 7 A 8 b  9 c  10 d  11 e  12 f  13 g  14 A The 14. Ezekias did first celebrate the Passeouer Para. 30. 15 b 16 c The 15. the children of Israel murmured after flesh and God sent them plentie of Quailes 17 d 18 e 19 f This was the thirtie day after the departure from Egypt Exod. 16. 20 g 21 A The 16. day GOD made Manna to rayne down Exod. 16. 22 b 23 c The 17. Noe entered into the Arke Gen. 17. 24 d 25 e The 20. The people departed from mount Sina Num. 9. 26 f 27 g The 22. fire from aboue consumed a part of the hoast of Israel Num. 11. 28 A 29 b  30 c  31 d  Iune hath xxx dayes 1 e This day the children of Israel came to mount Sina and went thence the third moneth where they taried almost a yeare 2 f 3 g 4 A 5 b  6 c The 6 the Temple of Diana in Ephesus was burned the yeare before Christ 54. 7 d 8 e 9 f  10 g  11 A  12 b  13 c The 13. day of this moneth king Assuerus gaue out proclamation in fauour of the Iews against Haman and his conspiracie Hest. 8. 14 d 15 e 16 f 17 g  18 A  19 b  20 c  21 d  22 e  23 f  24 g Iohn Baptist. 25 A  26 b The Arke of Noe was lifted vp the seuen and twentie day by the waters of the floud Gen. 7. 27 c 28 d 29 e Peter the Apostle 30 f  Iulie hath xxxj dayes 1 g  2 A  3 b  4 c  5 d  6 e The 6. day of this moneth the Iosias of our age EDWARD the sixt king of England died Anno. 1553. 7 f 8 g 9 A Dogge dayes beginne 10 b The 9. of this moneth the citie of Ierusalem assieged by the space of eighteene mone hâ— was finally taken by the king of Babylon Iere. 39. 11 c 12 d 13 e 14 f  15 g About this time the great Sweat beganne in England Anno. 1551. 16 A 17 b  18 c  19 d  20 e  21 f  22 g Marie Magdalen 23 A  24 b  25 c Iames Apostle 26 d  27 e As vpon this day the Atheniens receiued a great ouerthrowe in Sicilia of the
this order that as faith commeth by the Gospell so by the same faith our heartes are stirred vp to call vpon the name of God and therefore he saith that the spirite of adoption which sealeth in our hearts the witnesse of the gospell raiseth vp our spirites that they dare with boldnesse shewe foorth their desires it stirreth vp in vs vnspeakable groninges and causeth vs to crie with confidence Abba Father By the benifite of prayer therefore wee attaine to those riches which God hath laide vp in store for vs for thereby we haue familiar accesse to God and boldlie entering into the sanctuarie of heauen we put him in mind of his promises so that nowe by experience we feele and finde that to be true in deede which by the worde we did before but onely beleeue nowe we inioy those treasures by prayer which by faith wee did before but onely beholde in the Gospell of our Lorde Iesus Nowe how necessarie and profitable this exercise of prayer is it appeareth in that the Lorde himselfe witnesseth our whole saluation to consist in the calling vppon his name whereby he is wholie present with vs namely by his prouidence and fatherly care by the which he watcheth ouer vs by his power by the which he susteineth and succoureth our weakenesse being euerie moment ready to perish and by his goodnesse mercie by the which he receiueth vs into fauour being miserablie loadeÌ„ pressed downe with sin â–ª And hereby groweth singular rest and quietnesse to our conscience For when wee haue disclosed to him our necessitie herein wee finde most ioyfull and perfect quietnesse that none of our euils are hidden from him whom we are persuaded to be both most willing also most able to helpe vs. Now that our prayer may be made in such wise as it ought to be firste we must see that we be in hearte and minde no otherwise prepared then becommeth those that enter into talke with God as we are taught Eccle. 18. Before thou pray prepare thy selfe and be not as one that tempteth God. We must consider therfore wheÌ„ we pray in whose presence we stand to whoÌ„ we speak and what we desire We stand in the presence of the almightie creator of heauen earth and all thinges therein conteined to whose eternall maiestie innumerable thousandes of Angels doe assist seâ—ue and obey We speake vnto him who knoweth the secretes of our hearts before whom nothing is more odious then hypocrisie and dissimulation We aske those things which be most to his glorie and the comfort of our consciences We must therefore diligenâ—ly endeuour our selues to remoue all such thinges as may offende his diuine maiestie And first that we be free from al worldly cares fleshly cogitations whereby our mindes are caried hither and thither being drawne out of heauen and from the pure beholding of God are pressed downe to the earth And here let vs call to minde how vnreuerently we abuse the great goodnes of God calling vs into familiar talke with him when we haue not that reuerent feare of his sacred maiestie that we woulde haue of an earthly creature or a worldly Prince but suffering our heartes to be caried away with wandering thoughts and worldly imaginations are otherwise occupied and forsake him in the mids of our prayer As God is a spirite so he will be worshipped in spirit and truth that is in the inward affections of the heart with a true faithfull and vnfeined kind of worship And therfore as at all other times he requireth the heart so specially in the time of prayer wheÌ„ we shew our selues in his presence enter into communication with him therevpon when he promiseth to heare all those that cal vpon him he maketh a restreint saith that call vpon him in truth Seing therefore the chiefe dutie of prayer consisteth in the heart we must with our whole heart poure out our prayers vnto God the searcher of hearts with a sincere vnfained ardent affection opening of our heart before God call vpon him or else we shall not find him Let vs know therefore that none prepare themselues rightly to prayer but such as haue a reuerende feare of Gods maiestie which they cannot haue that come not to it vnburthened of earthly cares affections And thiâ— is it that is ment in the Scriptures by the lifting vp of handes that we should remember our selues to be farre off from God vnlesse we lift vp our heartes mindes also on high An therefore it is saide in the Psalme To thee haue I lift vp my soule The Scripture vseth also this manner of speach To lift vp prayer that they which desire to be heard of God shold not haue their minds caried away with earthly cogitations vanities And though it be hard to be so bent to prayer but that we shall finde that many bie thoughtes will creepe vpon vs to hinder our prayer yet the more harde it is the more earnestly wee must wrastle to ouercome all lets and hinderances labour with inwarde groninges vnto the Lorde that he will linke our heartes fast vnto him and not suffer vs to beledde away from him by the vayne suggestions of Sathan who at al times compassing vs about is neuer more busie then when we addresse our selues to prayer secretly and subtilly creeping into our breastes and calling vs backe from God so that oftentimes when wee with all reuerence should speake to God we find our harts talking with the vanities of the world or with the foolish imaginations of our owne hearts Finally we must be in christian charity loue and concorde with all men seeking vnfained hearty and brotherly reconciliation if we haue offended any man before we enter into prayer or else God will not heare our prayers yea they are otherwise execrable full of damnable hypocrisie in Gods sighte And this that is spoken of prayer may be said also of hearing of Gods word or any other seruice of God. We must therefore laye aside all malice enuie wrath grudge contention wrangling dissimulation all guilefull craftie and subtile dealing and with a single hearte doe to other as we woulde they shoulde doe to vs Peter willeth that such as haue once tasted howe good and bounteous the Lorde is and are become new creatures by the heauenly regeneration through the doctrine of the Gospell shoulde like holy and innocent babes lay aside all such workes of the flesh which doe depriue a man of the kingedome of God. And S. Paul commaundeth vs that laying aside those cursed vvorkes of darknesse vve shoulde in the stead thereof put on euen as the elect of God holy and beloued tender mercie kindnesse humblenesse of minde meekenesse long suffering forbearing one another forgiuing one another if any haue a quarell to another as Christ forgaue vs and aboue all these things saith he put on loue vvhich is the bonde of perfection and let the peace of
is merry let him sing that is let him praise God. Moreouer the benefites and blessings of God are large and plentifull towards vs which way so euer we turne vs that we can neuer want matter and occasion of prayse and thankesgiuing And seeing wee ought to acknowledge God to be the authour and giuer of all good thinges â–ª we should alway receiue the same at his hand with thankesgiuing â–ª for to that end God continually bestoweth his good blessings and benefites vpon vs that we should continually shewe foorth his prayse and be thankfull vnto him for the same and so we render vâ—â—o him his due honour And S. Paul when he saith that they are sanctified by the worde and prayer signifieth that to vs they are not holy and cleane without the word and prayer and therefore Dauid saith when he had felt the liberalitie of the Lorde that there was put into his mouth a newe song â–ª that is a newe occasion of prayse and thankesgiuing Wherby he signifieth that it is a wicked silence if we passe ouer any of Gods benefites without praise â–ª seing that as ofâ—eÌ„ as he doth good vnto vs so often he giueth vs occasion to speake good of hâ—m We shoulde therefore continually that is as much as is possible at all times in all places and in all thinges as occasions are continually offered vnto vs lift vp our prayer vnto God in crauing helpe at his hand and confessing his praise whereby we may both obteine of him all good thingâ— also praise magnifie his name for all How this perseuerance in prayer is required of vs Christ himselfe teacheth vs by the parable of the three loaues and of the widowe and wicked Iudge wherebie wee are taught to continue in prayer with all earnestnesse and feruent supplication and neuer to faint or giue ouer vntill we be assured in our spirit that our prayer is heard The prayer of the humble saith the sonne of Sirach goeth through the cloudes it ceaseth not vntill it come neere and it vvill not departe vntill the most high God haue respect therevnto Beholde saith Dauid as the eyes of the seruants looke vnto the hande of their maisters and as the eyes of a maiden vnto the hande of her mistresse so our eyes vvaite vppon the Lord our God vntill he haue mercie vppon vs. And thus must we not cease to doe vntill we may boldly say also with Dauid The Lord hath hearde the voâ—ce of my vveeping the Lorde hath hearde my humble petition the Lord hath receiued my prayer Nowe concerning the forme and manner of praying leaste wee shoulde followe our owne fantasie being of our selues so blinde that we knowe not how to pray or what is meete and expedient for vs the Lord himselfe hath sufficiently instructed vs Who as he hath taught vs throughout the whole scripture how and for what thinges wee ought to pray so hath hee set foorth one manner of prayer in the which hee hath briefly comprehended all such thinges as wee ought yea or in any wise may aske of god Wherein hee hath expressed what is due pleasing and acceptable to him what is necessarie for vs and what hee will graunt so that there is nothing herein omitted that might be thought vppon to the prayse and glory of GOD or come into the minde of man for his profit and commoditie And this is that prayer that our Lorde Iesus Christ taught his Disciples when they asked of him how they should pray Whosoeuer therefore shal aske any thing that is not contained in this prayer they presume to adde some thing of their owne to the wisedome of God they are not obedient to his will and they pray without faith hauing no worde of God to warrante them and therefore they shall obtaine nothing This praier saith Tertullian is the doctrine of the wisedome of God wherein hee hath taught whatsoeuer hee willed willed whatsoeuer was needefull Albeit we are not so bound to this forme of prayer that we should not vse any other kinde of words then the Lorde himselfe herein hath vsed For there are elsewhere set forth in the scriptures many prayers farre differing from this in wordes and yet written by the same spirite and verie profitable to be vsed of vs And many prayers also are continually vttered of the faythfull by the same spirite which varie from the same in wordes But this is required of vs that none should looke for seeke or aske any other thing at all then that which is brieflie comprehended in this prayeâ— and which though it differ in wordes yet differeth not in sense and substance like as it is certaine that all the prayers which are founde in the scriptures and which do continually proceede froÌ„ the harts of the faithfull are referred by the direction of Gods spirite vnto this prayer howsoeuer they differ in the varietie of words Many good and godly men euen in our dayes well exercised in prayer haue left vnto vs most worthie examples and testimonies hereof furnished with ample and large matter to forme holy and true prayer and full of power to inflame the hearte to a feruent inuocation of Gods holy name whereof we haue giuen here some taste vnto the godly and especially to the simple not yet well exercised ¶ Reade them meditate and pray and ye shall finde comfort in your soules A Meditation concerning Prayer THE MINDE OF man hath so large roomthe to receiue good thinges that nothing in deed can fully fill it but only God whome then the minde fully possesseth when it fully knoweth him fully loueth him and in all thinges is framed after his will. They therefore deare Lorde God that are thy children and haue tasted somewhat of thy goodnesse doe perpetually sigh that is doe pray vntill they come thereto and in that they loue thee also aboue all thinges it wonderfully woundeth them that other men doe not so that is loue thee and seeke for thee with them Whereof it commeth to passe that they are inflamed with continuall prayers and desires that thy kingdome might come euery where and thy goodnesse might be both knowen and in life expressed of euery man. And bicause there are innumerable many things which as well in them selues as in others be against thy glorie they are kindled with continuall prayer and desire sighing vnspeakably in thy sight for the increase of thy spirit And sometimes when they see thy glorie more put backe then it was wont to be either in them selues or in any other then are they much more disquieted and vexed But bicause they knowe that thou doest rule all thinges after thy good will and that none other can helpe them in their need they oftentimes do goe aside all businesse laide apart and giue them selues to godly cogitations talke with thee complayning to thee as to their father of those thinges that grieue them begging thereto and that most earnestly thy helpe not onely for them selues but
or miracle for any when they healed or raised the deade by prayer for they knewe nothing can be better then when it is according to thy will. Oh that I might alwaies know thy wil in al things and for euer apply my selfe thereto Hereof it commeth that thy saints and deare children which loue their neighbours as them selues doe yet notwithstanding in their prayers aske vengeance of some as we may reade in the Psalmes of Dauid bicause in praying and talking with thee they see by thy holy spirite for without it is no true prayer sometimes thy iudgements vpon some which they perceiue to sin to death and therefore ought not to be prayed for bicause thy glorie can not be set foorth as it should be without their destruction Thy wil is alwayes best and the thing whereto they frame all their desires Therefore when they perceiue that it is decreed with thee such and such by their destruction to set foorth more mightily thy glorie how should they but desire and pray for the same and write it as Dauid hath done that the godly in reading and waying such prayers might receiue comfort and the vngodly be afraide else when that they perceiue not so manifestly the determined iudgement of God they in their prayers doe most heartily pray for them as Samuel did for Saule Moses for the Israelites and Abraham for the Sodomites Oh good father for thy mercies sake giue me the true loue of mankinde but yet so that I may loue man for thee and in thee and alwayes preferre thy glorie aboue all thinges through Christe our Lorde Nowe though thy children doe knowe that thy will can not but be done and nothing can be done but that thou of thine owne wil hast determined to doe although no man should desire the same yet are they earnest and frequent in prayer first to render obedience to thee which requirest prayer as a spirituall seruice to thee secondly bicause thou hast ordained prayer to be as an instrument and meane by the which thou workest thinges with thee alreadie decreed and determined Thy children do vse prayer to offer thee their seruice if it shall please thee to vse the same and as they doe eate and drinke which is a meane ordained of thee for the conseruation of their life not looking hereby to lengthen their dayes aboue their boundes which alreadie thou hast appointed but as becommeth them to vse thy meanes which thou hast ordained to serue thy prouidence so doe they as men herein not curious to knowe thy prouidence further then thou reuealest it vse prayer as a meane by the which thou art accustomed to worke many of thy childrens desire that according to thy good will thou mayest vse the same They do not thinke a mutabilitie in thee for thou art GOD and art not chaunged with thee there is no variablenesse and therefore they pray not as men which would haue thy determinations and ordinances which are in most wisedome and mercie to be altered but rather that they might submit their willes to thine and make them more able to heare thy will and pleasure They knowe thou hast promised to helpe them calling vpon thee wherefore they dout not but so thou wilt doe and therefore pray accordingly They loue thee hartily and therefore they can not but desire much to talke with thee that is to pray euen as a well manered and louing wife will not take vpon her to aske any thing of her husband at all but that she hopeth he will take in good part doe of his owne freewill although she had spoken nothing thereof When she knoweth what her husbands will is in things she gladly talketh with him thereof and according as she seeth he is disposed to do she will often desire him to do it Euen so thy children I say which hartily loue thee in that they knowe thy wisedome and will is best howe can they but often talke with thee and desire thee to doe that which they know is best which they know also thou wouldest do if none shuld aske or pray for the same Thy children vse prayer as a meane by the which they see plainly thy power thy presence thy prouidence mercie and goodnes towards them in graunting their petitions and by prayer they are confirmed of them all Yea thy children vse prayer to admonish them howe that all things are in thy handes In prayer they are as it were of thee put in minde of those thinges which they haue done against thee their good Lorde By reason whereof repentaunce enâ—ueth and they conceiue a purpose to liue more purely euer afterwardes and more heartily to applie them selues to al innocencie and goodnesse Who nowe considering so many great commodities to come by reason of prayer would maruell why thy children are much in prayer and in laboring to prouoke others therevnto For as none that is a suter to any other will vse any thing which might offend or hinder his sute so no man that vseth prayer wil flatter him selfe in any thing that should displease thee to whom by prayer he moueth sute whensoeuer he praieth so that nothing is a more prouocation to all kinde of godlinesse then prayer is As concerning outward thinges which thy childreÌ„ pray for although they know thy wil and decree is not variable thy purpose must needes come to passe yet do they receiue by their prayer no small commoditie For either they obtaine their requestes or not If they doe obtaine them then proue they by experience that thou doest the will of them that feare thee and so they are more kindled to loue and serue thee And in deed for this purpose thou art wont when thou wilt doe good to any to stirre vp their mindes to desire the same good of thee to the ende that both thou and thy giftes may be so much the more magnified and set by of them by howe much they haue bene earnest suters and petitioners for the same For howe can it but inflame them with loue towardes thee to perceiue and feele thee so to care for them heare them and loue them If they doe not obtaine that they pray for t yet vndoubtedly they receiue great comfort to see that the euils which presse them and wherof they complaine still doe not oppresse and ouercome them and therefore they receiue strength to beare the same the better O good father helpe me that I might heartily loue thee complaine to thee in all my needes and alwayes by prayer to poure out my heart before thee Amen Iohn Bradford A meditation vpon the Lordes prayer Our Father THou good Lorde which madest heauen and earth the sea and all that is therin together with thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ and with thy holie spirite thou the same God which openest thy selfe to Adam by thy promise thou the God of Abraham Isaac Iacob â–ª that which broughtest thy people of Israel foorth of Egypt with a mightie hand
and a stretched out power thou which gauest thy lawe vpon Mount Sinai thou which spakest by thy Prophetes and last of all in these latter dayes by thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ whom thou wouldest should be made a second Adam that as by the first ▪ we are Children of wrath carnall and full of concupiscence so by him we might be made children of grace and spirituall by communicating with him the qualitie merites vertues and grace of his flesh through the operation of his holie spirite as he communicated with vs the substance of our flesh in the wombe of the Virgin Marie in the operation of the same holie spirite being that blessed seede which was promised to Adam Abraham Isaac Iacob and Dauid which should bruse the Serpentes heade which should bring the blessing on all nations which should reigne ouer thy house for euer and mightily ouercome thine and our enimies as indeede he did by his incarnation natiuitie circumcision exile baptisme fasting temptation doctrine miracles workings agonies bloudie prayer passion death resurrection and ascension and yet he still doth by his meditation and intercession for vs and at the length will on all partes fully accomplish by his comming to iudgement which will be soudenly in the twinckling of an eye in the blast of a trumpet and shoute of an Archangel when he shall be seene with thousandes of Saintes innumerable thousands of Angels al the whole world being on fire all the people that euer were are or shall be then standing before his tribunall or iudgement seate to render an account of that they haue done in this body be it good or bad Thou I say this God which art holy righteous true wise pure chast mightie mercifull good gratious a hater of sinne a reuenger of vnrighteousnes c. wouldest that I which am borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquitie which by nature am a childe of wrath and in whome dwelleth continuall enimitie against thee that I which am nothing but sinne and one that doth euil always before thee should call thee and beleeue thee this God and Father of our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ to be in very deed my father that is thou wouldest I should be most assured that thou of thine owne good wil which thou barest to me wards before I was yea before the world was hast in Christe chosen me to be thy childe and through him art become my most louing Father from whome I should looke for all good things be most certenly persuaded that looke howe much thou art more then a man so much thy loue and fatherly prouidence towardes me passeth the loue and prouidence of any father towards his childe in louing me caring howe to helpe me prouiding for me nurturing me and helping me in al my needes So certaine thou wouldest haue me to be of this that to doubt of it doth most displease thee and dishonour thee as though either thou were not true or not able to doe these thinges or else becamest not my father in respect of thine owne goodnesse in Christ only but also in respect of my worthines and deserts And that I should not wauer or doubt of this that thou art my deare Father and I thy childe for euer through Iesus Christ it is required in the first commaundement which saith I am the Lord thy God thou shalt haue none other Gods but me Againe thy sonne doth here commaund me to call thee by the name of father Moreouer in the first article of my beliefe I professe the same in saying I beleeue in God the Father almightie Besides this there are many other things to confirme me herein as the creation and gouernement of the world generally and of euery creature particularly for all is made and kept for man and so for me to serue me for my commoditie necessitie and admonition Againe the creatiō of me in that thou hast made me after thy Image hauing a reasonable soule body shape c. where thou mightest haue made me a toade a Serpent a Swine deformed frantike c. Moreouer thy wonderful conseruation nourishing and keeping of me hitherto in my infansie childhood youth c. all these I say should confirme my faith of thy fatherly loue But of all things the opening of thy selfe by thy word and promise of grace made after mans fall first to Adam then to Abraham Isaac Iacob and so to other being published by the Prophetes from time to time last of all accomplished by thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ in whom thy promises are yea and Amen the opening of thy selfe thus I say in and by Christ is the most chiefe and sure certificate that thou art my father for his sake I thy deare child although of my selfe I am most vnworthy For thou according to thy promises hast not spared thy deare sonne Iesus Christe but giuen him to the death of the Crosse for my sinnes Thou wouldest he should be made flesh of our flesh and bloud of our bloud in the wombe of the Uirgin Marie by the operation of thy holie spirit that we by the working of the same spirite through the merites of his flesh and bloud might be made flesh of his flesh and bloud of his bloud that is as he hath the substaunce of our flesh and bloud euen so we might haue and for euer enioy in him and through him the qualities vertues and gifts of righteousnesse holinesse innocencie immortalitie and glorie wherewith he hath endued our nature in his owne person for vs all that as nowe in faith and hope we haue the same so in his comming we might fully enioy them in verie deede for then shall our bodies nowe vile be like to his glorious bodie Herein appeareth thy loue not that we loued thee but that thou louedst vs and hast giuen thy Sonne for vs Herein doest thou commend vnto vs thy loue that when we were yet sinners Christe thy deare sonne dyed for vs so that nothing should separate vs from thy loue in Christ Iesus neither affliction anguish persecution famine neither life nor death c. For if when we were enimies we were reconciled vnto thee by the death of thy sonne much more we being reconciled shal be saued by his life And that I should not doubt hereof but certainely be persuaded all this to pertaine to me where I might haue bene borne of Turkes and Infidels loe thou wouldest I should be borne of Christian Parents brought into thy Church by Baptisme which is a Sacrament of adoption and requireth faith as well of remission of my sinnes as of sanctification and holinesse to be wrought of thee in me by thy grace and holie spirite Where I might haue bene borne in an ignorant time Region thou wouldest I should be borne in this time and Region wherein is more knowledge reuealed then euer was here or in many places is Where I
it pleaseth thee to heare my prayers and assuredly wilt saue me for euer But alas howe farre am I from these lamentings and reioycings By reason whereof I deserue damnation Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me and of thy goodnesse grant me thy holie spirite to reueale to me my blindenesse obliuion and contempt of thy kingdome power and glorie with the greatnesse of my doubtings that I may heartily as lament them so haue them pardoned and taken from me through the merites of Iesus Christ thy sonne Againe giue me thy holy spirit to reueale to me in such sort thy kingdom power glory and eternitie that I may always haue the same before mine eyes be moued with the admiration thereof labour effectually to set foorth the same and finally as to haue the fruition thereof after this life so to increase in an assured certaine and liuely expectation of the same that I may alwayes and in all thinges reioyce in thee through Christ and giue lauds thankes and prayses perpetually vnto thy most holy name Oh blessed Father Sonne and holy Ghost three persons and one God to whome be all honour and glorie world without end Here thinke that if the kingdome power glorie and eternitie be Gods which is our Father what our dignitie is which be his children If the power be our fathers of whome should we be afraid If the diuell be subiect to the Lordes power and kingdome as he is howe can the subiect haue power ouer vs which be sonnes and heires in that he hath not power ouer Porkets without the prouidence and permission of God Therefore full well should we pray Lead vs not into temptation rather then let vs not be lead into temptation for power is the Lords and the diuell hath none but that he hath of Gods gift No he were not able to receiue power if God did not make him able although the execution of it is rather of Gods permission Giue all thankes prayse and glorie to God our Father through Christe our Lord and Sauiour So be it Iohn Bradford PRIVATE PRAYERS for the Morning and Euening and for other times of the day When you awake out of your sleepe pray thus MOst mercifull God and father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ I most humbly thanke thee for the sweete sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuen me this night past beseeching thee that like as thou hast nowe awaked my bodie from sleepe so thou wouldest awake my soule from the sleepe of sinne and darkenesse of this world and that which thou hast now awaked out of sleep thou wouldest after death whereof this sleepe is but an image restore and raise againe to life euerlasting O gratious God make my bodie I heartily pray thee such a companion or rather a minister of godlinesse to my soule this day and all the time of this present life that in the life to come it may be partaker with the same of euerlasting happinesse through Christe Iesus our Lord. Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall shew light vnto thee Ephe. 5. Occasions to Meditate Here call to mind the great mirth blessednes of the euerlasting resurrection Also remember to muse vpon that most cleare light that bright morning and newe clearenesse of our bodies after the long darkenesse which they haue bene in All then shall be full of vnspeakable ioy and felicitie When you behold the day-light pray O Lord God thou most glorious true light from whence this light of the day and sunne doth spring and shine vnto vs O light which lightenest euerie man y commeth into this world O light whiche knowest no night nor euening but art alway a midday most cleare and faire without whom al is most horrible darkenesse and by whom al things are most cleare and bright O thou wisedome of the eternal father of mercies lighten my minde that I may see those thinges only which please thee and may be blinded to al other things Grant me so to walke in thy wayes by the light of thy holy worde that nothing else may be light and pleasant vnto me Lighten mine eyes Oh Lorde that I sleepe not in death least mine enimies say I haue preuailed against him Psal 30. Occasions to Meditate Muse a while how much the light and eye of the minde and soule is better then of the bodie Also howe much more we ought to care for the soule that it may see well then for the bodie Moreouer that beastes haue bodily eyes as well as men but men only haue eyes of the minde and that such as are godlie wise When you arise pray OUr first parents cast downe them selues from a most excellent high honorable state into shame miserie into the deepe sea of all wickednesse and mischiefe but oh Christ thou putting forth thy hand didst raise them vp againe Euen so we except we be raised vp by thee shall lie still for euer O good Christe our most gratious redeemer as thou doest mercifully rayse vp now this my body euen so I beseech thee raise vp my minde and heart to the true knowledge loue of thee that my conuersation may be in heauen where thou art If you be risen with Christ thinke vpon those things that be aboue Col. 3. Occasions to Meditate Thinke howe foule the fall of Adam was by reason of sinne and so of euery one of vs from the height of Gods grace Againe thinke vpon the inestimable benefite of Christe by whose helpe we daily arise againe from our fallings When you apparel your selfe pray O Christe clothe me with thine owne selfe that I may be so farre from making prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lustes therof that I may cleane put off all desires and crucifie the kingdome of the flesh in me Be thou vnto me a garment to keepe me warme and to defend me from the cold of this world If thou be absent deare Lorde all things are colde weake and deade but if thou be with me all things are warme fresh and chearefull c. Graunt therefore that as I compasse this my bodie with this garment so thou wouldest cloth me wholy but specially my soule with thine owne selfe Put vpon you as the elect of God bowels of mercie meekenesse loue peace c. Col 3. Occasions to Meditate Call to minde a little howe we are incorporate into Christ. Againe howe he doth cloth vs gouerne and nourish vs and vnder his winges protection prouidence preserueth vs. When you are made readie to begin the day withall pray O Almightie God and most mercifull father thou knowest and hast taught vs also something to know that the weakenesse of man and woman is great that without thy grace they can neither doe nor thinke any good thing Haue mercie vpon me I humbly beseech thee thy most weake fraile and vnworthie childe Lighten my minde that I may with pleasure looke vpon good things only Inflame my hart
and for euer that we be neuer further proued tempted then thou wilt make vs able to beare and so to helpe vs in the same as may be most to thy glorie and our saluation thorough Iesus Christe our Lorde Amen An Euening prayer O Lorde God father euerlasting and full of pitie we acknowledge and confesse that we be not worthie to lift vp our eyes to heauen much lesse to present our selues before thy diuine Maiestie with confidence that thou wilt heare our prayers and graunt our requestes if we consider our owne wretched deseruings For our consciences do accuse vs our sinnes witnes against vs we knowe that thou art an vpright Iudge which doest not iustifie the sinners and wicked men but punishest the faultes of such as transgresse thy commaundementes Yet most mercifull father since it hath pleased thee to commaund vs to call vpon thee in all our troubles and aduersities promising euen then to helpe vs when we feele our selues as it were swallowed vp of death desperation we vtterly renounce all worldly confidence and trust flee to thy souereigne goodnesse as our only stay and refuge beseeching thee not to call to remembrance our manifold sinnes and wickednesse whereby we continually prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligence nor our vnkindenesse which haue neither worthilie esteemed nor in our liues sufficiently expressed the sweete comfort of thy holie Gospel reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience death of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who by offering vp his bodie in sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompence for all our sinnes Haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lorde and forgiue vs our offences Teach vs by thy holy spirit that we may rightly way them and earnestly repent vs for the same and so much the rather O Lord our God because that the reprobate and such as thou hast forsaken can not praise thee nor call vpon thy name but the repenting heart the sorrowful mind the conscience oppressed hungering and thirsting for thy grace shall euer more set foorth thy praise and glorie And albeit we be but wormes dust yet thou art our creatour and we be the worke of thy handes yea thou art our father and we thy children thou art our shepheard and we thy flock thou art our redeemer and we thy people whome thou hast dearely bought thou art our God and we are thine inheritance Correct vs not therefore in thine anger O Lord our God neither according to our desertes doe thou punishe vs but mercifully chastice vs with a fatherly affection that all the worlde may knowe that at what time so euer a sinner doeth repente him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart thou wilt put away all his wickednes out of thy remembrance as thou hast promised by thy holie Prophet Finally forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to rest in as thou hast ordeyned him the day to trauell graunt O deare father that we may so take our bodily rest that our soules may continually watche for the time that our Lord Iesus Christe shall apeare for our full deliuerance out of this mortal life and in the meane season that we be not ouercome by any fantasies dreames or other temptations but may fully set our mindes vppon thee loue thee feare thee and rest in thee in such sort that our verie sleepe also may be to the glorie of thy holy name Furthermore that our sleepe bee not excessiue or ouer much after the insatiable desire of the flesh but onely sufficient to content our weake nature that we may the better be disposed to liue in all godly conuersation to the glorie of thy holie name and profite of our brethren through Iesus Christe our Lorde in whose name we make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs. Our father which c. Almightie and euerliuing God vouchsafe we beseech thee to graunt vs perfect continuance in thy liuely faith augmenting and increasing the same in vs daily vntill we growe to the full measure of our perfection in Christe whereof we make our confession saying I beleeue in God the father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lorde turne his fauourable countenance towardes vs and graunt vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God and the communion of the holie Ghost be with vs and remaine with vs for euer So be it 2. Cor. 13. An other Euening prayer MOst mercifull God and tender Father which besides thine inestimable mercies declared and giuen vnto vs in the making of the world for our sakes in redeeming of vs by the death of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christe in the calling of vs to the knowledge of thy blessed worde in keeping of vs hitherto in thy holie Church and in thy most gratious gouerning of vs and all things hitherto for our singular wealth and commoditie hast also most fatherly cared for vs and kept vs this day from all daungers both of soule and body giuing vs health food apparell and all other thinges necessary for the comfort and succour of this poore and miserable life which many other do want for these and all other thy good gifts and gratious benefites which thou of thine owne goodnesse only and fatherly prouidence hast hitherto powred vppon vs and doest presently powre vppon vs and many other wee most humbly thanke thee and praise thy holy name beseeching thee that as all things are now hidden by meanes of the darkenes which thou hast sent ouer the earth so thou wouldest vouchsafe to hide and burie all our sinnes which this day or at any time heretofore wee haue committed against thy holy commaundementes and as nowe wee purpose to lay our bodies to rest so graunt the garde of thy good Angels to keepe the same this night for euermore and when soeuer our last sleepe of death shall come graunt that it may be in thee good father so that our bodies may rest both temporally and eternally to thy glorie and our ioye through Iesus Christ our Lorde So be it An other Euening praier O Eternall God and most mercifull father who this day and al the time of our life hast gratiously defended nourished and preserued our soules and bodyes and made such fatherly prouision for vs poore sinners the of thy louing kindnesse we haue rich portions not only in the creatures of heauen and earth but also in that plentiful redemption which thy most deare sonne Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs graunt vnto vs O merciful father the assistance of thy grace and holie spirite that as our bodies shall nowe take their naturall rest euen so our soules and mindes at the beholding of thy goodnesse towardes vs may quiet themselues in thee and conceiue such inward
pleasure heauenly sweetenesse in thy loue that whatsoeuer we shall from henchfoorth either thinke speake or doe it may be all to the honour of thy holie name through Iesus Christ thy deare sonne our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Thy mightie hand and outstretched arme O Lord be stil our defence thy mercie and louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ thy deare sonne be our saluation thy trueth and holie word our instruction thy grace and holie spirite our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end A praier for the remission of sinnes O Almightie and euerliuing Lord God the deare Father of our Sauiour Iesus Christe which hast made heauen and earth the sea all that therein is which art the only ruler and gouernour conseruer and keeper of all thinges together with thy dearely beloued Sonne Christe Iesus our Lorde and with the holie ghost the comforter O holy righteous wise O strong terrible mightie and feareful Lord God gouernor of the whole world iudge of al men O exorable patient and most gratious father whose eyes are vpon the wayes of all men and are so cleane that they cannot abide impietie thou searchest the heartes and triest the verie thoughtes and reynes of all men thou hatest sinne and abhorrest iniquitie For sinnes sake thou hast grieuously punished mankind thy most deare creature as thou hast declared by the penaltie of death layde vppon all the children of Adam by the casting of Adam his ofspring out of Paradise by the cursing of the earth by the drowning of the world by the burning of Sodom Gomor by hardning the heart of Pharao so that no miracle coulde conuert him by the drowning of him and his people in the redde sea by the ouerthrowing of the Israelites in the wildernesse so that of sixe hundreth thousand there were but two that entred into the lande of promise by reiecting King Saul by the punishmentes vppon thy seruaunt Dauid notwithstāding his heartie repentaunce by greeuously afflicting Solomon in himselfe and his posteritie by the captiuitie of the tenne tribes and by the thraldome of the Iewes wherein vntil this present day they continue a notable spectacle of thy wrath to the world against and for sinne But of all spectacles of thy anger against sinne the greatest and moste notable is the death and bloudy passion of thy dearely beloued sonne Iesu Christ. Great was thine anger against sinn when in heauen earth nothing could be found which might appease thy wrath saue the bloudshedding of thine only most dearly beloued sonne in whom was and is all thy delight Great was the sore of sinne that needed such a salue mightie was the maladie that needed such a medicine If in Christ in whom was no sinne thy wrath was so fiarce of our sins that he was constrained to cry My God my god why hast thou forsakē mee Howe great importable then is thine anger against vs which are nothing but sinfull They that are thy children through the contemplation of thine anger against sinne set foorth most euidently in the death of Christe doe tremble and are afraide lamenting them selues vpon him and heartily crying for mercie whereas the wicked are altogether carelesse and contemptuous nothing lamenting their iniquities or crying to thee heartily for mercie and pardon Amongest whom we are rather to be placed thē amongst thy children for that we are so shamelesse for our sinnes and carelesse for thy wrath heaping daily sinne vpon sinne so that the measure hath ouerflowed and ascended vp to heauen and brought thy heauie plagues vpon vs which are but earnest for greater to ensue therefore to vs pertaineth shame and nothing else is due but confusion What shall we doe what shall we say who can giue vs penitent heartes who can open our lips that our mouthes might make acceptable confession vnto thee Alas of our selues we cannot thinke any good much lesse wish it and least of all do it As for Angels or any other creatures they haue nothing but that which they haue receiued and thei are made to minister vnto vs So that where it passeth the power of the master the minister must needes want Alas then what shall we doe Thou art holie and we vnholie thou art good and we nothing but euill thou art pure and we altogether impure thou art light and we most darke darkenesse howe then can there be any agreement betwixt vs O what now may we do Dispaire No for thou art God and therefore good thou art mercifull and therefore thou forgiuest sinnes with thee is mercie and propiciation and therefore thou art worshipped when Adam had sinned thou gauest him mercie before he desired it and wilt thou denie vs mercie which nowe desire the same Adam excused his fault and accused thee but wee accuse our selues and excuse thee and shall wee be sent emptie away Noe found fauour when thy wrath abounned and shall we seeking grace be frustrate Abrahā was pulled out of Idolatrie when the world was drowned therein and art thou his God onely Israell in captiuitie in Egypt was gratiously visited deliuered deare God the same good Lord shal we alwaies be forgotten How often in the wildernes didst thou defer and spare thy plagues at the requests of Moses when the people them selues made no petition to thee and seeing wee not onely nowe make our petitions vnto thee thrugh thy goodnesse but also haue a mediatour for vs farre aboue Moses euen Iesus Christ shall we I say deare Lorde departe ashamed So soone as Dauid saide I haue sinned thou diddest foorthwith answere him that he should not dye thou haddest taken away his sinnes and gratious God euen the selfe same God shall not we which nowe with Dauid gladly confesse that we haue sinned shall we I say not heare by thy good spirit that our sinnes be pardoned O graunt that with Manasses we may finde fauour and mercy Remember that thou hast not spared thine owne onely deare Sonne Iesus Christ but giuen him to dye for our sinnes to rise for our righteousnesse to ascend for our possession taking in heauen and to appeare before thee for vs for euer a high priest after the order of Melchizedech that through him we might haue free accesse to come to thy throne nowe rather of grace then of iustice Remēber that thou by him hast biddē vs aske and promised that we should receiue saying Aske and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you ▪ O deare GOD and most meeke and mercifull father we heartily beseech thee to be mercifull vnto vs for this thy Christes sake for his deaths sake for thy promise trueth and mercies sake Haue mercie vpon vs pardon and forgiue vs al our sinnes iniquities and trespasses what so euer we haue committed against thee in thought word or deede euer or at any time hitherto by any meanes Deare father haue mercie vpon vs Though we be poore yet our Christ
is riche though we be sinners yet he is righteous though we be fooles yet he is wise though we be impure yet is he pure and holie for his sake therefore be mercifull vnto vs. Call to minde how thou hast promised that thou wilt powre out of thy cleane waters and wash vs from our filth and cleanse vs from our euills Forget not that thou hast promised to take from vs our stonie heartes and to giue vs soft heartes new hearts and to put into the middest of vs right spirites Remember thy couenant namely that thou wilt be our God and we shall be thy people that thou wilt put out of thy memorie for euer all our vnrighteousnesse and hast promised to write in our mindes and heartes thy lawe and testimonies Remember that thou dost straitly charge vs to haue none other Gods but thee saying that thou art the Lord our god O then declare the same to vs all we heartily nowe beseech thee Forgiue vs our sinnes forget our iniquities cleanse vs from our filthinesse wash vs from our wickednesse powre out thy holie spirite vpon vs Take from vs our hard heartes our stonie heartes our impenitent heartes our distrusting and doubtfull heartes our carnall our secure our idle heartes our impure malicious arrogant enuious wrathfull impatient couetous hypocriticall and epicurical harts and in place therof giue vs new harts soft harts faithfull hearts mercifull hearts louing obedient chast pure holy righteous true simple lowly and patient hearts to feare thee to loue thee to trust in thee for euer Write thy lawe in our harts graue it in our mindes we heartily beseech thee Giue vs the spirite of prayer make vs diligent and happie in the workes of our vocation take into thy custodie and gouernaunce for euer our soules and bodies our liues and all that euer we haue Tempt vs neuer further theÌ„ thou wilt make vs able to beare and what so euer thou knowest we haue neede of in soule or bodie deare God and gratious father vouchsafe to giue vs the same in thy good time and alwayes as thy children guide vs so that our life may please thee and our death praise thee through Iesu Christ our Lorde for whose sake we heartily pray thee to graunt these thinges thus asked and al other thinges necessarie for soule and body not onely to vs but to al others also for whom thou wouldest that we should pray specially for thy children that be in thraldome in exile in prison miserie heauinesse pouertie sicknesse c. Be mercifull to the whole realme of England and graunt vs all true repentance and turne from vs the euils that we so wickedly haue deserued Pardon our enimies persecutors and slaunderers and if it be thy pleasure turne their hearts Be mercifull vnto our parents brethren and sisters friendes kinsefolkes and familiars neighbours and such as by any meanes thou hast coupled and lincked to vs by loue or otherwise and vnto vs poore sinners here gathered together in thy holie name graunt thy blessing and holie spirite to sanctifie vs and dwel in vs as thy deare children to keepe vs this day and for euer from all euill to thy eternall glorie and our euerlasting comfort the profite of thy Church which mercifully maintaine cherish and comfort strengthening them that stand so that they neuer fall lifting vp them that be fallen and keepe vs from falling from thy truth through the merites of thy dearely beloued sonne Iesu Christ our onely Sauiour which liueth and reigneth with thee and the holâ—e Ghost to whome be all praise and honour both nowe and for euer Amen I. B. A prayer for the true knowledge of the mysterie of our redemption in Christ. O Almightie God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ and by him also our father the father of all mercy God of all consolation haue mercie vpon vs and heare our prayers We most humbly beseech thee for thy deare sonne Iesus Christes sake for his merites and cruell death which he suffered to deliuer vs from eternall death and the power of darknesse send into our heartes thy spirit of truth to worke in vs a true liuely stedfast faith that the cleare light and brightnesse of thy Gospell the glorie of Christ may shine vnto vs and lighten our mindes that we may learne and vnderstand the wonderfull and vnspeakable riches of the misterie of our redemption in Christ and by Christ. O Father of glorie giue vnto vs the spirite of wisedome and bring vs into the true knowledge of this thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christe and the knowledge of thy selfe Open and lighten the eyes of our mindes and vnderstanding that we may knowe what the hope is wherevnto thou hast called vs and howe rich the glorie of thine inheritance is vpon thy Saints and the exceeding greatnesse of thy power towardes vs that by true faith by vnderstanding knowledge of thine eternall wisedome which is Iesus Christe we may be in deede as we are called true Christians and vnfeigned professors of thy holy name to worship thee in spirite and trueth and to set forth the glory of thy grace giuen vnto vs in Christe Iesu our lord Amen O deare Father write in our heartes loue of thy lawe hate to all sinne thankfulnes of heart and continuall heate of thy holie spirite for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake To whome with thee and thy holie spirite be all honour maiestie glorie thankes rule empire and dominion for euermore Amen A forme of thankesgiuing for our redemption and prayer for the strength increase of faith Lord increase our faith Luk 17. ETernall prayse and thankes be giuen vnto thee deare God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ which hast blessed vs with all spirituall blessing in heauenly things by Christ in that thou hast chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world was laide that we should be without blame before thee through him by whome we haue redemption through his bloud euen the forgiuenesse of our sinnes in whome after we heard the word of truth the gospell of our saluation wherein we beleeued we are sealed with the holie spirite of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance which spirite hath and doth beare witnesse vnto our spirits that we are thy children and therefore cryeth in our heartes Abba Father And thus most gratious father when thou hast once giuen the earnest pennie of our saluation into our heartes thou doest not repent of thy gift and calling neither wilt thou at any time breake thy couenant of grace and mercie in Christ thy Sonnes merites confirmed in vs by that seale and loue token For what though we be weake in our beliefe shall our vnbeliefe make thy promise of no effect No thou wilt alway be found true but all men are liars And yet Lord thou doest most gratiously beholde and accept be it neuer so little a sparke of faith We say therefore and cry vnto thee with one
himselfe was vtterly without sinne the victorie seemed the more easie But I to vanquishe sathan being my selfe altogether sinfull yea contrarie to my most sinfull nature to subdue sinne the diuel and mine owne fleshe it seemeth a more victory and a greater worke then the other For the which neuerthelesse I will with all submission acknowledge vnto thy diuine maiestie that the whole victorie Lorde in deede is thine and thy holy spirite the beginner and finisher both of the will and the worke Now therfore Lord Iesu strengthen mee with thy grace and might that thou maist by mee a most sinfull wretche drawe all these my earthly members and horrible vices before rehearsed vnder my feete that I may not onely fight against them but also subdue them so that they may all turne to the best for mee as meete matter whereon I may exercise my faith powre forth my hearty prayer and giue thee most heartie thankes for victorie wherby I may learne and haue experience that thou hast in mee drawne all thinges vnto thee insomuch as thou thus Lord of thy diuine power drawest both the diuel and the sinne that dwelleth in me to set foorth thine honour and glorie which thing for thy mercies sake bring to passe O God my creator preseruer euerlasting defender A meditation for the exercise of true mortification HE that will be ready in weightie matters to denie his owne will and to be obedient to the will of God the same had neede to accustome him selfe to denye his desires in matters of lesse weight and to exercise mortification of his owne will in trifles For if that our affections by this daily custome be not as it were halfe slaine surely surely wheÌ„ the plunge shall come we shall finde the more to do If we can not watch with Christ one houre as he saith to Peter we vndoubtedly can much lesse goe to death with him Wherefore that in great tentations we may be ready to say with Christ Not my will but thy will be done for as much as this coÌ„monly commeth not to passe but where the rootes of our lustes by thy grace deare father are almost rotten and rooted out by a daily deniall of that they desire I humbly beseech thee for Christes sake to helpe me herein First pardon me my cherishing and as it were watering of mine affections obeying them in their deuises and superfluous desires where through in that they haue taken deepe roote and are too liuely in me I secondly doe beseech thee to pull them vppe by the rootes out of my heart and so hencefoorth to order me that I may continually accustome my selfe to weaken the principall roote that the by rootes and branches may loose all their power Graunt me I beseech thee that thy grace may daily mortifie my concupiscence of pleasure in thinges that is of wealth riches glorie libertie fauour of men meats drinkes apparel ease yea and life it selfe that the horrour and impatiencie of more grieuous things may be weakned and I made more patient in aduersitie Wherevnto I further desire and pray thy goodnes deare father that thou wilt adde this namely that I may for euer become obedient and readie to doe thy good will in all things hartily and willingly to serue thee and do whatsoeuer may please thee For doubtles althoâ—gh wee accustome our selues in the pleasaunt thinges of this life to a mortification and deniall of our selues yet we shall finde inough to doe when more better weighty crosses come For if thy sonne our sauiour euer wonte to obay thy good will prayed so hartily and often Not my will but thy will be done whereby he declareth himselfe to be verie man how can it be but we whose nature is corrupt not onely in natiuitie but in the rest of our whole life also shall find both our handes ful in great and greeuos temptations wholy to resigne our selues vnto thee Graunt therefore deare father for thy Christes sake to mee a most miserable wretch thy grace and spirite to be effectuall in mee that daily I may accustome my selfe to deny my will in more easie and pleasant thinges of this life that when neede shall be I may com vnto thee with a resigned wil alwaies stedfastly expecting thy mercie and in the meane season continually obeying thee with readinesse and willingnes doing what so euer may most please thee through Christ our Lord who liueth with thee c. A meditation of the comming of Christ to iudgement and of the reward both of the faithfull and vnfaithfull OH Lord Iesus Christ the son of the euerliuing God by whom all thinges were made are ruled and gouerned as of thy loue for our redemption thou didst not disdaine to be our mediatour to take vpon thee our nature in the wombe of a virgin purely and without sinne by the operation of thy holie spirite that both thou mightest in thine owne person wonderfully beautifie and exalt our nature and worke the same in vs also first abolishing the guiltines of sinne by remission then sinne it selfe by death and last of all death by raising vp again these our bodies that they may be like to thine owne glorious and immortall body according to the power wherewith thou art able to subiect all thinges vnto thee as I say of thy loue for our redemption thou becamest man and that most poore and afflicted vpon earth by the space of three and thirtie yeares at the least in most humilitie and paiedst the price of our ransome by thy most bitter death and passion for the which I most heartily giue thankes to thee so of the same thy loue towardes vs in thy good time thou wilt come againe in the clouds of heauen with power and great glorie with flaming fire with thousaÌ„ds of Saintes with Angels of thy power with a mightie cry shout of an Archangel and blast of a trumpe soudenly as a lightening which shineth from the East c. when men thinke least euen as a theefe in the night when men be asleepe thou wilt so come I say thus soudenly in the twinckling of an eye all men that euer haue bene be or shall be with women and children appearing before thy tribunall seate to render an account of all thinges which they haue thought spoken and done against thy lawe openly and before all Angels Saintes and diuels and so shall their corruptible bodie put on incorruption then shall they be endued with immortalitie and glorie then shall they be with thee and goe whither thou goest then shall they heare Come blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning c. then shall they be set on seats of maiestie iudging the whole world then shall they reigne with thee for euer then shall God be al in al with them and to them then shall they enter and inherite heauenly Ierusalem and the glorious restfull lande of Canaan where it is always day and neuer night where
and substantiall God but that we might knowe how that after the iudgement such a mysterie of his mediatourship shall not be in heauen as is now in earth Then thou blessed Trinitie God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost shalt be al in al thou shalt be the end of our desires thou shalt be looked vpon without end thou shalt be loued without lothing thou shalt be praised without wearinesse Although lothsomenesse be wont to followe fulnesse yet our fulnesse in the contemplation of thy pleasures shal bring with it no kinde at all of lothsomenesse Satietie of ioyes shal be in the beholding of thee Pleasures are on thy right hande for euer We shall bee satisfied when we arise after thine image I meane in the resurrection O deare father shewe thy selfe vnto vs and we aske no more Oh graunt vs with thy saintes in euerlasting life to praise with perpetual prayses thy holy name Happie then and happie againe were wee if that day were come that we might singe with thy Angels elders and innumerable thousands a new songe and say Thou Christ Iesu which wast slaine art worthy to receiue power riches and wisedome and strength honor and glorie and blessing In this blessed life all kinde of maladies griefes sorrows and euils be far away and all full of all kinde of mirth ioy and pleasure Oh that we might see now a little with saint Iohn that holy citie newe Ierusalem descending from heauen prepared of God as a bride trimmed for her husband Oh that we might now somthing heare the great voyce speaking out of the throne Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwel with them and they shall be his people and hee shall bee vnto them their GOD he will wipe away all teares from their eyes and death sha be no more nor weeping nor crying nor sorrowe for the former thinges are gone I. B. An other meditation of the blessed state and felicitie of the life to come THis body is but a prison wherein the soule is kept and that verily not beautilfull nor bright but most foule and darke disquiet fraile filled vp with much vermine venomous vipers I mean it concerning our affections standing in an aire most vnwholsome prospect most lothsome if a man consider the excrements of it by the eyes nose mouth eares handes feete and al the other partes So that no Bocardo no Little ease no Dungeon no Bishops prison no Gatehowse no sinke no pit may be compared in any poynt to be so euill a prison for the body as the bodie is for and of the soule wherethrough the children of GOD haue bene occasioned to cry lament their long being in it Oh saith Dauid Howe long shall I lye in this prison Oh wretch that I am saith Paule who shall deliuer me out of this bodie of sinne which is an heauie burden to the soule as the wiseman saith And the godly cry now let thy seruant depart in peace O the I were dissolued had put off this earthly and frayle tabernacle Take me vnto thee and bring my soul out of this prison that it may giue thanks vnto thee O Lord. For so long as we be in this bodie we can not see the Lord yea it is as an heauie habitation and depresseth downe sore the spirit from the familiaritie which it else should haue with god This world life is an exile a vale of miserie a wildernesse of it selfe being voyde of all vertues and necessaries for eternall life full of enimies sorrowes sighings sobbings gronings miseries c. In daunger to hunger colde heate thirst sores sicknesse tentations trouble death and innumerable calamities being momentanie short vnstable and nothing but vaine and therfore is compared to a warfare a womans trauell a shaddowe a smoke a vapour a word a storme a tempest in the which Gods people feele great molestatiōs griefes troubles now of satan him selfe nowe of the world now of their owne flesh that so wonderfully diuersly daungerously and contrarily that they are inforced to cry O Lord when shall we come and appeare before thee when shall this miserie end when shall we be deliuered out of this vale of miserie out of this wildernes out of these continuall afflictions and most perillous seas But where thou art Lorde and deare Father of mercie there is not onely no prison no doloures no sorrowe no sighings no teares no sicknesse no hunger no heate no colde no paine no tentations no displeasure no malice no pride no vncleansure no contention no torments no horror no sinne no filth no stinche no dearth no death no weeping no teares no miserie no mischeefe there is I say not onely no such thing or any euill noysom or displeasant thing but all libertie all light all pleasantnesse all ioye reioycing mirth pleasure health welth riches glorie power treasure honour triumphe comfort solace loue vnitie peace concorde wisedome vertue melodie meeknesse felicitie beatitude and all that euer can bee wished or desired in most securitie eternitie and perpetuitie that may be thought not onely of man but of Angels an Archangels yea aboue al thoughtes The eye hath not seene the like the eare hath not heard nor no heart is able to conceiue in any point any part of the blissefull beatitude which is with thee most deare Lorde and Sauiour most gratious God and comforter Where thou art O blessed God the Archangels Angels Thrones Powers Dominatiōs Cherubines Seraphines Patriarches Prophets Apostles Martyrs Uirgins Confessours and righteous spirites cease not to sing night and day Holy Holy Holy Lorde God of Hostes Honour maiestie glorie power empire and dominion be vnto thee Oh God the creator O Lord Iesu the Redeemer Oh holy spirit the comforter In recordation of this O howe thy children reioyce howe contemne they the pleasures of this worlde Howe little esteeme they any corporall griefe or shame howe desire they to be with thee Howe amiable are thy tabernacles Oh Lorde GOD of hoastes say they My soule hath a desire to enter into the Courtes of the Lord my heart and my soule reioyceth in the liuing GOD blessed are they that dwell in thy house that they may be alwayes praising thee For one day in thy Courtes is better then a thousand elsewhere I had rather be a doore keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tentes of vngodlinesse for the Lord God is a light and defence And againe Like as the Hart desireth the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O god My soule is a thirst for God yea euen for the liuing god When shall I come to appeare before the presence of God My soule thirsteth for thee my flesh also longeth after thee in a barren and dry land where no water is They thy children I meane O Lorde desire the day of that their redemption Still they cry Let
them In like manner it goeth with riches estimation friends learning c. yea although we be in these most temperate yet when there wanteth the spirit our regeneratour we are so drowned in them that we vtterly neglect to lift vp our mindes to the good pleasure of God to the end we might imitate and followe God our maker by yeelding our selues ouer duly to vse his gifts to the common priuate vtilitie of our neighbors But now God only is life and eternitie and can not but demaund of vs his handie worke that we should render our selues and all we haue to the ende wherefore wee were made that is to resemble for our portion his goodnesse as they which be nothing else but witnesses and instruments of his mercie So that when wee wholy doe naturally striue against that kinde of life wherevnto he hath created vs by seeking alwais our selues what other thing ought to insue but the he should againe destroie vs and take away his notable giftes wherewith he therfore indued vs that by all kind of wel doing we should resemble his image yea what other thing may ensue but that hee should leaue vs and that eternally that we might feele and by experience proue howe bitter a thing it is to leaue the Lorde in whome is all goodnes Oh that I might therefore finde such fauour in thy sight deare father that thou wouldest worke in me by thy holie spirit a true knowledge of all good things and heartie loue to the same through Christ Iesus our Lord and onelie Sauiour Amen I. B. A Meditation of death and the commodities it bringeth WHat other thing doe we daily in this present life but heape sinne vpon sinne and hoorde vp trespasse vpon trespasse so that this day is worse alwaies thē yesterday by increasing as daies so sinnes and therefore thy indignaiion good Lord against vs but when we shall be let go out of the prison of this bodie so taken into thy blessed companie then shall we be in most safetie of immortalitie and saluation then shall come vnto vs no sicknesse no need no paine no kind of euill to soule or bodie but what so euer good we can wish that shall we haue and what so euer we loath shall be farre from vs O deere father that we had faith to behold these thinges accordingly O that our hearts were persuaded thereof and our affections inflamed with the desire of them Then should we liue in longing for that which nowe we most loath Oh helpe vs and graunt that we beeing ignorant of thinges to come and of the time of our death which to thee is certain may so liue and finish our iourney here that we may be ready and then depart when our departing may make most to thy glory and our comfort through Christ. What is this life but a smoke a vapour a shadowe a warrefare a bubble of water a worde grasse a flower That thou shalt die it is most certeine but the time no man can tell when The longer in this life thou doest remaine the more thou sinnest which will turne to thy more paine By cogitation of death our mindes be often in manner oppressed with darkenesse because wee doe but remember the night of the body forgetting the light of the mind and of the resurrection Hereto remember the good things that after this life shall insue without wauering in certeintie of faith and so shall the passage of death bee more desired It is like a failing ouer the sea to thy home and countrie it is like a medicine or purgation to the health of soule bodie it is the best Physition it is like to a womans trauell For as the childe being deliuered commeth into a more large place then the wombe wherein it did lie before so thy soule beeing deliuered out of the bodie commeth into a much more large and faire place euen into heauen I. B. A meditation vpon the passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. OH Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of the euerliuing God by whom all thinges were made and be ruled and gouerned thou the liuely Image of the substance of the Father the eternall wisedome of God the brightnes of his glorie God of God light of light coequal coeternal and consubstantial with the Father thou which of the loue thou hadst to mankinde when he was fallen from the fellowshippe of God into the societie of Sathan and al euill didst vouchsafe for our redemption to become a mediator betweene God and man taking to thy godhead our nature as concerning the substance of it and so becamest man also the heire of all and most mercifull Messias which by the power of thy Godhead and merites of thy manhoode hast made purgation of our sinnes euen by thine own selfe whilest thou was here on earth beeing nowe set on the right hande of thy father for vs euen concerning our nature in maiestie glorie and power infinite I pray and humbly beseech thy mercie to graunt me at this present to rehearse some of thy passions and sufferinges for me the last night that thou wast here before thy death that thy good spirite might therby be effectuall to worke in me faith as well of the pardon of my sinnes by them as mortification of mine affections comfort in my crosses and patience in afflictions Amen In the middest of thy last supper with thy deare apostles these things could not but be before thee namely that they all would leaue thee the most earnest would forsweare thee and one of the twelue should most traiterously betray thee which were no smal crosses vnto thee Iudas was admonished of thee to beware but when he tooke no heede ▪ but wilfully went out to finish his worke contemning thy admonition counsell he could not but vexe thy most louing heart After supper there was contention amongest thy Disciples who should be greatest after thee yet dreaming carnally of thee and thy kingdome hauing this affection of pride and ambition busie amongest them notwithstanding thy diligence in reprouing and teaching them After thy admonition to them of the crosse that would come therby to make them more vigilant so grosse were they that they thought they coulde with their two swordes put away all perils which was no little greefe vnto thee After thy comming to Gethsemane heauinesse pressed thee and therfore thou wouldest thy disciples to pray Thou didst tell to Peter and his fellowes that thy hart was heauie to death Thou didest will them to pray being carefull for them also least they should fall into tentation After this thou wentes◠a stones cast from them and diddest pray thy selfe falling flat and groueling vpon the earth but alas thou feltest no comfort and therefore thou camest to thy disciples which of all others were moste sweete and deare vnto thee but loe to thy further discomforte they passe neither of thy perils nor of their owne therefore sleepe apace After thou hadst awaked them thou goest againe
to pray but thou foundest no comfort at all and therfore diddest returne againe for some comfort at thy deerest friends hands But yet againe alas they are fast a sleepe Whereupon thou art inforced to go againe to thy heauenly father for some sparke of comforte in these thy wonderfull crosses and agonies Nowe here thou wast so discoraged so comfortlesse that euen streames of bloud came running from thine eies and eares and other partes of thy bodie But who is able to expresse the infinitenesse of thy crosses euen at thy being in the garden All which thou sufferedst for my sake as wel to satisfie thy Fathers wrath for my sinnes as also to sanctifie all my sufferinges the more gladly to be susteined of me After thy bloudie prayer thou camest and yet againe foundest thy disciples a sleepe and before thou canst well awake them loe Iudas commeth with a great bande of men to apprehend thee as a theefe and so doeth leading thee away bound to the high Bishops house Annas and so from him to Caiphas Here now to augment this thy miserie behold thy disciples flee from thee false witnesses be brought against thee thou art accused and condemned of blasphemie Peter euen in thy sight forsweareth thee thou art vniustly stricken for answearing lawfully thou art blindfold stricken and buffetted all the whole night in the Bishop Caiphas house of their cruel seruants In the morning betimes thou art condemned againe of the priestes of blasphemie and therefore they bring thee before the secular power to Pilate by whom thou art openly arrained as other theeues and malefactors were and when he sawe that thou wast accused of malice yet he did not dismisse thee but did sende thee to Herod where thou wast shamfully derided in comming and going to him and from him all the way especially after Herod had apparelled thee as a foole Afore Pilate againe therfore thou wast brought and accused falsely no man did take thy part or speake a good worde for thee Pilate caused thee to be whipped and scourged and to be handled most pitifully to see if any pitie might appeare with the prelates but no man at all pitied thee Barrabas was preferred before thee all the people heade and taile was against thee and cried hang him vp Uniustly to death wast thou iudged thou wast crowned with thorns that pearced thy braines thou wast made a mocking stocke thou wast reuiled beaten most miserably handled Thou wentest through Ierusalem to the place of execution euen to the Mount of Caluarie a great crosse to hang thee on was laide vpon thy backe to beare and drawe as long as thou wast able Thy bodie was racked to be nayled to the tree thy handes were boared through and thy feete also nailes were put through them to fasten thee thereon thou wast hanged betweene heauen earth as one spued out of heauen and vomited out of the earth vnworthie of any place the high Priest laughed thee to scorne the elders blasphemed thee and saide God hath no care for thee the common people laughed and cried out vpon thee thirst oppressed thee but vineger onely and gall was giuen thee to drinke heauen shined not vpō thee the sunne gaue thee no light the earth was afraid to beare thee sathā tempted thee and thine owne senses caused thee to crie out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Oh wonderful passions which thou sufferedst In them thou teachest me in them thou comfortest mee for by them GOD is my father my sinnes are forgiuen By them I should learne to feare God to loue God and neuer to leaue him for any tentations but with thee to crie Father into thy handes I commend my spirite A prayer to Christ crucified AS thou O Lord wast crucified for me so I beseech thee crucifie me with thee that I may rise againe with thee to euerlasting life Thy fleshe was crucified for me crucifie with thee O Christe the kingdome of the flesh which hath dominion in me that I may put off the olde Adam and by newnesse of life may be transformed into thee the second Adam sinne infidelitie and the whole tyrannie of sathan beeing vanquished and ouercome Bring to passe O Lord that by thy crosse and paineful suffering thy yoke may be to me made light and thy burthen easie that willingly gladly following thee I may come whither thou art gone that is to thy father most blessed and immortal from whom nothing shall afterward be able to separate vs. God forbid that I should reioyce in any thing but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ whereby the world is crucified vnto me and I vnto the worlde Gal. 6. A prayer to Christ ascended and reigning in glorie OH good Christ our first begotten brother and tender hearted Ioseph Oh naturall sonne of that Father to whom we are made children of adoption through thee Oh our head reigning on high in glorie forget not vs thy poore members here on earth whervnto abasing thy selfe thou camest downe and sufferedst for vs most cruel death Out of this thy throne of Maiestie glorie thou puttest vs in assured hope and confidence that we also shal attaine to that blessed place whither thou art gone before to take possession for vs Oh our strong tower of defence and succour what can hurt vs nowe trusting in thee Most vnhappie are they which are ignorant of thee Most happie are they which always behold thee Blessed are they which haue knowen thee here in the dayes of their mortalitie But more blessed are they which see thee in the heauens and shall see thee reigning with thy Father in ioyes incomparable Oh Lorde the onely ioye and comforte of our soules shewe vs thy louinge countenaunce embrace vs with the armes of thy mercie receiue vs O good Ioseph thy yonger brethren with the kisse of comfort powre into our harts thy holy spirit plucke vs vp from the earth earthlie things open our eyes lift them vp vnto thee open thy mouth call vs vnto thee open our eares that we may heare thee so that whatsoeuer we do speake or thinke it may be directed vnto thee alone our redeemer mediator and aduocate If ye be risen againe with Christ seeke the thinges which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God set your affection on thinges that are aboue not on things which are on the earth Col. 3. An other THou Lord didest put away Marie Magdalen from the kissing of thy feete because thy flesh was not yet exalted and shee knewe not yet the dignitie of thy clarified bodie and beautified with the glory of immortalitie but was addicted onely to thy bodily presence She yet sought the liuing among the deade neither was it knowne to her that thou wast equall with thy father Wherfore thou wouldest not suffer her so much as to kisse thy feete because it was a thing vnworthy for thy maiestie Oh thou mightie Lion of the tribe of
Iuda thou coÌ„querour of hel and death euer liuing and immortall thou art nowe risen from death for vs thou art now ascended to thy father and our father and sittest at his right hand in glorie suffer vs to come neare vnto thee that wee may kisse thee yea Lorde thou louer of our soules come thou rather vnto vs and kisse vs with the kisse of thy mouth that we may bee glad and reioyce in thee drawe vs that we may runne after the sauour of thy sweete oyntmentes that wee may beholde thee in righteousnesse and when thy glorie shall appeare we may be satisfied for in thy presence there is fulnesse of ioy and in thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore A prayer for true repentance MOst gratious God mercifull Father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ because I haue sinned don wickedly and through thy goodnesse haue receiued a desire of repentaunce wherevnto this thy long suffering doth drawe my harde hart I beseech thee for thy great mercies sake in Christ to worke the same repentance in me and by thy spirite power and grace so to humble mortifie and feare my conscience for my sinnes to saluation that in thy good time thou maist comfort and quicken me again through Iesus Christ thy dearely beloued sonne So be it I. B. A prayer for the strength and increase of faith O Merciful God and deare father of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ in whome as thou art well pleased so hast thou commanded vs to heare him for as much as he often biddeth vs to aske of thee and also promiseth that thou wilt heare vs and grant vs that which in his name we shal aske of thee loe gratious father we are bold to begge of thy mercie through thy sonne Iesus Christ one sparkle of true faith and certaine persuasion of thy goodnesse and loue towards vs in Christ where through I being assured of the pardon of all my sinnes by the mercies of Christe thy sonne may bee thankefull to thee loue thee serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life I. B. A prayer for the true sense and feeling of Gods â—auour and mercie in Christe OH Lord God and deare Father what shall I say that feele all things to be in maner with me as in the wicked Blind is my mind crooked is my will and peruerse concupiscence is in mee as a spring or stinking puddle O howe faint is faith in me How little is my loue to thee or to thy people How great is selfe loue Howe harde is my heart â–ª By the reason whereof I am moued to doubt of thy goodnes towardes me whether thou art my mercifull father and whether I be thy childe or no. In deede worthily might I doubt if that the hauing of these were the cause not the fruite rather of thy children The cause why thou art my father is thy mercie goodnes grace truth in Christe Iesus which can not but remain for euer In respect whereof thou hast borne me this goodwill to bring me into thy Church by baptisme and to accept me into the number of thy children that I might be holie faithfull obedient and innocent and to call me diuerse times by the ministerie of thy worde into thy kingdome besides thy innumerable other benefites alwayes hitherto powred vppon me All which thou hast done of this thy good will which thou of thine owne mercie barest to mee in Christ and for Christe before the worlde was made The which thing as thou requirest straitly that I should beleeue without doubting so wouldest thou that in all my needes I should come vnto thee as vnto a Father and make my mone without mistrust of beeing heard in thy good time as most shall make to my comfort Loe therefore to thee deere Father I come through thy sonne our Lord mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for me and pray thee of thy great goodnes and mercie in Christ to bee mercifull vnto me that I may feele in deede thy sweete mercie as thy childe The time Oh deare Father I appoint not but I pray thee that I may with hope still expect and looke for thy helpe I hope that as thou for a little while hast left mee so thou wilt come and visite me and that in thy great mercie whereof I haue need by reason of my great miserie Thou art wont for a little season in thine anger to hide thy face from them whome thou louest but surely O Redeemer in eternal mercies thou wilt shew thy coÌ„passions For when thou leauest vs O Lord thou doest not leaue vs verie long neyther doest thou leaue vs to our owne losse but to our iucre and aduauntage euen that thy holie spirite with bigger portion of thy power and vertue may lighten and cheare vs that the want of feeling of our sorrowe may be recompenced plentifully with the liuely sense of hauing thee to our eternall ioy and therefore thou swarest that in thine euerlasting mercie thou wilt haue compassion on vs Of which thing to the end we might be most assured thine oth is to bee marked for thou saiest As I haue sworne that I will neuer bring any more the waters to drown the world So haue I sworn that I wil neuer more be angry with thee nor reprooue thee The mountaines shal remoue and the hilles shal fall downe but my louing kindenesse shall not moue and the bonde of my peace shall not faile thee Thus saist thou the Lord our mercifull redeemer Deare father therefore I praye thee remember euen for thine owne truth and mercie sake this promise and euerlasting couenant which in thy good time I pray thee to write in my hart that I may know thee to be the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent that I may loue thee with all my heart for euer that I may loue thy people for thy sake that I may be holie in thy sight through Christ that I may alwayes not only striue against sinne but also ouercome the same daily more and more as thy children doe aboue all thinges desiring the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doing of thy will here on earth as it is in heauen c. through Iesus Christ our redeemer mediatour and aduocate Amen I. B. A prayer against our spirituall enemies the diuel the worlde and the flesh O Lord God the diuell goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuour the flesh lusteth against the spirite the world persuadeth vnto vanities that we may forget thee our Lord God so for euer be damned Thus are we miserably on euery side beset and besieged of cruell vnrestfull enemies and like at euery moment to perish if we be not defended with thy godly power against their tyrannie We therefore poore and wretched sinners despairing of our owne strength which in deede is none most hartily
pray thee to indue vs with strength from aboue that wee may bee able through thy helpe with strong faith to resist sathan with feruent prayer to mortifie the lustes of the fleshe with continuall meditation of thy holy lawe to auoide the foolish vanities and transitory plesures of this wicked worlde that through thy grace we being set at libertie from the power of these our mortall enemies may serue thee here in true holines and righteousnes and after be partakers of the euerlasting ioyes prepared for thy children which as they are greate and vnspeakeable so are there fewe that doe enioye them For straight is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth therevnto fewe there be that find it Notwithstāding O God thou hast a little flock to whom it is thy pleasure to giue that ioyfull kingdome whose names are written in the booke of life Make vs therefore of the number for Iesus Christs sake and place vs amongest those thy sheepe which shall stande on thy right hand to receiue the blessed inheritaunce and dwell with thee for euermore A prayer for present helpe in tentation DEare father to whom it is more easie to do all thinges then for me to thinke any one good thing Loe doe thou but speake a worde and thy deadlie sicke seruaunte my soule shal be made whole Helpe O Lord for thy great mercie sake for thy truth sake and for thy deare sonne Iesus Christ sake and let thy strength suffice against my weakenesse and thy holy spirit against my sinfull flesh and old man. Thou art faithfull O Father who hast promised that I shall not be tempted further then ▪ thou wilt make me able to beare Giue nowe therefore thy grace and strength vnto thy seruaunt that I may with a strong faith in thine infallible truth and promised mercie vanquishe and subdue what so euer rebelleth against thy most blessed wil. Preserue and keepe holy my soule and body and let them not be defiled made a dungeon of diuels wicked spirits through delectation in sinne Behold deare father the postes thereof are sprinkled with the pretious bloud of thy deare son of thy great mercie they are made the temple and tabernacle of thy holy spirite Shall now alas the diuell the worlde or the fleshe plucke from thee that thing which presently crieth to thee with assured trust in thy promised helpe Nay father ▪ but graunt that I may by thy mightie power turne all their crafts deceits and raging assaultes vnto the increase of my faith that by experience of thy fatherly assistance in this my present temptation I may with assured hope trust in thy ready helpe comfort ouercome my saide enemies hereafter in like assaultes and prayse thy holy name for the victorie through Iesus Christ our Lord. My sonne if thou wilt come into the seruice of the Lorde stande fast in righteousnesse and feare and prepare thy soule to tentation Eccle. 2. Remedies against sinneful motions and tentations First remember that sinne is so heinous a thing that God by his iustice might worthily damne thee for the same and is therefore to be abhorred as a sweete poyson a flattering death and destruction of the soule which would out thee off from God thy Sauiour and make thee a bondslaue to sathan thy deadly enemie Auoide therefore euen at the first the occasions thereof and betimes quash out the braines of the children of Babylon against the harde stones whiles yet they be young and weake least when they be growen elder and stronger they dash thee to peeces And for remedie against the same flee vnto God who commandeth thee to call vpon him in thy troubles and promiseth to deliuer thee and wil not suffer thee to be further tempted then he wil make a way out whereby thou shalt escape and doubt not but hee that causeth thee to hate the sinne which thy nature is to loue will deliuer thee also from the daunger thereof and make thee to triumph ouer sathan to his confusion to Gods glorie and to thy great comfort which are causes that our tender louing father sendeth tentations vnto vs and he that is not tempted what is he Now after thou hast obteined the victorie remember two thinges first to giue most heartie thankes to God for his grace and assistance whereby thou hast ouercome and be not vnthankfull in any wise and then that he who continually goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuour will not be long or farre away from thee but wil attempt againe the same or as euill wayes to ouercome thee Watch therefore and pray A prayer for the auoyding of Gods heauie wrath vengeance for our sinnes OH Lord God strong mightie great and fearefull which dwellest in the heauens and workest great wonders wee thy miserable children here vppon earth doe moste humbly beseech thee to be merciful vnto vs to pardon our offences and to forgiue vs all our sinnes O Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruantes for if thou doe there shall no fleshe be saued in thy fight We confesse and acknowledge O Lorde that it is our sinnes whiche hath moued thee to wrath and to shewe such fearefull tokens of thy displeasure towardes vs in these our dayes first with fire from heauen betokening thy hote burning indignation and wrathfull displeasure for sinne which aboundeth at this daye then with such horrible and monstrous shapes against nature as were neuer seene here in our dayes nor in any time before vs which do betoken to vs none other thing but thy plagues to come vpon vs for our degenerate and monstrous life and conuersation and nowe besides all this by great mortalitie plague and pestilence thou hast terribly threattened vs fatherly warned vs mercifully called vs to repentance The axe is set to the roote of the tree and if wee bee not as rotten members without all sense and feeling wee may perceaue our fearefull destruction and desolation to bee at hande vnlesse wee speedily repent and turne to thee because wee haue bene so long taught out of thy most holy and sacred word yet no fruits of repentance or Christian life will appeare Woe and alas to these our dayes that neither preaching by word most comfortable nor preaching by fire most terrible nor preaching by monsters most strange and ougly neither yet by plagues and pestilence most horrible will stirre vp our stonie heartes and awake vs from our sinnes We feare O Lorde that the Turkes with all the rest of the vnbeleeuing will condemne vs in the last day which if they had bin so long instructed by the comfortable preaching of thy word and sweet promises of thy Gospel or seene the woonders which we haue seene no doubt their righteousnesse would haue shined at this day to our great shame and confusion Thou hast no lesse warned vs O Lorde of thy fearefull displeasure heauie plagues at hand for our great wickednesse then thou
didest the Israelites of that horrible destruction which came vpon them whom thou first in mercie diddest cal to repentance by the preaching of thy worde but when no warning would serue thou diddest send them monstrous and fearefull signes and tokens to declare that thy visitatiō was not farre off But they like vnto vs at this day did always interpret these things after the imagination of their owne vaine hearts promising to themselues peace when destruction was ouer their heads Which things when we do call to minde for as much as they are written for our learning example and warning it maketh vs to tremble and quake for feare of thy iust iudgements For if thou hast thus dealt with thine owne deare and chosen children in token of thy great wrath against sinne what shall wee looke for who do no lesse deserue thy fearfull scourge for of mercie it is that thou doest thus long forbeare vs and liue as though there were no God at all to be reuenged vpon our sinnes It maketh vs to feare crye inwardly in our soules Come Lorde Iesu holy true in all thy doings shorten our daies bring this our pilgrimage to an end suffer vs not to heap sinne vpon sinne vntill the day of vengeance least we be caught vp amongst the number of the wicked and reprobate which shall neuer see thy louing countenance It maketh vs to crie to thee O Lorde Let thy kingdome come and end this our sinefull life wherein we doe nothing but prouoke thee to wrath Correct vs not O Lord in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauy displeasure And though to vs belongeth nothing but shame confusion though our offences haue deserued to be visited with the rod and our sinnes with scourges yet in mercie Lorde with fatherly correctiō chasten vs and thy louing kindnesse take not away from vs. To thee we flee for succour vnder the winges of thy mercy shal be our refuge vntill thou turne thy wrathfull countenaunce from vs We know that thy mercie is aboue all thy works and euen as great as thy selfe therfore wit we say with holy Iob Though thou kill vs yet will wee put our trust in thee Thou camest to comfort pluck out of the dungeon of hell suche wretches as wee are Thou art the good Samaritan that camest to heale our deadly woundes thou art that good Physitian that camest to cure our mortall infirmities thou art the good sheepheard that camest to seeke vs wandering and lost sheepe and to bring vs to thy folde againe more then that thou art our brother flesh of our flesh and bone of our bones which hast tasted of our infirmities felt our temptations and borne the burden of our sinnes therefore at thy handes we looke for mercie against the day of vengeance And though thou punish vs yet our hope is and euer shall be that thy rodde shall no further touch vs then shal make to thy glorie our commoditie and the strengthening and increase of our faith Let this thy Preaching sundrie ways O Lord be sufficient for our warning and graunt that we may speedily from the bottome of our heartes repent endeuour to doe thy righteous and blessed will reuealed in thy worde and frame our liues according to the same that we may here liue in thy feare all the dayes of our life and after this our sinnefull course is ended may dwel with thee in thy blessed kingdome through the death merites of Iesus Christ our onely redeemer So be it Another praier for the auoiding of Gods deserued wrath hanging ouer vs for our sinnes WHen we looke backe and behold our sinful life past what a dongeon of errours vice wickednes openeth it selfe vnto vs so that there is no man but he must needes be ashamed of him selfe when he calleth to mind what he hath ben trembleth when he considereth the wickednes and sinneful course of his life to come for who shall vndertak◠that the rest of our life shall bee any better then that is past How can we thē sufficiently magnifie praise thy great mercy which hast deferred thy punishmēt so long Beholding therfore this our daungerous miserable state we come vnto thee O thou great and mightie Iudge in trembling and feare humbly beseeching thee not to heape vpon vs thy deserued vengeance but let thy tender kindnes loue thou bearest to Iesus Christ thy sonne our gratious Lord and redeemer couer our iniquites for whose sake though we deserue all extremitie thou doest pardon vs. If thou Lorde shall straitly marke our iniquities O Lord who shal be able to abide it Psal. 103. A prayer to be saide of all such as suffer any kinde of crosse ALmightie God king of al kings gouernour of al things whose power no creature is able to resist to whome it belongeth iustly to punish sinners to be mercifull vnto them that truely repent wee confesse thou doest most iustly punishe vs for wee haue greeuously sinned against thee and wee acknowledge that in punishing vs thou doest declare thy selfe to be our most mercifull father as well because thou doest not punishe vs in any thing as we haue deserued as also because by punishing vs thou doest call vs and as it were draw vs to increase in repentance in faith in prayer in contemning of the world and in heartie desiring for euerlasting life and thy blessed presence Grant vs therfore gratious Lord thankefully to acknowledge thy great mercie which hast thus fauourably dealte with vs in punishing vs not to our confusion but to our amendement And seeing thou hast sworne that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but that he turne and liue haue mercie vppon vs and turne vs vnto thee for thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christes sake whome thou wouldest shoulde bee made a slaine sacrifice for our sinnes thereby declaring thy great and vnspeakeable anger against sinne and thine infinite mercie towards vs sinfull wretches And for as much as the dulnesse blindnes corruption of our hearts is such that we are not able to arise vp vnto thee by faithfull and heartie prayer according to our great necessitie without thy singular grace and assistance graunt vnto vs gratious Lorde thy holy and sanctifying spirite to worke in vs this good work with grace to weigh and consider the neede and greatnesse of that wee doe desire and with an assured faith and trust that thou wilt grant vs our requestes because thou art good and gratious euen to younge Rauens calling vppon thee much more then to vs for whome thou hast made all things yea and hast not spared also thine owne deare sonne because thou hast commaunded vs to call vppon thee because thy throne whereto wee come is a throne of grace and mercie because thou hast giuen vs a mediator Christe to bring vs vnto thee being the way by whome wee come being the dore by whome wee enter
and being our head on whome we hang and hope that our poore petitions shall not be in vaine through him and for his names sake Wee beseech thee therefore of thy rich mercie wherein thou art plentifull to all thē that call vpon thee to forgiue vs our sinnes namely our vnthankfulnesse vnbeleefe selfeloue neglect of thy worde securitie hypocrisie contēpt of thy long suffering omission of prayer doubting of thy power presence mercy and good will towardes vs vnsensiblenesse of thy grace impaciencie c. and to this thy benefite of correcting vs adde thy gratious gift of repentaunce faith the spirite of prayer the contempte of this worlde and heartie desiring for euerlasting life Indue vs with thy holy spirit according to thy couenant mercie as well to assure vs of pardon and that thou doest accept vs into thy fauour as thy deare children in Christ and for his sake as to write thy lawe in our heartes and so to worke in vs that we may nowe begin and goe forwards in beleuing lyuing fearing obeying praying hoping and seruing thee as thou dost require most fatherly and most iustly of vs accepting vs as perfect in thy sight through Iesus Christ our lord Amen A prayer of the afflicted for the profession of Gods worde O Gratious God which seekest all meanes possible howe to bring thy children into the feeling and sure sense of thy mercie and therefore when prosperitie will not serue then sendest thou aduersitie gratiously correcting them here whō thou wilt haue elswhere to liue with thee for euer wee poore wretches giue humble prayses and thankes to thee that thou hast vouched vs worthy of thy correction at this present hereby to worke that which wee in prosperitie and libertie did neglecte For the which neglecting and many other our greeuous sinns wherof we nowe accuse our selues before thee most mercifull Lord thou mightest most iustly haue giuen vs ouer and destroied vs both in soule and body But such is thy goodnes towards vs in Christ that thou seemest to forget all our offences and as though we were farre otherwise then we be in deede thou wilt that wee should suffer this crosse nowe laide vpon vs for thy truth and gospels sake and so be thy witnesses with thy Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessours yea with thy dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ to whom thou doest now here beginne to fashion vs like that in his glory we may be like to him also O good God what are we on whō thou shouldest shew this great mercie Oh louing Lord forgiue vs our vnthankefulnesse and sinnes Oh faithfull father giue vs thine holy spirite nowe to crie in our heartes Abba deere father to assure vs of our eternall election in Christ to reueale more and more thy truth vnto vs to confirme strengthen and stablishe vs so in the same that we may liue and die in it as vessels of thy mercie to thy glorie and to the commoditie of thy Church Indue vs with the spirit of thy wisedome that with good conscience we may alwayes so aunswere the enemies in thy cause as may turne to their conuersion or confusion and our vnspeakeable cōsolatiō in Christ Iesus for whose sake wee beseech thee hencefoorth to keepe vs to giue vs patience and to will no otherwise for deliuerance or mitigation of our miserie then may stand alwayes with thy good plesure merciful will towards vs. Graunt this deare father not only to vs in this place but also to all others else where afflicted for thy names sake through the death and merites of Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen I. B. A prayer to God the father the Sonne and the holy Ghost O Almightie and euerliuing God the eternall father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which of thy vnmesurable goodnes hast opened thy self vnto vs and with a loude voyce hast saide of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord Heare him O maker preseruer of all thinges with thy coeternall sonne our Lord Iesus Christ which reigneth with thee and was manifested in Ierusalem with thy holy spirite which was powred vppon the Apostles O wise God mercifull Iudge and mightie Lord which hast saide As truely as I liue I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert amend whiche also hast saide Call vppon me in the day of thy trouble I will deliuer thee haue mercie vpon vs for Iesus Christes sake whome thou wouldest of thy merueylous and incomprehensible counsell shoulde be made for vs a slaine sacrifice mediator reconciler and peacemaker to the end that thou mightest shewe thine exceeding great wrath against sinne and thine inestimable mercie towardes mankinde Sanctifie illuminate our heartes and soules with thy holy spirite that wee may truly beleeue in thee call vppon thee bee thankefull vnto thee and obedient to thy holy will. Defend gouerne and cherish thy Church as thou hast promised saying This is my couenāt that I haue made with them my spirit which is in thee and my worde which I haue put in thy mouth shall not departe out of thy mouthe nor out of the mouth of thy seede for euer Preserue those kingdomes and cōmon weales which giue harborough to the people and maintaine the ministerie of thy holy word and Gospell that the kingdom of thy sonne Iesus Christ may encrease and shine throughout all the worlde O Iesus Christ Sonne of the euerliuing God crucified for vs and raysed also from the deade and nowe reigning at the right hand of thy father that thou maiest giue gifts vnto mee which hast saide Come vnto mee all ye that labour and are heauie loden and I will refresh you haue mercie vpon vs praye for vs vnto thy eternall father sanctifie and gouerne vs with thy holy spirite helpe and succour vs in all our necessities as thou hast promised saying I will not leaue you comfortlesse O holie and blessed spirite together with the father and the son one true and euerliuing God full of maiestie and power which with thy heauenly inspiration quickenest the mindes of those that afore were dead in sinne makest ioyfull the heartes of the faithfull penitent bringest in to the way of trueth all such as haue erred and gone astraye comfortest the soules of such as hunger thirst after righteousnesse and plenteously inrichest those with diuerse giftes which aske them in Iesus Christes name purifie our heartes wee beseech thee and inflame them with the fire of thy loue replenishe them with thy heauenly benefites and spirituall blessinges that they may be made meete temples for thee leade vs into all trueth which art the onely fountaine of trueth and mortifie in vs whatsoeuer proceedeth not of thee Or else pray thus O Holy spirite powred vppon the Apostles which hast promised vnto vs by the sonne of God our Redeemer to kindle in vs a true knowledge and inuocation of God as it is written I will powre vppon you the spirite of grace of
Lord which are taught of thee and instructed by the spirite of godly wisedome and vnderstanding which by their preaching will seeke not themselues but thee because they are godly and can so do because they are wise vnderstande Giue to the preacher of thy worde here present out of the treasures of thy wisedome that which hee may powre vpon vs to our saluation and vnto vs giue thy grace holy spirit O Lord so to heare and to receiue thy worde that the good seede whiche falleth vppon vs be not choked with thornes or withered away with heate or deuoured by the foules of the aire but may growe vp in a good grounde and fructifie with great increase A prayer to be saide after the Preaching of Gods worde ALmightie God most mercifull father wee heartily beseech thee that this seed of thy worde nowe sowen amongest vs may take suche deepe root that neither the burning heate of affliction or persecution cause it to wither neither the thornie cares of this life do choake it but that as seede sowne in good ground it may bring forth thirtie sixtie and an hundreth folde as thy heauenly wisedome hath appointed And because we haue neede continually to craue many things at thy handes we humbly beseech thee O heauenly father to graunt vs thy holy spirit so to direct our petitions that they may proceed from such a feruent minde as may be agreable to thy most blessed will. And seeing that our infirmitie is such that we are able to do nothing without thy helpe and that thou art not ignorant with howe many and great tentations we poore wretches are on euerie side compassed and inclosed let thy strength O Lorde susteine our weakenesse and assist vs with thy grace that we may be safely preserued against all the assaults of Sathan who goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking to deuoure vs Increase our faith O mercifull Father that wee doe not swarue at anie time from thy heauenly worde Augment in vs hope and loue with a carefull keeping of all thy commandements that no hardnes of hart no hypocrisie no concupiscence of the eies nor inticements of the world doe draw vs away frō thy obedience And seeing the times are dangerous wherin we liue let thy fatherly prouidence defende vs againste the violence of all our enemies and specially againste the furious rage of that Romishe idoll enemie to thy Christ. Furthermore for as much as by thy holy Apostle we bee taught to make our prayers and supplications for all men we pray not onely for ourselues here present but beseech thee also to reduce all such as be yet ignorant from the miserable captiuitie of blindnesse and errour to the pure vnderstanding of thy heauenly trueth that we all with one consent and vnitie of minde may worshippe thee our onely God and sauiour We beseech thee also most deare father for all pastors and ministers to whome thou hast committed the dispensation of thy holy worde and charge of thy chosen people that both in their life and doctrine they maye be found faithfull setting onely before their eyes thy glorie and that by them all poore sheep which wander and go astray may be sought out and brought to thy folde Againe that it would please thee to deliuer thy Church from such idle sheepeheardes wolues and hirelinges as seeke themselues and their bellies and not thy glory and the safegarde of thy flocke Moreouer because the heartes of rulers are in thy handes wee make our prayers vnto thee for all Princes and Magistrates to whome thou haste committed the administration of iustice especially O Lorde for the Queenes Maiestie that it would please thee to indue her with thy plentifull grace and principall spirite that she may with a pure faith acknowledge Iesus Christ thy onely sonne to be King of all Kinges and gouernour of all gouernours euen as thou hast giuen all power vnto him both in heauen and in earthe so work in her heart that she considering whose minister she is may hartily seeke and zealously promote thy true honour and glory carefully traueling to bring thy people committed to her charge yet remaining almoste in all partes of this realme in miserable blindnesse and darke ignorance to the true knowledge of thee ruling and guidinge them as she is taught commaunded by thy holy word Also we beseech thee to indue all such as are in any authority vnder her with thy grace and holy Spirite that they may be founde vprighte faithfull in their calling fauourers and furtherers of thy holy Gospell maintainers defenders of the true Preachers and ministers therof and such as in singlenes of heart wil seeke not themselues but thy glory and the commodity of thy people And for that we be all members of the mysticall body of Christe Iesus wee make our requestes vnto thee O heauenly father for all such as are afflicted with any kinde of crosse or tribulatiō as warre plague famine sickenes pouertie imprisonment persecution banishment or any other kinde of thy roddes whether it be griefe of body or vnquietnesse of minde that it would please thee to giue them patience and constancie till thou sende them full deliueraunce out of all their troubles Finally O Lord we most humbly beseech thee to shew thy great mercie vppon-our brethren which are persecuted cast in prison and daily condemned to death for the testimonie of thy trueth and though they be vtterly destitute of all mans aide yet let thy sweete comforte neuer depart from them but so inflame their heartes with thy holy spirite that they may boldly and cheerefully abide suche triall as thy godly wisedome shall appoint so that at length as well by their death as by their life the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ may increase and shine through all the worlde In whose name we make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our father which art c. A prayer to be saide before the receiuing of the communion O Father of mercie and God of all consolation seeing all creatures do acknowledge and confesse thee to be their gouernour and Lorde it becommeth vs the workemanship of thine owne handes at all times to reuerence and magnifie thy godly maiestie Firste for that thou hast created vs to thine owne image and similitude but chiefly because thou hast deliuered vs from that euerlasting death and damnation into the which Sathan drewe mankinde by the meanes of sinne from the bondage whereof neither man nor Angell was able to make vs free but thou O Lord rich in mercie infinite in goodnes hast prouided our redemption to stande in thine onely and welbeloued sonne whom of very loue thou diddest giue to be made man like vnto vs in all thinges sinne excepted that in his bodie he might receiue the punishment of our transgression by his death to make satisfaction to thy
lowde in thine eares though they speake neuer a worde at all Shoulde I then nowe despaire of thy fatherly mercie whiles presently I feele thee stirre vp my soule and hearte to craue helpe at thy hande Should I thinke that thou wilt absent thy selfe for euer that thou wilt be no more intreated that thy mercie is cleane gone that thy promise is come vtterly to an ende and that thou wilt nowe shut vp thy louing kindnesse in displeasure Nay Lorde for all alterations are of thy right hande and turne alway to the best to them that feare thee All this is but mine owne infirmitie for thou art euer one thy promises be infallible and thy loue towards thine euerlastingly during I will therefore in this my present tentation greuous assaulte powre out the heauinesse of my hearte before thee deare father Out of the deepe will I crie lift vp my soule vnto thee from whom I assuredly know my helpe is comming I will also for my present comfort cal to remembrance O Lorde my God thy tender mercies towards me already shewed the multitude of thy benefites the greatnes of the same the longe continuance of them euen frō my conception vntill this instant finally thy continuall luste desire to powre them vpon me And moreouer sith thy goodnesse is so great O Lord that thou dost not onely pitie miserie but also callest the heauie hearted and afflicted vnto thee promising that thou wilt ease their miserie for as much as by the motion of thy good spirit I loth and abhorre my sinnes feele the greuousnesse of them and thy heauie wrath towardes me for the same and finally what neede I haue of thy gratious ayde and succour therefore Oh Lorde in thy Sonne Christes name with sure confidence and trust in thine infallible promise in this mine anguish trouble I come vnto thee at thy mercifull calling and craue comfort at thy hand For thou hast promised that when I loath my sinnes thou wilt vterly forget them when I feele the greeuous burthen of them thy mercie swalloweth them vp when I seeke that I want thou wilte assuredly graunt it me For sith thou mouest my hearte to desire helpe how shoulde I mistrust but thou wilt for thy truth sake giue me my asking Yea where I knowe not howe or what to desire as I ought thy holy spirite gratiously working in mee maketh intercession mightily for me with groninges which can not bee expressed and therewithall certifieth my spirit that by adoption through thy great mercie and goodnesse I am become thy childe and heire Why should I not then be of good comfort and ioyfull in thee my God For if thou be on my side who can be against mee Since thou diddest not spare thine owne sonne but gauest him for mee euen when I was thine enemie howe shalt thou not with him nowe that by his death I am brought into thy fauour giue mee all thinges with him and for his sake Who shall lay any thing to the charg of thine elect It is thou Lord which iustifiest mee It is Christe that hath dyed for mee yea rather that is risen againe for mee who also is set on thy right hand hath taken possession yea and perpetually maketh there intercession for me vntill that ioyfull day be come when I shall haue full fruition of the moste glorious presence of thy diuine maiestie in that kingdome whiche thou hast prepared before the beginning of the world but in time to thy gratious goodnesse thought best made knowen to me by giuing thy holy spirite into my heart whereby when I first Lord beleeued thy holy worde which is thine owne power to saue all that beleeue I was sealed confirmed and stablished in the certaintie of that thine euerlasting kingdom and inheritāce For the which inestimable benefite of thy rich grace Oh Lorde my God I beseech thee euen for the loue thou bearest to Christe Iesus thy son thy mercie thou haddest on him when he cried on the crosse My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Help help I say inflame my heart with loue so plentifully towardes thee againe that I may be euen swalowed vp in the ioyfull feeling of the same in such sort that I may of verie thankefulnesse loue thee my GOD alone thee I say my deare GOD and nothing but thee and for thy sake O holy spirite whose work this is in mee increase this thy worke of thine infinite mercie and preserue mee that I neuer become vnthankefull vnto thee therefore Amen A prayer for the sicke O Most mercifull God which according to the multitude of thy mercies dost so put away the sins of those which truly repēt that thou remembrest them no more open thy eyes of mercie and looke vpon this thy sicke seruant who most earnestly desireth pardon and forgiuenesse Renue in him most louing father whatsoeuer hath beene decayed by the fraude and malice of the diuell or by his owne carnall will and frailtie Preserue and continue this sicke member in the vnitie of thy Church Consider his contrition ▪ accept his teares assuage his paine as shall bee seene to thee most expedient for him And for as much as he putteth his full trust onely in thy mercie impute not vnto him his former sinnes but take him vnto thy fauour through the merits of thy most dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ. A prayer to be saide at the houre of death O Lord Iesus Christ which art the onely health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them that die in thee I wretched sinner do submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will and being sure that the thing cannot perish which is cōmitted vnto thy mercie willingly now I leaue this fraile and sinnfull fleshe in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise restore it to mee againe at the last day in the resurrection of the iust I beseech thee most mercifull Lorde Iesus Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make stronge my soule against all tentations and defende mee with the buckler of thy mercie against all the assaults of the diuell I see and acknowledge that there is in my selfe no helpe of saluation but al my confidence hope and trust is in thy rich mercie and goodnesse I haue no merites or good workes which I may alledge before thee of sinnes and euill workes alas I see a great heape but yet through thy mercie I trust to be in the number of them to whome thou wilt not impute their sinnes but wilt accept and take mee for righteous and iust and to be an inheritour of euerlastinge life Thou mercifull Lord wast borne for my sake thou diddest suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake thou diddest teach pray and fast for my sake all thy holy actions and works thou wroughtest for my sake thou sufferedst most greeuous paines and tormentes for my sake finally thou gauest thy most precious bodie and bloode to be
spared my sinnes but hast punished mee with scourges of loue and hast sent afflictions and anguish within and without Of grace fauour it is O Lord that thou sufferest thy seruants to be troubled and afflicted in this world because they should not be condemned with the world Thou wouldest that they shoulde here be broken with affliction that they may after rise in a newe light be clarified and made glorious in thy kingdome Oh holy father thou hast ordeyned it so to be and it is done as thou hast appoynted Wherefore O Lord giue mee the grace to rest in thee aboue all thinges and to quiet my heart in thee aboue all creatures aboue all glorie and honour aboue all dignitie and power aboue all health and beutie aboue all riches and treasure aboue all ioy and pleasure aboue all fame and praise aboue all mirth and consolatioÌ„ that mans heart may take or feele besides thee For thou Lord art most good most wise most righteous most holy most iust most blessed most high most mightie most comfortable most beautifull most louing most glorious in whom all treasures of goodnesse most perfectly rest And therefore whatsoeuer I haue besides thee it is nothing vnto mee for my heart may not rest nor fullie be pacified but onely in theee Oh Lord Iesu â–ª who shal giue me winges of pefecte loue that I may flee vp from these worldly miseries and rest with thee Oh Christ the king of euerlasting glorie my soul crieth vnto thee with continual gronings saith how long â—arieth my Lord God to come to me Oh when shall the end come of all these miseries When shall I cleane be deliuered from the bondage of sinne When shal I Lord haue my mind onely fixed on thee and be merie in thee with perfect ioye and gladnesse When shal that blessed houre come that thou shalt visite me and make me glad with thy blessed presence when thou shalt be to me all in all When shall I come vnto thee and feele and enioy those sweete consolations which with thy blessed saintes are alwayes present When shall I haue peace without trouble peace without peace within on euery side stedfast and sure O Lord Iesu when shall I stand and beholde thee and haue full sight and contemplation of thy glorye When shall I be with thee in thy kingdome that thou hast ordeined for thine elect before the beginning Oh blessed mansion of that heauenly cittie Oh most cleare day of eternitie whome the night may neuer darken This is the day always cleere and merie alwaies sure and neuer changing This day shineth cleerely to thy saints in heaueÌ„ Oh gratious God with euerlasting brightnesse but to vs here on earth so great is the darknes of sin in vs it shineth obscurely and as it were a farre off we see but a glimmering thereof Woulde to God this day might shortly appeare and shine vnto vs and that these worldly vanities were at an end Thy heauenly Citizens know and feele how ioyfull this day is but we the Children of Eue strangers and exiles here on earth doe lament and bewaile the bitter tediousnes of this present life short and euil full of sorrowe and anguish Where man is oftentimes defiled with sinne disquieted with troubles oppressed with cares busied with vanities blinded with errors ouercharged with laboures vexed with tentations ouercome with vaine delightes and pleasures of the worlde miserably wrapped in many kindes of calamities Wherefore O Lord arise and help me comfort mine exile assuage my sorrowe destroy the power of mine enemies the kingdome of sinne Sathan the world and my wicked flesh which alway make battell against me and bring these conflicting dayes to an end So shal I sing praises vnto thee O God of my saluation and magnifie thy holy name world with out end Amen A confession of sinnes and a prayer for the remission thereof O Lord God rich in mercie and of great goodnesse who of thy tender loue towardes vs euen when we were thine enimies diddest send into the world thine own deare sonne Iesus Christ to be a slaine sacrifice for our sinnes so that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting haue mercy vpoÌ„ me according to thy great mercies and according to the multitude of thy compassions put away mine iniquities â–ª For mine iniquities are gone ouer my head and as a weightie burthen they presse me downe Against heauen and against thee haue I sinned O Lord I am not worthy to be called thy childe I am ashamed to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee for my sinnes are ascended vp into thy sight There is nothing sound in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne Behold I am sold vnder sin and in my flesh ther dwelleth no good thing For the good which I would doe I doe not but the euill which I would not doe that I doe Wash me therfore O Lord froÌ„ mine iniquities clense me from my sin Purifie my heart by the sanctifying of thy holy spirite â–ª and by the sprinckling of the blood of thy deare sonne from the filth of sinne and an euill conscience Make me to heare ioy and gladnes that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce Create in me a new heart O God and renue a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirite from me Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and stablish me with thy free spirite For thou art good to them that trust in thee and to the soule that seeketh thee Al thy wayes are mercie and truth to them that seeke out thy couenant and thy testimonies The fountaine of thy goodnes is euer full and ouerflowing thy mercy neuer decayeth Thou woundest and healest againe thou killest and reuiuest bringest euen downe to hel and bringest backe againe Thou raisest vp those that are faln thou comfortest the broken harted Thou strengthenest the wearie handes and crooked knees and out of the gulph of hell thou deliuerest the afflicted Out of darknes thou bringest light out of death life and out of damnation thou bringest saluation Heare me therefore O Lord according to thy louing kindnes turne vnto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies Looke vpon mine affliction and my trauell and forgiue all my sinnes Remember not the offences of my youth nor my rebellioÌ„s against thee For if thou Lord shouldest marke our iniquities Lord who should be able to stande in thy sight Seeing thou hast founde iniquitie euen in thine Angels and the heaueÌ„s are not cleane in thy sight muche more is man abhominable filthy which drinketh iniquitie like water Notwithstanding thou hast said O Lord that as the righteousnes of the righteous man shall not saue him whensoeuer he offendeth so shal not the wickednesse of the wicked man hurt him whensoeuer
thy heauenly wisedome inspire my hart with faith hope and charitie giue me grace to bee humble in prosperitie patiente in aduersitie obedient to my rulers in all my doinges faithfull dealing truely with all men to liue chastly in wedlock to abhorre adulterie fornication and all vncleanes to doe good after my power vnto all men to hurt no man that thy name may be glorified in mee during this present life and that I afterwarde may atteine euerlasting life through thy mercie and the merites of thy death and passion Amen A prayer for grace and remission of sinnes O Lorde God mercifull father I poore wretched sinner come vnto thee in the name of thy dearly beloued son Christ Iesus my sauiour beseeching thee for his sake to be mercifull vnto me and to cast all my sinnes out of thy sight euen through the merites of his bloodie death Poure vpon me O Lord thy holy spirite of grace and wisedome to gouerne and leade my bodie and soule in thy holy worde and commaundementes Shewe thy mercy vpon me and so lighten the naturall blindenesse and darkenesse of my hart through thy grace that I may dayly be renewed by thy holy spirite Open my hard hart and grosse eares to heare and reade thy worde and heauenly voyce and to beleeue and followe it in my conuersation and euer to hold fast that blessed hope of euerlasting life Mortifie and kill all vice in me that my life may expresse my faith in thee Mercifully heare the humble supplication of thy seruaunt and graunt mee thy peace all my dayes Gratiously pardon my infirmities and defende me in all dangers both outwardly in my bodie goodes and name and inwardly in my soule against all euill tentations and subtile baits of sathan that roaring lyon seeking whome he may deuour Graunt O Lord that I and euerie member of thy Church in his vocation and calling may truly and godly serue thee Grafte in my heart the loue of thy name increase in me true religion replenishe me with all goodnesse and of thy great mercy keepe me in the same vnto the end Giue vnto me the spirite of praier true humilitie perfect patience and continuall ioye in the holy ghost I commend vnto thy protection O Father my house and all that thou hast giuen me my whole familie my wife and children ayde me that I may well holily gouerne nourish and bring them vp in thy feare and seruice And forasmuch as in this worlde I must alwayes be at warre not with one sort of enimies but with an infinite number not onely with fleshe and blood but with the diuell which is the prince of darknes grant me thy grace that being armed with thy defence I may stand in this battell with an inuincible constancie against al corruption which I am incompassed with on all sides vntill such time as I hauing ended the cōbate which during this life I must susteine in the end I may atteine to thy heauenly rest which is prepared for me through Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A prayer taken out of the first Psalme ALmightie and moste gratious God take away from vs al euil counsel and then our sinnes suffer vs not to runne into an vngodly and wicked life and finally keepe our mindes farre from the contempt of godlynesse and scorning of vertue and in the steade of these euills graunt that we may continually bee occupied in thy law and sacred scriptures that we be not caried about like the wicked as light duste and fruitelesse chaffe with euerie blast of affection and doctrine but rather that wee as trees planted by the water brookes indewed with the life of thy spirite and faith may also bring foorth the fruites of good workes and that what so euer we take in hande may prosper and tend to the praise and glorie of thy name and furtherance of our saluation and at the last when the wicked shall fall away in thy iudgement ▪ we may stand stedfast and be made perfect through Iesus Christ our lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmighty God we are sufficiently taught that greeuous calamities and miserable plagues doe therefore dayly vexe and trouble thy Church because we haue not ceased to followe the counsel of the vngodly which being once knowne we ought to haue eschewed The way also of the wicked we haue not shunned yea we haue not ceased to walke their race by continual transgressing of thy commaundementes we haue also of long time contemned all godly correction and discipline and whatsoeuer hath beene taught vs out of thy word hath bin too little regarded ▪ yea without all shame neglected and scorned Wherefore it is no maruell if we in the steede of that happinesse and quiet peace which we alas haue too long abused be nowe compelled to suffer all heauie greeuous and most bitter plagues But now O God in humblenes of heart we flee vnto thee confessing our greeuous offences and we most humblie and hartilie beseech thee that those euils which we so foolishly and wretchedly haue committed thou wilte mercifully forgiue vs and frame our minds wholy to the obedience of thy lawe in such wise that our heartes may be occupied both day and night in nothing else but in the meditation of thy holy scriptures for so shall we giuing credite to thy wordes bringe foorth seasonable and pleasant fruite and shall not be spoyled of the graces of the Holy Ghost yea our doinges shal neuer be without happy successe Nowe we are tossed hither thither not vnlike to leaues and chaffe with the wind of aduersitie and affliction yet grant O most mercifull father that our life perish not with the wicked but that the cause of the iust may bee defended by thy singular prouidence and protection so that in iudgement and in the companie of the iust we may be able to stand and not to be confounded through Iesus Christ our lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmightie God for as much as we haue nowe learned that a great part of our felicitie so long as we liue here consisteth in this that we refraine from vngodly counsell and wicked manners and also auoyd the company of those that despise and deride all good thinges and that in the stead of these euils we giue our selues to the heauenly study of thy holy lawe to be occupied and exercised therein both daye and night whereby wee doe perceiue that wee haue verie much erred and strayed from this way of our saluation yea we haue in these thinges most wickedly offended therefore wee beseech thee euen for thy mercies sake that thou wilt pardon our offences and that hencefoorth by the continual studie and exercise of thy word thou wilt vouchsafe to make vs fruitfull plantes that we may not onely bring forth wholsome fruits in thy Church whiles we liue here but also may be able in the other worlde to stande in iudgemente before thee who best knowest the way of the iust through Iesus Christ our
lord Amen A prayer taken out of the second Psalme WE perceiue most mercifull mightie God that not onely Antichrist but also the power and strength of the whole world coÌ„spireth against thee and against thy Christ which thinke the Gospel and â— building vp againe of thy Church to be an intollerable bondage harde yoke Wherefore they labour by all possible meanes to breake a sunder the societies and congregations of the faithfull and cast away all discipline But forasmuch as thou sittest in heauen and 〈◊〉 not ignorant what the diuell or wicked flesh goeth about laugh thou to scorne their â—aine counsels and bring their purposes to nought Let them feele thine anger to bekindled against them and make them astonished at the fiercnes of thine indignatioÌ„ so that they may not be able to destroy thy Church ouer whom thou hast apointed Iesus Christ our onely sauiour to be a gouernour that in it he might raigne by his word and spirite with inuinciblâ— might and power Wherefore grant vnto vs although vnworthie and shrinking children such faith and constancy that we may finde him and also coÌ„fesse him to be our onely king and that we may nothing doubt but that we be his nation people and heritage being most assured of this that he is of such strength and power that with his word more strong then yron he is able to destroy whom he will and breake them in peeces like earthen pots Therefore O God turne the Kings and Princes of the world vnto thee that they may be wise and vnderstand whereby they may vnfaignedly acknowledge imbrace and kisse thy sonne least when his anger shall once be kindled they perishe and be destroyed for euer And when it shall be thy good pleasure make them blessed for euermore which coÌ„mit themselues to thy gouernance and protection by Christ Iesus our Lord â–ª Amen Out of the same Psalme MOste Mightie and mercifull Lord God though the diuell rage the powers of the world daily rise vp and the flesh with al her bondslaues coÌ„spire against the kingdome of thine onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our Lord yet make vs to vnderstand with constant faith to be persuaded that thou deridest contemnest al such whoÌ„ thou caust in thine anger fierce displeasure when thou wilt sodenly destroy and bring to nought In this faith seeing we are somtimes so weak that being ouercome with sundrie kindes of terrour and dread we are not so obedient to thy coÌ„maundements as we ought to be â–ª we therefore beseech thee for thy great â–ª goodnes sake to bee mercifull vnto vs and grant that we may constantly beleeue thy son our king and our redeemer to haue the highest power and dominion with thee in all thinges For seeing thou hast begotteÌ„ him thou hast also deliuered to him all nations to be ruled by his power as his own inheritaÌ„ce Graunt therfore vnto vs that yet at the length we may be wise vnderstand in such sort as we may serue thee with all due feare and worship that in the last day we be not dashed in peces as earthen vessels with the rodde of thine indignation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A prayer which M. Iohn Bradford said a little before his death in smithfeelde MErciful God father to whom our sauiour Christ approched in his feare and neede by reasoÌ„ of death and found comfort gratious God and most bounteous Christ on whoÌ„ Stephen called in his extreme neede and receiued strength most benigne holy spirit which in the midst of all crosses and death didst comfort the Apostle S. Paul with more consolations in Christ then he felt sorrowes and terrors in the world haue mercie vpon me a most miserable vile and wretched sinner which now drawe neere the gates of death deserued both in soule and bodie eternally by reason of my manifolde horrible olde and newe transgressions â–ª which to thine eyes O Lord God are open and knowne Oh be mercifull vnto mee and forgiue mee for the bitter death and bloodsheading of thine onely sonne Iesus Christ. And though thy iustice do require in respect of my sinnes that nowe thou shouldest not heare mee contemning thy dayly callings yet let thy mercie which is aboue al thy works and wherewith the earth is filled let thy mercie I say preuaile towardes me through the merites and meditation of Christ our sauiour for whose sake it pleaseth thee to bring mee foorth nowe as one of his witnesses and a record bearer of thy veritie and trueth taught by him to giue my life therfore Of which dignitie I doe acknowledg deare God that there was neuer any so vnworthie and vnmeete no not the theefe that hanged with him on the crosse I humbly therefore praye thee that thou wouldest accordinglie ayde helpe and assist me with thy strength and heauenly grace that with Christ thy sonne I may finde comfort with Stephen I may see thy presence and gratious power with Paul and al others which for thy names sake haue suffered afflictions and death I may finde so presente with mee thy gratious consolation that I may by my death glorifie thy holye name set foorth and ratifie thy veritie comfort the hearts of the heauie confirme thy Church in thy truth conuert some that are to be conuerted and so depart out of this miserable world where I do nothing but daylie heape sinne vpon sinne and enter into the fruttion of thy blessed mercie whereof nowe giue and increase in me a liuely tast sense and feeling where through the terror of death the tormentes of fire the paines of sinne the dartes of sathan and the dolours of hell may neuer ouercome me but may be driuen away through the working of that most gratious spirit which now plentiously indue withall that through the same spirite I may offer as now I desire am readie to do in Christ and by him my selfe wholy soule and body to be a liuely sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight deare father whose I am and always haue beene euen from my mothers wombe yea euen before the worlde was made to whom I commend my selfe faith and name familie friends country and all the whole Church yea euen my verie enimies according to thy good pleasure beseeching thee intirely to giue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word againe with godly peace to the teaching and setting forth of the same Oh deare father now giue me to com vnto thee so purge and purifie me by this fire in Christes death and passion through thy spirite that I may be a burnt offering of sweete smell in thy sight which liuest and reignest with the sonne and the holy Ghost nowe and euermore worlde without end Amen The Letanie O God the father of heauen haue mercie vppon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen c. O God the sonne redeemer of the world haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the sonne redeemer
of c. O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the sonne haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost c. O holy blessed and glorious Trinitie three persons and one God haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sinnes spare vs good Lord spare thy people whome thou hast redeemed with thy most precious bloode and be not angrie with vs for euer Spare vs good Lord. From all euil and mischeefe from sinne from the craftes and assaultes of the Diuelâ— from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From blindenesse of heart from pride vaine glorie hypocrisie from enuie hatred and malice and all vncharitablenes Good Lord deliuer vs. From all fornication and al other deadly sin and from al the deceits of the world the flesh and the Diuel Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightning and tempest from plague pestilence famine froÌ„ battel and murther and from souden death Good Lord deliuer vs. From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnes of hart conteÌ„pt of thy word coÌ„maundement Good Lord deliuer vs. By the mysterie of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuitie and circumcision by thy baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agonie and bloody sweat by thy crosse and passion â–ª by thy glorious resurrection and ascension and by the comming of the holy ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In all time of of our tribulation in all time of our welth in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. We sinners do beseech thee to heare vs O Lorde God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holy Church vniuersally in the right way We besech thee to hear vs good Lord. That it may please thee to keepe strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnes and holynes of life thy seruant Elizabeth our most gratious queene and gouernour We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please the to rule her heart in thy faith feare and loue and that she may euermore haue affiance in thee and euer seeke thy honour and glorie We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to be her defender and keeper giuing her the victorie ouer all her enimies We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops Pastours and ministers of the Church with true knowledg and vnderstanding of thy word and that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it forth and shew it accordingly We beseech thee to heare c. That it may please thee to indue the Lordes of the counsel and all the nobilitie with grace wisedome and vnderstanding We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute iustice and to mainteine trueth We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe all thy people We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue to all nations vnitie peace and concord Wee beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue vs an heart to loue and dread thee and diligently to liue after thy coÌ„maundementes We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue all thy people increase of grace to heare meekely thy worde and to receiue it with pure affection to bring foorth the fruites of the spirite We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to bring into the way of trueth all such as haue erred and are deceiued We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand and to comfort and helpe the weake harted and to raise them vp that fall and finally to beate downe sathan vnder our feete We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort all that be in danger necessitie and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by lande or by water all women labouring of child all sicke persons and young children and to shewe thy pitie vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse children and widowes and all that be desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to haue mercie vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to forgiue our enimies persecuters and slanderers and to turne their heartes We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindely fruites of the earth so as in due time we may inioy them Wee beseech thee to heare vs c â–ª That it may please thee to giue vs true repentanâ—e to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to indue vs with thy holy spirit to amend our liues according to thy holy worde We beseech thee to heare vs c. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God wee beseech thee c. O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Graunt vs thy peace O Lamb of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Haue mercie vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Our father which art in heauen c. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euill Amen The versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The answere Neither rewarde vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God mercifull father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite hart nor the desires of such as be sorrowfull mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles aduersities when soeuer they oppresse vs and gratiously heare vs that those euils which the craft and subtiltie of the diuell or man worketh againste vs bee brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that we thy 〈◊〉 being hurt by no persecution 〈◊〉 euermore giue thankes vnto thee in thy holie Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs â–ª and deliuer vs for thy names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble workes that thou didest in their dayes and in the olde time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thine honour Glorie be to the
Christ. So be it For a godly life ALmightie God giue vs grace that we may cast away the works of darknes and put vpon vs the armour of light nowe in the time of this mortall life in the which thy sonne Iesus Christ came to visit vs in great humilitie that in the last day when hee shall come againe in his glorious maiestie to iudge the quick and the dead we may rise to the life immortall through him who liueth and reigneth with thee and the holy ghost now and for euer So be it A prayer for true perseuerance and assured hope of eternall life BLessed God which hast caused al holy scriptures to be written for our leaâ—â—ing graunt that we may in such wise heare them read them marke them inwardly print them in our heartes that by pacience and comfort of thy holy word we may imbrace and euer hold fast the blessed hope of euerlasting life which thou hast giuen vs in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it A prayer for the obteining of our petitions ALmightie God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee doest promise that when two or three be gathered togeather in thy name thou wilt graunt their requestes fulfill now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them graunting vs in this world knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen The ende of the Letanie ¶ A GODLY INSTRVction conteining the summe of all the diuinitie necessarie for a Christian conscience Made by Iohn Bradford A MAN that is regenerate and borne of God the which thing that euerie one of vs bee our Baptisme the sacrament of regeneration doth require vnder paine of damnation and therefore let euerie one of vs with the virgin Marie say Be it vnto me â–ª O Lorde according to thy word according to the sacrament of Baptisme wherin thou hast declared our adoption and let vs lament the doubting hereof in vs striuing against it as we shal be made able of the Lord a man I say that is regenerate consisteth of two men as a man may say namely of the old man and of the newe man The olde man is like to a mightie giant such a one as was Golyah for his birth is nowe perfecte but the newe man is like vnto a little child such a one as was Dauid for his birth is not yet perfect vntill the day of his generall resurrection The olde man therefore is more stronger lustie and stirring then is the newe man because the birth of the newe man is but begun now and the olde man is perfectly borne And as the olde man is more stirring lustie and stronger then the newe man so is the nature of him cleane contrarie to the nature of the newe man as being earthly and corrupt with Sathans seede the nature of the new man beinge heauenlye and blessed with the celestiall seede of God. So that one man in as much as he is corrupt with the seede of the serpent is an old man and in as much as he is blessed with the seede of God from aboue he is a newe man And as in as much as he is an old man he is a sinner and an enimie to God so in as much as he is regenerate he is righteous and holy and a friende to God the seede of God preseruing him from sinne so that he cannot sin as the seede of the serpent wherewith he is corrupt euen from his conception inclineth him yea inforceth him to sinne and nothing else but to sinne So that the best parte in man before regeneration in Gods sighte is not onely an enimie but enimitie it selfe One man therefore which is regenerate well may be called alwayes iust and alwayes sinnefull iust in respect of Gods seede and his regeneration sinfull in respect of Sathans seede and his first birth Betwixt these two men therefore there is continuall conflict and war most deadly The fleshe and the olde man by reason of his birth that is perfecte doth often for a time preuaile against the newe man being but a childe in comparison and that in such sort as not onely other but euen the children of God themselues thinke that they be nothing else but old and that the spirite and seede of God is lost gone away where yet notwithstanding the trueth is otherwise the spirite the seede of God at the length appearing againe and dispelling awaye the cloudes which couer the Sunne of Gods seede from shining as the cloudes in the ayre do the corporall Sunne so that sometimes a man cannot tell by any sense that there is any sunne the cloudes and windes so hiding it from our sight Euen so our cecitie or blindenes and corrupt affections doe often shadow the sight of Gods seede in Gods children as though they were plaine reprobates Whereof it commeth that they praying according to their sense but not according to the truth desire of God to giue them againe his spirite as though they had lost it and he had taken it away Which thing GOD neuer doth indeede although he make vs to thinke so for a time for alwaies he holdeth his hand vnder his children in their falles that they lie not stil as other doe which are not regenerate And this is the difference betwixt Gods children which are regenerate and electe before al times in Christ and the wicked castawayes that the elect lye not still continually in their sin as doe the wicked but at the length do returne againe by reason of Gods seede which is in them hid as a sparkle of fire in the ashes as we may see in Peter Dauid Paul Marie Magdalen and others For these I meane Gods children God hath made all thinges in Christ Iesu to whom he hath giuen this dignitie that they should be his inheritance and spouses This our inheritour Christ Iesus God with God light of light coeternall consubstantiall with the father and with the holy Ghost to the ende that he might become our husband because the husband and the wife must be one body and flesh hath taken our nature vpon him communicating with it and by it in his owne person to vs all his children his diuine maiestie as Peter sayth and so is become fleshe of our flesh and bone of our bones substantially as we are become flesh of his fleshe and bone of his bones spiritually al that euer we haue perteining to him yea euen our sinnes as all that euer he hath perteining vnto vs euen his whole glorie So that if sathan should summon vs to answere in our debtes and sinnes in that the wife is no sutable person but the husbande we may well bid him euer his action against our husband Christ and he will make him a sufficient answere For this end I meane that we might be coupled maried thus