comfort fill thou our hartes with such a desire and longing after thee that no earthly felicity the traines and allurements of the flesh wherewith this vaine world with her multitudes is tol'd a long take hold on vs that see me honey in the mouth but are found wornewood in the stomacke that say peace peace and all is well when destruction and death is bayted ore with them but let our delight bee in thy law and therein to exercise our selues both day and night our whoole felicity Let that treasure be our pleasure that is layd vp in heauen all other ioys are brittle and fadinge and there end is bitternesse but in this there is neyther bitternesse nor end blesse good Lord the seed of thy word that shall this day be sowen in our harts and all faithfull teachers and hearers of the same that it may fructifie and bring forth fruite to the amēdment of our liues and the saluation of our soules in that great day of ioy and sorrow and for the better furtherance thereof good father inlarge and reforme our vnderstanding keepe the watch of our tongues and the doore of our lips in such sort that no ill word be vttered by or through the same and so rule and gouerne our hartes that they thinke not our hands that they touch not our feet that they go not too our eyes that they see not our eares that they heare not our sences that they tast not our harts that they consent not to any thing but that which is to thy glory and our good that thereby thy loue may be confirmed in vs and we in it that so we may walke cherfully in our vocations wayting for that full redemption and crown of glory that remayneth for all such as perseuer in thy wayes without wearinesse to the end which graunt and whatsoeuer besides in thy wisedome thou knowest needfull and necessary for vs good father for thy deare sonne Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we further intreat thy mercy and goodnesse towards vs in that forme of prayer which he himselfe hath both commanded and taught vs saying our father c. An euening Prayer for the Sabaoth day O eternall God and most mercifull father which art the Lord of heauen and earth of Angels and men principalities and powers light darkenesse day and night in whose handes is contained that ouerflow of goodnesse that filleth all the empty and indigent creatures in the world in the ayre in the earth in the sea and on the land who ordaynest times and seasons successions and discentes ould age and childhood a beginning and an ending a rest and a labour an increase and a decrease and a perpetuall motion and change ouer all the sublunary things in this world the liuely witnesse whereof is this day which not many howers since broke out of darkenesse and cheard the world with her light and the sunne arose and came forth as a bridegrome out of his chamber and reioysing as a Gyant to runne his course and his beames are now steeped in night darkenes the true resemblance of all earthly glory and transitory pleasures and delights which haue there increase there height and there suddaine decrease againe and there is no continuance or stability in any thing vnder the sunne and by this motion and change the time is now come that thou hast apointed for rest which Lord so blesse vnto vs that as this day thou hast gratiously ministred strength vnto vs to walke in our vocations blesse our good indeauours studies and labours our hearing meditating on thy word to the comfort of our bodies and soules so we may be thankefull therefore hauing alwayes thy hand to sustayne vs to effect and finish those councels and labours which we vndertake for thy glory so good Lord blesse this night vnto vs that we may now receiue that comfort and strength which thou hast graunted to our weake nature by the which we are sustayned and daily renued and refreshed to our labours and further we beseeche thee as the night shadoweth darkeneth all things that they are vnseene so for thy deare Christs sake hide our sins from thy sight that they neuer stand vp to accuse vs vnto thee beeing buried in eternall obliuion that as our bodies shall haue the rest of sleepe this night so our minds by the hope of thy mercy may inioy the rest of a quiet conscience for euer that so beeing wholy refreshed both in body and in mind we may arise with alacrity chearfulnesse vnto thy seruice this day insuing and all the dayes of our life after succeding that when death which is the end of all flesh shall remoue vs from thence into the graue of corruption where our bodies shall dissolue to the matter they are though now they seme not from the which it is as easy for thee to rayse them vp from the smallest graine of dessolution as from our naturall sléepe for I beleeue that the time shall come when all that are in the graue shal heare the voyce of the sonne of God when he shall speake vnto the earth giue and to the sea restore my sonnes and daughters and to all the creatures in the world keepe not backe mine inheritance and to the prisoners of hope lodging a while in the chambers of the ground stand forth and shew your selues and the earth shall disclose her bloud and shal no longer hide her slain and the sea shall find no rest till her drowned be brought forth nor any creature in the world be able to steale one bone that it hath receiued but all kinds of death shall be swallowed vp in generall victory and in his name that hath wonne the feild for vs we shall ioyfully sing thanks be to God that hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ whence our bodies being awaked to that euerlasting day of light which shall neuer be obscured with darkenesse more where we shall be made pertakers of that vnspeakable inheritance that thy saints and holy ones enioy which is honour glory and peace a garland of righteousnesse an incorruptible crowne fruite of the tree of life sight of the face of God following the lamb fellowship with Angels and Saints and the congregation of the first borne new names white garments pleasures at the right hand of God and fulnesse of ioy in his presence for euermore whither he bring vs that hath made vs that must raise vs from both these sleepes for the glory of his blessed name Amen A further Description of this heauenly Ierusalem and blessed happinesse therein taken out of the Man Cathol of W. C. IN Syon lodge me Lord for pitty Syon Dauids Kingly Citty Built by him that 's onely good Whose gates are of the crosses wood Whose keyes are Christs vndoubted word VVhose dwellers feare none but the Lord VVhose walles are stone strong quicke and bright Whose keeper is the Lord of light Here the light doth neuer cease
sinne my reputation name to perish vpon earth as salt that hath lost his sauour my temporal estate to be ruind by casualties and losse For why should any thing prosper that I take in hand being thus ouergrowne in wickednesse and wherefore shouldst thou giue good successe to that which I attribute not vnto thee how euer it fall out buâ— to the worke of mine owne hands and the pollicy of my contriuing robbing thee of thy honour and due to whom it belongs O Lord as thy mercy hath thus long preserued me sound in all these so let it worke in me that at last I may â—ee my errour and amend it see my wound and labour to cure it my finnes and repent mee of them from the bottome of my heart that thou mayst forgiue me them Turne me O Lord and I shall be turned wash me cleane with water and I shall be cleansed renue me as the Eagle her dayes and I shall bee renued gather thy thosen Flocke from thâ— mountains and desarts wherein they stray to fulfill thy fold I shall be gathered sweep thy house and find thy greate and I shall be found be gratious vnto me heareafter as thou hast bene good vnto me heretofore let not my vnworthynesse weary out thy goodnesse but continue it vnto me to the end now O Lord I giue thee harty thankes and praise for that thou hast this day preserued mée from all harmes and perilles notwithstanding all my sins and ill deserts so I beseech thee likewayes defend mee this night from all the dangers and assaults that may accompany this vncomfortable season and to this end I commend into thine hands my selfe my soule and body beseching thee my Lord and God not to suffer sathan nor any of his ministers to haue power to doe me any hurt or violence this night graunt good Lord that whether I sleep or wake liue or dye it may be vnto thee the saluation of my soule which grant Lord for thy mercies sake Thy grace o Lord Iesus Christ thy loue o heauenly father thy comfort and consolation o holy and blessed spirit be with me and dwell in mee both in hart and mind in soule and body this night and all the nights and dayes of my life Amen Another mornings Prayer Eyther priuate or publicke changing but the number MOst gratious God in the name of Christ Iesus our most mercifull Sauiour and redeemer we giue thee most humble and harty thankes for the quiet rest and repose this night thou hast bestowed vpon our weary and tyred bodies to the refreshing and norishing of the same and for thy gratious prouidence and vigilancy ouer vs all the dayes and nights past euer since we were borne and came into the world for our creation redemption for thy most sacred word a lanshorue to our feet and a light vnto our steppes for thy long and vnwearied patience so long expecting our repentance and turning vnto thee that day by day haue put thee off till we haue heaped vp many yeares of iniquity by greiuous sins in tedious times ouer and vpon our owne heads able and waightie enough to pull vs downe to the pit of perdition where long since we haue deserued to haue layne in endlesse wo and mysery but that thy mercy and louing kindnesse hath preuented vs o Lord giue vs grace to be mindfull of these mercies that our tongues may speake and harts may meditate theron in exultation and ioy and Lord giue vs grace to consider and make vse thereof that as the night is past wherein our spirit and vigor is renued which brought vs into sleepe the true image of death and layd vs in our beds the representation of our graues for vt somnus mortis sic lectus imago sepulcri and that the day hath taken vs vp againe to begin our toyle with his which suddainly finds a period and conclusion and sets it selfe againe in darkenesse which afterwards must giue place to the light and that these two consumers of the world the day and night which with there easy lenghts there spannes and fadomes since the commandement was first giuen let there be day and night haue brought age and maturity the sithes and sickles that haue reaped downe whole haruestes of flesh and layd the groth of nature in the dust teach vs o Lord with this remembrance to way the instability transmutation of time and nature the incertainty of all worldly things our vnwarranted liues that hange vpon a brittle third a dials point that with the sun in the morne with strength and splendor addresse our selues like giantes to runne our course when many times we are taken vp within few minuts after and caried into the bowels of the earth in the begining of our race becomming wormes and not men guestes for the solitary tabernacles of silence and forgetfulnesse and to frame our liues and actions thereafter that whensoeuer thy good will and pleasure is to take vs out of this world of misery to bind vp our bones in peace and rest we may yeild vp our soules and bodiâ—s into thy hands with full confidence and assurance that our sins and offences are washt away in the bloud of that pure and immaculate lambe Christ Iesus and shall not condemne vs prosper vs o Lord in all our actions giue good successe to our true indeauors and graunt that this day and all the dayes of our life may be so spent by thy councell fauour and direction that we may so beare our selues through this dale of mysery that at the last we may raigne with thee in eternity and glory Amen An euening Prayer to the same MOst gratious God and mercifull father in Christ Iesus we doe heare how downe the knees of our soules and bodies in thy presence offering vp our prayer and prayse vnto thee with all possible thankes for all thy fauours towards vs namely for electing vs vnto eternall life for creating vs vnto thine owne image for redeeming vs by the bloud of thy sonne for sanctifying â—s by thy holy spirit for our health peace and liberty and all thy blessings that we reioyce in for the which we can giue no reasoÌ„ for but thy mercy and if thou shouldest withdraw them all backe againe we cannot accuse thee of iniustice not deseruing the least of them by reason of our sins which are so greuous and infinite that we cannot reckon them able to make a perpetual seperation betweene thee and vs but that thou art a mercifull patient long suffering God thou desirest not the confusion of sinners but that they should turne from there wickednesse liue and to that end thou hast forborne vs hetherto with a heauye and greeued aspect and hast not raigned downe thy punishments vpon vs therefore now o Lord giue vs a time of grace as thou hast giuen vs time of mercy that we may take a suruaye of our estate that perceiuing the danger we are in from the which none
can deliuer vs but thy out-stretched arme we rely not vpon our selues nor continuing therein forsake thee so long till at last thou forsake vs and we perish vtterly but Lord preuenting it so rend our harts that they may bleed in sorrow for the same that thou maist forgiue vs our great vnthankefullness end all the rest â—â— our sins our ignorances willfullnesse necligences presumptions and all other our transgressions and rebellions o Lord forgiue them all vnto vs for Iesus Christ his sake wash them all away in his bloud nayle them fast vnto his Crosse and bury them in his graue where let them consume to nothing hauing not that resurrection that our bodies shall haue from thence least thy should come to iudgement with vs cloath vs we pray thee with his robes and honour vs with his spirit worke in vs godly sorrow and remorsfull minds mortifie our sinful lusts and adorne vs withall thy graces open our eyes that we may see thy will and incline our harts to follow it direct vs in thy wayes and keepe vs from declining from thee teach vs so to frame our liues before thee in this world that we may liue for euer with thee in the world to come and to that end we besech thee be mercifull vnto vs at this time and receiue vs into thy fatherly protection pardon the weakenesse of our prayers watch thou ouer vs to our good and giue vs such rest and sleepe that we may be fitter inabled to serue thée the next day in our exercises studyes and callings heare holy father from heauen and graunt vs all these our requests and whatsoeuer else thou knowest may be for our good for Iesus Christ his sake thine only sonne and our only sauious to whom with thee and thine holy spirit one most wise glorious and eternall God be rendered all power praise and glory this night and for euermore Amen A morning Prayer for a priuate famely It is in vaine to rise early and to lye downe late except the Lord be with vs so vaine a thing is man therefore we will not attempt any thing before we haue taken counsell and strength from the Lord that he may deliuer vs from euery euill worke if we aske that thing which is euill deny our ignorance if we aske that thing which is good Remember thy promise IN peace and safety we layed vs downe and rose againe for thy gratious eye watched ouer vs that we might take our rest The heauens declare thy glory and the earth is full of thy goodnesse yet thou hast not so respected all nations and thou hast loued Syon thy little hill a nooke and corner of the world far seperated from the serpent and fenced from the wild beast yet who considereth the euill we haue deserued is gone into other landes because their Gods be not like vnto our God we haue had much experience of thy goodnesse yet we trye thee still we proue thee still and yet we see thy workes thou hast seperated vs from schisme heresy that we should be ioyned vnto thee euen a new creature come out of darkenesse to light according to the working of knowledge in vs. O bind our harts with thy feare that we part not from thy loue for our selues and for our brethren we here prostrate our soules before thee O Prince most excellent for the name of thy onely Sonne one drop of mercy to coole this â—ire of sinne nothing good Lord â—o change thy mercy yet the whelâ—es doe eate the crummes that fall from their maisters Table first wee yeeld thee harty thankes for all at once next wee humbly beseech thee for the generall quittance which thy Sonne hath sealed for our sinnes then for all graces we pray thee let vs not want the thing without which wee cannot serue thee plant in our hearts true feare of thy name obedience â—oâ— our Prince and loue to our neighbour giue power good Father to our prayers that they may be effectual sollicitors for thy grace and fauour in all occasions and seasons grant vs true humility in prosperity perfect patience in aduersity peace in Christ and ioy in the holy Ghost This is our desire to liue godly righteously and soberly so blesse vs and keepe vs good Father to the end of our liues Turne vs O God of our saluation grant that we may grow froÌ„ strength to strength that thy Church militant may be like thy triumphant in heauenly charity and al communion of Saints write thy Lawes on the Table of our hearts with the finger of thy good Spirit that by vs they may be often euidently read practised in our liues and conuersations Blesse them which blesse vs looke vpon this realme in thy mercy preserue our King let not the eye of Great Brittaine become dim or loose his sight be gratious and mercifull vnto our friends and parents according to the flesh comfort thy afflicted Saints and members confound the power of Antichrist send thy feare amongst them make their time short and defend thine owne cause and as thou art sanctified in vs before them so bee thou magnified in them before vs yâ— all the world may conuert say En Deus Christianorum Great art thou O God of the Christians and there is none omnipotent besides thee iust and mercifull recompensing righteousnesse and reuenging iniquitie transgressions yesterday and to day and the same for euer and euery where Grant these things O heauenly Father with thy blessing vpon this family O Lord leade them out and bring them in bee at the beginning the middle and end of all their businesses that thou maiest see them accomplished to their best aduantage and for because the world is a forrest of briers many dangers therein that may intangle vs so that when wee part and go out wee are not sure to méet and come in againe vnlesse thou guide vs by thy hand and protect vs vnder the wings of thy safe-guard Therefore bee present and assistant vnto vs and euery one of vs then happy shall wee be and all things shall prosper that wee take in hand which Lord fulfill vnto vs and whatsoeuer thy good pleasure shall better foresee for our good euen for his sake who died for sinne and sinned not in whose name we further pray vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our Father c. God the Father which hath made vs blesse vs God the Sonne which hath redeemed vs preserue vs God the Holy-ghost which hath sanctified vs confirme our faith to the end and in the end Oh God Father Sonne and holy Ghost saue vs. AMEN An Euening prayer for a priuate Family Our transgressions are more in number then the hairs of our head wee repent vs of them all from the bottome of our hearts O Father be mercifull vnto vs and forgiue vs them O Lord God our most mercifull Father vnto thy diuine Maiesty what might wee render as an Oblation acceptable vnto thee which hast
made vs when wee were not moulded vs from the dust of the earth an element so base and contemptible to so excellent a perfection to a creature so glorious and admirable as man is not onely the worke of thine owne hands but the Image of thine owne Person from the very iawes of Death and damnation deliuered vs if we wilfully runne not into it againe that in continuing thy blessings day by day vpon vs hast shewed thy selfe to bee our most gratious mercifull and louing Lord and hast hitherto preserued vs by thy powerfull prouidence that we haue drawne out yâ— thrid of our life vnto this time these are thy mercies our God and not our merits giuen vs freely without any desert of ours for the rayment of our backes for the foode of our bellies for the ayre that wee sucke in and breath out for the fashion of our bodyes for the motion of the members thereof for our capability reason the creation of all thy creatures in the world to the vse and subiection of man and so many thy benefites that whatsouer wee expresse the more wee remember yet for all these thou requirest nothing else of vs but that we know and acknowledge thée to be the Lord and giuer thereof what couldest thou require lesse of vs then to acknowledge thee to obey thee to feare thee loue thee and to keepe thy commandements and yâ—t doe wee scant thee of that moitye of thy due that easie taske but the sound of our lippes and yâ— consent of our hearts that so wee might become thy faithfull children and bee made true heires and partakers of thine euerlasting kingdome and reigne with thée for euer Guilty therefore O Lord in this grosse offence wee stand forth to accuse our selues of wonderfull folly and ingratitude hauing stroue as much as in vs lyeth to stoppe the streame of thy mercies that land-comfort to our soules in all our extremities yâ— they should not come néere vs we haue bene carelesse of thy word neither haue wee taken any delight to fulfill thy lawes and Commandements and therefore if thou hadst long agoe as a flower before a Sithe-man mowed vs downe as many more worthy of these blessings then we haue beene and brought vs to the Barre of thy Iudgement and from thence cast vs who are before thy face but as chaffe before the winde or as stubble before the fire into the laks of perdition who is he that could accuse thee of iniustice nay our owne consciences would acquit thee and condemne vs for seeing thou hast sought vs and wee would not bee found it is good reason we should cry vnto thee and finde no mercy But O Lord thy mercies are aboue our iniquities so thou hast spared vs many yeares and past ouer our manifold transgressions as one that were ignorant of them in silence and sorrow in witnesse wherof the heauens with their apparitions siâ—ke of disasters and euents haue bene portenders vnto vs that we might be forewarned the earth vpon her bases proppes and foundations so firmely layed hath of late bene shaken at the aspecte of thine anger and tottered to and fro like a drunken-man thy waters and the whole courses thereof that rowle with indignation vp and downe there channelles beeing tyed within boundes and limittes as the lions in there dens dash themselues with indignation against there dammes there shores stoppes to there fury fixed there by thy word Hetherto shalt thou passe and no further haue of late by thy sufferance borne downe there keepers many yeares and sweld higher then there brinkes and in there mercilesse furies prey'd vpon whole countries leauing nothing but desolation behind them and all for our sins and forwarnings besides thy threatning vs by drought famine and pestilence the fearfull denuntiation of thy word applied vnto our guilty consciences that so perceyuing thine anger we might feare and be saued euen so I Lord as thou hast bene gratious in forewarning vs by these so giue vs grace that we may be forewarned by them that in time we may repent and turne from our wicked wayes and no longer abuse thy patience but run vnto thee in repentance and humility that so we may be saued in the day of thy appearance which so worke in vs that ouercome at length with thy goodnesse patience we may no longer delaye to aske councell of thee and thy holy word what we ought to forbeare and what we ought to follow that we be not pufâ— vp with prosperity nor to much deiected in sickenesse and aduersity that we may despaire of our selues the helpe of our owne haÌ„des but may expect all things from thy goodnesse that we put not our confidence in transitory things but wholy relye vpon thee thy promises Blesse this famely O Lord and euery member thereof blesse also our parentes and frendes according to the flesh and nature and continue thy blessed word vnto vs and to our posterities after vs euen vnto the ends of the world for thy dearly beloued sonne Christ Iesus our Sauiours sake into whose handes and protection we commend our soules and our bodies this euening and the rest of our liues the were bought and redeemed with his most deare pretious bloud whose acceptance he graunt for his owne deare sake Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme ô Lord be stil our defence thy mercy and louing kindenesse in Iesus Christ thy deare sonne our saluation thy true and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauorable countenance towardes vs and this night and euermore vouchsafe to send vs thy euerlasting peace Amen The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the fellowship of the holy Ghost be with vs all euermore Amen A prayer to God for the forgiuenes of sins MOst holy most iust most mercifull and omnipotent God thou alone doest punish and no man can releiue thou alone doest chastice and no man can controwle thou alone doest saue and no man can condemne thou bringest to the graue and bringest backe againe pardon I beseech thee my sins more in number then the drops in the sea then the starres in the firmament and purge my corruption beyond bound without measure looke not vpon my merits for they are none at all for the purity of mankind is defiled in sinne wherefore to mee O Lord to me thy poore seruant belongeth nothing but shame and confusion but to thee is mercy and iudgement and glory inherent destroy not I humbly intreat good father of mercy the creation and frame and composition of thine owne haÌ„ds deâ—ace not the image wherein thou thy selfe art so liuely portrayed but haste to comfort me make thy corrections my instructions that in patience awhile I may heare possesse my soule and
Rides quid non sic forsitan vna dies Knewest thou a moneth should end thy dayes it would giue cause of sorrow And yet perhaps thou laughes to day when thou must die to morrow A Prayer or meditation before the receyuing of the holy communion MOst mercifull and most worthely beloued Lord the eternall sonne of the eternal father thou blessed Iesus Christ what should we render vnto thée for all thy louing kindnesse for all that thou hast done and suffered for vs thy creatures of priuiledge aboue all the creatures in the world the sonnes and daughters of men indued with wisedome capability and vnderstanding the steps of thy foot the printes of thy hands fixed in a spattous world and the innumerability of creatures there of delight and admiration for vs to contemplate theron and imploy to our vse a delight more heauenly and truly intire alone then all the irration all hud-winked creatures in the world can tast besides therefore all those in subiection vnder our foot besides fashioned and framed vs to thine owne image with a stature ascendant shooting vpright into heauen when all other creatures go groueling precipitated downe towards the earth yet O Lord for all these benifits and excellent indowments that we should behaue our selues so vngratefully towards thee that it should repent the to haue made man that our rebellious and vnnaturall sins should vnwillingly on thy party draw thy punishments euen from out thy grasped hand Oceans of waters froÌ„ thy cloudes to drowne all the world but eight persons shall pull fier from heauen to burne whole Citties and townes as Sodome and Gomorroh were and not ten righteous persons to be found amongst ten thousand vnrighteous and yet thy loue to be so fâ—r continued notwithstanding that when all maÌ„kind had peruerted their ways and there was not one that did good no not one and wee lay bare and open to the law and sathan triumphing ouer our infirmities leading vs captiues vnder the bondage of sinne that thou shouldest send thy sonne into the world descending from the throne of his maiesty into the bowelles of humanity from thy right hand in heauen to thy foot-stoole the earth there to be layed in a manger persecuted by Herod beeing a child to pay tribute to preach to pray to fast to be tempted to be betrayed to be mocked to be scourged to be crowned to be crucified all by vngratefull man that would oppose a power against him that gaue them power to take away his life that was the author of life and breathed the breath of life into there nostrils yet O loue without example without imitation that very night that hee was betrayed when the hower and the power of darkenesse met together wheÌ„ the blackest consultation that euer day or night was witnesse too was held to darken the sun to extinguish the light to vndermine the intirest innocency that euer possest the breath of being yet O loue aboue all loue that night and that hower of that night when these heades were combining against thee wast thou instituting and ordayning this thy blessed Sacrament to the saluation of there soules and all the wretched sinners in the world besides as many as by a liuely fayth shall apply it to there wounded consciences O gratious God open thou our eyes in the largest consideration that wee may see thy loue and consider what thou hast done for the sonnes of men that for thy loue vnto vs more strong then death we may returne our loue to thee more weake then our owne life cold dull and frosen which let vs seeke to warme in the hottest zeale of our affection that in some poore measure we may be worthy to receiue this thy sacrament of thy most blessed body and bloud then by thee ordayned to our euerlasting saluation the admiration of men and Angels and that we may so doe prepare vs O Lord to this thy heauenly banquet with all due and requisite regard with penitent and bleeding hartes that we come not there without our wedding garment least we turne that blessing into a curse and by eating and drinking our owne damnation bee guilty of thy body and bloud which is otherwayes able to saue our soules and to that end we besech thee set a part in vs whatsoeuer thy maiesty is most offended with or maketh vs vnworthy of this thy blessed sacrament and giue vs new hartes and new desires purged and swept and prepared fit for the intertainement of so worthy a guest and though with the Centurion in the Gospell we be not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder our roofe yet speake but the word and wee shall be saued and then hauing so receyued thee wee may bouldly with Zacheus confesse Hodie salus Iehouae this day is saluation come vnto my house come vnto my soule the which cause and effect preparation and blessing graunt Lord for thy mercies sake Amen A meditation or thankesgiuing after the receyuing of the holy coÌ„munion HOnour glory and praise be giuen to the O God the euerliuing sonne of the euerlasting father the stay and comfort of all Christian soules at whose right hand in heauen thou sittest and raignest for euermore what may we render vnto thee as a sacrifice acceptable that hast giuen thy selfe a bleeding sacrifice for vs and for our sinnes A broken and contrite hart O Lord that thou will not dispise which daily in the meditation of this thy loue and mercy towardes vs and what thou hast vndergone for vs our sakes shall be rent and torne that it may be healed in thy wounds and bound vp in the bundle of thy mercy that so we may stand spottlesse before thee the day of thy appearing and good Lord so continue thy fauour vnto vs that this learnest and pledge of thy loue left as a monument to all after-worldes and ages to come may be so powerfull and effectuall vnto vs that it may seale in our hartes the forgiuenesse of our sins washt away in the streame of thy bloud and buried in thy side neuer to open there mouthes against vs beeing there condemned to euerlasting silence and if at any time the frayltie of the flesh by the instigation of Sathan shall draw me vnto sinne forgetting what thou sufferedest therefore yet let my wandering thoughts bee called home to thy fould in remembrance of these visible signes whereby the breaking of thy body and the shedding of thy bloud is so liuely presented vnto me that I behould it as with my eyes mourning in my selfe not accusing the iewes the scribes nor pharises high priestes nor elders Iudas nor Pilate but my sins that tormented wounded crucified the Lord of life to death they were the cause these were but the instruments whereby it was effected O what is man that thou shouldest so regard him or the sonne of man that thou so kindly visitest him let euery nayle that was driuen into thy handes and feet by the hammer of our sinnes be
policies of our flesh grounded vpon such weake and tottering foundations of dust and sand shaken with euery little blaste of aduersity and the foundation of our hopes here on earth vnder-propped with such slender basses so quickely weakened and throwne downe that we leaue the rocke Christ Iesus that wee should build vpon Let not Honour Ambition Preheminence Titles and such like occupy our thoughts and possesse our bodyes and minds with a wearinesse in longing and pursuing after them which being attained bring not content but lie leuell to a thousand discontentes enuy euer lying at the roote as a canker to blast what euer good wee expect from thence Bee wee in authority or subiection be we rich or poore bee wee yong or old of what estate or degree soeuer we bee off were wee as we could wish had we all that this earth could yeeld yet our estates and our desires would neuer keepe a concordant Harmony For the Sunne as yet neuer lookt vpon that sonne of man that found not a defect a saciety or loathing in what estate soeuer hee possest and desired to see a change In our yong youth wee wish for grauity and age because wee want the respect and reuerence that it goes accompanied with and being attained and cloathed therewith wee wish that the heat iollity of youth might againe bee renued in vs euer peruerting the times and preuenting the meanes that God hath prefixed and wearing and wasting our selues soonest in possessing that wee would inioy longest In want wee desire riches perswaded if we inioyed them wee should be contented these attained deceiue vs then wee seeke for honour and from one steppe thus wee would clime vnto another to seeke that which is not heere to bee found For who did euer yet in honour wealth Or pleasures of the sence contentment find Who euer ceas't to wish when he had helth Or hauing wisdome was not vextin mind S. I. D. The way then to ballance our selues and our desires is to fix our whole hope confidence and desire in him who is the fountaine of all happinesse and content within the compasse of whose protection and their fruition wee are no longer then we walke within the boundes of his direction and miserable are those that wander out of the armes thereof his safeguard yet if the Lord should forget vs as wee forget him nay if hee should not remember vs a thousand times ere wee remember him once and keepe vs in wee should daily and hourely wander out and perish but his mercie is aboue all his workes and his benefites so generally extended that the wicked haue their portion therein as well as the godly his enemies as well as his friendes if the Lord should reuenge our iniuries and ingratitude against him and contempt of his will and commandements and deale with vs as wee deale amongst our selues what would become of vs but woe and confusion Let vs therefore learne from him the patterne of all goodnesse in some poore measure to bee like vnto our Lord and Maister Christ Iesus from whence wee deriue our name and are called Christians let vs whose image wee carry stamped by the fingers of his owne hands bee not onely shadowes but bodies mouing after his steppes that is our Head let vs walke heere as Embassadours sent from heauen on the Lords message to giue the sonnes of men a patterne of good life and imitation in such humility and sobriety as our Lord the true patterne of all goodnesse and piety hath walked before vs the printe of whose blessed feete wee daily looke on with our eyes and consider in our heartes with ioy and comfort for if wee will be his Disciples Wee must take vp his crosse and follow him making it our glory that wee are the people of his Pasture and the sheepe of his hands who although in simplicity grasing on the mountaines are either fleeced of the Shearer growne into wooll or snatched vp by the Butcher growne into flesh and the water of affliction be wrung vnto vs out of a full cup and we bee exposed to the shame of the world and the windes still beat on our sailes our liues bound vp in vexation and sorrow whilst the Wicked like the bramble in confidence of their shadow dare challenge to bee Kings ouer the trees of the forrest Iudg. 9. 15. and though they saile calmely as in the hauen and their breasts are full of milke as Iob speaketh Iob. 21. 24 and their bones of marrow and though with Dauid in the 73. Psalme wherein the property of the wicked is liuely set forth How they come not to misfortune like other folke neither are they plagued like other men their eyes swell with faâ—nesse and they do euen what they list yet let vs take comfort to our selues and stay our soules on the anker of his prouidence as the same Prophet did although in the consideration of his chasticement all the Day long and euery morning and the prosperity of the wicked he himselfe confest and said Pene moti sunt pedes my feete had almost slipt Yea and I had almost said as they vntill I went into the Sanctuary of God then vnderstood I the end of these men Namely how thou settest them in slippery places and castest them downe and destroyest them how suddenly they come to a fearefull end so when death shall make vs both euen with the earth here is our comfort the graue shall bee to vs as a fould till our Sheepheard come and to them a shambles till the destroyer of their soules shall haue receiued an endlesse commission to torment them Therefore they are not the pleasures of this life neither health nor wealth nor liberty which at the best are but candied wormewood that delight the tast but destroy the stomacke without a true and sanctified vse therein that makes those happy and blessed that haue them for if with all the goodly branches of delectation and pleasure they cast their tree answere not with fruite these leaues will not protect her from the fire And cursed is hee that is blessed in this world to bee cursed in the world to come yet heere wee haue the eloquence of the flesh to perswade vs the inticementes of the Diuill to allure vs the company of the wicked to associate vs all these to diuert our course from whither wee are bound and the world with her inticements to traine vs furthest from what wee seeke and the pride of our life to perswade vs for trifles to forgoe the interest wee haue in heauen and our branched corruption euery way ready to set vs foreward being Ambitious like Adam Gen. 3. 5. who if hee may bee as God there is no command can restraine him vaine-glorious like Esau Gen. 33. 1. who if hee may haue a traine of men at his heeles will soone digest the losse of his birth-right and so by vsury if our bagges may thereby bee made fuller the word of God shall not
finger of thy good spirit I am bold to speake beeing but dust ashes prostrated before the throne of thy maiesty hartely to beseech and humbly intreate thee that thou wilt not deale with mee according to my deserts for then O Lord where should I stand to plead my case fire and brimstone should bee my portion to drinke that haue drunke downe sinnne as Behemoth drinketh downe water but thou art gracious compassionate therfore vnder the shadow of thy wings will I seeke for refuge desiring thee to naile all my sinnes to thy crosse that through thy sufferings I may obtaine remission thereof I am a sinner yet redeemed by thy pretious bloud a sinner I am remember thou camest into the world to saue sinners wherof I am chiefe lost in a wildernesse of errours wandring from thy presence helpe me O Lord or else who can deliuer me saue mee O Lord or else I perish for there is no redemption no saluation without thee heare him O Lord that coÌ„demneth himselfe caleth vpon thee O Sauiour whom wilt thou saue if yâ— sinner shall descend to perdition that dispaireth of himselfe and trusteth in thee O blessed Sauiour and Redeemer of the world aswage my griefe heale my diseases thou hast called me when I like the deafe Adder would not heare thy voyce wilt thou then turne away thy face when my cryes come vnto thee wilt thou suffer that to bee lost which thou purchasest at so deere a prise No Lord for thy mercies sake for thine owne sake sweet Iesus Of the danger of deferring our repentance with a praier suddenly to conceiue it and soone to practise it MErciful God and most louing father what may I render vnto thee for all thy benefits more in number then the moaths in the sunne or the sands by the sea-shore that hast made to be when I was not predestinated mee from yâ— beginning of the world to be in due time and season protected me in my mothers wombe carefully taken me out from thence euer since been my guardian to these years of my youth for all these thou requirest nought but thankfulnesse towards thee and remembrance of thee in my yonger yeares capacities and shall I neglect and deferre then to giue thee the gifts of thine owne giuing shall I giue the first of my life and best of mine yeares the strength and marrow of my dayes to the seruice of Sathan and think that thou wilt receiue me in my hoary age when sinne leaues me and I not it Good Lord wipe all such ingratitude out of my mind that I may with a present ioy felicity in thee imbrace thee in due time in some measure which hast done suffered so many things for my soule and body put farre from me O Lord the thoughts and imaginations of wicked men that vpon thy long suffering patience passe ouer their daies in mirth and iollity and thinke their latest yeares or last gaspes sufficient satisfaction for a lewd and long mis-spended life Thy father thy mother in the dayes of thy humanity loosing thee in the temple went but one dayes Iourney without thee but sought thee 3. dayes sorrowing before they found thee Hee yâ— hath lost thee many years must haue many yeares to finde thee againe and late and constrained repentance is seldome true repentance our time is not when wee our selues will but when God doth call heare wee must when he speaketh open we must when he knocketh else wee shall powre out our petitioÌ„s in vaine for when wee pray hee will not heare vs the first and best is his due more then we can giue or he expects and the last worst is not sufficient and hee iustly may and will reiect it Grant therefore mercifull Father that thy word may worke in vs so free and voluntary obedience to thy will that thou mayst accept it which in vs is willing subiection not by thy iudgements which is constrained obedience for feare of distruction which thou litle regardest O Lord take from me that common and dangerous sin of presumption presumption of thy mercies that thou desirest not the damnation of sinners that our yeares youth obseruation of diet curiosity of our health will carry vs to the lâ—st yeares of our expectation and when we draw neere to our end that then safely enough we may begin to thinke vpon thee all in due season And thus make presumption the rocke whereupon we shipwracke our soules and by the which many millions haue perished it drowned the old world it threw the rich glutton into hell Lord make my sence vnderstanding as a bulwark to beat back all the policies and assaults that Sathan can deuise to beat against with that engine that to day I may heare thy voice lest thou harden my heart And if I will deferre vpon hope and example make me that I rather feare the portion of the bad Thiefe then the successe of the good and let me not reâ—use thy grace in my health wheÌ„ thou offerest it lest when I shall craue it in my sicknesse thou refuse to giue it mee Touch mee O Lord with a consideration of the danger thereof that in time I may haue grace to call for thy grace to preuent it that I may now amend and not deferre till hereafter to the end to my death when there is no remedy but either I must to heauen or to hell to God or to the deuill and when that comfort is seldome found which presumptuously was imagined when the memory presentes fantasies and dreames the harte akes the handes tremblâ— the tongue faltereth the eyes wax dim checkes pale lips blacke feet weake and the whole body and soule possessed with anguish and griefe and terrour what repentance shall we then make when our sinnes are so great they ouer-presse vs our comfort so small that we haue noe feeling of it our time so short that we cannot thinke of them our friends weeping that they put vs out of them amasement distraction peeping wildly throughout all our sences miserable is that man in this case whose end and repentance comes so neare together-therefore Lord whatsoeuer at the time of my death I would wish to haue done grant that in this time of my health I may doe it and Lord make me vnderstaÌ„ding capable so wise in my generation so gratious in thy grace that foreknowing these things I may preuent them that with the wise virgines I may euer haue the oyle in my lampe that is bee in readinesse to goe with thee whensoeuer it please thee that now I heare thy voice when thou speakest vnto me be acquainted with thee that thou bee no stranger vnto me but a friend and a friend indeed as at all times so especially at this exigent last extremity which how long it may be I will not presume nor how short it may be dispaire but prepare my selfe against it my readinesse being my resolution that whensoeuer it
the feild and we â—eed not only our selues but our oxen in our meadowes and stalles to feed our vnprofitable carcasses our horses in the stable to beare our vnprofitable carkasses when the poore in our streetes at our gates feed vpoÌ„ empty aire for lacke of sustenance we remeÌ„ber not theÌ„ not Christ in them the hungereth and Christ the must feed vs which is the aduocate for the poore yâ— iudge of the rich in this obliuion and height of our sins what is become of humility of repentance we are all begotten in sin and to misery are we brought forth coÌ„cupiscence hath bene the nurse whose milke wee haue sucked from time to time as we haue growne in yeares so hath corruptioÌ„ growne vp with vs as part of our owne nature what remayneth theÌ„ O Lord for vs but humility repeÌ„taÌ„ce to prostrate our selues vpon the knees of our harts and say Lord haue mercy vpoÌ„ sinners with the poore publican not with yâ— proud Pharise to say I am not like this maÌ„ or other my brethren for I doe thus and so let vs not be so mad as to forget nature so much all our imperfections the substance and mettall whereof wee are made and that we must suddenly turne to the earth vpon which now we trample with such contempt and scorne and must become chamberers and fellowes with wormes and rotlennesse and what cause haue wee then to be proud Nay what cause haue wee not to bee humble when of all the large possessions and inheritances wee possesse wee haue no more truely our own then the length and bredth of our Carkasses And againe let vs humble our selues that Christ may exalt vs and not exalt our selues lest hee throw vs downe as hee scattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts Let vs learne of him to bee humble and meeke which although the King of heauen and earth hauing all power and preheminence and proud in subiection vnder his feet yet was not touched with this vice himselfe that chose poore Fisher-men to bee his Disciples payd tribute to his inferiours rode vpon an asse praied for his Persecutors imbraced yong children cured the halt and the lame and the blinde and regarded the low estate of his Handmaid and will regard vs if wee regard this vertue which hee so regarded if wee be imitators of his steps and examples which hee grant that hath thus led the way the God the King the Prince of humility for his own deere sake Amen The liuing words in effect of a dying man closed vp in this vertue I Vnto thy hands O Lord I commend my soule and body prostrate in all humility and obedience to thy good will and pleasure Lord Iesus haue mercy vpon thy humble and prostrate seruant The summe of the Prayer of the Lady G. at the time of her execution VVIllingly and ioyfully O Lord come I hither into thy hands to resigne my soule and body in whose protection I trust they shall bee safer and better then in this life although in the best measure they euer were giue vnto me my God thy poore and weake seruant and vessell patience constancy and strength to vndergo this my sentence of death strengthen the frailty of my sex in the act of this my suffering and though I dye for that I neuer of my selfe desired yet howsoeuer lest any sinne in the least consent or thought hath defiled my purity therein for it pardon me my God and blot it out of the booke of thy remembrance and not onely that but the whole course thereof throughout my whole life that my soule with the wings of faith in thy mercy may cheerefully ascend to thy blessed kingdome And so preparing her selfe to dye with these words rendred her life Lord Iesus receiue my Spirit A generall Thankesgiuing to God for all his benefites and mercies to man O Eternall God in Christ Iesus most gracious and mercifull for all thy blessings both temporall and spirituall bestowed vpon me the least of thy seruants and most vnworthy to cast vp mine eyes to thy heauenly Tabernacle where thou reignest in glory doe I yeild all possible hearty thanks vnto thy diuine Maiesty for all thy blessings and mercies bestowed vpon me especially for the singular benefite of my Iustification and the admirable gift of eternall saluation purchased by the righteousnesse and deerest life of thy beloued Son Christ Iesus my Sauiour My lot is fallen in a pleasant place well is me and yet woe is mee because it is and I vnderstand it not hast thou beene fauourable vnto all thy creatures in the world or hast thou neglected others and beene mindfull of me Good Lord why shouldest thou bestow thy health thy wealth thy rest and liberty aduancements friends possessions Children like the Oliue Oliue branches and their trees for me them to repose securely vnder Why shouldest thou I say bestow these blessings vpon me more then vpon others I can giue no reason for it but stand wondring and admiring thy mercy which is the cause of it and if thou shouldest take a suruey of my worthinesse to enioy all these at thy hands and finding mee so vnworthy as I am of the least shouldest withdraw them all backe againe what could I say but commend thy iustice Haue I deserued liberty and Ioseph thy seruant deserued bonds Haue I deserued rest and thy Dauid to bee tost to and fro vpon his watery couch day and night to haue the sonne of his owne loynes and the loynes of his owne body rebelling against him Hath thy Lazarus deserued to lye at the gates afflicted in body minde crauing but crums wherewithall to be refreshed and I like the rich man whose dogges more merciful theÌ„ their maister came and licked his sores sitting at my table furnished with abundance like his Haue I deserued health and thy Iob to lye full of botches and biles vpon the dung-hill Are these thy blessed seruants tried in the furnace of affliction layd in the throat of hell and am I wrapt vp into Abrahams bosome haue I their portion and do they stand at reward or sent empty Why my soule is it so well with thee mercy aboundance of mercy and why art thou so ill my soule O mercy yet most wretched sinner that I am haue I not in a Christian loue and godly nature beene moued to serue thee in a larger measure considering these thy benefites vpon mee so largely multiplyed then the poore and persecuted Children that neuer tasted thy mercy but in imitation of their misery Continue O Lord this thy goodnesse vnto me and the more to perswade thee thereunto lift my heart and spirit out of this dull and earthly Center wherein it moueth to the meditation of thée and these thy mercies with a thankfull retribution of all my thoughts and affections to thée from whence they come that I may euer serue thee from this hower with those dutyes which the world the flesh and
before we vtter them going vnto him that calles come vnto me all you that trauell and are heauen loaden and I will refresh you To him therefore let vs goe to him let vs send vp these trusty embassadours our Prayers Prayer the sweet cesterne and conduite of grace by the which all the benefits and guiftes in that heauenly treasure-house are cōtinued reserued and renued vnto vs. Prayer the keye that opens where no man shuts and shuttes where no man can open that enters where no man hath passage and returnes where no man can hinder Prayer the life of the soule when being perplexed with such griefe of hart as neyther Wine nor strong drinke according to the aduise of Salomon can comfort her misery hauing no word to speake nor comfort to apply when it is day wishing for nightes approach and when it is night saying to her selfe when shall it be morning how euer the season no comfort succeeding neither by light nor darkenesse nor in any worldly felicitye wishing as often as shee openeth her lips and draweth in breath into her nostrils if God were as hasty to fulfill as she to desire O that thou wouldest hide me in the graue and keepe mee secret vntill thy wrath were past Iob. 14. yet then euen then she assumeth the winges of a doue the motion and agility of the spirit of God she flyeth by the strength of her Prayers into the bosome of Gods mercy and there like the arke vpon the mountaines of Armenia is at rest Therefore if any be afflicted let him pray let vs not presume in the height of our prosperity with Dauid to say as hee did I shall neuer be remoued thou Lord of thy goodnesse hast made my hill so strong least with him we suddainly shall see a change Thou diddest but hide thy face and I was sore troubled then cryed I vnto the Lord and prayed vnto my God saying what profit is there in my blood Psal 20. therefore let him that standes take good heed that he doe not fall let vs put our confidence in the Lord our God and pray vnto him and to none other neither let vs presume vpon our selues nor any earthly meanes beside for her was neuer contemplation exercise or any kinde study in the world so acceptable to the maiestie of God so gratious in his sight so linked and true a friend to him that makes vse of it as prayer is It waketh in the night season it restes not in the day it forsaketh vs not by land nor by sea in health nor in sicknesse in prosperity nor in aduersity in weale nor in woe liuing nor dying it is our last friend and most indissoluble companion Let vs therefore loue it and therefore let vs vse it There was neuer name in heauen or earth so worthy to bee called vpon so mighty for deliuerance so puissant for protection so gainfull for successe so compendious to abridge vnnecessary labours as the name of IEHOVAH our most mercifull Father and the image of his countenance Iesus Christ Therefore to the Lord there was neuer Sanctuary so free for Transgessors in the strongest priuiledge neuer such safety neuer holes in the rocke so open for the doues of the field the armes of any mother so open to her childe as the bowels of Gods compassion to all faithfull beleeuers Therefore to him and therefore faithfully and in that method fitnesse and propriety as Thomas hauing the obiect of his prayer before his eyes euen Christ Iesus my Lord and my God There was neuer creature liuing vnder the line of the Sun that saw not affliction in his dayes neuer was there any to whom affliction was not grieuous and irke-some yet neuer was there affliction so great but it hath beene vnder the correction of the Lord whose hand hath beene able to maister it Therefore to euery affliction as they come in seuerall kindes for our seuerall sins and transgressions so our prayers must bee seuerall and framed and fitted thereunto and powred forth both with wisedome and zeale that they come not harshly vndigested to those eares that can both sift and try the one and the other the delicasie and tendernesse whereof must bee wisely intreated and the fauour of his countenance carefully sought after the example of him that knew in his soule that a faint and dissembled prayer would returne empty into the bosome of him that sent it vp But a broken and contrite spirit the Lord would not despise neuer sent vp his petitions but with the deepest affection and zeale of his minde with the most sincere integrity and meditated zeale that might be for Euery night washt he his bed and watered his Couch with teares the bloud of the soule and the wine of Angels the pretious and significant pearles of contrition that preuaile without words and effect where words faile And therefore feruently after his example that thou mayst haue the force of two tongues in thy suit the better to speed And to auoyd the malediction which thou mayst else receiue in stead of a blessing for cursed is he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently And as we may learn precepts and draw many excellent examples from the lines of the heathē Philosophers writers so here to this wee may learne a zeale in our prayers euen of those wodden Priests K. 1. 18. of whom it is written that they called vpon the name of Baal frō morning to noone and when they had no answere they cryed aloud nay they cut themselues with kniues till the bloud flowed so they prayed not onely in teares but in bloud and shall not wee the children of the light bee as zealous in our generation And frō the agony zeale of the son of Righteousnesse that in the daies of his flesh offered vp prayers supplications with strong cryes teares to him that was able to helpe him learne to adresse our selues in our necessities of whom the Gospel further declares not only that he kneeled at the naming of whose name all knees haue bowed both in heauen earth and vnder the earth but that he fell vpon the ground the footstoole of his owne maiesty and lay vpon that face that neuer Angell beheld without reuerence and when he had prayed before hee prayed more earnestly as the Scriptures record hee once prayed and departed and a second time and yet a third time departed and departed euermore vsing the same petitions his prayer ascending by degrees like incense and perfume and not onely his lippes went but his agony and contention within was so great that an Angell was sent from heauen to comfort him and with the trouble of his soule sweat like droppes of bloud trickling downe to the ground Let vs not therefore offer vp this sacrifice but remēber this blessed example of this our blessed sauiour in our imitation that they may be blessed in their speed and we in their successe and not to vtter them remisse and carelesse as if our spirites
a thousand daggers at our hartes to launch and let forth that putrified corruption that returned such muddy chanâ—elles to thee the fountaine of liuing waters that but with so a high a price and deare expence could not be purified but now beeing thus purged and made cleane let vs be wary we pollute them not againe hauing receiued so pure a guest let vs not harbour with him the vncleane least to our euerlasting losse he take his flight and forsake vs when then our vncleane thoughts and cogitations which his presence expelled and kept a loofe of from vs retire themselues euery one accompanied with seauen worse then themselues and our end be worse then our beginning and so that become vnto vs the sauour of death vnto death which otherwayes had bene the sauour of life vnto life wherefore O Lord blesse vs at this time and this thy holy institution that by our vnworthinesse we turne not that to euill which was ordayned for our good make it O Lord the plaster to heale all our wounds the garment to couer our nakednes the spirituall and corporal bread to the stay of our bodies and soules let it be the cocke to remember our sins and the rocke to stay our soules vppon that we neuer fall from thée againe to that end so blesse vs most gratious God yâ— this thy sacrament now receyued may be to our euerlasting good and wellfare so conducting vs through this vale of misery with so godly a direction guide enuy contention and malice layed a side forgiuing the offences of our bretheren towards vs as we expect forgiuenesse at thy handes that so in a godly society in this world we may liue together in peace vntill we shall raigne with thee in glory which art the end of peace where we shall then behold thee with our bodily eyes as wee behold thee now with faith by the eye of the Spirit and see that body that was broken and bruised for our sinnes those hands that haue made vs and fed vs that head that was crowned now all glorified neuer to bee debaced more To which blessed vision fruition he bring vs that hath so ransomed vs for the glory of his sacred Name Amen A Thanksgiuing vnto God the Father vsed by the reuerend and learned W. Musc and fit to bee vsed of all good Christians LET all true Christians say and acknowledge with one heart and mouth say also with them O my Soule say in this mortall body without this mortall body Glory Honour and Praise bee vnto thee most mercifull God throughout all ages and Generations of the world which hast not spared thine onely Sonne but offered him vp a bleeding Sacrifice for the sins of thy people giuen him to death euen to the death of the Crosse for most wretched mankind to that end that through him we might be saued and deliuered from distruction and brought into the liberty of euerlasting life graunt vnto vs by thy spirit that we may perfect and continue in this thy grace for euer and euer Amen Mart. Luthers Prayers COnferme in vs O God that which thou hast wrought and finish the worke thou hast begunne in vs to the glory of thy name and the sauing of our soules at the dreadfull day of thy Visitation for thy mercies sake Amen Saint Aust O Deus omnium miserationum pater Abyssus misericordiae tuae absorbeat abyssum peccatorum meorum O Father of all goodnesse and mercy let the depth of thy mercy drye vp the depth of my sinnes A Prayer for a Woman with childe or in trauaile to bee said by those present with her O God most wise most iust the blessed Father of our blessed Lord and sauiour Christ Iesus creator preseruer and gouernor of all things next vnder thee vnder the subiection of man so largely intituled by thy loue extended by thy fauour created with so goodly and beautifull a perfection in the estate of Innocency that hee was the modell and figure liuely Image of thee the fountaine of all perfection and happinesse but through sinne is our image defaced our beauty and perfection darkened our whole disposition and purpose altered the earth made barren and cursed for our sake and we cursed in the curse by the sterility labour and manuring thereof that now denies the increase that before shee brought forth without the sweat and sorrow of the heart and browes of man And for yâ— woman a party in the sinne a party in the curse In paine and sorrow shalt thou bring forth And to the Serpent vpon thy belly shalt thou creepe and dust shalt thou eate all the dayes of thy life Yet to this woman O Lord as her present necessity requireth bee propitious neere vnto her let thy birth sweeten her sorrow that broke the head of the Serpent that was the cause of the breach of thy Commandement that hath sweetened the sorrowes of all mankinde Heare her O Lord and answere her fauourably and be not angry with thy seruant for presuming to cry vnto thee for the vncessant beating thine eares with her clamouâ—s for griefe compelleth her to speake and the misery shee indureth inforceth her to cry vnto thee haue mercy vpon her O fountaine of mercy and hearken to her agony that cryeth for thy helpe To her and all women with childe or in trauaile bee mercifull and giue them grace with patience to vndergoe and suffer the decree and pleasure of thy holy will let them neuer striue against thee through impatience but in true faith and inuocation of thy name suffer thy crosse contentedly which their owne originall sinne and wickednesse drew froÌ„ thy hands vnwillingly O Lord if her heauinesse induce for a night let her comfort come in yâ— morning for ioy that a child is borne into the world and to that end blessed God bee thou present and powerfull in the exigent and straite of her greatest extremity for as all thy works are wonderfull and past finding out as our soules know right well so are they not manifested in a shallow measure in the connexion creation and nourishment and preseruation of the infant in the wombe of the mother in the birth and bringing forth of their little limbes into the world all whole and perfect to the which if thy ayd and hand bee absent though all helpe beside in the world bee present they perish vndoubtedly both the one and the other Wherfore thou God of wonders and Father Almighty of heauen and earth as thou hast by the death of thine onely Sonne taken away the sinnes of the whole world and condemned sinne in the flesh so take away the anguish of Childe-birth brought forth by sin to all woman-kinde especially to this woman now in thy hands that shee may ioyfully bring forth that which by thy blessing shee hath happely conceiued that shee may bee to her Husbands and her owne comfort as the fruitfull viâ—e on the walles of his house and his children like the Oliue
branches round about his table Thy blessing vpon those yâ— feare thy name which blessing for thy blessed name sake grant thou God of al power goodnes AmeÌ„ The Prisoners prayer written by a Gentleman in passion and penitence a few dayes before his tryall O Euerliuing God most mercifull Father that art present in all places and neere vnto all such as call vpon thee haue mercy vpon mee most wretched sinner odious in the sight of God hateful in the eyes of man banished from thy fauour from the lights of the Sunne and firmament all humane comforts denyed me fettered in body and in soule with the links and chains of my sins and euen bound to destruction vnlesse thou send me succour froÌ„ aboue My life I haue abused and diuerted my course from the pathes of thy commandements by the which I haue not onely offended my brethren in the flesh the law of man by the which my body is condemned to dye hauing onely power ouer that But thee the great God of heauen and earth that madest me and induedst mee with many of thy good gifts and blessings as health strength agility of body had I had but one blessing more that was grace to haue vsed them well that art able to cast both body and soule into Hell-fire yet though by my offences against Dauids choyce I haue fallen into the hands of man from whom I expect no fauour for my life yet with thee there is mercy for the forgiuenesse of my sinnes beyond expectation which with that happy Thiefe not in his life but in his death I trust in thy goodnesse to finde so that when the day shall come that shall finish the Sentence that shall end my misery and wretchednesse in this life That day I shall be with thee in Paradise though euill haue bene my life euer since I had power to thinke or execute so farre forgetting humanity and nature as if I had sucked the Dragons in the wildernesse hauing done those things that I ought not to haue done and left vndone those that I should neuer remembring thy dreadfull name but in the abuse thereof neuer hearing thy word but with contempt neuer taking admonition but with scorne and quenching the good motions of the spirit with the whole deluge of sinne dishonouring my parents and all good men delighting in ryot drunkennesse whoredome and slouth yet neuer toutht in conscience for any nor for all so far had custome hardened me and Sathan possest me that I was sicke euen to death and felt not my ill I was at the brinke of hell and yet perceiued not my footing For the which O pardon me my God and shew thy mercy vpon mee and all prisoners and captiues teach mee that by this my restraint that my liberty and loose life neuer pointed finger vnto that it is a happy compunction in the body that makes a blessed compunction in the soule And it is not thy least fauour vnto mee that thou hast stopped my head-strong course in the middest of mine iniquities in the readiest path to destruction that the Diuill could prescribe or flesh and bloud follow ere I had filled vp the measure to the brimme are my condemnation was sealed and thy face for euer turned away from me Giue me grace O Lord to make such vse of this little time I haue to liue that what with many dayes and sins I had lost with many teares and sobbes I may recouer and that whether my life bee prolonged beyond my expectation or ended according to my account I may neuer from this time fall from thee but take such deepe root by this thy mercy that beeing fully perswaded my sinnes are washed away in the bloud of the lambe and my transgressions doâ—e away in his satifiying I may indeauour to liue in such newnesse of life and conuersation amongst men that whom my euill life corrupted by example my better may restore againe by imitation to the praise of thy name the good of thy Chiloren and and the saluation of my soule and the magnifying of thy mercy world without end A Thanksgiuing for our redeÌ„ption purchased through the bloud of Christ and for other both corporal and spirituall blessings VVHat can man say that hee inioyes amongst the innumerability of all thy benefits and mercies that he hath not receiued from thee and for the same ought to be thankfull but especially ought thy glory to be magnified by vs for our Election Creation Iustification Sanctification who hast preserued vs from day to day and from a thousand daÌ„gers threatning both body and soule to their vtter confusion O most gratious and louing Father which art beloued for thy goodnesse honoured for thy greatnesse reioyced in for thy happinesse praised for thy merits and prayed vnto for thy mercies I acknowledge my selfe all too meane vnperfect to sound forth thy praises in such a key as I ought or thou deseruest when I thinke thereof a debility ceizeth vpon all my parts and I want words to expresse powre out my soule before thee Inlarge O Lord mine vnderstanding that I may the more fully conceiue and apprehend thy benefites that yâ— abundance thereof may teach me new language and phrase of more copious signification and content and fill my heart with ioy aboue measure in the apprehension therof By thy loue I was elected by thy goodnesse I was created by thy spirit I was called by thy merâ—y I was iustified by thy grace I was sanctified and by thy power I am preserued and by thy sufferings I shall bee saued By thy permission goodnesse I moue liue and haue my being naked came I out of my mothers wombe and thou hast cloathed mee hungry haue I come to thy gates and thou hast fed me harborlesse haue I bene exposed and thou hast taken me in well therefore may I admire thy mercies in silence but speake of them as is meet I caÌ„not for there words forsake me my tongue becommeth mute Merciful father for all these thy benefites haue I laid them to heart resisted the motions of yâ— flesh the temptations of the diuell No I haue sinned grieuosly in thy sight preferred the desires of my flesh before the precepts of thy law choosing rather a short and momentary taste of dayes in iollity and pleasure in this world which at their fullest height are euer waning and attended on by sorrow then the eternall ioyes of thy kingdome in the world to come nothing dreading the displeasure of thy Maiesty whose breath shaketh the foundations of the earth and maketh the spirits of darknesse to tremble burneth vnquenchably in the bottomlesse pit of hell whose power is so infinite yâ— in the twinckling of an eye or more sudden the the flash of the lightning is able to consume what euer his haÌ„ds haue made yet notwithstanding sinfull carelesse creature that I am haue I bin bold to do wickedly to perseuer in the same so now touched in conscience by the
shall come it shall the lesse affright mee in that before I haue set my house in order and disposed my selfe thereto which preparation that I may make and successe that I may find graunt me Lord though so many neclect it for thy mercies sake AmeÌ„ A prayer and meditation for a strong faith and against that dangerous sinne of desperation THough our sinnes were as red as scarlet thy bloud O Lord will wash them as white as snow though in sin we haue bene borne and in iniquity our mothers haue conceyued vs yet will we trust in thy louing kindnesse all the dayes of our life if wee should trust in our owne merits desperatioÌ„ would inuiron vs on euery side yet Lord when we consider the multitude of our sinnes and that euery day of our life we adde to there number so that all the water in the Ocean-sea cannot rince vs from them for the least of which in thy iustice thou mâ—yst throw vs downe to the bottomlesse pit of hell our faith faultereth and we begin to dispayre but that we trust in the merits of his suffering who in the bundle of his afliction hath gert vp ours and will eyther nayle them to his crosse or cast them into the bottome of the sea and hang millstones about there neckes yâ— they shal neuer rise vp in iudgement to condemne vs yâ— else would neuer suffer vs to rise vp to be saued Lord giue vs grace to be wary to our steps vigilant to our pathes to haue an eye to our soules for Sathan compasseth the earth watcheth and roreth and walketh transformeth himselfe into all shapes that he may win vs in all sins into an Angell of light being but a fiend of darkenesse to sift and winnowe vs as wheat graine after graine that if it were possible he might surprise vs good God what need haue we of thy assistance and grace to beare vâ— out that haue such enemies without such enemies within the weakest whereof is stronger then we so that we need the prayers of our owne spirits and the spirit of God that groâ—eth with gronings not to be expressed and of the sonne of God himselfe who sitteth at his fathers right hand and maketh intercession for vs that our faith fayle not and that we fall not into desperation for alasse what ability haue we of our selues or what strength haue wee in our sinnâ—wes who are not as pillers of brasse or the deafe rockes of the sea against the which there waues dash themselues and they are not shaken being substances so firme vâ—alterable that cannot be remoued but dust and ashes crackt with euery flaw and blast of affliction and vnlesse thou support vs we are not able to stand and there is no safty but vnder the winges of thy mercy we haue sinned against heauen and against thee the father of our spirits the father of our flesh against him yâ— gaue vs his law and he that gaue our nature birth and being by our misdeedes and abominations both the tables haue we broken and done very wickedly in thy sight all the creatures in the world haue in there kind and degree bene more dutifull and seruiceable vnto thee then man so much beloued of thee made according to thine owne image indued with reason directed by thy law and thy preceptes auering thus offended men and bretheren what shall we doe all the creatures in heauen earth accusing and condemning vs the Lord himselfe complayning against vs I haue norished and brought forth children and they haue rebelled against mee what shall wee say that our sins are greater then can be forgiuen no let vs with Dauid though our faith haue almost failed and our feet slided with his yet let vs with him recouer out-selues againe by laying hold vpon thy promises support vs O Lord where thy Angels fell Caine Iudas Achitophell for they dispayred in thy mercies and there fall was iâ— recouerable euen to the bottomlesse pit of hell from whence there is no deliuery but we will trust in thy mercies and louing kindnes all the days we liue in and kisse the son least he be angry and o turne away the fauour light of his countenance from vs and least his wrath be kindled against vs his fierce and furious wrath which O Lord who is able to abide the extent and copiousnesse whereof is as his mercies are vnexplicable and therein sueth an abundance of misery with a traine and coniunction of all plagues and punishments out of the ready stâ—re-house of the restrayned inundations of his wrath that let at liberty range in an open feild and there is none to resist them we are all by nature the children of wrath borne to the inheritance thereof as to our fathers landes for nothing remayneth so hereditary to vs as sinne and confusion but yâ— the bloud of Christ hath purchased fauour for vs Lord giue vs grace to continue it in keeping a wary conscience to offend and walking carefully in thy feare but for such O Lord that are allready condemned that runne on in an endlesse labyrâ—nth of sinne the race to distruction without turning vnto thee drawing the vnhappy breath which if it had neuer ben breathed into there nostrills whereby they were made liuing creatures it had bene wel with them without repenting heaping vp anger against the day of wrath not caring to blunt the edge thereof there end is the end of the sentence and they are sure to perish not in the life of the body alone but in the life and eternity of there soules not for an age and a period of time but whilst God raigneth in heauen able to doe iustice to auoid which greuious plagues and punishments giue vs grace O Lord suddainly to turne vnto the whilst the time of grace remayneth least the graue open her mouth and shâ—t it againe vpon vs and close vs vp in our sinnes and deliuer vs guilty into the hands of perdition from the which wee shall neuer bee freed Let vs quench this wrath in time with the bloud of the Lambe staine from the beginning of the world and through the streame of his mercy and the riches of his merits seeke acceptance acquaintance and friendship with our God that wee perish not let vs not despaire in our sins nor presume on his merits too much but lay hold theron by faith so applying the benefite of thy passion and merites to our selues and our soules that wee may finde fauour and bee acceptable in thy sight Thy mercy O Lord is the crowne of all thy workes and my sinnes though they were more then I can commit are not more then thou canst forgiue the assurance of this promise and the probation of thy goodnes euermore shall be the rocke whereupon my faith shall anker I will sayle my brittle barke throughout this sea of vncertainty temptation and danger thou being the starre of my direction throughout yâ— waues and surges thereof that sometimes lift mee vp
the Diuell would haue me deser vntill the point of death and good father grant that I may loue righteousnesse and pitty with as great good will as euer I loued wickednesse and vanity and that I may go before other in thankfulnesse towards thee as farre as thou goest in mercy to mee before them O teach mee to seeke thee in all things and all things in thee euen for thy name sake for thy promise sake for thy Sonnes sake our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus A Thankesgiuing before meate TO thee O Lord the giuer of al good gifts vpon whose bounty and mercy depend all the creatures in the world which openest thy hand and fillest vs with thy blessings or wee goe empty away and perish Thy bounty and goodnesse it is O Lord that furnisheth our backs and feedeth our bellyes and spreadeth our tables blesseth preserueth and vpholdeth all that we haue our basket and our store the oyle in our cruses prouision in our presses the sheep in our foldes in our stables the children in the wombe at our tables the corne in our fields in our floores and garners and all that wee haue or is in the ayre in the earth in the sea or wheresoeuer else the least of which thy good gifts and blessings let vs not at this time nor no time else presume to touch make vse or enioy without an awfull reuerence and respect to thee the author and owner thereof Sanctifie therefore we beséech thée at this time them vnto vs and vs in them so that thy name may bee glorified and our bodies comforted through Iesus Christ Amen Thanksgiuing after meate DEere Father wee render mâ—st humble and hearty thankes vnto thee as is most meet requisite for all thy former benefits good creatures ordained giuen to our vse sacrificed ready to be sacrificed euery day for our pleasures so now at this time for the large competent satisfaction thou hast bestowed vpon vs to the refreshing of our weake fainting bodyes So good Lord as thou hast beene gracious vnto vs in breaking this thy corporall and materiall bread vnto vs at this time to the food of our bodies so likewise giue thy Spirituall bread vnto our soules in that abundant measure that the more they eate and drinke thereof the more they may hunger thirst after thee to fulfill thy precepts to walke in thy commandements and to do the workes of charity and mercy towards others to whom thy bounty hath in some measure bene restrained which grant most mercifull Father for thy mercies sake Amen Before Meate TO thee the Author of our beeing Before the world our time fore-seeing The time approach't thou hadst decreed That thought did cease effect succced Into the world poore naked bare We were brought forth nurst by thy care Of whom ere since we begge and craue For food for rayment all we haue Blesse these thy gifts wee shall receiue Shall feed shall taste of by thy leaue And all things else what ere it bee That thou shalt send that come from thee Blesse soule and body basket store Our health our wealth our rich poore What ere we doe so blesse the same That stil our mouths may praise thy name Thy Church king God saue blesse And grace from heauen so send That we may liue a happy life And make a godâ—y end After Meate OVr bodyes thus refresh't and fed Whom thou do'st daily fill So let our liues be spent and led According to thy will And as thou break'st thy earthly bread Vnto our mortall hands So breake that bread vnto our soules Whereon our well-fare stands For as the body doth decay Doth languish and complaine From food and nourishment debar'd That doth her state maintaine So will the soule and all her powers Dry wither parch and perâ—sh If that thy grace which is her life Refresh not feed and chorish Lord therefore stretch thy mighty hand And let thy loue appeare In feeding this in filling that In holding both so deare That when we leaue this wicked world Whose pleasure is but paine In peace and rest in heauen with thee We euermore may raigne Amen Certaine Rules and Precepts for the good ordering and gouernment of a mans life 1 IN the morning wheÌ„ thou first awakest blesse God giue him thankes for his carefull protection and watching ouer thee for the quyet rest and sleepe hee hath bestowed vpon thee to the refreshing of thy body and the renuing of thy minde but be sure that he haue the first place in thy heart 2 Call to minde all thy businesse for the day following and to thy selfe propose to the effecting thereof a good order method euer thinke of the end before thou vndertake any thing and to all thy honest intents indeuours craue the direction of God and his assistance otherwise thou toylest in vaine and thy labours will not prosper 3 As for the successe and effecting of thy businesse so before thou setst thy foot out of doores put God againe in minde of thy person implore his assistance protection ouer thee knowing that many a one hath gone out of his house neuer come in againe and that so it may befall thee if he preuent it not 4 At the euening when thou retirest thy selfe call to minde what thou hast effected what thou hast neglected what euill thou hast healed that day what vice thou hast stood against in what part thou art bettered and as thou went iâ— out in his feare so returne in his fauour giuing him thankes for the ability and motion of thy body in the accomplishment of thy affaires for of our selues we are not able to lift our hands to head food to our mouths therfore by his goodnesse sufferance we haue all and enioy all that we haue 5 If thou hast neglected any duty wherein thou mayst haue pleasured thy brother not indaÌ„gered thy selfe any coÌ„mon curtesie that by the law of nature one man is bound vnto another Cor. 11. 13. If thou hast offended any man by deed or by word by instigation or procurment call them to mind condemne thy selfe therein be sorry therfore and before thou seek to giue thy body any rest rest not till thou hast sought a pardon at the hands of God which will neuer be granted but vpon this condition That thou be hartely sorry for the same and purpose in thine heart neuer to offend in that kinde againe 6 When thou preparest thy selfe to bed likewise prepare thy selfe as for thy graue remembring that many go to bed neuer rise againe till they be raised w e the sound of the last trumâ—et and for ought thou knowest the thing so often resembled therby may now be ready for thée For vt somnus mortis sic lectus Imago sepulcri the number of thy dayes expired thou must passe from the land of the liuing in yâ— moment or howsouer there is one of thy number spent and yâ— art