not a rebuke vnto the flesh Here my prayer O Lord and with thyne eares consyder my calling holde not thy peace at my teares For inumerable troubles are come about me O deliuer mee from the deceitfull and wicked man for thou arte the God of my strength and thou arte able to wrest and confound myne enemyes they lye lurking abroade on euery side as the Fox doth for his praye they lay baytes for me as the Fysher doth for the small fyshes Saue me O Lorde and delyuer me for thy names sake Ciuis These are very good sayinges For S. Iohn sayeth He that commeth from an high is aboue all and he can delyuer you from all troubles and temptations of the world In the Reuelation lykewyse it is written As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten be feruente therefore and repent and beare this well in mynde Puer It is my desyre But I pray you Syr what great town is that same before vs Ciuis That is London Puer I am glad thereof good mayster leaue me not destitute but be vnto me a comforter and helpe me vnto some good mayster Ciuis I will do my good will but now you are in London where will you become this night haue you no frindes nor Kinsfolks here in London Puer I should haue a Kinseman dwelling as it was tolde me in Fleetestreate and that I shoulde inquyre for him at the Belsauage Ciuis I dwel in Fleetestreate my selfe which is harde by the same Inne and I will bring you thyther Puer If it please you to showe me the house I will be bolde to come to you agayne Ciuis Yonder same is it at the Sygne of the great Bell. Puer Nowe I haue to render vnto you many harty thankes for your great trauayle and paynes which you haue had with me and for as much as I know now where you dwel I will be bolde to let you vnderstande howe I speede of my Kinsman and in the meane tyme I commend you vnto almighty God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ who preserue you and all yours and giue you the light of his countenaunce to shyne ouer you Ciuis Take heede to thy selfe now and keepe wel thy soule that thou forget not the thinges which thyne eyes haue seene and that they departe not out of thy harte all the dayes of thy lyfe My sonne despyse not the chastning of the Lorde neither faynt whē thou art rebuked of him for whom the Lord loueth him he chastneth yea scourgeth euery sonne that he receyueth Loth I am you should departe from me but and your Kinseman cannot prouyde you of a mayster come hyther to me agayne and I wil doe what I can but I wil either haue you my self or else prouide you a mayster Puer I thank you for your gentlenesse I pray you how many seruaunts haue you Ciuis I haue but one in the company that I am free of our order is that I can haue no more but this that I haue is almost out of his yeares I woulde all companyes would haue a regarde for the permitting of Apprentises for the lesse Apprentyses that is in a company the better it doth prosper Fare ye well seeing you will needes goe Bee perfite of good comforte be of one mynde liue in peace and the God of loue and peace shall be with you remember well my sayings seeke to please your mayster and your Mistris bee dilligent be true both in worde and deede and be not high mynded The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the fruitefulnesse of the holy Ghost bee with you now and euer Puer I thank you most hartily Syr God be with you Ciuis And you also FINIS ¶ A generall prayer for all men to walke in their vocation and calling FOr as much O heauenly Father as both thy honor and dishouour after a certayne manner dependeth in this world eyther of our Godlye or wicked lyfe if we lyue well thy very aduersaryes shall be compelled to glorifye thee but if our lyfe be vngodlye so shalte thou be dishonoured among the wicked and euill spoken of through our synfull lyuing and because we should not walke inordinately and so prouoke the enimies of thy truth to raile on thee and to blaspheme thy holy name thou hast apoynted in thy blessed law certain honest and godly states and degrees wherin thy people should lyue and hast straightlye commaunded that so many as professe thee thy holye word should contynue in the same and euerye one according to his vocation and calling and by no meanes leade a dissolute lyfe after the maner of the Heathen which know not God that by well doing the professoures of thy holy religion may not only stop the mouthes of foolish and ignorant people but also prouoke them to glorifye thee our Lord in the daye of vysytacion We knowing our infyrmitie and weakenesse which is great and vnable to be redeemed of our natural strength and free wil that we are not able to think a good thought much lesse for to fulfyll thy commandements which thou haste strayghtly commaunded to be kept and wishing the glorye of thy moste glorious name and the accomplishment of thy heauenly will Most humbly and from the very hart beseech thee therefore for Iesus Christ his sake for to indue vs with thy holy spirit which may fulfill that lacketh in vs make vs newe Creatures trade vs in the path of thy holy law and geue vs grace to walke according to our vocation in feare and in obedience of thy good wil that we admit nothing that in any poynt may hinder thy glory and thy honour deface thy name and cause thee to be euill spoken of among the vngodly and that this may come to passe graunt O most mercifull Father that euery one of vs from the highest to the lowest may vnfaynedly aunswere to our calling and frame our lyues according to thy blessed will vnto the glory of thy name that whatsoeuer we doe in worde or deede we may do al things in the name of the Lord Iesu geuing thanks to thee God the Father through him Graunt that all temporall Rulers may vse their office iustly and godly seeke not onely to be feared but also to be beloued to mayntayne the good and to punish the euil accept no person in iudgment alone no false accusation shed no innocent bloud Here the small as wel as the great receyue no brybes set forth thy glory aduaunce thy holy worde promote thy faythfull preachers in all their doinges seeke the profyte of the common weale and so behaue themselues they may be foūd worthy officers in thy sight Graunt that the subiects may shewe all reuerent submissyon to their Rulers obay them in all thinges be faythfull and true to them yea that not only for feare of punishmente but also for conscience sake Graunt that the Bishops Preachers of thy worde and all other spirituall Ministers may take
was a planter of Vyneyardes and canst thou not liue as thy father hath done before thee Puer No I cannot lyue in that order it is to paynefull for me although my Father did Hedge and diche digge and delue and did bring me vp in the same trade and you haue shewed me those examples I mynde not to doe so Ciuis No what wilte thou do then Puer What will I doe I will tell you I will be a Seruingman and wayghte on a Gentleman and then I shall goe a Hawking and Hunting and haue my delight as Gentlemen hath I shall haue two new coates a yeare I will haue my sutes of Hose my Hats with feathers and be all in the brauerye after the newe fashyon and sometyme I shall wayght vpon a Gentlewoman who woulde desyre to lyue a merryer lyfe or else I will to London to be a seruaunt Ciuis The old Prouerbe is true A yong Courtyer an old Begger for they say seruice is none heritage and if thou shouldest be vsed as Esop doth declare in a fable what wouldst thou then say to thy brauery Puer I pray you recyte the same to me Ciuis He was a man by whome there is a booke made that I haue read and is caled Esops fables wherin he likeneth a Seruingman to a Greyhound Puer He was a horeson in deede that would liken a man to a Dog. Why there is a great sort that be Seruingmen and doth liue well ynough and so I trowe I will. Ciuis Yea I wil not despyse seruingmen for they are men necessary But Esope sayeth as long as a Greyhound is youthfull and can follow his game he shall be much made of and as long as you are yong and lustye so maye you be but when age commeth on you as dyd on the Greyhound then you shall not bee steemed but ready to be set at liberty without comforte Puer Why then I praye you tell me your mynde what your aduyce is for me to doe Ciuis My counsell is to haue you go home agayne to your Mother consydering you say she is an old woman and your Father dead shee is without friendship or comforte and you shall be a good stay and a helper vnto her Puer I mynde not so to doe for I know a way better then to doe so she hath geuen me Gods blessing and hers and is well contented withall and hath geuen mee Money in my Purse I may be bolde to say vnto you besydes that I take you to be an honest man and a true man else I woulde not haue tolde you for there be so many men now a days of dyuers sortes I knowe not well whome to trust Ciuis Thou sayest truth in deede the more is the pittie for one man cannot trust another but yet Moises writeth as I remēber Let euery one reuerence his Father and mother Iesus the sonne of Syrach wryteth on this manner Heare me your Father O my deare Chyldren and doe thereafter that ye may be safe for the Lord will haue the father honoured of the children Honor thy father and Mother this is the fyrst commaundement that hath any promyse that thou mayest be in good state and lyue long on the earth And looke what a Mother commaundeth her children to doe he will haue it kepte Who so honoureth his Father his sinnes shall be forgeuen him and he that honoreth his mother is one that gathereth treasure togither who so honoureth his Father shall haue long life and he that is obedyent for the Lords sake his mother shall haue ioy of him Honour thy father from thy whole harte forget not the sorrowfull trauayle that thy mother had with thee The Apostle sayeth Chyldren obay your fathers and mothers in the Lorde for so it is right Tobias sayde to his sonne hold thy Mother in honour all the dayes of thy lyfe for thou oughtest to remember what and howe great perrill she suffred for thee in her wombe Puer You are verye scripulous with mee to honour my mother I doe not denye it but I confesse my duetye is vnto my mother yet may I doe that which I purpose to doe for I am sure you cannot tell me of any that doth practise such obedience to Father or mother Of my parte I promise you I knowe not what obedience is for it was neuer taught me Ciuis Then will I teach you especially concerning our communycation Fyrst I will shew you that obedience is a lowly and harty submissyon of our selues to God and afterwardes to our Parentes to the Maiestrates to our superyours and to al those to whome GOD hath committed the rule and gouernaunce of his Flocke and people in this worlde or in iust causes to all them to whome we be by any tytle inferyour Isaac shewed obedience to his father Abraham Yong Tobias at his fathers cōmandement went into a farre country about his fathers busines did not deny it Christ humbled himself became obediēt to the death so was he to his parents Ioseph and Mary More wil I call to remembraunce out of the scripture of the duty of Children hereafter Puer I am therewith content I perceyue you haue had some intelligence knowledge of Scriptures that can remember such thinges vpon a sodayne yet I may loue both father and mother and shew my duety and obedience vnto them although I doe not dwell with them For I must seeke how to behaue my self when God calleth thē away from me out of this vale of misery to get my liuing as they haue done for if I should do as the Prouerbe is loke after ded folks shoes I might thāce to go barefote Ciuis And can you not liue by taking paynes with Husbandrye as your father and others haue done Puer No forsooth Ciuis And why so I pray you tell me Puer Mary syr there is such moyling and toyling and taking of great paynes with harde fare that I must needes to London to be a Townseman thereto liue more at ease Ciuis If euery one were of thy mynde and so permitted to haue their owne wils we might chaunce to fast for lack of bread Corne and such other necessaryes for mans body But the truth is at London thou mightest learne some honest and profitable occupation wherewith thou mayest be able to get thy own liuing in tyme to come and to make prouision for such as shall belong vnto thee hereafter for if thou shouldst be brought vp ydely thou shouldest become an vnprofytable member in a common weale and for lack of liuing fal into many inconueniences for it is written Send him to labour that he goeth not ydle for ydlenesse bringeth much euill And agayne Let no laborious worke be tedious vnto thee neyther the Husbandrye which the almightye God hath created As the Byrds of the ayre are created to flie so man is borne to labour He that Tilleth his Land shall haue plentiousnesse of bread but
agaynst your enemy but manfully fyghte in your quarrell vntill you haue wonne the Castle Puer You speake darkely vnto me I pray you shew me the playn mening therof Ciuis I told you your duety towarde God you go to be an Apprentise you must seeke all the wayes you canne to be dilligente and actyue to learne your occupation for that whyche GOD hath appoynted for you you shall haue for there is choyse of what occupation soeuer you can fantasye yourselfe to you must not runne away but so indeuour yourselfe vntill suche tyme as the yeares be expyred that you maye be accoumpted a good and profitable seruant Puer Is that your meaning to run away by the grace of God I wil not for there commeth no goodnes therby the rowling stone gathereth not mosse so the Runaway seeketh his owne confusyon I trust I will remember your talk which you haue vsed to me Ciuis In so doing doubt you not by the grace of God but you shall do wel you must take heede remember how S. Paule wryteth vnto Titus in exhorting Titus to be ware in like maner it is generally to warn you to submit yourself to the Queene our souerayn Lady to the chiefest in authority to obey officers to be redy vnto al good workâ—â— that you speake euil of no man Doe thou none euill and none shall come to thee Leaue euill company and euill wil forsake thee Come not in the path of the vngodlye and walke not in the way of the wicked Eschew it and go not therein departe a syde and passe ouer by Be no stryuer quarreller sower of debate and discorde but shewing all meekenesse vnto all men For Salomon sayth Hee that is of a prowde stomacke stirreth vp stryfe and agayne he sayeth A prowde looke a lying tongue and a harte that goeth aboute wickednesse feete that be swifte in running to doe mischiefe a false witnesse that bringeth vp lyes the Lorde hateth Three kinds of thinges my soule hath much hated sayth the Preacher and I am muche disconteÌ„ted with their disposition A pore man prowde a great man a lyer an old man a foole and lacking discretioÌ„ God resisteth them that be prowde and to them that be humble he geueth hys grace Be not prowde in wisdome in strength nor in ryches it is one God that is wyse puysant and full of felicitie Wherefore do as S. Paule wryteth to Tymothie Studie to shewe thy selfe lawdable vnto GOD a workeman that needeth not to bee ashamed deuyding the worlde of truth iustly Puer By the grace of God obliuion shall not enter into my hart but that when you are farre from me I shall remember your good documente and I gather by your sayinges that it is not good for a man to lye Ciuis I tolde you before twise or thryse yet Salomon sayeth The lying lippes are to God abhominable they that doe truely doe please him S. Paule sayeth put away lying and speake euery man the truth with his neighbour Let thy tongue be ignoraunt of lying and loue so well truth that whatsoeuer that thou speakest think that thou swearest Lye not in earnest nor in iest The Apostle sayeth lye not one to another For Lyars not without cause may be compared to mad dogges for all those that vse it hurte their conscience and lose their credite and bringeth them to confusyon A lyer is worse then a theefe for from a theefe a a man may hyde and from a lyer he cannot That which is bred in the bone will not oute of the flesh Those that for their pleasure were accustomed to lye in their youth wil not faile for their profyte to lye in their age A Lyer maye well be compared to the Deuil for it is the authour of stryfe and discorde betwene neighbour and neighbour I would wish that al parents would reforme themselues of this vyce especiallye Marchauntes and such as are men that frequent buying and selling of wares then they might the better be a meane for the punishing of lying An euill tree cannot bring forth good fruite nor a good tree euill euen so is it harde for him that is a Mayster to correcte his Seruaunte for a fault when he himselfe is the authour therof There is a notable Story worthy to be had in remembrance of the dealing of a Kinges Sonne who being demaunded a question did not say the truth but did tell a lye Puer I pray yon tell me that Ciuis Traian taking his pleasure in the Gardens of Vlcan saw the sonne of King Cebalus and many other yong Children of Rome stealyng fruite forth of an orchard when the Emperour Traian afterwards demanded of him froÌ„ whence he came he answered from his study hearing Rhethorick but in deede he came from stealing of fruits the Emperour Traian was so angry displesed that the child was a lyer told him a lie he prouided coÌ„manded that the same child being the Kings only son should be vtterly depryued and made voyd of all hope to recouer to enioy the realm of his father Cebalus Wherfore speake euery man the truth vnto his neighbor and put away lying sayeth the Apostle and agayne Saynt Peter sayth Vnto the pure are all thinges pure but vnto them that are defiled and vnbeleeuing is nothing pure A lyer is not to be beleeued though he sweare for there is no truth in him he is changeable like the wynd a man can not tell how beleeue anye word that proceedeth out of his month Puer This is a prety short story but can you declare me anye moe agaynst lying for I gather by your sayings it is a thing requisyte and needefull to be well loked vnto Ciuis You say truth it is so I wil shew vnto you many sayings out of the scripture for that only abuse Thou shalt eschew lying ye shal not lye neyther shall any of you deceiue his neighbour Dauid sayth Thou O Lorde shall destroy all them that speake lyes He that gathereth his goods with a lying tong shal lose al and be in perril of his lyfe He that keepeth his tongue keepeth his lyfe from troubles Sathan brought forth the fyrst lye The two Iudges which accused the Godlye woman Susan were most abhomynable lyers Ananias and Saphira dyed sodenly because they lied So many as make or loue lies shal be cast among Murtherers and Idolaters in the Lake of hel burning with fyre and brimstone Puer GOD be mercifull vnto vs and geue vs his lyghte to shyne ouer vs that the truth maye bee knowne among all nations and lying banished and corrected and that I may be myndfull of this your document Ciuis It is not my document but in the Bible you shall fynde muche of these my sayinges Puer Your good coÌ„fortable sayinges moueth me that back agayne to my mother I can not go for by the assistaunce of almighty GOD I
hede to thēselues to all the flock in that which the holy Ghost hath appoynted them ouerseers to feede the holy congregation which thy dearely beloued sonne purchased with hys precious blood take the ouersyght of thē not as though they were compelled but willingly not for the desyre of fylthy lucre but of a good mynde not as Lords ouer their parishioners but that they be an ensample vnto the Flocke Graunt they may lay asyde all Tyranny and hautynesse of mynd and walke with all gentlenesse and tender compassyon towards the sheepe of Christ committed to their cure and charge let them be as most louing Fathers to Christes flock if any of the sheepe chaunce to runne astray and go out of the way let them not therefore be vngentlye intreated but as it is the offyce of a good Sheaphearde by fayre meanes call them home agayn vnto the shepefolde seeking rather their saluation then their destruction let them remember the Hystory of the loste Sheepe and consyder how tenderly the head Sheaphearde Christ thy sonne and our Lord fetch it home agayne euen vpon his shoulders for the seruant of the Lord may not fight but peaceably and gently towardes all men ready to teach suffering the euill with meekenesse informing men that resysteth If at any time thou O God mayst giue them repentaunce to know the truth let them caste away vngodlynesse and old wyues fables reaching them thy heauenly worde purely and truelye and be vnto them that beleeue an example in the word in conuersation in loue in spright in fayth in purenesse Let them giue attendaunce vnto reading to exhortacion to doctryne Let them studye to shewe themselues in thy sight lyke workemen worthy of prayse euen suche as neede not bee ashamed as in Preaching thy holye worde and so lykewyse in mayntayning distributing to the poore in feding the hungry with meate in cloathing the naked in lodging of the harborlesse in nourishing Godlye and learned men that they may be pastors and feeders both in word indeed grant againe that the Parishioners may reuerence the Bishoppe and other spiritual ministers giuing them no lesse honour then the chyld giueth to the Father remember that they be Aungels of God the Messengers of Christe the lighte of the world the salte of the earth the dispensers of the misteries of God the feders of their soules the comforters of the weake the Phisitions of the sicke the vpholders of the whole the exhorters vnto vertue the frayers away from vyce which watch contynuallye for the health of their soules worke in the harts of al them that be instructed with thy worde such a tender loue and good will towardes the Ministers that teach them that the may giue vnto them aboundauntly all good thinges whereby the Preachers may be the more able not onelye to nourrish their family but also maintayne Hospitality for the releefe and comfort of the pore For who goeth a warfare at any tyme at his owne coste who planteth a vineyarde and eateth not of the fruite who feedeth a flocke and eateth not of the mylke if the Preachers sow vnto their parishioners spirituall thinges it is a great thing if they repe their eternal things O Lord that they which preache thy Gospell should lyue of the Gospell moreouer graunt that the husbands loue their wyues as their owne bodyes and not to be bitter churlish or vnkynde vnto them but geue honoure to them as to the weaker vessell which are fellowe heyres vnto them of lyfe Lykewyse graunt that the wyues be in subiection to their owne husbandes as vnto the Lorde in all thinges and so behaue themselues as becommeth women of an honest lyfe and a godly conuersation Geue them grace to araye themselues in comely apparell with shamefastnesse and discreete behauyour not with brodered heare or golde or pearle or costly aray but such as it becommeth women that professe Godlynesse through good workes Let the inwarde man of the harte be vncorrupt with a meeke and a quyet sprighte before thee O God is much set by for after this manner in the olde tyme dyd the holy women that trusted in GOD tyre themselues and were obedient to their owne husbandes euen Sara obeyed Abraham and called hun Lord whose daughters ye are that be marryed women so long as you doe well Graunt that the Fathers and Mothers maye not rate their children least they bee of a desperate mynde but bring them vp in nurtour and information of our Lord GOD graunt also the children to obey their parents in al things and honour them Graunte that all maysters maye doe vnto their seruauntes that which is iust and equal putting away all threatnings and know that they haue also a maister in heauen with whome there is no respect of persons Graunt also that the seruauntes be obedient to their bodily Maysters in all thinges with feare trembling in singlenesse of harr as vnto Christ not with eye seruice onely in the eye sight as men pleasers but as the Seruauntes of Christ doing thy will O God euen from the harte with good will. Giue them grace also to consyder that they serue the Lord and not men and therefore they may bee sure that whatsoeuer a good man doth he shall receiue agayne of the Lorde whether they bee bonde or free Furthermore graunt O moste mercifull father that the Elder men maye bee sober honest discreete sounde in fayth in loue and pacience the elder women lyke wyse graunt that they be in such rayment as becommeth holynesse not false accusers not geuen to muche drinking but teachers of honest thinges to make the yong women sober mynded to loue their husbands to loue their Children to be discreete chaste huswyuely good and obedient to their own husbands that the word of God be not euill spoken of Graunte also that the yong men be sober mynded and of an honeste conuersation To conclude graunte that euerye one that professe thy gloryous name they may so lyue and behaue themselues both in thought worde and deede that nothing may proceede come from them that should offend thy deuyne and most excellent Maiesty Graunt also O most gentle and tender Father that our light may so shyne before men that they seeing our good workes may gloryfye our Heauenly Father with thy well beloued sonne Iesu Christ our Sauyour and the holy Ghost that most sweete comforter to whome be all honour and glory for euer and euer Amen ¶ A prayer to eschew the affections of worldly men O Good Lorde Father almightye we meekly beseech thee heare our prayers and where thou hast geuen expresse commaundementes to direct euerye mans lyfe to thy pleasure graunt vs grace we neuer looke at any wicked mans doing to followe them nor may consyder so much what the great number of men do as what we are bound by thy laws to do O Lord we see to our great griefe many great wise men in the worlde to mayntayne Idolatry Ipocrisye and
superstition preferring euill customes and wilfull opinions of the ignoraunt people before the true Catholicke Fayth expressed in the holye Scripture Neuerthelesse O Lorde wee beseeche thee for thy great mercy to preserue vs that we neuer follow the multitude to swarue from thy holy word nor liue wickedly through any mans euill example but geue vs euermore grace to obey the Queenes most excellēt Maiestye and all the Nobillitie all Maiestrates that be in aucthoritie vnder her saue vs good Lord from doing wrong to any man giue vs grace to pay euery man his duetye To our Queene that which is due vnto her to our pastor that is due to him to our Landlord and creditors which is due to them and that without grudging Moreouer good Lord we beseech thee saue vs from the company of al blasphemers of thy name vnchaste lyuers extorcioners crafty Brybers Backbyters giue vs grace euermore to disseuer frō them in thought word and deede and saue vs from all deadlye sinne if at any tyme wee shall happen to fall through frayltie or in malyce to offende thy deuine maiesty by transgressing of any of thy holy commaundements we beseech thee graunt vs grace truely for to repent paciently to bee rebuked of the Preachers of thy worde or pryuately tolde thereof by our friendes to our amendment that we may both lyue and dye in thy seruyce and through the merites of thy sonnes passyon to obtaine euerlasting lyfe for euermore Amen ¶ A Prayer against carefulnesse of worldly thinges O Lorde GOD who of thy moste bountifull goodnesse doest daylye feede fowles of the Ayre fyshes in the Sea and worms of the earth without any thoughte taking of their behalfe and lykewyse doeth cloth the flowers with moste bewtifull colloures without their pensyuenes giue vs grace we beseech thee that we may be content with thy prouysyon and that we may be thankefull to accepte that thou haste sent vs truely in this worlde and casting away all care for superfluities dilligently to serue thee labouring in our vocation and neuer to mistrust but that thou wylt of thy goodnesse prouyde meate drink cloth and all necessaries plentifully for vs and our houshold We consyder good Lord that thou commaundest all thy seruauntes to cast away all pensyuenesse thought and care for aboundaunce of worldly ryches putting their trust in thy prouisyon And we doe gladly obay thy commaundementes thou doest promyse to euery man laboring truely in his vocation and iustly executing his office wherevnto he is called all thinges necessary for this presente lyfe thy promises be true seeing no iust man laboring in his degree or vocation that lacketh eyther meate drinke or cloth O Lorde wee thanke thee although not aboundaunce of Lands and possessions nor great plentye of Golde and siluer as many worldlye riche men haue Yet thanks to thee O Lord sufficient of all thinges where with to liue withall and we are there with content reknowledging it to be more then wee are able to deserue towardes thee if it be thy pleasure O Lorde to plague vs with sicknesse fyre water or otherwyse after thy good will to visite vs eyther correcting vs for our sins or visiting vs with troubles for our tryall so as all the goods that we haue should eyther be taken from vs or wasted thereby good Lorde giue vs grace to take such aduersitie paciently and neuer to murmour or grudge at thee nor yet dispayre of thy helpe and succour but meekely submitting our selues to thy mercifull correction and euermore trusting in thee to say vnfaynedly with Iobe the Lorde hath sent vs these goods and the Lord hath taken them away from vs as it pleaseth the Lorde so bee it his holy name be euermore blessed O Lord graunt vs thus to doe for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake Amen ¶ A Prayer to continue in true Faith and Godly lyfe O Mercifull Father wee thy Prodigall children doe myserablye lamente our sinfull lyfe and ofte transgressions of thy holy commaundementes specially wee be sorry to heare thy moste holy name blasphemed to see so much Idolatrye and false religyon mayntayned in the world so ofte swearing and much periury laughed at so great oppressyon robbery and brybery vnpunished we see also so much ennye and mallice raigning manye being sorrye for the welfare of their neighbours and glad of their hurte waxing prowd of thy gyftes disdayning them that lacketh the lyke other detracteth maliciouslye their neighbours spreading abroade false rumours of them many liue in open Aduoultery fornication alowing such damnable lyfe thē to liue in holy and chaste Matrymonye therefore we moste hartilye beseeche thee O Lorde to extende thyne almighty power shew thy Godly wysdome and goodnesse in redressing of these inormities as shal be seene to the expeditiō that the blasphemers and periured men abusers of thy holy name maye repente them to reknowledge amend their faults learn afterward to blesse and glorify thy most holy name Giue grace to al oppressors robbers and backbyters to make restitution of their euill gotten goods to abhore all their owne couetousnesse and to be content to liue with that which thou doest truely send them in this worlde eyther by their honest trauayle or otherwyse Giue to all malicious enuyous men grace to reioyce with their neighboures prosperitie and to bee sorry for their aduersitie as for their own lawding thy name for theirs and euerye mans gyfts Giue grace to all backbyters and false rumours spreaders to consyder that God hath giuen them their tongues to glorifye thee and to comforte their neighbours not to dishonour them nor to hurt none and consydering their trespase to recōcyle themselues to their neighboures whome they haue vntruly slaundered Giue to al Aduoulterers and vicious lyuers grace to abhore their fylthy lyfe and whereas they haue not the gifte of continency to vse the holy remedy of Matrimonye with thanks to thee therefore contenting themselues therewith Giue grace to all them that are vniustly defamed for thy truth and righteousnes sake pacientlye to suffer that without reuenging their owne cause by recompensing euill for euill praying for their Aduersaryes that they may shewe themselues thy Children to thy honour and glory Gyue grace to al men that do truely repent their euill lyfe to continue in thy fauour to increase dayly more more in fayth hope and charitie abhorring all vyce and delighting in good workes commaunded by the holy scriptures all the dayes of their lyfe that through thy grace they dying in thy fauour by the merites of Iesu Christ thy only sonne hastly may possesse the euerlasting ioyes in Heauen Amen ¶ A Prayer to be saide by men of lowe degree O Lord God almighty which by thy infynyte wysedome disposest thy giftes best for thy glory and moste profytable for all men we meekely beseech thee graunte vs grace to be content with that poore estate and liuing whervnto thou hast called vs and to giue thee as harty thankes therefore as if it
the glorious company of Aungels and blessed Sayntes and to keepe it to the moste ioyfull day of the generall resurrection that both his body and soule through thine almighty power being knit agayn togyther at that day he may for euer and euer inioy thy glorious kingdome and sing perpetual praises to thy blessed name Amen ¶ Exhortations to comfort the Sicke as long as they haue lyfe and vnderstanding NOwe Brother bee strong in the Fayth of Christ remember Christ crucified Remember Christ to be our alone Sauiour Remember God the Father to be your mercifull Father Forget not that all your sinnes are washed awaye in Christes bloud and that by the vertue of his death and Passion you are made heyre of euerlasting saluation Brother if you can speake answere mee and if you can not speake shewe some outwarde signe and token that it maye be a testimonye vnto vs of your fayth and godly departure ¶ If the Sick vnderstande you then say to him as followeth PErswade your selfe most deare Brother that God euen now calleth you out of thys vale of wretchednesse vnto the ioyfull enherytaunce of hys euerlastyng kingdome where you shall not lyue myserably with sinfull men as you haue done in thys world but you shall gloryouslye raygne wyth that moste mighty God and wyth his holye Aungels and blessed Sayntes Now begins your ioy your solas your comfort now begins your true lyfe which shall be euerlasting nowe is the end of all your sorrows and now beginneth their vnfayned ioyes and true felicitie now shall you see the gloryous maiesty of God face to face now shall you know and perfectly beholde all the godly that haue bene from the beginning of the world and be merry and reioyce with them now shal you see your Sauyour and elder brother Christe as he is Now shall you be clothed with the whyte Garments of immortalitie now shall you haue a crowne of Golde set vpon your head nowe shall you eate of the tree of lyfe which is in the midst of Paradice of God drinke of the Fountaynes of lyuing water now shall you bee a Piller in the temple of your God and sit with hym on his seate and these be the ioyes that shall be euerlasting and neuer haue ende vnto these ioyes shall you straight way goe and for euermore inioy them ¶ And so if he depart out of the world to God then say our Lorde God be praysed for taking him out of the troubles of this world a christyan and a godly ende made he God giue vs all the grace to make the lyke ende Amen OF a godly life commeth a good death if the departure of the Godly man may be called a death and not rather a passing vnto a better lyfe well his body now sleepeth in the Lorde and his soule reigneth in glory with God God graunt him and vs all a ioyfull resurrection Amen NEyghbours before we depart let vs knele downe and giue God the Father thanks for the Godly departure of this our brother in Christ and I will with Gods helpe and your assistaunce reade some Godly thing and I pray you all for to say this Collect after me ¶ The Collect following O How can we most louing father render vnto thee sufficiēt thanks for thyne inestimable godnesse towardes thy faythfull seruaunts whome thou calling oute of thys wretched world vouchsafe to place in thy heauenly kingdome among the gloryous company of thy holy Aungels and blessed Sayntes O full precious is the death of the faythfull in thy sight Blessed are the dead that dye in thee O Lord for they are at rest from their painful trauayles and labours The soules of the righteous are in thy hands O God and the payns of death shall not touch them in the sight of the vnwyse they appeare to dye but they are in peace they shyne as the sparkes that run through the redde Bush they glyster as the shyning of heauen they are as the starres world wythout end they are as the Aungels of God they are clad with whyte Garmentes and haue Golden Crownes vpon their heads they doe seruice day and night before the gloryous throne of thy diuyne Maiesty they neyther hunger nor thyrst any more neyther doeth the Sunne or any heate fall vppon them for the Lambe which is in the midst of the throane gouerneth them and leadeth them to the lyuing Fountaynes of water they follow the Lambe whether soeuer he goeth they haue suche ioyes as eye hath not seene nor eare hath not hearde neyther is there any hart able to thinke them Infinite and vnspeakeable are the Treasures O Lord which thou hast layd vp for them that departe in this Fayth for these thy fatherlye benifytes towardes the soules of thy faythfull and for that it hath pleased thee to call this our christen Brother from this vale of mysery vnto thy heauenly kingdome we giue vnto thee most harty thankes humblye beseeching thee that thou wilte take the lyke care for vs and so gouerne vs with thy holy spirite both in sicknesse in health that we may liue a good and Godly lyfe in this present world and whensoeuer it shall please thy Godly will and pleasure to cal vs hence we may with a strong faith in thee and in thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde commend both our bodyes and soules into thy mercifull handes and through thy goodnesse be placed in thy gloryous Kingdome among the faythfull chosen people and so for euer and euer prayse and magnifye thee our heauenly Father to whome with thy dearelye beloued sonne Iesu Christ our Lorde and sauiour and the holy Ghost that most sweete comforter be all glory and honour world without end Amen NOwe lette vs ryse and goe to comforte the friendes of this our Brother that they doe not much sorrow and lament for the departure of this our most deare brother which now resteth in ioyfull peace ¶ This done giue them councell to bestow of the burying of him so that you may please God best Then say this following THe very God of peace sanctifye vs throughout and so wholy preserue vs both spirite and soule and body that we may be blamed in nothing at the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ Amen OVr Lorde Iesus Christe and GOD our Father which hath loued vs and hath geuen vs euerlasting consolation and good hope through grace comforte our hartes and stablishe vs in all good sayinges and doinges Amen PEace be vnto the Bretheren and loue wyth fayth from God the Father and from the Lorde Iesus Christ grace bee wyth all them which loue our Lorde Iesus Christ Amen BLessing and glorye and wysedome and thanks and honor and power might be vnto our God for euermore vnfainedly Amen FINIS Rom. 13. 1. Peter 2. Cato Math. 5. Iohn 17. Ecclesiast What is old age Seneca Titus 2. Agesilaus Ecclesia Alexander Esay 1. Zacha. 7. Ephe. 4. Iohn 3. Hebr. 12. Prou. 3. Cicero Toby Dany 14 Act. 21. Tim.
had pleased thee to make vs rycher men of great authoritye knowing certaynly that if it were more expedient for thy glory and our saluation to haue eyther higher or lower of degre or greater ryches in this world then we haue as we thank thy goodnesse for that which we haue that both thou mightest by thyne owne omnipotent power and also by thy great goodnesse wouldest haue made vs great rich men lyke as thou haste in olde tyme aduaunced manye as of lowe degree as we are to great ryches and honour in the worlde therefore consydering it is neyther for promotion of thy honour nor for our profyte to be greater and richer thē we be we beseech thee make vs well contente from our hart with that degree and substance which we haue and to contynue in this laboryous state wherin we now are neither grudging agaynst thee for this our pouertye nor enuying the ryches and honour of other men knowing that the welth of rich men is profitable to vs and to all poore men and the prosperity of great men as our quietnes sauegard Moreouer O Lord we knowledge that it is thy diuyne maiesty that some should be set in high authoritye to rule other and some to be rycher then other for if al mē were in a lyke authority and riches ech man would dispyse his neighboures and the pride of men woulde be so intollerable that they woulde neuer suffer no good order to be in the worlde and on the other syde if all men were a lyke pore the mysery in the world would be so great that no man should be able to helpe another so that these diuers offices among men and this diuersitye of riches honours and pouerty which thou hast ordayned O Lord in this world is incomparable better for vs then any order that we can in our brayne deuyse to haue in earth therfore if any man be not content with his degree in this world hee must needes thinke himselfe to be a wicked man because he is sturdy and a stryuer agaynste thy ordynances and because we perceyue O Lord that many in the world are not content with their estates but seeke the honour and ryches of this world some be rebellyous and obstinate some Murtherers bribers theeues and other vniust men we mekely beseech thy diuyne maiesty to amend al such and to saue vs that we neuer consente to their wickednesse nor agree with them in their euil doings but euermore that wee maye haue thy grace to liue contēt with that which thou hast seute and will send vs by truth and honestye and iust meanes that wee running the race of this shorte lyfe in the way of thy commaundementes maye fynally through thy grace obtayne the lyfe euerlastyng in Heauen aboue Amen ¶ A Prayer for them that be at the poynt of Death O Most louing Sauyor gentle redemer which camest into the world to cal synners vnto repentance and to seke vp that was lost thou seest in what case thys our brother lyeth here vysyted with thy mercifull hand all weake feeble sick and ready to yeelde vp his soule into thy holy hands O loke vpon him most gentle Sauiour with thy mercifull eye yea pittie him and be fauourable vnto him he is thy workemāship despyse not the worke therefore of thyne handes thou sufferedst thy blessed body thy precious bloud to be shead for his sins and all ours and to bring him vnto the glory of thy heauēly Father let it not therefore come to passe that thou shouldest suffer so great paynes for him in vaine he was baptysed in thy name and gaue himselfe wholy to be thy seruaunt forsaking the Deuill the world and the flesh count him therefore before thy heauenly father and his blessed Aungels to be thy seruaunte his synnes we counte are great for who is able to say my hart is clean and I am free from my synne but thy mercies O Lord are much greater and thou camest not to call the righteous but the sinners vnto repentaunce to them that are diseased and ouerladen with the burden of sinne thou doest promise thou arte that God which wyllest not the death of a synner but rather that he should tourne and lyue thou arte that Sauyour which wyshest al men to be saued and to come to the knowledge of thy truth wythdraw not therefore thy mercyfull hande from hym because of his sinnes but rather lay vpon him thy sauing health that thou mayest shew thy selfe towardes him to be a Sauyour what greater prayse can be to a Phisition then to heale the sicke neither cā there be a greater glory to thee being a Sauyour of synners Saue him therfore O Lord for thy names sake Agayne let the law be no corisye to his conscience but rather giue him grace in this extreame Agonye and conflict of death to be fully perswaded that thou by thy death haste taken awaye all his sinnes and fulfylled the law for him and by this meanes deliuered him from the cares of the law and payde his raunsome that he thus being fully perswaded may haue a quyet harte a free conscience and a gladde will to forsake this worlde and to goe vnto his Lorde god Moreouer thou hast conquered him that had rule of death euen Sathan suffer him not therfore to excersyse his tyranny vpon this our sicke Brother nor to disquyet hys conscience with the terrours of his sinnes and paynes of Hell let not Sathan nor his infernall Armye tempt him further then he is able to beare but euermore giue him grace euen vnto his last breath valyauntlye to fyghte agaynst the Deuill with strong fayth in thy precious bloud that he may fight a good fight and fynish his course with ioy vnto the glory of thy holy name and the health of his soule O Lord so worke in him by thy holye spirite that he with all his hart may be content and despyse all worldlye thinges and to set his mynde wholye vppon heauenlye thinges hoping with a strong and vndoubted fayth Agayne let it not greeue him O sweete Sauyour to be loosened from this vyle and wretched carcase which is nowe so full of sorrow trouble anguishe sicknesse and paine but let him haue a bent readye wyll through thy goodnesse to put it of yea and that with thys fayth that he at the last daye shall receyue it againe in a much better state then it is now or euer was from the day of his byrth euen a body vncorruptible immortall and like to thy glorious body Let his whole hart and minde be set onely vppon thee let the remembraunce of the ioyes of heauen be so feruent in his breast that he may both paciently thankfully take his death and euer wyshe to be with thee in glory and when the time commeth that he shall giue ouer to Nature and depart from this miserable world vouchsafe we most humbly beseech thee O Lorde Iesu to take hys soule into thy handes and place it among