say vnto you Sweare not at all neither by heauen for it is Gods seate nor yet by the earth for it is his footestoole neither by Ierusalem for it is the ciite of the great King neither shalt thou sweare by thy head because thou caust not make one white hayre or a blacke But let your communication be yea yea and nay nay for whatsoeuer is more then that commeth of euill Eccl. 24. The man that vseth much swearing shall be filled with iniquitie and the plague shall not be out of his house Zachar. 5. The Prophet saith that the curse of God shall rest in the house of fhim that sweareth falsty and consume it with the Timber and stones thereof iiij Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabbath day sixe dayes shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to doe but the seuenth day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt doe no maner of worke thou thy sonne and thy daughter thy man seruant and thy mayd seruant thy cattell and the straunger that is within thy gates for in sixe daies the Lord made heauen and earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seuenth day wherefore the Lord blessed the seuenth day and hallowed it Christ Matth. 12. It is lawfull to doe a good déede on the Sabboth day Matth. 2. For the sonne of man is Lord euen of the Sabboth day The Lord saith by his Prophet Esay Esay 26.58 hebrewes 4. That his Sabboth is hallowed and kept when we rest and cease to doe our owne wayes when we in word thought and déede fulfill his wil and not ours and when we suffer him to do his workes in vs. That at the last wee may come to that Sabboth and true rest euen eternall life which Christ the Lord of the Sabbath hath obtained for vs by his blood The second Table v. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy daies may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee Christ Matth. 15. Honor thy Father and Mother that is the first Commandement that hath any promise that thou maiest be in good estate and liue long on the Earth By this Commandement Christ teacheth vs not only to haue our Father and Mother in reuerence and to obey them as he himselfe was so subiect vnto his mother he Virgine Mary But also to minister vnto their necessities Match 15. Marke 7. Eccles 3. He that feareth the Lord honoureth his Father and Mother and doth them seruice as it were vnto the Lord himselfe Honor thy Father in deede and word and in all patience that thou mayst haue Gods blessing and his blessing shall abyde with thee at the last The blessing of the Father buyldeth vp the houses of the children But the mothers curse rooteth the foundation c. vj. Thou shalt doe no murther Christ Math. 5. Ye haue heard how it was said vnto them of the old time Thou shalt not kill Whosoeuer killeth shall be in daunger of iudgement But I say vnto you whosoeuer is angrie with his Brother shall be in dauger of iudgement Whosoeuer sayth to his brother Racha shall bee in daunger of a Counsell But whosoeuer sayth thou foole shall bee daunger of hell fire Item yee haue heard how it is sayd thou shalt loue thy neighbours and hate thyne enemies But I say vnto you loue yor enemies blesse them that curse you doe good to them that hate you pray for them that doe you wrong and persecute you that ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heauen For he maketh the Sonne arise on the euill and on the good and sendeth his rame on the iust and on the vniust vij Thou shalt not commit adulterie Christ Matth. 5. Ye haue heard how it was said to them of the olde time Thou shalt not commit adulterie But I say vnto you that whosoeuer looketh on a wife lusting after her hath committed adultlerie with her alreadie in his heart 1. Cor. 6. knowe yee not that your bodies are the members of Christ Shall I now take the members of Christ and make them the members of an Harlot God forbid Doe you not know that he which coupleth himselfe with an Harlot is become one body For they saith he shall be two in one flesh But he that is ioyned vnto the Lord is one spirit Flee fornication Euery sinne that a man doth is without the bodie but he that is a fornicatour sinneth against his owne bodie Either knowe ye not how that your bodies are the tempses of the holy Ghost which dwelleth in you whom you haue of God and how that you are not your owne For ye are dearely bought therefore glorifie God in your bodies and in your Spirites which are Gods Hebr. 13. Let wedlocke be had in price in all poynts and let the Chamber be vndefileld for whoremongers and adulterers God will iudge viij Thou shalt not steale Christ Matth. 10. Steale not Detraude no man Matth. 5. If any man wil sue thee at the law and take thy coate from thee let him haue thy cloake also Giue to him that asketh and from him that would borrow turne not away 1. Corin. 6. Now is there vtterly a faulte among you because ye goe to lawe one with another Why rather suffer ye not wrong Why rather suffer yee not your selues to be robbed Nay yee your selues doe wrong and robbe and that the brethren Ephes 4. Let him that did steale steale no more but let him rather labour with his hands same good thing that he may haue to giue him that needeth jx Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour Christ Mark 10. Beare no false witnesse Matth. 13. I say vnto you that of euery idle worde which men shall haue spoken they shall giue accounts at the day of Iudgment Ephes 4. Wherefore put away lying and speake euery man the truth to his neighbour for as much as we are members one of another Let no filthie communication proceede out of your mouthes but that which is good to edifie with all when neede is that it may haue fauour with the hearerse Let al bitternesse fiercenesse and wrath roaring and cursed speaking be put away from you Ephe. 5. Let not frithinesse foolish talking nor iesting which are not comely be once named among you but rather giuing of thanks x. Thou shalt nor desire thy neighbours house thou shalt not desire thy neighbours wife nor his mayde nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is thy neighbours Christ Math. 7. Whatsoeuer ye would men should do to you euen so do ye to them Marke 7. To loue a mans neighbour as himselfe is a greater thing then all burnt Offerings and Sacrifices Matth. 14. Be not ouercome with iust for the care of this world and the deceitfulnesse of riches choke the word Hebrewes 13. Let your conuersation be without couetousnesse and bee content with that ye haue alreadie 1. Tim. 6. Godlinesse is great
forgiue rich in louing kindnes towards such as call vpon thee and exceeding mightie in thy works aboue all Gods wilt not despise vs in so great distresse and tribulation Thou art most puissat thou shewest wonderfull things thou art God alone Teach vs therfore thy perfect waies cause vs to walke in thy blessed truth cal backe our wandring hart vnto thee that it may stand greatly in feare of thy holy name Thou verely hast nobly made vs partakerse of thy excellent merey but for asmuch as we were very vngratefull the hostes of the vngodly are risen vp against vs and the forefrone of cursed mens battailes haue aâ—â—aulted vs who neither regarâ—e thee at all nor make any account oâ— thy most blessed name pure doctrine indeuoucing al only by their most lewd practises thorow the same meane to destroy at one push both the true worshinping of thee and our Soules also Seeing that therefore thou art a very mercifull God long suffering of great loue and truth to trust vnto haue an especiall regarde vnto the childreÌ„ of thy louing promise be fauorable strengthen and defende them aduaunce thy banner to our saluation so that the cruel aduersaries may be confouded and that all may right well see and euidently perceiue thee onely to be our most good and louing God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for the prosperous successe of Christs kingdome against the enemies thereof OVR daily petition is O Almightie God that the kingdome of our Lorde Iesus Christ may be augmented appeare at length to bee most perfect which thing we now also desire verie instantlie in our heartie praters and humble supplications Be alwaies mindfull thereof O good God of his fat and most pleasant obsation which he made for vs vpon the altar of the Crosse and graunt that by the triumph of his most perfect victorie and conquest we may take both Saluation and delightfull pleasure Although we deny not but that the same shal come to passe without our desarts who haue through our manifold wickednesse offended thee very many and infinite waies yet for thy tender louing mercies sake put them to shame and confusion that repose all their trust in Charets horse and worldly power but raise and lift vp to saluation such as are wholy bent to depend vppon thee and bowe downe thy mercifull and fauourable eares to heare the feruent prayers and petitions which we make vnto thy diuine maiestie for the mightie enlarging of our Lord Iesus Christs kingdome through the same Iesus Christ our Lord. So be it A Prayer for comfort in persecution WEe perceiue most mercifull mighty God that not onely Antichrist but also the power and strength of the whole world conspireth against thee and against thy Christ which thinke thy Gospell and the redification of thy Church to be an intollerable bondage and hard yoke Wherefore they labor by all meanes possible to breake asunder the societies and congregations of the faithful and cast away all discipline But for asmuch as thou sittest in heauen and art not ignorant what the diuell and wicked flesh goeth about laugh thou to scorne their vaine counsels bring their purposes to naught let them feele thine anger to be kindled against them and make them astonied at the fiercenesse of thine indignation so that they may not be able to destroy thy Church ouer whom thou hast appointed Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour that in it he might raigne by the word and Spirit with inuinsible might and power Wherfore grant vnto vs although vnworthie and shrinking children such faith and constancie that we may find him also confesse him to be our onely King and that we may nothing doubt but that wee bee his nation people and heritage being most assured of this that he is of such strength and power that with his word more strong then yron he is able to destroy whom he wil and breake them in peeces like earthen pots Therefore O God turne the Kings and Princes of the world vnto thee that they may be wise and vnderstand wherby they may vnfeinedly acknowledg imbrace and kisse the Sonne least when his anger shall once be kindled they perish and be destroied for euer And when it shall bee thy good pleasure make them blessed for euermore which commit theÌ„selues to thy gouernance 〈◊〉 protection So be it A Prayer for a true Subiect AS it is thy godly appointment O Lorde God that some should beare rule in this world to see thy glory set forth the common peace kept so it is thy pleasure againe that some should be subiects and inferiours to other in their vocation although before thée there is no respect of persons And forasmuch as it is thy godlie will and pleasure to appoint and set me in the number of subiects I beseech thee to giue me a faithfull boedient hart vnto the higher powers that there may be found in me no disobedience no vnfaith fulnesse no treasons no falsehood no dissimulation no insurrection no commotion nor conspiracie nor any kinde of rebellion in word or deed against the ciuil Magistrates but al faithful obedience quietnesse subiection humilitie and whatsoeuer else becommeth a subiect that I liuing here in all lowlines of mind may at the last day through thy fauor be lifted vp into euerlasting glory where thou most mermcifull Father with the Son and the holy Ghost liuest and raignest very God for euer and euer Amen For Fathers and Mothers THe fruite of the wombe and the multitude of children is thy gift and blessing O Lord God giuen to this end that they may liue to thy glorie and to the commoditie of their neighbours Forasmuch therefore as thou of thy goodues hast giuen me children I beseech thee giue me also grace to traiue them vp euen from their cradles in thy nurture and doctrine in thy holy lawes and blessed ordinances that froÌ„ their very young age they may know thee beleeue in thee feare loue and obey thee and dili\gently walke in thy commandements all the daies of their life vnto the praise of thy glorious name through Iesus Christ our Lord. So be it Of Children THou hast giuen a commandement in thy lawe O heauenly Father that Children should honor their Fatherse and Mothers I most humblie beseech thee therefore to breath thy holie spirit into my breast that I may reuerence and honor my Father and Mother not only with outward iestures of my bodie but also with the vnfeined affections of my heart loue them obey them map for them help them and doe for them both in word déed whatsoeuer lieth in my power that thou seeing my vnfeined hartygoodwil towards my parents maist become my louing heauenly Father and number me among those thy children whom from euerlasting thou hast appointed to be heires of thy glorious kingdome through thy welbeloued Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ Amen Of Householders TO haue children and seruants is thy blessing O Lord but
beneath yet is he present with vs his members euen to the end of the world ini preseruing and gouerning vs with is effectuall power and grace who when all things are fulfilled which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his Prophetes since the world began will come in the same visible forme in the which he ascended with an vnspeakable matestie power and companie to separate the Lambes from the Goates the Elect from the reprobate So that none whether he be aliue then or dead before shall escape his iudgement Moreouer I beleeue and confesse the holy Ghost God equall with the Father and the Sonne who regenerateth and sanctifieth vs ruleth and guideth vs in all truth perswading most assuredly in our consciences that we be the Children of God Brethren to Iesus Christ and tellowe heires with him in life euerlasting Yet notwithstanding it is not sufficient to beleeue that God is omnipotent and mercifull that Christ hath made satisfaction or that the holy Ghost hath his power and effect except we doe applie the same benefites to our selues which are Gods Elect. I beleeue therefore and confesse one holy Church which as members of Iesus Christ the only head thereof consent in faith hope and charitie vsing the giftes of God whether they be temporall orspirituall to the profit and furtherance of the same Which church is not séene to mans eye but only known to God who of the lost Sons of Adam hath ordained some as bessels of wrath to damnation and hath chosen others as vessels of his mercy to be saued the which also in due time he calleth to integritie of life and godly conuersation to make them a glorious church to himselfe But that church which is visible and séene to the eye hath thrée tokens or marks wherby it may be discedice First the word of God contained in the old and new Testament which as it is aboue the authoritie of the same Church and only sufficient to instruct vs in all things concerning saluation so it is left for all degrees of men to reade and vnderstand For without this word neither Church counsel or decree can establish any poynt touching Saluation The second is the holy Sacraments to wit of Baptisme and the Lords Supper which Sacraments Christ hath left vnto vs as holy signes and seales of Gods promises for as by Baptisme once receiued is signified that we as well infants as others of age and discretion being strangers from God by originall sinne are receiued into his familie and congregation with full assurance that although this roote of sin lye hid in vs yet to the elect it shall not be impured So the Supper declareth that God as a most prouident Father doth not only feede our bodies but also spiritually nourisheth our Soules with the graces and benefites of Iesus Christ which the Scripture calleth eating of his flesh and drinking of his bloud neither must we in the administration of these Sacraments followe mans phantasie but as Christ himselfe hath ordained so must they be ministred and by such as by ordmarie vocation bee thereunto called Therefore whesoeuer reserueth or worshippeth these Sacraments or contrarywise contemneth them in time and place procureth to himselfe damnation The third marke of this Church is Ecclesiasticall discipline which standeth in admonition and correction of faults The finiall end whereof is excommunication by the consent of the Church determined if the offender be obstinate And besides this Ecclesiasticall censure I acknowledge to belong to this Church a politicall Magistrate who ministreth to euery man Iustice desending the good and punishing the euill to whom we must render honour and obedience in all things which are not contrary to the word of God And as Moses Ezechias Iosias and other godly rulers purged the Church of God from Superstition and Idolatrie so the defence of Christs Church apperteineth to the Christian Magistractes against al Idolaters and Heretikes wherein standeth only remission of sinnes purchased by Christs bloud to al them that beleeue whether they be Iewes or Gentiles and leades vs to vayne confidence in Creatures and trust in our own imaginations The punishment whereof although God oftentimes deferreth in this life yet after the general resurrection when our soules and bodies shall arise againe to immortalitie they shall be damned to vnqueachable sire and then we which haue forsaken all mans wisdome to cleaue vnto Christ shall heare that ioyfull voyce Come ye blessed of my Father inherice ye the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world and so shall goe triumphing with him in bodie and soule to remaine euerlastingly in glory where we shall see God face to face and shall no more need one to instruct another for we shall all know him from the highest to the lowest To whom with the Father the Sonne and holy Ghost be all praise honor and glorie now and for euer So be it The Commandements of God giuen by Moses and expounded by Christ The first Table THou shalt haue none other Gods bt me Exo. 20. Deut. 6. I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thee out of the land of AEgypt out of the house of bondage Christ Mat. 6. Heare Israel Our Lord God is one Lord and thou shalt loue thy Lord God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy mind and with all thy strength Matth. 4. Thou shalt worship thy Lord God and him onely shalt thou serue ij Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath nor in the water vnder the earth thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a ielous God and visit the sinnes of the Father vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewe mercie vnto thousands in t hem that loue me and keepe my commandements Iohn 1. No man hath séene God at any time The only begotten Sonne which is in the bosome of the Father hath declared him Christ Iohn 4. God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth Acts 18. For as much as we are the generation of God wee ought not to thinke that the Godhead is like vnto Gold Siluer or Stone grauen by craft or imagination of man 1. Iob. 5. Babes kéepe you from Images Sap. 14. Cursed is the I dol that is made with hands yea both it and he that made it because it was called God whereas it is but a fraile thing For the vngodly and his vngodlines are both like abhominable vnto God iij. Thon shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine For the Lord will not hold him guiltles that taketh his name in vaine Christ Mattth 5. Ye haue heard how it was sayd vnto them of olde tyme Thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe but shalt perfourme thyne othes to the Lord. But I
riches so a man be content with that he hath For we brought nothing into the world and it is a plaine case that we carrie nothing out When we haue food and raiment let vs therewith be content They that will be rich fall into temptations and suares and into many foolish and noyseme lustes which drowne men in perdition and destrucion For Couetousnisse is the roote of all euil which while some lusted after they erred form the faith and tangled themselues with many sorrowes Deut. 6. These words which I commaunde thee this day shall be in thyne heart and thou shalt whet them in thy Children and shalt talke of them when thou art at home in thine house and as thou walkest by the way and wheÌ„ thou liest downe and when thou risest vp and thou shalt binde them for a signe vpon thine head And they shall be papers of remembraunce betweene thine eyes and thou shalt write them vpon the posses of thy house and vpon thy gaies Deut. 3. Take heede and heare all these words which I commaund thee that it may go wel with thee and with thy Children after thee for euer when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God Deut. 6. See thou do that which is right and in the sight of the Lord that thou mayst prosper Deut. 12. He shal not de after al these things that we do here this day euery man what see moth him good in his owne eyes but whatsoeuer I commaund you take héeâ—â—e do and put nought thereto nor take ought thereiroÌ„ Deuter. 27. Curied bee he that maintaynech not all the words of the law to do them Galat. 3. Christ hath deliuered vs from the curse of the law in as much as he was made accursed for vs for it is written Cursed is euery one that hangeth on trée that the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Iesus Christ that we might receiue the promise of the Spirit through faith Ierem. 31. This is the Testament that that I wil make with the house of Israel After those dayes say the Lord I will put my Lawes in their minds and in their hearts I wil write them and their sinnes and iniquities I wil no more remember And I will be with my people The svveete and louing promises of almightie God in such as keepe his Commaundements Deut. xxviij IF thou hearken diligently vnto the voyce of the Lord thy God to obserue and doe all his Commaundements Blessed shalt thou be in the towne and blessed in the fields Blessed shall be the fruite of thy bodie the fruite of the ground and the fruite of thy Cattell the fruite of thyne Oxen and the flockes of sheepe Blessed shall thy Barnes be and thy siore blessed shalt thou be both when thou goest out and blessed when thou commest in The Oration of Iob in his most grieuous aduersitie and losse of goodes Iob. 1. NAked came I out of my mothers wombe and naked shall I turne againe and the Lord hath taken away as it hath pleased the Lord so is it done now blessed be the name of the Lord. A Prayer in prosperitie I Giue thee thankes O God Aloughtie which not onty hast indued me with the giftes of nature as reason power and strength but also hast plentifully giuen me the substance of this world I acknowledge O Lord that these are thy gifts and confesse with holy Saint Iames that there is no perfect nor good gift but it commeth from thee O Father of light which giuest freely castest no man in the teeth I acknowledge with the Prophet Agge that gold is thine and Siluer is thine and to whome it pleaseth thee thou giuest it to the godly that they may be the disposers and distributers thereof and to the vngodly to heape vp their damnation with all Wherefore my most mercifull God I humbly beseech and desire thee to frame in me with the holy Spirit a faithfull heart and readie hand to distribuce these thy good gifts accoding to thy will and pleasure that I treasure not vp heere where theeues may rob and moths corrupt but to treasure vp thy heauenly kingdome where neither Theefe may steale nor moth defile to myne owne comfort whom of thy mercie thou hast promised to reward therfore to the good example of the humble and meeke of the Congregation and to the glorie of thy name To whome with thy Sonne and holy Ghost be al honor and praise world without end Amen A godly prayer to be sayd in thy aduersitie and trouble O Lord GOD without whose will and pleasure a Sparrowe doth not fall on the ground saeing it is thy will and permission that I should be in this miserie and aduersitie and séeing also thou doest punish mee with aduersitie and trouble not to destroye mée and cast me away but to call me to repentaunce and saue mee for whom thou doest loue him doest thou chasten Furthermore seeing afflictions and aduersitie worketh patience and who so patiently beareth tribulation is made like vnto our Sauiour Christ the head Finally seeing that in all tribulation and aduersity I am in assurance of comfort at thy gracious hands for thou commaundest me to call vpo thee in time of tribulation and hast promised to heare and succour me grant me therefore O almightie God and mercifull Father in all trouble and aduersitie to be quiet without impatience and mururing without discouraging and desperation to praise and magnifie thee to put my whole trust and confidence in thee for thou neuer forsakest them that trust in thee but workest all for the best to them that loue thee and seeke the glorie of thy name Tot hee he glocie for euer So be it A prayer to be sayd before the receiuing of the Communion O Father of mercie and God of all consolation seeing all creatures doe knowledge and confesse thee to be their gouernour and Lord it becommeth vs the workemanship of thine owne handes at all times to reuerence and magnifie thy godly Maiesti e First for that thou hast created vs to thine owne Image and similitude but chiefly because thou hast deliuered vs from that euerlasting death and damnation into the which Sathan drewe mankinde by the meanes of sinne from the bondage whereof neither man nor Angell was able to make vs free but thou O Lord rich in mercie and infinite in goodnesse hast prouided our redemption to stand in thine onely and welbeloued sonne whom of very loue thou diddest giue to be made man like vnto vs in all things sine xcepted that in his bodie he might receiue the punishment of transgression by his death to make satisfaction to thy iustice and by his resurrection to destroy him that was the author of death so to bring againe life to the world from which the whole spring of Adam was most iustly exiled O Lord we acknowledge that no creature was ble to comprehend the length and the breadth the deepenesse and
heigot of that most excessent loue which moued thee to shew mercie where none was deserued to promise and giue life where death had gotten the victorie to receiue vs into thy grace when we could do nothing but rebel against thy maiestie O Lord the blind dulnesse of our corrupt nature will nto suffer vs sufficiently to weigh these thy most ample benefites yet neuerthelesse at the commaundement of Iesus Christ our Lord we present our selues to this thy Table which hee hath left to bee vsed in remembrance of his death vntill his comming againe to declare and witnesse before the world that by him alone we haue receiued libertie and life that by him alone thou doest acknowledge vs to be thy children and heires that by him alone wee haue entraunce to the trone of thy grace that by him alone we are possessed in our Spiritual kingdome to eate and drinke at his Table with whom we haue our conuersation present in Heauen and by whom our bodies shall be raised vp againe from the dust and shall be placed with him in that endlesse ioy which thou O father of mercie hast prepared for thine elect before the foundation of the world was laid And these most inest imable benefits we acknowledge and confesse to haue receiued of thy free mercie and grace by chine onely beloued sonne Iesus Christ For the which therefore we thy congregation moued by the holy Spirice render to thee all thankes praise and glorie for euer and euer Amen ¶ A thankes giuing after the receiuing of the holy Communion MOst mercifull father we render to thee all praise thankes honour and glorie for that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercy to graunt vs miserable sinners so excellent a gift and treasure as to receiue vs into the fellowship and companie of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lord whom thou hast deliuered to death for vs and hast giuen him vnto vs as a necessarie foode and nourishmēt vnto euerlasting life And now we beséech thée also O heauenly father to graunt vs this request that thou neuer suffer vs to become so vnkind as to forget so worthie benefites but rather imprint and fasten them sure in our hearts that we may grow and inicrease dayly more and more in true faith which continually is exercised in all manner of good workes and so much the rather O Lord confirme vs in these perillous dayes and rages of Sathan that we may constantly stand and continue in the confession of the same to the aduauncement of thy glorie which art God ouer all things blessed for euer Amen A comfortable Prayer O Lord God almigbtie and Father most mercifull there is none like thee in heauen or in earth which workest all things for the glorie of thy name and the comfort of thine elect Thou diddest once make man ruler ouer all thy creatures and placed him in the garden of all pleasure but how soone alas did he in his felicitie forget thy goodnesse Thy people Israel also in their wealth did euermore run astray abusing thy manisld mercies like as all flesh contimually rageth when it hath gotten libertie and externall prosperitie But such is thy wisedome adioyned to thy mercies deare Father that thou seekest all meanes possible to bring thy children to the sure sence and liuely feeling of thy fatherly fauour And therefore when prosperitie will not serue then sendest thou aduersitie graciously correcting all thy Children whom thou receiuest into thy houshold Wherfore I wretched and miserable sinner render vnto thee most humble and heartie thankes that it hath pleased thee to call me home to thy folde by thy fatherly correction at this present whereas in presperlite and aduersitie I did neglect thy greace offered vnto me For the which negligence and many other grieuous sinnes where of I now accuse my selfe before thee thou mightest most iustly haue giuen me vp into a reprobate minde and induration of hart as thou hast done others But such is thy goodnesse O Lorod that thou séemest5 to forget al my offences and hast called me of thy good pleasure from all idolatrie to professe thy name and to suffer some Crosse amongst thy people for thy truth and Gospel sake and so to be thy witnesse with the Prophets and Aposties yea with thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ our head to whom thou doest being heere fashion me like that in his glorie I may also be like him when he shall appeare O Lord God what am I vpon whom thou shouldest shewe this great mercie O most louing Lord forgiue me my vnthankefulnesse and all my sinnes for Iesus Christes sake O heauenly Father increase thy holy Spirit in me to teach my heart to crye Abba deare Father assure me of thy eternall election in Christ to reueale thy will more and more towards me to confirme mee so in thy trueth that I may liue and dye therein and that by the power of the same Spirite I may boldlie giue an account of my faith to all men with humblenesse and meekenesse to the glorie of thy most holy name Thorowe Iesus Christ our Lor and onely Sauiour So be it A meditation for a vvoman vvith childe and specially vvhen she entreth in to trauell O Almightie and mercifull Father which of thy bountifull goodnesse hast fructified my wombe and of thy gracious blessing hath created mee a reasonable creature I most heartily thanke thee not only for this thy gracious gift but also for that thou hast at all times since I conceiued preserued me from all perils both of soule and bodie and hast so moderated all my nips pinches throwes and pangs that I haue hetherto right well escaped them I acknowledge O Lord iustly for our sinfull transgression of thy commaundements thou saidst vnto the first woman and in her to vs all I will increase thy sorrowe when thou art with childe with paine shalt thou bring forth thy children And our paines therefore that we suffer in this behalfe are none other thing but a worthie Crosse layde vpon vs by thy godly ordinance to the which with heart and minde I humbly submit me trusting surely and being fully perswaded in my faith that thou callest none into perrill and daunger but both thou canit and wilt at conuenient season deliuer them Thou most gracious GOD hast commaunded vs in all our trouble to call vpon thee for ayde and helpe and not only hast commaunded vs but also of thy mercifull goodnesse hast promised to vs good deliuerance saying Call vpon mee in the time of trouble and I will deliuer thee O good Lord how greatly doe these words comfort my hart and sustaine my sillie soule Who would not greatly reioyce that knoweth certainely almighty God to be present with him in his trouble Saith not God thus Or euer they cal saith he I shall aunswere them while they are yet but thinking how to speake I shal beare them and in the Psalme I am with him saith God in his trouble out of which I
will deliuer them What a comfortable Lord is this He is more readie to help then we to call for help He is more readie to giue grace then we to aske it There was neuer any yet that with a sure faith asked grace of this Lord but he had it Christ saith aske and ye shall haue Euery one the excenteth none Verely verely I say vnto you saith Christ whatsoeuer you shal aske my Father in my name he shall giue it you Our Sauiour Christ saith this and he is God And shall not I hearken to my Lord God his commandements and promisâ—s Verely I will sticke surely to it For sure I am that sooner shall heauen and earth perish then Gods promis be vnpersourmep For albeit euery man naturally is a lyar and deceiver yet God is alwaies true and iust in all his words and promises I will therefore make my suite vnto him whom I neede not goe farre to seeke for he is euery where present iwth his elect and is nigh vnto al them that call vpon him faithfully And thus I will pray vnto him A prayer of a vvoman vvith Child FAther of mercy and God of comfort and consolation I thy poore handmaid humbly beseech thee for Christ Iesus sake and in his blessed and holy name that thou wilt vouchsafe to torgiue me all my sinnes and trespasses that I haue heretofore offended thy holy Maiestie either in thought consent delectation word or deede and that thou wilt hereafter during my life mercifully preserue me from transgressing of thy Commaundements and dayly increase in me perfect repentance for my sinnes a sure purpose of amendment of life a diligent studie to walke in thy commaundementes increase in me also a liuely faith a sure hope and and ardent charitie Ingreffe in me humblenesse of heart meekenesse of minde cleannesse of Conscience Graunt me that I may be wise sad sober discreete circumspect and well aduised in all my sayings And that I may strongly ouercome all the temptations of mine enemies the Deuill the world and the flesh And that whether by sleeping waking eating drinking or whatsoeuer I doetall may be to thine honour and glorie Graunt me also that I may humbly reuerence and faithfully loue mine Husband and be obedient to all his honest lawfull and godly requests And chiefly of all graunt me O Lord that I may feare and dread thee For well assured I am that look how high the heauen is in comparison of the Earth and so great is Gods mercie towards theÌ„ that feare him Looke how wide the East is from the West so farre hath he set our sinnes from vs Yea like as a Father pitieth his owne children euen so is the Lord mercifull to them that feare him And as touching my deliuerance of this burthen and thy gracious gift I am right well assured that vnlesse thou prosper my trauell all womens help all phificke is in vaine but my full trust is that like as thou hast created this child in me and hast breathed into it the spirit of life so at such time as shall be seene most meete to thy godly Maiestie thou both caust and wilt prosper the childs birth and my deliuerance In consideration whereof I humblie beseech thee of thy fatherly pittie so streng then me in this my daungerous labour and trauell and so sustaine mee that I may patientlie beare all the throwes and pangs and according to thy promise suffer me not to be tempted aboue my strength but in the middest of my temptation make a way to come out that I may beare it Increase my faith O most mercifull Sauiour Christ that I may constantly beleeue thy word which saiest ye shall be sorrowfull but your sorrowe shall be turned into ioy A woman when she trauaileth hath sorrowe for her hower is not come but when she is deliuered of the childe she thinketh no more of the anguish for ioy that a man childe is borne into the world I beseech thee the refore in the daungerous time of my crauell graunt me speedie deliuerance and ioyfull beholding of my childe that I being a merrie mother may render vnto thee honor laude praise and thankes for thine aboundant mercie and gracious giftes and benefites And finally aboue all things I beseech thy gracious goodnes to endue my child with grace that it may be one of the number of thine elect Babtized and regenerated in the holy Ghost And that at the yéeres of discretion it may learne to know thee and knowing thee may trust surely in thy mercy and trusting in thy mercie may heartile loue thee louing thee may feare to displease thee and fearing to displease thee may walke and continue in the obedience of thy Commandements And finally attaine â—uerlasting ioy and felicitie Through â—ur Lord Iesus Christ which liueth and â—â—igneth with thee and the holy Ghost world without â—â—â— So be it 〈…〉 she is deliuered O My Lord GOD I thanke thee with all my heart wit vnderstanding and power for that thou hast vouchsafed to deliuer me out of the perill of this most dangerous trauel and hast sent into this world out of my wofull wombe this childe a creature of thine owne fashioning forming and shape like vnto the rest of the Children of thy creation for which I am not able worthely enough of my owne faile nature to giue to thee condigne thankes praise honour and glorie for thy so great benefites shewed vnto me in pulling me out from the pittes brincke of death easing and releeuing all my wofull sorrowes laborious panges and most grieuous throwes bitter anguishes and vnspeakeable paynes which I could neuer haue ascaped without thy most singular ayde helpe reliefe and succour wherefore I thy most humble handemaide with stedfast and pure heart and handes doe powre our before thee my Lorde God and onely Sauiour these my simple prayers of thankes-giuing the fruite of my faith hope trust charitie and assured confidence which I haue in thee as certeining my selfe that now thou hast preserued me for a further tryall of my nocation and seruice towards thee in this vaile of tranuÌ„corie life wherein I may haue time by thy diuine permission and sufferance to direct all my steppes in thy wayes and to honour and glorifie thee in my soule and bodie with condigne thankes in reioycing in thy holy name according to thy most blessed word wherein thou hast declared that a woman as long as shee is in trauell of her childe bearing shee is forrowfull heauie and full of anguish and intollerable pames but as soone as the chile is borne she learneth straighe wayes to forget all her paynes not remembring them any longer and beginneth to reioyce for that she hath brought foorth a childe into the world Euen so O Lord fareth in with me thy poore humble and obedient seruant now reioysing in that it hath pleased thee to make me a glad mother in bringing foorth this childe whom now I doe present before the face of thy diuine
redeemed with thy most precious blood and be not angry with vs for euer Spare vs good Lord. From all euill and mischiefe from sinne from the crafts and assaults of the Deuill from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From all blindnesse of heart from pride vaineglorie and hypocrisie from enuie hatred and malice and al vucharitablenesse Good Lord deliuer vs. From fornication and all other deadly sinne and from all the deceits of the world the flesh and the deuill Good Lord beliner vs. From lightning and tempest from Plague Pestilence and Famine from battaile and murder and from sudden death Good Lord deliuer vs. From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrien and heresie from hardnesse of heart and contempt of thy word and commaundement Good Lord deliuer vs. By the misterie of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuitie and circumcision by thy Baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agonie and bloody sweat by thy Crosse and Passion by thy precious death and buriall by thy glorious resurrection and ascention and by the comming of the holy Ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In all time of our tribulation in all time of our wealth in the hower of death and in the daye of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. We sinners doe beseech thee to heare vs O Lord God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holy Church vniuersally in the true worshipping of thée in righteousnesse and holinesse of life thy seruant Elizabeth our most gracious Queene and gouernour We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to rule her heart in thy faith feare and loue and that she may euermore haue arfiance in thee and euer leeke thy honour and glorie We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to be her defender and keeper giuing her the victorie ouer all her enemies We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops Pastors and Ministers of the Church with true knowledge and vnderstanding of thy word and that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it forth and shew it accordingly We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to indue the Lords of the Counsell and all the Nobilitie with grace wisedome and vnderstanding We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute iustice and to maintaine truth We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe all thy people We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue to all nations vnitie peace and concord We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue vs an heart to loue and dread thee and diligently to liue after thy commandements We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue all thy people increase of grace to heare meekely thy word and to receiue it with pure affretion and to bring foorth the fruites of the spirit We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such as haue erred and are deceiued We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to strengthen such as doe stand and to comfort and helpe the weake hearted and to raise vp them that fall and finally to beate downe Sathan vnder our feete We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort all that be in daunger necessitie and tribulation We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauaile by land or by water all women labouring of childe all sicke persons and young children and to shew thy pittie vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse children and widowes and all that be desolate and oppressed We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to haue mercie vpon all men We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindlie fruites of the earth so that in due time we may inioy them We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue vs true repentance to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to indue vs with the grace of thy holy spirite to amend our liues according to thy holy word We beseech thee c. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God c. O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Graunt vs thy peace O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Haue mercy vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Our father which art in heauen c. And leade vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euill Amen The versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The Answere Neither reward vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God mercifull father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desire of such as be sorrowfull mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles and aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and graciouslie heare vs that those euils which the craft and subteltie of the diuell or man worketh against vs be brought to naught and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may be dispearsed that we thy seruants being hurt by no persecution may euermore giue thankes to thee in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lorde arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy name sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue derlared vnto vs the noble workes that thou diddest in their dayes and in the olde time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thine honour Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. From our enemies defend vs O Christ Graciously looke vpon our afflictions Pitifully beholde the sorrowes of our hearts Mercifullie forgiue the sins of thy people Fauourable with 〈◊〉 heare our prayers O Sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon vs. Both now euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Graciouslie heare vs O Christ graciously heare vs O Lord Christ The versicle O Lord let thy mercie be shewed vpon vs. The Answere As we do put our trust in thee Let vs pray WE humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glory of thy name sake turne from vs those euils that we most righteouslie haue deserued And graunt that in all out troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercie and euermore serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of liuing to thy honour and glorie through our onely Mediatour and Aduocate Iesus Christ our