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
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
restraine vs from it if the sonnes of men shall take the deuill at his word as the Son of God did not and for the glory of the world which hee shall shew and cannot giue shall fall downe and worship him if hee shew honour preferment pleasure riches saying all these will I giue thee though the Minions and Louers of the world that seeke for their heauen vpon earth shall be ready to betray their soules as Iudas betrayed Christ with their hayle Maister shall bee ready to embrace him to serue him to serue themselues yet with the Sonne of God Math. 16. 20. after his fasting bee thou so strong in thy strength as hee was in his weaknesse to bid him depart and to say him nay For it is but a bitter recompence to buy the pleasures at so deere a rate as at the prise of thy soule in thy euerlasting confusion for a short and fading life and but the length of a spanne if thou thinke it more take the counters into thy hand and see what reckoning thou canst make of it what is past grieueth thee with the remembrance thereof because so much of thy time is spent what is present burtheneth thee with the waight therof because in sweate and sorrow study and trauel thou dost wast thy time what is to come troubleth thee with the vncertainety of it least the graue do swallow thee before thou see it yea make thy account as as thou oughtest and thou shalt finde it swifter then the Weauers shuttle Iob. 7. 6. and speedier then a post on the wings of the winde Iob. 9. 25. Then in consideration of this and whatsoeuer hath bene spoken to the vncloathing of our nakednes and humbling vs before God to the pulling off of our roabes of leuity and lightnesse and the preparing our bodies to the graue and our soules to this insuing exercise whether to the daunting of all flesh all must come and the houre may bee neere but it cannot bee farre off and howsoeuer wee forget it it will bee sure to remember vs and therefore let vs know that here as Pilgrimes and strangers wee wander hauing no abiding Citty but wee seeke for one to come but wee must not seek to find it here nor suffer the vaine applause of the world and the vainer conceit of our selues to make vs forget where we liue what we are of our selues being but as a tree turned vpwards hauing no sap from the earth but refreshed and moistened with the dew of heauen let vs so husband our iourney that wee misse not the Citty we seek for let vs so runne our race that we obtaine the victory and reward we runne for and therefore if thou expect in thy labour blessing in thy peace continuance in affliction comfort in thy death triumph in thy iudgement ioy respect in thy life sobriety in thy calling honesty in thy pleasures iudgement in thy sorrowes mercy in thy life religion For if God bee not with thee to direct thee that thou stray not to correct thee that thou presume not to sustaine thee that thou famish not to pardon thee that thou despaire not to support thee that thou stumble not to strengthen thee that thou fall not and to sanctifie thee that thou sinne not and to glorifie thee that thou perish not If the Lord throughout the whole course of thy life and in thy death bee not present and powerfull to thee thou faintest in the one and failest in the other and desperation inuironeth thee on euery side for where the Lord keepeth not watch or turneth away his face all the miseries in the world lay their siedge therefore to him let vs day and night send vp our supplications and prayers without ceasing like incense into the aire to continue what we haue and giue vs what wee want to support vs by his grace to direct vs by his Spirit and so lead vs through this exemplary world of sinne and wickednes with our eys so looking forward fixed on him that wee let not temptations in at their windowes so captiuating our desires vnto his will that with Lot wee may bee righteous in a Citty in a world of vncleanesse that so wee may saue our soules at the last though wee loose all the pleasures in the world besides the losse whereof would more reioyce Sathan then hee sorroweth for the damnation of his owne which grant Lord for thy mercies sake Amen Of the Force the vse and necessity of Prayer SInce all the dayes and howers of the life of man the consumers of the world the measurers of time it selfe are the subiects succeeders of the Lords owne handes and by him only lent to thy vse be not thou then so vnnaturall against the Lord the owner thereof and against thine owne good as not sometimes to lend him some of his owne howers to his seruice for thine owne good Amongst the many perturbations and troubles of this life as sickenes imprisonment losse of frendes vexation of spirit wrought by the bretheren with vs of the same inheritance in the portion of the same infirmitie from the loynes of our first parent Adam The world in Rebellion offering diuers assaultes against the peace and tranquility of her children and nothing to be found vnder the sunne but Vanity and vexation of Spirit The vnrulye passions and affections of our owne nature and the head-strong lustes of the flesh and the concupiscence thereof euer at enmity with the spirit euer readye to intangle vs in the snares of sinne and death our pronenes vnto euill and our backwardnesse vnto good The Many that are called and the few that are chosen the certainty of our death the vncertainty of the time when or the manner how the fearfull account that must be rendered vnto thee at the day of thy appearing in Maiestie and power to iudge both the liuing and those that are departed the consideration whereof in the hart of a Christian toucht with the least finger of his grace that can heale all our infirmities will call him aside into his retired clofset or chamber where he may not only find ease for his body but ease also for his soule and spirit within him by calling to mind the promises of God the largenesse of his loue the extention of his fauour the inheritance layed vp the kingdome prepared from the beginning the peace and rest euerlasting which no distraction tumult nor vexation shall annoye which by the ouer-eager pursuit of our affections and loue to this world which is but a sea subiect to all passions and Mare amarum a bitter sea with all kind of myserie we may lose if we take not heed And being so with-drawne with most prostrat humylitie and obedience we may sacrifice the good thoughts of the spirit and send vp prayers like the smoke of incense into the ayre laying our mouthes to the eares of that wisedome that knoweth our wantes better then we vnderstand them our selues be we new so afflicted
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
thereof but delight in contention and strife therefore I beseech thee because I would not bee as one out of thy fauour giue vnto me that minde that a peacefull man should haue and let thy spirit assure my spirit that my sinnes are washt away in the bloud of thy sonne Christ Iesus that my conscience within me may haue peace and rest without which all ioy will turne into bitternesse and I shall mourne in the middest thereof as the Pellican in the wildernesse The body will beare the infirmity therof but an aking and wounded Conscience who can sustaine O Lord settle this assurance in me that I haue peace with thee and I shal haue peace with all men with whom to haue peace and to be at warres with thee to be at peace with the world and at enmity with thee is to make vnto my selfe a dangerous truce a league of peace against the king of peace the very breath of whose nostrils is able at once to destroy a thousand worlds and all the Creatures therein and therefore vaine is the combination that is plotted against thee Giue mee patience O Lord to digest and passe ouer the iniury and malice of those that contentiously and causlessely by the malice and instigation of Sathan séeke to stir vp strife and disturbe my quyet wherein in the mediation of thee and thy mercies towards me I might meditate day and night free from this troublesome and intangled world with her thousand snares whereby by righting my wrong a little I wrong my selfe a great deale and the remembrance whereof as my means with her so many branches to the vexâ—tion and expence of my mind and body substance endlesly eate me vp yâ— I forget what I liue but to remember woe to him that goes to law for that which yâ— Gospell hath taken order for Therefore good father giue me such a patient disgesting mind that I desire not to iniury others to molest my selfe but rather by yâ— example of thee the true patterne of all imitation that to thy accusers didst not open thy mouth but wast dumbe like a sheep before yâ— shearer wast so far from reuenging the iniuries of man that thou diddest not defend thy selfe And if at any time I bee forced to vse the meanes to take this sword into my hands that I do it not with delight but vnwillingly and with such moderation and clemency that it bee to defend my selfe and not offend others that I offend not in the true vse therof but that I labour to haue peace with thee peace with all men which grant thou that art the God of peace for thy Sonne Christ Iesus sake our Sauiour A prayer for seasonable weather a punishment the Lord hath lately inflicted vpon vs and our whole land for our sinnes ETernall Almighty and Euerlasting God forasmuch as by thy holy word wee are taught that wheÌ„ thine anger is incensed against vs for our sins amongst other thy punishments thou doest shut vp the heauens yâ— there may â—â—no rain that the earth thereby may deny her fruites vnto vs and now thou doest iustly manifest this thy displeasure vnto vs in shutting vp the heauen which was wont to drop downe her wholsome showers in due season vpon the fruits of the earth hardening them as Iron or brasse in dispersing yâ— clouds so that they drop not vpon the dry and parched soyle burnt vp and withering in the heat of thine indignation O Lord though wee are sensible of this thy displeâ—sure kindled so heauily aginst vs at this time yet groaning vnder the weight of our manifold sins and transgressions so great and so innumerable we are afraid in our selues to approach vnto thy Tribunall to craue a release of this thy punishment or to begge any other mercy at thy hands yet because such is thy gracious goodnesse towards mankinde that by thy Prophet Zachary thou hast mercifully promised vs the first and the latter raine to make white clouds and giue showers to euery one grasse in the field Therefore we acknowledging our owne vnworthinesse relying onely vpon thy mercies with lowly contrite broken harts do presume to powre out our humble supplicatioÌ„s before thée beséeching thee yâ— thou wouldst heare our prayers as thou didst sometimes the earnest supplications of Helias who prayed the heauens gaue raine the earth brought forth her fruit And as it hath pleased thee most gracious God likewise to promise by the mouth of Moses thy seruant vnto Israell And in another place by thy Prophet Hosea that if that people would forsake their sinnes turne wholly vnto thee the Lord their God thou wouldst giue raine vnto the land in due time the first raine and the latter that they might gather in the wheate the oyle and yâ— thou wouldest send grasse in their fields for cattle that they might eate inough and yâ— if they would turne vnto thee with vnfeyned repentance thou wouldst heare the heauens they shold heare the earth the earth shold heare the grasse the corn the oyle thou wouldest haue mercy vpon them that were not pittied Mercifull Father with an humble confession of our great ingratitude a hatred loathing of our former transgressions committed with a high and presumptuous hand against thy sacred maiesty and with a serious purpose to walke in the wayes which thou hast commanded so in the griefe and agony of spirit for our former sins we turne vnto thee turne then vnto vs most mercifull father and extend thy great goodnesse and compassion towards vs that we may tast and see how gratious thou art in hearing of these our prayers answearing them gratiously in the seasonable supply of this our necessity to the honour of thy great name and the comfortable refreshing of thy seruantes for the merits of thy sonne Iesus Christ our only Lord and Sauiour A meditation of Gods loue and mercy towards vs and our vnthankefullnesse towards him alluding to the phrase of S. Augustine Miserere mei Domine indigna facientis Digna Patientis ETernall Almighty most mercifull God vpon the knees of our harts we prostrate our selues our soules and bodies at the throne of thy grace being altogether wretched and vnworthy sinners vnworthy of the least of those benefittes that haue not fallen vnto vs seldome now and than and that in a weake and restrayned measure but in bundles and shewes of a large allowance dayly and howerly throwne vpon vs from thy royall and plentifull hand as though we had alwayes performed thy will and our delight and been to walke wholy in the pathes of thy commandements which we haue been so far from witnesse deare God our owne consciences that we haue derided them and set them at light trod them vnder foot vpon the least aduantage or occation nay in sport and merriment and to shew vs men of resolutions presumptuously we haue taken them in vaine and that in so carelesse and high ameasure