Rides quid non sic forsitan vna dies Knewest thou a moneth should end thy dayes it would giue cause of sorrow And yet perhaps thou laughes to day when thou must die to morrow A Prayer or meditation before the receyuing of the holy communion MOst mercifull and most worthely beloued Lord the eternall sonne of the eternal father thou blessed Iesus Christ what should we render vnto thée for all thy louing kindnesse for all that thou hast done and suffered for vs thy creatures of priuiledge aboue all the creatures in the world the sonnes and daughters of men indued with wisedome capability and vnderstanding the steps of thy foot the printes of thy hands fixed in a spattous world and the innumerability of creatures there of delight and admiration for vs to contemplate theron and imploy to our vse a delight more heauenly and truly intire alone then all the irration all hud-winked creatures in the world can tast besides therefore all those in subiection vnder our foot besides fashioned and framed vs to thine owne image with a stature ascendant shooting vpright into heauen when all other creatures go groueling precipitated downe towards the earth yet O Lord for all these benifits and excellent indowments that we should behaue our selues so vngratefully towards thee that it should repent the to haue made man that our rebellious and vnnaturall sins should vnwillingly on thy party draw thy punishments euen from out thy grasped hand Oceans of waters froÌ„ thy cloudes to drowne all the world but eight persons shall pull fier from heauen to burne whole Citties and townes as Sodome and Gomorroh were and not ten righteous persons to be found amongst ten thousand vnrighteous and yet thy loue to be so fâ—r continued notwithstanding that when all maÌ„kind had peruerted their ways and there was not one that did good no not one and wee lay bare and open to the law and sathan triumphing ouer our infirmities leading vs captiues vnder the bondage of sinne that thou shouldest send thy sonne into the world descending from the throne of his maiesty into the bowelles of humanity from thy right hand in heauen to thy foot-stoole the earth there to be layed in a manger persecuted by Herod beeing a child to pay tribute to preach to pray to fast to be tempted to be betrayed to be mocked to be scourged to be crowned to be crucified all by vngratefull man that would oppose a power against him that gaue them power to take away his life that was the author of life and breathed the breath of life into there nostrils yet O loue without example without imitation that very night that hee was betrayed when the hower and the power of darkenesse met together wheÌ„ the blackest consultation that euer day or night was witnesse too was held to darken the sun to extinguish the light to vndermine the intirest innocency that euer possest the breath of being yet O loue aboue all loue that night and that hower of that night when these heades were combining against thee wast thou instituting and ordayning this thy blessed Sacrament to the saluation of there soules and all the wretched sinners in the world besides as many as by a liuely fayth shall apply it to there wounded consciences O gratious God open thou our eyes in the largest consideration that wee may see thy loue and consider what thou hast done for the sonnes of men that for thy loue vnto vs more strong then death we may returne our loue to thee more weake then our owne life cold dull and frosen which let vs seeke to warme in the hottest zeale of our affection that in some poore measure we may be worthy to receiue this thy sacrament of thy most blessed body and bloud then by thee ordayned to our euerlasting saluation the admiration of men and Angels and that we may so doe prepare vs O Lord to this thy heauenly banquet with all due and requisite regard with penitent and bleeding hartes that we come not there without our wedding garment least we turne that blessing into a curse and by eating and drinking our owne damnation bee guilty of thy body and bloud which is otherwayes able to saue our soules and to that end we besech thee set a part in vs whatsoeuer thy maiesty is most offended with or maketh vs vnworthy of this thy blessed sacrament and giue vs new hartes and new desires purged and swept and prepared fit for the intertainement of so worthy a guest and though with the Centurion in the Gospell we be not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder our roofe yet speake but the word and wee shall be saued and then hauing so receyued thee wee may bouldly with Zacheus confesse Hodie salus Iehouae this day is saluation come vnto my house come vnto my soule the which cause and effect preparation and blessing graunt Lord for thy mercies sake Amen A meditation or thankesgiuing after the receyuing of the holy coÌ„munion HOnour glory and praise be giuen to the O God the euerliuing sonne of the euerlasting father the stay and comfort of all Christian soules at whose right hand in heauen thou sittest and raignest for euermore what may we render vnto thee as a sacrifice acceptable that hast giuen thy selfe a bleeding sacrifice for vs and for our sinnes A broken and contrite hart O Lord that thou will not dispise which daily in the meditation of this thy loue and mercy towardes vs and what thou hast vndergone for vs our sakes shall be rent and torne that it may be healed in thy wounds and bound vp in the bundle of thy mercy that so we may stand spottlesse before thee the day of thy appearing and good Lord so continue thy fauour vnto vs that this learnest and pledge of thy loue left as a monument to all after-worldes and ages to come may be so powerfull and effectuall vnto vs that it may seale in our hartes the forgiuenesse of our sins washt away in the streame of thy bloud and buried in thy side neuer to open there mouthes against vs beeing there condemned to euerlasting silence and if at any time the frayltie of the flesh by the instigation of Sathan shall draw me vnto sinne forgetting what thou sufferedest therefore yet let my wandering thoughts bee called home to thy fould in remembrance of these visible signes whereby the breaking of thy body and the shedding of thy bloud is so liuely presented vnto me that I behould it as with my eyes mourning in my selfe not accusing the iewes the scribes nor pharises high priestes nor elders Iudas nor Pilate but my sins that tormented wounded crucified the Lord of life to death they were the cause these were but the instruments whereby it was effected O what is man that thou shouldest so regard him or the sonne of man that thou so kindly visitest him let euery nayle that was driuen into thy handes and feet by the hammer of our sinnes be
policies of our flesh grounded vpon such weake and tottering foundations of dust and sand shaken with euery little blaste of aduersity and the foundation of our hopes here on earth vnder-propped with such slender basses so quickely weakened and throwne downe that we leaue the rocke Christ Iesus that wee should build vpon Let not Honour Ambition Preheminence Titles and such like occupy our thoughts and possesse our bodyes and minds with a wearinesse in longing and pursuing after them which being attained bring not content but lie leuell to a thousand discontentes enuy euer lying at the roote as a canker to blast what euer good wee expect from thence Bee wee in authority or subiection be we rich or poore bee wee yong or old of what estate or degree soeuer we bee off were wee as we could wish had we all that this earth could yeeld yet our estates and our desires would neuer keepe a concordant Harmony For the Sunne as yet neuer lookt vpon that sonne of man that found not a defect a saciety or loathing in what estate soeuer hee possest and desired to see a change In our yong youth wee wish for grauity and age because wee want the respect and reuerence that it goes accompanied with and being attained and cloathed therewith wee wish that the heat iollity of youth might againe bee renued in vs euer peruerting the times and preuenting the meanes that God hath prefixed and wearing and wasting our selues soonest in possessing that wee would inioy longest In want wee desire riches perswaded if we inioyed them wee should be contented these attained deceiue vs then wee seeke for honour and from one steppe thus wee would clime vnto another to seeke that which is not heere to bee found For who did euer yet in honour wealth Or pleasures of the sence contentment find Who euer ceas't to wish when he had helth Or hauing wisdome was not vextin mind S. I. D. The way then to ballance our selues and our desires is to fix our whole hope confidence and desire in him who is the fountaine of all happinesse and content within the compasse of whose protection and their fruition wee are no longer then we walke within the boundes of his direction and miserable are those that wander out of the armes thereof his safeguard yet if the Lord should forget vs as wee forget him nay if hee should not remember vs a thousand times ere wee remember him once and keepe vs in wee should daily and hourely wander out and perish but his mercie is aboue all his workes and his benefites so generally extended that the wicked haue their portion therein as well as the godly his enemies as well as his friendes if the Lord should reuenge our iniuries and ingratitude against him and contempt of his will and commandements and deale with vs as wee deale amongst our selues what would become of vs but woe and confusion Let vs therefore learne from him the patterne of all goodnesse in some poore measure to bee like vnto our Lord and Maister Christ Iesus from whence wee deriue our name and are called Christians let vs whose image wee carry stamped by the fingers of his owne hands bee not onely shadowes but bodies mouing after his steppes that is our Head let vs walke heere as Embassadours sent from heauen on the Lords message to giue the sonnes of men a patterne of good life and imitation in such humility and sobriety as our Lord the true patterne of all goodnesse and piety hath walked before vs the printe of whose blessed feete wee daily looke on with our eyes and consider in our heartes with ioy and comfort for if wee will be his Disciples Wee must take vp his crosse and follow him making it our glory that wee are the people of his Pasture and the sheepe of his hands who although in simplicity grasing on the mountaines are either fleeced of the Shearer growne into wooll or snatched vp by the Butcher growne into flesh and the water of affliction be wrung vnto vs out of a full cup and we bee exposed to the shame of the world and the windes still beat on our sailes our liues bound vp in vexation and sorrow whilst the Wicked like the bramble in confidence of their shadow dare challenge to bee Kings ouer the trees of the forrest Iudg. 9. 15. and though they saile calmely as in the hauen and their breasts are full of milke as Iob speaketh Iob. 21. 24 and their bones of marrow and though with Dauid in the 73. Psalme wherein the property of the wicked is liuely set forth How they come not to misfortune like other folke neither are they plagued like other men their eyes swell with faâ—nesse and they do euen what they list yet let vs take comfort to our selues and stay our soules on the anker of his prouidence as the same Prophet did although in the consideration of his chasticement all the Day long and euery morning and the prosperity of the wicked he himselfe confest and said Pene moti sunt pedes my feete had almost slipt Yea and I had almost said as they vntill I went into the Sanctuary of God then vnderstood I the end of these men Namely how thou settest them in slippery places and castest them downe and destroyest them how suddenly they come to a fearefull end so when death shall make vs both euen with the earth here is our comfort the graue shall bee to vs as a fould till our Sheepheard come and to them a shambles till the destroyer of their soules shall haue receiued an endlesse commission to torment them Therefore they are not the pleasures of this life neither health nor wealth nor liberty which at the best are but candied wormewood that delight the tast but destroy the stomacke without a true and sanctified vse therein that makes those happy and blessed that haue them for if with all the goodly branches of delectation and pleasure they cast their tree answere not with fruite these leaues will not protect her from the fire And cursed is hee that is blessed in this world to bee cursed in the world to come yet heere wee haue the eloquence of the flesh to perswade vs the inticementes of the Diuill to allure vs the company of the wicked to associate vs all these to diuert our course from whither wee are bound and the world with her inticements to traine vs furthest from what wee seeke and the pride of our life to perswade vs for trifles to forgoe the interest wee haue in heauen and our branched corruption euery way ready to set vs foreward being Ambitious like Adam Gen. 3. 5. who if hee may bee as God there is no command can restraine him vaine-glorious like Esau Gen. 33. 1. who if hee may haue a traine of men at his heeles will soone digest the losse of his birth-right and so by vsury if our bagges may thereby bee made fuller the word of God shall not
place dominion ouer men and Angels that boweth the heauens and sayleth vpon the wings of the wind who with the breath of his nostrils is able to destroy our both bodyes and soules change the world and the beauty thereof into a chaos and heap of confusion turne the sunne into darkenesse and the moone into blood and alter the propertie and being of all the creatures in the world at the twinckling of an eye considering what we are that speake that offer the Calues of our lips and the fruits of our repeÌ„taÌ„ce poore naked impotent vnworthy wretches daÌ„natos antequaÌ„ natos all these considerations many more bid vs be importunate feruent in our prayers the suruay consideration of our wretchednes mortality our nakednesse in all good workes that it may make vs ashamed as it did our first pareÌ„ts when they hid themselues from the presence of their God as Mâ—riam of her leprosie altogether abashed astonied after mortality exceedingly mortal the view of our sins exceedingly sinfull the number the waight the danger therof that hange about our necks like milstones that we are not able are not worthy to cast vp our eyes to heauen and after our sins our misery exceedingly miserable that the Prophet of God was astonied to see either man or the son of man so kindly visited biddeth vs be feruent in our prayers lastly the successe we expect vnlesse we call in question or doubt of the promises of God which are Yea and Amen and more stable then the pillers of the earth or the base of the surest foundation except we will cast our graine into the earth and expect no haruest plant vines and not drinke the wine thereof powre out our plaintes and petitions and thinke that God eyther heareth not or regardeth not at all or will not grant as farre as is expedient for our good which if we shall do the contrary vpon the truth security of his warrant there is another motiue for feruency in our prayers lastly the pretiousnesse of the fâ—uour of his countenance which must be carefully sought for our owne benefit and all these respects and consideratitions thereunto tending doe crye vnto vs to crye vnto him to be seruent in our prayers for we must not thinke that the noyse of our lips as the ringing of basons meere soundes and voices that wake and flye vp whilst the inward man doth slumber and keepe downe procure vs audience at the handes of God Vâ—lentiores enim voces apud Sâ—cretissimas dâ—i atâ—res non faciunt verba sed dâ—sideria the strongest and most effectuall spech in the secret cares of God proceedeth not from wordes but from intention he that heareth without eares can interpret our prayers without our tongues he that made both the one and the other knowes the language of both a like he that saw fansied Nathaniell vnder the figtree before he was called saw and sanctified Iohn Baptist in his mothers wombe before he came forth and hard the hart of Zacheus before his conuersion seeth and blesseth our prayers feruently conceyued and sowne in the root of our consciences before they spring forth but if they are only verbal and vocal soundes without wringing any drop of contrition from the conscience blood from the spirit they may beat the ayre with empty soundes but the eares of the almighty shall they not enter but their want of deuotion shall be answeared by him as the prayers of those idolaters in Ezechiel 8. Though they cry in mine eares with a loud voyce yet will I not heare them therefore enter not hereunto vnworthely presume not to speake with God but with due respect and reuerence of his maiestie to whom thou speakest stirre vp both thy tongue and thy spirit that they may ioyne hand in hand the sooner to preuayle and if thou hast oftentimes powred out thy petitions and plaintes to God and hast not preuayled yet be not discoraged thereby go on still in thy sure importune him more and more weary his patient eares with thy clamors and thou shalt at last obtaine although peraduenture not in the same manner thou desirest yet in that which he sees more conuenient for thee be of Iobs mind though he kill mee yet will I trust in him though he denie thee yet despayre not in him how long did the holy Patriarkes and Prophets expect the fullfilling of there Prophesies yet in the fulnesse of time they were fulfilled heauen and earth shall passe but not one title of his word shall fall to the ground and therfore I say againe and againe when thou hast ended thy suite begin it a new repeat it and recite it ingeminate it and dwel vpon it be not beaten by any distrust or temptation from thy hould learne adherence to thy suite from the mariners constancy we besech thee o Lord wee besech thee set thy hart truly a worke and it will find this theame to thinke on for where the affection is fastened the tongue is easie and willing to dwell thereupon O Absolon o my sonne Absolon o Absolon my sonne my sonne was the mourning of Dauid when he heard of the death of Absolon and as if his affection had only dwelt vpon the name and memory of his sonne his tongue had forgotten to pronounce all other speach saue only Absâ—lon It manifesteth likewayes what loue our Sauiour bore towards that holy Citty in that he ingeminated and repeated his sorrows ouer and ouer it O Ierusalem Ierusalem if I forget Ierusalem let my right hand forget her cunning so must our affections be in loue with him and his blessed name more then son or Citty or any worldly delight that it may be euer meditating in our hartes walking on our tongues my God my Lord and the more we are held off the nearer let vs presse let vs attend his leasure and pleasure with patience without distrust without wearines the longer Abraham talked with God the more he preuayled he brought him from the whole number to fiftye and from fiftye to tenne before he gaue him ouer Behould I haue begunne to speake vnto my Lord and am but dust and ashes let not my Lord be angry and I will speake againe and semel and iterum once more I haue begunne and againe I will speake and let not my Lord be offended and so far was God from it that he gaue him both a patient eare and a gratious answeare in that his most importunate request If ten be found there I will not destroy it consider and behould herin the force of prayer from the tongue of a righteous man that it so far was powerfull with God that if in the whole Citty a Citty so excedingly sinfull that the crye thereof ascended vp into heauen they entred into the Sanctum Sanctorum euen into the eares of the holy of holiest with such continuall loudnes and clamor that they gaue him no rest yet notwithstanding in his wrath and resolution
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