vs not forgitt it leaste God forgett vs. ALL possible thanks we giue vnto thee Oh Lord of mercy King of all the Kinges and kingdomes of the earth for that thou hast vouchsafed to place ouer vs thy little flocke of thys Realme so pure a guide of true religion Elizabeth by thine heauēly prouidēce our Queene vnder whom enioying the free libertie of the true seruice of thee we rest in a quiet estate bothe of bodie and minde We humbly pray thy fauourable regarde to beholde with mercifull eies the same thy seruant our soueraigne Lady and gouernes And so fructify her heart with the good graine of thine holye spirite that she alwayes inclined by the working thereof to the settinge foorth of thy worde may walke according to the truth of the same sincerelie that we thy seruants and vnder thee her subiects seeing her godly example may be ashamed to fall frō that due forme of honouring thy name which for thy glory shee hath through thy grace by the rule of thy worde prescribed vnto vs. Banish good Lord from her heart all ignoraunce and print therein perfect wisdome and knowledge of thine heauenly will giue her an obedient minde abounding withall humilitie towardes thy diuine maiestie Saue and defende her from the tyrannie of forraine power and authoritie and from all such as profesle not inwardlie vnfeyned zeale of thy Gospell giue her godlie Counsellors and such zealous and true harted ministers of thy wyl that she and we according to the trueth of euerye our seueral functions may truelie serue thee in this life and in the ende for euermore raigne with thee in thine heauenly kingdome for Iesus Christes sake our only Redeemer Aduocate and sweete Sauiour Amen Oh Lord increase our fayth A prayer for the Sunday morning Let labour passe let prayer bee This day the cheefest worke for thee AS the Lorde hath assigned vnto mā sixe dayes of seauen for his necessarie trauaile So hath he expreslie commanded Gen. 2. the seauenth to be hallowed and kept onely for the seruice of him wher in all busines sette aparte we should referre our selues to prayer to the hearing or reading of the worde of the Lorde without any vngodlie exercise at all wherfore as did Dauid Psal. 55. 6. euery day so let vs especiallie this day instantlie call vppon the name of the Lord and he will heare vs. And with Esay Esay 26. Let our soules with a longing desire in the night seeke vn to the Lorde and in the morning earelie call vppon his name so shall our dooings please him all shall goe well with vs. And especiallie vpon this day which the Lord hath reserued for the seruice of himselfe Nu. 1◠Punishing such euen with death who breake the same as appeareth in the booke of Numbers by him who was at the commaundement of the Lorde stoned to death for gathering stickes on the Sabaoth day Esay 56. Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabaoth day vndefiled seruing the Lorde in prayer Esay 58. Not in seeking his ownewil nor speaking a vaine word Pray that it may bee honoured and not abused dishonoured as it is least God the Creator of it and vs punish our disobedience OH almightye Father most wholesome protectoure keeper both of soules and bodyes of the faithfull I yeelde the humble and hartie thankes for defending sauing mee thy sinfull creature this night past and all my life hethervnto frō suddaine death and from other perrils daungers wher into my sillie soule and weake bodie are subiecte to fall And wherewith I am so besette that had I not beene preserued by thee it could not otherwise haue beene but my bodie had perished and my sillie soule beene carryed into eternall perdition But most sweete Lord my strong Castell defence my shield buckler my sure refuge and succour who hast continuall regarde of the safety of thy seruants that thou neuer sufferest them to bee ouercome with any kinde of euill nor to fall into any kinde of daunger vouchsase to forgiue me what soeuer I haue committed and doone against thy diuine will eyther sleeping or waking this night or anie time secretlie or openlie heeretofore by reason of the corruption which remaineth in me And vouchsafe that as I haue quietlie passed this night so I may enioy at thy merciful hands whatsoeuer thy fatherlie prouidence shall thinke meete and conuenient for mine owne and for the releefe of such as thou hast committed vnto my charge and gouernement Establish good Lorde within my weake feeble bodie strength to withstande all euill motions of the flesh all vngodlie desires of the minde worldlie vanities that I may feruentlie as I ought continuallie both in the morning and at night and at noone day yea and at all times and in all places truely serue thee without hypocrisie dissimulation or mallice And for thy mercies sake keepe mee this day and all the rest of my transitory life from suddaine and vnprouided death keepe my tongue and lips that I speake or vtter nothing which may be eyther vncomelie to be spoken or whereof may redownde hurt or hinderaunce to my selfe or others but that I may endeuoure as much as in me lyes to speake and vtter those thinges which may be to the setting foorth of thy glorie maintenaunce of peace and concorde and to the reducing such into the right way as wander and goe astray As for slaundering lying backbyting falsewitnes bearing enuie and such like good Lorde take vtterly from me And keepe mine heart and minde from the moste damnable sinne of murmuring against thee and from dyspayre that in all aduersities tribulations and troubles I may alwayes beare a patient contented faithfull and a thankfull minde with full perswasion that if thou suffer mine aduersaries being maliciousliebent against me to reuile me persecute me to molest or hurte me or if thou permitt either fire to consume me or my substaunce or any other casuall meane to diminish mine estate and stay of my liuing or if I sustaine losse of freendes sicknes of bodie or hurt of my limmes it proceedeth not but by thy diuine prouidence yea onelie of thy meere loue and fatherlie care which thou hast of mine amendment for nothing happeneth to those whome thou louest breede it within theyr weake mindes neuer so great greefe or fall it out neuer so contrary to theyr desires but it bringeth with it some secrete working for their good Wherefore in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ I most humbly beseeche thee that thou wilt vouchsafe to settle in mine heart such perfection of patience as what soeuer eyther this day or heereafter shall happen or befall vnto me I may accept it as a most wholesome medicine for my so deadlie disease of securitie and so in hope of thy louing kindnes and mercie to goe forwarde this day and all my life in perfect loue vnfeyned zeale and continuall obedience to thy will In hearing thy worde attentiuelie in reading the
bitter and most perilous insomuch as it bringeth shame and confussion to the so vnaduised enterprisers of the same Lord thou sayest that a Sparrow can not light on the grounde without thy permission and prouidence which is a creature of small value in respect of man whom thou hast made to thine owne image and likenes and whom thou accountest of more value then many Sparrowes in respect whereof good Lord and for thy meere mercies sake extende so thy fauourable care vnto me thy frayle creature that all mine intents may haue theyr beginning by the working of thine holie spirite and mine actions end in the same and not according to the motions of mine owne foolish desires Thou like a most louing father willest vs to take counsaile at thee in all our exercises concerning either bodie or soule before we proceede too farre in them Oh Lord blesse me with thine heauenly inspiration that my minde imagine nothing but what is according to the Lawe of righteousnes Oh Lord blesse the workes of mine hands the sight of mine eyes blesse mine eares that they hearkeÌ„ not but to the hearing of godly and vertuous communication and thine holie word my tongue lippes with decent speeche and my feete that they may keepe the way of righteousnes And place within the secret corners of my heart such due regard what I goe about or determine as before I proceed to farr in request of good luckie successe I may vnderstaÌ„d by the secrete working of thine holie spirite whether my request bee according vnto thy will And graunt that I neuer absolutelie craue thy furtherance in accomplishing any my desires vntil by the same spirite I be truelie resolued that my desires be lawfull consonaunt and agreeable to thy diuine wyll but may faithfully referre all my matters vnto thee whether they be heard or not heard whether presently or tarrying long not giuing ouer feeling in my selfe by thy grace that it pleaseth thee constantlie continuing thy good pleasure though it come not as I wish let me not by and by fall from my good beginning but perseuering in continuall prayers for thine assistaunce and fatherly helpe vnto the end for thou hast promised neuer to deceiue our godly disires nor to sende them away frustrate mercifully heare me Oh Lorde in time conuenient And attentiuely heare me approching vnto thee with vnfeyned desire and hope of thy helpe that when any plague any affliction misery or vexation shall come vpon me when the want of any necessary thing oppresseth me or accomplishing of any lawfull sute mooueth me I flying vnto thee as the fountaine from whence floweth all true helpe all perfect assistaunce all good successe and prosperous euents of all godlie endeuours not seeking any other by meane either to auoide the one or to obteine the other then thy fatherly directions and spirituall motions I may obteyne the same according vnto my necessities and in thy good time oh heauenly God for thy sonne our Lorde Iesus Christes sake graunt this sweete God Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose COnsidering mine owne blindnes ignoraunce and the wilfull obstinacie of my corrupt nature which seeketh rather the fulfilling of the fantasticall deuises of mine owne brayne then thy diuine will And to vse humaine ayde rather then to craue thine helpe vouchsafe I humbly beseeche thee to establish godlie feare in mine heart and vnfeyned obedience to thine holy ordinaunces that in all mine enterprises which in thy name I take in hande thou wilt vouchsafe to direct me according to thy will and to giue me prosperous successe for thy sonne Jesus Christes sake Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth The sorrowfull sinner afflicted in conscience by reason of his sinnes may say thus If thou with sinne afflicted be Oh then saith Christ come thou to me LEt vs acknowledge our selues to bee wretched sinners and with feare fall downe before the mercies seate of the highest iudge Contemning our selues to be moste vnrighteous and iustly deseruing confusion And then as S. Iohn sayeth 1. Ioh. 1. 9. wee shall finde God moste mercifull vnto vs who is most faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to clense vs from al our vnrighteousnes for hee desireth not the death of a sinner but that he turne from his wickednes and liue And therfore as Ezekiell sayth Ezek. 23. Turne you turne you from your wicked wayes for why sayeth he wil you dye in your sinnes And againe Ioell sayth Ioell 2. 13. Rent your hearts and not your garments and turne to the Lorde your God Because hee is gentle and mercifull and of much mercy and such a one as is sorye for your afflictions wherefore if thou bee afflicted in conscience by reason that thou haste beene a notorious offender remember Mary Magdalen whose wickednes was great vpon repentaunce receyued pardon as also the theefe and the Publicau and many other Dispayre not but in heartie prayer and by vnfeyned repentaunce turne to the Lord. O Almighty god father of merci who art more ready to giue then wee to aske more apt to pardon then we to repent more willing to receiue the contrite in heart into thy fauour and mercy againe then they to offer themselues by vnfeyned repeÌ„taunce Lorde I come heere prostrate in hearte before the throne of thine infinite mercie louing kindnes as one altogether ashamed to looke vpon the detestable vile and abhominable offences which I haue doone against thee beeing so heauie a burden for my poore soule that the shoulders of my poore diseased conscience beginne to sincke vnder the same and am altogether destitute of any proppe or meane to support the same or to ease me therof but onelie thy death and bitter passion sweet Iesus who camest into this worlde to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance Lord I bewayle mine heâ—nous offences and am moste sorye for my sins which are so vile the burden of them so intollerable that when I turne mine eyes but to the beholding them a farre off I am by and by stryken with so great dreade that I am driuen to most heauie sighes greeuous groanes and thinke my life an enemie vnto mee wishing the beginning of my dayes had beene the day of my departure out of this miserable worlde But moste sweete Lorde when I note them perfectlie in my minde take as it were a straight account what the deedes of my youth haue beene beeing indeede most lewde most euill most vile and sinfull what a terror doo I suffer in minde what a dungion of dollours doth open it selfe as it were to swallowe mee vp what gryping greefes doo torment my poore conscience in so much as I am at the pittes brincke of dispayre wauering in minde to and fro seeking rest but loe Lorde vnquietnes of minde oppresseth me so sore that considering with my selfe what I haue beene and what I am a greate matter vexeth me But when I looke into the time to
also is another day of Purim Esther 9 21. 24 g   25 A The anuÌ„ciation of Mary The 16. of this moneth Lazarus was raysed from the dead Ioh. 11. 43. 26 b   27 c   28 d   29 e   30 f   31 g   Aprill hath xxx dayes Sunne riseth at v. and xvii minuts Setteth at vi and xliii minutes 1 A  The first of this moneth Noah vncouered the Arke and sawe earth Gen. 8. 13. Moses reared the tabernacle Exo. 40. 2. 17. the Temple began to be sanctified 2. Chro. 29 17. 2 b   3 c   4 d   5 e   6 f  The 10. of this moneth the children of Israell passed through the Ryuer Iorden on drye foote Ioshua 4. 19. the Paschal Lambe was chosen Exo. 12 3. 7 g   8 A   9 b   10 c  The 13. of this moneth the edicte of King Ahashuerosh came out for the murthering of the Iewes Esther â— 12. 11 d   12 e   13 f  The 14. of this moneth the Passouer was kept Exo. 12. 6. Leuit. 23. 5. Ioshua 5. 10. 14 g   15 A   16 b  The 15. of this Moneth the Israelits departed out of Egipt Num. 33. 5 17 c   18 d  The 16. of this Moneth Hezekiah made an ende of sanctifieng purging the Temple 2. Chro. â—9 17. 19 e   20 f   21 g  The 18. of this moneth the Children of Israell walked on drye land through the midst of the Red sea Exo. 14. 19. 22 A   23 b   24 c  The 24. Daniel saw his vision Dan 10. 14. 25 d S. Marke  26 e   27 f   28 g   29 A   30 b   May hath xxxj dayes Sunne riseth at iiii and xxiii minutes Setteth at vii and xxxviii minutes 1 c Phillip Iacob The first of this moneth Moses was commannded to number the children of Israell Num. 1. 1. c. 2 d   3 e   4 f  The fift of this Moneth Christe is thought to haue ascended vpp into heauen Mar. 16. 19. Luk. 24. 51. 5 g   6 A   7 b  They which could not keepe the passouer at the day appointed by y e Lorde were willed to celebrate the same the 14. of this moneth Num. 19. 10. 11. so did the Israelites at the commaundement of King Hezechiah 2. Chron. 30. 15. 8 c   9 d   10 e   11 f   12 g   13 A   14 b  The 16. day Manna rayned from heauen Exo. 16. 14. 15 c   16 d  The 17. day Noah entred the Arke and the flud began Gen. 7. 11. 13. 17 e   18 f  The 22. fire from heauen consumed such as murmured against the Lorde Num. 11. 1. 19 g   20 A   21 b  The 23. the Israelites with great ioy triumphingly entred into the Castel of Ierusalem 1. Mac. 13. 51. Noah the 27. the waters beeing dryed vp came foorth of the Arke Gen. 8. 14. 22 c   23 d   24 e   25 f   26 g   27 A   28 b   29 c   30 d   31 e   Iune hath xxx dayes Sunne riseth at iii. and xliiii minutes Setteth at viii and xvi minutes 1 f  The first comming of the children of Israell vnto Mount Sinai was the first of this moneth where they abode eleueÌ„ monethes and 20 dayes in which time all those thinges were donne recorded in Exo. 19 1 c 2 g   3 A   4 b   5 c   6 d   7 e   8 f  The firt of this moneth Alexander that mightye Monarch of the worlde was borne of whom Dan. 11. 3. doth pro phesie Also on this day the famous tem ple of Diana in Ephesus numbred among the seuen wonders of the world was sette on fire by Herostratus The Iewes likewise kept their feaste of Penticoste on this day 9 g   10 A   11 b   12 c   13 d   14 e   15 f   16 g   17 A   18 b   19 c  The 23 of this moneth the first edict came out for the safetye of Gods people the Iewes against Haman and the rest of theyr enemies Esther 8. 9 20 d   21 e   22 f   23 g   24 A S. Iohn Baptist. The 29 of this moneth the Arke of Noah through the increase of waters was lifted vppe from the earth Gen. 7 17 25 b   26 c   27 d   28 e   29 f S. Peter  30 g   Iuly hath xxxi dayes Sunne riseth at iiii and lii minutes Setteth at viii and viii minutes 1 A   2 b  The 5 of this moneth Ezekiel sawe his vision Eze 1 1 3 c   4 d   5 e  The 6 of this moneth the Capitoll of Roome counted one of the 7 wonders of the world was burned and the mirror of Christian Princes King Edward the 6. dyed the sixt of this moneth Anno. 1553 6 f   7 g   8 A   9 b   10 c   11 d   12 e  The 9 of this moneth Ierusalem after it had a long while bin besteged by Nebuccadnezzer was taken Ierem 39 2 13 f   14 g   15 A   16 b   17 c  The 12 of this moneth Iulius Caesar the first Romaine Emperor was born Of him is this moneth called Iulie 18 d   19 e   20 f   21 g  The 18 of this moneth the Egiptians begin theyr yéere Plin. li. 8 cap. 47 22 A   23 b   24 c   25 d Iames. ap   26 e   27 f   28 g   29 A   30 b   31 c   August hath xxxj dayes Sunne riseth at iiii and xliiii minutes Setteth at vii and xvii minutes 1 d  The first of this moneth Aron 40. yeeres after the children of Israel were come out of Egypt dyed on Mount Hor Num. 33. 38. Also on this day Ezra with his company came out of Babel vnto Jerusalem Ezra 7. 9. 2 e   3 f   4 g   5 A   6 b   7 c   8 d  The 7. of thys Moneth Nebuccadnezzer burnt the house of the Lorde and all Jerusalem 2. Kin. 25. 8. 9. 9 e
same dilligentlie in following it effectually and in praying vnto thee zealously and faithfully imbracing all goodnes willingly and auoyding all euill watilie that so spending this day I may the better proceede to the execution of my calling this weeke following to the releefe of my necessitie furtheraunce of my neighbours That so continuing vnto the ende I may receiue the reward of thy celestiall kingdome which thy sonne Iesus Christe hath purchased with his bloode for all true beleeuers in thee In number of whome sweete Lorde for the merytes of him thy sonne make me that I with them and they with me may continually sing laude and prayse vnto the Trinitie eternallie which graunt for thy sonne Iesus Christ his sake Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A short prayer to the like purpose ALL possible thankes I render vnto thee most louing and moste mercifull Father that it hath pleased theâ— to bee my carefull watchman this night preseruing me from many euils vouchsafing sleepe vnto mine eyes to the vnspeakable comfort of my poore boâ—â—e Let it likewise please thee I humbly beseeche thee to giue me grace according to thine heauenly will 〈◊〉 expresse commaundement as at all times so this day especially to imploy me to the seruice of thee in all godlines and purenes of life leauing all bodily labours and exercise as to the Sanctetie which thou in the beginning gâ—uest vnto the day when thou hadâ—est sinished all thy worke dooth instly deserue Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A confession of sinnes Confesse thy sinnes to God on hie Who pardons sinners when they cry FOr asmuch as all men by nature are sinners and none Christ excepted euer liued without man folde offences Let vs with Dameâ—l â—â—â—esse Da. 9 that we haue sinned that we delt wickedlie in trâ—sgressing the lawe of the Lord. Pro. 28. For who so hideth his sinnes shall not prosper but he that confesseth them and forsaketh them shall finde mercie For when Adam Gen. 3. had broken the coÌ„maundement of the Lorde be excused his fault was accursed But Dauid confessing his wickednes found fauour The lost sonne Lu. 15. after long going astray at last returned confessing his fault and obteyned pardon Iohn Baptist. Mat. 3 when hee first preached the gospell he baptized none but such as confessed theyr sinnes wherefore let vs faithfully and continually vpon our knees acknowledge our sinnes and prepare our selues to vnfeyned repentaunce and vndoubtedlie we shal obteine mercie at the haÌ„ds of the Lord For if we acknowledge our sinnes 1. Iohn 1. he is faithfull to forgiue them according to his promise Say with Dauid Psa. 23. I will acknowledge my sinnes vnto the Lord and will not hide mine iniquitie from him yea confesse against thy selfe and he wyll forgiue thy sinnes OH omnipotent father and euerliuing God from whose wisedome foreknowledge no secretes are or may bee hidden but doost plainely consider behold the workes wordes and thoughtes of all creatures I most huÌ„bly beseeche thee of thine infinite mercye to haue compassion vppon my sinnes which are so great and greeuous so many and they so vile and lothsome to thine heauenlie eyes that thou canst not abide to turne thy louing countenaunce towardes me Oh Lorde I doo confesse that my conception my birth yea and all my life hath beene in sin our Fathers and mothers sinfull euen from the stocke of our great Grandfather Adam whose blindnesse shoulde haue beene our light and whose sight was turned to our blindnes darknes by the deceitful most vile alurings of that enemie of ours the wilie and moste subtill serpent sathan by whose â—ntisements our forefather beeing clothed with innocencie and simplicitie in most pure vnspeakable happines was mooued to the desire of the knowledge of that that thou woldest he should haue beene ignorant of And which thou haddest vtterlie forbidden him By breking of which thy commaundement he with Eue whome thou hadst ordeyned out of hys owne flesh to be his companion and comfort where with thine Angell according to thy determinate will driuen out of Parradice a place of ioy to a pitte of sorrow from good to euill from ease to laboure and trauaile from quietnes to trouble from wealth to want from light to darknes from myrth to mourning from succoure to be succourles In so much Oh Lord as he our father purchased for vs his children none other possession or inheritaunce but the vnhappy enteraunce into sinne and corruption And we his children beeing by succession ingrossed in this detestable stocke of sinne haue hethervnto notwithstanding thy most louing and by so sundry meanes calling vs by thine holye Gospell of comfort continued therein to our vtter perdition deserued death and distruction confessing and acknowledging our selues runnagates outcastes and trewantes and of our selues altogether vnable to cast away and lay aside these workes of darknes and to obteine againe the Lanterne of light Yet for as much as I am most sorry from the very bottome of mine heart that I haue offended thee wilfully and disobedientlie strayed from the wayes of thy Lawes And doo vnfeynedly condemne al my former life to be most vile determining in heart by thy grace to forsake sinne and cleaue vnto godlines and purenes of liuing to decline from euill and to doo good I most humbly euen vpoÌ„ the knees of mine heart beseeche thine almightye Maiestie to lysten with a moste willing and attentiue eare vnto my groninges secrete sighes and vnfeyned repentance and with the eyes of thy mercye to beholde my lamenting spyrite and so vouchsafe to accept the same as it may bee vnto thee a sufficient sacrifice for all former euills That I beeing free from sinne not by any deserte or meryte of mine owne but onely by the death and passyon of thy Sonne Iesus Christe may take perfecte holde of the remission thereof and fully perswade my selfe that through the death of him thy sonne I am agayne restored to the former happines and blessed estate which oure first parent Adam was in the beginning placed in And the heade of that subtill Serpent sathan who so wylilye deceyued him by the seede of the Woman to bee altogether bruzed troden downe and vanquished and his power quite taken from him So that hee is not able anye more to lifte him selfe vppe againste the Chyldren of Fayth as hee seeketh and desyreth yea and often preuayleth againste the weake and feeble ones Vouchsafe sweete LORDE and moste loouing Iesus to consider my weakenesse and frayltye and mortefye in mee all delightes of thys miserable worlde and the corrupt fleshe And stande betwene mee and Sathan that hee preuayle no further agaynste mee then I shall bee able to resyste for wee can not stande but doo continually yeelde vnto the deceiueable showes of this worlde the false motions of the fleshe and temptations of Sathan without thy continuall ayde and assistaunce wherewith I beseeche thee both at this time and euer aâ—me me wash me with thy
come the time wherein all mine offences and faults shall bee manifested and laid to my charge Oh then whether shall I flye thinke I whether shall I conueygh my selfe who shall hide mee from thy presence who shall saue me from thy iust iudgement Oh sweete Lord I am euen at my witts ende wishing for death and ende of my dayes And yet then the feare of the torments of hell fire so striueth in me to the contrarie that I quake at the rememberaunce thereof And when I couet to liue longer and see more daies Lord then I am striken with doubt and imagine that as my life hath beene euen from my byrth giuen and inclyned so greedelie to sinne and that the cause of my present dread I then loath and abhorre my longer continuance heere fearing least the aptnes of my corrupt flesh by the dayly rebellion thereof against the spirite heape greater plagues vpon my poore soule What shall I doo Lorde feare and dispayre thus oppressing me on all sides all hope of comfort hath left me onely greefe and sorrowe remaineth knowing not to whom to flie for succour or to whom to make my mone If to man I knowe his strength pollicie and wisedome and comfort to be vaine his nature inclined to weakenes and wickednes as mine and in him to be no helpe And seeking any woâ—ldly meane for pardon and remission of my sinne I acknowledge it altogether transitory superfiuous and to no purpose But the seeking therof to renue and increase my greefe that I shoulde leaue and giue ouer the true and onely platforme of my deliuery and seeke to a counterfeyt showe of ayde Oh God forbid that euer I shoulde but onely seeke for pardon of thy self whom most greeuously I haue offended and therefore to thee I fall prostrate euen in heart sweete Iesus the onely Phisition of all sicke soules in whose power consisteth the alone forgiuenes of sinnes be they neuer so many or great I come I come though altogether ashamed vnto thee my sauiour Iesus Christ who haste promised to be a Mediatour for the penitent vnto God the father It is thy property to call home such as wander and goe astray and to traine them vp in new wayes be theyr sinnes as redde as Scarlet thou hast sayde thou wilt make them as white as snowe and were they as purple thou canst make theÌ„ as white wooll Oh most sweete promise Oh comfortable saying Oh voyce of heauenly consolation whereby I am comforted whereby I am reuiued yea nowe is my conscience lightened now haue I founde the true onely Phisition of my long disease poore soule euen thy self sweet Iesus who callest mee I come I come Lord stretch forth thine hand and receiue mee giue mee perfecte hand fast of thys moste comfortable saying of thine let mee enioy the true working of this most singuler medicine thy death and bytter passion sweete Iesus who sufferedst for our sinnes camest to take away the punishment due for our transgression and to call vs to repentaunce without which there is no hope of remission of our sinnes Thy mercy is infinite thy loue vnsearchable and wisedome incomprehensible whereby thou callest vs whereby thou louest vs and whereby thou guydest vs And euen of meere loue which thou haste to the saluation of my poore soule whom thou wouldest rather should conuert then perish thou hast stirred vp in mine heart a lothing of my sinne wherein I haue walked and imbraced the same eueÌ„ with greedines Oh that I were as ready to come as thou to call So willing to leaue and giue ouer the fulfilling of vnlawfull desires as thou art to forgiue the same So apt to serue thee as thou art to saue me Then should sinne no more dwell in me nor I in it but should enioy thy continuall fauour and rest vnder the winges of thy mercy Oh Lorde I humbly beseeche thee that as it hath pleased thee to stirre me vppe at this time to repentaunce as thou hast called me home froÌ„ the wildernes of wickednes from deepe dispayre so to place me in the pleasaunt fieldes of sinceritie trueth and godlines as thou hast pluckt me out of the clawes of sathan so vouchsafe to holde me vnder the shaddow of thy winges and to imbrace me with the armes of thy mercy that I runne no longer after the vanities of this world nor yeelde vnto the vngodly motions of the fleshe that my minde beeing free from all sinfull cogitations I may keepe my bodie an vndefiled member of thy Church vnto my liues ende And although til thine appointed time this miserable vale must be my continuing cittie And although I must be driuen to vse this worlde according to the necessitie of worldlye causes as thy prouidence hath assigned euery man to exercise his vocation yet graunt that my minde may be continually conuersant in heauenly things and though my bodie wander in earth my soule spirite may haue theyr perfect beeing and abyding by perfect faith in heauen where thou sittest raigneth for euer Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A short prayer to the like purpose OH God whose propertie is euer to haue mercye yea whose mercy is infinite and loue incomprehensible and who haste not delight in the death of a sinner looke fauourably vpon me who haue so deepely offended thine heauenlie maiestie that I confesse nothing but condemnation due vnto me for my so manifolde iniquities my conscience accuseth me and mine heart bewraieth my disobedience beeing but a cast away vnlesse it may please thee for Iesus Christes sake to turne away thine indignation and to take away the plagues which I haue iustly deserued and punishments for the same which thou hast ordeyned Lord cease to be angry and according to thy mercy not to thy iustice deale with me but according to thy most louing promise my sinnes béeing as red as Scarlet may through my fayth in the death of Iesus Christ as white as Snow And as I haue hetherto folowed euen with greedines that which I should not giue me nowe grace to followe and imbrace that which thou commaundest in thy sonne Iesus Christ vnto my liues ende Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A prayer for a competent and necessary lyuing The God aboue vouchsafeth store To him in faith that prayes therfore ALthough thy store increase so greatly multiply that thou be sayne to enlarge thy roomes to bestowe thy fruites thinke thee not discharged of this most necessary exercise of praier but so much the more bound thervnto â—for it is not the increase of fruites the labour of thy handes or store of wealth that mainteyneth thy lyfe and feedeth thee vnlesse it be seasoned wyth the word of God which preserueth all that faythfully trust in him Matth. 24. For thou canst not liue by Breade alone which is with thinges necessarye for thy bodie but by the worde of almightye GOD And yet we are not onely licensed and permitted but most louinglye called to come
forth chollour to the dishonoring of thy name Let our conuersation be altogether modest mortefiing our own desires wholy appliing our selues not onely on the Sabaoth day but all the weeke yea all our whole life to the sreuice of thee to the honouring and glorifying of thy name to the benefit of our soules profit of our neighboures and due reuerence to our parents whom thou hast commaunded vs to honour loue and obey as the instruments of our beginning thou beeing the workman Graunt Lord that we may truly and vnfeynedly reuerence them as thou willest we should that we may long continue vpon the earth not in the number of careles and disobedient Children in whom resteth no thankfulnes for so great benefits had and receiued at the hand of their parents from whom thou hast saide thou wilt with hold thy blessings and altogether depriue them of theyr liberty and liuing But graunt that we may so order our selues by thy grace both to them and to other our Superiours as wee may bee blessed with many good giftes and length of dayes heere according to thy will And that it may please thee so to confirme theyr blessings in and vpon vs as that it may goe well with vs all the dayes of our liues Take from vs sweete Lorde all desire of reuenge all rancor malice and hatred least the deuill who redily standes to prick vs forwarde to a desperate minde procure vs to slay the innocent we beseeche the Lord let not at any time such euill imaginations enter into any parte of our heartes least we giuing our selues ouer thervnto lose the raynes of our naturall disposition which is so inclined to wrathe that vnlesse the strength thereof be subdued or the venoumous sting thereof pluckt out by vertue of thine holy spirite it wil no doubt prouoke vs to wait oportunity to wreake our mallice with violence vppon such as by slight occasions haue offended vs yea and by little and little breake out into the flame of deadly hatred and so seeke to destroy the innocent most wickedly Oh Lorde forbidde it and keepe vs from the most pernicious sinne of adultery which being so odious in thy sight thou causedst to fall in one day for the same three and twenty thousande Oh Lorde indue vs with thine holie spirite that we may keepe our bodies cleane and vndefiled members of thee beeing indued with perfect chastitie may abandon all occasions that may procure vs to offende thee reteyning a godly behauiour which thou so deerely louest and expell euill concupiscence which thou so much abhorrest Oh mercifull God vouchsafe to keepe vs from taking any thing by secrete meanes or otherwise from our neighbours whom we ought to loue as our selues The desire whereof good Lord proceedeth often by scarcitie and want by pouertye and neede which indeede thou art able and willing to releeue without any such vnlawfull meanes And therefore I beseeche thee to graunt vs a sufficient necessary portion or els constancie and vnfeyned hope in thee to be relieued in thy good time and vtterly to derest the horrible sinne of stealing for thou hast promised neither to faile vs nor forsake vs calling faithfully vpon thee And as we ought to beware of taking any thing from others by stealth so likewise vouchsafe vs grace when any occasion serueth or matter forceth to beare witnes of the truth in any controuersie betweene bretheren graunt vs heedefull mindes to depose and testifie that which is trueth according to our knowledge without respecte either of the ability freendshippe or fauoure of the one or the enuie malice or pouerty of the other And graunt that we rayse no false accusation or slander vpon any man considering that the same faulte whereof we wrongfully accuse another shalbe imputed as great vnto our selues but that wee may keepe our mouthes from speaking any thing hurtfull vnto others And like good men muse and meditate before hand what we ought to speake not letting the brydell of our lippes loose to babble out that which first commeth into our mindes and that we may content our selues with our estates whatsoeuer thou sendest without any vngodly desire of any thing that belongeth vnto our neighbours And graunt vs thine especiall grace euer more truely to obserue and faithfully to fulfill all thy most godly commaundements In the name and for the sake of thy Sonne Iesus Christ in whose name as well for grace to keepe thy lawes as also for all necessaries for body and soule I hartely pray thee by that prayer which he hath sette downe vnto vs in these wordes Our Father which are in heauen c. Oh Lord increase our faith A short prayer to the like purpose FOr as much oh God of all wisdome and mercy as thou for our direction and godly lyuing hast by the handes of thy Prophet set downe and prescribed vnto vs godly institutions for vs to followe considering our corruption and naturall declination from following thy Lawes and howe we are inclined to the thinges forbidden by thee therein I most humblye pray thee to vouchsafe me not onely dilligent care and daily endeuour but especiall grace to fulfill them according to thy blessed will in all thinges through Jesus Christ. Amen Oh Lord increase our faith A prayer for the true ordering of worldly riches very necessary for such as God hath endued with the wealth of this world Euen as thy wealth increaseth so Pray that them wel thou mayst bestow For they that haue theyr wealth at wyll Are plagued worst vsing it ill OVr Lord sauiour Iesus Christ. Ma. 19 the fountaine Mar 10. of all liberality Lu. 18. an hundred folde in this life and life euerlasting in the worlde to come to all such as for his sake◠shall forsake all worldly goods to followe him But let not sayth he againe Matth. 7 thy left hand know what thy right hand giueth Giue Luk. 6. and it shall be giuen thee and minister vnto the holye ones of God Ro. 12. and it shal be rewarded thee Breake thy breade vnto the hungry Esa. 58. giue drinke vnto the thirstie c. And take heede that when thou doost intend to giue 1. Cor 7. let it be for Gods sake who hath giuen thee store to the ende that thou shouldest extende thy liberalitye to the releefe of the necessity of his Saintes neyther grudgingly nor by compulsion nor for praise or vaine glory but with modesty zeale concealing thy good deedes and thine heauenly father shall reward thee Couet not to be rich leaste thou fall into temptations snares and into many foolish and noysome lustes which drowne men in perdition and destruction for the desire of mony is the roote of al euill and causeth men to fall from fayth to pearce themselues with many sorrowes Trust not in vncertaine riches but in the lyuing God whose hāds preserueth the poore aswell as the rich ye◠respecteth the cause of the needy that trust in him and sendeth the secure rich men
emptye away at the last Therefore to doo good and to distrybute forget not Heb. 13 for with such sacrifice God is pleased OH bountifull God and most merciful father naked came I into thys worlde bringing with mee not a clothe or ragge to couer this silly and weake body of mine wanting sustinaunce and foode without the which sweete Lorde life can not endure which I haue receiued at thy merciful hands and that most largely the one to couer keepe my naked members and weake bodye from parching heate in the soÌ„mer and extreame colde in winter and the other to feede and nourishe the same in so much as it hath by neither of these extremeties fainted or decayed to this day I thanke thee sweete lord that I haue not continued in nakednes wherein I was born but in warme and necessarye clothing not in hunger but in fulnes not in scarcety but in aboundaunce and sufficiency of all things not in want but in wealth not in labour but at ease not amonge the lowest but with the highest which blessings of thine Oh Lorde I confesse were not gotten by mine owne industry paines not by mine owne pollicie or wisedome nor bestowed on mee for mine owne sake or desertes who am borne in sinne but as sent from thee as thine owne free blessings farre passing the capasity of man by wisdome to comprehende by labour to gette or by pollicye to purchase but onely by thy blessed prouidence setting thine helpinge hande vnto the godly industrye of such as by their vocation and iuste trauaile shall endeuour to gather the same which is thine onely and bountifull gift as also where thou giuest and blessest the children with the inheritance of theyr parents which also is thine vnspeakable blessing graunt Lord that as all those thy giftes come altogether without our desertes so we neuer abuse the same but duely considering the mutability the â—lyperie hold and vnconstancie of worldly treasure and that the feare of the alteration thereof doth often loade and encombeâ— our mindes with so many sundry cares that we seldome rest without some doubte and perturbation of minde breeding also within vs diuers other great inconueniences as hawtines of minde contemning others of inferior conditions with a grudging disdaine of them in respect of ourselues puffing vp our hearts with arrogancie vaine glory excesse glutionie and finally leading a man to all kind of vices making him euen to forget himself thee beeing lead by the indirect rule of their owne proper nature which is altogether contrary to thy will wherefore forasmuch as these our worldly riches doo â—ende eyther to the winning or loosing of thy fauour and loue and thy loue the end of our happines Graunt me thy grace and assistaunce in bestowing ordering and occupying those terrestriall things that neither the loue of worldly commendation or prayse of men make me prodigall in spending them nor the care of coueâ—ousnes draw me to whorde and lay them vppe to canker and rust where it may be taken by theeues but as I haue plentifull so I may be liberall distributing according to the portion thereof vnto the necessity of others as the cause of their neede and mine hability shall require And as it pleaseth thee to increase my store so make me more and more thankfull and more and more ready to giue enduing me with the more humility gentlenes pittie stretching foorth mine hande with a glad heart to helpe the helples to feede the hungry to clothe the naked to comfort the comfortles that these thy bountifull giftes be not bestowed vpon me in vaine That I be not in the ende in case like the rich man spoken of in thine holy gospell turning mine eyes from the begging cryes of poore Lazarus but may willingly impart such thinges both of my table and store as it pleaseth thee to bestoweon me vnto the necessitie of the poore all my daies and take from me all hardnes of heart and extreame dealing to wardes such as by any light offence haue displeased me Graunt that I may consider of my self and way of my selfe as one of the lowest meanest and weakest and not to disdaine the simplest alwaies considering my beginning my present estate how it may please thee to alter it and what may befall vnto me before or in the ende as also to be mindfull of such as are of a lower estate and calling yea of the worste and poorest and to doo for them as I may and as occasion shall require without ouercharging any that for their releefe seeke any thing at mine hands That in the end I may be found a good and faithfull Stewarde of that tallant which thou hast put me in trust withall heere Oh Lorde make me willing to forgiue them that offende me acknowledging my selfe a thousande wayes offencible vnto thy maiestie pardon mee Oh God of thy mercy and giue me grace to amende mine euill and corrupt life And let me not by misponding and abusing thy gifts heere make forfeyture of so precious a dwelling place as thou by the blood of thy sonne Iesus Christ hast purchased for all such as showe themselues faithfull Stewardes heere Make mee to consider good Lorde the vanities of this wretched world and giue me thy grace dayly to contemplate and in faith to beholde the fayrenes beautie and certaintie of thine heauenly kingdome that I may dailie grow in hatred and contempt of this vale of misery and the vaine pleasures thereof and be readie at thy fatherly call to come vnto thee willingly bearing the burden which this this world continually chargeth me withall Oh almightie and mercifull God giuer of all good things and the takeâ— of them away againe at thy good pleasure make me in prosperity alwayes thankfull and if thou visite me with pouerty endue me with perfit patience that the delight of the one â—ull mee not and rocke me a sleepe in the Cradell of security not the heauines and greefe of the other waking mee with the daungerous dartes of dispayre Strengthen me good Lorde for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake and helpe me in this my great account which I haue to recken for at my last and finall ende and that before thee the Lord of our soules when and where there shall be no thing left vncharged but shall bee forst to account for those receytes actions which we little thinke on now and prooued euen then to be parcell of that whereof thou madest vs Stewards heere And therfore grant that I may not bestow my Tallaunt as to mine owne vse and behoofe onely but to the furtheraunce and helpe of them that stand in neede thereof That in the ende thou mayest with that comfortable saying receiue me saying Oh thou faythfull Stewarde seeing thou hast beene faithfull ouer a little I will make thee Steward of a great deale euen partaker of that place which thy sonne hath purchased In hope whereof I doo wholy yeelde and commende my selfe and al that I
A pensiue mans practise Very profitable for all personnes wherein are conteyned very deuout and necessary prayers for sundry godlie purposes VVith requisite perswasions before euery prayer VVritten by Iohn Norden Psalm 55. In the euening and morning and at noone day I will call vpon the name of the Lorde and that instantly and he will heare mee Iames. 5. 13. If any be afflicted let him pray AT LONDON Printed by Hugh Singleton 1584. To the Reader GEntle Reader for asmuch as I know the Callender to be a thing for diuers respects purposes very necessary and in nothing hurtfull to be anâ—exed vnto this Booke I haue requested the Printer to extende so much the more his paines for thy profit to collect some principall Rules and most necessary for thy vse to be therevnto added as heereafter may appeare A necessary Almanacke for 16. yeeres The yeere of our Lord. Dominicall Letter Leape yeere GoldeÌ„ number Easter day The first day of Lent Whit sunday 1584 D E 8 19. Aprill 3. March 7. Iune 1585 C  9 11. Aprill 24. February 30. Ma. 1586 B  10 3. Aprill 26. February 22. May. 1587 A  11 16. Aprill 1. Mar. 4. Iune 1588 F G 12 7. Aprill 21. Feb. 26. Ma. 1589 E  13 30. Mar. 12. Feb. 18 May. 1590 D  14 19. Aprill 4. March 7. Iune 1591 C  15 4. Aprill 17. February 23. May. 1592 A B 16 26. March 9. February 14 May. 1593 G  17 15. Aprill 28. February 3. Iune 1594 F  18 31. March 13. February 19. May. 1595 E  19 20. Aprill 5. March 8. Iune 1596 C D 1 11. Aprill 25. February 30. May. 1597 B  2 27. Ma. 9. February 15. May. 1598 A  3 16. Aprill 1. March 4. Iune 1599 G  4 8. Aprill 21. February 27. May. Note that the Golden number and Dominicall letter doo chaunge the first of Ianuary Note also that the yeere of our Lord beginneth the 25. day of March which day is thought to be the day vpon which the world was created and the day wherein Christ was conceiued in the wombe of the Virgin Mary A Rule to know howe many dayes be conteyned in euery moneth in the yeere Thirty dayes hath Nouember Aprill Iune and September The rest haue thyrty and one Except it be February alone Which alwaies hath 28. meere VVhen it is no Bissextile or leape yeere A note of the Moneths weekes dayes and houres throughout the whole yeere The yeere conteineth Monethes 12. Weekes 52. Dayes 365. Houres 8766. Daie Naturall hath 24. houres Daie Artificiall hath 12. houres Ianuary hath xxxj dayes Sunne riseth at vii xlviii minutes Setteth at iiii and ii minutes 1 A Circum The first day of this Moneth Christe was circumcised Luk. 2 21. The tops of the mountaines appeared vnto Noah Gen. 8. 5. The Jsraelites put away their wiues Ezra 10. 16. 2 b   3 c   4 d   5 e   6 f Epipha  7 g  The 5. of this Moneth worde was brought vnto Ezechiel y e Prophet that the Cittie Jerusalem was sinitten Eze 33. 21. 8 A   9 b   10 c   11 d   12 e  The sixt of this Moneth Christ was worshipped of y e wise men Mat. 2. 1 c. baptised Mat. 3. 15. turned water into Wine Ioh. 2. 1. c. as testifieth Epiphanius 13 f   14 g   15 A   16 b   17 c   18 d  The 10. of this Moneth Nebuccadnezzar King of Babel mooued thervnto by the rebellion of Zedechiah besieged Ierusalem most fiercely as may appears 2. King 25. c. Ierem. 52. 4. Also Ezechiel was willed to vtter his parable Eze. 24. 1. c. 19 e   20 f   21 g   22 A   23 b   24 c   25 d   26 e  Paule called and conuerted the 25 of this Moneth Act. 9. 3. 27 f   28 g   29 A   30 b   31 c   Februarie hath xxviii dayes Sunne riseth at vii and xi munites Setteth at iiii and xlix minutes 1 d  The first of this Moneth Moses repeated the Law vnto the children of Israell Deut. 1. 3 2 e Purification of Mary  3 f   4 g   5 A  The 2. of this Moneth our Sauiour was presented to the Lorde and Marie purified Luk. 2 22 6 b   7 c   8 d   9 e  The ninth of this Moneth Noah 40 dayes after he had seene the tops of the Mountaines sent out of the Arke a Rauen and afterwarde a Doue which returned Gen. 8 6 c. 10 f   11 g   12 A   13 b   14 c   15 d  The 15 of this moneth the Jewes spend merilie together for that y e spring of the yéere dooth enter then as they thinke 16 e   17 f   18 g   19 A   20 b  The 16 of this moneth Noah the second time sent out a Doue which returned with an Oliue braunch in her bill Gen 8 10. 21 c   22 d   23 e   24 f Mathias  25 g apo The 24. of this moneth Zachariah was commaunded to Prophesie Zach. 1 7 Mathias was elected into the number of the Apostles Act 1 26 26 A   27 b   28 c   29 d   March hath xxxi dayes Sunne riseth at vi and xix minutes Setteth at v. and xli munutes 1 e  The temple of Jerusalem was finished the third day of this moneth Ezra 6 15 in the 1 of Esdr. 7 5 it is said to be the 23 of this moneth 2 f   3 g   4 A   5 b  The tenth of this Moneth Christe was aduertised that Lazarus was sicke Ioh. 11. 3 6 c   7 d   8 e  A feast was celebrated among the Jewes for the ouerthrowe of Nicanor the 13. of this moneth 2 Mac 15. 37. also vpon the same day all the Jewes vnder Ashuerosh were commaunded to be put to death Esther 3. 13 vppon the same day the Jewes had a priuiledge giuen them to stay all their enemies Esther 8. 12 this day the Jewes also solemnized for theyr ioyfull deliuerance Esther 8. 17 9 f   10 g   11 A   12 b   13 c   14 d   15 e   16 f   17 g   18 A   19 b  The 14. day of this moneth was called of the Jewes Mardocheus day 2 Mac 15 37. also Purim as may appeare Esther 9 21. 26. 20 c   21 d   22 e   23 f  The 15.
  10 f   11 g   12 A  The 10 of this moneth some thinke Jerusalem to haue bin burnt by the Babilonians Ierom. 52. 12. Iosephus lib. 6. cap. 26. said it was burned afterward by the Romaines the same day Therefore doo the Jewes on this day obserue a most streight fast and go bare footed and sitting on the grounde reade twise ouer the Lamentations of Ieromie 13 b   14 c   15 d   16 e   17 f   18 g   19 A   20 b   21 c   22 d   23 e   24 f S. Bartho  25 g   26 A   27 b   28 c   29 d   30 e   31 f   September hath xxx dayes Sunne riseth at vi and xxxvi minutes Setteth at vi and xxiiii minutes 1 g  The first of this moneth Haggei the Prophet began to prophesie Hag. 1. 2. 2 A   3 b   4 c   5 d  The â—ixt of this moneth Ezechiel sawe another vision Eze. 8. 1. 6 e   7 f   8 g   9 A   10 b  The 7. of this moneth our most noble Queene Elizabeth was born at Gréenwich Anno. 1533. 11 c   12 d   13 e   14 f   15 g  The 8. of this moneth Ann. 73. Jerusalem was vtterly with fire sword destroyed by Titus the Emperor Ioseph lib. 7. cap. 26. 16 A   17 b   18 c   19 d S. Math.  20 e   21 f   22 g   23 A  The 25. of this moneth Nehemiah finished the walles of Jerusalem Nehem. 6. 15. 24 b   25 c   26 d   27 e S. Micha  28 f   29 g   30 A    b   October hath xxxi dayes Snune riseth at vi and xxxvii minutes Setteth at v. and xxiii minutes 1 b  The first of this moneth the Jewes celebrated the feast of trumpets Leuit. 23 24 The latter Jewes call this day the beginning of the newe yeere 2 c   3 d   4 e   5 f  Jerusalem after it had bin possessed of ChristieÌ„ Princes 88 yéeres through mortall discention came into y e handes of the Saracins Anno 1187 6 g   7 A   8 b   9 c  The thirde of this moneth some thinke the Jewes fasted for the death of Gedaliah whereby occosion was offered to bring them againe into the miserable seruitude of the Egiptians 2 Kin. 25 25 Ier 41 1 2 c 10 d   11 e   12 f   13 g   14 A   15 b  The tenth of this moneth the feaste of reconciliation was kept Leu. 23 27 so did the yéere of Iubilie euerye fiftye yéere begin as on the same day Leuit. 25 9 16 c   17 d   18 e Luke Euangel  19 f   20 g  The 15 of this moneth the Jewes obserued the feast of Tabernacle seaueÌ„ dayes together in memory of y e Lordes protecting them in the desert Leu. 23 34 21 A   22 b   23 c   24 d   25 e   26 f   27 g   28 A Simon â—ude  29 b   30 c   31 d   Nouember hath xxx dayes Sunne riseth at vii and xxxvi minutes Setteth at iiii and xxiiii minutes 1 e All Saints The third of this Moneth Constantius the Emperor son to Constantius the great departed out of this worlde Anno 364 Hist. tripart in the ende of the 5 booke 2 f   3 g   4 A   5 b   6 c   7 d  The tenth of this moneth Ann. 1483 D. Martin Luther was born in Islebia 8 e   9 f   10 g  The 15 of this moneth was made a newe holy day by Ieroboam without the commaundement of God where vppon he committed most wicked Idolatry in Dan and Bethel but he remained not long vnpunished nor his people vnplagued for the same as may appeare 1. King 12. 32 33 1 Kin. 13. 1 2. c. 11 A   12 b   13 c   14 d   15 e   16 f   17 g   18 A   19 b  Quéene Elizabeth began luckily to raigne for the aduauncement of the Gospell of our Sauiour Christ the 17. of this Moneth 20 c   21 d   22 e   23 f   24 g  The 18 of this moneth Titus the Emperor moste cruelly executed to death a great number of the Jewes Iosep. lib. 7. cap. 20 25 A   26 b   27 c   28 d   29 e   30 f Andrew apostell  December hath xxxi dayes Sunne riseth at viii and x. munites Setteth at iii. and xlviii munites 1 A  The 15. of this Moneth Antiochus placed an abhominable Idol vppon the Altar of the Lord 1. Mac. 1. 57. 2 b   3 c   4 d   5 e  The 20. of this Moneth Esdras exhorted the Israelites to put away their strange Wiues 1. Esd 9. 5 6 c. 6 f   7 g   8 A  The foundation of the second Temple was laide the 24. of this Moneth Hag. 2 11. 19. 9 b   10 c   11 d   12 e  The 25. of this Moneth our Sauiour Christ was borne of the Uirgin the yeere after the worlds creation 4018. On which day also Antiochus Epiphanes entred into Jerusalem with a mighty Armie and spoyled the same Iose. li. 32. cap. 6 On this day he prophaned the Altar of the Lord. 1. Macc. 1. 62. which day also the Jewes kept holy because thereon the Temple was purged from Jdolatry 1. Mac. 4. 59. 13 f   14 g   15 A   16 b   17 c   18 d   19 e   20 f   21 g S. Thomas apo  22 A   23 b   24 c  The 28. of this Moneth Herod caused the poore Innocents to be murthered thinking thereby to haue slaine Christ Mat. 2. 16. c. 25 d Christin S. Steuen S. Iohn Innocen  26 e   27 f   28 g   29 A   â—0 b   â—1    To the right Worshipfull Sir Henry Kniuet Knight and Lady Elizabeth his wife Their humble seruant Iohn Norden wisheth happines heere and after this life eternall felicitie THales a wise
eodem 27 where were 25 eodem 24. desease deseased 26 2 4 as white be as white 32 eodem 6 learne teache 59 2 9 vndeserudly deseruedly eodem eodem 27 wylles wyles ¶ A pensiue mans practise Before we pray we must forgiue if we haue any thing against any man otherwise our heauenly Father will not forgiue vs. Mar. 11. A prayer to Christ. O Sweete Iesus who haste taken vppon thee to bee our intercessor Aduocate vnto God thine heauenlie Father vouchsafe I humbly be secche thee to accompanye me in these my supplications and prayers presenting them vnto his heauenlie maiestie in such sorte as for thy sake sweete Iesus they may be acceptable vnto him to the washing away of my sinnes obteining thinges necessarie for me and all men according vnto his will in all things Amen O Lord increase my faith O Lorde open thou my lips that my mouth may extoll thee with prayse and bee thankfull vnto thee for thy benefites grant that I speake nothinge but that which may bee to thine honour glorie to the reliefe of our necessities bodelye and ghostlie Amen O Lord make speede to sende vs helpe succor from the Tower of thy strength O Lord let thine heauenly kingdome bee alwayes readie to receiue vs to eternall saluation Eternall praises be vnto thee oh God So be it A praier for the assistaunce of Gods holy Spirite Aske what thou wilt and thou shalt haue If thou in Christ the same doo craue For Christ thy Mediator sees When thou to him doost fall on knees ASke and yee shall haue seeke and yee shal finde knocke it shalbe opened vnto you Matt. 7. If yee that he euill can giue vnto your Children good giftes when they aske them how much more shall our heauenlie father giue his holie spirite to theÌ„ that faithfully desire it Luk. 11. VVe knowe not what to aske nor how to pray as we ought but the spirite it selfe maketh request for vs with sighes which can not be expressed Rom. 8. Seeing therefore our prayers be vaine and of none effecte without the grace and assistaunce of Gods holie spirite let vs fail downe vnto the throne of his Maiestie praying faithfullie for the same and it shall be giuen vs. O Almighty God omnipoteÌ„t father who comfortest such as be sorrowfull and who giuest all good and perfect giftes as thou of thy free fauour and loue hast willed vs in all our afflictions and necessities and as often as we finde our selues burdened with any kinde of tribulation or afflictioÌ„ either of bodie or minde to call for ease at thy mercifull handes So vouch safe to heare my crye and to consider the secrete groanes sighes and sorrowes of my sillye soule Oh blessed and eternall God loe heer before the throÌ„e of thy mercy euen at the gate of thy sweete promises I thy silly creature worke of thine owne hands prostrate my selfe in hearte most humbly beseeching thee to sende downe vppon my darke vnderstanding the bright beames of thine holy spirite to lighten me and to direct me in all my supplications and prayers and especially at this time Oh Lorde for that thou knowest my weakenes wickednes and ignoraunce to be such as I am altogether vnable to frame my requestes according to thy will or to seeke that is truelie for mine owne soules health and am altogether ignoraunt of the right gate to knocke at without thine especiall grace directing and assisting mee VVherefore I most humbly beseeche thee to addresse and prepare mine heart to the true vnderstanding of thy will and my tongue and lippes to the pure and vnfeyned calling on thy holy name euen for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake our onely Mediatour and Aduocate for whose bitter deathes sake I humbly beseeche thee of thy meere fauour and louing kindnes to wasn me and to make me cleane by the operation of thine holy spirite that beeing sanctified I may vtter those thinges which may bee vnto thee an acceptable sacrifice through the same thy sonnes mediation and intercession And that nothing passe the bandes of mine vnstaâ—ed lippes but that which may beseeme a single heart alwaies sounding to thine honour and setting foorth of thy most woorthy prayse both at this time and at all times Let thâ—ne holie spirite Oh Lorde come vnto me let it continue with me worke and preuaile effectuallie in me vnto the ende that I may both at this time beginne and for euermore continue as thou willest I shoulde namelie in faith that I fall not in anie temptations In hope that I may constantliâ— looke for and faithfully attaine vnto perfit vnderstanding of thy will and ablenes in all thinges to fulfill the same Make me also good Lord feruent in charitie that I may freelie and vnfeynedlie euen from mine heart forgiue and forgett all iniuries wronges and euill dooings of such as by any meanes haue ostended me with hartie prayer for their amendment that I approching vnto the throne of thy mercie in a pure and simple hart may hartelie as wel for all others as for my selfe for thinges necessary both for bodie and soule say that prayer which thy deerlie and well beloued sonne Iesus Christ taught vs to say Oh our Father which art in heauen c. Oh Lorde increase our faith A shorter prayer to the like purpose OH God almighty most louing and moste righteeus who vouchsafest to instill into the heartes of thy chosen seruauntes grace vnfeynedly to serue thee and to call vpon thine holy name in their necessitie and distresse Uouchsafe I humbly beseeche thee â—f thy méere mercie to expell out of mine heart all naturall dulnes misbeléefe and blindnes of error And through thine holie spirite to plant in steede thereof perfect zeale and vnfeyned desire to prostrate my selfe in heart before thine heauenlie Maiestie in fayth vnfeyned That at thys time it may please thée so to accept these my supp 〈…〉 cations and prayers as I may obteyne at thy mercifull handes what soeuer thou seest necessary bothe for body and soule through Jesus Christ our onely Sautour and Redéemer Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A morning prayer for the working day Before thou dâ—o thy worke beginne Thanke God craue pardon for thy sin And then thy worke shall prosper so As want shall neuer breede thee woe WHat a great benefit we receiue at the handes of almightie God by our naturall sleepe none is ignoraunt what perrils wee escape in the darke dolefull night wee may easilie iudge And what fauome the almighty extendeth towardes vs in giuing vs lodging not in the fieldes but in houses not vpon the harde and colde grounde but vppon softe pillowes warmelie couered experience teacheth VVhat thankes for this so bountifull benefits of his we are daily bounde to yeelde I woulde we allknewe and had will to yeelde them accordingly as did Dauid who Psal. 55 in the morning at midday and at night calling on the name of the Lord with thankes sayde Psal.
143 6. Lord let me heare thy louing kindnesse betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust So let vs yeelde his maiestie due prayses for his continuall louing kindnes towardes vs saying OH almightie God father of our lorde Iesus Christ who hast vouchsafed of thy thy great fauour loue euen from my childhood vnto this day to take such fatherly care of me that nothing hath destroied or hurte me but haue beene saselie preserued bothe day and night froÌ„ sodaine death and from all other perrils and dangers incident vnto mankinde haue all my life beene preserued And of thy free fauour and loue without aâ—â—e deserte or merite of mine to my great comforte enioyed the sweete benefite of sleepe and rest which is most wholesome for my poore and weake body yea and so good a nuâ—â—iture therevnto as good soile to the barraine field or thy timely showres to the dry ground or meate acceptable to the hungry stomacke Oh sweete Lord such hath beene thy fatherly care of me this night past that the sleepe which thou hast giuen me is most coÌ„fortable bothe to my bodie and soule in so much as I am the more aptly giuen to the execution of my worldlie busines and the seruice of thy diuine maiestie this morning wherein asist me sweete Lorde with the helpe of thine holie spirite comfort and defende me this day and euer with thy mercifull ayde that none affliction hurte or misfortune dismay me no tribulation or anguish of minde draw me from thee no worldlie care delight or fantasie carrie me at any time into anie wicked cogitation action or speeche for Lord I knowe that it is not thy wil that any euill shouldedwell in vs or that we shoulde at anie time offende thee but to keepe our hearts pure and vndefiled as a fitte receptacle for thy Maiestie Yet thou sufferest sometimes vnlawfull affections to haue the vpper hande to the end that we feeling our weaknes and corruption should wholie confesse all our strength all our godlie cogitations and workes to proceede from thee And for that all flesh is full of sinne and that the iust fall seauen times a day forgiue Lord my wickednes mine offences and sinne committed either this night past by foolish dreames fantasies or other temptations or at anie time since I came into this miserable worlde beeing a moste sinfull creature and that beeing pardoned by thy mercie in Iesus Christ I may proceede in the residue of my dayes gouerned by thy holie spirite voyde of all offences vsing my vocation and calling so as may be to the setting foorth of thy glorie maintenaunce of thy fauoure towardes me and getting those thinges which may be sufficient for the maintenaunce of mine estate heere and for the reliefe of such as are committed to my charge And graunt me alwaies such regarde of seruing thee as thine hande may alwaies directe mee to good and happy successe in all mine affayres Blesse thou the worke of mine handes good Lorde and graunt mee so to flye ydlenes the mother and Nurce of all euill that both this day and all my life I may by godlie care and trauaile get me a sufficient competent liuing heere that I be no burden and charge to such as are rich and welthie nor depend vpon the succor helpe and furtheraunce of others whose helpe is moste slippery and deceitfull Least that in hope thereof I giuing my selfe to ydlenes and loytering when their helpe shalbe with-holden from me I be driuen as the wise man sayth to goe in a ragged coate to want my foode But contrary wise Oh Lorde graunt that I may so imploy my selfe to laboure and dilligent execution of thy busines this day and euer that I may through my blessing luckelie prosper therein and shew my selfe so helpefull to the poore impotent and needy as the fruite of my trauaile shall extende vnto That thou maiest fulfill in me that most sweete promise of thine That who so considereth the poore and needye thou wilt deliuer him in the tyme of trouble Lord thy mercie is infinite and thy loue towardes vs vnspeakeable wherefore giue me grace alwayes to serue thee yea at all times and in all places both in laboure and rest welth and pouertie sicknes and health yea all my life and at the howre of my death that I may passe this day and all the rest of my transitorye life in the fulfilling of thy lawes and be readie at thy fauourable becke and call to come and appeare before thy throne of mercie in perfect hope of thy louing receiuing me into the bosome of thy sweete imbracinges not for my woorthines or dâ—serces which is but corruption but for the merites of thy sonne Iesus Christ there to rest inioying the fruites and benefit of his death and bitter passion in whose name I referre my selfe and all mine both this day and euer vnto thy Fatherlie protection humbly beseeching thee to direct almy thoughtes wordes and actions vnto my liues ende Good God Amen Oh Lorde increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose I Thanke thee most mercifull Father my maker and preseruer that thou hast so louinglie vouchsafed to tender my safety this night past giuing me sweete sléepe to the refreshment of my feeble and weake bodye So of thy goodnes vouchsafe to extend y e like louing fauour to wardes me this day whereby I may bée both safelie preserued from all kinde of euill and imploy my selfe dilligentlie vnto the execution of my vocation to the releefe of mee and mine and to thy glory Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A prayer for the Queene What so thou he pray God alwayes To blesse our Queene with happy dayes Whose wisedome vnder God so long Hath kept this Realme from sorrame wrong THe vnspeakeable benefite of our long peace and gratious tranquilitie may without manie circumstaunces or manie wordes suffice to mooue thankfull mindes to praise the God of Heauen for his vnspeakable loue towardes vs in giuing vs so gratious a gouernesse vnder whom we haue not only these xxv yeeres peaceablye liued but enioyed the comfortable passage and foode of the gospell when manie other nations haue wanted the same to the famishing as it were of their poore soules wherefore considering that wee may if not the more to our shame feede thereof at ful and thereto freendlie intreated and inioyned not onelie which is generall by the word it selfe but by seuerall iniunctions sette forth for the further aunce of Gods glorie and our profit by her maiestie in England onelie And therefore as we ought for all men so especiallie we are commanded to pray for the good prosperous estate of Kings and Princes and those in authoritie 2. Tim. 2. Let vs as we haue vnspeakable cause beseeche God of his goodnesse fauourably to looke vpon our most gratious Queene Elizabeth to graunt vnto her a prosperous raigne with manie and happie dayes to the plesure of him and comfort of vs Let
bloode and purge me with thy grace that I may nowe beginne and for euer continue in liuing according to thine holy and heauenly commaundement to the prayse of thy name and mine eternall saluation sweete Sauiour Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose OH Father of mercie and God of all goodnes I confesse vnto thee the corruption which from Adam to vs remaineth in our flesh whereby wee daily rebell against thy diuine Maiestie vouchsafe Oh Lorde I humbly beseeche thee for Jesus Christes sake to forgiue my sinnes and to pardon mine iniquities And instill into my heart vnfeyned repentaunce that the death of him thy Sonne may take away the heaâ—e burden which the fall of our first Parents layde vpon vs Amen Oh Lorde increase my fayth A praier for the euening When thou betakst thee to thy rest Commit thee to tha'lmighties hest For when thou lyest downe at night Thou art not sure to see day light ALthough that wee can not at all times duely examine our selues as concerning our life past yet once in the day it is most requisite to consider howe we haue spent the time past namely at night to weigh what we haue doon the day before and in the morning to consider howe we haue past the night For although the night was ordeyned for rest yet as sayth Paule 1. Thes 5. we should then watch and bee sober singing prayses vnto the Lord as Dauid did Ps. 42 giuing him thankes for the helpe of his presence that is to say for his protection the day past praying the same in the darke night when all thâ—â—â—es by reason of the darknes are hidden and when the wicked god about theyr euill pretended purposes to the disturbance of the godlye Therefore whatsoeuer thou doo Dan. II whether thou lie downe or 〈…〉 be meditaâ—â—ng the law of the Lorde OH heauenlie God and eternall Father giuer of all good thinges and protectour of all that loue thee I yeelde thee moste humble and harty thankes for thine inestimable benefites not onely for keeping and preseruing me this day but all my life that neither mine enemies haue preuailed against me as they sought and desired nor anie other misfortune which within this world is incident vnto mankinde hath ouercome me but hast like a moste louing father and carefull Puruey or giuen and prouided for me all thinges necessary In somuch as I haue beene well refreshed and replenished with thy great benefit of feeding me and with thy gracious benefite of clothing me so that I haue not saynâ—ed throughe want of soâ—de â—â—t beene â—â—â—resieâ— with ouermuch colde for lacke of ravment as with mine eyes to my great greefe I may and doo beholde a number daâ—â—e in diuers corners of the streetes and wayes as I passe who are most greeuously tormented with hunger colde sores and sicknes lamentable to see whom also thou hast bought mâ—st deerelie and yet sâ—sterest them to be oppreiled and I who haue deserued no lesse nay rather good Lord a great deale more then some of them haue by thy fatherly goodnes not onely escaped those afflictions but receiued at thy mercifall handes infinite good gifts and vnspeakable benefites for which thine inestimable loue I cannot sufficientlie prayse thee Oh Lorde forgiue mine offences which this day I haue committed doone against thine almightie maiestie whether they be secrete and vnknowne or open whether they were doone in my youth or at any time since pardon them Oh GOD for Iesus Christes sake and vouchsafe me thy grace to amende my life and to returne vnfeynedly to the seruice of thee And for asmuch as I can not continue without thy continuall protection vouchsafe to extende the same vnto me thy wretched creature this night that I may quietly take my rest which thou haste appointed for a refreshment of our wearyed members and hast ordeined the night and darknesse as a time most conuenient to take the same in beeing a time wherein we shoulde to that ende cease from our labours and daylie affayres And vouchsafe vnto me thy poore creature who am of my selfe neyther of power to lye downe nor beeing layde able to rise vppe thine especiall assistaunce and helpe that in thy name I may lie downe and receyue at thy mercifull handes sweete and comfortable reste not according to the greedines of my corrupt nature but as shall be onely expedient for the refreshment of my weake body And for as much good Lorde as thou knowest with what mortall foes wee are continuallye assaulted both sleeping and waking who endeuor by all meanes to entrappe vs by some euill or other which wee heare or see in thys vale of vanitie to our delighte though contrarye to thy will wherevnto we often yeelde and that in the day time much more in the darke and lothsome night wherin all thinges are couered and hidden and when the heauines of drowsie sleepe keepeth downe our vnderstanding in which time of darknes such as intende to worke wickednes are most ready with dilligence abhorring the light to put in practise theyr mischeuous deuises Therfore I most humbly beseeche thee Oh God almightie to preuent theÌ„ in their euill imaginations that in no wise they hurt me And to graunt though sleepe to my bodie sufficient and not ouermuch yet to my poore soule watchfull and dilligent waking that I fall into no daunger by yeelding to any euill in the sleepe of my bodie vouchsafe also to garde and defende me that nothing hurte me this night that fire consume me not nor anie thing that belongeth vnto me nor any other daunger whatsoeuer dismay me Keepe me also good Lord from suddaine and vnprouided death and preserue me so by the watch of thine holie Angells that I may take my rest in quiet vntill the morning and then giue my selfe vnto the finishing of my duetie to the discharg of my vocation and fulfilling of thy will vnto my lines ende for which thy fauour and for all things els necessary for me and all other for whom thou hast commaunded vs to pray as for all such as are in anie kinde of affliction in bodie or minde for the testimonie of thy trueth that thou wilt strengthen them and thine whole Church in pure religion For all such as are sicke and diseased that thou wilâ— eyther restore them to health giue them patience or receiue them vnto thy selfe for the preseruation of our Queene and gouernesse Elizabeth by thy dinine prouidence ferre ouer vs that shee may continue to thy pleasure long and prosperously ouer vs and for this whole Realme of England that thou wilt graunt vs all true repentaunce for our Parents Brethren Sisters Kinsâ—olkes Neighbours and all them that thou wouldest wee shoulde commende vnto thee in prayer Giue mee grace to say that prayer which thy sonne Iesus Christ taught vs saying Our Father which art in heauen c. And for as much as we cannot pray effectually without thine especiall gift of faith vouchsafe to
ingraffe the same in mine heart that I may both nowe and euer make vnseyned confession thereof as thine Apostls haue sette downe in these wordes I beleeue in God c. Oh Lord now vouchsafe to imbrace me with the Armes of thy mercie vouchsafe to receiue me into the bosome of thy loue shaddowe me with thy winges that I may safely take my rest this night in peace in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christe in whose name I referre me wholie into thy louing protection beseeching thee that when my last sleepe shall come I may take mine euerlasting rest with thee in thy celestiall kingdome sweete God Amen Oh Lord into thine handes I commend my selfe Oh Lord increase my faith A short prayer to the like purpose OH almightie Lord God I thanke thee that this day past thou hast of thy meere mercy vouchsafed vnto me thy poore creature not enelie protection against all daungers and euills But also all thinges necessary So I humbly beseecâ—â— thee of the same thy mercy and for thy sonne Jesus Christ his sake to 〈…〉 de the like protection and fauour towardes me this night that I may enioy at thine handes safe and quiet rest to the comforte and refreshment bothe of my bodie and soule for Jesus Christes sake Amen Oh Lorde increase my fayth A prayer for the increase of Fayth If thou wilt haue what thou doest craue Pray thou in saith the Gospell sayth FAith as saith S. Paule vnto the Hebrues Heb. 11 is a sure foundation of thinges hoped for an euident feeling of the manifolde promises which God the father hath made vnto vs 1. Pet. 1 touching our saluation in his sonne Christe our sauiour and whereby also wee already inwardely taste of the vnspeakable toyes wher of wee shalbe heereafter made full pertakers Heb. 11 in Heauen without it wee can doo nothing But by it Gal. 3. wee are blessed of him and by it 1. Pet. 1 we are saued by it Eph 6 are all the fiery darts of hell and sathan quenched The iust man Aba 2. shall liue by fayth the daughter of the woman of Canaan Ma. 8. was healed by the faith of her mother Elias the Thesbyte 3 Kin. 16. 17. through fayth was fed with Rauens in his distresse and hunger hee prayed for rayne and through fayth obteyned it by his faith was the Oyle of the widdowe of Zarphat encreased Dan. 6. her child raysed from death to life The three Children were deliuered from the whot fornace by fayth and Daniell out of the Lyons denne by sayth the sinfull woman Luk. 7. obteyned pardon the Apostles by sayth Act. 3. healed sundry diseases Nowe wl at greater Iewell can there be had at the handes of God then fayth for haue fayth and all thinges foode sent from heauen defence from Lyons saftye from fire in the whott Ouen forgiuenesse of sinnes and whatsoeuer els concerneth eyther body or soule And therefore let it be a principall requeste vnto his Maiestie that he will vouchsafe that gift VVithout wauering aske it and God will giue thee it aboundantly VVithout sayth Heb. 11. it is impossible to please God Neyther can we haue accesse to Christe Eod. without it who is the Mediator betweene God the Father and vs. O Halmighty God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ by whose worde we are taught that to loue thee feare thee and serue in trueth godlines and sinceretie of life is the onely way and meane to continue thy loue and fauour towardes vs without the which wee can not but perish And beleefe and confidence in thy sonne Iesus Christe the onely meane of our redemption and attonement with thee the onely holde of our saluation whereof we can not be sufficiently assured without thine especial gift of faith which is the ancor wherevnto the cable of our saluation is fastned And beeing broken the hope also of our saluation decayeth waxeth of none effecte plant therfore most merciful God one sparcke of true faith in mine harte that I may certainlye know thee perfectly loue thee and duely feare thee and vnfeynedly acknowledge Iesus Christ to bee sent into this miserablâ— world to saue vs miserable sinneâ—s for vs by his bitter death to purchase thy fauoure and loue againe which we had loste by the fall of our Father Adam Oh Lorde graunt me to take such holde of his death passion resurrection and assention as by his death we may haue pardon by his resurrection rise to righteousnes by his assention ascende with him to celestiall glorie and finally attribute the cause and meane of our saluatioÌ„ to proceede onely by his passion Increase this faith in vs good Lord dayly more and more that it may growe by the working of thine holie spirite to full perfection accompanied with good workes and godlie behauiour without the which I caÌ„ fesse faith caÌ„not be that I may bothe in life and conuersation fulfill thy diuine will in all things with-holde not from me good Lorde that singuler gift of thine which is the stay of our happines the want therof a most certaine token of our perdition It is the strength of the weake feeble ones the staffe stay that guids the blind the onlie way that leads vnto the vnspeakable ioies of eternal blisse the meane to obteine possesse enioy the only good which is the knowledge of thy will the bande of mutuall peace the Forte the Castell and comfort of a distressed minde and the onelie harbour of a sorrowfull soule no good thing wanteth to him on whom thou vouchsafest to bestowe the same to whom all thinges are light in whom remaineth no darknes at all Banish therefore sweete Lorde all misbeleefe all wauering and doubting out of mine heart and plant insteede thereof vnfeyned fayth that applying the same to euery affliction both of bodye and minde I may vanquish and ouercome sathan with stande the delightes of the worlde and suppresse the corruptible motions of the flesh ouercome my bodely enemies and enioy at thy good pleasure health of bodie soundnes of minde perfection of limmes and all thinges els requisite for me as no thing is impossible to him that enioyeth this thy gift estecttually indeede a most precious iewell an vnspeakable good thing for thou sayst VVho so heareth thy word and beleeueth in Iesus Christe whome thou haste sent shall haue euerlasting life Then Lorde on the contrary he that beleeueth not is in daunger of euerlasting death Oh Lord increase my faith wher by I may beleeue in that thy sonne and take hold of all his promises who said That who so beleeueth in him shall want no manner of thing that is good Lord I beleeue helpe mine vnbeleefe Giue mee fayth but as the grayne of a Musterde seede and I shall be able to doo great wonders yea I shall bee able to remooue sathan out of his desired habitation expelling him and his ministers out of my minde and walke no longer according to the will of the
flesh but casting away the workes of darknes enioy the pure light of the Gospell and perseuer and abide therein enioying thy fauour loue vnto the ende without fainting in anie tribulation or vexation of Spirite going forwarde in hope in feare in loue and vnfeyned zeale towardes thee That I may obteine at thy mercifull hands whatsoeuer is necessarie in this life or for the obteyning of the life to come and after this life ended enioye thy celestiall purchased inheritaunce sweete Sauiour Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose I Humbly beseeche thee Oh mercifull God for thy sonne Jesus Christes sake to powre into mine heart by the operation of thine holie spirite one sparckle of true sayth whereby I may truelie beleeue in thy Son Jesus Christe as our onelie mediatour and â—duocate through whose death and passion we are restored to our former happines wherein we were in the beginning placed which none can beleeue but through the holie ghaste Encrease therefore my faith that working by charitie I may doo that which may be acceptable vnto thée all the dayes of my life Through Jesus Christ. Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A prayer against the deuill the world and the fleshe very necessary to bee often sayde If thou these Captaine foes wilt flye Thou must craue ayde of God on hie THe deuill who is Prince of darknes Eph 6. and wbo ruleth in this world goeth about seeking whom he may deuoure and leade headlong into destruction by putting before our eyes the vaile of the vanities of this worlde that we should not see the light of the trueth but to continue in darknes in hautines and pryde as bondslaues and captiues to him whose children they are 2. Tim. 2. that continue in voluntarye blindnes whose end shalbe the fire euerlasting Ioh. 8. prepared for him and his Angells Mat. 25. Pray that the worlde ouercome you not 1. Ioh. 5. wherein resteth nothing but wickednes and sinne The whole world 2. Esd. 4. is full of vnrighteousnes and wickednes which who so loueth is an enemye to God They that are in the fleshe can not please God Ro. 8. but shall die Eâ—de That is such as yeelde them selues to followe the lustes thereof shall haue the rewarde of the wicked in eternall perdition Praye therefore that ye enter not into temptation but that yee may walke godly as the seruauntes of Christe and not as the seruants of sinne OH Christ sonne of the liuing GOD who in the time of thy humanitie wheÌ„ thou walkedst heere in the vaile of this miserable worlde in the forme of a seruaunt in the substance of mankinde art not ignoraunt of the sundrye greeuous assaultes and temptations wherewith sathan that monstrous enemie to mankind tryed thee thou beeing altogether cleane and cleere from all corruption yea without all desire of sin yet hardlie assaulted by sundrie meanes to procure thee to yeelde to his allurings wherby sweet Iesus thou haddest sufficient try all and experience of his like assaultes vnto our corruptible and weake flesh who are by reason of the fall wilfull transgression of our great Graundfather Adam as thou knowest moste easie to bee ouercome who in all assaults haue none other refuge or defence but onely to flie vnto thee and to reste vnder the shaddowe of thy winges which is so sure a haâ—bour and so strong a defence as who so faithfully betaketh him vnto the same is safe froÌ„ al the raging stormes of sathan the deceites of the worlde and motions of the vnbrideled fleshe all which are vnto our soules moste monstrous mortall and most cruell enemies Oh Lorde let thine holy spirite dwell in mee let it neuer depart from the inner part of mine hearte but decking the house of my soule with the flowres of loue faith and vnfeined zeale it may please thy diuine Maiestie to settle thee and frame thy selfe therein to abide that thy presence may bee so terrible vnto his assaultes as he approching neere vnto me seeing thee and hearing thy name Oh Iesus may flye away as hee did from thee in the wildernesse as hee dyd from thee on the Penicle and in all his temptations Thou wert pure at that time without spotte of sinne I am sinfull and full of corruption He could not ouercome or preuaile against thy sanctetie but I am prone to fall therefore easie to be ouercome strengthen me therefore stande with me fyght for me that he take mee not captiue and make me a bondslaue of sinne keepe me free out of his clawes sweet Iesus let the brightnes of thy grace so shine about me that his darknes come not neere me to ouershadowe mee with the darknes of iniquitie Let thy sauour bee a wall a bulwaâ—ke and strong buckler for my defence for Lorde thou knowest that his force is so great his will so ready his doings so wily as if thou doo but pluck backe thine hande he striketh vs if thou turne thy face he winneth vs to his will and if thou depart vtterlie from vs we shall runne headlong into moste horrible destruction Wherefore Oh sweete Iesus saue me sweete Iesus keepe me sweete Iesus imbrace me holde thine holy hand ouer me conducte me and leade me in the middest of the path of truth to celestiall happines and let me not bee drawen awrye to the left hande or to the right but keepe a middle and directe course vntill I come to the place of celestiall blisse where neither sathan shall ouercome me the world deceiue me nor the fleshe procure me to sin but be in the light of thy most glorious presence with the residue of thy saints singing eternall praises vnto thee But Oh my most louing redeemer my time is not yet come my iourny is not yet at an end my daies which though they be but a span long are not yet finished And vntill this body of mine shal passe to the graue my poore soule must haue and abide continuall conflictes with the deuil the king and Emperor of this world and with as many his ministers as my tongue can not number and principally with the world who setteth before mee insteede of diuine and heauenly contemplations worldlie vanities insteede of celestial and true comfort worldly delights insteede of heauenly hope worldly and vnauailable promises to bring as much as in him lyeth my godly enterprises to wicked end Lord he labours by all meanes to drawe vs into dispayre by loding our mindes with too much doubt of the performaunce of thy most comfortable promises But sweet Iesus though his power be in show great thine is in deede greater though he be strong thou art stronger though his instigations prickings for warde to wickednes be many thy louing and father lie callinges to grace are more Thou hast promised vs thy helpe and that most meruey lous to our eyes for thou hast said that thou wilt giue vs power to doo not onelie as thou didst but more and greater
which is so straunge to the dulnes of our vnderstanding that we can not but meruaile that we who are nothing but corruption nothing but an heape of sinne shold doo greater thinges then thy self sweete Iesus who are onelie God onely pure onely holynes and onelie grace and power it selfe Oh Lorde make this perfectlie known vnto me make me faithfull then I know I shal rightly vnderstaÌ„d it Lord if we that are sinful ful of frailtie giue sathan the repulse dispise the world and withstande the euill motions of the fleshe wee doo that which thou dyddest not in respecte that thou beeing pure and without sinne or will to sinne were not so soone to bee wunne as wee whose strength is weaknes whose holines is meere corruption therfore was thy victorye lesse then ours Sweete Iesus giue me thy strength thine helpe and the lighte of thy grace to obteyne the victory and to auoide his tyrannie Saue me from the detestable crue of his ministers for great are the conflictes which dayly arise in our consciences betweene thy grace and sathan betweene thy soirite and our flesh betweene thy diuine will and the wicked worlde Oh what an heauy burden is it to beare the innumerable temptations which the deuill the world and the fleshe doo ofter and especially to those that take not holde by the Anâ—or of patience and who settle not themselues within the harboure of thy seate but giue the raines of their vngodlie desires scope to runne whether the force of euery vnlawful motion of the wicked fâ—end the vaine world or the corrupt flesh shal mooue and driue them Oh sweete Iesus guide the raynes of the bridle of my desires that I runne not headlong into any vngodlie action but beeing lead by the hande of faith vnder the conduct of patience I may ouercome this capitall and archenemy of mine that hee beeing once vanquished his ministers may quaile and be discomfited their craftie wilines wexe of none effect and mine hope in thee my loue towards thee and my feare of thee daily increase That the world with the desires therof may die in me I to it that the vain dissembling showes therof draw me not out of the way of truth Strengthen me sweete Iesus in my conflictes and temper them so with patience that they may rather be Medicines then maladies to my poore soule and healthfull exercises that I neeuer thinke my selfe to be secure but alwaies subiect to try all for without exercise wee remaine vnskilfull and without an enemie we prepare not weapon neither is victorie gotten without battaile nor rewarde without victorie Yet though we ouercome the victory is not ours but thine who fightest and ouercomest for vs and yet such is thy loue that thou giuest vs the rewarde crown of victory Make me strong sweete Iesus fortefye the Castell of my soule with spirituall weapons as with fayth loue hope peace long suffering gentlenes humblenes thankfulnes meekenes strength and patience and such like that I may continually withstand the prowde attemptes of these my ghostlie enemies through thee and by thee sweete Iesus mine onely sauiour and redeemer Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A short prayer to the same effecte I â—oore and wretched sinner Oh mercifull God humbly beseeche thee to sende me from thine holy heauens strength to withsâ—and the assaultes of the wicked fiend sathan who goâ—th aboute like a roaring Lyon seeking by many meaâ—â—s to dâ—â—ourâ— me Lorde giue me like wisâ— graâ—e to resist the raging and vnâ—aciable lustes and desires of the corrupt flesh and vanities of the worlde That beeâ—â—g through thâ—ne helpe acquitted from the force of these my mortall enemies I may serue thee in holinesse and righteousnes all the dayes of my life Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A prayer for the helpe and assistance of God in all our dooâ—ngs and that wee doo nothing but in his feare and due obedience Doo nothing but see â—â—st thou craue Ayde â—â—â—m the Lord good ende to haue So â—halt thou haue suâ—â—â—â—le alwaies As thou wâ—â—t wish and happy dayes DAuid considering the frayltye of mans nature his insufficiencye of hym selfe to doo anye thing arighte wylleth vs to committe our wayes vnto the Lord Psalm 37. and to put our truste in him assuringe vs that in so doing God will brynge our matters to good effect and blesse all our godly endeuours Our forefathers trusted in God and were not confounded Eccl 2. They continued in his feare and were not â—orsaken they called vppon him were not disâ—â—sed Symâ—on feared the Lorde Lu. 2. in all his doings and the holy ghost came vpoÌ„ him reueâ—led vnto him that he should not die before he had seene the Messias eueÌ„ Christ our sauior Corneli us with his whole houshold feared the Lord Act. 10. an Angel came to him and tolde him that his prayers almes were come before the lord yea the mercie of the Lorde is from generation to generation vppon them that feare him and walke in his wayes hee taketh great delighte in the people that stande in awe of him Den 5. Iudith feared the Lord Iudith 8. and none had the power somuch as to râ—yse vp an euill reporte of her All thinges goe well with them that feare the Lord and who so craueth faithfully the assistaunce of the Lorde shall doubtles neuer dâ—o amisse for he reuealeth hys secretes vnto them Psa. 25 which feare him and maketh theÌ„ to vnderstand his couenaunt VVherefore trusting neither thine owne wisedome thine own wealth nor helpe of man seeke the assistaunce of the Lord and that faithfullye and he will rightly directe thee for his eye Psal. 33. is alwayes vppon him that feareth him and trusteth in his helpe OH God of most excellent wisedome vnspeakable mercye tender loue towardes vs meruailous foreknowledg of all thinges who hast coÌ„manded vs at al times to direct our doinges by the rule of thy lawes I humbly beseech thee to direct al my coun sails studies labors deuises determinatioÌ„s so as they may bee alwayes measured and guided by thine almighty wisdom that I take nothing in hand disagreeable to thy wil but may alwaies faith fully craue fauourably obteine thine assistaunce helpe furtheraÌ„ce therin That whatsoeuer I do it may come to such end take such effect as may be to the glory of thy name to the health benefit of my soule proâ—ite of my neighbors That I at no time rashly or vnaduised ly leudly or loosly atteÌ„pt or determine any thinge without thine especiall feare duelie considering that thou art the author of all good thinges and bringest prosperously to passe all godlie actions attemptes and purposes And whatsoeuer is doon in secrete or in intent to hide it from thy knowledge which none work he neuer so secretely can doo although for a time it haue some sweete tast namelie a fleshly delight some sauour or likelyhoode of happy successe vet is the ende thereof
vnto our heauenly father for whatsoeuer we want as did Iacob Gene. 28. who prayed for foode and apparell and obteyned it with aboundance God seeth before wee aske what we want and yet to show our dutiful obedience to acknowledg our helpe to come from hym wee must prostrate our harts be fore him in fayth asking and he will giue knocking and he will open seeking we shall surelie finde what we want Dut. 20. For God of his meere mercy feedeth the fatherles voucbsasing vnto them al good thinges wherefore whatsoeuer thou be pray faythfully vse the giftes of God thankfully and reuerenly and thinke not that thy freendes can helpe thee thy fruites satisfie thee or laboure preuayle thee without the blessing of God Tim. 6. wherby enioying foode and apparrell be therewith content and in any case dispayre not for the prouidence of God is great to giue foode and things necessary to such as trust in him And it is not daintye feare that feedeth so much as the trust in God can releeue with a small simple dyet as doth appeare in the 1. of Daniell by theÌ„ that were so well replenished with pulse and water OH almighty God and louing father who of nothing hast created all thinges liuing whose care is so great ouer them all that thou sufferest not the moste vile or symplest of them to perishe for want of foode and thinges requisite for theÌ„ but seeking the same at thy handes thou gyuest it them in due season And by thyne vnsearchable wysedome haste appoynted to euerye liuing creature an abyding according to his kinde But such was thine vnspeakable care of man whome thou hast created to thine own image that he is as a king and gouernour ouer all the rest of thy creatures whome thou haste sette appointed vnder him beeing so farre inferiour vnto him as where thou haste planted in him reason wysedome and gouernment in them brutishnes beeing altogether vnreasonable and where they liue haue there beeing vppon the tops of cold mountaines in desartes vpon hilles on hie and in vallies below and in sundry other vncouth and vnknowne places where tempest heate hardnes and colde and other continual dangers oppresse them thou hast giuen and prouided for man houses castelles and townes to preserue them from the force of windes tempestes and stormes and from the assaultes of wilde beastes of the fielde in the night and darknes quietly to rest And although born naked thou giuest him ray ment to couer and to clothe him hearbes for his vse and oyle to make him a cheereful and glad heart and ioyfull countenaunce Besides all this of thy meere goodnes haste giuen him the beastes of the fielde the fowles of the ayre and fishes of the sea to be his foode and sustinaunce yea Lorde such is thy fauour towardes man that all the rest of thy creatures thou hast ordeyned for his vse and seruice wherfore I thy sillie creature and worke of thine handes humblie prostrate my selfe in heart beseeching thee fauourably to looke downe vpon my necessitie and graunt me whatso euer thou seest necessarie for me euen a competent and necessarie portion heere not ouermuch least I wexe prowde or disdaine mine inferiors and if it be thy will vouchsafe vnto me not ouer little least vrgent necessitie driue me to ouer much care ouer much care carry me to vnlawful means so runne headlong into thy disâ—auor But fill my Baskett blesse my store Oh Lord that I may enioy at thy mercifull handes sufficieÌ„cie for my selfe for the releefe of such as thou hast coÌ„ mitted vnto my gouernment and for as much good Lord as all mine industry carke and care great trauaile can not any thing furder me releeue or satisfie me in my necessitie vnlesse thou vouchsafe therevnto good successe for thy mercies sake blesse me in all mine affayres blesse my fruites in the field my cattell and all other thinges belonging eyther to my selfe or any other thy seruauntes as by the fruites thereof I and they may be releeued Blesse the workes of mine handes that they may prosper blesse my sences that they wexe not dull but be alwaies capable of such thinges as belong vnto my vocation effectually to execute the same both according to thy lawes and the trueth of that which I take in hand for without thy blessing and fatherly furtheraunce I can not sufficiently execute neither can that prosper where vpon the whole state of my liuing and maintenaunce dependeth VVherefore good Lorde guide mine handes and blesse mine vnderstanding to the prosperous execution of all thinges concerning my vocation that I may gett those thinges which may be sufficient for the releese and maintenaunce of me and mine to the profit of my neighbours and glory of thy blessed name And what so euer dooth happen vnto me pouertye or ritches make me good Lord of a patient contented and thankfull minde that in aduersitie I runne not headlong into such meanes as are vngodlye neither in prosperitie wexe the prowder but waight thy good pleasure in them both with thankfulnes euer more liue in thee by thee in the end raigne with thee in heauen where thou sittest as Author and giuer of all thinges graunt this for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake to whom with thee and the holie ghost be all honour for euer Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A prayer necessarie after the hearing of the word of God Attende vnto the Ghospell bright Heare it and reade and liue vpright Consider when thou hearest the worde of God preached it dooth but as it were beat thyne eares and rendereth no further benefitt vntyll by the workyng of GODS holye spyrite it bee inwardlye reuealed vnto thee For GOD by two meanes speaketh vnto vs namely by the Preacher whome hee sendeth to teache vs. And by hys holy Spyrite wherby hys doctrine is so setled in our heartes that we inwardly enioy the true benefit therof For wythout the helpe of the holye ghost the voyce of the preacher vanisheth and the hearers profite nothing at all S. Iohn saith That he that knoweth God heareth his word 1. Iohn 4. but he that is not of God heareth it not wherby the spirite of trueth is discerned from the spirite of error For the word of God is liuelie Heb. 4. and effectuall and pearceth more then a two edged sword entring euen into the diuision of the soule the spirite c. wherefore pray that as the Lorde sendeth his messengers to showe his will So you may both heare it vnderstand it purelie liue thereafter pray for fayth For without fayth Heb. 4. the hearing of the word profiteth nothing OH heauenlye Father who hast not onely vouchsafed to make vs to thine owne image and likenes but also to sende thy sonne Iesus Christe into this worlde for our saluation and hast by him not only giuen vs knowledge of thy diuine will heere on earth and lefte it for our learning But also
that it often happeneth wheÌ„ we think least thereon it commeth sodamly as the lightninge and taketh vs vnwares VVherefore grant Oh GOD of my life that I may haue such continuall care foresighte and dylligent respect vnto the direction of my dealinges cogitations and wordes that I loade not my poore soule so muche with the burden of scenlesse securitye sinne and iniquitye that the bodye beeing sodainly intangled with the snare of deathe it bee carryed where there is no reste no ioye no comforte or consolation but continual mourning weeping and anguishe of minde as the Glutton spoken of in thine holy Gospell who going on blindly loosly and carelesly without regarde eyther of thee or remem braunce of his ende in moste detestable couetousnes and all kinde of wickednes was sodainly taken from hys mucke wealth which he had wrongfully gotten and myserably whorded vppe and yet denying poore Lazarus the croomes that fell and were taken from his table but was carried by the deuyll and his Angells into euerlasting and moste bitter tormentes where was weeping and gnashing of teeth Oh my sweete Lord let not mine heart be so blinded with the vale of vanitie nor nouseled in the delightes of this world so intangeled in the nette of concupiscence nor clad in the weedes of wilfull forgetfulnes of mine estate that I bee taken as the ritch man who deuising within him selfe to enlarge hys Barnes wherin he might conuey his graine so much encreasing who standing in his euill conceite of couetousnes thinking himselfe most secure was taken vnawares from his aboundaunce and left hys riches he knew not to whom Oh most gratious and most louing God a most vnhappy end wherin steed of heauenly contemplations and godly cogitations which thou requirest at al times of such as are thine but especially at the houre of death there appeared a most horrible intent of couetousnes which thou vtterly abhorrest a manifest token good Lorde of forgetfulnes of his ende and an argument that hee was the childe of Sathan But thou shewest mercye to as many as conuert and turne to thee Oh my most louing father lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not in sinne nor wander in darknes according to the will of the fleshe that I fall not vnawares into the dungion of distruction death and hell but make me alwaies ready and willing to come vnto thee euen with desire when it pleaseth thee to call me by laying thy hande by any plague or sicknes vpon me let me not drawe me as it were backwarde when thou inuitest me to the sweete banquet of thine heauenly kingdome as by the worde and gospell preached and reueiled vnto vs which is an especiall calling vs or when I feele my selfe distempered greeued or vexed with any kinde of sicknes plague or disease which is another of thy callinges and an especiall warning that we must dye or when by course of time in extreame age wee may imagine our ende to be neere but Lord when I am at my dayly busines and laboure when I eate or drinke when I am in my best temperature health in childehoode and young yeeres at all times and in all places giue me grace to thinke that death standeth at mine elbowe alwayes ready to strike mee that I sleepe not in sinne and securitie till the time sodainly come of my departure and so be taken vnprouided and perish withour repentaunce who can perswade him selfe to liue long and see many daies especially in daungerous and contagious times of sicknes and seeing so many examples dayly to the contrary euen in the most temperate time of health some we see at their Mothers pappes by humaine indgement likely to liue sodainely to giue vppe the ghoste some in theyr youth some in middle yeeres yea when grauest experience aboundeth to be sodainly called away to be no more seene Al which notwithstanding Oh Lord such is the blindnes of our nature that we think this world a coÌ„tinual being for vs and couer euen with greedines to see many dayes where we heape sinne vpon sinne to the ouerburdening of our poore soules seldome or not at all thinking to dye Graunt sweete Lorde that as I desire to liue so I may haue a greater desire to liue well that I may make an happy ende abandoning all feare of death that the cogitation thereof may dwell in peace with in the mansion of mine heart and when it shall approche neere vnto me I flie not from it but may goe foorth with ioy to meete the same considering that it is a meane to ende my cares and to begin my ioy it is the finishing of sorrow and enteraunce into blisse which made thy seruaunt Paule to say That he desired to be deliuered of the burden of this life and to be with thee where is nothing but ioyes vnspeakable and contrarie heere on earth nothing but care and woe which mooued thy seruaunt Iob to call this life a warfare and this world a wildernes and vale of misery where is nothing but conflictes betweene the flesh and the spirite dayly increase of sinne and continuall care of vanities Oh good God giue vs carefull hearts to loue thee while we liue heere giue vs continual feare vnfeyned zeale perfit faith godly care to doo good to all men and earnest desire to come vnto thee who art the ende of all trouble and laboure and the beginning of ease the ende of strife and the beginning of peace the ende of all misery and the beginning of all blisse wherevnto sweete Lord graunt that with vnseyned desiâ—e we may faithfully endeuour our selues to come and to take possession of that thy most glorious kingdome where thy sonne is gonne before to direct vs the way and where thou sittest to iudge according to euerye mans desertes making all those that thou findest with the Lampe of true faith burning in their harts partakers of the euerlasting ioyes thereof In number of whome Oh sweete Lord accept me heere that I may appeare among them in the world to come through Iesus Christ our Lorde in whose name I commend my selfe into thy handes to liue for euer in thee sweete God Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose OH God in whose handes consisteth the life of all mankind for thy Sonne Jesus Christes sake vouchsafe to giue me grace to sett before mine eyes as a most certaine mark where vnto this frayle body of mine must tende it selfe the Image of that which is to the faythfull the ende of payne and beginning of pleasure the ende of misery and beginning of blisse but to the secure and careles the ende of their pleasures and beginning of eternall paynes Ueuchsafe me therefore earnest desire of seruing thée and leading my life according vnto thy will that wheÌ„ so euer it pleaseth thee to call me I be not through feare striken with doubt of condemnation but euen at my laste gaspe through vnfayned faith in Jesus Christ may take
and haue a taste of eternall saluation that death bee not terrible vnto me but rather when it cōmeth I may with ioy receiue the same in the name of Jesus Christe mine onely sauiour and redeemer Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A praier vppon the Lettany or praier for all men at all times necessary Pray thou in faith for eache degree As God by Iames commandeth thee So shalt thou prosper in thy wayes And liue both many and happy daies THe Lettany beeing a moste singuler deuout praier for the estate of all men in generall and sette out for the vse of the whole congregation as it were with one mouth one voyce to be pronounced begging at the handes of God not onely pardon for such seuerall offences as are therein expressed but also crauing thinges necessary as well for them that are absent as present yea for all men a thing most commendable godly praying one for another as S. Iames willeth Iam. 5. vs to pray one for another that wee may be hearde of God for the prayer of the righteous auaileth much And because the zealous may without the so often repitition of these wordes Good Lorde deliuer vs and we beseech thee c. priuatlye vtter his godly desire of the prosperitie of his Christian bretheren without answering himselfe in those respectes I thought it not much amisse to contriue it into this prayer following the which I pray the Reader willingly to accept OH almighty God and father of all that beleeue and trust in thee Oh Lorde God sonne redeemer aduocate of all thē who faithfully serue thee Oh God holy ghoste who proceeding from the father and the sonne santifiest the elect and chosen ones Oh blessed most glorious Trinitie three personnes and yet but one God haue mercy vpon vs who most miserablie haue offended Remember not our offences nor the offences of our fore-fathers nor punishe vs according to the multitude of our sins Spare vs good Lorde whome thou hast redeemed and so directe all our cogitations and actions that wee giue none occasion of thine anger towardes vs for euer mercifully saue and defende vs frō sinne mischeefe from the craftes and assaults of sathan from thy displeasure and eternall damnation good Lorde for thy mercies sake deliuer vs from darknes of misbeleefe from hautines of minde from mallice enuie hatred and double dealing from euill motions of our corrupt fleshe and from all worldly vaneties Saue vs from plague pestilenee from extreame hunger and famine from sodaine death from heresie and false doctrine and graunt vs alwayes will and ablenes to fulfill all thy most godly commaundementes with a cleane and a pure heart Oh sweete Iesus deliuer vs from all euill euen by thy death and passion by thine anguish of mind by thy bloody sweate by thy glorious resurrection from the deepe of death and hell and by thine assention into thy celestiall kingdome Bee present with vs good Lorde in all our troubles vexation of minde at the howre of our departure hence And for thy meere mercies sake be thou fauourable vnto vs in the day when we must giue account for our life past that we be not rewarded according to our desertes but by thy merites may enioy eternall saluation Oh most mercifull and euerliuing God wee most miserable and most wretched sinners heere humbly prostrating our selues before thee beseeche thee to listen to our petitions and graunt vnto thine vniuersall Church godly deuout preachers of thy word and gospel that it may dayly increase in vertuous and godly gouernment dayly growing and proceeding from faith to faith truely knowing thee and vnfeynedly seruing thee Graunt vnto thy seruaunt Elizabeth our Queene true vnderstanding of thy will and vnto her counsaile knowledge and wisedome That vnder her for her and in thy name they may establish godly Lawes statutes and ordinaunces for our good and godly gouernment and vnto vs thy people grace continually to follow and fulfill the same Be thou good Lord her defendour in all aslaultes of her enemies and so rule her hearte in thy faith seare and loue that she may alwaies seeke to aduaunce thine honour and glory deface superstiton errour and false religion and euer be able to vanquish and ouercome suchas rise vp against her to seeke the contrary Lighten the hearts of all Byshops ministers and Pastours of thy church with right vnderstanding and knowledge of thy worde that they may not onely in speeche doctrine but also by their conuersation and life soundly and sincerely vtter the same to the true edification of thy people Oh Lord let not such as are put in authority to see the due execution of thy lawes be slowe negligent or ignorant therin but endued with grace wisdom vnderstanding boldnes may execute iustice maintain thy trueth without affectiō fauor or respect of persons vouchsafe to endue vs all with continuall vnfeined good will one towards another that wee may liue all the daies of our life in vnitye peace godly agreement pleasing thee by liuing according to the rule of thy blessed commandements Graunt vs Oh Lord feruent desire to be where thy word gospell is preached taught and endue vs with thy grace to heare to beare away not only to heare and beare away but to expresse the same in our life conuersation that the truth of thy gospel which is the fruit of thine holy spirit may dailye increase in vs call home all wandring soules which are carried into blindnes by the subtiltie procurements of sathan his wicked ministers following strange Gods worshipping that that cannot auaile them in their distresse and giue them Oh Lord repenting heartes conuerting the soule Shewe them thy true light that they seeing it though a farre off may by little and little attaine vnto the perfit enioying of the same Strengthen al them that haue taken holde of thee by true faith and pure religiō that they fall not from thence by any deceiuable show of any counterfeit secte comfort those that are weake lift vp those that are downe that they by thee thou in them maist beate down keepe sathan vnder their feete Vouthsafe good Lord to giue succor help cōfort to all such as are in any kind of affliction daunger necessity or tribulation preserue and keepe safe all such as labour trauaile by sea or land for the benefit of our common weale Strengthen all women with child and sende them good deliueraunce comfort all them that are sicke and giue them either patience to beare it or mittigate their greefe giue health and nourishment to al young children and graunt them grace to goe forward in nurture and knowledge of thy will Lorde we beseeche thee to showe compassion vppon all such as suffer impty sonment and giue them deliueraunce at thy good pleasure Prouide good Lord for such poore children as are fatherles or helples consider the cause of all
VV iddowes and be helpfull vnto them in their distresses Lord haue mercy vpon all men forgiue our enemies and such as persecute vs and if it please thee turne the heartes Fructifie those thinges on earth which thou hast appoynted for our vse and so increase the same that we may enioy the fruites thereof with sufficiencie for our necessities in time conuenient And vouchsafe to giue vs grace to fall downe vppon the knees of our hearts with vnfeyned repentannce of all our sinnes that we may obteyne at thy mercifull handes pardon for our offences negligences and ignoraunces and vouchsafe to endue vs with thine holy spirite that we may goe forward in daily amendmēt of our liues gouern the same according to thy wil. Amen Oh sonne of almighty God we beseeche thee to heare vs. Oh Lambe of God that takest away the sins of the world graunt vs thy peace and haue mercy vpon vs. Oh Lord increase our fayth Amen A prayer for the fulfilling of the tenne Commaundements Pray that thou maiest fulfill the will Of him whose hand defends thee still And these precepts forget thou not Which Moyses for thy safety wrot BLessed is the man as sayth Dauid Psalm 1. 2. that delighteth in the Lawe of the Lorde and meditateth therein day and night he shall be blessed in his goodes in all that hee taketh in hand at his going out and his comming in and in all thinges But contrariwise he that declyneth from his commaundemēts and neglecteth them shall be accursed in all his waies and nothing shall prosper with him although for a tyme it flourishe in showe heere the ende of the same will be euill And therfore Dauid in all his prayers considering his owne infirmitie besought the Lord to instruct him in his commaundements saying make mee Oh God to vnderstand thy lawes and I will meditate vppon all thine wonderous works Yea his delight was in the commaundements of God And Saloman sayth Pro. 28. that hee that turneth away his eares from hearing the lawe his prayer shall be abhominable For it is the loue of God that we should keepe his commaundements 1. Ioh 5 Praye therefore that God will stirre vp in you an vnfeyned zeale in all your dooings and enterprises to obserue the law of the Lorde OH almighty Iehouah God of heauen earth who haste promised thy selfe euen from the beginning to be our Lorde and our God our shielde and our Fortresse our buckler and defence our Castell and refuge And who hast brought vs with a mighty and strong hand with an outstretched Arme out of the Lande wherein wee were straungers wherein we liued in bondage vnder the yoke and tytannye of Antechriste and sathan into the lande land that floweth with the Milke and Honny of true religion wherewith thou feedest the soules of thy faithfull ones Grant that as through thy meere mercye and loue thou vouchsafest to bring vs into this worlde and to frame vs to thine owne image and likenes So we may account thee as our onely God worshipping none other besides thee making vnto our selues none image of any likenes either of thinges aboue or thinges beneathe nor bowe or seeke helpe at the handes of any as a God beside thee who as by thy mightye power thou broughtest the children of Israell out of Egipt by the handes of Moses and Aaron where they were in bondage where they were continually oppressed with sundry kindes of vexations both of body and minde So hast thou vhuchsased to bring vs and to deliuer vs from a greater bondage seruitude and stauery euen from the power of Sathan vnder whose tyranny we rested and now escaped not by the pollicie strength or power of any Moyses but by the blod shedding of thine only son Iesus Christ who tooke vpon him the death of the crosse for our sakes to bring vs frō darknes wherein we walked according to the will of the flesh vnto the true knowledge of thee againe to redeeme vs out of the bondage of sin into the land of righteousnes from blinde ignoraunce to the bright shining day-starre of thine heauenly will who art not onely a most loouing and gentle Father but also a moste sharp punisher and reuenger who art not onely desirous that we should come vnto thee but art also most ielious ouer vs least we should seeke or follow any other God besides thee yea in all our afflictions and troubles to seeke onely vnto thee and beeing releeued to attribute the onely meane thereof vnto thy selfe whereby thou hast promised to bee mercifull vnto thousandes that loue thee feare thee seeke thee and truely take hold◠of thee as theyr onely God And againe threatnest thy vengeaunce and heauy displeasnre to continue vppon the thirde and fourth generation of them that hate thee and folow straunge Gods Oh sweete God vouchsafe that it may be farre from our mindes to haue any desire once to put our foote towardes any straunge Gods appeare their helpe neuer so likely or plentifull but that it bee bothe now and euer in our hearts to confesse both in word and conuersation that there is none other God besides thee who art most glorious and a most louing Father haue mercy vpon vs. And so vouchsafe to direct vs in all our dooinges cogitations and wordes as we may alwayes and in all thinges fulfil thy will neuer taking thine holy and most glorious name in vaine by blasphemous speeches dishonouring the same Keepe vs moste louing Father not onely from the most detestable sinne of periury whereby thine holy name is often defaced and as it were troden vnder foote as in making it the author of abhominable falshoodes and lyes but from all friuolous and vaine othes which to the great greefe of thy children are moste vncomly in the mouthes of such as vnreuerently and rashly vse it euen in common speeches without any vrgent cause or matter forcing wherby they fal into the most hemous sinne of taking thy most glorious name in vaine but that we may vse such a reuerent manner godly order of vsing thy name for trial of any matter in lawfull causes as thou maist alwaies find vs true hallowers of it therby And forasmuchas thou within sixe daies didst finish al things in the be ginning in the seauenth day didst rest from the same labor commanding vs likewise to obserue the sanctification of the same for euer and to rest from all labours trauailes and worldly busines and not onely our selues but all other whom thou hast committed to our charge as seruaunts Oxen and Asses and such like graunt that wee may not onely lay aside all worldly cares and busines on the Sabaoth day resting our wearied members but may in all thinges sanctifie it and keepe it holy with godly exercises diuine prayers and heauenly meditations with carefull and diligent regard to the auoyding of all wanton pastimes foolish and vncomly exercises and vnlawfull practises whereby oftentimes the affection beeing mooued to impatience powreth
and merciful God the onely aide stay comfort of all those that trust in thee the principall helpe of them that feare thee we giue thee most humble hearty and vâ— feâ—â—ed thankes for that thou haste vouchâ—â—fed to deliuer this wâ—â—â—aÌ„ M. thy seruant from the great paines and trauaile of childbirth which are so great so greeuous and so daungerous that eâ—en by thine owne wordes they are sayd to be moste greeuous In so much sweete Lord as wheÌ„soeuer thou settest fooâ—th in thine holy scripture any grâ—at paine or daÌ„gâ—r thou resemblest it alwaies to a Womans paine in trauaile Therfore we confesse acknowledge that wee in the behalfe of thys our Syster are so much the more bounde vnto thee so farr extending thy furtheraunce and helpe to her deliuery froÌ„ such extreamitie and anguish we fall downe eueÌ„ vppon the knees of our heartes with vnfeyned thanks for this most mercifull worke of thine but most louing and mercifull God thou knowest that although she bee deliuered of this heauy burden yet the paynes some thing continue which without thy most sweete mitugation thereof will driue her to further greefe and sorrow We humbly beseeche thee therefore to consider of the estate of this thy poore seruaunt by thy goodnes thus deliuered that thou wouldest vouchsafe to mitugate and asswage her paines and greefe that she may be able to beare the same with perfect patience and continuall thanke for her happy deliuerance And forasmuch sweete Lorde as the tendernes misery of mankinde is such that they can not of long time after their birth attaine to any meane to helpe themselues but wanting the 〈…〉 ayde and attendaunce of the mother and 〈…〉 they soone perish Wee beseeche thee to 〈…〉 gthen this little infant and tender babe nowe 〈…〉 e into this vale of misery and if it be thy good pleasure to vouchsafe it life and longer abyding heere graunt it ablenes and strength to receiue such foode and nourishment as thy prouidence hath assigned for such little infants and sucklinges And so increase within the pappes of the mother or Nurce such nuâ—riture as may be sufficient for the maintenaunce of the life and health thereof working with such effect within the bowels of the tender infant as it may thereby growe more and more to the estate of man according to thy good pleasure and strengthen bothe the mother and the infant that they may bothe grow to such perfect health and ablenes as the one may giue the other take sufficient sustenaunce for the preseruation of life and increase of strength through the mighty power and working of thee For which sweete Lorde and for all thinges els necessary for them and for all other in their like case we pray vnto thee as thy sonne Iesus Christe hath himselfe taught vs saying Our Father c. Oh Lord increase our fayth And receiue this woman thy seruant and euer more mightely defend her Oh Lord blesse this little babe and receiue it into the number of thy children Oh Lord guide it euermore to the full obteyning of thy fauour mercy to the perfit fulfilling of thy wil all his daies Amen To thee be all prayse for euermore Amen A praier for wisdome As worldly wisedome seeketh nought In time of neede auayling ought So heauenly wisdome worketh still The things that please gods heauenly wil. WIsdome as sayth S. Augustine is the knowledg how to choose those things that are good and to auoyd those thinges that are euil And Aristotle defineth it to be a vertue of the mind wherby these grâ—ces are obteyned which tend to the felicity of this life and the life to come Thomas Aquâ—nus sayth that wisdom is the meane wherby we are reconciled vnto God If so then what a precious iewel is this what more excelleÌ„t gyft can wee craue at the handes of God then that whereby we may doo that onely which is good such things as are tending to eternall felicity and which reconcile vs to God our maker through Christ our redeemer and Sauiour the beginning whereof is the feare of the Lorde whose loue towardes vs is so greate that he wylleth him that wanteth wisedome I am 1 to aske at his handes and he wil giue the same most aboundauntly asking it in faith as hee gaue it vnto Salomon 1 Kin 3 so plentifully and in such sort as they came froÌ„ the fardest partes of the world to heare the same Pray therefore that thou mayst obteyne it it is better then golde or precious stones Pro. 16 and more sweeter then honny or the honny combe OH almighty and euerliuing GOD whose gift it is that babes sucklings and men of base degree haue the knowledge vnderstanding of thy will and men of profounde learning deepe study and worldly experience often want the same Oh God which expellest darknes giuest light which takest away ignoraunce plaÌ„test knowledg wisdome denying the same to none that vnfeynedly asketh it at thine handes without the which nothing can be obteyned which good is nothing auoyded which is euill nothing continue safe bee it neuer so durable nor any enterprise either rightly begun or happily ended without the same which Salomon considering hauing promise at thine handes that whatsoeuer he asked hee shoulde obteyne aboue all thinges aboue wealth or riches worldly praise renowne or glory beauty or strength yea aboue possessions or kingdoms he onely requested wisedome which thou so aboundantly bestowedst on him that they repayred and came from farre to heare the same which is none other thinge sweete Lorde but the knowledge of thy diuine wil heaueÌ„ly misteries it is the knowledge how to chose the good auoid the euill it proceedeth onely from thee and with thee it hath beene from the beginning Sende it downe from heauen where it attendeth about thy seate replenish mine hart with the knowledge thereof Giue me a newe heart and a right spirite for mans vnderstanding faileth in many thinges but thy wisedome instructeth the simple maketh the tongues of infants eloquent directing the steppes of the blinde VVherefore Oh Lorde I most humbly beseeche thee to establish the same in my spirite and wryte thy Lawes in mine heart that I walke not in the way of error but may abstaine from sinne cleaue vnto righteousnes and walke in innocencie all the dayes of my life Oh sweete Lord graunt me this thine especiall gift of heauenly wisedome that I may perfectly knowe what thy diuine will and pleasure is that I may alwaies directe my waies according vnto the same louing thee in all thinges and aboue all thinges continuing moste thankfull for all thy fatherly benefits bestowed and conferred vpon me And that prosperity ouercome me not nor in aduersity be foolishlie mooued to seeke reamedie or releefe els wher but at thine hands onely who aâ—t my God and my â—auiour and who hast promised to giue wisedome to all theÌ„ that faythfully aske it Oh Lord heare my prayer and let
my cry come vnto thee Giue me perfect wisdome wherby I may truely discerne the difference betweene thine heauenly reuelations which is wisedome from aboue and vaine cogitations of worldly wittes considering that the one in all thinges as well in aduersitye as prosperity in sicknes as in health in anguish of minde trouble or greefe of bodie as in wished estate and pleasure continueth most constant stable patient and firme with due consideration that it can not be but good whatsoeuer thou sufferest to light vpon vs But contrariwise sweete Lorde the other seeketh with more dilligence to auoyde afflictions troubles and worldly calamities the crosse sweete Lord which thou layest vpon thy children then wisely to auoyde thy heauy displeasure And that by worldly deuised meanes as by riches freendship pollicy and strength with this deceiuable and fonde conceite that Fortune where she fauours there is plenty and peace but where she frownes there is continuall want and trouble But my most sweete Lord and heauenly comforter graunt that it may be farre from mine heart to thinke that any thing commeth to passe otherwise then by thine almighty prouidence who willest nothing nor doost any thing but what is most expedient and necessary for the vse both of ourbodies and soules which we can not rightly conceiue without this especiall gift of thine wherewith for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake endue me that I be not lead by fonde conceyte or deceiue my selfe with worldly experience but gouerning my life according vnto thy wyll measuring all mine actions wordes and thoughtes by the right rule of knowledge and weying them in the balaunce of perfit wisedome in the ende I may be founde in the number of those discreete Virgins who had theyr Lampes continually readie and not in the number of those that were taken vnprouided That the coÌ„ming of thy son Iesus Christe bee not terrible vnto me as to the loytering seruant for want either of the light of a pure life or gaines by my tallant but most acceptable and ioyfull hauing the Lampe of loue the candle of a true faith continually burning with in the secrete Closset of mine heart That in the ende I may haue free enteraunce with thine elect into that most glorious kingdome which thy sonne Iesus Christe purchased with hys blood for me and all beleeuers Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose AS long as we beare about vs this fraylâ— bodye imprisoning the soule our natures seeke by all meanes that which is contrarye to the spirite accounting that wisdome which is meere foolishnes where fore good Lord vouchsafe to sende downe that wisedome which wayteth about thy throne And plant the same in mine heart that measuring all my dooinges and deuises by the rule thereof may alwaies doo and intende that which liketh thee and shunne the contarie through Jesus Christ our onely Sauiour and redeemer Amen Oh Lord increase our faith A praier in miserie and trouble Though thraldome thou doo heere abide Be patient God will soone prouide To ease thee or to ende thy dayes Beare thou his crosse and giue him praise LIke as the fornace tryeth and seasoneth the Potters vessell Eccl. 27. and as the fire purifieth the Syluer from the drosse So dooth aduersitye season purifie the harts of christians froÌ„ the drosse of security For by crosses and many troubles Ro 5. commeth patience and by patience hope through tryall and therefore shoulde wee thinke it an exceeding ioy when troubles assaulte and pennurye pricketh vs Iea. 1. according to the will of God whereby we are stirred vppe to committe our soules to Gods protection and wyll by well dooing manfully bearing all afflictions all extreametyes of thys world and keepe as it were secrete the sorrows which calamitye bringeth vnto vs 3. Esd 10. and that with patience wherby thou shalt appeare an happy man receiue a crown of life which God thy faithfull Creator hath promised to all those that beare his Crosse with patience And thinke not that want of releefe in pouerty Lacke of comfort in sicknes vexation of enemyes slaunders misreportes contempts or any other kinde of trouble eyther of body or mynde happeneth vnto thee by Fortune as it is among such as haue not the feeling of the trueth coÌ„monly termed But by the prouidence of God and that for thy good if with wisedome thou weigh the same by patience accepting it as a fatherly louing correctioÌ„ putting thee in minde of thine offences and vncertenty of worldly vanityes and be not dismayde but turne from thy wicked wayes cleuing and referring thee by hearty prayer vnto God whose wyll it is for thy better profiâ—te that such thinges shoulde light vppon thee without ircksome taking it or with greater desire to dye then had S. Paule when he prayed to be losed and to bee wyth Christ. Stand fast stande faythfull and take patiently all crosses all afflictions all temptations and calamities heere being a ready way to patience and pray for the ayde of almightye GOD whose hande is alwayes readye to helpe such as are afflicted heere for his Christs sake By many trybulations wee muste enter into the kingdome of heauen Call vpon God Psa 7. in the day of trouble and he will deliuer thee The Lorde heareth the cryes of the righteous Psal 34. and deliuereth them out of all theyr troubles But if thou crye and bee not heard I meane preseÌ„tly releeued think not much at it it is for the best wherfore accept it willingly and make of necessity a vertue which is take patiently that which of thy selfe thou canst not auoyde MY God my God vouchsafe to turn thy loouing and fauourable countenance towards me thy pore creature who am brought very low and mine enemies laugh reioyce at my fal I am like an Owle in the desert that the birdes of the airegaze woÌ„der at mine estate is altered my store is turned into scarcity and my wealth into want my plenty into pouerty and ioy into sorrowe sadnes Oh sweete Lord my prosperity is turned into aduersitye my freendes haue forsaken me And where they haue often promised to helpe mee they doo not onely not performe the same but they disdaine my company they loath and abhorre my presence I am vtterly refused of al mine acquaintaunce and they that were before my familiars are now my deadly foes Sweete Lorde thou seeest howe I am clapt vp in cares howe I am inuironed with a thousand causes that procure intollerable greefe bothe in body minde Oh Lorde I haue no refuge I haue no place of defence I haue no meane to helpe my selfe I am so bewrapped in calamitie that I can not enioye any liberty either of body or minde but moste sweete Lord most loouing and moste fauourable most able and moste ready to helpe such as come to thee loden with distresse loe heere I lye at the gate of thy mercy knocking for ease humbly crauing thine assistaunce who hast willed such as
hold of thy miracles wonders which thou so apparantly diddest worke to declare and manifest thy selfe to be our redeemer and aduocate and to confirme the same in our heartes by faith as thou diddest in the heartes of thy Disciples who notwithstanding there beeing present with thee continued yet neuerthelesse in darknes and misbeleefe without the working of thine holy spirite in them whereby they confessed thee to be very Christe son of the liuing God and onely sauiour of the world Among all which thy great benefits Oh good Iesus we yeelde thee all possible thankes for that it hath pleased thee to leaue vnto vs after thy departure vnto the right hande of thy father the Lanterne of light the Gospell of comfort the word of trueth the foode whereon our soules may continually feede at full without the which wee had beene left vnto our former darknes walking in error in our wonted ignoraunce And for that thou knowest vs from the beginning to be carryed into blindnes and error wrongfully interpreting the parrables darke sentences of thy gospel through the same thy loue hast left vs a continuall coÌ„forter euen thine holy Ghoste proceeding froÌ„ thy father thee who in the likenes of a Doue discended froÌ„ heauen vpon thee showing himselfe vpon the Apostls in fiery tongues Oh holy ghost our coÌ„forter we yeeld thee most huÌ„ble thanks that through the gift of thy grace we haue our harts prepared our vnderstaÌ„ding lightned mouthes opened to conceiue rightly thy word to declare abroad the wonderfull thinges of thy lawe and to manifest the secrete misteries of the kingdome of God Thou â—rt the true light and the light of trueth without the which it is impossible to please God the father nor haue accesse to God the Sonne who together with thee Oh holy ghost are but one God in esseÌ„ce though three in person Make our heartes pure make vs cleane sanctifye vs and seale vs among the number of the electe and chosen that when wee shall approche vnto the seate of iudgment we may receiue through the merittes of Iesus Christ not onely the stipende of seruants but the rewarde of obedient children euen the inheritaunce of the kingdome of heauen There to rest with thee Oh Father our maker with thee sweete Iesus our Sauiour and with thee Oh holy ghoste our comforter and sanctifier for euer and euer To whome bee all prayse and eternall glory world without ende Amen Oh Lord increase our fayth A praier to be saide before the receiuing of the Communion THere is sayde sufficient in a certaine exhortation set downe in the booke of coÌ„mon prayer to stirre vppe the minds of all well disposed persons willingly and zealously to come to this holy table wher vnto before we come wee ought to addresse and prepare our hearts to put of all rancor mallice wickednes and all kinde of vice with the fruites of the olde man which is disobedience and sinne and to put on the newe man which is righteousnes comming therevnto in a pure cleane hart abounding with loue peace fayth charity that wee may receiue it to our comfort Reade the 11. chap. of the firste Cor. from the 20. verse vnto the 29. and there shall you finde not onely the manner of the institution and celebration thereof but also howe to receiue it with heauenly profit the daunger in the vnreuerent and vnfaythfull receyuing of the same to the cosort of the Godly shame of the wicked SVVeete Iesus sonne of the euerliuing and omnipotent GOD vouchsafe I humblye pray and beseeche thee euen for thy death sake to instill into mine hart the gift of thy grace whereby approching vnto the sweete banquet of thine holy body blood which thou vouchfafest to giue for the redemption of vs miserable sinners I may by faith eate and drinke the same and be made a fitte and faithfull member of thy misticall body laying aside the darknes of olde Adam embracing the light of thine obedience loue and patience that that most preacious bodye of thine bee not giuen not thy blood shed for me in vaine but may direct the whole course of the residue of my life by thine holy spirite according to thine heauenly wil in all thinges that after this life ended I may appeare before the tribunall seate of his high and heauenly maiestie as a faythfull member of thine and enioy that heauenly enhearitaunce which thou our head and guide hast purchased for all true beleeuers in thee Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth At the receiuing of the breade say thus Vouchsafe oh sweet Iesus that as thou hast giuen thy flesh to be the breade of our eternall saluation So vouchsafe to worke in me by a liuely faith that I receiuing the same may be and euermore continue one in thee and thou in me Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth At the receiuing of the cuppe say thus Oh lorde vouchsafe that as thy blood was shed for me a sinner So graunt that it may through a liuely faith wash me from the filth of sinne and renue in mee the fruites of righteousnes that I may become a fitte member of thee liue and dye in thee for euermore Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A prayer after the receiuing of the Communion VSe not the manner of many who in the day wherein they repayre vnto the holy table of the Lorde doo not onely lightlye esteeme the weightines of the matter but lewdly gyue themselues to wanton companyes gadding heere there to banquets tauerns loosly aboue other dayes giue theÌ„ selues to wanton behauiour but remember thy promise that thou hast made to god to become a new man to 〈…〉 all wantonnes and cleaue vnto godlines of life Be not like the dog that 〈…〉 â—o his vomit or the â—â—w to her wanted wallowing in the dyrt of sinne 〈…〉 â—e holy as your heaueÌ„ly 〈…〉 er is holy Seeke the 〈…〉 me of God and the 〈…〉 thereof and all thinges shall bee gyuen â—â—u and as the true members of Christ in the ende râ—igne with him in eternal glory OH omnipotent most mercifull father I thy silly creature praise thee not able to yeeld thee thanks sufficiently for thine vnspeakable fauour and louing kindnes in feeding mee at this time with the spiritual foode of the body blood of thy sonne our sauior Iesus Christe whom thou vouchsafest to send for our redemptioÌ„ into this miserable world and to giue him euen to the death in remembraunce whereof vntyll his second comming hee hath willed vs to eate his bodye and to drinke hys blood to thende by sayth we should be vnited and knitte vnto his body and beeing washed from all our sinnes to leade a new life vouchsafe I humbly beseeche thee for his sake to endue mee with thine holy spirit wherby heerafter casting aside the workes of darknes I may from hencefoorth walke in the light of thy Gospell in the number of thy chosen wayting faithfully when he shall come
wrongfull dealinges and euill imaginations and plant in steede thereof humility iusâ—â—ce and â—â—leyned good will and helpe one towardes another Let not sathan rule let not the flesh pâ—â—â—aiâ—e against the spirit let not the world beguile vs who are our enemies our mortall enemies most strong 〈…〉 ost weake in so much as they are not so ready to encounter with vs as wee are ready to yeeld they are most pollitique we most ignoraunt forgiue vs Lord forgiue vs for thy son Iesus Christes sake strengthen vs good Lord streÌ„gtheÌ„ vs with thy grace we haue erred we haue doon amisse we haue followed too much the will of sathaÌ„ we haue yeelded too much to the motions of the flesh and too much embraced the pleasures of thys world whereby we haue lost the most sweete comfort of thy celestiall promises who hast sayd that who so obeyeth thy voyce in keeping and fulfilling thy Lawes shall be most blessed yea in al his wayes in his going foorth and comming in and in al thinges which he taketh in hand Oh sweete Lord howe can we therefore but lament our estates how can we but sigh and sorrow that wee haue made forfeyture of so many and so sweete blessings and incurred the penalty of infinite curses of thine by disobeying thy will and precepts which thou mioynedst vs in all thinges to fulfill and obserue Vouchsafe good Lorde vouchsafe of thy mercye for Iesus Christes sake to turne away thine heauy displeasure and punishment which we haue deserued that they lighte not vpon vs for our misdeedes Blot out all our iniquities lay not our vnrighteousnes our vnthaÌ„kfulnes and wilfull rebellion against thee to our charge for if thou shouldest Lord what should become of vs what might we looke for â—as our â—â—â—st rewarde but death and damnation Oh Lord we doo confesse that for so sundry and bountifull beuefits receiued at thine handes such is our corruption that we doo not onely take them without thankes vse them without feare but moste foolishly and wrongfully attribute the gift thereof to some creature and cast the pray se vpon him or els we receiue them as giuen by fortune and take not onely the due honour from thee but make the creature the Author of that that commeth onely from thee the onely creator and giuer of all thinges Oh most sweete Lord such is our ignoraunce such is our blindnes and such is the error that resteth and remaineth in vs from Adam through our voluntary blindnes which though we imbrace thou offerest light we refuse the same we are ignorant thou giuest wisedoÌ„e we neglect the same we go astray thou callest vs but we refuse to come Lord wee are like the vntamed Heyser which resuseth the yoke wee are like the deafe Adder which resuseth to heare the voice of the Charmer charme he neuer so wisly we harden our hearts as the Adamant we will not receiue thy gentle callinges thy fatherly admonitions and louing corrections Thou commaundest vs to cast away the darknes of ignoraunce and to put on the light of thy Gospell but wee stoppe our eares we refuse to heare opening our eares to pleasures and fyxing our eyes vppon vanitye erring in the pathes of vngodlines drinking the puddelles of iniquity and dispising the sweete water of life Our heartes are alwayes ready to embrace delightes and fantasies vtterly dispising nurture correction and knowledge we remember the time present the time past for which we haue to aunswer the time to come in which we must aunswer Good Lord we think not on we consider not that our time is like the flowre of the fielde to day fresh and fayre to morrow cut downe dryed vppe and withered we conceiue not that we passe as dooth the shaddowe and vanish as the bubble of water as the smoake and waues of the sea Oh Lord notwithstanding all this we folishly deferre thamendment of our liues vpon hope of thy long sufferaunce and consider not that thy wrathe commeth sodainly wee consider not the sodaine death of sundry beeing nowe most lusty gaye and strong and by and by dead and layde with the substaunce of theyr owne flesh euen the earth where the wormes possesse that that they so daâ—ntily fedde with sundry fine delicates clothed with nice moÌ„strous and gorgious sutes of apparrell sumptuous attyre broidered heire and setled theÌ„selues in sâ—ately high houses euen to the skies theyr soules departing with the glutton where is not water to coole the heate of thy displeasure against them Oh Lord thou laughest at our vanitie yet most sorrye to see vs so ledde by the direction and hand leading of sathan whose desire is to deuoure if he could euen thy chosen ones Thou wouldest not that we should perish thou desirest rather that we should conuert liue thou reioysest not at the death of a sinner but there is great ioy in heauen of his repeÌ„tance where vnto though louingly thou cal vs we goe still in our wickednes Thou gyuest vs knowledge of thy will by preaching and thine omnipotencie thou manifestest by thy creatures bothe in the firmament aboue and in the earth and Sea belowe But we vnderstand it not we beare it not away we consider it not The good which we should doo we doo not but the euil which we should not that we greedelie followe notwithstanding all which our corruption our disobedience and wilfull wickednes thou of thy mercy aboundaunt so intirely louest vs that thou gauest thine onely begotten sonne to suffer the most shame full death of the crosse for vs and hast sette him as equall with thy selfe euen at thine owne right hand to the ende he might make continuall intercession for vs vnto thee and that through him we might haue attonement with thee and accesse vnto thee for euer VVretched sinners that we are if we by our wickednes rebellion and loosenes of life loose so great a benefit which he so deerely purchased for vs euen thy woonted mercy and louing fauour and make of none effect his dying for vs what remaineth for vs but the most fearefull sentence of iudgement in the day when all secretes shall be opened and euery man receiue according to his deserts to whom thou wilt say Goe yee cursed into the flames of eternall fire prepared for the deuill and his Angels which neuer shall be quenched where shall be continuall weeping wayling anguish and gnashing of teeth when we shalbe neither our selues able to pleade to the contrary nor haue any aduocate to gaine saye thee in thy iustice Then shall we be sory then shall we lament but too late Then shall wee heare the most comfortable entertainment of the godly wheÌ„ thou shalt say Come yee blessed possesse yee the kingdome prepared for you froÌ„ the beginning where shalbe nothing but ioy without ceasing continual gladnes comfort and vnspeakable consolations euen for such as clothed thee fedde thee lodged thee and visited thee beeing in prison Them shalt thou embrace them shalt thou meete in
the clowdes with most sweete wordes of comfort but such as haue seene thee euen the poore and little ones to bee sicke and comfortles and haue denyed them helpe releefe and ayde or hungrye and haue with-helde foode Thirstye and haue not giuen drinke naked and haue not clothed them Such sweete Lorde shall suffer hunger colde nakednes and thirst with vnspeakable greefe of conscience which shall neuer haue ende Oh that it woulde please thee therefore Oh mercifull God of thy greate goodnes fauour and louing kindnes to consider of these latter dayes and perrilous times wherein we liue wherein eniquitie hath gotten the vpper hand charity waxing cold and loue banisht from amongst brethren and thy selfe sweete Lorde euen thy poore and little ones the Orphanes and Widowes not onely not releeued not comforted not defended but troden vnder feete neglected and forgotten euen of such as haue aboundaunce Vouchsafe vouchsafe good Lorde according to thy promise to shorten these dayes least also thine elect be seduced with vanitie and forsake thee theyr onely comfort It is come to passe which thou hast sayde That as towardes the Summer trees and plantes of the earth doo budde so before thy comming to make vs so much the more prepared thou hast promised to sende vs foreknowledge by sundry signes and tokens bothe in the earth belowe which hath by thy passing as it were by vs quaked already at thy presence as also by the Sunne and moone other thy creatures apparantly showing thy rodde of vengeaunce to be ouer our heades ready to strike Oh Lorde wee cannot but looke for vtter distruction according to the weight and aboundance of our sins and iniquities vnles it may please thee to show thy mercy for Iesus sake in coÌ„uerting vs we haue sinned we haue gonne astray we haue wrought wickednes in yeelding to the will of the flesh but most sweete Lorde let thy light so shine into our hearts that we may now beginne to seeke onely thy kingdome leaue the darknes of sinne growe to all goodnes and be mortefied as touching the olde man which is corruption dye to the world And remooue sathan that with godly desires we may attayne vnto the perfecte feeling of thy grace that hauing obteined the pure vnderstanding of thy word we may guide our liues by the rule therof that after the finishing of this our pilgrimage we may thorow the merites of thy sonne Iesus Christ enter into thy kingdome of eternall glory there for euer and euer to raigne enioying the sight of thee and to thy name with the rest of thy saintss sing laude and prayse eternally Oh Lord increase our fayth and giue vs grace vnfeynedly to repent vs of our sinnes Amen A praier necessarie to bee sayd after and at the end of all our prayers VOuchsafe Oh Lord and mercifull Father in whose handes resteth the harts of all men who knowest what wee want before we pray what wee will aske before we speake what wee doo in al thinges Vouchsafe to forgiue mine ignorance dulnes and slacke comming vnto thee the fountaine of all health and helpe encrease my faith dayly more and more and kindle in me the perfecte gift of prayer that I may at all times serue thee in trueth and whatsoeuer I haue asked according vnto thy wyll at this time giue me and what I haue omitted vnrequested for my selfe or any for whom thou wouldest we should pray for for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake gratiously graunt for which and for al thinges els necessary for mee and theÌ„ for body or soule I pray thee as thy sonne taught vs saying OVr father which art in heauen hallowed bee thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will be doone in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our daily breade And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse agaynst vs. And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from all euill Amen Oh Lord increase our fayth and continue the same effectually in me all men vnto the end Amen Great plagues remaine for the vngodly but who so putteth his trust in the Lorde mercy imbraceth him on euery syde Psal. 32. PAule before he would presume to eate gaue thanks Act. 27 35 Christ likewise before hee gaue the bread and Fyshes to them that were wyth hym in the wyldernes yea although he were Lord of all looking vppe to heauen from whence commeth all goodnes blessed it and gaue thankes and brake it vnto them Mat 14. the store beeing small replenished many thousandes and left many Baskets full wherefore take the blessings of God with thankes A prayer before meate OH bountifull GOD vouchsafe to looke downe with thy fauourable eyes of pittie vpon our weaknes and want and giue vs at this time those things which may be to our coÌ„fort sanctifie these thy gifts that our bodyes beeing replenished we may be thankfull and enioy at thy mercifull handes the bread of eternall life to the releefe of our poore soules through Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour Amen God saue and still increase thy flocke Keepe vs within thy folde Vouchsafe to heare when wee doo knocke Oh Lord our strongest holde Preserue our Queene be thou her stay This Realme of thine defend Indue vs with thy grace for aye On thee we all depend Oh Lord increase our fayth WHen God hath fedde your poore bodyes bee not therewith pust vppe with forgetfulnes what he requireth at our handes for his blessings but in a reuerent and deuout manner giue thankes that he may continue his louing kindnes to your comfort vnto the ende A thankes giuing after meate WE thanke thee most bountifull Lord for this thy fatherly feeding our hungry bodies so vouchsafe to feede our silly soules with the breade of eternall life That after this life ended we may ascend where Christ is gonne before Amen Sith God hath fedde our bodyes poore VVhich els would soone decay Remember such as lye at doore Say not their cryings nay God saue his Church our Queene defende this Realme preserue for aye And graunt vs all a godly ende And ioyfull rysing day Oh Lord increase our fayth FINIS A Table to finde out the principall Prayers conteined in this booke A Prayer to Christ. Folio 1. A prayer for the assistaunce of Gods holy spirite fol. eodem A short prayer to the like purpose fo 3 A morning prayer for the working day fol. eodem A short prayer to the like purpose fol. 5 A prayer for the Queene eodem A prayer for the Sunday morning fol. 7 A short prayer to the like purpose fol 9. A confession of sinnes eodem A short prayer to the like purpose fol. 11 A prayer for the euening fol. 12 A short prayer to the like purpose fol. 14. A prayer for the increase of fayth eodem A short prayer to the like purpose fol 17. A prayer against the deuill the world and the fleshe very necessary to be often sayd eodem A short prayer to the same effecte fol. 20. A prayer for the helpe and assistaunce of God in all our dooings and that we doo nothing but in hys feare and due obedience eodem A short prayer to the like purpose folio 23. The sorrowfull sinner afflicted in conscience by reason of his sins may say thus eodem A short prayer to the like purpose fol. 26. A prayer for a competent necessary liuing fo eod A prayer necessary after the hearing of the worde of God folio 29 A short prayer to the like purpose folio 31 A thankes giuing to God for his benefits eodem A deuout prayer or meditation that we may alwais haue consideration that we must dye which as it is good at all times so especially in the time of any common plague or sicknes a godly meditation folio 33. A short prayer to the like purpose fol. 37 A prayer vpon the Lettany or prayer for all men at all times necessary eodem A prayer for the fulfilling of the tenne commaundements fol. 40 A short prayer to the like purpose foli 44. A prayer for the true ordering of worldly titches very necessary for such as God hath endued with the wealth of this world eodem A short prayer to the like purpose foli 47 A prayer to be sayd of a woman with child fol. 48 A short and most necessary prayer alwayes to bee sayd of one with childe folio 49 A thankes giuing to God after the deliuery fol. eod A prayer for wisedome folio 51. A short prayer to the like purpose foli 53 A prayer in misery and trouble fol 54 A short prayer to the like effecte often to be sayde folio 57. A payer to be defended from enemies eodem A short prayer to the like purpose folio 60 A prayer when a man taketh a iourney folio 61. A thankes giuing after returne folio 62 A thankes giuing to God the father God the sonne and God the holy ghoste woorthy to bee often sayde folio 63 A prayer to bee sayde before the receiuing of the Communion fol. 67 A prayer after the receiuing of the communion fol. 68. A deuout meditation or confession of our sinnes with humble request vnto almighty God c. folio 69 A prayer necessary to be sayde after and at the ende of all our prayers fol. 74. A prayer before meate folio 75 A thankes giuing after meate fol. 76 FJNIS ·GOD· ·IS· ·MY· HELPER a 〈…〉 te the rest 〈…〉 Child be de 〈…〉 ying the 〈…〉 prayâ—r and 〈…〉 at the â—ude 〈…〉 prayer