to take delight therin as in a most pretious iewell For euen as wine O Lord is pleasant vnto the taste and senses of men euen so good Lord let thy word bee delectable vnto my mind and soule For if I take pleasure in a worldlie thing that is delightfull and pleasant vnto the bodie being heere this day and gone the next how much more ought I to take pleasure in that vnspeakable treasure the delight and food of the soul which for euer shall endure And although the world be so ful of wickednes that whosoeuer is a true professor of thy holie word is accounted of the worldlings as one that is vnwoorthie of their companie yet neuertheles O Lord I beseech thee giue me grace that I may suffer the rebukes of the world so that I may be accounted in the number of thy faithfull children thorough our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Chrst Amen A praier for repentance for the amendment of our former wicked liues with a thanks giuing to God for all his gratious benefits bestowed vpon vs. MOst mercifull and euerliuing father I a most wicked and damnable sinner which haue many waies and most greuously transgressed thy lawes and offended thy diuine maiestie in leauing the vse and studie of thy diuine and heauenly word the readie path-way to my saluation and following the wicked desires filthie lusts of the flesh wherby I haue beene driuen to be altogither carelesse of thee the euerliuing God and also of all godlie liuing the cause whereof hath been mine owne negligence which the frowardnes of the flesh wherby I am fallen into such a greeuous sinne that were not thy great mercie oh Lord I should be accounted among the number of them which go downe into destruction But oh most mercifull and louing father in the name of thy decre sonne our only Sauiour aduocate and mediator I appeale to the high throne of thy mercie beseeching thee for his sake and for thine owne mercie sake to blot out of thy remembrance all my former sins and offences wherby I haue most greeuously offended thy maiestie And furthermore O Lord I pray thee to blot al my secret sins out of thy remembrance so that they may neuer be seene nor stand in iudgment against me And also Lord I beseech thee giue mee the grace of thy holie spirit and so inlighten me with the same that henceforth I may liue according to the precise rule of thy holie word and doo those things which may be pleasing vnto thy diuine maiestie And Lord I beseech thee giue vnto mee the light of thy holie spirit that I may praise thy name for all the benefits which thou of thine abundant goodnes hast so mercifully bestowed vpon me especially O Lord for the great graces and benefits of my creation redemption and sanctification For my creation in that it hath pleased thee to create and make me a liuing soule and also in similitude like vnto thine owne person whereas if it had pleased thy maiestie thou mightest haue made me a beast a foule a tode a serpent c. For my redemption in that it pleased thy maiestie after that through the transgressiō of my first parents Adam and Eue I was become like as one that was sold vnto sin and indeede was in bondage vnto the deuill then when all hope of recouerie was past thou oh most merciful and louing father diddest send thine onelie begotten sonne to take our nature vpon him and to make satisfaction for our sins and to suffer a most shamefull death euen the death of the crosse that we by his great patience might be redeemed iustified saued and deliuered from sin death and hell and that so manie as do by faith lay hold vpon the sweete promises of thy deerly beloued sonne our sauiour should surely haue euerlasting life and reigne with him in that place of rest which thou hast appointed for all thy faithful children c. For my sanctification for that after I was by thy heauenly wisedome and diuine power created and made a liuing creature and after that being fallen from thee by the concupiscence of the flesh and then redeemed by the pretious death and bloodshedding of thy deer sonne our sauiour and redeemer Christ Iesus Then after my creation and redemption thou againe of thine exceeding loue and fauour didst send thy holie spirit vpon me to giue me vnderstanding and knowledge of thy holie word that therby through faith in thy promises I might haue euerlasting life thus oh Lord is thy gratious goodnes shewed vnto me Lord of thy great mercie make me thankfull for it for thy deere sonne Christ Iesus sake our onlie mediator aduocate to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor praise and glory both now for euer Amen A praier in the affliction of conscience ETernall and most louing father I thy humble seruant most entirely beseeching thee of thy woonted goodnes and mercie to giue vnto my conscience being fore afflicted ouerloden with sin the cares of this world and tyranny of sathan the sweet comfort of thy holy spirit which is the comforter of all them that put their trust in thee I besech thee O heauenlie father so to inlighten and comfort me with the grace of the same thy spirit that I may giue ouer all worldlie cares and betake my selfe wholy to the fulfilling of thy heauenly wil oh Lord that knowest the secrets of all harts that seest me a most vile and wicked sinner being borne in sinne nouzeled vp in sin and stil day by day continue in sin yea that which is woorst of all I do euen commit the same with greedines whereby I am fallen into such an obliuion of thy goodnes that I haue as it were forgotten all the benefits and graces which thou of thine abundant goodnes hast so manie waies bestowed vpon me This mine obliuion of thy graces oh Lord togither with the suggestions and entisements of sathan hath beene and is such a terror vnto my conscience that were not thy sweet promises oh most mercifull father promised by thine onlie sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ I might vtterly despaire of my saluation But as thou oh father art in promising most bounteous so art thou in performance most true Although good father my sins and ingratitudes haue deserued eternall damnation and are a continual grudge vnto my conscience yet Lord I beseech thee of thy great mercie to comfort my conscience being sore afflicted and laden with the burthen of my sins Thou O most sweete Sauiour Christ hast commanded all those which labor and are laden with the but then of their sins to come vnto thee saieng Come vnto me all ye that labour and are laden and I will refresh you Oh what comfortable words were these of a most sweet Sauiour Therefore oh Lord heauenlie father I giue thee most hartie thanks for these thy sweet promises in our Sauiour Christ Iesus To whome with thee and the holie Ghost be
ascribed all honor power praise dominion and thanks giuing both now and for euer Amen A praier for the obtaining of true loue both to God and to our neighbour O Most sweete Sauiour which art the life of al them that beleeue in thee the hope of all them that trust in thee the comforter of all them that come to thee for succour the helper and assister of all them which loue thy cōmandements put into my hart oh most mercifull Sauiour the true loue which thou hast cōmanded Oh Lord I confesse that I haue been a louer of my selfe more than thee exalting and lifting vp my selfe with pride ambition and selfe-loue contrarie to thy commandement I haue good Lord loued my selfe more than my neighbor I haue soght for my selfe worldlie promotion by al means possible and haue sought by all means to thrust downe into the mire my poore neighbor all which was cleane contrarie to the loue which thou hast appointed whereby I haue deserued thy curse vnto euerlasting condemnation But most mercifull Sauiour I appeale to thy high throne of mercie beseeching thee from the bottom of my hart to forgiue me al the sins of my youth and al that hitherto I haue cōmitted both ignorantly and wilfully And furthermore oh Lord I pray thee to giue thy grace from aboue that I may abandon all selfe-loue as a thing which thou most despisest And also let me not do as the worldlie rich yoong man did which would know the means whereby he might be saued who as soone as hee vnderstood that he must sel all that he had and distribute it to the releefe of his poore neighbors which stood in great necessitie he went away very heauie bicause he was maruelous rich But giue me grace good Lord so to loue my neighbor that I may do as Zacheus did who said Behold Lord the halfe of my goodes I giue vnto the poore if I haue done any man wrong I will restore it foure fold againe Heer was thy grace O Lord heer was not selfe loue but heere was brotherly loue the loue which thou hast appointed to be in euerie Christian that seeketh for saluation in thee put this loue into my hart oh Lord that I may loue thee with all my hart and my neighbor as my selfe put from me good Lord all rancor and malice all debate and strife O Lord thou hast in thy holie Gospel commanded all men not onlie to loue their friends by whome they reape profit but also to loue euen their enimies by whom they haue receiued losse and damage how far this loue is from me thou oh Lord canst tell Thou commandest me to loue and I hate thou commandest me to be fauorable and I am enuious in fine thou commandest me to bee charitable vnto all men and I am filled with rancor malice strife debate and contention with innumerable other vices which thou oh Lord hast commanded the contrarie What is the cause that I should behaue my selfe so contrarie to thy commandements Truly mine owne blockish negligence which hath so sore blinded my mortall eies that I am not able to looke into the mysteries of thy holie word which should be my guide and leader vnto the knowledge of thy heauenlie wil. What is the reward of al this wickednes which I haue and do daily commit Thy holie Apostle Paule doth make mention in these words saieng The reward of sin is death but what death the death of the bodie yea truly and that which is woorst euen the death and condemnation of the soule Sithen oh Lord that thou of thy great mercy hast giuen me the grace to see and know what is sin and what is the reward thereof I beseech thee oh most merciful Sauiour giue mee also the grace to flie from sin and cleaue vnto godlines least that I knowing and will not knowe be accounted among those which sinne against knowledge which is a sinne against the holie Ghost and therefore as some thinke irremissible Oh Lord I beseech thee forgiue me all that is past and guide me to turne vnto thee renew also good Lord a right spirit in me that I may liue in thy law which thou hast appointed me grant this oh sweete Sauiour for thy death and passion sake Amen A praier to be said in any kinde of tribulation desiring God to giue patience vnto the afflicted that they may endure whatsoeuer his fatherly wisedome will lay vpon them IT is an vnpossible thing for any mortall eie O most mercifull father to see into the depth of thy wisedome and how thou goest about to call home thy children being gone astray Thou first dost touch them with thy fatherlie correction as being loth to make them despaire and as the prophet Dauid saith Like as a father pitieth his owne children euen so is the Lord mercifull vnto all that feare him Thy correction good father is only fauorably to chastise thy children being erred from the truth to cal them hom by a little and a little vnto the knowledge of thee againe and then they being once reclaimed thou doest withdrawe thy rod from them I beseech thee oh heauenlie father giue me patience patiently to suffer whatsoeuer thy fatherly goodnes wil lay vpon me and diligently to wait the time when it shall please thee to ease me of my trouble that with the prophet Dauid I may say Oh giue thanks vnto the LORD for hee is gratious and his mercie endureth for euer Let them giue thanks whome the LORD hath redeemed and deliuered out of the hand of their enimie and gathered them out of the lands from the east from the west from the north and from the south They went astray in the wildernes and found no citie to dwell in so they cried vnto to the Lord in their trouble and he deliuered them out of their distresse He led them foorth by the right way that they might go to the citie where they dwelt O that men would therefore feare the Lord and declare the woonders that he doth for the children of men For he satisfieth the emptie soule and filleth the hungrie with goodnes such as sit in darknes and in the shadowe of death being fast bound in miserie and iron Heer O most merciful father dost thou shew thy gratious goodnesse vnto me thou releeuest euerie soule that calleth to thee faithfully in distresse O good Lord I beseech thee giue me grace to call vpon thee by faith for as the scripture saith Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sin and he that asketh not faithfully can not obtaine Grant this O most mercifull father and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be needfull for me for thy deere sons sake Iesus Christ our onlie mediator and aduocate to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor power praise and glorie both now and euermore Amen A praier to be vsed when the lust of the flesh doth rage wherin the gift of continencie is begged ALmightie and most mercifull father I beseech thee
for Iesus Christs sake to strengthen me in this great and terrible battell of conscience which I feel between my flesh my spirit concerning lecherie continencie For my spirit saith I will delight my selfe with the studie of that which may bring saluation vnto me that is the reading of thy holy word with the me ditation hearing of the same altogither to giue my selfe to put far from me all worldlie pleasures and earthlie delights that therby I may through the merits of my sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ make an attonement with God the father for the innumerable multitude of my transgressions which had almost drawen me headlong to hell but whilest I am in these cogitations behold the flesh with his detestable desires doth come vnto me and by all wicked means possible doth seeke to bring me through his carnall concupiscence into the lake of perdition For as the spirit doth desire spirituall and heauenlie things euen so the flesh as it is carnall doth desire carnal and earthly things for ech thing desireth such as it selfe is Well seeing that I haue within my conscience such a great and terrible battell betweene the flesh and the spirit and that the flesh for any strength or power that is in me is like to haue the vpper hand and if the flesh haue the vpper hand what shall my reward be at the latter day when I shall come before the tribunall seate of the almightie and euerliuing God Truly my reward shall be this I shall be cast into vtter darknes there shal be weeping wailing gnashing of teeth Well now since it hath pleased almightie God of his great mercie to giue me knowledge what sinne is and that the desire and lust of the flesh is altogither wickednes and abhominable in the sight of the Lord and that the reward of sin is hell euerlasting condemnation And now since he of meere mercie hath giuen me knowledge thereof if I do not seeke to redresse it then I shall be accounted as one that knoweth the will of his father and will not do it truly such a sonne must bee beaten with manie stripes Seeing now that through the carnall concupiscence of the flesh hell fire is come vpon me what means may I vse to haue the same taken from mee againe To haue this great worke done for me I must put on sobrietie imbrace humilitie mingled with desire of a godlie life and then must I come and appeale before the high throne of mercie and aske forgiuenes of my sins in the pretious death and bloodshedding of my Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus who hath of his great mercie and goodnes promised forgiuenes of sinnes to all those that with a true and liuely faith com vnto him humbly crauing forgiuenes of their sins For by his death we are made aliue and by his strokes we are healed Heere oh most mercifull father do I behold as it were in a glasse the great and fatherly care which thou hast for all thy children which with hartie vnseined repentance come vnto thee for mercie for thou deniest none that cal vpon thee for mercie in the blood of Christ Iesus our fauiour I beseech thee oh Lord to strengthen me with thy holy spirit that thereby I may withstand all the furious assaults of sathan and the flesh For the flesh being stirred vp by the subtile suggestions of sathan do giue manie fierce assaults vnto my spirit insomuch that while it is in my bodie it is in a darke prison desiring when it shall please thy maiestie to be dissolued from this bodie of sin and as the prophet Dauid saith Like as the hart desireth the water brookes euen so my soule longeth after thee oh Lord. And also in another place he saith My soule longeth for thy saluation and I haue a good hope bicause of thy word My soule longeth for thy word saieng Oh when wilt thou comfort me My soule cleaneth vnto the dust oh quicken thou mee according to thy word Oh Lord I beseech thee to inlighten my hart with thy holie spirit that I may flie from and abhor the filthie and abhominable lusts of the flesh as a thing which is most detestable in thy sight considering that it is most odious before thee And also Lord I beseech thee for thy deere sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christs sake in this conflict in all other such like to giue victorie vnto the spirit that therby thy name may bee glorified and that it may liue as a conqueror ouer the wicked desires of the flesh and that the flesh with his concupiscences may bee in such subiection vnto the spirit that it dare not once to rebell against it And that I may liue so that whatsoeuer I do may bee pleasing in thy sight and that I through the strēgth of thy holie spirit may haue victorie ouer sinne death and hell and liue according to the precise rule of thy holie word so that whatsoeuer I do it may bee pleasant in thy sight through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor praise and glorie both now and euer Amen A conflict between gluttonie and abstinence AS yet oh my sweet Lord and God I suffer a continuall conflict in my conscience between the spirit and the flesh for my spirit manie times speaketh within me and saith I will abstaine from excesse of meats and drinks that therby I may bridle and keep vnder the corrupt and filthie desires of the flesh that in so doing I may be the more apt and readie to the knowledge and vnderstanding of thy holie will No sooner oh Lord am I in this contemplation but presently the flesh with his diuelish concupiscence offereth it selfe to persuade me to the contrarie For where the spirit doth desire spirituall and heauenlie things and to do such things as may be pleasing vnto thy diuine maiestie my flesh cleane contrarie vnto this doth desire all kind of vncleannes and to satisfie his owne carnall lusts and appetites by eating and drinking excessiuely and so were not thy great mercie it were like to bring my soule to vtter ruine and perdition But Lord as thou knowest that sathan the ancient enimie of all mankind is the intiser stirrer vp of all these wicked imaginations of my sinful flesh and that he is a slie and subtile aduersarie I beseech thee good Lord giue me grace manfully to withstand him knowing this that whosoeuer doth valiantly fight vnder thy spirituall banner and cōtinueth a faithfull soldier vnto the end shall not lose his reward but shall be made inheritour in ioy euerlasting with thy celestiall companie of angels and saints then who would not suffer all the torments vnder heauen to haue after all their troubles such a inifull resting place But such oh Lord is the wicked and corrupt nature of our sinfull flesh that it setteth more by the vaine pleasures of this transitorie world which is heere to day and
was the grace of thy holie spirit heer was the gift of continuance vnto the end who although he had lost all worldlie pleasures yet would he neuer start from the obedience of thy holie will yea although sathan that ancient enimie of all mankind sought all the meanes that he could deuise to plague the carcase of poore Iob yet did he remaine constant vnto the end for all the trouble and persecutions that he abode If it be thy will good father I pray thee to imprint this gratious gift of cōtinuance in my hart that whatsoeuer crosse or tribulation I suffer I may patiently abide the same for as our Sauiour Christ saith He that taketh not his crosse and followeth me is not woorthie of me And againe He that will saue his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it Oh vnhappie man that will seeke to saue his life in this world and lose it in the life to come and thrise happie is he that loseth his life in this world for our Sauiour Christ his sake for he surely shall find it in the world to come in ioies euerlasting which neither eie hath seene nor eare hath heard neither hath it entered into the hart of man vnto the which ioies Lord for thy mercie sake bring vs and for thy deere sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor glorie for euermore Amen A praier for an old man ALmightie GOD which-art the helper of all those that call to thee for succour I beseech thee to come neer vnto me and heare the voice of my crieng which haue liued long on earth and that very wickedly euen from my youth vnto this my crooked age I haue still continued in blindnes and ignorance yea and that wilfully neither seeking to attaine vnto sight nor knowledge whereby I might see into thy holie word and therby perceiue mine owne wickednes and sin and to get knowledge therby to vnderstand thy holie commandements that I might through faith in thee seek to obserue the same But now O Lord I come vnto thee which neuer despisest the sighing of a contrite hart nor the desire of such as be sorrowful which neuer stoppest thine eare at the crie of a penitent sinner nor withdrawest thy hande from helping of such as be in need which callest sinners to repentance when it pleaseth thee euen at all times and ages some at the first hower some at the third some at the ninth and some at the eleuenth of the which late number oh Lord thorough thine inestimable goodnes and mercie I am one who haue spent the greatest part of the time of my life in sloth wantonnes and in all maner of vncleanes and wickednes euen til now that I am readie to put one foot into the graue that is euen till the eleuenth hower or the verie latest time of my life And had it not beene for the multitude of thy mercies I might haue proceeded forward in all kind of wickednes and sin euen as I begun but thou oh mercifull father which wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that hee should repent and turne from his wickednes and that his sin might be done away Euen to thee oh Lord God belongeth mercy and forgiuenes And thou it is oh Lord that wilt bring mercie and forgiuenes of sins to as many as faithfully in thy deere son Iesus Christ do call to thee for mercie in time before it be too late yea while it is said to day To day if yee will heare my voice harden not your harts as in the prouocation and as in the day of temptation in the wildernes And heerin I beseech thee good father to forgiue me all the sins of my youth which are as the sands of the sea in number good Lord cast them into the bottome of the sea where they neuer may be seen with eies nor stand in iudgment against me And also good Lord I beseech thee to clense me from all my secret sins and cast them from the light of thy countenance Lord I beseech thee direct me with thy holie spirit that I may remaine thy faithfull seruant vnto the end thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for a maiden VNto thee oh Lord GOD belongeth mercy and forgiuenes of sinnes and the gift of a godlie and vertuous life therefore oh Lord I do at this time present my selfe before thy diuine maiestie beseeching thee not to looke vpon me neither harken vnto me according to mine owne merits or worthines but in the merits of thy deer sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ requiring thee for his sake to be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me all my sins that are past and giue me grace that hence forward I may no more so greeuously offend thy maiestie as I haue done both in thought word and deed but that I may henceforth lead a godlie and christian life folowing the example of Marie Magdalen out of whom our Sauiour Christ cast seuen diuels who in the beginning was a great and a greeuous sinner but in the end confessing hir wickednes and sin obtained free remission at thy hands and became a new woman leading hir life in holines and righteousnes and as the euangelist Luke witnesseth when our Sauiour Christ entred into the house of one of the Pharisies to dine with him behold a woman in the citie which was a sinner when she knew that Iesus sate at the table in the pharisies house she brought a boxe of ointment and she stood at his feet behind him weping began to wash his feet with tears did wipe them with the haires of hir head and kissed his feete and annointed them with the ointment shewing the great humilitie and reuerence which she bare vnto our Sauiour Good father I besech thee giue me such a contrite hart as had this Marie Magdalene that I may so bewaile my sins while I remaine heere on earth that when I depart from this vale of miserie I may remaine with thee in ioies euerlasting to the which place bring vs the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost Amen A praier to be said of all true and faithfull subiects desiring almightie God to blesse and keepe the Queenes most excellent Maiestie GOD which art the author and giuer of all goodnes sparest not to bestowe plentifully on al those that faithfully aske it of thee I beseech thee therfore good father giue me thy grace that I may keepe my selfe vnder the obedience of thy seruant my souereigne Queene that I may loue hir and obey hir lawes as thou oh Lord hast commanded euery subiect and the Apostle Paule writing to the Romans saith Let euerie soule be subiect vnto the higher powers for there is no power but of God and the powers that be are ordeined of God For he that resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receiue vnto
THE HAVEN OF HOPE Containing godlie Praiers and meditations for diuers purposes Gathered by R. A. Mark 13 35. Watch and pray for ye knowe not when the time is Imprinted at London for Yarath Iames. 1585 To the Worshipfull and my very good Maister M. IOHN DARCIE Esquier grace mercie and peace from God the father through our Lord Iesus Christ be multiplied CAlling vnto my remembrāce worshipfull Sir the streight accoūt that our Sauior Christ shal take of his seruants on whom he hath bestowed his talents and seing the reward that the good and profitable seruant shall haue for wel bestowing imploieng the same And also setting before mine eies the punishment prepared for the wicked and vnprofitable seruant I waieng the reward of the one and the punishment of the other thoght it to be very necessary my bounden dutie according to the talent which almightie GOD in mercie hath bestowed vpon me to write this little booke two especial causes moouing me thereunto the first principall cause is to discharge my dutie towards almightie GOD of whom I haue receiued and do receiue euery good gift whatsoeuer it be as neere as he will giue mee grace for as the Scripture saith Euerie good gift and euerie perfect gift commeth from aboue the Lord make vs thankfull for them for when we haue done whatsoeuer we can of our selues which is nothing yea when we thinke that we haue done the best seruice that can be done yet must we vnderstand and knowe that we are but vnprofitable seruants and haue not done so much as is our dutie to do This is the first and principall cause that mooued me to the writing of this little Treatise Then when I had finished this small peece of worke being vndetermined whom I might make my patrone at length it came into my mind to present the same vnto your worships view as to one of whome among men I haue receiued the greatest benefits Therfore the second cause that moued me to the writing of this little volume was somwhat to gratifie your worships goodwil which hath at all times been so great towards me But peraduenture your worship may thinke it a great presumption in me to present such a rude peece of worke to you but I craue pardon for my boldnes and I trust that your Worship will accept it according to my good meaning and I hope in the almightie Lord that although it be not furnished with Ciceronical eloquence you shall find in it such matter as shall tend both to the glorie of GOD and the health of your soule and that is my greatest desire Thus being loth to vse superfluitie of words I end desiring almightie God to prosper your Worship in all your affaires that you may so walke before him in this vale of miserie that when this our sinful course is ended you and we may all reigne togither with him in that place which he in mercie hath prepared for all his elect children to the which place bring vs the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost Amen Your Worships most humble to command Raphe ALLIN To the godlie and Christian Reader R. A. wisheth the direction of Gods holie spirit THOV hast heer good Christian Reader the first fruits of a barren field which although it be not replenished with pleasant herbs delightfull to the fleshly fancie of thy mind yet if thou put away from thee the delights of this world and put on Christ Iesus I do not doubt but by the assistance of Gods holie spirit they shall be pleasant to thy spirituall appetite And heerin I desire thee not to be rash in condemning without consideration but rather if thou see a fault by any means to be escaped I earnestly desire thee to correct it that if heerafter occasion do serue me to set foorth the like againe seeing thy good will towards me I may be emboldened the more to perseuere in the like enterprise And bicause that praier if it come from a hart and mind that is stirred vnto godlines is a thing most pretious in the sight of almightie God I thought it good therefore to write this small Manuell of praiers intituled The HAVEN of HOPE which although the volume be but small yet if thou wel peruse and marke the same I trust in the Lord Iesus Christ that thou shalt find such matter in it as if thou pray by faith shall no doubt bring consolation both to thy soule and bodie And if I do find or can any way learne that this little Treatise doth bring any comfort vnto thy soule I do meane as God shall make me able in time to augment the same Thus being very loth to trouble thee with manie words and little matter I leaue thee to the defence of almightie God vnto whom I pray that it will please him to guide thee with his holie spirit that thereby thou maist do whatsoeuer shall be pleasant in his sight to his honor and the health of thine owne soule through our onlie Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be all honor praise glorie dominion and thanks giuing now and euermore So be it Thine in the Lord R. A. An introduction to praier BEFORE thou beginnest to pray good christian Reader there are three things of thee principally to be noted which are these that followe 1 The first is to bewaile thy sins and to be hartily sorie for them promising never to commit the like againe For at what time soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottom of his hart I will put all his wickednes out of my remembrance saith the Lord. 2 The second is this that thou must be persuaded in thy faith and conscience that the Lord doth heare regard whatsoeuer thou dost pray for or else thy praiers are made altogither in vaine For whatsoeuer proceedeth not of faith is sinne 3 And the third and last is this that thou must go with an vpright a cleere cōscience before the Lord thy God not bearing malice or enuie to any thy brethren or sisters in the Lord for as Saint Iohn saith How canst thou loue the Lord thy God whom thou hast not seen when thou hatest thy brother whom thou seest daily Thus good Reader if thou dost diligently mark and consider these three points and followe them there is no doubt but that the Lord thy GOD will heare what soeuer thou praiest and also grant thee thy request For how canst thou pray to the Lord to direct thee with his holie spirit when thou dost not bewaile and lament for thy offences which bee past And how dost thou thinke to obtaine thy request at the Lords hand when thou dost not pray by faith and with a cleere conscience And how canst thou pray with a cleere conscience when thou bearest malice and enuie to thy brethren or sisters which are all members of one misticall bodie with thee Iesus Christ being the head Thus breefly haue I
set downe the order how thou oughtest to behaue thy selfe when thou goest to praier And now in the name of God we will begin with praier A praier to be said in the Morning ALMIGHTY most mercifull and euerliuing God who art the cōforter and defender of all those which assuredly do put their whole trust and confidence in thy mercie as thou hast shewed vnto mee a manifest token of good will in defending me this night from the snares of Sathan that ancient enimie of all mankind who rageth now most cruelly knowing that his time is but very short and therefore is he the more eger in seeking of his pray deuising how he might get a multitude of the soules of thy children to be intrapped in his net of perdition therfore I beseech thee good father euen for thy Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christs sake that like as thou hast this night preserued mee from the snare of this wicked hunter and from his noisom pestilence euen so good Father I hartily beseech thee so to inlighten the eies of my mind this day that I may see how to auoid the wicked engins which he laieth to snare vs withall for as he is a spirituall enimie euen so O Lord had we need of thy spirituall helpe to auoid him grant this O Father for Iesus Christs sake our Sauiour Amen Another praier to be said in the morning ALmightie and most louing Father like as thou hast this night mercifully and of thine infinit goodnes and mercie gratiously preserued me from the subtilitie and tyrannie of sathan hast giuen me sweet sleepe and quiet rest Euen so good Lord I beseech thee for Iesus Christ his sake to keepe and defend me this day from all euil that may happen vnto me and that I may bestow it wholy in thy seruice and that I may doo nothing but that which may be pleasing vnto thee through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier to be said at night O Good Lord I beseech thee to blesse preserue and keepe me this night from the wilie waies and subtile suggestions of the deuill who being the ancient enimie of all mankind goeth about like a roaring lion continually seking whom he may deuour but keepe me O good Lord by thy mercifull prouidence that I may rest quietly sleepe sweetly that waking I may giue thee thanks for thy merciful protection and defence thorough Christ our Lord Amen A praier to be said when the day is light ALmightie GOD which hast ordained the light of the sun to lighten the day and the moone to lighten the night I beseech thee for thy great mercie sake so to inlighten my mind with thy holie spirit that I may truly perceiue and vnderstand the heauenlie mysteries of thy holie word that therby I may be guided to the land of euerlasting blessednes there to reigne with thee world without end Amen A praier to be deliuered from the Pope and his detestable heresies O Good Lord I beseech thee strengthen mee with thy holie spirit and giue mee grace faithfully to remain in that obedience towards thee which I am taught in thy holie word so that I be not led away from thee by the vaine ceremonies and deuilish doctrine of Antichrist the Pope which calleth himselfe the vicar of Christ and is nothing lesse for he maketh merchandize of mens soules making them to worship stocks and stones in stead of the true worshipping of thee O God Deliuer me O good Lord and all thy faithfull seruants from the tyrannie of this Romish wolfe which seeketh continually to deuoure the poore lambs of thy sheepfold and Lord I beseech thee if it be thy pleasure either to turne his hart or els confound him suddenly From whose deuilish doctrine deliuer vs the father the Sonne and the holie Ghost three in person one in substance to whom be honor and glorie now and for euer Amen A praier against worldlie tribulation GRant Lord I beseech thee that I may remaine thy faithfull seruant and serue thee in true obedience that neither the cares of this world nor any worldlie tribulation may withdrawe my mind from the obedience of thee and grant also good Lord that my mind be not choked with the cares of this world but that I may cast all my care vpon thee which liuest and reignest for euer A praier for faith MOst mercifull and louing father I beseech thee for Iesus Christs sake to increase strengthen my faith that I may go forward in al godlines And grant O Lord that my faith may be builded vpon the rocke Christ Iesus that I be not carried away with euerie blast of vain doctrine but through faith in thee I may be as an inuincible fortresse to my enimie the deuill so that he may neuer preuaile against me And also Lord I pray thee let not my faith be an idle faith but a working faith a faith that daily proceedeth from one good worke to another in the end vnto euerlasting life There to reigne with thee world without end Amen A praier to be said when one entreth into the Church I Enter into this thy temple O mercifull father to heare thy word preached giue mee grace O Lord that I may heare it with such an hūble feruent zeale that it may not be vnto me as seed that is sowen among thorns least the thornie cares of this world choke it so that it cannot bring foorth fruit Neither as seede that is sowen vpon stony ground where it can take no root nor yet as sowen by the way side where the foules of the aire do gather it and eate it vp but let the seede of thy word good Lord be sowen in me as seede that is sowen vpon good ground bringing foorth frute vnto life euerlasting some thirtie some sixtie some an hundred folde grant this O Father for Iesus Christs sake our onlie mediator and aduocate Amen A praier against the lusts of the flesh I Thy humble seruant O most mercifull father do feele in my selfe a great and maruelous battell betweene the flesh and the spirit but gratious Lord I beseech thee giue me thy grace from aboue that I do not let the flesh haue victorie but that I may tame and subdue it and make it obedient vnto the spirit least that I by giuing victorie vnto the flesh do heape sin vpon sin and in the end bring vpon my selfe swift damnation bicause the flesh indeed is apt and readie vnto al vice wickednes therefore O Lord I pray thee to strengthen me with thy holie spirit that therby I may subdue the flesh with the wicked imaginations therof through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for the diligent reading of the scriptures ETernall God most louing father which hast of thy vnspeakable goodnes reuealed thy selfe most openly plainly to the world by the gift of thy holie word I beseech thee O good Lord giue me a willing mind to the reading thereof and make my soule and hart
which thou by thy prophets apostles hast promised to them that are of a contrite hart thou hast promised to exalt the humble to heal the meek to be nigh vnto such as be of a contrite hart to deliuer them out of all their troubles and to dwel with them that be of a contrite spirit Thou O Lord hast made these promises and thou wilt most surely performe whatsoeuer thou hast promised Now oh my sweet Sauiour I beseech thee giue me grace to sticke fast vnto these sweet promises that I may through the grace of thy holie spirit pull downe this proud flesh of mine which is were it not thy great mercy ready to hale my soule into destruction I may well say vnto my flesh Why art thou so proud O thou earth and ashes of that which wil not endure but is altogither wicked and abhominable in the sight of the Lord. Therefore O my most mercifull Sauiour I pray thee for thy pretious deth and passion sake to strengthen me with the grace of thy holy spirit that it may haue victorie of this bodie of sin the lusts and desires of the same that I may so liue heer on earth that when it shall please thee to call me from this vale of miserie I may dwell with thee in thy habitation of rest prepared for all thy faithfull ones Amen Another praier for the morning O Eternall God and most mercifull father I a most weak and feeble creature in all goodnes godlines whatsoeuer most hartily thank thy maiestie for that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercie and goodnes to preserue me this night from the crueltie and tyrannie of the diuel and his angels and to take me vnto thine owne protection and defence And also of thy meere mercie not suffering mee to sleepe in death but didst waken me in due time to giue thanks and praise vnto thy maiestie for thy most mercifull protection and defence I beseech thee O most mercifull father giue me grace that whatsoeuer I take in hand this day may haue good successe and whatsoeuer I do it may all be to the honor and praise of thy name the profit of my neighbor and the health of mine owne soule thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another praier for the euening MOst mercifull and euerliuing GOD which art father of the fatherles and husband of the widow which also this day past hast kept me safely vnder the wings of thy mercie and hast not suffered me so to fall but that with thy hand thou hast lifted me vp againe and also hast kept me this day from the power of darknes and defended me with thy armor of light I beseech thee O most mercifull father that like as thou hast this day kept me vnder the couering of thy wings from the subtile assaults and priuie sleights of that capitall enimie of mine sathan euen so I beseech thee to keepe and defend me this night from his cruell tyrannie which in euerie place laieth baits and traps to catch mens soules so to bring them into vtter darknes there shall be weeping wailing and gnashing of teeth frō whose subtilitie deliuer vs the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost three in person and one in essence Amen Another praier when the light appeereth O My sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ which art the light of the world and the light of all them that beleeue in thee I besech thee oh my sweet Sauiour giue me thy grace from aboue that I may put away the works of darknes and put on the armor of light now in these perilous and dangerous daies And like as thou hast appointed the light of the day to lighten earthly men about their earthly affaires so also hast thou appointed thy holie word to lighten their minds which labor and seeke to attaine to the knowledge of thy heauenlie will In which lightsom exercise I beseech thee for thy great mercies sake giue me an earnest desire to attaine vnto the full knowledge thereof and that whatsoeuer I do it may be pleasing vnto thee to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be all honor power praise dominion and thanks giuing both now and for euer Amen Another praier to be deliuered from Antichrist the Pope of Rome and all his detestable enormities O My sweet Sauiour which leadest all those into the path of righteousnes which by faithfull and earnest praier come vnto thee for the same I besech thee for thy death and passion sake giue me grace to trust in thy sweet promises and to exercise my selfe in the studie of thy holie word and to cast away and vtterly to eschew and abhor the dirtie traditions the diuelish dreams the vaine reliks ceremonies of that man of sin the Pope of Rome and al his Balaamiticall shauelings which are vtter enimies to thy crosse killing thy innocent lambs conuerting the simple on s frō thee my sweet Sauior as much as in them lieth vnto their antichristian power teaching them to come from thy mercifull promises vnto that man of sin for monie to haue their sins forgiuen them wheras my sweet Sauiour none is able to forgiue sins but onlie thou much lesse oh Lord he that is so great a sinner robbing thee of thy glorie by taking vpon him so presumptuously without feare of thy name to forgiue his brother his trespasses when the holie scripture is cleane contrarie for Dauid saith in the psalms that No man can deliuer his brother from death neither make agreement vnto God for him for it cost more to redeeme their soules so that that must be let alone for euer Heer he may see if he be not wilfull blind how wickedly he taketh vpon him to do that which only belongeth vnto thee my sweet Sauiour But let him repent in time least hee bring vpon himselfe swift damnation His doctrine oh Lord is cleane contrarie to thy most pure and sincere word which is the word of truth teaching those that will learne of him his priests of Baal to looke for their saluation by the works of the law only and not by faith in thee my sweet Sauiour which art the only way of truth the path of life the giuer of euerlasting life vnto al those that come vnto thee by saith and not to challenge thy place of rest by any of our merits or deseruings which are most abhominable in thy sight for we are able to deserue nothing but death endles damnation in the fire which neuer shall be quenched oh what a terror is this to the conscience of many which know themselues to be great and greuous offenders and yet as this detestable doctrine of antichrist teacheth them must obtaine saluation by their owne merits or deseruings Oh what a hell haue they in their conscience and except they flie speedily from that diuelish doctrine and looke vpon thy most mercifull and sweet promises and with a stedfast faith assuredly beleeue the same doubtles they must needs fall into the