¶ Maister D. his councell to all that are his as also a briefe lesson for all estates KEepe counsell Vse not manye wordes Tell the truth Be slow to speake Brydle thine anger Appease debate Hinder no mans good name Take heede of drinke Remember thy ende Be mercifull Trie before thou trust Repose no confidence in a reconciled aduersarie Sorowe not for that which can not be got agayne Reioyce not in thy neyghbours crosse Striue not with thy ouer match Reueale not thy secretes to thy wife nor to thy children for women and children say all they know Three things vndid the Romanes reigne priuie grudge yong heaves and priuate gayne Beare with others as thou would haue others heare with thee Be not to rashe hasty bolde nor wyse in thine owne conceyte Doe not speake all thou knowest Doe not beleeue all thou hearest Doe not doe all thou canst Doe not say all thou seest Beholde the ende ere thou beginne Haue mynde on death and feare to sinne For death shall reape that lyfe hath sovvne And lyfe shall spring vvhere death hath movvne If thou by God arte set on hie Remember yet that thou shalt die Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the Soule Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the Mynde Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the and bodie If thou flie ydlenesse Cupid hath no might His Bowe lyeth broken his fire hath no light FEARE GOD And keepe his Commaundements GODLY priuate prayers for housholders to meditate vpon and to say in their families MARK 11.24 ¶ What so euer ye desire when ye praye beleeue that ye shall haue it and it shall bee done vnto you ROM 10.13 ¶ Whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lorde shall bee saued Psal. 55. verse 16. ¶ I will call vnto God and the Lorde will saue me Euening and morning and at noone will I pray and make a noise and he wil heare my voyce ¶ Godly priuate prayers for housholders to be saide in their Families A prayer conteyning the effect of the Housholders Catechisme ALmightie God and most mercifull Father I see in thy blessed lawes and commaundementes the greatnesse of my sinnes and wickednesse yea I see O Lord my god the whole course of my life to be almost nothing els but a continuall breaking of thy holy lawes and commaūdements The thoughts of my harte either in vanitie or els open wickednesse are in number infinite daily in the aboundance of them causing my mouth to speake my body to execute and do contrary to thy holy will. And againe O Lord I see thy heauie wrath vengeāce and iudgment against sinne to be intollerable that euen the least wicked thought and most secreat cogitation of my harte procureth thy heauy wrath and euerlasting curse the tormente of hell and euerlasting fire euen although I had but once in all my life broke any of thy commaundements so much as once in thought And I know O Lord God that thou art true and iust canst not abide sinne and wickednesse but wilt iustly punish euerie sinne euen with the selfe same tormentes of hell whiche thy iustice hath appointed euen for euery sinne This O Lord my God throweth me downe and euen amaseth me so that I knowe not what to do I looke into my selfe vewing mine owne power whither I am able to ouercome this punishment of my sinne or no and I see that al euē the most exquisite punishment which I can deuise to my selfe in whipping of my body as long as I liue wearing haire cloth pineing my selfe with fasting or any other paine I see I see O Lorde that all this punishmēt is not sufficient for one of my least sinnes because it deserueth euen the euerlasting paines of hell I looke to Heauen I see there is no Sainte nor Angel able to abide and ouercome this punishment of sinne I looke to men in this worlde euen to the Popes treasure that wicked man of sinne and I see that neither his masse nor purgatory pilgrimage pardons penance satisfactions nor any of suche like wicked stuffe alas I see they are nothing for the satisfying for one of my least wicked thoughts seeing the punishmente is by thy iuste decree and sentence thine euerlasting cursse Wherefore I am driuen out from my selfe and all that I can do to seeke this punishmente discharged other where or else to quall vnder the burthen I see there is no healpe for me in Angels Saintes nor mortall men but onelie in that perfecte man Christe Iesus thy deere sonne in whome I see the full punishment of my sinne wholy payd satisfied discharged and ouercome death vanquished the paines of hel in victorie swalowed vp the curse satisfied and the eternitie of the punishmente through his euerlasting power ouerreachead This I see O Lord by the eyes of faith being through thy holy spirite wholy assured that all the whole punishment of sinne payd by my Sauiour Christ is not onely payd for other men but euen also for me and my sinne This assurance of my faith being thine onely woork in me I beseech thee in mercy to strengthen increase for I feele it often ful of wauering doubting Graunt that I may daily more and more in my soule and conscience feele my selfe knit and grafted into the body of thy sonne whereby I may be assured that whatsoeuer He hath done pertaineth to mee and is fully wholy mine that I may through the power of his death feele daily sinne die in me and thorough the power of his resurrection feele my selfe risen from sinne to haue my full ioy and comforte in those things which be agreeable to thy holy wil vtterly detesting hating and abhorring from my hearte althinges which be contrarie to thy will and pleasure that euen in this life I may still looke for this endlesse ioy and felicitie vsing the thinges of this worlde as though I vsed them not till that good time that it shall please thee to call mee to thine euerlasting Kingdome of Glorie there to reigne with my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ for euer and euer Amen A prayer vppon the Lordes prayer O Moste mighty Lorde and eternall God who hast by thy deere sonne Christe Iesu our Lord and Sauiour reconciled vnto thy selfe all things in heauen and earth and in him haste made an euerlasting bond and couenaunte with vs thy faithfull children that thou wilt not onely be our God but also our moste louing and mercifull Father whereof as a pledge thou hast giuen vs thy holy Spirite of adoption whereby wee may with boldenesse and ful trust and cōfidence come to thee by harty praier as vnto our moste louing and mercifull Father being assured that thou wilt not deny vs any thing which thou knowest shal be expediēt for vs graunt we beseech thee deare Father that wee being fully persuaded in our harts of this thy fatherly loue and affection towards vs may be sturred
Commons of this Realme that their hartes being touched with a sincere feare and reuerence of thy heauenly Maiestie acknowledging thy mercie in placeing ouer them a Godly Princesse they may euery one in their callings walke in all true and humble obedience vnto her in thee and for thee without resistance tumults insurrections conspiracies or rebellions knowing that to resist the higher powers is to rebell against thy Maiestie Finally we beseeche thy goodnesse so guide gouerne the hartes of all the whole Realme of euery degree that euery one in his calling being by thy grace supported may so occupie his talent that thy Glorie in all thinges may be aduanced thy Churche inlarged and this whole Realme into sincere Godlinesse vertuously reduced Moreouer we beseech thee O Lord our God in mercie behold all those which suffer persecution for thy glorious wordes sake whither it be imprisonmente deathe or banishment or whatsoeuer else strengthē them good Lord that they hauing thee always before their eyes and the glorie laide vp for thē in the life to come may continue constant in defēding thy truth without feare of man or vaine allurementes of the world that whether it come by life or death they may glorifie thy Holy name in continuing in the trueth to the end Preserue in like maner we beseech thee all others thy children whom it hath pleased thee with any other kinde of crosse to chasten for their amendement whither by pestilence famine warre pouertie imprisonment sicknesse or banishment trouble of conscience vexation of spirit disquietnesse of minde want of spirituall comforte or whatsoeuer kinde of affliction of body or mindes thou doest trie them with that by thy holy spirit being fully assured that thou by this thy correction mindest to call them backe to a feeling of their sinne and due consideration of their life and conuersation that they may patiently abide thy Fatherly trial looking for aide help and comfort from thee when it seemeth most conuenient to thy godly wisedome and beeing by thy merciful hande once deliuered may acknowledge thy singular power worke giueing al laude and praise to thy glorious Name and afterwards al the dayes of their life studie to liue before thee in sinceritie and perfect holinesse euen to their liues ende Amen Morning prayer for priuate houses and Families O Gratious God and louing Father according to thy commaundement wee do here presente our selues before thy Maiestie humbly prostrating ourselues before the throne of mercy acknowledging and confessing from the bottome of our hearts that wee be miserable sinners daily breaking thy commaundements both in thought woord and deede wherein wee iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to bee vtterly throwne from thy presence yet O Lorde wee see thy goodnesse againe towardes vs who not suffering vs thus to perishe in our sinnes hast sent thine owne deere Sonne Iesus Christ to take vpon him whatsoeuer is due to reconcile make vs at one with thee againe In him therefore good Lorde and through him do wee come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that wee feeling the greeuousnesse of our sinnes and groneing vnder the burden of them may feele the release and ease of them in that we be through thy holie Spirit assured and stedfastly beleeue that Christ hath borne the burden of them euen for vs Graunte O Lorde that we beeing assured hereof in our consciences may through thy holy Spirite bee renued in the inner man to hate deteste and abhorre sinne and to studie to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life Wee do not onely pray for our selues but also for all thy whole Church especially suche as bee persecuted for thy woorde graunte vnto them that whither it be by death or life they may glorifie thy Name to their liues ende Bee mercifull to this Churche of Englande and Irelande wee beséeche thee good Lord and preserue euery part and member of the same especially thy Seruaunte Elizabeth our Queene graunt her all such giftes as bee needeful for so high a calling to the aduauncement of thy Glory and benefite of this common wealth to the establishing of a perfect gouernemēt of thy Church according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of all superstition and reliques of antichriste to the gouerning of her Subiectes in all peace and tranquillitie Defende her O Lord from all conspiracies treasons and rebellions and so woorke in the hearts of all her Subiects that knowing her authoritie doth come from thy Heauenly Maiestie they may with obedient heartes humbly obey her in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Counsell and the Magistrates of the Realme that beeing lightened through thy holy Spirite they may defende thy trueth suppresse wickednesse and maintaine equitie Beholde all the Pastours and Preachers of the woorde blesse their laboures increase the number of them place ouer euery Churche a paineful watchman remoue all idle Lubbers and confounde the power of antichriste and turne the heartes of the people that they may bee obedient to thy truth Blesse the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxforde and all the Studients of the same with all Schooles of learning Beholde al those that bee afflicted with any kinde of crosse that they may profite by thy correction in newnesse of life ‡ * ‡ Lastly for our selues here gathered together we hartily craue at thy hands that it would please thee to make vs thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for all thy loueing kindnesse shewed vnto vs euen from our infancie especially that thou haste this present nighte deliuered vs from all daungers both of body and soule whereinto many haue fallen as wee into like manner should haue done if wee had not bene stayed with thy mercifull hande that thou haste also graunted vnto vs so sweete and comfortable reste and haste nowe presently broughte vs to the beginning of this day For these thinges good Lorde wee yeelde vnto thee most hartie thankes beseeching thee to make vs more and more daily thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for them and pardon our vnthankfulnesse And as thou hast safely preserued vs vnto this present houre from al the daungers of this life so we beseeche thee continue thy fauour towards vs this day and the whole course of our life Defend vs O Lord that we nowe entring into the affaires of this day be not drawen away with the vaine allurementes of this world to sinne and wickednesse that wee walke not in the shadowe of death that we be not intangled in the snares of sinne that we stumble not at the blockes of iniquitie that we finally fall not into the pitte of deathe and destruction but being shadowed vnder thy winges we may cheerefully and constantly go on forward to the end of our course Graunt vnto vs O Lord our God that this good time whiche thou grauntest vnto vs in this life be not idely or vainely of vs consumed but that euery one of vs may be diligently exercised in his calling this day
vp to make our petitions with suche an affection ardent desire loue and reuerence to thy maiesty that our mindes be not carried away with bythoughts creeping in but without all wandering may be fully bente and attentiue to the thing we aske and fully staide vppon thy merciful and iuste protection We then beseech thee deare Father that thou wilte strengthen our heartes with thy holy Spirite that considering thou hast made all thinges for the glory of thy Name so wee may in al our dooings enterprises counsels and purposes chiefly aboue all things seeke thy Glorie that wee may fully acknowledge thee not onely the Authour of all thinges but the ruler guider and gouernour of all thinges both in Heauen and earth that we neuer diminishe thine incomprehensible Glory by attributing vnto our selues any power strength or abilitie to do wil or think that which is good but from our harts we may acknowledge all our goodnesse to come from thee yelding for the same continually prayse and thankesgiuing to thy glorious Name that we neuer by distrusting thy mercifull prouidence dishonour thy Name but that euen in our greatest distresse we may put our ful confidence in thee not looking vppon our weaknesse but staying vpon thy power and promises by harty prayer fleeing vnto thee our onely refuge that our whole life may be so framed according to thy holy wil in al points that thy glorious Name in vs may be sactified and that we be not an occasion that thy holy Name be blasphemed through our wicked life and conuersation Let thy Kingdome most mercifull Father appeare and manifestly be declared in all the worlde but especially amongst thy Churche and faithfull flocke declare thy selfe Lord and King oue◠them ruling them by the scepter of thy holy woorde and force of thy holy Spirite Increase the number of faithful Pastors and Preachers amongst the people blesse their labours to the increase of this Kingdome of thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ and to the destruction of the kingdome of satan and antichrist Suppresse the rage of the enimies that they may knowe that thou O Lorde doest reigne in all ages to the behoofe of thy Church and terour of thine enimies Grāt these mercies good lord not onely to the whole Churche in generall but especially to euery one of vs thy Children particularly Graunte that we may effectually feele the force of this thy Kingedome in our heartes Beate downe in vs our olde corrupt Adam with all sinfull delightes thoughtes motions and desires and renew in vs day by day our spiritual and inwarde man that we may be wholy bente to delight thinke desire and do those thinges whiche be acceptable in thy sighte Frame our heartes good Lorde with suche humble obedience to thy holy will that we may be heartily wel content with whatsoeuer it pleaseth thy goodnes to lay vppon vs that wee neuer cease in our miseries but continually call vppon thee by hearty prayers although wee feele no release at all yet that still patiently we may abide and quietly waite for thy good leysure and appointed time of deliueraunce when thou knowest it shall be moste expedient for vs. Graunte vs deere Father that al our counsels studies labours and endeuours being by thy holy spirite guided and framed wee may euery one in that vocation in whiche thou haste placed him so faithfully trauaile to the discharging of our consciences and edifying of thy Churche that our accompt may be founde acceptable before thy throne and Iudgement seate So blesse our labours and trauels that we may haue sufficient for the preseruing of this present life and be content with those benefites whiche thou shalt bestowe vpon vs whether they be many or fewe acknowledging them to be receiued of thee not greedily to care for them or vainely to delight in them but thākfully esteeme of them as thy benefites bestowed vppon vs and as faithful Stewards moderately to vse them to the reliefe of our brethren and the discharge of our consciences Increase in vs good Lorde the gifte of faith that wee may daily more and more in our soules and consciences bee assured that our sinnes be defaced cleane blotted out and couered with the full perfecte and sufficient sacrifice of thy deare Sonne Christ Iesu our Lorde and Sauiour once made for vs ▪ that we are vnited knit and made one bodie with him partakers of his righteousnesse iustification and holinesse and euen fellow heires with him of euerlasting life that wee may vnfainedly from the bottome of our hearts loue thee for this thine vnspeakeable goodnesse and mercie forgiueing from our hearts our brethren which doe offend vs pray for them loue cherishe and comforte them as fellowe members all of one body with perfecte naturall loue and compassion linked together to our head Christe Iesu. Strengthen vs good Lorde with thy holy spirite that we be not ouercome with the subtile suggestions and sinneful motions of satan the diuell holde vs vp with thy mercyfull hand that we sleepe not in sinne that we be not drawen away with the wicked worlde nor the enticementes of the flesh to delighte in wickednesse but so arme vs with thy mightie power that we may strongly abyde all the assaultes and subtile sleightes of our ghostly enimy and sincerely to walke before thy face both in prosperitie and aduersitie to thy honour and glory the health of our soules profit of thy Church through Iesus Christe our onely Lorde and Sauiour Amen ¶ The Lordes prayer more at large O Moste mightie and eternall God who of thine infinite loue to mankinde haste giuen vs thine owne eternall sonne Christe Iesu our Lorde to be made man for vs in the similitude of sinnefull flesh to become flesh of our flesh bone of our bones in all things like vnto vs sinne onely excepted who being thy true and naturall sonne hath made vs with him sonnes children and heires to thee our moste mercifull Father giuing vnto vs by grace that which is his by nature And by his due alone once offered sufficient sacrifice hath payd the raunsome of our sinnes before thy diuine Maiestie to satisfie thy iustice vpon sinnful flesh Whiche debt being payde for vs he hath broughte vs in fauour with thee so that wee may now with boldnesse and truste come to thee as vnto our moste merciful and louing Father with full assuraunce that as thy loue is so much greater and more excellent towardes vs then all loue of earthly Parentes towardes their children as thou passest all men in goodnesse and mercy so thou wilte denie vs nothing which shall be expedient for vs So that although all the fathers which are in earth hauing shaken off all feeling of fatherly naturalnesse woulde forsake their children yet thou wouldest neuer forsake vs because thou canste not denie thy selfe who promisest that if earthly fathers being euill can giue good giftes to their children how much more wilt thou our heauenly Father
contente with that estate of life which it pleaseth thy goodnesse to excercise vs withal in this world whither it be in aduersitie or prosperitie in sicknesse or health in ignominie or glorie in quietnesse or trouble in sorrow or gladnesse Graūt vs deere Father this willing and patiente minde that euen in our greatest distresse wee may be content with thy good will and not to murmur or grudge againste thy Maiestie knowing that thou wilte lay nothing vppon vs but that whiche shall turne to our goodnesse or profite And that wee may patiently abide whatsoeuer it shall please thee to lay vppon vs that we be assured in our heartes that thou wilt not lay more vnto vs then thou wilte giue vs strength to beare and euen in our greatest afflictions wilte finde a way for our deliuerance and that thy power and strength is more fully declared when wee feele our selues vtterly voyde of all strength and see no way of deliueraunce that we may in our most grieuous assaults conflicts and anguishe of minde submitte our selues wholy to thy blessed will and looke for our deliueraunce at thy hand when thou knowest it shal be moste expedient for vs and most for thy glorie leauing the time and meane of deliueraunce to thy good Will and pleasure and that in the meane time wee neuer cease but call vppon thee by hearty prayers continually as thou haste commanded vntill suche time as thou shalt heare our petitions And although after many and sundry callinges vppon thee thou seeme not to regarde vs but rather deale more extreamely with vs yet notwithstāding strengthen vs so with perseuerance in prayer that we faint not but stil continue in praier being assured that although we feele our selues nothing released yet wee may quiet our selues herein that wee as thy children haue layd our complaints griefes and sorrowes in the bosome of thee our heauenly Father who wilt as a louing Father whē he seeth it moste conuenient healpe vs And that although thou seeme nothing to graunte our requestes yet wee honour thee in calling vppon thy Name seeing thou doeste accepte it as a moste chiefe honour to bee called vppon in the day of trouble And forasmuche deere Father as thou doeste by thy mighty power nourish feede sustaine preserue and maintaine all liuing creatures yea euen the verie yong fowles and beastes wee beseech thee to sende vnto vs thy children ouer whome thou haste a more speciall care all thinges necessarie for this our present life that wee hauing sufficient may walke euery one in our calling in sinceritie pure holinesse before thy face acknowledging all our benefits of richesse wealth health meate drink apparell and all our substance to bee thy mere gifts bestowed vppon vs and deliuered vnto vs from thy handes that wee bee not drawen from thee through setting our mindes to muche vppon them but so moderately vse them as thy benefites for a time bestowed vppon vs knowing that thou wilte at our handes require an accompte howe wee haue vsed them That wee do not carefully gape or seeke after them but discretely to thy glorie vse them acknowledging in them thy goodnesse liberalitie towardes vs And seeing moste mercifull Father that it is not our trauaile labour paines studie or endeuour whiche is able to gette vs our liuing but onely in so muche as it pleaseth thy goodnesse to blesse and prosper them wee beseeche thee that if through our greate trauailes and paines we be yet still in poore and meane estate that thou wilte giue vs a contented hearte knowing that thereby thou letteste vs vnderstande that it is thy good will and pleasure so to keepe vs vnder that wee more effectually may giue our selues to serue thee Or if it bee thy wil and pleasure more aboundantly to blesse vs and our trauaile to sende vs aboundaunce of all thinges wee beseech thee deere Father giue vs a thankefull hearte to acknowledge them to bee thy good gifts and frame our hearts with such liberalitie that we may be contented to distribute them according to the necessitie of thy children beeing assured that thou haste to that end made vs Stewards ouer them that thou mayest at his handes require muche on whome thou haste bestowed muche so that wee hauing the due estimation of thy benefites whiche wee oughte to haue may both reuerence thy goodnesse in thy benefites and supply the want of our brethren to the reliefe of their necessitie and furtheraunce of thy Glory And whereas moste mercifull Father thy Sonne our Lorde and Sauiour Christe Iesus hath in our nature payed the raunsome and debte of all our sinnes whiche wee haue from the beginning of our life committed and do daily committe we beseeche thy gratious goodnesse that thou wilte by thy holy Spirite in our hearts assure our soules and consciences with a liuely faith that by that same one alone sufficient sacrifice the punishment of our sinnes is payed thy wrath appeased and thy iustice satisfied whereby our consciences may be quieted and set at peace with thee our mercifull Father and god Let vs deere father feele in our soules and consciences that wee are vnited and knitte to thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ and made one body with him and heires with him of euerlasting glorie so coupled and ioyned with him that wee are members of his body so that what so euer he hath done in his body we may be assured that it is ours that his righteousnesse is our righteousnesse his sanctification and holinesse is ours the cursse condemnation and death which he suffered is the same cursse condemnation and death due for our sinnes that wee knowing that our sinnes bee done away and cleane forgotten and forgiuen by thy mercifull loue goodnesse declared in offering vp thy sonne to death for vs wee may be driuen to loue thee vnfaynedly from the bottome of our heartes for this thine vnspeakable loue And considering that thou haste in mercy pardoned so many our hainous offences wee may gladly be moued to forgiue one another their offences and put out of our hart al rancour malice and hatred towarde our brethren knowing that wee are all members of one body Christe our Sauiour that so surely as wee haue forgiuen al them that offend against vs wee may be so certainely assured that thou our mercifull Father haste forgiuen vs like as we haue forgiuen our brethren And forasmuche moste heauenly Father as wee of our selues be feeble fraile and weake and haue a strong and subtile aduersarie satan the diuel who goeth aboute continually like a roaring Lion seeking whome he may deuour wee beseeche thee strengthen vs by thy holy spirit that we may withstande his subtile suggestions and motions holde thou vs by thy mercifull hand and keepe vs alwaies in thy safegarde and protection that wee bee not ouercome in the mighty assaultes of our aduersarie And forasmuche as he often vseth euen our owne fleshe armed againste vs to conquer vs wee beseech thee
deare Father mortifie subdue and kill in our fleshe all subtile suggestions and sinnefull motions of satan that we yelde not our selues as slaues thervnto but continually fight against them and bring them into subiection of the spirite Graunt vnto vs deere Father that wee bee not drawne through the subtilitie and sliely tormentes of satan to haue our delight and pleasure in the vanities of this presente world but by thy Grace might and power may so in the prosperitie of this life be vppholden that our mindes with full ioy and comfort may be lifted vp to our perfecte consolation in our Lorde and Sauiour Christe and in him take our full and perfecte ioy consolation so that no vaine delight of this worlde put vs from the same neither any sharp adversitie as pouertie miserie or calamitie through the malice of the diuell driue vs to despaire of thy mercifull goodnesse towardes vs but alwayes beeing through thy grace and assistance defended wee may be fully and perfectly armed againste all the subtile intrappings of satan and reste wholy in thy merciful defence and ayde For thou haste O Lord and eternall God in thy gouernement all things in heauen and earth all power and dominion ouer all creatures Angels and diuels to rule them according to thy good pleasure and will to the profite and commoditie of thy churche and euery faithfull member thereof and to thine owne incomprehensible glorie in all thinges in all ages for euer and euer thy glorious name may bee exalted and thy faithfull flocke edified thorough Christ our lord Amen ¶ A confession of sinnes with faith and repentaunce O Mercifull and heauenly Father wee thy seruauntes do humbly prostrate our selues before thy Maiestie acknowledging here in thy sighte our haynous offences committed against thy Maiestie seing beholding thy heauie wrath against them wee feele our selues laden O Lord our God with a huge companie of horrible sinnes whereofeuen the very leaste beeing but conceiued in thoughte is sufficient in iudgement to throwe vs downe to the euerlasting burning lake Our owne consciences O Lorde do beare witnesse againste vs of our manifolde transgressions of thy blessed lawe of our securitie senselesse blindenesse running headelong to destruction committing sinne after sinne although not notorious to the woorlde yet horrible before thine eye The thoughtes of our heartes rise vp in iudgmente against vs the vanitie of our talke before thy maiestie condemneth vs the wickednesse of our deedes from thy sight reiecteth vs all our wicked thoughtes woordes and deedes with the inwarde corruption of our nature do altogether as it were a whole lumpe and lode of sinne lye heauy vppon vs and with their intollerable weight do euen presse vs downe to hell Wee do daily grone vnder the burthen of them inwardly lamenting our owne folly so greedily rūning into them In Heauen earth or hell wee see none able to sustaine the weight of them but euen thy deerely beloued Sonne Iesus Christe who in mercy infinite and compassion endlesse hath sustayned and ouercome that endlesse punishmente due vnto them in him therefore in him moste mercifull Father and through him wee come to thee beeing fully assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept and take that ful recompence which he thy deere sonne hath made for vs as a iust raūsome for all the sinnes of all those whoe withe a true faithe take holde on him In him therefore wee see thine anger towardes vs appeased thy wrath satisfied our debts payde Increase in vs good Lorde wee beseeche thee this liuely and feeling faith for wee feele it often times in vs very weake and troubled with many doubtes increase it in vs O Lorde that wee may through thy holy spirit bee assured that the punishment of our sinnes is fully in thy sonne discharged Make vs O Lorde our God to feele this same in our soules and consciēces that Iesus Christ is ours and all that he hath done that wee are graffed into his body made one with him and therefore fellowe heires with him of euerlasting life Lette vs not onely haue these wordes in our mouthes good Lorde but through thy holy Spirite lette vs feele the comfort of them in our heartes fully sealed and settled in vs that wee feeling our selues inwardly before thy iudgemente seate discharged and our consciences towardes thee appeased may be swallowed vp with an vnfained loue towarde thy Heauenly Maiestie and towardes our brethren for thy sake Make sinne to die in vs daily more and more that wee may hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne and wickednesse in all men but especially in our selues that wee may strongly through thy holy Spirit set our selues in open warre and defiaunce againste all sinne and wickednesse that wee please not our selues in our sinnes but streightly examining sinne by the iuste rule of thy holy Lawes wee may vtterly from the bottome of our heartes condemne euen the least sinne in our selues hauing our whole ioy comforte and consolation vppon those thinges whiche bee agreeable to thy blessed will alwayes beeing afraid to do any thing contrary to the same that wee may euen from the bottome of our heartes examine and trie our thoughtes before thy presence that they bee vprighte and vnfained not hypocriticall in outwarde shewe onely and appearance but that euen all corners of our heartes being opened and disclosed beefore thee wee may euen as though it were openly before the face of the whole worlde bring them in shewe knowing that a double heart is detestable in thine eyes and that we may walke alwayes as before thine eyes not onely before the eyes of man being more carefull to walk circumspectly in this respecte that wee haue thee to be a viewer of our dooings a thousād fold more then the eyes of man that thus wee may walke as becommeth thy children not onely in outwarde shewe but also in sinceritie of heart abhorring euen the leaste sinne in our selues striuing resisting and fighting againste sinne not delighting our selues in sinne nor nourishing the same in our breste but earnestly embraceing and studiously seeking after those thinges whiche bee pleasante in thine eyes that neither the feare of man nor losse of goods life lāds possessions or friends drawe vs away frō thee to do any leaste thing contrarie to thy will and pleasure neither the fauour or friendshippe of man nor yet the flattering enticementes of this worlde nor the vaine promotions of the same do moue vs any whitte from the true and endlesse ioy delighte and pleasure whiche wee ought to haue in those things whiche bee agreeable to thy will and the constante performance of the same but that alwayes to the end of our life we may continue in thy pathes growing and increasing from faith to faith from strength to strength til at length wee shall come to thy euerlasting rest Amen A prayer for the estate of the whole Church O Lorde our God and Heauenly Father for asmuch as by thy
art better then all the men in the worlde and the Kingdome that thou haste prepared better then all the Kingdomes thereof An addition to the former morning praier as time and leasure shall serue WE pray not onely for our selues O moste mercifull Father but for all those that thou haste appointed to eternall life beseeching thee to gather the number of those that are to be gathered those that thou haste alredy called thou wouldst alwayes keepe and to this end good Lorde raise vp faithfull Ministers both of thy Churche and common weale whose heartes thou wouldest fill with all Graces of thy holy Spirite meete for their callings meete also for these daungerous times roote out from among thy Church all rauening and deuouring Beastes whiche to fill their owne bellies destroy thy flocke ease thy selfe of al hirelings and idle shepheardes whiche haue no care nor skill to feede thy flocke with the holesome foode of thy blessed woorde nor to rule them with that equitie wherewithall thou wilte haue thy people to be ruled those Pastors that thou haste giuen it woulde please thee to increase the number of them those that are fallen a sleepe and carried away with the corruptions of these times that thou wouldest awake letting them vnderstand the charge that thou haste committed vnto them the truste that thou haste put them in and the accompt that thou wilte take at their handes Be gratious O Lorde vnto this Lande of ours and enter not into iudgement with the horrible sinnes of it namely the contempt and lighte esteeming of thy holy Woorde so many yeares offered vnto vs and wee beeing trusted withall so many Nations better then wee beeing passed by whiche woulde haue broughte forth the fruite thereof more then wee haue done and wee not onely haue broughte forth no good fruite but rotten and vnsauourie to prouoke thy Maiestie withall not withstanding all these our sinnes it woulde please thee in that loue wherewithall thou haste firste loued vs when wee hated thee and in that long patience wherein thou haste hitherto borne with vs and doest yet beare and tarriest for our repentance to graunt vs hearty and earnest repentance our heartes beeing effectually touched with thy holy Spirite striking these rocky heartes of ours that they may be resolued into riuers of teares for our sinnes making them soft and meeke to receiue the print of thy holy Woord and seale of thy blessed Spirite writing with thy finger thine owne lawes in them so that thou mayest reade thine owne hande acknowledge thine owne seale and so passe by vs when thou shalt bring thy iudgmente vppon the face of the Earthe for the iniquities thereof whereof thou haste giuen and still giuest from time to time diuers tokens which we beseeche thee may be profitable vnto vs whilest firste of all we acknowledge thy hand striking vs and thy counsell calling vs thereby to repentance that thy heauier iudgementes do not fall vppon vs to our vtter destruction Moreouer wee thanke thee O Lord for that it hath pleased thee to bee the watche man and as it were the spie of this Churche cōmon wealth and haste foreseene all the stormes and treasons comming against it and againste thine annoincted our Souereigne whōe thou in mercy hast appointed to rule ouer it and haste scattered them and broughte them to noughte and haste pursued certaine of thine enimies and oures vnto death beseeching thee to continue this watchful and careful eye ouer vs still to do vs good and to pursue the rest of thine enimies and oures vnto the graue giuing notwithstanding repentance vnto them vnto whome thou haste lefte place of repentance And to this ende raise vp the heartes of our moste Gratious Queene and her honourable Counsell thy Magistrates that as they sitte in thy seate and are called by thy Name so they may execute thy iustice which thou so wel approuest of wherof also thou wilte require a streighte accompte at their handes Wee desire thee also to shewe these thy Graces to all other Churches of thine namely thy Churche of Scotlande that it may enioy that peace that thou haste giuen it and graunte that the same bee referred to that end wherefore thou haste giuen it namely to the full establishmente of the throne of thy deere Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christe and to the building of his Kingdome there Wee beseeche thee also for the Churches which thy hand hathe planted long since especially those from whome we haue receiued knowledge in time of our ignorance places of refuge in time of persecution that it would please thee to continue thy louing kindenesse towardes them and therfore cause them to continue their faith towardes thee and obedience towardes thy holy Word And whensoeuer it shal be thy pleasure to trie them with any kinde of affliction it woulde please the to graunt vnto them that they may put their trust in thee hauing regard to the trueth of thy promises and to the good experience that they haue of thy helpe in times past and thereby conceiue comforte hope O Lord euen of life in deathe and of Saluation in destruction We pray the also good Lord that we may haue the feeling of the miseries of our Brethren as members of the same bodie and those that liue by the same Spirite And therefore we pray thee that according to the manifolde troubles that thou shalt visite them with it woulde be thy good pleasure to measure out thy grace in suche plentiful manner that thy children may patiently beare ioyfully attend for the good houre wherin thou wilt pull them out of al their troubles And especially wee pray thy Maiestie for our Brethren that are afflicted for thy Gospel sake namely those that suffer imprisonment or otherwise in any nation for the clearer testimonie of it that it woulde please thee to giue them patience in all their troubles wisdome and mouthes to defende thy cause against all those that rise vppe against it that thou wouldest blesse their trauels and sufferings for that for whiche they are taken which is to giue a freer course of thy Gospell into all places And therewithal we beseech thee for the churches of Fraunce and Flaunders whiche are so miserably racked and torne in sunder and whiche are almoste consumed with these fiery trials that it would please thee to looke vpon their sighings and groneings the teares that fal from their eies continually the bloud that is shed in al parts of the land the bodies that lie vnburied to be meate to the foules of the ayre and Fishes of the Sea the lonenesse of wiues lacking their husbandes children their Fathers and euery freend his freende And for asmuche as those thinges are come vpon them for thy Names sake let it be thy good pleasure to helpe them considering that they are forsaken of all their freendes rounde about and therefore pray thee that thou wouldest not looke vppon our sinnes nor the sinnes of our forefathers whereby we deserue