the Lorde is and are becom new creatures by the heauenlie regeneration through the doctrine of the gospell should like holie and innocent babes lay aside all such workes of the flesh which do depriue a man of the kingdome of God And Saint Paule commaundeth vs that laying aside those cursed vvorkes of darknesse vve should in the steed thereof put on euen as the elect of God holie and beloued tender mercie kindness humblenesse of minde meeknesse long suffering forbearing one another forgiuing one another if anie haue a quarrell to another as Christ forgaue vs end aboue all these things saith he put on loue vvhich is the bond of perfection let the peace oh God rule in your hearts vvhen ye shall stand and praie saith Sâ— Marke forgiue if ye haue anie thing against anie man that your Father also vvhich is in heauen maie forgiue you your trespassesâ— for if yee vvill not forgiue your father vvhich is in heauen vvill not pardon you your trespasses Moreouer we must haue such a feeling of our owne miserie and wretehednes as may worke in vs an earnest sorrowe and vexation of minde for the same Example whereof wee may see in the deare seruantes of God when they say that out of the deep deepenesse and out of the middes of the iawes of death they vtter vnto the Lord a sorrowfull voice He that desireth mercy must haue a feeling of his owne miserie And therefore saith Dauid Heale my soule O Lord for I haue sinned against thee There is nothing in my flesh saith hee because of thy displeasure neither in there any rest in my bones because of my sin This anguish and sorrowe stirreth vp in Gods children a feruent desire to obtain coÌ„fort help and succour at Gods hande and therfore such as fâ—ele themselues oppressed with great calamities hauing by the help of man no hope of deliuerance doe crie vnto God with afflicted hearts as Dauid did in his distresse My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God and as the hart being vvounded braiâ—th for the riuers of vvater so panteth my soule after thee O God This is that godlie sorrow which S. Paule saith worketh in Gods children repentaunce to saluation The Lorde is nigh to them saith Dauid that are of a contrite heart and vvill saue all such as are afflicted in spirite To him vvill I looke euen vnto him saith the Lord that is afflicted and broken hearted and trembleth at my vvordes Therefore Dauid calleth the time of trouble the fit and conuenient time for the faithful to fly vnto God by prayer And albeit they be not at al times in like distresse or continuallie groning vnder the burthen of present euils yet must they needes bee euer in dread of new daungers and carefully â—ffraid of further troubles to follow As trouble and feare therfore are the verie spurs to â—ir them vp to heartie and feruent prayer â—o by occasion thereof they haue more free accesse vnto God as though he did therby call them vnto him This godly sorrow for sinne and feruent desire and longing for Gods louing mercie and fauour commeth not of our selues but of the speciall goodnesse of God for we are of our selues dul and without al lust to pray â—ea so great is our imperfection that wee know not howe to pray as wee ought and therefore the spirite helpeth our infirmities instâ—ucteth vs what is right and guideth our affections Hee maketh intercession for the Saintes saith 〈◊〉 Paule according to the vvill of God and that vvith Vighes and grâ—anings vvhich cannot be expressed that is hee stirreth vp our he arts giueth vs a desire and boldnesse to pray causeth vs to mourn when we are by any meanes hindred from it and feele not our selues moued therunto with such feruent zeale and affection as we should be Now although wee knowe that it is the only work of the holie Ghost thus to moâ—e and incline our heartes to prayer notwithstanding we may not be negligent slouthfull to dispose and stirre vp our selues therevnto but rather contrariwise so often as we feele our selues colde and not disposed to praier as we ought to be wee must make our supplication vnto the Lorde that it woulde please him to inflame vs with his holie spirit wherby we may be framed to pray with such feruencie of mind as we ought to doe When we are cast downe by the sence feeling of our owne infirmity sinne aud miserie Yet must we pray notwithstanding in sure and stedfast hope to obtaine our requests These be things in deed contrarie in shewe to ioyne with the feeling of the iust vengeance of God sure affiance of fauour which things doe yet verie wel agree in that it is the goodnesse of God onlie that raiseth vs vp being oppressed with our owne euils from the which of our selues we cannot rise For as repentance and faith are knit as companions together albeit the one driueth vs downe with feare and the other lifteh vs vp again with comfort so in praying they must needs go together And this agreement Dauid expresseth in few wordes I vvill saith he in the multitude of thy mercies enter into thy house and in the temple of thy holinesse I vvill vvâ—rship thee vvith feare Therefore when wee are once touched with true repentance and feling of our own miserie we must withall haue such a perswasion of Gods fauor and mercie towards vs in all our praiers that they shall be accepted of God so far foorth as it shall be necessary for â—s This is the assurance saith S. Iohn that vve haue in God that if vve aske anie thing according to his vvill he heareth vs. If we haue not a sure â—rust and confidence in the mercie and promises of God it is vnpossible to make our praier to him aright and whosoeuer doubteth whether God heareth his prayer that man obteineth nothing to such praiers God hath made no promise But contrariwise he saith vvhatsoeuer ye shall aâ—ke in praier if ye beleeue ye shall receiue it And againe VVhatsoeuer yee desire beleeue that yee shall obtaine it and it shal be done vnto you Ask saith Saint Iames in faith and vvauer not for hee that vvauereth is like to the vvaues of the sea vvhich are tossed of the vvind and caried avvaie And why should wee wauer or doubt seeing the holie scriptures testifie of God that he is faithful iust and true in all his wordes and promises saying The Lord is faithfull in all his vvordes hee vvill euer bee mindfull of his couenant the trueth of the Lorde endureth for euer And although our faith be not so strong and therfore our prayer so hearty and zealous as it ought to be yea though our faith be faint and cold yet let vs hold fast this principle that our praiers are not frustrate or in vaine For our comfort herein we haue an example in the father which brought his sonne first to the Apostles and
benefites what is the store prepared for thy seruaunts Oh Lord If thy children find such comforts in the day of tears mourning what shall they find in the day of the mariage If with beastes men being haue y t vse of innumerable blessings Oh how many are the blessings which they shall enioye with thy Angels and with thy selfe O deare God when they shall see thee haue the fruition of thee in whom is fulnes without lothing of al good faire thinges so that nothing can be more desired that for euermore This thy children doe not see as they now beleeue it I say that euen in their bodies they shall see it for euer as Iob saide They beleeue that they shall see thee their owne eies be holde thee when these our corporall eies our bodies being raysed shal do their duties Such a knowledge of thee they beleeue to haue as shall not be onely intellectuall and by faith as now it is but euen a full sight and fruition yea a coniunction and felowship with thee Now they see but as in a glasse euen in a darke speaking but then they shall see thee face to face For faith though it bee the substaunee of things hoped for a certayne darke sight of thee yet it may not be compared to the rewarde of faith and glorious sight whâ—ch we shal see in the life to come wheÌ„ faith and hope shall cease Nowe thy children knowe that they be thy sonnes though it yet appeare not what they shall bee Wee know say they that when our christ God and man shal appeare then shal we bee like vnto him for we shall see him euen as he is Oh great prerogatiue to see Christ as he is which is not to be considered so much for y e manhead as for the Godhead it selfe as Paule doth also write that when all thinges are subiect vnto the Sonne then shal he be subiect vnto thee deare Father also that God may be all in all And therfore Christ our sauior praied for vs that we might knowe thee the onelie true God Not that our Christ thy Sonne is not with thee the true coequall and substantiall God but that we might knowe how that after the Iudgemente such a mysterie of his mediatorship shall not bee in heauen as is now in earth Then thou blessed Trinitie God the Father God the Sonne and God the holie Ghost shalt be al in al thou shalt bee the end of our desires thou shalt bee looked vpon without ende thou shalt be loued without lothing thou shalt be praysed without wearinesse Although loath somnesse bee wont to followe fulnesse yet out fulnesse in the contemplation of thy pleasures shal bring with it no kinde at all of loathsomnesse Satietie of ioyes shal be in the beholding of thee pleasures are on thy right hande foreuer We shall be satisfied when wee arise after thine Image I meane in the resurrection O deare Father shewe thy selfe vnto vs and wee aske no more Oh graunt vs with thy Saints in euerlasting life to praise with perpetuall praises thy holy name Happie then and happie againe were wee if that daie were come that wee might sing with the Angels Elders and innumerable thousands a newe song and say Thou Christ Iesu which wast slain art worthy to receiue power riches and wisedom strength and honour and glorie and blessing In this blessed life all kinde of maladies griefes sorrowes euils be farre away and all ful of al kinde of mirth ioy and pleasure Oh that wee might see now a little with saint Iohn that holy Citie new Ierusalem descending from heauen prepared of God as a bride trimmed for her husband Oh that we might nowe something heare the great voye speaking out of the throne Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and hee will dwell with them and they shall be his people and hee shall bee vnto them their GOD hee will wipe away all â—eares from their eies and death shall bee no more nor weeping nor crying nor sorrowe for the former things are gone I. B. Another meditation of the blessed state and felicitie of the life to come THis body is but a prison wherein the soule is kept and that verilie not beautifull nor bright but most foule and darke disquiet fraile and filled vp with much vermine and venemous vipers I meane it concerning our affections standing in an aire most vnwholsome prospect most loathsome if a man consider the excrementes of it by the eyes nose mouth eares hands feete and all the other partes So that no Bocardo no Little ease no Dungeon no Bishops prison no Gatehose no sinke no pit may be compared in any point to bee so euill a prison for the soule as the bodies for and of the soule wherethrough the children of God haue bin occasioned to crie lament their long being in it Oh saith Dauid How long shall I lie in this prison Oh wretch that I am saith Paule who shall deliuer mee out of this bodie of sinne Which is in heauie burden to the soule as the wise man saith And the godly cry Now let thy seruant depart in peace Oh that I were dissolued had put off this earthly fraile Tabernacle Take me vnto thee and bring my soule out of this prison that it may giue thankes vnto thee O Lord for so long as wee bee in this bodie wee cannot see the Lord yea it is as an heauie habitation and depresseth down sore the spirit from the familiaritie which it self should haue with God This word and life is an exile a vale of misery a wildernesse of it selfe being voide of all vertues and necessarie for eternall life full of enemies sorrowes sighing sobbinges gronings raiseries c. In daunger to hunger colde heate thirst sores sickenesse tentations trouble death and innumerable calamities beeing momentanie short vnstable and nothing but vaine and therefore is compared to a warfare a womans trauaile a shadowe a smoake a vapor a worde a storme a tempest in the which Gods people feele great molestations griefes and troubles nowe of sathan himselfe now of the world now of their own flesh that so wonderfully diuersly dangerously contrarily that they are inforced to cry O Lord when shal we come and appear before thee when shal this misery end when shal we be deliuered out of this vale of miserie out of this wildernesse out of these continuall afflictions and most perilous seas But where thou art Lorde and deare Father of mercy there is not onely no prison no dolours no sorrowe no sighings no teares no sicknesse no hunger no heate no colde no paine no tentations no displeasure no malice no pride no vncleannesse no contention no torments no horrour no sinne no filth no stinch no dearth no death no weeping no teares no misery no mischiefe there is I say not only no such thing or anie euill noysome or displeasant thing
euery blast of affectioÌ„ and doctrine but rather that wee as trees planted by the water brooks indued with the life of the spirit and faith may also bring forth y e fruits of good workes and that whatsoeuer weâ— take in hand may prosper tende to the praise and glory of thy name and furtherance of our saluatioÌ„ at the last when the wicked shal fall away in thy iudgment we may stand stedfast and be made perfect through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmighty God we are sufficiently taught that grieuous calamiâ—ies and miserable plagues do thereâ—ore daily vex and trouble the church â—ecause we haue not ceased to follow â—he counsel of the vngodly which being once knowne wee ought to haue schewed The way also of y e wicked â—e haue not shunned yea wee haue not ceased to walke their race by conâ—inuall transgressing of thy commanâ—ements wee haue also of long time â—â—ntemned al godly correction disâ—â—pline whatsoeuer hath bin taught â—s out of thy word hath bin too litle â—egarded yea without al shame negâ—ected and scorned Wherfore it is no meruaile if we 〈◊〉 the steede of that happinesse and met peace which we alas haue too â—ing abused bee nowe compelled to suffer all heauie grieuous and most bitter plagues But now O God in humblencs of hart we fly vnto thee confessing our grieuous offences wee most humblie and heartily beseech thee y t those euils which we so foolishly wretchedly haue committed thou wilt mercifully for giuâ— vs and frame our mindes wholiâ— to the obedience of thâ— lawe insuch wise that our hearts might be occupied both day and night in nothing else but in the meditation of thy holy Scriptures for so shall we giuing credite to thy wordes bringâ— foorth seasonable and pleasant fruit and shall not be spoyled of the graceâ— of the holy Ghost yea our doing shal neuer be without happy successeâ— Now we are tossed hither thither not vnlike to leaues and chaffe witâ— the mind of aduersity and affliction yet graunt O most merciful father that our life perish not with the wicked but that y e cause of the iust may bee defended by thy singular prouidence and protectioÌ„ so that in iudgment and in the company of the iust we may be able to stand and not bee confounded through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmightie GOD for asmuch as we haue nowe learned that a great part of our felicitie so long as we liue heere consisteth in this that we refrayne from vngodly counsaile and wicked manners and also auoid the companie of those that despise â—eride all good thinges and that in the steade of these euils we giue our selues to the heauenly studie of thy â—olie lawe to be occupied and exercised therein both daye and nighte whereby we doe perceiue that wee haue very much erred straied from this way of our saluation yea wee haue in these things most wickedlie offended therefore we beseech thee euen for thy mercies sake that thou wilt pardoÌ„ our offences that hence forth by continuall study exercise of thy worde thou wilt vouchsafe to make vs fruitfull plants y â— wee may not only bring forth wholsom fruits in thy Church whiles we liue heere but also may be able in y â— other world to stand in iudgment before thee who best knowest the way of the iust thorough Iesus christ our Lord Amen A prayer taken out of the second Psalme VVE perceiue most mercifull and mightie God that not onely Antichrist but also the power strength of the whole worlde conspireth against thee and against thy Christ which thinke the Gospel and the building vp again of the Church to vs an intollerable bondage 〈◊〉 yoke Wherefore they labour by 〈◊〉 possible meanes to breake asunder the societies and congregations of the faithfull and cast away all disciplinâ— But for asmuch as thou â—iuttest to heauen and art not ignorant what the diuell or wicked flesh goeth about laugh thou to scorne their value counsels and bring their purposes to might Let them feele thine 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 kindled against them and make them astonished at the 〈◊〉 of thâ—â—t inâ—â—gnation so that they may not be able to destroy the Church ouer whom thou hast appointed Iesus Christ our onely sauiour to be a gouernour thee in 〈◊〉 raigne vp his 〈◊〉 and spirite with 〈◊〉 might and power Wherefore 〈◊〉 vnto vs although vnworthy and shrinking children such faithe constancie that we may find him and also confesse him to be our only king and that we may nothing doubt but that wee be his nation people and heritage being most assured of this that he is of such strength 〈◊〉 and wee that with his word more 〈…〉 yron be is eble to destroy whom he will and breake them in peeces like earthen â—ots Therefore O GOD turne the Kings and Princes of the world vnto to thee that they may be wise and vnderstand whereby they may vnfainedly acknowledge imâ—race and kisse his sonne least when his wrath shall once bee kindled they perish and be destroyed for euer And wher it shall bee thy good pleasure make them blessed 〈…〉 themselues to thy gouernancâ— and protection by Christ Iesus our Lord Amen Out of the same Psalme MOst mightie and merciful Lord God though the diuel rage the powers of the world daily rise vp the flesh with all her bondâ—aâ—ce conspire against the kingdome of thine onely begotten son Iesus Christ our Lord yet make vs to vnderstand and with constant faith to be perswaded that thou deridest and contemnest all such whom thou canst in thine anger fierce displeasure when thou wilt â—odainelie destroy bring to nought In this faith seeing wee are sometimes so weake that being ouercome with sundrie kinds of terrours and dreade we are not so obedient to thy commandements as we ought to be wee therefore beseech thee for thy great goodnesse sake to be mercifull vnto vs and grant that we may constantly beleeue thy Sonne our king aâ—d our redeemer to hauethe highest power and dominion with thee in all things For seeing thou hast begotteÌ„ him thou hast also deliuered to him all nations to be ruled by his power as his owne inheritance Graunt therefore vnto vs that yet at the length we may be wise understand in such sort as wee may serue thee with all due feare and worshipp that in the last day wee be not dashed in peeces as earthen vessels with the rod of thine indignation through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen A praier which M. Iohn Bradford saide a little before his death in Smithfield MErcifull God and Father to whome our sauiour Christ approched in his feare need by reason of death and found comfort gratious God and most bounteous Christ on whom Stephen called in his extreeme neede and receiued strength most benigne holy spirite which in the midst of all crosses and death didst comfort the
our hope be fully sixed vpon him In whome it hath pleased him that the fulnesse of his grace shuld dwel that from thence wee might all drawe as out of a most plenâ—ifull fountaine the waters of eternall lyfe This secrete and greate mysterie is reuealed to such onely whose eies the Lorde hath opened to see light in his light Therefore since we are taught by faith that whatsoeuer wee haue need of and is wanting in vs the same is laid vp with God for vs in Christ it remaineth that wee seeke it in him and with prayer craue it of him The Apostle therefore to shewe that true faith cannot be separate from the inuocation of Gods holie name hath set this order that as faith commeth by the gospell so by the same faith our heartes are stirred vp to call vpon the name of God and therefore he saith that the spirite of adoption which sealeth in our hearts the witnesse of the Gospell raiseth vp our spirites that they dare with boldnesse shew foorth their desires it stirreth vpon vs vnspeakable gronings and causeth vs to crie with confidence Abba Father By the benefit of prayer therfore we attaine to those riches which God hath laid vpon store for vs for thereby we haue familiar accesse to God and boldlie entring into the sanctuarie of heauen we put him in mind of his promises so that now by experience we feele and finde that to bee true indeed which by the word we did before but onely beleeue now we inioy those treasures by praier which by faith wee did before but onelie beholde in the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Now howe necessarie and profitable this exercise of praier is appeareth in that the Lord himselfe witnesseth our whole saluation to consist in the calling vpon his name wherby he is whollie present with vs namelie by his prouidence fatherly care by the which hee watcheth ouer vs by his power by the which hee sustaineth and succoureth our weaknesse being euery moment readie to perish and by his goodnes mercie by the which he receiueth vs into fauour being miserably loaden pressed downe with sin And hereby groweth singular rest and quiernesse to our conscience For when we haue disclosed to him our necessitie herein wee finde most ioyful and perfect quietnesse that none of our euils are hidden from him whom we are perswaded to bee-both most willing and also most able to help vs. Now that our praiers may be made in such wise as it ought to be first we must see that we be in heart and mind no otherwise prepared then be commeth those that enter into talke with God as we are taught Eccl 28 Before thou pray prepare thy self and be not as one that tempreth God We must consider therfore when we pray in whose presence we stande to whome wee speake and what we desire We stand in the presence of the almightie Creator of heauen and earth all things therin contained to whose eternall Maiestie innumerable thousands of Angels do assist serue and obey we speake vnto him who knoweth the secrets of our harts before whom nothing is more odious thé hypocrisie and dissimulation we ask those things which be most to his glory and the comfort of our consciences We must therefore diligentlie endeuour our selues to remoue all such things as may offende his diuine Majestie And first that wee be free from all worldlie cares and fleshlie cogitations wherby our minds are caried hither thither and being drawne out of heauen and from the pure beholding of God are pressed downe to the earth And heere let vs call to mind howe vnreuerently we abuse the great goodnes of god calling vs into familiar talke with him wheÌ„h we haue not that reuerent fear of his sacred Maiestie that we would haue of an earthly creature or a worldlie prince but suffering our hearts to be carried away with wandering thoughts and worldly imaginations are otherwise occupied and forsake him in the mids of our prayer As God is a spirite so will he be worshipped in spirite and truth that is in the inward affections of the heart and with a true faithful vnfained kind of worship And therefore as at all other times hee requireth the heart so specially in the time of prayer when we shew our selues in his presence enter into communication with him and therupon when he promiseth to heare all those that call vpon him he maketh a restraint saith that call vpon him in truth Seeing therfore that the chiefe dutie of praier consisteth in the heart we must with our whole hart pour out our prayers vnto God the searcher of hearts and with a syncere vnfained ardent affection opening of our heart before god call vpon him or els we shal not find him Let vs knowe therefore that none prepare themselues rightlie to prayer but such as haue a reuerende feare of Gods Maiestie which they cannot haue that come not to iâ— vnburthened of earthlie cares and affections And this is it that is meant in the Scriptures by the lifting vp of handes that we should remember our selues to bee farre off from God vnlesse we lift vp our harts and minds also on high And therefore it is said in the Psalme To thee haue I lifted vp my soule 〈◊〉 Scripture vseth also this maner of speeche To lift vp prayer that they which desâ—â—e to be heard of God should not haue their mindes carried away with earthly cogitations and vanitie And though it bee hard to bee so bent to praier but that we shal find that manie by-thoughtes will creep vpon vs to hinder our praier yet the more harde it is the more earnestlie wee must wrastle to ouercome al lets and hindrances labour withinward groaninges vnto the Lorde that he will linke our hearts fast vnto him and not suffer vs to bee ledde awaie from him by the vaine suggestions of Sathan who at all times compassing vs about is neuer more busie then when we addresse our selues to prayer secretelie and subtillie creeping into our breasts calling vs back from God so that oftentimes when we with all reuereÌ„ce shuld speake to God we finde our hearts talking with the vanities of the worlde or with the foolish imaginations of our owne hearts Finally we must be in christian charity loue and concord with al men seeking vnfained heartie and brotherlie reconciliation if we haue offended any man before we enter into prayer or els God wil not heare our praiers yea they are otherwise execrable and ful of damnable hypocrisie in Gods sight And this that is spoken of praier may bee saide also of hearing of Gods word or anie other seruice of God We must therefore laie aside all malice enuie wrath grudge contention wrangling dissimulation all guilefull craftie and subtle dealing and with a single heart doe to other as wee would they shoulde doe to vs Peter willeth that such as haue once tasted how good and bounteous
our tentations giue vs truce so that we shall not need to hasten vnto God for helpe Finallie the desire of the kingdom and glory of God ought to drawe vs whollie vnto it not by fits but continuallie that all times should be fit and conuenient for vs to pray Wherefore not without cause wee are so often commaunded to pray continuallie And though we be not driuen with like necessitie at all times to praie yet in this case S Iames teacheth vs what we ought to doe If anie man be heauy or afflicted saith he let him praie that is let him craue Gods helpe and comfort and vvho so is merrie let him sing that is let him praise God Moreouer the benefites and blessinges of God are large and plentifull towardes vs which way soeuer we turne vs that wee can neuer want matter and occasion of praise and thanksgiuing And seeing wee ought to acknowledge God to be the author and giuer of all good things we should alway receiue the same at his hande with thanksgiuing for to that end God continually bestoweth his good blessinges and benefits vpon vs that we should continuallie shew foorth his praise and be thankful vnto him for the same and so we render vnto him his due honour And S. Paul when he saith that they are sanctified by the word and praier signifieth that to vs they are not holy and cleane without the word and prayer and therefore Dauid saith when he had felt the liberalitie of the Lorde that there was put into his mouth a newe song that is a new occasion of praise and thanksgiuing Whereby he signifieth that it is a wicked silence if we passe ouer anie of Gods benefits without praise seeing that as often as he doth good vnto vs so often he giueth vs occasion to speake good of him We should therefore continually that is as much as is possible at all times in all places and in things as occasions are continually offred vnto vs lift vp our prayer vnto God in crauing helpe at his hande and confessing his praise whereby we may both obtaine of him all good thinges and also praise and magnifie his name for all Howe this perseuerance in prayer is required of vs Christ himselfe teacheth vs by the parable of the three loaues and of the widdowe and wicked Iudge VVherby wee are taught to continue in peaier with all earnestnes and feruent supplication and neuer to faint or giue ouer vntill we be assured in our spirit that our praiers be heard The prayer of the humble saith the Sonne of Sirach goeth through the clouds it ceaseth not vntill it come neare and it vvill not depart vntill God the most high God haue respect thereto Beholde saith Dauid as the eyes of the seruants looke vnto the hand of their maisters and as the eies of a maiden vnto the hand of her mistresse of our eyes vvaite vpon the Lorde our God vntill he haue mercie vpon vs. And thus muste wee not cease to doe vntill wee may boldlie say also with Dauid The Lord hath heard the voyce of my vveeping the lorde hath hearde my humble petition the lorde hath receiued my praier Now concerning the forme and manner of praying least wee shoulde followe our owne fantasie being of our selues so blinde that wee knowe not howe to praye or what is meet and expedient for vs The Lord him selfe hath sufficientlie instructed vs who as he hath taught vs throughout the whole Scripture howe and for what thinges wee ought to pray so hath he set foorth one maner of prayer in the which he hath brieflie comprehended all such thinges as we ought yea or in anie wise may aske of God VVherein hee hath expressed what is due pleasing and acceptable to him what is necessarie for vs and what he will grant so that there is nothing heerein omitted that might be thought vpon to the praise glory of God or come into the mind of man for his profite and commoditie And this is that praier that our Lord Iesus Christ taught his Disciples when they asked of him how they should praie VVhosoeuer therefore shall ask any thing that is not contained in this praier they presume to adde some thing of their owne to the wisedome of God they are not obedient to his will and they pray without faith hauing no word of God to warrant them and therefore they shall obtaine nothing This praier saith Tertullian is the doctrine of the wisedome of God wherein he hath taught whatsoeuer hee willed and willed whatsoeuer was needfull Albeit wee are not so bounde to this forme of praier that wee should not vse anie other kinde of wordes then the Lord himselfe heerein hath vsed For there are elswhere set forth in the scriptures manie prayers farre differing from this in words and yet written by the same spirit and verie profitably to be vsed of vs. And many prayers also are continuallie vttred of the faithful by the same spirit which vary from the same in wordes But this is required of vs that none shuld look for seek or ask anie other thing at all then that which is brieflie cōprehended in this praier which though it differ in words yet differeth not in sense substance like as it is certaine that all the praiers which are found in the scriptures which do continually proceed from the hart of the faithful are referred by the direction of Gods spirite vnto this praier howsoeuer they differ in the varietie of words Manie good and godlie men euen in our daies well exercised in praier haue left vnto vs most worthy examples and testimonies hereof furnished with ample and large matter to forme holie and true praiers and full of power to inflame the heart to a feruent inuocation of Gods holy name whereof wee haue giuen here some taste to the Godly and specially to the simple not yet wel exercised Read them meditate and praie and ye shal find comfort in your soules A Meditation concerning prayer THe mind of men hath so large roomth to receiue good things that not king in deede can fully sit it but onely God whome thou the mind fully possesseth when it fullie knoweth him fullie loueth him and in all things in framed after his mill They therefore deare Lord God that are thy children and haue taken somewhat of thy goodnesse doe perpetually sigh that is doe may vntill they come thereto in that they loue thee also aboue all things it wonderfully woundeth them that other men doe not so that is loue thee and 〈◊〉 for thee with them Whereof it commeth to 〈◊〉 that they are inflamed with continuall praiers and desires that thy kingdome might come euerie where and thy goodnesse might bee both knowen and in life expressed of euerie man And because there are innumerable many thinges which as well in themselues as in others bee against thy glory they are kindled with continuall prayer and desire sighing vnspeakably in thy sight for
hereof but certainely be perswaded all this to pertaine to me where I might haue beene borne of Turkes and infidels lot thou wouldest I shoulde bee borne of Christian Parentes brought into thy Church by Baptisme which is a Sacrament of adoption and requireth faith as well of remission of my sinnes as of sanctification and holynesse to bee wrought of thee in mee by thy grace and holy spirite Where I might haue beene boâ—e in an ignorant time Region thou wouldest I shoulde be borne in this time and Region wherein is more knowledge reueales than euer was heere or any place is where I might haue beene of a corrupt iudgement and intangled with many errurs loe thou of thy goodnesse as thou hast reformed my iudgement so doest thou keepe it nowe for the same iudgments sake doâ—st vouchsafe somwhat by the Crosse to trie mee By all which thinges I shoulde confirme my faith of this that thou alwaies hast been art and wilt be for euer my deere father In respect whereof as I shoulde be certainâ— of saluation of the inheritance 〈◊〉 heauen for 〈◊〉 should I bee thankfull cast my whelt cant on thee trust to thee and call on thee with comforte certaine hope for all things that I want For in that thou hast giuen to me this benefite to bee thy childe vndeserued and undesired on my behalfe simply and onely in respect of thine owne goodnesse and grace in Christ least at any time I shoulde doubt of it how should I but hope certainely that nothing profitable to me can be denied in that thy power in infinite For as thy good will is declared in adopting me so nothing can be finally wanting in mee which may make for my weale for then should not thy power be almightie therefâ—re my beliefe requireth that I shoulde beleeue in thee the father almighty In consideration whereof I should in all thinges behaue my selfe as a child reioice in thee praise thee trust in thee feare thee serve thee love thee call vpon thee c. But alas howe heauiâ— harted am I Now vnthankfull am I Nowe full of vnbeleife doubting of this thy rich mercie Nowe little doe I loue thee feare thee call vpon thee c. Oh be mercifull vnto mee forgiue me good Father for thine o wne sake and grant mee the spirit of thy children to reueale thy selte vnto me and Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne our Lorde by whome wee art made thy children that I may truely knowe thee heartily loue thee faithfully hang vpon thee in all my needes with good hope call vpon thee tender faithfully this honor to thee that thou art my God and Father and I thy deare Childe through thy grace in Christ â—nd so alwaies be indued with an assured hope of thy goodnes and a faithfull obedient heart in all things to thy holy will At thy handes and from thee as I must looke for allthings so come I vnto thee pray thee to giue mee these thinges which thy deere children haue and thou requirest of mee that I may come and aske them of thee as now I do through Iesus Christ our Lord. As by this worde Father I am taught to glory of thee and in thee and all that euer thou hast for thou art wholy mine my Lorde my God my father so by this word Our I am taught to glory of all the good that all and euerie of thy seruantes that euer were are or shalbe had haue or shall haue For now I am taught to beleeue that thou hast called mee into the communion of thy Church and people whome heereby I perceiue thâ—â— host commaunded to bee as carefull for mee as for themselues and in all their praiers to be as mindful of me as of themselues Againe as by this word Father I am taught to remember render my duty I ow to thee wardes faith loue feare obedience c. So by this word Our I am taught my dutie towards thy people to be carefull of them and to take their sorrow pouertie affliction c. as mine owne and therefore to labour to helpe them in hart and hand after my vocation and ability vtterly abhorring all pride selfe loue arrogancie and contempt of anie By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lament because I am so farre from consideration much more from doeing my duetie to thy people in thoughts words and deeds To reioyce because I am called of thee and placed in the blessed society of thy Saintes and made a member and citizen of the heauenly Ierusalem because thou hast giuen in commaundement to all thy Church to bee as carefull for me as for themselues But alas how farre am I heerefrom As I am guiltie of vnthankfulnesse for this thy callyng mee into the blessed communion of thy deare sonne and Church yea of thy selfe so I am guiltie of selfe loue vnmercifulnesse pride arrogancie forgetfultnesse and contempt of thy children for else I could not but bee otherwise affected and otherwise labour than I doe Oh be mercifull vnto mee good Father forgâ—ue me and grant for Christes sake that as my tonge scundeth this worde Our so I may in heart feele the true ioy of thy blessed compassion and the true loue and communion which thy children haue and feele towardes their brethern that I may reioyce in all troubles in respect of that ioyfull communion that I may denie my selfe to honour thy children vpon earth and endeuour my selfe to doe them good for thy sake through Iesus Christ our Lorde I come onely to thee to giue mee that which I cannot nor must not elsewhere haue and thou requirest it of me that therefore I should as thy childe come and crane it to thy glorie Which art in heauen AS by these wordes Our Father I am taught to glorie and reioyce for the blessed communion which I am called to with thee deare Father with thy Christ and with thy holy Church so also am I heere taught by these wordes which art in heauen to reioyce in respecte of the place and blessed ioyes whereunto at the length in thy good time I shall come For nowe I may perceiue that as heauen is thy home so is it mine also being as I am thy child through Christ although here for a time I am bodily on earth and in miserie Againe by these wordes which art in heauen I am admonished not onlie to discerne thee from earthly Fathers and to know howe that thou art Almighty present in all places and of moste puritie to confirme thereby my faith to be prouoked the more to feare thee to reuerence thee c. But also I am admonished to iudge of thy fatherly loue by heauenly benefites and not by corporal simply and alonely for oftentimes the wicked prosper more in the world and haue more worldly benefites then thy children So that by this I see thou wouldest pull vp my minde from earth and earthly thinges to heauen
for whom thou wouldest I shoulde praie Here think vpon the state of religion the life of the professors of the Gospel that thou maist lament some pray for some and giue thankes for some Let thy kingdome come THy Kingdome is in two fortes to be considered vniuersally and particularly vniuersally according to thy power wherwith thou gouernest al things euery where in earth heauen hell diuels Angels men beastes foules fishes and all other creatures Of this kingdome spake Dauid when he saide His kingdom ruleth ouer all Particularly thy kingdome is to be considered according to thy grace wherewith thou raignest onely in thy Church elect people ruling and gouerning all and euerie member of thy Church to thy glorie and their eternal comfort Not that out of this Church I exclude thy power for as there with thou defendest thy people so thou punishedâ— thy enimies but because thy grace is specially considered beeing as it were the verie keeper that keepeth and guideth thy people The time will be when this kingdome of grace and power now being as dinstinct shal be vnited and made one kingdome of glorie which will be when Christ shall giue vp his kingdome into thyne handes that is in the resurrection When death the last enimie shall be subdued and thâ—â—â— shalt be all in all In the meane season this kingdome of grace is miraculously and mightiely propagated enlarged and gonerned by the true Ministerie of thy woord and sacramentes through the working of thy holy spirit and this is the meane and waie whereby as thou didst first plant so doest thou enlarge amplifie and preserue the same This kingdome of grace begunne continued and inlarged by the true preaching of thy Gospell and ministration of thy Sacramentes is the thing which Christ teacheth here thy children to pray for that it might come that is to say that thy Gospel might so mightily purelie and plenteouslie bee preached maugre the heade of all thine enemies that the number of thine electe might bee brought in and so the kingdome of thy glorie might appeare So that as I see thy children desire pray and labour that thy Gospell might bee trulie preached hearde and liued in themselues and in others so they lament the not preaching and refusing the not lining and not beleeuing thy Gospell yea they lament the lingring of y e comming of thy Christ for in his comming they know they shall be like vnto him and hauing this hope they purifie themselues as he is pure By reason heereof I see first that I am farre from this desire and lamenting which thy children haue I see my ignorance of thy kingdome and power euery where also of thy grace in thy Church only and of thy glory when al the enemies of thy grace shal bee cast downe and thy glorie and power shall embrace each other I see my ignorance howe acceptable a seruice to thee is the true preaching and the hearing of thy Gospel for els thou hadst not needed to haue placed this petition next to the petition of the sanctifying of thy name Againe I see heere mine vnableneesse to enter into thy kingdome and to attaine to it for els what neede shoulde I haue to pray for that to come from thee which otherwise may be atchieued Thirdlye I see my peruersity and contempt of thy kingdome grace for although I see my want yet I woulde not desire thy kingdome to come if thou diddest not commande me so to pray and if I woulde haue praied for it thou wouldest not haue commaunded me Last of all I see thy goodnesse which wilt bring thy kingdome and that as generally by sending foorth ministers to preach truly so particularlye by regenerating mee more and more and by giuing me as grace heere so glorie elsewhere for thou wouldest not I should pray for that which thou wilt denie So that I haue great cause to lament and reioice To lament because of my miserable state and condition because of my sinne ignorance rebellion peruersity Sathans power contempt of thy grace thy Gospell and ministery here or elsewhere To reioice because of thy goodnesse great mercie which hast brought me into thy Church keepest me in it aud wilt do so still Also because of the ministerie of thy word sacrameÌ„acute ts by which the holy Ghost is and will be effectuall and finally because of the great glory whereunto thou hast called mee and which now thou wilt giue vnto mee asking the same But alas how vnthankefull I am and sorrowlesse Lord thou knowest for my heart is not hid from thee Oh be merciful vnto me and forgiue me good father and graâ—nt me the spirit of thy children to reueale vnto mee my ignorance of thy kingdome my pouertie and peruersitie that I may lament the same and daily labour for thy helpe and thy holye spirite to suppresse the kingdome of sinne in my selfe and in others Againe graunt me that same thy holie spirit to reueale to me thy kingdome of power grace and glorie to kindle mine affections to regenerate me more and more to raigne in me as a peece of thy kingdome to giue to me to desire to pray and to labour for thy kingdome both to my selfe and to others effectually to thy glorie and to assure my conscience of thy goodnes that thou wilt giue me grace glorie c. Here call to minde the state of the ministery and ministers the light and life of Gospellers the errors and heresies which men be intangled withall Thy will be done AS thy power is infinit so is thy wisedome accordinglie Whereby as we may perceiue that nothing is or can bee done against thy power or otherwise than by it so is there not nor cannot be any thing done against or otherwise then by thy omnipotent and secret wil which is alwaies as tâ—ou art good holie and iust how farre so euer it seeme otherwise to our foolishe reason and iudgement and therefore here we are taught to pray that thy wil may bee done here without sinne on mans behalfe as it is on the Angels behalfe in heauen Againe for as much as thou art incomprehensible of thy selfe as well concerning thy power as concerning thy wisdome we may not according thereto search thee but rather adore and worship thy maiestie and tremble at thy iudgments and works and therefore praie alwaies we may bee content with thy wil and be buxomr and obedient thereto And for as much as thou hast reuealed vnto vs somuch of thy wil in thy word writtenas is necessary for vs in this life to knowe yea as wee can attaine vnto a little further wee ought to take al things done against the same as â—â—nne and transgression although thou canst vse the same sinne to serue thy preuidence of the which prouidence we cannot nor may not iudge further than thou hast and shalt open it vnto vs. So that this petition Thy wil be done is
to lament and reioyce To lament because I consider not these thinges in prayer in such sorte as should moue mee to admiration and gratitude because I consider not thy power and wisedome generally in all things because I am so carelesse for thy kingdome and because I am so full of dubitation and doubting of thy goodnesse To reioyce I haue great cause because thou reuealest these things vnto me on this sorte because of thy power kingdome and glorie which maketh to the hearing of my prayers and helping of mee because thou wilt vse me as thine instrument to set forth thy kingdome power and glorie and because iâ— pleaseth thee to heare my prayer and assuredly wilt saue mee for euer But alas howe farre am I from these lamentings and reioycinges By reason whereof I deserue damnation O bee mercifull vnto mee and forgiue me and of thy goodnesse grant me thy holy spirite to reueale to mee my blindnes obliuion contempt of thy kingdome power and glore with the greatnes of my doubtings that as I may heartily lameÌ„t them so haue them pardoned taken from mee through the merites of Iesus Christ thy sonne Againe giue me thy holy spirit to reueale to me in such sort thy kingdome power glorie eternitie that I may alwaies haue the same before mine eies be moued with the admiration thereof labour effectually to set forth the same finally as to haue the fruition thereof after this life so to increase in an assured certaine and liuelie expectation of the same that I may alwaies and in all thinges reioyce in thee through Christ and giue laudes thanks and praises perpetually vnto thy most holie name Oh blessed Father Sonne and holie Ghost three persons and one God to whome bee all honour and glorie world without ende Hâ—ere thinke that if the kingdome power glorie and eternitie bee Gods which is our Father what our dignity is which be his children If the power bee our fathers of whome should wee bee afraide Let the diuell bee subiect to the Lordes power and kingdom as he is how can the subiect haue power ouer vs which be sonnes and heirs in that he hath not power ouer poâ—kets without the proudence and permissioÌ„ of God Therefore ful well should wee pray 〈…〉 power is the Lords and the Diuel hath none but that he hath of Gods gift No he were not able to receiue power if God did not make him able although the execution of it is rather of Gods permission Giue al thanks praise and glorie to God our Father through Christ our Lord and Sauiour So be it Iohn Bradford PRIVATE PRAIERS for the Morning and Euening and for other times of the day When you awake out of your sleepe pray thus MOst mercifull God and Father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ I most humbly thanke thee for the sweete sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuen mee this night past beseeching thee that like as thou hast nowe awaked my bodie from sleepe so thou wouldest awake my soule from the sleepe of sinne and darkenesse of this worlde and that which thou hast new awaked out of sleepe thou wouldest after death whereof this sleepe is but an image restore and rayle againe to life euerlasting O gratious God make my body I heartilie pray thee such a coÌ„panion or rather a minister of godlinesse to my soule this day all the time of this preseÌ„t life that in the life to come it may be partaker with the same of euerlasting happines through Christ Iesus our Lord. Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead Christ shal shew light vnto thee Ephes 5. Occasions to medâ—tate Here call to minde the great mirth blessednesse of the euerlasting resurrection Also remember to muse vpon that most cleare light that bright morning and new clearenesse of our bodies after the loÌ„g darknes which they haue bin in All then shall be ful of vnspeakable ioy and felicitie When you beholde the dailight pray O Lorde God thou most glorious and true light from whence this light of the day sunne doth spring and shine vnto vs O light which lightenest euery man that commeth into this world O light which knowest no night nor euening but art al way a midday most cleare and faire without whom all is most horrible darkenesse and by whome al thinges are most cleare and bright O thou wisedome of the eternall father of mercies lighten my minde that I may see those thinges onely which pleasethee and may be blinded to all other thinges Grant me so to walk in thy waâ—â—s by the light of thy holie word that nothing else may bee light and pleasant vnto me Lighten mine eies Oh Lord that I sleepe not in death least mine enemies say I haue preuailed against him Psal 30. Occasions to meditate Muse a while howe much the light and eie of the mind and soule is better than of the bodie Also howe much more we ought to care for the soule that it may see well than of the bodie Moreouer that beasts haue bodily eies as wel as men but men onely haue eies of the mind and that such as are godly wise When you arise pray OVR first parentes cast downe themselues from a most excellent high and honorable state into shame miserie and into the deepe sea of all wickednesse and mischiefe but oh Christ thou putting forth thy hande didst raise them vp againe Euen so wee except we be raised vp by thee shal ly still for euer O good Christ our most gracious Redeemer as thou doest mercifully raise vp now this my bodie euen so I beseech thee raise vp my minde heart to the true knowledge loue of thee that my conuersation may be in heauen where thou art If thou be risen with Christ thinke vpon those things that be aboue Col. 3 Occasions to meditate Thinke howe foule the fall of Adam was by reason of sinne and so euerie one of vs froÌ„ the hight of Gods grace Againe thinke vpon the inestimable benefite of Christ by whose helpe wee daily rise againe from our fallings When you apparrell your selfe pray O Christ cloath mee with thine owne selfe that I may be so far from making prouision for the flesh to fulfill the Iustes thereof that I may cleane put off all desires and crucifie the kingdome of the flesh in mee Be thou vnto me a garment to keepe me warme and to defend me from the cold of this world If thou be absent deare Lorde all thinges are colde weake and dead but if thou be with me all thinges are warme fresh and cheerefull c. Graunt therefore that as I coÌ„passe this my body with this garment so thou wouldest cloath me wholy but specially my soule with thine owne selfe Put vpon you as the elect of God bowels of mercie meekenesse loue peace c. Col. 3. Occasions to meditate Call to minde a little howe we are incorporate into Christ Againe howe he doth cloath vs
and made such fatherlie prouision for vs poore sinners that of thy louing kindnesse we haue rich portions not onely in the creatures of heauen and earth but also in that plentifull redemptioÌ„ which thy most deare Sonne Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs grant vnto vs O merciful father the assistance of thy grace and holy spirite that as our bodies shall nowe take their natural rest euen so our soules and mindes at the beholding of thy goodnesse towardes vs may quiet themselues in thee conceiue such inward pleasure heaueÌ„ly sweetnes in thy loue that whatsoeuer we shal from henceforth either thinke speak or we it may be all to the honour of thy holy name through Iesus christ thy deare sonne our Lorde and onely Sauiour Amen Thy mightie hand and outstretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercie and sâ—â—ing kindnesse in Iesus Christ thy deare sonne bee our saluation thy trueth and holy worde out instruction thy grace and holy spirite our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the ende A prayer for the remission of sinnes O Almightie and euer liuing Lord God the deare father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ which hast made heauen and earth the sea and al that therein is which art the only ruler and gouernour conseruer keeper of all things together with thy dearely beloued Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord and with the holy Ghost our comforter O holy righteous a wise O strong terrible mightie fearefull Lord God gouernor of the whole world iudge of al meâ—â— O exorable patient most gracious Father whose eies are vpon the wayes of all men and are so clean'â— that they cannot abide impietie thou searchest the hearts and triest the verie thoughtes and reines of all men thou hatest sinne abhorrest iniquitie For sinnes sake thou hast greeuously punished maÌ„kinde thy most deare creature as thou hast declared by the penalty of death laide vpon all the children of Adam by the casting of Adam and his ofspring out of Paradise by the cursing of the earth by the drowning of the worlde by the burning of Sodom and Gomor by hardening the heart of Pharao so that no miracle could conuert him by the drowning of him and his people in the red sea by the ouerthrowing of the Israelites in the wildernesse so that of fire hundreth thousand there were but two that entred into the land of promise by reiecting Kingâ— Saul by the punishmentes vpon thy seruant Dauid notwithstanding his heartie repentance by greeuously afflicting Salomon in himselfe and his posteritie by the captiuitie of the ten tribes and by the thraldome of the Iewes wherein vntill this present day they continue a notable spectacle of thy wrath to the worlde against and for stâ—ne But of aâ—â— spectacles of thy anger against sinne the greatest and most notable is the death and bloudie passion of thy dearely beloued Sonne Iesu Christ Great was thine anger against sinne when in heauen earth nothing could be found which might appease thy wrath saue the bloudshedding of thine onely most dearely beloued sonne in whom was and is all thy delight Great was the sore of sinne that needed such a salue mightie was the maladie that needed such a medicine If in Christ in whome was no sin thy wrath was so fierce for our sins that he was constrayned to cry My God my God why hast thou forsaken me How great importable then is thine anger against vs which art nothing but sinfull They that are thy children through the contemplation of thine anger against sinne set forth most euidently in the death of Christ doe tremble and are afraide lamenting themselues vpon him and heartily crying for mercy wheras y â— wicked are altogether carelesse and conteÌ„ptuous nothing lamenting their iniquities or crying to thee heartily for mercy and pardon Amongest whom wee are rather to be placed than amongest thy childreÌ„ for that we are so shamelesse for our sinnes carelesse of thy wrath heaping dailie sinne vpon sinne so that the measure hath ouerflowed and ascended vp to heaueÌ„ brought thy heauy plagues vpon vs which are but earnest for geeater to ensue therefore to vs pertaineth shame and nothing else is one but confusion What shall we doe what shall wee say who shall giue vs peniteÌ„t harts who can open our lippes that our mouthes might make acceptable coÌ„fession vnto thee Alas of our selues we caÌ„not think any good much lesse wish it and least of all we it As for Angels or any other creatures they haue nothing but that which they haue receiued and they are made to minister vnto vs. So that where iâ— passeth the power of the maister the minister must needes want Alas then what shall we doe Thou art holie and we vnholie thou art good and wee nothing but euill thou art pure we altogether impure thou art light and we most darke darkenesse howe then can there be any agreement betwixt vs O what now may we do Dispayre No. for thou art God and therfore good thou art mercifull and therefore thou forgiuest sinnes with thee is mercie and propitiation and therefore thou art worshipped When Adam had sinned thou gauest him mercy before hee desired it wilt thou deny vs mercy which now desire the same Adam excused his fault and accused thee but we accuse our selues and excuse thee and shall we be sent emptie away Noe founde fauour when thy wrath abounded and shall wee seeking grace be frustrate Abraham was pulled out of Idolatrie when the worlde was drowned therein and art thou his GOD onely Israel in captiuitie in Egypt was graciously visited deliuered deare God the same good Lord shall we alwaies be forgotten Now often in the wildernes didest thou deferre spare thy plagues at the requestes of Moses wheÌ„ the people themselues made no petition to thee and seeing we not onelie now make our petitioÌ„s vnto thee through thy goodnesse but also haue a mediatour for vs farre aboue Moses euen Iesus Christ shall wee I say deare Lorde depart ashamed So soone as Dauid said I haue sinned thou diddest forthwith answere him that he should not die thou hast takeÌ„ away his sinnes and gratious God euen the selfe same God shall not wee not we which now with Dauid gladlie confesse that we haue sinned shal we I say not heare by thy good spirit that our sinnes bee pardoned O graunt that with Manasses wee may finde fauour and mercie Remember that thou hast not spared thine owne onely deare Sonne Iesus Christ but giuen him to die for our sinnes to rise for our righteousnesse to ascend for our possession taking in heauen and to appeare before thee for vs for euer a high priest after the order of Melchizedech that through him we might haue free accesse to come to thy throne now rather of grace than of Iustice RemeÌ„ber that thou by him hast bidden vs aske promised that we shoâ—lde receiue saying Aske and yee shall haue seeke and yee
vertue may lighten and cheere vs that the want of feeling of our sorrow maye to recompensed plentifully with the liue y â— senâ—e of hauing thee to our eternal ioy therefore thou swarest that in thine euerlasting mercy thou wilt haue compassion on vs. Of which thing to the ende we might bee most assured thine oth is to bee marked for thâ—n sayâ—stâ— As I haue sworne that I will neuer bring anie more the waters to drowne the world So haue I sworne that I wil neuer more bee angrie with thee nor 〈◊〉 thee The mouâ—t◠〈◊〉 shall 〈◊〉 the hilles shall fall downâ— but my louing kindnesse shall not mooue and the bond of my peace shall not faile thee Thus saiest thou the Lord our mercifull redeemer Deare Father therfore I praie thee remember euen for thine owne trueth and mercie sake this promise and euerlasting couenaunt which in thy good time I may thee to write in my hart that I may know thee to bee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent that I may loue thee with all my heart for euer that I may loue thy people for thy sake that I may bee holie in thy sight through Christ that I may alwaies not onely striue against sin but also ouercome the same dayly more and more as thy children do aboue al things desâ—ring the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doing of thy will heere on earth as it is in heauen c. throguh Iesus Christ our redeemer mediator and aduocate Amen I. B. A praier against our spirituall enemies the diuell the world and the flesh O Lorde God the diuell goeth about like a roring Lyon seeking whome hee may deuoure the flesh lusteth against the spirite the worlde perswadeth vnto vanities y â— we may forget thee our Lord God so for euer ve damned Thus are we miserably on euery 〈◊〉 befet and â—eâ—â—eged of cruell a vnrestful enemies and like euerie momente to perish if we be not defended with thy godly power against their tyrannie Wee therefore poore and wretched sinners despayring of our owne strength which indeede is none most heartily praie thee to indue vs with strength from aboue that wee may bee able through thy helpe with strong faith to resist Sathan with feruent praier to mortifie the lustes of the fleshe with continual meditation of thy holie lawe to auoide the foolish vanities and transitorie pleasures of this wicked worlde y â— through thy grace wee beeing set at libertie from the power of these our mortall enemies may serue thee heere in true holinesse and righteousnes and after be partakers of the euerlasting ioyes prepared for thy children which as they are great and vnspeakeable so are there fewe that doe inioy them For straite is the way and narrowe is the gate that leadeth therunto and few there be that find it Notwithstanding O God thou hast a litle flock to whom it is thy pleasure to giue that ioyfull kingdome whose names are written in the booke of life Make vs therefore of that nuÌ„ber for Iesus christes sake place vs amongest those thy sheepe which shal stand on thy right hande to receiue that blessed inheritaunce and dwel with thee for euermore A prayer for present helpe in tentation DEare father to whom it is more easie to doe all thinges then for mee to thinke anie one goodthing Loe doe thou but speake a worde and thy deadlie sicke seruaunte my sonle shall be made whole Helpe O Lorde for the great mercy sake for thy trueth sake and for thy deare sonne Iesus Christs sake set thy sterngth suffice against my weakenesse and the holy-spirit against my sinfull flesh and olde man Thou art faithfull O Father who hast promised that I shall not bee tempted further than thou wilt make me able to beare Giue nowe therefore thy grace and strength vnto thy seruaunt that I may with a strong faith in thy in fallible trueth promised mercie vanquish and subdu whatsoeuer rebelleth against thy most blessed will Preserue and keepe holie my soule and bodie and let them not bee defiled and made a dangeon of diuels wicked spirits through delectation in sinne Behold deare Father the postes thereof are sprinkled with y e precious bloud of thy deare son and of thy great mercy that are made the temple and tabernacle of thy holy spirit Shall nowe alas the Diuell the worlde or the flesh plucke from thee that thing which presently cryeth to thee with assured trâ—st in thy promised helpe Nay father but graunt that I may by thy mightie power turne al their crafts decrits and raging assaultes vnto the increase of my faith and that by experience of thy fatherlie assistance in this my present temptation I may with assured hope and trust in thy readie helpe and comfort ouercame my saide enimies heereafter in like assaults prayse thy holy name for the victory through Iesus Christ our Lord. My sonne if thou wilt come into these rule of the Lorde stande fast in righteousnes feare and prepare thy soule to tentation Eccles 2. Remedies against sinfull motions and tentations First remember that sinne is so hainous a thing that God by his iustice might worthilie damne thee for the same and is therefore to bee abhorred as a sweete poyson a flattering death destruction of the soule which woulde cut thee off from God thy Sauiour and make thee a bondslaue to Sathan thy deadlie enemie Auoide therefore euen at the first the occasions thereof betimes quash out the braines of the childreÌ„ of Babylon against the hard stones whiles yet they bee young and weake least when they be growne elder stronger they dash thee to peeces And for remedie against the same flee vnto God who commandeth thee to call vpon him in thy troubles and promiseth to deliuer thee and wil not suffer thee to be further tempted than hee will make away out whereby thou shalt escape and doubt not but he that causeth thee to hate the sinne which thy nature is to loue will deliuer thee also from the daunger thereof and make thee to triumphouer Sathan to his confusion to Gods glorie and thy great comfort which are causes that our tender louing father sendeth tentations vnto vs he that is not tempted what is he Nowe after thou hast obtained the victory remember two thinges first to giue most heartie thankes to God for his grace and assistance whereby thou hast ouercome and bee not vnthankefull in anie wise and then that hee who continually goeth about like a roring Lion seeking whome he maie deuoure wil not be long or farre away from thee but will attempt againe the same or as euill waies to ouercome thee Watch therefore and praye A prayer for the auoiding of Gods heauie wrath and vengeance for our sins OH Lord God strong and mighty great and feareful which dwellest in the heauens and workest great wonders we thy miserable children heere vpon
earth do most humbly beseech thee to be mercifull vnto vs to pardon our offences and to forgiue vs all our sinnes O Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruantes for if thou doe there shall no flesh bee saued in thy sight Wee confesse and acknowledge O Lorde that it is our sinnes which hath moued thee to wrath and to shewe such fearefull tokens of thy displeasure towardes vs in these our daies first with fire from heauen betokening thy hote burning iud gnation and wrathful displeasure for sinne which aboundeth at this day then with such horrible and monstrous shatmpes against nature as wer neuer seen heere in our daies nor in any time before vs which doe betoken to vs none other thing but thy plagues to come vpon vs for our degenerate monstrous life and conuersation and now besides all this by great mortalitie plague and peâ—ilence thou hast terribly threatned vs fatherly warned vs and merciâ—ully called vs to repentance The axe is set to the roote of the tree and if wee bee not as rotten members without all sense and feeling wee may perceiue our carefull destruction and desolation to bee at hande vnlesse wee speedilie repente and â—arne vnto thee because wee haue â—â—ene so long taught out of thy most holy and sacred worde and yet no fruites of repentance or Christian life will appeare Woe and alas to these our daies that neither preaching by word most comfortable nor preaching by fire most terrible nor preaching by monsters most straunge and ouglie neither yet by plagues and pestilence most horrible will stirre by our stonie heartes and awake from our sinnes Wee feare O Lorde that the Turkes with all the rest of the vnbeleeuing will condemne vs in the lust day which if they had bin so loÌ„g instructed by the comfortable preaching of thy word sweet promises of thy Gospell or seene the wonders which we haue seene no doubt their righteousnes would haue shined at this day to our greate shame and confusion thou hast no lesse 〈◊〉 vs O Lorde of thy fearefull displeasure heauy plagues at hand for our great wickednes than thou diddest the Israelites of that horrible destruction which came vpon them whome thou first in mercie diddest cal to repentaÌ„ce by the preaehinge of thy worde but when no warning would serue thou diddest sende them monstrous and fearefull â—â—gnes and tokens to declare that thy visâ—â—ation was not far off But they like vnto vs at this day did alwaies interpret these things after the imagination of their own vaine hearts promising to themselues peace wheÌ„ 〈◊〉 struction was ouer their heades Which things when we do cal to minde for asmuch as they are written for our learning Example and warning it maketh vs to tremble and quake for feare of thy iust iudgements For if thou hast thus dealt with thine owne deare and thoseâ— children in take of thy great wrath against sinne what shall wee looke for who doe no lesse deserue thy fearfull scourge for of mercie it is that thou doest thus long forbeare vs and liue as though there were no God at all to be reuenged vppon our sinnes It maketh vs to feare crye inwardly in our soules Come Lorde Iesu holy and true in all thy doings shorten our dais bring this our pilgrimage to an eude suffer vs not to heape sinne vpon sin vntil the day of vengeance least wee be caught vp amongest the number of the wicked reprobate which shall neuer fee thy louing countenance It maketh vs to cry to thee O Lorde Let thy kingdome come and end this our sinfull life wherein we doe nothing but prouoke thee to wrath Correct vs not O Lorde in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauie displeasure And though to vs belongeth nothing but shame confusion though our offences haue deserued to be visited with the rod and our sinnes with scourges yet in mercie Lord with fatherlie correction chasten vs and thy louing kindnesse take not away from vs. To thee wee flie for succour vnder the wings of thy mercie shall be our refuge vntil thou turne thy wrathfull countenaunce from vs. Wee knowe that thy mercie is aboue all thy workes and euen as greate as thy selfe Therefore will wee saie with holie Iob Though thou kill vs yet will wee put our whole trust in thee Thou camest to comfort plucke out of the dungeon of Hell such wretches as wee are Thou art the good Samarican that camest to heale our deadlie woundes thou art that good Phisition that camest to cure our mortall infirmities thou art the good Shepheard that camest to seeke vs wandring lost sheepe to bring vs to thy sold againe and more than that thou art our brother flesh of our flesh bone of our bones which hast tasted of our infirmities felt our temptations borne the burden of our sinnes therefore at thy hands we looke for mercie against the day of vengeance And though thou punish vs yet our hope is euer shal be that thy rodde shall no further touch vs than shall make to thy glorie our coÌ„moditie and the strengthening increase of our faith Let this thy Preaching sundrie wayes O Lord be sufficient for our warning and graunt that wee maye speedily and from the bottome of our heartes repent endeuour to doe thy righteous and blessed will reuealed in worde and frame our liues according to the same that wee maie here liue in thy feare al the dayes of our life after this our sinful course is ended may dwel with thee in thy blessed kingdome through the death merites of Iesus Christ our onely redemer So be it Another prayer for the auoyding of Gods deserued wrath hanging ouer vs for our sinnes VVHen wee looke backe and beholde our sinnefull life past what a dungeon of errours vice and wickednes openeth himself vnto vs So that there is no maÌ„ but he must needs be ashamed of himself wheÌ„ he calleth to mind what he hath bin trembleth when he confâ—aereth the wickednes â—S sinful course of his life to come for who shall vndertake that the rest of our aâ—fe shall bee anie better than is past Howe can wee then sufficientlie magnifie prayse thy great mercy which hast deferred thy punishment so long Beholding therfore this our dangerous miserable state wee come vnto thee O thou great and mightie Iudge in trembling feare humbly beseeching thee not to heape vpon vs thy deserued vengeance but let thy tender kindnesse loue thou dearest to Iesus Christ thy Sonne our gracious Lord redeemer couer our iniquities for whose sake though wee deserue al extremity thou doest pardon vs. If thou Lord shalt straitly marke our iniquities O Lorde who shall bee able to abide it psal 103. A prayer to be saide of all such as suffer any kinde of crosse ALmighty God king of al kings and gouernour of all thinges whose power no treasure is able
greeuously tormented in sundry places for the true profession of thy holy Ghospel who in their extreme necessities cry for comfort vnto thee Let not thy long suffering O Lord be an occasion either to increase the tyranny of thy enimies or to discorage thy children but with speede O Lorde consider their greate miseries and afflictions Preuent the cruell deuise of Hamon stay the rage of Holophernes breake off the counsel of Achitophell Let not the wicked say Where is now their God Let thy afficted flocke feele present aide and releefe from thee O Lord looke down vpon them with thy pytiful eye from thy holy habitation sende terrour and trembling among their enemies make an ende of their outragious tyranny beate backe their boldenesse in suppressing thy truth in destroying thy true seruants in defacing thy glorie and in setting vp Antichrist Let them not thus proudly aduance themselues against thee and thy Christ but let them vnderstande and feele that against thee they fight Preserue and defend the Wine which thy right hande hath planted and let all Nations see the glorie of thine annointed Amen A prayer to be saide before the preaching of Gods worde ALmightie God and most mercifull father whose worde is a lanterne to our feete and a light vnto our steppes we most humbly beseech thee to illuminate our mindes that wee may vnderstand the misteries conteined in thy holy lawe and into the selfe same thing that wee godly vnderstand we may be vertuously transformed so that of no part wee offend thy diuine maiestie through Iesus Christ our Lord. An other IN this great darknes of our souleâ— O Lord thou shinest diuers waieâ— vnto vs by the light of thy grace but in nothinge so effectually as in the preaching of thy worde Greate is the Haruest as thou thy selfe hast saide and the workmen are few The greatest part of men are ignorant wrapped in miserable blindnesse and fewe there bee that teach thy worde truely and as they ought Wee beseech thee therefore to sende foorth woorkemen into thy haruest Sende â—eachers O Lord which are taught of thee and instructed by the spirite of godly wisdome and vnderstanding which by their preaching will â—eeke not themselues but thee because they are godly and can so doe because they are wise vnderstand â—iue to the preacher of thy worâ—e are present out of the treasures of by wisdome that which hee may â—â—wre vpon vs to our saluation and â—â—to vs giue thy grace holy spirite O Lord so to heare and to receiue thy worde that the good seede which falleth vppon vs bee not choked with thornes or withered away with heate or deuoured by the foules of the aire but may grow vp in a good-grounde and fructifie with greate increase A prayer to be sayde after the preaching of Gods worde ALmightie God and most mercifull Father wee heartely beseech thee that this seede of thy worde noâ— sowen amongest vs may take such deepe roote that neither the burning heate of affliction or persecutiâ—e cause it to wither neither the thâ—â—â—nie cares of this life doe choke it be that as seede sowen in good ground it may bring foorth thirtie sixtie 〈◊〉 an hundred folde as thy heauenâ—â— wisedome hath appointed And â—â—â—cause wee haue neede continually to craue many thinges at thy hands we humbly beseech thee O heauenly father to grant vs thy holy spirite so to direct our petitions that they may proceede from such a feruent minde is may be agreeable to thy most blessed will And seeing that our infirmitie is such that wee are able to doe nothing without thy helpe and that thou art not ignorant with howe manie and â—reate tentations wee poore wretches are on euery side compassed and inclosed let thy strength O Lorde â—ustaine our weakenesse and assist vs with thy grace that wee may be fafeâ—pre serued against all the assaultes 〈◊〉 Sathan who goeth about like a â—aring Lyon seeking to deuour vs. Increase our faith O merciful Father that wee doe not swarâ—e at aâ—etime from thy heauenly worde Augment in vs hope and loue with a carefull keeping of all thy commandements that no heardnes of heart no hypocrisie no concupiscence of the eyes nor intisements of the worlde doe drawe vs away from thy obedience And seeing the times are dangerous wherein wee liue let thy fatherly prouidence defende vs against the violence of all our enimies and specially against the furious rage of that Romish Idoll enimie to thy Christ Furthermore for as much as by thy holie Apostle wee bee taught to make our prayers and supplications for all men wee praye not only for our selues heere present but beseech thee also to reduce all such as bee yet ignorant from the miserable captiuitie of blindnesse and error to the pure vnderstanding of thy heauenly trueth that wee all with one consent and vnitie of minde map worship thee our onely God and sauiour Wee beseech thee also most decare Father for pastors and ministers to whome thou hast committed the dispensation of thy holy worde and charge of thy chosen people that both in their life and doctrine they may bee founde faithfull setting onely before their eyes thy glorie and that by them all poore sheepe which wander and goe astray may be sought out brought to thy fold Againe that it woulde please thee to deliuer thy church from such idle â—hâ—pe heardes wolues and hirelings â—s seeke themselues and their bellies and not thy glorie and the safegarde of thy flocke Moreouer because the heartes of â—ulers are in thy handes wee make our praers vnto thee for all Princes and Magistrates to whome thou â—ast committed the administration of iustice especially O Lord for the Queenes Maiestie that it woulde please thee to Indue her with thy plentifull grace and principall spirit that she may with a pure faith acknowledge Iesus Christ thy onely sonne to bee King of all Kinges and gouernour of all gouernours euen as thou hast giuen all power vnto him both in heauen and earth and so work in her heart that shee considering whose Minister shee is may heartely seeke and zealously promotâ— thy true honour and glorie carefully trauelling to bring thy people comemitted to her charge and yet remaining almost in all partes of this Realme in miserable blindenesse and darke ignorance to the true knowledge of thee ruling guiding them as shee is taught and commanded by thy holy worde Also wee beseech thee to indue all such as are in any authoritie vnder her with thy grace and holie spirite that they may bee found vpright and faithfull in their calling fauoureres and furtherers of thy holy Ghospell maintainers defenders of the true Preachers and Ministers thereof such as in singlenes of heart wil seeke not themselues but thy glory and the commâ—â—tie of thy people And for that wee bee all
can I feele then or certaintie of thy fauour and loue Iustly may I powre out this dolorous lamentation of Sion The Lorde hath forsaken me and my Lorde hath forgotten me Euen in the middest I say of these my former desperate assaultes mine intollerable heauines cryed to thee O my God from heauen thou heardest my gronings and thervpon first preparedst my heart to aske comfort of thee and then thou didst accept my praier and gauest me plentifully my asking Oh my soule consider well that thou art neuer able to declare the exceeding goodnes of GOD in this that hee heard the verie desires of thee beeing afflicted who is so readie fauorably to grant the requests of the afflicted that oftentimes he tarieth not vntil they doe call but or euer they call vpon him fauourably hearest them as the Psalmist sayth The desire of the afflicted thou hearest O Lord thou preparest their heartes thine eares heare them Oh Lorde my God meruailous things are these whether I consider this meruailous manner of thy hearing or else the meruelous nature propertie of thy goodnes Meruailous no doubt is that thy hearing whereby the very desires of the aflicted are heard but much more maruailous is this thy goodnes which tarrfest not vntil the afflicted do desire thy helpe but preparest first their hearts to deâ—â—re and then thou giuest them their destres Yea Lorde worthy of all praise it cannot otherwise â—e For howe shouldest thou do otherwise than thy nature and property is Art not thou verie goodnesse mercy it selfe How canst thou then but pitie and helpe miserie Art not thou both the creator and also the conseruer of all thinges In somuch as the Lyons whelpes roaring after their praye doe seeke their foode at thy handes and the Rauenes birdes lacking meate do cal vpon thee If then thy fatherly prouidence and tender care O Lorde vppon all thy creatures be so great that the verie beastes and foules haue this experience of thy goodnesse in their necessities that their roarings and cryings haue the strength of earnest calling and desires howe much rather doe these sighinges groninges and desperate heauinesse of men but chiefely of thy children crie and call lowde in thine eares though they speake neuer a word at all Should I then now despaire of thy fatherly mercie whiles presently I feele thee stirre vp my soule and heart to craue helpe at thy handeâ— Shoulde I thinke that thou wilt absent thy selfe for euer that thou wilt bee no more intreated that thy mercie is cleane gone that thy promise is come vtterly to an ende and that thou wilt now shut vp thy louing kindnesse in displeasure Nay Lorde for all alterations are of thy right hande and turne al waye to the best to them that feare thee All this is but mine owne inffrmitie for thou art euer one thy promises bee infallable and the loue towardes thine euerlastingly during I will therefore in this my present tentation greeuous assault powre â—ut the heauinesse of my heart before thee deare Father Out of the deep wil I crie and lift by my soule vnto thee from whome I assuredly knowe my helpe is comming I wil also for my present comfort call to remembrance O Lord my God thy tender mercies towards mee already shewed the multitude of thy benefits the greatnes of the same the long coÌ„tinuance of them euen from my conception vntill this instant finally thy continuall lust desire to powre them vpon me And moreouer fith thy goodnesse is so great O Lord that thou doest not onely pitie miserie but also callest the heauy hearted and afflicted unto thee promising that thou witt ease their miserie for as much as by the motion of thy good spirit I loath and abhor my sâ—nnes feele the gree uousnesse of them and thy heauie wrath towards mee for the same finally what neede I haue of thy gracious aide and succour heresore O Lorde in thy sonne Christes name with sure confidence and trust in thine infallible promise in this mine anguish and trouble I come vnto thee at thy mercifull calling craue comfort at thy hand For thou hast promised that when I loath my sinnes thou wilt vtterly forget them when I feele the greeuous burthen of them thy mercie swalloweth them vp when I seeke that I want thou wilt assuredly grant it me For â—â—th tthou moouest my heart to desire help how should I mistrust but thou wilt for thy trueths sake guie mee my asking Yea where I knowe not how or what to desire as I ought thy holy spirite gratiously working in mee maketh intercession mightily for me with gronings which cannot bee expresseth and therewith certifieth my spirite that by adoption through thy great mercie and goodnesse I am become thy childe and heire Why should I not then bee of good comfortand ioyfull in thee my God For if thou bee on my doe who can be against mee Since thou diddcst not spare thine owne sonne but gauest him for mee euen when I was thine enemie howe fhalt thou not with him nowe that by his death I am brought into thy 〈◊〉 giue mee all thinges with him and for his sake Who shall lay any thing to the charge of thine elect It is thou Lord which iustifiest mee It is Christe that hath died for mâ—e yea ratheâ— that is risen againe for mee Who also is set on thy right hand and hat taken possession yea and perpetually there maketh interrcession for mâ— vntill that ioyfull day be come whâ— I shall haue ful fruition of the most glorious presence of thy diuine maie sty in that kingdom which thou hast prepared before the begining of the world but in time to thy gratious goodnesse thought best make known to me by giuing thy holy spirit into my hearte whereby when I first Lorde beleeued thy holy worde which is thine owne power to saue al that beleeue I was sealed confirmed stablished in the certaintie of that thine euerlasting kingdom and inheritaunce For the which inestimable benesite of the rich grace Oh Lorde my God I beseech the euen for the loue thou barest to Christ Iesus thy son and thy mercie thou haddest on him when he cried on the crosse My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Helpe help I say inflame my hart with loue so plentifully towardes thee againe that I may be euen swallowed vp in the ioyful feeling of the same in such sort that I may of very thankefulnesse loue thee my God alone thee I say my deare God and nothing but thee and for thy sake O holy spirite whose worke this is in mee increase this the work of thiue infinite mercie preserue mee that I neuer become vnthankefull vnto thee therefore Amen A praier for the sicke O Most merciful God which according to the multiude of thy mercies doest so put away the sinnes of those which truly repeÌ„t that thou rememberst them no more open thy
dies of mercy and look vpon this thy sicke seruantâ— who most earnestly destreth pardoÌ„ forgiuenesse Renue in him most louing Father whatso euer hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the Diuell or by his owne carnal will and frailtie Preserue continue this sicke member in the vnitie of the Church Consider his contrition accept his teares asswage his paine a shall bee seene to thee most expedient for him And for as much as he putteâ—h his full trust onely in thy mercie impute not vnto him his former sinnes but take him vntoty fauour through the merits of thy most dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ A praier to be said at the houre of death O Lorde Iesus Christ which arl the onely health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them that die in thee I wretched sinner doe submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will and being sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed vnto thy mercie willinglie now I leaue this fraile and sinneful flesh in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise restore it to meE againe at the lost day in the resurrection of the iust I beseech thee most mercifull Lord iesus Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all tentations and defende mee with the buckler of thy mercie against all the assaultes of the diuell I see and acknowledge that there is in my selfe no hope of saluation but all my confidence hope and trust is in thy rich mercie and goodnesse I haue no merites or good workes which I may alledge before thee of sinnes and euill workes alas I see a great heape but yet through thy mercie I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes but wilt accept and take mee for righteous and iust and to bee an inheritour of Euerlasting life Thou mercifull Lorde wast borne for my sake thou diddest suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake thou diddest teach pray and fast for my sake all thy holy actions and works thou wroughtest for my sake thou sufferedst most greeuous painEs and torments for my sake Finally thou gauest thy most precious bodie and bloud to be shed on the crosse for my sake Now most merciful Sauiour let all those thinges profite mee that thou freely hast done for mee which hast giuen thy selfe also for mee Let thy blond clense and wash away the spottes and fowlnesse of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my righteousnesse Let the merites of thy passion and bloodshedding be the satisfaction for my sinnes Giue mee Lord thy grace that the faith of my saluation in thy blood wauer not in me but may euer be firme and constant that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in mee that loue waxe not colde in mee Finally that the weakenesse of my flesh bee not ouercome with the feate of death Graunt mee mercifull Sauiour that when death hath thut vp the eies of my body yet the eies of my soule may stil behold and looke vpon thee when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet my hearte may crie say Lorde into thy handes I commend my soule Lord Iesu receiue my spirite A praier for a woman with childe THou art wonderfull O Lorde in all thy workes and whatsoeuer thy good pleasure is that doest thou easily bring to passe neither is ther any thing vnpossible with thee that thou wilt haue doon And albeit this thy almightie power sheweth it selfe abundantly in all thy workes yet in conceiuing forming and bringing forth of man it shineth most euidently At the beginning O Father when thou madest man and woman thou commaundest them to increase multiplie and replenish the earth If through the subtile inticementes of Sathan they had not transgressed thy commaundement by eating the forbidden fruite the woman whome thou haddest appointed to be the instrument vessell to conceiue nourish and bring foorth man through thy woonderful workmanship had with out any labour paine or trauaile brought forth her fruite But that which thy goodnes made easie sin and disobedience hath made harde painfull daungerous and without thy speciall helpe and succour imposible to bee brought to passe so that nowe all women bring forth their childreÌ„ in great sorrows paines and troubles Notwithstanding that which through their own imperfection and feeblenes they are not able of themselues to passe thou through thine vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest vnto a ioyfull ende Wee therefore being fully perswaded of thy fauour and goodnesse of thy present helpe and of thy sweete comfort in all miseries and necessities knowing also by the testimonies of thy holy word how great and intollerable the paines of women are that trauell of child if through thy tender mercy they be not mittigated and eased most humbly praye thee for Iesus Christes sake thy son our Lorde to helpe and assist this thy seruant nowe in trauell and labour that by thy almightie power shee may safely bring foorth that which by thy goodnesse shee hath conceaued and that thy louing kindnesse may make that easie and tollerable vnto her which sinne hath made hard and painefull Ease O Lorde the paines which thou most righteously hast put vpon her and all women for the sinne and diso bedience of our Graundmother Eue is whome al we haue sinned Be present with her in her trouble according to thy mercifull promise Giue her strength and make perfect that which thou hast so gratiousLie begun Let thy power be shewed no lesse in the safe bringing forth than in the wonderfull forming fashioning of that shee beareth Make her a glad and ioyfull mother that shee through thy goodnes being safely deliuered and restored to health again may liue and praise thy blessed name for euer A Psalme to be saide in the time of any common plague sicknesse or other crosse and visitation of God O Come let vs humble our selues and fall downe before the Lord with reuerence and feare For he is the Lord our God and we are the people of his pasture and sheepe of his handes O come therefore let vs turne againe vnto our Lorde for he hath smitten vs and he shall heale vs. Let vs repent and turne from our wickednesse and our sinnes shall be forgiuen vs. Let vs turne and the Lorde will turne from vs his heauy wrath and will pardon vs and wee shal not perish For we acknowledge our faultes and our sinnes are euer before vs. Wee haue sore prouoked thine anger O Lorde thy wrath is waxed hote thy heauy displeasure is fore kindled against vs. Thou hast in thine indignation stricken vs with greeuous sicknesse and by and by wee haue fallen as leaues beaten downe with a vehement winde In deede wee acknowledge that our punishmentes are lesse than our deseruings but yet of thy mercy lord correct vs to amendment and plague vs not to our
destruction For thy hand is not shortned that thou canst not helpe neither is thy goodnesse abated that thou wilt not heare Thou hast promised O Lord that afore wee crye thou wilt heare vs whilest wee yet speake thou wilt haue mercie vpon vs. For none that trust in thee shal be confounded neither any that call vppon thee shall be despised For thou art the onely Lord who woundest and dost heale againe who killest and reuiuest bringest euen to hel and bringest backe againe Our fathers hoped in thee trusted in thee and thou diddest deliuer them They called vpon thee and were helped they put their trust in thee and were not confounded O Lord rebuke vs not in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauie displeasure O remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but according to thy mercie think thou vpon vs O Lord for thy goodnesse Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord for we are weake O Lord heale vs for our bodies are vexed And nowe in the vexation of our spirites and the augnish of our souls we remember thee and we crie vnto thee heare Lord and haue mercie For thine owne sake and for thy holie names sake incline thine care heare O merciful Lord. For wee doe not powre out our praiers before thee trusting in our owne righteousnesse but in thy great and manifolde mercies Wash vs thoughly from our wickednesse and clense vs from our sins Turne thy face from our sins and put out all our misdeeds Make vs cleane heartes O God and renue aright spirite within vs. Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glorie of thy name O deliuer vs and be mercifull to our sinnes for thy names sake So wee that bee thy people sheep of thy pasture shal giue thee thankes for euer and will alwaies be shewing foorth thy praise from generation to generation Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. A psalme of thankesgiuing for deliuerance from the plague or any other kinde of sicknes trouble or affliction LOrde thou art become gracious to thy lande thou hast turned away the afflictions of thy seruants Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure and turned thy selfe from thy wrathfull indignation For if thou Lorde hadst not helped vs it had not failed but our soules had been put to silence But when wee said our feet haue slipped thy mercy O Lorde helped vs vp In the multitude of the sorrowes that wee had in our hearts thy comforts haue refreshed our soules Our soules waited still vpon the Lorde our soules hanged vppon his helpe our hope was alwaies in him In the Lordes word will wee reioyce in Gods worde did wee comfort onr selues For the Lord said Call vpon mee in the time of trouble I wil heare thee and thou shalt praise mee So when wee were poore needie sickly in heauines the Lord cared for vs hee was our helper â—nd our deliuerer according to his word In our aduersitie and desiresse he hath lifted vp our head and sauâ—â— vs from vtter destruction He hath deliuered our soules froâ— death hee hath fed vs in the time 〈◊〉 dearth hee hath saued vs from thâ— noysome pestilence Therefore wil wee offer in his holy temple the oblation of thankesgiuing with great gladnes wee wâ—â—sing and speake praises vnto the lorâ— our Sauiour Wee will giue thankes vnto thâ— Lord for he is gratious and his meâ—â—cie endureth for euer The Lord is ful of compassion anâ— mercie long suffering plenteous iâ— goodnesse and pitie His mercie is greater than the hâ—â—uens and his gracious goodnes reaâ—cheth vnto the cloudes Like as a father pitieth his owâ— children euen so is the Lord merciful vnto them that feare him Therefore will we praise thee and thy mercies O God vnto thee will wee sing O thou holy one of Israel We will sing a new song vnto thee O God wee will praise the Lorde with psalmes and thankesgiuing O sing praises sing praises vnto our God O sing praises sing praises vnto our king For God is the king of the earth sing praises with vnderstanding We will magnifie thee O God our king wee will praise thy name for euer and euer Euery daye wil wee giue thankes vnto thee and praise thy name for euer and euer Our moutn shall speake the praises of the Lord let all flesh giue thanks to hs holy name for euer and euer Blessed bee the Lorde God of Israell for euer and blessed be the name of his maiesty worlde without end Amen Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Prayers to be said before meales and after ALL things depend vpon thy prouidence O Lord to receiue at thy hands due sustenance in time conuenient Thou giuest to them and they gather it thor openest thy hand and they are sanctified with all good things O heauenly father which art the fountaine and full treasure of all goodnesse Wee beseech thee to shewe thy mercie vpon vs thy children and sanctifie these thy giftes which we receiue of thy merciful liberalitie granting vs grace to vse them soberly and purely according to thy blessed will so that thereby we may acknowledge thee to be the author and giuer of all good thinges and aboue all that we may remember continually to seeke the spiritual foode of the world wherwith our soules may be norished euerlastingly through our Sauiour Christ who is the true breade of life which came downe from heauen of whom whosoener eateth shal liue for euer and raigne with him in glorie world withour end So be it Another prayer before meales VVHether ye eat or drinke saith S. Paule or whatsoeuer ye do else let all be done to the praise glorie of God Eternall and euerlasting God fathere of our Lord Iesus Christ who of thy most singular loue which thou barest to mankinde hast appointed to his sustenance not only the fruits of the earth but also the fouls of the aire the beastes of the field and fishes of the sea and hast commaunded thy benâ— fites to be receiued as from thy handes with thankesgiuing assuring thy children by the mouth of thine Apostle that to the cleane al things are cleane as the creatures which be sanctified by the worde and prayer grant vnto vs so moderatly to vse these thy giftes present that our bodies being refreshed our soules may be more able to proceede in all good works to the praise of the holy name through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Our father which art in heauen c. Another O Eternall God the very God of peace and al consolation which broughtest againe from death our Lorke Iesus the greate shepheard of the sheep through the bloud of the euerlasting couenante make vs fruitful in all good works to do thy wil and
the multitude of thy tender mercies Looke vpon mine affliction and my trauell and forgiue mee my sinnes Remember not the offences of my youth nor my rebellioÌ„s against thee For if thou Lord shouldest marke our iniquities Lord who should bee able to stand in thy sight Seeing thou hast found iniquity euen in thine Angels the heauens are not clean in thy sight much more is man abhominable filthie which drinketh iniquite like water Notwithstanding thou hast said O lord that as the reghteousnes of the righteous man shal not saue him whensoeuer he offendeth so shal not the wickednesse of the wicked man hurt him whensoeuer hee forsaketh his wickednes and turneth to thee For thou knowest thine owne handie work thou remeÌ„brest what wee are thou seest that we are but weake and feeble flesh Looke not therefore vpon my sinnes O Lorde but looke vpon the face of thine annoynted For he hath borne our iniquities he hath caâ—ried our sorrowes Hee was wounded for our transgressioÌ„s he was broken for our iniquities the chastisemeÌ„t of our peace is laid vpon him He gaue his bodie to be beaten and his cheekes to bee stricken he bare y â— sinnes of manie and prayed for the offenders He came to bring glad tidings to the poore to bind vp y e broken hearted to preach liberty to the captiues to coÌ„fort them that mourne in Sion and to giue vnto them beauty for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning the garment of gladnes for y e spirite of heauinesse that they might be called trees of righteousnes the planting of the Lord. For his sake therefore O Lorde be mercifull vnto me and saie vnto my soule behold I come to thee thy health and thy saluation A prayer for the true knowledge and vnderstanding of the worde of God LEt my praier come before thee O Lord giue mee vnderstanding according to thy worde Blessed art thou O Lord teach me thy statutes That with my lips I may declare all the iudgements of thy mouth That I may delight in the way of thy testimonies aboue all riches That I may meditate in thy precepts and consider thy waies That I may take pleasure in thy statutes and not forget thy word Be good vnto mee thy seruant O Lord y â— I may liue keep thy word Open mine eies that I maye see the wonders which are in thy lawe I am a stranger vpon earth notwithstanding hide not from mee thy commaundementes For my hart languisheth with the desire that it hath to thy iudgments Thy testimonies are my delighte and my counselles I will praise thee with an vpright â—â—art when thou hast taught mee the â—udgmentes of thy righteousnesse Shewe mee thy waies O Lorde and teach me thy paths Leade mee foorth in thy trueth and each mee for thou art my God and â—y saluation in thee doe I trust al the day long Make mee vnderstand the way of â—hy preceps and I will consider thy â—onderous workes Thy handes haue made mee and â—ashioned mee giue mee vnderstanâ—ing that I may learne thy commandementes That they which feare thee seeing mee may reioyce because I haue trusted in thy word Shewe the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant and teach me thy ordinances Thou art good and gracious therefore according to thy goodnesse teach me thy statutes O Lorde of whose goodnesse the earth is ful teach me thy ordinances O lorde I beseech thee accept the sacrifice of my lippes and teach mee thy iudgements The righteousnesse of thy testimonies is euerlasting graunt me vnderstanding and I shall liue Deale with thy seruaunte according to thy mercies and teach me thy statutes I am thy seruant graunt mee vnderstanding that I may knowe thy testimonies My lips shall shewe foorth thy praise wheÌ„ thou hast tanght me thy statutes My tong shall talke of thy word for al thy commandements are righteous For in thee is awel of liuing waters aud euer flowing in thy light shall wee see light A prayer for the leading of a godly life I Crie vnto thee with my whole heart heare me O Lord guide â—e that I may keepe thy statutes I call vpon thee saue mee that I may keepe thy testimonies Let my prayer bee directed in thy â—â—ght as incense the lifting vp of â—y handes as an euening sacrifice I haue gone astray like a loste â—eepe seeke thy seruant for I doe not forget thy commandements Teach me thy way O Lord that I may walke in thy trueth knit my heart vnto thee that I may feare thy name Let thy louing kindnes come vnto mee O Lorde and thy saluation according to thy promise Let my heart be vpright in thy statutes that I be not confounded Oh that my waies were so directed that I might keepe thy statutes Then shall I not bee confounded when I haue regarde vnto all thy commandements I made my supplication in thy preseÌ„ce with my whole hart be mercifull vnto mee according to thy promise Guide mee O Lorde that I may consider my waies and turne my feeâ— into thy testimonies Wherewith shal a man redresse his waies In taking deed therto according to thy word Teach me O Lorde the may of thy statutes that I may keepe them to the ende Giue me vnderstanding that I may keepe thy law yea that I may keepe it with my whole heart Direct me in the path of thy commaundements for therein is my delight Turne away mine eies that I regard not vanitie quickeÌ„ me in thy waie Stablish thy promise to thy seruaunt whereby he may be taught to feare thee Direct my steppes in thy worde and let not iniquity haue dominion euer me Let not the foote of pride come against me let not the hande of the wicked moue mee Gather not my soule with the sinners nor my life with y e bloudy men Let my foote stand in vprightnes that I may praise thee O Lorde in the congregation Let not the word of trueth depart out of my mouth for I trust in thy iudgements Set a watch O Lorde before my mouth keepe the dore of my lips Let not mine heart bee inclined to euil to worke wicked workes with them that worke iniquitie Teach me good iudgment knowledge for I do beleeue thy commandements Staie my steps in thy pathes that my feete do not slide Stablish mee in thy promise that I may lâ—ue and let me not be disappoynted of my hope Staie thou me O Lord I shal be safe and I will delight continually in thy statutes O God create in me a pure heart renue a right spirit within mee Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirite from mee Restore me to the ioy of thy saluation and stablish mee with thy free spirite Let me heare thy louing kindnes in the morning shew mee the waye that I should walke in for in thee is my trust
Apostle S. Paule with more consolations in Christ than he felt sorrowes and terrors in the world haue mercie vpon mee a most miserable vile and wretched sinner which now draw neere the gates of death deserued both in soule and bodie eternallie by reasoâ— of my manyfolde horrible olde and newe transgressions which to thine eies O Lorde God are open and knowen Oh bee mercifull vnto mee and forgiue mee for the bitter death and bloudshedding of thine onely sonne Iesus Christ And though thy iustice do require in respect of my sinnes that nowe thou shouldest not heare mee conteraning thy dailie callinges yet let thy mercie which is aboue al my workes and wherewith the earth is filled let thy mercy I say preuaile towards me through the merits and mediation of Christ our fauiour for whose sake it pleaseth thee to bring me foorth now as one of his witnesses and a recorde bearer of thy veritie and trueth taught by him to giue my life therefore of which dignitie I do acknowledge deare God that there was neuer any so unworthie and unmâ—ete no not the thiefe that hanged with him on the crosse I humbly therefore pray thee that thou wouldest accordingly aid helpe and assist me with thy strength and heauenly grace that with Christ thy Sonne I may finde comfort with Stephen I may see thy presence and gratious power with Paule and al others which for thy names sake haue suffered afliction and death I may 〈◊〉 present with mee thy gratious 〈◊〉 that I may by my death glorist thy holy 〈◊〉 set forth and retifie thy veritie comfort the hearts of the heauie confirme thy church in thy truth conuertsome that 〈◊〉 be conuerted 〈◊〉 so depart out of this 〈…〉 where I do nothing but daiâ—e heape 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 and enter into the fruition of thy blessed mercie whereof howe giue and increase in me a liuely taste 〈◊〉 and feeling where through the terâ—our of death the tormentes of 〈◊〉 the paines of â—â—me the dartes of Sathan and the dotours of hell may neuer ouercome 〈◊〉 but may be driâ—en away through the working of y â— most gratious spirit which now 〈…〉 me withall y â— through the samespirit I may offer as nowâ— I 〈◊〉 readie to doe in Christ and by him myselfe wholy soule and bodie to be a liuely sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight deare father whose I am and al waieâ— haue beene euen from my mothers wombe yea euen before the worlde was made to whome I commend my selfe faith name familie and friendes countrie and all the whole Church yea 〈◊〉 my verie enimies according to thy good pleasure beseeching thee intirely to giue once more to this Real me of England the blessing of thy word againe with godly peace to then teaching and setting foorth of the same O deer father now guide me to come vnto thee so purge and purshe me by this fire in Christes death passion through thy spirite that I may be a buâ—nt offering of sweete 〈◊〉 thy sight which liuest and raignest with the sonne and the holy 〈◊〉 now 〈◊〉 euermore world without 〈◊〉 Amen The Letanie O God the Father of heauen haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen c. O God the sonne redeemer of the worlde haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the sonne redeemer of c. O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the father and the sonne haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost c. O holy blessed glorious Trinitie three persons and one God haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou bengeance of our sinnes spake vs good Lord spare thy people whome thou hast redeemed with thy most precious bloude and be not angry with vs for euer 〈◊〉 Spare to good Lord. From all 〈…〉 from sinne from the crafts and assaults of the deuill from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From blindnesse of heart from pride vaine glory and hypocrisie froÌ„ 〈◊〉 hatred and malice and all 〈…〉 Good Lord deliuer vs. From fornication and all other 〈◊〉 sin and from all the deceits of the world the flesh and the diuell Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightning and tempest from plague pestilence famine from battâ—l murther from sodaâ—ne death Good Lord deliuervs From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrine and herisie from hardnesse of heart contempt of thy word commandement Good Lord deliuer vs. By the misterie of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuitie and circumcision by thy baptisme fasting temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agonie and bloudy sweat by thy crosse and passion by thy glorious resurrection and assention and by the comming of the holy Ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In all time of our tribulation in all time of our wealth in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. We sinners do beseech thee to heare vs O Lorde God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holy Church vniuersally in the right way We beeseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to keepe strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnes and holines of life thy seruant Elizabeth our most gracious Queene and goâ—ernor We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to rule her hearte in thy faith feare a loue and that she may euermore haue affiance in thee and euer seeke thy honour glorie We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to be her defender and keeper giuing her the victorie ouer all her enemies We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to illuminate all bishops pâ—stors Ministers of the church with true knowledge vnderstanding of thy worde and that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it forth and she in it accordingly We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to endue the Lorde of the councell and all the nobilitie with grace wise dome and vnderstanding We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to blesse keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute iustice and to maintaine trueth We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to blesse keepe all thy people We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue to all nations vnitie peace and concord We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue vs an heart to loue and dread thee and diligently to liue after thy commandements We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue all thy people increase of grace to heare meekely thy worde and to receiue it with pure affection
gouernour of all thinges whose power no creature is able to resist to whome it belongeth iustly to punish sinners and to be mercifull to them that truely repent saue and deliuer vs we humbly beseech thee froÌ„ the hands of our enimies abate their pride asswage their malice and confound their deuises that wee being armed with thy defence may be preserued from all perils to glorifie thee which art the onely giuer of all victorie through the merites of thy only sonne Iesus Christ our Lord So be it In the time of anie common plague or sicknesse O Almightie God which in thy wrath in the time of King Dauid diddest stay with the plague of pestilence threescore and ten thousand and yet remembring thy mercie didst saue the rest haue pittie vpon vs miserable sinners that 〈◊〉 are visited with great sicknesse mortalitie that like as thou diddest then commaund thine Angel to cease from punishing so it may now please thee to withdrawe from vs this plague grieuous sickenesse through Iesus Christ our Lord. A prayer for the strength and comfort of the holy Ghost ALmightie most mercifull God which giuest to thine elect people thy holy spirit as a sure pledge of thy heauenly kingdome wee most humbly beseech thee so to replenish our hearts with the grace of thy holy spirit that he may bear witnes to our spiritâ— y e we be thy children heires of thy kingdome that by thy gratious working of this thy good spirite we may kil al carnal lustes vnlawful pleasures concupiscences and euil affections contrarie to thy most blessed pleasurs concupiscences and euill affections contrarie to thy most blessed wil through our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ So be it For 〈◊〉 hope and sure taste of euerlasting life O Almightie God which hast prepared euerlasting life for al those that be thy faithfull seruants grant vnto vs 〈◊〉 hope of this 〈◊〉 euerlasting y t whites we bee heere in thit miserable world we may haue some tast and feeling of it in our heartes through the merits of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ So be it For the true knowledge of God and his word and a life agreeable to the same GRaunt vnto vs O mercifull God we most heartelie beseechâ— thee knowledge and true vnvnderstanding of thy blessed will and word that all ignorance being expelled we maie know what thy wil and pleasure is in all things and how to doe our duetie and truly to walke in our vacation and that also wee may expresse in our liuing those thinges that me doe knowe that wee bee not onely knowers of thy wil woorde good Lord but also may be heartie faithfull workers of 〈◊〉 same through our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ So be it A prayer for the strength and increase of faith O Almighty and euerlasting God which not onely 〈◊〉 euerye good and perfect gift but also increasest those giftes that thou haste giuen â—e most humbly beseech thee 〈◊〉 in vs y e gift of faith that we may true lie beleeue in thee in thy promises made vnto vs in Christ su our Lorde and that neyther our negligence nor infirmitie of the flesh nor by grieuousnesse of tentations neither by the subtil craftes and assaultes of the diuel wee be driuen from this faith in the bloud of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ So be it For a godly life ALmighty God giue vs grace that we may cast away the works of darknes put on vs the armour of light now in the time of this mortall lifâ— in the which thy soâ—l Iesus Ihrist came to visit vs in great humilitie that in the last day when be shal come again in his glorious maiesty to iudg the quick the dead we may rise to the life immortall through him who liueth raigneth with thee y â— holie Ghost now and for euer So be it A prayer for the true perseuerance and assured hope of eternall life BLessed God which hast caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning grant that we may in such wise heare them reade them marke them and inwardly printe them in our heartes that by patience comfort of thy holy word we may imbrace and euer hold fast the blessed hope of euerlasting life which thou hast giuen vs in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it A prayer for the obtaining of our petitions ALmightie God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee and doest promise that when two or three be gathered together in thy 〈◊〉 thou wilt grant their requests fulfill now O Lorde the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them graunting vs in this world knowledge of thy truâ—â— and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen The end of the Letanie A GODLIE INSTRVction conteining the summe of all the diuinitie necessary for a Christian conscience Made by Iohn Bradford A Man that is regenerate and borne of GOD the which thing that euerie one of vs bee our Baptisme the Sacrament of regeneration doth require vnder paine of damnation and therefore let euerie one of vs with the Virgin Marie say Bee it vnto mee O Lorde according to thy worde according to the sacrament of baptisme wherin thou â—â—st declared our adption and let vs lament y â— doubting hereof in vs 〈◊〉 against it as we shall be made able of the Lorde a man I say that is regenerate consisteth of two men as a man may say namely of the old man and of the newe man The old man is like to a mightie Giant such a one as was Goliah for his birth is now perfect but the newe man is like vnto a little child such a one as was Dauid for his birth is not yet perfect vntil the day of his generall resurrection The olde man therefore is more stronger lustie and stâ—ring then is the newe man because the birth of the new man is but begun now and the olde man is perfectlie borne And as the oldeman is more stirring lustie and stronger than the newe man so is the nature of him cleane contrarie to the nature of the new man as being earthly and corrupt with Sathans seed the nature of the newe man beeing heauenly and blessed with the celestial â—eed of God So that one man in as much as hee is corrupt with the seede of the serpent is an olde man and in as much as he is blessed with the seede of God from aboue hee is a new man And as in as much as hee is an olde man he is a sinner and an enemie to God so in as much as he is regenerate hee is righteous and holie and a friend to God the seede of God preseruing him from sinne so that he cannot sin as the seede of the serpent wherewith he is corrupt euen from his conception inclineth him yea inforceth him to sinne and nothing
els but to sinne So that the best parte in man before regeneration in Gods fight is not onely an enemie but enimitie it selfe One man therefore which iâ— regenerate may well bee called alwayes iust and alwayes sinfull iust in respect of Gods seede and his regeneration sinfull in respect of Sathans seede and his first birth Betwixt these two men therefore there is continuall conflict and war most deadlie The flesh and the olde man by reason of his birth that is perfect doe often for a time preuaile against the new man being but a childe in comparison and that in such sort as not onely other but euen the children of God themselues thinke that they be nothing els but old and that the spirit and seed of God is lost and gone away where yet notwitstanding the truth is otherwise the spirite and the seed of God at the length appearing againe and dispelling awaye the cloudes which couer the Sunne of Gods seede from shining as the cloudes in the aire doe the corporall Sunne so that sometimes a man cannot tel by any sense that theâ— is any sunne the cloudes and windes so hidetâ— it from our fight Euen so our cecitie or blindnesse and corrupt affections doe often shadow the sight of Gods seede in Gods children as though they were plaine reprobates Whereof it commeth that they praying according to their sense but not according to the trueth desire of God to giue them againe his spirite as though they had lost it and hee had taken it away VVhich thing God neuer doth indeed although hee make vs to think so for a time for alwaies he holdeth his hand vnder his children in their falles that they lie not still as other do which are not regenerate And this is the difference betwixt Gods children which are regenerate aud elect before all times in Christ and the wicked cast awayes that the elect lie not still continuallie in their sin as doe the wicked but at the length doe returne again by reason of Gods seede which is in them hid as a sparke of fire in the ashes as we may see in Peter Dauid Paule Marie Magdalen and others For these I meant Gods children God hath made all things in Christ Iesu to whome hee hath giuen this dignity that they should be his inheritance and spouses This our inheritour Christ Iesus God with God light of light coeternall consubstantiall with the father and with the holie Ghost to the end that he might become our husband because the Husband and the Wife must be one body and flesh hath taken our nature vpon him communicating with it and by it in his owne person to vs all his children his diuine maiestie as Peter saith and so is become flesh of our flesh bone of our bones substantiallie as wee are become flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones spiritually al that euer we haue perteining to him yea euen our sinnes as all that euer he hath perteining vnto vs euen his whole glorie So that if Sathan should summon vs to answere in our debts and sinnes in that the wife is no suable person but the husband wee may well bid him enter his action against our husband Christ and he will make him a sufficient answer For this ende I meane that wee might be coupled and maried thus to Christ and so be certaine of saluation and at peace with God in our consciences God hath giuen his holy word which hath two parts as now the children of God doe consist of two men the one part of Gods word being proper to the old man the other part of Gods word beeing proper to the newe man The parte properlie pertaining to the old man is the lawe the part properly perteining to the new man is the Gospell The law is a doctrine which commaundeth and forbiddeth requiring doing and auoyding Vnder it therfore are conteined al precepts threatnings promises vpon conditions of our doing and auoyding c. The Gospell is a doctrine which alwayes offereth and giueth requireng on our behalf not as of worthinesse or as a cause but as a certificate vnto vs and therefore vnder it are contained all the free and sweet promises of God as I am the Lord thy God c. In those that be of yeares of discretion it requireth faith not as a cause but as an instrument whereby we ourselues may be certaine of our good husband Christ and of his glorie and therefore when the conscience feeleth it selfe disquieted for feare of Gods iudgement against sin she may in no wise looke vpon the doctrine pertaining to the olde man but to the doctrine onely that pertaineth to the newe man in it not looking for that which it requireth that is faith because wee neuer beleeue as wee should but onely on it which it offereth which it giueth that is on Gods grace and eternall mercie and peace in Christ Iesu So shall she be in quiet when she looketh for it altogether out of her selfe in gods mercy in christ Iesu in whose lap if she lay her head with S. Iohn then is shee happie and shall finde quietnesse in deede When she feeleth her selfe quiet then in Gods name let her looke on the lawe and vpon such things as it requireth thereby to bridle and keepe downe the olde Adam to stay the Goliah froÌ„ whom she must needs keepe the sweet promises being the bed wherein her spouse she 〈…〉 lie together For as the wife 〈◊〉 keepe her bed onelie for her husband although in other things she is contented to haue fellowship with others as to speak sit eate drinke go c. so our consciences which are christs wiues must needs keep the bed that is goes sweet promises all only for our selues and our husband there to meete together to imbrace and laugh together and to be ioyful together If sinne the lawe the deuill or any thing els woulde creepe into the bed and lye there then complaine to thy husbande Christ and foorthwith thou shalt see him play Phinees part Thus my dearly beloued I haue giuen you in few wordes a summe of all the Deuinity which a Christian conscience cannot want FINIS The Table AN introduction to praier 17 A meditatioÌ„ coÌ„cerning praier 49 A meditation vpon the Lords praier 68 Priuate praier for the morning euening and other thâ—eâ— of the day 132 VVhen you avvake out of your sleepe cod VVhen you behold the daie light 134 VVhen you arise 135 VVhen you apparell your selfe 136 VVhen you are made readie to beginne the day vvithall 138 Cogitation meete to begin the day vvithal 139 VVhen you goe foorth of the doore 143 VVhen you are going anie iourneie 145 VVhen you are about to receiue your meat 148 In the meale time 150 After your meat 152 VVhen you come home againe 155 At the Sunne going dovvne 156 VVhen the candles bâ— light 158 VVhen you make your selfe vnreadie 160 VVhen you goe into