such feruent zeale and affection as we should be Now although we know that it is the onely work of the holy Ghost thus to moue and incline our harts to praier notwithstanding we may not be negligent and slothfull to dispose and stirre vp ourselues thereunto but rather contrariwise so often as we feele our selues cold and not disposed to praier as we ought to be we must make our supplication vnto the Lord that it would please him to inflame vs with his holy spirit whereby we may be framed to pray with such feruency of mind as we ought to doe When we are cast downe by the sense and feeling of our owne infirmity sinne and misery yet must we pray notwithstanding in sure and stedfast hope to obtaine our requests These be the things indeed contrary in shew to ioine with the feeling of the iust vengeance of God sure affiance of sauour which things doe yet very well agree in that it is the goodnes of God only that raiseth vs vp being oppressed with our owne euils from the which of ourselues we cannot rise For as repentance and faith are knit as companionâ— together albeit the one driueth vs down with feare and the other lifteth vs vp againe with comfort so in praying they must needs go together And this agreement Dauid expresseth in few words I will saith he in the multitude of thy mercies enter iâ—to thy house Psal 5. and in the Temple of thy holinesse I will worship thee with feare Therefore when we are once touched with true repentance and feeling of our own misery we must withall haue such a perswasion of Gods fauour and mercy towards vs in all our praiers that they shall be accepted of God so farre forth as it shal be necessary for vs. This is the assurance saith S. Iohn that we haue in God 1. Iohn 5 that if we aske any thing according to his will he heareth vs. Jf we haue not a sure trust and confidence in the mercy and promises of God it is vnpossible to make our prayer to him aright and whosoeuer doubteth whether God heareth his prayer that man obtaineth nothing to such praiers God hath made no promise But contrariwise he saith whaâ—soeuer yee shall aske in prayer if ye beleeue yee shall receiue it And againe Whatsoeuer yee desire beleeue that yee shall obtaine it Mat. 31 Mark 12 and it shall be done vnto you Aske saith Saint Iames in faith and wauer not for he that wauereth is like to the waues of the Sea Iames 5 which are tossed of the winde and carried away And why should we wauer or doubt seeing the holy Scriptures testifie of God that he is faithfull iust and true in all his words and promises saying The Lord is faithfull in all his words he will euer be mindfull of his couenant the truth of the Lord indureth for euer And although our faith be not so strong and therfore our prayer not so harty and zealous as i ought to be yea though our faith bee saint and cold yet let vs hold fast this principle that our praiers are not frustrator in vain For our comfort therin we haue an example in the father which brought his sonne first to the Apostles and afterward to Christ and said Marke 9 If thou canst Lord helpe and yet afterward he acknowledged the weakenesse of his faith and desired to bee made strong J beleeue Lord saith he helpe my vnbeliefe How often do the children of God complaine of this imbecilitie and weaknesse of faith Such as are exercised in true praier doe feele that in crauing of God the forgiuenesse of their sinnes they bring scarce the tenth part of that sacrifice which Dauid speak th of where he saiâ—h An acceptable sacrifice to God Psal 52 is a troubled spirit a broken and an humbâ—e heart O God thou wilt not despise Many times they are driuen to wrestle with their owne dulnesse and coldnesse in praier Many times their minds slippe aside and wander away in vanitie Many times they feele not their owne lacke and miserie to pricke them sharpely enough to praier yea and many times they are so beaten downe with the sence feeling of their owne sinne and miserie as though they were forsaken of God and their faith vtterly extinguished In what horrour and anguish of he art was Dauid when he said vnto the Lord Psal 88 Psal 39 Why doest thou reiect my soule why hidest thou thy face from me And againâ— Cease from me vntill I goe away and bâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—erby it might seeme that he like a 〈◊〉 man desireth nothing else but that 〈…〉 of God câ—asing hee might rot in his eâ—â—â— but it is not so for hee saith it not for that hee would haue God to depart from him as the reprobate doth but only he complaineth that the wrath of God was too heauy for him to bear A hard temptation is it when the faithfull are compelled to crie Psâ—l 80 How long wilt thou be angrie against the praiers of thy seruants As though their verie praiers made God more angrie Lamen 3 So when Ieremie said The Lord hath shut vp my praier no doubt hee was shaken with a vehement pang of temptation These are the imperfections of Gods ch ldren which euen the beleeuing and hoping doe oftentimes vtter some vnfaithfulnesse and in the verie remedies fall into new diseases for there is no prayer they make which the Lord would not worthily loath and abhorre if he should not winke at their spots and imperfections And such examples are common in the scriptures Whereby we see that the Lord oftentimes suffereth his to bee grieuously tempted and afflicted and hideth from them the comfort of his spirit as though they were cleane forsaken but to their great consolation in the end This is the schoole wherein the wisedome of God nurtureth and â—â—eth her children as we may see Ecclesi 4. First shee will walke with them saith he by crooked waies bring them vnto feare and dread and torment them with her discipline vntill shee haue tried their soules and haue proued them by her iudgements then will shee returne the straight way vnto them and comfort them and shew them her secrets and heape vpon them the treasures of knowledge and vnderstanding of righteousnesse Thus we see the state of Gods children that when the Lord hath shewed them what they are of themselues by the sight and horrour of their sinnes and terrour of Gods iudgement for the same then will hee shew them what they are in Christ as Esay saith For a time a little while I haue forsaken thee but I will gather thee together in wonderful mercies Jn a short time of wrath I hid my face a while from thee but I wil haue mercie on thee for euer saith the Lord thy redeemer Such is the louing kindnesse â—nd mercy of God towards the afflicted when they are sorry for their sinnes lamenting and mourning in their
not be compared to the reward of faith that glorious sight which we shall see in the life to come when faith and hope shall cease Now thy children know that they be thy sons though they yet appeare not what they shall bee Wee know say they that when our Christ God and man shal appear then shal we be like vnto him for we shall see him euen as he is O great prerogatiue to see Christ as he is which is not to be considered so much for the manhood as for the godhead it selfe as Paul doth also write that when all things are subiect vnto the Sonne theÌ„ shal he be subiect vnto thee deare Father also that God may be al in al. And therfore Christ our sauior praied for vs that we might know thee the onely true God Not that our Christ the sonne is not with thee the true coequall and substantiall God but that we might know how that after the iudgement such a mystery of his mediatorshippe shall not be in heauen as is now in earth Then thou blessed Trinity God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy ghost shal be all in al thou shalt be the end of our desires thou shalt be looked vpon without end thou shalt be loued without lothing thou shalt be praised without wearinesse although loathsomnesse be wont to follow fulnes yet our fulnes in the contemplation of thy pleasures shal bring with it no kind at all of loathsomnesse Society of ioyes shal be in the beholding of thee Pleasures are on thy right hand for euer We shal be satisfied when we arise after thine image I meane in the resurrection O deare Father shew thy selfe vnto vs and we aske no more Oh grant vs with thy Saints in euerlasting life to praise with perpetuall praises thy holy name Happy then and happy againe were we if that day were come that we might sing with the Angels Elders and innumerable thousands a new song and say Thou Christ Iesu which was slain art worthy to receiue power and riches and wisedome and strength honour and glory and blessing In this blessed life al kind of maladies griefs sorrowes and euils be farre away and all full of all kind of mirth ioy and pleasure Oh that we might see now a little with S. Iohn that holy City new Ierusalem descending from heauen prepared of God as a bride trimmed for her husband O that we might now something hear the great voice speaking out of the throne Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and hee shall bee vnto them their God hee will wipe away all teares from their eies and death shall be no more nor weeping nor crying nor sorrow for the former things are gone I.B. Another meditation of the blessed state and felicity of this life to come THis body is but a prison where in the soule is kept and that verily not beautifull nor bright but most foule and dark disquiet fraile and filled vp with much vermin and venimous vipers I mean it concerning our affections standing in an aire most vnholesom and prospect most lothsome if a man consider the extremities of it by the eies nose mouth eares hands feet and all the other parts So that no Bocardo no Litleease no Dungeon no Bishops prison no Gatehouse no sinke no pit may be compared in any point to be so euill a prison for the soule as the body is for and of the soule wherethrough the children of God haue been occasioned to cry and lament their long being in it Oh saith Dauid How long shall I lie in this prison Oh wretch that I am saith Paul who shall deliuer me out of this body of sinne Rom. 7. which is an heauy burden to the soul as the wise man saith And the godly cry Luke 2â— Now let thy seruant depart in peace O that I were dissolued and had put off this earthly fraile tabernacle Psal 143. Take me vnto thee and bring my soule out of this prison that it may giue thanks vnto thee O Lord. For so long as wee bee in this body we cannot see the Lord yea it is an heauy habitation depresseth down sore the spirit from the familiarity which it selfe should haue with God This world and life is an exile a vale of misery a wildernes of it selfe being void of all vertues necessary for eternall life full of enemies sorrowes sighings sobbings gronings miseries c. In danger to hunger cold heat thirst sores sicknesse tentations trouble death and innumerable calamities being momentany short vnstable and nothing but vain and therfore is compared to a warfare a womans trauaile a shadow a smoke a vapor a word a storme a tempest in the which Gods people feele great molestations griefs and troubles now of satan himselfe now of the world now of their own flesh and that so wonderfully diuersly dangerously and contrarily that they are enforced to cry O Lord when shall we come appear before thee when shall this misery end when shall we be deliuered out of this vale of misery out of this wildernes out of these continuall afflictions and most perilous seas But where thou art Lord and deare father of mercy there is not onely no prison no dolours nor sorrow no sighings no tears no sicknesse no hunger no heat no colde no paine no tentations no displeasure no malice no pride no vncleannesse no contention no torments no horror no sinne no filth no stinch no bearth no death no weeping no teares no misery no mischiefe there is I say not only no such thing or any euill not some or displeasant thing but all liberty all light all pleasâ—ntnesse all ioy reioycing mirth pleasure health welth riches glory power treasure honour triumph comfort solace loue vnitie peace concord wisedome vertue melody meeknesse felicitie beatitude and all that euer can be wished or desired in most securitie eternity and perpetuity that may be thought not onely of man but of Angels and Archangels yea aboue all thoughts The eie hath not seene the like the eare hath not heard 1. Coâ— 2. nor no heart is able to conceiue in any point any part of the blissefull beatitude which is with thee most deare Lord and Sauior most gracious God and comforter Where thou art O blessed God the Archangels Angels Thrones Powers Dominions Cherubins Seraphins Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs Virgins Confessors and righteous spirits cease not to sing night and day Holy Apoc. 4. holy holy Lord God of hosts honour maiesty glory power empire and dominion be vnto thee O God the creator O Lord Iesus the redeemer O holy spirit the comforter Apoc. 5. In recordation of this O how thy children reioice How contemne they the pleasures of this world How little esteeme they any corporall griefe or shame How desire they to be with thee How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord God of hostes say they My soule
serue thee Graft in my heart the loue of thy name increase in mee true religion replenish mee with all goodnesse and of thy great mercy keepe me in the same vnto the end Giue vnto me the spirit of praier true humility perfect patience and continuall ioy in the holy Ghost I commend vnto thy protection O Father my house and all thou hast giuen me my whole family my wife and children and aide mee that I may well and holily gouerne â—orish and bring them vp in thy feare and seruiâ—e And forasmuch as in this world I must alwayes be at war not with one sort of enemies but with an infinit number not only with flesh and blood but with the diuell which is the prince of darknesse grant me thy grace that being armed with thy defence I may stand in this battel with an inuincible coÌ„stancy againsâ— all corruption which I am incompassed with on all sides vntill such time as I hauing ended the combat which during this life I must sustaine in the end I may attaine to thy heauenly rest which is prepared for me through Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour Amen A praier taken out of the first Psalme ALmightie and most gracious God take away from vs all euill counsell and then our sinneâ—â— suffer vs not to run into an vngodly and wickedlife and finally keep out minds farre from the contempt of godlinesse and scorning of vertue in the stead of these euils grant that we may continually be occupied in thy law and sacred scriptures that we be not carried about like the wicked like dust and fruitlesse chaffe with euery blast of affection and doctrine but rather that we as trees planted by the water brookes indued with the life of the spirit faith may also bring forth the fruits of good works and that what soeuer we take in hand may prosper and tend to the praise and glory of thy name furtherance of our saluation and at the last when the wicked shall fal away in thy iudgement we may stand stedfast and be made perfect through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmighty God we are sufficieÌ„tly taught that grieuous calamities miserable plagues do therefore daily vex trouble the church because we haue not ceased to follow the counsell of the vngodly which being once known we ought to haue eschewed The way also of the wicked we haue not shunned yea wee haue not ceased to walke their race by continuall transgression of thy commandements we haue also oâ— long time contemned all godly correction and discipline and whatsoeuer hath been taught vs out of thy work hath been too little regarded yea wtout all shame neglected scorned Wherefore it is no maruell if wâ— in the stead of that happinesse and quiet peace which we alas haue to long abused be now compelled to suffer all heauy grieuous and most bitter plagues But now O God in humblenes of hart we flee vnto thee confessing our grieuous offences and wee most humbly and heartily beseech thee that those euills which we so foolishly and wretchedly haue committed thou wilt mercifully forgiue vs and frame our minds wholy to the obedience of thy Law in such 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 wee giuing credite to thy wordes bring forth seasonable and pleasant fruit and shal not be spoiled of the graces of the holy Ghost yea our doings shal neuer be withour happy successe Now we are tossed hither thither not vnlike to leaues and chaffe with the wind of aduersity and affliction yet grant O most merciful Fathee that our life perish not with the wicked but that the cause of the iust may be defended by thy singular prouidence and protection so that in iudgemeÌ„t 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 ALmighty GOD forasmuch as wee haue now learned that a great part of our felicity so long as we liue here consisteth in this that wee refraine from vngodly counsell and wicked manners and also auoid the company of those that despise deride all good things and that in the stead of these euills we giue our selues to the heauenly study of thy holy law to bee occupied and exercised therein both day and night wherby we do perceiue that we haue very much erred and straied from this way of our saluation yea wee haue in these things most wickedly offended therfore we beseech thee euen for thy mercies sake that thou wilt pardon our offences and that henceforth by continuall study and exercise of thy word thou wilt vouch safe to make vs fruitful plants that we may not only bring forth wholesome fruits in thy Church whiles we liue here but also may be able in the other world to stand in iudgement before thee who best knowest the way of the iust through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier taken out of the second Psalme VVE perceiue most mercifull and almighty God that not only Antichrist but also the power and strength of the whole world conspireth against thee and against thy Christ which thinke the gospel and the building vp again of the church to be an intollerable bondage hard yoke Wherefore they labour by all possible meanes to breake asunder the societies and congregations of the faithfull and cast away al discipline But forasmuch as thou sittest in heauen art not ignorant what the diuell or wicked flesh goeth about laugh thou to scorne their vain counsells bring their purposes to nought Let them feele thine anger to be kindled against them make them astonied at the storcenesse of thine indignations so that they may not be able to destroy the Church ouer whoÌ„ thou hast appointed Iesus Christ our only Sauior to be a gouernour that in it hee may raigne by his word and spirite with inuincible might and power Wherefore grant vnto vs although vnworthy and shrinking children such faith constancy that we may finde him also confesse him to be our only king and that we may nothing doubt but that wee may be his nation people and heritage being most assured of this that he is of such strength and power that with his sword more strong then yron he is able to destroy whom he will and breake them in peeces like earthen pots Therefore O God turne the kings and princes of the world vnto thee that they may bee wise and vnderstand whereby they may vnfainedly acknowledge imbrace and kisse his sonne lest when his wrath shall once be kindled they perish and be destroyed for euer And when it shal be thy good pleasure make them blessed for euermore which commit themselues to thy gouernance and and protection by Christ Iesus our Lord Amen Out of the same Psalme MOst mighty and merciful Lord God though
Elijahs fiery-Chariot OR GLOWING-COALS Taken from GODS ALTAR Being excellent Prayers and Meditations fitted for all Persons in all Conditions Composed by divers learned Fathers and Martyrs in the Church of God The like never before extant London Printed for Thomas Rooks and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the Lamb at the East-end of St. Pauls Church 1659. The Epistle Reader LEt no prejudicate opinion divert or fiery passion impedeâ— thy â—erusual of this little Manuâ—l because it adventures inâ—o a litigious world without 〈◊〉 Guardian for know ussuâ—edly it is no other than a Dove sent out of the Ark Gods Church to view the frame of the children of men and amidst the various actions of contentious spirits will certainly return with the Olive branch of Peace to each faithful Soul for indulgent mercy being alwayes ready with unwearied beams of Love and Light to guide the staggering steps of the rebellious and sinful yet returning man will never permit the great Abaddon to destroy the lives of precious Souls either by devouring their Religion in the flames of pretendâ—d but ignorant zeal or devouring their devotion in the overflowing deluge of a licentious tolleration for Heavens propâ—â—ious eye is ever watchful over his own peculiar Flock taking care that his inheritance may not be destroyed by that strange fire which is daily offered up from the usurped unlawful censors of pretended gifts by the many presumptious Corahs which like the Egyptian Flyes have of late overspread the whole Land that the grand Impostors of the world may no longer prevail upon the hearts of good people It hath pleased Almighty God to inspire stir up the hearts of some they of the faithfullest and most eminent Watchmen of our Israel in this ensuing Treatise to furnish us the unlearned and ignorant with Prayers Arguments and fervent ejaculations so to cast some glowing coals into the hearts and minds of the most excellent Christians whereby the fervor of their devotions may be increased The work is short but pithy as containing in it the Elixar of all religious service the epitomy of all piety and the whole of every man furnishing them with Prayers and Meditations for all times in all conditions and upon all occasions In short it is the platform both of prayer and meditation wherein is copied out Elijahs fiery-Chariot that with speed will carry fainting Souls to the place of comfort and rest Jacobs Bethel wherein the strongest man in Christ Jesus may strive and wrestle with his maker the Key of David which if turned by the hand of Faith will open the dore of Heaven to the greatest of sinners AN INTRODVCTION to Praier FOrasmuch as of our selues we are destitute of all good things and vtterly voide of all necessary helpes to saluation the Lord our God of his owne free mercie and goodnesse offereth himselfe to vs in Christ and in him he giueth vnto vs in the stead of our misery al felicity in the stead of our pouerty the vnspeakable riches of his grace he openeth vnto vs in him the treasures of heaueÌ„ that our faith might wholy behold him and our hope bee fully fixed vpon him Jn whom it hath pleased him that the fulnesse of his grace should dwell that from thence we might all draw as out of a most plentifull fountaine the waters of eternall life This secret and great misterie is reuealed to such onely whose eies the Lord hath opened to see light in his light Therefore since we are taught by faith that whatsoeuer we haue need of is wanting in vs the same is laid vp with God for vs in Christ it remaineth that we seeke it in him Rom 10 with praier craue it of him The Apostle therefore to shew that true faith cannot be separated from the inuocation of Gods holy name hath set this order that as faith commeth by the Gospell so by the same faith our hearts are stirred vp to call vpon the name of Gâ—d and therefore he saith that the spirit of adoption which sealeth in our hearts the witnesse of the Gospell raiseth vp our spirits that they dare with boldnesse shew forth their desires it stirreth vp in vs vnspeakeable gronings and causeth vs to cry with confidence Abba Father By the benefit of prayer therefore we attaine to those riches which God hath laide vp in store for vs for thereby we haue familiar accesse to God and boldly entring into the sanctuarie of heauen we put him in mind of his promises so that now by experience wee feele and finde that to be true indeede which by the word we did before but onely beleeue now we enioy those treasures by Prayer which by faith wee did before but onely behold in the Gospell of our Lord Jesus Now how necessary and profitable this exercise of prayer is appeareth in that the Lord himselfe witnesseth our whole saluation to consist in the calling vpon his name whereby he is wholly present with vs namely by his prouidence and fatherly care by the which he vvatcheth ouer vs by his power by the which hee sustaineth and succoureth our weakenesse being euery moment ready to perish and by his goodnesse and mercy by the which he receiueth vs into fauour being miserably loaden and pressed down with sinne And hereby groweth singular rest and quietnesse to our conscience For when wee haue disclosed to him our necessity herein we finde most ioyfull 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 helpe vs. Now that our praier may be made in such wise as it ought to be first wee must see that we be in heart and minde no otherwise prepared then becommeth those that enter into talke with God as we are taught Eccl. 28. Before thou pray prepare thy selfe and be not as one that tempteth God We must consider therfore when we pray in whose presence wee stand to whom wee speake and what we desire We stand in the presence of the Almighty creator of heauen and earth all things therein contained to whose eternall Maiesty 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 then hypocrisie dissimulation we aske those things which be most for his glory the comfort of our consciences VVee must therefore diligently endeuour our selues to remoue all such things as may offend his diuine maiestie And first that wee bee free from all worldly cares and fleshly cogitations whereby our minds are carried hither thither and being drawne out of heauen from the pure beholding of God are pressed downe to the earth And here let vs call to mind how vnreuerently we abuse the great goodnesse of God calling vs into familiar talke with him when we haue not that reuerent feare of his sacred Maiestie that we would haue of an earrhly creature or
as of our selues we are vnworthie to appeare in Gods sight whose terrible maiestie comming once into our minde it is impossible but that we should fly from him as a fearefull Judge therefore he hath giuen vnto vs a Mediatour euen our Lord Jesus 1. Iohn 2 that he being a meane between God and vs might change the throne of dreadfull glory in the throne of grace and that we by his merits hauing accesse vnto God might haue assured trust to finde grace in his sight If any man sinne saith S Iohn wee haue an Aduocate vvith the Father Iesus Christ the iust and hee is the Reconciliation for our sins Acts 10 To him saith Saint Peter beare all the Prophets witnesse that through his name all that beleeue in him shall receiue forgiuenesse of their sinnes Eph. 5 Heb. 4 By vvhom saith Saint Paul vvee haue boldnesse and entrance in all confidence through faith in him And againe Wee haue not an high priest which cannot haue compassion on our infirmitie but vvas in all points tempted like as vve are sinne excepted let vs goe boldly therefore vnto the throne of his grace that vve may receiue mercie and finde grace to helpe in time of â—eede And as we are commanded to call vpon God and haue a promise also to be heard euen so we are commanded to make our praiers vnto him in the name faith confidence of this our mediator we haue no promise to be heard without him in whom are all the promises of God 2. Cor 1 Luk 11 yea and Amen confirmed and fulfilled And no man commeth to the Father but by tâ—e sonne For he is our mouth wherby we speake to the Father hee is our eie whereby we see the father and he is our right hand whereby we offer our selues to the father Whansoeuer therefore we aske in his name we haue a promise to obtaine it Veriâ—y verily saith Christ I say vnto you vvhatsoeuer yee shalaske of the Father in my name he shal giue it you in my name that is for my sake your high Bishop prayâ—ng for you Iohn 14 Hitherto you haue not asked any thing in my name aske and yee shal receiue Jn that day yee shall aske in my name whatsoeuer yee aske J vvill doe that the father may be glorified in the sonne Of praier there be two parts petition and thanksgiuing By petition we powre forth our desires before God requiring first those things that may set forth his glory and then such benefirs as are profitable and necessary for vs. By giuing of thanks we praise and magnifie his benefits bestowed vpon vs acknowledging that whatsoeuer good things we enioy we haue receiued them of his free goodnes and liberality Therefore Dauid ioyned those two parts together in one verse when he saith Psal 50 Call vpon mee in the day of necessitie I wil deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me The Scripture commaundeth vs to vse both and that continually For our necessity is so great our life is so full of troubles and calamities and so many dangers hang ouer our heades euery moment that wee haue all cause enough yea euen the most holy with sighes and groanings continually to flie vnto God and call vpon him in most humble wise But this we may better perceiue in things pertaining to the soule For when shall so many great sins whereof we know our selues guilty suffer vs to be without care and not to craue pardon of God for the same when will Satan giue vs rest and quietnes when will he cease to range about seeking whom he may destroy when shall our tentations giue vs truce so that we shall not need to hasten vnto God for helpe Finally the desire of the kingdome and glory of God ought to draw vs wholly vnto it not by fits but continually that all times should be fit and conuenient for vs to pray VVherefore not without cause we are so often commaunded to pray continually And though we be not driuen with like necessitie at all times to pray yet in this case Saint Iames teacheth vs what we ought to doe If any man be heauie or afflicted saith he let him pray that is let him craue Gods helpe and comfort and who so is merry let him sing that is let him praise God Moreouer the benefits and blessings of GOD are large and plentifull towards vs which way soeuer wee turne that we can neuer want matter and occasion of praise and thankesgiuing And seeing wee ought to acknowledge God to bee the author and giuer of all good things we should alway receiue the same at his hand with thanksgiuing for to that end God continually bestoweth his good blessings and benefits vpoÌ„ vs that we should continually shew forth his praise be thankful vnto him for the same and so wee render vnto him his due honour And S. Paul when he saith that they are sanctified by the word prayer signifieth that to vs they are not holy and cleane without the word and prayer and therefore Dauid saith when he had felt the liberalite of the Lord that there was put into his mouth a new song that is a new occasion of praise and thanksgiuing Whereby hee signifieth that it is a wicked silence if wee passe ouer any 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 in things as occasions are continually offered vnto vs lift vp our prayer vnto God in crauing helpe at his hand and confessing his praise whereby we may both obtaine of him all good things and also praise and magnifie his name for all How this perseuerance in praier is required of vs. Christ himselfe teacheth vs by the parable of the three Ioanes and of the widdow and wicked Iudge Whereby we are taught to continue in prayer with all earnestnesse and feruent supplication and neuer to faint or giue ouer Luk 11.18 vntill we be assured in our spirit that our praiers be heard The praier of the humble saith the Sonne of Sirach goeth through the cloudes Eccles 53. it ceaseth not vntil it come neare and it will not depart vntil God the most high God haue respect thereto Behold saith Dauid as the eyes of the seruants looke vnto the hand of their masters and as the eyes of a maiden vnto the hand of her mistresse so our eyes vvaite vpon the Lord our God vntill he haue mercy vpon vs. Psal 12 3 And thus must we not cease to doe vntill we may boldly say also with Dauid The Lord hath heard the voice of my vveeping the Lord hath heard my humble petition the Lord hath receiued my prayer Now concerning the forme and manner of praying least we should follow our owne fantasie being of our selues so blind that we know not how to pray or
what is meete and expedient for vs the Lord himselfe hath sufficiently instructed vs who as he hath taught vs through the whole Scripture how and for what things we ought to pray so hath he set forth one maner of Prayer in the which he hath briefly comprehended all such things as we ought yea or in any wise may aske of GOD. Wherein he hath expressed what is due pleasing and acceptable to him what is necessary for vs and what he will grant so that there is nothing herein omitted that might be thought vpon to the praise glory of God or come into the minde of man for his profit and commodity Mar. 6 Luk. 11. And this is that prayer that our Lord Jesus Christ taught his Disciples when they asked him how they should pray Whosoeuer therefore shall aske any thing that is not contained in this prayer they presume to adde something 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 he willed and willed whatsoeuer was needfull Albeit we are not so bound to this forme of prayer that we should not vse any other kinde of words then the Lord himselfe heerein hath vsed For there are elsewhere set forth in the scriptures many ptayers farre differing from this in words and yet written by the same spirit and very profitably to bee vsed of vs. And many praiers also are continually vttered of the faithfull by the same spirit which varie from the same in words But this is required of vs â—hat none should looke for seek or aske any other thing at all theÌ„ that which is briefly comprehended in this prayer and which though it differ in words yet differeth not in sense substance like as it is certain that all the praiers which are found in the scriptures and which doe continually proceed from the heart of the faithfull are referred by the dâ—rection of Gods spirit vnto this praier how soeuer they differ in the varietie of words Manie good and godly men euen in our daies well exercised in praier haue left vnto vs most worthie examples testimonies hereof furnished with ample large matter to forme holy true praiers ful of power to inflame the heart to a feruent inuocation of Gods holy name whereof we haue giuen here some taste to the godly and specially to the simple not yer well exercised Reade meditate and pray and you shall find comfort in your soules A meditation concerning prayer THe minde of man hath so large roome to receiue good things that nothing indeede can fulfill it but onely God whom then the minde fully possesseth when it fully knoweth him fully loueth him and in all things is framed after his will They therefore deare Lord God that are thy children haue tasted somewhat of thy goodnesse doe perpetually sigh that is doe pray vntill they come theâ—eto in that they loue thee also aboue althings it wonderfully woundeth them that other men doe not so that is loue thee and seeke for thee with them Whereof it commeth to passe that they are inflamed with continuall praiers and desires that thy kingdome might come euerie where and thy goodnesse might be both known and also in life expressed of euerie man And because there are innumerable manie things which as well in themselues as in others be against thy glory they are kindled with continuall prayer and desire sighing vnspeakably in thy sight for the increase of thy spirit And sometimes when they see thy glorie more put backe then it was wont to bee either in themselues or in any other then are they much more disquieted and vexed But because they know that thou dost rule all things after thy good will and that none other can helpe them in their neede they oftentimes doe goe aside all businesse laid apart and giue themselues to godly cogitations and talk with thee complaining to thee as to their Father of those things that grieue them begging thereto and that most earnestly thy helpe not onely for themselues but also for others specially for those whom singularly they imbrace in thee and often doe repeate and remember thy gracious benefits both to others and to themselues also where through they are prouoked to render to thee heartie thankes thereby being inflamed as well assuredly to hope well of thy good will towards them and patiently to beare all euils as also to stude and labour to mortifiy the affections of the flesh and to order all their whole life to the seruice of their brethren and to the setting foorth of thy glory This they know is that prayer which thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord commanded to be made to thee in the chamber the doore being shut In this kinde of prayer hee himselfe did watch often euen all the whole night Herein was Paul frequent as all the Saints be This kinde of prayer is the true lifting vp of the mind to thee This standeth in the affections of the heart not in words and in the mouth As thy children be endued with thy spirit so frequent they this talke with thee The more thy spirit is in them the more are they in talke with thee Oh giue me plentifully thy spirit which thou hast promised to power out vpon all flesh that thus I may with thy Saints talke with thee night and dâ—y for thy onely beloued Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Moreouer the Sainâ—s to prouoke them to this kind of praier do vse first their necessitie which they consider in three sorts inwardlie concerning their soules outwardly concerning their bodies and finally concerning their name and fame whereto they adde the necessitie of those that be committed to them the necessitie of thy Church and of the common wealth Secondly they vse thy commandements which require them vnder paine of sinne to pray to thee in all their need Thirdly they vse the consideratioÌ„ of thy goodnesse which art naturally mercifull to yong Rauens calling vpon thee much more then to them for whom Rauens and all things else were mâ—de for whom thou hast not spared thy deare sonne but giuen him c. Fourthly they vse thy most sweet and free promises made to heare and helpe all them that call vpon thee in Christs name Fifthly they vse examples how that thou which art the God of all and rich vnto all them that call vpon thee in Christs name hast heard and holpen others calling vpon thee Sixtly they vse the benefits giuen them before they asked thereby not onely prouoking them to aske more but also certifying their faith that if thou wast so good to grant them manie things vnaskt now thou wilt not denie them any thing they aske to thy glorie and their wealth Last of all they vse the reading and singing
whom wee are made thy children that I may truely know thee heartily loue thee faithfully hang vpon thee in all my needs with good hope call vpoÌ„ thee tender faithfully this honor to thee that thou art my God and Father and I thy dear Child through thy grace in Christ and so alwaies bee endued with an assured hope of thy goodnesse and a faithfull obedient heart in all things to thy holy will As thy hands and from thee as I must looke for all things so come I vnto thee and pray the to giue me those things which thy deare children haue and thou requirest of me that I come and aske them of thee as now I do through Iesus Christ our Lord. As by this word Father I am taught to glorie of thee and in thee and all that euer thou hast for thou art wholy mine my Lord my God my father so by this word Our I am taught to glorie of all the good that all and euerie of thy seruants that euer were are or shall bee 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 whom hereby I perceiue thou hast commanded to be as carefull for mee as for hâ—mselues and in all their praiers â—o bee as mindefull of me as of themselues Againe as by this word Father I am taught to remember render my duty I owe to thee-wards faith loue feare obedience c so by this word Our I am taught my duety towards thy people to be carefull of them and to take their sorrow pouerty afffiction c. as mine owne and therefore to labour to helpe them in heart and hand after my vocation and ability vtterly abhorring all pride selfe-loue arrogancy and contempt of any By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lament because I am so farre from consideration much more from doing my duty to thy people in thoughts words and deeds To reioice because I am called of thee placed in the blessed society of thy Saints and made a member and citizen of the heauenly Ierusalem because thou hast giuen in commandement to all thy Church to bee as carefull for mee as for themselues But alas how farre am I heerefrom As I am guilty of vnthankfulnesse for this thy calling mee vnto the blessed communion of thy deare sonne and Church yea of thy selfe so am I guilty of selfe-loue vnmercifulnesse pride arrogancy forgetfulnesse and contempt of thy children for else I could not but be otherwise affected and otherwise labour then I doe Oh bee mercifull vnto mee good Father forgiue mee and grant for Christes sake that as my tongue soundeth this word Our so I may in heart feele the true ioy of thy blessed communion and the true loue and compassion which thy children haue and feele towards their brethren that I may reioice in al troubles in respect of that ioifull communion that I may deny my selfe to honour thy children vpon earth and endeauour my selfe to doe them good for thy sake through Iesus Christ our Lord I come only to thee to giue me that which I cannot nor must not else where haue and thou requirest it of mee that therefore I should as thy childe come and craue it to thy glory Which art in heauen AS by these words Our Father I am taught to glory and reioice for the blessed communion which I am called to with thee deare Father with thy Christ and wiâ—h the holy Church so also am I heere taught by these words Which art in heauen to reioice in respect of the place and blessed ioyes whereunto at the length in thy good time I shall come For now I may perceiue that as heauen is thy home so is it mine also being as I am thy childe through Christ although here for a time I am bodily on earth and in misery Againe by these words which art in heauen I am admonished not only to discerne thee from earthly Fathers and to know how that thou art almighty present in all places and of most purity to confirme thereby my faith to bee prouoked the more to feare thee to reuerence thee c. But also I am admonished to iudge of thy fatherly loue by heauenly benefits and not by corporall simply 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 things to Heauen and heauenly things and that I should see further by corporall benefits thy heauenly prouidence for mee For if thou place mee thus on earth and thus blesse me as thou doest and hitherto hast done from my youth vp in that thou art nothing so carefull for my body as for my soule how should I but thinke much of thy prouidence for it is thy home where is such glory as the eie hath not seene c Of which things these corporall benefits of thine giuen mee on earth should bee as it were inductions and the takng of them away admonitions to bee more mindeful of permanent things and lesse mindefull of transitorie things By reason hereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioice To lament because I am so earthly minded so little desirous of my home so vnthankefull for thy prouidence and fatherly protection heere on earth To reioice because of my home and the great glorie thereof because thou dost so prouide for me heere because thou doest so correct and chasten me c. But alas I am altogeather a wretch earthly and vnthankfull not only for these corporall benefits health riches friends fame wisedome c. for thy fatherly correction sicknesse temptation c. but also for thy heauenly benefits for Christ Iesus for the promise of thy spirit for thy Gospell c. yea euen for heauen it selfe and thy whole glory as the Israelites were for the land of Canaan Psal 106. and therefore neuer enioyed it but perished in the wildernesse I am proude in prosperitie and forget thee waxing secure and careles I am impatient in the crosse and to much consider worldly discommodities Oh deare Father forgiue mee for thy Christs sake aâ—l mine vnthankefulnesse loue of this world contempt and obliuion of thy heauenly benefits and grant mee thy holy spirit to illuminate the eies of my minde with the light and liuely knowledge of thy presence power wisedome Col. 3 â—hil 3. and goodnesse in thy creatures but specially in Christ Iesus thy sonne and so by the same spirit inflame mine affections that I may desire nothing in earth but thee and to bee present with thee that my conuersation may bee in Heauen continually from whence grant mee still to looke for the Lord Iesus to make this my vile body like vnto his owne glorious and immortall body according to his own power by which he is able to do all things As thou hast giuen
see thy children desire pray and labour that thy Gospell might bee truely preached heard and liued in themselues and in others so they lament the not preaching and refusing the not liuing and not beleeuing thy Gospell yea they lament the lingring of the comming of thy Christ for in his comming they know they shall bee like vnto him and hauing this hope they purifie themselues as hee is pure By reason heereof I see first that I am farre from this desire and lamenting which thy children haue I see my ignoraÌ„ce of thy kingdome and power euery where also of thy grace in thy Church only and of thy glory when all the enemies of thy grace shall bee cast downe and thy glory and power shall embrace each other I see my ignorance how acceptable a seruice to thee is the true preaching and the hearing of thy Gospel for else thou hadst not needed to haue placed this petition next to the petition of the sanctifying of thy name Againe I see heere mine vnablenesse to enter into thy kingdome and to attaine to it for else what neede should I haue to pray for that to come from thee which otherwise may be atchieued Thirdly I see my peruersity and contempt of thy Kingdome grace for although I see my want Our peruersity yet I would not desire thy kingdome to come if thou didest not command me so to pray and if I would haue praied for it thou wouldst not haue commaunded me Gods goodnes Last of all I see thy goodnesse which wilt bring thy kingdome and that as generally by sending foorth ministers to preach truly so particularly by regenerating me more more by giuing me as grace here so glory else where for thou wouldest not I should pray for that which thou wilt deny So that I haue great cause to lament and reioice To lament because of my miserable state and condiâ—ion 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 and wilt do so still Also because of the ministery of thy word sacraments 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 vnthankeful I am and sorrowlesse Lord thou knowest for my heart is not hid from thee Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me good father and graunt me the spirit of thy children to reueale vnto mee my ignorance of thy kingdome my pouerty and peruersity that I may lament the same and dayly labour for thy helpe and thy holy Spirite to suppresse the kingdome of sinne in my selfe and others Againe grant mee that same thy holy 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 glory and to assure my conscience of thy goodnesse that thou wilt giue mee grace and glorie c. Heere cal to mind the state of the ministery and ministers the light and life of Gospelers the errors heresies which men be intangled withall Thy will be done AS thy power is infinite so is thy wisdome accordingly Whereby wee may perceiue that nothing is or can bee done against thy power or otherwise then by it so is there not nor cannot bee any thing done against or otherwise thou by thy omnipotent and secret will which is alwaies as thou art good holy iust how farre soeuer it seeme otherwise to our foolish reason and iudgement and therfore heere we are taught to praie that thy will may be done heere 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 iudgements and works therefore pray alwaies wee may bee content with thy wil and be buxome and obedient thereto And for as much as thou hast reuealed vnto vs so much of thy wil in thy word written as is necessary for vs in this life to know yea as wee can attaine vnto a little further wee ought to take all things done against the same as sinne and transgression although thou canst vse the same sinne to serue thy prouidence of the which prouidence we cannot nor may not iudge further then thou hast and shalt open it vnto vs. So that this petition Thy will be done is not simply to bee vnderstood concerning thy omnipotent will vnreuealed against the which nothing is nor can be done but rather concerning thy will reuealed in the lawe and Gospell the which thou heere teachest mee that wee should desire not only to know it but also to doe it and that in such perfection and willingnesse as it is in heauen The which thing I perceiue hereby that thy children doe desire dayly in for themselues and others and doe lament the contrary Psal 109. in whom soeuer it be so that often their eies gush our with riuers of teares because meâ— keepe not thy lawes By reason hereof I see that I am far from the sighs and teares of thy people Our ignorance I see my ignoraÌ„ce of thy will if thou hadst not opened the same by thine owne mouth I see my ignorance how acceptable a seruice obedience to thy will is and therfore doest thou place this petition among the first and continuall desires of thy children Againe I see my pouerty in Godlie obedience Our necessity which had need to bee taught to pray for it there by to signifie vnto me my want and vnability to attaine it but by thy gift Thirdly I see my disobedience Our disobedience for else neuer wouldest thou haue commaunded mee to haue prayer for the doing of thy holy will if I seeing my want would haue prayed so Gods goodnes Last of all I see thy goodnesse which wilt giue to me and others to obey thy will that is to loue thee with all our harts to loue our neighbor as our selues to dy to our selues to liue to thee to take vp our crosse and to follow thee to beleeue to repent c. for else thou wouldst neuer haue bidden vs to praie for a thing which wee should not looke for So that I haue great cause to lament and reioice To lament because of my miserable estate and condition because of my sin ignorance pouerty and peruersity and because thy wil is euery where either not known or contemned an Satans will the wil of the world and of the
If the power be our Fathers of whom should wee be afraid Let the diuell be subiect to the Lords power and kingdome as he is how can the subiect haue power ouer vs which be sonnes and heires in that he hath not power ouer porkets without the prouidence and permissioÌ„ of God Therfore full well should wee pray Lead vs not into temptatioÌ„ rather then let vs not be led into temptatioÌ„ for power is the Lords the Diuel hath none but that he hath of Gods gift No he were notable to receiue power if God did not make him able althogh the execution of it is rather of Godâ— permission Giue all thankâ—s praise and glory to God our Father through Christ our Lord and Sauiour So bee it IOHN BRADFORD Priuate prayers 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 sweet sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuen mee this night past beseeching thee that like as thou hast now awaked my body from sleepe so thou wouldest awake my soule from the sleepe of sinne and darkenesse of this world and that which thou now awaked out of sleep thou wouldest after death whereof this sleepe is but an image restore and raise aga ne to life euerlasting O gratious God make my body I heartily pray thee such a companion or rather a minister of godlinesse to my soule this day and all the time of this present life that in the life â—o comit may be partaker with the same of euerlasting happines through Christ Iesus our Lord. Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall shew light vnto thee Ephes 5. Occasâ—ons to meditate Here call to mind the great mirth and blessednesse of the euerlasting resurrection Also remember to muse vpon that most cleer light that bright morning new clearenes of our bodies after the long darkenâ—sse which they haue been in All then shall bee full of vnspeakable ioy and felicity When you behold the day light pray O Lord God thou most glorious true light from whence this light of the day and sun 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 alway a mid day most cleare and faire without whom all is most horrible darkenes and by whom all things are most cleare and bright O thou wisedome of the eternall Father of mercies lighten my minde that I may see those things onely which please thee and may be blinded to all other things Grant mee so to walke in the waies by the light of thy holy word that nothing else may be light and pleasant vnto mee Lighten mine eies O Lord that I sleepe not in death least mine enemies say I haue preuailed against him Psal 30. Occasions to meditate Muse a while how much the light and eye of the mind and soule is better then of the body Also how much more we ought to care for the soule that it may see well thâ—n for the body Morouer that beasts haue bodily eies as well as men but men only haue the eies of the mind and that such as are godly wise When you arise pray OUR f rst parents cast downe themselues from a most excellent high anâ— honourable state into shame and misery and into the deepe sea of all wickednes and mischiefe but O Christ thou pâ—tting forth thy hand didst raise them vp againe Euen so wee except we be raised vp by thee shall he still for euer O good Christ our most gracious Redeemer as thou dost mercifully raise vp now this my body euen so I beseech thee raise vp my minde heart to the true knowledge and loue of thee that my conuersation may be in heauen where thou art If thou be ris n with Christ think vpon those things that be aboue Co. 3 Occasions to meditate Thinke how foule the faâ—l of Adam was by reason of sinne and so of euery one of vs from the height of Gods grace Again thinke vpon the inestimable benefit of Christ by whose help we daily rise again from our fallings When you apparell 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 lusts thereof that I may cleane put off all desiâ—es and crucifie the king ome of the flesh in me Be thou vnto mee a gâ—rment to keepe me warme and to defend mee from the cold of this world If thou bee absent deare Lord all things are cold weake and dead but if thou be with me all tâ—ings are warme fresh and cherefull c. Grant me therfore that as I compasse this my body with this garment so thou wouldest cloth me wholy but especially my soule with thine owne selfe Put vpon you as the elect of God bowels of mercy meeknesse loue peace c. Col 3. Occasions to meditate Call to mind a little how wee are incorporate into Christ Again how he doth cloath vs gouerne and nourish vs vnder his wings protection and prouidence preserueth vs. When you are made ready to begin the day withall pray O Almighty God and most mercifull Father thou knowest and hast taught vs also something to know that the weakenesâ—e of man and woman is great and that with out thy grace they can neither doe nor think any good thing Have mercy vpon mee I humbly beseech thee thy most weake fraile vnworthie child lighten my minde that I may with pleasure look vpon good things only Inflame my loue with the heat thereof that I may carefully couet them and at the last by thy gracious conducting may happily attaine theÌ„ throgh Iesus Christ our Lord. I distrusting altogether mine owne weaknes commâ—nd offer my selfe both soule and body into thy hands Thy louing spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousnes Cogitations meet to begin the day withall Think first that man consisteth of soule body that the soule is from heauen heauenly firm immortall but the body is from the earth earthly fraile â—â—d mortall Again think that though by reason of sinne wherein ye are conceiued and borne the parts of the soule which do vnderstand and dâ—sire bâ— so corrupt that without speciall grace to both parts you can neither know nor loue any good thing in Gods sight much lesse then do that is good yet this notwithstanding think that you are regenerate by Christs resurrection which your Baptisme requireth you to beleeue and therefore haue both those parts some thing reformed both to know and to loue and therefore to doe also some good in the sight of God through Christ for whose sake our poore doings are accepted for good the euill and infirmity cleauing thereunto not being imputed throgh faith Thinke that by faith which is Gods seede for
remembrance our manifold sinnes and wickednesse He. 9.10 whereby we continually prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligeÌ„ee nor our vnkindnes which haue neither worthily esteemed nor in our liues sufficiently expressed the sweet comfort of thy holy Gospel reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience and death of thy Son Iesus Christ our Lord who by offering vp his body in sacrifice once for all Psa 107 hath made a sufficient recompence for all our sinnes Haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lord and forgiue vs our offnces Psa 9.10 Teach vs by thy holy spirit that we may rightly weigh them and earnestly repent vs for the same and so much the rather O Lord our God because that the reprobate and such as thou hast forsaken Psal 8. Pâ—al 5. cannot praise thee nor call vpon thy name but the repenting hart the sorrowful mind the conscience oppressed hungring thirsting for thy grace shal euermore set forth thy praise and glory And albeit we be but worms and dust yet thou art our Creator we be the worke of thy hands yea thou art our father we thy childreÌ„ thou art our shepheard Psal 22. 1. Cot. 6. and we thy flocke thou art our redeemer and wee thy people whom thou hast dearely bought thou art our God and wee are thine inheritance Jer. 10. Psal 6. Correct vs not therefore in thine anger O Lord our God neither according to our deserts doe thou punish vs but mercifully chastice vs with a fatherly affection that al the world may know that at what time soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart thou wilt put away all his wickednesse out of thy remembrance as thou hast promised by thy holy Prophet Finally forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to rest in as thou hast ordained him the day to trauaile grant O dear father that we may so take our bodily rest that our soules may continually watch for the time that our Lord Iesus Christ shall appeare for our full deliuerance out of this mortall life and in the mean season that we be not ouercome by any fantasies dreames or other temptations but may fully set our minds vpon thee loue thee feare thee and rest in thee in such sort that our very steep also may be to the glory of thy holy name Furthermore that our sleepe bee not excessiue or ouermuch after the insaciable desire of the flesh but only sufficient to content our weake nature that we may the better be disposed to liue in all godly conuersation to the glory of thy holy name and profit of our brethren through Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we make our humble petitioÌ„s vnto thee as he hath taught vs. Our father which art c. Almighty and euerlasting God vouchsafe we beseech thee to grant vs perfect continuance in thy liuely faith augmenting increasing the same in vs daily vntill we grow to the full measure of our perfection in Christ whereof we make our confession saying I beleeue in God the father c. The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs. Lord be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance towards vs and grant vs this peace The grace of the Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God and the communion of the holy Ghost be with vs and remaine with vs for euer So be it 2. Cor. 9.13 Another Euening praier MOst mercifull God and tender Father which besides thine inestimable mercies declared giuen vnto vs in the making of the world for our sakes in the redeeming of vs by the death of thy dear Son Iesus Christ in the calling of vs to the knowledge of thy blessed word in keeping of vs hitherto in thy holy Church and in thy most gracious gouerning of vs and all things hitherto for our singular wealth and commodity hast also most fatherly cared for vs and kept vs this day from all dangers both of soule and body giuing vs health food apparell all other things necessary for the comfort and succour of this poore miserable life which many other do want for these and all other thy good gifts and gracious benefits which thou of thine owne goodnes onely and fatherly prouidence hast hitherto powred vpon vs and doest presently powre vpon vs and many other we most humbly thanke thee and praise thy holy name beseeching thee that as al things are now hidden by meanes of the darkenesse which thou hast sent ouer the earth so thou wouldest vouchsafe to hide and bury all our sinnes which this day or at any time heretofore wee haue committed against thy holy commandements and as now wee purpose to lay our bodies to rest so grant the guard of thy good Angels to keepe the same this night and for euermore and whensoeuer our last sleepe of death shal come grant that it may be in thy good fauour so that our bodies may rest both temporally and eternally to thy glory and our ioy through Iesus Christ our Lord. So be it Another Euening Praier O Eternall God and most mercifull father who this day and all the time of our life hast graciously defended nourished preserued our soules and bodies made such fatherly prouision for vs poore sinners that of thy louing kindnesse wee haue rich portions not only in the creatures of heauen and earth but also in that plentifull redemption which thy most deare Sonne Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs grant vnto vs O mercifull father the assistance of thy grace and holy spirit that as our bodies shall now take their naturall rest euen so our soules and minds at the beholding of thy goodnesse towards vs may quiet themselues in thee conceiue such inward pleasure heauenly sweetnes in thy loue that whatsoeuer we shall from henceforth either thinke speake or do it may be all to the honor of thy holy name through Iesus Christ thy deare sonne our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Thy mighty hand and our streched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercy and louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ thy deare sonne be our saluation thy truth and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end A praier for the remission of sinnes O Almighty and euerlasting Lord God the deare Father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ which hast made heauen and earth the sea and all that therein is which art the only ruler and gouernor conseruer and keeper of all things together with thy dearely beloued Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord and with the holy Ghost our comforter O holy righteous wise O strong terrible mighty and fearefull Lord God gouernor of the whole world Iudge of al meÌ„ O exorable patient and most gratious Father whose eies are vpon the waies of all men and are so cleane that they
may alwaies not only striue against sin but also ouercome the same daily more and more as thy children do aboue all things desiring the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doing of thy will here on earth as it is in heauen c. through Iesus Christ our redeemer mediator and aduocate Amen I. B. A praier against our spirituall enemies the diuell the world and the flesh O Lord God the diuell goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom hee may deuoure the flesh lusteth against the spirit the world perswadeth vnto vanities that we may forget thee our Lord God so for euer be damned Thus are we miserable on euery side beset and besieged of cruell vnrestfull enemies and like euery moment to perish if we be not defended with thy godly power against their tyranny Wee therefore poore and wretched sinners despairing of our owne strength which indeed is none most hartily pray thee to endue vs with strength from aboue that we may bee able through thy help with strong faith to resist Satan with feruent praier to mortifie the lusts of the flesh with continuall meditation of thy holy lawes to auoid the foolish vanities and transitory pleasures of this wicked world that through thy grace wee being set at liberty from the power of these our mortall enemies may serue thee here in true holinesse and righteousnesse after be partakers of the euerlasting ioies prepared for thy children which as they are great and vnspeakable so are there few that doe enioy them For strait is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth therunto and few therbe that find it Notwithstanding O GOD thou hast a little flocke te whom it is thy pleasure to giue that ioyfull kingdome whose names are written in the book of life Make vs therefore of that number for Iesus Christs sake and place vs amongst those thy sheep which shall stand on thy right hand to receiue that blessed inheritance and dwell with thee for euermore A praier for present helpe in temptation DEare father to whom it is more easie to doe all things then for mee to thinke any one good thing Loe doe thou but speake a word and thy deadly sicke seruant my soule shall be made whole Helpe O Lord for thy great mercy sake for thy truths sake and for thy deare son Iesus Christs sake and let thy strength suffice against my weakenesse and thy ho y spirit against my sinfull flesh and old man Thou art faithfull O Father who hast promised that I shall not be tempted further then thou wilt make me able to beaâ—e Giue now therefore thy grace and strength vnto thy seruant that I may with a strong faith in thy vnfallible truth and promised mercy vanquish and subdue whatsoeuer rebelleth against thy most blessed will preserue and keepe holy my soule and body and let them not be defiled and made a dungeon of diuels and wicked spirits through delectation in sinne Behold deare Father the postes thereof are sprinkled with the precious bloud of thy deare son and of thy great mercy they are made the temple and tabernacle of thy holy spirit Shall now alas the diuell the world or the flesh plucke from thee that thing which presently crieth to thee with assured trust in thy promised helpe Nay further but grant that I may by thy mighty power turne all their crafts deceits and raging assaults vnto the increase of thy fatherly assistance in this my present teÌ„ptation and may with assured hope and trust in thy ready helpe and comfort ouercome my said enemies hereafter in like assaults praise thy holy name for the victory through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen My sonne if thou wilt come into the seruice of the Lord stand fast in righteousnesse and 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 worthily damne thee for the same is therfore to be abhorred as a sweet poison a flattering death and destruction of the soule which would cut thee off from God thy Sauior and make thee a bondslaue to Satan thy deadly enemy Auoid therefore euen at the fiâ—st the occasions thereof and be time squash out the braines of the children of Babilon against the hard stones whiles yet they be yong and weake lest when they be growne elder and stronger they dash thee to pieces And for a remedy against the same flie vnto God who commandeth thee to call vpon him in thy trouble and promiseth to deiluer thee and wil not suffer thee to be further tempted then he will make a way out whereby thou shalt escape and doubt not but hee that causeth thee to hate the sin which thy nature is to loue will deliuer thee also from the dangers thereof and make thee to triumph ouer Satan to his confusion to Gods glory and thy great comfort which are causes that our tender louing Father sendeth tentations vnto vs and hee that is not tempted what is he Now after thou hast obtained the victory remember two things first to giue most hearty thankes to God for his grace and assistance whereby thou hast ouercome and be not vnthankfull in any wise and then that he who continually goeth about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may deuour will not be long or farre away from thee but will attempt againe the same or as euill waies to ouercome thee Watch therefore and pray A praier for the auoiding of Gods heauy wrath and vengeance for our sins OH Lord God strong and mighty great and fearful which dwellest in the heauens workest great wonders we thy miserable children here 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 seruants for if thou doe there shall no flesh bee saued in thy sight We confesse and acknowledge O Lord that it is our sinnes which haue mooued thee to wrath and to shew such fearefull tokens of thy displeasure towards vs in these our daies first with fire from heauen betokening the hot burning indignation and wrathfull displeasure for sinne which aboundeth at this day then with such horrible and monstrous shapes against natur as were neuer seen here in our daies nor in any time before vs which do betoken to vs none other thing but thy plagues to come vpon vs for our degenerate and monstrous life conuersation And now desides all this by great mortality plagues and pestilence thou hast terribly threatned vs fatherly warned vs and mercifully called vs to repentance The axe is set to the root of the tree and if we bee not as rotten members without all sense and feeling wee may perceiue our fearefull destruction and desolation to bee at hand vnlesse wee speedily repent and turne vnto thee because wee haue been so long taught out of
thy most holy and sacred word and yet no fruits 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 strange and vgly neither yet by plagues and pestilence most horrible will stir vp our stony hearts and awake vs from our sinnes Wee feare O Lord that the Turkes with all the rest of the vnbeleeuing wil condemn vs in the last day which if they had been so long instructed by the comfortable preaching of thy word and sweet promises of thy Gospell or seen the wonders which we haue seen no doubt their righteousnesse would haue shined at this day to our great shame and confusion Thou hast no lesse warned vs O Lord of thy fearefull displeasure heauy plagues at hand for our great wickednes then thou diddest the Israelits of that horrible destruction which came vpon them whom thou first in mercy diddest call to repentance by the preaching of thy word but when no warning would serue thou diddâ—st send them monstrous and fearefull signes tokens to declare that thy visitation was not far off But they like to vs at this day did alwaies interpret those things after the imaginaion of their owne vaine hearts promising to themselues peace when destruction was ouer their heads Which things when we do call to mind forasmuch 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 chosen children in token of thy great wrath against sinne what shall we looke for who do no lesse deserue thy fearefull scourge for of mercy it is that thou dost thus long forbeare vs and liue as though there were no God at all to be reuenged vpon our sinnes It maketh vs to feare and cry inwardly in our soules Apo. 22. Come Lord Iesu holy and true in all thy doings and shorten our daies and bring this our pilgrimage to an end suffer vs not to heape sinne vpon sinne vntill the day of vengeance lest we be caught vp amongst the number of the wicked and reprobate which shall neuer see thy louing countenance It maketh vs to cry to thee O Lord Let thy kingdome come and end this our sinfull life wherein wee do nothing but prouoke thee to wrath Correct vs not O Lord in thine indignation Psal 6. neither chasten vs in thine heauy displeasure And though to vs belongeth nothing but shame confusion psal 89 though our offences haue deserued to be visited with the rod and our sinnes with scourges yet in mercy Lord with fatherly correction chasten vs and thy louing kindnesse take not away from vs. To thee we fly for succour ps vnder the wings of thy mercy shall be our refuge vntill thou turne thy wrathful countenance froâ— vs. Eccl. 23. Wee know that thy mercy iâ—â—boue all thy works and euen as â—at as thy selfe Therefore will wâ— say with holy Iob Though thou ill vs Job 13. yet will we put our whole â—rust in thee Thou camest to comfort and pluch out of the dungeon of hell such wretches as we are Thou art the good SamaritaÌ„ that camest to heal our deadly wounds thou art that good Physition that camest to cure our mortall infirmities Luk. 15. thou art the good Shepheard that camest to seek vs wandring and lost sheep to bring vs to thy fold againe Eâ—â—â— more then that thou art our brother flesh of our flesh Isa 53. bone of our bones which hast tasted of our infirmities felt our temptations and borne the burden of our sinnes therefore at thy hands â—e looke for mercy against the day of â—â—ngeance And though thou punish â—â—â—â—er our hope is and euer shall be thaâ—â—hy rodde shall no farther touch vs â—en shall make to thy glory our commâ—dity and the strengthning and increaâ— of our faith Let this thy preaching sundry waies O Lord be sufficient for our warning and grant that we may speedliy and from the bottome of our hearts repent endeuour to doe thy righteous and blessed will reuealed in thy word and frame our liues according to the same that wee may here liue in thy feare all the daies of our life after this our sinful course is ended may dwell with thee in thy blessed kingdome through the death and merits of Iesus Christ our only redeemer So be it Another praier for the auoiding of Gods deserued wrath hanging ouer vs for our sinnes VVHen we looke back and behold our sinful life past what a dungeon of errours vice and wickednesse openeth it selfe vnto vs So that there is no man but he must needs be ashamed of himselfe when he cals to mind what e hath been and tremble when he considereth the wickednesse and sinfull course of hiâ— life to come for who shall vndertake that the rest of our life shall be any better then is past How can wee then sufficiently magnifie and praise thy great mercy which hast deferred thy punishment so long Beholding therefore this our dangerous miserable state we come vnto thee O thou great and mighty Iudge in trembling and fear humbly beseeching thee not to heap vpon vs thy deserued vengeance but let thy tender kindnes and loue thou barest to Iesus Christ thy Sonne our gracious Lord and redeemer couer our iniquities for whose sake though we deserue al extreamity thou dost pardon vs. If thou Lord shalt straightly marke our iniquity O Lord who shall be able to abide it Psal 103. A praier to be said of all such as suffer any kind of crosse ALmighty God king of all kings and gouernour of all things whose power no creature is able to resist to whom it belongeth iustly to punish sinners and to be mercifulâ— vnto them that truly repent we confesse that thou dost iustly punish vs for we haue grieuously sinned against thee And we acknowledge that in punishing vs thou doest declare thy selfe to be our most mercifull father as wel because thou doest not punish vs in any thing as we haue deserued as also because by punishing vs thou doest call vs and as it were draw vs to increase in repentance in faith in praier in contemning of the world and in hearty desiring of euerlasting life and thy blessed presence Graunt vs therefore gracious Lord thankfully to acknowledge thy great mercy which hast thus fauorably dealt with vs punishing vs not to our confusion but to our amendment And seeing thou hast sworne that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but that he turn and liue haue mercy vpon vs and turne vs vnto thee for thy dearely beloued Sonne Iesus Christs sake whom thou wouldest should be made a slain sacrifice for our sinnes thereby declaring thy great and vnspeakable anger against sinne thine infinite mercy towards vs sinfull wretches And forasmuch as the dulnesse
A praier to be said before the preaching of Gods word ALmighty God and most mercifull father whose word is a lanterne â—o our feet and a light vnto our steps we most humbly beseech thee to illuminate our mindes that we may vnderstand the mysteries contained in thy holy law and into the selfe same thing that we godly vnderstand we may be vertuously transformed so that of no part we offend thy diuine Maiesty through Iesus Christ our Lord. Another IN this great darknes of our soule O Lord thou shinest diuers waies vnto vs by the light of thy grace but in nothing so effectually as in the preaching of thy word Great is the haruest as thou thy selfe hast said and the workmen are few The greatest part of men are ignorant wrapped in miserable blindnes and few there be that teach thy word truely as they ought Wee beseech thee therefore to send foorth workmen into thy haruest Send teachers O Lord which are taught of thee and instructed by the spirit of godly wisedome and vnderstanding which by their preaching will seeke not themselues but thee because they are godly and can so doe because they are wise vnderstand Giue to the preacher of thy word here present out of the treasures of thy wisedome that which he may powre vpon vs to our saluation and vnto vs giue thy grace holy spirit O Lord so to heare and to receiue thy word that the good seed which falleth vpon vs be not choaked with thornes or withered away with heat or deuoured by the foules of the aire but may grow vp in a good ground and fructifie with great increase A praier to Be said after the preaching of Gods word 1 Pet. 4. Num. 26 Deut. 29. Iosu 7. Mat. 13. ALmighty God and most mercifull Father we hartily beseech thee that this seed of thy word now sowen amongst vs may take such deep root that neither the burning heat of affliction or persecution cause it to wither neither the thorny cares of this life do choake it but that as seed sowne in good ground it may bring foorth thirty sixty and an hundred folde as thy heauenly wisedome hath appointed And because we haue need continually to craue many things at thy hands we humbly beseech thee O heauenly Father to grant vs thy holy spirit Luke 17. Rom. 8. Iames. 5. 1 Joh. 5 Rom. 12. Wis 6. to direct our petitions that they proceed from such a feruent mind as may be agreeable to thy most blessed will And seeing that our infirmity is such that we are able to do nothing without thy helpe and that thou art not ignorant with how many and great tentations we poore wretches are on euery side compassed and inclosed 2 Cor. a9 Iohn 5. Phil. 2. Psal 303 1. Pet. 1. 1. Pet. 5. Luk. 17. let thy strength O Lord sustaine our weakenesse assist vs with thy grace that we may be safely preserued against all the assaults of Satan who goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking to deuoure vs. Increase our faith O mercifull father that we doe not swarns at any time from thy heauenly word Augment in vs hope and loue with a carefull keeping of thy commandements Psal 95 Heb 14. 2. Joh. 2. that no hardnesse of heart no hypocrisie no concupiscence of the eies nor inticements of the world doe draw vs away from thy obedience And seeing the times are dangerous wherein we liue let thy fatherly prouidence defend vs against the violence of all our enemies and specially against the furious rage of that Romish Idoll enemy to thy Christ Furthermore forasmuch as by thy Apostle we be taught to make our praiers and supplications for all men Epl. c. 13. Rom. 11. 2. Cor. 4. wee pray not onely for our selues here present but beseech thee also to reduce al such as be yet ignorant from the miserable captiuity of blindnesse and error to the pure vnderstanding of thy heauenly truth that we all with one consent and vnity of mind may worship thee our only God and Saviour We beseech thee also most deare Father for Pastors and Ministers John 21. Mat 18. John 9. Mat. 6. to whom thou hast committed the dispensation of thy holy word and charge of thy choseÌ„ people that both in their life and doctrine they may de found faithfull setting only before their eies thy glory that by them all poore sheepe which wander and goe astray may be sought out and brought to thy fold Againe that it would please thee to deliuer the Church from such idle shepheards wolues and hirelings as seeke themselues their bellies Pro 21. John 16.1 Rom. 13. Iohn 6. and not thy glory and the safegard of thy flocks Moreouer because the hearts of rulers are in thy hands we make our praiers vnto thee for all princes and magistrates to whom thou hast commited the administration of iustice especially O Lord for the Kings Maiesty that it would please thee to endue him with thy plentifull grace and principall spirit that he may with a pure faith acknowledge Iesus Christ thy only sonne to bee king of all kings and gouernour of all gouernors euen as thou hast giuen all power vnto him both in heauen and earth and so worke in his heart that he considering whose minister he is may heartily seeke and zealously promote thy true honour and glory carefully trauelling to bring thy people commited to his charge and yet remaining almost in all parts of his Realms in miserable blindnesse and darke ignorance to the true knowledge of thee ruling and guiding them as hee is taught and commanded by thy holy word Also we beseech thee to indue alâ— such as are in any authority vnder him with thy grace and holy spirit that they may be found vpright and faithfull in their calling fauourers and furtherers of thy holy Gospell maintainers defenders of the true Preachers and ministers therof and such as in singlenes of heart wil seek not themselues but thy glory and the commodity of thy people And for that wee be all members of the mysticall body of Christ Iesus wee make our requests vnto thee O heauenly father for al such as are afflicted with any kinde of crosse or tribulation as war plague 1. Cor. 2. Rom. 12. Jacob. 5. famine sicknesse pouerty imprisonment persecution banishment or any other kinde of thy roddes whether it be griefe of body or vnquietnesse of minde that it would please thee to giue them patience and constancy 2. Co. 12. Heb. 13. till thou send them full deliuerance out of all their troubles Finally O Lord we most humbly beseech thee to shew thy great mercie vpon our brethreÌ„ which are persecuted cast into prison and daily condemned to death for the testimony of thy truth Heb. 13. Rom. 8. Psal 4. John 1. and though they be vtterly destitute of all mans aid yet let thy sweet comfort neuer depart from them but so inflam their harts with
mine intollerable heauines I cried to thee O my God and from heauen thou hardest my gronings thereupon first preparedst my hart to aske comfort of thee and then thou diddest accept my praier and gauest me plentifully my asking Oh my soule consider well that thou art neuer able to declare the exceeding goodnesse of God in this that hee heard the very desires of thee being afflicted who is so redy fauourably to grant the requests of the afflicted that oftentimes hee tarrieth not vntill they do call but or euer they call vpon him fauourably heareth them as the Psalmist saith The desire of the aflicted thou hearest O Lord thou preparest their hearts Psal 77 and thine eares heare them Oh Lord my God maruellous things are these whether I consider of this maruellous maner of thy hearing or else the maruellous nature property of thy goodnesse Maruellous no doubt is that thy hearing whereby the very desires of the afflicted are heard but much more maruellous is this thy goodnesse which tarriest not vntill the afflicted do desire thy help but preparest first their harts to desire and then thou giuest them their desires Yea Lord worthy of all praise it cannot otherwise bee For how shouldest thou doe otherwise then thy nature and property is Art not thou very goodnesse and mercy it selfe How canst thou then but pitty and helpe misery Art not thou both the creator and also the conseruer of all things Insomuch as the Lyons whelpes roaring after their pray doe seeke their food at thy hands and the Rauens birds lacking meat Psal 147. Esa 94. do call vpon thee If then thy fatherly prouidence tender care O Lord vpon all thy creatures bee so great that the very beasts and foules haue this experience of thy goodnesse in their necessities that their roarings cryings haue the strength of earnest calling and desires how much rather doe these sighings groanings and desperate heauinesse of men but chiefly 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 mercy whiles presently I feele thee stirre vp my soule and heart to craue help at thy hand Should I thinke that thou wilt absent thy self for euer that thou wilt be no more intreated that thy mercy is cleane gon that thy promise is come vtterly to an end that thou wilt now shut vp thy louing kindenesse in displeasure Nay Lord for all alterations are of thy right hand and turne alway to the best to them that feare thee All this is but mine owne infirmitie for thou art euer one thy promises bee infallible and thy loue towards thine euerlastingly during I will therefore in this my present tentation grieuous assault powre out the heauinesse of my heart before thee deare Father Out of the deepe will I cry and lift vp my soule vnto thee Psal 1. from whom I assuredly know my helpe is comming I will also for my present comfort call to remembrance O Lord my God thy tender mercies towards me already shewed the multitude of thy benefits the greatnesse of the saâ—e the long continuance of them euen from my onception vntill this instant and sinally thy continuall loue and desire to powre them vpon me And moreouer sith thy goodnesse is so great O Lord that thou doest not onely pitty misery but also callest the heauy hearted and afflicted vnto thee promising that thou wilt ease their misery Mat. 11. for as much as by the motion of thy good spirit I loath and abhorre my sins feele the grieuousnesse of them and thy heauy wrath towards me for the same and sinally what neede I haue of thy gracious aide and succour therfore O Lord in thy Sonne Christs name with sure confidence and trust in thine infallibe 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 sins thou wilt vtterly forget them when I feele the grieuous but then of them thy mercy swalloweth them vp when I seeke that I want thou wilt assuredly grant it me For sith thou mouest my heart to desire help how should I mistrust but thou wilt for thy truths sake giue me my asking Yea where I know not how or what to desire as I ought thy holy spirit gratiously working in mee maketh intercession mightly for mee with groanings which caÌ„not be expresseth and therwithal certifieth my spirit that by adoption through thy great mercy and goodnesse I am become thy child and heire Why should I not then be of good comfort and ioyfull in thee my God For if thou be on my side who can bee against me Since thou diddest not spare thine owne sonne but gauest him for me euen when I was thine enimy how shalt thou not with him now that by his death I am brought into thy fauour giue me all things with him and for his sake Rom. 8. Who shal lay any thing to the charge of thine elect it is thou Lord which iustifiest mee It is Christ that hath died for mee yea rather that is risen againe for me Who also is set on thy right hand and hath taken possession yea and perpetually there maketh intercession for mee vntill that ioyfull day be come when I shall haue full fruition of the most glorious presence of thy diuine maiesty in the kingdome which thou hast prepared before the beginning of the world â—phe â— but in time to the gracious goodnesse thought best made known to mee by giuing thy holy spirit into my heart whereby when I first Lord beleeued thy holy word which is thine owne power to saue all that beleeue I was sealed Rom. 8. confirmed and stablished in the certainty of that â—hine euerlasting kingdome and inheritance For the which inestimable benefit of thy rich grace Oh Lord my God I beseech thee euen for the loue thou barest to Christ Iesus thy son and the mercy thou haddest on him when he cried on the crosse Maâ— â—7 My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Help help I say inflame my heart with loue so plentifully towardes thee againe that I may bee euen swallowed vp in the ioyful feeling of the same in such sort that I may of very thankfulnes loue thee my God alone thee I say my deare God and nothing but thee and for thy sake O holy spirit whose work this is in me increase this work of thy inâ—uit mercy and preserue me that I neuer become vnthankfull vnto thee therfore Amen A praier for the sicke O Most mercifull God which according to the multitude of thy mercies doest so put away the sins of those which truly repeÌ„t that thou remembrest them no more open thy eies of mercy and look vpon this thy sicke seruant who most earnestly desireth pardon and forgiuenes renue in him most louing father whatsoeuer hath beene decaied by the fraud
and malice of the diuell or by his owne carnall will and frailty Preserue and continue this sick member in the vnity of thy Church Consider his contrition accept his teares asswage his paine as shall be seene to thee most expedient for him And forasmuch as hee putteth his full trust only in thy mercy impute not vnto â—im his former sinnes but take him vnto thy fauor through the merits of thy most dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ A praier to be said at the houre of death O Lord Iesus Christ which art the onely health of all men liuing the euer lasting life of them that die in thee I wretched sinner doe submit my selfe wholly vnto thy most blessed wil and being sure that the thing caÌ„not perish which is committed vnto thy mercy willingly now I leaue this fraile and sinfull flesh in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise restore it to mee againe at the last 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 defend mee with the buckler of thy mercy against all the assaults 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 mercy and goodnesse I haue no merits or good workes which I may alledge before thee of striues and euill works alasse I see a great heape but yet through thy mercy I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes but wilt accept take mee for righteous and iust and to bee an inheritour of euerlasting life Thou mercifull Lord wast borne for my sake thou diddest suffer both hunger and thrst 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 grieuous paines and torments for my sake Finally thou gauest thy most precious body and bloud to be shed on the Crosse for my sake Now most mercifull Sauiour let all those things profit mee that thou freely hast done for mee which hast giuen thy selfe also for mee Let thy bloud clense and wash away the spots and foulenesse of my sins Let thy righteousnes hide couer â—ny vnrighteousnesse let the merits of thy passion and bloud-shedding be the satisfaction for my sinnes Giue me Lord thy grace that the faith of my saluation in thy bloud maner not in me but may be euer firme constant that the hope of thy mercy life euerlasting neuer decay in mee that loue waxe not cold in me Finally that the weaknes of my flesh bee not ouercome with the feare of death Grant me merciful Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eies of my body yet the eyes of my soule may still behold and looke vpon thee when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet my heart may cry and say Lord into thy hands I commend my soule Lord Iesu receiue my spirit A praier for a woman with Child THou art wonderfull O Lord in all thy workes and whatsoeuer thy good pleasure is that doest thou easily bring to passe neither is there any thing vnpossible with thee that thou wilt haue done And albeit this thy mighty 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 commandest them to encrease multiply and replenish the earth If through the subtell enticements of Sathan they had not transgressed thy commandement by eating the forbidden fruit the woman whom thou hast appointed to be the instrument and vessell to conceiue nourish and bring forth man through thy wonderfull workmanship had without any labour paine or trauell brought forth her fruit But that which thy goodnes made easie sin disobedience hath made hard painefull dangerous and without thy speciall helpe and succour impossible to be brought to passe so that now all women bring forth their children in great sorrows paines and troubles Notwithstanding that which through their owne imperfection and feeblenesse they are not able of themselues to passe thou through thine vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest vnto a ioyfull end We â—herfore being fully perswaded of thy fauour and gâ—odnesse of thy present helpe and of thy sweete comfort in all miseries and necessities knowing also by the testimonies of the holâ— word how great intollerable the paines of women are that trauell of child if through thy tender mercy they be not mitigated and eased most â—umbly pray thee for Iesus Christs sake thy son our Lord to helpe and assist this thy seruant now in trauell and labour that by thâ— almighty power sâ—e may safely bring forth that which by thy goodnesse she hath conceiued that thy louing kindnesse may make that easie and tollerable vnto her which sinne hath made hard and painefull Ease O Lord the paines which thou most righteously hast put vpon her and all women for the sinne and disobedience of our Grand-mother Eue in whom all 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 graciously begun Let thy power be shewed no lesse in the safe bringing forth then in the wonderfull forming and fashioning of that she beareth Make her a glad and ioyfull mother that sâ—ee through thy goodnes being safly deliuered and restored to health againe may liue and praise thy blessed name for euer A Psalme to be said in the time of any common plague sicknes 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 hands O come therefore let vs turne againe vnto our Lord for hee hath smiâ—ten vs and he shall heale vs Let vs repent and turne from our wickednes and our sinnes shall bee forgiuen vs. Let vs turne and the Lord will turne from vs his heauy wrath and will pardon vs and wee shall not perish For we acknowledge our faults ' and our sinnes are euer before vs. Wee haue sore prouoked thine anger O Lord thy wrath is waxed hoâ—e and thy heauy displeasure is sore kindled against vs. Thou hast in thine indignation stricken vs with grieuous sicknesse and by and by wee haue fallen as leaues beaten downe with a vehement winde Indeed we acknowledge that our punishments are not worse then our deseruings but yet of thy mercy Lord coâ—reâ—t vs to amendment and plague vs not to our destruction For thy hand is not shortned that thou canst not helpe neither is thy goodnes abated that thou wilt not heare Esay 65. Thou hast promised O Lord that afore we crie thou wilt heare vs and whilest we yet speak
thou wilt haue mercy vpon vs. For none that trust in thee shal be confounded Tobit 8. Job 32. neither any that cal vpon thee shall be despised For thou art the onely Lord who woundest and dost heale again Oseas 6. who killest and reuinest bringest euen to hell and bringest backe againe Our Fathers hoped in thee and trusted in thee Sap. 22. and thou diddest deliuer them They called vpon thee and were helped they put their trust in thee were not confounded Psalâ— 6. O Lord rebuke vs not in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauy displeasure O remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy thinke thou vpon me Psa 25. O Lord for thy goodnesse Haue mercy vpon vs O Lord for we are weake O Lord heale vs for our bones are vexed And now in the vexation of our spirits and the anguish of our soules wee remember thee and we cry vnto thee heare Lord and haue mercy â—arue Jonas â— For thine owne sake and for thy holy names sake incline thine eare and heare O mercifull Lord. For we do not powre out our praiers before thee â—â—aâ— 6. trusting in our owne righteousnes but in thy great and manifold mercies Wash vs throughly from our wickednes and clense vs from our sins Turne thy face from our sins and put out all our misdeeds Make vs cleane hearts O God and renue a right spirit within vs. Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glory of thy name O deliuer vs and be merciful to our sinnes for thy names sake So we that be thy people sheepe of thy pasture shal giue thee thanks for euer and will alwaies be shewing forth thy praise from generation to generation Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the begâ—nning c. A Psalme of thanksgiuing for deliuerance from the plague or any other kind of sicknes trouble or affliction LOrd thou art become gracious to thy land thou hast turned away the afflictions of thy sâ—ruants Thou hast taken away al thy displeasure and turned thy selfe from thy wrathfâ—l indignation For if thou Lord hadst not helped vs it had not failed but our soules had beene put to silence But when we said our feet haue slipped thy mercy O Lord helpes vs vp In the multitude of the sorrowes that we had in our hearts thy comforts haue refreshed our soules Our soules waited still vpon the Lord our soules hanged vpon his helpe our hope was alwaâ—es in him In the Lords word wil we reioyce in Gods word did wee comfort our selues For the Lord said Call vpon mee in the time of trouble I wil heare thee and thou shalt praise me So when wee were poore needy sickly and in heauines the Lord cared for vs he was our helper our deliuer according to his word Psâ— 27. In our aduersiâ—y and distresse hee hath lifted vp our head and saued vs from vtâ—er destruction Psa 33. He hath deliuered our soules from death he hath fed vs in the time of dearth hee hath saued vs from the noisome pestilence Therefore will we offer in his holy temple the oblation of thanksgigiuing Psa 37. with great gladnesse we wil sing speake praises vnto the Lord our Sauiour Psa 106. Psa 86. Wee will giue thankes vnto the Lord for he is gracious his mercy endureth for euer Psa 103. The Lord is full of compassion mercy long suffering plenteous in goodnesse and pitty John 5.7 Psa 108. His mercy is greater then the heauens and his gracious goodnes reacheth vnto the clâ—â—ds Psa 103. Like as a father pittieth his own children euen so is the Lord merciful vnto them that feare him Psal 72. Therefore will we praise thee thy mercies O God vnto thee will we sing O thou holy one of Israell Pâ—al 98. We will sing a new song vnto thee O God we will praise the Lord with Psalmes and thanksgiuing Psal 47. 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 Psal 145. we will praise thy name for euer and euer Euery day will we giue thankes vnto thee and praise thy name for euer and euer Our mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord let all flesh giue thanks to his holy name for euer and euer Psal 72. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for euer and blessed be the name of his maiesty world without end Amen Glory be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. Praiers to be said before and after meales AL 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 thou openest thy hand and they are satisfied with all good things O heauenly father which art the fountaine full treasure of all goodnesse We beseech thee to shew thy mercy vpon vs thy children and sanctifie these thy gifts which we receiue of the mercifull liberality granting vs grace to vse them soberly purely according to thy blessed will so that thereby we may acknowledge thee to be the author and giuer of all good things and aboue all that we may remember continually to seeke the spiritual food of thy word â— Tim. 2. wherwith our soules may be nourished euerlastingly through our Sauiour Christ who is the true bread of life which came down from heauen of whom whosoeuer eateth shall liue for euer Joh â— and raigne with him in glory world without end So be it Another praier before meales WHether ye eat or drinke faith S. Paul or whatsouer ye do else let all be done to the praise and glory of God Eternal and euerlasting God father â—f our Lord Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 10 who of thy most singular loue which thou barest to mankind hast appointed to his sustenance not only the fruits of the earth but also the foâ—â—ls of the aire the beasts of the field and fishes of the sea and hast commanâ—ed thy benefits to be receiued as from thy hands with thanksgiuing assuring thy children by the mouth of thine apostle that to the cleane all things are cleane as the creatures which be sanctified by thy word and praier grant vnto vs so moderatly to vse these thy gifts present that our bodies being refreshed our soules may be more able to proceed in all good works to the praise of thy 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 Lord Iesus the gâ—eat shepheard of the sheepâ— through the bloud of â—he euerlasting couenant make vs fruitfull in all good works to d◠〈◊〉 will and worke
in my flesh there dwelles no good thing For the good which I should doe I doe not Rom. 7. but the euill which I would not doe that I doe Psal 51. Wash me therefore O Lord from mine iniquities and clense me from my sinne Psal 1. Purifie my heart by the sanctifying of thy holy spirit and by the sprinckling of the bloud of thy deare son from the filth of sin and an euill conscience Make me to heare ioy gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may reioice Create in me a new hart O God and renew a right spirit in me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit froÌ„ me Psal 8 Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and stablish me with thy free spirit For thou art good to them that trust in thee and to the soule that seeketh thee All thy waies are mercy and truth to them that seek out thy couenant and testimonies The fountaine of thy goodnes is euer full and ouerflowing thy mercy neuer decaieth Thou woundest and healest again thou killest and reuiâ—est bringest euen down to hell and bringest backe againe Thou raiseth vp those that are fallen thou coÌ„fortest the broken harted Thou strengthnest the weary standers crooked knees and out of the gulf of hell thou deliuerest the afflicted Out of darknes thou bringest light out of death life and out of damnation thou bringest saluation Heare me therefore O Lord according to thy louing kindnes turne vnto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies Look vpon mine affliction and my trauell and forgiue me my sinnes Psal 63. Remember not the offences of my youth nor my rebellions against thee Psal 130. For if thou Lord shouldest marke our iniquities Lord who should bee able to stand in thy sight Job 15. Seeing thou hast found iniquitie euen in thine Angels the heauens are not clean in thy sight much more is man abhominable filthy which drinketh iniquity like water Notwithstanding thou hast saide O Lord that as the righteousnes of the righteous man shal not saue him whensoeuer he offendeth so shall not the wickednesse of the wicked man hurt him whensoeuer hee forsaketh his wickednes and turneth to thee Psal 83. For thou knowest thine owne handy worke thou remembrest what we are thou seest that we are but weak and feeble flesh Looke not therefore vpon my sinnes O Lord but looke vpon the face of thine anointed For he hath borne our iniquities Isay â— he hath carried our sorrowes Hee was wounded for our transgressions he was broken for our iniquities the chastisment of our peace is laid vpon him He gaue his body to be beaten and his cheekes to bee stricken hee bare the sinnes of many and praied for the offenders He came to bring glad tidings to the poore to bind vp the broken harted Isay 6 to preach liberty to the captiues to comfort them that mourne in Sion and to giue vnto them beauty for ashes the oile of ioy for mourning the garment of gladnesse for the spirit of heauines that they might bee called trees of righteousnes and the planting of the Lord. For his sake therefore O Lord be mercifull vnto me and say vnto my soule behold I come to thee thy health and thy saluation A praier for the true knowledge and vnderstanding of the word of God LEt my praier come before thee O Lord and giue me vnderstanding according to thy word Psal 119. 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 me thy seruant O Lord the I may liue keep thy word Open mine eies that I may see the wonders which are in thy law I am a stranger vpon earth notwithstanding hide not from me thy commandements For my hart languisheth with the desire that it hath to thy iudgments Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellâ—rs I will praise thee with an vpright heart when thou hast taught me the iudgements of thy righteousnes Shew me thy waies O Lord teach me thy paths Lead me forth in thâ— truth and teach me for thou art my God and my saluation in thee doe I trust all the day long Make me vnderstand the way of thy preceâ—â—s and I wiâ—l consider thy wondroâ—s works Thâ— hands haue made me and fashioned me giue me vnderstanding that I may scarâ—e thy commandements That they which feare thee seeing me may reioyce because I haue trusted in thy word Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant and teach me thy ordinances Thou art good gracious therefore according to thy goodnes teach me thy statutes O Lord of whose goodnesse the earth is ful teach me thy ordinances O Lord I beseech thee accept the sacrifice of my lips and teach me thy iudgements The righteousnes of thy testimonies is euerlasting grant me vnderstanding and I shall liue Deale with thy seruant according to thy mercies and teach mee thy statutes I am thy seruant grant mee vnderstanding that I may know thy testimonies My lippes shall shew foorth thy praise when thou hast taught mee thy statutes My tongue shal talke of thy word Psal 36. for al thy commandements are righteous For in thee is a wel of liuing waters and euer flowing and in thy light shall we see light A praier for the leading of a godly life I Crie vnto thee with my whole hart heare me O Lord Psal 119. and guide me that I may keepe thy statutes I call vpon thee saue me Psal 141. that I may keepe thy testimonies Let my prayer bee directed in thy sight as incense and the lifting vp of my hands as an euening sacrifice I haue gone astray like a lost sheepe seeke thy seruant Psali 11â— for I doe not forget thy commandements Psal 86. Teach me thy way O Lord that I may walke in thy truth knit my hart vnto thee that I may feare thy name Let thy louing kindnes come vnto me O Lord and thy saluation according to thy promise 9 Let my heart be vpright in thy statutes that I be not confounded O that my waies were so directed thaâ— I might keep thy statutes Then shall I not be confounded whâ—n I haue regard vnto all thy commandements I make my supplication in thy presence with my whole heart bee mercifull vnto me according to thy promise Guide me O Lord that I may consider my wares and turn my feet into thy testimonies Wherwith shal a man redresse his waies In taking heed thereto according to thy word Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes that I may keep them to the end Giue me vnderstanding that I may keep thy
law yea that I may keep it with my whole heart Direct me in the path of thy commandements for therein is my delight Turn away mine eies that I regard not vanity and quicken me in thy way Stablish thy promise to thy seruant whereby he may be taught to feare thee Direct my steps in thy word and let not iniquity haue dominion oueâ— me Let not the foot of pride come against me and let not the hand of the wicked moue me Gather not my soule with the sinners nor my life with the blody men Let my foot stand in vprightnesse that I may praise thee O Lord in the congregation Let not the word of truth depart out of my mouth for I trust in thy iudgements Set a watch O Lord before my mouth and keepe the dore of my lips Let not my heart bee inclined to euill to worke wicked workes with them that worke iniquity Teach mee good iudgement and knowledge for I doe beleeue thy commandements Stay my steps in thy paths that my feet do not slide Stablish mee in thy promise that I may liue and let mee not be disappointed of my hope Stay thou me O Lord and I shall be safe and I will delight continually in thy statutes O God create in me a pure heart and renue a right spirit within me Psal 52. Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirite from me Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and stablish mee with thy free spirit Let me heare thy louing kindnesse in the morning Psal 143. shew mee the way that I should walke in for in thee is my trust Teach mee to doe the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy good spirit leade mee into the land of righteousnes A praier for deliuerance from sinne and to be restored to Gods grace and fauor againe OH Almighty and euerlasting Lord GOD which hast made heauen and earth and all things therein contained O incomprehensible vnity Oh alwaies to be worshipped most blessed Trinity I humbly beseech thee and pray thee by the assumption and crucified humanity of our Lord Iesus Christ that thou wouldest incline and bow down the great height of thy deity to the bottomles pit of my vtility Driue from me all kind of vice wickednes and sin Create in me a clean heart and renue in me a right spirit for thy holy names sake Oh Lord Iesu I beseech thy goodnes for the exceeding great loue which drew thee out of thy Fathers bosome into the wombe of the holy virgin and for the assumption of mans statute wherin it pleased thee to saue me and deliuer me from eternall death that thou wouldest draw me out of my selfe into thee my Lord God and grant that this my loue may recouer again to me thy grace to increase and make perfect in me that which is wanting to raise vp in me that which is fallen to restore to me that which I haue lost quicken in mee that which is dead should liue so that I may become conformable to thee in al my life and conuersation thou dwelling in me and I in thee my heart being coupled with thy grace and setled in thy faith for euer Oh my God loose and set at liberty my spirit from all inferior things gouerne my soule and worke that both in soule body I may be wholy and liue to thy glory world without end Amen I. B. A praier necessary to be said at all times O Bountifull Lord Iesu O sweet Sauiour O Christ the Son of God haue pitty vpon me mercifully heare me and despise not my praiers Thou hast created me of nothing thou hast redeemed me from the bondage of sinne death and hell neither with golde nor siluer but with thy most precious body once offered vpon the Crosse and thine own blood shed once for all for a ransome Therefore cast me not away whom thou by thy great wisedome hast made Despise mee not whom thou hast redeemed with such a pretious treasure nor let my wickednesse destroy that which thy goodnesse hath builded Now while I liue O Iesu haue mercy on me for if I die out of thy fauour it will be too late afteâ—ward to call for thy mercy While I haue time to repent looke vpon mee with thy mercifull eyes as thou diddest vouchsafe to looke vpon Peter thy Apostle that I may bewayle my sinfull life and obtaine thy fauor to liue and die therein I acknowledge that if thou shouldest deale with mee according to thy iustice I haue deserued euerlasting death Therefore I appeale to thy high throne of mercy trusting to obtaine thy fauour not for my merites but for thy deserts O Iesu who hast giuen thy selfe an acceptable sacrifice to thy Father to appease his wrath and to bring all sinners truly repenting and amending their euill life vnto his fauour againe Accept me O Lord among the number of them whome thou hast in Christ elected and chosen to saluation forgiue mee my sinnes giue mee grace to leade a godly and innocent life graunt mee thy heauenly wisedome inspire my heart with faith hope and charitie giue mee grace to be humble in prosperity patient in aduersity obedient to my rulers in all my doings faithfull dealing truly with all men to liue chastly in wedlocke to abhorte adultery fornication and al vncleannes to do good after my power vnto all men to hurt no man that thy name may be glorified in me during this present life that I afterward may attaine euerlasting life through thy mercy and the merits of thy death and passion Amen A Praier for grace and remission of our sinnes O Lord God mercifull Father I poore wretched sinner come vnto thee in the name of thy dearely beloued Son Iesus Christ my sauiour beseeching thee for his sake to be mercifull vnto me to cast al my sinnes out of thy sight euen through the merits of his bloudy death Powre vpon me O Lord thy holy spirit of grace and wisedome to gouern lead my body and soule in thy holy word commandements shew thy mercy vpon me so lighten the naturall blindnes and darknes of my hart through thy grace that I may daily be renued by thy holy spirit Open my hard hart grosse eares to heare and read thy word and heauenly voice and to beleeue and follow it in my conuersation and euer to holde fast that blessed hope of euerlasting life Mortifie and kill al vice in me that my life may expresse my faith in thee Mercifully heare the humble supplications of thy seruant and grant me thy peace all my daies Graciously pardon my infirmities and defend me in all dangers both outwardly in my body goods and name and inwardly in my soule against all euil temptatioÌ„s and subtile baites of Sathan that roaring lion seeking whom hee may deuoure Grant O Lord that I and euery member of thy Church in his vocation and calling may truely and godlily
the diuel rage the powers of the world daily rise vp the flesh with all her bond slaues coÌ„spire against the kingdom of thine onely begotten son Iesus Christ our Lord yet make vs to vnderstand and with constant faith bee perswaded that thou deridest and contemnest all such whom thou canst in thine anger fierce displeasure when thou wilt suddenly destroy bring to nought In this faith seeing wee are sometimes so weak that being ouercome with sundry kindes of terrors and dread we are not so obedient to thy commandements as we ought to be wee therefore beseech thee for thy great goodnes sake to be mercifull vnto vs and grant that we may coÌ„stantly beleeue thy sonne our King and our redeemer to haue the highest power and dominion with thee in all things For seeing thou hast begotten him thou hast also deliuered to him all natioÌ„s to be ruled by his power as his owne inheritance grant therefore vnto vs that yet at length wee may be wise and vnderstand in such sort as we may serue thee with al due feare and worship that in the last day wee be not dashed in peeces as earthen vessels with the rodde of thine indignation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier which M. Iohn Bradford said alittle before his death in Smithfield MErcifull God and Father to whom our Sauiour Christ approched in his feare need by reson of death sound comfort gracious God and most bounteous Christ on whom StepheÌ„ called in his extreame need and receiued strength most benigne holy spirit which in the midst of all crosses and death didst comfort the Apostle S. Paul with more consolations in Christ than hee felt sorrows and terrors in the world haue mercy vpon mee a most miserable vile and wretched sinner which now draw neer the gates of death deserued both in soule and body eternally by reason of my manifold horrible old and new transgressions which to thine eyes O Lord GOD are open and knowne Oh be 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 now thou shouldest not heare mee contemning thy daily callings yet let thy mercy which is aboue all thy works and wherwith the earth is filled let thy mercy I say preuaile towards me through the merits and mediation of Christ our Sauiour for whose sake it pleaseth thee to bring me forth now as one of his witnesses and a record bearer of thy verity and truth taught by him to giue my life therefore of which dignity I doe acknowledge deare God that there was neuer any so vnworthy and vnmeete no not the thiefe that hanged with him on the crosse I humbly therefore pray thee that thou wouldest accordingly aid helpe and assisâ— mee with thy strength and heaueÌ„ly grace that with Christ thy Sonne I may finde comfort with Stephen I may see thy presence and gracious power with Paul and all other which for thy name sake haue suffered affliction and death I may find so present with me thy gracious consolation that I may by my death glorifie thy holy name set forth and ratifie thy verity comfort the harts of the heauy confirme thy Churcâ— in thy truth conuert some that are to be conuerted and so depart out of this miserable world where I doe nothing but daily heape sinne vpon sinne and enter into the fruition of thy blessed mercy whereof now giue and increase in me a liuely tast sense and feeling where through the terrour of death the tormenâ—s of fire the paines of sin the darts of Satan and the dolours of hell may neuer ouercome me but may be driuen away through the working of the most gracious spirit which now pleÌ„teously endue me withal that throgh the same spâ—rit I may offer as now I desire am ready to doe in Christ and by him my selfe wholy soule and body to a liuely sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight deare father whose I am and always haue been euen before the world was made to whom I commend my selfe faith name family and friends countrie all the whole Church yea euen my very enemies according to thy good pleasure beseeching thee entirely to giue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word againe with godly peace to the teaching and setting forth of the same O deare father now guide mee to come vnto thee so purge and purifie me by this fire in Christs death passion through the spirite that I may bee a burnt offering of sweet smel in thy sight which liuest and raignest with the sonne and the holie Ghost now and euermore world without end The Letany O God the father of heauen haue mercy vppon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen c. O God the sonne redeemer of the world haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the sonne redeemer c. O God the holy ghost proceeding from the father and the sonne haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost c. O holy blessed and glorious Trinity three persons one God haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sins spate vs good Lord spate thy people whome thou hast redeemed with thy most precious bloud and be not angry with vs for euer Spate vs good Lord. From all euill and mischiefe from sinne from â—he crafts and assaults of the diuell from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From blindnes of heart from pride vaineglory and hypocrisie from enuy hatred and malice and al vncharitablenesse Good Lord deliuer vs. From fornication and al other deadly sinne and from all the deceits of the world the flesh and the diuell Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightning and tempest from plague pestileÌ„ce famine from battell murder from sodaine death Good Lord deliuer vs. From all sediâ—iâ—n and priuy conspiracy from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnes of heart contempt of thy word commandemeÌ„t Good Lord deliuer vs. By the mystery of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuity and circumcision by thy Baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agony and bloudy sweat by thy crosse and passion by thy glorious resurrection and assension 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 Lord God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holy church vniuersally in the right way We beseech thee to heare vâ— c. That it may please thee to keep and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnesse holines of
life thy seruant Iames our most gracious king and gouernor We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to rule his hart in thy faith feare and loue and that he may euermore haue affiance in thee euer seek thy honor glory We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to be his defender and keeper giuing him the victory ouer all his enemies We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to blesse and preserue our gracious Queene Anne prince Charles and the rest of the King and Queenes royall issue We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to illuminate all bishops pastors and ministers of the church with true knowledge and vnderstaÌ„ding of thy word that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it forth and shew it accordingly We beseech c. That it may please thee to indue the Lords of the counsell and all the nobility with grace wisedome and vnderstanding We beseech c. That it may please thee to blesse keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute iustice and to maintaine truth We beseech c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe all thy people We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue to all nations vnity peace concord We beseech thee 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 c. That it may please thee to giue all thy people increase of grace to heare meekely thy word and to receiue it with pure affectioÌ„ and to bring forth the fruits of the spirit We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to bring into the way of trueth all such as haue erred and are deceiued We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand and to comfort and helpe the weake hearted and to raise vp them that fal and finally to beat downe Satan vnder our feet We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to succour help and comfort all that be in danger necessity and tribulation We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring of childeâ— all sicke persons and young children and to shew thy pity vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare c. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse children and widowes and all that bee desolate and oppressed We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to haue mercy vpon all men We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to forgiue our enemies persecutors and slaunderers and to turne their hearts We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindly fruâ—ts of the earth so as in due time wee may enioy them We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue vs true repentance to forgiue vs al our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to indue vs with thâ— holy spirit to amend our liues according to thy holy word We beseech thee c. Sonne of God wee beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God we beseech c. O Lambe of God that takest away the sins of the world Grant vs thy peace O Lambe of God that takest away the sins of the world Haue mercy vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Our Father which c. And leade vs not c. But deliuer vs from euill Amen The Veâ—sicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The Answer Neither reward vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God meecifull father which despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desires of such as be sorrowfull mercifully assist our praiers that we make before thee in al our troubles adurrsities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and graciously heare vs that those euills which the craft or subtlety of the Diuell or man worketh against vs be brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may bee dispersed that wee thy seruants beeing hurt by no persecution may euermore giue thankes vnto thee in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble workes that thou diddest in their daies and in the old time before them O Lord aâ—ise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thâ—ne honour Glory be to the father and to the Sonne and to the holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and euer shall be world without end Amen From our enemies defend vs O Christ Graciously looke vpon our afflâ—ctions Pittifully behold the sorrowes of our hearts Mercifully forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauourably with mercy heare our praiers O Son of Dauid haue mercy vpon vs. Both now and euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Gratiously heare vs O Christ gratiously heare vs O Lord Christ O Lord let thy mercy be shewed oâ— vs As we doe put ouâ— trust in thee Let vs pray VVE humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glory of thy names sake turne from vs all those euils that wee most righâ—eously haue deserued and grant that in all our troubles wee may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy euermore serue thee in holines and purenesse of liuing to thy honour and glory through our onely mediaâ—or aduocaâ—e Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for the Kings maiesty O Lord our heauenly father high mighty King of Kings Lord of Lords the only ruler of Princes which doest from thy throne behold all the dwellers vppon earth most heartily wee beseech thee with thy fauour to behold our most gracious soueraigne Lord King Iames and so replenish him with the grace of thy holy spirit that he may alwayes incline to thy wil walk in thy ways indue him plentifully with heauenly gifts grant him in health wealth long to liue strengthen him that hee may vanquish and ouercome all his enimies and finally after this life he may attain euerlasting ioy and felicity throgh Iesus Christ our Lord. A praier for the Queen Prince and other the King and Queens children ALmighty God which hast promised to be a father of thine elect and of their seed we humbly beseech thee to blesse our gracious Queene Anne Prince Charles and all the Kings Queens royal progeny indue them with thy holy spirit inrich them with thy heauenly grace prosper them with all happines bring them to thine eutrlasting kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. A praier for
Bishops and Ministers of the Church ALmighty and euerliuing God which onely workest great maruels send downe vpon our Bishops and Pastors and all congregations coÌ„mitted to their charge the healthfull spirit of thy grace and that they may truely please thee powre vpon them the continuall dew of thy blessing Grant this O Lord for the honour of our aduocate and mediator Iesus Christ For raine O GOD heauenly father which by thy sonne Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that seeke thy kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof all things necessary to their bodily sustenance send vs we beseech thee in this our necessity such moderate raine showres that we may receiue the fruits of the earth to our comfort and to thine honour through Iesus Christ our Lord. For faire weather O Lord God which for the sin of man diddest once drowne all the world except eight persons and afterward of thy great mercy diddest promise neuer to destroy it so againe wee humbly beseech thee that although wee for our iniquities haue worthily deserued this plague of rain and waters yet thou wilt send vs such weather whereby wee may receiue the fruits of the earth in due season and learne both by thy punishment to amend our liues and for thy clemency to giue thee praise and glory through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen In the time of dearth and famine O Mercifull God and heauenly father whose gift it is that the raine doth fall the earth is fruitful men and beasts increase and fishes do multiply behold we beseech thee the afflictions of thy people grant that the scarsity and dearth which we doe now most iustly suffer for our iniquities may through thy goodnes be mercifully turned into cheapnes and plenty for the loue of Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be praise for euer Amen In the time of warre ALmighty God King of all kâ—ngs and gouernour of all things whose power no creature is able to resist to whom it belongeth iustly to punish sinners and to be mercifull to them that truly repent saue and deliuer vs wee humbly beseech thee from the haÌ„ds of our enemies abate their pride asswage their malice confound their deuices that we being armed with thy defence may bee preserued from all perils to glorifie thee which arte the onely giuer of all victory through the merites of thy onely Son Iesus Christ our Lord So be it In the time of any common plague or sickenesse O Almighty God which in thy wrath in the time of King Dauid didst slay with the plague of pestilence threescore and ten thousand and yet remembring thy mercy didst saue the rest haue pitty vpon vs miserable sinners that now are visited with great sickenesse and mortality that like as thou didst then commaÌ„d thine Angel to cease from punishing so it may now please thee to withdraw from vs this plague and grieuous sickenesse through Iesus Christ our Lord. A praier for the strength and comfort of the holy Ghost ALmighty most mercifull God which giuest to thy elect people thine holy spirit as a sure pledge of thy heauenly kingdome wee most humbly beseech thee so to replenish our harts with the grace of thy holy spirit that he may bear witnes to our spirits that we be thy childreÌ„ heirs of thy kingdome that by thy gracious working of this thy good spirit we may kil al carnal lusts vnlawful pleasures concupiscences euil affections contrary to thy most blessed wil through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it For sure hope and sure tast of euerlasting life O Almighty God which hast prepard euerlasting life for al those that be thy faithfull seruants grant vnto vs sure hope of this life euerlasting that whiles we be here in this miserable world wee my haue some taste and feeling of it in our hearts through the merits of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it For true knowledge of God and his word and a life agreeable to the same GRant vnto vs O mercifull God wee most heartily beseech thee knowledge and true vnderstanding of thy most blessed will and word that all ignorance being expelled we may know what thy will pleasure is in all things and how to do our duety and truly to walk in our vocation and that also we may expresse in our liuing those things that we doe know that wee bee not only knowers of thy will and word good Lord but also may be hearty faithful workers of the same throgh our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ So be it A praier for the strength and increase of faith O Almighty and euerliuing God which not onely giuest euery good and perfect gift but also increasest those gifts that thou hast giuen we most humbly beseech thee to increase in vs the gift of faith that we may truly beleeue in thee and in thy promises made vnto vs in Christ Iesu our Lord that neither by our negligence nor infirmity of the flesh nor by grieuousnes of temptations neither by the subtle crafts and assaults of the diuell 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 workes of darknes and put on vs the armor of light now in the time of this mortall life in which thy Son Iesus Christ came to visite vs in great humilitie that in the last day when hee shall come againe in his glorious maiesty to iudge the quicke and the dead we may rise to the life immortall throgh him who liueth and raigneth with thee and the holy Ghost now and for euer So be it A praier for true perseuerance and the assured hope of eternal life BLessed God which hast caused al holy Scriptures to be written for our learning grant that we may in such wise heare theÌ„ reade them marke them inwardly print them in our hearts that by patience and coÌ„fort of thy holy word we may imbrace and euer holde fast the blessed hope of euerlasting life which thou hast giuen vs in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it A praier for the obtaining of our petitions ALmighty God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accord to make our coÌ„mon supplications vnto thee and doest promise that when two or three be gathered together in thy name thou wilt grant their requests fulfil now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be must expedient for them granting vs in this world knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen The end of the Lateny A GODLY INSTRVCTIon containing the summe of all the Diuinity necessary for a Christian conscience Made by M. Iohn Bradford A Man that is regenerate born of God the which thing that euery one of vs bee our Baptisme the Sacrament of regeneration doth require vnder paine of damnation
and therefore let euery one of vs with the Virgin Mary say Bee it vnto me O Lord according to thy Word according to the Sacrament of Baptiâ—me wherein thou hast declared our adoption and let vs lament â—he doubting hereof in vs striuing against it as we shall be made able of the Lord a man I say that is regenerate consisteth of two men as a man may say namely of the old man The olde man and the new man The olde man is like to a mighty Giant such a one as was Goliah for his birth is now perfect but the new man is like vnto a little child such a one as was Dauid for his birth is not yet perfect The new man vntill the day of the generall resurrection The olde man therefore is more strong lusty and stirring then is the new man because the birth of the new man is but begunne now and the old man is perfectly borne And as the old man is more stirring lusty and stronger then the new man Why the old man is stronger then the new In what respect one man is so is the nature of him cleane contrary to the nature of the new man as being earthly and corrupt with Sathans seede the nature of the new man beeing heauenly and blessed with the celestiall seed of God So that one man in as much as he is corrupt with the seed of the serpent is an old man both an old man also a new man and in as much as he is blessed with the seed of God from aboue he is a new man And as in as much as he is an old man hee is a sinner and an enemy to God so in asmuch as hee is regenerate he is righteous and holy and a friend to God the seed of God preseruing him from sinne so that hee cannot sin as the seed of the serpent wherewith he is corrupt euen from his conception inclineth him yea inforceth him to sinne and nothing else but to sinne So that the best part in man before regeneration in Gods sight is not onely an enemy but enimity it selfe One man therefore which is regenerate may well bee called alwaies iust and alwaies sinfull How one man may be called alwaies sinfull alwaies â—ust iust in respect of Gods seed and his regeneration sinfull in respâ—ct of Sathans seed and his first birth Betwixt these two men therfore there is continuall conflicts and war most deadly The flesh and the old man by reason of his birth that is perfect doe often for a time preuaile against the new man Why the old man often times preuaileth against the new man being but a chiâ—d in comparison and that in such sort as not onely other The old man so mightily preuaileth somtimes against the new man in the childreÌ„ of God that the spirit and seed of God seemeth to be vtterly taken from them wheras indeede it is not so as afterward to their great comfort they finde and feele but euen the children of God themselues thinke that they bee nothing else but old that the spirit and seed of God is lost gone away where yet notwithstanding the truth is otherwise the spirit the seed of God at the length appearing againe and dispelling away the clouds which couer the Sunne of Gods seed from shining as the cloudes in the aire to the corporall Sunne so that somtimes a man cannot tell by any sense that there is any sun the clouds winds so hid it from our sight Euen so our felicity or blindnes and corrupt affections doe oft shadow the sight of Gods seed in Gods children as though they were plain reprobats Whereof it cometh that they praying according to their sense but not according to the truth desire of God to giue them againe his spirit as though they had lost it and hee had taken it away Which thing God neuer doth indeed although he make vs thinke so for a time for alwaies hee holdeth his hand vnder his children in their falles that they lie not stil as others doe which are not regenerat And this is the differeÌ„ce betwixt Gods children which are regenerate and elect before all times in Christ and the wicked cast aways that the elect lie not still continually in their sin as do the wicked but at the length do returne againe by reason of Gods seed which is in them hid as a sparke of fire in the ashes as we may see in Peter Dauâ—d â—aul Mary Magdalen others For these I meane Gods children God hath made all things in Christ Iesu to whom hee hath giuen this dignity that they should bee his inheritance and spouse This our inheritour Christ Iesus God with God light of light coeternall consubstantiall with the Father and with the holy 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 maiesty as Peter saith and so is become flesh of our flesh bone of our bones substantially as we are become flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones spiritually all that euer wee haue pertaineth to him yea euen our sinnes as all that euer hee hath pertaineth vnto vs euen his owne glory So that it 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 hee will make him a sufficient answere For this end I meane that wee might be coupled and married thus to Christ The law Perâ—aineth to the old man and the Gospell to the new man and so be certain of saluation and at peace with God in our coÌ„sciences 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 being proper to the new man The part properly pertaining to the old man is the law the part properly pertaining to the new man is the Gospell The law is a doctrine which commandeth What the law is and forbiddeth requiring doing and auoiding Vnder it therfore are coÌ„tained al precepts threatnings promises vpon conditions of our doing and auoiding c. What the gospell is The gospell is a doctrine which alwaies offereth and giueth requiring faith on our behalfe not as of worthines as a cause but as a certificat vnto vs and therefore vnder it are contained all the free sweete promises of God as I am the Lotd thy God c. The conscience feared and beaten down with the terror of Gods iudgement against sin may not looke vpon the law but fly to the Gospell for releeefe comfort In those that bee of yeeres of discretion it requireth faith not as
a cause but as an instrumeÌ„t whereby we our selues may be certaine of our good husband Christ of of his glorie and therefore when the conscience feeleth it selfe disquieted for feare of Gods iudgment against sin shee may in no wise looke vpon the doctrine pertaining to the old man but to the doctrine onely that pertaineth to the new man in it not looking for that which it requireth that is faith because we neuer beleeue as we 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 John 13. When the conscience is quiet and at peace with God the law serueth only to keepe downe the old man then is shee happy and shall finde quietnes indeede When shee feeleth her selfe quiet then in Gods name let her looke on the law and vpon such things as it requireth thâ—reby to bridle and keepe downe the old Adam to slay the Goliah froÌ„ whom she must needs keepe the sweet promises being the bed wherein her spouse she meet and lie together for as the wife will keepe her bed only for her husband although in other things she is content to haue fellowship with others as to speake sit eate drinke go c. so our consciences which are Christs wiues must needs keep the bed that is Gods sweet promises all onely for our selues and our husband there to meet together to imbrace and laugh together to bee ioifull together If sin the law the Diuell or any thing else would creep into the bed and lie there then câ—mplaine to thy husbâ—nd Christ forthwith thou shalt see him play Phineas part Thus my deerely beloued I haue giuen you in few words a summe of all the Diuinity which a Christian conscience cannot want FINIS The Table AN introduction to praier 17 A meditation concerning praier 49 A meditation vpon the Lords supper 68 A priuate praier for the morning euening and other times of the day 132 VVhen you avvake out of your sleepe eod VVhen you behold the daie light 134 VVhen you arise 135 VVhen you apparrell yourselfe 136 VVhen you are made readie to begin the daie vvithall 138 Cogitations meete to begin the day vvithal 139 VVhen you goe foorth of the doore 143 VVhen you are going anie iourney 145 VVhen you are about to receiue your meat 148 In the meal time 150 After your meate 152 vvhen you come home againe 155 At the sunne going dovvn 156 VVhen the candles bee light 158 VVhen you make your selues vnready 160 VVhen you goe into your bed 161 VVhen you feele sleepe to be comming 163 A generall confession of sins vviâ—h other praiers for the morning euening to be vsed in families and publike assemblies 165 Another confession of sins 167 A praier to be sayd in the morning 169 Another 172 Another 143 An euening prayer 176 Another 181 Another 183 A prayer for remission of sinnes 185 A praier for the true knovvledge of the mysterie of our redemption in Christ 197 A forme of thankesgiuing for our redemption a praier for the streÌ„gth and increase of faith 200 A thankesgiuing to God for his greate benefits 202 A praier for true mortification 205 A meditation of the exercise of true mortification 212 A meditation of the coÌ„ming of Christ to iudgement of the revvard both of the faithfull and vnfaithfull 215 A meditation of the life euerlasting the place vvhere it is the incoÌ„parablenes thereof 222 Another meditation of the blessed state felicitie of the life to come 231 A meditation of the presence of God 238 A meditation of the prouidence of God 240 A meditation of Gods povver beautie goodnesse c. 245 A meditation concerning the sober vsage of the body that it may bee subiect obedient to the soule 249 Another meditation concerning the sober vsage of the bodie pleasures in this life 252 A meditation of death and the commodities it bringeth 256 A meditation vpon the passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christ 259 A praier to Christ crucified 267 A praier to Christ ascended and raining in glory A 8 A praier for true repentance 272 A praier for the strength increase of faith 273 A prayer for the true sense and feeling of gods fauour and mercie in Christ 274 A praier against our spirituall enimies the diuel the vvorld and the flesh 280 A praier for present help in temptation 281 Remedies against sinfull motions and tentations 284 A praier for the auoiding of Gods heauie vvrath and vengeance for our sins 286 Another 293 A praier to be said of such as suffer any kinde of crosse 295 A praier for the afflicted for the profession of gods vvord 299 A praier to God the father the sonne and the holy Ghost 302 A thankesgiuing to God the father the sonne and the holy Ghost 367 A praier to God for his helpe and protection against the obstinate enimies of the truth 301 A praier for the afflicted and persecuted vnder the tyranny of Antichrist 312 A praier to be said before the preaching of Gods vvord 314 A praier to be said after the preaching â— God 's vvord 310 A praier to be said before the receiuing of the communion 322 A thanksgiuing after the receiuing of the communion 326 A lamentation of a sinner afflicted in onscieÌ„ce for his offences 327 A praier for the sicke 333 A prayer to be said at the hour of death 339 A prayer for a vvoman vvith childe 343 A Psalme to bee sayde in the time of any common plague sicknesse or other crosse or visitation of God 346 A Psalme of thankesgiuing for deliueraunce from the plague or anye other kind of sicknesse or afflictions 350 A prayer to be said before meate after 354 Another prayer to be said bâ—fore meate 355 Another 356 A thankesgiuing after meales 357 An other â—hankesgiuing after meales 359 Anâ—ther 360 Another 361 Prayers commonly called Lydleys Prayers with certaine godly additions A Confession of sin 362 A confession of sinnes and a prayer for the remission thereof 374 A prayer for the true knovvledge and vnderstanding of the vvord of God 380 A prayer for the leading of a godly life 383 A prayer for the deliuerance from sins to bee restored to Gods grace fauour againe 387 A prayer necessitie to be said at all times 389 A prayer for grace remission of sin 392 Prayers taken out of the first psalme 395 Prayers taken out of the second psalme 400 A praier vvhich M. Iohn Bradford said a litle before his death in Smithfield 404 The Letany 409 For rhe Kings maiestie 410 For Bishops ministers of the Church 431 For raine 421 For faire vveather 422 Jn the time of dearth and famine 423 Jn the time of vvarre 423 In the time of any coÌ„mon plaâ—ue of sicknesse 424 For strength and comfort of the holie Ghost 425. For sure hope and true tast of euerlasting life 426 For the true knovvledge of god his vvord a life agreeable to the same ibid For the strength increase of faith 427 For a godly life 428 For the true perseuerance and assured hope of eternall life 429 A praier for the obteining of our petitions 429 A godly instruction containing the sum of al the Diuinitie necessarie for a Christian conscience 431 FINIS