holy word wee are commanded in our prayers not onely to be mindefull of our selues but also of all others thy children yea euen of our enimies wee commend vnto thy Maiestie all thy whole true and catholike Churche and euery member thereof that as it hath pleased thy goodnesse by the brighte beames of thy holy woorde to shine ouer the whole worlde whereby thou haste expelled driuen away and caused to vanishe the darke and mistie cloudes of ignorance and superstition so thou wouldest vouchsafe by thy holy spirite to touche the heartes of men that they may ioy fully embrace that thine so high a treasure sente amongest vs that through our vnthankfulnesse we prouoke not thy Maiestie in anger to take it from vs Crush bruse and destroy with the breath of thy mouth the mightie power of that man of sinne whiche so proudly exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called god Let not thy simple flocke deere Father in whose consciences he of long time hath and yet doth sitte as GOD bee any longer poysoned with his sweete enticeing poysons but so lighten their heartes that they may perceiue his iuglynges and embrace the sweete and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting reuealed in thy Glorious Gospell And forasmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy aboue all nations of the earth to powre downe the sweete showers of thy Heauenly Graces vppon this our Englishe nation aboundantly in more plentifull wise watering the same with the giftes of thy holy Spirite in promoting thy Gospell and ouerthrowing idolatrie wee beseech thee continue thy fauour towarde the same and vtterly roote out all remnantes reliques and monumentes of idolatrie that thy Glorious Name may be throughly exalted in sincere pure and holy worshippe And as thou haste in mercy from amongst vs in this thy Churche vtterly banished all false venemous and poysonfull doctrine wherewith the soules of thy Children heretofore haue bene wounded to death and in place thereof haste placed the true and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting wherewith the soules of thy children bee fedde and nourished to euerlasting ioy so in like mercy and fauour wee beseeche thee deere Father establish in the same thy Church a true perfecte and sincere regiment thereof according to the prescripte rule of thy blessed woord all fantasies of mans braine and dreames of humaine policie vtterly abolished that thy glorious Maiestie onely may bee exalted in the lighte of thy glorious Gospel that thy Church may flourishe and increase beeing through thy protection ayded supported maintained and defended we beseech the by thy holy spirit guide rule euery part member therof especially thy seruant ELIZABETH our Queene whome thy gratious fauour and mercifull prouidence hath appointed a chiefe member in the same vnder whose winges next vnto thy protection it hath a chiefe succour and supporte Graunte vnto her O Lorde a pure and perfecte Zeale aboue all thinges to promote thy Glorie first and chiefly in labouring and endeuouring of her selfe earnestly in wiping away and purging out of thy Churche all blots and deformities to reduce the same to a pure and sincere fourme of worshippe agreeing to thy blessed woorde vtterly to remoue all stumbling blockes which stay and hinder the course of thy Gospel giue her in like manner O Lorde the spirite of wisedome discretion and gouernement that with equitie and iustice shee may see this whole Realme which thou hast committed to her charge peaceably and quietly gouerned that shee may studiously labour that as wel thorough the whole Realme vertue be exalted vice abandoned as especially in her owne house and court that all wicked vanities of this worlde al licentious and inordinate life all flattering and dissimulation beeing vtterly banished the feare of thy Glorious Maiestie may so reigne in the heartes of all within her palace and courte that their liues and conuersation may bee agreeable to thy blessed wil in sinceritie and true holinesse and integritie of life that from them as from the heade may shine puritie of life and conuersation as an example and patterne of true Godlinesse to the whole Realme Preserue her we beseech thee good Lorde from all conspiracies and treasons that if it bee thy good wil she may haue a long and quiet reigne ouer vs to the benefite of thy Churche and the aduauncement of thy glorie Indue the whole counsel good Lord with true and perfect wisedome that in all their consultations and counsels hauing thee present before their eyes they may consulte of those thinges which principally and chiefely may be for the aduancemēt of thy glorie the cōmoditie of thy churche and next for the quiet peace and gracious gouernment of this realme So lighten al inferiour Magistrates of this Realme good Lorde with the brightnesse of thy holy Spirit that vnderstanding thy wil they may zealously defend mainteine and further the course of the Gospel with the sword of iustice cut off the wicked and cherish the godly Defende and gouerne by thy holy Spirite the Pastours of thy Churche and labourers in thy vineyard that they may zealously earnestly and diligently feede thy flocke committed vnto them with the foode of life thy blessed word wherewith their soules may be nourished to Life Euerlasting Increase the number of them deere Father place ouer euery flocke a godly learned paineful Pastor who may painfully and carefully trauail euery one in his charge to bring thy people which nowe alas in moste partes do wander and go astray like loste sheepe to the true knowledge of thee their Lord and God and of thy deare sonne Christe Iesu their Sauiour And for thy mercie we beseeche thee to take pitie vpon thy poore and simple flocke roote out all rauening wolues which haue craftily crept into thy sheepefolde and do make hauocke of the soules of thy simple flock Cast out al hirelings time seruers dumb dogs which to fill their bellies only haue thrust themselues among thy sheep do pitifully suffer the flock of Christ thy sonne to be deuowred and scattered of the woolfe Stirre vp good Lord and place in their roomes faithfull sheepheardes which diligently painefully carefully and earnestly may labour in thy vineyard seeke to winne the soules of thy people out of the tyrannie and power of satan to the freedome of thy deere sonne Christ Iesu our Lorde And that thy Churche may better be furnished with Godly learned Pastours we beseeche thee prosper and increase in all Godly knowledge all Schooles of learning especially the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxforde Graunt deere Father vnto al the students of the same that the chiefe ende of all their studies may be to the furtheraunce of thy Churche and maintenance of the common wealthe Blesse their studies deere Father that all vaine studies set aside they may so fructifie and profite in all profitable godly sciences that hereafter they may become profitable members in thy church godly vpholders of the cōmon wealth Grant good Lord to al the whole
beeing altogether goodnesse it selfe giue good thinges to them that aske in thy Sonnes name And that although a mother should forsake her children yet wilt thou not forsake vs thy children whome thou haste before the bginning of the worlde in thy deere Sonne Iesu Christe chosen to be thy children and heires with him of thine immortall Kingdome Whereof that we in our selues mighte be sure and certaine and out of all doubte that wee are the children and heires of euerlasting life thou haste giuen into our heartes thy holy Spirite as a true pledge and earneste of our inheritaunce whiche Spirite doth assure our spirites that we are thy children and therefore crieth in our harts Abba Father Wee therefore as thy deere children raunsomed and boughte by thy deere sonne flee to thee our moste louing and mercifull Father who in goodnesse art infinite in mercy aboundant in substance incomprehensible in immortalitie euerlasting who by thy mightie power and singular prouidence rulest all thinges according to thy heauenly wisedome beseeching thee for thy deere sone Christ Iesus his sake that as thou hast sufficieÌ„tly sette forth thy glorious Name in making the whole worlde heauen earth and al things therein contained so we may in beholding and viewing thy creatures the works of thine handes be lifted vp to thee our Lord God the Creatour and Maker and in them glorifie thy holy name acknowledgeing in them thy singular goodnesse and loue towardes man for whose vse thou haste created all thinges both in Heauen and earth and that we may for the same euen from the bottom of our harts yeeld due honour praise and thankesgiuing to thee deere Father all the dayes of our life Graunte moste mercifull Father that wee may in hart and minde be fully assured that thou by thy heauenly prouidence rulest and guidest all things in heauen and earth so that nothing in the whole world commeth to passe but according to thine appoyntmente that thou guidest and framest the affaires and doings of men that thou haste euen their harts and all their powers in thy mercifull hande to turne them whiche way soeuer it seemeth best to thy godly wisedome so that whither wee be in prosperitie or aduersitie we may acknowledge both of them to be thy woorke in vs and therefore be no lesse thankful for sicknesse then for health for sorrowe then for comforte for a troubled mind then for a quiet for imprisonment and banishmente then for libertie especially seeing we know that y turnest them all seeme they neuer so sharp to the comforte and coÌ„modity of thy children which feare thee and that in al things whiche shall befal vnto vs whither they be greuous or ioyous prosperitie or aduersitie life or death thy holy Name may be sanctified in vs by yeelding due and continuall praise and thankesgiuing to thy eternall Maiestie that wee neuer cease to put our ful truste and confidence in thy merâ—y who haste promised to be our defender buckler and shielde to keepe vs as the apple of thine eye to deliuer vs when we call vppon thee to open when we knock to giue when wee aske that we knowing our owne weakenesse that of our selues we haue no power or strength to do no not so muche as to will that whiche is good wee may acknowledge all our strength comforte ioy faith loue hope and confidence to be thine only gifte and woorke in vs And for the same and the increase of the same and for all thy benefites in vs whereof we feele our selues destitute we may constantly flee vnto thee by harty prayer requiring the same at thy mercifull hande And hauing felt thy mercifull dealing towardes vs we may alway to the end of our life continue thankfull to thy blessed Name that wee neuer speake or thinke of thee O Lord God without high reuerence and an obedieÌ„t feare vnto thy Glorious Name And that thy kingdome O Lorde may more gloriously shine amongest men subdue the hearts of the people to be obedient to thy woorde Lighten all nations with thy glorious Gospell raise vp faithful ministers of thy woord aboundantly in euery place who with pure and perfect zeale in true knowledge may feede the hungrie soules with the foode of life Lighten the harts of thy children whome yet thou haste not called to the feeling of thy mercies in thy sonne reuealed Beate downe the furie and rage of the kingdome of satan and antichrist with all tyrants who shewe their vtter malice and furie against thy deare and faithfull flock Confounde their deuises suppresse their pride and so strengthen all thy true and faithfull seruauntes againste their rage that they may haue true wisedome to confound their enimies and steadfast constancie to professe the truth of thy glorious gospell euen to the death And that euery one of vs may feele the force of this thy kingdome particularly in our selues wee beseeche thee kill in vs by thy holy spirite all wicked delightes of sinne and vanities of this worlde Mortifie in vs our earthly and carnall affections and graunte that wee may haue our full delighte and pleasure in thee our Heauenly Father and in thy sonne Christe Iesu our Lorde and Sauiour and reuerently embrace thy holy Woord that our soules may be comforted therein and our faith thereby confirmed Lighten our vnderstanding that we may in thy holy woord learne and in heart be fully assured that thou art our most merciful Father and thy deere Sonne our Lorde and Sauiour Beate downe in vs all sinnefull motions of the aduersarie whiche do rebell againste thy holy spirite and settle and frame our mindes by thy holy spirite in vs that all rebellion in our fleshe being killed wee may quietly with stayed mindes and consciences sette our full ioy comforte and consolation in heauenly thinges walking before thee in sinceritie of mind put our ful trust and confideÌ„ce in thee rest and quiet our selues wholy in thy mighty protection and prouidence And forasmuche O Lord God as of our selues wee be nothing but stubbernesse and rebellion wee beseeche thee deere Father that as thine Angels in heauen doe willingly obey thy Will without resistance so wee thy children in earth all stubbernesse and peruersnesse by thy holy spirite in vs being vtterly extinguished and quenched wee may willingly submit our selues resigne and yeelde our whole affections to thee O Lord to be gouerned after thy blessed and heauenly Will. That we may feele in our selues no other motion or desire then a meete consente to thy holy Will that whatsoeuer affections in vs fighte against thy holy Will thou wilt vtterly make them voyde That wee neuer will any thinge of our selues but that thy holy Spâ—rite in vs may gouerne our heartes by whome inwardly being taughte wee may learne to love embrace and take comforte in those thinges that please thee and to hate those thinges that displease thee That our heartes mindes and willes beeing wholy subdued to thy moste blessed Will wee may willingly bee
deare Father mortifie subdue and kill in our fleshe all subtile suggestions and sinnefull motions of satan that we yelde not our selues as slaues thervnto but continually fight against them and bring them into subiection of the spirite Graunt vnto vs deere Father that wee bee not drawne through the subtilitie and sliely tormentes of satan to haue our delight and pleasure in the vanities of this presente world but by thy Grace might and power may so in the prosperitie of this life be vppholden that our mindes with full ioy and comfort may be lifted vp to our perfecte consolation in our Lorde and Sauiour Christe and in him take our full and perfecte ioy consolation so that no vaine delight of this worlde put vs from the same neither any sharp adversitie as pouertie miserie or calamitie through the malice of the diuell driue vs to despaire of thy mercifull goodnesse towardes vs but alwayes beeing through thy grace and assistance defended wee may be fully and perfectly armed againste all the subtile intrappings of satan and reste wholy in thy merciful defence and ayde For thou haste O Lord and eternall God in thy gouernement all things in heauen and earth all power and dominion ouer all creatures Angels and diuels to rule them according to thy good pleasure and will to the profite and commoditie of thy churche and euery faithfull member thereof and to thine owne incomprehensible glorie in all thinges in all ages for euer and euer thy glorious name may bee exalted and thy faithfull flocke edified thorough Christ our lord Amen ¶ A confession of sinnes with faith and repentaunce O Mercifull and heauenly Father wee thy seruauntes do humbly prostrate our selues before thy Maiestie acknowledging here in thy sighte our haynous offences committed against thy Maiestie seing beholding thy heauie wrath against them wee feele our selues laden O Lord our God with a huge companie of horrible sinnes whereofeuen the very leaste beeing but conceiued in thoughte is sufficient in iudgement to throwe vs downe to the euerlasting burning lake Our owne consciences O Lorde do beare witnesse againste vs of our manifolde transgressions of thy blessed lawe of our securitie senselesse blindenesse running headelong to destruction committing sinne after sinne although not notorious to the woorlde yet horrible before thine eye The thoughtes of our heartes rise vp in iudgmente against vs the vanitie of our talke before thy maiestie condemneth vs the wickednesse of our deedes from thy sight reiecteth vs all our wicked thoughtes woordes and deedes with the inwarde corruption of our nature do altogether as it were a whole lumpe and lode of sinne lye heauy vppon vs and with their intollerable weight do euen presse vs downe to hell Wee do daily grone vnder the burthen of them inwardly lamenting our owne folly so greedily rūning into them In Heauen earth or hell wee see none able to sustaine the weight of them but euen thy deerely beloued Sonne Iesus Christe who in mercy infinite and compassion endlesse hath sustayned and ouercome that endlesse punishmente due vnto them in him therefore in him moste mercifull Father and through him wee come to thee beeing fully assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept and take that ful recompence which he thy deere sonne hath made for vs as a iust raūsome for all the sinnes of all those whoe withe a true faithe take holde on him In him therefore wee see thine anger towardes vs appeased thy wrath satisfied our debts payde Increase in vs good Lorde wee beseeche thee this liuely and feeling faith for wee feele it often times in vs very weake and troubled with many doubtes increase it in vs O Lorde that wee may through thy holy spirit bee assured that the punishment of our sinnes is fully in thy sonne discharged Make vs O Lorde our God to feele this same in our soules and consciēces that Iesus Christ is ours and all that he hath done that wee are graffed into his body made one with him and therefore fellowe heires with him of euerlasting life Lette vs not onely haue these wordes in our mouthes good Lorde but through thy holy Spirite lette vs feele the comfort of them in our heartes fully sealed and settled in vs that wee feeling our selues inwardly before thy iudgemente seate discharged and our consciences towardes thee appeased may be swallowed vp with an vnfained loue towarde thy Heauenly Maiestie and towardes our brethren for thy sake Make sinne to die in vs daily more and more that wee may hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne and wickednesse in all men but especially in our selues that wee may strongly through thy holy Spirit set our selues in open warre and defiaunce againste all sinne and wickednesse that wee please not our selues in our sinnes but streightly examining sinne by the iuste rule of thy holy Lawes wee may vtterly from the bottome of our heartes condemne euen the least sinne in our selues hauing our whole ioy comforte and consolation vppon those thinges whiche bee agreeable to thy blessed will alwayes beeing afraid to do any thing contrary to the same that wee may euen from the bottome of our heartes examine and trie our thoughtes before thy presence that they bee vprighte and vnfained not hypocriticall in outwarde shewe onely and appearance but that euen all corners of our heartes being opened and disclosed beefore thee wee may euen as though it were openly before the face of the whole worlde bring them in shewe knowing that a double heart is detestable in thine eyes and that we may walke alwayes as before thine eyes not onely before the eyes of man being more carefull to walk circumspectly in this respecte that wee haue thee to be a viewer of our dooings a thousād fold more then the eyes of man that thus wee may walke as becommeth thy children not onely in outwarde shewe but also in sinceritie of heart abhorring euen the leaste sinne in our selues striuing resisting and fighting againste sinne not delighting our selues in sinne nor nourishing the same in our breste but earnestly embraceing and studiously seeking after those thinges whiche bee pleasante in thine eyes that neither the feare of man nor losse of goods life lāds possessions or friends drawe vs away frō thee to do any leaste thing contrarie to thy will and pleasure neither the fauour or friendshippe of man nor yet the flattering enticementes of this worlde nor the vaine promotions of the same do moue vs any whitte from the true and endlesse ioy delighte and pleasure whiche wee ought to haue in those things whiche bee agreeable to thy will and the constante performance of the same but that alwayes to the end of our life we may continue in thy pathes growing and increasing from faith to faith from strength to strength til at length wee shall come to thy euerlasting rest Amen A prayer for the estate of the whole Church O Lorde our God and Heauenly Father for asmuch as by thy
Commons of this Realme that their hartes being touched with a sincere feare and reuerence of thy heauenly Maiestie acknowledging thy mercie in placeing ouer them a Godly Princesse they may euery one in their callings walke in all true and humble obedience vnto her in thee and for thee without resistance tumults insurrections conspiracies or rebellions knowing that to resist the higher powers is to rebell against thy Maiestie Finally we beseeche thy goodnesse so guide gouerne the hartes of all the whole Realme of euery degree that euery one in his calling being by thy grace supported may so occupie his talent that thy Glorie in all thinges may be aduanced thy Churche inlarged and this whole Realme into sincere Godlinesse vertuously reduced Moreouer we beseech thee O Lord our God in mercie behold all those which suffer persecution for thy glorious wordes sake whither it be imprisonmente deathe or banishment or whatsoeuer else strengthē them good Lord that they hauing thee always before their eyes and the glorie laide vp for thē in the life to come may continue constant in defēding thy truth without feare of man or vaine allurementes of the world that whether it come by life or death they may glorifie thy Holy name in continuing in the trueth to the end Preserue in like maner we beseech thee all others thy children whom it hath pleased thee with any other kinde of crosse to chasten for their amendement whither by pestilence famine warre pouertie imprisonment sicknesse or banishment trouble of conscience vexation of spirit disquietnesse of minde want of spirituall comforte or whatsoeuer kinde of affliction of body or mindes thou doest trie them with that by thy holy spirit being fully assured that thou by this thy correction mindest to call them backe to a feeling of their sinne and due consideration of their life and conuersation that they may patiently abide thy Fatherly trial looking for aide help and comfort from thee when it seemeth most conuenient to thy godly wisedome and beeing by thy merciful hande once deliuered may acknowledge thy singular power worke giueing al laude and praise to thy glorious Name and afterwards al the dayes of their life studie to liue before thee in sinceritie and perfect holinesse euen to their liues ende Amen Morning prayer for priuate houses and Families O Gratious God and louing Father according to thy commaundement wee do here presente our selues before thy Maiestie humbly prostrating ourselues before the throne of mercy acknowledging and confessing from the bottome of our hearts that wee be miserable sinners daily breaking thy commaundements both in thought woord and deede wherein wee iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to bee vtterly throwne from thy presence yet O Lorde wee see thy goodnesse againe towardes vs who not suffering vs thus to perishe in our sinnes hast sent thine owne deere Sonne Iesus Christ to take vpon him whatsoeuer is due to reconcile make vs at one with thee againe In him therefore good Lorde and through him do wee come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that wee feeling the greeuousnesse of our sinnes and groneing vnder the burden of them may feele the release and ease of them in that we be through thy holie Spirit assured and stedfastly beleeue that Christ hath borne the burden of them euen for vs Graunte O Lorde that we beeing assured hereof in our consciences may through thy holy Spirite bee renued in the inner man to hate deteste and abhorre sinne and to studie to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life Wee do not onely pray for our selues but also for all thy whole Church especially suche as bee persecuted for thy woorde graunte vnto them that whither it be by death or life they may glorifie thy Name to their liues ende Bee mercifull to this Churche of Englande and Irelande wee beséeche thee good Lord and preserue euery part and member of the same especially thy Seruaunte Elizabeth our Queene graunt her all such giftes as bee needeful for so high a calling to the aduauncement of thy Glory and benefite of this common wealth to the establishing of a perfect gouernemēt of thy Church according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of all superstition and reliques of antichriste to the gouerning of her Subiectes in all peace and tranquillitie Defende her O Lord from all conspiracies treasons and rebellions and so woorke in the hearts of all her Subiects that knowing her authoritie doth come from thy Heauenly Maiestie they may with obedient heartes humbly obey her in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Counsell and the Magistrates of the Realme that beeing lightened through thy holy Spirite they may defende thy trueth suppresse wickednesse and maintaine equitie Beholde all the Pastours and Preachers of the woorde blesse their laboures increase the number of them place ouer euery Churche a paineful watchman remoue all idle Lubbers and confounde the power of antichriste and turne the heartes of the people that they may bee obedient to thy truth Blesse the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxforde and all the Studients of the same with all Schooles of learning Beholde al those that bee afflicted with any kinde of crosse that they may profite by thy correction in newnesse of life ‡ * ‡ Lastly for our selues here gathered together we hartily craue at thy hands that it would please thee to make vs thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for all thy loueing kindnesse shewed vnto vs euen from our infancie especially that thou haste this present nighte deliuered vs from all daungers both of body and soule whereinto many haue fallen as wee into like manner should haue done if wee had not bene stayed with thy mercifull hande that thou haste also graunted vnto vs so sweete and comfortable reste and haste nowe presently broughte vs to the beginning of this day For these thinges good Lorde wee yeelde vnto thee most hartie thankes beseeching thee to make vs more and more daily thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for them and pardon our vnthankfulnesse And as thou hast safely preserued vs vnto this present houre from al the daungers of this life so we beseeche thee continue thy fauour towards vs this day and the whole course of our life Defend vs O Lord that we nowe entring into the affaires of this day be not drawen away with the vaine allurementes of this world to sinne and wickednesse that wee walke not in the shadowe of death that we be not intangled in the snares of sinne that we stumble not at the blockes of iniquitie that we finally fall not into the pitte of deathe and destruction but being shadowed vnder thy winges we may cheerefully and constantly go on forward to the end of our course Graunt vnto vs O Lord our God that this good time whiche thou grauntest vnto vs in this life be not idely or vainely of vs consumed but that euery one of vs may be diligently exercised in his calling this day
and all our life long being assured that thou wilt once call vs to yeelde an account of our stewardshippe indue vs we beseeche thee with those gifts and graces which be needeful for vs in our calling that with a pure and sincere conscience we may vse them to the benefite of our brethren and discharge of our owne consciences beefore thy Maiesty We beseech thee O Lord that in al our consultations woordes and workes this day and the whole course of our life we may always haue thee present before our eyes knowing that thou seest euen the very deepe thoughtes of our hartes whiche alwayes may be as a bridle to pull vs backe that we neither do nor yet consent vnto any sinne or wickednesse but that alwayes we may be so exercised in the affaires of this life that we looke stil to the end of our course whē it shal please thee to bring vs through the pilgrimage of this life to our euerlasting rest with thy deere Sonne Iesus Christe our Sauiour In whose name for these mercies and whatsoeuer thou knowest to be needful for vs and for the whole Churche we pray vnto thee as he himselfe hath taught vs in his holy word saying Our Father whiche art c. The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lorde turne his fauourable countenance toward vs and graunt vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christe the loue of God the Father the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the holy Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this day and euermore Amen ¶ Euening prayer for priuate houses and Families O Gratious God louing Father c. As in the beginning of the morning prayer reding so forth til ye come to this marke ‡ * ‡ Then read this folowing for the Euening Lastly for our selues here gathered we render most hartie thanks to thy maiestie O Lord which hast hitherto from our infancie preserued vs by thy mercie from all perils and daungers bothe of soule bodie wherevnto fraile man is subiect that thou hast sent vnto vs al things necessarie for this present life as healthe foode apparel and such like whiche many of thy deere children doe want being notwithstanding as preciously bought with the precious bloud of thy deere sonne as we be and yet lie in miserie and calamitie oppressed with pouertie nakednesse imprisonement and bannishment in which case also deere Father thou mightest haue brought vs saue onely that thou dealest herein more fauourably with vs then with them For the which thy louing kindenesse wee giue thee hartie thankes desiring thee that as thou hast hitherto thus fauourably in mercie preserued vs by thy protection and euen presently this day hast brought vs past all the daungers thereof so we beseech thee good Lorde in like fauour beholde vs this night that we taking our natural rest and quietnesse may through thy protection be defended that our bodies resting our soules may be occupied in beholding thy fauour and mercie towarde thy children stil looking for the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesu Christ for our full redemption Graunt that our sleepe be not immoderate according to the lust of our fleshe but as muche as is sufficient to refreshe our weake nature that beeing thus refreshed bothe the bodie and the minde may be more able to doe their seuerall office and function in that vocation vvherein thou haste placed vs. Graunt that wee laying our bodies downe to reste may be thereby put in minde of our long rest of deathe that as we doe nowe lay downe our bodies in bedde so wee may be thereby admonished that hereafter they shal be laide downe in graue to bee consumed to duste earthe and ashes from whence they were taken That wee hauing this before our eyes may be stirred vppe in minde warely to walke in this our pilgrimage not knowing when the time shal be of our departure but alwayes to be founde readie with our lampes of pure faithe clearely burning that we may be accepted to meete the Bridegrome when our mortall earthly and corruptible bodies shal be made like to the glorious bodie of our Lord and sauiour Christ Iesu there to reigne with him in perpetuall ioy cōsolatiō together with al the elect children of God continually lauding with all the heauenly multitude the glorious Maiestie of thee our Lorde God and heauenly Father in our Lord and Sauiour Iesu christ For these and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be needefull for vs and thy whole Churche we pray vnto thee as he himselfe hathe taught vs saying Our Father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vppon vs and bee mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance vnto vs and graunte vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the Holy Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this night and euermore Amen A prayer to bee saide before the studying or reading of holy Scripture O Heauenly Father what soeuer I am what so euer I haue whatsoeuer I know it is only by thy free grace For by nature I am the childe of wrath and I am not borne a newe of fleshe and bloude neither of the seede of man or of the will of man Fleshe and bloude cannot reueale the mysteries of thy Heauenly Kingdome vnto mee but by thy blessed will I am that I am and by the same knowe I that I knowe Therefore O Father do I commit into thy handes onely my saluation If my knowledge bee small yet I doubte nothing but that I am the childe of thy euerlasting kingdome and therefore by thy mightie power I shall growe when it shall bee thy good will and pleasure to a more full and riper knowledge as of a more perfecte age wherein my faith shal bee fully able to comprehend and perceiue the breadth deapth heigth and largenesse of thy greate mercies and gratious promises But seeing O Father this power of full knowledge and perfecte reuelation passeth all power naturall and remaineth onely in thy power and the light of thy spirite O Lord do thou whatsoeuer it shall please thee to open vnto me and all the rest of thine elect seruaunts and children depending vppon thee so muche of the lighte of thy countenaunce as may be moste for thy Glorie and our comforte yea and at suche time as shall seeme good to thy wisedome fatherly mercie In the meane while thus resting wholy vpō thee neither can I despaire neither wil I be to much careful althogh I cannot attaine to the knowledge of many of thy works neither to the vnderstanding of many places of thy scriptures But I will confesse vnto thee the weakenesse of my faith waiting alwais for the further reuealing of thy glorious light to be vttered vnto me thy poore seruant when thou shalt thinke of
thy fatherly beneuolence and goodnesse meete and conuenient I knowing moste assuredly that thou wilt pitie my weake imbecillitie and childishe infancie and cause the same to serue for thy glorie and my greate commoditie seeing that I erre as a childe before suche a Father which canst not put off thy fatherly pitie and compassion but rather as thou haste bought mee vnto thee to be an heire of the kingdome by the bloud of thy naturall sonne my Sauiour Iesus Christ so am I sure that thou wilt lighten me in the end with full fruition of the brighte lighte of thy countenaunce that I may see thee and know thee as this thy sonn knoweth thee yea see thee and knowe thee my Father face to face and knowe as I am knowen Thus reste I onely in thy handes O my God crauing of thee to increase my knowledge in thy holy woorde wherby I may know thy good wil and pleasure And knowing the same giue me O Lord thy holie Spirit to conduct leade me in the same al the dayes of my life that in sinceritie of faith and purenesse of liuing and conuersation thy glorious Maiestie may be magnified in me for euer Graunt this O Father for thy deerely beeloued Sonne our sauiour Iesus Christe to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour glorie and prayse world without ende Amen Prayers and thankesgiuinges to bee saide before and after meate Prayer before meate O Lorde our God and Heauenlie Father in thy beeloued Sonne Iesus Christe woorke in our heartes true repentance with increase of a true and liuely faith make vs thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for all thy benefites whiche wee continually receiue at thy mercifull hand graunte vs the grace that wee may at this presente with thankfull hearts as from thy hands receiue meate and drink for the sustenance of our bodies with moderatiō vse them to thy Glorie and through thy blessing receiue by them perfect nourishment and aboue all we craue at thy handes good Lorde the heauenly foode of our soules which neuer perisheth that through thy gratious goodnes we may be nourished strēgthened both in soule and body to eternall life through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen Thankesgiuing after meate ETernall God and mercifull Father wee yeelde vnto thee moste heartie thankes for al thy benefites so plentifully bestowed vppon vs especially that thou haste at this presente fedde and nourished our mortall bodies with meate and drinke wee beseeche thee in like manner let our soules feele the sweete taste of thy heauenly foode that wee beeing fedde and nourished at thy hands both in soule and body may in this life walke as it becommeth thy children in the life to come be receiued to thine eternall Kingdome of glorie through Iesus Christ our Lorde and Sauiour Amen A Prayer beefore meate O Mercifull and Heauenly Father who giuest foode to euery liueing creature and without whome nothing can liue blesse and sanctifie our meates and drinkes whiche we are nowe about to receiue that they may turne to the nourishmente of our bodies whereunto thou haste appointed them that we acknowledging thy gratious goodnesse in prouiding so liberally for our bodies may with cheereful heartes be lifted vp earnestly to long after the foode of our soules whereby wee may be fedde eternally through Iesus Christ our sauiour Amen A thankesgiuing after meate O Heauenly Father for these thy benefites wherwith thou haste now sufficiently fedde our bodies we beseech thee make vs thankfull And as we feele the sweetnesse of them pleasant to our bodies so wee beseeche thee good Lorde that the foode of our soules may be as pleasante and comfortable vnto our soules and that we may with as careful harts prouide for the nourishmēt of our soules as we are careful for our bodies til it shal please thy Maiestie to bring vs to the place where we shal neuer hunger nor thirste more but liue eternally through Christe our Sauiour Amen A Prayer before meate O Lord our God heauenly Father which haste prouided meate and drink for the nourishment of our bodies giue vs grace to vse them reuerently as from thy handes with thankfull heartes And as wee do greately hunger and thirste for this foode of our bodies so wee beseech thee good Lord that our soules may earnestly hunger after the like food and nourishment that with earnest minds we may seeke to haue our soules fedd and refreshed eternally through our only Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it A Thankesgiuing after meate WOonderfull is thy prouidence O Lorde in preseruing all liueing creatures Graunte vs grace wee beseech thee that with thankfull harts wee may acknowledge thy bountifull goodnesse so liberally giuing vnto vs al things needeful especially feeding vs so plentifully at this presente with thy manifolde blessings whereof a greate many of our brethren are destitute as in like māner we shuld be if thou diddest not deale more liberally with vs graunt vs therefore gratious Lord that we may be thankful for this thy goodnesse and to be mindeful of them whiche haue not suche aboundance to relieue them that being all members of one body we may at length reigne with our heade Christe to whome be al honour and glorie woorlde without ende Amen A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of our bodily sustenance reading of some part of Gods holy word our spiritual foode O Lord our God the onely giuer of al good gifts who of thy great mercies hast made vs partakers bothe of the Heauenly gyftes of thy holy worde to feede our mindes and of thine earthly creatures for the necessarie sustenance of our weake bodies graunt we beseeche thee that through thy grace these thy gifts may be madeperfect vnto vs giue strength vnto our meate that it may be our healthful nourishment not to breede in vs any carnall desire of our vaine life but to enable our bodies to all good workes during the time of this present pilgrimage that so thy good creatures may be our good reliefe so long as thou wilt and so muche as thou knowest to be expediēt for vs thy seruants to finishe our dayes which thou hast numbred in the edifying of thy saincts and glorifying of thy Holy Name And because O Lord we know nothing of our selues but our ignorant hartes are full of darknesse therfore we beseech thee that this thy Worde whiche is thine eternal wisedome that nowe we haue read wherein wee haue had our conference may be in our minds a shining light of thine onely trueth and in our heartes a fruitefull seede of our newe birth so that thine owne Image may be happily againe restaured in vs and we may be made before thee a holie and righteous people by the inward working of thy gratious spirite daily strengthening our heartes in earnest loue of thy trueth and carefull obedience of thy commandementes through Iesus Christe our only Mediatour who in the sacrifice of his owne bodie hathe purchased vnto vs all