of all things whose strength is euerie where and whose power is infinite which as thou euer art omnipotent and in all thy works most gratious and ouer maruellous so vnto vs thy poore seruants grant we humblie beseech thee that ELIZABETH our gratious QVEENE and next vnder thee here on earth our gouernour may long liue and lead a healthfull quiet and peaceable life And if ô Lord at anie time the wicked through malice shall conspire and gather themselues togither against thee and hir thine annointed wee hartilie beseech thee either with speed to conuert and turne their harts or ouerthrowe their force and bring their deuises to naught And although ô Lord that we through our manifold sinnes and wickednesse doo not deserue to haue so good and so excellent a Iewell to rule reigne ouer vs yet good Lord we hartilie praie thy diuine maiestie to behold the great and vnspeakable miseries which the losse of so pretious a Pearle may bring vpon vs and our posteritie and to auert the same This ô Lord we doo humblie craue of thee that wee may long time enioie hir or else that we who faithfullie doo loue hir may with hir be dissolued according to thy good will and gratious pleasure Amen A praier to be said of euerie true Christian before the receiuing of the holie Communion O Most sweet louer of al mankind Lord Sauior Iesu I humblie beseech thee for thy bitter passion sake to remoue from me pride enuie and detraction yea wrath malice and impatiencie and all other sicknesses diseases of the soule And plant good Lord in my hart and mind true meekenesse charitie patience chastitie temperance and modestie with all such other vertues medicines and preseruatiues vnto the soule And mortisie in me good Lord all vncleane motions carnall desires and inordinate affections and reuiue in me the loue of vertues and the perpetuall exercises thereof so that in this time and all times I may woorthilie receiue this holie and blessed sacrament vnto thine honour and glorie and my soules endlesse ioie and comfort O Lord I knowe and doo confesse here before thy diuine maiestie that I am vnwoorthie and verie much vnwoorthie most vnwoorthie through my manifold sinnes and wickednes to licke the crums that fall from thy table but notwithstanding I knowe as well againe and so doo I in hart and mind stedfastlie beleeue and the same doo acknowledge in mouth and word that thou my Lord God art omnipotent and almightie and so maiest by thy power infinite if it so please thy maiestie to make me woorthie and acceptable to sit at thy table and there to taste and feed of the most pure and heauenlie viands for thou alone ô Lord maiest and canst iustifie a sinner and of a vile foule and filthie wretch make a cleane white and pleasant person Therefore gratious Lord I beseech thy woorthie maiestie for thy almightie power which I firmelie and stedfastlie beleeue and for thine infinite and endlesse wisedome which I boldlie confesse and for thine excellent goodnesse and truth wherein I fullie hope and trust and for all this togither as one frame me and make me woorthie and acceptable vnto thy godlie presence and grant me forgiuenesse of all my sinnes and the feruent flame of thy loue that I may now at this time receiue this holie sacrament with puritie of hart and cleanesse of conscience with spirituall gladnesse and heauenlie ioie O most mercifull Sauiour Iesu I humblie beseech thee for this holie mysterie of thy blessed bodie and bloud wherewith we vnwoorthie wretches be continuallie fed and dailie washed clensed sanctified and made holie and so partakers of thy most high diuinitie grant me Lord and giue me the pretious garment of innocencie with such furniture of other ornaments thervnto according as best may please thy gratious goodnes wherewith I may as in my wedding vesture in a good and cleane conscience approch vnto thy presence so that this celestiall heauenlie sacrament receiued may be vnto me health and saluation of soule and bodie vnto life euerlasting Amen A praier to be said of euerie true Christian after the receiuing of the holie Communion IN most humble most lowlie and most hartie maner with most due reuerence I thank thee good Lord most holie father and euerlasting God that by the bountie of thy mercifull grace wouldest vouchsafe thus to refresh and feed my soule through faith with the benefits of the death and passion of thy sonne our Lord God and Sauior Iesu Christ. And I beseech thine infinite goodnesse that this the sacrament of thy deth and passion which I most vnwoorthie wretch haue now receiued come neuer hereafter in iudgement condemnation vnto me for mine euilles merits and deseruings but rather good Lord it may come vnto the profit and comfort of my bodie and vnto the saluation of my soule vnto the life euerlasting Amen A godlie praier to be said before the preaching of the word NEither is hee that planteth neither he that watereth anie thing at al but thou ô Lord that giuest the increase Increase we beseech thee the seed of thy word and cause it to fructisie an hundred fold Open our eies that we may see the woonderfull things conteined in thy lawe Incline our harts to thy testimonies and not vnto vanities Euermore bee on our right hand and perfect the worke that thou hast begun among vs. Beare our most gratious ELIZABETH in thine owne bosome and set thine eies alwaies vpon hir for good let the spirit of knowledge and holines remaine in hir ministers blesse hir Councellers with wisedome and discretion hir Nobles with fortitude and courage hir Iudges with iustice and mercie hir Magistrates with diligence and faithfulnes hir People with feare and perfect obedience that we may all with one mind and one mouth saie with the prophet He that is mightie hath doon for vs great things and holie is his name Amen A praier necessarie to bee said at all times O Bountifull IESV ô sweet sauior ô Christ the Sonne of GOD haue pitie vpon mee mercifullie heare mee and despise not my praiers Thou hast created me of nothing thou hast redeemed me from the bondage of sin death and hell neither with gold nor siluer but with thy most pretious bodie once offered vpon the crosse and thine owne bloud shed once for all for my ransome therfore cast mee not awaie whome thou by thy great wisedome hast made despise me not whom thou hast redeemed with such a pretious treasure nor let my wickednesse destroie that which thy goodnesse hath builded Now whilest I liue ô Iesu haue mercie on mee for if I die out of thy fauour it will be too late afterward to call for thy mercie Whilest I haue time to repent looke vpon me with thy mercifull eies as thou didst vouchsafe to looke vpon Peter thine Apostle that I may bewaile my sinfull life obteine thy fauour and die therin I reknowledge that if thou shouldest deale with
turne vnto the best 18 But contrarie to those that spend the day and night In exercise of wickednesse and take therein delight 19 For they in conscience feele such businesse broile and strife That for to thinke vpon their sinne a hell is to their life 20 O Lord among those sort my selfe haue gone astraie And from the face of anger thine could neuer flee awaie 21 Yet thou hast suffred me and giuen me grace at last For to acknowledge all my faults and wicked life now past 22 My bones were void of rest by reason of my sin And all my bodie grieued was without and eke within 23 Sinne may well be compar'd vnto a serpent vile Which with his bodie head and taile doth manie one beguile 24 For where the serpents head to enter dooth begin There all the bodie with the taile apace comes sliding in 25 The motion first to sinne vnto the head applic And when the hart consents thereto then is the bodie nie 26 The fact once being done then is the serpents taile With head and bodie entred in where he must needes preuaile 27 For why this serpent sinne so high himselfe doth reare Aboue my head the weight of whom is more than I can beare 28 And this by sufferance came by licence that I gaue This serpents head into my soule his entrance first to haue 29 For now hath he brought in his bodie taile and all And therewith dooth surcharge my soule that she is like to fall 30 The burthen is so great that manie times alas She is compeld to doo the thing she would not bring to passe 31 Too hard it is for me this serpent to expell It must be thou o â— mightie King the strength of Israëâ—l 32 Thou that the diuels drau'st foorth out of the men possest Vouchsafe this serpent to expell and set my soule at rest 33 Thy grace must worke in me to be contrite in hart And this from thee to me must come withouten my desart 34 My bones corrupted are and putrifide so sore By reason of my follies past that wo is me therefore 35 The marks of my oldsinnes doo rotten waxe againe And fresh and greene they doo appeare to further more my paine 36 By reason of my sinne I am a wretch becomme Setting my mind on earthlie things like beast both brute and dommâ— 37 And crooked am I made vnto the verie end The day throughout continuallie with wo and griefe I spend 38 Because I am throwne downe and not compeld thereto No violence did me enforce thus wickedlie to doo 39 It was my will which led intelligence awrie And that which reason willed me the same did I denie 40 Will is the middle part Lord of my soule I knowe And I my will for to exalt did reason ouerthrowe 41 Whereby my loines are full that is my flesh to say Replete is with illusions that me deceiue alway 42 Ah wicked flesh of mine that dooth my soule entise Thou hurt'st thy selfe offend'st my God by thy lewd exercise 43 And by this lust of mine no health is in my flesh For sinne my soule and bodie grieues still day by day afresh 44 My soule tormented is by sight of mind vncleane My bodie weake and feeble brought through lust made bare and leane 45 Thus I afflicted sâ—re and verie low am brought And am a bondman vnto sinne in word in deed and thought 46 This sinne so setled is that it will not depart Which causeth me To roare and crie with sorrow from my hart 47 O Lord the great desire that doth proceed from mee And mourning much that I do make not hidden is from thee 48 Thy sight is of great strength for end thereof is none And be the distance nere so far thy power and strength is one 49 Thy sight ô God attaines to distance all that bee And makes no change of more or lesse as is with vs we see 50 My hart is troubled sore my strength is gone me fro Likewise the sight of both mine eies from me is gone also 51 The tribulations great wherewith my sinfull hart Is vext and troubled night and daie about in eu'rie part 52 Is Lord for feare of thee and of thy punishment which thou shalt render vnto me for this my life mispent 53 O Lord remooue from me this cloudie mist of mine And with thy grace and mercie mixt annoint my dusked eine 54 That I the way may see wherein thou hast delight And in the same my steps direct to walke both day and night Amen The second part MY wretchednesse ô Lord is more than may be said It 's not alonelie griefe of hart that maketh me dismaid 2 Ne feeblenesse of strength deprest with vices all Nor in the blindnesse of my soule which readie is to fall 3 But otherwise it coms and still increaseth more That is where I thought comfort find is turned to my sore 4 My friends and neighbours Lord in whom I put my trust Against me altogither stoode and shewd themselues vniust 5 And they that stood me next farre off got them awaie And such as waited for my life set on me as a praie 6 The force of wicked fcends ô Lord is verie strong No earthlie power is like to theirs if thou them suffer long 7 To exercise their force on sinners all that bee Not one among ten thousand shall be left aliue to thee 8 They studie to deceiue by worldlie pleasures vaine And ioies such as the flesh desires to bring vs endlesse paine 9 These Lord haue sought for me and wrought me ill the while And with deceitfull vanities did dailie me beguile 10 Lord manie times I feele when I thus tempted am Such pleasures spring I ioie thereat not looking whence they cam 11 Or at the least ô Lord I would not vnderstand Ne see the snares for me were laid to bring me vnder hand 12 The pleasures of the flesh so sweete founds in mine eare That what is spoken there against I lift not for to heare 13 But as one being dease with silence passe away And as a man that dumbe is borne haue not a word to say 14 In deede I must confesse my selfe I haue not fought Nor spake against my wickednesse in sort such as I ought 15 But as one deafe and dumbe that sinne no time would blame Ne open would mine eares to heare how to auoid the same 16 Yet true it is ô Lord let man his faults confesse With sighes and sorrow from his hart he did thy lawes transgresse 17 Yea let him doo his best and satisfaction make And yet if he be void of hope thou wilt him sure forsake 18 For Iudas sorrow made when he had thee betraid And did restore the siluer backe and downe againe it laid 19 He openlie confest he sinned grieuouslie In that he had falslie betraid the innocent to die 20
cleane and clensed from my sin 27 But Lord thy mercie is the Sope and washing lee also That shall both scowre clense the filth which in my soule doo grow 28 Why should I then alas despaire of goodnesse thine to mee When that thy iustice willeth me to put my trust in thee 29 Thy promise Lord thy mouth hath past which cannot be but true That thou wilt mercie haue on them that turne to thee anew 30 I know when heauen and earth shall passe this promise shall stand fast Wherefore into thy Maiestie I offer now at last 31 An hart contriâ—e and sorrowfull with all humilitie For heinous sinnes by it conceiuâ—d through mine iniquitie 32 I doo acknowledge all my faults my sinnes stand me before I haue them in remembrance Lord and will for euermore 33 Bicause thou shouldst the same forget I still doo thinke thereon And set it vp before my face alwaies to looke vpon 34 Against thee â—nlie haue I â—ind and done ill in thy sight In whom it lies to punish me or to forgiue me quight 35 But sure my hope is firmelie fixt that thou wilt me forgiue For with thine honour shall it stand to suffer me to liue 36 That all the world may witnesse thee a iudge most iust to bee For that thou wilt thy promise keepe to all that trust in thee 37 That is our sinnes thou wilt remit and cleane forget them all And bend thine eares vnto our plaints when we vpon thee call 38 O Lord consider with thy selfe what mettall I possesse Behold in sinne I was conceiud and borne in wickednesse 39 From Adam first this sin was drawne whereby I am made prone To doo the ill should thee offend and let the good alone 40 Yea manie a time I am so drawne to doo I would not doo And that I would I leaue vndone for want of might thereto 41 Such is ô Lord the strength and force of my concupiscence But yet of greater force than this is Lord thine indulgence 42 For thou wilt mercie shew to them that mercie doo require And wilt not turne thy face from such as mercie doo desire 43 Surelie of honor more is thine through pitie men to saue Than by thy iustice to condemne such as deserued haue 44 Therefore ô Lord receiue me now which doo my selfe accuse To th'nd thou shouldst my sins forgiue and all my faultes excuse 45 O Lord I doo not hide my sinnes but shew them vnto thee Because thou shouldst thy mercie grant as thou hast promisd mee 46 For neuer yet thou hast beene found in anie word vniust Ne canst thou now begin at me since that in thee I trust 47 Thou Lord hast euer loued truth and truth thou art most sure Thou art the verie veritie for euer to endure 48 Thou promisedst to Abraham his seede to multiplie Euen as the stars and as the sand that in the sea doth lie 49 To Ishac and to Iacob eke like promise didst thou make And thou the same performed hast for this thy promise sake 50 Thou promisedst to Iosue to strength him with thine hand And so he slue the Chananites and did diuide their land 51 To Gedeon thou promise mad'st that he should set at large The Israëlites which were in thrall and in their en'mies charge 52 When Ezechias lay sore sicke and well nie at deaths dore Thou promis'dst him his health againe to liue fifteene yeares more 53 Thus hast thou kept thy promises to thousands else beside Who haue reposed trust in thee thou hast not helpe denide 54 Euen so good Lord thy promise kepe with me that am vniust A scabbed sheepe one of thy flocke and ouerchargd with lust 55 Which of long time haue run astray the time since I was borne Yet now returnd with heauie hart that 's with repentance torne 56 Thus hath thy grace now called me with mercie of thine hand And what thy will and pleasure is by grace I vnderstand 57 Thou hast reuealed vnto me the things that be vnknowne The secret points of wisedome thine thy grace to me hath showne 58 The mysteries that hidden were within thy sacred word Thou hast to vs made manifest by Iesus Christ our Lord. 59 I am now fed with bread of life that shall my hunger slake And from dame wisedoms water-springs my drinke I often take 60 Now wisdome hath cast out hir floud the plants all watred bee And still she seekes to lighten those that put their trust in thee 61 Of this hir floud S. Paule did drinke and he vs taught thereby Thy wisdome Lord which secret was and hidden long did lie 62 As thou to him didst manifest by thy free spirit before Which searcheth out the verie depth of secrets thine and store 63 Of this Lord part I tasted haue through mercie shewd to me And am now taught by them to know mine owne infirmitie 64 And by it am I taught likewise thy goodneâ—â—e for to know Beseeching thee this worke begun may neuer part me fro 65 So that the light which kindled is in me by thy great grace May so increase as darknesse Lord may neuer more take place The third part With Hyssope Lord besprinkle me and clense me from my sin More whiter then shall I be made than euer snow hath bin 2 Thou didst command this herb with blood a sprinkle for to be To sprinkle such as clensed were from lothsome leprosie 3 A bundle of this herbe ô Lord thou didst command also To dip in blood of simple sheepe and therewithall to show 4 Vpon the doore-posts of the house the slaier might it see Wherby the plague might shun the place and from thy people flee 5 These vnto vs doo represent the blood of thy deere Sonne Without the which no man is cleane what euer can be donne 6 And he that marks his soule therewith and puts his trust therein The slaier hath no power to hurt nor plague him for his sin 7 If with this grace thou sprinkle me I shall be white I knowe And though as blood my sinnes appeare they shall be like the snowe 8 Yea though my sinnes as purple were or as the scarlet die Thy grace shall make them as the wooll t' appeare before thine eie 9 Then shall I heare the words of ioie of gladnesse so likewise That Nathan to king Dauid spake whom thou didst not despise 10 That is My sinnes are now put out what euer I haue donne And are forgiuen me quite and cleane by Iesu Christ thy sonne 11 Then shall I heare the words Christ spake to him the palsie had My sonne thy sinnes are thee forgiuen arise go home be glad 12 Then shall I heare thee also speake by inspiration Whereby I shall be comforted in tribulation 13 Yea Lord The bones thou broken hast shall then againe reioice Through working of thy heauenly grace and sweetnesse of thy voice 14 That is The powers of my poore
is withall 25 I haue forgot my bread to eate that thou to me didst giue Which is thy holie sacred word by which my soule doth liue 26 And I haue eaten of the fruit of the forbidden tree And tasted haue of sinne and death and brought thy wrath on mee 27 Wherefore my leaues wither awaie my fruit falles on the ground And as a barren tree am left vnperfect and vnsound 28 The feareful voice of sentence thine for mine offenses donne Doth cause me mourne lament grone my time yet for to ronne 29 And with the voice of mourning mine my bones haue cleaued hard vnto my flesh and sticke so fast that nothing I regard 30 Thus like vnto a pellican I draw my selfe alone And call to mind my greeuous crimes and doo the same bemone 31 The pellican as some report hir harmelesse birds doth kill And three daies after mourneth shee and is vnquiet still 32 Then with hir breake hir breast she plucks till bloud guish out amaine Which she lets drop vpon hir yoong till they reuiue againe 33 Thus Lord doo I with my sweet birds which are my works through grace By sinne committed I them kill and doo them all deface 34 But yet by praier for thy grace which springs of grace indeed The said dead works are quicke againe my sicklie soule to feed 35 And Adam was a pellican touching some propertie For through his â—inne he slue the birds came of his progenie 36 And dead he had remained still had not sweet Christ thy sonne Shed foorth his blood vs to reuiue by mercie great was donne 37 He kils and can raise vp to life he strikes and heales againe As in the persecution of Paule appeered plaine 38 Shame causeth me for to withdrawe my selfe to be alone As dooth the crowe that flies by night which would be seene of none 39 And if I could I would me hide from thee as Adam did Such time he tasted of the fruit that thou didst him forbid 40 The works of darknes loued I and therefore did I flee From the most bright and shining sunne of iustice due to mee 41 O Lord for this cause doo I sigh still sorrowe weepe and waile As one that ouerwatched is whose rest and sleepe dooth faile 42 And as the sparrowe doo I watch that drawes hir selfe alone Vnder the euings of the house hir fellowes want to mone 43 And to augment my greefe withall mine enimies all daie Doo raile on me and me reuile so spiteful as they may 44 Alas againe My feined freends that praised me before Against me now conspire themselues and vexe me verie sore 45 Such false and feined flatring friends much woorse and harmefull bee Than those that openlie professe and shew their enâ—mitie 46 But both those sorts are sent to me for plague vnto my sin And for the great iniquitie that I haue wallowed in The second part My bread with ashes doo I eate that is I right well knowe As I of earth and slime was made to earth againe shall go 2 Thus in such bitter thoughts as these I eate my bread withall And ming my drinke with weeping teares that from mine eies doo fall 3 Bicauâ—e thou angrie art with me for mine offenses past O Lord I know when time shall come of iudgement day at last 4 Thy wrath and Indignation shall then proceed from thee And fall vpon the heads of those that worke iniquitie 5 O Lord theu hast me lifted vp and throwne me to the ground In that thou mad'st me like thy selfe ere I was to be found 6 No higher couldst thou lift me vp than to beatitude But then alas thou let'st me fall whereby I this conclude 7 My noble soule thou ioined hast with massie earth and claie And bodie fraile the weight whereof driues downe my mind alwaie 8 and Lord in my creation thou hast set me so hie Aboue all other creatures that are vnder the skie 9 And almost equall am I made with blessed Angels thine But in this state when I transgresse damnation then is mine 10 So that without thy mercies helpe I am in farre woorse plight Than anie beast whose life or soule with bodie dies outright 11 My daies alas awaie dâ—o passe as shadowe new begunne And I am withered like the grasse changed by heate of sunne 12 Lord grant in shadow of this life I may haue grace to see The light and knowledge of thy word and waies prepard for mee 13 Which word giues light vnto the babe yet sucking at the brest For after that this life is past repentance none dooth rest 14 And since the time ô Lord is short of mine abiding heere Thy grace continue towards me my guiltinesse to cleere 15 For truelie thine abiding is for euer to endure And thy remembrance throughout all generations sure 16 But what is thy rememberance through generations all It is the diuine propertie that vnto thee dooth fall 17 For to be meeke and mercifull which thou hast euer donne From time to time and age to age since first the world begonne 18 And art more mindfull of our state and readier to forgiue Than is the mother of hir child late borne with hir to liue 19 Arise therefore and mercie shew good Lord vpon Sion Which is thy faithfull people all or congregation 20 For time it is on hir to looke and mercie thine extend She hath long time great paine sustaind whereof the craues an end 21 What is this time whereof we speake was euer anie time In which thou didst not mercie shew to louing seruants thine 22 No verelie For from the time the angels downe did fall Vntill the time the world shall end thy mercie euer shall 23 As it hath bin from time to time vpon all that repent But cheeflie was thy mercie shew'd when Christ was hither sent 24 To suffer death to win vs life thereby he enter might The glorie of thy Maiestie aboue the angels bright 25 This time was cald the time of grace and was appointed when The fulnesse of the time was come which was vnseene to men 26 And yet before this time to him was seene by Deitie Wherby ô Lord all things thou doost in order with mercie 27 This time of heauenlie grace we trust shall still continue heare To those in time that serueth thee with penance loue and feare 28 The stone of Sion pleased well thy seruants for thy truth and they vpon the ground thereof shall pitie haue and ruth 29 Apostles thine thy seruants were the stones good Christians bee And thou the sure foundation of this faire worke to see 30 Not vpon man nor angels bright did they this building laie But vpon thee the corner stone of all their worke the staie 31 And as the heathen Lord shall feare and tremble at thy name So Sion shall thy faithfull Church giue glorie to the same 32
too greeuous be and sore 14 If thou Lord be extreame to marke what sinnes be donne Alas no flesh shall saued bee that is vnder the sonne 15 O Lord if that the iust shall no time able bee To enter into iudgement thine to plead his case with thee 16 What shall become of me that dailie doo offend And of my sinne and wickednesse alas doo knowe none end 17 Most vile and wretched man and caitife wo forlorne What shall I doo but flee to thee with hart beerent and torne 18 For mercie is with thee increasing more and more Wherwith thou didst vouchsafe to come mankind for to restore 19 Wherein was satisfied thy iustice and also Thy mercie found that which it sought as we by grace doo knowe 20 How feruent was this loue to which thou didst vs bind First by the lawe of nature writ in euerie hart or mind 21 And then by lawe which was in Tables written deepe That euerie one according lie the same should hold and keepe 22 Which was that one of vs should with the other beare And thereby to fulfill thy will with pitie loue and feare 23 I knowing this am glad contented eke withall For to remit such iniuries as vnto me may fall 24 For why good Lord I know thou doost forgiue to mee Much more offenses euerie daie committed vnto thee 25 And when it shall thee please to scourge me for my sin I gladlie shall the same receiue knowing what I haue bin 26 And that thy chastisement proceeds of verie loue Which all shall turne to me such welth as no man can remoue 27 Hoping after this life my soule shall then obtaine Which hope abides still in thy word an euerlasting gaine 28 Such hope my soule hath had by grace thou gau'st to me And by the same I firmelie trust my soule shall saued be 29 The husbandman through hope his ground dooth plough and sow The same in hope dooth reape thresh that gaine thereby might grow 30 Euen so will I abide in hope of glorie thine Not onelie in my yough ô Lord or anie pointed time 31 But still from morning watch vntill the night of death Which is from youth vnto mine age when life shall passe with breath 32 Who so shall cast awaie this hope ere death proceed Shall loose the time he watcht before and want thy helpe at need 33 This hope in promise thine my soule hath safelie laid Within the bosome of hir breast for euer to be staid 34 And verie meet it is that Israëll also Which is all faithfull Christians this hope should feele and knowe 35 For blessed is the man that in the Lord dooth trust And who in man affiance puts he surelie is accurst 36 For mercie is with God and grace abundant store With which Israël is redeem'd from sinne for euermore Amen Domine exaudi Psal. 143. The first part O Lord long time I wandred haue and gone from thee astraie And lost the portion y◠me gau'st in wastfull sinners waie 2 With grace thou didst replenish me therewith to follow thee But Iust and liking of the flesh hath driuen the same from mee 3 So that vnworthie farre I am for to be cald thy sonne My wickednesse so soule appeeres and faults that I haue donne 4 Yet with the wastfull child o ◠Lord I doo my selfe accuse And am with shame surpriz'd caught I did my selfe abuse 5 Wherfore Lord ponder my desire and heare me when I praie And for thy truth and righteousnes attend to that I saie 6 Thou hast with gifts indued me of bodie and of mind And I the same abused haue and shew'd my selfe vnkind 7 Thy iustice still dooth threaten me with euerlasting paine Thy mercie yet dooth promise me to be restord againe 8 Enter not into iudgement then with me I humblie praie For in thy sight no man is iust as of himselfe to saie 9 We all by sinne our selues haue made more lothsome than the swine And fowler to be looked on were not for mercie thine 10 Which shall vs make like to the wooll in colour faire and white When all our sinnes thou shalt forget and cleane put from thy sight 11 But yet the diuell mine enimie my soule pursueth still And hath brought lowe my life in earth a seruant to his will 12 And with his net me compast round where vaine delights doo dwell Where lust vncleane and wickednesse to bide dooth me compell 13 He hath me set in darknesse such as men that no life haue Or as those people being dead or couered in the graue 14 Now Lord My spirit so vexed is my hart is greeu'd also My conscience likewise witnesse beares of anguish mine and wo. 15 My wisdome Lord confused is by reason of my sin Repentance great my hart dooth rent to thinke what I haue bin 16 I call to mind the daies of old and works that thou hast wrought The maruellous deeds thy hands haue done I muse on in my thought 17 As in the time of Moses lawe where mercie was not showne And he that did the same transgresse by death was ouerthrowne 18 Yet in this hard and seuere time thy mercie foorth was sent By prophets thine with promise made to all that did repent 19 If thou in time of crueltie couldst then such mercie showe Much more ô Lord in time of grace on me thy mercie throwe 20 I haue spred foorth my hands to thee my soule for helpe doth crie As from the earth that moisture wants where water none dooth lie 21 That is my life I changed haue from vaine delights that bee And haue my soule spred foorth at large that thou hir filth mightst see 22 For as the earth that moisture wants must barren be by kind So if my soule be void of grace no good is there to find 23 But yet through moisture of that grace from thee that dooth proceed Vouchsafe I may thy mercie haue and that ô Lord with speed 24 Heare me ô Lord and that right soone for why my spirit is weake And feeble made much like a man that wanteth power to speake 25 The feare is such that I possesse I readie am to fall The strength wherewith my bodie liues is gone awaie with all 26 This feare of endlesse punishment which I deserued haue Had well nie brought me in despaire or I possesse the graue The second part GOod Lord turne not thy face awaie least I be like to those That doo descend into the pit where nought but horror growes 2 Thou wilt not Lord the death of him that hath offended thee But rather that he should returne and saued so to bee 3 Thou art the true and onelie God the Sauiour of mankind Without thee there is nothing else that we shall mercie find 4 Then turne to me thy countenance of amiable grace And let thy mercie shadow me while life I
28. WHo hearkens to the voice of God and dooth his law fulfill Shall blessed be in towne and field with mercie and good will His fruit likewise shall blessed be that from his loâ—â—es shall spring His corne and cattell shall increase with plentie of all thing His oxen and his flocks of sheepe shall blessed be with store His going out and comming in shall blest be euermore His enimies that shall arise shall fall before his face And flee for feare as dooth the beast the hunter hath in chace His houses that be made for store with great increase shall grow And euerie thing he takes in hand shall blessed be also Vouâ—hsafe good God to giue me grace so to direct my mind As by the same in time of need I may thy blessing find Amen A meditation when ye go to bed O Lord my God I wandred haue as one that runnes astray And haue in thought in word in deed in idlenesse and play Offended sore thy Maiestie in heaping sin to sin And yet thy mercie hath me sparde so gratious hast thou bin O Lord my faults I now confesse and sorie am therefore But not so much as saine I would ô Lord what wilt thou more It is thy grace must bring that spirit for which I humblie pray And that this night thou me defend as thou hast done this day And grant when these mine eies toong shall faile through natures might That then the powers of my poore soule may praise thee day and night Amen A meditation at your vprising O Lord this night who hast me kept from dangers all that bee And hast me giuen of rest and sleepe so much as pleaseth thee Where other of my brethren poore of better life than I Doo wander vp and downe the streets and harbourlesse doo lie And some with sicknesse are opprest some impotent and lame Thus doost thou deale with creatures thine to glorie of thy name O Lord in sort as I deserue thou hast not dealt with mee But hast me giuen wherewith to liue in better case to bee Most mightie God this day likewise protect me from all blame And giue me grace I thankfull be with praises for the same Amen Athanasius his Creed commonlie called Quicúnque vult By faith we please the Lord By faith we are set free By faith we worke the will of God Faith will not idle bee What man is he will saued be must first the true faith haue Which faith vnlesse he hold and keepe hys soule God will not saue And this is now the perfect faith to worship God in three The Father Son holie Ghost all three in Vnitie The persons neither to confound nor substance to diuide For he that so shall thinke of them from perfect faith is wide For of the Father of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost Be persons three in seuerall and all in might be most The Father Sonne and holie Ghost in Godhead equall bee In glorie like and so in might and so in Maiestie Such as the heauenlie Father is such is the Sonne also Such is likewise the holie Ghost all three one God no mo The Father was vncreated so was the Sonne likewise The holie Ghost vncreated still one for to deuise The Father without number is none may him comprehend The Sonne likewise and holie Ghost all three one without end The Father Sonne and holie Ghost eternall doo endure And yet not three eternals be but one eternall sure Not three that number doo exceed nor three vnmade certaine But three in one and one in three for euer doo remaine The Father Sonne and holie Ghost omnipotent be all And yet not three omnipotents but one beleeue we shall The Father God the Sonne is God the holie Ghost also And yet three Gods we shall not say of Gods but one no mo The Father Lord the Sonne is Lord and holie Ghost is Lord Yet not three Lords but one in three and three in one accord For like as we compelled be by Christian veritie Ech person of them to confesse both God and Lord to bee So are we by the same forbid in anie wise to saie Three Gods to be or yet three Lords but three in one alwaie The Father is not created begot nor made of none The Sonne ne made nor created begot of him alone The holie Ghost is from them both ne made create nor got But from the father and the sonne proceeding had we wot So then there is of fathers one not fathers three we see One sonne not three and so likewise one holie Ghost to bee And in this holie Trinitie is none more great than other But that the whole three persons be coequall altogither So that in all as foresaid is the Vnitie in three And Trinitie in Vnitie ought worshipped to bee Yet furthermore it needefull is vnto saluation That we beleeue of lesus Christ the incarnation The right faith is that we beleeue and with one mouth foorth-show That Iesus Christ the sonne of God is God and man also God of his Father substance is begot ere world was wrought And man by flesh and bloud he tooke of hir who foorth him brought Both perfect God and perfect Man is he without diuiding And of a reasonable soule and humane flesh abiding He to the Father equall is touching his Deitie But he is lesse than Father is by his humanitie Who though he be both God and man yet one is he not twaine That is to saie one Iesus Christ for euer to remaine One not by turning Godhead his into the flesh we see But taking manhood into God by power of Deitie One yet not by confusion of this his substance sure But by Vnitie of person which euer shall endure For as the reasonable soule and flesh one man dooth make So God and man is but one Christ which suffered for our sake And then descended into hell the third day rose againe From death to life thus hath he done mankind to rid from paine And after this ascended he â— vnto the heauens on hie And on his Fathers right hand sits one God eternâ—llie From thence he shall come down againe a rightfull iudge to bee To iudge the liuing and the dead as he their woorks shall see At whose descending all shall rise in twinkling of an eie And with this flesh shall him behold in throne of Maiestie Then they that haue done righteouslie shall heauen haue for their hire And they thâ—t haue done wickedlie haue euerlasting fire This is the true and perfect faith all Christians ought to haue Which faith vnlesse we doo beleeue our soules God will not saue Praise we these persons three in one and likewise one in three As from the first hath bin now is and euermore shall bee Amen A meditation to be said of women with child In time of trouble call on me and I will then deliuer thee THe time drawes nie of bitter painefull throwes How long I shall the same endure God knowes
them and not for you Awake I saie awake awake SINNER And yet ô Lord the little whelps would licke the crums that fall Thy chosen sort are verie few but manie doost thou call CHRIST I call to you that will not heare I stretch mine armes at large For to imbrace such as doo come and all your sinnes discharge Wherefore if you refuse to come I will you then forsake And to my feast will strangers call and them my children make Awake therefore and rise from sleepe awake I saie awake awake SINNER Not so good Lord thy mercie far aboue our sinnes abound CHRIST And yet I will a iusticer in iustice mine be found SINNER Thy promise is to pardon sinne and therein art thou iust CHRIST Your sinnes repent and praie therefore in vaine is else your trust SINNER O Lord thy grace must this performe or else it cannot be CHRIST My grace you haue the same applie and blessed shall you be SINNER Through this sweet grace thy mercie Lord we humblie doo require CHRIST By mercie mine I you forgiue and grant this your desire AMEN An humble sute of a repentant sinner for mercie Giue eare ô Lord to heare my heauie carefull cries And let my wofull plaints ascend aboue the starrie skies And now receiue the soule that puts his trust in thee And mercie grant to purge my sinnes mercie good Lord mercie My soule desires to drinke from fountaine of thy grace To slake this thirst ô God vouchsafe and turne not of thy face But bow thy bending eare with mercie when I crie And pardon grant for sinfull life mercie good Lord mercie Behold at length ô Lord my sore repentant mind Which knocks with faith hopes therby thy mercies great to find Thy promise thus hath past from which I will not flie Who dooth repent trusting in thee shall taste of thy mercie Mercie good Lord mercie mercie ¶ Another to the same effect Behold ô God the wretched state my sillie soule is in How sore opprest and ouerchargde with foule and filthie sinne Behold likewise the prison foule I meane my baned brest Where wickednes and sinne abounds and breeds my soules vnrest Behold ô God how oft my soule dooth lift hir selfe to thee As one in dungion darke and deepe desiring light to see Behold also how faine it would doo that might please thy will But cruell sinne with his affects doo drawe me backward still Behold I doo not that I would as lawe of thine requires But I doo that I would not doo contrarie my desires Such is the working of the feend such be his wilie waies With â—ust to set my hart on fire whereby my health decaies Such pleasant baites laies he abroad with pois'ned hookes of sin And traines my senses all thereto and drownes my soule therein But mercie is with thee my God for such as mercie craue Among the which I humblie aske some mercie for to haue For light offense thy mercie small may soone appease thine ire But mine offenses manifold thy mercies great desire And since by mercie I must win thy fauour and thy grace From my misdeeds and sinfull life with mercie turne thy face ¶ Another to the same purpose My soule ô God doth now confesse a wicked life long led in sinne And how the same to thee is knowne ere that my lips to speake begin Such is the fruit such is the tree with mercie Lord deliuer mee Shall I ô Lord for this despaire of hope of helpe and health at last Or shall I thinke thou seek'st reuenge vpon my sinfull life that 's past No no my faith dooth witnes mee Thy bloud from sin hath set me free AMEN A Lamentation touching the follies and vanities of our youth ¶ Alack when I looke back vpon my youth that 's past And deepelie ponder youths offense youths reward at last With sighes and sobs I saie ô God I not denie my youth with follie hath deseru'd with follie for to die But yet if euer sinfull man might merâ•Œcie mooue to ruth Good Lord with mercie doo forgiue the follies of my youth In youth I rangde the fields where vices all did grow In youth I wanted grace such vice to ouerthrow In youth what I thought sweet most bitter now I find Thus hath the follies of my youth with follie kept me blind Yet as the Eagle cast's hir bill whereby hir age renut'h So Lord with mercie doo forgiue the follies of my youth Amen A psalme of reioising for the woonderfull loue of Christ ratified by his meritorious death and passion for our spirituall redemption LEt vs be glad and clap our hands with ioie our soules to fill For Christ hath paid the price of sinne with mercie and good will By his good will he flesh became for sinfull fleshes sake By his good will disdained not most shamefull death to take By his good will his blood was spilt his bodie all to rent By his good will to saue vs all he therewith was content By his good will death hath no power our sinfull soules to kill For Christ hath paid the price of sinne with mercie and good will Since Christ so dearelie loued vs let vs from sinne refraine For Christ desireth nothing els in lieu of all his paine And that we should each other loue as he vs loou'd before So shall his loue abide in vs and dwell for euermore Let then our loue so dwell in him our wicked lusts to kill For Christ hath paid the price of sin with mercie and good will AMEN A praier for the good estate of Queene ELIZABETH THou God that guidst both heuen and earth on whom we all depend Preserue our Queene in perfect health and hir from harme defend Conserue hir life in peace to reigne augment hir ioies withall Increase hir friends maintaine hir cause and heare vs when we call So shall all we that faithfull be reioise and praise thy name O God ô Christ ô holie Ghost giue eare and grant the same AMEN A Christian confession of and to the Trinitie O Thou almightie omnipotent and euerlasting God the father of heauen I doo beleeue confesse and acknowledge thee to be the God of all power and might yea the almightie power it selfe and to be of nothing going before neither made created nor begotten but to be a thing before all things giuing beginning vnto euerie thing thy selfe being without beginning and without ending O Thou sonne of God which art the word of the father and second person in Trinitie I doo likewise beleeue confesse and acknowledge thee to be of the father without beginning before all worlds neither made nor created but begotten and art equall with the father in power might glorie maiestie and deitie and to be as thy father is the fountaine and well-spring of all wisedome grace and mercie O Thou God the holie Ghost and third person in Trinitie which art with the father and the sonne the giuer of all comfort vertue and goodnesse I doo also
beleeue confesse and acknowledge thee to be of the father and of the sonne neither made nor created nor begotten but from God the father and from God the sonne proceeding equall with the father and the sonne without beginning of time and without end in like power might glorie maiestie and deitie as is the father and the sonne all three in one and one in three one verie GOD euerlasting not three Gods euerlasting of one essence or being euer perdurable or during without measure not changeable almightie one substance and in one nature simple I Doo beleeue confesse and acknowledge ech one of your persons to be equall to the other in all maner of perfection and ech one person to be omnipotent or almightie and to be one beginning of all things and that togither you made created all creatures visibles inuisibles spirituals and corporals and that by almightie vertue from the beginning of time you three togither did create and that of nothing the creature angelike and the worldlie nature and then you made man common to the first two natures for man is of bodie corporall and of soule spirituall ALso I doo beleeue confesse and acknowledge that thou the father art one other and thou the sonne art one other and thou the holie Ghost art one other For thou ô father maiest not be the sonne nor the holie Ghost nor thou ô sonne maiest not be the father nor the holie Ghost nor thou ô holie Ghost maiest not be the father nor the sonne but to you three persons is one being and one nature common the which is the beginning of all things and out of this beginning there is no beginning ANd I beleeue confesse and acknowledge that thou ô father art no greater nor of greater power than is the sonne nor than is the holie Ghost For the vnitie of your diuine being is equall or alike togither for such as thou art ô father such art thou ô sonne and such art thou ô holie Ghost And thus thou holie and blessed Trinitie art one God the first beginning without beginning fountaine of all mercie grace goodnesse and vertue which by thy knowledge dooest knowe all things present and to be hereafter ANd further I doo confesse acknowledge and stedfastlie beleeue that thou ô sonne of God art without beginning coëternall with GOD the father and with God the holie Ghost And by the whole consent of you three in one and one in three and by the ouershadowing of the holie Ghost thou ô holie and most blessed sonne of God didst enter into the wombe of the most vnspotted amongst women the blessed virgine Marie in whom was no blemish of sinne after the salutation of the angell Gabriel when she had by the working of the holie Ghost answered these words of meeknesse Behold and see I am the handmaid of the Lord be it vnto me according to thy word THus thou blessed sonne of God diddest not forsake or leaue thy Godhead but didst take flesh or manhead of the blessed virgine vnto thy Godhead being still perfect God with the father in Godhead and perfect man also In which manhead thou wert lesse than the father but yet equall with the father touching thy deitie or Godhead as after thy most blessed natiuitie thou didst prooue in thy humanitie to bee perfect God FOR without anie teacher or schoolemaister thou hadst all perfect knowledge of sciences learning Thou changedst water into wine Thou gauest sight to the man borne blind Thou openlie saidst to the Iewes and Pharisies I which speake to you am the beginning Thou feddest manie thousands of people with a few loaues of bread and with a few fishes The wind and sea obeied at thy commandement Thou raisedst Lazarus from death vnto life which was foure daies dead and stinking in his graue In this ô God and in manie more excellent miracles thou didst shew thy selfe to be perfect God ANd also thou didst shew thy selfe to be perfect man for thou didst eate drinke and sleepe and so tookest increase of nature as man dooth Thou weptst thou fastedst thou sufferedst all the miseries of man sin onelie excepted IT also well pleased thee to fulfill to performe and to accomplish all the words and saiengs of the holie patriarchs and prophets which they had vttered and spoken of thee long time before thou tookest our humane nature vpon thee And so to fulfill the prophesies thou sufferedst that thine humane nature should be betraied and taken by the kissing of thine vnkind disciple Iudas THou also suffredst cruell persecutions of the Iewes after maine punishments they blasphemed thee and cried vpon Pilate to haue thee crucified and so vnder Ponce Pilate thou didst suffer to be crucified and vpon the crosse didst die touching thy humanitie and after wast thou taken downe buried and by the power and might of thy deitie descendedst into hell according to the scripture ANd I beleeue notwithstanding that thy sepulchre was made fast and sealed also watched and kept by certeine soldiers therevnto appointed that the third daie by thy Godhead or diuine power thou didst arise in thy humanitie And fortie daies after thou didst ascend into heauen in the sight of men of Galile and in faith vnto vs that be where thou doost remaine perfect GOD and perfect man sitting on the right hand of the father from whence thou shalt come and iudge both the liuing and the dead By the dead I vnderstand the bodie which is mortall and by the liuing I vnderstand the soule which is spirituall and immortall ANd also I acknowledge confesse and stedfastlie beleeue that I shall among all thy reasonable creatures arise from death to life and with them shall stand and behold thy diuine maiestie face to face thou sitting in the throne of thine eternall iudgement And thine elect and those whom thou hast shewed mercie vpon shall be seuered from the wicked reprobates as lambes from woolues the saued sort vpon thy right hand and the other vpon thy left where we shall all receiue our last and finall iudgement The which iudgment ô Lord I doo most humblie beseech thee may be vnto me not after my sinnes and wickednesse but according vnto thy great and vnspeakable mercies Grant this ô thou most holie and blessed father of heauen which art with the sonne and with the holie Ghost the worlds creator and haue mercie vpon me haue mercie vpon me Grant this ô thou most holie and blessed Iesu the onelie sonne of God the worlds Sauiour and redeemer and haue mercie vpon me haue mercie vpon me Grant this ô thou most blessed and holie Ghost which art togither with the father the sonne the worlds comforter and haue mercie vpon me haue mercie vpon me Grant this ô thou most holie most blessed most glorious and euerlasting Trinitie and haue mercie vpon me haue mercie vpon me haue mercie vpon me Amen A praier for the Queenes most excellent Maiestie O Almightie and mercifull GOD creator gouernour