To the honourable and most vertuous Mistrisse Francis Smith I Doe heere offer vp vnto your vertue which dooth yet make you more worthy then the worth of your most Honourable birth these vn-Frenched Prayers which the religious zeale of that reuerend man Beza of Geneua hath in his priuate Exercises povvred out vnto GOD. To commend their excellencie vnto you by my iudgement were to commend them to little and therefore let your owne iudgement as it can best conceiue their worth and your godly deuotion in making vse of them supplie whatsoeuer want of grace is come vnto them by my changing theyr language in the weight and life which your vtterance shal giue them To none could they be addressed by mee so fitly both in respect of your vertue prone to affect such religious exercises and for the respect seruice I owe your woorthie Husband whose fauour towardes me doth iustly challenge a most grateful acknowlegement And therfore if you will be pleased graciously to receiue these Prayers at my hands you shall adde to their number this one That God to whom they are sent will both heere on Earth in Heauen blesse you with vnspeakeable felicity At your commandement most humbly I. B. A Table of the Praiers contained in this Booke 1 A prayer vppon the Lordes prayer 2 A prayer vppon the Beliefe 3 A prayer vppon the tenne Commaundements 4 A prayer to one only God in Trinitie of persons 5 A prayer to knowe God in Iesus Christ 6 A prayer for obtaining of the gift of the Holyghost 7 A prayer to God for the light of his word 8 A prayer that wee may not depart from the holy Church 9 A prayer to obtaine the efficacie of holie Baptisme 10 A prayer for the Communion of the holie Eucharist 11 A prayer to giue thanks after the Communion 12 A praier to obtaine the gift of Faith 13 A prayer to obtaine the vertue of Hope 14 A prayer to obtaine the virtue of Charitie 15 A praier for the wel vsing of afflictions 16 A praier to obtaine the virtue of patience 17 A praier for the wel vsing of mans life 18 A praier vpon temporall death 19 A prayer vpon heauenly life 20 A prayer vppon eternall death 21 A morning prayer 22 A prayer among a Family 23 A Prayer beefore meate 24 A Prayer to giue thanks after meate 25 An euening praier among a family 26 A Prayer for him that suffreth much by sickenesse 27 A prayer in the Visitation of the sicke 28 A prayer for him that feeleth him selfe to be neere death The end of the Table To al Christians zealous in holy Prayers Luke 21. The Kingdome of God is at hand watch therfore praying at all times IF wee are indued with the true knowlege of our estate and condition as also the efficacie of holy prayers wee shoulde not neede to be aduertised often to present our selues before God to offer vnto him our vowes and to beseech his fatherly loue or dilection for guiding vs by his good spirit vnto the light of his trueth to encrease in our heartes faith loue constancie humilitie and other his heauenly giftes to forgiue vs our debts to mortifie the corruptions of our nature to clothe vs with his spirituall armour against the assaults of the diuel the world the flesh to prouide for our necessities to preserue vs from infinite dangers which compasse vs round about to be short to graunt vs his holie spirite to guide the whole course of our life to the glorie of his name and the peace and saluation of our owne soules For he who hath not a feeling of the great want of all these graces or blessings and consequently the necessitie of praiers vnto God for obtaining the same knoweth not himselfe but is senslesse and voyd of all feeling By prayer wee blesse God for his goodnesse power wisedome iustice and mercy towardes vs because of our prayers he blesseth vs in doing vs good and distributing his benefites amongest vs it is vnto vs as the soule of our soules for that prayer quickeneth our affections and lifteth vppe our heartes vnto heauen which otherwise wold be dead in sinnes and trespasses by following the vanities of this wicked world Prayer is as it were the key which openeth vnto vs the treasury of our heauenly Father as faith is the hand laying holde vpon those sure and permanent possessions of eternall life the desire whereof should cause vs continually to pray vnto and feruently to loue God Prayer maketh that in the miseries of this life wee comfort our selues by looking for the benefites of the kingdome of God Prayer refresheth vs through the remembrance of his gracious promises which confirme vs in the same and of the blessings already receiued at his hands which moue vs in our necessities to hope for the like and wait for it with al patience It augmenteth in vs a desire to be conioyned with him throgh our Lorde Iesus Christ in whome all our good doth consist It cheereth vs in those workes which the holy ghost worketh in vs by vs yeelding a sweet smell to our souls and is moreouer vnto vs as a strong Tower and most assured fortresse against all that might astonish vs in this our earthly habitation yea which is more prayer doth somtimes stand vs insteede to obtaine of Almighty God most euident testimonies of his glorie in matters supernaturall which our reason should iudge impossible as it befell vnto Moses praying for the victory of the Israelites against the Amalekites to Ioshuah when at his praier the course of the Sunne was stayed to Elias bringing fire down from heauen and to Ezechias restored to helth after sentence given of his death not that wee should simply attribute so great and profitable effects to the woorke of prayer but to the goodnesse loue power and counsell of God who worketh so and by such meanes as hee pleaseth in his creatures and of his free mercie crowneth the prayers of his elect with rewardes and with grace for grace These therefore are the fruits and benefites we are to looke for from our good god and father when reposing our selues vpon his loue in Christ and with humble and penitent hearts wee doe prostrate our selues before his face to sanctifie his name crauing his mercie and beseeching him to blesse vs teach and guide vs as his children to beleeue his word euen as he whom we cal vpon doth desire our good bicause he loueth vs may giue vnto vs that we aske because he is almighty and is willing to heare vs for his Sonnes sake because hee hath so promised But it is also most true that acording to his wisdome he knoweth the time and conuenient meanes to let vs fully enioy the efficacie of our praiers Let vs perseuer only asking those things which are to his glorie and hee will not faile to helpe vs in all our necessities Wee are moreouer to note that it is not the sound of the
the three persons of thy most simple Deitie or separating the onelie and indiuisible substance thereof each person retaineth that which is proper to it selfe in the workes of thy hands especiallie in that which concerneth our saluation So the beginning of all and euery action is properly attributed vnto thee O Father of the whole world and to Iesus Christ the wisdome the counsel and the order to dispose all things and to the Holy-ghost the virtue and supporter of all thy workes According whereunto we also doe acknowledge from thy loue and from thy eternall decree that which thou hast prouided for vs in thy sonne very God made very man such a mediatour and sauiour as was necessary for vs and we do render vnto him the honour of the fulnesse of thy loue towards vs and of that perfect obedience which he hath yeelded to thy ordinance euen to the death of the crosse for vs in most bitter anguish as also from the vertue of the Holy-ghost wee doe confesse the efficacie and healthfull application of this great principal worke-manship of our redemption But thy wisdome O Lord resteth wholy in mysterie that is to say it is hidden except vnto those to whom thy spirit giueth sight For true it is that Christ calleth all men vnto him by his Gospel spreading forth to that effect his light throughout the whole world Whoso followeth him shall not walke in darkenesse for hee is the Sunne of righteousnesse and the way to go to heauen But his sheep only do heare his voice and follow him as also hee knoweth them and giueth vnto them life euerlasting euen by the meere efficacie of his spirit which quickeneth lighteneth all thy elect O God to make them in thy word to behold the onely lampe of thy kingdome the knowledge of saluation the stedfast good of the soule and the sure and only means to obtaine the same all people may reade thy sacred writings only they can gather the sence to the peace of their soules whom it pleaseth thee as a Father to illuminate from aboue For so may they see howe in the crosse of Iesus they doe obtaine their triumph in his shame their glory in his paine their peace in his teares their ioy in his sorrowe their comfort in his death their life in his resurrection the fulnes of their hope I beseech thee therefore my God to powre vpon me this thy spirit of wisdome and reuelation and grace and mercie through the force of his beames to scatter the darkenesse of my vnderstanding and with the propertie of his fire to purifie my peruerse affections with his celestiall lamp to kindle in my hart the true zeale of his glorie with his holie oyntment to enbaulme my conscience with his sacred oyle to reioyce and refresh my bowells and with his vertue to renew in me an vpright spirit to the end that my soule thus cleansed from the dead workes of the flesh may be replenished with faith working all righteousnesse whereby to ouercome all the enemies of my peace Sathan the flesh the world and my owne lusts But aboue al things O Lord make that by the efficacy of thy holy spirit I may obtaine the true and firme consolation of the faithful soule the height of his ioy of his quiet and content and the infallible direction to his perfection namely the assurance that thou my heauenly Father hast adopted mee into the number of thy children by that grace that thou hast giuen vs in Christ who was made our wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption And that being so ouershadowed with the hope of Christians which neuer at all confoundeth I may bee supported euen to the end of my dayes by thy holy spirite which then especially may help my weakenesse that I may yeeld vnto thee O my God my last groanes to thee acceptable and to me salutiferous as being in the throne of thy glorie approoued capable of the contemplation thereof in the heauenly Ierusalem through thy goodnesse and mercy in Iesus Christ our Lord To whom with thee O Father and the holy spirit one onely God bee all honor glory and dominion for euermore So be it The seuenth Prayer To craue of God the light of his word God hauing at sundrie times and in diuers manners spoken to our Fathers by the Prophets In these last dayes hee hath spoken vnto vs by his Sonne All Scripture is giuen from aboue by inspiration and is profitable to teach to conuince to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be accomplished and perfectly instructed to al good workes Heb. 1. Tim. 3. LOrd GOD eternall who knowest that euerie man is but flesh and that flesh is but corruption so that although thou hast endued him with a reasonable soule which doth distinguish him from other creatures yet his light is notwithstanding conuerted into darknes when therby he seeketh to penetrate into the glorie of thy kingdome and the mysteries of thy grace who knowst that this poore blind borne destitute of thy supernaturall light doeth in lieu of his God forge to him selfe an idol and instead of truth taketh lies for thy worde his owne inuentions for goodnesse vanitie and for the path to life the way to death And albeit thou hast euen from the beginning made thy selfe as it were visible to man in the table of the Vniuersall worlde that thou hast many times reuealed thy selfe vnto him in a liuely voyce by thy eternall worde in Heden Horeb in the burning bush and elsewhere afterward by thy prophets insinuating thy selfe by thy spirit into their harts thoghts to the end by their ministrie to instruct thy people and finally that thou hast also manifested thy selfe in greater light by thy owne worde made flesh for our redemption and speaking vnto vs by his mouth Yea which is more that thou hast so farre graced vs that this thy word of life hath beene and stil remaineth among vs faithfully collected in the sacred registers of the holy scripture so to be vnto vs the image of thy glory the Lawe of thy Kingdome the ladder to Heauen the gate to paradice the trumpet of saluation to be briefe the treasury of piety vertue wisdome consolation and perfection Yet the flesh neuerthelesse ignorant rash and peruerse hath neither eyes to perceiue these spirituall riches nor eares to heare the wholsome doctrine but dooth rather disdaine it as it were some deuised discourse vnprofitable voice or howsoeuer it be suffering it self to be carried away with it owne feeble imaginations taketh in this verely the thorne for the rose the leafe for the fruite and the huske for the kernell And thus are wee all borne in this error in this calamitie in this waie to mortall ruine vntill that thou O mercifull God makest vs to be borne againe of the spirite and in will to make our thoughts capaof the light of thy word through true faith to apprehend the mysteries of thy kingdome
thy grace but because my ignorance and imperfections doe carrie mee far from such wisdome and fulfilling of righteousnesse beeing a poore sinner weake in faith slowe in hope colde in charitie and polluted with many offences that make mee worthie of death and of hell I beseech thee my God in thy fatherly loue to bear with these my defects and to forgiue mee my trespasses in the name of thy Sonne our Mediator and Sauiour accepting his sacrifice as a full satisfaction for my sinnes and imputing vnto mee his righteousnesse to life euerlasting Yea and to the same end also vouchsafe to encrease in my soule the giftes of thy Spirite so as I may from better to better prosecute my life in the path of thine elect being through thy power freed from the temptations of the Diuell the worlde and my owne flesh and by thy blessing preserued from the dangers and miseries of this poore life alwayes notwithstanding content with whatsoeuer it shall please thee to bestow on me Sith thou art my Father I cannot but expect a happy end of all my estates hauing alredy receued of thy mercy the assured pledge of saluation forgiuenesse of sinnes But Lord graunt especially that this thy grace in Iesus Christ may be vnto mee a comforte and light all the dayes of my life especiallie in the darkenesse of my death to retaine and holde me fast in the hope of my saluation that with a liuelie faith at my last gaspe I may speake these words of my Sauior vpon the crosse Into thy handes O Father I commend my spirite whereby my soule also inwardly may heare the same Christ saying vnto mee as vnto the poore penitent theefe Sonne reioyce this day thou shalt be with me in Paradice so that full of peace by the effects of thy spirit I may cheerfully leaue my body to the earth assured of the resurrection and that my soule may by the angels be guided to the rest of the blessed and vouchsafe O Lord to do the like fauor to all men euen as I craue these thinges in the prayer which thy Sonne hath taught me Our father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this daie our dayly bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory world without end Amen Likewise my God encrease in me faith working euerie good worke and giue me grace constantly to perseuere and therof to make confession euen to my last gaspe saying I beleeue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his only Sonne our Lord who was conceiued by the holie Ghost borne of the Virgin Marie suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead and buried hee descended into hell the third day hee rose againe from the dead he ascended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almightie From thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleeue in the Holy-Ghost the holy Catholike Church The communion of Saints the forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the flesh and the life euerlasting This is my faith O Lord wherin I will liue and die as also in the obseruation of thy holy commandements comprized in these two That wee loue thee with all our hart with all our soule with all our strength and with all our thoughtes and our neighbours as our selues Thus thy grace O my God and Father be with me and thy blessing vpon all the workes of my hands So be it The two and twentieth Prayer Among the Family At noone at night in the morning will I crie vnto God and the Eternal shall deliuer me I wil make a noise and hee shall heare my voyce saide Dauid and Daniel kneeled down three times a day in his house prayed vnto and magnified his God Psal 55. 18. Dan. 6. Our help and beginning be in the name of God O LORD our GOD and our Father onelie great in glorie of infinit power It hath pleased thee so far forth to honour men poore Wormes of the Earth that they may in ful confidence in thy loue and bountie present themselues before thy face to magnifie thy name to talke of thy beneficence and to craue thy mercy Wee humblie beseech thee therfore by thy spirit to dispose of our souls our hearts and our lips to glorifie thee and so to call vppon thee that our vowes may be acceptable vnto thee and our prayers heard wee confesse our selues in thy presence to bee so great sinners that our vnworthinesse will not suffer vs to look vp vnto heauen without feare that thou shouldest in thy iust wrath thunder vpon vs neither can wee cast our eyes vpon the earth but we shall see as it were hel open for the reward of our wickednesse for we are not only as the children of Adam conceiued and borne in sinne worthy of thy curse but also by our owne faults lusts vncleanenesse bad thoughtes and wicked works whereinto throgh our corruption and frailtie wee doe daily fall which also in our consciences are so many witnesses to condemne vs and as it were heraultes that doe denounce vnto vs death and hel But O Lord thy mercies do infinitely exceede our malice and thy eternall compassions are vppon sinners that conuert and turne vnto thee Thou art that pittifull Father that gladly receiued his prodigall and vnthriftie Son That louing shepheard that carefully seeketh the lost sheepe that charitable phisition that freely commeth to the sicke to cure them Wee therefore the children of thy loue the sheepe of thy folde and the poore in spirit doe most humbly beseech thee in the name of thy welbeloued Sonne our mediator Iesus Christ to vouchsafe to take away all our calamities in pardoning our sinnes because thou hast giuen vs this great Sauiour in the worlde to the end that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting We are baptized in his name wee haue receiued his gospell and he giueth vs his body in thy church for spirituall foode that we may liue in him and of him for euer blessed Giue vs grace therefore O our God with a true and liuely faith vphelde by hope and doing euery good worke to apprehend to the glorie of thy name and the peace of our soules these great benefits that are purchased for vs in the death and passion of the same our redeemer that wee may incessantly yeelde praysings vnto thee and liue in holinesse according to thy worde For the performance hereof vouchsafe to encrease the giftes of thy spirit in our hearts whereby the desires of the flesh and vanities of the worlde may bee mortified and the pure fire of thy loue so kindled that we may loue honour and serue thee with all our soules with all our
lippes which the Lord requireth of vs vnlesse the same be also guided with the holy affections of the soule for he harkneth rather to the heart than to the voyce and giueth to vs openly that which he seeth vs in secret to desire with our affections mortified in his sight Therefore wee must praying carefully lift vppe our heartes with a true zeale to GOD banishing out all other thoughts abandoning Sathan with all his baites opening our harts that our Heauenly Father may thereinto infuse and powre downe his blessings Neyther ought our prayer to bee bare or naked but conioyned with reading and meditation of Gods holy worde as also fruitfull in all goodnesse But alas if it bee most true that in all our exercises of piety wee be neuer able to seperate our selues from our selues but that our corruption wil stil euidently appeare it is sure the same will especially befall vs when wee prepare our selues to pray vnto God and frame our petitions according to his will for besides that the diuel doth at al times lie in waite to seduce vs so doeth hee especially at such times seeke to creepe into our minds to diuert our thoughts elsewhere that they may bee polluted with many blemishes notwithstanding that they of themselues sufficiently goe astray yea our vanitie imperfection and coldnesse doeth many wayes bewray it selfe that we may well say in one word no man prayeth rightly but he whose mouth and minde Christ doth direct with his spirit And therefore hath he deliuered vnto vs a sacred forme for all holy prayers in that prayer which is vsually termed The Lords Prayer wherein hee hath set downe the perfect rule whereby we may rightly forme our petitions and keepe them within their bounds that is the glory of God our saluation And this are wee dilligently to note as being assured that so we shall be heard albeit our frailty do hinder vs from praying with that zeale feeling and feruency of faith which true prayer doth require Let vs winne from our selues so much as wee may calling to minde for our comfort that we do offer our prayers to the father in the name of his wel-beloued sonne and by his own mouth couered with his righteousnesse who therefore will accept of them according to his promise but withall let vs also remember that such who vse many times to say O Lord help vs do not notwithstanding thereby obtaine saluation but they who doe his will and to that end doth he command vs that we haue his word dwelling peaceably in our hearts that we may be ready to performe euery good worke These things therefore being by God conioyned vnto prayer let vs take great heed that wee seperate them not considering that by the same we conuerse with our father which is in heauen and so enioy the fulnesse of his blessings for whensoeuer we apply our eyes or our eares to those things which he declareth vnto vs in the holy scriptures hee speaketh vnto vs and calling vpon his name we speake vnto him Moreouer in asmuch as naturally wee are but little inclined or rather vtterly carelesse of these spirituall exercises it will not be amisse if we restraine our selues to praier at certaine houres of the day not for superstition but to withstand our slouth slackenesse and other worldly matters which otherwise might induce vs to ouerslippe diuerse dayes without any practise of this duetie Dauid bearing vppon his shoulders the burden of a great Kingdome prayed morning at noone and at night yea seauen times a day did he sing praises to God day and night meditating in his Lawe Nowe therefore gentle Readers feeling my self toward the declining euening of my dayes with a taste of so many solide and permanent ioyes as are daily to be found in prayer withall being inflamed with a desire to finish the rest of my course in this sweete labour which I finde to be accompanied with so large a recompence I haue here formed for my selfe and for any other that list to reade it this small mannell of holy short and familiar prayers grounded vpon the texts of scriptures such as are indeed to instruct comfort and make vs perfect in faith loue constancy and to be short in all christian life Be of good cheere then all godly soules and let vs vnite all our petitions in this so deuoute and profitable an exercise of all true faithfull people Let vs pray and meditate if not incessantly yet at the least dayly at certaine set houres and as often as wee may as well in the congregation as in our families morning and euening amongst our houshold as also in our secret chambers Thus shall wee with our lippes vpon the Altars of our hearts offer vp many acceptable sacrifices of sweete sauor before his presence whereof the benefite will redound to our selues in that God will blesse vs in our vocations workes and labors Oh how happy shall these men then be whom the Lord shall finde thus watching and praying for they shall depart vnto him in peace in the contemplation of his glory which grace God graunt vnto vs all Amen E R HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE Holie Prayers of a faithfull Soule For the Consolation and Perfection of a christian life The first Prayer Vpon the Lords Prayer When you pray vse no vaine repetitions as the Heathen for they thinke to be heard for their much babbling Be yee not like them therefore for your Father knoweth whereof yee haue neede before yee aske of him After this maner therefore pray yee Mat. 6. Our Father which arte in Heauen O Lord God almightie the knowledge of whome is life whome to serue is to raigne and vnto whom to pray is the ioy and peace of the soule wee cannot knowe thee but in thine owne image Iesus Christ and that by the operation of thy spirit neither serue thee except wee follow thy word neither call vpon thee but in the name of the same Christ and according to that forme which himself hath prescribed vs. Thus euerie faithfull creature sayeth vnto thee Our Father giue vnto vs forgiue vs. For thus hath thy sonne the head of that vnion which is among al christians commanded that our prayers should bee common for al thy people as being all one body which thou gouernest by one onely spirite and forasmuch as our being dependeth vppon thee onely and being in our birth corrupted by sinne thou makest vs to be renewed vnto righteousnesse through the same eternal word wher by thou hast created vs we doe rightly cal thee euen by a double right Our Father A happie and louing beginning of prayer wherin the new man reconciled vnto thee in Iesus Christ thus speaketh to thee his father I do beleeue that I am of the number of thy children through thy mercy which it hath pleased thee to vouchsafe me and therfore O my God I cannot see doubt hereof but that thou dost louingly heare me and art inclined to
helpe me and to relieue me in all my necessities considering thou arte in heauen euen according as being in al places thou art as it were in no place for thou art wholie an infinite spirite and inaccessible light whose name is I am namelie of a sole true essence eternall immutable and incomprehensible and from whom all nature whether celestiall or terrestriall doeth through grace borrowe his essence and subsistence Thus arte thou aboue in such wise that being out of euery place thou art aboue all this great vniuersall world in the seate of thine own glory from whence thou doest embrace both heauen and earth and with thy prouidence sustaine them As also in some sorte thou art aboue al things because they doe all depend and beare themselues vppon thee who likewise dost by thy subtilitie pierce into them more neerly vnto euery creature then the same is to it selfe Howbeit thou art in heauen so far forth as that the exquisite workes of thy hands do the better appeare therein And thou doest in an especiall maner inhabite the high heauen for there doeth thy Maiestie shine with open countenaunce beside thou art with thy gracious presence in the soules of the righteous which do harbour thee as a Father in their heartes Hallowed be thy name FOr O Lord sith thou art my father reason requireth that aboue all things I should desire thy honour But euerlastingly for euer and euer thy name is holy the glory therof infinit My praier then bringeth nothing to thy greatnes and excellencies but yet I may heere desire that thy name both of it self and by it selfe most holy may be sanctified and exalted in me and in all men and in all places whereby my selfe do also obtaine that holines which is conuenient for the true childe of such a father vnto whome all vncleanenesse is displeasing Thy kingdome come But who can impeach thy Kingdome O eternall God who hast created al things for thy seruice Thou raignest ouer al for the heauen is thy throne and the earth thy foote-stoole Yet I beseech thee be vnto me as a father in mercy not as a Iudge in thy iustice thou raignest in thy worde which thou hast reuealed and inspired and I beseech thee euen for thy glory sake that this thy booke of life may bee opened to all people that thereby all nations may worship thee thou raignest in thy Church and I pray that the number of thy elect may be shortly fulfilled Thy kingdome is thy grace and I beseech thee to make mee as capable thereof as thou art liberall Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen MY will O Lord is altogether peruers and depraued except it bee formed by thine wherin resteth and consisteth all my good create in me this holy will and giue mee grace to fulfil it in al my thoghts workes for what can I haue but what thou giuest mee To the end that in obedience of faith I may doe that which shall bee acceptable in thy sight euen as the Angells in heauen do obey thy voyce Giue vs this day our dailie bread FOR Christ our Lord and Doctour hath so contriued the petitions which we make vnto thee that in seeking first the glorie of thy name hee will that with al we should haue experience of the riches of thy goodnesse in all things necessary for this life Thus wilt thou O merciful Father recompence with infinite benefits euen our simple cogitations of the brightnesse of thy glory and crowne thy giftes in vs with grace for grace We do therefore dayly craue our bread and thou dost also giue it vs that is to say euen all that is necessarie for our maintaynance heere beneathe yet doest thou present vs with one bread farre more excellent and profitabl euen the bread of angels and of the blessed spirits giue mee therefore O Lord Iesus Christ God and man that of him I may liue for euer that my vnderstanding may bee enlightned with his truth and my heart kindled with the fire of his loue that I perish not And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. OVr sinnes as debts do bind vs to death which is their rewarde and to hell which is their graue they are as a strong barre to keepe vs from comming to thee O most holy God yea which is more they are as a clowde that shadoweth thine eyes from looking fauourably vpon vs. And therefore the most conuenient preparation to prayer is with an humble and truely penitent heart to feele and confesse our sinnes for so thou wilt vouchsafe to grant vs remission of the same in the name of thy sonne our Sauior in imputing vnto vs his righteousnesse Yet herein O Lord is thy free mercy very great that thou also giuest vs power to pardon those that doe offend vs and by so dooing to obtaine thy grace for what offence can any man commit against vs poore worms of the earth considering that we do so often and so grieuously offend O King of glory and in such sorte that if euery creature should arme it self to hurt vs yet would not the least iniurie that we commit against thee be sufficiently reuenged Yet dost thou vouchsafe thus to testifie thy infinite goodnesse accepting as a sweete sacrifice the oblation of our harts reconciled and fully vnited with our neighbours like as contrarywise no part of a hateful and peruerse heart can delight thee And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill FOr as through thy mercy thou sufferest not Satan the author of all temptations to seduce thy children neither sinne to ouercome them so when thou wilt punish man in thy iustice they remaine depriued of thy protection and vnder the power of the diuell to be subiect to his tyrany and to liue in a reprobate sence hereof doe we therefore reape this singular consolation that this great aduersarie of our saluation can doe nothing against vs vnlesse thou giue him leaue and whereas sometimes thou causest vs to be tempted thou doest it as a father to chastice vs for our transgressions or to make vs more triumphant and victorious in the triall which it pleaseth thee to make of our faith and hope for thy glory and our owne good or for the edification of our neighbours For thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer LIke as O my God and father I began my prayer by the hallowing of thy name so is it meete and iust that I should end it by the exaltation of the same as thy children who bounding their vowes with the onely care of thy honour may assure themselues to obtaine the fulfilling of the same in the sole perfection of thy glory So be it The second Prayer Vpon the Symbole or Articles of Beliefe I beleeue in God the Father Almightie c. 1. Cor. 15. Before all things I haue deliuered vnto you that which I haue receyued namely that Christ died
for our sinnes according to the scriptures and that hee was buried that he rose againe the third day O Lord God gouernour of the whol world immortall invisible and onely wise for whose glory al things are It hath pleased thee according to the decree of thy vnserchable counsel that man formed after thy image falling through mistrust and curiositie should by faith be restored to the excellency of his nature as he sought knowledge aboue thy commaundement and so strayed from thee and wandred out of thy kingdome so he should be revnited and reduced into the path of saluation by beleeuing thy onely word in the promised Messias bending the power of his soule to the knowledge of thee in embracing the preaching of the crosse which the world would accompt folly But because we al are borne blind corrupt in our vnderstanding and wil it therfore followeth that all the imaginations and thoughts of our hearts are at all times nothing but euill our knowledge but vanitie our learning but ignorance our iudgment but errour our virtue but pride our wisedome but folly the viuacitie of our spirit but the instrument of ruine our delight but filthinesse our faith but incredulitie our hope but fancie our charitie but coldnes to be briefe our pietie but hipocrisie or superstition and our righteousnesse but couetousnesse or ambition So O Lorde we of our selues are not capable somuch as of any good thought vntill thou that knowest how to drawe light out of darkenesse doest returne to recreate'vs and by thy spirit to shine in the firmament of our soules to the end to frame vs to euery faithfull disposition and obedience and so to make vs beleeue in the gospell of thy grace and in the mysteries of our saluation I doe therefore beseech thee my God according to the'fficacy of thy vertue to change in me all that I haue of my selfe euen my rockie and stony heart and to make it pliable and flexible vnto the voice of my Redeemer who is come according to thy promise to the end that with a ful and liuely faith I may cleaue to his eternall truth for to comprehend according to the measure of the gift of thy grace the summe and perfection of al spirituall wisedome which is taught vs in the articles of the true faith and sound principles of religion Surely my soule is ouermuch enclined to incredulity and mistrust neither is it any way able to pierce into these high and profound secrets of pietie where we haue a full declaration of all the figures and prophesies of the Lawe with a most pure and perfite doctrine of foure pointes which are the end of all religion and in regard whereof it is called Catholike For we find thee there thou only and true God the Father authour and gouernour of all things by thy almightie power goodnesse and prouidence Next is our Lord Iesus Christ thy word and eternall wisedome therein taught vnto vs together with the holy history of our redemption Thirdly wee there find the Holy-ghost the infinite vertue of thee the father and of the sonne three persons of one sole and simple essence and in equality of glory And finally therein is shewed vnto vs the Church with a description of these celestiall graces which thou pourest vpon her whereof the forgiuenesse of sins is the summe and life euerlasting the onely scope Giue therefore vnto me O merciful father of this thy spirit of reuelation of grace and of mercy to the end that the brightnesse and operation therof may make my soule capable of these great mysteries of thy Kingdome so farre forth as may be expedient for me to know for the seruice of thy glory and my owne saluation that I may obtaine the onely true and sound knowledge whose subiect and end is the onely true solide soueraign good both of men and angells namely to know thee to glorifie thee and him whome thou hast sent the Sauiour of the worlde So that with my hart I do belieue before thee and before al men I do with my words and workes confesse this acceptable message of the Messias come borne in the Cittie of DAVID which is CHRIST the lord God manifested in the flesh iustified in the spirit seene of the Angelles preached to the Gentiles beleeued by the elect and exalted into glory for our righteousnesse holinesse and glorification And further also O Almightie Lord print in my heart the feeling knowlege of this thy vnspeakable goodnesse and loue extended vnto vs miserable sinners in that thou hast giuen vnto vs in sacrifice thy only Sonne sauing vs by the onely merits of his death to the end that as the efficacie of thy loue hath redounded vnto mee wretched creature so I may also sufficiently meditate vppon thy great mercie incessantly yeelde thankes vnto thee and feele thy eternall consolation vntil that I departing in peace towardes thee my Father which art in Heauen may obtaine full knowledge of those things that thou hast giuen me to belieue and in the perfect contemplation of the same the soueraigne good of Angells and Saints So be it The third Praier Vpon the Decalogue or ten Commaundements God spake all these words saying Heare O Israel I am the Lord thy god that hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage Thou shalt haue none other Gods before me c. Exod. 20. O Lord GOD Almightie the Author of all righteousnesse and perfection of life Yea euen thou that arte essentially Iustice perfection and life I doe truly know that man created righteous perfect and by cleauing to thee blessed but free and mutable hath through sin turned from thee plunging himselfe headlong into the sinke of vnrighteousnesse imperfection and death The which hath depriued him of all power to obey the Law and consequently beereaued him of the reward of eternall blessednesse And albeit of especiall grace thou doost call vs by the Gospel to the free righteousnes of Christ to the end that beleeuing in him wee might confesse him for the obtayning of saluation Yet are we neuerthelesse so much inclined to distrust corruption and disorder that hardly we are entred into the waie of his vocation but we retyre immediatly straying out of that course which might purchase vnto vs the prize and so through our workes denie our faith and our profession Now as the first principal manner of thy honour O onely true GOD consisteth in beleeuing reposing our whole confidence in thee alone so the second and inseperable from true faith resteth in obedience to thy holy and good will For we must be doers of that which thy holie worde teacheth vs and not hearers only deceiuing our selues Thou hast chosen and adopted vs to be thy Children but it is vpon this condition that wee should be reformed to the Image of Iesus Christ the first borne inheritour of all things Thou hast chosen vs to be his Temple now his habitation
cannot be but holy for thy spirit dwelleth therein Thou hast redeemed vs with the price of his blood and that to the ende thou maist bee glorified both in our bodies and soules Thou hast freed vs from sinne euen to the ende we might be seruants to righteousnes Thou hast giuen vs the Sauiour of the World to be our iustification but to the end also that we possesse him in sanctification Thou wouldest that he should die for all men euen to make him liue in thy elect and they in him And this is the reason wherfore the institution of our faith together with the spirituall consolations that support the same is accompanied with the ten precepts of thy law the certaine and assured meanes to honor and serue thee in liuing religiously to thy glory vprightly to the profit of our neighbours For albeit in the Gospel wee be free from the rigor punishment of the Law yet neuertheles the rule of pietie and holie life contained in the Decalogue abideth with vs as a perpetuall patterne whereby to frame our temporall course of life And accordingly we do also consider of it in two partes according as it pleased thee O Lord to write it with thy finger and to deliuer it vnto Moses in two tables of stone for thy people whereof the first containeth foure Commandements of our duetie towardes thee and the second sixe of that which wee owe to our neighbors Also the summe fulfilling of all these holy precepts importeth that wee loue thee O onely true GOD with our whole heart soule and thought and then all other men especially the houshold of faith as our selues But O Lord such is the weakenesse of all flesh that there is no man able to attain to the perfection of thy Law and yet thou willest that here in thy children shoulde comfort themselues that there is left vnto them some measure to approach thervnto and so to bee acceptable vnto thee namely when with their whole strength preuented by thy grace they studie to attaine the end of thy word walking going forward by the steps thereof still with sighing for their infirmities For al the faithfull may so belieue that with thee their Father there is mercy for them in thy welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ I beseech thee therfore O my God to cast vpon me the eye of thy clemencie and goodnes therby throgh th' effects of thy spirit to restore in my soule the breaches of sinne to illuminate my vnderstanding and to possesse my hart with the loue of thy truth to the end that in all knowledge and obedience of faith I may constantly walke in the paths of thy lawe so that I may worship scare loue thee as the Lord to whome I wholy owe my selfe for thou hast created mee and which is more redeemed mee from eternall death whence I do also learne to loue all men in thee for thy sake because they beare thy image so that perseuering thus in the duty of my vocation I may so much the rather feele thy peace in my conscience and thy blessing vppon all the workes of my hands that filled with dayes I leaue my life to enioy rest eternally Amen The fourth praier To one only God in Trinitie of persons God in the beginning created Heauen and earth The word was with god and this word was God And the spirit of GOD mooued vpon the waters Gen. 1. Iohn 1. O Eternall true and only God in three persons coequall almightie of one sole and simple essence inuisible and infinite The Father the word and the holy Ghost who being the soueraign good sufficient to thy selfe needing no newe matter wouldest not for euer inioy thy glorie alone but according to thy vnmeasurable altogether incomprehensible goodnesse reueale thy selfe at thy good pleasure in foure workes altogether diuine singular The creation of the world of all nature the redemption of mankinde the building thy church thy graces the same O Lord who only art in trueth permanent and stable through whome euery thing is that is in respect of whome all is lesse then nothing who giuing by thy word beeing to that that was not at all hast out of a confused voyd and dark substance drawne light beauty and order stretching forth the heauen as a vault or tent vnder the same the earth and the inhabitants thereof who hast made al things in number weight and measure from whose prouidence doeth proceede the moderation and gouernement of all that is whether it liueth feeleth or vnderstandeth O holy thrice holy admirable and amiable who being righteous wouldest not suffer man made after thy image to go vnpunished when he had sinned and who beeing mercifull hast not left him without grace who being good hast not neglected the least of thy works euen to the haire of a beast the lightest fether of a fowl and the least flower or leafe of grasse in euery of these things grauing certaine tokens of thy glory and maiesty by the harmonie agreement of al these smal creatures with the greatest of the world O Father and moderator of all things I beseech thee let thy eternall wisedome reach to me euen through the light of thy spirit which seeth all things which soundeth all thinges which searcheth into all things and which with his presence of grace maketh his residence in al peaceable cogitations to lift them vp by the effects of his gifts vnto the fanctuarie of thy supercelestiall pallace there to make them see heare and worship in spirit truth the diuine maruels of thy Kingdome the mysteries of the adoption of thy elect So that being thus taught by the most sacred Oracles I belieue in hart and with vnderstanding meditate vpon the true eternall existence of thee O Father borne of none the first Soueraigne and Almighty cause of al things and especially of our saluation throgh thy loue Of thee O Sonne eternally begotten by the Father and by whom he hath made all his works who art the principall cause which giues vs life happines according to the fulnesse and perfection of thy loue and of thee O Holy Ghost from al eternitie proceeding from the Father the Son and by whome all creatures doe subsist and saluation is communicated vnto vs three persons of properties distinct yet not seperate in vnitie of essence and equalitie of glory in thee one and true God not created infinit and almighty the God of thy people And that through this healthfull knowledge I doe worship serue and call vpon thee only for euer without declining from thy word Wherupon likewise through a stedfast faith in thy promises depending vppon an assured hope and true loue I doe more and more draw vpon my self the sauour of thy holie blessings to the end that as the Angels aboue doe praise thee the powers of heauen do blesse thee all the spiritual armies do magnifie thee I likewise may heere belowe haue this
of thy Sonne crucified and risen againe and in his bloud shed for the washing of our soules when at his holie Table the sacred signes are by his ordinance deliuered vnto vs and that we doe receiue them as hee hath commanded expecting that aboue in heauen without any exterior meanes we may eate this bread of life and drinke this sweete drinke in the company of the Angels of all the blessed then at the ful inioying of our vnion with thee O great God and the ioy of our beatitude accomplished O most desired daie wherein we shall be fed and satisfied with this celestiall bread that we may neuer die nor thirst againe in this newe life where thou O eternall God shalt bee wholy in vs. Oh happie are wee already who already in Christ in the communion of the faithfull do taste the sweetnes of this celestiall banquet wherin we shall see thee and face to face contemplate Father Word Spirit one only and true God beeing filled with thy glory in endlesse peace To the end therfore that according to thy Commaundement O Lord I may worthily present my self to this holy banquet of sacred foode which the Angelles doe admire and honour which also thou dost not communicate but to thy flesh I beseech thee giue mee grace well to discerne the bodie of my Sauiour in trying my selfe according to his word so as my hart may be cleansed from sinne and vncleanenesse and replenished with thy loue and with euery other spirituall vertue to the end that euen this day harbouring therein this great King of heauen I may encrease in the faith and hope of my saluation by his holines and righteousnesse I haue reposed al my confidence in thy mercy I neither seeke nor hope for any good or grace but from thee my God and in thy sonne and for his sake I doe desire in my place with simplicitie to celebrate the remembrance of his death in the holy church to the glory of thy name and the peace of my soule I renounce the deadworkes of the flesh and the lusts thereof I doe put off all enmitie and malice with a good intent to embrace the liuely workes of the spirit and to dwell in loue and charitie with my neighbours I do belieue in the promises that Christ the infallible truth hath pronounced with his owne mouth That at his holy table he will truely make me partaker of his body and blood to the end I may possesse him wholy and in such sorte that being made flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone he may liue in mee aad I in him for euer Helpe O Lord the weakenesse of my faith support mee in my infirmity and in that desire which thou giuest me to profit in the sound knowledge of thy mysteries and in the practise of the pathes of thy kingdome conioyne vnto the same desire the performaunce of the deede For it is onely by the vertue of thy spirit in sinceritie of heart that I shall this day receiue from the same Iesus the effect of his word in participating truely in his new and eternall testament the couenant of grace so to perseuer in this blessed societie of his Bodie that from him I may incessantly gather strength and life and vnited with him I may also attaine to bee one with thee my Creator Grant mee therefore that in this maner I may with thy Church celebrate the most holy remembrance of our Lord and of the worke of our redemption to the end that so receuing this great sacrament of his body with a newe augmentation in all heauenlie grace with so much the greater confidence I may againe call vpon thee my God and my Father and more more glorifie my selfe in thy mercies So be it The eleuenth Prayer For thanksgiuing after the Communion And when they had sung a Psalme they went out vnto the Mount of Oliues Mat. 26. O Lorde my God my Father euen from the bottome of my heart and with all my soule I yeelde thee praise and thankes for that it hath pleased thee to enlarge so great a benefite to mee miserable sinner as to haue drawn and receiued mee into the sacred Communion of thy son Iesus Christ my sauiour The heauen of heauens are not able to comprehend him yet doth he so farre honour vs as to vouchsafe to communicate with vs yea euen to enter into vs poore wormes of the earth For such was thy good pleasure O Lord to deliuer him once to the death for the redemption of thy elect and as to euery one of them so doest thou this day giue him to mee to be my foode and spirituall sustenance that I may liue of him and in him blessed both in body soule eternally I beseech thee therefore O mercifull Father so to blesse in me this holy and mysticall action that my vnworthinesse make it not vnprofitable vnto me that the pretious bloud of thy sonne bee not in vaine shed for mee and offered me to drinke but that washed in the same and cleansed from my sinnes I may obtain that iustification and holines that beseemeth thy children who haue this most holy one to be their hoste and head thy spirit for their light Let me not be so wretched as to abuse these sacred meates which thou dost communicate to thy houshold of faith onely the prouision whereof cost thy welbeloued son Iesus so deere Rather my God grant that in true efficacie I may participate in this sacrament of his body to encrease in faith loue and all other thy gifts that I may neuer abandon thy holy couenant Alas whither should I go but to thee the fountaine of eternall life by Christ who is the fulnes thereof and by whom it runneth into vs Cast from me all carnall cogitations and delights and all these earthly baites which turne to gall and corruption because I haue in my bowels an incorruptible foode more sweeter then honny the bread of Angels the bread of heauen the bread of life which with out any sacrament wee shall feede on aboue without ende where Christ according to his promise shall with vs drinke the fruite of the new vine yeelding vppe vnto thee the kingdome O eternal God that thou maist be all in all I doe therefore resigne my self into thy hands and vnder thy conduct that I may runne my race in ioy and a good conscience before thy face and before men And that I may departe in peace when my houre is come because Christ is my life To thy name therefore O almighty Creator to thee Redeemer of the elect to thee Comforter of the faithfull who by thy secret vertue doest worke this vnspeakeable and miraculous coniunction of our soules with the body of the Lord. To thee Trinity Father Word Spirit one only and true God be all honour and glory Amen The twelfth Praier To obtaine the gift of Faith The law was our schoolmaister to bring vs to Christ that wee might bee
the Holighost whom thou hast giuen vs and thy Sonne Iesus is the mean and fulnesse according as in him doth remaine all that is beautifull delectable peaceable rich permanent and glorious aboue in Heauen which thou hast promised vs. Of which treasure of inestimable valew thou doest thus euen already graunt mee the vse by the effects of thy diuine vertues which make mee to pierce through the heauens with my imagination and to establish my soule in thy peace as if in my bosome I kept the full fruit of thy promise and did alreadie liue there aboue in like estate as the Angells For O eternall God thy mercy is vpon me as I doe trust in thee And therfore albeit I creepe here vp and downe through manie infirmities Yet will I in patience abide the appearing of thy glorie in the daie of the comming of thy Sonne to iudge the quicke and the dead as being thorowly assured through thy grace in the end of my course to obtain the diadem wherewith thou crownest thine and at the last day and euer in my flesh to behold that great Sauiour of the elect who liueth with thee and the Holyghost one god eternally Amen The fourteenth Prayer To obtaine the vertue of Loue. God is loue and he that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God and God in him The end of the Law is loue out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith vnfained 1. Ioh. 4. 1. Tim. 1. O Eternall who art al loue and who according to the infinite vertue thereof hast loued vs before we wer as also since the time that wee were thy enemies vnthankefull sinners adiudged to death and to the paines of hell thou hast I say freely so loued vs that thou hast giuen thy onely sonne to the world to redeeme vs with the price of his blood and for vs to purchase righteousnesse and a blessed life This being so O Lord the original and fountaine of loue make it with efficacy reflection to shine into al places whither the knowledge of thy grace shall come likewise that where thou doest more neerely communicate thy selfe by making the flames of thy loue to bee more liuely felt graunt also that there by the effects of thy spirit the greater loue towardes thee may appeare I beseech thee make mee more and more to meditate and comprehend this thy admirable loue that I may accordingly frame my selfe to that loue thou requirst of thy children truely faithfull which is also the end of the whole law and precepts of the gospell So that in purenesse of heart with an vpright conscience and with a true and liuely faith I may attaine to the knowledge of thy truth and will to the end in all through al to obey thee with a quiet conscience the same being the chiefest the highest and the most perfect degree of loue that we can testifie vnto thee O our God and that which leadeth vs to the perfection of Christian life which of mortall men maketh vs as it were Angels which albeit wee liue vppon earth maketh vs Cittizens of heauen to bee briefe it is that which in the secret of our hearts giueth vs a sweet feeling of thy peace which surmounteth all the reason of our vnderstanding That also thereby I may learne that there is none that can loue thee perfectly vntill he hath bin preuented by the sweetnesse of thy vnmeasurable loue and kindled with the flame That we loue thee because thou first louedst vs like as also through thy grace thou makest thy selfe thy benefites knowne vnto vs. The more therefore that wee finde our selues disposed to loue thee the more shuld we beleeue that thou makest thy selfe to be felt in the inwarde partes of our soules to bee our God and our Father and that therefore wee haue the greater cause to confirme and comfort our selues in the loue that thou bearest vs. O Lord make me also to vnderstand that as Christian charitie doth especially regard and looke vppon thy holy deitie Father Son and Holy-ghost one onely God that we may loue thee with our whole hearts mindes and strengths so hath shee a like regard to her neighbour that in thee and for thy sake because he beareth thy image we may loue him as our selues for in these conioyned and reciprocall things also Christ teacheth vs the bond of perfection euen that wee shall indeede be his disciples if we loue one another because he so shal fullfill his loue in our hearts But being O Lord very true that the faith which thou giuest vs doth singularly vnite thy familie together graunt me the spirite of loue which leading me to doe well to all men doth teach me principally to loue the houshold of thy Church that I may with a ready will yeelde them all helpe in their necessities In asmuch also as our redeemer the perfect pattern of charitie hath loued his enemies procuring them good for euill and blessing for iniurie I beseech thee my GOD giue me grace to extend my loue to those that hate mee that without hypocrisie or vaine glory I may to my power help forward their good and saluation And so that I may beare an vpright and lowly heart to all men whereby all the faithfull may be edefied and comforted and others seeing my good works rather thine than mine may be constraind to glorifie thee O our father which art in heauen c. The fifteenth Prayer That we may well vse afflictions If any man will follow me let him forsake himselfe and take vp his crosse and follow me By manie tribulations wee must enter into the Kingdome of heauen Hee chastizeth him whom he loueth and scourgeth euerie childe that hee receiueth Mat. 16. Act. 14. Heb. 12. O Lord my GOD and my father I learne in thy worde that none be true Disciples of Iesus Christ but they that followe his steppes wherof he hath deliuered vs a sure marke in these two chief points the renouncing of our selues and the voluntarie enduring of the crosse For naturallie we are inueagled with a disorderly loue to our selues and doe presume too much of our owne persons It is therefore necessarie for vs to renounce our own nature and reason and to abandon our owne affections to suffer thee thy loue O our God to liue raigne in vs. Then must we proceede to the other point that is cheerefully to beare out the afflictions and miseries of this life wherein it pleaseth thee especially to exercise thine vpon diuerse good considerations namely to make them conformeable to the image of thy Sonne to the end that suffering with him they may also raigne in his glory For it is very true that al men by sinne doe eate the fruites of the earth in labour and bread in the sweate of their browes that they all liue in a sea tossed with many stormes crossed with many anguishes But all haue not the gift of thy spirit to learne by his doctrine that the
strengths and with al our mindes and louing our neighbours as our selues to pleasure them in all dueties of loue to our power Strengthen vs likewise with thy vertue O almightie God against the temptations and assaults of Sathan deliuering vs victoriously preseruing vs also from such dangers and miseries as euery where follow vs at the heeles in this life and aboue all giuing vs grace in whatsoeuer estate wee be still to be content with thy will which can neuer be other than good and iust and to vs profitable because wee are of the number of thy children So let thy peace be in vs and vpon all the workes of our handes that wee may happily passe the rest of our dayes walkeing euery of vs in his familie in the duty of our vocation in a good conscience as before thy face to whom nothing is hid and meditating diligently vpon the shortnesse and afflictions of this our life that so wee may aduance thee and finally end in the wisedome of true christians whereby wee may principally learne to desire heauen and patiently to take all humane crosses and whatsoeuer may seeme to vs most greeuous to the flesh knowing that all things shall turne to our good alalwayes prouided that constantly we perseuere in thy seruice for so shal wee liue and die with Christ that we may enter into his ioyes in heauen there to behold his glory Furthermore howsoeuer vnworthie sinners wee are yet O Lord in as much as thou hast commanded vs to pray one for another to the aduancement of thy Kingdome wee pray to thee for all men that it may please thee so to worke that they who as yet haue not the knowledge of thy holy gospel may by the preaching thereof and the illumination of thy holy spirite be brought to know thee the only and true GOD and him whome thou hast sent Iesus Christ to saue the Worlde Also that they whom thou hast already visited with this grace as our selues may dayly encrease in thy spirituall blessings So that altogether we may worship thee with hart mouth in one spirite one faith and one baptisme And sith thou hast also ordained gouernements and callings that all people may be gouerned in the feare of thy name and to common commoditie We beseech thee to inspire guide and blesse our Queen and all Princes Magistrates and Superiours that haue the gouernement of thy sword vpon earth that euery of them raigning in godlinesse and righteousnesse may employ their power which they hold from thee to cause thee to be serued honored and to the tranquillitie peace and reliefe of their subiects wholy submitting themselues and their people to thy holy word Likewise for the publishing of thy word in al places vouchsafe more more with thy giftes to enrich the Pastors and Doctors of thy Church and daily to raise vp more to execute in a good conscience their charge to the edification and perfection of thy holy Temple whereof in generall O Lorde and of euerie faithfull vouchsafe to shewe thy selfe the Almighty protector to the confusion of all the aduersaries of the name of Christ and of his holie Church We also pray thee for all those whom thou visitest with tribulation whether it be sickenesse of body or anguish of soule that thou O mercifull Father vouchsafe to giue them comfort patience to the bearing of their calamities and deliueraunce from their afflictions Asking all these things of thee in the name of thy Sonne our Mediatour and as he hath taught vs to pray Our Father which art in heauen c. We also besech thee O Lord to encrease and confirme vs in the Catholike Faith of thy Church to the end it may take liuely roote in our soules to fructifie to all righteonsnesse and good workes and that euen to our last gaspe we may make like confession thereof as we doe now both with hart and mouth I beleeue in God the Father Almighty c. And because the faith of thy children O Lord is inseperable from the obedience due to thy word especially in the tenne commaundements of the law and that thou doest ordaine that wee should haue them perpetually in our hearts and mouthes to keepe them and to teach them to our families giue vs grace to our powers to conforme our selues to the same euen as wee vnderstand that they were deliuered from thy mouth saying Heare Israel I am the Lord thy God that brought thee out of the land of Aegypt out of the house of bondage 1 Thou shalt haue no other Gods before mee 2 Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image or the likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath or in the water vnder the earth Thou shalt not bow downe to them nor worship them for I am the Lord thy God a iealous God that visiteth the sins of the fathers vppon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me shew mercy vnto thousands of them that loue me and keepe my commandements 3 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 4 Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabaoth day sixe dayes shalt thou labor and doe all that thou hast to doe but the seauenth day is the Sabaoth of the Lord In it thou shalt do no manner of thing thou and thy sonne and thy daughter and thy man-seruant and thy maide-seruant and the stranger that is within thy gates for in sixe dayes the Lord made heauen and earth and the sea and all that therein is and rested the seauenth day wherefore the Lord blessed the seuenth day and hallowed it 5 Honour thy father mother that thy dayes may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee 6 Thou shalt do no murther 7 Thou shalt not commit adulterie 8 Thou shalt not steale 9 Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour 10 Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife nor his man-seruant nor his maide-seruant nor his oxe nor his asse nor any thing that is his And the summe of all these commandements is this That wee loue thee O Lord with al our hearts and with all our mindes and our neighbours as our selues Thy blessing therefore O our GOD and Father with the peace of our Lord Iesus and the comforte of the Holy-ghost be thus giuen vnto vs by thy grace and remaine with vs for euer Amen The three and twentieth Prayer Before meate among the Family The eyes of all creatures looke vp vnto thee O Lord thou giuest them meate in due season thou openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing euery liuing thing c. Psal 145. O euerlasting GOD and Father we beseeche thee to extend thy blessing vppon vs thy poore children seruants and vppon the foode which it pleaseth thee of thy goodnes to
giue vnto vs for the sustenance of our life that we may vse the same soberly and with thanksgiuing as thou hast commanded But aboue all things giue vs grace to desire and especially to seeke the spirituall bread of thy word wherewith our soules may be fed eternally in the name to the glory of the Father Sonne and Holy-ghost one only and true God who liueth and raigneth world without end Amen The foure and twenieth Prayer After meales among the Family Whether wee eate or drinke or whatsoeuer wee doe we must doe all to the glory of God 1. Cor. 10. O Eternall God our Father we yeeld thee thanks for that it hath pleased thee to nourish and feede vs ministring vnto vs all that is needefull for this life and making vs to enioy so many temporall benefites as thou doest largely poure vppon vs thy creatures wee beseech thee of thy goodnesse vouchsafe to continue them the rest of our dayes But aboue al wee praise thee for the spiritual foode that by thy word thou giuest to our soules to the ende they may for euer liue in blisse through Iesus Christ our redeemer to whome with the Father and the Holi-ghost one onely and true God be all honour and glory for euer Amen The fiue and twentieth Prayer Euening Prayer for the Houshold It is a good thing to giue thanks vnto the Lord and to sing praises vnto thy name O most high to tell of thy trueth in the night season I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest for it is thou Lord onelie that makest mee dwell in safetie Psal 92. 4. O Lord our god and Father as thy people of Israel offered vnto thee their euening sacrifice so doe we offer vnto thee the oblation of our humble and contrite heartes that wee may glorifie thy name and obtaine remission of our sinnes We praise thee therefore and yeeld thee thanks for thy benefites namely for that it hath pleased thee to let vs passe this day vnder thy protection and safegard without the which wee might haue incurred manie miseries and dangers But because by our corruption and frailetie we haue diuersly offended thee in thought worde and deed and that thy mercie is vppon all those to whom thou vouchsafest to be a Father in our Lord Iesus Christ and that call vpon thy name wee beseech thee to forgiue vs our sinnes and to accept of his righteousnesse in the merit of his death in discharge of our debts so that as euery thing is nowe hidden from our eies by the night which thou giuest vs for the rest of our bodies so our offences may be buried out of thy sight in the sepulchre of the same Christ whereby our soules may haue in him their spirituall rest Alas we know that Sathan the Prince of darkenesse lieth alwaies in waite to hurt vs seeking principally to make a breach into our hearts when we stand least vpon our guarde but O Almightie God in thy presence also are the thousands of Angels to watch on those whome thou hast called to the inheritance of thy saluation of which number wee doe beleeue our selues to be through the mercie which it hath pleased thee to shewe vs. Giue vs grace therefore to be deliuered from the temptations of the diuel from vncleanenesse and troublesome dreames whereinto our infirmity doth leade vs and also from all other dangers to the ende our bodies receiuing through thy blessing a peaceable and quiet sleep for their ease our mindes may watch more freely vnto thee who art their rest and their life and in the meditation of thy loue that to morrowe wee may arise so much the readier to glorifie serue thee euery one in his vocation Thus running our race in the path of thy elect we may with ioy expect the desired hower for our flesh to rest in the earth that our soules may be lodged in heauen and at the last day be raised againe in glory with al the Saints to enioy the accomplishment of our felicitie Howbeit in the meane time whilst we comfort our selues in this hope O heauenlie Father we doe recommend vnto thee the peace preseruation of thy church the estate of this Kingdome and all such as be afflicted with sicknes or anie other tribulation beseeching thee to giue to thy children and seruants whereof to take comfort and alwayes to reioyce in thy goodnes This is it that we doe beleeue in thy worde Yea this is it that wee doe craue of thee in the name of our mediator Iesus Christ by that Prayer which hee hath taught vs. Our father which art in heauen c. Thy blessing therefore O our God and Father the peace of our Lorde Iesus with the comfort of the holy Ghost be giuen to vs by thy grace and remaine with vs for euer Amen The sixe and twentieth Prayer Of him which suffered much by sicknesse When you shal be sicke be not slowe to pray to God and he will heale thee Hee healeth those that are broken in heart and cureth their greefes If they touched the gates of death and crie vnto the Lord in their distresse hee will deliuer them from their troubles Eccles 18. Psal 147. 107. O Lord my GOD and father now it is that in these griefs and paines that oppresse me I doe better then heretofore I haue acknowledge the corruption and frailtie of my nature and the iustice and goodnesse of thy hand that visiteth mee The originall of all flesh is in infection his temporall habitation is in dust continually tossed to and fro with stormes her end is a prey to the wormes and all hir glory is buried with her in the earth Yet is man so blinde and depraued that for a shorte time wherein he enioyeth any prosperity health hee looseth the knowledge of his fraile condition he swells and strayeth from the principall end of his being and slideth away into the follies and vanities of the world Thus might I many times haue made ship wracke among these lamentable rockes haddest not thou my GOD stretched forth thy rod of tribulation vpon mee in my most happy prosperities to preuent my ruine It is as euen to this day thou doest admonish me of thy discipline which maketh me to humble my selfe in thy sight and to feele my misery that with heart and voyce I may confesse that thou art iust O soueraigne iudge and good O gentle Father who wilt thus with one medecine castize and cure the vlcer of my sins Come therefore thou vapor of the earth thou shadow of life thou corruptible flesh sith God for thy instruction and amendment giueth thee trauaile put off thy selfe and submitte thee to his spirite and thy spirite to the Father of spirits and thy affections to his will Thus with all thy strength and minde lift vppe thy selfe towards this Fatherly hand from whence the stripe commeth that grieueth thee towards this arme of the almightie that hath cast the stone that bruseth