sake thou hast hitherto spared me confirme now that swiftly in me whervnto from the beginning I am ordained And woe to me vnhappie sinner that haue left so louing and mercifull a Father who euer tendered me Yet haue I denyed thée in my heart wherein thou hadst determined the Tabernacle of thy delight and haue defiled it and made thereof a vessell of iniquitie and a denne of vncleane Spirits I confesse my selfe oh Lord the most wicked of all that the world sustaineth But neuertheles I trust in thy goodnesse For as my sinnes be aboue number so is there no number of thy mercies O most louing Father if it séeme good to thée thou canst make me cleane Heale my soule I confesse I haue sinned Remember Lord those comfortable words which thou spakest by the Prophet saying Thou hast done wickedly with many yet turne to me and I will receiue thee Truelie most mercifull Father I trust assuredlie in these swéet words and with my whole heart turne mee to thée as though thou hadst spokē these words to me alone and wouldest call none other for I am the vncleane and vnfaithfull soule the prodigall and wandring Sonne who hath alienated my selfe from that Father of Light from whome all goodnesse springeth loosing and neglecting all thy large giftes which of thy bountifull liberalitie thou hast graunted I haue straied from thée like a wandering shéepe I haue forsaken thée the fountaine of Liuing Water and digged to my selfe muddie pittes séeking outwarde comforts which hold no water haue followed Temporall and transitorie delights which vanish swiftlie as smoake I haue left also the bread of Life and eate the dregs of Swine following mine owne sensuall appetite and beastlie affections I haue forsaken thée the chéefe most perfect and continuall good and haue enclined to terrestriall and transitorie things Therefore I am become Naked Poore Miserable and vncleane and as a Calfe tied doe festure through mine owne infirmities But I praie thée oh Father remember not the contempt and Iniurie thou hast receiued of me pardon the passed faults of my tender yeares let not the old soares of wandring youth in setled yeares breake out to new bléeding woundes Accept the pittifull passion of thy deare Sonne in satisfaction of my former heaped euils graunt Lord to mee sorrofull sinner the assistance of thy holie Spirit to continue this I haue begunne to the health of my Soule and quietnes of mind and my tongue and heart shal speake the Triumph of thy louing kindnesse and mercie both now and euer Amen Eccles 4. Deliuer him that suffreth wrong from the hands of the oppressour and be not faint-hearted when thou sittest in Iudgement decide Law with Equity and Iustice with mercy bee fauourable to the Fatherlesse and bee in steade of a Husband vnto their Mother so shalt thou bee blessed in sight of the Highest and he shall loue thee more then doth thy Father and Mother Eccles 9.12 Day and night let the broad Gates of thy bounty be open to the Discreete and Vertuous Set honour alwaies vppon the head of the lowlye But to the prowde and ambicious keepe thy selfe secret and straunge giue not thy bread vnto him least hee become mightier then thy selfe nor trust not thine Enemy at any time for like as Iron cankereth so doth his wickednesse though he humble himselfe greatly yet locke vp thy mind and beware of him set him not by thee nor on thy right hand least he turne get into thy place take thy roome and possesse thy Seat Pro. 16. The cherefull countenance of the King is Life his louing fauour is as the Euening deaw L Loue God aboue all A Accept the wise D Doe no man wrong I In mercie delight E Expect a reward E Encrease Knowledge L Let vertue guide I In Prayer persever Z Zelously aske A Acknowledge Sinne. B Beware of presumption E Enuie no man T Tender the Helpelesse H Hope for Heauen Holy briefe and comfortable Meditations or Prayers discifering in Alphabet forme the gracious name of the Ladie Elizabeth L LOath not the Prayer of one that is in trouble turne not away thy face from the needie despise not the selie sewter nor grieue the heart of the helpelesse for if he complaine in the bitternesse of his soule his prayer shall be heard euen hee that made him shall heare him LIghten in mee oh God the Image of thy selfe though I looked backe from thy Lawes chastice me to amendment but suffer not the woorke of thy hands to perish Thou hast created my heart and giuen me a will to order the same so Lord I most méekelie yéeld the same again into thy hands I pray thée by thy holie spirite so direct my waies counsels and woorkes that they may be of chiefe regard with thée good God the giuer of all mercie suffer not my Soule to perish through the infirmitie of my flesh For thy Sonnes sake and thine own glorie set both now and euer his death and passion betwéene thy iust Iudgement and the perill of my soule I thirst after thée oh God and sith thou seest my heartie desire is to serue thee and liue in thy rule and to die in thy Faith and fauour allowe of mee and with thy mightie hand assist me Graunt that the Celestiall kingdome of thy grace and mercie euer occupie my heart and worthilie purchase me the sweet participation of thy glorious Throne and Maiestie Deliuer mee Lord through thy grace for in all my proper woorkes and deuises can be found no sure shield of defence for me Cast not away my sorrowfull soule Remember the pittifull Passion of thy deare Sonne and suffer it not to perish Guide my féete in the shining light of thy Veritie carrie me aloft from the snares of the vngodlie and from the traitorous trappes of the malicious saue me Suffer not thou oh Prince of all power who rulest the heauens and earth that any canckred or malicious stomacke rebell or increase against me Pardon my cursed crimes release my direfull debts giue me againe thy grace wrappe vp my woefull wounds that fester in my feeble flesh graffe mee a new with the garnishing of thy grace so shall thy glorie growe and my gained gladnesse heale my groning griefes If I deserue the fulnesse of thy furie to fall vpon me yet as a louing Sauiour rule ouer the roughnesse of thy rage and let thy most meeke mercie measure my paine as thou haste donne vnto numbers Grant most gracious God of all victorie that I may euer haue thy power and right hand to be my resident Rocke of refuge Giue gracious eare to my requests bee thou my staie in euerie storme and perill for all mans staies are vnsteadie Beate downe therefore mine enemies with thine own hand and Sword which art mine onelie aide and Protectour giue me thy grace and I shall neuer cease to giue thée glorie both with my tongue and heart shal I ioyfully sing Dominus illuminatio mea salus mea quem
THE POESIE OF Floured Prayers Containing sundrie Meditations and Prayers gathered out of the sacred letters and vertuous Writers disposed in forme of the Alphabet of the most vertuous Lady the Lady Elizabeths name Set forth by Sir IOHN CONVVAY Multae tribulationes Iustorum de omnibus liberabit eos Dominus Psal 34. AT LONDON ¶ Printed for Va. Sims and are to be sold by Ed White An. 1611. TO THE MOST Gracious Ladie the Ladie ELIZABETH eldest daughter to our Soveraigne Lord the KING I MAY NOT doubt most gracious Ladie but certainly belieue that as you are religiously devoted so you are sufficiently stoared with Meditations Prayers and Supplications of Saintes best befitting your Royall Estate So that by reprinting of these ancient Prayers and causing them to be disposed to your Graces Name I may seeme to offer a needlesse Supply Nevertheles presuming vppon your wel-knowē Princely and gracious acceptance of all that which proceedeth frō well-meaning mindes I have adventured in all humilitie to offer them vnto your most Royall Service to bee respected or reiected at your pleasure for whose most happy cōtinuance in this world and participation of perfect ioye in the world to come I also will not cease to pray to almighty God Your Graces most humbly VALENTINE SIMS HONI · SOIT · QVI · MAL · Y · PENSE Prou. 31. BEautie and favour are things deceitful vaine but the heart of a woman that feareth the Lord her body is a rich portion and she is worthy to be honoured for shee openeth her mouth with wisdome in her tongue is the Law of grace Prou. 16. COnfesse thy workes vnto the LORD and looke what thou deuisest it shall prosper Esay 58. THy light shall spring out in the darknesse and thy darkenesse shall bee as the noone day Pro. 28. HE that hydeth his sinnes shall not prosper but who so acknowledgeth them and forsaketh them shall haue Mercie A Morning Prayer O LORD Iesus Christ which hast redéemed all mankind from sinne Death and Hell thou which hast sayd I am the waye truth and life A way in doctrine commandements and examples Truth in promises Life in reward I come vnto thée early now this morning I pray thée by thine ineffamable loue wherewith thou hast vouchsafed wholy to bestowe thy selfe for our security that thou wilt not suffer me euer to straye from thée because thou art the way nor at any time distrust thy promises which art Truth and performest whatsoeuer thou promisest neither let me rest in any other thing because thou art eternall life without the which there is nothing that ought to bee desired neither in Heauen nor in Earth But let me learne as thou hast exactly taught what to belieue and what to do what to hope for and in whome we ought to rest Thou which by the examples of thy life hast shewed vs the way to immortality and by thy steps hast restored to vs a plaine easie and profitable way out of an vneuen and rough way Vphold mee in thy benignity with thy sure promises that after this life I may enter into thy heauenly heritage Therefore whilest I am in this iourney bee a sure hope vnto me to bee in stéed of a staffe vnto me wherwith I am sustained O Lord that knowest the weakenesse of my flesh in the meane time with the comfort of thy Spirit so refresh my strength wherby I may runne chéerefully And as thou being made vnto me a way doest driue awaye all errour So being made Truth take awaye all distrust Finally beeing made life vnto vs I beséech thée reuiue mee dead in sinne to liue by thy spirit relieuing all things vntill in the resurrection all mortality vtterlye abolished I may always liue with thée and in thée when Christ shall be to vs all in all For eternall life is to knowe the Father the Son and the holy Ghost to be one true God whome now through Faith wée behold only in a glasse and Riddle and then séeing more felowly the glory of the Lord we shal be transformed into the same Image Therefore I beséech thée most mercifull Sauiour that thou wouldest nourish Faith in thy Seruant that I may neuer wauer in thy heauenly doctrine Encrease obedience that I neuer turne from thy Precepts Fortifie constancie that entring into thy steppes it bee not pulled backe nor through the terrour or intisementes of Sathan ouerthrowne but may perseuer in thée which art the true-waye vnto life Build my sure trust that being accustomed with thy promises I neuer waxe old in the exercise of Vertue but forgetting those things which are past I may continually striue to come to perfecter Accept my contrite heart the woonted sacrifice of thy delight and the oblation of these my Peticions graunting the summe of my requests Blot out all my offences for thine own sake defend me this day with thy mighty hand increse thy grace in me that I may in all thinges carrye vpright sway and equall iudgement liuing with thy people in the light of thy worde and feare of thy Lawes And daylie more more die to my selfe and liue and bee lead by thy Spirit fearing nothing but thée then the which nothing is greater or mightier louing nothing beside thée then whome nothing is more to be beloued glorying in nothing but in thée which art the glory of all Saints requiring nothing beside thée which art the best desiring nothing but thée which art the full and perfect felicitie with the Father and the holy Ghost aboue the Starrie Firmament to whome be prayse both now and euer Amen ¶ A discreet and wise woman is an high portion shee honoureth GOD and beautifieth the world vpon her right hand standeth Ioye and Peace and vpon her left hand Riches and Honour her body is the sweet tree of long life to him that layeth hold on her and blessed is he that keepeth her fast ¶ A Prayer for the Euening O Gracious GOD and most mercifull Father being infinitely bound vnto thée for thy manifold mercies extended towards mee I humbly giue thee thankes among the rest for thy protection of me this day And I most humbly pray thée to forgiue mee all my sinnes and naughtines whereby I am made vnwoorthy of thy further goodnes and mercie O Lord receaue the intercession of thy Sonne for all mine offences Accept this sacrifice of my soule and body which I offer to be disposed off at thy pleasure Consider the vnfeined sighes which I send from my heart for that I haue offended thée and giue eare to my prayers which I powre foorth before thée to obtaine thy pardon Giue me a true and liuely faith whereby I may laye holde vpon the merites of the death and passion of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Let his righteousnes make satisfaction to thy iustice for my vnrighteousnes and his obedience procure pardon for my disobedience and his holy perfection helpe and amend my vn-holy imperfections Protect me this
timebo Dominus Protector Vitae me à quo trepidabo The Lord is my light and my saluation whome then shall I feare the Lord is the strength of my life of whome then shall I be afraide Amen A ALL thy delight being in equitie and Iustice incline thine heart to me cy then shall thy light breake forth as the morning spring and thy health florish thy righteousnesse shall preserue thee and the glorie of the Lord shall imbrace thee ASsist me oh God with thy grace and enrich me with thy Spirit illuminate my mind with thy vnderstanding be vnto me a sure saluation and whome should I feare Trulie neither will I feare any bodilie or ghostlie enimie thou being the strength of my life Though innumerable hostes doe rise against me my Spirite shall trust in thee and in my heart will I neuer bee affraide Arme mee with strength of warre oh GOD and teach my hands to wage battaile And I shall laye flat the enemies of thy truth and ioyfullie resist all those that rise against me My life shall euer declare thy sauing health and my soule shall not cease to sing thy praise Thou haste deliuered mee from the chaines of Hell and when I haue beene wrapped in the dangers of death thou hast cleared my pathes of all stumbling blocks and made thy rich mercie my Candle Lord if I haue beene vnthankefull a broken minde shall bee thy sacrifice my heart shall euer dwell in the house of thanksgiuing and my sptrit still mourne for her vnkindnesse Saue mee Lord I beseech thee in the day of my distresse for thou art the Horne of my health the shield of my glorie and bearest vp mine infirmitie Let them bee consumed in their deuises that shall worke against mee and faile of their force in the houre of their pretence Powre vpon them the Viall of thy wrath let them sinke by themselues and saue thy Seruauntes that trust in thy mercie I will honour thée for my sauiour and praise thée for a God aboue all Gods Amen D DOubtles God is gracious and mercifull he forgiueth sinnes in time of trouble and is a defender of them that seeke him with heartie prayer and wholie put their trust in his mercie and truth DIrect my feete oh Lord in the waies of peace and keepe my hands cleane from innocent blood Lord giue me grace to performe the trauailes of this Pilgrimage before thée with a pure mind and cleare conscience that when thou shalt shew thy selfe towards euerie creature according to their déedes I may be rich in thy mercie and not dread thy presence To thy mercie I appeale I flie vnto thee I depend on thée fearing thee and reuerencing thee louing thee and trusting in thee If thy wrath waxe hot against mee I cannot withstand If thou punish me according to my deserts I cannot beare deale mercifullie therefore with mee heale my sores and pardon my sinnes Whilest I tread this wearie Laborinth leaue mee not Lord to my selfe but graunt mee thy continuall grace for my staffe I am not of might in my selfe to doe any thing that is good my righteousnesse and glorie stand in thy hand Therefore oh Lord I appeale to thy mercie and pray thy grace that I may in mind be made strong with thy holie Armour which I desire may bee thy righteousnesse for my Brest-plate firme faith for my Target hope of mercie for my Helmette and true knowledge of thy woord for my Banner so that I may stand here strong and perfect against thine enemies and in a newe life participate thy ioyes I will blow thy wonderous name through thy people and will praise thee amongst all the faithfull My praises shall haue being vnto the farthest part of thy congregation and my vowes will I performe in the sight of all them that feare thee I will endeauour that the endes of the World shall remember themselues and will do my best to turne them vnto thee Giue me therefore ioyfulnesse of heart rest of conscience continuall comfort in thy word and truth and that I may with a thankefull mind aduance thy name for euer y YEa in the feare of God who so liueth shall gather his Fruites in a pleasant Garden of blessinges it giueth thee true Honour Glory Triumph and ioyfull Crowne YEa in the multitude of all my sorrowes that euer I haue had in my heart Thy comforts oh Lord haue euer refreshed me Such is thy louing kindnesse and aboue all thy mercie that if I should straie farther in my vnthankefulnesse mine owne thoughtes would accuse me Therefore I doe come vnto thee to bee taught thy Testimonies that I may make thy Lawes my delight Truelie hoping of thy grace for my assistance I do meane to make thy cōmandements an Alley of my pleasure to walke in and the Trueth of thy woords will I weare on as an Armour against mine enemies Guide my fleshlie eies oh Lord least they behold vanities and my heart in thy righteousnesse Plucke my féete into the pathes of thy Precepts when they would wander print the remembrance of thy goodnesse alwaies in the table of my heart and let my power faile to offend thée Heape my hands with sure hope of my saluation satisfie my faith in the forgiuenesse of my sinns that my fraile flesh wauer not in thy mercie Temper my tongue oh Lord that it alwaies teach thy Testimonies locke vppe my lips that out of my mouth doe not procéede neither blasphemie of thy name Hazard to my soule nor hinderance to any creature Bowe downe thine eares oh Lord and strengthen me in these requestes For behold I bowe the knées of a contrite heart and with assured mind do hope them for the truth-sake which I will euerlastinglie praise To thée bee glory for euer and euer Amen E EXercise mercie and set thy bread and Drinke vppon the table of the poore and hungry couer the Naked with thy clothes and these shall deliuer thee from Sin and Death and not suffer thy Soule to come in darkenesse EZechiell the Prophet saith When the wicked turneth from his vngodlines hee hath done he shall saue his Soule With thy Seruant Esay therefore I say oh Lord thou art a great and feareful God Thou kéepest couenant and mercie with them which loue thée and kéepe thy commaundements And with thy Apostle Barnabie I acknowledge I haue sinned I haue offended I haue beene disobedient and gone backe yea I haue departed from all thy pathes and Iudgements Lord to thée belongeth righteousnesse and Mercie to me shame and destruction for my Iniquitie Yet Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for no flesh is righteous in thy sight neither correct mee in thy wrath for then I shall not abide it Haue mercie vpon me oh Father from the depth of thy mercie take pittie vppon mee forgiue Lord heare my Praier and blot out mine offence Let thy louing face shine ouer the worke of thy handes that lieth waste Lord for thy owne sake doe it Encline
kindnesse be such I heare present thée with a heauie heart a broken bodye a martyred mind and a sighing Soule These all appeale to thée O Lord for thy mercie and cry out with the Prodigall Son saying I haue sinned against Heauen and before thée wash me therefore with thy rich mercy not that any good in mee doth deserue it but because thou art God of all mercie and it declareth thy mightinesse to forgiue Thou diddest shew compassion vpon the woman of Canaan for her great Faith and from the beginning thou hast not reiected the effectuall praiers of a single heart Lord I giue glory to thy name with the highest thy mercy stretcheth aboue the Firmaments the sure hope and trust I haue in thy vnspeakeable truth and compassion is equall with the strong Faith of the Cananite woman I confesse my sinnes are manifold But Lord I know thy mercie and sauing health are infinite Lord sith thou art of power to forgiue aboue that I can offend for thy names sake release my sorrow cut the sacke of my sins and make mee strong in thée So shall I liue and all my thoughts acknowledge thy praise Amen H HAppy is the man that hath not fallen with the Woorde of his mouth and is not pricked with the conscience of sin that hath no heauinesse in his mind and is not falne from his Hope HOw mighty thou art oh God of Hoastes in thy precelling powre by Creating this world of nothing we are taught to know Thou doest gouern the same and puttest downe with thy hand the prowde and traiterous Tyrants thereof Thou destroyest their deuises kéepest the raging Sea within her bounds These and such like declare thy power ouer all The plentie of thy bountifull hand giueth not onely increase of things but also the encrease of euery kinde of thing shewe forth thy louing kindnesse Thou doest multiply yearly and daily these kindes how many séeds good Lord doest thou encrease of one séed Lord what manifolde springs commeth thereof These cannot but kéepe vs mindfull of thy excéeding Riches and Mercy Lord if to thy enemies as to the greatest number of the worlde which loue thée not thy condition be to deale thus bountifully what shall I déeme resteth with thée for thy frindes Truly such blisfull ioyes and rest as maketh me only desire of thée to bée dissolued from this earthlye and vncleane bodye when thy pleasur is I am the freshe Image of thy selfe and the worke of thine owne hands take mée therefore vnto thée burnish me a new frée my soule from the poysoned prison of sinne that it may giue equal thanks vnto so swéete a Lorde and guide Whilest I abide in this wretched body of Sinne I cannot sée thée oh Lord yea it is a heauy habitation and depresseth down sore my Spirit from the familiarity which it els should haue with thée my louing Father Lord this world and life is a Dungeon of Darknesse a Mountain of miserable Martirdomes a lewde Laborinth of lothsome Lustes a cankred course of chokinge Calamities being voyde of all vertues to gaine eternall Life Make mée therfore strong to walke vpright in this wretched wildernesse and arme mée with the guift of thy grace against the power of Sathan my Ghostly enemy Here is nothing where I am Lord but daily assaults of Temptations troubles torments carefull calamities contention for thy word horrible hatred and worldly ambition against which Lord perfect me in knowledge and strong fayth and with thy righte hand beat downe mine enemies that thou mayst be knowen to bée my God and Shield ¶ The Versicle FOR thy deare Sonnes sake O Lord heare and receaue my Prayers ¶ The Answere AND in thy truth and mercie pardon mine offences and graunt mee thy grace ¶ The Collect. O Lord Iesus Christ Sonne of the pure Virgin Marie thou art not onely the swéet spouse of my soules health but with God the Father a most meeke Mediator full of mercie and truth wash awaye my sins with the most precious blood of thy holie passion make mee rich in thy mercie and my faith so strong in thée that assisted with thy grace and holie Spirit to all dutie and workes in this life towards thée I may enioye afterwards the glorie of thy blessed kingdome with thy holy Saints in euerlasting honour and tryumph Amen L LOuing Father plant thy grace so surely in me oh Lord that from this day I neuer become enemie with thée againe but that I may onelie rest in thée Guide me with the cleare light of thy woord through the darke deserts of this wretched world Heere no miserie nor trouble lacketh Héere euerie place is full of snares of mortall enemies yea héere one trouble and temptation being ouerpassed an other ensueth and after the first enduring a new battaile suddainlie assaileth whereby I neuer haue peace and want wherewith to warre O Lord kéepe me helpe me saue mee regard me oh Lord Lord assist me with the power of thy holie Spirit and as thou hast commaunded I come vnto thée praying for the guift of all these my requests and speciallie Lord I require the Sword of my sauiour Christ true and firme Faith that established in thy Truth holding that for my defence I may be safelie armed against all mine enemies and strong to cut down the thornes which shall spring in my waye of passage vnto thée in whom sweet Sauiour aboue all honour glorie triumph swaye rule power and dignitie make me settle all my ioyes yea aboue all health riches beautie fame and felicitie to desire thée loue thée and magnifie thée which giuest all and therfore of all to bee beloued and sought art most worthy Amen A ARise O Lord I beséech thée and ease the paines I suffer and the troubles of my soule let the fountaines of thy grace ouerflow my barren bodie and the floudes of thy mercie strengthen my féeble Spirit let thy louing kindnesse couer mine infirmities and thy suffered drops of deaw vpon the Crosse drown mine iniquitie Thy woord is Truth and thou hast said thy delight is not in the death of a Sinner but wouldest he should conuert and liue Teach me therfore to number my daies in the loue of thy Lawes that I may alwaies thirst after thy kingdome and neuer forget thée but in this that I haue here begun may perseuer and increase setting at naught all worldlie pompe respect of persons and mans helpe and onelie cleaue to thy Omnipotent power mercie strength and goodnes wherein Lord make mee so rich that I neuer may haue power to swerue from thée nor want thy grace to resist all temptations neither yet thy strength to tread downe mine enemies and so my heart shall ioyfullie liue and giue thanks to thée my God of all truth mercie and victorie Amen D DEare God thou mercifull father of my redéemer Christ which hast promised to heare the petitions of them that aske in thy sons name giue downe thy feare into my hart conioyne thy
take vpon thē a shewe of thy name remooue from vs that Spirit of Pride and vayn glory and the study of prayse and glory Graunt that in all our troubles and euilles we may call vppon thy holy name yea in the feare of our conscience and euen when death assayleth let vs not be forgetfull of thy holy name Sée that in all our successe both in woordes and déedes we may praise worship thee onely and not séeke out of these ours but the glory of thy name which alone possessest all things take frō vs O Lord that most foule vice of ingratitude Plant in vs such good workes and life that others may be allured to vs not to our but vnto thy praise and glorie Lord let not other be offended through the vices or euill workes which yet remayne in vs least thy name for our sinnes should be ill spoken of or not henceforth praised Suffer vs not to aske any thing of thee either momentary or eternall which agreeth not to the glorie of thy holy name and praise if wee do aske any such thing of thée in that heare vs not graunt vs so to liue as becommeth Gods Children that we seme not vnworthy of thy holie name Thy Kindgome come IN this miserable and wretched life all kindes of sensual apetite wickednesse beare rule in vs and the euill spirit head and fountaine fo all siin hath gouernment But in thy kingdome O Lord grace and vertue guide the sway Iesus Christ thy deare sonne true patrone of all grace and vertue holdeth empire Thou therefore deare Father fauor vs with thy grace Giue vnto vs a true and constant faith in Christ fortifie vs with a firme sure hope in thy mercy where with our weake and feble conscience may be raysed vp from the feling of sins loade vs with an earnest loue both towardes thée all other thy good Creatures Take from vs distrust desperation and hatred remoue from vs the delightes of the flesh and plant in their stéede an earnest study of chastity with perfect fayth in thée which may worthely winne the rewarde of vndefiled battaile Make vs frée O Lord from discordes ambition warre and discention and let thy kingdome come let vs leade a peaceable mutuall and quiet life Graunt that neither zeale anger or other vyces with the which dissembling hatred are nourished rayne in vs but a milde simplycitie brotherly loue all kind of duties contentment and humilitie suffer vs not to bée afflicted with immoderate sorrow and heauinesse but let vs feele the pleasantnesse of thy grace and mercy and that in fine al our sinnes may be taken away and wée abounding through grace and vertue in our good workes may bee thy kingdome I say our mind our soule with all our strength which thou hast powred on vs may obay thy commaundements and beare thy gouerment neither follow themseules the world the fleshe nor the Deuill Sée Lord that this thy kingdom happely begunne in vs may so grow be increased that wée bée not vnaduisedly oppressed of sin neither causeles do cease from good woorkes for so it may come to passe that we shall labour in vaine Giue therefore vnto vs a firme faith wanting no strength which not onely may instruct vs to a better kind of life but also in that same may happely go forward and euer amongst vs encrease as the Prophet saith Psalm 13. Illuminate mine eies that I slepe not lest whilest the Christian life is but begunne wée negligently goe forward and finally come againe into Sathans power Graunt that wee may constantly endure and thy kingdome to come may performe and consummate the rule begunne in vs. Take vs from this life which is full of sinne and daungers make vs to desire that other life and let vs beginne and continew to hate this graunt that we doe not feare death but rather wish and desire it let vs cast out of our minde the loue of this life thot thou onely maist raigne in vs. Thy Will be done IF wee should conferre our wil with thine it is alwaies naught but thy will is euer best which deserueth that we should loue and desire that Therefore haue mercy vpon vs deare Father and let not any thing be done after our will Grant if any thing happen contrarie to that wee would we may patiently bear it temper so our brickle mettall being the worke of thy hands that if any either speak or hold his peace doe or omitt any thing contrary to our will that thereby wee bee not provoked to anger and impatience Let vs not blaspheme complaine crie out iudge condemne or malitiously accuse others therfore but grant that wee may quietly giue place to those which worke contrary to our will prayse them giuing thankes as to those which stirre vp thy will which is good against ours which is ill And further assist vs that we may patiently beare all trouble need pouerty sicknesse slander imprisonment and all other discommodities and acknowledge all these to happen vnto vs by thy will that our will may be mortified let vs patientlie beare iniuries and take from vs the desire of reuengement suffer vs not to encounter one euill with another nor resist force with strong armes but graunt thy will which hath throwne vs into those euils may satisfie vs and that with thanks-giuing we may beare aduersities If any ill come contrary to that wee would graunt we beseech thee that we iudge not that calamity to proceede either of Sathan our wicked enemy or of ill men but of thy diuine will which doth minister all thinges so that it may let our wil wherby thou mightest the better raigne and beare rule in vs. Graunt that wée may patiently and with ioyfull minde die least any being ouercome with impatience or desperation we séeme lesse obedient to thy will Grant that all members of our body eies tongue heart hands and feete follow not their owne delights but ouercome and constrained may doe all things after thy will Take from vs O Lord a hardened and an vntractable heart frée vs from frowardnesse obstinate and stubborne minds grant that we may obey thy will that we commit our selfe wholy to thy iudgement in all thinges whether they pertaine to the body or the soule whether they bee momentarie or eternall take from vs these horrible vices that we impeach not the fame of any slaunder any rashlie iudge accuse or condemn thē that vice of the tongue I beséech thee amend in vs and teach that if others commit anie euill we may retaine and hide it to thée only let vs shew it and leaue it to thy iudgement that wee may remitte what is committed against vs and let vs take pittie vpon them teach vs to know that none can hurt vs but hée shall more disprofite himselfe before thee that we may bée the rather stirred to mercy then to anger in any thing let vs not reioice if they bee throwne into calamitie which
Spirite to remaine with mée that I may become with that good king thy chosen seale and seruant And so gouern me alwaies that I may neuer deserue further then to taste of thy rod of fauourable correction but that all my labours and studies may euer bend to the performance of thy holy will and discharge of my duetie Amen A ARise and illuminate my mind most benigne Sauiour that I sléepe not at any time in death least mine enemies say they haue preuailed against me They which trouble me will be glad if I be cast downe but I haue fixed my hope in thy mercy Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for no liuing creature shall bee iustified in thy sight I will euer looke vpon the Lord for he shall bée on my right hand that I bée not moued for this my heart is glad and my tongue reioyceth yea moreouer my flesh shall rest in hope Amen B BE thou vnto me O lord in the day time a defender and in the night season a place of refuge that thou mayest saue me for thou art my strength and vnto thée I flie Lord God deliuer me frō the hand of sinners and from the Law-breaker the wicked doer for thou Lord art my patience thou art my hope euen from my youth in thee I am confirmed euen from my mothers wombe thou art my protector in thee shall be my song for euer and euer Amen E EVer my tongue shall bée telling of thy rich mercie and wondrous workes O Lord for thou hast caused me to passe through fire and water and hast lead mee into a fresh place thou hast giuen my Soule life and hast not suffered my féet to fall According to the multitude of my sorrowes thy comfortes haue made my soule merry My soule is like a Sparrow taken out of the fowlers snare Thou hast hitherto preserued mee that I may please thée O Lord in the light of the liuing Amen T THou art iust O Lord all thy commandements bée true and all thy wayes mercy truth and iudgement And now Lord bée mindful of mee take not reuengemēt of my sinnes remember not mine offences neither the offences of my Fathers becaus we haue not obeied thy precepts Giue mee an heart of vnderstanding set thy feare alwaies before mine eies that I may bee obedient in word deede and thought to all that is thy will Lord giue vnto me the power of thy holy Spirit to rule and gouerne my selfe in all good feare and knowledge of of thy word and that I may bee vnto all an example in all godlinesse and vertue to the prayse of thy holy name Amen H HEale me Lord and I shall be healed saue me and I shall bee saued My life cleaueth vnto the earth Quicken me according to thy word and according to thy mercie reléeue me and I will kéepe the testimonies of thy lippes Helpe me Lord so shall I be safe and I will from henceforth studie thy righteousnesse thy mercies are manie O Lord according to thy word restore my health Amen IOHN I. SI confiteamur Peccata nostra Deus fidelis est iustus vt remittat nobis Peccata nostra emundet nos ab omni iniquitate Si dixerimus quoniam non peccauimus Mendacem facimus eū Verbum eius non est in nobis IOSVE Fili mi da Gloriam Deo Israel confitere atque indica mihi quid feceris ne abscondas AVGVSTINVS COnfessio est salus animarum dissipatrix vitiorū restaurattix Virtutum expugnatrix Daemonum Quid plura Obstruitos Inferni Paradisi portas a perit Cassidorus super Psalm 77. OBeata Confessio quae aeternum tollit opprobrium Nam quicquid Rearū inuenerit Poenitentia perpetuis Seculis reddit absolutum An inward speech wherwith Christ doth comfort the Soule of the sinner desiring to liue better Gathered out of the works of sundry holy Writers I Loue them saith Christ that séeke mee and my delight is among the Children of men Sic dilexi mundum vt in mortem darem animam meam vt non pereat sed habeat vitam aeternam quicunque in me crediderit I haue so loued the world that I gaue my selfe vnto death that who so euer beléeued in me should not perish but haue euerlasting life O thou Soule O Daughter I haue labored hungred thirsted I haue béene despised and suffered persecution for thy sake I am wounded for thine iniquitie I am wearied through thy wickednesse I am dead for thine offences and risen againe for thy iustification the loue which I beare to thee hath forced mée to doe suffer al these things and to make choice of thée for my Child Wherefore amend thou and returne to me wash thée in the bloud of my woūds and decke thée with vertues and merites of my life All these things I willinglie giue nay rather as a most louing Father offering these things I runne to embrace thee and receiue thée with imbracing and kissing assuring thée to loue mee againe returne daughter and be clean Praebe cor tuum mihi quia praeter hoc aliud abs te non desidero Be sorrie that thou hast sinned because thou hast offended me or at the least sorrow because thou canst not perceiue thy selfe pensiue for oft it commeth to passe that it better pleaseth me and is more profitable to mā to haue a will to be contrite and denout then to perceiue contrition or deuotion Because this contrarie desire of willing and vnwilling engendreth affliction of mind Therefore bee sorie and angrie with thy self yea iudge thy selfe worthie to be damned because thou hast sinned and art not sorrie as thou oughtest This contrition although it be not sensible yet it is such although thou suffer persecution as will bring thée to helth eternall for I know your miserie your weakenesse and necessitie so that in no wise a willing mind ought to dispaire whatsoeuer oldnesse or coldnesse of conscience he feel But thou wilt say I haue committed innumerable offences how shall I particularlie sorrow euerie one of them O my daughter needest thou comfort let onelie truth comfort thée if thou hast many sinnes haue also one generall Contrition in the which thou wilt include all euery offence so that there be no sinne which although it came vnto thy minde thou wouldest exempt from thy penitencie which thou wouldest not eschew and forsake For this generall contrition extendeth it selfe to all and euerie offence yea vnto those which thou hast forgotten and canst not remember neither doe I require that you should necessarilie haue for euerie offence seuerall contritions according to the number and manner of your sinnes for thus I haue spoken of Marie Magdalene I haue forgiuen her many offences for that shee loued much I said not because she loued oftentimes neither could this Magdalene in so sodaine a compunction be otherwise sorrie then for all together Thou likewise to bee sorrie for all that there bee no sinne
sinnes Answere Neyther reward vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God mercifull Father that despisest not the sighing of a contrit hart nor the desire of such as be sorrowful mercifully assist our prayers that wee make before thée in all our troubles and aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and gratiously heare vs that those euills which the craft and subtlety of the Deuill or man worketh against vs be brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnes they may bee dispersed that we thy seruantes being hurt by no persecutions may euermore giue thankes vnto thée in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliver vs for thy Names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our Fathers haue declarud vnto vs the noble workes that thou diddest in their dayes and in the olde time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliver vs for thine honour Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne c. From our enemies defend vs O Christ Gratiously looke vpon our afflictions Pittifully behold the sorrows of our hearts Mercifully forgiue the sins of thy people Fauourably with mercy hear our Prayers O Sonne of David haue mercy vpon vs. Both now euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Gratiously heare vs O Christ gratiously heare vs O Lord Christ The Versicle O Lord let thy mercy bee shewed vpon vs. Answere As we doe put our trust in thée Let vs Pray VVE humbly beséeth thee O father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glory of thy names sake turne from vs al those euils that we most righteously haue deserued graunt that in all our troubles wee may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy and euermore serue thee in holinesse and purenes of liuing to thy honour and glory through our onely mediatour and aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ¶ A Prayer for the Kinges Maiestie O Lord our heauenly Father high and mightie King of Kings Lord of Lords the onely Ruler of Princes which doest from thy throne behold all the dwellers vpon earth most heartily wee beseech thee with thy fauour to behoid our most gratious Soueraigne Lord King Iames and so replenish him with the grace of thy holy Spirite that hee may olway encline to thy will and walke in thy way indue him plentifully with heauenly gifts grant him in health wealth long to liue strengthen him that hee may vanquish and ouercome all his enemies and finally after this life he may attaine euerlasting ioy felicity through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer for the Queene and Prince and other the King and Queenes Children ALmighty God which hast promised to be a father of all thine Elect and of their séede we humbly beséech thée to blesse our gratious Quéene Anne Prince Henrie and all the King and Quéenes Royall Progenie endue them with thy holy Spirite enrich them with thy heauenly Grace prosper them with all happines and bring them to thine euerlasting kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ALmighty euerlasting God which onely workest great maruailes send downe vpon our Bishoppes and Curates and all Congregations cōmitted to their charge the healthfull Spirite of thy Grace and that they may truely please thée powre vpon them the continual dew of thy blessing graunt this O Lord for the honour of our Aduocate and Mediator Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer of Chrysostome ALmighty God which hast giuen vs Grace at this time with one accorde to make our common Supplications vnto thée and doest promise that when two or thrée bée gathered together in thy Name thou wilt graunt their requests fulfill now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them graunting vs in this worlde knowledge of thy truth and in the worlde to come life euerlasting Amen THe Grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ and the Loue of GOD and the Fellowshippe of the Holy Ghost be with vs al euermore Amen For Raine if the time require O God Heauenly Father which by thy Son Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that séeke thy Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof all thinges necessarie to their bodily sustenance sēd vs we beseech thée in this our necessity such moderate raine and showres that wee may receiue the fruites of the earth to our comfort and to thy honour through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen For faire weather O Lord god which for the sin of man didst once drown all the world except eight persons and afterward of thy great mercy diddest promise neuer to destroy it so againe we humbly beseech thee that although wee for our iniquities haue worthily deserued this plague of raine and waters yet vpon our true repentance thou wilt send vs such seasonable wether wherby wee may receiue the fruits of the earth in due season and learn both by thy punishment to amend our liues and for thy clemencie to giue thee prayse and glory through Iesus Christ our Lord Amē In the time of Dearth and Famine O God heauenly Father whose gift it is that the raine doth fall the earth is fruitfull beasts increase and fishes doe multiplie behold wee beseech thée the afflictions of thy people and grant that this scarsitie and dearth which wée doe now most iustly suffer for our iniquitie may through thy goodnesse bee mereifully turned into cheapenesse and plenty for the loue of Iesus Christ our Lord to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour c. Amen In the time of warre O Almighty God King of all Kinges and Gouernour of all things whose power no Creature is able to resist to whom it belongeth iustly to punish Sinners and to bee mercifull to them that truely repent saue and deliuer vs wée humbly beséech thée from the hands of our enemies abate theyr pride asswage their malice and confound their deuises that wée being armed with thy defence may bee preserued euermore from all perils to glorifie thee which art the onelie giuer of all victorie through the merites of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen In the time of any common plague or sickenesse O Almighty God which in thy wrath in the time of King David diddest slay with the plague of pestilence threescore and tenne thousand and yet remembring thy mercy diddest saue the rest haue pitty vppon vs miserable Sinners that now are visited with greate sickenesse and mortality that like as thou diddest then cōmaund thine Angell to cease from punishing so it may now please thee to withdraw from vs this plague and grieuous sicknesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen O God whose nature property is euer to haue mercy and to forgiue receiue our humble Petitions and though we be tyed and bound with the chaine of our sinnes yet let the pittifulnesse of thy great mercy loose vs through Iesus Christs sake our Mediatour and Aduocate Amen A Thankesgiuing for Raine O God our heauenly Father who
by thy gratious prouidence dost cause the former and the later raine to descend vpon the earth that it may bring forth fruite for the vse of man We giue thee humble thankes that it hath pleased thée in our greatest necessitie to send vs at the last a ioyfull raine vpon thine inheritance and to refresh it when it was drie to the great comfort of vs thy vnworthy seruantes and to the glory of thy holy Name through thy mercies in Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Thankesgiuing for faire weather O Lord God who hast iustly humbled vs by the late Plague of immoderate raine and waters and in thy mercy hast deliuered and comforted our Soules by this seasonable blessed chaunge of weather we prayse and glorifie thy holy name for this thy mercy will alwayes declare thy louing kindnesse from generation to generation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amē A Thankesgiving for Plentie O Mercifull Father which of thy gratious goodnesse hast heard the deuote prayers of thy church and turned our dearth scarsity into cheapenesse and plenty Wée giue thée humble thankes for this thy especiall bounty beseeching thée to continue this thy louing kindnes vnto vs that our land may yéelde vs her fruits of increase to thy glory and our comfort through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Thankesgiving for peace and victorie O Almighty God which art a strong Tower of defence vnto thy Seruants against the face of their enemies We yéeld thée prayse and thankesgiuing for our deliuerance from those great and apparāt dangers wherewith we were compassed we acknowledge it thy goodnes that we were not deliuered ouer as a prey vnto them beséeching thée stil to continue such thy mercies towards vs that al the world may know that thou art our Sauiour mighty deliuerer through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Thanksgiuing for deliverance from the Plague O Lord God which hast wounded vs for our sins consumed vs for our transgressions by thy late heauie and dreadfull Visitation and now in the middest of iudgement remembring mercie hast redeemed our soules frō the iawes of death wee offer vnto thy Fatherly goodnesse our selues our soules bodies which thou hast deliuered to be a liuing sacrifice vnto thée alwayes praysing and magnifying thy mercies in the middest of the Congregation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Or thus WE humbly acknowledge before thée O most mercifull Father that all the punishmentes which are threatened in thy Law might iustly haue fallen vpon vs by reason of our manifold transgressions and hardnes of heart yet séeing it hath pleased thée of thy tender mercy vpoo our weake and vnworthy Grace after meaet GOds Name bee blessed for his benefits now and euer bestowed on vs. God send the King long life the Realme good peace the Gospell continuance increase our faith and comfort all those that be comfortlesse and giue vnto vs our friends health and prosperity peace truth in Christ Iesus our Lord Amen Grace before meat BLessed Lord that fillest with thy blessing euerie liuing thing sanctifie thy gifts which we shall receiue to the nourishment of our mortall Bodies Remoue away thy iudgementes farre from vs prepare our heartes to serue thee in all righteousnesse and holinesse Prosper vs in our lawfull affaires and grant vs life euerlasting Amen Grace after meat BLessed bee the name of God for his blessings now and euer bestowed on vs. God preserue the Church vniuersall our gratious King Iames the Quéenes Maiesty and the young Prince of Wales with all the royall issue God send vs health and holinesse in Iesus Christ our Lord Amen FINIS Sententiae Diuinae é Sacris Scripturis Patribusque collectae Deus DEus est Spiritus qui adorant eū oportet vt spiritu ac veritate eū adorant Alanus de conquestione Naturae Deus est splendor nunquam deficiens vita indefessa non moriens fons semper scà turiens seminale vitae feminarium sapientiae principale principium initiale bonitatis initium August super illud Pater Nost Deus est in seipso sicut Alpha Omega in mundo sicut Rector Auctor in Angelis sicut Sapor Decor in Ecclesia sicut paterfamilias in Domo in Anima sicut sponsus in Thalamo in Iustis sicut adiutor protector in reprobis sicut pauor horror August super Io. Ser. 29. Deus tibi totum est si esuris panis tibi est si sitis aqua tibi est si in tenebris es lumē tibi est si nudus es in mortalitate tibi vestis est Christus Io. 8. EGo sum lux mundi qui sequitur me non ambulabit in tenebris sed habebit lumen vitae Ambro. in quodam ser Omnia habemus in Christo omnia in nobis Christus Si à vulnere curari desideras medicus est si febribus aestuas fons est si graueris iniquitate Iustitia est si indiges anxilio virtus est si tenebras fugis lux est si Coelū desideras vita est Si cibum quaeris alimentum est August super Mat. 155. Ego sum via veritas vita tanquam diceret qua vis ire ego sum via quo vis ire ego sum veritas vbi vis permanere ego vita August super Ioan. Ambulare vis ego sum via falli non vis ego sum veritas mori non vis ego sum vita Homo Iob. 14. HOmo natus de Muliere brevi vivens tempore repletur multis miserijs qui quasi flos egreditur conteritur fugit velut vmbra nunquam in codem statu permanet Bernardus Video hominem prius quatuor virtutibus amictū quid huic decrat quem misericordia custodiebat veritas docebat iustitia regebat pax fouebat Aristoteles interogatus quidnam esset homo respondit imbecillitatis exemplum tēporis spolium Fortunae Lusus inconstantiae Imago reliquum verô pituita bilis Bernar. de consid vtili humanae Septem sunt de essentia hominis quae si homo consideraret jn aeternum non peccaret Scilicet materia vilis operatio turpis exitus flebilis status instabilis mors tristabilis dissolutio miserabilis damnatio detestabilis consideratio gloriae ineffabilis Peccatum Io. 1. Cap. 1. SI dixerimus peccatum non habemus ipsi nos seducimus veritas in nobis nō est Hieron lib. 1. super Amos. Primū peccatum est cogitasse quae mala sunt Secundum cogitationibus acquieuisse peruersis Tertium quod mente decreueris opere compleuisse Quartum post peccatum non facere poenitentiam in suo complacere sibi delicto Cass super Psa pro eo vt me diligerent detrahebant Tribus modis omne peccatum contrahitur Primus gradus delictorum est non reddere bona pro nobis Secundus reddere mala pro malis Tertius est tribuere mala pro bonis contra haec sunt tria laudabilia Primum