didest the Israelites of that horrible destruction which came vpon them whom thou first in mercie diddest cal to repentance by the preaching of thy worde but when no warning would serue thou diddest send them monstrous and fearefull signes and tokens to declare that thy visitatiō was not farre off But they like vnto vs at this day did always interpret these things after the imagination of their owne vaine hearts promising to themselues peace when destruction was ouer their heads Which things when we do call to minde for as much as they are written for our learning example and warning it maketh vs to tremble and quake for feare of thy iust iudgements For if thou hast thus dealt with thine owne deare and chosen children in token of thy great wrath against sinne what shall wee looke for who do no lesse deserue thy fearfull scourge for of mercie it is that thou doest thus long forbeare vs and liue as though there were no God at all to be reuenged vpon our sinnes It maketh vs to feare crye inwardly in our soules Come Lorde Iesu holy true in all thy doings shorten our daies bring this our pilgrimage to an end suffer vs not to heap sinne vpon sinne vntill the day of vengeance least we be caught vp amongst the number of the wicked and reprobate which shall neuer see thy louing countenance It maketh vs to crie to thee O Lorde Let thy kingdome come and end this our sinefull life wherein we doe nothing but prouoke thee to wrath Correct vs not O Lord in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauy displeasure And though to vs belongeth nothing but shame confusion though our offences haue deserued to be visited with the rod and our sinnes with scourges yet in mercie Lorde with fatherly correctiō chasten vs and thy louing kindnesse take not away from vs. To thee we flee for succour vnder the winges of thy mercy shal be our refuge vntill thou turne thy wrathfull countenaunce from vs We know that thy mercie is aboue all thy works and euen as great as thy selfe therfore wit we say with holy Iob Though thou kill vs yet will wee put our trust in thee Thou camest to comfort pluck out of the dungeon of hell suche wretches as wee are Thou art the good Samaritan that camest to heale our deadly woundes thou art that good Physitian that camest to cure our mortall infirmities thou art the good sheepheard that camest to seeke vs wandering and lost sheepe and to bring vs to thy folde againe more then that thou art our brother flesh of our flesh and bone of our bones which hast tasted of our infirmities felt our temptations and borne the burden of our sinnes therefore at thy handes we looke for mercie against the day of vengeance And though thou punish vs yet our hope is and euer shall be that thy rodde shall no further touch vs then shal make to thy glorie our commoditie and the strengthening and increase of our faith Let this thy Preaching sundrie ways O Lord be sufficient for our warning and graunt that we may speedily from the bottome of our heartes repent endeuour to doe thy righteous and blessed will reuealed in thy worde and frame our liues according to the same that we may here liue in thy feare all the dayes of our life and after this our sinnefull course is ended may dwel with thee in thy blessed kingdome through the death merites of Iesus Christ our onely redeemer So be it Another praier for the auoiding of Gods deserued wrath hanging ouer vs for our sinnes WHen we looke backe and behold our sinful life past what a dongeon of errours vice wickednes openeth it selfe vnto vs so that there is no man but he must needes be ashamed of him selfe when he calleth to mind what he hath ben trembleth when he considereth the wickednes and sinneful course of his life to come for who shall vndertak◠that the rest of our life shall bee any better then that is past How can we thē sufficiently magnifie praise thy great mercy which hast deferred thy punishmēt so long Beholding therfore this our daungerous miserable state we come vnto thee O thou great and mightie Iudge in trembling and feare humbly beseeching thee not to heape vpon vs thy deserued vengeance but let thy tender kindnes loue thou bearest to Iesus Christ thy sonne our gratious Lord and redeemer couer our iniquites for whose sake though we deserue all extremitie thou doest pardon vs. If thou Lorde shall straitly marke our iniquities O Lord who shal be able to abide it Psal. 103. A prayer to be saide of all such as suffer any kinde of crosse ALmightie God king of al kings gouernour of al things whose power no creature is able to resist to whome it belongeth iustly to punish sinners to be mercifull vnto them that truely repent wee confesse thou doest most iustly punishe vs for wee haue greeuously sinned against thee and wee acknowledge that in punishing vs thou doest declare thy selfe to be our most mercifull father as well because thou doest not punishe vs in any thing as we haue deserued as also because by punishing vs thou doest call vs and as it were draw vs to increase in repentance in faith in prayer in contemning of the world and in heartie desiring for euerlasting life and thy blessed presence Grant vs therfore gratious Lord thankefully to acknowledge thy great mercie which hast thus fauourably dealte with vs in punishing vs not to our confusion but to our amendement And seeing thou hast sworne that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but that he turne and liue haue mercie vppon vs and turne vs vnto thee for thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christes sake whome thou wouldest shoulde bee made a slaine sacrifice for our sinnes thereby declaring thy great and vnspeakeable anger against sinne and thine infinite mercie towards vs sinfull wretches And for as much as the dulnesse blindnes corruption of our hearts is such that we are not able to arise vp vnto thee by faithfull and heartie prayer according to our great necessitie without thy singular grace and assistance graunt vnto vs gratious Lorde thy holy and sanctifying spirite to worke in vs this good work with grace to weigh and consider the neede and greatnesse of that wee doe desire and with an assured faith and trust that thou wilt grant vs our requestes because thou art good and gratious euen to younge Rauens calling vppon thee much more then to vs for whome thou hast made all things yea and hast not spared also thine owne deare sonne because thou hast commaunded vs to call vppon thee because thy throne whereto wee come is a throne of grace and mercie because thou hast giuen vs a mediator Christe to bring vs vnto thee being the way by whome wee come being the dore by whome wee enter
seruants Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure and turned thy selfe from thy wrathfull indignation For if thou Lord hadst not helped vs it had not failed but our soules had beene put to silence But when we said our feete haue slipped thy mercie O Lord helped vs vp In the multitude of the sorrowes that we had in our heartes thy comfortes haue refreshed our soules Our soules wayted still vpon the Lorde our soules hanged vpon his helpe our hope was alwaies in him In the Lordes word will we reioyce in Gods word did we comfort our selues For the Lorde saide Call vpon me in the time of trouble and I will heare thee and thou shalt praise me So when we were poore needie sickly in heauines the Lord cared for vs he was our helper and our deliuerer according to his word In our aduersitie and distresse he hath lift vp our heades and saued vs from vtter destruction He hath deliuered our soules from death he hath fed vs in the time of dearth he hath saued vs from the noysome pestilence Therefore will we offer in his holy temple the oblation of thankesgiuing with great gladnes we wil sing and speake prayses vnto the Lorde our Sauiour We will giue thankes vnto the Lord for he is gratious his mercie endureth for euer The Lord is ful of compassion and-mercie long suffering plenteous in goodnes and pitie His mercie is greater then the heauens and his gratious goodnesse reacheth vnto the cloudes Like as a father pitieth his owne children euen so is the Lord mercifull vnto them that feare him Therefore will we praise thee and thy mercies O God vnto thee will we sing O thou holy one of Israel Wee will sing a newe song vnto thee O God we wil praise the Lord with Psalmes of thankesgiuing O sing prayses sing prayses vnto our God O sing prayses sing praises vnto our king For God is the king of the earth sing prayses with vnderstanding We wil magnifie thee O God our king we will praise thy name for euer and euer Euery day will we giue thankes vnto thee and praise thy name for euer and euer Our mouth shal speake the praises of the lord let all flesh giue thanks to his holy name for euer and euer Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel for euer and blessed be the name of his maiestie world without end ▪ Amen Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. Praiers to be saide before meales and after AL things depend vpon thy prouidence O Lord to receiue at thy hands due sustenāce in time cōuenient Thou giuest to them and they gather it thou openest thy hand and they are satisfied with all good thinges O heauenly father which art the fountaine and full treasure of all goodnesse we beseeche thee to shewe thy mercie vpon vs thy children and sanctifie these giftes which we receiue of thy mercifull liberalitie graunting vs grace to vse them soberly and purely according to thy blessed will so that hereby we may acknowledge thee to be the authour and giuer of all good thinges and aboue all that we may remember continuallie to seeke the spirituall foode of thy worde wherewith our soules may be nourished euerlastingly through our sauiour Christ who is the true bread of life which came downe from heauen of whom whosoeuer eateth shall liue for euer and raigne with him in glorie worlde without end So be it An other prayer before meales WHether ye eat or drinke saith S. Paul or whatsoeuer ye doe else let al be done to the praise and glorie of God. Eternal and euerliuing God father of our Lord Iesus Christ who of thy most singular loue which thou barest to mankinde hast appointed to his sustenaunce not onelye the fruits of the earth but also the foules of the aire the beasts of the field and fishes of the sea and hast commaunded thy benefites to bee receiued as from thy handes with thankesgiuing assuring thy children by the mouth of thine Apostle that to the cleane all thinges are cleane as the creatures which be sanctified by thy worde and prayer grant vnto vs so moderately to vse these thy giftes present that our bodies being refreshed our soules may bee more able to proceede in all good workes to the praise of thy holy name through Iesus Christ our lord So be it Our father which art in heauen c. An other O Eternal God the verie God of peace and all consolation which broughtest againe from death our Lorde Iesus the great sheepheard of the sheepe through the bloud of the euerlasting couenant make vs fruitfull in all good works to doe thy wil and worke in vs that which is acceptable in thy sight Sanctifie vs throughout and keep our whole spirit soule and body faultles vnto the comming of thy deare Sonne our Lorde Iesu Christ. Thou art faithfull O Father who hast promised this who also shalt bring it to passe to thee therefore be giuen euerlasting praise honour and glorie Amen A thankesgiuing after meales LEt al nations magnifie the Lorde let all people reioyce in praysing and extolling his great mercies For his fatherly kindnesse is plentifully shewed foorth vpon vs and the trueth of his promise endureth foreuer We render thankes vnto thee O Lord God for the manifolde benefites which we continually receiue at thy bountifull hand not onely for that it hath pleased thee to feeede vs in this present life giuing vnto vs al thinges necessarie for the same but specially because thou hast of thy free mercie fashioned vs a newe into an assured hope of a farre better life the which thou hast declared vnto vs by thy holy Gospell Therfore we humblie beseech thee Oh heauenly father that thou wilt not suffer our affections to be so intangled and rooted in these earthly and corruptible thinges but that we may alwayes haue our mindes directed to thee on high continually watching for the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ what time he shal appeare for our full redemption To whome with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour and glorie for euer and euer So be it An other thankesgiuing after meales GLorie praise and honour be vnto thee most mercifull and omnipotent father who hast fedde and daily dost feede of thy most bontifull goodnes all liuing creatures we beseeche thee that as thou hast nourished these our mortall bodies with corporall foode so thou wouldest replenish our soules with the perfect knowledge of the liuely word of thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be praise glorie and honour for euer So be it ¶ An other MOste bountifull and gratious God which feedest all flesh and hast promised that asking of thee wee shal not lack if we first seek thy kingdome and the righteousnes thereof we feeling presently the benefite of this thy gratious promise in
astonied and flee from God if wee doubt whether God hath respect to our prayers gronings and teares wee must set before our eyes howe that we are commanded though we be neuer so vnworthie and our sinnes neuer so many and great to pray for reconciliation Gods fauour and forgiuenesse of our sinnes For else whereas God commandeth vs to abstaine from theft murder whoredome c. we may in like sorte excuse our selues and say that we are vnworthy to obey Gods commaundementes Great is our iniquitie and manifest is our contempt and despising of God when we neglect delay to call for his help Such as flee vnto God therfore call vpoÌ„ him in their necessities obey his will find therein no small consolation knowing that thereby they do vnto him most acceptable seruice for as much as hee pronouÌ„ceth y nothing is to him more acceptable theÌ„ obedience to his wil coÌ„mandemeÌ„t As wee are commanded of God boldly and without all respect of our owne vnworthines to come vnto him as a mercifull father and one that knoweth our necessitie pittieth out miserie so hath he promised verie gratiously to heare vs and graunt our requestes And hereof riseth yet a farre more comfortable and greater consolation wherin consisteth our whole confidence and trust of obteining succour and mercie at Goods hand Wherefore he allureth vs wâ—â—h manie sweete promises to call vpon him Aske saith he and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall find knocke and it shall be opened vnto you Ye shall crie vnto me and I vvill heare you ye shall seeke me ye shall finde me Call vpon me in the day of trouble and I vvill deliuer thee The Lord is nigh to all them that call vpon him that call vpon him in trueth he doeth the vvill of them that feare him and he vvill heare their prayers He shall call vppon me and I vvill heare him I vvill be vvith him in his trouble I vvill deliuer him and glorifie him At the voyce of thy crie hee vvill â—rtainelie haue mercie on thee vvhen he heareth thee he vvill ansvvere thee He that is Lorde ouer all is rich and bountifull tovvardes them that call vppon him He vvill fulfill the desire of them that feare him he vvill heare their crie vvill saue them And God to declare his readinesse in hearing of sinners saith Before they crie I vvill ansvvere and vvhiles they are yet thinking vvhat to speake I vvill heare Among many sweete promises of GOD though these might be sufficient to prouoke vs to feruent and heartie prayer yet there be certaine other notable and most comfortable promises which we shoulde specially haue in remembrance as these If ye vvhich are euill can giue good giftes to your children hovv much more shall your heauenly father giue the holy ghost to them that desire him Consider the olde generation â–ª and marke them vvell vvas there euer any confounded that put his truste in the Lord or vvho hath continued in his feare and vvas forsaken or vvhom did he euer dispise that called vpon him And of all other that is the most notable which by the Prophet Ioel is added immediatly after the prophesie of that horrible destruction that was at hande saying vvhosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lorde shal be saued HERE let vs consider the order of the promises which perteine either outwardly to the bodie or inwardlie to the soul. Which part the soule I meane because it is much more precious then the other we must first craue such thinges as properly belong to the saluation thereof But first of all confessing our sinnes vnto God with most humble and penitent heartes let vs set before vs the promises of remission of the same For this sentence is true God heareth no sinners that is such as delight and continue in sin Wherfore in all our prayers yea when we be about to aske any other thinges whatsoeuer they be let vs firste thinke of the remission of sinnes hauing alway in our sight some comfortable promises thereof as this If vve confesse and acknovvledge our sinnes he is faithfull and righteous to forgiue our offences and to cleanse vs from all iniquitie And herevnto let vs craue the light of the holy ghost to kindle confirme in vs the true knowledge of god Let vs pray for the continuance of Gods holie worde and Gospell amongest vs for the enlarging of his kingdome and the aduauncing of his glorie Let vs begge the gift of faith repentance feare patience prayer hope loue ioye peace of conscience with such other fruites of the spirite and for euerlasting life And here also we must remember that we doe not onely call our selues continually to account for our newe sinnes crauing at Gods hand mercie and forgiuenes of the same but also for those sinnes which might seeme to haue beene long ago forgotten as Dauid hauing confessed an heinous offence by that occasion returneth euen to his mothers wombe wherein he had gathered the infection heaping together the sins of his whole life Euen so in an other place when hee asketh an other thing he saith Remember not he sinnes of my youth remember mee according to thy mercie for thy goodnesse sake O Lord. Againe looke vpon mine affliction and trauell and forgiue all my sinnes When wee haue thus prayed for thinges pertaining to the soule and to the kingdome of God wee must pray also for corporall benefits as well common as priuate as peace tranquilitie of those countries which giue harborough to the true professours of the gospel godly congregations being in this life as Daniel in the midds of the lions Pray for the peace of Ierusalem saith Dauid Also for defence from misery deliuerance from trouble for happie successe in the workes of our vocation for health liuing protection of life goods name c. And although the Lord knoweth before we aske what we haue need of is ready to giue liberally yea and doth giue often times vndesired and furthermore hath promised that seeking first the kingdome of God the righteousnes thereof all other things should be giuen vs yet he commaundeth vs to aske corporall benefits that for three causes FIRST that wee should know that he is the authour and giuer thereof and therefore should not onely be thankefull for the same but also stirred up thereby to seeke loue and worship him SECONDLY that we should be well persuaded of his good prouidence towardes vs when wee vnderstand that he doth not onely promise that he will neuer faile vs but also hath his hand alwaies stretched out to helpe them that cal vpon him THIRDLY that our faith of reconciliatioÌ„ forgiuenes of sinnes should bee exercised through the asking of those corporal things And herein we must specially aboue all things seeke the glory of God therefore we must pray for these corporall thinges in such sort that we
may offer therwith our obedience vnto god Hereof we haue examples of Christ when he saide father if it be possible let this câ—p passe froÌ„ me neuertheles not as I vvill but as thou vvilt With this obedience to the wil of God spake Dauid when he desired to be brought againe into his kingdome saying If I shall find fauour in the sight of the Lord he vvill bring me againe but if he shall say vnto mee thou doest not please mee I am ready let him do as it seemeth him good And Iob saith though he kill me yet vvil I put my trust in him Therefore for as much as wee do knowe that it is the lotte of Gods children to be alway vnder the crosse and therefore concerning these corporall benefites we knowe not how or what to aske as we ought wee must herein offer our obedience vnto GOD abiding his good will and pleasure so longe as it shall seeme good vnto him to exercise vs in the want therof who suffereth vs somtime to be afflicted for our chastisement and for the probation of our continuance and also that we may receiue with greater gladnesse if to his diuine wisedome it seeme expedient for vs that which with ardent desire we long looked for S. Paul saith VVhen vve are iudged vve are chastened of the Lorde because vve shoulde not be condemeed vvith the vvorld But wheÌ„ we pray for spiritual things we must aske them absolutely and without condition for therevnto doe perteine the chiefe promises of the Gospell of the which God woulde haue vs most assured Verilie verily I say vnto you saith Christe he that beleeueth in me hath euerlasting life As sure as I liue saith the Lorde I vvill not the death of a sinner but that he returne and liue To the promises of God we muste ioyne examples whereby we learne that God hath heard holpen those that call vpon him For all deliuerances whether they be of other whereof the scripture is full or of our selues whereof we haue experience are examples of Gods promises Hereby did Dauid comfort himselfe in the anguish and heauines of his heart saying I vvill remember the vvorkes of the Lorde and call to minde thy vvonders of olde time Thou hast mightily deliuered thy people euen the sonnes of Iacob and Ioseph Againe I vvil be glad and reioyce in thy mercie for thou hast seene my trouble thou hast knovvne my soule in aduersitie And thus being warned both by promises and examples let vs learne to cast our care vpon the Lorde to call vpon him and to looke for helpe at his hand So shall our faith by little and little be more firme certaine and our heart shall rest in hope expectation of Gods helpe But for as much as of our selues we are vnworthie to appeare in Gods sight whose terrible maiestie comming once into our minde it is impossible but that we shoulde flie from him as a fearefull iudge therefore he hath giuen vnto vs a mediatour euen our Lorde â—esus that he being a meane betweene GOD and vs might change the throne of dreadfull glorie into the throne of grace and that we by his merites hauing accesse vnto God might haue assured trust to finde grace in his sight If any man sinne saith S. Iohn vve haue an aduocate vvith the father Iesus Christ the iust and he is the Reconciliation for our sinnes To him saith S. Peter beare all the Prophets vvitnes that through his name all that beleeue in him shall receiue forgiuenesse of their sinnes By vvhome saith S. Paul vve haue boldnesse and entraunce in all confidence through faith in him And againe VVee haue not an high Prieste vvhich can not haue compassion on our infirmities but vvas in all pointes tempted like as vvee are sinne execpted let vs goe boldly therefore vnto the throne of his grace that vvee may receiue mercie and finde grace to help in time of neede And as we are commaunded to call vppon God and haue a promise also to bee heard euen so we are commaunded to make our prayers vnto him in the name faith and confidence of this our mediatour and wee haue no promise to be heard without him in whome are all the promises of God yea and Amen confirmed and fulfilled And no man commeth to the father but by the sonne For he is our mouth whereby wee speake to the father hee is our eye whereby wee see the father and hee is our right hande whereby wee offer our selues to the Father Whatsoeuer therefore wee aske in his name wee haue a promise to obtaine it Verily verily saith Christ I say vnto you vvhatsoeuer yee shall aske the father in my name he shall giue it you in my name that is for my sake your high byshop praying for you Hitherto ye haue not asked any thing in my name aske and ye shall receiue In that day ye shall aske in my name and vvhatsoeuer ye aske I vvill doe that the Father may be glorified in the Sonne Of prayer there be two partes Petition and thankesgiuing By petition wee poure foorth our desires before God requiring first those thinges that may set foorth his glorie and then such benefites as are profitable and necessarie for vs By giuing of thankes we prayse and magnifie his benefits bestowed vpon vs acknowledging that whatsoeuer good thinges we enioie we haue receiued them of his free goodnes and liberalitie Therefore Dauid ioyneth these two partes togither in one verse when he saith Call vpon me in the day of necessitie I vvill deliuer thee and thou shalte glorifie me The scripture commaundeth vs to vse both and that continually For our necessitie is so great our life is so full of troubles and calamities and so many daungers hange ouer our heades euery moment that wee haue all cause ynough yea euen the most holy with sighes and groninges continually to flye vnto God and to call vppon him in most humble wise But this wee may better perceiue in things pertaining to the soule For when shall so many great sinnes whereof wee know our selues guiltie suffer vs to bee without care and not to craue pardon of GOD for the same when will sathan giue vs reast and quietnes when wil he cease to range about seeking whome he may destroy when shall our tentations giue vstruce so that we shall not need to hasten vnto GOD for helpe Finally the desier of the kingdome and glory of God ought so to drawe vs wholy vnto it not by fits but coÌ„tinually that all times should be fit conuenient for vs to pray Wherefore not without cause we are so often commaunded to pray continually And though we be not driuen with like necessitie at al times to pray yet in this case S. Iames teacheth vs what we ought to doe Is anie man heauie or afflicted saith he Let him pray that iâ— let him craue of God helpe and comfort vvho so
howe foolish we are to fantasie things which we can not carrie with vs and to contemne conscience which will alwayes be a companion to vs to our ioy if it be good but to our shame and sorrow if it be euil and corrupt Finally howe vnnaturall we are which so little desire to be at our home to be with our onely father Master fellowes and friends When you are about to receiue your meat pray thus THis is a wonderfull mysterie of thy worke O maker and gouernor of the world that thou doest sustaine the liues of men and beastes with these meates Surely this power is neither in the bread nor foode but in thy will and word by which word al things do liue and haue their being Againe howe great a thing is it that thou art able continually to giue sustenaunce to so many creatures This is spoken of by thy prophete in setting foorth thy prayses All things looke vp to thee and thou giuest them meate in due season thou openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing euerie liuing thing These doubtlesse are wonderfull workes of thine Almightinesse I therefore heartily pray thee O most liberal Lord and faithfull father that as thou by meate through thy word doest minister life to these our bodies euen so by the same word with thy grace thou wouldest quicken our soules that both in soule and bodie we may please thee til this our mortall carkasse shall put on immortalitie and we shall neede no more any further foode but thee onely which then wilt be all in all Taste and see howe good the Lord is Psal. 34. Blesse the Lord O my soule which feedeth and filleth my mouth with good things Psal. 103. Occasions to Meditate Thinke a little how great Gods power is that made vs Also thinke howe great his wisedome is to preserue vs But most of all thinke howe many things are giuen to our vse howe wonderfull it is to giue vs life but most of all to propagate and aduaunce to immortalitie the life of the soule by his onely becke Last of all thinke that God by his prouidence for thy body would haue thee to confirme thy faith of his prouidence likewise for thy soule In the meale time pray O Most liberall distributer of thy giftes which giuest vs al kinde of good thinges to vse and being pure giuest pure things being holie giuest holie things graunt to vs thy grace that we misuse not these thy gratious giftes giuen to our vse and profite Let vs not delight in these things but let vs delight in thee from whome they come as necessarie for vs for a season till we come vnto thee Graunt vs to be conuersant amongest thy giftes soberly purely temperately and holily bicause thou art so Then shall we not turne that to the poyson of our soules which thou hast giuen for the medicine of our bodies but vsing thy benefites thankfully we shall finde them profitable both in soule and body Occasions to Meditate Thinke that the meats and drinkes set before you are giuen to you to vse and not to abuse Thinke they are giuen to profite and not to hurt you Thinke that thei are not giuen to you alone but vnto others also by you In eating and drinking thinke that you doe but feede the wormes Remember the poore prisoners the sicke the afflicted c. as though you were in their case Thinke vpon the food of your soul Christes bodie broken and bloudshed Desire the meate that lasteth for euer labour for it Christes meate was to do his fathers will. After your meate pray BY corporall meates thou doest sustaine our corporall daily life ready otherwise to perish The which surely is a great worke but yet this is much greater more profitable and more holie that thy grace O Iesu Christ doth preserue vs from the death of the soule For this life we ought much to thanke thee and bicause thou doest prolong it with thy good giftes we most heartily praise thee Howe be it this life is but the way to eternall life which we beseech thee for thy deathes sake that thou wilt giue vs and so shall we not onely giue thee as we may thankes for a time for temporall things but also eternall thankes for eternal things O graunt to vs these our desires for thy mercies sake Amen Occasions to Meditate Thinke nowe that God hath giuen thee this his blessing of foode and sustenaunce and thereto time that thou mightest as repent so seeke his glorie and the commoditie of thy brethren therefore goe thereabouts but first pray for grace well to begin Againe consider how thou hast bene partaker of other mens labours as of the Husbandmans the Milners the Bakers the Bruers the Butchers the Cookes c. See therefore that thou be not a drone Bee but rather such a one as may helpe the hiue If God haue thus fed thy body which he loueth not but for thy soules sake howe can it be then but that he will be much more readie to feede thy soule Therefore take a courage to thee and goe to him for grace accordingly Cogitations for about the midday As thy bodie is nowe compassed on euerie side with light so see that thy mind may be also As god giueth thee thus plentifully this corporall light so pray him that he will giue thee the spirituall light Thinke that as the Sunne is nowe most cleare so shal our bodies be in the day of iudgement As nowe the Sunne is come to the highest and therfore will beginne to drawe downeward so is there nothing in the world so perfect glorious whiche when it is at the full will not decrease and so weare away When you come home againe pray THere is nothing O Lord more like to thy holie nature then a quiet mind Thou hast called vs out of the troublesome disquietnesse of the world into that thy quiet rest and peace which the world can not giue being such a peace as passeth all mens vnderstanding Houses are ordained for vs that thereby we might be defended from the iniurie of the wether from crueltie of beastes from disquietnesse of people and rest from the toyles of the world O gratious father graunt that through thy great mercy my body may enter into this house from outward actions but so that it may become boxom and obedient to the soule and make no resistaunce againste the same that in soule and body I may haue a godly quietnesse and peace to praise thy holie name Amen Peace be to this house and to all that dwell in the same Matt. 10. Occasions to Meditate Thinke what a returne and howe merrie a returne it will be to come to our eternall most quiet and most happie home then will all griefe and sorrowe cease What so euer here is pleasant and ioyfull the same is nothing but a verie shaddowe in comparison of that which is to come At the Sunne going downe pray HOwe vnhappie are they O Lord
that wept and saide I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeliefe Yea that little be it neuer so litle is thy meere gift also The which as thou begun so most mercifull Lord increase the same more and more to the peace and comfort of our conscience and the glorie of thy name through Iesus Christ. Amen A thankesgiuing to God for his great benefites HOnour and praise be giuen to thee O Lorde God almightie most deare father of heauen for all thy mercies and louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs in that it hath pleased thy gratious goodnesse freely and of thine owne accorde to elect and choose vs to saluation afore the beginning of the world and euen like continuall thankes be giuen vnto thee for creating vs after thine owne image for redeeming vs with the precious bloud of thy deare Sonne when we were vtterly lost for sanctifying vs with thy holie spirite in the reuelation and knowledge of thy sacred word for helping and succouring vs in al our neede and necessitie for sauing vs from all dangers both of bodie and soule for comforting vs so fatherly in al our troubles and afflictions for sparing vs so long and giuing vs so large a time of repentance These benefites O most mercifull father like as we do acknowledge that we haue receiued of thy onely goodnesse euen so we beseech thee for thy deare sonne Iesus Christes sake to graunt vs alwayes thy holie spirite whereby we may continually growe in thankefulnesse towardes thee be led in all trueth and comforted in all aduersitie Strengthen our faith O Lorde kindle it more and more in feruentnesse and loue towardes thee and our neighbours for thy sake Suffer vs not most deare father to receiue thy word any more in vaine but graunt vs alwaies the assistance of thy grace and holy spirite that in heart word and deede we may sanctifie and doe worship to thy holy name that we may helpe to amplifie and increase thy kingdome and that what so euer thou sendest we may be heartily wel content with thy good will and pleasure Suffer vs not to lack the thing O father without the which we can not serue thee but blesse thou so all the workes of our hands that we may haue sufficient and not to be chargeable but rather helpefull vnto other Be mercifull O Lorde vnto our offences and seeing our debt is great which thou hast forgiuen vs in Iesus Christ make vs to loue thee and our neighbors so much the more Be thou O father our captaine and defender in all temptations holde thou vs by thy mercifull hande that we thereby may be deliuered from all inconueniences and end our liues in the sanctifying and honouring of thy name through Iesus Christ our lord Amen A praier for true mortification O God my creator preseruer and euerlasting defender where first in my creation I was made like vnto thine owne likenesse the diuell alas hath since by Adams fal made me ougly monstrous and like euill fauoured to him selfe For what are nowe Lord mine earthly members but as thine Apostle writeth adulterie whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturall lustes euill concupiscence couetousnesse which is the worshipping of Idols and such other for the which thy wrath is wont to come vpon the children of vnbeliefe Neuerthelesse Lorde of thy great mercy and goodnesse against this so great a mischiefe a much greater remedie thy fatherly prouidence hath ordained for thou hast sent Iesus Christ thy deare only natural Sonne into this worlde the vale of miseries to loose the workes of the diuell and to take away my sinnes Therefore sathan hath nowe nothing to brag of for through Christ all that beleeue in thee and so become thy children do ouercome the world the flesh and the diuell And this is the victorie which ouercommeth thē all euen our faith That faith I meane which is persuaded that who so euer beleeueth in Christ shall not perish but haue euerlasting life That faith which beleeueth the testimonie to be true which thou God the father doest testifie of thy sonne so making thee no liar and this is the testimonie that thou hast giuen vs eternall life That faith which beleeueth that thou father who raisedst vp Christ from death shalt also quicken our mortall bodies through thy holie spirite dwelling in vs That faith which beleeueth it to be true which thy Sonne Christe affirmed with a double oth verily verily I say vnto you he that beleeueth in me the workes that I doe the same shall he doe and greater woorkes then these shall he doe bicause I goe to my father And finally that faith which beleeueth that nowe Christe hath bene lift vp on the crosse he shal draw al things vnto him This faith I say is the victorie which ouercommeth our enimies the diuell the world and our flesh Thou therfore deare father which hast promised to giue what so euer I shal aske in thy deare sonne Iesus name for thy great mercie and infallible truthes sake doe nowe in me the thing that he came for lose in me the workes of the diuel take away my sinnes I beseech thee make stedfast my faith and confidence in thy promised mercies and mercifull promises so that I assuredly beleeuing in thee may haue as thou promisest euerlasting life making thee deare God no liar may beleeue feele and knowe in my heart and conscience that the same euerlasting life is thy meere and free gift vnto me yea alreadie of thy great goodnesse vndoutedly giuen me being nowe translated from death to life Of a thankfulnesse wherof Lord cause me nowe daily to mortifie my earthly members yea deare father sith thy spirit which raised vp Christ from death dwelleth within me doe thou who raisedst Christ frō death quicken my mortall bodie through thy spirite so dwelling in me I beseech thee yea Lord Iesu according to thy promise bicause thou art now gone to thy father make me worke this wonderfull great worke that thou spakest of I meane make me being of my selfe but a lumpe of sinne and a monster most ougly as the vices whereon the members of my earthly bodie are aboue declared to be cōpact doe proue make me I say yet through thy grace to hate abhorre flee and subdue all adulterie whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturall lustes euill concupiscence vnordinate desires wantonnesse tendernesse delicatenesse idlenesse dronkennesse gluttonie slothfulnesse distrust despaire ignorance weakenesse wilfulnesse idolatrie superstition hypocrisie heresie error sects ▪ variance strife wrath enuie slaunders lying swearing cursing vainglorie pride couetousnesse theft deceit flatterie and what so euer else O Lorde fighteth or rebelleth against thy holy spirite and then O Father I will boast make vaunt against myne enimie the diuell that I haue done greater workes then thy deare sonne Iesus did at what time hee spake these wordes among the Iewes because albeit he vanquished Sathan yet in as much as hee
himselfe was vtterly without sinne the victorie seemed the more easie But I to vanquishe sathan being my selfe altogether sinfull yea contrarie to my most sinfull nature to subdue sinne the diuel and mine owne fleshe it seemeth a more victory and a greater worke then the other For the which neuerthelesse I will with all submission acknowledge vnto thy diuine maiestie that the whole victorie Lorde in deede is thine and thy holy spirite the beginner and finisher both of the will and the worke Now therfore Lord Iesu strengthen mee with thy grace and might that thou maist by mee a most sinfull wretche drawe all these my earthly members and horrible vices before rehearsed vnder my feete that I may not onely fight against them but also subdue them so that they may all turne to the best for mee as meete matter whereon I may exercise my faith powre forth my hearty prayer and giue thee most heartie thankes for victorie wherby I may learne and haue experience that thou hast in mee drawne all thinges vnto thee insomuch as thou thus Lord of thy diuine power drawest both the diuel and the sinne that dwelleth in me to set foorth thine honour and glorie which thing for thy mercies sake bring to passe O God my creator preseruer euerlasting defender A meditation for the exercise of true mortification HE that will be ready in weightie matters to denie his owne will and to be obedient to the will of God the same had neede to accustome him selfe to denye his desires in matters of lesse weight and to exercise mortification of his owne will in trifles For if that our affections by this daily custome be not as it were halfe slaine surely surely wheÌ„ the plunge shall come we shall finde the more to do If we can not watch with Christ one houre as he saith to Peter we vndoubtedly can much lesse goe to death with him Wherefore that in great tentations we may be ready to say with Christ Not my will but thy will be done for as much as this coÌ„monly commeth not to passe but where the rootes of our lustes by thy grace deare father are almost rotten and rooted out by a daily deniall of that they desire I humbly beseech thee for Christes sake to helpe me herein First pardon me my cherishing and as it were watering of mine affections obeying them in their deuises and superfluous desires where through in that they haue taken deepe roote and are too liuely in me I secondly doe beseech thee to pull them vppe by the rootes out of my heart and so hencefoorth to order me that I may continually accustome my selfe to weaken the principall roote that the by rootes and branches may loose all their power Graunt me I beseech thee that thy grace may daily mortifie my concupiscence of pleasure in thinges that is of wealth riches glorie libertie fauour of men meats drinkes apparel ease yea and life it selfe that the horrour and impatiencie of more grieuous things may be weakned and I made more patient in aduersitie Wherevnto I further desire and pray thy goodnes deare father that thou wilt adde this namely that I may for euer become obedient and readie to doe thy good will in all things hartily and willingly to serue thee and do whatsoeuer may please thee For doubtles althoâ—gh wee accustome our selues in the pleasaunt thinges of this life to a mortification and deniall of our selues yet we shall finde inough to doe when more better weighty crosses come For if thy sonne our sauiour euer wonte to obay thy good will prayed so hartily and often Not my will but thy will be done whereby he declareth himselfe to be verie man how can it be but we whose nature is corrupt not onely in natiuitie but in the rest of our whole life also shall find both our handes ful in great and greeuos temptations wholy to resigne our selues vnto thee Graunt therefore deare father for thy Christes sake to mee a most miserable wretch thy grace and spirite to be effectuall in mee that daily I may accustome my selfe to deny my will in more easie and pleasant thinges of this life that when neede shall be I may com vnto thee with a resigned wil alwaies stedfastly expecting thy mercie and in the meane season continually obeying thee with readinesse and willingnes doing what so euer may most please thee through Christ our Lord who liueth with thee c. A meditation of the comming of Christ to iudgement and of the reward both of the faithfull and vnfaithfull OH Lord Iesus Christ the son of the euerliuing God by whom all thinges were made are ruled and gouerned as of thy loue for our redemption thou didst not disdaine to be our mediatour to take vpon thee our nature in the wombe of a virgin purely and without sinne by the operation of thy holie spirite that both thou mightest in thine owne person wonderfully beautifie and exalt our nature and worke the same in vs also first abolishing the guiltines of sinne by remission then sinne it selfe by death and last of all death by raising vp again these our bodies that they may be like to thine owne glorious and immortall body according to the power wherewith thou art able to subiect all thinges vnto thee as I say of thy loue for our redemption thou becamest man and that most poore and afflicted vpon earth by the space of three and thirtie yeares at the least in most humilitie and paiedst the price of our ransome by thy most bitter death and passion for the which I most heartily giue thankes to thee so of the same thy loue towardes vs in thy good time thou wilt come againe in the clouds of heauen with power and great glorie with flaming fire with thousaÌ„ds of Saintes with Angels of thy power with a mightie cry shout of an Archangel and blast of a trumpe soudenly as a lightening which shineth from the East c. when men thinke least euen as a theefe in the night when men be asleepe thou wilt so come I say thus soudenly in the twinckling of an eye all men that euer haue bene be or shall be with women and children appearing before thy tribunall seate to render an account of all thinges which they haue thought spoken and done against thy lawe openly and before all Angels Saintes and diuels and so shall their corruptible bodie put on incorruption then shall they be endued with immortalitie and glorie then shall they be with thee and goe whither thou goest then shall they heare Come blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning c. then shall they be set on seats of maiestie iudging the whole world then shall they reigne with thee for euer then shall God be al in al with them and to them then shall they enter and inherite heauenly Ierusalem and the glorious restfull lande of Canaan where it is always day and neuer night where
to pray but thou foundest no comfort at all and therfore diddest returne againe for some comfort at thy deerest friends hands But yet againe alas they are fast a sleepe Whereupon thou art inforced to go againe to thy heauenly father for some sparke of comforte in these thy wonderfull crosses and agonies Nowe here thou wast so discoraged so comfortlesse that euen streames of bloud came running from thine eies and eares and other partes of thy bodie But who is able to expresse the infinitenesse of thy crosses euen at thy being in the garden All which thou sufferedst for my sake as wel to satisfie thy Fathers wrath for my sinnes as also to sanctifie all my sufferinges the more gladly to be susteined of me After thy bloudie prayer thou camest and yet againe foundest thy disciples a sleepe and before thou canst well awake them loe Iudas commeth with a great bande of men to apprehend thee as a theefe and so doeth leading thee away bound to the high Bishops house Annas and so from him to Caiphas Here now to augment this thy miserie behold thy disciples flee from thee false witnesses be brought against thee thou art accused and condemned of blasphemie Peter euen in thy sight forsweareth thee thou art vniustly stricken for answearing lawfully thou art blindfold stricken and buffetted all the whole night in the Bishop Caiphas house of their cruel seruants In the morning betimes thou art condemned againe of the priestes of blasphemie and therefore they bring thee before the secular power to Pilate by whom thou art openly arrained as other theeues and malefactors were and when he sawe that thou wast accused of malice yet he did not dismisse thee but did sende thee to Herod where thou wast shamfully derided in comming and going to him and from him all the way especially after Herod had apparelled thee as a foole Afore Pilate againe therfore thou wast brought and accused falsely no man did take thy part or speake a good worde for thee Pilate caused thee to be whipped and scourged and to be handled most pitifully to see if any pitie might appeare with the prelates but no man at all pitied thee Barrabas was preferred before thee all the people heade and taile was against thee and cried hang him vp Uniustly to death wast thou iudged thou wast crowned with thorns that pearced thy braines thou wast made a mocking stocke thou wast reuiled beaten most miserably handled Thou wentest through Ierusalem to the place of execution euen to the Mount of Caluarie a great crosse to hang thee on was laide vpon thy backe to beare and drawe as long as thou wast able Thy bodie was racked to be nayled to the tree thy handes were boared through and thy feete also nailes were put through them to fasten thee thereon thou wast hanged betweene heauen earth as one spued out of heauen and vomited out of the earth vnworthie of any place the high Priest laughed thee to scorne the elders blasphemed thee and saide God hath no care for thee the common people laughed and cried out vpon thee thirst oppressed thee but vineger onely and gall was giuen thee to drinke heauen shined not vpō thee the sunne gaue thee no light the earth was afraid to beare thee sathā tempted thee and thine owne senses caused thee to crie out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Oh wonderful passions which thou sufferedst In them thou teachest me in them thou comfortest mee for by them GOD is my father my sinnes are forgiuen By them I should learne to feare God to loue God and neuer to leaue him for any tentations but with thee to crie Father into thy handes I commend my spirite A prayer to Christ crucified AS thou O Lord wast crucified for me so I beseech thee crucifie me with thee that I may rise againe with thee to euerlasting life Thy fleshe was crucified for me crucifie with thee O Christe the kingdome of the flesh which hath dominion in me that I may put off the olde Adam and by newnesse of life may be transformed into thee the second Adam sinne infidelitie and the whole tyrannie of sathan beeing vanquished and ouercome Bring to passe O Lord that by thy crosse and paineful suffering thy yoke may be to me made light and thy burthen easie that willingly gladly following thee I may come whither thou art gone that is to thy father most blessed and immortal from whom nothing shall afterward be able to separate vs. God forbid that I should reioyce in any thing but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ whereby the world is crucified vnto me and I vnto the worlde Gal. 6. A prayer to Christ ascended and reigning in glorie OH good Christ our first begotten brother and tender hearted Ioseph Oh naturall sonne of that Father to whom we are made children of adoption through thee Oh our head reigning on high in glorie forget not vs thy poore members here on earth whervnto abasing thy selfe thou camest downe and sufferedst for vs most cruel death Out of this thy throne of Maiestie glorie thou puttest vs in assured hope and confidence that we also shal attaine to that blessed place whither thou art gone before to take possession for vs Oh our strong tower of defence and succour what can hurt vs nowe trusting in thee Most vnhappie are they which are ignorant of thee Most happie are they which always behold thee Blessed are they which haue knowen thee here in the dayes of their mortalitie But more blessed are they which see thee in the heauens and shall see thee reigning with thy Father in ioyes incomparable Oh Lorde the onely ioye and comforte of our soules shewe vs thy louinge countenaunce embrace vs with the armes of thy mercie receiue vs O good Ioseph thy yonger brethren with the kisse of comfort powre into our harts thy holy spirit plucke vs vp from the earth earthlie things open our eyes lift them vp vnto thee open thy mouth call vs vnto thee open our eares that we may heare thee so that whatsoeuer we do speake or thinke it may be directed vnto thee alone our redeemer mediator and aduocate If ye be risen againe with Christ seeke the thinges which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God set your affection on thinges that are aboue not on things which are on the earth Col. 3. An other THou Lord didest put away Marie Magdalen from the kissing of thy feete because thy flesh was not yet exalted and shee knewe not yet the dignitie of thy clarified bodie and beautified with the glory of immortalitie but was addicted onely to thy bodily presence She yet sought the liuing among the deade neither was it knowne to her that thou wast equall with thy father Wherfore thou wouldest not suffer her so much as to kisse thy feete because it was a thing vnworthy for thy maiestie Oh thou mightie Lion of the tribe of
iustice and by his resurrection to destroye him that was authour of death and so to bring againe life to the worlde from which the whole ofspringe of Adam was most iustly exiled O Lorde wee acknowledge that no creature was able to comprehend the length and breadth the deepenes and heighte of that thy most excellent loue which moued thee to shew mercie where none was deserued to promise and giue life where death had gotten victorie to receiue vs into thy grace when we could do nothing but rebell against thy maiestie The blind dulnes of our corrupt nature will not suffer vs sufficiently to wey these thy most ample benefites Yet neuerthelesse at the commaundement of Iesus Christe our Lorde we present our selues to this thy table which he hath left to be vsed in remembrance of his death vntill his comming againe to declare and witnesse before the world that by him alone we haue receiued libertie and life that by him alone thou doest acknowedge vs to be thy children and heires that by him alone wee haue entraunce to the throne of thy grace that by him alone we are possessed in our spirituall Kingdome to eate and drinke at his table and with whome we haue our conuersation presently in heauen and by whome our bodies shall be raised vp againe from the dust shall be placed with him in that endlesse ioye which thou O Father of mercie hast prepared for thine electe before the foundation of the worlde was layd And these most inestimable benefites wee acknowledge and confesse to haue receiued of thy free mercie and grace by thine onely beloued sonne Iesus Christe For the which therefore we thy congregation moued by thy holy spirite doe render to thee all thankes praise and glory for euer and euer A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the Communion MOst mercifull father we render vnto thee all praise thanks honour and glorie for that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercies to graunt vnto vs miserable sinners so excellent a gift and treasure as to receiue vs into the fellowshippe and companie of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde whome thou hast deliuered to death for vs and hast giuen him vnto vs as a necessarie foode and nourishment vnto euerlasting life And now we beseech thee also O heauenly father to graunt vs this request that thou neuer suffer vs to become so vnkind as to forget so worthy benefites but rather imprint and fasten them sure in our heartes that we may growe and increase daily more and more in true faith which continually is exercised in all manner of good works and so much the rather O Lord confirme vs in these perillous dayes rages of Sathan that we may constantly stand and continue in the confession of the same to the aduancement of thy glorie which art God ouer all things blessed for euer A lamentation of a sinner afflicted in conscience for his offences IN the middes of the desperate assaultes of my soule the intollerable heauinesse of my minde hath heretofore Lorde cryed as shril in thine eares as though I had shriked and with lamentations cryed out saying helpe helpe mee my God my creatour my most prouident keper and euerlasting defender for beholde I perish On this occasion Lorde when heauinesse of minde did heretofore assault me I remembred that thou haddest many times set before mine eyes the wonderfull greatnes of thy most tender loue towardes mee by the great multitude of thy benefites powred vppon mee which benefites euerie of thy workes as they came before mine eyes gaue mee iust occasion to be mindfull of Woulde not thought I if I had in a manner any grace at all woulde not such loue bring nowe into my heart a wonderfull delectation ioy and comfort in God for the same And againe coulde such delight in Gods sweete mercie and tender loue towardes me if I were not as euill as a castaway that were none of Gods children be without lothing of my sinne and lust and desire to do Gods holy will And these thinges thought I fie vppon me vnthankefull wretch are either not at all in mee or else in deede so coldly and slenderly that they beeing truely weighed and compared to righteousnesse are more vile then a filthy cloth starched in corrupt bloud Oh thought I I am affraid I haue deceiued my selfe for thy seruauntes at all times I trowe feele otherwise then I now doe the fruites of thy spirit as loue ioy peace such like But my loue alas towards thee what is it my ioy is not once almost felt of mee for my verie soule within mee as Dauid in his heauinesse saide refuseth comfort and fareth as though it did vtterly despaire what peace can I feele then or certaintie of thy fauour and loue Iustly may I powre out this dolorous lamentatiō of Sion The Lord hath forsaken mee and my Lord hath forgotten mee Euen in the middest I say of these my former desperate assaultes mine intollerable heauines cried to thee O my God and from heauen thou heardest my groaninges and therevpon first preparedst my hearte to aske comfort of thee then thou diddest accept my prayer and gauest me plentifully my asking Oh my soule consider well that thou art neuer able to declare the exceeding goodnesse of God in this that hee hearde the verie desires of thee being afflicted who is so readie fauourably to grant the requests of the afflicted that oftentimes hee tarrieth not vntill they do cal but or euer they call vpon him hee fauourably heareth them as the Psalmist saith The desire of the afflicted thou hearest O Lorde thou preparest their heartes thine eares heareth them Oh Lorde my God meruellous thinges are these whether I consider this meruellous manner of thy hearing or else the meruellous nature and propertie of thy goodnesse Meruellous no doubt is that thy hearing whereby the verie desires of the afflicted are hearde but much more maruellous is this thy goodnesse which tarriest not vntil the afflicted doe desire thy helpe but preparest first their hearts to desire and then thou giuest them their desires Yea Lord worthie of all praise it cannot otherwise bee For howe shouldest thou do otherwise then thy nature and propertie is Art not thou verie goodnesse and mercie it selfe Howe canst thou then but pitie and helpe miserie Art not thou both the creatour and also the conseruer of all thinges in so much as the Lyons whelpes roaring after their pray do seeke their foode at thy handes and the Rauens birdes lacking meat do call vppon thee If then thy fatherly prouidence and tender care O Lord vppon all thy creatures be so great that the verie beastes and foules haue this experience of thy goodnes in their necessities that their roarings and cryings haue the strength of earnest callinges and desires howe much rather doe these sighinges groninges and desperate heauines of men but chiefly of thy children crie and call
lowde in thine eares though they speake neuer a worde at all Shoulde I then nowe despaire of thy fatherly mercie whiles presently I feele thee stirre vp my soule and hearte to craue helpe at thy hande Should I thinke that thou wilt absent thy selfe for euer that thou wilt be no more intreated that thy mercie is cleane gone that thy promise is come vtterly to an ende and that thou wilt nowe shut vp thy louing kindnesse in displeasure Nay Lorde for all alterations are of thy right hande and turne alway to the best to them that feare thee All this is but mine owne infirmitie for thou art euer one thy promises be infallible and thy loue towards thine euerlastingly during I will therefore in this my present tentation greuous assaulte powre out the heauinesse of my hearte before thee deare father Out of the deepe will I crie lift vp my soule vnto thee from whom I assuredly know my helpe is comming I will also for my present comfort cal to remembrance O Lorde my God thy tender mercies towards me already shewed the multitude of thy benefites the greatnes of the same the longe continuance of them euen frō my conception vntill this instant finally thy continuall luste desire to powre them vpon me And moreouer sith thy goodnesse is so great O Lord that thou dost not onely pitie miserie but also callest the heauie hearted and afflicted vnto thee promising that thou wilt ease their miserie for as much as by the motion of thy good spirit I loth and abhorre my sinnes feele the greuousnesse of them and thy heauie wrath towardes me for the same and finally what neede I haue of thy gratious ayde and succour therefore Oh Lorde in thy Sonne Christes name with sure confidence and trust in thine infallible promise in this mine anguish trouble I come vnto thee at thy mercifull calling and craue comfort at thy hand For thou hast promised that when I loath my sinnes thou wilt vterly forget them when I feele the greeuous burthen of them thy mercie swalloweth them vp when I seeke that I want thou wilte assuredly graunt it me For sith thou mouest my hearte to desire helpe how shoulde I mistrust but thou wilt for thy truth sake giue me my asking Yea where I knowe not howe or what to desire as I ought thy holy spirite gratiously working in mee maketh intercession mightily for me with groninges which can not bee expressed and therewithall certifieth my spirit that by adoption through thy great mercie and goodnesse I am become thy childe and heire Why should I not then be of good comfort and ioyfull in thee my God For if thou be on my side who can be against mee Since thou diddest not spare thine owne sonne but gauest him for mee euen when I was thine enemie howe shalt thou not with him nowe that by his death I am brought into thy fauour giue mee all thinges with him and for his sake Who shall lay any thing to the charg of thine elect It is thou Lord which iustifiest mee It is Christe that hath dyed for mee yea rather that is risen againe for mee who also is set on thy right hand hath taken possession yea and perpetually maketh there intercession for me vntill that ioyfull day be come when I shall haue full fruition of the moste glorious presence of thy diuine maiestie in that kingdome whiche thou hast prepared before the beginning of the world but in time to thy gratious goodnesse thought best made knowen to me by giuing thy holy spirite into my heart whereby when I first Lord beleeued thy holy worde which is thine owne power to saue all that beleeue I was sealed confirmed and stablished in the certaintie of that thine euerlasting kingdom and inheritāce For the which inestimable benefite of thy rich grace Oh Lorde my God I beseech thee euen for the loue thou bearest to Christe Iesus thy son thy mercie thou haddest on him when he cried on the crosse My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Help help I say inflame my heart with loue so plentifully towardes thee againe that I may be euen swalowed vp in the ioyfull feeling of the same in such sort that I may of verie thankefulnesse loue thee my GOD alone thee I say my deare GOD and nothing but thee and for thy sake O holy spirite whose work this is in mee increase this thy worke of thine infinite mercie and preserue mee that I neuer become vnthankefull vnto thee therefore Amen A prayer for the sicke O Most mercifull God which according to the multitude of thy mercies dost so put away the sins of those which truly repēt that thou remembrest them no more open thy eyes of mercie and looke vpon this thy sicke seruant who most earnestly desireth pardon and forgiuenesse Renue in him most louing father whatsoeuer hath beene decayed by the fraude and malice of the diuell or by his owne carnall will and frailtie Preserue and continue this sicke member in the vnitie of thy Church Consider his contrition ▪ accept his teares assuage his paine as shall bee seene to thee most expedient for him And for as much as he putteth his full trust onely in thy mercie impute not vnto him his former sinnes but take him vnto thy fauour through the merits of thy most dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ. A prayer to be saide at the houre of death O Lord Iesus Christ which art the onely health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them that die in thee I wretched sinner do submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will and being sure that the thing cannot perish which is cōmitted vnto thy mercie willingly now I leaue this fraile and sinnfull fleshe in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise restore it to mee againe at the last day in the resurrection of the iust I beseech thee most mercifull Lorde Iesus Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make stronge my soule against all tentations and defende mee with the buckler of thy mercie against all the assaults of the diuell I see and acknowledge that there is in my selfe no helpe of saluation but al my confidence hope and trust is in thy rich mercie and goodnesse I haue no merites or good workes which I may alledge before thee of sinnes and euill workes alas I see a great heape but yet through thy mercie I trust to be in the number of them to whome thou wilt not impute their sinnes but wilt accept and take mee for righteous and iust and to be an inheritour of euerlastinge life Thou mercifull Lord wast borne for my sake thou diddest suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake thou diddest teach pray and fast for my sake all thy holy actions and works thou wroughtest for my sake thou sufferedst most greeuous paines and tormentes for my sake finally thou gauest thy most precious bodie and bloode to be
feeding our bodies with this corporall foode do render vnto thee most heartie thanks for the same beseeching thee likewise to feede our soules with that heauenly foode which perisheth not but abideth into euerlasting life so that we being nourished by thy goodnes both in bodye and soule may be apt and readie to do all good works which thou hast prepared for vs to walke in through Iesus Christ our Lord. Vnto him that loued vs and wasshed vs from our sinnes in his bloud and made vs kinges and Priestes vnto God his father be all glorie power dominion for euermore Amen An other THe God of glorie who hath created redeemed and presently fed vs be blessed for euermore AmeÌ„ The God of all power who hath called from death the great pastour of the sheepe our Lorde Iesus comfort and defend the flocke which hee hath redeemed by the bloud of the eternall testament increase the number of true preachers represse the rage of obstinate tyrants lighten the heartes of the ignorant releeue the paines of such as be afflicted but specially of those that suffer for the testimonie of the trueth and finally confound Sathan by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ. So be it PRAYERS COMMONly called Lidleys prayers with certaine godly additions Before thou prayest forgiue if thou hast any thing against any man come not to GOD with a double heart but lift vp pure handes without wrath or doubting 1. Tim. 2. ALmightie and moste mercifull father I thy poore creature and worke of thy handes acknowledg and confesse vnto thee my manifoulde sinnes and offences which I froÌ„ my youth vp vnto this day haue committed against thee in thought word and deede beseeching thee for Iesus Christ thy deare sons sake to haue mercie vpon me and to pardon the same according to thy great mercie which hast promised that At what time so euer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart thou wil put al his wickednesse out of thy remembrance O Lord I confesse that I was borne in sinne and conceiued in wickednesse and am by nature a Childe of wrath For in my fleshe dwelleth no good thing and of my selfe I am not able to thinke a good thought much lesse to do that thou in thy law requirest of me saying Cursed is he that continueth not in all thinges that are written in the law to do them Againe Thy law is spiritual but I am carnall fold vnder sinne Therfore O Lord I come vnto thee for grace which hast said Aske ye shal haue seeke ye shal find knock it shal be opened you to preuent draw my wil vnto all goodnes for none can come vnto thee except he be drawen and except we be borne from aboue we cannot see the kingdome of God. Therefore O Lorde renewe in mee a right spirit that I may receiue strength and ablenes to do thy righteous will. Graunt that I may euer desire will that which is most pleasing and acceptable to thy will. Thy will be my will and my wil be alwayes to followe thy will. Let there be euer in mee one will and one desire with thee and let mee neuer desire to will or not to will but as thou wilt Graunt me that aboue all thinges I may rest in thee and fully quiet and pacifie my heart in thee for thou Lord art the true peace of the heart and the perfect rest of the soule Thou knowest Lord what is most profitable expedient for mee wherfore doe with mee in all things as it shall seeme best vnto thee For it may not bee but well that thou dost which doest moste iustly blessedly dispose all thinges after thy most godly wisedome Therefore whether it be by prosperitie or aduersitie losse or gaine sickenesse or health life or death thy will be done Cast out of my heart all vnprofitable cares of worldly thinges and suffer mee not to be led with the vnstable desires of earthly vanities but giue me grace that all worldly and carnall affections may be mortified die in me Graunt vnto mee the strength of thy holy spirite to subdue this body of sinne with the whole lustes thereof that it may bee obedient both in will minde and members to doe thy holy will. Assist me with thy grace O Lord that I may be strengthened in the inwarde man and be armed with thy holy armour whiche is the brest-place of righteousnes the shielde of of faith the hope of saluation for an helmet and the sworde of the spirite which is thy holy word that I may stand perfect in all that is thy will and bee found worthie through Christ to receiue the crowne of life which thou hast promised to all them that loue thee Giue me grace that I may esteme all thinges in this world as they be transitory soone vanishing away and my self also with them drawing towardes mine ende For nothinge vnder the sunne maye longe abide but all is vanitie and affliction of spirite Oh Lorde God which art sweetenes vnspeakeable turne into bitternes vnto me al transitorie and earthly delightes which may drawe mee from the loue of eternall thinges and for all worldly comfortes giue me the sweete comfort of thy holy spirite for thou Lorde art my ioye my hope my crowne and my glorie Blessed are they that for the loue of thee set not by the pleasures of this world but crucifie the flesh and the lustes therof so that in a cleane pure conscience they may offer their prayers vnto thee and be accepted to haue companie with thee together with thy Angels heauenly spirits O euerlasting light sende downe the beames of thy brightnes lighten the inward partes of my hearte Open my hearte that I may beholde thy lawes and teache mee to walke in thy commandementes Beholde my weakenes O Lord and consider my frailenesse best knowen vnto thee Faine would I cleaâ—e fast to heauenly thinges but worldly affections and tentations plucke mee back they daily rebell and suffer not my soule to liue in rest Which although they drawe mee not away to consent yet neuerthelesse their assaults be verie grieuous vnto me Oh what a life may this be called where no trouble nor miserie lacketh where euery place is full of snares of mortall enemies For one trouble or tentation ouerpassed an other commeth by and by and the first conflict yet during a newe battell sodenly ariseth Tedious it is to me to liue in such battel but I perceiue such conflictes are not vnprofitable for me whilest I know my selfe and mine infirmities the better and am thereby compelled to seeke helpe at thy hand It is good for mee O Lord that thou hast thus exercised and humbled me that I may learne to dread thy secrete and terrible iudgements which scourgest euery childe that thou receiuest which bringest down to the gates of hel and bringest backe againe I yeeld thee thanks therefore that thou hast not
hee forsaketh his wickednes and turneth to thee For thou knowest thine own handie worke thou remembrest what wee are thou seest that wee are but weake and feeble flesh Looke not therefore vppon my sinnes O Lord but looke vpon the face of thine annoynted For he hath borne our iniquities he hath caried our sorrowes He was wounded for our transgressions he was broken for our iniquities the chastisemeÌ„t of our peace is layde vpon him He gaue his body to be beaten and his cheekes to be striken he bare the sinnes of many and prayed for the offenders He came to bring glad tydinges to the poore to binde vp the broken harted to preach libertie to the captiues to comfort them that mourne in Sion and to giue vnto them beautie for ashes the oyle of ioye for mourning the garment of gladnes for the spirite of heauinesse that they might be called trees of righteousnesse and the planting of the Lord. For his sake therefore O Lord be mercifull vnto me and say vnto my soule behould I am come to thee thy health and thy saluation A prayer for the true knowledg and vnderstanding of the word of God. LEt my prayer come before thee O Lord and giue me vnderstanding according to thy word Blessed art thou O Lorde teach me thy statutes That with my lips I may declare all the iudgementes of thy mouth That I may delight in the way of thy testimonies aboue all riches That I may meditate in thy precepts and consider thy wayes That I may take pleasure in thy statutes and not forget thy word Be good vnto me thy seruant O Lord that I may liue keep thy word Open mine eyes that I may see the wonders which are in thy lawe I am a stranger vpon earth notwithstanding hide not from me thy commaundements For my hart languisheth with the desire that it hath to thy iudgments Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellers I will praise thee with an vpright hart when thou hast taught mee the iudgements of thy righteousnesse Shew me thy wayes O Lorde teach me thy pathes Leade mee foorth in thy truth and teach mee for thou art my God and my saluation in thee doe I trust all the day long Make mee vnderstand the way of thy precepts and I wil consider thy wonderous workes Thy handes haue made me and fashioned me giue mee vnderstanding that I may learne thy coÌ„mandementes That they which feare thee seeing me may reioyce because I haue trusted in thy word Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruaunt and teach me thy ordinances Thou art good and gratious therefore according to thy goodnesse teach mee thy statutes O Lord of whose goodnesse the earth is ful teach me thy ordinaÌ„ces O Lord I beseech thee accept the sacrifice of my lippes and teach me thy iudgementes The righteousnesse of thy testimonies is euerlasting graunt me vnderstanding and I shall liue Deale with thy seruant according to thy mercies and teach me thy statutes I am thy seruant graunt me vnderstanding that I may knowe thy testimonies My lippes shall shewe foorth thy praise when thou hast taught me thy statutes My tongue shal talke of thy word for all thy commaundementes are righteous For in thee is a wel of liâ—ing waters and euer flowing in thy light shall we see light A prayer for the leading of a Godly life I Crie vnto thee with my whole hart heare me O Lord and guide me that I may keepe thy stautes I call vpon thee saue mee that I may keepe thy testimonies Let my prayer bee directed in thy â—ight as incense and the lifting vp of my handes as an euening sacrifice I haue gone astraye like a lost sheepe seeke thy seruaunt for I doe â—â—â—â— heauen and earth and all thinges therein conteined Oh incomprehensible vnitie Oh alwayes to bee worshipped most blessed Trinitie I humbly beseech thee and pray thee by the assumption and crucified humanitie of our Lorde Iesus Christ that thou wouldest incline and bowe downe the great depth of thy deitie to the bottomlesse pit of my vilitie Driue me from al kinde of vice wickednes and sin Create in me a cleane heart and renue in me a right spirit for thy holy names sake Oh Lorde Iesu I beseech thy goodnes for the exceeding great loue which drewe thee out of thy fathers bosome into the wombe of the holy Uirgin and for the assumption of mans nature wherein it pleased thee to saue me and to deliuer me from eternall death that thou wouldest drawe me out of my selfe into thee my Lorde God and graunt that this my loue may recouer againe to mee thy grace to increase and make perfect in me that which is wanting to raise vp in me that which is falne to restore to me that which I haue lost and to quicken in me that which is dead and should liue that so I may become conformable vnto thee in all my life and conuersation thou dwelling in me and I in thee my heart being soupled with thy grace and setled in thy faith for euer Oh my God loose and set at libertie my spirit from al inferior things Gouern my soule and so worke that both in soule and body I may be holy and liue to thy glory world without end Amen I. B. A prayer necessarie to be saide at all times O BouÌ„tiful Lord Iesu O sweete sauiour O Christ the sonne of God haue pittie vpon mee mercifully heare mee and despise not my prayers Thou hast created me of nothing thou hast redeemed mee from the bondage of sinne death and hel neither with Gould nor Siluer but with thy moste precious bodie once offered vpon the crosse and thine owne blood shedde once for all for a ransome Therefore cast me not away whom thou by thy great wisedome hast made Despise me not whom thou hast redeemed with such a precious treasure nor let my wickednesse destroy that which thy goodnes hath builded Now whiles I liue O Iesu haue mercie on me for if I die out of thy fauour it will be too late afterward to call for thy mercie Whiles I haue time to repent looke vpon me with thy mercifull eyes as thou didest vouchsafe to looke vpon Peter thine Apostle that I may bewaile my sinfull life and obteine thy fauour to liue and die therein I acknowledg that if thou shouldest deale with me according to thy iustice I haue deserued euerlasting death Therefore I appeale to thy highe throne of mercie trusting to obteine thy fauour not for my merites but for thy desertes O Iesu who hast giuen thy selfe an acceptable sacrifice to thy father to appease his wrath and to bring all sinners truly repenting and amending their euill life vnto his fauour againe Accept me O Lord among the number of them whom thou hast in Christ elected and chosen to saluation Forgiue me my sinnes giue me grace to leade a godly and innocent life graunt me
of c. O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the sonne haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost c. O holy blessed and glorious Trinitie three persons and one God haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sinnes spare vs good Lord spare thy people whome thou hast redeemed with thy most precious bloode and be not angrie with vs for euer Spare vs good Lord. From all euil and mischeefe from sinne from the craftes and assaultes of the Diuelâ— from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From blindenesse of heart from pride vaine glorie hypocrisie from enuie hatred and malice and all vncharitablenes Good Lord deliuer vs. From all fornication and al other deadly sin and from al the deceits of the world the flesh and the Diuel Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightning and tempest from plague pestilence famine froÌ„ battel and murther and from souden death Good Lord deliuer vs. From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnes of hart conteÌ„pt of thy word coÌ„maundement Good Lord deliuer vs. By the mysterie of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuitie and circumcision by thy baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agonie and bloody sweat by thy crosse and passion â–ª by thy glorious resurrection and ascension and by the comming of the holy ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In all time of of our tribulation in all time of our welth in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. We sinners do beseech thee to heare vs O Lorde God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holy Church vniuersally in the right way We besech thee to hear vs good Lord. That it may please thee to keepe strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnes and holynes of life thy seruant Elizabeth our most gratious queene and gouernour We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please the to rule her heart in thy faith feare and loue and that she may euermore haue affiance in thee and euer seeke thy honour and glorie We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to be her defender and keeper giuing her the victorie ouer all her enimies We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops Pastours and ministers of the Church with true knowledg and vnderstanding of thy word and that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it forth and shew it accordingly We beseech thee to heare c. That it may please thee to indue the Lordes of the counsel and all the nobilitie with grace wisedome and vnderstanding We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute iustice and to mainteine trueth We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe all thy people We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue to all nations vnitie peace and concord Wee beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue vs an heart to loue and dread thee and diligently to liue after thy coÌ„maundementes We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue all thy people increase of grace to heare meekely thy worde and to receiue it with pure affection to bring foorth the fruites of the spirite We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to bring into the way of trueth all such as haue erred and are deceiued We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand and to comfort and helpe the weake harted and to raise them vp that fall and finally to beate downe sathan vnder our feete We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort all that be in danger necessitie and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by lande or by water all women labouring of child all sicke persons and young children and to shewe thy pitie vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse children and widowes and all that be desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to haue mercie vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to forgiue our enimies persecuters and slanderers and to turne their heartes We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindely fruites of the earth so as in due time we may inioy them Wee beseech thee to heare vs c â–ª That it may please thee to giue vs true repentanâ—e to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to indue vs with thy holy spirit to amend our liues according to thy holy worde We beseech thee to heare vs c. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God wee beseech thee c. O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Graunt vs thy peace O Lamb of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Haue mercie vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Our father which art in heauen c. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euill Amen The versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The answere Neither rewarde vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God mercifull father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite hart nor the desires of such as be sorrowfull mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles aduersities when soeuer they oppresse vs and gratiously heare vs that those euils which the craft and subtiltie of the diuell or man worketh againste vs bee brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that we thy 〈◊〉 being hurt by no persecution 〈◊〉 euermore giue thankes vnto thee in thy holie Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs â–ª and deliuer vs for thy names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble workes that thou didest in their dayes and in the olde time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thine honour Glorie be to the
father and to the sonne and to the holy ghost As it was in the beginning is nowe and euer shal be world without ende Amen From our enimies defende vs O Christ. Gratiously looke vpon our afflictions Pitifully behold the sorrows of our heartes Mercifully forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauorably with mercie heare our prayers O Sonne of Dauid â–ª haue mercie vpon vs. Both now and euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ. Gratiously heare vs O Christ gratiously heare vs O Lord Christ. O Lord let thy mercie be shewed vpon vs As we doe put our trust in thee â–ª Let vs pray WE humbly beseech thee O father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glorie of thy names sake turne from vs all those euils that we most righteously haue deserued graunt that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercie and euermore serue thee in holines and purenes of liuing to thy honour and glorie through our onely Mediatour and aduocate Iesus Christ our lord Amen A prayer for the Queenes Maiestie O Lord our heauenly father high and mightie King of Kinges Lord of Lords the onely ruler of princes which doest froÌ„ thy throne beholde all the dwellers vppon the earth moste hartily we beseech thee with thy fauour to behold our most gratious soueraigne Ladie Queâ—ne Elizabeth and so replenish her with the grace of thy spirite that shee may alwayes incline to thy will and walke in thy feare indue her plentifully with heauenly giâ—es graunt her in health and welth long to liue â—â—rengthâ— her that she may vanquish and ouercome all her enimies and finally after this life she may atteine euerlasting ioy and felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord â–ª Amen A prayer for Bishops and Ministers of the Church ALmightie and euerliuing God which onely workest great maruels send downe vpon our Bishops Curates al congregations commited to their charge the healthfull spirite of thy grace and that they may truly please thee powre vpon them the continual dewe of thy blessing Graunt this O Lord for the honour of our aduocate and mediatour Iesus Christ. For rayne O God heauenly father which by thy sonne Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that seeke thy kingdome and the righteousnes thereof all things necessarie to their bodilie sustenance sende vs we beseech thee in this our necessitie such moderate raine and showers that we may receiue the fruites of the earth to our comforte and to thy honour through Iesus Christ our lord Amen For faire weather O Lord God which for the sinne of man diddest once drowne all the world except eight persons and afterwarde of thy greate mercie diddest promise neuer to destroy it so againe we humbly beseech thee that although we for our iniquities haue worthily deserued this plague of raine and waters yet thou wilte sende vs such weather whereby we may receiue the fruites of the earth in due season and learne both by thy punishment to amend our liues and for thy clemencie to giue thee prayse and glorie through Iesus Christ our lord Amen In the time of dearth and famine O Merciful God and heauenly father whose gift it is that the raine doth fall the earth is fruitfull man and beastes increase fishes do multiplie beholde wee beseech thee the afflictions of thy people graunt that the scarcitie and dearth which we do now most iustly suffer for our iniquitie may through thy goodnes be mercifullie turned into cheapnes and plentie for the loue of Iesus Christ our Lorde to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be prayse for euer Amen In the time of Warre ALmightie God king of al kings and gouernour of all thinges â–ª whose power no creature is able to resist to whome it belongeth iustly to punishe sinners and to be mercifull to them that truly repent saue and deliuer vs we humby beseech thee from the handes of our enimies abate their pride asswage their malice and confounde their deuises that wee being armed with thy defence may be preserued from all perils to glorifie thee which art the onely giuer of all victorie through the merites of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ our lord So be it In the time of any common plague or sickenesse O Almightie God which in thy wrath in the time of king Dauid didst slay with the plague of pestilence threescore and ten thowsand and yet remembring thy mercie didest saue the rest haue pitie vpon vs miserable sinners that nowe are visited with great sicknesse and mortalitie that like as thou didest then commaunde thinâ— Angell to cease from punishing so it may now please thee to withdraw from vs this plague greeuous sicknes through Iesus Christ our Lord. A prayer for the strength and comfort of the holy ghost ALmightie and moste mercifull God which giueth to thine elect people thy holy spirit as a sure pledge of thy heauenly kingdome we most humblie beseech thee so to replenish our heartes with the grace of thy holy spirit that he may beare witnesse to our spirites that wee be thy children and heires of thy kingdome and that by the gratious working of this thy good spirit we may kill all â—aâ—nall-lustes vnlawâ—full pleasurs concupiscences and euil affections contrarie to thy most blessed wil through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it For sure hope and true taste of euerlasting life O Almighty God which hast prepared euerlasting life for al those that be thy faithfull seruauntes graunt vnto vs sure hope of this life euerlasting that whiles we be here in this miserable world we may haue some taste feeling of it in our harts through the merites of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it For the true knowledge of God and his worde and a life agreeable to the same GRaunt vnto vs O mercifull God wee most heartely beseech thee knowledge and true vnderstanding of thy blessed will and worde that all ignorance beeing expelled we may know what thy will and pleasure is in all thinges and how to doe our dutie and trulie to walke in our vocation and that also we may expresse in our liuing those things that we do know that we be not onely knowers of thy will and worde good Lorde but also may be hartie and faithfull workers of the same through our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it A prayer for the strength and increase of faith O Almightie euerlasting God which not onely giuest euerie good and perfect gift but also increasest those giftes that thou hast giuen we most humbly besâ—ech thâ—e to increase in vs the gift of faith that we may tâ—â—â—ly beleeue in thee and in thy promises made vnto vs in Christ Iesu our Lord and that neither by our negligence nor infirmitie of the fleshe nor by greeuousnes of tentations neither by the subtile crafts and assaultes of the diuel we be driuen from this faith in the bloude of our Lord Sauiour Iesus