set downe the order how thou oughtest to behaue thy selfe when thou goest to praier And now in the name of God we will begin with praier A praier to be said in the Morning ALMIGHTY most mercifull and euerliuing God who art the cōforter and defender of all those which assuredly do put their whole trust and confidence in thy mercie as thou hast shewed vnto mee a manifest token of good will in defending me this night from the snares of Sathan that ancient enimie of all mankind who rageth now most cruelly knowing that his time is but very short and therefore is he the more eger in seeking of his pray deuising how he might get a multitude of the soules of thy children to be intrapped in his net of perdition therfore I beseech thee good father euen for thy Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christs sake that like as thou hast this night preserued mee from the snare of this wicked hunter and from his noisom pestilence euen so good Father I hartily beseech thee so to inlighten the eies of my mind this day that I may see how to auoid the wicked engins which he laieth to snare vs withall for as he is a spirituall enimie euen so O Lord had we need of thy spirituall helpe to auoid him grant this O Father for Iesus Christs sake our Sauiour Amen Another praier to be said in the morning ALmightie and most louing Father like as thou hast this night mercifully and of thine infinit goodnes and mercie gratiously preserued me from the subtilitie and tyrannie of sathan hast giuen me sweet sleepe and quiet rest Euen so good Lord I beseech thee for Iesus Christ his sake to keepe and defend me this day from all euil that may happen vnto me and that I may bestow it wholy in thy seruice and that I may doo nothing but that which may be pleasing vnto thee through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier to be said at night O Good Lord I beseech thee to blesse preserue and keepe me this night from the wilie waies and subtile suggestions of the deuill who being the ancient enimie of all mankind goeth about like a roaring lion continually seking whom he may deuour but keepe me O good Lord by thy mercifull prouidence that I may rest quietly sleepe sweetly that waking I may giue thee thanks for thy merciful protection and defence thorough Christ our Lord Amen A praier to be said when the day is light ALmightie GOD which hast ordained the light of the sun to lighten the day and the moone to lighten the night I beseech thee for thy great mercie sake so to inlighten my mind with thy holie spirit that I may truly perceiue and vnderstand the heauenlie mysteries of thy holie word that therby I may be guided to the land of euerlasting blessednes there to reigne with thee world without end Amen A praier to be deliuered from the Pope and his detestable heresies O Good Lord I beseech thee strengthen mee with thy holie spirit and giue mee grace faithfully to remain in that obedience towards thee which I am taught in thy holie word so that I be not led away from thee by the vaine ceremonies and deuilish doctrine of Antichrist the Pope which calleth himselfe the vicar of Christ and is nothing lesse for he maketh merchandize of mens soules making them to worship stocks and stones in stead of the true worshipping of thee O God Deliuer me O good Lord and all thy faithfull seruants from the tyrannie of this Romish wolfe which seeketh continually to deuoure the poore lambs of thy sheepfold and Lord I beseech thee if it be thy pleasure either to turne his hart or els confound him suddenly From whose deuilish doctrine deliuer vs the father the Sonne and the holie Ghost three in person one in substance to whom be honor and glorie now and for euer Amen A praier against worldlie tribulation GRant Lord I beseech thee that I may remaine thy faithfull seruant and serue thee in true obedience that neither the cares of this world nor any worldlie tribulation may withdrawe my mind from the obedience of thee and grant also good Lord that my mind be not choked with the cares of this world but that I may cast all my care vpon thee which liuest and reignest for euer A praier for faith MOst mercifull and louing father I beseech thee for Iesus Christs sake to increase strengthen my faith that I may go forward in al godlines And grant O Lord that my faith may be builded vpon the rocke Christ Iesus that I be not carried away with euerie blast of vain doctrine but through faith in thee I may be as an inuincible fortresse to my enimie the deuill so that he may neuer preuaile against me And also Lord I pray thee let not my faith be an idle faith but a working faith a faith that daily proceedeth from one good worke to another in the end vnto euerlasting life There to reigne with thee world without end Amen A praier to be said when one entreth into the Church I Enter into this thy temple O mercifull father to heare thy word preached giue mee grace O Lord that I may heare it with such an hūble feruent zeale that it may not be vnto me as seed that is sowen among thorns least the thornie cares of this world choke it so that it cannot bring foorth fruit Neither as seede that is sowen vpon stony ground where it can take no root nor yet as sowen by the way side where the foules of the aire do gather it and eate it vp but let the seede of thy word good Lord be sowen in me as seede that is sowen vpon good ground bringing foorth frute vnto life euerlasting some thirtie some sixtie some an hundred folde grant this O Father for Iesus Christs sake our onlie mediator and aduocate Amen A praier against the lusts of the flesh I Thy humble seruant O most mercifull father do feele in my selfe a great and maruelous battell betweene the flesh and the spirit but gratious Lord I beseech thee giue me thy grace from aboue that I do not let the flesh haue victorie but that I may tame and subdue it and make it obedient vnto the spirit least that I by giuing victorie vnto the flesh do heape sin vpon sin and in the end bring vpon my selfe swift damnation bicause the flesh indeed is apt and readie vnto al vice wickednes therefore O Lord I pray thee to strengthen me with thy holie spirit that therby I may subdue the flesh with the wicked imaginations therof through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for the diligent reading of the scriptures ETernall God most louing father which hast of thy vnspeakable goodnes reuealed thy selfe most openly plainly to the world by the gift of thy holie word I beseech thee O good Lord giue me a willing mind to the reading thereof and make my soule and hart
I take in hand so that it may be to the glorie of thy name and the profit of my brethren through Iesus Christ our only Sauiour and redeemer Amen A praier to be said in the time of persecution MOst deere and louing father which of thy owne goodnes didst so loue the world that it pleased thee of thy free mercie to send thine only sonne into the world to take our nature vpon him therby to deliuer the world from sin death and hell and promising that whosoeuer did call vpon him faithfully beleeue in him stedfastly and perseuere vnto the ende constantly should receiue of him after this life a crown of euerlasting glorie then who will not endeuour to call vpon him faithfully Who is such an infidell as knowing this wil not beleeue stedfastly Or who so vnconstant or wauering minded as will not suffer all the torments vnder heauen to obtaine this vnspeakeable reward But forsomuch good father as all these things are thy good gifts and without thy gratious fauour it is vnpossible for me to do any of all these things therfore good father I beseech thee for thy deere sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake to put into my hart grace to call vpon him faithfully faith to beleeue in him stedfastly and constancie to remaine vnto the end vnmoouably that I may obtaine this reward the greatnes and goodnes whereof no eie hath seene no eare hath heard neither hath it entred into the hart of man And although the cruell and malicious tyrants of the world do go about by all the means they can deuise to draw me from thee by their crueltie and mischeefe yet in this great extremitie O good father I pray thee giue mee thy comfortable aide that as I haue begun in thee to abide their cruell rackings and other persecutions wherewith they vexe and torment thy children so I may continue vnto the end knowing as our Sauiour Christ saith Whosoeuer doth endure vnto the end shall be saued And in another place he saith he that doth put his hand vnto the plough and looketh backe is vnwoorthie of the kingdome of heauen But for that the frailtie of mans nature is such as of himselfe he is not able to endure the least touch of persecutiō without thy fatherly aid and comfort I beseech thee therefore good Father strengthen mee with thy holie spirit that for all the troubles and torments of this wicked world I may not once looke backe but perseuere vnto the end in that good worke which thou O Lord hast begun in mee And forsomuch good father as there are many things in this world that doth hinder man very much from following of Christ as the loue of worldlie riches of father and mother wife and children of brethren and sisters and such like therefore our Sauiour Christ saith plainly He that loueth father or mother more than me is not woorthie of me and he that loueth sonne or daughter more than me is not woorthie of me And he that taketh not his crosse and followeth after me is not woorthie of me He that will saue his life shall lose it and he that will lose his life for my sake shall find it Thus may all men see oh most merciful father what a great commoditie there is to be had in the world to come by losing life in this world for Christ his sake Therefore good father I beseech thee giue me grace patiently to suffer whatsoeuer persecution the wicked tyrants of the world wil lay vpon me and not to looke backe or shrinke from the same knowing that for euerie moment of sorrowes that I suffer for Christs sake in this world I shall haue a million of ioies in the world to come vnto the which place God for his sonne Iesus Christ his sake bring vs to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be all honor glorie world without end Amen A praier for a competent liuing ALmightie GOD which mercifully bestowest thy gifts and graces vpon all thy faithfull seruants and giuest vnto euerie man sufficient according to thy good will and pleasure I beseech thee good father grant vnto me a sufficient and competent liuing that I neither haue too much riches nor extreme need but euen liuing wherwith I may sustaine my selfe and helpe my poore neighbor for as the wise man Salomon saith Two things haue I required of thee denie me them not before I die remoue far from me vanitie and lies giue me not pouertie nor riches feed me with food conuenient for me least I be full and denie thee and say Who is the Lord Or least I be poore and steale and so take the name of my God in vaine Therefore good father I beseech thee giue vnto me sufficient to serue my need and no more for heere I see the discommoditie of them both grant this good father I besech thee for Iesus Christ his sake my only Sauiour redeemer Amen A praier for a magistrate ETernall GOD and most mercifull father which hast framed all men out of the clay of the earth hatest nothing that thou hast created which also hast appointed euery man in his vocation and calling to do his dutie faithfully and to walke in the way which thou hast appointed for them and hast appointed magistrates rulers for the ouersight of thy people among whom it hath pleased thee to appoint me thy seruant to be one I beseech thee therefore good father giue me grace so to vse my selfe in my vocation as it may be both to the glorie of thy name and the profit of thy people which thou hastappointed to the vnder me And also good father I pray thee giue me grace that I may be louing and gentle vnto them and not spitefull and rigorous so that I may win them vnto thee rather by gentlenes than by tyrannie And furthermore good father I besech thee giue me grace that I may so liue my selfe as my liuing may be an example vnto them of good life so that vice may be punished and vertue aduanced and that euerie man may liue according to his vocation so that thy name may be glorified and their soules edified through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for a conclusion of this little booke O Lord from whom all good things do come and without whom nothing neither is good neither can any way be made good I beseech thee to blesse this labor and to prosper it and grant that some fruit may arise by it And forsomuch as faithfull praier is an acceptable sacrifice in thy sight grant therfore good father that euerie one when they pray may pray by faith that in so doing they may obtaine that which they pray for And Lord I pray thee put away all impediments that hinder godlie praier as too much care of worldlie goods pride vaine glorie and other like all which things are lets and impediments that hinder praier grant therefore good father that when I pray I may put away all thoughts and imaginations of vaine worldly pleasure that thy holie word may take deep root in my hart to the glorie of thy name the comfort of my soule and the strengthening of my brethren thorough Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be al honor glorie power praise dominion and thanks giuing both now and euermore Amen All glorie to God alone FINIS A Table expressing the praiers comprised in this booke AN introduction to praier page 1 A praier to be said in the morning 7 Another praier to be said in the morning 11 A praier to be said at night pag. 13 A praier to be said when the daie is light 15 A praier to bee deliuered from the Pope and his detestable heresies 17 A praier against worldlie tribulation 20 A praier for faith 22 A praier to be said when one entreth into the Church pag. 24 A praier against the lusts of the flesh 26 A praier for the diligent reading of the scriptures 29 A praier for repentance for the amendment of our former wicked liues with a thanks giuing to God for all his gratious benefits bestowed vpon vs 33 A praier in the affliction of conscience 43 A praier for the obtaining of true loue both to God and to our neighbour 49 A praier to be said in any kind of tribulation desiring God to giue patience vnto the afflicted that they may endure whatsoeuer his fatherly wisedome will laie vpon them 60 A praier to be vsed when the lust of the flesh doth rage wherin the gift of continencie is begged 67 A conflict betweene gluttonie and abstinence 78 A praier against pride and for humilitie 88 Another praier for the morning 103 Another praier for the euening 106 Another praier when the light appeereth 109 Another praier to be deliuered from Antichrist the Pope of Rome and all his detestable enormities 112 A praier to be made by those that be sicke 121 A praier to be said when one traueleth on his iournie pag. 126 A praier for a yoong man pag. 130 A praier for an old man pag. 141 A praier for a maiden pag. 148 A praier to be said of all true and faithfull subiects desiring almightie God to blesse and keepe the Queenes most excellent maiestie 153 A praier for a housholder pag. 164 Another praier for faith pag. 169 A praier for a labouring man to be said when he is about to begin his labor 172 A praier to be said in the time of persecution 175 A praier for a competent liuing 185 A praier for a magistrate pag. 188 A praier for a conclusion of this little booke pag 192. FINIS 1585 DEVS PROVIDEBIT Gene Cha 22. Imprinted at London by Arnold Hatfield and Ninian Newton for Yarath Iames dwelling in Newgate market ouer against Christ-church gate
THE HAVEN OF HOPE Containing godlie Praiers and meditations for diuers purposes Gathered by R. A. Mark 13 35. Watch and pray for ye knowe not when the time is Imprinted at London for Yarath Iames. 1585 To the Worshipfull and my very good Maister M. IOHN DARCIE Esquier grace mercie and peace from God the father through our Lord Iesus Christ be multiplied CAlling vnto my remembrāce worshipfull Sir the streight accoūt that our Sauior Christ shal take of his seruants on whom he hath bestowed his talents and seing the reward that the good and profitable seruant shall haue for wel bestowing imploieng the same And also setting before mine eies the punishment prepared for the wicked and vnprofitable seruant I waieng the reward of the one and the punishment of the other thoght it to be very necessary my bounden dutie according to the talent which almightie GOD in mercie hath bestowed vpon me to write this little booke two especial causes moouing me thereunto the first principall cause is to discharge my dutie towards almightie GOD of whom I haue receiued and do receiue euery good gift whatsoeuer it be as neere as he will giue mee grace for as the Scripture saith Euerie good gift and euerie perfect gift commeth from aboue the Lord make vs thankfull for them for when we haue done whatsoeuer we can of our selues which is nothing yea when we thinke that we haue done the best seruice that can be done yet must we vnderstand and knowe that we are but vnprofitable seruants and haue not done so much as is our dutie to do This is the first and principall cause that mooued me to the writing of this little Treatise Then when I had finished this small peece of worke being vndetermined whom I might make my patrone at length it came into my mind to present the same vnto your worships view as to one of whome among men I haue receiued the greatest benefits Therfore the second cause that moued me to the writing of this little volume was somwhat to gratifie your worships goodwil which hath at all times been so great towards me But peraduenture your worship may thinke it a great presumption in me to present such a rude peece of worke to you but I craue pardon for my boldnes and I trust that your Worship will accept it according to my good meaning and I hope in the almightie Lord that although it be not furnished with Ciceronical eloquence you shall find in it such matter as shall tend both to the glorie of GOD and the health of your soule and that is my greatest desire Thus being loth to vse superfluitie of words I end desiring almightie God to prosper your Worship in all your affaires that you may so walke before him in this vale of miserie that when this our sinful course is ended you and we may all reigne togither with him in that place which he in mercie hath prepared for all his elect children to the which place bring vs the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost Amen Your Worships most humble to command Raphe ALLIN To the godlie and Christian Reader R. A. wisheth the direction of Gods holie spirit THOV hast heer good Christian Reader the first fruits of a barren field which although it be not replenished with pleasant herbs delightfull to the fleshly fancie of thy mind yet if thou put away from thee the delights of this world and put on Christ Iesus I do not doubt but by the assistance of Gods holie spirit they shall be pleasant to thy spirituall appetite And heerin I desire thee not to be rash in condemning without consideration but rather if thou see a fault by any means to be escaped I earnestly desire thee to correct it that if heerafter occasion do serue me to set foorth the like againe seeing thy good will towards me I may be emboldened the more to perseuere in the like enterprise And bicause that praier if it come from a hart and mind that is stirred vnto godlines is a thing most pretious in the sight of almightie God I thought it good therefore to write this small Manuell of praiers intituled The HAVEN of HOPE which although the volume be but small yet if thou wel peruse and marke the same I trust in the Lord Iesus Christ that thou shalt find such matter in it as if thou pray by faith shall no doubt bring consolation both to thy soule and bodie And if I do find or can any way learne that this little Treatise doth bring any comfort vnto thy soule I do meane as God shall make me able in time to augment the same Thus being very loth to trouble thee with manie words and little matter I leaue thee to the defence of almightie God vnto whom I pray that it will please him to guide thee with his holie spirit that thereby thou maist do whatsoeuer shall be pleasant in his sight to his honor and the health of thine owne soule through our onlie Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be all honor praise glorie dominion and thanks giuing now and euermore So be it Thine in the Lord R. A. An introduction to praier BEFORE thou beginnest to pray good christian Reader there are three things of thee principally to be noted which are these that followe 1 The first is to bewaile thy sins and to be hartily sorie for them promising never to commit the like againe For at what time soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottom of his hart I will put all his wickednes out of my remembrance saith the Lord. 2 The second is this that thou must be persuaded in thy faith and conscience that the Lord doth heare regard whatsoeuer thou dost pray for or else thy praiers are made altogither in vaine For whatsoeuer proceedeth not of faith is sinne 3 And the third and last is this that thou must go with an vpright a cleere cōscience before the Lord thy God not bearing malice or enuie to any thy brethren or sisters in the Lord for as Saint Iohn saith How canst thou loue the Lord thy God whom thou hast not seen when thou hatest thy brother whom thou seest daily Thus good Reader if thou dost diligently mark and consider these three points and followe them there is no doubt but that the Lord thy GOD will heare what soeuer thou praiest and also grant thee thy request For how canst thou pray to the Lord to direct thee with his holie spirit when thou dost not bewaile and lament for thy offences which bee past And how dost thou thinke to obtaine thy request at the Lords hand when thou dost not pray by faith and with a cleere conscience And how canst thou pray with a cleere conscience when thou bearest malice and enuie to thy brethren or sisters which are all members of one misticall bodie with thee Iesus Christ being the head Thus breefly haue I
for Iesus Christs sake to strengthen me in this great and terrible battell of conscience which I feel between my flesh my spirit concerning lecherie continencie For my spirit saith I will delight my selfe with the studie of that which may bring saluation vnto me that is the reading of thy holy word with the me ditation hearing of the same altogither to giue my selfe to put far from me all worldlie pleasures and earthlie delights that therby I may through the merits of my sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ make an attonement with God the father for the innumerable multitude of my transgressions which had almost drawen me headlong to hell but whilest I am in these cogitations behold the flesh with his detestable desires doth come vnto me and by all wicked means possible doth seeke to bring me through his carnall concupiscence into the lake of perdition For as the spirit doth desire spirituall and heauenlie things euen so the flesh as it is carnall doth desire carnal and earthly things for ech thing desireth such as it selfe is Well seeing that I haue within my conscience such a great and terrible battell betweene the flesh and the spirit and that the flesh for any strength or power that is in me is like to haue the vpper hand and if the flesh haue the vpper hand what shall my reward be at the latter day when I shall come before the tribunall seate of the almightie and euerliuing God Truly my reward shall be this I shall be cast into vtter darknes there shal be weeping wailing gnashing of teeth Well now since it hath pleased almightie God of his great mercie to giue me knowledge what sinne is and that the desire and lust of the flesh is altogither wickednes and abhominable in the sight of the Lord and that the reward of sin is hell euerlasting condemnation And now since he of meere mercie hath giuen me knowledge thereof if I do not seeke to redresse it then I shall be accounted as one that knoweth the will of his father and will not do it truly such a sonne must bee beaten with manie stripes Seeing now that through the carnall concupiscence of the flesh hell fire is come vpon me what means may I vse to haue the same taken from mee againe To haue this great worke done for me I must put on sobrietie imbrace humilitie mingled with desire of a godlie life and then must I come and appeale before the high throne of mercie and aske forgiuenes of my sins in the pretious death and bloodshedding of my Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus who hath of his great mercie and goodnes promised forgiuenes of sinnes to all those that with a true and liuely faith com vnto him humbly crauing forgiuenes of their sins For by his death we are made aliue and by his strokes we are healed Heere oh most mercifull father do I behold as it were in a glasse the great and fatherly care which thou hast for all thy children which with hartie vnseined repentance come vnto thee for mercie for thou deniest none that cal vpon thee for mercie in the blood of Christ Iesus our fauiour I beseech thee oh Lord to strengthen me with thy holy spirit that thereby I may withstand all the furious assaults of sathan and the flesh For the flesh being stirred vp by the subtile suggestions of sathan do giue manie fierce assaults vnto my spirit insomuch that while it is in my bodie it is in a darke prison desiring when it shall please thy maiestie to be dissolued from this bodie of sin and as the prophet Dauid saith Like as the hart desireth the water brookes euen so my soule longeth after thee oh Lord. And also in another place he saith My soule longeth for thy saluation and I haue a good hope bicause of thy word My soule longeth for thy word saieng Oh when wilt thou comfort me My soule cleaneth vnto the dust oh quicken thou mee according to thy word Oh Lord I beseech thee to inlighten my hart with thy holie spirit that I may flie from and abhor the filthie and abhominable lusts of the flesh as a thing which is most detestable in thy sight considering that it is most odious before thee And also Lord I beseech thee for thy deere sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christs sake in this conflict in all other such like to giue victorie vnto the spirit that therby thy name may bee glorified and that it may liue as a conqueror ouer the wicked desires of the flesh and that the flesh with his concupiscences may bee in such subiection vnto the spirit that it dare not once to rebell against it And that I may liue so that whatsoeuer I do may bee pleasing in thy sight and that I through the strēgth of thy holie spirit may haue victorie ouer sinne death and hell and liue according to the precise rule of thy holie word so that whatsoeuer I do it may bee pleasant in thy sight through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor praise and glorie both now and euer Amen A conflict between gluttonie and abstinence AS yet oh my sweet Lord and God I suffer a continuall conflict in my conscience between the spirit and the flesh for my spirit manie times speaketh within me and saith I will abstaine from excesse of meats and drinks that therby I may bridle and keep vnder the corrupt and filthie desires of the flesh that in so doing I may be the more apt and readie to the knowledge and vnderstanding of thy holie will No sooner oh Lord am I in this contemplation but presently the flesh with his diuelish concupiscence offereth it selfe to persuade me to the contrarie For where the spirit doth desire spirituall and heauenlie things and to do such things as may be pleasing vnto thy diuine maiestie my flesh cleane contrarie vnto this doth desire all kind of vncleannes and to satisfie his owne carnall lusts and appetites by eating and drinking excessiuely and so were not thy great mercie it were like to bring my soule to vtter ruine and perdition But Lord as thou knowest that sathan the ancient enimie of all mankind is the intiser stirrer vp of all these wicked imaginations of my sinful flesh and that he is a slie and subtile aduersarie I beseech thee good Lord giue me grace manfully to withstand him knowing this that whosoeuer doth valiantly fight vnder thy spirituall banner and cōtinueth a faithfull soldier vnto the end shall not lose his reward but shall be made inheritour in ioy euerlasting with thy celestiall companie of angels and saints then who would not suffer all the torments vnder heauen to haue after all their troubles such a inifull resting place But such oh Lord is the wicked and corrupt nature of our sinfull flesh that it setteth more by the vaine pleasures of this transitorie world which is heere to day and