heart that I offend thée not through hypocrisie And though the wicked deale rigorouslie with me yet I beséech thée let me find comfort from thée for hitherto hast thou strengthened me against my outward and inward enimies so that all the world shall confesse that thou hast wonderfullie preserued me and performed thy promise For thou dooest euer guide me with thy hand that I can turne no waie but where thou appointest me Thy prouidence doth so fast hold me that I cannot by anie meanes escape from thée Thou hast made me in all parts and therfore must néeds know me Wherefore considering thy wonderfull worke in forming me I cannot but praise thée and feare thy mightie power who art the creator of all things the kéeper of iustice the louer of right the hater of malice beholding from the high throne of thy Maiestie the children of men Bow downe thine eare O mercifull Father I humblie beséech thée and heare me thy seruant whom thou hast hitherto brought vp frō my tender age and deliuered me vntill this daie from the hands of the wicked whose rage was furious vntill thou brakest their force I set my hope in thée O God and life euerlasting knowing that these earthlie things shall perish hauing a sure hope that both my soule and bodie shall inioy thy presence O God of my saluation in the last resurrection Then shall I féele thy mercies and answere when thou callest me Wherefore I set all my felicitie and ioie in that I am vnited with thée O God and shall inioie thy presence so that I reiect all other things saue that which furthereth me to attaine to thy heauenlie treasures which is sure and cannot be found in anie but in thée alone whose praise shall indure for euer world without end Amen 41. A praier wherein the sinner praieth for grace that he may make a godlie end BLessed Father of heauen fountaine of all grace and goodnes that art rich in mercie and plentifull in giuing the same to all that doo faithfullie call vpon thy holie name O good God thou hauing a sonne no lesse rich in power wisedome knowledge and mercy than thou art thine owne selfe diddest not spare to send him from thy heauenlie palace downe to the earth into the wombe of a virgine for the saluation of mankind to declare thine aboundant loue towards vs. Thou diddest for our sakes make him poore which before was rich to the intent that we which before were verie poore should by his pouertie be made rich that he which before was all one with thée in thy diuine substance might now be made one with vs that are members of the bodie whereof he is the head Hearken good Lord giue eare vnto my praier let my petition ascend vp before the sight of thy Maiestie The comming of thy mercifull son did make me thine but the vilenes of mine owne acts hath cast me downe and made me verie miserable The greatnes of mine offenses hath caused thée to turne awaie thy face from me withdrawing thy grace which was the cause of the good works I did Thou canst find no good thing in me worthie of thy fauour wherfore Lord behold the face of Christ thy deare Sonne my mediator for his sake giue me that which of my selfe I am much vnworthie to obteine of thée Looke on me with thy pitifull eie and in the time of my trouble incline thine eare and heare me My old enimie daily assalteth me and vexeth me Wherefore I will not cease to call vpon thée dailie but speciallie at the houre of my death Lord heare me defend me at which time my cruel enimie will most busilie inuade me At that instant Lord looke vpon me with the eie of thy mercie now whilest I am in this wretched world I craue not of thée aboundance of earthlie goods but as honest necessitie dooth require but the aboundance of thy grace in this life This hast thou of thy méere liberalitie promised to grant to all that in stedfast faith call vpon thée This hastie calling vpon thée dooest thou delight in for thou art as redie to answer me as I am to call vpon thée Wherefore make spéed in hearing as I am bold to call vpon thée for I confesse O Lord I haue left thy holie word and commandements which is as bread vnto the soule giuing nutriment and moisture by faith and charitie and haue eaten of the trée which thou forbadest me I haue with our father Adam followed the illusions of the serpent tasted of sin but thy blessed sonne my sauiour Iesus Christ hath shed his bloud for vs whereby we are restored vnto thy grace mercie and fauour through the sacrament of baptisme if we hartilie repent He quickneth vs which before were dead in sinne he slaieth and can raise againe he striketh and healeth as he did Paule in his persecution How much therefore are we bound to his grace that without anie deseruing on our parts willinglie offered himselfe to the death for our redemption and to thy maiestie also who didst not spare thine onelie begotten sonne but of thy pure pittie sentedst him downe to suffer the most vile death of the crosse for our sakes Wherefore I am much ashamed to lift vp my eies to heauen towards thy highnesse being so vnkind to thée againe so manie waies I haue loued the works of darkenes and therefore I fled from the light of the bright sunne of iustice for which cause doo I sigh sorrowe and bewaile my wretchednes in the bitternesse of such thoughts for feare of thine anger towards me knowing that at the time of thy comming to the dreadfull generall iudgement the storme of thine indignation shall go forth and fall downe vpon the heads of the vngodlie Thou liftest me vp of a great hight in that thou thou madest me like vnto thine image touching my reasonable soule and hast giuen me power by thy grace to inherit euerlasting ioies of heauen both bodie and soule if I liued here after thy rommandements What greater gift canst thou giue me Lord than to haue the fruition of thée But alas I beare so heauie and erthlie fraile bodie ioined to my noble soule that my heart and mind is drawne downe from the consideration of thy goodnes and from well dooing vnto all kind of vices Wherefore Lord grant me that in the shadow of this life I may haue grace to sée light and to know thée thy waies and thy holie word which giueth light and vnderstanding vnto babes for after this life there is no place nor time left of repentance And since my time is here but short continue thy grace towards me that I may liue in thy feare all the daies of my life and end my life in thy fauour who doost indure for euer and thy remembrance through all generations world without end Amen Amen 42. A praier against the offenses of this world MY hart shall praise thée O GOD for my soule is in loue with thy maiestie
our faith and teachest vs to forget the world and to depend on thée O father of al goodnes Thy promise neuer faileth thou gouernest by thy holie spirit as séemeth best to thy godlie wisedome for thou O God art rich in mercie and truth which féedest all things and none can iustlie complaine For as by thy presence all things haue life so if thou withdraw thy blessing we all perish Thou hast a little flocke féed them with thy spirituall foode and gouerne thy church séeing thou hast chosen them out of the world ioine it vnto thy selfe that thy faithfull may continue for euer For thou art euerlasting thou hast euer loued truth thou art veritie it selfe all thy promises are vnremooueable Thou diddest promise to Abraham to multiplie his séed as the stars of heauen and as the sands vpon the sea side which promise at the last he enioied euen so diddest thou promise Isaac and Iacob When Ezechias was sicke vnto the death thou diddest promise him life fiftéene yéeres more which thou didst performe for thy names sake Euen so Lord kéepe thy promise with vs that are thy poore shéepe so shall we praise thée and thy Sonne our sauiour Christ which is our good shéepeheard who suffered death for his flocks sake to make them triumph ouer their enimies And as he rose againe for our iustification so grant that we may rise in newnes of life and aspire vnto the same place whither our sauiour is gone before whose name be praised with thée O déere father and the holie Ghost now and foreuermore Amen 44. A praier wherein is shewed that the wisedome of God is to be praised as also how he trieth his seruants is declared THou O most mightie God art the creator maker of all things whose power is euerlasting which shal neuer be put down whose kingdome indureth incorrupt for euer and thy going out hath béene from euerlasting Great art thou high vnmeasureable thou onelie knowst the waies of wisdome none other is there that can find hir paths but thou the mightie God which hast found hir out with thy foreknowledge by the same thy godlie wisedome hast created all things according to thy noble will and pleasure This thine omnipotent power Lord I thy sinfull seruant and subiect doo honour and thy excéeding wisedome I haue in great reuerence By the one thou madest all things and by the other thou knewest what thou wouldest make long before they were made in both these hast thou declared thy selfe to be the liuing God And although our acts which be past present and to come be all open before thine eies and our thoughts manifest in the sight of thy diuine presence yet dooest thou dailie search and prooue thine elect people sometimes by aduersitie sometimes by prosperitie to cause vs thereby to be knowen to other After this sort diddest thou prooue Abraham in the oblation of his sonne to the intent his obedience might be an example to all that should come after him Thus also diddest thou prooue thy seruant Iob and he was found both faithfull constant and iust Thou knowest what men be before thou triest them But after the triall thou hearest them their praiers and allowest their good actes and intentions by such proofe Lord hast thou tried me both within and without And though through frailtie I haue erred wandering from thée yet at length haue I béene found to returne againe to thée that art the perfect waie and to beléeue faithfullie in thée as in my verie God to trust wholie in thée to loue thée as my mercifull father and all through the gift of thy grace not of mine owne strength or will For what were I sillie wretch if I were destitute of thy helpe I doo consider thy goodnes and thy godlie prouidence by which thou wast the cause of my first being and still am I much bound vnto thy Maiestie for the great loue thou barest vnto me First for my creation and also for thy meruellous protection assistance inspiration redemption and reconciliation which the eie of my soule dooth right well consider Wherefore I most humblie praie thée Lord to regard what shall redound to thy glorie for thine honour is more aduanced in sauing one poore miserable and sinfull creature through thy mercie than in the damnation of a thousand by the rigour of thy iustice For in hell none can praise thée but cursse waile moorne and lament their miserable estate Now O my GOD I most hartilie beséech thée to giue me grace to flie the companie of all such as speake vntruelie of thée and of thy holie will and word also of them that exalt themselues presumptuouslie least being conuersant in their wickednesse I might fall from that right way in the which it hath pleased thy gratious goodnes to direct me for whosoeuer is familiar with the proud shal be clothed with pride He that dooth euill is worthie of death so are all those that communicate with him that hath pleasure in euill As for such as decline from thée I will abhorre those that doo me anie wrong I cléerelie forgiue and forget whatsoeuer they doo vnto me yea I doo praie vnto thée my most mercifull father euen from the bottome of my hart to forgiue them But those Lord that maliciouslie resist thée and thy holie word I hate them euen as though they were mine enimies Neuerthelesse I doo praie thée for amendment of their liues and saluation of their soules Consider Lord the frailtie of our nature none can stand in the right waie but shall slide and fall vnlesse thou giue him the staffe of thy grace to staie himselfe thereby As for me I haue wandered from thée as a shéepe that is straied from the flocke but thy goodnes hath found me out again and brought me vnto the fold Lead me therfore out of mine owne wicked waie into thie blessed waie of truth through the merits of thy déer beloued Sonne Christ who is the very true perfect path to all beatitude by whose helpe I may so direct my steppes in the waie of this life that I may kéepe the waie vnto life euerlasting Amen 45. A praier wherin is shewed how stranglie preserued and how blessed they are that trust in God the mercie of God also toward sinners is declared O Lord almightie father of mercie God of all comfort which in the treasure of shine infinit mercies disposest all things not onlie among vs thy poore creatures vpon earth which is bountifullie replenished therewith but also among thy holy angels and blessed spirits in heauen who are all preserued by thy grace Lord God whose nature and propertie is to haue mercie vpon all those that loue thée and in faith call on thée thou saiest by thy prophet Esaie that the mountaines shall remooue and the hilles shall fall downe but thy louing kindnesse shall not mooue from those that trust in thée Thou Lord of thy mercie sauedst Noa frō the generall floud and Abraham
conuersion but after long forbearing thou strikest verie sore throwing both bodie and soule into the pit of hell hauing such measure of punishment as they gaine in this world For as thy mercies is vnmeasureable so is thy iustice vnremooueable to those that depart this world in their wickednesse Make me O Lord God of the number of those that be thy faithfull children let me not wauer nor fall from my hope but put on me the shield of faith that I may stronglie fight against my ghostlie enimie Grant me to vanquish and ouercome him that after triumphant victorie I may liue and reigne with thée O Father Sonne and holie Ghost thrée persons and one true and euerlasting GOD through the merits death of thy Sonne my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to the which most glorious Trinitie be giuen all honor glorie and praise now and for euer Amen 33. A praier to be said at all times wherein our frailties are confessed and request made to haue them redressed BLessed art thou O GOD of our fathers and blessed is thy holie name which is most glorious for euer Let the heauens blesse thée and all thy creatures thou art the Lord strong and mercifull gratious slow to anger and abounding in goodnesse and truth reseruing mercie for thousands forgiuing iniquities transgressions and sinnes making the wicked innocent if they will repent with all their whole harts and returne vnto thée Thou visitest the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation for as thou art mercifull euen so goeth iustice from thée For thou settest so much store by man that thou hast a regard ouer him and dailie carest for vs O Lord God and makest proofe and triall of him euerie houre beholding those with a fatherlie eie that serue thée in faith and truth Thou hast vsed correction vnto vs but we gathered therby no repentance thou hast corrected vs to the end we should amend but we refused thy fatherlie visitation For those that are thine enimies thou wilt declare thine heauie iudgments against them but thou wilt shew thy fauourable kindnesse towards thy children For thou hast said I wil punish them that serue me otherwise than I haue commanded them not sparing the chéefe that the people may feare and praise my iudgements For to the wicked and carnall man thou appéerest as a flaming fire but vnto them that be drawne with thy holie spirit thou art like a pleasant saphir to be hold Holinesse perteineth vnto thée O Lord GOD and thou O GOD art most holie and nothing vnholie may appéere before thée Therefore whosoeuer commeth vnto thée must be washed from all sinne and corruption And séeing thou gouernest all things by thy prouidence thou wilt put a difference betwéene the godlie and vngodlie Wherefore we humblie beséech thée O Lord GOD lighten our hearts with thy holie spirit that we maie féele thy fauour towards vs as those that be thine elect doo The right hand of thy maiestie is glorious in power Grant vs O God continuallie to depend vpon thy prouidence with patience from daie to daie with full trust in thy promises for our deliuerance For though we prouoke thée iustlie to anger O God yet wilt thou neuer forsake vs. Thou art our Lord almightie Iehouah is thy name which declarest that thou art constant wilt performe thy promise Grant vs grace therefore that we may worship thée aright in the place which thou hast appointed vs for thou O Lord requirest puritie We cannot be thine except our sinnes be purged with the bloud of Iesus Christ by whose grace we may learne to detest all sinne Which grant vs all to doo O Father for Christes sake whose figure we represent on him we laie all our offenses who is able to beare the burthen of them for vs all We present him to thée O Father whom we know both can and will make vs cleane and perfect before thée whose mercies we dailie praise with thée O father and the holie Ghost now and for euer Amen 34. An humblie confession of our sinnes before God as also a petition to haue the same remitted O Lord heare my harty repentance for I am sorrowfull and gréeued with the burthen of my sins the remembrance of them is intollerable Wherefore looke downe vpon me with thy fauourable eies of pittie and behold me which lie here prostrat before the sight of thy maiestie for I confesse that I am waxen old in sin and wickednesse wherin I first was conceiued but now my most hartie desire is to be borne anew and to be graffed in my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ For thus my faith dooth persuade me that none can come too late vnto thée who forgauest the théefe all his wickednesse at his last houre when he asked mercie of thée And manie other more examples I find in my most holie word how mercifull thou hast béene alwaies to those thy seruants that sought the same of thée And shall I then despaire hearing dailie thy voice crie out vnto me saieng Come all ye that are heauie loden and I will ease you Knocke and it is heard aske and it is giuen Who can yet thinke that he shall misse of mercie if he craue it in faith séeing thou art so true and iust in all thy promises Thy creatures faile in their words and works but thou kéepest thy promise and fidelitie and thy word indureth vnremooueable for euer and euer O thou God almightie vnto whom all things are knowen shew on me thy mercie euen in the sight of the children of men that they may knowe and sée how gratious and mercifull thou art vnto those that giue ouer themselues vnto the hands of thy almightie Maiestie Thou art the helper of the forsaken and fréendles and there is none that may be compared vnto thée that art so rich in mercie and louing kindnesse that diddest not spare thine onlie begotten Sonne Iesus Christ to giue him a slaine sacrifice for my sinnes and the sinnes of the whole world but also hast promised that whosoeuer dooth come vnto thée in his name with full assurance in his bloud death and passion shall not onelie receiue remission of all their sinnes and iniquities that euer they haue committed but also inherit the crowne of euerlasting glorie which thou wilt giue vnto all those that be thine elect in Christ Of which number through thy grace I account my selfe for one making me most assured thereof bicause thou hast promised the same Which dooth imbolden me at this present to craue thy most mercifull aid and assisstance of thy holie spirit to strengthen me in faith to confirme me in hope to stablish me in charitie that I may be knowen by thy cognisance and badge to be thy child and faithfull seruant that I may vse the talent which thou hast giuen me to thine honor and glorie and the health of my soule That when it shall please thée to take a reckoning how I haue spent the
be diminished For thou art so mercifull that a sinner can no sooner humble himselfe but thou receiuest him to mercie waiting as it were with patience to call him to repentance Wherefore we crie now vnto thy maiestie from the depth of our hearts most humblie beséeching thée to put all our wickednes out of thy remembrance and giue vs grace to put our onelie trust in thée from whom we looke for our deliuerance who shalt change our bodies and make them like to the most glorious bodie of thy sonne Iesus Christ to whom with thée the holie Ghost be giuen all praise honour and glorie now and for euer more Amen 39. A praier of lamentation wherein the sinner lamenteth his miserable estate and crieth for mercie MY God when I do earnestlie behold mine owne state wherevnto I am brought through sinne not onlie being naked and bare of all goodnes but also to be ouerwhelmed in the depth of all iniquitie I cannot but lament moorne and crie for helpe as dooth a woman whose time draweth néere to be deliuered of hir child for she can take no rest till she be discharged of hir burthen No more can I Lord as long as I féele my selfe loden with my heauie burthen of sinne the weight wherof draweth me downe to the déepe bottome of all miserie from whence I can by none be deliuered but onelie by thée that art the guide and the eie to those that are blind through ignorance the succor of the oppressed the comfort of the weake the life of those that are dead so that they repent and turne vnto thée It is not the long distance of vs from thy highnesse which kéepeth our praiers from thée thine eares are readie in the hearts of all that are willing to crie for the help of thy grace Who so is made farre from thée through sinne by repentance is made néere vnto thée He that is in the bottom of the sea of miserie if he beginne to call for thy helpe he shall not be suffered to sinke From all déepe dangers most mercifull God deliuer me I crie and call pitiouslie vnto thée which art onelie able to helpe me Heare therefore I most hartilie praie thée my sorowfull praier and let my poore petition pearse the eares of thy Godhed And since thy sonne Christ died for to release vs of sinne let not my sinnes be a staie whereby my praiers should not be heard but wipe them cleane awaie that they neuer more appéere For I miserable sinner doo flie to the gentlenes of thy fauourable mercie whose nature and propertie is to haue pitie compassion From thée floweth all mercie and grace which was so great vnto vs that it mooued thée to send thine onlie Sonne to die for our redemption whereby thy iustice was satisfied and thy mercie found that it sought O how feruent was this thy noble charitie to vs vile wretches It tooke root beginning in thy mightie deitie from thence it was deriued to mankind being an example that we thy christian people should like louing brethren beare one anothers burthen Wherefore I am most willinglie contented to remit all iniuries doon to me as it hath pleased thy goodnes to forgiue me much greater offenses committed against thée And whensoeuer it shall please thée to scourge and punish me I will gladlie receiue thy chastisement for that I knowe it procéedeth of loue for my wealth and suretie trusting that after my long abiding suffering in this life I shall surelie obteine thy reward by thy promise that is If we suffer with Christ we shall also reigne with him Such sure hope haue I euer had in thée Lord and by the same hope I trust to haue thy fauour and liue for euer For blessed are they that trust in thée most mercifull Father and cursed are they that trust in man Of thy grace and mercie onelie commeth all goodnes thy mercie forgiueth onelie our sinnes dailie and hourelie the painfull death of thy sonne Christ deliuereth vs from all the paines due for our sinnes Thou boughtest vs not with gold and siluer but with the pretious bloud of that lambe without spot thy blessed Sonne whose death had béene sufficient for thousands of worlds The greatnes of thy loue caused the plentifull paiment of the price of our redemption The charitie of our Lord Iesus Christ hath burnt vp and consumed by his death all our iniquities Wherefore the faithfull being thus deliuered from all dangers by thine onlie goodnesse may now giue thanks vnto thy mightie Maiestie resting in hope to haue after this life euerlasting ioie and felicitie thorough Iesus Christ our mercifull Lord and redéemer to whom with thée O deare Father the holie Ghost be giuen all honor glorie and praise now and for euer Amen 40. A praier wherein the fatherlie loue and preseruation of God is set foorth and a request that we may continue faithfull and constant vnto the end GRant vs O Lord that we may constantlie beléeue in thée that being certified by thy iustice taught by thy wisedome gouerned by thy power we may stedfastlie perseuere euen vnto the end in hope of that ioie that is set before our eies framing our liues continuallie in christian exercises that we may shew our selues thankful to thée our God with dutifulnesse to our neighbour For thy iudgements appéere manifest in this world against those that suppresse thy word and persecute thy seruants For thou dooest disappoint the lot and expectation of the wicked turning their ioie into sorrowe and the teares of the godlie into gladnesse dwelling in the harts of thy faithfull by thy holie spirit who are called thy glorie bicause thy image and the token of thy grace shineth in them Thou art a light to comfort thy people and a fire to consume thine enimies Thou art he O Christ that touchest the harts of all thy seruants mortifieng their concupiscence but to the wicked thou art the sauour of death Wherefore the faithfull desire of thée to be deliuered that thou by them maist be glorified for thou hast promised to be true and iust vnto all that trust in thée Wherefore we will take thée for our defense against all our enimies what danger soeuer we fall into Thy word giueth life vnto man causing him to sée and trie the secrets of his darke heart For thou shewest thy selfe most liberall to thine when they séeme to be most destitute kéeping them vnder thy protection that they may be safe against all dangers and frée from the cruelties of their enimies For as to the elect all things turne to their profit so to the reprobate euen those things that are good turne to their damnation As for me I will neuer boast of mine owne vertues O God but confesse that thou of thy frée goodnes hast euer bin mercifull vnto me and giuen me power against mine enimies as to one of thine household Wherefore grant me alwaies to make my praier vnto thée from the fountaine of my
for euer comfort thy small flocke to the confusion of thine enimies and make vs able through thy grace to kéepe thy lawes which are pure euen as the siluer which from the earth is tried and purified seuen times in the fire Thou art néere Lord vnto all that in this life call vpon thée faithfullie and thou kéepest them from all dangers for in the midst of this world we are in manie temptations and vices and in the companie of the proud and wicked people and in manie tribulations We sée the vanities of this world readie to mooue vs we suffer persecution yet thou kéepest vs from desperation and thy grace preserueth vs that they come not néere vs. Their entisements we estéeme not bicause we hope in thy mightie power who art our defense in trouble Thy sonne Christ is the strong rocke in the which all birds that build doo rest out of ieopardie to him all sinners maie slie for succour and comfort being holden by him they may be eased This rocke the diuell cannot vndermine nor scale no water of tribulation can drowne those that build on this rocke Pharao king of Aegypt with a great host pursued the children of Israel but he could not hurt them thou Lord wast their defense and diddest destroie all their aduersaries Euen so art thou our defense our hope and our comfort Thou wilt compasse vs about with ioifull deliuerance The house of our bodies is enuironed with enimies but thy prouidence will defend vs out of all dangers Thou wilt informe vs and shewe vs the waie wherin we shall go This life is a pilgrimage and a iorneie for vs to trauell in Thou art the end of our waie O God Thou art the marke that we shoote at when we come to our iornies end in thée Lord we hope to haue rest Thou giuest knowledge and instruction by faith that if we passe well through this world we shall haue ioie euerlastinglie to the which bring vs all thou Lord that diedst for vs all Amen 16. A praier that we may be heard of God THy hand is not shortened O Lord that it cannot help neither is thine eare stopped that it will not heare but our misdoings haue separated vs from thée our God and our sinnes haue caused thy face to be hidden from vs. Our hands are defiled with vnrighteousnesse our lippes speake leasings our toongs doo set out wickednesse No man regardeth righteousnes and none iudgeth truelie euerie one hopeth in vaine things and imagineth deceit conceiueth wearines bringeth foorth euill For our offenses are manie before thée and our sinnes doo testifie against vs and we acknowledge that we haue doone amisse transgressing and dissembling against thée Lord and fallen awaie from our God vsing presumptuous imaginations Neuerthelesse thou art our God and euerlasting father our nourisher and defender which wouldest not the death of a sinner but mercifullie receiuest all those that with repentant harts come vnto thée And now we set our eies and face towards thée lifting vp our hearts vnto thy mercie seat who hast promised to vnlode vs whensoeuer we come vnto thée Heare vs therefore and forgiue vs all our offenses which we haue committed from the time of our birth vntill this present houre O blesse vs and the works also of our hands that we may liue and praise thée world without end through Iesus Christ our Lord and sauiour Amen 17. A praier against the enimies of the church THe sure ships O Lord fléete in the sea vnder their sailes and passe through the stormie tempests without drowning so doo thine elect O God almightie passe through the fearefull perils of all their enimies in this world by the meanes of thy ship the church and the true faith thereof of which ship our Sauiour Christ is the sterneman the guide and the sure anchor to be cast in all necessities who so trusteth in him shal be brought to the faire hauen of perfect beatitude Who so kéepeth him within the boords of his faithfull ship néedeth not to feare the dreadfull dragon that sturdie strong Leuiathan to whose power no power on earth may be compared for he is so mad that he feareth nothing he is king ouer all the children of pride This is that Lucifer that fell downe from heauen he is the serpent that deceiued in paradise and brought death to all mankind Neuerthelesse when thy faithfull people are penitent for their offenses resist his temptations and followe thy lawes putting their whole trust in thée and thy blessed sonne then doo they mock and deceiue him as Christ did with his humanitie which when he thought to deuoure by tempting the Iewes to put Iesus to death he was tripped in his owne turne and taken into bondage by the vertue of Christs diuinitie And whensoeuer we that be his faithfull be caught as this our enimie thinketh in his danger we turne to our head Iesus Christ for refuge and by his helpe doo vanquish him Great good Lord is thy mercie and goodnes that suffereth not thy faithfull to be tempted aboue their strength but in the midst of their temptation makest a waie for them to escape out The enimie hath no power of himselfe but as thou sufferest him he with all other creatures hang vpon thy will commandements all wait on thée that thou maist giue them meate in due season when thou giuest it them they gather it Thy works Lord are mercie and forgiuenes thou art our iustice whereby thou makest vs iust which before were most wicked sinners thou makest vs thine humble creatures to tremble for feare of thy mightie power and iustice our pride thereby is abated We account the good déedes which we haue doone to be of thy gifts and goodnesse nothing presuming of our owne fraile power for we knowe that thy holie spirit resteth vpon those that haue a lowly troubled spirit and dooe stand in awe of thy word The proud and stifnecked people dooest thou touch with scorpions and punishments then they come to the knowledge of thy Maiestie then will they saie as Nabucadonosor said after his punishment Honour and praise be vnto thée O God of heauen whose power endureth alwais and thy kingdome from one generation to another Then shall they be driuen to praise thy mightie Maiestie as thou art worthie Cruell Saule was touched of thy hand and became Paule a welbeloued apostle through the helpe of thy grace and laboured more aboundantlie than all other of thine apostles such is the power of thy gratious influence This thy noble grace send me most mercifull God whereby I shall haue a louing desire to honour thée to praise thée my God and sauiour so long as I haue anie being I will not cease to confesse my sinnes to thée and to lament mine iniquities then shall my words be plesant and acceptable to thée And as I ioie wholie in thée that art my creator and in thy sonne which is my redéemer so shalt thou also delight in me that am
in mans power to order his owne waies nor to rule his owne steps or goings therefore chasten thou vs O Lord but with fauor not in thy wrath Bring vs not vtterlie to naught for we haue none other sauiour neither can we helpe our selues for by our saluation thy name shall be praised Therefore Lord helpe vs séeing that of thy mercie thou hast made vs a most deare posession vnto thée and we through our sinnes are worthilie punished Declare againe thy loue and finish the worke that thou hast begunne in vs so shall we liue and praise thy holie name for euer euer through Iesus Christ our Lord and redéemer Amen 23. A praier wherein the hart poureth out it selfe before God with humble submission and christian lowlines in diuers considerations THe most pleasant thing that I can offer vnto thy maiestie O Lord is to giue thée a thankfull heart for all thy benefits and to be inwardlie sorie that euer I did anie thing which should offend thée then to mortifie the concupiscence of the flesh to put off the old Adam and put on Christ to leaue to be carnall and to become spirituall Wherefore I will call on thy holie name for thy gratious aid and assistance to helpe me and strengthen me in these my good purposes not doubting but thou wilt most gratiouslie heare me My heart and my whole bodie I offer willinglie vnto thy seruice which although it be of small value in déed yet I doo not mistrust but it shall be accepted in thy sight as was the offring of two mites which the poore woman threw into the treasurie at Ierusalem which small summe of hir pouertie thou diddest more estéeme and praise than all the great gifts of the rich men I humblie beséech thy highnesse to accept this gift of my poore soule bodie which is a declaration of my louing mind towards thée and vouchsafe Lord so to worke in them by thy grace that they may will and worke that which may be acceptable in thy sight so that I may truelie performe my vowes made vnto thée by kéeping thy lawes and commandements with my whole hart which I and euerie true christian professe to kéepe For whosoeuer he be that breaketh but one of them is guiltie of all It is not in mans power to turne to thée O God but thy worke onelie to conuert vs for we consider thy Maiestie and the weaknesse of our sinfull flesh Thy mercie worketh in vs sorrowe and repentance for our former life All things are gouerned by thy prouidence O God if thou blesse vs all creatures shall fauour vs. Let thy holie spirit counsell me how to come foorth of this carefull and troublesome life that I may hide my selfe vnder the shadowe of thy wings where I know I shall be defended by thy power which shall be a signe of thy fatherlie care towards me Wherefore I will resigne my selfe wholie vnto thée trusting in thy protection Thou O God art onelie the true felicitie to heale me thou art able and to raise me to life though I were dead long ago and turned to dust For I acknowledge thée to be almightie and that there is nothing done on earth without thy will and ordinance wherefore I will not trust to anie worldlie helpe In the daies of my trouble thou kéepest couenant and mercie with thy seruants that walke before thée with all their heart and though thou correctest from time to time yet thy helpe will not be farre off if we returne to thée Thy mercie is great to poore sinners for thou art more readie to pardon them with long suffering rather than to punish them Thou shewest fauor towards the fatherlesse which walke after thy commandements as thou art God and creator of the soule and body so wouldest thou haue vs serue thée with both and that thy people be continuallie subiect vnto thée For the greater gifts that we receiue at thy mercifull hands O Lord God and the higher that thou dooest preferre vs the more are we bound to praise thée for the same And though we be high or lowe in degrée yet can we not be exempted from dooing our duties Thou O God art the giuer of all good things wherfore I am readie to bestowe all that I haue at thy commandement Giue me grace O Lord God that I neuer prouoke thée to anger by my sinnes that thou maist mitigate thy punishments towards me strengthen me with thy holie spirit that I may leade an vpright life with true faith and repentance vnto the glorie of thy holie name through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen 24. A praier wherein the afflicted person praieth against his enimies that God would turne vpon them his iudgements O Lord God of our fathers helpe me poore desolate creature I beséech thée for thou hast don al things from the beginning and looke what thine euerlasting counsell hath deuised it came euer to passe for all thy waies are prepared and thy iudgements are doone in thine euerlasting foreknowledge O looke thou now vpon mine enimies and bring to passe O Lord that the pride of them may be cut downe for thy power standeth not in the iudgement of men For there was neuer proud person that pleased thée but in the praier of the humble and méeke hath thy pleasure béene euermore O thou God of the heauens thou maker and Lord of all creatures heare and helpe me calling vpon thée and putting my trust in thy mercie for I haue none other helper but thée O Lord God Thinke vpon me and shew thy selfe vnto me in the time of my distresses and troubles strengthen me with patience in all aduersities Thou Lord of all power knowest all things O thou mightie God aboue all heare the voice of them that haue none other hope but onlie thée deliuer me out of the hands of mine enimies and make me not a scorne vnto the foolish Heare thou my God for I am despised turne their shame vpon their owne heads for they are puft vp with pride as the stomach that is choaked with fat O Lord of hosts thou righteous searcher which knowest the reines and the verie heart let me sée them punished if it be thy will for vnto thée doo I commit my cause For though they wickedlie prouoked me to doo euill for euill yet thy word kept me backe for I behaued my selfe vprightlie towards mine enimies Therefore I humblie beséech thée let them knowe that thou art the defender of my iust cause Let my persecutors be confounded but not me thou shalt bring vpon them the time of their plague and shalt destroie them right soone Wherefore O Lord my sauiour let the same shame and confusion light vpon them which they intended to haue brought vpon me and bicause thou hast all things in thy hands and power thou wilt spéedilie reward them after their deseruings for the deapth of thy prouidence gouerneth all things and disposeth them as it pleaseth thée Good Lord make me not a mocking
gifts of grace which thou hast lent me I may yéeld a iust account with much aduantage so that I may be worthie to heare thy voiee saieng vnto me Come thou true good seruant thou hast béene faithfull in a little I will make thée ruler ouer much enter thou into thy maisters ioie O blessed and happie are they that shall be so placed of thée they haue fought a good fight and thorough Iesus Christ haue ouercome the battaile and prince of this world Therefore shall they liue and reigne with the same Christ their grand capteine bicause they tooke him for their guide in all their dooings and fought manfullie vnder his banner Thy poore soldier I am Lord and fight dailie Lord helpe me for thy mercies sake to ouercome all mine enimies Giue me O Lord a waking mind an vnderstanding hart and renue in me a right spirit which may lead me vnto thée who art the waie the truth and the life whose mercies remaine for euer whose truth indureth from generation to generation Glorie be to the father who so mercifullie created vs and to the sonne who louinglie redéemed vs and to the holie Ghost who sanctifieth vs and maketh vs blessed thrée persons and one GOD whose name be praised for euermore Amen 35. A thankesgiuing vnto God for the redemption of the world wherein is shewed from what graces he fell and how he was restored O Most holie father of heauen the onelie liuing God of power inestimable of wisdome incomprehensible to thée be honour and glorie and thanks for thy noble works in the creation of mankind and also for our redemption out of captiuitie and thraldome of the diuell by the passion of thy most deare beloued sonne Iesus Christ For thou madest Adam the first man and gauest him frée will to obeie thy commandements from the which he fell by the intisement of the diuell and by his owne stubbornes whereby he spoiled himselfe and his after commers of those godlie gifts which thou of thy mercie haddest bestowed vpon vs. Howbeit thou of thy fatherlie goodnesse diddest not vtterlie leaue him but gauest him faith to beléeue thy promises made vnto him and to vs all in Iesus Christ with grace and obedience to kéepe thy lawe By faith we beléeue in thée by charitie we worke towards our neighbour according as thou hast commanded No man liueth without sinne but happie and blessed are they to whom thou giuest thy grace not to abide and sléepe in sin but by penitence to come to a godlie conuersation Lord giue vs faith and a willing heart to follow thy holie word so that we may exercise our selues in it all the daies of our life Make vs O Lord like vnto the wise virgins that were prouided of oile in their lampes against the comming of the bridegroome Then wilt thou know vs to be thy faithfull children by election and open the gate to vs that we may enter in to our comforts Which grant vs Lord for thy blessed sonnes sake who to saue vs suffered bitter passion whose mercies be praised for his goodnes with thée O father and the holie ghost in the world of worlds now and for euer Amen 36. An other praier of praise and thankesgiuing to the same purpose aforesaid WHat liuing creature can giue condigne thankes most gratious heauenlie father for the manifold gifts which thou of thy infinite mercie and goodnes hast giuen him First for his noble creation wherein he excelleth all other earthlie creatures then for his redemption through the bitter passion and resurrection of thy most louing sonne For the which I as one of thy poore creatures most humblie giue thée thanks For had not our redemption ensued our creation it had béene much better for vs that we had neuer béene made Thy loue aboue all other was most feruent when thou diddest not spare to giue thine onelie begotten sonne for vs washing awaie all our filthines in the blood of that méeke lambe thine onelie naturall sonne who being GOD was made man to the intent that we who naturallie are the sonnes of men by him through grace might be made the sonnes of God And not being contented with this kindnesse thou also Lord considering our weake and fraile nature readie to sinne dooest with thy grace guide vs and gouerne vs as the shéepheard dooth his shéepe suffering vs not to want anie thing defending thy poore flocke from the rauening woolues that would else deuoure vs. Thy blessed sonne hath put vs to féed in the pleasant gréene and beautifull pasture of his holie church making vs to rest in the vnitie thereof by a liuelie faith and hope in him Which church is verie plentifull abounding with all spirituall meate of the word of God which nourisheth and giueth life to the soule as bread and other food féedes the bodie With this food thou diddest féed the prophet Ezechiel when thou diddest cause him to eate a booke wherewith his bowels were filled and it séemed in his mouth swéeter than honie In this pasture runneth also a fresh and pleasant riuer of running water of godlie doctrine wherewith we often doo refresh our soules In this also is a water of spirituall washing by baptisme whereby we were woonderfullie refreshed in our youth For our soules being made foule through the diuell and sinne by baptisme are repaired and made beautifull according to the first creation that is to thy likenesse and image and by this water we are replenished with thy holie spirit This water saw the prophet Ezechiel long ago gushing foorth of the right side of the temple and grew to a great riuer that no man could wade ouer to which water whosoeuer we come was made whole Euen so in the water of our baptisme we were borne againe in the water of godlie doctrine we are nourished and without these we are but dead in sinne and wickednesse and at the end shall go to euerlasting death but these waters are to vs a well springing vp vnto euerlasting life And if at anie time by our frailiie we fall into sinne yet is thy mercifull sonne readie to receiue vs to his grace and quicken our soules if we be sorowfull and penitent By which grace he maketh vs also to knowe how to loue him and not to estéeme the pleasures of this world but to haue our eies onelie fixed vpon him So that with thine apostle Paule we account all things but losse that we may winne Christ and be found in him not hauing our owne righteousnesse but that which springeth of the faith which is in Iesus Christ Whose grace if we haue though we walke in the vallic and shadow of death yet we feare none euill for thou art with vs. This life is a shadow of death after which we trust by faith to dwell with thée Neuerthelesse whilest we are here thou art with vs and thy sonne hath also promised to be with vs vnto the end of the world his rod of discipline and correction dooth chasten vs
in his voiage Lot from sinking among the sinfull Sodomites Ioseph from the danger of his wicked ladie and mistres the Israelites from the bondage of Pharao Daniel from the lions Ionas from drowning being thrée daies thrée nights in the whales bellie the thrée yoong men from burning that were put into the flaming fornace with manie thousands more whom of thy naturall accustomed mercie and goodnesse thou dooest preserue and euer wilt doo all those that it pleaseth thée to drawe vnto thée thorough grace I most miserable and wretched sinner doo now call vpon thée for mercie and grace acknowledging my selfe gréeuouslie to haue offended the eies of thy deitie so manie waies that I am not worthie to beare the name of a christian the burthen of mine offenses is so great Wherefore discharge me of them Lord according to thine infinit mercie For small sinnes thy small mercie sufficeth but my great sinnes require thy great mercie And as my offenses are manie in number so is there of thy mercies a great multitude yea they cannot be numbred But of one thing I am sure that it lieth not in mans power so much to offend as it is in thy mercifull power to forgiue My woonds cannot be so great and noisome but thy medicines are most pretious and healthsome wherefore heale thou me and I shall be whole from my sinnes The children of Israell might not come into thy sight being once defiled with anie vncleannesse till they were sanctified and the priests also durst not come to thy presence till they were washed for feare least they should perish how much more néed I then to desire thée Lord to wash my vncleane soule For my soule hath néed of manie dews of thy grace and manie secret drawings to thée with spirituall violence or euer it can be made cleane The leprosie of Naaman of Syria could not be clensed till he had washed himselfe seauen times in the riuer of Iordan how manie waters haue I néed to be washed with or I be purged from my vncleannesse But thy mercie O Lord is as great as thy selfe Thy grace maketh a stonie heart to be a fleshie heart in a sturdie stomach it bréedeth an humble spirit of a fierse lion it maketh a méeke lambe Whie should I then despaire of thy goodnes considering that thy iustice willeth me to trust in thée Thy promise is to haue mercie on all those that be penitent for their offenses so that thou wilt no more remember them This promise no doubt shall stand fast and sure when both heauen and earth shall passe awaie Wherefore I offer now to thy maiesty a hart contrite being sorie for the wickednes by it conceiued with a bodie subiect to thée with all humilitie and sorowfull for all the sinnes by it committed I acknowledge my faults and my sinnes is euer before me I punish my selfe with contrition bicause thou Lord shouldst giue me grace and remission I haue it euer in remembrance and set it vp in my sight bicause thou shouldst forget it and put it out of thy sight Consider Lord I praie thée the fraile metall whereof I am made receiue me thy poore creature into thy fauour for before thée I accuse my selfe to the intent thou shouldest shew mercie as thou hast promised who hast euer béene found iust in all thy saiengs I haue long straied from thée yet now am returned to thée with all my whole heart Make me therefore vpright and so to aspire to heauenlie things that neither aduersitie nor worldlie pleasure plucke it downeward Cast awaie my sinnes behind thée but cast not me from thy mercifull countenance as thou diddest king Saule for disobedience For if I loose thy gratious presence I am then sure thou wilt also take from me thy holie spirit as thou diddest from Saule O how gratious and swéet is thy spirit in all things it passeth all other swéetenes it leadeth those that loue thée into the land of righteousnes This thy holie spirit I desire may remaine still with me to teach me all veritie to confirme me in goodnes to make intercession for me vnto thée in all my necessities and infirmities Giue me therefore againe the comfort of thy helpe and stablish me with thy principall spirit For thou onelie art mightie faithfull and constant and neuer failest them that call vpon thée in faith and truth Wherefore I offer vnto thée the sacrifice of praise and thankesgiuing for all thy mercies and benefits putting my whole trust in thée who hast neuer failed me for which cause I am bound to praise thée now and for euermore Amen 46. A praier of the maiestie of God and of his bountifull liberalitie towards mankind O Lord thou art my GOD and my King my hope and my comfort who hast by so great prouidence created and ordained all thy creatures that the beautie excellencie of them declare thy mightie magnificence to vs all which are thy reasonable creatures The power of thy maiestie to vs knowne before is by the contemplation of them made manifest causing vs to praise and magnifie thée with all our powers We acknowledge thy power thy wisedome thy honour also and thy great glorie wherewith thou art garnished Thou art the euerlasting light and thy wisedome is the brightnesse thereof which shall neuer be quenched Thou art compassed about with bright angels and with thy saints shining in clearenesse whose inheritance is to enioie light As for vs thy poore creatures on earth great cause haue we to praise thée world without end bicause thou hast so mercifullie declared thy great goodnes to mankind in this world to his most comfort that could be deuised giuing vnto vs all things to doo vs seruice All beasts thou madest subiect for his vse which to nourish and to féed thou causest the ground naturallie to bring foorth grasse and all kind of hearbes replenishing the earth with all kind of fruit to the comfort of mans heart But aboue all things Lord féed vs with thy holie word whereby our soules are made strong and comforted For in a miserable case doo they liue from whom thou takest awaie thy holie word which is the true bread which came downe from heauen which whosoeuer eateth of shall liue for euer Lord neuer take the same awaie from vs againe but euermore féed vs with this bread Thy word maketh our enimies afraid they haue no further power to hurt thy faithfull than thou permittest them Wherefore although the wicked swell neuer so high yet we feare them not they may inuade thy church and manie of the elect members of the same but they shall neuer haue power to destroie them For thou Lord hast promised to abide with thy faithfull vnto the end of the world thy grace will not leaue them that loue and serue thée Send vs good Lord this grace that we may feruentlie imbrace the spirituall food of our soules that it may cause vs to forget our wanton and idle liues that we haue hitherto