Iuda thou coÌ„querour of hel and death euer liuing and immortall thou art nowe risen from death for vs thou art now ascended to thy father and our father and sittest at his right hand in glorie suffer vs to come neare vnto thee that wee may kisse thee yea Lorde thou louer of our soules come thou rather vnto vs and kisse vs with the kisse of thy mouth that we may bee glad and reioyce in thee drawe vs that we may runne after the sauour of thy sweete oyntmentes that wee may beholde thee in righteousnesse and when thy glorie shall appeare we may be satisfied for in thy presence there is fulnesse of ioy and in thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore A prayer for true repentance MOst gratious God mercifull Father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ because I haue sinned don wickedly and through thy goodnesse haue receiued a desire of repentaunce wherevnto this thy long suffering doth drawe my harde hart I beseech thee for thy great mercies sake in Christ to worke the same repentance in me and by thy spirite power and grace so to humble mortifie and feare my conscience for my sinnes to saluation that in thy good time thou maist comfort and quicken me again through Iesus Christ thy dearely beloued sonne So be it I. B. A prayer for the strength and increase of faith O Merciful God and deare father of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ in whome as thou art well pleased so hast thou commanded vs to heare him for as much as he often biddeth vs to aske of thee and also promiseth that thou wilt heare vs and grant vs that which in his name we shal aske of thee loe gratious father we are bold to begge of thy mercie through thy sonne Iesus Christ one sparkle of true faith and certaine persuasion of thy goodnesse and loue towards vs in Christ where through I being assured of the pardon of all my sinnes by the mercies of Christe thy sonne may bee thankefull to thee loue thee serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life I. B. A prayer for the true sense and feeling of Gods â—auour and mercie in Christe OH Lord God and deare Father what shall I say that feele all things to be in maner with me as in the wicked Blind is my mind crooked is my will and peruerse concupiscence is in mee as a spring or stinking puddle O howe faint is faith in me How little is my loue to thee or to thy people How great is selfe loue Howe harde is my heart â–ª By the reason whereof I am moued to doubt of thy goodnes towardes me whether thou art my mercifull father and whether I be thy childe or no. In deede worthily might I doubt if that the hauing of these were the cause not the fruite rather of thy children The cause why thou art my father is thy mercie goodnes grace truth in Christe Iesus which can not but remain for euer In respect whereof thou hast borne me this goodwill to bring me into thy Church by baptisme and to accept me into the number of thy children that I might be holie faithfull obedient and innocent and to call me diuerse times by the ministerie of thy worde into thy kingdome besides thy innumerable other benefites alwayes hitherto powred vppon me All which thou hast done of this thy good will which thou of thine owne mercie barest to mee in Christ and for Christe before the worlde was made The which thing as thou requirest straitly that I should beleeue without doubting so wouldest thou that in all my needes I should come vnto thee as vnto a Father and make my mone without mistrust of beeing heard in thy good time as most shall make to my comfort Loe therefore to thee deere Father I come through thy sonne our Lord mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for me and pray thee of thy great goodnes and mercie in Christ to bee mercifull vnto me that I may feele in deede thy sweete mercie as thy childe The time Oh deare Father I appoint not but I pray thee that I may with hope still expect and looke for thy helpe I hope that as thou for a little while hast left mee so thou wilt come and visite me and that in thy great mercie whereof I haue need by reason of my great miserie Thou art wont for a little season in thine anger to hide thy face from them whome thou louest but surely O Redeemer in eternal mercies thou wilt shew thy coÌ„passions For when thou leauest vs O Lord thou doest not leaue vs verie long neyther doest thou leaue vs to our owne losse but to our iucre and aduauntage euen that thy holie spirite with bigger portion of thy power and vertue may lighten and cheare vs that the want of feeling of our sorrowe may be recompenced plentifully with the liuely sense of hauing thee to our eternall ioy and therefore thou swarest that in thine euerlasting mercie thou wilt haue compassion on vs Of which thing to the end we might be most assured thine oth is to bee marked for thou saiest As I haue sworne that I will neuer bring any more the waters to drown the world So haue I sworn that I wil neuer more be angry with thee nor reprooue thee The mountaines shal remoue and the hilles shal fall downe but my louing kindenesse shall not moue and the bonde of my peace shall not faile thee Thus saist thou the Lord our mercifull redeemer Deare father therefore I praye thee remember euen for thine owne truth and mercie sake this promise and euerlasting couenant which in thy good time I pray thee to write in my hart that I may know thee to be the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent that I may loue thee with all my heart for euer that I may loue thy people for thy sake that I may be holie in thy sight through Christ that I may alwayes not only striue against sinne but also ouercome the same daily more and more as thy children doe aboue all thinges desiring the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doing of thy will here on earth as it is in heauen c. through Iesus Christ our redeemer mediatour and aduocate Amen I. B. A prayer against our spirituall enemies the diuel the worlde and the flesh O Lord God the diuell goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuour the flesh lusteth against the spirite the world persuadeth vnto vanities that we may forget thee our Lord God so for euer be damned Thus are we miserably on euery side beset and besieged of cruell vnrestfull enemies and like at euery moment to perish if we be not defended with thy godly power against their tyrannie We therefore poore and wretched sinners despairing of our owne strength which in deede is none most hartily
weaknesse and the dangerous estate we stande in in respect of our flesh of the world which is full of euill of Sathan which seeketh to sift vs as a roaring Lion to destroy vs and of our sinnes which deserue al kinde of punishments and correction that I might with thy children feare thee watch pray and desire the day of redemption and deliuerance from all euils Againe I may learne here that to auoyde all daungers and euils is not in the power of man but onely thy worke By reason whereof I should consider thy great goodnesse which hitherto hast kept me from so many euils both of soule and bodie yea of name goods c as thou hast done in my infansie childhood youth middle age c. Thirdly I may learne here that I should be carefull for others both that they might be deliuered from their euils and that they might be preserued from temptation from being ouercome in the same therefore thou teachest me not to pray Deliuer me from euill simply but deliuer vs from euill Last of al I am taught hereby to see thy goodnesse towardes me whiche wilt deliuer me from euill and from being ouercome in tentations for thou wouldest not haue me aske for that which I should not certainly looke for at thy handes By reason whereof thou wouldest haue me to be in a certaintie of my saluation for euer For else I can not beleeue my prayer to be heard if that finally I should not be deliuered from euill and therefore thou ioynest hereto a giuing of thankes which with thy Church I should say For thine is the kingdome thine is the power thine is the glorie for euer By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lament bicause of my corruption infirmitie weakenesse obliuion and carelesnesse for thy people ingratitude c. bicause of sathans power vigilancie prudencie which hath ouercome most graue wise and holy men whereof some neuer recouered as Cain Cham Achitophel Saul Iudas c. To reioyce bicause of thy goodnesse which teachest me this and shewest me the remedie commaundest all thy Church to pray for me and wilt at length deliuer me from all euill and giue me glorie But alas I am altogether carelesse and miserable Oh be mercifull vnto me deare father and for Christes sake forgiue me all my sinnes graunt me thy holy spirit to reueale to me mine infirmities weaknesse perils daungers c. in such sort that as I may heartily lament my miseries so I may aske and obtaine thy grace to guide me from all euil for euermore Againe graunt me the same thy holy spirite to reueale to me thy loue and kindnesse towards me and that in eternitie in such sort that I may be throughly persuaded of the same become thankfull vnto thee daily expect and looke for the reuelation of thy kingdome power and glorie as one that for euer shall haue the fruition of the same through thine owne goodnesse and mercy in Christe prepared for me before the beginning foundation of the world was laide Here call to mind our securitie sathans vigilancie our negligence his diligence our infirmitie his abilitie our ignorance his craft and subtiltie c. Againe call to minde how that he hath ouerthrowne for a time many of the deare Saintes of God to whome we are to be compared in nothing as Adam Eue Lot Iudas Thamar Moses Aaron Myrian Sampson Gedeon Ely Dauid Solomon Ezechias Iosias Peter Thomas innumerable moe Also cal to minde the goodnesse of God and of our sheepeheard Christe which hath kept vs hitherto keepeth vs still and teacheth vs here to knowe that he will keepe vs for euer for he would not haue vs aske for deliuerance from euill if that he would not we should certainely looke for the same If thou doubt of finall perseuerance thou dishonourest god Be certaine therefore rest in hope be still in his word See also howe he hath commaunded his whole Church and euerie member thereof to pray for thee as wel as for them selues in these and all other things Nowe and then goe about to reckeÌ„ how many diuers kinds of euils there be thereby as you may know you are deliuered from none but by Gods great goodnesse so may you see that the number of euils that you haue are nothing to be compared to the multitude of euils wherewith if your Christ were not the diuel would al to beray you infect corrupt you But what are all the miseries and euils that can be to be compared to the least ioy prepared for vs in heauen Oh thinke of those ioyes and pray that when the tide of death commeth we may hale foorth of the hauen of this flesh and this world ioyfully In praying this petition call to minde the euils you haue bene in the euils you are in the euils you may fall into if God should not preserue you that you might be stirred vp the more to thankefulnesse to prayer to trust in God. For thine is the kingdome thine is the power thine is the glorie for euer AS in the beginning of this praier by these words Our father which art in heauen thy children are excited stirred vp to a ful coÌ„fidence of obtaining the petitions folowing all things necessarie so in the later end thou hast added for the same purpose these wordes For thine is the kingdom thine is c. wherin I am taught these many things First that in prayer I should haue such consideration of thy kingdome power glory and eternitie that my minde should be striken with an admiration of the same Secondly that I should so consider them especially in prayer that I should not doubt but that thou workest rulest and gouernest all things euerie where in all persons and creatures most wisely iustly and mercifully Thirdly that in prayer al my petitioâ—s shuld tend to the â—etting foorth of thy power of thy kingdome and of thy glorie Last of al that in praier I should in no wise doubt of being heard but be assured that thou which hast commaunded me to pray and hast promised to heare me doâ—st most gratiously for thy mercies sake truthes sake heare my petitions according to thy good wil through Iesu Christ thy deare sonne our Lorde and onely Sauiour By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament bicause I consider not these thinges in prayer in such sort as should moue me to admiration and gratitude bicause I consider not thy power and wisedome generally in al things bicause I am so carelesse for thy kingdome and bicause I am so full of dubitation and doubting of thy goodnesse To reioyce I haue great cause bicause thou reuealest these things vnto me on this sorte bicause of thy power kingdome and glory which maketh to the hearing of my prayers and helping of me bicause thou wilt vse me as thine instrument to set foorth thy kingdome power and glorie and bicause
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
God rule in your heartes VVhen ye shall stande and pray saith S. Marke forgiue if ye haue any thing against any maÌ„ that your father also vvhich is in heauen may forgiue you your trespasses for if ye vvill not forgiue your father vvhich is heauen vvill not pardon you your trespasses Moreouer we must haue such a feâ—ling of our owne miserie and wretchednesse as may worke in vs an earnest sorrowe and vexation of mind for the same Example whereof we may see in the deare seruauntes of God when they say that out of the deepe deepenesse and out of the middes of the iawes of death they vtter vnto the Lorde a sorrowfull voyce He that desireth mercie must haue a feeling of his owne miserie And therefore saith Dauid Heale my soule O lord for I haue sinned against thee There is no health in my flesh saith he because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne Thiâ— anguish and sorrowe stirreth vp in Gods children a feruent desire to obtaine comfort helpe and succour at Gods hand and therefore such as feele themselues oppressed with great calamities hauing by the helpe of man no hope of deliueraunce doe crye vnto God with afflicted heartes as Dauid did in his distresse â–ª My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God. And as the Hart being vvounded brayeth for the riuers of vvater so panteth mâ— soule after thee O God. This is that godly sorrowe which S. Paul saith worketh in Gods children repentance to saluation The Lord is nigh to them saith Dauid that are of a conâ—rue heart vvill saue all such as are afflicted in spirite To him vvill I looke euen vnto him saith the Lord that is afflicted and broken hearted and trembleth at my vvordes Therefore Dauid calleth the time of trouble the fit and conuenient time for the faithfull to fly vnto God by prayer And albeit they bee not at all times in like distresse or continually groaning vnder the burdeÌ„ of present euils yet must thei needs be euer in dread of new daungers and carefully afraide of further troubles to followe As trouble and feare therefore are the verie spurs to stir them vp to heartie and feruent prayer so by occasion thereof they haue more free accesse vnto God as though he did thereby call them vnto him This godly sorrowe for sinne and feruent desire and longing for Gods louing mercie and fauour commeth not of our selues â–ª but of the speciall goodnesse of God for we are of our selues dull without all lust to pray yea so great is our imperfection that wee know not how to pray as we ought and therefore the spirite helpeth our infirmitie instructeth vs what is right and guideth our affections He maketh intercession for the Saints saith S. Paul according to the vvill of God and that vvith sighes and groninges vvhich cannot be expressed that is he stirâ—eth vp our heartes giueth vs a desire and bouldnesse to pray and causeth vs to mourne when wee are by any meanes hindered from it and feele not our selues moued therevnto with such feruent zeale affection as we shoulde be Now although we knowe that it is the onely worke of the holy Ghost thus to moue and incline our hearts to prayer notwithstanding we may not be negligent slothfull to dispose and stirre vp our selues therevnto but rather contrariewise so often as we feele our selues colde and not disposed to prayer as we ought to be we must make our supplication vnto the Lorde that it woulde please him to inflame vs with his holy spirit whereby wee maye be framed to pray with such feruencie of minde as we ought to doe When we are cast downe by the sense and feeling of our owne infirmitie sinne and miserie Yet must we pray notwithstanding in sure and stedfast hope to obteine our requestes â–ª These be thinges indeed contrarie in shew to ioyne with the feeling of the iuste vengeance of God sure affiance of fauour which things do yet very well agree in that it is the goodnesse of God onely that raiseth vs vp being oppressed with our owne euils from the which of our selues wee cannot rise For as repentance and faith are knit as coÌ„panionâ— together albeit the one driueth vs downe with feare and the other lifteth vs vp againe with comforte so in praying they must needes goe together And this agreement Dauid expresseth in few wordes I vvill saith he in the multitude of thy mercies enter into thy house and in the temple of thy holiâ—es I vvill vvorâ—hippe thee vvith feare Therefore when we are once touched with true repentance and feeling of our own miserie wee must withall haue such a persuasion of Gods fauour and mercie towardes vs in all our prayers that they shall be accepted of God so farre foorth as it shall be necessarie for vs This is the assurance saith S. Iohn that vve haue in God that if vve aske any thing according to his vvill hee heareth vs. Jf we haue not a sure trust and confidence in the mercie and promises of God it is vnpossible to make our prayer to him aright and whosoeuer doubteth whether God heareth his prayer that man obteineth nothing for to such prayers God hath made no promise But contrariewise he saith VVhat sâ—eye shall aske in prayeer if ye beleeue ye shall receiue it And againe vvhatsoeuer ye desire beleeue that ye shall obteine it and it shall be done vnto you Aske saith Saint Iames in faith and vvauer not for hee that vvauereth is like to the vvaues of the sea vvhich are tossed of the vvinde and caried avvay And why shoulde wee wauer or doubt seeing the holy scriptures testifie of God that hee is faithfull iust and true in all his wordes and promises saying The Lord is faithfull in all his vvords he vvill euer be mindefull of his couenaunt the trâ—the of the Lorde indureth for euer And although our faith be not so strong and therefore our prayer so hearty and zelous as it ought to be yea though our faith be faint and colde yet let vs hold fast this principle that our prayers are not frustrate or in vaine For our comfort herein we haue an example in the father which brought his son first to the Apostles afterwarde to Christ and saide If thou canst Lorde helpe and yet afterwardes he acknowledged the weakenes of his faith â–ª desired to be made strong I beleeue Lorde saith he helpe mine vnbeleefe Howe often doe the children of God complaine of this imperfection and imbecillitie of faith Such as are exercised in true prayer doe feele that in crauing of God the forgiuenesse of their sinnes they bring scarcely the tenth part of that sacrifice which Dauid speaketh of where he saith An acceptable sacrifice to God is a troubled spirite a broken and an humble heart O God thou vvilt not despise Many times they are driuen to wrastle with their
only in thy Church and elect people ruling and gouerning all and euerie member of thy Church to thy glorie and their eternall comfort Not that out of this Church I exclude thy power for as therwith thou defendest thy people so thou punishest thy enimies but bicause thy grace is specially considered being as it were the verie keeper that keepeth and guideth thy people The time wil be when this kingdome of grace and power now being as distinct shall be vnited and made one kingdome of glorie which will be when Christ shall giue vppe his kingdome into thine hands that is in the resurrection when death the last enimie shall be subdued thou shalt be all in all In the meane season this kingdome of grace is miraculously and mightily propagated enlarged and gouerned by the true Ministerie of thy word and sacraments through the working of thy holie spirit And this is the meane and way whereby as thou didst first plant so doest thou enlarge amplifie and preserue the same This kingdome of grace begun continued and enlarged by the true preaching of thy Gospell and ministration of thy sacramentes is the thing which Christ teacheth here thy children to pray for that it might come that is to say that thy Gospel might so mightily purely and plenteously be preached mauger the head of all thine enimies that the number of thine elect might be brought in and so the kingdome of thy glorie might appeare So that as I see thy children desire pray and labour that thy Gospell might be truely preached heard and liued in them selues and in others so they lament the not preaching and refusing the not liuing and not beleeuing thy Gospell yea they lament the lingring of the coÌ„ming of thy Christ for in his comming they knowe they shall be like vnto him and hauing this hope they purifie themselues as he is pure By reason hereof I see first that I am farre from this desire and lamenting which thy chilhaue I see my ignoraunce of thy kingdome and power euerie where also of thy grace in thy Church onely and of thy glorie when all the enimies of thy grace shall be cast downe and thy glory and power shal embrace each other I see my ignorance howe acceptable a seruice to thee is the true preaching and the hearing of thy Gospel for else thou hadst not needed to haue placed this petition next to the petition of the sanctifying of thy name Againe I see here mine vnablenesse to enter into thy kingdome and to attaine to it for else what neede should I haue to pray for that to come from thee which otherwise may be atchieued Thirdly I see my peruersitie and contempt of thy kingdome grace for although I see my want yet I would not desire thy kingdome to come if thou diddest not commaund me so to pray and if I would haue praied for it thou wouldest not haue commaunded me Last of all I see thy goodnesse which wilt bring thy kingdom and that as generally by sending foorth ministers to preach truely so particularly by regenerating me more and more by giuing me as grace here so glorie elsewhere for thou wouldest not I should pray for that which thou wilt denye So that I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament bicause of my miserable state and condition bicause of my sinne ignorance rebellion peruersitie sathans power contempt of thy grace thy Gospel and ministerie here or elsewhere To reioyce bicause of thy goodnesse great mercie which hast brought me into thy Church keepest me in it and wilt do so stil. Also bicause of the ministerie of thy worde and sacraments by which the holie Ghost is and will be effectuall and finally bicause of the great glorie wherevnto thou hast called me and which nowe thou wilt giue vnto me asking the same But alas how vnthankful I am and sorrowlesse Lord thou knowest for my hart is not hid from thee Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me good father and graunt me the spirit of thy children to reueale vnto me my ignorance of thy kingdome my pouertie and peruersitie that I may lament the same and daily labour for thy helpe and thy holie spirite to suppresse the kingdome of sinne in my selfe and in others Againe graunt me that same thy holie spirite to reueale to me thy kingdome of power grace and glory to kindle mine affections to regenerate me more and more to reigne in me as in a piece of thy kingdome to giue to me to desire to pray and to labour for thy kingdome both to my selfe and to others effectually to thy glorie and to assure my conscience of thy goodnesse that thou wilt giue me grace and glorie c. Here call to minde the state of the ministerie and ministers the light and life of gospellers the errors and hereâ—ies which men be intangled withall Thy will be done AS thy power is infinite so is thy wisedome accordingly Whereby as we may perceiue that nothing is or can be done against thy power or otherwise then by it so is there not nor cannot be any thing done against or otherwise then by thy omnipotent secrete will which is alwayes as thou art good holie and iust howe farre so euer it seeme otherwise to our foolish reason and iudgement and therefore here we are taught to pray that thy wil may be done here without sinne on mans behalfe as it is on the Angels behalfe in heauen Againe for as much as thou art incomprehensible of thy selfe as wel concerning thy power as concerning thy wisdome we may not according thereto search thee but rather adore and worship thy maiestie and tremble at thy iudgements and workes and therefore pray alwayes that we may be content with thy wil and be buxome and obedient thereto And for as much as thou hast reuealed to vs so much of thy will in thy word written as is necessarie for vs in this life to knowe yea as we can attaine vnto and a little further we ought to take all things done against the same as sinne and transgression although thou canst vse the same sinne to serue thy prouidence of the which prouidence we can not nor may not iudge further then thou hast and shalt open it vnto vs. So that this petition Thy wil be done is not simplie to be vnderstoode concerning thy omnipotent wil vnreuealed against the which nothing is nor can be done but rather concerning thy will reuealed in thy lawe and Gospell the which thou here teachest me that we should desire not only to know it but also to do it and that in such perfection and willingnesse as it is in heauen The which thing I perceiue hereby that thy children doe desire daily in and for them selues and others and doe lament that contrarie in whome so euer it be so that often their eyes gush out with riuers of teares bicause men keepe not thy lawes By reason
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
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
and being our head on whome we hang and hope that our poore petitions shall not be in vaine through him and for his names sake Wee beseech thee therefore of thy rich mercie wherein thou art plentifull to all thē that call vpon thee to forgiue vs our sinnes namely our vnthankfulnesse vnbeleefe selfeloue neglect of thy worde securitie hypocrisie contēpt of thy long suffering omission of prayer doubting of thy power presence mercy and good will towardes vs vnsensiblenesse of thy grace impaciencie c. and to this thy benefite of correcting vs adde thy gratious gift of repentaunce faith the spirite of prayer the contempte of this worlde and heartie desiring for euerlasting life Indue vs with thy holy spirit according to thy couenant mercie as well to assure vs of pardon and that thou doest accept vs into thy fauour as thy deare children in Christ and for his sake as to write thy lawe in our heartes and so to worke in vs that we may nowe begin and goe forwards in beleuing lyuing fearing obeying praying hoping and seruing thee as thou dost require most fatherly and most iustly of vs accepting vs as perfect in thy sight through Iesus Christ our lord Amen A prayer of the afflicted for the profession of Gods worde O Gratious God which seekest all meanes possible howe to bring thy children into the feeling and sure sense of thy mercie and therefore when prosperitie will not serue then sendest thou aduersitie gratiously correcting them here whō thou wilt haue elswhere to liue with thee for euer wee poore wretches giue humble prayses and thankes to thee that thou hast vouched vs worthy of thy correction at this present hereby to worke that which wee in prosperitie and libertie did neglecte For the which neglecting and many other our greeuous sinns wherof we nowe accuse our selues before thee most mercifull Lord thou mightest most iustly haue giuen vs ouer and destroied vs both in soule and body But such is thy goodnes towards vs in Christ that thou seemest to forget all our offences and as though we were farre otherwise then we be in deede thou wilt that wee should suffer this crosse nowe laide vpon vs for thy truth and gospels sake and so be thy witnesses with thy Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessours yea with thy dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ to whom thou doest now here beginne to fashion vs like that in his glory we may be like to him also O good God what are we on whō thou shouldest shew this great mercie Oh louing Lord forgiue vs our vnthankefulnesse and sinnes Oh faithfull father giue vs thine holy spirite nowe to crie in our heartes Abba deere father to assure vs of our eternall election in Christ to reueale more and more thy truth vnto vs to confirme strengthen and stablishe vs so in the same that we may liue and die in it as vessels of thy mercie to thy glorie and to the commoditie of thy Church Indue vs with the spirit of thy wisedome that with good conscience we may alwayes so aunswere the enemies in thy cause as may turne to their conuersion or confusion and our vnspeakeable cōsolatiō in Christ Iesus for whose sake wee beseech thee hencefoorth to keepe vs to giue vs patience and to will no otherwise for deliuerance or mitigation of our miserie then may stand alwayes with thy good plesure merciful will towards vs. Graunt this deare father not only to vs in this place but also to all others else where afflicted for thy names sake through the death and merites of Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen I. B. A prayer to God the father the Sonne and the holy Ghost O Almightie and euerliuing God the eternall father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which of thy vnmesurable goodnes hast opened thy self vnto vs and with a loude voyce hast saide of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord Heare him O maker preseruer of all thinges with thy coeternall sonne our Lord Iesus Christ which reigneth with thee and was manifested in Ierusalem with thy holy spirite which was powred vppon the Apostles O wise God mercifull Iudge and mightie Lord which hast saide As truely as I liue I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert amend whiche also hast saide Call vppon me in the day of thy trouble I will deliuer thee haue mercie vpon vs for Iesus Christes sake whome thou wouldest of thy merueylous and incomprehensible counsell shoulde be made for vs a slaine sacrifice mediator reconciler and peacemaker to the end that thou mightest shewe thine exceeding great wrath against sinne and thine inestimable mercie towardes mankinde Sanctifie illuminate our heartes and soules with thy holy spirite that wee may truly beleeue in thee call vppon thee bee thankefull vnto thee and obedient to thy holy will. Defend gouerne and cherish thy Church as thou hast promised saying This is my couenāt that I haue made with them my spirit which is in thee and my worde which I haue put in thy mouth shall not departe out of thy mouthe nor out of the mouth of thy seede for euer Preserue those kingdomes and cōmon weales which giue harborough to the people and maintaine the ministerie of thy holy word and Gospell that the kingdom of thy sonne Iesus Christ may encrease and shine throughout all the worlde O Iesus Christ Sonne of the euerliuing God crucified for vs and raysed also from the deade and nowe reigning at the right hand of thy father that thou maiest giue gifts vnto mee which hast saide Come vnto mee all ye that labour and are heauie loden and I will refresh you haue mercie vpon vs praye for vs vnto thy eternall father sanctifie and gouerne vs with thy holy spirite helpe and succour vs in all our necessities as thou hast promised saying I will not leaue you comfortlesse O holie and blessed spirite together with the father and the son one true and euerliuing God full of maiestie and power which with thy heauenly inspiration quickenest the mindes of those that afore were dead in sinne makest ioyfull the heartes of the faithfull penitent bringest in to the way of trueth all such as haue erred and gone astraye comfortest the soules of such as hunger thirst after righteousnesse and plenteously inrichest those with diuerse giftes which aske them in Iesus Christes name purifie our heartes wee beseech thee and inflame them with the fire of thy loue replenishe them with thy heauenly benefites and spirituall blessinges that they may be made meete temples for thee leade vs into all trueth which art the onely fountaine of trueth and mortifie in vs whatsoeuer proceedeth not of thee Or else pray thus O Holy spirite powred vppon the Apostles which hast promised vnto vs by the sonne of God our Redeemer to kindle in vs a true knowledge and inuocation of God as it is written I will powre vppon you the spirite of grace of
shed on the crosse for my sake Now most merciful Sauiour let all these thinges profite me that thou freely hast done for me which hast giuen thy selfe also for mee Let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spottes and fowlenesse of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my vnrighteousnes Let the merites of thy passion and bloudsheding be the satisfaction for my sinnes Giue me Lord thy grace that the faith of my saluation in thy bloude wauer not in mee but maie euer bee firme and constant that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that loue waxe not colde in me finally that the weakenesse of my fleshe be not ouercome with the feare of death Graunt me mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my bodie yet the eyes of my soule may still beholde and looke vppon thee and when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet my heart may crie and say Lord into thy handes I commend my soule Lord Iesu receiue my spirite A prayer for a woman with childe THou art wonderfull O Lord in al thy workes and what so euer thy good pleasure is that doest thou easily bring to passe neither is there any thing vnpossible with thee that thou wilt haue done And albeit this thy almightie power sheweth it selfe aboundantly in al thy works yet in conceiuing forming and bringing foorth of man it shineth most euidently At the beginning O Father when thou madest man and woman thou commandedst them to increase multiplie and replenish the earth If through the subtill inticementes of Sathan they had not transgressed thy commaundement by eating the forbidden fruite the woman whome thou hast appoynted to be the instrument and vessell to conceiue nourish and bring foorth man through thy wonderful workmanship had without any labour paine or trauel brought foorth her frutie But that which thy goodnes made easie sin and disobedience hath made harde painefull daungerous and without thy speciall helpe and succour impossible to bee brought to passe so that nowe all women bring foorth their childrē in great sorowes paines and troubles Notwithstanding that which through their owne imperfection and feeblenes they are not able of thēselues to passe thou through thine vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest vnto a ioyfull end We therefore being fully persuaded of thy fauour and goodnesse of thy present helpe and of thy sweete comforte in all miseries and necessities knowing also by the testimonies of thy holy word how great and intollerable the paines of women are that trauell of childe if through thy tender mercie they bee not mitigated and eased most humbly pray thee for Iesus Christes sake thy son our Lorde to helpe and assist this thy seruaunt nowe in trauell and labour that by thy almightie power shee may safely bringe foorth that which by thy goodnes she hath conceiued and that thy louing kindnes may make that easie and tollerable vnto her which sinne hath made hard and painefull Ease O Lord the paines which thou most righteously hast put vpon her and all women for the sinne and disobedience of our graundmother Eue in whom al we haue sinned Be present with her in her trouble accordinge to thy mercifull promise Giue her strength and make perfect that which thou hast so gratiously begun Let thy power be shewed no lesse in the safe bringing foorth then in the wonderfull forming and fashioning of that she beareth Make her a glad and a ioyfull mother that she through thy goodnesse being safely deliuered and restored to health againe may liue and praise thy blessed name for euer A psalme to be saide in the time of any common plague sicknes or other crosse and visitation of God. O Come let vs humble our selues and fall downe before the Lorde with reuerence and feare For he is the Lord our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his handes Come therefore let vs turne againe vnto our Lorde for he hath smiten vs and he shall heale vs. Let vs repent and turne from our wickednesse and our sinnes shal be forgiuen vs. Let vs turne and the Lorde will turne from his heauie wrath and will pardon vs and we shall not perish For we acknowledg our faultes and our sinnes are euer before vs. We haue sore prouoked thine anger O Lord thy wrath is waxed hote and thy heauie displeasure is sore kindled against vs. Thou hast in thine indignatiom striken vs with greeuous sickenesse and by and by we haue fallen as leaues beaten downe with a vehement winde In deede we acknowledge that our punishmentes are lesse then our deseruinges but yet of thy mercie Lorde correct vs to amendment and plague vs not to our destruction For thy hand is not shortned that thou canst not helpe neither is thy goodnesse abated that thou wilt not heare Thou hast promised O Lord that afore we crie thou wilt heare vs whilest we yet speake thou wilte haue mercie vpon vs. For none that trust in thee shall be confounded neither any that call vpon thee shal be despised For thou art the onely Lord who woundest and doest heale againe who killest reuiuest bringest euen to hell and bringest backe againe Our father 's hoped in thee they trusted in thee and thou diddest deliuer them They called vppon thee and were helped they put their trust in thee and were not confounded O Lorde rebuke vs not in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauie displeasure O remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy thinke thou vpon vs O Lord for thy goodnes Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord for we are weake O Lord heale vs for our bones are vexed And nowe in the vexation of our spirits and the anguish of our soules we remember thee and we crie vnto thee heare Lord and haue mercie For thine owne sake and for thy holy names sake incline thine eare and heare O mercifull Lord. For we doe not powre out our prayers before thee trusting in our owne righteousnes but in thy great and manyfold mercies Wash vs throughly from our wickednes and cleanse vs from our sins Turne thy face from our sins and put out all our misdeedes Make vs cleane heartes O God and renne a right spirite within vs. Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glorie of thy name O deliuer vs and be mercifull vnto our sinnes for thy names sake So we that be thy people sheepe of thy pasture shall giue thee thanks for euer and will alwaies be shewing foorth thy praise from generation to generation Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. A psalme of thankesgiuing for deliuerance from the plague or any other kind of sicknes trouble or affliction LOrd thou art become gratious to thy lande thou hast turned away the afflictions of thy
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
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
spared my sinnes but hast punished mee with scourges of loue and hast sent afflictions and anguish within and without Of grace fauour it is O Lord that thou sufferest thy seruants to be troubled and afflicted in this world because they should not be condemned with the world Thou wouldest that they shoulde here be broken with affliction that they may after rise in a newe light be clarified and made glorious in thy kingdome Oh holy father thou hast ordeyned it so to be and it is done as thou hast appoynted Wherefore O Lord giue mee the grace to rest in thee aboue all thinges and to quiet my heart in thee aboue all creatures aboue all glorie and honour aboue all dignitie and power aboue all health and beutie aboue all riches and treasure aboue all ioy and pleasure aboue all fame and praise aboue all mirth and consolatioÌ„ that mans heart may take or feele besides thee For thou Lord art most good most wise most righteous most holy most iust most blessed most high most mightie most comfortable most beautifull most louing most glorious in whom all treasures of goodnesse most perfectly rest And therefore whatsoeuer I haue besides thee it is nothing vnto mee for my heart may not rest nor fullie be pacified but onely in theee Oh Lord Iesu â–ª who shal giue me winges of pefecte loue that I may flee vp from these worldly miseries and rest with thee Oh Christ the king of euerlasting glorie my soul crieth vnto thee with continual gronings saith how long â—arieth my Lord God to come to me Oh when shall the end come of all these miseries When shall I cleane be deliuered from the bondage of sinne When shal I Lord haue my mind onely fixed on thee and be merie in thee with perfect ioye and gladnesse When shal that blessed houre come that thou shalt visite me and make me glad with thy blessed presence when thou shalt be to me all in all When shall I come vnto thee and feele and enioy those sweete consolations which with thy blessed saintes are alwayes present When shall I haue peace without trouble peace without peace within on euery side stedfast and sure O Lord Iesu when shall I stand and beholde thee and haue full sight and contemplation of thy glorye When shall I be with thee in thy kingdome that thou hast ordeined for thine elect before the beginning Oh blessed mansion of that heauenly cittie Oh most cleare day of eternitie whome the night may neuer darken This is the day always cleere and merie alwaies sure and neuer changing This day shineth cleerely to thy saints in heaueÌ„ Oh gratious God with euerlasting brightnesse but to vs here on earth so great is the darknes of sin in vs it shineth obscurely and as it were a farre off we see but a glimmering thereof Woulde to God this day might shortly appeare and shine vnto vs and that these worldly vanities were at an end Thy heauenly Citizens know and feele how ioyfull this day is but we the Children of Eue strangers and exiles here on earth doe lament and bewaile the bitter tediousnes of this present life short and euil full of sorrowe and anguish Where man is oftentimes defiled with sinne disquieted with troubles oppressed with cares busied with vanities blinded with errors ouercharged with laboures vexed with tentations ouercome with vaine delightes and pleasures of the worlde miserably wrapped in many kindes of calamities Wherefore O Lord arise and help me comfort mine exile assuage my sorrowe destroy the power of mine enemies the kingdome of sinne Sathan the world and my wicked flesh which alway make battell against me and bring these conflicting dayes to an end So shal I sing praises vnto thee O God of my saluation and magnifie thy holy name world with out end Amen A confession of sinnes and a prayer for the remission thereof O Lord God rich in mercie and of great goodnesse who of thy tender loue towardes vs euen when we were thine enimies diddest send into the world thine own deare sonne Iesus Christ to be a slaine sacrifice for our sinnes so that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting haue mercy vpoÌ„ me according to thy great mercies and according to the multitude of thy compassions put away mine iniquities â–ª For mine iniquities are gone ouer my head and as a weightie burthen they presse me downe Against heauen and against thee haue I sinned O Lord I am not worthy to be called thy childe I am ashamed to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee for my sinnes are ascended vp into thy sight There is nothing sound in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne Behold I am sold vnder sin and in my flesh ther dwelleth no good thing For the good which I would doe I doe not but the euill which I would not doe that I doe Wash me therfore O Lord froÌ„ mine iniquities clense me from my sin Purifie my heart by the sanctifying of thy holy spirite â–ª and by the sprinckling of the blood of thy deare sonne from the filth of sinne and an euill conscience Make me to heare ioy and gladnes that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce Create in me a new heart O God and renue a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirite from me Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and stablish me with thy free spirite For thou art good to them that trust in thee and to the soule that seeketh thee Al thy wayes are mercie and truth to them that seeke out thy couenant and thy testimonies The fountaine of thy goodnes is euer full and ouerflowing thy mercy neuer decayeth Thou woundest and healest againe thou killest and reuiuest bringest euen downe to hel and bringest backe againe Thou raisest vp those that are faln thou comfortest the broken harted Thou strengthenest the wearie handes and crooked knees and out of the gulph of hell thou deliuerest the afflicted Out of darknes thou bringest light out of death life and out of damnation thou bringest saluation Heare me therefore O Lord according to thy louing kindnes turne vnto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies Looke vpon mine affliction and my trauell and forgiue all my sinnes Remember not the offences of my youth nor my rebellioÌ„s against thee For if thou Lord shouldest marke our iniquities Lord who should be able to stande in thy sight Seeing thou hast founde iniquitie euen in thine Angels and the heaueÌ„s are not cleane in thy sight muche more is man abhominable filthy which drinketh iniquitie like water Notwithstanding thou hast said O Lord that as the righteousnes of the righteous man shall not saue him whensoeuer he offendeth so shal not the wickednesse of the wicked man hurt him whensoeuer
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