deliuer me to thy sonne Can a mother forget the child she bare of her wōb and sureli although she sōtimes be forgetful yet thou O father hast promised not to forget vs. Behold I cry and thou dost not heare me ▪ I am vexed with sorow and thou confortest me not What shall I say or what shall I doo most wretched caitife that I am I beīg desolate of so great comforte am cast out from the sight of thine eyes Wo be vnto me from how great goodnes into how great a mischefe am I fallen whether purposed I to go and whether am I comen Where am I and where am I not whom did I study to attein ▪ vnto and what euils haue I obteyned I sought for good thīgs and beholde I haue found trouble care Behold now I am in the state of deathe and Iesus is not with me And surely it were better for me to haue nothing at all yea no beyng at all thē to be without Iesu. It is better not to liue then to liue without life And thou O Lorde Iesu where be thine olde mercies wilt thou be angry towardes me for euer Be pacified I beseche thee and haue mercy vpon me and turne not thy face away frō me which to thintēt thou mightest redeme me didst not turne a way thy face from thē that rebuked thee and spitted vpon thee I confes and acknowledge that I haue sinned and my conscience deserueth damnacion and the penaunce that I am able to doo is not sufficient to make amēds for mine iniquities But sure certain I am that thy mercy exceadeth all offences that a man can doo Oh doo not I beseche thee most pitifull Lorde write my heynous sinnes against me y t thou shuldest entre into iudgement with thy seruaunt But ac cording to the multitude of thy mercies cros blot out mine in iquities Wo be vnto me wretch that I am when the day of iudg ment commeth and the bookes of consciences shalbe layd wide open when it shalbe said of me Lo looke vpon this felow his wurkes What shall I doo then O Lorde my God when the hea uens shall reuele and shew forth mine iniquitie the earth shall arise vp and testifie mine iniquitie against me Beholde I shalbe able to geue neuer one wurd to answer but to stande in thy presence trimbling quaking vtterly confounded and holding downe my head for shame Alas wretch that I am what shall I say I will cry vnto thee o lorde my God Why am I consumed fretted with holdīg my peace But if I should speak my greef would not cease And if I hold my peace I shalbe most bitterly vexed within me Mourne o my soule lament as a widow for her first husbande that she had in her yong age Houle wretche cry out with weping because thy spouse Christ hathe forsaken thee O God almightie let not thine angre fall vpō me because that if thou lay somuche to my charge as is dew for my sinnes it is so muche that I can not receiue it Sureli my power is not able for to suffre or beare it Haue merci vpon me least I dispeire But in despeiring I will take hart to me and be sōwhat cōforted For all though I haue committed so muche that thou mayst condemne me wurthely yet thou hast not lost that wherwith thou wast wont to saue sin ners nether dost thou reioise at the destructiō los of them that dye yea to thintente that dead men might liue thou thy felf didst die and thy deathe did kill the deathe of sinnes And if they were reuiued again and did liue by thy deathe I besech thee let not me die now y tthou liuest Send downe thy hand power from hie and deliuer me out of the hands of mine enemies that they reioyse not ouer me and say let vs deuoure him Who euer O good Ie su needed to mistrust of thimerci which whē we were thine enemies didstredeme vs with thy blud and reconciled vs vnto God Beholde I being hid vnder the shadow of thy mer cy doo come vnto the throne of thy glory requiring I doo rū crying and knocking vntil thou take pitie vppon me For if thou didst call vs to pardon forgeuenes before we laboured for pardon how soone shall we obtein forgeuenes when we aske it Doo not remembre omost boūtefull Iesu thy iustice toward a sinner but think vpon thy liberalitie gentlenes towarde thy creature Doo not remēbre thine angre toward the giltie but remembre thy pity and mercy toward a wretche Forget me in y t I proudly did prouoke moue thee to wrath and look vppon a wretche that calleth vpon thee For what is Iesus but a sauior Therfore good Iesu for thine owne sake arise and helpe me and say vnto my soule I am thy health and thy safegarde I presume muche and am very bolde of thy goodnes O Lord because thou doost teache vs to aske to seek and to knocke wherfore I being admonished by thy wurd doo aske seek and knock And thou O Lorde that commaundest vs to aske make me able to receiue Thou that geuest councell to seeke graunte that I may finde Thou that teachest vs to knock opē to me when I knock and confirme me whiche am vnstable and wauering restore me that am lost raise me y t am dead and vouchsafe to direct gouern in thy fauoure all my sences my thoughts and dooings that frō hensfoorth I may serue thee I may liue toward thee and that I may commit my self vnto thee I knowe O my Lord that thorow this that thou hast made me I owe and am in det vnto thee euen mine owne selfe because thou hast redemed me and wast made man for my sake for this I say I owe vnto thee more thē my selfe Lo I haue no more nether can I geue that whiche I haue vnto thee without thee But doo thou take me and draw me vnto thee y t I may be thine in folowing louing thee like as I am thine in condicion creation whiche liuest and reignest world without ende Amen FINIS O God the Father of heauen haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen c O God the sonne redemer of the world haue mercy vpon vs myserable sinners O God the sonne redemer of c. O God y e holy Ghost proceding frō the Father the sōne haue mercy vpō vs miserable sinners O God the holi Ghost proceding c O holy blessed glorious Trinitie thre persōs one god haue merci vpō vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lorde our offēces nor the offēces of oure forefathers nether take thou vengeaunce of oure sinnes Spare vs good lord spare thy people whō thou hast redemed with thy most precious bloud and be not angry with vs for euer Spare vs good Lorde From all euill mischief from sinne from the crafts
for this my poore nedy lyfe yet for as much as y u hast bothe commaunded and taught me by thy deere Sonne to praye vnto thee for thinges necessary for thys my lyfe I am bolde at this present to come vnto thi diuine maiesty moste humbly beseching thee that as thou hast geuen me lyfe so thou wylte giue me meat and drincke to sustayn the same Again as thou hast geueÌ„ me a body so thou wilt gyue me clothes to couer it that I hauing sufficyent for my liuing may the more fre ly with the quieter minde apply my selfe vnto thy seruice and honour Amen ¶ For a pacient and thankfull hart in sicknes WHoÌ„ thou louest O lorde him doost thou chasten yea euery soÌ„ne that thou receiuest thou scourgest in so dooing thou offerest thy self vnto him as a father vn to his SoÌ„ne For what soÌ„ne is he whom the father chast neth not Graunt therfore I moste hartely pray thee that wheÌ„soeuer thou layest thy cros on me and visitest me with thy louing scourge of sicknes I may by no meanes striue against thy fatherly pleasure but paciently thankfully abide thy chastisemeÌ„t euer being perswaded that it is for y e helth bothe of my body and soule that by this meanes thou wurkest my saluacion subduest the fleshe vnto the spirit makest me a new crea ture that I may hereafter serue thee the more freely coÌ„tinue in thy fear vnto my lyfes ende Amen ¶ For strength against the deuell the world and the flesh O Lorde God the Diuell goeth about like a roring LioÌ„ seeking whom he may deuour The Flesh lusteth against the Spirite The world perswadeth vn to vanities y t we may forget thee our Lorde God so for euer be daÌ„ned Thus are we miserably on euery side beseeged of cruell vnrestful enemies like at eue ri moment to perish if webe not defended with thy godly power against their tiraÌ„ny I therfore poore wretched siner dispairiÌ„g of mine owne strengthes whiche in deed are none moste hartely pray thee to endue me w t streÌ„gth from aboue that I may bee able through thy help with strong faith to resist SataÌ„ with serueÌ„t prayer to mortify y e raging lusts of the Fleshe with continuall meditation of thy holy law to auoyde the foolish vanities transitory pleasures of this wicked world that I through thy grace be ing set at libertie from the power of mine enemies may liue and serue thee in holines rightuousnes all the days of my life Amen ¶ For the helpe of Gods holy Aungels AN infinit nuÌ„ber of wicked Aungels are there O Lorde Christe whiche without ceasing seek my de struccioÌ„ Against this exceding great multitude of euill spirits seÌ„d thou me thy blessed and heauenly angels which may pitche their teÌ„ts round about me so delyuer me from their tirany Thou o lorde hast deuoured hel ouercom y e Prince of darknes with all his ministers yea and that not for thy self but for them that be leue in thee Suffer men of therfore to bee ouercome of Satan of his seruaunts but rather let me triuÌ„phe ouer them y t I through stroÌ„g faith the help of the blessed angel hauing the victory of the hellish armi mai with a ioisul hart sai Death where is thy stiÌ„g hel where is thy victory so for euer euer magnifi thy holy name AmÌ„ ¶ A prayer to our Lorde Iesus Christe called Conditor celi et terrae OH maker of heauen and earth king of kinges Lorde of Lordes whiche of nothing didst maâ—e me to thy image and likenes didst redeem me with thine owne precious bloud whoÌ„ I a siner am not wurthy to name neither to call vpon neither w t my hart to think vpon humbli I desire thee and meekly pray thee that gentli thou doo beholde me thy wicked seruauÌ„t haue merci on me whiche hadest merry on the womaÌ„ of CaÌ„nane and of Mari Magda leÌ„ whiche didst forgeue the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the theef hanging on y e cros Unto the I confes O most holy father my siÌ„nes which if I would I cannot hide from thee Haue mercy on me Christe for I a wretche haue sore of fended thee in pride in couetousnes in glotony in lechery in vainglory in hatred in enuy inadultry in theft in lying in backbitiÌ„g in sporting in dissolute and wanton laughing in idle wurds in hearing in tasting in touching in thinking in sleping in wurking in all wayes in whiche I a fraill man moste wretched sinner might sinne Mi default my moste greuous default Therfore I moste huÌ„bly pray beseech thy geÌ„tlenes which for my helth descended froÌ„ heueÌ„ whiche didst holde vp king Dauid that he should not fall into sin Haue mercy on me oh Lorde haue merci on me O Christe the which didst for geue Peter that did forsake thee Thou art my creatour and my helper my maker my redeemer mi gouernor my father my lord my god and my king Thou art my hope my trust my gouerner my help my coÌ„fort my strength my defence my redemption my life my helth and my resurrection Thou art my stedfastnes my refuge or succour my light my help I moste humbly hartely desire and pray thee help me defeÌ„d me make me strong and coÌ„fort me make me stedfast make me mery geue me light and visit me reuiue me again which am dead For I am thy makiÌ„g thy wurk oh Lorde despise me not I am thy seruant thy bondmaÌ„ although euill although vnwurthy a sinner But whatsoeuer I am whether I bee either good or bad I am euer thine Therfore to whom shall I flee except I flee vnto the if thou cast me of who shal or will receiue me If thou despise me turn thy face from me who shal look vppon me Recognise knowledg me although vnwurthy comming to thee allthough I be vile vnclene for if I be vile and vnclene thon canst make me clene If I be sick thou canst heal me If I be dead buried thou canst reuiue me For thy merci is much more theÌ„ mine iniquitie thou caÌ„st forgeue me more theÌ„ I can offend Therfore Oh lorde doo not coÌ„sider nor haue respect to the number of my sinnes but according to the greatnes of thy merci forgeue me and haue mercy on me most wretched sinner Say vnto my soule I am thy helth which saidst I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he liue and be conuerted turn to thee Oh lorde bee not angry with me I pray thee moste meek father for thy great mercy I most humbely secheech thee that thou bring me to the blis that neuer shall ceas AmeÌ„ ¶ For the glory of heauen THe ioyes o lorde which thou hast prepared for them y t loue thee no eye hath seen no eare hath heard nether is any hart able to thiÌ„k But as the ioyes ar great vnspeakeable so ar there
assaults of the deuill from thy wrath from euerlastyng damnation Good Lorde deliuer vs. From all blindnes of hart from pride vaine glory and hipocrisy from enuy hatred and malice all vncharitablenes Good Lorde deliuer vs. From fornication and all deadly sinne from all the deceits of the world y e fleshe the Deuill Good Lorde deliuer vs. From lightenīges and tempests from plague pestilence famine from batell and murder and frō sodain death Good Lorde delyuer vs. From all sedition and priui conspiracie from all false doctrine heresy from all hardnes of hart and contempt of thy wurde and Commaundemente Good Lorde deliuer vs. By the mistery of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuitie and and circumcisiō by thy baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lorde deliuer vs. By thine agony bloudy sweat by thy cros and passion by thy precious deathe buriall by thy glorious Resurrection and ascēcion and by the comming of the holy Ghost Good Lorde deliuer vs. In all time of our tribulation in al time of our welth in the hour of death in the day of iudgmēt Good Lorde deliuer vs. We sinners doo beseeche thee to hear vs O Lorde God and that it may please thee to rule and go uern thy holy Churche vniuersally in the right way We beseeche thee to hear vs good lorde That it may please thee to keep and strengthen in the true wurshipping of thee in righteousenes and holines of life thy seruaunt Elizabeth oure moste gratious Queen gouernoure We beseeche thee to hear vs good lorde That it mai please the to rule her hart in thy faith feare and loue and that she may euermore haue affiaunce in thee and euer seek thy honour and glory We beseeche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please the to be her defender and keper geuing her the victori ouer all her enemies We beseeche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops Pastoures and Ministers of the Churche with true knowledg and vnderstanding of thy wurde and that bothe by their preaching and living they may set it furthe and shew it accordingly We beeseche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please thee to endu the Lordes of the counsell all the Nobilitie with grace wisdom and vnderstanding We beseeche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please thee to bles and keep the magistrats geuing them grace to execute iustice and to maintain truthe We beseeche thee to hear vs c. That it may please thee to blesse and keep all thy people We beseeche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please thee to geue to all nations vnitie peace and concorde We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to geue vs an hart to loue and dread the and diligently to liue after thy Commaundements We beseeche thee to hear vs. That it may please thee to geue all thy people increace of grace to hear meekly thy wurd and to receiue it with pure affecciō to bring foorth the fruits of y e spirit We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to bring into the way of truthe all suche as haue erred and are deceyued We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to strēgthen suche as doo stand and confort and help the weak herted to raise vp them that fall and finally to beat down Sathan vnder our feet We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to succour help and confort all that be in daunger necessitie and tribulation We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring of childe all sick persons yung children and to shew thy pitie vp on all prisoners and captiues We beseeche thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to defēd and prouide for the fatherles children and widowes and all that be desolat and oppressed We beseeche thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to haue mercy vpon all men We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to forgeue our enemies persecuters slaūderers to turn their harts We beseeche thee to heare vs. c That it may please thee to geue and preserue to our vse the kind ly fruits of y e earth so as in due time we may enioy them We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to geue vs true repētance to forgeue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignoraunces and to endue vs with the grace of thy holi spirit to amende oure liues according to thy holy wurde We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. ¶ Sōne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sōne of God we beseeche thee to c. O Lambe of God that takest a way the sinnes of the worlde Graunt vs thy peace O Lambe of God that takest a way the sinnes of the world Haue mercy vpon vs. O Christe heare vs. O Christe heare vs. Lorde haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christe haue mercy vpon vs. Christe haue mercy vpon vs. Lorde haue mercy vpon vs. Lorde haue mercy vpon vs. ¶ Oure father whiche art in heauen c. And lead vs not into temptaciō But deliuer vs from euill Amen ¶ The versicle O Lorde deal not with vs after our sinnes ¶ Answere Neither rewarde vs after oure iniquities O God merciful father that dispisest not the sighing of a contrite hart nor the desire of suche as be sorowfull mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in al oure troubles and aduersities whensoeuer they op pres vs. And gratiously hear vs that those euils whiche the craft and sutteltie of the deuill or man wurketh against vs be brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnes they may be dispersed that we thy seruaūts being hurt by no persecutions may euermore geue thanks vnto thee in thy holy Churche through Ie sus Christ our Lorde ¶ O Lorde arise help and deliuer vs for thy names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs y e noble wurcks that thou diddest in their daies and in the olde time before them ¶ O Lorde arise help vs and deliuer vs for thy honour Glory to the father the sonne to the holi ghost Asit was in the beginning is now c. Amen From oure enemies defēd vs O Christe Graciously looke vpō oure afflictiōs Pitifully behold the sorowes of oure hart Mercifully forgeue the sinnes of thy people Fauourably with mercy heare oure prayers O sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpō vs. Bothe now and euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christe Graciously heare vs O Christe graciously heare vs O Lorde Christe O Lorde let thy merci be shewed vpon vs. As we doo put
oure trust in thee ¶ Let vs pray WE humbly beseeche chee O father mercifulli to loke vpō our infirmities and for the glory of thy names sake turn from vs all those euils y t we most righteously haue deserued And graunt that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy euermore serue thee in holines and purenes of liuing to thy honor glory through our oneli mediatour and aduocate Iesus Christe our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer for the Queens Maiestie ▪ O Lorde our heauenly Father high mighty king of kings Lorde of Lordes the only ruler of Princes whiche doost from thy throne beholde all the dwellers vpon the earth moste hartely we beseeche thee with thy fauour to beholde our moste gratious souerain Lady Queen Elizabeth and so replenish her with the grace of thy holy spirit that she may alway incline to thy will and walke in thy way Indue her plentifully with heauenli gifts Graunt her in helth and welth long to liue strength her that she may vanquish and ouercome all her enemies And finalli after this life she may attain euerlasting ioi and felicitte Thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ For rain if the time require O God heauenly father whiche by thy sonne Iesus Christe hast promised to all thē that seek thy kingdom and the righteousnes therof all things necessary to theyr bodely sustenaunce sed vs we beseeche thee in this oure necessitie suche moderat rain shoures that we may receiue the frutes of the earth to our cōfort and to thy honor through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ For faire wether O Lord God which for y e sinne of mā diddest once drowne all the world except eight persons and afterward of thy great mercy diddest promise neuer to destroy it so again we humbly besech thee that although we for our iniquities haue wurthely de serued this Plague of raine and waters yet vpon our true repētaunce thou wilt sende vs suche weather wherby we may receiue the fruites of the earth in due season and learne bothe by thy punishment to amend oure lyues and for thy clemency to geue the praise glory through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A praier of Chrisostome ALl mighty God whiche hast geuen vs grace at this time with one accorde to make our cō mon supplicacions vnto thee doost promise that when ii or iii. be gathered in thy name thou wilt graunt their requests fulfil now O Lorde the desires and peticions of thy seruauntes as may be moste expedient for thē graūting vs in this world know ledge of thy truthe and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen ¶ In the time of dearth famin O God heauenly father whose gift it is y t the rain doth fal the earth is frutefull beastes increace and fishes doo multiply Beholde we beseche thee the afflictions of thy people graunt that the scarcitie dearth which we doo now most iustli suffer for oure iniquitie may through thy goodnes be mercifully tourned into cheapnes and plenti for the loue of Iesu Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holy ghost c. ¶ Or thus O God mercifull father whiche in the time of Heliseus the Prophet didst sodēly turn in Samaria great scarcitie and dearth into plenty and cheapnes and extreme famine into aboundāce of victuall haue pitie vpon vs y tnow be punished for oure sins with like aduersitie encrease the frutes of the earth by thy heauēly Benedictiō And graunt that we receiuing thy bountifull liberalitie may vse the same to thy glory our confort and relief of our nedi neighbours through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ In the time of warre O Almighty God King of all kings and gouernour of all thinges whose power no creature is able to resist to whom it belōgeth iustli to punish sinners to be mercifull vnto them that truly repēt saue deliuer vs we humbly beseeche thee from the hāds of our enemies abate their Pride asswage theyr malice confound their deuises that we being armed with thy defence may be preserued euermore frō all perils to glorify thee whiche art the only geuer of all victory through the merites of thy only sōne Iesus Christe oure Lorde Amen ¶ In the time of any common plage or sicknes O Almighty God which in thy wrath in the time of king Da uid didst slea with the plage of pestilence thre score ten thousand yet remembring thy mercy diddest saue the rest haue pity vppon vs miserable sinners that now are visited with greate sicknes mortalitie that like as thou diddest then commaunde thine ▪ angell to cease from punishing So it may now please the to withdraw frō vs this plague and greuous sicknes throughe Iesu Christ oure Lorde Amen The ende of the letany A Table of the prayers cōtained in this boke A Prayer for the morning Folio 3 A prayer for the Euening Folio 4 A prayer for the forgeuenes of Folio 5 A prayer vnto God y e Father Folio 6 A prayer vnto God the sonne Folio 7 A prayer vnto God the holy Folio 8 A prayer tobe said of Magist ▪ Folio 10 A prayer of y e ministers of gods wurd Folio 11 Of Subiects or Eomons Folio 12 Of Fathers and Mothers Folio 13 Of the Children Folio 14 Of Maisters Folio 15 Of Seruaunts Folio 16 Of maids Folio 17 Of Single men Folio 19 Of Husbands ▪ Folio 20 Of Wyues Folio 21 Of housholders Folio 22 Of all Christians Folio 23 For the grace and fauour of God Folio 24 For the gift of the holi Ghost Folio 25 For the true knowledge of our selues Folio 26 For a pure and a clene hart Folio 27 For a quyet conscience Folio 28 For faith Folio 29 For Charitie Folio 30 For pacience Folio 31 For humilitie Folio 32 For Mercifulnes Folio 33 For true Godlines Folio 34 For the true vnderstanding of Gods wurd Folio 35 For a life agreable to our know ledge Folio 36 For the helth of the body Folio 37 For a good name Folio 38 For a compitent liuing Folio 39 For a pacient thankfull hart in sicknes Folio 40 For strength against the Deuel the world and the Flesh. Folio 41 For the help of Gods holy Angels Folio 42 A prayer to our lord Iesu Christ called Conditor celi terrae Folio 43 For the glory of heauen Folio 47 A thankes geuing vnto God for all his benefites Folio 48 A prayer to be said at the houre of death Folio 50 A prayer wherin throughe commemoratiō of Christes passion we desire pardō of oure sinnes and continuance in vertue and godlines Folio 53 A Prayer wherin Man cōfesseth him self to be the cause of Christes passion Folio 56 Heer doth mā declare vnto God the Father that the passion of his sonne was for his reconciliaciō attōment with God Folio 61 A deuout Prayer to the holy Ghost Folio 67 A Prayer to y e holy Trinitie Folio 69 An acknowledging of Allmighty God and his maiestie eodē After what sort God the Father vouched safe to help mākinde of thincarnatiō of the wurd whiche is Christe of the geuing of thankes Folio 72 Of the trust which a soule ought to haue in oure Lord Iesu and in his passion Folio 75 Of thexceding loue of theuerlasting Father toward mankinde Folio 77 Of the double nature of Christe whiche hath mercy vpon vs and maketh intercession for vs. Folio 81 Of the thankes whiche man ought to geue vnto God for the benefite of his redempcion Folio 84 A deuout prayer vnto Christ. Folio 88 A prayer declaring with howe great miseries this life is replenished Folio 92 Of the blessednes of that life whiche God hath prepared for them that loue him Folio 94 A complaint that we be not moued nor pricked in our contemplation and prayer like as the Angells be whiche tremble at the sight of God Folio 96 A very deuout prayer for the geuing of thankes Folio 99 A prayer wherin mannes minde is very muche and plentuously stirred and moued If it be said in quietnes Folio 107 A prayer in time of tribulation Folio 118 A very deuout prayer vnto the Sonne Folio 120 The Letany Folio 128 The ende of the. Table ¶ Imprinted at London ouer Aldersgate benethe S. Martins by Iohn Day 1561. ¶ Cum gratia priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis
of perfect pacience sufferīg quietly not y e spiteful words but also y e cruel dedes of thi most cruel enemies forgeuing thē praying for thē whiche moste tyranlike hādled thee Giue me grace O thou moste meek and louing lamb of God to folow this thy pacience quietly to bear the slaunderous wordes of mine aduersaries paciently to suffer the cruel dedes of mine enemies to forgiue thē to pray for them yea to doo good for thē by no meanes to go about once to auenge my selfe but rather giue place vnto wrath seeing y t vengeaunce is thine and y u wilt reward seing also that thou helpest them to theyr ryght that suffer wronge that I thus paciently suffering all euils may after ward raign with thee in glory Amen ⧠For Humilitie WHat haue we O heauēly Father that we haue not receyued ▪ Euery good gyfte and euery perfect gift is frō aboue and cometh downe from thee which art the father of lightes Seyng then all y t we haue is thine whether it pertaine to the body or to the soule how can we be proud and boast our selues of that whiche is none of our own seing also y t as to geue so to take away againe thou art able and wilt whēsoeuer thy gifts be abused and thou not knowledged to be the giuer of them Take therfore away from me all pride hautynesse of mynd and graffe in me true humilitie that I may knowledge thee the giuer of al good things be thāk full vnto thee for them vse them vnto thy glorye and the profyte of my neyghboure Graunt also that all my glorye and reioysynge maye bee in no earthly creatures but in thee alone whiche doost mercy equitie and ryghtuousnes vpon earth To thee alone be all glory Amen ⧠For Mercifulnes THy deerelye beloued sōne in his holy Gospell exhorted vs to be mercyfull euē as thou our heauenly Father art merciful and promisest that if we be merciful to other we shall obtaine merci of thee which art the father of mercies and God of al consolacion Graunt therfore that for asmuch as thou art oure Father and we thy children we may resemble thee in all our life and conuersaciō and that as thou art beneficial liberal not onli to y e good but also to the euil so we likewise mai shew our selues merciful gentil and liberall to so many as haue nede of our healp y tat the dredful day of dome we may be found in the number of those merciful whom thou shalt appoint by thy onely begotten sonne to go into euerlasting lyfe to whō with thee and the holy ghost be all honour and praise Amen For true godlynes IN thy law O thou maker of heauen and earth thou hast appoynted vs a waye to walke in and hast commanded that we shuld tourn neither on the right hand nor on the left but doo according to thy good will and pleasure with out adding of our own good entents and fleshly imaginacions As thou hast cōmaunded so giue me grace good Lorde to doo Let me neither folowe mine owne will nor the fancies of other men neither let me be begiled with the visar of olde customes long vsages fathers decres auncient lawes nor any other thing that ffghteth with thy holy ordinaunces blessed commaundemēt but faithfully beleue stedfastly confes y t to be the true godlines which is learned in thy holy Bible according vnto that to order my life vnto the praise of thy holy name Amē ⧠For the true vnderstanding of Gods word O Lorde as thou alone art the Authour of the holy scriptures so lykewyse can no manne althoughe neuer so wise politike and learned vnderstand them except he be taught by thy holy spiryt which alone is the Scholemaster to lead the faithfull into all truth Uouchesafe therfore I moste humbly beseeche thee to breath into my hart thy blessed Spirit whiche may renew the senses of my minde open my wits reuele vnto me the true vnderstāding of thy holy misteries ▪ and plant in me such a certaine and infailyble knowledge of thy truthe that no subtyll perswasyon of mans wysdom may pluck me from thy truth but that as I haue lerned the true vnderstāding of thy blessed wyll so I may remayne in the same continually come lyfe come death vnto the glory of thy blessed name Amen ⧠For a lyfe agreable to our knowledge AS I haue prayd vnto thee O heauenly Father to be taught the true vnderstāding of thi blessed word by thi holy spirit so I moste entierly beseech thee to giue me grace to lead a lyfe agreable to my knowledge Suffer me not to be of the number of them which profes that they know God with theyr mouth but deny hym with theyr dedes Let me not be lyke vnto that sonne which sayd vnto hys father that he would labour in his vineyeard and yet labored nothing at al but went abrode lottering idely Make me rather lyke vnto that good and fruteful land which yeldeth agayne her sede with great increase that men seing my good workes maye glorify thee my heauenly father Amen ⧠For the health of the body I Fele in my selfe O mercifull Sauiour how greuous a pryson thys my body is vnto my Soule which contynually wysheth to be loosoned oute of thys byle carcasse and to come vnto thee seeing it hath heere no reste but is at euery houre vexed wyth the filthy lustes of the flesh wyth the wicked assaultes of the deuyll and the worlde and is neuer at quiet but alway in daunger to be ouercome of her ennemyes were it not preserued of thy goodnes by the mynistery and seruice doing of thy holy Angels Notwythstāding O most louing lord forasmuch as it is thy good pleasure that my bodye and soule shall styl remain heere together as yet in this vale of mysery I beseche thee to preserue my soule from all vyce and my body from al sycknes that I enioying through thy benefyte the helth bothe of body and soule maye be the more able to serue thee my neighbour in such works as are acceptable in thy sighte Amen ⧠For a good name NOthing becometh y e professour of thy name better O heauenly Father thē so to behaue him selfe accordyng to hys professyon that he maye be well reported of them that be of the houshold of Faith yea such synceritie and purenes of lyfe ought to be in them which profes thy holy name that the very aduersaryes of thy truth should be ashamed once to mutter a gaynst them Giue me grace therfore I moste intierly desyre thee soo to frame my lyfe accordinge to the rule of thy blessed word that I may giue no man occasyō to speak euill of me but rather so lyue in my vocacion that I may be an exsample to other to liue Godly and vertuously vnto the honour and praise of thy glorious name Amen ⧠For a compitent liuing ALthough I doubt not of thy fatherly prouision
pity and goodnesses sake to haue mercy vpon mine impitie wickednes Make open mine eares to thy cōmaūdemēts let not mine hart be enclined I beseeche thee by thy holy name to any euill thing to be minded as the vngodly or wicked men I re quire the also by thy merueilous humilitie that I bee not moued with pride nor yet with sinners ☞ Here dooth man declare vnto God the father that the Passiō of his sōne was for his reconciliation and attonement with God BEhold O almighty God father of my Lorde I beseeche thee of thy beningnitie and gentlenes to haue mercy vpon me because of y e moste precious thīg that I could finde the same I haue offred deuoutly vnto thee the thing of moste estemacion y tI could imagin I haue presented it humbly vnto thee I haue left nothyng but I haue declared it to thy maiestie There is nothing remaining that I may ad more because I haue cōmitted and be taken my whole hope vnto thee I haue sent vnto thee my aduocate and spokes man euen thy well beloued sonne I haue sent thy glorious childe to be a mediator betwix me thee I haue set I say an intercessour by whome I trust to get pardon and forgeuenes of my sinns I haue sent wurd vnto wurd that is God vnto God according to that whiche saint Ihon hathe in y e beginning of his gospel wher he calleth God the wurd saying in the beginning was the wurd and the wurd was with God God was the wurd c. whiche wurd as I haue said was sent for my misdedes And I haue rehersed vnto thee the passion of thy moste holy sonne which passiō I beleue was suffred for me I beleeue that the godhed which was sent of thee did take vpon him mine humanitie nature in the whiche he thought not scorn to suffre buffets bendes spittings mocks yea he took vpon him to suffer y e cros nailes and dart I beleeue also that his māhod being in this my nature during his infancie was trobled with creeping and scraulings was wrapt in clothes after the maner of other childrē was vexed in his youth with labours made lene with waking fastings weried with iourneying afterward whipped all to torn and rent with diuers kindes of punishments rekened amongst the dead and whan it was endued with the glory of resurrectiō he caried it into the ioyes of heauen placed it vpon the righthād of thy maiestie This I say he is my manhod wai meanes of pacifying and appeasing thee and thy way and meanes of hauing mercy vpon me Mercifully look vpon hear the sōne whiche thou didst beget the bond seruāt whiche he redemed Beholde here a creator and doo not despise a creature Receiue the shepherd welcomed with a gentle louing countenance and mercifully looke vpō the sheep whiche he hathe brought home vppon his owne shoulders This is that moste faithfull shepherd whiche by mani and diuers labours and trauailes ouer steep hilles and thorow hedlong and deepe valies did serche for his owne sheep that was straide away whiche also when he had founde it faint and allmoste dead thorow long wanderyng gat him self vnder it with greate reioising and making it faste vnto him with a merueilous bonde of charitie lifted it vp out of the depth of confusion and brought it home to the nintie and nine Behold O Lorde my king and God almighty beholde a good shepherd whiche rēdreth to thee that whiche thou committed to his charge He tooke vpon him thorow thine ordinaūce to saue man whō he hath deliuered vnto the cleane and pure from all spots thorow the washing in his bloud Loe thy most deerly beloued sonne hathe reconciled vnto thee thy hādy wurk whiche was gon astray far out of the way Lo a gentle shepherd bringeth again to thy flock him that the violent pirate robber had driuen away He hath brought vnto thy sight y e seruaunt whō his owne conscience had made to rū away that he which by him self had deserued punishmēt by thy sonne being his sollicitour hath deserued forgeuenes vnto whō also for his offences euerlasting fier was due neuertheles being a souldiour vnder suche a captain he doth hope to be brought home to his owne countrey I was able O holy Father by my self to offēd thee but I was not able of my self to pacify and appese thee Thy welbeloued sōne O my God was made my helper by taking vpon him mine humanitie to y e intent he might cure mine infirmitie that wherof the first occasion of thy wrath did spring of the same he might offer vp to thee a Sacrifice of praise And that he might rēdre make me also well pleasing to to thy goodnes by that thing in the which he sitting now on thy right hand did alwayes shew declare him self to be equal with my substance as it wer felow with the same Lo my hope behold in whom is all my trust If thou despise me as it wer right for mine iniquitie yet look vpō me at the least wise mercifully for the charitie of thy beloued sonne Geue heed to thy sonne wherby thou maist haue mercy vpō thy bond seruant Look vppon the sacrament of flesh pardon the offences of flesh How oft so euer thou doost remember the woundes of thy blessed sōne so oft I beseche thee let mine in iquities be hid And because flesh hath stirred thee to angre let fleshe I beseech thee moue thee to mercy that like as fleshe hath seduced led me to sin so fleshe may get obtein for me remissiō For certainly it is muche y tmine iniquitie hath deserued but much more is it that the goodnes of my redemer may euen of right require Mine vnrightousnes is great but his righteousnes is bigger For loke how much god is superior vnto man euen so muche is my malice and euil inferior vnto his goodnes bothe in qualitie and quātitie For what haue I sinned being a man that the sonne of God beeing made man hath not redeemed what pride could be in me so exceding hie but suche humilitie as was in him shuld bring it downe what power of deathe was there in me so great but the punishment whiche the Sonne of God suffred vpon the cros migght de face it vtterly destroy it Truly my God if the sinnes of sinfull man should be wayed in a iust equall balance with the loue fauor that was in oure redemer toward vs the East is not so far distant from the West nor the innermost parte of the earth so muche separated from the vpper most parte of the heauē as they should be vnlike so muche les should mine iniquitie be then is his goodnes Now O moste noble creator of light now pardē mine offences for the vnmeasurable trauailes and paines that thy beloued sonne did sustein Now I beseeche thee let his goodnes bee set against my wickednes his modesty and temperaūce against
minde vnto thee It pleaseth me to talke of thee to hear of thee to write of thee to confer meditate of thee to rede euery day of thy blessednes and glory and to muse often times in my minde of the things I haue red concerning thee that at the least by suche meanes I being vnder the sweet refreshing and comfor ting of thy liuely air may pas from the vexations ieoperdies labours traueils of this mortall life that will soon perish y tin passing I may lay my weary head in thy bosom to slepe or to rest a little for this cause doo I enter into the plesaūt medow of the holy scriptures in plow ing I pluck the goodliest green herbes of sentences and in reading I doo eat them and in frequenting I doo meditate and as it were cud them and in gathering them together at the last I lay them vp in my memory that by suche meanes when I haue tasted of thy sweetnes I may sumwhat les feel the bitternes of this moste wretched life O thou moste happy life oh kingdom whiche art blessed in deed whiche lackest death whiche art without ende no time doth successifly pas at any time to thee Wheras continual day without night knoweth no time wheras that capitain and conquerour is accōpanied with those queres of angels singing of himnes songs they sing vnto God with out ceassing the balet of Balets of Sion Oh moste noble head which art compassed about with a perpetuall crown oh that par dō and forgeuenes of my sinnes were graunted vnto me and thē immediatly this burden of my flesh laid awai that I might enter into thy ioyes to haue true rest and that I might get within the goodly beutifull walles of thy citie to receiue a crown of life at the hand of our Lord that I might be amongst those moste holy queres that I might stand with the moste blessed Spirites of the creator of glory that I might see presently the countenaunce of Christe that I might behold alwaies y e moste his vnspekeable light incōprehensible which cā not be cōteined as in a place And so I should not onli be out of al feare of death but also I might reioyse alwayes at the gifte of euerlastyng incorruption Amen ¶ Heare doo wee complain that we be not moued nor pricked in our contem plation and prayer like as the angels be which tremble at the sight of God PArdon me O Lorde pardon me mercifully forgeue me haue mercyvpō me spare mine ignoraunce and my great vnper fectnes doo not reproue me as a rash felow because I dare be so bolde which am but thy seruaūt but would to God I were ether a good seruaunt or none vnprofitable nor euill seruaunte And therfore am I an euill man because I prayse blesse wurship thee which art our God almighty terrible and very much to be feared I wurship thee I saye without contricion of hart and without a well of teares For if so be that the angels when they wurship and praise thee doo trē ble being fulfilled with marueilous gladnes I whiche am a sin ner whiles I stande before thee saying praises and offeringe sacrifice why am I not afraid in my harte why am I not pale in my countenaunce why doo not my lippes quake and tremble why is not all my body afraide and why doo I not mourne and bewaile before thee after suche ▪ a sorte that teares might springe out of mine eyes I wolde fayne but I am not able because I can not doo that whiche I desire to doo This maketh me truly wōderfully to maruell that I am no more moued when I see with the eyes of my faith thee which art so fearfull But who can doo any thing without the helpe of thy Grace Except thou make our stony hartes to relent we of oure selfs ar not able to mollifie them but all our healthe dependeth vpon thy great mercye O wretche that I am how is my soule made without any feeling or perseueraunce that it is not afrayde with ouer muche feare whiles it standeth before God sīgeth to him his owne praises Alas how is my hart so hardned that myn eyes doo not gush out great fluddes of teares without ceassing when I whiche am but a seruaunte or bondman doo cō mon and talke in my Lorde and masters presēce Yea a mā with God a creature with a creatour I that am made of the slime of the earthe doo speake with him that made al things of nothing Put me before thee ▪ O Lorde and what so euer I perceyue of my self in the secrets of my hart I doo not keep it close from thy brotherly eares Thou art riche in mercy liberall in rewards geue mè of thy goods that with them I may serue the. For with nothīg els cā we serue or please thee but with thin owne giftes whiche thou hast vouchsaued to bestow vpon vs. Fasten I beseche thee thy feare in myfleshe Let my hart reioice and be glad to feare thy name Would God my sinfull soule feared thee so muche as that holy man the whiche saide I alwayes feared God as though it were greate swellīg fluddes should come and tumble vpon me O God the geuer of all good thinges geue me emongst thy praises a well of teares with the purenes of hart and reioising of mind that I loving thee perfetly and wurthily praising thee may feel taste and sauour in the palace of myhart how swet and pleasaūt thou art O Lorde as it is written Doo ye tast and see how sweet delectable the Lorde is Blessed is the man that putteth his trustin him Blessed is y t people whiche knoweth glad and ioifull praising Blessed is the man whose stregth is in thee in whose hart ar thy wayes which going thorow the vale of misery vse it for a well Blessed ar the cleane in hart because they shall see God Blessed are thay that dwell in the house of the Lorde they shal praise thee worlde without end ¶ A veri deuoute prayer for the geuing of thankes O Lorde Christe which art the wurd of the father whiche came into this world to saue sin ners I beseche thee by the most louing bowels of thy mercy to amend repaire my lyfe make better my dedes take thou thorderyng of my maners take from me that whiche noyeth and hurteth me and displeaseth the and geue me that which thou knowest will please thee proffit me Who can make clean y t which is cōceiued of an vncleane sead but thou alone Thou art the god almighty of infinite pietie which dost iustifie and make righteous euen those that were wicked mē and raisest again to life thē that were dead in sin thou chaungest sinners and they are no sinners Take away therfore from me what so euer is in me that pleaseth not thee for thine eyes doo see muche vnperfectnes in me Lay thy hand I besech the of thy pitie on me
two edged sworde Thou O chosen dart most sharp sword whiche arte able by thy power to perce thorow the hard sheeld or buckler of mans hart fasten stick the shaft of thy loue in my hart that my soule may say vnto thee I am wounded with thy charitie so that forth of that same woūd of thy loue teares may flowe most plenteously bothe day and night Strike O Lord strike I beseech thee this most indurated and hardened mind of mine with the sharp dart of thy loue perce it deper deper into the inermost partes therof by thy mightie power so bring oute of my head abundaunce of water and out of mine eyes a very well of teares continually running thorow the great affect maruelous desire to see thy glory y tI may mourn day night without taking any comfort in this life vntill in thy heauenly wedding chambre I may se thee my welbeloued and beautifull spouse my god my Lord. And that there when I see thy glorious marueilous and beautifull face ful of all swetnes togither with them whiche thou haste chosen then I say I may wurship humbly thy maiesty there at the laste beeing replenished with heauenly and vnspeekable reioising of euerlasting gladnes I may euen cry out with them that loue thee saying Beholde that whiche I haue long desired now I haue obteined For I am ioyned in heauen vnto him whō when I was in earth I loued with all my strength with all my charitie I embrased him vnto whom with all my loue I did stick cleaue Him doo I praise blesse and wurship that liueth reigneth God worlde without ende Amen A prayer in time of tribulation HAue mercie on me o Lorde haue mercie on me a moste wretched sinner whiche doo cōmit wickedli and doo suffre ther fore worthely whiche doo sin cō tinualli suffre thy scourge ther fore daily If thou take my daily tribulacion as a recompence for the euils whiche I haue cōmitted then it is not somuch that I suffre For it is a great deale more greuous which I haue tres passed then y t whiche I doo suffer Thou art iust O Lord thy iudgemēt is according to right Yea all thy iudgmentes ar iust true and thou O lorde our god art iust and righteous for there is none iniquitie in thee Thou dost not vniustli nor yet cruelly scourge and punish sinners O all mighty and mercifull God whiche when we had no beyng at all didst mightily create and make vs. And when we were lost by oure owne faulte thou by thy pitie and goodnes marueilously didst recouer vs. I know and am very certayn sure that our life is not led by so den motions but it is disposed and gouerned of thee O Lorde our god Wherby I know thou takest care for all men and most chiefly for thy seruaunts whiche haue put theyr whole hope in thine oneli merci Therfore doo I beseche humbli require the that thou woldst not deale with me accordīg to my sinnes wherwith I haue deserued thine angre but according to thy great mercifulnes whiche exceadeth yeathe sinnes of the hole world Thou O Lorde which outward ly doost punish scourge graunt me in wardli a pacience that wil neuer faile so that thy praise ne uer depart away frō my mouth Haue merci on me o lorde haue mercy on me help me as thou thinkest best to be most necessary for my body and soule Thou knowest all thinges thou canst doo all thinges whiche liuest for euer and euer ¶ A very deuout prayer to the sonne O Lorde Iesu Christe sonne of the liuing God which being vpon the cros with thy handes spred abroade for the redemptiō of all mankinde didst drinke the most bitter cup of thy passion I beseche thee that thou woldest vouchsafe to geue me help this day euer Lo I a poore wretch cum vnto thee whiche art riche a sinner vnto thee that art mercifull Let me not retourn home contemned and dispised with no thing I begin a hungred let me not leaue of fasting I cum vnto thee as though I wer famished let me not go away vnfed Althoughe before I eate I sigh sorow yet after my sorow geue me somwhat to eate First of all good Iesu I acknowledg before thy maiestie mine vnrighteousnes towards thee Beholde O Lorde I was conceyued in sin borne in the same thou didst wash them of from me sanctified me but I afterward defiled my selfe with bigger and more greuous sinnes For I was born in sin of necessitie because I could be borne none otherwise But afterward I rolled my self willingly in sinnes Neuertheles thou O Lorde being mindful of thy pitie didst take me out of the house of my carnall father out of the tents of the vngodli and hast enspired me put me in mind to folow thee with the ge neration of them that seeke thy face of thē that walke in y e right pathe of them that abide continew emongst the lillies of chastitie of them that sit downe together w t the at supper of most scarcitie least exces But I an vnkinde person forgetting soo many great benefites after that I was entred into religion holines did cōmit many vnlawful things I did offend wunderfull vngraciously where I shuld of right haue amended min euill life and lest my sinnes I heaped sīns vpō sinnes these be the euils o Lorde wherwith I haue dishonored the haue spotted defiled my self whom thou didst creat after the similitude and lik nes of thine own self with pride vaine glory and other many euills wherwith mine vnlucky soule is vexed punished torne destroyed Beholde o lord mine vnrighteousnes is gon ouer my head and ar like a sore burden ouer heauy for me to beare And except thou whose propertie is euer to haue mercy to forgeue doo lay vnder me y e right hand of thy maiesty I shalbe cōstrained miserably to sink in to the deep and be drouned Geue heed o Lord god behold because thou art hooly Looke how mine enemie assaulteth me saying God hath forsaken him I will persecute him and catche him because there is no mā that will deliuer him But thou lord how long Turne again delyuer my soule saue me for thy mercies sake Haue mercy vpon thy sōne whō thou hast brought forth with no small sorow and paine be not so ententife vnto mine euilnes that thou forget thine owne goodnes what father is there but he will deliuer his sonne yea what fathers is there that will not correcte his sonne and chasten him but with the rod of pity Therefore O father and Lorde although I be a sinner yet can I not chuse but be thy son because thou hast made me and made me again when I was mard with sinne Repaire amend me now o Lord but first of all I being mended chastised with thy scourge