thy fauour and hath giuen vs this boldenesse to call vppon thee vnto whom O Father with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour and glorie world without end Amen A prayer for all times O Lorde God Father of mercie and God of all consolation without whome we haue neither hope nor comfort we poore wretches and miserable sinners beseeche thee of thy fatherly goodnesse to looke vpon vs and so make vs partakers of thy gratious goodnesse that we may stil increase in all goodnesse so that euermore we may set forth thine honour and glorie let our conuersation be suche that a greate many beholding our good woorkes may glorifie thee our heauenly Father and so direct our wayes that we may holde foorth the profession of thy Gospel as a lanthorne to lighten the steps of a great many that they may turne to thee and praise thy name in their visitation Thus O Lord we beseeche thee to deale with vs that in deede we may be vessels of honour vnto thee now to set forth the praise of thy name after this transitorie life to behold thy Glorie who hast immortalitie alone dwellest in light that no man hath approched vnto remoue farr frō vs our sins iniquities that they may not separate betweene vs and thee blot out of vs our offences and make our prayers righteous that thou maiste fauourably graunt our requestes looke vpon vs with thy fauourable mercie that thou mayst haue pittie vpon vs and behold vs in the righteousnes of thy beloued sonne Christ Iesu that we may be presēted faultlesse in thy sight and thou accepting vs as holy wee may finde the grace euermore to set forth thine honour and glorie and to speake of thy praises in the middes of all thy people Let vs loue O Lord the thinges that are good and hate the thinges that are euill let vs delight in all thinges that may please thee and let vs be grieued with whatsoeuer is displeasant in thy sight And to the intent wee may haue true vnderstanding be able to discerne betweene things what is good or euil we beseech thee let thy word dwel plentifully in vs which may guide our vnderstandinges so that we may abound in al knowledge and do according to that which is righteous And in this estate of true Christianitie being instructed in minde readie in bodie to all holy obedience we beseech thee make vs to growe increase from grace to grace from faith to faith vntil wee come vnto the fulnesse of age to be perfecte members of the bodie of Christe wayting for the blessed hope of thine electe and sighing in spirite vntil the time that thy children shal be reuealed In the meane season let vs sighe with al those that haue receiued the firste fruites of thy Spirite that these dayes of sinne may cease that satan be troden downe vnder feete that antichrist may bee reuealed yet to manie thou sandes that be in ignoraunce that the number of thine electe may be full the bodie of thy Sainctes made perfect all teares wiped from our eyes euen than when the Sonne shal appeare again the second time to iudge the quicke and the dead whiche time O Lord send quickly according to thy good wil and teache vs to pray with all thy Sainctes Come Lord Iesu come quickly graunt this O Father for thy Sonnes sake in whose name wee pray vnto thee And although we be but earth and ashes yet we are bolde to say vnto thee the God of all Glorie euen as he hath taught vs Our Father which art in Heauen c. E.D. A prayer for all estates O Lord God Father of light with whome is no change neither yet shadow of change but hast established thine apointed coūsels which shal not be changed for euer thou O God hast made among vs this diuersitie of estates degrees according as euery cōmon wealth requireth keepe vs all we beseeche thee that we may walke obediently in our calling and followe the steppes that thou haste set before vs euen from the highest to the lowest let vs accomplishe that duetie vnto whiche thou haste appointed vs and with a faithfull remembrance of thy promise made of olde to our Father Abraham that thou art his exceeding great reward we may likewise depend on thy prouidēce seeke not any shameful ways to get our liuing wandring from the righteousnesse of our vocation into the manifolde errors of sinne iniquitie look vpon vs O Lord inrich vs with thy grace make vs obediēt to our inferiours meeke towardes our enimies faithful to our freendes true and iust towardes all men that wee may dwell stedfastly rooted in the hope of thine electe vntil thou shalt make an ende of all our labours looke vpon our moste excellent Queene and her Honourable Counsel and as thou hast called them to the highest roome so giue vnto them the greatest measures of grace that they faithfully dispence the talentes committed vnto them leade them with the good king Dauid into thy Sanctuarie that they may see thy louing kindenesse which is better then life and say with the Prophet Al flesh is grasse and the glorie of man is as the flower of the fielde and so consecrate themselues to do thy wil offer vp their bodies to be holy liuely and reasonable sacrifices vnto thee that they may be nurses and noursfathers vnto thy Churche looke also we beseech thee vppon thy ministers whome thou haste appointed to the preaching of thy Gospell make them O God faithfull dispensers of thy mysteries without respecte of persons to doe the worke vnto the whiche thou hast appointed them that they may conuert sinners and haue their glorie perfecte in the day of Christ and knit vs together in peace and loue that we may be full of compassion one towardes an other to reioyce with thē that reioyce and mourne with them that mourne especially to instruct one another in the wayes of righteousnesse that by our mutuall healpe we may the better withstande our enimie and dwell safe in hope of thine electe till our dayes shall bee full and we shall walke the wayes of all the worlde whiche time wee beseeche thee bring vs happily vnto euen for thy Sonnes sake wee beseech thee to whome with thee and the holy Ghost three persons one God be all honour and glorie nowe and for euermore Amen Amen A fourme of Morning prayer necessarie for this present time for Godly Christians to vse in their houses and families WE moste humbly thanke thee O Heauenly Father for the sweete and quiet rest that we haue had this night for the louing and fauourable deliuerance out of all daungers bothe of bodie and soule which we iustly deserue to be throwne into for our manifolde sinnes for that thou hast raised vs vpp this morning we pray thee to go before vs and for as muche as thou seest our sluggishnesse and drowsines it would please thee good Lord to pull vs after thee
Commons of this Realme that their hartes being touched with a sincere feare and reuerence of thy heauenly Maiestie acknowledging thy mercie in placeing ouer them a Godly Princesse they may euery one in their callings walke in all true and humble obedience vnto her in thee and for thee without resistance tumults insurrections conspiracies or rebellions knowing that to resist the higher powers is to rebell against thy Maiestie Finally we beseeche thy goodnesse so guide gouerne the hartes of all the whole Realme of euery degree that euery one in his calling being by thy grace supported may so occupie his talent that thy Glorie in all thinges may be aduanced thy Churche inlarged and this whole Realme into sincere Godlinesse vertuously reduced Moreouer we beseech thee O Lord our God in mercie behold all those which suffer persecution for thy glorious wordes sake whither it be imprisonmente deathe or banishment or whatsoeuer else strengthē them good Lord that they hauing thee always before their eyes and the glorie laide vp for thē in the life to come may continue constant in defēding thy truth without feare of man or vaine allurementes of the world that whether it come by life or death they may glorifie thy Holy name in continuing in the trueth to the end Preserue in like maner we beseech thee all others thy children whom it hath pleased thee with any other kinde of crosse to chasten for their amendement whither by pestilence famine warre pouertie imprisonment sicknesse or banishment trouble of conscience vexation of spirit disquietnesse of minde want of spirituall comforte or whatsoeuer kinde of affliction of body or mindes thou doest trie them with that by thy holy spirit being fully assured that thou by this thy correction mindest to call them backe to a feeling of their sinne and due consideration of their life and conuersation that they may patiently abide thy Fatherly trial looking for aide help and comfort from thee when it seemeth most conuenient to thy godly wisedome and beeing by thy merciful hande once deliuered may acknowledge thy singular power worke giueing al laude and praise to thy glorious Name and afterwards al the dayes of their life studie to liue before thee in sinceritie and perfect holinesse euen to their liues ende Amen Morning prayer for priuate houses and Families O Gratious God and louing Father according to thy commaundement wee do here presente our selues before thy Maiestie humbly prostrating ourselues before the throne of mercy acknowledging and confessing from the bottome of our hearts that wee be miserable sinners daily breaking thy commaundements both in thought woord and deede wherein wee iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to bee vtterly throwne from thy presence yet O Lorde wee see thy goodnesse againe towardes vs who not suffering vs thus to perishe in our sinnes hast sent thine owne deere Sonne Iesus Christ to take vpon him whatsoeuer is due to reconcile make vs at one with thee againe In him therefore good Lorde and through him do wee come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that wee feeling the greeuousnesse of our sinnes and groneing vnder the burden of them may feele the release and ease of them in that we be through thy holie Spirit assured and stedfastly beleeue that Christ hath borne the burden of them euen for vs Graunte O Lorde that we beeing assured hereof in our consciences may through thy holy Spirite bee renued in the inner man to hate deteste and abhorre sinne and to studie to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life Wee do not onely pray for our selues but also for all thy whole Church especially suche as bee persecuted for thy woorde graunte vnto them that whither it be by death or life they may glorifie thy Name to their liues ende Bee mercifull to this Churche of Englande and Irelande wee beséeche thee good Lord and preserue euery part and member of the same especially thy Seruaunte Elizabeth our Queene graunt her all such giftes as bee needeful for so high a calling to the aduauncement of thy Glory and benefite of this common wealth to the establishing of a perfect gouernemēt of thy Church according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of all superstition and reliques of antichriste to the gouerning of her Subiectes in all peace and tranquillitie Defende her O Lord from all conspiracies treasons and rebellions and so woorke in the hearts of all her Subiects that knowing her authoritie doth come from thy Heauenly Maiestie they may with obedient heartes humbly obey her in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Counsell and the Magistrates of the Realme that beeing lightened through thy holy Spirite they may defende thy trueth suppresse wickednesse and maintaine equitie Beholde all the Pastours and Preachers of the woorde blesse their laboures increase the number of them place ouer euery Churche a paineful watchman remoue all idle Lubbers and confounde the power of antichriste and turne the heartes of the people that they may bee obedient to thy truth Blesse the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxforde and all the Studients of the same with all Schooles of learning Beholde al those that bee afflicted with any kinde of crosse that they may profite by thy correction in newnesse of life ‡ * ‡ Lastly for our selues here gathered together we hartily craue at thy hands that it would please thee to make vs thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for all thy loueing kindnesse shewed vnto vs euen from our infancie especially that thou haste this present nighte deliuered vs from all daungers both of body and soule whereinto many haue fallen as wee into like manner should haue done if wee had not bene stayed with thy mercifull hande that thou haste also graunted vnto vs so sweete and comfortable reste and haste nowe presently broughte vs to the beginning of this day For these thinges good Lorde wee yeelde vnto thee most hartie thankes beseeching thee to make vs more and more daily thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for them and pardon our vnthankfulnesse And as thou hast safely preserued vs vnto this present houre from al the daungers of this life so we beseeche thee continue thy fauour towards vs this day and the whole course of our life Defend vs O Lord that we nowe entring into the affaires of this day be not drawen away with the vaine allurementes of this world to sinne and wickednesse that wee walke not in the shadowe of death that we be not intangled in the snares of sinne that we stumble not at the blockes of iniquitie that we finally fall not into the pitte of deathe and destruction but being shadowed vnder thy winges we may cheerefully and constantly go on forward to the end of our course Graunt vnto vs O Lord our God that this good time whiche thou grauntest vnto vs in this life be not idely or vainely of vs consumed but that euery one of vs may be diligently exercised in his calling this day
vp to make our petitions with suche an affection ardent desire loue and reuerence to thy maiesty that our mindes be not carried away with bythoughts creeping in but without all wandering may be fully bente and attentiue to the thing we aske and fully staide vppon thy merciful and iuste protection We then beseech thee deare Father that thou wilte strengthen our heartes with thy holy Spirite that considering thou hast made all thinges for the glory of thy Name so wee may in al our dooings enterprises counsels and purposes chiefly aboue all things seeke thy Glorie that wee may fully acknowledge thee not onely the Authour of all thinges but the ruler guider and gouernour of all thinges both in Heauen and earth that we neuer diminishe thine incomprehensible Glory by attributing vnto our selues any power strength or abilitie to do wil or think that which is good but from our harts we may acknowledge all our goodnesse to come from thee yelding for the same continually prayse and thankesgiuing to thy glorious Name that we neuer by distrusting thy mercifull prouidence dishonour thy Name but that euen in our greatest distresse we may put our ful confidence in thee not looking vppon our weaknesse but staying vpon thy power and promises by harty prayer fleeing vnto thee our onely refuge that our whole life may be so framed according to thy holy wil in al points that thy glorious Name in vs may be sactified and that we be not an occasion that thy holy Name be blasphemed through our wicked life and conuersation Let thy Kingdome most mercifull Father appeare and manifestly be declared in all the worlde but especially amongst thy Churche and faithfull flocke declare thy selfe Lord and King oue◠them ruling them by the scepter of thy holy woorde and force of thy holy Spirite Increase the number of faithful Pastors and Preachers amongst the people blesse their labours to the increase of this Kingdome of thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ and to the destruction of the kingdome of satan and antichrist Suppresse the rage of the enimies that they may knowe that thou O Lorde doest reigne in all ages to the behoofe of thy Church and terour of thine enimies Grāt these mercies good lord not onely to the whole Churche in generall but especially to euery one of vs thy Children particularly Graunte that we may effectually feele the force of this thy Kingedome in our heartes Beate downe in vs our olde corrupt Adam with all sinfull delightes thoughtes motions and desires and renew in vs day by day our spiritual and inwarde man that we may be wholy bente to delight thinke desire and do those thinges whiche be acceptable in thy sighte Frame our heartes good Lorde with suche humble obedience to thy holy will that we may be heartily wel content with whatsoeuer it pleaseth thy goodnes to lay vppon vs that wee neuer cease in our miseries but continually call vppon thee by hearty prayers although wee feele no release at all yet that still patiently we may abide and quietly waite for thy good leysure and appointed time of deliueraunce when thou knowest it shall be moste expedient for vs. Graunte vs deere Father that al our counsels studies labours and endeuours being by thy holy spirite guided and framed wee may euery one in that vocation in whiche thou haste placed him so faithfully trauaile to the discharging of our consciences and edifying of thy Churche that our accompt may be founde acceptable before thy throne and Iudgement seate So blesse our labours and trauels that we may haue sufficient for the preseruing of this present life and be content with those benefites whiche thou shalt bestowe vpon vs whether they be many or fewe acknowledging them to be receiued of thee not greedily to care for them or vainely to delight in them but thākfully esteeme of them as thy benefites bestowed vppon vs and as faithful Stewards moderately to vse them to the reliefe of our brethren and the discharge of our consciences Increase in vs good Lorde the gifte of faith that wee may daily more and more in our soules and consciences bee assured that our sinnes be defaced cleane blotted out and couered with the full perfecte and sufficient sacrifice of thy deare Sonne Christ Iesu our Lorde and Sauiour once made for vs ▪ that we are vnited knit and made one bodie with him partakers of his righteousnesse iustification and holinesse and euen fellow heires with him of euerlasting life that wee may vnfainedly from the bottome of our hearts loue thee for this thine vnspeakeable goodnesse and mercie forgiueing from our hearts our brethren which doe offend vs pray for them loue cherishe and comforte them as fellowe members all of one body with perfecte naturall loue and compassion linked together to our head Christe Iesu. Strengthen vs good Lorde with thy holy spirite that we be not ouercome with the subtile suggestions and sinneful motions of satan the diuell holde vs vp with thy mercyfull hand that we sleepe not in sinne that we be not drawen away with the wicked worlde nor the enticementes of the flesh to delighte in wickednesse but so arme vs with thy mightie power that we may strongly abyde all the assaultes and subtile sleightes of our ghostly enimy and sincerely to walke before thy face both in prosperitie and aduersitie to thy honour and glory the health of our soules profit of thy Church through Iesus Christe our onely Lorde and Sauiour Amen ¶ The Lordes prayer more at large O Moste mightie and eternall God who of thine infinite loue to mankinde haste giuen vs thine owne eternall sonne Christe Iesu our Lorde to be made man for vs in the similitude of sinnefull flesh to become flesh of our flesh bone of our bones in all things like vnto vs sinne onely excepted who being thy true and naturall sonne hath made vs with him sonnes children and heires to thee our moste mercifull Father giuing vnto vs by grace that which is his by nature And by his due alone once offered sufficient sacrifice hath payd the raunsome of our sinnes before thy diuine Maiestie to satisfie thy iustice vpon sinnful flesh Whiche debt being payde for vs he hath broughte vs in fauour with thee so that wee may now with boldnesse and truste come to thee as vnto our moste merciful and louing Father with full assuraunce that as thy loue is so much greater and more excellent towardes vs then all loue of earthly Parentes towardes their children as thou passest all men in goodnesse and mercy so thou wilte denie vs nothing which shall be expedient for vs So that although all the fathers which are in earth hauing shaken off all feeling of fatherly naturalnesse woulde forsake their children yet thou wouldest neuer forsake vs because thou canste not denie thy selfe who promisest that if earthly fathers being euill can giue good giftes to their children how much more wilt thou our heauenly Father
beeing altogether goodnesse it selfe giue good thinges to them that aske in thy Sonnes name And that although a mother should forsake her children yet wilt thou not forsake vs thy children whome thou haste before the bginning of the worlde in thy deere Sonne Iesu Christe chosen to be thy children and heires with him of thine immortall Kingdome Whereof that we in our selues mighte be sure and certaine and out of all doubte that wee are the children and heires of euerlasting life thou haste giuen into our heartes thy holy Spirite as a true pledge and earneste of our inheritaunce whiche Spirite doth assure our spirites that we are thy children and therefore crieth in our harts Abba Father Wee therefore as thy deere children raunsomed and boughte by thy deere sonne flee to thee our moste louing and mercifull Father who in goodnesse art infinite in mercy aboundant in substance incomprehensible in immortalitie euerlasting who by thy mightie power and singular prouidence rulest all thinges according to thy heauenly wisedome beseeching thee for thy deere sone Christ Iesus his sake that as thou hast sufficieÌ„tly sette forth thy glorious Name in making the whole worlde heauen earth and al things therein contained so we may in beholding and viewing thy creatures the works of thine handes be lifted vp to thee our Lord God the Creatour and Maker and in them glorifie thy holy name acknowledgeing in them thy singular goodnesse and loue towardes man for whose vse thou haste created all thinges both in Heauen and earth and that we may for the same euen from the bottom of our harts yeeld due honour praise and thankesgiuing to thee deere Father all the dayes of our life Graunte moste mercifull Father that wee may in hart and minde be fully assured that thou by thy heauenly prouidence rulest and guidest all things in heauen and earth so that nothing in the whole world commeth to passe but according to thine appoyntmente that thou guidest and framest the affaires and doings of men that thou haste euen their harts and all their powers in thy mercifull hande to turne them whiche way soeuer it seemeth best to thy godly wisedome so that whither wee be in prosperitie or aduersitie we may acknowledge both of them to be thy woorke in vs and therefore be no lesse thankful for sicknesse then for health for sorrowe then for comforte for a troubled mind then for a quiet for imprisonment and banishmente then for libertie especially seeing we know that y turnest them all seeme they neuer so sharp to the comforte and coÌ„modity of thy children which feare thee and that in al things whiche shall befal vnto vs whither they be greuous or ioyous prosperitie or aduersitie life or death thy holy Name may be sanctified in vs by yeelding due and continuall praise and thankesgiuing to thy eternall Maiestie that wee neuer cease to put our ful truste and confidence in thy merâ—y who haste promised to be our defender buckler and shielde to keepe vs as the apple of thine eye to deliuer vs when we call vppon thee to open when we knock to giue when wee aske that we knowing our owne weakenesse that of our selues we haue no power or strength to do no not so muche as to will that whiche is good wee may acknowledge all our strength comforte ioy faith loue hope and confidence to be thine only gifte and woorke in vs And for the same and the increase of the same and for all thy benefites in vs whereof we feele our selues destitute we may constantly flee vnto thee by harty prayer requiring the same at thy mercifull hande And hauing felt thy mercifull dealing towardes vs we may alway to the end of our life continue thankfull to thy blessed Name that wee neuer speake or thinke of thee O Lord God without high reuerence and an obedieÌ„t feare vnto thy Glorious Name And that thy kingdome O Lorde may more gloriously shine amongest men subdue the hearts of the people to be obedient to thy woorde Lighten all nations with thy glorious Gospell raise vp faithful ministers of thy woord aboundantly in euery place who with pure and perfect zeale in true knowledge may feede the hungrie soules with the foode of life Lighten the harts of thy children whome yet thou haste not called to the feeling of thy mercies in thy sonne reuealed Beate downe the furie and rage of the kingdome of satan and antichrist with all tyrants who shewe their vtter malice and furie against thy deare and faithfull flock Confounde their deuises suppresse their pride and so strengthen all thy true and faithfull seruauntes againste their rage that they may haue true wisedome to confound their enimies and steadfast constancie to professe the truth of thy glorious gospell euen to the death And that euery one of vs may feele the force of this thy kingdome particularly in our selues wee beseeche thee kill in vs by thy holy spirite all wicked delightes of sinne and vanities of this worlde Mortifie in vs our earthly and carnall affections and graunte that wee may haue our full delighte and pleasure in thee our Heauenly Father and in thy sonne Christe Iesu our Lorde and Sauiour and reuerently embrace thy holy Woord that our soules may be comforted therein and our faith thereby confirmed Lighten our vnderstanding that we may in thy holy woord learne and in heart be fully assured that thou art our most merciful Father and thy deere Sonne our Lorde and Sauiour Beate downe in vs all sinnefull motions of the aduersarie whiche do rebell againste thy holy spirite and settle and frame our mindes by thy holy spirite in vs that all rebellion in our fleshe being killed wee may quietly with stayed mindes and consciences sette our full ioy comforte and consolation in heauenly thinges walking before thee in sinceritie of mind put our ful trust and confideÌ„ce in thee rest and quiet our selues wholy in thy mighty protection and prouidence And forasmuche O Lord God as of our selues wee be nothing but stubbernesse and rebellion wee beseeche thee deere Father that as thine Angels in heauen doe willingly obey thy Will without resistance so wee thy children in earth all stubbernesse and peruersnesse by thy holy spirite in vs being vtterly extinguished and quenched wee may willingly submit our selues resigne and yeelde our whole affections to thee O Lord to be gouerned after thy blessed and heauenly Will. That we may feele in our selues no other motion or desire then a meete consente to thy holy Will that whatsoeuer affections in vs fighte against thy holy Will thou wilt vtterly make them voyde That wee neuer will any thinge of our selues but that thy holy Spâ—rite in vs may gouerne our heartes by whome inwardly being taughte wee may learne to love embrace and take comforte in those thinges that please thee and to hate those thinges that displease thee That our heartes mindes and willes beeing wholy subdued to thy moste blessed Will wee may willingly bee
and all our life long being assured that thou wilt once call vs to yeelde an account of our stewardshippe indue vs we beseeche thee with those gifts and graces which be needeful for vs in our calling that with a pure and sincere conscience we may vse them to the benefite of our brethren and discharge of our owne consciences beefore thy Maiesty We beseech thee O Lord that in al our consultations woordes and workes this day and the whole course of our life we may always haue thee present before our eyes knowing that thou seest euen the very deepe thoughtes of our hartes whiche alwayes may be as a bridle to pull vs backe that we neither do nor yet consent vnto any sinne or wickednesse but that alwayes we may be so exercised in the affaires of this life that we looke stil to the end of our course whē it shal please thee to bring vs through the pilgrimage of this life to our euerlasting rest with thy deere Sonne Iesus Christe our Sauiour In whose name for these mercies and whatsoeuer thou knowest to be needful for vs and for the whole Churche we pray vnto thee as he himselfe hath taught vs in his holy word saying Our Father whiche art c. The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lorde turne his fauourable countenance toward vs and graunt vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christe the loue of God the Father the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the holy Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this day and euermore Amen ¶ Euening prayer for priuate houses and Families O Gratious God louing Father c. As in the beginning of the morning prayer reding so forth til ye come to this marke ‡ * ‡ Then read this folowing for the Euening Lastly for our selues here gathered we render most hartie thanks to thy maiestie O Lord which hast hitherto from our infancie preserued vs by thy mercie from all perils and daungers bothe of soule bodie wherevnto fraile man is subiect that thou hast sent vnto vs al things necessarie for this present life as healthe foode apparel and such like whiche many of thy deere children doe want being notwithstanding as preciously bought with the precious bloud of thy deere sonne as we be and yet lie in miserie and calamitie oppressed with pouertie nakednesse imprisonement and bannishment in which case also deere Father thou mightest haue brought vs saue onely that thou dealest herein more fauourably with vs then with them For the which thy louing kindenesse wee giue thee hartie thankes desiring thee that as thou hast hitherto thus fauourably in mercie preserued vs by thy protection and euen presently this day hast brought vs past all the daungers thereof so we beseech thee good Lorde in like fauour beholde vs this night that we taking our natural rest and quietnesse may through thy protection be defended that our bodies resting our soules may be occupied in beholding thy fauour and mercie towarde thy children stil looking for the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesu Christ for our full redemption Graunt that our sleepe be not immoderate according to the lust of our fleshe but as muche as is sufficient to refreshe our weake nature that beeing thus refreshed bothe the bodie and the minde may be more able to doe their seuerall office and function in that vocation vvherein thou haste placed vs. Graunt that wee laying our bodies downe to reste may be thereby put in minde of our long rest of deathe that as we doe nowe lay downe our bodies in bedde so wee may be thereby admonished that hereafter they shal be laide downe in graue to bee consumed to duste earthe and ashes from whence they were taken That wee hauing this before our eyes may be stirred vppe in minde warely to walke in this our pilgrimage not knowing when the time shal be of our departure but alwayes to be founde readie with our lampes of pure faithe clearely burning that we may be accepted to meete the Bridegrome when our mortall earthly and corruptible bodies shal be made like to the glorious bodie of our Lord and sauiour Christ Iesu there to reigne with him in perpetuall ioy cōsolatiō together with al the elect children of God continually lauding with all the heauenly multitude the glorious Maiestie of thee our Lorde God and heauenly Father in our Lord and Sauiour Iesu christ For these and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be needefull for vs and thy whole Churche we pray vnto thee as he himselfe hathe taught vs saying Our Father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vppon vs and bee mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance vnto vs and graunte vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the Holy Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this night and euermore Amen A prayer to bee saide before the studying or reading of holy Scripture O Heauenly Father what soeuer I am what so euer I haue whatsoeuer I know it is only by thy free grace For by nature I am the childe of wrath and I am not borne a newe of fleshe and bloude neither of the seede of man or of the will of man Fleshe and bloude cannot reueale the mysteries of thy Heauenly Kingdome vnto mee but by thy blessed will I am that I am and by the same knowe I that I knowe Therefore O Father do I commit into thy handes onely my saluation If my knowledge bee small yet I doubte nothing but that I am the childe of thy euerlasting kingdome and therefore by thy mightie power I shall growe when it shall bee thy good will and pleasure to a more full and riper knowledge as of a more perfecte age wherein my faith shal bee fully able to comprehend and perceiue the breadth deapth heigth and largenesse of thy greate mercies and gratious promises But seeing O Father this power of full knowledge and perfecte reuelation passeth all power naturall and remaineth onely in thy power and the light of thy spirite O Lord do thou whatsoeuer it shall please thee to open vnto me and all the rest of thine elect seruaunts and children depending vppon thee so muche of the lighte of thy countenaunce as may be moste for thy Glorie and our comforte yea and at suche time as shall seeme good to thy wisedome fatherly mercie In the meane while thus resting wholy vpō thee neither can I despaire neither wil I be to much careful althogh I cannot attaine to the knowledge of many of thy works neither to the vnderstanding of many places of thy scriptures But I will confesse vnto thee the weakenesse of my faith waiting alwais for the further reuealing of thy glorious light to be vttered vnto me thy poore seruant when thou shalt thinke of
not onely this correction but vtter destruction as Sodom and Gomorra but rather to looke vpon thy mercies which were before them whereby thou hast saide that although wee doe offend and thou doest correct vs yet thou wilt not take away thy mercies from vs but wilt leaue a remnant which thou wilt multiplie and make as the Starres of the Heauen and as the sandes of the Sea. Looke also O Lord vpon the outrageousnesse and crueltie vnfaithfulnesse and blasphemie of the enimies wherewithall they blaspheme thee and prouoke thee to thy face and therefore in thine owne cause and for thine owne sake take the matter into thine owne handes and pay into the bosomes of thine enimies double and treble of that they haue giuen to thee Notwithstanding those amongst them that belong to thine holy election hasten their calling that afterwards thy iudgement may hasten vpon the earthe and the inhabitants thereof may learne to know thee by thy iudgements that would not vnderstand and come to thee by the louing calling of thy Gospel Wee pray thee O Lorde for our brethren that are vp in armes in both those countries that thou wouldest goe before them and come behinde them and on euery side of them couer their heades in the day of battel teache their handes to fight and their fingers to warre giue them wisedome and valiantnesse and good successe in all their enterprises strike a dizinesse maaze of spirit into the enimies harts and take away from them all force and disappoint al their counsels And vpon our brethren in Flaunders we beseeche thee that thou wouldest comfort them ouer all the troubles that they haue receiued and breaches that haue beene made in vpon them and where there are newe forces euery day gathered new sleights inuented to destroy them it may please thee to scatter their forces and bring their sleightes to nothing Yea graunt also O Lorde that that which they haue deuised against thy children may come vpon their owne heades And for our Brethren in Fraunce wee beseeche thee O Lord what streights so euer they be in thou wouldest deliuer them and although they be forsaken in the iudgement of all the world and in their own iudgements notwithstanding thou that haste the issues of death in thine owne handes deliuer those that are appointed to deathe And finally we most humbly thanke thee for that it hath pleased thee to keepe vs this day and al the dayes and times of our liues beseeching thee that thou wouldest receiue vs this night into thy holy keeping that we may haue quiet rest not of bodies alone but of our soules also resting from all those thinges that are contrarie to thy moste holy will attending while thou raisest vs vppe in the morning to do all those thinges that thou haste appointed vs These things we desire of thee and al other things which thou knowest to be more needefull for vs and thy whole Church better then we ourselues do know for Iesus Christes sake saying the same prayer that he himselfe hath taught vs Our Father c. A prayer for the Queene O Gratious Lorde and moste mercifull father we acknowledge thee the Lorde of Lordes and the Kinge of Kings creating at the beginning and ruling all thinges euermore in heauen and earthe accordinge to thy wonderful wisdome and power and our selues to be thy poore seruantes the worke of thy handes the sheepe of thy pasture subiected to thy highe Maiestie and depending vppon thy fatherly prouidence for al thinges Neuerthelesse seing thou in thy wisdome annoyntest Kings and Queenes appoyntinge them to rule ouer thy people to sitt as Lieuetenantes in thy seate to minister iustice and most of all as Fathers and Nurses to mainteine cherish thy Church commaundinge vs not onely to obey and honour them but moreouer to pray for thē as watching ouer vs for our good we therfore beseech thee for thy greate names sake for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercy to all Kings and Princes that mainteine thy glorious Gospel but especially we praye thee to blesse our gratious Queene in all spirituall blessinges in Christ Iesus and in all temporall blessinges accordinge to thy good pleasure that in the greate measures of thy effectual Lawe she may more and more finde great increases of vertue and wisdome and strength in Christ Iesus to the faithful and happy discharge of her dutie that her holines and ioy and zeale of thy house may be multiplied and euerlasting And seeing it hath pleased thee of thy singular mercie to giue her this especiall honour firste to suffer for thy Glorious trueth and afterward miraculously deliuering her out of the handes of her enimies to set a Crowne vppon her heade and to make her the instrument to aduaunce thy Glorie and Gospel for whiche she suffered and to bring it out of darkenesse into light out of persecution into this great and long peace as we giue thee most hartie thankes for this singular benefite so wee beseeche thee to make her and vs euermore thankful for it and in thy good pleasure still to preserue her for the continuance of these blessings towardes vs with all increase from time to time to thy Glorie the benefite of the Churche and her infinite peace in Christ Iesus the Prince of Peace And furthermore we pray thee for her and the estate that such as be enimies of the Gospel and her enimies also for the defence thereof may not despise the peace offered them to repentance but that they may account thy long suffering and her peaceable and vnblouddie gouernement an occasion of saluation to their soules and unfeigned loue to the trueth their mercifull souereigne Otherwise if they still remaine disobedient to the trueth disobedient to her highnesse and daungerous to the state then O GOD of our Saluation as thou haste discouered them so discouer them still as thou haste preuented them so preuent them still and let their eyes waxe wearie with looking and their harts faint with waiting for the comming of that which yet commeth not neither let it come O Lord we beseeche the but a blessed and a long reigne to her and peace to Sion for euermore Also deere Father so blesse so loue so in thy Spirite sanctifie and keepe her that shee may in the Spirite of counsell and fortitude so rule that other sister also namely this her Common wealth that they may flourish together and growe vp together as Palme trees in beautie and in strength giueing ayde and helpe one to another that in the Churche the Glorie of God may appeare as the Sunne in his brightnesse and that the lande may flowe with milke and honie and true peace aboūd therin as in the triumphant reigne of Debora These graces O Lord are great and we miserable sinners vnworthie of the least of them therefore looke not to vs but to thy selfe not to our iniquities but to thy greate mercies acceptinge the death and passion of thy sonne as a full raunsome for al our offences throwing thē into the bothome of the sea and making his crosse and resurrection effectuall in vs to all obedience and godlines as becommeth thy Saincts that to all other thy good blessinges towarde our gratious Souereigne this may be added that she gouerneth blessedly ouer a blessed people a people blessed of the Lorde and beloued of the Lorde and that thy graces may abounde as the waues of the sea in the Prince and in the people in the Churche and in the common wealth frō day to day til the day of our translatiō into the kingdome where iustice inhabiteth where we also shal inhabite and reigne with thee according to thy promise for euer Graunte vs these thinges O mercifull father for thy deare sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we craue them at thy mercifull hande prayinge furthermore for them as he hath taught vs to pray Our father whiche art c. Our father which art in heauen Holowed be thy name Thy kindome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily bread Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Lead vs not into temptation Our father which art in Heauen Holowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily bread Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse againste vs. Leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill