therfore to thee dere father I come through thy sonne our lord mediatour and aduocate Iesus christ who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for me praye thee of thy great goodnes mercye in christ to be merciful vnto me that I may feele in dede thy swete mercy as thy childe The time oh deare father I appoint not but I pray thee that I may w t hope stil expect loke for thy help I hope that as for a litle while y u hast left me thou wilt come and visite me and that in thy great mercie whereof I haue nede by reason of my great miserie Thou arte wont for a litle season in thine anger to hyde thy face from them whom thou louest but suerly oâ— redemer in eternal mercies y u wilt shewe thy compassions For when thou leauest vs oh lord y u doest not leaue vs very long neither doest y u leaue vs to our losse but to our lucre aduantage eueÌ„ that thy holy spirit with bigger porcion of thy power vertue maye lighten and cheare vs that y â— want of feeling to our sorow maye be recompenced plentifully with the liuely sense of hauiÌ„g thee to our eternal Ioy and therfore thou swarest that in thine euerlastiÌ„g mercy thou wilt haue coÌ„passioÌ„ on vs. Of which thiÌ„g to thende we might be most assured thin oâ—he is to be marked for y u saist as I haue sworne y â— I will not bring any more the waters to drowne the world so haue I sworne y â— I wil neuer more be angry with thee nor reproue thee The mouÌ„tains shal remoue y â— hils shal fal downe but my louing kindnes shall not moue y â— bond of my peace shal not faile thee thus saiest y u y â— lord our merciful redemer Dere father therfor I pray thee remeÌ„ber eueÌ„ for thine owne trueth mercies sake this promise euerlasting couenaÌ„t w t in thy good time I thee to write in my hart that I may know thee to be the only true god and Iesus Christe whom thou haste sent that I maye loue thee with all my harte for euer y t I may loue thy people for thy sake that I may be holy in thi sight through Christ that I may always not only striue against sinne but also ouercome the same daily more and more as thy children doe aboue all thinges desiringe the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doyng of thy will here on earth as it is in heauen c through Iesus Christ our redemer mediatour aduocate Amen AN OTHER PRAIER FOR remission of sinnes O Gracious god which sekest all meanes possible how to bring thy children into the feeling and sure sense of thy mercy therfore wheÌ„ prosperitie will not serue then sendeste thou aduersitie graciouslye correcting them here whoÌ„ y â— wilt shal with thee ells where lyue for euer we poore misers geue humble praises and thankes vnto thee deare father that thou hast vouched vs worthy of thy correction at this present hereby to worke that whiche we in prosperity liberty did neglect For the which neglecting and manye other our greuous sinnes wherof we nowe accuse oure selues before thee most mercifull lorde thou mightest most iustely haue geuen vs ouer and destroied vs bothe in soules and bodies But suche is thy goodnes towardes vs in Christe that thou semest to forget all our offences and as though we were farre otherwise then we be in deed thou wilte that we shuld suffer this crosse now laied vpon vs for thy trueth and gospelles sake and so be thy witnesses wyth the prophets apostles martyrs and confessours yea with thy dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christe to whoÌ„ thou doest now here beginne to fashion vs like that in his glorye we may be like him also Oh good god what are we on whoÌ„ thou shouldest she we this great mercy Oh louing lorde forgiue vs oure vnthankfullnes sinnes Oh faithfull father geue vs thyne holy spirit now to crie in our harts Abba dere father to assure vs of our eternal elections in Christ to reueile more more thi trueth vnto vs to coÌ„firme strengthen and stablishe vs so in the same that we may liue and die in it as vessells of thy mercy to thy glory and to the comoditie of thy churche Indue vs with the spirit of thy wisdome that with good conscience we maye alwaies so answere y â— enemies in thy cause as maye turne to their conuersion or confusion and our vnspeakable consolatioÌ„ in Iesê° christ for whose sake we besech thee hence forth to kepe vs to geue vs pacieÌ„ce and to will none otherwise for delyneraunce or mitigation of our miserye then maye stande alwaye wyth thy good pleasure and mercyful wil towardes vs. Graunt this deare father not onely to vs in this place but also to all other ells where afflicted for thy names sake through the death and merites of Iesus Christ our lord AmeÌ„ A PRAIER FOR DELIVERANCE from sinne and to be restored to goddes grace and fauour againé OH almightie and euer lasting lord god which hast made heauen earth c oh incoÌ„prebensible vnitie oh alwaies to be worshipped most blessed Trinitie I humbly beseth thee and pray thee by the assumption crucifyed humanitie of our lord Iesus Christe that thou wouldest enclyne and bowe downe the great depth of thy deitie to the botomeles pitte of my vilitie driue froÌ„ me al kynde of vice wickednes and synne and make in me a newe and cleane harte and renewe in me a right spirit for thy holy names sake Oh lord Iesu I besech thy goodnes for y â— excedig great loue which drew thee out of thy fathers bosome into the wombe of the holye virgin and for the assumptioÌ„ of maÌ„nes nature wherin it pleased thee to saue me to deliuer me from eternall death I besech thee I say that thou woldest drawe me out of my selfe into thee my lorde god and graunte this thy loue maye recouer againe to me thy grace to increase and make perfecte in me that which is wantinge to raise vp in me that which is fallen to restore to me that whiche I haue lost to quicken in me that whiche is dead shuld liue that so I may be come conformable vnto thee in all my life and conuersation thou dwelling in me and I in thee my hart being soupled with thy grace settled in thy faith for euer Oh y u my god lose set at libertie my spirit from al inferriour things gouerne my soule so worke that both in soule and body I may be holy and lyue to thy glory world with out ende Amen A PRAIER FOR THE OBTAIning of faith O Mercifull god and dere father of our lord sauiour Iesus christ In whom as thou art wel pleased so hast thou commaunded vs to heare him for as muche as he often biddeth vs to aske of thee and therto promiseth that thou wilt
semelye quietnes and order and by this order so couple vs that none shuld contemne or despise another but euen highe lowe to be and accompt thē selues as parentes children Particularly for my parte I cannot but say that I haue most cause to thank thee for my parētes scholemasters and others vnder whose tuitiō thou hast put me No pen is able to write y e particular benifites w c I haue her by receyued in my infancie childhod youth midle age and alwais hether to Oh how good a lord hast y u declared thy self to me which in them and by thē hast norrished fedde instructed corrected defended and most gratiously kept me I coulde recken innumerable behind me but fewe before me so much made of cared for as I haue bene hetherto No smalle token of thy loue to me warde is it that thou woldest engraue in theyr hartes and commaunde them vnder paine of damnation to be carefull ouer me to doe me good and prouide for me as they haue done or rather thou by thē publickly Also for the cōmen wealth suche as thou hast placed in aucthorie ouer me in bothe thy regeniētes if I considered them that haue bene and them that be I coulde not but praise thee good lord For no lesse praise worthy art thou for this chastening vs and admonishing vs now presētly by them that be in aucthoritie of our vngratitude and vnthankfulnes then by such as haue bene for all kyndes of good things But infinite are the causes of thankfulnes which this cōmaundement considered shoulde stirre vp in me But alas most mercifull father as I acknowlege my self most vnthankfull vnto thee for al thy benifites powred vpō me in this lyfe by my parents nources tutoures maysters magistrates bishoppes pastours and good frindes euen frō my cradell vnto this hower so vnto them haue I alwaies been am in not louing them as my coldenes in praiynge for them and to my power in helping them declareth and also my not reuerencing them my cōtemning them temerariousnes in my mistrusting or to narrowly to straightly loking at them their dewties showeth and not obeynge them as by my cōtumacy appereth not onely when anye thinge to me vnpleasant or vnprofitable but also profitable conuenient is required And yet I speake not of y e euel muttering reportes of y e offences ī trāsgressing y e politilie lawes for apparrel meates other no smalle offences which I haue cōmytted geuē Oh this is a sinne deare father that I alwaies haue ben a priuate more then a common weale mā alwaies I seke for myn owen cōmeditie cōtemning that whiche maketh to the conmmoditie of others As for my disobedience and wicked behauiour towards my owne parentes and all others whom thou hast set ouer me deare father no toūge can expresse it and therfore I am worthy of dāynation But gratious good lord and deare father I beseche thee for thy Christes sake to haue mercye vpon me pardon me as of thy goodnes it pleased the to pardone the patriarkes Thou hast geuen this commaundement as thy holy lawe to open to vs howe corrupte we are and howe much we swarue frō the patterne wherafter we were first made once agreed thereto before Adams fall that we might loth our selues and euen thereby be dryuen to seke and set by thy swete mercyes in Iesus Christ whom therfore thou diddest sende to fullfyll the lawe in hys fleshe that we myght borowe of him the same by trewe faithe whiche of thy goodnes worke in vs by thy holy spirit and open this lawe vnto vs that we maye more more increase in the knowledge loue obedience of it to thy glory and our saluation Amen Deare father be mercifull to our magestrats especially y e quenes highnes whose hart with the residue of her counsellers tourne into thy testimonies geue them thy wisdome and a zeale to the trueth according to knowledge that they maye vse the power they haue receyued of thee to the cherishing of thy church that w c vs here thy worde may haue free passage and thy true worshippe may be maintained and not onclye here but also euery where amonges those whom thou woldest we should pray for Be mercifull to my poore parentes gratious lorde with my bretheren systers wife childrē family seruantes kinsfolkes neighboures as thou knowest they haue all nede Geue vnto the hartes of all parentes magestrates and suche as be in aurtherite here or ells where that they maye accordinge to that y u hast put them in trust w tall be faithfull deligent carefull and happye Graunt vnto children seruauntes and subiectes that euerye one maye render loue obedience thankfulnes and reuerēce to al such as thou hast put in aucthorite ouer them blesse the church and send it peace and har borough here or els where blesse the common weale and sende vs peace blesse the diocesses and shieres and send them good bisshops and iustices blesse euery housholde and family that thy peace may be in the same cōtinually Fynally write this law all thy lawes in oure hartes we be sech thee y t we may kepe them Amē Thou shalte doe no murder c. AS in the commaundement goeinge nexte before thou settests before me the personages of all such as thou for the commodytie order and peace of mā in this life hast placed in aucthoritie accordingly of vs for thy sake to be estemed so dost thou in this commaundement set before vs to loke on the personages of all men generally high and lowe ouer whom thou geuest vs a charge that we shal not kil or murther thē In which word thou comprehendest all kind of hatred or malice in word thoughte or dede as thy dearely beloued sonne expoundinge this commaundement dothe teache Yea because thou woldest all men shuld be deare vnto vs beyng all of one substaunce of one similitude comming of the same parents Adam and Eue made of one God redemed of one Christ in whom we should be coupled as members of one body and liue to the aide succour and cōfort one of another because of this I say easlie we may see that not onely y u forbiddest here to beware of all kindes of displeasures but also thou commaūdest vs to beare and exercise al kinde of loue and fauoure in harte worde and dede and that for thy commaūdementes sake for els towards oure enemies our hartes wolde arise and be great in that they contemnynge their dueties towards vs seme to deserue the like at oure handes By reasō hereof I haue great cause to thanke thee dere father For here by I see how that thou doest muche loue my soule which arte so carefull ouer my body so that he which hurteth it displeaseth thee and he that doth it good pleaseth thee if so be he doe it for thy sake By this commaūdement now I se that it is thou that hast kept me frō doing many euels which els
I shuld haue outragiously done hast stirred me vp to do good to my brethrē if at any time I haue done any euen as thou hast also kept and dost kepe presently others from doing me hurt hast and dost stirre vp those that do me good to do so vn to me Oh how great is y e multitud of thy benifits good lord wherwith thou hast ouerwhelmed me and the which through this cōmaundement I perceaue my self to haue receiued presently do receiue so longe as I liue am like to receiue for thou commaundest al men euery where to do me good loue me defend me cherishe me suche is thy loue to me in this present life that for my body oh how great is thy loue then to me in euerlasting life y t for my soule If in a straūg cōtrey so great is thy protection how great is it at home But alas dere lord how vnthākful haue I ben am yet stil for these thy fatherli benifits oh min ingratitud yea lord horribly haue I trāsgressed still doe transgresse this thy gracious precept in pride enuie disdaine malice hardnes of hart vnmercifulnes contēnīg thy childrē saints seruāts Self loue all together raigneth in me and desire of praise rule fame I am so farre frō loue mercy in hart good lord that no man cā here it in my tonge nor see it in my works but rather cleane contrary and y t generally and to thē to whom I am most bound perticularly By reason wherof I haue deserued euer lastinge damnnation and to be cast awaye from thy presence for euer Oh moste gratious father forgeue me for Chrystes sake I beseche the. For to this ende diddest thou geue this commaundement that I seyng my corruptiō and deprauate nature by synne might come to thy mercye deserued by christ and through faith in him might finde not onelye pardone of that which is paste but also thy grace and holy spirit to beginne in me the obedience to this and al other thi holy precepts for euer more so be it For this thy Christes sake deare father I besech thee therfore to take from me and all other for whom thou woldest that we should praye all enupe pryde arrogancye dysdaine hatred and all suspitiousnes and graunt vnto vs bowells of mercy humilitie pacience mekenes longe sufferinge gentillnes peace charitie and al kinde of brotherly loue cōfort the feble releue the poore help the fatherlesse heale the sycke blesse the afflicted shewe thy great mercy vpō all poore prisoners deliuer thē in thy good time remember thy pitye toward straungers captiues wydowes and suche as be oppressed ¶ Thou shalte not commytte adulterye HEre good lord thou gost about to commaunde vnto me as loue in the other so purenes and chastite in this and therfore thou saiest I shoulde not commite adultrye in the which word thy sonne oure sauiour Iesus Christ doth comprehende al vncleannes yea the very concupiscence and abusing of the hart in lusting after any mans wife or otherwise vnchastly By the which in that thou woldest haue vs to loue in our selues and others purite cleanes that we might be holy as thou oure god art holy and our bodies beynge temples of thy holy spirit mighte be kept pure and accordinglye easelye we maye see that as thou forbiddest all vncleane dedes wordes lokes and thoughtes so doest thou commaunde vs to loue and exercyse all puritie chastitie cleannes sobryety temperancye c. By reason whereof I haue greate cause to be thankefull vnto thee which not onely for the helpe commoditie of man but also for remedie of mans infirmitie hast made womā kind and ordained the state of matrimony which in thy sight is so holye and pure that thou accomptest the bedde and acte of generaciō betwene man and wife in this state of matrimonye to be an vndefyled thynge and such care thou hast ouer the personages marryed and their condition that vnto damnation they sinne which not onely goe about to defyle that bed but within there harts doe wishe or desire it yea which doe not indeuer thēselues w t thought word and dede to helpe that purite cleanes betwene married folks be kept But the greate causes thou geuest vs to thanke thee for this state and ordinaunce and for thy defendynge vs by thys commaundemente are innumerable Full wel I see that it is thou whiche by thys commaundemente not onely refraynest me but also kepest my wyfe from impurytye whyche ells we might bothe commyte Greate is thy lous Oh good lord and more then I am able to cōsider whych declarest thy selfe to be thus carefull ouer me concernynge the benefyttes whyche come vnto me bothe for the mynde bodye and goodes by sobryetye and tem perauncie whyche here thou requirest Onely thys I cannot but see that I haue greate cause to thanke thee whiche arte so carefull ouer me as by thys commaundemente I well see But alas good lorde what shall I saye whiche am and haue bene so farre from thankefullnesse that I am to be accompted amongest the most vnthankfull yea y u knowest it good lorde Fylthely haue I broken thys lawe caused other so to doe of whose repentaunce I am vncertain as also my tonge alas hath oftē ben to shamfully exercised mynetes my thoughts to wickedly abused All this geare I haue encreased by myne intemperauncye in catynge drinkinge cherishingemy bodye c. I haue also hurt my bodyly health minished that whiche I and others should lyue on and horribly hindred all good prayers and meditations wherin though I haue time place yet alas I nothing exercise my selfe as I should doe By reason whereof I haue deserued euerlasting damnatiō Oh good lorde and gratious father doe thou for thy names sake and in Christes bloud pardon me and forgeue me I besech thee as thou hast most mercifully hitherto spared me so of thy mercy put awaye my trespasses the transgressions of those whom I haue caused to synne let that loue which moued thee to pardon Iudas with Thamar Dauid Berthsabe and the greate synner of whom we reade in S. Luke moue thee to pardone and forgeue me also Thou gauest this commaundemente to thys ende that I might knowe my sinne and sinnefull nature and so thereby be driuen to thy Christ crucified for whose sake I aske mercy also that thy good spirit maye be geuen vnto me to purifie me and worke so in me and with me that I may trewelye know hartly loue faithfully obey this thy holy precept inwardly and outwardly now and for euer Amen Gracious good lord graunt to me my wife that we may dwel together accordinge to knowledge and maye kepe our vessells in holines graunt Oh lord that we may be pure and vndestled and graunt the same to al that be married and to them which be vnmarried graunt that they may liue a pure chast and vndefyled life and if they haue not the
which doe thou satisfie good god in thy good time accordiÌ„g to thy good will and pleasure Oh most louing god geue vs the bread of thi diuine precepts and make our hartes perfect that we may trulye frely walke and liue in them all the daies of our life Oh deare and mercifull father we besech thee geue vs the bread of thy liuely and heauenly word the true vnderstanding therof which is the light of our pathes the foode strong towre and sure defence of our saules that we beinge wel sensed with this munitioÌ„ fedde and filled with this foode maye be worthy geastes at thy celestial feast and wedding where we shall neuer hunger nor want Oh moste righteous and mercifull god father and gouernor of our life we confesse that we haue greuously sinned against thee from our youth vp vntill now in ingratitude in vnthankfulnes wilfulnes disobedience presumption innumerable our negligences sinnes whiche we froÌ„time to time most hainously haue coÌ„mitted whereby we haue deserued not only sore ad greuouse plagues but euen eternal dampnation were it not that thou art y â— lord of mercy and hast power to shewe mercye on whom y u wilt wherin thou art riche and plentifull to al them that cal by on thee faithfully wherfore dere father we seing our manyfold and greuouse sinnes which we haue commytted against thee also thy great mercy louing kindnes pacience and long suffering towards vs are compelled not only to beare paciently and suffer our enemies wheÌ„ they raile on vs slaunder vs oppresse vs vexe vs or trouble vs curse persequute kyll vs but also to speake well of them to enstructe them to pray for them to doe them good to blisse them to cloth them feede theÌ„ so heapyng coales of thy charity and loue vppon them and mercyfullye to forgeue them euen as thou deare father for thy beloued Chrystes sake haste forgyuen vs. Thus hast thou taughte vs good father not as the hipocrites to loke narowlye on oure neighboures faultes but diligently to examine oure owne consciences wherein we haue offended thee also what occasion of offence or falling we haue geuen to our brethren in eating drinking going apparell speaking disolute or vncomely laghter in barganing or by anye meanes and with all speede seke to reconcile our selues to them to forgeue vnto other from the bottome of our harts whatsoeuer they haue offended vs and to doe none other wise then we wishe and desire in our hartes that other should doe to vs y â— so we may fynde thee o lorde in forgeuing vs our trespasses mylde mer cifull which spedily doe thou shewe thy self vnto vs for thy deare Christes sake Oh lord thou god of the righteous we feele the frailtis of our nature to be so peruerse and apte to sinne that when thou by the giftes of thy holy spirit doest moue vs and as it were cal vs yea rather draw vs vnto thee then are we drawen away tempted of our owne coÌ„cupiscence lust beside the greate and daungerous assaultes of the world and deuill therfore faithful father we thy pore children beseche thee to take from vs al those euills and accasions that may drawe vs from thee Oh deare god protecte defend and strengthen vs against all the suggestions assaultes of our enemyes the worlde the fleshe and the deuill that neither in prosperite we were haute or hyghe minded to say vnthankefully what felow is the lord nor yet in the abondaunce of temptations anguishe vexation tribulation or persequution to be oppressed with feare nor deceiued by flaterie nor yet to fall in dispaire and so vtterlye perishe but in all daungers and perilles of temptacions and in the myddeste of the stormy tempests of tribulacion ders father make vs thy poore children to feels the coÌ„solacion of the certaintie of our eternall election in Chryst Iesus our lorde and to perceyue thy fatherly succoure ready to helpe vs least that we beyng ouercome with the wicked sleightes and veceitfull inuasions of the enemyes should as without thy grace and merciful protection we shall be drawne into an obstinate mind so shut vp the cundite y â— shuld lead thy gracioê° gifts benifits vnto vs to our coÌ„moditye comfort that thou mightest lead vs forth with the euill doers barden our harts Therfore Oh good god giue vs these thi good giftes namely streÌ„gth pacieÌ„ce ioyfulnes of hart to reioyce in temptacyoÌ„ assure vs that it is the triall of our faith that faithe in vs maye haue her perfecte worke that when we be well approuyd and purged with the fire of teÌ„ptations we may fynishe oure life in in vyctory and euer more liue w t thee in thy heaueÌ„ly kingdome where no temptacion shal doe vs hurt Finally most merciful father we humbly besech thee to deliuer vs froÌ„ this present euill world from all humaine wordly feare from al infirmities of the fleshe mind froÌ„ false prophetes and teachers from false brethren from traitours tyrantes c and if it be thy good pleasure and may make most to the glorye of thy name deliuer vs from the handes of our enemies from all other euylls present and to come both of bodye soule that we beyng by the greate mercy defended from al hurtful thinges may alwaies vse those thinges that be profitable for vs deuoutiye geueÌ„ to serue thee in good workes that y â— yoke of our enemies and the bandes of sinne being shaken of we may possesse the inheritaunce of thy heauenly kingdome which thy dere sonne Iesus Chryst hath wyth hys precious bloud purchased for thyne elect froÌ„ the begynning of the world for thyne is the kyngdome thou onlye haste the mayestye thou onelye arte the god aboue all goddes kyng of all kynges and lorde of al lords thou onelye haste the powre and authorytye to set vp kynges and to putte them downe thou liftest the poore once of the duste and makesste hym to sytte amonge the princes of thy people thou onelye makeste warres to cease and geuist victory to whom thou wilt Oh dere god there is neither maiestie rule nor power honour nor worshyppe dignitie nor office riches nor pouertie helth nor sicknes plenty nor scarâ—â—tie presycritie nor aduersitie war nor peace life nor death nor anye other thing but it is all thine thou both hast the power also wilt geue it to whoÌ„ it pleaseth thee in thy time and ceason that all glorye maye be geuen to the alone for thou arte worthye O dere father to thee we come therfore for helpe and succour for wythout thee there is no helpe at al. Oh good father deliuer vs froÌ„ al that is euil in thy sight for thy owne name sake and for thy deare Christs sake that we beynge armes with thy holy armour and weapened wyth thy blessed worde and instructed by thy holy spirit may according to thy holy promise serue thee without 〈◊〉 are
benefits giuen me in commaundinge men to care for me to praie for me to helpe me c. But alas how farre I am from true lamentacion and reioysing lorde thou knowest Oh be mercifull vnto me and help me forgeue me and graunte me thy holie spirit to reueale to me my nede ignoraunce great ingratitude contempt of thy mercies thy people and that in such sorte that I might hartely lament and bewaile my miserie and throughe thy goodnes be altered with thy people to mourne for the miseries of thy children as for mine owne Againe reueale to me thy goodnes dere father eueÌ„ in corporall things that I maye see thy mercy thy presence power wisedome and righteousnes in euery creature and corporall benefites and that in such sort that I maye be throughly affected truly to reuerence feare loue obey thee hange vpon thee to be thankfull to thee in all my nede to come vnto the not only when I haue ordinarie meanes by the which thou coÌ„monly workest but also when I haue none yea when al meanes and helpes are cleane against me Here remeÌ„ber the state of your children and familie also your parents neighbours kinse folkes also your frendes contrey and magistrates c as you shall haue tyme thereto and by goddes good Spirite shalbe prouoked ¶ Forgeue vs oure debtes as we forgeue them that are debtours vnto vs. BY oure Debtes are vnderstande not onely things we haue done â—ut the omissioÌ„ and leauing vndone of the good things we ought to doe By oure is not onely vnderstande the particular sinnes of one but also generally the sinnes of al and euery one of thy church By forgyuenes is vnderstande free pardon and remission of synnes by the merites and desertes of thy dere sonne Iesus Christe who gaue him self a raunsome for vs. By oure forgeuing of other mens offences to vs warde is vnderstand thy good wyll not onelye that it pleaseth thee that we shoulde liue in lone and amytye but also that thou wouldeste haue vs to be certayne of thy pardonynge vs of our synnes For as certayne as we are that we pardone them that offende vs so certayne shoulde we be that thou doeste pardone vs whereof the forgeuing our trespassers is as it were a sacrament vnto vs. So that by this petitioÌ„ I am taught to se that thy children althoughe by imputation they be pure from sinne yet they acknowledge sinne to be remaine in them and therefore doe they pray for the remissioÌ„ forgeuenes of the same Againe I am taught hereby to see how thy children doe consider take to hart not only the euells they doe but also the good thy leaue vndone And therfore they praye thee hartely for pardon Moreouer I am here taught to see that thy children are carefull for other meÌ„ and for their trespases and therefore praye that they mighte be pardoned in saing oure sinnes and not my synnes Besides this I am taught here to see how thy children not onely forgeue all that offende them but also pray for the pardoning of the offences of their enemies and such as offende them So farre are they from malicousnes pride reuengemeÌ„t c. Last of all I am taught to see howe mercifull thou art which wilt haue me to aske pardon wherof thou woldest that we shuld iÌ„ no point doubt but be most assured that for Christs sake thou herest vs and that not only for our selues but also for manie others for y â— doest not commaunde vs to aske for anye thinge thou wilt not geue vs. By reason whereof I haue greate cause to lament and reioyse To lameÌ„t because of my miserable estate which am so farre from these affections that are in thy children which am so ignoraunt careles of sinne not onely in leauing good vndone but also in doing euel and that dailie in thought worde and dede c. I speake not of my carelesnes for other folkes sinnes as of my pareÌ„ts children familie magestrats c neither of the sinnes of them to whom I haue geuen occasion to sinne To reioyse I haue great cause because of thy mercy in opening to me these things in coÌ„maundinge me to praye for pardon in promisinge me pardon and in coÌ„maundinge others to pray for me I ought surely to be perswaded of thy mercy though my sinnes be innumerable For I se not onely in this but in euerye petition howe that euery one of thy churche praieth for me yea christ thy sonne who sitteth on thy right haÌ„d praieth for me c. Oh deare father be mercifull vnto me and forgyue me al my sinnes and of thy goodnes geue me thy holy spirit to opeÌ„ mine eies that I may se sinne y â— better to know it y â— more truly to hate it most earnestly to striue agaist it that effectually both in my selfe and others Again graunt me the same thy holy spirit to reuele vnto me the remedie of sinne by christ only to worke in me faith to embrace the same thy Christ and mercies in him that I may henseforth be endued with thy holy spirite more more to beginne and obey thy good wil continually to encrease in the same for euer Here call to mind the special sinnes you haue committed heretofore Remember if you haue occasioned any to sinne to praye for them by name remeÌ„ber that gods lawe shuld be so dere vnto vs y â— the breaking thereof in others shoulde be an occasion to make vs to lament with teares c. Leade vs not into tentacion BEcause of our continuall great infirmities because of the greate diligence subtilties of our enemies and because y â— art wont to punishe sinne w t sinne which of all punishmeÌ„tes is y â— greatest most to be feared In this peticion y â— wouldest haue thy children to haue y â— same in remeÌ„beraunce for a remedy hereof y â— hast appointed praier So that y â— only cause why anie are ouercome led into tentation is for y â— they forget what they desire in y â— peticion going before this which shuld be neuer out of their memorie to prouoke theÌ„ to be more thaÌ„kful to thee more vigilant heedie herafter for falling into like perills For which to be auoided y â— doest most graciously set forth a remedy in coÌ„mauÌ„dinge vs to pray after pardon for oure sinnes past for thy grace to guide vs so that we be not ledde into tentacion but might be delyuered from euyll And because thou wouldeste haue all thy childreÌ„ to hange wholye vpon thee to feare thee onely and only to loue thee thou doest not teache them to praye suffer vs not to be ledde but leade vs not into tentation that I say they might onely feare thee certainly know that Sathan hathe no power ouer so much as a pigge but what soeuer thou geueste vnto him and of thy secret but most iuste iudgement doest appoint
I shoulde so consider them especially in praier that I shuld not doubt but that thou workest rulest gouernest all things euery where in all persons and creatures moste wysely iustelye and mercifully Thirdely that in praier all my peticions shuld tend to the setting forth of thy power of thy kingdome and of thy glorye Laste of all that in prayer I shoulde in no wyse doubte of beinge heard but be assured that thou which hast commaunded me to pray and hast promised to here me doest moste graciousely for thy mercyes sake and truthes sake heare my peticions according to thy good wil throughe Iesus Christe thy deare sonne our lord and onely sauiour By reason whereof I haue greate cause to lament and reioyce To lament because I consider not these thinges in praier in suche sorte as should moue me to admiracion and gratitude because I consider not thy power and wisedome generally in all things because I am so careles for thy kingdome and because I am so full of dubitacion and doubtinge of thy goodnes To reioyce I haue greate cause because thou reuelest these thinges vnto me on this sorte because of thy power kingdome and glory which maketh to the hearing of my praiers and helping of me be cause thou wilt vse me as thine instrument to set forth thy kingdome power glory and because it pleaseth thee to here my praiers and assuredly wilt saue me for euer But alas how farre am I froÌ„ these lamentacions and reioycinges by reason wherof I deserue damnacioÌ„ Oh be mercifull vnto me â–ª forgeue me and of thy 〈◊〉 graunte me thy holy spirit 〈◊〉 reueale to me my blindnes obliuion and contempt of thy kingdome power and glory w t the greatnes of my doubtings that I maye hartely as lament them so haue them pardoned and taken froÌ„ me throughe the merites of Iesus Christ thy sonne Againe geue me thy holy spirit to reueile to me in such sort thy kyngdome power glorye and eternitie that I maye alwaies haue the same before myne eies be moued wyth thadmiration therof labour effectually to set forth y â— same and finallye as to haue the sruicâ—on thereof after this life so encrease â—an assured certain and liuely expectacion of the same that I maye alwaies in all thynges reioyce in thee thorowe Christe and geue lauds thankes praises perpetually vnto thy moste holy name oh blessed father sonne and holye ghost thre persons one god to whom be all honour glory world without ende Here thinke that if the kingdome power glory and eternitie be gods which is our father what our dignitie is whiche be his chyldren yf the power be our fathers of whoÌ„ shuld we be affraies yf the deuell be subiect to the lords power kingdome as he is howe can the subiect haue power ouer vs which be sonnes and heires in that he hath not power ouer porketts w toute the prouidence and permission of god Therfore ful well shuld we pray lead vs not into temptation rather then let vs not be led into tentation For power is the lords and the deuell hath none but that he hathe of gods gifte No he were not of capacitie to receaue power yf god did not make hym of capacitie althoughe the execution of it is rather of gods permission ¶ Geue all thankes praise and glorye to god oure father throughe Christ oure lord and sauiour So be it A meditation vpon the twelue articles of the Christian faith I beleue in god the father c. THy people oh lord god the father of our sauiour Iesus Christe doe here in saieng this article I beleue in god the father almighty c by faith knowe that thou togither with Iesus Christ and the holy ghost diddest create all thinges that be in heauen and in earth for by heauen and earth are vnderstand all thinges therein And as they knowe thys so they by the same faith doe see thee the same god the father the sonne and the holy ghoste to gouerne all thinges after thy great wisedome power rightuousnes and mercy vsing euery creature they see as meanes to put theÌ„ in remembrance of fearing reueren cing trusting louing the for in euery creature they beholde thy presence power wisedome and mercy Againe by this worde Father they declare their beleife how that they are not onely thy creatures and all that euer they haue to be thy graciouse gyftes and blessinges but also how that they are thy childreÌ„ derely beloued cared for of thee through Iesus christ Where throughe notwithstanding theyr vnworthines as they conceyue a sure hope of thy goodnes and fatherly loue towards them in soule and bodye for euer so are they thankfull for their creation for that thou hast made theÌ„ thy excellet creatures lords of al. They are thankfull for the creation of all creatures vse the same w t thankefulnes as visible tokens of thy inuisible loue they are thankefull for thy conseruing and keping them for the gouerning them and all this world lamenting that they are nomore thankfull that they beleue no deper that reason hath so greate a swing with them in these matters But I moste gracious good lorde and father thoughe I say I beleue in thee my father almyghtye maker of heauen and earthe yet thou knoweste that I am full of muche doubtinge not onelye of this whether thou art my good almighty and moste louinge deare father in christ because I fele in my selfe suche a conscience of vnworthines so great want of those thinges which thou requirest of thy children and so transfer the cause of my being thy childe in part to myself where it is due onely and wholy alwaies to thy mercye and grace in Christe but also thou knowest my doubting of my creation and gouernaunce and of the creation and gouernaunce of al this world as I declare by my vnthankfulnes for my creation for mine adoption for my gubernation for thy prouidence for me or ells deare father I could not but hartely with thy childreÌ„ reioyce and praise thy holye name and that continually being hence forth carefull for nothinge but howe to please thee profit thy people that they might praise thy name in all things for ouermore desiringe the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doing of thy will vpon earth as it is in heauen Thou mightest haue made me a dogge but of thy goodnes hast made me a creature after thine Image y â— mightest haue made me a Turcke a Iewe a Sarracen but thou hast made me a christiaÌ„ a member of thy Churche thou after my birth mightest haue lefte me and in all nede haue made no prouidence for me as we sometimes see hath hapned vnto others but yet thou neuer diddest so with me and yet I am of all others most vnthankfull Thy creatures I thankefully vse not thy inuisible loue by thy manifolde visible tokens I consider not as nowe I shoulde by this apparell of
appointed for this ende that we shoulde meete together to here thy worde and receiue thy sacramentes Greate cause haue I to thanke thee for the institution of thy sacramentes which thou hast ordained as thy visible and palpable lordes to the obsignation and confirmacion of the faithe of all suche as vse the same after thy commaundementes But infinite are the causes for the which I ought to gene thee thankes for thys commaundement But alas I am not onely vnthankfull but also a most miserable transgressour of it I wil not now speake of my transgressions past coÌ„cerning this commaundemente presentlye they are so many that I cannot For y u knowest howe I doe not onelye at conuenient times on y e worke daies kepe my selfe awaye from common praiers in the congregacioÌ„ assemble of thy people and froÌ„ hearing of thy worde but also on the Sabboth dayes to ryde or goe aboute this or that worldely busynes I am verye prest to sitte down at this tauerne and to goe to that mans table I am readye at the first vydding but alas to resorte to the table of thy sonne receyue with thankfulnes the sacrament of his body and bloud for confirmation of my faithe that 〈◊〉 to learne spiritually to taste Christs body broken and his bloude shedde for the remission of my synnes so doe this oh how vnwillig am I To goe to masse and sacrynges with suche like Idolatrye I haue been a greate time more readie then now I am to heare thy word vse thy sacrameÌ„ts as I shuld doe thy ministers I pray not for thy church I am not careful for no not nowe good lorde when wicked doctrine most preuaileth Idolatrye supersticion and abominacion aboundeth the sacrament and sacrifice of thy deare sonne Iesê° Christ is blasphemiusly corrupted wheÌ„ for preaching there is nothing but massing for catechising sensinge for reading of the scriptures belleringing for syngynge of Psalmes and godly songes to our edificacion all is don in laten with such Notes Tunes ditties descantes that vtterly the mynde is pulled from the consideracion of the thinge if men did vnderstande it vnto the melody Al which my wickednes hath brought in my prophaning of this coÌ„maundement and my not praying Thy ministers are in prison dispersed in other contries spoiled burnt murdred many fal for feare of goods lyfe name c from the trueth they haue receyued vnto moste manifest Idolatrie false preachers abounde amongeste thy people thy people dearely bought euen with thy bloud are not fedde w t the breade of thy worde but with swyllings antichrist wholy preuailethe and yet for all this alas I am to carelesse nothing lamenting my sinnes which be the cause of al this O dear father forgeue me for christs sake and be mercifull vnto me and as of thy mercye thou dyddest geue me time to repent so geue me repentaunce Graunt me thy holy spirite to open to me this thy lawe so that I may knowe thy will in it loue it and alwaies obey it thy good spirit sanctifye me and worke in me a true taste of eternall life and pleasure in the meditation of it geue me gracious good father one litle mouthfull of the breade that y u feddest Helye w t all geue me that with him I maye come into mounte horeb Helpe thy church cherishe it and geue it harbo routh here and els where for christs sake purge thy ministery from corruptioÌ„ and false ministers send out preachers to fede thy people destroy antichrist all his kingdome geue to such as be faulleÌ„ from thy trueth repentaunce kepe others from falling and by their falling doe y u the more confirme vs confirme the ministers pore people in prisoÌ„ exile strengthen them in thy trueth deliuer them if it be thy good will geue them that with conscience they may so aunswere their aduersaries that thy seruantes maye reioyce and the aduersaries be confounded auengeÌ„ thou thy owne cause Oh thou god of hostes and helpe all thy people me especially because I haue moste nede Honour thy father and mother that thou mayst lyue longe c. AFter that thou haste tolde me good lord thy will concerning the seruice whiche thou requirest inwardly and outwardly to be geuen vnto the now doest thou begin to tel me what thy wil is that I shuld do leaue vndone for thy sake vnto man And first y u settest before min eies them whoÌ„ y u for ordres sake and the more commoditie of man in this life hast set in degre and authoritie aboue me coÌ„prehending them vnder the name of father mother that I might know y t as of thee thei are commaunded to beare towards me a faithfull loue and a motherly care in the very names of father and mother wherwith y u honorest them so am I coÌ„mauÌ„ded of thee to do that which is most equall iuste as the very brute beasts doe teach vs that with childly affection and duetye I shuld behaue my selfe towards theÌ„ that is I shuld honor theÌ„ which coÌ„prepheÌ„deth in it loue thankfulnes reuerence and obedience that not so much because they be my pareÌ„ts and in their offices are carefull for me for it maye be they will neglecte the doinge of theyr dueties towardes me but because thou commaundest me so to doe howe so euer they do So that by thys commaundement I perceiue that thou woldest I shuld consider them whoÌ„ thou hast placed in auctorite and superiour degre as pareÌ„ts maiestrats masters or such like and accordingly behaue my self toward them honour them that is to say loue them be thankfull vnto them reuerence them and obey them for thy sake so loÌ„g as they pass not their bounds that is so longe as they requyre not otherwise then y u hast geuen them commission or permission to doe And for as much as thou seest their care and offyce is greate and oure corruption to obey is very muche as wel to encorage them in their vocation to be diligent as to enflame me to humble obedience vnto them therthroughe to make them more willinge to sustaine cares for me y u addeste a promise that is longe lyfe which so farre as it is ablessing froÌ„ thee y u wilt endue vs w t all Wherby we may gather that a ciuel life doth much please thee and receiueth here rewards especially if we lead it for conscieunce to thy lawe And on the contrary part a disobedient lyfe to them that be in auctorite wil bring the soner thy wrath and vengeaunce in this life All whiche worketh muche to the commendation of the state of politike ciuell maiestrats By reason hereof deare father I se my self much boundeÌ„ to praise thee and hartelye to obey thys thy commaundement For in it by it y u declarest thy greate loue towarde vs which euen in this present life our pylgermage and passage to oure home woldst haue vs to enioye the benefite of peace and moste
so thy children I say which hartely loue thet in that they know thy wisdome and wil is best hawe can they but often talke with thes and desyre thee to 〈◊〉 that which they know is best which they knowe also thou woldest doe 〈◊〉 none shuld aske or praye for y â— same Thy children vse praier as a meane by which they se plainly thy power thy presence thy prouideÌ„ce mercy 〈◊〉 goodnes towardes them in granntinge their petitions and by praier they are confirmed of them all Yea thy children vse praier to admonishe them how that all things are in thy hands In praier they are as it were of thee put in mind of those thinges they haue done agaynst thee theyr good lord By reason wherof repentaunce ensueth and they conceyue a purpose to liue more purely euer afterwards and more hartelye to applye themselues to all innocencye goodnes Who now consideryng so manye greate commodities to come by reason of prayer would maruell why thy chyldren are much in praier and in labouring to prouoke others there vnto For as none that is a suter to any other wit vse any thing which might offend or hinder his sute so no man that vseth praier will flatter himself in any thinge that shoulde desplease thee to whom by praier he moueth sute whensoeuer he prayeth so that nothing is a more prouocacion to al kind of godlynes then praier is And therefore not wythout cause we may see thyne Apostles and seruauntes to laboure so dilygentlye and desyre that others myghte vse prayers for themselues and others As concerning outward thynges which thy childreÌ„ pray for although they know thy wil decree is not variable thy purpose must neds come to passe yet doe they receiue by their praier no small commoditie For either they obtaine their requestes or no. If they do obtain theÌ„ then proue they by experience that thou doeste the will of them that feare thee so they are more kindled to loue serue thee And in deed for this purpose 〈◊〉 art wont when thou wilt doe good to any to styrre vp their mindes to desire y â— same good of thee to thende that both thou and thy gifts may be so muche more magnisted and set by of them by how much they haue ben ernest suters and peticioners for the same For howe can it but enâ— a 〈◊〉 them with loue towards thee to per ceiue and fele thee so to care for theÌ„ heare them and loue them If they doe not obtaine that they praye for yet vndoubtedly they receiue greate comforte to see that the euyls which presse them and whereof they complaine stil doe not oppresse and ouer come them therfore they receyue strength to beare y â— same the better O good father help me that I might hartely loue thee complaine to thee in all my nedes and alwaies by prayer to power oute my heart before thee Amen AN OTHER paraphrase or meditation vpon the lords praser O Almighty eternal god of whoÌ„ all fatherhode in heauen and in earth is named whose seate is the heauen whose foote stoole is the earth which of thy great clemency vnspeakable loue hast not waighed nor considered our great vnkindnes and wilfull disobedience but according to the good pleasure of thy eternall purpose hast in thy welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ chosen vs out of the worlde and doest accept vs farre other wise then we be in dede to be called yea and to be in dede thyne adopted sonnes and doest vouchesafe oh louinge father that we as it were heauenly children shuld euery one of vs confesse declare and call thee oure heauenlye father graunt deare father that amonge vs thy poore children by purenes of mynds and couscience by singlenes of hart by vncorrupt and innocent life and example of vertue and godlines thy most holy name maye be sanctified and that so many of al other nations as thou hast ther vnto choseÌ„ and predestinate beholding our godlines vertuous dedes that thou workest in vs may be the more styrred to halow and gloryfy thy blessed name Oh faithfull father we beseech thee that the kingdome of thy holy spirit of grace and prayer of thy louinge kindnes and mercy and of all other thy holy vertues and of thy holye most blessed word may continually raygne in our heartes so that thou woldest vouchesafe therby to make vs worthye to be partakers of the realme kingdome of thy gloriouse and blessed presence Oh deare god and heauenly father we humblye desyre thy goodnes to bowe our hartes vnto thee to make vs humble of mind to make vs low in our owne fight and obedient that like as thy deare sonne our only sauiour Iesê° Christ couÌ„ted his meate workes prayse and life to be onely in obeyng to thy most blessed wyl where in for our sakes he became obedient to the death of the crosse so we may eueÌ„ vnto the very death in lowlines in mekenes pacience and thankefulnes ohey vnto thy holye wil and not to murmur and grudge norrefuse whatsoeuer thy fatherlye pietie shal thinke good to lay on vs be it pouertie hunger nakednes slcknes slaunders oppressions verations persequutions yea or deathe it self for well doing but in all thinges seke and laboure to make these our earthly bodies seruiseable to do thy wil and to refuse that thou wilt not neuer to stryue nor wrastell against thy holye will but with thy heauenly citizens and houshold bull ded vpon the foundation of thy holy prophetes and apostelles thy sonne Iesus Christ being the heade corner stone all selfwill and controuersye in opinious secluded the lustes desieres affections of the fleshe mortified the flatering assaultes of the vaine world y â— cruel and subtyl layings a waite of y â— deuil ouercome agreing together quietly and vnited in spirit we may frely obey vnto thy most blessed will therein to walke all the daies of oure life Oh deare god geue vnto our nedefull bodies necessatie sustenaunce take from vs all loue of worldelye things all carefulnes and couetousnes that we may the more frely worshippe serue thee Oh mercyful father we besech thee to geue vnto vs that heaueÌ„ly bread to strenghteÌ„ our harts I meane y â— bodye of thy deare soÌ„ne Iesê° christ y â— very foode health of our soules that we may alwaies w t thankfulnes firmely feede on him by faith vtterly forsake abhorre al false doctrine perswasioÌ„s of meÌ„ and all lying spirites that shall perswade vs any other wise of him then thy holy word doth teache assure vs satisfie our hungrie soules deare father with y â— mary fatnes of thy riche mercy promised to vs in y â— same thy sonne and of our eternall election redcmption iustificatioÌ„ glorification in him Make vs Oh gratious god to contempne and despise this world with the vaine thinges and pleasures therof and inwardly to hunger for thy blessed kingdome and presence
MEDITATION OF GODES power beutie goodnes c. BEcause thou lord woldst haue vs to loue thee not only doest thou will entice allure and prouoke vs but also doest commaunde vs so to do promising thy self vnto such as loue thee and threaning vs w t damp nation if we do otherwise whereby we may se both our great corruptioÌ„ noughtines also thine exceding great mercy towards vs. First concerning oure corruption and noughtines what a thing is it that power riches authoritie beutye goodnes liberalitie truth Iustice which all thou art good lorde cannot moue vs to loue thee whatsoeuer thinges we see faier good wise mighty are but eueÌ„ sparkles of that power beutie goodnes wisedome which y u art For to the end y u mightest declare thy riches beutye power wisdome goodnes c y u hast not only made but stil dost coserue al creatures to be as Dauid saith of y e beauens declarers setters forth of thy glory and as a booke to teache vs to knowe thee How faier thou art the beutie of the sonne mone starres light flowers riuers fieldes hilles byrdes beastes men al creatures yea the goodly shape forme of the whole world doth declare How mightye y u art we are taught by the creation of this world euen of nought by gouerning the same by punishinge the wicked mightie gyaunts therof by ouerthrowing their deuises by repressinge the rages of the sea within her boundes by stormes by tempests by fiers these such like declare vnto vs thine inuisible almightie and terrible power wherby thou subduest all things vnto thee Howe riche thou arte thys world thy great infinite treasure house doth wel declare What plentie is there not only of things but also of euery kinde of thinges Yea how doest thou yearely daily multiply these kindes How many seeds dost thou make of one sede yea what greate increase doest thou bringe it vnto These cannot but put vs in remembrance of the exceding riches that thou haste For if to thine enemies which loue thee not as y â— most parte in this worlde be yf to them thou geuest so plentifully thy riches here what shal we thinke that with thy selfe thou haste laide vp for thy frendes How good thou art al creatures generally and perticulerly do teache What creature is there in y â— world which thou hast not made for our commoditie I will not say how that y u mightest haue made vs creatures without sense or reasoÌ„ if thou haddest wold But amongest al thinges none doth teach vs so thy great loue towards vs as doth the death of thy most derely beloued soÌ„ne who suffered the paines â—errours therof yea of bell it self for our sakes If this thy loue had bene but a smalle loue it would neuer haue lasted so long nor Christ should neuer haue died A MEDITATION OF DEATH and the commodities it bringeth WHat other thing do we daily in this preseÌ„t life then heau sinne to sinne hourd vp trespasse vpon trespasse so y â— this day is worse alwaies then yesterdaye by encreasing as dais so sinnes therfore thy indignatioÌ„ good lord agaist vs but wheÌ„ we shalbe let go out of the priseÌ„ of y t body so taken into thy blessed coÌ„pany then shal we be in most safe tie of immortality saluation then shal come vnto vs no sicknes no nede no paine no kind of euil to soule or body but whatsoeuer good we can wishe y â— shall we haue what so euer we loth shalbe far froÌ„ vs. O dere father y â— we had faith to be hold these things accordingly Oh y â— our harts were persuaded therof eure affections enflamed w c the desyre of them Then shuld we lyue in longing for y â— which now we most loth Oh help vs graunt y â— we being ignorant of things to come of y â— time of oure death which to thee is certain may so liue finishe our iorney here y â— we may be ready and then depart whtÌ„ our departiÌ„g may make most to thy glory our coÌ„fort through christ What is this life but a smoke a vapour a shadow a warfar a bubble of water a word grasse a flower Thou shalt die is most certaine but of the time no man caÌ„ tel wheÌ„ The longer in this life y u doest remaine the more y u sinnest which will turne to thy more paine By cogitation of death our minds be often in maner oppressed w t darknes because we do but remeÌ„ber the night of y e body forgetting y e light of the mind of the resurrectioÌ„ Therto remeÌ„ber y e good thiÌ„gs that after this life shal ensue withoute wauering in certainty of faith so shal y e passage of death be more desired It is like a sailing ouer y e sea to thy home couÌ„try it is like a medicine or purgatioÌ„ to y e helth of soule body It is y e best phicisioÌ„ It is like to a womaÌ„s trauaile for as y e child being deliuered cometh into a more large place then the wombe wherin it did lie before so thy soule being deliuered out of the body commeth into a muche more large and faier place euen into heauen A GODLYE MEDITATION vpon the passion of our sauour Iesus Christ OH lord Iesus Christ the sonue of the euerliuing and almightye god by whom al thinges were made and be ruled and gouerned thou the liuely Image of y e substance of the father the eternal wisedome of god the brightnesse of hys glory god of god light of light coequall coeternall and consubstantial with the father thou of y â— loue thou haddest to mankinde that when he was fallen from the felowshippe of god into the societie of Sathan and all euill didst vouchsalfe for our redemption to become a mediatour betwene god and man takinge to the godhead our nature as concerninge the substaunce of it and so becamest man also the heire of all and moste mercifull Messias which by the power of thy godhead and merites of thy manhode haste made purgation of oure sinnes euen by thyne owne selfe whilest thou wast here on earth being now set on the right hande of thy father for vs euen concerning our nature in maiestie glory power infinite I besech and humblye pray thy mercy to graunt me at this present to reherse some of thy passions and sufferinges for me the laste night y u wast here before thy death that thy good spirit might therby be effecttuall to worke in me faith as well of the pardone of my sinnes by them as mortification of mine affections comfort in my crosses and pacience in afflictions Amen In the middeste of thy laste supper with thy deare Apostles these things cold not but be before thee namely that they all wold leaue thee the most earnest would for swere thee one of the xii shuld most traitorously betraye thee which were noe
this good worke with a pure and cleane mynde wyth an humble and lowelye harte wyth grace to waie and consyder the nede and greatnes of that we doe desyre and wyth an assured fayth and trust that thou wilte graunte vs oure requestes because thou arte good and gracious euen to yonge rauens catling vppon thee muche more then to vs for whom thou haste made all thinges yea hast not spared thyne owne dere sonne because thou hast commaunded vs to call vpon thee because thy throne wherevnto we come is a throne of grace mercye because thou hast geuen vs a mediatour Christ to bringe vs vnto thee being the waye by whom we come being the dore by whom we enter and being our head on whoÌ„ we hang and hope that oure poore petitions shal not be in vaine through and for his names sake We besech thee therfore of thy rich mercy wherin thou art plentiful to all them that call vpon thee to forgeue vs our synnes namelye oure vnthankefullnes vnbeleife selfe loue neglect of thy word securitye hipocrisie contempt of thy long suffringe omissyon of prayer doubting of thy power presence mercy and good will towardes vs vnsensyblenes of thy grace impaciencye c and to thys thy benefytte of corrcaynge vs adde these thy gratious gifts repentaÌ„ce faith the spirit of prayer y â— contempte of thys world and harty desiring for euerlastinge lyfe indue vs wyth thy holie spirit according to thy couenant and mercy aswell to assure vs of pardon and that thou doest accepte vs into thy fauour as thy deare children in Christ and for his sake as to write thy law in our hartes so to worke in vs that we maye now begyn and goe forwardes in beleuing liuing fearing obeyng praying hoping seruinge thee as thou doest requyre most fatherly and most iustly of vs acceptinge vs as perfecte throughe Christ and by imputation And moreoner when it shal be thy good pleasure most to thy glorye deliner vs we besech thee out of y â— handes of thine aduersaries by such meanes be it death or life as maye make to our comfort most in Christ In the meane season and for euer saue vs and gouerne vs with thy holy spiryte and hys eternall consolation And concerning thine aduersaries whiche for thy sake are become ours aduersaries so many of them as are to be conuerted we beseche thee to shewe thy mercye vpon them and to conuerte theÌ„ but those that are not to be conuerted whiche thou onelye doest knowe most mightye god and terrible lord confounde and get thy name a glory ouer them abate their pride aswage their malice bring to naught their deuelishe deuises and graunt that we and al thine afflicted children may be armes with thy defence weaponed with thy wisdome and gyded with thy grace and holye spirite to be preserued for euer from all geuing of offences to thy people and from all perilles to glorifie thee whiche art the onely geuer of al victorie through the merits of thy onelye sonne Iesus Christe oure lorde Amen AN OTHER CONFESSION of sinnes AS Dauid seing thyne angell with his sword readye drawen moste righteous lorde to plague IerusaleÌ„ cried out vnto thee it is I lord that haue sinned I that haue done wickedly thyne hand lorde be on me and not on thy poore sheepe wherthrough thou waste moued to mercy and baddest thine Angel put vp his sword thou haddest taken punishment enough Euen so we gratious lord seyng thy fearfull sword of vengeaunce readye drawen and presentlye strikynge againste thys common weale and thy Churche in the same we I saye are occasyoned euerye man nowe to caste of oure eyes from beholdinge and narrowly spieng out other mennes faltes and to set oure owne onely in fight that with the same Dauide thy seruant and with Ionas in the shippe we may crie it is we o lord which haue synned and procured this thy greuous wrath And this we nowe gathered together in Christs name doe acknowledge confessing oure selues giltye of horrible ingratitude for our good king for thy gospell and pure religion and for the peace of thy church quietnes of the coÌ„moÌ„ weale besides our negligences many other oure greuous sinnes where throughe we haue deserued not onelye these but much more greuous plages if that euen presentlye thou diddest not as thou art wonte remember thy mercye Herevpon that thou in thine angre remembreste thy mercye before we seeke sue for it we take bouldnes as thou commaundeste vs to doe in oure trouble to come and call vppon thee to be mercyefull vnto vs and of thy goodnes nowe we humblie in Christes name pray thee to holde thy hande and ceasse thy wrath or at y â— least so to mitigate it that this realme may be quietly gouerned and the same eftesâ—nes to be a harborowe for thy church and true religion which do thou restore to vs againe accordinge to thy greate power and mercye and we shall prayse thy name for euer throughe Iesus Christ our onely mediatour and sauiour Amen A PRAIER FOR THE REMISsion of finnes OH lord god and deare father what shall I say that feele al thinges to be in maner with me as in y â— wicked blynde is my minde croked is my wyll and peruerse concupiscence is in me as a spring or stinking puddle Oh howe fainte is faithe in me howe litle is loue to thee or thi people how great is self loue how hard is my hart c. By the reason whereof I am moued to doubte of thy goodnes towardes me whether thou arte my father or noe and whether I be thy childe or noe In dede worthely might I dout yf that the hauing of these were the causes and not the fruites rather of thy children The cause why thou art my father is thi mercy goodnes grace and trueth in christ Iesus the which cannot but remayne for euer In respecte whereof thou hast borne me thys good wil to accept me into the number of thy children that I might be holy faithful obedient innocent c. And therfore thou woldst not onely make me a creature after thy Image enduing me with ryght limmes shape forme memorie wisdome c where thou mightest haue made me a beast a maimed creature lame blind fraÌ„tike c but also thou wouldest that I shoulde be borne of Christen parentes brought into thy Church by baptisme and called dyuers times by the ministerye of thy worde into thy kingdome besydes the innumerable other benefites alwaies hither to powred vpon me Al whiche thou haste done of thys thy good wil that y u of thyne owne mercy barest to me in Christ for Christ before the worlde was made The which thinge as y u requirest straitly that I shuld beleue w tout doubting so in all my nedes that I shuld come vnto thee as to a father make my mone w tout mistrust of being hard in thy good time as most shal make to my coÌ„sort Loe
heare vs and graunte vs that whiche in hys name we shall aske of thee loe gratious father I am bolde to begge of thy mercy through thy sonne Iesus Christ one sparcle of true faith and certaine perswasion of thy goodnes and loue towardes me in Christe wherthrough I being assured of the pardone of all my sinnes by the mercyes of Christe thy sonne maye be thankfull to thee loue thee and serue thee in holynes and righteousnes all the daies of my life Amen A PRAIER FOR REPENTANCE MOst gratious god and merciful father of oure sauiour Iesus Christ because I haue synned and done wickedly and through thy goodnes haue receiued a desire of repentance wherto this longe suffering doth drawe my hard harte I besech thee for thy great mercies sake in Christ to worke the same repentance in me and by thy spirite power and grace to humble mortifye and feare my conscience for my sinnes to saluation that in thy good time thou maist comfort and quickē me through Iesus Christ thy derely beloued senne So be it A DIALOGE OR COMMVNIcation betvvene Sathan and our conscience Sathan THOU hast synned agaynst god therefore thou must dye Conscience Why then died Christ Sa. For sinners but how knowst thou he died for thee Con. Because I am a sinner and he is bothe able and willinge to forgeue me Sa. I graunt that he is able to forgeue thee but how knoweste thou he will Con. He wold not surely haue dyed if he wold not forgeue Sa. But howe knowest thou that he will forgeue thee Con. Because I wold sayne be forgeuen Sa. So would Iudas as wel as y ◠and preuayled not Con. The scriptures wente vppon Iudas facte which must nedes be fulfylled they neuer went vpon myne Agayne Iudas bare a fygure of the people of thee Iewes whiche trybe onelye fell from Christ when all other eleuen tribes of the world dyd styeke faste vnto him I am a poore sinner of the gentils of whom it is written I wilbe eraited in the gentiles Sa. If thou be a sinner of the gentiles yet thou muste consyder thy synne is great Con. I graunt but Christes passion is greater Sa. Oh but y ◠hast sinned very oftē Con. Tell me not Sathan what I haue done but what I wil do Sa. Why what wilt thou doe Con. By goddes grace my full purpose is here after to take better hede and to amend my former life Sa. Is that enough thinkst thou Con. What lacketh Sa. The fauour of God whiche hath cleane forsaken thee Con. So God fauoured loued the world that he gaue his owne dere sonne that whosoeuer seeth him as the Israelites did the brasen serpent they shall not perysh but haue lyfe euerlastinge A short and pithie defence of the doctrine of the holy election and predestination of God gathered out of the first Chapter of S. Paules Epistle to the Ephesians By I. bradford THere is neyther vertue nor vice to be consydered accordinge to any outwarde action nor accordinge to the will and wisedome of man but accordynge to the wyll of god Whatsoeuer is conformable therto the same is vertue and the action that springeth thereof is laudable good howsoeuer it appaere otherwise to the eyes and reason of man as was the lifting vp of Abrahams hand to haue staine his sonne Whatsoeuer is not conformable to the will of god that same is vice the action springing thereof is to be disalowed taken for euell that so much the more and greater euell by howe much it is not consonaunt and agreeing to gods wil although it seme faire otherwise to mans wisdome as was Peters wishe of makinge three tabernacles and the request of some which wold haue had fyer to haue come downe from heauen vpon a zeale to god c. Nowe the wyll of God is not so knowen as in his worde Therfore accordinge to it muste vice and vertue good and euell be iudged and not accordinge to the Iudgemente wysedome reason and collection of anye man or of all the whole world if all the Angelles in heauen shuld take their part But thys worde of god whiche is writen in the canonicall bookes of the byble dothe playnelye set surth vnto vs that god hath of his owne mercye and good will and to the prayse 〈◊〉 hys grace and glorye in Chryste elected some and not all whome he hathe predestinate vnto euerlastyng lyfe in the same Christ and in hys tyme calleth them iustifyeth them and gloryfyeth them so that they shall neuer perishe and erre to dampnation finally Therefore to affyrme teach and preache thys doctrine hath in it no hurte no vice no euell muche lesse then hathe it anye enormityes as some doe affyrme to the eyes and spyryte of them whiche are guyded and wylbe by the worde of god That god the eternall father of mercyes before the begynnynge of the worlde hathe of hys owne mercye and good wyll and to the praise of hys grace and glorye elected in Christe some and not all of the posterytye of Adam whom he hathe predestynate vnto eternall life and callethe them in hys tyme iustyfyeth them and gloryfyeth them so that they shall neuer peryshe or erre to dampnatiou fynallye that thys proposytyon is trewe and accordinge to goddes plaine and manifeste worde by the helpe of hys holye spyryte whyche in the name of Iesus Chryst I humbly beseche hys mercy plenteously to geue to me at this present and for euer to the sanc tification of his holye name by the helpe I say of his holy spirit I trust so euidently to declare that no man of god shalbe able b◠the word of god euer to impugne it muche lesse to confute it In the first chapter of the epistle to the Ephesians y ◠apostle saith thus Blessed be God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ whiche hath blessed vs with all maner of blessinges in heauenlye thinges by Christ according as he hath elect or chosen vs in him before the foundation of the worlde was layed that we shoulde be holye and without blame before him through loue hath predestinat vs or ordeyned vs thorough Iesus Christ to be heires vnto him self accordynge to the good pleasure of hys wyll to the praise of the glorye of his grace where with he hathe made vs accepted in the beloued by whome we haue receyued redemption thoroughe his blood and the forgeuenes of our synnes accordyng to the ryches of his grace which grace he hath shed on vs abundauntly in al wysedom vnderstāding and hath opened vnto vs the mysterie of his wil according to his good pleasure whiche he purposed in him selfe to haue it declared when the tyme was full come that he might gather together all thinges by or in Christ as well the things that be in heauen as the thynges that be in earth euen in or by hym by or in whome we are made heyres being thereto predestinat according to