confidence in the bloud of thy blessed sonne our Lord Sauiour Christ Iesus Geue vs grace to repent vs of our sinnes vnfainedly to craue remission of them vncessantly to embrace thy holy word and coÌ„maundements sincerely to expresse them in our lyuinge effectually whereby we maye walke vprightly in our conuersation with sure and certaine hope of resurrection to eternall life by the merites of Christ Iesus that we may be founde wakinge and watchinge for his coÌ„ming when he shall come to iudge the worlde wyth equitie and to reward euery man according to the works of his bodie Graunt vs grace most mercifull father to behaue our selues so vprightly in this lyfe that theÌ„ we may be made pertakers of thy kingedome wyth thy elect there to liue in eternall ioy and filicitie worlde without end Amen FINIS The Letany O God the father of heaueÌ„ haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the father c. O God the Sonne redéemer of the world haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the Sonne c. O God the holy Ghoste proceding from the Father and the Sonne haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holy ghost c. O holy blessed and glorious Trinitie thrée persoÌ„s and one God haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed glori c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neyther take thou vengeance of our sinnes spare vs good Lord spare thy people whome thou hast redeemed with thy most precious bloud and be not angry with vs for euer Spare vs good Lord. From all euell and mischiefe from sinne from the craftes and assaultes of the Deuill from thy wrath and from euerlastinge damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From blindnessâ— of hart from pride vayne glory hipocrisie from enuy hatred and malice and all vncharitablenesse God Lord deliuer vs. From fornication and all other deadly sinne and from all the deceites of the worlde the flesh the Deuill Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightning teÌ„pest from plague pestileÌ„ce famine from battayle murther from sodaine death Good Lord deliuer vs. From all sedition and pryuie conspiracie froÌ„ all false doctrine and herisie from hardnesse of hart and contempt of thy worde commaundement God Lord deliuer vs. By the mistry of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuitie and circumcision by thy baptisme fastinge temptatioÌ„ Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agony bloudy sweat by thy Crosse Passion by thy precious death and buriall by thy glorious Resurrection and AscentioÌ„ and by the comming of the goly Ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In all time of our tribulation in all time of our welth in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. We sinners doe beséeche thée to heare vs O lord God and that it maye please thée to rule and gouerne thy holy Church vniuersally in the right way VVe besech thee to c. That it maye please thée to kepe strengthen in the true worshiping of thée in righteousnesse and holynesse of lyfe thy seruaunt Elizabeth our moste gracious Quéene and gouernour VVe beseech thee to c. That it maye please thée to rule hur hart in thy faith feare and loue and that she may euermore haue affiaÌ„ce in thée and euer seke thy hoor and glory VVe beseech thee to c. That it may please the to be her defender keper giuing her the victory ouer all her enemies VVe besech the to That it maye please thée to illuminate all Bishops Pastours and Ministers of thy Church with true knowledge and vnderstanding of thy worde and that both by their preaching and lyuing they may set it forth shew it accordingly VVe besech thee to That it maye please thée to indue the Lords of the counsell and all the Nobilitie with grace wisdome and vnderstanding VVe besech thee to c. That it may please thee to blesse and kepe the Magestrates geuing them gâ—ace to excetute iustice and to maintayne truth VVe besech thee to c. That it maye please thée to blesse and kepe all thy people VVe besech thee to c. That it maye please thee to geue to all nations vnitie peace and concord VVe besech thee to c. That it maye please thée to geue vs an hart to loue dread thée and diligently to liue after thy coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„ts VVe besech thee to c. That it maye please thee to geue all thy people encrease of grace to heare meekely thy worde and to receiue it with pure affection and to bring forth the fruitis of thy spirite vve besech thee to c. That it may please thée to bring into the way of truth all such as haue erred are dceaued VVe besech thee to c. That it may please thee to strengthen such as doe staÌ„d and to comfort and helpe the weake harted and to rayse them vp that fall and finally to beate downe Sathan vnder our féete VVe besech thee to c. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort all that be in daunger necessitie and tribulation VVe besech thee to c. That it maye please thée to soccour helpe and coÌ„fort all that be in daunger necessitte and tribulation vve besech thee to c. That it maye please thée to preserue all that trauaile by land or by water all women labouringe of child all sicke persons younge children and to shew thy pitie vpoÌ„ al prisoners captiues vve besech thee to c. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse Children and widowes and all that be desolate and oppressed vve beseche thee to c. That it maye please thée to haue mercy vpon all men vve besech thee to c. That it maye please thée to forgeue our enemies persecutours and flaunderers and to tourne their hartes vve besech thee to c. That it maye please thée to geue preserue to our vse the kindly fruites of the earth so as in due time we maye enioye them vve besech thee to c. That it maye please thée to geue vs true repentaunce to forgeue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignoraunces and to endue vs with the grace of thy holy spirite toamend our liues accordinge to thy holy word vve besech thee to c. Sonne of God we besech thée to heare vs. Sonne of God we be c. O lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Graunt vs thy peace O lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of that world Haue mercy vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Our father which art in c. And lead vs not into c. But deliuer vs from euell The versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The
hartes of that faythfull peniteÌ„t bringe into the way of truth all such as haue erred and wandred astray in the vale of erroure and ignoraunce comfort the soules of all them that hunger thurst after righteousenesse and suffer persecution for the Testimony of the Gospell inrich theÌ„ plentiousely with heauenly gyfts which praye vnto thée in the name of Iesus Christ our onely mediatour redemer Purifie our hartes we besech thée with the fire of thy loue that all that course of our frayle and mortall life may be directed by thy heauenly motion as with an infallible rule and compas that caÌ„not lightly erre Mortifie in vs all worldly care carnall lustes concupiscence couetousenes wrath gluttony pryde and all other sinfull inclinations that may wythdrawe vs from the contemplation of thy glorious deitie Renue our spirites wythin vs that we may seeme regenerate or new borne as infantes and illuminate our myndes wyth thy heauenly benefites and spirituall gifts that our bodies may be made thy temples wythout spot or blemishe at that dreadfull daye when euery man must yeld account of the workes of his body Leade vs into the way of truth and suffer vs not to be caried away wyth diuers and straunge doctrin but alwayes to remayne in that doctrine whereof thou art the author and vouchsafe to strenghten our myndes in the same that if an Angell of heauen should teache any other doctrine then that which thou hast already taught we may not beleue him but whosoeuer preacheth any doctrin contrary to that we haue receaued we may houlde him accursed Strengthen our soules against all assaltes of our ghostely enemy Sathan and his cheife minister Anti-christ that séeketh by all meanes possible to remoue the foundations of our fayth and to pull the word of truth out of our hartes and to throwe vs headlonge into the dungeon of erroure and ignoraunce Strength vs against the vaine allurementes of the wicked woeld and against all vncleaÌ„ lustes of the fleshe that wée beinge replenished wyth thy holy breath may bée founde pure and sanctified in thée and doe those thinges onely that may be acceptable in thy sight To whome with the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory now for euer Amen A prayer to the blessed Trinitie O Most glorious blessed Trinitie the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghoste thrée persones and one God omnipotent and euerlasting without beginninge or ending whome we doe confesse to be one in trinitie thrée in vnitie haue mercy vpon me saue me and defend me from all myne enemies both bodely and ghostly by thy mercifull goodnes and cleamency vouchsafe so to direct my mynde in the way of thy commaundementes that all my doinges may be acceptable before thee which art the God of my strength and my saluation I beseche thée also moste blessed and gloryous trinitie that those sâ—arkes of fayth that by thy heauenlie grace are already planted in my hart may by the operation of thy diuine breth within me euery daye more and more enflame by contiuall meditation of thy holy scriptures increase mightily within me to the suppression of vice and aduauncement of vertue wherby I may walke worthy of that profession wherevnto thou haste called me walking in the same with true zeale and simplicitie of hart all the dayes of my life I besech thée also most blessed Trinitie that thou of thy accustomed mercy and loue wilt make perfect in me that good worke which thou haste begonne and leade me in all truth and godlynes hauing my mynde alwaies fixte vpoÌ„ thée my moste louinge and mercyfull Father cause me alwaies to thinke and speake and to doe those thinges that may he acceptable to thée restrayne my tonge from all idell and vnhonest talke because that at that dreadfull daye of iudgement I am to render an accompte of euery idell word that I haue spoken during the terme of my former lyfe Kepe my hart and body my sences my doinges my talke and communication in thy holy lawes in the workes of thy coÌ„maundements Geue me grace to leade an vpright lyfe wythout â—ffence to my brethren obedient to myne elders louing to all sortes degrées enuious to no man but framing my lyfe vprightly and innocâ—ntly my conuersation orderly honestly my doinges circumspectly vertuously hauing thy feare before myne eyes in all my thoughtes deedes and words when Ilie downe and when I ryse vp at my last â—nd and euer more Amen A prayer before the receauing of the communioÌ„ O Swéet Iesu the Sonne of the euerliuing God thou gauest thy body to be cruelly tormented to the death to deliuer and redeme me most miserable wretched sinner that by the lawe was dead in iniquitie subiecte to the misery of eternall damnation haue mercy vpoÌ„ me poore miserable wretch whome the multitud of myne offences doeth so terrifie and driue into such méere desperation that I dare not once looke vp vpon the brightnes of thy glory nor presume to present my selfe before thy deuine Maiestie in hope to obtayne remission of my sinnes but depending onely vpoÌ„ a sure faith in thee my Lord and Sauiour by whose death and passion I am assuredly informed by faith that I am fréely iustified with absolute remission of all myne offences Wherefore I most humbly appeale vnto thy Throne of mercy crying with the Publicanne Lorde haue mercy vpoÌ„ me thy mercy pardon my faltes bynde vp my woundes and poure in thy sweet oyle like a good Samaritan whereby I may be purified and purged from those naughty tares of sinne which haue plowed me euen as a shadowe foloweth the body from the verye instant of my Natiuitie I come as an abiecte wretch and reprobate to thée that art the mediator and intercessor to reconcile me to thy Father from whose sauoure I fell for transgression of his coÌ„maundement in my greate Grandfather Adam moste humbly desiring thee to heale myne infirmitie and sickenes to washe away my sinne and filthynes to illuminate my blyndenes to conduct me to the right way that nowe wander in the wide dessert of error to comfort mee destitute of all helpe and goodnes I confesse most swéete Sauiour that I am but earth and ashes a confused Chaos and lumpe of sinne and of my selfe not worthy to loke vp toward heauen much lesse to presume vnto thy holy table to the communication of that most blessed Sacrement of thy body whereof whosoeuer eateth worthylie with a stedfast and inmoueable fayth in thee hath euerlasting lyfe but whosoeuer eateth thereof vnworthily as Iudas dyd eateth his owne dampnation Therefore although I come lyke an vncleane sinner beâ—â—â— polluted both in body 〈◊〉 yet reposinge my whole fayth and confidence in the merites of thy passioÌ„ I haue presumed to come to thy table to be made partaker of that vnspeakeable benâ—â—te of thy death feedinge outwardly vpon materyall bread but inwardly by faith vpon thy blessed bodye the bread representing a
the right hande of God the father from whence we looke for thy coÌ„ming again to iudge the quicke and the dead at what tyme we staÌ„d in assured hope to be made ioyntly possessours felowe heyres in thy kingdome in eternall ioy for euer Therfore swéete Iesu seing thou haste not spared thy owne pretious body but gauest it vp as a sweete smelling sacrifice on the aulter of the crosse therby so redeme me from death and to make a full satisfaction for my offences direct I besech thee my 〈◊〉 so in this lyfe that I maye be worthy of that vâ—catioÌ„ wherunto thou hast called me to haue an especial â—are and regarde of thy commaundementes and to folowe them as nearely as I can in all trueth singlenesse of hart to yeelde duâ— obedience to my betters to labour paynefullye and at tymes conuenient in my trade and at night when I lye downe to recreate my bodye after my daylye labours geue me grace to coÌ„fesse my sinnes vnto thée to implore thy mercye with the teares of vnfaigned repentaunce And though my limmes take their naturall rest yet let my minde continually watche in thee exspectyng that ioyfull daye when I shal be made partaker of thy celestiall ioyes which shall neuer ende To thee sweete Iesus with the father and the holye ghost be all honor c. A prayer for Thursday morning O Almightie moste mercyfull father I hartyly beseeche thee vouchsafe to looke downe with the eyes of thy mercy vpoÌ„ me a most vile and miserable sinner whiche lye here prostrate before the feete of thy mercy crauing remission of my manifolde sinnes and wickednesse from the very bottome of my hart acknowledging freely that I am no more worthy to be called thy sonne the multitude of myne offences is so great infinite Yet for asmuch as thou art the god and Father of all comfort which desirest not the death of a sinner but rather that he should tourne from his wickednesse and liue and like a true pitifull Samaritan art sory to sée mely thus wounded wyth the sting of sinne and iniquitie make me I pray thée by infusion of thy comfortable oyle into my wouÌ„ds to run repentantly with the lost Sonne and vnfaynedly to bewaile myne offences at the féete of thy mercy crying Father I haue sinned against heauen and agaynst thee I am no more worthy to bee called thy Sonne make mee as one of thy hired seruants Geue me grace alwaies to repent my sinnes with a coÌ„trite hart before thy deuine Maiestie wythout eyther dissemblinge or cloking of them for thou art the god of light thou séest whatsoeuer is donne in darkenesse and from thy eyes there can bée nothing coÌ„cealed haue mercy therefore most mercifull Father vppon me forgeue me my trespasses as I forgeue them that haue trespassed against me forgeue me my debt and haue compassioÌ„ vpon myne infirmitie for thou Lorde art a mercyfull God full of pitie compassion such a one as is sory for my afflictions with thée is aboundaunce of comfort plentie of redemption thou onely art the god of my health and saluation besides thee I knowlege none other god neyther in heaueÌ„ aboue nor iâ— the earth beneth neyther in the water vnder the earth thoÌ„ onely art almighty thou onely from the beginning art euerlasting world without ende O bowe downe thine eares most mercifull Father to the voyce of my lamentatioÌ„ for against thée onely haue I sinned thée only haue I offended and iustly for my disobedience prouoked thy wrath and indignotion against mée yet I poore sinner doe accuse my selfe vnto thée deare Father that I haue sore greuousely offended thy goodnesse Maiestie in committing of diuers manifold haynouse offences against thée for I haue not kepte the least of thy most holy and godly coÌ„maundemeÌ„ntes but haue wandred astraye from my youth folowing myne owne vnbrideled affections declining froÌ„ the sacred precepts of thy holie lawe and starting aside like a brokeÌ„ bowe I haue not honoured thée lyke my god I haue not obaiâ—d thée like my Father I haue not serued thee like my creator but haue all my life tyme spurned at the waye of righteousnesse and vnderstanding offending thy diuine Maiestie euer both in thoughts words and dedes whiche continually I coÌ„mit against thée O my merciful God and louing Sauiour I am sory for my sinnes euen from the bottom of my hart yea my soule mourneth most mercyfull Father to the death for the innumerable multitude of my sins The onely hope I haue of obtayning thy mercy is in the merites of thy Sonne Iesus Christ my Sauiour Thou hast diuers and sundry tymes by the mouth of thy holy Prophetes pronouÌ„ced forgeuenesse of sinnes if I repent from the bottome of my hart vouchsafe therefore most mercifull Father to looke vpon my misery as thou sparest thy plague from the great Citie of Niniue when they repented euen so most mercifull father withdrawe thy rod froÌ„ mée that lye prostrate at the feete of thy mercie bewailinge my sinnes wyth the vnfayned lamentation of hartye repentaunce Forgeue mée my offences most mercifull Father and renue a right spirit within me coÌ„duct me by the vertue of thy grace to run the rest of this earthly course which yet remaineth that my footesteppes neuer slyde but that I may so speÌ„d this day to the beginning whereof thou haste safely brought me and the reÌ„nant of my lyfe in thys world that all my thoughtes wordes and works may tend to thy glory and to the coÌ„moditie of my neighbour so that I may haue a ioyfull resurrection at what tyme thy Sonne Iesus Christ my sauiour shall come to iudge both the quicke and the deade To whome with thée and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory for euer and euer A prayer for Thursday euening c. O Lorde whiche onely art god true gratious mercyfull which commaundest them that loue thy name to cast all their feare and care vpon thée promysing most mercifully thy selfe to bée their protectour from theyr enemies their refuge in daÌ„ger their gouernour in the daye their watchman in the night who kéepest Israell doest neither slumber nor sléepe but hast thyne eyes contineuallie bent vpon theÌ„ as the egle on her youÌ„geons protecting them vnder the shadowe of thy power as the henne gathereth her chickens to geather couering them vnder the shadowe of her winges I besech thee of thy bountifull goodnesse O Lorde to forgeue me my sinnes wherein I haue offeÌ„ded thee this day and heretofore in my lyfe tyme and to receaue me vnder thy protection this night and euer that I may rest in perfect quietnesse both of body soule Graunt most mercifull Father that the externall eyes of my bodie maye take their sound and naturall sléepe but let the inward eyes of my hart and mynde continually watch vnto thée that the weakenesse of the slesh cause me not to offende thy diuine Maiestie Let my mynd at all tymes haue an inward
neuer at all otherwise enclined that then you woulde vouchsafe to take this booke in hand and turning to any title whatsoeuerâ— may serue your tourne to apply the prayer folowing vnto your present purpose But perchaunce you will say that there are alredy extantâ— diuers sundry bookes of prayers which haue bene set fourth by men of greater vnderstaÌ„ding riper iudgement then I and therfore it was a needeles and superfluous trauaile to wade any furthar in that matter Indede Madame I graunt that ther are many praier bokes published but yet I am of this opinion that if there were ten tymes as many yet there were not to many For the common prouerbe is Bâ—num quo â—â—oÌ„munius eo melius The more common a good thinge is the better it is And therefore will I hardly be perswaded that my laboure could anye way haue bene better employed then in suche causes as concerne the aduauncement of Gods glory and the propagation of vertue VVell such as it is I haue presumed to offer vnto your honoures iâ—dgement with assured hope that you will deeme of it as your noble nature hath ben alwaies enclined to iudge of them that attempt the like enterprises that you will accept it as a sure tokeÌ„ and testimonie of his loyall affection and readie dutie that would thinke himselfe happie to bee accoumpted but as the least in the number of those that woulde be allwayes at your Ladiships commaundement Thomas Achelley Morning Prayer O Almighty and moste mercifull Father who of thine vnspeakeable loue and pitie toward the disobediente and loste children of Adam when wee were caried awaye thorough sinne and ignoraunce to damnation folowing Sathan after the blind and vnbrideled lusts of the fleshe diddest reconcile vs to thee by grace and adopcion in Christ Iesus the righteous and immaculate Lambe by faith and sure confidence grounded on the merites of his death whereby we are redeemed from the eternall prison of death and damnation haue mercy vpon vs mosâ—e mercifull louing Father so quicken our dul and heauy mindes by the inspiration of thy holy spirite that we maye shake of this dead sleepe continualy watch in thee abandoning the worckes of darcknes and walking in the worckes of light whereby we may be worthy to walk in this holy vocation where vnto thou haste called vs and with thine elected sainctes to sing prayses vnto thee and at all seasons times to glorify thy holy name And among all other benefites which thou of thy free mercy doste dayly and hourely most aboundantly bestow vpon vs we yeeld thée mortall thankes for that thou haste vouchsaâ—ed to presâ—rue vs both this night and all the time and dayes of our life vnder the shadowe and protection of thy winges keeping our eyes waking in thée without any idle dreames or phantasies that might disturbe our mindes from the meditation of thy grace and haste safely brought me to the beginning of this daye from the drousy graue of my bed which manifestly resembleth in lying downe my death and in rysing vp a manifest tipe and figure of my resurrection Therfore sith thou of thy mercy haste raysed me vp from this earthly reast wherein my mortall body and corrupt nature hath ben partly recreated from the laboures trauayles which I dayly sustayne in this terestrial pilgrimage vouchâ—aâ—e also I beséech thee to direct me with thy holy spirite both this day and euer that all my doinges maye tend to thy glory and to the commoditie of my neighbouâ— And graunt most merciful Father that the residue of my whole life froÌ„ heÌ„ceforth may he gided happly vnder thy tuition whereby all maner of darkenes misbeliefe infidelitie carnall lustes and affections may be vtterly chased driuen out of my hart and that I may be iustified saued both body and soule through a right and perfect fayth in Christ Iesu and so walke in the light of thy most holy word coÌ„maundements all the dayes of this my fraile and transitory being Arme vs with thy grace most mercifull father and strengtheÌ„ vs by thine assistaunce to vanquishe the power of the sinfull flesh and Sathan that hauing victory in the end we may ioyfully triumphe in thy saluation that art the God of our strength and might Endue our blynde hartes with thy heauenly spirite that being strong in fayth although â—éeble in the flesh we may so rule the bridle of our course both now and euer from henceforth that we sleepe not in sinne as the vnbeleuers doo which haue no hope of resurrection in Christ Iesu but folowing the motion of their owne common sence are so linked and tyed to the ground that their grosse capacitie is not of force to loke vp and to be holde the brightnes of thy diuinitie which art God from the beginning for euerlasting world without ende To whome with the sonne the holy Ghost be al honor and glory for euer euer Amen A Prayer for Euening O Almighty and moste mercifull Father maker of heauen and earth with all that is therein whose works are insercheable whose mercy is inâ—â—nite whose power is aboue the Cloudes of heauen we beséech thee of thy accustomed fatherly piety and pittie that thou wilte vouchsafe to be our watche man this night and euer to gard vs from all our enemies both bodily or ghostly that endeuour to disturb the externall rest of our body or to assalt the infernall Closet of our Conscience with any sinful suggestions or deuilish deuises of Sathan our mortall foe and deadly aduersary We acknolege and confesse moste mercifull Father that of our selues we are not worthy to lifte vp our eyes towarde heauen much lesse to presume in presenting oureselues before thy deuine maiestie with confidence that thou wilte heare our prayers or incline to our petitions if we call to remembraunce the vnworthines of our own merites and desertes for we are nothing else but a lumpe of sinne conceaued and borne in iniquity folowing the right path of our naturall imbecilitie and weakenes in Adam euer more prone and apt to folowe the filthy appetite of our own desire like vnbrideled Colts and reiecting the holsome discipline and instructions of thy most holy wil and commaundements Our own consciences accuse vs and our own sinz beare witnes against vs that we are nothing else but miserable wretches subiect to corrupcion clothed with iniquity and not of our selues able to thinck as muche as one good thought so that wée are not able to abide the extremitie of thy straighte iudgement knowing that by the worckes of the flesh we are condemned to deth yet quickned in the spirite and iustified by grace in Christ iesu Wee knowe most merciful Father that thou art a righteous Iudge such a one as visiteth the sinz of the Fathers vpon the Children to the thirde and fourth generation and doest not Iustify the synners and them that walk in the waye of iniquitie but punishest the falts of al such
as transgres thy holy lawes and commaundementes Notwithstanding most mercifull Father seing thou hast promised to here vs whensoeuer we repent vs of our sinz from the bottom of our harte and vnfainedly do call vpoÌ„ thy name for help we haue presumed to appeale to thy Throne of mercy humbly coÌ„fessing our manifold sinz and offences and crauing remission of our trespasses in the bowels of thy onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our intercessor and sauioure Haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lord and forgiue vs our offences instruct vs with thy holy spirite to enter into examinatioÌ„ of our owne selues by a stedfast fayth in Christ Iesu with worckes correspondent to the same we may earnestly and hartely repeÌ„t from the very bottome of oure hartes and euer hereafter to thirst after thy law and statutes euen as the harte desireth the brookes of water And last of all for as muche as it hath pleased thée of thy heauenly wysedome to prepare and ordeâ—â—e the night for man to rest and refresh himself after his dayly trauayles grant we beséech thée most mercifull Father that as our bodies do take a careles sléepe so contrarily our soules maye continâ—allye watche in thée expectting dilligently that happy time when our Lord Iesus shal appear for our deliuerance out of this mortall life into another more blisâ—ull and happy life the ioyes wherof noe mans capacitie is able to conceaue much les is the tongue able worthily to expresse the happines thereof To that life we beséech the to bring vs for Iesus christ his sake A Prayer for the increase of fayth O Almighty and moste mercifull Father the euerlasting fountayne and well spring of al grace and goodnesse whose mercy is incomprehensible and power infinite thou the eternall Iehouah in whose handes are all the corners of the earth the strength of the hilles is thine also whose omnipotent power fashoned the Sea and prepared the dry land haue mercy vpon vs miserable and wretched sinners and encline thy fatherly eare vnto the voyce of our prayers Increase most heauenly father in our mindes the sparckes of true fayth and Christianitie that being alwayes garded with the defence of thy holy worde we may haue power and force to renounce and resiste the terrible inuasions of our mortall enimy Sathan who continualy rangeth about like a roaring Lion séeking whome he may denoure And sith wee are chaunced in these perillous tymes wherein noughte but iniquitie raigneth and Antechrist aduaunceth himselfe in thy temple exalting himself aboue all that is called God infecting thy poore disposed â—â—ock with the poysoned drâ—gges of damnable heresy illuminate we beséech thée moste merciful father our blinded eyes with the true light of thy heauenly grace that being armed with the shield of thy diuine inspiration we may therby be the more emboldned to withstand the dayly and innumerable assalts of our ghostly enemie that continually laboureth by all meanes possible to wreste the worde of trueth and vnderstaÌ„ding out of our harts and to throwe vs headlong into the bottomlesse lake of euerlasting perdition and whereas withoute the inspiration of thy heauenlye grace we are not able so much as to thincke a good thought and much les able to resist the sinfull allurements of our corrupt flesh the world and the Deuill therefore we craue of thée most heauenly Father that thou wilte vouchsafe to make perfecte that good worcke which thou hast be gonne in vs not suffering those fewe sparckes of thy heauenly grace which thy spirite hath planted in our hartes to be extinguished or quenched by meanes of our weakenes and inconstancie but augmenting in our mindes the zeale of thy word we may be able to reÌ„der an accouÌ„pt at that dreadfull day of the hope and fayth which we haue in thée by the merites of thy sonne Iesus Christe our Messias and Sauiour whome thou hast vouchsafed to send into the earth héere to be incarnate of the pure virgine Mary and hauing receaued the image of our humanitie to offer him selfe as an acceptable sacrafice vpon the alter of the most bitter Crosse and by the â—ffusion of his moste precious bloud to pay the raunsome of our offences vnto thy diuine maiestie whereby he reconciled vs vnto thée our heauenly Father whereas otherwise we had beene subiect to the thraldome of euerlastinge damnation To thée with the same Iesus Christ thy sonne and the holy spirite covnited al three in Godhead and distinguished in person be all honor and glory for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for grace to perseuer in fayth O Eternal God and euerlasting Father the author and fountayne of all goodnesse the multitude of whose benedictioÌ„s and benefites farre passe and excéede the compasse of humayne reason and capacitie indue our frayle minds with the grace of thy heauenly spirite that mortifiing our owne desires and affections our onely ioy delite may be placed in the perpetuall consideration of thy heauenly promises and renouncing all care and regard of worldly businesse which commonly withdrawes our mindes from the contemplation of thine infinite mercies we may be wholie addictted to the seruice of thy diuine maiestie in spirite and true humulitie of minde reioycing together in Psalmes Hymnes and spirituall Songes comforting one another in thy promise of that day wherin thou hast promised to make vs felow â—eyres of thine heuenly inheritaunce with Abraham Isaack and Iacob in that celestiall mansion which thou haste ordeyned for thine elect since the beginning of the world And because by reason of oure naturall corruption which we haue successiuely receued since the fall of oure great Grandfather Adam we are all naturally bente and inclined to goe astray strengthen most mercifull Father our féeble spirites with inspiration of thy heuenly grace that being armed against al the assaults of the flesh the worlde the Deuill and Antichriste that Capitall enimy of thy worde we may haue oure consciensces cleare from all maner temtations and altogether vacante to the Meditation of the promises expressed in the Gospell of thy sonne Iesus Christe our sauioure Endue vs with the diuine influence of thy spirite that we maye neuer be caried away with the fleshe but by the operation of thy grace in our hartes we maye be able to mortify subdue our carnal afections and wordly desires whereby our zeale may be the more enflamed to insue the heauenly motions of thy holy spirite which directeth the mindes of them that feare thée in the perfect pathway of lighte and vnderstanding Graunte this most mercifull father for thy Sonne Christe hys sake to whom with thée the holy Ghost be al honor and glory from this time forth for euermore A prayer for vnity in Religion O Euerlasting and moste mercifull Father the fountayne of all grace and goodnes which art the God of peace loue vnitie and concorde and the iuste reuenger of disceÌ„tion debate and confusion thou séeste howe miserably thy holy congregation is rent torn and deuided into diuers
sectes and contrarieties in religion while the carnall professors of thy name in cloake of preteÌ„ded holines set forth mainteine such beggerly traditions as the appetite of theire grosse phantasie leadeth them vnto shaking of the sweete yoke of thine vndefiled law wresting the letter thereof to serue the dissolute motion of their carnall cogitations mainteining in stéede of thy pure sincere word the fleshly cerimonies of their own deuise and inuention whereby it commeth to passe that so great dissention raigneth now adayes in the world and that so many sectes schismes and heresies are daylye sette a broach in euery place to the vnspekeable perturbation of the course of thy word and vtter subuersion of diuers common wealthes whiche oughte chiefly to be mainteined by the vniform consente and iudgement touching the worde and by the perfecte band of Amity concerning temporall causes But now wheras men set aside the ryght rules and or dinaunces of thy blessed worde plantinge in steed thereof orders and tradicions of their own imaginations howe can it come to passe that christian peace and vnity of spirite should dwell among vs Therefore graunt O most mercifull Father that wee thy pore dispersed shepe which haue so long ben tossed and turmoyled with tempests of this tumultuous times may at the last by the direction of thine heauenly Spirite bee reduced into one foulde acknoweleging thee our moste louing shepehearde and mercifull Father thy sonne Iesus Christe our onely sauiour and Mediatour to thy diuine maiesty the holy ghost our comforter whyche by the mouth of thy sonne Iesus Christ thou didst promise to send vnto vs which spirite assureth our spirites that we are pertakers inheritours and fellow Citizens of that heauenly Ierusalem whiche thou promysedst to all them that vnfainedly walke in thy statutes and trust onely to be saued by the blood and passion of thine onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our Messias the onely redâ—emer of all mankinde Remoue O moste mercifull Father from our eyes the darcke shadow and vayle of ignoraunce that abandoning al the dregges of erronious sectes heretical schismes we may be gathered all together into the vnitie of thy word and confesse that there is but one eternall God and one heauenly Father which thou arte and one Fayth one Baptisâ—e which we all professe that call vpoÌ„ thy name Graunt also most merciful father the we whose minds opinioÌ„s are noted most repugnant and contrary in fayth may he altogether covnited into one iugement opinion in religion which maye bee grounded onely vppon the foundations of thy Prophâ—tes and Apostles Iesus Christ himselfe being the head corner stone And sith ther is but one fayth which directeth vs into the waye of saluation graunt we beséech thée that by the operation of thy holy spirite we may be brought to such an agréement and vniformity in Religion that we maye glorify thée our heauenly Father with one onely spirite and generall consente of conscience whereby wee maye be reduced from the captiuitie of eternall ignoraunce and be made al the shéepe of thee our most mercifull and bountifull shéepheard To whome with c A thankes geuing for restoring of the Gospell VVE render vnto thée most mercifull Father immortall thankes for that thou hast vochsafed to send thine onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ into the world to take our shape and nature vpoÌ„ him and to submit himselfe to the bitter passion of the Crosse to redéeme vs wretched sinners which before were thrales and bonde slaues to the horrible sormente of euerlasting damnation O what condigne thankes are we able to render vnto thée that in the least respect may be able to counter payse thy fatherly kindnes and loue which thou daily sheweâ—t vnto vs most myserable and wretched sinners Thou hast sent thy Christ our Sauioure to redeeme vs from the bondage of sinne death and damnation and that not with Gold nor Siluer but with his most preciâ—use bloode once offered vpon the Crosse to paye our generall raunsome The promises which thou diddest make to our ' forefathers in figures and shadows thou hast openly performed to vs in the open sight of the whole worlde in sending that Mâ—essias to take our sins vpon him to be scourged for our offâ—nces and to beare the burthen of our iniquities â–ª Againe thou hast manifested to vs the perfect pathwaye of saluation by the mouth of thine onely begotten son Iesus Christ and that not in figures nor shadowes but in expresse wordes saying Hoc fac viues do this and thou shalt liue which to our forefathers thou declaredst couertly and in the darke shadowes of secrete misteries and that not by thy sonne Iesus Christ but but by thy prophets which were men mortall as we be and were inferioure to thy sonne both in diuine power and also in dignity of person For how muche the seruaunt or bondman is inferiour to the heyre so much are the Prophets inferiour to thy sonne and heyre Christ Iesus whom our mortal eyes haue séene of late dayes personally here in the earth and reasoned with him face to face euen at his owne mouth haue learned what is the will of thée our moste louing Father and moste mercifull creatoure And moreouer because it was thy good pleasure to take awaye the presence of thy sonne from mankinde as concerning the fleshe we yeld thée moste harty thankes that thou wouldest vouchsafe to seÌ„d down thine heauenly spirite into the hartes of all thy sonnes Apostles which spirite informing their spirites of thy diuine will prouoked them by writing to reuele thy promises of saluation whereof thy sonne preached vnto the posterity of all ages for euermore wherâ—y both we that now liue and the remnaunte of all future yeres may lerne to direct their steppes as with a true line or rule into the waye of thy commaundementes And sith in recompence of all these thine vnspeakeable benefits thou requirest no other sacrafice but thankes giuing with contrition of harte therefore with vncessaunt prayers wee will magnify thy holy name recordiÌ„g thine innumerable benefites with Psalmes of thankes geuing in the midest of the congregation for euer not doubting but thou of thine infinite goodnes wilt accept the thanks which we yelde to thy dyuine Maiestie as procéeding from the very bottom of our vnfained hartes To thée most mercifull Father with thy son Iesus Christ and the holy ghoste be all honour and glory for euer Amen A Prayer for abolishing of Superstition O Eâ—ernall and moste mercifull Father who by thy diuine wisedome diddest lay the foundations of heauen and earth with the Sea and al that is therin haue mercy compassion of thy pore flock dispersed through the whole erth for the constant profession and testimony of thy heauenly worde and deliuer them at laste from the tirrany of Pharao the terrible persecutoure of thy poore members And because that in all Landes many departe into voluntary exile whose conscience cannot sustayne to sée thy true
worde corrupted with the superstitious traditions of mortal men we beseech thée moste heauenly Father to inspire the dewe of thy spirite into the hartes of all Christian Kinges and Princes in whose handes consistes the reformatioÌ„ as wel of ecclesiastical as ciuil politike causes that by the motion of the same spirit they may be the more feruentlye enflamed with the zealâ— and loue of thy glory and be the more â—ircumspectly bent to plant the séedes of thy true Religion through all their dominions kindle moste mercifull Father in their harts a desire to deface all blinde cerimonies and supersticious idolatry which in any respect maye séeme preiudiciall or derogatory to thy glory let them break down their hill alters hew down their groues burne their Images with â—ire the no one monument of them be left vpon the earthe and that when they are sought for their place may not be founde so that the name memory of them may decay and perish with the asâ—hes of their consumed timber Let their moltion Images be consumed with fire and their grauen Shrines be brought to coÌ„fusion For thou art a mightâ—e God agelous God one that cannot suffer a mate or pere in thy Dominion Thou wilt be worshipped in truth and righteousnesse of hart and not with blockishe and sencelesse Images the work of mens hands which haue eares and heare not eyes and see not noses smell not mouthes and eate not handes and feele not feete and goe not but are caryed hither and thether vpon mens shoulders like sencelesse stockes as they are in no respect resembling any figure of diuinitie or God-head And bicause the vse of these phantastical Idols tendeth especially to the preiudice and prophanatioÌ„ of thine omnipotent diuine power who hast commauÌ„ded by expresse wordes in thy law that we should not make to our selues the likenesse of any thinge in heauen or earth or in the waters to bow vnto Graunt we besech thée thy grace to all princes and potentates that beare as wel the spiritual sword as the title of temporal gouernmeÌ„t that they may be moued with thyne heauenly motion to purge thy church froÌ„ all the dregs of superstition and Idolatrie wherby thy poore flock that is now dispersed through the whole worlde may be brought againe into one vniforme consent of Religion seruing thee in lowlines and purenesse of hart abâ—â—doning all the rabble of Romayne traditions and idolatrous ceremonies cleauing only to the rule of thy holy gospel reuealed by thy sonne Iesus Christe oure lord Sauiour To whom with the Father the holy Ghost thrée persons one God be all honour glory world without ende Amen A prayer for the preseruation of our noble Queene Elizabeth WE yelde vnto thée most mightie mercifull Father immortall thanckes for that it hathe pleased thée of thy méere mercie and fatherly bountye after the stormes of so many troublesome tymes to conduct vs into the comfortable port of traÌ„quilitie by the hand of thy most gracious seruaunt our déere soueraigne Lady Elizabeth When we were as shéepe wandring astray in the wildernes thou ordainedst hir Maiestie to be our Shepeheard to gather vs againe into thy shepefould When we had bene long lossed hither thether with the outrage and cruel fury of tiraÌ„nicall persecution like a poore weatherbeateÌ„ Bark that hath bene continually turmoyled tossed on the perillous surgâ—s of the outragious and swelling seas findinge no sure roade nor harber wherein to rest but continually in daunger eyther to sinck into the sanâ—s â–ª or to be ouerwhelmed with waues or violently to be dashed in peces against the mayne rockes Euen then I say when we dispayred vtterly of sauegarde standing still in feare of the hazard of euerlasting confusion thou committedst the helme to be guyded by hir graces wisedome who at laste conducted vs into the hauen of this longe desired peace and tranquilitie Therefore whereas thou hast placed hir in the regal throne to be our Dauid our Iosias our Samuel yea to be our Shéepeheard and ring-lâ—ader in the way of true holinesse and sincere Religion Inspire hir mynde with the manifold blessinges of thy grace that she may walke all the dayes of hir lyfe in the path of thy commaundementes happely discharge hir dutie in that stewardship and dispensation which thou hast coÌ„mitted to hir Maiesties hands Inflame hir minde more more with the loue of thy holy gospel the all hir déedes thoughtes practises may tend to the propagation planting of thy worde and true Christian religion in these hir Maiesties Dominions Eâ—cline the motioÌ„s of hir vertuous disposition aboue all thinges to seeke thine honor glory to sow the seedes of the Catholike fayth abundantly in all places to cut of the broode of superstition and Idolatry to constitute true Preachers of thy worde and establish euery wher thine holy gospel and true religion Preserue hir moste mercifull father as hitherto thou haste moste myraculously done from the deuilish deuises and practises of hir enimies that she may haue a longe and happy raigne among vs to the aâ—â—auncement of thy glory and ioy and comfort of all hir subiectes Let hir naturall disposition coÌ„tinâ—e to hir â—ocs terrible to hir subiectes amiâ—ble to hir offeÌ„ders merciful to the vertuous bountiful indifferent to al men and in all respectes partial in no point neither in causes ecclesiastical nor yet in matters concerninge politike gouernement Assist hir moâ—â— merciful Father with the might of thy heauenly Spirit to quayle the pryde of the triple headed Romish Ceâ—berus to banishe his beggarly ceremonies to abridge the termâ— of his raigne and finally to cut of and preuent the séedes that continually striue to spring vp from abhominable superstition and Idolatrie GrauÌ„t hir grace most merciful Father to runne the remnant of hir race in the right path of thy commauÌ„dements declining neither to the right hand nor to the left but so vsinge all times thy heauenly word as the rule and compasse to direct hir course Preserue hir grace most mercifull Father in continuall healthe of body and quietnesse of mynde that she may be alwayes able to rule the bridle of hir charge and to execute right and Iustice to all sorts and degrees to the aduauncemeÌ„t of thy glory and the vniuersall commoditie of hir â–ª Maiesties subiectes And finally graunt O most mercifull father that when it shall please thée to end the terme of hir dayes in this worlde thou wilt make hir partaker of those celestial ioyes which are prepared for them that feare thée since the foundation of the world Graunt this most mercifull father for thy déere sonne our lord Iesus Christ his sake To whom with thee the holy Ghost three persons and one God be all glory and honor world without end A Prayer for the Councell and Nobilitie ALmighty and most merciful Father whose power is infinit and workes incompreheÌ„sible vouchsafe to direct the hartes of the Nobilitie of this Realme
diuine prouidence and protection most mercyfull Father the enemie had longe agâ—ne deuoured vs yea he had so wiped and blowen vs away the scarse any remembraunce of our beinge had remayned on the earth Wherefore sith it is thy good pleasure that the name of Israell should not be vtterly extinguished geue vs grace to 〈◊〉 our steppes in the path of thy coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts that all our deedes wordes thoughtes may tend to thy glory and the commoditiâ— of the common wealth Endue we be sech thee the mynde of our soueragine Quâ—ene Elizabeth that aboue al thinges she may seke thy honor and glory the maintainance of true religion the prosperous and quiet state of her subiectes Directe the myndes of her Maiesties Counsell and the rest of the nobilitie that they may alwayes liue in thy feare with â—rue obedience to the prince deuising suche lawes and statutes as may bee most auailable to the conseruation and publike commoditie of the common welth Inspire the mindes of such as thou hast called to be the ministers of thy word w the spirite of truth and vnderstanding that they may preach the pure doctrine of thy heauenly word reuokeing sinners into the way of repentaunce and amendement of life to embrace the sweete yoke of thy lawe whereby their soules may be saued from euerlastinge â—alnâ—atiâ—n Gâ—ue grace most heauenly Father to all the 〈◊〉 of thys Realme that aboue alâ— things they may laâ—our to followe thy commaundements to liue in due obedience to their Prince and Magiestrâ—tes and to be ruled by the holsome and spirituall counsell of their pâ—stours And 〈◊〉 thy grace in generall most mercyfull Father to the whole body of the Realme that altogether both the Prince Nobilitie Clargy and 〈◊〉 may chiefly 〈◊〉 to abuaÌ„ce thy Gospell and secondly the happy and prosporous â—ate of the coÌ„mon wealth Through Christ. c. A Prayer for patienâ—e in trouble ALmighty and most mâ—rcifull Father which art the onely stay and comfort of all them that are afflicted with the scourge of aduersitie bowe down thy mercifull eare vnto the voyce of my lamentation which am nothing else but a lumpe of sinne euery houre declyninge from thy coÌ„maundements into the reprobate way of iniquitie that I must néedes confesse that myne owne merites and deseruinges haue iustly procured this worthy plage wherin like a vyle and wretched 〈◊〉 I am entangled But thou O most mercyfull and louinge Father thou art alwaies ready to shewe mercy to the repentant sinner which hast promised to put all my offeÌ„ces and misdeedes out of thy remembraunce whensoeuer I repent from the bottome of my hart haue mercy vppoÌ„ my miseries and velease me of this aduersitie which hath worthely chaunced by reason of the innumerable multitude of my sinnes And if it be thy good will and pleasure to proue the more 〈◊〉 with temtations or any other kinde of afflection that thou shalt lay on me then vouchsafe most mercifull Father to arme mée wyth the spirite of 〈…〉 which it hath pleased thy diuine Maiestie to lay vpon me that I murmure not at thy workes neyther blaspheme thy name when I am in miserie but that I maye alwaies haue in mynde that thou art a mercifull iudge and a reuenger of iniquitie to whome onely it beelongeth to throwe downe to hell 〈◊〉 to rayse vp to heauen againâ—â— where with thy sonne Iesus Christ and the holy Ghost c. A prayer against temptation O Lord Iesus Christ the onely defence and pyller of our estate the hope confidence of all them that sleepe in the vaile of this wicked worlde which by the merites of thy most pretious death passion didst ouercome death and triumphest ouer the sting therof in thy heauenly kingedome geue strength vnto vs feeble and impotent sinners against the râ—aringe Lyon whiche continually wandreth aboute séekynge whom he may deuoure endeâ—ouringe alwayes wyth subtill awaitinges strong temtations to withdrawe our myndes from the faith which we haue in thee of euerlastinge lyfe into a reprobate sence to geue ourselues vp to the 〈◊〉 lustâ— and affections of the fleshe to vncleannes Idolatriy innumerable other like abhominatioÌ„s that are chiefe aduersaries and enemyes to the spirite of truthe and vnderstanding Thou therfore that art the iâ—â—aculate Lambe the vanquisher of sinne death and hell geue vnto vs thy little shéep the strength and vertue of thy spirit that being in our owne selues weake and feble and in thée strong and valiant we may be able to withstande and subdue all the assaults of the Deuill that our ghostly enemie may not triumph ouer vs but being coÌ„querors through thée wée maye geue thankes to thy mercy which neuer leaueth them destritute of sucâ—oure whose onely confidence and aâ—â—iance is reposed in the sure defence and sauegerde of thy mercy Thou knowest O Lord that we are but earth and ashes subiect to corrupsion mortalitie the flesh euer rebellinge against the spirite whereby we are alwaies more prone apt to runne the carles race of ignorance and iniquitie then to frame our steppes in the narowe and strayte path of vertue and vnderstanding Therfore illuminate we besech thée our blinde eyes with the light of thy heaueÌ„ly spirit that abhoring the workes of darkenes and preuaylinge against all temptations of the worlde the flesh and the Deuill we may be wholie bent to serue thy diuine Maiestie in truthe and vnderstanding sauinge alwayes an assured hope of a gloryous resurrectioÌ„ on thy right hand wher we may be pertakers of that ioyfull sentâ—nce of life whiche thou wilt pronounce to all them that shall inherite that heauenly kingdome with thée our onely redéemer and Sauiour To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost c. A prayer for the obtayning of wisdome O Almighty Lord most mercifull Father the fountayne and welspring of all heauenly gifts and graces geue me wisdom to knowe what thy will and pleasure is for I thy seruant and the sonne of thy haÌ„d mayde am a féeble person engendred and created of the frayle substaunce of the flesh enuironed round about wyth the darke shadowe â—ayle of ignoraunce that by meanes thereof the beames of my mynde are so obscurely eclipsed that I cannot once looke vp vpon the brightnes of thy diuine Maiestie nor excercyse my selfe at all in contemplation of the misteries of thy heaueÌ„ly word and promises whereby I might saue my soule from hell Inspire therfore most mercifull Father my dull and heauy mynde with the light of the true wisdome and not with worldly wit and policy onely which concerne humayne affayres but with the true vnderstaÌ„ding of thy sacred scripturs wherein thou hast made a faithfull promise of eternal saluation to all them that vnfaynedly beleue that Iesus Christ is the sonne of God and the onely redéemer of all mankinde Thou knowest O Lord that my dull capacitie is farre to grosse to attaine to the knowledge and vnderstandinge of thy iudgemeÌ„ts 〈◊〉 lawes â–ª for I am but meere
corruption and of a most frayle nature And thou how can I that am but earthe and ashes coÌ„ceaue the meaning of thy diuine mistries surely by no meanes except the motion of thy spirite direâ— myne vnconstant and wauering mynde in the right way of truth and vnderstaÌ„ding whereby I may be alwayes inflamed to meditatâ— vpon thy promises contained in thy holy Ghospell wherein thou hast promysed euerlastinge lyfe to all those that with a stedfast fayth beleue that by the meanes of Iesus Christ his passioÌ„ they haue obtayned frée remission of their sinnes To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory now and euermore Amen A prayer agaynst the aduarsaries of the truth ALmighty and most mercifull Father which art the way the truth and life deliuer me from the hands of them that imagine mischieffe and thinke vpon deceyt all the daye longe whose tongues are more sharp theÌ„ a two edged sworde and the poyson of Aspes is vnder their lippes Beholde most mercyfull Father from thy heauenly throne thy vineyard which the Boare rooteth vp and neuer suffreth the tender branches to spring aboue the ground but as fast as they bud fourth he spoiles them not sufferinge the same to attayne to their full maturitie perfect ripenes Aryse O Lord and reuenge thyne owne cause how long shall thy Ielozy sléepe for euer O remember the afflictions of thy seruantes that are oppressed with the tyranny of Pharao and ouerladen with the intollerable burthen of the Egiptian taskes Thou séest our misery and thraldome and how we are euery day in daunger to be 〈◊〉 of the enemy And for thy sake onely doe we suffer reproch al the day long A ryse therefore O Lorde like a mighty man of warr and as a stout gyant refreshed with wine Looke downe and behould howe thy stocke is scattered abroade by meanes of the outragiousnes of the wolf who continually séeketh to roote out and vtterly to extingush the name of Israell Take Armes in hand and strike in thynâ— owne cause and confounde thyne enemyes wyth the fire of thy heauy displeasure So shall thy poore dispersed â—locke bâ— reducâ—â— againe at last into one fould and 〈◊〉 continuall prayses to thee the author of our libertie and our auenger To whome with the Sonne and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory c. A thankes geuing to God for his benefites VVE render vnto thée most merciful father immortall thankes for the manifould dayly benefits which thou of thy mercie without any desert of ours hast most abouÌ„dantly poured vpon vs since the time it pleased thée to inspire into vs the breath of lyfe framinge our corrupt bodyes in forme of thine own likenes placing vs in thy pleasant Paradise there to remayne in most happy and fortunate estate if through the subtill allurementes of Sathan our ghostly enimie we had not transgressed thy commaundements We thanke thée also most mercyfull Father for that wheÌ„ we were condemned by our owne transgression in our great Grandfather Adam thou of thy Fatherly loue and naturall compassion that thou haddest on mankinde didest send down thy onely begotteÌ„ Sonne Iesus Christ to take our corrupt Nature vpon hym and to humble himselfe to the shamefull death of the Crosse thereby to redeme vs wretched sinners from the bondage of hell whether for our disobedience we were iustly condemned and to pay the raunsome of our offences whereby thy wrathe that was worthyly inflamed against vs might be appeased and we lost sheepe at last recoÌ„cyled to thee our pitifull pastoure most mercifull Father We yeld thée also immortall thankes moste mercifull Father for that it hathe pleased thee to reueale thy holy Gospell vnto vs by thy Sonne Iesus Christ whereby we might obtaine remission of our sinnes and through faythe might haue a sure confideÌ„ce that by the merites of Iesus Christ hys passion we are deliuered from the intolerable cursse of the lawe and are made partakers of that heauenly kingdome prepared for vs since the foundation of the world For these thy most bountifull gyftes and all other thy benefites dayly and hourely powred vpon vs we hartely thanke thée most louing and mercifull Father Beseching thée that thou wilt geue vs grace through the operatioÌ„ of thy heauenly spirit in our myndes so to order our life and conuersation that wee walke in true holines and sincerity of hart behauing our selues so circumspectly in this wretched world that at the last day we may bée found faltles and be receaued into the number of theÌ„ to whome this ioyfull sentence shal be pronounced Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the kingedome whiche was prepared for you from the beginning of the worlde To which kingdome we besech thée most mercyfull Father for the merites of thine onely soÌ„ne our Sauiour Iesus Christ to bring vs speedely out of this vale of misery and sorowe where with the societie of the elect we may singe prayses to thée our moste mercyfull Father worlde without ende To whome with thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour and the holy Ghost three in vnitie and one in trinitie bee all honour glory power dominion and might from thys time fourth for euermore A prayer to God the Father O Almighty and moste mercifull God the Father eternall which haste bene from the beginninge and so shalt remayne world with out end Thou that createst all liuing creatures and last of all man breathinge the breath of lyfe into them by a naturall instinct and disposition euery thinge to folowe his owne kind sauing man only aboue al the rest whome thou hadest formed after thine own image and indude hym wyth reason more then naturall wherby hée might discerne the good from the euill and learne to eschewe suche thinges as might be hurtfull vnto him Euen he I say aboue all the rest transgressed the commaundementes of thy Maiestie inclining to his owne lustes and affections without any regarde or feâ—â—e of thée his onely Lorde maker Whereby hee was expelled out of the garden of Eden that place of pleasure where once thou hadest placed him But Oh what thankes shall we yeld vnto thée most mercifull and louynge Father that didâ—est vouchsafe of thy méere mercy and Fatherly loue toward vs to sende downe thyne onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ to be our redeemâ—r and Sauiour to deliuer vs out of the mouth of hell whither our owne deserts had worthely condemned vs we will singe a Psalme of thankes geuing and worship toward thy holy temple For what other reward are we able to geue vnto thée that maye in any respect worthely counter vaile the least sparke of thy Fatherly pyttie and kindenes surely none For of our owne selues we are not able so much as to thinke a good thought wythout the motion of thy spirit much lesse to doe any suche good déede that might be aunswerable to the innumerable multitude of thy benefites alwayes besâ—owed vpon vs Accept therefore most mercifull Father our sacrifice of
that I may returne with as good and perfect helth both of bodie and soule as I take my iourney so will I prayse thée in the congregation of the righteous with a Psalme of thankes geuing to thy name for euer and euer Amen A prayer to be sayde when ye make a voyage by sea O Almightie Lorde and most mercifull Father maker of al thinges who by thine insearcheable wysedome dyddest create that mightie globe of the world the heauens earth sea and all things els therin conteyned vouchsafe I beseeche thée to be mine aide and defence in this daungerous viage whiche I haue presumed to take reposing mine only trust and confidence in thy mercie to be deliuered and preserued from all maner daungers and ieopardies that may happeÌ„ either vpon the sea or on the drye lande Thou knowest most mercifull Father that all those that trauayle by sea are subiect to the hazarde of diuers calamities eyther to be tossed at the pleasure of the winde and waues either to be dashed violently vpon the mayne rockes or to sticke in the quicke sandes or to be dispoyled both of lyfe and goodes by the tyrannie of Pyrates But yet what crosse or affliction so euer happen vnto me I muste acknowledge fréely that it is but a iust punishmeÌ„t for mine offences because from the firste house of my natiuitie I haue been more apt and prone to folowe the filthy appâ—tite of mine own desires then to exercise myself in the trâ—e way of thine vndefiled lawe Notwithstanding what crosse soeuer thou shalt thinke good to lay vpon me yea although I were deuoured of the waues and swallowed downe into the deapth of the Whales bellie yet wil I not dispaire of thy mercie for thou art the same God for euer thy right hand is not shortned neyther is the greatnesse of thy power diminyshedde WheÌ„â—onas lay thrée dayes and thrée nyghtes in the Whales bellie yet diddest thou at last deliuer him safe and sounde and sent him to preach thy name to the great citie of Niniue Thou art yet the same God thou wast at the time neither is thy power abridged at all Although I were neuer so shaken with wyndes turmoyled with tempestes tossed with the waues yea although I were vtterlye deuoured of the Whale yet art thou able to deliuer me from all these daungers yea from the very iawes of death To thée therfore do I make my supplicatioÌ„s to thée do I powre foorth my prayers for thou onely art the castle of my comfort my bulwarke my watchman my keeper my defender the sure rocke and hope of my saluation To â—hee only it belongeth to direct my course safelye into the haueÌ„ to protect and saue me froÌ„ the crueltie of the water to leade me forth to briÌ„g me in to be my onely stay defence whether I sléepe or wake liue or die sincke or swim vpon the waters as wel as vpoÌ„ the land briefly in all places in al times and seasons Thou knowest most merciful father that this trade is not of my deuising nor yet procéeding of any humaine inuention but thou of thy mere mercy didst reueale the mysterie therof to thy seruaunt Noe in commaundyng hym to frame an Arke that myght fléete vpon the floods wherin he and his familie onely were saued when all the worlde els for the greatnes of iniquitie perished altogether and were vtterly confounded in the waters Graunt therfore most mercyfull Father that this voyage whiche I haue presumed to take onely vppon a sure fayth affiaunce in thy mercy may turne me to no damage or misfortune but that I may be safely conducted both foorth and home agayne by thy merciful protection and assistance So wyl I yéelde thee immortal prayses for thy fatherly benefites and my tongue shal recorde the workes of thy glory for euer euer Yet Father not my wyll but thy wyll be fulfilled To thée with thy sonne Iesus Christ and the holy Ghoste thrée persons and one God be all honour and glory for euermore Amen A prayer for Munday mornyng I Render vnto thée immortall thankes most mercyfull Father for the swéete sléepe and comfortable rest that thou of thy mercy hast geuen me this night to recreate my wery limmes of the continuall labours and trauayles whiche I was borne to susteyne And for as muche as thou hast commaunded me by thy holye worde to redeeme the time and alwayes to be exercised in some good worke and neuer to spende the tyme in idlenesse I most humbly beseche thee that thou wylt vouchsafe to looke vpon me with the eyes of thy mercy and by the illumination and inspiration of thy heauenly spirite so to direct all my counsayles laboures and studies that beyng replenished with thy grace I may so spende this day according to thy most blessed wyl and ordinaunce that I may circumspectly shunne and eschewe all suche wayes as may prouoke or kyndle thy displeasure agaynst me or that in anye respect maye tende to my neyghboures daÌ„mage Geue me grace to remoue the vayle of vanitie out of my hart that I maye alwayes haue thy feare before myne eyes lyuing honestly and vprightly in my callyng aboundyng in all maner good workes proceding from a sounde and vncorrupt fayth that my conuersation maye be founde pure before thée without either spot or blemishe my liuing maye be temperate modest with mediocritie aâ—d not sauouring of anye incontinencie or immoderate superfluitie whereby all my doinges maye be acceptable before thy diuine maiestie to the prayse and glorye of thy moste blessed name Styrre vp my mind continually to haue thy promises and benefites in remembraunce that all my thoughtes and cogitations may be exercised in the consyderation of them and not fallyng backewarde to my wonted iniquitie as the dogge vseth to returne againe to his vomite or the sowe that hath bene cleane washed to wallowe agayne in the myre Geue me continuall quietnesse of minde without anye vexation or sting of conscience that I maye haue some taste and féeling of thy euerlasting ioyes that these dregges chaffe of the worlde maye séeme lothsome and fylthy vnto me in comparison of those heauenlye pleasures that are prepared for the elect since the foundation of the worlde To which ioyes we besech thée most mercyfull father to bryng vs for Iesus Christe his sake To whom c. A prayer for Munday euening ALmyghtie moste mercyful Father whiche at the creatour of all thynges diddest by thy heaueÌ„ly wisdome ordayne the daye for man to trauayle in and to exercise him selfe in the laboures parteyning to the trade of his vocation and the night for vs to reâ—â— from our dayly laboures and to refreshe our fraile bodyes with some sweete and naturall sleepe whereby we myght be the better enabled euery man to laboure in his calling and profession according to thy holy wil and commaundements Uouchsafe we beseeche thée moste merciful father that we thy poore pylgrimes that dayly trauayle in runnyng this our earthly
feelynge of thy goodnesse towards me that the memory of thy manyfold benefites neuer slyde out of my remembraunce but that at all tymes I may be styrred vp to prayse thy name to yeld thee thankes for the innumerable gyftes that thou of thy méere mercy and Fatherly liberalitie without any desart of mine hast fréely bestowed vpon me since the first houre of my natiuitie Let thy praise sound in my mouth late earely at midday and midnight in all places at all tymes and seasons Plant in my hart most mercyfull Father a true desire perfect zeale to thanke thee for all the benefitâ—s that I haue daylie receaued at thy haÌ„ds that I may tourne backe with the Samaritan prayse thee and not to depart as the other ix Lepiers did who feeling themselues clensed of their filthynesse yet returned not at all to geue God thankes Instruct me I besech thée in thy diuine iudgements that when I haue safely passed this nighte vnder thy protection I may spend the next day I all my lyfe folowing in holynesse and puritie of conuersation crying coÌ„tinually come Lord Iesu come for thyne electes sake come quickly Amen That at the last I maye happilie ariue at the port of that euerlastinge rest whiche by thy mercy thou hast promised to all theÌ„ that vnfaynedly loue the name of Iesu To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory for euer Amen A prayer for Fridaye morning ALmighty and most mercifull Father I besech thée for thy Sonne Iesus Christe his sake to graunt me thy heauenly grace that with immoueable zeale I may séeke after those things that may please thée circomspectly shunne all kinde of wayes that maye moue or prouake thy wrathe against me And when I haue once knoweÌ„ perfectly what thy will pleasure is geue me grace to séeke the same carefully to fulfill it perfectly and to walke in the same vigelantly to the honor and glory of thy most holy name Order my lyuinge so that I may doe those things which thou requirest of me that with vnfained deuotioÌ„ wythout all pharisicall preteÌ„ded holynesse Geue me grace that I maye know it haue will and power to doo thereafter least if I knowe my maister his will and due it not I be beaten with many stripes Aboue all thinges geue me grace to seeke thy honour and glory wyth all thinges else which he moste conuenient for my saluatioÌ„ in Christe iesu Make my waâ—es I beseche thee moste mercyfull Father sure and straight before that if welth abound I fall not vnto pride and presumption or if I fall into aduersitie I be not driuen into desperation as to loase the fayth whiche I haue in my Lord and Sauiour or to blaspheme thy most holy mame with words of reproch as they doo whose hart Sathan hath possessed and rooted the séedes of vertue vnderstandinge out of their harts Onely geue me a necessary liuinge sufficient to maintayne my selfe honestly wyth mediocritie and without superfluitie or idle excesse Geue mée not to much lest I wax proude so forget thée that art the author of my welth and mine onely vpholder neyther to littell lest I bée forced to attempt vnhonest and extraordinary shiftes without any care or respect eyther thy heauenly lawes and commaundemeÌ„ts or the decrées of my prince and countrie Geue me grace euer to reioyce in thée and that I may neuer be sorowfull for any thinge but that may drawe me from thy lawe or wherin I haue sinned against thy diuine Maiestie Bée thou myne onely comforte aboue all other to recreate me wheÌ„ I am in perplexitie to protect me both at my down liinge and vprysinge let mee not be mery with the ioye that is without thee neyther let me delite in any thinge but in thee and the crosse of Christ Iesu make me to lift vp myne harte continually to thee when I am eyther in prosperitie or fallen into aduersatie Make me humble without ipocrisie mery without lightnesse sad without mistrust sober without dulnesse true without dou blenesse fearinge thee without desperation trusting in thée wythout presumption teling my neybour his falts without dissimulation geuing other a good example of perfect and godly lyuinge that they which behold it may be the more enflamed to trend the like trace and to glorifiy god in all his gyftes And finallie graunt most mercyfull Father that séeinge I haue taken sufficient reste this night past and that the day is come wherein thou hast appoynted me to doe all suche godly and necessarie businesse as may be to thy glory the profit of my neyghbour and health of my soule I maye so passe the same in thy feare that I be in daunger of no trouble or perturbatioÌ„â—ther of body or minde but euermore constante in fayth by the bloud of Christ Iesus my Sauiour and redeemer To whome with thée the holy ghost be all honor and glory for euer and euer Amen A prayer for Friday euening I Render vnto thée moste mercifull Father all possible thankes and prayses for that thou of thy méere mercy and Fatherly pitie hast garded me all this day and the rest of my life time vnder the winges of thy heauenly protection desyringe thée with the teares of my lamentation to put all my wickednes out of thy minde which I haue committed agaynst thy diuine Maiestie sith the tyme of my conception Thou haste promysed by the mouth of thy holye Prophet that at what time soeuer a sinner doth repente him of his sinnes from the bottome of his harte thou wilt put all his wickednesse out of thy remembraunce forgeue me therefore moste mercyfull Father and with the eyes of thy mercy looke down vpon me as thou diddest loke vpon Peter thyne Apostle when hée lamented his sinne was sory for his offences let me be regenerate in spirit and learne froÌ„ henceforth to walke in thy lawes all the dayes of my lyfe Make me to lifte mine hart often tymes vnto thée and when I fall make me to thinke vpon thee and be sory for mine iniquity with stedfast purpose of amendmeÌ„t grace of thée to performe the same Graunte me vnderstandinge to knowe thy will to folowe suche conuersation as may please thee to repose my whole trust and confidence in the multitude of thy mercies whereby I may walke without blame in my calling doing right to euery man and iniury to no man but after the example of thy Son Iesus Christ to suffer wronge patiently without desire of reuenge to pray for mine enimies to loue them that persecute my lyfe Graunte grace in all kynde of humilitie to folowe the steppes of thy sonne Iesus Christ that pure and immaculate Lambe And when my body hath taken his naturall rest geue me a desire to shake of all slouthfulnesse and drousinesse that my lims may be stronge to sustayne my laboures that pertayne to my present vocation and that all mine accions maye bee done in
thy name and referred to thy glory to the commoditie of the coÌ„mon welth Through Iesus Christe our Sauiour Amen A prayer for Satterday morning O Almighty Lord moste mercyfull Father whose power reacheth aboue the cloudes thy glory through all the world who onely beholdest the counsels deuises and workes yea the very thoughtes of all men that serchest the inward cogitations yea the very hart and raynes I most humbly besech thée that for as muche as thou hast graciously preserued me this night I may not spend this day after my owne mynde and pleasure whiche is alway euill and wicked but earnestly looke vpon and diligently folowe thy fatherly will thy euerlasting counsaile thy healthfull word pleasure which is alwaies good perfect and holy and that I may fulfill the same with all possible care and dyligeÌ„ce that thy diuine name may be alwaies sanctyfied voth nowe and euermore of me miserable siner Inspire my mynde with thy heauenly spirite that my wayes maye be directed accordinge to thy Godly wyll and commaundemeÌ„ts that my féete slyde not out of the pathes of righteousnesse that my mynde imagine not vpon wickednes that my tongue speake no blasphemies against thée but that all my thoughtes wordes works maye bée to guided by thy the grace I neuer prouoke thy wrathe nor displeasure against me as for my sinns and offences of my youth I besech thée to put them out of thy remembraunce for thy great mercyes sake and neuer thinke vpon theÌ„ hereafter For I confesse and acknowledge that I am a miserable and wretched sinner I haue wandred out of the waye of vertue synce my youth ond haue folowed the brutishe inclination of my corrupt nature like the sencelesse beastes of the earthe whose eyes are still fatsened on the ground consideringe no further theÌ„ the time present without any knowlege or fore sight of the time to come Thou knowest O Lorde that I am but haye grasse that flourisheth this day and to morowe is cut downe and cast into the fornice so little hould or staye is there in the lyfe of man that he cannot assure himselfe of one houre longer then thy good pleasure shall permitt him Ten times happy therfore is he that can spend this little tyme of being which thou haste graunted him according to the rules and precepts of thy holy commaundements Wherefore sith I am but mortall made of earth and ashes and always prone to fall from thy statutes illuminate I beseche thée the eclipsed eyes of my grosse vnderstanding with the lighte of thy heauenly spirite that I maye spende this day and all the rest of my lyfe hereafter in suche wyse as my doinges may be acceptable in thy sight and coÌ„modious to the common welthe through our onely Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amem A prayer for Satterday euening O Mercifull God and heauenly Father whether I sléepe or wake liue or dye I am alwaies thine wherefore I beséech thée hartelie that thou wilt vouchsafe to take care and charge of me and not to suffer me to perishe in the works of darkenesse but to kyndle the light of thy countenaunce in my hart that thy godly konwledge maye daylie encrease in me through a righte and a pure fayth and that I may alwaies be found to liue walke after thy will pleasure to haue my minde and cogitacions bent vpon thee whether I sléepe or wake or what thing else so euer I doo that I may stick fast to thée by a pure vnspotted faith in my sauiour Christ Iesus Be thou O merciful father my watch man and my keper froÌ„ the terryble assaults of Sathan and his wicked ministers kepe my harte from the imaginations of iniquitie that I may be pure in thée and an vnspotted spouse to thy Sonne Christ Iesus When I laye downe my selfe to recreat my lims with sléepe which thou hast appoynted for the satisfactioÌ„ of my trayle bodie let mee not be troubled or assayled with any vncleane cogitations but keepe my mynde stil waking in thée to repose my trust in thy mercy that the externall eyes of my hart maye be euermore excercised in meditacioÌ„ of the comfortable promise To whom with the Father the Sonne and the holy ghost be all honor and glory now and euer more Amen A prayer for Sunday morning O Almighty god and moste mercifull Father whom the tables of thy commaundementes deliuered to the handes of thy seruant Mayses vpon the Mount Sina among other precepts diddest geue charge vnto thy chosen children of Israell that in six dayes they shoulde doe all such workes and labours as they had to doe and reste from laboure the seuenth day graunt we besech thée that since we haue happelie passed ouer this whole weke vnder thy gracious protection we maye not onely rest this day from our daily trauailes but that we maye abstayne also from the works of sinne and iniquitie and sanctifie this daye to thée with prayers and thankes geuing abouÌ„ding in all works of loue and charitie as thou hast coÌ„mâ—unded in thy holy worde that we may be fouÌ„d pure without spotte or blemish at that daye when thy Sonne Iesus Christe shall come to iudge the world with righteousnesse and equitie And forasmuch as thou hast ordayned this daye amonge the rest wherin we shoulde méete altogeather with brotherly loue and affection to yealde thee prayses for the innumerable benefites we haue receaued at thy hande to acknowledge thy fatherly loue and pittie towardes vs from tyme to tyme and to geue thee thankes in generall for all and vniuersall thy benifites hitherto bestowed vpon vs we humbly besech thée to graunte vs thy holie spirite that we maye be the more zelousely inflamed to serue thee in true holynesse and integritie of lyfe by the operation of that spirite we may kill all carnall lustes vnlawfull pleasures occupiscence and all other spottes of vncleannesse wherby we may be made thy childe by adopcion and grace and our bodies the temple of the holy ghost beinge throughly purged and purified from the dregges of iniquitie and abhominotion Geue vs grace most mercifull Father to spend this daye to thy pleasure in all good workes and charitie proceding from an vndefiled faith in Christ Iesus that we fall not into no kynde of daunger but that all our doings may be orâ—eâ—ed by thy gouernaunce to doe alwaies that is righteous in thy sight through Iesus Christ our lord Amen A prayer for Sunday Euening WE reÌ„der vnto thée euerlasting prayses most mercifull Father for that of thy gracious fauour and loue towardes vs thou hast vouchsafed to preserue mee all this daye and the rest of my lyfe hetherto vnder the shadowe of thy most mercifull protection besechinge thee also to take me to thy tuition this present night euer that we be not tempted with any suggestion of Sathan but being throughly armed with the holy ghost we may haue power force to resiste hys assaultes by a sure fayth and