but that which may please thee and tend to the aduancement of thy glorie and health of our soules Gouerne thou our vnderstanding and wil and so direct al the cogitations of our hart that we may wholie be thine and sauor of nothing besides thee our God and Redeemer Teach vs the waie of thy Commandements O Lord and we wil keepe it vnto the ende Giue vs vnderstanding to keepe thy lawes and to loue thee our Lord God with al our hart with al our soule and with al our strength and let al thy restimonies be our delight and Counselers Comfort the soules of thy seruants for vnto thee O Lord haue we lifted vp our soules For thou Lorde art good and gentle and of great kindnes to as many as cal vpon thee Behold God earelie now this Morning we doe offer our selues a Morning sacrifice vnto thee a trobled spirit a broken and an humble hart O Lorde thou wilt not despise Make vs fit that we may likewise We see the workmanship of thine hands the Moone and Stars which thou hast ordained and we wil signifie thy glorie vnto al nations and among al people wil we declare thy wonderful things For thou art mightie O Lord and worthie to be praised great is thy virtue and thy power wonderful We thanke thee holie Father God of heauen because thou hast created by thy worde of power the vniuersal worlde with al the creatures and whatsoeuer is liueth or mooueth in the same By thy wisedome thou doest gouerne and by sending of thy Spirit as yet doest vpholde and cherish the same For al woods fruteful trees stones graine flowers herbes and al the grasse of the fielde hast thou ordained for the vse of man. We magnifie thee O God most wise for creating the sea springs of water by the power of thy worde and for giuing them virtue to bring forth fishes of al kinde to be eaten of man. We blesse thee O eternal God for making the superior and lower regions of the aier with al birdes and fethered foules of sondrie kindes for the foode of man. We glorifie thee for giuing the whole frame of this earth with al the creatures in the same vnto mankind and setting man ouer the works of thine hands hast subiected al things vnder his feete Al sheepe and oxen yea and al the beastes of the field The foules of the aire and the fish of the sea which walke through the paths of the sea Especially we praise thee our Lord and maker for making vs thy creatures reasonable men according to thine owne similitude for giuing vs reason and al the senses and for preseruing vs hitherto Thou didst nourish vs that wonderfully being within our mothers wombe and out thereof hast thou brought vs sound in al parts without imperfection and yet continuest thy fauor and dost keepe vs against al dangers and deliuerest vs from al euil and al these things dost thou of thy fatherlie and diuine goodnes without any merit or desert of ours for al which we are bound to thanke thee to praise thee to serue honor and obey thee We extol thy sacred Name O God most high for separating from the rest a Sabbaoth daie that so men cessing from their handie labor the better might serue and celebrate thine honor Who is he that can recite al the power of the Lorde or declare al his workes who can number out al his praises No man can vtter al his benefits Notwithstanding although we be miserable men and wretched sinners and therefore most vnmeete to extol thee according to thy deserts yet wil we not be stil we wil praise thee euermore to the vttermost of our power We wil declare thy iustice and mercie and while we liue wil we remember thy goodnes and at no time forget thy benefits O our soules praise the Lord we wil praise the Lord during our life we wil sing to the Lorde while we haue breath We wil be mindful of our maker euen from our youth and seeke him euermore yea euen vnto our old age and graie head O God forsake vs not vntil we haue declared thy power vnto al nations that are to come Praise the Lord al ye nations praise him al ye people For his louing kindnes is great toward vs and his truth endureth for euer Praise ye the Lord in his sanctuarie praise him in the firmament of his power Praise him in his mightie actes praise him according to his excellent greatnes Let euerie thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lorde 3. A praier for the remission of sinnes RIghteous and merciful God which art cleere from spot and sin al thy waies are mercie and truth We miserable folkes and wretched sinners acknowledge the horrible corruption of our nature and with humble and sorrowful harts bewaile our filthines whereby we haue polluted that image imprinted within vs at our first creation We openlie confesse that manie and great are our sinnes our offences wonderful our transgressions are infinite euen as the sand of the Sea which cannot be numbred For al the cogitations of mans hart are prone to euil euermore O Lord who knoweth his sinnes or who can recite al the transgressions of man Behold we confesse our offences and our sinne is alwaies before vs. Against thee onelie we haue sinned and done euil in thine eies that thou maiest be iust when thou speakest and pure when thou iudgest Behold we were borne in iniquitie and in sin did our mothers conceaue vs and those our sinnes haue we multiplied in our dailie transgressions and therefore haue deserued thy iust displeasure with paines eternal Notwithstanding we appeale vnto thy mercie O Lord beseeching thee not to enter into iudgement with thy seruants for no flesh is righteous in thy sight For if thou streitlie obseruest iniquities O Lorde who shal stand If thou wilt contend with mâ—n he shal not be able to answere thee one for a thousand For what is man that he shoul be cleane and he that is borne of a woman that he should be iust Behold thou foundest no stedfastnes in thy Saints yea the heauens are not cleare in thy sight How much more is man abominable and filthie which drinketh iniquitie like water Behold Lord we are al become vncleane and al our righteousnes is like a filthie cloute Wherfore we humbly beseech thee haue mercy vpon vs O God according to thy great mercy and according to the multitude of thy compassions doe away our iniquities Wash vs throughly from our iniquities and clense vs from our sinne For thy Name sake O Lord be merciful vnto our iniquitie for it is great Remember not the sinnes of our youth nor our rebellions but according to thy kindnes remember thou vs
euen for thy goodnes sake O Lord. Remember thy tender mercies and louing kindnes which haue bin for euer Remember also that we are flesh a wind that passeth and cometh not againe Therefore leaue thy displeasure against vs be not angrie for euer neither doe thou threaten vs perpetuallie Deale not with vs according to our sinnes neither reward vs after our iniquities but conuert vs O our God of saluation and turne away thy displeasure against vs. Shewe vs thy mercie O Lord and grant vs thy saluation for thy Name sake O most merciful God we confesse in deede that it lies not in our power to put away purge our sinnes and to purchase thy fauor but onelie it is the passion and most innocent death of thy Sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ the immaculate lambe which is a sufficient recōciliation for our sins and yet not for ours alone but for the sinnes also of the whole world For his bloud which was shed for vs doth clense vs from al sinne And if we confesse our sins thou art faithful and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to clense vs from al vnrighteousnes Wherefore through confidence of this thy mercie promised by thy Sonne we are bold with deepe sighes from hart to crie Lord forgiue our offences remit our iniquities couer our sinnes and impute not our faults vnto vs Purge vs O Lord from our secret faults Keepe thy seruants also from presumptuous sinnes let them not raigne ouer vs so shal we be vpright purged from our greatest wickednes that tasting the sweetnes of thy benignitie we may be secure and certaine of the remission of our sinnes Giue the knowledge of saluation to thy people by the remissiō of their sinnes through the bowels of thy mercie whereby the day spring from on high hath visited vs that we may perceiue in our minds both comfort peace and gladnes of the holy Spirit which may begin a new life in vs pleasing thee quench al the motions of our minds striuing with thy diuine pleasure and restore in vs the image of thy diuine light which was lost that being deliuered out of the hands of our enimies we may serue thee in feare in holines and righteousnes al the daies of our life through Christ in whom thou art wel pleased and for whose sake al our works howsoeuer vnperfect are acceptable in thine eies Amen 4. A praier for the preseruation of the Church OCelestial God and Father of infinite mercie and compassion which not onely gatherest to thy self an holy Church in this worlde out of mankinde through the operation of the holie Ghost and preaching of thy word but also preseruest the same being gathered and adornest it with al kind of temporal things and which more is with eternal blisse We humbly beseech thee gratious Lord that of thy goodnes thou wouldest vouchsafe euermore to maintaine this thy little flock embracing preaching and professing thy word through thine especial grace continue thy fauor toward the same keepe it in sound doctrine constant confessing in the lawful vse of thine holie Sacraments and in purenes of life that neither the gates of hel the rage of Satan nor yet the rigorousnes and tyrannie of this world oppresse the same Protect and keepe this thy boatē and little Bark tossed among manie perilous tempests and miserable surges in the raging Sea of this troblesome world that it perish not being ouerwhelmed Vphold thy Church which is builded vpon a sure rock and dependeth vpon Christ a sound and vnmooueable foundation O Lord of hosts returne looke downe from heauen and behold visit thy vine make it perfect which thy right hand hath planted thou hast chosen to thy selfe Hedge the same about with thy strong defence that the branches therof being spred out and pruned may bring forth abundance of frute Raise vp thy power Come God saue vs Conuert vs shew forth thy countenance and we shal be saued Enclose thy sheepe within thine hardles so shal we be quiet from al inuasion and scatterings neither can any drawe vs by force out of thine handes Defend vs from al such as seeke the vtter ouerthrow of pure religion and in place thereof labour to bring in the shameful instauration of blasphemous Idolatrie Suffer not thy word that most cleere and vnchangeable light to be corrupted or put out by our meanes but gather to thy selfe through the sound of the Gospel such a Church as may harken vnto thee honor and sanctifie thy Name as wel in word as in honest conuersation that so thou maiest haue a righteous and holy generation celebrating thy goodnes for euermore Ioine vs vnto that company which doth worship thee continuallie that we may be Citizens of thy kingdome among thy Saintes Grant that we erre not from the foundation of wholsome doctrine answering to the rules of the sacred Scripture and that we offend not against our conscience but separate vs from the companie of vngodlie ones and from the damned crewe of the reprobate Let vs not so much as take their names into our mouthes which poure out heapes of blasphemies to thy great dishonor and defacing of the truth vnto whom thy Sonne is a destruction and stone of offence For they despise his base estate and the foolish preaching of thy Gospel and the deformed shew of the Church placed in the middes of al kind of miseries they loath and abhor preferring vncertaine riches lordlie auctoritie and the vaine pleasures of this transitorie world before the profession of the truth and so making war with thy Sonne they doe purchase euerlasting destruction vnto themselues Keepe vs euermore that we may abide in that Church which is truelie Catholike consisting of members of many nations but linked vnto thee in one and the same confession Sanctifie vs with thine holie Spirit that our sinnes being forgiuen we may take another trade of life in acknowledging thee to be the onelie true God and Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent Giue vnto thy Church resting places and nestes where they may sound thy sacred Gospel purelie without corruption Suppresse the diuel which spreadeth blasphemies against thy doctrine that so neither feined Gods may be erected nor superstitious inuocations confirmed nor thy glorie defaced Weaken the power of thine enimies which boile in hatred against thy truth and conspire the death of thine elect so neither shal stables of woolues be made nor dennes of theeues established O Lord God returne and quicken vs so shal thy people reioice in thee Let al such as trust in thee reioice and triumph for euer dwel thou in them and let those which loue thy Name reioice in thee O Lord remember not our offences thou which wast somtimes merciful And forgauedst the wickednes of the people and hidedst al their sinnes Which with drewedst al thine anger and
likenes and breath into him the breath of life the which through thy goodnes continues at thy pleasure Thou hast made of one blood al mankind and assigned times and length of our life in this worlde Thou giuest life to the people on the earth and breath to the walkers therein which if thou take away they shal depart and be turned into dust We blesse thee heauenlie Father and with al our harts giue thee thanks not onelie for sauing vs this daie from dangers but also from our cradels for defending both our soules and bodies from death Wherefore magnifie the Lord O our soules and our spirits reioice in God our Sauior For he hath looked vpon the basenes and affliction of his seruants He that is mightie hath done for vs great things and holie is his Name Wherfore we wil praise the Lorde for euermore because his mercie endureth from generation to generation on such as feare him We wil shew forth his power in the euening and when we go to bed we wil remember his mercie Arise now our soules in the night praise your God In the beginning of the watches poure out your harts like water before the face of the Lord. The Saints wil be ioieful with glorie and sing loude vpon their beds We wil praise thee continuallie and wil confesse thy name for euermore for thou art the God which delighteth our harts and maketh merie our soules Therefore in the night we wil thinke vpon thy benefites and our spirits shal consider of them For thou hast commanded that thy mercie be celebrated in the day time and thy truth in the night O our Lord and God of mercie gentlenes patience pittie truth which shewest mercie vnto thousands and blottest out al our offences we lift vp our soules vnto thee and from our harts we pray put not before thine eies the horrible confusion vncleannes and wickednes of our mindes being replenished with lothsome darknes and ignorance ful of doubtings and errors our harts and wil are turned from thee our God and al the powers and strength both of our soules and bodies are defiled and filthilie weakened But Lord of thy great mercy blot out our offences looke vpon the trobles and dolor of our harts and forgiue al our sinnes For lo our soules are wounded and can not be holpen but onely through mercie There is no health in our flesh because of thine anger neither is there rest in our bones because of our sinnes For our iniquities haue gone ouer our heads and as an heauie burden haue pressed vs downe Our wounds are putrified and corrupt because of our foolishnes Asswage thine anger and turne from thine indignation pardon our faults remit al punishment and restore in vs the light of thy goodnes which was lost O Lord heare O Lord forgiue harken O our God for thine owne sake for thy Name is called vpon by vs. O God of heauen and earth in this euening tide doe we cal vnto thee that remitting our sinnes thou wouldest receiue vs into thy protection and keepe vs this night that the diuel haue no power ouer vs. Be thou watchful ouer vs O eternal Sauior least the subtil tempter apprehend vs For thou art made for vs an euerlasting protector For behold whether we sleepe or wake whether we liue or die we are thine thou art our creator and redeemer Stand therefore on our behalfe in the watch with the armie of thy celestial warriers thine Angels which being filled with perfect goodnes and perpetual integritie behold thy face alwaies in the heauens Expel from vs and our houses wicked spirits which be our mortal enimies that they damage vs in no case and deliuer vs from persecutors which laie snares for our destruction Turne not away thy mercie and truth from vs. O God assist vs that peaceably we may rest and sleepe in quiet We wil lay vs downe in peace slepe for thou Lord alone makest vs to dwel in safetie without danger Hide vs in thy Tabernacle O Lord that sitting in thy secret place and abiding vnder the shadowe of thy wings we may saie vnto thee Lorde thou art our keeper and our refuge O God we wil trust in thee and wil feare no danger And although we were in extreeme darknes yet wil we not feare Though we should walke in the mids of the shadow of death yet wil we dread none euil For thou art with vs thy rod and thy staffe they doe comfort vs. Let thy mercie O God follow vs al the daies of our life that we may dwel in thine House in longnes of daies praising thee euermore with the Sonne and holie Ghost one true God raigning worlds without ende Amen 1. On Mondaie Morning praier BLESSED be the Lorde God which alone doth woonderous things and blessed be the name of his Maiestie for euermore which hath set the Sunne to lighten the daie and ordained the Moone with the course of stars to go before the night O most hie God the day is thine and the night is thine thou hast framed the light and the Sunne By thine vnspeakeable wisedome thou hast distinguished the daie and the night and so hast thou decreed that while the world shal last this course of times and daies shal neuer haue an ende so that man in the night may rest and againe when daie comes go about his busines and labor vntil the euening O Lord thy truth endureth for euer thou laiedst the foundation of the earth and it endureth by thine appointment the daie doth last for al are thy seruants For these and al other thy benefites we praise thee greatlie giue thee thanks for thy exceeding glorie euen as it becometh vs euerie daie to preuent the Sunne rising to blesse thine holie Name and to worship thee at the appearing of the daie star We extol thine infinite goodnes in like sort for keeping vs this night past both from the power and tyrannie of Satan from the snares subtiltie of al our enimies and finallie from dangers both of soule and bodie For of thy singular goodnes and fatherlie care thou hast made vs quietlie to sleepe and rest this night againe thou hast suffered vs to awake and opened our eies giuing them power to see and behold the morning light which now appeareth Therfore we wil sing of thy power praise thy mercie in the morning for thou art our defence and refuge in the daie of our troble O our helper we wil praise thee with al our harts and glorifie thy Name for euer For great is thy mercie toward vs thou hast deliuered our soules from the lowest graue Hadest not thou bin our defence innumerable euils had ouerwhelmed vs so that we should not haue risen to praise thy Name Had not thy word bin our comfort we had without doubt perished in our
hir frute in due season O Lorde in our trobles we wil seeke thee earelie in the morning and returne vnto thee our GOD which art readie as the spring of the daie and wilt come vnto vs as the fructifieng raine and as the timelie and latter shoure which doth good to the earth be thou in like maner a refuge vnto the poore and a timelie helper in our troble We wil loue thee deerelie O Lorde our strength thou art our rock and our defence our Sauior our God and our might in whom we wil trust our buckler the horne of our saluation and our refuge Keepe vs Lord from the hands of the vngodlie preserue vs from wicked men which are purposed to ouerthrow our goings The proude haue laide a snare for vs and spred a net abroad with cordes yea and set traps in our waie But deliuer thou our soules from death and our feete from falling For thou art righteous O Lorde and dwellest in the middes of vs doing none iniquitie but earelie earelie euerie morning bringest thou forth thy iudgement into light and wilt not be drawen awaie from sauing vs that we be not hurt of bloodie felowes of theeues murtherers whose feete are swift to shed blood In thy Name O Christ King of eternal glorie we wil tread vpon the Serpents and Scorpions ouer the whole power of the enimie and he shal not hurt vs for thy worde shal saue vs which liuest and rulest with the Father in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God for euermore Amen 2. A thankesgiuing for the passion of Christ. WE thanke thee O Lord Iesu Christ God and man for that of thine onlie and free mercie without any works or worthines at al of ours thou hast redeemed vs and damned men through thy most innocent and holie passion O sweete Iesu how bitter and great were thy paines how horrible and cruel thy punishment how greuous and lamentable thine affliction how bloodie thy wounds thy dolors how diuers and thy death how shameful which thou sufferedst for vs How inestimable was the loue that mooued thee to endure such and so great torments to reconcile vs to the Father In the mount of Oliues through our infinite sinnes lighting vpon thee and sense of the most heauie displeasure of thy Father against our wickednes that didst sweate contrarie to our common nature blood that the drops like blood trickled vpon the earth so after a maruelous maner blood came out of thee being expelled through the resolution of the spirits nature being broken and languishing by reason of thine intolerable sorrowes and torments And therefore thy Disciples being fled thou didst voluntarilie commit thy selfe into the handes of the cruel Iewes which brought thee most rigorouslie bounde without compassion from the presence of one corrupt Iustice vnto another more cruel where thou being falselie accused was vniustlie condemned contemptuouslie spit vpon opprobriouslie obraided and buffeted most iniuriouslie For our offences thou wast wounded and for our wickednes broozed for the offences of thy people thou wast beaten killed and with sharpe thornes crowned and contumeliouslie dealt withal For our sinnes thou wast cruellie handled a worme not a man a verie scorne of men and the outcast of the people Thy looke was odious and il fauoured a man thou wast ful of sorrowes without forme or beautie so that they had no lust vnto thee Besides some couered thine eies and laide vpon thy face with their fists exasperating thy torments with manie scoffes and mockes Thy blessed bodie was so mangled and cut with stripes that euen an Ethnike pittieng the same vttered these words Behold the man. Finallie for our enormous offences thou wast hanged like an accursed wretch betweene two theeues afflicted with a most odious kind of death pierced through the hands and the feete whereby thou didst encounter with most extreeme torments which were so great that for a space thou wast after a sort without al maner comfort and so constrained through thy great sorowe and greeuousnes of paine to drinke vineger so in the extremitie of paine thou didst giue vp thy Ghost cōmending the same vnto thy deere Father in wonderful patience like a sheepe lead to the slaughter and as a lambe quiet before the shearer thou didst not open thy mouth to raile yea that was so far from thee that thou praiedst for thine enimies that so by thy torments hauing quited vs from al guilt aswel of fault as of punishment we might be healed For to this ende didst thou be are the burden of our sinnes vpon the woode of the crosse that thou mightest recouer the peace of soules for such as are healed by thy stripes and obteine the true righteousnes for as manie as beleeue on thee that the wrath of thine eternal Father which is a consuming fire doe not deuour vs. O Iesu Christ sonne of the liuing God for these torments al other thy passions we wil honor praise and thanke thee for euermore beseeching thee most humblie that thy passions may worke and take effect in vs and be a present most wholesome medicine in al necessities and that alwaies being mindful of the same we may reioice therein make it a comfort for our selues against al the tentations of Satan and the force of sinne the Law that thy crosse may be an ensample to vs that walking in thy steps we render not rebuke for rebuke but may imitate thy long suffering and praie for such as curse vs and finallie may so thinke vpon and celebrate the cause of thy death that the consideration thereof may vtterlie both extinguish al the flames of vnlawful concupiscence and burie the enticements of the flesh and also raise vp the seede of godlines and nourish the loue of virtue within vs that so being wholie dead vnto sinne we may liue vnto righteousnes serue thee which barest our sinnes in thy bodie vpon the crosse but liuest now and raignest with the Father in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God for euermore Amen 3. A praier for true repentance O Lord God which artful of compassion mercie long suffering and of great goodnes thou continuest thy mercie for thousands taking awaie iniquitie sinnes and offences thou callest vs after thy woonted mercie by thy worde to repentance and hartie conuersion For vnto al and euerie one is repentance and forgiuenes of sinnes preached in thy Name Moreouer we knowe the riches of thy lenitie patience and long suffering in this that thou dost not suddainelie at vnawares take awaie sinners from the earth neither ouerwhelme them by by through thy iustice in their wicked deedes doing but giuest them a space to repent which is a most notable argument that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he be conuerted
euerlasting kingdome and thy dominion endureth throughout al ages In thine hande is strength and auctoritie none can resist thy power We beseech thee be merciful vnto al in captiuitie and oppressed with most greeuous slauerie especiallie vnto such as for the confession of thy Gospel doe suffer persecution banishment imprisonment perils of life of good name and of goodes comfort them with thy Spirit deliuer them from cruel bondes by thy diuine power and grant such lawful meanes according to thy wisedome that thy faithful may be deliuered O Lorde bring home thy captiues exiled for thy Name sake that they may confesse thee and extol thy goodnes O that God woulde heare the mournings of the imprisoned and deliuer the sonnes appointed vnto death O that God would bring home the captiuitie of his people then should we be like such as dreame and our mouthes shoulde be filled with laughter and our tong with ioie Then should they saie among the Gentils The Lord hath done great things for them yea the Lord hath dealt maruelouslie with vs we are made iocond Turne our captiuitie O Lord as the riuers in the South For thou alone art our assister of whom commeth saluation thou deliuerest such as are bounde by thy power and despisest not the groanings of the afflicted Praised be God continuallie which helpeth vs and poureth out his benefits vpon vs which letteth loose his captiues and that without gifts or rewarde freelie for his holie Name sake Therefore shal the people worship thee O Lord and praie vnto thee for thou saiest vnto the bound Come out and to those that sit in darknes Come to light O Lord cal into minde thy manifold mercies deale with vs according to thy woonted goodnes and giue not thine inheritance into the hands of thine enimies least they make sale of vs and spoile our lande Forgiue our sinnes and transgressions let not aliens haue dominion ouer vs neither let our houses passe vnto strangers let vs not be as exiles and pupils without a Father neither our mothers as widowes without husbands let not our old men be wanting in our ports nor yet our coūtrie lament for the waste which the enimie would make Heale the sorrowes of the daughter of thy people and be merciful to our sinnes for the glorie of thy Name sake Breake thou the chaines of the imprisoned and deliuer such as are bound with manacles and fetters cast of their yoke that they may praise thee for euer Bring them out of darknes and the shadow of death Breake the gates of brasse and smite the bars of iron in sunder that they may know that thou art their Lorde when thou hast broken the bonds of their yoke and deliuered them out of the hands of those that serued themselues But if it be thy wil for the trial of their faith and pacience to detaine some in exile and seruitude a longer time then comfort such with thy spirit and mitigate their paines that they may finde fauor in the sight of them whom they are compelled to serue and cast not them of for euer Aboue al keepe them in the confession of true faith and Christian religion against al false worshippings that so they may comfort themselues with the gratious pardoning of their sinnes through Christ and their harts may be sealed with the earnest of the holie Spirit bearing witnes to their spirits that they are deliuered from perpetual captiuitie and bondage of hel O Christ our Redeemer deliuer our soules from the chaines of darknes and snares of death which sufferedst thy selfe to be bound that thou mightest vnloose the most hard bands and knots of our transgressions and wast sent of thine eternal Father into this world to preach libertie vnto captiues and deliuerance to such as are shut vp Grant that being entangled with the cordes of iniquitie we giue not our members as weapons of vnrighteousnes vnto sinne Breake in peeces the chaines of Satan and turne vs into thy flock that none vnrighteousnes haue dominion ouer vs. Deliuer him that is in bondage vnto Satan and bring forth the bound by the blood of thy couenant out of the pit wherein is no water that he ▪ spoile and kil vs not Giue grace also that being snarled with humane traditions we entrap not our consciences by false opinions but may serue thee our true God in Christian libertie and neuer abuse the same to the offence of any Take vs miserable men out of the bodie of this death which maketh vs captiues to the lawe of sinne which is in our members that deliuered from sinne and death we may serue thee in true vprightnes and euerlasting life which raignest for euer one God in the trinitie of persons Amen 7. A praier against the tentation of the flesh O Merciful God we miserable men acknowledge confesse that in vs that is in our flesh there dwelleth no good thing But in sinne we were borne and our mothers conceaued vs of corrupt seede For our nature is defiled and prone vnto al wickednes euen from our youth so that by the strength of our proper reason we cannot sauor those thinges which belong to the Spirit For the natural man speaketh and fauoreth of earthlie things and of himselfe is not meete so much as to thinke anie thing that good is without the assistance of thy power Vnto thee doe we crie with our whole harts that it woulde please thee to open vnto vs by thy Spirit the true knowledge of thine essence and wil as thou hast reuealed thy selfe in thy worde that we may not folow the sence of our flesh in iudging of spiritual things neither by our blinde baiardlie reason measure thine heauenlie saiengs For blood and flesh perceiue not the things which belong to the Spirit and the fleshlie mind is enmitie against God for it is not obedient vnto the Lawe neither can be And they which are in the flesh cannot please God. Seing therefore that in vs abideth the seede of sinne which is concupiscence and a proanes vnto wickednes is ingraffed into vs by nature yea and original sin through our first parents doth oftentimes prick vs vnto impietie For euerie one is tempted when he is drawen awaie and enticed with the baite of his owne concupiscence then when lust hath conceaued it bringeth forth sinne and sinne when it is furnished bringeth forth death Giue vs grace that we folow not the concupiscence of our flesh neither prouoke our sences by vnbrideled libertie but stoutlie to resist them For vnles that wicked concupiscence be driuen from our mindes it wil neuer cesse til it haue brought forth deadlie sinne Wherefore assist vs that we may tame these bodies of ours bring them into subiection least our flesh being ouerlustie doe offende and ouerpasse the prescribed limits Assist vs we beseech thee to crucifie our flesh
thy seruant to rule and gouerne this thy people committed vnto my charge Now therefore gratious Lord fauor ablic beholde me that I may treade the path of truth righteousnes and synceritie of hart in thy sight Let me not abuse mine auctoritie but gouerne with lenitie gentlenes the people vnder me that liuing a godlie and honest life mankind may enioy their desired peace Giue therefore vnto thy seruant an hart desirous of instructions that I may iudge the people descerne betweene good and euil and neither declining to the right hand or to the left stoutlie and valiantlie maintaine the cause of the righteous Grant me counsel and assistance to doe such things as are grateful vnto thee good for thy Church and profitable for my people and Commonweale Giue me thy wisedome and reiect me not from thy children For I thy seruant and sonne of thine handmaide am a fraile man of a short time and ful weake in the vnderstanding of iudgement and the lawes Thou hast chosen me a gouernor of thy people and a iudge of thy sonnes and daughters sende me therefore wisedome from thy sacred heauens and from the seate of thy magnificence that it may be with me and labor with me whereby I may perceiue what is acceptable in thine eies and learne that I haue no power of my selfe but from thee which art almightie raignest ouer the kingdomes of men giuing them at thy pleasure Grant that I neuer conceaue proudlie of my selfe but may receiue in patience the discipline of thy Lawe Make mee wise and circumspect that I neither offer ▪ iniurie to anie man neither suffer anie to be iniuried that so equitie may be maintained and iustice among men preserued Let me at no time vnder the shewe and color of equitie vphold or countenance a wicked cause neither yet without sufficient examination and trial of both parties giue sentence against anie Allowe me such counselers gouernors and ouerseers as are of courage fearing God dealing vprightlie hating couetousnes that by them the burden charge and care which I sustaine may be somewhat lightened Endue both me and them with thine holie Spirit that with earnest studie and watchful minds we may discerne betwene matters that no man through our negligence haue the ouerthrow in a righteous cause but that sentence be rightlie pronounced betweene a man and his brother and a stranger without respect of anie person in iudgement Let vs heare aswel the litle as the great and feare no man Because the iudgement is thine which standest in the companie of iudges and among the Gods thou plaiest the iudge For the iudgement is not of man but of the Lord and whatsoeuer we shal iudge it wil come vpon vs. Wherefore let thy feare be with vs that we may doe al things with care and circumspection that we proue not children in vnderstanding neither giue our selues to dronkennes and bellicheere but to eate our meate in due season and that for strength not for dronkennes For thou wilt make earnest and diligent enquirie of al our workes and search al our cogitations because we are thy seruants and deputies to gouerne men of a very short life and he which is to daie a King to morow may be dead For we be al mortal and subiect to one and the same corruption Besides an horrible iudgement is nigh for such as walke not after the wil of thee our god For he that is most low shal finde mercie but the mightie shal be mightilie tormented For thou which art the Lord ouer al regardest not the person of anie neither doest thou feare the greatnes of the mightie Because aswel the great as the smal are the workemanship of thine handes thy care is equal ouer al and giuest to godlie Princes eternal happines which art the Iudge both of the quicke and dead liuing and raigning with thy Sonne in the vnitie of the Spirit a God for euermore Amen A praier of Subiects for their Prince O Almightie God King of Kings and Lord of Lords in thine hande is al power both in heauen and earth thou confirmest kingdomes and againe doest alter them according to thine heauenlie pleasure c. This praier you shal finde afore pag. 7. A praier for a married man. O GOD almightie auctor and institutor of matrimonie which in the copling together of male and female dost offer vnto vs a consideration of the sacred and great mysterie of the marriage of our Lord and Sauior Christ with his spouse the Church and with al expresse the most burning affection of thy sonne towards his beloued Spouse For he offered himselfe vpon the altar of the crosse to sanctifie and clense hir by the washing of water through the word and to make hir glorious for himselfe without spot or wrincle or any such thing For euen as the husband by an inseparable bande of good wil is bound to the wife so that both prosperitie and aduersitie is common to them both so is Christ copled to his Church through suffering vpon his owne flesh the punishmēt which was due vnto hir and by making vs with him felowe heires of eternal ioie by couering our offences So that now there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesu which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Whereby we gather that man should loue his wife euen as his owne bodie For no man euer yet hated his owne flesh howsoeuer crooked old weak leane or deformed it be but so much the more carefullie doth hide couer those faults by how much they appeere the more deformed Yea he doth nourish and cherish that weake part euen as Christ doth loue his Church though foule and deformed with sinne which casteth not hir of though she seeme il fauored but healeth hir griefes dissembleth much forgiueth and wypeth awaie hir offences I beseech thee O Father which art neither made nor begotten marrie mee for euer vnto thy Sonne marrie me vnto him in righteousnes iudgement in godlines and mercie marrie me vnto him in faith that I may truelie knowe thee my Lorde and God which wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he repent and liue O thou onlie begotten Sonne of God ioine me I beseech thee vnto thy bodie that ingraffed in thee I may drawe from thee the iuice of life and of heauenlie wisedome Defende mee and thine whole Church against the rage of Satan the world and the flesh Loue cherish and comfort such as are ingraffed to thy flesh Purge and wash me fro my sinnes filthines and spots through thy great mercie and merits Deck me with thy gifts goodnes Wash me with water purge me with thy blood Annoint me with thine oile of gladnes put vpon me thy roabes of righteousnes and couer me with thy glorious purple
pleased thee to appoint ouer vs a good and gratious Queene which doth gouerne with counsaile and rule with wisedome Grant hir we beseech thee continual peace long life and much happines and deliuer not hir Maiestie into the hands of hir enimies Rule thou hir minde and wil that she may serue thee alwaies in feare and reioice in trembling Let hir maintaine and imbrace pure religion and defend hir people in the profession of Christes Gospel against al errors and superstition whatsoeuer Giue hir wisdome and vnderstanding to doe such things as are grateful in thy sight profitable for vs hir subiects and hurtful to none O God eternal Father heare the petitions of our Queene in al hir trobles the Name of Christ our Sauiour glorifie hir and the comfortable aide of the holie Spirit vpholde hir now and euermore Be mindeful of hir grace for hir good giue to hir according to hir harts desire and prosper al hir purposes that we may reioice in thy saluation and triumph in the Name of our God. Blesse hir Lorde euermore that we may know that hir protector is in the cloudes Harken vnto hir from thine holie heauens by thy mightie right hande which bringeth saluation For though some trust in horses and others in chariots yet wil we remember the Name of our God. They shal fal and be ouercome but we couragiouslie wil persist O Lord protect hir Maiestie heare vs when we cal vpon thee That in thy strength she may reioice and mightilie triumph in thy saluation Grant hir the desire of hir hart and denie not the petitions of hir lips For thou hast preuented hir with notable blessings put a crowne of pure gold vpon hir head She hath asked life of thee thou wilt giue hir a long life Great is hir glory in thy saluation honor and fame hast thou put vpon hir Thou hast ordeined hir for exceeding blessednes and dost comfort hir hart with thy cheereful countenance And why Because she delighteth in thy Christ and doubteth not of thine euerlasting mercie Let thine hand O Lord light vpon hir enimies and thy right hand finde out al such as hate thee and enuie hir prosperitie Put them into a burning furnace in the time of thy displeasure the Lord in his anger shal consume and fire shal deuour them Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth and their seede from the sonnes of men Because they intended euil against thee and imagined mischiefe against the innocent which they could not bring to passe Therfore wilt thou turne them into flight and bend thy bowes against their faces Triumph O Lorde in thy virtue and we wil sing out and commende thy power Saue our Queene O merciful God in despite of al hir enimies which either secretlie or openlie go about to bring hir life to the graue and hir glorie to the dust Giue thy iudgement O Lord vnto hir grace and thy righteousnes vnto hir Counsaile that they may iudge thy people with iustice thy poore with equitie Let the mountaines bring peace and the little hils righteousnes vnto thy people Let them iudge the afflicted among the people and saue the sonnes of the poore Make them to destroy the backbyter that he persist not to afflict the miserable and such as trust in thy mercie and protection So shal quietnes and peace abound among vs like the hillockes on the earth Lord shielde our Soueraigne exalt thine Annointed let thine hande assist and thine arme strengthen hir Neuer let hir foes preuaile against hir nor the child of wickednes bring hir to destruction Banish from hir Court al hir priuie enimies and preserue hir euermore from dissembling friendes Grant this O most merciful Father for thy deare Sonne our Sauiour Christ his sake Amen 1. Morning praier on the Lordes daie O Almightie and merciful God eternal Father Sonne and holy Ghost three in persons one in substance God in verie deede and from euerlasting We extol thy sacred Maiestie we praise thine vnspeakeable mercie thy diuine truth we exceedingly comend for that of thy fatherlie and wonderful goodnes thou hast protected vs this night vnder the shadow of thy wings yea thou also hast made vs quietlie to take our rest notwithstanding the dangerous snares of our deadlie enimie the diuel Thou art the God which exaltest vs from the gates of the shadowe of death and from the power of darknes thou deliuerest vs. Therefore we wil acknowledge thee for thy goodnes for the wonderful things which thou dost among the sonnes of men We wil magnifie thee in the great Congregation and among much people wil we praise thee Our harts be readie O our God our harts be readie We wil praise thee O Lord among the people sing to thee among the nations For thy mercie is great aboue the heauens and thy truth vnto the cloudes We wil not hide thy mercie and truth in the great Congregation Because it is a good thing to praise the Lorde and to sing to thee O thou most High To declare thy louing kindnes in the morning thy truth in the night Blesse the Lord O our soules and al that is within vs praise his holie Name Which forgiueth al our iniquities and healeth al our infirmities Which redeemeth our liues from destruction and crowneth vs with mercie and compassion Which satisfieth our longing with good things and protecteth vs from our youth Which also hath kept al our bones this night Not one of them is broken To thee King euerlasting immortal inuisible onely wise God be honor and glory for euer euer Amen Vnto thee O Lord doe we lift vp our soules O God earelie wil we seeke thee our soules thirst for thee our flesh lusteth after thee in a barren drie lande where no water is to see thy strength and glorie O eternal God which hast brought vs to the beginning of this daie defend vs with thy mightie power that this day we fal into no sinne but let al our cogitations wordes and workes tende to the setting forth of thy righteousnes Lighten our minds this morning with the shining and clearenes of thy wisedome that in our harts that true day star may rise shine as it were a candle burning in a darke place Giue vs thy Spirit of wisdome and reuelation in the knowledge of thee And lighten the eies of our vnderstanding that we may know what our hope is how great the glorie of our inheritance and what the excelent greatnes of thy power toward vs. Fil vs with thy mercy in the morning so shal we be glad and reioice al our life long Merciful God endue vs with thine holie Spirit that we may neither thinke speake or doe anie thing this day
those things which delighted our sences and fantasies For by nature we were the sonnes of wrath euen as others But now thou O God which art rich in mercie for thy great kindnes sake wherewith thou louest vs gouerne vs by thine holie Spirit that we neuer forsake the faith which thou hast giuen vs but perseuering in the rase begunne may attaine through thy grace to the saluation of our soules Take awaie from vs that which is deformed by our corrupt nature continue that which thy grace hath wrought within vs that sin raigne not in our mortal bodies neither we obeie it in the vnlawful lustes therof Assist vs with thine aide that being deliuered from sinne we may be the seruants of righteousnes and obeie that doctrine from the hart wherevnto we are brought giuing our members seruants of righteousnes vnto sanctification so shal we serue thee our true GOD here in the kingdome of grace herafter in the kingdome of glorie which liuest with God the Father and the holie Ghost for euermore Amen 8. Euening praier on Tuesdaie BLessed GOD and Father of our Lord Iesu christ of thine abundant great mercie hast thou preserued vs miserable men this daie from the crueltie and tyrannie of Satan and from sondrie perils and calamities Thou hast shewed vs great trobles in our life notwithstanding thou returnedst and diddest reuiue vs tokedst vs out from the depth of the earth Thou hast encreased our honor and returning didst comfort vs. Strangers rose vp against vs and vnto vs. Admonish our soules of miseries to come Euen as thou diddest arme the Patriarches and Prophets by dreames and visions in the night when sleepe came vpon them from dāgers nigh at hand through thine heauenlie oracles so gouerne and preserue vs in sleepe that our soules come not into danger neither fal vpon the sword and pit of perils Defende vs this night from vncleane and troblesome Spirits let not their rushings ragings and misrule disquiet vs Kepe vs good God from sights of Satan from snares and illusions of the Diuel O thou maker of al things according to thy woonted goodnes be thou our watchman and keeper so shal no vaine apparitions and dreames of the night troble vs nor the Diuel disquiet vs. For in the waie of thy iudgements we doe looke for thee O Lord the desire of our soule is to thy Name and to the remembrance of thee With our soules haue we desired thee in the night and with our spirits within vs wil we seeke thee in the morning Our soules waite on the Lord more than the morning watch watcheth for the morning Heare our crie O God giue eare vnto our praier From the endes of the earth we wil crie vnto thee when our harts be opprest bring vs to the hie rock for thou art our hope a strong tower against the face of the enimie We wil dwel in thy tabernacle for euer we shal be protected vnder the couering of thy wings Lengthen our daies and yeres according to thy good pleasure for thy mercie and truth shal keepe vs. O Christ our defender beholde represse our enimies gouerne thy seruants which thou hast bought with thy precious blood be mindful of vs O Lord in this heauie bodie thou which art the defender of the soule be present with vs. To God the Father and to his onelie Sonne with the Spirit the comforter be al praise and glorie for euermore Amen 1. On VVensdaie Morning praier O Almightie and merciful GOD which gauest the people of Israël in charge euerie daie both in the morning and at night to offer vnto thee a burnt offering for a sweete sauor in thine eares that thereby they might glorifie thee and giue thee thankes for the benefite of their protection both night and daie rising this morning we offer vp vnto thee the sacrifice of thankesgiuing We glorifie thee O eternal God for breaking the chaines of the darknes of this night We wil offer vnto thee a sacrifice of praise and cal vpon thy Name We wil praise our God which brought vs out of darknes and the shadowe of death and brake the bonds wherewith we were tied this night he hath deliuered our soules from perils by bringing vs safe and sound to the morning light Wherefore we offer before thee the calues of our lips for a morning sacrifice and with our tongues doe we praise thee O Lord. Our mouthes shal be filled with thy praise and with thy glorie euerie daie Our tongues shal talke of thy righteousnes and saluation euerie daie Our lips shal speake of thy praise and our tongues shal entreate of thy worde Our soules shal be filled as it were with fatnes and with the lips of reioicing shal our mouth extol thee We wil praise thy Name with songs and magnifie thee with thankesgiuing which please thee better than either oxe or calfe that hath hornes and hooues Wherefore let the sacrifice of our mouthes which we offer vnto thee now this morning and the meditations of our hares be grateful in thy sight O Lorde we beseech thee accept the free offerings of our mouth and teach vs thy iudgements that we may doe thy wil according to thy good pleasure Vnto thee O Lorde we wil crie and earelie shal our praiers come before thee In this morning doe we beseech thee by the resurrection of our Lord Iesu Christ thy welbeloued Sonne that as he was raised from the dead by thy glorie so thou wilt raise and lift vs vp this morning that rising out of the filth of sinne and leauing the beds of vnrighteousnes we may put on the newe man which is renued in knowledge after the image of thee which didst create him and giue not ouer our selues to sleepe and snorting Awake now our soules which sleepe rise from the dead Christ wil lighten yee For certes it is hie time that we should arise from sleepe the houre of our watching being nigh and our saluation neerer than when we beleeued The night is passed and the day is at hand Grant therfore merciful God that casting of the works of darknes and putting on the armour of light we may walke honestlie as in the daie not in gluttonie and drunkennes neither in chambering and wantonnes nor in strife and enuieng but may put on our Lord Iesu Christ by true faith and good works which may smel of him that tasting of his sweetenes at no time we may be separated frō him Wherefore we beseech thee O Lord continue thy goodnes toward vs and grant that al our praiers and workes may both begin from thee and ende through thee Vouchsafe O Lord to keepe vs this day without sinne Let thy mercie be vpon vs as we trust in thee O Lord keepe our tongues from euil and our lips that
so diuers strokes and assaults of the Diuel Vnles thou O most mightie protector defend vs alas we perish For thou knowest we are too weak to resist no strength is in vs no aid prudence or policie is in our nature against so strong and subtile an enimie Beholde our nature is accursed vncleane our flesh is weake our life transitorie and we alas therefore be cowardes and without armor giuen to sleepe and slothfulnes and endeuor not couragiouslie to withstand the fraudes of the Diuel Wherefore expel from vs this deepe sluggishnes of ours open the eies of our mindes that we may behold how great the power endeuors strength and malice of this aduersarie is with whom we are to encounter For we wrestle not against flesh blood but against rules against powers against gouernors and rulers of the darknes of this world against spiritual wickednes in heauenlie places O thou Sonne of God which art that blessed seede broozing the head ▪ of the most subtile serpent bring and brooze our enimie Satan vnder thy feete Thou which didst appere to destroie the works of the Diuel driue awaie from vs lieng Spirits that they hurt vs not Thou our chiefe champion which of thine owne accord enteredst into tentations that so thou mightest as it were hand to hand wrestle with our enimie and purchase a triumph for vs by thy victorie hold him fast bound that he exercise not his deuises vpon vs as he desireth make vs partakers of thy victorie that euen as thou in thy bodie ouer camest the diuel so thou wilt vtterlie dispatch him in thy members And therefore giue vnto vs thine whole armor that like right soldiors we may resist in the euil daie and vanquish our enimie Girde vs with the truth put vpon vs the breast-plate of righteousnes and let vs be shod to the propagation of the Gospel of peace Aboue al things giue vs the shield of faith which can extinguish al the fierie darts of wicked spirits Bestow vpon vs the helmet of saluation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God that through thee we may encounter valiantly and gloriouslie attaine the victorie And holie Spirit almightie God comfort thou and strengthen our minds against so diuers conflicts of Satan which besetteth vs by manie snares and especiallie then most of al doth he seeke our destruction when we seke deliuerance by other meanes than by thy word reuealed grant therefore that leauing thy worde deliuered vnto vs we looke not after new reuelations or violent rauishings but may resist the Diuel by thy word so wil he flie from vs Amen 8. Euening praier on VVensdaie O Lorde God which art our life and the length of our daies our vpholder protecting vs from our youth we thanke thee this euening and with our lips wee extol thy woonderful goodnes because thou hast defended vs this daie against al aduersities both of bodie and soule O Lord vnto thee doe we crie heare vs harken vnto our voice when we crie vnto thee Let our praiers be directed in thy sight as the incense and let the lifting vp of our hands be an euening sacrifice For thou delitest not in the offering of Buls and Rams but the sacrifice of thankesgiuing shal honor thee Who so keepeth the Law bringeth offerings enough he that holdeth fast the commandement offereth an offering of saluatiō He that is thankful to them which haue wel deserued offereth fine flower and he that giueth almes sacrificeth praise Therefore in this euening-tide doe we offer vnto thee the continual sacrifice of thankesgiuing praising thy goodnes for thy merciful protection and defence We wil commend thee for thy truth and sing of thee O thou most Hie Our lips shal sing of thee and our soules which thou hast redeemed yea and our tongues shal dailie speake of thy righteousnes because they are confounded and put to shame that sought after our soules We wil giue thankes vnto thee O Lorde with our whole hart because thou hast heard al the words of our mouthes In the sight of the Gods we wil praise thee We wil worship toward thine holy Temple and celebrate thy Name because of thy great mercie truth For thou hast magnified thy Name and thy word aboue al things Whensoeuer we called vpon thee thou diddest heare vs and enduedst our soules with much strength And now we crie vnto thee O Lorde with our voice yea in thy sight doe we poure out our praiers and in our troble doe we vtter them before thee that thou maiest pardon al our offences and those especiallie which we haue committed this daie Bring not into thy iudgement O Lord al our idle and vaine words pardon our babling vaine speech and impute not our foolishnes vnto vs. Be merciful vnto vs O Lord for we are greatlie pensiue for our sins our harts be trobled within vs and the feare of death is fallen vpon vs. Fearefulnes trembling are come vpon vs and an horrible dread hath ouerwhelmed vs. But O Lord absolue vs from al our sinnes through thy worde bringing vnto vs the ioieful tydings of gratious deliuerance O comfort the harts of thy seruants for vnto thee Lord haue we lifted vp our soules For thou art milde gentle and of much mercie to as manie as cal vpon thee Blessed be the Lorde which hath heard the voice of our humble petitions O God thou art our strength and our shield our harts trusted in thee and we are holpen therefore our harts doe daunce for ioie and in our songes we wil praise thee We cried vnto thee O Lord and saide Thou art our hope and our portion in the lande of the liuing Consider our complaint for we are brought verie lowe O deliuer vs from our persecutors for they are too strong for vs Bring our soules out of prison that we may giue thanks vnto thy Name O holie Trinitie and perpetual vnitie protect vs this night that the Diuel haue no power ouer vs. O Father gouerne vs by thy power O Sonne reuiue vs with thy wisedome and lighten vs O holie Ghost with thy virtue O Creator be thou present with vs O Redeemer aide vs O our Comforter abide with vs. The Lord blesse vs and keepe vs The Lorde make his face to shine vpon vs and be merciful vnto vs the Lorde lift vp his countenance vpon vs and giue vs peace This blessing of God be this night and euermore a safetie protection against al enimies both visible and inuisible that they hurt vs not anie waie Euen as the piller of cloude in the desert stood betweene the tents of the Egyptians and the tents of the children of Israël that none hurt might come to the people of Israël so be thou O Lord the protector of our soules and liues be
attained by the onelie industrie and power of man. Thou giuest and we gather thou openest thine hande and al liuing creatures are filled with thy blessing For without thee al our endeuors be in vaine and if thou blesse not our labors we do but beate the winde and receiue no profite Great is thy mercie O Lorde which disdainest not to prouide for sinful flesh O Lord our God great are thy wonderous works which thou hast done for vs the which we can not so much as in thought comprehend much lesse in words expresse When we would report and vtter them we founde them moe than we coulde recite But notwithstanding thine infinite benefits cannot be comprehended of man yet wil we not surcesse to set forth thy praise nor hide thy goodnes from the sonnes of men but wil declare it and speake of thy truth from one generation to another Blessed art thou O our God for euer and euer al that is either aboue in the heauens or in earth beneath is thine Al things come from thee and from thine hands we receiue whatsoeuer we possesse And al those things of thy meere mercie without our merits or worthines Therefore we wil magnifie the Lord which doth mightie things in al the corners of the earth which doth nourish vs from our mothers wombes and giueth vs al good things Grant vs likewise quietnes of minde and peace in our time that thy grace may abound towarde vs continue and defende vs while we liue O Almightie and merciful Father by thy breath we toke life the which through thy blessing doth abide in vs In thee we liue moue and haue our being For man liueth not by bread onelie or by his owne wisedome and forecast neither art thou bounde with a fatal chaine of second causes but by thy decree and wil we enioie life al things created at thy beck doe continue while thou thinkest good Giue vs not onelie store of al things to the necessitie of our life but grant also to our meate drink virtue and power to relieue and strengthen our bodies For thou alone vpholdest al thinges by thy worde of power Vnles thou dailie didst feede vs with thy hidden grace which thou dost enspire into the bread to feede vs al the heapes of our yeerelie encrese were to smal purpose For be it that there be abundance of wheat wine and of al other things yet vnles they be watred by thy blessing quicklie would al come to naught and we shoulde perish for lacke of foode in al that abundance For al the substance which we possesse what is it without thou prosper and fructifie the same with thy blessing And albeit we feede on bread yet we ascribe not our life to the virtue of the bread neither is thy power tied to the bread nor mans life included within the same but altogether it dependeth vpon thy wil and good pleasure We besech thee for thy most large and bountiful liberalitie cast vs not of in the time of our old age and when our strength faileth vs forsake vs not Likewise confirme our faith that we distrust not thy promises neither be we driuen from thee by any meanes seeme they neuer so contrarie to natural causes but giue grace that we may withdrawe our eies from al wordlie consultations and as touching our foode and other necessaries for this life may wholie depend vpon thee and at no time go beyond the limits which thou hast prescribed through our Lord Iesu Christ which liueth and raigneth with thee for euermore Amen 3. A praier for vni tie in Religion O Eternal God which hast called vs to the vnitie of the true catholike faith and gathered vs by thy word into the lap of the Christian congregation that we may be al of vs one bodie and one spirit euen as we are called in one hope of our calling One Lord one faith one baptisme one God and Father of al which is aboue al and through al and in vs al. For euen as thou Father art in thy Sonne and he in thee so should we also be one in thee our God. And therefore we crie vnto thee O almightie Father and eternal God teach vs thy waies that we may walke in thy truth O knit our harts vnto thee that we may feare thy Name Grant that al thy faithful may be like affected and of one minde as thou art thinking the same thing after the ensample of Christ our Sauior and that as wel in minds as with mouth we may agree among our selues both in true doctrine and in outwarde behauior of conuersation For the scope of the Churches felicitie consisteth in the vnitie of true faith and religion Keepe vs in the true vnderstanding and right knowledge of thy sacred scriptures that without strife and contention we may speake one thing Let there be no dissentions nor schismes among vs let nothing be done through contention or of vaine glorie but let vs be one bodie endued with one minde and iudgement according to thy worde reuealed vntil we attaine to the vnitie of faith and knowledge of thy Sonne into a perfect man according to the measure of the age of the fulnes of Christ which is the head by whom the whole bodie being copled and knit together by euerie ioint for the furniture therof according to the effectual power which is in the measure of euerie part receiueth encrease of the bodie vnto the edifieng of it selfe in loue O most holie Father keepe vs by thy Name that we may be one in thee and that among vs which are beleeuers there may be one hart and one minde O Christ our onelie Sauior and Mediator which before thy passion didst praie that we might be one in thee euen as thou art in thy Father grant that thy Church may be at concorde and agree in one true faith and confession Let there continue among vs a godlie consent let there be one agreement in faith one mind in praier that we may grow vp in thee and that al our harts may be copled together by the bond of the Spirit vsing thy gifts as they should be to the aduancement of thy glorie and to the common profit both of thy Church and Common-weale and walking worthie our calling whervnto we are called with al humilitie gentlenes with al lenitie forbearing one another through charitie being careful to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bonde of peace Represse the furiousnes of Satan which soweth discention among thy flock to weaken our faith and to hinder our praiers whereby thy glorie is defaced Grant therefore that we proue not desirous of vaine glorie prouoking one another and enuieng one another that we bite not one another to our destruction For of emulation spring contentions which being once enflamed boile out into mortal diuisions And as many as maintaine emulations
waking wil we meditate of thy goodnes because thou hast bin our helper vnder the shadow of thy wings wil we reioice Our soules cleaue vnto thee because thy right hand hath vpholden vs and saued vs in our extremities We wil be mindful of the time past wherein thou maruelouslie didst assist vs and meditate of al thy deedes We wil discourse of the workes of thine hands and wil neuer forget thy mightines For thy mercie endureth for euer thou wilt not despise the workmanship of thine owne hands Now blesse the Lord al his seruants which stand in the house of the Lord in the courts of the house of our GOD in the night lift vp your hands to his sanctuarie and blesse the lord The Lorde which made both heauen and earth blesse vs from aboue Vnto thee O Lorde doe we lift vp our hands and beseech thee with al humblenes of minde pardon al our sinnes which this daie we haue committed either against thee or our neighbors Our handes are defiled with blood and our fingers with much iniquitie Our transgressions are afore thee and make answere against vs. But doe not thou Lorde beholde the wickednes of thy people but remember thy couenant which thou hast made with vs in the blood of thy Sonne neither consider thou our wicked enterprises but haue in mind that thy testimonies are pure among vs and thy worde vndefiled Thinke not vpon those that haue walked fainedlie before thee but remember them which according to thy wil doe feare thee Neither doe thou destroie them which haue liued beastly looke vpon them that not onelie teach but obserue thy commandements Take thou none indignatiō at them which are worse than beasts but loue them alwaies that put their trust in thy righteousnes and glorie For we and our Fathers haue al the same sicknes but because of vs sinners thou shalt be called merciful For if thou hast mercie on vs thou shalt be called merciful to vs that haue no works of righteousnes And therefore be thou merciful vnto vs O Lord for thy Name sake and pardon al our transgressions whereby most infinitelie we haue deserued thine euerlasting displeasure Let thine hand be readie to saue vs that we may prefer thy commandements aboue al things and fulfil them with our fingers O Lord in our troble doe we seeke thee our hands in this night season are lifted vp to thee Neither shal anie thing be in cause but that in this darke and dreadful night thou shalt lighten and illustrate euerie darke corner of our habitation that our candels go not out by night When we sit in darknes bring vs into the light saue vs from vtter darknes where is weeping and gnashing of teeth Thou art the God which giuest light to our candle lighten therefore our darknes O our God that we sleepe not in death And protect vs by the shadow of thine hand that none euil stick to vs this night Deliuer vs from the snare of the hunter and from the noisome pestilence Defende vs vnder thy wings and vnder thy feathers we shal be safe Let thy truth compasse vs like a shield that we be not afraid for any terror by night nor yet either for the pestilence that walketh in darknes or for the sicknes that destroieth at noone daie A thousande shal fal beside vs and ten thousand on our right hand but it shal not come nigh vs. O Lorde deliuer vs out of the hands of our enimies and saue vs from such as persecute our soules they imagine wickednes in their chambers they sleepe not except they haue done mischiefe and sleepe is taken from them vntil they haue done harme O Lord keepe vs O Lord be thou our defence ouer our right hande that the sun parch vs not by day nor the moone by night The Lord is our light and our saluation whom then should wee feare The Lord is the strength of our life of whom then should we be afraide Though an host of men were laide against vs yet shal not our harts be afraid and though the wicked should rise vp against vs to deuour our flesh yet it shal be our comfort alwaie that thou wilt hide vs in thy tabernacle in the euil day and defende vs in the secret place of thy dwelling through Christ our Lord Amen 1. On Friedaie Morning praier BLessed is the Lord God of Sabbaoth which by his commandement created the morning and assigned to the daie spring his place where arising euery daie it apprehendeth the wings of the earth and speedilie runneth to the vttermost parts of the world Who is like our God which doth woonderous things both in heauen and earth O Lord heauen is thy seat and the earth is thy footestoole Vnto thee doe we bend our selues yeelding most humble thankes for that it hath pleased thee of thy wonted goodnes to preserue vs this night vnder thy merciful protectiō Of thy clemencie hast thou deliuered our soules from the mids of Lions among whom we laie with thy shielde of saluation hast thou compassed vs about like as a shepherd watcheth and looketh to his flock Wherefore we wil sing of thy power and praise thy mercie betimes in the morning For thou hast bin our defence and refuge in the daie of our troble We beseech thee euen for the bloodie sweate of thy Sonne our Lord and Sauior Christ that thou wouldest vouchsafe this morning to moisten and mollifie our harts through the grace of thine holie Spirit As the morning dew spreading it selfe earelie before daie doth wet and fil the earth and as the morning raine by drops doth water drie places wherby they do fructifie and bring forth herbes and grasse so extende thy grace toward vs and by thine heauenlie dewe besprinkle our hard and drie harts that we may wholie delight in the waies of thy righteousnes walke in the pathes of thy commandements Let thy liuing Spirit guide vs forth into the land of righteousnes O Lorde for thy Name sake quicken vs in thy righteousnes that thy word may be a lanterne vnto our feete and a light vnto our steps Shew vs thy waies O Lord and teach vs thy pathes Order our steps according to thy word so shal no wickednes haue dominion ouer vs neither shal we wander from the right waie Take from vs the waie of lieng and grant vs graciouslie thy lawe O would to God our waies were directed to the keeping of thy statutes that we might not walke in the counsel of the wicked nor stand in the waie of sinners nor sit in the seate of the scorneful but delight in the lawe of the Lorde and exercise our selues therein daie and night then should we be as a tree planted by the riuers of waters that bringeth forth
and strong and righteous and merciful which art onelie a gratious King onelie liberal onelie iust almightie and euerlasting which deliuerest vs from al trobles both by daie and night which hast made vs thy chosen through the blood of thy Sonne our Lorde and Sauior Christ which was shed for vs and hast sanctified vs by thy Spirit giuen into our hartes that wee should be a chosen generation a roial priesthood to offer acceptable sacrifices vnto thee Receiue now the sacrifice of praise from our mouthes for thy benefites conferred vpon vs. We thanke thee O eternal God not onlie for keeping vs this night passed but also for defending vs this whole weeke yea and al our life time from the snares of wicked spirits that they could not circumuent and ouerthrow vs. We wil praise thee O Lord with our whole hart we wil speake of al thy maruelous works we wil be glad and reioice in thee Our songs wil we make of thy Name O thou most Hie which exaltest vs from the gates of death that we may declare al thy praises in the portes of thy Churches we wil exceedinglie reioice in thy saluation Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel because he hath visited and redeemed his people And hath raised vp an horne of saluation vnto vs and deliuered vs from our enimies and from the hande of al that hate vs He hath bin merciful vnto vs in lightening those which sat in darknes and in the shadow of death to direct our feete into the waie of peace To thee doe we offer the sacrifice of praise that is the frute of lips confessing thy Name Our mouthes shal praise thee O Lord and our tongues declare thy righteousnes Lo we wil not refraine our lips O Lord that thou knowest yea we wil lift vp our hands vnto thy sanctuarie and with our feete wil we hasten towards thine house and in thy Congregation we wil praise thee We wil magnifie thee O God our King and will blesse thy Name for euer and euer Euerie daie wil we giue thankes vnto thee and praise thy Name perpetuallie For great art thou O Lord and maruelous worthie to be praised there is none ende of thy greatnes Al generations shal extol thy workes and speake of thy power they shal talke of thy worship glorie praise and wonderous workes and we wil declare thy mightines The memorial of thine abundant kindnes shal be shewed and men shal sing of thy righteousnes The Lord is gratious and merciful long suffering and of great goodnes The Lord is louing vnto euerie man and his mercie is ouer al his works Al thy works praise thee O Lord and thy Saints giue thanks vnto thee from one generation to another O God earelie now this morning doe we cal for thine vnspeakeable mercie beseeching thee from the bottome of our hart that this morning thou wilt lighten our minds so that the shining brightnes of thy knowledge may rise in vs which are called out of darknes into the maruelous light of thy glorie that being awaked out of sleepe we may giue our selues to the works of light and walke honestlie as in the daie not in rioting and dronkennes neither in chambering and wantonnes neither in strife and enuieng For we beleeuers are the children of light and of the daie not of night and of darknes Therefore giue vs grace that we sleepe not as others doe but make vs to watch and be sober putting on the brest-plate of faith and charitie and for an helmet to take the hope of saluation For thou God hast not ordeined vs to wrath but to obteine saluation through our Lorde Iesus Christ which died for vs. Giue vs grace likewise we beseech thee that we abuse not this daie and other thy creatures vnto vanitie neither giue our members as instruments vnto sinne by doing such deedes as fight against the soule wounde the conscience and greeue the same Succour vs gratious God that painefullie we may shunne and auoide sixe things which thou doest hate yea seauen which thy soule doth abhor to wit a proude looke a lieng tong hands that shed innocent blood an hart that goeth about wicked imaginations feete that be swift in running to mischiefe a false witnes which bringeth forth lies and him that soweth discord among brethren O Lord God of our saluation into thine hands wil we deliuer our harts that earelie they may watch to thee our maker and in thy sight wil we praie that thou maist protect vs in the daie of troble In sixe calamities deliuer vs O Lord and in the seuenth let none euil come to vs in famine saue vs from death in battel frō the power of the sworde hide vs from the scourge of the tong when destruction commeth let vs not feare in dearth make vs merie and let not the beasts of the earth apale our courage Grant this O Father for thy deere Sonne our Sauior Christs sake Amen 2. A thankesgiuing to God for his mercies O Most holie Trinitie which art the true eternal Vnitie of equal glorie and maiesty we worship thee we praise thee we thanke thee for al thy benefits as it is truelie meete iust and good for vs alwaies to giue thanks vnto thee O Lord most holie eternal God and Almightie Father through Christ our Lorde by whom Angels praise thee Kings adore thee and powers doe feare thee the heauens and heauen of heauens yea the blessed Seraphins with ioie together doe magnifie thee saieng with humble confession Holie Holie Holie Lord God of Sabaorh the whole earth is ful of thy glorie Especiallie at this time O Father most Hie we thanke thee for thy mercie abunding toward vs which of thy great loue wherewith thou louedst vs yea when we were dead through sinne didst quicken vs together with Christ and being raised with him hast made vs to sit together in heauenlie things thereby to shew to al ages hereafter the exceeding riches of thy grace in thy kindnes toward vs through Iesus christ For by grace are we saued through faith and that not of our selues it is the gift of God not of workes least anie man should boast Besides thou hast by thine holie Spirit sealed and prepared vs vnto good workes which thou didst before ordeine that we might walke in them and please thee in newe obedience We wil declare the goodnes of the Lord yea and praise the Lord for al that he hath giuen vs. Great is thy mercie O Lord and thy goodnes incomparable toward vs. Who shal be able to expresse thy workes or who can seeke out the grounde of thy noble actes who shal declare the power of thy greatnes or take vpon him to tel out thy mercie which is such and so
infinite that it can neither be augmented nor diminished For looke how hie the Heauen is in comparison of the earth so great is thy mercie also towardes them which feare thee And as far as the East is from the West so far hast thou set our sinnes from vs. For as a Father pittieth his owne children euen so art thou merciful to al which feare thee Yea though a Mother doe forget hir infant and take no pittie on the sonne of hir wombe yet wilt not thou forget vs for we are written vpon thine hands The mercie of the Lord is vnchangeable infinite and neuer faileth but dailie ariseth newe and fresh vpon vs. The merciful goodnes of the Lord endureth for euer and euer vpon them which feare him his righteousnes vpon childers children such as keepe his couenants and thinke vpon his commandements to doe them Thy mercie is on such as feare thee from generation to generation The mercie that a man hath reacheth vnto his neighbor but the mercie of the Lorde is vpon al flesh chastening and teaching and nurturing yea euen as a shepheard turneth againe his flock so doth he al them which receiue chastening nurture and doctrine Merciful art thou vnto al them which receiue correction and diligentlie seeke after thy iudgements And although for a while thou forsakest vs yet afterward in much fauor wilt thou gather vs together In the time of thy wrath thou hidest thy face from vs for a little season but for al that thy mercie towarde vs is euerlasting Blessed be thy Name O God of our Fathers which when thou art angrie shewest mercie and in the time of troble forgiuest the sinnes of them which cal vpon thee This thy goodnes and ouerabounding mercie which hath bin from the beginning and for euer shal continue ouer al which vnfainedlie repent neuer languishing or failing but abiding perfect alwaies in the highest degree we wil praise and confesse from one generation to another For gratious and merciful is the Lord patient and long suffering bent to shew fauor and meruelouslie gentle towards al that cal vpon him Praise the Lord al ye heathen and glorifie him al nations For his merciful kindnes is euer more and more toward vs. We wil not keepe back thy louing mercie and truth from the great congregation withdraw not thou thy mercies from vs O Lorde let thy kindnes and truth alwaie preserue vs. O let thy merciful kindnes be our comfort according to thy worde vnto thy seruants O deale with thy seruants according to thy great mercie and teach vs thy statutes that in like maner we may be merciful toward al men without respect of persons or hope of gaine willinglie without morositie that in thy iudgement we may finde mercie through the passion and death of thy sonne Iesus Christ which liueth raigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God worlds without ende Amen 3. A praier for an happie departure out of this worlde O Most gratious God thy yeares endure throughout al generations thy daies are without ende or beginning but the daies of man surelie are determined which he can not ouerpasse and the nomber of his moneths are knowen to thee thou hast appointed him his bounds which he cannot go beyonde Thou hast nombred our daies which vade awaie sodainelie like the grasse For we are soone dispatched and easelie consume Our daies are like a shadowe and wither awaie like grasse A man in this world is euen like a vapor that vanisheth awaie For al flesh is grasse and al the glorie thereof as the flower of the fielde which florisheth in the morning and afterwarde withereth and vadeth Behold our daies are to be measured they are as it were a spanne long and our age is nothing in respect of thee And verilie euerie man liuing is altogether vanitie Our age is folden together and taken awaie from vs like a shepherdes cotage our life is cut of by our sinnes like the thred of the weauer which is sodainlie broke of Wâ— are but strangers in this woâ—â—de and soiourners as were our fathers our daies on the earth also are but as a shadow and we are as nothing in respect of thee Our life speedilie goeth awaie like the weauers shuttle and it abideth not Wherefore Lord let vs know our end and the number of our daies that we may be certified how long we haue to liue and what is yet to come Instruct vs O Lord that being alwaies mindful of our mortalitie we neuer promise to our selues manie yeeres nor long liues in this pilgrimage of ours so shal we not liue securelie deferring our conuersion to thee from daie to daie nor yet put confidence in this fraile and vncertaine life as did that rich man saieng Soule thou hast much good laid vp in store for manie yeeres take thine ease eate drinke and be merie Whose soule notwithstanding was taken from him the same night But giue grace that in thy feare we may dailie prepare oâ— selues to depart out of this prison for nothing is more certaine than death though nothing more vncertaine than the houre thereof Therefore let vs haue alwaies before our eies an image and meditation of our departure the better to know the fleeting and vanitie of this combersome and vncertaine life that we may liue to thee our God being sounde in faith and strong in hope loking with cherefulnes for the daie of our departure the ioiful appearing of thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Redeeemer and as long as we abide in this tabernacle of our bodies with al studie ministering to our faith virtue to virtue knowledge to knowledge temperance to temperance patience to patience godlines vntil this tabernacle being laid awaie we shal passe ouer to our dwelling place not made with hande but euerlasting in the heauens where we shal be clothed with eternal glorie immortalitie when this earthlie house is put of and destroied Grant also that trusting firmelie to thy promises we may be readie and glad to returne to our euerlasting and celestial country for while we are in this bodie we wander froÌ„ thee our God for now we walke in faith not in the enioieng and possession of eternal goodes wherfore whether we be at home or from home let vs endeuor our selues to be acceptable in thy sight Make vs faithful and wise seruants alwaies loking for the comming of our Lord for we know not when he wil come at the euening or at midnight whether at the cock crowing or in the dawning least by a suddaine houre of death being ouertaken and as it were caught in the foulers trap we be found vnreadie but contrariwise by prudent watching in true conuersion and repentance may continuallie couet to be dissolued and to be with
the testimonie of a good conscience knowing that we are punished vndeseruedlie not as murtherers or theeues or euil doers or busiebodies in other mens matters And suffering as Christians let vs not be ashamed but glorifie God on that behalfe Giue vs grace to account it for exceeding ioie when we fal into diuers tentations and afflictions and to glorie therein For affliction bringeth forth patience patience experience experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed And let their example which before vs did suffer the like in their bodies be a comfort vnto vs For so did the vngodlie persecute the Prophets which were before vs. And especiallie thy steps which are left to be followed are aboue al to be allowed of For thou diddest saie The seruant is not greater than his maister if they haue persecuted me they wil persecute you also Finallie giue grace that respecting the vnspeakable reward which of thine onelie mercie thou diddest promise to al which perseuer vnto the ende by thine assistance we may ouercome al the greeuousnes of affliction For blessed dost thou pronounce them which suffer persecution for righteousnes sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen that when they are prooued they may receiue the crowne of life which thou hast promised to such as loue thee Wherefore indue al in affliction with thy fortitude from aboue that with a bolde and stoute courage they may reioice that they are counted worthie to suffer shame and al kindes of affliction for thy Name Make them constant in the true confession that through the consideration of cruel punishment they depart not from the faith and forsake the profession of true religion Likewise shew forth thine omnipotencie with thy mightie hand deliuer them from the power of Tyrans from the mouthes of Lions and violence of fire And as concerning such whose bodilie deliuerance were not best but are fittest for martyrdome those strengthen in the middes of paine that they feare not such as kil the bodie but cannot kil the soule that being afflicted according to thy wil they may commit the keeping of their soules to thee with wel doing as vnto a faithful Creator and so though they leese as may seeme their soules in this world yet shal they find them safe and blessed in another life which is eternal where thou liuest and raignest with the Father in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God for euermore Amen 6. A praier for Widowes and Orphanes O Most merciful and faithful God father of orphanes iudge of widowes Looke downe from heauen thou which considerest our labor and sorow and in whose hands al our saluation doth consist The poore is left vnto thee for thou art the helper of the fatherles The Lord doth heare the desire of the poore thou preparest their harts and thine eare harkeneth thervnto to helpe the fatherles and widowe vnto their right that the man of the earth be no more exalted against the miserable We beseech thee O most righteous auenger haue thou a consideration of al widowes and orphanes and prouide for them by ministring clothes nourishment vnto them haue pittie on them in al their perils and necessities stretch out thine helping hande and deliuer them as thou didest that widowe whose pitcher of oile by the Prophet Elias thou didest so encrease with thy blessing that not onlie she deliuered hir children in bondage for debt out of the hands of hir creditors but also of the oile she sold had wherewith to sustaine both hir selfe and hir children For thou art the Lord which carest for strangers and relieuest the fatherles and widowes but destroiest the waies of the vngodlie Thou art touched with a care of the afflicted and despisest not the desires of the fatherles nor the widow when she poureth out hir praiers before thee For the teares running downe the cheekes of the widow ascend vp into the heauens and hir crie against him which wringes it out Grant therefore merciful God that in the sight of al gouernors and iudges they may find fauor and haue equal iudges and patrones of their matters that the iudgement of the stranger and fatherles be not peruerted nor the cause of the widow neglected but that iudgement may be sought according to thy lawe the oppressed holpen iudgement giuen for the orphane and the widowe defended For thou hast giuen a straight commandement vnto al iudges saieng Keepe equitie and righteousnes deliuer the oppressed from the power of the oppressor doe not grieue nor oppresse the stranger the fatherles nor the widowe and shed none innocent blood For thou art the God which wil auenge thine elect that crie vnto thee thou keepest truth for euer and euer doing iustice to the oppressed with wrong Now deliuer O Lord the fatherles and widowes out of the pawes of rauening theeues which eate vp the houses of widowes vnder the pretence of godlines and colour of right Deliuer them out of the hands of wicked iudges which faine and inuent lawes to suppresse the poore and to hurt the cause of the base among the people that widowes may be a praie for them and that they mayâ—rob the fatherles such peruerse iudges O God in the daie of their visitation and calamitie from a far thou wilt vtterlie destroy Appoint vnto orphanes and widowes faithful patrones which wil be touched with an earnest care of their welfare Also giue vs willing mindes to pleasure widowes and fatherles children according to our habilitie to deliuer the poore when he crieth and the fatherles which hath none to helpe to helpe him that is readie to fal to comfort the widowes hurt euermore to be as fathers to the fatherles and from our tender yeares to minister instruction to the widowe and suffer them neuer to perish but in blessing to blesse them and to fil them with bread For pure religion and vndefiled before thee O God our Father is to visit the fatherles widowes in their aduersitie and to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world For he which is merciful towards the orphane as a father sheweth himselfe as an husband towards his mother in taking the defence of their cause vpon him he shal be as an obedient sonne of the Hiest and thou God wilt more fauor him than a mother can pittie hir sonne But they which despise the sight and teares of the widowe keepe back their loafe that the fatherles eate not thereof and suffer them to perish for want of clothing and apparel yea which lift vp their hands to afflict them shal greuouslie be punished their shoulders shal fal from their ioints and their armes be broken from the bones of them O merciful God extende thy fauor vpon al widowes that at al times and in al afflictions they may trust in thee the liuing God and continue
and merciful God before thee doe we sigh beseeching thee by the death and burial of our Lord and Sauior Christ thy welbeloued Sonne that thou wouldest vouchsafe to couer and burie al our misdeedes whatsoeuer from our infancy vntil this present houre either wittinglie or ignorantlie we haue committed and especiallie those which this weeke we haue done in thought word or deede against thy diuine maiestie and commandements al which to thee alone which knowest al things we confesse with broken harts and lowlie spirits beseeching thee to pardon them and to forgiue al our sinnes whereof thou knowest we are guiltie and to deliuer vs from al euils both present and to come O Lord heare the voice of our praier encline thine eare vnto vs in the daies of our necessitie when we shal crie vnto thee The snares of death haue compassed vs about and the straightes of hel haue taken holde of vs we haue lighten vpon sorowe and troble Notwithstanding we wil cal vpon the Lord O Lord deliuer our soules Gratious is the Lord and righteous yea our God is merciful The Lord preserueth the simple we were in troble and he helped vs. Turne then againe vnto your rest O our soules For the Lorde wil blesse ye Thou wilt deliuer our soules from death our eies from teares and our feete from falling that we may walke before thee in the lande of the liuing O Christ God and Sauior of the worlde saue vs Lord watching keepe vs sleeping that in peace we may both rest and wake Be thou our light in darknes then shal our life be as cleere as the noone daie and shine forth as the morning so that with confidence and securitie we may lie downe and sleepe none shal make vs afraid because thou art our protector O Sonne of righteousnes and brightnes of perpetual charitie lead vs into the vision of thy light where thou shalt euerlastinglie shine vpon vs and thou God be our glorie The Sunne there shal not go downe neither the Moone be hid but thou Lorde shalt be our euerlasting light that our sorowful daies may take an ende Grant likewise that leauing this place of darkenes we may be translated into the true and new light which we now looke for through faith vntil the perpetual morning appeere vnto vs that we may beholde thee in a cleere light face to face where shal be no night and we shal neede no candle neither light of the Sunne but thou Lorde wilt lighten vs. O holie Spirit God be thou a light vnto vs At our last gaspe when our harts pant our strength faileth our sight departeth our hearing is deafe our mouth dōme when our feete cannot go nor our hands feele when al our senses forsake vs giue vs some sense of eternal life that we may taste in this world the beginnings of thine euerlasting ioie and at our departure out of this world behold by faith thy diuine presence and so sleepe quietlie to eternal life Amen Here follow certaine peculiar praiers for some special persons A praier for anie Preacher or Shepherd of soules O Eternal God which of thy great mercie hast vouchsafed to cal me a miserable and most vnworthie man to the ministerie of thy Gospel and hast appointed me to be a feeder of soules and a fisher of men and now at the length segregated me according to thy good pleasure to preach the word of saluation vnto this flock and people committed to my charge With lowlines of spirit sighes vnfained I beseech thee O Christ which art our chiefe shepheard and Archbishop make me an able minister of the newe Testament a chosen vessel and profitable instrument for the carrieng of thy message before the nations and Princes of this world as it becommeth the minister of Christ and faithful dispenser of the mysteries of God and neuer let me proue an idol or idle shepherd Worke thou effectuallie through me and grant good successe vnto my doings that fruitefullie I may vtter to mine auditors the healthful and heauenlie foode of their soules which is the syncere preaching of thy gratious worde without al corruption or deprauing of the same Take not fro my lips the word of truth and let me not speake either the imaginations of my foolish braine or the vaine perswasions of my owne hart but may vtter thine heauenlie worde and minister according to the virtue which thou dost grant that in al things thy glorie may be sought of me That I follow not after couetousnes feeding my selfe and forsaking my flock but giue me such an earnest care of their wel doing that without constraint cheerefullie and gladlie being bounde therevnto I may discharge mine office That I be not desirous of filthie lucre but with a willing minde may profit the Church neither as an exerciser of auctoritie ouer my flock but that euen through an hartie zeale of thine holie Name I may feede and make fat in the plentiful and godlie pastures of thy pure worde thy sheepe committed to my trust That I may retaine a diligent consideration of the weaker sort and helpe the feeble heale the sick strengthen the bruzed that I may bring home that which is seduced and seeke that is lost and carefullie prouide for that which is strong that I labor not in mine office negligentlie nor accomplish the worke of thee my maister with deceipt O almightie God whose dwelling is aboue the cloudes which hast appointed me a keeper and watchman for thy people to forewarne the simple that they be not through the subtiltie of vaine teachers deceiued seduced and made a praie and spoile for the beasts of the field make me so watchful and careful ouer thy flock that couragiouslie I may withstand and beate awaie those rauening wolues which teare and scatter thy flock and by reprouing and refuting their heresies ouercome false prophets Giue me that vtterance and wisedome which none may resist or gainesaie Grant me a learned and eloquent vtterance to diuide thy word rightlie and wisedome distinctlie and in right order to propose the same and to be able and readie to admonish and to comfort the weake and if anie offende through weakenes to wyn him vnto weldoing by the spirit of meekenes and modestlie to rebuke such as may be recouered but those which openlie doe sinne without blushing to take vp before the congregation not regarding the person that the rest by their example may feare and forsake their wickednes O Sonne of God our continual Intercessor which hast ordeined me to be a voice crieng endue mee with the grace of thine holie Spirit that I may exalt my voice like a trumpet and declare their wickednes vnto thy people and neuer shewe my selfe as a domme dog which cannot bark so shal I not be partaker of their
our Lord Iesu Christ maker and preseruer both of heauen and earth together with thy coeternal Sonne and the holie Ghost We haue sinned O Lord with our fathers we haue committed iniquitie and done wickedlie Therefore we openlie confesse that by thy righteous iudgement we are iustlie punished and rightlie deserue that barbarous and vngodlie nations shoulde spoile vs of our goods ouerthrowe our schooles Churches and Commonweales make vnmerciful hauocke of the promiscuous multitude and carie miserable men from the sweete bosomes of thy deere friendes into a slauerie more greeuous than death O God it is thou which repellest vs yea thou dost confounde vs before the nations for our sinnes and goest not forth with our armies to the battel Thou makest vs to turne our backs vpoÌ„ our enimies so that they which hate vs spoile our goods Thou sufferest vs to be eaten vp like sheepe and hast scattered vs among the Heathen Thou sellest thy people for naught and takest no monie for them Therefore be the Heathen come into thine inheritance thy holie Temple haue they defiled they haue destroied our townes and houses and brought them into an heape of stones The dead bodies of thy seruants haue they giuen to be meate for foules of the aire and the flesh of thy Saints vnto the beastes of the lande Their blood haue they shed like waters on euerie side and there was no man to burie them We are become an open shame to our enimies a verie scorne and byword vnto them that are rounde about vs. Wherefore in these mischieuous wars and in the middes of our fatal punishments we flie vnto thee saieng Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glorie of thy Name O deliuer vs and be merciful vnto our sinnes for thy Name sake O deale not with vs after our sinnes neither reward vs after our iniquities Remember not our former sins but let thy tender mercie preuent vs For we are in great miserie Looke vpon our affliction and trauel and forgiue al our sinnes Behold our enimies for they are manie and they hate vs with cruel hatred Thou which hast forgiuen the iniquitie of thy people and couered al their sinnes and hast withdrawen al thine anger and turned back froÌ„ the fiercenes of thy wrath turne vs we humblie beseech thee O God our Sauior remoue awaie thy displeasure that in true repentance we may please thee for thy Sonne his sake Wilt thou be displeased with vs for euer or wilt thou prolong thy wrath from one generation to another O let the sorowful sighing of thy prisoners come before thee according to the greatnes of thy power preserue those which are appointed to die Poure out thine indignation vpon the heathen that knowe thee not and vpon the kingdomes which cal not vpon thy Name that al nations may knowe the vengeance of the blood of thy seruantes that is shed Consider the mortal threatnings of our enimies that they may be hindered from exercising their tyrannie vpon vs saieng triumphinglie Where is now their God Keepe from our necks the greeuous yoake of Antechristian bondage and represse the furiousnes of al Tyrans which labor to spoile and make hauock of thy Church to abolish true doctrine praiers pure religion and to bring in idolatrie errors blasphemous ceremonies Defende our Churches Polities and dwelling places Suffer not our townes to be reduced into dennes for Tyrans and other bloodie nations which hate both thee and vs extreemelie Arme the right arme of our Gratious Queene and hir Nobles that they may fight for our Lawes liues and libertie Teach their hands to fight and their fingers to battel encrease in theÌ„ an inuincible courage of minde that enflamed through the zeale of thy religion they may valiantlie withstande their euen thine enimies Guide thou the hands of such as fight in the cause of religion â–ª and grant them happie successe ouer al their enimies For a King is not saued by the multitude of an host neither is the mightie man deliuered by great strength but the victorie commeth from heauen At thy rebuke O Lord both the charret and horse fal downe Thou wilt take awaie the courage of Princes and art terrible to the Kings of the earth O be thou our helpe in troble for vaine is the helpe of man Through thee we shal do valiantlie for thou wilt tread our enimies vnder our feete and make them come to naught through our Lord Iesus Christ Amen A praier to be saide in the time of the plague sicknes and mortalitie O Lorde our God great feareful art thou keeping couenant mercie with theÌ„ that loue thee and keepe thy commandements We haue sinned O Lord and haue committed iniquitie we haue done wickedlie yea we haue rebelled and haue departed from thy precepts and from thy iudgements we haue not obeied thy seruants the Prophets which spake in thy Name to our Kings and Princes to our forefathers and to al the people of the lande O Lord righteousnes belongeth vnto thee but vnto vs open shame and confusion as it is come to passe this daie by the plague and sicknes raigning among vs and among al the dwellers of this lande because of the sinnes which we haue done against thee Vnto thee our Lord and God pertaineth compassion and forgiuenes though we haue rebelled against thee We haue not obeied thy voice to walke in the lawes which thou hast laide before vs. We haue hitherto despised thy diuine worde yea we haue loathed preaching and haue loaâ—ed the bridle to al beastlines of desires Therefore the curse and oth which is written in the lawe of Moses thy seruant is poured vpon vs and we through the plague and corrupt aiers with burning feauers and grieuous sicknes are lamentablie consumed euerie daie Yea in our knees and legs are we smitten with most lothsome botches those incurable froÌ„ the sole of the foote vnto the top of the hed Because we repent not neither obserue al the words written in thy lawe nor feare thy glorious and dreadful name thou dost according to thy threatnings aforetolde encrease our plagues and the plagues of our seede thou sendest great plagues and of long continuance euil sicknes and of long durance thou bringest vpon vs vncureable diseases al maner of sicknes and al kinds of plagues besides those written in the booke of the lawe Al these plagues according to thy worde are come vpon vs yet haue we not praied vnto thee our Lorde that we might euerie man turne from his vngodlie waies Therefore hast thou bin watchful in punishing vs and in bringing these euils vpon vs Thou art righteous O Lord and true is thy iudgment O God Father of our Lord Iesu Christ thou hast got thee a glorious Name as may appeere this