Lord which are taught of thee and instructed by the spirite of godly wisedome and vnderstanding which by their preaching will seeke not themselues but thee because they are godly and can so do because they are wise vnderstande Giue to the preacher of thy worde here present out of the treasures of thy wisedome that which hee may powre vpon vs to our saluation and vnto vs giue thy grace holy spirit O Lord so to heare and to receiue thy worde that the good seede whiche falleth vppon vs be not choked with thornes or withered away with heate or deuoured by the foules of the aire but may growe vp in a good grounde and fructifie with great increase A prayer to be saide after the Preaching of Gods worde ALmightie God most mercifull father wee heartily beseech thee that this seed of thy worde nowe sowen amongest vs may take suche deepe root that neither the burning heate of affliction or persecution cause it to wither neither the thornie cares of this life do choake it but that as seede sowne in good ground it may bring forth thirtie sixtie and an hundreth folde as thy heauenly wisedome hath appointed And because we haue neede continually to craue many things at thy handes we humbly beseech thee O heauenly father to graunt vs thy holy spirit so to direct our petitions that they may proceed from such a feruent minde as may be agreable to thy most blessed will. And seeing that our infirmitie is such that we are able to do nothing without thy helpe and that thou art not ignorant with howe many and great tentations we poore wretches are on euerie side compassed and inclosed let thy strength O Lorde susteine our weakenesse and assist vs with thy grace that we may be safely preserued against all the assaults of Sathan who goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking to deuoure vs Increase our faith O mercifull Father that wee doe not swarue at anie time from thy heauenly worde Augment in vs hope and loue with a carefull keeping of all thy commandements that no hardnes of hart no hypocrisie no concupiscence of the eies nor inticements of the world doe draw vs away frō thy obedience And seeing the times are dangerous wherin we liue let thy fatherly prouidence defende vs againste the violence of all our enemies and specially againste the furious rage of that Romishe idoll enemie to thy Christ. Furthermore for as much as by thy holy Apostle we bee taught to make our prayers and supplications for all men we pray not onely for ourselues here present but beseech thee also to reduce all such as be yet ignorant from the miserable captiuitie of blindnesse and errour to the pure vnderstanding of thy heauenly trueth that we all with one consent and vnitie of minde may worshippe thee our onely God and sauiour We beseech thee also most deare father for all pastors and ministers to whome thou hast committed the dispensation of thy holy worde and charge of thy chosen people that both in their life and doctrine they maye be found faithfull setting onely before their eyes thy glorie and that by them all poore sheep which wander and go astray may be sought out and brought to thy folde Againe that it would please thee to deliuer thy Church from such idle sheepeheardes wolues and hirelinges as seeke themselues and their bellies and not thy glory and the safegarde of thy flocke Moreouer because the heartes of rulers are in thy handes wee make our prayers vnto thee for all Princes and Magistrates to whome thou haste committed the administration of iustice especially O Lorde for the Queenes Maiestie that it would please thee to indue her with thy plentifull grace and principall spirite that she may with a pure faith acknowledge Iesus Christ thy onely sonne to be King of all Kinges and gouernour of all gouernours euen as thou hast giuen all power vnto him both in heauen and in earthe so work in her heart that she considering whose minister she is may hartily seeke and zealously promote thy true honour and glory carefully traueling to bring thy people committed to her charge yet remaining almoste in all partes of this realme in miserable blindnesse and darke ignorance to the true knowledge of thee ruling and guidinge them as she is taught commaunded by thy holy word Also we beseech thee to indue all such as are in any authority vnder her with thy grace and holy Spirite that they may be founde vprighte faithfull in their calling fauourers and furtherers of thy holy Gospell maintainers defenders of the true Preachers and ministers therof and such as in singlenes of heart wil seeke not themselues but thy glory and the commodity of thy people And for that we be all members of the mysticall body of Christe Iesus wee make our requestes vnto thee O heauenly father for all such as are afflicted with any kinde of crosse or tribulatiō as warre plague famine sickenes pouertie imprisonment persecution banishment or any other kinde of thy roddes whether it be griefe of body or vnquietnesse of minde that it would please thee to giue them patience and constancie till thou sende them full deliueraunce out of all their troubles Finally O Lord we most humbly beseech thee to shew thy great mercie vppon-our brethren which are persecuted cast in prison and daily condemned to death for the testimonie of thy trueth and though they be vtterly destitute of all mans aide yet let thy sweete comforte neuer depart from them but so inflame their heartes with thy holy spirite that they may boldly and cheerefully abide suche triall as thy godly wisedome shall appoint so that at length as well by their death as by their life the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ may increase and shine through all the worlde In whose name we make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our father which art c. A prayer to be saide before the receiuing of the communion O Father of mercie and God of all consolation seeing all creatures do acknowledge and confesse thee to be their gouernour and Lorde it becommeth vs the workemanship of thine owne handes at all times to reuerence and magnifie thy godly maiestie Firste for that thou hast created vs to thine owne image and similitude but chiefly because thou hast deliuered vs from that euerlasting death and damnation into the which Sathan drewe mankinde by the meanes of sinne from the bondage whereof neither man nor Angell was able to make vs free but thou O Lord rich in mercie infinite in goodnes hast prouided our redemption to stande in thine onely and welbeloued sonne whom of very loue thou diddest giue to be made man like vnto vs in all thinges sinne excepted that in his bodie he might receiue the punishment of our transgression by his death to make satisfaction to thy
only in thy Church and elect people ruling and gouerning all and euerie member of thy Church to thy glorie and their eternall comfort Not that out of this Church I exclude thy power for as therwith thou defendest thy people so thou punishest thy enimies but bicause thy grace is specially considered being as it were the verie keeper that keepeth and guideth thy people The time wil be when this kingdome of grace and power now being as distinct shall be vnited and made one kingdome of glorie which will be when Christ shall giue vppe his kingdome into thine hands that is in the resurrection when death the last enimie shall be subdued thou shalt be all in all In the meane season this kingdome of grace is miraculously and mightily propagated enlarged and gouerned by the true Ministerie of thy word and sacraments through the working of thy holie spirit And this is the meane and way whereby as thou didst first plant so doest thou enlarge amplifie and preserue the same This kingdome of grace begun continued and enlarged by the true preaching of thy Gospell and ministration of thy sacramentes is the thing which Christ teacheth here thy children to pray for that it might come that is to say that thy Gospel might so mightily purely and plenteously be preached mauger the head of all thine enimies that the number of thine elect might be brought in and so the kingdome of thy glorie might appeare So that as I see thy children desire pray and labour that thy Gospell might be truely preached heard and liued in them selues and in others so they lament the not preaching and refusing the not liuing and not beleeuing thy Gospell yea they lament the lingring of the coÌ„ming of thy Christ for in his comming they knowe they shall be like vnto him and hauing this hope they purifie themselues as he is pure By reason hereof I see first that I am farre from this desire and lamenting which thy chilhaue I see my ignoraunce of thy kingdome and power euerie where also of thy grace in thy Church onely and of thy glorie when all the enimies of thy grace shall be cast downe and thy glory and power shal embrace each other I see my ignorance howe acceptable a seruice to thee is the true preaching and the hearing of thy Gospel for else thou hadst not needed to haue placed this petition next to the petition of the sanctifying of thy name Againe I see here mine vnablenesse to enter into thy kingdome and to attaine to it for else what neede should I haue to pray for that to come from thee which otherwise may be atchieued Thirdly I see my peruersitie and contempt of thy kingdome grace for although I see my want yet I would not desire thy kingdome to come if thou diddest not commaund me so to pray and if I would haue praied for it thou wouldest not haue commaunded me Last of all I see thy goodnesse which wilt bring thy kingdom and that as generally by sending foorth ministers to preach truely so particularly by regenerating me more and more by giuing me as grace here so glorie elsewhere for thou wouldest not I should pray for that which thou wilt denye So that I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament bicause of my miserable state and condition bicause of my sinne ignorance rebellion peruersitie sathans power contempt of thy grace thy Gospel and ministerie here or elsewhere To reioyce bicause of thy goodnesse great mercie which hast brought me into thy Church keepest me in it and wilt do so stil. Also bicause of the ministerie of thy worde and sacraments by which the holie Ghost is and will be effectuall and finally bicause of the great glorie wherevnto thou hast called me and which nowe thou wilt giue vnto me asking the same But alas how vnthankful I am and sorrowlesse Lord thou knowest for my hart is not hid from thee Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me good father and graunt me the spirit of thy children to reueale vnto me my ignorance of thy kingdome my pouertie and peruersitie that I may lament the same and daily labour for thy helpe and thy holie spirite to suppresse the kingdome of sinne in my selfe and in others Againe graunt me that same thy holie spirite to reueale to me thy kingdome of power grace and glory to kindle mine affections to regenerate me more and more to reigne in me as in a piece of thy kingdome to giue to me to desire to pray and to labour for thy kingdome both to my selfe and to others effectually to thy glorie and to assure my conscience of thy goodnesse that thou wilt giue me grace and glorie c. Here call to minde the state of the ministerie and ministers the light and life of gospellers the errors and hereâ—ies which men be intangled withall Thy will be done AS thy power is infinite so is thy wisedome accordingly Whereby as we may perceiue that nothing is or can be done against thy power or otherwise then by it so is there not nor cannot be any thing done against or otherwise then by thy omnipotent secrete will which is alwayes as thou art good holie and iust howe farre so euer it seeme otherwise to our foolish reason and iudgement and therefore here we are taught to pray that thy wil may be done here without sinne on mans behalfe as it is on the Angels behalfe in heauen Againe for as much as thou art incomprehensible of thy selfe as wel concerning thy power as concerning thy wisdome we may not according thereto search thee but rather adore and worship thy maiestie and tremble at thy iudgements and workes and therefore pray alwayes that we may be content with thy wil and be buxome and obedient thereto And for as much as thou hast reuealed to vs so much of thy will in thy word written as is necessarie for vs in this life to knowe yea as we can attaine vnto and a little further we ought to take all things done against the same as sinne and transgression although thou canst vse the same sinne to serue thy prouidence of the which prouidence we can not nor may not iudge further then thou hast and shalt open it vnto vs. So that this petition Thy wil be done is not simplie to be vnderstoode concerning thy omnipotent wil vnreuealed against the which nothing is nor can be done but rather concerning thy will reuealed in thy lawe and Gospell the which thou here teachest me that we should desire not only to know it but also to do it and that in such perfection and willingnesse as it is in heauen The which thing I perceiue hereby that thy children doe desire daily in and for them selues and others and doe lament that contrarie in whome so euer it be so that often their eyes gush out with riuers of teares bicause men keepe not thy lawes By reason
you shall haue time thereto and by Gods good spirit shal be prouoked Forgiue vs our debts as we forgiue them that are debters vnto vs. BY Our debtes we vnderstand not onely the thinges we haue done but the omission and leauing vndone of the good things we ought to doe By Our we vnderstand not only the particular sinnes of one but also generally the sinnes of all and euery one of the Church By Forgiuenesse we vnderstand free pardon and remission of sinnes by the merites and desertes of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ who gaue him selfe a raunsome for vs. By Our forgiuing of other mens offences to vs ward we vnderstand thy good will not onely that it pleaseth thee that we should liue in loue and amitie but also that thou wouldest haue vs to be certain of thy pardoning vs of our sinnes For as certain as we are that we pardon them that offend vs so certaine should we be that thou doest pardon vs wherof the forgiuing our trespasses is as it were a sacrament vnto vs. So that by this petitioÌ„ I am taught to see that thy children although by imputation they be pure from sinne yet they acknowledge sinne to be remaine in them and therefore doe they pray for the remission and forgiuenesse of the same Againe I am taught hereby to see howe thy children doe consider and take to heart not only the euils they doe but also the good they leaue vndone and therefore they pray thee heartily for pardon Moreouer I am here taught to see that thy children are carefull for other men and for their trespasses and therefore pray that they might be pardoned in saying Our sinnes and not My sinnes Besides this I am taught here to see howe thy children not onely forgiue all those that offend them but also pray for the pardoning of the offences of their enimies and such as offend them So farre are they from maliciousnesse pride reuengement c. Last of all I am taught to see howe mercifull thou art which wilt haue vs to aske pardon whereof thou wouldest that we should in no â—oint dout but be most assured that for Christes sake thou hearest vs that not onely for our selues but also for many others for thou doest not commaund vs to aske for any thing which thou wilt not giue vs. By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament bicause of my miserable estate which am so farre from these affections that are in thy children which am so ignorant and carelesse of sinne not only in leauing good vndone but also in doing euill and that daily in thought word deede c. I speake not of my carelesnes for other folks sinnes as of my parentes children familie magistrats c. neither of the sinnes of them to whom I haue giuen occasion to sinne To reioyce I haue great cause bicause of thy mercy in opening to me these things in commanding me to pray for pardon in promising me pardon and commanding others to pray for me And surely I ought to be persuaded of thy mercy though my sinnes be innumerable for I see not onely in this but in euerie petition howe that euery one of the Church prayeth for me yea Christe thy sonne who sitteth on thy right hand prayeth for me c. Oh deare father be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me al my sinnes and of thy goodnesse giue me thy holie spirite to open mine eyes that I may see sinne the better to knowe it the more truely to hate it and most earnestly to striue against it and that effectually both in my selfe and others Againe graunt me the same thy holy spirite to reueale vnto me the remedie of sinne by Christ only and to worke in me faith to embrace the same by Christe and thy mercies in him that I may hencefoorth be indued with thy holie spirite to begin to obey thy good will more more and to increase in the same for euer Here call to minde the special sinnes you haue committed heretofore Remember if you haue occasioned any to sinne to pray for them by name Remember that Gods lawe should be so deare vnto vs that the breaking thereof in others should be an occasion to make vs to lament with teares c. Lead vs not into temptation BIcause of our continuall great infirmities bicause of the great diligence and subtilties of our enimies and bicause thou art wont to punish sinne with sinne which of all punishments is the greatest most to be feared in this petition thou wouldest haue thy children to haue the same in remembrance and for a remedie hereof thou hast appointed prayer so that the only cause why any are ouercome and led into temptation is for that they forget what they desire in the petition going before this which should neuer be out of their memorie to prouoke them to be more thankefull to thee and more vigilant and heedie hereafter for falling into the like perils For which to be auoyded thou doest most gratiously set foorth a remedie in commaunding vs to pray after pardon for our sinnes past for thy grace to guide vs so that we be not led into temptation but might be deliuered from euill And bicause y wouldest haue all thy children to hang wholy vpon thee to feare thee only only to loue thee thou doest not teach them to pray suffer vs not to be led but lead vs not into temptation that I say they might only feare thee and certainly knowe that sathan hath no power ouer so much as a pig but what so euer thou giuest vnto him and of thy secrete but most iust iudgement doest appoint him to vse not as he will for then we were all lost but as thou wilt which canst will nothing but that which is most iust as to giue them to the guiding of sathan which will not be guided by thy grace as thou diddest Saul c. Occasions to euil are in two sortes One by prosperitie and successe an other by aduersitie and the crosse c. The euils comming of successe commonly are vnthankfulnes pride securitie and forgetting of our selues forgetting of others forgetfulnesse of God of our mortalitie c The euils comming of aduersitie commonly are impatiencie murmuring grudging dispairing contemning of God flattering of men stealing lying with many other euils whereto tentations will entice a man that is left to him selfe where as to one that is guided with Gods spirite temptations are but trials to the glorie of GOD comfort of the tempted and edifying of thy Church But as I saide if a man be left alone tentations entice eueÌ„ to the diuell him selfe and therefore thy children pray to be deliuered from euill vnderstanding thereby Sathan him selfe the sower and supporter of all euill And this thy children do as wel for others as for them selues So that I may learne hereby many good thinges First to remember often our infirmitie and
from whom thye Sunne goeth downe giueth no light I meane thy grace which is alwaies cleare as the midday Darke night vnto them is the midday which depart from thee In thee is neuer night but alwayes day light most cleare This corporall Sunne hath his courses nowe vp nowe downe but thou deare Lord if we loue thee art alwayes one O that this blocke and veile of sinne were taken away from me that there might be alwaies cleare day in my minde Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as we are not sorrie when the Sunne goeth downe bicause we knowe it will rise againe euen so we should not sorowe for death wherthrough the soule and bodie doe part asunder for they shall eftesoones returne and come together againe in most glorious wise So long as the Sunne is vp wilde beastes keepe their dennes Foxes their burrowes Owles their holes c. but when the Sunne is downe then come they abroade so wicked men and hypocrites kepe their dennes in the time of the Gospell but it being taken away then swarme thei out of their holes like Bees as this day doth teach When the candles be light pray MOst thicke and darke cloudes do couer our mindes except thy light O Lord doe driue them away Thy sunne O most wise worker is as it were a firebrand to this worlde Thy kingdome whereby light commeth both to soule and bodie is a firebrand to the spirituall world After day when the night commeth thou hast giuen for the remedie of darkenesse a candle After sinne for the remedie of ignoraunce thou hast giuen thy doctrine which thy deare sonne hath brought vnto vs O thou that art the authour and master of all trueth and art the true light make vs so to see that the dimnesse of our mindes may be driuen cleane away Lift thou vp the light of thy countenaunce vpon vs and send ioy and gladnesse into our hearts Psal. 4. Thy word is a lanterne to my feete and a light vnto my pathes Psal. 119. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that the knowledge which God giueth vnto vs by the candlelight whereby we see those things in this night of our bodies which are expedient for vs should make vs to wish much more for this doctrine of God and spirituall light of our soules and when we get it the more to esteeme it and diligently to embrace it Againe that as all would be horrour without candlelight so there is nothing but meere confusion where Gods word taketh no place When you make your selfe vnreadie pray THis our life and weake knit bodie by reason of sinne by little little shall be dissolued so shall be restored to the earth from whence it was taken then will be an end of this vanitie which by our follie we haue wrought to ourselues O most meeke father so doe thou vntie me for thou art he that hast knit these our weake members together that I may perceiue my selfe to be losed dissolued and so may remember both of whome I was made also whither I must goe least I be had vnprouided vnto thy tribunall seate Put off the olde man with his lustes and concupiscences Col. 3. Ephe. 4. Be content with Ioseph to put off thy prison apparell that thou mayest put on newe Gen. 41. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as we do willingly put off our garments bicause we shall receiue them againe when the night is past so we should not willingly forsake our bodies when God by death shall call vs bicause we shall receiue them againe in the resurrection of the iust When you enter into your bed pray THe day nowe ended men giue them selues to rest in the night and so this life finished we shall rest in death Nothing is more like this life then euerie day nothing more like death then sleepe nothing more like to our graue then our bed O Lorde our keeper and defender graunt that I now laying me downe to rest being vnable to keepe my self may be preserued from the craftes and assaultes of the wicked enimie And grant further that wheÌ„ I haue run the â—ace of this life thou wouldest of thy mercy call me vnto thee that I may liue and watch with thee for euermore And nowe gratious God giue me to take my rest in thee and bring to passe that thy goodnesse may be euen in sleepe before my eyes that sleeping I be not absent from thee but may haue my dreames to drawe me vnto thee and so both soul and bodie may be kept pure and holie for euer I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest Psal. 4. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as this troublesome day is nowe past and night come and so rest quietnesse and pleasant sleepe which maketh most excellent Princes poore wretches alike euen so after the tumults troubles teÌ„ptations and teÌ„pestes of this life they that beleeue in Christ haue prepared for them an hauen and rest most pleasant and ioyful As you are not afraide to enter into your bed and to dispose your selfe to sleepe so be not afraide to dye but rather chearefully prepare your selfe therevnto Thinke that nowe you are nearer your end by one dayes iourney then you were in the morning When you feele sleepe to be comming pray O Lord Iesus Christ my watchman and keeper take me into thy protection Graunt that my body sleeping my minde may watch in thee and be made merrie by some sight of that celestiall and heauenly life wherein thou art the king and prince together with the father and the holie Ghost where the Angels holy soules be most happie citizens Oh purifie my soule keepe cleane my bodie that in both I may please thee sleeping and waking for euer Amen A GENERALL CONfession of sinnes with other prayers for the Morning and Euening to be vsed in families and publike assemblies O Most mercifull and louing father whose loue is infinit whose mercie endureth for euer we sinfull creatures trusting in thine vnspeakable goodnesse and loue toward vs do appeare this morning before thy diuine maiestie most humbly confessing our manifolde sinnes and innumerable transgressions of thy commaundements and fatherly will. Against thee onely against thee O Lorde haue we sinned we acknowledge our offences we accuse our selues vnto thee O mercifull Lord and will not hide our vnrighteousnesse We find in our selues nothing but ignorance of thy wil disobedience mistrust doubtfulnesse in thy goodnesse and incredulitie hatred and contempt of al spirituall things selfeloue confidence in our selues feruent lusting after earnall things of this world and this tree of our corrupt nature bringeth foorth continually in vs none other fruites but rotten and vnsauorie workes of the flesh in thoughtes wordes and doings vnto condemnation Wherefore we humbly beseech thy fatherly goodnesse euen for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake whome thou hast set foorth for a purchaser of mercy to vs through faith in his bloud make our heartes cleane take away our stonie heartes
pleasure heauenly sweetenesse in thy loue that whatsoeuer we shall from henchfoorth either thinke speake or doe it may be all to the honour of thy holie name through Iesus Christ thy deare sonne our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Thy mightie hand and outstretched arme O Lord be stil our defence thy mercie and louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ thy deare sonne be our saluation thy trueth and holie word our instruction thy grace and holie spirite our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end A praier for the remission of sinnes O Almightie and euerliuing Lord God the deare Father of our Sauiour Iesus Christe which hast made heauen and earth the sea all that therein is which art the only ruler and gouernour conseruer and keeper of all thinges together with thy dearely beloued Sonne Christe Iesus our Lorde and with the holie ghost the comforter O holy righteous wise O strong terrible mightie and feareful Lord God gouernor of the whole world iudge of al men O exorable patient and most gratious father whose eyes are vpon the wayes of all men and are so cleane that they cannot abide impietie thou searchest the heartes and triest the verie thoughtes and reynes of all men thou hatest sinne and abhorrest iniquitie For sinnes sake thou hast grieuously punished mankind thy most deare creature as thou hast declared by the penaltie of death layde vppon all the children of Adam by the casting of Adam his ofspring out of Paradise by the cursing of the earth by the drowning of the world by the burning of Sodom Gomor by hardning the heart of Pharao so that no miracle coulde conuert him by the drowning of him and his people in the redde sea by the ouerthrowing of the Israelites in the wildernesse so that of sixe hundreth thousand there were but two that entred into the lande of promise by reiecting King Saul by the punishmentes vppon thy seruaunt Dauid notwithstāding his heartie repentaunce by greeuously afflicting Solomon in himselfe and his posteritie by the captiuitie of the tenne tribes and by the thraldome of the Iewes wherein vntil this present day they continue a notable spectacle of thy wrath to the world against and for sinne But of all spectacles of thy anger against sinne the greatest and moste notable is the death and bloudy passion of thy dearely beloued sonne Iesu Christ. Great was thine anger against sinn when in heauen earth nothing could be found which might appease thy wrath saue the bloudshedding of thine only most dearly beloued sonne in whom was and is all thy delight Great was the sore of sinne that needed such a salue mightie was the maladie that needed such a medicine If in Christ in whom was no sinne thy wrath was so fiarce of our sins that he was constrained to cry My God my god why hast thou forsakē mee Howe great importable then is thine anger against vs which are nothing but sinfull They that are thy children through the contemplation of thine anger against sinne set foorth most euidently in the death of Christe doe tremble and are afraide lamenting them selues vpon him and heartily crying for mercie whereas the wicked are altogether carelesse and contemptuous nothing lamenting their iniquities or crying to thee heartily for mercie and pardon Amongest whom we are rather to be placed thē amongst thy children for that we are so shamelesse for our sinnes and carelesse for thy wrath heaping daily sinne vpon sinne so that the measure hath ouerflowed and ascended vp to heauen and brought thy heauie plagues vpon vs which are but earnest for greater to ensue therefore to vs pertaineth shame and nothing else is due but confusion What shall we doe what shall we say who can giue vs penitent heartes who can open our lips that our mouthes might make acceptable confession vnto thee Alas of our selues we cannot thinke any good much lesse wish it and least of all do it As for Angels or any other creatures they haue nothing but that which they haue receiued and thei are made to minister vnto vs So that where it passeth the power of the master the minister must needes want Alas then what shall we doe Thou art holie and we vnholie thou art good and we nothing but euill thou art pure and we altogether impure thou art light and we most darke darkenesse howe then can there be any agreement betwixt vs O what now may we do Dispaire No for thou art God and therefore good thou art mercifull and therefore thou forgiuest sinnes with thee is mercie and propiciation and therefore thou art worshipped when Adam had sinned thou gauest him mercie before he desired it and wilt thou denie vs mercie which nowe desire the same Adam excused his fault and accused thee but wee accuse our selues and excuse thee and shall wee be sent emptie away Noe found fauour when thy wrath abounned and shall we seeking grace be frustrate Abrahā was pulled out of Idolatrie when the world was drowned therein and art thou his God onely Israell in captiuitie in Egypt was gratiously visited deliuered deare God the same good Lord shal we alwaies be forgotten How often in the wildernes didst thou defer and spare thy plagues at the requests of Moses when the people them selues made no petition to thee and seeing wee not onely nowe make our petitions vnto thee thrugh thy goodnesse but also haue a mediatour for vs farre aboue Moses euen Iesus Christ shall we I say deare Lorde departe ashamed So soone as Dauid saide I haue sinned thou diddest foorthwith answere him that he should not dye thou haddest taken away his sinnes and gratious God euen the selfe same God shall not we which nowe with Dauid gladly confesse that we haue sinned shall we I say not heare by thy good spirit that our sinnes be pardoned O graunt that with Manasses we may finde fauour and mercy Remember that thou hast not spared thine owne onely deare Sonne Iesus Christ but giuen him to dye for our sinnes to rise for our righteousnesse to ascend for our possession taking in heauen and to appeare before thee for vs for euer a high priest after the order of Melchizedech that through him we might haue free accesse to come to thy throne nowe rather of grace then of iustice Remēber that thou by him hast biddē vs aske and promised that we should receiue saying Aske and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you ▪ O deare GOD and most meeke and mercifull father we heartily beseech thee to be mercifull vnto vs for this thy Christes sake for his deaths sake for thy promise trueth and mercies sake Haue mercie vpon vs pardon and forgiue vs al our sinnes iniquities and trespasses what so euer we haue committed against thee in thought word or deede euer or at any time hitherto by any meanes Deare father haue mercie vpon vs Though we be poore yet our Christ
that wept and saide I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeliefe Yea that little be it neuer so litle is thy meere gift also The which as thou begun so most mercifull Lord increase the same more and more to the peace and comfort of our conscience and the glorie of thy name through Iesus Christ. Amen A thankesgiuing to God for his great benefites HOnour and praise be giuen to thee O Lorde God almightie most deare father of heauen for all thy mercies and louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs in that it hath pleased thy gratious goodnesse freely and of thine owne accorde to elect and choose vs to saluation afore the beginning of the world and euen like continuall thankes be giuen vnto thee for creating vs after thine owne image for redeeming vs with the precious bloud of thy deare Sonne when we were vtterly lost for sanctifying vs with thy holie spirite in the reuelation and knowledge of thy sacred word for helping and succouring vs in al our neede and necessitie for sauing vs from all dangers both of bodie and soule for comforting vs so fatherly in al our troubles and afflictions for sparing vs so long and giuing vs so large a time of repentance These benefites O most mercifull father like as we do acknowledge that we haue receiued of thy onely goodnesse euen so we beseech thee for thy deare sonne Iesus Christes sake to graunt vs alwayes thy holie spirite whereby we may continually growe in thankefulnesse towardes thee be led in all trueth and comforted in all aduersitie Strengthen our faith O Lorde kindle it more and more in feruentnesse and loue towardes thee and our neighbours for thy sake Suffer vs not most deare father to receiue thy word any more in vaine but graunt vs alwaies the assistance of thy grace and holy spirite that in heart word and deede we may sanctifie and doe worship to thy holy name that we may helpe to amplifie and increase thy kingdome and that what so euer thou sendest we may be heartily wel content with thy good will and pleasure Suffer vs not to lack the thing O father without the which we can not serue thee but blesse thou so all the workes of our hands that we may haue sufficient and not to be chargeable but rather helpefull vnto other Be mercifull O Lorde vnto our offences and seeing our debt is great which thou hast forgiuen vs in Iesus Christ make vs to loue thee and our neighbors so much the more Be thou O father our captaine and defender in all temptations holde thou vs by thy mercifull hande that we thereby may be deliuered from all inconueniences and end our liues in the sanctifying and honouring of thy name through Iesus Christ our lord Amen A praier for true mortification O God my creator preseruer and euerlasting defender where first in my creation I was made like vnto thine owne likenesse the diuell alas hath since by Adams fal made me ougly monstrous and like euill fauoured to him selfe For what are nowe Lord mine earthly members but as thine Apostle writeth adulterie whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturall lustes euill concupiscence couetousnesse which is the worshipping of Idols and such other for the which thy wrath is wont to come vpon the children of vnbeliefe Neuerthelesse Lorde of thy great mercy and goodnesse against this so great a mischiefe a much greater remedie thy fatherly prouidence hath ordained for thou hast sent Iesus Christ thy deare only natural Sonne into this worlde the vale of miseries to loose the workes of the diuell and to take away my sinnes Therefore sathan hath nowe nothing to brag of for through Christ all that beleeue in thee and so become thy children do ouercome the world the flesh and the diuell And this is the victorie which ouercommeth thē all euen our faith That faith I meane which is persuaded that who so euer beleeueth in Christ shall not perish but haue euerlasting life That faith which beleeueth the testimonie to be true which thou God the father doest testifie of thy sonne so making thee no liar and this is the testimonie that thou hast giuen vs eternall life That faith which beleeueth that thou father who raisedst vp Christ from death shalt also quicken our mortall bodies through thy holie spirite dwelling in vs That faith which beleeueth it to be true which thy Sonne Christe affirmed with a double oth verily verily I say vnto you he that beleeueth in me the workes that I doe the same shall he doe and greater woorkes then these shall he doe bicause I goe to my father And finally that faith which beleeueth that nowe Christe hath bene lift vp on the crosse he shal draw al things vnto him This faith I say is the victorie which ouercommeth our enimies the diuell the world and our flesh Thou therfore deare father which hast promised to giue what so euer I shal aske in thy deare sonne Iesus name for thy great mercie and infallible truthes sake doe nowe in me the thing that he came for lose in me the workes of the diuel take away my sinnes I beseech thee make stedfast my faith and confidence in thy promised mercies and mercifull promises so that I assuredly beleeuing in thee may haue as thou promisest euerlasting life making thee deare God no liar may beleeue feele and knowe in my heart and conscience that the same euerlasting life is thy meere and free gift vnto me yea alreadie of thy great goodnesse vndoutedly giuen me being nowe translated from death to life Of a thankfulnesse wherof Lord cause me nowe daily to mortifie my earthly members yea deare father sith thy spirit which raised vp Christ from death dwelleth within me doe thou who raisedst Christ frō death quicken my mortall bodie through thy spirite so dwelling in me I beseech thee yea Lord Iesu according to thy promise bicause thou art now gone to thy father make me worke this wonderfull great worke that thou spakest of I meane make me being of my selfe but a lumpe of sinne and a monster most ougly as the vices whereon the members of my earthly bodie are aboue declared to be cōpact doe proue make me I say yet through thy grace to hate abhorre flee and subdue all adulterie whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturall lustes euill concupiscence vnordinate desires wantonnesse tendernesse delicatenesse idlenesse dronkennesse gluttonie slothfulnesse distrust despaire ignorance weakenesse wilfulnesse idolatrie superstition hypocrisie heresie error sects ▪ variance strife wrath enuie slaunders lying swearing cursing vainglorie pride couetousnesse theft deceit flatterie and what so euer else O Lorde fighteth or rebelleth against thy holy spirite and then O Father I will boast make vaunt against myne enimie the diuell that I haue done greater workes then thy deare sonne Iesus did at what time hee spake these wordes among the Iewes because albeit he vanquished Sathan yet in as much as hee
thy kingdome come They cry Come Lord Iesus They lift vp their heads looking for thy appearing Oh Lord which will make their vile bodies like to thine owne glorious and immortall bodie For when thou shalt appeare they shall be like vnto thee Thy Angels wil gather them together and they shall meete thee in the cloudes and be alwayes with thee They shall heare this ioyfull voyceâ— Come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning Then shal they be like to thy Angels Then shall they be like vnto the Sonne in thy kingdome Then shall they haue crownes of glorie and be indued with white garments of innocencie and righteousnesse hauing palmes of victorie in their handes Oh happy is he that may but see that immortall and incorruptible inheritance which they shall inioy for euermore Amen I. B. A meditation of the presence of God. THere is nothing that maketh more to true godlinesse of life then the persuasion of thy presence deare father and that nothing is hid from thee but all to thee is open and naked euen our verie thoughts which one day thou wilte reueale and open either to our praise or punishment in this life as thou didest Dauids faults which he did secretly 2. Reg. 12. or in the life to com Math. 25. for nothing is so hid that shall not be reuealed Therfore doth the prophet say Wo to them that keepe secrete their thoughtes to hide their counsell from the Lord and do their workes in darknesse saying who seeth vs Graunt mee therefore deare God mercie for all my sinnes especially my hidde and close sinnes Enter not into iudgement with me I humbly beseech thee giue mee to beleeue truly in thy Christ that I neuer come into iudgement for them and that with Dauid I mighte so reueale them vnto thee that thou wouldest in thy great mercie couer them And graunt further that hencefoorth I may alwaies thinke my selfe continually conuersaunt before thee so that if I do wel I neede not to passe of the publishing of it as hypocrites do if I thinke or do any euil I may forthwith knowe that the same shall not alwayes be hid from men Graunt me that I may alwayes haue in minde that day wherein the hid workes of darknesse shal be illuminated and also that sentenee of thy sonne that nothing is so secret which shall not be reuealed So in trouble and wrong I shal finde comfort and otherwise be kept through thy grace from euill which doe thou worke I humbly beseech thee for Christes sake I.B. A meditation of the prouidence of God. THis ought to be vnto vs most certaine that nothing is done without thy prouidence O Lord that is that nothing is done be it good or bad sweete or sower but by thy knowledge that is by thy will wisedome and ordinaunce for all these knowledge doth comprehend in it as by thy holy worde wee are taught in many places that euen the life of a sparrowe is not without thy will nor any libertie or power vpoÌ„ a porket haue all the diuells in Hell but by thy appoyntment and will which will we alwaies must beleeue most assuredly to be all iust and good how so euer otherwise it seeme vnto vs for thou art maruellous and not comprehensible in thy wayes and holy in all thy workes But herevnto it is necessarie also for vs to knowe no lesse certeinely that though all thinges be done by thy prouidence yet the same prouidence hath many and diuerse meanes to worke by which meanes beeing contemned thy prouidence is contemned also As for example Meat is a meane to serue thy prouidence for the preseruation of health and life here so that hee which contemneth to eate because thy prouidence is certeine and infallible the same contemneth thy prouidence In deede if it were so that meate could not be had then should we not tie thy prouidence to this meane but make it free as thou art free that is that without meate thou canst helpe and giue health and life for it is not of any neede that thou vsest any instrument or meane to serue thy prouidence Thy power wisedome is infinite and therefore should we hange on thy prouidence euen when all is cleane against vs But for our erudition infirmities sake it hath pleased thee by meanes to worke and deale with vs here to exercise vs in obedience and because we cannot â—lse so greate is our corruption susteine thy naked and bare presence Graunt me therefore deare father I humbly beseech thee for Christes sake the as I something now knowe these things so I may vse this knowledge to my comfort commoditie in thee that is graunt that in what state soeuer I be I may not doubt but the same doth come to mee by thy most iust ordinance yea by thy mercifull ordinance for as thou art iust so art thou merciful yea thy mercie is aboue all thy works And by this knowledge graunt mee that I may humble my selfe to obey thee and looke for thy helpe in time conuenient not onely wheÌ„ I haue meanes by which thou maiest worke and art so accustomed to do but also when I haue no meanes but am destitute therof yea wheÌ„ all meanes be directly and cleane against mee graunt I say that I may yet still hang vpon thee and thy prouidence not doubting of a fatherly end in thy good time Againe least I should contemne thy prouidence or presume vppon it by vncoupling those thinges which thou hast coupled together preserue me from neglecting thy ordinarie lawfull meanes in all my needes if so be I may haue them with good conscience vse theÌ„ although I know thy prouidence be not tied to them further then pleaseth thee and grant that I may with diligence reuerence and thankfulnes vse them and thereto my deligence wisedeme and industrie in all thinges lawefull to serue thereby thy prouidence if it so please thee howbeit so that I hang in no part on the meanes or on my diligence wisedome and industrie but onely on thy prouidence which more and more persuade me to be altogether fatherlie and good howe far so euer otherwise it appeare and seeme yea or else is felt of me By this I being preserued from negligence on my behalfe and despaire or murmuring towards thee shall become diligent and patient through thy meere and alone grace which giue and increase in me to the praise of thy holy name for euer through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen I. B. A Meditation of Gods power beautie goodnesse c. BYcause thou Lord wouldest haue vs to loue thee not onely doest thou will entice allure and prouoke vs but also doest command vs so to do promising thy self vnto such as loue thee and threatning vs with daÌ„nation if we do otherwise Wherby we may see both our great corruption naughtinesse also thine exceeding great mercie towards vs.
pray thee to indue vs with strength from aboue that wee may bee able through thy helpe with strong faith to resist sathan with feruent prayer to mortifie the lustes of the fleshe with continuall meditation of thy holy lawe to auoide the foolish vanities and transitory plesures of this wicked worlde that through thy grace we being set at libertie from the power of these our mortall enemies may serue thee here in true holines and righteousnes and after be partakers of the euerlasting ioyes prepared for thy children which as they are greate and vnspeakeable so are there fewe that doe enioye them For straight is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth therevnto fewe there be that find it Notwithstāding O God thou hast a little flock to whom it is thy pleasure to giue that ioyfull kingdome whose names are written in the booke of life Make vs therefore of the number for Iesus Christs sake and place vs amongest those thy sheepe which shall stande on thy right hand to receiue the blessed inheritaunce and dwell with thee for euermore A prayer for present helpe in tentation DEare father to whom it is more easie to do all thinges then for me to thinke any one good thing Loe doe thou but speake a worde and thy deadlie sicke seruaunte my soule shal be made whole Helpe O Lord for thy great mercie sake for thy truth sake and for thy deare sonne Iesus Christ sake and let thy strength suffice against my weakenesse and thy holy spirit against my sinfull flesh and old man. Thou art faithfull O Father who hast promised that I shall not be tempted further then ▪ thou wilt make me able to beare Giue nowe therefore thy grace and strength vnto thy seruaunt that I may with a strong faith in thine infallible truth and promised mercie vanquishe and subdue what so euer rebelleth against thy most blessed wil. Preserue and keepe holy my soule and body and let them not be defiled made a dungeon of diuels wicked spirits through delectation in sinne Behold deare father the postes thereof are sprinkled with the pretious bloud of thy deare son of thy great mercie they are made the temple and tabernacle of thy holy spirite Shall now alas the diuell the worlde or the fleshe plucke from thee that thing which presently crieth to thee with assured trust in thy promised helpe Nay father ▪ but graunt that I may by thy mightie power turne all their crafts deceits and raging assaultes vnto the increase of my faith that by experience of thy fatherly assistance in this my present temptation I may with assured hope trust in thy ready helpe comfort ouercome my saide enemies hereafter in like assaultes and prayse thy holy name for the victorie through Iesus Christ our Lord. My sonne if thou wilt come into the seruice of the Lorde stande fast in righteousnesse and feare and prepare thy soule to tentation Eccle. 2. Remedies against sinneful motions and tentations First remember that sinne is so heinous a thing that God by his iustice might worthily damne thee for the same and is therefore to be abhorred as a sweete poyson a flattering death and destruction of the soule which would out thee off from God thy Sauiour and make thee a bondslaue to sathan thy deadly enemie Auoide therefore euen at the first the occasions thereof and betimes quash out the braines of the children of Babylon against the harde stones whiles yet they be young and weake least when they be growen elder and stronger they dash thee to peeces And for remedie against the same flee vnto God who commandeth thee to call vpon him in thy troubles and promiseth to deliuer thee and wil not suffer thee to be further tempted then he wil make a way out whereby thou shalt escape and doubt not but hee that causeth thee to hate the sinne which thy nature is to loue will deliuer thee also from the daunger thereof and make thee to triumph ouer sathan to his confusion to Gods glorie and to thy great comfort which are causes that our tender louing father sendeth tentations vnto vs and he that is not tempted what is he Now after thou hast obteined the victorie remember two thinges first to giue most heartie thankes to God for his grace and assistance whereby thou hast ouercome and be not vnthankfull in any wise and then that he who continually goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuour will not be long or farre away from thee but wil attempt againe the same or as euill wayes to ouercome thee Watch therefore and pray A prayer for the auoyding of Gods heauie wrath vengeance for our sinnes OH Lord God strong mightie great and fearefull which dwellest in the heauens and workest great wonders wee thy miserable children here vppon earth doe moste humbly beseech thee to be merciful vnto vs to pardon our offences and to forgiue vs all our sinnes O Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruantes for if thou doe there shall no fleshe be saued in thy fight We confesse and acknowledge O Lorde that it is our sinnes whiche hath moued thee to wrath and to shewe such fearefull tokens of thy displeasure towardes vs in these our dayes first with fire from heauen betokening thy hote burning indignation and wrathfull displeasure for sinne which aboundeth at this daye then with such horrible and monstrous shapes against nature as were neuer seene here in our dayes nor in any time before vs which do betoken to vs none other thing but thy plagues to come vpon vs for our degenerate and monstrous life and conuersation and nowe besides all this by great mortalitie plague and pestilence thou hast terribly threattened vs fatherly warned vs mercifully called vs to repentance The axe is set to the roote of the tree and if wee bee not as rotten members without all sense and feeling wee may perceaue our fearefull destruction and desolation to bee at hande vnlesse wee speedily repent and turne to thee because wee haue bene so long taught out of thy most holy and sacred word yet no fruits of repentance or Christian life will appeare Woe and alas to these our dayes that neither preaching by word most comfortable nor preaching by fire most terrible nor preaching by monsters most strange and ougly neither yet by plagues and pestilence most horrible will stirre vp our stonie heartes and awake vs from our sinnes We feare O Lorde that the Turkes with all the rest of the vnbeleeuing will condemne vs in the last day which if they had bin so long instructed by the comfortable preaching of thy word and sweet promises of thy Gospel or seene the woonders which we haue seene no doubt their righteousnesse would haue shined at this day to our great shame and confusion Thou hast no lesse warned vs O Lorde of thy fearefull displeasure heauie plagues at hand for our great wickednesse then thou
didest the Israelites of that horrible destruction which came vpon them whom thou first in mercie diddest cal to repentance by the preaching of thy worde but when no warning would serue thou diddest send them monstrous and fearefull signes and tokens to declare that thy visitatiō was not farre off But they like vnto vs at this day did always interpret these things after the imagination of their owne vaine hearts promising to themselues peace when destruction was ouer their heads Which things when we do call to minde for as much as they are written for our learning example and warning it maketh vs to tremble and quake for feare of thy iust iudgements For if thou hast thus dealt with thine owne deare and chosen children in token of thy great wrath against sinne what shall wee looke for who do no lesse deserue thy fearfull scourge for of mercie it is that thou doest thus long forbeare vs and liue as though there were no God at all to be reuenged vpon our sinnes It maketh vs to feare crye inwardly in our soules Come Lorde Iesu holy true in all thy doings shorten our daies bring this our pilgrimage to an end suffer vs not to heap sinne vpon sinne vntill the day of vengeance least we be caught vp amongst the number of the wicked and reprobate which shall neuer see thy louing countenance It maketh vs to crie to thee O Lorde Let thy kingdome come and end this our sinefull life wherein we doe nothing but prouoke thee to wrath Correct vs not O Lord in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauy displeasure And though to vs belongeth nothing but shame confusion though our offences haue deserued to be visited with the rod and our sinnes with scourges yet in mercie Lorde with fatherly correctiō chasten vs and thy louing kindnesse take not away from vs. To thee we flee for succour vnder the winges of thy mercy shal be our refuge vntill thou turne thy wrathfull countenaunce from vs We know that thy mercie is aboue all thy works and euen as great as thy selfe therfore wit we say with holy Iob Though thou kill vs yet will wee put our trust in thee Thou camest to comfort pluck out of the dungeon of hell suche wretches as wee are Thou art the good Samaritan that camest to heale our deadly woundes thou art that good Physitian that camest to cure our mortall infirmities thou art the good sheepheard that camest to seeke vs wandering and lost sheepe and to bring vs to thy folde againe more then that thou art our brother flesh of our flesh and bone of our bones which hast tasted of our infirmities felt our temptations and borne the burden of our sinnes therefore at thy handes we looke for mercie against the day of vengeance And though thou punish vs yet our hope is and euer shall be that thy rodde shall no further touch vs then shal make to thy glorie our commoditie and the strengthening and increase of our faith Let this thy Preaching sundrie ways O Lord be sufficient for our warning and graunt that we may speedily from the bottome of our heartes repent endeuour to doe thy righteous and blessed will reuealed in thy worde and frame our liues according to the same that we may here liue in thy feare all the dayes of our life and after this our sinnefull course is ended may dwel with thee in thy blessed kingdome through the death merites of Iesus Christ our onely redeemer So be it Another praier for the auoiding of Gods deserued wrath hanging ouer vs for our sinnes WHen we looke backe and behold our sinful life past what a dongeon of errours vice wickednes openeth it selfe vnto vs so that there is no man but he must needes be ashamed of him selfe when he calleth to mind what he hath ben trembleth when he considereth the wickednes and sinneful course of his life to come for who shall vndertak◠that the rest of our life shall bee any better then that is past How can we thē sufficiently magnifie praise thy great mercy which hast deferred thy punishmēt so long Beholding therfore this our daungerous miserable state we come vnto thee O thou great and mightie Iudge in trembling and feare humbly beseeching thee not to heape vpon vs thy deserued vengeance but let thy tender kindnes loue thou bearest to Iesus Christ thy sonne our gratious Lord and redeemer couer our iniquites for whose sake though we deserue all extremitie thou doest pardon vs. If thou Lorde shall straitly marke our iniquities O Lord who shal be able to abide it Psal. 103. A prayer to be saide of all such as suffer any kinde of crosse ALmightie God king of al kings gouernour of al things whose power no creature is able to resist to whome it belongeth iustly to punish sinners to be mercifull vnto them that truely repent wee confesse thou doest most iustly punishe vs for wee haue greeuously sinned against thee and wee acknowledge that in punishing vs thou doest declare thy selfe to be our most mercifull father as well because thou doest not punishe vs in any thing as we haue deserued as also because by punishing vs thou doest call vs and as it were draw vs to increase in repentance in faith in prayer in contemning of the world and in heartie desiring for euerlasting life and thy blessed presence Grant vs therfore gratious Lord thankefully to acknowledge thy great mercie which hast thus fauourably dealte with vs in punishing vs not to our confusion but to our amendement And seeing thou hast sworne that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but that he turne and liue haue mercie vppon vs and turne vs vnto thee for thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christes sake whome thou wouldest shoulde bee made a slaine sacrifice for our sinnes thereby declaring thy great and vnspeakeable anger against sinne and thine infinite mercie towards vs sinfull wretches And for as much as the dulnesse blindnes corruption of our hearts is such that we are not able to arise vp vnto thee by faithfull and heartie prayer according to our great necessitie without thy singular grace and assistance graunt vnto vs gratious Lorde thy holy and sanctifying spirite to worke in vs this good work with grace to weigh and consider the neede and greatnesse of that wee doe desire and with an assured faith and trust that thou wilt grant vs our requestes because thou art good and gratious euen to younge Rauens calling vppon thee much more then to vs for whome thou hast made all things yea and hast not spared also thine owne deare sonne because thou hast commaunded vs to call vppon thee because thy throne whereto wee come is a throne of grace and mercie because thou hast giuen vs a mediator Christe to bring vs vnto thee being the way by whome wee come being the dore by whome wee enter
and being our head on whome we hang and hope that our poore petitions shall not be in vaine through him and for his names sake Wee beseech thee therefore of thy rich mercie wherein thou art plentifull to all thē that call vpon thee to forgiue vs our sinnes namely our vnthankfulnesse vnbeleefe selfeloue neglect of thy worde securitie hypocrisie contēpt of thy long suffering omission of prayer doubting of thy power presence mercy and good will towardes vs vnsensiblenesse of thy grace impaciencie c. and to this thy benefite of correcting vs adde thy gratious gift of repentaunce faith the spirite of prayer the contempte of this worlde and heartie desiring for euerlasting life Indue vs with thy holy spirit according to thy couenant mercie as well to assure vs of pardon and that thou doest accept vs into thy fauour as thy deare children in Christ and for his sake as to write thy lawe in our heartes and so to worke in vs that we may nowe begin and goe forwards in beleuing lyuing fearing obeying praying hoping and seruing thee as thou dost require most fatherly and most iustly of vs accepting vs as perfect in thy sight through Iesus Christ our lord Amen A prayer of the afflicted for the profession of Gods worde O Gratious God which seekest all meanes possible howe to bring thy children into the feeling and sure sense of thy mercie and therefore when prosperitie will not serue then sendest thou aduersitie gratiously correcting them here whō thou wilt haue elswhere to liue with thee for euer wee poore wretches giue humble prayses and thankes to thee that thou hast vouched vs worthy of thy correction at this present hereby to worke that which wee in prosperitie and libertie did neglecte For the which neglecting and many other our greeuous sinns wherof we nowe accuse our selues before thee most mercifull Lord thou mightest most iustly haue giuen vs ouer and destroied vs both in soule and body But such is thy goodnes towards vs in Christ that thou seemest to forget all our offences and as though we were farre otherwise then we be in deede thou wilt that wee should suffer this crosse nowe laide vpon vs for thy truth and gospels sake and so be thy witnesses with thy Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessours yea with thy dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ to whom thou doest now here beginne to fashion vs like that in his glory we may be like to him also O good God what are we on whō thou shouldest shew this great mercie Oh louing Lord forgiue vs our vnthankefulnesse and sinnes Oh faithfull father giue vs thine holy spirite nowe to crie in our heartes Abba deere father to assure vs of our eternall election in Christ to reueale more and more thy truth vnto vs to confirme strengthen and stablishe vs so in the same that we may liue and die in it as vessels of thy mercie to thy glorie and to the commoditie of thy Church Indue vs with the spirit of thy wisedome that with good conscience we may alwayes so aunswere the enemies in thy cause as may turne to their conuersion or confusion and our vnspeakeable cōsolatiō in Christ Iesus for whose sake wee beseech thee hencefoorth to keepe vs to giue vs patience and to will no otherwise for deliuerance or mitigation of our miserie then may stand alwayes with thy good plesure merciful will towards vs. Graunt this deare father not only to vs in this place but also to all others else where afflicted for thy names sake through the death and merites of Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen I. B. A prayer to God the father the Sonne and the holy Ghost O Almightie and euerliuing God the eternall father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which of thy vnmesurable goodnes hast opened thy self vnto vs and with a loude voyce hast saide of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord Heare him O maker preseruer of all thinges with thy coeternall sonne our Lord Iesus Christ which reigneth with thee and was manifested in Ierusalem with thy holy spirite which was powred vppon the Apostles O wise God mercifull Iudge and mightie Lord which hast saide As truely as I liue I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert amend whiche also hast saide Call vppon me in the day of thy trouble I will deliuer thee haue mercie vpon vs for Iesus Christes sake whome thou wouldest of thy merueylous and incomprehensible counsell shoulde be made for vs a slaine sacrifice mediator reconciler and peacemaker to the end that thou mightest shewe thine exceeding great wrath against sinne and thine inestimable mercie towardes mankinde Sanctifie illuminate our heartes and soules with thy holy spirite that wee may truly beleeue in thee call vppon thee bee thankefull vnto thee and obedient to thy holy will. Defend gouerne and cherish thy Church as thou hast promised saying This is my couenāt that I haue made with them my spirit which is in thee and my worde which I haue put in thy mouth shall not departe out of thy mouthe nor out of the mouth of thy seede for euer Preserue those kingdomes and cōmon weales which giue harborough to the people and maintaine the ministerie of thy holy word and Gospell that the kingdom of thy sonne Iesus Christ may encrease and shine throughout all the worlde O Iesus Christ Sonne of the euerliuing God crucified for vs and raysed also from the deade and nowe reigning at the right hand of thy father that thou maiest giue gifts vnto mee which hast saide Come vnto mee all ye that labour and are heauie loden and I will refresh you haue mercie vpon vs praye for vs vnto thy eternall father sanctifie and gouerne vs with thy holy spirite helpe and succour vs in all our necessities as thou hast promised saying I will not leaue you comfortlesse O holie and blessed spirite together with the father and the son one true and euerliuing God full of maiestie and power which with thy heauenly inspiration quickenest the mindes of those that afore were dead in sinne makest ioyfull the heartes of the faithfull penitent bringest in to the way of trueth all such as haue erred and gone astraye comfortest the soules of such as hunger thirst after righteousnesse and plenteously inrichest those with diuerse giftes which aske them in Iesus Christes name purifie our heartes wee beseech thee and inflame them with the fire of thy loue replenishe them with thy heauenly benefites and spirituall blessinges that they may be made meete temples for thee leade vs into all trueth which art the onely fountaine of trueth and mortifie in vs whatsoeuer proceedeth not of thee Or else pray thus O Holy spirite powred vppon the Apostles which hast promised vnto vs by the sonne of God our Redeemer to kindle in vs a true knowledge and inuocation of God as it is written I will powre vppon you the spirite of grace of
lowde in thine eares though they speake neuer a worde at all Shoulde I then nowe despaire of thy fatherly mercie whiles presently I feele thee stirre vp my soule and hearte to craue helpe at thy hande Should I thinke that thou wilt absent thy selfe for euer that thou wilt be no more intreated that thy mercie is cleane gone that thy promise is come vtterly to an ende and that thou wilt nowe shut vp thy louing kindnesse in displeasure Nay Lorde for all alterations are of thy right hande and turne alway to the best to them that feare thee All this is but mine owne infirmitie for thou art euer one thy promises be infallible and thy loue towards thine euerlastingly during I will therefore in this my present tentation greuous assaulte powre out the heauinesse of my hearte before thee deare father Out of the deepe will I crie lift vp my soule vnto thee from whom I assuredly know my helpe is comming I will also for my present comfort cal to remembrance O Lorde my God thy tender mercies towards me already shewed the multitude of thy benefites the greatnes of the same the longe continuance of them euen frō my conception vntill this instant finally thy continuall luste desire to powre them vpon me And moreouer sith thy goodnesse is so great O Lord that thou dost not onely pitie miserie but also callest the heauie hearted and afflicted vnto thee promising that thou wilt ease their miserie for as much as by the motion of thy good spirit I loth and abhorre my sinnes feele the greuousnesse of them and thy heauie wrath towardes me for the same and finally what neede I haue of thy gratious ayde and succour therefore Oh Lorde in thy Sonne Christes name with sure confidence and trust in thine infallible promise in this mine anguish trouble I come vnto thee at thy mercifull calling and craue comfort at thy hand For thou hast promised that when I loath my sinnes thou wilt vterly forget them when I feele the greeuous burthen of them thy mercie swalloweth them vp when I seeke that I want thou wilte assuredly graunt it me For sith thou mouest my hearte to desire helpe how shoulde I mistrust but thou wilt for thy truth sake giue me my asking Yea where I knowe not howe or what to desire as I ought thy holy spirite gratiously working in mee maketh intercession mightily for me with groninges which can not bee expressed and therewithall certifieth my spirit that by adoption through thy great mercie and goodnesse I am become thy childe and heire Why should I not then be of good comfort and ioyfull in thee my God For if thou be on my side who can be against mee Since thou diddest not spare thine owne sonne but gauest him for mee euen when I was thine enemie howe shalt thou not with him nowe that by his death I am brought into thy fauour giue mee all thinges with him and for his sake Who shall lay any thing to the charg of thine elect It is thou Lord which iustifiest mee It is Christe that hath dyed for mee yea rather that is risen againe for mee who also is set on thy right hand hath taken possession yea and perpetually maketh there intercession for me vntill that ioyfull day be come when I shall haue full fruition of the moste glorious presence of thy diuine maiestie in that kingdome whiche thou hast prepared before the beginning of the world but in time to thy gratious goodnesse thought best made knowen to me by giuing thy holy spirite into my heart whereby when I first Lord beleeued thy holy worde which is thine owne power to saue all that beleeue I was sealed confirmed and stablished in the certaintie of that thine euerlasting kingdom and inheritāce For the which inestimable benefite of thy rich grace Oh Lorde my God I beseech thee euen for the loue thou bearest to Christe Iesus thy son thy mercie thou haddest on him when he cried on the crosse My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Help help I say inflame my heart with loue so plentifully towardes thee againe that I may be euen swalowed vp in the ioyfull feeling of the same in such sort that I may of verie thankefulnesse loue thee my GOD alone thee I say my deare GOD and nothing but thee and for thy sake O holy spirite whose work this is in mee increase this thy worke of thine infinite mercie and preserue mee that I neuer become vnthankefull vnto thee therefore Amen A prayer for the sicke O Most mercifull God which according to the multitude of thy mercies dost so put away the sins of those which truly repēt that thou remembrest them no more open thy eyes of mercie and looke vpon this thy sicke seruant who most earnestly desireth pardon and forgiuenesse Renue in him most louing father whatsoeuer hath beene decayed by the fraude and malice of the diuell or by his owne carnall will and frailtie Preserue and continue this sicke member in the vnitie of thy Church Consider his contrition ▪ accept his teares assuage his paine as shall bee seene to thee most expedient for him And for as much as he putteth his full trust onely in thy mercie impute not vnto him his former sinnes but take him vnto thy fauour through the merits of thy most dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ. A prayer to be saide at the houre of death O Lord Iesus Christ which art the onely health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them that die in thee I wretched sinner do submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will and being sure that the thing cannot perish which is cōmitted vnto thy mercie willingly now I leaue this fraile and sinnfull fleshe in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise restore it to mee againe at the last day in the resurrection of the iust I beseech thee most mercifull Lorde Iesus Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make stronge my soule against all tentations and defende mee with the buckler of thy mercie against all the assaults of the diuell I see and acknowledge that there is in my selfe no helpe of saluation but al my confidence hope and trust is in thy rich mercie and goodnesse I haue no merites or good workes which I may alledge before thee of sinnes and euill workes alas I see a great heape but yet through thy mercie I trust to be in the number of them to whome thou wilt not impute their sinnes but wilt accept and take mee for righteous and iust and to be an inheritour of euerlastinge life Thou mercifull Lord wast borne for my sake thou diddest suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake thou diddest teach pray and fast for my sake all thy holy actions and works thou wroughtest for my sake thou sufferedst most greeuous paines and tormentes for my sake finally thou gauest thy most precious bodie and bloode to be
feeding our bodies with this corporall foode do render vnto thee most heartie thanks for the same beseeching thee likewise to feede our soules with that heauenly foode which perisheth not but abideth into euerlasting life so that we being nourished by thy goodnes both in bodye and soule may be apt and readie to do all good works which thou hast prepared for vs to walke in through Iesus Christ our Lord. Vnto him that loued vs and wasshed vs from our sinnes in his bloud and made vs kinges and Priestes vnto God his father be all glorie power dominion for euermore Amen An other THe God of glorie who hath created redeemed and presently fed vs be blessed for euermore AmeÌ„ The God of all power who hath called from death the great pastour of the sheepe our Lorde Iesus comfort and defend the flocke which hee hath redeemed by the bloud of the eternall testament increase the number of true preachers represse the rage of obstinate tyrants lighten the heartes of the ignorant releeue the paines of such as be afflicted but specially of those that suffer for the testimonie of the trueth and finally confound Sathan by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ. So be it PRAYERS COMMONly called Lidleys prayers with certaine godly additions Before thou prayest forgiue if thou hast any thing against any man come not to GOD with a double heart but lift vp pure handes without wrath or doubting 1. Tim. 2. ALmightie and moste mercifull father I thy poore creature and worke of thy handes acknowledg and confesse vnto thee my manifoulde sinnes and offences which I froÌ„ my youth vp vnto this day haue committed against thee in thought word and deede beseeching thee for Iesus Christ thy deare sons sake to haue mercie vpon me and to pardon the same according to thy great mercie which hast promised that At what time so euer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart thou wil put al his wickednesse out of thy remembrance O Lord I confesse that I was borne in sinne and conceiued in wickednesse and am by nature a Childe of wrath For in my fleshe dwelleth no good thing and of my selfe I am not able to thinke a good thought much lesse to do that thou in thy law requirest of me saying Cursed is he that continueth not in all thinges that are written in the law to do them Againe Thy law is spiritual but I am carnall fold vnder sinne Therfore O Lord I come vnto thee for grace which hast said Aske ye shal haue seeke ye shal find knock it shal be opened you to preuent draw my wil vnto all goodnes for none can come vnto thee except he be drawen and except we be borne from aboue we cannot see the kingdome of God. Therefore O Lorde renewe in mee a right spirit that I may receiue strength and ablenes to do thy righteous will. Graunt that I may euer desire will that which is most pleasing and acceptable to thy will. Thy will be my will and my wil be alwayes to followe thy will. Let there be euer in mee one will and one desire with thee and let mee neuer desire to will or not to will but as thou wilt Graunt me that aboue all thinges I may rest in thee and fully quiet and pacifie my heart in thee for thou Lord art the true peace of the heart and the perfect rest of the soule Thou knowest Lord what is most profitable expedient for mee wherfore doe with mee in all things as it shall seeme best vnto thee For it may not bee but well that thou dost which doest moste iustly blessedly dispose all thinges after thy most godly wisedome Therefore whether it be by prosperitie or aduersitie losse or gaine sickenesse or health life or death thy will be done Cast out of my heart all vnprofitable cares of worldly thinges and suffer mee not to be led with the vnstable desires of earthly vanities but giue me grace that all worldly and carnall affections may be mortified die in me Graunt vnto mee the strength of thy holy spirite to subdue this body of sinne with the whole lustes thereof that it may bee obedient both in will minde and members to doe thy holy will. Assist me with thy grace O Lord that I may be strengthened in the inwarde man and be armed with thy holy armour whiche is the brest-place of righteousnes the shielde of of faith the hope of saluation for an helmet and the sworde of the spirite which is thy holy word that I may stand perfect in all that is thy will and bee found worthie through Christ to receiue the crowne of life which thou hast promised to all them that loue thee Giue me grace that I may esteme all thinges in this world as they be transitory soone vanishing away and my self also with them drawing towardes mine ende For nothinge vnder the sunne maye longe abide but all is vanitie and affliction of spirite Oh Lorde God which art sweetenes vnspeakeable turne into bitternes vnto me al transitorie and earthly delightes which may drawe mee from the loue of eternall thinges and for all worldly comfortes giue me the sweete comfort of thy holy spirite for thou Lorde art my ioye my hope my crowne and my glorie Blessed are they that for the loue of thee set not by the pleasures of this world but crucifie the flesh and the lustes therof so that in a cleane pure conscience they may offer their prayers vnto thee and be accepted to haue companie with thee together with thy Angels heauenly spirits O euerlasting light sende downe the beames of thy brightnes lighten the inward partes of my hearte Open my hearte that I may beholde thy lawes and teache mee to walke in thy commandementes Beholde my weakenes O Lord and consider my frailenesse best knowen vnto thee Faine would I cleaâ—e fast to heauenly thinges but worldly affections and tentations plucke mee back they daily rebell and suffer not my soule to liue in rest Which although they drawe mee not away to consent yet neuerthelesse their assaults be verie grieuous vnto me Oh what a life may this be called where no trouble nor miserie lacketh where euery place is full of snares of mortall enemies For one trouble or tentation ouerpassed an other commeth by and by and the first conflict yet during a newe battell sodenly ariseth Tedious it is to me to liue in such battel but I perceiue such conflictes are not vnprofitable for me whilest I know my selfe and mine infirmities the better and am thereby compelled to seeke helpe at thy hand It is good for mee O Lord that thou hast thus exercised and humbled me that I may learne to dread thy secrete and terrible iudgements which scourgest euery childe that thou receiuest which bringest down to the gates of hel and bringest backe againe I yeeld thee thanks therefore that thou hast not
spared my sinnes but hast punished mee with scourges of loue and hast sent afflictions and anguish within and without Of grace fauour it is O Lord that thou sufferest thy seruants to be troubled and afflicted in this world because they should not be condemned with the world Thou wouldest that they shoulde here be broken with affliction that they may after rise in a newe light be clarified and made glorious in thy kingdome Oh holy father thou hast ordeyned it so to be and it is done as thou hast appoynted Wherefore O Lord giue mee the grace to rest in thee aboue all thinges and to quiet my heart in thee aboue all creatures aboue all glorie and honour aboue all dignitie and power aboue all health and beutie aboue all riches and treasure aboue all ioy and pleasure aboue all fame and praise aboue all mirth and consolatioÌ„ that mans heart may take or feele besides thee For thou Lord art most good most wise most righteous most holy most iust most blessed most high most mightie most comfortable most beautifull most louing most glorious in whom all treasures of goodnesse most perfectly rest And therefore whatsoeuer I haue besides thee it is nothing vnto mee for my heart may not rest nor fullie be pacified but onely in theee Oh Lord Iesu â–ª who shal giue me winges of pefecte loue that I may flee vp from these worldly miseries and rest with thee Oh Christ the king of euerlasting glorie my soul crieth vnto thee with continual gronings saith how long â—arieth my Lord God to come to me Oh when shall the end come of all these miseries When shall I cleane be deliuered from the bondage of sinne When shal I Lord haue my mind onely fixed on thee and be merie in thee with perfect ioye and gladnesse When shal that blessed houre come that thou shalt visite me and make me glad with thy blessed presence when thou shalt be to me all in all When shall I come vnto thee and feele and enioy those sweete consolations which with thy blessed saintes are alwayes present When shall I haue peace without trouble peace without peace within on euery side stedfast and sure O Lord Iesu when shall I stand and beholde thee and haue full sight and contemplation of thy glorye When shall I be with thee in thy kingdome that thou hast ordeined for thine elect before the beginning Oh blessed mansion of that heauenly cittie Oh most cleare day of eternitie whome the night may neuer darken This is the day always cleere and merie alwaies sure and neuer changing This day shineth cleerely to thy saints in heaueÌ„ Oh gratious God with euerlasting brightnesse but to vs here on earth so great is the darknes of sin in vs it shineth obscurely and as it were a farre off we see but a glimmering thereof Woulde to God this day might shortly appeare and shine vnto vs and that these worldly vanities were at an end Thy heauenly Citizens know and feele how ioyfull this day is but we the Children of Eue strangers and exiles here on earth doe lament and bewaile the bitter tediousnes of this present life short and euil full of sorrowe and anguish Where man is oftentimes defiled with sinne disquieted with troubles oppressed with cares busied with vanities blinded with errors ouercharged with laboures vexed with tentations ouercome with vaine delightes and pleasures of the worlde miserably wrapped in many kindes of calamities Wherefore O Lord arise and help me comfort mine exile assuage my sorrowe destroy the power of mine enemies the kingdome of sinne Sathan the world and my wicked flesh which alway make battell against me and bring these conflicting dayes to an end So shal I sing praises vnto thee O God of my saluation and magnifie thy holy name world with out end Amen A confession of sinnes and a prayer for the remission thereof O Lord God rich in mercie and of great goodnesse who of thy tender loue towardes vs euen when we were thine enimies diddest send into the world thine own deare sonne Iesus Christ to be a slaine sacrifice for our sinnes so that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting haue mercy vpoÌ„ me according to thy great mercies and according to the multitude of thy compassions put away mine iniquities â–ª For mine iniquities are gone ouer my head and as a weightie burthen they presse me downe Against heauen and against thee haue I sinned O Lord I am not worthy to be called thy childe I am ashamed to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee for my sinnes are ascended vp into thy sight There is nothing sound in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne Behold I am sold vnder sin and in my flesh ther dwelleth no good thing For the good which I would doe I doe not but the euill which I would not doe that I doe Wash me therfore O Lord froÌ„ mine iniquities clense me from my sin Purifie my heart by the sanctifying of thy holy spirite â–ª and by the sprinckling of the blood of thy deare sonne from the filth of sinne and an euill conscience Make me to heare ioy and gladnes that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce Create in me a new heart O God and renue a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirite from me Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and stablish me with thy free spirite For thou art good to them that trust in thee and to the soule that seeketh thee Al thy wayes are mercie and truth to them that seeke out thy couenant and thy testimonies The fountaine of thy goodnes is euer full and ouerflowing thy mercy neuer decayeth Thou woundest and healest againe thou killest and reuiuest bringest euen downe to hel and bringest backe againe Thou raisest vp those that are faln thou comfortest the broken harted Thou strengthenest the wearie handes and crooked knees and out of the gulph of hell thou deliuerest the afflicted Out of darknes thou bringest light out of death life and out of damnation thou bringest saluation Heare me therefore O Lord according to thy louing kindnes turne vnto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies Looke vpon mine affliction and my trauell and forgiue all my sinnes Remember not the offences of my youth nor my rebellioÌ„s against thee For if thou Lord shouldest marke our iniquities Lord who should be able to stande in thy sight Seeing thou hast founde iniquitie euen in thine Angels and the heaueÌ„s are not cleane in thy sight muche more is man abhominable filthy which drinketh iniquitie like water Notwithstanding thou hast said O Lord that as the righteousnes of the righteous man shall not saue him whensoeuer he offendeth so shal not the wickednesse of the wicked man hurt him whensoeuer
father and to the sonne and to the holy ghost As it was in the beginning is nowe and euer shal be world without ende Amen From our enimies defende vs O Christ. Gratiously looke vpon our afflictions Pitifully behold the sorrows of our heartes Mercifully forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauorably with mercie heare our prayers O Sonne of Dauid â–ª haue mercie vpon vs. Both now and euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ. Gratiously heare vs O Christ gratiously heare vs O Lord Christ. O Lord let thy mercie be shewed vpon vs As we doe put our trust in thee â–ª Let vs pray WE humbly beseech thee O father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glorie of thy names sake turne from vs all those euils that we most righteously haue deserued graunt that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercie and euermore serue thee in holines and purenes of liuing to thy honour and glorie through our onely Mediatour and aduocate Iesus Christ our lord Amen A prayer for the Queenes Maiestie O Lord our heauenly father high and mightie King of Kinges Lord of Lords the onely ruler of princes which doest froÌ„ thy throne beholde all the dwellers vppon the earth moste hartily we beseech thee with thy fauour to behold our most gratious soueraigne Ladie Queâ—ne Elizabeth and so replenish her with the grace of thy spirite that shee may alwayes incline to thy will and walke in thy feare indue her plentifully with heauenly giâ—es graunt her in health and welth long to liue â—â—rengthâ— her that she may vanquish and ouercome all her enimies and finally after this life she may atteine euerlasting ioy and felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord â–ª Amen A prayer for Bishops and Ministers of the Church ALmightie and euerliuing God which onely workest great maruels send downe vpon our Bishops Curates al congregations commited to their charge the healthfull spirite of thy grace and that they may truly please thee powre vpon them the continual dewe of thy blessing Graunt this O Lord for the honour of our aduocate and mediatour Iesus Christ. For rayne O God heauenly father which by thy sonne Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that seeke thy kingdome and the righteousnes thereof all things necessarie to their bodilie sustenance sende vs we beseech thee in this our necessitie such moderate raine and showers that we may receiue the fruites of the earth to our comforte and to thy honour through Iesus Christ our lord Amen For faire weather O Lord God which for the sinne of man diddest once drowne all the world except eight persons and afterwarde of thy greate mercie diddest promise neuer to destroy it so againe we humbly beseech thee that although we for our iniquities haue worthily deserued this plague of raine and waters yet thou wilte sende vs such weather whereby we may receiue the fruites of the earth in due season and learne both by thy punishment to amend our liues and for thy clemencie to giue thee prayse and glorie through Iesus Christ our lord Amen In the time of dearth and famine O Merciful God and heauenly father whose gift it is that the raine doth fall the earth is fruitfull man and beastes increase fishes do multiplie beholde wee beseech thee the afflictions of thy people graunt that the scarcitie and dearth which we do now most iustly suffer for our iniquitie may through thy goodnes be mercifullie turned into cheapnes and plentie for the loue of Iesus Christ our Lorde to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be prayse for euer Amen In the time of Warre ALmightie God king of al kings and gouernour of all thinges â–ª whose power no creature is able to resist to whome it belongeth iustly to punishe sinners and to be mercifull to them that truly repent saue and deliuer vs we humby beseech thee from the handes of our enimies abate their pride asswage their malice and confounde their deuises that wee being armed with thy defence may be preserued from all perils to glorifie thee which art the onely giuer of all victorie through the merites of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ our lord So be it In the time of any common plague or sickenesse O Almightie God which in thy wrath in the time of king Dauid didst slay with the plague of pestilence threescore and ten thowsand and yet remembring thy mercie didest saue the rest haue pitie vpon vs miserable sinners that nowe are visited with great sicknesse and mortalitie that like as thou didest then commaunde thinâ— Angell to cease from punishing so it may now please thee to withdraw from vs this plague greeuous sicknes through Iesus Christ our Lord. A prayer for the strength and comfort of the holy ghost ALmightie and moste mercifull God which giueth to thine elect people thy holy spirit as a sure pledge of thy heauenly kingdome we most humblie beseech thee so to replenish our heartes with the grace of thy holy spirit that he may beare witnesse to our spirites that wee be thy children and heires of thy kingdome and that by the gratious working of this thy good spirit we may kill all â—aâ—nall-lustes vnlawâ—full pleasurs concupiscences and euil affections contrarie to thy most blessed wil through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it For sure hope and true taste of euerlasting life O Almighty God which hast prepared euerlasting life for al those that be thy faithfull seruauntes graunt vnto vs sure hope of this life euerlasting that whiles we be here in this miserable world we may haue some taste feeling of it in our harts through the merites of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it For the true knowledge of God and his worde and a life agreeable to the same GRaunt vnto vs O mercifull God wee most heartely beseech thee knowledge and true vnderstanding of thy blessed will and worde that all ignorance beeing expelled we may know what thy will and pleasure is in all thinges and how to doe our dutie and trulie to walke in our vocation and that also we may expresse in our liuing those things that we do know that we be not onely knowers of thy will and worde good Lorde but also may be hartie and faithfull workers of the same through our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it A prayer for the strength and increase of faith O Almightie euerlasting God which not onely giuest euerie good and perfect gift but also increasest those giftes that thou hast giuen we most humbly besâ—ech thâ—e to increase in vs the gift of faith that we may tâ—â—â—ly beleeue in thee and in thy promises made vnto vs in Christ Iesu our Lord and that neither by our negligence nor infirmitie of the fleshe nor by greeuousnes of tentations neither by the subtile crafts and assaultes of the diuel we be driuen from this faith in the bloude of our Lord Sauiour Iesus
astonied and flee from God if wee doubt whether God hath respect to our prayers gronings and teares wee must set before our eyes howe that we are commanded though we be neuer so vnworthie and our sinnes neuer so many and great to pray for reconciliation Gods fauour and forgiuenesse of our sinnes For else whereas God commandeth vs to abstaine from theft murder whoredome c. we may in like sorte excuse our selues and say that we are vnworthy to obey Gods commaundementes Great is our iniquitie and manifest is our contempt and despising of God when we neglect delay to call for his help Such as flee vnto God therfore call vpoÌ„ him in their necessities obey his will find therein no small consolation knowing that thereby they do vnto him most acceptable seruice for as much as hee pronouÌ„ceth y nothing is to him more acceptable theÌ„ obedience to his wil coÌ„mandemeÌ„t As wee are commanded of God boldly and without all respect of our owne vnworthines to come vnto him as a mercifull father and one that knoweth our necessitie pittieth out miserie so hath he promised verie gratiously to heare vs and graunt our requestes And hereof riseth yet a farre more comfortable and greater consolation wherin consisteth our whole confidence and trust of obteining succour and mercie at Goods hand Wherefore he allureth vs wâ—â—h manie sweete promises to call vpon him Aske saith he and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall find knocke and it shall be opened vnto you Ye shall crie vnto me and I vvill heare you ye shall seeke me ye shall finde me Call vpon me in the day of trouble and I vvill deliuer thee The Lord is nigh to all them that call vpon him that call vpon him in trueth he doeth the vvill of them that feare him and he vvill heare their prayers He shall call vppon me and I vvill heare him I vvill be vvith him in his trouble I vvill deliuer him and glorifie him At the voyce of thy crie hee vvill â—rtainelie haue mercie on thee vvhen he heareth thee he vvill ansvvere thee He that is Lorde ouer all is rich and bountifull tovvardes them that call vppon him He vvill fulfill the desire of them that feare him he vvill heare their crie vvill saue them And God to declare his readinesse in hearing of sinners saith Before they crie I vvill ansvvere and vvhiles they are yet thinking vvhat to speake I vvill heare Among many sweete promises of GOD though these might be sufficient to prouoke vs to feruent and heartie prayer yet there be certaine other notable and most comfortable promises which we shoulde specially haue in remembrance as these If ye vvhich are euill can giue good giftes to your children hovv much more shall your heauenly father giue the holy ghost to them that desire him Consider the olde generation â–ª and marke them vvell vvas there euer any confounded that put his truste in the Lord or vvho hath continued in his feare and vvas forsaken or vvhom did he euer dispise that called vpon him And of all other that is the most notable which by the Prophet Ioel is added immediatly after the prophesie of that horrible destruction that was at hande saying vvhosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lorde shal be saued HERE let vs consider the order of the promises which perteine either outwardly to the bodie or inwardlie to the soul. Which part the soule I meane because it is much more precious then the other we must first craue such thinges as properly belong to the saluation thereof But first of all confessing our sinnes vnto God with most humble and penitent heartes let vs set before vs the promises of remission of the same For this sentence is true God heareth no sinners that is such as delight and continue in sin Wherfore in all our prayers yea when we be about to aske any other thinges whatsoeuer they be let vs firste thinke of the remission of sinnes hauing alway in our sight some comfortable promises thereof as this If vve confesse and acknovvledge our sinnes he is faithfull and righteous to forgiue our offences and to cleanse vs from all iniquitie And herevnto let vs craue the light of the holy ghost to kindle confirme in vs the true knowledge of god Let vs pray for the continuance of Gods holie worde and Gospell amongest vs for the enlarging of his kingdome and the aduauncing of his glorie Let vs begge the gift of faith repentance feare patience prayer hope loue ioye peace of conscience with such other fruites of the spirite and for euerlasting life And here also we must remember that we doe not onely call our selues continually to account for our newe sinnes crauing at Gods hand mercie and forgiuenes of the same but also for those sinnes which might seeme to haue beene long ago forgotten as Dauid hauing confessed an heinous offence by that occasion returneth euen to his mothers wombe wherein he had gathered the infection heaping together the sins of his whole life Euen so in an other place when hee asketh an other thing he saith Remember not he sinnes of my youth remember mee according to thy mercie for thy goodnesse sake O Lord. Againe looke vpon mine affliction and trauell and forgiue all my sinnes When wee haue thus prayed for thinges pertaining to the soule and to the kingdome of God wee must pray also for corporall benefits as well common as priuate as peace tranquilitie of those countries which giue harborough to the true professours of the gospel godly congregations being in this life as Daniel in the midds of the lions Pray for the peace of Ierusalem saith Dauid Also for defence from misery deliuerance from trouble for happie successe in the workes of our vocation for health liuing protection of life goods name c. And although the Lord knoweth before we aske what we haue need of is ready to giue liberally yea and doth giue often times vndesired and furthermore hath promised that seeking first the kingdome of God the righteousnes thereof all other things should be giuen vs yet he commaundeth vs to aske corporall benefits that for three causes FIRST that wee should know that he is the authour and giuer thereof and therefore should not onely be thankefull for the same but also stirred up thereby to seeke loue and worship him SECONDLY that we should be well persuaded of his good prouidence towardes vs when wee vnderstand that he doth not onely promise that he will neuer faile vs but also hath his hand alwaies stretched out to helpe them that cal vpon him THIRDLY that our faith of reconciliatioÌ„ forgiuenes of sinnes should bee exercised through the asking of those corporal things And herein we must specially aboue all things seeke the glory of God therefore we must pray for these corporall thinges in such sort that we
permanent thinges and lesse mindfull of transitorie things By reason hereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lament bicause I am so earthly minded so litle desirous of my home so vnthankefull for thy prouidence and fatherly protection here on earth To reioyce bicause of my home and the great glorie thereof bicause thou doest so prouide for me here bicause thou doest so correct and chasten me c. But alas I am altogether a wretch earthly and vnthankfull not onely for these corporall benefites health riches friends fame wisedome c. for thy fatherly correction sicknesse temptation c. but also for thy heauenly benefites for Christ Iesus for the promise of thy spirite for thy Gospell c. yea euen for heauen it self and thy whole glorie as the Israelites were for the land of Canaan and therefore neuer enioyed it but perished in the wildernesse I am proud in prosperitie and forget thee waxing secure and carelesse I am impatient in the crosse and too much consider worldly discommodities Oh deare father forgiue me for thy Christes sake all mine vnthankfulnesse loue of this world contempt and obliuion of thy heauenly benefites and graunt me thy holy spirite to illuminate the eyes of my minde with the light and liuely knowledge of thy presence power wisedome goodnesse in thy creatures but specially in Christe Iesus thy sonne so by the same spirite inflame myne affections that I may desire nothing in earth but thee and to be present with thee that my conuersation may be in heauen continually from whence graunt me still to looke for the Lorde Iesus to make this my vile bodie like vnto his owne glorious and immortall bodie according to his owne power by which he is able to doe all things As thou hast giuen me to be thy childe so I pray thee giue me these things whiche be the properties of thy children giuen from thee in thy good time Hallowed be thy name THy name is that whereby thou art knowne for names serue to discerne know one thing from an other Nowe though thou art knowne by thy creatures yet in this our corrupt state they serue but to make vs excuselesse Therefore most properly liuely and comfortably thou art knowne by thy holy worde especially by thy promise of grace and freely pardoning and receiuing vs into thy fauour for Christ Iesus sake For the which goodnesse in Christe thou art praysed and magnified according to thy name that is so much as men knowe thee in Christe they magnifie thee praise thee which here thou callest hallowing or sanctifying Not that thou art the more holy in respect of thy selfe but in respect of men who the more they knowe thee the more they cannot but sanctifie thee that is thei cannot but as in them selues by true faith loue feare spirituall seruice honour thee so also in their outward behauiour and wordes they can not but liue in such sort as other seeing them may in and by their holinesse and godly conuersation be occasioned as to knowe thee so to sanctifie thy name accordingly and therefore thou settest foorth here vnto me what is the chiefe principall wish and desire of thy children and people namely that thou in Christe mightest be truely knowne and honoured both of them selues and of other inwardly and outwardly as by the contrarie a man may easily perceiue that the greatest sorrowe and griefe thy people haue is ignorance of thee false seruice or religion and wicked conuersation Against the which they pray and labour diligently after their vocations as they for the obtaining of the other both to other and to them selues doe take no small paine in prayer studie and godly exercise By reason hereof I see that I am farre from this desire and lamentation which is in thy children I see mine ignoraunce of the true knowledge of thee and thy name for else it had not needed thee so by thy word to haue reuealed thy selfe I see also mine owne ignorance of the excellencie of the same for else wouldest thou not haue tolde me that the sanctfying of thy name is the chiefest thing thou requirest of euery man. Againe I see my great want of holinesse for else thou needest not to teach me to seeke and pray for that I want not Moreouer I see my great peruersitie which would not seeke at thy handes for sanctification although I see my neede thereof For the which thou wouldest not haue commaunded me to pray if I seeing my want would haue prayed vnto thee for the same Last of all I see thy wonderfull goodnesse which wilt vndoubtedly giue vnto me sanctification and holinesse for thou wouldest not that I should aske for that thing that thou wilt not giue me So that I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament bicause I am so farre from this desire and lamentation which thy children haue Also bicause of my ignorance pouertie peruersitie vnthankfulnes c. but most of all bicause thy holie name word and religion is so blasphemed both in doctrine in liuing of many especially in this realme To reioyce I haue great cause for thy exceeding goodnesse and mercie which wouldest so disclose thy selfe by thy workes word and Gospell which wouldest open these things thus vnto me and also giue vnto me and others sanctification in thy sight by faith and in the sight of men by purenesse of life and godly conuersation But alas I do heartily neither the one nor the other that is lament or reioyce as thou father whiche searchest my heart doest right well knowe Oh be merciful vnto me and forgiue me yea giue me of thine owne pitie thy holie spirite to reueale and open to my minde effectually my miserable estate and condition my ignorance peruersitie my carelesnesse for thy true honour and dishonour in such sort that I may heartily lament these euils and haue thē pardoned taken from me through Iesus Christ our Lord. Againe good Father giue me the same thy holie spirite to reueale to me thy name worde and Gospell that I may liuely know thee vnfainedly loue thee heartily obey thee and aboue all thinges desire and labour by all meanes lawfull that all godlinesse in doctrine and conuersation may be exercised both in me and in all others for whom thou wouldest I should pray Here thinke vpon the state of religiō and the life of the professors of the Gospell that thou maiest lament some pray for some and giue thankes for some Let thy kingdome come THY kingdome is in two sortes to be considered vniuersally and particularly Uniuersally according to thy power wherewith thou gouernest all things euery where in earth heauen hell diuels Angels men beastes foules fishes and all other creatures Of this kingdome spake Dauid when he said This kingdome ruleth ouer all Particularly thy kingdome is to be considered according to thy grace wherewith thou reignest
hereof I see that I am farre from the sighes and teares of thy people I see my ignorance of thy will if thou haddest not opened the same by thine owne mouth I see my ignoraunce howe acceptable a seruice obedience to thy will is and therefore doest thou place this petition among the first and continuall desires of thy children Againe I see my pouertie in godly obedience which had neede to be taught to pray for it thereby to signifie vnto me my want and vnabilitie to attaine it but by thy gift Thirdly I see my disobedience for else neuer wouldest thou haue commaunded me to haue prayed for the doing of thy will if I seeing my want would haue prayed so Last of all I see thy goodnesse which wilt giue to me and others to obey thy will that is to loue thee with all our heartes to loue our neighbor as our selues to dye to our selues to liue to thee to take vp our crosse and to followe thee to beleeue to repent c. for else thou wouldest neuer haue bidden vs to pray for a thing which we should not looke for So that I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament bicause of my miserable state and condition bicause of my sinne ignorance pouertie and peruersitie also bicause thy will is euery where either not knowne or contemned and sathans will the wil of the world and of the flesh readily obeyed To reioyce I haue great cause for that thou hast opened thy selfe and will vnto mankinde for that also thou peculiarly hast taught me these things and bicause thou wilt grant me grace to do the same But alas howe vnthankefull I am and howe hard hearted thou Lord doest know Oh be merciful vnto me and forgiue me I beseech thee gratious god Graunt me thy holy spirite to reueale to me my ignorance of thy will my pouertie peruersitie that I may hartily bewaile it c. and by the helpe and working of the same spirite may suppresse the will of the flesh Againe graunt me thy holie spirite to reueale to me thy will declared in thy lawe and Gospell that I may truely knowe the same and inflame so my affections that I may will and loue the same in such sort that it may be my meate and drinke to doe thy will. Here cal to mind the ten commandements of God particularly or generally what therein he requireth and pray for the same particularly as you see your neede and that not only for your selfe but also for others Pray for patience to suffer what crosse so euer God shal lay vpon you and pray for them that be vnder the crosse that they may be patient pray for spiritual wisdome in euery crosse peculiar or publike that you may see and loue Gods will. Giue vs this day our daily bread BY Bread the foode of the bodie are vnderstoode all thinges necessarie for this corporall life as meate drinke health successe in our vocation c. By this worde Giue we should vnderstand that not only spirituall thinges but also corporall benefites are Gods free giftes and come not for our worthinesse or trauell taken about the same although our trauels be oftentimes meanes by the which God doth giue corporall things By Daily we vnderstand the contented mindes of thy children with that which is sufficient for the present time as hauing hope in thee that they shall not want but daily shall receiue at thy handes plentie and ynough of all things By this word Our are as wel vnderstoode publike benefites as peace in the Common weale good Magistrates good lawes seasonable weather c. Also particular benefites namely children health successe in the workes of our vocation c. And besides this by it we should see the care euen for corporal things which thy children haue for others as well as for them selues So that here I may learne howe farre I am from that I should be and that I see thy children are come vnto I see my ignorance also howe that as spirituall thinges doe come from thee so doe temporall thinges and as they come from thee so are they conserued and kept of thee and therefore thy children are thankfull looke for them as thy meere giftes notwithstanding the meanes which they vse if they haue them howbeit they vse them but as meanes for except thou worke therewith all is in vaine Againe here I am taught to be content with that which is sufficient for the present time as thy children be which haue the shortnesse of this life alwayes before their eyes and therefore they aske but for daily sustenance knowing this life to be cōpared to a day yea a watch a sound a shadowe c. Moreouer I may learne to see the compassion and brotherly care which thy children haue one for an other Last of all here I may see thy goodnesse which as thou wilt giue me all things necessarie for this life or else thou wouldest not bid me aske c. so thou commaundest all men to pray and care for me that bodily much more then if they be able they are commaunded to helpe me both in body and soule By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament bicause I am not so affected as thy children be bicause of my ignorance my ingratitude my peruersitie and contempt of thy goodnesse and of the necessitie of thy people which alas be in great miserie some in exile some in prison some in pouertie sicknesse c. To reioyce I haue great cause bicause of thy goodnesse in teaching me these thinges in commaunding me to aske what so euer I want in giuing me so many things vnasked in keeping the benefites giuen me in commaunding men to care for me to pray for me to helpe me c. But alas how far I am either frō true lamenting or reioycing Lorde thou knowest Oh be mercifull vnto me and helpe me forgiue me and graunt me thy holie spirit to reueale to me my neede ignoraunce great ingratitude and contempt of thy mercies and thy people and that in such sort that I might heartily lament and bewayle my miserie through thy goodnesse be altered with thy people to mourne for the miseries of thy children as for mine owne Againe reueale to me thy goodnesse deare father euen in corporall things that I may see thy mercie thy presence power wisedome and righteousnesse in euerie creature and corporall benefite and that in such sort that I may be throughly affected truely to reuerence feare loue and obey thee to hang vpon thee to be thankefull to thee and in all my neede to come vnto thee not onely when I haue ordinarie meanes by the which thou commonly workest but also when I haue none yea when al meanes helpes are cleane against me Here remember the state of your children and familie also your parentes neighbours kinsfolkes also your friendes countrie Magistrates c. as
it pleaseth thee to heare my prayers and assuredly wilt saue me for euer But alas howe farre am I from these lamentings and reioycings By reason whereof I deserue damnation Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me and of thy goodnesse grant me thy holie spirite to reueale to me my blindenesse obliuion and contempt of thy kingdome power and glorie with the greatnesse of my doubtings that I may heartily as lament them so haue them pardoned and taken from me through the merites of Iesus Christ thy sonne Againe giue me thy holy spirit to reueale to me in such sort thy kingdom power glory and eternitie that I may always haue the same before mine eyes be moued with the admiration thereof labour effectually to set foorth the same and finally as to haue the fruition thereof after this life so to increase in an assured certaine and liuely expectation of the same that I may alwayes and in all thinges reioyce in thee through Christ and giue lauds thankes and prayses perpetually vnto thy most holy name Oh blessed Father Sonne and holy Ghost three persons and one God to whome be all honour and glorie world without end Here thinke that if the kingdome power glorie and eternitie be Gods which is our Father what our dignitie is which be his children If the power be our fathers of whome should we be afraid If the diuell be subiect to the Lordes power and kingdome as he is howe can the subiect haue power ouer vs which be sonnes and heires in that he hath not power ouer Porkets without the prouidence and permission of God Therefore full well should we pray Lead vs not into temptation rather then let vs not be lead into temptation for power is the Lords and the diuell hath none but that he hath of Gods gift No he were not able to receiue power if God did not make him able although the execution of it is rather of Gods permission Giue all thankes prayse and glorie to God our Father through Christe our Lord and Sauiour So be it Iohn Bradford PRIVATE PRAYERS for the Morning and Euening and for other times of the day When you awake out of your sleepe pray thus MOst mercifull God and father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ I most humbly thanke thee for the sweete sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuen me this night past beseeching thee that like as thou hast nowe awaked my bodie from sleepe so thou wouldest awake my soule from the sleepe of sinne and darkenesse of this world and that which thou hast now awaked out of sleep thou wouldest after death whereof this sleepe is but an image restore and raise againe to life euerlasting O gratious God make my bodie I heartily pray thee such a companion or rather a minister of godlinesse to my soule this day and all the time of this present life that in the life to come it may be partaker with the same of euerlasting happinesse through Christe Iesus our Lord. Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall shew light vnto thee Ephe. 5. Occasions to Meditate Here call to mind the great mirth blessednes of the euerlasting resurrection Also remember to muse vpon that most cleare light that bright morning and newe clearenesse of our bodies after the long darkenesse which they haue bene in All then shall be full of vnspeakable ioy and felicitie When you behold the day-light pray O Lord God thou most glorious true light from whence this light of the day and sunne doth spring and shine vnto vs O light which lightenest euerie man y commeth into this world O light whiche knowest no night nor euening but art alway a midday most cleare and faire without whom al is most horrible darkenesse and by whom al things are most cleare and bright O thou wisedome of the eternal father of mercies lighten my minde that I may see those thinges only which please thee and may be blinded to al other things Grant me so to walke in thy wayes by the light of thy holy worde that nothing else may be light and pleasant vnto me Lighten mine eyes Oh Lorde that I sleepe not in death least mine enimies say I haue preuailed against him Psal 30. Occasions to Meditate Muse a while how much the light and eye of the minde and soule is better then of the bodie Also howe much more we ought to care for the soule that it may see well then for the bodie Moreouer that beastes haue bodily eyes as well as men but men only haue eyes of the minde and that such as are godlie wise When you arise pray OUr first parents cast downe them selues from a most excellent high honorable state into shame miserie into the deepe sea of all wickednesse and mischiefe but oh Christ thou putting forth thy hand didst raise them vp againe Euen so we except we be raised vp by thee shall lie still for euer O good Christe our most gratious redeemer as thou doest mercifully rayse vp now this my body euen so I beseech thee raise vp my minde and heart to the true knowledge loue of thee that my conuersation may be in heauen where thou art If you be risen with Christ thinke vpon those things that be aboue Col. 3. Occasions to Meditate Thinke howe foule the fall of Adam was by reason of sinne and so of euery one of vs from the height of Gods grace Againe thinke vpon the inestimable benefite of Christe by whose helpe we daily arise againe from our fallings When you apparel your selfe pray O Christe clothe me with thine owne selfe that I may be so farre from making prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lustes therof that I may cleane put off all desires and crucifie the kingdome of the flesh in me Be thou vnto me a garment to keepe me warme and to defend me from the cold of this world If thou be absent deare Lorde all things are colde weake and deade but if thou be with me all things are warme fresh and chearefull c. Graunt therefore that as I compasse this my bodie with this garment so thou wouldest cloth me wholy but specially my soule with thine owne selfe Put vpon you as the elect of God bowels of mercie meekenesse loue peace c. Col 3. Occasions to Meditate Call to minde a little howe we are incorporate into Christ. Againe howe he doth cloth vs gouerne and nourish vs and vnder his winges protection prouidence preserueth vs. When you are made readie to begin the day withall pray O Almightie God and most mercifull father thou knowest and hast taught vs also something to know that the weakenesse of man and woman is great that without thy grace they can neither doe nor thinke any good thing Haue mercie vpon me I humbly beseech thee thy most weake fraile and vnworthie childe Lighten my minde that I may with pleasure looke vpon good things only Inflame my hart
howe foolish we are to fantasie things which we can not carrie with vs and to contemne conscience which will alwayes be a companion to vs to our ioy if it be good but to our shame and sorrow if it be euil and corrupt Finally howe vnnaturall we are which so little desire to be at our home to be with our onely father Master fellowes and friends When you are about to receiue your meat pray thus THis is a wonderfull mysterie of thy worke O maker and gouernor of the world that thou doest sustaine the liues of men and beastes with these meates Surely this power is neither in the bread nor foode but in thy will and word by which word al things do liue and haue their being Againe howe great a thing is it that thou art able continually to giue sustenaunce to so many creatures This is spoken of by thy prophete in setting foorth thy prayses All things looke vp to thee and thou giuest them meate in due season thou openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing euerie liuing thing These doubtlesse are wonderfull workes of thine Almightinesse I therefore heartily pray thee O most liberal Lord and faithfull father that as thou by meate through thy word doest minister life to these our bodies euen so by the same word with thy grace thou wouldest quicken our soules that both in soule and bodie we may please thee til this our mortall carkasse shall put on immortalitie and we shall neede no more any further foode but thee onely which then wilt be all in all Taste and see howe good the Lord is Psal. 34. Blesse the Lord O my soule which feedeth and filleth my mouth with good things Psal. 103. Occasions to Meditate Thinke a little how great Gods power is that made vs Also thinke howe great his wisedome is to preserue vs But most of all thinke howe many things are giuen to our vse howe wonderfull it is to giue vs life but most of all to propagate and aduaunce to immortalitie the life of the soule by his onely becke Last of all thinke that God by his prouidence for thy body would haue thee to confirme thy faith of his prouidence likewise for thy soule In the meale time pray O Most liberall distributer of thy giftes which giuest vs al kinde of good thinges to vse and being pure giuest pure things being holie giuest holie things graunt to vs thy grace that we misuse not these thy gratious giftes giuen to our vse and profite Let vs not delight in these things but let vs delight in thee from whome they come as necessarie for vs for a season till we come vnto thee Graunt vs to be conuersant amongest thy giftes soberly purely temperately and holily bicause thou art so Then shall we not turne that to the poyson of our soules which thou hast giuen for the medicine of our bodies but vsing thy benefites thankfully we shall finde them profitable both in soule and body Occasions to Meditate Thinke that the meats and drinkes set before you are giuen to you to vse and not to abuse Thinke they are giuen to profite and not to hurt you Thinke that thei are not giuen to you alone but vnto others also by you In eating and drinking thinke that you doe but feede the wormes Remember the poore prisoners the sicke the afflicted c. as though you were in their case Thinke vpon the food of your soul Christes bodie broken and bloudshed Desire the meate that lasteth for euer labour for it Christes meate was to do his fathers will. After your meate pray BY corporall meates thou doest sustaine our corporall daily life ready otherwise to perish The which surely is a great worke but yet this is much greater more profitable and more holie that thy grace O Iesu Christ doth preserue vs from the death of the soule For this life we ought much to thanke thee and bicause thou doest prolong it with thy good giftes we most heartily praise thee Howe be it this life is but the way to eternall life which we beseech thee for thy deathes sake that thou wilt giue vs and so shall we not onely giue thee as we may thankes for a time for temporall things but also eternall thankes for eternal things O graunt to vs these our desires for thy mercies sake Amen Occasions to Meditate Thinke nowe that God hath giuen thee this his blessing of foode and sustenaunce and thereto time that thou mightest as repent so seeke his glorie and the commoditie of thy brethren therefore goe thereabouts but first pray for grace well to begin Againe consider how thou hast bene partaker of other mens labours as of the Husbandmans the Milners the Bakers the Bruers the Butchers the Cookes c. See therefore that thou be not a drone Bee but rather such a one as may helpe the hiue If God haue thus fed thy body which he loueth not but for thy soules sake howe can it be then but that he will be much more readie to feede thy soule Therefore take a courage to thee and goe to him for grace accordingly Cogitations for about the midday As thy bodie is nowe compassed on euerie side with light so see that thy mind may be also As god giueth thee thus plentifully this corporall light so pray him that he will giue thee the spirituall light Thinke that as the Sunne is nowe most cleare so shal our bodies be in the day of iudgement As nowe the Sunne is come to the highest and therfore will beginne to drawe downeward so is there nothing in the world so perfect glorious whiche when it is at the full will not decrease and so weare away When you come home againe pray THere is nothing O Lord more like to thy holie nature then a quiet mind Thou hast called vs out of the troublesome disquietnesse of the world into that thy quiet rest and peace which the world can not giue being such a peace as passeth all mens vnderstanding Houses are ordained for vs that thereby we might be defended from the iniurie of the wether from crueltie of beastes from disquietnesse of people and rest from the toyles of the world O gratious father graunt that through thy great mercy my body may enter into this house from outward actions but so that it may become boxom and obedient to the soule and make no resistaunce againste the same that in soule and body I may haue a godly quietnesse and peace to praise thy holie name Amen Peace be to this house and to all that dwell in the same Matt. 10. Occasions to Meditate Thinke what a returne and howe merrie a returne it will be to come to our eternall most quiet and most happie home then will all griefe and sorrowe cease What so euer here is pleasant and ioyfull the same is nothing but a verie shaddowe in comparison of that which is to come At the Sunne going downe pray HOwe vnhappie are they O Lord
and giue vnto vs a true and liuely faith working in vs vnfained repentance and amendment of our sinnefull life Haue mercy vpon vs and forgiue vs our sinnes for thy Sonnes sake certifie our consciences of remission of the same by thy holy spirite by whose operation so mortifie in vs our olde man the whole body of sinne that we continually dying vnto sinne may walke in newnesse of life to the glorie of thy holie name through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen An other confession of sinnes O Eternal God and most merciful father we confesse and acknowledge here before thy diuine maiestie that we are miserable sinners conceiued and borne in sinne and iniquitie so that in vs there is no goodnesse for the flesh euermore rebelleth against the spirite whereby we continually transgresse thy holie precepts and commaundements and so purchase to ourselues through thy iust iudgement death and damnation Notwithstanding O heauenly father for as much as we are displeased with our selues for the sinnes we haue committed against thee and doe vnfeinedly repent vs of the same we most humbly beseech thee for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercy vpon vs to forgiue vs al our sinnes and to increase thy holy spirit in vs that we acknowledging from the bottome of our harts our owne vnrighteousnesse may from hencefoorth not onely mortifie our sinfull lustes and affections but also bring foorth such fruites as may be agreeable to thy most blessed wil through Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour whome thou hast already giuen an oblation and an offering for our sinnes and for whose sake we are certainly persuaded that thou wilt denye vs nothing that we shall aske in his name according to thy will. For thy spirite doth assure our consciences that thou art our mercifull father and so louest vs thy children through him that nothing is able to remoue thy heauenly grace and fauour from vs To thee therfore with the sonne and the holy Ghost be all honour and glorie world without end So be it A prayer to be said in the Morning O Eternall GOD and heauenly father seeing that by thy great mercy we haue quietly passed this night graunt we beseech thee that we may bestowe this day wholy in thy seruice so that all our thoughts wordes and deedes may redound to the glory of thy name and good example of our brethren And as it hath pleased thee to make the sunne to shine vpon the earth to giue vs bodilie light euen so vouchsafe to illuminate our vnderstanding with the brightnesse of thy spirit to direct vs in the way of righteousnesse so that what thing so euer we shall applie our selues vnto our speciall care and purpose may be to walke in thy feare and to serue and honour thee looking for all our wealth prosperitie to come from thy only blessing and that we may take nothing in hand which shall not be agreeable to thy most blessed will. Furthermore that we may in such sort trauell for our bodyes and for this present life that we may haue alwayes a further regard that is to the heauenly life which thou hast promised to thy children and in the meane season that it may please thee to preserue and defend vs both in bodie and soule to strengthen vs against al the temptations of the diuell and to deliuer vs from all perils and daungers that may happen vnto vs if we be not defended by thy godly power And for as much as to begin well and not to continue is nothing we beseech thee to receiue vs not onely this day into thy holy protection but also for the time of our whole life continuing and increasing in vs daily thy grace and good giftes therof vntill thou shalt bring vs to that happie state where we shal fully and for euer be ioyned vnto thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour which is the true light of our souls shining day and night perpetually And to the end that we may obtaine such grace at thy hand vouchsafe most mercifull father to forgiue and forget all our sinnes which we haue heretofore committed against thee and for thine infinit mercies sake to pardon the same as thou hast promised to those that aske of thee with vnfeined heart for whom as for our selues we make our humble petitions vnto thee in the name of thy sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ in such sort as he hath taught vs saying Our father c. An other prayer to be said in the Morning O Almightie and most gratious God we hartily thanke thee for the sweete sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuē vs this night past and for as much as thou hast commaunded by thy holy word that no man should be idle but all occupied in godly and vertuous exercises euery man according to his calling we most humbly beseech thee that thine eyes may attend vpon vs daily defend vs cherish comfort gouerne vs and al our counsels studies and labors in such wise that we may spend and bestowe this day according to thy most holy will setting thee alwaies before our eyes lyuing in thy feare working that may be found acceptable before thy diuine Maiestie through Iesus Christ our lord So be it An other prayer for the Morning WE humblie and heartily giue thankes vnto thee O heauēly father through thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ that to thy innumerable benefites hitherto powred vpon our soules and vpon our bodies thou hast kept vs this night past from many euills both spirituall and corporall and nowe of thy mercy doest offer giue vs time to repent and to amend our liues so that we might liue hencefoorth not as we will but as thou wilt and as our bodyes doe drawe continually nearer and nearer their end the graue I meane so our soules might approch to their end that is heauen and not hell for in one state we stand not still but either we are nearer nearer the happie state of life or else the vnhappie condition of death eternal Wherefore we beseech thee to be mercifull vnto vs good father and as of thy goodnesse thou giuest vs time to repent and liue godlie so of the same thy goodnesse in Christe we humbly beseech thee to giue vs thy gratious gift of true holie perfect perpetuall repentaunce that we may more and more lament our former sinfull life trusting vnfeignedly in thy rich mercy through the merites of Iesus Christe for the pardon of all our sinnes and that we may vnfaignedly purpose and effectually labour to amende our liues this day so long as we haue to liue in all our doings and wordes and euen in our verie thoughtes to the praise of thy holie name and good example of our brethren And for as much as thou knowest our weaknesse our ignoraunce and great vntowardnesse to carrie any great crosse or affliction we beseech thee our sweete father so to temper and order al things towards vs this day
is no manner of weeping teares infirmitie hunger colde sickenesse enuie malice nor sinne but alwayes ioy without sorow mirth without measure pleasure without paine heauenly harmonie most pleasant melodie saying and singing Holie holie holie Lord God of hoastes c. Finally the eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man that they shall then inherite and moste surely enioy although here they be tormented prisoned solicited of Satan tempted of the flesh and intangled with the world wherethrough they are inforced to cry Thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesu c. Howe amiable are thy tabernacles Like as the Hart desireth the water brookes c. Nowe let thy seruant depart in peace I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ. We mourne in our selues wayting for the deliueraunce of our bodyes c. Oh gratious Lorde when shall I finde such mercie with thee that I may repent beleeue hope looke for these things with the full fruition of those heauenly ioyes which thou hast prepared for all them that feare thee and so rest with thee for euermore I.B. A meditation of the life euerlasting the place where it is and the incomparable ioyes thereof THat there is an euerlasting life none will denie but such as wil denie god For if he be true and iust which he must needes be or els he is not God then can there not be but an eternall life That he hath both spoken it and promised it in Mat. 25. 1. Cor. 15. Heb. 4.11.13 1. Pet. 1. it plainely appeareth elsewhere in very many places So that to deny an euerlasting life is to denie God to denie Christ and all that euer he did also to denie all pietie and religion to condemne of foolishnesse all good men Martyres Confessors Euangelistes Prophets Patriarches Finally the denial of eternall life is nothing else but a deniall of the immortalitie of the soule and so a plaine making of man nothing better then beastes If it be so let vs then eate and drinke for to morrowe we shall die Lord preserue vs from this Saduceall and Epicuriall impietie and graunt vs for thy mercies sake deare God that we may be assuredly persuaded that there is in deede an eternall life and blisse with thee for them that put their trust in thee amongest whome accompt mee for thy mercies sake Againe this eternal life and the place apointed for them that bee thy seruantes all men do graunt to bee with thee Albeit they do not thinke that because thou art euerie where therfore eternal life is euery where For they by thy worde do knowe that in as much as no man canne see thee and liue this eternall life and thy blessed presence is most pleasant and had in fruition after in an other world wherevnto by corporall death they doe depart and are translated to a place aboue them where thou dwel lest in a light whervnto no man can approch Abrahams bosom they read was aboue as the place for the wicked was alowe and beneath Helias was caught vp into heauen and thy deare Sonne our Sauiour prayed the where he is those also might be which thou haddest giuen him and might see his glorie Nowe he deare father we learne by thy spirite was ascended taken vp in his very body into heauen whither Stephan looked vp saw thy Christ standing on thy right hande to whome he prayed O Lord Iesu receiue my spirite Graunt I beseech thee gratious God and father that I may haue a cleane heart more and more to see thee and so in spirite to see and looke often vpon this place whither bring me at the length in bodie also I humblie pray thee Nowe what a thing this euerlasting life is no man is able to conceiue much lesse able to vtter For the peace of God which is eternal life passeth al vnderstanding The eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither can mans heart conceiue those thinges which thou deare God hast prepared for them that loue thee What so euer therefore can be spoken or imagined of thy kingdome of the clearenesse ioy and felicitie of the same is nothing in comparison as we may see by thy prophetes which bicause they could not otherwise vnder corporall thinges haue shaddowed the same So that the confidence of eternall life what a thing it is can in no wise be tolde Howbeit somwhat wee may be brought into some sight of it by earthly thinges to thinke on this sort If God haue giuen here so many things in a strange place how many are the great good things that be at home if in prison are so many mercies how many are they in the Palace If the wicked haue so many benefites what is the store prepared for thy seruantes Oh Lord If thy children finde such cōforts in the day of tears mourning what shall they find in the day of the marriage If with beastes men beeing haue the vse of innumerable blessinges Oh how many are the blessinges which they shall enioye with thy Angels and with thy selfe O deare God when they shall see thee and haue the fruition of thee in whō is fulnes without lothing of all good and faire things so that nothing can be more desired that for euermore This thy chidren do not so see as they now beleeue it I say that euen in their bodies they shall see it for euer as Iob saide They beleeue that they shall see thee and their owne eyes beholde thee when these our corporall eyes our bodies being raised shall do their duties Such a knowledge of thee they beleeue to haue as shall not be only intellectuall and by faith as now it is but euen a full sight and fruition yea a coniunction and fellowship with thee Now they see but as in a glasse euen in a darke speaking but then they shall see thee face to face For faith though it be the substance of things hoped for and a certaine darke sight of thee yet it may not be compared to the reward of faith and glorious sight which we shall see in the life to come when faith and hope shall cease Nowe thy children knowe that they be thy sonnes though it yet appeare not what they shall be We know say thei that when our Christ God and man shal appeare then shal we be like vnto him for we shall see him euen as he is Oh great prerogatiue to see Christ as he is which is not to be considered so much for the manhood as for the godhead it selfe as Paule doth also write that when all things are subiect vnto the Sonne then shal he be subiect vnto thee deare father also that God may be al in al. And therfore Christ our Sauiour prayed for vs that we might knowe thee the onely true God Not that our Christ thy Sonne is not with thee the true coequall
Iuda thou coÌ„querour of hel and death euer liuing and immortall thou art nowe risen from death for vs thou art now ascended to thy father and our father and sittest at his right hand in glorie suffer vs to come neare vnto thee that wee may kisse thee yea Lorde thou louer of our soules come thou rather vnto vs and kisse vs with the kisse of thy mouth that we may bee glad and reioyce in thee drawe vs that we may runne after the sauour of thy sweete oyntmentes that wee may beholde thee in righteousnesse and when thy glorie shall appeare we may be satisfied for in thy presence there is fulnesse of ioy and in thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore A prayer for true repentance MOst gratious God mercifull Father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ because I haue sinned don wickedly and through thy goodnesse haue receiued a desire of repentaunce wherevnto this thy long suffering doth drawe my harde hart I beseech thee for thy great mercies sake in Christ to worke the same repentance in me and by thy spirite power and grace so to humble mortifie and feare my conscience for my sinnes to saluation that in thy good time thou maist comfort and quicken me again through Iesus Christ thy dearely beloued sonne So be it I. B. A prayer for the strength and increase of faith O Merciful God and deare father of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ in whome as thou art well pleased so hast thou commanded vs to heare him for as much as he often biddeth vs to aske of thee and also promiseth that thou wilt heare vs and grant vs that which in his name we shal aske of thee loe gratious father we are bold to begge of thy mercie through thy sonne Iesus Christ one sparkle of true faith and certaine persuasion of thy goodnesse and loue towards vs in Christ where through I being assured of the pardon of all my sinnes by the mercies of Christe thy sonne may bee thankefull to thee loue thee serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life I. B. A prayer for the true sense and feeling of Gods â—auour and mercie in Christe OH Lord God and deare Father what shall I say that feele all things to be in maner with me as in the wicked Blind is my mind crooked is my will and peruerse concupiscence is in mee as a spring or stinking puddle O howe faint is faith in me How little is my loue to thee or to thy people How great is selfe loue Howe harde is my heart â–ª By the reason whereof I am moued to doubt of thy goodnes towardes me whether thou art my mercifull father and whether I be thy childe or no. In deede worthily might I doubt if that the hauing of these were the cause not the fruite rather of thy children The cause why thou art my father is thy mercie goodnes grace truth in Christe Iesus which can not but remain for euer In respect whereof thou hast borne me this goodwill to bring me into thy Church by baptisme and to accept me into the number of thy children that I might be holie faithfull obedient and innocent and to call me diuerse times by the ministerie of thy worde into thy kingdome besides thy innumerable other benefites alwayes hitherto powred vppon me All which thou hast done of this thy good will which thou of thine owne mercie barest to mee in Christ and for Christe before the worlde was made The which thing as thou requirest straitly that I should beleeue without doubting so wouldest thou that in all my needes I should come vnto thee as vnto a Father and make my mone without mistrust of beeing heard in thy good time as most shall make to my comfort Loe therefore to thee deere Father I come through thy sonne our Lord mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for me and pray thee of thy great goodnes and mercie in Christ to bee mercifull vnto me that I may feele in deede thy sweete mercie as thy childe The time Oh deare Father I appoint not but I pray thee that I may with hope still expect and looke for thy helpe I hope that as thou for a little while hast left mee so thou wilt come and visite me and that in thy great mercie whereof I haue need by reason of my great miserie Thou art wont for a little season in thine anger to hide thy face from them whome thou louest but surely O Redeemer in eternal mercies thou wilt shew thy coÌ„passions For when thou leauest vs O Lord thou doest not leaue vs verie long neyther doest thou leaue vs to our owne losse but to our iucre and aduauntage euen that thy holie spirite with bigger portion of thy power and vertue may lighten and cheare vs that the want of feeling of our sorrowe may be recompenced plentifully with the liuely sense of hauing thee to our eternall ioy and therefore thou swarest that in thine euerlasting mercie thou wilt haue compassion on vs Of which thing to the end we might be most assured thine oth is to bee marked for thou saiest As I haue sworne that I will neuer bring any more the waters to drown the world So haue I sworn that I wil neuer more be angry with thee nor reprooue thee The mountaines shal remoue and the hilles shal fall downe but my louing kindenesse shall not moue and the bonde of my peace shall not faile thee Thus saist thou the Lord our mercifull redeemer Deare father therefore I praye thee remember euen for thine owne truth and mercie sake this promise and euerlasting couenant which in thy good time I pray thee to write in my hart that I may know thee to be the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent that I may loue thee with all my heart for euer that I may loue thy people for thy sake that I may be holie in thy sight through Christ that I may alwayes not only striue against sinne but also ouercome the same daily more and more as thy children doe aboue all thinges desiring the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doing of thy will here on earth as it is in heauen c. through Iesus Christ our redeemer mediatour and aduocate Amen I. B. A prayer against our spirituall enemies the diuel the worlde and the flesh O Lord God the diuell goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuour the flesh lusteth against the spirite the world persuadeth vnto vanities that we may forget thee our Lord God so for euer be damned Thus are we miserably on euery side beset and besieged of cruell vnrestfull enemies and like at euery moment to perish if we be not defended with thy godly power against their tyrannie We therefore poore and wretched sinners despairing of our owne strength which in deede is none most hartily
iustice and by his resurrection to destroye him that was authour of death and so to bring againe life to the worlde from which the whole ofspringe of Adam was most iustly exiled O Lorde wee acknowledge that no creature was able to comprehend the length and breadth the deepenes and heighte of that thy most excellent loue which moued thee to shew mercie where none was deserued to promise and giue life where death had gotten victorie to receiue vs into thy grace when we could do nothing but rebell against thy maiestie The blind dulnes of our corrupt nature will not suffer vs sufficiently to wey these thy most ample benefites Yet neuerthelesse at the commaundement of Iesus Christe our Lorde we present our selues to this thy table which he hath left to be vsed in remembrance of his death vntill his comming againe to declare and witnesse before the world that by him alone we haue receiued libertie and life that by him alone thou doest acknowedge vs to be thy children and heires that by him alone wee haue entraunce to the throne of thy grace that by him alone we are possessed in our spirituall Kingdome to eate and drinke at his table and with whome we haue our conuersation presently in heauen and by whome our bodies shall be raised vp againe from the dust shall be placed with him in that endlesse ioye which thou O Father of mercie hast prepared for thine electe before the foundation of the worlde was layd And these most inestimable benefites wee acknowledge and confesse to haue receiued of thy free mercie and grace by thine onely beloued sonne Iesus Christe For the which therefore we thy congregation moued by thy holy spirite doe render to thee all thankes praise and glory for euer and euer A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the Communion MOst mercifull father we render vnto thee all praise thanks honour and glorie for that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercies to graunt vnto vs miserable sinners so excellent a gift and treasure as to receiue vs into the fellowshippe and companie of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde whome thou hast deliuered to death for vs and hast giuen him vnto vs as a necessarie foode and nourishment vnto euerlasting life And now we beseech thee also O heauenly father to graunt vs this request that thou neuer suffer vs to become so vnkind as to forget so worthy benefites but rather imprint and fasten them sure in our heartes that we may growe and increase daily more and more in true faith which continually is exercised in all manner of good works and so much the rather O Lord confirme vs in these perillous dayes rages of Sathan that we may constantly stand and continue in the confession of the same to the aduancement of thy glorie which art God ouer all things blessed for euer A lamentation of a sinner afflicted in conscience for his offences IN the middes of the desperate assaultes of my soule the intollerable heauinesse of my minde hath heretofore Lorde cryed as shril in thine eares as though I had shriked and with lamentations cryed out saying helpe helpe mee my God my creatour my most prouident keper and euerlasting defender for beholde I perish On this occasion Lorde when heauinesse of minde did heretofore assault me I remembred that thou haddest many times set before mine eyes the wonderfull greatnes of thy most tender loue towardes mee by the great multitude of thy benefites powred vppon mee which benefites euerie of thy workes as they came before mine eyes gaue mee iust occasion to be mindfull of Woulde not thought I if I had in a manner any grace at all woulde not such loue bring nowe into my heart a wonderfull delectation ioy and comfort in God for the same And againe coulde such delight in Gods sweete mercie and tender loue towardes me if I were not as euill as a castaway that were none of Gods children be without lothing of my sinne and lust and desire to do Gods holy will And these thinges thought I fie vppon me vnthankefull wretch are either not at all in mee or else in deede so coldly and slenderly that they beeing truely weighed and compared to righteousnesse are more vile then a filthy cloth starched in corrupt bloud Oh thought I I am affraid I haue deceiued my selfe for thy seruauntes at all times I trowe feele otherwise then I now doe the fruites of thy spirit as loue ioy peace such like But my loue alas towards thee what is it my ioy is not once almost felt of mee for my verie soule within mee as Dauid in his heauinesse saide refuseth comfort and fareth as though it did vtterly despaire what peace can I feele then or certaintie of thy fauour and loue Iustly may I powre out this dolorous lamentatiō of Sion The Lord hath forsaken mee and my Lord hath forgotten mee Euen in the middest I say of these my former desperate assaultes mine intollerable heauines cried to thee O my God and from heauen thou heardest my groaninges and therevpon first preparedst my hearte to aske comfort of thee then thou diddest accept my prayer and gauest me plentifully my asking Oh my soule consider well that thou art neuer able to declare the exceeding goodnesse of God in this that hee hearde the verie desires of thee being afflicted who is so readie fauourably to grant the requests of the afflicted that oftentimes hee tarrieth not vntill they do cal but or euer they call vpon him hee fauourably heareth them as the Psalmist saith The desire of the afflicted thou hearest O Lorde thou preparest their heartes thine eares heareth them Oh Lorde my God meruellous thinges are these whether I consider this meruellous manner of thy hearing or else the meruellous nature and propertie of thy goodnesse Meruellous no doubt is that thy hearing whereby the verie desires of the afflicted are hearde but much more maruellous is this thy goodnesse which tarriest not vntil the afflicted doe desire thy helpe but preparest first their hearts to desire and then thou giuest them their desires Yea Lord worthie of all praise it cannot otherwise bee For howe shouldest thou do otherwise then thy nature and propertie is Art not thou verie goodnesse and mercie it selfe Howe canst thou then but pitie and helpe miserie Art not thou both the creatour and also the conseruer of all thinges in so much as the Lyons whelpes roaring after their pray do seeke their foode at thy handes and the Rauens birdes lacking meat do call vppon thee If then thy fatherly prouidence and tender care O Lord vppon all thy creatures be so great that the verie beastes and foules haue this experience of thy goodnes in their necessities that their roarings and cryings haue the strength of earnest callinges and desires howe much rather doe these sighinges groninges and desperate heauines of men but chiefly of thy children crie and call
shed on the crosse for my sake Now most merciful Sauiour let all these thinges profite me that thou freely hast done for me which hast giuen thy selfe also for mee Let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spottes and fowlenesse of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my vnrighteousnes Let the merites of thy passion and bloudsheding be the satisfaction for my sinnes Giue me Lord thy grace that the faith of my saluation in thy bloude wauer not in mee but maie euer bee firme and constant that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that loue waxe not colde in me finally that the weakenesse of my fleshe be not ouercome with the feare of death Graunt me mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my bodie yet the eyes of my soule may still beholde and looke vppon thee and when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet my heart may crie and say Lord into thy handes I commend my soule Lord Iesu receiue my spirite A prayer for a woman with childe THou art wonderfull O Lord in al thy workes and what so euer thy good pleasure is that doest thou easily bring to passe neither is there any thing vnpossible with thee that thou wilt haue done And albeit this thy almightie power sheweth it selfe aboundantly in al thy works yet in conceiuing forming and bringing foorth of man it shineth most euidently At the beginning O Father when thou madest man and woman thou commandedst them to increase multiplie and replenish the earth If through the subtill inticementes of Sathan they had not transgressed thy commaundement by eating the forbidden fruite the woman whome thou hast appoynted to be the instrument and vessell to conceiue nourish and bring foorth man through thy wonderful workmanship had without any labour paine or trauel brought foorth her frutie But that which thy goodnes made easie sin and disobedience hath made harde painefull daungerous and without thy speciall helpe and succour impossible to bee brought to passe so that nowe all women bring foorth their childrē in great sorowes paines and troubles Notwithstanding that which through their owne imperfection and feeblenes they are not able of thēselues to passe thou through thine vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest vnto a ioyfull end We therefore being fully persuaded of thy fauour and goodnesse of thy present helpe and of thy sweete comforte in all miseries and necessities knowing also by the testimonies of thy holy word how great and intollerable the paines of women are that trauell of childe if through thy tender mercie they bee not mitigated and eased most humbly pray thee for Iesus Christes sake thy son our Lorde to helpe and assist this thy seruaunt nowe in trauell and labour that by thy almightie power shee may safely bringe foorth that which by thy goodnes she hath conceiued and that thy louing kindnes may make that easie and tollerable vnto her which sinne hath made hard and painefull Ease O Lord the paines which thou most righteously hast put vpon her and all women for the sinne and disobedience of our graundmother Eue in whom al we haue sinned Be present with her in her trouble accordinge to thy mercifull promise Giue her strength and make perfect that which thou hast so gratiously begun Let thy power be shewed no lesse in the safe bringing foorth then in the wonderfull forming and fashioning of that she beareth Make her a glad and a ioyfull mother that she through thy goodnesse being safely deliuered and restored to health againe may liue and praise thy blessed name for euer A psalme to be saide in the time of any common plague sicknes or other crosse and visitation of God. O Come let vs humble our selues and fall downe before the Lorde with reuerence and feare For he is the Lord our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his handes Come therefore let vs turne againe vnto our Lorde for he hath smiten vs and he shall heale vs. Let vs repent and turne from our wickednesse and our sinnes shal be forgiuen vs. Let vs turne and the Lorde will turne from his heauie wrath and will pardon vs and we shall not perish For we acknowledg our faultes and our sinnes are euer before vs. We haue sore prouoked thine anger O Lord thy wrath is waxed hote and thy heauie displeasure is sore kindled against vs. Thou hast in thine indignatiom striken vs with greeuous sickenesse and by and by we haue fallen as leaues beaten downe with a vehement winde In deede we acknowledge that our punishmentes are lesse then our deseruinges but yet of thy mercie Lorde correct vs to amendment and plague vs not to our destruction For thy hand is not shortned that thou canst not helpe neither is thy goodnesse abated that thou wilt not heare Thou hast promised O Lord that afore we crie thou wilt heare vs whilest we yet speake thou wilte haue mercie vpon vs. For none that trust in thee shall be confounded neither any that call vpon thee shal be despised For thou art the onely Lord who woundest and doest heale againe who killest reuiuest bringest euen to hell and bringest backe againe Our father 's hoped in thee they trusted in thee and thou diddest deliuer them They called vppon thee and were helped they put their trust in thee and were not confounded O Lorde rebuke vs not in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauie displeasure O remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy thinke thou vpon vs O Lord for thy goodnes Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord for we are weake O Lord heale vs for our bones are vexed And nowe in the vexation of our spirits and the anguish of our soules we remember thee and we crie vnto thee heare Lord and haue mercie For thine owne sake and for thy holy names sake incline thine eare and heare O mercifull Lord. For we doe not powre out our prayers before thee trusting in our owne righteousnes but in thy great and manyfold mercies Wash vs throughly from our wickednes and cleanse vs from our sins Turne thy face from our sins and put out all our misdeedes Make vs cleane heartes O God and renne a right spirite within vs. Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glorie of thy name O deliuer vs and be mercifull vnto our sinnes for thy names sake So we that be thy people sheepe of thy pasture shall giue thee thanks for euer and will alwaies be shewing foorth thy praise from generation to generation Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. A psalme of thankesgiuing for deliuerance from the plague or any other kind of sicknes trouble or affliction LOrd thou art become gratious to thy lande thou hast turned away the afflictions of thy
seruants Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure and turned thy selfe from thy wrathfull indignation For if thou Lord hadst not helped vs it had not failed but our soules had beene put to silence But when we said our feete haue slipped thy mercie O Lord helped vs vp In the multitude of the sorrowes that we had in our heartes thy comfortes haue refreshed our soules Our soules wayted still vpon the Lorde our soules hanged vpon his helpe our hope was alwaies in him In the Lordes word will we reioyce in Gods word did we comfort our selues For the Lorde saide Call vpon me in the time of trouble and I will heare thee and thou shalt praise me So when we were poore needie sickly in heauines the Lord cared for vs he was our helper and our deliuerer according to his word In our aduersitie and distresse he hath lift vp our heades and saued vs from vtter destruction He hath deliuered our soules from death he hath fed vs in the time of dearth he hath saued vs from the noysome pestilence Therefore will we offer in his holy temple the oblation of thankesgiuing with great gladnes we wil sing and speake prayses vnto the Lorde our Sauiour We will giue thankes vnto the Lord for he is gratious his mercie endureth for euer The Lord is ful of compassion and-mercie long suffering plenteous in goodnes and pitie His mercie is greater then the heauens and his gratious goodnesse reacheth vnto the cloudes Like as a father pitieth his owne children euen so is the Lord mercifull vnto them that feare him Therefore will we praise thee and thy mercies O God vnto thee will we sing O thou holy one of Israel Wee will sing a newe song vnto thee O God we wil praise the Lord with Psalmes of thankesgiuing O sing prayses sing prayses vnto our God O sing prayses sing praises vnto our king For God is the king of the earth sing prayses with vnderstanding We wil magnifie thee O God our king we will praise thy name for euer and euer Euery day will we giue thankes vnto thee and praise thy name for euer and euer Our mouth shal speake the praises of the lord let all flesh giue thanks to his holy name for euer and euer Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel for euer and blessed be the name of his maiestie world without end ▪ Amen Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. Praiers to be saide before meales and after AL things depend vpon thy prouidence O Lord to receiue at thy hands due sustenāce in time cōuenient Thou giuest to them and they gather it thou openest thy hand and they are satisfied with all good thinges O heauenly father which art the fountaine and full treasure of all goodnesse we beseeche thee to shewe thy mercie vpon vs thy children and sanctifie these giftes which we receiue of thy mercifull liberalitie graunting vs grace to vse them soberly and purely according to thy blessed will so that hereby we may acknowledge thee to be the authour and giuer of all good thinges and aboue all that we may remember continuallie to seeke the spirituall foode of thy worde wherewith our soules may be nourished euerlastingly through our sauiour Christ who is the true bread of life which came downe from heauen of whom whosoeuer eateth shall liue for euer and raigne with him in glorie worlde without end So be it An other prayer before meales WHether ye eat or drinke saith S. Paul or whatsoeuer ye doe else let al be done to the praise and glorie of God. Eternal and euerliuing God father of our Lord Iesus Christ who of thy most singular loue which thou barest to mankinde hast appointed to his sustenaunce not onelye the fruits of the earth but also the foules of the aire the beasts of the field and fishes of the sea and hast commaunded thy benefites to bee receiued as from thy handes with thankesgiuing assuring thy children by the mouth of thine Apostle that to the cleane all thinges are cleane as the creatures which be sanctified by thy worde and prayer grant vnto vs so moderately to vse these thy giftes present that our bodies being refreshed our soules may bee more able to proceede in all good workes to the praise of thy holy name through Iesus Christ our lord So be it Our father which art in heauen c. An other O Eternal God the verie God of peace and all consolation which broughtest againe from death our Lorde Iesus the great sheepheard of the sheepe through the bloud of the euerlasting couenant make vs fruitfull in all good works to doe thy wil and worke in vs that which is acceptable in thy sight Sanctifie vs throughout and keep our whole spirit soule and body faultles vnto the comming of thy deare Sonne our Lorde Iesu Christ. Thou art faithfull O Father who hast promised this who also shalt bring it to passe to thee therefore be giuen euerlasting praise honour and glorie Amen A thankesgiuing after meales LEt al nations magnifie the Lorde let all people reioyce in praysing and extolling his great mercies For his fatherly kindnesse is plentifully shewed foorth vpon vs and the trueth of his promise endureth foreuer We render thankes vnto thee O Lord God for the manifolde benefites which we continually receiue at thy bountifull hand not onely for that it hath pleased thee to feeede vs in this present life giuing vnto vs al thinges necessarie for the same but specially because thou hast of thy free mercie fashioned vs a newe into an assured hope of a farre better life the which thou hast declared vnto vs by thy holy Gospell Therfore we humblie beseech thee Oh heauenly father that thou wilt not suffer our affections to be so intangled and rooted in these earthly and corruptible thinges but that we may alwayes haue our mindes directed to thee on high continually watching for the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ what time he shal appeare for our full redemption To whome with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour and glorie for euer and euer So be it An other thankesgiuing after meales GLorie praise and honour be vnto thee most mercifull and omnipotent father who hast fedde and daily dost feede of thy most bontifull goodnes all liuing creatures we beseeche thee that as thou hast nourished these our mortall bodies with corporall foode so thou wouldest replenish our soules with the perfect knowledge of the liuely word of thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be praise glorie and honour for euer So be it ¶ An other MOste bountifull and gratious God which feedest all flesh and hast promised that asking of thee wee shal not lack if we first seek thy kingdome and the righteousnes thereof we feeling presently the benefite of this thy gratious promise in
hee forsaketh his wickednes and turneth to thee For thou knowest thine own handie worke thou remembrest what wee are thou seest that wee are but weake and feeble flesh Looke not therefore vppon my sinnes O Lord but looke vpon the face of thine annoynted For he hath borne our iniquities he hath caried our sorrowes He was wounded for our transgressions he was broken for our iniquities the chastisemeÌ„t of our peace is layde vpon him He gaue his body to be beaten and his cheekes to be striken he bare the sinnes of many and prayed for the offenders He came to bring glad tydinges to the poore to binde vp the broken harted to preach libertie to the captiues to comfort them that mourne in Sion and to giue vnto them beautie for ashes the oyle of ioye for mourning the garment of gladnes for the spirite of heauinesse that they might be called trees of righteousnesse and the planting of the Lord. For his sake therefore O Lord be mercifull vnto me and say vnto my soule behould I am come to thee thy health and thy saluation A prayer for the true knowledg and vnderstanding of the word of God. LEt my prayer come before thee O Lord and giue me vnderstanding according to thy word Blessed art thou O Lorde teach me thy statutes That with my lips I may declare all the iudgementes of thy mouth That I may delight in the way of thy testimonies aboue all riches That I may meditate in thy precepts and consider thy wayes That I may take pleasure in thy statutes and not forget thy word Be good vnto me thy seruant O Lord that I may liue keep thy word Open mine eyes that I may see the wonders which are in thy lawe I am a stranger vpon earth notwithstanding hide not from me thy commaundements For my hart languisheth with the desire that it hath to thy iudgments Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellers I will praise thee with an vpright hart when thou hast taught mee the iudgements of thy righteousnesse Shew me thy wayes O Lorde teach me thy pathes Leade mee foorth in thy truth and teach mee for thou art my God and my saluation in thee doe I trust all the day long Make mee vnderstand the way of thy precepts and I wil consider thy wonderous workes Thy handes haue made me and fashioned me giue mee vnderstanding that I may learne thy coÌ„mandementes That they which feare thee seeing me may reioyce because I haue trusted in thy word Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruaunt and teach me thy ordinances Thou art good and gratious therefore according to thy goodnesse teach mee thy statutes O Lord of whose goodnesse the earth is ful teach me thy ordinaÌ„ces O Lord I beseech thee accept the sacrifice of my lippes and teach me thy iudgementes The righteousnesse of thy testimonies is euerlasting graunt me vnderstanding and I shall liue Deale with thy seruant according to thy mercies and teach me thy statutes I am thy seruant graunt me vnderstanding that I may knowe thy testimonies My lippes shall shewe foorth thy praise when thou hast taught me thy statutes My tongue shal talke of thy word for all thy commaundementes are righteous For in thee is a wel of liâ—ing waters and euer flowing in thy light shall we see light A prayer for the leading of a Godly life I Crie vnto thee with my whole hart heare me O Lord and guide me that I may keepe thy stautes I call vpon thee saue mee that I may keepe thy testimonies Let my prayer bee directed in thy â—ight as incense and the lifting vp of my handes as an euening sacrifice I haue gone astraye like a lost sheepe seeke thy seruaunt for I doe â—â—â—â— heauen and earth and all thinges therein conteined Oh incomprehensible vnitie Oh alwayes to bee worshipped most blessed Trinitie I humbly beseech thee and pray thee by the assumption and crucified humanitie of our Lorde Iesus Christ that thou wouldest incline and bowe downe the great depth of thy deitie to the bottomlesse pit of my vilitie Driue me from al kinde of vice wickednes and sin Create in me a cleane heart and renue in me a right spirit for thy holy names sake Oh Lorde Iesu I beseech thy goodnes for the exceeding great loue which drewe thee out of thy fathers bosome into the wombe of the holy Uirgin and for the assumption of mans nature wherein it pleased thee to saue me and to deliuer me from eternall death that thou wouldest drawe me out of my selfe into thee my Lorde God and graunt that this my loue may recouer againe to mee thy grace to increase and make perfect in me that which is wanting to raise vp in me that which is falne to restore to me that which I haue lost and to quicken in me that which is dead and should liue that so I may become conformable vnto thee in all my life and conuersation thou dwelling in me and I in thee my heart being soupled with thy grace and setled in thy faith for euer Oh my God loose and set at libertie my spirit from al inferior things Gouern my soule and so worke that both in soule and body I may be holy and liue to thy glory world without end Amen I. B. A prayer necessarie to be saide at all times O BouÌ„tiful Lord Iesu O sweete sauiour O Christ the sonne of God haue pittie vpon mee mercifully heare mee and despise not my prayers Thou hast created me of nothing thou hast redeemed mee from the bondage of sinne death and hel neither with Gould nor Siluer but with thy moste precious bodie once offered vpon the crosse and thine owne blood shedde once for all for a ransome Therefore cast me not away whom thou by thy great wisedome hast made Despise me not whom thou hast redeemed with such a precious treasure nor let my wickednesse destroy that which thy goodnes hath builded Now whiles I liue O Iesu haue mercie on me for if I die out of thy fauour it will be too late afterward to call for thy mercie Whiles I haue time to repent looke vpon me with thy mercifull eyes as thou didest vouchsafe to looke vpon Peter thine Apostle that I may bewaile my sinfull life and obteine thy fauour to liue and die therein I acknowledg that if thou shouldest deale with me according to thy iustice I haue deserued euerlasting death Therefore I appeale to thy highe throne of mercie trusting to obteine thy fauour not for my merites but for thy desertes O Iesu who hast giuen thy selfe an acceptable sacrifice to thy father to appease his wrath and to bring all sinners truly repenting and amending their euill life vnto his fauour againe Accept me O Lord among the number of them whom thou hast in Christ elected and chosen to saluation Forgiue me my sinnes giue me grace to leade a godly and innocent life graunt me
thy heauenly wisedome inspire my hart with faith hope and charitie giue me grace to bee humble in prosperitie patiente in aduersitie obedient to my rulers in all my doinges faithfull dealing truely with all men to liue chastly in wedlock to abhorre adulterie fornication and all vncleanes to doe good after my power vnto all men to hurt no man that thy name may be glorified in mee during this present life and that I afterwarde may atteine euerlasting life through thy mercie and the merites of thy death and passion Amen A prayer for grace and remission of sinnes O Lorde God mercifull father I poore wretched sinner come vnto thee in the name of thy dearly beloued son Christ Iesus my sauiour beseeching thee for his sake to be mercifull vnto me and to cast all my sinnes out of thy sight euen through the merites of his bloodie death Poure vpon me O Lord thy holy spirite of grace and wisedome to gouerne and leade my bodie and soule in thy holy worde and commaundementes Shewe thy mercy vpon me and so lighten the naturall blindenesse and darkenesse of my hart through thy grace that I may dayly be renewed by thy holy spirite Open my hard hart and grosse eares to heare and reade thy worde and heauenly voyce and to beleeue and followe it in my conuersation and euer to hold fast that blessed hope of euerlasting life Mortifie and kill all vice in me that my life may expresse my faith in thee Mercifully heare the humble supplication of thy seruaunt and graunt mee thy peace all my dayes Gratiously pardon my infirmities and defende me in all dangers both outwardly in my bodie goodes and name and inwardly in my soule against all euill tentations and subtile baits of sathan that roaring lyon seeking whome he may deuour Graunt O Lord that I and euerie member of thy Church in his vocation and calling may truly and godly serue thee Grafte in my heart the loue of thy name increase in me true religion replenishe me with all goodnesse and of thy great mercy keepe me in the same vnto the end Giue vnto me the spirite of praier true humilitie perfect patience and continuall ioye in the holy ghost I commend vnto thy protection O Father my house and all that thou hast giuen me my whole familie my wife and children ayde me that I may well holily gouerne nourish and bring them vp in thy feare and seruice And forasmuch as in this worlde I must alwayes be at warre not with one sort of enimies but with an infinite number not onely with fleshe and blood but with the diuell which is the prince of darknes grant me thy grace that being armed with thy defence I may stand in this battell with an inuincible constancie against al corruption which I am incompassed with on all sides vntill such time as I hauing ended the cōbate which during this life I must susteine in the end I may atteine to thy heauenly rest which is prepared for me through Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A prayer taken out of the first Psalme ALmightie and moste gratious God take away from vs al euil counsel and then our sinnes suffer vs not to runne into an vngodly and wicked life and finally keepe our mindes farre from the contempt of godlynesse and scorning of vertue and in the steade of these euills graunt that we may continually bee occupied in thy law and sacred scriptures that we be not caried about like the wicked as light duste and fruitelesse chaffe with euerie blast of affection and doctrine but rather that wee as trees planted by the water brookes indewed with the life of thy spirite and faith may also bring foorth the fruites of good workes and that what so euer we take in hande may prosper and tend to the praise and glorie of thy name and furtherance of our saluation and at the last when the wicked shall fall away in thy iudgement ▪ we may stand stedfast and be made perfect through Iesus Christ our lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmighty God we are sufficiently taught that greeuous calamities and miserable plagues doe therefore dayly vexe and trouble thy Church because we haue not ceased to followe the counsel of the vngodly which being once knowne we ought to haue eschewed The way also of the wicked we haue not shunned yea we haue not ceased to walke their race by continual transgressing of thy commaundementes we haue also of long time contemned all godly correction and discipline and whatsoeuer hath beene taught vs out of thy word hath bin too little regarded ▪ yea without all shame neglected and scorned Wherefore it is no maruell if we in the steede of that happinesse and quiet peace which we alas haue too long abused be nowe compelled to suffer all heauie greeuous and most bitter plagues But now O God in humblenes of heart we flee vnto thee confessing our greeuous offences and we most humblie and hartilie beseech thee that those euils which we so foolishly and wretchedly haue committed thou wilte mercifully forgiue vs and frame our minds wholy to the obedience of thy lawe in such wise that our heartes may be occupied both day and night in nothing else but in the meditation of thy holy scriptures for so shall we giuing credite to thy wordes bringe foorth seasonable and pleasant fruite and shall not be spoyled of the graces of the Holy Ghost yea our doinges shal neuer be without happy successe Nowe we are tossed hither thither not vnlike to leaues and chaffe with the wind of aduersitie and affliction yet grant O most mercifull father that our life perish not with the wicked but that the cause of the iust may bee defended by thy singular prouidence and protection so that in iudgement and in the companie of the iust we may be able to stand and not to be confounded through Iesus Christ our lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmightie God for as much as we haue nowe learned that a great part of our felicitie so long as we liue here consisteth in this that we refraine from vngodly counsell and wicked manners and also auoyd the company of those that despise and deride all good thinges and that in the stead of these euils we giue our selues to the heauenly study of thy holy lawe to be occupied and exercised therein both daye and night whereby wee doe perceiue that wee haue verie much erred and strayed from this way of our saluation yea we haue in these thinges most wickedly offended therefore wee beseech thee euen for thy mercies sake that thou wilt pardon our offences and that hencefoorth by the continual studie and exercise of thy word thou wilt vouchsafe to make vs fruitfull plantes that we may not onely bring forth wholsome fruits in thy Church whiles we liue here but also may be able in the other worlde to stande in iudgemente before thee who best knowest the way of the iust through Iesus Christ our
lord Amen A prayer taken out of the second Psalme WE perceiue most mercifull mightie God that not onely Antichrist but also the power and strength of the whole world coÌ„spireth against thee and against thy Christ which thinke the Gospel and â— building vp againe of thy Church to be an intollerable bondage harde yoke Wherefore they labour by all possible meanes to breake a sunder the societies and congregations of the faithfull and cast away all discipline But forasmuch as thou sittest in heauen and 〈◊〉 not ignorant what the diuell or wicked flesh goeth about laugh thou to scorne their â—aine counsels and bring their purposes to nought Let them feele thine anger to bekindled against them and make them astonished at the fiercnes of thine indignatioÌ„ so that they may not be able to destroy thy Church ouer whom thou hast apointed Iesus Christ our onely sauiour to be a gouernour that in it he might raigne by his word and spirite with inuinciblâ— might and power Wherefore grant vnto vs although vnworthie and shrinking children such faith and constancy that we may finde him and also coÌ„fesse him to be our onely king and that we may nothing doubt but that we be his nation people and heritage being most assured of this that he is of such strength and power that with his word more strong then yron he is able to destroy whom he will and breake them in peeces like earthen pots Therefore O God turne the Kings and Princes of the world vnto thee that they may be wise and vnderstand whereby they may vnfaignedly acknowledge imbrace and kisse thy sonne least when his anger shall once be kindled they perishe and be destroyed for euer And when it shall be thy good pleasure make them blessed for euermore which coÌ„mit themselues to thy gouernance and protection by Christ Iesus our Lord â–ª Amen Out of the same Psalme MOste Mightie and mercifull Lord God though the diuell rage the powers of the world daily rise vp and the flesh with al her bondslaues coÌ„spire against the kingdome of thine onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our Lord yet make vs to vnderstand with constant faith to be persuaded that thou deridest contemnest al such whoÌ„ thou caust in thine anger fierce displeasure when thou wilt sodenly destroy and bring to nought In this faith seeing we are somtimes so weak that being ouercome with sundrie kindes of terrour and dread we are not so obedient to thy coÌ„maundements as we ought to be â–ª we therefore beseech thee for thy great â–ª goodnes sake to bee mercifull vnto vs and grant that we may constantly beleeue thy son our king and our redeemer to haue the highest power and dominion with thee in all thinges For seeing thou hast begotteÌ„ him thou hast also deliuered to him all nations to be ruled by his power as his own inheritaÌ„ce Graunt therfore vnto vs that yet at the length we may be wise vnderstand in such sort as we may serue thee with all due feare and worship that in the last day we be not dashed in peces as earthen vessels with the rodde of thine indignation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A prayer which M. Iohn Bradford said a little before his death in smithfeelde MErciful God father to whom our sauiour Christ approched in his feare and neede by reasoÌ„ of death and found comfort gratious God and most bounteous Christ on whoÌ„ Stephen called in his extreme neede and receiued strength most benigne holy spirit which in the midst of all crosses and death didst comfort the Apostle S. Paul with more consolations in Christ then he felt sorrowes and terrors in the world haue mercie vpon me a most miserable vile and wretched sinner which now drawe neere the gates of death deserued both in soule and bodie eternally by reason of my manifolde horrible olde and newe transgressions â–ª which to thine eyes O Lord God are open and knowne Oh be mercifull vnto mee and forgiue mee for the bitter death and bloodsheading of thine onely sonne Iesus Christ. And though thy iustice do require in respect of my sinnes that nowe thou shouldest not heare mee contemning thy dayly callings yet let thy mercie which is aboue al thy works and wherewith the earth is filled let thy mercie I say preuaile towardes me through the merites and meditation of Christ our sauiour for whose sake it pleaseth thee to bring mee foorth nowe as one of his witnesses and a record bearer of thy veritie and trueth taught by him to giue my life therfore Of which dignitie I doe acknowledg deare God that there was neuer any so vnworthie and vnmeete no not the theefe that hanged with him on the crosse I humbly therefore praye thee that thou wouldest accordinglie ayde helpe and assist me with thy strength and heauenly grace that with Christ thy sonne I may finde comfort with Stephen I may see thy presence and gratious power with Paul and al others which for thy names sake haue suffered afflictions and death I may finde so presente with mee thy gratious consolation that I may by my death glorifie thy holye name set foorth and ratifie thy veritie comfort the hearts of the heauie confirme thy Church in thy truth conuert some that are to be conuerted and so depart out of this miserable world where I do nothing but daylie heape sinne vpon sinne and enter into the fruttion of thy blessed mercie whereof nowe giue and increase in me a liuely tast sense and feeling where through the terror of death the tormentes of fire the paines of sinne the dartes of sathan and the dolours of hell may neuer ouercome me but may be driuen away through the working of that most gratious spirit which now plentiously indue withall that through the same spirite I may offer as now I desire am readie to do in Christ and by him my selfe wholy soule and body to be a liuely sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight deare father whose I am and always haue beene euen from my mothers wombe yea euen before the worlde was made to whom I commend my selfe faith and name familie friends country and all the whole Church yea euen my verie enimies according to thy good pleasure beseeching thee intirely to giue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word againe with godly peace to the teaching and setting forth of the same Oh deare father now giue me to com vnto thee so purge and purifie me by this fire in Christes death and passion through thy spirite that I may be a burnt offering of sweete smell in thy sight which liuest and reignest with the sonne and the holy Ghost nowe and euermore worlde without end Amen The Letanie O God the father of heauen haue mercie vppon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen c. O God the sonne redeemer of the world haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the sonne redeemer