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A17154 Christian praiers and holie meditations as wel for priuate as publique exercise: gathered out of the most godly learned in our time, by Henrie Bull. Whereunto are added the praiers, commonly called Lidleys praiers.; Christian praiers and holy meditations Bull, Henry, d. 1575?; Ledley, John.; Bradford, John, 1510?-1555. Godlie instruction, conteining the summe of all the divinitie necessary for a Christian conscience. aut 1596 (1596) STC 4032; ESTC S120490 133,439 444

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Apostle S. Paule with more consolations in Christ than he felt sorrowes and terrors in the world haue mercie vpon mee a most miserable vile and wretched sinner which now draw neere the gates of death deserued both in soule and bodie eternallie by reaso● of my manyfolde horrible olde and newe transgressions which to thine eies O Lorde God are open and knowen Oh bee mercifull vnto mee and forgiue mee for the bitter death and bloudshedding of thine onely sonne Iesus Christ And though thy iustice do require in respect of my sinnes that nowe thou shouldest not heare mee conteraning thy dailie callinges yet let thy mercie which is aboue al my workes and wherewith the earth is filled let thy mercy I say preuaile towards me through the merits and mediation of Christ our fauiour for whose sake it pleaseth thee to bring me foorth now as one of his witnesses and a recorde bearer of thy veritie and trueth taught by him to giue my life therefore of which dignitie I do acknowledge deare God that there was neuer any so unworthie and unm●ete no not the thiefe that hanged with him on the crosse I humbly therefore pray thee that thou wouldest accordingly aid 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 Paule and al others which for thy names sake haue suffered afliction and death I may 〈◊〉 present with mee thy gratious 〈◊〉 that I may by my death glorist thy holy 〈◊〉 set forth and retifie thy veritie comfort the hearts of the heauie confirme thy church in thy truth conuertsome that 〈◊〉 be conuerted 〈◊〉 so depart out of this 〈…〉 where I do nothing but dai●e heape 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 and enter into the fruition of thy blessed mercie whereof howe giue and increase in me a liuely taste 〈◊〉 and feeling where through the ter●our of death the tormentes of 〈◊〉 the paines of ●●me the dartes of Sathan and the dotours of hell may neuer ouercome 〈◊〉 but may be dri●en away through the working of y ● most gratious spirit which now 〈…〉 me withall y ● through the samespirit I may offer as now● I 〈◊〉 readie to doe in Christ and by him myselfe wholy soule and bodie to be a liuely sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight deare father whose I am and al waie● haue beene euen from my mothers wombe yea euen before the worlde was made to whome I commend my selfe faith name familie and friendes countrie and all the whole Church yea 〈◊〉 my verie enimies according to thy good pleasure beseeching thee intirely to giue once more to this Real me of England the blessing of thy word againe with godly peace to then teaching and setting foorth of the same O deer father now guide me to come vnto thee so purge and purshe me by this fire in Christes death passion through thy spirite that I may be a bu●nt offering of sweete 〈◊〉 thy sight which liuest and raignest with the sonne and the holy 〈◊〉 now 〈◊〉 euermore world without 〈◊〉 Amen The Letanie O God the Father of heauen haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen c. O God the sonne redeemer of the worlde haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the sonne redeemer of c. O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the father and the sonne haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost c. O holy blessed glorious Trinitie three persons and one God haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou bengeance of our sinnes spake vs good Lord spare thy people whome thou hast redeemed with thy most precious bloude and be not angry with vs for euer 〈◊〉 Spare to good Lord. From all 〈…〉 from sinne from the crafts and assaults of the deuill from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From blindnesse of heart from pride vaine glory and hypocrisie frō 〈◊〉 hatred and malice and all 〈…〉 Good Lord deliuer vs. From fornication and all other 〈◊〉 sin and from all the deceits of the world the flesh and the diuell Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightning and tempest from plague pestilence famine from batt●l murther from soda●ne death Good Lord deliuervs From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrine and herisie from hardnesse of heart contempt of thy word commandement Good Lord deliuer vs. By the misterie of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuitie and circumcision by thy baptisme fasting temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agonie and bloudy sweat by thy crosse and passion by thy glorious resurrection and assention and by the comming of the holy Ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In all time of our tribulation in all time of our wealth in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. We sinners do beseech thee to heare vs O Lorde God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holy Church vniuersally in the right way We beeseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to keepe strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnes and holines of life thy seruant Elizabeth our most gracious Queene and go●ernor We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to rule her hearte in thy faith feare a loue and that she may euermore haue affiance in thee and euer seeke thy honour glorie We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to be her defender and keeper giuing her the victorie ouer all her enemies We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to illuminate all bishops p●stors Ministers of the church with true knowledge vnderstanding of thy worde and that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it forth and she in it accordingly We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to endue the Lorde of the councell and all the nobilitie with grace wise dome and vnderstanding We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to blesse keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute iustice and to maintaine trueth We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to blesse keepe all thy people We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue to all nations vnitie peace and concord We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue vs an heart to loue and dread thee and diligently to liue after thy commandements We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue all thy people increase of grace to heare meekely thy worde and to receiue it with pure affection
the Lorde is and are becom new creatures by the heauenlie regeneration through the doctrine of the gospell should like holie and innocent babes lay aside all such workes of the flesh which do depriue a man of the kingdome of God And Saint Paule commaundeth vs that laying aside those cursed vvorkes of darknesse vve should in the steed thereof put on euen as the elect of God holie and beloued tender mercie kindness humblenesse of minde meeknesse long suffering forbearing one another forgiuing one another if anie haue a quarrell to another as Christ forgaue vs end aboue all these things saith he put on loue vvhich is the bond of perfection let the peace oh God rule in your hearts vvhen ye shall stand and praie saith S● Marke forgiue if ye haue anie thing against anie man that your Father also vvhich is in heauen maie forgiue you your trespasses● for if yee vvill not forgiue your father vvhich is in heauen vvill not pardon you your trespasses Moreouer we must haue such a feeling of our owne miserie and wretehednes as may worke in vs an earnest sorrowe and vexation of minde for the same Example whereof wee may see in the deare seruantes of God when they say that out of the deep deepenesse and out of the middes of the iawes of death they vtter vnto the Lord a sorrowfull voice He that desireth mercy must haue a feeling of his owne miserie And therefore saith Dauid Heale my soule O Lord for I haue sinned against thee There is nothing in my flesh saith hee because of thy displeasure neither in there any rest in my bones because of my sin This anguish and sorrowe stirreth vp in Gods children a feruent desire to obtain cōfort help and succour at Gods hande and therfore such as f●ele themselues oppressed with great calamities hauing by the help of man no hope of deliuerance doe crie vnto God with afflicted hearts as Dauid did in his distresse My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God and as the hart being vvounded brai●th for the riuers of vvater so panteth my soule after thee O God This is that godlie sorrow which S. Paule saith worketh in Gods children repentaunce to saluation The Lorde is nigh to them saith Dauid that are of a contrite heart and vvill saue all such as are afflicted in spirite To him vvill I looke euen vnto him saith the Lord that is afflicted and broken hearted and trembleth at my vvordes Therefore Dauid calleth the time of trouble the fit and conuenient time for the faithful to fly vnto God by prayer And albeit they be not at al times in like distresse or continuallie groning vnder the burthen of present euils yet must they needes bee euer in dread of new daungers and carefully ●ffraid of further troubles to follow As trouble and feare therfore are the verie spurs to ●ir them vp to heartie and feruent prayer ●o by occasion thereof they haue more free accesse vnto God as though he did therby call them vnto him This godly sorrow for sinne and feruent desire and longing for Gods louing mercie and fauour commeth not of our selues but of the speciall goodnesse of God for we are of our selues dul and without al lust to pray ●ea so great is our imperfection that wee know not howe to pray as wee ought and therefore the spirite helpeth our infirmities inst●ucteth vs what is right and guideth our affections Hee maketh intercession for the Saintes saith 〈◊〉 Paule according to the vvill of God and that vvith Vighes and gr●anings vvhich cannot be expressed that is hee stirreth vp our he arts giueth vs a desire and boldnesse to pray causeth vs to mourn when we are by any meanes hindred from it and feele not our selues moued therunto with such feruent zeale and affection as we should be Now although wee knowe that it is the only work of the holie Ghost thus to mo●e and incline our heartes to prayer notwithstanding we may not be negligent slouthfull to dispose and stirre vp our selues therevnto but rather contrariwise so often as we feele our selues colde and not disposed to praier as we ought to be wee must make our supplication vnto the Lorde that it woulde please him to inflame vs with his holie spirit wherby we may be framed to pray with such feruencie of mind as we ought to doe When we are cast downe by the sence feeling of our owne infirmity sinne aud miserie Yet must we pray notwithstanding in sure and stedfast hope to obtaine our requests These be things in deed contrarie in shewe to ioyne with the feeling of the iust vengeance of God sure affiance of fauour which things doe yet verie wel agree in that it is the goodnesse of God onlie that raiseth vs vp being oppressed with our owne euils from the which of our selues we cannot rise For as repentance and faith are knit as companions together albeit the one driueth vs downe with feare and the other lifteh vs vp again with comfort so in praying they must needs go together And this agreement Dauid expresseth in few wordes I vvill saith he in the multitude of thy mercies enter into thy house and in the temple of thy holinesse I vvill vv●rship thee vvith feare Therefore when wee are once touched with true repentance and feling of our own miserie we must withall haue such a perswasion of Gods fauor and mercie towards vs in all our praiers that they shall be accepted of God so far foorth as it shall be necessary for ●s This is the assurance saith S. Iohn that vve haue in God that if vve aske anie thing according to his vvill he heareth vs. If we haue not a sure ●rust and confidence in the mercie and promises of God it is vnpossible to make our praier to him aright and whosoeuer doubteth whether God heareth his prayer that man obteineth nothing to such praiers God hath made no promise But contrariwise he saith vvhatsoeuer ye shall a●ke in praier if ye beleeue ye shall receiue it And againe VVhatsoeuer yee desire beleeue that yee shall obtaine it and it shal be done vnto you Ask saith Saint Iames in faith and vvauer not for hee that vvauereth is like to the vvaues of the sea vvhich are tossed of the vvind and caried avvaie And why should wee wauer or doubt seeing the holie scriptures testifie of God that he is faithful iust and true in all his wordes and promises saying The Lord is faithfull in all his vvordes hee vvill euer bee mindfull of his couenant the trueth of the Lorde endureth for euer And although our faith be not so strong and therfore our prayer so hearty and zealous as it ought to be yea though our faith be faint and cold yet let vs hold fast this principle that our praiers are not frustrate or in vaine For our comfort herein we haue an example in the father which brought his sonne first to the Apostles and
and heauenlie thinges and that I should see further by corporal benefits thy heauenly prouidence for me For if thou place mee thus on earth and thus blesse me as thou doest and hitherto hast done from my youth vp in that thou art nothing so carefull for my bodie as for my soule how should I but think much of thy prouidence for it is thy home where is such glorie as the eie hath not seene c. Of which thinges these corporall benefits of thine giuen mee on earth shoulde bee as it were inductions and the taking of them away admonitions to bee more mindfull of permanent thinges and lesse mindfull of transitorie thinges By reason heereof I haue greate cause to lament and to reioyce To Lament because I am so earthlie minded so little desirous of my home so vnthankefull for thy prouidence and fatherly protection heere on earth To reioyce because of thy home and the greate glorie thereof because thou dost so prouide for me heere because thou doest so cortect and chasten me c. But alas I am altogether a wretch earthly and vnthankfull not onely for these corporall benefites health riches friendes fame wisdome c. for thy fatherly correction sicknesse temptation c. but also for thy heauenly benefites for Christ Iesus for the promise of thy spirit for thy Gospel c. yea euen for heauen it selfe and thy whole glorie as the Israelites were for the lande of Canaan and therefore neuer enioyed it but perished in the wildernesse I am proude in prosperitie and forget thee waxing secure and carelesse I am impatient in thy crosse and too much consider worldly discommodities Oh deare father forgiue mee for thy Christes sake all mine vnthankfulnesse loue of this world contempt and obliuion of the heauenly benefites and grant me thy holy spirite to illuminate the eies of my minde with the light and liuely knowledge of thy presence power wisdom and goodnesse in thy creatures but specially in Christ Iesus thy sonne and so by the same spirit inflame mine effections that I may desire nothing on yarth but thee and to bee presente with thee that my conuersation may bee in heauen continuallie from whence graunt mee 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 do all things As thou hast giuen me to be thy childe so I pray thee giue me these thinges which bee 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 decerne and knowe one thing from another Nowe though thou art knowne by thy creatures yet is this our corrupt estate they serue but to make vs excuselesse Therefore most properly liuely and comfortablie thou art knowne by thy holie word and specialy by thy promise of grace and freelie pardoning and receiuing vs into thy fauour for Christ Iesus sake For the which goodnesse in Christ thou art praised and magnified according to thy name that is so much as men know thee in Christ they magnifie thee and praise thee which here thou callest hallowing or sanctifying For that thou art the more holy not in respect of thy selfe but in respect of men who the more they know thee the more they cannot but sanctifie thee that is they cannot but as in themselues by true faith loue feare and spiritual seruice honour thee so also in their outward behauiour and wordes they cannot but liue in such sort as other seeing them may in and by their holinesse and godlie conuersation be occasioned as to know thee so to sanctifie thy name accordingly and therefore thou settest forth here vnto me what is the chiefe and principall wishe and desire of thy children and people namelie that thou in Christ mightest be truelie knowne and honoured both of themselues and of other inwardly and outwardly as by the contrary a man may castlie 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 vocation as they for the obtaining of the other both to other and to themselues doe take no smale paine in prayer studie and godly exercise By reason heereof I see that I am farre from this desire lamentation which is in thy children I see mine ignorance of the true knoweledge 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 toulde mee that the sanctifiyng of thy name is the chiefest thing thou requirest of euery man Againe I see my greate want of holynesse for else thou needest not to teach mee to seek and pray for that I want not Moreouer I see my greate 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 wonderful goodnesse which wilt vndoubtedly giue vnto mee sanctification and holinesse for thou wouldest not that I should aske for that thing that thou wilt not giue me So that I haue greate cause to lament and reioyce To lament because I am so farre from this desire and lamentation which thy children haue Also because of my ignorance pouertie peruersitie vnthankfulnes c. But most of all because thy holy name worde and religion is so blasphemed both in doctrin and in liuing of many especiallie in this realme To reioyce I haue great cause for thy exceeding goodnesse and mercie which wouldest so disclose thy selfe by thy workes worde and Gospell which wouldest open these thinges thus vnto me and so giue vnto mee and others sanctification in thy sight by faith and in the sight of men by purenesse of life and godlie conuersation But alas I doe heartily neither the one nor the other that is lament or reioice as thou father which searchest my hearte doest right wel know Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me yea giue me of thine owne pittie thy holie spirit to reueale and open to my mind effectually my miserable estate condition my ignorance peruersitie and my carelesnes for thy true honour and dishonour in such sort that I may heartily lament these euils and haue them pardoned and taken from me through Iesus Christ our Lord. Againe good father giue mee the same thy holie spirit to reueale to me thy name word and Gospell that I may liuely know thee vnfaynedlie ●●oue thee heartilie obey thee and aboue all thinges desire and labour by all meanes lawfull that all godlines in doctrine and conuersation may bee exercised both in me and in all others
not simply to be vnderstoode concerning thy omnipotent wil vnreuealed against the which nothing is nor can be done but rather concerning thy will reuealed in the lawe and Gospell the which thou heere teachest mee that wee shoulde desire not onely 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 themselues and othrs and doe la ment the contrarie in whom so euer it be so that often their eies gush out with riuers of teares because men keepe not thy lawes By reason hereof I see that I am far from the sighes and teares of thy people I see my ignorance of thy wil if thou hadst not opened the same by thine owne mouth I see my ignorance how acceptable a seruice obedience to thy wil is and therefore do est thou place this petition amonge the first and continuall desires of thy children Againe I see my pouertie in godlie obedience which had neede to be taught to praie for it therby to signifie vnto me my want vnability to attaine it but by thy gift Thirdlye I see my disobedience for else neuer wouldest thou haue commanded me to haue praier for the doing of thy holy wit 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 al our harts to loue our neighbor as our selues to dy to our selues to liue to thee to take by our crosse and to followe thee to beleeue to repent c. for els thou wouldest neuer haue bidden vs to pray for a thinge which we should not looke for So that I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament because of my miserable estate and condition because of my sinne ignorance pouertie and peruersitie and because thy will is euery wher either not known or contemned and Sathans wil the will of the world and of the flesh readily obeied To reioice I haue great cause for that thou hast opened thy selfe will vnto mankind for that also thou peculiarlie hast taught me these things because thou wilt graunt me grace to doe the same But alas how vnthankfull I am and how hard hearted thou Lord doest know Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me I beseeche thee gracious God Graunt me thy holie spirit to reueale to mee my ingnorance of thy will my pouerty peruersitie that I may heartilie be watle it c. and by the helpe and working of the same spirit may suppresse the wil of the fleshe Againe graunt mee thy holie spirit to reueale to mee thy wil declared in thy lawe and Gospell that I may trulie knowe the same and inflame so my affections that I may wil and loue the same in such sorte that it may be my meat and drinke to doe thy wil. Heere call to mind the ten commandementes of God particularlie or generally what therein herequireth and praie for the same particularlie as you see your neede and that not onelie for your selfe but also for others Praie for patience to suffer what crosse soeuer God shall lay vpon and pray for them that be vnder the crosse that they may be patient praie for spirituall wisedome in euery crosse peculiar or publike that you maye see and loue Gods will Giue vs this day our daily bread BY Bread the foode of the body are vnderstode all thinges necessarie for this corporall life as meate drinke health s●ccesse in our vocation c. By this worde Giue wee shoulde vnderstand that not onely spirtuall thinges but also corporall benefites are Gods free gifts a come not for our worthines or trauel taken about the same although our trauels be of tentimes meanes by the which God doth giue corporall things By daylie we vnderstand the contented mindes of thy children with that which is sufficient for the presēt time as hauing hope in thee that they shall not want but daily shall receiue at thy handes plentie and inough of all thinges By this word Our are as wel vnderstood publike benefites as peace in the common weale good Magistrates good lawes reasonable weather c. also particular benefites namely children helth succes in the workes of our vocation c. And besides this by it wee shoulde see the care euen for corporal things which thy children haue for others as wel as for themselues So that heere I may learne how farre I am from that I shoulde bee and that I see thy children are come vnto I see my ignorance also howe that as spirituall thinges do 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 thankefull and look for them as thy meer gifts 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 heere I am taught to bee content with that which is sufficient for the present time as thy children bee which haue the shortnesse of this life alwayes before their eyes and therfore they aske but for dailie sustenance knowing this life to be compared to a day pea a watch a sound a shadow c. Moreouer I may learn to see the compassion and brotherly care which thy children haue one for another Last of all heere I may see thy goodnesse which as thou wilt giue me all things necessarie for this life or els thou wouldest not bid me aske c. so thou commandest all men to pray and care for mee and that bodily much more then if they be able they are commanded to help mee both in body and soule By reason wherof I haue greate cause to lament and reioyce To lament because I am not so affected as thy children be because of my ignorance my ingratitude my peruersitie and contempt of all goodnes and of the necessitie of thy people which alas be in great miserie some in ex●●e some in prison som in pouertie ●●cknesse c. To reioice I haue great cause because of thy goodnes in teaching mee these things in commaunding mee to aske whatsoeuer I want in giuing me so many thinges 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 merciful vnto mee and helpe mee forgiue mee and grant me thy holie spirite to reueale to mee my neede ignorance great in gratitude and contempt of thy mercies thy people that in such sort that I might hartely lament and be wail my misery through thy goodnesse bee altered with thy people to mourne for the miseries of thy children as for mine owne Againe reueale to mee thy goodnesse deare
father euen in corporall thinges that I may see thy mercye thy presence power wisedome and righteousnesse in euery 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 bee thankfull to thee in all my neede to come vnto thee not onelye when I haue ordinarie meanes by the which thou commonly woorkest but also when I haue none yea when all meanes helps are cleane against me Heere remember the state of your children and family also your parents neighbors kinsfolks also your friends countrie magistrates c. as you shall haue time thereto and by Gods good spirite shall be prouoked Forgiue vs our debts as we forgiue them that are debtors vnto vs. BY Our debts wee vnderstand not onely the things wee haue done but the omission and leaueing vndone of the good thinges we ought to doe By Our we vnderstand not onely the particular sinnes of one but also generally the sinnes of all and euery one of the church By Forgiuenesse wee vnderstand free pardon remission of sinnes by the merites and desertes of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe a raunsome for vs. By Our Forgiuing of other mens offences to vs ward weé vnderstand thy good will not onely that it pleaseth thee that we shoulde liue in lou● and amitie but also that thou wouldest haue vs to be certaine of thy pa●●doning vs of our sinnes For as certain as we are that we pardon the● that offend vs so certaine should w● be that thou doest pardon vs whereof the forgiuing our trespasses is as it were a sacrament vnto vs. So that by this petition I am taught to see that thy children although by imputation they bee pure from sinne yet they acknowledge sin to be and remayne in them and therfore doe they pray for the remission and forgiuenesse of the same Againe I am taught heereby to see how thy children do consider and take to heart not onely the euils they doe but also the good they leaue vndoone and therefore they pray thee heartily for pardon Moreouer I am heere taught is for that thy children are careful for other men and for their trespasses and therfore pray that they might be pardoned in saying Our sinnes and not my sinnes Besides this I am taught heere to see how thy children not onlie forgiue all those that offende 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 al I am taught to see how mercifull thou art which will haue vs to aske pardon wherof thou woldest that we should in no point doubt but be most assured that for Christs sake thou hearest vs and that not only for our selues but also for many others for thou doest not commaunde vs to aske for any thing which thou wilt not giue vs. By reason whereof I haue greate cause to lament and reioyce To lament because 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 onely in leauing good vndone but also in doing euil and that daily in thought word and deede c. I speak not of my carelesnes for other folkes sinnes as of my parents children family magistrates c. neither of the sinnes of them to whom I haue giuen occasion of sinne To reioyce I haue greate cause because of thy mercie in opening to mee these things in commaunding me to pray for pardon in promising mee pardon and commanding others to pray for mee And surely I ought to be perswaded of thy mercie though my sinnes be innumerable for I see not only in this but in euery petition how that euery one of the Church praieth for mee yea Christ thy sonne who sitteth on th right hand praieth for me c. Oh dearey father be merciful vnto me and forgiue me all my sinnes and of thy goodnesse giue mee thy holie spirite to open mine eies that I may see sinne the better to knowe it the more truelie to hate it and most earnestlie to striue against it and that effectually both in my selfe and others Againe graunte mee the same thy holy spirite to reueale vnto mee the remedy of sinne By Christ onlie and to worke in mee faith to imbrace the ●ame by Christe and thy mercies in him that I may henceforth be indued with thy holy spirite to beginne to obey thy good will more and more and to increase in the same for euer Heere call to minde the special sins you haue committed heeretofore Remember if you haue occasioned anie to sinne to praie for them by name Remember that Gods lawe shoulde bee so deare vnto vs that the breaking thereof in others shoulde be an occasion to make vs to lament with teares c. Leade vs not into temptation BEcause of our continuall great infirmities because of the greate diligence and subtilties of our enemies and because thou art wont to punish sinne with sinne which of all punishmentes is the greatest and most to bee feared in this petition thou wouldest haue thy children to haue the same in remembrance and for a remedie heereof thou hast appoynted praier so that the only cause why anie are ouercome and led into temptation to see that they forget what they desire in the petition going before this which should neuer be out of their memorie to prouoke them to bee more thankefull to thee and more vigilant and heedy heereafter for falling into the like perils For which to be auoyded thou dost most gratiously set forth a remedy in commaunding vs to pray ofter pardon for our sinnes past and for thy grace to guide vs so that wee be not lid into temptation but might be deliuered from euil And because thou wouldest haue all thy children to hang wholy vpon thee to feare thee only and ouly to loue thee noht dost not teach thē to pray Suffer vs not to be led but lead vs not into temptation that I say they might only feare thee and certainly know that Sathan hath no power ouerso much as a pigge but whatsoeuer thou giuest vnto him and of thy secrete but most iust iudgment doest appointe him to vse not as hee will for then wee 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 then diddest Saul c. Occasions to euil are in two sorts One by prosperitie and successe an other by aduersitie and the crosse c. The euils coming of successe commonly are vnthankfulnes pride securitie and forgetting of our selues forgetting of others forgetfulnesse of God of our mortalitie c. The euls comming of aduersitie commonly are impatiencie murmuring grudging dispairing contemning of God flattering of men stealing
confidence in our selues feruent lusting after carnall thinges of this worlde and this tree of our corrupt nature bringeth forth continually in vs none other fruites but rotten and vnsauorie workes of the flesh in thoughts words and doings vnto condemnation Wherefore we humbly beseech thy fatherlie goodnesse euen for thy sonne Iesus christes sake whome thou hast set foorth for a purchaser of mercie to vs through faith in his bloud make our heartes cleane take away our stony hearte and giue vnto vs a true and liuely faith working in vs vnfained repentance and amendement of our sinfull life Haue mercie vpon vs and forgiue vs our sinnes for thy sonnes sake certifie our consciences of the remission of the same by thy holy spirite by whose operation so mortifie in vs our olde man the whole body of sin that we continually dying vnto sinne maie walke in a newnesse of life to the glory of thy holy name through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen Another confession of sinnes O Eternall God most merciful father wee confesse and acknowledge here before thy deuine 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 holy precepts and commaundements and to purchase to ourselues through thy iust iudgment death and damnation Notwithstanding O heauenly father for asmuch as we are displeased with our selues for the sinnes we haue committed against thee doe vnfainedly repent vs of the same we most humbly beseech thee for Iesus Christs sake to shewe thy mercie vpon vs to forgiue vs all our sinnes to increase thy holy spirit in vs that wee acknowledging from the bottome of our hearts our own unrighteousnesse may from hence foorth not onely mortifie our sinfull lustes and affections but also bring foorth such fruits as may be agreeable to thy most blessed wil through Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour whome thou hast alreadie giuen an oblation and an offering for our sinnes and for whose sake we are certainly perswaded that thou wilt denie vs nothing that we shall aske in his name accor●ding to thy will For thy spirit doth assure our consciences that thou art our mercifull Father and so louest vs thy children though him that nothing is able to remoue thy heauenly grace and fauour from vs. To thee therefore with the sonne the holy Ghost be all honor and glory 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 mercie 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 redounde to the glorie of thy name and good example of our brethren And as it hath pleased thee to make the Sun to shine vpon the earth to giue vs bodily light euen so vouchsafe to illuminate our vnderstanding with the brightnesse of thy spirit to direct vs in the way ofrighteousnes so that what thing so euer wee shall applie our selues vnto our speciall care and purpose may be to walke in thy feare and to serue and honor thee looking for all our wealth and prosperitie to come from thy onely blessing that we may take nothing in hand which shal not be agreeable to thy most blessed will Furthermore that we may in such sort trauail for our bodies and for this present life that wee may haue alwaies a further regard that is to the heauenly life which thou hast promised to thy children and in the in meane seasone that it way please thee to preserue and defende vs both i● body and soule to strengthen vs against all 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 wel and not to continue is nothing wee beseech thee to receiue vs not onelie this day into thy holy protection but also for the time of our whole life continuing and increasing in vs daily thy good grace gifts thereof vntill thou shalt bring vs to that happy state where wee shall fully for euer bee ioyned vnto thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour which is y ● true light of our soules shining day and night perpetually And to the ende that we may obtaine such grace at thy hand vouchsafe most mercifull Father to forgiue and forget all our sinnes which wee haue heeretofore committed against thee for thine infinite mercies sake to pardon the same as thou hast promised to those that aske of thee with vnfained heart for whom as for our selues we make our humble petitions vnto thee in the name of thy sonne our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ in such sorte as he hath taught vs saying Our Father c. Another praier to be saide in the Morning O Almightie and most gratious God we heartely thank thee for the sweete sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuen vs this night past and forasmuch as thou hast commanded by thy holy worde that no man should bee idle but all occupied in godly and vertuous exercises euery man according to his calling wee most humblie beseeche thee that thine eies may attende vpon vs daily defend vs cherish comfort gouerne vs and al our counsels studies and labors in such wise that wee may spend and bestow this daie according to thy most holy will seting thee alwaies before our eyes liuing in thy feare working that may be found acceptable before thy diuine maiestie through Iesus Christ our Lord So be it Another prayer for the Morning VVE humbly and heartily giue thanks vnto thee O heauenly Father through thy deerely beloued son Iesus Christ that to thy innumerable benefits hither to powred vpon our soules and vppon our bodies thou hast kept vs this night past from manie euils both spirituall and corporall and 〈◊〉 of thy mercie doest offer giue vs time to repent and amende our liues so that we might liue henceforth not as we will but as thou wilt and as our bodies do draw continually neerer neerer their ende the graue I meane so our soules might approch to their end that is heauen not hel for in one state we stand not still but either we are neerer y ● neerer happie state of life or else the vnhappie condition of death eternall Wherefore wee 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 y e same thy goodnesse in Christe wee humbly beseech thee to giue vs thy gracious gift of true holy perfect perpetuall repentance that we may more and more lamente our former sinnefull life trusting vnfainedly in thy rich mercie through the merites of Iesus Christ for the pardon of all ●ur sinnes
and that wee may vnfainedly purpose and effectually labour to amend our liues this day so long as wee haue to liue in all our doings and wordes and euen in our verie thoughtes to the prayse of thy holy name and good example of our doings and words and euen in our brethren And for as much as thou knowest our weakenesse our ignorance and great vntowardnesse to carrie anie great crosse or affliction wee beseech thee our sweete Father so temper and order all things towards vs this day and for euer that we bee neuer further proued tempted than thou wilt make vs able to beare and so to helpe vs in the same as may be most 〈◊〉 thy glorie our saluation through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An Euening prayer O Lord God Father euerlasting and full of pitie wee acknowledge and confesse that wee bee not worthy to lift vp our eies to heauen much lesse to present our selues before thy diuine maiestie with confidence that thou wilt heare out praiers and graunt our requests if wee consider our owne wretched deseruings For our consciences doe accuse vs our sinnes witnes against vs wee know that thou art an Vpright Iudge which doest not ●ustifie the sinners and wicked men but punishest the faultes of such as transgresse thy commandements Ye● most mercifull Father since it hath pleased thee to commaunde vs to ca●● vpon thee in all our troubles and aduersities promising euen then t● helpe vs when we feele our selue● as it were swallowed vp of death 〈◊〉 desperation we vtterly renounce al● wordly confidence and trust flie to thy soueraigne goodnes as our only stay and refuge beseeching thee not to cal to remembrance our manifold sinnes and wickednesse whereby we continually prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligēce nor our vnkindnes which haue either worthelie esteemed nor in our liues sufficiētly expressed the sweet comfort of thy holy Gospel reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience and death of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who by offering vp his bodie in sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompence for all our sinnes Haue mercie therefore vpon vs O Lorde and forgiue vs our offences Teach vs by thy holy spirit that we may rightly weigh them earnestly repent vs for the same and so much the rather O Lord our God because that the reprobate such as thou hast forsakē cānot prayse thee nor cal vpō thy name but the repenting heart the sorrowfnl minde the consciēce oppressed hungring thirsting for thy grace shall euermore set forth thy praise and glorie And albeit we be but wormes and dust yet thou art our creator and we be the worke of thy handes yea thou art our father we thy childrē thou art our shepheard and we thy flocke thou art our redeemer and wee thy people whome thou hast deerelie bought thou art our God and wee are thine inheritance Correct vs not therefore in thine anger O Lord our God neither according to our desertes doe thou punish vs but mercifully chastice vs with a fatherly affection that all the worlde may knowe that at what time so euer a sinner dooth repente him of his sinne from the bottom of his hart thou wilt put away all his wickednesse out of thy remembrāce as thou hast promised by thy holie Prophet Finally forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to rest in as thou hast ordayned him the day to trauell graunte O deare father that we may so take our bodily rest that our soules may continuallie watch for the time that our Lord Iesus Christ shall appeare for our full deliuerance out of th●● mortalll life and in the meane seasō that wee be not ouercome by anie fantasies dreames or other temptations but may fully set our mindes vpon thee loue thee feare thee and rest in thee in such sort that our very sleepe also may be to the glorie of thy holie name Furthermore that our sleepe bee not excessiue or ouermuch after the insatiable desire of the flesh but only sufficient to contente our weake nature that wee may the better be disposed to liue in all godlie conuersation to the glorie of thy holy name profit of our brethren through Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs. Our Father which art c. Almightie and euerliuing God vouchsafe we beseech thee to graunt vs perfect continuance in thy liuelie faith augmenting and increasing y e same in vs dailie vntil we growe to the full measure of our perfection in Christ whereof wee make our confessior saying I beleeue in God the father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and bee mercifull vnto vs the Lord● ●urne his fauorable countenaunce towards vs and graunt vs his peace The grace of the Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God and the communion of the holy Ghost bee with vs and remayne with vs for euer So bee it 2. Cor. 9. 13. An other Euening prayer MOst mercifull God and tender father which besides thine inestimable mercies declared giuen vnto vs in the making of the world for our sakes in the redeeming of vs by the death of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ in the calling of vs to the knowledge of thy blessed worde in keeping of vs hitherto in thy holie Church and in thy most gratious gouerning of vs and all thinges hitherto for our singular wealth commoditie hast also most fatherlie cared for vs and kept vs this daye from all daungers both of soule and bodie giuing vs health foode apparell and al other things necessary for the comfort and succour of this poore and miserable life which manie other doe want for these and all other thy good giftes and gracious benefites which thou of thine own goodnesse onely and fatherly prouidence hast hitherto powred vpon vs and doest presently powre vpon vs and many other we most humbly thanke thee and praise thy holy name beseeching thee that as all things are now hidden by meanes of the darkenesse which thou hast sent ouer the earth so thou wouldest vouchsafe to hide and burie all our sinnes which this daie or at anie time heeretofore wee haue committed against thy holie commandements and as nowe wee purpose to laye our bodies to rest so graunt the gard of thy good Angels to keepe the same this night for euermore and whensoeuer our last sleepe of death shall come grant that it may be in thee good father so that our bodies may rest both temporally and eternally to thy glorie and our ioy through Iesus Christ our lorde So be it Another Euening prayer O Eternall God and most mercifull-father who this day and al the time of our life hast graciouslie defended nourished and preserued our soules and bodies
and made such fatherlie prouision for vs poore sinners that of thy louing kindnesse we haue rich portions not onely in the creatures of heauen and earth but also in that plentifull redemptiō which thy most deare Sonne Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs grant vnto vs O merciful father the assistance of thy grace and holy spirite that as our bodies shall nowe take their natural rest euen so our soules and mindes at the beholding of thy goodnesse towardes vs may quiet themselues in thee conceiue such inward pleasure heauēly sweetnes in thy loue that whatsoeuer we shal from henceforth either thinke speak or we it may be all to the honour of thy holy name through Iesus christ thy deare sonne our Lorde and onely Sauiour Amen Thy mightie hand and outstretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercie and s●●ing kindnesse in Iesus Christ thy deare sonne bee our saluation thy trueth and holy worde out instruction thy grace and holy spirite our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the ende A prayer for the remission of sinnes O Almightie and euer liuing Lord God the deare father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ which hast made heauen and earth the sea and al that therein is which art the only ruler and gouernour conseruer keeper of all things together with thy dearely beloued Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord and with the holy Ghost our comforter O holy righteous a wise O strong terrible mightie fearefull Lord God gouernor of the whole world iudge of al me●● O exorable patient most gracious Father whose eies are vpon the wayes of all men and are so clean'● that they cannot abide impietie thou searchest the hearts and triest the verie thoughtes and reines of all men thou hatest sinne abhorrest iniquitie For sinnes sake thou hast greeuously punished mākinde thy most deare creature as thou hast declared by the penalty of death laide vpon all the children of Adam by the casting of Adam and his ofspring out of Paradise by the cursing of the earth by the drowning of the worlde by the burning of Sodom and Gomor by hardening the heart of Pharao so that no miracle could conuert him by the drowning of him and his people in the red sea by the ouerthrowing of the Israelites in the wildernesse so that of fire hundreth thousand there were but two that entred into the land of promise by reiecting King● Saul by the punishmentes vpon thy seruant Dauid notwithstanding his heartie repentance by greeuously afflicting Salomon in himselfe and his posteritie by the captiuitie of the ten tribes and by the thraldome of the Iewes wherein vntill this present day they continue a notable spectacle of thy wrath to the worlde against and for st●ne But of a●● spectacles of thy anger against sinne the greatest and most notable is the death and bloudie passion of thy dearely beloued Sonne Iesu Christ Great was thine anger against sinne when in heauen earth nothing could be found which might appease thy wrath saue the bloudshedding of thine onely most dearely 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 whome was no sin thy wrath was so fierce for our sins that he was constrayned to cry My God my God why hast thou forsaken me How great importable then is thine anger against vs which art nothing but sinfull They that are thy children through the contemplation of thine anger against sinne set forth most euidently in the death of Christ doe tremble and are afraide lamenting themselues vpon him and heartily crying for mercy wheras y ● wicked are altogether carelesse and contēptuous nothing lamenting their iniquities or crying to thee heartily for mercy and pardon Amongest whom wee are rather to be placed than amongest thy childrē for that we are so shamelesse for our sinnes carelesse of thy wrath heaping dailie sinne vpon sinne so that the measure hath ouerflowed and ascended vp to heauē brought thy heauy plagues vpon vs which are but earnest for geeater to ensue therefore to vs pertaineth shame and nothing else is one but confusion What shall we doe what shall wee say who shall giue vs penitēt harts who can open our lippes that our mouthes might make acceptable cōfession vnto thee Alas of our selues we cānot think any good much lesse wish it and least of all we it As for Angels or any other creatures they haue nothing but that which they haue receiued and they are made to minister vnto vs. So that where i● passeth the power of the maister the minister must needes want Alas then what shall we doe Thou art holie and we vnholie thou art good and wee nothing but euill thou art pure 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 Dispayre No. for thou art God and therfore good thou art mercifull and therefore thou forgiuest sinnes with thee is mercie and propitiation and therefore thou art worshipped When Adam had sinned thou gauest him mercy before hee desired it wilt thou deny vs mercy which now desire the same Adam excused his fault and accused thee but we accuse our selues and excuse thee and shall we be sent emptie away Noe founde fauour when thy wrath abounded and shall wee seeking grace be frustrate Abraham was pulled out of Idolatrie when the worlde was drowned therein and art thou his GOD onely Israel in captiuitie in Egypt was graciously visited deliuered deare God the same good Lord shall we alwaies be forgotten Now often in the wildernes didest thou deferre spare thy plagues at the requestes of Moses whē the people themselues made no petition to thee and seeing we not onelie now make our petitiōs vnto thee through thy goodnesse but also haue a mediatour for vs farre aboue Moses euen Iesus Christ shall wee I say deare Lorde depart ashamed So soone as Dauid said I haue sinned thou diddest forthwith answere him that he should not die thou hast takē away his sinnes and gratious God euen the selfe same God shall not wee not we which now with Dauid gladlie confesse that we haue sinned shal we I say not heare by thy good spirit that our sinnes bee pardoned O graunt that with Manasses wee may finde fauour and mercie Remember that thou hast not spared thine owne onely deare Sonne Iesus Christ but giuen him to die 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 now rather of grace than of Iustice Remēber that thou by him hast bidden vs aske promised that we sho●lde receiue saying Aske and yee shall haue seeke and yee
that Father to whome we are made Children of adoption through thee Oh our head raigning on high in glorie forget not vs thy poore members heere on earth whereunto abasing thy selfe thou camest downe and sufferedst for vs most cruell death Out of this thy throne of Maiesty glore thou puttest vs in assured hope and confidence that wee also shall attayne to that blessed place whither thou art gone before to take possession for vs. Oh our strōg tower of defence and succour what can hurt vs nowe trusting in thee Most vnhappie are they which are ignorant of thee Most happy are they which alwaies behold thee Blessed are they which haue knowne thee heere in the dayes of their mortalitie But more blessed are they which see thee in the heauens and shall see thee reigning with thy father in ioyes incomparable Oh Lorde the onelie ioye and comfort of our souls shew vs thy louing countenance embrace vs with the armes of thy mercie receiue vs O good Ioseph thy younger brethrē with the kisse of comfort powre into our hearts thy holy spirite pluck vs vp from the earth earthly things open our eies and lift them vp vnto thee open thy mouth call vs vnto thee open our eares that wee may heare thee so that whatsoeuer we do speake or thinke it may bee directed vnto thee alone our redeemer mediator and aduocate If ye be risen againe with Christ seeke the thinges which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God set your affection on thinges that are aboue and not on thinges which are on earth Col. 3. Another THou Lord diddest put away Marie Magdalen from the kissing of thy feete because thy flesh was not yet exalted and she knew not yet the dignitie of thy clarified bodie and beautified with the glorie of immortalitie but was addicted only to thy bodily presence She yet sought the liuing among the dead neither was it knowne to her that thou was equall with thy father Wherfore thou wouldest not suffer her so much as to kisse thy feet because it was a thing vnworthy for thy maiesty Oh thou mighty Lion of the tribe of Iuda thou conquerour of hel and death euerliuing 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 neere 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 wee may bee glad and reioyce in thee drawe vs that wee may runne after the sauour of thy sweete oyntments that wee may behold thee in righteousnesse and when thy glorie shall appeare wee may bee satisfied for in thy presence there is fulnesse of ioy and in thy right hande there are pleasures for euermore A prayer for true repentance MOst gratious God and mercifull father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ because I haue sinned done wickedlie through thy goodnesse haue receiued a desire of repentaunce whereunto this thy long● suffering doth drawe my hard heart● I beseech thee for thy great mercies sake in Christ to worke the same repentaunce in mee and by the spirite power and grace so to humble mortifie and feare my conscience for my sinnes to saluation that in thy good time thou maiest comfort and quickē 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 Lorde Sauiour Iesus Christ in whome as thou art well pleased so hast thou commaunded vs to heare him for as much as hee often biddeth vs to aske of thee and also promiseth that thou wilt heare vs and graunt vs that which in his name we shall aske of thee loe gracious father wee are bold to beg of thy mercie through thy sonne Iesus Christ one sparkle of true faith and certaine perswasion of thy goodnesse loue towardes vs in Christ where through I being assured of y e pardon of all my sins by the mercies of Christ thy sonne may be thankful to thee loue thee a serue thee in holinesse and righteousnes al the daies of my life I. B. A prayer for the true sense and feeling of Gods fauour and mercie in Christ OH Lorde God and deare Father what shall I say that feele all thinges to bee in manner with mee as in the wicked blind is my mind crooked is my will and peruerse concupiscence is in mee as aspring or stinking puddle O howe fainte is faith in mee How little is my loue to thee or to thy people How greate is selfe loue Howe harde is my heart By the reason whereof I am mooued to doubt of thy goodnesse towardes mee whether thou art my mercifull father and whether I bee thy childe or 〈◊〉 In deede worthily might I doubt of that the hauing of these were the cause and not the 〈◊〉 rather of thy children The 〈◊〉 why thou art my father is thy mercie goodnesse grace and trueth in Christ Iesus which cannot but remaine for euer In respect whereof thou haste borne me this good will to bring me into thy Church by baptisme and to accept me into the number of thy children that I might bee holy faithfull obedient and innocent and to cal me diuers times vp the ministerie of thy worde into thy kingdome besides thy innumerable other benefites alwayes hitherto powred vpon mee All which thou hast done of this thy good will which thou of thine owne mercie barest to mee in Christe and for Christe before the world was made The which thing as thou requirest straitely 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 mo●e without mistrust of being heard in thy good time as most shall make to my comfort Loe therefore to thee deare Father I come through thy sonne our Lorde mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for mee and pray thee of thy great goodnesse and mercy in Christ to bee mercifull vnto mee that I may feele in deede thy sweete mercie as thy childe The time Oh deare Father I appoint not but I praie thee that I may with hope f●ll expect and looke for thy helpe I hope that as thou for a little while hast left mee so thou wilt come and visit mee and that in thy great mercie wherof I haue neede by reason of my great miserie Thou art wont for a little season in thine anger to hide thy face from them whom thou louest but surelie O Redeemer in eternal mercies thou wilt shew thy compassions For when tho ●eauest vs O Lord thou doest not leaue vs verie long neyther doest thou leaue vs to our own losse but to our lucre aduantage men that thy holy spirite with bigger portion of thy power and
vertue may lighten and cheere vs that the want of feeling of our sorrow maye to recompensed plentifully with the liue y ● sen●e of hauing thee to our eternal ioy therefore thou swarest that in thine euerlasting mercy thou wilt haue compassion on vs. Of which thing to the ende we might bee most assured thine oth is to bee marked for th●n say●st● As I haue sworne that I will neuer bring anie more the waters to drowne the world So haue I sworne that I wil neuer more bee angrie with thee nor 〈◊〉 thee The mou●t● 〈◊〉 shall 〈◊〉 the hilles shall fall down● but my louing kindnesse shall not mooue and the bond of my peace shall not faile thee Thus saiest thou the Lord our mercifull redeemer Deare Father therfore I praie thee remember euen for thine owne trueth and mercie sake this promise and euerlasting couenaunt which in thy good time I may thee to write in my hart that I may know thee to bee 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 bee holie in thy sight through Christ that I may alwaies not onely striue against sin but also ouercome the same dayly more and more as thy children do aboue al things des●ring the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doing of thy will heere on earth as it is in heauen c. throguh Iesus Christ our redeemer mediator and aduocate Amen I. B. A praier against our spirituall enemies the diuell the world and the flesh O Lorde God the diuell goeth about like a roring Lyon seeking whome hee may deuoure the flesh lusteth against the spirite the worlde perswadeth vnto vanities y ● we may forget thee our Lord God so for euer ve damned Thus are we miserably on euery 〈◊〉 befet and ●e●●eged of cruell a vnrestful enemies and like euerie momente to perish if we be not defended with thy godly power against their tyrannie Wee therefore poore and wretched sinners despayring of our owne strength which indeede is none most heartily praie thee to indue vs with strength from aboue that wee may bee able through thy helpe with strong faith to resist Sathan with feruent praier to mortifie the lustes of the fleshe with continual meditation of thy holie lawe to auoide the foolish vanities and transitorie pleasures of this wicked worlde y ● through thy grace wee beeing set at libertie from the power of these our mortall enemies may serue thee heere in true holinesse and righteousnes and after be partakers of the euerlasting ioyes prepared for thy children which as they are great and vnspeakeable so are there fewe that doe inioy them For straite is the way and narrowe is the gate that leadeth therunto and few there be that find it Notwithstanding O God thou hast a litle 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 that nūber for Iesus christes sake place vs amongest those thy sheepe which shal stand on thy right hande to receiue that blessed inheritaunce and dwel with thee for euermore A prayer for present helpe in tentation DEare father to whom it is more easie to doe all thinges then for mee to thinke anie one goodthing Loe doe thou but speake a worde and thy deadlie sicke seruaunte my sonle shall be made whole Helpe O Lorde for the great mercy sake for thy trueth sake and for thy deare sonne Iesus Christs sake set thy sterngth suffice against my weakenesse and the holy-spirit against my sinfull flesh and olde man Thou art faithfull O Father who hast promised that I shall not bee tempted further than 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 thy in fallible trueth promised mercie vanquish and subdu whatsoeuer rebelleth against thy most blessed will Preserue and keepe holie my soule and bodie and let them not bee defiled and made a dangeon of diuels wicked spirits through delectation in sinne Behold deare Father the postes thereof are sprinkled with y e precious bloud of thy deare son and of thy great mercy that are made the temple and tabernacle of thy holy spirit Shall nowe alas the Diuell the worlde or the flesh plucke from thee that thing which presently cryeth to thee with assured tr●st in thy promised helpe Nay father but graunt that I may by thy mightie power turne al their crafts decrits and raging assaultes vnto the increase of my faith and that by experience of thy fatherlie assistance in this my present temptation I may with assured hope and trust in thy readie helpe and comfort ouercame my saide enimies heereafter in like assaults prayse thy holy name for the victory through Iesus Christ our Lord. My sonne if thou wilt come into these rule of the Lorde stande fast in righteousnes feare and prepare thy soule to tentation Eccles 2. Remedies against sinfull motions and tentations First remember that sinne is so hainous a thing that God by his iustice might worthilie damne thee for the same and is therefore to bee abhorred as a sweete poyson a flattering death destruction of the soule which woulde cut thee off from God thy Sauiour and make thee a bondslaue to Sathan thy deadlie enemie Auoide therefore euen at the first the occasions thereof betimes quash out the braines of the childrē of Babylon against the hard stones whiles yet they bee young and weake least when they be growne elder 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 than hee will make away out whereby thou shalt escape and doubt not but he 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 triumphouer Sathan to his confusion to Gods glorie and thy great comfort which are causes that our tender louing father sendeth tentations vnto vs he that is not tempted what is he Nowe after thou hast obtained the victory remember two thinges first to giue most heartie thankes to God for his grace and assistance whereby thou hast ouercome and bee not vnthankefull in anie wise and then that hee who continually goeth about like a roring Lion seeking whome he maie deuoure wil not be long or farre away from thee but will attempt againe the same or as euill waies to ouercome thee Watch therefore and praye A prayer for the auoiding of Gods heauie wrath and vengeance for our sins OH Lord God strong and mighty great and feareful which dwellest in the heauens and workest great wonders we thy miserable children heere vpon
to resist to whom it belongeth iustly to punish sinners and to be mercifull vnto them that truly repent we confesse thou doest most iustly punish vs for vnto haue u●●ously finned against thee and wee acknowledge that in punishing vs thou doest declare thy selfe to be our most merciful father aswell because thou doest not punish vs in any thing as we haue deserued as also because by punishing vs thou doestcal vs and as it were drawe vs to increase in repentance it fayth in prayer in contem●ing of the world and in heartie d●●●ing for euerlasting life thy bless●● presence 〈…〉 therefore gracious 〈…〉 Lorde thankefully to acknowledge thy great mercy which hast thus fauourablie dealt 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 hee turne and liue haue mercie vpon vs and turne vs vnto thee for thy dearelie be oued Sonne Iesus Christs sake whom thou wouldest should be made a slayne sacrifice for our sins thereby declaring thy great and vnspeakable anger against sinne and thyne infinite mercy towardes vs sinnefull wretches And for asmuch as the dulnesse blindnes corruption of our hearts is such that we are not able to arise vp vnto thee by faithful and heartie prayer according to our great necessitie without thy singular grace and assistaunce graunt vnto vs gracious Lord thy holy and sanctifying spirite to worke in vs this good work with grace to weigh and cons●●r the neede and greatnesse of that we doe desire and with an assured faith trust that thou wilt graunt vs our requestes because thou are good and pracious ●uē to young Raunes calling vpon thee much more then to before whō thou hast made al things yea and hast not spared also thyne than deare Sonne because thou hast commaunded vs to call vppon thee because thy throne wherto we come is a throne of grace and mercie because thou hast giuen vs a mediator Christ to bring vs vnto thee beeing the way by whome we come being the doore by whom we enter and being our head on whom we hang and hope y t our poore petitions shall not be in vayne through him and for his names sake Wee beseech thee therefore of thy rich mercie wherein thau art plētifull to al them that call vpon thee is forgiue vs our sinnes namely our vnthankefulnesse vnbeleef self loue neglect of thy worde security hypocrisie cōtempt of thy long suffering omission of prayers doubting of thy power presence mercy and good 〈◊〉 towardes vs vnsensible of thy grace ●●●patience ●c to this thy benefit ofim correcting vs adde thy gracious gift of repentance sayth the spirit of prayer e the contempt of this worlde and heartie desiring● for euerlasting life In due vs with thy holy spirit according to thy couenant and mercy a●●el to assure vs of pardon and that thou 〈◊〉 accept vs in thy fauour as thy 〈◊〉 children in Christ for his sake as to write thy same in our hearts 〈◊〉 to worke in vs that wee may nowe begin and go forwarde in beleeuing ●uing fearing obeying praying hoping a seruing thee as thou doest require most fatherly most iustire of vs accepting vs as perfect in thy light through Iesus Christ our lord ●men A Praier of the afflicted for the profession of Gods worde O Gracious God which seekest almeanes possible how to bring ●y children into the feeling and ●re sence of thy mercie and therfore then prosperity wil not serue then ●ndest thou aduersity graciously cor●ting them heere whom thou wilt 〈◊〉 elsewhere to liue with thee for●er we poore wretches giue hūble ●aises thanks to thee y t thou hast ●●ched vs worthy of thy correctiō at 〈◊〉 presēt hereby to worke y t which 〈◊〉 in prosperity liberty did neglect For the which neglecting and many other our greeuous sinnes whereof we now accuse our selues before thee Most mercifull Lorde thou oughtest most iustly haue giuen vs ouer and destroied vs both in soule body But such is thy goodnes towards vs in Christ that thou seekest to forget all our offences and as though we were far otherwise than we bee indeed thou wilt that we should suffer this crosse now layd vppon vs for thy trueth and Gospels sake and so be thy witnesses with thy Prophets Apostles Martyrs and Confessors yea with thy dearely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ to whome thou doest now heere beginne to fashiō vs like that in his glorie we may be like to him also O good God what are we on wh● thou shouldest shew this great mercie Oh louing Lord forgiue vs our vnthankefulnesse and sinnes Oh faithfull Father giue vs thine holie spirite nowe to crie in our heartes Abba deare father to assure vs of our eternall election in Christ to reueale more and more thy truth vnto vs to confirme strengthen and stablish vs in the same that wee may liue die in it as vessels of thy mercy to the glorie and to the commoditie of thy Church Indue vs with the spirite of thy wisedom that with good conscience we may alwaies so aunswere the enimies in thy cause as may turn to their conuersion or confusion and our vnspeakable consolatiō in Christ Iesus for whose sake wee bes●●che thee hence foorth to keepe vs to giue vs patience and to will no otherwise for deliuerance or mitigation of our misery than may stand alwaies with thy good pleasure and mercifull will towards vs. Graunt this deare father not onely to vs in this place but also to all others elsewhere afflicted for thy names sake through the death and merites of Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen I. B. A praier to God the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost O Almighty and euerliuing God the eternall Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which of thy vnmeasurable goodnes hast opened thy self vnto vs and with a loude voyce hast saide of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde Heare him O maker and pr●seruer of all thinges with thy coeternall sonne our Lorde Iesus christ which raigneth with thee and was manifested in Ierusalem with thy holie spirit which was powred vpon the Apostles O wise God mercifull Iudge and mightie Lorde which hast saide As truelie as I liue I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert and amēd which also haste saide Call vppon me in the day of trouble and I will deliuer thee haue mercie vpon vs for Iesus Christes sake whome thou wouldest of thy meruailous incomprehensible counsai●e shoulde be made for vs a staine sacrifice mediatour reconciler and peacemaker to the ende that thou mightest sh●we ●hine exceeding great wrath against 〈◊〉 and thine in estimable mercy towards mankind Sanctifie illuminate our hearts and soules with thy holy spirit that wee may trulie ●eleeue in thee call vpon thee bee thankeful vnto thee and obedient 〈◊〉 thy holy will Defende gouerne ●nd cherish thy church as thou hast
members of the mysticall bodie of Christ Iesus wee made out requestes vnto thee O heauenly father for all such as are afflicted with any kinde of crosse or tribulation as war plague ●●mine sicknesse pouertie imprisonment persecution banishment or my other kinde of thy rooddes whether it be griefe of bodie or vnquiet●es of minde that it would please thee to giue them patience and constancie till thou sende thein full deliuerance out of all their troubles Finally O Lord we most humbly beseech thee to shewe thy great mercie vpon our brethren which are persecuted cast in prison and dayly condemned to death for the testimonie of thy trueth and though they be vtterly destitute of all mans aide yet let thy sweet comfort neuer departe frō thē but so inflame their harts with thy holy spirit that they may boldly cheerefully abide such trial as thy godly wisedome shall appoint so that at length aswel by their death as by their life the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ may increace shine throughall the worlde In whose name wee make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our father which art c. A praier to be said before the receiuing of the communion O Father of mercie and God of al consolation seeing all creatures do acknowledge and confesse thee to be their gouernor Lord it becommeth vs the workmanship of thine own hands at al times to reuerence magnifie thy godly maiestie First for that thou hast created vs to thine owne image and stmilitude but chiefly because thou hast deliuered vs frō that euerlasting death damnation into which Sathan drew mankind 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 mercy and in●●nite in goodnesse hast prouided our redemption to stand in thine onely wel beloued sonne whom of verie ●oue thou diddest qiue to bee made man like vnto vs in all things sinne excepted that in his bodie hee might receiue the punishment of our transgression by his death to make satisfaction to thy iustice and by his resurrection to destroy him that was the author of death and so to bring a gaine life to the worlde from which the whole ofspring of Adam was most iustly exiled O Lorde wee accknowledge that no creature was able to comprehende the length and breadth the deepenesse and height of that thy most excellent loue which mooued thee to shewe mercie where none was deserued to promise and giue life where death had gotten victorie to receiue vs into thy grace when wee could doe nothing but rebell against thy Maiestie The blinde dulnesse of our corrupt nature will not suffer vs suff●●antly to weigh these thy most amp●● benefites Yet neuerthelesse at the commaundement of Iesus Christe our Lorde wee present our selues to this thy table which hee hath left to bee vsed in remembrance of his death vntill his comming againe to declare and witnesse before the worlde that by him alone wee haue receiued libertie and life that by him alone thou doest acknowledge vs to be thy children and heires that by him alone wee haue entrance to the throne of thy grace that by him alone wee are possessed in our spirituall kingdome to eate and drinke at his Table and with whome wee haue our conuersation presently in heauen and by whome our bodies shall be raised by againe from the dust shall be placed with him in that e●dlesse ioye which thou O Father of mercie hast prepared for thine elect before the foundation of the worlde was laide And these most inestimable benefites wee acknowledge and confesse to haue receiued of thy free mercy and grace by thine onely beloued son Iesus Christ For the which therefore we thy congregation moued by the holy spirite doe render to thee all thanks praise and glory for euer and euer A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the holy Communion MOst mercifull father wee render vnto thee al praise thankes honour glory for that it hath pleased the of thy great mercies to grant vnto vs miserable sinners so excellēt a gift and treasure as to receiue vs into the fellowship and companie of thy deare son Iesus Christ our lord whom thou hast deliuered to death for vs hast giuen him vnto vs as a necessary foode and norishment vnto euerlasting life And now wee be●●ech thee also O heauenly father to grant vs this request that thou neuer suffer vs to become so vnkind as to forget so worthie benefits but father imprint and fasten them sure in our hearts that wee may grow increase daily more and more in true faith which continually is exercised in all manner of good works and so much the rather O Lorde confirm vs in these perillous daies ●ages of Sathan that wee may constantly stand and continue in the confession of the same to the aduancement of thy glorie which art God ouet all thinges blessed for euer A lamentation of a sinner afflicted in conscienc●●● his offences IN the midde st●● the desperate assaultes of my soule the intollerable heauinesse of my minde hath hereto fore LORD cried as shrill in thine eare as though I had shriked and with lamentations cried out saying Helpe helpe me my God my creator my most prouident keeper euerlasting defender for beholde I perish On this occasion Lorde when heauinesse of minde did heeret ofore assault mee I remembred that thou haddest many times set before mine eyes the wonderfull greatnesse of thy most tender loue towardes mee by the great multitude of thy benefites powred upon met which benefites euerie of thy workes as they came before mine eies gaue mee iust occasion to be mindfull of Would not thought I if I had in any manner any ●●●race at al would not such loue brin●● nowe into my heart a wonder●●●●electation ioy and comforte in God for the same● And againe coulde such delight in Gods sweete mercie and tender loue towards mee if I were not as euil is a cast-awaye that were none of Gods children bee without loathing of my sinne and lust and desire to doe Gods holy will And these thinges thought I fie vpon mee vnthankefull wretch are either not at all in mee or else in deed so coldly and stenderly that they being truely weighed and compared to right cousnesse are more vile than a filthy cloth starched in corrupt bloud O thought I Iain afraid I haue deceiued my selfe for thy seruantes at all times I trowe f●●● otherwise than I now doe the fruit● of thy spirit as loue ioy peace such like But my loue alas towardes thee what is it my ioy is not once almost felt of mee for my very soule within mee as Dauid in his heauinesse said 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 lamentation of Sion The Lorde hath forsaken me and my Lorde hath forgotten me Euen in the middest I say of these my former desperate assaultes mine intollerable heauines cryed to thee O my God from heauen thou heardest my gronings and thervpon first preparedst my heart to aske comfort of thee and then thou didst accept my praier and gauest me plentifully my asking Oh my soule consider well that thou art neuer able to declare the exceeding goodnes of GOD in this that hee heard the verie desires of thee beeing afflicted who is so readie fauorably to grant the requests of the afflicted that oftentimes he tarieth not vntil they doe call but or euer they call vpon him fauourably hearest them as the Psalmist sayth The desire of the afflicted thou hearest O Lord thou preparest their heartes thine eares heare them Oh Lorde my God meruailous things are these whether I consider this meruailous manner of thy hearing or else the meruelous nature propertie of thy goodnes Meruailous no doubt is that thy hearing whereby the very desires of the aflicted are heard but much more maruailous is this thy goodnes which tarrfest not vntil the afflicted do desire thy helpe but preparest first their hearts to de●●re and then thou giuest them their destres Yea Lorde worthy of all praise it cannot otherwise ●e For howe shouldest thou do otherwise than thy nature and property is Art not thou verie goodnesse mercy it selfe How canst thou then but pitie and helpe miserie Art not thou both the creator and also the conseruer of all thinges In somuch as the Lyons whelpes roaring after their praye doe seeke their foode at thy handes and the Rauenes birdes lacking meate do cal vpon thee If then thy fatherly prouidence and tender care O Lorde vppon all thy creatures be so great that the verie beastes and foules haue this experience of thy goodnesse in their necessities that their roarings and cryings haue the strength of earnest calling and desires howe much rather doe these sighinges groninges and desperate heauinesse of men but chiefely of thy children crie and call lowde in thine eares though they speake neuer a word at all Should I then now despaire of thy fatherly mercie whiles presently I feele thee stirre vp my soule and heart to craue helpe at thy hande● Shoulde I thinke that thou wilt absent thy selfe for euer that thou wilt bee no more intreated that thy mercie is cleane gone that thy promise is come vtterly to an ende and that thou wilt now shut vp thy louing kindnesse in displeasure Nay Lorde for all alterations are of thy right hande and turne al waye to the best to them that feare thee All this is but mine owne inffrmitie for thou art euer one thy promises bee infallable and the loue towardes thine euerlastingly during I will therefore in this my present tentation greeuous assault powre ●ut the heauinesse of my heart before thee deare Father Out of the deep wil I crie and lift by my soule vnto thee from whome I assuredly knowe my helpe is comming I wil also for my present comfort call to remembrance O Lord my God thy tender mercies towards mee already shewed the multitude of thy benefits the greatnes of the same the long cōtinuance of them euen from my conception vntill this instant finally thy continuall lust desire to powre them vpon me And moreouer fith thy goodnesse is so great O Lord that thou doest not onely pitie miserie but also callest the heauy hearted and afflicted unto thee promising that thou witt ease their miserie for as much as by the motion of thy good spirit I loath and abhor my s●nnes feele the gree uousnesse of them and thy heauie wrath towards mee for the same finally what neede I haue of thy gracious aide and succour heresore O Lorde in thy sonne Christes name with sure confidence and trust in thine infallible promise in this mine anguish and trouble I come vnto thee at thy mercifull calling craue comfort at thy hand For thou hast promised that when I loath my sinnes thou wilt vtterly forget them when I feele the greeuous burthen of them thy mercie swalloweth them vp when I seeke that I want thou wilt assuredly grant it me For ●●th tthou moouest my heart to desire help how should I mistrust but thou wilt for thy trueths sake guie mee my asking Yea where I knowe not how or what to desire as I ought thy holy spirite gratiously working in mee maketh intercession mightily for me with gronings which cannot bee expresseth and therewith certifieth my spirite that by adoption through thy great mercie and goodnesse I am become thy childe and heire Why should I not then bee of good comfortand ioyfull in thee my God For if thou bee on my doe who can be against mee Since thou diddcst not spare thine owne sonne but gauest him for mee euen when I was thine enemie howe fhalt thou not with him nowe that by his death I am brought into thy 〈◊〉 giue mee all thinges with him and for his sake Who shall lay any thing to the charge of thine elect It is thou Lord which iustifiest mee It is Christe that hath died for m●e yea rathe● that is risen againe for mee Who also is set on thy right hand and hat taken possession yea and perpetually there maketh interrcession for m● vntill that ioyfull day be come wh● I shall haue ful fruition of the most glorious presence of thy diuine maie sty in that kingdom which thou hast prepared before the begining of the world but in time to thy gratious goodnesse thought best make known to me by giuing thy holy spirit into my hearte whereby when I first Lorde beleeued thy holy worde which is thine owne power to saue al that beleeue I was sealed confirmed stablished in the certaintie of that thine euerlasting kingdom and inheritaunce For the which inestimable benesite of the rich grace Oh Lorde my God I beseech the euen for the loue thou barest to Christ Iesus thy son and thy mercie thou haddest on him when he cried on the crosse My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Helpe help I say inflame my hart with loue so plentifully towardes thee againe that I may be euen swallowed vp in the ioyful feeling of the same in such sort that I may of very thankefulnesse loue thee my God alone thee I say my deare God and nothing but thee and for thy sake O holy spirite whose worke this is in mee increase this the work of thiue infinite mercie preserue mee that I neuer become vnthankefull vnto thee therefore Amen A praier for the sicke O Most merciful God which according to the multiude of thy mercies doest so put away the sinnes of those which truly repēt that thou rememberst them no more open thy
dies of mercy and look vpon this thy sicke seruant● who most earnestly destreth pardō forgiuenesse Renue in him most louing Father whatso euer hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the Diuell or by his owne carnal will and frailtie Preserue continue this sicke member in the vnitie of the Church Consider his contrition accept his teares asswage his paine a shall bee seene to thee most expedient for him And for as much as he putte●h his full trust onely in thy mercie impute not vnto him his former sinnes but take him vntoty fauour through the merits of thy most dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ A praier to be said at the houre of death O Lorde Iesus Christ which arl the onely health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them that die in thee I wretched sinner doe submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will and being sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed vnto thy mercie willinglie now I leaue this fraile and sinneful flesh in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise restore it to meE againe at the lost day in the resurrection of the iust I beseech thee most mercifull Lord iesus Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all tentations and defende mee with the buckler of thy mercie against all the assaultes of the diuell I see and acknowledge that there is in my selfe no hope of saluation but all 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 whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes but wilt accept and take mee for righteous and iust and to bee an inheritour of Euerlasting life Thou mercifull Lorde 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 torments for my sake Finally thou gauest thy most precious bodie and bloud to be shed on the crosse for my sake Now most merciful Sauiour let all those thinges profite mee that thou freely hast done for mee which hast giuen thy selfe also for mee Let thy blond clense and wash away the spottes and fowlnesse of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my righteousnesse Let the merites of thy passion and bloodshedding be the satisfaction for my sinnes Giue mee Lord thy grace that the faith of my saluation in thy blood wauer not in me but may euer be firme and constant that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in mee that loue waxe not colde in mee Finally that the weakenesse of my flesh bee not ouercome with the feate of death Graunt mee mercifull Sauiour that when death hath thut vp the eies of my body yet the eies of my soule may stil behold and looke vpon thee when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet my hearte may crie say Lorde into thy handes I commend my soule Lord Iesu receiue my spirite A praier for a woman with childe THou art wonderfull O Lorde in all thy workes and whatsoeuer thy good pleasure is that doest thou easily bring to passe neither is ther any thing vnpossible with thee that thou wilt haue doon And albeit this thy almightie power sheweth it selfe abundantly in all thy workes yet in conceiuing forming and bringing forth of man it shineth most euidently At the beginning O Father when thou madest man and woman thou commaundest them to increase multiplie and replenish the earth If through the subtile inticementes of Sathan they had not transgressed thy commaundement by eating the forbidden fruite the woman whome thou haddest appointed to be the instrument vessell to conceiue nourish and bring foorth man through thy woonderful workmanship had with out any labour paine or trauaile brought forth her fruite But that which thy goodnes made easie sin and disobedience hath made harde painfull daungerous and without thy speciall helpe and succour imposible to bee brought to passe so that nowe all women bring forth their childrē in great sorrows paines and troubles Notwithstanding that which through their own imperfection and feeblenes they are not able of themselues to passe thou through thine vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest vnto a ioyfull ende Wee therefore being fully perswaded of thy fauour and goodnesse of thy present helpe and of thy sweete comfort 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 child if through thy tender mercy they be not mittigated and eased most humbly praye thee for Iesus Christes sake thy son our Lorde to helpe and assist this thy seruant nowe in trauell and labour that by thy almightie power shee may safely bring foorth that which by thy goodnesse shee hath conceaued and that thy louing kindnesse may make that easie and tollerable vnto her which sinne hath made hard and painefull Ease O Lorde the paines which thou most righteously hast put vpon her and all women for the sinne and diso bedience of our Graundmother Eue is whome al we haue sinned Be present with her in her trouble according to thy mercifull promise Giue her strength and make perfect that which thou hast so gratiousLie begun Let thy power be shewed no lesse in the safe bringing forth than in the wonderfull forming fashioning of that shee beareth Make her a glad and ioyfull mother that shee through thy goodnes being safely deliuered and restored to health again may liue and praise thy blessed name for euer A Psalme to be saide in the time of any common plague sicknesse or other crosse and visitation of God O Come let vs humble our selues and fall downe before the Lord with reuerence and feare For he is the Lord our God and we are the people of his pasture and sheepe of his handes O come therefore let vs turne againe vnto our Lorde for he hath smitten vs and he shall heale vs. Let vs repent and turne from our wickednesse and our sinnes shall be forgiuen vs. Let vs turne and the Lorde will turne from vs his heauy wrath and will pardon vs and wee shal not perish For we acknowledge our faultes and our sinnes are euer before vs. Wee haue sore prouoked thine anger O Lorde thy wrath is waxed hote thy heauy displeasure is fore kindled against vs. Thou hast in thine indignation stricken vs with greeuous sicknesse and by and by wee haue fallen as leaues beaten downe with a vehement winde In deede wee acknowledge that our punishmentes are lesse than our deseruings but yet of thy mercy lord 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 wee crye thou wilt heare vs whilest wee yet speake thou wilt haue mercie vpon vs. For none that trust in thee shal be confounded neither any that call vppon thee shall be despised For thou art the onely Lord who woundest and dost heale againe who killest and reuiuest bringest euen to hel and bringest backe againe Our fathers hoped in thee trusted in thee and thou diddest deliuer them They called vpon thee and were helped they put their trust in thee and were not confounded O Lord 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 mercie think thou vpon vs O Lord for thy goodnesse Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord for we are weake O Lord heale vs for our bodies are vexed And nowe in the vexation of our spirites and the augnish of our souls we remember thee and we crie vnto thee heare Lord and haue mercie For thine owne sake and for thy holie names sake incline thine care heare O merciful Lord. For wee doe not powre out our praiers before thee trusting in our owne righteousnesse but in thy great and manifolde mercies Wash vs thoughly from our wickednesse and clense vs from our sins Turne thy face from our sins and put out all our misdeeds Make vs cleane heartes O God and renue aright spirite within vs. Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glorie of thy name O deliuer vs and be mercifull to our sinnes for thy names sake So wee that bee thy people sheep of thy pasture shal giue thee thankes 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 kinde of sicknes trouble or affliction LOrde thou art become gracious 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 Lorde hadst not helped vs it had not failed but our soules had been put to silence But when wee said our feet haue slipped thy mercy O Lorde helped vs vp In the multitude of the sorrowes that wee had in our hearts thy comforts haue refreshed our soules Our soules waited still vpon the Lorde our soules hanged vppon his helpe our hope was alwaies in him In the Lordes word will wee reioyce in Gods worde did wee comfort onr selues For the Lord said Call vpon mee in the time of trouble I wil heare thee and thou shalt praise mee So when wee were poore needie sickly in heauines the Lord cared for vs hee was our helper ●nd our deliuerer according to his word In our aduersitie and desiresse he hath lifted vp our head and sau●● vs from vtter destruction He hath deliuered our soules fro● death hee hath fed vs in the time 〈◊〉 dearth hee hath saued vs from th● noysome pestilence Therefore wil wee offer in his holy temple the oblation of thankesgiuing with great gladnes wee w●●sing and speake praises vnto the lor● our Sauiour Wee will giue thankes vnto th● Lord for he is gratious and his me●●cie endureth for euer The Lord is ful of compassion an● mercie long suffering plenteous i● goodnesse and pitie His mercie is greater than the h●●uens and his gracious goodnes rea●cheth vnto the cloudes Like as a father pitieth his ow● children euen so is the Lord merciful vnto them that feare him Therefore will we praise thee and thy mercies O God vnto thee will wee sing O thou holy one of Israel We will sing a new song vnto thee O God wee will praise the Lorde with psalmes and thankesgiuing O sing praises sing praises vnto our God O sing praises sing praises vnto our king For God is the king of the earth sing praises with vnderstanding We will magnifie thee O God our king wee will praise thy name for euer and euer Euery daye wil wee giue thankes vnto thee and praise thy name for euer and euer Our moutn shall speake the praises of the Lord let all flesh giue thanks to hs holy name for euer and euer Blessed bee the Lorde God of Israell for euer and blessed be the name of his maiesty worlde without end Amen Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Prayers to be said before meales and after ALL things depend vpon thy prouidence O Lord to receiue at thy hands due sustenance in time conuenient Thou giuest to them and they gather it thor openest thy hand and they are sanctified with all good things O heauenly father which art the fountaine and full treasure of all goodnesse Wee beseech thee to shewe thy mercie vpon vs thy children and sanctifie these thy giftes which we receiue of thy merciful liberalitie granting vs grace to vse them soberly and purely according to thy blessed will so that thereby we may acknowledge thee to be the author and giuer of all good thinges and aboue all that we may remember continually to seeke the spiritual foode of the world wherwith our soules may be norished euerlastingly through our Sauiour Christ who is the true breade of life which came downe from heauen of whom whosoener eateth shal liue for euer and raigne with him in glorie world withour end So be it Another prayer before meales VVHether ye eat or drinke saith S. Paule or whatsoeuer ye do else let all be done to the praise glorie of God Eternall and euerlasting God fathere of our Lord Iesus Christ who of thy most singular loue which thou barest to mankinde hast appointed to his sustenance not only the fruits of the earth but also the fouls of the aire the beastes of the field and fishes of the sea and hast commaunded thy ben● fites to be receiued as from thy handes with thankesgiuing assuring thy children by the mouth of thine Apostle that to the cleane al things are cleane as the creatures which be sanctified by the worde and prayer grant vnto vs so moderatly to vse these thy giftes present that our bodies being refreshed our soules may be more able to proceede in all good works to the praise of the holy name through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Our father which art in heauen c. Another O Eternall God the very God of peace and al consolation which broughtest againe from death our Lorke Iesus the greate shepheard of the sheep through the bloud of the euerlasting couenante make vs fruitful in all good works to do thy wil and
all thinges in this world as they be transi●orie soone vanishing away and my selfe also with them drawing towardes mine end For nothinge vnder the Sunne may long abide but all is vanitie and affliction of spirite Oh Lorde God which art sweetenesse vnspeakeable turne into bitternesse vnto me all transitorie earthly delights which may drawe mee from the loue of eternall things and for al worldly comforts giue me the sweete comfort of thy holy spirit for thou Lord art my ioy my hope my crowne and my glorie Blessed are they that for the loue of thee set not by the pleasurs of this worlde but crucifie the flesh and the iustes thereof so that in a cleane pure conscince they may offer their praiers vnto thee and be accepted to haue companie with thee together with the Angels heauenly spirits O euerlasting light send down the beames of thy brightnesse and lighten the inward partes of my heart Open my heart that I may behold thy lawes and teach me to walke in thy commaundements Beholde my weaknes O Lord be clarified and made glorious in thy kingdome Oh holie father thou hast ordeyned it so to be and it is done as thou hast appoynted Wherefore O Lorde giue mee the grace to rest in thee aboue all things and to quiet my heart in thee aboue all creatures aboue all glorie and honour aboue all dignitie and power aboue all health and beauty aboue all riches and treasure aboue al ioy and pleasure aboue all fame praise aboue al mirth and consolation that mans hart may take or feele besides thee For thou Lorde art most good most wise most righteous most holie most iust most blessed most high most mightie most comfortable most beautifull most louing most glorious in whom all treasures of goodnesse most perfect●y rest And therefore whatsoeuer I haue besides thee it is nothing vnto me or my heart may not rest nor fully bee pacified but onely in thee Oh Lord Iesu who shall giue mee wings of perfect loue that I may fly vp from these worldly miseries and rest with thee Oh Christ the king of euerlasting glorie my soule crieth vnto thee with continual gronings saith How long tarrieth my Lord God to come to me Oh when shall the ende come of all these miseries When shall I cleane be deliuered from the bondage of sinne When shall I Lord haue my minde onely fixed on thee and be merrie in thee with perfect ioy and gladnes When shal that blessed houre come that thou shalt visit mee and make mee glad with thy blessed presence when thou shalt bee to mee all in all When shall I come vp to thee and feele and enioy those sweete consolations which with thy blessed Saints are alwaies present When shall I haue peace without trouble peace without peace within and on euery side stedfast sure O Lord Iesu when shal I stand and behold thee and haue full sight contemplation of thy glorie When shall I bee with thee in thy kingdom that thou hast ordained for thine elect before the beginning Oh blessed mansion of that heauenly citie Oh most cleare daie of eternitie whom the night may neuer darken This is the daye alwaies cleare merrie alwaies sure and neuer changing This daye shineth cleare to thy saints in heauen Oh gracious God with euerlasting brightnesse but to vs heere on earth so great is y e darknes of sinne in vs it shineth obscurely and as it were a farre off wee see but a glimmering thereof Would to GOD this day might shortly appeare and shine vnto vs and that these wordly vanities were at an ende Thy heauenly Citizens know and feele how ioyfull this day is but we the children of Eue strangers exiles here on earth do lament and bewaile the bitter tediousnesse of this present life short and euil ful of sorrow and anguish Where man is oftentimes defiled with sinne disquieted with troubles oppressed with cares bus●ed with vanities blinded with errors ouercharged with labours vexed with tentations ouercome with vaine delightes and pleasures of the worlde and miserably wrapped in manie kindes of calamities Wherefore O Lord arise helpe mee comfort mine exile asswage my sorrowe destroy the power of mine enemies the kingdom of sinne Sathan the worlde my wicked flesh which alway make battel against me and bring these cōflicting daies to an end So shal I sing praises vn to thee O God of my saluation magnifie thy holy name world with out end Amen A confession of sinnes and a prayer for the remission thereof O Lorde God rich in mercie and of ●reat goodnesse who of thy tender loue towardes vs euen whē we were thine enemies didst sende into the worlde thine owne deare Sonne Iesus Christ to be a slayne sacrifice for our sinnes so that whosoeuer beleeueth in him shoulde not perish but haue life euerlasting haue mercy vpō me acording to thy great mercies according to the multitude of thy compassions put awaie mine iniquities For mine iniquities are gone ●uer my head and as a weightie burthen they presse me downe Against heauen and against thee haue I st●ned O Lorde I am not worthy to be called thy childe I am ashamed to lift vp mine eies vnto thee for my sinnes are ascēded vp into thy sight There is nothing sounde in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne Behold I am solde vnder sin 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 ●●tash me therfore O Lord frō mine iniquities clense me from my sinne Purifie my hart by the sanctifying of thy holy spirite by the sprinckling of the bloud of thy deare Sonne from the filth of sinne and an euil cōscience Make mee to heare ioy gladnes that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce Create in mee a new hart O God and renew a right spirit within mee Cast mee not away from thy presence take not thy holy spirite from mee Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and stablishe mee with thy free spirite For thou art good to them y ● trust in thee and to the soule that seeketh thee AL thy waies are mercy and trueth to them that seeke out thy couenaunt and thy testimonies The fountaine of thy goodnes is euer full and ouerflowing thy mercie neuer decayeth Thou woundest and healest againe thou killest and reuiuest bringest euen downe to hell and bringest backe againe Thou raysest vp those that are fallen thou comfortest y e broken harted Thou strengthenest the wearie standes and crooked knees out of the gulfe of hel 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 Lorde according to thy louing kindnes turne vnto mee according to
Teach mee to doe the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy good spirit leade me vnto the land of righteousnesse A prayer for deliuerance from sinne to be restored to Gods grace fauour againe OH Almightie and euerlasting Lorde GOG which hast male heauen and earth and all thinges therein contained O incomprehensible vnitie Oh alwaies to bee worshipped most blessed trinitie I humblie beseech thee and pray thee by the assumption and crucified humanitie of our Lorde Iesus Christ that thou wouldest incline and howe downe the great depth of thy Deitie to the bottomlesse pit of my vilitie Driue me from al kind of vice wickednes sin Create in mee a cleane heart and renue in me a right spirit for thy holy names sake Oh Lorde Iesu I beseeche thy goodnesse for the exceeding great loue which drew thee out of thy Fathers bosome into the wombe of the holie virgin and for the assumption of mans nature wherin it pleaseth thee to saue mee and to deliuer mee from eternall death that thou wouldest drawe mece out of my selfe into thee my Lord God and graunt that this my loue may recouer againe to me thy grace to increase make perfect in me y t which is wanting to raise vp in me y t which is faln to restore to me that which I haue lost and to quicken in mee that which is dead shoulde liue so that I may become comformable vnto thee in al my life conuersatiō thou dwelling in me I in thee my heart being coupled with thy grace setled in thy faith for euer Oh my God loose and set at libertie my spirit from al inferior things Gouerne my soule and so work that both in soule and body I may be holie liue to thy glorie world without end Amen I. B. A prayer necessarie to be said at all times O Bountifull lorde Iesu O sweet Sauiour O Christ the sonne of God haue pittie vppon mee mercifully heare mee and despise not my prayers Thou hast created mee of nothing thou hast redEemed mee from the bondage of sinne death hell neither with gold nor siluer but with thy most precious body once offered vpon the crosse and thine owne bloud shed once for al for a ransome Therefore cast me not away whome thou by thy greate wisedome haste made Despise mee not whome thou hast redeemed with such a precious treasure nor let my wickednesse destroye that which thy goodnesse hath bu●lded Now whiles I liue O Iesu ha●e mercie on mee for if I die out of thy fauour it wil be too late afterwarde to call for thy mercy Whiles I haue time to repent looke vpon mee with thy mercifull eies as thou diddest vouchsafe to looke vpon Peter thine Apostle that I may bewayle my sinful life obtayne thy fauour to liue and by therein I acknowledge that if thou shouldest deale with me according to thy iustice I haue deserued euerlasting death Therefore I appeale to thy highe throne of mercy trusting to obtayne 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 to bring all finners truly repenting amending their euil life vnto his fauour againe Accept mee O Lorde among the number of them whom thou hast in Christ elected and chosen to saluation Forgiue me my sinnes giue mee grace to leade a godly and innocent life graunt mee thy heauenly wisedome inspire my hearte with faith hope and charitie giue mee grace to be humble in prosperity patient in aduersity obedient to my rulers in al my doinges faithfull dealing truly with al men to liue chastly in wed locke to abhore adultery fornication and al vncleannesse to do good after my power vnto al men to hurt no man that thy name may be glorified in me during this presentlife that I afterward may attain 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 dearely beloued sonne Christ Iesus my Sauior beseeching thee for his sake to be merciful vnto me to cast all my sinnes out of thy sight euen through the merites of his bloudie death Powre vpon mee O lorde thy holy spirite of grace and wisedome to gouerne lead my body and soule in thy holy work commandements Shew thy mercy vpon mee so lighten the natural blindnes and darkenes of my heart through thy grace that I may daily be renewed by thy holie spirite Open my heard heart 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 mee that my life may expresse my faith in thee Mercifully heare the humble supplications of thy seruaunt and graunte mee thy peace al my daies Graciously pardon my infirmities and defend mee in al daungers hath outwardlie in my bodie goods and name and inwardlye in my soule against al euil temptations and subtile baites of sathan that roaring Lyon seeking whome hee maye deuoure Graunt O Lorde that I and euery member of thy Church in his vocation and calling may trulie and godlilie serue thee Graft in my hearte the loue of thy name increase in mee true religion replenish mee with all goodnesse and of thy greate mercie keepe me in the same vnto the ende Giue vnto mee the spirite of praier true humilitie perfect patience and continuall ioy in the holy Ghost I commend vnto thy pratection O Father my house all that thou hast giuen me my whole family my wife children and mee that I may wel and holily gouerne nourish and bring them vp in thy feare seruice And forasmuch as in this worlde I must alwayes be at war not with one sort of enimies but with an infinite number not only with flesh bloud but with the diuel which is the prince of darknes grant mee thy grace that being armed with thy defence I may stand in this battaile with an inuincible constancy against all corruption which I am incompassed with on all sides vntil such time as I hauing ended the combat which during this life I must sustaine in y e end I may attaine to thy heauenly rest which is prepared for mee through Christ our Lorde and Sauiour Amen A praier taken out of the first Psalme ALmightie and moste gracious GOD take away from vs all euil counsel and then our sins sufer vs not to runne into an vngodlye and wicked life and finally keepe out mindes farre from the contempt of godlinesse and scorning of vertue 〈◊〉 in the steade of these euils grant 〈◊〉 we may continually bee occupied in thy law and sacred scriptures that we be not carried about like the wicked as like dust and fruitlesse chaffe with
to bring foorth the fruites of the spir●te We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to bring in to the waie of trueth all such as haue erred and are deceiued We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand and to comfort and helpe the weake hearted and to raise vp them that fall and finally to beate downe sathan vnder our feete We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort al that he in daunger necessitie and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by lande or by water all women laboring of childe all sicke persons and yong children to shewe thy pittie vpon al prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to defende and prouide for the fatherles children and widowes and al that be desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to haue mercie vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to forgiue our enimies persecutors and slaunderers and to turne their hearts We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to out vse the kindly fruits of the earth so as in due time we may enioy them We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue vs true repentance to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to indue vs with thy holy spirit to amend our liues according to thy holy word We beseech thee to heare vs c. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God we beseech thee c. O lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Graunt vs thy peace O lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Haue mercie vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Our father which art in heauen c. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euil Amen The versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The answere Neither reward vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God mercifull father which despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desires of such as be sorrowfull mercifully assist our praiers that we make before thee in all our troubles aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs gratiously heare vs that those euils which the craft and subtiltie of the diuell or man worketh against vs bee brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that me thy seruantes being hurt by no persecution ●aie euermore giue thankes vnto thee in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble workes that thou diddest in their daies and in the olde time before them Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thine honour Glorie 〈◊〉 to the father and to the Sonne and to the holy ghost As it was in the beginning is now euer shall be worlde without end Amen From our enimies defend vs O Christ Gratiously looke vpon our afflictions Pitifully behoulde the sorrowes of our hearts Mercifully forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauorably with mercy heare our prayers O Sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon vs. Both nowe and euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Graciously heare vs O Christ graciously he are vs O Lord Christ O Lorde let thy mercy be shewed vpon vs. As we doe put our trust in thee Let vs pray VVE humblie 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 and graunt that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercie euermore serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of liuing to thy honor and glorie through our onely mediatour aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A prayer for the Queenes Maiestie O Lord our heauenly father high and mighty king of kings Lord of Lords the onely ruler of princes which doest from thy throne beholde all the dwellers vpon the earth most hartily we beseech thee with thy fa●our to behold our most gratious soueraine Ladie Queene Elizabeth so replenish her with thy grace of thy holy spirit that she may al waies incline to thy wil walk in thy waies endue her plentifully with heauenly gifts grant her in health welth lōg to liue strengthen her that she may v●●quish ouercome al her enemies finally after this life shee may attaine euerlasting ioy and felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A prayer for Bishops and Ministers of the Church ALmightie and euerliuing God which onely workest great marueiles send down vpon our Bishops and Pastours and al congregations committed to their charge the health full spirit of thy grace and that they may truely please thee powre vpon them the continual dewe of thy blessing Graunt this O Lorde for the honor 〈◊〉 aduocate and mediatour Iesus Christ For Raine O GOD heauenlie Father which by thy son Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that seeke thy kingdome and thy righteousnes thereof al things necessarie to their bodily sustenance send vs wee beeseech thee in this one 〈…〉 moderate rained showers that wee may receiue the fruits of the earth to our comfort and to thy honor thorough Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 Lorde Amen For ●aire weather O Lorde God which for the 〈◊〉 of man drodest once drowne all the worlde except eight persons afterwarde of thy great mercie diddest promise neuer to 〈◊〉 it so againe we humbl●e 〈◊〉 if that although we for our 〈…〉 haue worthyly deserued this plague of raine and waters yet thou wilt send vs such weather whereby 〈◊〉 may receiue the fruits of the earth in due season and learne both by thy punishment to amend outlines and for thy clemencie to giue thee praise glorie through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen In the time of dearth and famine O Merciful God and heauenly father whose gift it is that y e raine dothfal the earth is fruitfull man and beastes increase and fishes doe multiply beholde we beseech thee the afflictions of thy people and graunt that the scarcitie dearth which we doe now most iustly suffer for our iniquitie may through thy goodnes bee mercifully turned into cheapnes and plenty for the loue of Iesus Christ our Lorde to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be praise for euer Amen In the time of warre ALmightie God king of al kings and
euery blast of affectiō and doctrine but rather that wee as trees planted by the water brooks indued with the life of the spirit and faith may also bring forth y e fruits of good workes and that whatsoeuer we● take in hand may prosper tende to the praise and glory of thy name and furtherance of our saluatiō at the last when the wicked shal fall away in thy iudgment 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 grieuous calami●ies and miserable plagues do there●ore daily vex and trouble the church ●ecause we haue not ceased to follow ●he counsel of the vngodly which being once knowne wee ought to haue schewed The way also of y e wicked ●e haue not shunned yea wee haue not ceased to walke their race by con●inuall transgressing of thy comman●ements wee haue also of long time ●●ntemned al godly correction dis●●pline whatsoeuer hath bin taught ●s out of thy word hath bin too litle ●egarded yea without al shame neg●ected and scorned Wherfore it is no meruaile if we 〈◊〉 the steede of that happinesse and met peace which we alas haue too ●ing abused bee nowe compelled to suffer all heauie grieuous and most bitter plagues But now O God in humblencs of hart we fly vnto thee confessing our grieuous offences wee most humblie and heartily beseech thee y t those euils which we so foolishly wretchedly haue committed thou wilt mercifully for giu● vs and frame our mindes wholi● to the obedience of th● lawe insuch wise that our hearts might 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 bring● foorth seasonable and pleasant fruit and shall not be spoyled of the grace● of the holy Ghost yea our doing shal neuer be without happy successe● Now we are tossed hither thither not vnlike to leaues and chaffe wit● the mind of aduersity and affliction yet graunt O most merciful father that our life perish not with the wicked but that y e cause of the iust may bee defended by thy singular prouidence and protectiō so that in iudgment and in the company of the iust we may be able to stand and not bee confounded through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmightie GOD for asmuch as we haue nowe learned that a great part of our felicitie so long as we liue heere consisteth in this that we refrayne from vngodly counsaile and wicked manners and also auoid the companie of those that despise ●eride all good thinges and that in the steade of these euils we giue our selues to the heauenly studie of thy ●olie lawe to be occupied and exercised therein both daye and nighte whereby we doe perceiue that wee haue very much erred straied from this way of our saluation yea wee haue in these things most wickedlie offended therefore we beseech thee euen for thy mercies sake that thou wilt pardō our offences that hence forth by continuall study exercise of thy worde thou wilt vouchsafe to make vs fruitfull plants y ● wee may not only bring forth wholsom fruits in thy Church whiles we liue heere but also may be able in y ● other world to stand in iudgment before thee who best knowest the way of the iust thorough Iesus christ our Lord Amen A prayer taken out of the second Psalme VVE perceiue most mercifull and mightie God that not onely Antichrist but also the power strength of the whole worlde conspireth against thee and against thy Christ which thinke the Gospel and the building vp again of the Church to vs an intollerable bondage 〈◊〉 yoke Wherefore they labour by 〈◊〉 possible meanes to breake asunder the societies and congregations of the faithfull and cast away all disciplin● But for asmuch as thou ●iuttest to heauen and art not ignorant what the diuell or wicked flesh goeth about laugh thou to scorne their value counsels and bring their purposes to might Let them feele thine 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 kindled against them and make them astonished at the 〈◊〉 of th●●t in●●gnation so that they may not be able to destroy the Church ouer whom thou hast appointed Iesus Christ our onely sauiour to be a gouernour thee in 〈◊〉 raigne vp his 〈◊〉 and spirite with 〈◊〉 might and power Wherefore 〈◊〉 vnto vs although vnworthy and shrinking children such faithe constancie that we may find him and also confesse him to be our only king and that we may nothing doubt but that wee be his nation people and heritage being most assured of this that he is of such strength 〈◊〉 and wee that with his word more 〈…〉 yron be is eble to destroy whom he will and breake them in peeces like earthen ●ots Therefore O GOD turne the Kings and Princes of the world vnto to thee that they may be wise and vnderstand whereby they may vnfainedly acknowledge im●race and kisse his sonne least when his wrath shall once bee kindled they perish and be destroyed for euer And wher it shall bee thy good pleasure make them blessed 〈…〉 themselues to thy gouernanc● and protection by Christ Iesus our Lord Amen Out of the same Psalme MOst mightie and merciful Lord God though the diuel rage the powers of the world daily rise vp the flesh with all her bond●a●ce conspire against the kingdome of thine onely begotten son Iesus Christ our Lord yet make vs to vnderstand and with constant faith to be perswaded that thou deridest and contemnest all such whom thou canst in thine anger fierce displeasure when thou wilt ●odainelie destroy bring to nought In this faith seeing wee are sometimes so weake that being ouercome with sundrie kinds of terrours and dreade we are not so obedient to thy commandements as we ought to be wee therefore beseech thee for thy great goodnesse sake to be mercifull vnto vs and grant that we may constantly beleeue thy Sonne our king a●d our redeemer to hauethe highest power and dominion with thee in all things For seeing thou hast begottē him thou hast also deliuered to him all nations to be ruled by his power as his owne inheritance Graunt therefore vnto vs that yet at the length we may be wise understand in such sort as wee may serue thee with all due feare and worshipp that in the last day wee be not dashed in peeces as earthen vessels with the rod of thine indignation through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen A praier which M. Iohn Bradford saide a little before his death in Smithfield MErcifull God and Father to whome our sauiour Christ approched in his feare need by reason of death and found comfort gratious God and most bounteous Christ on whom Stephen called in his extreeme neede and receiued strength most benigne holy spirite which in the midst of all crosses and death didst comfort the