houshold Prayer for priuate Families in the Morning MOst mighty and glorious God the onely Craator and Gouernour of heauen and earth and all things therein contained we miserable sinners here met together by thy grace doe in thy feare prostrate our selues before thy throne of Maiesty and glory desiring in some measure to shew our vnfained thankfulnesse for thy innumerable mercies multiplied vpon vs from the first houre of our birth yea before our birth and before time was Before the foundations of the world were laid thou out of thy free loue and meere mercy didst elect vs to eternall life when thou didst reiect others Thou didst create vs after thine owne image engrauing vpon vs the characters of spirituall wisedome righteousnesse and true holinesse when it was in thy power to haue made vs like vnto the beasts that perish yea to haue equalled vs to the basest of thy creatures And when through our owne default we lost that dignity thou dist so pittie vs as to send from thine owne bosome thine onely begotten Son to recouer it for vs and to restore it to vs and that with no lesse price then his owne heart-bloud Besides it hath pleased thee continually to spread the wings of thy gracious protection ouer vs to ward and guard vs by thy prouidence to open thy hand and to replenish vs with good things to continue our life health strength food raiment peace and liberty to this very houre Thou hast euen loaded vs with thy benefits if we had hearts rightly to consider it thou renewest thy mercy toward vs euery morning and the night past hast giuen vs a testimony of thy loue For whereas for the sinnes committed the day before thou mightest euen in the dead of sleepe haue giuen vs a sodaine call out of this world and so presently haue brought vs to that great account which wee must make before thee thou vouchsafest yet to spare vs yea which is more to refresh vs with comfortable rest to preserue vs from all dangers that might haue befallen our soules or bodies and to bring vs in safety to the beginning of this day Heauenly father grant that we may not be vnmindfull of thy manifold mercies but that wee may often thinke of them and speake of them to thy glory and that the consideration thereof may stirre vs vp to deuote all the powers of our soules and members of our bodies to thy seruice Forgiue vs our former vnthankfulnesse for thy mercies and our seueral abuses of them yea pardon all our sinnes past we most humbly beseech thee for thy owne mercies sake and for thy sonnes merits Our sinnes are great and grieuous for in sinne we were borne and euer since haue we gone on in a course of sinne and rebellion against thee we doe daily breake thy holy precepts and that against the light of our owne knowledge albeit we know that thou art our Creatour who hast made vs our Redeemer who hast bought vs with the precious bloud of thy onely begotten Sonne and our Comforter who bestowest vpon vs all things needfull for our being and well-being for this life and for a better life Yea euen thee thee O Lord haue we presumed to offend that hast beene thus abundantly mercifull vnto vs. For this our vnthankefulnesse and wickednesse enter not into iudgement with vs wee most humbly beseech thee from the bottome of our hearts but haue mercy vpon vs haue mercy vpon vs most mercifull Father and in mercy wash away all our sinnes with the bloud of Iesus Christ that so they may neuer be laid to our charge nor haue power to rise vp in iudgement against vs. Pierce our hearts with a feeling of our sinnes that wee may mourne for them as wee ought to doe make vs to loath and abhorre them that we may leaue and auoid them that we may be watchfull against all occasions of sinne and circumspect ouer our owne wayes Poure thy spirit and put thy grace into our hearts that thereby we may be inabled for thy seruice and both in body and soule may glorifie thee heere that wee may be glorified of thee and with thee hereafter And as a speciall meanes to keepe vs in subiection before thee worke in vs holy Father a continuall and effectuall remembrance of this earths vanity of our owne mortality of that great and terrible iudgement to come of the paines of hell and ioyes of heauen which follow after O let the remembrance of these things be a spur to prouoke vs vnto vertue and a bridle to hold vs in from gallopping after vice and wickednesse We know not â—ow soone thou wilt set a period to our liues and call for our soules to appeare before thee whether this day or not before the euening O prepare vs therefore for the houre of death that we may then neither feare nor faint but may with ioy yeeld vp our soules into thy mercifull hands and doe thou O Father of mercy receiue them Let thy mercifull eye looke vpon vs this day shield vs from the temptations of the diuell and grant vs the custody of thy holy Angels to defend vs in all our wayes enable vs with diligence and conscience to discharge the duties of our callings and crowne all our endeauours with thy blessing without thy blessing all mans labour is but vaine doe thou therefore blesse vs in our seuerall places oh prosper thou our handy-worke Prouide for vs all things which thou knowest to be needful for euery one of vs this day Giue vs a sanctified vse of thy creatures a godly iealousie ouer ourselues a continual remembrance of thy omniscience and omnipresence that we may labour to approue our very thoughts vnto thee weane vs from the loue of this world and rauish our soules with the loue of our home and thine euerlasting Kingdome Defend the vniuersall Church the Churches of this Land especially our gracious King Charles our illustrious Queene Mary together with Prince Palatine Electour the Princesse Elizabeth his wife and their Princely issue crowne them with thy graces here and with thy glory hereafter Be with the Magistracie and Ministerie of the Realme make thy Gospell to flourish amongst vs by the labors of those whom thou hast appointed to this great seruice Comfort thine afflicted seruants in what place or case soeuer they be giue vs a fellow feeling of their miseries and wisedome to prepare our selues against the euill day Heare vs in these things and grant what else thou knowest needfull for vs not for our worthinesse but for thy Sons sake our alone Sauiour in whose name and words we conclude our imperfect prayers saying Our Father c. A houshold Prayer for priuate Families in the Euening O Glorious God in Iesus Christ our gracious Father wee wretched creatures by nature but by thy grace thy seruants and children doe here make bold to appeare before thee in the humility of our soules to performe some part of that dutie which wee owe vnto thee And
secure in so great danger but may quake and tremble to see thy hand of vengeance before vs. And howsoeuer by our sinnes we are set in the middest of this danger yet let the hand of thy mercy which is as omnipotent as that of thy iustice rescue vs let thy out-stretched arme deliuer vs. Put vp thy sword into the scabbard oh bid it rest and be still Be fauourable and gracious vnto this thy Syon crowne her with plenty prosperity and victory Let not her enemies reioyce in her subuersion nor triumph in her destruction Hide not thy face from her in the day of trouble stoppe not thine eares at our prayers Be vnto vs all a horne of saluation a rocke of safetie a wall of brasse a strong tower and fortresse against the face and force of our enemies diuert their designes frustrate their enuie abate their fury asswage their pride restraine their power and in thy name let vs tread them vnder that maliciously and mischieuously rise vp against vs. Suffer not the light of thy Gospel to be eclipsed nor the splender of thy glory to be obscured let not thy name be dishonoured nor thy Sanctuary defiled nor thy truth slandered but now and euer defend and deliuer as thou hast formerly done this Church and State from plagne Pestilence and aboue all that most terrible vengeance the deuouring sword and that for his sake who hath led captiuity captiue and like a victorious Conqueror hath triumphed ouer all his enemies euen Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and holy Ghost be all honour and glory Amen A Prayer for them that are about the Sicke HEare vs Almighty and most mercifull God and Sauiour extend thine accustomed goodnesse to this thy seruant which is grieued with sicknesse visite him O Lord as thou didst Peters wiues mother and the Captains seruant restore vnto this sicke body his former health if it be thy will or else giue him grace to take this thy visitation patiently that after this painfull life ended he may dwell with thee in euerlasting life O Lord behold we bend our knees yea the knees of our hearts with vnfained prayers lift vp our eyes to the throne of thy mercies seat to hearken to these our petitions according to thy promises therefore O Lord grant our requests we are gathered here together in thy name in the behalfe of this thy seruant deliuer him we humbly beseech thee from these his languishing paines and miseries of sicknesse and as it hath pleased thee to lay thine hand vpon him so O Lord restore him to his former health keepe him O Lord from fearefull and terrible assaults and despightful temptations of the diuell sinne and hell deliuer him O Lord as thou deliueredst Noah from the raging waues of the flouds Lot from the destruction of Sadome Abraham from the feare of the â—aldeans the children of Israel from the tyranny of Pharaoh Dauid from the hands of Goliah the three men from the violence of the fiery furnace in Babylon Daniel from the mouth of the Lyons Ionas from the belly of the Whale and Peter from the prison of Herod Euen so O gracious Lord deliuer the soule of this person both now and whensoeuer he shall depâ—rt hence from all perill and danger open vnto him at the houre of death the doore of Paradice the gates of heauen and the entry of euerlasting life O Lord Iesus Christ forgiue him all his sinnes and lead him with ioy into the kingdome of thy heauenly Father euen vnto the bosome of Abraham and appoint him his euerl sting rest that he may reioyce with thee and all the elect children of God to whom be all honour glory power and dominion Amen The sicke persons Prayer LOrd hearken to my prayer and giue eare to my humble request Lord be mercifull vnto me and giue me grace patiently to beare the crosse and in the midst of this my sicknesse alwayes to say thy will O heauenly Father be done and not mine forgiue and forget most gracious Father all mine iniquities blot them out of thy remembrance and cast them from thy sight O Lord as farre as the East is from the West the North from the South they are many and innumerable let them not rise vp in iudgement against me neither enter thou into thy narrow iudgement with thy seruant O Lord for no flesh is righteous before thee handle me not according to my deserts deale not with me after my wickednesse neither reward me aftermine iniquities O Lord my God looke not into my â—normious nor incestious life I am ashamed of my sinnes and aske pardon for my faults euen with a repenting heart and sorrowfull minde a bleeding soule with hidden teares of a true and vnfained repentance for my misdeeds yea my wounded breast surcharged with oppressing griefes doth sigh groane and lament vnder the burthen of my heinous crimes wherefore O Lord wash them away with thy bloud which thou hast shed for my sinnes and I shall be clean and pure without spot purge me O Lord with those precious drops that distilled from thy tormented heart and I shall be whiter then the snow burie mine offences in the sepulcher of thy death and cloath me with the garment of righteousnesse O Lord for thine infinite goodnesse and mercy sâ—ke â—eceiue me into thy tuition and fauour pardon O Lord and remit my sins as thou forgauest Dauid his murther and adultery with Bersheba Saul his persecutions of thy people Peter his deniall Mary Magdalen her lasciuious life and the Publican in the Temple with striking his breast craued thy gracious pardon saying Lord haue mercy vpon me a sinner and although my sinnes and offences are farre greater and more grieuous then these yet O Lord thy mercies exceede and are far more compassionate then our sinnes manifold I iustifie not my selfe O my God by the offences of these but declare thy righteousnesse and mercifull clemencies in forgetting and forgiuing our abhominable trespasses and transgressions of thy wil which though wee are froward yet thou art gentle though we are stubborne yet thou art meeke and though we run headlong to the pits brinke and to the gates of hell yet thou of thy goodnesse callest vs backe and remittest all that wee haue done amisse O Lord I haue acknowledged my faults that they are best knowne vnto thee wherefore O Lord I aske forgiuenes for the same send me the comfort of thy holy spirit that if thou giue me my former health and strength of body I may amend my life according to thy sacred will and walke worthily in thy Lawes and Commandements if it be thy pleasure to take mee hence out of this transitory life O Lord grant that I may rest and liue with thee for euer world without end O Lord heaken vnto these my petitions for Iesus Christ his sake I aske them and all other things which thou shalt thinke meet both for our soules and bodies in the same forme of prayer as
hee himselfe hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer at the houre of death O Lord Iesus Christ which art the onely health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them which dye in thy faith I wretched sinner giue and submit my selfe wholly to thy most blessed will being sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed vnto thy mercy I most humbly beseech thee O Lord to giue me grace that I may now willingly leaue this fraile and wicked flesh in hope of the resurrection which in better manner shall restore it to me againe grant me O Lord God that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all temptations and that thou wilt couer and defend me with the buckler of thy mercy against the assaults of Satan I acknowledge that there is in my selfe no hope of saluation but all my hope and trust is in thy most mercifull goodnesse I haue no no merits nor good workes which I may alleadge before thee of sinnes and euill works alas I see a great heape but through thy mercy I trust to be of the number of thē to whom thou wilt not impute their sins but take and impute mee for righteous and iust and to be the inheritor of euerlasting glory Thou O most mercifull Lord wert borne for my sake thou didst suffer both hunger and thirst thou didst preach teach pray and fast for my sake thou didst all good workes and sufferedst most grieuous pangs and torments for my sake and finally thou gauest thy most precious body to dye and thy blessed bloud to be shed on the crosse for my sake wherefore most mercifull Sauiour let all these things profit me which thou hast freely giuen mee which hast giuen thy selfe for me let thy bloud cleanse and wash away the spots and foulenesse of my sinnes let thy righteousnesse hide and couer my vnrighteousnesse let the merits of thy bitter sufferings be a sufficient and propitiatory sacrifice and satisfaction for my sinnes giue me O Lord thy grace that my faith and beleefe of thy true and grieuous death wauer not in me but euer be firme and constant that the hope of thy mercy life euerlasting neuer decay in me that charitie waxe not cold in me and finally that the weaknesse of my flesh be not ouercome with the feare of death grant me also O most mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my body yet the eyes of my soule may still behold and looke vpon thee and that when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue and speech yet my heart may cry and say vnto thee O Lord into thy hands I giue and commi◠my soule Lord Iesus receiue my spirit and take mee to thy mercies Amen A Prayer for a Woman in time of her trauaile RIghteous holy Lord God I doe now finde by experience the fruit of my sinne that I must trauaile in sorrow and bring forth in paine and I vnfainedly adore the truth of thy sacred Word as certifying vnto me that sorrow must be in the Euening so comforting me also against the Morning that a Childe shall be borne Willingly I doe desire to submit my selfe in hope into this thy chastisement and to learne the desert of my sinne horrible in themselues that these temporall paines are forerunners of eternall and yet by thy mercy may be so sanctified vnto me as not onely to preuent eternal vengeance but also prepare for eternall comforts euen to be Saued by bearing of Children Grant me therefore gracious Father true repentance and pardon for my sinnes past that they may not stand at this time in this my neede betweene mee and thy mercy Giue mee a comfortable feeling of thy loue in Christ which may sweeten all other pangs though neuer so violent or extreame make me still to lift vp my soule vnto thee in my greatest agonies knowing that thou alone must giue a blessing to the ordinary meanes for my safe deliuerance Lay no more vpon me then I am able to endure strengthen my weake body to the bearing of what sorrow soeuer by which it shall seeme good vnto thee to make triall of me Grant me to consider that how soeuer it be with me yet I am alwaies as thine hand whose mercies faile not who will be found in the Mount and greatest extremitie and to whom belong the issues of death so prepare me therefore to death that I may be fit for life euen to yeeld fruit aliue vnto the world and to be renewed and enabled to nourish the same And when thou hast safely giuen mee the expected fruit of my wombe make me with a thankfull heart to consecrate both it and my selfe wholly to thy seruice all the dayes of my life through Iesus Christ mine onely Sauiour and Redeemer Amen A Thanksgiuing after safe deliuerance O Blessed for euer be thy great and glorious Name most deere and louing Father for thy great mercy to me most weake and sinfull woman Wonderfull art thou in all thy workes O Lord the riches of thy mercies are past finding out thou hast plunged me with great afflictions and yet thou hast returned and refreshed me againe thou hast brought me to the feare of the graue and yet thou hast raised me vp again to life O how hast thou shewed thy power in my weaknesse How hath thy louing kindnesse preuailed against my vnworthinesse Thou mightest for my sinnes haue left me to perish in mine extremities but thou hast compassed me about with ioyfull deliuerance thou mightest haue made my wombe a graue to burie the dead or in affoording life to another thou mightest haue procured my death but yet thou hast not onely made my wombe a wel-spring of life but restored life vnto me also for the cherishing thereof Marucilous O Lord are thy workes infinite are thy mercies my soule by present experience knoweth it well O my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy name My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits Thou hast heard my prayers and looked vpon my sorrow thou hast redeemed my life from death and healed mine infirmities and crowned me with thine euerlasting compassions O giue me I humbly pray thee a thankfull heart not onely now while the memory sense of thy fauour is fresh before me but continually euen so long as I haue any being Grant that I may learne by this liuely euidence of thy power and mercy for euer hereafter to depend onely on thee Quicken me also to all holy duties that my thankfulnesse may appeare in my pure and Christian carriage Make me a kind and carefull mother willing to vndergoe the paine and trouble of education Let no nicenesse or curiositie hinder mee from those seruices to whom both nature and religion hath appointed me let me also be carefull when time requireth to season the fruit thou hast giuen me with the sauing knowledge of thee thy
many debts to discharge by reason of the offences committed in his sinfull life already past NOw then if on the one side there be so many and so great respects that doe binde vs to change our sinfull life and on the otherside we haue not any sufficient excuse why we should not make this exchange How long wilt thou tarry vntill thou fully resolue to doe it Turne thine eyes a little and looke backe vpon thy life past and consider that at this present of what age soeuer thou be it is high time or rather the time well nigh past to begin to discharge some part of thy old debts Consider that thou which art a Christian regenerated in the water of holy Baptisme which doest acknowledge Almighty God for thy father and the Catholike Church for thy mother whom she hath nourished with the milke of the Gospel to wit with the doctrine of the Apostles and Euangelists consider I say that all this notwithstanding thou hast liued euen as loosely dissolutely as if thou hadst beene a meere Infidell that had neuer any knowledge of Almighty God And if thou doe denie this then tell mee what kinde of sin is there which thou hast not committed What tree is there forbidden that thou hast not beholden with thine eyes What greene meddow is there in which thou hast not at the least in desire feasted thy letcherous lust what thing hath beene set before thine eyes that thou hast not wantonly desired What appetite hast thou left vnexecuted notwithstanding that thou didst beleeue in Almighty God and that thou wert a Christian what wouldest thou haue done more if thou hadst not had any faith at all If thou hadst not looked for any other life If thou hadst not feared the dâ—eadfull day of iudgement What hath all thy former life â—e ne but a web of sinnes a sinke of vices a way full of brambles and thornes and a fâ—oward disobedience of God with whom hast thou hitherto liued but onely with thine appetite with thy flesh with thy pride and with the goods and riches of this transitory world These haue beene thy gods these haue beene thine idols whom thou hast serued and whose lawes thou hast diligently obeyed Make thine account with the Almighty God with his lawes and with his obedience and peradâ—â—nture thou shalt finde that thou hast esteemed him no more than if he had beene a goâ— of wood oâ— stone For it is certaine that there be many Christians which beleeuing that there is a God are induced to sinne with such facilitie as though they beleeued that there were no God at all and doe offend no whit the lesse though they beleeue that there is a God then they would doe if they beleeued there were none at all What greater iniurie what greater despight can bee done than so to contemne his diuine maiestie Finally thou beleeuing all such things as Christs Church doth bâ—leeue hast notwithstanding so led thy life as if thou wert perswaded that the beleefe of Christians were the greatest fables or lies in the world And if the multitude of thy sinnes past and the faculty thou hast vsed in committing of them doe not make thee afraid why doest thou not feare at the least the Majesty and omnipotencie of hiâ— against whom thou hast sinned Lift vp thine eyes and consider the infinit greatnesse and omnipotencie of the Lord whom the powers of heauen no adore before whose Maiesty the whole compasse of the wide world lyeth prostrate in whose presence all things created are no more than chaffe carried away with the winde Consider also with thy sâ—lfe how vnseemely it is that such a vile worme as thou art should haue audacity so many times to offend and prouoke the wrath of so great a maiesty Consider the wonderfull and most terâ—ible seueâ—ity â—f his iustice and what horrible punishments he hath vsed from time to time in the world against sinne and that not onely vpon particular persons but also vpon Cities Nations Kingdomes and Prouinces yea vpon the vniuersall World And not onely in earth but also in heauen and not onely vpon strangers sinners but euen vpon his owne most innocent sonne our sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ when he tooke vpon him to satisfie for the debt that we owed And if this seuerity was vsed vpon greene and innocent wood and that for the sinnes of others what then will he doe vpon dry and withered wood and against those that are loden with their owne sinnes Now what thing can bee thought more vnreasonable then that such a fraile wretch as thou art should be so saucie and malapert as to mocke with so mightie a Lord whose hand is so heauie that in case hee should strike but one stroke vpon thee hee would at one blow driue thee downe headlong into the deepe bottomelesse pit of hell without remedy Consider likewise the great patience of this our mercifull Lord who hath expected thy repentance so long euen from the time that thou didst first offend him and thinke that if after so long patience and tarrying for thee thou shalt still continue thy leaud and sinfull life abusing thus his mercy and proucking him to further indignation and wrath hee will then bend his bowe and shake his sword and raine downe vpon thee euen sharpe arrowes of euerlasting wrath and death Consider also the profoundnesse of his deepe iudgments wherof we read and see daily so great wonders We see how Salomon himselfe after his so great wisdome and after those three thousand parables and most profound mysteries vttered by him was forsaken by Almighty God and suffered to fall dâ—wn and adore Ido's We see how one of those seuen first Deacons of the Primitiue Church which were full of the holy Ghost became not onely an hereticke but also an arch hereticke and a father of heresies We see daily many starres fall downe from heauen vnto earth with miserable fals and to wallow themselues in the durt and to eat the meat of swine which sate before at Gods owne table and were fed with the very bread of Angels If then the iust and righteous for some secret pride or negligence or else for some ingratitude of theirs be thus iustly forsaken of Almighty God after they haue bestowed so many yeares in his seruice What maiest thou looke for that hast done in a manner nothing else in all thy life time but onely heaped sinnes vpon sinnes and hast thereby offended almighty God most grieuously Now if thou hast liued after this sort were it not reason that thou shouldst now at the length giue ouer and cease heaping sinne vpon sinne and debt vpon debt and begin to pacifie the wrath of Almighty God and to disburden thy sinfull soule Were it not meet that that time which thou hast hitherto giuen to the world to thy flesh and to the Diuell should suffice and that thou shouldest bestow some little time of that which remaineth to serue him who hath giuen thee all that
then follow not sinners to the fire of hâ—ll lest thou be constrainâ—d at last when it shall be too late to bewaile thy folly to câ—y out with those that haue mispent their time in vanity Oh that now I might dye the death of the righteous oh Thus â—ran cis Spiâ—ra crieâ— out after he had renouÌ„ ced the profession of true pietie for the possession of earths vanity that I might not dâ—e at all oh that I might fâ—ele in my conscience the least hope of pardon which is as vnpossible as to vnlade all the water in the vast Ocean with a spoone Oh that God would giue mee the least dram of grace which is as impossible as for the least graine of Mustardseed to fill the whole earth preuent this betimes which thou maist doe by abandoning the vanity of the world and so liue that wheresoeuer or howsoeuer thou dyest whether abroad or at home by day or by night slâ—eping or waking whether asâ—d in death or a deliberate death thou maist willingly commend thy spirit vnto the hands of God â—s vnto the hands of a faithfull creator and maist say with the Bride Come Lord Iesu euen so come Lord Iesu come Reu 22. quickly my heart is prepared to enter into thy rest receiue me into the armes of thy mercy entertaine mee into thy owne kingdome that leauing the vanity of this world I may with thy glorified Angels and blessed Saints enioy that euerlasting felicity of a better world which neuer shall haue an end Adew therefore vain world with all worldly delights whatsoeuer and now solitary soule begin to take thy solaâ—â— in better things And to proue the world vaine and consequently thy selfe vaine behold these shapes read thâ—se Verses and in order open the leaues that are folded vp Herein as in a mirrour behold thy owne estate read and consider what thou readest that thou maist know and see thy owne vanity Here thou shalt see what thou wert what thou art and what thou shalt be Dust thou wert dust thou art and vnto dust thou shalt returne dust in thy creation dust in thy constitution dust in thy dissolution I. THough long it were since Adam was Yet seemes he here to be A blessed creature once he was Now naked as you see Whose wife was cause of all my care To say I may be bold Turne backe the leaues and then you may My picture there behold II. To thinke vpon the workes of God All worldly men may wonder But thinking on thy sinnes O man Thy heart may burst asunder The sinner sits and sweetly sings And so his heart beguiles Till I come with my bitter stings And turne to griefe his smiles III. Muse not to gaze vpon my shape Whose nakednesse you see By flattering and deceitfull words The Diuell deceiued me Let me example be to all That once from God doe range Turne backe the leaues and then behold Another sight as strange IV. Had Adam and Eue neuer beene As there you saw their shape I neuer had deceiued them Nor they ere made debate But turne behold where both doe stand And lay the fault on me Turne backe the vpper and nether erests There each of them you see I. III. Here we doe stand in perfect state All formed as we were But what the Serpent did by hate Shall sodainely appeare Then here behold how both doe stand And where the fault did lye Th' almighty power did so command That once we all must dye II. IV. See what comes of wicked deed As all men well doe know And for the same God hath decreed That we should liue in woe The dust it was my daily food Vnto it we must turne And darknesse is my chiefe abode In sorrow so we mourne Of the punishments which the Lord threat neth vnto such as liue a sinfull life ONe of the principall meanes that our Lord hath vsed oftentimes to bridle the hearts of men and to draw them vnto the obedience of his commandements hath beene to sâ—t before their eyes the horrible plagues and punishments that are prepared for such persons as be rebels and transgressours of his Law For although the hope of the rewards that are promised vnto the good in the life to come may moue vs very much hereunto yet are we commonly more moued with things that beirkesome vnto vs than with such as be pleasant euen as we see by daily experience that we are vexed more with an iniury done vnto vs than delighted with any honour and we are more troubled with sicknesse than comforted with health and so by the discommodity of sicknesse we come to vnderstand the commodity of health as by a thing so much the better perceiued by how much more it is sensibly felt Now for this cause did our Lord in times past vse this meane more than any other as it appeareth most clearely by the writings of the Prophets which are euery where full of dreadfull sayings and threatnings wherewith our Lord pretendeth to put a terrour into the hearts of men and so to bridle and subdue them vnder the obedience of his Law And for this end he commanded the Prophet Ieremie That he should take a white booke and write in the same all the threatnings and calamities which hee had reuealed vnto him euen from the first day he began to talke with him vntill that present houre and that he should read the same in the presence of all the people to see if peraduenture they would be moued therewith vnto repentance and to change their former life to the end that he might also change the determination of his wrath which he had purposed to execute vpon them And the holy Scripture saith That when the Prophet had done according as he was commanded by almighty God and had read all those threatnings in the presence of the people and of the Rulers there arose such a feare and terrour amongst them that they were all astonished and as it were bestraughted of their wits looking one in anothers face for the exceeding great fear which they had conceiued of those words This was one of the principall means which almighty God vsed with men in the time of the Law written and so he did also in the time of the Law of grace in which the holy Apostle saith That as there is reuealed a iustice whereby God maketh men iust so is there also reuealed an indignation and wrath whereby he punisheth the vniust for which cause S. Iohn Baptist the glorious forerunner of our Sauiour Christ was sent with this commission and embassage to preach vnto the world That the axe was now put to the root of the tree and that euery tree that brought noâ— forth good fruit should be cut downe and cast into the fire Hee said moreouer That there was another come into the world more mighty than hee that carried in his hand a fanne to winnow and cleanse therewith his floore and that he would put vp the corne into
first we offer vnto thy diuine Maiestie the calues of our lips the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing for thine infinite mercies which thou hast beene pleased to conferre vpon vs out of thy boundlesse and endlesse goodnesse What thou hast done for vs this day is beyond all that we are able to expresse or conceiue thou hast preserued vs from all perils and dangers so that none of those iudgements which our sinnes haue deserued haue bin inflicted vpon vs thou hast inlarged our time and opportunitie to repent thou hast prouided for our soules and bodies thou hast bin no way wanting vnto vs if we had hearts to acknowledge it Forgiue vs that wee cannot acknowledge thy goodnesse as we ought to doe and more and more quicken vs in this dutie that we may with heart and voyce acknowledge thee to be that Father of lights from whom we doe receiue euery good and perfect gift ascribing vnto thee the whole glory of all that we enioy both now and euermore And grant we pray thee that our thankfulnesse may not be onely verball but reall we labouring in deede and in truth to be dutifull vnto thee that hast bin so bountifull vnto vs Pardon vs for the sinnes of this day wherein we haue offended thee whether open or secret of ignorance or of knowledge of infirmity or presumption of omission or commission in thought word or deed The sinnes of this day are enough to plunge vs soule and body into the bottomelesse gulfe of perdition If thou shouldest straightly mark them what answer shall we be able to make thee how shall we dare to appeare in thy presence before whom all thy creatures feare and tremble But thy mercy is aboue all thy workes much more aboue all our works of sinne In the confidence of thy mercy we come vnto thee beseeching thee in thy sonne Christ to be reconciled with vs and to assure vs hereof by the certificate of thine owne blessed spirit Breake the strength of sinne that would subdue vs more and more and reare in vs cleane hearts and renew a right spirit within vs. Increase our faith in the sweet promises of the Gospell and our repentance from dead workes our hope of eternall life our feare of thy name our zeale for thy glory our hatred of sinne our loue of righteousnesse our contentment in all estates our patience in aduersitie our prudence in prosperity that so being furnished with the endowments of grace here we may be fitted for the enioyment of glory hereafter And because the night is now vpon vs and our bodies desirous of quiet rest wee pray thee to take vs into thy blessed tuition and to refresh our wearied bodies with comfortable sleepe Protect vs and all that doe belong vnto vs vnder the shadow of thy wings defend vs from all euill both oâ— sinne and punishment keepe vs from security and carelesnesse from dulnesse and drowsâ—nesse of spirit from fire and robbery from the malice of Satan and all his adherents from all perils into which for our sinnes we might iustly fall Let the sight of the bed minde vs of that last bed the graue wherein we are shortly to take vp our lodging we know not how soone None of vs here present can certainly tell whether these eyes of ours once closed vp shall euer any more open againe in this world therfore receiue vs good Lord receiue vs into the armes of thy mercy vnto thine almighty protection wee bequeath our selues soules and bodies and all that we haue vpon thy mercy alone we cast our selues both this present night and for euer more Be mercifull to thy whole Church continue the flourishing state of the Kingdomes wherin weliue Decrease in it the number of superstitious Papists and prophane Atheists and increase in it the number of such as vnfainedly feare thee Preserue from all dangers and conspiracies our religious King Charles our gracious Queene Mary the Prince Palatine of Rhene with that excellent Lady Elizabeth his wife and their children Giue them all such a measure of thy spirit and grace that they may seeke to aduance thy kingdome on earth and at last be aduanced to thine euerlasting Kingdome in heauen Endow the right Honorable of our Priuie Counsell with all such graces as may make them fit for so high a place Stirre vp Magistrates and men in authority to endeauour after the furthering of thine honour and the benefiting of thy people Make the Ministers able and willing to discharge the duties of their weighty calling with diligence and conscience water their indeauours with the dew of heauen that daily such as belong vnto life eternall may be added vnto the Church Comfort O comfort thine afflicted seruants wheresoeuer or howsoeuer troubled sweeten their afflictions and season their sorrowes with the comforts of thy spirit Giue them all needfull assistance and in thy owne time a ioyfull deliuerance And make vs ready for afflictions that they may not come vpon vs as a snare but that we may in good measure like wise Virgins be prepared for the comming of Christ Iesus the sweet Bridegroome of our soules Finally we pray thee beare with the weakenesse and coldnesse and imperfection of our prayers to grant our requests not for our merits but for thine owne mercies and for the sake of thy dearely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ who died to make satisfaction for vs liueth to make intercession for vs in whose words we shut vp our imperfect prayers saying as himselfe hath taught vs. Our Father c. O Lord blesse and saue vs make thy face to shine vpon vs thy word to instruct vs thy grace to direct vs thy Angels to protect vs thy spirit to comfort and support vs vnto the end and in the end Amen Amen A Prayer in time of Warre OH Lord God of hoasts in power inuincible in wisedome vnsearchable in mercy incomprehensible that giuest deliuerance in the time of trouble and assistance in the day of battell wee most humbly and heartily beseech thee to saue vs from all those extremities and in speciall from our enemies which our sinnes doe threaten to bring vpon vs. Hitherto thou hast pleased to make our Nation a spectacle of thy ineffâ—ble goodnesse but we deserue to be made a spectacle of thy vnsupportable wrath Our contempt of thy threatnings our abuse of thy mercies our neglect of thy iudgements with infinite other inormities doe menace the taking away of thy old mercies and the bringing in of some iudgement We haue iust cause to feare O Lord that our loud and crying sinnes doe call in our enemies vpon vs and arme them against vs yea that they are already prest and prepared to execute thy vengeance Then open our eyes we pray thee that we may see thy Ensigne set vp thy Banner displayed and the euidence of thy approaching sword open our eares that wee may heare thee blowing of thy trumpet and giuing the alarum to warre open our hearts that we may not be