night with thy mighty hand and bring mee to the light of the next day Renue in me a right spirite that I may receaue strength and abilitie to do thy righteous will and to stand against all the assaults of Satan that the old man which I beare about in my body may be crucified daily in me and the desire of sinne and errour of worldly vanities may bee destroyed and the life of my Sauior may alwaies appeare in me Lord grant me these and all other good graces euen for Iesus Christs sake my onely Lord and Sauiour in whose name I humbly begge them at thy hands saying as he hath taught me Our Father c. ¶ A Prayer for the Morning O Lord thou high and mightie whose Glorie and Maiesty may not be comprehended whose woord is true whose commandement is strong thou that ridest vppon the Cherubins and flyest with the winges of the wind Thou God of all mercie most woorthy to be sought before whome the Hoastes of Heauen stand with trembling whose Ordinance is dreadfull whose Lookes drieth vp the depthes whose hands ruleth the starrie Firmaments whose goodnesse onely giueth the fruits of the Earth whose wrath maketh the Mountaines to melte and consumeth the wicked whose truth beareth witnesse and mercie saueth the sorrowfull Sinner Thou thou incomprehensible Creator that neuer tookest beginning and wantest end Sith of nothing thou hast wrought me with the wonders of the world to thy most séemly shape and vouchsafest thy drery Death and passion to drowne the danger of my sinnefull deserts and hast as a carefull Captaine cherished my bodie with comfortable giftes vnto this present day Continue oh God such goodnesse towards me vnworthy which doe here with a contrite heart and bowed Knées appeale to the height of thy mercie and louing kindnesse to accept my vnequall thankes for the same humbly beséeching thy Fatherly goodnesse that thy holy hand may still renew in me thy former gifts plenteouslie powred vpon me from the prime of my birth vnto this present not remembring good Lord my vnworthines of the same nor frailty of my passed yeares that speaketh against me but altering the ministers of thy wrath into milde mercie Graunt I beséech thée that through the assistance of thy holy Spirit I may be led to correct what is amisse and that I may now this day and euer hereafter perseuer in setting ordering and performing all my trauailes councels and studies as best may accord with thy blessed will and cancell the handes of my heauye charge Assist me oh Lord of all power with thy prudent skill and heauenlie grace that I may bee truelie able to aduance Iustice and to hate wrong and so be found faithfull in all that I take in hand Plant I beséech thée by thy heauenlie grace and feare with obedience in mee and kindle in me the loue of thy holy spirit that I may perseuer in the truth of thy word without doubt or wauering to the end Graunt this oh mightie God of Hoastes for the Merites and Passion of thy deare Sonne my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen ¶ A Prayer for the Euening O Most mercifull GOD and louing Father with feare and reuerence I approach to thy throne this night that stealeth on me like a thiefe I thanke thée for preseruing me this day past and I beséech thée suffer me not to fall into the horrours of the night Forgiue me the innumerable offences that I haue cōmitted this day those also which if thy Grace preuent me not I am like to fall into this night Pardon them oh Lord they are more in number then the sand in the Sea and more heauie to me then if Mountaines were layd vpon my breast But I beséech thée receaue me to mercie and giue me grace to be more carefull of the performance of thy holie will Suffer no vncleane thoughts to pollute my bodie and soule and whether I sléepe or wake giue thine Angels charge ouer me that at what houre soeuer thou callest me I may like a faithfull souldier be found ready to attend thée my Lord and God euen for Iesus Christs sake my onely Lord and Sauiour Amen ¶ In the multitude of thy mercies will I enter into thy house oh GOD and in thy feare lift vp my handes and heart towardes thy sacred seate and honour thy Holy name ¶ The Confession of a Sinner O Most blessed Father of euerlasting blisse and gracious giuer of all goodnes I say most precious Patron of all Princely power and God of all mercie I wretched sinner and vncleane Creature with so much humilitie as possible in me is and with full trust in thy goodnesse doe prostrate my selfe before thy Sacred seate confessing my grieuous huge and déepe offences wherewith I haue offended thee my most louing Father euen vntil this houre I haue not feared to commit those execrable wicked déeds which thy onely beloued Son my humble Lord and Sauiour by his bitter bloud-shedding hath washed and with so pinching panges purged I confesse also vnto thée most mercifull father my great and horrible ingratitude wherewith I vnwoorthy creature haue euer most vnthankefullie answered thée and thy Sonne in liew of all the loue goodnesse and fidelitie which thou hast bestowed on mee which now so long and many years hast spared my wickednesse and sinne and benignely suffred all iniurie and contempt offered thée through my disobedience and wilfulnesse Yea thou hast required mee to repentance with great gentlenesse that thereby thou mightest winne my heart to decke thy Habitation therin with the Boughs of thy Loue. And how often oh Lord GOD haste thou knocked at the Doore of my Conscience by thy inspiration wooed mee with thy benefites cheared mee with thy comforts and most mightilie put to flight my dreadfull daungers yet hast thou suffered repulse I haue alwaies turned ny backe to thée and thou notwithstanding haste méekely suffred it Oh how iustlie couldest thou haue throwen me to Hell yet mercifullie hast spared me Truelie it is maruaile most sweet Sauiour that my heart breaketh not through vehement sorrow when I recount these things Neither is Hell it selfe with all his paines of force to correct my malicious wickednesse I am vnworthy to bee called thy creature or one whome the Earth should sustaine or nourishmentes yéeld their naturall food Meruaile it is oh Lord that thy Creatures and Elements do not reuenge the iniurie and contempt which I haue made thée through my manifold iniquities But now most louing Father haue mercie I beséech thée on me and to me miserable and desolate sinner Turne the eyes of thy diuine fauour and with the winges of thy mercie couer my infirmitie Open vnto mee the Bowels of thy benignitie and receiuing me into thy fauour forgiue my slackenesse in turning to thée Open to me thy bosome of bountie and louing kindnesse and replenish me with the nourishment and solace of thy grace I beséech thée Lord God sith of thy mercie and for thy Sonnes
afraide of them for the Lord thy God is with thee Deu. 20. If you goe to warre against your enemies that vexe you you shall blow with the Trumpettes and you shall be remembred before the Lord your God to be saued from your enemies Num. 10. The Victory of the Battaile standeth not in the multitude of the hoast but the Strength and Triumph commeth from Heauen Macha 3. He that hath clean hands and a pure heart and that hath not lifted vp his mind to vanity nor sworn to deceiue his Neighbour he shall receiue the blessing from the Lorde and victorie of his enemies and righteousnesse from the God of his Saluation c. Psalm 24. Here followeth the Letanie to be vsed vpon Sundayes Wednesdayes and Fridayes and at other times when it shall be thought convenient O God the father of Heauen haue mercy vpon vs miserable Sinners O God the Father of c. O God the Sonne redeemer of the World haue mercy vpon vs miserable Sinners O God the Sonne c. O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne haue mercy vpon vs miserable Sinners O God the holy Ghost c. O holy blessed and glorious Trinity thrée persons one God haue mercy vpon vs miserable Sinners O holy blessed c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neyther take thou vengeance of our Sinnes spare vs good Lord spare thy people whome thou hast redéemed with thy most precious blood and be not angrie with vs for euer Spare vs good Lord. From all euill and mischiefe from sinne from the crafts assaults of the deuill from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From all blindesse of heart from pride vaine glory and hipocrisie from enuie hatred and malice and from all vncharitablenesse Good Lord deliver vs. From Fornication and all other deadly sinne and from al the deceits of the world the flesh and the deuill Good Lord deliver vs. From lightning and tempest from plague pestilence and famine from battel and murther and from sodain death Good Lord deliver vs. From all sedition and priuie conspiracy from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnesse of heart and contempt of thy worde and commaundement Good Lord deliver vs. By the mysterie of thy holie Incarnation by thy holy Natiuitie and circumcision by thy Baptisme Fasting and Temptation Good Lord deliver vs. By thine Agonie and bloodie sweat by thy Crosse and passion by thy pretious death buriall by thy glorious resurrection and ascension and by the comming of the Holie Ghost Good Lord deliver vs. In al time of our tribulation in all time of our wealth in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement Good Lord deliver vs. We sinners doe beséech thée to heare vs O Lord God and that it may please thée to rule and gouerne thy holy Church vniuersally in the right way We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thée to kéepe and strengthen in the true worshipping of thée in righteousnesse and holines of Life thy seruant Iames our most gratious King and Gouernour We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to rule his heart in thy faith feare and loue that he may euermore haue affiance in thée and euer séeke thy honour and glory We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to bee his defender and kéeper giuing him the victory ouer all his enemies We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to blesse and preserue our gracious Quéene Anne Prince Henrie and the rest of the King and Quéenes royall Issue We beeseech thee c. That it may please thée to illuminat al Bishops Pastors and Ministers of the Church with true vnderstanding and knowledge of thy word and that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it forth and shew it accordingly We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to indue the Lords of the Counsel and all the Nobility with grace wisedome and vnderstanding We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to blesse and keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute iustice and to maintaine truth We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to blesse and keepe all thy people We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue to all Nations vnitie peace and concord We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue vs an heart to loue and dread thee and diligently to liue after thy Commaundements We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to giue to all thy people increase of grace to heare méekely thy word to receiue it with pure affection and to bring foorth the fruits of thy spirite We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to bring into the way of truth all such as haue erred and are deceyued We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to strengthen such as doe stand and to comfort and helpe the weake hearted and to rayse vp them that fall and finally to beat down Sathan vnder our féet We befeech thee c. That it may please thée to succour helpe and comfort all that be in danger necessity and tribulation We beseech thee c. That it may pleafe thée to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring with Child al sicke persons and yong Children and to shew thy pitty vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse children and widowes and all that bee desolate and oppressed We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to haue mercy vpon all men We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to forgiue our enemies persecutors and slanderers and to turne their hearts We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindly fruits of the earth so as in due time wae may enioy them We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to giue vs true repentance to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to endue vs with the Grace of thy holy Spirit to amend our liues according to thy Holie Word We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. Sonne of God wée beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God wee beseech thee to heare vs. O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Grant vs thy peace O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Haue mercy vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Our father which art in heauen c. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euill Amen The Versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our
kindnesse be such I heare present thée with a heauie heart a broken bodye a martyred mind and a sighing Soule These all appeale to thée O Lord for thy mercie and cry out with the Prodigall Son saying I haue sinned against Heauen and before thée wash me therefore with thy rich mercy not that any good in mee doth deserue it but because thou art God of all mercie and it declareth thy mightinesse to forgiue Thou diddest shew compassion vpon the woman of Canaan for her great Faith and from the beginning thou hast not reiected the effectuall praiers of a single heart Lord I giue glory to thy name with the highest thy mercy stretcheth aboue the Firmaments the sure hope and trust I haue in thy vnspeakeable truth and compassion is equall with the strong Faith of the Cananite woman I confesse my sinnes are manifold But Lord I know thy mercie and sauing health are infinite Lord sith thou art of power to forgiue aboue that I can offend for thy names sake release my sorrow cut the sacke of my sins and make mee strong in thée So shall I liue and all my thoughts acknowledge thy praise Amen H HAppy is the man that hath not fallen with the Woorde of his mouth and is not pricked with the conscience of sin that hath no heauinesse in his mind and is not falne from his Hope HOw mighty thou art oh God of Hoastes in thy precelling powre by Creating this world of nothing we are taught to know Thou doest gouern the same and puttest downe with thy hand the prowde and traiterous Tyrants thereof Thou destroyest their deuises kéepest the raging Sea within her bounds These and such like declare thy power ouer all The plentie of thy bountifull hand giueth not onely increase of things but also the encrease of euery kinde of thing shewe forth thy louing kindnesse Thou doest multiply yearly and daily these kindes how many séeds good Lord doest thou encrease of one séed Lord what manifolde springs commeth thereof These cannot but kéepe vs mindfull of thy excéeding Riches and Mercy Lord if to thy enemies as to the greatest number of the worlde which loue thée not thy condition be to deale thus bountifully what shall I déeme resteth with thée for thy frindes Truly such blisfull ioyes and rest as maketh me only desire of thée to bée dissolued from this earthlye and vncleane bodye when thy pleasur is I am the freshe Image of thy selfe and the worke of thine owne hands take mée therefore vnto thée burnish me a new frée my soule from the poysoned prison of sinne that it may giue equal thanks vnto so swéete a Lorde and guide Whilest I abide in this wretched body of Sinne I cannot sée thée oh Lord yea it is a heauy habitation and depresseth down sore my Spirit from the familiarity which it els should haue with thée my louing Father Lord this world and life is a Dungeon of Darknesse a Mountain of miserable Martirdomes a lewde Laborinth of lothsome Lustes a cankred course of chokinge Calamities being voyde of all vertues to gaine eternall Life Make mée therfore strong to walke vpright in this wretched wildernesse and arme mée with the guift of thy grace against the power of Sathan my Ghostly enemy Here is nothing where I am Lord but daily assaults of Temptations troubles torments carefull calamities contention for thy word horrible hatred and worldly ambition against which Lord perfect me in knowledge and strong fayth and with thy righte hand beat downe mine enemies that thou mayst be knowen to bée my God and Shield ¶ The Versicle FOR thy deare Sonnes sake O Lord heare and receaue my Prayers ¶ The Answere AND in thy truth and mercie pardon mine offences and graunt mee thy grace ¶ The Collect. O Lord Iesus Christ Sonne of the pure Virgin Marie thou art not onely the swéet spouse of my soules health but with God the Father a most meeke Mediator full of mercie and truth wash awaye my sins with the most precious blood of thy holie passion make mee rich in thy mercie and my faith so strong in thée that assisted with thy grace and holie Spirit to all dutie and workes in this life towards thée I may enioye afterwards the glorie of thy blessed kingdome with thy holy Saints in euerlasting honour and tryumph Amen L LOuing Father plant thy grace so surely in me oh Lord that from this day I neuer become enemie with thée againe but that I may onelie rest in thée Guide me with the cleare light of thy woord through the darke deserts of this wretched world Heere no miserie nor trouble lacketh Héere euerie place is full of snares of mortall enemies yea héere one trouble and temptation being ouerpassed an other ensueth and after the first enduring a new battaile suddainlie assaileth whereby I neuer haue peace and want wherewith to warre O Lord kéepe me helpe me saue mee regard me oh Lord Lord assist me with the power of thy holie Spirit and as thou hast commaunded I come vnto thée praying for the guift of all these my requests and speciallie Lord I require the Sword of my sauiour Christ true and firme Faith that established in thy Truth holding that for my defence I may be safelie armed against all mine enemies and strong to cut down the thornes which shall spring in my waye of passage vnto thée in whom sweet Sauiour aboue all honour glorie triumph swaye rule power and dignitie make me settle all my ioyes yea aboue all health riches beautie fame and felicitie to desire thée loue thée and magnifie thée which giuest all and therfore of all to bee beloued and sought art most worthy Amen A ARise O Lord I beséech thée and ease the paines I suffer and the troubles of my soule let the fountaines of thy grace ouerflow my barren bodie and the floudes of thy mercie strengthen my féeble Spirit let thy louing kindnesse couer mine infirmities and thy suffered drops of deaw vpon the Crosse drown mine iniquitie Thy woord is Truth and thou hast said thy delight is not in the death of a Sinner but wouldest he should conuert and liue Teach me therfore to number my daies in the loue of thy Lawes that I may alwaies thirst after thy kingdome and neuer forget thée but in this that I haue here begun may perseuer and increase setting at naught all worldlie pompe respect of persons and mans helpe and onelie cleaue to thy Omnipotent power mercie strength and goodnes wherein Lord make mee so rich that I neuer may haue power to swerue from thée nor want thy grace to resist all temptations neither yet thy strength to tread downe mine enemies and so my heart shall ioyfullie liue and giue thanks to thée my God of all truth mercie and victorie Amen D DEare God thou mercifull father of my redéemer Christ which hast promised to heare the petitions of them that aske in thy sons name giue downe thy feare into my hart conioyne thy
which may delight thee whether generally or particularly it come into thy mind Sorrow not out of measure nor suffer such imaginations and fātasies take place as though I were so angry that I would not be pleased pardon nor receiue thee againe into fauour for these are the suggestions of the wicked Serpent wherwith he endeauoureth to train thée to desperation whose custome is in the beginning of his illusions to plucke the remembrance of me from their hearts to promise my mercie to them that sinne and confirme the security boldnesse obstinacie of an vngodly wil but afterwards finding them declining and that they will forsake him if by other means hee cannot procure them to euill he setteth vpon the weak and fearefull minds with the assault of Desperation he perswadeth to vnbelief he telleth them that euill custome cannot be ouercome he feareth them with the greatnes of their sinnes committed like a lyer telleth that I will not forgiue sinne But thou my Daughter beleeue him not whatsoeuer thou feelest fall not into Desperation This Contrition sufficeth that it pittieth thee of mine anger wishing thou haddest not transgressed and determinest not to sinne any more But if thou doe erre yet rise again yea again with heartie repentance purpose to sinne no more if thou fal the third time yet rise againe if the fourth or fift time yea lastlie if thou fall seuentie times seuen times so often returne to me and I wil receiue thee Is it not better that I should receiue thee then lose thee together with all my labors and paines which for thy redemption I haue suffered Let nothing O Daughter cal thee away O Daughter let nothing keepe thee from me which art redeemed with my bloud though thou hast giuen thy selfe to the Deuill denied mee an hundred times taken my name in vaine spitt at me slaundered my holie word onelie be forie from thy hart that thou hast done this and I will forgiue thee Let no offence be so great in thine eies that it plucke away the hope of pardon no sinne so ponderous that it may be able to ouercome my mercie I make no differēce whether from few or manie sinnes I deliuer thee all haue neede of my mercie which floweth aboundantlie to euerie man faithfullie asking it Thy wickednesse cannot exceede my mercie the more thou hast sinned the more willinglie I forgiue thee being penitent for the greater the sinner is on whome I bestow my compassion so much the greater is my glorie I am not hard nor sparing but liberall and bountifull to thée my Daughter if thou only haddest committed all the offences that be and I forgaue them my mercy is no whit the lesse There is peraduenture some other thing that feareth thée yet when thou wert ouerpressed with sinne that which thou diddest then willingly cōmit now against thy wil are compelled to bear whatsoeuer vnwillingly thou sufferest shall not damne thée nor spoile thée of my grace for sinne must be so voluntarie that if it be not voluntarie it is no sinne bridell therefore thy will from consenting and then suffer the Flesh and the Diuell to rage and though by thy former life and conuersation thou hast deserued euill yet because thou truly repentest thereof and doest studie to liue better thou shalt not be guiltie of that thou sufferest so thy will consent not And if at anie time the Diuell suggest thée with blasphemous or cursed thoughtes against mee and my Omnipotency be not therefore troubled or faint hearted For so long as thou hast not voluntarily erred or performed consent thou doest rather suffer then do offence when these things bring thee rather heauinesse and affliction then delights they are no way to be feared but I suffer thée to feele them and they to molest thée that thou mightest be rather thereby defiled Therefore truely the Diuell stirreth vp those thinges that whilest thou goe about to resist them thou mightest bee hindered and letted from the taste of my loue and being so much astonied fear to come to me For he reioyceth when thou wallowest in doubts troubles but thou Daughter feare no such thing looke not toward them answere them not striue not against them nor take any héed to them but rather as one vntroubled goe forward in thy exercise passing by and contemning such chances as the barking of dogs and hissing of geese for if thou wouldest renue dispute feare and discusse them thou dost alwaies more printe them in thy mind and tangle thy selfe in greater trouble The penitent Soule after it hath taken some knowledge and taste of my goodnes considering that I am so good and so mercifull and finally that I am so slow to impute sinne that I doe not only pardon it but also receiue him into my fauour and friendship as thogh he had neuer sinned I comfort him and bestow on him gifts Thus whilest the afflicted conscience doth meditate yea euen of his fall I say hee getteth to himselfe a great occasion of feruentnesse and thankfulnes towards me a far greater occasion of hatred and displeasure towardes himselfe whilest he rigorously accuseth his owne follie for despising me a God so mercifull vnto him as whom iustlie I might both condemn and destroy I spare comfort and deale boūtifully with so that how much the more hee perceiueth my mercie to him so much the more is he moued with greater zeale of Iustice against himselfe and in a manner desireth to be reuenged on himselfe for the contempt of mee whereby it commeth to passe that hee doth not onely desire pardon and reconciliation for his sinnes but suffereth the dignity of my iustice humbleth himselfe and punisheth himself because he hath wickedly lift vp himselfe against me whereof procéedeth that how much the more he perceiueth himselfe comforted of me so much the more hee abhorreth and detesteth his own vnworthinesse and with sorrow disdaineth the enormitie of his sinnes maruailing how he could be so vngrateful to me As a droppe of water on the burning fire so are the sinnes consumed of that Soule which is come to this zeale that it no lesse loueth my iustice then mercy Therfore amongst all kindes of repentance there is not a better for man then continually to consider my great loue and fidelity towards him and contrarily his owne infidelity ingratitude and frowardnesse towards me The Diuell is so enuious to my Seruants that hee omitteth no time in tempting them and euen when they are about to repent and bewaile their sinnes he chiefly casteth in doubts causing thē againe and againe to confesse their faults that thereby they might neuer attaine to any quietnes but distrust all their confessions when they find any circumstance or offence neglected whereof they haue not made mention But beware O my Daughter thou fall not I am thy Confessour It is onely I that can ease thy burthen cure thy wounded conscience and refresh thy hungry Spirit Oh how it grieueth me to sée thee alwayes conuersant in
in the death of a Sinner sayth the Lord God or rather would I not his conversion from his evill wayes that he might liue And againe hee sayeth Returne and repent you of your faults and your iniquity shall not prevaile against you Cast away evill cogitations and take you a new Spirite And why wilt thou die O house of Israel I wil not the death of a sinner returne and thou shalt liue O wretch why despayrest thou sith to this end GOD sent his Sonne into the earth that thou mightest haue comfort This is the loue of God whereof David speaketh saying We haue seene thy loving kindnesse even in the middest of thy Congregation Bée earely at the church occupied in prayer abide in the Apostolicke Faith beware of Idolatry imbrace the louing kindnesse of God who cryeth vncessantly I wil not the death of a Sinner but rather he convert and liue Harke to this swéet Oracle shake off the drowsinesse of errour and rise with Christ that thou mayest liue in him Marke how liberally hee promiseth At what hower soever a Sinner shall repent I will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance He hath no respect to the nature of thy faults he forceth not the greatnesse or nūber of thine offences repent but as thou oughtest and hee will blot thy wickednesse out of memory That our Prayer may bée more acceptable to God the Prophet O see telleth vs how we should pray Returne vnto the Lord and say to him Lord take away mine iniquitie and receiue if I haue any my goodnesse and I wil giue thee the batlinges sacrifice of my lips Let vs reuert that haue shamefuly erred to him which taketh away the sinnes of the world and let vs say Take away from vs the evill which we haue done and accept this good What good Even the sacrifice of our Lippes Wée giue thée thanks mighty God to whome wee owe all that we haue Take from vs which is ours accept of vs that which is thine owne Returne saith Ioel to your God because he is loving gratious long suffering and of much mercy and ready to pardon mischiefe Though the weight of sin astonish thee yet let the mightinesse of Gods mercy vphold thee which the Prophet doth many wayes exaggerate God saith hee is gentle which hee addeth that wee should not despaire of pardon God saith he is gratious that we should vnderstand how he not onelie helpeth vs but that he pittieth our miseries And thinking not this sufficient he adioineth Long suffring And yet art thou doubtfull sinner Hearken then what followeth And of great mercy If thy faults be many care not great is the goodnesse of God What remayneth now but that thou turne and goe to him that inuiteth thee thou wilt say the horrible threatenings of punishment feare me Giue eare and marke And hee is ready to pardon mischiefe that God which is so often stirred to anger of his own accord mooueth thee to repentance calleth thee to forgiuenesse forgetteth his threates denyeth thee the torment of Hell in steade of punishment giueth thee his blessing not onely turneth to thee that repentest but willingly goeth to méet thée embraceth thée This is it which was promised by Zacharie Turne vnto me saith the Lord of hosts and I will be converted vnto you What meaneth hee by Returne vnto mee that is acknowledge thy weakenesse and aske mercy And what is meant by this And I will be converted vnto you That this of a reuenger I will become a helper I will assist your endeauours and looke what through your owne strength you can not bring to passe thou shalt attain to buy my fauour No man can fréely hate his owne sinne vnlesse God mollifie his stony hart and giue him a fleshly hart vnles for a defiled Conscience hee make a cleane heart vnlesse for a corrupt soule hee renue a right Spirite in him Peruse and reade the conuersation and life of Christ there thou shalt finde nothing but of his euerlasting mercy towards all men He fréely healed the sicke fedde the hungry deliuered them that were in daunger cleansed the Leapers gaue sight to the Blinde restored the Lame cast out Deuils raysed the dead to life and pardoned the wicked Search againe the vniuersall discipline of GOD what other thing contayneth it then the maruailous compassion of the Almighty doth he not inculcat into our minds by parables to the intent wée should not fal by any means To that end serueth the Parable of the lost shéepe which was brought againe on the Shéepeheards shoulders the Parable of the lost and found groate of the whole man that wanted not a Physition of the Seruant to whome his debts were forgiuen of the Publicane and the Pharisie of the broken man whom the Samaritane cured of the good Steward towardes his debtors and of the crafty Steward towards his Master of the Prodigall Child taken againe into fauour As touching the bare name of the Gospell doth it not promise mercy Yes it giueth light to the blind liberty to the Captiue health to the broken and last of all a gratefull gaine to the Lord who thirsteth nothing but the Saluation of sinners Likewise the name of Iesus that is of a Sauiour what else doth it promise to the Sinner but mercy and blissefulnesse If he had come representing the Maiesty of a Iudge there had beene some cause why euerie one might haue feared but knowing him to come as a Sauiour dost thou dispayre Saluation for the surer hope of Saluation the Sonne of God suffered death and offered vp himselfe a valiant sacrifice for the sins of man And hanging on the Crosse prayeth for his persecutors and thinkest thou that hée wil deny thée forgiuenesse of thy sinnes that dost acknowledge thy wretchednesse and craue remission Trust him that is mercifull and thou shalt find compassion A sure hope obtaineth any thing at Christes hand who so mistrusteth the Phisition hindereth his own health The woman of Canaan cryed and her daughter was cured The Centurian beléeued and his Seruant was made whole againe The Father prayed and his Sonne was cleansed of the foule spirite The Apostles cryed out Helpe Lord for we perish and they were deliuered And wée sée that in diuerse he hath not respected the prayers of the mouth but only the Faith Hee did but perceyue the faith of the people and said to the sicke of the Palsie Bee of good cheare my sonne thy sins are forgiuen thee The Mother and her companions doe but wéepe and her Sonne is raysed frō death to life Martha and Mary did but mourne and Lazarus was receyued Mary the sinner bewayleth he annointeth her kisseth her and sayth Thy sinnes are forgiven thee He sufficiently asketh that confesseth his infirmity he asketh effectually that lamenteth beléeueth The woman troubled with superfluity of bloud secretlie touched the vesture of Iesus and immediatelie she felt the force of his mercy We read also of many others that
and frée my féet from the paths of such venemous Serpents O Lord thou séest they haue stopped vp my well-springes of truth how they haue broken mée in péeces preferred their guils altogether laid me waste I am made their mark to shoot at their strongest Bowes haue beene against me out of their malitious quiuer they haue shot their sharp shafts of eger envie yea euen into my raines They laugh me to scorne in their dissembling hearts and yet bear me faire countenance No regard is had of my Truth and vtter confusion is come vpon me thy gifts Lord proper to my selfe are holden from me and I perish in waÌ„t hauing of mine owne The leauen of my bread is made with cruell cares and my drinke mingled with salt teares they haue ouerwhelmed mée with heaped stones and haue buried my innocency in shamefull graue I am sequestred from all fréedxme and thou Lord knowest I am not guilty Correct me not in thy iustice for in my misdéedes towards thée Lord but in the mildenesse of thy mercy for I acknowledge I haue don things vnlawfull against thy throne and am no more worthy to be called thy Child Yet Lord from the bottome of a broken heart I aske thy pardon and my Spirite trusteth in thy mercy requireth that mine enemies may no longer triumph ouermee Lord looke downe and remedy my misery and thraldome Remember how long I haue been fedde with sorrow care how my body wasteth and my Soule melteth away I fear Lord thou hast forsaken me and set vp the horn of mine enemies that thou giuest theÌ„ this long Glory ouer me O mercifull Father do not so I beseech thée If my scorge be determined with thee for any my contemptes of thy will yet deliuer me from the hands of the malitious I acknowledge my faultes towardes the Celestiall Seate and say my righteousnesse al is stained I appeale to thy mercy for thy truth and sons sake But Lord if my breast euer harboured any vniust pretence or act against thy seruaant Iames my gratioua King and Gouernour as a ioyfull pray bestow mee amongst mine eager enemies To this day from my birth thou knowest Lord I haue honoured him with loyal loue serued him with true heart and innocent hands Now Lord if such discharge of duty hath euer wonne victory ouer any his woorthie thoughtes I beséech thée not in my deserts to thee but for my truth to him multiply in secret breast such thoughts to sure encrease of firme beliefe as through thée inspired with my large truth which might neuer boast her selfe I may bée saued from the snares of the malitious and my innocency knowne to him Wake Lord I beséech thée and renue on mee thy mercies and help as euer thou hast done of olde My Soule saith within me thou Lord art her onely portion and therefore she will hope in thée And my body hast thou alwayes deliuered in greatest perill whensoeuer I haue put my trust in thée Arise most mighty helper and aide thy Seruant who onely séeketh succour of thée Sure I am in mine enemies pitts thou wilt not that mine Innocency perish neyther destroy mée vtterly in mine vnrighteousnesse towardes thee for that my contrite heart appealeth to thy mercy and thy condition is not to seeke the death of a sinner neyther to be found vntrue in thy promises wherein my spirite onely trusteth Amiddest my forrowfull plaints and scorching sighes Lord powre out the comfortable dew of thy compassion for in no other helpe will I trust but in thine though the whole Earth would assure me mine enemies swarme as Bées to the Hieue and spread as flowers of the spring my friends walke in single number and hundreds that erst professed saith deny their sentence such as would me good want the meane thereto and those that best may with Fort nes threats are beaten down and made lame Wherfore Lord wash the vnderstanding of my gratious Gouernor with the flowing springes of thy Truth Cause him with spéedy hand to comfort the comfortlesse Guide his minde stil in thy loue and feare with such perfect wisedom true iustice and pittifull compassion shewing whose member hee is that hath thus worthily preserued thy people Yea further Lord guide so his course on earth that thou maist afferwardes of right equal him in ioyes with the blessed Cherubines about the hie heauens Continue in him thy grace which giuest euery good gift that as he is thy chosen vessel no vsurping heart nor bloody hand may euer haue power against him But replenished with thy holy Spirite may execute thy will and walke in thy pathes neuer wanting the strength of thy right hand to beat downe his enemies But found worthy of thy rich goodnesse wee may long enioy so matchlesse a head and Gouernour grant this Lord I beséech thée with exchange of my hard state into better euen at thine owne will and my Spirite shall neuer cease to giue prayse and thankes to holy Name Amen To the Reader MY willing minde sundry wayes aâ—oied in the purpose of my penn is forced here to offer thee courteous Reader in supply of void paper these few selected Sentences out of Holy Scripture and other divine ancient writers which for their worthinesse thy behoofe and lesse labour if thou accept better placed theÌ„ barren paper and grant their once reding I haue my desire after I deeme that if knowledge of Vertue may allure thee or view of vice abash thee thou wilt often read and vnread them to embrace the good and eschew the evill which the heavenly Father graunt vs all his grace to fulfill Sentences out of the Holy Scripture THe feare of God is worshippe triumph gladnesse and a ioyful crown yea who so feareth the Lord shall be happy and when hee hath need of comfort he shall be blessed The Séede of them which feare the Lord shal be brought to honour but the generation of the proud deceitful and malitious shal perish with the shame of their wickednesse Labour to gett thée a good Name for that shall continue by thee surer then a thousand greater treasurs of gold A good life hath a number of dayes but a good name endureth for euer The vntruth of a lying tongue murdereth the Soule vpon the head of the backbiter blasphemer with terrour shall the Lord send the thunder of his wrath and consume them hastily He that loueth Riches shall not be iustified who so followeth corruption shal perish in the same Gold and Siluer is the trée of falling to euery one that gréedily séeketh the same blessed is the Rich which is found without blemish Trauaile and carefulnesse for riches taketh away the sléepe and maketh the flesh to consume they helpe not in the day of iudgement Righteousnesse shall crowne thee Through thy euil gotteÌ„ goods shalt thou perish The ioy and chearefulnes of the hart is the pure life of man And his cleare conscience a fure fortresse against death The tree
sinnes Answere Neyther reward vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God mercifull Father that despisest not the sighing of a contrit hart nor the desire of such as be sorrowful mercifully assist our prayers that wee make before thée in all our troubles and aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and gratiously heare vs that those euills which the craft and subtlety of the Deuill or man worketh against vs be brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnes they may bee dispersed that we thy seruantes being hurt by no persecutions may euermore giue thankes vnto thée in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliver vs for thy Names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our Fathers haue declarud vnto vs the noble workes that thou diddest in their dayes and in the olde time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliver vs for thine honour Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne c. From our enemies defend vs O Christ Gratiously looke vpon our afflictions Pittifully behold the sorrows of our hearts Mercifully forgiue the sins of thy people Fauourably with mercy hear our Prayers O Sonne of David haue mercy vpon vs. Both now euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Gratiously heare vs O Christ gratiously heare vs O Lord Christ The Versicle O Lord let thy mercy bee shewed vpon vs. Answere As we doe put our trust in thée Let vs Pray VVE humbly beséeth thee O father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glory of thy names sake turne from vs al those euils that we most righteously haue deserued graunt that in all our troubles wee may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy and euermore serue thee in holinesse and purenes of liuing to thy honour and glory through our onely mediatour and aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ¶ A Prayer for the Kinges Maiestie O Lord our heauenly Father high and mightie King of Kings Lord of Lords the onely Ruler of Princes which doest from thy throne behold all the dwellers vpon earth most heartily wee beseech thee with thy fauour to behoid our most gratious Soueraigne Lord King Iames and so replenish him with the grace of thy holy Spirite that hee may olway encline to thy will and walke in thy way indue him plentifully with heauenly gifts grant him in health wealth long to liue strengthen him that hee may vanquish and ouercome all his enemies and finally after this life he may attaine euerlasting ioy felicity through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer for the Queene and Prince and other the King and Queenes Children ALmighty God which hast promised to be a father of all thine Elect and of their séede we humbly beséech thée to blesse our gratious Quéene Anne Prince Henrie and all the King and Quéenes Royall Progenie endue them with thy holy Spirite enrich them with thy heauenly Grace prosper them with all happines and bring them to thine euerlasting kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ALmighty euerlasting God which onely workest great maruailes send downe vpon our Bishoppes and Curates and all Congregations cōmitted to their charge the healthfull Spirite of thy Grace and that they may truely please thée powre vpon them the continual dew of thy blessing graunt this O Lord for the honour of our Aduocate and Mediator Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer of Chrysostome ALmighty God which hast giuen vs Grace at this time with one accorde to make our common Supplications vnto thée and doest promise that when two or thrée bée gathered together in thy Name thou wilt graunt their requests fulfill now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them graunting vs in this worlde knowledge of thy truth and in the worlde to come life euerlasting Amen THe Grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ and the Loue of GOD and the Fellowshippe of the Holy Ghost be with vs al euermore Amen For Raine if the time require O God Heauenly Father which by thy Son Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that séeke thy Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof all thinges necessarie to their bodily sustenance sēd vs we beseech thée in this our necessity such moderate raine and showres that wee may receiue the fruites of the earth to our comfort and to thy honour through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen For faire weather O Lord god which for the sin of man didst once drown all the world except eight persons and afterward of thy great mercy diddest promise neuer to destroy it so againe we humbly beseech thee that although wee for our iniquities haue worthily deserued this plague of raine and waters yet vpon our true repentance thou wilt send vs such seasonable wether wherby wee may receiue the fruits of the earth in due season and learn both by thy punishment to amend our liues and for thy clemencie to giue thee prayse and glory through Iesus Christ our Lord Amē In the time of Dearth and Famine O God heauenly Father whose gift it is that the raine doth fall the earth is fruitfull beasts increase and fishes doe multiplie behold wee beseech thée the afflictions of thy people and grant that this scarsitie and dearth which wée doe now most iustly suffer for our iniquitie may through thy goodnesse bee mereifully turned into cheapenesse and plenty for the loue of Iesus Christ our Lord to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour c. Amen In the time of warre O Almighty God King of all Kinges and Gouernour of all things whose power no Creature is able to resist to whom it belongeth iustly to punish Sinners and to bee mercifull to them that truely repent saue and deliuer vs wée humbly beséech thée from the hands of our enemies abate theyr pride asswage their malice and confound their deuises that wée being armed with thy defence may bee preserued euermore from all perils to glorifie thee which art the onelie giuer of all victorie through the merites of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen In the time of any common plague or sickenesse O Almighty God which in thy wrath in the time of King David diddest slay with the plague of pestilence threescore and tenne thousand and yet remembring thy mercy diddest saue the rest haue pitty vppon vs miserable Sinners that now are visited with greate sickenesse and mortality that like as thou diddest then cōmaund thine Angell to cease from punishing so it may now please thee to withdraw from vs this plague and grieuous sicknesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen O God whose nature property is euer to haue mercy and to forgiue receiue our humble Petitions and though we be tyed and bound with the chaine of our sinnes yet let the pittifulnesse of thy great mercy loose vs through Iesus Christs sake our Mediatour and Aduocate Amen A Thankesgiuing for Raine O God our heauenly Father who
sake thou hast hitherto spared me confirme now that swiftly in me whervnto from the beginning I am ordained And woe to me vnhappie sinner that haue left so louing and mercifull a Father who euer tendered me Yet haue I denyed thée in my heart wherein thou hadst determined the Tabernacle of thy delight and haue defiled it and made thereof a vessell of iniquitie and a denne of vncleane Spirits I confesse my selfe oh Lord the most wicked of all that the world sustaineth But neuertheles I trust in thy goodnesse For as my sinnes be aboue number so is there no number of thy mercies O most louing Father if it séeme good to thée thou canst make me cleane Heale my soule I confesse I haue sinned Remember Lord those comfortable words which thou spakest by the Prophet saying Thou hast done wickedly with many yet turne to me and I will receiue thee Truelie most mercifull Father I trust assuredlie in these swéet words and with my whole heart turne mee to thée as though thou hadst spokē these words to me alone and wouldest call none other for I am the vncleane and vnfaithfull soule the prodigall and wandring Sonne who hath alienated my selfe from that Father of Light from whome all goodnesse springeth loosing and neglecting all thy large giftes which of thy bountifull liberalitie thou hast graunted I haue straied from thée like a wandering shéepe I haue forsaken thée the fountaine of Liuing Water and digged to my selfe muddie pittes séeking outwarde comforts which hold no water haue followed Temporall and transitorie delights which vanish swiftlie as smoake I haue left also the bread of Life and eate the dregs of Swine following mine owne sensuall appetite and beastlie affections I haue forsaken thée the chéefe most perfect and continuall good and haue enclined to terrestriall and transitorie things Therefore I am become Naked Poore Miserable and vncleane and as a Calfe tied doe festure through mine owne infirmities But I praie thée oh Father remember not the contempt and Iniurie thou hast receiued of me pardon the passed faults of my tender yeares let not the old soares of wandring youth in setled yeares breake out to new bléeding woundes Accept the pittifull passion of thy deare Sonne in satisfaction of my former heaped euils graunt Lord to mee sorrofull sinner the assistance of thy holie Spirit to continue this I haue begunne to the health of my Soule and quietnes of mind and my tongue and heart shal speake the Triumph of thy louing kindnesse and mercie both now and euer Amen Eccles 4. Deliuer him that suffreth wrong from the hands of the oppressour and be not faint-hearted when thou sittest in Iudgement decide Law with Equity and Iustice with mercy bee fauourable to the Fatherlesse and bee in steade of a Husband vnto their Mother so shalt thou bee blessed in sight of the Highest and he shall loue thee more then doth thy Father and Mother Eccles 9.12 Day and night let the broad Gates of thy bounty be open to the Discreete and Vertuous Set honour alwaies vppon the head of the lowlye But to the prowde and ambicious keepe thy selfe secret and straunge giue not thy bread vnto him least hee become mightier then thy selfe nor trust not thine Enemy at any time for like as Iron cankereth so doth his wickednesse though he humble himselfe greatly yet locke vp thy mind and beware of him set him not by thee nor on thy right hand least he turne get into thy place take thy roome and possesse thy Seat Pro. 16. The cherefull countenance of the King is Life his louing fauour is as the Euening deaw L Loue God aboue all A Accept the wise D Doe no man wrong I In mercie delight E Expect a reward E Encrease Knowledge L Let vertue guide I In Prayer persever Z Zelously aske A Acknowledge Sinne. B Beware of presumption E Enuie no man T Tender the Helpelesse H Hope for Heauen Holy briefe and comfortable Meditations or Prayers discifering in Alphabet forme the gracious name of the Ladie Elizabeth L LOath not the Prayer of one that is in trouble turne not away thy face from the needie despise not the selie sewter nor grieue the heart of the helpelesse for if he complaine in the bitternesse of his soule his prayer shall be heard euen hee that made him shall heare him LIghten in mee oh God the Image of thy selfe though I looked backe from thy Lawes chastice me to amendment but suffer not the woorke of thy hands to perish Thou hast created my heart and giuen me a will to order the same so Lord I most méekelie yéeld the same again into thy hands I pray thée by thy holie spirite so direct my waies counsels and woorkes that they may be of chiefe regard with thée good God the giuer of all mercie suffer not my Soule to perish through the infirmitie of my flesh For thy Sonnes sake and thine own glorie set both now and euer his death and passion betwéene thy iust Iudgement and the perill of my soule I thirst after thée oh God and sith thou seest my heartie desire is to serue thee and liue in thy rule and to die in thy Faith and fauour allowe of mee and with thy mightie hand assist me Graunt that the Celestiall kingdome of thy grace and mercie euer occupie my heart and worthilie purchase me the sweet participation of thy glorious Throne and Maiestie Deliuer mee Lord through thy grace for in all my proper woorkes and deuises can be found no sure shield of defence for me Cast not away my sorrowfull soule Remember the pittifull Passion of thy deare Sonne and suffer it not to perish Guide my féete in the shining light of thy Veritie carrie me aloft from the snares of the vngodlie and from the traitorous trappes of the malicious saue me Suffer not thou oh Prince of all power who rulest the heauens and earth that any canckred or malicious stomacke rebell or increase against me Pardon my cursed crimes release my direfull debts giue me againe thy grace wrappe vp my woefull wounds that fester in my feeble flesh graffe mee a new with the garnishing of thy grace so shall thy glorie growe and my gained gladnesse heale my groning griefes If I deserue the fulnesse of thy furie to fall vpon me yet as a louing Sauiour rule ouer the roughnesse of thy rage and let thy most meeke mercie measure my paine as thou haste donne vnto numbers Grant most gracious God of all victorie that I may euer haue thy power and right hand to be my resident Rocke of refuge Giue gracious eare to my requests bee thou my staie in euerie storme and perill for all mans staies are vnsteadie Beate downe therefore mine enemies with thine own hand and Sword which art mine onelie aide and Protectour giue me thy grace and I shall neuer cease to giue thée glorie both with my tongue and heart shal I ioyfully sing Dominus illuminatio mea salus mea quem