the diuel rage the powers of the world daily rise vp the flesh with all her bond slaues coÌ„spire against the kingdom of thine onely begotten son Iesus Christ our Lord yet make vs to vnderstand and with constant faith bee perswaded that thou deridest and contemnest all such whom thou canst in thine anger fierce displeasure when thou wilt suddenly destroy bring to nought In this faith seeing wee are sometimes so weak that being ouercome with sundry kindes of terrors and dread we are not so obedient to thy commandements as we ought to be wee therefore beseech thee for thy great goodnes sake to be mercifull vnto vs and grant that we may coÌ„stantly beleeue thy sonne our King and our redeemer to haue the highest power and dominion with thee in all things For seeing thou hast begotten him thou hast also deliuered to him all natioÌ„s to be ruled by his power as his owne inheritance grant therefore vnto vs that yet at length wee may be wise and vnderstand in such sort as we may serue thee with al due feare and worship that in the last day wee be not dashed in peeces as earthen vessels with the rodde of thine indignation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier which M. Iohn Bradford said alittle before his death in Smithfield MErcifull God and Father to whom our Sauiour Christ approched in his feare need by reson of death sound comfort gracious God and most bounteous Christ on whom StepheÌ„ called in his extreame need and receiued strength most benigne holy spirit which in the midst of all crosses and death didst comfort the Apostle S. Paul with more consolations in Christ than hee felt sorrows and terrors in the world haue mercy vpon mee a most miserable vile and wretched sinner which now draw neer the gates of death deserued both in soule and body eternally by reason of my manifold horrible old and new transgressions which to thine eyes O Lord GOD are open and knowne Oh be mercifull vnto mee and forgiue mee for the bitter death and bloudshedding of thine onely Sonne Iesus Christ And though thy iustice do require in respect of my sinnes that now thou shouldest not heare mee contemning thy daily callings yet let thy mercy which is aboue all thy works and wherwith the earth is filled let thy mercy I say preuaile towards me through the merits and mediation of Christ our Sauiour for whose sake it pleaseth thee to bring me forth now as one of his witnesses and a record bearer of thy verity and truth taught by him to giue my life therefore of which dignity I doe acknowledge deare God that there was neuer any so vnworthy and vnmeete no not the thiefe that hanged with him on the crosse I humbly therefore pray thee that thou wouldest accordingly aid helpe and assisâ— mee with thy strength and heaueÌ„ly grace that with Christ thy Sonne I may finde comfort with Stephen I may see thy presence and gracious power with Paul and all other which for thy name sake haue suffered affliction and death I may find so present with me thy gracious consolation that I may by my death glorifie thy holy name set forth and ratifie thy verity comfort the harts of the heauy confirme thy Churcâ— in thy truth conuert some that are to be conuerted and so depart out of this miserable world where I doe nothing but daily heape sinne vpon sinne and enter into the fruition of thy blessed mercy whereof now giue and increase in me a liuely tast sense and feeling where through the terrour of death the tormenâ—s of fire the paines of sin the darts of Satan and the dolours of hell may neuer ouercome me but may be driuen away through the working of the most gracious spirit which now pleÌ„teously endue me withal that throgh the same spâ—rit I may offer as now I desire am ready to doe in Christ and by him my selfe wholy soule and body to a liuely sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight deare father whose I am and always haue been euen before the world was made to whom I commend my selfe faith name family and friends countrie all the whole Church yea euen my very enemies according to thy good pleasure beseeching thee entirely to giue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word againe with godly peace to the teaching and setting forth of the same O deare father now guide mee to come vnto thee so purge and purifie me by this fire in Christs death passion through the spirite that I may bee a burnt offering of sweet smel in thy sight which liuest and raignest with the sonne and the holie Ghost now and euermore world without end The Letany O God the father of heauen haue mercy vppon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen c. O God the sonne redeemer of the world haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the sonne redeemer 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 three persons one God haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sins spate vs good Lord spate thy people whome thou hast redeemed with thy most precious bloud and be not angry with vs for euer Spate vs good Lord. From all euill and mischiefe from sinne from â—he crafts and assaults of the diuell from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From blindnes of heart from pride vaineglory and hypocrisie from enuy hatred and malice and al vncharitablenesse Good Lord deliuer vs. From fornication and al other deadly sinne and from all the deceits of the world the flesh and the diuell Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightning and tempest from plague pestileÌ„ce famine from battell murder from sodaine death Good Lord deliuer vs. From all sediâ—iâ—n and priuy conspiracy from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnes of heart contempt of thy word commandemeÌ„t Good Lord deliuer vs. By the mystery of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuity and circumcision by thy Baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agony and bloudy sweat by thy crosse and passion by thy glorious resurrection and assension and by the comming of the holy Ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In all time of our tribulation in all time of our wealth in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. We sinners do beseech thee to heare vs O Lord God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holy church vniuersally in the right way We beseech thee to heare vâ— c. That it may please thee to keep and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnesse holines of
see thy children desire pray and labour that thy Gospell might bee truely preached heard and liued in themselues and in others so they lament the not preaching and refusing the not liuing and not beleeuing thy Gospell yea they lament the lingring of the comming of thy Christ for in his comming they know they shall bee like vnto him and hauing this hope they purifie themselues as hee is pure By reason heereof I see first that I am farre from this desire and lamenting which thy children haue I see my ignoraÌ„ce of thy kingdome and power euery where also of thy grace in thy Church only and of thy glory when all the enemies of thy grace shall bee cast downe and thy glory and power shall embrace each other I see my ignorance how acceptable a seruice to thee is the true preaching and the hearing of thy Gospel for else thou hadst not needed to haue placed this petition next to the petition of the sanctifying of thy name Againe I see heere mine vnablenesse to enter into thy kingdome and to attaine to it for else what neede should I haue to pray for that to come from thee which otherwise may be atchieued Thirdly I see my peruersity and contempt of thy Kingdome grace for although I see my want Our peruersity yet I would not desire thy kingdome to come if thou didest not command me so to pray and if I would haue praied for it thou wouldst not haue commaunded me Gods goodnes Last of all I see thy goodnesse which wilt bring thy kingdome and that as generally by sending foorth ministers to preach truly so particularly by regenerating me more more by giuing me as grace here so glory else where for thou wouldest not I should pray for that which thou wilt deny So that I haue great cause to lament and reioice To lament because of my miserable state and condiâ—ion because of my sinne ignorance rebellion peruersity Sathans power contempt of thy grace thy Gospell and ministery here or elsewhere To reioice because of thy goodnesse great mercie which hast brought me into thy Church keepest me in it and wilt do so still Also because of the ministery of thy word sacraments by which the holy Ghost is and will be effectuall and finally because of the great glory whereunto thou hast called mee and which now thou wilt giue vnto mee asking the same But alas how vnthankeful I am and sorrowlesse Lord thou knowest for my heart is not hid from thee Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me good father and graunt me the spirit of thy children to reueale vnto mee my ignorance of thy kingdome my pouerty and peruersity that I may lament the same and dayly labour for thy helpe and thy holy Spirite to suppresse the kingdome of sinne in my selfe and others Againe grant mee that same thy holy spirit to reueale to me thy kingdome of power grace and glorie to kindle mine affections to regenerate me more and more to raigne in me as a peece of thy kingdome to giue to me to desire to pray and to labour for thy kingdome both to my selfe and to others effectually to thy glory and to assure my conscience of thy goodnesse that thou wilt giue mee grace and glorie c. Heere cal to mind the state of the ministery and ministers the light and life of Gospelers the errors heresies which men be intangled withall Thy will be done AS thy power is infinite so is thy wisdome accordingly Whereby wee may perceiue that nothing is or can bee done against thy power or otherwise then by it so is there not nor cannot bee any thing done against or otherwise thou by thy omnipotent and secret will which is alwaies as thou art good holy iust how farre soeuer it seeme otherwise to our foolish reason and iudgement and therfore heere we are taught to praie that thy will may be done heere without sinne on mans behalfe as it is on the Angels behalfe in heauen Againe for as much as thou art incomprehensible of thy selfe as well concerning thy power as concerning thy wisdome we may not according thereto search thee but rather adore and worship thy maiestie and tremble at thy iudgements and works therefore pray alwaies wee may bee content with thy wil and be buxome and obedient thereto And for as much as thou hast reuealed vnto vs so much of thy wil in thy word written as is necessary for vs in this life to know yea as wee can attaine vnto a little further wee ought to take all things done against the same as sinne and transgression although thou canst vse the same sinne to serue thy prouidence of the which prouidence we cannot nor may not iudge further then thou hast and shalt open it vnto vs. So that this petition Thy will be done is not simply to bee vnderstood concerning thy omnipotent will vnreuealed against the which nothing is nor can be done but rather concerning thy will reuealed in the lawe and Gospell the which thou heere teachest mee that wee should desire not only to know it but also to doe it and that in such perfection and willingnesse as it is in heauen The which thing I perceiue hereby that thy children doe desire dayly in for themselues and others and doe lament the contrary Psal 109. in whom soeuer it be so that often their eies gush our with riuers of teares because meâ— keepe not thy lawes By reason hereof I see that I am far from the sighs and teares of thy people Our ignorance I see my ignoraÌ„ce of thy will if thou hadst not opened the same by thine owne mouth I see my ignorance how acceptable a seruice obedience to thy will is and therfore doest thou place this petition among the first and continuall desires of thy children Againe I see my pouerty in Godlie obedience Our necessity which had need to bee taught to pray for it there by to signifie vnto me my want and vnability to attaine it but by thy gift Thirdly I see my disobedience Our disobedience for else neuer wouldest thou haue commaunded mee to haue prayer for the doing of thy holy will if I seeing my want would haue prayed so Gods goodnes Last of all I see thy goodnesse which wilt giue to me and others to obey thy will that is to loue thee with all our harts to loue our neighbor as our selues to dy to our selues to liue to thee to take vp our crosse and to follow thee to beleeue to repent c. for else thou wouldst neuer haue bidden vs to praie for a thing which wee should not looke for So that I haue great cause to lament and reioice To lament because of my miserable estate and condition because of my sin ignorance pouerty and peruersity and because thy wil is euery where either not known or contemned an Satans will the wil of the world and of the
cannot abide impiety thou searchest the hearts and triest the very thoughts and raines of all men thou hatest sinne and abhorrest iniquity For sins sake thou hast grieuously punished mankind thy most deare creature as thou hast declared by the penalty of death laid vpon all the children of Adam by the casting off Adam and his ofspring out of Paradise by the cursing of the earth by the drowning of the world by the burning of Sodom and Gomor by hardning the heart of Pharao so that no miracle could conuert him by the drowning of him and his people in the red sea by the ouerthrowing of the Israelites in the wildernesse so that of six hundred thousand there were but two that enâ—red into the land of promise by reiecting King Saul by the punishments vpon thy seruant Dauid notwithstanding his hearty repentance by grieuously afflicting Salomon in himselfe and his posterity by the captiuity of the ten tribes and by the thraldome of the Iewes wherein to this present day they continue a notable spectacle of thy wrath to the world against and for sinne But of all spectacles of thy anger against sinne the greatest and most notable is the death and bloody passion of thy dearely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ Great was thine anger against sin when in heauen and earth nothing could be found which might appease thy wrath saue the bloudshedding of thine only and most dearely beloued sonne in whom was is all thy delight Great was the sore of sin that needed such a salue mighty was the malady that needed such a medicine If in Christ in whom was no sin thy wrath was so fierce for our sinnes that he was constrained to cry My God my God why hast thou forsaken me How great importable then is thine anger against vs which are nothing but sinfull They that are thy children through the contemplation of thine anger against sinne set forth most euidently in the death of Christ doe tremble and are afraid lamenting themselues vpon him and hartily crying for mercy whereas the wicked are altogether carelesse contemptuous nothing lamenting their iniquities or crying to thee hartily for mercy and pardon Amongst whom we are rather to be placed then amongst thy children for that we are so shamelesse for our sinnes and carelesse of thy wrath heaping daily sinne vpon sinne so that the measure hath ouerflowed and ascended vp to heauen and brought thy heauy plagues vpon vs which are but ernests for greater to ensue therefore to vs pertaineth shame and nothing else is due but confusion What shall we doe what shal we say who shall giue vs penitent hearts who can open our lips that our mouthes might make acceptable confession vnto thee Alasse of our selues we cannot thinke any good much lesse wish it least of all do it As for Angels or any other creatures they haue nothing but that which they haue receiued they are made to minister vnto vs So that where it passeth the power of the master the minister must needs waÌ„t Alas then what shall we doe Thou art holy we vnholy thou art good and we nothing but euill thou art pure we altogether impure thou art light and we most darke darkenesse how then can there be any agreement betwixt vs O what now may we doe Despaire No for thou art God and therefore good thou art mercifull and therefore thou forgiuest sinnes with thee is mercy and propitiation and therefore thou art worshipped When Adam had sinned thou gauest him mercy before he desired it wilt thou deny vs mercy which now desire the same Adam excused his fault and accused thee but we accuse our selues and excuse thee and shall we be sent empty away Noah found fauour when thy wrath abouÌ„ned and shall we seeking grace bee frustrate Abraham was pulled out of Idolatry when the world was drowned therein and art thou his God only Israel in captiuity in Egypt was graciously visited and deliuered and dear God the same good Lord shal we alwaies be forgotten How often in the wildernes didst thou defer and spare thy plagues at the request of Moses when the people themselues made no petition to thee And seeing we not onely now make our petitioÌ„s vnto thee through thy goodnes but also haue a mediator for vs farre aboue Moses euen Iesus Christ shall we I say deare Lord depart ashamed So soone as Dauid said I haue sinned thou diddest forthwith answer him that he should not die thou hadst takeÌ„ away his sinnes and gracious God euen the selfe same God shall not wee which now with Dauid gladly confesse that we haue sinned shall we I say not heare by thy good spirit that our sinnes be pardoned O grant that with Manasses wee may find fauour and mercy Remember that thou hast not spared thine own only deare Sonne Iesus Christ but giuen him to die for our sinnes to rise for our righteousnes to ascend for our possessioÌ„ taking in heauen and to appear before thee for vs for euer a high priest after the order of Melchisedech that through him we might haue free accesse to come to thy throne now rather of grace then of iustice Remember that thou by him hast bidden vs ask and promised that we should receiue saying Aske and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall find knocke and it shall be opened vnto you O deare God and most meeke and mercifull father wee heartily beseech thee to bee mercifull vnto vs for this thy Christs sake for his deaths sake for thy promise truth and mercy sake Haue mercy vpon vs pardon and forgiue vs all our sinnes iniquities and trespasses whatsoeuer we haue committed against thee in thought word or deed euer or at any time hitherto by any meanes Deare father haue mercy vpon vs. Though we be poore yet our Christ is rich though we be sinners yet he is righteous though we be fooles yet he is wise though we be impure yet he is pure and holy for his sake therefore bee mercifull vnto vs. Call to mind how thou hast promised that thou wilt powre out of thy cleane waters and wash vs froÌ„ our filth and cleanse vs from our euils Forget not that thou hast promised to take from vs our stony hearts and to giue vs soft hearts new hearts and to put in the middest of vs right spirits Remember thy couenant namely that thou wilt bee our God and we shal be thy people that thou wilt put out of thy memory for euer all our vnrighteousnesse and hast promised to write in our minds and hearts thy law and testimonies Remember that thou dost straitly charge vs to haue none other Gods but thee saying that thou art the Lord our God O then declare the same to vs all we heartily now beseech thee Forgiue vs our sinnes forget our iniquities clense vs from our filthines wash vs from our wickednes powre out thy holy spirite vpon vs Take from vs our hard hearts our stony hearts our impenitent hearts
I may learne and haue experience that thou hast in me drawne all things vnto thee insomuch as thou thus Lord of thy diuine powre drawest both the diuell the sinne that dwelleth in me to set forth thy honor and glory which thing for thy mercies sake bring to passe O God my creator preseruer and euerlasting defender A meditation for the exercise of true mortification HE that wil be ready in waighty matters to deny his owne will and to be obedient to the will of God the same had need to accustom himselfe to deny his desires in matters of lesse waight and to exercise mortification of his own will in trifles For if that our affectiōs by this daily custome bee not as it were halfe slaine surely surely when the plunge shall come we shall find the more to do If we canot watch with Christ one houre as he said to Peter we vndoubtedly can much lesse go to death with him Wherefore that in great tentations we may be ready to say with Christ Not my will but thy will be done forasmuch as this commonly commeth not to passe but where the roots of our lust a by thy grace deare father are almost rotten rooted out by a daily deniall of that they desire I humbly beseech thee for Christs sake to help me herein First pardon me my cherishing and as it were watering of mine affections obeying them in their deuises superfluous desires where through in that they haue taken deepe root and are so liuely in mee I secondly doe beseech thee to pull them vp by the roots out of my heart and so henceforth to order mee that I may continually accustome my selfe to weaken the principall root that by the roots and branches they may loose all their power Grant mee I beseech thee that thy grace may daily mortifie my concupiscence of pleasure in things that is of wealth riches glory liberty fauour of men meats drinks apparel ease yea and life it selfe that the horrour and impatience of more grieuous things may be weakned and I made more patient in aduersity Whereunto I further desire and pray thy goodnes deare father that thou wilt adde this namely that I may for euer become obedient and ready to do thy good wil in al things hartily and willingly to serue thee and do whatsoeuer may please thee For doubtlesse although we accustome our selues in the pleasant things of this life to mortification and deniall of our selues yet we shall find enough to doe when more bitter and weighty crosses come For if thy Sonne our Sauiour euer wont to obey thy good will praied so hartily and often Not my will but thy will be done whereby he declareth himselfe to be very man how can it bee but we whose nature is corrupt not only in natiuity but in the rest of our whole life also shall find both our hands full in great and grieuous temptations wholy to resigne our selues vnto thee Grant therefore deare Father for thy Christs sake to me a most miserable wretch thy grace and spirit to be effectuall in me that daily I may accustome my selfe to deny my will in more easie and pleasant things of this life that when need shal be I may come vnto thee with a resigned will alwaies stedfastly expecting thy mercy and in the meane season continually obeying thee with readines and willingnes doing whatsoeuer may most please thee through Christ our Lord who liueth with thee c. A meditation of the comming of Christ to iudgement and of the reward both of the faithfull and vnfaithfull O Lord Iesus Christ the Son of the euerliuing God by whom al things wer made are ruled and gouerned as of thy loue for our redemption thou diddest not disdaine to be our mediator and to take vpon thee our nature in the wombe of a virgin purely and without sinne by the operation of thy holy spirit that both thou mightest in thine owne person wonderfully beutifie and exalt our nature and work the same in vs also first abolishing the guiltines of sin by remission then sinne it selfe by death and last of all death by raising vp again these our bodies that they may be like to thine owne glorious and immortall body according to the power wherewith thou art able to subdue all things vnto thee as I say of thy loue for our redemption thou becamest man and that most poore and afflicted vpon earth by the space of three thirtie yeers at the least in most humility and paiedst the price of our ransome by thy most bitter death and passion for the which I most heartily giue thanks vnto thee so of the same thy loue towards vs in thy good time thou wilt come againe in the clouds of heauen with power great glory with flaming fire with thousands of Saints with Angels of thy power with a mighty cry shout of an Archangel blast of a trump suddenly as a lightning which shineth from the East Mat. 24. c. when men thinke least euen as a theefe in the night when men be a sleep thou wilt so come I say Mat. 15. thus suddenly in the twinckling of an eie all men that euer haue been be or shall be with women and children appearing before thy tribunall seat to render an account of all things which they haue thought spoke and done against thy law openly and before all Angels Saints and Diuels and so to receiue the iust reward of thy vengeance if they haue not repented and obeied the Gospell and so depart from thee to the Diuell and his angels and all the wicked which euer haue been be or shall be into hel fire which is vnquenchable of paines intollerable easelesse endlesse hopeles euen from the face of thy glorious and mighty power But if they haue repented and beleeued the Gospell if they be found watching with their lampe and oile in their hands if they bee found ready apparelled with the wedding garment of innocency if they haue not hardned their hearts hourded vp the treasure of thy vengeance in the day of wrath to be reuealed but haue vsed the time of grace the acceptable time the time of saluation that is the time of this life in the which thou stretchest out thy hand and spreadest thine armes calling crying vnto vs to come vnto thee which art meek in heart and lowly for thou wilt ease all that labor and are heauy leaden if they baue visited the sicke prisoners comforted the comfortlesse fed the hungry cloathed the naked lodged the harborlesse if they haue not loaden their hearts with gluttony and surfetting and carelesnes of this life if they haue not digged and hid their talent in the ground doing no good there with but haue been faithfull to occupy thy gifts to thy glory and haue washed their garments in thy bloud by hearty repentance then shall thy angels gather them together not as the wicked which shall be collected as fagots cast
thy most holy and sacred word and yet no fruits of repentance or Christian life will appeare Woe and alas to these our daies that neither preaching by word most comfortable nor preaching by fire most terrible nor preaching by monsters most strange and vgly neither yet by plagues and pestilence most horrible will stir vp our stony hearts and awake vs from our sinnes Wee feare O Lord that the Turkes with all the rest of the vnbeleeuing wil condemn vs in the last day which if they had been so long instructed by the comfortable preaching of thy word and sweet promises of thy Gospell or seen the wonders which we haue seen no doubt their righteousnesse would haue shined at this day to our great shame and confusion Thou hast no lesse warned vs O Lord of thy fearefull displeasure heauy plagues at hand for our great wickednes then thou diddest the Israelits of that horrible destruction which came vpon them whom thou first in mercy diddest call to repentance by the preaching of thy word but when no warning would serue thou diddâ—st send them monstrous and fearefull signes tokens to declare that thy visitation was not far off But they like to vs at this day did alwaies interpret those things after the imaginaion of their owne vaine hearts promising to themselues peace when destruction was ouer their heads Which things when we do call to mind forasmuch as they are written for our learning example and warning it maketh vs to tremble and quake for feare of thy iust iudgements For if thou hast thus dealt with thine owne deare and chosen children in token of thy great wrath against sinne what shall we looke for who do no lesse deserue thy fearefull scourge for of mercy it is that thou dost thus long forbeare vs and liue as though there were no God at all to be reuenged vpon our sinnes It maketh vs to feare and cry inwardly in our soules Apo. 22. Come Lord Iesu holy and true in all thy doings and shorten our daies and bring this our pilgrimage to an end suffer vs not to heape sinne vpon sinne vntill the day of vengeance lest we be caught vp amongst the number of the wicked and reprobate which shall neuer see thy louing countenance It maketh vs to cry to thee O Lord Let thy kingdome come and end this our sinfull life wherein wee do nothing but prouoke thee to wrath Correct vs not O Lord in thine indignation Psal 6. neither chasten vs in thine heauy displeasure And though to vs belongeth nothing but shame confusion psal 89 though our offences haue deserued to be visited with the rod and our sinnes with scourges yet in mercy Lord with fatherly correction chasten vs and thy louing kindnesse take not away from vs. To thee we fly for succour ps vnder the wings of thy mercy shall be our refuge vntill thou turne thy wrathful countenance froâ— vs. Eccl. 23. Wee know that thy mercy iâ—â—boue all thy works and euen as â—at as thy selfe Therefore will wâ— say with holy Iob Though thou ill vs Job 13. yet will we put our whole â—rust in thee Thou camest to comfort and pluch out of the dungeon of hell such wretches as we are Thou art the good SamaritaÌ„ that camest to heal our deadly wounds thou art that good Physition that camest to cure our mortall infirmities Luk. 15. thou art the good Shepheard that camest to seek vs wandring and lost sheep to bring vs to thy fold againe Eâ—â—â— more then that thou art our brother flesh of our flesh Isa 53. bone of our bones which hast tasted of our infirmities felt our temptations and borne the burden of our sinnes therefore at thy hands â—e looke for mercy against the day of â—â—ngeance And though thou punish â—â—â—â—er our hope is and euer shall be thaâ—â—hy rodde shall no farther touch vs â—en shall make to thy glory our commâ—dity and the strengthning and increaâ— of our faith Let this thy preaching sundry waies O Lord be sufficient for our warning and grant that we may speedliy and from the bottome of our hearts repent endeuour to doe thy righteous and blessed will reuealed in thy word and frame our liues according to the same that wee may here liue in thy feare all the daies of our life after this our sinful course is ended may dwell with thee in thy blessed kingdome through the death and merits of Iesus Christ our only redeemer So be it Another praier for the auoiding of Gods deserued wrath hanging ouer vs for our sinnes VVHen we looke back and behold our sinful life past what a dungeon of errours vice and wickednesse openeth it selfe vnto vs So that there is no man but he must needs be ashamed of himselfe when he cals to mind what e hath been and tremble when he considereth the wickednesse and sinfull course of hiâ— life to come for who shall vndertake that the rest of our life shall be any better then is past How can wee then sufficiently magnifie and praise thy great mercy which hast deferred thy punishment so long Beholding therefore this our dangerous miserable state we come vnto thee O thou great and mighty Iudge in trembling and fear humbly beseeching thee not to heap vpon vs thy deserued vengeance but let thy tender kindnes and loue thou barest to Iesus Christ thy Sonne our gracious Lord and redeemer couer our iniquities for whose sake though we deserue al extreamity thou dost pardon vs. If thou Lord shalt straightly marke our iniquity O Lord who shall be able to abide it Psal 103. A praier to be said of all such as suffer any kind of crosse ALmighty God king of all kings and gouernour of all things whose power no creature is able to resist to whom it belongeth iustly to punish sinners and to be mercifulâ— vnto them that truly repent we confesse that thou dost iustly punish vs for we haue grieuously sinned against thee And we acknowledge that in punishing vs thou doest declare thy selfe to be our most mercifull father as wel because thou doest not punish vs in any thing as we haue deserued as also because by punishing vs thou doest call vs and as it were draw vs to increase in repentance in faith in praier in contemning of the world and in hearty desiring of euerlasting life and thy blessed presence Graunt vs therefore gracious Lord thankfully to acknowledge thy great mercy which hast thus fauorably dealt with vs punishing vs not to our confusion but to our amendment And seeing thou hast sworne that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but that he turn and liue haue mercy vpon vs and turne vs vnto thee for thy dearely beloued Sonne Iesus Christs sake whom thou wouldest should be made a slain sacrifice for our sinnes thereby declaring thy great and vnspeakable anger against sinne thine infinite mercy towards vs sinfull wretches And forasmuch as the dulnesse
thy holy spirit that they may boldly and cheerefully a bid such trial as thy godly wisdome shall appoint 1. Pet. 1. Acts 2. Mat. 10. Luk 21. so that at length aswel by their death as by their life the kingdome of thy Son Iesus Christ may increase and shine throughout all the world In whose name we make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs saiing Our father which art c. A Praier to be said before receiuing of the communion O Father of mercy and God of all consolation seeing al creatures do acknowledge and confesse thee to be their gouernor and Lord it becommeth vs the workmanship to thine owne hands at al times to reuerence a magnifie thy godly maiesty First for that thou hast created vs to thine owne imagr similitude Gen. 1. Eph. 2. Gala. 1. Gen. 3. Acts. 4. Heb. 9. Apoc. 5. John 3. Heb. 8. Heb 4. 1. Pet. 1. Esâ— 45.53 Ma. 3.17 Ier. 31. but chiefly because thou hast deliuered vs from that euerlasting death damnation into which Satan drew mankinde by the meanes of sinne from the bondage whereof neither man nor Angeli was able to make vs free but thou O Lord rich in mercy and infinite in goodnesse hast prouided our redemption to stand in thine onely and welbeloued Son whom of very loue thou diddest giue to bee made man like vnto vs in all things Heb. 8. Rom. 5. Heb. 2. John 6. Gen. 3. Rom. 5. Ephe. 3. sinne excepted that in his body hee might receiue the punishment of our transgression by his death to make satisfaction to thy iustice and by his resurrection to destroy him that was the authour of death so to bring againe life to the world from which the whole of spring of Adam was most iustly exiled Eph. 2. John 6.17 Gen. 6. Rom. 3. â—sa 64. Psal 5.12 Rom. 7. Mat. 16. 2 Cor. 2. Luk. 11. Mat. 11. O Lord we acknowledge that no creature was able to comprehend the length and breadth the deepnes and height of that thy most excellent loue which mooued thee to shew mercy when none was deserued to promise and giue â—ife where death had gotten victory to receiue vs into thy grace when wee could doe nothing but rebell against thy Maiestie The blind dulnesse of our corrupt nature wil not suffer vs sufficiently to weigh these thy most ample benefits Yet neuerthelesse at the commandement of Iesus Christ our Lord Ma. 16. Luk. 11. 1. Co. 11. Joh. 8. Gala. 5. Rom. 8. 1 Pe. 1. Ephe. 5. Heb. 4. Rom. 3. Ma. 25. Phil. 3. Ephe. 1. Ephe 2. Apo. 13. wee present our selues to this thy table which he hath left to be vsed in remembrance of his death vntill his comming againe to declare and witnesse before the world that by him alone we haue receiued liberty and life that by him alone thou doest acknowledge vs to be thy children and heires that by him alone we haue entrance to the throne of thy grace that by him alone wee are possessed in our spirituall kingdome to eate and drinke at his Table and with whom wee hauour conuersation presently in Heauen and by whom our bodies shall be raised vp again from the dust and shall be placed with him in that endlesse ioy which thou O Father of mercy hast prepared for thine elect before the foundation of the world was laid And these most inestimable benefts wee acknowledge and confesse to haue receiued of thy free mercy and grace by thine only beloued son Iesus Christ For the which therefore we thy congregation moued by thy holy spirit doe render to thee all thanks praise and glory for euer and euer A thanksgiuing after the receiuing of the holy Communion MOst mercifull Father we render vnto thee all praise thanks honour glory for that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercies to graÌ„t vnto vs miserable sinners so excelleÌ„t a gift treasure as to receiue vs into the fellowship and company of thy deare son Iesus Christ our Lord whom thou hast deliuered to death for vs hast giuen him vnto vs as a necessary food and nourishment vnto euerlasting life And now we beseech thee also O heauenly father to grant vs this request that thou neuer suffer vs to become so vnkind as to forget so worthy benefits but father imprint fasten them sure in our harts Luk. 15. Gala. 5. 1. Tim. 4. â—â—h 5. 2. P t. 5. Mat. 5. 1. Pe. 1 that we may gâ—oâ—â— and increase daily more and more in true faith which continually is exercised in all maner of good workeâ— and so much the rather O Lord confirme vs in these perilous dates and rages of Satan that we may constantly stand and continue in the confession of the same to the aduancement of thy glory which art God ouer all things blessed for euer A lamentation of a sinner afflicted in conscience for his offences IN the middest of the desperate assaults of my soule the intollerable heauinesse of my mind both heertofore Lord cried as shrill in thine eare as though I had shricked and with lamentations cried out saying Helpe helpe me my GOD my creatour my most prouident keeper and euerlasting defencer for behold I perish On this occasion Lord when heauinesse of minde did heeretofore assault me I remembred that thou haddest many times set before mine eies the wonderfull greatnes of thy most tender loue towards me by the great multitude of thy benefits powred vpon me which benefits euery of thy workes as they came before mine eies gaue me iust occasion to be mindfull of Would not thought I if I had in any maner any grace at al would not such loue bring now into my heart a wonderfull delectation ioy comfort in God for the same And againe could such delight in Gods sweet mercy tender loue towards mee if I were not as euill as a cast away that were none of Gods children be without loathing of my sin and lust and desire to doe Gods holie will And these things thought I fle vpon mee vnthankfull wretch are either not at all in me or else indeed so coldly and slenderly that they being truely waighed and compared to righteousnesse are mâ—re vile then a filthy cloth starched in corrupt blood O thought I I am afraid I haue deceiued my selfe for thy seruants at all times I trow feele otherwise then I now doe the fruits of thy spirit as loue ioy peace and such like But my loue alas toward thee what is it my ioy is not once almost felt of me for my very soule within mee as Dauid in his heauinesse said refuseth comfort and fareth as though it did vtterly dispare and what peace can I feele then or certainty of thy fauour and loue Iustly I may powre out this dolorous lamentation of Sion The Lord hath forsaken me Isa 49 and my Lord hath forgotten me Euen in the middest I say of these my former desperate assaults and in
in vs that which is acceptable in thy sight Sanctifie vs throughout and keep our whole spirit soule and body faulâ—ies vnâ—o the comming of thy deare sonne our Lord Iesus Christ â—hou art faithful O father who hast promised this who also shalt bring it to passe to thee therefore be giuen euerlasting praise honour and glory Amen A thanksgiuing after meales LEt al nations magnifie the Lord let all people reioice in praising and extolling his great mercies For his fatherly kindnesse is plentifuly shewed foorth vpon vs and the truth of his promise endureth for euer We render thanks vnto thee O Lord God for thy manifold benefits which we continually receiue at thy bountifull hand not only for that it hath pleased thee to feed vs in this present life giuing vnto vs al things necessary for the same but specially because thou hast of thy free mercy fashioned vs anew vnto an assured hope of a farr better life the which thou hast declared vnto vs by thy holy Gospell Therefore we humbly beseech thee Oh heauenly father that thou wilt not suffer our affections to be so entangled rooted in these earthly corruptible things but that we may alwaies haue our minds directed to thee on hic continually watching for the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ what time he shal appear for our full redemption To whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory for euer and euer So be it Another thanksgiuing after meales GLory praise and honor be vnto thee most mercifull and omnipotent father who hast fed and daily dost feed of thy most bountiful goodnes all liuing creatures we beseech thee that as thou hast nourished these our mortall bodies with corporall food so thou wouldest replenish our soules with the perfect knowledge of thy liuely word of thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ to whom with thee the holy Ghost be praise glory and honour for euer So be it Another MOst bountifull and gracious God which feedest all flesh and hast promised that asking of thee we shal not lacke if we first seeke thy kingdom and the righteousnes therof we feeling presently the benefit of this thy gracious promise in feeding our bodies with this corporall food do render vnto thee most harty thaÌ„ks for the same beseeching thee likewis to feed our soules with that heauenly food which perisheth not but abideth vnto euerlasting life so that we being nourished by the goodnes both in body and soule may be apt ready to do al good works which thou hast prepared for vs to walke in through Iesus Christ our Lord. Vnto him that loued vs and washed vs from our sinnes in his bloud and made vs kings and Priestes vnto God his Father be all glory power and dominion for euermore Amen Another THe God of glory who hath created redeemed and presently feed vs be blessed for euermore Amen The God of all power who hath called from death the great Pastor of the sheepe our Lord Iesus comfort and defend the flocke which hee hath redeemed by the bloud of the eternall Testament increase the number of true Preachers represse the rage of obstinate tyrants lighten the harts of the ignorant relieue the paines of such as be afflicted but specially of those that suffer for the testimony of thy truth and finally confound Satan by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ So be it Prayers commonly called Lidleys praiers with certaine godly additions Before thou prayest forgiue if thou hast any thing against any man come not to GOD with a double heart but lift vp pure hands without wrath or doubting 1. Tim. 2. ALmighty and most mercifull Father I thy poor creature and worke of thy hands acknowledge and confesse vnto thee my manifolde sinnes and offences which I from my youth vp vnto this day haue committed against thee in thought word and deed beseeching thee for Iesus Christ thy dear soâ—s sake to haue mercy vpon me and to pardon the same according to thy graet mercy which hast promised that at what time souer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart thou wilt put his wickednes out of thy remembrance O Lord I confesse that I was borne in sinne and conceiued in wickednes and am by nature a child of wrath For in my flesh dwelleth no good thing and of my selfe I am not able to think a good thought much lesse to doe that thou in thy law requirest of me saying Cursed is he that continueth not in al things that are written in the law to doe them Againe thy law is spirituall but I am carnall fold vnder sinne Therefore O Lord I come vnto thee for grace which hast said Aske only shall haue seeke ye shal find knock it shal be opened vnto you to preuent and draw my will vnto all goodnes for none can come vnto thee except he be drawn except w be borne from aboue we cannot see the kingdome of God Therefore O Lord renue in mee a right spirit that I may receiue strength and ablenesse to doe thy righteoâ—â— wilâ— Grant that I may euer desire and will that which is most pleasing acceptable to thy will Thy will be my will and my will be alwaies to follow thy will Let there be euer in me one will one desire with thee and let me neuer desire to will or not to will but as thou wilt Grant me that aboue all things I may rest in thee and fully quiet and pacifie my hart in thee for thou Lord art the true peace of the hart the perfect rest of the soule Thou knowest Lord what is most profitable and expedient for mee wherefore do with mee in al things as it shall seem best vnto thee For it may not be but well that thou dost which dost most iustly and blessedly dispose all things after thy most godly wisedome Therefore whither it be by prosperity or aduersity losse or gaine sicknes or health life or death thy will be done Cast out of my heart all vnprofitable cares of worldly things and suffer me not to be led with the vnstable desires of earthly vanities but giue me grace that all worldly and carnall affections may be mortified and dy in me Grant vnto me the strength of thy holy spirit to subdue this body of sinne with the whole lusts thereof that it may be obedient both in will mind and members to do thy holy will Assist me with thy grace O Lord that I may be strengthned in the inward man and be armed with thy holy armour which is the breast-plate of righteousnesse the shield of faith the hope of saluation for an helmet and the sword of thy spirit which is thy holy word that I may stand perfect in all that is thy will and be found worthy through Christ to receiue the crowne of life which thou hast promised to all them that loue thee Giue me grace that I may esteem all things in
law yea that I may keep it with my whole heart Direct me in the path of thy commandements for therein is my delight Turn away mine eies that I regard not vanity and quicken me in thy way Stablish thy promise to thy seruant whereby he may be taught to feare thee Direct my steps in thy word and let not iniquity haue dominion oueâ— me Let not the foot of pride come against me and let not the hand of the wicked moue me Gather not my soule with the sinners nor my life with the blody men Let my foot stand in vprightnesse that I may praise thee O Lord in the congregation Let not the word of truth depart out of my mouth for I trust in thy iudgements Set a watch O Lord before my mouth and keepe the dore of my lips Let not my heart bee inclined to euill to worke wicked workes with them that worke iniquity Teach mee good iudgement and knowledge for I doe beleeue thy commandements Stay my steps in thy paths that my feet do not slide Stablish mee in thy promise that I may liue and let mee not be disappointed of my hope Stay thou me O Lord and I shall be safe and I will delight continually in thy statutes O God create in me a pure heart and renue a right spirit within me Psal 52. Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirite from me Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and stablish mee with thy free spirit Let me heare thy louing kindnesse in the morning Psal 143. shew mee the way that I should walke in for in thee is my trust Teach mee to doe the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy good spirit leade mee into the land of righteousnes A praier for deliuerance from sinne and to be restored to Gods grace and fauor againe OH Almighty and euerlasting Lord GOD which hast made heauen and earth and all things therein contained O incomprehensible vnity Oh alwaies to be worshipped most blessed Trinity I humbly beseech thee and pray thee by the assumption and crucified humanity of our Lord Iesus Christ that thou wouldest incline and bow down the great height of thy deity to the bottomles pit of my vtility Driue from me all kind of vice wickednes and sin Create in me a clean heart and renue in me a right spirit for thy holy names sake Oh Lord Iesu I beseech thy goodnes for the exceeding great loue which drew thee out of thy Fathers bosome into the wombe of the holy virgin and for the assumption of mans statute wherin it pleased thee to saue me and deliuer me from eternall death that thou wouldest draw me out of my selfe into thee my Lord God and grant that this my loue may recouer again to me thy grace to increase and make perfect in me that which is wanting to raise vp in me that which is fallen to restore to me that which I haue lost quicken in mee that which is dead should liue so that I may become conformable to thee in al my life and conuersation thou dwelling in me and I in thee my heart being coupled with thy grace and setled in thy faith for euer Oh my God loose and set at liberty my spirit from all inferior things gouerne my soule and worke that both in soule body I may be wholy and liue to thy glory world without end Amen I. B. A praier necessary to be said at all times O Bountifull Lord Iesu O sweet Sauiour O Christ the Son of God haue pitty vpon me mercifully heare me and despise not my praiers Thou hast created me of nothing thou hast redeemed me from the bondage of sinne death and hell neither with golde nor siluer but with thy most precious body once offered vpon the Crosse and thine own blood shed once for all for a ransome Therefore cast me not away whom thou by thy great wisedome hast made Despise mee not whom thou hast redeemed with such a pretious treasure nor let my wickednesse destroy that which thy goodnesse hath builded Now while I liue O Iesu haue mercy on me for if I die out of thy fauour it will be too late afteâ—ward to call for thy mercy While I haue time to repent looke vpon mee with thy mercifull eyes as thou diddest vouchsafe to looke vpon Peter thy Apostle that I may bewayle my sinfull life and obtaine thy fauor to liue and die therein I acknowledge that if thou shouldest deale with mee according to thy iustice I haue deserued euerlasting death Therefore I appeale to thy high throne of mercy trusting to obtaine thy fauour not for my merites but for thy deserts O Iesu who hast giuen thy selfe an acceptable sacrifice to thy Father to appease his wrath and to bring all sinners truly repenting and amending their euill life vnto his fauour againe Accept me O Lord among the number of them whome thou hast in Christ elected and chosen to saluation forgiue mee my sinnes giue mee grace to leade a godly and innocent life graunt mee thy heauenly wisedome inspire my heart with faith hope and charitie giue mee grace to be humble in prosperity patient in aduersity obedient to my rulers in all my doings faithfull dealing truly with all men to liue chastly in wedlocke to abhorte adultery fornication and al vncleannes to do good after my power vnto all men to hurt no man that thy name may be glorified in me during this present life that I afterward may attaine euerlasting life through thy mercy and the merits of thy death and passion Amen A Praier for grace and remission of our sinnes O Lord God mercifull Father I poore wretched sinner come vnto thee in the name of thy dearely beloued Son Iesus Christ my sauiour beseeching thee for his sake to be mercifull vnto me to cast al my sinnes out of thy sight euen through the merits of his bloudy death Powre vpon me O Lord thy holy spirit of grace and wisedome to gouern lead my body and soule in thy holy word commandements shew thy mercy vpon me so lighten the naturall blindnes and darknes of my hart through thy grace that I may daily be renued by thy holy spirit Open my hard hart grosse eares to heare and read thy word and heauenly voice and to beleeue and follow it in my conuersation and euer to holde fast that blessed hope of euerlasting life Mortifie and kill al vice in me that my life may expresse my faith in thee Mercifully heare the humble supplications of thy seruant and grant me thy peace all my daies Graciously pardon my infirmities and defend me in all dangers both outwardly in my body goods and name and inwardly in my soule against all euil temptatioÌ„s and subtile baites of Sathan that roaring lion seeking whom hee may deuoure Grant O Lord that I and euery member of thy Church in his vocation and calling may truely and godlily
Bishops and Ministers of the Church ALmighty and euerliuing God which onely workest great maruels send downe vpon our Bishops and Pastors and all congregations coÌ„mitted to their charge the healthfull spirit of thy grace and that they may truely please thee powre vpon them the continuall dew of thy blessing Grant this O Lord for the honour of our aduocate and mediator Iesus Christ For raine O GOD heauenly father which by thy sonne Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that seeke thy kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof all things necessary to their bodily sustenance send vs we beseech thee in this our necessity such moderate raine showres that we may receiue the fruits of the earth to our comfort and to thine honour through Iesus Christ our Lord. For faire weather O Lord God which for the sin of man diddest once drowne all the world except eight persons and afterward of thy great mercy diddest promise neuer to destroy it so againe wee humbly beseech thee that although wee for our iniquities haue worthily deserued this plague of rain and waters yet thou wilt send vs such weather whereby wee may receiue the fruits of the earth in due season and learne both by thy punishment to amend our liues and for thy clemency to giue thee praise and glory through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen In the time of dearth and famine O Mercifull God and heauenly father whose gift it is that the raine doth fall the earth is fruitful men and beasts increase and fishes do multiply behold we beseech thee the afflictions of thy people grant that the scarsity and dearth which we doe now most iustly suffer for our iniquities may through thy goodnes be mercifully turned into cheapnes and plenty for the loue of Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be praise for euer Amen In the time of warre ALmighty God King of all kâ—ngs and gouernour of all things whose power no creature is able to resist to whom it belongeth iustly to punish sinners and to be mercifull to them that truly repent saue and deliuer vs wee humbly beseech thee from the haÌ„ds of our enemies abate their pride asswage their malice confound their deuices that we being armed with thy defence may bee preserued from all perils to glorifie thee which arte the onely giuer of all victory through the merites of thy onely Son Iesus Christ our Lord So be it In the time of any common plague or sickenesse O Almighty God which in thy wrath in the time of King Dauid didst slay with the plague of pestilence threescore and ten thousand and yet remembring thy mercy didst saue the rest haue pitty vpon vs miserable sinners that now are visited with great sickenesse and mortality that like as thou didst then commaÌ„d thine Angel to cease from punishing so it may now please thee to withdraw from vs this plague and grieuous sickenesse through Iesus Christ our Lord. A praier for the strength and comfort of the holy Ghost ALmighty most mercifull God which giuest to thy elect people thine holy spirit as a sure pledge of thy heauenly kingdome wee most humbly beseech thee so to replenish our harts with the grace of thy holy spirit that he may bear witnes to our spirits that we be thy childreÌ„ heirs of thy kingdome that by thy gracious working of this thy good spirit we may kil al carnal lusts vnlawful pleasures concupiscences euil affections contrary to thy most blessed wil through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it For sure hope and sure tast of euerlasting life O Almighty God which hast prepard euerlasting life for al those that be thy faithfull seruants grant vnto vs sure hope of this life euerlasting that whiles we be here in this miserable world wee my haue some taste and feeling of it in our hearts through the merits of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it For true knowledge of God and his word and a life agreeable to the same GRant vnto vs O mercifull God wee most heartily beseech thee knowledge and true vnderstanding of thy most blessed will and word that all ignorance being expelled we may know what thy will pleasure is in all things and how to do our duety and truly to walk in our vocation and that also we may expresse in our liuing those things that we doe know that wee bee not only knowers of thy will and word good Lord but also may be hearty faithful workers of the same throgh our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ So be it A praier for the strength and increase of faith O Almighty and euerliuing God which not onely giuest euery good and perfect gift but also increasest those gifts that thou hast giuen we most humbly beseech thee to increase in vs the gift of faith that we may truly beleeue in thee and in thy promises made vnto vs in Christ Iesu our Lord that neither by our negligence nor infirmity of the flesh nor by grieuousnes of temptations neither by the subtle crafts and assaults of the diuell wee be driuen from this faith in the bloud of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it For a godly life ALmighty God giue vs grace that we may cast away the workes of darknes and put on vs the armor of light now in the time of this mortall life in which thy Son Iesus Christ came to visite vs in great humilitie that in the last day when hee shall come againe in his glorious maiesty to iudge the quicke and the dead we may rise to the life immortall throgh him who liueth and raigneth with thee and the holy Ghost now and for euer So be it A praier for true perseuerance and the assured hope of eternal life BLessed God which hast caused al holy Scriptures to be written for our learning grant that we may in such wise heare theÌ„ reade them marke them inwardly print them in our hearts that by patience and coÌ„fort of thy holy word we may imbrace and euer holde fast the blessed hope of euerlasting life which thou hast giuen vs in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it A praier for the obtaining of our petitions ALmighty God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accord to make our coÌ„mon supplications vnto thee and doest promise that when two or three be gathered together in thy name thou wilt grant their requests fulfil now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be must expedient for them granting vs in this world knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen The end of the Lateny A GODLY INSTRVCTIon containing the summe of all the Diuinity necessary for a Christian conscience Made by M. Iohn Bradford A Man that is regenerate born of God the which thing that euery one of vs bee our Baptisme the Sacrament of regeneration doth require vnder paine of damnation