all inwarde heauinesse thought and care for any losse and discommodity receiued by worldly goods and alwayes to thinke that as well pouertie as riches néedinesse as aboundance sicknesse as health aduersity as prosperity come from thée and that it is knowne to thine vnserchable iudgement onely why and wherfore thou sendest eyther of these vpon vs and therefore let not my minde bée troubled with any feare of thinges to chaunce sauing onely to feare to displease thée but alwayes to be merry in thée with sobernesse and to cast all my care of worldlye affayres vppon thée For as much as thou hast commanded that we shoulde not be careful what to eat or what to drink or with what rayment we should be clothed for y u wilte not sée the righteous forsaken or their children begging their breade and that thou tournest all thinges to the best to them that serue thée and flie vnto thée for succour in the tyme of their distresse Let this O Lord be euer more fresh in my memorye grauen in my heart and redy in my mouth so that I leauing all néedlesse feare may alwayes giue thanks vnto thée and prayse thy holye name Amen The prayer vnto God the Father ALmightie God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ whome no deserte merite or worthinesse of oures but thyne own great clemencie mercy and pity caused to send downe thyne onely begotten sonne into this world to beare the burthen of our sinnes with the which we moste miserable sinners were ouerladen that he shoulde suffer moste cruell tormentes yea and also most bitter and shamefull death and sanctifie the reprochefull name of the Crosse with the renting of his blessed bodye and shedding his most precious blood thereon Thereby to make attonement betwéene thée vs thereby to pay the ransome for our soules thereby to consumate and finish the perfection of oure redemption and saluation Whiche thing it was thy good will that he should doe not only to aswage thy wrath and indignation but also to bring vs agayn into thy grace and fauour that wée being deliuered out of the bondage of sinne hell might serue thee in righteousnes and holynesse all the dayes of oure life and by thy frée gift and benefite of his deathe and passion be made partakers of his resurrection and of thyne endlesse vnspeakable glory Wherefore my God my maker my Lord my kyng séeyng thou hast so aboundauntly bestowed thy Heauenly giftes vpon me all mankind and hast so plentifully poured out thy grace and fauour on vs that for our sakes thou wouldst not spare thy owne sonne How shal we escape thine indignation whiche for this care and kindnesse of thyne are most carelesse and vnkynd and among all other which way shall I poore creature turne me how shall I who haue bene moste vnthankefull for his benefites and moste vnmindefull of them be so bolde as to lifte vp my hart or hands vnto the heauens and to call vpon thée thou of thy singuler goodnes diddest so prouide that the wickednesse of olde Adam shoulde be purged and washed away with the bloud of Iesus Christe but I haue wilfullye fallen into sinne againe Thou madest me the child of light but I haue made my selfe an inheritor of darknes thou madest mée thyne by creation I haue made my selfe the childe of perdition What shall I now therefore do shall I doubt of anie further mercie and forgiuenesse No no sweet Lord so great is thy mercye whiche surmounteth al thy works so large are thy promises so sure is the perfourmance of them to al such as take hold thereof so deare in thy sight are the merites of thy sonne Iesus so acceptable vnto thée is the harty repentance of a sinner that with the remembrannce thereof I am prouoked to crye vnto thée saying Father I haue sinned agaynst heauen and agaynst thée I am no more worthye to bée called thy childe Neuertheles behold thou me not as I am a gréeuous offendour but as thy creature haue nowe no respect to mine offences but behold my repētance think not vpon my wickednesse but vpon the wounds of my sauiour Iesus looke not vpon my false hart which hath wauered from thy lawes but behold the bléeding hart of thy sonne Iesus Chryst whiche was pierced to release me and set me frée my sinnes I cast vpon his back beséeching thée that hys merites may beare them and thy mercy pardon them Heare me O Lorde my God heare me for I knowe the more earnestlye that I séeke for desire thyne ayd the readier y u art to stretche forth thine hand to help me Heare me therfore O Lord bow downe and incline thy eare vnto my praier inspire me so with thy holy spirite that I may loue thée aboue al things and that I neuer fayle to put my hope trust of saluation in him whome thou wouldest to be my Redéemer and sauiour Make mée by the forsaking of all wickednes so to rise from falling into sinne that I may obtayne the true seruing of thée with innocency and purenesse of life Graunt this O Lorde for Iesus Christes sake to whom with thée and the holye Ghoste be all honor and glory Amen A Prayer vnto God the Sonne O Most sweete Sauiour O moste mercifull Redéemer O bountifull Iesu the sonne of God who although thou art highe yet thou art moste humble although thou arte Omnipotente thou arte also moste méeke and as thou art most mightie so art thou moste merciful To thée O Christ the guyde of al felicitie the Father of heauen hath gyuen all power both in heauen and in earth Thou art the true Pastor of our soules thou art oure Messias y u castest off none that sue vnto thée but as thou hast taken awaye the hande wryting that was agaynst vs and hast fastned it to thy Crosse so art thou ready to imparte the merits of thy Passion vnto all such as with true repentaunce of their sinnes call vppon thée faythfully Wherefore my swéete Iesus I most faythfullye and vnfaynedlye acknowledge y e benefites that thou hast bestowed vpō me and steadfastlye beléeue that thou being an Immaculate Lamb in whose mouth was neuer found guyle didst suffer most cruell torments at the hands of sinners for the loue of vs moste wretched sinners for the which cause I most hartily beséeche thée and most humbly pray thée to accept me into the number of thē whome thou wilt make Coinheritours of thy bitter paynes and although I of my selfe be moste vnworthy thereof yet thy merites can make me worthy to them doe I flye crauing that I may be so armed and defened by them that I maye subdue the world the fleshe and the Deuill euen as thou hast gloriously conquered sin death and Hell Thou seest O my Sauiour how I am daily and howerly beset with these thrée ennemies and so hardly beséeged of them y t without thy help I can by no meanes escape but that I must néedes be a
thée I can doe nothing When thou powrest vppon vs thy creatures thy good giftes and benefites When thou bestowest vppon vs prosperitie health wealth and such like thou doest it to this intente that we acknowledging the same should thereby be encouraged to serue honoure and humblye obey thée and alwayes prayse and magnifie thy glorious name contrariwise when thou strykest vs with thy rod of correctiō as plaguing vs with great mortalitie suffering our enemies to inuade vs robbers for to spoyle vs pouertie to oppresse vs or fire to consume those thinges which thou hast lent vs for the maynteynaunce of oure bodyes in this mortall life Thou doest it to put vs in mynde that we haue transgressed thy Commaundementes that we haue not harkened vnto thée neyther done that which is acceptable in thy sight but willingly falling into the puddle of sinne and following oure own appetites haue prouoked thy iust wrathe and indignation against vs. Thus thou dealest w t vs O Lord to the intent that we suffering bodily punishment féeling the smart of the same may therby be admonished of our duetie and with true compunction of heart desire to be released frō thy scourges whiche we haue deserued and worthily receaue and then acknowledge our selues to be lost children straying shéepe may bothe see and be ashamed of oure vnbrydled affections wilfulnes which haue brought vs to calamitie misery with y e true penitent to say We are not worthy most mercifull father to lifte vp our eyes or voyce vnto thée for our manifold sinnes and wickednesse neuerthelesse presuming vppon thine aboundaunt mercie who refusest none that doe call vpon thée moste lamentablye we doe cry haue mercy vpō vs O Lorde haue mercye vpon vs miserable sinners being nowe gréeuouslye afflicted with the burthen of punishment and affliction which thou hast layde vpon vs put thou therfore away all displeasure conceiued agaynst vs thy poore creatures and graunt vs that being warned by thys we maye euer hereafter serue thée in newnesse of life and neuer committe anye thing whiche shall displease or offend thée This O heauenly father I acknowledge to bée oure duetie but althoughe I for my parte haue not perfourmed the same as I ought to doe yet I beséeche thine inestimable goodnes not to execute the rigoure of thy iustice vppon me but to staye thine hand and before thou giue me any greter wound to behold my humilitie and repentaunce which beyng not able to recompence and satisfie the trespasses which I agaynst thée haue cōmitted do offer vnto thée according as the poore Widdowe did al that which I am able to giue that is a sorrowfull contrition of hearte for my former offences done and paste Thy Iustice as it is right so is it rigorous to sinners thou art so iealous so much doest detest sinne that thou sparest not to punnishe thy very elect and chosen seruants when as they fall into it Who was more acceptable in thy sighte then that holy Prophet king Dauid of whom thou thy selfe didst say I haue found a man according to mine own heart euen Dauid my seruaunte yet neuerthelesse diuers sundrye wayes didst thou punishe him when that he had swarued from thy testimonies Thou sufferedst him to be molested with the insurrection of hys owne sonne thou didst sende the Prophet vnto him to offer him the choyce of plagues which thou wouldest sende vpon him for his wicked lyuing but when he with sorrowfull sighes trickling teares tourned vnto thée cōfessing his fault crauing pardone and promising amendment of life thou forgatest thine anger and forgauest his offence Other of thy chosen Uessels thou hast permitted to bée gréeuouslye tormented and vexed by sundrye troubles and aduersities onely to trye their faith and stedfastnesse towardes thée as thou didst suffer that pacyent man Iobe for to be most cruelly intreated by that enemie of all mankinde to haue his houses burned and spoyled his cattle taken away his seruauntes driuen into bondage his Children to be slaine his own body to be afflicted with most loathsome diseases plagues and sores and all this thou didst not for any euil déede of his but to shew thine Omnipotencie and power for when thou hadst tride hym to the vtmost and founde that his ennemie the Deuill coulde not preuayle agaynst hym or by any 〈◊〉 and griefe 〈◊〉 him to blaspheme and speak euil of thée thou didst reduce him to health thou didst enriche him agayne thou didst restore vnto hym agayn his children friends familye and all his goodes with muche more than euer he before possessed shewing most manifestlye that thou wilte re warde them moste plenteously which doe loue thée follow and obserue thy commandementes Wherefore I beséech thée to giue me grace that what soeuer waye it shall please thée to visite mée wyth thy punishment I may take it paciently and say Naked came I into this world and naked shall I retourne to the earth agayne the Lorde giueth the Lorde taketh away euen as it pleaseth the Lorde so be it Suffer mée not to dispaire or to thinke that thou dealest vniustlye with me but to say Shall I receiue prosperitie at the Lordes hande and not to be content with aduersitie alwaies to think vpon this Happy are they whom thou dost punish for though thou make a wounde thou also giuest a playster thoughe thou smitest thy hande maketh whole agayne my iniquitie is greate but be thou mercifull vnto my wickednesse O deliuer me from thyne anger and presse mée not farther than I shall be able to beare but now that I acknowledge that what soeuer trouble thou haste sent me or wilt laye vppon me is either for the punishment of mine iniquitie or for the triall of my constancie I maye with repentant Dauid finde remission of my sinnes and with patient Iobe release of my aduersitie and obtayn such fauor in thy sight that thou neuer agayne so gréeuously punishe me but that I may so passe this life that I may afterward liue with thée to whō be honour and glory for euer and euer Amen A prayer agaynst the feare of worldly casualties O Most bountifull and louing Father myne onlye guyder and comforter the Wel of mercie the true light of the worlde take awaye the darkenesse of my mind lighten my heart and sences indue me with thy grace arme me so strongly with sure hope confidence truste in thée that I neuer be driuen into feare eyther by the subtle inuasions of our ghostlye ennemye Sathan or by the craftie wylinesse of the worlde neither yet by losse damage hurte or hindrance of any of those vain and transitory things which we in this world doe possesse But alwaies whatsoeuer shal become of them to thinke that they are but thinges lent and not oure owne that we shall make a streight accompt for the vse or abuse of them Whereby the more wée possesse thereof the greater shall be our payne if we abuse them Wherefore take from me
pray vnto one of them Strengthen me therefore O Lorde that neyther the one with carnall lusts neyther the other with delectable pleasures nor sathā him selfe with all his crafty and suttle deuises get the dominion ouer mee Thou haste bought me thou haste payd for me take thou me saue kéepe and defend me be alwayes ready at the voyce of my crying poure into mée thy grace paciently to abide thy diuine wil pleasure in all things make me both at this present and all y e dayes of my life to haue in minde and profoundlye to roote in my heart the misteries of thy painefull passion and so to be filled with the remembraunce thereof that sinne may no more enter into me and that Sathan mine olde enimie may wel perceiue that he hath neyther parte nor fellowship in me But that I am both body soule altogether thine To whom be all prayses worlde without end Amen A Prayer vnto God the holy Ghost O Holye Ghoste O blessed and Holye Spirite comforter of them that be afflicted Thou procéeding from the Father and the Sonne art the true instructour and teacher of the deuine and heauenlye veritye Wherefore I with all humilitie praye thée to renewe and make in mee a cleane hearte to grafte a right spirite in me Guide and gouern mée that I may thinke nothing speake nothing doe nothing but that only which shall please thée And whereas I haue not ceased to offend my Lorde God and Maker and moste gréeuouslye to transgresse agaynst Iesus my redéemer and sauiour I pray thée that I maye haue inwarde sorrow repentance and shame thereof and that euer hereafter I may performe my duety as I ought to doe and so bring forth the fruites of repentance that the passion of Iesus Christ may defend me from all sinne and wickednesse and bring me to the ioyes of Paradice So be it A deuoute Prayer REmember not O Lorde GOD thine anger agaynst me an offender but be myndefull of thy mercye towardes me a true penytente forget that through pryde I haue prouoked thée to yre and fauourablye harken vnto my prayer What is Iesus but a Sauioure therefore O bountifull Iesu be thou my Sauiour ryse vp in thyne owne strength to helpe me saye vnto my soule I am thy safegarde In thy goodnesse do I trust in thée is my hope and for as much as thou hast willed that we should without ceasing séeke and sue vnto thée beholde I being counsayled and foretolde by thy cōmandementes doe nowe both aske séeke and knock But thou which commandest me to aske graunt that I may receiue thou bidst me séeke make me to find Thou hast taught me to knocke open vnto me y t stand knocking strengthen mee that am weake restore me that am lost reuiue me that am dead by sinne make me to serue thée to liue to thée to giue my selfe wholy to thée I knowe my God that because thou madest me I owe my selfe vnto thée for that thou hast redéemed mée I shuld owe thée more than my self But behold I haue no more to giue neither can I giue my selfe vnto thée vnlesse thou make me willing therevnto Take thou me draw me vnto thée that as I am thine by creatiō so I may be thine by folowing of thée whiche liuest raignest for euer euer Amen An other Prayer HAue mercie vpon me O Lord haue mercy vpon mée moste miserable Creature which doe that which I ought not and feare that whiche I haue moste iustly deserued if I weigh with my selfe the wickednes that I haue done the punishmēt therby deserued is not halfe so great as the sinne that I haue committed but y u art a mercifull God thy iudgementes are right neyther doest thou at any time punishe vs vniustly Thou almightie god madest vs whē as we were not and when as we were loste and damned thou didst miraculously restore vs. I knowe and am sure that our life is not led by sodaine and vncertayne motions but is disposed and directed by thée thou hast a fatherly care of vs al but specially of all suche as do put their whole trust and confidence in thy mercy Therfore I humbly pray and beséeche thée that thou wouldest not deale with me after my deseruings but according to thy great mercy which doth excéed the sinne of the whole world And as often as thou doest punish me outwardly giue me grace inwardlye with patience to beare the same and that thy praise neuer depart out of my mouth Order my doinges euen as shall be most necessary both for my body and soule Thou onely hast power ouer all things thou knowest all thinges to thée be al honour for euer Amen A Prayer for the obtayning of mercie BEholde out from the bottom of my hearte doe I crie vnto thée O lord beséeching thée that thou wouldest saue me from the bottomlesse pitte of Hell I knowe that there is mercie with thee Doe not therfore marke what I haue done amisse Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for then can I by no meanes be iustified in thy sight The remembraunce of mine offences is grieuous vnto me therefore I right humbly craue pardon thereof My heart is troubled my soule is vexed there is no health in my flesh Forsake me not myne onely stay and comforte Dispise not my contrite heart open the bosome of thy mercie take clean away mine iniquity bring my soule out of tribulation turne the extremitie of thy iustice into thy tēder mercy and when thou shalt come to iudge y e quicke and the dead be not reuenged on mée by eternall damnation but to take me amongest thyne electe into the blessed state of Saluation Graunt this O Father for Christes sake our Mediatour and Aduocate Amen An other Prayer O Lorde my GOD although I haue committed that whereby I am an offendour can I make my selfe not to be thy creature though through sin I haue loste my cleannesse puritie haue I also taken away thy goodnesse and mercye thoughe I haue committed that wherefore thou mayest condemne me hast thou not done that whereby thou mayest saue me True it is O Lord that my conscience doth shewe me that I haue deserued damnatiō but thy mercy excéedeth all offensyon Spare mée O God because it is not vnpossible for thy power it is not vnmeet for thy mercy it is not vnacustomed or yet contrary to thine infinite goodnes Wherefore thou whiche hast created me doe not destroye me Thou O Iesu whiche hast redeemed mée do not condemne me thou whiche hast made me let not thy worke be cast away by my wickednes Wype away all that is myne and draweth me from thee and knowledge all that is thine in mée and may bring me vnto thée Which liuest and raignest one God in persōs thrée to whome be al honor now and euer Amen A necessary prayer in Meeter O Lorde my God make thou my hart repentant for to be The spirite of contrition doe thou
ingrafte in me Unto myne eyes let there be giuen aboundance of weeping And let my handes be occupied With often almes gyuing O thou my king quench out of me all foule fleshly desire And with the loue of thee alone set thou my hart on fire O my Redeemer dryue away the spirite of pride from me And graunt to mee that great treasure of meeke humilitie Take from me O my Sauiour the furious rage of yre The shield of pacience giue to me the which I doe desyre O Creator roote out of mee all spitefulnesse of mynde And graunt in steede thereof agayne meekenâ—sse that I may fynde O Bountifull father giue me a fayth that shall indure With hope agreeing therevnto and charitie most sure O thou my guyde keepe from my lips all lying vanitie And from my minde driue farre away all vayne vnconstancie All wauering takâ— from my heart and from my mouth scoffing With all proud lookes glottony backbiting slandering Couetousnesse wipe cleane away with curiositie The fond desire of vayne glory with all hipocrisie Let me neuer the poore despise nor yet the weake oppresse And let me not blaspheme for then I dye remedilesse O thou which didst mee forme and make take all rashnesse from me And leaue me not such a minde as will not with peace agree Take from me ydlenesse and sloth with heauie lumpishnesse Take from me disobedience and also stubburnnesse O my God for thy deare Sonnes sake I humbly beseeche thee To graunt me the works of mercy aboundance of pitie That I may thee both loue feare and eke pitie the poore Make mee good men alwayes to loue and wicked to abhorre Make me so little to esteeme those thinges that worldly bee With harte and voyce that I maye craue in Heauen to be with thee amen ¶ Beeyng tempted by the ghostly ennemy as all that feare God are to doubt in any article of the Catholike Fayth to dispayre in Gods mercye to yeelde to melancholye fantasies to bee vexed with vnkindnes of friends or the malice of ennemies to bee troubled with sicknesse or any other wayes oppressed with griefe of body and mynde say deuoutly as followeth I Humblye accept moste mercifull Iesus this heauie temptation whiche nowe I suffer at the handes of thy diuine prouydence and would a greater if thou please to laye it on me for thy sake Who hath ordayned this from the beginning for the tender loue thou bearest to the health of my sinfull soule and I most hartily thanke thée for it I confesse I haue deserued worse for my sinne and vnkindenesse towardes thée and I am not worthie to receyue any comfort or consolation at thy handes therefore to the honor of the passion and death whiche thou wyllinglye sufferedst on the Crosse I offer my selfe to sustayne this or any other aduersitie with al my hart not séeking other ways ease or reliefe then in and by thee O Lorde and as thy good will and pleasure shal appoint yet this one thing I craue and beséech thée for the tender loue thou bearest to mée and all mankinde for in mée is no vertue or ought that is good to helpe and assist me with thy holy spirite as my trust is thou wilt who promiseth that no man shall be tempted more than he shalbe able to beare and giue me all what euer shalbe necessary to sustayne with patience this painfull Crosse temptation which thy deuine wisdome hath apointed for me to the inteÌ„t that I bearing y e same wyllingly with thée here in this worlde may conceiue assured hope to bée partaker of thy glorye in the worlde to come grant me my request moste mercifull Sauioure not for my merite or deseruing but onely for the merites of thy death and bitter passion I humblye beséeche thée Amen A Prayer for the obtayning of grace and mercy O Moste mercifull Lorde God whose Maiestie is incomprehensible and power infinite whose magnificence is exalted aboue the heauens vouchsafe I beséech thée from thy high Throne to beholde the worke of thy handes Haue pitie on the vnhappy desolate condition of thy creature I am a sinner conceiued in sin of my selfe I haue no good thing wherefore O Lord I cleaue to the Altare of thy mercy Thou art my Ankor my hope my refuge staye Therefore O Lorde haue mercy vpon me for no flesh can be iustified in thy sight Thou knowest the frayltie weakenes of men we are taught by the fall of Peter y t we can doe nothing wythout thée Graunt vs therfore good lord thy grace without which in this world we are lyke by the waues of temptations to be swallowed in the gulph whyrlepoole of sinnes to be drownd as the ship without Ankor Pylate in euerye Tempest to runne on the Rocke and perishe Guide vs therfore by thy grace good Lorde thorow the flouds of this carefull worlde that wee maye rest for euer in the pleasant Porte and happye hauen of euerlasting ioy with thyne elected thorough our blessed Sauiour Iesus Chryst. To whome wyth thée and the holye Ghoste bée all honour and glorye in all worldes Amen A Prayer for the Penitent O Lord I am a sinner my sins are heauy vpon me the burthen of them is intolerable refresh me with thy grace washe away mine offences I shall be whiter than the snow let the chéerfull beames of thy countenance shine vppon mée and giue light to the darknes of my life We can looke for nothing as deserued but punishment due to oure offences Wherfore good lord not according to thy iustice but in the multitude of thy mercies deale with thy seruant Remember not the sinnes of my forefathers think not on the misdemeanor of my youth passed haue pitie on thy creture which acording to the likenesse of thy selfe thou hast made shaped of earth How long wilt thou turne thy face away froÌ„ me forsake me not O my God but renewe in me thy holy spirit Pluck away from me all that withdraweth mée from thée Graft in my hart thy grace y t I may loue thée and feare thée and so finallye reioyce in thy goodnesse with thy elected and prayse thée in thy wondrous works for euer Graunt thys most mightie God for our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake To whome with thée and the holye Ghost be all honour and glory for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for Fayth O Blessed sauiour Iesus sonne of the euerliuing God the vnspeakeable ioye of thy seruantes moste present coÌ„fort to sinners which camest into y e world to saue offenders whiche so louest the world that thou sparedst not thy most pecious blood to redéeme the losse of oure first father Adam to make vs Coheires of the forfaited inheritance with thy selfe that al which beléeue in thée might be saued good Lorde whiche hast promysed to them that knocke it shal be opened that they whiche seeke shall finde graunt I beséeche thée that I maye search thy holye lawes and finde
vp the fallen and raysest the humble and méeke cloathing them wyth purple setteth them vp wyth Prynces in the seates of honor thou whiche despisest the imaginations of the proude and resistest their enterprises blesse me in all my doynges send mée happy successe in all my affayres that I maye reioyce in thy goodnesse with thyne elected for euer euer Accepte my humble sute good Lorde I beséeche thée for the glorye of thy names sake Amen A Prayer to be deliuered from enemies and dangers O Moste mightie Lorde God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob which didst lead the children of Israell thorow the red Sea and made the streames of Iordane runne back into their springes agayne that thy people mighte passe throughe the middest thereof good Lorde whose heastes the floudes obey at whose voyce the hils doe leape and the earthe doeth tremble O moste mightie Lorde which canst destroy the prowdest kings with very Flyes and Ants whiche made little Dauyd to tryumphe on the Gyaunt Golyath which deliueredst his enemy King Saule into his handes gauest Gedeon thy seruaunt wyth hys few Souldioures victorye of so manye Legyons of strong men Thou which hast subdued so many mighty kings and sundrye Nations vnto thy people Israell O God whiche workest all in all things which giuest victory alwayes as séemeth best to thy vnsearchable wisdome defende me alwayes I beseeche thée agaynst myne enemies all euils that my ship tossed and beaten in the waues of this worlde may rest in thy happye Hauen of euerlasting ioy My soule cleaueth vnto thy mercye as to an holye Sanctuary O God if thou shouldest not be mercyfull who could abyde the heat of thy displeasure but thou O Lorde arte good to thy seruauntes and I hope to sée thy goodnesse in the land of y e liuing All glory be to thée moste high and mercyfull God for euer euer Amen The Penitent longeth for comfort HOwe long O Lorde wilt thou tourne awaye thy face from mee Howe long wilte thou be angrye wyth thy seruauntes How long shall I abyde mourning solitarye as the byrd that hath lost hir young O Lorde thinke on mée in thy mercies and doe not correct me in thy wrathe for then shall I become as the duste and smoke in the winde O Lorde forsake not thy seruaunt Israell whome thou hast chosen my heart comforted in thy mercyes shall reioyce and I will sing vnto thée and praise thée in thy good works and Myracles which thou hast done in our forefathers time A godly Meditation I Altogether vnhappy and comfortlesse haue greeuouslye offended my Lorde God what shall I doe whether shall I goe I cannot hyde me from hys sight how oft haue I trespassed against hym howe oft haue I deserued his displeasure and yet howe seldome hath hée punished me howe oft hathe hée béene good and mercyfull vnto mée howe ofte haue I promised vowed amendemente and howe little and seldome haue I perfourmed it this is a woefull case Who will haue pittye on me I dare not lift vp myne eyes towarde Heauen because I haue sinned against it and in earthe I can looke for no refuge because I haue béene a slaunder and shame to it What then should I dispayre No God is a mercifull and a good sauiour hée dothe visite them that liue in darcknesse and is a chearefull light to them that sit in the shaddowe of death He willeth vs to forgiue our brother though he offend seuentie times yea infinitely And God is more mercifull than any man can be and he must be the onely refuge and comfort he will not despise hys creature the image of himselfe returne thée to thy Lorde God praye to him humbly on thy knées for grace and continue to bewayle thy sinnes past because that he whiche loueth thée prouoketh thée dayly with hys gracious giftes and blessings to loue him wil not leaue vntil he haue made perfite his worke begone brought his mercye to full effecte in thée What naturall cause begynneth his worke and leaueth it in the halfe way imperfite the vertue of the seede doth not cease till y e fruit be brought to perfection yet that nature worketh not at once but first prepareth the matter and then disposeth and makes it fit to receiue the shape which is the perfection and ende thereof and as by naturall order and right course things doe procéede and increase by little and little from the lesse to the more euen so doth God first dispose vs to his mercy and then increasing his goodnes daylye bestoweth on vs in the ende the treasure of his grace the inheritance of euerlasting ioies What bird forsaketh hir yong till they bée able to lyue of themselues and yet no auayle for their paine cōmeth to them very loue worketh in naturall causes to bring foorth their affectes to perfection if it be so in creatures what will the Creator doe which is loue it selfe and infinite goodnes He wil withdraw thée from thy sins make thée cleane and pure and finally blesse thee with eternal life whiche he hath prepared for thée O Lorde I come to thée sad and mourning I sit at thy feete humblye wayting for thy mercie thou art my hope and helper according to thy great mercyes haue mercy vpon me Amen A Prayer agaynst Couetousenesse or too much care of the worlde GOod Lord seeing that it is thy pleasure that wée shall not bée carefull for worldly thinges if a Sparrow falleth not on y e ground without thy foresight howe muche more care doest thou take of vs thy children good Lord thou féedest the byrdes of the ayre and cloathest the Lyllyes of the Field which take no care Wherefore good Lorde so prouide for our necessitie sickenesse wée beséeche thée that wee casting all our care vppon thée maye chieflye studye to please thée and serue thée and not to be so wrapped entangled in the desires of worldly thinges like little children who for light trifles of no valure will forsake the moste ample inheritance that is So in like manner those whome the Scripture calleth the children of this worlde are so adicted to trifles are so giuen to transitory moment thinges that for them they dispise the inheritaunce to come and in comparison of them they contemne euerlasting felicitie of heauenly thinges Graunt vs therfore good Lord that we be not so ouercome with the desire of worldly transitorie things that thereby wee loose the ritch inheritance of euerlasting life Graunt this good Lord which liuest and raignest King of all Kinges for euer and euer Amen A Prayer that we may liue vprightly O Lorde seeyng that the righteous shall dwel in thy tabernacle graunt mée I beséech thée a pure and vndefiled soule O what is the shape of the earth wherein Gods ennemies haue abyding in comparison of the wonderfull bewtie of Heauen wherein righteousnes doeth dwell in comparison of that place wherein Aungels Arckaungels all good men yea and God himselfe is abyding
death and destruction and being by the vertue of thy righteousnesse made holy I may triumph with happie victorie ouer sinne death and al the powers of hell and enter with thée the felowship of thy chosen Sayntes into euerlasting rest grant this most louing father for Christ Iesus sake to whom with thée and the holy ghost be rendred al laude glory honour and prayse for euer Amen THe Lorde God bee mercifull vnto me pardon forgiue me my sinnes looke vpon me with thy gratious and blessed countenaunce preserue mee from the second death and euerlasting destruction of body soule The Lord God iustifie me in his death bloode cloath mée with his euerlastinge righteousnes and register my name in the booke of life The Lorde God comfort my guiltie conscience with the euerlasting light of his bountiful fauor lot my place among his saints in his heauenly kingdome The Lord God for his mercies sake after this my bodily death giue me the fruition of his presence in his right palace of endlesse glory to whose mercifull protection I commend with al humilitie and reuerence my soule Lord Iesus preserue me Lord Iesus comfort me Lord Iesus refresh mée Lorde Iesus praye for me for only into thy hands that hast redéemed mee O Lorde God of truth I commend my soule Amen A prayer vnto the holy Ghost against the temptations of Satan the malicious and wicked spirite AH Lord the euerlasting and heauenly spirite which sanctifiest and quicknest the hartes of the faithfull For as much as there is an other spirit which cōtrary to thy heauenly mocions moueth and prouoketh vnto infidelitie malice lying pride wrath whoredome fornication glotonie dronkeship enuy couetousnesse contention errour deceyte hypocrisie straunge religion fayned holinesse impietie desperation c. which is called the Prince of the world the great dragon of Hell the authoritie of all euilles the father of lying and a murtherer from the beginning to whom it is euident that we are poore wretched and miserable fallen away frō God walke in th◠lustes of the flesh liue after the trade of the world and doe that that is pleasaunt to the corrupt affections and are far away estraunged from the citie of righteous Israel as straungers partaine nothing vnto the couenaunt and promises of grace Wherefore while we thus consider this our damnation and the word of thy promise and commandement we are earnestly mooued to flie vnto thée humblie to desire and beséech thée trusting that we shal obtayne For thou promisest and also commaundest to trust an looke for this that through the good will of thy spirite thou wilt gather receaue vs into thy people that we may bee made a spirituall Israell renew vs that is to say beget vs a new vnto repentance godly liuing turne vs with an earnest zeale of our heart drawe vs vnto thée that from henceforth we may abstaine from the workes of darkenesse death Destroye in vs the kingdome of sinne that is to say exclude frō vs not onely euill words déeds but also plucke out of our minds all euil thoughts noysome coūcels furious effectes and the stinking course of this flesh Turne vs from euil wayes vnto the right path of repentance Let our members be so addict to righteousnes and sanctification that they may bee made fitte to serue thée Let vs increase and be plenteous in al such works as bee pleasaunt vnto thée Forsake vs not in tentatiō but rather strēgthē vs with that thy secret vertue inward power Bring to passe that we giue no eare to his flattering deceits nor yet to his beautyfull glistering falaces least he corrupt our mindes and abuse our flesh vnto our destruction which at the beginning full craftely hee brought to passe by his subtyle and swéete suggestions but rather throwe downe and treade vnder our féete this our cruel enemie that we being frée frō his deceitfull tyranny may through thy ghostly inspiration obtayne such peace and quietnes in our harts that we may serue thée with a cleane bodie and pure mind through Iesu Christ vnto the laude prayse and glory of God the heauenly father So be it A prayer for true repentaunce and for the comming of the kyngdome of Christ. O Lord and our God Iesu Christ the scripture testifieth of thee that when thou wast in the worlde thou diddest preach repentance and the comming of the kingdome of heauen and after thou wast risen agayne thou saidest that it behoued thée so to suffer on the thirde daye to rise agayne from the deade and that both repentaunce and remission of sinnes shoulde be preached to euery creature in thy name And that whosoeuer beléeued were baptised shoulde bee saued Agayne than full louingly diddest bid them that labor and are laden to come vnto thée and promised that thou wouldest vnlade refreshe them Uerely it is no small company of wicked spirites cleueth which is also a roring Lyō and earnest accuser of the sons of God yea and such an enemy of God and of thē that pertain vnto him as by no means neither will nor may be reconciled Therefore we all of vs which thorow thy grace are bound and giuen ouer to serue God most humbly beséech thée O holy spirit that thou wilt defend vs against al the wicked temptations and pernicious breathings of the most wicked spirite that all vice excluded all vertue and godlinesse may spring growe increase in vs vntil we be made perfect auncient in Christ Iesu our Lord in his holy law Take away infidelity and engraffe in our brest a true and vnfayned faith Take away pride wrath enuye debate whoredome glotonye dronkeshippe couetousnesse errour hypocrisie with all kinde of vngodlines and print in our hearts humilitie loue chastity and concord purity of life temperance sobriety mercy liberality towarde the poore truth pure holynesse with all kinde of vertue Take awaye from vs all that euer is of Sathan the flesh and the world and giue vs that which onely commeth from the heauenly father and from his onely begotten sonne and from thée that holy spirit Teach vs all trueth enarme vs with the shield of true faith that we may so quench the firie dartes of Sathan Graunt that wee may so watch and shewe such diligence that wee may perceiue his craftie assaultes and daungerous vnto thee that wee liue not heare after in the fleshe but rather that wee abhorre from all filthinesse and impuritie thereof and that we being brought into the kingdome through thy precious bloud may obtayne dayly more more perfect remission of our sinnes So be it A prayer for the knowledge of Gods wyll O Lord God our heauenly father giue vs grace that wee may neuer cease diligently to cal vpon thée with most humble minds to desire thée that through thy great mercies we may be fulfilled with plenteous and rich knowledge of thy diuine will and that wée may encrease dayly more
and euer worlds with out end Amen A prayer against the councels of the ennemyes of God and of his diuine verite AH Lorde thou puissant strong mightie God which destroyest the councels of the vngodly riddest away the tyrantes of this world out of the earth at thy pleasure so that no councell or strength at all can resist thine eternal wisdome and euerlasting determination which thou hast to fore appointed by thine vnsearcheable wisedome from the beginning We thy poore creatures simple wretches and vnprofitable seruants doe most instantly and hartely desire thee for the loue that thou haste to thy welbeloued and onely begotten sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ that thou wilt looke vpon thy cause for it is time O Lorde and bring to naught all those things that are or shall bée appoynted determined and fully agréed vpon among the wicked against thée and thy holy word Let not the enemies of thy trueth so miserably oppresse thy seruauntes which seeke thy glory tender the aduauncement of thy pure religion and aboue all thinges wish in their heartes that thy most holie name may onely be glorified among all nations Whatsoeuer the vngodly goe about contrary to thy glory and thy worde let it not take effect O swéete father yea rather destroy it vtterly bring it to nought that all men may knowe that thou alone art that almightie and euerlasting God which rulest and subduest all inhabiters of the earth from the highest to the lowest after thy moste holye will and pleasure But to them that walk not in the councell of the vngodly nor tread not y e way of sinners giue thou good lucke prosperous successe in thy name that their holy trauailes and vertuous enterprises may come vnto a godly end Defend them that they sit not in the chaier of the pestilent scorners which spitefully rayling on thy trueth do defend with high tirannie both their wicked doctrin and liuing Grant to thy seruantes the mouthe of thy wisedome which no man may resiste whereby they may know y t thou alone art the Lorde that none is to be compared vnto thée al the enemies of thy Godly truth with their wicked counsels destroyed and put out of the way we may with feruēt minds receiue the trueth of thy most holy word order our life according to the same sing perpetuall prayses to thy most blessed name worlde without end through Iesu Christ thy sonne our Lord. So be it A prayer for the vnitie concord and perfect agreement in things concerning Christian religion O Euerlasting and merciful God which art the God of peace loue vnitie and concord not of strife debate discorde and confusion thou seest how miserably thy holy congregation is rent torne and deuided into diuers sectes whyle fleshly mē leauing the holsome instruction of thy most blessed word which is the alone truth and righteousnesse set foorth and maintaine euery mā as his fansie leadeth thinges of their owne brayne inuented by carnall wisedome without the authoritie of thine vndefiled lawe And hereof commeth it to passe that so great dissention reign now a dayes in the worlde and that so manye and diuers sectes schismes and heresies spring vpp in euerie place vnto the great perturbation of the christian publicke weale For so long as men set aside the rules and ordinances of thy holie Scripture and appoynt things of their own imagination and stiffely defend them it cannot come to passe that christian peace and vnitie of spirite with heartie concorde can haue place among vs. Therefore we wretched sinners to whome knowledge of these thinges thorow thy grace haue chanced doe pray and moste feruently desire thy great mercy that for asmuch as there is but one euerlasting God and one heauenly father which thou art and one fayth and one baptisme which we al professe y e cal on thy name thou wilt thorow thy onely spirit gather togither such as are dispersed into diuers sects into y e vnitie of true pure vnderstanding of thy word by fayth bring them againe whose mindes are disseuered into one bodye that there may be no dissention among them But specially O most mercifull father graunt that we which doe breath and for our little power labour vnto the true vnitie in Christ may lay aside al dissension and seeke that thine only euerlasting trueth which is contained in thy word that wee together may growe into one iudgement sentence and minde yea and that which floweth and commeth forth from the intelligence and vnderstanding of our Lord Iesu Christ and euermore guide and leade vs agayne vnto him that we with one perfect agréement of minde and with one mouth may praise magnifie thée the celestial father of our Lord Iesu Christ through the same Iesu Christ thy sonne the holy ghost So be it A prayer for spiritual ioy O Lorde Iesu the redéemer and comforter of mankinde which hast prepared for them that forsake the vaine pleasures of this worlde for thy loue farre better delectations pleasures through y e holy ghost that most swéete comforter which the worlde knoweth not measuring the griefes of this life with inwarde and secret comforts and renewe to vs as a certayne gage or pledge of the glorie that hereafter shall come wherewith we being refreshed comforted may run vnto thée with the more chearefull minds I beséech thée that the annoynting of thy sprite may continually beate out of me the tediousnes of euils and make my minde merry with healthfull ioy and be annoynted thorow thy aboundant mercie with the oyle of gladnesse and ghostly comfort which liuest and reignest with the father and the same spirite very GOD worlde without ende Amen A prayer vnto Christ our sauiour for the glory of heauen O Lorde Iesu Christe which art the onely and euerlasting sonne of God the father which also becamest man for oure sake that thou shouldest bring vs vnto God y e father and therfore thou going vnto the father occupiest hys right hand graunt that we may be cōuersant now with thée thorowe fayth in the holy Ghost after an heauenly manner and that after this exyle and banishment we being illumined with thy brightnesse may remaine with thée for euer which liuest and reignest with God the father the holy ghost very God world without end Amen Thanks gyuing to God for his benefites O Lorde God our heauenly father we right hartely thanke thée for thy manifold and inestimable benefites which thou haste giuen to vs deseruing nothing lesse than to receiue of thy boūtie so great kindnesse We thanke thée that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercie first to create and make vs according to thy likenes and to place vs in ioyful Paradise there perpetually to haue remayned if through the subtile and deceitefull suggestions of Satan our aduersarie we had not transgressed thy most holy commandment We thank thée also O most bounteous father for thy louing kindenesse which thou shewest
vnto vs when we were all perished and lost through the sinne of Adam For when thou mightest iustly haue condemned vs cast vs into perpetual damnatioÌ„ thou like a father of singuler great loue haddest pity on vs and sauedst vs by the death passion of thy welbeloued sonne oure Lorde and sauioure Iesus Christ which gaue himselfe a ransome for all our sinnes and paide sufficient price by his precious bloud for all the wickednesse that wée euer committed in times past or hereafter shall commit thorowe oure frailtie and weakenesse so that we repent and beleue Neyther wast thou thus contented he should onely dye for oure sinnes but thou didst raise him also againe for our iustification to make vs righteous in thy sight Moreouer after that hee hadde shewed himself vnfainedly aliue to his apostles by manifest and euident tokens certayne dayes after hys resurrection thorowe the power of his Godhead ascended vp into heauen perfect God and perfect man where he sitteth now on the right hand and maketh intercession for vs being our onely Mediatour and alone Aduocate From thence we looke for him to come againe at the day of Iudgement not as a cruell Iudge to condemne and cast vs away into perpetuall damnation but as a most louing Lorde and gentle Sauiour to cary vs with him into perpetuall glory there alwayes to remayne in euerlasting ioye praysing thée worlde with out end For these thy most bounteous giftes and for other innumerable which dayly thou giuest vnto vs of thy great mercy wee thanke thee most gentle mercifull father desiring thee with all humblenes of minde that thou wilt giue vs grace through thy holie spirit not to be vnthankful but to walke worthy this thy kindnes and so to behaue our selues in this wretched worlde according to thy word that at the last day we may be found in the number of them to whome thy onely begotten Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ shal say come ye blessed of my father possesse that kingdome which was prepared for you from the beginning of the worlde Lord let it so come to passe Amen An other confession of our sinnes to our Lord Iesus Christ. O Lorde Iesu Christe whiche art the onely and alone Phisicion of the wounded conscience we poore miserable sinners trusting on thy goodnesse and grace doe here briefly declare vnto thée the euill trée of oure heart with the rootes braunches leaues fruits of the same which all we vnfaynedly confesse to be euill and wicked For thou doest no lesse consider weigh and ponder the inward lustes of oure heart which is froward and vnsearchable then these outward grosse sinnes that we wickedly commit eyther in word or déede Therfore we beséech thée pray thée euen so heartily as our weaknes will suffer although we be very vnapt to praye that thou wilt mercifully circumcise cut away our stony heart yea for this olde heart create in vs another new hart replenish it with thy spirite water it and make it moyst with the iuyce or humoure of heauenly grace and wyth the fountaynes of Spirituall waters that the inwarde poyson and the noisom iuice of the flesh may be dried vp the custome of the olde man abolished our heart after this no more bring foorth thorns and cockle fit stuffe â—or the fire but spirituall fruits in righteousnes and holinesse vnto euerlasting life So be it Grace before meate GIue thanks to God the Lorâ— oâ— might as it becommeth Christians right And euer when thou 〈◊〉 thy meate Remember God before thou eate And then God will remember thee Anâ— wiâ—h his food will nourish thee And after thiâ— life ended is Wee shall remayne with him in blisse God saue his vniuersall Church Our noble Queene defend Gâ—aunt that thy people may enioy thy peace vnto the end Grace after meate OF Dyues and Lazarus the scripture telleth plaine How Dyues liued in welth ease and Lazarus in great paine The rich man he was clothed wel and 〈◊〉 of the best But Lazarus for hunger great could haue but 〈◊〉 rest But full of sores lay crying stil for some man to reâ—â—eue him With 〈◊〉 that fell froÌ„ Diâ—es 〈◊〉 wherof no man did giue him Thus perished poore Lazarus and that for lacke of food And also the rich glutton died for all his worldly good Therefore all yee that present be remember this thing well That how this man vnmerciful is buryed now in hell From the which torments great the Lord vs all deliuer And grant we may be mercifull while we liue here togither Then shaâ— we raign with Lazarus with ioyes that be indinabâ—e Euen by the bloud of Iesus Christ for our heaâ—th most profitable Now therfore lord we thee beseech to make vs all consent Grace before meate To pity those that haue most neede and the our sinnes repent Grace before meate ALl that is and shall be set vpon this â—ord Be the 〈…〉 by the Lords word So be it Grace after meate HE that is king and Lord ouer all Bring vs to the table of lyfe eternall Grace before meate THanks be giuen vnto our lord Iesus Christ both nowe and alwayes for these and all other his benefitâ— so mercifully louingly and aboundantly powred vpon vs. Amen Grace after meate THe God of all glory and peace who hath created redemed and presently fed vs be blessed for euer anâ— euer Amen FINIS