age of the fulnesse of Christ which is the head by whom the whole bodie being coupled and knit together by euerie ioint for the furniture thereof according to the effectuall power which is in the measure of euerie part receiueth increase of the bodie vnto the edifieng of it selfe in loue O most holie Father keepe vs by thy name that wee may be one in thee and that among vs which are beleeuers there may be one hart and one mind O Christ our onlie Sauiour and Mediatour which before thy passion didst praie that we might be one in thee euen as thou art in thy Father grant that thy Church may be at concord and agree in one true faith and confession Let there continue among vs a godlie counsell let there be one agreement in faith one mind in praier that we may growe vp in thee and that all our harts may be coupled togither by the bond of the spirit vsing thy gifts as they should be to the aduancement of thy glorie and to the common profit both of thy Church and Common-weale and walking woorthie our calling wherevnto we are called with all humilitie and gentlenesse with all lenitie forbearing one another through charitie being carefull to keepe the vnitie of the spirit in the bond of peace Represse the furiousnesse of Satan which soweth dissention among thy flocke to weaken our faith and to hinder our praiers whereby thy glorie is defaced Grant therefore that we prooue not desirous of vaine glorie prouoking one another and enuieng one another that we bite not one another to our destruction For of emulation springeth contention which being once inflamed boile out into mortall diuisions And as manie as maintaine emulations contentions and factions are carnall and walke as men Wherefore take from vs the zeale of the flesh which is foolish and let all enuie wrath pride and arrogancie be far from vs. Likewise let vs auoid foolish and vnlearned questions knowing that they engender strife and contention and serue for nothing but to the subuerting of the hearers ingraffing of errors Where a desire of strife is there certainlie God dwelleth not and they which raise tumults of nothing and disquiet thy flocke those wilt thou O sonne of God destroie Come holie spirit replenish the harts of the faithfull here assembled and else where and inflame in them the fire of thy loue which once didst gather the nations into the vnitie of the faith through the diuersitie of tongues Ioine our harts togither that wee may nourish christian concord among vs and that wee all glued as it were together in louing harts may be of one mind in thee so shall thy pure doctrine zealouslie be mainteined and no false interpretation of the scripture obstinatelie be defended Bring home to thy fold all such as are turned from the vnitie of true religion that thrre may be one pastor and one fold To such as are gone out from vs grant constancie that they may continue with vs teaching the Gospell to the saluation of the hearers And if it happen that anie contrarie to the doctrine which they haue learned raise dissention and offences grant that we may auoid them least the harts of the simple through their sweet persuasions and flatterie be deceiued O God author of peace and concord giue grace that euerie of vs may thinke the same thing acording to our Sauior Christ Amen ⧠The Letanie O God the Father of heauen haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the Father of heauen haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the Sonne redeemer of the world haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the Sonne redeemer c. O God the holie Ghost proceeding from the Father the Sonne haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holie Ghost proceeding from c. O holie blessed and glorious Trinitie three persons and one God haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O holie blessed and glorious Trinitie c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sinnes spare vs good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most pretious bloud and be not angrie with vs for euer Spare vs good Lord. From all euill and mischiefe from sinne from the crafts and assaults of the diuell from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From blindnesse of hart from pride vaine glorie and hypocrisie from enuie hatred and malice and all vncharitablenesse Good Lord deliuer vs. From fornication and all other deadlie sinnes and from all the deceits of the world the flesh the diuell Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightening and tempest from plague pestilence and famine from battell and murther and from sudden death Good Lord deliuer vs. From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnesse of hart and contempt of thy word and commandement Good Lord deliuer vs. By the mysterie of thy holie incarnation by thy holie natiuitie and circumcision by thy baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agonie and bloudie sweat by thy crosse and passion by thy pretious death and buriall by thy glorious resurrection and ascension and by the comming of the holie 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 daie of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. We sinners doo beseeth thee to heare vs O Lord God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holie Church vniuersallie in the right waie We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to keepe and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnesse and holinesse of life thy seruant Elizabeth our most gratious Queene and Gouernour We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to rule hir hart in thy faith feare and loue and that she may euermore haue affiance in thee and euer seeke thy honour and glorie We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to be hir defender and keeper giuing hir the victorie ouer all hir enimies We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops Pastors and Ministers of thy Church with true knowledge and vnderstanding of thy word and that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it foorth and shew it accordinglie We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to indue the Lords of the counsell and all the Nobilitie with grace wisdome and vnderstanding We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute iustice and to mainteine truth We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe all thy people We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue to all nations
intituled Miserere mei Deus Haue mercie vpon me O God which in most deuout manner she said to the verie end with these hir last words LORD into thy hands I command my spirit ¶ Morning and Euening praiers with diuers Psalmes Hymnes and Meditations made and set forth by the Ladie ELIZABETH Tyrwhit A Confession to be said before Morning praier I Doo acknowledge and confesse vnto thee O most mercifull and heauenlie father mine often and grieuous offences that I haue committed against thy diuine Maiestie from my youth hitherto in thought word and deed leauing vndone those things which I ought and should haue done and dooing those things which I ought not to haue done prouoking thy wrath and indignation against me And now lamenting this my wickednes I appeale vnto thy mercie saie with the Publicane O Lord GOD be mercifull vnto me a most wretched sinner forgiue all that is past saue and defend me from euill and confirme me in good life to the glorie of thy name So be it A praier to be said at our vprising I Doo thanke thee my most mercifull and heauenlie Father by thy deerelie beloued sonne Iesu Christ that this night thou hast giuen me sleepe and rest preseruing me from hurt and perill I crie thee mercie for mine offences and most humblie beseech thee that thou wilt likewise this daie keepe me from sinne and all euill so that all my thoughts words and works may please thee I doo commit my selfe both bodie and soule and all things that I go about into thy hands beseeching thee that thine holie spirit may abide with me least my deadlie aduersarie the diuell haue power ouer me Amen Another praier at our vprising OBlessed Iesu this daie I commend me and all my proceedings into thy hands this daie I most humbly praie thee to helpe me which hast made me to thine owne image and in thy bloud hast clensed me which art my hope in heauiuinesse my comfort in care and trust in trouble Although sweete Lord my conscience accuseth me and the lawe condemneth me yet thy pretious death and testament hath deliuered me with thee to reigne in glorie after death hath arrested me the earth consumed me yet good Lord I trust in the resnrrection to dwell with thee eternallie through thy promise made to me and to all that doo beleeue in thee and call vpon thy holie name Thy kingdome come this daie to me from Sathan deliuer me with the bread of Angels feede me from fleshlie lusts purge me from sudden death and deadlie sinne O Lord take me Giue me an hart to beleeue in thee and that all my senses may obey thee and of thy mercie accept my praiers this daie before thee which art one God in Trinitie to whom be all honour and glorie Amen The Hymne or praier to the sonne of God THe beamie sun large light doth giue chase away the night So blesse vs with thy benefits endue vs with thy spirit Swéet dews frō heuen to earth God grant of peace quiet mind That we may serue the liuing God as his statutes doo bind O mightie Lord our helpe at néed driue far awaie the féend That sinne nor hell doo vs molest when as our life shall éend Thou art the euer lasting daie which shinst in euerie place And féedest euerie liuing wight with plentious gifts of grace Into thy heauenlie hands déere God my spirit I doo commend This day from sin and Sathans power thy seruant me defend We laud thée Father for thy grace We praise the Sonne which made vs frée We thanke the holie Spirit for our solace Which is one God and persons thrée An Antheme HIs deerlie beloued sonne God did not spare but for vs all deliuered him How shall he not with him giue vs all things also A praier to God the father to be vsed before Morning praier OUr mercifull father which in teaching vs to praie by thy sonne Christ hast commanded vs to call thee father and to beleeue that we are thy beloued children who stirrest vp none of thine to praie but to the intent that thou wouldest heare them giuing vnto vs also all things more effectuallie and plentiouslie than we can either aske or thinke We do beseech thee for thy sonnes sake to giue vs grace to beleeue and knowe assuredlie that thy sonne our Sauiour Christ is giuen of thee vnto vs to be our Sauiour our righteousnesse our wisdome our holines our redemption and our satisfaction O Lord suffer vs not to trust in anie other saluation but in thy sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it The Hymne of our redemption by Christ. PRaise we our father louinglie which gentlie vs preserued When we forsooke him wretchedlie death by sinne deserued His mercie was so bountious that though we from him fell Fréelie in Christ he pardoned vs and vs redéemd from hell Glorie be to the Trinitie the Father Sonne and spirit liuing Which art one God persons thrée to whom be praise without ending Amen A forme of priuate Morning Praier Our father which art in heauen c. O Lord open thou my lips that my mouth may speake and shew foorth that which is to thy glorie and praise And shut my mouth from speaking of anie thing whereby I should offend thy diuine maiestie or be hurtfull to my neighbor O God make speede to saue vs. O Lord make haste to helpe vs. Glorie be to the Father and to the Sonne and to the holie Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and euer shall be world without end Amen Praise ye the Lord. Thanks be giuen to God The first Psalme at Morning Praier O Lord heare my words marke my crieng O my King and my God for vnto thee onelie come I to praie neither doo I looke for succour anie where else than of thee O Lord I beseech thee that thou wilt gratiouslie hearken to my petitions that thy grace may spring in my hart with the morrowe light of thy comfort the night of care and perturbation being ouerpassed suffer me not to perish with the vngodlie folke whome thou cursest I come running to thee not trusting in mine owne righteousnes but to thy great and manifold mercies O Lord with the rule of thy iustice will I be directed For thy name sake make plaine thy waie before me and my waie before thee least the spirit of malice doo turne me thence Let them reioice that repose themselues and trust alwaies in thy mercie let them sing Hymnes and Psalmes which doo glorie and reioice in thee let them triumph which loue thy name Defend me O Lord with thy grace as with a shield in time of perill to the intent that when I am assaulted with them I may yet with constant cheere growe vp vnto my full perfection Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the c. The second Psalme OH Lord GOD and father I beseech thee by Christ our Lord that of thine infinite
Lord with the hyssope of true repentance and sorowfull contrition that being clensed in the most cleere fountaine of thy grace I may be whiter than snowe and also bee able euer hereafter to serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of liuing through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Wash your hands yee sinners and cleanse your harts ye wauering minded Isaias 4 verse 8. I will wash my hands in innocencie ô Lord and so will I go to thine altar Psal 26 verse 6. Or else praie thus HAue mercie vpon mee O God and pardon the wicked deeds which my hands haue committed Wash my soule with the holie fountaine or well which I beleeue did flow from thy hart and naked side and sanctifie and purifie not onlie my hands and face from filth but my hart soule and conscience also from all contagion of sinne and iniquitie that I may be pure both in bodie and soule and serue thee in holinesse and puritie all the daies of my life So be it Though I wash my selfe with snowe water and purge my hands most cleane yet shalt thou plunge me in the pit and mine owne cloths shall make mee filthie Iob. 9 verse 30. Meditations THinke now of thy vow and promise made to God at thy baptisme to forsake Sathan to renounce the world and to mortifie the flesh and how oft since thou hast broken it and be hartilie sorie therefore Thinke also vpon the vnspeakable loue and mercie of Christ our Sauiour who hath washed vs from our sins in his owne pretious bloud and purged our conscience from dead works to the end we should serue him in holinesse and innocencie of life And consider that it shall little auaile thée to haue washed thy selfe if thou touch filth againe that is if thou confesse thy faults and after commit them againe and so wich the dog returne to the vomit and with the washed sow to the wallowing in the mire againe ¶ When you be made readie first before all things looke that either by your selfe or with your familie with all humblenesse of mind you kneele downe by your bed-side in your parlour or other sweete cleane and conuenient place and there taking both time and leasure to serue the Lord lift vp your hart hands and eies and praie vnto his diuine Maiestie saieng in manner and forme following A premeditation or first forme of praier to be vsed before praier O Mercifull Lord and louing father without whose aid and motion I am not able to stir one member toward heauenlie seruice the burthen of this slowe and sinfull flesh doth so ouercharge my weak soule according vnto thy fatherlie pitie looke vpon me O God prepare my hart to praier and quicken my dull spirit with thy grace to rise out of this miserable puddle and to come before thy presence in humble repentance crauing thy mercie for my miserable sinnes and wickednesse and being released in the bloud and righteousnesse of Iesus Christ I may ioifullie serue honor and praise thine eternall Maiestie through thy deere sonne my mercifull Lord and redeemer to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all glorie and thanks for euer Amen Another meditation before praier VNto thee O heauenlie father doo I heere prostrate on my knees lift vp my hart my hands mine eies and praiers beseeching thy Maiestie and saieng Helpe me O my Lord and God in this my good purpose and holie worshipping or seruing of thee and grant vnto me to make a perfect entrance and beginning this present daie that I maie doo all things in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost For that which I haue hitherto done is nothing at all The Confession and Praier O Father of heauen O sonne of God redeemer of the world O holie Ghost three persons and one God haue mercie vpon me most wretched caitife and miserable sinner I haue offended both heauen and earth more than my tongue can expresse my sins are aboue all mens both in number and greatnesse which I haue committed Whither then may I go And whither should I flee To heauen I may be ashamed to lift vp my face and in earth I find no place of refuge or succour To thee therefore O Lord doo I runne to thee doo I humble my selfe saieng O Lord my God my sinnes be great and innumerable but yet haue mercie vpon me for thy great mercie The great mysterie that God became man was not wrought for little or few offences Thou didst not giue thy sonne O heauenlie father vnto death for small sinnes onlie but for all the greatest sinnes in the world so that the sinner returne vnto thee with his whole hart as I doo heere at this present Wherefore haue mercie on me O God whose propertie is alwaie to haue mercie wherefore haue mercie on me O Lord for thy great mercie I craue nothing O Lord for mine owne merits but for thy name sake that it may be halowed thereby and for thy deere sonne Iesus Christes sake and now therefore Our father of heauen halowed be thy name c. Another Confession and praier OH almightie euerlasting God and most gratious deere louing father I beseech thee for Iesus Christes sake thy most deere and onlie sonne to haue mercie pitie and compassion vpon me most vile wretched and miserable sinner whose innumerable offenses both old new be most horrible heinous and great where through I haue iustlie deserued thy greeuous wrath and euerlasting damnation But now good Lord heere I do appeale to thy great mercie onlie which far surmounteth all thy works as thou hast promised the same in thy holie and infallible word where thou hast said yea and sworne as trulie as thou liuest that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert and liue Ah deere Lord I confesse that I am a great and greeuous sinner and yet now by thy grace and good working of thy holie spirit something turned vnto thee Oh let me liue and not die the euerlasting death of the soule which I so deepelie haue deserued but make me a vessell of thy great mercie that I may liue and praise thy name among thy chosen children for euer Oh let not my horrible sinnes separate me from the sweet sight of thy Maiestie but let thy great power and mercie be magnified in me as it is in Dauid in Peter in Magdalen and in the notable Theefe which was crucified with Christ thy deere sonne in whose most pretious death and bloud-shedding onlie O Lord I put my whole trust and confidence For he onelie hath taken awaie the sinnes of the world he came not to condemne the world but to saue it that none that trulie beleeue in him should perish but haue life euerlasting He saith he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Oh gratious God giue me true earnest hartie and vnfeigned repentance that I may from the verie bottome of my hart continuallie lament my manifold
for not worthilie preparing themselues and for misvsing the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and manie died thereof as thine holie Apostle Saint Paule hath taught vs. Since which time O Lord as the Monuments of thy Church and other Chronicles doo declare thou hast from time to time so plagued with pestilence not onelie cities but also whole countries for these and other like causes that we may iustlie looke for the comming of our Sauiour so manie and so horrible pestilences haue beene among vs alreadie All which causes O Lord for the which thou hast so afflicted thy people are through the malice of Satan and our wilfull consenting vnto him growne so ripe in vs that were it not for the exceeding greatnes of thy mercie and compassion we should all presentlie perish and that woorthilie so horrible and outragious are our iniquities For we loath not onelie the plentifull prouision of wholesome victuals and apparell which thou hast giuen vs for our bodies more abundantlie than to manie nations trauelling by all meanes to get wherewith to pamper our flesh with wines spices silks and other vaine costlie and delighting things but the pretious Manna of our soules thy holie word and Sacraments we can not awaie with we are so full that we are glutted therewith We so little esteeme the heauenlie kingdome which our Sauiour hath so deerlie prepared and kindlie promised to vs that we abhor it and are readie to stone those few that commend it and exhort vs for our owne good to trauell thitherward better liking and crediting those false prophets the Epicures and Atheists that with their lies discourage vs therefrom What murmuring and grudging make we against the ministers of thy word which thou of thine especiall goodnesse hast in mercie giuen vs How despise wee our bishops preachers and other ministers of thy holie Sacraments whom thou hast commanded vs to reuerence and honour Did not we through our wicked liues wretchedlie leese the Arke of thy holie word and the true ministration of Sacraments not manie yeeres agone which the popish Philistines tooke from vs And now when thou through thy plagues laid vpon them hast miraculouslie sent it againe see how hold we be with the Beth-samites vnreuerentlie to receiue it For manie make of it a gazing-stocke to serue their eies and tongues rather than a lawe to obeie and followe in their liues Yea the knowledge of thy truth goodnesse and mercie breedeth in manie of vs a carelesse securitie and a contempt of thy holie ordinances For we presume vpon thy mercie and promises not regarding the conditions nor anie of thy commandements which in our baptisme we vowed to obserue Yea we make thy Gospell a cloke of our couetousnesse vnder colour whereof we seeke our owne lucre and hide all our wicked and filthie practises If the Corinthians deserued to be plagued for abusing thy holie Sacraments how much more are wee woorthie of fierce wrath that not onelie abuse it but also abhor contemne it bicause it is ministred as it ought For thou knowest O Lord what a sort there are which bewitched with the diuell and the Popes doctrine doo vtterlie abhor Christs holie communion and sauing for feare of the lawe would neuer come at it In what sort these receiue and how they be prepared is not vnknowne vnto thee How rashlie also and vnaduisedlie and vnprepared the common multitude doo frequent it partlie appeareth in that manie of them neuer forgiue old offences nor reconcile themselues nor in anie thing doo amend their old sinnes and vices Seeing then that we Lord the common sort and multitude doo thus abound in all kind of wickednesse how can it be but that thou of thy iustice must suffer our magistrates to offend also in somewhat to the end thou maist iustlie take vengeance of our sinnes For these manifold heapes of sinnes and wickednesses O Lord thou hast iustlie at this present sent this dangerous pestilence among vs as thou hast often and long time threatened by the mouthes of thy faithfull preachers who continuallie haue called vpon vs to staie thy wrath by earnest repentance amendement of life but we haue alwaies beene deafer and deafer The delight in our sinnes not onlie stopped our eares but also hardened our harts against their hartie and friendlie admonitions And in that we now O Lord doo begin to feele and acknowledge our sinnes it commeth more of thy rigour in plaguing vs than of anie good inclination of our selues Mollifie therefore O Lord our flintie harts with the suppling moisture of thy holie spirit Make vs to reuerence thee as children for loue of thy mercies and not to dread thee like slaues for feare of punishment Seruants Amen Maister or Maistres O deere Father reclaime vs thy lost children O mercifull Sauiour pitie vs thy putrified members O holie Ghost repaire vs thy decaied temples O holie and glorious Trinitie haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners Seruants Amen Maister Grant vs O Lord such true repentance as may through the bloud of our Sauiour blot out the staines of our heinous iniquities Forgiue vs our sinnes O Lord forgiue vs our sinnes for thine infinite mercies sake Seruants Amen Maister Forgiue vs our blasphemies idolatries and periuries Forget our vaine and outragious oths As thou hast by thy rigour and plagues forced vs to acknowledge thee to be our iust and righteous Lord so let vs through thy mercie and forgiuenesse feele thee to be our mild louing Father and giue vs grace for euer hereafter to reuerence this thy glorious name Seru. Amen Maister Take from vs O God the care of worldlie vanities Make vs content with necessaries Plucke awaie our harts from delighting in honours treasures and pleasures of this life And ingender in vs a desire to be with thee in thine eternall kingdome Giue vs O Lord such taste and feeling of thine vnspeake able ioies in heauen that we may alwaie long therfore saieng with thine elect Hasten thy kingdome O Lord take vs to thee Seru. Amen Maister Make vs O Lord obedient to thy will reuealed in thy holie word Make vs diligent to walke in thy commandements Forgiue vs our contempt and murmuring against the magistrates and ministers whom thou hast in thy mercie appointed make vs obedient vnto their godlie lawes doctrine Saue and preserue O Lord thine annointed our QVEENE ELIZABETH that she in thy grace and feare may long reigne amongst vs. Giue peace to all Christian nations Mooue vs by thy spirit to loue one another as the members of our bodie that we may all doo thy will in earth as it is in heauen Seru. Amen Maister Dig out of vs O Lord the venemous roots of couetousnesse and concupiscence or else so represse them with thy grace that we may be contented with thy prouision of necessaries and not to labour as we doo with toile strength guile wrong and oppression to pamper our selues with vaine superfluities Feed our soules O
with hir Who so leadeth a godlie life men of good conscience let such be hir seruants Let no deceitfull person haue anie place in hir house him that telleth lies or is a reuenger of bloud cause hir speedilie to cast out of hir sight Finallie grant hir will and power O Lord of hosts dailie to suppresse all the vngodlie in the land that she may root out from the citie of God all wicked dooers Queene Elizabeth hath done that is lawfull right wherefore O Lord leaue hir not to such as doo offer hir wrong For thine owne goodnesse sake take hir thine handmaid vnto thy protection let not the proud oppresse hir with wrong Deale with thine handmaid according to thy louing kindnesse and teach hir thy statutes She is thy seruant grant hir vnderstanding that she may knowe thy testimonies Thy testimonies conteine woonderous things therefore cause hir hart to be zealous in keeping of them The first entrance of thy words will illuminate giuing vnderstanding euen vnto the simple Worke in hir hart so feruent desire of thy word that through affection thereto she may be like one that panteth openeth his mouth for breath Looke thou vpon hir O Lord and be mercifull vnto hir as thou vsest to doo vnto them that loue thy name Direct hir steps in thy word and so let no wickednesse haue dominion ouer hir Redeeme hir from the fraudulent dealings of men and cause hir to keepe thy commandements Make the light of thy countenance shine vpon our Queene Elizabeth thine handmaiden and teach hir thy statutes Heare my praiers O God and giue good eare vnto mine intercessions For behold from the ends of the earth I call vnto thee for our deere Souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth whensoeuer hir hart is in heauines oh set hir vp vpon the rocke that is higher than she For hitherto thou hast beene hir defence and a strong tower for hir against the face of the enimie Let hir dwell I beseech thee in thy tabernacle for euer let hir trust be vnder the couering of thy wings For thou O Lord heardst hir desires and hast giuen hir an heritage ouer those that feare thy name O grant vnto the Queene a long life that hir yeeres may endure manie generations Let hir dwell before the Lord for euer O appoint thy louing mercie and truth that they may preserue hir so cause hir alwaies to sing praise vnto thy name that she may daie by daie performe hir vowes and keepe thy heasts Finallie giue thy iudgment O Lord vnto hir Grace and thy righteousnesse vnto hir Counsell that they may iudge the people with iustice and the poore with equitie Let the mountaines bring peace and the little hils righteousnes vnto the people Let them iudge the afflicted among the people and saue the sonnes of the poore make them to destroie the backe-slider that he persist not to afflict the miserable and such as trust in thy mercie and protection so shall quietnesse and peace abound among vs like the hillocks on the earth Cause hir enimies to feare hir so long as the sunne and moone shineth from one generation to another Water hir with thy grace from heauen as thou didst Gedeons fleece of wool with dew and as thou refreshest with drops of raine the new cut grasse vpon the earth In hir daies let the righteous flourish and great abundance of peace so long as the moone is in the firmament Defend the dominions that thou hast giuen hir within the seas and from the floud vnto the end of the earth Cause hir foes to kneele downe before hir and hir enimies to licke the dust of hir feete Giue hir a long and prosperous reigne indue hir with abundance of riches and wealth heape glorie and honour vpon hir head and let hir be partaker alwaies of the praiers of the iust and be dailie blessed The Lord euen the God of Israel which onelie worketh woonderous things blesse our gratious Queene Elizabeth and blessed be the name of his Maiestie for euer yea let all the earth be filled with his glorious praise Amen And she shall magnifie thee O Lord hir King and she shall praise thy name for euer Euerie daie let hir giue thanks vnto thee O Lord and praise thy name for euer and euer Grant this O most mercifull Father for thy deere sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christs sake Amen Amen Another praier for the Queenes most excellent Maiestie WOnderfull O most excellent and almightie GOD is the depth of thy iudgements Thou King of kings Lord of lords thou which at thy pleasure doost take awaie and transpose roote out and plant confound and establish kingdoms Thou of thy singular goodnesse hast deliuered our gratious Souereigne Queene Elizabeth thy chosen Handmaid when she was almost at deaths dore yea thou hast deliuered hir out of prison and setled hir in hir fathers throne to thee therefore doo we render thanks to thee doo we sing laud and praise thy name doo we honour daie and night Thou hast restored againe the libertie of our countrie and the sinceritie of the doctrine with peace and tranquillitie of thy Church Thine thine O Lord was the benefit the meanes the labour and seruice was hirs a burthen too heauie alas for a womans shoulders yet easie and tollerable by thy helping hand Assist hir therefore O most mercifull father neither respect hir offences or the deserts of hir parents or the manifold sinnes of vs hir people but thinke vpon thy woonted compassion alwaies at hand to thy poore afflicted Preserue hir kingdome mainteine religion defend thy cause our Queene Elizabeth vs thy sheepe and hir people scatter thine enimies which thirst after war let them be ashamed and confounded that woorship idols let vs not be a praie vnto forraigne nations nor to the people that knowe not thee neither call vpon thy name Strengthen and confirme O Lord the good worke which thou hast begun inspire our gratious Queene thy seruant and vs thy poore flocke with thy holie spirit that with vncorrupt life we may ioine puritie of religion as we may not yeeld and bring foorth wild and bastard fruits but mild and sweet grapes and fruits beseeming a liuelie faith and true repentance and meet and conuenient for thy Gospell to the intent we may enioie this immortall treasure and that liuing and dieng in thee we may finallie possesse the inheritance of thy heauenlie kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. For thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer Amen A forme of blessing or praier for our most gratious Queene Elizabeth Christ his deere spouse out of the Scriptures COme downe O Lord come with thousands of thy Saincts and appeare gratiouslie vnto thy Church of Saincts Come visit the people and congregations of Iacob whersoeuer assembled whome thou so tenderlie louest and which are humbled at thy feet to yeeld thee thanks for all thy blessings and benefits receiued Come downe I saie O God of Iacob and blesse Israel yea come
that thou art the Sonne of the liuing God our King and Sauiour And for asmuch as great is the rage and mightie the power of thine enimies which fight against the truth mercifullie defend thy Church sounding foorth this thy wisedome defend the same we beseech thee against the verie gates of hell And as thou hast giuen to the Apostle Saint Peter manie excellent gifts and commandedst him earnestlie to feed the flocke wherby at the infancie as it were of thy Church he was a glorious light of the Gospell and publisher of the truth so keepe among vs thy ministerie and send godlie preachers which may godlie and rightlie vse the keies in comforting and correcting Make we beseech thee all Bishops and pastors diligentlie to preach thy holie word and the people obedientlie to followe the same that in this life we may be and abide citizens of the blessed fellowship which thou dooest protect and receiue the crowne of euerlasting glorie as heires of thine eternall kingdome Amen 15. On Saint Iames the Apostles daie When my father and my mother forsake me thou O Lord takest me vp therefore I made haste and prolonged not the time to kéepe thy commandements O Sonne of God Lord and Sauiour Christ which camest into this world to giue thy life for manie stirre vp our hearts vnto the true cogitation of thy benefits and obedience which was a sufficient ransome for the sinnes of all mankinde pacifieng the wrath of God and giuing euerlasting life to as manie as approch vnto thee in true faith We besech thee forsomuch as in vs doth as in thy disciples did sticke great vncleannesse heale our minds by thy spirit Quench in vs our vaine desires of superioritie which maruellouslie doo boile within the harts of men Grant that the ministers may knowe rightlie the difference betweene ciuill policie and religion that they cast not vnto thee in mockerie purple neither pricke thine head with a crowne of thornes but may serue thy Church in humilitie as faithfull dispensators of thy mysteries folowing thine example in whome perfect humilitie appeared when thou flangest thy selfe downe vnder Angels men Assist vs also that we may drinke of thy cup be baptised with thy Baptisme in true calling vpon thee and perfect patience in all our aduersities And grant that as thine holie Apostle Iames leauing his father and all that he had without delaie was obedient vnto thy calling and most willinglie followed thee so we forsaking all worldlie and carnall affections may be euermore readie to followe thy commandements till thou drawe vs vp vnto the sight of thy visible kingdome which is y e right hand of thine eternall Father Amen 16. On Saint Bartholomew the Apostles daie I beleeued and therefore will I speake that I may walke before the Lord in the land of the liuing O Christ Sonne of God great was the weakenesse and sluggishnesse of thy disciples both in thy last supper when they contended about superioritie and worldlie gouernement in thine agonie when they slept and as great is the wickednes and securitie of this last age which making warre for wealth vnder the cloake of fauoring the Gospell seeketh after honor and promotion sleepeth soundlie and is nothing moued with the blasphemous idolatrie wherein the whole world is wrapped to thy great dishonor yea the greeuous punishments which thou sendest euerie-where doo nothing terrifie them from their sinne But O Sonne of God breake our deadlie sleepe teach the hearts of our ministers that they must not be ambitious neither striue about excellencie nor transforme the Gospell into ciuill policie but assist vs that we may all thinke of thy commandement which is Learne of me for I am meeke and lowlie in heart Powre vpon vs such vertues as thou hast in thy selfe most aboundantlie Thou destroiedst not mankinde which had offended thee but flangest thy selfe vnder all Angels and men and tookest this miserable flesh of ours vpon thee that to saue and serue vs trulie in great humilitie Thou O Sonne of God which hast giuen grace to thine Apostle Bartholomew trulie to beleeue and to preach thy word grant wee beseech thee vnto thy Church both to loue that he beleeued and to preach that he taught And as thou sittest for euer at the table of the Father in which all heauenlie wisedome doth abound so place vs miserable ones in the lowest seates of that thy table where thine Apostles and teachers which haue instructed manie vnto righteousnesse doo shine as the lights of the Church and differ in woonderfull glorie from other inferiour members albeit it sufficeth vs so we gather crooms from thy table which filleth such as eate and digest them with euerlasting ioie Amen 17. On Saint Matthewes daie Incline my hart vnto thy testimonies and not to couetousnesse IT was thy saieng O Christ Sonne of God that the sicke need the Physician wherefore we humblie beseech thee heale vs miserable folkes with thine heauenlie Physicke Be mercifull vnto vs sinners and feed vs with the deintie dishes of thy spirituall comfort Haue mercie on the Church whose whole bodie is greeuouslie afflicted through manifold diseases and euils The teachers sit as doo the merchants for gaine they transforme the Gospell into an outward pompe and bait for preferment Wherefore keepe thou some sound part which may vnfeignedlie acknowledge thee to be the onlie and best Physician which hast deliuered vs from the cursse of the lawe and restored vs to life and righteousnesse And grant O blessed Sonne of God that as thou didst call Matthew from the receipt of custome to be an Apostle and Euangelist so giue vs grace to forsake all couetous desires and inordinate care of riches and to followe thee in all things thou hast commanded Furthermore thou O Christ hast taught that the church of the new testament is not tied vnto the Mosaicall gouernement neither vnto the ceremonies and traditions of man hast reprooued also the Pharisaicall error which in all ages hath shamefullie obscured the light of thy Gospell that ceremonies are to be preferred before the works of the morall lawe Continue this light among vs. Grant that we may woorship thee not in the works and precepts of men but in obseruation of thy commandements and woorshipping thee in spirit and truth Worke O worke within vs an obedience answering to thy lawes in both tables that retaining faith and a good conscience we may sit with thee for euermore in thy celestiall kingdome after our resurrection Amen 18. On Saint Michaels daie and all Angels O praise the Lord yée Angels of his yée that excell in strength and fulfill his commandement O Almightie euerlasting and euerliuing God which before all times didst beget a Sonne in thine owne image in whome shineth the heauenlie light which no creature can apprehend as it is in deede albeit some taste and sparke thereof thou bestowest vpon men by lightening them by thy Sonne to vnfeigned repentance sorowe for their sinne Thou commandedst
doo so shalt thou practise with ease hauing a guide and amend with profit hauing a zeale It is easier to see these than to learne begin at the easiest to come to the harder see thou hir confession that thou maiest learne hir repentance practise hir perseuerance that thou maiest haue like amendment despise thy selfe in eschewing vice that thou maiest please God in asking grace let not shame hinder the confession which hindered not the offense Be thou sure if we knowledge our sinnes God is faithfull to forgiue vs and to clense vs from all vnrighteousnes Obeie the Prophets saieng Declare thy waies to the Lord. Thus far thou maist learne to knowe thy selfe next this be thou as diligent to releeue thy selfe in Gods mercie as thou hast beene to reueale thy selfe in thine owne repentance For God hath concluded all things vnder sinne bicause he would haue mercie vpon all who hath also borne our sinnes in his bodie vpon the tree that we should be deliuered from sinne and should liue vnto righteousnes by whose stripes we be healed Here is our anchor here is our shepheard here we be made whole here is our life our redemption our saluation and our blisse let vs therefore now feed by this gratious Queenes example be not ashamed to become in confession Publicanes since this noble Ladie will be no Pharisie And to all Ladies of estate I wish as earnest mind to followe our Queene in vertue as in honour that they might once appeare to prefer God before the world and be honourable in religion which now be honourable in vanities so shall they as in some vertuous Ladies of right high estate it is with great comfort seene taste of this freedome of remission of the euerlasting blisse which exceedeth all thoughts and vnderstandings and is prepared for the holie in spirit For the which let vs with our intercession in holines and purenes of life offer our selues to the heauenlie father an vndefiled host to whom be eternall praise and glorie throughout the earth without end Amen The Lamentation or Complaint of a sinner made by the most vertuous and right gratious Ladie Queene CATHERINE bewailing the ignorance of hir blind life led in superstition verie profitable to the amendment of our liues The first Chapter Of an humble confession of sinnes to the glorie of God WHEN I consider in the bethinking of mine euil and wretched former life mine obstinate stonie and vntractable heart to haue so much exceeded in euilnesse that it hath not onelie neglected yea contemned despised Gods holie precepts and commandements but also imbraced receiued and esteemed vaine foolish and feined trifles I am partlie by the hate I owe to sinne who hath reigned in me and partlie by the loue I owe to all Christians whom I am content to edifie euen with the example of mine owne shame forced and constrained with my hart and words to confesse and declare to the world how ingrate negligent vnkind and stubborne I haue beene to God my Creator and how beneficiall mercifull and gentle he hath been alwaies to me his creature being such a miserable and wretched sinner Trulie I haue taken no little small thing vpon me first to set foorth my whole stubbornesse and contempt in words the which is incomprehensible in thought as it is in the 12. Psalme Who vnderstandeth his faults Next this to declare the excellent beneficence mercie and goodnesse of God which is infinite and vnmeasurable Neither can all the words of Angels and men make relation thereof as apperteineth to his most high goodnesse Who is he that is not forced to confesse the same if he consider what he hath receiued of God doth dailie receiue Yea if men would not acknowledge and confesse the same the stones would crie it out Trulie I am constrained and forced to speake and write thereof to mine owne confusion and shame but to the glorie and praise of God For he as a louing father of most abundant and high goodnesse hath heaped vpon me innumerable benefits and I contrarie haue heaped manifold sinnes despising that which was good holie pleasant and acceptable in his sight and choosing that which was delicious pleasant and acceptable in my sight And no maruell it was that I so did For I would not learne to knowe the Lord and his waies but loued darknesse better than light yea darknesse seemed to me light I embraced ignorance as perfect knowledge and knowledge seemed to me superfluous and vaine I regarded little Gods word but gaue my selfe to vanities and shadowes of the world I forsooke him in whom is all truth and followed the vaine foolish imaginations of my hart I would haue couered my sinnes with the pretence of holinesse I called superstition godlie meaning and true holinesse errour The Lord did speake manie pleasant and sweet words vnto me and I would not heare he called me diuerslie but through frowardnesse I would not answere Mine euils and miseries be so manie and so great that they can accuse me euen to my face Oh how miserablie and wretchedlie am I confounded when for the multitude and greatnesse of my sinnes I am compelled to accuse my selfe Was it not a maruellous vnkindnesse when God did speake to me and also call me that I would not answere him What man so called would not haue heard Or what man hearing would not haue answered If an earthlie Prince had spoken either called I suppose there be none but would willinglie haue done both Now therefore what a wretch and caitife am I that when the Prince of princes the King of kings did speake manie pleasant and gentle words vnto me and also called me so manie and sundrie times that they can not be numbred and yet notwithstanding these great signes and tokens of loue I would not come vnto him but hid my selfe out of his sight seeking manie crooked and biwaies wherin I walked so long that I had cleane lost his sight And no maruell or woonder For I had a blind guide called Ignorance who dimmed so mine eies that I could neuer perfectlie get anie sight of the faire goodlie streight and right waies of his doctrine but continuallie trauelled vncomfortablie in foule wicked crooked and peruerse waies Yea and bicause they were so much haunted of manie I could not thinke but that I walked in the perfect and right waie hauing more regard to the number of the walkers than to the order of the walking beleeuing also most assuredly with companie to haue walked to heauen wheras I am most sure they would haue brought me down to hell I forsooke the spirituall honouring of the true liuing God and worshipped visible idols and images made of mens hands beleeuing by them to haue gotten heauen yea to saie the truth I made a great idole of my selfe For I loued my selfe better than God And certainlie looke how manie things are loued or preferred in our harts before God so manie are taken and esteemed for idols and false
gods Alas how haue I violated this holie pure and most high precept and commandment of the loue of God Which precept bindeth me to loue him with my whole hart mind force strength and vnderstanding And I like vnto an euill wicked and disobedient child haue giuen my will power and senses to the contrarie making almost of euerie earthlie and carnall thing a god Furthermore the bloud of Christ was not reputed by me sufficient for to wash me from the filth of my sinnes neither such waies as he had appointed by his word but I sought for such riffraffe as the Bishop of Rome hath planted in his tyrannie and kingdome trusting with great confidence by the vertue and holinesse of them to receiue full remission of my sinnes And so I did as much as was in me obfuscate and darken the great benefit of Christes passion than the which no thought can conceiue anie thing of more value There cannot be done so great an iniurie and displeasure to almightie God our father as to tread vnder foote Christ his onlie begotten and welbeloued sonne All other sinnes in the world gathered together in one be not so heinous and detestable in the sight of God And no wonder For in Christ crucified God doth shewe himselfe most noble and glorious euen an almightie God and most louing father in his onlie deare and chosen blessed sonne And therefore I count my selfe one of the most wicked and miserable sinners in the world bicause I haue beene so much contrarie to Christ my sauiour Saint Paule desired to knowe nothing but Christ crucified after he had beene rapt into the third heauen where he heard such secrets as were not conuenient meete to vtter to men but counted all his works and doings as nothing to win Christ And I most presumptuouslie thinking nothing of Christ crucified went about to set foorth mine owne righteousnesse saieng with the proud Pharisie Good Lord I thanke thee I am not like other men I am none adulterer nor fornicator and so foorth with such like words of vaine glorie extolling my selfe and despising others working as an hired seruant for wages or else for reward and not as a louing child onlie for verie loue without respect of wages or reward as I ought to haue done Neither did I consider how beneficiall a father I had who did shew me his charitie and mercie of his owne meere grace and goodnesse that when I was most his enimie he sent his onlie begotten and welbeloued sonne into this world of wretchednesse and miserie to suffer most cruell and sharpe death for my redemption But my hart was so stonie and hard that this great benefit was neuer trulie and liuelie printed in my hart although with my words it was oft rehearsed thinking my selfe to be sufficientlie instructed in the same and being in deede in blinde ignorance and yet I stoode so well in mine owne iudgement and opinion that I thought it vaine to seeke the increase of my knowledge therein Paule calleth Christ the wisdome of God and euen the same Christ was to me foolishnesse My pride and blindnesse deceiued me and the hardnesse of my hart withstoode the groning of truth within it Such were the fruits of my carnall and humane reasons to haue rotten ignorance in price for ripe seasonable knowledge such also is the malice and wickednesse that possesseth the harts of men such is the wisdome and pleasing of the flesh I professed Christ in my baptisme when I began to liue but I swarued from him after baptisme in continuance of my liuing euen as the heathen which neuer had begun Christ was innocent and void of all sinne and I wallowed in filthie sinne and was free from no sinne Christ was obedient vnto his father euen to the death of the crosse and I disobedient and most stubborne euen to the confusion of truth Christ was meeke and humble in hart and I most proud and vaine-glorious Christ despised the world with all the vanities therof and I make it my God because of the vanities Christ came to serue his brethren and I coueted to rule ouer them Christ despised worldlie honour and I much delighted to attaine the same Christ loued the base and simple things of the world and I esteemed the most faire and pleasant things Christ loued pouertie and I wealth Christ was gentle and mercifull to the poore and I hard-harted and vngentle Christ praied for his enimies and I hated mine Christ reioiced in the conuersion of sinners and I was not greeued to see their reuersion to sinne By this declaration all creatures may perceiue how far I was from Christ and without Christ yea how contrarie to Christ although I bare the name of a Christian Insomuch that if anie man had said I had beene without Christ I would haue stiffelie denied and withstoode the same and yet in deede I neither knew Christ nor wherefore he came As concerning the effect and purpose of his comming I had a certaine vaine and blind knowledge both cold and dead which may be had with all sinne as doth plainelie appeare by this my confession and open declaration The second Chapter A lamentation of a sinner with hartie repentance in faith to obtaine absolution and remission through the merits of Christ. WHat cause now haue I to lament sigh and weepe for my life time so euill spent With how much humilitie and lowlinesse ought I to come and knowledge my sinnes to God giuing him thanks that it hath pleased him of his aboundant goodnesse to giue me time of repentance For I knowe my sinnes in the consideration of them to be so greeuous and in the number so exceeding that I haue deserued verie often eternall damnation And for the deferring of Gods wrath so manifoldlie due I must vncessantlie giue thanks to the mercie of God beseeching also that the same delaie of punishment cause not his plague to be the sorer since mine owne conscience condemneth my former doings But his mercie exceedeth all iniquitie And if I should not thus hope alas what should I seeke for refuge and comfort No mortall man is of power to help me and for the multitude of my sinnes I dare not lift vp mine eies to heauen where the seate of iudgement is I haue so much offended my God What Shall I fall in desperation Naie I will call vpon Christ the light of the world the fountaine of life the reliefe of all carefull consciences the peacemaker betweene God and man and the onlie health and comfort of all true repentant sinners He can by his almightie power saue me and deliuer me out of this miserable state and hath will by his mercie to saue euen the whole sin of the world I haue no hope nor confidence in anie creature neither in heauen nor earth but in Christ my whole onlie Sauiour He came into the world to saue sinners and to heale them that are sicke For he said The whole haue no neede
should be visited sometime with some aduersitie wherby we might both be tried whether we be of thy flocke or no and also knowe thee and our selues the better yet thou that saidst that thou wouldst not suffer vs to be tempted aboue our power be mercifull vnto me now a miserable wretch I beseech thee which with Salomon do crie vnto thee humblie desiring thee that I may neither be too much puffed vp with prosperitie neither too much pressed downe with aduersitie least I being too full should denie my God or being too lowe brought should despaire and blaspheme thee my Lord and Sauiour O mercifull God consider my miserie best knowne vnto thee and be thou now vnto me a strong tower of defence I humblie require thee Suffer me not to be tempted aboue my strength and power but either be thou a deliuerer vnto me out of this great miserie either else giue me grace patientlie to beare thy heauie hand and sharpe correction It was thy right hand O God y t deliuered the people of Israel out of the hands of Pharao which for the space of four hundred yeares did oppresse them and keepe them in bondage Let it therefore like wise seeme good to thy fatherlie goodnes to deliuer me sorowfull wretch for whome thy sonne Christ shed his pretious bloud on the Crosse out of this miserable captiuitie and bondage wherein I am now How long wilt thou be absent For euer Oh Lord hast thou forgotten to be gratious and hast thou shut vp thy louing kindnesse in displeasure Wilt thou be no more intreated Is thy mercie cleane gone for euer and thy promise come vtterlie to an end for euermore Why doest thou make so long tarieng Shall I despaire of thy mercie oh God Far be that from me I am thy workemanship created in Christ Iesu giue me grace therefore to tarie thy leasure and patientlie to beare thy works assuredlie knowing that as thou canst so thou wilt deliuer me when it shall please thee nothing doubting nor mistrusting thy goodnesse towards me For thou wotest better what is good for me than I doo Therefore doo with me in all things what thou wilt and plague me what waie thou wilt onelie in the meane time arme me I beseech thee with thine armour y t I may stand fast my loines being girded about with veritie hauing on the brestplate of righteousnes and shod with the shoes prepared by the Gospell of peace aboue all things taking to me the shield of faith wherewith I may be able to quench all the firie darts of the wicked and taking the helmet of saluation and the sword of the spirit which is thy most holie word praieng alwaies with all maner of praier and supplication that I may referre my selfe wholie vnto thy will abiding thy pleasure and comforting my selfe in those troubles that it shall please thee to send me seeing such troubles be profitable for me and seeing I am assuredlie persuaded that it cannot be but well all that thou doest Heare me oh mercifull father for his sake whome thou wouldest should be a slaine sacrifice for my sinnes to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie for euer Amen An exhortation written by the Ladie IANE the night before she suffered in the end of the new Testament in Greeke which she sent to hir sister the Ladie Katherine I Haue here sent you good sister Katherine a Booke which although it be not outwardlie trimmed with gold yet inwardlie it is more worth than pretious stones It is the booke deere sister of the lawe of the Lord it is his Testament and last will which he bequeathed vnto vs wretches which shall leade you to the path of eternall ioie And if you with a good mind reade it and with an earnest desire folowe it it shall bring you to an immortall and euerlasting life It will teach you to liue and learne you to die It shall win you more than you should haue gained by the possessions of your wofull fathers land For as if God had prospered him you should haue inherited all his lands so if you applie diligentlie this booke seeking to direct your life after it you shall be an inheritour of such riches as neither the couetous shall withdrawe from you neither the theefe shall steale neither yet the moths corrupt Desire with Dauid good sister to vnderstand the lawe of the Lord your God liue still to die that you by death may obtaine eternall life or after your death enioie the life purchased you by Christes death And trust not that the tendernesse of your age shall lengthen your life For as soone if God call goeth the yong as the old And labour alwaie to learne to die denie the world defie the diuell despise the flesh and delight your selfe onlie in the Lord. Be penitent for your sins and yet despair not be strong in faith and yet presume not and desire with Saint Paule to be dissolued and to be with Christ with whome in death there is life Be like the good seruant and euen at midnight be waking least when death commeth and stealeth vpon you like a theefe in the night you be with the euill seruant found sleeping and least for lacke of oile in your lampe ye be found like to the fiue foolish virgins and like him that had not on the wedding garment and then be cast out from the mariage Reioice in Christ as I trust you do And seeing you haue the name of a Christian as neere as you can folowe the steps of your maister Christ and take vp your crosse laie your sinnes on his backe and alwaies embrace him And as touching my death reioice as I doo good sister that I shall be deliuered of this corruption and put on incorruption For I am assured that I shall for losing of a mortall life win an immortall life the which I praie God grant you and send you of his graces to liue in his feare and to die in the true christian faith from the which in Gods name I exhort you that ye neuer swarue neither for hope of life nor feare of death For if ye will denie his truth to lengthen your life God will denie you and yet shorten your daies And if ye will cleaue to him he will prolong your daies to your comfort and his glorie To the which glorie God bring me now and you heereafter when it shall please God to call you Farewell good sister and put your onlie trust in God who onlie must helpe you Your louing sister Iane Dudley * Certaine verses written by the said Ladie Iane with a pinne Non aliena putes homini quae obtingere possunt Sors hodierna mihi cras erit illa tibi IANE DVDLEY Deo iuuante nil nocet liuor malus Et non iuuante nil iuuat labor grauis Post tenebras spero lucem ¶ Hir praier that she said at the time of hir death was the 51. Psalme of Dauid here after following
Christ for this thy blessed oblation haue mercie on me now and in the houre of death that in the dreadfull daie of iudgment sinne death and hell may not preuaile against me sinfull creature but haue mercie vpon me according to thy greatest mercie which is this thy death and passion for which be praise to the holie Trinitie for euer and euer Amen The Hymne of the passion of Christ IEsus which is the liuelie well of wisdome And the heauenlie truth of the father eternall Which from heauen to this world did come To deliuer vs thrales from paines infernall Of Iudas was sold and of the Iewes taken And of his Disciples at midnight was forsaken We laud thee father for thy grace We praise the sonne which made vs free We thanke the holie spirit for our solace Which is one God and persons three In the dawning of the daie they did him fast bind And before Pilate he was then conuented False witnesse against Iesus they did then find When the cruell Seniours in iudgement him presented Beaten was his bodie defiled was his face And yet God and man the verie well of grace We laud thee father c. When thrée houres were past before Pilates throne All the people cried Kill Iesus the Iewes king His crowne was thornes in purple he made mone With a crosse ouer Cedron they did him bring And prepared his deadlie place on Galgatha hill To suffer pains for Adams gilt so was his fathers will We laud thee father c. The sirt houre approched his painefull end When on the trée his bodie they nailed In heauen was his helpe in earth he had no freud He died betwéene two théeues on him the Elders railed Then he thirsted for his elect which subiect were to thrall Unthankefullie they offred him vinegre mingled with gall We laud thee father c. This verie God Gods onlie begotten child Said to his father Why hast thou me forsaken Yet receiue this sacrifice and my spirit vndefild The heauens were darkned asunder the stones were shaken Bloud and water then sprang from this blessed lamb Then graues opened the dead aliue foorth came We laud thee father for thy grace c. The second Meditation or praier of our frailtie and miserie O Miserable wretched woman that I am how may I be compared to any of thy saints that shall dwell in thy Tabernacle or holie hill For they loue to be in holie contemplation and I in the vaine multitude forgetting thee they be meeke and I vnpatient they do not forget thee but my good Lord when do I remember thee but when affliction enforceth me or the lamentable fall of my breethren constraine me to thanke thee Thou most mightie and fearefull God of hosts thy holie name be blessed foreuer Amen What shall I saie my God Thou art most good and I euill thou holie and I miserable thou art light and I am blind thou art the blessed ioie and I am carefull and full of sorowe My Lord thou art the Physician and I the miserable patient I am nothing but vanitie and corrupt as euerie liuing man is What shall I saie O Creator but this that I am thy creature and shall I perish Thy hands haue made me and were wounded for me thy bloud was shed for me and hath washed me thy holie Ghost hath sanctified me and taught me yet Lord my daies are nothing What should I mortall creature thus talke with my selfe Lord God but that need hath no lawe Sorowe hath compelled me to seeke comfort sicknesse enforceth me to folowe the Physician conscience pricketh me to crie to thee my Lord for a heauenlie cordiall of comfort which am in great discomfort borne of a woman full of miserie and shortnesse of time and passe awaie like a shadowe neuer content with one estate but in earth remaine for euer The Hymne to God the Creator O Creator to thée thy creature I call Who made of mould do liue in paine And sicke in soule my flesh is thrall O wo is me my daies be vaine Yet vnto God I call for grace My soule in heauen to haue a place A praier to the blessed Trinitie Let vs praie O Holie blessed and glorious Trinitie three equall and coeternall persons but one God almightie haue mercie vpon me vile abiect abhominable and sinfull wretch meekelie acknowledging before thy diuine Maiestie my long continued life in sinne euen from my childhood hitherto Then good gratious Lord as thou giuest me the grace to acknowledge them so giue me grace not in word onlie but in hart also with sorowfull contrition to repent and vtterlie to forsake them Forgiue me also those sinnes through which by mine owne fault wicked affection and euill custome my reason is with sensualitie so blinded as I cannot discerne them for sinne Illuminate my hart good Lord and giue me grace to acknowledge them Forgiue me my sinnes negligentlie forgotten and bring them to my mind with grace to be throughlie repentant for them O mercifull God grant me thy grace so to despise sinne and all worldlie vanities that I may saie with the blessed Apostle Saint Paule The world is crucified to me and I to the world Christ is to me life and to die is my gaine and aduantage I desire to be loosed and to be with Christ Lord giue me thy grace to amend my life and to haue an eie to mine end without anie grudge or feare of death which to them that die in thee is the gate of eternall life Almightie God teach me to doo thy will take my right hand and leade me in the true waie from mine drawe me after thee bind my mouth with snaffle and bridle when I will not drawe vnto thee Oh gratious God all sinfull feare all sinfull sorowe and pensiuenesse all sinfull hope all sinfull mirth and gladnesse take awaie from me On the other side concerning such feare such heauinesse such comfort consolation and gladnesse as shall be profitable for my soule doo with me according to thy great goodnesse O Lord giue me grace in all my feare and agonie to haue recourse to that great feare and wonderfull agonie that thou my sauiour hadst at the Mount of Oliuet before thy most bitter passion and in the meditation thereof to conceiue ghostlie comfort and consolation profitable for my soule Almightie God take from me all vaine-glorious minds all appetites of mine owne praise all enuie couetise gluttonie sloth and lecherie all wrathfull affection all appetite of reuenging all desire of delight of other mens harmes all pleasure in prouoking anie person to wrath and anger all delight in taunting or mocking anie person in their affliction or trouble And giue vnto me O Lord an humble quiet peaceable patient charitable kind tender and pitifull mind in all my words my works and thoughts to haue a tast of thy holie and blessed spirit Giue me good Lord a full faith a firme hope a feruent charitie a loue to thee good Lord incomparable
when thou openest thy hand they are satisfied with good things O Lord in whom consisteth the fulnesse of all good things vouchsafe to extend thy blessing vpon vs thy poore seruants sanctifie vnto vs thy gifts which we receiue of thy liberalitie that we may vse them soberlie and purelie according to thy good will and by this meanes to knowledge thee to be the Father and author of all goodnesse still seeking principallie the spirituall bread of thy word whereby our soules may bee nourished eternallie through Iesus Christ thy sonne our Lord So be it Matthew 4. verse 4. MAn liueth not by bread onlie but by euerie word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Grace after meate LEt all nations praise the Lord let all people sing praise vnto him For his mercie is multiplied vpon vs and his truth endureth for euer We render thanks vnto thee O Lord God for all the benefits that we receiue continuallie at thy hand for that it pleaseth thee to sustaine vs in this corporall life ministring vnto vs all our necessities and speciallie for that it hath pleased thee to regenerate vs into the hope of a better life which thou hast reuealed vnto vs by thy holie Gospell We beseech thee not to suffer our affections to be here rooted in these corruptible things but that we alwaies haue an higher respect waiting for our Lord Iesus Christ vntill he appeere in our redemption So be it A praier to be said before sleepe Exhortation LEt vs all fall downe humbling our selues before the high and soeuereigne Maiestie of our good God and Father acknowledging vs to be as we are namelie poore and miserable sinners praieng hartilie vnto him as followeth O Lord God Father eternall we beseech thee that it will please thee to cast the eie of thy fatherlie mercie vpon vs thy poore seruants not laieng to our charge so manie faults and offences whereby we are worthie to be brought vnto thy iudgement and whereby wee cease not to prouoke thy wrath against vs. And forasmuch as we are too vnwoorthie to appeare before thy holie Maiestie vouchsafe to receiue vs in the name of thy welbeloued sonne our Lord Iesus Christ accepting the merits of his death and passion for a recompense of all our faults regarding rather the obedience which he hath rendred vnto thee and not the manifold faults that we dailie commit against thy Maiestie O Lord God seeing it hath pleased thee to create the night for mans rest so as thou hast ordeined him the daie to trauell grant vs grace so to take our bodilie rest this night that our soules may alwaie watch vnto thee that our harts be lift vp in thy loue and that we so renounce all earthlie cares that we succour our selues according as our infirmitie requireth Let vs neuer forget thee but let the remembrance of thy goodnesse and grace continue alwaie printed in our memorie and by this meanes our consciences also shall haue their spirituall rest as our bodies take theirs Furthermore let not our sleepe be excessiue to accomplish the ease of our flesh beyond measure but onelie to satisfie the frailtie of our nature that we may be disposed to serue thee Moreouer let it please thee to preserue vs vnderfiled both in our bodies and in our spirits and to keepe vs against all dangers that our verie sleepe may be to the glorie of thy name And seeing the daie is not so passed but that we haue offended thee manie waies according as we are poore sinners so that all is now hid through the darknesse that thou sendest vpon earth vouchsafe also to burie all our faults through thy mercie least we thereby bee taken from thy presence Let it please thee also O Lord God to illuminate vs by thy holie spirit in the true vnderstanding of thy holie will and bring to passe also that we may yeeld vnto thee the loue and feare that true and faithfull seruants doo owe vnto their masters and children vnto their parents seeing it hath pleased thee to shew vs such grace as to receiue vs into the number of thy seruants and children Amen The praier of the Church of the faithfull to speake the word of God with all boldnesse Acts 4. verse 24 c. O Lord thou hast made the heauen the earth the sea all things that be in them Which through thine holie spirit hast said by the mouth of Dauid thy seruāt Wherfore haue the nations raged the people haue imagined vaine thoughts The kings of the earth haue assembled and the princes are come togither against the Lord and against his Christ For trulie Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentils and the people of Israel haue gathered themselues together in this citie against the holie child Iesus whom thou hast annointed to doo those things which thy hand and thy counsell hath determined to be done And now Lord behold their threatnings giue vnto thy seruants that they may speake thy word with all boldnesse so that thou stretch foorth thine hand that healing signes and woonders be done by the name of thy holie child Iesus Amen ¶ The maner how to examine such yong persons as be willing to receiue the Supper of our Lord Iesus Christ Mother IN whome beleeue you Child In God the Father and in Iesus Christ and in the holie Ghost Mother The Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost are they more than one God C No. M Must God be serued after his owne commandements or after the traditions of men C He must be serued according to his owne commandements and not according to the commandements of men M May you accomplish Gods commandements of your selfe C No. M Who is it then that accomplisheth them in you C The holie spirit M And when God giueth you his holie spirit can you perfectlie accomplish them C No. M And yet notwithstāding God cursseth reiecteth all such as do not sincerelie fulfill his cōmandements C It is true M By what meanes then shall you be saued and deliuered from the cursse of God C By the death passion of our Lord Iesus Christ M How is that C Because that by his death he hath restored life vnto vs and reconciled vs vnto God his father M And whome praie you vnto C To God M In whose name praie you C In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ who is our aduocate and intercessor M How manie Sacraments are in the Christian Church C Two M Which be they C Baptisme and the Lords Supper M What is the signification of Baptisme C It hath two parts For our Sauiour doth therein represent vnto vs the remission of our sinnes then our regeneration or spirituall renouation M And the Supper what signifieth it vnto vs C It signifieth vnto vs that by the communion of the bodie and bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ our soules are nourished in hope of the life euerlasting M What is it that the bread and wine which
doo through the onelie merits of our Lord and Sauiour Jesus Christ to whom be all honour glorie dominion power and praise for euer and euer Amen The praier ALmightie and most mercifull God my heauenlie Father I thy poore child and most vnwoorthie bidden ghest to this thy prepared sacrifice and celestiall feast after due examination of my former life with an humble and contrite hart with a sorowfull and repentant spirit and with a forgiuing and charitable mind heere prostrate on my knees before thy throne of mercie with most lowelie hart humblie beseech thy Maiestie euen for thy deere and onelie sonne Iesus Christs sake whom thou hast once for all euer alreadie giuen an oblation and offering for our sinnes to haue mercie pitie and compassion vpon me most vile wretched and miserable sinner and to forgiue me all mine innumerable and horrible offences both old and new committed against heauen and earth and against thee And new I praie thee sanctifie me throughlie O God and make me who hartilie desire in feare trembling to please thee in all things that I doo a woorthie communicant a godlie ghest and fit partaker heere this daie of thy heauenlie food in this great and sumptuous Supper of my Lord and my God by giuing vnto me of thine accustomed goodnesse the right knowledge and vnderstanding out thy word of the thing it selfe these holie mysteries I meane and the manifold fruits and benefites thereof and also by causing me through the working of thy mercie and grace to bring now with me a true and constant faith the roote and wel-spring of all newnesse of life as well in praising thee and louing my neighbour as purging mine owne conscience by earnest repentance and continuall contrition from dead works and filthinesse of sinne so that neither the ignorance of the thing O gratious God may cause me to contemne it nor vnfaithfulnesse make it void of fruit nor sinne and iniquitie procure me thy heauie plagues but grant that I may by faith in knowledge and amendment of life in faith be heere now so vnited to thy sonne Christ my head and most deerelie beloued spouse in these his holie and heauenlie mysteries to my comfort both in bodie and soule that afterward I may haue full fruition of him in deede to mine euerlasting ioie and saluation in eternall life through the same Iesus Christ our Lord blessed for euer Amen Another godlie praier O Iesu Christ holy and eternall God I miserable woman and wretched sinner acknowledge and confesse that I am not woorthie the least of all thy mercies and most vnwoorthie to receiue thee vnder the roofe of my soule by participating of thy most blessed bodie and bloud For horrible and infinite are the sinnes wherewith I am defiled Wo is me Lord. For I am a woman of polluted lips and dwell among people that haue vncleane lips And therefore the verie entrailes of my hart are troubled and my bones doo shake because I finde my soule a most vnworthie ghest for so heauenlie a supper And yet againe mine hart is woonderfullie lightned when I call to mind that thou the deere sonne of almightie God camest not into this world to call the righteous but sinners vnto repentance For they that be whole need not the Physician but they that are sick Besides I knowe right well and constantlie doo beleeue that notwithstanding my filthinesse thou canst make mee woorthie which alone canst make that cleane which is conceiued of vncleane seed and righteous men of sinners when thou forgiuest our sinnes of thy woonted grace thine holie spirit being powred vpon vs. Through which thy power and mercie I beseech thee graunt such grace vnto me a sinner that I may woorthilie approch to this heauenlie sacrament least otherwise by mine vnwoorthinesse I be made giltie of thy bodie and bloud and so in stead of life receiue my iudgement and condemnation Giue grace therefore that afore I presume to come vnto the participation thereof I may examine my selfe by calling my sinnes into mind searching out my waies and by vnfeigned and hartie repentance returning vnto thee my Lord least otherwise by concealing my sinnes with Iudas the traitor I eate the bread of the Lord against the Lord and by abusing thy gentlenesse heape vengeance vnto my selfe against the daie of vengeance O make me therefore I saie to confesse my sinnes and that with hartie sobs so thou being a faithfull and iust God wilt abandon all mine offences and cleanse me from my sinnes and wilt not disdaine to accept me into fauour when I doo not refraine to acknowledge my wickednesse Moreouer powre into me a true and liuelie faith that I neuer mistrust thy word annexed to the Sacraments which promiseth vnto mankind the remission of sinnes For to eate or drinke with the mouth onelie is to no purpose but faith must come therevnto and apprehend the word with the promises annexed for they are the grounds and principles of this sacrament so that whosoeuer giueth credit to these words Which was giuen and shead for you in the remission of sinnes the same man hath that which is promised by them namelie eternall life and saluation For where the remission of sinnes is there likewise righteousnes life and saluation is But he which doubteth of these words he without doubt is an vnworthie receiuer and commeth vnprepared For the doubting man neither eateth the flesh spirituallie nor yet drinketh the bloud though carnallie and to our eies he seemeth to consume the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud with his teeth and mouth but his damnation rather not bicause thy supper is poison but for that an euill man taketh a good thing naughtilie Finallie grant also that receiuing this thy Sacrament of the new Testament I may put off according to the former conuersation the old man which is corrupt according to the lusts of error and be renewed in the spirit of my mind putting on the new man which after God is shapen in righteousnesse and holinesse of truth And albeit my nature be such that I can not liue without spots of wickednesse yet so blesse me that I may neuer offend willinglie but altogether depending vpon thy goodnesse whose manner is to pardon the true penitent that sinners may boldlie approch to thine holie supper especiallie seeing we haue libertie to enter into the holie places through thy bloud by the new and liuing waie which thou hast prepared for vs through the vaile that is by thy flesh And seeing we haue an high Priest ouer the house of God make vs to drawe nigh with true harts in assurance of faith sprinkled in our minds from an euill conscience and washed in bodie with pure water Cause vs to hold fast the profession of the hope without wauering For he is faithfull that promised and let vs consider one of another to prouoke vnto loue to good works not forsaking the assemblie of the faithfull as the maner of some is but exhorting one another
penitent from the kissing of thy blessed feet And in likewise despise me not nor put me awaie as vnwoorthie from the receiuing of thy bodie in the blessed Sacrament for my sinnes and wickednesse but grant thou me cōpunction of hart plentie of weeping tears to wash awaie my sinnes wickednesse so that with a pure hart and cleane conscience I may this daie receiue the Sacrament to my soules helth that I may obtaine and possesse thereby euerlasting life with all holie Saints in heauens glorie and in this present life with the holie spirit to be replenished and neuer to admit other louer besides thee Grant me blessed Iesu so to receiue the Sacrament of bread and wine that I may be woorthie to bee accounted for a member of thy mysticall bodie heere in earth And though as yet I be not worthie to be numbered among the simplest and lowest of thy seruants but rather to be reiect and out-cast for my sinfulnesse yet good Lord of thine infinite power thou maist make me able equall and like to the meanest of thine elect seruants Come thou Father of the fatherlesse come thou comforter of the comfortlesse come and cleanse my soule from all contagiousnesse of sinne For it is not conuenient and according there to be anie vncleannes where thou the spouse of virginall chastitie shouldest come in and dwell Come therefore and sanctifie my soule and make it cleane by thy gratious presence that no heapes of soile or remnants of sinne be to be found in anie least cranie or corner of thy spirituall house or temple my bodie and soule I meane to offend the celestiall eies of thy diuine Maiestie so shall thy holie hall which is my cleansed soule ring and resound with thy perpetuall praises to thy glorie Come I saie O God and apparell my naked soule with the rich ornaments of thy vertue and grace and with the white raines of thy righteousnesse and innocencie that I may delight thee therein to abide And as thou disdainedst not to touch the sore leapers with thy holie hands so good Lord vouchsafe to annoint my simple soule with the ointment of remission and pardon that in this life by stedfast hope firme faith and perfect charitie I may so increase in vertue from daie to daie that I may atteine to the glorious fruition of thy Godhead in the kingdome of heauen where I may see thee face to face and praise thee with all thine elect and chosen Saints worlds without end Amen Another verie deuout praier before the receiuing of the holie Communion O Most sweet and louing Lord Iesu Christ whom now I deuoutlie and hartilie desire to receiue this daie thou knowest mine infirmities and necessities which I suffer in how manie euils and vices I lie wherewith I am often greeued tempted troubled and vnquieted and defiled Unto thee doo I come for remedie vnto thee doo I earnestlie praie for comfort and helpe I speake vnto thee who knowest all things vnto whom euen all my verie secret thoughts are manifest and who onlie canst perfectlie comfort and helpe me Thou knowest what good things I lacke before all things and how poore and beggerlie I am in vertues Behold I stand before thee requiring grace and mercie Feed and cherish thy hungrie begger kindle my coldnesse with the fire of thy loue lighten my blindnesse with the bright cleerenesse of thy presence turne all earthlie things into bitternesse vnto me all heauie greeuous hard painfull and contrarie things into patience to me Lift vp my hart vnto thee in heauen and suffer me not to wander or go astraie from thee vpon the earth Thou onlie from this time foorth for euermore dooest waxe sweet vnto me because thou onelie art my meate and my drinke my loue my ioie my sweetnesse Oh would to God thou wouldest vouchsafe altogether to enflame burne and euen consume me with thy presence and to change me into thy selfe that I may be made one spirit with them by grace of the inward vnitie and softning of thy feruent loue Suffer me not to depart an hungred nor thirstie from them but worke mercifullie with me as thou hast often heeretofore maruellouslie wrought with thy Saincts What maruell is it if I should be altogether set on fire inflamed with thee and should faile in my selfe and be changed Sith thou art a fire euer burning and neuer failing a loue purifieng the hart and lightening the vnderstanding Behold therefore I wretched sinner not presuming of mine owne merits but trusting onlie of thy mercie and goodnesse am bold to come in trembling and feare vnto this thy table of most sweete deinties O most holie Lord Iesu Christ For I haue an hart and bodie defiled marred and polluted with manie faults and offences a mind and a tongue not chastlie nor warilie kept Therefore O holie Deitie O dredfull Maiestie I wretched caitife in great perplexitie of mind taken vnwares betwene many troublsome straights doo now run againe to thee the fountaine of all mercie Unto thee doo I hasten me to be healed and cured vnder thy protection doo I flie And whome I can not endure as a Iudge I earnestlie desire to haue a Sauiour To thee O Lord doo I open and shew my woundes vnto thee doo I vncouer and detect my shamefastnesse I knowe that my sinnes are great for the which I am sore afraid but I hope and repose my trust in thy great mercies which are infinite surpassing number Turne thine eies of thy mercie towards me O Lord Iesu Christ heauenlie King euerlasting God man crucified for man heare me trusting in thee and haue mercie vpon me full of all miserie and sinne Thou which art the flowing fountaine and vndrainable wel-spring of all mercie and pitie I beseech thee from the bottome of my hart that thou wilt forgiue me all my sinnes and in this life so to purge awaie the rust and filth thereof that in the life to come they may not be imputed vnto me O God of vnspeakable pitie whose power is infinite without whome I can not possiblie resist sinne comfort and helpe me so greatlie that I neuer heereafter anie more commit anie mortall or deadlie sinne and from hencefoorth may ouercome all the temptations of the diuell that I may direct my whole life thoughts words and works altogether vnto thee and that thou maist in the end of my life so preserue and keepe me that Sathan vrge me not with his terrours and feares and so bring me into desperation O flowing fountaine of charitie make my mind free from all the creatures which might drawe me from thy loue and fauour that in thy loue I may profit go forward and preuaile that now verelie and in the end of my life I may worthilie receiue thee and so my soule being powred out of the sacke of my bodie doo thou in mercie bring it vnto the euerlasting palace of thy heauenlie father to see and behold the cleere renowmed glasse of the holie Trinitie Remember thy
much to thirst after the bitter potion of sinne to followe after vanities of this world to suffer the incommodities of this slipperie life and the dominion of Sathans tyrannie and not rather to flee vp to the felicitie of Saincts to the fellowship of Angels and to the solemnitie of the heauenlie ioies where we shall see behold and enioie the plentifull aboundant riches of the inestimable treasures of Gods goodnesse for euer and euer world without end Amen A meditation of Gods woonderfull works and a thanks-giuing for our creation O Most heauenlie father and eternall God which art neither made nor begotten but before all worlds from euerlasting diddest beget a Sonne an image of thine owne substance we honor thee we praise thee we glorifie thee we yeeld thee most hartie thanks for all thy benefits especiallie for creating the heauens the Sunne Moone and all the starres by thy liuelie word for gouerning through thy wisdome and for thy gratious mainteining them The Sunne in his vprising doth manifest the daie a woonderfull worke of the highest Great is the Lord which made and commanded the same to take his course from the top of heauen vnto the end thereof The ornaments of heauen be the glorious starres the Lord on high doth lighten the world at his commandement they keepe their order and will not faile nor be wearie in their watch O Lord our God how woonderfull is thy name in all the world which hast set thy glorie aboue the heauens Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings wilt thou be praised because of thine enimies that thou maist confound thine aduersaries and him that enuieth thy renowme We see the workemanship of thy hands the Moone and Starres which thou hast ordeined and we will signifie thy glorie vnto all nations and among all people will we declare thy woonderfull things For thou art mightie O Lord and worthie to be praised great is thy vertue and thy power woonderfull We thanke thee holie father God of heauen because thou hast created by thy word of power the vniuersall world with all the creatures and whatsoeuer is liueth or moueth in the same By thy wisdome thou dooest gouerne and by sending of thy spirit as yet doest vphold and cherish the same For all woods fruitfull trees stones graine flowers herbes and all the grasse of the feeld hast thou ordeined for the vse of man Wee magnifie thee O God most wise for creating the Sea and springs of water by the power of thy word and for giuing them vertue to bring foorth fishes of all kind to be eaten of man We blesse thee O eternall God for making the superiour and lower regions of the aire with all birds and feathered fowles of sundrie kinds for the food of man We glorifie thee for giuing the whole frame of this earth with all the creatures in the same vnto mankinde and setting man ouer the works of thine hands hast subiected all things vnder his feet all sheepe and oxen yea and all the beasts of the feeld the fowles of the aire and the fish of the Sea which walke through the paths of the Sea Especiallie we praise thee our Lord and maker for making vs thy creatures reasonable men and women according to thine owne similitude for giuing vs reason and all the senses and for preseruing vs hitherto Thou didst nourish vs and that woonderfullie being within our mothers wombe and out thereof hast thou brought vs sound in all parts without imperfection and yet continuest thy fauour and dooest keepe vs against all dangers and deliuerest vs from all euill and all these things dooest thou of thy fatherlie and diuine goodnesse without anie merit or desert of ours for all which we are bound to thanke thee to praise thee to serue honor and obeie thee We extoll thy sacred name O God most high for separating from the rest a Sabboth daie that so men ceassing from their handie labour might the better serue and celebrate thine honour Who is he that can recite all the power of the Lord or declare all his works Who can number out all his praises No man can vtter all his benefits Notwithstanding although we be miserable men and wretched sinners and therefore most vnmeete to extoll thee according to thy deserts yet will we not be still we will praise thee euermore to the vttermost of our power We will declare thy iustice and mercie and while we liue we remember thy goodnesse and at no time forget thy benefits O our soules praise the Lord we will praise the Lord during our life we will sing to the Lord while we haue breath We will bee mindfull of our maker euen from our youth and seeke him euermore yea euen vnto our old age and graie head O God forsake vs not vntill we haue declared thy power vnto all nations that are to come Praise the Lord all ye nations praise him all ye people For his louing kindnes is great toward vs and his truth endureth for euer Praise ye the Lord in his Sanctuarie praise him in the firmament of his power praise him in his mightie acts praise him according to his excellent greatnesse Let euerie thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord Amen Another meditation and thanks-giuing for the creation of the world MOst mightie most wise and most maruellous Lord GOD which of nothing hast created heauen and earth with all that is therein and hast prepared with due new properties euerie worke which thou hast brought foorth by thy diuine word holie commandement and hast ordeined and established all the holie works of thy hands so that they yet stand and serue to the vse and seruice of men For through the course of the heauens which neuer stand still is ingendered vnto vs all that euer we haue need of and through the same course also dieth withereth and rotteth all that is old bicause that for the old and decaied there should arise vp new and fresh And this course hast thou O mightie God made so maruellouslie and so agreeably that man thorough the agreeable works of thine hands without anie other externall learning teaching or instruction might come to the knowledge of that which is inuisible in thee that is thy holie exalted and euerlasting blessed Godhead and inuisible might Insomuch as there is none that can make himselfe vngiltie and inexcusable of misbeleefe or ignorance how farre soeuer he be departed from thy holie word For the verie heauens giue knowledge inough of thy diuine glorie the which though they haue no tongue to speake neither doo we heare anie thing of their mouth yet neuerthelesse their voice is gone out to all corners of the world and there is no place but men heare their voice sounding in their eares For no man is so farre distant from them but he both feeleth alwaies the benefits that come from the heauens and also seeth continuallie thy maruellous handie works which the firmament dooth shew and declare vnto
the whole spacious dominions of both Iles and the adiacent lands gouerned triumphantlie so as it is hard to find the man that more orderlie hath managed the charge of anie one houshold than the daughter of thy house with hir virginall hands hath weelded the weightie scepter of sundrie and mightie populous nations In hir time haue been seene the golden yeeres of the reigne of hir father Dauid and the peacefull kingdom of Salomon to haue been aduanced the earth not to haue denied hir fruitfulnesse the sea hir increase the clouds their drops the heauens their fairenesse the sunne his warmth the yeere hir goodnesse but the vallies stand thicke with corne the wildernesse crowned with gladnesse the furrowes watered the mountaines laugh sing the folds full of sheepe our sonnes and our daughters growe vp like to the polished corners of the Temple our yoong men see visions and our old men prophesie Ierusalem hir light shining vnto hir the glorie of the Lord risen vnto hir the Queene bringing hir honor vnto the Citie of Dauid and the nations walking in the light thereof Great is the honour that thou O Iehouah hast heaped vpon vs and honourable in foraigne regions is the worke that thou hast wrought by thy chosen yea and so much the more hath the brightnesse of this beautie beene powred abroade that whilest Egypt round about hath been darkened euen the whole world in a manner besides vs whome thou hast gathered into pastures of this Gosen and the thicke mists of errour haue blinded the eies of the earth the cloudie piller hath not departed from vs by the daie nor the firie flame by night Whilest other lands round about haue warred to the destruction of one another our Moses hath guided vs in peace Whilest other nations like Egypt round about hath been plagued by the destroier from the first borne sitting vpon the princes throne vnto the vassall and slaue grinding at the handmill our Moses hath not diminished of hir flocke Whilest the firme lands haue beene ouerwhelmed by the rage of the seas and waters our Iland hauing dwelt in peace hath sent hir ship into Ophir for gold and prepared hir nauie against the danger of the enimie Whilest Athalia hath murthered hir owne bloud our Ioas hath learned the lawe of the Lord of Iehoiada Whilest Achas consecrateth his owne sonne in the fire and Samaria eateth hir owne children on the walles our Eliza directeth the children of the Prophets in their offices Whilest Iezabel setteth vp Baal and embrueth Achab with the bloud of the Prophets and of Naboth our Elias gathereth the people of God to mount Carmel to behold the wonder of the fire of God lighting from heauen vpon the sacrifices and replenishing the harts with ioie and tongues with gifts of languages This is then so woorthie an instrument of thy goodnesse and expresse image of thy Maiestie the ample matter of this daies celebritie And now what doth thy people desire at thy hands but that first O Lord thou giue vs thankefull harts and make vs all the daies of our liues mindfull of this thy fatherlie and gratious bountifulnesse Then as presentlie the Queenes highnesse hath gloriouslie atchiued the trauell of full three and twentie yeares and now the annuall celebritie of our voluntarie sacrifice of praise and thanks-giuing therefore returneth so it may by thy benefit full often returne and not once or twice but yeare by yeare and yeare heaped vpon yeare we and our of-spring may behold this felicitie vntill we and she satisfied in aboundance the time drawe along which thou hast appointed for the veiling of hir crowne at the feet of thy sonne Iesus and the course of this earthlie pilgrimage ouerrun we and she at our determined seasons be taken to reigne in the euerlasting kingdome of thy glorie Againe where much is the mischiefe of man great and enormous the rage of Sathan subtill the practises of Antichrist euill our deserts lamentable the state of things whilest open colouring hideth priuie conspiring poisoned lips giue sugred words the breath of Cockatrices the embracings of Scorpions the roring of Bulles the ringing of Libels the raging of Rabsake the sword of Herod the destruction of Abbadon hath beene seene in our streets hath beene heard on our walles hath multiplied before the gates of our Cities that thou destroie vs not in the midst of the works of thy mercie to leaue vs headlesse and hopelesse and make vs a scorne and prouerbe to the enimie but rather to behold the number of the faithfull subiects in the dread of their soules and iust gealousie of their common interest bowing the knees of their harts for the long safetie of Queene Elizabeths sacred princelie person rather than in thy iust furie for auenging of our sinnes to suffer the diuell with the wicked to preuaile in the vniust zealousnesse of their preposterous vowes graceleslie swearing the death of thy Saincts and thine annointed Lastlie that what remaineth of the happie building of thy Church by the hands of thy deere daughter thou plentifullie powre of thy principall spirit vpon hir and rauish hir hart with the flame of the loue of thee and thy house with Moses to leade and with Ioshua to bring into the land of promise with Debora to fight the battell and with Iahel to knocke Sisera of Rome in the temples of his vsurped headship to his vtter destruction with Dauid to bring home the Arke and with Salomon to finish and consecrate to eternitie thy Temple amongst the people on the earth for the time to giue largelie hir fostermilke to Hierusalem in heauen at the time in the purenesse of hir virginitie to be presented to the lambe and sing the song of hir wedding daie with thy Angels thy Saincts to the praise of thy glorious Maiestie the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost in one eternall Deitie for euer and euer Amen Another godlie and learned praier for our most gratious souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth O Almightie eternall God creator gouernor preseruer of all things Lord of all lords and King of all kings who madest man like vnto thine owne image that he should honour serue and obeie thee onlie and that all other thy creatures should serue to his vse and commoditie ouer whome thou madest him lord and ruler the forbidden fruit onlie except but he most miserable man by his owne disobedience in eating thereof lost not onlie that kinglie prerogatiue but brought himselfe and all his posteritie into the state of eternall damnation Yet thou O Lord in thine vnspeakable mercie didst then promise and in time broughtest to passe that thine onlie Sonne became man like vnto vs sin except and was borne of a pure virgin by thy diuine prouidence and power who to restore this now most miserable man with all vs whose children by nature we are vnto the state of eternall saluation did suffer most shamefull most vile and bitter yea most cruell and painefull death on the
of all as fathers and nursses to mainteine and cherish thy Church commanding vs not onlie to obeie and honor them but moreouer to praie for them as watching ouer vs for our good We therefore beseech thee for thy great names sake and for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercie to all Kings and Princes that mainteine thy glorious Gospell but especiallie we praie thee to blesse our gratious Queene Elizabeth in all spirituall blessings in Christ Iesus and in all temporall blessings according to thy good pleasure that in the great measures of thine effectuall lawe she may more and more find great increase of vertue and wisedome and strength in Christ Iesu to the faithfull and happie discharge of hir dutie that hir holinesse and ioie and zeale of thy house may be multiplied euerlasting And seeing it hath pleased thee of thy singular mercie to giue hir this especiall honor first to suffer for thy glorious truth and afterward miraculouslie deliuering hir out of the hands of hir enimies to set a Crowne vpon hir head and to make hir the instrument to aduance thy glorie and Gospell for which she suffered and to bring hir out of darkenesse into light out of persecution into this great and long peace as we giue thee most hartie thanks for this singular benefit so we beseech thee to make hir and vs euermore thankefull for it and in thy good pleasure still to preserue hir for the continuance of these blessings towards vs with all increase from time to time to thy glorie the benefit of thy Church and hir infinite peace in Christ Iesus the Prince of peace And furthermore we praise thee for hir and the estate that such as be the enimies of the Gospell and hir enimies also for the defence therof may not despise the peace offered them vnto repentance but that they may accompt thy long suffering and hir peaceable and vnbloudie gouernement an occasion of saluation to their soules and vnfeigned loue to the truth and their mercifull Souereigne Otherwise if they stil remaine disobedient to thy truth disloiall to hir Highnesse and dangerous to the state then O God of all saluation as thou hast discouered them so discouer them still as thou hast preuented them so preuent them still and let their eies ware wearie with looking and their harts faint with waiting for the comming of that which yet commeth not neither let it come O Lord we beseech thee but a blessed and a long reigne to hir Grace and and peace to Zion for euermore Also deere Father so blesse so loue so in thy spirit sanctifie and keepe hir that she maie in the spirit of counsell and fortitude so rule that other sister also namely this hir Common-wealth that they may flourish together and growe vp together as Palme-trees in beautie and in strength giuing aid and help one to another that in the Church the glorie of God may appeare as the Sunne in his brightnesse and that the land may flowe with milke and honie and true peace abound therein as in y e triumphant reigne of Debora These graces O Lord are great and we miserable sinners vnwoorthie of the least of them therefore looke not to vs but to thy selfe not to our iniquities but to thy great mercies accepting the death and passion of thy Sonne as a full ransome for all our offences throwing them into the bottome of the sea and making his crosse and resurrection effectuall in vs to all obedience and godlinesse as becommeth thy Saincts that to all other thy good blessings towards our gratious Souereigne this may be added that she gouerneth blessedlie ouer a blessed people a people blessed of the Lord and beloued of the Lord and that thy graces may abound in the Church in the Common-wealth from daie to daie till the daie of our translation into thy kingdome where iustice inhabiteth where we also shall inhabit and reigne with thee according to thy promise for euer Grant vs these things O mercifull father for thy deere Sonne our Lord Iesus Christes sake in whose name we craue them at thy mercifull hand praieng furthermore for them as he hath taught vs to praie Our Father c. Psalme 72. Another praier for the prosperous estate and flourishing reigne of our right vertuous souereigne Queene Elizabeth O GOD without whose wisedome no kingdome can stand who of a speciall consideration hast ordeined this kingdome in the familie of Dauid teach our Queene Elizabeth whome thou hast appointed the rules of right gouernement teach I saie the Daughter of this thy Dauid whome thou hast chosen to thy selfe the rule of righteousnesse that she may iustlie gouerne not hir people but thine especiallie that she may defend the poore against the iniuries of the mightie thus the people being scattered heere and there in the mountaines and hilles being safe vnder a iust gouernment shall abound with all the commodities of peace Grant this vnto hir that she being far from all tyrannie may be a sure refuge for the poore that she may comfort the families oppressed with pouertie and iniuries that she may keepe vnder y e false accusers with most sharpe punishment so will it come to passe O Lord that the state of this kingdome being ordered by thine authoritie all men as it is meete shall acknowledge and feare thee and not for anie short continuance of time but that the Sunne and Moone shall sooner ceasse their course than thou shalt faile to be woorshipped And thou againe wilt powre downe vpon thy people from heauen all good things like a showre comming downe vpon the new mowne medowes and none otherwise than thou vsest to water the earth with showers in due season whilest Elizabeth reigneth thus gouerned by thy grace and holie spirit the iust shall flourish and great peace shall be so continued as is the firme course of the starres and the Queene hir selfe shall haue dominion from the one sea to the other euen frō Euphrates to the farthest coasts of the earth The inhabitants of the countries of the desert shall come vnder hir yoke falling downe vnder hir feet and hir enimies falling downe before hir shall licke the dust of the earth The kings of Silicia and of the Ilands shall offer presents vnto hir The Ethiopians also and the Arabians shall bring hir gifts finallie all Kings shall haue hir in admiration for hir renowme and vertue and all nations shall reuerence hir name and maiestie For hir righteousnesse shall bee praised through out all the whole world because she heareth the crie of the poore and doth defend the needie forsaken of other She hath mercie on them that are needie and she refresheth those that are in danger of their life She defendeth the poore against the iniurie of the mightie neither doth she suffer the violence done vnto them to be vnreuenged Therefore thou O God wilt keepe hir safe and gold shall be brought vnto hir out of the midst of Arabia all men shall make
of Sathan and of enimies visible and inuisible Expell farre from me the hautinesse of mind and increase within me the sorowe of hart diminish my pride and establish true humilitie within my breast fetch teares from mine eies mollifie mine hard and stonie hart and saue Lord both me and my soule from all traps of the enimie and continue me in thy pleasure Teach mee to doo thy will for thou art my God Giue me perfect sense and vnderstanding O Lord that I may be able to conceiue the deepnesse of thy mercie Grant me grace to beg that at thy hands which may both be ioifull for thee to grant and behoofull for me to receiue Make me vnfeinedlie to be waile my sinnes and manifold offences Heare O my Lord and my God heare O light of mine eies heare my petition and grant that what I request I may obtaine If thou despisest me I am vtterly vndone if thou hearest me I take hart againe if thou examinest my righteousnesse lo I stinke like a dead carion but if in mercie thou respect me thou raisest him that stinketh out of the graue What thou hatest in me remooue farre from me and ingraffe the spirit of chastitie and of a cleane life in my mind that in asking anie thing at thine hands I may not offend thee in asking the same Take from me whatsoeuer is hurtfull to my soule and giue whatsoeuer is behoofull O Lord giue me a salue to heale my greeuous wounds Indue me good Lord with thy feare with sorowe of hart with humilitie of mind and with a pure conscience Giue me grace Lord to keepe brotherlie concord euermore to remember my transgressions not to meddle with the dealing of other men or women Pardon my soule pardon my sinnes my wickednesse pardon O pardon mine offences visit me that am weake cure me that am sicke heale me that doo languish and raise me which am dead O Lord giue me both an hart to dread thee a mind to loue thee sense to knowe thee eares to heare thee eies to see thee Haue mercie on me O God haue mercie on me looke vpon me from the holie seat of thy Maiestie and illuminate the darknesse of mine hart with the beames of thy brightnesse Giue me wisedome O Lord to discerne betweene good and euill and grant me a watchfull vnderstanding Forgiue all my sinnes I beseech thee and in this time of necessitie and trouble be thou good and gratious to me I onlie beseech thee After thy woonted mercie and most louing kindnesse O Lord I beseech thee vouchsafe to giue me the life which euer shall endure O Lord Iesus Christ giue both to thy ministers vnitie of mind and to magistrates iudging vprightlie peace and tranquillitie Furthermore O Lord my request is for the whole catholike and holie Church for men and women for religious and for secular men for all Christian gouernours and people beleeuing in thy name which labour for thine holie loue that they may haue grace to continue in well-dooing O Lord eternall King giue to virgins chastitie to the vnmaried continencie to the wedded puritie to repenters mercie to widowes and orphans comfort to the poore protection to trauellers a safe returne to mourners consolation to sea-faring men a ioifull hauen to the good zeale to persist to the well inclined a mind to prooue better to the wicked and sinfull as to me a wretch and chiefe of sinners grace with speed to repent O sooeete Lord and most mercifull Iesus Christ Sonne of the liuing God redeemer of the world I acknowledge that among all and aboue all sinners I am most wretched but thou most gratious and high Father who takest mercie vpon all canst not suffer me to be vtterlie destitute of thy mercie O thou Lord King of kings who grantest truce of life stir in mee a mind alwaie and aboue all things to seeke to desire to loue to feare thee and to doo thy will who art euerie-where all whole a Trinitie and but one God Especiallie O Lord holie Father who art blessed and glorious for euermore I beseech thee in most humble sort vouchsafe to gouerne and keepe them from destruction who either doo make mention of me in their praiers or haue commended themselues to mine vnwoorthie supplications or haue done good whether it bee vnto my bodie with temporall benefits or to my soule with profitable instructions or be linked vnto me either in kindred friendship or good-will Furthermore both for all Christians which are aliue I praie thee stand thou at their elbowe to assist them and for such also as are dead and euerlastinglie doo rest from their labours I yeeld thee immortall praise Finallie this one thing more grant me O Lord I doo earnestlie beseech thee who art Alpha and Omega that when the vttermost daie and end of my life shall come thou wilt be a mercifull iudge to me against that malicious accuser the diuell and that thou wilt continuallie protect me against the snares of the old Serpent and finallie conduct me into the societie of Angels and of all Saints in thine holie paradise who art blessed now and euermore Amen Another praier for grace and newnesse of life O Lord my God giue me grace from the verie bottome of mine hart to desire thee in desiring to seeke thee in seeking to find thee in finding to loue thee in louing vtterlie to loath my former wickednesse O Lord my GOD giue I beseech thee to mine hart repentance to my spirit contrition to mine eies a fountaine of teares to mine hands liberalitie vnto the poore O my King quench in me the desires of the flesh and inflame within my breast the fire of thy loue Driue awaie from me the spirit of pride O my redeemer and of thy mercie bestowe vpon me the treasure of thine humilitie O my Sauiour remooue from my mind the rage of wrath and gratiouslie giue me the sheeld of patience Plucke euen from the verie roote of mine hart the rancor of malice O my Creator and make me to enioie the sweetnesse of a quiet mind Giue me O most louing Father a sound faith a right hope and a constant loue O my gouernour driue awaie farre from me all vanitie and suffer me to haue neither an vnconstant nor a wandering hart nor a scurrilous mouth nor a proud looke nor a greedie bellie nor a slandering tongue nor itching eares after curiositie nor a couetous mind after riches nor polling hands to abuse my power nor ambitious motions to get vaine glorie let both cursed hypocrisie and poisoned flatterie and proud contempt of the poore and violent oppression of the weake let both burning couetousnesse and cankered enuie with damnable blaspheming of thy name be alwaies farre from me thy seruant O my maker make a large distance betweene me and rashnesse betweene me and wickednesse betweene me and frowardnesse betweene me and vnquietnesse betweene me and idlenesse betweene me and drowsinesse betweene me and blockishnesse Grant that mine hart prooue
God Grant also that both being in bed asleepe and awake we may alwaies remember our death which is a passing to an immortall life and withall our ioifull resurrection to euerlasting glorie Finallie at our last gaspe when our harts pant our strength faileth our sight departeth our hearing is deafe our mouth dumbe when our feet cannot go nor our hands feele when all our senses forsake vs giue vs O blessed Trinitie some sense of eternall life that we may tast in this world the beginning of thine euerlasting ioie and at our departure out of this world behold by faith thy diuine presence and so sleepe quietlie to eternall life Amen Amen Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord into thy hands we commend our soules because thou hast redeemed vs. Lord Iesu receiue our spirits At mid-night if you happen to awake praie HAue mercie vpon me O God after thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies doo awaie mine offenses Turne thy face from my sinnes and put out all my misdeeds Make me a cleane hart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holie spirit from me I will remember thee O God in my bed and thinke vpon thee now that I am waking because thou hast beene mine helper Euen now in the night season while thou holdest mine eies waking I saie will I thinke of thee my creator and make my praiers vnto thee my redeemer and God of my life that my soule may not refuse hir comfort In my bed now by night will I seeke thee whom my soule loueth O let me find thee and my soule embrace thee For with my soule doo I desire thee now in the night season and with my spirit within me will I seeke thee in the morning Yea at mid-night I will arise vp to giue thanks vnto thee O Lord because of thy righteous iudgements and in the night watches I will lift vp my hands towards thy holie place and blesse thee and powre out my hart before thee and saie Haue mercie vpon me O God haue mercie on me a most miserable sinner From the snares of the diuell O Lord deliuer me from the mid-night euill defend me and in the houre of death helpe me Our father which art in heauen c. Meditation AT mid-night there was a crie made Behold the bridegrome commeth go out to meet him blessed are those virgins whom the Lord when he commeth shall find waking O my soule let vs therfore take héed watch and praie that wée may bée found prepared with our Lamps burning readie to enter with our spouse and Lord Iesus vnto the wedding In the night when you heare the clocke strike praie THE clocke of our conscience dooth ring euerie minute the houre of death to be at hand O mercifull God grant vnto me therefore I beseech thee a happie houre blessed departure out of this life whensoeuer it shall please thee to call me hence and cause my soule to flie out of this bodie Be mercifull vnto me O God be mercifull vnto me a most miserable sinner and deliuer me from the houre of temptation death and damnation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Meditation HE that hath ears to heare let him heare The daie of the Lord will come as a théefe in the night Watch therefore because yée know neither the daie the time nor the houre when the sonne of man will come to iudgement VVhen you giue your selfe to sleepe againe and commend your selfe last to God Praie INto the hands of thy vnspeakable mercie O Lord I commend my wretched soule and bodie my senses speech counsell thoughts works all things belonging vnto me my lieng downe and rising vp my faith and conuersation the whole course and end of my life the daie and houre of my departure out of this world finallie my death buriall rest and resurrection beseeching thee O Lord now suffer mine eies to sleepe mine eie lids to slumber the temples of my head to take some rest that my bed may comfort me and my couch giue me some refreshing Grant that I may so sleepe gouerne and end my life that I may sleepe in peace and rest in thee Sticke thou to me O my God euen to the end that sleepe with rest and rest with quietnesse quietnesse with euerlastingnesse may receiue me For lo I giue my selfe once againe to sleepe and rest in the name of thee O Father Sonne and holie Ghost euermore crieng and saieng Haue mercie on me O glorious Deitie Haue mercie on me O triumphant humanitie Haue mercy on me O blessed Trinitie and receiue my spirit yea rather thy spirit into thy holy hands send me a ioifull resurrection with all thy Saints elect people Amen Amen The Conclusion NOt vnto vs O Alpha not vnto vs O Omega but vnto thy name O Iehoua be giuen all the glorie for thy louing mercie and for thy truths sake For thou hast directed the thoughts of our harts and prospered the works of our hands vpon vs euen thou I saie O Lord hast gouerned all our counsels enterprises from heauen hast gratiouslie wrought all our works for vs. O let our mouthes therfore be filled with thy praise and make vs continuallie thankefull that we may giue woorthie honor and glorie to thée for so great graces and manifold benefits bestowed vpon vs. And now forsomuch as thou hast giuen euerie one of vs that portion of thy graces that hath pleased thée and hast commanded vs to occupie and vse them to thy honor till thou come grant vs whether we haue receiued little or much that we doo not idelie or slothfullie neglect our dutie herein Suffer vs not I saie O swéet Christ with the rest of the world to fall asléep in the pleasant vanities of this life and to forget the waiting for thy comming but rather stirre vs vp by thy holie spirit faithfullie to vse thy gifts giuen vnto vs and in all warie watching fasting and earnest praier continuallie to prosper and go forward in our holie calling prouoking one another by good example to followe thée in true worship and due obedience and grant that all ambition vaine glorie hypocrisie and dissimulation being remooued our chéefe care may be in all our dooings studies and labours euer to séeke the increase of thine honor and the aduancement of thy kingdome and so with a single eie respecting the praise which is of thée looke and wait for the reward and recompense of our labours not of men but of thée that in that daie of thy second comming which shall be sudden and fearefull to the wicked we may with ioie and comfort méet thy sonne in the aire and when thou shalt heare our accounts we may also receiue of thée through our redéemer Iesus not onlie praise and commendation as thy good and faithfull seruants whose liues are hid in thée but also obtaine the finall