wretchednesse faithfully to call for helpe of thée Yea good Lord giue me grace to order my life and the workes of my body soule with actuall intent to please thée that through thy merites and mercie at the end I may obtaine the reward of thy infinite ioy and eternall felicitie Let the water and bloud which can from thy blessed heart bee powerfull to wash my soule from sinne and iniquitie and to purchase mee abundāce of thy grace faithfully to serue thée O my Lord my might my life my light lead me féede me and spéede me in the pilgrimage of this mortalitie graunt me O Lord by the merits of thy passion and power of thy most excellent and glorious godhead whatsoeuer thy Wisedome knoweth most expediēt for me which howsoeuer in my miserable life I am most vnworthy of yet vouchsafe them vnto me all the time of my pilgrimage but specially at the houre of death when I shall be accused before thée haue mercie on mee breake my froward heart and make it obedient to thée Preserue me also good Lord from sodaine and vnprouided death and of thy owne singular grace and goodnesse graunt mee these supplications in this prayer which now I haue made to thée according to thy will Yea by thine owne mediation purchase for mee and bestow vpon mee a holy life and blessed ending and grant I beséech thée after my bodily death euerlasting life with endlesse blisse and felicitie thorow thy merites and bitter passion O Lord Iesu who with the Father and the holy Spirit liuest and raignest euer one God world without end Holy Trinitie one very God haue mercie on me Amen A deuout prayer to our Lord Iesu Christ O My soueraigne Lord Iesu the very sonne of almightie God and of the most cleane and glorious virgin Marie who sufferedst bitter death for my sake and all mankind and diddest rise againe the third day I beseech thée Lord haue mercie vpon me that am a wretched sinner but yet thy creature and for thy precious passion saue mee and kéepe me from al perils bodily and ghostly and specially from all things that might turne to thy displeasure And with all my heart I thanke thee most mercifull Lord for thy great mercies that thou hast shewed me in the great dangers that I haue béen in as well in my soule as in my body and that thy grace and endlesse mercie hath euer kept me spared me and saued me from the houre of my birth to this present time For these I say and al other thy mercies I humblie thanke thée Lord Iesus Christ further desiring thée that thy mercie may preserue me alway And I crie thée mercie with all my whole heart for my great offences for my great vnkindnes for all my wretched and sinfull life and for this in particular that I haue not or cannot leade my selfe as becommeth thy seruant I thanke thée also with all my heart my most gracious Lord for the benefites and graces that thou hast giuen mee so largely in this world afore many other of thy creatures vpon whom if it had béene so thy good pleasure thou mightest a thousand times better haue bestowed them than vpon me But most gracious Lord I wot and knowledge verily that it commeth of thée wherefore with all my heart I thanke thee continually crying and saying all honour praise and glorie bee vnto thée O Iesu with the Father and the holy Ghost for euer and euer Amen Another prayer for an householder O Lord GOD almightie most mercifull and heauenly father thorough Christ I fréely confesse that thou art my life my soule and my bodie yea al the good which I haue and all whatsoeuer is mine hast thou giuen vnto me that of thine owne singular grace and goodnes Now sith of thee I haue receiued it and in me there is corruption to abuse it make vpright and order thou O Lord God of heauen all that is in my house And teach mee and mine to handle and guide all these outward things after thy godlie will we being thereby more and more prouoked to loue thée and in thée and for thée euery one of vs to profit another I say vnto thée I beléeue Lorde helpe my vnbeléefe And yet in this weakenes I cannot but intreate thée not to forsake me nor my wife my children nor any of my householde Defend vs Lord from sin before thée from shame in the world and from sicknes in our selues according to thy good pleasure Send vs thy holy Angell to guide and guarde vs that so wee may be defended in the whole course of our liues and may be lead forth the right way so as we may not talke doe or thinke any thought against thy holy commaundements and will but thereafter to liue worshipping thée and praising thée for euermore thorough Christ Iesus our Lord thy onely welbeloued Sonne Amen Blessed be the Father the Son and the holy Ghost Let vs praise him and exalt him world without end Amen An other Prayer ALmightie GOD our heauenly Father in Iesus Christ wée vnfeinedly confesse before thée that thy mercie and goodnes towards vs is infinite and without measure It is thy mercie and no goodnes that is in vs or of vs which mooued thée to send into the worlde thine onely begotten and eternall Sonne to take our nature vpon him and therein to worke the mysterie of our redemption and saluation as thou hadst appointed and spoken before by the mouthes of all thy Prophets which were from the beginning And likewise it was thy blessed will thy mercie and goodnes towardes vs that thy heauenly Sonne did suffer persecution trouble and aduersitie was betraied of his owne friend and disciple Iudas traiterously taken caried awaie to bée falsly accused and vniustly condemned to bee cruelly beaten scourged and finally with most scornefull rebukes to be put to the most painfull shamefull death that could bée deuised All this O heauenly Father was doone through thy mercy and blessed will for our sakes that not only to answere and satisfie thy iust wrath and anger which we had deserued and dayly doe deserue both for the offences of our first parents our actuall transgressing of thy holy commādements but also to restore vs againe to thy grace and fauour to indue vs with thy heauenly gifts that wée might serue thée in holynes and righteousnes all the dayes of our life And finally to make vs by the benefite of thy dearely beloued Sonnes passion and also through the price of his most precious bloud partners with him of his infinite and vnspeakeable glory and blisse in heauen Wherefore O heauenly Father wee béeséech thée powre vppon vs thy holy spirit and make vs in our hearts clearely to sée comfortably to féele and most stedfastly to beléeue this thine infinit gracious goodnes shewed and giuen vnto vs in thine owne sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ and with this beliefe make vs to put all our confidence and hope
firie anger of thy threatning is aboue all measure heauie to sinners but the mercie of thy promise is great and vnsearchable for thou art the Lord God most high aboue all the earth long suffering and excéeding mercifull and sorie for the malice of men I haue prouoked thine anger and haue done euill before thee in committing abominations and multiplying of offences And now I bowe the knées of my heart requiring goodnes of thee O Lord I haue sinned Lord I haue sinned and knowe my wickednesse I desire thee by prayer O Lord forgiue mee O Lord forgiue me and destroy me not with mine iniquities neither doe thou alwayes remember my euils to punish them but saue me which am vnworthie after thy great mercie and I wil praise thee euerlastingly all the dayes of my life for all the power of heauen prayseth thée and vnto thée belongeth all glorie world without ende Amen A prayer of Ieremy Iere. 17. HEale me O Lord and I shall be whole saue thou me and I shall bee saued for thou art my praise Be not thou terrible vnto me O Lord for thou art he in whom I hope When I am in perill let my persecutors be confounded but not me Thou shalt bring vpon them the time of their plague and shalt destroy them right soone Amen A prayer of Ephraim or Israel in the Prophet Ieremie Ierem. 31. O Lord thou hast chastened me and thy chastening haue I receiued as an vntamed calfe conuert thou me and I shall be conuerted for thou art my Lord God for as soone as thou diddest turne me I repented my selfe and when I vnderstood I smote vpon my thigh I confessed and was ashamed because I suffered the reproach of my youth The prayer of Iesus the sonne of Sirach in necessitie and for wisedome Eccles the last chap. I Thanke thee O Lorde and King and praise thée O God my Sauiour I will yéeld praises vnto thy name Thou hast deliuered my body from destruction for thou art my defender and helper from the snare of the false tongue and from them that are occupied in lyes Thou hast béene my helper from such as rose against me and hast deliuered me according to thy great mercie and thy holy names sake thou hast deliuered mee from the roaring of them that prepared themselues to deuoure me out of the hands of such as sought after my life from the multitude of them that trouble me and went about to set fire vpon me on euerie side so that I was not brent in the middest of the fire From the déepe of hell thou deliueredst mee from the vncleane tongue from lying words from the wicked iudge and from the vnrighteous tongue My soule shall praise the Lord vnto the death for my life drew neere vnto hel downeward they compassed mee round about on euery side and there was no man to helpe mee I looked about mee if there were any man that would succour mee and there was none Then thought I vpon thy mercie O Lord and vpon the acts that thou hast done of olde namely that thou deliuerest such as put their trust in thée and riddest them out of the handes of the false Paynimes Thus lifted I vp my prayer from the earth and prayed for deliuerance from death I called vpon the Lord my Father that hée would not leaue mee without help in the day of my trouble and in the time of the proude I will praise thy name continually yéelding honour and thankes vnto it and so my prayer was heard Thou sauedst me from destruction and deliueredst me from the vnrighteous time Therefore will I acknowledge and praise thee and magnifie the name of the Lord. When I was but young ere euer I went astray I desired wisedome openly in prayer I came therefore before the temple and sought it very busily and I will séeke for it to my last houre Then will it flourish vnto me as a grape that is soone ripe My heart reioyced in it then went my feate the right way yea from my youth vp sought I after it I bowed downe mine eare a little and receiued it I found in myselfe much wisdome and prospered greatly in it Therefore will I giue the glorie vnto him that giueth me wisedome for I am aduised to doe thereafter I will be iealous to cleaue vnto that that is good so shal I not be confounded My soule hath wrestled with it I lifted vp my hands on high then was my soule lightened through wisedome that I acknowledged my foolishnes I ordered my soule after it I found her in cleanenesse I had my heart in it from the beginning and therefore shall not I be forsaken My hart longeth after it and therefore I got a good treasure Through it the Lord hath giuen mee a new tongue werewith I will praise him Oh come vnto me yee vnlearned and dwell in the house of discipline withdraw not your selues from it but commune on these things for your soules are very thirstie I opened my mouth and spake O come and buy wisdome without money and bowe downe your necke vnder her yoke and let your soule receiue discipline it is euen at hand and readie to be found Behold with your eyes how I haue had but little labour and yet haue much rest Oh receiue wisedome and you shall receiue plentie of siluer and golde in your possession let your minde reioyce in her mercie and be not ashamed of her praise worke your worke betimes and shee shall giue you your reward in due time A prayer to our Lord Iesus Christ MOst mercifull Lorde Iesus Christ which wast sent from the most highest tower of the father almightie into this world to relieue sinners to gather together them that were scattered abroade to redeeme them which were punished to loose them that were in prison to their countrie againe to heale them that were sore to comfort them that were wayling and sorrowful Vouchsafe I beseech thée of thy singular goodnes to comfort mee in the punishment that I am in And thou Lord Iesu Christ that diddest restore mankind in peace and concord to the high inheritance of Paradize whom thou boughtest with thy precious bloud and diddest make peace betwéene God men vouchsafe to assure euen thy singular mercie towards me cause me to féele reconciliation betwéene me and mine enemies and vouchsafe to shew thy glorie vpon mee and to quench the anger of them al and put away from me their hatred and cease the malice that they beare against mee and as thou diddest not onelie allaie Esau his malice against his brother Iacob but also diddest deliuer Iacob from the same so asswage the rage of my enemies and deliuer me with thine almightie power from them that owe mee malice and from their laying await and desires as thou diddest deliuer Abraham from the hands of the Chaldées and Ioseph from the hands of his brethren Lot from the citie of Sodome thy seruants Moses and Aaron from the power of Pharao
sicke thou canst heale me Though I bee dead and buried thou canst reuiue mee For thy mercie is much more then mine iniquitie Thou canst forgiue me more then I can offend Therefore O Lord do not consider nor haue respect to the number of my sins and to the grieuousnes therof but according to the greatnes of thy mercie forgiue mee and haue mercie on me most wretched sinner Say vnto my soule I am thy saluation and the rather speak this again because thou hast said and alwayes performed it I will not the death of a sinner but rather that hee liue and bee conuerted and turne to me O Lord be not angrie with me I pray thée most meeke father for thy great mercie sake yea I most humbly beseech thée that thou wouldest for Christ Iesus sake vouchsafe to bring me to blisse that neuer shall cease Amen Another Prayer O Bountifull Iesu O sweete Iesu O Iesu the sonne of the pure Virgin Mary full of mercie and truth after thy great mercy haue pittie on mee I pray thée by the same precious bloud which for vs miserable sinners thou wast content to shed on the altar of the crosse that thou wilt vouchsafe cleane to remoue and take away all my wickednes and not to despise mee I humbly requiring this and that in and for thy most holy and blessed name O Lord Iesus This name of thine Iesus is the name of health what is Iesus but a Sauiour O my Sauiour Iesus Christ that hast created and redéemed me with thy precious bloud suffer me not to be damned whom thou hast made of naught and whom thou hast redéemed with a most precious ransome Oh let not my wickednesse destroy that thy almightie goodnes hath made and formed Lord Iesu reknowledge that which is thine indéed and wipe cleane away that which withdraweth or withholdeth me from thée Now and in all time of mercie haue mercie one mee and confound not me in the time of thy terrible iudgemēt And though I wretched sinner for my most grieuous offences haue by thy very iustice deserued eternall paine yet I doe appeale from that exact righteousnesse of thine to thy singular goodnesse and stedfastly trust in thine vnspeakeable mercie wherefore I pray thée as a louing father and mercifull Lord to take pittie on me Lord Iesu what profit is my bloud séeing I must descend into eternall corruption eternally They that bee dead shall not magnifie thee nor likewise all they that go to hell O most mercifull Iesu haue mercie on me therefore and deliuer me yea be alwayes comfortable vnto me and accept me a wretched sinner into the number of them that shall be saued And fith thou art the health of all them that trust in thee and thou hast giuen grace in some measure to beléeue haue mercie on me endue me with thy grace wisedome charitie chastitie and humilitie yea and in all mine aduersities vphold me with stedfast patience so that I may sincerely loue thee and in thée waite and looke to be glorified and haue mine onely delight in thee world without end Amen Another Prayer O Glorious King which among thy Saints art praised and neuerthelesse incomparable thou art in vs Lord and thy name hath béene called vpon by vs. Therefore doe not forsake vs Lord God and in the day of iudgement vouchsafe to glorifie vs among thy saints and elect O blessed King Amen If thou be sicke or in tribulation say thus LOrd God which doest punish and scourge thy people not after their deseruing neither yet to destroy them but to conuert them mercifully to thée and yet notwithstanding knowest that thorough our frailties wee are readie in the middest of thy corrections to fall away graunt vs we pray thée and that for Iesus Christs sake the strength and comfort of thy blessed spirit that to the glorie of thy name other mens good and our owne consolation wee may both patiently beare and graciously profit by and at the last bee mightily deliuered from this maladie which worthily wee doe suffer as the chastisement of our sinne and the time of faith Amen A very godly and necessarie prayer to bee sayde most specially at the houre of death O LORD Iesu Christ which art the health of all men liuing and euerlasting life to them that beléeue in thée and dye in thy faith I wretched sinner giue ouer and submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will I being sure by the promises of thy worde and the pledge of thy spirit that the thinge cannot perish which is committed to thy mercie In full perswasion whereof O Lord giue me grace that willingly I may leaue this fraile and wretched flesh in hope of the resurrection which in most perfect manner shall restore it mee againe And further I beséech thée most mercifull Lord that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all temptations And that thou wilt so couer and defend mée with the buckler of mercie against all assaultes of the Diuel that he may not any manner of way preuaile vpon me I see and acknowledge there is in my selfe no hope of saluation but all my confidence hope and trust is in thy most mercifull goodnes I haue no merites nor good workes at all which I may any manner of way alleadge before thée sinnes and euill workes alas I sée a great yea an innumerable and infinite heape notwithstanding through thy mercie I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes but take and accept me for righteous and iust and to be the inheritour of euerlasting life in and by the obedience of thy sonne and my Sauiour who was borne for my sake who did suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake who did both preach and teach for my sake who did pray and fast for my sake who did all good workes and déedes for my sake who suffered most grieuous and painfull torments for my sake and finally who gaue his most precious body to dye and bloud to bee shed vpon the crosse for my sake Now therefore most mercifull Sauiour I humbly beséech thee which hast giuen thy selfe for mee to make all these things and euery other grace of thine which thou hast fréely giuen me profitable to me and powerfull in me Let thy bloude clense mee and wash away the spottes and foulenes of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my vnrighteousnes by the merits of thy passion and bloud which I acknowledg to be the onely price of satisfaction for my sins offences Strengthen me so good Lord by thy grace that my faith and saluation in thy bloud wauer not in me but may euer bée firme and constant Lord let not the hope of thy mercie and life euerlasting euer decay in mee but let it alwayes rest and be felt pourefully in me and that euen to and in the last gaspe And graunt further I pray thée that charitie ware not cold in me finally that the
mée iudging mée according vnto the same I were not able to suffer or abide it but must needes perish and be damned for euer So little helpe comfort or sucour is there either in me or in any other creature whatsoeuer Only this is my cōfort O heauenly father the thou diddest not spare thy only dearely beloued Son but diddest giue him vp vnto the most bitter most vile and slaunderous death of the Crosse for mee that so hee might in his obedience pay the ransome for my sinnes satisfie thy iudgement still and pacifie thy wrath recōcile mée vnto thée againe purchase mée thy grace and fauour and euerlāsting life Wherefore through the merites of his most bitter death and passion through his innocent bloudshedding I beséech thee O heauenly Father that thou wilt vouchsafe to bee gracious mercifull vnto mee to forgiue and pardon me all my sinnes to lighten my heart with thy holy Spirit to renew confirme and strengthen mee with a right and stedfast faith and to enflame mee in loue towardes thee and my neighbour for thy sake that I may henceforth with a willing and a glad heart walke as it becommeth mee in the obedience of thy most godly and most blessed Commandements and so glorifie and praise thée euerlastingly and also that I may with a frée conscience a quiet spirit in al manner of temptations afflictions and necessities and euen in the very pangs of death boldly faithfully say I beleeue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Mary Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate Was crucified dead and buried Hée descended into hell The third day hée rose againe from the dead Hee ascended into Heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almightie from thence he shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beléeue in the holy Ghost The holy Catholike Church The communion of Saints The forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie And the life euerlasting Amen But O Lord heauenly Father to comfort my selfe in afflictions temptations with the assured féeling of these Articles of the Christiā faith it is not in my power for faith is thy gift And therefore forasmuch as thou wilt be praied vnto and called vpon for it I come vnto thée to pray and beséech thée both for that for al my other necessities bodily and spirituall euen as thy dearely beloued sonne our Sauiour Christ Iesus himselfe hath taught vs and from the very bottome of my heart I cry and say vnto thée Our Father which art in heauē halowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will bée done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our dailie bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euill For thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen vnto the lappe of thy pitie For loe thou art my hope and trust in whom I onely repose my selfe hauing in thee ful confidence and faith so that now I may say with a very faithfull heart trusting in thy mercie I beléeue in thee O God the Father in thee O God the Sonne and in thee O God the holy Ghost thrée persons and one true and also verie God besides whom I acknowledge none other God in heauen aboue nor in earth beneath And yet I poore sinner cannot but accuse my selfe vnto thee deare Father that I haue fore and grieuously offended thy almightie goodnesse and Maiestie in the committing of mine exceeding grieuous and manifold sins and wickednes For I haue not kept the least of thy most godly and blessed commaundementes like as thy righteousnes may require indéed doth demād the same of me I haue not I say honoured thee like my God dread thée like my Lord loued thée like my father nor trusted in thee like my creator my sauiour Thy holy and dreadful name vnto which al glory honour belongeth haue I vsed in vaine I haue not sanctified the Sabboth day with workes which bee acceptable to thée nor instructed my neighbour in vertue accordingly I haue not honored my parents nor bin obedient vnto thē through whom as by an instrumēt thou hast wrought my comming into this world The high powers and rulers which receiue authoritie of thee I haue not willingly obeyed I haue not kept my heart pure and cleane from malice and manslaughter yea had not thy grace and mercy defended mee the better I should haue committed the verie deede also I likewise am not pure from theft nor from adulterie nor frō false witnesse bearing but haue in my heart and mind wished and desired my nighbours goods and thinges I haue followed the great Prince of this Worlde Sathan which hath been a lyer from the beginning in concupiscence of the flesh in pride of liuing in deceiptfulnes in lecherie in hatred and also enuie in backbiting in despaire and also misbeléefe And as I haue abused my will vnderstanding which are faculties and powers of my soule so my senses also which thou hast giuen mee to vse to thy glorie and my neighbours good and mine own lawfull delight I haue misused and mispent in hearing séeing smelling tasting and feeling also things that I should not or else suffring thē to be too violētly caried to things I might haue vsed But in what manner soeuer that I haue offended and sinned against thy eternall Maiestie for no man knoweth throughly his sinnes as the Prophet witnesseth whether it hath béen by day or else by night yea euen from my childhood vnto this day were it in workes wordes or thoughts secretly or openly O my mercifull God I am sorie for it euen from the very bottome of my heart yea my soule mourneth for very sorowe most mercifull Father that I am not a thousand times more sorie than I am howbeit in token of great repentance though all hearts bée knowne well enough vnto thée I doe knocke strike my breast and say in bitternesse of heart and soule Lord GOD the Father Sonne and holy Ghost haue mercie Spare mee of thine infinite mercie deare Lord now and all the daies of my life let me bee made partakers of thine abundant grace in such sort that I may chaunge my sinfull life and put thou out of mee the olde man with al his concupisences and lustes graunting mee grace dayly to die vnto the world and that the world may bée crucified vnto mee and I so dayly goe forward in newnes of life Strengthen mee O Lord in a true humble heart in sound loue hope and trust in thée giue my soule grace to desire in thée onely to reioyce and repose my selfe that I may vtterly renounce and forsake the vaine assistance of this world so that thou mayst finde me readie to méete
patience in trouble HOw hast thou O Lord humbled and plucked me downe I dare now vnneath make my prayers vnto thée for thou art angrie with me but not without my deseruing Certainely I haue sinned Lord I will coÌ„fes it I wil not deny it But O god pardoÌ„ my trespasses relese my debts make me to féele again and the effectually continually also thy grace within me stop my wounds for I am all to plagued and beaten yet Lord this notwithstanding I do abide patiently and giue my attendaÌ„ce on thée coÌ„tinually waiting for helpe at thy hands that not without som knowledge beléefe of thy truth for I haue receiued a token of thy fauour and grace towardes mée I meane thy word of promise concerning Christ who for me was offered on the Crosse for a ransome sacrifice and price for my sins Wherfore according to that thy promise defend mee Lord by thy right hand and giue a gracious eare to my requestes bee thou my stay in perils for all mens stayes are but vaine Beate downe therefore my enemies thine own selfe with thy power which art mine onely ayd and protector O Lord God almighty Amen The humble confession of Iob in his most grieuous aduersitie and losse of goods children and all Iob. 1. NAked I came out of my Mothers wombe and naked shall I returne againe the Lord gaue and the Lord hath taken away as it hath pleased the Lord so is it done now blessed be the name of the Lord. Amen In great trouble of conscience Psal 143. LOrd heare my prayer receiue my supplication hearken to my plaint for thy righteousnes Trie not the law with thy seruants for truly then shal no liuing man be found vnguiltie yea not one of the saints should escape quit at the bar vnlesse thou graunt him thy gracious pardon in so much as the very starres be not pure and faulties before thée in the Angels thou foundedst sin O Lord mine enemies grieuously hunt my soule they beate driue it downe they thrust it into darke dungeons where felloÌ„s conuict and condemned to death were wont to be kept my spirit is sorowfull my heart is heauy sad within my breast to thée I hold vp my hands requiring thee of mercie For like as the dry ground longeth for a shower of raine so my soule thinketh long til it hath thy help and succour heare mee therefore spéedily if thou do not I am in despaire my spirit is all weary of this bondage I haue bidden my life fare well Wherefore O God hyde not thy face that I bee not likened to those that be hurled into the pit of damnation after this night of miserie ouerpassed let the pleasant morning of comfort graciously shine vppon mee that betimes I may heare and féele thy goodnes for in thée is al my trust point me the way that I shall walke in for if thou bee not my guide I must néedes wander and stray out of the way To thée Lord I lift vp my soule and that with all mine heart I beséech thée take mee foorth of mine enemies handes Thou onely art my succour and sauegard teach me to worke whatsoeuer shall be thy pleasure for thou art my God let thy good spirite conduct mée into the land of the liuing raise vp my spirite within mee for thy names sake bring me foorth of all these troubles for thy righteousnes deliuer mee destroy mine enemies as thou art gracious fauourable towards me Those that wil worke me any sorrow or griefe pluck foorth of the way for I am thy seruaÌ„t for thy sake suffer I al this hurly burly As thou art God almighty and most mercifull so helpe thou me thy vnworthy seruant who stand in neede of al supportation from thee A prayer in aduersity O Lord God without whose will and pleasure a sparrow doth not fall on the ground seeing it is thy wil and blessed ordinaÌ„ce that I should be in this miserie and aduersitie seeing also thou dost punish mee with aduersitie not to destroy and cast me away but to call me to repentance and saue me for whom thou dost loue him dost thou chasten Furthermore séeing affliction aduersitie worketh patieÌ„ce who so patieÌ„tly heareth tribulatioÌ„ is made like vnto our Sauiour Christ our head Finally séeing that in all trubulation and aduersitie wee are in assurance of comfort at thy gracious hands for thou commandest mee to call vpon thée in the time of tribulation hast promised to heare and succour me graunt me therfore O almighty God and mercifull father in al trouble and aduersitie generally and euen in this particularlie to bee quiet without discouragement and patient without distrustfulnes that so I may haue grace to praise and magnifie thée and to put my whole trust and confidence in thee because thou neuer forsakest them that trust in thee-but workest all for the best to them that loue thee and seeke the glorie of thy name To thee be glorie for euer Amen A thanksgiuing and prayer also to be vsed in the time of prosperitie I Giue thankes vnto thee O God almighty which not onely hast endued mee with the giftes of nature as reason power and strength but also hast plenteously giuen me the substance of this worlde I acknowledge O Lord that these are thy giftes and confesse with the holy Apostle Saint Iames that there is no perfect nor good gift but it commeth froÌ„ thee O Father of light which giuest freely and castest no man in the téeth yea I further in particular acknowledge with the Prophet Aggeus that gold and siluer is thine and to whom it pleaseth thee thou giuest it to the godly that they may be thy disposers distributers thereof and to the vngodly to heape vp their damnation withall Wherefore sith I feele in mine owne heart an inclination to abuse these as other good things I cannot but humblie beseech and desire thée most mercifull God and louing father to frame in mee with thy holy spirite a faithfull heart and ready hand to distribute these thy gifts according to thy pleasure that so I may not lay vp treasure here where théeues may rob and moathes corrupt but may lay vp treasure in thy heauenly kingdome where neither théeues may steale nor moathes corrupt and that onely to mine owne comfort whom of thy mercie thou hast promised to rewarde therefore neither yet alone to the good example of the humble and meeke of thy congregation but also to the glorie of thy name to whom bee all honor and praise world without ende Amen The prayer of Manasses King of Iuda O Lord almightie God of our fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob and of the iust seede of them which hast made heauen and earth with all the ornaments thereof which â—ast ordained the sea by the word of thy commaundement which hast shut vppe the déepe and hast sealed it for thy fearefull and laudable name dreaded of all men and honorable before the face of thy power the
weaknes of my flesh bée not ouercome with the feare of death or any other temptation whatsoeuer Yea graunt me mercifull Sauiour I humbly beséech thee that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my bodie yet that the eyes of my soule may still beholde and looke vpon thée and may assuredly féele thée in my selfe for my selfe to bee the mightie conqueror of death and the deuil sinne and hell and all other enemies of mine whatsoeuer so that when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue and spéech yet that my heart may cry and say vnto thée O Lord into thy hands I giue and commend my spirit Lord Iesus receiue my soule vnto thée Amen The prayer of Salomon for to obtaine wisedome 1 King 2. THOU hast shewed Lord vnto thy seruant Dauid my Father great mercie when hee walked in thy sight in truth and iustice and in vprightnes of heart with thée Thou shewest vnto him thy great mercie and gauest him a sonne sitting vpon his throne as it is at this day And now Lord God thou hast made thy seruant to raigne in the roome of Dauid my Father I am a very babe and know not how to goe out and in And thy seruant is in the middest of an infinite number which thou hast chosen which cannot bee numbred nor counted for multitude Wherefore giue to thy seruant an heart apt to bee taught and full of vnderstanding to iudge thy people that I may discerne betwéene good and bad For who is able to iudge this thy mightie people A prayer for obtaining of wisdome Sapient 9. GOd of our fathers and Lord of mercie thou hast made all things with thy word and ordained man through thy wisedome that hee should haue dominion ouer the creatures which thou hast made that hee should order the world according vnto equitie and righteousnes and execute iudgement with a true heart giue mee wisedome which is euer among the children of Israel For I thy seruant and sonne of thy handmaide am a féeble person of a short time and too young to the vnderstanding of thy iudgements and though a man bee neuer so perfect among the children of men yet if thy wisedome be not with him he shall be nothing worth Oh send thy wisedome out of thy holy heauens and from the throne of thy Maiestie that she may be with me and labour with me that I may knowe what is acceptable in thy sight for she knoweth and vnderstandeth all things and she shall conduct me right soberly in all my workes and preserue mee in her power so shall my workes bee acceptable Amen A prayer for a competent liuing Prouerb 30. TWo things Lord I demand that thou wilt not deny mee vntill I dye vanitie and words of leasings remoue farre from me pouertie or riches giue me not onely giue me that is necessarie for my liuing least being in full abundance I might be prouoked to denie thée and say Who is the Lord or being compelled by necessitie I might steale and forsweare the name of God Another Prayer GOod Lord God and swéete Sauiour Iesus Christ the sonne of the euerlasting God grant vnto me most fraile sinner and miserable wretch this grace and mercie that I may euer haue present before the eyes of my soule thy holy life thine example and behauiour and that according to any measure of mercie thou hast béen pleased or shalt be pleased to bestowe vpon me I may in liuing and manners follow the same And cause mee good Lord to profite grow and increase therein to such a notable measure as may be acceptable vnto thée being thine own grace and comfortable to my selfe as comming from thée for the saluation of my soule Lighten Lord and make cleere and bright my heart with the glorious light of thy grace that it euer may goe before mee and follow mee in all my acts so that by thy grace and power conducting and guiding I may accomplish and fulfill al that may please thy goodnes and vtterly eschue and auoide all that in any wise should displease the same Vouchsafe sweete Sauiour I beséech thée to direct and order all my cogitations and thoughts all my spéech and wordes all mine acts and déedes in thy law and commaundements in thy monitions and counsels and take me good Lord wholly so vnto thée that here in all things doing thy will I by grace may bee one of the soules that thou hast appointed to euerlasting saluation thorough Christ Iesus Amen A deuout prayer to our Lord God O LORD which hast vouchsafed of thy vnspeakeable goodnes to make me and ordaine me thy creature to liue in this transitorie life giuing me a reasonable soule by the which inlightned with the truth of thy word I know thée to be my Lord my God and my maker which also I may in some sort well perceiue by the visible sight of thy wonderfull workes as by heauen the earth and the creatures in them contained together with the commodities blessings that we daylie receiue by them at thy hand all which declare the great loue that thou hadest in our first creation and also doe expresse the singular care and prouidence that yet still thou hast for vs and further doe declare to vs thée to be the only God and Lord ouer all and that there is none aboue thée and that there is no wisdome knowledge power or strength of value besides thée and yet further also thou knowing our necessarie néede of thy holy of thy most louing fauour hast not disdained to say to me and to other thy people by thine owne most blessed word to the great comfort of all our consciences Aske and it shall bee giuen séeke and yee shall finde knocke and it shall be opened to you And yet for further declaration of thy great loue toward vs hast most familiarly sayde If we that be euill can giue vnto our children when they aske good things how much more then shall our heauenly Father giue his holy spirit to them that earnestly desire it What a swéete and comfortable saying is this In confidence of this truth O most blessed Lord I wretched sinner doe aske at thy hands mercie and grace confessing my selfe to bee a most wicked and abominable sinner in thy sight most weake of all other to stand to or in thy truth most fraile to fall and readie to breake all thy holy commandements by the kéeping of which we are knowne to bee thy true seruants O most mercifull Lord God I acknowledge my selfe daylie and hourely to breake the same but where I haue thus offended thy diuine Maiestie I humblie for Christ Iesus sake aske of thee mercie and forgiuenes minding by thy most mightie assistance neuer hereafter to offend in the same And Lord that I may bee the better perswaded of the assured performance of the same I humbly aske and desire thy strength continually to make me stand fast in faith thy knowledge and power from thée to worke thy blessed
will thy might to resist all errour and wicked imaginations thy wisedome to know the truth For I confesse and knowe O Lord that all worldly wit policie knowledge and strength is but foolishnes in thy sight Therefore I aske and continually craue good Lord that helpe and most humbly desire that thy holy spirit may guide all the imaginations thoughts and desires of my heart not onely altering in me my fleshly minde but also inabling me in body soule and spirit to serue thy blessed maiestie for this I know the most perfect amongst men lacking thy wisedome are nothing worth And great reason because the thoughts of mortall men are miserable and our forecastes are vncertaine And why Our nature surely is so vitiated and our will so depraued and our vnderstanding so corrupted that it museth most yea altogether on vaine things Therefore good Lord I beséech thée comfort my sicke soule that it may walke in thy lawes and wayes and worke thy will And Lord like as thou knowest the secrets of my heart and the desires of the same and séest indéede that I would verie earnestly walke in thy trueth and worke the workes of the same truth so Lord I beseech thee refresh my soule according to thy mercifull calling where thou saidst Come to me all that labour and are laden and lowly of heart and you shall finde rest to your soules and I shall refresh you O Lord I miserable sinner would gladly labour in acceptable wayes and haue some care that my good will and desire might not swarue from thée but bee wholy bent towardes thée and like as thou knowest the same to bee vnfained in mee because it is thine own worke So Lord refresh me with thy mercifull grace that now and for euer I may bée stedfast in the true faith and that I may be alwayes obedient vnto thy lawes and commaundements and that I may neuer swarue from the holy and blessed ordinances of thy true and catholike Church which is thy spouse and for the most part speaketh thy words of truth and life but that I may vse them receiue them and honour thée in them so farre forth as they concerne thy worship and are according vnto thy most holy will and pleasure as in things which thou hast left to declare thy loue vnto vs and by them to assure our hope and to exercise our faith that it should not bee idle nor wauering whereunto howsoeuer I bee proue thorough the corruption of my nature and Satans malice against me as I am on the other side vnwilling and vnable to doe that which is good yet O Lord sith all things are possible with thée though they séeme neuer so vnpossible to vs help and reach out thy most mightie and mercifull hand O most louing father I know that by my sins I am not worthie thy blessed comfort nay I am most worthie to be depriued of that and all other fauours but Lord sith thou hast said that in what houre soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sins thou wouldest no more remember them and also thou wouldest not despise the sighing of a contrite heart I am bold in confidence and trust of thy mercie méekly and with a lowly heart to call to thée for grace and helpe in this troublous time of temptation and trying of our faith I am as one laden yea ouer laden with ignorance not knowing the height of thy heauenly misteries nor the deceitfull déepnes of the craftie and subtill arguments and perswasions of my ghostly enemies which daylie doe assault my sinfull soule and so burden the same that it can finde no rest Therefore O Lord like as thou knowest my will and heartie desire is to serue thée notwithstanding these suggestions within me and without me and that I haue a desire to liue and dye in thy most holy faith so Lord I beséech thée neuer suffer the subtill perswasions contrarie to thy truth to take place or roote in my heart But like Lord as thou hast created my heart and giuen me in som measure a will to order the same according to thy blessed will so Lord I humbly yéeld the same againe into thy hands desiring thée by thy holy spirit so to direct my wayes words and workes that now and alwayes they may be accepcable in thy sight And good Lord suffer not my soule to perish which thou hast bought so dearely with thy most precious bloud for the which great mercie sake of thine heretofore shewed vnto mee haue mercie on me continually and mak mee poore in spirit and low of heart and content with my vocation submitting my selfe wholy into thy hands so that my desire may bee to thy will and that no desire remaine in me but onely to doe thy will and pleasure And grant I beséech thée that I may haue none other trust but only in thée which art onely to be trusted and all trust it selfe and none besides thée Graunt further O Lord that my poore soule may rest in thée yea in thée alone for thou hast sayd they shall neuer be confounded that put their trust in thée which trust Lord graunt me neuer to forsake for any vaine trust or temptation or tribulation that may any manner of way fal out to vexe my poore soule but graunt me thy holy spirit to comfort and defend mee from all things that should procure thy displeasure As thou art in Trinitie one God and Lord ouer all which liuest and raignest world without end To thée bee all honour glorie and praise for euer Amen A prayer that wee may haue the feare of God before our eyes in all our doings O Almightie and euerlasting God thy holy word teacheth vs that thou art not onely a father but also a Lord not onely a forgiuer but also a reuenger not onely a Sauiour but also a iudge and as thou being a father a forgiuer and a Sauiour doest pardon and shewe mercie so thou being a Lord a reuenger and a iudge punishest and condemnest Neither doth thy holy scripture onely set foorth vnto vs a Gospell which comforteth vs quickneth vs sheweth vs glad and ioyfull tidings forgiueth our sinnes and quieteth our consciences and bringeth vs vnto euerlasting life but also a law which reproueth accuseth condemneth vs woundeth and slayeth our conscience yea and throweth vs down headlong into the déepe dungeon of hell And as the holy Gospell lifteth vs vppe and maketh vs glad with the hope of remission and forgiuenes of our sinnes so doth the lawe plucke vs downe and almost driue vs vnto desperation for feare of thy plagues and euerlasting punishments so that we not onely loue thée as a father a forgiuer a Sauiour but also feare thée as a Lord a reuenger a iudge For asmuch therefore O most gracious God and merciful Sauiour and most righteous iudge as this doth so mightily put away sinne and make vs to walke in the way of thy commaundements namely reuerently to feare thée and to stand in awe
of thy iudgement and heauie displeasure wée most entirely pray thée to giue vs that feare which thou requirest of vs thy children in thy holy scriptures and whereunto thou hast promised so many large and bounteous blessings that we may not onely loue thée as a Sauiour honour thée as a father but also reuerence thée as a Lord and feare thée as a iudge But yet with that feare and reuerence good Lord that belongeth to children and not to slaues otherwise it will do vs small good O Lord all things are open to thy eyes neither is any thing hid from thée which séest the very secrets and most inward thoughts of our hearts Giue vs therfore grace that in all our enterprises we may euer set thée and thy feare before our eyes and so stand in awe of thée and of thy righteous iudgement that we attempt nothing whereby wee should prouoke thy heauie displeasure against vs but so walke in thy feare and thy holy ordinances that we may at all times loue thée as a most gracious Sauiour honour thée as a most louing father reuerence thée as a soueraigne Lord and feare thée as an vpright yet most mercifull iudge So shall it come to passe that wee reuerently fearing thée as a childe doth his father shall not onely auoyde all such euils as might make thée our heauie Lord and fierce iudge but also embrace those vertues which shall both euidently declare our faithfull loue true honour vnfained reuerence and humble feare towards thee and also cause thée that art our louing Father and most mercifull Sauiour through Iesus Christ our Lord to acknowledge thine owne grace in vs and to crowne it at the length with euerlasting glorie through Christ Iesus Amen A prayer against the enemies of Christs truth Psal 140. DEliuer mee O Lord from the vngodly and stifnecked persons for thou séest howe in their hearts they imagine mischiefe and haue great pleasure to picke quarrels their tongues be sharper then any adders sting and vnder their lips lyeth poyson of adders but O mercifull Lord let mee not fall into their hands least they handle mee after their owne lusts Thou onely art my God that must heare my piteous plaints Lord that rulest altogether that art the strength and power of my defence be thou as a helmet vpon my head wheresoeuer the vngodly shall assault me and suffer thou not the wicked thus to prosper in their matters Suffer not their cankred and malitious stomackes to increase and spightfully to reuile me Looke vpon thy poore wretches cause and rid mee out of these daily grieuances then shall I with an vpright heart and pleasant countenance extoll and magnifie thy holy name Amen A prayer to keepe the tongue and to eschew the affectiō of the world Psal 141. TO thee I cry O Lord heare mee speedily let my prayer bee as a sweete tast and sauour in thy presence and the lifting vp of my hands as an euening sacrifice Lord set a watch before my mouth kéepe my lips and my tongue also that they speake nothing amisse as doth the vngodly who can speake nothing saue euill but that they call purely and heartily vpon thee and report thy worthie praises Bow not my heart to last after euill nor to follow the fashion of the wicked and abominable sinners least I happen to cloake my wickednes with other sinnes as hypocrites doe Let me not liue as they would haue mee to doe but rather as it shall best please thée Let mee not approue their counsailes nor their déedes though they carry neuer so goodly a show and faire face to the world Let me not hearken to the entising and swéete baits of the vngodly which counsaile me to filthie and vncleane thinges but rather let mee giue good eare to the righteous and godly man though hée sharpely correct and chide me Let me alwayes haue a readie eye towardes thée onely in thée to trust alway and to apply my selfe vnto thée continually Cast not away my soule neither suffer it to perish keepe me that I be not tangled with the snares of the vngodly and from the priuie traps of malitious persons saue me deliuer me O Lord through thy grace for in all our owne deuises and workes can nothing bee found sure for vs to trust vpon A Prayer of the Church against sinne Sapi. 1◠THou O our God art swéete long suffering and true and with mercie orderest thou all things for if wée sinne yet are wée thine because though sinne in it one nature separate betwéene thée and vs yet doth thy goodnesse surmount all iniquitie so excellēt I know thy greatnes to bee And if we sinne not in so high a measure for otherwise who liueth and sinneth not yet are wee sure that with thée wee are allowed for to know thée is perfect righteousnes and power is the roote of immortalitie In the time of warres a prayer of King Asa 2. Paral 14. LOrd it is all one with thée to helpe them that haue néede with fewe or with many helpe vs O Lord our God for we trust in thée and in thy name we be come against this multitude thou art the Lord our God let no man preuaile against thée A Prayer for keeping of a good name THAT wise man which was priuie of thy secrets O heauenly Father taught vs that an honest name is a treasure right precious when he saith better it is to haue a good name than precious oyntments But this so excellent and good thing wée neither can get but by thy goodnes nor kéepe but by thy grace aide and helpe Now surely the well and fountaine of a good name is a faultles life this therefore in especiall wee demaund and craue of thée O Lord almightie and that for Iesus Christs sake Yet neuerthelesse for as much as oftentimes innocencie and faultlesse liuing is not ynough neither yet a sure buckler and defence namely against such as vnder their lippes beare the poyson of serpents yea and oftentimes it hapneth that when wee suppose to be among our trustie friends we dwell as Ezechiell did amongst scorpions and venemous serpents we crie with thy holy prophet O Lord deliuer my soule from wicked lippes and a guilefull tongue But if neuerthelesse it séeme good to thée to exercise vs thy seruants also in this affliction to the intent they may bee better brought to godlines before thée and bée bettered in this world then graunt we pray thée that with Paul thy most valiant champion wee may by reproch glory by infamie and good name abide still in thy commaundements through Iesus Christ which also himselfe when he walked here on earth was reuiled slandred euill spoken of and called to his face a Samaritane a wine drinker a deceiuer of the people and one that had a diuel and yet the same now raigneth with thée in glory whither also wee beseech thee in good time to bring vs and that together with the rest whom thou hast put apart
honor is 〈◊〉 thy face holines and magnificence is in thy Sanctuarie With iustice and iudgement thy royall throne is established mercie and trueth goe before thy face Blessed art thou O Lord which hast not holden backe thy mercie from thy seruant After that I had long looked for thée O Lord 〈◊〉 the last thou didst attend vpon mee and hearof 〈◊〉 â—rye Thou hast taken me out of the Lake of miserie set my féete vpon a rocke and made my steps sure Thou hast giuen me my desire I haue séene thy ioyfull countenance Thou hast striken all my aduersaries and hast abated their strength Thou hast rebuked the â—ablement of them that vexed me and hast plucked me forth of their hands â—hou hast cast them hâ—â—â—â—â—ng into their owne 〈◊〉 their féete bee wrapped in the net which they laide priuily for me Mine enemies are recoyled backe they are fallen downe and destroyed from thy sight Thou hast been the poore mans defence and his helper in tribulation when most néede was Thou hast executed iudgment for me thou hast defended my cause against mine accusers And although thou were very angry with mee a little yet now I liue through thy mercie and goodnes Verily I supposed with my selfe that I was cleane cast out of thy fauour But thou hast heard my prayers and according to thy great mercie hast taken me againe into thy â—â—â—our O Lord of thâ—â— owne 〈…〉 hast 〈…〉 â—â—rength 〈…〉 when the◠〈…〉 from me O Lord how greatly astonied was I When I was in aduersity then I cried vnto thee and thou didst aunswere me When my soule was in great anguish and trouble then O Lord I remembred thee I haue tasted and séene how sâ—eet thou art truly blessed iâ—â—he maÌ„ that trustâ— in th◠〈◊〉 â—â—rding to thy 〈…〉 thy commen◠〈◊〉 and praise but thy counsailes touching vs be without example and greater then with wordes can bee expresseâ— Dominion power and glory he thine for thou hast made all things and because thy wâ—ll is so they doe still â—ontinâ—â—â— Thy name 〈◊〉 blessed pâ—â—ised and mâ—â—nified both 〈…〉 woâ—ld with◠〈…〉 â—men A Psalme of the benefites of God with thankes for the same MY soule praiseth thee O Lord and all that is within mee praiseth thy holy name My soule giueth thee humble thankes and thy benefites â— will neuer forget Whâ—â— for 〈…〉 sinnes 〈◊〉 healâ—â—◠〈…〉 infirmties Which hast saued my life from destruction and shewed in me thy grace and mercie Which hast satisfied my deâ—â—e with good things and shall once restore my youth againe Thou hast intreated me mercifully at all times and hast reuenged me of my enemies Thou haâ—â—â—éen a defence to mâ— O Lord and a sure foundation of my wealth Thou hast guided mee with thy counsaile and taken me vnto thee through thy mercie Thou hast many wayes declared in mee thy great might and power and after thy anger hath béene past thou hast turned again and comforted me Thou hast sent me many grieuous troubles but at the leÌ„gth thou hast brought mee out of the bottomes héepenes Thou hast made me priuie to thy wayes hast not hid thy counsails from me Thou art full of mercy and grace O Lord slow to wrath readie to goodnes Thy displeasure lasteth not alway and thou kéepest not backe thy mercies in thine anger for euer Thou rewardest vs not after our sins nor punishest vs according 〈◊〉 our deserts Looke how high the heauen is in comparison of the earth so great is thy mercy towarde vs. How far as the East is distant from the West so far O Lord remoue our sinnes from vs. Like as a naturall father hath pitie vpon his children euen so O Lord God thou hast had compassion vpon vs. Thou hast not forgotten thy creature thou remembrest that we are flesh yea all men liuing are vanitie And that the age of man is like vnto grasse and may be compared to the flowers of the field which as soone as the sharpe winde hath blowne vpon them with his blasts wither away and die so that no man can tell where thy did grow But thy mercie O Lord and louing kindnes is alwaies vpon the 〈◊〉 that feare thée and thy righteousnes endureth for euer So that we kéep our promise and couenant with thée and so remember thy commaundements that we doe them indeede O Lord thou hast stablished thy throne in heauen thou gouernest al things by thy imperiall power I will magnifie thee O Lord and land thy name world without end I will giue thankes alway make thy name glorious for euer O Lord thou art puissant and great and thy magnificence is vnsearchable One generation shall shew to another thy works and they shall declare thine ancient noble acts They shall euer praise the magnificence of the glory of thy holines and the memorie of thy great goodnes For thou art good â—â—d gracious to al men thy mercy excéedeth all thy workes The eâ—â—â— of all things beholde 〈◊〉 fruite vpon thee that thou shouldst giue theÌ„ their sustenance in time conuenient Thou openest thy hand and sillest euery liuing creature with food necessarie O Lord thou art rightfull in all thy wayes and holy in all thy deedes Thou keepest all them that loâ—â— thée and the torment of malice shall not touch them My mouâ—h shall sprake thy glory and praise and all liuing creatures shall honor thy holy name for euer Praise our Lord O yee his angels mighty in power which doe his commaundements and obey the voice of his word Praise yee altogether God O al ye hosts you his ministers that due his will and pleasure Praise our Lord as I do and let vs â—â—gnifie his name together Prâ—â—â— our Lord O ye al his saints for his name is glorious and his praise aboue heauen and earth Praise our Lord together O ye al his workes euery thing that liueth praise our Lord. Amen The complaint of a sinner MY God my God why hast thou forsaken mee it semeth that I shall not obtaine deliuerance though I seeke it with loud cries My God I wil cry all the day long but thou wilt not answere and all the night long without taking any rest The meane time thou most holiest séemest to sit still not caring for the things that I suffer which so oft hath helped mee heretofore and hast giuen to thy people Israel sufficient arguments and matter to praise thée with songes wherewith they haue 〈◊〉 thankes to thee for thy benefites Our forefathers were wont to put their trust in thée and as often as they did so thou diddest deliuer them As oft as they cryed for helpe to thée they were deliuered as oft as they committed themselues to thée they were not put to shame But as for meâ— I séeme rather to be a worme than a man the dunghill of Adam the outcast of the vulgar people As many as haue séene me haue laughed me to scorne and reuiled me and shaking their heades in derision at mee