hart shall not be changed from thee but be surelie fixed and finallie rest and be quieted in thee I am nothing else of my selfe but vanitie before thee an vnconstant creature and a feeble And therefore whereof may I rightfullie glorie Or why should I looke to be magnified Who so pleaseth himselfe without thee displeaseth thee and he that delighteth in mens praisings looseth the true praise before thee The true praise is to be praised of thee and the true ioie is to reioice in thee Wherefore thy name O Lord be praised and not mine thy works be magnified and not mine and thy goodnesse be alwaies lauded and blessed Thou art my glorie and the ioie of my hart in thee shall I glorie and reioice and not in my selfe nor in anie worldlie honor or dignitie which to thine eternall glorie compared is but a shadowe and a verie vanitie O Lord we liue here in great darknesse and are soone deceiued with the vanities of this world and are soone greeued with a little trouble yet if I could behold my selfe well I should plainelie see that what trouble soeuer I haue suffered it hath iustlie come vpon me because I haue often sinned greeuouslie offended thee To me therefore confusion and despite is due but to thee laud honour and glorie Lord send me helpe in my troubles for mans helpe is little woorth How often haue I beene disappointed where I thought I should haue found friendship And how often haue I found it where as I least thought Wherefore it is a vaine thing to trust in man For the true trust and helth of man is onlie in thee Blessed be thou Lord therefore in all things that happen vnto vs. For we be weake and vnstable soone deceiued and soon changed from one thing to another O Lord God most righteous Iudge strong and patient which knowest the frailtie and malice of man be thou my whole strength and comfort in all necessities For mine owne conscience Lord sufficeth not Wherefore to thy mercie I doo appeale seeing no man may be iustified ne appere righteous in thy sight if thou examine him after thy iustice The fift Chapter Of the euerlasting daie and anguish of this life OBlessed mansion of thy heauenlie Citie O most clearest daie of eternitie whom the night may neuer darken This is the daie alwaie cleare and merrie alwaie sure and neuer changing his estate Would to God this daie might shortlie appeare and shine vpon vs and that these worldlie fantasies were at an end This daie shineth clearlie to thy Saints in heauen with euerlasting brightnesse but to vs pilgrims in earth it shineth obscurelie and as through a mirrour or glasse The heauenlie Citizens knowe how ioious this day is but we outlawes the children of Eue weepe and waile the bitter tediousnes of our daie that is of this present life short and euill full of sorowe and anguish Where man is oftentimes defiled with sinne incumbred with affliction inquieted with troubles wrapped in cares busied with vanities blinded with errors ouercharged with labours vexed with temptations ouercome with vaine delights and pleasures of the world and grieuouslie tormented with penurie and neede O when shall the end come of all these miseries When shall I be clearelie deliuered from the bondage of sinne When shall I Lord haue onelie mind on thee and fullie be glad and merrie in thee When shall I be free without letting and be in perfect libertie of bodie and soule When shall I haue peace without trouble peace within and without and on euerie side stedfast sure O Lord Iesu when shall I stand and behold thee and haue full sight and contemplation of thy glorie When shalt thou be to me all in all And when shall I be with thee in thy kingdome that thou hast ordeined for thine elect people from the beginning I am left here poore and as an outlawe in the land of mine enimies where dailie be battels and great misfortunes Comfort mine exile asswage my sorowe for all my desire is to be with thee It is to me an vnpleasant burden what pleasure soeuer the world offereth me here I desire to haue inward fruition in thee but I can not attaine thereto I couet to cleaue fast to heauenlie things but worldlie affections plucke my mind downeward I would subdue all euill affections but they dailie rebell and rise against me and will not be subiect vnto my spirit Thus I wretched creature sigh in my selfe and am grieuous to my selfe while my spirit desireth to be vpward and contrarie my flesh draweth me downward O what suffer I inwardlie I go about to mind heauenly things and streight a great rable of worldlie things rush into my soule Therefore Lord be not long awaie ne depart thou in thy wrath from me Send me the light of thy grace destroie in me all carnall desires Send foorth the hot flames of thy loue to burne and consume the cloudie fantasies of my mind Gather O Lord my wits and the powers of my soule togither in thee make me to despise all worldlie things and by thy grace strongly to resist and ouercome all motions and occasions of sinne Helpe me thou euerlasting truth that no worldlie guile nor vanitie hereafter haue power to deceiue me Come also thou heauenlie sweetnesse and let all bitternesse of sinne flie far from me Pardon me and forgiue me as oft as in my praier my mind is not surelie fixed on thee For manie times I am not there where I stand or sit but rather there whither my thoughts carie me For there I am where my thoughts be and where as customablie is my thought there is that that I loue And that oftentimes commeth into my mind that by custome pleaseth me best and that delighteth me most to thinke vpon Accordinglie as thou dost say in thy gospell Where as a mans treasure is there is his hart Wherefore if I loue heauen I speake gladlie therof and of such things as be of God and of that that apperteineth to his honour and to the glorie of his holie name And if I loue the world I loue to talke of worldlie things and I ioie anon in worldlie felicitie and sorowe and lament soone for worldlie aduersitie If I loue the flesh I imagine oftentimes that that pleaseth the flesh If I loue my soule I delight much to speake and to heare of things that be for my soules health And whatsoeuer I loue of that I gladlie heare and speake and beare the images of them still in my mind Blessed is the man that for the loue of the Lord setteth not by the pleasures of this world and learneth trulie to ouercome himselfe and with the feruour of spirit crucifieth his flesh so that in a cleane and a pure conscience he may offer his praiers to thee and be accepted to haue companie of thy blessed Angels all earthlie things excluded from his hart The sixt Chapter A sweet praier wherein being pressed downe with troubles we
Sauiour not for my merit or deseruing but onlie for the merits of thy death and bitter passion I humblie beseech thee Amen A praier against the feare of worldlie casualties O Most bountifull and louing Father mine onlie guider and comforter the well of mercie the true light of the world take awaie the darknesse of my mind lighten my hart senses indue me with thy grace arme me so stronglie with sure hope confidence and trust in thee that I neuer be driuen into feare either by the subtile inuasions of our ghostlie enimie Sathan or by the craftie wilinesse of the world neither yet by losse damage hurt or hinderance of anie of those vaine and transitorie things which we in this world doo possesse but alwaies whatsoeuer shall becom of them to thinke that they are but things lent and not our owne and that we shall make a streight account of the vse or abuse of them whereby the more we possesse thereof the greater shall be our paine if we abuse them Wherefore take from mee all inward heauinesse thought and care for anie losse or discommoditie receiued by worldlie goods and alwaies to thinke that as well pouertie as riches needinesse as abundance sicknesse as health aduersitie as prosperitie come from thee and that it is knowne to thine inscrutable iudgement onlie why and wherefore thou sendest either of these vpon vs. And therefore let not my mind be troubled with anie feare of things to chance sauing onlie to feare to displease thee but alwaies to be merrie in thee with sobernes and to cast all my care of worldlie affaires vpon thee forasmuch as thou hast commanded that we should not be carefull what to eate or what to drinke or with what raiment we shall be clothed For thou wilt not see the righteous forsaken or their children begging their bread and that thou turnest all things to the best to them that serue thee and flie vnto thee for succour in the time of their distresse Let this O Lord be euermore fresh in my memorie grauen in my hart and readie in my mouth so that I leauing all needlesse feare may alwaies giue thanks vnto thee and praise thy holie name Amen A praier to be deliuered from enimies and dangers O Most mightie Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob which didst leade the children of Israel through the red sea and madest the streames of Iordan runne backe into their springs againe that thy people might passe through the midst thereof Good Lord whose heasts the flouds obeied at whose voice the hils doo leape and the earth doth tremble O most mightie Lord which canst destroie the proudest kings with verie flies and ants which madest little Dauid to triumph on the giant Goliah which deliueredst his enimie king Saule into his hands gauest Gedeon thy seruant with his few souldiours victorie of so manie legions of strong men Thou which hast subdued so manie mightie kings and sundrie nations vnto thy people Israel O God which workest all in all things which giuest victorie alwaies as seemeth best to thine vnsearchable wisdome defend me alwaies I beseech thee against mine enimies and all euils that my ship tossed and beaten in the waues of this world may rest in thy happie hauen of euerlasting ioie for euer My soule cleaueth vnto thy mercie as to an holie sanctuarie O God if thou shouldest not be mercifull who could abide the heat of thy displeasure But thou O Lord art good to thy seruants and I hope to see thy goodnesse in the land of the liuing All glorie be to the most high and mercifull God for euer and euer Amen A praier for righteous iudgement in matters of controuersie O Lord God of all iustice which in equall ballance dooest weigh the cause of the Prince and of the poorest man which despisest not the suites of the simple which deliuerest the captiue and comfortest the desolate and carefull O Lord which hast blessed them that are poore in spirit releeue thy seruant oppressed with griefe remooue from me the clouds of my sorowes O Lord stretch forth thy mightie hand and helpe me Let me not sinke in the seas of slander and shame Thou knowest the secrets of my hart defend me in mine innocencie pleade thou my cause against the vngodlie which haue laid their net for me O God thou which hast deliuered Ioseph Daniel Mardocheus Susanna from captiuitie and instant death and didst cloth them with honour good Lord strengthen me and be my defender against all euils and let not the poisoned arrowes of malicious tongues doo me anie harme Grant these my praiers good Lord I beseech thee for our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Psalme to be said after trouble escaped MY soule reioice in God for he is my light and my defence my helpe the lanterne to my feet He hath heard my praier when I called on him he hath holpen me in my neede he hath deliuered me in my dangers The Lord is the keeper of my life from whome shall I shrinke whome shall I feare Lieng prostrate at the feete of my Lord I bewailed my case and he heard my plaint he forsaketh not his seruants Wherefore if armies of men stood vp against me I should not feare For if God be on my side who can preuaile against me He is happie and safe whome God the mightie God of Israel keepeth The Sun shall not burne him by daie nor the Moone by night Chrise blessed is he that feareth the Lord for he shall see happie daies As the Hart thirsteth after the water springs so my soule hath longed for my Lord the liuing God When shall I come to appeare before thy presence to see thee in thy glorious maiestie face to face O Lord let thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesus that I may see the daie of my redemption Good Lord make hast to helpe me All glorie maiestie and empire be vnto God the Creator God the Redeemer and God the holie Comforter for euer and euer Amen Comfortable exhortations against the manifold assaults of Sathan IF thou perceiue that the storme of temptation doth verie often and greeuouslie assault thee dismaie not therefore thy selfe neither be displeased with thy selfe as though almightie God nothing regarded thee but rather thank him that he instructeth and teacheth thee as one to be his heire that he punisheth and correcteth thee as his most deere soune that he prooueth and assaieth thee as his welbeloued freend It is a manifest and great token that man is reiect from the mercie and fauour of God when he is troubled with no temptation In thy temptation remember the holie Apostle S. Paule which being rapt to the mysteries of the third heauen was vexed with the Angel of Sathan Remember the temptation of the holie man Iob and other which were greeuouslie troubled with their offences O happie and fortunate man in whome this earthlie Adam is so mortified and subdued that it in no wise resisteth the spirit But whether
you their faire fruits What charitie what discretion what godlinesse holinesse or puritie of life is among them Be not they great auengers foule gluttons slanderers back biters adulterers fornicators swearers and blasphemers yea and wallowe tumble in all sinnes These be the fruits of their doctrine And thus it may be seene how the word of God is euill spoken of through licentious and euill liuing and yet the word of God is all holie pure sincere and godlie being the doctrine occasion of all holie and pure liuing It is the wicked that peruert all good things into euill For an euill tree can not bring foorth good fruit And when good seede is sowne in a barren and euill ground it yeeldeth no good corne and so it fareth by the word of God For when it is heard and knowne of wicked men it bringeth no good fruit but when it is sowne in good ground I meane the harts of good people it bringeth foorth good fruit abundantlie so that the want fault is in men and not in the word of God I praie God all men and women may haue grace to become meete tillage for the fruits of the Gospell and to leaue onlie the iangling of it For onlie speaking of the Gospell maketh not men good Christians but good talkers except their facts and works agree with the same so then their speech is good bicause their harts be good And euen as much talke of the word of God without practising the same in our liuing is euill detestable in the sight of God so it is a lamentable thing to heare how there bee manie in the world that do not well digest the reading of scripture and do commend and praise ignorance and saie that much knowledge of Gods word is the originall of all dissention scismes and contention and maketh men hautie proud and presumptuous by reading of the same This maner of saieng is no lesse than a plaine blasphemie against the holie Ghost For the spirit of God is the author of his word and so the holie Ghost is made the author of euill which is a most great blasphemie and as the scripture saith a sinne that shall not bee forgiuen in this world neither in the other to come It were all our parts and duties to procure and seeke all the waies and meanes possible to haue more knowledge of Gods word set foorth abroade in the world not allow ignorance and discommend knowledge of Gods word stopping the mouthes of the vnlearned with subtile and craftie persuasions of Philosophie and Sophistrie whereof commeth no fruite but a great perturbation of the mind to the simple ignorant not knowing which waie to turne them For how is it not extreame wickednesse to charge the holie sanctified word of God with the offences of man To alledge the scriptures to be perillous learning because certaine readers there of fall into heresies These men might be inforced by this kind of argument to forsake the vse of fire because fire burneth their neighbours house or to absteine from meate and drinke because they see manie surfet O blind hate They slander God for mans offence excuse the man whome they see offend and blame the scripture which they can not improue Yea I haue heard of some that haue verie well vnderstood the Latin tongue that when they haue heard learned men persuade to the credite and beleefe of certaine vnwritten verities as they call them which bee not in scripture expressed and yet taught as doctrine apostolike and necessarie to bee beleeued they haue beene of this opinion that the learned men haue mo Epistles written by the Apostles of Christ than wee haue abroad in the Canon of the old and new testament or knowne of anie but onlie to them of the Clergie Which beleefe I did not a little lament in my hart to heare that anie creature should haue such a blind ignorant opinion Some kind of simplicitie is to bee praised but this simplicitie without the veritie I can neither praise nor allow And thus it may bee seene how wee that bee vnlettered remaine confused without God of his grace lighten our harts and minds with a heauenlie light and knowledge of his will For wee bee giuen of our selues to beleeue men better than God I praie God send all learned men the spirit of God aboundantlie that their doctrine may bring forth the fruits therof I suppose there was neuer more neede of good doctrine to bee set foorth in the world than now in this age For the carnall children of Adam bee so wise in their generation that if it were possible they would deceiue the children of light The world loueth his owne and therefore their facts and doings be highlie esteemed of the world but the children of God are hated bicause they bee not of the world For their habitation is in heauen and they do despise the world as a most vile slaue The fleshlie children of Adam be so politike subtile craftie and wise in their kind that the elect should bee illuded if it were possible For they are cloathed with Christs garment in vtter appearance with a faire shewe of all godlines and holines in their words but they haue so shorne nopped and turned Christs garment and haue so disguised themselues that the children of light beholding them with a spirituall eie do accompt and take them for men which haue sold their maisters garment and haue stolne a peece of euerie mans garment Yet by their subtile art and craftie wits they haue so set those patches and peeces togither that they do make the blind world and carnall men to beleeue it is Christs verie mantell The eleuenth Chapter Of the vertuous properties of Gods children of whome euerie one attendeth his vocation BUT the children of light knowe the contrarie for they are led by the spirit of God to the knowledge of the truth and therefore they discerne and iudge all things right and knowe from whence they come euen from the bishop of Rome and his members the headspring of all pride vaine glorie ambition hypocrisie and feigned holines The children of God be not abashed although the world hate them they beleeue they are in the grace and fauour of God and that he as a best father doth gouerne them in all things putting awaie from them all vaine confidence and trust in their owne doings For they knowe they can doo nothing but sin of themselues They bee not so foolish and childish not to giue God thanks for their election which was before the beginning of the world For they beleeue most surelie they bee of the chosen For the holie Ghost doth witnes to their spirit that they bee the children of God and therefore they beleeue God better than man They saie with Saint Paule Who shall separate vs from the loue of God Shall tribulation anguish persecution hunger nakednesse perill or sword As it is written For thy sake are we killed all daie long and are
great wrong For I thanke God by his grace I hate no creature yea I would saie more to giue witnesse of my conscience that neither life honour riches neither whatsoeuer I possesse here which appertaineth to mine owne priuate commoditie be it neuer so deerlie beloued of mee but most willinglie and gladlie I would leaue it to win anie man to Christ of what degree or sort soeuer he were And yet is this nothing in comparison to the charitie that God hath shewed me in sending Christ to die for me No if I had all the charitie of Angels and Apostles it should be but like a sparke of fire compared to a great heape of burning coales God knoweth of what intent and mind I haue lamented mine owne sinnes and faults to the world I trust no bodie will iudge that I haue done it for praise or thanke of anie creature since rather I might be ashamed than reioice in rehearsall thereof For if they knewe how little I esteeme and weigh the praise of the world that opinion were soone remooued and taken awaie For I thanke God by his grace I knowe the world to be a blind iudge and the praises therof vaine and of little moment and therefore I seeke not the praises of the same neither to satisfie it none otherwise than I am taught by Christ to doo according to christian charitie I would to God we would all when occasion doth serue confesse our faults to the world all respects of our owne commoditie laid apart But alas selfe-loue doth so much reigne among vs that as I haue said before we can not espie our owne faults And although somtime we find our owne guilt either we be fauourable to interpret it no sin or else we be ashamed to confesse our selues thereof Yea and we be sore offended and greeued to heare our faults charitablie and godlie told vs of other putting no difference betweene charitable warning malicious accusing Trulie if we sought Gods glorie as we should doo in all things we should not be ashamed to confesse our selues to digresse from Gods precepts and ordinances when it is manifest we haue done and dailie doo I praie God our owne faults and deeds condemne vs not at the last daie when euerie man shall be rewarded according to his dooings Trulie if we doo not redresse and amend our liuing according to the doctrine of the Gospell we shall receiue a terrible sentence of Christ the sonne of God when he shall come to iudge and condemne all transgressours and breakers of his precepts and commandements and to reward all his obedient and louing children We shall haue no man of lawe to make our plea for vs neither can we haue the daie deferred neither will the Iudge be corrupted with affection bribes or reward neither will he heare anie excuse or delaie neither shall this Saint or that Martyr helpe vs be they neuer so holie neither shall our ignorance saue vs from damnation But yet wilfull blindnesse and obstinate ignorance shall receiue greater punishment and not without iust cause Then shall it be knowne who hath walked in the darke For all things shall appeere manifest before him No mans deeds shall be hidden no neither words nor thoughts The poore and simple obseruers of Gods commandements shall be rewarded with euerlasting life as obedient children to the heauenlie Father and the transgressors adders and diminishers of the lawe of God shall receiue eternall damnation for their iust reward I beseech God we may escape this fearefull sentence and be found such faithfull seruants and louing children that we may heare the happie comfortable and most ioifull sentence ordeined for the children of God which is Come hither ye blessed of my father and receiue the kingdome of heauen prepared for you before the beginning of the world Unto the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie world without end Amen ¶ Also here followe godlie Praiers and Meditations wherein the mind is stirred patientlie to suffer all afflictions heere to set at naught the vaine prosperitie of the world and alwaie to long for euerlasting felicitie collected out of holie works by the most vertuous and gratious Princesse KATHERINE Queene of England France and Ireland Colossians 3 verse 1 2. If ye be risen againe with Christ seeke the things which are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Set your affection on things that are aboue and not on things which are on the earth The first Chapter Of praiers to performe Gods will in patience MOst benigne Lord Iesu grant me thy grace that it may alwaie worke in mee and perseuere with me vnto the end Grant me that I may euer desire and will that which is most pleasant and most acceptable to thee Thy will be my will and my will be to followe alwaie thy will Let there be alwaie in me one will and one desire with thee and that I haue no desire to will or not to will but as thou wilt Lord thou knowest what thing is most profitable and most expedient for me Giue me therefore what thou wilt as much as thou wilt and when thou wilt Doo with me what thou wilt as it shall please thee and as shall be most to thine honour Put me where thou wilt and freelie doo with me in all things after thy will Thy creature I am and in thy hands leade and turne me where thou wilt Lo I am thy seruant readie to all things that thou commandest For I desire not to liue to my selfe but to thee Lord Iesu I praie thee grant me grace that I neuer set my hart on the things of this world but that all worldlie and carnall affections may vtterlie die and be mortified in me Grant me aboue all things that I may rest in thee and fullie quiet and pacifie my hart in thee For thou Lord art the verie true peace of hart and the perfect rest of the soule without thee all things be greeuous and vnquiet My Lord Iesu I beseech thee be with me in euerie place and at all times and let it be to me a speciall solace gladlie for thy loue to lacke all worldlie solace And if thou withdrawe thy comfort from me at any time keepe me O Lord from desperation and make me patientlie to abide thy will and ordinance O Lord Iesu thy iudgments be righteous and thy prouidence is much better for me than all that I can imagine or deuise Wherfore doo with me in all things as it shall please thee For it may not be but well all that thou dooest If thou wilt that I be in light be thou blessed if thou wilt that I be in darknesse be thou also blessed If thou vouchsafe to comfort me be thou highlie blessed if thou wilt I liue in trouble and without comfort be thou like wise euer blessed Lord giue mee grace gladlie to suffer whatsoeuer thou wilt shall fall vpon me and patientlie to take it at thy hand
great benefit not to haue manie worldlie gifts whereby the laud and praise of men might blind my soule and deceiue me Lord I knowe that no man ought to be ashamed or miscontent that he is in a lowe estate in this world and lacketh the pleasures of this life but rather to be glad and reioice thereat For so much as thou hast chosen the poore and meeke persons and such as are despised in the world to be thy seruants and familiar friends Witnesse be thy blessed Apostles whome thou madest chiefe pastours and spirituall gouernours of thy flocke which departed from the counsel of the Jewes reioising that they were counted worthie to suffer rebuke for thy name Euen so O Lord grant that I thy seruant may be as well content to be taken as the least as other be to be greatest and that I be as well pleased to be in the lowest place as in the highest and as glad to be of no reputation in the world for thy sake as other are to be noble and famous Lord it is the worke of a perfect man neuer to sequester his mind from thee and among manie worldlie cares to go without care not after the maner of an idle or a dissolute person but by the prerogatiue of a free mind alwaie minding heauenlie things and not cleauing by inordinate affection to anie creature I beseech thee therefore my Lord Iesu keepe me from the superfluous cares of this world that I be not inquieted with bodilie necessities ne that I be not taken with the voluptuous pleasures of the world ne of the flesh Preserue me from all things which hinder my soule health that I be not ouerthrowne with them O Lord God which art sweetnesse vnspeakable turne into bitternesse to me all worldlie and fleshlie delights which might drawe me from the loue of eternall things to the loue of short and vile pleasures Let not flesh and bloud ouercome me ne yet the world with his vaine glorie deceiue me nor the feend with his manifold crafts supplant me but giue me ghostlie strength in resisting them patience in suffering them and constancie in perseuering to the end Giue me for all worldlie delectations the most sweet consolation of thy holie spirit and for all fleshlie loue indue my soule with feruent loue of thee Make me strong inwardlie in my soule and cast out thereof all vnprofitable cares of this world that I be not led by vnstable desires of earthlie things but that I may repute all things in this world as they be transitorie and soone vanishing awaie and my selfe also with them drawing toward mine end For nothing vnder the sunne may long abide but all is vanitie and affliction of spirit Giue me Lord therefore heauenlie wisdome that I may learne to seeke and find thee aboue all things to loue thee Giue me grace to withdrawe me from them that flatter me and patientlie to suffer them that vniustlie greeue me Lord when temptation or tribulation commeth vouchsafe to succour me that all may turne to my ghostlie comfort and patientlie to suffer and alwaie to saie Thy name be blessed Lord trouble is now at hand I am not well but I am greatlie vexed with this present affliction O most glorious father what shall I do Anguish and trouble are on euerie side helpe now I beseech thee in this houre thou shalt be lauded and praised when I am perfectlie made meeke before thee and when I am cleerelie deliuered by thee May it therefore please thee to deliuer me For what may I most sinfull wretch do Or whether may I go for succour but to thee Giue mee patience now at this time in all my troubles helpe me Lord God and I shall not feare ne dread what trouble so euer fall vpon me And now what shall I saie but that thy will be done in me I haue deserued to be troubled and greeued and therefore it behooueth that I suffer as long as it pleaseth thee But would to God that I might suffer gladlie till the furious tempests were ouerpassed and that quietnesse of hart might come againe Thy mightie hand Lord is strong ynough to take this trouble from me to asswage the cruell assaults thereof with them as thou hast oftentimes done before this time that when I am cleerelie deliuered by thee I may with gladnesse saie The right hand of him that is highest hath made this change The fourth Chapter To despise all things in the world and yeeld our selues vp to God that he may be all in all for our redemption in time of neede LOrd grant me thy singular grace that I may come thither where no creature shall let me ne keepe me from the perfect beholding of thee For as long as anie transitorie thing keepeth me backe or hath rule in me I may not freelie ascend to thee O Lord without thee nothing may long delight or please for if anie thing should be liking and sauourie it must be through helpe of thy grace seasoned with the spice of thy wisedome O euerlasting light far passing all things send downe the beames of thy brightnesse from aboue and purifie and lighten the inward parts of my hart Quicken my soule and all the powers thereof that it may cleaue fast and be ioined to thee in ioifull gladnesse and ghostlie rauishings O when shall that blessed houre come that thou shalt visit me and glad me with thy blessed presence when thou shalt be to me all in all Uerelie vntill that time come there can be no perfect ioie in me But alas mine old man that is my carnall affections liue still in me and are not crucified nor perfectlie dead For yet striueth the flesh against the spirit and moueth great battell inwardlie against me and suffereth not the kingdome of my soule to liue in peace But thou good Lord that hast the Lordship ouer all and power of the sea to asswage the rages and surges of the same arise and helpe me destroie the power of mine enimies which alwaies make battell against me shew foorth the greatnesse of thy goodnesse and let the power of thy right hand be glorified in me For there is to me none other helpe nor refuge but in thee onlie my Lord my God to thee be honour and glorie euerlasting O Lord grant me that I may wholie resigne myselfe to thee and in all things to forsake my selfe and patientlie to beare my crosse and to followe thee O Lord what is man that thou vouchsafest to haue mind of him and to visit him Thou art alwaie one alwaie good alwaie righteous and holie iustlie and blessedlie disposing all things after thy wisdome But I am a wretch and of my selfe alwaie readie and prone to euill and do neuer abide in one state but manie tunes doo varie and change Neuerthelesse it shall be better with me when it shall please thee For thou O Lord onelie art he that maiest helpe me and thou maiest so confirme and stablish me that my
the holie Ghost liueth and reigneth one God world without end Amen SAue vs O good Lord waking and keepe vs sleeping and be so mercifull to vs that with Christ we may wake and quietlie to rest in peace So be it The conclusion after Euening praier O Lord Iesu Christ that art in heauen perfect God and man heare my praiers haue mercie vpon me and praie vnto thy father for me Be thou my mercifull mediator vnto thy father that I might find mercie for my sinnes at all times and thy holie Angels to guide me this night and all the time and daies of my life and at the generall daie of iudgement that I may be partaker of that ioifull voice of thine saieng Come hither ye blessed and possesse euerlasting life Amen The Blessing GOD euen our owne GOD blesse vs and graunt vnto vs and all our faithfull and deere freends his continuall benediction and health Yea let thy mightie hand and outstretched arme O Lord be still my defence thy mercie and louing kindnesse in Iesu Christ thy deere sonne my saluation thy true and holie word my instruction thy grace and holie spirit my comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end So be it ¶ Certaine godlie sentences written by the Ladie E. T. Vse inuocation of Gods holie name Thinke vpon the needie once a daie The life to come forget not Further the iust sute of the poore Prefer Christ his kingdome Offend not in euill doing Set little by the iudgement of man but feare the iudgement of God Be at peace with all men Vse to be acquainted with the godlie Helpe to pacifie displeasure Hastilie iudge not anie bodie Kill anger with patience VVith pitie rebuke Make much of modestie Harbour a harmelesse hart Let no good deed Speake in season He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life In being well occupied thinke not long Lose as little time as ye may Be alwaies one Fauour the friendlesse Be not vnthankefull Trust not the world Deceiue none Rather take hurt than do anie Auenge not Let once be amended Fauour not flatterie Looke cheeflie on your selfe Do not forget your charge Let your mind be occupied well Vse pleasures after a meane Once you were not heere Awaie you must and turne to dust Finis ê™ E. T. The Praiers made by the right Honourable Ladie Frances Aburgauennie and committed at the houre of hir death to the right Worshipfull Ladie MARIE Fane hir onlie daughter as a Iewell of health for the soule and a perfect path to Paradise verie profitable to be used of euerie faithfull Christian man and woman A fruitfull praier to be said in the Morning AL mightie God and most mercifull father the fountaine of all felicitie from whom onelie proceedeth all good gifts most humblie I beseech thee of thine abundant mercie exceeding kindnesse so to direct and gouern me this daie and euer with thy good guiding Spirit that all my thoughts words and deeds may onelie be occupied in thy seruice faith feare and loue and so assist and strengthen me with thy grace O most mercifull and louing father for thy sonne Iesus Christ his sake that neither sinne death hell nor Sathan haue the dominion and vpper hand of me Indue my hart with the true vnderstanding of thy true and liuelie word that I may be readie and prone manfullie to fight vnder the standard of my glorious captaine Iesus Christ against the world the flesh and that cruell Serpent the old Leuiathan which hunteth continuallie like a roring Lion seeking the vtter destruction of my soule Make me constant in time of temptation that when or at what time my rebelling and sinfull flesh shall intise me to lust after the pompes and vanities of this wicked world I may by a strong liuelie and vnspeakable faith through the bitter torments that my Sauiour Christ Iesus suffered for me and all that faithfullie beleeue and call vpon him so mortifie and subdue the old Adam that I may be dead and buried from sinne and all iniquitie and the new man Christ Iesus may continuallie dwell and reigne in me by whose meanes I shall be garnished and decked by the means of a fruitfull faith with immortalitie and heauenlie blessednesse Uouchsafe O Lord I beseech thee according to the multitude of thy mercies to looke vpon me and by thy celestiall prouidence so illuminate the eies of my soule that I may continuallie watch for the glorious comming of thine annointed son Iesus Christ Roote out O Lord in and from me the vile and corrupt branches of rapine deceit auarice luxurie concupiscence and all vngodlinesse let the motions of my mind altogether depend vpon thee prepare my tongue to publish thy praise let my lips be locked vp from all scurillitie and vncomlie talke let mine eares loath and abhor to heare thy glorious and blessed name blasphemed and thy truth to be by anie Sectarian ill spoken of slandered keepe and defend me vnder the wings of thy comfortable protection from all errours schismes and detestable heresies Make me without faining firmelie and constantlie to build vpon the truth wherein is perfectlie set forth thy great mercie and diuine iustice Let the zeale of thy promises in all distres be my chiefest ioie and consolation giue me grace from aboue that as I make my boast of thy mercies and louing kindnesse by vertue whereof I am by my Sauiour Christ Iesus quickened from death to life and in his deerest death and pretious bloud-shedding regenerated and borne anew not of water but of the spirit by faith So Lord I may with thine abundant loue shewed to me ward and the whole posteritie of Adam I may be afraid wilfullie or of a set purpose to transgresse thy commandements and so incur therby thy displeasure that the effects of thy iustice in the day of thy comming to iudgement be pronounced against me to the vtter destruction of bodie and soule Make me alwaies willing good Lord to heare thy word by the power wherof my faith is increased and there withall plant in me perfect loue and obedience and so direct my footesteps in this vale of miserie that I may tread the path that leadeth to thee with whom my soule thirsteth to rest euen as vehementlie as the Hart longeth after the water brookes Grant this O mercifull God for the honour and glorie of thy name sake Amen A fruitfull praier to be said at the going to bed of euerie Christian. MOst mercifull Father I most wretched and vnwoorthie sinner prostrate my selfe before the throne of thy heauenlie grace yeelding vnto thee most humble and hartie thanks that hast of thine exceeding loue and fauour preserued me this daie from all perill and danger humblie beseeching thy diuine Maiestie this night to preserue me for the loue of thine onlie sonne and my sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ mediatour and aduocate who continuallie pleadeth and maketh intercession to thee for me and all the rest of thy chosen children presenting his bloudie
and holie in all thy works Haue mercie vpon me and giue me vnderstanding therefore from aboue to consider the substance whereof thou hast framed me and by the knowledge thereof make me to consider mine owne weakenesse and infirmitie to be such that vnlesse thou set to thy hand speedilie to helpe me that am oppressed with sinne I shall perish in my wickednesse A AS my sins are innumerable and redder than scarlet so giue me grace to acknowledge thy greate mercies which are surmounting the sands of the seas and that thou by thy grace at thy good pleasure canst wash awaie my deformitie and make me to excell the snowe of Libanus I beseech thee O mercifull father let it be far from my thought wilfullie or of a set purpose to fall into the danger of sinne or to commit anie heinous sinne or greeuous wickednes against thine eternall maiestie For by the exercise of such and so great euill I by meanes of my presumption prouoke thee to displeasure Giue me grace therefore to stand in awe of thy iustice least that thy mercie be with-held and kept from me and thou giue me ouer as thou didst proud Pharao to the lust and affections of mine owne hart and so I be drowned in the dangerous gulph of destruction R REadie art thou Lord at all times to heare and giue eare vnto the petitions of thy people but more readier are we to run astraie from thy will and to transgresse thy sacred lawes and diuine statutes than we are to leaue the lusts of carnalitie the pleasures of this vaine and wicked world so greatlie are we affected to licentious libertie and all other kind of notorious euill But yet O mercifull father of thine abundant loue fauour and exceeding kindnesse giue me grace to renounce sinne to hate this transitorie and vading world to mortifie my fraile and feeble flesh which rebelleth against the spirit and by faith in Christ in this my dangerous pilgrimage so giue me strength that mine enimies may be ouerthrowne and I being deliuered from the snares of hell may by thee which art the author of mans felicitie haue the fruition of thy kingdome and celestiall mansion of endlesse and sempiternall glorie Y YDlenesse is the nurse and roote of all infectious euils Giue me thine aid therefore O Lord to loath and detest this deadlie and dangerous sinne least therby I run headlong into thy heauie displeasure Make me alwaies and euer to be occupied good Lord in thy holie lawe that with all the powers of my soule hart mind and vnderstanding I may giue thee continuall praise honor and glorie Yeeld plentiouslie vnto me also good Lord thy grace from aboue that I may continuallie make my boast of thine euerlasting name by hartie contrition and bitter deploration of my sinnes and wickednesse obtaine thy fauourable pardon and by thee being sanctified and made cleane from all mine vncleannesse and vngodlinesse I may enter with thee at the last daie into the celestiall and glorious kingdome purchased in the bloudie death of my Sauiour Iesus Christ Yea illuminate mine eies I saie O good Lord that I sleepe not in darkenes but giue me grace good Lord continuallie to keepe watch and ward least that the enimie find me slumbering in the cradle of carelesnesse the gates of my bodie be broken vp and in the daie of thy comming to iudgement the sentence of thy displeasure be pronounced against me to the vtter confusion of my bodie and soule F FAith is to be embraced of all those that hope for felicitie and blessednesse in Iesus Christ Giue me therefore such wisdome from aboue that I may be dailie desirous to learne thy sacred precepts and walke in the path-waie of thy glorious statutes that by the exercise of thy will sinfull vice and iniquitie may be vanquished and vertue may haue the dominion and souereigntie in me A ABstinence coupled with constant and faithfull praier is a thing that much pleaseth thy maiestie and withdraweth from vs the force of thy heauie indignation Giue me grace then with praier to exercise such fasting as may hold downe the man of sinne that he swell not in pride excesse gluttonie or superfluous eating or drinking Make me alwaies to vse thy gifts so moderatelie that thy name may be glorified and I fasting from sinne with hartie praier faithfullie may beate at the gates of thy grace and so obtaine the full effects of thy fatherlie loue and fauourable kindnesse Finallie abate I beseech thee the pride of the vngodlie that trouble me Confound in thy iustice the imaginations of the foolish which sticke not to saie in their harts There is no God Breake the iawe bones of those in sunder that consult and take counsell togither how they may harme the innocent and weake From the bloud-thirstie and deceiptfull man deliuer me O Lord my God Looke fauourablie vpon me glad thou my hart with the cheerefull lookes of thy gratious and louing countenance Saie vnto my soule I am thy safegard Be thou euer with me then shall I not need to feare the power of my subtile and cruell enimies but at thine appointed will and heauenlie pleasure I shall be made safe and with the felowship of thy chosen Saints enioie the fruition of thine euerlasting kingdome N NOthing O Lord I brought into this world and nothing shall I carie hence with mee Giue mee grace and power therefore to consider that all worldlie things are vaine and shall vanish awaie like smoke Make me to vnderstand that I am a stranger heere and far from my countrie the new Citie of Ierusalem which thou hast in the fulnesse of thy great mercie ordeined for those that continue faithfull in thee to the end And sith that all earthlie things are subiected to consuming as meere vanities endue me with such vnderstanding that I may laie my treasure plentifullie in heauen with Iesus Christ to whome in the water of baptisme by grace in spirit I am coupled and knit Withdrawe me therefore from the delight of worldlie pleasures and giue me streugth to offer my selfe vp wholie into his blessed and heauenlie hands that my hart my mind the powers of my soule and all that I haue may depend on him with whome my treasure resteth that being vnder the comfortable gard of his defence I may be deliuered from all danger of bodie and soule Naked was I borne and naked to the graue shall I returne againe the Lord giueth and the Lord taketh awaie euen as it pleaseth his maiestie all things are brought to passe whose glorious name be praised for euer No man can escape the sting of death all flesh must bow vnto the graue Giue me a feruent faith therefore O Lord to continue faithfull in Iesus Christ that whensoeuer it shall please thee to send thy messenger death to arrest me I may be readie at his summons ioifullie to beare his stroke and by the power of a liuelie faith so to withstand sinne and Sathan that death
and to obey thy good will to the end that by this means all our works may be to the praise of thy name and to the edifieng of our neighbours And as it hath pleased thee to cause thy Sunne to shine vpon the earth to lighten vs corporallie vouchsafe also by the cleerenesse of thy spirit to illuminate our vnderstandings and our hearts to direct vs vnto the streight waie of righteousnesse Euen so to what thing soeuer we may applie our selues let our chiefe end purpose be alwaies to walke in thy feare to serue and honour thee looking for all our wealth and prosperitie from out of thy holie blessing to the end we enterprise nothing which shall not be agreeable vnto thee Moreouer let vs so trauell for our bodie and for the life present that we alwaie haue a further regard namelie to the life of heauen which thou hast promised vnto thy children Neuerthelesse let it please thee to be our protector both touching the bodie and touching the soule strengthening vs against all temptations of the diuell and deliuering vs from all the dangers that may come vnto vs. And because there is nothing well begun which doth not continue vouchsafe to receiue vs into thy holie gouernance not onlie for this present daie but for our whole life continuing and increasing dailie thy grace in vs till thou hast brought vs vnto the full coniunction of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who is the true Sun-light of our soules shining daie and night without end perpetuallie And to the intent that we may obteine these graces of thee O vouchsafe to forget all our faults past pardoning vs them through thine infinite mercie as thou hast promised vnto all them that seeke thee with a good heart Heare vs O father of mercie for thy sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake So be it Out of the 143 Psalme 8 Let vs heare thy louing kindnesse in the morning for in thee is our trust O shew vs the waie that we should walke in for we haue lift vp our hart vnto thee 9 Deliuer vs O Lord from our enimies for we haue cried vnto thee 10 Teach vs to doo thy will for thou art our God A praier to saie before one begin his worke THE Lord God and Father vouchsafe to assist vs through his holie spirit and by him to gouerne and guide vs in such sort as all that we shall doo saie or thinke may be to his glorie in the name of his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord So be it Another praier to the same purpose O Our God Father and Sauiour seeing it hath pleased thee to command vs to trauell for the sustentation of our necessitie vouchsafe through thy grace so to blesse our labour that thy blessing may extend vnto vs without the which also we are not able to continue And let such fauour of thine serue vs for a testimonie of thy bountifulnesse and assistance and that we by the same may knowe the fatherlie care which thou hast for vs. Moreouer let it please thee O Lord to assist vs by thy holie spirit to the end that we may be faithfullie exercised in our estate and vocation without anie guile or deceit but that we rather regard to followe thine ordinance than to satisfie our owne desire of gaine And if it please thee to prosper our labor giue vs also a willing mind to succour those that are in necessitie according to the abilitie which thou hast granted vs so yet that we mind not to lift vp our selues aboue those which haue not receiued of thee such liberalitie And when thou wilt handle vs with greater pouertie and necessitie than our flesh shall desire let it please thee O Lord to shew vs this grace euen to knowe that thou through thy bountifulnes wilt continuallie nourish vs least we be tempted with mistrust but that we patientlie abide vntill thou replenish vs not onelie with thy corporall gifts but also with thy spirituall graces that we may still haue more ample matter and occasion to thanke thee sincerelie to staie our selues vpon thine onlie goodnesse Heare vs O Father of all mercie through thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord So be it A praier to saie afore one begin to studie his lesson Out of the 119 Psalme verses 9 18 34. WHerewithall shall a yoong man redresse his waie Euen in taking heede therevnto according to thy word Open thou mine eies that I may see the maruellous works of thy lawe O giue me vnderstanding and I shall keepe thy lawe yea I shall keepe it with my whole hart O Lord which art the fountaine of all wisdome and knowledge seeing it hath pleased thee to giue mee the meanes to be instructed in the age of mine infancie to make mee knowe how to gouerne the whole course of my life holilie and honestlie vouchsafe also to illuminate mine vnderstanding which of it selfe is blind that it may comprehend the learning which shall be taught me O vouchsafe to confirme my memorie for to keepe it well O let it be thy pleasure to dispose my hart to receiue it willinglie and with such a desire as is conuenient that through mine ingratitude the occasion that thou offerest me be not lost For to doo this vouchsafe to powre vpon me thy holie spirit the spirit I saie of all vnderstanding veritie iudgment prudence and learning which may make me able to profit well to the end that the trauell which shall be taken to teach me be not lost And to what studie soeuer I applie my selfe make me to reduce it vnto the true end namelie to knowe thee in our Lord Iesus Christ to haue full affiance of saluation and life in thy grace and to serue thee vprightlie purelie according to thy good pleasure so as all that I shall learne may be as an instrument to aid me vnto the same And seeing thou promisest to giue wisdome vnto babes and to the humble and to confound the proud in the vanitie of their owne minds likewise to shew thy selfe vnto those that are of a right hart and contrarilie to blind the wicked peruerse vouchsafe to bring me vnto true humilitie whereby I may yeeld my selfe apt to learne and obedient first vnto thee secondlie to my superiours whom thou hast ordeined to rule and to teach me Furthermore vouchsafe to dispose my hart to seeke thee without feinednesse renouncing all carnall and euil affections and that in such sort I may prepare my selfe now to serue thee once in that estate vocation to the which it shall please thee to ordeine me when I shall come to age Heare me O Father of mercie through our Lord Iesus Christ So be it Psalme 25. verse 13. THe Lord sheweth his secrets vnto them that feare him and maketh them to knowe his couenant A praier or grace to saie afore meate ALl things wait vpon thee O Lord and thou giuest them meate in due season when thou giuest it them they gather it and
we be tied and bound with the chaine of our sinnes yet let the pitifulnesse of thy great mercie loose vs for the honour of Iesus Christes sake our onlie mediator and aduocate Amen The end of the Letanie Praiers to be vsed before and after the first and second lessons the Gospell and Pistle and before and after the Sermon or Homilie Before the first or second lesson praie BLessed Lord which hast caused all holie Scriptures both in the old and new Testaments to be written and red for our learning grant vs that we may now in such sort heare them reade them marke learne and inwardlie digest them that by patience and comfort of thy holie word we may embrace and euer hold fast the blessed hope of euerlasting life which thou hast giuen vs in our Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen After the first or second lesson praie GRatious God and most mercifull father which hast vouchsafed vs the rich and pretious iewell of thy holie word assist vs with thy spirit that it may be written in our harts to our euerlasting comfort to reforme vs to renew vs according to thine owne image to build vs vp and edifie vs into the perfect building of thy Christ sanctifieng and increasing in vs all heauenlie vertues Grant this O heauenlie father for Iesu Christs sake Amen Or thus THanks be vnto thee O our celestiall father through Christ our Redeemer that thou hast so cleerelie by thy Patriarchs Prophets and Apostls reuealed vnto vs these so secret mysteries of our saluation in Christ for whose sake also we beseech thee to giue vs the verie feare and faith in thee that we constantlie beleeuing thy truth and following that thou commandest vs in thy word may by no meanes hinder thy glorie or the course of thy word by our lewd conuersation but in all obedience helpe to amplifie and increase thy kingdome to the perpetuall praise of thy name through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Before the reading of the Epistle or Gospell praie ALmightie God and most mercifull Father who by thy holie spirit in thy seruants the Apostles and the Euangelists hast left vnto vs the storie of the doctrine and deedes of our Sauiour Christ that thereby as he is in deede so we might beleeue him to be thy Sonne and the Sauiour of the world put our trust in thee through him that so beleeuing we might attaine to euerlasting life grant vs we beseech thee the same most holie spirit to open our harts and lighten our minds that by the reading and hearing of the same our faith in thee through him may continuallie be strengthened till we attaine to the end thereof euen the saluation of our soules through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen After the reading of the Epistle or Gospell WE giue thee thanks most mercifull Father for that it hath pleased thee in great mercie towards vs to cause the holie writings and traditions of the Apostles and Euangelists to come to this our time place and eares that thou hast vouchsafed also to open reueale thy holie will vnto them to approue thy sonne so manifestlie to the world and to confirme vnto vs by them the truth of thy Gospell that in the mouth of so manie faithfull witnesses we might haue more full assurance in thy mercifull promises Helpe vs O good Father we beseech thee that by thy grace we may doo in deede that which we now by them doo vnderstand And least heerein we be through thy iustice more greeuouslie condemned and punished if that we neglect to doo thy will which through thy grace thou hast reuealed graunt vs the fruit of this thy care towards vs in the strength of faith that hauing read and heard so notable things in this his holie storie and acts and writings of the holie Apostles recorded and left vnto vs by so true and most faithfull witnesses appointed and ordeined therevnto by thee we may now by the effectuall working of thy holie spirit receiue and acknowledge him for thine onlie sonne and our onlie sauiour to the saluation of our soules and the glorious praise of thy name and so being lead from one witnesse to another we may according to thy holie word go from faith to faith till we atteine to the euerlasting life which thou hast prepared for vs in thy sonne to whome with thee O Father and the holie Ghost be all honor glorie and praise both now and for euer Amen Before the Sermon or Homilie read some of these sentences of Scripture exhorting to the attentiue hearing of the word Deuteronomie 18. THE Lord said to Moses I will raise them vp a Prophet from among their breethren like vnto thee and will put my words in his mouth and he shall speake vnto them all that I shall command him vnto him shall yee harken And whosoeuer will not harken vnto my words which he shall speake in my name I will require it of him Psalme 119. GReat is the peace they haue which loue thy lawe and they are not offended at it Prouerbs 8. BLessed is that man or woman that heareth me watching dailie at my gates and giuing attendance at the posts of my doores For he that findeth me findeth life and shall obteine fauour of the Lord but he that sinneth against me hurteth his owne soule and all that hate me loue death Prouerbs 28. HE that turneth awaie his eare from hearing the lawe euen his praiers shall be abhominable VVisdome 3. WHo so despiseth wisdome discipline is miserable and their hope is vaine and their labours are foolish and their works vnprofitable and their wiues are vndiscreet their children wicked and their of-spring is accursed Ecclesiasticus 5. BE humble to heare the word of God that thou maist vnderstand it and make a true answere with wisdome Be swift to heare good things and followe the word of peace and righteousnesse Luke 11. THE Queene of the South shall rise in iudgement with the men and women of this generation and shall condemne them For she came from the vttermost parts of the earth to heare the wisdome of Salomon and behold saith Christ of himselfe a greater than Salomon is heere speaking vnto you Iohn 8. HE that is of God heareth Gods word Yee therefore heare them not because ye are not of God Reuelation 2. LET him that hath an eare heare what the spirit saith to the Churches or congregation c. A praier for the heedfull hearing of Gods word FOR as much O most mercifull God as faith without the which it is impossible to please thee in anie thing we doo commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God in so much as he or she that turneth awaie his eare frō hearing the lawe euen his praier shall be abhominable and turned into sinne yea bicause also it is a farre more blessed thing to heare and keepe thy word than to haue had the honour to haue borne or nursed thine owne sonne grant vs grace therefore I
vp them that fall and finallie to beate downe Satan vnder our feete we beseech thee to heare vs good Lord Amen A verie necessarie praier against hypocrites false teachers and deriders of the Gospell WHosoeuer they be O almighty God that make a true account of sincere goodlinesse and pure religion are exceeding sorowfull if they see the sacred Church scattered wholesome doctrine derided the praises of thy diuine name had in contempt and such things as appertaine to a deuout woorshipping of thee turned vnto heathenish gewgawes and voluptuous pleasures To the intent therfore these things may in no wise happen as now vnto vs which we see not to be far off we powre foorth dailie before thee with great submission these our dolfull complaints That thou wouldest first of thine exceeding great goodnesse and louing mercie blot out all our heinous sinnes and offences being in a maner infinite and exceeding greeuous committed not onelie through weakenesse and ignorance but also done oftentimes both maliciouslie and of set purpose Be fauourable I saie O God vnto our greeuous sinnes and turne awaie from vs in such sort the most fierce wiles and subtil laiengs await of Antichrist as thy sacred Church be not depriued of all blessed ioie and spirituall gladnesse O Lord I beseech thee shew some experiment and proofe of thy selfe declare thy name and thy power amongst those thy spitefull enimies Bring downe Antichrists kingdome with all his vngodlie sects and schismaticall factions Certes ouerlong it hath oppressed vs yea and at this verie daie it still letteth hindereth and holdeth vnder foote verie manie which else speedilie would haue run to the kingdome of libertie and beleeued the Gospell Pull it therfore downe O Lord with all his stumbling blocks euill examples peruerse doctrine and neuer suffer it to recouer againe Lord thou both seest and right well perceiuest how the cruell malicious and vngodlie Antichristians would inuade the Church being so puft vp with pride inflamed with furie scorning as well diuine lawes as humane with like statelinesse and equall contempt dooing nothing with courtesie and faithfulnesse but practising mischiefe and naughtinesse and endeuouring so much as in them lieth that thy blessed word may no where flourish that true religion might be vtterlie extinguished that the perfect inuocating and calling vpon thy glorious name might be quite rooted out and to bring all things to naught by forged tales mens traditions politike deuises diuelish deceipts and verie much outrage But as for thy beloued Israel sith she hath by thy great mercie enioied so long peace and blessed tranquillitie let hir be ioined more and more vnto thee hir welbeloued so as she may continuallie laie sure hold vpon thy worthie praises Suffer not the mouths of hir good and wholesome instructors to be closed vp and put to silence Permit not thy due honour to be had in obliuion nor yet let the hymnes and songs wherwith thou art highlie praised and celebrated be vsurped of such as will haue the same in derision and scorne Finallie we humblie beseech thee O excellent father that what wrath or indignation so euer is due vnto vs by reason of the heinous sinnes we haue wickedlie committed thou wouldest yet for the glorie of thy famous name turne it frō thy sanctified Church thy deere spouse and powre out the same rather vpon them who with an enimielike rage and most malicious affection imagine nothing else but quite to marre and vtterlie laie waste thy blessed heritage and in deede be no lesse aduersaries to thy blessed name than of our peace and quietnesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for vnbeleeuers that all men may embrace the Gospell VNto thee doo we crie O Lord father and maker of all men which art rich vnto all that call vpon thee and which commandest the light to shine out of darkenes For thou wilt that all men should be saued and come to the knowledge of the truth And therfore of thy great loue thou diddest call vs to the participation of the lot of the Saints in light which are by nature the children of wrath and of death aliens and strangers from the testaments of promise hauing none hope and without God in the world but now are fellowe Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ beeing the head corner stone which susteineth the whole building by his word of power Heare vs thy seruants making supplication for such as yet haue not hard the sound of thy Gospell neither knowe thy name but sitting in darkenesse and in the shadowe of death haue their minds darkened and are alienated from the life of God by the ignorance that is in them and are caried awaie vnto dumbe idols and fained gods euen as they are led and run to worship that which is no God Giue grace that thy word may be knowne among them and preached in euerie land and the sound there of go out into the ends of the world that thou also maist be found of them which sought thee not and famous among such as neuer asked after thee Send foorth thy word that they may be healed and walke no more in the vanities of their mind O God father of our Lord Iesu Christ King of glorie giue them the spirit of wisedome and reuelation through the confessing of thee inlighten their minds that they may knowe what the hope is wherevnto thou hast called vs and how pretious the glorie is of thine inheritance in the Saints and how excellent the greatnesse of his power is toward vs which beleeue according to the working of his mightie power which thou hast wrought in him when he was raised by thee from the dead and placed at thy right hand in heauenlie places aboue all principalities powers Open the harts of vnbeleeuers that hearing thy word they may acknowledge thee the onlie true God and Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent and may worship thee the father in the sonne and the sonne in thee the father with the holie ghost euen as thou hast reuealed thy selfe Take the vaile from the harts of the Iewes least being blinded in the reading of the old Testament they stumble at the stone and rocke of offence by incredulitie and hardnesse of their harts that thy Sonne Christ crucified and preached be not vnto them a stumbling blocke and thy Gospell the sauour of death vnto death but that being conuerted by true faith to the knowledge of thee the father in the sonne their face being vncouered they may behold thy glorie knowing by the writings of the Prophets the Messias which thou hast appointed to be the Sauiour of the world Likewise gather thou the Gentiles to whome the Gospell the word of the Crosse is meere foolishnesse into thy congregation that they may embrace thy ministerie casting off all fleshlie wisedome and leade all their cogitations captiue to the obedience of the Gospell Moreouer our praier and
and let not perpetuall food be wanting to our weakenesse wherewith to feed and replenish vs. Let me taste of the pleasant riuers of the holie Ghost that I may be refreshed and that my soule may be cooled with the sweet liquors thereof so that I burne hencefoorth with no iniquitie or lust to sinne Make me to quaffe hartilie the cup of thankes-giuing yea let my bowels be filled with the pleasant wine of thy loue and refresh me continuallie with the most sweet riuers of thy heauenlie consolation Thou art my life whereby I liue the hope that I sticke vnto the glorie that I desire O giue me vnderstanding cheere vp my loue Lift thou vp my soule and drawe the mouth of my spirit which thirsteth after thee vp to the water streames that are aboue Uouchsafe sweet Iesu in the midst of my monings sore complaints and deepe sighs of my hart to take vp my sad and sorowfull mind to the top of the high mountains euen to the beds of sweet spices putting me in a place of pasture by the riuers of sweet waters where thou preparest a table diuerselie furnished for thy friends against they come to refresh mine appalled spirits to cheere vp my heauie hart make it merie Through the which deinties I being at the length well refreshed may forget my manifold miseries and the vanities of this life and rest in thee which art the true peace euerlasting passing all vnderstanding Lord God which art the sanctifier of the Saints I beseech thee consecrate and make me meete for thy dwelling and continue thou euer with me vouchsafe all to besprinkle me with the bloud of thy onlie begotten sonne by which one souereigne thing both in bodie and soule I may be reuiued with a maruellous comfortable ioie O Lord these are thy great benefits wherewith thou wilt releeue the want of thy thirstie children grant I beseech thee that I may drinke on thy cup with a glad mind willing hart pure conscience and clensed spirit and bring to passe by thy mercie that this drinke which I shall now drinke may be to my health and saluation Finallie grant O good God that I may through thy most rich spirit and his eternall deinties enioie the princelie palace of heauen and quaffing verie abundantlie of the well-spring of life which is with thee I may by the excellent benefit of thy glorious passion death resurrection and light behold the brightnesse of perpetuall felicitie and see thee face to face where my mind may be fed and full satiate with the meate and drinke of life without end For like as the hart thirsteth after the water springs so thirsteth my soule after thee O Lord my GOD and King Amen When you are about to receiue the wine or cup praie I Thanke thee deere father that thou didst not spare thine onelie and most deerlie beloued sonne Iesus Christ to shed euen his most pretious bloud vpon the altar of the Crosse for to wash awaie our sinnes In remembrance whereof I now in trembling and dread drinke of this cup humblie beseeching thee O Father that the crucifieng of his blessed bodie and shedding of his pretious bloud may be meritorious to my saluation Amen Or else thus O Blessed and mercifull Father thy loue towards me sinfull creature is so exceeding great and vnspeakable that I can not but giue vnto thee most humble thanks namelie for the shedding of the most pretious blood of thy deere sonne Iesu Christ by the vertue whereof thy wrath stirred vp against me wretched sinner is pacified my ransome is paid the lawe is fulfilled mine enimies are ourcome and put to flight In remembrance of this so noble a victorie and of so great a benefit I am come vnto this thy table O mercifull father to drinke of this cup desiring thee that as my outward man is comforted by the drinking of this wine so likewise my inward man may be comforted and made strong by true faith in the pretious blood of thy most deere sonne O Lord and my heauenlie Father giue me thy holie spirit which may so rule and gouerne my hart that I neuer be vnthankfull nor forgetfull of this thine exceeding kindnesse but to traine my life according to thy blessed will that whatsoeuer I doo speake or thinke may be vnto the glorie of thy blessed name and the health of my soule through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen After you haue receiued the holie Communion giue God thanks and saie I Thanke thee good Lord of thine infinite goodnesse that thou this daie hast fed me with thy blessed bodie bloud in the Sacrament desiring thee meeklie that this Sacrament which I haue receiued may be to me a purgation and clensing of my sins a fortitude spiritual strength against my frailtie a sure defence against worldlie troubles and aduersities a purchasing of grace and pardon a medicine of life and a continuall remembrance of thy blessed passion so that in the waie it may conduct me when I stumble it may vphold me and when I am fallen it may raise me so that by good continuance in thy will to euerlasting glorie it may bring me And so order the tallage and taste of my hart that I neuer seeke other sweetnesse but thee that I neuer seeke other louer but thee nor none other comfort beside thee so that I care for none other delight but thee nor anie other honour but thine And giue mee such perfect loue towards thee wherewith I may come to as great merit in heauen as though I had spent all my life daies in the remembrance of thy blessed passion and gratiouslie deliuer me from all tribulations of bodie and soule captiuitie anguish and perils This grant not onlie vnto me but also vnto all thine elect and chosen Christian people heere and else-where for thy holie name sake Amen Another thanks-giuing after the Communion I Thanke thee O Christ Lambe of God for offering thy selfe vpon the altar of the crosse to thy Father an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet sauour to God for our sinnes to reconcile vs vnto him for certaintie whereof and confirmation of our faith thou hast instituted on our behalfe this holie Sacrament of the supper that as oft as we receiue the same we may celebrate thy memorie and with thankes-giuing remember the merit and fruit of thy passion I beseech thee by thy bitter death stirre vp our minds that by often receiuing this thine ordinance and institution we may consider how bitter a death thou didst suffer on our behalfe and how great the loue was which draue thee to take so cruell and shamefull a death to saue vs and withall continuallie yeeld as we are bound hartie thanks vnto thee for the same and after the like sort answer to our power that vnspeakable good will by our good life and carefull obseruation of thy commandements and may when either through frailtie of our flesh or by anie other fault preuented we sinne runne by and by
the shame and endured the crosse and suffered for vs wretches leauing vs an example that we should likewise followe his steps by whose stripes we are healed Wo and alas that euer I sinned Oh my soule come therefore let vs laie awaie that that presseth downe and the sinne that hangeth so fast on and let vs run with patience vnto the battell that is set before vs loking vp vnto Iesus the captaine and finisher of our faith and onelie reioice in the crosse of Christ And seeing we haue redemption by his bloud euen the forgiuenesse of our sins past present and to come and for as much as we knowe how we are redeemed from our old vaine conuersation not with corruptible things as siluer and gold but euen with the pretious bloud of Christ who in his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his bodie on the tree that we being deliuered from sinne should liue vnto righteousnesse who suffered also for vs in the flesh that we hencefoorth should liue as much time as remained in the flesh not after the lusts of men but after the will of God and reioice onelie in the crosse of Christ Let vs take heed we walke not with those that are enimies to the crosse of Christ and crucifie him dailie afresh by blasphemie and all maner of vngodlinesse whose bellie is their God whose glorie is their shame and whose end is eternall damnation both of bodie and soule but rather with those that haue their consciences purged from dead works to serue the liuing God Let vs now passe the rest of the time of this our abode here in trembling and feare and euer reioice in the crosse of Christ For it is sufficient for vs that wee haue spent the time that is past of this life after the will of the Gentiles walking in wantonnesse in lusts in excesse of wines in excesse of eating and drinking and in excesse of riot and abhominable idolatrie Therefore I crie wo and alas that euer I sinned out vpon me wretch that thus greeuouslie haue offended O God my God I aske thee mercie haue mercie vpon me O Lord haue mercie vpon me wo is mee that euer I transgressed Oh my soule let vs now esteeme to knowe nothing saue Iesus Christ and him crucified Yea God forbid that we should reioice in anie thing but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ whereby the world is crucified to vs and we vnto the world that being crucified with Christ we may liue with God And hauing now libertie to enter into the holie place in the bloud of Iesus by the new liuing waie which he hath prepared for vs through the vaile of his flesh let vs consider one another to prouoke vnto loue and good works and drawe nigh with a true and penitent hart in assurance of faith sprinkeled in our harts from an euill conscience to meditate dailie of his mercies and to giue him thanks continuallie for the benefits of his passion our eternall redemption and still to reioice in the crosse of Christ Iesu our Lord and saie The Praier O Lord Iesu Christ Sonne of the liuing God both with mouth and hartie affection wee glorifie thee and praise thy name with immortall thanks for that of thine infinite good-will towards mankind thou vouchsafest to become an intercessor for vs vnto thine heauenlie Father for bearing his horrible wrath conceiued against vs through our sinnes and for offering thy selfe to death to adorne vs with eternall glorie Thou wast hanged on the crosse made a cursse for vs ouerwhelmed with sorowes too heauie for flesh and bloud to beare Thou sufferedst the displeasure which is a consuming fire of GOD. Thou shedst thy bloud from thy whole bodie at thy death thy members beeing pierced Oh Christ oh sweet Iesu thou shedst thy pretious bloud I saie sixe seuerall times from sundrie parts of thy blessed bodie afore and in thine execution for vs miserable sinners as namelie first in thy Circumcision which was the beginning of our redemption secondlie in thy praier in the garden which was for the earnest desire of our redemption thirdlie in thy whippings and fourthlie in thy crowning with thornes which was for the reward of our redemption for by thy stripes were we healed fiftlie in thy crucifieng and nailing on the crosse when thy hands and feet were bored through to fasten thee thereon which was the price of our redemption sixtlie and lastlie in the wounding and piercing of thy blessed side yea of thy verie hart thou hanging dead on the crosse which was the true sacrament of our redemption whereby we are cleansed purified and washed from all our sinnes Among these thy diuers torments both afore in thy execution thy spirits being resolued through the sense of the infinite anguishes which thou sufferedst and enduredst oh Christ thou vtteredst diuers words partlie by reason of intollerable greefe and partlie of thine vnspeakable goodnes Oh teach vs by thy wisedome reuerentlie to listen vnto them and to put them carefullie in the bottome of our minds At thy death mankind was seuered into two parts Thou the head of the pensiue Church hangedst vpon the crosse redie to yeeld vp the Ghost Under the crosse stands thy louing mother Marie a few godlie women and Iohn thy weake disciples moorning through the rage of the Iewes hide themselues Nichodemus and Ioseph of Aramathie to the great greefe of their minds are faine to hold their tongs and to winke at the outragious crueltie of their nation against thee The gracelesse Iewes the vngodlie souldiers of Pilate and Herode laie hold on thee mocke thee blindfold thee buffet thee pierce thee plaie for thy garments The epicures and tyrants the high Priests and their parasits haue thee in derision laugh in their sleeues to see how thy death is conspired and they may walter in all superstition and wickednesse All this while the multitude of Ethniks in all quarters of the world celebrate their filthie and vngodlie feasts in the great dishonour of thy name Thou beholdest this diuersitie of men which seest all things both in heauen and earth and beeing in deed humble and meeke in hart thou powredst out a most charitable praier on this wise Father forgiue them for they knowe not what they doo These be the words of thy priesthood Thou which art the chiefest Priest bedewed with thine owne bloud entring into the holiest of holie places touchest the brest of the Father and searchest enen his secret counsell Thou praiest not onlie for thy weake auditors to be strengthned but also for thy verie enimies which put thee so shamefullie to death if they will returne vnto repentance yea and for all mankind thou praiedst and namelie for all and euerie one which should beleeue in thy name O most mercifull intercessor we include our selues in these thy generall praiers recited before thine agonie repeated on the crosse yea vttered from the beginning of the world and standing at the right hand of thy
euerliuing and immortall thou art now risen from death for vs. Thou art now ascended to thy Father and our Father and sittest at the right hand in glorie grant that we also in hart and mind may thither ascend and with thee continuallie dwell Suffer vs to come neere vnto thee that we may kisse thee Yea Lord thou louer of our soules come thou rather vnto vs and kisse vs with the kisse of thy mouth that we may be glad reioice in thee Drawe vs that we may runne after the sauour of thy sweet ointments that we may behold thee in righteousnes and when thy glorie shall appeare we may be satisfied For in thy presence there is fulnes of ioie and on thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore So be it Halleluiah A Thanks-giuing WE lift vp our harts vnto thee O Lord God for it is verie meete right and our bounden dutie that we should at all times and in all places giue thanks vnto thee O Lord holie Father almightie euerlasting God through thy most deere beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who after his glorious resurrection manifestlie appeared to all his Apostles and in their sight ascended vp into heauen to prepare a place for vs that where he is thither we might also ascend to reigne with him in glorie Therefore with Angels and Archangels and with all the companie of heauen we laud and magnifie thy glorious name euermore praising thee and saieng Holie holie holie Lord God of hoasts heauen and earth are full of thy glorie Glorie be to thee O God most high So be it 11. On Whitsundaie or the feast of Pentecost Of the sending of the Comforter euen the spirit of truth The Preface THE spirit of the Lord filleth the round compasse of the world and vpholdeth all things Halleluiah The spirit of wisedome is louing and will not absolue him that blasphemeth with his lips Halleluiah The holie spirit of discipline flieth from deceipt and withdraweth himselfe from thoughts that are without vnderstanding Halleluiah This therefore is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loue darkenesse more than light Halleluiah But O Father leaue vs not comfortlesse but come vnto vs and giue vs the Comforter euen the holie spirit of truth which the world can not receiue that he may abide with vs and dwell within vs for euer Halleluiah Come holie Ghost and teach vs in all thy waies and bring all things to our remembrance whatsoeuer God hath commanded vnto vs that we may speake with new lips and magnifie God according to his will Halleluiah Make me a cleane hart O God and renew a right spirit within me Halleluiah Cast me not awaie from thy presence and take not thy holie spirit from me Halleluiah O giue me the comfort of thy help againe and stablish me with thy free spirit Halleluiah Then shall I teach thy waies vnto the world and sinners shall be conuerted vnto thee Halleluiah Halleluiah The Praier IF ye loue me keepe my commandements and I will pray the Father and he shall giue you another Comforter that he may abide with you for euer euen the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receiue c. Oh heauenlie speech to be had in perpetuall remembrance Thou O Christ promisest such as keepe thy commandements such as in faith and a good conscience obeie thee to bee loued intirelie of thy Father and their brests to be the inhabiting place of thy diuinitie Nothing is more lamentable than to be cast from God into feare and fire vnquenchable nothing more comfortable than to haue thy fauour and to be loued of God This so excellent a benefit thou doest promise to thy disciples wherfore ingraffe vs to the blessed companie which thy Father doth loue whose sinnes are forgiuen through thy deserts and they are receiued into mercie and the inheritance of eternall life through thy death Neither is it thy will to haue vs present in loue and by the imputation of thy righteousnes onlie but also by a naturall participation and reall conformitie with God in deed Man deceiued by the diuell forsooke God his gouernour conceiued so highlie of himselfe that he would rule himselfe without God Let God defend thy life the rest seeke from thy selfe saie the wise men of this world and they commend that man whose onlie hope dependeth vpon himselfe But O lamentable darkenesse how shamefullie doth man fall without God assist How miserablie doth he perish whome God forsaketh Wherefore taking pitie on our wretched state thou restorest the ancient order interrupted through sinne and wilt that the harts of the faithfull shall againe be made y e dwelling place temple of diuinitie The God-head in deed is euerie where vpholding as long as hee thinketh good the whole frame of the world and the substance of euerie particular thing therein and againe destroieng all when he thinketh good so to doo notwithstanding he abideth onlie in the soule which receiueth Christ into it doo the Father and the word breath of their spirit and link it to themselues in like light righteousnesse and life In the Sonne the glorie of the Father doth shine and filleth that humane substance which the word through an eternall couenant coupleth to himselfe with the same spirit and powreth it into the harts of beleeuers to make them like vnto him For the word through the same spirit quickeneth both his owne and our flesh And this is the beginning of eternall life in this miserable world This spirit imprinteth the image of God which the word present in our minds doth speake in our soule kindeling a light and knowledge conformable to the Gospell turneth vs to the true seruice of GOD and stirreth vp in our wils so holie motions agreeing to the lawe of Christ as shine in that humane nature of Christ now glorified who cureth our infirmitie He commeth from the Father sent by the Sonne to renew vs according to the image of Christ He returneth to the Sonne and Father to couple vs vnto God to make intercession for vs with grones vnspeakable and to mooue the hart of eternall God vnto mercie and compassion towards vs. Such is our nature that through Gods spirit we reason christianlie and thinke godlie then how can it be but that the spirit must raise godlie cogitations good motions in our minds which is by nature a God and therefore substantiallie doth he mingle himselfe with our spirits springing in our nature but regenerated by him to imprint in vs another light and newnesse than is naturall wisdome and righteousnesse and therefore manie sighes doo we fetch euen these deepe sighes And thou word dwelling in our minds be thou present and kindle our harts by thy blast Conuert vs Lord and we shall be conuerted Turne vs to the acknowledging of our sinnes erect vs by the preaching of the Gospell and grant that through faith we may receiue the promise of the spirit Strengthen vs that we may retaine so
excellent a gift and at no time be intangled in the snares of Sathan neither yet forgo so noble a ghest for our wickednes Make vs to walke circumspectlie not as fooles following our vaine concupiscence to shun all occasions of falling euermore to craue at thine hands that this pretious gift may from time to time continue with vs and increase And as vpon this daie thou hast taught the harts of thy people by the sending to them the light of thine holie spirit so grant vs by the same spirit to haue a right iudgment in all things and euermore to reioice in his holie comfort Let the same spirit bring into our memorie that which thou hast said make it firmelie to retaine the foundation of sound doctrine vttered from the bosome of the Father and at no time to seeke new reuelations as doo the Enthusian heretikes both without and beside the warrant of thy word Let vs neuer inuent fained gods and false worshippings but followe onelie and sincerelie that which thou hast said and taught The world followeth vaine pleasure seeketh prosperitie and hunteth after wealth and worship especiallie the last age of this world doth so it altogither doteth and is become secure but fill thou our harts with true peace wherewith we may staie our selues in the combate of conscience fighting before the iudgment of God And in our agonies when a separation shall be made both of soule and bodie then giue vs grace to be mindfull of this thy saieng Let not your harts be greeued I go and come againe vnto you Let not thy comfortable presence depart from our soule thou wilt certainlie come againe euen to raise vs from the dead to place vs in thy kingdome Wherfore we reioice at thy departure vnto thy Father For the Father is greater than thou Thou hast prepared a place and blessed mansion in the house of thy Father exalted to the right hand of the Father and hast respect of the person sent euen till the consummation of the world Cease not to applie the merits of thy sacrifice vnto vs make continuall intercession for vs. Thou abidest our King and Priest vntill thou deliuerest the kingdome to thy Father And therefore as a Mediator thou doost verelie obtaine those good things which thou hast promised to all beleeuers Thou valiantlie didst conquer Sathan to make vs parteners of thy victorie Thou willinglie gauest thy life that it might satisfie for manie Thou wast obedient to thine eternall Father in the race of thine humiliation that by thy death we might liue Wherefore seale within vs this faith and righteousnesse grant that continuallie we may retaine thy saiengs in our minds that we may enioie thy peace and keepe a place for thy diuinitie in our harts while we liue in this world through our first fruits and so hereafter in the life to come we shall attaine the tenths and be made like vnto thee beholding God face to face So be it Another meditation and thanks-giuing for the good effects that the holie Ghost worketh in vs by his comming AL possible praise and thanks I yeeld vnto thee O God heauenlie Father and vnto thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ my Sauiour for sending downe thy spirit of truth our comforter sanctifier and regenerator the holie Ghost into this world The which thing verelie I beleeue thou didst for this onelie end and purpose that bicause the grape of thy sonne our Sauiour Christs flesh was caried to the wine-presse of the Crosse and there being pressed yeelded foorth the sweet wine of his Godhead it pleased thee therefore of thy great mercie to send the same thy holie Ghost to make readie the vessels of mens harts that the new wine might be put into new vessels first to season their harts from marring of the wine that should be put into them and afterward to hoope them well for leaking when the wine was powred into them that is to saie to clense them from delighting in sinne and to bind them from delighting in vanitie For that which is good could not come in till that which is euill was first rid out Oh woonderfull worke Oh vnspeakable benefit of thy surpassing goodnesse and mercie most woorthie of all praise that man on earth or Angels in heauen may giue or render The holie name of thy sacred Maiestie be therefore blessed magnified and extolled for euer and euer Amen And now O gratious God and good Father I most humblie and intirelie beseech thee that for as much as delighting in wickednesse which is to loue sinne doth defile vs and make our vessels fowle yea leadeth to death and that the delighting in vanitie which is to be in loue with transitorie things of this world sheddeth out and maketh the vessell of our bodies full of crannies and rifts yea intiseth and deceiueth vs to our destruction it may please thee therefore of thine ancient and accustomed mercie and goodnesse to giue me grace to cast out the thing that is euill in me that I may be fit to take in and receiue the thing that is good in thee and so to powre out all sowernesse of sinne and wickednesse that I may be filled with the sweetnesse of all vertue and godlinesse Yea doo thou thy selfe O gratious Father euen with the same thy blessed finger and mightie power wherewith in times past by thy sonne Christ Jesus thou didst rebuke and throwe the diuels and vncleane spirits foorth of those that were possessed vouchsafe also I beseech thee of the same thy singular loue and pitie to cast out of me the fowle spirit of the diuell which worketh delight in wickednesse and is the occasion of faults yea so and in such sort to abandon him that he nor anie of his may euer returne into my vessell anie more to dwell therein I beseech thee furthermore to expell foorth of my vessell the spirit of this world which worketh delight in vanitie and is a fault of it selfe that I be neuer intised nor deceiued anie more therewith hereafter Finallie I humblie praie thee to throwe out of me all other euill and vncleane spirits whatsoeuer which are noisome enimies to my soule and saluation and grant that thy spirit O God euen the holie Ghost I meane with all the fruits gifts vertues and graces thereof may vouchsafe to come and enter into the tabernacle of mine hart and mind to worke in me good delights good loue whereby the loue of the world and the loue of sinne may bee vtterlie driuen awaie from me for euer and my mind be continuallie inlightened my conscience still clensed mine hart euer gladded and thou thy selfe my GOD my Sanctifier and Sauiour be more and more shewed and made manifest vnto me Amen A Thanks-giuing vnto God for our regeneration and sanctification not vnproper to be vsed also at publike Baptisme O God the holie Ghost which proceedest from the Father the Sonne and with them art woorshipped and glorified in the vnitie of the true and eternall Deitie and
art also the substantiall amitie betweene the Father and the Sonne we worship thee we praise and glorifie thee and with our whole hart we thanke thee for all thy benefits especiallie for calling vs by the voice of thy Gospell vnto the Christian congregation for illuminating vs with thy gifts for sanctifieng vs with a stedfast faith and for keeping vs hitherto in the same For by the fount of the wholesome lauour that is by the water of holie Baptisme being powred into vs thou dooest continuallie worke in vs regeneration and renewing of the inward man Harken we beseech thee vnto our supplication and teach vs miserable women which by the proper strength of our onlie reason can by no meanes trust in or approch to Christ our Lord and Sauiour teach vs O our God what thy pleasure is and leade vs into all truth For without thine assistance none can saie that Iesus is the Lord. O blessed Lampe of light fill the inward parts of the faithfull with the holie oile of thy manifold heauenlie gifts and graces without the which nothing is light and pleasant in man but euerie thing darke obscure and hurtfull Wash thou that is filthie water that is drie heale that is wounded bow the obstinate cherish the frosen and reclaime them which wander Giue to the faithfull trusting in thee the reward of wel-doing the entrance into happines and euerlasting comfort Thou in thy gifts seauen-fold which art the spirit of the Lord the spirit of wisedome and vnderstanding the spirit of counsell and strength the spirit of knowledge and of the feare of the Lord inspire into vs through the preaching of the Gospell thine heauenlie wisedome about thine essence and dinine pleasure which is hid from the world Grant that we may knowe the Father and the Sonne by thee and may alwaies beleeue that thou art the spirit of them both so worship one God in Trinitie and the Trinitie in vnitie whose will is that not one should perish but be conuerted liue and that as manie as beleeue in the Sonne should haue euerlasting life For the Father sent the Sonne not to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saued O lightener of the mind powre vpon vs thy new light and purge the horrible darkenes of our minds so that we may see knowe our chiefe Father whome pure eies onlie doo behold O thou heauenlie comforter giue vnto vs a testimonie and grant vnto our minds a token of the certaintie of our beleefe so that we doubt not neither wauer about thy diuine goodnes towards vs. Make our harts quiet and secure that with a full trust and confidence we may approch to the throne of thy heauenlie grace receiuing by adoption the right of children and inflamed with spirituall ioie in all boldnesse and libertie may crie Abba Father Thou most faithfull aduocate strengthen vs against all the assaults and temptations of sathan so that we may neuer doubt of thy diuine prouidence and predestination whereby we are chosen and called in Christ vnto euerlasting life and neuer being stroken with a seruile feare and oppressed with dreadfull doubtings may in a rage flee and forsake our God O surpassing comforter leaue vs not destitute of thine aid and patronage but vouchsafe euermore to be present with vs in our crosses troubles least otherwise we faint but rather make vs to reioice in tribulations knowing that a crowne of life is laid vp for such as loue him O thou teacher of men instruct vs how and what we ought to praie for according to thy will that we may be heard and make thou intercession for vs with sighes that can not be expressed O thou cleanser of the heart giue vs the simplicitie of mind without gall and bitternes which descendedst in Iordan vpon our Lord and Sauiour Christ in the likenes of a dooue that we may be void of bitter enuie and contention in our harts and haue no roote among vs that bringeth foorth gall and woormewood O thou substantiall flame proceeding from the breast of the Father and his eternall Sonne lighten our harts with the fire of chaste and burning loue Thou which appearedst as vpon this daie at the feast of Pentecost vnto the Apostles in clouen tongs like fire see our coldnesse and comfort vs with thy quickening heate and breathings that we may receiue thy chrisme and annointment O thou ghest of the soule make thee a mansion place within the secret parts of our hearts that we may be an house for thy diuinitie which may dwell perpetuallie in our members and neuer depart from vs through our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A thanks-giuing WE lift vp our harts vnto thee O Lord GOD. For it is verie meet right and our bounden dutie that we should at all times and in all places giue thanks vnto thee O Lord holie Father the almightie euerlasting GOD through Iesus Christ our Lord according to whose most true promise the holie Ghost came downe this daie from heauen with a sudden great sound as it had beene a mightie wind in the likenes of fierie tongues lighting vpon the Apostles to teach them and lead them to all truth giuing them both the gift of diuers languages and also boldnesse with feruent zeale constantlie to preach thy Gospell vnto all nations whereby we are brought out of darknesse and errour into the cleere light and true knowledge of thee and of thy Sonne Iesus Christ Therefore with Angels and Archangels with all the blessed cōpanie of heauen we laud and magnifie thy glorious name euermore praising thee and saieng Holie holie holie Lord God of hosts heauen and earth are full of thy glorie Glorie be to thee O Lord most high So be it 12. On Trinitie Sundaie An acknowledgement of the almightie Trinitie and his vndiuided God-head essence power and maiestie The Preface WHen Iesus was baptised in the water lo the heauens opened and the spirit of God descended like a dooue and lighted vpon him and behold there came a voice from heauen saieng This is my deerlie beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased Holie holie holie Lord God almightie Halleluiah There are three which beare record in heauen the Father the Word and the holie Ghost and these three are one Holie holie holie Lord God of Saboth Halleluiah The Praier O Most high Trinitie one onlie power and vndefiled maiestie our God God almightie the beholder and searcher of mine hart I the abiect and hindmost of all thy seruants confesse and acknowledge thee and being the least member of thy Church I woorship thee with a due sacrifice of praise for so much as I am able and can according to that which thou hast vouchsafed to endue me withall And forasmuch as I am destitute of outward gifts to offer vnto thee those vowes of praise which I haue of the gift of thy mercie behold willinglie and gladlie I offer them vnto thee which be an vnfeigned faith and a
Lord God heauenlie King God the Father almightie O Lord the onlie begotten Sonne Iesu Christ O Lord God Lambe of God Sonne of the Father that takest awaie the sinnes of the world haue merrie vpon vs. Thou that takest awaie the sinnes of the world haue mercie vpon vs. Thou that takest awaie the sinnes of the world receiue our praiers Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father haue mercie vpon vs. For thou onlie art holie thou onlie art the Lord thou onlie O Christ with the holie Ghost art most high in the glorie of God the Father to whome be all kingdome power honor and glorie world without end Amen 13. On euerie Sundaie holidaie or weekedaie Of Christ his second and last comming to iudgement The Preface THE kingdome of heauen is neere at hand euen at the doores Take heed watch and praie The sonne of man shall come as a theefe in the night suddenlie and vnwares at an houre that ye knowe not Take heed watch and praie Euen Iesus which was taken vp from vs into heauen shall so come againe to gather vs vnto him as he was seene to haue gone into heauen Come Lord Iesu Behold he commeth with clowdes and euerie eie shall see him yea euen they which pierced him through and all kindreds of the earth shall vaile before him Come Lord Iesu Our God shall come and shall not keepe silence there shall go before him a consuming fire and burne vp his enimies on euerie side the hilles shall melt like waxe at the presence of the Lord a mightie tempest shall be stirred vp round about him Come Lord Iesu He commeth he commeth to iudge the earth and with righteousnesse to iudge the world and the people with equitie and truth Come Lord Iesu Therefore yet a verie little while O my soule take heed watch praie and he that shall come will come and will not tarrie Come Lord Iesu Surelie I come shortlie saith Christ and my reward is with me to giue to euerie one according as his works shall be either good or bad For I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end the first and the last Blessed are they that watch and keepe my commandements vnto the end Come Lord Iesu Euen so saith the spirit and the bride Come Lord Iesu come quicklie Amen Amen Halleluiah The praier to haue Christs sudden comming euen in our remembrance and that we may be in a readinesse against his most glorious appearing The Preface Vt supra Iesus The Praier BEholding O heauenlie Father the daie of accompts ouer all flesh to be euen now at hand namelie the last daie the daie of iudgement the great and notable daie of the Lord wherein the whole generation of mankind from the beginning of the world shall rise againe shall appeare both in bodie and soule before the presence of the most iust iudge thine eternall Sonne and our righteous God to receiue their owne doome for weale or wo for life or death for ioie or paine and that eternallie with the saincts in heauen or for euer with the diuels in hell we beseech thee most humblie O gratious God to haue mercie vpon all thine inheritance dispersed in these our euill and dangerous daies in the midst of this wicked most sinfull and vntoward generation vpon the face of the earth amongst whome we are most miserablie entangled contemned cruellie dealt withall and stirred to all abhominations O heauenlie Father we acknowledge before thee in our selues the greatnesse of our owne frailtie our corrupted lust to lewdnesse the fulnesse in our selues of our owne iniquitie and our accustomed inclination at all times to wickednesse O Father of mercies tender vs in our weakenes haue compassion vpon our infirmities pardon our sinfulnesse and grant vnto vs thine holie spirit to worke speedie mortification in vs to keepe lowe the pride of our flesh to humble our soules in thy sight to strengthen vs in righteousnesse to feare alwaies thy iudgements to thinke vpon thy wrathfull indignation and vpon the houre of the vengeance to come when thou for our wickednesse shalt turne awaie thy face from vs. Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord haue mercie vpon vs for Christ Iesus thy Sonne sake and so prepare all our harts soules and bodies to the necessitie of the time that we may haue therein good regard to our selues that our harts be not ouercharged with excesse of eating surfeting and dronkennesse or otherwise vexed with the cares of this wretched world to hinder vs and to drawe vs backe from our carefull attendance or diligent waiting for the Lords sudden comming to iudgement but that we may continuallie attend wait watch and praie for the speedie appeerance of his glorious Maiestie that when he shall at the rising againe of all flesh by the sound of the last trumpet come to iudge both the quicke and the dead we may be then in a readinesse to meet him aboue in the heauens and there to stand before his presence to behold the glorie of his most gratious countenance to see how in mercie he shall separate vs from the wicked as sheepe from the goates to set vs also on his right hand to giue the sentence of blessing vpon vs and to commend vs vnto the kingdome of thee his heauenlie Father which he himselfe hath prepared and so pretiouslie purchased with the price of his own bloud there with him with thee O Father and with the holie Ghost to liue in euerlasting ioie and felicitie Grant this O heauenlie Father euen for the onelie merits sake of that thy deere Sonne and our Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen Another meditation of the signes which shall appeare before the end of the world IT is thy saieng O Sonne of God that in the last and doting age of the world both greater and more greeuous miseries and confusions among men should bee than euer were and also for all that that thou which art the defender of thy Church in the midst of such calamities and crueltie of thine enimies wilt preserue some remnant of the faithfull that thy seruice be not vtterlie extinguished before the end of this world Wherefore being oppressed through the intollerable burden of miseries heaped therefore vpon vs bicause the sins of this withering world are most greeuous and lamentable but especiallie for that Sathan thine enimie seeth the daie of iudgement to be verie nigh at hand wherein his abhomination shall openlie be laid before all thy chosen creatures and he be cast hedlong into eternall torments which makes him extreamelie to rage against thy chosen flocke and to seeke by all meanes that possiblie he can to withdrawe vs from thee and to make vs blaspheme thy sacred Maiestie Wee as it standeth vs vpon flie vnto thee with all humblenesse of mind in these our extremities The whole frame of this world groaneth also with thine elect and earnestlie desireth to be renewed Therefore according to thy gratious admonition we call into mind the signes
which shall come before the finall destruction of this world and thanke thee for thy goodnesse in foretelling vs of them We lift vp our heads vnto thee which art aloft on the right hand of the eternall Father and in faith and praier looke for that ioifull daie when thou wilt appeare most gloriouslie in the clouds for the deliuerance of thy people out of these calamities Gouerne vs by thy word and spirit O most mightie protector that wee may bee watchfull and shun the cares of this transitorie world which withdrawe the mind from the exercise of godlinesse and choke all vertuous motions raised by thine holie spirit and flie from wantonnesse bellie-cheere and vnlawfull pleasures which both cause thy spirit to forsake our minds and make our bodies the receptacles of vnpure spirits whereby we are caried being secure vnto abhominable wickednes and from thence vnto euerlasting destruction Finallie purge thou our harts by thy spirit and let thy knowledge appeare in vs which may both expell our grosse darknesse and inflame in vs godlie motions that all the daies of our life we may continue in the true and sincere confession of thy name And for so much as thou hast promised to defend vs and to mitigate our paines grant that wee may both escape euils to come and stand ioifullie before thee at thy returne Amen Another ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie Father as in the destruction of Ierusalem thou hast left a fearefull example of thy horible iudgements against the contempt of the Gospell and the wickednesse of men threatenest such plagues to come for like wickednesse vpon the world as shall cause men to die for feare of them before they come grant vs so to read thy truth and to be obedient vnto it that when the signes of these things shall come which shall astonish the wicked wee may hold vp our heads with comfort waiting for our redemption so neere at hand watch with continuall praier that we may escape all these things which shall come vpon the world in that daie and that wee may stand before thy Sonne when he shall come to iudgement and be receiued of him to euerlasting glorie to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour glorie and praise for euer and euer Amen A godlie meditation of the comming of Christ to iudgement and of the reward both of the faithfull and vnfaithfull O Lord Iesu Christ the Sonne of the euerliuing God by whom althings were made are ruled and gouerned as of thy loue for our redemption thou diddest not disdaine to bee our mediator and to take vpon thee our nature in the wombe of a virgin purelie and without sinne by the operation of the holie Ghost that both thou mightest in thine owne person woonderfullie beautifie and exalt our nature and worke the same in vs also first abolishing the guiltinesse of sinne by remission then sinne it selfe by death and last of all death by raising againe these our bodies that they may be like vnto thine owne glorious and immortall bodie according to the power wherewith thou art able to subiect all things vnto thee As I saie of thy loue for our redemption thou becamest man and that most poore and afflicted vpon earth by the space of three thirtie yeeres at the least in most humilitie and paiedst the price of our ransome by thy most bitter death and passion for the which I most hartilie giue thanks to thee so of the same thy loue towards vs in thy good time thou wilt come againe in the clouds of heauen with power and great glorie with flaming fire with thousands of Saints with Angels of thy power with a mightie crie showt of an Archangell and blast of a trumpet suddenlie as a lightening which shineth from the east c. When we thinke least euen as a theefe in the night when men be a sleepe thou wilt so come I saie thus suddenlie in the twinkeling of an eie all men that euer haue beene be and shall be with women and children appearing before thy Tribunall iudgment seate to render an account of all things which they haue thought spoken and done against thy lawe openlie and before all Angels Saints and diuels and so to receiue the iust reward of thy vengeance if they haue not repented and obeied thy Gospell and so depart from thee to the diuell and his angels and all the wicked which euer haue beene be or shall be into hell fire which is vnquenchable and of paines intollerable endlesse hopelesse euen from the face of thy glorious Maiestie and mightie power But if they haue repented and beleeued thy Gospell if they be found watching like wise virgins with their lamps and oile in their hands if they be found readie apparelled with the wedding garment of innocencie if they haue not hardened their harts and hourded vp the treasure of thy vengeauce in the daie of wrath to be reuealed but haue vsed the time of grace the acceptable time the time of saluation that is the time of this life in the which thou stretchest out thy hand and spreadest thine armes calling and crieng vnto vs to come vnto thee which art meeke in hart and lowlie For thou wilt ease all that labour and are heauie laden If they haue visited the sicke and prisoners comforted the comfortlesse fed the hungrie cloathed the naked lodged the harbourlesse if they haue not loden their harts with gluttonie and surfetting and carefulnesse of this life if they haue not digged and hid their talent in the ground dooing no good therewith but haue been faithfull to occupie thy gifts to thy glorie and haue washed their garments in thy bloud by hartie repentance then shall the Angels gather them togither not as the wicked which shall be collected as fagots and cast into the fire but as the good wheate that is gathered into thy barne Then shall they be caught vp to meete thee in the clouds then shall their corruptible bodie put on incorruption then shall they be indued with immortalitie and glorie then shall they be with thee and go whither thou goest then shall they heare these ioifull words Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning c. Then shall they be set on seates of Maiestie iudging the whole world then shall they reigne with thee for euer then shall God be all in all with them and to them then shall they enter and inherit heauenlie Ierusalem and the glorious restfull land of Chanaan where it is alwaies daie and neuer night where is no maner of weeping teares infirmitie hunger cold sickenesse enuie malice nor sinne but alwaies ioie without sorowe mirth without measure pleasure without paine heauenlie harmonie most pleasant melodie saieng and singing Holie holie holie Lord GOD of hosts c. Finallie the eie hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither hath it entered into the hart of man that they shall then inherit and most surelie
congregation by the egge and singular seed of thy first promise made in Paradise Thou gatherest such as beleeue and depend thereon vnder thy wings by thine intercession against the wrath of God which is a consuming fire and by thy liuelie heate thou nonrishest them powring vpon them thy spirit which is a substantiall fire flowing from the brest both of thee and thine eternall Father expelleth the coldnesse of our nature and quickneth such as are ingraffed in thee vnto a new life Thou encounterest with Kites rauening birds raging spirits and all the mortall infernall enimies for the safegard of thy poore chickens Wherefore keepe vs we humblie praie thee among thy chickens which with a woonderfull and entire affection acknowledge thy voice when thou callest which couer themselues vnder thy wings and drawe from thy brest most godlie comfort in their greefe of hart and strength against all enimies And O comfortable ghest of the soule leaue not our houses desolate cease not to fill vs by thy continuall presence with thy life and righteousnesse giue vs the true comfort of mind that before all worldlie things we may prefer the confession of thy truth euen as that reuerend old man Zacharie father of Iohn Baptist betweene the temple and the altar with his bloud as with a pretious burnt sacrifice did confesse thee to bee the Messias sent frō thine eternall Father Saue vs from bloud-shedding O Lord our Sauiour that we wrap not our selues in paines most intollerable wherwith thine enimies which haue defiled themselues with the innocent bloud of thy martyrs are oppressed And as thy glorious martyr and trustie Deacon of thy Church Steeuen when most heinous faults were laid vpon him as though he had proclaimed defiance both to God and his Church did continue constant in thy faith vsing a most excellent and effectuall forme of praier for his enimies thy persecutors conteining the summe of true doctrine sawe the heauens open and thee O Sonne of God standing on the right hand of thy Father to whom at the point of death he commended his soule so assist vs with thy grace that wee by his example may learne both to loue and praie for our enimies and that we feare not the peruerse opinions of the wicked world Be thou with vs in trouble according to thy promise open to vs the heauens shew vs thy liuelie countenance by thy good presence comfort our sorowfull minds make it knowne vnto vs that thine eternall Father is pacified through thee And finallie when our soules shall depart frō our bodies receiue them we hartilie beseech thee into thine almightie hands Giue grace that quietlie we may rest and fall asleepe till at the resurrection of mankind thou bringest thy Church and chosen to thy visible presence in the heauens where thou remainest and watching full tenderlie ouer thy flocke thou placest the same at the right hand of thy Father Amen 4. On Saint Iohn the Euangelists daie Being the Disciple whom Christ so deerlie loued and who at the resurrection of Christ was 22. yeeres old and liued in all eightie nine yeeres With the bread of life and vnderstanding shall the Lord féed him and giue him the water of wholsowe wisedome to drinke O Sonne of God full sixtie and seuen yeeres did thy beloued disciple Iohn among great miseries greeuous combats spread abroad thy Gospell in Asia the lesser where much idolatrous seruice curiositie and Greekish lightnesse was vsed He rested himselfe not onelie corporallie vpon thy bosome or shoulders being conuersant with thee in the earth and loued of thee as thy kinsman but spirituallie also drue from thy breast the spirit of wisdome replenishing his mind and hart with heauenlie light strength of faith and celestiall vertues He sawe the wofull destruction of his countrie and beheld the tragicall ouerthrowe of his nation He sawe the decaie of that Common-weale that was ordeined of God and of that temple which in all the world was the onelie temple of God He encountered with Ebion and Cerynthus most wretched heretikes which were the trumpets of Sathan to blowe abroad damnable opinions which as the first Cain by the prouocation of the diuell did contumeliously deale with the Sonne of God derided his promise And as afterward the nations by their monsterous multitude of feined gods did reiect Christ and his benefits so in a desperate boldnes did they set themselues against heauen and blasphemouslie detract from the Sonne of God his diuinitie But thanks be to thee O Sonne of God which art the substantiall image and word of the eternall Father thou hast by the doctrine and authoritie of this thy blessed Apostle Euangelist S. Iohn not onlie inlightned thy Church greatlie with the bright beames of thy heauenlie light of diuine knowledge but also by the testimonie of thy iudgement with horrible punishment cut off those blasphemers and heretikes that troubled thy Church and deliuered the truth of that article vnto vs. O preserue this light among vs henceforward that we may attaine thereby to thine euerlasting gifts and suffer vs not to bee wrapped anie more in idolatrous darknesse and superstition which is contrarie to thy glorie Mo enimies also Lord hath Sathan stirred vp to deface this thy truth and glorie euen the horrible power of the Turks which with brazen faces both blasphemouslie deale with thee and persecute thy Church confessing thy truth but suffer not O Sonne of God suffer not we beseech thee the true knowledge of thee by the power of Sathan and his ministers to be blotted out but keepe for thy selfe an holie seed among vs which against all the gates of hell may professe thee to be the eternal Sonne of the euerliuing God to whom the whole societie of Saints with one consent doth ascribe all power all knowledge all heauenlie vertues and willeth all praiers and supplications to bee directed to thee alone which art God alone Maintaine also among vs the true sense of the difference betweene humane righteousnesse and thine Grant that willinglie we may obeie thee leading vs vnto the exercises of true repentance vnto the crosse vnto troubles and vnto death where our will is truelie bound and obeieth altogither Giue grace likewise that we mooue not vnnecessarie strife through pride ambition and curiositie as did Samosatenus Arrius and manie mo but may followe thee and in our vocation both in teaching and learning and liuing may continue in the truth of doctrine that we may be found in that companie which thou louest intirelie and wilt prouide for vntill thou returne Amen 5. On the holie Innocents daie VVhich washed their garments in the bloud of the Lambe euen in their infancie by the crueltie of Herod The soules of the righteous are in the hands of God and there shall no torment touch them O Sonne of God in the time of thine humiliation euen from thy natiuitie and infancie trulie diddest thou taste the streame of mans miserie Poorlie thou wast borne naked and despised in
in a cleere and perfect light shall behold thee Amen 7. On the feast daie of the purification of Saint Marie the virgin and mother of Christ. The word became flesh and dwelt among vs Halleluiah O Eternall Father of thine onelie Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Christ which in the Common-wealth of Israell ordeined according to thy wisedome and adorned with excellent statutes necessarie for the state of mankind and signifieng secret and heauenlie things didst make diuers lawes concerning vncleannesse and the keeping of women with child and another for the first borne and that not onlie to put vs in mind of order in this life and thankefulnesse towards thy ministerie but also to teach that this our giltie and polluted nature like the foule and menstruous cloath of a woman is washed by the bloud of thy Sonne which is thy first borne thy substantiall image and the word sounding thy will whome from the heauens thou commandest to be harkened vnto Gouerne vs by thy first and onlie begotten Sonne Giue vs thy holie spirit that earnestlie we may bewaile our vncleannesse and pollusion aske helpe at thy mercifull hand be purified by the bloud of thy Sonne and be redeemed by him vnto true integritie and cleannesse which pleaseth thee that for his sake we may be adopted into thy children and find fauour in thine eies And as that good old man father Simeon notwithstanding that publikelie little or no talke was vsed of thy benefits by reason of the manifold sects then sproong vp and horrible tyrannie of Gouernours yet was confirmed by thy holie spirit in the truth and receiued a singular promise that he should see the Messias so by the same thy spirit kindle in vs faith whereby we may escape the palpable and curssed darkenesse of idolatrie which in the world welnigh is vsed And grant that we may apprehend thy Sonne who as this daie was presented in the Temple in substance of our flesh and in his armes depart in peace and be presented vnto thee with pure and cleane minds Assist vs that from our harts as did good father Simeon and holie Iacob we may firmelie keepe him among the feares of conscience and pangs of death Grant that he may be our light inflaming the darkenesse of our feeble minds with the brightnesse of his glorie Blot out all our doubtings heale the diseases of our soule and kindle that benefit and excellent light of true religion that being made followers in the spirituall societie of thy people Israell whose glorie is thy Sonne witnessing that among that people the promises and reuelations of the essence and will of the true God were made we may also come to thy glorie which our nature needeth and be adorned by thy Sonne with the heauenlie blessing of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and receiuing righteousnesse and eternall life Amen 8. On Saint Matthias daie Thou hast exalted one chosen out of the people to publish thy lawe blessed be thy name O Lord. ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie Father who because the Scripture must needs haue beene fulfilled which the holie Ghost through the mouth of Dauid spake before of the Traitor Iudas who was guide to the Iewes that tooke Iesus thy deere Sonne our Lord and who now in reward of his iniquitie for betraieng thine innocent Sonne his Lord and Maister went hoong himselfe in the feeld of bloud called Acheldama till he burst asunder in the midst and all his guts and bowels gushed out didst afterward at the earnest praiers and petition of the rest of thy disciples choose thy faithfull seruant Matthias out of all the companie that followed thee or had their conuersation with thine Apostles to be of the number of thy twelue Apostles and ordeinedst him to be a witnesse with them of thy Sonnes resurrection as it is written in the 109. Psalme Let his habitation be void and no man be dwelling therein and his Bishoprike or charge let another take grant we beseech thee that thy Church being alwaie preserued from hirelings traitors and false Apostles may be ordered and guided by godlie faithfull and true pastors and ministers O Christ Sonne of God greatlie didst thou reioice at the gathering of the Church and high thanks didst thou yeeld to thy Father because he had chosen an holie seed out of mankind and suffered not their pains to be altogither frustrate We thanke thee also from our harts for reioicing at our well-doing and for repressing the diuell by thy power that some may be saued Gather heereafter we beseech thee from among vs a righteous people pleasing thee And although miserable and ouglie be the outward shew of thy Church and they which seeme to be the light of the world despise thy wisedome euen as neither Tiberius the Emperour with the Senate of Rome neither the Princes and Priests of the Iews would vouchsafe to heare thee wandering with thy Disciples Christian auditorie yet assist vs that these sinister iudgements of the world doo not dismaie vs but that we may bring our minds into a godlie captiuitie acknowledge thee by a true and liuelie faith to be the Sonne of thine eternall Father receiue the words from thee which from the bosome of thy Father vtterest the counsell concerning the restitution of man to whom all things both in heauen and earth are giuen for vs which are thy parteners Leade vs by thine hand by thy word and spirit before the presence of thy Father shew vs in a new light inwardlie in our soules the presence of thy Father which is pleased with vs for thy sake Abide thou among vs. Powre on vs by thy spirit the beginning of that light and righteousnes which appeareth in thee being the light of light lightning the darkenes of our nature Behold O good Samaritane and Physician of our soules to thee doo we lift vp our hands we are wounded we labour and are heauie laden thine enimie hath spoiled vs and wounded vs to the death We are so burthened with the weight and greeuousnes of sicknesse that our soule is comfortlesse readie to faint and fall into death and damnation Wherfore comfort our miserable soule with thy ioifull wine and oile with thine heauenlie and quickening balme raise vs from death vtter thy comfort to our harts and grant that our soules may find rest and gladnesse in thee Put on vs thy sweet yoke tame our flesh by thy spirit Raise vp in vs new motions and holie cogitations agreeable to thy will and word Thou art meeke in deed not desirous of reuengement Thou hast not throwne miserable man into euerlasting damnation as thou didst the diuels but hast suffered punishment for vs in thy bodie and praied for thine enimies Thou art meeke and lowlie in hart Thou flangest thy selfe vnder all angels and men thou tookest our fraile and fowle flesh vpon thee thou she wedst not the power of thy diuinitie in the time of thy passion but hidst if it might be thy diuinitie after a woonderfull
pilgrimage to walke with a good conscience and pure mind both before thee and towards all men in my dooing that I be not a reader of thy holie word and a talker onlie but that it may appeare also in my life and conuersation Regenerate my hart with the spirit of grace dailie more and more giue me an inward taste and feeling of thy fauour and mercie towards me in Christ Iesu our Lord that I may knowe thee to be my God and Father and my selfe to be thy child for euermore Assist thy seruant against this world with the vaine pompe pleasures and beautie thereof that it may be vnto me as vile dust filth and slime that I may vse it as though I vsed it not and that it may serue me and I not it that I may take my part thereof vnto my necessitie with thanks-giuing that I doo not vse thy creatures voluptuouslie but that I may liue soberlie and godlie in this present life to thy glorie Preserue and defend thy seruant from all false opinions that I be not deceiued and caried awaie in the errour of the wicked but that I may growe in grace and knowledge of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ O Lord giue me wisedome knowledge and vnderstanding to perceiue those false lieng and flattering spirits which doo deceiue the harts of innocents and begile vnstable soules Giue me also O Lord a right a reuerent and a pure iudgement and vnderstanding of thy holie word and to auoide all rash iudgements and peruerse interpretations that I may neuer swarue from the true sense and meaning therof and grant that my cheefest felicitie may be in the same thy holie word in hearing reading and talking of it and in watching praier fasting mortifieng mine owne will and members O Lord plant in me true obedience to thy lawe and let not the cares of this world choke thy word in me Make me to lift vp my hart oftentimes to thee and if I chance to fall or slip make me to thinke on thee and to be sorie with a stedfast purpose of amendment Oh Lord I offer vp my selfe whollie with all my crooked and corrupt nature so much as it is in will and works vnto thy mercie to be corrected and reformed at thine owne will and pleasure O let not the hand of the vngodlie cast me downe but saue my soule O my Lord God whither it bee through prosperitie or aduersitie losse or gaine sickenesse or health life or death Aid strengthen succour and defend thy seruant in all aduersities tribulations and temptations and suffer me not to be tempted aboue my strength Increase my ioie and comfort in thee and thy holie spirit that I may reioice in all trouble and affliction and imbrace the same to my consolation and comfort and thinke my selfe happie when I am counted woorthie to suffer anie trouble for thy name sake Take from mine hart the thoughts of earthlie comforts onlie set before mine eies the ioie of the crosse of Christ that I may take comfort therein and despise the shame for the great reward that is laid vp in heauen for all those that with patience suffer in aduersitie and continue in well-dooing vnto the end Oh Lord take from me I saie a carefull hart in all worldlie things let them be vile vnto me for thy sake and grant that neither pouertie oppresse me and driue me to despaire or falshood neither wealth and prosperitie lift me vp to forget thee or my selfe but that in prosperitie I may be thankfull and in aduersitie patient and humble Lord let me be merie without lightnesse sad without mistrust sober without dulnesse fearing thee without desperation trusting in thee without presumption let me not be merie with the ioie that is without thee and let me desire nothing besides thee Good Lord giue me ioifulnesse of hart and peace of conscience continuall gladnesse and consolation in thy word and promises that I may euermore be thankfull vnto thee and praise thy name for euer Let thy kingdome come vnto me which is righteousnesse peace and ioie in the holie Ghost long suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faithfulnesse meekenesse temperance strength and patience with all such like vertues as are prescribed vnto me in thy holie word Grant me O God a tender louing and mercifull hart towards my brethren long amitie and perfect patience to beare all things well that thy prouidence shall see meet to laie vpon me Of thy fatherlie mercie O God leaue me not to my selfe but stand thou alwaies by me For I am too weake of mine owne power to doo anie thing that is good but my righteousnesse and strength lieth onelie in thee Therefore O Lord I come vnto thee requiring mercie in thy sight and the assistance of thy grace that I may bee strengthened with power in the inward man and be armed at all assaies with thine holie complet armour which is the breast-plate of righteousnesse the sheeld of faith the hope of saluation for an helmet and the swoord of the spirit which is thy holie word that I may stand perfect in all that is thy will and bee found woorthie through Christ to receiue a crowne of life which thou hast promised to all them that loue thee in purenesse of mind Now therefore O Lord I giue ouer my selfe into thine holie hands desiring thee for Christs sake that I thus armed may remaine vnder the protection and strong defence of thy power and that thine holie Angels may pitch their tents round about me and compasse me alwaies And I beseech thee O Lord giue vnto thy seruant the strength of thine holie spirit to subdue this bodie of sinne with the whole lusts thereof that it may bee made obedient both in will mind and members to doo thine holie will that when thou shalt appeare to reward euerie one according to their deeds I may reioice and not be ashamed of thee at thy comming Moreouer O Lord I beseech thee thinke vpon all thy people which are straied here and there from the farthest part of the earth which be entered into couenant with thee and are minded to walke after thy will Grant O Lord that we may growe togither in loue through the knowledge of thy word to keepe the vnitie of the spirit through the bond of peace to the vtter confounding of errour and all false opinions and to keepe vs cleane from all hypocrisie and superstition and to make vs strong in all trouble and affliction O heauenlie Father grant vnto me and all other I saie wheresoeuer they be dispersed throughout the vniuersall world which professe thy holie word so to liue that we may die to sinne and lead a godlie conuersation walking innocentlie before thee Rule and confirme our harts with thy spirit O Lord lighten our minds and guide vs alwaies with the lightsome lampe of thine holie Gospell Gouerne and preserue thy Church and defend those Realmes and Cities that giue succour and harbour to thy people make vs all diligent
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