corruption and of a most frayle nature And thou how can I that am but earthe and ashes coÌ„ceaue the meaning of thy diuine mistries surely by no meanes except the motion of thy spirite direâ— myne vnconstant and wauering mynde in the right way of truth and vnderstaÌ„ding whereby I may be alwayes inflamed to meditatâ— vpon thy promises contained in thy holy Ghospell wherein thou hast promysed euerlastinge lyfe to all those that with a stedfast fayth beleue that by the meanes of Iesus Christ his passioÌ„ they haue obtayned frée remission of their sinnes To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory now and euermore Amen A prayer agaynst the aduarsaries of the truth ALmighty and most mercifull Father which art the way the truth and life deliuer me from the hands of them that imagine mischieffe and thinke vpon deceyt all the daye longe whose tongues are more sharp theÌ„ a two edged sworde and the poyson of Aspes is vnder their lippes Beholde most mercyfull Father from thy heauenly throne thy vineyard which the Boare rooteth vp and neuer suffreth the tender branches to spring aboue the ground but as fast as they bud fourth he spoiles them not sufferinge the same to attayne to their full maturitie perfect ripenes Aryse O Lord and reuenge thyne owne cause how long shall thy Ielozy sléepe for euer O remember the afflictions of thy seruantes that are oppressed with the tyranny of Pharao and ouerladen with the intollerable burthen of the Egiptian taskes Thou séest our misery and thraldome and how we are euery day in daunger to be 〈◊〉 of the enemy And for thy sake onely doe we suffer reproch al the day long A ryse therefore O Lorde like a mighty man of warr and as a stout gyant refreshed with wine Looke downe and behould howe thy stocke is scattered abroade by meanes of the outragiousnes of the wolf who continually séeketh to roote out and vtterly to extingush the name of Israell Take Armes in hand and strike in thynâ— owne cause and confounde thyne enemyes wyth the fire of thy heauy displeasure So shall thy poore dispersed â—locke bâ— reducâ—â— againe at last into one fould and 〈◊〉 continuall prayses to thee the author of our libertie and our auenger To whome with the Sonne and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory c. A thankes geuing to God for his benefites VVE render vnto thée most merciful father immortall thankes for the manifould dayly benefits which thou of thy mercie without any desert of ours hast most abouÌ„dantly poured vpon vs since the time it pleased thée to inspire into vs the breath of lyfe framinge our corrupt bodyes in forme of thine own likenes placing vs in thy pleasant Paradise there to remayne in most happy and fortunate estate if through the subtill allurementes of Sathan our ghostly enimie we had not transgressed thy commaundements We thanke thée also most mercyfull Father for that wheÌ„ we were condemned by our owne transgression in our great Grandfather Adam thou of thy Fatherly loue and naturall compassion that thou haddest on mankinde didest send down thy onely begotteÌ„ Sonne Iesus Christ to take our corrupt Nature vpon hym and to humble himselfe to the shamefull death of the Crosse thereby to redeme vs wretched sinners from the bondage of hell whether for our disobedience we were iustly condemned and to pay the raunsome of our offences whereby thy wrathe that was worthyly inflamed against vs might be appeased and we lost sheepe at last recoÌ„cyled to thee our pitifull pastoure most mercifull Father We yeld thée also immortall thankes moste mercifull Father for that it hathe pleased thee to reueale thy holy Gospell vnto vs by thy Sonne Iesus Christ whereby we might obtaine remission of our sinnes and through faythe might haue a sure confideÌ„ce that by the merites of Iesus Christ hys passion we are deliuered from the intolerable cursse of the lawe and are made partakers of that heauenly kingdome prepared for vs since the foundation of the world For these thy most bountifull gyftes and all other thy benefites dayly and hourely powred vpon vs we hartely thanke thée most louing and mercifull Father Beseching thée that thou wilt geue vs grace through the operatioÌ„ of thy heauenly spirit in our myndes so to order our life and conuersation that wee walke in true holines and sincerity of hart behauing our selues so circumspectly in this wretched world that at the last day we may bée found faltles and be receaued into the number of theÌ„ to whome this ioyfull sentence shal be pronounced Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the kingedome whiche was prepared for you from the beginning of the worlde To which kingdome we besech thée most mercyfull Father for the merites of thine onely soÌ„ne our Sauiour Iesus Christ to bring vs speedely out of this vale of misery and sorowe where with the societie of the elect we may singe prayses to thée our moste mercyfull Father worlde without ende To whome with thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour and the holy Ghost three in vnitie and one in trinitie bee all honour glory power dominion and might from thys time fourth for euermore A prayer to God the Father O Almighty and moste mercifull God the Father eternall which haste bene from the beginninge and so shalt remayne world with out end Thou that createst all liuing creatures and last of all man breathinge the breath of lyfe into them by a naturall instinct and disposition euery thinge to folowe his owne kind sauing man only aboue al the rest whome thou hadest formed after thine own image and indude hym wyth reason more then naturall wherby hée might discerne the good from the euill and learne to eschewe suche thinges as might be hurtfull vnto him Euen he I say aboue all the rest transgressed the commaundementes of thy Maiestie inclining to his owne lustes and affections without any regarde or feâ—â—e of thée his onely Lorde maker Whereby hee was expelled out of the garden of Eden that place of pleasure where once thou hadest placed him But Oh what thankes shall we yeld vnto thée most mercifull and louynge Father that didâ—est vouchsafe of thy méere mercy and Fatherly loue toward vs to sende downe thyne onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ to be our redeemâ—r and Sauiour to deliuer vs out of the mouth of hell whither our owne deserts had worthely condemned vs we will singe a Psalme of thankes geuing and worship toward thy holy temple For what other reward are we able to geue vnto thée that maye in any respect worthely counter vaile the least sparke of thy Fatherly pyttie and kindenes surely none For of our owne selues we are not able so much as to thinke a good thought wythout the motion of thy spirit much lesse to doe any suche good déede that might be aunswerable to the innumerable multitude of thy benefites alwayes besâ—owed vpon vs Accept therefore most mercifull Father our sacrifice of
neuer at all otherwise enclined that then you woulde vouchsafe to take this booke in hand and turning to any title whatsoeuerâ— may serue your tourne to apply the prayer folowing vnto your present purpose But perchaunce you will say that there are alredy extantâ— diuers sundry bookes of prayers which haue bene set fourth by men of greater vnderstaÌ„ding riper iudgement then I and therfore it was a needeles and superfluous trauaile to wade any furthar in that matter Indede Madame I graunt that ther are many praier bokes published but yet I am of this opinion that if there were ten tymes as many yet there were not to many For the common prouerbe is Bâ—num quo â—â—oÌ„munius eo melius The more common a good thinge is the better it is And therefore will I hardly be perswaded that my laboure could anye way haue bene better employed then in suche causes as concerne the aduauncement of Gods glory and the propagation of vertue VVell such as it is I haue presumed to offer vnto your honoures iâ—dgement with assured hope that you will deeme of it as your noble nature hath ben alwaies enclined to iudge of them that attempt the like enterprises that you will accept it as a sure tokeÌ„ and testimonie of his loyall affection and readie dutie that would thinke himselfe happie to bee accoumpted but as the least in the number of those that woulde be allwayes at your Ladiships commaundement Thomas Achelley Morning Prayer O Almighty and moste mercifull Father who of thine vnspeakeable loue and pitie toward the disobediente and loste children of Adam when wee were caried awaye thorough sinne and ignoraunce to damnation folowing Sathan after the blind and vnbrideled lusts of the fleshe diddest reconcile vs to thee by grace and adopcion in Christ Iesus the righteous and immaculate Lambe by faith and sure confidence grounded on the merites of his death whereby we are redeemed from the eternall prison of death and damnation haue mercy vpon vs mosâ—e mercifull louing Father so quicken our dul and heauy mindes by the inspiration of thy holy spirite that we maye shake of this dead sleepe continualy watch in thee abandoning the worckes of darcknes and walking in the worckes of light whereby we may be worthy to walk in this holy vocation where vnto thou haste called vs and with thine elected sainctes to sing prayses vnto thee and at all seasons times to glorify thy holy name And among all other benefites which thou of thy free mercy doste dayly and hourely most aboundantly bestow vpon vs we yeeld thée mortall thankes for that thou haste vouchsaâ—ed to presâ—rue vs both this night and all the time and dayes of our life vnder the shadowe and protection of thy winges keeping our eyes waking in thée without any idle dreames or phantasies that might disturbe our mindes from the meditation of thy grace and haste safely brought me to the beginning of this daye from the drousy graue of my bed which manifestly resembleth in lying downe my death and in rysing vp a manifest tipe and figure of my resurrection Therfore sith thou of thy mercy haste raysed me vp from this earthly reast wherein my mortall body and corrupt nature hath ben partly recreated from the laboures trauayles which I dayly sustayne in this terestrial pilgrimage vouchâ—aâ—e also I beséech thee to direct me with thy holy spirite both this day and euer that all my doinges maye tend to thy glory and to the commoditie of my neighbouâ— And graunt most merciful Father that the residue of my whole life froÌ„ heÌ„ceforth may he gided happly vnder thy tuition whereby all maner of darkenes misbeliefe infidelitie carnall lustes and affections may be vtterly chased driuen out of my hart and that I may be iustified saued both body and soule through a right and perfect fayth in Christ Iesu and so walke in the light of thy most holy word coÌ„maundements all the dayes of this my fraile and transitory being Arme vs with thy grace most mercifull father and strengtheÌ„ vs by thine assistaunce to vanquishe the power of the sinfull flesh and Sathan that hauing victory in the end we may ioyfully triumphe in thy saluation that art the God of our strength and might Endue our blynde hartes with thy heauenly spirite that being strong in fayth although â—éeble in the flesh we may so rule the bridle of our course both now and euer from henceforth that we sleepe not in sinne as the vnbeleuers doo which haue no hope of resurrection in Christ Iesu but folowing the motion of their owne common sence are so linked and tyed to the ground that their grosse capacitie is not of force to loke vp and to be holde the brightnes of thy diuinitie which art God from the beginning for euerlasting world without ende To whome with the sonne the holy Ghost be al honor and glory for euer euer Amen A Prayer for Euening O Almighty and moste mercifull Father maker of heauen and earth with all that is therein whose works are insercheable whose mercy is inâ—â—nite whose power is aboue the Cloudes of heauen we beséech thee of thy accustomed fatherly piety and pittie that thou wilte vouchsafe to be our watche man this night and euer to gard vs from all our enemies both bodily or ghostly that endeuour to disturb the externall rest of our body or to assalt the infernall Closet of our Conscience with any sinful suggestions or deuilish deuises of Sathan our mortall foe and deadly aduersary We acknolege and confesse moste mercifull Father that of our selues we are not worthy to lifte vp our eyes towarde heauen much lesse to presume in presenting oureselues before thy deuine maiestie with confidence that thou wilte heare our prayers or incline to our petitions if we call to remembraunce the vnworthines of our own merites and desertes for we are nothing else but a lumpe of sinne conceaued and borne in iniquity folowing the right path of our naturall imbecilitie and weakenes in Adam euer more prone and apt to folowe the filthy appetite of our own desire like vnbrideled Colts and reiecting the holsome discipline and instructions of thy most holy wil and commaundements Our own consciences accuse vs and our own sinz beare witnes against vs that we are nothing else but miserable wretches subiect to corrupcion clothed with iniquity and not of our selues able to thinck as muche as one good thought so that wée are not able to abide the extremitie of thy straighte iudgement knowing that by the worckes of the flesh we are condemned to deth yet quickned in the spirite and iustified by grace in Christ iesu Wee knowe most merciful Father that thou art a righteous Iudge such a one as visiteth the sinz of the Fathers vpon the Children to the thirde and fourth generation and doest not Iustify the synners and them that walk in the waye of iniquitie but punishest the falts of al such
as transgres thy holy lawes and commaundementes Notwithstanding most mercifull Father seing thou hast promised to here vs whensoeuer we repent vs of our sinz from the bottom of our harte and vnfainedly do call vpoÌ„ thy name for help we haue presumed to appeale to thy Throne of mercy humbly coÌ„fessing our manifold sinz and offences and crauing remission of our trespasses in the bowels of thy onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our intercessor and sauioure Haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lord and forgiue vs our offences instruct vs with thy holy spirite to enter into examinatioÌ„ of our owne selues by a stedfast fayth in Christ Iesu with worckes correspondent to the same we may earnestly and hartely repeÌ„t from the very bottome of oure hartes and euer hereafter to thirst after thy law and statutes euen as the harte desireth the brookes of water And last of all for as muche as it hath pleased thée of thy heauenly wysedome to prepare and ordeâ—â—e the night for man to rest and refresh himself after his dayly trauayles grant we beséech thée most mercifull Father that as our bodies do take a careles sléepe so contrarily our soules maye continâ—allye watche in thée expectting dilligently that happy time when our Lord Iesus shal appear for our deliuerance out of this mortall life into another more blisâ—ull and happy life the ioyes wherof noe mans capacitie is able to conceaue much les is the tongue able worthily to expresse the happines thereof To that life we beséech the to bring vs for Iesus christ his sake A Prayer for the increase of fayth O Almighty and moste mercifull Father the euerlasting fountayne and well spring of al grace and goodnesse whose mercy is incomprehensible and power infinite thou the eternall Iehouah in whose handes are all the corners of the earth the strength of the hilles is thine also whose omnipotent power fashoned the Sea and prepared the dry land haue mercy vpon vs miserable and wretched sinners and encline thy fatherly eare vnto the voyce of our prayers Increase most heauenly father in our mindes the sparckes of true fayth and Christianitie that being alwayes garded with the defence of thy holy worde we may haue power and force to renounce and resiste the terrible inuasions of our mortall enimy Sathan who continualy rangeth about like a roaring Lion séeking whome he may denoure And sith wee are chaunced in these perillous tymes wherein noughte but iniquitie raigneth and Antechrist aduaunceth himselfe in thy temple exalting himself aboue all that is called God infecting thy poore disposed â—â—ock with the poysoned drâ—gges of damnable heresy illuminate we beséech thée moste merciful father our blinded eyes with the true light of thy heauenly grace that being armed with the shield of thy diuine inspiration we may therby be the more emboldned to withstand the dayly and innumerable assalts of our ghostly enemie that continually laboureth by all meanes possible to wreste the worde of trueth and vnderstaÌ„ding out of our harts and to throwe vs headlong into the bottomlesse lake of euerlasting perdition and whereas withoute the inspiration of thy heauenlye grace we are not able so much as to thincke a good thought and much les able to resist the sinfull allurements of our corrupt flesh the world and the Deuill therefore we craue of thée most heauenly Father that thou wilte vouchsafe to make perfecte that good worcke which thou hast be gonne in vs not suffering those fewe sparckes of thy heauenly grace which thy spirite hath planted in our hartes to be extinguished or quenched by meanes of our weakenes and inconstancie but augmenting in our mindes the zeale of thy word we may be able to reÌ„der an accouÌ„pt at that dreadfull day of the hope and fayth which we haue in thée by the merites of thy sonne Iesus Christe our Messias and Sauiour whome thou hast vouchsafed to send into the earth héere to be incarnate of the pure virgine Mary and hauing receaued the image of our humanitie to offer him selfe as an acceptable sacrafice vpon the alter of the most bitter Crosse and by the â—ffusion of his moste precious bloud to pay the raunsome of our offences vnto thy diuine maiestie whereby he reconciled vs vnto thée our heauenly Father whereas otherwise we had beene subiect to the thraldome of euerlastinge damnation To thée with the same Iesus Christ thy sonne and the holy spirite covnited al three in Godhead and distinguished in person be all honor and glory for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for grace to perseuer in fayth O Eternal God and euerlasting Father the author and fountayne of all goodnesse the multitude of whose benedictioÌ„s and benefites farre passe and excéede the compasse of humayne reason and capacitie indue our frayle minds with the grace of thy heauenly spirite that mortifiing our owne desires and affections our onely ioy delite may be placed in the perpetuall consideration of thy heauenly promises and renouncing all care and regard of worldly businesse which commonly withdrawes our mindes from the contemplation of thine infinite mercies we may be wholie addictted to the seruice of thy diuine maiestie in spirite and true humulitie of minde reioycing together in Psalmes Hymnes and spirituall Songes comforting one another in thy promise of that day wherin thou hast promised to make vs felow â—eyres of thine heuenly inheritaunce with Abraham Isaack and Iacob in that celestiall mansion which thou haste ordeyned for thine elect since the beginning of the world And because by reason of oure naturall corruption which we haue successiuely receued since the fall of oure great Grandfather Adam we are all naturally bente and inclined to goe astray strengthen most mercifull Father our féeble spirites with inspiration of thy heuenly grace that being armed against al the assaults of the flesh the worlde the Deuill and Antichriste that Capitall enimy of thy worde we may haue oure consciensces cleare from all maner temtations and altogether vacante to the Meditation of the promises expressed in the Gospell of thy sonne Iesus Christe our sauioure Endue vs with the diuine influence of thy spirite that we maye neuer be caried away with the fleshe but by the operation of thy grace in our hartes we maye be able to mortify subdue our carnal afections and wordly desires whereby our zeale may be the more enflamed to insue the heauenly motions of thy holy spirite which directeth the mindes of them that feare thée in the perfect pathway of lighte and vnderstanding Graunte this most mercifull father for thy Sonne Christe hys sake to whom with thée the holy Ghost be al honor and glory from this time forth for euermore A prayer for vnity in Religion O Euerlasting and moste mercifull Father the fountayne of all grace and goodnes which art the God of peace loue vnitie and concorde and the iuste reuenger of disceÌ„tion debate and confusion thou séeste howe miserably thy holy congregation is rent torn and deuided into diuers
worde corrupted with the superstitious traditions of mortal men we beseech thée moste heauenly Father to inspire the dewe of thy spirite into the hartes of all Christian Kinges and Princes in whose handes consistes the reformatioÌ„ as wel of ecclesiastical as ciuil politike causes that by the motion of the same spirit they may be the more feruentlye enflamed with the zealâ— and loue of thy glory and be the more â—ircumspectly bent to plant the séedes of thy true Religion through all their dominions kindle moste mercifull Father in their harts a desire to deface all blinde cerimonies and supersticious idolatry which in any respect maye séeme preiudiciall or derogatory to thy glory let them break down their hill alters hew down their groues burne their Images with â—ire the no one monument of them be left vpon the earthe and that when they are sought for their place may not be founde so that the name memory of them may decay and perish with the asâ—hes of their consumed timber Let their moltion Images be consumed with fire and their grauen Shrines be brought to coÌ„fusion For thou art a mightâ—e God agelous God one that cannot suffer a mate or pere in thy Dominion Thou wilt be worshipped in truth and righteousnesse of hart and not with blockishe and sencelesse Images the work of mens hands which haue eares and heare not eyes and see not noses smell not mouthes and eate not handes and feele not feete and goe not but are caryed hither and thether vpon mens shoulders like sencelesse stockes as they are in no respect resembling any figure of diuinitie or God-head And bicause the vse of these phantastical Idols tendeth especially to the preiudice and prophanatioÌ„ of thine omnipotent diuine power who hast commauÌ„ded by expresse wordes in thy law that we should not make to our selues the likenesse of any thinge in heauen or earth or in the waters to bow vnto Graunt we besech thée thy grace to all princes and potentates that beare as wel the spiritual sword as the title of temporal gouernmeÌ„t that they may be moued with thyne heauenly motion to purge thy church froÌ„ all the dregs of superstition and Idolatrie wherby thy poore flock that is now dispersed through the whole worlde may be brought againe into one vniforme consent of Religion seruing thee in lowlines and purenesse of hart abâ—â—doning all the rabble of Romayne traditions and idolatrous ceremonies cleauing only to the rule of thy holy gospel reuealed by thy sonne Iesus Christe oure lord Sauiour To whom with the Father the holy Ghost thrée persons one God be all honour glory world without ende Amen A prayer for the preseruation of our noble Queene Elizabeth WE yelde vnto thée most mightie mercifull Father immortall thanckes for that it hathe pleased thée of thy méere mercie and fatherly bountye after the stormes of so many troublesome tymes to conduct vs into the comfortable port of traÌ„quilitie by the hand of thy most gracious seruaunt our déere soueraigne Lady Elizabeth When we were as shéepe wandring astray in the wildernes thou ordainedst hir Maiestie to be our Shepeheard to gather vs againe into thy shepefould When we had bene long lossed hither thether with the outrage and cruel fury of tiraÌ„nicall persecution like a poore weatherbeateÌ„ Bark that hath bene continually turmoyled tossed on the perillous surgâ—s of the outragious and swelling seas findinge no sure roade nor harber wherein to rest but continually in daunger eyther to sinck into the sanâ—s â–ª or to be ouerwhelmed with waues or violently to be dashed in peces against the mayne rockes Euen then I say when we dispayred vtterly of sauegarde standing still in feare of the hazard of euerlasting confusion thou committedst the helme to be guyded by hir graces wisedome who at laste conducted vs into the hauen of this longe desired peace and tranquilitie Therefore whereas thou hast placed hir in the regal throne to be our Dauid our Iosias our Samuel yea to be our Shéepeheard and ring-lâ—ader in the way of true holinesse and sincere Religion Inspire hir mynde with the manifold blessinges of thy grace that she may walke all the dayes of hir lyfe in the path of thy commaundementes happely discharge hir dutie in that stewardship and dispensation which thou hast coÌ„mitted to hir Maiesties hands Inflame hir minde more more with the loue of thy holy gospel the all hir déedes thoughtes practises may tend to the propagation planting of thy worde and true Christian religion in these hir Maiesties Dominions Eâ—cline the motioÌ„s of hir vertuous disposition aboue all thinges to seeke thine honor glory to sow the seedes of the Catholike fayth abundantly in all places to cut of the broode of superstition and Idolatry to constitute true Preachers of thy worde and establish euery wher thine holy gospel and true religion Preserue hir moste mercifull father as hitherto thou haste moste myraculously done from the deuilish deuises and practises of hir enimies that she may haue a longe and happy raigne among vs to the aâ—â—auncement of thy glory and ioy and comfort of all hir subiectes Let hir naturall disposition coÌ„tinâ—e to hir â—ocs terrible to hir subiectes amiâ—ble to hir offeÌ„ders merciful to the vertuous bountiful indifferent to al men and in all respectes partial in no point neither in causes ecclesiastical nor yet in matters concerninge politike gouernement Assist hir moâ—â— merciful Father with the might of thy heauenly Spirit to quayle the pryde of the triple headed Romish Ceâ—berus to banishe his beggarly ceremonies to abridge the termâ— of his raigne and finally to cut of and preuent the séedes that continually striue to spring vp from abhominable superstition and Idolatrie GrauÌ„t hir grace most merciful Father to runne the remnant of hir race in the right path of thy commauÌ„dements declining neither to the right hand nor to the left but so vsinge all times thy heauenly word as the rule and compasse to direct hir course Preserue hir grace most mercifull Father in continuall healthe of body and quietnesse of mynde that she may be alwayes able to rule the bridle of hir charge and to execute right and Iustice to all sorts and degrees to the aduauncemeÌ„t of thy glory and the vniuersall commoditie of hir â–ª Maiesties subiectes And finally graunt O most mercifull father that when it shall please thée to end the terme of hir dayes in this worlde thou wilt make hir partaker of those celestial ioyes which are prepared for them that feare thée since the foundation of the world Graunt this most mercifull father for thy déere sonne our lord Iesus Christ his sake To whom with thee the holy Ghost three persons and one God be all glory and honor world without end A Prayer for the Councell and Nobilitie ALmighty and most merciful Father whose power is infinit and workes incompreheÌ„sible vouchsafe to direct the hartes of the Nobilitie of this Realme
perfect figure and remembraunce of thy bodie and the wyne of thy bloud whiche was shed vpon the Crosse for my redemptioÌ„ Geue me grace sweete Iesu to confesse my sinnes wyth the Publicane and to crye Lord be mercifull to me a sinner and that with Mary Magdeline I may washe thy feete with the teares of repentaunce geue me grace to reconcile my selfe to my brother while he is in the waye to examyne mine owne consience and if in ought I haue offended any man first of all to desire forgeuenesse at the hands of thy deuine Maiestie and next of him whome I haue trespassed I my selfe to forgeue all men whatsoeuer they haue done said or imagined agaynst mée euen as I hope to haue remission at thy Fathers handes of all myne offences by the merites of thy pretious deathe and passion Geue me grace to serch my conscience so narowly that if any one sâ—râ—ple doe stycke in my mynde I may humbly confesse it before the feete of thy mercy crauing pardon therof with grace necessary to leaue a newe lyfe That with a pâ—â—e hart and cleare coÌ„science confessing my sins from the bottome of my hart I maye this daye receaue the Sacrament of thy precious body and bloud to my soules health that thou from henceforth mayst dwell in me I in thee for euer whereby I may obtayne and attaine to that longe desired marke whereto the race of all true Christians tendeth that is euerlasting lyfe in that heauenly Ierusalem where all the elect Saintes shall liue for euermore worlde wythout end In the meane spâ—ce vntill it shall seeme good to thy Maâ—estie to abridge the course of my dayes in this lyfe I humbly desire thée moste sweete Sauiour to admit me to the coÌ„munion of thy Supper that I may be worthy to be accompted a member of thy mysticall bodie here in earth among the number of thy chosen Sayntes in thy congregation And after the receit of thy body bloud vouchsafe I besâ—che thée to illuminate the eyes of my hart with the light of thy heauenly spirit that SathaÌ„ enter not into me as he did into Iudas but graunt that the rest of my lyfe may be so ordred that sinne may be subdued in me thy glory aduaunced thy faith embraced and thy holy commaundementes studiously followed through the merites of thy passion Amen A thankes geuing after the receauing of the CoÌ„munioÌ„ I Render moste hartie and infinite thankes vnto thée swéete Iesu for thyne vnspeakable goodnesse because thou hast fed me this day with thy most pretious bodie and bloude in the Sâ—crament wherby I am iustified by an inmoueable and constante fayth in thy grace and passion being made an vndefiled member of thy church A Temple for the holy Ghost and a fellow heire or partaker in thy glorious kingdome in the bosome of Abraham where the spirites of the elect shall rest for euermore Graunt therfore sweet Iesu that this SacrameÌ„t which I haue receaued may through the operation of the holy Ghost be to mee a purgation and clensing of all my sinnes a spirituall streÌ„gthe agaynst my boâ—â—ly frailtie a preparature and preseruature against the teÌ„ptatyons of Sathan a bridle mean of restraint against the vntamed lusts of the flesh a defence against worldly troubles and aduersitie and finally a perfect medicine of lyfe and a continuall remembrauncâ— of thy blessed passion by meanes wherof I stande in assured hope of eternall saluation with frée iustification and remission of all my sinnes So that it may conduct and guyde me in the way and when I am out of the way it maye reduce me wheÌ„ I slide it may vpholde me when I fall it may rayse me vp agayne when I liue it maye bée a salue to my soule when I am weake it maye streÌ„gtheÌ„ and confirme when I am in darkenes it may illuminate me wyth the light of true fayth and vnderstanding Let the receauing thereof excuse so effectuall an operation in my hart that I neuer ioye in other comfort but in thée that I neuer féele other sweetenes but thee that I neuer seke other place of refuge but thée that my mynd be enamoured vpoÌ„ no other louer but thée that I séeke for no other succoure but at thée thát I trust in none other but in thée myne onely Lorde and redemer who didest not denie to haue thy moste pretious body scourged and mangled and thy bloud to be shed most aboundantly for my sake whereby I might be brought from errour to trueth from ignoraunce to vnderstaÌ„ding froÌ„ darkenes to light from vanitie to veritie from mortalitie to immortallitie â—roÌ„ corruption to incorruption from damnatioÌ„ to iustification from eternall death to the incoÌ„prehensible ioyes of eternall lyâ—e and saluation â–ª To thee swéete Iesus wyth the Father the holy Ghost be all honour glory from thys tyme forthe for euer more worlde without ende Amen A prayer to be said wheÌ„ ye take a iourney by lande O Almighty Lord most mercifall father the wachman of them that sleepe the Physicion of them that are diseased the comfort of theÌ„ that are afflicted the garder and protector of them that are in any daunger or aduersity vouchsafe I besech thée to sende downe thyne heauenly Aungell to be my guide conductor and leader in the waye where I walke that by thy gracious protection I may be defended froÌ„ all myne enemies bothe Ghostly and bodily from all perills or daungers that by any extraordinary meanes may be fall me if I be alone without company kepe my mynde free from all maner idle phantasies and fonde cogitatioâ—s that may withdrawe me from the meditation of thy heauenly word and let al my thoughts consist in the contemplation of thy comfortable promises and coÌ„maundementes And if it so chaunce that I trauayle in the companie of others I beseche thee so to direct my tonge that no word of ribaldrie or vnhonest talke proceede out of my mouth but that al my communications thoughts and déedes may tend to the aduauncement of thy glorie and to the edification both of me and all els that shall heare it Send downe most heauenly Father thy messenger to conduct me as thou dydst yong Iobias in his iourney to Rages whiche moste mercifully defended him from the iawes of the monstrous Fishe and from the power of the euil spirit Thou hast promised that thou wylt at all tymes be readie both to heare their prayers and minister present helpe to all them that vnfaignedly call vppon thy name encline therefore thine eare vnto me moste mercifull Father whiche powre foorth my prayers before the throne of thy mercie and vouchsafe to garde me vnder the shadow of thy winges that I may safely trauaile in trade of my vocation without daunger of anye ghostly enimie that may hurt the soule or anye other humaine chaunce or casualtie that may annoye the body Direct most mercyfull Father the procâ—â—se of my businesse to a happie and prosperous ende
thy name and referred to thy glory to the commoditie of the coÌ„mon welth Through Iesus Christe our Sauiour Amen A prayer for Satterday morning O Almighty Lord moste mercyfull Father whose power reacheth aboue the cloudes thy glory through all the world who onely beholdest the counsels deuises and workes yea the very thoughtes of all men that serchest the inward cogitations yea the very hart and raynes I most humbly besech thée that for as muche as thou hast graciously preserued me this night I may not spend this day after my owne mynde and pleasure whiche is alway euill and wicked but earnestly looke vpon and diligently folowe thy fatherly will thy euerlasting counsaile thy healthfull word pleasure which is alwaies good perfect and holy and that I may fulfill the same with all possible care and dyligeÌ„ce that thy diuine name may be alwaies sanctyfied voth nowe and euermore of me miserable siner Inspire my mynde with thy heauenly spirite that my wayes maye be directed accordinge to thy Godly wyll and commaundemeÌ„ts that my féete slyde not out of the pathes of righteousnesse that my mynde imagine not vpon wickednes that my tongue speake no blasphemies against thée but that all my thoughtes wordes works maye bée to guided by thy the grace I neuer prouoke thy wrathe nor displeasure against me as for my sinns and offences of my youth I besech thée to put them out of thy remembraunce for thy great mercyes sake and neuer thinke vpon theÌ„ hereafter For I confesse and acknowledge that I am a miserable and wretched sinner I haue wandred out of the waye of vertue synce my youth ond haue folowed the brutishe inclination of my corrupt nature like the sencelesse beastes of the earthe whose eyes are still fatsened on the ground consideringe no further theÌ„ the time present without any knowlege or fore sight of the time to come Thou knowest O Lorde that I am but haye grasse that flourisheth this day and to morowe is cut downe and cast into the fornice so little hould or staye is there in the lyfe of man that he cannot assure himselfe of one houre longer then thy good pleasure shall permitt him Ten times happy therfore is he that can spend this little tyme of being which thou haste graunted him according to the rules and precepts of thy holy commaundements Wherefore sith I am but mortall made of earth and ashes and always prone to fall from thy statutes illuminate I beseche thée the eclipsed eyes of my grosse vnderstanding with the lighte of thy heauenly spirite that I maye spende this day and all the rest of my lyfe hereafter in suche wyse as my doinges may be acceptable in thy sight and coÌ„modious to the common welthe through our onely Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amem A prayer for Satterday euening O Mercifull God and heauenly Father whether I sléepe or wake liue or dye I am alwaies thine wherefore I beséech thée hartelie that thou wilt vouchsafe to take care and charge of me and not to suffer me to perishe in the works of darkenesse but to kyndle the light of thy countenaunce in my hart that thy godly konwledge maye daylie encrease in me through a righte and a pure fayth and that I may alwaies be found to liue walke after thy will pleasure to haue my minde and cogitacions bent vpon thee whether I sléepe or wake or what thing else so euer I doo that I may stick fast to thée by a pure vnspotted faith in my sauiour Christ Iesus Be thou O merciful father my watch man and my keper froÌ„ the terryble assaults of Sathan and his wicked ministers kepe my harte from the imaginations of iniquitie that I may be pure in thée and an vnspotted spouse to thy Sonne Christ Iesus When I laye downe my selfe to recreat my lims with sléepe which thou hast appoynted for the satisfactioÌ„ of my trayle bodie let mee not be troubled or assayled with any vncleane cogitations but keepe my mynde stil waking in thée to repose my trust in thy mercy that the externall eyes of my hart maye be euermore excercised in meditacioÌ„ of the comfortable promise To whom with the Father the Sonne and the holy ghost be all honor and glory now and euer more Amen A prayer for Sunday morning O Almighty god and moste mercifull Father whom the tables of thy commaundementes deliuered to the handes of thy seruant Mayses vpon the Mount Sina among other precepts diddest geue charge vnto thy chosen children of Israell that in six dayes they shoulde doe all such workes and labours as they had to doe and reste from laboure the seuenth day graunt we besech thée that since we haue happelie passed ouer this whole weke vnder thy gracious protection we maye not onely rest this day from our daily trauailes but that we maye abstayne also from the works of sinne and iniquitie and sanctifie this daye to thée with prayers and thankes geuing abouÌ„ding in all works of loue and charitie as thou hast coÌ„mâ—unded in thy holy worde that we may be fouÌ„d pure without spotte or blemish at that daye when thy Sonne Iesus Christe shall come to iudge the world with righteousnesse and equitie And forasmuch as thou hast ordayned this daye amonge the rest wherin we shoulde méete altogeather with brotherly loue and affection to yealde thee prayses for the innumerable benefites we haue receaued at thy hande to acknowledge thy fatherly loue and pittie towardes vs from tyme to tyme and to geue thee thankes in generall for all and vniuersall thy benifites hitherto bestowed vpon vs we humbly besech thée to graunte vs thy holie spirite that we maye be the more zelousely inflamed to serue thee in true holynesse and integritie of lyfe by the operation of that spirite we may kill all carnall lustes vnlawfull pleasures occupiscence and all other spottes of vncleannesse wherby we may be made thy childe by adopcion and grace and our bodies the temple of the holy ghost beinge throughly purged and purified from the dregges of iniquitie and abhominotion Geue vs grace most mercifull Father to spend this daye to thy pleasure in all good workes and charitie proceding from an vndefiled faith in Christ Iesus that we fall not into no kynde of daunger but that all our doings may be orâ—eâ—ed by thy gouernaunce to doe alwaies that is righteous in thy sight through Iesus Christ our lord Amen A prayer for Sunday Euening WE reÌ„der vnto thée euerlasting prayses most mercifull Father for that of thy gracious fauour and loue towardes vs thou hast vouchsafed to preserue mee all this daye and the rest of my lyfe hetherto vnder the shadowe of thy most mercifull protection besechinge thee also to take me to thy tuition this present night euer that we be not tempted with any suggestion of Sathan but being throughly armed with the holy ghost we may haue power force to resiste hys assaultes by a sure fayth and
with the diuine motion of thine heauenly spirit that all their actions and endeuors may especially tende to the aduauncemeÌ„t of thy holy word and secondly to the common commoditie peace of the weale publik whereby our CouÌ„try may be frée from all seditious tumults and ciuil commotions that may cause the hinderauÌ„ce of thy holy gospell or the decay of the whole state of the coÌ„mon wealth Endue their mindes most merciful Father with true humilitie of hart that they may al be coÌ„tent with their present estate not attempting further then their degree or calling but alwaies to séeke thy honor and glory carefully to shew theyr natural dutie allegeance to their Prince obediently to bestowe their trauayle for the increase of publike peace vtilitie diligently Whereby thy name may be coÌ„tinually gloryfied thy commaundementes folowed and the state of the common wealth happely maynteyned Through Iesus Christ our sauiour Amen ¶ A prayer for the Spiritualtie ILluminate we beseche thee most mercifull Father the eyes of all them whom thou hast appointed to be the Shepeheards and leaders of thy children Israel that they may faithfully truely feede them with the heauenly Manna of thy sonne Iesus Christ his gospell reducing thy lost shepe in the wildernesse into thy shepe sold againe byndinge vp their former sores applying such holsome medicine and spirituall consolation vnto their diseases whereby they may be won reconciled vnto thee their true pasture from whome they haue so long wandred astray Geue grace mostâ— heaueÌ„ly Father to all those to whome thou hast distrybuted thy talent that by theyr vigilant studie and careful diligence they may some gaine fiue mâ—e to those fiue they receaued some thrée some two and euery man accordinge to the portion which thou hast lent them not hyding the same in the ground as the vnprofitable seruant dyd wherby no benefite â–ª redouÌ„ded to thée that didst leâ—d the same Plant most mercifull Father in their hartes a zeale to dyscharge the coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts without respect of loue or dignitie of person and that without all hypocrysie or pretended holinesse Geue them grace to prosecute the summe of their message without all maner of feare or dreade not doubtinge to speake before Princes and sharply to rebuke iniquities as they Prophet Nathan reproued Dauid Let them not be mapleasers or such as for affectioÌ„s sake winck at offences and reproue not the sinners of their sinnes wherby â—hey might be reclaymed from theyr wicked wayes to the embracinge of thy holy commaundements Let them not be suche as flatter or fawn vpon Princes for promotions sake gapinge for worldly dignitie not regarding the execution of the office wherevnto they are called Kindle O Lord in their hartes a continual care and desire to conuert sinners into the way of righteousnesse Launcing theyr incurable sores cutting away the buds and sproutes of sinne applying spirituall Phisicke to their maladies whereby they may be brought againe into the societie of the Congregation and from thenceforth learn to ensue the path of vertue â–ª and vnderstandinge euen as the vinecutter vseth to handle a deadâ—Uine to cut awai the superfluous sprroutz to water it to adde freshe earth vnto the roote wherby at last the olde sappe liquor may return into hir braunches againe Geue them grace O Lorde to Preach they true word only not intermedling the traditions or inuentions of men but the pure Gospell of thy sonne Iesus Christ which geueth lyght vnto the simple and is as sweete to the Soule as the hony combe is to the externall taste of the mouth Let theÌ„ cut of the course of all Romish superstition and abhominable Idolatrie of the whore of Babilon let them sowe the séedes of thyne infallible vertue and teache their â—locke to serue thée in trueth and humilitie with the sacrifice of thankes-geuing and coÌ„trition of hart Geue theÌ„ grace to expresse that doctrin in their liuing which they haue preached out of thy Booke that they may be an example to the flocke of verteous liuinge temperance humilitie and lowlinesse of mynde that their godly lyfe maye inflame vs to imitate the same with true zeale and sinceritie of hart Whereby at the last we may altogether arriue hahely at the celestiall Ierusalem and heauenly lande of promise from the tyrannicall slauery of this earthly Egipt wherein lyke paynefull Pilgrims we haue so long time wandred Wher with the elect we maye be made partakers of those euerlastinge ioyes which thy sonne Iesus Christe purchased for vs by the merites of his death passion To whom with thée the holy ghost be all honor and glory for euer and euer Amen A prayer for the Layetie GEue grace O heauenly Father to all the Commons of this Realme that their chiefest care and study may be bent to seeke thy honor and glory to walke all the dayes of their liues in the way of thy commauÌ„demeÌ„ts Next that to haue a reuerent care of the dutie and allegeauÌ„ce that they owe to their Prince and al the rest of hir maiestrates that are put in authoritie vnder hir that euery man may liue quietly in his vocation hauing continually the feare of thee our heauÌ„ly father before their eyes exercisinge honestly what lawfull trade so euer they professe to thy glory and the coÌ„moditie of the coÌ„mmon welth Geue them grace moste heauenly Father to knowe themselues to submitt themselues to their superiors to liue in perfect peace obedience to their elders without enuy strife or debate not stirrers vp of any ciuill dissentions or coÌ„motions nor presuming to presse or clyme hygher then their degrée but refraninge themselues from all maner crymes she winge their good will and obedieÌ„ce to their Prince and Maiestrates like seruantes to their maisters or children to their parentes That they may 〈◊〉 altogether in the yoke of perfect vnitie and concorde euery one to his power supplyinge hys neighboures necessitie and cherefully impartinge hys portion to him that wanteth Whereby wee shall haue a flowinge common welth with aboundaunce of peace in our cities without all maner of inconuenience or misorder Euery man studiously exercisinge his trade with thy feare beâ—ore our eyes And our dutie to our Prince and country faythfully performed Through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen A prayer in generall for the whole body of the coÌ„mon wealth Looke downe we beséeche thée most mercifull Father with the eyes of thy mercy vpon thy poore congregation militant here in earth that being protected with the shielde of thy heauenly grace we may be aable to resist the terrible assalts inuasions of sathan with Anti Christ his chiefe minister which daily and hourely seke with stronge temptations to seduce vs from the most comfortable meditation of thy heauenly worde and promisses and to eclipse the eyes of our hartes wyth the obscure cloud of errour and ignorance whereby wee might be throwen into the bottoÌ„lesse lake of euerlastinge death and daÌ„nation And had it not bene for thy