passe thou through thy vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest to a fortunate end Wee therefore being fullie perswaded of thy bent and readie goodnesse of thy present helpe of thy sweete comfort in all miseries and necessities knowing also by the testimonie of thy Word how great intollerable the paines of Women are that trauell of childe if through thy tender mercies they be not mittigated and eased most hâ—mbly pray thee for Iesus Christ his sake thy Sonne our Lord that thy louing kindnesse may make that easie and tollerable which sinne hath made hard and painefull Ease O LORD the paines which thou most righteouslie hast put vpon all Woemen for the sinne and disobedience of our Grand-mother Eue in whom all wee haue sinned and giue vnto all such as haue conceiued and bee with childe strength to bring forth that Childe which thou wonderâ—ully hast wrought in them be present with them in their trouble helpe them and deliuer them Let thy power bee shewed no lesse in the safe bringing forth then in the wonderfull fashioning of the Childe that that which thou hast begunne in them may come vnto good successe Make them glad and ioyfull Mothers that they through thy goodnesse being safely deliuered and restored to their olde strengths may liue and praise thy blessed name foâ—euer Amen A Thankesgiuing vnto GOD for their deliuerance O LORD GOD among other thy great benefits yea and those innumerable which thou daily bestowest vpon vs thy needy and poore Creatures this is not the least O most mercifull Father that thou of thy tender goodnesse doest vouchsafe for the conseruation of mankind to preserue the Woemen that are with childe and to giue them safe deliuerance of their burthen by this meanes making them glad and ioyfull Mothers For these thy benefits and good will towards vs wee so heartily thanke thee as heart can thinke beseeching thee to worke such thankeâ—ulnesse in the hearts of all Mothers that they being not vnmindfull of this high benefit of their safe deliuerance wrought onely by the Sauiour of all mankinde may shew themselues thankeful vnto thee for this thy goodnesse and neuer forget that thy present helpe and most sweete comfort which thou mercifullie shewest vpon them in their great trauailes labours and paines when they fled vnto thy holie name for succour as vnto a strong bull-warke and holie deâ—ence Continue thy fauour towards them O Lord by making them ioyfull Mothers of many children and indue them with long life that they may see their Childrens Children And the Children that thou gauest vnto them make thou as in age so likewise in wisdome and in the aboundance of thy holy Spirit to encrease that they may haue fauour both with thee and with all good men vnto the glory of thy most blessed name one GOD World without end Amen A Prayer for a sicke Man O Almighty GOD and all full of mercie which art the onelie Father of helpe and true Physician of our bodies soules in thy hands are life and death thou bringest to the graue and pullest backe againe Wee came into this World vpon a condition to forsake it whensoeuer thou wouldest call vs and now the Summoners are come thy fetters hold mee and none can loose me but he which bound me I am sicke in bodie with paine and in soule for feare of condemnation LORD thou hast stricken me but in iudgement shew mercie I deserued to die so soone as I came to life but thou hast preserued me till now and shall this mercie be in vaine as though we were preserued for nothing Who can praise thee in the Graue I haue done thee no seruice since I was borne but my goodnesse is to come and shall I die before I beginne to liue But good Lord thou knowest what is best of all and if thou conuert me I shal be conuerted in an houre and as thou acceptedst the will of Dauid as well as the act of Solomon so thou wilt accept my desire to serue thee as well as if I did liue to glorifie thee The spirit is willing but the flesh is fraile and as I did liue sinfully whensoeuer thy Spirit was from me so I shall die vnwillingly vnlesse thy Spirit prepare me Therefore deare Father giue mee that minde which a sicke man should haue and encrease my patience in my paine and call vnto â—y remembrance all that which I haue heard or read or felt or meditated so strengthen me in this houre of my trauaile that I which neuer taught any good while I liued may now teach others to die to beare their sickenesse patiently Applie vnto mee all the mercies of thy beloued Sonne as if he had died for me alone be not from me when the enemy comes but when the Tempter is bustest let thy Spirit bee busiest too and if it please thee to loose me out of this prison and when I shall leaue my earth to earth let thy Angell carry vp my soule as they did Lazarâ—â— and place me in one of those mansions which thy Sonne is gone to prepare for me This is my Mediator which hath reconciled mee and thee when thou diddest abhorre me for my sinneâ— and thou diddest send him from Hâ—auen to vs to shew that thou art bound to heare him for vs. Therefore in him I come vnto thee in him I call vpon thee O my Redeemer my Preseruer and my Sauiour to thee bee all praise with thy Father and the Holy Spirit for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to be saide before the receiuing of the holy Communion THy loue towardes vs O most gentle Father is so great and vnmcasurable that it can by no meanes be expressed by mouth nor sufficiently conceiued in heart and this thy loue is without any deserts on our behalse freely and willinglie O Heauenly Father thou hast sent downe thy only Son Christ Iesus from the glorious seate of thy diuiâ—â—e Maiestie to take our flesh vpon him and to become perâ—ect man of the substance of a pure and vndefiled Virgiu Mary through the operation of the Holie Ghâ—st O thou that art this our Mediatour thou taughtest the will of thy Heauenly Father confirming the same with wonderfull mercies vnto the great comfort of many which then liued and vnto the perfect establishment of our faith which liue at this present aâ—ter thou haddest trauelled in this World certain yeeres the time afore appointed from euerlasting of thy Heauenly Father drawing nigh that thou mightest giue thy selfe an oblation and sweete smelling sacrifice to God the Father for the sins of the whole World euen so many as repent beleeue and amend willing that so noble and worthy a benefit of our redemption should not bee forgotten nor fall out of remembrance who art the sole Authour of our saluation and the onely comfort of weake consciences when thou hadst eaten the Paschall Lambe with thy Disciples according to the appointment of the Law thou tookest bread into thy hand gauest thankes
Heauen anâ— Earth bee rendered praise and thankesgiuing Worlâ— without eâ—d Amen Another Morning Prayer O Blessed Lord thoâ— hast established thy Throne in Heauen and thoâ— gouernest all things by thirâ— imperiall power I will mâ—gâ—ifie thee O God and praise thy name World without â—nd I will giue thee thankes â—lwaies and make thy name glorious for euermore Lord â—onfirme in mee that which â—hou hast wrought and fiâ—ish the worke thou hast beguâ—â—e in me to the glorie of thy name and the sauing of â—â—y soule at the dreadful day of thy vâ—sitation for thy mereâ—es sake O Father of goodnesse and mercy let the depth of thy bounty dry vp the depth of my sinnes and giue mee grace to efâ—ect thy will and then command mee what thou pleaâ—est Lord giue me patience â—onstancy and perseuerance â—n my calling and duety of â—ife according to thy will â—nd direction and then let my course of life be in what thou wilt appoint Good Father bee thou my guide and â—ule of lâ—â—e and then all my actions shall be squaredâ— and fitted by the aime of thy word to my great comfort Lord let not the world with her smile beguile mee nor with â—er â—rownes afright me Arme me with sanctity strength and wisdome that Sathan deceiue mee not let not my owne conscience betray mee to his malice let me euery day encrease my strength in thee to the welfare of my soule And good Lord giue me grace patiently and thankfully to take all thou shalt lay vpon me good Father deliuer me this day from sinne and all other mischiefe that may befall me through my frailâ—ty and keepe me as the apple of thy eye Lord hide me vnder the â—hadow of thy wings from the vngodly and them that goe about to trouble mee Mine enemies compaste mee â—ound about Lord bee thou my guard and defence let not mine enemies haue the â—oper hand of me O Lord â—leanse mee from my secret offâ—aces and let my morning teares and the sorrowâ—ull sighing of my heart â—ome before thy presence â—nd alwaies be acceptable in â—hy sight And I beseech thee good Father to cast vpon me â—he eye of thy great clemencie that through the efâ—ects of thy spirit I may obâ—aine life euerlasting Amen A short Prayer for the Morning O Lord God in the multitude of thy mercies I doe heere present my selfe vnto thee beseeching thee to heare me and to addresse my heart truly and zealouslie to call vpon thee O Heauenly Father who like a diligent watchman doest alwaies attend thy faithfull people whether they awake or sleepe and mightily defendest them not onely from Sathan that olde enemy of Mankinde but also from all other aduersaries so that by thy godly power they bee preserued harmelesse I most heartily thanke thee that it hath pleased thy Fatherlie goodnesse to take care of â—â—ee thine vnprofitable serâ—uant this night past that thou hast both safely kept me from all my enemies and â—lso giuen me sweete sleepe to the great comfort of my â—ody I most intirely beseech â—hee O most mercifull Father to shew the like kindnesse towards me this day in â—reseruing my body and â—oule that as my enemies may haue no power ouer me so I likewise may neiâ—her thinke breathe speake â—r doe any thing that may â—e displeasant to thy Fatherâ—â—e goodnesse dangerous to â—y selfe or hurtfull to my â—eighbour but that all mine â—nterprises may bee agreeaâ—le to thy most blessed will â—hich is alwaies good and godly doing that which may aduance thy glory answere to my vocation anâ— profit my neighbour whoâ—â— I ought to loue as my selfe â— that whensoeuer thou callest me from this vale of miserie I may bee found thâ— Childe not of darknesse buâ— of light and so for eueâ—raigne with thee in glory which art the true and euerlasting light to whom with thy dearely beloued Sonne IESVS CHRIST our onely Sauiour and the Holie Ghost that most sweet comforter bee all honour and glorie Amen A Meditation to be vsed before thou goâ—st to bed AT night before thou goest to bedde examine wel thy conscience It is good that euery man doe not onely weekelie but euery day and houre examine himselfe â—â— driue from his soule all negligence and sloath and enrich his minde with godlinesse Whereupon the Poet writeth very well Let not thy sluggish sleepe close vp thy waking eye Vntill with iudgement deepe thy daily deeds thou trie It is meet then to examine our consciences of the grieuous offences which wee haue committed against GOD and to call to remembrance how wee haue offended his omnipotent Maiestie from the time we did rise vnto this present by thought consent deedâ— slaâ—kenesse or omitting that which â—endeth to the true seruice and â—onour of our Lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST by offending of our Neighbour bâ— passing our time idlie in praying after a â—â—olde sort with small deuotion and in neglecting of our duty by such slothfulnesse that we thereby fall into â—rronious sins which turnâ— very iâ—iâ—rious to our soules Therefore let vs with true sorrow and grâ—ese and with a remorse of conscience duly consider the great offence wee comit against so mercifull a GOD then preparing our selues to prayer let vs giue God his dâ—â— in seruing him in holinesse and righteousnesse with most humble thankes for his great â—â—rciâ—s and benefits which hee so liberally bestowed vpon vs â—â—nie waies as in making vs reasonable Creatures after his oâ—ne siâ—ilitude and likenesse â—nd by his infinite loue in shedâ—ing his most precious bloud â—â—lâ—â—ring vâ— therâ—by from the â—â—ttâ—â—â—lesse pit of hell Mâ—râ—â—â—â—r hee hâ—th prâ—mised and is alwâ—iâ—s ready to giue â—â— euerlasting life if wee iâ— faith trâ—ly seeke it â—t his â—ercifull â—â—nds â—â—d walkâ— in his Laâ—es and follow his Commâ—ndeâ—ents Let vs coâ—sidâ—r â—is greâ—t loue thâ—t â—â— bath 〈◊〉 vâ— in the Holy Ghost when wee were ignorant aâ—d in laying his shining loue vpon vs with the light of faith which hâ—th preserued vs from a grâ—â—tâ—â— danger For example through priâ—â— his Maiesty droâ—e out of Heaâ—en thâ—se which were soâ—â—tâ—â—es gloriouâ— shining Angels being disobedient to his Law and chased Adam out of Paradise for hiâ— disobedience in not obeying his heauenly will Further his Iustice hath cast many a oâ—e into the deepe â—â—ngeon of bell there to be tormented with perpetuall paine punishment for their sloathfull negligence in seruing of him How much then are wee bound vnto the Lord in giuing vs so many exaâ—ples whereby we might serue him aright as true Christians ought to doâ— but his mercie is infinite full of patience and long suffering If wee will at any time seeke and call to him for grace â—ow gently doth hee lay his râ—ddâ— of correction vpon vs whereby we may acknowledge our offences in turning to him in the sinceritie of our hearts minding neuer more to offend him whereas otherwise it might please â—im to destroy vs suddenly O what a gâ—â—tle and loâ—ing Father is this that hath
grant me perfect patience in all trâ—bulations and aduersitie Preserue me from pride â—re enuâ—e couetousnesse and from all offences contrarie to thy law suffer no false delight of this deceiueable life by fleshlie temptation and fraude of the â—â—end to blind mee at the houre of my death I beseech thee O Lord grant me such a light of thy ghostlie wisdome that I may doe those things which are most acceptable to thee grant mee grace to doe hurt to nobodie but to helpe those with good counsell which haue offended thee and make me to proceede in vertue vntill such time as I shall see thy Omnipotent Maiestie and let me not turne to those sinnes which I haue sorrowed for and accused my selfe of The horrible sentence of endlesse death the terrible iudgement of damnation thy wrath ire and indignation mercifull Lord let them neuer fall vppon me thy mercie and thy merites euer bee betweene them and me Lord grant mee grace inwardlie to feare and dread thee and to eschew those things whereby I might offend thee giue mee a contrite heart for that I haue offended thee good Father remoue my sinfull dispositions which dull mine heart and like lead doe suppresse me Let me not forget the riches of thy goodnesse of thy patience of thy long sufferance and benignitie let the threatning of paine and torment which shall fall vpon sinners the losse of thy loue and of thy heauenlie inheritance euer make me feare to offend thee Suffer mee not deare Father to liue and die in sinne but soone call me to repentance when I haue displeased thee and grant mee grace trulie to loue thee and when I offend thee smite mee not with thy wrathfull indignation I beseech thee but let it be thy gentle rodde of correction Let the remembrance of thy kindnesse and patience conquer the malicious wretched desire in mee draw me Lord to thee by thy holy spirit and doe with mee according to thy mercie and not after my vnthankefulnesse withdraw tâ—y sword of vengeance O Lord for thy great mercie sake and grant me to be the childe of saluation whereby I may haue glorification cleere fight and fruition of the Deitie and bee euer present to see the glorious Trinitie O sweete Sauiour Lord Iesus Christ grant me grace for to remember perfectlie the danger of death and the great account which I must then giue to thee Lord dispose so of mee then that my soule may bee acceptable in thy sight turne net thy louing face then from me but be a merciful King meeke Iudge at that dreadful houre of my visitation that I may not haue the â—igour of thy righteousnesse which is Goeâ—e câ—rsed into euerlasting fire prepared for the Diuell and his Angels but to heare that comfortable saluation which thou doest giue to thy chosen Come yee blessed of my Father and enioy the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the World Let this hope of thy mercies comfort my sick weake soule that I neuer fall into desperation of thy endlesse mercie For the merites of thy Sonne Christ Iesus I beseech thee grant mee these petitions which I haue asked of thee haue mercie on me awretched sinner And I beseech thee bring me to thine euerlasting glorie there to rest in blisse World without end A Prayer to GOD to defend vs from euill company and our tongues from vttering â—ll words O Lord Iesus grant mee grace to â—lie euill companie and when I come among them for thy glorious passion I beseech thee to preserue me that no occasion of sinne ouercome me and send me comfort from thy omnipotent Maiestie to withstand al illusions of the flesh whereby thy blessed name may be dishonoured Keepe my mouth good Lord from slanders ill speaking lying false witnessebeating cursing swearing vncharitable châ—ding dissolute laughing and words of vanitie Make me blessed Lord with dread to remember that thou presentlie hearest me and that the least of my words shall iudge me Suffer not my heart to be light of credite in hearing that which is detraction obloquy rancour and ire Represse all inordinate affections of carnalitie and where I haue by euil fellowship offended thy Maiestie I beseech thee for the helpe of thy mercies in so offending thee let thy power protect me thy wisdome direct me thy fatherlie pittie correct me and send me a gracious life and a blessed ending and with thy goodnes preserue me from euerlasting damnation and terrour of mine enemie Jn my temptations I beseech thee Lord to helpe me and to keepe my soule from consent to sinne For the tender loue thou bearest to mankinde repell the power of my aduersaries which intend the damnation of mee Possesse my soule O Sauiour with all humble subâ—ection to thy law and make mee pure in spirit meeke in speaking patient in suffering to hunger after righteousnesse and to bee mercifull to all them that be in miserie Make mee peaceable in conueâ—sation cleane in heart vnto godlie meditation and ioyfull to suffer persecution for thee Let all my powers and desires bee ruled according to thy will let all my petitions be ordered by thy wisdome to the euerlasting profit of my soule Lord keepe my soule and my bodie whereby I may be patient in suffering iniuries rebukes let me leade that life which thou knowest to be most to thine honor and my eternall felicity Fill mine heart with contrition and mine eies with teares that I neuer be forsaken of thee Awake my dull soule from the sleepe of sin and send mee helpe Lord from Heauen to ouercome the olde serpent with all his crafts Deliuer me from the enemie of daâ—kenesse and his great crueltie let thy obedience recompence for mine obstinacie thy abstinence for my superfluitie thy meekenesse and thy patience for my pride irefull heart enmitie Thy charitie for my malice thy deuotion for my dulnesse thy louing heart for mine vnkindnesse thy holy death for my wretched life Lord grant mee grace in the time of prayer to fixe my minde on thee and at that time to remember the perils of bodie and soule which I haue escaped and the benefits that I haue receiued thorow thy great mercie And I thanke thee most Heauenlie Father for all the Creatures which thou hast made to helpe man and that thou hast made man after thine owne Image in glorie to honour thee The motions of my running mind the desire of mine vnstable heart in time of praier stop and stay Lord I beseech thee and represse the power of my ghostlie enemie which then doth with-draw my minde from thee and thy true seruice to many vaine imaginations Lord I beseech thee to take me into thy power and with thy goodnesse glad me Lord let my minde be so occupied in goodnesse that my prayers may bee acceptable to thee Heare now sweet Sauiour the voice of a sinner who would faine loue thee and with the heart as greatlie please thee as euer hee hath offended thee I