in the Communion of Saints for the benefit which I haue of their Prayers in the Church militant the ayde of their counsels with the pleasure and comfort of their godly examples for the bettering of my life that thou hast giuen me a care to vse a good Conscience in dealings in this world and an earnest desire to continue so still yea rather to grow better And in fine I cannot forget O Lord thy mercy of longanimitie and patience towards mee That thou hast granted mee so long and so large a time of Repentance and hast vouchsafed mee therein to haue thy Sonne IESVS Christ for my Mediatour by whose intercession my Prayers haue accesse vnto thee and receiue their happy answeres I prayse thee I glorifie thee I worship thee I magnifie thy blessed Name O Lord by whose goodnesse I want nothing fitte for a Christian nor any thing that may fit mee for Heauen where I thanke thee for making so glorious a prouision and such a gracious preparation for my Soule and whither I beseech thee to bring me O my GOD in thy due time and in the meane time to continue thy goodnesse vnto mee for Iesus Christ sake my onely Sauiour and Redeemer Amen Soli Deo gloria FINIS A Table of the Prayers in euery Part. The first Part. PRayers for Morning Noone and Euening euery day in the weeke Fol. 1. c. A Prayer for the Ministers of the Word 7 A Prayer to God the Father 20 A Prayer to God the Sonne 32 A Prayer to God the Holy Ghost 44 A short Prayer for Sobrietie 55 A short Prayer for Chastitie 66 A short Prayer for Patience 78 A Prayer for the Morning 85 Another Prayer for Euening 91 A short Prayer for Morning 97 A short Prayer for Euening 99 A Preparatiue to the Meditation ensuing 101 A meditation and Prayer vpon the Life death and passion of Christ 105 The second Part. TWo Prayers for a priuate Familie in the Morning 127. 134 Two Prayers for a priuate Familie in the Euening 140. 146 Two Prayers for the Church Catholique and all the Estates thereof 151. 159 Two Prayers for the Kings Maiestie his Issue and Familie 164. 170 A Prayer against temptations of the World the Flesh and the Deuill 175 A Prayer for Remission of sins and all things necessarie thereunto 180 A Prayer for obtaining of Christian vertues Faith Hope and Charitie 188 Two Prayers before the receiuing of the holy Communion 194. 200 Two Prayers after the receiuing of the holy Communion 205. 209. A Prayer for the fruits of the earth and nourishments of this life 213 A Prayer for friends and Benefactors 218 Two Prayers in time of Warres 223. 227 Two Prayers for sicke persons 231. 238 A Prayer before one vndertake a iourney 242 A Prayer in time of affliction 247 A Prayer in time of Plague or other extraordinary sicknesse 253 The ancient Prayer called O bountifull Iesu translated according to the Latine Copie written by the Authour thereof aboue 100. yeeres agone 259 The third Part. QVeene Elizabeths three Prayers 267. 271. 274 The Housholders two Prayers 277. 283 The Wiues Prayer for her Husband 288 The Widdowes Prayer 292 The Prayer of Women with childe 297 The Mid-vifes Prayer 301 A Prayer in the time of women trauell 303 A Prayer after the womans deliuerance 308 Two Prayers for Children in their Parents life time 312. 316 The Fatherles childe or Orphanes Prayer 319 The Schollers Prayer 323 The Souldiers Prayer 328 Two Prayers for seruants 333. 338 The Maydes Prayer 342 The Prayer of the afflicted in Conscience for sinne 346 The sicke-mans Prayer 352 A Prayer to be sayd at the point of death 358 A generall Thankes-giuing for all men and at all times 360 FINIS Wisd 5. 5. a Commoneri aut doceri nostra locutione non quaerit August de Mag. lib. 1. b In mille versus extendunt Orationem suam quasi apud Dominum multitudo sermonum opus sit Chrisost hom demuliere Caman c Collecte voluit discipulos Orare Chrisost Orat. dom d Plus cogitando orando profierunt quam in legendo audiendo Aug. Ep 122. Iam. 1. 22. e Oratio ascendat vt Gratia descendat 2 Cor. 10. 4. Ephes 6. 12. Ephe. 6. 28. 1 Sam. 26. 8. 2 King 13. 19. Coloss 4. 2. Luke 18. 3 Mat. 18. 22. Philip. 4. 19. Psal 66. 20. Psal 55. 17. Psalme 90 14. Psal 46. 5. Psalme 143. 8. Psal 40. â—â— Psalme 145. 18. Psalme 145 9. Psalme 73 25. Psal 73. 28. Psalme â—â— 8. Psalme 139. 14. Mat. 18. 20 Psal 108 3. Psal 116. 21. 13. Psal 113. 3. Psal 125. 4. Ephes 5. 25. 26. Eccles. 10. 17. 1 Tim. 2. 1. 2. Mat. 26. 41. Psal 106. 6. Pihl. 4. 19. 1 Cor. 1â—1 26. 1 Cor. 11. 28. 1 Cor. 5. 7. Iohn 15. 13. Psal 104. 27. 1 Pet. 4. 8. Pro. 19. 27 Psal 74. 18. Psal 34. 7. Hos 6. 1. Iam. 15 Exod. 13. 20. 21. Iob. 2. 10. 1 Sam. 2. 6 Psal 55. 22. Ephes 9 6. Psal 37. 4. Deut. 10 18. Iohn 16. 21. Psal 68. 35. Psa 90. 16 3. Psal 127. 3 Leaue out all this if the child be not born aliue Pro. 10. 1. Psal 37. 5. Psal 27. 10. Pro. 6. 23. Exod. 15. 3 1 Cor. 7. 22 Ephes 6. 8 1 Sam 25. 24 Dan. 9. 19. Iob. 1. 21. Psal 73. 26 Psal 86. 12. 13
our sinnes as the haires of our heads so many our enemies as the stars in the skye and so fierce and strong the Tempter as a roaring Lyon that as the Man of God was angry with the King of Israel because when he bad him smite the earth with his dart he smote onely thrice who should haue smiten fiue or sixe times that he might haue beene assured of the ouerthrow of his enemies So GOD that bids vs continue in Prayer will be angry with vs if wee pray not againe and againe as the importunate widdow in the Gospel prosecuted her suite yea to speake of Deuotion as he doth of compassion if we pray not seuen times yea seuentie times seuen times that wee may obtaine a blessing I speake to them that haue vnderstanding iudge you what I say and I shall pray vnto the Holy One of Israel in heauen that your inspirations may be heauenly your desires holy your Prayers here feruent and frequent there acceptable before the throne of his Maiestie to the reliefe of your necessities and to the setting forth of his glory in IESVS Christ Amen The faults escaped in some copies amend thus Pag. Lin. for read 4 6 Father Trinity 103 19 hope heart 114 14 apparelled appalled 229 4 Marke Make. 327 6 be begin THE most absolute prayer and best Rule of all holy Petitions is that which our Lord Sauiour taught his Disciples A Prayer large for matter short for Phrase and sweet for order which I hauing thus paraphrased as you see thought not so good to insert it into this bundle as to place it here alone before them all as a Supplication not appropriate to any one part but apperaining giuing life to all and fit to conclude euery one A Paraphrase vpon the Lords Prayer OVR FATHER By right of Creation Merit of Mercie Gracious prouision Which art in Heauen The seate of thy Maiestie The inheritance of thy children The kingdome of blisse Hallowed be thy Name By the thoughts of our hearts By the words of our mouthes By the works of our hands Thy Kingdome come Of grace to inspire vs. Of power to defend vs. Of glory to crowne vs. Thy will be done In weale and woe In fulnesse and wane In life and death In Earth as it is in Heauen In vs as it is in thine Angels Willingly readily faithfully Without murmur Let Deceit Giue vs this day our daily Bread For the nourishing of our bodies For the feeding of our Soules The reliefe of all necessities And forgiue vs our debts Whereby thou art dishonoured Our Neighbour wronged or Our selues indangered As we forgiue our debtors That haue hurt vs in our bodies Hindred vs in our goods Wronged vs in our good Name And lead vs not into temptation Of the wicked World The entising flesh or The enuious Deuill But deliuer vs from euill Forgiue that is past Remoue that is present Preuent what is to come For thine is the Kingdom Power glorie To rule and gouerne all To command and do all In all by all All in all Now and for euer At this present In this world and In the world to come AMEN As thou say'st So it is As thou promisest So it shall be As we pray So be it Lord. PRAYERS Beginning with the letters of the name ELIZABETH E EVery day O Almighty GOD and heauenly Father will I pray vnto thee to haue mercy vpon me and to keepe me in thy grace fauour and loue Euery day will I giue thankes vnto thee ô Lord IESV the Sonne of GOD for thy gratious redemption of my body and soule from sinne death and hell Euery day will I laud thy holy Name ô holy Ghost Gods Spirit hearts ioy elects comforter beseeching thee blessed Trinitie in sacred vnitie to replenish my heart with all charitable desires and heauenly inspirations necessary to Saluation Amen L LAy too thy helping hand ô Lord strengthen my weake condition and powre thine oyle of grace into my wounded heart that I may be able to walke in the wayes of thy commandements without reproofe and receiue comfort in all my needs and necessities Amen I IT is pitie and compassion ô LORD alone which must couer mine vnworthinesse therefore renouncing all merite in my selfe I flie vnto thee for succour Leaue me not ô Lord but preuent mee with thy goodnesse now and euermore Amen Z ZEalous O LORD I am of thy truth Wherefore I pray thee sanctifie my heart to a right conuersation in this world Direct me by thy lawes that I neuer step beyond the limites of my duetie and suffer me not to enter into any action which eyther may dishonour thee or bring my life into infamie Amen A ADmit me O mercifull Lord to thy gracious fauour many are the dangers of this life and I haue no patron to defend mee but thee Heauen is thine and the earth is thine keepe me on earth as one of thine and bring mee to Heauen to raigne with thee Amen B BLessed Lord I haue sinned but my pardon is with thee If I were as sinfull as Marie Magdalen as outragious as the prodigall sonne and as bashfull to come neere as the Publican yet Iesus hath made satisfaction for my sinne therefore in mercy forgiue mee now and euermore Amen E ENter not into iudgement with a poore creature O LORD dust and ashes is my state here onely I am created after thine Image for a better world destroy not then the worke of thine owne hands but shew thy mercy and goodnesse vnto me this day and euermore Amen T THinke vpon me O LORD thy word neuer failed and thy compassions haue no end By the vertue of the one and the substance of the other purifie me from all iniquitie and leade me into all truth this day and euermore Amen H HAue mercy vpon mee O LORD accept my Prayers which I powre out before thee and graunt my requests Mercifully prosper the things that I take in hand saue mee from mine enemies a blessed life and a happie end good Lord send me AMEN Supplications OF SAINTS The first part Daniels deuotion DAN 6. 10. Hee kneeled vpon his knees three times a day and prayed This part containeth priuate Prayers For Morning Noone and Euening euery day in the weeke Also foure other Prayers for Morning and Euening and two Prayers vpon the Passion of our Lord Iesus Sunday Morning Prayer Psal 145. 10. All thy works prayse thee O Lord and thy Saints shal blesse thee Psal 119. 170. O let my Supplication come before thee deliuer mee according to thy word OH LORD GOD Almightie Father and thou welbeloued Sonne of the Father Iesus Christ with the holy Ghost holy blessed and glorious Trinitie eternall God Lord of the Sabbath and the fountaine of all wisdome I do not present these my Supplications before thee for my righteousnesse but for thy great mercies I trust in them truely without diffidence I trust in them only without any
holy Passion Crosse and Death betweene thy iudgement and my Soule both now and at the houre of death Of thy mercie O Lord strengthen my weaknesse and mortifie my corrupt nature enclining to swearing wantonnesse lying or any other sinne whatsoeuer and grant that I may so walke in thy wayes by the light of thy holy word that no worldly vanitie bewitch me to sel my selfe to worke wickednesse O holy Father graunt me a sound mind and the right vse of my senses continually that knowing what I doe and practising what I know I may worthily lament the wickednesse of my life and euer vpon my vnfained repentance feele thy comforts in my soule and neuer forget the desire of the life to come O Lord blesse me in all the passages of this life and after death restore the same body and soule to life eternal Heare my prayers O Lord God for Iesus Christs sake my onely Lord and Sauiour Amen Noone A Prayer to God the Father O Merciful God and louing Father on whose prouidence we depend for all our necessaries wee thanke thee for our royall creation after thine owne Image and all other good graces now and euer bestowed vpon vs. Giue vs grace we pray thee so to liue as becommeth thy children in all holines and righteousnesse Incline our harts to thy law not to couetousnes open our eies that wee may behold the secret things of thy Law Make vs fruitfull in all good works forgiue vs our sinnes and wash vs in the blood of thy Sonne clense our hearts and renew our mindes to thy holy will prosper the workes of our hands and bring vs safely from all dangers to the end of this day for Iesus Christs sake Amen Munday Euening Prayer Euening and Morning and at Noone will I pray and cry aloud and hee shall heare mee ALmighty God which giuest infinite occasions vnto euery creature to prayse thy holy Name I come vnto thee with the holy Prophet that mine eyes may preuent the night-watches beseeching thee to accept this mine Euening Sacrifice of praise and thanks for the depth of thy goodnesse which I am not able to expresse and the Sea of thy mercies which haue ouer-flowed this day to my great comfort Season O Lord my senses inward and outward with the Salt of thy grace that with a sanctified heart I may make a godly vse of all those good things which I haue heard seene or read this day And further lighten mine eies that I sleepe not in death nor walke in darknesse spiritual or corporal to endanger eyther my body or my soule O Lord let mine eyes sleepe and inioy that moderate recreation which thou hast appointed for my wearisome condition but let my soule continually watch vnto thee to attend thy comming that when my sleepe hath not beene vnmeasurable to please excessiuely the ease of my flesh I may be the better disposed to thy seruice to morrow Preserue me Lord from all vncleannesse both of body and soule from all dangers that walke in the night and keep me from all temptations of him that is the prince of darknesse Forgiue me the sins and offences which I haue committed this day in thought word deed against thee or my neighbour Giue mee grace to water my Couch with teares in vnfeined repentance of my sins past so to passe the residue of my life that in regard of thy iustice I may retaine a holy feare to stand alwaies in awe of thee and in regard of thy mercy conceyue sure hope neuer to despaire O Lord keepe me this night both in body and soule that I may ioyfully rise againe be thankefull vnto thee and diligently walke in my vocation and calling to the glory of thy holy Name and the commoditie of my neighbour for Iesus Christs sake our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen Tuesday Morning Prayer Satisfie vs earely with thy mercie that we may reioyce and be glad in all our dayes O Blessed LORD GOD great in power fearefull in Iudgement and rich in mercie which bindest and no man looseth and loosest and no man bindeth I yeeld thee most humble and harty thanks for that of thy fatherly goodnesse thou hast vouchsafed me this last nights sleepe in peace and rest and again loosing the bonds wherewith I was tyed hast giuen me power to see this Morning light Now O Lord I beseech thee powre vpon me this day the dew of thy blessing that through the operation of thy gratious beames I may bud foorth and beare the fruits of true faith in my life conuersation Continue thy goodnesse and mercy towards mee and by thy power rayse mee from the deepe sleepe of all vnrighteousnesse discharge me from the workes of darkenesse and clothe me with the Armour of light that I may walke honestly as in the day and liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world Grant me ô Lord true vnderstanding and knowledge of thy word which is the Glasse of thy wil. Increase in me all godly desires together with true contrition of heart that I may vnfeinedly despise the pleasures of this world with harty repentance be conuerted vnto thee Send thy holy Angell to guide me and keepe me in all my waies and prosper the worke of my hands that I neuer faile in my vocation to doe good and eschew euill O Lord I beseech thee preserue and keepe my senses safe and sound that I be neither corrupted by prosperitie nor cast downe by aduersitie nor be too fearefull of thy iudgements or too bold vpon thy mercy But grant mee grace O mercifull Lord that I may apprehend all things that come from thee with a religious contented mind and in the end of my dayes by a liuely Fayth may ioyfully arriue in the Land of promise the Kingdome of HEAVEN through the merits of IESVS CHRIST my onely Sauiour and Redeemer Amen Noone A Prayer to God the Sonne O Blessed LORD Iesus Christ Sonne of the eternall God blessed be thy name for our redemption Great was thy loue sore was thy Passion Print in our minds we beseech thee the continuall memory thereof that we may loue thee which so louedst vs and euermore prayse thee that hast bought vs at so deare a price Reiect not our prayers which we offer to be pesented to thy Father but mercifully helpe vs and heale all our infirmities increase our faith and teach vs obedience forgiue vs our offences and hide vs in thy wounds from thy fathers iust wrath Make good thy promises vnto vs for the world to come and enable vs with thy Grace for the performance of all thy Commandements Prosper O Lord our handy worke and bring vs safely to the end of this day for thy trueth and for thy Names sake Amen Tuesday Euening Prayer Happy is hee that hath the GOD of Iacob for his helpe whose hope is in the Lord his God O Most holy Father and gracious GOD which giuest vnto all sorts of men the
night at hand Blesse me I beseech thee this night and take mee into thy custodie saue me waking keepe me sleeping that I may both sleep and wake in peace and safetie Prepare me O Lord for the day following the holy sabbath the hallowed day of thy rest and my great dutie and then so vnlocke the mysteryes of thy holy word vnto mee that I may therein learne the lessons of thy glorious Maiestie and mine owne mortalitie Graunt me ô Lord such grace as I may make a right vse of all things and that the hearing of thy word the good examples of thy seruants agreeing with the rule of thy word may bee both as a bridle to restraine me from sin and a spurre to set me forward to all holinesse of life and conuersation in this world O Lord grant mee these all other good things euen for Iesus Christs sake my onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for the Morning O Lord God most mightie mercifull Father I vnworthy creature acknowledge mine owne vilenes naturall corruption and abhominable sinnes many times committed against thee I beseech thee admit mee to render thee my bounden thankes for thy manifold mercies extended towards me this night past and all other times of my life for my rest and sleep my food and rayment my health peace and liberty and the hope of a better life in the merites of thy Sonnes bitter passion Now deare Father I beseech thee to continue thy mercifull fauour vnto me this day and euer hereafter Forgiue me all mine vnthankfulnes vnkindnes and prophanenes towards thee thy word and seruice or towards my Neighbour Set all my sinnes ouer to that reckoning which thy Sonne Iesus Christ my Lord hath made vp for them vpon his Crosse neuer lay any of them to my charge but freely forgiue and forget all O Lord strike my heart with thy rod that I may alway be furnished for a true and vnfained repentance that I may not be blinded in my sinnes to delight in them or to think that thou wilt not respect my vntowardnesse but that I may be weary of them grieue for them and by all means possible striue to attaine to a true mortification of the flesh and so liue holily and iustly and soberly in this present world O good God I humbly intreat thee leaue me not to my selfe mine owne lusts and desires but assist mee with thy grace to hearken vnto thee and thy word to passe my time in feare and trembling as an obedient childe of so good a Father Blesse me Lord this day and prosper all that I shall take in hand let mee haue all my directions from thy will and the successe from thy mercifull hand Giue mee a competent stay for the maintenance of this mortall life Continue may food and rayment health peace and liberty that I may with a quite minde thankefull heart passe my time in this vale of miserie doing good to all men after mine abilitie without disgrace to my selfe or harme to any one Grant these good things most mercifull God and all other needefull graces not onely vnto me but vnto all thy deere children in the world to the good of our soules and bodies for Iesus Christs sake in whose name I further call vpon thee as he hath taught vs in his Gospell saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. A Prayer for the Euening O Eternall GOD and most mercifull Father I doe confesse against my selfe that my heart and hands are full of all filthines and sinnes whatsoeuer and I am altogether vnworthy to speake vnto thee or to come neere thy presence Neuerthelesse beeing so much bound vnto thee as this day past and all other times of my life doe witnesse I offer vnto thy holines by the hands of Iesus Christ my Mediator my humble dutie of praise and thanksgiuing for my creation election redemption vocation and sanctification with all other good graces appertaining to this life or that which is to come And namely ô Lord my tongue and lippes shall glorifie thee sitting aboue the Cherubins for preseruing me this day past from so many miseries and casualties whereinto I might iustly haue fallen if thou wouldest haue entred into iudgement with mee But Lord thou art mercifull passest by my offences to winne me by thy long sufferance I beseech thee make mee thankfull for all thy mercies O Lord pardon and forgiue mee all my sinnes graunt me euery day more and more the sight and feeling of them with heartie sorrow and vnfained repentance for the same Giue mee grace to belieue all the sweet promises that thou hast made vnto mee in Christ Iesus both for the remission thereof and the hope of a better life strengthen me from aboue with thy mighty hand to walke in euery good way without feare and to bring forth the fruits of a true liuely faith in my life and conuersation all the dayes of my life Arme me O Lord with thy grace and holy spirit against all the common corruptions of the world the temptations of the Diuell and the allurements of the flesh and settle my minde to the continuall exercise of deuout prayer with the hearing of thy sacred word watching for thy comming both publike and priuate Continue thy goodnesse towards mee in prouiding for mee such things as are necessarie for the maintenance of this present life and blesse the same vnder my hand that the little which I haue may be increased and the increase may serue as well to furnish my necessarie vses as to minister vnto the necessities of others according to mine abilitie Keepe mee Lord this night from all euils which may happen either vnto my body or my soule Extend thy goodnesse toward all those that depend vpon me or I on them Giue me quiet sleepe and rest and when I shall awake let all my thoughts and cogitations be holy meditations on thee and thy law Blesse me O Lord all the nights and dayes of my life and at the end thereof send me a blessed departure and afterward a ioyfull resurrection vnto life eternall Graunt me these good things most mercifull father and all other needfull graces for Iesus Christs sake in whose name I further call vpon thee as hee hath taught vs in his Gospell saying Our Father c. Short Prayers for Morning and Euening by I. F. 1581. A short Prayer for the Morning GOD of Light who hast preserued mee and brought mee from the darkenesse of this night shine into my heart this day and euer by thy blessed and holy spirit that I may be enlightened and ledde into all Truth that I may walke faithfully as the childe of light before thee casting away the workes of darknesse in the place that thou hast set me doing and performing diligently those things that thou hast required of me either to the praise of thy name or to the comfort of my Brethren Graunt this good Lord I humbly beseech thee for Iesus Christs
Supplications of SAINTS A Booke of Prayers Diuided into three parts 1 Daniels deuotion prayers for Seuerall dayes 2 Paul and his company prayers for seueral occasions 3 Dauid alone prayers for seuerall parties Wherein are three most excellent Prayers made by the late famous Queene ELIZABETH A third Edition enlarged APOC. 8. 4. The Prayers of the Saints went vp before God LONDON Printed for Nicholas Bourne and are to sould at his shop at the entring in of the Royall Exchange 1612. THE CONTENTS OF the seuerall parts 1 Daniels Deuotion Containing three Prayers for euery day in the weeke with other priuate Prayers for Morning and Euening in number 27. Pag. 2 Paul and his Company Containing Prayers for diuers Occasions generall and particuler in number 23. Pag. 3 Dauid alone Containing Queene ELIZABETHS prayers other Prayers in the name of diuers parties of seuerall estates in number 21. Pag. Prayers accompanying the seuerall parts A three-fold Paraphrase vpon the LORDS Prayer Nine short Prayers beginning with the letters of the name Elizabeth Two Prayers and meditations vpon the passions of the life and death of our sauiour Iesus A generall thankesgiuing c. To the most Gratious Lady Lady ELIZABETH eldest daughter of our Soueraigne Lord the King BEing willing amongst others of my Function to performe some office to the glory of Gods people considering with my selfe the times we liue in together with our owne frailties I haue in that regard most vertuous Lady labored to compose a small volume of short Prayers and to contriue it into this Method assuring my selfe that nothing is or can be more acceptable to Almightie God then the hartie Prayers of his people In which Collection I haue also inserted three most sweete Prayers made by the late Queene Elizabeth of famous memorie Which as vpon her occasions she powred forth before the Lord as it is written of King Salomon kneeling on her knees stretching of her hands to heauen so I thought them most worthy to be registred for perpetuall memorie being compiled by so renowned a person as her selfe and carying in matter pithe in stile Maiestie and in words true deuotion And vnderstanding of your Graces loue of vertue with the humblenesse of your minde and zeale of seruing God I am therefore enboldened in the forehead of this my Myte to stampe your royall Name not doubting of your Graces fauourable allowance Which being my humble suite and desire crauing pardon for this boldnesse I cease not as heartily to pray that the manifold graces of the most High may be multiplyed vpon your Estate and your Grace long preserued to the ioy and comfort of your most roiall Parents our Soueraigne King and Queene the good of Gods Church and the finall saluation of your owne soule From the Parsonage house of S. Mildreds in the Poultry London Septem 7. Anno Dom. 1610. Your Graces most humbly Thomas Sorocold To all deuout People CHRISTIAN brethren I haue bin persuaded to publish to your view and charitable interpretation this handfull of flowers picked sorted and tyed vp into a bundle according to my slender abilitie both of iudgement and inuention I haue presumed also to entitle them SVPPLICATIONS of Saints induced thereunto by three reasons First because they are squared to the practise of the two holy Prophets and the blessed Apostle and Saint Saint Paul Secondly three of these praiers which are indeed praestantiores far more eminent and excellent then al the rest proceeding from humane conceit were vsed and penned by the late noble Queene of famous memorie ELIZABETH and may iustly challenge the Denomination as the remaines of her Deuotion who liuing a Religious and Peerelesse PRINCE was truely accounted as the Wise-man speaketh among the Children of God and now being taken from vs hath her portion among the Saints The third reason is because I hope they may be the dayly exercise of your selues who being called to the participation of Iesus Christ embracing the Gospell of God and hauing receiued the Sacrament of life haue also your part in the Communion of Saints I haue not helde such a course as happily other Collectors of the like Deuotions haue done and yet I hope you will not condemne mee but vpon good deliberation I confesse they are not mingled with discourse for God desireth not to take admonition or information from our reports neither are they interlaced with Meditations for the places of Scripture which I haue prefixed before euery one will minister matter of that Deuotion neither haue I made any of them very long to draw them into a thousand periods as Chrysostom saith as if it were a goodly worke to multiply much speech before GOD But I haue made them somewhat briefe ayming at that Rule which our Lord and Sauiour prescribed saying After this maner pray ye That is saith Chrysostome againe Hee appointed the Disciples to gather the Petitions of their prayers into a short summe Wherefore if ye find them worthy the name of prayers vse them if otherwise yet take them as meane grounds of Prayer and meditation to set your deuout thoughts a worke with this liberty that where I haue been defectiue I referre it to the iudicious to supply and where I haue offered any thing vaine or offensiue I am content to admit a godly Corrector But how euer it be yet let me aduise you not to waxe faint or slacke in Prayer for such as haue learned of the Lord Iesus saith Saint Augustine true humilitie and meeknesse of heart receiue more profit by meditation and prayer then in reading and hearing whereby ye may be sure the religious Father meant not to traduce either the preaching of the word or the reading of any thing that may make a man wise vnto saluation but enforced the more reuerend respect and more frequent vse of this Ghostly exercise that as men are commanded to be Doers of the Word so they should be seekers of Grace to doe it by not Hearers onely for so saith the Apostle they should deceiue themselues For when Paul hath planted and Apollos watered when one hath read a learned treatise and another hath heard a fruitfull Sermon they must refer the rest to him that giueth the increase and vnto whom will he giue it to him that seeketh vnto him that knocketh to him that asketh humbly and deuoutly in his prayer Follow then his counsell which sayeth Put vp your Prayers to him that hee may send downe his grace to you Againe beloued all is not peace if yee consider of what Church we are while we be in this world S. Paul tels vs that we are in a Warfare that Prayer is a principall peece of our Armour therefore his counsell is Pray alwayes watch thereunto For wee cannot as Abishai said to Dauid concerning his blow make so sure worke at one time that we shall not need to come againe But rather so many are
sake Amen A short Prayer for the Euening I Thanke thee O Father for thy gracious protection of me this day I beseech thee keepe me also this night vnder thy wing that I resting in thee may finde such comfort and strength both in body and soule as may enable mee to the performance of my duty Grant this I humbly beseech thee for Iesus Christs sake my onely sauiour in whose name I further call vpon thee as he hath taught vs in his Gospell saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. A Prayer to God the Father as a Preparatiue to the Meditation ensuing O Gracious Lord almightie and euerlasting God the father of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who was borne at Bethlem in great pouerty Graunt me I beseech thee a roome among the wise men of the East to offer the poore talent of my weake deuotion vnto him all the dayes of my life euen a true Faith for pure Gold the perfume of deuout Praier for sweet Frankincense and hearty Sorrow with bitter Teares of Repentance for dropping Myrrhe And because hee came into this world in such humilitie yet furnished with such a measure of loue that hee was content for my sake to be laden with the burthen of all our infirmities to carry our sorrowes to vnder goe a world of iniuries and miseries and at the last in a shamefull death to offer vp himselfe in Sacrifice to thee for my redemption vouchsafe me thy Grace that I may pick vp some Crummes vnder his Table and gather vp some fruits at the foote of his Crosse that when I haue seene what Iudas sould the Iewes bought what Iudas lost and I haue gained I may bathe my soule in the purple streame of his most precious blood and then entombe him lay him vp in a beleeuing heart vntill his glorious appearance So that all the dayes of my life being washed as the Apostle saith being sanctified and being iustified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of my God I may neuer be without sorrow for my Sinnes thankfulnes for thy Benefits feare of thy Iudgements loue of thy Mercies nor remembrance of thy presence Amen A Meditation or Prayer vpon the Life Death and Passion of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ O LORD Christ Iesus Sonne of God thou holy mighty wonderfull God and Man who art the life of the liuing and the death of Death and therefore both in life and death aduantage Whose life for my sake was feebled with naturall infirmities and death caused by violent sorrowes yet thy life milde and thy death qiuet I beseech thee giue mee a fleshie heart to weepe and shedde teares downe my cheekes if not for thy paines who didst sweat drops of blood trickling downe to the ground afterward dyedst for my sake yet for my sins which then bred thy sorrow and now worke my woe Lord I know that for me the tempest of thy Fathers anger and fire of his wrath was stirred and kindled against thee wherfore now with the wise men of the East and all the Iewes I come to seeke thee in the Stable at Bethleem and in Mount Caluarie At Bethleem where the Manger was thy Bed to be borne in in Mount Caluarie where the Crosse was thy Bed to dye on In Bethleem where a handfull of Straw was the pillow for thy sacred Head to rest on in Mount Caluary where a crowne of Thornes and a number of Nailes pierced and fastened both head and body In Bethleem where course swadling clothes were thy best Roabes and in Mount Caluarie where thou didst hang naked in much miserie I come to adore thee to prayse thee to pray thee that as in thy life time thou wast content to be bred borne brought vp in manifold infirmities to strengthen our frailtie and to demonstrate the truth of thy Humanitie and then at thy death to disarme thy selfe and to be broken with them for the discharge of our Captiuitie the assurance of our accesse to the Throne of grace So thou wilt bee pleased as a gracious King to holde out thy golden Scepter of mercy to my fearefull conscience that I may come neere to looke into thy wounds to sue for compassion and pardon to taste of thy goodnesse who am a sinnefull wretch full of corruption and manifold infirmities 2 O sweet Iesus how shall I recount the large seuerals of thine innocent passions from thy poore Natiuity to thy guiltles death From thy bloodie sweat and heauie agonie in one garden to thy strange buriall in another How can I thinke of thy labours in preaching thy wearinesse in trauailing thy watchfulnesse in Praying thy temptings in fasting thy teares in pittying and not confesse more iustly of thee then Dauid did of his Ionathan Very kinde hast thou beene vnto mee thy loue to mee was wonderfull passing the loue of women Was it not inough euen for loue to mee to be cloathed with the vaile of flesh but that thou must be compassed with the shadow of death Was it not inough to become Earth Earth Earth but thou must become also Woe Woe Woe The God of heauen to become the Sonne of Man The Lord of life to bee made the childe of death The Maister to be turned to be a Seruant and from a Seruant to be counted a bad Seruant No proofe brought and yet scourged without measure No Inditement found and yet crucified without mercie Oh the beloued of the Lord ran through Bryars of Passions Oh the holy Lambe was betrayed carried away bound condemned consorted with malefactors and Theeues and like Ionas plunged in the maine depth of sorrowes and swallowed vp of the whale of death O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world haue mercy vpon mee 3 O Lord Iesus it is the ioy of my heart that thou hast taken and borne all mine infirmities All spirituall and corporall true euidences of thy humanity but no impediments to thy Charitie All of Soule all of Body and yet neither deformed in fashion nor distempered in passion nor tainted with any guilt of sinne Thy soule heauie to the death shall bring my soule to life I should neuer haue beene heartily merry except thou hadst beene painefully sad and grieuously sorrowfull I should neuer haue beene verily satisfied except thou hadst truely hungred and thirsted I should neuer haue beene deliuered from feare and absolutely bold except thou hadst naturally feared O thou euer-glorious God the consolation of Israell and the hope of all the ends of the earth relieue my carefull Conscience that am sadde disordered and disturbed in minde for feare of thy iudgements and because I haue displeased so gracious a God and louing Father Oh neuer let my soule be ouertaken with feare so farre as to dispaire nor ouerwhelmed with the Sea of thy wrath nor apparailed with the suggestions of Sathan But let it alwayes heare the voyce of thy Blood speaking better things then the blood