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
me into his fauour againe Therfore most merciful father séeing thou haste not denied to geue vp thine onely begotten sonne to the shameful death of the crosse to redéeme me from the bondage of death hell Inspire I beseche thée my minde with thy heaueÌ„ly spirite that I maye doe suche thinges as please thee and turne to kill sinne with all other vngodly lustes concupiscence that I maye be made a sweete smelling sacrifice to thee and the temple of the holy ghost for euer that I may liue vprightly and honestly in my calling without reproofe ensuing the right pathe of thy holy commaundementes And for as muche as it hath pleased thee to ordaine the night for men to rest in and the day to labour graunt I beseche thee most merciful Father that I may so take my bodily rest that my soule may continually watche for that happie and ioyfull tyme when Iesus Christ shal appeare for my deliueraunce out of the miseries of this transitorie lyse And in the meane season that I be not ouercome by any phaÌ„tasies dreames or other temptations but maye haue my minde alwaye fixed vppon thee to loue thee feare thee and rest in thee for euer Moreouer that my sleepe be not excessiue or ouermuche after the vnsatiable desyres of the fleshe but so much as maye suffise to content and satisfie my feeble nature wherby I may be the better disposed to lyue in al godlye conuersation to the glory of thy holy name and the commoditie of my neyghbour To thee with the sonne and the holy ghost be al honor glory for euer euer AmeÌ„ A prayer for VVednesday morning O Almightie most merciful father haue pitie and compassion vppon the weakenesse of me thy vnworthy chylde and be thou prest and redy O heauenly father to helpe me with thy heauenly spirit to assist my weake spirite againste all assaultes of the wicked worlde the fleshe and the deuyll whiche striue continually with fayre allurementes and prouocations to drawe my mynde from thy commaundementes into the hartfull and damnable way of error and iniquitie but myne only stay and coÌ„fidence is in the multitude of thy mercies with a sure and certayne hope that thou wylt so direct my steppes both this day and euer hereafter that all my thoughtes words deedes may be found acceptable in thy sight and accordyng to the godly liue and rule of thy vndefiled lawe Therefore I beseech thee heauenly father to shewe thy mercy vpon me and to prosper me in whatsoeuer I goe about in thy name so that thou geuyng me lyght I may learne to knowe what thinges are acceptable before thee and by the vertue of thy grace I may haue an earnest yeale desyre to folow the same in my life to â—ay glory the commoditie of my neighbour That thou being my guide and leader I may walke in the path of vnderstanding and righteousnesse without stumbling or wandring astray for in my selfe I haue nothing but mistrust and inabilitie to do any thing that maye please thée sauing only by the motion of thy holy spirit in my mind which spirit assureth my spirite that the meane to please thée is a constant and immoueable fayth in Christe Iesus with repentaunce of my sinnes and amendment of lyfe to ensue the steppes of equitie and vnderstanding to cleaue to the stedfast rocke of thy heauenly worde and promises to loue my neighbour as my selfe for hereby shall it be knowen that we be thy childreÌ„ if we loue one another to geue ouer my portion to the poore to take vp my crosse and folowe thée to abounde in all maner good workes whiche are the fruites of fayth in Christe iesu Geue me grace most mercyful father to kyll the buddes of sinne in my fleshe to bridle myne owne destres to kepe my body in subiectioÌ„ wherby I maye be sanctified in thee and made an vndefiled â—â—â—ple for the holy ghost ful of the spirite of trueth and vnderstanding And sith it hath pleased thee of thy fatherly pitie to preserue me from all perils daungers both of body and soule this night and al the rest of my lyfe tyme tyll this present houre I beseeche thee also most merciful father to protect me with thy grace all this daye euer hereafter that I may safely walke in my vocatioÌ„ with thy feare before myne eyes in all things that I take in hand And vouchsafe most mercyfull father so to direct the reÌ„nant of my course which I haue yet to runne in this lyfe that at the laste I may come to dwell with thée in thy euerlasting kingdome and there to haue fruition of eternall ioye and felicitie through Iesus Christe our onely mediatour sauiour Amen A prayer for VVednesday euening O Mercyfull Lorde Iesu I beseche thée to be fauourable to me a wretched sinner that all my lyfe tyme haue folowed the lustes of myne owne minde and neuer harkened to thy voyce wherby I might liue in thy lawe that thou hast appointed for me Put away I beseeche thée all my sinnes out of thy remembrance washe me cleane with thy pretious blood sanctifie me with thy bitter passion and death clense me throughly restore me agayne to the innocencie whiche thou gauest me in baptisme that I may be truely regenerate borne a newe in thée my swéet sauiour only redeemer so that I maye acknowledge thée onely the author of my redemption and the principal cause of my iustification to shew my felâ—e a thankefull Samaritane for that thou hast vouchsafed by thy death and bloodshedding to purge me from the leprosie of sinne and al kinde of vncleannesse yeelding thée immortal thanks continually for that all other gratious benefites which thou of thy fatherly liberalitie bountie vouchsafest dayly to bestow vpon me And among all the rest geue me grace swéet Iesu to haue alwaies in remembraÌ„ce thy sincere loue fatherly affection and gratious charitie towardes me in that thou hast vouchsafed to take my nature vpon thée to be made man in all respectes lyke vnto me sinne onely excepted and for my sake to be borne in a stable and as an infant to be wrapped in clothes to be swadled laide in a maunger there to be fed with the materiall milke of thy blessed mother the virgin Marie For my sake sweet Iesu thou hast susteyned hunger colde pouertie and many other agonies didst thou susteyne for me most miserable and wretched sinner Thou hast suffered thy selfe to be betrayed to be apprehended and taken shamefully to be bounde vnworthyly to be beaten cruelly to be condemned vniustly and to be brought to that shameful death of the crosse where for my sake thy pretious bodye was rent and torne and thy moste sweete blood aboundauntly shedde where thou yéeldedst vp the ghost to God the father and descendedst agayne into the graue lyke a dead man but dyddest ryse agayne the thirde daye and ascendedst into heauen where thou sittest at
feelynge of thy goodnesse towards me that the memory of thy manyfold benefites neuer slyde out of my remembraunce but that at all tymes I may be styrred vp to prayse thy name to yeld thee thankes for the innumerable gyftes that thou of thy méere mercy and Fatherly liberalitie without any desart of mine hast fréely bestowed vpon me since the first houre of my natiuitie Let thy praise sound in my mouth late earely at midday and midnight in all places at all tymes and seasons Plant in my hart most mercyfull Father a true desire perfect zeale to thanke thee for all the benefitâ—s that I haue daylie receaued at thy haÌ„ds that I may tourne backe with the Samaritan prayse thee and not to depart as the other ix Lepiers did who feeling themselues clensed of their filthynesse yet returned not at all to geue God thankes Instruct me I besech thée in thy diuine iudgements that when I haue safely passed this nighte vnder thy protection I may spend the next day I all my lyfe folowing in holynesse and puritie of conuersation crying coÌ„tinually come Lord Iesu come for thyne electes sake come quickly Amen That at the last I maye happilie ariue at the port of that euerlastinge rest whiche by thy mercy thou hast promised to all theÌ„ that vnfaynedly loue the name of Iesu To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory for euer Amen A prayer for Fridaye morning ALmighty and most mercifull Father I besech thée for thy Sonne Iesus Christe his sake to graunt me thy heauenly grace that with immoueable zeale I may séeke after those things that may please thée circomspectly shunne all kinde of wayes that maye moue or prouake thy wrathe against me And when I haue once knoweÌ„ perfectly what thy will pleasure is geue me grace to séeke the same carefully to fulfill it perfectly and to walke in the same vigelantly to the honor and glory of thy most holy name Order my lyuinge so that I may doe those things which thou requirest of me that with vnfained deuotioÌ„ wythout all pharisicall preteÌ„ded holynesse Geue me grace that I maye know it haue will and power to doo thereafter least if I knowe my maister his will and due it not I be beaten with many stripes Aboue all thinges geue me grace to seeke thy honour and glory wyth all thinges else which he moste conuenient for my saluatioÌ„ in Christe iesu Make my waâ—es I beseche thee moste mercyfull Father sure and straight before that if welth abound I fall not vnto pride and presumption or if I fall into aduersitie I be not driuen into desperation as to loase the fayth whiche I haue in my Lord and Sauiour or to blaspheme thy most holy mame with words of reproch as they doo whose hart Sathan hath possessed and rooted the séedes of vertue vnderstandinge out of their harts Onely geue me a necessary liuinge sufficient to maintayne my selfe honestly wyth mediocritie and without superfluitie or idle excesse Geue mée not to much lest I wax proude so forget thée that art the author of my welth and mine onely vpholder neyther to littell lest I bée forced to attempt vnhonest and extraordinary shiftes without any care or respect eyther thy heauenly lawes and commaundemeÌ„ts or the decrées of my prince and countrie Geue me grace euer to reioyce in thée and that I may neuer be sorowfull for any thinge but that may drawe me from thy lawe or wherin I haue sinned against thy diuine Maiestie Bée thou myne onely comforte aboue all other to recreate me wheÌ„ I am in perplexitie to protect me both at my down liinge and vprysinge let mee not be mery with the ioye that is without thee neyther let me delite in any thinge but in thee and the crosse of Christ Iesu make me to lift vp myne harte continually to thee when I am eyther in prosperitie or fallen into aduersatie Make me humble without ipocrisie mery without lightnesse sad without mistrust sober without dulnesse true without dou blenesse fearinge thee without desperation trusting in thée wythout presumption teling my neybour his falts without dissimulation geuing other a good example of perfect and godly lyuinge that they which behold it may be the more enflamed to trend the like trace and to glorifiy god in all his gyftes And finallie graunt most mercyfull Father that séeinge I haue taken sufficient reste this night past and that the day is come wherein thou hast appoynted me to doe all suche godly and necessarie businesse as may be to thy glory the profit of my neyghbour and health of my soule I maye so passe the same in thy feare that I be in daunger of no trouble or perturbatioÌ„â—ther of body or minde but euermore constante in fayth by the bloud of Christ Iesus my Sauiour and redeemer To whome with thée the holy ghost be all honor and glory for euer and euer Amen A prayer for Friday euening I Render vnto thée moste mercifull Father all possible thankes and prayses for that thou of thy méere mercy and Fatherly pitie hast garded me all this day and the rest of my life time vnder the winges of thy heauenly protection desyringe thée with the teares of my lamentation to put all my wickednes out of thy minde which I haue committed agaynst thy diuine Maiestie sith the tyme of my conception Thou haste promysed by the mouth of thy holye Prophet that at what time soeuer a sinner doth repente him of his sinnes from the bottome of his harte thou wilt put all his wickednesse out of thy remembraunce forgeue me therefore moste mercyfull Father and with the eyes of thy mercy looke down vpon me as thou diddest loke vpon Peter thyne Apostle when hée lamented his sinne was sory for his offences let me be regenerate in spirit and learne froÌ„ henceforth to walke in thy lawes all the dayes of my lyfe Make me to lifte mine hart often tymes vnto thée and when I fall make me to thinke vpon thee and be sory for mine iniquity with stedfast purpose of amendmeÌ„t grace of thée to performe the same Graunte me vnderstandinge to knowe thy will to folowe suche conuersation as may please thee to repose my whole trust and confidence in the multitude of thy mercies whereby I may walke without blame in my calling doing right to euery man and iniury to no man but after the example of thy Son Iesus Christ to suffer wronge patiently without desire of reuenge to pray for mine enimies to loue them that persecute my lyfe Graunte grace in all kynde of humilitie to folowe the steppes of thy sonne Iesus Christ that pure and immaculate Lambe And when my body hath taken his naturall rest geue me a desire to shake of all slouthfulnesse and drousinesse that my lims may be stronge to sustayne my laboures that pertayne to my present vocation and that all mine accions maye bee done in
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
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
race in hope to winne the crowne of euerlasting glorie by the merites of Christe Iesus may enioy continuall health of body soule this night euer and that we maye be preserued from al temptations of Sathan who is euer redy wheÌ„ we be idle to seduce vs froÌ„ thée our Sauiour into the broade way of euerlastyng death and damnaâ—ion And wheÌ„soeuer our bodies take their naturall rest yet our myndes maye be alwayes bent and fixed vpon thée the eyes of our vnderstanding may alwaies watch in thee that art our onely Lord and moste mercyfull defender Geue vs grace whensoeuer we lye downe euery nyght to examine our conscience and enter into accompte of those déedes whiche we haue done the daye before and all the rest of our lyfe tyme And if we finde that we haue done any good déed geue vs grace to ascribe the same to thée that art the only fountayne and author of al goodnesse and to acknowledge fréely our ownâ— imperfection howe that of our selues we are not able to thinke so muche as one good thought muche lesse to do any good or godly action that shoulde seeme to procéede of our owne forwardnesse or aptnesse thereunto for we are nothing els but sinne corruption and then howe shoulde an euyll trée bring foorth good fruite Agayne if we finde that we haue sinned agaynst thée eyther in thought word or deede as we do seuentie tymes seuen tymes euery day geue vs grace most merciful father to acknowledge if before thy diuine maiestie with the teares of earnest vnfaigned repentance to craue thy mercy with forgeuenes both of that and all other crimes and offences which we haue coÌ„mitted againste thée since the tyme of our byrth Or els if we finde that we haue by any meanes endaÌ„maged our neyghbour geue vs grace to recoÌ„cile our selues and to cleare our conscience before we lye downe wherby we may sléepe both swéetly soundly in Christ Iesus without any idle cogitatioÌ„s or phantasticall dreames that may disturbe our myndes from the meditatioÌ„ of thy word and yf we dreame at all let vs dreame of thée our mercyfull Father and such godly lessons and precepts that we haue séene sléeping to folow prosecute the same actually waking Through Iesus Christe our only memediatour and sauiour Amen A prayer for Tuesday morning I Render vnto thée moste mercyfull father immortall thankes for that thou of thy mere mercye and Fatherly bountie hast graunted this night past to be prosperous and healthfull vnto me without any perturbation eyther of body or soule And because thou hast promised by the mouth of thy holye prophetes that thou wylt heare my voyce whÌ„soeuer I call vppon thée by faith with humble supplications and repentance of my sinnes I beseche thée lykewise that thou wylt so prosper all myne actions and indeuours this present day that al thinges that I do say or thinke may redeunde to thy glorie to the commoditie of my neighbour to the dammage of no man whatsoeuer neyther in thought worde nor déede but that all my doinges maye be directed by thy gouernance to eschewe sinne to doe that is righteous in thy sight at all tymes in all places and in al respectes to haue a reuerent feare of thée before mine eies to walke circumspectly and so vprightly in my vocation to put of the person of Adam and to put on the newe man to order my conuersation agreable to thy wyll to serue thée in spirite and trueth with the sacrifice of thankes geuing and contritioÌ„ of hart to lay sure holde on the anker of fayth with an vndoubted and stedfast hope of resurrection to eternall life Illumâ—naâ—e myne eyes moste mercyfull Father with the beames of thy heauenly spirite that I walke not in darknesse as the children of vnbeliefe do which haue no hope to arise from the dead Geue me grace to abandon all worldly carefulnesse to tame myne owne lustes affections to do the thing that is right and diligently to walke in the light of thy coÌ„maundementes For thou onely art the true light thou knowest no going downe thou art God from euerlasting world without end Encrease most merciful father the gift of faith that I may truely beleue in thée in thy promises made vnto me and that neither by my negligeÌ„ce nor by my infirmitie of the fleshe nor by greatnes of temptation neither by the subtill craftes assaultes of the deuil I may be driuen from faith in the blood of my sauiour Christe Iesus Strengthen moste mercifull Father my féeble nature against all assaultes of the worlde the flesh and the deuil that I may alwaies haue a sure coÌ„fidence in thy onely mercie neuer to start away froÌ„ thy grace to seeke for helpe of man but continually to cleaue to the multitude of thy mercies who art able to exalt the humble and meeke to pull downe the mighty from the throne of their pompe and glorie Geue me grace to haue thee in minde whatsoeuer I doe to honor thee to feare thee to cal vpon thy name when I am in trouble and to repose my whole truste in the greatnesse of thy power and mercy with an assured hope to be preserued from all perils both bodily and ghostly and at the laste when I haue ended my race in this transitorie pylgrimage to obtaine the crowne of euerlasting ioye and felicitie in that celestiall Ierusalem whiche thou haste prepared for all them that feare thy name since the creation of the worlde throuh Iesus Christe our sauiour Amen A prayer for Tuesday euening O Almightie most mercifull father I acknowledge and coÌ„fesse that I am not worthy to lift vp mine eyes towarde heauen muchlesse to presume to preseÌ„t miselfe before thy diuine maiestie I being but earth and asshes a lumpe of sinne and iniquitie subiect to death corruption if I enter into examination of mine owne desertes for the infinite multitude of mine offeÌ„ces beare witnes against me that by mine owne workes I am vnder the dreadfull curse of the lawe and in extreme danger of euerlasting death and damnation for in sinne was I begotteÌ„ and in sinne hath my mother conceaued me I confesse that there is no goodnesse in me but ani apt forwarde inclination to eschewe the good and to folowe the euill to raunge after the lustes of mine owne desires to wander astraye out of the way of righteousnesse and thâ—ough my dayly disobedience to kindle thy wrath heauie displeasure against me and contiqually to heape sinne vpon sinne to runne a madding after the phantasies of mine owne minde and neuer to harken to the voyce of thy coÌ„maundements Yet this one comfort haue I that Iesus Christ by his pretious death and bloodsheddyng hath payde the raunsome of my iniquitie made a ful agrement and perfect attonement betwene God and man being a continuall intercessor for me and a moste louing mediator betwixt his father me to appease his furie and to receaue