death And finally we most humbly thanke thee for that it hath pleased thee to keepe vs this daye and all the dayes and times of our liues beseeching thee that thou wouldst receiue vs this night in to thy holye keeping that we may haue quiet rest not of bodies alone but of our soules also restinge from all those thinges that are contrarye to thy most holy wil atēding while thou raisest vs vp in the morning to do al those thinges that thou hast appointed vs. These thinges wee desire of thee all other things which thou knowest to bee more needfull for vs and thy whole Church better then we ourselues do know for Iesus Christes sake saiing the same praier that hee hym selfe hath taught vs. Our father c. A forme of euening prayer necessary to be vsed of all christians in their houses and families Psal 55. vers 16. I vvill call vnto GOD and the Lord vvill saue me Euening Morning and at noone will I pray make a noise and hee vvill he are my voice VVE mostehumblye beseeche thee O gratious God and heauenlye Father euen for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake to pardon and forgiue vs all our sinnes in thought worde and deede committed against thy holy lawes and commandementes to tourne away from vs gratiouslye all those plagues which we most iustlye haue deserued for them both in this lyfe and in the lyfe to come working in our harts euery day by the holye spirite more true and vnfayned sorrow for thē with greater care euer hereafter to know thy blessed wil reuealed in thy worde and to order all our opinions and doings according to the same so much the rather O Lorde because of thy manyfolde blessinges wherby thou dost dayly mooue vs herevnto for the which O heauenlye father make vs more hartely thankfull specially for our recreation at the firste after thine owne holinesse righteousnesse for our redemption by IESVS CHRIST when wee were vtterly loste for that knowledge of our Sauiour which by the preaching of thy blessed Gospell thorough thy holye Spirite thou haste wrought in oure heartes for true repentaunce for fayth hope and loue for watchfulnesse in oure dooinges and all other gyftes of thy grace pertayninge to oure saluation all which graces O Lord are verye weake in vs because of the greate wickednesse of oure heartes striuing against thy holy spirite so as in thy wrath thou mightest iustlye forsake vs vtterly yet O Lorde let it bee thy grations pleasure to increase them in oure heartes euerye daye euen so long as we lyue in this worlde as of thy goodnesse thou haste begun that thereby the assuraunce of oure saluation maye be more certaynelye sealed vppe vnto oure owne consciences that so wee maye also learne to bee more truelye thankfull vnto thy MAIESTIE for the benefites of this lyfe Namelye that thou hast hitherto euer since wee were borne giuen vs those thinges that were needfull for oure bodies as health foode apparrell and such like that thou hast kept vs from many daungers comfort vs in all our troubles and strengthen vs in all our weaknesse and giuing vs grace this daye to labour faithfully truelye in our callinges hauing brought vs safelye paste all the daungers thereof vnto this present howre O Lorde forgiue vs the sinnes of this daye and of oure whole life and speciallye our great vnthankfulnesse for these thy manifold blessings and in IESVS CHRIST thy deare sonne continue them towardes vs euer hereafter both in soules and bodies and speciallye this night receiue vs into thy blessed keeping preserue vs from all daungers from sin frō al vngodly dreames and fansies graunting vnto vs cōfortable rest so as wee maye bee the better strengthened to serue thee faithfully in our calling and giuing vs grace alwayes both sleeping and waking to bee readye when thou shalt call vs out of this miserable worlde Last of all because thou hast commanded vs to pray for others also wee beseech thee good Lorde be mercifull to all Nations specially to those Churches where thy Gospell is truely preached continue thy mercy towards this realme preserue oure Queene blesse her Counsell and all in aucthoritye with necessarye graces increase the number of faythfull Preachers strengthen the Godly lighten the ignoraunt conuert the wicked be merciful vnto al scholes and places of learning to all our friendes and kinsfolkes and others afflicted in bodye or in soule graunting to euerye one of them as to oure selues those necessarye graces whiche thou knoweste to bee needfull for euery one of vs in oure seuerall estates and callinges to the glorye of thy name and the better assurance of our saluation through CHRIST IESVS in whose name we aske of thy maiesty as hee hath taught vs. Our Father c. Euening prayer for priuate houses and families O Gratious God and louing Father according to thy cōmandement wee doe heere presente our selues before thy maiesty humbly prostrating our selues before the throne of mercy acknowledging and confessing frō the bottome of oure heartes that we be miserable sinners daylye breaking thy commandementes bothe in thought word deed wherein wee iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to be vtterly thrown from thy presence yet O Lorde we see thy goodnes again towardes vs who not suffering vs thus to perish in our sinnes haste sent thine owne deare son Iesus Christ to take vppon him whatsoeuer is due to reconcile and make vs at owne with thee agayne In hym therefore good Lorde through him do wee come vnto the beseching the for his sake that wee feeling the greeuousnesse of our sinnes and groning vnder the burthen of them maye feele the release ease of them in that wee be through thy holy spirit assured and steadfastly beleeue that Christe hath born the burthen of them eaueu for vs. Graunte O Lorde that we beeing assured hereof in our consciences maye through thy holy Spirit bee renuee in the inner man to hate detest and abhorre sinne and to studie to liue accordinge to thy blessed will duringe our whole life Wee do not onelye pray for our selues but also for all thy whole Churche especiallye such as bee persecuted for thy worde graunt vnto them that whether it bee thy death or life they may glorify thy name to their liues end Be merciful to this Church of England Irelande wee beseeche thee good Lorde to preserue euery part and member of the same especially thy seruant ELIZABETH our queen graunt her all such gifts as bee needefull for so high a calling to the aduauncement of thy glory and benefite of this common wealth to the establishishing of a perfect gouerment of thy Church according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of al superstition and reliques of Antichriste to the gouerning of her subiects in al peace and tranquility Defende her O Lorde from all conspiracies treasons and rebellions and so worke in the heartes of all her subiectes that knowing her authoritye
dothe come from thy heauēly maiestye they may with obedient heartes humblye obey her in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Counsayle and all the magistrates of the realm that being lightned through thy holye spirite they maye defend thy truth suppresse wickednesse and maintaine equitie Beholde all the Pastors and Preachers of the worde blesse their labors increase the number of them place ouer euery Churche a paineful watchman remoue all idle Lubbers confound the power of Antichriste and turne the heartes of the people that they maye be obediēt to thy truth Blesse the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxenforde and all the Studentes of the same with al Schooles of lerning Beholde all those that bee afflicted with any kinde of crosse that they may profit by thy correction in newnesse of lyfe Lastly for our selues here gathered wee render most hearty thanks to thy maiestie O Lord which hast hitherto frō our infancye preserued vs by thy mercie from all perils and daungers both of soule and body whervnto fraile man is subiect that thou haste sent vno vs all thinges necessary for this presēt life as health foode apparell and suche like which manye of thy dear children do want being notwithstanding as preciousely boughte with the precious blod of thy deare Sonne as we be yet lye in mysery and calamity oppressed with pouertye nakednesse imprisonment and banishment in which case also dear Father thou mightest haue brought vs saue onelye that thou dealest heerein more fauourably with vs then with them For the which thy louing kindnesse we giue thee harty thanks desiring thee that as thou hast hitherto thus fauourablye in mercy preserued vs by thy protection and euen presently this daye haste brought vs past al the dangers thereof so we beseeche thee good Lord in like fauour behold vs this night that we taking our naturall rest and quietnesse may thorough thy protection bee defended that our bodyes resting our souls may be occupied in beholding thy fauor and mercy toward thy children stil looking for the comming of Lorde and Sauioure hs IESYS CHRIST for oure full redemption Grant that our sleepe bee not immoderate according to the lust of our fleshe but as much as is sufficient to refreshe oure weake nature that being thus refreshed both the body and the mind maye bee more able to do their seuerall office and function in that vocation wherein thou hast placed vs. Graunt that we laying our bodies downe to rest maye bee thereby put in mind of oure long rest of death that as we do now lai down our bodies in bedde so wee maye bee thereby admonished that hereafter they shall bee laid downe in graue to bee consumed to Duste Earth and Ashes from whence they were taken That wee hauing this before oure eyes maye bee styrred vpp in minde warelye to walke in this our pilgrymage not knoweing when the time shal be of our departure but alwayes to bee founde ready with our lampes of our pure faith clearely burning that we may bee accepted to meete the Bridegrome when our mortal earthly and corruptible bodies shal be made like to the glorious body of our lord and sauiour Christ Iesu there to raigne with him in perpetuall ioye and consolation togeather with all the elect children of God continually lauding with all the heauenly multitude the glorious maiesty of thee our Lord God heauenly Father in our Lorde and sauiour Iesu Christ For these and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be needfull for vs and thy whole Church we praye vnto thee as he him self hath taught vs saying Our Father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord tourne his fauourable countenaunce vnto vs and grant vs his peace The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the holye Ghoste be with vs preserue and keepe vs this day and euermore Amen A forme of euening prayer necessary to be vsed of all christians in their houses and families O Lorde prepare our hartes to pray bow down thine eares deare Father and heare vs open thine eyes looke vppon vs for thy deare Son Iesus Christes sake and receiue our humble confessiō that we make to thee againste our selues which haue broken all thy lawes and therefore deserue to hauethy heauy iudgments powred vpon our heades to our vtter destruction if thou shouldest enter into iudgement with the leaste of oure sinnes whereof wee haue so great and infinite thousands notwithstanding we praye thee to turne away thy face from our sinnes and for IESVS CHRISTES sake to forgiue vs all that is past and graunt that we may haue the assurance of the forgiuenes of our sinnes sealed vp by thy holy spirite in our consciences whereby we knowing that we are at one with thee maye haue our harts kindled with thy loue so feruently as it maye waste in vs all that is againste thy holy will And for this cause we beseech thee good Lord to go forward with the work of our new byrth that thou haste begunne in vs and neuer take away thy hande vntill such time as thou hast made an end of it and to this end we beseech thee to slaye in vs euerye daye more and more the old man with his concupiscences nailing them to the crosse of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ and causing vs to feele the power of his passion in our bodies and in oure soules that we beeing partakers thereof maye come also to the felowship of thy holye resurrection not onelye in that we shall once appeare before thee hauing these our base bodies chaunged and made like vnto his glorious bodye but also that wee maye in the mean time rise from the death of sin to all newnesse of life and that our good works may so shine before men that they seeing them may glorify thee our heauēly father not only they that are of the self same Religion with vs but but those also that are enimies vnto thy truth may rather in the time of their calling by the voyce of thy Gospell yeeld themselues to be one sheepfold with vs. And we moste humbly thank thee O Heauenly father for all thy louing kyndenesses bestowed vppon vs from time to time and especially for that olde and ancient Loue wherewithall thou hast loued vs before the beginng of the worlde for that also that thou calling vs by the voyce of thy Holye Gospell in that good tyme that thou appoyntedst for vs hast giuen vs faith hope and loue and all other graces which thou knowest to bee needfull for vs which we beseeche thee to increase in vs with mighty increases according to that thou seest we haue neede of hauing regarde to oure manifold enemies that wee haue to wrestle with and that we haue not to striue with fleshe and bloud but againste the Diuels themselues And therefore considering their strength and our weakenesse
And therefore we pray thee that according to the manifold troubles that thou shalt visite them with it woulde be thy good pleasure to measure out thy grace in such plentifull maner that thy children maye patiently beare ioyfullye attende for the good howre wherein thou wilt pul them out of all their troubles And specially we pray thy maiesty for our brethren that are afflicted for thy Gospell sake namely those that suffer imprisonment or otherwise in any nation for the clearer testimony of it that it woulde please thee to giue thē patience in all theire troubles wisedom and mouthes to defend thy cause against all those that rise vp againste it that thou woldst blesse their trauels and sufferings for that for which they are taken which is to giue a freer course of thy gospel into al places And therewithall wee beeseeche thee for the churches of France and Flaunders which are so miserably racked and torn in sunder and which are almost consumed with these fierie trials that it wold plese thee to locke vpon the sighings and gronings the teares that fall from their eies continually the bloud that is shed in all partes of the Lande the bodies that lye vnburied to bee meate to the foules of the ayre and Fishes of the Sea the lonenes of wiues lacking ther husbāds children their fathers euery frend his freind And for asmuch as those thynges are come vppon them for thy names sake let it be thy good pleasure to hepe them considering that they are forsaken of al their friends roūde about and therefore praye thee that thou wouldest not looke vppon our sinnes nor the sins of our forefathers wherby we deserue not onelye this correction but vtter destruction as Sodom Gomorrha but rather to look vpō thi mercies which were before them whereby thou hast sayde that although we do offende and thou doest correct vs yet thou wilt not take away thy mercyes from vs but wilt leaue a remnant which thou wilt multiply and make as the starres of the heauen and as the sandes of the Sea Looke also O Lord vpon the outragiousnes and cruelty vnfaithfulnes and blasphemy of the enemies wherewithall they blaspheme thee and prouoke thee to thy face and therefore in thine owne cause and for thine own sake take the matter into thine owne handes and pay vnto the Bosomes of thine enymies double and treble of that they haue giuen to thee Notwithstanding those amongest them that belong to thine holy election hasten their calling that afterward thy iudgement may hasten vpon the earth and the inhabitants therof may learn to knowe thee by thy iudgementes that would not vnderstand and come to thee by the louing callinge of thy Gospell Wee pray thee O Lorde for our brethren that are vp in arms in both those coūtries that thou wouldst goe before them and come behinde them and on euerye syde of them couer their heads in the daye of battell teache their handes to fyght their fingers to war giue them wisdom valiantnes and good succes in al their enterprises strike a dizinesse maze of spirite into the enimies hearts and take away from them al force and disappointall their counsels And vpō our brethren in Flāders wee beseeche thee that thou wouldest comfort them ouer al their troubles that they haue receiued and breaches that haue beene made in vpon them where there are new forces euery day gathered new sleights inuented to destroy thē it maye please thee to scatter their forces and bring their sleights to nothing Yea grant also O lord that that whiche they haue deuised against thy children may come vppon their own heades And for oure Brethren in Fraunce wee beseeche thee O Lorde what straights soeuer they be in thou wouldest deliuer them and althogh they be forsaken in the iudgement of all the world and in their own iudgementes notwithstanding thou that hast the issues of death in thine owne handes deliuer those that are appoynted to death And finally we most humbly thanke thee for that it hath pleased thee to keepe vs this daye and all the dayes and times of our liues beseeching thee that thou wouldst receiue vs this night into thy holye keeping that we may haue quiet rest not of bodyes alone but of our soules also restinge from all those thinges that are cōtrary to thy most holy will attending while thou raisest vs vp in the morning to do al those thinges that thou haste appoynted vs. These thinges wee desire of thee all other things which thou knowest to be more needfull for vs thy whol church better then we our selues do know for Iesus Christs sake saying the same praier that he him self hath taught vs. Our father c. A PRAYER FOR the Euening O Lorde God Father euerlasting and full of pitty we acknowlege and confesse that we be not worthye to lift vp oure eyes to heauen muche lesse to present oure selues before thy maiesty with confidence that thou wilt heare our prayers and graunt our requestes if we consider our owne deseruinges for our cōsciences do accuse vs our sinnes do witnes against vs and we know that thou art an vpright Iudge which dost not iustifie the sinners and wicked men but punni shest the falts of al such as transgresse thy commandements yet most mercifull Father since it hath pleased thee to Commaunde vs to call vpon thee in all our troubles aduersityes promising euen then to helpe vs when we feel our selues as it were swallowed vp of death and desperation We vtterly renounce al worldlye confidence flye to thy Soueraigne bounty as our only stae and refuge beseeching thee not to call to remembraunce our manifold sinnes and wickednes whereby we continuallye prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligence and vnkindnes which haue neither worthely esteemed nor in our liues sufficiently expressed the sweet cōfort of thy Gospell reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience death of thy sonne Iesus Christ who by offering vp his body in sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompence for all our sinnes Haue mercye therefore vppon vs O Lorde and forgiue vs our offences Teach vs by thy holye spirte that we maye rightly weigh them and earnestly repent for the same And so much the rather O Lord because that the reprobate and suche as thou hast forsaken cannot praise thee nor call vpon thy name but the repenting hart the sorrowfull mind the conscience oppressed hungring and thirsting for thy grace shall euer set foorth thy praise glory And albeit we be but wormes and duste yet thou art our Creator we be the worke of thy hands yea thou art our Father and we thy children thou art our she p-heard and we thy flock thou art our redeemer and we thy people whō thou hast bought thou art our God we thine inhertiance Correct vs not therfore in thine anger O lord neither according to oure deserts punish
vs but mercifullye chastice vs with a fatherly affection that all the worlde may know that at what time soeuer a sinner doth repēt him of his sinn frō the bottō of his hart thou wilt put away his wickednes out of thy remembrance Finally for as much as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to reste in as thou haste ordayned him the daye to trauaile graunt O deare Father that wee may so take our bodely rest that our soules may continuallly watch for the time that our Lord Iesus Christ shal appear for our deliuerance out of this mortall life and in the mean season that we not ouercome by any fantasies dreames or other temptations may fully set our mindes vppon thee loue thee fear thee rest in thee Furthermore that our sleep be not excessiue or ouer much after the vnsatiable desires of the fleshe but only sufficiēt to cōtent oure weake nature that we may be the better disposed in all godly cōuersation to the glory of thy holy name profite of our brethren So be it ¶ A Prayer for all times O Lord God Father of mercy and God of al consolation without whome wee haue neither hope nor comfort we pore wretches miserable sinners beseech thee of thy fatherly goodnes to look vpō vs and so make vs partakers of thy gratious goodnes that we may stil increase in all goodnesse so that euermore we may set forth thine honor glory let our conuersation bee such that a great mani beholding our good workes may glorify thee oure heauenly father so direct our ways that we may hold forth the professiō of thy gospel as a lanthorn to lighten the steps of a greate many that they may turne to thee praise thy name in their visitation Thus O Lord we beseeche thee to deale with vs that in deed we may be vessels of honour vnto thee now to set foorth the praise of thy name and after this transitory life to behold thy glory who haste immortality alone and dwellest in lighte that no man hath approched vnto remoue far from vs our sinns iniquities that they may not seperate betweene vs and thee blot out all our offences and make our prayers righteous that thou mayst fauourably grant our requests looke vpō vs with thy fauourable mercie that thou mayst haue pitty vpon vs and beholde in the righteousnesse of thy beloued Sonne Christ Iesu and that wee may bee presented faultlesse in thy sight and thou accepting vs as only we may finde the Grace euermore to set foorth thy honour and glory and to speake of thy prayses in the middes of all thy people Let vs loue O Lord the thinges that thee good and hate the things that are euill let vs delight in all things that may please thee let vs bee greeued with whatsoeuer is displeasant in thy sight And to the intent wee may haue true vnderstāding and be able to discerne betweene things what is good or euill we beseech thee let thy word dwell plentifully in vs which may guide oure vnderstandings so that we may abound in all knowledge and do according to that which is righteous And in this estate of the true Christianity being instructed in minde and ready in body to all holy obedience wee beseeche thee make vs to growe and encrease frō grace to grace frō fayth to fayth vntill we come vnto the fulnesse of age to be perfect members of the body of Christe waiting for the blessed hope of thine elect and sighing in spirite vntill that thy children shal be reuealed In the meane season let vs sigh withal those that haue receiued the first fruits of thi spirit that these days of sinne may cease that satan be trodē down vnder feet that Antichrist may be reuealed yet to many thousandes that be in ignoraunce that the number of thine elect may be full the body of thy saintes made perfect all teares wiped from oure eyes euen then when thy sonne shal appear again the second time to iudge the quicke and the deade which time O Lorde send quickly according to thy good will and teache vs to pray with all thy Sayntes Come Lord Iesu come quickly graunt this O Father for thy Sonnes sake in whose name we pray vnto thee And although wee bee but Earth and Ashes yet are we bolde to say vnto thee the GOD of all glory euen as hee hath taught vs. Our Father whiche art in Heauen hallowed bee thy name c. A Prayer for the estate of the whole church O Lorde our God heauenlye Father forasmuche as by thy holy word we are commaunded in our prayprayers not only to be mindfull of our selues but also of al others thy children yea euen of our enimies wee commend vnto thy Maiesty all thy whole true and Catholique Church euery member thereof that as it hath pleased thy goodnesse by the bright beams of thy holy worde to shine ouer the whol world wherbi thou hast expelled driuen away caused to vanish the dark misty clouds of ignorance superstitiō so thou woldest vouchesafe by thy holy spirit to touch the hearts of men that thei may ioyfullye embrace that thine so high treasure sent amongest vs that thorough our vnthākfulnes we prouoke not thy maiesty in anger to take it from vs. Crush bruse destroy with the breath of thy mouth the mighty power of that man of sin which so proudly exalteth him selfe aboue all that is called God Let not thy simple flocke deare father in whose consciences he of long time hath and yet doth sit as God be any longer poisoned with his sweet enticing poisons but so lightē their harts that they may perceiue his iuglinges and embrace the sweet comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting reuealed in thy glorious Gospell And for asmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy aboue all natiōs in the earth to powre down the sweet showers of thy Heauenlye Graces vppon this our English nation aboundantlie in more plentifull wise watering the same with the giftes of the holy spirite in promoting thy Gospell ouerthrowing Idolatri we besech thee cōtinue thy fauour toward the same vtterly root out al remnants reliques Monumentes of Idolatry that thy glorious name may be throughlye exalted in sincere pure and holy worship And as thou haste in mercy from amongst vs in this thy Church vtterly banished all false venemous and poysonfull doctrine wherwith the soules of thy Children heeretofore haue bene woūded to death and in place therof hast placed the true comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting wherewith the soules of thy Children be fedde and nourished to euerlastinge ioy so in like mercy fauour we beseech thee deere father establishe in the same thy church a true perfect and sincere regiment thereof according to the prescript rule of thy blessed worde all fantasies of mans brayne and Dreames of humane policy vtterlye abolished that thy glorious Maiestye onelye maye bee exalted in