hands and liues by which wee haue this day offended thee iniured and oppressed others but that thou mightest as on Iobs children suffer the deuill by his instigation of wicked men to robbe and spoyle vs not onely of our goods and cattell and other our personall estates but also of our liues But ô our good God wee are confident that through thy mercy and loue in Christ no euill shall come vnto vs for thou hast promised that thou wilt bee a refuge and fortresse to keepe safe all those that trust in thee not onely from the arrow of the day but from the terror of the night which thou at thy will and pleasure sendest for the punishmeÌ„t and correction of our sinnes as thou â—iddest Shemâ—i with his rayling â—ongue to aâ—â—â—ict Dauid O Lord for the wâ—rthinesse of thy Sonne our Sauiour in whom onely wee lay down our bodies to rest turne backe this night and at all other times of our sleepe all the euill and wicked purposes of those that intend vs any hurt in our bodies or goods and send thy holy Angels to protect vs with their hands as they did thee our Sauiour against the prince of darkenesse when he had ended on thee his three temptations in the wildernesse And as they fought against the Assirans hoaste that proudely boasted themselues against thy seruant Hezekiah So ô Lord let thine Angels fight against all our enemies and the enemies of thy church not of flesh but of Spirit which resolue our hurt whether walking in the day or sleeping in the night And though our sinnes in which wee so much abound haue deserued that thou shouldest send those ministring Spirits as on Egypts first borne in the night to take away this our dying life or life full of death yet for thy mercies sake let them be our gardians not ouely this night but all the dayes and nights of this life for euer to further our soules and bodies in thy obedience and in and after death to conduct them to Abrahams bosome to rest in ioy and blisse with thee for euermore yea let thine Angels of light that continually behold thy face in heauen bee about our bodies night and day and with louing and kind assistance keeping euill from vs and vs from euill not onely of sinne but of temptation with which that worldly Gouernour and Prince of the Ayre neuer ceaâ—eth millions of wayes to withdraw vs from thee if he cannot through couetousnesse as Iudas â—or through the world as Deâ—as and Achan yet through pleasure as into our first mother Eue Dauid Solomon Sampson hee will a thousand to one craftely enter and seate himselfe in our hearts O Lord if by thy holy Spirit we happen to be so strong as by none of these baites to bee caught then hee laboureth by temporall crosses and afflictions of body and minde as on Iob to draw vs to distrust and dispaire in thy mercie and loue in all which assaults let thy grace and our faith keepe vs that we may not bee ouercome but as valiant souldiers in Christ and through the Armory of God in which by our holy calling we are girt we may leade captiuitie captiue and bee more then Conquerours through him that loueth vs. So that neither the feares of the day nor the terrours of the night of death and hell should separate vs from the assured guard of thee and thy Angels the conductors and furtherers of our saluation This thy great helpe and especiall assistance wee are continually enforced to craue not for our owne sakes but for thy Sonne his sake and that as hee himselfe hath taught vs in his most holy word saving Our Father which art in heauen c. To the Lord of Hoastes and God of glory our Creatour to thee ô Christ Iesus our Mediator thee most holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Sonne bee ascribed all praise and glory this night and for euermore Amen Amen Another for the Euening O Eternall God and most mercifull Father wee acknowledge and confesse against our selues that our hearts and hands are full of all filthinesse and sinnes whatsoeuer and we are altogether vnworthy to speake vnto thee or to come neere thy presence Neuertheles being so much bouÌ„d vnto thee as this day past and all other times of our liues doe witnesse we most humbly offer vnto thy holinesse by the hands of Iesus Christ our Mediatour our humble duties of praise thanksgiuing for our 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 our tongues and lippes shall glorifie thee sitting aboue the Cherubims for preseruing vs this day past from so many miseries and casualties whereunto wee might iustly haue fallen if thou wouldest haue entered into iudgement with vs but Lord thou art mercifull and passest by our manifold offences to winne vs by thy long sufferance we beseech thee make vs thankefull for thy mercies and carefull to doethy will O Lord pardon and forgiue vâ— all our sinnes and grant vs euery day more and more the sight oâ— them true vnfained sorrow anâ— repentance for the same Giue vs faith and grace to beleeue all the sweete promises that thou hast made to vs in Christ Iesus both for the remission of our sins and the hope of a better life strengtheÌ„ vs from aboue with thy mighty hand to walke in euery good way and to bring forth the fruits of a true liuely faith in our liues and conuersation all the daies of our pilgrimage here Arme vs ô Lord with thy grace and holy Spirit against all the corruptions of the world the temptations of the deuill the allurements of the flesh and settle our mindes to the continuall exercise of deuout prayer with the hearing of thy sacred word watching for thy comming both publicke and priuate Continue thy goodnes towards vs in prouiding for vs such things as are necessary for the maintenance of this present life blesse the same vnder our hands that the little which wee haue by thy goodnesse may be encreased and the encrease may serue as well to furnish our necessary vses as to minister vnto the necessitie of others according to our abilities Keepe vs Lord this night from all euils which may happen either to our bodies or soules Extend thy goodnesse towards all those that depend vpon vs or wee on them Giue vs quiet sleepe and rest and when we shall awake let all our thoughts and cogitations be holy meditations on thee and thy law Blesse vs ô Lord all the nights and dayes of our liues and at the end thereof send vs a blessed departure and afterward a ioyfull resurrection vnto life eternall grant vs these good things most mercifull Father and all other needefull graces for Iesus Christ his sake in whose name wee further call vpon thee as our Lord and Sauiour hath taught vs in his Gospell saying Our Father which are in heauen
beare children that my husband may be wise graue and sober and one that knoweth how to gouerne and rule his houshold children and seruants in faith and good conscience O Lord let him be one that is stedfast in the faith of Christ following righteousnesse loue faith patience and meekenesse and one delighted in good workes and hospitality courteous vnto all men O Lord make him a louer of good men and make him iust holy and in all things temperate euer walking in grace abounding in the fruits of the Spirit O good God send mee such a yoke-fellow that knoweth how to loue me not onely by the guide of carnall affection as for beauty comelinesse of person money goods which thou hast giuen me or for that I haue good friends and kindred whereby he hopeth of this worlds preferment and ability for if all these faile for the which he onely loueth then will his pretended loue be gone and I shall be exposed to the necessity of this world and for want of meanes be tempted to dishonest courses but most sweet Father as thou hast promised to be a Father vnto the fatherlesse vnto the Widdowes and Orphanes So be a Father vnto mee thy silly Handmayd whose trust is alwayes in thee And send mee such an one as knoweth how to loue mee in thee and for conscience sake yea that will striue to loue me as Christ hath doeth and euer will doe his Church to loue me as his owne body This fieâ—h yea as himselfe And keepe mee that I may doe nothing to hinder this his loue or to make him bitter vnto mee but that I may obay him â—care him and loue him in all things that are comely in the Lord and according as thou hast commanded mee in thy holy word and that for Christ Iesus sake to whom with thee and the holy Ghost bee giuen by mee all praise glory both now and for euermore Amen Amen The Prayer of a Woman with child that defireth safe deliuerance O Almighty God that after the floud didst command Noah and his posterity liuing in chast matrimony to replenish and fill the earth I thy poore and most weake seruant haue as thou didst ordaine by the will of my parents embraced the holy and honourable estate of married life and now by thy blessing am made a mother of the liuing through that hopefull â—ruit which after much sorrow and paine in breeding thou hast caused to spring in my wombe by which I am assured it is a liuing soule for which worke of thine I giue thee most hearty thanks still beseeching thee that as thou hast begun this good worke in mee that thou wilt goe on and finish it vnto a perfect birth in all right shape and comelinesse not onely in the outward feature of the body but in the inward parts of the minde that it may growe on vnto such a perfect man as may occasion honour and praise vnto thy great name so long as it shall please thee to giue it life and being And seeing O Lord thou hast for our first sinne in Paradise so wofully afflicted vs with many sorrowes in conception and with farre greater in bringing forth of our posterity in this life I beseech thee for Christ his sake to pardon my sinnes and to asswage those violent and raging paines that they neither deface deforme destroy mee nor yet that which is in my wombe O Lord let the power of the most high euen thy holy Spirit enter into me to strengthen and to vphold me that I faint not in my paines nor in my faith but that if I dye in this my child-bearing yet thy goodnesse supporting me in faith charity and sobriety I may as thou hast promised bee assured of my saluation O Lord if thou please to spare the tree and take the fruit which I beleeue by faith in Christ that thou hast made holy yet I will giue thee thankes because by reason of my sinnes thou mightest most iustly curse mee and my fruit as thou didst the figge tree to perpetual death But most high heauenly Father I thanke thee that thou hast made thy promise so stable that not onely we of ripe yeares that doe beleeue but euen our children as they are our seede are included in the couenant of grace that if they dye yet being borne of holy parents who are ingraffed through faith into the body of Christ they are saued not onely as being a part of vs in Christ but as true and reall members of Christ vnto whoÌ„ through faith into which they are baptized with vs made one with Christ that with his comming they may bee raised at the last day Yet O Lord notwithstanding this assurance I entreate thee to graunt me ioy and comfort of them that trayning them vp in their youth in thy feare they may bee as a staffe in olde age in this life to comfort me anâ— their Father as the children of Noah and Iacob did yea Lord if it be thy will I desire to liue to bee a fruitfull vine on thy house side thy Church to breede to beare and bring forth children to multiply and accomplish thy glorious Kingdome visible and inuisible in earth and in heauen for euermore O Lord hauing taken away from mee the reproach of a barren wombe so much lamented by holy women graunt that after my dissolution my children may continue like oliue plants and flourish a seede mighty on earth not as the Giants in the olde world strong in sinne but valiant and bold in the profession and confession and practise of righteousnesse and good conuersation yea let them be a generation of vpright men and women and such as may remaine an heritage of the Lord as Isaac to Rebecka a blessed fruit of my wombe O Lord thou art my God heare the voyce of thine handmayd in thee is my trust heare my supplications and let not my soule faile of these her desires and that for Iesus Christes sake which was borne of the virgine Mary for my saluation Amen Amen LACHRIM 8. The penitent acknowledgeth mans vildnesse and Gods mercies by faith and example of Gods prouidence relieth on his goodnes O Lord thy name 's most excellent in all the world thy glory is spread Through heauens and the firmament and by all creatures vttered In vniuersall harmonie extoll'd in heauen and in earth Exprest in song and melodie with all alacritie and mirth What thou bestowest what man can number vpon vs slaues and sonnes of men Who by our sinnes are put asunder from thy deare loue by acts vncleane Forgetfull and so capeable of sinne as powder is of fire In all our workes and words vnstable and know not what we should desire Aboue all creatures we forget thy grace are proue to disobay And if thy mercy did not let all Adams broode thou shouldst destroy And I for my part me confesse guilty of all sinnes and all euills And that I haue deseru'd no lesse then to be damn'd
Keepe me from fees that neuer 〈◊〉 to take my life from me ô Lord Thy seruice is most perfect free to know thee 't is eternall life Reach out thy helping hand to mee against my foes that gainst me striue O God from whom all good desires from whom all iust workes doe proceedâ— Whose wise great actes all men admires assist me in the time of neede O Lord whose power and qualitie is sinners trespasse to forget Being tied and bound with chaines of sinne for pitty loose me I intreat Assist me in this mortall age what change or chance so ere befall From Sathan sinne and enemies rage Lord still defend me from them all Almighty God which giu'st vs grace now in thy name to pray to thee And promisest in any place when ioynes together two or three Thou wilt giue and grant what they request now Lord doe the desires fulfill Of vs thy serâ—…ts us seeme best and most expedient to thy will In this world knowledge vs granting of thy pure trueth and sanctity And after death let our new being be life with thee eternally O God that no time doest despise the fighing of a contrite heart Nor the desires of sinners cries in troubles anguish griefe and smart Assist our prayers in distresse and graciously vouchsafe to heare When sudden euils vs oppresse and subtill crafâ—s of foes vs fear Let them ô Lord be brought to nought and by thy goodnesse scattered be That so to vs no hurt being brought we may giue thankes and praise to thee Oh God of mercy we thee pray to looke on our infirmities And all those euils turne away which we deserue contâ—…llie Grant that in troubles and sicknes we put our trust and hope in thee And serue thee in true holines in awefull â—rueth and sanctitie Through Christ the onely aduocate and mighty Lord of all mankinde That workes Gods loue from wrath and hate towards his elect to be most kinde Oh God to whom all hearts are seene and hid desires are plainely kâ—owne My life reforme and minde make cleane my spirit inspire to be thine owne That I may loue thee perfectly and magnifie thy holy name Through Christ my Sauiour worthily and all the world confesse the same Lighten my darkenesse Lord I pray thee from daily dangers me defend Let not flesh world nor deuill dismay me keepe me both to and in the end Thy mighty hand and arme protect mee thy mercy in Christ be my saluation Lord euer let thy word direct mee and thy Spirit giue me consolation The peace of God which farre exceeds all vnderstanding of mans wit Preserue my soule from wicked deeds and gâ—ide my heart to doe what 's fit A Morning Prayer for a priuate person ALmighty God and heauenly Father I make my prayer vnto thee in an acceptable time calling most faithfully and feruently vpon thee in the name and mediation of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ thy well beloued Sonne in whom thou art well pleased trusting that for his sake and for the multitude of thy mercies thou wilt heare me and grant my petitions may be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my saluation Almighty immortall and invisible God who inhabitest eternitie and dwellest in light that none can attaine vnto whom neuer man saw neither can see as thou art in thy eternall glory with this eye of flesh and liue vnto thee oh Lord God doe I prostrate and direct my selfe most humbly confessing that I am but dust and ashes not worthy to open my lippes to speake vnto thee or once with my eyes to looke vp to thy heauens to behold thy glory in thy wonderfull workes for oh Lord I haue sinned against heauen and against thee and am not worthy to bee counted or called thy Sonne being by nature the child of wrath a fire-brand of hell altogether both in body and soule begotten conceiued and brought foorth in sinne and have euer since my first originall liued and continued therein adding sinne vnto sinne and heaping vp transgression vpon transgression and drinking in iniquitie as the beast doth water so that oh my Lord God if thou shouldest but behold mee with thy pure eyes that can abide no iniquite thou mightest not onely punish and afflict me with diuers crosses with sundry paines sicknesse and diseases in this mortall life but O Lord thou mightest follow and pursue mee with thy secret hatred with thy infinite and eternall displeasure yea and for euer giue me my part portion with the wicked reprobates and damned spirits in infernall darkenesse But oh Lord though by nature and desert hell be my portion yet thou hast pleased for Christ his sake in whom alone I beleeue the pardon of all my sinnes originall and actuall of omission and commission of ignorance and knowledge and of presumption in all which kindes I haue mightily offended thee mine owne conscience beside the testimony of thy word bearing witnesse which is greater then if ten thousands of witnesses should stand vp against me But ô Lord for thy Christ his sake that immaculate and vnspotted I am be that was once sacrificed for the Redemption of the whole world doe away all my sinnes and offences and let them not at any time through Sathâ—ns accusation or aggrauation stand vp against me neither in conscience in this world to accuse mee or in the day of thy second comming to condemne mee wash them away ô Lord in the precious blood of thy Sonne and for his sake bee at peace with mee Seale vp vnto my soule and conscience this day and while I am in this life the assured pardon of all my sinnes of thought word and deed Let thy Spirit dwell in me and testifie vnto and with my Spirit this day the assurance of my Iustification and adoption O Lord sanctifie and regenerate mee to thy Image through thy holy Spirit from whence through Adams sinne and my owne actuall I am fallen should for euer lye plunged therein if thou Lord shuldest denie to reach foorth vnto mee thy mercifull hand or thy hand full of mercy and aboundant kindnesse in Christ. O Lord if when we were dead in sinnes and trespasses and inasmuch as in vs lay thy most malicious enemies when wee were without God and without hope in the world and sought not after thee till thou as to Adam in the garden didst seeke and finde vs out How much more beeing in Christ and in him seeking thee wilt thou be found of vs and nigh vnto vs when wee call vpon thee O Lord thou hast promised that if wee aske wee shall haue if we seeke we shall finde if wee knocke it shall bee opened vnto vs wherefore I beseech thee pardon my weake Faith O Lord encrease in me godly sorrow for all my offences past and present ô let mee sorrow that I cannot sorrow according to the heighâ—… multitude of my transgreâ—… Lord make mee to know my sâ—… not onely open but secret not 〈◊〉 the highest but
and waking Keepe vs O Lord this night present euen vs and ours that we bee neither disquieted by dreames nor surprised by any sudden violence nor affrighted by any terrour but graunt vs this fredome libertie that wee may lye downe in peace and rest and rise vp againe in due time safely to the honour and glory of thy name and the managing of our worldly businesse in thy feare through Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for Faith O Lord our God thou hast reâ—eaâ—ed in thy word that the iust should liue by Faith and that without â—aith it is impossible to please thee and although aâ—… not faith yet as many as are ordained to eternall life by thy power and gift doe truely beleeue O Lord I doe beleeue encrease my faith and helpe my vnbeliefe and grant that through hearing reading of thy Word I may grow stronge in this grace and encrease from faith to faith And open my heart O Lord as thou didst Lydias that I may beleeue the Word to be thy Word and thy promises therein contained to be giuen not vnto others but vnto me And that when thy word saith Beleeue and yee shall be saued my heart may presently answer thee Command or say what thou wilt I beleeue Lord not historically but sincerely from the bottome of my heart Lord helpe my vnbeâ—eefe And O heauenly Father grant for thy Sonne my Saviours sake that when stormes of temptations shall fall vpon me as on Peter on the water yet beyond his example hauing thy Word to support me I may beleeue in thee and though with the eyes of my flesh I see no hope but that my faith may frustrate mee yet like Peter I may not sinke but seeke for further helpe from thee and being assured that euery word of promise is most certaine let me still aboue hope and beyond hope beleeue in thee yea and though with holy Iob thou kill my body yet will I trust in thee for I know thou wilt saue my spirit and vnite them againe in the day of the Lord. Sweet Sauiour whensoeuer I shall bee stung with the remembrance of my present or passed sinnes graunt I may like the faithfull â—sraelites in the wildernesse looke vnto the pillar of thy Crosse on which thou suffâ—redst death for my sinnes and through the vertue thereof apprehended by faith like the diseased Woman in her bloudy issue and perishing griefe with one glance and touch of sincere and iustifying Faith be suppled comforted and cured of my troubled spirit and wounded conscience O heauenly Father grant that the oyle of Faith in mee may neuer thorow temptation bee weakened much lesse vtterly decayed but as the oyle in the widowes Cruse through thy blessing bee more and more encreased this graunt for the honour of Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for the Remission of sinnes O Lord God in greatnesse infinite in power omnipotent in Counsell wonderfull and in Iudgement tâ—rrible Although 〈◊〉 miserable sinner haue by thy iustice truely deserued everlasting damnation for my horrible sinnes yet I beseâ—ch thee cast mee not away with thâ—m that haue not knowne thee or such as forget God or such as runne on in their wickednesse and neuer say what haue I done for I appeale from thy rightfull iustice to thine vnspeakable mercy and humbly cast downe my selfe at thy feete and confesse my sins beseâ—ching and begging compassion and pardon behold O Lord I am a piece of that purchase that cost so great a price as the bloud of thy deare Sonne my body and soule are the Temples of the holy Ghost the postes whereof are sprinkled with his most precious bloud which cryeth for mercy And therfore enter not into the course of iudgement with me for there I know I shall bee ouerthrowne but forbeare mee forgiue mee and acquit me vpon that satisfaction which he hath made for penitent sinners O Lord though the stipend of my sinne be death and the merit of my transgression eternal perdition yet is thy mercy aboue all thy iudgements and thou canst forgiue more then I can offend Wherefore I pray thee set thy deare Sonnes Crosse and Passion betwixt thy iudgements and my soule Looke vpon me with the eye of mercy and compassion as thou didst vpon the sinnefull Woman at the banquet and the Publican in the Temple whole pardons are registred in thy Booke for my Comfort O Lord bow downe the height of the Deitie to behold my vilenesse and misery a liuely image of the prodigall Sonne who knew no other helpe but onely thee my most loving Father whom I haue so highly offended powre the oyle of mercy into my defiled and fainting heart search it that I may not flatter my selfe to extenuate my sinne cleanse it and season it with the oyle of thy grace to receive and retaine all goodnesse heereafter Lord I thanke thee for thy patience and long suffering that thou hast not suddenly after my desert taken vengeance on mee but giuen mee a longer time of repentance wherfore I beseech thee appease thine anger towards mee now loose in me the workes of darkenesse create in me a newe heart and because thou expectest my amendement that I may haue thy fauour I beseech thee graunt mee thy fauour that I may amend giue me grace to repâ—nt vnfainedly with fasting weeping and mourning and make my faith liuely to beleeue that I am forgiuen in Iesus Christ. Let not the faults of my Forefathers light vpon my head who haue walked in their sinnefull steps neither be angry with mee for their sakes but let the wel-doing of Iesus Christ who hath shed his bloud for me succour me and procure my pardon for giue all my sinnes of youth and age negligences and ignorances thoughts words and deedes and keepe mee from presumptuous sinnes O Lord looke not vpon the Pharisie for he dissembleth nor vpon the Publican first for hee sayeth little for himselfe in outward shew nor vpon Mary Magdalen onely for she had but seuen deuills but looke vpon me that of sinners am chiefe worse then either Pharisie Publicane or Marie who haue as many sinnes as haires vpon my head and a greater clogge vpon my Conscience then any burthen that man hath to beare and doe therefore openly earnestly vnfainedly and continually call vpon thee O Lord keepe vnder Satan that hee compell not my conscience to dispaire quench all the euill motions of my minde striuing against thy diuine pleasure and restore in me the Image of thy Sonne that I may liue in thy feare dye in thy fauour rest in thy peace rise in thy power and remaine in thy glory for Iesus Christ his sake our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen In this Meditation the distressed humbly confesseth his sinnes and the vanities of his former times lewdly mispent and resolueth and exhorteth all others to returne vnto God with speedy true and vnfained repentance AN heart that 's broken and contrite to God
grace of thy lippes Oh I see it not I finde it not fleshly eyes conceiue not so great a mysterie open thou the eyes of my minde bring thy diuine light neerer vnto me and bring mee powerfully and more seriously to behold thee in this thine agony and passion I see it is Iesus the Son of God the vnspotted Lambe without sinne without fault without offence which tooke my wickednesse vpon him to the intent that I being set free from sinne might bee brought againe into Gods fauour rise againe from my fall returne home againe from banishment and attaine the end for which I was created that which I deserued he suffered and that which I could neuer attaine vnto â—e giueth O my Redeemer deliuerer and Sauiour draw me to thee that being alwaies mindfull of thy death trusting alwayes in thy goodnes and being alwayes thankfull for thy vnspeakeable benefits I may bee made partaker of so great reward and not bee seperated from thee through mine owne vnthankfulnesse Oh let not thy most humble inuestment of humanity bee in vaine in respect of me nor thy vnspeakeable and by thee alone endured torments be in-effectuall but valuable and all-sufficient for the eternall saluation of my soule and body whom thou hast redeemed and sanctified with that thy most glorious and inestimable blood shed at the time of Passion vpon the Crosse. 2. Oh I behold thee crucified for my soule Oh that thou wouldest also crucifie mee with thee that I might vtterly die in all carnall affections and so liue to thee or rather my sweet Sauiour thou in me then should I rest perfectly assured as by faith in thee and thy promises I doe to liue in thee and to arise by thee and with thee to life euerlasting thy flesh is crucified O Christ crucifie thou the power of sinne that raigneth in mee graunt I may put off the old man and vtterly abollish the whole body of sinne and be freed from all wickednesse vnbeliefe hardnesse of heart and dominion of all manner sinne and Sathan Let thy yoke become sweet and thy burthen lightsome to mee through thy most grieuous Passion 3. O most high mighty singular obedience where-through thou diddest submit thy selfe to innumerable torments yea euen to a most grieuous most bitter and most reproachfull death because thy heauenly Father for the Redemption of mankinde had decreed it so O splendour and brightnesse of thy Fathers glory O Sun of righteousnesse alwayes shining full of grace and glory shew vs where thou feedest in the heat of the day and where thou shrowdest thy Sheepe from the colde and thy little Lambes from the stormes of thy Fathers burning wrath and fearefull indignation Oh that wee might bee transformed into that liuely and sensible Image of thy Passion that wee might alwayes dwell in thee and thou in our hearts by faith rooted and grounded in charity so as wee might with all thy holy ones comprehend the length bredth height â—eepnes of thine agony bitter passion 4. I see a wonderfull kinde of loue thy highnesse boweth down the head that wee might be certainely assured that thou wilt graciously heare vs and helpe vs thou offerest the kisse of reconciliation and attonement yea and that of thine owne accord being the party grieued and wronged vnto vs that haue done the wrong Thou reachest out thine armes to embrace vs thou stretchest out thy bored hands to giue vs all things abundantly without holding any thing back thy side is open to thine heart to receiue vs in thither if wee will enter in at the open dore thy feete are fast nailed to the intent that wee may know thou wilt neuer depart from vs if wee depart not from thee O Father and Lord of ours thou seest the hardnesse of our heart and much rather the dulnesse of it It is not enough for vs to bee allured and called so gently so sweetly and so louingly but thou must bee faigne euen to draw vs pull vs and violently hale vs vnto thee create new and obedient hearts in vs for this wee haue is more vngentle then the cursed Iewes and more hard then the stones that cloue in compassion of thine innocent and yet most cruell Passion 5. O Lord Iesus Christ the euerlasting sweetnesse and triumph of them that loue thee exceeding all ioy and all longing thou sauer and louer of repentant sinners which doest acknowledge thy delight to be among the children of men and therefore in the end of times becammest man for mans sake Remember all the sorrowes which thou didst endure euen from the instant of thy conception in thy humane nature and from thy cradle to thy crosse Remember the bitter sorrow which thou didst suffer and endure when thou saydest My soule is heauy euen vnto death And at the institution of the commemoration of thy death when thou didst wash thy Disciples feete comforting them sweetly toldest them of thy Passion that was at hand Remember the sorrow anguish and griefe which thou didst suffer throughout thy whole tender body before thy suffering vpon the Crosse at such time as after thrice praying thou didst sweat water like to blood was betrayed by one of thine owne Disciples apprehended by thine owne chosen people accused by false witnesses condemned wrongfully by three Iudges in thy chosen Citie at the time of the Passeouer in the flourishing youth of thy body and being vtterly guiltlesse was deliuered to the cruell Iewes bespetted stript out of thine owne garment cloathed with another bodies apparell buffeted blinde-folded and smitten with sinfull fists bound scourged and crowned with thornes 6. O most sweet Iesus I beseech thee make mee mindfull of these thy paines and sufferings which thou hast endured for my sinnes that I might bee discharged and set free from them and my reconciliation and peace bee made with thy Father through thy chastisement by whose sorrowfull stripes wee are healed make mee to abhor all such hatefull sinne and cursed disobedience which could not be put away without thy so grieuous punishments Make me to be heartily sorrie for my sinfulnesse and to eschue mine offences which draw thee to the suffering of so great torments make mee mindfull of thy great loue to me and to all mankinde and let the infinitenesse thereof kindle an vnfaigned loue in me towards thee and my neighbour Let this thy vnmeasurable goodnesse breede in me a willing minde and desire to abide all things patiently for thy sake and for the truth of thy Gospell And let it ingender in mee a despising of all worldly and earthly things and an earnestly longing and endeauour to attaine to the heauenly inheritance for the purchasing whereof vnto me and for the bringing of mee thereunto thou hast indured these al other thy most bitter and intollerable torments at the time of thine agony and passion Wherefore I beseech thee grant me true repentance amendment of life perseuerance in all goodnesse a stedfast faith and a happy death
now returne humble and hearty thanks O Lord diddest thou no wonderfully in this life protec◠vs of thy selfe and with thy holy Angels it were not possible fo◠any man to liue one day in health or life O God I thanke thee fo◠the continuall blessings which 〈◊〉 haue receiued euery day night of this present life and for thy liberality in giuing me such plenty of foode and rayment not onely for my necessity but for my plenteous and free liuing not onely in health but in sicknesse And I thanke thee that thou hast giuen me such plenty that I may be able to lend and do good vnto others and that thou hast made my Cup to ouerflowe and hast giuen mee discretion to vse them soberly thankfully and honestly and that thou hast giuen me a heart to take my part of them and kept mee from prodigall vaine and wastfull spending of them so that my family haue not wanted in due season that portion that hath bin fit for them to haue and mee to giue them O Lord I thank thee that since I came to mans estate thou hast kept me from vaine and idle courses of liuing and that I haue not diminished thy blessings but encreased them for it is thou O Lord that giuest meanes and power not onely to keepe the patrimony of our Fathers but to encrease it Yea it is thou that giuest power vnto our hands to get goods thou makest wise thou makest simple thou makest rich and poore thou makest noble and ignoble wee liue moue and haue our Being all in thee and from thee and what soeuer we are in this life wee are at thy will and pleasure and thine especiall appointment for though we rise early and goe to bed late yet without thy blessing wee labour in vaine and haue but paine and sorrow the reward of our desires Wherefore O Lord I thanke thee againe and againe for thine vnspeakeable loue which thou hast manifested vnto mee not onely in blessing mee with an honest vocation and meanes in this world to liue and maintaine my charge at home and abroad in honest profits and recreations whereby thou hast made my life pleasant and comfortable vnto me but aboue all I thanke thee for thy mercy in Christ Iesus wherewith thou louest mee both before and since my being and that thou hast so especially cared for my soule while I knew thee not neither cared for to know thee for I was so dead and hardned in the custome of sinning so that I could not nor did care to call vpon thee but followed the concupiscence of my owne carnall and fleshly desires sauouring nothing but that which did altogether offend and displease thee hating thy word not onely in it selfe but also the Ministers thereof and professours thereof because of it whom otherwise I should haue loued vntill it pleased thee by the power thereof to illuminate my blinde vnderstanding and made mee to see the wretchednesse wherein I lay for want of thy grace O Lord such was and is thy loue that when with the sight of my wretchednesse I began to dispaire thou didst reueale thy Sonne vnto me and promised mee that though my sinnes were as red as scarlet yet if I did beleeue in thy promises confesse my sinnes and forsake them they should bee forgiuen which I did and euer since through thy grace haue done and will doe hereby hast thou iustified mee and sanctified me and giuen me an assured hope of my glorification And thus of the member of Sathan hast thou made mee of thine owne free adoption a member of Christ. Wherefore most louing Creatour support mee by the assistance of thy holy spirit that I may stand fast and perseuere in these Graces and gifts of grace the seales of my adoption vnto my liues end And may abound in all fruits of righteousnesse sanctification and holinesse vnto a perfect man in Christ Iesus This is that mercy of mercies surpassing all others which onely maketh mee happy in whatsoeuer outward wants or condition I shall be in this life and though thou gauest mee all my desire which this world can afford yet without it I should still remaine most miserable though in neuer so great an estate or esteeme of the men of this world Therefore for this blessing whereby thou hast pleased to saue me by faith and repentance I doe praise and thanke thee not with the tongue and lippes onely but with the whole man Let all that is within mee praise praise thee O Lord while I haue breath I will praise thee for thou onely art worthy to bee praised yea my soule praise thou the Lord To thee most glorious Trinity be giuen all possible praise might and maiestie in heauen and in earth by thine elect Angels and vs men in our bodies and spirits for euermore Amen Amen This Meditation inciteth vs to repaire vnto God in Prayers in silent sighes and in inward desires and groanes O Father full of knowledge deepe thou searchest secrets of the heart Behold'st desires wee priuate keepe with hidden silence in the darke But yet thou doest thus much require thy children should knowe and confesse Thee for to be their light some fire that iudg'st their workes in righteousnesse As thou hast fram'd in man a heart wherewith his Maker to beleeue A tongue and lips and euery part wherewith he glory may thee giue And thou doest challenge at his hands free sacrifice of thankes and praise And honours due throughout all lands that all men canst deiect and raise Thy children must not in their minde be dumbe nor in their tongues be mute When they should seeke thine helpe to finde and by petition shew their suite Thy Sonne doth bid me aske and haue and finde to seeke to knocke to enter What they doe want that they may craue by faith in him they may aduenture Thou still art ready to be found and helpe thine owne in their distresse That in their faith are constant found and patient in their heauinesse Therefore deere Father I beset with many miseries distrest Come vnto thee thine ayde to get and after trouble to finde rest And haue thy grace without within but I that am of sinners chiefe Because thou hat'st in me my sinne may doubt thou wilt not giue reliefe Alas poore wretch what shall I doe to aske I am so farre vnfit Vnapt my God to seeke vnto vnworthy to haue benefit Of what I craue or doe desire and yet to cry I will not linne Thy mercies great I will admire and craue to cure my wofull sinne O let thy spirit me sanctifie vntye my tongue open my lips I cannot silence keepe for why my conscience euery houre me whips My miseries growe more and more within my bones I finde no rest Thy grace anew to me restore and let me speake what likes thee best Let thine eares euer be enclinde to my extreame and dolefull cries Let me thy mercies ready finde to take my teares from weeping eyes Thou
workes of the Lord. The ancient Prayer called O bountifull Iesus O Bountifull Iesu O sweet Iesu O Iesu the Sonne of the Virgine Mary which art full of mercy and truth O sweet Iesus haue pittie vpon mee according to thy great mercy O benigne Iesu by the same pretious blood which thou wast contented to shed vpon the Altar of the Crosse for vs miserable sinners I beseech thee vouchsafe to cast all mine iniquities out of thy sight and despise not mee that thus humbly begge of thee crying and calling vpon thy holy name IESVS This name IESVS is a sweet name this name IESVS is a name of saluation for what is IESVS but a Sauiour O good IESVS which hast created mee and redeemed mee with thine owne blood suffer not mee whom thou hast made of nought to be damned O good IESVS let not my wickednesse haue power to destroy me whom thine Almighty goodnesse hath made O good IESVS reknowledge that which is thine in mee and that which is not of thee take that away from me O good IESVS euen now while the time of mercy is haue mercy vpon me and let mee not be conâ—ounded at the day of thy fearefull iudgement O good IESVS although I vile sinner by thy straite â—ustice haue deserued to bee punished euerlastingly for my most grieuous sinnes yet hauing sure confidence in the trueth of thy righteousnesse I appeale to thine vnspeakable mercy I am sure thou wilt haue mercy vpon mee like a louing Father and a mercifull Lord. O good IESVS what profit is there in my blood if I descend into the pit of eternall corruption for surely they that be dead shall not magnifie thee or any that goe downe into the place of silence O most mercifull IESVS haue mercy vpon mee O most sweet IESVS deliuer mâ—… O most holy IESVS be mercifull to me a sinner O IESVS accept me wretched sinner among the number of them whom thou hast elected to saluation O IESVS the health of all that hope in thee the life of all that beleeue in thee haue mercy vpon mee O sweet IESVS the remission of all my sinnes O IESVS the Sonne of the virgine Mary powre thy grace into my heart endue mee with wisedome charity chastity and humility and in all mine adversity graunt me holy inuiolable and stedfast patience that I may perfectly loue thee and haue my onely delight and aâ—â—iance in thee world without end Amen The Sicke-mans Prayer O Louing Lord and most holy Father I poore wretch thy seruant feeling in this sicknesse which thou hast layd vpon me the punishment of that corruption and transgression that is in me and all flesh doe most willingly submit my selfe to thine holy ordinance to beare this crosse and taste of this bitter cup which I haue deserued and much more so that I may follow thee whither thou art gone Therefore O Lord since thou hast not yet called mee to the barre of death but sent thy Heraulds to summon me to a triall I beseech thee looke on me with thine eye of mercifull pittie and helpe me in this day of visitation powre out thine oyle of grace into my wounded conscience purge my defiled soule forgiue mee all my sinnes and giue mee competent comfort and consolation in this distresse let me not dye ere I begin to liue giue mee time to repent and occasion to amend but if thou wilt needes put any more of thy wine of correction into my festered sores lay no more O Lord lay no more vpon me then I shall bee able to beare Make good vnto mee that goodnesse which thou hast graunted me vnder the great seale of thy promise Supply my want pardon my sinnes and ayde me against all temptations and I am recouered of all mine infirmities I offer here vnto thee O Lord a penitent heart for the time past and promise through thy grace amendment if it shall please thee to draw out the threed of my life any longer yet I neither desire the continuance of this mortality nor a more speedy deliuerance otherwise then as thou wilt Lord looke not vpon my merits for they are either none or not good nor vpon my life for it hath been naught but looke vpon Christ thy deere Sonne who from the Altar of the crosse cried vnto thee on my behalfe and accept his satisfaction for my sinnes Arme mee with patience to take vp my crosse follow thee euen to beare my visitation willingly and giue mee strength by faith to resist the Aduersary in the brunt of temptations With my sorrow and paine encrease thy grace that when I am in greatest agony I may find comfort beleeuing and saying with the holy Prophet My flesh faileth and my heart also but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for euer O Lord if thy decree be gone forth as it was to Hâ—zâ—kiah that I shall dye and not liue giue me grace to put in order my things of this world that I may depart in more peace and when the pangues of death haue shut vp the eyes of my body and taken away the vse of my tongue I beseech thee let the eyes of my soule still behold and looke vpon thee so that when I shall leaue my earth to earth and my body to the graue thine Angels may carry vp my soule vnto thee and be parâ—aker of a ioyfull resurrection through Iesâ—â— Christ our Lord. Amen Amen A Prayer for the sicke O God most high mighty and iâ—uisible I thy vnworthy seruant not worthy for my selfe to be heard in any request vnto thee for I am a sinner Yet Lord being confident of the pardon of my sinnes in Christ in whose power is onely to forgiue sins I am bold to come vnto thee to begge the pardon of my sins as of my sinnes so of the sinnes of this thy weake and sicke seruant that lyes pained and diseased not onely in the outward members but in the inward parts of the body And though thou hast depriued him of experience in naturall Physicke whereby his skill to doe himselfe good yet good Lord be thou his Physitian and let thy helpe and assistance neuer faile in this his weakenesse to doe him good and strengthen him And if it be thy will O Lord restore him againe vnto that health which herâ—tofore to the comfort of himselfe and many others hee hath enioyed O Lord thou art able not onely with meanes as vnto Hezekiaâ— but without meanes as vnto Malchus eare and blinde Bartimaeus but euen against meanes as vnto the widdowes sonne going vnto his Graue and the Sunamites sonne at the Prayer of Elisha O Lord thou didst beyond all hope and expectation raise Lazarus stinking in the graue and Peters wiues mother of a burning beauer and the woman of her bloudie issue and the man that was irrecouerable of the dead Palsie onely by thy vertue and power O Lord now when all meanes seeme to faile that wee know not whither to goe but vnto