GERARDS PRAYERS OR A DAYLIE PRACTICE OF PIETIE Divided into foure parts 1 Of Confession of Sinnes 2 Of Thanksgiving for benefits 3 Of Petitions for our selues 4 Of Supplicatiōs for our neighbours Written originally in the Latine Tongue by Iohn Gerard Doctor in Divinitie and Superintendent of Heldeburg Translated and revised By Ralph Winterton Fellow of Kinges Colledge in Cambridge Wherevnto is added a Morning and Euening Prayer for a Familie Printed in ABERDENE by Edward Raban 1638. To the Reader DIstressed soule if thou conceav'st what 't is To mount vnto the tower of endles blisse Embrace this Work It reacheth to the Skie And higher if beyond it ought doeth lie Mans dull capacitie weake humane sense Wide worlds expansion starres circumference Can not it comprehend Prayer passeth even To GODS Pavilion to th' imperiall Heaven That is the Golden Chayne fixt to Gods eare Knocke Hee 'll open Call He will heare This surelie this is blessed lakobs Ladder On which our soules climbe by CHRIST to CHRIST'S FATHER Fayth is Prayers chiefe Attendant CHRIST the Way GOD'S Sprite both moues and help vs 〈◊〉 to pray True loue admittance gayn◠humble confession Both helps Devotion and procures Remission THE FIRST PART Of Confession of Sinnes THE ARGUMENT The Meditation of our Sinnes comprehendeth in it these two heads Of originall and actuall sinnes Actuall sinnes are committed in thought word and deed By the committing of evill and by the omitting of good Agaynst GOD our neyghbour and our selues The offences of our youth are manie and our daylie infirmities many We are often tempted of the flesh and we do often yeeld vnto it Wee partake many tymes in other mens sinnes and in many things wee are defectiue our selues Wee are convicted of our sinnes by all the creatures and wee behold the sexeritie of GODS anger agaynst our sinnes in the Passion and Death of CHRIST PRAYER I. Hee weygheth and considereth the grievousnesse of originall sinne HOlie GOD and just Iudge I know that I was conceaved and borne in sinne I know that I was formed of vncleane seede in the wombe of my mother That poyson of sinne hath so corrupted and putrified my whole nature that no facultie of my soule is free from the contagion thereof That holie pledge of the divyne image which was committed vnto mee in our first father is perished in mee There is no power at all in mee to begin to come vnto the saving knowledge of thee the feare of thee confidence in thee and loue of thee There remaineth no sufficiencie in mee to performe obedience vnto thy cōmandements My will is averse from thy law And the law of sinne in my members beeing repugnant to the law of my mynde maketh my whole nature become corrupt and perverse I wretched and miserable man doe feele the power of sinne cleaving fast to my members I doe feele the yoke of wicked concupiscence grievouslie pressing me For although I am regenerate and renewed by the spirit of grace in the laver of baptisme yet am I not as yet whollie free from the yoke and captivitie of sinne For that roote of bitternesse which lyeth hidden in mee doeth alwayes desire to put forth new branches The law of sinne reygning in my flesh doeth striue to captivate mee I am full of doubts distrust and desire of myne owne honour Out of my heart proceede wicked cogitations Filthie thoughts defile mee throughout in thy sight Out of that poysoned fountaine flow foorth rivers of poyson Enter not therefore into judgement with thy servant O LORD but bee propitiou◠vnto mee according to thy great mercie The deepe of my miserie calleth vpon the deepe of thy mercie For this vncleannesse and filthinesse of my polluted nature I offer vnto thee the most sacred conceptiō of thy Sonne For mee hee was borne For mee therefore hee was conceaved For me he was made sanctificatiō righteousnes For me therefore he is become purification and cleannes Throgh him for him thy Sonne haue mercie on mee O thou most highest and set not in the light of thy countenance that hidden corruption that cleaveth to my nature but looke vpon thy beloved Sonne my Mediatour and let his most holie and immaculate conception succour my miserie Amen PRAYER II. Hee recalleth to our memorie the sinnes of our youth HOlie GOD and just Iudge Remember not the offences of my sinnes that are past How manie venemous fruits hath the vicious roote of concupiscence that is inherent in mee brought foorth In my chyldhood what an innumerable brood of actuall transgressions hath the evill of originall sinne hatched The verie thoughts of my heart are wicked and perverse even from my chyldhood yea even from my tender infancie For when I was an infant but of one day I was in no wayes innocent before thee As manie as the dayes of my lyfe are so manie offences doe burden me yea manie more by farre in number seeing that the just man falleth seaven tymes in one day But if the just fall seaven tymes in one day then I wretched and vnjust man without doubt haue fallen seaventie tymes seaven tymes As my lyfe hath increased so hath the web of my sins increased as much as hath beene added to my lyfe by thy bountie so much hath beene added to the course of my sinnes by the wickednesse of my corrupt nature I examine my lyfe that is past and what else doe I beholde but a filthie stinking cloake of sinne I attend vnto the light of thy precepts and what doe I finde in the course of my yeares that are past but darknesse and blindnesse The tender flower of my youth ought to haue beene crowned with vertues and offred to thee for a sweet savour The best part of my age past did owe it selfe vnto thee the best Creatour of nature But the dirtie filth of my sinnes hath most foullie polluted the flower of my age and the stinking mud of my offences hath in a wōderfull miserable māner defiled me The first age of man is amongst all the rest the fittest for the service of GOD But I haue spent a good part thereof in the service of the devill The memorie of many sinnes which the vnbridled loosenesse of my youth hath committed is set in my sight and yet there are manie more which I cannot call to memorie Who knoweth how oft hee offendeth cleanse thy servant from secret faults For these offences of my youth I offer vnto thee holie Father the most holie obedience and perfect innocencie of thy Sonne who was obedient to thee vnto death even the death of the crosse When hee was but a chylde of twelue yeares olde hee performed holie obedience vnto thee and began to execute thy will with great alacritie This obedience I offer vnto thee just Iudge for a pryce and satisfaction for the manifolde disobedience of my youth Amen PRAYER III. Hee reckeneth vp our
daylie falls and slips HOlie God and just Iudge There is no man innocent in thy sight no man free from the spote of sinne And I am bereaved of that glorie which I should bring with mee to judgement I am stripped of that garment of innocencie with which I ought to appeare arrayed before thee Seaven tymes yea and oftener everie houre I fall seaventie tymes seaven tymes I sinne everie day The spirit indeede is sometymes readie but the flesh is alwayes weake The inward man flowrisheth and is strong but the outward man languisheth and is weake For I doe not the good that I would but the evill that I would not How often doe vaine wicked and impious cogitations aryse in my heart How often doe vaine vnprofitable and hurtfull wordes breake foorth How often doe perverse wicked and vngodlie actions pollute mee All my righteousnesse is as the cloath of a menstruous woman Therefore I dare not pleade for my righteousnesse before thee But I humblie prostrate my selfe before thy most just tripunall and out of the deeps doe I cry vnto thee Lord if thou shalt decree to impute sinne who shall abyde it If thou wilt enter into judgement who shall stand If thou wilt call me to appeare according to the severity of thy justice how shall I come before thee If thou wilt exact a strict account of my lyfe I shall not bee able to answere thee one for a thousand Therefore my mouth is stopt and I acknowledge before thee that I haue deserved eternall torments and withall I confesse with teares that thou mayest justlie cast mee into prison for ever Therefore for these daylie sinnes of my lyfe I offer vnto thee holie Father the most precious blood of thy Sonne which was poured foorth on the altar of the crosse which washeth me from all my sinnes My sinnes which leade mee captiue are manie in number and most powerfull But the ransome of thy Sonne is much more precious and of more efficacie Let that most perfect plenarie and holie pryce payed by Christ obtayne for mee remission of sinnes Amen PRAYER IV. Hee examineth our lyfe according to the rule of the first table of the Commandements HOlie God and just Iudge Thou gavest vnto vs thy Law in mount Sinay and thou wouldst haue it to be the rule of all our actions words and thoughts That whatsoever is not squared by it should in thy judgement bee accounted sinne As often as I looke vpon that most cleare glasse I perceaue mine owne filthinesse and tremble everie part of mee I ought to loue thee O my God aboue all thinges But how often doe I loue the world and forget the loue of thee I am bound to feare thee O my God aboue all things But how often doe I consent to sinne and let thy feare slip out of my memorie Thou requirest that I should trust in thee O my God aboue all things But how often in adversitie doeth my soule waver and anxiouslie and carefullie doubt of thy fatherlie goodnesse I am bound to obey thee O my God with all my heart But how often doeth my refractarie flesh resist the resolution of obedience and leade mee captiue into the prison of sinne My cogitations ought to bee holie my desires pure and holie But how often is the quyet state of my mynde troubled with vaine and impious cogitations I ought to call vpon thee O God with all my heart But how often doth my minde wander in prayer and doeth anxioustie doubt whether her prayers be heard or no! How often am I remisse in prayer aud demisse in conceaving confidence How often doeth my tongue pray and yet I doe not worship thee in spirit and in trueth How profound oblivion of thy benefits doeth seize vpon mee Thou doest dayly poure thy benefits vpon me in a loving manner and yet I doe not daylie returne vnto thee thanksgiving How cold is my meditation of thy immense and infinite gifts bestowed vpon mee What slender devotion is there for the most part in my heart I vse thy gifts and yet I doe not prayse thee who art the giver I sticke in the rivers come not to the fountaine Thy word is the word of spirit lyfe But I through sinne and corruption haue destroyed the worke of thy holie Spirit within mee The sparks of a good resolution often inkindled I as often extinguish and yet I doe not sue to thee for increase of thy gifts For these and all other my sinnes and defaults I offer vnto thee O my God the most pure and perfect obedience of thy Sonne who loved thee in the dayes of his incarnation most perfectlie with his whole heart cleaved vnto thee most firmlie with all his soule in whose deeds words and thoughts there was found no blot of sinne nor spot of the least offence That which I want by faith I draw from his fulnesse Therefore for this thy wel-beloved Sonnes sake haue mercie LORD vpon thy servant Amen PRAYER V. Hee considereth our lyfe according to the rule of the second table of the commandements HOlie God and just Iudge It is thy eternall and immutable will that I should honour with due respect my Parents and the Magistrates But how often doe I thinke too meanlie of their authoritie How often doe I in heart refuse to obey them How often doe I traduce their infirmities O how often doe I omit by serious prayers to further their safetie I often cherish anger conceaved agaynst them whereas I ought with patience to submit my selfe vnto them Thy sacred will requireth that I should doe good to my neyghbour in all things to my power But how often doeth it irke mee to doe him good How doeth it goe against my stomacke to forgiue him How often am I solicited by my flesh to anger hatred envy and brawling how often doth the fire of my angrie heart burne within mee although contentious wordes bee not heard without Thy holie will requireth that I should liue chastlie modestlie and temperately But how often hath the loue of drunkennesse lust made my soule captiue to sinne How often doe fires of lust flame within mee although my outward members be restrained Hee that looketh vpon a woman to lust after her hath alreadie committed adulterie with her in his heart sayeth the Text How often therefore in the sight of GOD doe wee commit adulterie The inordinate and immoderate vse of meat drinke and wedlocke often stealeth vpon vs and maketh vs appeare guiltie before thee if thou wouldest enter into judgement with vs. Thy holie writ requireth that in bargaining I deceaue not my neighbour in anie sort but that I rather further and procure his good that I traduce not his faults but rather cover thē with the cloake of charitie and that I doe not censure him rashlie vnadvisedlie But how often doe I seeke mine own profite by injustice How often doe I spend my judgemēt
rashlie vpon my neighbour Thy holie will requireth that my spirit minde soule be free from coÌ„cupiscence But how often doth my flesh solicite mee to sinne and contaminateth my spirit with wicked concupiscences As a fountayne doeth abound with continuall bubbling of water So doeth my heart alwayes swell with evill concupiscence For these and all other my sinnes and defects I offer vnto thee most holie Father the most perfect obedience of thy Sonne who loved all men with perfect loue and in whose mouth was found no guyle in whose words and deeds no aberrations no corruption in nature To this propitiation I flee with true fayth and by fayth I sucke out of his wounds as much as is sufficient to justifie mee and saue mee Haue mercie on mee my GOD and my Father Amen PRAYER VI. Hee showeth that wee often partake in other mens sinnes HOlie God and just Iudge Thou hast committed vnto mee not only the care of mine own soule but also the care of my neighbours But how often doeth my neyghbour through my negligence suffer great losse of godlinesse How often doe I neglect freelie and boldlie to chyde him when hee sinneth How often doe I being hindred eyther by favour or feare reproue him for his sinnes more slightlie than I ought In pouring out prayers for his salvation I am too remisse in reprehending his sinnes I am too-too timerous in furthering his salvation I am too sloathfull insomuch that thou mayest justly require at my hands the blood of my neyghbour that perisheth If there were in mee a perfect and sincere loue of my neyghbour surelie from thence would proceed freedome in reproving of sinne If the fire of sincere charitie did burne in my heart surelie it would breake foorth more clearlie into the spirituall incense of prayers to be made for the salvation of my neyghbours For a man to pray for himselfe it is a duetie of necessitie But to pray for the salvation of his neyghbour it is a deede of charitie As often therefore as I neglect to pray for the salvation of my neyghbour so often I condemne my selfe for the breach of the commandement of the loue of my neighbour My neighbour dieth the death of the bodie and sorrow filleth all with lamentation and mourning when as yet the death of the bodie bringeth no hurt to a godlie man but rather giveth him a passage into a celestiall countrey My neighbour dieth the death of the soule and behold I am nothing troubled at it I see him die and grieue not at all when as yet sinne is the true death of the soule and bringeth with it the losse of the inestimable grace of God eternall lyfe My neighbour delinquisheth against the king who can onlie kill the bodie and beholde I seeke by all meanes his reconciliation but hoe sinneth against the King of all kings that can cast both bodie and soule into hell-fire and yet I beholde it in securitie and consider not that this offence is an infinite evill My neighbour stumbleth at a stone and I runne presentlie to saue him from a fall or otherwise to raise him vp if hee bee fallen Hee stumbleth at the corner stone of our salvation and beholde I securelie passe by it and labour not with care and diligence to lift him vp againe Mine owne sinnes are grievous anough And yet I haue not beene afrayde to participate in other mens sinnes Bee propitious O God vnto me great sinner and overburdened To thy mercie I flee in Christ and through Christ promised vnto mee I come vnto this lyfe beeing dead in sinne I come vnto this Way having gone astray in the path of sinne I come vnto this Salvation being by reason of my sinne guiltie of damnation Quicken mee guide mee and saue mee thou which art my Life my Way and my Salvation for ever and ever Amen PRAYER VII Hee showeth that wee are manie wayes convinced of sinne HOlie God and just Iudge If I looke vp to heaven I thinke with my selfe that I haue manie wayes offended thee my GOD and Father I haue sinned against heaven and before thee I am not worthie to bee called thy sonne If I looke down vpon the earth I thinke with my selfe how I haue abused thy creatures by my sinnes I haue infinitelie abused not onlie the darknesse of the night but also the light of the day to worke workes of darknesse If I looke vpon the examples of sinners vpon whom thou in thy just judgement hast inflicted punishment I finde that the weyght of my sinnes will counterpoise theirs If I looke vpon the examples of the Sayncts I finde that I come farre short of them in my holie service of thee If I thinke vpon the Angell my keeper I finde that often I put him to flight by my sinnes If I thinke of the devills I finde that I haue often given place to their suggestions If I weygh with my selfe the rigour of thy lawe I finde that my lyfe is manie wayes irregular If I looke vpon my selfe I finde that the verie cogitatioÌ„s of my heart doe accuse mee before thy judgement If I thinke vpon the houre of death to come I finde that it is the just reward of my sinnes and vnlesse thou of thy meere mercie for Christ his sake shalt receaue mee the gate and entrance into everlasting death If I thinke vpon the judgement to come I finde my deserts such that thou mayest justlie call mee to the most exact account and punish my sinnes according to the strict severitie of thy law If I thinke vpon hell I finde that I haue deserved by my sinnes the most just punishment there If I thinke vpon eternall lyfe I finde that I haue by my sinnes justlie fallen away from all hope of attaynment All thinges therefore convince mee of my sinnes Onlie thou thou O my God bee not thou extreame against mee To Christ thy beloved Sonne my onlie mediatour I betake my selfe By him I most firmlie belieue I shall obtayne thy grace remission of my sinnes Thy creatures accuse me the booke of my conscience accuseth mee both the tables of thy divyne law accuse me Satan accuseth mee day and night But take thou vpon thee my patronage O sweet Iesus To thee the poore man is left bereft of all solace of the creatures All my refuge is placed in thy satisfaction for my sinnes and in thy inteâ—cession at the right hand of the Father for mee My soule take thou the wings of the morning and lyke a doue hide thy selfe in the clests of the rocke that is in the wounds of Christ thy Saviour Hyde thy selfe in this rocke till the anger of the LORD bee passed by and thou shalt finde rest and thou shalt finde protection and thou shalt finde deliverance therein AMEN PRAYER VIII Hee by the effects of contrition argueth vs to bee convicted of the haynousnesse of sinne HOlie God and just Iudge My heart is
for righteousnesse sake that they may get the conquest over all their enemies and purchase the everlasting crowne of martyrdome Bee present with all those that bee in danger and calamitie and grant that they may possesse their soules in true patience and denying their owne wills take vp their crosse Let them follow him vnder the crosse on whom they belieue that hee died for vs vpon the crosse And especiallie I commend vnto thee most gracious Father those which are about the gates of death and are betweene time and eternitie wrestle with all their strength with that last enemie Confirme them O thou most potent Conquerour of death Deliver them O most glorious Captaine and Author of lyfe that they bee not overwhelmed in the waues of tentations but by thy conduct they may be brought vnto the haven of everlasting rest Haue mercie vpon all men thou which are the Creatour of all Haue mercie vpon all men thou which art the Redeemer of all To thee bee prayse and glorie for ever and ever Amen FINIS The summe of GERARD'S prayers reduced into a forme of morning prayer for the vse of an English familie The foure capitall words signifie the foure parts of Gerards prayers and the Arithmeticall figures poynt at every prayer of those parts HOlie GOD and just Iudge Thy eyes are more pure than the sunne and cannot beholde anie thing that is vncleane The Cherubims and Seraphims cover their faces before thy glorious majestie The heavens of heavens are not cleane in thy sight How then shall earth sinfull earth dust and ashes appeare before thee Wee prefume not O LORD to come before thy tribunall to plead for our righteousnesse for all our righteousnesse is as filthie rags But wee prostrate our selues with all humilitie of bodie and soule at thy mercie-seate to make CONFESSION of our sinnes Heare Lord and haue mercie Wee confesse that 1 Wee sinned in the loynes of our first parenteâ— wee were conceâ—ved in sinne wee were shapeâ— in iniquitie 2 In our chyldhood originall sinne brought foorth actuall and actuall sinnes haue increased in vs ever since as our dayes haue increased Who can reckon vp the sinnes of his youth Who can tell how oft hee offendeth The just man sinneth seaven tymes a day But 3 Wee haue sinned seaventie tymes seaven tymes everie day 4 5 All thy holie lawes and coÌ„mandements wee haue broken in thought word and deed 6 We haue beene partakers of other mens sinnes 7 Wee are manie wayâ—s convinced of our sinnes We are convinced 8 By the contrition of heart and the testimonie of 〈◊〉 conscience 9 By the greatnesse of thy mercie and thy benefits bâ—stowed vpon vs 10 By the severitie of thy justice declared in the death and passion of thy Sonne our Saviour Iesus Christ. Thou art an holle God and hearest not sinners Thou art a just Iudge and thy justice must bee satisfied Wee are sinners and the wages of sinne is death Thy justice must bee satisfied or else wee cannot escape death Wee haue nothing of our owne to giue for the ransome of our soules Therefore wee offer vnto thee holie Father that which is not ours but thy Sonnes 1 For our originall sinne wee offer vnto thee just Iudge his originall righteousnesse who is righteousnesse it selfe for our conception in sinne we offer vnto thee his most sacred conception who was conceaved by the holie Ghost for our birth in sinne we offer vnto thee his most pure nativitie who was borne of a pure virgin 2 For the offences of our youth wee offer vnto thee his most perfect innocencie in whose mouth was found no guile 3 For our daylie slips and falls wee offer vnto thee his most perfect obedience who made it his meat and drinke to doe thy will in all things 4.5 For our often breach of thy commandements wee offer vnto thee his most perfect righteousnesse who fulfilled all thy commandements 6 For our communicating in other mens sinnes wee offer vnto thee his most perfect righteousnesse communicated vnto vs. 7. 8 9 10 For our most wicked and vngodlie lyfe wee offer vnto thee his most cruell and bitter death For â—s was hee conceaved for vs was hee borne for vs was hee crucified His blood still cryeth vnto thee in our behalfe Father forgiue them Accept wee beseech then the inestimable pryce of thy Sonnes blood for a full and plenarie satisfaction for all our sinnes yea O Lord wee know that thou hast accepted it alreadie Therefore with confidence wee put vp our PETITIONS vnto thee As thou hast redeemed vs by thy Sonne so also wee beseech thee to sanctifie vs by thy holie Spirit 1 Mortifie in vs everie day more and more all sinfull lusts and affections and quicken in vs all saving graces and vertues 2 Increase our sayth â— Confirme our hope 4 Inflame our charitie Teach vs to imitate the lyfe of Christ the true patterne of perfect obedience and onlie true rule of a godlie lyfe Teach vs 5 Humilitie 6 Patâ—ence 7 Meeknesse Genâ—lenesse 8 Chastitie Temperance Teaâ—h vs 9 To conteâ—â—e all earthlie thinges 10 To denye our selues 11 To overcome the world 12 Grant vs consolation in adversitie and true tranquillitie of the mynde Grant vs 13 Victorie in tentations and deliverance from the devills treacheries Grant vs in thyne appoynted tyme 14 A blessed departure out of this lyfe and a blessed resurrection vnto lyfe everlasting Wee pray not for our selues alone but in obedience to thy commandement wee make our SUPPLICATIONS vnto thee for all men â— Saue and desende the vniversall Church enlarge thou her borders and propagate thy Gospell 3 Blesse all Christian kings and governours especiallie thy servang CHARLES our most gracious Kin and governour Blesse togethe with him our gracious Queene MARIE Blesse vnto them and vs and our posteritie after vs our hopefull Prince Charles season him betymes with true religion that hee may bee an instrument of thy glorie the joye of his parents and the blesing of thy people Remember David and all his troubles the Ladie Elizabeth our Kings onelie sister and her princelie issue Suffer them not still to mourne in a strange land but restore them if it bee thy will to their former inheritance Blesse all our kings loyall subjects from the highest vnto the lowest Giue vnto the Senatours counsell and wisedome 3 To the magistrates justice and fortitude to those that are vnder them Christian subjection and obedience 2 To the ministers of thy word holinesse of lyfe and soundnesse of doctrine to the hearers of thy word diligent attention to the word preached and a care and conscience to liue hereafter Blesse 4 Everie familie in this kingdome this especiallie and all that belong vnto it Blesse our 5 parents brethren sisters kinsfolke benefactours and friends 6 Forgiue our enemies 7 Show pitie and compassion to all those that are afflicted and in miserie Relieue them according to their severall wants and necessities Bee thou a Father to the fatherlesse
thou drye and vnhappie wood that hast alwayes served as a slaue the everlasting fire of hell What must thou feare when thou seest these things come to passe in the greene wood Christ is the greene tree In the roote of his divinitie in the loue of his humanitie in the boughes of his vertues in the leaueâ— of his holie wordes and in the fruit of his good works Hee is the cedar of chastitie the vine of joyfulnesse the palme of patience and the oliue of mercie But if the fire of the divyne anger inflameth this greene tree of lyfe How much more shall it consume the sinner lyke drye wood for his vnfruitfull workes In what capitall and bloodie letters are my sins ingraven in the bodie of Christ How conspicuous O thou most just GOD is thyne anger agaynst myne iniquities How straite must that captivitie needes bee in which my soule was held when so precious a ransome was payd for her delyverie How great must the staynes of my sinnes needs bee when rivers of blood flow downe from the bodie of Christ to wash them away O thou most just God and yet most mercifull Father consider what indignities thy Sonne hath suffered for me and forget the wicked works of me thy vnworthie servant Behold the proâ—unditie of his wounds and overwhelme my sinnes in the profound sea of thy mercie Amen THE SECOND PART Of thanksgiving for Benefits THE ARGUMENT The Meditation of Gods benefits doeth gather out of the garden of nature and of the Church sundrie those most fragrant 〈◊〉 of divine gifts and recreating it selfe with the odour thereof offereth againe to God the sâ—crifices of the lips for a savour of sweet smell Now the immense and innumerable benefits of God may be divided according to three articles of our Christian faith God hath created rédeemed and sanctified vs. Hee heapeth his benefits on vs in this life and hath promised greater vnto vs in the life that is everlasting Hee conferreth vpon vs the gift of the minde of the bodie and of fortune which wee caâ—â— externall goods He preserveth vs from evil and conserveth vs in good That which is pâ—â—t he covereth that which is to come hee governeth His privatiue blessings are more than his positiue In brieâ—e woe can neyther in word expresse nor in thoughâ— conceaue the number and dignitie of Gods benefits which will afford vnto vs hereafter in the world to come most plentifull matter of eternall praise and thanksgiving PRAYER I. Hee giveth thanks for our forming in the wombe and for our nativitie ALmightie eternal GOD Father Sonne and holie Ghost I giue thankes to thee I prayse thee I glorifie thee because thy hands haue fashioned mee and made mee whollie round about Thou formedst mee lyke clay in my mothers wombe Thou didst draw me lyke milke Thou didst curdlâ— mee lyke cheese With flesh and skinne hast thou covered mee and compacted mee together with bones and sinews Thou hast given mee lyfe and mercie and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit This thy great mercie bestowed vpon mee I will celebrate with perpetuall prayses Thy goodnesse I will sing of in continuall songs Thou didst protect mee in my mothers wombe I will confesse vnto thee For I am wonderfullie formed Marvelous are thy workes and that my soule knoweth right well My bones are not had from thee which thâ—n didst make in secret and deckedst me with divers members in the lower parts of the earth Thy eyes saw mee yet beeing imperfect and in thy booke were all my members written which day by day were fashioned when as yet there were none of them How precious vnto meâ— are thy thoughts O GOD How great iâ— the summe of them If I goe about to reckon them I finde them multiplied aboue the sands of the sea Thou didst show thy mercie vnto mee before I vnderstood it Thou didst prevent me with thy blessings before I did desire them Thy bountie did embrace mee on everie side before I could giue thankes for it Thou art hee who not onlie didst forme mee wonderfullie in the wombe but also didst take me out Thou art my hope even from my mothers breast Out of my mothers wombe I was cast vpon thee Thou art my GOD from my mothers wombe As often as I thinke vpon manie that haue beene extinct and never came to the light of this lyfe so often I admire and prayse thee for thy mercie which brought mee out of that prison into the theatre of this world safe and sound How manie yeares are past in which I was not and yet thou didst erect for mee this house of my bodie and didst bring mee out of that bottomlesse pit and the darknesse of my mothers wombe Thou gavest vnto mee a reasonable soule Thou madest mee a man not a stone or a serpent To thee O my God for this thy mercie bee honour and glorie for ever AMEN PRAYER II. Hee rendereth thankes for our sustentation I Render thanks vnto thee Almightie and mercifull God for that thou hast sustained me from the very first dayes of my life Naked I came into this world and thou coveredst mee most graciouslie Hungrie I entred into this world and thou hast hitherto fed me most bountifully In thee I liue moue haue my being Without thee I fall agayne into nothing and die Through thee I â—owe and moue my members Without thee I can neyther be partaker of life or motion Thyne is the sunne that giveth me light which I see daylie with mine eyes Thyne is the aire which I draw in with continuall breath The night is thine and the day is thine whose entercourses serue for my labour and rest Thyne is the earth whose fruits do nowrish mee most plentifullie Everie creature in heaven ayre earth and sea is thine and is appoynted for my vse and service Silver is thyne and gold is thyne Whatsoever is necessarie for the sustentation of this my present lyfe all that I receaue from thy most liberall and bountifull hands O GOD how liberall art thou to man-kinde All thinges thou createdst long agoe for the vse of man All thinges thou doest as yet preserue for the good of man Whatsoever thou of thyne infinite goodnesse affordest to the other creatures thou affordest also vnto me for as much as thou doest wonderfullie forme furnish and conserue them for my sake Some of the creatures serue to obey mee some to nowrish me some to cloathe me some to cure mee some to chastice mee But all of them to teach and informe mee Who can reckon vp those divers kindes of nutriments which thou hast created and doest as yet produce out of the earth vnto this day to nowrish vs Who can enumerate those divers species of herbs which thou doest everie yeare cause the earth to bring foorth to cure vs Who can in wordes comprehende those sundrie kindes of living creatures which were made for mans vse and
doe yet all serue him To thee bee praise and honour for ever who art the Creatour and Conserver of all thinges Without thee the true sunne I should vanish away as doeth the shadow Without thee the true life I should presentlie depart out of this lyfe Without thee the true beeing I should suddenlie fall to nothing To thee onlie is due that I liue moue and haue my beeing Therefore to thee alone will I liue and adhere for ever Amen PRAYER III. Hee rendereth thankes for our redemption wrought by Christ. I Owe vnto thee O eternall and Almightie GOD most heartie thankes for that thou hast created mee when I was nothing But much more for that thou hast redeemed mee when I was lost and condemned I did hang in the jawes of hell And thou didst plucke mee out by the blood of thy Sonne I was the slaue of Satan but thy grace hath delivered mee out of the power of the devill and translated mee into the kingdome of Christ I owe my selfe whollie vnto thee because thou createdst mee whollie My tongue ought alwayes to prayse thee because thou gavest it vnto mee My mouth ought alwayes to set foorth thy prayse because the aire and breath which it draweth is thyne My heart ought alwayes to cleaue vnto thee with perpetuall loue because thou didst forme it All my members ought to bee readie for thy service because thou didst wonderfully frame them how many and how great soever they be But if I owe my selfe whollie vnto thee because thou createdst mee What shal I repay vnto thee for redeeming mee out of slaverie and captivitie The lost sheepe thou hast delivered out of the clawes of the infernall wolfe The fugitiue slaue thou hast pluckt out of the prison of the devil The lost grâ—at thou hast sought out with great carefulnesse In Adam I fell and thou hast erected mee In Adam I was captivated in the bonds of sinne but thou hast set mee at libertie In Adam I was lost and againe thou hast saved mee What am I worme that thou shouldest be so solicitous for redeeming mee What am I worme that thou shouldest bee so prodigallie bountifull for saving mee If thou hadst altogether cast off our first parents after their fall and hadst throwne them with all their posteritie out from the presence of thy glorie into the lowest pit of hell there is none of vs could justlie complaine of anie wrong done vnto him For they had receaved and wee had receaved for our deedes a just reward What else could wee haue desired or expected from thee who createdst vs after thine owne image furnishedst vs with power and sufficiencie to haue kept our innocencie But in this thou didst manifest thy incomprehensible and vnspeakeable loue towards vs in that thou didst promise vnto our first parents after their fall thy Sonne for their Redeemer and in the fulnesse of tyme didst sende him vnto vs to call vs from death to lyfe from sinne to righteousnesse and from the infernall pit vnto celestiall glorie O thou lover of man whose delight is with the sonnes of men who can worthilie set foorth the prayse of thy loue to man Yea who can in mynde conceaue the worthinesse thereof These are the incomprehensible riches of thy goodnesse This is the infinite treasure of thy gifts which the slendernesse of our capacitie and vnderstanding cannot conceaue Was a servant so deare vnto thee that thy Sonne must bee delivered to death for his redemption Was an enemie so much to bee beloved that thou shouldest appoynt thy most beloved Sonne to be his redeemer My soule is astonisht with the verie consideration of this thy goodnesse and doth whollie turne and dissolue it selfe into the loue of thee AMEN PRAYER IV. Hee rendereth thankes for the incâ—rnâ—tion of the Sonne I Render thanks vnto thee Iesâ— Christ thou alone Mediatour and Redeemer of mankinde for that thou hast in the fulnesse of tyme personallie vnited vnto thee the true humane nature and hast vouchsafed to bee borne of a Virgin How great is thy loue to man in that thou dâ—â—â—â— not assume the nature of Angels but the seedâ— of Abraham How great is the misterie of godlinesse that thou beeing verie GOD wouldest bee made manifest in the flesh How great is the inclination of thy pitie that descending from heaveâ— for my sake thou hast endured to bee borne of a Virgin For mee most vile creature Creator Almightie thou art become man For mee most abject servant most glorious Lord thou hast put on the shape of a servant that by taking flesh vpon thee thou mightest set my flesh at libertie To mee thou art borne Whatsoever celestiall good therefore thou bringest with thee in thy Nativitie shall bee mine To meâ— thou art given And therefore all thinges with thee My nature in thee is more glorified than it was in Adam dishonoured For thou doest assume it into the Vnitie of thy Person whereas it was weakened with accidentall corruption onelie by Satan Thou art flesh of my flesh and bâ—â—â— of my bone Thou art my brother And what canst thou denye vnto mee seeing thou art most nearlie joyned vnto mee in the same flesh affection of brotherlie loue Thou art the brydegroome who according to the good pleasure of thy heavenlie Father hast coupled vnto thee by a personall league the humane nature as a spouse To the joy of those nâ—â—tials I doe proclaime thankfullie acknowledge that I my selfe am invited I wonder now no more that the heaven the earth the sea and all thinges that are in them were made for man by God seeing that God himselfe would for man become man Thou canst not vtterlie divorce mee and cast mee away from thee seeing that thou canst not deny that thou art a man and therefore my brother Thou canst not altogether forget mee because thou hast graveâ— mee in thyâ—e â—wâ— hands For the verie communion of the flesh doeth daylie and continuallie put thee in mynde of mee Thou canst not altogether forsake mee seeing that it hath pleased thee to conâ—oyne vnto thee tire humane nature in a most neare bond of personall vnion Although therefore my sinnes doe hinder mee yet the communion of nature doeth not repell mee I will adhere whollie vnto thee because thou hast whollie assumed mee whollie Amen PRAYER V. Hee rendereth thankes for Christs passion HOw great thankes doe I owe vnto thee O most holie Iesu for that thou hast taken vpon thee the punishment of my sinnes and hast endured hunger thirst cold wearinesse reproaches persecutioÌ„s sorrowes povertie bonds whips pricking of thorns yea and that most bitter death of the crosse for mee sinner How great is the flame of thy loue which forced thee of thyne owne accord to throwe thy selfe into that sea of passions and that for mee most vile and vnthankfull servant Thy innocencie and righteousnesse made thee free from all sufferings But thy infinite and vnspeakable loue made
conversion and thou didst differre my punishment I went astray and thou didst call mee I refused to come and still thou didst expect mee This thy goodnesse most indulgent Father I cannot extoll with sufficient prayses This thy long patience most mercifull GOD I cannot recompense with anie merits Thou didst preserue mee from manie sins whereinto the corruption of the flesh the deceat of the world and the perswasion of the devill would haue throwne mee headlong as well as others Neyther hast thou onelie kept mee from falling into sinne but also hast most graciouslie expected my conversion from sinne into which I had fallen I finde thee more mercifull than I am sinfull I sinned and thou madest as if thou didst not see it I contayned not my selfe from wickednesse and yet thou didst abstaine from punishment I did long tyme prolong my iniquitie and thou didst prolong thy pitie What were then my deserts Surelie evill and the worst of evills to wit my sinnes manie in number most grievous for weyght and detestable for varietie Therefore to thy grace and bountie alone doe I attribute it that thou hast so long expected my conversion and delivered my soule out of the sâ—ares of sinne To thee O Lord bee praise honour and glorie for ever and ever Amen PRAYER VIII Hee rendereth thankes for our conversion I Render thankes vnto thee my God for that thou hast converted my heart that was hard and knew not how to repent and for that thou hast taken from me my stonie heart and given mee an heart of flesh I had of my selfe power to sinne But I had not of my selfe power to ryse againe to repentance I could goe astray of my selfe But I could not returne againe into the way without thee For even as hee that is borne crooked from his mothers wombe cannot bee made straight by naturall meanes but onlie by divyne and supernaturall power So my soule being by nature crooked and prone to sinne and the loue of earthlie things could by no humane power but thy grace onlie bee rectified and lifted vp to the loue of thee heavenly things I could deforme my selfe by my sinnes most foullie But thou onlie couldst reforme mee As the Ethiopian cannot change his Skinne nor the Leopard his Spots So neyther can I doe that which is good beeing by nature addicted vnto the loue of that which is evill Thou my God didst convert mee and I was converted and when I was converted then I repented and when I was instructed then I smote my thigh I was dead in sinne And thou didst quicken mee As much power as a dead man hath to raise himselfe So much had I to convert my selfe Vnlesse thou hadst drawne mee I had never come vnto thee vnlesse thou hadst stirred mee vp I had never watched vnto thee vnlesse thou hadst illuminated mee I had never seene thee My sinnes were more sweete vnto mee than honey and the honey combe But I am to thanke thee that now they are sharpe and bitter vnto mee for thou hast given mee a spirituall taste The workes of vertue were more bitter vnto mee than gall and aloes But I am to thanke thee that now they are become pleasant and sweet for thou hast by thy Spirit changed the corrupt judgement of my flesh I went astray as a sheepe that is lost and declined to the way of iniquitie But thou which art the good sheepherd hast found me out and brought mee agayne vnto the flocke of thy Sayncts It was late ere I knew thee for there was a great darksome clowde of vanitie before mine eyes which would not suffer mee to see the light of the trueth It was late ere I saw the true light because I was blinde and loved blindnesse and walked through the darknesse of sinne into the darknesse of hell But thou hast illuminated mee thou soughtest me when I sought not thee thou calledst me when I called not vpon thee thou convertedst mee when I was not converted vnto thee and thou saydst with a most powerfull voyce Let there bee light in the inward parts of his heart and there was a light and I saw thy light and I knew mine owne blindnesse For this thy immense and infinite benefite I will prayse thy Name for ever and ever AMEN PRAYER IX Hee rendereth thankes for the forgivenesse of sinnes I Owe and render vnto thee eternall and mercifull GOD great thankes for that thou hast not rejected mee when I came vnto thee but diddest most readilie receaue mee and most mercifullie forgiue mee all my sinnes I was that prodigall sonne most indulgent Father I was that prodigall sonne that by living riâ—tâ—uslâ—e wasted his fathers substance For I haue defiled the gifts of nature I haue refused the gifts of grace I haue deprived my selfe of the gifts of glorie I was naked and destitute of all good thinges and thou coveredst and enrichedst mee with the robe of righteousnesse I was lost and condemned and thou of thy free grace hast bestowed vpon mee eternall salvation Thou of thyne ardent mercie didst embrace mee and kisse mee in sending thy most beloved Sonne that is in thy bosome and thy holie Spirit which is the kisse of thy mouth as ample witnesses of thyne infinite loue Thou cloathedst mee with my first robe in restoring me my former innocencie Thou gavest mee a ring for my hand by sealing mee with thy Spirit of grace Thou didst put shoes vpon my feete by arming mee with the Gospell of peace Thou killedst the fat calfe for mee by delyvering thy most deare Sonne to death for mee Thou didst cause mee to feast and make merrie by restoring the joye of heart and the true peace of conscience vnto mee I was dead and through thee I was restored to lyfe I went astray and through thee I came agayne into the way I was consumed with povertie and through thee I entred agayne into my former possession Thou mightest in thy just judgement haue rejected mee seeing that I was polluted with so manie sinnes covered with so manie offences and corrupted with so manie iniquities But thy mercie did abound aboue my sins thy goodnesse was greater thaÌ„ mine iniquitie How often haue I shut the gate of my heart when thou diddest knocke Therefore when I knocked thou mightest most justlie haue shut the doore of mercie agaynst mee How often haue I stopt mine eares that I might not heare thy voyce Therefore when I sighed vnto thee thou mightest most justlie haue stopped thyne eares and not hearkened vnto my voyce But thy grace was more aboundant than all my sinne and transgression Thou didst receaue mee with thy handes spread foorth and put away my iniquities as it were a clowde and cast all 〈◊〉 sinnes behind thy backe Thou remembrest my sinnes no more but receavest me into the most ample bosome of thy mercie For this thy inestimable benefite I will giue thankes vnto thee for
ever Amen PRAYER X. Hee rendereth thankes vnto God for conserving vs in that which is good TO thee LORD bee honour and glorie and blessing and thanksgiving for that thou hast not onlie in mercie receaved mee vpon my repentance but also hast enabled mee to abstaine from sinne and liue more reformedlie What should it profit a man to bee free from his sicknesse and presentlie to fall into a worse relapse What should it profite to bee absolved from sins past vnlesse grace bee conferred to leade a godlie lyfe Thou God most faithfull hast showed all the parts and offices of a faythfull and skilfull Physician in the cure of my souls wounds My wounds were deadlie and thou didst cure them by the wounds of thy Sonne But there was cause to feare that the wounds that were healed might waxe rawe agayne And thou by the grace of thy holie Spirit as it were a fomentation hast hindred it How manie bee those that after remission of sinnes obtayned returne agayne to their former course of lyfe and reiterating their sinnes more grievouslie offende GOD Alace how manie doe we see that beeing freed from the yoke of sinne returne to their former captivitie and beeing brought out of the spirituall Aegypt looke backe agayne to the pots They haue fled from the pollutions of the world by the knowledge of CHRIST and doe wallow agayne in the same by repeating the former conversation of their most wicked lyfe They were freed out of the bonds of Satan by their conversion and agayne are held entangled in the same by the delusion of wicked spirits Surelie their latter ende is worse than the beginning And it had beene better for them never to haue knowne the way of righteousnesse than having knowne it to turne away from the path of the holie commandements which were delivered vnto them These are the dogs that returne againe to their vomite and sowes that after their washing wallow agayne in the myre Whatsoever hath happened vnto them might haue happened vnto me but that it hath pleased thee by the grace of thy power the efficacie of thy holie Spirit to enable me to continue in that which is good The same wicked spirit that vanquished them assaulted mee The same world that seduced them enticed mee The same flesh that overcame them allured mee Onlie thy grace protected mee against their assaults and furnished me with power sufficient for victorie Thy strength was powerfull in my weaknesse From thee the strength of the Spirit descended with which I was enabled to bridle the assaults of the flesh Whatsoever good there is in mee it descendeth all from thee who art the fountaine of all good For in me by nature there is nothing but sin Therefore as manie good workes as I finde in mee which notwithstanding are impure and imperfect by reason of my flesh so manie gifts they are of thy grace I must needs confesse For this thine inestimable gift conferred vpon mee I will giue thee thankes for ever Amen PRAYER XI Hee rendereth thankes for all the gifts of the soule and bodie and for externall goods I Render vnto thee eternall and mercifull God as it is most due eternall thankes for that thou hast not onelie made mee a bodie and a soule but moreover hast furnished mee with sundrie gifts of the soule and bodie and also with externall goods Thou which art wisedome it selfe teachest men all knowledge If therefore I know anie good it is a demonstration of thyne aboundant grace towards mee Without thy light my minde is darksome Without thy grace my will is captiue If there bee in mee eyther anie wit or prudence it is all to bee attributed to thy clemencie Wisedome is the eye of the soule and divyne grace is the eye of wisedome Whatsoever wee know we know eyther by the light of nature or by the revelation of thy word But from thee O thou light of eternall wisedome doeth the illumination of nature spring From thee also doeth the revelatiō of the word come Therfore whatsoever wee know descendeth vnto vs as thy gift Thou O indeficient fountayne of lyfe art my lyfe and the length of my dayes Thou O eternall health it selfe art the strength of my body and the vigour of my vertue Man liveth not by bread onelie but by everie word that proceedeth out of thy mouth So then man is not preserved in health and strength by bread onlie neither is he preserved from diseases by Physicke onlie but by everie word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Tranquillitie of the mynde preserveth the health of the bodie And true godlinesse begetteth tranquillitie of the conscience From thee O thou chiefe good all true godlinesse all tranquillitie of the mynde without disturbance and all wished-for health of bodie doeth come Moreover whatsoever externall good I doe possesse all that I owe vnto thy liberalitie and bountie A crust of bread is not due vnto my deserts How much lesse then are all these externall goods which thou doest heap vpon mee They are called indeede the gifts of fortune But they are in deede and in trueth the gifts of thy grace There is nothing more blessed than to doe good and to bee liberall to others And thou hast made mee partaker of this blessednesse by bestowing liberallie these outward goods vpon mee Thou hast sowed in mee the seede of thy grace that from thence there may aryse to others an harvest of liberalitie and beneficencie Thou hast committed manie thinges vnto mee as vnto a steward that I might haue wherewithall to doe good to my fellow-servants From thee the fountaine of all good there descendeth vpon mee streames of goods Whatsoever I am whatsoever I possesse whatsoever I bestow dependeth all I confesse vpon thy bountie For this thine inestimable mercie I will giue thee thankes for ever Amen PRAYER XII Hee rendereth thankes for the sacrament of Baptisme TO thee O eternall and mercifull God Father Sonne and holie Ghost I render humble thanks for that thou hast washed me in the holie laver of baptisme from all my sinnes and for that thou hast receaved mee into the covenant of grace made me an heire of everlasting lyfe I acknowledge it is thy gift that I was borne of Christian parents and by them brought vnto this heavenlie fount How manie thousands of infants are borne in Gentilisme and without this sacrament doe die in their sinnes There is no difference in nature betweene mee and them Onlie thy superaboundant grace hath made a difference I was joyned with them in communion of sinne But I was separated from them by participation of thy grace How great is thy goodnesse that thou diddest finde mee when I sought thee not that thou didst heare mee before I asked that thou didst open vnto mee before I knockt This thy mercie exceedeth all prayse yea and all admiration I was baptized in thy holie Name thy Name for mee was called vpon Therefore