all inwarde heauinesse thought and care for any losse and discommodity receiued by worldly goods and alwayes to thinke that as well pouertie as riches néedinesse as aboundance sicknesse as health aduersity as prosperity come from thée and that it is knowne to thine vnserchable iudgement onely why and wherfore thou sendest eyther of these vpon vs and therefore let not my minde bée troubled with any feare of thinges to chaunce sauing onely to feare to displease thée but alwayes to be merry in thée with sobernesse and to cast all my care of worldlye affayres vppon thée For as much as thou hast commanded that we shoulde not be careful what to eat or what to drink or with what rayment we should be clothed for y u wilte not sée the righteous forsaken or their children begging their breade and that thou tournest all thinges to the best to them that serue thée and flie vnto thée for succour in the tyme of their distresse Let this O Lord be euer more fresh in my memorye grauen in my heart and redy in my mouth so that I leauing all néedlesse feare may alwayes giue thanks vnto thée and prayse thy holye name Amen The prayer vnto God the Father ALmightie God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ whome no deserte merite or worthinesse of oures but thyne own great clemencie mercy and pity caused to send downe thyne onely begotten sonne into this world to beare the burthen of our sinnes with the which we moste miserable sinners were ouerladen that he shoulde suffer moste cruell tormentes yea and also most bitter and shamefull death and sanctifie the reprochefull name of the Crosse with the renting of his blessed bodye and shedding his most precious blood thereon Thereby to make attonement betwéene thée vs thereby to pay the ransome for our soules thereby to consumate and finish the perfection of oure redemption and saluation Whiche thing it was thy good will that he should doe not only to aswage thy wrath and indignation but also to bring vs agayn into thy grace and fauour that wée being deliuered out of the bondage of sinne hell might serue thee in righteousnes and holynesse all the dayes of oure life and by thy frée gift and benefite of his deathe and passion be made partakers of his resurrection and of thyne endlesse vnspeakable glory Wherefore my God my maker my Lord my kyng séeyng thou hast so aboundauntly bestowed thy Heauenly giftes vpon me all mankind and hast so plentifully poured out thy grace and fauour on vs that for our sakes thou wouldst not spare thy owne sonne How shal we escape thine indignation whiche for this care and kindnesse of thyne are most carelesse and vnkynd and among all other which way shall I poore creature turne me how shall I who haue bene moste vnthankefull for his benefites and moste vnmindefull of them be so bolde as to lifte vp my hart or hands vnto the heauens and to call vpon thée thou of thy singuler goodnes diddest so prouide that the wickednesse of olde Adam shoulde be purged and washed away with the bloud of Iesus Christe but I haue wilfullye fallen into sinne againe Thou madest me the child of light but I haue made my selfe an inheritor of darknes thou madest mée thyne by creation I haue made my selfe the childe of perdition What shall I now therefore do shall I doubt of anie further mercie and forgiuenesse No no sweet Lord so great is thy mercye whiche surmounteth al thy works so large are thy promises so sure is the perfourmance of them to al such as take hold thereof so deare in thy sight are the merites of thy sonne Iesus so acceptable vnto thée is the harty repentance of a sinner that with the remembrannce thereof I am prouoked to crye vnto thée saying Father I haue sinned agaynst heauen and agaynst thée I am no more worthye to bée called thy childe Neuertheles behold thou me not as I am a gréeuous offendour but as thy creature haue nowe no respect to mine offences but behold my repētance think not vpon my wickednesse but vpon the wounds of my sauiour Iesus looke not vpon my false hart which hath wauered from thy lawes but behold the bléeding hart of thy sonne Iesus Chryst whiche was pierced to release me and set me frée my sinnes I cast vpon his back beséeching thée that hys merites may beare them and thy mercy pardon them Heare me O Lorde my God heare me for I knowe the more earnestlye that I séeke for desire thyne ayd the readier y u art to stretche forth thine hand to help me Heare me therfore O Lord bow downe and incline thy eare vnto my praier inspire me so with thy holy spirite that I may loue thée aboue al things and that I neuer fayle to put my hope trust of saluation in him whome thou wouldest to be my Redéemer and sauiour Make mée by the forsaking of all wickednes so to rise from falling into sinne that I may obtayne the true seruing of thée with innocency and purenesse of life Graunt this O Lorde for Iesus Christes sake to whom with thée and the holye Ghoste be all honor and glory Amen A Prayer vnto God the Sonne O Most sweete Sauiour O moste mercifull Redéemer O bountifull Iesu the sonne of God who although thou art highe yet thou art moste humble although thou arte Omnipotente thou arte also moste méeke and as thou art most mightie so art thou moste merciful To thée O Christ the guyde of al felicitie the Father of heauen hath gyuen all power both in heauen and in earth Thou art the true Pastor of our soules thou art oure Messias y u castest off none that sue vnto thée but as thou hast taken awaye the hande wryting that was agaynst vs and hast fastned it to thy Crosse so art thou ready to imparte the merits of thy Passion vnto all such as with true repentaunce of their sinnes call vppon thée faythfully Wherefore my swéete Iesus I most faythfullye and vnfaynedlye acknowledge y e benefites that thou hast bestowed vpō me and steadfastlye beléeue that thou being an Immaculate Lamb in whose mouth was neuer found guyle didst suffer most cruell torments at the hands of sinners for the loue of vs moste wretched sinners for the which cause I most hartily beséeche thée and most humbly pray thée to accept me into the number of thē whome thou wilt make Coinheritours of thy bitter paynes and although I of my selfe be moste vnworthy thereof yet thy merites can make me worthy to them doe I flye crauing that I may be so armed and defened by them that I maye subdue the world the fleshe and the Deuill euen as thou hast gloriously conquered sin death and Hell Thou seest O my Sauiour how I am daily and howerly beset with these thrée ennemies and so hardly beséeged of them y t without thy help I can by no meanes escape but that I must néedes be a
¶ The perfect path to Paradice Contayning diuers most ghostly and wholsome Prayers fruitfull and Christian Meditations for the comfort of euery afflicted conscience Published in these dangerous dayes of wickednesse and deliuered to all those that feare God and hope for saluation in Christ Iesus as a spirituall weapon to beate downe sinne sathan and all the power of hell c. By Iohn Phillips Matthew 3. Repent and amend your lines for the kingdome of God is at hand ¶ Imprinted at London in Fleetstreete by H. Iackson 1588. To the Right Honourable Lord Robert Deuorax Erle of Essex and Ewe Visecounte of Herrifard and Bourchire L. Ferres of Chartley Bourchire and Louaine Maister of the Queenes Maiesties horsse Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Iohn Philips his humble well-willer wisheth the feare of God continuall health of body and minde peace and quietnesse of conscience with all other the giftes of grace prrceeding from God the Father through the intercession of Christ Iesus c. RIght honorable when I call to memory how apt and redie wee are of our selues to fall into the filthy quagmire of the olde Adams corruption wherein wee are moste monstrously soyled with all kindes of wickednesses which make vs detested in the eyes of our heauenly father whose loue wee by the exercise of our notorious euils dayly committed against his deuine maiestie we most wilfully conuert to hatred I am driuen into no small admiration But truly as these are the dangerous dayes of wickednesse wherein sinne aboundeth and iniquitie hath obtayned the preheminence and vpper hand so it is expedient for all those that haue the feeling of GODS grace in their consciences to arme thēselues in this worldly Laberinth of vncleannesse with a liuely faith and earnest repentance and to continue in prayer and supplication to the almightie to abridge these dayes of wickednesse and to hasten his comming For vnlesse this perillous season as Christ himselfe hathe foretolde vs should be shortned wherein sinne is exalted to the subuersion of vertue there shoulde no fleshe be saued It shall bee necessary for vs therefore that seeke dayly and hourely by the vsuall practise of our innumerable euiles to offend the Lord our gracious God whose heauy indignation we haue worthely heaped vp vnto our selues and whose vengeaunce wee haue iustly deserued Nowe euen nowe and hencefoorth for cuer to return with Dauid from our impieties to mourn with Magdalin for oure iniquities to weepe with Peter for our offences and to crye out with the prodigal child for the mispending of oure portions ryotously Yea and thē the Lord our God whose wrath we haue kindled vp agaynst vs like consuming coales of fire beholding the sorrowes of oure contrite hartes the grieuous gronings of our sinful soules and our wet and blubbered eyes weeping for oure wickednesses wil repēt him of these plagues that he had prepared to poure forth vpon vs for our destructiōs Yea he wil cast aside the vioals of his wrath yea hee wil in his mercy quenche the burning coales of his furie Yea he will vnbend the bowe of his anger and breake asunder the arrowes of his displeasure wherewith he had in his diuine iustice prepared to wound vs For faithful praier and hartie repentance are acceptable to God The which weapons if we wil take vpon to vse vndoubtedly in steede of cursinges wee shal obtayne blessings in steed of penury we shal reape plentie in steed of battel wee shal haue peace in steed of sicknesse wee shal finde health yea and at the last of vncleane vessels we shalbe made vessels of honor and heires of his heauenly kingdome God for hys sonne Christ his sake giue vs the grace therefore whilest mercy as yet keepeth his indignation at a baye to continue in prayer and to shew vs hartie repentant for our sins for the day of oure visitation draweth nigh Thus ceasing right honorable I leaue you to the merciful protection of the almightie beseeching him in this life to blesse and defend you from al peril and daunger to continue your health to his good guiding wil prouident pleasure to giue you victorie ouer al the enemies of God and hir royal maiestie and in the world to come to crown your head with honour and glorie Your honours in al humilitie and reuerence IOHN PHILIPS ¶ When that thou preparest thy selfe to pray look that thou with all humblenesse of mynde kneelest downe and lifting vp thy hart thy handes and thine eyes vnto heauen to God the Father almightie praye on this manner O Lorde open thou my lippes that my mouth may speake and shew forth that whiche is to thy glorie and praise A prayer for the Morning O Omnipotent Father and euerliuing GOD the Fountayne of al felicitie from whom onely procéedeth all good giftes most hūblie I beséech thée of thyne aboundante mercye and exceding kindnes so to direct and gouerne me this day and euer with thy good guyding spirite that all my thoughts words and déeds maye onely be occupyed in thy seruice fayth feare and loue and so assist strengthen me with thy grace O most mercifull and louing father for thy sonne Iesus Christ his sake that nether sinne death hell nor Sathan haue the dominion vpper hande of mée Indue my heart with the true vnderstanding of thy true and liuely word that I may be ready proane manfully to fight vnder the standerd of my glorious captain Iesus Christ agaynst the world the flesh that cruell Serpente the olde Leuiathan which hunteth continually like a roaring lion seeking the vtter destruction of my soule Make me constant in time of temptation y e whē or at what time my rebelling and sinfull fleshe shall intice me to luste after the pomps and vanities of this wicked worlde I may by a strong liuely and vnshakeable fayth thorowe the bitter tormentes that my sauiour Christe Iesus suffered for me and al that faythfully beleue and cal vpon him so mortifie and subdue the olde Adam that I maye bée dead and buryed from sinne and all iniquity the new man Christ Iesus may continually dwell and raign in mee by whose meanes I shall be garnished decked by the meanes of a fruitfull fayth with immortalitie heauenly blessednes vouchsafe O Lord I beséech thée according to the multitude of thy mercies to looke vpon mée and by thy celestiall prouidence so illuminate the eyes of my soule that I may continually watche for the glorious cōming of thy anoynted son Iesus Christ. Roote oute O Lorde in and from me the vilde and corrupt branches of rapine deceipte auarice luxurie concupiscence and all vngodlinesse let the motions of my minde altogether depende vppon thée prepare my tongue to publishe thy prayse let my lippes be locked vp from all scurillitic vncomely talke let myne eares loathe and abhorre to heare thy glorious and blessed name blasphemed thy trueth to be by any Sectarian ill spoken of and slaundered kéepe and
ingrafte in me Unto myne eyes let there be giuen aboundance of weeping And let my handes be occupied With often almes gyuing O thou my king quench out of me all foule fleshly desire And with the loue of thee alone set thou my hart on fire O my Redeemer dryue away the spirite of pride from me And graunt to mee that great treasure of meeke humilitie Take from me O my Sauiour the furious rage of yre The shield of pacience giue to me the which I doe desyre O Creator roote out of mee all spitefulnesse of mynde And graunt in steede thereof agayne meekenâ—sse that I may fynde O Bountifull father giue me a fayth that shall indure With hope agreeing therevnto and charitie most sure O thou my guyde keepe from my lips all lying vanitie And from my minde driue farre away all vayne vnconstancie All wauering takâ— from my heart and from my mouth scoffing With all proud lookes glottony backbiting slandering Couetousnesse wipe cleane away with curiositie The fond desire of vayne glory with all hipocrisie Let me neuer the poore despise nor yet the weake oppresse And let me not blaspheme for then I dye remedilesse O thou which didst mee forme and make take all rashnesse from me And leaue me not such a minde as will not with peace agree Take from me ydlenesse and sloth with heauie lumpishnesse Take from me disobedience and also stubburnnesse O my God for thy deare Sonnes sake I humbly beseeche thee To graunt me the works of mercy aboundance of pitie That I may thee both loue feare and eke pitie the poore Make mee good men alwayes to loue and wicked to abhorre Make me so little to esteeme those thinges that worldly bee With harte and voyce that I maye craue in Heauen to be with thee amen ¶ Beeyng tempted by the ghostly ennemy as all that feare God are to doubt in any article of the Catholike Fayth to dispayre in Gods mercye to yeelde to melancholye fantasies to bee vexed with vnkindnes of friends or the malice of ennemies to bee troubled with sicknesse or any other wayes oppressed with griefe of body and mynde say deuoutly as followeth I Humblye accept moste mercifull Iesus this heauie temptation whiche nowe I suffer at the handes of thy diuine prouydence and would a greater if thou please to laye it on me for thy sake Who hath ordayned this from the beginning for the tender loue thou bearest to the health of my sinfull soule and I most hartily thanke thée for it I confesse I haue deserued worse for my sinne and vnkindenesse towardes thée and I am not worthie to receyue any comfort or consolation at thy handes therefore to the honor of the passion and death whiche thou wyllinglye sufferedst on the Crosse I offer my selfe to sustayne this or any other aduersitie with al my hart not séeking other ways ease or reliefe then in and by thee O Lorde and as thy good will and pleasure shal appoint yet this one thing I craue and beséech thée for the tender loue thou bearest to mée and all mankinde for in mée is no vertue or ought that is good to helpe and assist me with thy holy spirite as my trust is thou wilt who promiseth that no man shall be tempted more than he shalbe able to beare and giue me all what euer shalbe necessary to sustayne with patience this painfull Crosse temptation which thy deuine wisdome hath apointed for me to the inteÌ„t that I bearing y e same wyllingly with thée here in this worlde may conceiue assured hope to bée partaker of thy glorye in the worlde to come grant me my request moste mercifull Sauioure not for my merite or deseruing but onely for the merites of thy death and bitter passion I humblye beséeche thée Amen A Prayer for the obtayning of grace and mercy O Moste mercifull Lorde God whose Maiestie is incomprehensible and power infinite whose magnificence is exalted aboue the heauens vouchsafe I beséech thée from thy high Throne to beholde the worke of thy handes Haue pitie on the vnhappy desolate condition of thy creature I am a sinner conceiued in sin of my selfe I haue no good thing wherefore O Lord I cleaue to the Altare of thy mercy Thou art my Ankor my hope my refuge staye Therefore O Lorde haue mercy vpon me for no flesh can be iustified in thy sight Thou knowest the frayltie weakenes of men we are taught by the fall of Peter y t we can doe nothing wythout thée Graunt vs therfore good lord thy grace without which in this world we are lyke by the waues of temptations to be swallowed in the gulph whyrlepoole of sinnes to be drownd as the ship without Ankor Pylate in euerye Tempest to runne on the Rocke and perishe Guide vs therfore by thy grace good Lorde thorow the flouds of this carefull worlde that wee maye rest for euer in the pleasant Porte and happye hauen of euerlasting ioy with thyne elected thorough our blessed Sauiour Iesus Chryst. To whome wyth thée and the holye Ghoste bée all honour and glorye in all worldes Amen A Prayer for the Penitent O Lord I am a sinner my sins are heauy vpon me the burthen of them is intolerable refresh me with thy grace washe away mine offences I shall be whiter than the snow let the chéerfull beames of thy countenance shine vppon mée and giue light to the darknes of my life We can looke for nothing as deserued but punishment due to oure offences Wherfore good lord not according to thy iustice but in the multitude of thy mercies deale with thy seruant Remember not the sinnes of my forefathers think not on the misdemeanor of my youth passed haue pitie on thy creture which acording to the likenesse of thy selfe thou hast made shaped of earth How long wilt thou turne thy face away froÌ„ me forsake me not O my God but renewe in me thy holy spirit Pluck away from me all that withdraweth mée from thée Graft in my hart thy grace y t I may loue thée and feare thée and so finallye reioyce in thy goodnesse with thy elected and prayse thée in thy wondrous works for euer Graunt thys most mightie God for our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake To whome with thée and the holye Ghost be all honour and glory for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for Fayth O Blessed sauiour Iesus sonne of the euerliuing God the vnspeakeable ioye of thy seruantes moste present coÌ„fort to sinners which camest into y e world to saue offenders whiche so louest the world that thou sparedst not thy most pecious blood to redéeme the losse of oure first father Adam to make vs Coheires of the forfaited inheritance with thy selfe that al which beléeue in thée might be saued good Lorde whiche hast promysed to them that knocke it shal be opened that they whiche seeke shall finde graunt I beséeche thée that I maye search thy holye lawes and finde
Aungels in the shyning glorye and Maiestye to iudge the quicke the dead I may be in the number of the blessed ones whom thou shalt call to possesse thy kingdom prepared for them by thy father saying Com ye blessed children of my father receiue y â— kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the worlde Thou whiche didst dye and ryse agayne wilt rayse and bring to life all those that are dead beléeuing in thy faith Comfortable Exhortations against the manifolde assaultes of Sathan IF thou perceyue that the storme of temptation doth verye often and greeuously assault thee dismay not therefore thy selfe neither bee displeased with thy selfe as though almighty God nothing regarded thee but rather thanke him that hee instructeth and teacheth thee as one to bee hys heyre that he punisheth correcteth thee as his most deare sonne that he proueth assayeth thee as his welbeloued friend It is a manyfest and great token that man is reiect from the mercy and fauour God when hee is troubled with no temptation In thy temptatioÌ„ remember the holy Apostle S. Paule which being wrapt to the misteries of the thirde heauen was vâ—xed with the aungel of sathan remember the temptation of the holy man Iob other which were grieuouâ—ly troubled with their offences O happy fortunate man in whome this earthly Adam is so mortified and subdued that it in no wise resisteth the spirit but whether thys perfit quyetnes may be in any I will not affirme peraduenture it is not necessary to be For Paule in this life notwithstanding his highe perfection and grace had a motion of the flesh to vexe trouble him And when he thrice desyred God to be deliuered from the sayd motion He only had this answer Paul my grace is sufficient for vertue is made perfit by vexatioÌ„ Paul was vexed by pride that he should not be proud to be perfite strong in God he was caused to be weak feeble For he carryed the treasure of heaueÌ„ly reuelation in a frayle britle vessel that the honor victory should only be in God not in himself this one example of Paul is eruditioÌ„ lerning in many things when that we be intised moued to sin that we diligently cal to almighti god by prayer Remember that Dauid the Prophet King Salomon Peter the Apostle notwithstanding they were great lightes examples of holynesse yet they fell into grieuous and great sins whom almighty God peraduenture suffred to fall for this cause speciallye that thou shouldest not dispaâ—re Lyft vp thy selfe therefore vppon thy feete and with high courage bolde stomack returne againe into battayle agaynst thy enemies not onely more fierce and bold but also more ware diligent and think with thy selfe what intollerable and inuincible temptations Christ suffred for thee wherin there appeared no help comfort ayd nor defence anye where wherein God and the whole worlde seemed to be his most cruell and malycious enemyes when that he cryed alowd My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Truely this was a most grieuous paynfull and bitter temptatioÌ„ which Christ suffred for vs that he might make the way of the crosse easy for vs. Therefore prepare thou thy â—elf paciently to drink of that Cuppe which Christ Iesu thy head hath so willingly dronke on for the saluation of al mankynd And seeing therefore that Christ so willingly put himselfe in subiection and dipped himselfe in those so horrible and intollerable sorrowes and calamities oure moste louing and heauenly Father willing the same out of doubt he also vnderstandeth and knoweth our infirmitye out of doubt hee taking compassion on vs will not extreamly deale with vs but will rather beare with our imbecillitye and weakenes Doth not he himselfe calling al men vnto him say Come vnto me al yee that labor and are heauy laden and I will refresh you what more greater comfort I pray you can be giuen vs. How could Christ speak more mercifull vnto vs. There bee manye things that greeuously vex trouble man but what thing can more cruelly vex torment his conscience ouerwhelmed with sin then when he doubteâ—h of the mercy of God when he dreadeth least God be his aduersary and will reiect him when he is not able to conceiue this fayth of his mercy doth imagine himself to be cast away as a dry member that is cut of Be present here O Iesus Christ with thyne ayde help here we haue need of thy comfort let not this blacke violent horrible teÌ„pest of troubls ouerthrow drown wretched man but there is no cause why we should doubt Christ is true he wil make his promises to appear he wil help vs refresh vs. Therfore where as thy faith is not strong ynough wheras thou feelest thy self to doubt of Gods mercy and haste well neare no fayth at all strayght waies cal vpoÌ„ God bewail tho misery lack of belief before him seek for his aid succour by feruent prayer he wil both help refresh thee he hath taken vpon him thus to do he wil bring it to pas but take heed thou cease not to call vpon god beseech thou without al ceasing the Father of all consolation comfort with sighs from the bottom of thine hart that he turne not his face from thee lay thy weakenes vppon him poure out into his bosom all things which trouble torment thee Crye out with his disciples O Lord increase my fayth Lykewise say thou with the Father of the lunaticke child lord I beleâ—ue help thou mine vnbeliefe Make hast O lord to help mee before that I oppressed wyth this weight be drowned O moste louing mest merciful Father lord God of my health our only help and refuge Enter not into iudgemente with thy seruauntes Christ is my righteousnes redemption and innocencye whiche suffred most bitter and cruell death for my sake Let those things mooue thee O Father of all compassion haue mercy vpon me for thy sons sake confirme and strengthen my hearte by Faythe in Christ Comforte mee with the consolations of the holy ghoste that I may enioy the true ioyes of euerlasting lyfe through the merites of my Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the holy ghost be all praise and glorye for euer and euer Amen A Psalme to be sayd at all tymes REioyce in GOD my soule for he is my lighte and my defence my helpe the lanterne to my féete he hath heard my prayer when I called on him he hath holpen me in my néede he hath deliuered mee in my daungers The Lorde is the kéeper of my life from whome shall I shrinke whom shall I feare lying prostrate at the féete of my Lorde I bewayled my case and hée heard my complaint he forsaketh not his seruaunts Wherefore if armies of men stoode vp agaynst mée I shoulde not feare for if God be on my syde who can preuayle against mée Hée is
O mercifull father for thy Sonne Christes sake oure onely Sauioure and Redéemer Christ Iesus A godly and fruitfull prayer to be sayd in tyme of bloudy Battaile O Lorde oure heauenlye father and euerlyuing God wée thy wretched and most miserable Creatures confesse and acknowledge wée haue worthelye deserued the rod of thy correction and punishment and doe merite manye sharpe and bitter stripes that knowing thy blessed glorious wyll haue of set purpose contemned thy deuine and heauenly precepts for which cause the sentence of thy wrath is sharpely kyndled agaynste vs euen as it hathe béene against thy chosen people Israell in the dayes of oure forefathers who glorying in their wickednesse were plagued in the fulnesse of thy indignation the sworde of their enemies beset them rounde about and hemmed them in on euery side the Iebusits the Amonits the Philistines and the Amorites oppressed them diuersly theyr strong holds were rased their Citties were besieged theyr houses were ransackt theyr goodes and theyr riches were caryed awaye by force of the bloud-thirstie enimie theyr yong men were ledde awaye captyue their virgines were woefully deflowred but in fyne when thou Lord God diddest beholde their heartie and earnest contrition thou didst withdrawe thy frowning countenance and sent them spéedy and safe deliueraunce one whyle thou Lorde sentest them Moyses to bring them out of the seruitude of Pharao the stony and stubborne hearted king of the Egyptians another whyle Iepthah sette them frée from the sworde of the Amonites wherewith they were greeuouslye afflicted and to make thy power excellent glory fully known thou gauest Sampson suche fortitude to bridle y e prowde Philistians Ouer and besides these thou of thy loue and myraculous goodnesse hast made feeble women mightie and victorious conquerours Debora was a shield to thy people Iudith comforted the distressed Bethulians and cut off y e head of prowd Holophernus that thy selfe good Lorde when thou beheldest their teares and harty sorrowe for their offences did prepare thy selfe to goe forth with their hostes thou thy selfe wyth the breathe of thy Nostrels diddest confounde and ouerthrow their enemies so good Lord be thou nowe present with vs in the fulnesse of thy deuyne power looke vpon vs wyth the eyes of thy fauourable pittie forget our corrupt and moste filthye offences let our contrite and sorrowful harts be a meane to vanquish thy displeasure conceiued agaynst vs bée thou present with vs in this tyme of necessitie and trouble set thy hand to help and assist vs agaynst the enemy be thou present with vs in this tyme of perrill daunger goe thou forth with our hostes then shall wee be assured to preuayle let not the multitude of furious foes dismaye vs for victory we doe know consisteth not in the power nor strength of many men the strengthe of horses armor nor weapons but it is thou O merciful father that giuest y e conquest where and to whome thou pleasest To thée therfore in this great extremity we flie and appeale beséeching thée of thyne inestimable loue and kyndenesse for the loue of our sauiour Christ Iesus to looke vppon our true repentante hearts and in the fulnesse of thy misseration and pytties to set vs free from the power of the raging enemye and to pardon our sinnes and greeuous offences that henceforth wée vow and dedicate our harts and mindes wholy to walk in integritie and newnesse of life Whiche graunt good Lorde to whome with thy sonne Christ Iesus and the holye Ghost be prayse and glorye attributed for euer and euer worlde wythout end Amen A Prayer agaynst presumptuous pryde and vayne glory WE heare O Heauenly father and are daylye taught and instructed out of thy eternall worde howe greatlye the gréeuous sinne of presumption pryde and vayne glory displeaseth thy deuyne Maiestye wée are learned that for the practise of this pestilente and haynous euill thou haste not spared the verye Aungels but haste throwne them in thy displeasure for their pryde vayneglory and presumption from beatitude to miserye from ioy wythout end to perdurable payn from brightnesse of thy glorious presence to vtter extreme and palpable darkenes from the gloryous fruition and participation of thy euerlasting kyngdome to the bottomlesse pit of hel Death damnation and endlesse flames of fire besydes this we are taught that by the transgression of Adam whose hawtye presumyng thorowe the intisemente of the subtle and perillous alurement of the Serpente thought to bee as thy selfe but in fine thy iustice condemned him and all hys posteritie this pestiferous sinne of pryde drowned him in the floudes of all daungerous euils as gluttonye luxury and suche other perils that had not thy mercye taken effect to keepe and hold Plea for his and oure sauegarde and thy sonne Chryst imbrased the glory power of his deuyne Essence taken vpon him our fleshe and frayle nature sinne onely excepted who freely offered his innocente bodye to the death of the Crosse we had perished euerlastinglye and bene vtterly confounded Print therefore good Lord and wryte these examples in my memorye that I fall not from thy fauour by the exercise of thys detestable sinne make me still to consider that the proud and disdaynfull are always abhorred in thy sight and sith it is thy good will and gracious pleasure to regard the humble and lowly man giue me such méekenesse from aboue that I maye continuallye present thée with the Sacrifice of a gentle méeke and contrite spirite that I may auoyde the plagues and punishmentes which thou hast prepared for the prowd and hawty minded Graunt this good Lord for Iesus Christ his sake my onely Mediatour and Aduocate who liueth and raigneth with thée and the holy ghost in glorye permanent and maiestye euerlasting A Prayer to be sayde in tyme of affliction and trouble O Eternall and euer lyuing god the father of al consolation and comforte vouchsafe of thyne infinite loue kindenesse to strengthen mée with thy heauenly grace paciently to beare and wyth meekenesse to suffer this Crosse of affliction and trouble which thou hast layde vpon mée for the vse of sinne and iniquitie I knowe O gracious and louing father that my deserts are suche as worthely haue prouoked thée to displeasure the burthē of my sinnes are intollerable for the whiche I must acknowledge and earnestly from the bottome of my heart confesse that iustlye thou haste corrected and visited mee yet not in the fulnesse of thy furye but according to thy fatherlye loue and kyndnesse and albeit thy rod lie heauy vpon my shoulders yet in thys tyme of thy correction I am comforted greatlye knowing assuredlye that y u correctest and smytest where thou louest thou woundest and healest agayne thou throwest downe to Hell and thou liftest vp to Heauen such and so great is thy omnipotencie that thou rulest aboue the Firmament in earth flouds and the lowermost partes of hell in Heauen the Aungels Arckaungels the souls of thy saints the blessed company of
grace to printe in my remeÌ„brance thy manifolde mercies that feeding in soule by faith in thée I may attaine vnto those end lesse ioyes that thou haste prepared for thy adopted sonnes and chosen children in thy kingdome of euerlasting righteousnesse And so escape those euerlastinge torments which thou haste prepared for the Diuel and his Angels from the which place of woefull vexation and endlesse miserie deliuer me O heauenly father for the loue of Iesus Christ his sake to whome with thée and the holy Ghost be all lawde and praise for euer Amen A prayer to be sayde at the hower of death MOst mightie art thou O Lorde in all thy déedes and most holy in all thy wayes blessed bee the name of my father my God and glorious creator who by his deuine power and celestiall prouidence of nothing made all things fish fleshe fowles fruits trées herbes all other thinges whatsoeuer are contayned both in Heauen earth Seas and the nethermost partes thereof Man concerning the outward parts thou by thy celestial prouidence and fatherly bounty framedst and createdst of clay but concerning the inward substance of thy creature man thou didst fashion make euen according to thine owne similitude and likenesse Moreouer such and so great was thy loue and good wil towards him that all the Creatures or workes of thy creation serued to his vse In earth thou haste made him Lorde king ouer the fruits therof the beastes of the Field the Foules of the ayre and the fishes of the little floods and great waters In the Firmament thou hast placed the glistering Sunne with his oryent beames to giue him light by day and therewith thou hast giuen him the Moone the stars to gouerne him by night for the which cause aboue all other the workes of thy creation man shoulde and ought of right to giue thée that glory that to thée belongeth But alas such and so great is the corruption of our frayle and sinful flesh that for all these thy graces we are carryed away from thée and enter into contempt of thy precepts for which cause thou ofteÌ„times doest correct and punish vs to the inteÌ„t we might therby feeling thy rod of correction bee driuen to imbrace harty and true repentance but when thy threates and the stripes of thy displesure laide vpon vs cannot take place amongest vs thou oftentimes giuest vs vp to follow our lustes and affections but at last when thou doest beholde our inormities thou in a moment by the power of thy deuine iustice restrayned the rope of our disordered libertie and cuttest in sunder the Brydle of our voluptuousnesse eyther by sodayne death sworde fire famine or other thy deuine sentences of thy conceiued yre to the intent that other thy creatures might by the terrour of thy Iustice auoyde sinne and learne to amende their liues least they fall into the like calamitie or daunger True and moste true it is good Lorde that by the exercise of sinne we are the children of death destruction but by grace of the almightie and victorious conqueror swéet Iesus Christ we are the adopted sonnes of thy father and made fellowe heires with thee our perfect Emanuel in whose name with all humilitie lowlinesse of heart mind I come vnto thée in this great extremitie and daunger of death beséeching thée to bée present with mee to forget mine offences to thinke vpon thy mercies and although I haue not deserued so much as the least drop of thy fauor by means of the great burthen of my sins which are in the presence of thy diuine maiesty most vgly and loathsome to behold yet respect thou not O Father mine iniquity but haue an eye I beséech thée to the merits of my sauior Christ Iesus to whom as my mediatour sauiour Redeemer I apeale who hath promised comfort and sweete consolation to all those that in thy name flye vnto thée for reléefe I confesse thâ—e worthily thou hast visited me and yet not according to the multitude of my sins but in the fulnes of miseration and fatherly pitie giue me grace therefore in these bitter bruntes of death who vehemently at this present beginneth to combat with fainting féeble life constantly to cleue vnto thée let not y e plesures of this wicked worlde bee a let or impediment for mée to come vnto thée let not my fraile feeble flesh subiect to sin which hath thorow my transgression made mee a bondman to death moue me to dispaire in thy great mercy neither yet let that cauilling aduersary y e enemy of mankinde at my last end triumph ouer mée gyue me patience to suffer and gladly to beare abide this thy scourge and visitation and so fortifie mée in soule and body that so long as life shall indure in mée I may neuer cease to call vpon thy holy and blessed name yea and when death is most busiest make thou me most constant yea wheÌ„ he séeketh most strongly to assayle my féeble body giue mée thy grace good Lorde that I may in spirite hart minde and all the powers of my soule giue praises vnto thée that of thy grace inestimable kindenes hast sent thy sonne Christ Iesus to raunsome me by his blodie death and passion from the power of hell Giue me grace therefore nowe that thou hast appoynted thy messenger death to finishe the days of my pilgrimage and to call me by his sommons from out this vale of misery wrecchednesse to build stedfastly vpon him faithfully to hope for life saluation in and alone thorow him let the remembraunce of my 〈◊〉 wickednes be 〈…〉 vpon 〈…〉 thy glorious â—ight bâ—hâ—â—de my sorrowâ—â—l true repentant heart which come vnto thee with teares not building on my merites but vppon thy mercies though I be sinful thy son my sauiour is righteous though I be wicked yet he is most holy though I be full of iniquitie yet he full of all goodnes though I haue grieuously offended thee yet he hath fully contented thee though I haue transgressed thy lawe yet he hath fulfilled the same hath promised in his blood to wash away their sinnes that by faith continue in him constant to the ende I therefore in 〈…〉 gâ—â—at and â—aynefull â—â—onie beholding Death 〈◊〉 heate at the gates of my body come vnto thee by the vertue of a fruitefull fayth beséeching thée when thou shalt see it méete and conuenient that hee shall dissolue the bandes of this fadyng life which endureth but a whyle for a thousand yeres are as yesterday in thy sight to take my soule into thy glorious and blessed hands and so to confirme mee thy truth that at the last when it shall please thée by the sounde of a trumpe to raise my body from the graue when and in which time body and soule shal vnite come before thy presence I may by faith in thée passe ouer the mount of my corruption shake off the bands of sin be set frée from
death and destruction and being by the vertue of thy righteousnesse made holy I may triumph with happie victorie ouer sinne death and al the powers of hell and enter with thée the felowship of thy chosen Sayntes into euerlasting rest grant this most louing father for Christ Iesus sake to whom with thée and the holy ghost be rendred al laude glory honour and prayse for euer Amen THe Lorde God bee mercifull vnto me pardon forgiue me my sinnes looke vpon me with thy gratious and blessed countenaunce preserue mee from the second death and euerlasting destruction of body soule The Lord God iustifie me in his death bloode cloath mée with his euerlastinge righteousnes and register my name in the booke of life The Lorde God comfort my guiltie conscience with the euerlasting light of his bountiful fauor lot my place among his saints in his heauenly kingdome The Lord God for his mercies sake after this my bodily death giue me the fruition of his presence in his right palace of endlesse glory to whose mercifull protection I commend with al humilitie and reuerence my soule Lord Iesus preserue me Lord Iesus comfort me Lord Iesus refresh mée Lorde Iesus praye for me for only into thy hands that hast redéemed mee O Lorde God of truth I commend my soule Amen A prayer vnto the holy Ghost against the temptations of Satan the malicious and wicked spirite AH Lord the euerlasting and heauenly spirite which sanctifiest and quicknest the hartes of the faithfull For as much as there is an other spirit which cōtrary to thy heauenly mocions moueth and prouoketh vnto infidelitie malice lying pride wrath whoredome fornication glotonie dronkeship enuy couetousnesse contention errour deceyte hypocrisie straunge religion fayned holinesse impietie desperation c. which is called the Prince of the world the great dragon of Hell the authoritie of all euilles the father of lying and a murtherer from the beginning to whom it is euident that we are poore wretched and miserable fallen away frō God walke in th◠lustes of the flesh liue after the trade of the world and doe that that is pleasaunt to the corrupt affections and are far away estraunged from the citie of righteous Israel as straungers partaine nothing vnto the couenaunt and promises of grace Wherefore while we thus consider this our damnation and the word of thy promise and commandement we are earnestly mooued to flie vnto thée humblie to desire and beséech thée trusting that we shal obtayne For thou promisest and also commaundest to trust an looke for this that through the good will of thy spirite thou wilt gather receaue vs into thy people that we may bee made a spirituall Israell renew vs that is to say beget vs a new vnto repentance godly liuing turne vs with an earnest zeale of our heart drawe vs vnto thée that from henceforth we may abstaine from the workes of darkenesse death Destroye in vs the kingdome of sinne that is to say exclude frō vs not onely euill words déeds but also plucke out of our minds all euil thoughts noysome coūcels furious effectes and the stinking course of this flesh Turne vs from euil wayes vnto the right path of repentance Let our members be so addict to righteousnes and sanctification that they may bee made fitte to serue thée Let vs increase and be plenteous in al such works as bee pleasaunt vnto thée Forsake vs not in tentatiō but rather strēgthē vs with that thy secret vertue inward power Bring to passe that we giue no eare to his flattering deceits nor yet to his beautyfull glistering falaces least he corrupt our mindes and abuse our flesh vnto our destruction which at the beginning full craftely hee brought to passe by his subtyle and swéete suggestions but rather throwe downe and treade vnder our féete this our cruel enemie that we being frée frō his deceitfull tyranny may through thy ghostly inspiration obtayne such peace and quietnes in our harts that we may serue thée with a cleane bodie and pure mind through Iesu Christ vnto the laude prayse and glory of God the heauenly father So be it A prayer for true repentaunce and for the comming of the kyngdome of Christ. O Lord and our God Iesu Christ the scripture testifieth of thee that when thou wast in the worlde thou diddest preach repentance and the comming of the kingdome of heauen and after thou wast risen agayne thou saidest that it behoued thée so to suffer on the thirde daye to rise agayne from the deade and that both repentaunce and remission of sinnes shoulde be preached to euery creature in thy name And that whosoeuer beléeued were baptised shoulde bee saued Agayne than full louingly diddest bid them that labor and are laden to come vnto thée and promised that thou wouldest vnlade refreshe them Uerely it is no small company of wicked spirites cleueth which is also a roring Lyō and earnest accuser of the sons of God yea and such an enemy of God and of thē that pertain vnto him as by no means neither will nor may be reconciled Therefore we all of vs which thorow thy grace are bound and giuen ouer to serue God most humbly beséech thée O holy spirit that thou wilt defend vs against al the wicked temptations and pernicious breathings of the most wicked spirite that all vice excluded all vertue and godlinesse may spring growe increase in vs vntil we be made perfect auncient in Christ Iesu our Lord in his holy law Take away infidelity and engraffe in our brest a true and vnfayned faith Take away pride wrath enuye debate whoredome glotonye dronkeshippe couetousnesse errour hypocrisie with all kinde of vngodlines and print in our hearts humilitie loue chastity and concord purity of life temperance sobriety mercy liberality towarde the poore truth pure holynesse with all kinde of vertue Take awaye from vs all that euer is of Sathan the flesh and the world and giue vs that which onely commeth from the heauenly father and from his onely begotten sonne and from thée that holy spirit Teach vs all trueth enarme vs with the shield of true faith that we may so quench the firie dartes of Sathan Graunt that wee may so watch and shewe such diligence that wee may perceiue his craftie assaultes and daungerous vnto thee that wee liue not heare after in the fleshe but rather that wee abhorre from all filthinesse and impuritie thereof and that we being brought into the kingdome through thy precious bloud may obtayne dayly more more perfect remission of our sinnes So be it A prayer for the knowledge of Gods wyll O Lord God our heauenly father giue vs grace that wee may neuer cease diligently to cal vpon thée with most humble minds to desire thée that through thy great mercies we may be fulfilled with plenteous and rich knowledge of thy diuine will and that wée may encrease dayly more
and euer worlds with out end Amen A prayer against the councels of the ennemyes of God and of his diuine verite AH Lorde thou puissant strong mightie God which destroyest the councels of the vngodly riddest away the tyrantes of this world out of the earth at thy pleasure so that no councell or strength at all can resist thine eternal wisdome and euerlasting determination which thou hast to fore appointed by thine vnsearcheable wisedome from the beginning We thy poore creatures simple wretches and vnprofitable seruants doe most instantly and hartely desire thee for the loue that thou haste to thy welbeloued and onely begotten sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ that thou wilt looke vpon thy cause for it is time O Lorde and bring to naught all those things that are or shall bée appoynted determined and fully agréed vpon among the wicked against thée and thy holy word Let not the enemies of thy trueth so miserably oppresse thy seruauntes which seeke thy glory tender the aduauncement of thy pure religion and aboue all thinges wish in their heartes that thy most holie name may onely be glorified among all nations Whatsoeuer the vngodly goe about contrary to thy glory and thy worde let it not take effect O swéete father yea rather destroy it vtterly bring it to nought that all men may knowe that thou alone art that almightie and euerlasting God which rulest and subduest all inhabiters of the earth from the highest to the lowest after thy moste holye will and pleasure But to them that walk not in the councell of the vngodly nor tread not y e way of sinners giue thou good lucke prosperous successe in thy name that their holy trauailes and vertuous enterprises may come vnto a godly end Defend them that they sit not in the chaier of the pestilent scorners which spitefully rayling on thy trueth do defend with high tirannie both their wicked doctrin and liuing Grant to thy seruantes the mouthe of thy wisedome which no man may resiste whereby they may know y t thou alone art the Lorde that none is to be compared vnto thée al the enemies of thy Godly truth with their wicked counsels destroyed and put out of the way we may with feruēt minds receiue the trueth of thy most holy word order our life according to the same sing perpetuall prayses to thy most blessed name worlde without end through Iesu Christ thy sonne our Lord. So be it A prayer for the vnitie concord and perfect agreement in things concerning Christian religion O Euerlasting and merciful God which art the God of peace loue vnitie and concord not of strife debate discorde and confusion thou seest how miserably thy holy congregation is rent torne and deuided into diuers sectes whyle fleshly mē leauing the holsome instruction of thy most blessed word which is the alone truth and righteousnesse set foorth and maintaine euery mā as his fansie leadeth thinges of their owne brayne inuented by carnall wisedome without the authoritie of thine vndefiled lawe And hereof commeth it to passe that so great dissention reign now a dayes in the worlde and that so manye and diuers sectes schismes and heresies spring vpp in euerie place vnto the great perturbation of the christian publicke weale For so long as men set aside the rules and ordinances of thy holie Scripture and appoynt things of their own imagination and stiffely defend them it cannot come to passe that christian peace and vnitie of spirite with heartie concorde can haue place among vs. Therefore we wretched sinners to whome knowledge of these thinges thorow thy grace haue chanced doe pray and moste feruently desire thy great mercy that for asmuch as there is but one euerlasting God and one heauenly father which thou art and one fayth and one baptisme which we al professe y e cal on thy name thou wilt thorow thy onely spirit gather togither such as are dispersed into diuers sects into y e vnitie of true pure vnderstanding of thy word by fayth bring them againe whose mindes are disseuered into one bodye that there may be no dissention among them But specially O most mercifull father graunt that we which doe breath and for our little power labour vnto the true vnitie in Christ may lay aside al dissension and seeke that thine only euerlasting trueth which is contained in thy word that wee together may growe into one iudgement sentence and minde yea and that which floweth and commeth forth from the intelligence and vnderstanding of our Lord Iesu Christ and euermore guide and leade vs agayne vnto him that we with one perfect agréement of minde and with one mouth may praise magnifie thée the celestial father of our Lord Iesu Christ through the same Iesu Christ thy sonne the holy ghost So be it A prayer for spiritual ioy O Lorde Iesu the redéemer and comforter of mankinde which hast prepared for them that forsake the vaine pleasures of this worlde for thy loue farre better delectations pleasures through y e holy ghost that most swéete comforter which the worlde knoweth not measuring the griefes of this life with inwarde and secret comforts and renewe to vs as a certayne gage or pledge of the glorie that hereafter shall come wherewith we being refreshed comforted may run vnto thée with the more chearefull minds I beséech thée that the annoynting of thy sprite may continually beate out of me the tediousnes of euils and make my minde merry with healthfull ioy and be annoynted thorow thy aboundant mercie with the oyle of gladnesse and ghostly comfort which liuest and reignest with the father and the same spirite very GOD worlde without ende Amen A prayer vnto Christ our sauiour for the glory of heauen O Lorde Iesu Christe which art the onely and euerlasting sonne of God the father which also becamest man for oure sake that thou shouldest bring vs vnto God y e father and therfore thou going vnto the father occupiest hys right hand graunt that we may be cōuersant now with thée thorowe fayth in the holy Ghost after an heauenly manner and that after this exyle and banishment we being illumined with thy brightnesse may remaine with thée for euer which liuest and reignest with God the father the holy ghost very God world without end Amen Thanks gyuing to God for his benefites O Lorde God our heauenly father we right hartely thanke thée for thy manifold and inestimable benefites which thou haste giuen to vs deseruing nothing lesse than to receiue of thy boūtie so great kindnesse We thanke thée that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercie first to create and make vs according to thy likenes and to place vs in ioyful Paradise there perpetually to haue remayned if through the subtile and deceitefull suggestions of Satan our aduersarie we had not transgressed thy most holy commandment We thank thée also O most bounteous father for thy louing kindenesse which thou shewest
martyrs giue thée prayse glory and veneration the Sunne the Moone and glistering starres eche one of them in their course and quallitie shewe themselues obedient to thy will in earth y e beasts of the field and the siely fethered fowles of the Ayre in their order séeme to sette forth thy glorye and prayse in the déepe waters the fyshes of the Seas are readye to obserue thy will and in their manner they as thy creatures giue thee due honour and reuerence but amongest these man whome thou by thy diuine will and pleasure haste indued with reason and in his creation cōcerning the inward man hast fashioned hym to thy similitude and lykenesse is nowe moste prone and willing to be by thy ministers of darckenesse seduced and carryed awaye from vertue to vyce from godlinesse to all impietie from obedyence to wilfull breache and contempt of thy precepts so that diligence is banished by negligence and suche is the power of oure flesh that our eyes which should haue their chiefest cōtemplation and delight in perusing and reading thy glorious and sacred Gospell wherein wée maye beholde thee crucified and slayne O swéetest Sauiour Christe Iesus perfite God and perfite manne by whose innocent deathe and bloudy passion the attonement betwixte thy Father and vs are so daseled wyth the dimmy and darke mysts of Sathan that they are occupyed in the beholding of mundane and transitorye pleasures al which in effect vanish weare away euen as the Flower that eyther is parched by the force of Phebus radiant beames or by Winter stormes and horye frostes consumed oure eares whiche thou haste gyuen vnto vs to heare and vnderstande the sacred and deuine misteries contained in thy holy lawe are made deafe of purpose so that they glory more in fables lothsome leasinges then they conceiue delight in the zealous predication of thy Euangelicall and heauenlye doctrine our hartes are hardened like the Adamāt so y t for the greatest parte they cannot brooke thy testymonies they continually luste and desire to bee satisfied with worldly welth honor and dignitie and who beholdeth not in these dayes what cruel conflict and bloody fyght there is betwixte good conscience and filthy auarice the roote of all myschiefe and euill Naye who seeth not in this age playne dealing murthered by deceyte and faythlesse frawd Who nowe beholdeth not true meaning strangled by forged flatterye loathsome leasinges the bowels of cōpassion and pitty are shut vp by vyolent oppression tyranny our féete are willing to tread the pathes of pryde fornication and vncleannesse our hands are ready to offer wrong iniurie to the innocent yea and in fine whatsoeuer thou hast giuen vnto vs to spreade and set forth thy glory and honor is by sinne so corrupted that wee make the members of our bodyes which by grace and of pure loue are ingrafted in the body of Christ the riche and great shepheard of oure soules the verye members of Sathan so that of set purpose our transgression abounding wée flye from Chryst the rocke and strong piller of our saluation and run headlong to deathe and vtter destruction of body and soule yet like a louing God and mercifull Father thou callest vs home agayne by thy word wherin not onely thy mercies but also thy terrible threats are thundered forth agaynst vs for our impenitencye but when neyther thy manifolde mercies fréely of thy aboundant goodnes offred vnto vs in Iesus Christ can moue nor stir vs to handfast contrition neyther yet thy terrible comminations and threatnynges can exclayme nor call vs backe from the daungerous puddle of our sinnes then y u sendest foorth thy plagues and punishmentes as pestilence famyne and bloudye sworde intending thereby to driue vs to amendement of lyfe and to acknowledge thy omnipotency but when thou beholdest oure true repentaunt heartes oure sobs and sighing teares powred foorth before the Throane of thy deuyne Maiestye thou withdrawest from vs the terroure of thyne indignation and vengeaunce the Rodde of thy correction is layde aside thy displeasure iustly conceiued against vs for the continuall exercise of sinne is vtterly forgotten and by the intercession of thy sonne Iesus Chryste that sitteth on thy right hande in glorye permanēt and euerlasting lyke a louyng Father and moste mercyfull GOD thy Syluered Scepter of peace is offered vnto vs wyth al other thy gracyous benefites that thy anger is conuerted to clemencye thy displeasure is tourned to louing kindenes and in fine thy indignation is so calmed by thyne aboundant grace and mercye that lyke a louing and gentle father thyne armes are stretched foorth ioyfullye to imbrace and receiue vs to thy fauoure agayne all thys I knowe to be moste certaine and true for when or at what tyme soeuer wée shall appeare before the gates of thy mercye by the vertue and power of a constant and liuely fayth knock thereat thou art readie to open vnto vs not for any of oure desertes but for the merites of Iesus Christe the fulnesse of thy deuyne misseration compassion and pittye and whensoeuer we shal cal vpon thee with lowlynesse and méekenesse of our harts and myndes bewayling wofully our heynous offences committed against thée thine eares are most attentiue to heare and willyngly doest graunt vs our peticions wherefore O moste gracious and louing father we come vnto thée with sorrowfull and contrite harts beséeching thée for the loue of thine anointed sonne Iesus Christe our Messias sauioure and redeemer beséeching thée to beholde looke vppon vs wyth the eyes of compassion and pitie albeit wee haue worthely deserued this thy plague and punishmēt yet respect thou not our deseruings least in thy furie indignation we be confounded and perishe haue an eye rather to thy sonne Iesus Christ beholde his bloudy woundes which yet are freshe gréene and neuer stint bléeding thinke vpon the bitter and painfull tormentes that hee suffered for vs vppon the Crosse in whose name we beséech thée fauourably to looke vpō our infirmities mercifullye to heare our prayers and peticions offered vnto thée and graciouslye for the glorye of thy names sake to take and withdraw from vs this thy heauie rodde of correction whiche our sinfull liues and contempt of thy preceptes hath heaped heauily in oure necks giue vs pacience to suffer whatsoeuer it shall please thée to lay vppon vs giue vs grace alway to call and cry vpon thy holy blessed name and faythfullye with teares to say vnto thée continually Spare vs good Lord spare thy people whō thou hast redéemed with thy precious bloode neither yet good Lorde be thou angrye with vs for euer Grant this O mercifull father for the loue of thy onely sonne Iesus Christ to whome wyth thée and the holye Ghost bée all honor glorye and prayse ascribed for euer Amen A prayer to be sayd before the receyuing of the Lords supper OMnipotent God and father euerlasting whose mercy is infinite and whose kingdome hathe no ende vouchsafe I beséeche
thée of thine excéeding goodnesse to increase our fayth that as thy Guestes repayre to the Table of thy sonne Iesus Christ who hath lefte vnto vs before he gaue hys bodye to be crucified and his blood to be shedde largely on the Crosse for our redemption as a pledge of his great loue and aboundant kindenesse the celebration of his glorious Supper wherein as it were in a looking Glasse the death of our great mayster the high shephearde of our Soules Iesus Chryste is moste liuely set forth vnto vs giue vs grace therefore from aboue rightly to vnderstand the deuyne mysteries offred vnto vs thereby and not to wreste or wring the same contrary to thy will Let it bée far from oure thoughtes good Lord to leaue thy eternall veritie and to builde on the doctrine of men who following their owne imaginations run headlong to the gaping Gulphe of daunger and destruction plucke the Scales of ignoraunce from oure eyes that wee maye cléerly disearne and behold by the light of thy glorious Gospell howe wee maye truelye Communicate and participate the fruites of thy grace represented vnto vs in this comfortable Sacramente indue vs plentifully with such pure knowledge that we may not once think or say after any grosse fourme or carnall manner we feede vppon or eate thy fleshe reallye or carnallye make vs alwayes constantly to beleeue that thy gloryous body is ascended vp into heauen sitteth on the right hand of thy father cōcerning thy humanitie and cannot be thence remoued till the time that thou shalt come with Legions of Aungels to iudge the quick and the dead before whose presence shall runne a consuming fyre and moreouer wee doe moste humblye beséech thée so to confyrme vs in the trueth of thy blessed Testamente that we maye confesse thy deuine nature to be equall with the father and the holy Ghoste and to beléeue that thy power is not a power perticuler but a power generall and suche as doth and shall gouerne in Heauen and Earth in the déepe and low waters yea and in the neathermoste partes of Hell strengthen vs therefore good Lord that stande least that in falling from the true knowledge of thée we perish euerlastingly and sith thou hast called vs by thy worde as thy Guestes to this blessed banquet wherein the mouthes of our carnall bodies are fostered and fedde with bread and Wyne so Lorde confirme oure faith in thée that the mouthes of oure soules may féede spiritually vppon thy swéetest flesh and drink thy dearest bloud and so bée norished to euerlasting life and heauenlye blessednesse which rewarde as a dowrie due thou haste promised to all those that faythfully◠build vpon thée whiche art the Rock and strong Piller of oure Saluation and as these must set forth vnto vs most liuely thy death passion so make vs thankfull to thée for the same therby giue vs grace to prynte in oure heartes thy greate loue and exceedyng clemencye that sparedst not to giue thy bodye to the moste vylde shamefull and slaunderous death of the Crosse and thy bloud to be shed for oure offences indue vs wyth loue and charitie to all menne make vs readie to forgiue loue and pardone oure enemies persecuters and slandoers tourne oure heartes and myndes from al impietie couetousnesse blasphemie pride glottonie fornication and al other detestable euils and if at any time we haue defeated y ◠fatherlesse of hys right the widow of hir dowrie or gathered together our goodes wrongfully by vyolence oppression fraud by collusion or deceyt giue vs grace to make restitution and to ask wyth sorrowfull playnte flouds of teares from the bottome of our heartes pardon and free forgiuenesse of thée for such and all other our offences whatsoeuer wee haue don or cōmitted in thought worde will and deede agaynst thy deuyne Maiesty or any other oure brethren Take away from vs all bitternesse curssed speaking and backbyting gyue vs grace to come worthelye by the vertue of a true fruitefull fayth to this holye and blessed Supper that oure soules féeding faythfully on thy swéetest fleshe and drinking thy dearest bloude wée may both in bodye and soule be nourished by thée to euerlasting and endlesse glorye in Heauen where with thee and the fellowshippe of thy chosen sayntes we shall enioy the fruition of thy euerlasting kingdome whiche thou haste ordayned for all those that onely and alone without wauering do build vpō thée sanctifie and make cleane our harts and minds by the power of the holye Ghost the verye comforter of thy chosen purge thou our canckred consciences infected wyth sinne by the working of thy good grace least that by the presuming to this thy table O Lorde we incurre thy displeasure and being vnrepentant for oure offences wee be founde vnméete Guestes to come to thy holy banquet and so we eate and drinke to the vtter confusion of oure soules and bodies giue vs grace therefore good Lord to conuerte vs wholye vnto thée and we shall bee tourned from all our sinne and iniquity giue vs grace to rest onely vppon thée and wee shall be made safe giue vs thyne ayd from aboue we beséeche thée by fayth to striue with the man of sinne and so to vanquishe him that he maye die in vs we may liue to thée which art the giuer of life Graunt this O most gracious God for Iesus Christe hys sake to whome with thée and the holye Ghoste be giuen all prayse honour and glorye for euer and euer Amen A Prayer or thankesgiuing to be sayd after the receyuing of the Communion WE giue thée moste harty thanks O heauenly father that hast at this present fed refreshed our hungry Soules with the fleshe blood of our sauior Christ not carnallye but spirituallye giue vs grace therefore continuallye by the meanes of an increasing and fruitefull fayth to beleue that thy flesh is meate in déede and thy bloud is drinke in déede and that vnneaths wée eate thy flesh drinke thy bloud wee cannot enter into thy kingdome nor be saued in the daye of thy commyng Giue vs grace therfore being vnprofitable seruantes and vnworthely called by the reason of the multitude of oure sinnes to banquet at thy table whereas the celebration of thy Supper hath bene vsed and thy death by the vysible Elementes of breade Wine represented vnto vs to offer vp vnto thée continually the fruites of true repentaunt and sorrowfull heartes that thy name may be glorified wée by thy grace comforted thy displeasure bee tourned to loue thy wrathe to compassion oure sinnes pardoned and forgotten our names written in the booke of life And as it hath pleased thee at thys present to accompt vs for thy guests not onelye to féede vs wyth visible creatures namely breade and wyne but also in soule whiche is thyne owne similitude to cherishe vs wyth thy flesh blood whereon by the vertue of a liuely fayth we haue to oure great comfortes most plentifully fed