of the worlde O holie ghost the sweet comforter O the diuine essence thrée persons and one God haue mercie vpon me most vile caitife and miserable sinner I haue offended both against heauen earth more than my toong can expresse Whither then may I go or whither should I flie To heauen I may be ashamed to lift vp mine eies and in earth I finde no place of refuge or succour To thée therfore O Lord do I come to thée doo I humble my selfe saieng O Lord my God my sinnes be great but yet haue mercy vpon me for thy great mercie The great mysterie that God became man was not wrought for little or few offences Thou diddest not giue thy sonne O heauenlie Father vnto death for small sinnes onelie but for all the greatest sinnes of the world so that the sinner returne to thee with his whole heart as by grace first receyued from thée I doo héer at this present Wherefore haue mercie vpon me O God whose propertie is alwaies to haue mercy haue mercie vppon mee O Lorde for thy great mercie I craue nothing O Lord for my owne merits but for thy names sake that it may be hallowed thereby and for thy déere son Iesu Christes sake And therfore I continue forth my crie vnto thee from the bottom of my heart saieng Our father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name c. Our Father TO none doth this name Father more truelie belong then vnto thée O God our father For both they which haue begotten vs fostered vs do bring vs vp and also our spirituall pastors which do instruct vs are called fathers But thou O Lord art the father of all creatures which are vpon the earth whome thou hast made of somewhat as thou madest man but of nothing which none else coulde do These thou dooest féede and preserue which else shoulde returne to their nothing againe These thou dooest gouerne teach and stirre vp to do their seuerall and proper offices Thou hast made all things therefore thou art the father of all but more speciallie man whom thou hast formed after thine owne similitude and image Thou dooest rule and gouerne all thinges as thy seruants but man as thy sonne To other liuing creatures thou hast giuen out of thy plentifull storehouse good giftes but vppon man thou hast powred them forth with full hande and hast adorned him with a liuing soule of all giftes one of greatest excellencie Thou doost driue forward al other creatuers as it were with a certain secret spurre but thou gently teachest and instructest vs. Other creatures thou dooest violentlie draw but vs thou doost fatherly teach and direct In al these fatherlie properties we wonder at thy power and adore and worship thy wisedome But amongst al thy fatherly mercies there is one which with great delectation wee consider as more profitable for vs namely our adoption by which thou hast made vs thy sonnes thorough Iesus Christ the sonne of the omnipotent essence and diuine nature Wonderfull is this goodnes of Christ and most swéet is his loue toward vs who wil not haue vs to be terrified with seruile feare and therefore hath not taught vs to cal thee his father Our lord which is a name of power but Our father which is a name of loue He concealeth thy greatnes and setteth forth thy goodnes the sooner to allure vs. What man considering rightlie his vile nature and corrupt will dare cal thee father except thou command him What vngratious and inferiour seruaunt will presume to call his king father except he be beside himselfe But how much greater difference is there betweene thée and vs then betweene a mortal king and a seruant which do not differ in condition of nature but onely in state of fortune We compared with thee in nature are most far different Thou art the essence and the incompresensible fulnes of all things which art all in all and wee are vtterlie nothing And in condition of worthinesse and excellencie wee being with thée compared are vnhappie and most miserable bondslaues of sin and the diuell which is the most vile and execrable state but thou art the most blessed lord of al. We are ignorance and darknesse but thou art wisedome and light Thy excellencie is infinit our shame and reproch more than can be expressed mans mind is not able to comprehend the difference betwéene thée and vs. But thy onlie sonne hath giuen vs boldnes to call thee Our father that we by adoption might be made partakers of that excellent dignitie to be called sonnes through his fauour and grace which he alone in right of his diuine nature possesseth Nowe howe more néerelie and trulie art thou the father of all those that are baptised in thy name and that are purged and clensed by the bloud of thy sonne Christ to whome beeing reconciled with thee and receiued into thy fauour thou hast giuen the earnest of Euerlasting blisse the loue of thee and an assured faith and confidence in thee and thereby perfect peace and rest of conscience Oh howe often do we féele to our great comfort thy fatherlie goodnesse Thou dooest giue vs light in darkenesse thou holdest vs vp when we stumble and are readie to fall thou turnest from vs manie wicked euils which hang ouer our heades and changest them into good and in all goodnes thou doost establish and preserue vs. What dooe our fathers helpe vs which are onelie fathers in name by whom wee haue nothing but that which hirelings and seruants haue that is to say the necessaries of this present life But this is the true fatherhood wherof we may rightlie reioyce by which we haue an euerlasting inheritance Oh woonderfull clemencie of thy son Christ which vouchsafed on vs the dignitie of his proper inheritance What wilt thou not giue O father vnto thy sons now which thou shalt thinke profitable for them We haue attained the greatest gifte that thou shouldest bee called and be indéed our father how then can we misse and bee destitute of thy fatherlie affection and liberalitie towardes vs And forasmuch as wee all which truelie are called Christians are knit togither in one knot of loue and are therfore members of one bodie and so one thing therefore that which wee aske for our selues wee craue of thee O Father for our brethren also And for this cause wee call thee iointlie togither Our father Beséeching thée that as thou vouchestsafe to be called of vs Our father so thou wilt make vs thy obedient children that not with mouth alone but with heart and mind wee may truelie feare thée serue thee loue thee and call thee our father to the honour and glorie of thy holie name Amen Which art in heauen THou art alone O Lord and we are not That being which we haue is heere in Earth that is to saie in the middest of manie tempestes and floudes of all manner of calamities wherewith we are continuallie turmoiled But thou both art and also
The Poore Mans Pater noster with a preparatiue to praier Wherto are annexed diuers godly Psalmes and Meditations Collected out of the sacred Scriptures by Thomas Timme Minister Newly Imprinted the second time by Peter Short dwelling on Bredstreet hill at the signe of the Starre 1598. The life of a Christian man 1 Remember thy maker 2 Be thankful alwaies to God for his benefits 3 Loue the Lord thy God with al thy soul and all thy strength 4 Beleeue that he is thy heauenly father for his sonne Iesus Christs sake 5 Serue him with feare worship him and call vpon his holy name 6 As thou louest God so loue thy brother also 7 Let the loue of God in thee restraine the concupiscence of the flesh and prouoke thee to good works Let the loue of thy brother hold thee backe from dooing iniurie and pricke thee forward to doo good And remember alwaies that thou art borne to die A Preparatiue to praier PRaier is a talking not of the toong but of a faithfull mind with God by when wee aske of him some good thing either for our selues or for some others or else doe giue him thankes for his benefites 2 When thou commest to pray first prepare thy minde that it may bee free from all worldlie cares and that the affections of thy minde may bee quiet for the place of the Lorde is not in commotions but in quiet and rest Reuerence 3 Remember the maiestie of him beefore whome thou standest whoe as hee is the maker of heauen and earth so also is he the mightie soueraigne ouer the whole world 4 Remember that his eye seeth all things yea euen the actions the secret thoughts of thy heart Deuotion 5 If thou praye with thy mouth not with thy minde thy praier shal be but a tempting of the Lorde and a sacrifice of fooles Humilitie 6 Praye in humilitie of minde shaking off all confidence of thine owne worthynes and say thus O Lord righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee and to vs open shame We do not present our supplications before thee for our owne righteousnes but for thy great tender mercies I haue begun to speake vnto my Lord I am but dust and ashes Father I haue sinned against heauen before thee and am no more worthie to bee called thy son O God be mercifull vnto mee a sinner 7 Pray not hypocriticallie to seeme deuout in the eyes of men but secretly and thy father which seeth in secret will reward thee openly Contrition 8 Pray with a contrite hart and sorrowfull minde when thou crauest of God remission of sinnes Fasting 9 When thou praiest fast and abstaine from carnall delightes for thereby thou shalt bee made more apte and feruent in praier Faith 10 Pray in faith and with a sure trust and confidence in God without the which thou shalt not obtaine For euerie one that commeth vnto God must beleeue that God is and that hee is a rewarder of them that seeke him 11 Lette him that asketh aske in fayth and wauer not for hee that wauereth is like a waue of the Sea tossed with the winde and let not that man thinke that hee shall receyue anie thinge from the Lord. 12 Faith is the gift of God Therefore praye daylie with the disciples of Christ which said Lord increase our faith Lord helpe my vnbeleefe 13 The true knowledge of God learned out of his word will greatlye confirme thy fayth As when thou shalte knowe that he is louing kind mercifull gratious long suffering iust c. Also that hee is most readie to heare vs and to grant our petitions 14 God is omnipotent therefore hee is able to giue whatsoeuer thou askest God is mercifull and therefore hee will giue that which is profitable for thee 15 God giueth liberallie to those that aske of him For Salomon craued but wisdom and had both it and riches and honor in wonderfull measure And Iehosaphat which desired onelye water in his extreame thirst for him and his hoast had both the same granted and victorie also ouer the Moabites 16 God seeth and knoweth thy neede before thou askest yet to shewe thy obedience by this seruice which hee hath commaunded and also to exercise thy fayth thou muste receyue those thinges whereof thou hast neede by inuocating and calling vppon his name New obedience 17 As thou doest professe thy selfe to bee the son of God by praying vnto him and by calling him thy Father so shewe thy selfe an obedient sonne in deed by walking in his commandements 18 Let thy whole cōuersation be agreeing with thy prayers for thy continuall walking in sin will make thy praiers abhominable 19 Pray for nothing contrarie to the will of God reuealed in his holie worde For if thou praye to this ende to haue the desires of thy fleshe fulfilled thou shalte not receyue 20 That thy principal mark may be the glorifieng of God Seeke first the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and all other thinges shall be giuen vnto thee Perseuerance in praier 21 Perseuere in prayer and bee not discouraged though at the first thy petition bee not graunted For the Lord dooth sometimes deferre and delaie vs not that hee is vnmindfull of his promises but to trie our faith either els the more to stir vp our godly affections or to make his giftes more sweete and precious vnto vs as appeareth by the woman of Canaan and by Paule himselfe 22 When our Sauior Christ forbiddeth much babling hee meaneth not long prayers but long babling withoute faith and the spirit For length of wordes ioyned with length of earnest affection dooth not displease God 23 Christ himselfe praied all the night vppon the mountaine and before his death hee made long praiers he commandeth vs to pray cōtinually The force of true praier 24 Great is the force of faithfull praier for therby Abraham obteined life for Ismael Lot that Zoar might not be burnt in the destruction of Sodome Moyses victorye agaynste the Amalachites Eliah both drouth and raine Ezechias the prolonging of his life fifteene yeeres and such like 25 Let prayer be thy refuge in all trouble and distresse Call vppon mee in the time of trouble saith the Lord so will I deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me 26 Hannah beeing contumeliously handled by Penninnah betaketh hir selfe to praier Sara the daughter of Raguel beeing reproched entereth into her Chamber and there maketh hir praier Dauid being persecuted saith thus For my friendship they were mine aduersaries but I gaue my selfe to praier 27 Praier thus prepared and practised will bee a gard for children an ornament for yoong men a solace and consolation for olde men and a surpassing beautie for women It will driue away diuels It will procure Angelles of defence from heauen and it will bee a sacrifice of a good sauour vnto God pearcing the heauens and will not returne againe emptie The praier of a penitent sinner O Father of heuen O sonne of God Redéemer
serpents head that thou alone in vs mightest haue the preheminence and that we might bee made partakers of the blessed inheritance of thy heauenlie kingdome Of this kingdome thou haste long since spoken by the mouthes of thy holie Prophets As that thou hast set thy king vppon Sion thy holie Mountaine and that thy throne O God is for euer and euer and the Scepter of thy kingdome a Scepter of righteousnesse To this kingdome of thy welbeloued son thou hast translated vs from the kingdome of darkenesse setting vs frée from the penaltie of sin and deliuering vs into the glorious libertie of thy sonnes Who then shall be able to laie anie thing to our charge It is thou O god which doost iustifie who shall then condemne It is Christ thy sonne and our king and Sauiour that died for vs nay rather which is risen againe and sitteth at thy right hande making intercession continuallie to thee for vs to bring vs vnto that heauenlie kingdome By this kingdome thou hast giuen vs euen in this life peace of conscience righteousnesse and reioicing in the holie ghost Encrease this ioy in vs O Lorde that our whole delight may bee to serue thée in holines and righteousnes all the dayes of our life Keepe vs O Lord from the poyson of false doctrine idolatrie superstition and incredulitie by which sathan vpholdeth his tyrannicall kingdome Mortifie and subdue in vs all carnall desires and lusts by thy holie spirite and by the same abandon out of our mindes vncleane thoughts breake the snares of sinne that the whole kingdome of the deuill may be destroied in vs. Renue thy kingdome in vs O heauenly Father we humblie beséech thee by giuing vnto vs the true knowledge of thée and thereby a liuelie faith in thy sonne Christ and regenerate vs by his holie spirit and word that by the obedience of faith wee maie wholelie be subiect vnto thée alone Make vs O Lorde to despise the glorie pompe and plesures of this worldly kingdome which sathan promiseth to the worshippers of him that we may still desire from our hearts euen as the Hart desireth the water Brookes the fruition of thy heauenlie kingdome The glorie and pleasures whereof are eternall and most delectable But the pleasures of this life momentanie and vaine and yet mixed with manifolde myseries Heere wee are vexed with tyrannies of beastes and of men The earth the water and fire as wearie of vs continuallie warreth agaynst vs. Those good creatures which thou hast giuen vs manie times through our sinnes are hurtfull and noysome vnto vs yea we are disquieted with our own bodies and with our own affections As menne therefore wearie of this wretched worldlie kingdome and desiring to be dissolued from the burthen of the flesh we heartilie praie thee that thy celestiall kingdome may come for our deliuerance where there is no hunger no nakednes no labour no infirmiite no sickenesse no infamie no hatred no enimie no dissimulation no warre no sorrow no moorning no feare no death All thinges are there ioyfull and full of blisse saluation and peace are euerie where and whatsoeuer happines may be wished for in such wise as neither the eie hath séene nor the eare hath heard nor at anie time hath entred into the heart of man Let this thy kingdome come O heauenly father we humblie pray thée For all the afflictions of this life are not so grieuous vnto vs as the ioy of this kingdome delights vs. Therefore with sighes and groues wee desire that this thy kingdom may come vppon vs as the reward of our conflict as the garlande and crowne of our course as the happie hauen of rest after our tossing on the surging Seas of this world which thou shalt giue vs for the merits of thy déere sonne Iesus Christ to whom with thée and the holie Ghost be all honor praise and glory world with out end Amen 3 Thy will be doone OUr knowledge our vnderstanding and our wil by naturall corruption O Lord is blind dul and rebellious against thy holie will insomuch that the naturall man vnderstandeth not heauenlie thinges nor desireth the participation of thy euerlasting kingdome but is an enimie vnto the same Therefore thy sentence remaineth true at what time thou saiedst Man is but flesh and all the imaginations of mans heart are euill For this cause we pray as thy beloued sonne hath taught vs héere that not ours but Thy will be doone Thy will is iust holie good and full of sauing health euen as thou art the bottomlesse well of all goodnesse and righteousnesse it selfe And as thou art our louing and most mercifull Father so there is no cause whie we shoulde doubt of thy good will which surmounteth the louing kindnesse of all earthlie fathers Thy will O god is omnipotent and euerlasting without shadowe of change thou wilt doo whatsoeuer séemeth good vnto thee and thy will shall stande for euer and euer and the thoughts of thy hart throughout alages Giue vs grace louing Father wee beseech thée that as we are ignorant of this thy secret will so we may alwayes humblie like obedient children submit our selues vnto the same to bee ordered thereby as shall séeme best to thy diuine wisedome But at this time O Lord especiallie wee pray for the execution of thy reuealed will which thy onely begotten son our sauiour hath manifested vnto vs in his most holy gospell and which at this day is reuealed vnto vs by the preaching of the same that wee might bee saued through Iesus Christ in whom thou hast chosen vs from euerlasting that wee might bee heires of his kingdome For this is thy wil saith our sauior christ that euerie one which beléeueth in the son should haue eternall life Giue vs fayth therefore O heauenlie Father wee beseech theee that this thy will may bee perfected and accomplished in vs that wee may tend vnto that end whereunto thou hast appointed vs That wee may beléeue in thee feare thee and loue thee for thy so great and fatherlie mercyes in Iesus Christ our Sauiour powred vpon vs. Let this thy most holie and holsome will be fulfilled in vs that being iustified through the merits of thy beloued sonne and thorough faith in him we may bee ioyned with thée Furthermore thy will is O god that they which are redéemed by thy sonne and doo stedfastlie beleeue in him should shew themselues obedient thankefull and readie to walke in his commaundements and that wee beeing wholie consecrated vnto him shoulde giue our selues to innocencie and puritie should not anie more defile our bodies with the filthines of sins which hee hath made the temples of the holie ghost For this is thy will O God euen our holinesse that wee should abstaine from fornication that euery one of vs should kéepe our vessell in sanctification and honour and not to walke in the lust of concupiscence as do the heathen which know not thee And as thou O father wouldest haue vs
Forgiue vs our sinnes Wash vs thorowly from our iniquities and clense vs from all our sins in such wise that they may no waie preuaile agaynst vs. Cast them into the bottome of the sea that they may neuer arise before thee in the daie of iudgement Let thy wrath and anger and heauie displeasure bee turned from vs which we haue deserued and take vs into thy fatherly fauour againe that we may be thy sonnes Shewe vs thy mercie O Lorde and graunt vs thy saluation for thy names sake It is thou O god alone that canst pardon and forgiue vs our sinnes it is thou alone that doost make vs happie and blessed by couering our iniquities and not imputing our sinnes vnto vs. It is thou alone that canst put awaie our transgressions like to a cloud and our sins as a mist None but thou O God alone can remit so great a debt as that ten thousand talents we owe vnto thee Forgiue vs therefore wee beseech thee O most liberall father which art rich in mercies al our sinnes not for our merits but for thy mercies sake and remooue them so farre from vs as the east is from the west Pardon vs we humbly beséech thee for our Sauiour Iesus Christes sake who hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrowes who was wounded broken for our iniquities on whom thou hast layd the chastisement of our peace that we might bee healed with his stripes Purge vs with his bloud from all our sins cancel the hand writing which is against vs which thy sonne fastened to his crosse for the full satisfaction of thy iustice Him O Lord wee oppose with his innocencie with his holinesse with his righteousnesse and with all the merits of his sufferings in the flesh agaynst thy iustice as our onlie sufficient mediatour our peacemaker and our reconciler to thy heauenly fauour who by thy will was made sinne for vs that wee might be thy righteousnes through him and also accursed for vs that wee might be blessed for euer Wherefore vpon sure trust and confidence of these thy great mercies offered to vs in thy son Iesus being bolde and ioyfull and also sorrowfull that euer wee offended thee so louing a Father wee doo with deepe sighes of heart crie vnto thee Forgiue vs our sinnes Remit our offences and couer our nakednes with the holines and righteousnes of our eternall Sauiour thy sonne Iesus Christ and from hence forth kéep vs from presumptuous sins and restore in vs the decayed image of thy heauenlie light that we maie hereafter serue thee in feare in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life through our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen As we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. A praier for brotherlie charitie AS thou art our heauenlie Father so O Lord it is necessarie that wee should be like thee in mercie in kindnes in loue shewing mercie kindnesse and loue vnto our enimies as thou hast loued vs when wee were thine enimies And herein wee shall shew our selues to bee led by thy spirit as thy déere sons whome thou hast adopted and therefore assured of remission of sinnes It hath pleased thy sonne our sauiour Christ therfore to adde this condition As wee forgiue them that trespasse agaynst vs that wee might bee ascertained of forgiuenesse to forgiue our brethren which trespasse against vs. What greater thing O Father can we aske of thee then forgiuenesse of our sins whereupon our euerlasting saluation dependeth For the which thou requirest neither gold nor siluer nor anie laborious worke of the bodie at our hands but onelie this that as thou of thy méere grace and fauour hast pardoned vs so we in like maner shoulde forgiue them which haue offended vs. Expresse in vs good Father wee humblie beseech thee this similitude of thy good wil and transforme vs into thy likenesse that our soules by the illumination of thy holie spirite may bee ioyned to thee and that the image of thy fatherlie kindnes mercie and loue may shine in vs. Stirre vp in vs a desire of brotherlie good will and Christian charitie that wee may haue care to helpe one another as members of one bodie Grant vs grace that our loue may bee perfect not fayned false or hypocriticall not in word and toong but in deed and truth That we may be patient curteous long suffering gentle méeke not suspitious not disdainefull nor easilie mooued to anger but forbearing and forgiuing one another through loue O heauenlie Father take from vs all bitternesse and anger and wrath and crying and euill speaking with all maliciousnes and inflame our mindes that after thy example wee may vnfeynedlie loue euen our verie enemies and blesse them that cursse vs doe good to them that hate vs and hurt vs leauing reuengement alwayes vnto thee That thus retayning mercie loue the bonde of all perfection and the fulfilling of the lawe we may declare our selues to dwell in thee and thou in vs to the honour and glorie of thy holie name Amen 6 And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill A prayer agaynst temptation O Heauenlie father and euerlasting God wee most humblie beseech thee protect and strengthen vs weake and feeble men agaynst all euill temptations of sathan the sworne and mortall enimie of mans saluation a lyer and our accuser that great Dragon the olde Serpent which is called the diuell a wicked spirite a deceyuer which goeth about like a roaring lion seeking whom hee may deuoure But especially in this latter age of the worlde he knowing his time of raging to be but short and perceiuing the day of iudgement to be verie nie at hand rangeth in a deadlie hatred against thy children and by all meanes séeketh the destruction of all mankinde and sundrie wayes by diuers subtleties hee layeth snares to entrap our soules bending his whole power against vs and prieng for anie occasion to break thy commandements and so at length to plunge vs horriblie into desperation And because wee of our selues are naturallie prone to all wickednesse hauing in vs the seede of sinne which is concupiscence hee taketh an aduantage héereof to tempt vs to wounde vs or at the least to hurt vs with one pricke or other hee prepareth baites to take vs and intrap vs in wealth in pouertie in pleasure and in the inticements of the flesh in griefe of minde in ambition and desire of glorie hee maketh vs euill contented with our vocation to grudge in our inferiour condition hee troubleth vs with excéeding cares of this life and maketh vs couetous malicious seeking reuenge he prouoketh to pride and presumption and woulde feine bring vs to doubt of thy diuine will and prouidence he taketh great paines to lull vs asléepe in the cradle of securitie Night and daie sléeping and waking eating or drinking hee is about vs seeking with open mouth to deuoure vs. O Lord our God who is able to stand agaynst the manifold assaultes and
thy grace and mercie may reigne continuallie in our hearts so that we may be worthie to bee partakers of thy realme of glorie and maiestie Grant that vnto the verie death we refuse not to follow thy diuine will and that wee according vnto the example of the celestiall citizens agréeing togither quietlie vnited in spirit all controuersie in opinions set apart the lustes of the flesh being subdued and the flattering assaults of the world and the diuel ouercom neuer wrastle agaynst thy most holie will but obeie it in all things Grant O Lord for our bodie néedfull sustenance that we may the more freely serue thée Giue vs wee beséech thee O mercifull father that heauenlie bread the bodie of thy son Iesus Christ the verie foode and health of our soules giue vs the bread of thy diuine precepts that wee may trulie walke and liue after them Giue vs the bread of thy heauenlie worde which is the strong castle and sure defence of our foules that wee being wel fed filled with this food may worthilie come to the celestiall feast where is no hunger Grant O Lord that we patientlie bear and suffer our enimies and such as hurt vs and willinglie to forgiue the offences committed agaynst vs so that wee may find thee Lorde in forgiuing vs our trespasses milde and mercifull Grant O Lord that we be not vtterlie ledde into temptation that thereby we should bee lost but in all perilles of temptation and in the middest of the stormie tempests of tribulations let vs thy children receyue and féele thy fatherly succor ready to helpe vs least that wee ouercome with the craftie deceiptes of the temptor should be drawn into euerlasting destruction but when we be well assailed approoued and purged with the fire of temptation then let vs finish our course and so well and valiantlie fight that wee maie for euermore liue with thee in that heauenlie citie where agaynst thee no manner of temptation can preuaile Finallie grant most mercifull father that we through thy benigne goodnesse maie bee deliuered from all euils present or to come both of bodie and soule and that at the last the yoke of the foule feend being shaken of we may possesse the heritage of thy heauenlie kingdome which thy sonne with his pretious blood bought for vs thy children and therefore euer to haue the fruition of celestiall delectation accompanied with Angels and blessed Saints thorough the helpe benignitie and grace of our Sauiour Iesus Christ to whome and to thee our Father and to the holie ghost bee glorie and honour nowe and for euer Amen A praier for the morning I Render vnto thée O almightie and most mercifull father most heartie thankes by thy déerelie beloued sonne Iesus Christ for that thou hast vouchsafed of thy fatherlie goodnesse and frée mercie to giue mee this night sweete sleepe quiet and most comfortable rest and for somuch as it hath pleased thee safely to preserue me this night from all perilles hurts and dangers I wretched sinner most humblie beseech thee that thou of thy gratious goodnesse wilt vouchsafe to shewe the like kindenesse towards mee this daie in defending cherishing comforting and gouerning mee and all my counsels studies and labours in such wise that I may neither thinke speake or doo anie thing that may be displeasant to thy fatherlie goodnesse dangerous to my selfe or hurtfull to my neighbour but that I maie euermore by thy gratious gouernance so lead my life that whensoeuer it shall please thée to call mee from this vale of miserie and soile of sorrowe I may receiue the crowne of euerlasting ioy and felicitie which thou hast prepared for thy faithfull seruantes and them that loue thee graunt this mercifull god for thy deer sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another praier to be said in the morning O Almightie most gentle God I most hartilie giue thee thankes for the swéet sléepe and comfortable rest that thou hast giuen me this night And forsomuch as thou hast commanded by thy lie word that no man should be idle but alwayes occupied in vertuous exercises euerie man according to his calling I most humblie beséech thee that thine eyes maie attende vpon me dailie defend me in sorrow succour mee cherish comfort and gouerne all my counsels studies labors in such wise that I may spende this day according to thy wil without hurt that I may eschew al things that should displease set thée alwaies before mine eies liue in thy feare and euer work that that maie bee found acceptable before thy diuine maiestie vnto the praise of thy most holie name through Iesu Christ our lord who liueth and raigneth both now and euer Amen An Euening praier ALmightie God who as thou hast made the daie for labour and trauell so hast thou created the night for rest refreshing our wearied minds and bodies Wee most humbly beséech thée that as the night darkeneth and shadoweth all thinges so thou wouldest for thy deere sonne Iesus Christes sake hide our sinnes remoouing them from thy sight and putting awaie the memorie of them by eternall obliuion that as our bodies shall haue the rest of sléepe so also our mindes by hope of thy mercie maie enioy the rest of a quiet conscience and so being wholie refreshed wee may awake and rise vnto thy seruice the next day and all the dayes of our life as that when death shall come from the which it is as easie for thee to raise vs as from bodilie sleepe wee may rest in hope of the most ioyfull resurrection wherein our bodies shall awake vnto the euerlasting day vnto the which and vnto the kingdome of thy sonne wee beséech thée bring vs for the same our Sauiour Iesus Christs sake Amen An other praier for the Euening THis our mortall bodie which thorow sinne daylie decaieth and diminisheth must at the last altogither perish and become earth whereof it is come and made and then shall our vanitie which wee through our owne ignorance haue made vnto our selues take an end But most mercifull creator maker of all things vouchsafe so to breake diuide and dissolue me thy poore creature who am gathered knit and made of thee and grant that I may alwaies haue in mind thy dissolution and of whome I am knit togither hauing an eye to what place I must go to the intent that I not being prepared be not broght without the nuptiall or bridall garment before thy iudgement seate For like as when the daie is once past we giue our selues to rest euen so must wee this life being ended rest in death Nothing is more like life than the day nor nothing more like death than the night and nothing so like the graue then the couch or bed Thus good God kéepe and defend vs from al euil grant vs now liuing in impotencie and feeblenesse of our selues that through thee we may bee preserued this night and euer Amen The confession of our sinnes vnto God the Father
O Merciful and most louing Father which hast no desire in the death of a sinner but rather that hee conuert and liue I acknowledge vnto thy highnesse all mine offences by mee committed which I cannot hide I consider the vile state wherto through sinne I am brought for thereby I haue worthilie lost thy fauour and am fallen from thy grace which while thou withdrawest from me I can doo no good thing nor thinke one good thought My sinne causeth thee to put mee out of thy remembrance and to forget me delaying to giue me that which is my strength and comfort But howe long wilt thou forget mee Lorde for euer How long wilt thou hide thy face from mee Howe long will thou withdraw thy grace from me Thou knowest my hartie contrition and sorrow for that I haue vnkindly forsaken thee and thy seruice and serued thine enimies the deuill and sin But trusting surelie in thy promises made to all men by the mouth of thy prophet Ezechiell that is if the sinner will turne away from all his sinnes that hee hath committed and keepe all thy commandements doubtlesse he shall liue and not die as for all his sinnes he did before thou wilt not thinke vpon them I most humblie beséech thee that as my sinnes were the cause why thou diddest put me out of thy remembrance euen so let my heartie penitence for them cause thee to put my sinnes out of thy remembrance Suffer me not long to remaine in this perpletitie of minde and to take sorrow in my heart from daie to daie continuallie fearing the punishment due to my sinne and looking still for thy comming into my soule by grace to deliuer me Hope hath caused me long to looke for thee that art my life and my helth Thy long delaie in comming hath much increased my desire My feruent desire at length is now turned to a vehement pain wherfore make hast lord to help my sick soul Let not mine enimie the deuill long triumph ouer mee whose propertie is to treade vnder his feete like a cruell prince all those that hee vanquisheth And that treading is dangerous and terrible for hee treadeth them downe to the pit of hell and to eternall death He did long holde in captiuitie all mankind vntill the comming and passion of Christ for our redemption And since through his craftie traines hath brought to vtter confusion manie of those that professe thy true religion Wherefore behold Lord and consider my miserable estate and heare my humble petition touching my deliuerance out of his danger Lighten the eie of my hart and vnderstanding with the light of thy grace and comfort thereby expelling the darkenes of ignorance Lighten also one other eie of my soule which is the light or eie of the affection The sight of this eie is so dim that it hath no perfect true iudgement yea it is blinded with the vanities of this world that one thing in appearance séemeth to be twentie things like the sight of deceytfull eies of glasse yea sometime the concupiscence therof is so great that the eie is cleane put out and the sight lost Mankind entreth into such league of a mitie with the diuell that hee is contented to haue one of his eies put out to win his fauour as the inhabitantes of Iabes were agreed to haue their right eies put out according to the desire of Nahas king of the Ammorites had not king Saule and the Prophet Samuell saued them there from and ouercome the said Nahas and his hoast Euen so moste mercifull Father I beséech thée saue my said eie of affection that it be not put out by our enimie the Deuill that it sléepe not in sinne which is the cause of eternall death Manne maie fall by frailetie and arise againe yea the custom of sinne maketh a man often to fall But to lie still sléeping and slumbring in sinne as dooth the swine in foule mire ingendreth obstinacie in amendment and delaie of penitence till the latter houre at which houre who can bee sure to haue thy grace at his pleasure that is onlie at thy will Lorde not at our commandement Wherefore I most humblie praie thee to send me the light of thy grace while I haue heere time and space of repentance that at my latter end mine enimies saie not reioicing and boasting that they had the vpper hand ouer me As the Philistines the figure of the wicked spirites after the death of king Saul in the mount of Gelboe cut off the head of Saul and sent it with his harnesse through their country for a shew they bare it also into the temple of their gods of a pride and ioy that they had of his death in such fashion will those cruell enimies that trouble mee reioice if I be cast downe or if I doo once swarue from thee and thy faith and so die without repentance They assault mankind by pleasant suggestion to sinne they wrastle with vs causing delectation therein They strike vs and wound vs when wee consent thereto They foile vs and bring vs vppon our knees when wee doo at anie time commit or go about the filthie action of sinne And by the custome thereof they giue a great fall with such violence that wee haue much to doo to rise againe But if we happen to die therin impenitent then they haue the victorie ouer vs. Then reioice and triumph they thereat euen as the conquerour triumpheth in his newe gotten conquest Then will they cast vs in a pit lay a stone of abstinencie vppon vs that we shall not arise againe And as there is much ioy in heauen when one sinner forsaketh his sinne and returneth vnto thee by pennance in like manner is there ioyfull triumphing among the wicked spirits in hell when one soule forsaking thée dieth in deadlie sinne but all my trust is in thy mercie O lord For although thou hide thy selfe in a cloud that my praier should not go thorough it vnto thine eares yet are not thy mercies cleane gone neither dooth thy louing kindnes cease Thou art therfore Lord my portion and in thy mercie still will I hope in none other creature knowing for certaine that as God thou onelie maiest helpe mee and as my louing father thou wilt helpe me Wherefore in thee my heart shall be ioyfull and in thy sauing helth which is thy sonne Iesus our Sauiour and redeemer The Philistins knowing the presence of thine ark to be in the camp of the Israelites the daie of their battell were sore afraid saieng who shall deliuer vs out of the hand of this mightie God Much more will I be glad and take sure trust in thee O Lorde hauing the presence and comfort of thy liuelie grace And in token of the victorie which thou hast giuen mee ouer mine enimies I will not cease as I haue good cause to sing the praise of the Lord that so louinglie hath dealt with me and praise the name of the most high all the
daies of my life Another confession of sinnes I Thy poor creature vnworthie to appeare before thy mightie maiesty O moste gracious Lorde doo powre downe euen heere before thee my sacke that is full with sinnes which I haue committed euen from my youth They are great and manie without number Neuerthelesse trusting of thine accustomed and naturall propertie to bee mercifull to all sinners that beeing sorie for the committing of their offences with all their hearts call and turne to thee acknowledging and knowing that thou diddest not sende thy louing sonne to call those that seeme in their owne conceits to be iust but to call those to repentance which confesse themselues to bee sinners I therfore Lord willing by the helpe of thy grace vtterlie to forsake sinne and to fulfill thy holie will héereafter desire thee humblie of forgiuenes and to admit me among the number of those that are blessed and their vnrighteousnesse forgiuen I will not hide from thee my sinnes neither yet excuse them But I praie thee gratious Lorde and most louing Father to hide them in the bloody wounds of thy Sonne Christ where they shall bee put in perpetuall obliuion For who so couereth his owne iniquitie thou wilt discouer it to all the worlde at the daie of iudgement to his shame Thou wilt then haue him stripped as naked as hee was borne that is his shame shall not be hid but manifest to all men in that day Wherfore I will not hide my wound my selfe to the intent thou my good Surgeon maiest lay a playster theron to couer it betime that the deuill mine enimie neuer espie where it was A praier to be said before the receiuing of the holy Communion O Lord although I be not worthie to receiue thee into the house of my soule for mine innumerable offences and sinnes doone against thy great goodnes yet trusting good Lorde in thy great pittie and infinit mercie I come to receiue thy blessed bodie as a sicke creature to thee that art the health of life vncleane to thee that art the well of mercie blinde by ignorance to thée that art the light euerlasting néedie of grace and poore in vertue to thee that art the king of heauen and earth naked of good workes to thée that art the author of grace I come as a wretch to thee my Lord and maker all desolate and comforties thou that art my helpe and succour for besides thee there is no consolation I come as a sinner vnto thee that art the mediator and meane between God and man I come as a caitife to thee my most mercifull sauiour I come all sinfull vnto thée the granter of remission and pardon dead by sinne to thee the restorer of life euill to thee that art all goodnesse hard hearted to bee relieued by the infusion of superabundant grace beseeching and desiring thee most méekelie to heale mine infirmitie and sickenesse to wash and clense awaie all my sinnes and filthinesse and to lighten my blindnesse and reduce mee into the right waie for I am out thereof to comfort mee being desolate and without anie one poynt of goodnesse Haue mercie on my wickednes pardon my sinfulnesse giue mee the light of grace buried drowned in sin that I may receiue thee the foode of angels the king of glorie the Lorde of all lordes with such chastitie of bodie with such purenesse and cleannesse of soule with such contrition of heart and abundance of wéeping teares with such spirituall ioy and gladnes with such dread and reuerence with such faith hope and charitie with such obedience and humilitie with such loue and deuotion faithfulnesse thankfulnesse as it is beséeming for such a Lord to be receiued and to my soule most expedient And bee not displeased good lord that I a sinner with an vncleane hart and polluted minde come hither this daie to receiue thy precious bodie in sacramentall bread wine but remember merciful Lord thou that refusedst not the sinfull Magdalen being penitent from the kissing of thy blessed feet And in like wise despise mee not nor put thou me away as vnworthie from the receiuing of thy bodie in the blessed sacrament for my sins and vnkindnesse but grant thou me compunction of heart plentie of wéeping teares to wash my sins and wickednesse so that with a pure heart and cleane conscience I maie this daie receiue the Sacrament to my soules health that I may obteine and possesse therby euer lasting life with all holie saints in heauens glorie and in this present life to be replenished with thy holie spirite and neuer to admit other louer besides thee Grant me blessed Iesu for to receiue the sacrament of bread and wine that I maie be worthie to be counted for a member of thy mysticall body here in earth and though as yet I bee not anie way worthie to be numbred amongest the simplest and lowest of thy seruants but rather to be reiected and cast out for my simplenes yet good Lorde for thine infinite power thou make me equall and like to the merits of thine elect and chosen seruantes Come thou Father of the fatherlesse comfort of the comfortlesse come and clense my soule from all contagiousnes of sinne for it is not conuenient and according there to bee anie vncleannesse where thou the spouse of virginall chastitie should come in and dwell Come apparell my soule with such ornaments of vertue and grace that it may delight thée therein to dwel and abide And as thou disdainest not to touch the sore leapers with thy holie hande so good Lorde vouchsafe to annoint my simple soule with the ointment of remission and pardon that in this life by stedfast hope firme faith and perfect charitie I may so increse in vertue from daie to daie that I may attaine to the glorious fruition of thy godhed in the kingdome of heauen where I may see thée face to face worlde without ende Amen A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the Communion I Thanke thee good Lord of thine infinit goodnes that thou this day hast fedde mee with thy bodie and bloud in the Sacrament desiring thee méekelie that this Sacrament which I haue receiued may be to mee a purgation and cleansing of my sinnes a fortitude and spirituall strength against my frailtie and sure defence agaynst worldlie troubles a purchasing of grace and pardon a medicine of life and a continuall remembrance of thy passion so that in the waie it may conduct and guide mee when I am out of the way it may reduce mee when I stumble it may vpholde me and when I am fallen it may raise me so that by good continuance in thy will to euerlasting glorie it may bring me and so to order the tallage and taste of my heart that I nere féele other swéetnes but thee that I neuer séeke other loue but thee nor none other comforter besides thée so that I care for none other honour but thine And giue me such a perfect loue
towardes thee wherewith I may come to as great merit in heauen as though I had spent all my life in remembrance of thy blessed passion and gratiouslie deliuer me from all tribulation of bodie and soule captiuitie anguish and perils and all Christian people Amen A Psalme for remission of sinnes HAue mercie vpon me O God after thy great goodnes according to the multitude of thy mercies doo awaie mine offences Wash mee throughly from my wickednesse and cleanse me from my sinne For I acknowledge my faults and my sinne is euer before me Against thee onely haue I sinned and doone this euill in thy sight that thou mightest be iustified in thy saying and cléere when thou art iudged Beholde I was shapen in wickednes and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me Who can vnderstande his faultes cleanse me O Lord from secret sinnes For mine iniquities are gone ouer mine head and are as a weightie burthen too heauie for me to beare My sinnes haue taken such hold vpon me that I am not able to looke vp yea they are mo in number than the hairs of my head therfore my hart hath failed me Therefore I say Lord haue mercie vppon mee heale my soul for I haue sinned against thee Returne O Lord deliuer my soule saue me for thy mercies sake Wilt thou Lord absent thy selfe for euer and wilt thou be no more intreated Is thy mercie cleane gone for euer and is thy promise come vtterlie to an ende for euermore Hast thou God forgotten to be gratious and wilt thou shut vp thy louing kindnesse in displeasure O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger nor chastise me in thy heauie displeasure I faint in my mourning euerie night I wash my bed and water my couch with my teares Haue mercie vpon me O Lord for I am weake O lord heale mee for my bones are vexed Lord I power my whole desire before thée and my sighing is not hid from thée Remember not the sins of my youth but according to thy mercie thinke thou vpon me O Lord for thy goodnes For thy names sake bee mercifull vnto mine iniquitie for it is great Turne thy face from my sinnes and put out all my misdeeds Looke vpon my affliction and trouble and forgiue mee all my sinnes Though I haue gone astray like a shéepe that is lost yet séeke thy seruant for I do not forget thy commandements Kéepe my soule and deliuer mee let mee not bee confounded for I do put my trust in thee A Psalme wherein thou desirest god to heare thy praier HEare mee when I call O God of my righteousnes haue mercie vpon mee and hearken vnto my praier Heare my woordes O Lorde vnsterstande my meditation Hearken vnto the voice of my crie my king my God for vnto thee doo I pray My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee and art so far from my health and from the words of my complaint O my God I crie by day but thou hearest not and by night but I haue no audience Our father 's trusted in thee and thou didst deliuer them They called vpon thee and were not confounded But I am a worme and not a man a shame of men and the outcast of the people Be not far from me because trouble is néere for there is none to helpe me Hide not thy face from me nor cast awaie thy seruant in displeasure thou hast beene my succor leaue mee not neither forsake mee O God of my saluation Let my praier be directed in thy sight as the incense and let the lifting vp of my hands be an euening sacrifice I stretch forth my hands vnto thée my foule desireth after thee as the thirstie land Heare me O Lord and that soone for my spirite waxeth faint hide not thy face from me least I bee like vnto them that goe downe into the pit O let mee heare thy louing kindnesse betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust shew thou me the way that I should walke in for I lift vp my soule vnto thee Comfort the soule of thy seruant for vnto thee doo I lift vp my soule For my soule is full of trouble and my life draweth nigh vnto hell My sight fayleth for verie trouble Lord I haue called daylie vpon thee I haue stretched out my hands vnto thée I am wearie of crying my throat is drie whiles I waite for my God My heart trembleth within me and the terrors of death are fallen vpon me Heare me O Lord for thy louing kindnes is comfortable turne thee vnto me according to the multitude of thy mercies And hide not thy face from thy seruant for I am in trouble oh hast thée and heare me Draw nigh vnto my soule and saue it oh deliuer me because I trust in thée A Psalme for Gods grace TEache mee thy waie O God and I will walke in thy truth O knit my heart vnto thée that I may feare thy name Turne vnto mee and haue mercie vppon mee giue thy strength to thy seruant and saue the sonne of thy handemaid O that my waies were directed to kéepe thy statutes Staie my steps in thy paths that my féet do not slide Be gratious vnto thy seruant that I may liue keepe thy worde With my whole heart haue I sought thee let me not wander fro thy commandements Take from me the way of lieng and cause thou mee to make much of thy lawe Incline my heart vnto thy testimonies and not to couetousnesse O turne away mine eies least they behold vanitie and quicken thou me in thy way Let my heart be vpright in thy statutes that I bee not ashamed Direct my steppes in thy word let no iniquitie haue dominion ouer me Kéepe thy seruant from presumptuous sinnes let them not raigne ouer me so shall I be vpright and made cleane from much wickednes Forsake mee not O Lord be not thou farre from me O my God Create in me a clean hart and renue a right spirit within me Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thy holie spirit from me Giue me the comfort of thy helpe againe and stablish mee with thy free spirit Send thy light thy truth let them leade mee and bring mee to thy holie mountaine and to thy tabernacle Teach me to doo thy will for thou art my God let thy good spirit leade mee into the land of righteousnesse Bowe downe thine care to me make haste to helpe mee bee vnto mee a strong rocke and a house of defence to saue me So shall I bee glad and reioyce in thee and I will sing praise vnto thy name O most high A Psalme wherein we pray God to deliuer vs from our enemies DEliuer me O Lord from the euill man and preserue mee from the wicked man Which imagineth mischief in their hearts and stirre vppe strife all the day long They haue sharpened their toongs like a serpent adders poison is vnder their lips This thou hast seene O lord holde not thy tongue then