trust in thee Turne not thy face away from me neither shake of thy seruant in thine anger For in death no man is mindfull of thee and in hell who will prayse thee What profit is there in my bloud that I should goe down into corruption Shall dust geue thee thanks or vtter forth thy truth Looke back vpon me and hear me O my God Inlighten mine eyes that I Measure in wine comforteth Excesse walketh wantonly Vse a little wine for thy stomack 1. Tim. 5 〈…〉 that rise vp early c. Esay 1. sleepe not in death Withhold not thy compassions aloofe from me but let thy mercy and truth alwayes preserue me Amen A comfort after crauing of mercy gathered out of the psalmes IN theé O Lord doe I trust therfore shall I not be confounded for euer Deliuer me in thy righteousnes I beseéch theé my god Cast a chereful couÌ„tenance vpon thy seruant and saue me for thy mercies sake Lord let me not be put to shame for I haue called vpon theé For sake me not O Lord my God depart not from me Make hast to help me O God of my welfare Why art thou heauy O my soul and why doest thou trouble me Put thy trust in God for yet will I praise him because there is helpe in his countenance Pitifull and mercifull is the Lord For it is suffycient for vs c. 1 Pet. 4. Let vs which are of the day be sober 〈…〉 Sobriety watcheth her mouth Voluptuousnesse ryoteth slow to wrath and of much compassioÌ„ He will not be alwayes at variance nor be angry for euer But looke how high the heauen is aboue the earth so highly hath he made his mercy to preuaile vpon them that feare him Looke how farre the East is from the Weast so farre hath he set our sinnes from vs And as the father pityeth his own children so doth the Lord pitie them that feare him For he knoweth wherof we be made and he considereth that we be but dust Therfore wil I tary the Lords laysure my soule wayteth vpon the Lord in his word is my trust my soule wayteth for the Lord from one morning watch to another Let Israell trust in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and plenteous redemption and he will redeéme Israell from all his iniquities Yea the Lord is good vnto all Christian souldior harnised Hell Temptation ouercome Whose apparailing let not be c. 1. Pet. 3. The steps of a strange woman c. Prouerb 5. men and his mercy is aboue all his works Praysed be the Lord Amen ⧠A Prayer in commendation of Gods mercy receiued made by S. Augustine BEhold O my Creator many things haue I craued but not deserued the least I confesse alas I confesse that these thy benefits are not due vnto me but rather many and most strange scourges Yet for that Publicans sinners and theéues in a momeÌ„t deliuered out of their enemies iawes are mercifully receiued into the shepheards fold I am so much the more imboldned For thou O thou maker of all things albeit in all thy works thou art maruelous yet in thy works of mercy thou art surpassing marueilous wherof thou thy self hast spokeÌ„ by one of thy seruants saying His mercy is aboue all If they continue grounded in faith 1. Tim. 2 He that endureth to the end shal be saued Mat. 10 Perseuerâ—ce indureth to the end Reuolting a Sow in the mire his workes And that which thou spakest in generall of all thy people we trust thou hast verefied vpon euery one seuerally saying My mercy will I not take from him For thou despisest none reiectest none thou terrifiest none but such as most horibly are afrayd of theé When thou art angry yet doest thou not reuenge but doest blesse with thy riches such as haue kindled thy wrath if they shal cease Charitie feedeth the hungry I was an hungry and ye gaue me meate Mat. 25. If thine enemy hunger feede him Prouer. 25. The ignorant is instructed by theé the mourner comforted they that fall raysed agayn and deliuered from destruction to him that asketh thou doest geue he that seéketh theé findeth theé and to him that knocketh thou doest open O Lord God of my health behold what should I obiect what should I answere no refuge without theé no corner is hid from theé thou hast shewed me the way to liue well thou hast geuen me the knowledge to walke aright thou hast threatned hell fire and promised the glory of thy paradise â—â—aritie geâ—eth drinke to the thirsty I thirâ—ted and you gaue me drink Mat. 25. The Niggard witholdeth drinke from the thirsty â—say â—2 O Lord my strength and might my God my refuge and deliuerer inspire my minde what to thinke of theé Put into my mouth how to call vpon theé Geue me such workes as may please theé With theé a sorrowfull spirite is a sacrifice also thou doest accept an humble and contrite hart Charitie harboreth strangers I was a stranger ye lodgeed me Mat. 25. I haue not suffered a stranger to lye without Iob. 31. * A complaint of a sinner in that he sinneth againe after repentance by S. August Charitie clotheth the naked I was naked ye clothed me Mat. 25 If a brother or Sister be naked or destitute Iames. 2. With what face shall he intreat for mercy who is worthy of hatred and he that meriteth punishmeÌ„t with what boldnes can he demaund prayse He prouoketh the iudge who seéketh to haue a recompence but neglecteth his purgation He insolently and worthy of death tryumpheth ouer the king who albeit a traitor sueth for an vndeserued reward He exasperateth the louing affectioÌ„ of his father who before due time vsurpeth the prerogatiue of inheritance Charitie visiteth the sick I was sick ye visited me Math. 25. Let it not greue thee to visit the sick Eccle. 7 And seéing that it is impossible for me to recken vp all I confesse that I haue instructed the simple how to sin the vnwilling I haue perswaded I haue inforced them that refused and I haue geuen consent to them that of theÌ„ selues were willing Sight Let thine eyes behold that is right Prouerb 4. A Prayer against dispayre MAny say to my soule there is no help for him in his god But thou Lord art my maintayner my glory and the holder vp of my head Departe not from me in the time of my neéd but defend thou me till this storm be ouerpast Amen ⧠A Prayer vpon the minding of Christes passion WHat man is this whom I behold all bloudy with skin all to torn with knubs and wales of stripes hanging down his head for weakenes towards his shoulder crowned with a Hearing The eare of â—elosy heareth all thyngs Wisdome 1. garland of thornes pricking through his skull to the hard brayne and nayled to a crosse What so haynous fault could he do to deserue it What iudge could be so cruell as to put him to it What hangmen could
best and finally desiring nothing but theé who with the father and the holy Ghost art the full and perfect felicity for all euer Amen ⧠A Prayer to the holy Ghost O Holy Spirit worthy of all worship which makest vp the almighty trinity which proceédest from the father and the sonne and art equall to either of them differing from them in only propriety of person which of thy â—nd Enoch walked with God and he was no more sene for God tooke him away c. Gen. â— There appeared a charet of fire and horses of fire to Elias went vp by a whirlwind c 2. Reg. 2 So after the Lord hâ—d spoken vnto them he was receiued into heauen and sate at the right hand of god And they went forth and preached â—c Mar. 16 goodnes forgeuest the sinnes of them that amend which with thy holy breth cleansest mennes mindes comforting them when they be in sorrow cheéring them vp with pure gladnes when they be in heauynes leading them into all truth when they be out of the way kindling in them the fire of charitye when they be a cold knitting them together with the glew of peace when they be at varyance and garnishing and inriching them with sundry giftes which by thy meanes profes the name of the Lord Iesu by whose working all things liue which liue in deéde whose delight is to dwell in the harts of the simple which thou hast vouchsafed to consecrate for temples to thy selfe I beseéch theé maintayne thy giftes in me increase the things dayly which thou hast vouchsafed vpon me that by thy gouernance the lustes of the flesh The birth of blessed Mary the virgine the mother of Christ c. There shall come a rod forth of the stocke of Iâ—ssâ— and a graffe c. Esay 11. There shall come a star of Iacob and a scepter shall rise of Israell c. Num. 24. may dye more and more in me and the desire of the heauenly life more quicken and increase Let me so passe through the misty desert of this world by thy light going before me as I may neither be defiled with Sathans vices nor be intangled with any errors disagreéing from thy truth which the true catholick church hath delyuered vs by the instinct of theé which liuest raignest euerlastingly with the Father and the Sonne Amen * A Prayer to God for his Spirite and grace to pray effectually ETernall and most mercyfull Father we know not our selues neither can easely vnderstand what or how we should pray as we ought But thou shalt goe vnto my fathers house and to my kinred and take a wifâ— c. Gen. 24. I will speak for her that she may be geuen theâ— to wife for to thee doth the right of her c. Tob. 6. Mary the mother of Iesu betrothed to Ioseph her husband before they came together was founde with childe by the holy ghost TheÌ„ Ioseph her husband being a iust men c Math. 1. Geue vs the Spirit ô Lord to help our infirmytyes which maketh requeste for vs vnto theé with sighes which cannot be expressed I lift vp mine eyes to theé that dwel lest in the heauens Stir vp my hart and mind ô Lord come into me ô spirite of God that I may come vnto theé with hart soule not with mouth and lips only Geue vs thy grace that we may call vpon theé as true worshippers in spirite and truth with the inward attention without hipocrisie and ambition Graunt that I aske nothing of theé but that which may agreé to thy holy will to thy prayse and glory and to the health of my soule â—nd in the â—i moâ—rt the Angell Gabrielâ— was sent froÌ„ God to a citie in Galile naâ—med Nazareth to a virgine affianced to a man whose name was Ioseph of the house of Dauid c. Luke 1. â—he â—aâ—de of the womâ—n shall â—read vpon the head of the serpent Gen. 3. The Angel sayd to him the Lord is with thee â—hou valyant man â—udges 6 Neither let my praiers ô Lord prescribe the time when and how they should be fulfilled But let me submit my selfe to thy holy will in all things with hope patience and humilitie of hart Thy will be done in earth ô Lord as it is in heauen I will wayt patiently ô Lord for theé that thou mayst incline vnto me and heare my prayer Behold euen as the eies of seruants looke vnto the hand of their masters and as the eyes of a mayd vnto the hand of her maistresse so our eyes will wayt vpon theé ô Lord vntill thou haue mercy vpon vs. â—nd Moyses returned to Iethro his father in law and sayd to him I pray c. Exo. 4. My soule doth magnify the Lord and my sprite doth reioyce in God my sauiour Luke 1. Aâ—d Mary câ—ose and went with hast into the hilly contrey to a citie of Iuda 〈◊〉 entred into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth And it came to passe c. Luke 1. In his name through faith we come to the throne of thy grace receiuing the spirite of adoption we cry Abba Father StrengtheÌ„ vs O Lord least the vnworthynes of our life withdraw and intice vs from prayer Assist vs therfore O most mercifull father that we may pray euery where lifting vp pure hands without wrath or doubting with supplications prayers intercessions geuing of thanks for our selues and for all men Graunt this through Iesus Christ our Lord who is also at thy right hand and maketh request for vs To whom with theé and thy holy Spirit be all laud and glory Amen When the dayes were accomplished Mary brought forth her first begotten sonne and wrapped him in swadling clothes and layd him in the manger because there was no roume c. Lu. 2. Put thy shoes of thy feete for the place wheron thou standest is holy ground Exod. 3. Aarons rod being put in the tabernacle did blossom and I will make cease c. Num. 17. * A Prayer for the whole Realm and the body of the Church with the members therof according to their estates degrees Abraham circumcised his sonne Isaac when he was eight dayes old as God had coÌ„maunded him c. Gen. 2. Let euery maÌ„ child among you be circumcised That is ye shal circumcise the foreskin of your flesh c. Ge. 17 And when the viii dayes were accomplished that they should circumcise the childe his name was then called Iesus which was so named of the Angel before he was conceiâ—ed c. Luke 2. And forasmuch as thou hast commaunded vs to pray inespecially for kings and Princes and for all such as are set in authoritie that the company of mankind may liue peaceably and quietly vnder them in all godlines and honesty considering how burthensome crownes and scepters are how hard the wealding of them is and how difficult a matter it is to discharge them well whether it be in respect of themselues or of their
other shall be refused Another O Souerain creator of al things when I consider what maner of maiestie I haue offended with my sins I doe euen shudder at mine own rashnes When I bethink me how gracious and bountifull a father I haue forsakeÌ„ I abhorre mine own vnkindnes When I perceue from how blessed freédome of minde into how miserable thraldome I haue cast my selfe I condemn mine own madnes and I vtterly mislike of my self and my conscience is put in such terror by thine vneschuable iustice as I seé nothing before me but helfire and disparre The Sea shall swell higher theÌ„ any hill shall fal agayne as low fishes monsters of the Sea shal appere with roaring voyce Again how redy thou art to pardon such as amend thine own only begotteÌ„ sonne doth beat into our heads by many parables as of the lost groate and the finding thereof again of the shepherds bringing home of his stray sheép vpon his shoulders but most euidently of the prodigall sonne whose Image I seé plainly in my selfe The sea and all fluddes shall burne trees and herbes shal drop bludâ— Cities and all buildings shall be ouerturned O let thy mercy receiue him now submitting himself whom thou hast he therto borne withall so gentely in his straying from theé I am vnworthy to lift vp mine eyes to theé or to call theé by the name of father Neuerthelesse vouchsafe I beseéch theé to cast thine eye vpon me For thy loking towardes the sinner maketh him to reuiue when he is dead and to returne home again when he is lost Stoneâ— shall tuÌ„ble together and make a huge none Tirrâ—ble earthquakes shall make meÌ„ hide theÌ„selues Valyâ—s shall be 〈◊〉 and hils broght low Slaue that I am and worthy of all maner of punishment I seeke not that thou shouldst imbrace me and kisse me I craue not the long robe and the ring which are the badges of the former dignity that I did hold scorne of I sue not to be receiued to the honor of thy children It shall be a benefite great inough for me if thou admit me but into the number of thy basest seruantes euen of such as are bronded brought again from roging that I may at least wise be some hanger on vnto theé for in thy house there are many roumthes They that hid theÌ„selues shall runne forth like mad meÌ„ â–ª The bones of the dead shall appere aboue the Sepulcres The powers of heauen shall be shaken It shall not greéue me to be counted among the abiects in this life and to be racked with repentance and to be sullied with mourning so I may not be separated from theé for euer I pray theé and I beseéch theé by the death of thy dearly beloued and only begotten sonne impart thy spirit vnto me to cleanse my hart and to strengthen it with his grace that I slide not thether again through ouersight from whence I was called back by thy mercy Amen * Another I Haue gone astray like a lost sheep seeke out thy seruant O Lord for I haue not been vnmindfull of thy coÌ„maundements The offences ouersightes of my youth remember not O lord Be mindfull on me according to thy mercy For thy goodnes sake Euery one liuing shall dye presently Heauen earth all elementes shall burne The dead shall rise O Lord keepe my soule and deliuer me so shall I not be ashamed of putting my trust in thee Turne my mourning into ioy Rend my sackcloth asunder and compasse me about with gladnes that my tongue may sing to thee without prick or sting of conscience Amen * Another IF thou looke straitly to our sinnes O Lord Lord who shall abide it But forasmuch as there is mercy with thee I haue waited vpon thee for thy lawes sake O lord My soule hath held out in thy word my soule hath trusted in thee O lord For with thee there is mercy and plenteous redemption and thou redemest Israell from all his iniquities Amen Another Knowledge of God in Iesus Christ is life Mahomet and his Alcoron is perdition THou hast chastised me O Lord I am brokeÌ„ as an vntamed youÌ„g bullock Turne me I shal be turned for thou art the Lord my God for wheÌ„ thou hadst once turned me I amended and when thou hadst shewed me my faults I strake my thigh I was ashamed and blushed because I abode the reproch of my youth Another O Good Iesu O sweét Iesu y soÌ„ne of the virgine Mary full of mercie and truth O sweét Iesu haue pitie vpoÌ„ me according to thy great mercy O louing Iesu I beseéch theé by that precious bloud of thine which thou didst vouchsafe to shed for vs wretched sinners vpon the altar of the crosse put away all my sinnes and despise me not in myne humble sute calling vpon this thy most holy name of Iesus This Loue of God is in spirite and truth Idolatry is Spirituall adultery name Iesus is a swet name this name Iesus is a healthfull name For what els is Iesus but Sauior O good Iesu which hast created me redeémed me with thine own bloud suffer me not to be damned whom thou hast created O good Iesu let not my wickednesse destroy me whom thy almighty goodnes hath made O good Iesu consider what is thyne in me whatsoeuer is otherwise wipe it away O good Iesu haue mercy vpon me while the tyme serues to haue mercy least thou destroy me in the tyme of thy dreadful doome O good Iesu although I myserable sinner haue iustly deserued euerlasting punishment for my most greéuous sinnes by thy rightful iustice yet do I appeal from thy rightfull iustice to thyne vnspeakable mercie therfore pity thou me as a louing Father and mercifull lord O good Iesu what profit is ther Fayth apprehendeth Christ Iesus Cayne dispaireth of mercy Aboue al take the shield of fayth Ephe. 6. Behold thou hast cast me out Genesis 4. in my bloud that I should go down into euerlasting corruptioÌ„ For the dead shall not prayse theé O Lord nor yet they that goe downe into hell O most mercifull Iesu haue mercy vpon me O most sweét Iesu set me at liberty O louing Iesu be fauorable to me sinner O Iesu admit me wretched sinner into the number of thy chosen O Iesu the health of theÌ„ that trust in theé O Iesu the welfare of them that beleue in theé haue pity vpon me O Iesu the sweéte remission of all my sinnes O Iesu the sonne of the virgine Mary poure thy grace wisedome louingnes charity and humility into me and in all mine aduersityes geue me holy patience that I may be able to beare thy crosse with theé to loue theé to glory delight in theé for euer and euer Amen Another Hope maketh not ashamed Iudas ashamed anâ— hanged him selfe MOst righteous and mercifull god remember that thou art pitiful and that thou art my redeemer As thou art a iudge to condemne offenders so art
A BOOKE OF Christian Prayers collected out of the aunciēt writers and best learned in our tyme worthy to be read with an earnest mynde of all Christians in these daungerous and troublesome dayes that God for Christes sake will yet still be mercyfull vnto vs. AT LONDON Printed by Iohn Daye dwellyng ouer Aldersgate 1578. ¶ Cum Priuilegio Elizabeth Regina 2. PARALIPOM 6. ¶ Domine Deus Israel non est similis tui Deus in coelo in terra qui pacta custodis misericordiam cum seruis tuis qui ambulant coram te in toto corde suo ⧠To the Christian Reader zeale and knowledge in true and harty prayer through Christ Iesus DAuid a Prophet and a Prince to whom the lord had done many great singular benefites bethought him selfe not so much to increase thē by vse as to requite them by thankes He therefore willing as a Prophet able as a prince but not able in deede though willing so to doe opened his good hart and sayd Quid retribuam Domino What reward shall I geue vnto the Lord Being resolued he answered I will receaue I will call and I will pay Psal. 116. Doe thou the like Christiā Reader which art as farre indebted as euer he And seeing that Iesus Christ him selfe calleth saying Come vnto me all you that labor and are laden and I will refresh you Mat. 11. Answere thou I come Lord Iesu I come I come and will pay my vowes promysed to thee in the presence of all thy people euen in the Courtes of thy house when I was receaued into the houshold of faith I come and will pray and prayse thee for al thy benefites I come and will harken to thy blessed word and keepe the same I come and will receaue the cup of saluation at thy holy table in remēbrance of thy death with thanksgeuing In this sort so many waies by Baptisme by prayer by hearing his blessed word by frequenting his table must we come vnto him and that with a liuely faith The Spirite is willing but the flesh is weake Mat. 26 ▪ come vnto him therfore especially by prayer Pray that he would strengthen both flesh and Spirite And thinke it not superfluous to pray because God already knoweth what we neede and what we will aske But pray because God hath commaunded Luke 8. Pray to humble thy selfe before the feete of his maiestie Pray because 〈◊〉 doest hourely want that grace which he will assuredly geue Pray therfore that you may haue Mat. 7. And pray least you fall into temptation Luke 12. And because God vnderstandeth pray not thou therfore in a language which thou vnderstandest not but with Spirite and Vnderstanding 1. Cor. 14. Not with mouth and lippes onely but with the hart Mat. 15. For the spirite also helpeth our infirmities making request for vs with sighes which cannot be expressed Rom. 8 As Anna and Mary Magdalen with teares from a groning hart spake nothing 1. Reg. 1 Luke 7. For God must be worshipped in spirite and truth Iohn 14. And pray not with much babling and vayn repetition Math. 6. Neither be rash with thy mouth neither let thy hart be hasty to bring forth a word in the sight of God for God is in heauen and thou art in earth therfore let thy words be few For as a dreame commeth by multitude of busines so is the voice of a foole in the multitude of words Eccle. 5. Prepare therfore thy selfe and soul to pray Eccle. 18. with teares Mach. 5. with watching Col 4. with almes Act. 10 with fasting Luke 1. as the Niniuites Iona. 3. as Dauid 2. Reg. 2. as Daniell cap. 9. For with fasting prayer is good Tob. 12 Which exercises as they are the only meanes not onely to excite and stirre vs vp to pray but also to make them acceptable before God through Iesus Christ so also a great care diligence must be vsed of vs to vse the same not of constraint but willingly geuing our selues therunto Luke 5. without ostentatiō Mat. 6. praying continually 1. Thessal 5. without ceasing Col. 1. as the widow Luke 18. and as the woman of Canaan Mat. 15. Praying alwayes 1. Thess. 1 and at al times day and night 2. Tim. 1. in all places euery where 1. Tim. 2. in the Temple and congregation Act. 22. and that bare headed 1. Cor. 11. at home in thy chamber secretly Mat. 6. in thy bed Psal. 6. at meale and meate Mat. 26. morning and euening Psal. 44. abroad in the field Luke 6. The Scripture is full of examples Peter prayd in the vpper part of the house Act. 10. Eliseus aboue in his chamber 4. Reg. 4. Danyell in the kinges chamber secretly Cap. 6. and among the Lyons Dan. 14. Moyses in the wildernes Iosu. 1. Ezechias the king in his bed Esay 34. Ionas in the Whales belly Cap. 3. Christ in fieldes and gardens Math. 26. and on his cros Mat. 27. For the place of prayer is not materiall Ioh. 4. I meane of Priuate prayer in which consideration pray in all places at all times whether it be seuen times a day with Dauid Psa. 118. or thrise a day with Danyel Cap. 6. Whether on the Sabaoth day or at the ninth houre especially when Gods Spirite shall moue thee so to doe For at any such time to defer thy prayer vntill thou find a better place to sitte stand or kneele is as much as to hinder if not to quench Gods Spirite Now it followeth to whom we must come To me sayth Christ for without me you can doe nothing Ioh. 15. whatsoeuer you shall aske the father in my name it shall be geuen you Ioh. 16. Come to no earthly man for cursed is he that putteth his trust in man Ier. 17. and who shall deliuer his brother or make agreement with God for him Psal. 49. Come to no heauenly saint For Christ is our onely Mediator and intercessor betweene God and vs. 1. Tim. 2. and whom haue I in heauen but thee saith Dauid Psal. 33. Come onely vnto him therfore And why to him only For in him the Father is well pleased Mat. 3. No man can come to the Father but by him Ioh. 14. He onely is present euery wher to heare the prayers of the whole world All power is geuen into his hands Ioh. 5 He onely knoweth the secrets of our hartes But who shall come Al you saith he that labour and are laden How laden Not with bags of gold and brags of righteousnes For he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Luke 5. Presēt not therfore thy prayers in thine own righteousnes Dan. 9. Play not the Pharisie but pray as the Publicane Luk. 18. And albeit God heareth not sinners Ioh. 9. yet that is meant of desperate sinners malicious despicers of Christ his Gospel not of the repentant in whom as it is requisite there be no brag of righteousnesse so is it as necessary that there
be a harty confession of vnrighteousnes yealding to Gods mercy and crauing forgeuenes Such though they labor be heauy laden yet let thē come But how with a true faith nothing wauering or doubting 1. Tim. 2. Iam. 1. without fainting Eccle. 7. For the Lord is nigh vnto all those that call vpō him faythfully Psal. 145. According to your fayth be it vnto you saith Christ vnto the two blind men Mat. 10. What faith was that Do ye beleue sayth Christ that I am able to do this we beleue lord say they According to this faith they prayed for their eyesight and had it Pray thou in the same faith for thy soules health thou shalt receaue it Perswade thy selfe that God cannot but performe for Christes sake all his promises of grace and mercy Beleeue that Iesus Christ shed his hart bloud not only for our sinnes speaking generally but for thy sinnes and that he can and will helpe thee To such a one Christ him selfe sayth What so euer you desire when you pray beleue that you shall haue it it shal be done vnto you But whē you pray sayth he forgeue if you haue ought against any man that your Father in heauen may forgeue you .. Mark. 11. So that with this faith must be ioyned peace loue with our neighbor Mat. 6. 11. Also a life answerable to this faith 1 Ioh. 3. Least either our prayers be hindered 1. Pet. 3. Or not regarded Mat. 6. Or turned into sinne Psal. 109. But who hath this perfection Or whose prayers then shall be accepted Come therfore in the name of Christ For Christ is perfect though we vnperfect his holynes maketh our prayers holy when he offereth thē vnto the lord His righteousnes is our righteousnes and he was made sin for vs that we might be made the righteousnes of God. 2. Cor. 5. For to him that worketh not but beleueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly his fayth is coūted for righteousnes Rom. 4. Let not thy sinne therefore withdraw thee from this exercise for none asketh but he that wāteth none seeketh to find but he that hath lost Come therfore vnto him thou that doest labor and art heauy ladē carying in thy minde this one speciall note by the way what it is thou wilt demaund whē thou commest vnto him and for whom For prayers at aduenture are vnprofitable proceeding of custome from the lips not of zeale frō the hart What we should pray for the Scripture teacheth plainly First for the glory of god Ioh. 12. For the peace of Ierusalem Psal. 132. That the word of God may haue free passage 2. Thess. 3. that our flight be not in the winter Mat. 13. For our former sinnes Eccle 81. For soules health Psal. 36. For wisedome 2. Parali 1. For increase of loue Phil. 1. In time of sicknes Exod. 8. In afflictiō Ia. 1 Finally for all such thinges as the vse and want of man doth require whether they be earthly graces or spiritual alwayes framing our petitions to that certayn and iust rule of Gods will to the which all manner of requests must be referred for we know not what we should pray as becommeth vs Rom. 8. And therefore we aske and haue not Why Because we aske amisse Iam. 4. But this trust we haue that if we doe aske according to his will he heareth vs. 1. Ioh. 5. According vnto this his will therfore I meane his reuealed will knowen in Scripture pray for all men 1. Tim. 2. For all Kinges Esdr 6. Baruc. 1. For all that are in authoritie 1. Tim. 2. For the Ministers of Gods blessed word Heb. 1. That God may open their vtterāce Col 4. and increase their nūber Mat. 9. And that the word of God may be geuen vs Ephesi 6. Finally we must pray one for an other Iam 2. And for them that hate vs wrongfully Mat. 5. Forgeuing not seuen tymes but seuentye seuen tymes Mat. 18. And as Christ forgaue you so do ye Col. 3. For as the Chirurgian cannot soūdly heale a wound so long as the iron of the dart which gaue the wound is lodged in the bottome therof So likewise cannot prayer profite so long as the hart is cankered Therfore forgeue thy brother if he repent him Luk. 17 if he repent not yet forgeue him doe good vnto him so shalt thou heap coles of fire on his head Rom. 12. It followeth And I will refresh you Wherin thou mayst behold Christian Reader the assured mercy of God in Iesus Christ the effect of true and harty prayer For if thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt beleue in thyne hart that God raysed him vp from the dead thou shalt be saued He is rich vnto all thē that call vpon him for whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shal be saued Rom. 10. Ye shall goe and pray vnto me and I wil heare you saith the Lord and you shall seek me and find me because you shal seek me with al your hart and I wil be foūd of you and I wil turn away your captiuity Iere. 29. Seeke and you shall find Mat. 6. God is true of his promise and therfore we find in Scripture that at Moises prayer the plague ceased Exod. 8. Miriam by it was deliuered from his leprosy Num. 11. By prayer Anna was of a barrē woman made fruitfull 1. Reg. 1. Dauid obtained forgeuenes for his manslaughter and whoredōe 2. Reg. 12. Helias caused great plenty of rayne Ia. 5. Ezekias ouercame Zenacharib 4. Reg 19. Toby prospered Tob. 4. Susanna deliuered from death Dan. 13. By prayer Queen Hester deliuered her and her people Hest. 14. Ionas was deliuered out of the whales belly Ionas 2 By prayer Lepers were clensed Luk. 17. the blinde restored to sight Luk. 18. The palsy cured Mat. 11. many men we omen obtained health for their sonnes daughters and seruaunts Mat. 8. 15. By prayer the lame was restored to lims Ma. 4. the deafe men to heare Ma. 21. the dome to speake Ma. 12. By prayer remissiō of sinnes was obtayned Ma. 11. the holy ghost purchased for the Apostles all the faythfull Ma. 26. To be short wonderfull is the strength and force of prayer without the which nothing prospereth with vs fortunately But yet here remaineth a farther question how it may stād with Gods immutable wil and decree that our prayers should be of such strength force to alter the threatnings which are decreed therfore of force must come to passe I aunswere God neuer promysed any thing in scripture for the most part except it were the absolute promises concerning Messias and such like but it hath a condition annexed vnto it ether expresly or to be vnderstood Likewise he neuer threatneth for the most part but a conditiō is added thereunto As for example Adam was created of God that he should haue liued continually in blesed estate if he would so remayne this was the conditiō
and the decree DestructioÌ„ was preached to the Niniuites if they repented not this was the condition and the decree Niniue repented and was not destroyed but saued was therfore Gods decree altered no For he decreed their destruction but vpoÌ„ this condition if they repented not Pray therfore if thou be godly that he would geue thee the grace to coÌ„tinue and if thou be sinful pray that he geue thee the grace to repent And thus very well our prayers haue strength to stay Gods wrath his decree remayning immutable because it is threatned but vpoÌ„ a condition if we repent not But whence hath prayer this strength of it self No. For we being iustified through faith haue peace toward God that is the fauor of God through our Lord Iesus Christ. Rom. 5. So that Christ is our mouth whereby we speake to the Father our eyes by which we see the Father our right hand by which we offer to the Father Which Christ except he be our aduocate neither we nor all the saints can haue any thing to doe with god For no maÌ„ coÌ„meth to the father but by him Ioh. 14. Why then are not our prayers alwayes heard hauing continually such a spokesman who hath all power both in heauen and earth Truely because either we aske amisse not according to Gods will and that which is not for vs to receaue or it pleaseth the Lord to defer our requestes for tryall of our faith and patience HereupoÌ„ it was that Dauid sayd Expectans expectaui Dominum With long wayting I waited for the lord and he inclined vnto me and heard my calling Psal. 40. Pray therfore continually with faith loue vnderstanding in the name of Iesus Christ pray for al men at al times in al places and for al things according to Gods wil. Though thou be a sinner though God foreknoweth the hart though his decree be immutable yet pray vnto him in Iesus Christ and he will refresh thee Of this I thought good to admonish thee Christian Reader because it is an easy thing to pray but to pray aright is a thing very difficult Here are prepared for thee zealous and godly prayers some translated out of Latin French some made by the best learned of our time Use theÌ„ as I haue taught thee that they may be to good vse Accuse not mine insufficiency in teaching but amend thine owne imperfection in praying praying that we talke not smoothly walk crookedly but that we may giue to God the father our maker obedience faith to Iesus Christ our redemer and mortification of the flesh to God the holy ghost our comfortor Fare wel in Christ Iesu. R. D. ⧠The Preface or preparation to prayer O Lord my good God and Father blessed be thy name for euer dispose my hart open my lips and guide me by thy holy spirite to a true acknowledgement of all my sinnes that my prayer may be heard of theé in the name of thy Sonne Iesus Christ So be it ¶ A prayer to be sayd at our first waking O God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ whom no man knoweth but by thy specyall gift graunt that vnto the rest of thine exceéding great benefites towards me this which is the greatest that can be bestowed vpon mankind There shall come a rod forth of the stocke of Iesse and a graffe c. Esay 11. There shall come a star of Iacob and a scepter shall rise of Israell c. Num. 24. The birth of blessed Mâ—ry the virgine the mother of Christ c. may be added also namely that as thou hast raysed vp my body from fast and sound sleépe so also thou wilt deliuer my mind from the sleépe of sin and from the darcknes of this world and after death restore the same body to life as well as thou hast called it agayne from sleépe For that which is death to vs is but sleépe vnto theé I pray and beseéch theé that through thy goodnes this body of mine may be a fellow and furtherer of all godlinesse to my soule in this life so as it may also be partner with it of the endles felicitie in the life to come through Iesus Christ thy sonne our lord For whose sake and by whom thou geuest vs all good and holsome thinges to our welfare Amen Another MUch better is the light of the soule and the insight of the Mary the mother of Iesu betrothed to Ioseph her husband before they came together was founde with childe by the holy ghost TheÌ„ Ioseph her husband being a iust man c Math. 1. But thou shalt goe vnto my fathers house and to my kinred and take a wife c. Gen. 24. I will speak for her that she may be geuen thee to wife for to thee doth the right of her c. Tob. 6. minde then the light or eyesight of the body The eyesight of the body euery silly beast hath but the sight of minde none hath but men Yea none haue it but wise men Thou therfore O Lord Iesu Christ which art the greatest of all lights the only true light the light from whence springeth the light of the day and the sonne Thou light which inlightenest euery man y commeth into the world Thou light whereon there commeth no night nor euentide but continuest euer bright and cleére as at midday Thou light wherewithout all things are deépe darcknesse and whereby all things were made lightsome Thou mind and wisdom of the heauenly Father inlighten my minde that being blind in all other things I may seé nothing but that which beloÌ„geth to theé and that I may thereby walke in thy wayes without fantasying or lyking The seede of the woman shall tread vpon the head of the serpent Gen 3. The Angel sayd to him the Lord is with thee thou valyant man Iudges 6 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 the â—ngell Gabriel was sent fro God to a citie in Galile 〈◊〉 Nazareth 〈◊〉 virgine affianced to a man whose name was Ioseph of the house of Dauid c. Luke 1. of any other light els Lord I beseéch theé inlighten mine eyes that I may neuer slumber in darcknes least my ghostly enemy say at any time I haue preuayled against him Amen * A prayer at our vprising OUr first father Adam being tumbled down from most excellent and glorious highnes into the dungeon of shame and sinck of all sinne was releéued lifted vp again by thy hand O Sauyour Iesus christ And we likewise should lye wallowing in the same plight for euer if we were not raysed vp by theé Wherfore O most mercifull Redeémer of mankinde like as thou of thy goodnes hast raysed vp this heauy and burthensome body euen so vouchsafe to lift vp my minde to the knowledge and loue of thy highnes Amen And Mary arose and went with hast into the hilly contrey to a citie of Iuda and entred into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth And it came to passe c Luke 1. And Moyses returned
to Iethro his father in law and sayd to him I pray c. Exo. 4. My soule doth magnify the Lord and my sprite doth reioyce in God my sauiour Luke 1. I Thanke theé O Lord Iesu Christ that it hath pleased theé to geue me good rest this night past And I beseéch theé likewise to prosper me all this day following to the glory of thy name and to mine own soules health And thou which art the true daylight that neuer knoweth any euentide And the euerlasting dayson which quickneth cherisheth and cheéreth all thinges vouchsafe to shine into my minde that I may not stumble into any sinne but by thy guyding come to eternall life Amen Another I Thank theé O holy Lord father almighty and euerlasting God that thou hast vouchsafed to keépe me this night through thy great mercy And I beseéch theé of thine vnmeasurable clemency to geue me grace so to pas this day now comming in all lowlynesse Put thy shoes of thy feete for the place wheron thou standest is holy ground Exod. 3. Aarons rod being put in the tabernacle did blossom and I will make cease c. Num. 17. When the dayes were accomplished Mary brought 〈◊〉 her first â—e â—otten sonne and â—rapped him in swaâ—lâ—ng clothes and layd him in the manger because there was no roume 〈…〉 meéknes chastity charitie patience goodnes feare and warynesse as my seruise may please theé through him which shall come to iudge both the quick and the dead the world by fire keépe and preserue me from all euil from all stumbling and geuing of offence from all wilfull sinning and from all the crafts and assaultes of wicked feénds and enemies seéne or vnseéne through our Lord Iesus Christ thine onely begotten sonne To whom be prayse and glory with theé for euermore Amen * A Prayer at the putting on of our Clothes MOst gracious and merciful sauyour Iesus Christ thou knowest how we be borne clothed clogged with the greéuous and heauy burthen of the first man who fell away vnto fleshlynesse through disobedience And when the viii dayes were accomplished that they should circumcise the childe his name was then called Iesus which was so named of the Angel before he was conceiued c. Luke 2. Abraham circumcised his sonne Isaac when he was eight dayes old as God had coÌ„maunded him c. Gen. 21 Let euery maÌ„ child among you be circumcised That is ye shal circumcise the fores skin of your flesh c. Ge. 17 Uouchsafe therefore I beseéch theé to strip me out of the old corrupt Adam which being soked in sin transformeth him self into all incumberances and diseases of the minde that may lead away from theé Rid me also quite and cleane of that his tempter the deceitfull Eue which turneth vs away from the obedience of thy Father Clothe me with thy self O my redeémer and sanctifyer clothe me with thy self which art the second man and hast yealded thy self obedient in all things to God thy father to rid away all lustes of the flesh and to destroy the kingdome thereof through righteousnes Be thou our clothing and apparrell to keép vs warme from the cold of this world For if thou be away by and by all things become noume weake and stark dead Wheras if thou be present they be liuely sound strong and lusty Abner said to Dauid make couenant with me and be hold mine hand shal be with thee c. 2. Sam. 3. The Queen of Saâ—a bring gifts to Ierusalem to Salomon with a very great trayâ—e c. 3. Reg· 10. â—here is the king of the Iewes that is 〈◊〉 for we haue 〈◊〉 his starre in the East and are â—ome to worship him When Herode the king heard this he was troubled all Ierusalem â–ª c. Math. 2. And therfore like as I wrap my body in these clothes so cloth thou me all ouer but specially my soule with thine own selfe Amen ⧠A Prayer to be sayd at our first going abroad I Must be fayn to go abroad among the snares which the deuill and his handseruant the world haue layd for me and I cary with me besides the stinges of mine own flesh Guyde me therfore O thou most sure guide be thou my leader thou God of my welfare Defend me O captayn from the traynes and stalles that are layd for me that whatsoeuer thinges I shall meéte with I may make no more accouÌ„t of them then they are worthy of but keép on my way with mine eyes so fast fixed and setled vpon theé alone as I may not deal with any thing further 〈◊〉 the dayes of Purification after the law of Moses â—â—re accomplished they brought Iesus to Ierusalem to preseÌ„t him to the lord as it is written in the law of the lord Luke 2. God sayd to Moses sanctify vnto me all the first borne that open al maner matrices among the childreÌ„ c. Exo. 13 Anna bare a sonne brought him into the house of the Lord in Siloh and the child was young c 1. Sam. 1. forth then it hath respect vnto theé Lord shew me thy wayes and lead me in thy pathes for thy Sonnes sake Amen * A Prayer to be sayd at our returning home O How excellent and ioyfull shall our returning home be into the euerlasting quyet and blessed house of heauen where there is no troble nor incumberance at al. All the mirth and gladnes of this world is but a shadow in comparysoÌ„ of the pleasures that are there Nothing O Lord is liker to thy holy nature then the minde that is setled in quietnesse Thou hast called vs into that quietnes and peace of thine froÌ„ out of the turmoiles of this world as it were from out of stormes into a hauen Which is such a peace as the world cannot geue and as passeth all capacitie of man. Behold thy brother Esau is coÌ„forted agaynst ther meaning to kill thee Gen. 27. Michaell spake vnto Dauid If thou saue not thy self this night to morrow c. 1. Sa. 19· â—rise and take the babe and his mother and flie into Egipt and be there till I bring thee word for Herode will seeke the babe to destroy him So he arose toke the babe his mother c Math. 2 Houses are builded for vs to repair into from the anoyance of the wether from the cruelty of beastes and from the waues and turmoiles of this troublous world Graunt now O most mercifull Father that through thy singular goodnes our bodies may so resort into theÌ„ from our outwarde doinges as our mindes may yeald them selues obedyent vnto theé without striuing that they may the better and more quyetly exalt them selues into that souerayne rest of thine aboue Graunt that nothing may disturb and disquyet them here beneath but that all things may be quyet and calme through that peace of thine The peace of Christ be to this house and to all that dwell therin Amen * A Prayer to be sayd
morrow Moreouer because this life hath not one houre certayne whensoeuer the eâ—entide therof commeth the long sleepe of the body groweth vpon me from which we shall not wake till the dead rise agayn at the sound He was transfigured before them and his face did shine as the sunne and his clothes were as white as the light And beholde there appeared vnto them Moses and Elias c. Math. 17. Abraham said Lord if I haue now found fauor in thy sight c â–ª Gen. â—1 Nâ—buchadneser aÌ„swered Lo I seâ— foure men loose walking in the midst of the fire Dan. 3 of thine Angels Trumpet I beseech thee lighten thou then the eyes of my minde so as I may not sleepe in euerlasting death by the quenching of my faith but rest in thee to whom euen the dead are aliue Which lyuest and raignest with the Father and the holy Ghost one God world without end Amen ¶ A prayer to be sayd when we vnclothe our selues to bedward THis body which is become vnhaÌ„some and vnwealdy through sin shal be consumed by litle and litle and deliuered agayne to the earth from whence it was taken There shall the end be of this vanitie which we haue purchased to our selues by our owne folly Now therfore thou O most louing Father which hast set me together Dauid sayd to Nathan I haue sinned agaynst the lord c. 2. Sam. 12. Aaron looked vpon Myriam and behold she was leprous Num. 12. Iesus sayd Many sinnes are forgeuen her for she loued much To whom a little is forgeuen he doth loue a litle And he said vnto her Thy sinnes are forgeuen thee c. Luke 7 dissolue me in such wise as I may feéle my selfe to be dissolued and remeÌ„ber of whom I am ouercome and consider whether I must goe Take me not vnwares and vnprouyded to thy iudgement seat but like as we be willing to put of our clothes which we shall put on agayne when the night is past so let vs not be loth to put of this body which we shall receiue agayn after that the night of this world hath run out his full race Amen ⧠A Prayer to be sayd at our going into bed WHen the day is ended we geue our selues to rest in the night so when this life is ended we rest in deth Nothing resembleth our life more theÌ„ the day nor death more then sleépe nor the graue more then the bed Uouchsafe therfore O Lord our gouernour When Christ came nere Ierusalem he beheld the citie and wept for it saying O if thou hadst euen knowen at the lest in this thy day those thinges which belong vnto thy peace c. Luke 19. Who shall haue pity then vâ—on thee O Ierusalem or who c. Iere. 15. Their feasts are turned into lamentation their Alars c. 1. Michâ— 1. defender both to shield vs now lying vnable to help our selues from the craftines assaults of our cruell enemy also to call vs then vnto theé when we shal be yet more vnable at the finishing of the race of this life not for our own deserts but for thy own mercy sake that we may liue walk with theé for euer And now let vs so fall a sleép in theé as thou only those exceding great incredible good thinges may in such wise be preseÌ„t alway before vs by the insight of our minds as we may not be absent from theé no not euen in sleép that such dreames may both keép our beds and bodies pure vndefiled and also chere our harts with that blessed ioy of thine In trust wherof I wil fall on sleép and take my rest through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer when we be redy to sleep The women sang by course in their play and said c. 1. Sam. 2â— The children of the prophetes came to meete Helisha c. 4. Reg. 2. Christ riding to Ierusalem many spred their gâ—â—â—entes in â—he way other cut downe branches of the trees strawed them in the way And they that went before and they that folowed c Mark. â—â— â–ª TAke me into thy protection O Lord Iesu Christ our defender and graunt that while my body slepeth my soul may wake in thee and cheérefully and ioyfully behold the happy gladsome heauenly life wherein thou art soueraine with the Father and the holy Ghost and the Angels and holy soules of men are most blessed fellow Citizens for euer and euer Amen * A preparation or preface to Publick Prayer ALmighty God and heauenly Father I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy and in thy feare will I worshippe toward thy holy Temple I haue loued the habitation of thine house and willingly am I present in the congregation of thy Saints praysing and confessing thy holy name Iesus went into the temple and began to cast out them that sold and bought saying vnto them it is written Myne house is the house of prayer but ye haue made it a deâ— of theues Luke 10 Is this house become a den of theeues wherupon c. Jere. 7. Mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people c. Esay 56 Come let vs fall and bow down before the Lord who hath made vs because he is the Lord our God and we the sheep of his pasture Exalt the Lord our God fall down before his footstoole for he is holy Lord I make my prayer vnto thee in an acceptable time euen in the multitude of thy mercies O God heare me in the truth of thy saluation I will offer to thee a sacrifice of praise and will call vpon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vowes vnto the Lord euen now in the presence of all his people in the courts of the Lords house euen in the middest of thee O Ierusalem I will run in the way of thy commaundementes when thou shalt inlarge mine hart Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes Open mine eyes that I may see the wonders of thy lawe When Iosephes brethren saw him a farr of c. Gen. 3 Absolon rose vp early and stode hard by the c. 2. Sam. 15. Behold a woman a Cananite came out of the sea coastes â–ª and cried saying vnto him Haue mercy on me O Lord c. Math. 1â— Then will I take the cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord. Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy prayse I will sing with the Spirite and in vnderstanding and say Amen * A short speech before the Lords Proyer O Heauenly Father O most merciful God I most wretched sinner am vnworthy to lift vp my hands and eyes vnto thee or to trouble thee with my prayers Neuerthelesse forasmuch as thou hast commaunded all men to pray promised that thou wilt heare vs And moreouer prescribed vs a forme of Prayer in expresse wordes by thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ being
subiects 〈◊〉 is the king of the Iewes that reâ—orne â–ª for we haue â—ene his starre in the â—ast and are come to â—orship him â—heâ— Herode the king â—eard this he was â—roubled all Ieruâ—alem c. Math. â— Abner said to Dauid make couenant with me and be hold mine hand shal be with thee c. â— Sam. â— The Queen of Saba bring gifts to Ierusalem to Salomon with a very great trayâ—e c. 3. â—eg· 10. O Lord our good God thou hast set her vp to raigne ouer thy people geue vnto her thy handmaid and to al other princes thy seruants geue them wisdome and vnderstanding to iudge thy people and to discerne betweéne good and bad that they may not be vnprofitable and much lesse hurtfull in so holy a vocation God sayd to Moses sanctify vnto me all the first borne that open al maner matrices among the childreÌ„ c. Eâ—o 1â— Anâ—â— bare a sonne bâ—ought him into the house of â—he Lord in â—iloh and the child was young c. 1. Sam 1. 〈…〉 â—uriâ—â—cation after â—e 〈◊〉 of Moses â—ere accomplished 〈…〉 Iesus to Ierusalem to preseÌ„t him to the lord is it is written in the law of the lord Luke â— Also I pray vnto theé O Sauyour and father of truth for all those whom thou hast ordayned to be true Shepheards to thy faithfull and to whom thou hast coÌ„mitted the charge of mens soules and the dealing forth of thy holy gospell Guid them by thy holy spirite that they may be found faithfull and diligent in their holy vocation Arise and take the babe and his mother and flie into Egipt and be there till I bring thee word for Herode will seeke the babe to destroy him So he arose toke the babe his mother c Math. 2 Behold thy brother Esan is coÌ„forted against thee meaning to kill thee Gen. 27. Michaell spake vnto Dauid If thou saue not thy self this night to morrow c. â— Sa. 19. Let it please theé to make a general deliuerance and restitution of thy churches through the wholl world by sending forth laborers into thy haruest able and sufficient men to gather the poore stray sheépe together vnder the sheéphooke of the great shepherd of our soules thy sonne Iesus Christ. Moses cast the tables out of his handes and brake them in pâ—eces because of their idolatry c. Exo. 12 The Philistines â—nde Dagon fallen downe before the ark of the Lord c. 1. Sam. 5. He shall breake downe their altars he shal destroy their images For now they shall say we haue no king because we feared not the Lord and what should a king do to vs Osc. 10. As touching their hearers vnto such as profes thy name already geue true perseuerance in faith charitie and all good works to the glory of thy name to the health of their own soules And as touching the residue which walk as yet in the vanity of their own mindes touch thou their harts and geue them inlightned eyes that all of them may yeald them selues to serue and please theé Finally ô God of all coÌ„fort I beseéch theé haue pitie vpon the miseries and afflictions of all thy creatures in generall of the nations whom thou visitest with pestilence war or famine of the persons whom thou smitest with pouerty imprisonment sicknes banishment or other thy rods whether it be in their bodies or in their mindes and specially of thy chosen that suffer for the testimony of thy gospell Herode caused all male children to bâ— sâ—aine that were in Bethlehem and in all the costes theroâ— from two yeare olde and vnder according to the tyme which he had diligently searched c Mar. 2. Sâ—ul sayd to Doeg â–ª 〈◊〉 thou and fall vpon the priestes and Doeg the Edomite turned c. 1. â—a 22 Athalâ—a seing her sonne to be dead destroyed all the kings seed But Iehosheba c. Reg. 11. God spake to Iacob get thee out of this countrey Iacob toke all his gooddes and cattell c. Gen. â—1 Dauid asked counsel of the Lord saying Shall I go vp into any cities of Iudah c. 2. Sam. 2. The Angel sayd to Ioseph Arise and take the babe and his mother and go into the land of â—â—â—rael for they are dead which sought the babes life Then he arose and toke the babe c. Mat. â— * Another prayer for the church and all the states thereof by Iohn Foxe And Iesus when hâ— was baptised camâ— straight out of the water And lo the heauens were opened vnto him and Iohn saw the spirite of God descending like a doue c. Math. 3. Lift vp thy rodde and stretch out thine hande vpon the sea c. Exodus 14. They cutte down a branch with one cluster of grapes and bears vpon c. Num. 13. Esau selleth his byrth â—â—ght for a mâ—sse of pottage c. Gen. 25. The woman seyng the tree to be pleasaunt tooke of the fruit c. Gen. 3. The tempter 〈◊〉 to Christ saying If thou be the sonne of God commaunde that these stones be made bread But he aunswering sayd it is written Man shal not liue by bread only c. Math. 4. Behold a woman a Cananite came out of the sea coastes â–ª and cried saying vnto him Haue mercy on me O Lord c. Math. 15. â— certayne man was diseased 38. yeâ—res when Iesus saw him lie and knew c. Iohn â— â–ª And in the 〈…〉 of the night Iesus went vnto them walking on the sea c. Math. 14. But here alack commeth another mischief as great or greater then the other For the Turk with his sword is not so cruell but the bishop of Rome on the other side is more fierce and bitter against vs stirring vp his bishops to burne vs his confederates to conspire our destruction setting kinges against their subiects and subiects disloyally to rebel against their princes and all for thy name He that is without fault let him cast the first stone c. Iohn â— Iesus seyng their fayth sayd to the sick of the paulsey sonne c. Math. 9. And he tooke the v. loaues and two fishes and looked vp to heauen and blessed and brake and gaue the loaues to his disciples and the disciples c. Math. 14. Amongest vs Englishmen here in England after so great stormes of persecution and cruell murther of so many martires it hath pleased thy grace to geue vs these Alcyon dayes which yet we inioy and beseéch thy mercifull goodnes stil they may continue Christ cried with a loud voyce Lazaruâ— come forth Then he that was dead came forth â—ound hand â— foote with bandes and his face was bound with a napkin Iesus said vnto them c. Iohn 11. Helâ—as stretched himselfe vpon the childe and the Lord heard the voyce of Helâ—as c. â— Reg. 17. Heâ—â—â—ens comming into the house and behold the childe was dead and he stretched c. 4. Reg. 4. Abraham said Lord if I
thou also God to acquite thy seruantes and a creator to saue thine own worke and a Sauyour to saue him that beleueth in thee and is baptized Wherfore O Lord mind not thy iustice only as agaynst a sinner but be mindfull of thy goodnesse as towards thy creature minde not thy wrath as agaynst an offender but be mindfull of thy compassion as towards a poore wretch of thine Spare me O Lord which art my saluation and desirest not the death of a sinner Spare my sinfull soul. My God in thee doe I trust and vnto thee doe I commit my soule O merciful God haue pitie vpon me haue pitie vpon thy humble creature Deale with me according to thy mercy O thou that art blessed for euer Amen Patience ouercōmeth all thinges Wrath deuoureth it selfe Looking vnto Iesus the Author c. Heb. 12. Let al bitternes and anger and wrath Eph. 4. Another O Most mercifull Lord how can I be good which haue bin euil euen in the good I sinned thou winkedst at it I continued long time in my wickednes and thou continuedst as long in thy louing kindnesse of purpose to bring me to repentance and to shew me fauor Thou therfore that hast born so long with my offences geue mercy to me miserable wretch For I beleue that whatsoeuer thou determinest to forgeue me it shal be as if it had neuer beéne done My whole life O my God maketh me afrayd because that when I sift it thorowly there appeareth welnere nothing but sinne or barrainnesse in it and if there be any fruit in it it is ether so thin and slender or so vnperfect and corrupted by some mean or other that Be not high minded but make your selues c Rom. 12. Woe to the crown of pride c. Esay 28. Humilitie is tender harted Pride despiseth his neighbour it may well either vtterly displease theé or at least wise not like theé Therfore being abashed at the multitude of my sinnes but yet trusting to thy gracious goodnes I acknowledge and cōfesse to theé my maker and Redeémer which hast promised forgeuenes to offenders that in sinne I was conceued in sinne haue I beén brought vp and in sinne haue I liued all the time of my life vnto this day I find not any sinne wherewith I am not defited by some meanes or other Thus is my soule filled with misery according to the desert of my sinnes Thus is my soule brought euen to the gate of hell O my God if thou deliuer me I haue cause to thanke theé if thou deliuer me not yet haue I no cause to blame theé for thou art righteous Alas how haue I liued what a nūber of euill things haue I sayd done Mercy beareth with infirmities Cruelty seeketh reuenge Be curteous and tender harted c. Ephe. 4. Auenge not your selues but geue place c. Rom. 12. I am ashamed that I haue liued so my conscience telleth me I haue deserued damnation but I am sure that thy mercy wipeth away all offence Wipe away mine iniquities therfore O Lord with the multitude of thy mercies and by the desert of thy most bitter passion and death Amen Another WOe is me wretch that I am how often haue I fallen in rising and lien still when I was fallen I haue heaped sinne vpon sinne often promising amendement but neuer perfourming it I haue alwayes returned agayn to my vomit and to my former offences I haue added new and worse Behold O most mercifull God I hide not my sinnes but I bewray them I doe not excuse but accuse my selfe for I know mine iniquitie well inough Surely I might well inough despayre in respect Three things reioyce me the vnitie c. Ecclesiasticus 25. The strife of the proud is bloudshed Ecclesi 27. Concord supporteth one another Discord destroyeth one another of my outragious sinnes vices and infinit ouersights which I haue committed and dayly doe committe without ceasing in thought word and deede and by all other meanes wherin mans frailty may offend were it not that thy word O Lord is become flesh and dwelleth among vs But now I dare not dispayre because that he submitting himselfe vnto thee to the very death yea euen to the death of the crosse hath taken away the handwriting of our sinnes and nayled it to his crosse crucifiyng the same and death both at once Therfore I beseech thee for thine only begotten sonnes death sake wipe away all my iniquities and be mercifull to me the miserablest of all sinners to the intent that being set free from sinne and iustified before thee through the righteousnes of thy sonne I may sing prayse to thy name and glorifie thee together with Loue nourisheth with ioy Herod murthereth infants the same thy sonne and the holy Ghost from this time forth for euermore Amē Another MY soul is weary of her life I will speake in the bitternes of my hart I am sick my life is brought weake with misery my bones are bruzed as in a mortar and therfore I flie to thee Lord as to my phisition Heal me O Lord and I shall be wholl saue thou me and I shal be safe And because I trust in theé I shall not be put to shame But who am I O gracious God that dare speak thus boldly vnto theé I am a sinner wholy bred born and brought vp in sinne a rotten caryon a filthy vessel wormes meat Woe is me Spare me O lord What victory were it if thou shouldest fight with me and ouercome me which am lesse then the stubble before the wind Pardon Put on the whole armore c. Ephe. 6. Stand fast in the faith c. 1. Cor. 16. Chastitie is secrete and clean Vncleanes is like a Goate me all my sinnes and lift me poore soule out of the mire Surely Lord if thou wilt geue me leaue thou shouldst not shun him that commeth running to theé For thou O Lord Iesu art my God and yet art thou flesh of my flesh and bone of my bones ioyning thy self to my humain nature without leauing the right hand of thy father and being both God and man in one person and yet contynuing still that which thou wast before And to what end hast thou done this so high and vnconceiuable thing but that I should come running boldly vnto theé as to my brother and thou mercifully impart thy Godhead vnto me Wherfore vp Lord and help me vp I say and put me not back for euer Like as the hart seéketh after the fountaines of water so doth my thirsty soul long after theé the liuing spring to Wisedome is better then gold Sardanapalus an imprudent king draw water of comfort out of the Sauiours welles that it may no more be a thirst when it commeth to appeare before thy face Come the ioy of my hart that I may take pleasure of theé Shew thy mercy to me to glad my hart with all Let me find theé for whom I long Let my sute enter
side with his spear so as there remayned not one drop more in thy body But finally thou wast as a bundle of mirhe hanged vp aloft thy tender flesh shrunke the moysture of thy bowels dried vp the marow of thy bones wasted away I beseéch theé O most sweéte Iesu by this most bitter death of thine and by the sheading of thy most precious bloud wound my hart with such repentance ¶ The lord Come lordings all daunce at my call ¶ The Knight Goe hence sir Knight t is almost night We Lordes and Knightes of late Now lye in low estate of my sinnes and ioy of thy loue as my teares may be my foode day and night Turne thou me wholy vnto theé that my hart may dwell with theé continually and my conuersation be acceptable vnto theé And let my life be such through thy goodnes as I may prayse theé for euer with al thy Saints in the life to come Amen Another O Lord Iesu Christ the sonne of the liuing God who for the saluation of the world drankest eyzell and Gall vpon the cros like as at the geuing vp of the Ghost when thou hadst finished all things didst commit thy soule into thy Fathers hāds so do I betake my soul into thy mercifull hands beseeching thee both to preserue it here frō all sinne and in the end to receaue it in peace into the company of thy chosen that are departed that I may Behold the Squire as in a glas For as thou art so he was ¶ The Esquire Esquire the braue It bootes nor to craue ¶ The Gentleman Lusty or sad Thou must be had with thē prayse thee euerlastingly which liuest raignest c. Amen * A prayer vpon the minding of Christes resurrection and ascention O Lord Iesu O good Iesu which diddest vouchsafe to die for my sinnnes and rosest agayn for my iustification I beseéch theé by thy glorious resurrection raise me vp from the graue of al my vices and sinnes and geue me part daily in the first resurrection that I may be made partaker of the second resurrection also O most sweét Iesu which art gone vp into heauē with glorious triumph and sittest at the right hand of thy Father like a most mighty king draw me vp to theé make me to runne after theé for the sweét sent of thine oyntmentes ¶ The Iudge Come on iudge With me to trudge ¶ The iustice Sir Iustice arise come to my assise Iudge and Iustice sentence haue To ly as captiues in the craue make me to run without tyring by thy drawing and pulling of me forward Draw the soul that thirsteth after theé to the riuers of euerlasting suffifanze which are aboue yea verely draw me to thy selfe which art the liuing fountayn that I may so drink of theé according to my capacitie as I may liue for euer My God my life thou welspring of life fill my minde with the streames of thy pleasures ▪ make my hart loue-sick with the sober drunkennes of thy loue that I may forget the things that are vain and earthly and haue theé only in my mind continually Geue me thy holy spirite which is betokened by those waters which thou hast promysed to geue to them that are a thirst Graunt I beseéch theé that I may long with all my hart and labour with all my indeuor to attayne to the place whether we beleéue that thou didst ascend No law no plea ▪ no drift From death can make a shift ¶ Sergeant at law Leaue the Lawes heare my cause ¶ The Attorney Plead as thou lust With me thou must the fortith day after thy resurrection so as I may be conuersant in this vale of misery but with my body and alwayes in heauen with my hart so as my minde may be where thou art euen where thou my incomparable and deér beloued treasure art that I may sing prayses to thy name from this time forth for euermore Amen Another O Brother of oures O naturall sonne of that father whose sōnes thou makest vs by adoption O head of our body we seé that thou art king of heauē forget not thou thy earth wherinto thine inestimable loue of vs did bring theé down Thou frō out of that place geuest hope to vs thy members that we may come thether as thou art exalted already O gard and defence of vs what can now hurt vs so long as ¶ The Mayor Mayor I theé call to my guild Hall. ¶ The Shirife Shirif for execution I haue a commission The Mayors and Shirifes doe pas with speed And others them in place succeed we trust in theé Most wretched are they that know theé not and most happy are they that doe euer behold theé Blessed are they that knew theé here in the dayes of the mortalitie of thy flesh But more blessed are they that seé theé in heauen and shall seé theé raigning in the chief goods of thy father O loue and delight of mankind O only hope of vs imbrace vs with thy fauour kisse vs shead thy spirite into our harts and make our minds to run continually vpon theé to our exceéding great comfort Lift vs vp lying flatte vpon the ground open our eyes and lift them vp vnto theé Open thy mouth to call vs and open our eares to heare theé that we setting theé alone before vs for our marck to direct our life by may square out all our doeings words thoughts by theé Amen We peace did keep in Princes name Now death doth charge vs with the same ¶ The Bailife Come Baylife no bayle with me shal preuayl ¶ The Constable Constable I arrest to my ward be prest ⧠A Prayer to Christ ascending and raigning in glory OH good Christ our first begotten brother and tender harted Ioseph Oh natural sonne of that Father to whom we are made children of adoption through theé Oh our head raigning on high in glory forget not vs thy poore members here on earth wher into abasing thy selfe thou camst down and sufferedst for vs most cruell death Out of this thy throne of maiesty and glory thou putst vs in assured hope and confidence that we also shall attayn to that blessed place whether thou art gon before to take possessiō for vs Oh our strong tower of defence succor what can hurt vs now trusting in theé Most vnhappy are they which are ignorāt of theé Most happy are they which alwayes behold theé ¶ The Phisicion By thy water I do seé thou must away with me The Astronomer Looke not so hie low thou must lie No arte or medicine can preuayle When death doth purpose to assayle Blessed are they which haue known theé here in the dayes of their mortalitie but more blessed are they which seé theé in the heauens and shall seé theé raigning with thy Father in ioyes incomparable Oh Lord the only ioy and comfort of our soules shew vs thy louing countenance imbrace vs with the armes of thy mercy receiue vs O good
granÌ„t vs liue eternally * A Prayer for the obtayning of a sound minde O Lord Iesu Christ the light of al them that put their trust in theé and the only Phisition of our soules the light of mind which thou hadst put into vs by creation is dimmed defaced and in maner extinguished by the fall of our first Father Adam and a horrible maime and disorder is fallen vpoÌ„ all the powers sences of our soules Our wit reason iudgement discretion vnderstanding and will are vtterly corrupted so as of our selues we can not seé nor discern any thing aright The wise the simple and euery degree Are by force compelled to obey vnto thee Countreywoman â–ª Away with butter cheése For thy life thou must leese The Nurse Geue sucke no more For I am at the dore Create thou a pure hart in vs and renue a right spirite in vs Binde thou vp the sores of our soules wash them with the wine of thy precyous bloud and annoynt them with the oyle of thy holynes Repair that heauenly Image which is defaced in vs through sinne and adorne it agayne with thine own righteousnes That we being set in perfect state by thy meanes may sing acceptable prayses euerlastinglye to theé in thy holy church Amen ¶ A Prayer to be sayd for newnesse of life VNto theé O Lord doe I lift vp my hart In theé my God doe I trust let me not be put to shame Shepeheardes wife Be thou young or olde Thou must enter into my folde ¶ Aged woman Be the day neuer so long At last commeth Euensong From earth we came to earth we shall For sinne by death hath made vs thrall Shew me thy wayes and teach me thy pathes lead me forth in thy righteousnes and guide me for thou art my sauyour in theé is my trust all the day long Teach me thy way O Lord guide me in the right path for feare of mine enemies A cleane hart create in me O God and a right Spirite renue within my bowels Thrust me not out of thy sight O Lord neither take thy spirit froÌ„ me Geue me agayne the comfort of thy help and strengthen me with a principall Spirite Teach me thy way O Lord and I will walke in thy truth Knit my hart vnto theé that it may fear thy name geue thy seruaÌ„t streÌ„gth and saue the sonne of thy handmayd The wise the simple and euery degree Are by force compelled to obey vnto thee The Creeple Be thou poore or disesed Thou must with me be pleased The poore woman Be thou neuer so poore Thou must enter at my â—ore Make me to vnderstand the wayes of thy commaundements and I will talke of thy wonders Remoue from me the way of lying and geue me thy law Set thy law O Lord and the way of thy statutes before me that I may euer keép them Geue me vnderstanding that I may obserue thy law keép it continually Leade me forth in the pathes of thy commaundements for in them is my delight Incline my hart vnto thy testimonies and not vnto couetousnes Let not the foote of pride come neare me nor the hand of sinne touch me Turne away mine eyes from vanitie and quicken me in thy way StrengtheÌ„ thy seruant in thy word that I may feare theé The Infant Loe this little hart I strike with my dart The Foole. Of foolish and fond I break the bond No state no might young nor old To resist death daâ—â— behold Behold I haue lusted for thy commaundements quicken me in thy righteousnes Let thy mercy come vpon me O Lord let thy sauing health light vpon me according to thy word A Prayer for true mortification Emperors and kings we did raigne But now the earth doth vs detayne ¶ The Emperor Of Monarch Emperor I am the conqueror ¶ The king Keisar or king I must theé bring ¶ The Duke Duke though thou be daunce after me ¶ The Marques Marques of state march with thy mate Dukes and Marques we haue been Nought now but bones are to be seen For if thy sonne our sauiour euer wont to obay thy good will prayed so hartely and often Not my will but thy will be We Earles and Barons were sometime Now wrapt in lead are turnd to slime ¶ The Baron Barons of nobilitie sweare to me fealty ¶ The Vicount Earle or Vicount geue thy account done wherby he declareth himself to be very man how can it be but we whose nature is corrupt not only in natiuity but in the rest of our whol life also shall finde both our hands full in great and greéuous temptations wholy to resine our selues vnto theé Graunt therfore deére Father for thy Christes sake I most hartely beseéch theé thy grace and holy spirite to be effectual in me that dayly I may accustome my selfe to deny my will in more easie and pleasant things of this life that when neéde shall be I may come vnto theé with a resined will alwayes stedfastly expecting thy mercy and in the meane season continually obaying theé with readines and willingnes doing whatsoeuer may most plese theé through Christ our Lord which liueth and raigneth with theé and the holy Ghost world without end Amen ¶ The Archbishop Archb. Metropolite theé thy Prouince I visite ¶ The Bishop Bishops graue old are sheép of my fold Bishops we haue taught the lord That all must enter deathes dore A prayer for coÌ„tinuance in seking after christ by S. Augustine Both sheep and shepheard all must dye We taught the same the same we try ¶ The Doctor Doctor diuine at last thy reading houre is past ¶ The Preacher Preach no more about thy glas is run out ¶ The lord Come lordings all daunce at my call ¶ The Knight Goe hence sir knight t is almost night We Lords and Knights of late Now lie in low estate Behold the Squire as in a glas For as thou art so he was ¶ The Esquire Esquire the braue It bootes not to craue ¶ The Gentleman Lusty or sad Thou must be had ¶ The Iudge â–ª Come on iudge With me to trudge ¶ The iustice Sir Iustice arise come to my assise Iudge and Iustice sentence haue To ly as captiues in the graue In such sort therefore O my God thou art layde vp for them that feare theé as thou mayst be found of them that hope in theé So thou doest prolong to be found of them that seéke theé the sooner to approch to them that perseuere in seéking No law no plea no drift From death can make a shift ¶ Sergeant at law Leaue the Lawes heare my cause ¶ The Attorâ—ey Plead as thou lust With me thou must O my mercy and my refuge my deliuerer and defender so geue me feare as also I may loue so put me in feare as thou increase also the desire of theé and so make me one of those that feare and keépe thy commaundements that by the obedience of thy feare I may
enioy the feare of thy loue Amen A Prayer for spirituall ioy LOrd Iesu the redeémer and comforter of mankind which hast by thy holy Spirite prepared far greater pleasures then the world knoweth of for such as refuse the false pleasures of this world for thy sake tempering the troubles of this life with inward and ¶ The Mayor Mayor I theé call â–ª to my guild Hall. ¶ The Shirife Shirif for execution I haue a commission Mayors Shirifes do passe with speed And others them in place succeed secret solaces and after a sort renuing from tyme to tyme a certayne forecast of the blessednes to come to the intent that being cheéred and refreshed we should come running to theé with gladder hartes I beseéch theé graunt that the anoynting of thy holy spirit may often driue from me all irksomnes of aduersities and cheére vp my minde with healthful gladnes euen as he anoynted theé with the oyle of gladnes aboue thy felowes in respect of thy humayn nature when thou wast here vpon earth which liuest and raignest with the father and the same holy Spirite for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to be sayd in the time of sicknes MOst mercifull Redeémer thou art alwayes mercifull who art We peace did keep in Princes name Now death doth charge vs with the same ¶ The Baâ—â—ife Come Baylife no bayle with me shal preuayl ¶ The Constable Constable I arrest to my ward be prest alwayes the sauiour whether thou doest send health or sicknes wealth or aduersitie ioy or sorow For it is of great mercy when by outward afflictions as it were by bitter but yet wholesom medicines thou doest heale the inward diseases of the soule and by temporary troubles which doe last but for a short time doest prepare vs to eternal ioyes which indure for euer And thy selfe O gracious sauiour passing into thy glory through the gretest afflictioÌ„s of this world hast troden out to vs by thy steps that way to true perfect felicity in the which no humble and true seruant ought eyther to disdayne or to shrinke to follow after his Lord and master so going before him But for so much as without theé we can doe nothing that good is I beseéch theé to indue me with thy heauenlye grace that I may take vp willingly ¶ The Phisicion By thy water I do seé thou must away with me The Astronomer Looke not so hie low thou must lie No art or medecine can preuayle When death doth purpose to assayle obediently this crosse which thou hast appointed vnto me and follow after theé and that I may drinke of as it were this medicinable cup though bitter vnto the flesh which thou the heauenly phisition doest offer vnto me paciently without grudging or murmuring against theé And that I may with thy faithfull seruant Iob and with vnfayned lips and hart say The Lord hath geuen the Lord hath taken away as it hath pleased the Lord so is it come to passe blessed be the name of the Lord. For if I haue receaued gladly youth health riches honor and ioy at thy hands O Lord why should I refuse paciently to take age sicknes aduersity sorrow at thy hands also These things be in deéd very greuous vnto frayle nature and flesh but thou my Lord though most perfectly innocent Death wines the field all armes must yeald ¶ The Herauâ—d Herald in thy shield beare grasse in green field Sergeant at Armes Zergeant see thou stay al glory must away infinitely hast suffered more greéuous things for me who haue so oft deserued hel But yet thou knowest the frailty of our humane condition nature wherfore I besech theé as thou pourest sharp wine into our wounds to bite away the corruption of our sinnes so after the example of the mercifull Samaritane set forth in thy holy gospell to resemble thy selfe vnto the sharpe wine of thy correction the supplying oyle of thy merciful comfort whereby I may be able to suffer things which otherwise are intollerable vnto me And if it be thy pleasure to increase sorow vpon me increase also thy grace and gift of patience in me and turne these worldly and bodely afflictions to the profite of my soule by my acknowledging of thy iustice in punishyng me worthely and thy mercy in correcting me gratiously euen like as a Father ¶ The TruÌ„petor Trumpet geue sound all muâ—â— to the ground ¶ The â—ursiuant Goe suÌ„mon by message to come without â—agâ—age All must needes diâ— we need not tell Our message hath bin sounded wel hath pitie vpon his children when he beateth them and by my submitting of my own will vnto thy holy will and patiently taking of this thy proouing and trying of me whether I loue theé or no may offer that sacrifice of obedience which is acceptable vnto theé And when thy Fatherly pitie shall be contented with thy meéke chastising of me then I beseéch theé send calme after this tempest quietnes after this trouble and ioy after this sorrow that I may render thanks vnto theé for double causes both that thou hast first corrected and amended me an vnprofitable seruant and afterward hast taken away the bitternes of affliction with the softnes of thy comfort In the one hauing regard of necessitie in the other not forgetting my infirmitie and in both as in all things alwayes remembring thy mercy vnto the which We drum that domes day now at hand Doth call all soldyars to deathes band ¶ The Dromme Drommer call together al soldyars to my baÌ„nâ—r ¶ The Fifâ— â–ª Fife seé thou play to leade them the way I doe commende and betake my selfe both body and soule now and for euer Unto theé with the father and the holy Ghost one God of most excellent maiesty be all praise honor and thanksgeuing for euer and euer Amen Another LOrd Iesu the onely health of theÌ„ that liue the only life of them that dye I yeald and geue ouer my self wholy to thy most holy will whither it please thee that this silly soule shall abide any longer in the lodge of my body to serue the or that thou wilt haue it to depart out of this world For inasmuch as I am sure that the thing wich is committed to thy mercy cannot perish I will willingly put of this fraile and wretched flesh of mine verely in hope of the resurrection ¶ The Capitaine Captain march with me thy Captayne I must be ¶ The Souldior Soldyar haue a courage to thy â—ong vyage Death onely maketh Captaynes quaile And harty souldiers for to fayle which shall render it to mee in farre better plight I beseech thee strengthen my soule with thy grace agaynst all temptations and agaynst all Sathans assaults gard me with the shield of thy mercy whereby thou madest all thy martires inuincible in old tyme agaynst all horrible torments and cruell kinds of death I see there is no defence in my self all my trust is in thy vnspeakable goodnes I haue no desert
nor good workes at all to alleadge before thee But as for euill workes I haue alas to many of them Neuertheles my hope is that I shal be reckned in the number of the righteous by meanes of thy righteteousnes For my sake wast thou borne for my sake didst thou thirst for my sake wast thou huÌ„gry for my sake diddest thou teach for my sake diddest thou Vse gayn of gold and liue in cost So as by death life be not lost ¶ The Marchant Neither craft nor trade Can â—e perswade ¶ The Citizen Of towne and citie I haue no pitie pray for my sake didst thou fast for my sake didst thou perfourme the great number of good works in this life for my sake didst thou suffer so many bitter panges for my sake didst thou geue ouer thy precious life to the death Let the things profite me which thou hast geueÌ„ me of thine own free will thou I say which hast geuen thy self wholy for me Let thy bloud wash away the spots of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide mine vnrighteousnes Let thy deseruings commend me to the soueraign Iudge As my greef and disease increase so increase thou thy grace Let not my faith wauer Let not my hope staggar Let not my charity waxe colde Let not my humain infirmitie be cast down with the dread of death But euen when death shall haue cloased ¶ The Printers Leaue setting thy page spent is thine age Pressmen goe play printing must stay We Printers wrote with wisdomes pâ—n She liues for aye we die as men the eyes of my body let the eyes of my minde looke still vpon thee with out wauering aside And when it shal haue bereft me of the vse of my tung let my hart cry stedfastly still vnto thee Into thy hands I commit my spirite O Lord to whom be honor prayse world without end Amen ⧠A Prayer to be sayd in the Plague time IT is no maruail O most righteous Father that the elementes of this world are fearce against vs sometime with earthquakes sometime with tempestes and lightnings sometime with ouerflowing of seas and Riuers sometime with pestilent concourses of the heauenly lights and sometime with corruption of the infected ayre for we doe commonly abuse thy gifts Death takes no bribe of wealth Death forceth not long health ¶ The Riche man Thy siluer nor golde froÌ„ death can theé withhold ¶ The aged man By right I must be bold with theé that liuest so old We acknowledge that euen in this case also the creatures serue and obay their Creator whose coÌ„maundements we neglect so oftentimes Also we acknowledge thy fatherly nurturing of vs wherby thou callest vs back from the trust of this world with gentle correction and drawest vs to the desire of the euerlasting life ¶ The Artificer No compas or arte can cause me depart The Husbandman Labour no more For I haue store No one deuise no arâ— no toyle Could make vs geue to death the foil A Prayer for health both of body and minde DOubtles the only true health is to be found in that part which is cheéfest in vs and lykest vnto theé O Lord that is to say to haue the soul allyed In song in daunce in pipes in play We lost our life now wrapt in â—la◠¶ The Musâ—â—iâ—n Strike vp thy play Daunce with me away and knit vnto theé as neare as is possible by louing and worshipping of theé which art our only welfare But forasmuch as the same is annexed to the body it feéleth the affections therof and is moued by them As for salues and medicines they doe good when thou listest but they be superfluous and to no purpose if thou list not to worke by them Thou I say which art the founder of them and of al naturall things Thine only will is the cause of life and death and of health and sicknes which thou layest vpon vs most commonly to chastise and bridle this body of oures which rusheth forth into vnruly losenes in all things like an vnweldy vnbrideled beast ouerwhelming vs with forgetfulnes of the true health when it groweth to strong and ouerlusty But thou O Father graunt vs so ¶ The Shepeheard Leaue thy shepâ— And with me crepe ¶ The Foole. Of foolish and fonde I breake the bonde The wise the simple and euery degree Are by force compelled to obay vnto me to be hole in body as our minds may also be hole and sound Or if it be not for our benefite to haue health of body at least wise geue vs a healthy minde and lend vs power strength to beare our sicknes that the greéfe and weakenes of the body appaire not the soule Amen A Prayer in affliction or aduersitie MOst mercifull Redeémer which art alwayes full of compassion thou art alwayes our preseruer whether thou send vs aduersitie or prosperitie For great is thy mercy compassion in that thou healest the inward man by outward afflictions as it were by bitter medicines and preparest vs to euerlasting ioyes by temporal troubles And for as much as thou thy selfe hast traced vs out this true way to felicitie Time to liue time to dy God grant vs liue eternally ¶ The Begâ—ar Begging is done For I am come The Roge. Thinke I am best For I bring rest by thine own footesteps graunt that I may paciently and obediently drinke this cup which thou reachest vnto me Greéuous in deéde are these thinges vnto my nature but yet hast thou suffered greéuouser things for me and I haue deserued far greéuouser things for I haue deserued hel fire Notwithstanding thou knowest the frailety of mans state and therfore like the mercifull Samaritane thou pourest wine into our wounds which maketh our vices to smart but yet thou alayest it with the oyle of thy comfort to the end we should indure the things which also would be intollerable If thou thinke meéte to increase our greéfes increase thou also the gift of pacience graunt that these afflictions may turne me to the amendement of my misdeédes Or if thy Fatherly louing kindnes thinke ¶ Youth Young olde Come to my folde ¶ Of Infancy Feare not me though I grisly be Time to liue â— time to dy God grant vs liue eternally this thy chastising of me to be sufficient let this storme passe into calme wether that I may thanke theé in both respects as well for that thou hast amended thine vnprofitable seruant by gentlenes as also for that thou hast put away the bitternes of the affliction by the sweétnes of thy comfort hauing in the one case respect of necessity and in the other being mindfull of our infirmities To theé therfore be prayse and thanks for euer Amen ⧠A Prayer vpon the minding of death WHat doe we dayly all our life long but heape sinne vpon sinne and lode wickednes vpon wickednes so as euery day becomes worse then other by increasing the number of our offences and the wrath that is
earth we came to earth we shall For sinne by death hath made vs thrall the mind And the more gentlenes that is vsed towards this most vnkind and leud bondseruaÌ„t the body so much the worse and more wicked doth it become If we follow it it caryeth vs into destruction turning vs away from God to it own earthlines and rottennes O how vnseémly an incounter is this wherin the flesh being matched against the Spirite that is to say the bondslaue against his Lord striueth with him for victory and prehemineÌ„ce sometime getting the vpper hand so as his master is not able erewhiles to represse his boldnes malapertnes and lustines because he bare with him to long and to often But thou O Lord Christ to whom all power is geuen both in heauen and earth which camest to vndo the works of the deuill which onlye art able to make the thing cleane which is conceiued The wise the simple and euery degree Are by force compelled to obey vnto me The Creeple Be thou poore or disesed Thou must with me be pleased The poore woman To thou neuer o poore Thou must enter at my â—ore of vncleane seéde Reforme our vnderstanding and will Cleanse our harts Circumcise our mindes Wash our soules Stablish thy freé and mighty spirite in vs Subdue vs wholy to thy good pleasure And restore vs the state by thy goodnes which we haue lost through our own naughtines so as our flesh may be in subiection to the spirite and our affections be made obedient to right and vncorrupted reason Or at least wise that although the flesh rebell and fight against the spirit yet the power of y minde may be so strong â–ª and the strength of our reason so mighty through thy grace as they may get the vpper hand in all incounters and finally ouercome all assaultes to the praise of the working of thy holy spirit Amen ⧠A Prayer to be sayd against the deuill The Infant Loe this little hart I strike with my dart The Foole. Of foolish and fond I break the bond No state no might young nor old To resist death dare be bold IEsus Christ our Lord God our shield our fortres our strong rock our only defence thou knowest and it greeueth vs to feel with how great force and perilous pollicie that olde enemy of oures the wily serpent that beguiled our first parents in paradise the roaring Lyon that goeth about night and day seeking whom he may deuoure That destroyer waster and accuser of the saynts the deuill commeth vpon vs to assayl vs thou knowest how small or rather no power at al we haue of our selues to withstand him so that vnlesse thou succour vs he will easely deceaue vs by his craftynes ouerthrow vs by his mightynes and rend vs in peeces by his cruelty But we know that if thou doe but shew thy selfe to him aloof thou shalt driue him away with thine only looke For thou hast ouercome Emperors and kings we did raigne But now the earth doth vs detayne The Emperor Of Monarch Emperor I am the conqueror ¶ â—he king Keisar or king I must theé bring him by thy death thou hast bound him disarmed him and spoyled his house thou hast bereft him of all lordship and power thou hast crushed his head thou hast cast down hys throne and dispossessed him of hys kingdome thou hast led away captiuity captiue thou hast cancelled the obligation that he had of oures and nayled it to thy crosse and finally thou hast tryumphed ouer him in our nature to our benefite and behoofe We therfore being weake feeble naked vnarmed vnskilfull ignorant and of no forecast but yet thy members through thy grace beseech thee which art strong almighty only wise and prudent vouchsafe to defend maintayn preserue vs continually from that merciles dragon Be thou our eye our eare our hand our loads man guide and captayn Set thy selfe ¶ The Duke Duke though thou be daunce after me ¶ The Marques Marques of state match with thy mate Dukes and Marques we hauâ— bene Nought â—ow but â—oâ—es are to be seen in our defence against this our vnappeasable aduersary disappoynt his practises confound his deuices break his bow knap asunder his speare ouerthrow his holds quench his fiery darts put his armies to flight and geue thy seruants the vpper hand of him and his or rather ouercome thou him and his in vs and by vs. Doe but aduaunce the standard of thy crosse in our harts and thou dryuest him out of the field Vnder this baÌ„ner dare we march boldly against him assuring our selues that by the power thereof thou wilt delyuer vs from the hands of our enemies and of all that hate vs so as we may serue thee in holynes and righteousnes all the dayes of our life Which we beseech thee to graunt vs for thy mercies sake to the euerlasting honor of thy most holy name Amen We Earles and Barons were sometime Now wrapt in lead are turnd to flime ¶ The Baron Barons of nobilitie sweare to me fealty ¶ The Vicount Earle or Vicount geue thy account ⧠A Prayer to be sayd of a woman with Child THy wisedome and power shine forth in all thy workes O Lord but yet much more greater more manifest and more wonderfull are they in the shaping of man Of how small beginning doest thou make so marueilous a liuing thing sheading a soule into it whose originall is from heauen to the intent he should long to returne thether as into his countrey ¶ The Archbishop Archb. Metropolite theé thy Prouince I visite ¶ The Bishop Bishops graue old are sheép of my fold Bishops we haue taught the lore That all must enter deathes dore O most gracious workman let thy pitifulnes amend the thing which our sinfulnes hath marred and eyther abate my payne that I may not haue neéde of so great strength tendance cunning or els increase my strength power and courage that I may be able to ouercome all the payn of my trauell Amen * A Prayer to be sayd of such as be vnder the Crosse. HOw long wilt thou forget me O Lord for euer how long wilt thou hide thy face from me Both sheep and shepheard all must dye We taught the same the same we try ¶ The Doctor Doctor diuine at last thy reading houre is past ¶ â—he Preacher Preach no more â—bout thy glas is run out Unto theé O Lord haue I cryed all the day long haue I stretched out my hands vnto theé Wilt thou worke wonders among the dead or shal the dead arise praise theé shall any man shew thy mercy in the graue or thy truth in destruction Shall thy wonders be knowen in the darck or thy righteousnes in the land of forgetfulnes Why doest thou thrust back my soul O Lord and hide thy face from me no man is mindful of theé in death and who will prayse theé in the graue Be stil before God O my soule for
my hope is in him because he is my rock and my sauiour and I shall not be remoued In God is my welfare my glory the rock of my strength and my hope is in God. ¶ The lord Come lordings all daunce at my call ¶ The Knight Goe hence sir knight t is almost night We Lordes and Knightes of late Nyw lye in low estate Quicken me O Lord for thy names sake and for thy righteousnesse sake rid my soule out of trouble For I O Lord am thy seruaunt I am thy seruaunt and the sonne of thy handmayd I will offer vnto theé the sacrifice of prayse and pay my vowes vnto theé in the sight of all the people Amen ¶ A Prayer for Gods goodnes and for continuance of the same I Yeald theé thanks and prayse O Lord my God for creating me after thine own Image and likenes For redeming me with thy precious bloud For admitting me into the number of thy children by adoption through the washing of holy baptisme and for feéding me with the sacrament of thy body and bloud Behold the Squire as in a glas For as thou art so he was ¶ The Esquire Esquire the braue It bootes not to craue ¶ The Gentleman Lusty or sad Thou must be 〈◊〉 Also I geue theé prayse and thanks for that thou of thine infinite gracious goodnes hast paciently wayted for my amendement euen from the time of mine ignorant childhoode vnto this houre notwithstanding that I ran losely into innumerable vices I glorifie theé and praise theé for thy often ridding of me from a number of troubles distresses calamities and miseries and for sauing me hetherto froÌ„ the often deserued euerlasting punishments and torments both of body and soule I prayse theé and glorifie theé for thy mercifull geuing of me health of body soundnes of limmes quyetnes of times and working of good things with many other vertues ¶ The Iudge Come on iudge With me to trudge ¶ The iustice Sir Iustice arise â–ª come to my assâ—se Iudge and Iustice sentence haue To ly as Captiues in the graue Dispose and order thou all my thoughts words and deédes according to thy will. Keépe me at all times and in all places wheresoeuer I goe whether it be in prosperitie or aduersitie And in the end bring me to the desired ioyes of the present beholding of theé Amen A generall thanksgeuing O God which excellest in all goodnes and wisdome O heauenly Father which art full of mercy and clemency when I cal to minde the works of thy hands I cannot but wonder at thy great wisdome and infinite goodnes which thou hast shewed towards No law no plea no drift From death can make a shift ¶ Sergeant at law Leaue the Lawes heare my cause ¶ The Attâ—rney 〈◊〉 lead as thou â—ust With me thou must all thy creatures especially towards me Not only in that thou hast geuen me being mouing and life but also in that besides thine other infinite benefites which thou hast distributed in general to all men in the world thou hast bestowed so many particular benefites vpon me as it is vnpossible for me to rehearce them yea or to conceiue theÌ„ Thou hast vouchsafed to deliuer me by the light of thy gospel from the darcknes of error and ignorance or rather to draw me out of the horrible dungeons of death and damnation wherto I was condemned in respect of the corruptnes of my nature and so conueyed me into the kingdome of thy welbeloued sonne who hath geuen him self for my sinnes according to thy good pleasure and euerlasting ordinance Also thou hast receaued me into thy Church among the number of thy childreÌ„ thou ¶ The Mayor Mayor I theé call to my guild Hall. ¶ The Shirife Shirif for execuâ—ion I haue a commission Mayors Shirifes do passe with speed And others them in place succeed hast elected and chosen me through thy wonderfull prouidence to be to the glory of thy mercy And thou hast inhonored me with the copartnership of the euerlasting inheritance of thy deér beloued sonne to beé of that royall priesthoode which shall offer the sacrifices of eternall prayse and thanksgeuing to thy holy name in thy heauenly temple now therfore according to dauids saying what shall I reÌ„der to the Lord for all his benefites towardes me I know that al my life ought to be consecrated to continuall thankes geuing to shew forth with his holy people and purchased possession the mighty workes of him that hath called vs out of darckenes to his wonderfull light The cup of deliueraÌ„ce ought not to depart out of my handes nor the new songs therof out of my mouth But Lord graunt me the grace wh c We peace did keep in princes name Now death doth charge vs with the same ¶ The Bailife Come Baylife no bayle with me shal preuayl ¶ The Constable Constable I arrest to my ward be prest thou didst shew heretofore to Dauid a maÌ„ according to thine own hart Who treating of the same matter and rehersing the recordes of thy goodnes sayd of a truth Lord I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy haÌ„dmaid thou hast broken my boÌ„ds a sunder I will offer vnto theé the sacrifice of thankesgeuing call vpon thy name Euen so say I lord of my selfe and that by thy grace I am thy seruaunt I am thy seruant Thou hast broken my bonds and preserued me and set me in safety Unto theé O king of eternitie immortall and inuisible euen vnto theé O God who only art good and onely wise be honor and glory for euer through Iesus Christ thy sonne our Lord and only Sauiour So be it ¶ The Phisicion By thy wateâ— I do seé thou mâ—st away with me The 〈◊〉 Looke not so hie low thou must lie No arte or medicine can preuayl When death doth purpose â—o assayl ⧠Here beginneth the Letany and Suffrages O God the Father of heauen haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen haue mercy c. O God the Sonne Redeémer of the world haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the Sonne redeemer c. O God the holy Ghost proceéding froÌ„ the Father and the Sonne haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost c. O holy blessed and glorious Trinity threé persons and one God haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the Death winnes the field â—ll armâ—s must yeeld ¶ The Herauld Herald in thy â—hield beare grasse in greenfield Sergeant at Armes Sergeant see thou sâ—ay â—l glory must away offences of our forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sinnes Spare vs good Lord spare thy people whoÌ„ thou hast redeémed with thy most precious bloud and be not angry with vs for euer Spare vs good Lord. From all euil and mischief from sinne from the crafts and assaultes of the deuill from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord