Father making intercession for vs sounded continuallie in the eares of God Worke so that we be not found in the number of those into whome sathan hath entred which blaspheame thee despise thy benefits and destroie themselues vtterlie Increase our faith and knowledge of thee that the eternall Father through thy sacrifice being pleased may forgiue all our sinnes and receiue vs into that companie which is glorious in thine eies Under the crosse standeth thy noble but sorowfull mother hir sister and other good women with thy disciple Iohn whome thou louedst O blesse vs and of thy goodnes ioine vs to that companie In thy mother there shineth a notable light and strength of faith she beholdeth in thee hir Sonne those sights than which none could be more greeuous in this world she sawe the rage of thine enimies and thine intollerable torments yet she beleeued notwithstanding the greeuousnes of thy paine the shedding of thy pretious bloud the flight of thy disciples the crueltie of thine enimies and the odiousnes of thy death she beleeued I saie O the force of faith that thou wast God by nature and shouldest rise againe and reigne euerlastinglie ouercome death and the diuell and subdue all thine enimies O Sonne of God kindle within vs we praie thee the like sparks of faith giue vs grace with thine elect neuer to be ashamed to stand vnder thy crosse And as thou euen of an entire good will mercifullie among thy seruants didst speake vnto and comfort thy pensiue and moorning mother so speake vnto vs and thy troubled Church in miserie comfort hir with thy sweet voice and presence Thou commendedst thy mother to thine Apostle Make vs vnfeignedlie to loue the Church thy sweet and true mother and grant that euerie of vs may cherish the same louinglie and mainteine it to the vttermost of our powers Especiallie guide the Preachers that they may loue the mother nourish the vnitie of pure doctrine auoid the seed of heresies and remooue all stumbling-blockes all occasions of hindering of faith and praier in yoong Christians At thy sides hang two theeues punished for their sinnes according to the lawe and their deserts whereof one desperatelie powring out blasphemous speeches the other godlie requiring thy fauour he ended his daies All mankind Lord doo likewise hang in miseries for their sinnes whereof some are so captiued in their minds that at the point of death they scoffe blaspheme and desperatelie to their vtter condemnation finish their daies but giue vs grace we beseech thee that we may imitate the example of the gratious theefe which before his passage out of this life moued by infallible arguments of thine almightinesse and mercie required pardon of his offences and obteined the same according to his request Giue grace that we may imitate his hartie repentance his sorowe for sin his notable faith his zealous confession and other good works of his We beseech thee mercifull Lord be mindfull of vs. O Lord be mindfull of vs. Thou sittest in the kingdom of thy Father we are in the miseries of the world but be thou mindfull of vs. Begin thy kingdome in vs heere in this world and in euerie combate of our conscience especiallie at the point of death pronounce to our hearts this comfortable absolution This daie shalt thou be with me in Paradise Shew vnto vs thy paradise that departing out of this life we may find rest for our soules Open to our soules the gates of Paradise place them in the seates of immortalitie and state of blisse where thy Father togither with the blessed companie of Angels and men sheweth himselfe euen as he is In the meane while thy combate is not yet finished thou criedst in most pittifull maner My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Thy diuinitie was not then separated from thy humanitie which neuer lost that which once it tooke neither surcessedst nor dooest thou surcesse at anie time to be equall and one with thine eternall father but then was the houre of thy humiliation wherein after a woonderfull and vnspeakable maner thy diuinitie hid it selfe as it were and would haue this obedience to be showne and thought not best to destroie the Iewes thine enimies and murtherers Yea it hid it selfe that the streames of Gods displeasure against the sinnes of men should so fall vpon thee O Christ that they should wrestle with extreame torments such as for a certeine space thou perceiuedst no comfort notwithstanding thy diuinitie confirmed thine humane nature which was to suffer all the passions For thy diuinitie could not suffer anie passion at all therefore it confirmed the same that there might be a sufficient satisfaction for the sins of men For they which haue endured most greeuous torments could neuer abide these for if God comfort vs we may abide the punishment of men and then it may be said Though bodies greefe did feele Yet had their soules great ioie And vertuous hope did strengthen so That paines did naught annoie But intollerable is it for a creature to suffer the punishment of God and be saued thereby Wherefore O Sonne of God in displeasure bee mindfull of thy mercie be thou our protection that the wrath of thine eternall father doo not destroie vs. Euen a little taste of Gods displesure bursteth in peeces all the bones of men like a lion And therfore by and by after thou vtteredst the like complaint saieng I thirst thy soule languished through the greatnesse of thy paines Thy spirits were resolued through thy woonderfull greefe of hart Thy bowels dried awaie and no moisture abode in them and therefore trulie didst thou both inwardlie thirst and desire some vertue and comfort from thy Father and outwardlie to haue thy bodie refreshed O Iesu Christ which art the fountaine of eternall life giuing the water which quencheth all thirst from whose bellie springeth the well of life suffer vs not to taste such a greeuous thirst as did that merciles rich glutton in hell which neuer was quenched but with the godlie to saie My soule stucke vnto my iawes I had no quietnes in my bones Lord in thy iudgements correct me not in thy furie least I come vnto nothing If thou obseruest iniquities O Lord Lord who shall be able to abide Thus doo thy Saincts crie I saie in their troubles Wherefore kindle not thy wrath altogither against vs. Cease not to comfort our weake nature striuing against thy iudgements with the iuice of thy word and comfortable waterings of thy spirit Unto thee did thine eternall Father manifest his presence and comfort for our sakes when some while after being better quieted thou saiedst It is finished Thou gauest thanks to thine eternall father for helping thee whereby the sacrifice of welfare to the elect for euermore was fulfilled Oh most sacred Priest imprint within vs this celestiall conclusion this notable finishing of thy sacrifice that vndoubtedlie we may thinke that by this sacrifice the remission of sinnes and life eternall is purchased for vs.
euerliuing and immortall thou art now risen from death for vs. Thou art now ascended to thy Father and our Father and sittest at the right hand in glorie grant that we also in hart and mind may thither ascend and with thee continuallie dwell Suffer vs to come neere vnto thee that we may kisse thee Yea Lord thou louer of our soules come thou rather vnto vs and kisse vs with the kisse of thy mouth that we may be glad reioice in thee Drawe vs that we may runne after the sauour of thy sweet ointments that we may behold thee in righteousnes and when thy glorie shall appeare we may be satisfied For in thy presence there is fulnes of ioie and on thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore So be it Halleluiah A Thanks-giuing WE lift vp our harts vnto thee O Lord God for it is verie meete right and our bounden dutie that we should at all times and in all places giue thanks vnto thee O Lord holie Father almightie euerlasting God through thy most deere beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who after his glorious resurrection manifestlie appeared to all his Apostles and in their sight ascended vp into heauen to prepare a place for vs that where he is thither we might also ascend to reigne with him in glorie Therefore with Angels and Archangels and with all the companie of heauen we laud and magnifie thy glorious name euermore praising thee and saieng Holie holie holie Lord God of hoasts heauen and earth are full of thy glorie Glorie be to thee O God most high So be it 11. On Whitsundaie or the feast of Pentecost Of the sending of the Comforter euen the spirit of truth The Preface THE spirit of the Lord filleth the round compasse of the world and vpholdeth all things Halleluiah The spirit of wisedome is louing and will not absolue him that blasphemeth with his lips Halleluiah The holie spirit of discipline flieth from deceipt and withdraweth himselfe from thoughts that are without vnderstanding Halleluiah This therefore is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loue darkenesse more than light Halleluiah But O Father leaue vs not comfortlesse but come vnto vs and giue vs the Comforter euen the holie spirit of truth which the world can not receiue that he may abide with vs and dwell within vs for euer Halleluiah Come holie Ghost and teach vs in all thy waies and bring all things to our remembrance whatsoeuer God hath commanded vnto vs that we may speake with new lips and magnifie God according to his will Halleluiah Make me a cleane hart O God and renew a right spirit within me Halleluiah Cast me not awaie from thy presence and take not thy holie spirit from me Halleluiah O giue me the comfort of thy help againe and stablish me with thy free spirit Halleluiah Then shall I teach thy waies vnto the world and sinners shall be conuerted vnto thee Halleluiah Halleluiah The Praier IF ye loue me keepe my commandements and I will pray the Father and he shall giue you another Comforter that he may abide with you for euer euen the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receiue c. Oh heauenlie speech to be had in perpetuall remembrance Thou O Christ promisest such as keepe thy commandements such as in faith and a good conscience obeie thee to bee loued intirelie of thy Father and their brests to be the inhabiting place of thy diuinitie Nothing is more lamentable than to be cast from God into feare and fire vnquenchable nothing more comfortable than to haue thy fauour and to be loued of God This so excellent a benefit thou doest promise to thy disciples wherfore ingraffe vs to the blessed companie which thy Father doth loue whose sinnes are forgiuen through thy deserts and they are receiued into mercie and the inheritance of eternall life through thy death Neither is it thy will to haue vs present in loue and by the imputation of thy righteousnes onlie but also by a naturall participation and reall conformitie with God in deed Man deceiued by the diuell forsooke God his gouernour conceiued so highlie of himselfe that he would rule himselfe without God Let God defend thy life the rest seeke from thy selfe saie the wise men of this world and they commend that man whose onlie hope dependeth vpon himselfe But O lamentable darkenesse how shamefullie doth man fall without God assist How miserablie doth he perish whome God forsaketh Wherefore taking pitie on our wretched state thou restorest the ancient order interrupted through sinne and wilt that the harts of the faithfull shall againe be made y e dwelling place temple of diuinitie The God-head in deed is euerie where vpholding as long as hee thinketh good the whole frame of the world and the substance of euerie particular thing therein and againe destroieng all when he thinketh good so to doo notwithstanding he abideth onlie in the soule which receiueth Christ into it doo the Father and the word breath of their spirit and link it to themselues in like light righteousnesse and life In the Sonne the glorie of the Father doth shine and filleth that humane substance which the word through an eternall couenant coupleth to himselfe with the same spirit and powreth it into the harts of beleeuers to make them like vnto him For the word through the same spirit quickeneth both his owne and our flesh And this is the beginning of eternall life in this miserable world This spirit imprinteth the image of God which the word present in our minds doth speake in our soule kindeling a light and knowledge conformable to the Gospell turneth vs to the true seruice of GOD and stirreth vp in our wils so holie motions agreeing to the lawe of Christ as shine in that humane nature of Christ now glorified who cureth our infirmitie He commeth from the Father sent by the Sonne to renew vs according to the image of Christ He returneth to the Sonne and Father to couple vs vnto God to make intercession for vs with grones vnspeakable and to mooue the hart of eternall God vnto mercie and compassion towards vs. Such is our nature that through Gods spirit we reason christianlie and thinke godlie then how can it be but that the spirit must raise godlie cogitations good motions in our minds which is by nature a God and therefore substantiallie doth he mingle himselfe with our spirits springing in our nature but regenerated by him to imprint in vs another light and newnesse than is naturall wisdome and righteousnesse and therefore manie sighes doo we fetch euen these deepe sighes And thou word dwelling in our minds be thou present and kindle our harts by thy blast Conuert vs Lord and we shall be conuerted Turne vs to the acknowledging of our sinnes erect vs by the preaching of the Gospell and grant that through faith we may receiue the promise of the spirit Strengthen vs that we may retaine so
doo so shalt thou practise with ease hauing a guide and amend with profit hauing a zeale It is easier to see these than to learne begin at the easiest to come to the harder see thou hir confession that thou maiest learne hir repentance practise hir perseuerance that thou maiest haue like amendment despise thy selfe in eschewing vice that thou maiest please God in asking grace let not shame hinder the confession which hindered not the offense Be thou sure if we knowledge our sinnes God is faithfull to forgiue vs and to clense vs from all vnrighteousnes Obeie the Prophets saieng Declare thy waies to the Lord. Thus far thou maist learne to knowe thy selfe next this be thou as diligent to releeue thy selfe in Gods mercie as thou hast beene to reueale thy selfe in thine owne repentance For God hath concluded all things vnder sinne bicause he would haue mercie vpon all who hath also borne our sinnes in his bodie vpon the tree that we should be deliuered from sinne and should liue vnto righteousnes by whose stripes we be healed Here is our anchor here is our shepheard here we be made whole here is our life our redemption our saluation and our blisse let vs therefore now feed by this gratious Queenes example be not ashamed to become in confession Publicanes since this noble Ladie will be no Pharisie And to all Ladies of estate I wish as earnest mind to followe our Queene in vertue as in honour that they might once appeare to prefer God before the world and be honourable in religion which now be honourable in vanities so shall they as in some vertuous Ladies of right high estate it is with great comfort seene taste of this freedome of remission of the euerlasting blisse which exceedeth all thoughts and vnderstandings and is prepared for the holie in spirit For the which let vs with our intercession in holines and purenes of life offer our selues to the heauenlie father an vndefiled host to whom be eternall praise and glorie throughout the earth without end Amen The Lamentation or Complaint of a sinner made by the most vertuous and right gratious Ladie Queene CATHERINE bewailing the ignorance of hir blind life led in superstition verie profitable to the amendment of our liues The first Chapter Of an humble confession of sinnes to the glorie of God WHEN I consider in the bethinking of mine euil and wretched former life mine obstinate stonie and vntractable heart to haue so much exceeded in euilnesse that it hath not onelie neglected yea contemned despised Gods holie precepts and commandements but also imbraced receiued and esteemed vaine foolish and feined trifles I am partlie by the hate I owe to sinne who hath reigned in me and partlie by the loue I owe to all Christians whom I am content to edifie euen with the example of mine owne shame forced and constrained with my hart and words to confesse and declare to the world how ingrate negligent vnkind and stubborne I haue beene to God my Creator and how beneficiall mercifull and gentle he hath been alwaies to me his creature being such a miserable and wretched sinner Trulie I haue taken no little small thing vpon me first to set foorth my whole stubbornesse and contempt in words the which is incomprehensible in thought as it is in the 12. Psalme Who vnderstandeth his faults Next this to declare the excellent beneficence mercie and goodnesse of God which is infinite and vnmeasurable Neither can all the words of Angels and men make relation thereof as apperteineth to his most high goodnesse Who is he that is not forced to confesse the same if he consider what he hath receiued of God doth dailie receiue Yea if men would not acknowledge and confesse the same the stones would crie it out Trulie I am constrained and forced to speake and write thereof to mine owne confusion and shame but to the glorie and praise of God For he as a louing father of most abundant and high goodnesse hath heaped vpon me innumerable benefits and I contrarie haue heaped manifold sinnes despising that which was good holie pleasant and acceptable in his sight and choosing that which was delicious pleasant and acceptable in my sight And no maruell it was that I so did For I would not learne to knowe the Lord and his waies but loued darknesse better than light yea darknesse seemed to me light I embraced ignorance as perfect knowledge and knowledge seemed to me superfluous and vaine I regarded little Gods word but gaue my selfe to vanities and shadowes of the world I forsooke him in whom is all truth and followed the vaine foolish imaginations of my hart I would haue couered my sinnes with the pretence of holinesse I called superstition godlie meaning and true holinesse errour The Lord did speake manie pleasant and sweet words vnto me and I would not heare he called me diuerslie but through frowardnesse I would not answere Mine euils and miseries be so manie and so great that they can accuse me euen to my face Oh how miserablie and wretchedlie am I confounded when for the multitude and greatnesse of my sinnes I am compelled to accuse my selfe Was it not a maruellous vnkindnesse when God did speake to me and also call me that I would not answere him What man so called would not haue heard Or what man hearing would not haue answered If an earthlie Prince had spoken either called I suppose there be none but would willinglie haue done both Now therefore what a wretch and caitife am I that when the Prince of princes the King of kings did speake manie pleasant and gentle words vnto me and also called me so manie and sundrie times that they can not be numbred and yet notwithstanding these great signes and tokens of loue I would not come vnto him but hid my selfe out of his sight seeking manie crooked and biwaies wherin I walked so long that I had cleane lost his sight And no maruell or woonder For I had a blind guide called Ignorance who dimmed so mine eies that I could neuer perfectlie get anie sight of the faire goodlie streight and right waies of his doctrine but continuallie trauelled vncomfortablie in foule wicked crooked and peruerse waies Yea and bicause they were so much haunted of manie I could not thinke but that I walked in the perfect and right waie hauing more regard to the number of the walkers than to the order of the walking beleeuing also most assuredly with companie to haue walked to heauen wheras I am most sure they would haue brought me down to hell I forsooke the spirituall honouring of the true liuing God and worshipped visible idols and images made of mens hands beleeuing by them to haue gotten heauen yea to saie the truth I made a great idole of my selfe For I loued my selfe better than God And certainlie looke how manie things are loued or preferred in our harts before God so manie are taken and esteemed for idols and false
great benefit not to haue manie worldlie gifts whereby the laud and praise of men might blind my soule and deceiue me Lord I knowe that no man ought to be ashamed or miscontent that he is in a lowe estate in this world and lacketh the pleasures of this life but rather to be glad and reioice thereat For so much as thou hast chosen the poore and meeke persons and such as are despised in the world to be thy seruants and familiar friends Witnesse be thy blessed Apostles whome thou madest chiefe pastours and spirituall gouernours of thy flocke which departed from the counsel of the Jewes reioising that they were counted worthie to suffer rebuke for thy name Euen so O Lord grant that I thy seruant may be as well content to be taken as the least as other be to be greatest and that I be as well pleased to be in the lowest place as in the highest and as glad to be of no reputation in the world for thy sake as other are to be noble and famous Lord it is the worke of a perfect man neuer to sequester his mind from thee and among manie worldlie cares to go without care not after the maner of an idle or a dissolute person but by the prerogatiue of a free mind alwaie minding heauenlie things and not cleauing by inordinate affection to anie creature I beseech thee therefore my Lord Iesu keepe me from the superfluous cares of this world that I be not inquieted with bodilie necessities ne that I be not taken with the voluptuous pleasures of the world ne of the flesh Preserue me from all things which hinder my soule health that I be not ouerthrowne with them O Lord God which art sweetnesse vnspeakable turne into bitternesse to me all worldlie and fleshlie delights which might drawe me from the loue of eternall things to the loue of short and vile pleasures Let not flesh and bloud ouercome me ne yet the world with his vaine glorie deceiue me nor the feend with his manifold crafts supplant me but giue me ghostlie strength in resisting them patience in suffering them and constancie in perseuering to the end Giue me for all worldlie delectations the most sweet consolation of thy holie spirit and for all fleshlie loue indue my soule with feruent loue of thee Make me strong inwardlie in my soule and cast out thereof all vnprofitable cares of this world that I be not led by vnstable desires of earthlie things but that I may repute all things in this world as they be transitorie and soone vanishing awaie and my selfe also with them drawing toward mine end For nothing vnder the sunne may long abide but all is vanitie and affliction of spirit Giue me Lord therefore heauenlie wisdome that I may learne to seeke and find thee aboue all things to loue thee Giue me grace to withdrawe me from them that flatter me and patientlie to suffer them that vniustlie greeue me Lord when temptation or tribulation commeth vouchsafe to succour me that all may turne to my ghostlie comfort and patientlie to suffer and alwaie to saie Thy name be blessed Lord trouble is now at hand I am not well but I am greatlie vexed with this present affliction O most glorious father what shall I do Anguish and trouble are on euerie side helpe now I beseech thee in this houre thou shalt be lauded and praised when I am perfectlie made meeke before thee and when I am cleerelie deliuered by thee May it therefore please thee to deliuer me For what may I most sinfull wretch do Or whether may I go for succour but to thee Giue mee patience now at this time in all my troubles helpe me Lord God and I shall not feare ne dread what trouble so euer fall vpon me And now what shall I saie but that thy will be done in me I haue deserued to be troubled and greeued and therefore it behooueth that I suffer as long as it pleaseth thee But would to God that I might suffer gladlie till the furious tempests were ouerpassed and that quietnesse of hart might come againe Thy mightie hand Lord is strong ynough to take this trouble from me to asswage the cruell assaults thereof with them as thou hast oftentimes done before this time that when I am cleerelie deliuered by thee I may with gladnesse saie The right hand of him that is highest hath made this change The fourth Chapter To despise all things in the world and yeeld our selues vp to God that he may be all in all for our redemption in time of neede LOrd grant me thy singular grace that I may come thither where no creature shall let me ne keepe me from the perfect beholding of thee For as long as anie transitorie thing keepeth me backe or hath rule in me I may not freelie ascend to thee O Lord without thee nothing may long delight or please for if anie thing should be liking and sauourie it must be through helpe of thy grace seasoned with the spice of thy wisedome O euerlasting light far passing all things send downe the beames of thy brightnesse from aboue and purifie and lighten the inward parts of my hart Quicken my soule and all the powers thereof that it may cleaue fast and be ioined to thee in ioifull gladnesse and ghostlie rauishings O when shall that blessed houre come that thou shalt visit me and glad me with thy blessed presence when thou shalt be to me all in all Uerelie vntill that time come there can be no perfect ioie in me But alas mine old man that is my carnall affections liue still in me and are not crucified nor perfectlie dead For yet striueth the flesh against the spirit and moueth great battell inwardlie against me and suffereth not the kingdome of my soule to liue in peace But thou good Lord that hast the Lordship ouer all and power of the sea to asswage the rages and surges of the same arise and helpe me destroie the power of mine enimies which alwaies make battell against me shew foorth the greatnesse of thy goodnesse and let the power of thy right hand be glorified in me For there is to me none other helpe nor refuge but in thee onlie my Lord my God to thee be honour and glorie euerlasting O Lord grant me that I may wholie resigne myselfe to thee and in all things to forsake my selfe and patientlie to beare my crosse and to followe thee O Lord what is man that thou vouchsafest to haue mind of him and to visit him Thou art alwaie one alwaie good alwaie righteous and holie iustlie and blessedlie disposing all things after thy wisdome But I am a wretch and of my selfe alwaie readie and prone to euill and do neuer abide in one state but manie tunes doo varie and change Neuerthelesse it shall be better with me when it shall please thee For thou O Lord onelie art he that maiest helpe me and thou maiest so confirme and stablish me that my
to thy mercies in all euents purpose firmelie as I now doo euerie daie to amend my life Deliuer me my gratious God from all mortall sinne for euer and giue me grace to persecute my vices with sorowe during life And for the satisfaction of these and all my former sinnes as also for all thine ineffable benefits bestowed vpon me and all mankind I offer vnto thee the merits of thy bitter passion those most pretious drops of bloud thou sheddest for me and that inflamed charitie wherewith thou wholie resignedst thy selfe to all thy torments for my sake and in the vnion of this thine oblation on the crosse I offer vp my selfe soule bodie and all I haue of thine within or without me to thine honour and euerlasting glorie I retaine nothing to my selfe but giue all to thee whose it is and make that thine by my will which is thine of iustice Giue me thy grace O my God to liue better herafter and to confesse my sinnes in due time vnto thee Giue me true humilitie continuall repentance and grace both to knowe thee and also my selfe Giue me puritie of hart in all my dooings patience chastitie and perfect charitie Giue me a good life and a good death and in the dangerous houre of my departure the assistance of thy blessed Saints and Angels with whom I may through thy mercie in another world praise and glorifie thee euerlastinglie Amen The Hymne or praier to God the Father BLessed be God father of heauen Which hath strengthned his féeble flocke With stedfast faith and boldnesse euen To beare his crosse burden and yocke These are the last daies perillous Fréelie Christs Gospell to professe Come downe Lord shortlie to iudge vs And take vs from the heauinesse An Antheme WHosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued A praier to God the Father to be vsed before Euening praier O Mercifull Lord and louing Father without whose aid and motion I am not able to stir one member toward heauenlie seruice the burden of this slowe and sinfull flesh doth so ouercharge my weake soule According to thy fatherlie pitie looke vpon me O God and quicken my dull spirit with thy grace to rise out of this mirie puddle and to come before thy presence in humble repentance crauing thy mercie for my miserable sinnes and wickednesse that being released in the bloud and righteousnesse of Iesus Christ I may ioifullie serue honour and praise thine eternall Maiestie through thy deere sonne my mercifull Lord and redeemer to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all glorie and thanks for euer Amen The Hymne of our redemption by Christ. PRaised be God for his excéeding fauour Wich hath giuen vs his sonne to be our Sauiour We are sinners vnrighteous foolish and fleshlie Christ is our mercie-stoole righteousnesse wisdome verelie We are vncleane holden vnder the danger of deth sins exaction Christ is our holines our life our redemption and satisfaction Glorie be to thée O Lord borne of the vndefiled virgin Glorie be to the Father and to the holie Ghost our soules surgin So be it A forme of Priuate Euening praier Our Father which art in heauen c. COnuert vs our Sauiour and turne awaie thy wrath from vs. O God make speede to saue vs. O Lord make haste to helpe vs. Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the be c. Praise ye the Lord. Thanks be giuen vnto God The first Psalme at Euening praier BOw downe thine eare O Lord to my requests and suffer me to exhibit my supplication vp vnto thee For behold night and daie I trace and hunt after thee by all meanes I can To thee onelie earlie and late doo I still call and crie for mercie according as thou hast giuen mee in commandement For when I call to memorie the time of my life euill dispent I quake to thinke vpon thee yea and my spirit faileth me so sore am I afraid of thy iudgements Yet well pondering the processe of thy grace mercie promised me in Christ I cease to despaire knowing that thou O GOD hast not forgotten thy gifts of grace and that thy power to haue compassion is not waxen faint but that both thou canst and wilt put backe thy wrath most iustlie conceiued against me for my sinne In full trust whereof O Lord I come vnto thee beseeching thee to hide my life with Christ within thee and vnder the shadowes of thy wings to defend me that thy grace couenant may be with me euermore Turne not thy mercie from me O Lord nor bring me downe to destruction as I haue deserued but shew thy grace and fauour vnto me that I may liue and being exalted through thy righteousnesse praise thy name most ioifullie Remember my corrupt nature O Lord how short my life is and that thou madest not man for nothing No man can deliuer himselfe from death no man can saue his owne soule from hell thou onelie O Lord must do it namelie to such as beleeue in thee This life passeth as doth a dreame or grasse in the field which to daie is greene and to morrow drie If thou be displeased then we be lost if thou chafe then we shrinke for feare for through sinnes we be dead vnto thee with whome a thousand yeares be but as one daie yea as the least minute of an houre Certesse Lord if thou haue respect to our sins who shall continue Shew me therefore how manie be the daies of my life that I may dispend them wiselie to the praise of thy name least that I foolishlie trusting vpon long life suddenlie might perish come to death Come Lord now vnto vs and comfort vs. Come O God and hide not thy face from me that I be not like vnto those that be hurled into the pit of perdition And after this night of calamitie ouerpassed let the pleasant morning of comfort luckilie shine vpon me that betimes I may heare and feele thy goodnesse for in thee is all my trust Deliuer me this night from the snare of Sathans gard which hunt in the darke how to plucke me from thee Let me not stand in the feare of the night-euill of vnbeleefe and of thy strait iudgement neither let me be afraid of the fleeing arrowe in the daie time Let me not be in feare of that horrible pestilence creeping in through darkenesse I meane let me not be ignorant how detestable my sins be that I dissemble them not nor qualifie them Let me not dread that middaie diuell which abuseth thy Church vnder a title and pretence of holinesse neither let Sathan though he change himselfe into an Angel of light strike anie feare in me But both on the right side and on the left as well in the night as in the daie that is as well in aduersitie as prosperitie and as well in spirituall businesse as in corporall let thy holie Angels diligentlie wait vpon me that I do not stumble then
seruice of God C It is to obeie the lawe of God in true charitie out of a pure hart and out of a pure conscience and of faith vnfained M What is this charitie here required C It is to loue God with all our hart soule vnderstanding and power and our neighbour as our selfe M This true obedience and charitie proceedeth it not of faith C Yea all the good works here commanded which God hath prepared that wee should walke in them M Faith then it is not an opinion vaine and fleshlie to entise vs to sinne more boldlie and to liue in all carnall libertie C No. For if we by faith be trulie graffed in Iesus Christ and call vpon God to saluation we will no more bring foorth the works of the flesh but the fruits of the spirit M Which are the works of the flesh C Adulterie fornication filthinesse outragiousnes idolatrie enimitie strife emulation anger altercation sedition sects enuie murther dronkennesse gluttonie and things like vnto the same M And which are the fruits of the spirit C Loue ioie peace patience benignitie goodnesse faith caurtesie temperance M Seeing we are all carnall euill and seruants of sinne haue we power of our selues to doo good and to keepe vs from euill C No not so much as to thinke anie good thing For it is God that worketh in vs both the will and the deed according to his good will M We must not then doo euerie one of vs what seemeth vnto him good and right what good nature inclination or free will soeuer he alledge C No. For of vs can come nothing but perdition but ail our goodnes aid saluation comneth of God onlie M Our reason wisdome and intent can the same be the rule to knowe and discerne of our works whether they be good or euill C No. For we haue all but one Lawe-giuer who hath giuen vs the true and perfect rule out of the ten commandements of the lawe M What conteine the foure commandements of the first table C How God declareth himselfe to be our God and therefore by good right he requireth of vs faith homage adoration obedience and dutie M And the six commandements in the second table what doo they conteine C Our office and dutie towards our neighbour which is to doo vnto him as we would be done vnto our selues and not to doo vnto him that which wee would not to be done vnto our selues M Go to recite now this holie lawe C Harken O Israel I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thee out of the land of Aegypt c. as Exodus 20. M And how is it that Iesus Christ accomplished in vs this lawe so perfectlie C In giuing vs his holie spirit who ingendreth in vs a continuall desire and mind to doo all that the lawe commandeth vs as neere as we can M And this obedience so vnperfect doth it please God C Yea by this that our imperfection is not imputed vnto vs bicause of Iesus Christ whose iustice and perfect obedience is ours through faith M Alas who shall giue vs the hart and the power to doo the will of God which he here hath declared vnto vs by his holie ordinances C It shall be euen he himselfe by his spirit in the name of Iesus Christ his sonne whom he hath giuen vnto the death to deliuer vs from the condemnation of the lawe and from the bondage of sinne that is to saie from eternall death Of Confession Mother WHat is the fourth point of Christian adoration and seruice of God C It is the solemne confession or acknowledging that we make in the Church through the vse of the Sacraments M What confession C Of all good things both generall and particular which we receiue in the Church through the communion that we haue with Iesus and togither among our selues one with another M Doo we not dailie make such a confession vnto God in hearing his word and calling vpon him seeking to obeie him according to the benefits which hee hath giuen vnto vs Sacraments Child YEa certainlie But we make it also through the exercise of the Sacraments in greater force and edifieng M Shew the reason C Bicause they are annexed to the preaching and promises of the Gospell to mooue our soules and bodies to praise God with greater confirmation of our faith and loue M Understandest thou not that there is one like saluation by preaching and by the Sacraments offered vnto all as well to the faithfull as to the vnfaithfull C Yea but the vnfaithfull in respecting this saluation receiue nothing but the word outward signes to their condemnation M Neuerthelesse the Sacraments doo not signifie and represent lesse to one than to the other C It is certaine For God is alwaie true and vseth not to teach lies M The Lord then hath ioined the Sacraments with the preaching and promises of the Gospell as the seales are ioined with the letters and instruments which they confirme C Yea to print seale them the more in our soules bodies to mooue all our senses vnto this confession M The Sacraments then are vnto vs great succor and comfort C Yea in our infirmities disquietnesse and temptations which come dailie vnto vs as well from the diuell and the world as from our owne flesh M Which are the Sacraments that the Lord Iesus hath instituted in his Church C Baptisme and the Supper putting end vnto Circumcision and to the Paschall Lambe M How is it that he himselfe hath authorised and sanctified them C In that he would receiue Baptisme in his owne bodie and to be the first administrator of the Supper M Where is it y t the Lord commandeth Baptisme C In S. Matthew the last Chapter And Iesus came and spake vnto them saieng All power is giuen vnto me in heauen and in earth Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost teaching them to keepe all those things that I haue commanded you M Is Baptisme a washing of bodilie filthinesse C No. For so little water can doo nothing to vs. M From what filthinesse then are we there washed C From spirituall filthinesse which are our sinnes M We come then into the world all filthie and corrupt C If we were not conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquitie we should not haue to doo with baptisme M In whose name be we baptised C In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost who is our onlie and verie true God in three persons M And with what water are we washed and regenerated C With the water of life which is the holie spirit in the bloud of Iesus Christ M Baptisme then representeth vnto vs assureth vs of the full remission of our sinnes and exchanging of our wicked nature C Yea and by the same both we and our children are receiued into the Church as partakers of the couenant
setting foorth of thy most glorious inuisible and eternall Maiestie in this my fraile earthlie and visible maiestie may cleerelie shine and appeare in me to the benefit of thy Church farre and neere And that I remembring whose minister I am may first aboue all things in a perfect zeale of thy house and loue of thy people euer seeke thy honour and glorie and studie continuallie to preserue thy people committed to my charge in wealth peace and godlinesse Deere Father so blesse mee so loue mee so in the spirit of counsell prudence knowledge and fortitude sanctifie strengthen and direct me that in a perfect faith feare and loue as in thy sight I may walke vprightlie without offence giuing in the obedience of thy holie word and fulfilling of thy blessed commandements all the daies of my life and may be a true follower of that King which is the Souereigne ouer the holie hill of Zion whose seate and kingdome endureth for euer Giue mee grace both thankfullie to acknowledge thy manifold great benefits bestowed vpon mee and also faithfullie and diligentlie to discharge my dutie towards thee and thy people in executing thy iudgements indifferentlie without parcialitie to the aduancement of thy kingdome the establishment of my throne and the vniuersall comfort and commoditie of all thy people Make me good Lord of an entire affection and perfect hart towards thee and of an humble and gentle spirit towards all vnder my gouernement after the example of Christ our eternall King who to fulfill thy will O GOD did vouchsafe to take flesh of the virgin Marie and became man for man that man might become a God vnto men and who also did verie much abase and humble himselfe as a seruant euen vnto the death of the Crosse to redeeme both Prince and people out of thrall and bondage of sinne Sathan death and hell Let my naturall affection and disposition I saie O Lord continue to my foes terrible to my subiects amiable to mine offenders mercifull to the vertuous bountifull to all men indifferent and parciall to none that being guided by thee to gouerne thy people iustlie in all godlie peace and quietnesse I may be able with a good conscience to witnesse of mine integritie before thee and all the world as thy faithfull seruants Moses Samuel and Nehemias somtimes did of theirs and boldlie and trulie with them saie Behold here I am beare record of me before the Lord before his annointed Whose oxe or whose asse haue I forceablie taken awaie Or whom haue I done anie wrong to Or whom haue I iniured or hurt Or of whose hand haue I receiued anie bribes to blind mine eies therewith and I will restore it you that my people seeing and well perceiuing my motherlie affection faithfull gouernement carefull diligence and diligent watchfulnesse ouer them by all meanes to doo them all the good I possiblie may or can in thee may woorthilie witnesse rightlie answere and iustlie confesse and saie of me to thy glorie and my perpetuall praise as the Israelites heretofore said of Samuel That I haue not grieued them nor troubled my land by oppression or iniurie that I haue not hurt them nor taken ought of anie mans hand nor by anie meanes either by my selfe or others willinglie abused my power or dealt vniustlie with my people Oh kindle more and more in my hart I beseech thee most holie Father a pure zele aboue all things to promote thy glorie and a vigilant care not onelie to serue thee my selfe sincerelie but also to haue thee diligentlie serued of my familie people And to this end vouchsafe I praie thee both to adorne me with all thy heauenlie gifts and also to blesse my whole familie court and houshold with thy graces and vertues that all these both high and lowe one and other which are placed therein vnder me may for their vertuous life true faith and right religion towards thee their God and for their loiall harts and conscionable obedience towards me their Prince and Mistres and for their entire affection and charitie one towards another as brethren and lastlie for their hartie loue and naturall good-will they beare to their Commonwelth and countrie be an example and patterne of true godlinesse and puritie both in religion and life for all the whole Realme and countrie yea the whole world besides to followe as their head fountaine and light Moreouer O blessed God as hitherto by thy mightie protection thou hast preserued me and in thy great mercie maugre the heads of all mine enimies miraculouslie hast deliuered me and established me in this my kingdome thus long in admirable peace and blessed quietnesse all glorie and praise be rendered vnto thy glorious name therfore so I beseech thy gratious goodnesse O Lord in like mercie to blesse preserue maintaine keepe and defend me and my Realme still from all both forreine and domesticall conspiracies treasons deceits and violences of enimies and from all other dangers and perils imminent and to come both bodilie and ghostlie publike and priuate that I may still gouerne blessedlie ouer a blessed people and my Realme and people by thy defence and protection continue in the truth of thy Gospell and happie enioieng of perfect peace and quietnesse both outward and inward Thou O Lord of hosts hast ordeined me the Gouernour ouer thy people and made my people to be thy people and thou Lord art become our God yea and our great and mightie God besides whom wee haue none other God I knowe also my God that thou triest the hart and hast pleasure in righteousnesse behold therefore I offer vow and dedicate my selfe willinglie and entirelie in the vprightnesse of my hart to serue and worship thee onelie for euer with ioie and therfore am I thine handmaid bold to praie this praier vnto thee beseeching thee for euer to keepe me and to helpe me in this my good purpose of holie seruing and worshipping of thee For that which I haue hitherto done is nothing at all to speake of O direct thou continuallie the thoughts of my mind and prepare my hart euermore vnto thee Giue vnto me thine handmaid a perfect hart to keepe thy commandements thy testimonies and thy statutes and cause me to vse my power lawfullie to the reforming both of thy house and estates according to the prescript rule of thy written word reuealed will that so it may please thee O Lord God to confirme for euer thy mercifull promises made vnto me in my father DAVID and to blesse the throne or house of thy seruant with thy blessing that it may continue and be established before thee for euer And that this may the better come to passe to the glorie of thy name the benefit of thy Church and wealth of my Realme as I hartilie wish and desire remoue far from thy Church far from me O excellent father all those which fall from thee by infidelitie and are through obstinate wilfulnesse traiterous rebels to thy sacred
Lawe and sincere Religion which I professe Let backbiters together with such as are proud and those that dare shameleslie presume anie thing be vtterlie rooted out but contrariwise let there be space in especiallie for such as be verie zealous of the truth that they onlie may be conuersant with me before thee and cause me to feede them with a singular faith and innocencie and minister all things diligentlie vnto them Finallie let not the enimies of thy Gospell I beseech thee O gratious and mightie God thus despise thy grace offered them vnto repentance but those that are to be conuerted conuert and turne them O God speedilie if it be thy will Make thou Saule at the length to become a Paule and let not the persecutor persist in his errours but let them rather accompt thy long suffering and my peaceable and vnbloudie gouernement an occasion of saluation to their soules and of vnfeigned loue to thy Church Otherwise if they will needes remaine still disobedient to thy truth disloiall vnto me dangerous to the state and enimies to their Countrie and Common-wealth then O God of my saluation arise and helpe to wound the head of thine enimies and the hearie scalpe of such as go on still in their wickednesse Let thy right hand find out them that euerie daie prouoke thee and reuenge thy selfe on those blasphemous hypocrites that thus proudlie contemne thee to thy face And as thou hast discouered them and their peeuish practises against thee and thine annointed so discouer them still As thou hast preuented their diuelish purposes and execrable intents so preuent them still Yea let their firie eies waxe wearie with looking their bloudie harts and hands faint with waiting for their golden daie and that which commeth not yet neither let come O Lord I beseech thee but in thy good time and according to thy will a blessed and healthfull reigne vnto my selfe much ioie and comfort to my subiects and long peace to Zion for euermore Lastlie O most mightie God looke what remaineth yet of the happie building enlarging and finishing of thy Church and to the establishing and planting of thy Religion perfectlie therein according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word and full discharge of my dutie when I shall be called to render an accompt before the iudgement seate of Christ because that without thee I can do nothing neither is it possible to please thee do thou O father of light from whome all good gifts doo come and proceede vouchsafe to powre downe plentifullie of thy principall spirit vpon me and so rauish my hart with the flame of the loue of thee and thy people with an earnest zeale of thy house that with Ioseph I may carefullie and faithfullie prouide for thy people with Moses painefullie leade them out of the deserts of errour and oppression and with Ioshua bring thy people into the land of promise with Debora fight thy battels with Iahel knocke Sisera of Roome in the temples of his vsurped headship with Iudith cut off the head of proud Holophernes with Hezekias and Iosias roote out and destroie all superstition and relikes of idolatrie with Dauid and Salomon finish and consecrate to eternitie thy glorious Temple among thy people and with them all most earnestlie and continuallie to praie vnto thee for their saluation That heere on earth for the time after their vertuous example dooing that which is good in thy sight reigning blessedlie ruling prudentlie and like a louing mother and tender nursse giuing my fostermilke the foode of thy word and Gospell aboundantlie to all in all places of my dominion and endeuouring my selfe faithfullie to discharge the great trust committed vnto me when thy sonne to whome not onlie the sea and windes but all creatures are subiect shall come as King of kings to require an accompt of the charge committed vnto me I may be found faithfull and not faile finallie in heauen but in the purenesse of my virginitie and holinesse of mine innocencie be presented to the Lambe my souereigne Lord and onlie God my heauenlie Bridegroome and spirituall spouse my euerlasting King deere Christ and onlie sweet Sauiour Iesus there to see the Saincts and to be a Sainct and with all the holie Patriarches Iudges Kings and Queenes yea with all the Archangels Angels Saints Martyrs Confessors Uirgins and the whole companie of thy celestiall and blessed spirits to reigne with him ouer spirituall powers and principalities for euer and sing the sugred songs of my wedding-daie to my perpetuall ioie and thine eternall praise O most glorious Trinitie the Father the Son and the holie Ghost one inuisible God almightie blessed for euer and euer Amen Amen Another praier to be said of the Queenes Maiestie BLessed art thou Lord God of Sabbaoth for vnto thee apperteineth all magnificence and power and glorie to thee belongeth all honour and authoritie For whatsoeuer is either in the heauens aboue or in the earth beneath it is thine Thine O Lord is the kingdome thou art aboue all Princes Kings Riches are thine glorie is thine and thou art Lord ouer all In thee remaineth vertue and power greatnesse and gouernement O God of my fathers and Lord of mercie which hast made all things by thy word and by thy wisdome appointed man to rule the creatures which thou hast made and to gouerne the world with equitie and iustice I praise thee and extoll thy glorious name for appointing me thy seruant to rule and gouerne this thy people committed vnto my charge Now therefore gratious Lord fauourablie behold me that I may treade the path of truth righteousnesse and sinceritie of hart in thy sight Let me not abuse mine authoritie but gouerne with lenitie and gentlenesse the people vnder me that liuing a godlie and honest life mankind may enioie their desired peace Giue therefore vnto thy seruant an hart desirous of instructions that I may iudge the people and discerne betweene good and euill and neither declining to the right hand or to the left stoutelie and valiantlie mainteine the cause of the righteous Grant me counsell and assistance to doo such things as are gratefull vnto thee good for thy Church and profitable for my people and Common-weale Giue me thy wisdome and reiect me not from thy children for I thy seruant and handmaiden am a fraile woman of a short time and full weake in the vnderstanding of iudgements and the lawes Thou hast chosen me a Gouernour of thy people and a Iudge of thy sonnes and daughters send mee therefore wisdome from thy sacred heauens and from the seate of thy magnificence that it may be with me and labour with me whereby I may perceiue what is acceptable in thine eies and learne that I haue no power of my selfe but from thee which art Almightie and reignest ouer the kingdomes of men giuing them at thy pleasure Graunt that I neuer conceiue proudlie of my selfe but may receiue in patience the discipline of thy Lawe Make me wise and
remember his iniquities Ezech. 18 verse 27. BEhold good Lord now are the daies of sorowe now are the daies of calamitie and now is the time wherein I must call on thee For now feele I mine old cankered and festered sores of sinne readie to breake foorth in me to my vtter confusion Behold good Lord all my desires and all my lamentable and sorowfull sighes I powre them all before thee crieng and saieng O Lord cleanse me from my sinnes for I am vncleane and filthie before thee Increase therefore thy light in me that I may be a vessell of thy grace kindle my hart with thy loue put out all feare for perfect loue expelleth feare Let the loue of the world the loue of the flesh the loue of vaine-glorie and the loue of my selfe vtterlie depart from me that I may through thy mercie be cleansed from mine iniquities by the which I haue offended thee Cleanse me therefore O Lord with the water of thy gratious fauour of which water he that drinketh shall no more thirst but it shall be made in him a fountaine of liuing water running and flowing into eternall life Cleanse mee I saie O Lord with the water of thy weeping teares cleanse me with the comfortable waters of thy sacred Scriptures that I may be numbred among them vnto whome thou saiedst Now are yee cleane through the words that I haue spoken to you AMEN Z ZACHE was a perfect man and thou Lord saiedst vnto him when he was in the figtree ZACHE come downe for to daie I will come into thy house and he came downe and ioifullie receiued thee Luke 19 verse 5. O Mercifull God how manie sinnes haue I don in thy sight which I would in no wise haue done before mortall men I feared men more than thee because I was blind and loued blindnesse I had onlie eies of flesh therfore did I onlie feare and looke on men which are flesh O my God behold I stand before thy face that I might finde mercie I stand before thy goodnesse and benignitie looking for thy fauorable answere haue mercie therefore on me Thou saiedst to Zache This daie I will abide in thy house and he ioifullie receiuing thee said Lord the halfe of my goods I giue to the poore and if I haue done anie man wrong I will restore him fourefold But Lord Iesu I will not part halfe that I haue but I bequeath my selfe wholie vnto thee reseruing nothing from thee promising to serue thee for euer with a cleane and pure hart O sweet Lord Iesus what sawest thou in Zache euen thine owne image for he had cast off the image of the diuell which before was on him and had put on him thine image If then thou didst see in Zache by putting from him the image of the diuell that which did drawe thee to his house take then from me sweet Iesus all my sinnes and wickednesse all I praie thee that none may remaine in me which may keepe thee from me that I may put off as Zache did that euill which is in me that thou maist see in me which thou sawest in Zache that when thou shalt call me out of the figtree of this miserable world thou maist saie vnto me Come downe for this daie I will abide with thee AMEN A A Pure heart create in me ô GOD and a right spirit renew within me Psalme 51 verse 10. ALas my Lord and Sauiour my hart hath forsaken thee it is turned from thee and is gone astraie it is wandered into strange countries and ensueth vanities hir eies are in the vttermost part of the world It is lost gone and sold vnder sinne It is stonie yea harder than the Flint or Adamant stone which relented and yeelded at thy sonnes death What now Lord What shall I saie A pure hart create in me a fleshie hart a mollified and soft hart an humble hart a penitent hart a mercifull hart a deuout hart a religious and zealous hart yea and such a hart as will loue thee aboue all things Create therefore good Lord such a hart in me that it may be of such efficacie through thy grace as nature is not able to make it Giue me also a right spirit that I may loue and worship thee which art the chiefe and principall spirit For thou art a spirit and wilt be worshipped in spirit and veritie My soule good Lord is also a spirit and so made of thee that of it selfe it is right For of hir owne nature she loueth thee aboue hir selfe and desireth all things for thy glorie so that hir owne naturall loue is right because it commeth of thee Make stedfast therefore in me O Lord through thy gratious fauour this spirit that it may according to his owne nature leade and keepe me in the waie of thy commandements and that by it my heart may be so inflamed with heauenlie loue that it may cause me to sigh vnto thee to embrace thee continuallie and neuer to forsake thee but alwaies to be firme and constant in thee Giue me therefore an vpright spirit not seeking hir owne glorie but thy will and glorie Renew it in me I praie thee good Lord renew it I saie for my sins haue quenched the first that thou gauest me AMEN B BEhold LORD against thee onlie haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight that thou maist be iustified in thy words and maist ouercome when thou art iudged Psalme 51 verse 4. TO thee onlie O Lord it is proper to forgiue and to be mercifull for through mercie and forgiuenesse thou dooest declare thine almightinesse I graunt therefore Lord and confesse that against thee onlie I haue offended and haue done that which is euill in thy sight Haue mercie therefore on me O Lord haue mercie Expresse and shewe foorth thine omnipotencie in me that thou maist be iustified in thy words For it is written Thou camest not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Graunt me therefore good Lord a true repentant hart and iustifie me according to thy words Call me receiue me and giue me thy grace so that thereby I may do the works of repentance Thou saiedst When I am lifted vp from the earth I will drawe all vnto my selfe Uerifie Lord the words on me drawe me after thee and let me run with thee in the sweetenesse of thine ointments Againe thou saiedst Come vnto me all yee that labour and are loden and I will ease you Behold my Lord and my God I a sinner do come vnto thee all loden with sinnes daie and night labouring in the sorowe of my hart for thy grace and mercie Refresh and ease me therefore good Lord that thou maist be iustified and proued when thou art iudged For there are manie which saie There is no helpe for him in his God Ouercome Lord these persons when thou art thus iudged of them and forsake not me at anie time but giue to me thy creature thy mercie and pardon and then are they vanquished which
for into thy hands I commit me Amen E ENter thy iudgements in the tables of my hart destroie mine affections with thy loue send thy wisdome from the holie heauens and from the seate of thy Maiestie that she may be with me and labour with me that I may knowe what thing is acceptable before thee and may iudge the people righteouslie and discerne betweene good and euill G GRatious Lord thou that art the most high God aboue all the earth long-suffering and of much mercie sorowing the sinnes of man and of thy great goodnesse hast promised to the penitent remission of sinnes Lord I haue sinned mine iniquitie is multiplied aboue the sands of the sea and there is no hope of life in me because I haue stirred thee to anger in multiplieng offences before thee And now O Lord trusting in thy mercie I bow the knees of my hart beseeching thee of thy goodnesse destroie me not togither with mine iniquitie For the dead whose soules are out of their bodies can neither praise nor thanke thee but the sorowfull hart and the thirstie soule ascribe praise vnto thee O Lord I powre my praiers before thee and require mercie in thy sight saue me which am vnwoorthie and reserue not eternall punishment for mee For thine owne sake I aske it and will praise thee all the daies of my life Amen I ILluminate my hart O Lord with the light of thy word leade me Lord in thy waie and I shall enter into thy truth Print thy feare in my hart that I may reioice in thee Let thy word be a lanterne vnto my feet and a lampe of light vnto my paths so shall I not erre from the right waie but walke like a pure and wise virgin with an vpright hart chaste mind and cleane conscience and single eie before thee this daie and euermore Amen N NEuer will I cease to call vpon thee most mightie God of hosts which sittest vpon the Cherubins and hast dominion ouer all the kingdoms of the earth Thou which madest the heauens all things comprehended in them bow downe thine eare and heare open thine eies and behold saue mee from the hand of mine aduersaries suffer no euill to happen vnto me that all the people may knowe that thou alone art my God Amen A ASsist mee O Lord my God with thy heauenlie grace and renew in mee a right spirit that I may receiue strength ablenesse to doo thy righteous will and to stand against all the assaults of wilie Satan that they may haue no place in mee but that the old man which I beare about in my bodie may be crucified and dailie die in me that the desire of sinne errour and of worldlie vanities may vtterlie be destroied that I may euermore be renewed in the spirit of my mind that the life of my Sauiour Christ may alwaies appeare in me to whome with the Father and the holie Ghost be all honour triumph and glorie for euer and euer Amen The versicle EUen now and euer vouchsafe O LORD for thy deere sonnes sake to heare my humble petitions The answere REceiue my praiers I saie O GOD and in thy truth and mercie pardon mine offences and grant mee thy grace The Collect. O Emanuel my Lord and my GOD Iesus Christ sonne of the pure virgin Marie thou art not onelie the sweete spouse of my soule but with God the Father a most meeke Mediatour full of mercie and truth Wash awaie my sinnes with the most pretious bloud of thy holie passion make me rich in thy mercie and my faith so strong in thee that assisted with thy grace and holie spirit to all duties and works in this life towards thee I may enioie afterwards the glorie of thy blessed kingdome with thy holie Saints and pure Uirgins in euerlasting honour and triumph Amen The Praier O Roote of Iesse my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ which hast redeemed all mankind from sinne death and hell thou which hast said I am the waie truth and life The waie in doctrine commandements and examples truth in promises life in reward I praie thee by thine ineffable loue wherewith thou hast vouchsafed wholie to bestowe thy selfe for our securitie that thou wilt not suffer me euer to straie from thee bicause thou art the waie nor at anie time to distrust thy promses which art the truth and performest whatsoeuer thou promisest neither let me rest in anie other thing bicause thou art eternall life without the which there is nothing that ought to be desired neither in heauen nor in earth By thee we learne the sure and expedient passage vnto true helth that we wander no longer in the Laberinth of this world Thou hast exactlie taught what to beleeue and what to doo what to hope for and in whom we ought to rest By thee wee learne how wee were of that first Adam vnfortunatelie borne by thee we are assured there is no hope of health but through faith in thee that thou art the onlie brightnesse which giuest light to all men trauelling the darke desarts of this world where is nothing but a profound dimnesse wherby we neither see our calamities nor frō whence we ought to seeke remedie of our euill Thou vouchsafedst to descend into the earth disdainedst not to take our nature vpon thee that by thy doctrine thou mightest shake off the dimnesse of our ignorance by thy commandements mightest direct our feete in the waie of truth peace By the examples of thy life thou hast shewed vs the waie to immortalitie and by thy steps hast restored to vs a plaine easie profitable waie out of an vneeuen and rough waie So thou art made vnto vs a waie which knoweth no error in the which least we should be wearie thou hast vouchsafed to vphold vs in thy benignitie with great sure promises For who can be wearie accounting himselfe redie through thy steps to enter thy heauenlie heritage Therefore whilest we be in this iournie thou wouldest be a sure hope vnto vs to be in steed of a staffe vnto vs wherewith we are sustained Neither was thy goodnes content with this but knowing the weaknesse of our flesh in the meane while with the comfort of thy spirit dooest so refresh our strength whereby we run cheerefullie And as thou being made vnto vs the waie dooest driue awaie all errour so being truth dooest thou take awaie all distrust Finallie being made life vnto vs dooest reuiue the dead in sinne to liue by thy spirit releeuing all things vntill in the resurrection all mortalitie vtterlie abolished we may alwaies liue with thee and in thee when Christ shall be to vs all in all For eternall life is to knowe the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost to be one true God where now thorough faith we behold onlie in a glasse and riddle And then seeing more felowlie the glorie of the Lord wee shall be transformed into the same image Therefore I beseech thee most mercifull Sauiour that
Lord with the hyssope of true repentance and sorowfull contrition that being clensed in the most cleere fountaine of thy grace I may be whiter than snowe and also bee able euer hereafter to serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of liuing through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Wash your hands yee sinners and cleanse your harts ye wauering minded Isaias 4 verse 8. I will wash my hands in innocencie ô Lord and so will I go to thine altar Psal 26 verse 6. Or else praie thus HAue mercie vpon mee O God and pardon the wicked deeds which my hands haue committed Wash my soule with the holie fountaine or well which I beleeue did flow from thy hart and naked side and sanctifie and purifie not onlie my hands and face from filth but my hart soule and conscience also from all contagion of sinne and iniquitie that I may be pure both in bodie and soule and serue thee in holinesse and puritie all the daies of my life So be it Though I wash my selfe with snowe water and purge my hands most cleane yet shalt thou plunge me in the pit and mine owne cloths shall make mee filthie Iob. 9 verse 30. Meditations THinke now of thy vow and promise made to God at thy baptisme to forsake Sathan to renounce the world and to mortifie the flesh and how oft since thou hast broken it and be hartilie sorie therefore Thinke also vpon the vnspeakable loue and mercie of Christ our Sauiour who hath washed vs from our sins in his owne pretious bloud and purged our conscience from dead works to the end we should serue him in holinesse and innocencie of life And consider that it shall little auaile thée to haue washed thy selfe if thou touch filth againe that is if thou confesse thy faults and after commit them againe and so wich the dog returne to the vomit and with the washed sow to the wallowing in the mire againe ¶ When you be made readie first before all things looke that either by your selfe or with your familie with all humblenesse of mind you kneele downe by your bed-side in your parlour or other sweete cleane and conuenient place and there taking both time and leasure to serue the Lord lift vp your hart hands and eies and praie vnto his diuine Maiestie saieng in manner and forme following A premeditation or first forme of praier to be vsed before praier O Mercifull Lord and louing father without whose aid and motion I am not able to stir one member toward heauenlie seruice the burthen of this slowe and sinfull flesh doth so ouercharge my weak soule according vnto thy fatherlie pitie looke vpon me O God prepare my hart to praier and quicken my dull spirit with thy grace to rise out of this miserable puddle and to come before thy presence in humble repentance crauing thy mercie for my miserable sinnes and wickednesse and being released in the bloud and righteousnesse of Iesus Christ I may ioifullie serue honor and praise thine eternall Maiestie through thy deere sonne my mercifull Lord and redeemer to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all glorie and thanks for euer Amen Another meditation before praier VNto thee O heauenlie father doo I heere prostrate on my knees lift vp my hart my hands mine eies and praiers beseeching thy Maiestie and saieng Helpe me O my Lord and God in this my good purpose and holie worshipping or seruing of thee and grant vnto me to make a perfect entrance and beginning this present daie that I maie doo all things in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost For that which I haue hitherto done is nothing at all The Confession and Praier O Father of heauen O sonne of God redeemer of the world O holie Ghost three persons and one God haue mercie vpon me most wretched caitife and miserable sinner I haue offended both heauen and earth more than my tongue can expresse my sins are aboue all mens both in number and greatnesse which I haue committed Whither then may I go And whither should I flee To heauen I may be ashamed to lift vp my face and in earth I find no place of refuge or succour To thee therefore O Lord doo I runne to thee doo I humble my selfe saieng O Lord my God my sinnes be great and innumerable but yet haue mercie vpon me for thy great mercie The great mysterie that God became man was not wrought for little or few offences Thou didst not giue thy sonne O heauenlie father vnto death for small sinnes onlie but for all the greatest sinnes in the world so that the sinner returne vnto thee with his whole hart as I doo heere at this present Wherefore haue mercie on me O God whose propertie is alwaie to haue mercie wherefore haue mercie on me O Lord for thy great mercie I craue nothing O Lord for mine owne merits but for thy name sake that it may be halowed thereby and for thy deere sonne Iesus Christes sake and now therefore Our father of heauen halowed be thy name c. Another Confession and praier OH almightie euerlasting God and most gratious deere louing father I beseech thee for Iesus Christes sake thy most deere and onlie sonne to haue mercie pitie and compassion vpon me most vile wretched and miserable sinner whose innumerable offenses both old new be most horrible heinous and great where through I haue iustlie deserued thy greeuous wrath and euerlasting damnation But now good Lord heere I do appeale to thy great mercie onlie which far surmounteth all thy works as thou hast promised the same in thy holie and infallible word where thou hast said yea and sworne as trulie as thou liuest that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert and liue Ah deere Lord I confesse that I am a great and greeuous sinner and yet now by thy grace and good working of thy holie spirit something turned vnto thee Oh let me liue and not die the euerlasting death of the soule which I so deepelie haue deserued but make me a vessell of thy great mercie that I may liue and praise thy name among thy chosen children for euer Oh let not my horrible sinnes separate me from the sweet sight of thy Maiestie but let thy great power and mercie be magnified in me as it is in Dauid in Peter in Magdalen and in the notable Theefe which was crucified with Christ thy deere sonne in whose most pretious death and bloud-shedding onlie O Lord I put my whole trust and confidence For he onelie hath taken awaie the sinnes of the world he came not to condemne the world but to saue it that none that trulie beleeue in him should perish but haue life euerlasting He saith he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Oh gratious God giue me true earnest hartie and vnfeigned repentance that I may from the verie bottome of my hart continuallie lament my manifold
may be compared to the ranke Oliues and exceeding fertile Uines and grant that a continuall ofspring of thy deere children may be multiplied in thy blessed Church and become notable in peace in praises and in puritie of life and doctrine to the renowmed honour of thy glorious name through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another praier for the preseruation of the Church O Celestiall God and Father of infinite mercie and compassion which not onelie gatherest to thy selfe an holie Church in this world out of mankind through the operation of the holie Ghost and preaching of thy word but also preseruest the same being gathered and adornest it with all kind of temporall things and which more is with eternall blisse we humblie beseech thee gratious Lord that of thy goodnesse thou wouldest vouchsafe euermore to mainteine this thy little flocke embracing preaching and professing thy word through thine especiall grace Continue thy fauour toward the same keepe it in sound doctrine constant in confessing in the lawfull vse of thy holie Sacraments and in purenesse of life that neither the gates of hell the rage of Sathan nor yet the rigorousnesse and tyrannie of this world oppresse the same Protect and keepe this thy boate and little barke tossed among manie perillous tempests and miserable surges in the raging sea of this trouble some world that it perish not being ouerwhelmed Uphold thy Church which is builded vpon a sure rocke and dependeth vpon Christ a sound and vnmoueable foundation O Lord of hostes returne looke downe from heauen and behold visit thy Uine and make it perfect which thy right hand hath planted and thou hast chosen to thy selfe Hedge the same about with thy strong defence that the branches thereof being spread out and pruned may bring foorth aboundance of fruite Raise vp thy power come O God and saue vs. Conuert vs shewe foorth thy countenance and we shall be saued Encrease thy sheepe within thy hardels so shall we be quiet from all inuasion and scatterings neither can anie drawe vs by force out of thy hands Defend vs from such as seeke the vtter ouerthrowe of pure religion and in place thereof labour to bring in the shamefull instauration of blasphemous idolatrie Suffer not thy word that most cleere and vnchangeable light to be corrupted or put out by our meanes but gather to thy selfe through the sound of the Gospell such a Church as may harken vnto thee honour and sanctifie thy name as well in word as in honest conuersation that so thou maist haue a righteous and holie generation celebrating thy goodnesse for euermore O ioine vs vnto that companie which doth worship thee continuallie that we may be citizens of thy kingdome among thy Saincts Grant that we erre not frō the foundation of wholsome doctrine answering to the rules of the sacred Scripture and that we offend not against our conscience but separate vs from the companie of the vngodlie ones and from the damned crue of the reprobate Let vs not so much as take their names into our mouths which powre out heapes of blasphemies to thy great dishonour and defacing of thy truth vnto whom thy sonne is a destruction and stone of offence For they despise his base estate and the foolish preaching of thy Gospell and the deformed shew of the Church placed in the midst of all kind of miseries they loath and abhor preferring vncertaine riches lordlie authoritie and the vaine pleasures of this transitorie world before the profession of the truth so making warre with thy sonne they doo purchase euerlasting destruction vnto themselues Keepe vs euermore that wee may abide in that Church which is trulie Catholike consisting of members of manie nations but linked vnto thee in one and the same confession Sanctifie vs with thine holie spirit that our sinnes being forgiuen vs wee may take another trade of life in acknowledging thee to be the onlie true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Giue vnto thy Church resting places and nests where they may sound thy sacred Gospell purelie without corruption Suppresse the diuell which spredeth blasphemies against thy doctrine that so neither feined gods may be erected nor superstitious inuocations confirmed nor thy glorie defaced Weaken the power of thine enimies which boile in hatred against thy truth and conspire the death of thine elect so neither shall stables of woolues be made nor dennes of theeues established O Lord returne and quicken vs so shall thy people reioice in thee Let all such as trust in thee reioice and triumph for euer Dwell thou in them and let those which loue thy name reioice in thee O Lord remember not our offences Thou which wast somtime mercifull and forgauest the wickednesse of thy people and hidst all their sinnes which withdrawedst all thine anger and turnedst from the fiercenesse of thine indignation be mindfull of thy woonted mercie and receiue vs into thy fauour For we depend vpon thee alone being destitute of all worldlie aid our trust wholie is in thee and all our confidence resteth in thy stretched-out arme O Lord couer vs with thy grace as it were with a shield that so we may be blessed and abiding in the house of thy congregation may acknowledge and call vpon thee according to thy word reuealed and praise thee euermore through our Lord Iesus Christ Amen A praier for vnitie in faith and religion O Eternall God and most mercifull Father which hast called vs to the vnitie of the true Catholike faith and gathered vs by thy word into the lap of the Christian congregation that wee may be all of vs one bodie and one spirit euen as wee are called in one hope of our calling one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and Father of all which is aboue all and through all and in vs all For euen as thou O Father art in thy sonne and he in thee so should we also be one in thee our God And therefore we crie vnto thee O almightie Father and eternall God teach vs thy waies that we may walke in thy truth O knit our harts vnto thee that we may feare thy name Grant that all the faithfull may be like affected and of one mind as thou art thinking the same thing after the ensample of Christ our Sauiour and that as well in minds as with mouth we may agree among our selues both in true doctrine and in outward behauiour of conuersation For the scope of the Churches felicitie consisteth in the vnitie of true faith and religion Keepe vs in the true vnderstanding and right knowledge of thy sacred Scriptures that without strife and contention we may speake one thing Let there be no dissentions nor schismes among vs. Let nothing be done through contention or of vaine glorie but let vs be one bodie indued with one mind and iudgment according to thy word reuealed vntill we attaine to the vnitie of faith and knowledge of thy sonne into a perfect man according to the measure of the
most humblie beseech thee in zeale and loue to doo this one thing so acceptable a seruice to thee and most needfull for vs to be done euen with attentiue and desirous minds to heare thy holie word preached and so farre to exceed the Queene of Saba and those which haue sought for wisdome from the vttermost parts of the earth as the wisdome thou offerest vs in it exceedeth all other and so much more redilie to practise it than they did which heard thy Prophets as thy sonne is aboue all the Prophets that we with wise Martha making our choise by thy grace of the better part may be made wise in him vnto saluation and it neuer be taken from vs but remaine with vs till it put vs in possession of that happie life which in a blessed hope we looke for by it And grant vs so to be carefull ouer our dutie which thou hast commanded that wee especiallie regarding that which is chiefest with thee and most needfull for our selues may therby declare our selues to be in deed of God bicause we heare Gods word and to be the true sheepe of thy fold bicause we harken diligentlie to thy voice and followe thee with Susanna Ioanna Marie Magdalen and all other godlie men and women and so by this meanes finallie not faile of thy promises but obteine to our endlesse comfort and the glorie of thy name the blessing and gift of eternall life among all faithfull beleeuers in the kingdome of heauen through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another verie Christian praier both of the preacher and auditorie present OH Lord how beautifull are the feete of them that bring the glad tidings of the Gospell of peace of saluation of all good things Surelie without preaching we should all perish Blessed and praised be thou therefore O Father for that thou hast giuen to vs thy Gospell life foode doctrine and peace in our time Blessed and praised be thou therefore O Christ bicause thou giuest and renewest often the light of thy Gospell and maitainest the ministers of thy word and preseruest cherishest and defendest thy catholike Church against the diuell and all thine enimies Yea blessed I saie and praised also be thou therefore O holie spirit bicause thou being powred vpon the Apostles dooest now also kindle thy light in our harts rulest instructest admonishest helpest vs gouernest and guidest oâ—â— labours to a prosperous end and sanctifiest vs to eternall life And now for as much as the chiefe authoritie of speaking is indeed of thee O Lord alone for a mortall man hath but a dead hart I humblie beseech thee to blesse this thy preacher heere present with thy diuine grace that he may doo the worke of an Euangelist and make thy Gospell knowne vnto vs. Giue vnto him the spirit of feare godlinesse fortitude counsell zeale knowledge discretion wisedome vnderstanding and constancie and let him as he hath receiued thy gifts so like a good and faithfull disposer of thy manifold graces trulie minister the same vnto vs. Lord let him come vnto vs with abundant knowledge and abilitie of the diuine mysteries of the blessings of the Gospell of Christ to communicate and impart vnto vs. And now that he is about to speake grant that he may speake in thee that is by thy helpe and grace and as he is allowed of thee so to vtter the words of God as he hath receiued them from thee that thou in althings maist be glorified Put vpon his hart the breast-plate of perfect iudgement the Urim of knowledge and the Thumim of holines and righteousnes of life and puritie of doctrine Let thy word be in his hart as a burning fire shut vp in his bones yea let his bellie be as the wine which hath no vent or like the new bottles that burst that being full of good matter thy spirit within may compell him to speake his mind effectuallie Yea doo thou O Lord I saie secretlie speake and worke in him and let thy secret power and vertue be put here vnto this action to this his labour and exercise of faith that he may accomplish that thou requirest to be done for the conuersion and saluation of thy people present Giue him the earnest-penie of thy spirit in his hart and open the doore of vtterance vnto him that he may make manifest the sauour of thy life and knowledg vnto vs. Lord thou hast said Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Open thou therefore his lips that his mouth may shew forth thy praise and shew vs the waie wherein we may walke straight to thee O let his mouth I saie be filled with thy praise that he may preach thine vndefiled lawe to the conuerting of soules and giue wisdome to the simple and light to the blind Let vtterance be giuen now vnto him that he may open his mouth boldlie to publish the secrets of the Gospell whereof he is an Ambassadour that therein he may speake boldlie as he ought to speake not sparing anie man nor hauing regard to please anie maner of person Touch thou O God the mouth of this thy preacher with the hot glowing cole of thy spirit whereby he being first clensed may the more feruentlie and purelie preach thy Gospell vnto his brethren in the discharge of his dutie as he that first is mooued with the zeale of thy glorie and then touched with a carefull affection towards thy people as Esaie was Giue vnto this thy preacher the audacitie of Eliah Iohn Baptist that like the true minister of God he may stoutlie boldlie without anie respect of persons or desire to please men as he that feareth God more than the faces of men reproue the people of their sinnes Let him as thou hast giuen in commendement crie alowd and spare not let him lift vp his voice like a trumpet and with all diligence and discretion shew thy people their transgressions and reprooue vice vnfeinedlie And bicause O Lord in vaine shall he cast the net of thy word except thou blesse the draught and his labour yeeld no profit vnlesse thou prosper it doo thou therefore luckilie set him on loose thou his tongue to speake and put thou into his hart what to saie Blesse him that thy word may be with him that he may be able thoroughlie to instruct vs what is thy will that he may catch our soules and by thy secret diuine power drawe vnto him the harts minds and eares of the hearers so shall he conuert and win manie vnto thy Christ and thou thereby be highlie glorified Let thy spirit speake by him and thy words be in his tongue that he vtter nothing rashlie or vndiscreetlie but by the motion of thy good spirit speaking sincerelie and holilie of thee as in thy sight Giue to him and to all such as beare thy word and are the ministers of the spirituall life such care zeale and diligence that they may indeuour faithfullie and painfullie to fulfill their office to the vttermost And
and of thy free mercie that we are made heires and partakers of thy promise in Christ Iesu through the Gospell which bringeth vs tidings and full assurance of the euerlasting riches of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie Blessed be God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in heauenlie things by Christ and hath chosen vs in him before the foundations of the world that we should be holie and without blame before him in loue who hath predestinated vs to be adopted through Iesus Christ vnto himselfe according to the good pleasure of his will whereby he loueth vs by his beloued in whom we haue redemption in his bloud euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes according to the riches of his grace wherein he hath abounded towards vs in all wisdome and vnderstanding and hath opened vnto vs the mysterie of his will according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himselfe euen vntill the dispensation of the fulnesse of time that he might gather in one all things both which are in heauen and which are in earth euen in Christ by whom also we are chosen when wee were predestinated according to the purpose of him which maketh althings after the counsell of his owne will that we might be to the praise of his glorie which hoping haue beleeued in Christ when we heard the word of truth euen the Gospell of saluation And this grace thou didst extend toward vs not by the works of righteousnesse which we had done but according to thy mercie thou sauedst vs and didst call vs with an holie calling not according to our works but according to thine owne purpose grace which was giuen to vs through Christ before all times and is now made manifest by the appearing of our Sauiour Iesus Christ which hath abolished death and brought life and immortalitie vnto light through the Gospell To thee therefore which art of power to establish our harts according to the reuelation of the mysterie which was kept secret since the world began but now is opened and published among all nations by the Scriptures of the Prophets at the commandement of the euerlasting GOD for the obedience of faith to thee we saie God onelie wise be praise through Iesus Christ for euer Amen We beseech thee that according to the operation and working of thy mightie power we may continue constant in true faith and wholesome doctrine and at no time forsaking the wisedome opened in the Gospell may followe the iudgement of worldlie reason and fleshlie vnderstanding which thou hast beesotted and altogither confounded in searching thy hidden mysteries For thy spirituall wisedome dooth farre exceed all wisedome and vnderstanding of the creatures wherevnto flesh can not attaine neither can our bloud reueale nor yet the naturall man although he be indued with great sharpenesse of wit and worldlie vnderstanding perceiue the same Grant we beseech thee that we may be thy simple sheepe and little-ones receiuing from thee the word of truth without contradiction and disputation and that in the articles of faith we bring not fleshly wisedome but being made void of our proper vnderstanding may bring our minds into a godlie captiuitie Let thy Sonne which descending from aboue brought with him the eternall wisedome of the Gospell from thy bosome and was made a sacrifice on our behalfe but now exalted to thy right hand bestoweth his gifts let him we beseech thee shine in our harts Likewise cause thine holie spirit to instill into vs his diuine light and breath vpon vs the new flame of thine heauenlie knowledge till departing into the eternall life we may behold thee the onlie and true God face to face which liuest and reignest in perpetuall glorie Amen Another thankes-giuing after the Sermon WE render vnto thee O heauenlie father most hartie thanks for this spirituall heauenlie nourishment of thy blessed word wherewith our soules are not onelie well refreshed at this present but also our faith is strengthened our loue kindled and our conscience quieted Wee most humblie beseech thee to giue vs grace not onelie to be hearers of thy word but dooers also of the same not onelie to loue but also to liue thy Gospell not onlie to fauour but also to followe thy godlie doctrine not onelie to professe but also to practise thy blessed commandements that whatsoeuer we outwardlie heare and inwardlie beleeue we may shew foorth the same in our conuersation and liuing vnto the honour of thy holie name the comfort of our Christian brethren and the health of our soules Amen Another O GOD wee haue heard with our eares and our fathers and preachers haue declared vnto vs the noble works that thou hast done of old time for vs. Grant therefore we beseech thee O thou heauenlie husbandman that this seed of thy word now sowne amongst vs may take such deepe root in our harts that neither the burning heate of persecution cause it to wither neither the thornie cares of this life doo choke it but that as seed sowne in good ground it may bring foorth thirtie sixtie and an hundred fold as thy heauenlie wisedome hath appointed to the glorie of thy holie name Amen Another praier or thankes-giuing after the Sermon I Giue thee most humble thankes Lord Iesu Christ that thou hast vouchsafed euen now abundantlie to refresh and feed vs with the food of thy word And I beseech thee that the vnderstanding and knowledge of this thy word may be wholsome comfortable and effectuall in vs that this heauenlie seed now sowne doo not die or perish in vs without fruit Keepe our harts O Lord inuiron and compasse them about with the inclosure or hedge of thy grace and by thy holie Angels preserue and watch ouer the same that the infernall fowle bird Satan pull not out thy sacred word out of our harts But prepare our breast and make apt our harts vnto thee good Lord that they may firmelie keepe thy word and that they may alwaie sticke and be as new and fresh in our memories Giue vs also strength possibilitie and power that our life may answere to thy doctrine heard Giue increase also to thy word O heauenlie husbandman that in vs it may augment growe and that by thy holie speech and heauenlie eloquence it may not onlie bring vs to the knowledge of thy will but also that we may execute accomplish and fullfill that thou commandest and willest and so perseuering to the end may at the last aspire to thy celestiall kingdome Amen Another O Gratious God and most mercifull Father which hast vouchsafed vs the rich and pretious iewell of thy holie word assist vs with thy spirit that it may be written in our harts to our euerlasting comfort to reforme vs to renew vs according to thine owne image to build vs vp and edifie vs into the perfect building of thy Christ sanctifieng and increasing in vs all heauenlie vertues Grant this O heauenlie Father for Iesus
beeing made thine adopted children we may by the sanctification of thy spirit inherit the euerlasting kingdome through the same Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Or praie for the fruits of Baptisme thus MOst heauenlie and eternall father we thy humble seruants entirelie desire thy fatherlie goodnesse that as thou hast begun in vs a newe birth washed vs with the fountaine of regeneration whereby we are made members of thy bodie and elected into the number and felowship of thy Church and congregation so thou wouldest powre vpon vs the grace of thy spirit to direct our liues according to this beginning in holinesse and purenesse that we may mortifie the lusts of the flesh resist the assaults of Sathan and auoide the alurements of the wicked world remembring alwaies that Baptisme doth represent vnto vs our vocation quenching those sparks of concupiscence that we all drawe from the old Adam and quickning vs in those good fruits of Christ our Sauiour who continuallie preserue vs with his holie spirit for euer and euer Amen Or praie for the continuance of the true institution of the Sacraments thus O Most mightie and most mercifull God by whose power the heauens and earth and all things therein are created who hast placed euerie thing in a most excellent order and hast framed man after thine owne similitude and image raising him from hell to heauen from wo to ioie from damnation to saluation and hast giuen him through thy sonne Iesu Christ a most sure bond of thy promise made in the beginning to mankind for the redemption of the world sending thine onlie begotten Sonne Iesu Christ to performe the same who made one onelie oblation and sacrifice for the sinnes of the whole world and did ordaine and institute two most holie Sacraments to continue the remembrance of the same make vs euer mindfull we beseech thee of these thine inestimable treasures Continue oh Lord this thy fauour towards vs. Let not tyrants preuaile against thy Church but let thy mightie power be shewed that the sacred rites may cōtinue in thy Church that the enimies may be ouerthrowne as the Turke who would vtterlie destroie those most holie Sacraments which thou hast ordeined for our saluation as the Anabaptists which like heretikes alter thy most holie institution as the Atheists who bred in them great corruption Conuert them we beseech thee O Lord and establish vs in the truth of thy holie spirit by thy mightie power that both now and euer wee may continue in the right institution of thy Sacraments which thy Sonne our Sauiour Christ hath left most perfect vnto vs to the endlesse ioie and consolation of our soules To whome therefore with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour glorie and praise world without end Amen Prouerbes 9. verse 1. WIsedome hath built hir house and hewen out hir seauen pillers she hath killed hir victuals drawne hir wine and prepared hir table she hath sent foorth hir virgins and crieth vpon the high places of the citie saieng Who so is simple let him come hither and to him that is destitute of wisedome she saith Come and eate of my meate and drinke of my wine that I haue drawne Canti 5. I AM come saith Christ vnto his spouse the Church into my garden my sister my spouse I gathered my mirrh with my spice I ate my honie-combe with my honie I dranke my wine with my milke Eate ô freends drinke and make ye merrie ô welbeloued Reuelation 19. HAppie and blessed are they which are called vnto the Lambes supper Christian praiers to be said before at and after ye receiue the holie Communion and first An effectuall meditation of the right Christian beleefe in the holie Sacrament of the Lords supper and of the woorthie and fruitefull receiuing the same to our comfort and saluation to be diligentlie read before you receiue O My soule let vs now carefullie consider first whether we bee come namelie to the celestiall table heauenlie banket greate feast costlie repast and sumptuous supper of the most puissant glorious mightie and magnificent King of kinges and Lord of lordes Iesus Christ thy most mercifull maker righteous redeemer souereigne sauiour and deere spouse and that of necessitie as both forced therevnto by his iust commandement and also allured and inuited by his mercifull promises Secondlie O my soule let vs rightlie knowe and diligentlie marke what things are heere presentlie set before vs on this holie Table and prouided for vs in this blessed banket to taste of namelie that the deintie dishes and the refection and meate which we must in verie deede seeke for onelie in this sacred supper are no vaine ceremonies no bare signe no vntrue figure of a thing absent no earthlie bodie no carnall meate nor anie fleshlie substance but as the sacred Scripture saith and other holie men doo rightlie tearme and call them The Bread and Cup of the Lord a heauenlie refection the sweet deinties of our sauiour the nourishment of our soules an inuisible meate a spirituall foode a ghostlie substance which all are heere now most mercifullie offered and exhibited vnto vs and all other faithfull soules as the soueraigne preseruatiue against death the conseruatorie to euerlasting life the comfortable medicine of the soule the salue of immortalitie the pledge of eternall health the defence of faith the hope of the resurrection the memorie of Christ the annuntiation of his death finallie the communion of the bodie and bloud of the Lord Iesus in a maruellous incorporation which by the holie Ghost the verie bond of our perfection with Christ is through faith wrought in the soules of the faithfull whereby not onlie their soules doo liue to eternall life but also they surelie trust to win to their bodies a resurrection to immortalitie In the which also we may not onlie heare see taste and knowe the mercie of God our Creator sealed the sanctification by Christ our redeemer towards vs confirmed the remission of our sinnes through the holie Ghost our comforter and regenerator fullie satisfied and established but also most sensiblie and effectuallie to our further comfort in deed feele wrought in vs the tranquillitie of conscience the increase of faith the strengthening of hope and the long spreading abroad of brotherlie loue and kindnesse with manie other sundrie maruellous graces and benefits of God most profitable vnto vs. Which things well considered and weighed my soule O with what feruent affection and earnest zeale ought they now to inflame our hart and kindle our mind greedilie to couet and desire the participation of these most holie mysteries yea often to long and hunger after this healthsome bread and continuallie thirst for this diuine heauenlie and blessed food Thirdlie and lastlie O my soule let vs aduisedlie call to mind and well vnderstand the cause wherefore wee are now come vnto this holie table of the Lord which indeed is onlie to this end that we should now be godlie ghests not idle gazers hungrie eaters not steruing
and so much the more as we see the daie approching Amen Another most Christian and deuout praier to be said before the receiuing of the holie Communion O Christ our Lord and Sauior which before thy greeuous agonie and heapes of trouble thorough the wrath of thine almightie Father lighting vpon thee commandedst thy Disciples Peter and Iohn to prepare the passouer that together they might eate the same Thou longedst for our saluation and didst eate of the lambe which was a figure of thy selfe and expressedst the image of that banket which thy people the Israelits vnder the conduction of thy seruant Moses about to depart out of Aegypt did celebrate Hauing finished the supper of the old couenant thou begannest a new couenant testifieng of thy presence and benefits in the Church Mooue thou our harts to thankfulnesse that with like desire we may desire to come vnto thy table and seeke the nourishment to eternall life Suffer vs not to loath thine heauenlie banket as prophane and curious men doo which contend with thee contemne the order which thou hast appointed Amend all abuses and prophanings of thine holie table horriblie deformed with filthinesse for the which we are punished in all places with manifold plagues and diseases By thy wisedome thou healest our diseases and infirmities and by the visible signes of Sacraments thou confirmest our faith Thou art effectuall by them in the beleeuers according to thy promise We blesse the bread and wine as thou hast willed and beleeue that with them we receiue thee in true faith and puritie of mind Thou declarest by this thy Supper that trulie thou tookedst our flesh vpon thee for our sakes euen to ingraffe vs to thine owne flesh and bring vs to eternall life This is eternall life which is begunne in this world whereby the soule is renewed vnto eternall happinesse Moreouer this blessed meate doth witnesse and testifie that our bodies which are replenished with the sense of thy liuing flesh shall rise againe to perpetuall glorie Increase and nourish by the profitable taking of thee this light within vs. Worke that thy Sacraments taken and digested thou maist come into vs and we into thee Assist vs thy ghests O sweet housholder that woorthilie we may feed vpon thy meate Trie our soule with earnest and vnfeined conuersion Let vs not plaie the hypocrites nor prophanelie dallie with thee and thy holie Sacraments Cause vs rightlie to discerne thy bodie and bloud from other common meate Let vs neuer eate the bodie of the Lord against the Lord. Grant in true and vnfeined faith we may enter into this thy sacred couenant that we may alwaies abide in thee and thou in vs. Likewise by thine holie spirit which is the bond of loue in this publike and common banket ioine vs to thine other members of thy Church Giue grace that all which feed of this bread may be one bodie knit vnto thee which art the head working all things in all Let the diuell at no time disturbe this pleasant concord betweene thee and vs as is betweene the head and other members of the bodie Let vs gather also by the same the summe of doctrine which is preached in the Church Let it raise vs vp vnto thankfulnesse for thy benefits Increase our desire to continuall praier whereby we craue all things which we stand in need of Continue that custome euen till thou returnest gloriouslie in the clouds to iudgement Maintaine some places for preaching and godlie ceremonies and bring in at no time barbarous ignorance Furthermore the dooing herof is a ministerie of our profession against Sathan and all his instruments Confirme in our minds by thy spirit this sound and pure vnderstanding Let vs not be oppressed with idolatrous darknesse approouing horrible abuses in carrieng about in laieng vp in offring the halowed bread without any vse not so much as one sillable of all these things can be seene in thy first institution Wherefore represse the diuell blasphemouslie dealing with this thine ordinance And first consume this world vtterlie with fire before we be wrapped againe in such horrible darknesse of idolatrie and superstition Mitigate the punishments sicknesse infections warre and miseries which for the prophaning of this Supper the whole world doth endure Let thine Angel spare such as with griefe of hart bewaile these abuses Feed vs and fill vs thy ghests with thy liuelie presence Dwell thou in vs. Worke in vs. Sharpen the remembrance of thy benefits within vs. And finallie at our resurrection from the graue giue vs a place in thy seat where we shall find a new taste in the kingdome of thy Father So be it Another praier to be said before the receiuing of the blessed Communion as you kneele at Gods boord O Lord although I be not woorthie to receiue thee into the house of my soule for mine innumerable offences and sins done against thy great goodnesse yet trusting good Lord in thy great pitie and infinite mercie I come to receiue thy blessed bodie as a sicke creature to thee that art the health of life vncleane to thee that art the well of mercie blind by ignorance to thee that art the light euerlasting needie of thy grace and poore in vertue to thee that art the King of heauen and earth naked of good works to thee that art the author of grace I come as a wretch to thee my Lord and maker all desolate and comfortlesse to thee my helpe and succour For besides thee there is no consolation I come as a sinner to thee that art the mediatour and meane betwixt God and man I come as a caitife to thee my most mercifull Sauiour I come all sinfull to thee the granter of remission and pardon dead by sinne to thee that art the restorer to life euill to thee that art all goodnesse hard-harted to be releeued by the infusion of thy super-abundant grace desiring thee meekelie to heale mine infirmities and sicknesse to wash awaie my sinne and filthinesse to lighten my blindnesse to reduce me to the right waie where I am out thereof to comfort me desolate of goodnesse Haue mercie on my wretchednesse pardon my sinfulnes giue me the light of grace thus burdened in sinne that I may receiue thee the food of all Angels the King of glorie the Lord of all lords with such chastitie of bodie with such purenesse of mind and cleannesse of soule with such contrition of hart and abundance of weeping teares with such spirituall ioie and gladnesse with such dread and reuerence with such faith hope and charitie with such obedience and humilitie with such loue deuotion faithfulnesse and thankfulnesse as it is beseeming for such a Lord to be receiued and to my soule most expedient And be not displeased good Lord that I a sinner with an vncleane hart and polluted mind come hither this daie to receiue thy pretious bodie in sacramentall bread and wine but remember mercifull Lord that thou refusedst not the sinfull Marie Magdalen being
creature O Lord whome thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloud Wo is me that euer I haue offended thee but now I purpose by thy grace to amend my life Take from me therefore O mercifull father all my sinnes and iniquities Cast out of my soule all the filthie fowle matter of the venemous contagion and infection of sinne and by thine ancient and accustomed mercies powre thy heauenlie medicine and preseruatiue of thy loue into my wounds which may refresh and restore me to my former puritie and cleannesse that being purified both in bodie and mind I may deserue and be made fit thorough Christs merits woorthilie to tast of these most holie mysteries Come this daie O Lord and minister vnto my sicke and languishing soule some heauenlie cordiall of comfort not because I am iust but a sinner because not the whole but the sicke haue neede of a Physician O verie true Charitie in which is euerlasting felicitie O the onlie hope of my soule haue mercie vpon me and blot out all my misdeeds Thee doth my hart expect and desire fulfill my lust and longing which thou hast put in me euen as thou wouldest I am thine O Christ forsake me not as vnmeete or a stranger Let thy right hand alwaie preuent me and defend me from all euill Come O Lord whome I wretch haue sore offended and forgiue and forget all mine offences for the which thou hast shead thine owne most pretious hart bloud Come sweet Lord and giue me the meate of eternall health Come O vnspotted sacrifice deliuer me from euerlasting death Come thou Physician of the weake and diseased Come thou food of the hungrie Come Lord visit this house dedicated and consecrated in thy name And behold I come to thee whome with all my hart I couet and desire towards whome with all earnest consideration of mind I aspire and studie to attaine whome with all mine entrailes I hartilie loue and embrace whose blessed bodie and bloud in these holie mysteries I earnestlie desire to receiue that thou maist alwaies abide in me and neuer forsake me or depart from me O most sweet father So be it Another ALmightie God and most mercifull Father who most louinglie callest vs to the participation of all good things in Christ Iesu giue vs also grace woorthilie to esteeme the honour thou vouchsafest vs of in bidding vs to the marriage feast of thy Sonne so that we may esteeme of nothing in comparison of it And seeing few are chosen though manie be called giue vs also O Lord a liuelie faith working by loue as a seemelie garment for so great a solemnitie that being entred by thy fauour into thy house we dishonest it not and so honourable a companie as thou hast called vnto it by our wicked conuersation that as vnwoorthie we be not cast out againe but in all our behauiour may doo honour vnto both that we may alwaies remaine with thee and enioie the happinesse thou hast prepared for vs in thy Sonne the full fruition whereof because thou hast deferred to the rising vp againe of the dead strengthen in vs O Lord the blessed hope of this resurrection that according to thy promise thou maist make vs like to thine Angels that are in heauen and the glorious estate of Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and praise now and for euer Amen Another O Sonne of God Lord and Sauiour Christ which delightest in those bankets whereby men approch to the companie of thy celestiall wel-fare we beseech thee conuert vs O Lord and we shall be conuerted Graunt that with Marie Magdalen casting our selues before thy feete we may earnestlie with teares bewaile our offences and againe lifting vp our hand vnto thee we may laie hold on thee and embrace thee as she did Kisse thou vs with thine holie kisse and by thy spirit powred into vs stirre vp in vs a new life which may annoint thee by true confessing of thy goodnesse and delight thee with the sweet sauour of true inuocation and new obedience Grant also that in this life we may worship thy feet which bring tidings of peace And forasmuch as in this last age of this world the messengers of peace are vitterlie to weepe assist vs that we may be touched with the miseries of thy Church and studie to our power to mitigate them and so be made members of that companie vnto whome thou hast forgiuen much and which againe entirelie doth loue thee and againe being called out of the vale of teares may come to thy heauenlie banket which shall be without teares without grudging without greefe sinne and offences in the house of thy father where be manie ample dwelling places Amen Another praier to be said a little before you receiue the Bread O God which art rich in mercie and in all good things the most plentifull giuer and bountifull bestower of the deinties of celestiall satietie and heauenlie repast giue meate to my soule that is wearie and faint not such as it lusteth after but such as is conuenient for it For lo I a poore wretch come now vnto thee which art rich a sinner vnto thee which art mercifull O let me not returne home contemned and despised with nothing I begin an hungred let me not leaue off fasting I come vnto thee as though I were famished O let me not go awaie vnfed Although before I eate I sigh and sorowe yet good Lord I beseech thee giue mee somewhat to eate For behold with that godlie heroicall matrone of Canaan Matth. 15 verse 21. I come vnto thee and saie Lord helpe me according to thy promise for I feele the burthen of thy displeasure euen my miseries and vncleannesse and suffer not the sight of mine owne vnwoorthinesse to withdrawe me from thee Make me sweetlie and reuerentlie to reason with thee as thy holie spirit enforced that good woman to doo in these and the like words I am vnwoorthie I am giltie and vncleane I am a dog I was an outcast from thy house and courts I haue barked against the glorious maiestie of thee and thine eternall father I am defiled with the filth of idolatrie with fowlenesse of life with the spots of disobedience against thee but haue mercie vpon me O sonne of God which appearedst in the flesh and becamest a worme to wash vs from our sinnes which were vncleane beasts Haue mercie vpon me O Lord haue mercie vpon me For behold I am vnto thee euen as the little whelpe nigh famished for lacke of meate and drinke wearied with seeking about for releefe and almost dead I fall downe before thy glorious table where the sweet ypocrasse and pretious nectar of immortalitie is tasted The Fathers Prophets Confessors and Virgins most excellent lights of thy Church sit alreadie at thine heauenlie table they feede vpon the meate of eternall glorie O suffer me to eate of the crums Thou art the bread of life repell my hunger satisfie my desire
and let not perpetuall food be wanting to our weakenesse wherewith to feed and replenish vs. Let me taste of the pleasant riuers of the holie Ghost that I may be refreshed and that my soule may be cooled with the sweet liquors thereof so that I burne hencefoorth with no iniquitie or lust to sinne Make me to quaffe hartilie the cup of thankes-giuing yea let my bowels be filled with the pleasant wine of thy loue and refresh me continuallie with the most sweet riuers of thy heauenlie consolation Thou art my life whereby I liue the hope that I sticke vnto the glorie that I desire O giue me vnderstanding cheere vp my loue Lift thou vp my soule and drawe the mouth of my spirit which thirsteth after thee vp to the water streames that are aboue Uouchsafe sweet Iesu in the midst of my monings sore complaints and deepe sighs of my hart to take vp my sad and sorowfull mind to the top of the high mountains euen to the beds of sweet spices putting me in a place of pasture by the riuers of sweet waters where thou preparest a table diuerselie furnished for thy friends against they come to refresh mine appalled spirits to cheere vp my heauie hart make it merie Through the which deinties I being at the length well refreshed may forget my manifold miseries and the vanities of this life and rest in thee which art the true peace euerlasting passing all vnderstanding Lord God which art the sanctifier of the Saints I beseech thee consecrate and make me meete for thy dwelling and continue thou euer with me vouchsafe all to besprinkle me with the bloud of thy onlie begotten sonne by which one souereigne thing both in bodie and soule I may be reuiued with a maruellous comfortable ioie O Lord these are thy great benefits wherewith thou wilt releeue the want of thy thirstie children grant I beseech thee that I may drinke on thy cup with a glad mind willing hart pure conscience and clensed spirit and bring to passe by thy mercie that this drinke which I shall now drinke may be to my health and saluation Finallie grant O good God that I may through thy most rich spirit and his eternall deinties enioie the princelie palace of heauen and quaffing verie abundantlie of the well-spring of life which is with thee I may by the excellent benefit of thy glorious passion death resurrection and light behold the brightnesse of perpetuall felicitie and see thee face to face where my mind may be fed and full satiate with the meate and drinke of life without end For like as the hart thirsteth after the water springs so thirsteth my soule after thee O Lord my GOD and King Amen When you are about to receiue the wine or cup praie I Thanke thee deere father that thou didst not spare thine onelie and most deerlie beloued sonne Iesus Christ to shed euen his most pretious bloud vpon the altar of the Crosse for to wash awaie our sinnes In remembrance whereof I now in trembling and dread drinke of this cup humblie beseeching thee O Father that the crucifieng of his blessed bodie and shedding of his pretious bloud may be meritorious to my saluation Amen Or else thus O Blessed and mercifull Father thy loue towards me sinfull creature is so exceeding great and vnspeakable that I can not but giue vnto thee most humble thanks namelie for the shedding of the most pretious blood of thy deere sonne Iesu Christ by the vertue whereof thy wrath stirred vp against me wretched sinner is pacified my ransome is paid the lawe is fulfilled mine enimies are ourcome and put to flight In remembrance of this so noble a victorie and of so great a benefit I am come vnto this thy table O mercifull father to drinke of this cup desiring thee that as my outward man is comforted by the drinking of this wine so likewise my inward man may be comforted and made strong by true faith in the pretious blood of thy most deere sonne O Lord and my heauenlie Father giue me thy holie spirit which may so rule and gouerne my hart that I neuer be vnthankfull nor forgetfull of this thine exceeding kindnesse but to traine my life according to thy blessed will that whatsoeuer I doo speake or thinke may be vnto the glorie of thy blessed name and the health of my soule through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen After you haue receiued the holie Communion giue God thanks and saie I Thanke thee good Lord of thine infinite goodnesse that thou this daie hast fed me with thy blessed bodie bloud in the Sacrament desiring thee meeklie that this Sacrament which I haue receiued may be to me a purgation and clensing of my sins a fortitude spiritual strength against my frailtie a sure defence against worldlie troubles and aduersities a purchasing of grace and pardon a medicine of life and a continuall remembrance of thy blessed passion so that in the waie it may conduct me when I stumble it may vphold me and when I am fallen it may raise me so that by good continuance in thy will to euerlasting glorie it may bring me And so order the tallage and taste of my hart that I neuer seeke other sweetnesse but thee that I neuer seeke other louer but thee nor none other comfort beside thee so that I care for none other delight but thee nor anie other honour but thine And giue mee such perfect loue towards thee wherewith I may come to as great merit in heauen as though I had spent all my life daies in the remembrance of thy blessed passion and gratiouslie deliuer me from all tribulations of bodie and soule captiuitie anguish and perils This grant not onlie vnto me but also vnto all thine elect and chosen Christian people heere and else-where for thy holie name sake Amen Another thanks-giuing after the Communion I Thanke thee O Christ Lambe of God for offering thy selfe vpon the altar of the crosse to thy Father an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet sauour to God for our sinnes to reconcile vs vnto him for certaintie whereof and confirmation of our faith thou hast instituted on our behalfe this holie Sacrament of the supper that as oft as we receiue the same we may celebrate thy memorie and with thankes-giuing remember the merit and fruit of thy passion I beseech thee by thy bitter death stirre vp our minds that by often receiuing this thine ordinance and institution we may consider how bitter a death thou didst suffer on our behalfe and how great the loue was which draue thee to take so cruell and shamefull a death to saue vs and withall continuallie yeeld as we are bound hartie thanks vnto thee for the same and after the like sort answer to our power that vnspeakable good will by our good life and carefull obseruation of thy commandements and may when either through frailtie of our flesh or by anie other fault preuented we sinne runne by and by
Giue vs not onlie store of all things to the necessitie of life but grant also to our meate and drinke vertue and power to releeue and strengthen our bodies For thou alone vpholdest all things by thy word of power Unlesse thou dailie didst feed vs with the hidden grace which thou dooest inspire into the bread to feed vs all the heapes of our yeerelie increase were to small purpose For be it that there be aboundance of wheate wine and of all other things yet vnlesse they be watered by thy blessing quicklie would all come to naught and we should perish for lacke of food in all that aboundance For all the substance that we possesse what is it without thou prosper and fructifie the same with thy blessing And albeit we feed on bread yet we ascribe not our life to the vertue of the bread neither is thy power tied to the bread nor mans life included within the same but altogither it dependeth vpon thy will and good pleasure We beseech thee for thy most large and bountifull liberalitie cast vs not off in the time of our old age and when our strength faileth vs forsake vs not Likewise confirme our faith that we distrust not thy promises neither be driuen from thee by anie meanes seeme they neuer so contrarie to naturall causes but giue grace that we may withdrawe our eies from all worldlie consultations and as touching our food and other necessaries for this life may wholie depend vpon thee and at no time go beyond the limits which thou hast prepared through our Lord Iesus Christ which liueth and reigneth with thee for euermore Amen At noone-tide or mid-daie saie thus O Lord my light my inlightning and my welfare from whence all true brightnesse and light doth come grant I beseech thee that as of thy goodnesse thou hast giuen me thus plentifullie this corporall light to compasse my bodie on euerie side so of thy mercie giue me aboundantlie the spirituall light of thy grace and knowledge which may inlighten my mind and cause mine age to appeare as cleere as the noone daie And because O Lord nothing in this world is so perfect and glorious but when it is at the full it will decrease and weare awaie euen as we see in the course of this thy glorious creature the Sunne which now being at the highest will begin to drawe downeward Graunt also I beseech thee that when at the age of fortie yeeres my bodie by little and little shall begin to fade and the beautie thereof wither and drawe towards an end it togither with my soule in the daie of iudgement may shine as bright as the Sunne being now at the highest doth and may then begin to be glorified to the full in the region of the celestiall world where the Sunne of all righteousnesse and the brightnesse of perpetuall charitie and felicitie doth euerlastinglie shine and inlighten all the holie companie of heauen Amen Or else thus LOrd let thy fauour preuent vs as doth the Sunne which being now in the highest region spreadeth his beames ouer all the parts of the earth And as the brightnesse therof shineth now without the clouds after the same sort giue vs thy cleerenesse and shewe thy bright countenance ouer vs that lightened by thy word wee may walke this daie thorough circumspectlie and warilie in the waies of thy commandements that being blinded in the mid daie we run not headlong into darkenesse neither grope at noone daie as in the night wandering from the paths of thy iudgements Open thine eies O God ouer vs be thou vnto vs a mightie protector this daie a firmament of strength a couering against heate parching a shadow at noone tide a defender from offence an assister from falling a comforter of our soules a lightener of our minds and a giuer of health and happines in Christ our Lord Amen ¶ After meate the better to keepe you from vaine exercises and idle cogitations and to spend the Sabboth daie both wholie and holilie to the Lord as it behooueth take occasion on Gods name either to cathechise your children and familie or to praie for the preseruation of the Queenes most excellent maiestie or to reade deuoutlie some of these godlie meditations and praiers of Gods works and feasts following On Sundaie A praier for the right keeping of the Sabboth or Sundaie O Eternall father of our Lord Iesu Christ which togither with thy Sonne and the holie Ghost didst create man of thine infinite mercie powredst into him a similitude of those things which are most excellent in thee the fountaine of all goodnesse and wouldest in that nature as it were in a Temple seeing thine image to shine therein continue and celebrate the ioifull Sabboth When man had defaced thine image and was pluckt from thee it was thy will that the Sonne of thine owne substance should take our flesh vpon him and be made a sacrifice for the sinnes of mankind bee crucified die yea and on the great Sabboth daie of the lawe lie in the graue where the word after an vnspeakable manner rested that we may receiue againe the societie of the new and celestiall Sabboth We beseech thee grant that thy Sonne which is the Lord of that Sabboth may begin in this life to rest in vs to heale the corruptions of our nature by his holie spirit which is the heauenlie fire to drie vp the dropsie of our flesh that he may loue vs which are bone of his bones to make vs one with him through his spirit and finallie to bring vs into that glorious companie where the eternall Sabboth is in such excellencie as can not be conceiued by the hart of man In the meane while let vs ceasse from this hurlie burlie this toiling and drudging in the vaine trumperie of this world so as once at last we may religiouslie halowe and keepe the godlie rest of the new Sabboth in doing such things as be allowable and pleasant vnto thee and sanctifieng thee in true rest and peace Drawe vs from the vaine fantasies of present things that we may attend and await vpon thee and thy ioifull comming Grant I saie that we may be humbled vnder thy mightie hand that we may knowe our infirmities obeie thee in our crosses and correction looke vnto thee in a liuelie faith and hope of a ioifull deliuerance which then shall be perfect when thy Sonne by his trumpet shall summon the new Sabboth and drawe vnto him on high where he sitteth at thy right hand exalted thine elect all thine enimies which through beastlie arrogancie blushed not to contend and fight against thee being subdued Amen Another ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie father who after that in sixe daies thou haddest created all things didst rest the seauenth daie and sanctifiedst it teach vs to keepe holie the Sabboth daie not in shew and cercmonie onlie but much more in euerie good woorke which thou hast commanded not in part for fashion sake but wholie
Queenes most prosperous gouernement hitherto and praieth for the continuance thereof to Gods glorie AMongst other thy benefits great and innumerable heauenlie father our most mercifull Lord and God by thee of thine exceeding goodnesse bestowed vpon the children of men the seruants of thy houshold dispersed vpon the face of the earth it hath pleased thee that we thy people of England liuing in these daies should in abundance beyond the measure of the graces of our brethren the prosperous course of our fathers behold and perceiue thine inestimable good will in the amiablenesse of thy countenance shining vpon vs to whom thou hast giuen thy chosen handmaiden Elizabeth for souereigne Ladie and Gouernour For whatsoeuer is for the glorie of thy house O Lord for vs it is which are the issue and slime of the earth and vnwoorthie to stand and looke vp to heauen made into vessels after thine image that were not to be redeemed and borne anew after the second Adam that perisheth not in the sprinkling of the bloud of Christ and sanctification of the spirit that were vtterlie lost to stand fast in thy hands sealed according to thine eternall loue and written in the booke of life that dailie runne headlong to our owne destruction As the sense heereof reioiceth the harts of all those whome thou hast knit into this fellowship of the Saincts and called into the blessed hope of the eternall kingdome so againe how vngratefull should we be to whome thou hast dealt these benefits from thy diuine Maiestie by the person raised vp for thine instrument thereof towards vs if we should not in speciall sort shew our selues thankefull vnto thee therefore And if not to liue tearing and eating one the other like the Giants in the old world and euerie man to doo what seemeth him best in his owne eies as when there was no Iudge in Israel If that princes reigne and Gouernours giue iudgement it is thy gift and then in the woorst disposition of their thoughts for the sinnes of the people they are redoubted Thou O Lord hast appointed them they are sacred Thou O Lord hast annointed them they are feared thou changest their harts like the streames of waters they are honoured Thine owne image likenesse in guiding Angels and all creatures is pregnant and cannot deuaile in them bearing rule in earth ouer the children of men What praise is due vnto thee from those vnto whome thou leauest not an Anarchie and headlesse dissolution As to the Canibals a monstrous and mis-shapen gouernement and fanning with fire and streaming with bloud and smoking with mist and darkenesse of errour and ignorance As to the Antichristes greased in the brow with the marke of the image of the great beaste whore of Babylon not a waste and barbarous perpetuall heathen contrition as vnto the Tartarian heards of cursed Cham vnto the rustie wasted with miserie the inhabitants of Meschech or to the turbulent and rauenous swarmes and hosts of Tubal-gog or such like as those but contrariwise whome thou leadest like a flocke of sheepe by the hands of Moses and Aaron and hast chosen Dauid thy seruant whome thou hast loued to feed as the people of thine owne inheritance giuing vnto them for warre peace for inciuilitie societie for ignorance knowledge for superstition religion for error truth for hunger plentie for vnprouidence policie for dissonancie harmonie for miserie felicitie and making them to dwell in safetie as vnder the wings of thy defence and shadowe of thy protection Now such hath beene thy mercie towards vs that no tongue is able to expresse in giuing vs in thy gratious pleasure and thine vnrecountable largesse and liberalitie thy select seruant Elizabeth Queene and supreame Gouernour to vs of the legue nations and peoples of hir obeisance and regiment that as by a starre the light and influence ouer things beneath from thee the first cause and fountaine of brightnesse not to be attained vnto and as by a cleere riuer and plentifull brooke the course of the waters from thee the euerlasting head-spring euen so the shining beames and flowing streames of all those thy mercies and good gifts haue beene and are sithence the daies of hir happie and gratious gouernement from thee conuaid and deuolued vnto vs. And we that before were no people not so much in regard of the estate in which we haled when we were sauage and wood men cruell as men-deuourers terrible as spirits brutish as beasts in the old age at the first calling home of our grand ancestors to humane ciuilitie but in these daies in few yeares degenerate from the true knowledge of thee and thy Sonne Iesus Christ vnto the consuming nakednesse of idolatrie and plaieng inordinate before the golden calfe of our owne making and our Priests Now the foure and twentith Sunne most happilie inuironeth in the firmament sithence by the meanes of a poore vessell of the weaker sexe and a sillie maiden thou performing the glorious deliuerance of thy people out of the thraldome and slauerie of Pharao and Egypt didst annoint the kings daughter with an holie oile setting a crowne of pure gold vpon hir head and inuesting hir with the purple and scepter and regall diademe of the Realme sithence which time O father we owe to thee and to hir our God and our Moses the breath of our nostrels the sight of this light the vse of this aire the ease of our harts the peace of our consciences and the whole worke of our welfare By hir inspired by thee spreading hir beames at hir appearing the bloudie launces and claunching murreans and the redoubling sheelds haue beene shattered asunder in shiuers and bated and foiled into mattockes and spades the flames of our furies quenched and put out and the poole of grace flowed ouer the Realme the Lion reconciled with the Lambe the wilde Asse set to be pastured with the seelie Kid the abhomination of desolation remoued from the holie Temple and the Sonne of man exalted and lift vp on high in his owne kingdome for all that were stoong by the firie Serpent to looke vpon and be saued In admirable lenitie Babylon hath put on Zion Egypt is become our owne Rahab the harlot denizoned in Ierusalem we become of the wild oliues the true garden plants of Ismael Israel of miscreant christian of painime protesting professing of Antichristian Romanists heathen idolaters faithfull Euangelicall sincerelie beleeuing woorshippers of thee in spirit and veritie according to thy holie word Neither hath cost beene spared nor occasion foreslowed nor time ouerpassed nor trauell intermitted to raise that was fallen to win that was withholden to call that was straied to heale that was wearied to find that was lost to restore that was ruined to repaire that was decaied to make good and enable that was abandoned Preachers haue beene sent foorth plentiouslie lawes haue beene executed mercifullie orders haue beene set downe politikelie dangers haue beene declined discreetly tumults haue beene appeased victoriouslie
sakes but for thy name sake and through the merits of Iesus Christ our onlie guide and chiefe shepheard who liueth and reigneth with thee and the holie Ghost now and euer Daughter Amen For all Vniuersities and Schooles Mother BLesse thou therefore O Lord with the dew of thy spirit all Uniuersities and Schooles that sith it hath pleased thee that from them as by thine appointed meanes we should haue our preachers and teachers they may be there instructed in all godly knowledge and learning and be made fit to walke woorthilie in their vocation at what time soeuer it shall please thee to call them forth Grant we besech thee that as they ought to be lights and nursses vnto their countries euen so they may giue vnto them a godlie and perfect life and nourish them vp in good and sound doctrine to thy glorie our comfort and the discharge of their duties And for bicause that now a daies charitie waxeth cold and the number of couetous worldlings is much increased which seeke rather to keepe backe their liuings and to plucke awaie from them rather than to bestowe anie thing to the maintenance of their studie blesse thou them therfore with all things sufficient to the seruice of thee and increase of good learning that the lacke thereof be no hinderance to the building of thy house and to the setting foorth of thine honour and glorie And remooue from among vs most mercifull Father whatsoeuer is occasion of let or hinderance vnto all those that couet knowledge to the sanctifieng of thy holie name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Daughter Amen For the good estate of this Realme Mother BEcause also thou hast commanded vs to call vpon thee in the daie of troble promising that thou wilt heare our praiers we therefore humblie beseech thee to be fauourable vnto this our Realme and not to visit our offences so sharpelie neither to giue vs to drinke of so bitter a cup as vnto our iudgement it seemeth thou hast prepared for vs. What are we O Lord that wee may abide the force of thy iudgments We denie not but that we haue most woorthilie deserued whatsoeuer punishment thou hast euer hertofore powred forth vpon anie other nation But sith thy name is now called on among vs sith we make no account of anie helpe but onlie in thee sith we acknowledge our offences and humblie desire pardon for the same in Iesus Christ O let not thy iust iudgements laie hold vpon vs if it be expedient for vs and more to thy honour and glorie that we taste of thy mercie Thou hast hitherto dealt exceeding mercifullie with vs thou hast planted among vs a goodlie vineyard and that of the best plants thou hast walled it round about and watered it plentifullie with the dew of thy blessing in so much that thou couldest haue done no more for vs than thou hast done neither hast thou dealt so with other nations But we alas wretched sinners contrarie to the deserts of this thy louing kindnesse haue brought foorth wild grapes which thou hatest in steed of good and sweet grapes which thou lookest for Wee haue taken thy word into our mouthes but we haue hated to be reformed thereby yea we haue vtterlie despised thy holie word and had the preachers thereof in derision and so haue we made open the readie waie vnto all our damnable works blasphemie idolatrie murther adulterie pride couetousnesse disobedience sensualitie vnmercifulnesse oppressions slanders vnthankfulnesse whatsoeuer else our corrupt natures casting aside grace and discipline is woont to bring foorth And whilest we did all these things thou heldest thy peace and winkedst thereat therefore did we foolishlie imagine that thou art like vnto vs and delighted with sinne as we are And thus haue we in all our works prouoked thy diuine Maiestie to greeuous displeasure against vs. But now O holie God seeing that by thy long sufferance thou hast so mercifullie striken our hard harts with secret consideration of our miserable estate we beseech thee for Iesus Christs sake to giue vs likewise a repentant hart sorowfull for all our former misdeeds that thereby we may also attaine to the promises which thou hast annexed therevnto namelie that thou breake not downe the wall of this thy vineyard that thou suffer it not to be eaten vp or troden downe that thou laie it not waste so that briers and thorns growe vp therein And that thou command not the clouds not to raine vpon it neither that thou turne our roote into rottennesse neither yet that thou make our buds to rise vp like dust bicause we haue cast off thy lawe O Lord God of hosts and contemned thy word O holie one of Israel O make vs not a byword vnto our neighbours and a scorne vnto those that dwell about vs but rather grant we beseech thee that hencefoorth we may hartilie repent and walke before thee in newnesse of life to thy honor and glorie to the example of our neighbours to the conuersion or confusion of our enimies and to our euerlasting comfort through Iesus Christ our Lord. Daughter Amen A praier for repentance Mother ALthough our infirmities doo euidentlie appeare and by diuers waies shew foorth themselues vnto vs almightie and most mercifull God yet in nothing more than that we cannot perceiue and behold our owne wickednesse in such sort as it is indeed With our tongs we can not but confesse because thou thy selfe hast said it that we are altogither vnrighteous that there is not one of vs that doth good that we all imagine mischiefe But although we are driuen by thine eternall truth outwardlie to confesse the same yet haue we no such inward feeling thereof as we ought to haue because we are altogither closed vp in our owne stubbernesse and selfe-loue Wherfore it commeth to passe that we can neither repent vs of that we should amend neither yet hartilie acknowledge that we certainlie knowe to be within vs. But O holie God how long shall we be cleane without vnderstanding How long shall our flesh haue dominion ouer thy good spirit in vs How long shall the cloud of our vnsensiblenesse darken and blemish our inward sight Uerelie our sinnes haue deserued that not onlie thou hide thy face awaie from vs for a time but that thou shouldest vtterlie cast vs off from thy fauour and grace to eternall damnation But sith that thou art wont to deale more mercifullie euen with the sonnes of men and vnto vs also hast giuen a good likelihood thereof in that that now thou hast striken our harts with some feeling of our owne wretchednesse which putteth vs in good comfort and hope that thou hast done it to this end to the intent that thou maist bestowe larger graces on vs also therefore we are somewhat emboldened although we are but dust and ashes humblie to desire of thee that in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ euen now at the length thou wilt vouchsafe to giue vnto vs the
grace of hartie repentance that as wee knowe so likewise we may acknowledge vnto thee all our vnrighteousnesse and hencefoorth labour the more busilie without anie delaie to amend those things wherein we haue hitherto offended thee We knowe O Lord that this is the onelie time of mercie in so much that if we obtaine it not during this our mortall life there remaineth nothing for vs to be looked for but a fearefull and a rigorous sentence of iudgement Grant therefore we beseech thee O mercifull God that sith we are now in a most damnable estate by the reason of our continuall disobedience out of the which we can by no meanes recouer our selues but by thy mercifull gift of repentance that we may euen now obtaine at thy hands not onlie it but all other thy graces annexed therevnto such as are most needfull for vs to the accomplishing of thy will and to the setting foorth of thy honour and glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord and sauiour who sitteth at thy right hand euen now and euer to make intercession for vs. Daughter Amen For the authoritie of discipline to be established in the Church Mother BEcause that crookednesse and disobedience haue taken so deepe roote in all estates that now adaies manie dare boldlie refuse all Ecclesiasticall censure to the great hinderance of the course of the Gospell grant therefore we beseech thee that like as thou hast dealt with other nations euen so may it please thee now at the length to extend thy like mercie vnto this Realme also and all others that are in the same necessitie that the authoritie of Ecclesiasticall censure and discipline which for our sinnes thou hast hitherto kept backe from vs may be placed in the Church to the due punishment of sinfull life and contempt of thy word in such sort that it may extend indifferentlie vnto all estates both high and lowe as well to the terror of the ill and comfort of the good as also to the speedie and perfect reformation of all such things as are yet disordered in this thy Church through the same Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name for these all things else expedient for vs we lift vp our harts vnto thee saieng as he hath taught vs Mother and Daughter altogether Our Father c. Mother Into thy hands O Lord doo we commend our selues wholie both bodie and soule vouchsafe to receiue vs Lord God of mercie Daughter Amen Mother In thee O God haue we trusted let vs neuer be confounded Daughter Amen Mother Deliuer vs we beseech thee from the power of darkenesse of this world the flesh and the diuell Daughter Amen Mother Lord let it be done vnto vs as we doo put our trust in thee Daughter Amen Mother We beleeue O Lord Lord helpe and make perfect our vnbeleefe Daughter Amen The conclusion of all things else expedient for vs. Mother THese O mercifull Father and all other thy graces such as be most agreeable to thy will to the setting foorth of thy honor and glorie and to the assurance of our saluation grant thou vnto vs we beseech thee in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ And that we may vtterlie cast off all sinfull affections and hencefoorth leade our liues in holinesse righteousnesse and innocencie yeelding vnto thee continuall thanks for all thy benefits and mercies we beseech thee send downe into our harts thy holie spirit to prepare instruct and guide vs in all our thoughts words and works to the fulfilling of thy good will and pleasure to whome the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost three persons and one God of eternall and infinite maiestie be all praise thanks and glorie at all times in all places in all things aboue all things and euen so in vs all now and euer Daughter Amen Mother Blessed be the Lord. Daughter Thanks be to God ¶ If when we are desirous to commend the Church vnto the blessings of God which in our dailie praiers we ought to doo necessarie busines will not well impart so much time as the forme of these praiers require then after good consideration both of Gods former benefits towards vs and of the manifold infirmities of the Church we may doo it in these few words Mother O Lord heare my praier Daughter And let my crie come vnto thee Mother TO thee O heauenlie Father be all thanks honour glorie for because it hath pleased thee through the merits of Iesus Christ to deale so mercifullie with vs. For looke how high the heauen is in comparison of the earth so great hath thy mercie beene towards vs at all times and in all things much beyond that that our foolish harts could wish or desire For the which as we doo yeeld vnto thee all possible thanks from the bottome of our harts euen so doo we humblie beseech thee with thy fatherlie goodnesse to supplie all our infirmities wherewith we dailie offend thee Blesse thou therefore and be mercifull vnto thy Church vniuersallie and to all the members thereof and namelie vnto all Princes and ciuil Magistrates that by their gouernment thy name may be alwaies sanctified and thy glorious kingdome faithfullie prepared Unto all Bishops and spirituall pastors that they may diligentlie execute the charge committed vnto them Unto all subiects and inferiors that they may in thee and for thee obeie serue loue honor all superior powers Unto the ignorant and such as are not yet brought to the knowledge of thy truth that their eies may be opened to the vtter abolishing in them whatsoeuer is not of faith Unto the malicious persecutors also that either their harts may be turned or else that thou take them awaie from among vs. Unto the persecuted and afflicted that they may end their conflicts with victorie whether it be by death or deliuerance Unto thy haruest that it perish not for lacke of reapers Unto Uniuersities and Schooles that they may attaine to ripenesse of good and godlie knowledge and vse the same to the furtherance of thy kingdome Unto this our Realme that we may hartilie repent vs of all our sinnes that thou maist also repent thee of the punishment which thou hast prepared for vs and euer continue thy goodnesse towards vs as thou hast begonne Giuing vnto vs among thine other benefits such authoritie of the ecclesiasticall sword to the amendment of all things and reformation of all estates as may be most to the propagation of thy truth and true religion Finallie vnto vs all that are of the houshold of faith that all other things set apart we may onelie seeke thee and thy kingdome and euer sing praises vnto thy holie name These O Lord and all other graces agreeable to thy holie will and expedient for vs grant vnto thy seruants in the name of Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with the holie Ghost be all thanks honour and glorie now and euer Daughter Amen Christian praiers and diuine meditations as generallie to be vsed at all times so especiallie
in the order of their redemption for the infinite benefits of their saluation and for taking our fraile nature and miserable flesh subiect vnto all calamities and destruction vpon him and carieng the same and vs therewith vnto eternall life We therefore liuing in this vaile of wretchednesse lift vp our heads vnto thee O notable Silo which art the fruit of the Uirgin and separate our selues from the detestable damned crue of vnpure spirits and of men powring out blasphemous outcries against thy truth and glorie From our harts we praie thee regenerate and make vs thy children by adoption and grace and dailie renew vs by thy holie spirit to glorifie thee For of our selues we are nothing but flesh and corruption as they that are borne of flesh and can not become thy children except we be begotten and borne againe by a new birth of the holie Ghost Therfore we beseech thee renew vs I say dailie by thy mightie power from aboue that being borne of the spirit our harts and our hands our deeds and deuises and whatsoeuer is in vs may be spirituall as thou art Ioine vs to the societie of thine holie Angels which sing glorie to thee on high and make vs members of that congregation which is knit vnto thee by an indissoluble bond of euerlasting peace with gratefull minds to record and celebrate thy benefits We thanke thee for sauing mankind from eternall damnation and for making the attonement betweene thy father and vs through thine incarnation For so it was expedient according to the order of iustice that the punishment of a guiltlesse man should quit mankind guiltie and that a sufficient satisfaction might be made it was required that he which would be the mediatour should be God God I saie to abide the intollerable burthen of Gods displeasure to vanquish death and to restore vnto man life and saluation to enter into the most holie place and be an eternall Priest God to vnderstand the secret counsell of the father to be priuie vnto the cogitations of harts to heare the grones of all men to be the King of his flocke defending the same against the power of sathan and his members Finallie God to place his Church raised from death in the eternall kingdome of his most glorious father Now forasmuch as the nature of man was not able to bring these things to passe we thanke thee O our sauiour being the word the expresse image and interpretor of the father for vouchsafing to take the office of a mediatour betweene God and vs. Begin in vs we most humblie beseech thee this so great a benefit We are weake we are fowle and filthie but as thou wast brought into this miserable world borne a weake infant and that in a pinching time of the yeare swadled with wretched bands endued with the rags of a miserable nature and laid in a manger among the brutish kind being notwithstanding the verie wisedome of thine eternall father So let thy wisdome appeare in vs miserable men womē in this wofull darkenesse of ours among the blacke clouds of this doting age amongst these troubles and destructions of Common-weales Kindle in vs the sparks of that wisedome which shall be perfect in the life to come and ioine vs to the felowship of thy Saincts Grant that from the hart and ioifullie we may ascribe all glorie fame and honor vnto thee the true God which art wise righteous almightie pure liberall and mercifull according to the rule described in thy commandements which didst send thy Sonne to bring vs to that glorie whereof we were depriued and to restore vs againe to our first integritie which was lost through sinne O Sonne of God confirme thou and seale these things in our harts by thy holie spirit powred vpō vs which may worke within vs vnfeigned righteousnesse that by the same thy spirit shining in the nature which thou tookest vpon thee we may be committed to thee vpholden quickened brought by thee vnto eternall life that that league made betweene God and vs may eternallie be confirmed and we loued in the beloued and the eternall Father may loue vs with that loue wherewith he loueth thee the substantiall image of himselfe Suppresse the diuell that he breake not this woonderfull and profitable peace and suffer vs not hanging on thy necke running to thine armes seeking thy fauour to be plucked out of thy hands Keepe vs we beseech in thy lap as a louing shepheard cherisheth and beareth about his tender lambs And forasmuch as the first tidings of thy natiuitie were brought by the Angel of the Lord vnto shepheards grant that shepheards of the soules that is the ministers and teachers may faithfullie testifie thy benefits vnto mankind and publish abroad what they see knowe spreading foorth thy fame and glorifieng God for the peace which he hath eternallie concluded with vs and finallie may bring thy sheepe to thy stall that is to the congregation of the faithfull Open before vs thy swadling clouts which is thy word that in this life it may crie within vs and we thereby may feele the sense of thy most sweet promises which thine eternall Father hath vttered of thee Blessed are all they which put their trust in him Furthermore our petition is that thou wilt blesse vs and our countrie with all Common-weales Increase among vs dailie y e number of the faithfull prosper the course of the Gospell and suffer not the light thereof by the malice of Sathan to be extinguished Likewise vphold those kingdoms which minister releefe vnto thy Church Repell from the borders of thy seruants the rabblement of Turks Infidels which threaten the decaie of thy Church and destruction of kingdoms Blesse the labours of our hands keepe vs from the contagious diseases and last of all make vs and ours the vessels of mercie and profitable instruments to thy Church and Common-weale Amen Glorie be to God on high Or thus ALmightie God and most mercifull Father who according to the prophesies spoken long before hast giuen vs thine own Sonne to be conceiued of the holie Ghost and borne of the blessed virgin that in thy nature and ours he might be our holie and true Emanuel and Sauior and Sanctifier of those that trust in him Touch our harts with thy holie spirit that considering this so great loue of thine to abase thy Sonne to take vpon him the forme of a seruant to make vs sonnes and heires to thee that our soules may magnifie thee O Lord our Sauiour and blesse thee the Lord GOD of Israel for thus visiting and redeeming thy people and grant vs also the fruit of this thy mercie that by his holinesse our vncleannesse may be done awaie and our corrupt nature sanctified by his holie birth and natiuitie that we putting our trust in him may by him be deliuered both from all our sins and all our enimies and attaine to the fruit of this his infinite loue and goodnesse euen to serue him in holinesse
euill concupiscence inordinate desires wantonnes tendernes delicatenes idlenes dronkennes gluttonie slothfulnes distrust despaire ignorance weakenes wilfulnes idolatrie superstition hypocrisie heresie error sects variance strife wrath enuie slanders lieng swearing curssing vaine-glorie pride couetousnes theft deceit flatterie and whatsoeuer else O Lord fighteth or rebelleth against thy holie spirit And strengthen me so with thy might that I may not onlie drawe all these mine earthlie members and horrible vices before rehearsed vnder my feet but also fight continuallie against them subdue them so that they may all turne to the best for me as meet matter whereon I may exercise my faith powre foorth hartie praier and giue thee most hartie thanks for victorie Finallie worke in me thy blessing with all the fruits of the spirit righteousnes peace loue ioie in the holie Ghost long-suffering gentlenes goodnes faithfulnes meekenes temperance strength patience and such like Grant vs the remission of our sinnes righteousnes and life Restore in our minds thy lawe and begin such a new conformitie this new yeare in this our life and conuersation as may be perfect in the life to come Be thou our sauiour by thy power and merit that in our minds we may perceiue that thy Father is at peace with vs through thy death and find thee dwelling within vs to eternall life and happinesse Amen Halleluiah 4. On the Epiphanie or twelfe daie Of the apparition of Christ and the three Kings and their offerings to Christ The Preface GET thee vp beetimes and be bright O daughter Ierusalem For thy light commeth and the glorie of the Lord is risen vpon thee Lift vp thine eies looke round about thee For behold the Gentiles shall come to thy light and kings to the brightnesse that springeth foorth vpon thee The multitude of camels and dromedaries that bring the riches of the Gentiles shall couer thee all they of Saba Mada and Epha shall come bringing gold incense and shewing foorth the praise of the Lord. All these gather themselues and come to thee thy sonnes shall come vnto thee from farre and thy daughters shall gather themselues to thee on euerie side frō the east and from the west The isles also shall wait for me and speciallie the ships of Tharsis that they may bring thy sonnes and daughters from farre and their siluer and their gold with them vnto the name of the Lord thy God vnto the holie one of Israel that hath glorified thee Strangers shall build vp thy wals and their kings shall doo thee seruice yea kings princes and the host of the Gentils shall see and arise and worship thee For I haue made thee the light of the Gentiles that thou maist be my health vnto the end of the world Thou shalt suck the milke of the Gentils and kings brests shall feed thee kings I saie shall be thy nursing fathers and Queenes shall be thy nursing mothers And those shall come kneeling vnto thee that haue vexed thee and all they that despise thee shall fall at thy feet before thee with their faces flat vpon the earth and licke vp the dust of thy feet Yea euerie people and kingdome that serueth not thee shall perish and be destroied with vtter destruction and thou shalt knowe that I am the Lord the Sauiour and Redeemer euen the mightie one of Iacob and that whosoeuer putteth his trust in me shall not be confounded They that dwell in the wildernes I saie shall kneele before the Kings sonne his enimies shall licke the dust The king of Tharsis and of the isles shall giue presents the kings of Arabia Saba shall bring gifts All kings shall fall downe before him all nations shall doo him seruice He shall liue and vnto him shall be giuen the gold of Arabia Praier shall be made euer vnto him and dailie shall he be praised The Lord declared his saluation his righteousnesse hath he openlie shewed in the sight of the heathen All the world shall worship thee O God sing of thee and praise thy name most high The Lord is King the earth may be glad thereof yea the multitude of isles may reioice and bee glad thereof Bring therefore vnto the Lord O ye mightie bring presents and gifts vnto the Lord O ye kindreds and nations of the world Come I saie into his courts with praise and speake good of his name Ascribe vnto the Lord onelie the strength power kingdome and glorie worship God I saie O ye gods kings iudges and rulers of the earth worship him with an holie worship and giue him the honor due vnto his name O make his praises to be glorious in your liues and conuersation For he it is that hath exalted you and is himselfe exalted farre aboue all gods and his praise and glorie is aboue heauen and earth Halleluiah The Praier OEternall God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which after a woonderfull maner reuealedst thy selfe at the baptisme of Christ standing in the water of Iordan at such time as thou diddest testifie of thy sonne and the holie Ghost appeared in the likenesse of a dooue gouerne vs by thine holie spirit that in true faith we may obeie thee kindle in our minds a true knowledge of thy benefits bring to passe that approching vnto thee in our praiers we may discerne thee the true God aboue all feined gods in mind turne our selues into that banke of the water into the companie of those godlie auditors and beholders before whom this noble appearing was made Speake vnto vs by thy sonne in the holie Ghost and turne vs vnto true obedience And as thou broughtest godlie auditors vnto the sight of Christ which taking our flesh vpon him became our mediatour and thou eternall Father spakest out of the cloud and the holie Ghost appeared in the likenes of a dooue so bring to passe that in this life we may depend vpon the benefit of thy soone which coupled our nature vnto his to make an eternall couenant with vs. Cause the heauens in like maner to be opened vnto vs that we may heare thy voice and thy spirit rest vpon vs. Worke in vs the beginning of eternall life vntill in thy visible presence we shall be hold thy diuinivntill in the heauens not darklie and in a cloud but face to face beeing made like thy sonne And as those Christian Magicians or Philosophers of Persia some remnants of the schoole of Daniel by the conduct and leading of a starre came from farre to see thee and gaue a notable testimonie of the birth of Christ Iesus our Sauiour so mainteine euermore for thine owne glorie sake some congregation which may set foorth and celebrate thy benefits Grant that that luckie starre the light of faith may rise vnto vs which seeketh thee in Bethlem in a manger in thy word reuealed in the ministerie that we wander not from the right waie neither seeke fained bywaies of humane opinions seruice Suffer not the lampe of thy light to be extinguished either
couenant which in our baptisme we haue made with thee Thou adornedst thine Apostles which were to carrie a new doctrine ouer the face of the whole earth with singular testimonies of miracles that the Church might assuredlie knowe they erred not Continue among vs in like sort thy ministerie togither with the puritie of thy word Send among vs Euangelists pastors and teachers which may ioine themselues to the doctrine of the Apostles and diligentlie spread the same abroad and speake thou which art the head of the ministerie within to our harts and raise vp godlie motions through thy spirit Thou art ascended on high to bee the head of thy Church filling all things finish thy worke in vs ingraffe vs to thy glorified bodie and powre vpon vs from thy diuine nature a like spirit which may intermingle it selfe with our soule and begin while we here liue in vs an eternall life which may create in vs a new man fashioned accordinglie to thy similitude and likenesse And inspire in vs such a perfection and righteousnesse as thou shalt thinke meete and conuenient for our weake and fraile nature and let holie motions agreeing to thine heauenlie will be planted in vs. Driue awaie the darkenesse of our minds extinguish the wicked affections of our hart and let the new man dailie prosper and increase in perfection Defend thy Church by thy mightie right hand against all the power both of man and diuels Fill our flitting soules with a tast of a new life receiue them into thine hands and grant that at the resurrection and glorification of thy Church we maie ioifullie behold thee returning and triumphing gloriouslie and so be placed in that kingdome which thou wilt deliuer to thy Father for their euerlasting happinesse Amen Halleluiah Glorie be to God on high Anotherverie deuout meditation and praier wherein the mind is verie much mooued and plentiouslie stirred to contemplation of heauenlie things if it be said in quietnesse MOst mightie King my verie good gentle louing Lord Iesu Christ which of thine inestimable charitie and vnspeakable pitie taking vpon thee to be the seed of Abraham not of Angels didst vouchsafe not onlie willinglie to suffer for our sinnes both bonds crosse wounds yea death and sepulchre and after three daies death being ouercome didst rise againe for our iustification wast seene of thy disciples reforming their harts and establishing them that were almost declining from thee but also after thou hadst glorified our mortall nature with the stole of holie resurrection and immortalitie the fortith daie after thou in the sight of thy disciples didst with the triumph of thy glorie gloriouslie ascend into heauen and cariedst it aboue the heauens and aboue all the melodious companie of Angels aboue Cherubin and Seraphin placing it vpon the right hand of God thy Father where the Angels doo praise that same humane nature of ours and all the powers of heauen doo euen tremble to see a man to be God ouer them and where thou O Lord sittest and liuest euerlastinglie now and reignest throughout all worlds Behold I thy seelie creature which with the weight of my frailenes am drawne euer downeward and so not able to liue holilie vertuouslie and as I ought to liue without thy continuall helpe whervnto I thinke it necessarie for me to sticke and cleaue most humblie beseech thee to drawe me vpward toward thee that I may runne after thee in the sweet sauour of thine ointments Let me runne and not faint when thou drawest me and leadest me running Drawe the mouth of the soule that thirsteth after thee vnto the high flouds and streames of thine eternall aboundance and satietie yea drawe me wholie vnto thy selfe which art the liuing well to the intent I may according to my capacitie drinke of that whervpon I doo liue O my God my life thou didst saie with thy holie and blessed mouth If anie man thirst let him come vnto me and drinke O well of life grant vnto my thirstie soule alwaie to drinke of thee that according to thy holie and true promise waters of life may flowe out of my bellie O well of life replenish and fill my mind full of the riuer of thy pleasure Make my hart to be droonken as it were in thy loue that after the manner of them that be droonken with wine which forget all things saue the cup so I may forget all vaine earthlie things and continuallie haue nothing else in my remembrance but thee onelie according as it is written I remembred God and was delighted Giue me the holie Ghost whom those waters did signifie which thou didst promise to giue to them that thirsted after thee Grant I beseech thee that I may assaie to go with my whole desire and all my studie toward that place vnto the which I beleeue thou didst ascend the fortith daie after thy resurrection that in this present miserie I may be onlie in bodie but in thought and desire alwaies with thee that my hart may be there whereas thou art which art my treasure worthie to be coueted and much to be loued wherewith no treasure is woorthie to be compared Bring to passe O Lord Christ that through thy gift I may be stirred and carried vpward for I feruentlie desire to ascend yea I make certaine ascensions in my hart lifting it vpward and sing the song of starres With the lampe of thy loue I saie am I kindled and moued to go with thee thither whereas thou my portion reignest and I beleeue to reigne thither whereas thou my flesh art glorified and I beleeue to be glorified thither where thou my bloud rulest and I perceiue me to beare rule that is euen vnto the peace of Ierusalem to Ierusalem I saie which is my countrie to Ierusalem which is my mother would I now go vpward For when I remember Ierusalem I extend and stretch foorth towards it the senses of my hart and towards thee O Christ which art a King ouer hir hir light hir father hir defender hir patrone hir gouernour hir keeper hir chast and strong delight hir onlie and whole pleasure and of whome all hir goodnes and felicitie commeth because thou art the cheefe good and the true good and I will neuer turne backe vntill thou bring me home from this pilgrimage in which I am deformedlie scattered abroad vnto the place of my deerelie beloued mother whereas be the first fruits of my spirit and vntill thou O God which art my mercie fashion me and confirme me for euer Whither go we now vpward to the peace of Ierusalem Bicause I was glad reioiced in those things which were spoken vnto me therfore wil I go into the house of the Lord there hath he placed vs there wil he giue vs all good things therfore will I will desire nothing else but to tarie remaine there before the Lord for euer But oh Lord forasmuch as whilest we be clad in this bodie we doo as it were go astraie are strangers
enioie although heere they bee tormented prisoned burned solicited of Sathan tempted of the flesh and intangled with the world wherethrough they are inforced to crie Thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesu c. How amiable are thy tabernacles Like as the hart desireth the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O God Now Lord let thy seruant depart in peace I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ We moorne in our soules waiting for the deliuerance of our bodies c. Oh gratious Lord when shall I find such mercie with thee that I may repent beleeue hope and looke for these things with the full fruition of those heauenlie ioies which thou hast promised and prepared for all them that feare and loue thee and so rest with thee for euermore Amen 2. Peter 3 10 11 12. The daie of the Lord will come as a theefe in the night in the which the heauens shall passe awaie with a noise and the element shall melt with heate and the earth with the works that are therein shall be burnt vp Seeing therefore that all these things must be dissolued what manner persons ought yee to be in holie conuersation and good liues looking for the hastning vnto the comming of God by the which the heauens beeing on fire shall be dissolued and the elements shall melt with heate ¶ Other godlie Praiers to be vsed vpon euerie Saincts daie as they fall orderlie in the yeare And first 1. On Saint Andrewes daie My hart is readie O God my hart is readie prepared to séeke thée and to followe thy Lawe O let me not go wrong out of thy commandements WE thanke thee O Sonne of God head and keeper of thy Church for gathering to thy selfe out of the vncleane companie of men an holie Church which is knit to thee in true confession righteousnesse and life Manie times didst thou repeate thy promise touching the bringing of man fallen into thy fauour againe and by the continuall preaching of thy Ministers hast giuen vs the light thereof Thou didst in like manner appoint a tower and ordeine the Commonwealth of Moses in the middest of that part of the world inhabited from whence it might be heard of all mankinde At the length thou appearedst in the flesh brakest the bands of the old testament and entredst into a new couenant with vs and calledst thine holie Apostle Andrew and the rest to be the publishers and witnesses of thy truth and gauest them authoritie to preach and sufficient testimonie that they publish the truth Mainteine among vs this light that we may giue credit to thy Ministers and their writings as to a voice sounding from heauen that we may be citizens of that companie which is builded vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles in which building thou art the corner stone bearing the whole house by the word of thy power Grant that imitating the examples of Saint Andrew and the rest of the holie Doctors and Apostles who by thy grace readilie obeied the calling of thy Sonne Iesus Christ and followed him without delaie we also being called by thy holie word may likewise foorthwith giue ouer our selues obedientlie to followe thee and thy holie commandements Of them it it is said They went foorth and sowed their seed with teares but they shall returne with ioie Giue also to thy Church in all ages for euermore faithfull and holie teachers which may be fishers of men reteine the forme of sound doctrine dispense thy mysteries faithfullie and gather to thy kingdome great companies till the number of thine elect being filled the net shall be cast off and thy whole Church enioie thy visible and blessed sight for euermore Amen 2. On Saint Thomas daie I beléeue O Lord helpe mine vnbeléefe and increase my faith LOthsome is the darkenesse and horrible the streames of diffidence and mistrust euen in the elect as the Apostle Thomas albeit he had sensiblie heard the voice of the Sonne of God seene the miracles which bare testimonie that he taught and preached the truth yea albeit in mind inwardlie he beheld the presence of his Lord yet beleeued he not the resurrection of Christ which is the principall article of our faith neither gaue he credit to such as had seene the Lord liuing againe which doubting thou didst suffer in him for the more confirmation of the faith But confirme thou vs as thou didst confirme this thy weake disciple Thomas and grant vs so perfectlie and without all doubt to beleeue in thy Sonne Iesus Christ that our faith in thy sight neuer be reproued Strengthen our frailtie by thy liuelie presence Appeare to vs in the night that humane darkenesse doo not extinguish the light in vs. Bring thy gifts into houses shut vp into our poore cottages which are in great danger by reason of thine enimies Speake thou vnto vs with thy blessed voice outwardlie by thy word and inwardlie by thy spirit working thy peace within vs that filled with the sense of thy presence we may rest coupled through thee in the spirit vnto thine eternall Father Take vs vp being fraile and fallen downe in this life Shew vs thy woonders that in the fight of our conscience with the displeasure of thine eternall Father we may remember thy merits Laie vs miserable and weake ones in thy side and wounds that we may be hid and couered from the wrath of God and sucke from thy bodie the water which washeth all our vncleannesse and the liuelie nourishment of thy bloud which may strengthen vs into euerlasting life that we be not vnbeleeuers but in the number of the faithfull and from our hart may imitate that noble confession of this thine Apostle Saint Thomas and against all the blasphemous spirits and thine enimies acknowledge that thou art the Lord and our God euen that God which from the beginning hath beene present with his Church both externallie by his Ministers and inwardlie by the secret working of his holie spirit which may euermore defend his Church against the rage of his enimies and by a couenant with mankind knitteth the faithfull to his owne flesh Grant O Sonne of God and mightie Iehoua that firmelie we may beleeue this thy promise depend vpon thee hope of thine aid against hope begin our saluation from thy word reuealed that beleeuing in thee our Sauiour which art Christ our high Priest King we may find eternall life in thee Amen 3. On Saint Steeuens daie VVho was the first that was martyred and shed his bloud for Christ crucified They gather themselues togither against the soule of the righteous and condemne the innocent bloud O Christ our Lord and sauiour which with greefe of hart didst bewaile the ingratitude of the Iewish nation which both vnkindlie contemned thy benefits killed thy Prophets most cruellie we beseech thee make vs euermore to haue in mind and acknowledge the greatnesse of thy loue towards mankinde Thou art that naturall hen Thou begettest to thy selfe a
congregation by the egge and singular seed of thy first promise made in Paradise Thou gatherest such as beleeue and depend thereon vnder thy wings by thine intercession against the wrath of God which is a consuming fire and by thy liuelie heate thou nonrishest them powring vpon them thy spirit which is a substantiall fire flowing from the brest both of thee and thine eternall Father expelleth the coldnesse of our nature and quickneth such as are ingraffed in thee vnto a new life Thou encounterest with Kites rauening birds raging spirits and all the mortall infernall enimies for the safegard of thy poore chickens Wherefore keepe vs we humblie praie thee among thy chickens which with a woonderfull and entire affection acknowledge thy voice when thou callest which couer themselues vnder thy wings and drawe from thy brest most godlie comfort in their greefe of hart and strength against all enimies And O comfortable ghest of the soule leaue not our houses desolate cease not to fill vs by thy continuall presence with thy life and righteousnesse giue vs the true comfort of mind that before all worldlie things we may prefer the confession of thy truth euen as that reuerend old man Zacharie father of Iohn Baptist betweene the temple and the altar with his bloud as with a pretious burnt sacrifice did confesse thee to bee the Messias sent frō thine eternall Father Saue vs from bloud-shedding O Lord our Sauiour that we wrap not our selues in paines most intollerable wherwith thine enimies which haue defiled themselues with the innocent bloud of thy martyrs are oppressed And as thy glorious martyr and trustie Deacon of thy Church Steeuen when most heinous faults were laid vpon him as though he had proclaimed defiance both to God and his Church did continue constant in thy faith vsing a most excellent and effectuall forme of praier for his enimies thy persecutors conteining the summe of true doctrine sawe the heauens open and thee O Sonne of God standing on the right hand of thy Father to whom at the point of death he commended his soule so assist vs with thy grace that wee by his example may learne both to loue and praie for our enimies and that we feare not the peruerse opinions of the wicked world Be thou with vs in trouble according to thy promise open to vs the heauens shew vs thy liuelie countenance by thy good presence comfort our sorowfull minds make it knowne vnto vs that thine eternall Father is pacified through thee And finallie when our soules shall depart frō our bodies receiue them we hartilie beseech thee into thine almightie hands Giue grace that quietlie we may rest and fall asleepe till at the resurrection of mankind thou bringest thy Church and chosen to thy visible presence in the heauens where thou remainest and watching full tenderlie ouer thy flocke thou placest the same at the right hand of thy Father Amen 4. On Saint Iohn the Euangelists daie Being the Disciple whom Christ so deerlie loued and who at the resurrection of Christ was 22. yeeres old and liued in all eightie nine yeeres With the bread of life and vnderstanding shall the Lord féed him and giue him the water of wholsowe wisedome to drinke O Sonne of God full sixtie and seuen yeeres did thy beloued disciple Iohn among great miseries greeuous combats spread abroad thy Gospell in Asia the lesser where much idolatrous seruice curiositie and Greekish lightnesse was vsed He rested himselfe not onelie corporallie vpon thy bosome or shoulders being conuersant with thee in the earth and loued of thee as thy kinsman but spirituallie also drue from thy breast the spirit of wisdome replenishing his mind and hart with heauenlie light strength of faith and celestiall vertues He sawe the wofull destruction of his countrie and beheld the tragicall ouerthrowe of his nation He sawe the decaie of that Common-weale that was ordeined of God and of that temple which in all the world was the onelie temple of God He encountered with Ebion and Cerynthus most wretched heretikes which were the trumpets of Sathan to blowe abroad damnable opinions which as the first Cain by the prouocation of the diuell did contumeliously deale with the Sonne of God derided his promise And as afterward the nations by their monsterous multitude of feined gods did reiect Christ and his benefits so in a desperate boldnes did they set themselues against heauen and blasphemouslie detract from the Sonne of God his diuinitie But thanks be to thee O Sonne of God which art the substantiall image and word of the eternall Father thou hast by the doctrine and authoritie of this thy blessed Apostle Euangelist S. Iohn not onlie inlightned thy Church greatlie with the bright beames of thy heauenlie light of diuine knowledge but also by the testimonie of thy iudgement with horrible punishment cut off those blasphemers and heretikes that troubled thy Church and deliuered the truth of that article vnto vs. O preserue this light among vs henceforward that we may attaine thereby to thine euerlasting gifts and suffer vs not to bee wrapped anie more in idolatrous darknesse and superstition which is contrarie to thy glorie Mo enimies also Lord hath Sathan stirred vp to deface this thy truth and glorie euen the horrible power of the Turks which with brazen faces both blasphemouslie deale with thee and persecute thy Church confessing thy truth but suffer not O Sonne of God suffer not we beseech thee the true knowledge of thee by the power of Sathan and his ministers to be blotted out but keepe for thy selfe an holie seed among vs which against all the gates of hell may professe thee to be the eternal Sonne of the euerliuing God to whom the whole societie of Saints with one consent doth ascribe all power all knowledge all heauenlie vertues and willeth all praiers and supplications to bee directed to thee alone which art God alone Maintaine also among vs the true sense of the difference betweene humane righteousnesse and thine Grant that willinglie we may obeie thee leading vs vnto the exercises of true repentance vnto the crosse vnto troubles and vnto death where our will is truelie bound and obeieth altogither Giue grace likewise that we mooue not vnnecessarie strife through pride ambition and curiositie as did Samosatenus Arrius and manie mo but may followe thee and in our vocation both in teaching and learning and liuing may continue in the truth of doctrine that we may be found in that companie which thou louest intirelie and wilt prouide for vntill thou returne Amen 5. On the holie Innocents daie VVhich washed their garments in the bloud of the Lambe euen in their infancie by the crueltie of Herod The soules of the righteous are in the hands of God and there shall no torment touch them O Sonne of God in the time of thine humiliation euen from thy natiuitie and infancie trulie diddest thou taste the streame of mans miserie Poorlie thou wast borne naked and despised in
in a cleere and perfect light shall behold thee Amen 7. On the feast daie of the purification of Saint Marie the virgin and mother of Christ. The word became flesh and dwelt among vs Halleluiah O Eternall Father of thine onelie Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Christ which in the Common-wealth of Israell ordeined according to thy wisedome and adorned with excellent statutes necessarie for the state of mankind and signifieng secret and heauenlie things didst make diuers lawes concerning vncleannesse and the keeping of women with child and another for the first borne and that not onlie to put vs in mind of order in this life and thankefulnesse towards thy ministerie but also to teach that this our giltie and polluted nature like the foule and menstruous cloath of a woman is washed by the bloud of thy Sonne which is thy first borne thy substantiall image and the word sounding thy will whome from the heauens thou commandest to be harkened vnto Gouerne vs by thy first and onlie begotten Sonne Giue vs thy holie spirit that earnestlie we may bewaile our vncleannesse and pollusion aske helpe at thy mercifull hand be purified by the bloud of thy Sonne and be redeemed by him vnto true integritie and cleannesse which pleaseth thee that for his sake we may be adopted into thy children and find fauour in thine eies And as that good old man father Simeon notwithstanding that publikelie little or no talke was vsed of thy benefits by reason of the manifold sects then sproong vp and horrible tyrannie of Gouernours yet was confirmed by thy holie spirit in the truth and receiued a singular promise that he should see the Messias so by the same thy spirit kindle in vs faith whereby we may escape the palpable and curssed darkenesse of idolatrie which in the world welnigh is vsed And grant that we may apprehend thy Sonne who as this daie was presented in the Temple in substance of our flesh and in his armes depart in peace and be presented vnto thee with pure and cleane minds Assist vs that from our harts as did good father Simeon and holie Iacob we may firmelie keepe him among the feares of conscience and pangs of death Grant that he may be our light inflaming the darkenesse of our feeble minds with the brightnesse of his glorie Blot out all our doubtings heale the diseases of our soule and kindle that benefit and excellent light of true religion that being made followers in the spirituall societie of thy people Israell whose glorie is thy Sonne witnessing that among that people the promises and reuelations of the essence and will of the true God were made we may also come to thy glorie which our nature needeth and be adorned by thy Sonne with the heauenlie blessing of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and receiuing righteousnesse and eternall life Amen 8. On Saint Matthias daie Thou hast exalted one chosen out of the people to publish thy lawe blessed be thy name O Lord. ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie Father who because the Scripture must needs haue beene fulfilled which the holie Ghost through the mouth of Dauid spake before of the Traitor Iudas who was guide to the Iewes that tooke Iesus thy deere Sonne our Lord and who now in reward of his iniquitie for betraieng thine innocent Sonne his Lord and Maister went hoong himselfe in the feeld of bloud called Acheldama till he burst asunder in the midst and all his guts and bowels gushed out didst afterward at the earnest praiers and petition of the rest of thy disciples choose thy faithfull seruant Matthias out of all the companie that followed thee or had their conuersation with thine Apostles to be of the number of thy twelue Apostles and ordeinedst him to be a witnesse with them of thy Sonnes resurrection as it is written in the 109. Psalme Let his habitation be void and no man be dwelling therein and his Bishoprike or charge let another take grant we beseech thee that thy Church being alwaie preserued from hirelings traitors and false Apostles may be ordered and guided by godlie faithfull and true pastors and ministers O Christ Sonne of God greatlie didst thou reioice at the gathering of the Church and high thanks didst thou yeeld to thy Father because he had chosen an holie seed out of mankind and suffered not their pains to be altogither frustrate We thanke thee also from our harts for reioicing at our well-doing and for repressing the diuell by thy power that some may be saued Gather heereafter we beseech thee from among vs a righteous people pleasing thee And although miserable and ouglie be the outward shew of thy Church and they which seeme to be the light of the world despise thy wisedome euen as neither Tiberius the Emperour with the Senate of Rome neither the Princes and Priests of the Iews would vouchsafe to heare thee wandering with thy Disciples Christian auditorie yet assist vs that these sinister iudgements of the world doo not dismaie vs but that we may bring our minds into a godlie captiuitie acknowledge thee by a true and liuelie faith to be the Sonne of thine eternall Father receiue the words from thee which from the bosome of thy Father vtterest the counsell concerning the restitution of man to whom all things both in heauen and earth are giuen for vs which are thy parteners Leade vs by thine hand by thy word and spirit before the presence of thy Father shew vs in a new light inwardlie in our soules the presence of thy Father which is pleased with vs for thy sake Abide thou among vs. Powre on vs by thy spirit the beginning of that light and righteousnes which appeareth in thee being the light of light lightning the darkenes of our nature Behold O good Samaritane and Physician of our soules to thee doo we lift vp our hands we are wounded we labour and are heauie laden thine enimie hath spoiled vs and wounded vs to the death We are so burthened with the weight and greeuousnes of sicknesse that our soule is comfortlesse readie to faint and fall into death and damnation Wherfore comfort our miserable soule with thy ioifull wine and oile with thine heauenlie and quickening balme raise vs from death vtter thy comfort to our harts and grant that our soules may find rest and gladnesse in thee Put on vs thy sweet yoke tame our flesh by thy spirit Raise vp in vs new motions and holie cogitations agreeable to thy will and word Thou art meeke in deed not desirous of reuengement Thou hast not throwne miserable man into euerlasting damnation as thou didst the diuels but hast suffered punishment for vs in thy bodie and praied for thine enimies Thou art meeke and lowlie in hart Thou flangest thy selfe vnder all angels and men thou tookest our fraile and fowle flesh vpon thee thou she wedst not the power of thy diuinitie in the time of thy passion but hidst if it might be thy diuinitie after a woonderfull
vnspeakable maner that thy humane nature might suffer and die Quench also in vs by thy spirit mercilesse fires of hatred and desire of reuenge which as worldlie men doo saie is sweeter than life it selfe with all the flames of pride Grant that acknowledging our filthines prostrate before thy face in true lowlinesse we may aske thine helpe being healed may perseuere in the imitating of thy perfect example Assist vs that while we liue in euerie trouble and temptation of ours we may drawe the water of comfort from thee which art the well of life and afterward enioie perfect ease and a ioifull sabboth and feastfull holidaies in the heauens at such time as thou wilt shew thy Father to thine elect where each shall behold the other face to face Amen 9. On the feast daie of the annuntiation of the blessed virgin Marie Shew vs thy mercie O Lord and grant vs thy saluation BY thy wisedome O eternall God are the times distinguished whereby we are certified of thy benefits and euerlasting blisse which after this life and destruction of the world is prepared for thine elect Now are there passed 5543 yeeres sith the creation of heauen and earth of thine Angels of all creatures By thy word thou madest man out of the slime of the earth thou breathedst on him the breth of life and inspiredst into him a soule adorned with perfect wisedome and righteousnesse Afterward thy Sonne did vtter a secret decree about the restoring of man fallen through sinne out of thy fauour into euerlasting death About the same time of the yeere was innocent Abel murdered which was a figure of the sacrifice to come whose bloud indeed crieth vnto thee Father in heauen and beggeth the forgiuenesse of sinnes to all beleeuers In the like time was Isaac carried to be offered and thou commandedst the people of Israell to keepe holie these daies in which thou wouldest haue thy benefits to bee spoken of Likewise on this solemne and ioifull daie of the Equinoctiall spring time which sithence is 1582 yeeres thy Sonne as the Angel Gabriel signified to Marie the virgin by the working of the holie Ghost coupled the humane nature to himselfe after a woonderfull and vnspeakable maner The same daie 1549 yeeres sithence thy Sonne redeemer of mankind in his weake and bloudie flesh hoong vpon the Crosse being the true Silo. And when the sunne going betweene Orion and the Pleiades leeseth his light he left his life through intollerable sorowe and torments And an old saieng it hath beene that about this time of the yeere our Lord and Sauiour Christ will returne in the clouds both to vanquish his enimies and to exalt his Church and chosen most gratiouslie vnto a new and eternall kingdome O Sonne of God stir vs vp vnto the consideration of those so excellent mysteries and worke thou so in our harts by thy grace that as we haue knowne thy holie incarnation by the message of an Angel so by thy crosse and passion we may be brought vnto the glorie of thy resurrection Through the protection and watch of thine Angel the holie families of chaste virgins and matrons remained safe and vnspotted among infinite dangers by thy spirit the truth was sealed in them that they could not be subdued by the errours of the Pharisies and Saduces Preserue likewise in this last age of the world some holie assemblies and suffer not the whole world before thy cōming againe to become blasphemers This shall be the wisedome of eternall life in which thou wilt open the causes why thou wouldest after this maner restore mankind and how God the word could couple our flesh to himselfe Assist vs that in this life we may learne the elements and in true faith be ioined through the holie spirit to thy bodie which thou tookest from the sanctified bodie of the sacred virgin And as thou cariest and liuest in the same flesh so make vs branches of the tree of life and fruitfull vine and replenish vs with like light life and glorie Be thou our Sauiour through thy merit and vertue Thine eternall Father hath placed thee in the throne of Dauid that thou maist be the head of the Church working all in all and the giuer of all good things and of the blessings promised to Dauid Thou reignest in this life by thy ministerie gathering to thy selfe an eternall Church and repressing thine enimies by thy mightie power Thou sittest exalted in light and incomprehensible glorie at the right hand of thy Father making alwaies intercession for vs vntill thou bring thy Church vnto thy selfe in glorie at the generail resurrection and shine in them visiblie and for euer O Sonne of God we are bone of thy bones and flesh of thy flesh Thou broughtest not thy flesh from heauen neither was the same borne of the substance of thy Father but truelie thou tookest thy flesh from the seed of Abraham out of the sanctified wombe of the holie and blessed virgin S. Marie This nature did the word couple to himselfe by an eternall couenant and adorneth the same with surpassing glorie which thou she wedst not in the time of thine humiliation Therefore in truth did blessed Marie beare God euen that person in which two natures that is to saie the word and flesh were vnited togither and that without anie confusion euen as the soule and bodie are coupled in vs men Wherefore we come vnto thee our Mediator God and man and respecting thy promise in a liuelie faith we beseech thee haue mercie vpon vs wash vs with thy bloud and make vs members of thy bodie and nature No man at anie time hath hated his owne flesh make vs to sticke vnto thee by the same spirit and to drawe from thee the iuice which may strengthen vs to eternall life Amen 10. On Saint Marks daie Thou hast made them princes in all lands therefore shall they remember thy name O Lord from one generation to another O Eternall omnipotent and euerliuing God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which togither with the Sonne and the holie Ghost hast not onelie created the whole frame of this world with all things therein conteined but also appointed thy Sonne the word to be a Mediator for vs men and for our saluation we beseech thee most humblie from the bottome of our harts thou which art the good husbandman ingraffe vs in thy Sonne which is the true vine make vs branches of his bodie purge vs from the horrible corruption of our nature giue vs grace to continue in the vine that being deliuered from sinne we may bring foorth abundance of fruit to thy honour and glorie O Christ thou art the vine we are the branches through thy grace not of our owne goodnesse gratiouslie behold vs we beseech thee that euermore we may cleaue to thee For alas without thee what can we doo that good is Abide thou in vs that we may abide in thee giue vs of thy vertue let thy light shine in our