shadow a smoke a vapour a worde a storme a tempest in the which Gods people feele great molestations greefes troubles now of Sathan him selfe now of the world now of their owne flesh and that so wonderfully diuersly daungerously contrarily that they are enforced to cry Oh Lorde when shall we come and appeare before thee when shall this misery end when shall we be deliuered out of this vale of miserye out of thys wildernes out of thys continuall affliction and most perilousseas But where thou art Lorde and deare father of mercy there is not only no prison no dolours no sorow no sighinges no teares no sicknes no hūger no heate no colde no paine no temtations no displeasure no malice no pride no vncleannes no cōtention no tormentes no horrour no sin no filth no stinch no dearth no death no weeping no teares no misery nor mischiefe there is I say not onely no such thing or any e-euill noysome or displeasaunt thing but all libertie all light all pleasauntnes all ioy reioysing mirth pleasure pastime health wealth riches glory power treasure honour triumph comfort solace loue vnitie peace concord wisdome vertue melody meekenes felicitie beatitude and all that euer can bee wished or desired in most securitie eternitie and perpetuitie that may be thought not onely of man but of Angels and Archangels yea aboue all thoughtes The eye hath not seene the like the eare hath not heard it nor no hart is able to conceaue in any poynt any part of the blisfull beatitude which is with thee most deare God and Father most deare Lorde and Sauiour most gratious good God and comforter Where thou art O blessed God the Archaungels Aungels Thrones powers dominations Cherubins Ceraphins Patriarkes Prophets Apostles Martyrs Virgins Confessors and righteous spirites cease not to sing night and day Holy Holy Holy Lorde God of hostes honor maiestie glory power empire and dominion be vnto thee oh God the creator oh Lord Jesu the redemer oh holy spirite the comforter In recordation of thys Oh how thy childrē reioyce how contemne they the pleasures of thys worlde how litle esteme they any corporall greefe or shame how desire they to bee with thee How amiable are thy tabernacles Oh Lorde God of hostes say they my soule hath a desire to enter into the courtes of the Lorde my hart and my soule reioyceth in the lyuyng God Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they that may alwayes be praysing thee For one day in thy courtes is better then a thousand els where I had rather be a doore keper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tentes of vngodlines for the Lord God is a light defence And againe lyke as the Hart desireth the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee Oh God my soule is a thyrst for God yea euen for the liuing God When shall I come to appeare before the presence of God My soule thirsteth for thee my flesh also longeth after thee in a barren and dry land where no water is They thy childrē I meane O Lord desire the day of that their redemption stil they cry let thy kingdō come they cry Come Lord Jesu they lift vp their heades lookyng for thy appearing Oh Lorde which will make their vile body lyke to thine owne glorious immortall body for when thou shalt appeare they shall be like vnto thee Thy Aungels will gather them together they shall meete thee in the cloudes and bee alwayes with thee They shall heare thys ioyfull voyce Come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning Then shall they be like to thy Aungells Then shall they be like vnto the Sunne in thy kyngdome Then shall they haue crownes of glory and be endued with white garmentes of innocēcie and righteousnes and Palmes of victory in their handes Oh happy is he that may but see that immortall and incorruptible inheritance which they shall enioy for euermore Amen ¶ A Meditation of the presence of God THere is nothyng that maketh more to true godlines of life then the perswasion of thy presēce deare father and that nothyng is hyd from thee but all to thee is open and naked euē the very thoughtes which one day thou wilt reueale and open either to our praise or punishment in thys life as thou diddest Dauids faultes which he dyd secretly 2. Reg. 12. or in the lyfe to come Math. 25. for nothyng is so hid that shall not be reuealed Therfore doth the Prophet say Woe to thē that keepe secrete their thoughtes to hide theyr counsell from the Lorde and do their workes in darknes saying who seeth vs Graunt to me therefore deare God mercy for all my sinnes especially my hid and close sinnes Enter not into iudgement with me I humbly besech thee Geue me to beleue truely in thy Christ that I neuer come into iudgement for thē that with Dauid I might so reueale them and confesse them vnto thee that thou wouldest couer thē And graunt further that hence forth I alwayes thinke myself cōtinually cōuer saunt before thee so that if I do well I passe not of the publishing of it as hypocrites doe If I do or thinke any euill I may forthwith know that the same shall not alwayes be hid from men Graunt me that I may alwayes haue in minde that day wherin hyd workes of darknes shall be illumined and also that sentence of thy sonne that nothing is so secret which shall not bee reuealed So in trouble and wrong I shall finde comfort and otherwise be kept through thy grace frō euil which do thou worke I humbly besech thee for Christes sake Amen ⧠A Meditation of death and the commodities it bringeth WHat other thing do we dayly in thys present life then heape sinne vppon sinne and hourde vp trespasse vpon trespasse so that thys day is worse alwayes then yesterday by encreasing as dayes so sinnes and therefore thy indignation good Lorde agaynst vs but when we shall be let goe out of the prison of thys body and so taken into thy blessed company then shall we be in most safety of immortalitie and saluation thē shall come vnto vs no sicknes no nede no paine no kind of euill to soule or body but what soeuer good we cā wish that shall we haue and what soeuer we loth shall be farre from vs. O deare father that we had fayth to beholde these thinges accordingly Oh that our hartes were perswaded therof and our affections enflamed with the desire of them Then should we liue in longing for that which now we most loth O helpe vs and graūt that we being ignorant of thinges to come and of the tyme of our death which to thee is certain may so liue and finishe our iourney here that we may be ready and then depart when our departing may make most to thy glory our comfort through Christ What is thys lyfe but a smoke a vapour
in Christ and by Christ O father of glory geue vnto vs the spirite of wisdom and bryng vs into the true knowledge of this thy beloued sonne Jesus Christ and the knowledge of thy selfe Open and lighten the eyes of our myndes and vnderstandyng that we may know what the hope is whereunto thou hast called vs and how riche the glory of thine enheritance is vpon thy saintes and the excedyng greatnes of thy power towards vs that by true faith by vnderstanding and knowledge of thine eternal wisdom which is Jesus Christ we may be in dede as we are called true christians and vnfeyned professoures of thy holy name to worship thee in spirite and truth and to set forth the glory of thy grace geuen vnto vs in Christ Jesus our Lord Amen O deare Father wryte in our hartes loue of thy law hate to all sinne thankfulnes of hart and continuall heat of thy holy spirite for thy sonne Jesus christes sake To whom with thee and thy holy spirit be all honour maiestie glory thankes rule empire and dominion for euermore ⧠A forme of thanks-geuing for our redemption and prayer for strength and encrease of faith ETernal praise thanks bee geuen vnto thee deare God father of our Lord Jesus Christ which hast blessed vs with all spirituall blessinges in heauenly thinges by Christ in that thou hast chosen vs in hym before the foundation of the worlde was layd that we should be wythout blame before thee through him by whome we haue redemption through hys bloud euen the forgeuenes of our sinnes In whom after we heard the worde of truth the Gospell of our saluation wherein we beleued we were sealed with the holy spirite of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance which spirite hath and doth beare witnes vnto our spirites that we are thy children and therefore cryeth in our hartes Abba Father And thus most gracious father when thou hast once geuen the earnest peny of our saluatiō into our hartes thou doost not repent of thy gift calling neither wilt thou at any time breake thy couenant of grace and mercy in Christ thy sonnes merites confirmed in vs by that seale and loue token For what though we be weake in our beliefe shall our vnbeliefe make thy promise of no effect No thou wilt alwayes be found true but all men be liers And yet Lorde thou doost most graciously behold and accept be it neuer so little a sparke of fayth We say therefore cry vnto thee with one that wept and said I beleue Lord helpe my vnbeliefe Yea that little be it neuer so little is thy mere gift also The which as thou hast begon so most merciful Lord encrease the same more and more to the peace and comfort of our conscience and the glory of thy name through Jesus Christ Amen ⧠A meditation for the exercise of true mortification HE that wil be ready in waighty matters to deny hys owne will and to be obedient to the will of God the same had neede to accustome himselfe to deny his desires in matters of lesse waight and to exercise the mortificatiō of his owne wil in trifles For if that our affections by this daily custome be not as it were halfe slaine surely surely whē the plunge shall come we shall finde the more to do If we cannot watch with Christ one houre as he sayth to Peter we vndoutedly can much lesse go to death with him Wherfore that in great temptatiōs we may be ready to say wyth Christ Not my wyll but thyne be done in that this commonly commeth not to passe but where the rootes of our lustes by thy grace deare father are almost rotten and rooted out by a daily deniall of that they desire I humbly beseche thee for Christes sake to helpe meherein First pardon me my cherishing and as it were watering of mine affectiōs obeying them in their deuises and superfluous desires wherethrough in that they haue taken deepe roote and are to liuely in me I secondly do beseche thee to pull them vp by the rootes out of my hart and so henceforthe to order me that I may continually accustome my self to weaken the principall roote that they by rootes and braunches may loose all their power Graunt me I beseche thee that thy grace may daily mortify my concupiscence of pleasure in thinges that is of wealth riches glory liberty fauour of mē meates drinkes apparel ease yea and life it selfe that the horror and impaciency of more greuous things may be weakened and I made more pacient in aduersitie Wherunto I further desire and pray thy goodnes dere father that thou wilt adde this namely that I may for euer become obedient and ready to do thy good will in all things hartely and willingly to serue thee and do whatsoeuer may pleà se thee For doubtles although we accustome our selues in the pleasaunt thinges of this life to a mortification and deniall of our selues yet we shal finde enough to do when more bitter and weighty crosses come For if thy sonne our Sauiour euer wont to obey thy good will prayed so hartely and often Not my will but thy will be done wherby he declareth him selfe to be very man how can it be but we whose nature is corrupt not only in natiuitie but in the rest of our whole life also shal find both our handes full in great and greuous temtations wholy to resigne our selues vnto thee Graunt therfore deare father for thy christes sake I most hartely beseche thee thy grace and holy spirite to be effectuall in me that daily I may accustome my selfe to deny my will in more easy and pleasant things of this lyfe that when neede shal be I may come vnto thee with a resigned will alwayes stedfastly expecting thy mercy and in the meane season cōtinually obeying thee with readines and willïngnes doing whatsoeuer may most please thee through Christ our lord which liueth with thee c ¶ A meditation of the comming of Christ to iudgement and of the rewarde both of the faithful vnfaithful OH Lord Jesus Christ the sonne of the euerliuing God by whō all thinges were made are ruled and gouerned as of thy loue for our redemption thou didst not disdaine to be our mediatour and to take vppon thee our nature in the wombe of a virgine purely and without sinne by the operation of the holy spirite that both thou mightest in thine owne person wōderfully beautifie and exalte our nature and worke the same in vs also first abolishing the giltines of sinne by remission then sinne it selfe by death and last of all death by raysing vp againe these our bodies that they may be like vnto thyne owne glorious and immortall body according to the power wherewith thou art able to subiect all thinges vnto thee as I say of thy loue for our redemption thou becamest man and that most poore and afflicted vpon earth by the space of xxxiii yeres at the least in most
a shadow a warfare a bubble of water a worde grasse a flower That we shall die it is most certaine but the time no mā can tell when The longer in this life we do remaine the more wee synne which will turne to our further paine By cogitation of death our mindes be often in a maner oppressed with darkenes because we do but remember the nyght of the body forgetting the light of the mynde and of the resurrection Hereto remember the good thinges that after thys life shall ensue in certaintie of faith without wauering and so shall the passage of death be more desired It is like a sayling ouer the sea to your home and countrey it is like a medicine or purgation to the health of soule and body it is the best Phisicion it is lyke a womās trauaile For as the chylde beyng deliuered commeth into a more large place then the wombe wherin it did lye before so the soule beyng deliuered out of the body commeth into a much more larger and fayrer place euen into heauen ⧠A meditation concerning the sober vsage of the body and pleasures in this life THe beginning of all euill in our kynde of liuyng springeth out of the deprauation and corruptnes of our iudgement because our will alwayes followeth that which reason iudgeth to be folowed Now that which euery man taketh to be frendly and agreyng to his nature the same doth he iudge necessarily to be good for hym and to be desired This is meate drinke apparel riches fauour dignitie rule knowledge and such lyke because they are thought good agreeyng either to the body or to the mind or to both for they helpe either to the conseruation or to the pleasure of man accompted of euery one amongest good thinges Howbeit such is the weaknes of our witte on the one parte and the blindnes and too much rage of our lustes on the other part that we beyng left to our selues can not but in the desire of thynges which we iudge good and agreeyng to our nature by the iudgement of our senses and reason we cannot I say but ouerpasse the boundes wherby they myght be profitable vnto vs and so we make them hurtfull to vs which of themselues are ordayned for our health What is more necessary then meate and drynke or more agreeyng to nature but yet how few be there which do not hurt themselues by thē In lyke maner it goeth with riches estimation frends learning c. Yea although we be in these most temperate yet when there wanteth the spirit our regeneratour we are so drowned in them that we vtterly neglect to lift vp our myndes to the good pleasure of God to the ende we might imitate and follow God our maker by yelding our selues ouer duly to vse his gyftes to the common and priuate vtility of our neighbours But now God onely is life and eternity and cannot but demaunde of vs hys handiworke that we should render our selues and all we haue to the ende wherefore we were made that is to resemble for our portion his goodnes as those which be nothing els but witnesses instrumēts of his mercy So that when we wholy do naturally striue against that kind of life wherto he hath create vs by seking alwayes our selues what other thing ought to ensue but that he should againe destroy vs take away his notable giftes wherwith he therfore indued vs that by all kinde of wel doyng we should resemble his image yea what other thyng may ensue but that he should leaue vs that eternally that we might feele and by experience proue how bitter a thing it is to leaue the lord in whom is all goodnes Oh that I might therfore find such fauor in thy sight deare father that thou wouldest worke in me by thy holy spirite a true knowledge of all good thynges and harty loue to the same through Christ Jesus our lord and only Sauiour Amen ⧠A meditation vpon the passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. OH Lord Jesus Christ the sonne of the almighand euerliuyng God by whome all thynges were made and be ruled and gouerned thou the liuely image of the substaunce of the Father the eternall wisedom of God the brightnes of his glory god of God light of light coequal coeternall and consubstancial with the father thou which of the loue thou hadst to mankynde when he was fallen from the felowship of God into the societie of Sathan and all euil didst vouchsafe for our redemption to become a Mediatour betwene God man taking to the Godhead our nature as concerning the substaunce of it and so becamest man also the heire of all and most merciful Messias which by the power of thy Godhead merites of thy manhode hast made purgatiō of our synnes euē by thine owne self whilest thou wast here on earth being now set on the right hand of thy father for vs euen concernyng our nature in maiesty glory and power infinite I pray and humbly besech thy mercy to graunt me at thys present to rehearse some of thy passions and suffringes for me the last night that thou wast here before thy death that thy good spirite myght therby be effectual to worke in me faith as well of the pardon of my synnes by them as mortification of myne affections comfort in my crosses and paciēce in afflictions Amen In the midst of thy last supper with thy deare Apostles these thynges could not but be before thee namely that they all would leaue thee the most earnest would forsweare thee and one of the xij should most traitrously betray thee which were no small crosses vnto thee Judas was admonished of thee to beware but when he tooke no heede but wilfully went out to finish his work contemnyng thy admonition and counsell he could not but vexe thy most louyng hart After supper there was contention amongs thy disciples who should be greatest after ter thee yet dreamyng carnally of thee and thy kyngdome and hauyng this affection of pryde and ambition busie amonges them notwithstandyng thy diligence in reprouyng and teachyng them After thy admonition to thē of the crosse that would come therby to make them more vigilant so grosse wer they that they thought they could wyth their two swordes put away all perils which was no little griefe vnto thee After thy cōmyng to Gethsemane heauines oppressed thee therfore thou wouldest thy disciples to pray Thou didst tell to Peter and his fellowes that thy hart was heauy to death Thou didst wyll them to pray being carefull for them also lest they should fall into tēptation After this thou wentest a stones cast from thē and didst pray thy selfe falling flat and groueling vppon the earth but alas thou feltest no comfort and therfore thou camest to thy disciples which of all others were most sweete deare vnto thee but lo to thy further discomfort they passe neither of thy perils nor of their owne and therfore sleepe apace After thou hadst
enemies Away frō me all that worke vanitie for the Lorde hath heard the voyce of my weping The Lorde hath heard my petition the Lord will heare my prayer All mine enemies shall be confounded sore vexed they shall be turned backe and put to shame sodainly ¶ A prayer taken out of the VI. Psalme WE deserue without dout O almighty God for our wicked offences and infinite sinnes to be seuerely chastised of thee but trustyng to thy great mercy we most humbly beseeche thee that thou wilte not punishe vs in thy wrath nor in thy heauye displeasure We tremble O our good father and be in manner astonied with feare when we call to mynde our owne sinnes and thy righteousnes Do not therfore we besech thee as we haue with our euill deedes deserued throw vs downe to hell for there we shall not be able to sing to thy glory nor to set forth thy prayse Our enemies do gredily desire to haue it so but thou O God looke backe vpon the teares of them that trust in thee make the workers of wickednes to depart from vs. Finally so heare vs that they all may be ashamed confounded that are enemies to our safetie and to thy glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ⧠Beati quorum PSALME XXXII ¶ Dauid punished with greuous sicknes for his sinnes counteth them blessed to whome God doth not impute their transgressions And after that he had confessed his sinnes and obteined pardon he exhorteth the wicked men to liue godly and the good to reioyce BLessed is he whose vnrighteousnes is forgeuen and whose sinne is couered Blessed is the man vnto whome the Lorde imputeth no sinne and in whose spirite there is no guile For while I helde my tong my bones consumed awaye thorough my daily complayning For thy hand is heauy vpon me day night and my moysture is lyke the droughte in sommer I will knowledge my sinne vnto thee and mine vnrighteousnes haue I not hid I sayde I will confesse my sinnes vnto the Lord and so thou forgauest the wickednes of my sinne For this shall euery one that is godly make his prayer vnto thee in a tyme when thou mayst be found but in the great water floudes they shall not come nigh hym Thou art a place to hide me in thou shalt preserue me from trouble thou shalte compasse me about with songes of deliuerance I will enforme thee teach thee in the way wherein thou shaltgo and I wil guide thee with mine eye Be ye not lyke to horse and mule which haue no vnderstanding whose mouths must be holden with bit and bridle lest they fall vpon thee Great plages remayne for the vngodly but who so putteth his trust in the Lord mercy embraceth hym on euery syde Be glad O ye righteous reioyce in the Lord be ioyful all ye that are true of harte ¶ A prayer taken out of the XXXII Psalme WE are taught by thee O our most good and mighty God that here in standeth the true felicitie of those that be thyne that their sinnes be forgeuen couered and not layd to their charge in thy iudgement Of the obtaining whereof if euer there were neede now it appeareth that we haue greatest neede of it when the calamities of this present time do set our sinnes before our eyes For we feele that thy hand waxeth heauy vppon thy church wherefore we haue thought it best for vs not to cloke our synnes but to confesse them openly before thee and we distrust not that thou of thy great goodnes wilt forth with pardon forgeue vs our offences Wherfore being thine owne we beseche thee at this tyme when we doubte not that thou wilte be founde that thou wilt not suffer thy people to be ouerwhelmed of the vngodly which now abounde like vnto ouerflowing waters Be thou to vs a place of succour refuge in these afflictions Do thou instruct and teach vs the wayes of saluation and whatsoeuer portion of brutish and vntamed lust remaineth in vs do thou with the bitte and bridle of thy spirite so subdue and restraine that we be not for it throwne hedlong into euerlasting destruction And at length O Lord let the sorrowes and miseries be poured out vpon the enemies of thy glory but let those that trust in thee be fenced and defended with thy singuler bountifulnes that they which be zelous louers of thy name and vpright in harte may reioyce in thee and triumphe with perfect gladnes through Iesus Christ our Lord. ⧠An other out of the same Psalme THey are vndoubtedly blessed O almighty GOD to whom of thy mercy thou hast vouchsaued to pardon their sinnes and not to impute to them but to couer and forgeue all the wickednes and misdoing what so euer it be that hath heretofore defiled them We do most certainly know that it is impossible for vs to obteine so great a benefite vnlesse we do first onely see our owne euils and bewray them to thee and poure forth into thy bosome what so euer we haue sinnefully wickedly and shamefully committed against thy law Wherefore we confesse to thee O our heauenly father that our vnrighteousnes is most haynous and that our consciences are most miserably ouerburdened with the weight of our wickednes Thou therefore with thy mercy do now relieue vs and whatsoeuer misdoyng and iniquitie remaineth in vs we besech thee that thou wilt louingly and mercifully wipe it away from vs. Deliuer vs from the miseries hangyng ouer vs instruct vs with true vnderstanding and with thy prudent care so gouerne vs that we do not with euill affections runne out of kinde and become as most folishe brute beastes but that being garnished with thy goodnes we may be cheared with true gladnes and perfect ioy before thee thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ⧠Domine in PSALME XXXVIII ¶ Dauid lying sicke of some greuous disease acknowledgeth himselfe to be chastised of the Lorde for his sinnes and therfore prayeth God to turne away his wrath He vttereth the greatnes of his griefe by many wordes and circumstances as wounded with the arrowes of Gods ire forsaken of hys frendes euill intreated of his enemies But in the end with firme confidence he commendeth his cause to God and hopeth for spedy helpe at his hand PUt me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger neyther chasten me in thy heauy displeasure For thine arrowes stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sinne For my wickednes are gone ouer my head and are lyke a sore burthen to heauy for me to beare My woundes stincke and are corrupt through my folishnes I am brought into so great trouble and misery that I go mourning all the day long For my loines are filled with a sore disease and there is no whole part in my body I am feble and sore smitten I haue
our owne strengthes and deseruinges but by thy louing and mercifull working we pray to be saued and restored thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ⧠Deprofundis cla PSALME CXXX ¶ The people of God from their bottomles miseries do cry vnto God and are heard They confesse their sinnes and flee vnto Gods mercy OUt of the depe haue I called vnto thee O Lord Lord heare my voyce O let thine eares consider wel the voyce of my cōplaint If thou Lorde wilt be extreme marke what is done amisse oh Lord who may abyde it For there is mercy with thee therfore shalt thou be feared I looke for the Lorde my soule doth wait for him in his word is my trust My soule flyeth vnto the Lorde before the mornyng watch I say before the morning watch O Israell trust in the Lord for with the lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption And he shall redeme Israel from all his sinnes ¶ A prayer taken out of the same Psalme THou art oft wont O almighty God greuously to afflict thy faythfull people that thereby they may retourne to thee with feruent and perfect repentaunce whereof nowe in thy churche we haue experience in these most troublesome times For we that heretofore haue infinite wayes bene vnthankfull to thee haue daily broken thy law are oftentimes so vexed with the fiercenes of the diuell and his seruantes that we are constrained to cry to thee out of the most depe pitte of our miseries to pray thee that thou wilt not so seuerely punishe our sinnes If thou O God be determined to marke and punish our iniquities according to their deseruinges which of vs shall be so cleane and holy that he shall be able to stand before thy righteousnes But sith we knowe that thou art full of exceding mercy we do both morning euening loke vp for thy helpe Although therefore our offences be many yet it may please thee of thy most plentifull goodnes and mercy to succour vs that beyng deliuered from these instant perils and from the miseries that oppresse vs we may both beleue and report that with thee alone is true redemption through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen An other prayer taken out of the same psalme FOrasmuch as O almighty God we are continually tossed in the depe sea of temptations ▪ and are not able of our selues to withstand them we do for our great necessitie beseche thee mercifully to relieue vs. For if thou beyng iudge and examiner of all our doynges shalt narrowly marke all our offences against thee and rigorously punish them who shall be able to stand before thy throne Wherefore sithe there is with thee great and infinite clemency as our only trust is therin so we beseche thee that our iniquities may therby be redeemed With this onely confidence we are daily hourely nourished and do trust that thou wilt neuer forget the true Israell that is thy church Graunt therfore we pray thee that we may obtayne of thee pardon of our sinnes as the true and perfect fruite of this affiaunce thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ⧠Domine exaudi PSALME CXLIII ¶ An earnest prayer for remission of sinnes acknowledging that the enemies did thus cruelly persecute hym by Gods iust iudgement He desireth to be restored to grace to be gouerned by his holy spirite that he maye spende the remnaunt of his life in the true feare and seruice of God HEare my praier O lord and consider my desire hearken vnto me for thy truth righteousnes sake And enter not into iudgement with thy seruaunt for in thy sight shall no man liuyng be iustified For the enemy hath persecuted my soule he hath smiten my life downe to the ground he hath layd me in the darkenes as the men that haue bene long dead Therfore is my spirit vexed within me and my hart with in me is desolate Yet doo I remember the tyme past I muse vppon all thy workes yea I exercise my selfe in the workes of thy handes I stretch forth my handes vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirstie land Heare me O Lord and that soone for my spirite waxeth faint hide not thy face frō me least I be like vnto them that go downe into the pit O let me heare thy louyng kindnes betymes in the mornyng for in thee is my trust shew thou me the way that I should walke in for I lift vp my soule vnto thee Deliuer me O Lord from mine enemies for I flie vnto thee to hide me Teache me to do the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my god let thy louyng spirite lead me forth into the land of righteousnes Quicken me O Lorde for thy names sake and for thy righteousnesse sake bryng my soule vnto thee And of thy goodnes slea myne enemies and destroy all them that vexe my soule for I am thy seruaunt ¶ A prayer taken out of the 143. Psalme WE do earnestly desire O lord God that thou wilt encline to our common petitions and for thy truth and mercies sake heare the prayers that we poure out before thee And we deny not that the sinnes wherwith we haue greuously offēded thee do not so deserue But if thou wouldest deale with vs by extremitie of thy law iudgement and dryue vs to seuere trial forasmuch as no mortall man yea no creature be the same neuer so pure and holy were able to abide it we also without doubte must nedes be condemned and not able to stand before thy iudgemēt seat in thy presence It may therefore please thee with thine accustomed clemency and pity to behold how vehemently our ennemy pursueth our soules wherby we are so vexed and ouercome that our case semeth litle to differ from the estate of the dead so sore is our spirit accombred within vs and our harte astonied Yet do we wel remember of thy former and auncient mercy wherby thou art wont wondrously to succour thine elect whē theyr cases are most dispaired Wherefore now we doo not onely lift vp our handes but also with all our hartes we crye to thee that thou wilt deliuer thy church frō thyne enemies and so gouerne vs wyth thy good spirit that hereafter we may accordyng to thy wil good pleasure faithfully do those things that are vpright and holy beyng brought out of this distresse reuiued by thy strengthe and helpe through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ An other out of the same Psalme SO great O Lorde is our wante of righteousnesse that all such as are well in structed with thy spirite do well know how vnable we are to stande before thy iudgement Therfore when we wey our deseruinges our spirite fayleth and our harte is amased But by and by we turne to thy mercy and do confesse that our vnrighteousnesse commeth not of our self but is thy worke Vpholden and encouraged with thee we flie to thy fauour in our perils of this lyfe For vnlesse thou doo helpe vs we
plainly see our saluation past recouerie Shew vs the way wherein we may safely go and teach vs the manner how to performe thy wyll and with thy holy spirit that procedeth from thee gouerne all our doings thoughts through Iesus Christ our lord Amen * §§* ⧠Here beginneth the Letany and Suffrages O God the father of heauen haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the father of hea c. O God the sonne redemer of the world haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the sonne redemer of c. O God the holy Ghost proceding from the father and the sonne haue mercy vpō vs miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost proceding c. O holy blessed and glorious Trinity thre persons and one God haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neyther take thou vengeance of our sins Spare vs good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redemed with thy most precious bloud and be not angry with vs for euer Spare vs good Lord. From all euill and mischiefe from sinne from the craftes and assaultes of the deuill frō thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From all blindnes of hart frō pride vayne glory and hipocrisy from enuy hatred and malice all vncharitablenes Good Lord deliuer vs. From fornicatiō and all other deadly sinne and from all the deceites of the world the flesh and the Deuill Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightninges and tempestes from plague pestilence and famine from battaile and murder from sodaine death Good Lord deliuer vs. From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrine and heresy frō all hardnes of hart and contempt of thy word commaundement Good Lord deliuer vs. By the mistery of thy holy incarnation by thy holy Natiuitie and circumcision by thy Baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thyne agony and bloudy sweat by thy crosse and passion by thy precious death and buriall by thy glorious resurrection and ascension and by the comming of the holy Ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In al time of our tribulation in all tyme of our wealth in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. Me sinners do beseche thee to heare vs O Lorde God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holy Church vniuersally in the right way We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to keepe and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnes and holynes of life thy seruant Elizabeth our most gracious Queene and gouernour We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to rule her hart in thy faith feare and loue that she may euermore haue affiaunce in thee and euer seeke thy honor and glory We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to be her defender and keeper geuing her the victory ouer all her enemyes We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishoppes Pastoures and ministers of the Church wyth true knowledge vnderstanding of thy word and that both by their preachyng and lyuyng they may set it forth and shew it accordingly We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to indue the Lordes of the Counsell and all the nobility with grace wisdome and vnderstanding We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe the Maiestrates geuing them grace to execute iustice and to mayntayne truth We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe all thy people We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to geue to al nations vnity peace and concord We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to geue all thy people encrease of grace to heare meekely thy worde and to receiue it with pure affection and to bring forth the fruites of the spirit We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such as haue erred and are deceaued We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to strenghthen such as do stand and to comfort and helpe the weake harted and to rayse vp them that fall and finally to beate downe Sathan vnder our feete We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort all that be in daunger necessitie and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring with childe al sicke persons and yong children and to shew thy pitie vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherles children and widowes and all that be desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to haue mercy vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to forgeue our enemyes persecutors and slaunderers and to turne their hartes We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to geue and preserue to our vse the kindly fruites of the earth so as in due tyme we may enioy them We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to geue vs true repentance to forgeue vs al our sinnes negligēces and ignorances and to endue vs with the grace of thy holy spirite to amend our liues according to thy holy worde We beseech thee to heare vs. c. ¶ Sonne of God we beseche thee to heare vs. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. O lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Graunt vs thy peace O lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Haue mercy vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. ¶ Our father which art c. And lead vs not into tēptatiō But deliuer vs from euill Amen ¶ The virsicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes Aunswere Neither reward vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God mercifull father that dispisest not the sighing of a contrite hart nor the desire of such as be sorowfull mercfully assist our prayers that we make before thee in al our troubles aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and gratiously heare vs that those euils which the craft and subtiltie of the Deuil or mā worketh agaynst vs may be brought to nought by the prouidence of thy goodnes they may be dispersed that we thy seruauntes
humilitie and payedst the price of our raunsome by thy most bitter death and passion for the which I most hartely geue thankes to thee so of the same thy loue towardes vs in thy good time thou wilt come againe in the cloudes of heauen with power and great glory with flaming fire with thousandes of saintes with angels of thy power with a mighty cry shoute of an Archangell and blast of a trumpe sodenly as a lightning which shineth from the East c. when men thinke least euen as a thiefe in the night when mē be a slepe thou wilt so come I say thus sodainly in the twincklyng of an eie all men that euer haue bene be and shall be with women and children appearyng before thy tribunall iudgemēt seat to render an accompt of all thinges which they haue thought spoken and done against thy law openly and before all Aungels saintes and Deuils and so to receiue the iust reward of thy vengeaunce if that they haue not repented obeyed the gospell and so depart from thee to the Deuill his angels and all the wicked which euer haue bene be or shall be into hell fire which is vnquencheable and of paynes intolerable easeles endeles hopeles euen from the feare of thy glorious mighty power But if they haue repented and beleued thy gospel if they be found watching with their lampes oyle in their handes if they be found ready appareled with the wedding garmēt of innocency if they haue not hardened their hartes hourded vp the treasure of thy vengeaunce in the day of wrath to be reuealed but haue vsed the tyme of grace the acceptable tyme the time of saluatiō that is the time of this lyfe in the which thou stretchest out thy hande and spreadest thine armes calling and crying vnto vs to come vnto thee which art meeke in hart and lowly for thou wilt ease all that labour and are heauy loden if they haue visited the sicke and prisoners comforted the comfortlesse fedde the hungry clothed the naked lodged the harbourles if they haue not loden their hartes with glotony and surfeting and carefulnes of this life if they haue not digged and hid their talent in the ground doing no good therwith but haue bene faithfull to occupy thy gifts to thy glory and here washed their garmentes in thy bloud by harty repentance then shal thy aungels gather them together not as the wicked which shall be collected as fagots cast into the fire but as the good wheate that is gathered into thy barne then shall they be caught vp to meete thee in the clouds then shall their corruptible body put on incorruption then shall they be indued with immortality and glory then shall they be with thee and goe whether thou goest then shal they heare Come blessed of my Father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning c. then shall they be set on seates of maiestie iudging the whole worlde then shall they raigne with thee for euer then shall God be all in all with them and to them thē shal they enter and enherite the heauenly Jerusalem and the glorious restfull land of Canaan where is alwayes day and neuer night where is no maner of weping teares infirmitie hunger colde sickenes enuy malice nor sinne but alwayes ioy wtout sorow mirth without measure pleasure wtout paine heauenly harmony most pleasant melody saying and singing holy holy Lorde God of hostes c. Finally the eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the harte of man that they shall then enherite and most surely enioy althogh here they be tormented prisoned burned sollicited of Sathan tempted of the flesh and entangled with the worlde wherethrough they are enforced to cry Thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesu c. How amiable are thy tabernacles Lyke as the harte desireth the water brookes c. Now let thy seruaunt departe in peace I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ We mourne in our selues wayting for the deliueraunce of our bodies c. Oh gracious Lord when shall I find such mercy with thee that I may repent beleue hope and looke for these thinges with the full fruition of those heauenly ioyes which thou hast prepared for all thē that feare thee and so rest with thee for euermore ⧠A meditation concerning the lyfe euerlastyng the place where it is and the incomparable ioyes therof THat there is an enerlasting life none wil deny but such as wil deny God For if he be true iust which he must needes be or els he is not God then can there not be but an eternall life That he hath both spoken it and promised it in Math. 25. 1. Cor. 16. Hebr. 4. 11. 13. 1. Petr. 1. it plainly appeareth and els where in very many places So that to deny an euerlasting lyfe is to deny God to deny Christ and all that euer he did also to deny all pietie religion to condemne of foolishnes all good men martyrs confessors Euangelistes Prophetes Patriarckes Finally the deniall of eternal life is no thing els but a deniall of the immortalitie of the soule and so a plaine making of man no thing better then beastes If it be so let vs then eate and drinke for to morow we shall die Lord preserue vs frō this Saduceal and Epicureall impietie and graunt vs for thy mercies sake deare God that we may be assuredly perswaded that there is in deede an eternall life and blisse wyth thee for them that put their trust in thee amongst whome accompt me for thy mercies sake Agayne this eternall lyfe and the place appoynted for them that be thy seruauntes all men do graunt to be wyth thee Albeit they do not think that because thou art euery where therfore eternall life is euery where For they by thy worde do know that in as much as no man can see thee and liue this eternall lyfe and thy blessed presence is most pleasant and had in fruition after in an other world wher unto by corporall death they do depart and are translated to a place aboue them where thou dwellest in a light whervnto no man can approche Abrahams bosome they read was aboue as the place for the wicked was a lowe and beneath Helias was caught vp into heauen and thy sonne our deare sauiour prayed that where he is those also might be which thou hadst geuē him and might se his glory Now he deare father we learne by thy spirite was ascended and taken vp in his very body into heauen whether Steuen loked vp and sawe thy Christ standing on thy right hand to whom he prayed Oh Lorde Iesu receiue my spirite Graunt I beseche thee gracious god and father that I may haue a cleane hart more more to see thee and so in spirite to see and loke often vpō this place whether bring me at the length in body also I humbly pray thee Now what a thyng this
awaked thē thou wentest agayne to pray but thou foundest no comfort at all therfore didst returne agayne for some comforte at thy dearest frendes handes But yet againe alas they are fast a sleepe Wherupon thou art enforced to go agayne to thy heauenly father for some sparckle of comfort in these thy wonderfull crosses agonies Now here thou wast so discouraged and so comfortles that euē streames of bloud came runnyng from thine eies and eares and other partes of thy body But who is able to expresse the infinitenes of thy crosses euen at thy beyng in the garden All which thou sufferedst for my sake as well to satisfy thy fathers wrath for my sinnes as also to sanctify all my sufferinges the more gladly to be susteyned of me After thy bloudy prayer thou camest and yet agayne foundest thy disciples a sleepe and before thou canst well awake them loe Judas cōmeth with a great bande of men to apprehend thee as a theefe and so doth leadyng thee away bound to that hie Bishops house Annas so from him to Cayphas Here now to augment this thy misery behold thy disciples flie from thee false witnesses be brought against thee thou art accused and condemned of blasphemy Peter euen in thy sight forsweareth thee thou art vniustly striken for answering lawfully thou art blindefield striken and buffeted all the whole nyght in the bishop Cayphas house of their cruell seruauntes In the mornyng betymes thou art condemned agayne of the priestes of blasphemy therfore they bring thee before the secular power to Pilate by whom thou art openly arrayned as other theeues and malefactors were and when he saw that thou wast accused of malice yet he did not dismisse thee but did sende thee to Herode where thou wast derided shamefully in commyng and goyng to hym and from hym all the way especially after Herode had appareled thee as a foole Afore Pilate agayne therfore thou wast brought and accused falsly no mā did take thy part or speak a good word for thee Pilate caused thee to be whipped and scourged and to be handled most pitifully to se if any pitie might apeare with the Prelates but no man at all pitied thee Barrabas was preferred before thee all the people head and taile was against thee cryed hang thee vp vniustly to death wast thou iudged thou wast crowned with thornes that pearced thy braines thou wast made a mocking stocke thou wast reuiled beaten and most miserably handled Thou wentst through Jerusalem to the place of execution euen to the mount Caluery a great crosse to hange thee on was layde vppon thy backe to beare and drawe as long as thou wast able Thy body was racked to be nayled to the tree thy hāds were bored thorow thy feete also nayles were put thorow them to fasten thee thereon thou wast hanged betwene heauen earth as one spewed out of heauē and vomited out of the earth vnworthy of any place the high priest laughed thee to scorne the elders blasphemed thee and sayd God hath no care for thee the common people laughed and cried out vpon thee thrist oppressed thee but vineger onely gall was geuen thee to drinke heauen shined not on thee the Sunne gaue thee no lyght the earth was afrayd to beare thee Sathan tempted thee and thine owne senses caused thee to cry out My God my GOD why hast thou forsaken me Oh wonderfull passions which thou suffredst In them thou teachest me in them thou comfortest me for by thē God is my father my sinnes are forgeuen By thē I should learne to feare God to loue God to hope in God to hate synne to be patient to call vppon God and neuer to leaue hym for any temptations but with thee to cry Father into thy handes I commende my spirite A meditation of Gods power beautie goodnes c. BEcause thou lord woul dest haue vs to loue thee not onely doost thou will entice allure prouoke vs but also doost commaund vs so to do promisyng thy self vnto such as loue thee and threatning vs with damnation if we doo otherwyse wherby we may see both our great corruption and noughtines and also thine excedyng great mercy towardes vs. First concerning our corruptiō and noughtines what a thing is it that power riches authoritie beautie goodnes liberalitie truth iustice which all thou art good lord cannot moue vs to loue thee Whatsoeuer thynges we see fayre good wyse mighty are but euen sparkles of that power beautie goodnes wisdom which thou art For to the end thou mightst declare thy riches beuty power wisdom thou hast not only made but still doost conserue all creatures to be as Dauid sayth of the heauens declarers and setters forth of thy glory and as a booke to teach vs to know thee How fayre thou art the beautie of the Sunne Moone Stars light flowers riuers fieldes hils birdes beastes men and all creatures yea the goodly shape and forme of the whole world doth declare How mighty thou art we are taught by the creation of this world euen of nought by gouerning the same by punishing the wicked mighty Giants therof by ouerthrowing their deuises by repressing the rages of the sea wtin her bounds by stormes by tempestes by fires these and such lyke declare vnto vs thine inuisible almighty and terrible power whereby thou subduest all thinges vnto thee How riche thou art thys worlde thy great and infinite treasurehouse doth well declare What plenty is there not onely of thinges but also of euery kinde of things Yea how doost thou yearely and daily multiply these kyndes How many seedes doost thou make of one seede yea what great increse doost thou bring it vnto These cannot but put vs in remembraunce of the exceedyng riches that thou hast For if to thyne enemies which loue thee not as the most part in this world be if to thē thou geuest so plentifully thy riches here what shal we thinke that with thy selfe thou hast layde vp for thy frendes How good thou art all creatures generally and perticularly do teach What creature is there in the worlde which thou hast not made for our cōmoditie I will not say how that thou mightst haue made vs creatures without sense or reason if thou haddest would But amongst al things none doth teach vs so thy great loue towardes vs as doth the death of thy most dearely beloued sonne who suffred the paynes and terrours thereof yea and hell it selfe for our sakes If this thy loue had bene but a smal loue it would neuer haue lasted so long nor Christ shold neuer haue died ⧠A prayer to Christ crucified AS thou O Lord wast crucified for me so I beseeche thee crucify me with thee that I may ryse agayne with thee to euerlasting lyfe Thy flesh was crucified for me crucifie with thee O Christ the kingdom of the flesh which hath dominion in me that I may put of the olde Adam and by newnes of lyfe may be transformed
rored for the very disquietnes of my hart Lord thou knowest all my desire and my groning is not hid from thee My hart panteth my strēgth hath failed me and the lyght of mine eyes is gone from me My louers and my neighbours did stand looking vpon my trouble and my kinsmen stoode a farre of They also that sought after my life laid snares for me and they that wente about to doo me euill talked of wickednes and imagined deceipt all the day long As for me I was like a deafe man and heard not as one that is dombe which doth not open his mouth I became euen as a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofes For in thee O Lorde haue I put my trust thou shalt answer for me O Lord my God I haue required that they euen myne enemies should not triumph ouer me for whē my foote slipte they reioyced greatly against me And I truely am set in the plague and my heauines is euer in my sight For I wil consider my wickednes and bee sory for my sinne But mine enemies liue and are mighty they that hate me wrongfully are many in number They also that reward euil for good are agaynst me because I know the thyng that is good Forsake me not O Lord my God be not thou far fro me Hast thee to helpe me O lord God my saluation A prayer taken out of the XXXVIII Psalme REbuke and chastice vs O Lord as children but withdrawe thy wrath and heauy hand from our present distresses For we feele thy hande and the daungers wherin we be we perceyue them to be past the cure of mans remedy which happeneth vnto vs not vnworthely for our deseruing For sinnes and wickednesses haue euery way ouerwhelmed vs wherwith we are ouerburdened and pressed downe farre more then we be able to beare Hereof commeth our sorow and that we be in maner fainted with griefefulnes of harte We see our neighbours and frendes estranged from vs our enemies to lay snares for vs and to attempt all the wayes to our destruction Thou therefore O God for thy great mercy first reconcile vs to thy selfe in pardonyng all those thinges that we haue most wickedly committed against thee and thē make hast to helpe vs. We loke for no other refuge but thee whose wont it is to be at hand to succour them that call vppon thee to satisfie their petitions Thou art not ignoraunt how while we are thus shakē with aduersities antichristes do triumphe against vs and they daily increase in strength number that do wrongfully hate vs. Wherefore we beseche thee good father forsake vs not in so great afflictions sith thou art our onely safety make hast we pray thee to helpe thy church and to succor her now beyng in extremest perill for Iesus Christes his sake Amen Miserere mei deus PSALME LI. ¶ When Dauid was rebuked by the prophet Nathan for his great offences he dyd not onelye acknowledge the same to God with protestation of his naturall corruption and iniquitie but also lefte a memoriall thereof to his posteritie Therfore first he desired God to forgeue his sinnes and to renue in him his holy spirit with promise that he will not be vnmindfull of those great graees Finally fearyng least God would punishe the whole church for his faut he requireth that he would rather increase his graces towardes the same HAue mercy vppon me O God after thy great goodnes accordyng vnto the multitude of thy mercies do away myne offences Washe me throughly from my wickednes and cleanse me from my sinne For I knowledge my faultes my sinne is euer before me Against thee onely haue I sinned and done this euill in thy sight that thou mightest be iustified in thy saying and cleare when thou art indged Beholde I was shapen in wickednes and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me But lo thou requirest truth in the inwarde partes shalt make me to vnderstande wisdome secretly Thou shalt purge me with Jsope and I shall be cleane thou shalte washe me and I shall be whiter then snow Thou shalt make me heare ioy and gladnes that the bones whiche thou hast broken may reioyce Turne thy face from my sinnes and blotte out all my misdeedes Make me a cleane hart O God and renue a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirite from me O geue me the comforte of thy helpe againe and stablish me with thy free spirite Then shall I teache thy wayes vnto the wycked and sinners shall he conuerted vnto thee Deliuer me from bloudgiltines O god thou that art the God of my health my tonge shall sing of thy righteousnes Thou shalt open my lippes O Lord and my mouthe shall shew thy prayse For thou desirest no sacrifice els would I geue it thee but thou delightst not in burnt offringes The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirite a broken and contrite hart O god shalt thou not despise O be fauourable and gratious vnto Sion builde thou the walles of Jerusalem Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of rightousnes with the burnt offringes and oblations then shall they offer young bullockes vppon thine aulter A prayer taken out of the LI. Psalme WE do with one whole consent and with harty prayers craue of thy mercy O almightye God that we maye be cleansed washed and wyped from our wickednesses sinnes and offences We acknowledge and confesse how we haue heretofore done euil in thy sight but our sinnes shal neuer be able to make thee vniust or vnfaithfull We do well vnderstande that we deserue not that thou shouldest performe to vs the noble and most honorable promises that thou hast made vs but herein we haue neede to be relieued and our case to be supplied with thy truthe and constancie Thou seest how we are borne into the world corrupt and defiled euen from our birth which were also before our birth conceyued in wickednes Cleanse therfore our soules and vouchsaue to beautifie them with that cleannes that is pleasaunt in thy sight Geue vs a pure hart a spirit vpright holy and couragiously well disposed that we may not be cast away from thee as vngodly persons but may receyue true ioyes and perfect gladnes If thou shalt haue deliuered vs from sinnes whiche do accuse vs as guilty of eternall death then shall our lippes be opened to prayse thee with cherefulnes Graunt we beseche thee that we may come to thee with the sacrifice wherwith thou art principally debated that is of a broken spirite an abaced and humbled courage There both our present sorowes shal be eased and thou shalt be pleased with the prayses wherwith we shall magnify thy name Shew forth thy good will to Zion that is to thy church Thou seest in how great daunger she is tossed she is oppressed both within and without We beseche thee deliuer her not onely from outward enemies but
saluation for an helmet and the sworde of the spirit which is thy holy word that I may stand perfect in all that is thy will and bee found worthy through Christ to receaue the crowne of life which thou hast promised to all them that loue thee Graunt that I may euer desire will that which is most pleasing and acceptable to thy will Thy will be my will my will be alwayes to follow thy will Let there be euer in me one will and one desire with thee and let me neuer desire to will or not to will but as thou wilt Graunt me that aboue all things I may rest in thee and fully quiet and pacifie my hart in thee for thou Lord art the true peace of the hart and perfect rest of the soule Thou knowest Lord what is most profitable and expedient for me wherfore do with me in all thynges as it shall seeme best vnto thee for it may not be but well that thou doest which doest most iustly and blessedly dispose all things after thy most godly wisdome Graunt vnto me O Lorde that I may esteeme all things in this world as they be transitory and soone vanishing away my self also with them drawing towardes my end for nothing vnder the Sunne may long abide but all is vanitie and affliction of spirite O Lorde God which art sweetenes vnspeakable turne in to bitternes to me all transitory and earthly delightes which may draw me from the loue of eternall thinges Blessed are they that for the loue of thee set not by the pleasures of thys world but crucifie the fleshe the lustes therof so that in a cleane and pure conscience they may offer their prayers vnto thee and be accepted to haue company with thee and thy blessed Angels O euerlasting light send down the beames of thy brightnes and lighten the inward partes of my hart Open my hart that I may beholde thy lawes and teach me to walke in thy commaundementes Beholde my weaknes O Lorde and consider my frailnes best knowen vnto thee I couet to cleaue fast to heauenly thinges but worldly affections and tentatiōs plucke me backe they dayly rebell and suffer not my soule to liue in rest Which although they draw me not alway to consent yet neuertheles their assaultes be very greuous vnto me Oh what a life may this be called where no trouble nor misery lacketh where euery place is full of snares of mortall enemies For one trouble or temptation ouer passed an other cōmeth by and by and the fyrst conflict yet during a new battaile sodeinly ariseth Tedious it is to me to liue in such battell but I perceaue such conflictes are not vnprofitable for me whilest I know my selfe and mine infirmities the better and am therby compelled to seke helpe at thy hād It is good for me O Lord that thou hast thus exercised and humbled me that I may learne to dread thy secrete and terrible iudgementes which scourgest euery child that thou receauest which woūdest and healest which bringest downe to the gates of hell bringest backe againe I yelde thee thankes therefore that thou hast not spared my sinnes but hast punished me with scourges of loue and hast sent affliction anguishe within and without Of grace and fauour it is O Lord that thou sufferest thy seruauntes to be troubled and afflicted in this world because they should not be condemned with the world Thou wouldest that they should here be broken with affliction that they may after rise in a new light and be clarified and made glorious in thy kingdome Oh holy father thou hast ordained it so to be it is done as thou hast appoynted Wherefore O Lorde geue me the grace to rest in thee aboue all thinges and to quiet my hart in thee aboue all creatures aboue all glory and honour aboue all dignitie and power aboue all health and beautie aboue all riches and treasure aboue all ioye pleasure aboue all fame and praise aboue all mirth and consolation that mans hart may take or feele besides thee For thou Lord art most good most wise most righteous most holy most iust most blessed most high most mightie most cōfortable most beautifull most louing most glorious in whō all treasures of goodnes most perfectly rest And therfore what soeuer I haue besides thee it is nothing vnto me for my hart may not rest nor fully bee pacified but onely in thee Oh Lorde Jesu who shall geue me winges of perfecte loue that I may flie vp from these worldly miseries and rest with thee Of Christ the king of euerlasting glory my soule cryeth vnto thee with cōtinuall groninges and sayth how long taryeth my Lord God to come to me Oh whē shall the end come of all these miseries When shall I be cleane deliuered from the bondage of sinne When shall I Lorde haue my minde onely fixed on thee and be mery in thee with perfect ioy and gladnes Whē shall that blessed houre come that thou shalt visite me and make me glad with thy blessed presence when thou shalt be to me all in all When shall I come vnto thee and feele and enioy those sweete consolations which with thy blessed Sainctes are alwayes present When shall I haue peace without trouble peace without and peace within and on euery side stedfast and sure Oh Lorde Jesu when shall I stand and beholde thee and haue full sight and contemplation of thy glory When shall I be with thee in thy kingdome that thou hast ordayned for thine elect people before the beginning Oh blessed mansion of that heauenly Citie Oh most cleare day of eternitie whom the night may neuer darken Thys is the day alwayes cleare and mirry alwaies sure and neuer chaunging Thys day shineth clearly to thy Sainctes in heauen oh gracious God with euerlasting brightnes but to vs here on earth so great is the darknes of sinne in vs it shineth obscurely as it were a farre of we see but a glimmering therof Would to God thys day might shortly appeare shyne vnto vs and that these worldly vanities were at an end Thy heauenly Citizens know and feele how ioyfull thys day is but we the children of Eue straūgers and exiles here on earth doe lament and bewaile the bitter tediousnes of thys present lyfe short and euill full of sorrowe and anguishe Where man is oftentimes defiled with sinne encumbred with afflictiō vnquieted with troubles lapped in cares busied with vanities blinded with errours ouercharged with labours vexed with tentations ouercome with vayne delightes and pleasures of the world and miserably wrapped in many kindes of calamities Wherfore O Lord arise and helpe me comfort mine exile asswage my sorrowe destroy the power of mine enemies the kingdome of sinne Sathan the world and my wicked flesh which alwaies make battaile against me and bring these conflicting dayes to an end so shall I sing prayses vnto thee O God of my saluation magnifie thy holy name world