temptations of Sathan vnlesse thou O most mightie protector defend vs alas we perish For thou knowest our weaknesse and how vnable we be to resist so subtill and strong an enimie But thou hast brused in péeces that monstrous Leuiathan and hast brought vnder foote the mightie and strong Goliah which vpbraided thine hoast Thou hast by thy sonne our Sauiour that blessed séed broken the hed of the most subtill serpent who came in the flesh to destroy the workes of the diuell with whom he encountred in temptations most victoriouslie ouercame him and on his crosse openlie tryumphed ouer him to purchase a crowne for vs. By this thy victorie so obtained O heauenlie father wee beseech thee holde him fast bounde that he maie not execute his tyrannie vpon vs as he desireth that although he séeke to sift vs like wheate yet thorough thy grace wee may bee able to stand Let vs not be tempted O Lorde beyond our strength but in the middest of temptation make a waie for vs whereby wee may escape with victorie for thou knowest how to deliuer thy children out of temptation Preuent vs O Father with thy heauenly grace that wee take no truce or peace with this our ghostlie enimie but that wee maie manfullie fight vnder thy standert agaynst sinne our flesh the worlde and the diuell all the dayes of our life that there may bee continuall enmitie betwéene the womans seede and the serpent for euer that at the last the dreadfull redde dragon may be ouercome by the blood of the lambe Mortifie this flesh of ours O Lord with thy holie spirit with all the lustes and concupiscences therof that we may the better serue thee Subdue our carnall reason and vnder standing to the obedience of faith that we followe not our owne fantasies but may depend wholie vpon thy worde Giue vs a right iudgement to discerne and iudge of this worlde that wee may rather hate than loue it and rather abhor it than followe the example thereof Turne awaie our eies O Lord that we look not after vanitie Stop our eares from all alluring entisements and temptations to euil and refraine our toong from filthie communication that wee maie speake onelie such things as serue to the edification and profitte of our brethren Make vs to loue sobrietie in our apparell and temperance in all our meats and drinkes that wee being in all our actions euermore directed and gouerned by thy good spirit wee may glorifie thy holie name Giue vnto vs O heauenly father all thy armour that like right soldiours wee maie ouercome in the euill daie vanquish our enemie Gird vs therefore with the truth put vpon vs the brestplate of righteousnesse and let vs bee shod to the preparing of the gospell of light Aboue all things O God giue vs the shield of faith which can extinguish all the fierie darts of wicked spirits Bestow vpon vs the helmet of saluation and the sworde of the spirit which is thy word that throgh thee wee maie encounter valiantlie and gloriouslie attaine the victorie Deliuer vs O Lorde our God from all euill that wee may serue thée and consecrat our soules and bodies yea all our members to be seruants of righteousnes vnto sanctification that wee maie wholie and trulie serue honour and praise thee our most louing father heere in the kingdome of grace and after this life in the kingdom of glory Amen ¶ For thine is thy kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen THou O Father art king of Heauen and of earth and of all things in them contained For thou hast prepared thy throne in heuen and thy kingdome ruleth ouer all as thou hast made all thinges by thy worde and breath of thy mouth so thou doost still rule and gouerne all things Thou sittest vppon the circle of the earth and the inhabitantes thereof are as grashoppers thou stretchest foorth the heauens like a curtaine and spreadest them out like a tent to dwell in Thou makest Pleiades and Orion and turnest the shadowe of death into the morning and makest the daie as darke as night thou callest the waters of the sea and powrest them out vpon the open earth the Lord is thy name Thou dooest lighten and thunder from heauen and doost moderate all the influences of the heauens Thou art the Lord of hosts the strong and mightie Lorde of battaile and the king of glorie Thou deposest and settest vp kinges at thy pleasure And although thy seat be in heauen yet thou humblest thy selfe to beholde the things that are doone in earth Insomuch that thy prouidence extendeth it selfe to sparrowes to rauens to the lillies of the field yea to the haires of our head so that they cannot fall but at thy pleasure Thou art the father whose name ought to be sanctified in all things Thou art the king which oughtest to raigne euerie where and in all thinges thy will alone ought to bee doone in heauen and in earth Thou alone dooest féede all thinges with thy daylie bread Thou alone dooest forgiue vs all our sinnes and thou onelie turnest all euill temptations whatsoeuer they be from vs. Thou alone dooest euermore arme and defend vs from all the trappes assaultes and snares of that foule feend and ghostly enimie the diuell as the onelie and mightie Lorde of hostes to whome all Angels whether they bee good or bad do obey Thou art also omnipotent O Lord in this thy kingdom For thou O God art in heauen and dooest whatsoeuer thou wilt If thou determine a thing who shall disanull it and if thy hande bee stretched out who shall turne it awaie All vnder the heuens is thine and thou art present euerie where To thee therefore we flie for succour and to thee wee make our prayers ascrybing vnto thee alone all glorie maiestie For thou Lord art a iealous God and wilt not giue the glorie of thy name vnto another Make thy power O God knowne to the sons of men and the glorious renowme of thy kingdome For thy kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages euen for euer and euer We beseech thee therefore O heauenlie father to heare our supplications and grant that as thy promises in Christ to vs ward are yea and Amen that is most certaine and assured so also our praiers may with thee be yea and Amen that fauourably allowed and firm lie ratified for thy son Christs sake to whome with thee and the holie ghost be all honour and power and glorie worlde without end Amen A Meditation vpon the Lordes prayer O Almightie and eternal God which dooest vouchsafe that we as it wer heauenlie children shoulde euerie one of vs call thee our heauenlie father grant that amongst vs by purenesse and example of godlie and innocent life thy most holy name may bee sanctified that all other nations beholding our goodnes and vertuous liuing maie be stirred to hallow and glorifie thee Grant O Lorde that the kingdome of
O Merciful and most louing Father which hast no desire in the death of a sinner but rather that hee conuert and liue I acknowledge vnto thy highnesse all mine offences by mee committed which I cannot hide I consider the vile state wherto through sinne I am brought for thereby I haue worthilie lost thy fauour and am fallen from thy grace which while thou withdrawest from me I can doo no good thing nor thinke one good thought My sinne causeth thee to put mee out of thy remembrance and to forget me delaying to giue me that which is my strength and comfort But howe long wilt thou forget mee Lorde for euer How long wilt thou hide thy face from mee Howe long will thou withdraw thy grace from me Thou knowest my hartie contrition and sorrow for that I haue vnkindly forsaken thee and thy seruice and serued thine enimies the deuill and sin But trusting surelie in thy promises made to all men by the mouth of thy prophet Ezechiell that is if the sinner will turne away from all his sinnes that hee hath committed and keepe all thy commandements doubtlesse he shall liue and not die as for all his sinnes he did before thou wilt not thinke vpon them I most humblie beséech thee that as my sinnes were the cause why thou diddest put me out of thy remembrance euen so let my heartie penitence for them cause thee to put my sinnes out of thy remembrance Suffer me not long to remaine in this perpletitie of minde and to take sorrow in my heart from daie to daie continuallie fearing the punishment due to my sinne and looking still for thy comming into my soule by grace to deliuer me Hope hath caused me long to looke for thee that art my life and my helth Thy long delaie in comming hath much increased my desire My feruent desire at length is now turned to a vehement pain wherfore make hast lord to help my sick soul Let not mine enimie the deuill long triumph ouer mee whose propertie is to treade vnder his feete like a cruell prince all those that hee vanquisheth And that treading is dangerous and terrible for hee treadeth them downe to the pit of hell and to eternall death He did long holde in captiuitie all mankind vntill the comming and passion of Christ for our redemption And since through his craftie traines hath brought to vtter confusion manie of those that professe thy true religion Wherefore behold Lord and consider my miserable estate and heare my humble petition touching my deliuerance out of his danger Lighten the eie of my hart and vnderstanding with the light of thy grace and comfort thereby expelling the darkenes of ignorance Lighten also one other eie of my soule which is the light or eie of the affection The sight of this eie is so dim that it hath no perfect true iudgement yea it is blinded with the vanities of this world that one thing in appearance séemeth to be twentie things like the sight of deceytfull eies of glasse yea sometime the concupiscence therof is so great that the eie is cleane put out and the sight lost Mankind entreth into such league of a mitie with the diuell that hee is contented to haue one of his eies put out to win his fauour as the inhabitantes of Iabes were agreed to haue their right eies put out according to the desire of Nahas king of the Ammorites had not king Saule and the Prophet Samuell saued them there from and ouercome the said Nahas and his hoast Euen so moste mercifull Father I beséech thée saue my said eie of affection that it be not put out by our enimie the Deuill that it sléepe not in sinne which is the cause of eternall death Manne maie fall by frailetie and arise againe yea the custom of sinne maketh a man often to fall But to lie still sléeping and slumbring in sinne as dooth the swine in foule mire ingendreth obstinacie in amendment and delaie of penitence till the latter houre at which houre who can bee sure to haue thy grace at his pleasure that is onlie at thy will Lorde not at our commandement Wherefore I most humblie praie thee to send me the light of thy grace while I haue heere time and space of repentance that at my latter end mine enimies saie not reioicing and boasting that they had the vpper hand ouer me As the Philistines the figure of the wicked spirites after the death of king Saul in the mount of Gelboe cut off the head of Saul and sent it with his harnesse through their country for a shew they bare it also into the temple of their gods of a pride and ioy that they had of his death in such fashion will those cruell enimies that trouble mee reioice if I be cast downe or if I doo once swarue from thee and thy faith and so die without repentance They assault mankind by pleasant suggestion to sinne they wrastle with vs causing delectation therein They strike vs and wound vs when wee consent thereto They foile vs and bring vs vppon our knees when wee doo at anie time commit or go about the filthie action of sinne And by the custome thereof they giue a great fall with such violence that wee haue much to doo to rise againe But if we happen to die therin impenitent then they haue the victorie ouer vs. Then reioice and triumph they thereat euen as the conquerour triumpheth in his newe gotten conquest Then will they cast vs in a pit lay a stone of abstinencie vppon vs that we shall not arise againe And as there is much ioy in heauen when one sinner forsaketh his sinne and returneth vnto thee by pennance in like manner is there ioyfull triumphing among the wicked spirits in hell when one soule forsaking thée dieth in deadlie sinne but all my trust is in thy mercie O lord For although thou hide thy selfe in a cloud that my praier should not go thorough it vnto thine eares yet are not thy mercies cleane gone neither dooth thy louing kindnes cease Thou art therfore Lord my portion and in thy mercie still will I hope in none other creature knowing for certaine that as God thou onelie maiest helpe mee and as my louing father thou wilt helpe me Wherefore in thee my heart shall be ioyfull and in thy sauing helth which is thy sonne Iesus our Sauiour and redeemer The Philistins knowing the presence of thine ark to be in the camp of the Israelites the daie of their battell were sore afraid saieng who shall deliuer vs out of the hand of this mightie God Much more will I be glad and take sure trust in thee O Lorde hauing the presence and comfort of thy liuelie grace And in token of the victorie which thou hast giuen mee ouer mine enimies I will not cease as I haue good cause to sing the praise of the Lord that so louinglie hath dealt with me and praise the name of the most high all the
forwarde in that good course like a louing nurse vnto thy church Giue her wisdom vnderstanding to do that thing which is acceptable vnto thee profitable for vs her subiects and hurtfull to none Grant her O Lorde a perpetuall time long life and continuall felicitie Protect her as the apple of thine eie and deliuer thou her not into the handes of her enimies Giue her victorie O God we beséech thée ouer all thine her enimies and blesse all her godlie actions in such wise that all the worlde maie knowe and the posteritie to come may say that thy mightie arme hath raised vp in England a Debora a Iudith an Hester and a nourcing Queene for thy Church Make her to reioyce in thy strength and mightily to triumph in thy saluation Grant her the desires of her heart and denie not the petitions of her lips Let thy heauie hand O Lord light vpon her enemies and thy right hand find out all such as hate her and enuy her prosperitie Saue our Queene O louing father from all her enimies which either secretlie or openlie go about to bring her life to the graue and her glory to the dust Let her finish her course O God in a good age an old woman and of great yeares to the comfort of thy church and the glorie of thy name and to her euerlasting saluation thorough Iesus Christ in thy heauenlie kingdome Amen A Psalme of praises and thanksgiuing to God for his benefites PRaise the lord ye that feare him magnifie him all ye of the séede of Iacob For hee hath not abhorred nor despised the affliction of the poore neither hath hee hidde his face from him but when he called vnto him hee heard him Sing praises vnto the lord all yee his saintes and giue thanks to him for a remembrance of his holinesse For who is God beside the Lord and who is mightie saue our God Praise ye the Lord with me and let vs magnify his name togither Thy mercie O Lord reacheth vnto the heauens and thy faithfulnes to the clouds How excellent is thy mercie O God therefore the children of men trust vnder the shadow of thy wings Thou art the father of the fatherlesse and a iudge of the widowes euen God in his holie habitation Thou art the god which helpest vs and powrest thy benefits vpon vs. Thou art our god of whom commeth saluation God is the Lord by whom we escape death Blessed is the people O lord that can reioyce in thée they shall walke in the light of thy countenance Thou Lord art slew to anger and of great mercie Thou hast not dealt with vs after our sins nor rewarded vs according to our iniquities O speak good of the Lord al ye works of his in all places of his dominion praise thou the Lord O my soule Another MY hart is fixed O God my heart is fixed I will sing and giue praise Vnto thee O my strength will I sing for God is my defence and my mercifull God For thy louing kindnesse is better than life it selfe my lips shall praise thée As long as I liue will I magnifie thee on this maner and lift vp mine hands in thy name My soule shall be satisfied as it were with marrow and fatnesse when my mouth praiseth thée with ioifull lips I will alwaies giue thanks vnto the Lord his praise shall be in my mouth continually I sought the Lord and hee heard me and deliuered mee out of all my feare Praised be God which hath not put backe my praier nor his mercie from me Thou hast deliuered me fro my strong enimie and from them that hate me and hast drawne mee out of manie troubles Thou hast giuen mee the shield of thy saluation thy right hand hath staied me and thy louing kindnes hath caused me to increase What reward shall I giue vnto the Lord for all the bene fits he hath done vnto me I will thanke thée O Lord my God with all my heart and will praise thy name for euermore For great is thy mercie toward me and thou hast deliuered my soule from the nethermost hell Therfore my praise shall be of thée in the great congregation my vowes will I perform in the sight of them that feare thee Thou art my god and I wil thanke thee thou art my God and I will praise thee Blessed be the Lorde God euen the God of Israel which onelie dooeth woonderous things And blessed be the name of his maiestie for euer and all the earth shall be filled with his Maiestie Amen A Psalme of blessedfulnesse BLessed is he whom thou O Lorde dooest elect and causest to come vnto thée he shall dwell within thy courts Blessed is he whose wickednesse is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquitie and in whose spirit there is no guile Blessed is the man that putteth his trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord and delighteth greatlie in his commandements Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will euer praise thee Blessed is the man that doth not walke in the counsell of the wicked nor stande in the waie of sinners nor sit in the seate of the scornfull Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee in whose heart are thy wayes Blessed are they that are vpright in their way and walke in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that kéepe iudgement and doo righteousnesse at all times Blessed is he that considereth the poore and néedie the Lord shall deliuer him in the time of trouble Blessed is the man whome thou chastisest O Lorde and teachest him thy law Blessed are they that kéepe his testimonies and seek him with their whole hart Secrete Meditations of the hart to stir vs vp vnto godlinesse BY creation I am a man made of earth therefore transitorie mortall Yet indued with a minde that is to say with vnderstanding reason and iudgement by which I may vnderstand that most excellent goodnesse which is God and may bee ioyned with him in immortalitie and blessednesse But my reason vnderstanding and iudgement beeing by the malice of Sathan corrupted I do neglect this happinesse I rather séeke to enioy the delights and pleasures of my flesh In the most vile transitorie things I occupie my whole minde I ouerwhelme my selfe wholie with earth of heauenlie I make my selfe earthlie and change my selfe from a reasonable man into a brute beast But god who once loued me in his sonne Christ dooth not forsake mee but calleth mee still outwardlie by his word and inwardlie by his holie spirite and knocketh at the doore of my heart and minde that I might loue him feare him and serue him Yet I am deafe and blind and being more stonie hearted than flint dooth féele nothing O vnthankefull wretch that I am which doo neglect and despise so great benefites God gently offereth to lead me by the hande and I stubbornlie turne awaie my face from him Awake my soule lift vp thy selfe and lette vs not thus wallow in our filthines stoutlie striue thou agaynst wicked custome tread vnder thy foote these contemptible and vile delightes and couet after the most excellent things Nowe God calleth I will hearken to him hee leadeth me and I will follow him he offereth himselfe and I will take the oportunitie hee sheweth the waie to euerlasting blessednesse I will not turne away my face but will séeke to attaine ¶ Print these things in thy minde and let them not be in vaine and ineffectuall cogitations but put them in practise and thou shalt receiue the fruit FINIS To Jesus Christ I Iesus my ioy and comfort onlie good E Euer to stand and neuer to decay S Sathan be fel be fierce and furious wood V vorld do thy worst sin do thou not stay S Speed you to spil plie to beare the sway C Crosse be my share carking be my hire H Hartbreak my cōfort sadnes my feast R Railing my recōpence by toongs of fire I Iesus be mine these things are he lest S So art thou mine ful fixed in my thoght T Trusty O Christ O world vile vaine and nought 1598 SVBLIME DEDIT OS HOMINI ¶ Printed at London Peter Short dwellin Bredstreet hill at the signe of the Star
to loue thee aboue all things so thou wouldest that we loue our neighbours also not in word and toong but in deede and veritie Let this thy will good Father bee fulfilled in vs. And we heartilie praie thée that as in prosperitie we can bee well contented with thy wil so also whensoeuer it shall please thée either for the punishment of our sinnes either for the tryall and exercise of our fayth or for anie other cause as shal séem best to thy fatherlie wisdom to afflict vs with diseases with languishing sicknesses with iniuries and reproches with persecutions or any other crosse whatsoeuer we may patientlie and willinglie euen from our heart saie Thy will bee doone For if we bee not vnder chastisement whereof all thy children are partakers in this life then might we déeme our selues bastards and not sonnes And séeing thy onelie sonne our Sauiour in whose mouth there was no guile for vs miserable and sinfull men vouchedsafe to stand as a méeke lambe dumbe before the fleecer and opened not his mouth but bearing the chastisement of our peace in the moste bitter agonie of death when hee sweat water and bloud most mildelie submitted himselfe to thy holie will wee heartilie praie thee for the same our Christs sake that we may bee appliable to thy will in all thinges after the example of thy deer sonne and maie without murmuring or grudging vnfeinedlie say Thy will be done Jn earth as it is in heauen THe celestiall creatures O God are prest and readie to obaie thy diuine will and whatsoeuer thou commandest them they doo it speedilie Among which are thy angels who alwaies stood stedfast in thy truth since the first beginning and doe still stande in thy presence to serue thee as ministring spirits to defend and gard thine elect These angels doo reioise in heauen for the fulfilling of thy will in the conuersion and repentaunce of sinners yea so prompt is their seruice and so willing is their obedience that nothing is more pleasant vnto them then when thy will O God is performed and executed The blessed saints also departed this life in soule and spirit haue the fulnesse of ioy in thy presence and the pleasures also which are at thy right hand for euermore This thy wil hath brought to passe And therfore being frée from the cares and labours of this life they doo still execute thy holie will falling before thee which sittest in the heauenlie throne and worshipping thee which liuest for euermore and sayeng Thou art worthie O Lorde to receyue glorie and honoure and power for thou hast created all things and for thy wils sake they are and haue beene created As the angels and saints doo thus rest on thy will O God alone euen so other celestiall bodies also doo obeie the same The perpetuall motion and true course of the heauens the sunne the moone and the stars do continuallie kéepe their prescribed order whereunto thou hast appoynted them The temperate and flourishing springtide the hot and dry summer the fruit full haruest and the chilling cold winter haue their times and returnes from yeare to yeare according vnto thy diuine will In the execution whereof they haue thus continued more than fiue thousand and sixe hundred yeares and yet in that same remaineth and endureth still stable and firme Make in like manner O Heauenlie Father wee beséech thee our stubborne disobedient and rebellious wils pliant tractable and obedyent to thy most holie will O that this flesh putting off the olde Adam which is made of earth might submitte it selfe so willinglie vnto thy will as that inwarde manne dooth which is regenerate and illuminated by thy holie spirite and therefore with groanes and sighes desyreth to doo thy will O that it might please thee to breake in sunder for euer the bandes of sinne wherewith our spirit is tied that beeing frée wee might serue thee continuallie as thou wilt O Father wee heartilie praie thee and for Christs sake humblie beséech thee disburthen vs of this earth wherewith we are ouerwhelmed and make vs heauenlie that thy name maie bee sanctified in earth as it is in heauen that wee may desire thy kingdome to come in earth as it is in heauen that wee may will thy will to bee done in earth as it is in heauen that nowe here in earth wee may begin to bee such as one day through thy grace and mercy we shall bee in heauen Where wee shall for euer praise thee and our lord Iesus Christ to whome with the holie Ghost bee all honour and glory world with out end Amen 4 Giue vs this day our daily bread A prayer for all needfull thinges both for the soule and bodie WE are O Father in our selues miserable and néedie beggers but thou art rich in mercie to all that call vppon thee Out of thy heauenlie treasure therefore wee beseech thee plentifullie powre downe thy giftes vppon vs and especiallie giue vs that breade that heauenlie Manna the spirituall foode of our soules thy omnipotent word Iesus Christ by whose word and blessed spirit we are fedde comforted and euermore preserued to come vnto eternall life For thou hast so loued the worlde that thou hast giuen thy onelie begotten sonne that euerie one which beléeueth in him should haue euerlasting life This foode thou dooest giue of thy meere grace make vs by faith to take and digest it And to the end we may be the more able to go forwarde in that state of life where vnto thou hast called vs helpe O God our infirmities and sustaine our earthlie bodies with that corporall food which from sunne to sunne wee can not spare We depende O Lorde vpon thy fatherlie prouidence which openest thy handes and replenishest euerie liuing thing Thou féedest the yoong Rauens that call vpon thee Thou dooest minister food to the hungrie lions when they roare after their prey and thou doost cloth and apparell the lillies and grasse of the field Therfore we humblie beséech thee let thine eie attend vpon vs to féede cherrish and preserue vs in such wise that wee may bee more apt to glorifie thy holy name Break this bread O Father to thy sonnes and giue it vnto them at such time and in such measure as is most méet and conuenient for them so shall it be most swéete and sauorie and wholsom for the children Thou onelie canst giue it thou onelie knowest howe to giue it thou onely art woont to giue it and wilt giue it still vnto thy children in the best measure If thou giue it not wee cannot haue it For who is he among the sons of men that can make the smallest graine of wheat or other seed to growe or the least hearbe to spring without thee It is thou O Lord that doost make the grasse to grow for cattell and herbe for the vse of men It is thou that giuest bread wine to strengthen and make glad the heart of man and Oyle also to make him haue a