a Comforter to the comfortlesse a Deliverer to the captiues and a Physician to the sicke Grant that the sicknesse of their bodies may make for the good of their soules Especiallie wee beseech thee to bee present with those that are at the poynt to die Fit them for their journey before their departure Arme them with faith and patience Seale vnto them by thy holie Spirit the pardon and forgiuenesse of all their sinnes And so let thy servants depart in peace and bee translated from death to lyfe to liue with thee for evermore Heare vs wee beseech thee praying for our brethren heare our brethren for vs and Iesus Christ our elder brother for vs all Wee know O Lord that thou hearest him alwayes Heare vs lykewyse wee beseech thee for his sake and accept our THANKSGIVING Wee render most heartie thankes vnto thee for our Saviours 4 Incarnation for his 5 Passion for our 3 Redemption by his most precious blood Wee thanke thee for â— forming vs in our mothers wombe for 1â— washing vs in the laver of baptisme for 6 calling vs by thy word for 7 expecting our conversion for 8 converting vs vnto the fayth for 13 strengthening our fayth by the participation of Christs bodie and blood for 9 sealing vnto vs the pardon of our sinnes for 15 giving vs a promise of everlasting lyfe Wee thanke thee for all other thy blessings 11 corporall and spirituall internall and externall for our 10 continuance in that which is good for 14 deliverance from all evill Wee thanke thee for thy often deliverances of this Church and kingdome from forreyne invasions and homebred conspiracies â— Wee thanke thee for 2 preserving vs ever since wee were borne for defending vs this night past from all perills and dangers for the quiet rest wherewith thou hast refreshed our bodies for thy mercie renewed vnto vs this morning Let thy mercie bee continued vnto vs this day let thy Spirit direct vs in all our wayes that wee may walke before thee as children of the light doing those thinges that are pleasing in thy sight Let the dew of thy blesing descende vpon our labours for without thy blessing all our labour is but in vaine Prosper thou the workes of our handes vpon vs O prosper thou our handie worke Grant that wee may conscionablie in our callings so seeke after thinges temporall that finallie wee lose not the thinges which bee eternall Wee are vnworthie O Lord wee confesse to obtaine anie thing at thy hands eyther for our selues or anie others even for the sinfulnesse of these our prayers But thou hast promised to heare all those that call vpon thee in thy Sonnes name Make good therefore we beseech thee thy promise vnto vs now calling vpon thee in thy Sonnes name and praying as he hath taught vs in his holie Gospell Our Father which art in heaven c. An Evening prayer for a familie gathered here and there out of Gerards Meditations and Prayers MOst glorious LORD GOD whose dwelling is in the highest heavens and yet beholdest the lowlie and the humble vpon earth wee blush and are ashamed to lift vp our eyes vnto heaven because we haue sinned against thee which dwellest in the heavens But looke downe wee beseech thee from heaven thy dwelling place and beholde the humilitie of thy servants heere on earth which prostrate themselues at the foot-stooll of thy mercie confessing their owne guiltinesse and begging pardon for their sinnes Wee confesse Almightie Creatour that thou madest vs at the first after thyne owne image thou cloathedst vs with innocencie as with a garment thou seatedst vs in paradise a place of all delight and pleasure But wee haue defaced thine image wee haue cast off our first covering we haue thrust our selues out of that pleasant place Wee ran away from thee and were not obedient vnto thy voyce Wee were lost and condemned before wee came into this world Our first parents sinned agaynst thee and we sinned in them They were corrupted and wee are inheriters of their corruption They were the parents of disobedience and wee are by nature the children of wrath Sinfull and vnhappie children of sinfull and vnhappie parents Thou mightest in thy displeasure after their fall haue plunged them into the bottâ—mlesse pit and made them the fewell of hell and sent their posteritie after them And neyther they nor wee could justlie haue complained Righteous O Lord art thou in thy judgements And our miserie is from our selues But great was thy mercie vnto vs. Wee came into this world in a flood of vncleannesse wallowing in our mothers blood and thou didst set open a fountayne for vs to wash in Wee were washed in the laver of baptisme and wee haue returned with the swyne to our wallowing in the myre Wee came from a place of darknesse into this world we lived as children of darknesse wee sat in darknesse and in the shadow of death Thou gavest vs thy word to bee a lanthorne vnto our feete and a light vnto our paths that in thy light wee might see light that so walking in the way of trueth wee might attayne everlasting lyfe But wee haue loved darknesse more than light haue not beene obedient vnto thy word Wee came into this world crooked even from our mothers wombe and thou gavest vs thy law to be a glasse wherein we might see our deformitie and a rule whereby to square all our actions words thoughts But wee haue shut our eyes that wee might not see and wee haue refused to bee ruled by thy law The law of sinne in our flesh doeth daylie captivate vs. The roote of originall sinne which lyeth hidden in vs doth everie day put foorth new branches All the parts and faculties of our bodies and soules are so manie instruments of vnrighteousnesse to fight agaynst thy divyne Majestie Our hearts imagine wicked things our mouthes vtter them and our handes put them in practice Thy mercies everie day are renewed vnto vs and our sinnes are everie day multiplied agaynst thee In the day of health and prosperitie we forget thee and we never thinke vpon the day of sicknesse and adversitie Thy benefits heaped vpon vs doe not allure vs to obey thee Neyther doe thy judgements infflicted vpon others make vs afrayde to offend thee What couldest thou O Lord haue done more for vs or what could wee haue done more agaynst thee Thou didst send thy Sonne in the fulnesse of time to take our nature vpon him to fulfill thy law for vs and to bee crucified for our sinnes Wee haue not followed the example of his holie lyfe but haue everie day afresh crucified him by our sinnes And now O LORD if wee shall become our own judges we cannot but confesse that wee haue deserved everlasting torments in hell-fire But there is mercie with thee O Lord therefore will wee not despare Our sins are manie in number But thy mercies are without number The weyght of our sinnes is great But the weyght
I am receaved into the heavenlie familie being made the sonne of my heavenlie Father the brother of Christ and the temple of the holie Ghost This is an holie and heavenlie laver In it therefore I am washed and purged from all my vncleannesse It is the laver of regeneration renovation By it therefore I am regenerated and renewed by the grace of the holie Ghost Whatsoever Christ my Saviour merited by his most holie obedience and by the effusion of his most precious blood of all that hee hath left the saving fount of baptisme as a pledge Therefore the conferring of baptisme is the besprinkling of the blood of Christ. That precious blood of Christ doeth make mee cleane from all my sinnes and maketh mee whiter than snow in the sight of God O eternall God thou hast made an eternall covenant with mee in baptisme vnto which I haue alwayes recourse by true and serious repentance Thou hast betroathed mee vnto thee for ever in judgement and righteousnesse in grace and mercie Thou hast given mee an earnest and pledge of thy Spirit in baptisme Therefore thou wilt not cast mee away from thy face but beeing mindfull of thy promise thou wilt leade mee into the joyes of the celestiall marriage As at the baptisme of Christ my Mediatour and head the heavens were opened So by the communion of the same baptisme thou hast opened vnto mee the gate of paradise As at the baptisme of Christ the holie Ghost descended vpon him and a voyce from heaven did testifie that hee was the beloved Sonne of GOD So by the same communion of the same baptisme I am made a partaker of the holie Ghost and adopted to bee a sonne of GOD. For which inestimable benefite I will giue thankes vnto thee my GOD for ever AMEN PRAYER XIII Hee rendereth thankes for the sacrament of the Lords Supper HOw great thanks doe Iowe vnto thee most high God for that in the most sacred mysterie of the supper thou doest feed me with the bodie and blood of thy Sonne What is there in heaven or in earth of more pryce and excellencie than that bodie which is vnited to thy Sonne personallie What more certaine testimonie and pledge of thy grace can there bee than the precious blood of thy Sonne poured out for my sinnes on the altar of the crosse The verie pryce of my redemption thou bestowest vpon mee that I may haue a most certaine testimonie of thy grace towards me As often as I fall through my sinnes from the covenant of baptisme So often by true repentance and the saving vse of this supper I am restored vnto it agayne It is a sacrament of the new Testament and it alwayes enricheth mee with new gifts of the Spirit In this bodie lyfe it selfe dwelleth and therefore it refresheth me quickneth mee vnto everlasting lyfe By the effusion of this blood satisfaction is made for our finnes And therefore by the drinking thereof the remission of my sinnes is confirmed vnto mee Christ sayeth it Trueth it selfe sayeth it Whosoever shall eate my flesh and drinke my blood hath eternall lyfe and I will raise him vp at the last day that is to the lyfe of glorie For this is the bread of lyfe which descended from heaven that whosoever shall eate thereof may not die but haue everlasting lyfe It is the eating by fayth that Christ so commendeth which must needs be added vnto the sacramentall eating that so that which was appoynted to lyfe may bee receaved by vs vn to lyfe I come therefore with true fayth vnto this heavenlie banquet beeing firmlie perswaded that the bodie which I eate was delivered vnto death for mee and the blood which I drinke was poured foorth for my sinnes I cannot in anie wise doubt of the remissioÌ„ of my sinnes when as it is confirmed by the participation of the pryce which was offered for my sinnes I cannot in anie wise doubt of Christ his dwelling in mee when hee sealeth vnto mee the same by the communion of his bodie and blood I cannot in anie wise doubt of the assistance of the holie Spirit when my Infirmitie is strengthened with such safegard I am not afrayde of Satans assaults when as this Angelicall foode doeth make mee strong to fight I am not afrayde of the allurements of the flesh when as this quickning and spirituall foode doeth corroborate mee by the vertue of the Spirit These taken and drunke doe make Christ to dwell in mee and mee in Christ. The good sheepherd will not suffer the sheepe that is fed with his owne bodie and blood to bee devoured by the infernall wolfe Neyther will the power of the Spirit suffer mee to bee overcome by the weaknesse of the flesh To thee O Saviour most benigne bee prayse honour and thanksgiving for ever and ever Amen PRAYER XIV Hee râ—â—ndâ—reth thankes to God for preserving vs from sundrie evills TO thee O eternall and mercifull GOD I render eternall thankes for that thou hast hitherto preserved mee from infinite evills and dangers and hast kept me safe by the guard of thy holie Angells Thy privatiue blessings by which thou doest keepe mee from evill are more in number than thy positiue by which thou doest conferre good vpon mee As manie evills of soule and bodie as I see in others so manie tokens doe I see of thy mercie towards mee For my deliverance from those evills is to be attributed as due onlie to thy goodnesse How great is the power of the devil How great is his subtiltie As often therefore as that malignant and most subtile spirit and our most potent adversarie doeth labour to doe vs anie mischiefe so often by the buckler of thy benignitie and by the guard of the holie Angells being protected I haue beene able to escape his nets But who can reckon vp the treacherous assaults and invasions of the devill Who can therefore reckon vp the riches of thy bountie When redst that I may bee able to endure and overcome all the violent invasions of the infernall powers Let my last word in this lyfe be the same with which thou didst consummate all vpon the crosse and receaue my soule which thou hast redeemed with so deare a pryce when I shall commend it into thy hands Let a blessed resurrection follow a blessed death In that great day of thy severe judgement delyver mee from that cruell sentence thou which in my lyfe didst with thy readie helpe protect mee Let my sinnes bee covered with the shadow of thy grace and overwhelmed in the bottome of the sea Let my soule bee bound vp in the bundle of the living that with all the elect I may come into the fellowship of everlasting joye Amen THE FOURTH PART Of Supplications for others THE ARGUMENT The meditation of our neyghbours wants and indigencies concerneth the common good welfare of the Church common-wealth and maketh vs looke vpon others miseries as our owne This is
nature Receaue them into the everlasting tabernacles of the citie which is aboue whoÌ„ thou hast vsed as thy instruments to conferre vpon mee so manie and so liberall benefits My heart propoundeth vnto thee the infallible promise of thy word that thou wilt of thy meere free grace recompence even a cup of colde water How much more then wilt thou bee liberall and bountifull to those that with full hand bestow benefits of all kyndes vpon those that want Let not thy graces cease to runne downe vpon them that poure foorth so plentifullie vpon others Let the fountayne of thy goodnesse alwayes spring vnto them from whom such plentifull rivers of liberalitie doe flow Grant I beseech thee most mercifull GOD that they which â—ow temporall thinges so liberallie may reape with much increase things spirituall Fill their soules with joy that feede the bodies of the poore with meat Let not the fruit of their bountie perish though they show it by bestowing of the goods that perish Giue vnto them that giue vnto others thou that art the giver of everie good gift blessed for ever Amen PRAYER VI. He prayeth for enemies and persecutors LORD Iesu Christ the onelie begoten Sonne of GOD that hast prescribed vs in thy word this rule of charitie Loue your enemies blesse them that curse you doe good to them that hate you pray for them that despitefullie vse you and persecute you I beseech thee who art most gracious and most readie to forgiue to forgiue myne enemies and the persecutours of the Church Giue vnto mee the grace of thy holie Spirit that I may not onelie forgiue myne enemies from myne heart but also pray for their health and salvation even from my soule Whet not against them the sword of severe revenge but anoynt their heads with the oyle of thy mercie and compassion Extinguish the sparks of hatred and anger that are in their hearts that they breake not foorth into the infernall flames of hell Let them know and acknowledge that Our lyfe is but a vapour and a smoake that soone vanisheth away that our bodie is but ashes dust that flyeth away that they beare not immortall anger in their mortall bodies nor entertayne into this brittle tabernacle of clay their soules enemie Let them know lykewyse that inveterate hatred is their greatest enemie because it killeth the soule and excludeth them from the participation of heavenlie lyfe Illumiminate their myndes that they beholding the glasse of thy divyne mercie may see the deformitie of anger and hatred Governe their wills that beeing moved by the example of thy divyne forgiuenesse they may leaue off and cease to bee angrie and to doe harme Grant vnto mee mercifull GOD that as much as in mee lyeth I may haue peace with all men and turne the hearts of myne enemies to brotherlie reconcilement Let vs walke with vnanimitie and concord in the way of this lyfe seeing that wee hope all for a place in our celestiall countrey Let vs not disagree vpon earth seeing that wee all desire to liue together heereafter in heaven Wee call vpon thee our Lord and our God which art in heaven And it is not meet for the servants of the same Lord to fall out one with another Wee are one mysticall bodie vnder Christ our head And it is base and shamefull for the members of the same bodie to fight one with another They which haue one fayth and one baptisme ought to haue one spirit and one mynde Neyther doe I pray alone for my private enemies but also for the publike enemies and persecutoures of the Church O thou which art trueth it selfe bring them into the way of trueth O thou which art power it selfe bring to nought their bloodie endeavours and attempts Let the brightnesse of thy heavenlie trueth open their blinde eyes that the raging madnesse and desire to persecute which they haue in their myndes may heereafter cease Let them know O LORD and acknowledge that it is not onelie a vaine thing but also verie dangerous to kicke against the prickes Why doe they imitate the furie of wolues when as they know that the blâ—â—â— of Christ the immaculate Lambeâ—â— as poured out for vs Why doe they thirst to shed that innocent blood for which they know that the blood of the verie Sonne of GOD was poured foorth vpon the altar of the crosse Convert them O LORD that they may bee converted vnto thee from their heart and so obtayne the fruit of their conversion in this life and in that which is to come Amen PRAYER VII Hee supplieateth for those that are afflicted and in miserie ALmightie eternall and mercifull GOD which art the Saviour of all men especiallie of the â—â—ythfull and by the Apostle hast commanded vs to make prayers for all men I intreate thee for all those that are afflicted and in miserie that thou wouldest support them by the consolatioÌ„ of thy grace and succour them by the ayde of thy power Indue with power and strength froâ— aboue those that labour and sweâ—â— in the most grievous agonie of Satans tentations Make them partakers of thy victorie O Christ thou which didst most powerfullie overcome Satan Let the cooler of thy heavenlie comfort raise vp those whose bones are become dry with the fire of griefe and sorrow Beare vp all those that are readie to fall and raise vp those that are alreadie fallen Bee mercifull vnto those that are sicke and diseased and grant that the disease of the bodie may bee vnto them the medicine of the soule and the adversities of the flesh the remedies of the spirit Let them know that diseases are the handmaydes of sinne and the forerunners of death Giue vnto them the strength of fayth and patience O thou which art the most true Physician both of soule and bodie Restore them againe vnto their former health if it bee for the everlasting salvation of their soules Protect all those that are great with childe and those that bee in labour Thou art he that doest deliver children out of the straytes of their mothers wombe doest propagate mankinde by thy blessing be present with those that bee in labour O thou lover and giver of lyfe that they be not oppressed with an immoderate weyght of sorrows Nowrish those that are orphanes and destitute of all helpe and succour Defende the widows that are subject to the reproaches of all men thou which hast called thy selfe the Father of the fatherlesse and the Iudge and defender of the widows Let the teares of the widows which flow downe from their cheekes breake through the clowds and rest not vntill they come before thy throne Heare those that bee in danger by sea which cry to thee and sende vp their sighes vnto thee seeing before their eyes their neighbours suffer shipwracke Restore libertie vnto those that are captiue that with a thankfull heart they may sing of thy bountie Confirme those that suffer persecution
rashlie vpon my neighbour Thy holie will requireth that my spirit minde soule be free from coÌ„cupiscence But how often doth my flesh solicite mee to sinne and contaminateth my spirit with wicked concupiscences As a fountayne doeth abound with continuall bubbling of water So doeth my heart alwayes swell with evill concupiscence For these and all other my sinnes and defects I offer vnto thee most holie Father the most perfect obedience of thy Sonne who loved all men with perfect loue and in whose mouth was found no guyle in whose words and deeds no aberrations no corruption in nature To this propitiation I flee with true fayth and by fayth I sucke out of his wounds as much as is sufficient to justifie mee and saue mee Haue mercie on mee my GOD and my Father Amen PRAYER VI. Hee showeth that wee often partake in other mens sinnes HOlie God and just Iudge Thou hast committed vnto mee not only the care of mine own soule but also the care of my neighbours But how often doeth my neyghbour through my negligence suffer great losse of godlinesse How often doe I neglect freelie and boldlie to chyde him when hee sinneth How often doe I being hindred eyther by favour or feare reproue him for his sinnes more slightlie than I ought In pouring out prayers for his salvation I am too remisse in reprehending his sinnes I am too-too timerous in furthering his salvation I am too sloathfull insomuch that thou mayest justly require at my hands the blood of my neyghbour that perisheth If there were in mee a perfect and sincere loue of my neyghbour surelie from thence would proceed freedome in reproving of sinne If the fire of sincere charitie did burne in my heart surelie it would breake foorth more clearlie into the spirituall incense of prayers to be made for the salvation of my neyghbours For a man to pray for himselfe it is a duetie of necessitie But to pray for the salvation of his neyghbour it is a deede of charitie As often therefore as I neglect to pray for the salvation of my neyghbour so often I condemne my selfe for the breach of the commandement of the loue of my neighbour My neighbour dieth the death of the bodie and sorrow filleth all with lamentation and mourning when as yet the death of the bodie bringeth no hurt to a godlie man but rather giveth him a passage into a celestiall countrey My neighbour dieth the death of the soule and behold I am nothing troubled at it I see him die and grieue not at all when as yet sinne is the true death of the soule and bringeth with it the losse of the inestimable grace of God eternall lyfe My neighbour delinquisheth against the king who can onlie kill the bodie and beholde I seeke by all meanes his reconciliation but hoe sinneth against the King of all kings that can cast both bodie and soule into hell-fire and yet I beholde it in securitie and consider not that this offence is an infinite evill My neighbour stumbleth at a stone and I runne presentlie to saue him from a fall or otherwise to raise him vp if hee bee fallen Hee stumbleth at the corner stone of our salvation and beholde I securelie passe by it and labour not with care and diligence to lift him vp againe Mine owne sinnes are grievous anough And yet I haue not beene afrayde to participate in other mens sinnes Bee propitious O God vnto me great sinner and overburdened To thy mercie I flee in Christ and through Christ promised vnto mee I come vnto this lyfe beeing dead in sinne I come vnto this Way having gone astray in the path of sinne I come vnto this Salvation being by reason of my sinne guiltie of damnation Quicken mee guide mee and saue mee thou which art my Life my Way and my Salvation for ever and ever Amen PRAYER VII Hee showeth that wee are manie wayes convinced of sinne HOlie God and just Iudge If I looke vp to heaven I thinke with my selfe that I haue manie wayes offended thee my GOD and Father I haue sinned against heaven and before thee I am not worthie to bee called thy sonne If I looke down vpon the earth I thinke with my selfe how I haue abused thy creatures by my sinnes I haue infinitelie abused not onlie the darknesse of the night but also the light of the day to worke workes of darknesse If I looke vpon the examples of sinners vpon whom thou in thy just judgement hast inflicted punishment I finde that the weyght of my sinnes will counterpoise theirs If I looke vpon the examples of the Sayncts I finde that I come farre short of them in my holie service of thee If I thinke vpon the Angell my keeper I finde that often I put him to flight by my sinnes If I thinke of the devills I finde that I haue often given place to their suggestions If I weygh with my selfe the rigour of thy lawe I finde that my lyfe is manie wayes irregular If I looke vpon my selfe I finde that the verie cogitatioÌ„s of my heart doe accuse mee before thy judgement If I thinke vpon the houre of death to come I finde that it is the just reward of my sinnes and vnlesse thou of thy meere mercie for Christ his sake shalt receaue mee the gate and entrance into everlasting death If I thinke vpon the judgement to come I finde my deserts such that thou mayest justlie call mee to the most exact account and punish my sinnes according to the strict severitie of thy law If I thinke vpon hell I finde that I haue deserved by my sinnes the most just punishment there If I thinke vpon eternall lyfe I finde that I haue by my sinnes justlie fallen away from all hope of attaynment All thinges therefore convince mee of my sinnes Onlie thou thou O my God bee not thou extreame against mee To Christ thy beloved Sonne my onlie mediatour I betake my selfe By him I most firmlie belieue I shall obtayne thy grace remission of my sinnes Thy creatures accuse me the booke of my conscience accuseth mee both the tables of thy divyne law accuse me Satan accuseth mee day and night But take thou vpon thee my patronage O sweet Iesus To thee the poore man is left bereft of all solace of the creatures All my refuge is placed in thy satisfaction for my sinnes and in thy inteâ—cession at the right hand of the Father for mee My soule take thou the wings of the morning and lyke a doue hide thy selfe in the clests of the rocke that is in the wounds of Christ thy Saviour Hyde thy selfe in this rocke till the anger of the LORD bee passed by and thou shalt finde rest and thou shalt finde protection and thou shalt finde deliverance therein AMEN PRAYER VIII Hee by the effects of contrition argueth vs to bee convicted of the haynousnesse of sinne HOlie God and just Iudge My heart is
contrite and humbled my spirit is heavie and in a great straite by reason of the burden of my sinnes where with I am oppressed The cowrage of my heart hath failed and the sharpnesse of my eyes is decayed My heart is pressed and from thence gush out teares My spirit is oppressed and I forget to take my bread My heart is wounded and from thence gusheth out blood and a fountayne of teares Who knoweth how of thee offendeth Who knoweth the sorrow of the heart that is in a great straite by reason of offences My soule is dry and broken in pieces and thirsteth after the fountayne of lyfe O Christ feede mee with the dew of thy Spirit of grace My heart that is in a great straite sigheth vnto thee O thou true joye giue vnto mee peace and quietnesse of heart that beeing justified by sayth I may haue peace with God My heart condemnâ—â—h mee But doe thou absolue me who art greater thaÌ„ my heart My conscience accuseth mee But doe thou absolue me who hast fastned to the crosse the hand-writing of my coÌ„science I offer vnto thee ô my God my contrite humbled heart for a most acceptable sacrifice I offer vnto thee my sighs as the messengers of true serious coÌ„trition I offer vnto thee my teares as abundant witnesses of my vnfeigned griefe In my selfe I despare In thee is my trust In my selfe I faint In thee I am refreshed In my selfe I feele straitnesse In thee againe I finde enlargment I am troubled and burdened overmuch Thou shalt refresh mee and giue rest vnto my soule One deepe calleth vpon another The deepe of my miserie calleth vpon the deepe of thy mercie Out of the deeps doe I cry vnto thee Cast thou my sinnes into the deepe of the sea There is no soundnesse in my flesh by reason of thy anger neyther is there anie rest to my bones by reason of my sinnes For mine iniquities are gone â—ver my head and become too heavie for mee Cure my soule thou heavenlie Physician that I bee not swallowed vp of eternall death Take the burden of my sinnes from mee thou that hast taken it vpon thy selfe on the crosse that I despare not vnder the intollerable burden thereof Haue mercie on mee thou fountaine of grace and mercie Amen PRAYER IX Hee declareth the number and greatnesse of Gods benefits vnto vs and the grievousnesse of our sinnes HOlie God and just Iudge By how much the more benefites thou hast bestowed vpon mee by so much the more I grieue that I haue so often displeased thee so loving a Father As manie gifts as thou hast heaped vpon mee so manie bonds of loue hast thou sent over vnto mee Thou wouldest haue bound mee vnto thy selfe But I haue forgotten thee and thy beneficiencie and linked sinne vnto sinne Father I haue sinned against heaven and before thee I am not worthie to bee called thy sinne make mee as one of thy hired servants I am altogether displeased with my selfe Make thou mee altogether to please thee Thy large bountie and wonderfull patience haue often invited mee to repentance But hitherto I haue beene backward to come Thou hast often called mee O most Bountifull GOD by the preaching of thy word by the teaching of thy creatures by the punishment of the crosse and by inward inspiration But I haue stopped the eares of my heart altogether at thy call All the faculties of my soule all the members of my body are thy gifts I ought therefore with all the powers of my soule and parts of my bodie be readie to doe thee all holie service which is due vnto thee But I haue made them the more is my griefe the weapons of iniquitie and vnrighteousnesse The breath which I fetch is thine the aire which I sucke in is thine the suÌ„ne whose light I see daylie is thyne All these ought to haue beene vnto mee as furtherances and instruments to sanctitie of lyfe But I haue abused them the more is my griefe to the slaverie of sinne Thy creatures I should haue vsed to the glorie of thee the Creatour But I haue wickedlie abused them to thy dishonour In the light of the sunne I should haue put on the armour of light But therein haue I committed the works of darknesse How much soever is added vnto my lyfe commeth all from thy bountie Therefore my whole life ought to be employed in thy service on whom it doeth whollie depende And yet I haue scarce bestowed the least part therof in thy service As manie good inspirations as I haue felt within mee so manie hand-maydes of thy grace hast thou sent as ambassadours to invite mee most lovinglie to returne vnto thee by true repentance But alace how often haue I stubbornlie refused to giue them audience But yet receaue him who now at length returneth vnto thee with sighing a contrite heart Sprinkle mee with the blood of thy Sonne that so being purged from all the pollutions of the flesh and the spirit I may become whiter than snow and with all thy elect prayse thee in the heavenlie Ierusalem world without ende AMEN PRAYER X. Hee considereth the severitie of GODS anger agaynst our sinnes in the death and passion of CHRIST HOlie God and just Iudge I beholde thy Sonne hanging vpon the crosse and pouring foorth plentifull rivers of blood â— behold him and behold for verie terrour I â—aint altogether My â—innes are those yron nayls with which I haue boared his hands and his feete My sinnes are those pricking thornes with which his most sacred head which is to bee reverâ—â—ed of the Angelicall powers was crowned My sinnes are those stinging thoÌ„gs with which his most pure bodie the proper temple of Divinitie was scourged A cruell wilde beast hath torne in pieces the heavenlie Ioseph and embrued his coat with his blood I miserable sinner am that wicked beast for my sinnes did make an assault and rush vpon thy most beloved Sonne If thy most obedient Sonne is so vexed troubled for other mens sinnes What cause hath the vndutifull and disobedient servant to feare in regard of his owne sinnes The wounds of my soule must needs bee great indeede and mortall when as thy onelie begotten Sonne is so miserablie smitten for to cure them The disease of my soule must needs bee great indeed and mortall when as the heavenlie Physician and lyfe it selfe doeth die vpon the crosse to cure it I see the torment of his most holie soule I heare the miserable exclamation of my most holie Saviour vpon the crosse For mee it is hee is so vexed it is for my sinnes that hee complaineth that hee is forsaken of GOD. If the weyght of other mens sinnes doeth so exceedinglie presse the Almightie Sonne of God that it wringeth from him a bloodie sweat How intollerable shall the anger of God bee and how vnmeasurable shall bee his wrath agaynst the vnprofitable servant O
thou drye and vnhappie wood that hast alwayes served as a slaue the everlasting fire of hell What must thou feare when thou seest these things come to passe in the greene wood Christ is the greene tree In the roote of his divinitie in the loue of his humanitie in the boughes of his vertues in the leaueâ— of his holie wordes and in the fruit of his good works Hee is the cedar of chastitie the vine of joyfulnesse the palme of patience and the oliue of mercie But if the fire of the divyne anger inflameth this greene tree of lyfe How much more shall it consume the sinner lyke drye wood for his vnfruitfull workes In what capitall and bloodie letters are my sins ingraven in the bodie of Christ How conspicuous O thou most just GOD is thyne anger agaynst myne iniquities How straite must that captivitie needes bee in which my soule was held when so precious a ransome was payd for her delyverie How great must the staynes of my sinnes needs bee when rivers of blood flow downe from the bodie of Christ to wash them away O thou most just God and yet most mercifull Father consider what indignities thy Sonne hath suffered for me and forget the wicked works of me thy vnworthie servant Behold the proâ—unditie of his wounds and overwhelme my sinnes in the profound sea of thy mercie Amen THE SECOND PART Of thanksgiving for Benefits THE ARGUMENT The Meditation of Gods benefits doeth gather out of the garden of nature and of the Church sundrie those most fragrant 〈◊〉 of divine gifts and recreating it selfe with the odour thereof offereth againe to God the sâ—crifices of the lips for a savour of sweet smell Now the immense and innumerable benefits of God may be divided according to three articles of our Christian faith God hath created rédeemed and sanctified vs. Hee heapeth his benefits on vs in this life and hath promised greater vnto vs in the life that is everlasting Hee conferreth vpon vs the gift of the minde of the bodie and of fortune which wee caâ—â— externall goods He preserveth vs from evil and conserveth vs in good That which is pâ—â—t he covereth that which is to come hee governeth His privatiue blessings are more than his positiue In brieâ—e woe can neyther in word expresse nor in thoughâ— conceaue the number and dignitie of Gods benefits which will afford vnto vs hereafter in the world to come most plentifull matter of eternall praise and thanksgiving PRAYER I. Hee giveth thanks for our forming in the wombe and for our nativitie ALmightie eternal GOD Father Sonne and holie Ghost I giue thankes to thee I prayse thee I glorifie thee because thy hands haue fashioned mee and made mee whollie round about Thou formedst mee lyke clay in my mothers wombe Thou didst draw me lyke milke Thou didst curdlâ— mee lyke cheese With flesh and skinne hast thou covered mee and compacted mee together with bones and sinews Thou hast given mee lyfe and mercie and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit This thy great mercie bestowed vpon mee I will celebrate with perpetuall prayses Thy goodnesse I will sing of in continuall songs Thou didst protect mee in my mothers wombe I will confesse vnto thee For I am wonderfullie formed Marvelous are thy workes and that my soule knoweth right well My bones are not had from thee which thâ—n didst make in secret and deckedst me with divers members in the lower parts of the earth Thy eyes saw mee yet beeing imperfect and in thy booke were all my members written which day by day were fashioned when as yet there were none of them How precious vnto meâ— are thy thoughts O GOD How great iâ— the summe of them If I goe about to reckon them I finde them multiplied aboue the sands of the sea Thou didst show thy mercie vnto mee before I vnderstood it Thou didst prevent me with thy blessings before I did desire them Thy bountie did embrace mee on everie side before I could giue thankes for it Thou art hee who not onlie didst forme mee wonderfullie in the wombe but also didst take me out Thou art my hope even from my mothers breast Out of my mothers wombe I was cast vpon thee Thou art my GOD from my mothers wombe As often as I thinke vpon manie that haue beene extinct and never came to the light of this lyfe so often I admire and prayse thee for thy mercie which brought mee out of that prison into the theatre of this world safe and sound How manie yeares are past in which I was not and yet thou didst erect for mee this house of my bodie and didst bring mee out of that bottomlesse pit and the darknesse of my mothers wombe Thou gavest vnto mee a reasonable soule Thou madest mee a man not a stone or a serpent To thee O my God for this thy mercie bee honour and glorie for ever AMEN PRAYER II. Hee rendereth thankes for our sustentation I Render thanks vnto thee Almightie and mercifull God for that thou hast sustained me from the very first dayes of my life Naked I came into this world and thou coveredst mee most graciouslie Hungrie I entred into this world and thou hast hitherto fed me most bountifully In thee I liue moue haue my being Without thee I fall agayne into nothing and die Through thee I â—owe and moue my members Without thee I can neyther be partaker of life or motion Thyne is the sunne that giveth me light which I see daylie with mine eyes Thyne is the aire which I draw in with continuall breath The night is thine and the day is thine whose entercourses serue for my labour and rest Thyne is the earth whose fruits do nowrish mee most plentifullie Everie creature in heaven ayre earth and sea is thine and is appoynted for my vse and service Silver is thyne and gold is thyne Whatsoever is necessarie for the sustentation of this my present lyfe all that I receaue from thy most liberall and bountifull hands O GOD how liberall art thou to man-kinde All thinges thou createdst long agoe for the vse of man All thinges thou doest as yet preserue for the good of man Whatsoever thou of thyne infinite goodnesse affordest to the other creatures thou affordest also vnto me for as much as thou doest wonderfullie forme furnish and conserue them for my sake Some of the creatures serue to obey mee some to nowrish me some to cloathe me some to cure mee some to chastice mee But all of them to teach and informe mee Who can reckon vp those divers kindes of nutriments which thou hast created and doest as yet produce out of the earth vnto this day to nowrish vs Who can enumerate those divers species of herbs which thou doest everie yeare cause the earth to bring foorth to cure vs Who can in wordes comprehende those sundrie kindes of living creatures which were made for mans vse and
of thy Sonnes crosse was greater Our sinnes presse vs downe vnto hell But thy mercie in Christ Iesus rayseth vs vp By Satan wee are accused But by Iesus Christ wee are defended By the law wee are convicted But by Iesus Christ wee are justified By our owne conscience wee are condemned But by Iesus Christ wee are absolued In vs there is nothing but sinne death and damnation In him there is treasured vp for vs righteousnesse lyfe and salvation Wee are poore Hee is our riches Wee are naked Hee is our covering Wee are exposed to thy furie persuing vs Hee is the buckler of our defence and our refuge Hee is the rocke of our salvation in him doe we trust His wounds are the clefts of the rocke Giue vs we beseech thee the wings of a Doue that by faith wee may hide our selues in the clefts of this rocke that thyne anger waxe not hote against vs to consume vs Let not thy justice triumph in our confusion but let thy mercie rejoyce in our salvation Pardon the sinfull course of our lyfe past and guyde vs by thy holie Spirit for the tyme to come Amende what is amisse increase all gifts and graces which thou hast alreadie given and giue vnto vs what thou best knowest to bee wanting Bee gracious and favourable to thy whole Church especially to that part thereof which thou hast committed vnto the protection of thy servant our Soveraigne King CHARLES Grant that he may see it flowrishing in peace and prosperitie in the profession and practice of thy Gospell all the dayes of his lyfe and after this lyfe ended crowne him wee beseech thee with a crowne of immortall glorie Let not the sceptre of this kingdome depart from his house neyther let there bee wanting a man of his Race to sit vpon his throne so long as the sunne and moone endureth Of this thou hast giuen vs a pledge alreadie in blessing the fruit of the Queens wombe Let the Queene still bee lyke a fruitfull vyne And let the Prince grow vp lyke a plant in thyne house Let thy mercie bee extended to the Ladie Elizabeth our Kings onelie sister and her princelie issue How long Lord just and true how long shall their enemies prevaile and say There there so would wee haue it It is tyme for thee to lay to thyne hand for they haue laide waste their dwelling place Aryse O Lord and let their enemies bee scattered and let them that hate them flee before them Carrie them backe agayne into their owne countrey if it may bee for thy glorie and their good make them glad with the joy of thy countenance and let them rejoyce vnder their owne vynes Wee returne home agayne and beseech thee to bee gracious and mercifull to the Kings Councell the Nobilitie the Magistracie the Ministerie the Gentrie and the Commonalitie Giue vnto those whom thou hast vseâ— as instruments for our good rewardes temporall and eternall Forgiue those that be our enemies and turne their hearts Forget not those that groane vnder the crosse Cloath the naked feed the hungrie visite the sicke deliver the captiues defend the fatherlesse and widows relieue the oppressed confirme and strengthen those that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake cure those that are brokeÌ„ in heart speake peace vnto their consciences that are tormented with the sense of their sinnes suffer them not to bee swallowed vp in despare Stand by those that are readie to depart out of this lyfe When their eyes shall bee darkned in the agonie of doath kindle in their hearts the light of saving fayth when their eares shall bee stopt let thy Spirit speake vnto them inwardlie and comfort them and when the house of their earthlie tabernacle shall bee dissolved them Lord receaue their souls As we haue made bold to make our prayers and supplications vnto thee for our selues and others So also wee render vnto thee all possible praise and thanksgiving for all thy benefits bestowed vpon our selues and others Wee thanke thee in speciall for our election creation redemption vocation justification for all the blessed means of our sanctification and for the assured hope of our future glorification Wee thanke thee for our health mayntenance and libertie for preserving vs ever since wee were borne for blessing vs in all that wee haue put our handes vnto this day Let thy mercie still bee continued vnto vs wee beseech thee Let the eye of thy providence which never slumbreth nor sleepeth watch over vs and let the hand of thy power protect and defende vs Cover vs this night vnder the shadow of thy wings that no evill happen vnto vs. Grant that our bodies may bee refreshed this night with such moderate rest that wee may bee the fitter for the workes of our vocation and thy service the next morning Heare vs we beseech thee for Iesus Christ his sake our Lord and onlie Saviour in whose name and words wee call vpon thee further praying Our Father c. FINIS Psal. 51. 5 〈◊〉 24 4 Rom. 7 23 Titus â— 5 Matt. 15 19 Psal. 143. 2 Psal. 51. 1 Psal. 42. â— Isai 9. 6 1 Cor. 1. 30 Psal. 90. 8 Psal. 25. 7 â—et 31 34 Geâ— 6 5 Proâ— 24 1â— Psal. 29 12 Phil. 2. 8 Luke â— 42 Prov. 24 16 Matt. 26. 〈◊〉 Rom. 7. 1â— Isai. 6â— 6 Pâ—â—â— â—30 3 Psal. 143. 3 Iob. â— 3 Exod. 20 1 Rom. 7. â— Iohn 4. 23 Iohn 6. 5â— Isai 53. 9 Exod 20. 1â— Matt. 5 28 Isai 53 9 1 Pet 2 22 Rom 3. 28 1 Tim 2 1â— Ezek. 3 21 Matt. 10. 28 Psal. 118 22 Luke 15 1â— 19 19 Rom. 6 23 Cant. 2. 14 Psal. 18 〈◊〉 Psal. 4â— â— Rom. 5. 1 â—Iohn 3 20 Col. 2 14 Psal. 51. 17 Matt 〈◊〉 28 Psal. â—30 â— Psal. 230 1 Mic. 7 19 Psal. 38. 3 Luke 15 19 Rom. 2 4 Rom. 13. 〈◊〉 2 Cor 7. â— Psal. 5â— 7 Gen. 〈◊〉 33 Isai 53. â—5 Matt. 27. 46 Iob 10 8 9 10 11 12 Psal 1â—9 13 14 15 〈◊〉 17 18 Matt. 5. 44 Hag. 2. â— Colos 1 14 Luke 15. 8 Gal. 4 4 Prov. 8 3â— Gal. 4 4 Isai 7. 14 Heb. 2 16 1 Tim 3. 16 Isai â— 6 Ephes 5. 3â— Matt. 22. 2 Isai 49 16 Matt. â—7 46 Ephes 5. 8 Luke 1. 79 Psal 36 11 Iohn 1 9. Matt 5. 15 Isai 52 â— Nah 1. 15 Rom. 10. 15 Rom. 11. 25 Psal 119 105 â—â—ai â—5 â— Revel 3 20 Revel â— 5 Wisd 11. 1â— Rom. â— 4 Bernard in his 2 Serm. of the seaveÌ„ loâ—us Graâ—at in the 2 book of the life of Chr. cap 2 Ierm 13 23. Ierm 31. 〈◊〉 Ephes 2 â— Isai 53. â— Gâ—anat out of Augâ—â—â—ines Medications Iohn 6. 37 Luke 15. 13 Iohn 1. â—8 Câ—â—â— â— â— Ephes 6 25 Luke â—5 23 Rom. 5 21 Isai 65 â— Isai 38 〈◊〉 Reve 6. 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 2. 20 22 2 Pet 2. 21 22 2 Cor 12. 9 Psal. 94. 10 Matt. 4. 4 Matt 7. 7 Matt. â—8 19 â— Iohn 1. 7 Psal 51. 7 Hosâ—â— 2. 19 Ephes 1. 14 Matt. 3 16 Iohn 6. 54 50 Hilar. in his 8 book of the Trinitie pag. 141 Luke 23 46 Psal 32. â— Mic. 7. 19 1 Sam 25 2â— Psal 36. 9 Psal. 80. 15 â—sai 5. 2 Ephes 4 11 1 Pet 4. 11 Actes 20. 28 Iohn â—1 15 Bern. 2 Serm of the resurection Col â—34 Heb. 13. 17 Gregor â— book of pastoral Câ—â—e cap. 6 Matt. 9. last Actes 1â— 14 Iohn 〈◊〉 48 Heb. 4 2 Isai 55. 〈◊〉 1 Cor 3 7 Matt. â—3 4 Luke 8 14 13 â— Tim 5. 5 Heb. 13 4 Tobiâ— 3. 8 Gen. 2. 20 Ephes 5. 32 Ephes 6. 4 Ephes 6. 5 Matt 10 42 1 Cor 9. 11 Matt. 5. 44 Iames 4 14 Rom. 12 18 Ephes 4 4 Ephe 4 5 Actes â— 5 1 Tim 4. 10 1 Tim 2 â— Pâ—al 145 14 Psal. 68. 5 Matt. 5 10 Matt. 16. 2â—