that wept and saide I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeliefe Yea that little be it neuer so litle is thy meere gift also The which as thou begun so most mercifull Lord increase the same more and more to the peace and comfort of our conscience and the glorie of thy name through Iesus Christ. Amen A thankesgiuing to God for his great benefites HOnour and praise be giuen to thee O Lorde God almightie most deare father of heauen for all thy mercies and louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs in that it hath pleased thy gratious goodnesse freely and of thine owne accorde to elect and choose vs to saluation afore the beginning of the world and euen like continuall thankes be giuen vnto thee for creating vs after thine owne image for redeeming vs with the precious bloud of thy deare Sonne when we were vtterly lost for sanctifying vs with thy holie spirite in the reuelation and knowledge of thy sacred word for helping and succouring vs in al our neede and necessitie for sauing vs from all dangers both of bodie and soule for comforting vs so fatherly in al our troubles and afflictions for sparing vs so long and giuing vs so large a time of repentance These benefites O most mercifull father like as we do acknowledge that we haue receiued of thy onely goodnesse euen so we beseech thee for thy deare sonne Iesus Christes sake to graunt vs alwayes thy holie spirite whereby we may continually growe in thankefulnesse towardes thee be led in all trueth and comforted in all aduersitie Strengthen our faith O Lorde kindle it more and more in feruentnesse and loue towardes thee and our neighbours for thy sake Suffer vs not most deare father to receiue thy word any more in vaine but graunt vs alwaies the assistance of thy grace and holy spirite that in heart word and deede we may sanctifie and doe worship to thy holy name that we may helpe to amplifie and increase thy kingdome and that what so euer thou sendest we may be heartily wel content with thy good will and pleasure Suffer vs not to lack the thing O father without the which we can not serue thee but blesse thou so all the workes of our hands that we may haue sufficient and not to be chargeable but rather helpefull vnto other Be mercifull O Lorde vnto our offences and seeing our debt is great which thou hast forgiuen vs in Iesus Christ make vs to loue thee and our neighbors so much the more Be thou O father our captaine and defender in all temptations holde thou vs by thy mercifull hande that we thereby may be deliuered from all inconueniences and end our liues in the sanctifying and honouring of thy name through Iesus Christ our lord Amen A praier for true mortification O God my creator preseruer and euerlasting defender where first in my creation I was made like vnto thine owne likenesse the diuell alas hath since by Adams fal made me ougly monstrous and like euill fauoured to him selfe For what are nowe Lord mine earthly members but as thine Apostle writeth adulterie whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturall lustes euill concupiscence couetousnesse which is the worshipping of Idols and such other for the which thy wrath is wont to come vpon the children of vnbeliefe Neuerthelesse Lorde of thy great mercy and goodnesse against this so great a mischiefe a much greater remedie thy fatherly prouidence hath ordained for thou hast sent Iesus Christ thy deare only natural Sonne into this worlde the vale of miseries to loose the workes of the diuell and to take away my sinnes Therefore sathan hath nowe nothing to brag of for through Christ all that beleeue in thee and so become thy children do ouercome the world the flesh and the diuell And this is the victorie which ouercommeth thē all euen our faith That faith I meane which is persuaded that who so euer beleeueth in Christ shall not perish but haue euerlasting life That faith which beleeueth the testimonie to be true which thou God the father doest testifie of thy sonne so making thee no liar and this is the testimonie that thou hast giuen vs eternall life That faith which beleeueth that thou father who raisedst vp Christ from death shalt also quicken our mortall bodies through thy holie spirite dwelling in vs That faith which beleeueth it to be true which thy Sonne Christe affirmed with a double oth verily verily I say vnto you he that beleeueth in me the workes that I doe the same shall he doe and greater woorkes then these shall he doe bicause I goe to my father And finally that faith which beleeueth that nowe Christe hath bene lift vp on the crosse he shal draw al things vnto him This faith I say is the victorie which ouercommeth our enimies the diuell the world and our flesh Thou therfore deare father which hast promised to giue what so euer I shal aske in thy deare sonne Iesus name for thy great mercie and infallible truthes sake doe nowe in me the thing that he came for lose in me the workes of the diuel take away my sinnes I beseech thee make stedfast my faith and confidence in thy promised mercies and mercifull promises so that I assuredly beleeuing in thee may haue as thou promisest euerlasting life making thee deare God no liar may beleeue feele and knowe in my heart and conscience that the same euerlasting life is thy meere and free gift vnto me yea alreadie of thy great goodnesse vndoutedly giuen me being nowe translated from death to life Of a thankfulnesse wherof Lord cause me nowe daily to mortifie my earthly members yea deare father sith thy spirit which raised vp Christ from death dwelleth within me doe thou who raisedst Christ frō death quicken my mortall bodie through thy spirite so dwelling in me I beseech thee yea Lord Iesu according to thy promise bicause thou art now gone to thy father make me worke this wonderfull great worke that thou spakest of I meane make me being of my selfe but a lumpe of sinne and a monster most ougly as the vices whereon the members of my earthly bodie are aboue declared to be cōpact doe proue make me I say yet through thy grace to hate abhorre flee and subdue all adulterie whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturall lustes euill concupiscence vnordinate desires wantonnesse tendernesse delicatenesse idlenesse dronkennesse gluttonie slothfulnesse distrust despaire ignorance weakenesse wilfulnesse idolatrie superstition hypocrisie heresie error sects ▪ variance strife wrath enuie slaunders lying swearing cursing vainglorie pride couetousnesse theft deceit flatterie and what so euer else O Lorde fighteth or rebelleth against thy holy spirite and then O Father I will boast make vaunt against myne enimie the diuell that I haue done greater workes then thy deare sonne Iesus did at what time hee spake these wordes among the Iewes because albeit he vanquished Sathan yet in as much as hee
feeding our bodies with this corporall foode do render vnto thee most heartie thanks for the same beseeching thee likewise to feede our soules with that heauenly foode which perisheth not but abideth into euerlasting life so that we being nourished by thy goodnes both in bodye and soule may be apt and readie to do all good works which thou hast prepared for vs to walke in through Iesus Christ our Lord. Vnto him that loued vs and wasshed vs from our sinnes in his bloud and made vs kinges and Priestes vnto God his father be all glorie power dominion for euermore Amen An other THe God of glorie who hath created redeemed and presently fed vs be blessed for euermore AmeÌ„ The God of all power who hath called from death the great pastour of the sheepe our Lorde Iesus comfort and defend the flocke which hee hath redeemed by the bloud of the eternall testament increase the number of true preachers represse the rage of obstinate tyrants lighten the heartes of the ignorant releeue the paines of such as be afflicted but specially of those that suffer for the testimonie of the trueth and finally confound Sathan by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ. So be it PRAYERS COMMONly called Lidleys prayers with certaine godly additions Before thou prayest forgiue if thou hast any thing against any man come not to GOD with a double heart but lift vp pure handes without wrath or doubting 1. Tim. 2. ALmightie and moste mercifull father I thy poore creature and worke of thy handes acknowledg and confesse vnto thee my manifoulde sinnes and offences which I froÌ„ my youth vp vnto this day haue committed against thee in thought word and deede beseeching thee for Iesus Christ thy deare sons sake to haue mercie vpon me and to pardon the same according to thy great mercie which hast promised that At what time so euer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart thou wil put al his wickednesse out of thy remembrance O Lord I confesse that I was borne in sinne and conceiued in wickednesse and am by nature a Childe of wrath For in my fleshe dwelleth no good thing and of my selfe I am not able to thinke a good thought much lesse to do that thou in thy law requirest of me saying Cursed is he that continueth not in all thinges that are written in the law to do them Againe Thy law is spiritual but I am carnall fold vnder sinne Therfore O Lord I come vnto thee for grace which hast said Aske ye shal haue seeke ye shal find knock it shal be opened you to preuent draw my wil vnto all goodnes for none can come vnto thee except he be drawen and except we be borne from aboue we cannot see the kingdome of God. Therefore O Lorde renewe in mee a right spirit that I may receiue strength and ablenes to do thy righteous will. Graunt that I may euer desire will that which is most pleasing and acceptable to thy will. Thy will be my will and my wil be alwayes to followe thy will. Let there be euer in mee one will and one desire with thee and let mee neuer desire to will or not to will but as thou wilt Graunt me that aboue all thinges I may rest in thee and fully quiet and pacifie my heart in thee for thou Lord art the true peace of the heart and the perfect rest of the soule Thou knowest Lord what is most profitable expedient for mee wherfore doe with mee in all things as it shall seeme best vnto thee For it may not bee but well that thou dost which doest moste iustly blessedly dispose all thinges after thy most godly wisedome Therefore whether it be by prosperitie or aduersitie losse or gaine sickenesse or health life or death thy will be done Cast out of my heart all vnprofitable cares of worldly thinges and suffer mee not to be led with the vnstable desires of earthly vanities but giue me grace that all worldly and carnall affections may be mortified die in me Graunt vnto mee the strength of thy holy spirite to subdue this body of sinne with the whole lustes thereof that it may bee obedient both in will minde and members to doe thy holy will. Assist me with thy grace O Lord that I may be strengthened in the inwarde man and be armed with thy holy armour whiche is the brest-place of righteousnes the shielde of of faith the hope of saluation for an helmet and the sworde of the spirite which is thy holy word that I may stand perfect in all that is thy will and bee found worthie through Christ to receiue the crowne of life which thou hast promised to all them that loue thee Giue me grace that I may esteme all thinges in this world as they be transitory soone vanishing away and my self also with them drawing towardes mine ende For nothinge vnder the sunne maye longe abide but all is vanitie and affliction of spirite Oh Lorde God which art sweetenes vnspeakeable turne into bitternes vnto me al transitorie and earthly delightes which may drawe mee from the loue of eternall thinges and for all worldly comfortes giue me the sweete comfort of thy holy spirite for thou Lorde art my ioye my hope my crowne and my glorie Blessed are they that for the loue of thee set not by the pleasures of this world but crucifie the flesh and the lustes therof so that in a cleane pure conscience they may offer their prayers vnto thee and be accepted to haue companie with thee together with thy Angels heauenly spirits O euerlasting light sende downe the beames of thy brightnes lighten the inward partes of my hearte Open my hearte that I may beholde thy lawes and teache mee to walke in thy commandementes Beholde my weakenes O Lord and consider my frailenesse best knowen vnto thee Faine would I cleaâ—e fast to heauenly thinges but worldly affections and tentations plucke mee back they daily rebell and suffer not my soule to liue in rest Which although they drawe mee not away to consent yet neuerthelesse their assaults be verie grieuous vnto me Oh what a life may this be called where no trouble nor miserie lacketh where euery place is full of snares of mortall enemies For one trouble or tentation ouerpassed an other commeth by and by and the first conflict yet during a newe battell sodenly ariseth Tedious it is to me to liue in such battel but I perceiue such conflictes are not vnprofitable for me whilest I know my selfe and mine infirmities the better and am thereby compelled to seeke helpe at thy hand It is good for mee O Lord that thou hast thus exercised and humbled me that I may learne to dread thy secrete and terrible iudgements which scourgest euery childe that thou receiuest which bringest down to the gates of hel and bringest backe againe I yeeld thee thanks therefore that thou hast not
thy heauenly wisedome inspire my hart with faith hope and charitie giue me grace to bee humble in prosperitie patiente in aduersitie obedient to my rulers in all my doinges faithfull dealing truely with all men to liue chastly in wedlock to abhorre adulterie fornication and all vncleanes to doe good after my power vnto all men to hurt no man that thy name may be glorified in mee during this present life and that I afterwarde may atteine euerlasting life through thy mercie and the merites of thy death and passion Amen A prayer for grace and remission of sinnes O Lorde God mercifull father I poore wretched sinner come vnto thee in the name of thy dearly beloued son Christ Iesus my sauiour beseeching thee for his sake to be mercifull vnto me and to cast all my sinnes out of thy sight euen through the merites of his bloodie death Poure vpon me O Lord thy holy spirite of grace and wisedome to gouerne and leade my bodie and soule in thy holy worde and commaundementes Shewe thy mercy vpon me and so lighten the naturall blindenesse and darkenesse of my hart through thy grace that I may dayly be renewed by thy holy spirite Open my hard hart and grosse eares to heare and reade thy worde and heauenly voyce and to beleeue and followe it in my conuersation and euer to hold fast that blessed hope of euerlasting life Mortifie and kill all vice in me that my life may expresse my faith in thee Mercifully heare the humble supplication of thy seruaunt and graunt mee thy peace all my dayes Gratiously pardon my infirmities and defende me in all dangers both outwardly in my bodie goodes and name and inwardly in my soule against all euill tentations and subtile baits of sathan that roaring lyon seeking whome he may deuour Graunt O Lord that I and euerie member of thy Church in his vocation and calling may truly and godly serue thee Grafte in my heart the loue of thy name increase in me true religion replenishe me with all goodnesse and of thy great mercy keepe me in the same vnto the end Giue vnto me the spirite of praier true humilitie perfect patience and continuall ioye in the holy ghost I commend vnto thy protection O Father my house and all that thou hast giuen me my whole familie my wife and children ayde me that I may well holily gouerne nourish and bring them vp in thy feare and seruice And forasmuch as in this worlde I must alwayes be at warre not with one sort of enimies but with an infinite number not onely with fleshe and blood but with the diuell which is the prince of darknes grant me thy grace that being armed with thy defence I may stand in this battell with an inuincible constancie against al corruption which I am incompassed with on all sides vntill such time as I hauing ended the cōbate which during this life I must susteine in the end I may atteine to thy heauenly rest which is prepared for me through Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A prayer taken out of the first Psalme ALmightie and moste gratious God take away from vs al euil counsel and then our sinnes suffer vs not to runne into an vngodly and wicked life and finally keepe our mindes farre from the contempt of godlynesse and scorning of vertue and in the steade of these euills graunt that we may continually bee occupied in thy law and sacred scriptures that we be not caried about like the wicked as light duste and fruitelesse chaffe with euerie blast of affection and doctrine but rather that wee as trees planted by the water brookes indewed with the life of thy spirite and faith may also bring foorth the fruites of good workes and that what so euer we take in hande may prosper and tend to the praise and glorie of thy name and furtherance of our saluation and at the last when the wicked shall fall away in thy iudgement ▪ we may stand stedfast and be made perfect through Iesus Christ our lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmighty God we are sufficiently taught that greeuous calamities and miserable plagues doe therefore dayly vexe and trouble thy Church because we haue not ceased to followe the counsel of the vngodly which being once knowne we ought to haue eschewed The way also of the wicked we haue not shunned yea we haue not ceased to walke their race by continual transgressing of thy commaundementes we haue also of long time contemned all godly correction and discipline and whatsoeuer hath beene taught vs out of thy word hath bin too little regarded ▪ yea without all shame neglected and scorned Wherefore it is no maruell if we in the steede of that happinesse and quiet peace which we alas haue too long abused be nowe compelled to suffer all heauie greeuous and most bitter plagues But now O God in humblenes of heart we flee vnto thee confessing our greeuous offences and we most humblie and hartilie beseech thee that those euils which we so foolishly and wretchedly haue committed thou wilte mercifully forgiue vs and frame our minds wholy to the obedience of thy lawe in such wise that our heartes may be occupied both day and night in nothing else but in the meditation of thy holy scriptures for so shall we giuing credite to thy wordes bringe foorth seasonable and pleasant fruite and shall not be spoyled of the graces of the Holy Ghost yea our doinges shal neuer be without happy successe Nowe we are tossed hither thither not vnlike to leaues and chaffe with the wind of aduersitie and affliction yet grant O most mercifull father that our life perish not with the wicked but that the cause of the iust may bee defended by thy singular prouidence and protection so that in iudgement and in the companie of the iust we may be able to stand and not to be confounded through Iesus Christ our lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmightie God for as much as we haue nowe learned that a great part of our felicitie so long as we liue here consisteth in this that we refraine from vngodly counsell and wicked manners and also auoyd the company of those that despise and deride all good thinges and that in the stead of these euils we giue our selues to the heauenly study of thy holy lawe to be occupied and exercised therein both daye and night whereby wee doe perceiue that wee haue verie much erred and strayed from this way of our saluation yea we haue in these thinges most wickedly offended therefore wee beseech thee euen for thy mercies sake that thou wilt pardon our offences and that hencefoorth by the continual studie and exercise of thy word thou wilt vouchsafe to make vs fruitfull plantes that we may not onely bring forth wholsome fruits in thy Church whiles we liue here but also may be able in the other worlde to stande in iudgemente before thee who best knowest the way of the iust through Iesus Christ our
with the loue therof that I may carefully couet them and at the last by thy gratious conducting may happily attaine them through Iesus Christ our Lorde I distrusting altogether mine owne weakenesse commend and offer my selfe both soul and body into thy handes Thy louing spirite lead me foorth into the land of righteousnes Psal. 143. Cogitations meete to begin the day withall Thinke first that man consisteth of soule and body and that the soule is from heauen heauenly firme and immortall but the bodie is from the earth earthly fraile and mortal Againe thinke that though by reason of sinne wherein you are conceiued and borne the partes of the soule which doe vnderstande and desire be so corrupt that without speciall grace to both partes you can neither knowe nor loue any good thing in Gods sight much lesse then doe that is good yet this notwithstanding thinke that you are regenerate by CHRISTES resurrection which your Baptisme requireth you to beleeue and therefore haue both those partes something reformed both to knowe and to loue and therefore to do also some good in the sight of God through Christe for whose sake our poore doings are accepted for good the euill and infirmitie cleauing thervnto not beeing imputed through faith Thinke that by faith which is Gods seede for they which beleeue are borne of God and made Gods children giuen to those that be ordained to eternall life thinke I say that by faith you receiue more and more the spirite of sanctification through the vse of Gods word and sacramentes and earnest prayer to illuminate your mindes vnderstanding iudgement and reason and to bowe forme frame and inflame your affections with loue and power to doe that which is good and therefore vse you the meanes aforesaid accordingly Thinke that by this spirite you are through faith coupled to Christe as a liuely member and so to God and as it were made one with him and by loue which springeth out of this faith you are made one also with all that be of God and so you haue felowship with God and all good men that euer were or shall be in all the good that God and all his Saintes haue or shall haue Thinke that as by faith and loue through the spirite of God you are nowe entred into this communion the blessednesse whereof no tongue can expresse so after this life you shal first in soule and in the last day in bodie also enioy for euer the same societie most perfectly which nowe is but begunne in you Thinke then of your negligence that doe so little care for this your happie estate Thinke vpon your ingratitude to God for making you redeeming you calling you and so louingly adopting you Think vpon your folly in fantasing so much earthly bodily pleasures Thinke vpon your deafnesse and blindnesse which heare not God not see him he calling you so diligently by his workes word and sacraments Thinke vpō your frowardnes which will not be led of God and his spirit Thinke vpon your forgetfulnes in consideration of your heauenly estate how your body is the temple of the holy Ghost your members are the members of Christ the whole world and all things therein are your owne Therefore say vnto your soule O my soul arise follow God contemne this world purpose wel and pursue it long for the Lords comming be readie and watch that he come not vpon thee vnwares And for so much as you must liue to Gods pleasure see the vocation and state of your life wherevnto God hath called you and pray to God for grace knowledge and abilitie to take the most profitable thinges in hand well to begin better to goe on and best of all to end the same to Gods glorie and to the profit of your brethren and thinke that time lost wherein you speake not or doe not or at the least thinke not some thing to Gods glorie and the commoditie of your brethren When you go foorth of the doores pray NOwe must I walke among the snares of death stretched out of sathan and of his mischieuous ministers in the world carying with me a friende to them both and a foe to my selfe euen this body of sinne and sinnefull flesh Oh graund captaine Christ lead me and guide me I beseech thee Defend me from the plagues subtilties whereof I am in danger Graunt that I may take all things that happen as I should doe and setting mine eyes vpon thee onely I may so goe on forward in thy wayes as by nothing I be hindred but rather furthered so that all my doings may tend to thy glorie Shewe me thy wayes O Lord and teach me thy pathes Psal. 25. Occasions to Meditate Consider howe vainely the most part of men are occupied how many wayes they trouble and cumber themselues thereby much alienating their mindes from the knowledge and cogitation of that which they should most esteeme and so become a lette and an offence to others As in going abroad you will see that your apparell be seemely in the sight of men so see howe seemely you appeare in the sight of God. When you are going any iourney pray THis our life is a pilgrimage From the Lord we came and to the Lord we make our iourney howbeit through dangerous and perillous wayes which our cruell enimies haue and do prepare for vs being nowe more then starke blinde by reason of sinne O Christ which art a most true loades-man and guide and also most expert faithfull and friendly put thou out thine hande open mine eyes make thy high way knowne vnto me which thou diddest first enter into out of this corruptible life and hast prepared the same for vs to immortalitie Thou art the way leade vs vnto the father by thy selfe that all we may be one with him as thou and he together be one Shewe me the way that I should walke in for I lift vp my soule vnto thee Psal. 124. Or pray thus MErcifull father thou art wont to send to thy seruaunts men of simple hearts thine Angels to be their keepers as it were guides as elder brethren to watch vpon thy weake children So diddest thou to young Tobias to Iacob to Abrahams seruant to Iosua c. O gratious God though we be much vnlike vnto them so many are our sinnes yet for thine owne goodnesse sake send thine holie Angels to pitch their tents about vs to hide vs and defend vs from Sathan his slaues to carrie vs in their handes that we come not into further daunger then thou wilt deliuer vs out of for thine owne sake His Angels are ministers for them that are heires of saluation Heb. 1. Sathan sleepeth not but seeketh alwayes to destroy vs. 1. Pet. 5. Occasions to Meditate Thinke something howe wee are straungers from our countrie from our home from our original I meane from god Againe thinke vpon our madnesse that doe linger and loyter so gladly in this our iourney and pilgrimage Also
of c. O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the sonne haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost c. O holy blessed and glorious Trinitie three persons and one God haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sinnes spare vs good Lord spare thy people whome thou hast redeemed with thy most precious bloode and be not angrie with vs for euer Spare vs good Lord. From all euil and mischeefe from sinne from the craftes and assaultes of the Diuelâ— from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From blindenesse of heart from pride vaine glorie hypocrisie from enuie hatred and malice and all vncharitablenes Good Lord deliuer vs. From all fornication and al other deadly sin and from al the deceits of the world the flesh and the Diuel Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightning and tempest from plague pestilence famine froÌ„ battel and murther and from souden death Good Lord deliuer vs. From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnes of hart conteÌ„pt of thy word coÌ„maundement Good Lord deliuer vs. By the mysterie of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuitie and circumcision by thy baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agonie and bloody sweat by thy crosse and passion â–ª by thy glorious resurrection and ascension and by the comming of the holy ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In all time of of our tribulation in all time of our welth in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. We sinners do beseech 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 besech thee to hear vs good Lord. That it may please thee to keepe strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnes and holynes of life thy seruant Elizabeth our most gratious queene and gouernour We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please the to rule her heart in thy faith feare and loue and that she may euermore haue affiance in thee and euer seeke thy honour and glorie We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to be her defender and keeper giuing her the victorie ouer all her enimies We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops Pastours and ministers of the Church with true knowledg and vnderstanding of thy word and that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it forth and shew it accordingly We beseech thee to heare c. That it may please thee to indue the Lordes of the counsel and all the nobilitie with grace wisedome and vnderstanding We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute iustice and to mainteine trueth 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 giue to all nations vnitie peace and concord Wee beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue vs an heart to loue and dread thee and diligently to liue after thy coÌ„maundementes We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue all thy people increase of grace to heare meekely thy worde and to receiue it with pure affection to bring foorth the fruites of the spirite We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to bring into the way of trueth all such as haue erred and are deceiued We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand and to comfort and helpe the weake harted and to raise them vp 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 danger necessitie and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by lande or by water all women labouring of child all sicke persons and young children and to shewe 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 fatherlesse children and widowes and all that be desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to haue mercie vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to forgiue our enimies persecuters and slanderers and to turne their heartes We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindely fruites of the earth so as in due time we may inioy them Wee beseech thee to heare vs c â–ª That it may please thee to giue vs true repentanâ—e to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to indue vs with thy holy spirit to amend our liues according to thy holy worde We beseech thee to heare vs c. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God wee beseech thee c. O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Graunt vs thy peace O Lamb of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Haue mercie vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Our father which art in heauen c. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euill Amen The versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The answere Neither rewarde vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God mercifull father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite hart nor the desires of such as be sorrowfull mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles aduersities when soeuer they oppresse vs and gratiously heare vs that those euils which the craft and subtiltie of the diuell or man worketh againste vs bee brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that we thy 〈◊〉 being hurt by no persecution 〈◊〉 euermore giue thankes vnto thee in thy holie Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs â–ª and deliuer vs for thy names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble workes that thou didest in their dayes and in the olde time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thine honour Glorie be to the
God rule in your heartes VVhen ye shall stande and pray saith S. Marke forgiue if ye haue any thing against any maÌ„ that your father also vvhich is in heauen may forgiue you your trespasses for if ye vvill not forgiue your father vvhich is heauen vvill not pardon you your trespasses Moreouer we must haue such a feâ—ling of our owne miserie and wretchednesse as may worke in vs an earnest sorrowe and vexation of mind for the same Example whereof we may see in the deare seruauntes of God when they say that out of the deepe deepenesse and out of the middes of the iawes of death they vtter vnto the Lorde a sorrowfull voyce He that desireth mercie must haue a feeling of his owne miserie And therefore saith Dauid Heale my soule O lord for I haue sinned against thee There is no health in my flesh saith he because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne Thiâ— anguish and sorrowe stirreth vp in Gods children a feruent desire to obtaine comfort helpe and succour at Gods hand and therefore such as feele themselues oppressed with great calamities hauing by the helpe of man no hope of deliueraunce doe crye vnto God with afflicted heartes as Dauid did in his distresse â–ª My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God. And as the Hart being vvounded brayeth for the riuers of vvater so panteth mâ— soule after thee O God. This is that godly sorrowe which S. Paul saith worketh in Gods children repentance to saluation The Lord is nigh to them saith Dauid that are of a conâ—rue heart vvill saue all such as are afflicted in spirite To him vvill I looke euen vnto him saith the Lord that is afflicted and broken hearted and trembleth at my vvordes Therefore Dauid calleth the time of trouble the fit and conuenient time for the faithfull to fly vnto God by prayer And albeit they bee not at all times in like distresse or continually groaning vnder the burdeÌ„ of present euils yet must thei needs be euer in dread of new daungers and carefully afraide of further troubles to followe As trouble and feare therefore are the verie spurs to stir them vp to heartie and feruent prayer so by occasion thereof they haue more free accesse vnto God as though he did thereby call them vnto him This godly sorrowe for sinne and feruent desire and longing for Gods louing mercie and fauour commeth not of our selues â–ª but of the speciall goodnesse of God for we are of our selues dull without all lust to pray yea so great is our imperfection that wee know not how to pray as we ought and therefore the spirite helpeth our infirmitie instructeth vs what is right and guideth our affections He maketh intercession for the Saints saith S. Paul according to the vvill of God and that vvith sighes and groninges vvhich cannot be expressed that is he stirâ—eth vp our heartes giueth vs a desire and bouldnesse to pray and causeth vs to mourne when wee are by any meanes hindered from it and feele not our selues moued therevnto with such feruent zeale affection as we shoulde be Now although we knowe that it is the onely worke of the holy Ghost thus to moue and incline our hearts to prayer notwithstanding we may not be negligent slothfull to dispose and stirre vp our selues therevnto but rather contrariewise so often as we feele our selues colde and not disposed to prayer as we ought to be we must make our supplication vnto the Lorde that it woulde please him to inflame vs with his holy spirit whereby wee maye be framed to pray with such feruencie of minde as we ought to doe When we are cast downe by the sense and feeling of our owne infirmitie sinne and miserie Yet must we pray notwithstanding in sure and stedfast hope to obteine our requestes â–ª These be thinges indeed contrarie in shew to ioyne with the feeling of the iuste vengeance of God sure affiance of fauour which things do yet very well agree in that it is the goodnesse of God onely that raiseth vs vp being oppressed with our owne euils from the which of our selues wee cannot rise For as repentance and faith are knit as coÌ„panionâ— together albeit the one driueth vs downe with feare and the other lifteth vs vp againe with comforte so in praying they must needes goe together And this agreement Dauid expresseth in few wordes I vvill saith he in the multitude of thy mercies enter into thy house and in the temple of thy holiâ—es I vvill vvorâ—hippe thee vvith feare Therefore when we are once touched with true repentance and feeling of our own miserie wee must withall haue such a persuasion of Gods fauour and mercie towardes vs in all our prayers that they shall be accepted of God so farre foorth as it shall be necessarie for vs This is the assurance saith S. Iohn that vve haue in God that if vve aske any thing according to his vvill hee heareth vs. Jf we haue not a sure trust and confidence in the mercie and promises of God it is vnpossible to make our prayer to him aright and whosoeuer doubteth whether God heareth his prayer that man obteineth nothing for to such prayers God hath made no promise But contrariewise he saith VVhat sâ—eye shall aske in prayeer if ye beleeue ye shall receiue it And againe vvhatsoeuer ye desire beleeue that ye shall obteine it and it shall be done vnto you Aske saith Saint Iames in faith and vvauer not for hee that vvauereth is like to the vvaues of the sea vvhich are tossed of the vvinde and caried avvay And why shoulde wee wauer or doubt seeing the holy scriptures testifie of God that hee is faithfull iust and true in all his wordes and promises saying The Lord is faithfull in all his vvords he vvill euer be mindefull of his couenaunt the trâ—the of the Lorde indureth for euer And although our faith be not so strong and therefore our prayer so hearty and zelous as it ought to be yea though our faith be faint and colde yet let vs hold fast this principle that our prayers are not frustrate or in vaine For our comfort herein we haue an example in the father which brought his son first to the Apostles afterwarde to Christ and saide If thou canst Lorde helpe and yet afterwardes he acknowledged the weakenes of his faith â–ª desired to be made strong I beleeue Lorde saith he helpe mine vnbeleefe Howe often doe the children of God complaine of this imperfection and imbecillitie of faith Such as are exercised in true prayer doe feele that in crauing of God the forgiuenesse of their sinnes they bring scarcely the tenth part of that sacrifice which Dauid speaketh of where he saith An acceptable sacrifice to God is a troubled spirite a broken and an humble heart O God thou vvilt not despise Many times they are driuen to wrastle with their
is merry let him sing that is let him praise God. Moreouer the benefites and blessings of God are large and plentifull towards vs which way so euer we turne vs that we can neuer want matter and occasion of prayse and thankesgiuing And seeing wee ought to acknowledge God to be the authour and giuer of all good thinges â–ª we should alway receiue the same at his hand with thankesgiuing â–ª for to that end God continually bestoweth his good blessings and benefites vpon vs that we should continually shewe foorth his prayse and be thankfull vnto him for the same and so we render vâ—â—o him his due honour And S. Paul when he saith that they are sanctified by the worde and prayer signifieth that to vs they are not holy and cleane without the word and prayer and therefore Dauid saith when he had felt the liberalitie of the Lorde that there was put into his mouth a newe song â–ª that is a newe occasion of prayse and thankesgiuing Wherby he signifieth that it is a wicked silence if we passe ouer any of Gods benefites without praise â–ª seing that as ofâ—eÌ„ as he doth good vnto vs so often he giueth vs occasion to speake good of hâ—m We shoulde therefore continually that is as much as is possible at all times in all places and in all thinges as occasions are continually offered vnto vs lift vp our prayer vnto God in crauing helpe at his hand and confessing his praise whereby we may both obteine of him all good thingâ— also praise magnifie his name for all How this perseuerance in prayer is required of vs Christ himselfe teacheth vs by the parable of the three loaues and of the widowe and wicked Iudge wherebie wee are taught to continue in prayer with all earnestnesse and feruent supplication and neuer to faint or giue ouer vntill we be assured in our spirit that our prayer is heard The prayer of the humble saith the sonne of Sirach goeth through the cloudes it ceaseth not vntill it come neere and it vvill not departe vntill the most high God haue respect therevnto Beholde saith Dauid as the eyes of the seruants looke vnto the hande of their maisters and as the eyes of a maiden vnto the hande of her mistresse so our eyes vvaite vppon the Lord our God vntill he haue mercie vppon vs. And thus must we not cease to doe vntill we may boldly say also with Dauid The Lord hath hearde the voâ—ce of my vveeping the Lorde hath hearde my humble petition the Lord hath receiued my prayer Nowe concerning the forme and manner of praying leaste wee shoulde followe our owne fantasie being of our selues so blinde that we knowe not how to pray or what is meete and expedient for vs the Lord himselfe hath sufficiently instructed vs Who as he hath taught vs throughout the whole scripture how and for what thinges wee ought to pray so hath hee set foorth one manner of prayer in the which hee hath briefly comprehended all such thinges as wee ought yea or in any wise may aske of god Wherein hee hath expressed what is due pleasing and acceptable to him what is necessarie for vs and what hee will graunt so that there is nothing herein omitted that might be thought vppon to the prayse and glory of GOD or come into the minde of man for his profit and commoditie And this is that prayer that our Lorde Iesus Christ taught his Disciples when they asked of him how they should pray Whosoeuer therefore shal aske any thing that is not contained in this prayer they presume to adde some thing of their owne to the wisedome of God they are not obedient to his will and they pray without faith hauing no worde of God to warrante them and therefore they shall obtaine nothing This praier saith Tertullian is the doctrine of the wisedome of God wherein hee hath taught whatsoeuer hee willed willed whatsoeuer was needefull Albeit we are not so bound to this forme of prayer that we should not vse any other kinde of words then the Lorde himselfe herein hath vsed For there are elsewhere set forth in the scriptures many prayers farre differing from this in wordes and yet written by the same spirite and verie profitable to be vsed of vs And many prayers also are continually vttered of the faythfull by the same spirite which varie from the same in wordes But this is required of vs that none should looke for seeke or aske any other thing at all then that which is brieflie comprehended in this prayeâ— and which though it differ in wordes yet differeth not in sense and substance like as it is certaine that all the prayers which are founde in the scriptures and which do continually proceede froÌ„ the harts of the faithfull are referred by the direction of Gods spirite vnto this prayer howsoeuer they differ in the varietie of words Many good and godly men euen in our dayes well exercised in prayer haue left vnto vs most worthie examples and testimonies hereof furnished with ample and large matter to forme holy and true prayer and full of power to inflame the hearte to a feruent inuocation of Gods holy name whereof we haue giuen here some taste vnto the godly and especially to the simple not yet well exercised ¶ Reade them meditate and pray and ye shall finde comfort in your soules A Meditation concerning Prayer THE MINDE OF man hath so large roomthe to receiue good thinges that nothing in deed can fully fill it but only God whome then the minde fully possesseth when it fully knoweth him fully loueth him and in all thinges is framed after his will. They therefore deare Lorde God that are thy children and haue tasted somewhat of thy goodnesse doe perpetually sigh that is doe pray vntill they come thereto and in that they loue thee also aboue all thinges it wonderfully woundeth them that other men doe not so that is loue thee and seeke for thee with them Whereof it commeth to passe that they are inflamed with continuall prayers and desires that thy kingdome might come euery where and thy goodnesse might be both knowen and in life expressed of euery man. And bicause there are innumerable many things which as well in them selues as in others be against thy glorie they are kindled with continuall prayer and desire sighing vnspeakably in thy sight for the increase of thy spirit And sometimes when they see thy glorie more put backe then it was wont to be either in them selues or in any other then are they much more disquieted and vexed But bicause they knowe that thou doest rule all thinges after thy good will and that none other can helpe them in their need they oftentimes do goe aside all businesse laide apart and giue them selues to godly cogitations talke with thee complayning to thee as to their father of those thinges that grieue them begging thereto and that most earnestly thy helpe not onely for them selues but
permanent thinges and lesse mindfull of transitorie things By reason hereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lament bicause I am so earthly minded so litle desirous of my home so vnthankefull for thy prouidence and fatherly protection here on earth To reioyce bicause of my home and the great glorie thereof bicause thou doest so prouide for me here bicause thou doest so correct and chasten me c. But alas I am altogether a wretch earthly and vnthankfull not onely for these corporall benefites health riches friends fame wisedome c. for thy fatherly correction sicknesse temptation c. but also for thy heauenly benefites for Christ Iesus for the promise of thy spirite for thy Gospell c. yea euen for heauen it self and thy whole glorie as the Israelites were for the land of Canaan and therefore neuer enioyed it but perished in the wildernesse I am proud in prosperitie and forget thee waxing secure and carelesse I am impatient in the crosse and too much consider worldly discommodities Oh deare father forgiue me for thy Christes sake all mine vnthankfulnesse loue of this world contempt and obliuion of thy heauenly benefites and graunt me thy holy spirite to illuminate the eyes of my minde with the light and liuely knowledge of thy presence power wisedome goodnesse in thy creatures but specially in Christe Iesus thy sonne so by the same spirite inflame myne affections that I may desire nothing in earth but thee and to be present with thee that my conuersation may be in heauen continually from whence graunt me still to looke for the Lorde Iesus to make this my vile bodie like vnto his owne glorious and immortall bodie according to his owne power by which he is able to doe all things As thou hast giuen me to be thy childe so I pray thee giue me these things whiche be the properties of thy children giuen from thee in thy good time Hallowed be thy name THy name is that whereby thou art knowne for names serue to discerne know one thing from an other Nowe though thou art knowne by thy creatures yet in this our corrupt state they serue but to make vs excuselesse Therefore most properly liuely and comfortably thou art knowne by thy holy worde especially by thy promise of grace and freely pardoning and receiuing vs into thy fauour for Christ Iesus sake For the which goodnesse in Christe thou art praysed and magnified according to thy name that is so much as men knowe thee in Christe they magnifie thee praise thee which here thou callest hallowing or sanctifying Not that thou art the more holy in respect of thy selfe but in respect of men who the more they knowe thee the more they cannot but sanctifie thee that is thei cannot but as in them selues by true faith loue feare spirituall seruice honour thee so also in their outward behauiour and wordes they can not but liue in such sort as other seeing them may in and by their holinesse and godly conuersation be occasioned as to knowe thee so to sanctifie thy name accordingly and therefore thou settest foorth here vnto me what is the chiefe principall wish and desire of thy children and people namely that thou in Christe mightest be truely knowne and honoured both of them selues and of other inwardly and outwardly as by the contrarie a man may easily perceiue that the greatest sorrowe and griefe thy people haue is ignorance of thee false seruice or religion and wicked conuersation Against the which they pray and labour diligently after their vocations as they for the obtaining of the other both to other and to them selues doe take no small paine in prayer studie and godly exercise By reason hereof I see that I am farre from this desire and lamentation which is in thy children I see mine ignoraunce of the true knowledge of thee and thy name for else it had not needed thee so by thy word to haue reuealed thy selfe I see also mine owne ignorance of the excellencie of the same for else wouldest thou not haue tolde me that the sanctfying of thy name is the chiefest thing thou requirest of euery man. Againe I see my great want of holinesse for else thou needest not to teach me to seeke and pray for that I want not Moreouer I see my great peruersitie which would not seeke at thy handes for sanctification although I see my neede thereof For the which thou wouldest not haue commaunded me to pray if I seeing my want would haue prayed vnto thee for the same Last of all I see thy wonderfull goodnesse which wilt vndoubtedly giue vnto me sanctification and holinesse for thou wouldest not that I should aske for that thing that thou wilt not giue me So that I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament bicause I am so farre from this desire and lamentation which thy children haue Also bicause of my ignorance pouertie peruersitie vnthankfulnes c. but most of all bicause thy holie name word and religion is so blasphemed both in doctrine in liuing of many especially in this realme To reioyce I haue great cause for thy exceeding goodnesse and mercie which wouldest so disclose thy selfe by thy workes word and Gospell which wouldest open these things thus vnto me and also giue vnto me and others sanctification in thy sight by faith and in the sight of men by purenesse of life and godly conuersation But alas I do heartily neither the one nor the other that is lament or reioyce as thou father whiche searchest my heart doest right well knowe Oh be merciful vnto me and forgiue me yea giue me of thine owne pitie thy holie spirite to reueale and open to my minde effectually my miserable estate and condition my ignorance peruersitie my carelesnesse for thy true honour and dishonour in such sort that I may heartily lament these euils and haue thē pardoned taken from me through Iesus Christ our Lord. Againe good Father giue me the same thy holie spirite to reueale to me thy name worde and Gospell that I may liuely know thee vnfainedly loue thee heartily obey thee and aboue all thinges desire and labour by all meanes lawfull that all godlinesse in doctrine and conuersation may be exercised both in me and in all others for whom thou wouldest I should pray Here thinke vpon the state of religiō and the life of the professors of the Gospell that thou maiest lament some pray for some and giue thankes for some Let thy kingdome come THY kingdome is in two sortes to be considered vniuersally and particularly Uniuersally according to thy power wherewith thou gouernest all things euery where in earth heauen hell diuels Angels men beastes foules fishes and all other creatures Of this kingdome spake Dauid when he said This kingdome ruleth ouer all Particularly thy kingdome is to be considered according to thy grace wherewith thou reignest
and for euer that we be neuer further proued tempted then thou wilt make vs able to beare and so to helpe vs in the same as may be most to thy glorie and our saluation thorough Iesus Christe our Lorde Amen An Euening prayer O Lorde God father euerlasting and full of pitie we acknowledge and confesse that we be not worthie to lift vp our eyes to heauen much lesse to present our selues before thy diuine Maiestie with confidence that thou wilt heare our prayers and graunt our requestes if we consider our owne wretched deseruings For our consciences do accuse vs our sinnes witnes against vs we knowe that thou art an vpright Iudge which doest not iustifie the sinners and wicked men but punishest the faultes of such as transgresse thy commaundementes Yet most mercifull father since it hath pleased thee to commaund vs to call vpon thee in all our troubles and aduersities promising euen then to helpe vs when we feele our selues as it were swallowed vp of death desperation we vtterly renounce all worldly confidence and trust flee to thy souereigne goodnesse as our only stay and refuge beseeching thee not to call to remembrance our manifold sinnes and wickednesse whereby we continually prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligence nor our vnkindenesse which haue neither worthilie esteemed nor in our liues sufficiently expressed the sweete comfort of thy holie Gospel reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience death of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who by offering vp his bodie in sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompence for all our sinnes Haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lorde and forgiue vs our offences Teach vs by thy holy spirit that we may rightly way them and earnestly repent vs for the same and so much the rather O Lord our God because that the reprobate and such as thou hast forsaken can not praise thee nor call vpon thy name but the repenting heart the sorrowful mind the conscience oppressed hungering and thirsting for thy grace shall euer more set foorth thy praise and glorie And albeit we be but wormes dust yet thou art our creatour and we be the worke of thy handes yea thou art our father and we thy children thou art our shepheard and we thy flock thou art our redeemer and we thy people whome thou hast dearely bought thou art our God and we are thine inheritance Correct vs not therefore in thine anger O Lord our God neither according to our desertes doe thou punishe vs but mercifully chastice vs with a fatherly affection that all the worlde may knowe that at what time so euer a sinner doeth repente him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart thou wilt put away all his wickednes out of thy remembrance as thou hast promised by thy holie Prophet Finally forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to rest in as thou hast ordeyned him the day to trauell graunt O deare father that we may so take our bodily rest that our soules may continually watche for the time that our Lord Iesus Christe shall apeare for our full deliuerance out of this mortal life and in the meane season that we be not ouercome by any fantasies dreames or other temptations but may fully set our mindes vppon thee loue thee feare thee and rest in thee in such sort that our verie sleepe also may be to the glorie of thy holy name Furthermore that our sleepe bee not excessiue or ouer much after the insatiable desire of the flesh but onely sufficient to content our weake nature that we may the better be disposed to liue in all godly conuersation to the glorie of thy holie name and profite of our brethren through Iesus Christe our Lorde in whose name we make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs. Our father which c. Almightie and euerliuing God vouchsafe we beseech thee to graunt vs perfect continuance in thy liuely faith augmenting and increasing the same in vs daily vntill we growe to the full measure of our perfection in Christe whereof we make our confession saying I beleeue in God the father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lorde turne his fauourable countenance towardes vs and graunt vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God and the communion of the holie Ghost be with vs and remaine with vs for euer So be it 2. Cor. 13. An other Euening prayer MOst mercifull God and tender Father which besides thine inestimable mercies declared and giuen vnto vs in the making of the world for our sakes in redeeming of vs by the death of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christe in the calling of vs to the knowledge of thy blessed worde in keeping of vs hitherto in thy holie Church and in thy most gratious gouerning of vs and all things hitherto for our singular wealth and commoditie hast also most fatherly cared for vs and kept vs this day from all daungers both of soule and body giuing vs health food apparell and all other thinges necessary for the comfort and succour of this poore and miserable life which many other do want for these and all other thy good gifts and gratious benefites which thou of thine owne goodnesse only and fatherly prouidence hast hitherto powred vppon vs and doest presently powre vppon vs and many other wee most humbly thanke thee and praise thy holy name beseeching thee that as all things are now hidden by meanes of the darkenes which thou hast sent ouer the earth so thou wouldest vouchsafe to hide and burie all our sinnes which this day or at any time heretofore wee haue committed against thy holy commaundementes and as nowe wee purpose to lay our bodies to rest so graunt the garde of thy good Angels to keepe the same this night for euermore and when soeuer our last sleepe of death shall come graunt that it may be in thee good father so that our bodies may rest both temporally and eternally to thy glorie and our ioye through Iesus Christ our Lorde So be it An other Euening praier O Eternall God and most mercifull father who this day and al the time of our life hast gratiously defended nourished and preserued our soules and bodyes and made such fatherly prouision for vs poore sinners the of thy louing kindnesse we haue rich portions not only in the creatures of heauen and earth but also in that plentiful redemption which thy most deare sonne Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs graunt vnto vs O merciful father the assistance of thy grace and holie spirite that as our bodies shall nowe take their naturall rest euen so our soules and mindes at the beholding of thy goodnesse towardes vs may quiet themselues in thee and conceiue such inward
is no manner of weeping teares infirmitie hunger colde sickenesse enuie malice nor sinne but alwayes ioy without sorow mirth without measure pleasure without paine heauenly harmonie most pleasant melodie saying and singing Holie holie holie Lord God of hoastes c. Finally the eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man that they shall then inherite and moste surely enioy although here they be tormented prisoned solicited of Satan tempted of the flesh and intangled with the world wherethrough they are inforced to cry Thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesu c. Howe amiable are thy tabernacles Like as the Hart desireth the water brookes c. Nowe let thy seruant depart in peace I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ. We mourne in our selues wayting for the deliueraunce of our bodyes c. Oh gratious Lorde when shall I finde such mercie with thee that I may repent beleeue hope looke for these things with the full fruition of those heauenly ioyes which thou hast prepared for all them that feare thee and so rest with thee for euermore I.B. A meditation of the life euerlasting the place where it is and the incomparable ioyes thereof THat there is an euerlasting life none will denie but such as wil denie god For if he be true and 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 Mat. 25. 1. Cor. 15. Heb. 4.11.13 1. Pet. 1. it plainely appeareth elsewhere in very many places So that to deny an euerlasting life is to denie God to denie Christ and all that euer he did also to denie all pietie and religion to condemne of foolishnesse all good men Martyres Confessors Euangelistes Prophets Patriarches Finally the denial of eternall life is nothing else but a deniall of the immortalitie of the soule and so a plaine making of man nothing better then beastes If it be so let vs then eate and drinke for to morrowe we shall die Lord preserue vs from this Saduceall and Epicuriall impietie and graunt vs for thy mercies sake deare God that we may be assuredly persuaded that there is in deede an eternall life and blisse with thee for them that put their trust in thee amongest whome accompt mee for thy mercies sake Againe this eternal life and the place apointed for them that bee thy seruantes all men do graunt to bee with thee Albeit they do not thinke that because thou art euerie where therfore eternal life is euery where For they by thy worde do knowe that in as much as no man canne see thee and liue this eternall life and thy blessed presence is most pleasant and had in fruition after in an other world wherevnto by corporall death they doe depart and are translated to a place aboue them where thou dwel lest in a light whervnto no man can approch Abrahams bosom they read was aboue as the place for the wicked was alowe and beneath Helias was caught vp into heauen and thy deare Sonne our Sauiour prayed the where he is those also might be which thou haddest giuen him and might see his glorie Nowe he deare father we learne by thy spirite was ascended taken vp in his very body into heauen whither Stephan looked vp saw thy Christ standing on thy right hande to whome he prayed O Lord Iesu receiue my spirite Graunt I beseech thee gratious God and father that I may haue a cleane heart more and more to see thee and so in spirite to see and looke often vpon this place whither bring me at the length in bodie also I humblie pray thee Nowe what a thing this euerlasting life is no man is able to conceiue much lesse able to vtter For the peace of God which is eternal life passeth al vnderstanding The eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither can mans heart conceiue those thinges which thou deare God hast prepared for them that loue thee What so euer therefore can be spoken or imagined of thy kingdome of the clearenesse ioy and felicitie of the same is nothing in comparison as we may see by thy prophetes which bicause they could not otherwise vnder corporall thinges haue shaddowed the same So that the confidence of eternall life what a thing it is can in no wise be tolde Howbeit somwhat wee may be brought into some sight of it by earthly thinges to thinke on this sort If God haue giuen here so many things in a strange place how many are the great good things that be at home if in prison are so many mercies how many are they in the Palace If the wicked haue so many benefites what is the store prepared for thy seruantes Oh Lord If thy children finde such cōforts in the day of tears mourning what shall they find in the day of the marriage If with beastes men beeing haue the vse of innumerable blessinges Oh how many are the blessinges which they shall enioye with thy Angels and with thy selfe O deare God when they shall see thee and haue the fruition of thee in whō is fulnes without lothing of all good and faire things so that nothing can be more desired that for euermore This thy chidren do not so see as they now beleeue it I say that euen in their bodies they shall see it for euer as Iob saide They beleeue that they shall see thee and their owne eyes beholde thee when these our corporall eyes our bodies being raised shall do their duties Such a knowledge of thee they beleeue to haue as shall not be only intellectuall and by faith as now it is but euen a full sight and fruition yea a coniunction and fellowship with thee Now they see but as in a glasse euen in a darke speaking but then they shall see thee face to face For faith though it be the substance of things hoped for and a certaine darke sight of thee yet it may not be compared to the reward of faith and glorious sight which we shall see in the life to come when faith and hope shall cease Nowe thy children knowe that they be thy sonnes though it yet appeare not what they shall be We know say thei that when our Christ God and man shal appeare then shal we be like vnto him for we shall see him euen as he is Oh great prerogatiue to see Christ as he is which is not to be considered so much for the manhood as for the godhead it selfe as Paule doth also write that when all things are subiect vnto the Sonne then shal he be subiect vnto thee deare father also that God may be al in al. And therfore Christ our Sauiour prayed for vs that we might knowe thee the onely true God Not that our Christ thy Sonne is not with thee the true coequall
and substantiall God but that we might knowe how that after the iudgement such a mysterie of his mediatourship shall not be in heauen as is now in earth Then thou blessed Trinitie God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost shalt be al in al thou shalt be the end of our desires thou shalt be looked vpon without end thou shalt be loued without lothing thou shalt be praised without wearinesse Although lothsomenesse be wont to followe fulnesse yet our fulnesse in the contemplation of thy pleasures shal bring with it no kinde at all of lothsomenesse Satietie of ioyes shal be in the beholding of thee Pleasures are on thy right hande for euer We shall bee satisfied when we arise after thine image I meane in the resurrection O deare father shewe thy selfe vnto vs and we aske no more Oh graunt vs with thy saintes in euerlasting life to praise with perpetual prayses thy holy name Happie then and happie againe were wee if that day were come that we might singe with thy Angels elders and innumerable thousands a new songe and say Thou Christ Iesu which wast slaine art worthy to receiue power riches and wisedome and strength honor and glorie and blessing In this blessed life all kinde of maladies griefes sorrows and euils be far away and all full of all kinde of mirth ioy and pleasure Oh that we might see now a little with saint Iohn that holy citie newe Ierusalem descending from heauen prepared of God as a bride trimmed for her husband Oh that we might now somthing heare the great voyce speaking out of the throne Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwel with them and they shall be his people and hee shall bee vnto them their GOD he will wipe away all teares from their eyes and death sha be no more nor weeping nor crying nor sorrowe for the former thinges are gone I. B. An other meditation of the blessed state and felicitie of the life to come THis body is but a prison wherein the soule is kept and that verily not beautilfull nor bright but most foule and darke disquiet fraile filled vp with much vermine venomous vipers I mean it concerning our affections standing in an aire most vnwholsome prospect most lothsome if a man consider the excrements of it by the eyes nose mouth eares handes feete and al the other partes So that no Bocardo no Little ease no Dungeon no Bishops prison no Gatehowse no sinke no pit may be compared in any poynt to be so euill a prison for the body as the bodie is for and of the soule wherethrough the children of GOD haue bene occasioned to cry lament their long being in it Oh saith Dauid Howe long shall I lye in this prison Oh wretch that I am saith Paule who shall deliuer me out of this bodie of sinne which is an heauie burden to the soule as the wiseman saith And the godly cry now let thy seruant depart in peace O the I were dissolued had put off this earthly and frayle tabernacle Take me vnto thee and bring my soul out of this prison that it may giue thanks vnto thee O Lord. For so long as we be in this bodie we can not see the Lord yea it is as an heauie habitation and depresseth downe sore the spirit from the familiaritie which it else should haue with god This world life is an exile a vale of miserie a wildernesse of it selfe being voyde of all vertues and necessaries for eternall life full of enimies sorrowes sighings sobbings gronings miseries c. In daunger to hunger colde heate thirst sores sicknesse tentations trouble death and innumerable calamities being momentanie short vnstable and nothing but vaine and therfore is compared to a warfare a womans trauell a shaddowe a smoke a vapour a word a storme a tempest in the which Gods people feele great molestatiōs griefes troubles now of satan him selfe nowe of the world now of their owne flesh that so wonderfully diuersly daungerously and contrarily that they are inforced to cry O Lord when shall we come and appeare before thee when shall this miserie end when shall we be deliuered out of this vale of miserie out of this wildernes out of these continuall afflictions and most perillous seas But where thou art Lorde and deare Father of mercie there is not onely no prison no doloures no sorrowe no sighings no teares no sicknesse no hunger no heate no colde no paine no tentations no displeasure no malice no pride no vncleansure no contention no torments no horror no sinne no filth no stinche no dearth no death no weeping no teares no miserie no mischeefe there is I say not onely no such thing or any euill noysom or displeasant thing but all libertie all light all pleasantnesse all ioye reioycing mirth pleasure health welth riches glorie power treasure honour triumphe comfort solace loue vnitie peace concorde wisedome vertue melodie meeknesse 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 an Archangels yea aboue al thoughtes The eye hath not seene the like the eare hath not heard nor no heart is able to conceiue in any point any part of the blissefull beatitude which is with thee most deare Lorde and Sauiour most gratious God and comforter Where thou art O blessed God the Archangels Angels Thrones Powers Dominatiōs Cherubines Seraphines Patriarches Prophets Apostles Martyrs Uirgins Confessours and righteous spirites cease not to sing night and day Holy Holy Holy Lorde God of Hostes Honour maiestie glorie power empire and dominion be vnto thee Oh God the creator O Lord Iesu the Redeemer Oh holy spirit the comforter In recordation of this O howe thy children reioyce howe contemne they the pleasures of this worlde Howe little esteeme they any corporall griefe or shame howe desire they to be with thee Howe amiable are thy tabernacles Oh Lorde GOD of hoastes say they My soule hath a desire to enter into the Courtes of the Lord my heart and my soule reioyceth in the liuing GOD blessed are they that dwell in thy house that they may be alwayes praising thee For one day in thy Courtes is better then a thousand elsewhere I had rather be a doore keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tentes of vngodlinesse for the Lord God is a light and defence And againe Like as the Hart desireth the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O god My soule is a thirst 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 children I meane O Lorde desire the day of that their redemption Still they cry Let
pray thee to indue vs with strength from aboue that wee may bee able through thy helpe with strong faith to resist sathan with feruent prayer to mortifie the lustes of the fleshe with continuall meditation of thy holy lawe to auoide the foolish vanities and transitory plesures of this wicked worlde that through thy grace we being set at libertie from the power of these our mortall enemies may serue thee here in true holines and righteousnes and after be partakers of the euerlasting ioyes prepared for thy children which as they are greate and vnspeakeable so are there fewe that doe enioye them For straight is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth therevnto fewe there be that find it Notwithstāding O God thou hast a little flock to whom it is thy pleasure to giue that ioyfull kingdome whose names are written in the booke of life Make vs therefore of the number for Iesus Christs sake and place vs amongest those thy sheepe which shall stande on thy right hand to receiue the blessed inheritaunce and dwell with thee for euermore A prayer for present helpe in tentation DEare father to whom it is more easie to do all thinges then for me to thinke any one good thing Loe doe thou but speake a worde and thy deadlie sicke seruaunte my soule shal be made whole Helpe O Lord for thy great mercie sake for thy truth sake and for thy deare sonne Iesus Christ sake and let thy strength suffice against my weakenesse and thy holy spirit against my sinfull flesh and old man. Thou art faithfull O Father who hast promised that I shall not be tempted further then ▪ thou wilt make me able to beare Giue nowe therefore thy grace and strength vnto thy seruaunt that I may with a strong faith in thine infallible truth and promised mercie vanquishe and subdue what so euer rebelleth against thy most blessed wil. Preserue and keepe holy my soule and body and let them not be defiled made a dungeon of diuels wicked spirits through delectation in sinne Behold deare father the postes thereof are sprinkled with the pretious bloud of thy deare son of thy great mercie they are made the temple and tabernacle of thy holy spirite Shall now alas the diuell the worlde or the fleshe plucke from thee that thing which presently crieth to thee with assured trust in thy promised helpe Nay father ▪ but graunt that I may by thy mightie power turne all their crafts deceits and raging assaultes vnto the increase of my faith that by experience of thy fatherly assistance in this my present temptation I may with assured hope trust in thy ready helpe comfort ouercome my saide enemies hereafter in like assaultes and prayse thy holy name for the victorie through Iesus Christ our Lord. My sonne if thou wilt come into the seruice of the Lorde stande fast in righteousnesse and feare and prepare thy soule to tentation Eccle. 2. Remedies against sinneful motions and tentations First remember that sinne is so heinous a thing that God by his iustice might worthily damne thee for the same and is therefore to be abhorred as a sweete poyson a flattering death and destruction of the soule which would out thee off from God thy Sauiour and make thee a bondslaue to sathan thy deadly enemie Auoide therefore euen at the first the occasions thereof and betimes quash out the braines of the children of Babylon against the harde stones whiles yet they be young and weake least when they be growen elder and stronger they dash thee to peeces And for remedie against the same flee vnto God who commandeth thee to call vpon him in thy troubles and promiseth to deliuer thee and wil not suffer thee to be further tempted then he wil make a way out whereby thou shalt escape and doubt not but hee that causeth thee to hate the sinne which thy nature is to loue will deliuer thee also from the daunger thereof and make thee to triumph ouer sathan to his confusion to Gods glorie and to thy great comfort which are causes that our tender louing father sendeth tentations vnto vs and he that is not tempted what is he Now after thou hast obteined the victorie remember two thinges first to giue most heartie thankes to God for his grace and assistance whereby thou hast ouercome and be not vnthankfull in any wise and then that he who continually goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuour will not be long or farre away from thee but wil attempt againe the same or as euill wayes to ouercome thee Watch therefore and pray A prayer for the auoyding of Gods heauie wrath vengeance for our sinnes OH Lord God strong mightie great and fearefull which dwellest in the heauens and workest great wonders wee thy miserable children here vppon earth doe moste humbly beseech thee to be merciful vnto vs to pardon our offences and to forgiue vs all our sinnes O Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruantes for if thou doe there shall no fleshe be saued in thy fight We confesse and acknowledge O Lorde that it is our sinnes whiche hath moued thee to wrath and to shewe such fearefull tokens of thy displeasure towardes vs in these our dayes first with fire from heauen betokening thy hote burning indignation and wrathfull displeasure for sinne which aboundeth at this daye then with such horrible and monstrous shapes against nature as were neuer seene here in our dayes nor in any time before vs which do betoken to vs none other thing but thy plagues to come vpon vs for our degenerate and monstrous life and conuersation and nowe besides all this by great mortalitie plague and pestilence thou hast terribly threattened vs fatherly warned vs mercifully called vs to repentance The axe is set to the roote of the tree and if wee bee not as rotten members without all sense and feeling wee may perceaue our fearefull destruction and desolation to bee at hande vnlesse wee speedily repent and turne to thee because wee haue bene so long taught out of thy most holy and sacred word yet no fruits of repentance or Christian life will appeare Woe and alas to these our dayes that neither preaching by word most comfortable nor preaching by fire most terrible nor preaching by monsters most strange and ougly neither yet by plagues and pestilence most horrible will stirre vp our stonie heartes and awake vs from our sinnes We feare O Lorde that the Turkes with all the rest of the vnbeleeuing will condemne vs in the last day which if they had bin so long instructed by the comfortable preaching of thy word and sweet promises of thy Gospel or seene the woonders which we haue seene no doubt their righteousnesse would haue shined at this day to our great shame and confusion Thou hast no lesse warned vs O Lorde of thy fearefull displeasure heauie plagues at hand for our great wickednesse then thou
and being our head on whome we hang and hope that our poore petitions shall not be in vaine through him and for his names sake Wee beseech thee therefore of thy rich mercie wherein thou art plentifull to all thē that call vpon thee to forgiue vs our sinnes namely our vnthankfulnesse vnbeleefe selfeloue neglect of thy worde securitie hypocrisie contēpt of thy long suffering omission of prayer doubting of thy power presence mercy and good will towardes vs vnsensiblenesse of thy grace impaciencie c. and to this thy benefite of correcting vs adde thy gratious gift of repentaunce faith the spirite of prayer the contempte of this worlde and heartie desiring for euerlasting life Indue vs with thy holy spirit according to thy couenant mercie as well to assure vs of pardon and that thou doest accept vs into thy fauour as thy deare children in Christ and for his sake as to write thy lawe in our heartes and so to worke in vs that we may nowe begin and goe forwards in beleuing lyuing fearing obeying praying hoping and seruing thee as thou dost require most fatherly and most iustly of vs accepting vs as perfect in thy sight through Iesus Christ our lord Amen A prayer of the afflicted for the profession of Gods worde O Gratious God which seekest all meanes possible howe to bring thy children into the feeling and sure sense of thy mercie and therefore when prosperitie will not serue then sendest thou aduersitie gratiously correcting them here whō thou wilt haue elswhere to liue with thee for euer wee poore wretches giue humble prayses and thankes to thee that thou hast vouched vs worthy of thy correction at this present hereby to worke that which wee in prosperitie and libertie did neglecte For the which neglecting and many other our greeuous sinns wherof we nowe accuse our selues before thee most mercifull Lord thou mightest most iustly haue giuen vs ouer and destroied vs both in soule and body But such is thy goodnes towards vs in Christ that thou seemest to forget all our offences and as though we were farre otherwise then we be in deede thou wilt that wee should suffer this crosse nowe laide vpon vs for thy truth and gospels sake and so be thy witnesses with thy Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessours yea with thy dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ to whom thou doest now here beginne to fashion vs like that in his glory we may be like to him also O good God what are we on whō thou shouldest shew this great mercie Oh louing Lord forgiue vs our vnthankefulnesse and sinnes Oh faithfull father giue vs thine holy spirite nowe to crie in our heartes Abba deere father to assure vs of our eternall election in Christ to reueale more and more thy truth vnto vs to confirme strengthen and stablishe vs so in the same that we may liue and die in it as vessels of thy mercie to thy glorie and to the commoditie of thy Church Indue vs with the spirit of thy wisedome that with good conscience we may alwayes so aunswere the enemies in thy cause as may turne to their conuersion or confusion and our vnspeakeable cōsolatiō in Christ Iesus for whose sake wee beseech thee hencefoorth to keepe vs to giue vs patience and to will no otherwise for deliuerance or mitigation of our miserie then may stand alwayes with thy good plesure merciful will towards vs. Graunt this deare father not only to vs in this place but also to all others else where afflicted for thy names sake through the death and merites of Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen I. B. A prayer to God the father the Sonne and the holy Ghost O Almightie and euerliuing God the eternall father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which of thy vnmesurable goodnes hast opened thy self vnto vs and with a loude voyce hast saide of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord Heare him O maker preseruer of all thinges with thy coeternall sonne our Lord Iesus Christ which reigneth with thee and was manifested in Ierusalem with thy holy spirite which was powred vppon the Apostles O wise God mercifull Iudge and mightie Lord which hast saide As truely as I liue I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert amend whiche also hast saide Call vppon me in the day of thy trouble I will deliuer thee haue mercie vpon vs for Iesus Christes sake whome thou wouldest of thy merueylous and incomprehensible counsell shoulde be made for vs a slaine sacrifice mediator reconciler and peacemaker to the end that thou mightest shewe thine exceeding great wrath against sinne and thine inestimable mercie towardes mankinde Sanctifie illuminate our heartes and soules with thy holy spirite that wee may truly beleeue in thee call vppon thee bee thankefull vnto thee and obedient to thy holy will. Defend gouerne and cherish thy Church as thou hast promised saying This is my couenāt that I haue made with them my spirit which is in thee and my worde which I haue put in thy mouth shall not departe out of thy mouthe nor out of the mouth of thy seede for euer Preserue those kingdomes and cōmon weales which giue harborough to the people and maintaine the ministerie of thy holy word and Gospell that the kingdom of thy sonne Iesus Christ may encrease and shine throughout all the worlde O Iesus Christ Sonne of the euerliuing God crucified for vs and raysed also from the deade and nowe reigning at the right hand of thy father that thou maiest giue gifts vnto mee which hast saide Come vnto mee all ye that labour and are heauie loden and I will refresh you haue mercie vpon vs praye for vs vnto thy eternall father sanctifie and gouerne vs with thy holy spirite helpe and succour vs in all our necessities as thou hast promised saying I will not leaue you comfortlesse O holie and blessed spirite together with the father and the son one true and euerliuing God full of maiestie and power which with thy heauenly inspiration quickenest the mindes of those that afore were dead in sinne makest ioyfull the heartes of the faithfull penitent bringest in to the way of trueth all such as haue erred and gone astraye comfortest the soules of such as hunger thirst after righteousnesse and plenteously inrichest those with diuerse giftes which aske them in Iesus Christes name purifie our heartes wee beseech thee and inflame them with the fire of thy loue replenishe them with thy heauenly benefites and spirituall blessinges that they may be made meete temples for thee leade vs into all trueth which art the onely fountaine of trueth and mortifie in vs whatsoeuer proceedeth not of thee Or else pray thus O Holy spirite powred vppon the Apostles which hast promised vnto vs by the sonne of God our Redeemer to kindle in vs a true knowledge and inuocation of God as it is written I will powre vppon you the spirite of grace of
Lord which are taught of thee and instructed by the spirite of godly wisedome and vnderstanding which by their preaching will seeke not themselues but thee because they are godly and can so do because they are wise vnderstande Giue to the preacher of thy worde here present out of the treasures of thy wisedome that which hee may powre vpon vs to our saluation and vnto vs giue thy grace holy spirit O Lord so to heare and to receiue thy worde that the good seede whiche falleth vppon vs be not choked with thornes or withered away with heate or deuoured by the foules of the aire but may growe vp in a good grounde and fructifie with great increase A prayer to be saide after the Preaching of Gods worde ALmightie God most mercifull father wee heartily beseech thee that this seed of thy worde nowe sowen amongest vs may take suche deepe root that neither the burning heate of affliction or persecution cause it to wither neither the thornie cares of this life do choake it but that as seede sowne in good ground it may bring forth thirtie sixtie and an hundreth folde as thy heauenly wisedome hath appointed And because we haue neede continually to craue many things at thy handes we humbly beseech thee O heauenly father to graunt vs thy holy spirit so to direct our petitions that they may proceed from such a feruent minde as may be agreable to thy most blessed will. And seeing that our infirmitie is such that we are able to do nothing without thy helpe and that thou art not ignorant with howe many and great tentations we poore wretches are on euerie side compassed and inclosed let thy strength O Lorde susteine our weakenesse and assist vs with thy grace that we may be safely preserued against all the assaults of Sathan who goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking to deuoure vs Increase our faith O mercifull Father that wee doe not swarue at anie time from thy heauenly worde Augment in vs hope and loue with a carefull keeping of all thy commandements that no hardnes of hart no hypocrisie no concupiscence of the eies nor inticements of the world doe draw vs away frō thy obedience And seeing the times are dangerous wherin we liue let thy fatherly prouidence defende vs againste the violence of all our enemies and specially againste the furious rage of that Romishe idoll enemie to thy Christ. Furthermore for as much as by thy holy Apostle we bee taught to make our prayers and supplications for all men we pray not onely for ourselues here present but beseech thee also to reduce all such as be yet ignorant from the miserable captiuitie of blindnesse and errour to the pure vnderstanding of thy heauenly trueth that we all with one consent and vnitie of minde may worshippe thee our onely God and sauiour We beseech thee also most deare father for all pastors and ministers to whome thou hast committed the dispensation of thy holy worde and charge of thy chosen people that both in their life and doctrine they maye be found faithfull setting onely before their eyes thy glorie and that by them all poore sheep which wander and go astray may be sought out and brought to thy folde Againe that it would please thee to deliuer thy Church from such idle sheepeheardes wolues and hirelinges as seeke themselues and their bellies and not thy glory and the safegarde of thy flocke Moreouer because the heartes of rulers are in thy handes wee make our prayers vnto thee for all Princes and Magistrates to whome thou haste committed the administration of iustice especially O Lorde for the Queenes Maiestie that it would please thee to indue her with thy plentifull grace and principall spirite that she may with a pure faith acknowledge Iesus Christ thy onely sonne to be King of all Kinges and gouernour of all gouernours euen as thou hast giuen all power vnto him both in heauen and in earthe so work in her heart that she considering whose minister she is may hartily seeke and zealously promote thy true honour and glory carefully traueling to bring thy people committed to her charge yet remaining almoste in all partes of this realme in miserable blindnesse and darke ignorance to the true knowledge of thee ruling and guidinge them as she is taught commaunded by thy holy word Also we beseech thee to indue all such as are in any authority vnder her with thy grace and holy Spirite that they may be founde vprighte faithfull in their calling fauourers and furtherers of thy holy Gospell maintainers defenders of the true Preachers and ministers therof and such as in singlenes of heart wil seeke not themselues but thy glory and the commodity of thy people And for that we be all members of the mysticall body of Christe Iesus wee make our requestes vnto thee O heauenly father for all such as are afflicted with any kinde of crosse or tribulatiō as warre plague famine sickenes pouertie imprisonment persecution banishment or any other kinde of thy roddes whether it be griefe of body or vnquietnesse of minde that it would please thee to giue them patience and constancie till thou sende them full deliueraunce out of all their troubles Finally O Lord we most humbly beseech thee to shew thy great mercie vppon-our brethren which are persecuted cast in prison and daily condemned to death for the testimonie of thy trueth and though they be vtterly destitute of all mans aide yet let thy sweete comforte neuer depart from them but so inflame their heartes with thy holy spirite that they may boldly and cheerefully abide suche triall as thy godly wisedome shall appoint so that at length as well by their death as by their life the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ may increase and shine through all the worlde In whose name we make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our father which art c. A prayer to be saide before the receiuing of the communion O Father of mercie and God of all consolation seeing all creatures do acknowledge and confesse thee to be their gouernour and Lorde it becommeth vs the workemanship of thine owne handes at all times to reuerence and magnifie thy godly maiestie Firste for that thou hast created vs to thine owne image and similitude but chiefly because thou hast deliuered vs from that euerlasting death and damnation into the which Sathan drewe mankinde by the meanes of sinne from the bondage whereof neither man nor Angell was able to make vs free but thou O Lord rich in mercie infinite in goodnes hast prouided our redemption to stande in thine onely and welbeloued sonne whom of very loue thou diddest giue to be made man like vnto vs in all thinges sinne excepted that in his bodie he might receiue the punishment of our transgression by his death to make satisfaction to thy
lowde in thine eares though they speake neuer a worde at all Shoulde I then nowe despaire of thy fatherly mercie whiles presently I feele thee stirre vp my soule and hearte to craue helpe at thy hande Should I thinke that thou wilt absent thy selfe for euer that thou wilt be no more intreated that thy mercie is cleane gone that thy promise is come vtterly to an ende and that thou wilt nowe shut vp thy louing kindnesse in displeasure Nay Lorde for all alterations are of thy right hande and turne alway to the best to them that feare thee All this is but mine owne infirmitie for thou art euer one thy promises be infallible and thy loue towards thine euerlastingly during I will therefore in this my present tentation greuous assaulte powre out the heauinesse of my hearte before thee deare father Out of the deepe will I crie lift vp my soule vnto thee from whom I assuredly know my helpe is comming I will also for my present comfort cal to remembrance O Lorde my God thy tender mercies towards me already shewed the multitude of thy benefites the greatnes of the same the longe continuance of them euen frō my conception vntill this instant finally thy continuall luste desire to powre them vpon me And moreouer sith thy goodnesse is so great O Lord that thou dost not onely pitie miserie but also callest the heauie hearted and afflicted vnto thee promising that thou wilt ease their miserie for as much as by the motion of thy good spirit I loth and abhorre my sinnes feele the greuousnesse of them and thy heauie wrath towardes me for the same and finally what neede I haue of thy gratious ayde and succour therefore Oh Lorde in thy Sonne Christes name with sure confidence and trust in thine infallible promise in this mine anguish trouble I come vnto thee at thy mercifull calling and craue comfort at thy hand For thou hast promised that when I loath my sinnes thou wilt vterly forget them when I feele the greeuous burthen of them thy mercie swalloweth them vp when I seeke that I want thou wilte assuredly graunt it me For sith thou mouest my hearte to desire helpe how shoulde I mistrust but thou wilt for thy truth sake giue me my asking Yea where I knowe not howe or what to desire as I ought thy holy spirite gratiously working in mee maketh intercession mightily for me with groninges which can not bee expressed and therewithall certifieth my spirit that by adoption through thy great mercie and goodnesse I am become thy childe and heire Why should I not then be of good comfort and ioyfull in thee my God For if thou be on my side who can be against mee Since thou diddest not spare thine owne sonne but gauest him for mee euen when I was thine enemie howe shalt thou not with him nowe that by his death I am brought into thy fauour giue mee all thinges with him and for his sake Who shall lay any thing to the charg of thine elect It is thou Lord which iustifiest mee It is Christe that hath dyed for mee yea rather that is risen againe for mee who also is set on thy right hand hath taken possession yea and perpetually maketh there intercession for me vntill that ioyfull day be come when I shall haue full fruition of the moste glorious presence of thy diuine maiestie in that kingdome whiche thou hast prepared before the beginning of the world but in time to thy gratious goodnesse thought best made knowen to me by giuing thy holy spirite into my heart whereby when I first Lord beleeued thy holy worde which is thine owne power to saue all that beleeue I was sealed confirmed and stablished in the certaintie of that thine euerlasting kingdom and inheritāce For the which inestimable benefite of thy rich grace Oh Lorde my God I beseech thee euen for the loue thou bearest to Christe Iesus thy son thy mercie thou haddest on him when he cried on the crosse My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Help help I say inflame my heart with loue so plentifully towardes thee againe that I may be euen swalowed vp in the ioyfull feeling of the same in such sort that I may of verie thankefulnesse loue thee my GOD alone thee I say my deare GOD and nothing but thee and for thy sake O holy spirite whose work this is in mee increase this thy worke of thine infinite mercie and preserue mee that I neuer become vnthankefull vnto thee therefore Amen A prayer for the sicke O Most mercifull God which according to the multitude of thy mercies dost so put away the sins of those which truly repēt that thou remembrest them no more open thy eyes of mercie and looke vpon this thy sicke seruant who most earnestly desireth pardon and forgiuenesse Renue in him most louing father whatsoeuer hath beene decayed by the fraude and malice of the diuell or by his owne carnall will and frailtie Preserue and continue this sicke member in the vnitie of thy Church Consider his contrition ▪ accept his teares assuage his paine as shall bee seene to thee most expedient for him And for as much as he putteth his full trust onely in thy mercie impute not vnto him his former sinnes but take him vnto thy fauour through the merits of thy most dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ. A prayer to be saide at the houre of death O Lord Iesus Christ which art the onely health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them that die in thee I wretched sinner do submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will and being sure that the thing cannot perish which is cōmitted vnto thy mercie willingly now I leaue this fraile and sinnfull fleshe in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise restore it to mee againe at the last day in the resurrection of the iust I beseech thee most mercifull Lorde Iesus Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make stronge my soule against all tentations and defende mee with the buckler of thy mercie against all the assaults of the diuell I see and acknowledge that there is in my selfe no helpe of saluation but al my confidence hope and trust is in thy rich mercie and goodnesse I haue no merites or good workes which I may alledge before thee of sinnes and euill workes alas I see a great heape but yet through thy mercie I trust to be in the number of them to whome thou wilt not impute their sinnes but wilt accept and take mee for righteous and iust and to be an inheritour of euerlastinge life Thou mercifull Lord wast borne for my sake thou diddest suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake thou diddest teach pray and fast for my sake all thy holy actions and works thou wroughtest for my sake thou sufferedst most greeuous paines and tormentes for my sake finally thou gauest thy most precious bodie and bloode to be
shed on the crosse for my sake Now most merciful Sauiour let all these thinges profite me that thou freely hast done for me which hast giuen thy selfe also for mee Let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spottes and fowlenesse of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my vnrighteousnes Let the merites of thy passion and bloudsheding be the satisfaction for my sinnes Giue me Lord thy grace that the faith of my saluation in thy bloude wauer not in mee but maie euer bee firme and constant that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that loue waxe not colde in me finally that the weakenesse of my fleshe be not ouercome with the feare of death Graunt me mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my bodie yet the eyes of my soule may still beholde and looke vppon thee and when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet my heart may crie and say Lord into thy handes I commend my soule Lord Iesu receiue my spirite A prayer for a woman with childe THou art wonderfull O Lord in al thy workes and what so euer thy good pleasure is that doest thou easily bring to passe neither is there any thing vnpossible with thee that thou wilt haue done And albeit this thy almightie power sheweth it selfe aboundantly in al thy works yet in conceiuing forming and bringing foorth of man it shineth most euidently At the beginning O Father when thou madest man and woman thou commandedst them to increase multiplie and replenish the earth If through the subtill inticementes of Sathan they had not transgressed thy commaundement by eating the forbidden fruite the woman whome thou hast appoynted to be the instrument and vessell to conceiue nourish and bring foorth man through thy wonderful workmanship had without any labour paine or trauel brought foorth her frutie But that which thy goodnes made easie sin and disobedience hath made harde painefull daungerous and without thy speciall helpe and succour impossible to bee brought to passe so that nowe all women bring foorth their childrē in great sorowes paines and troubles Notwithstanding that which through their owne imperfection and feeblenes they are not able of thēselues to passe thou through thine vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest vnto a ioyfull end We therefore being fully persuaded of thy fauour and goodnesse of thy present helpe and of thy sweete comforte in all miseries and necessities knowing also by the testimonies of thy holy word how great and intollerable the paines of women are that trauell of childe if through thy tender mercie they bee not mitigated and eased most humbly pray thee for Iesus Christes sake thy son our Lorde to helpe and assist this thy seruaunt nowe in trauell and labour that by thy almightie power shee may safely bringe foorth that which by thy goodnes she hath conceiued and that thy louing kindnes may make that easie and tollerable vnto her which sinne hath made hard and painefull Ease O Lord the paines which thou most righteously hast put vpon her and all women for the sinne and disobedience of our graundmother Eue in whom al we haue sinned Be present with her in her trouble accordinge to thy mercifull promise Giue her strength and make perfect that which thou hast so gratiously begun Let thy power be shewed no lesse in the safe bringing foorth then in the wonderfull forming and fashioning of that she beareth Make her a glad and a ioyfull mother that she through thy goodnesse being safely deliuered and restored to health againe may liue and praise thy blessed name for euer A psalme to be saide in the time of any common plague sicknes or other crosse and visitation of God. O Come let vs humble our selues and fall downe before the Lorde with reuerence and feare For he is the Lord our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his handes Come therefore let vs turne againe vnto our Lorde for he hath smiten vs and he shall heale vs. Let vs repent and turne from our wickednesse and our sinnes shal be forgiuen vs. Let vs turne and the Lorde will turne from his heauie wrath and will pardon vs and we shall not perish For we acknowledg our faultes and our sinnes are euer before vs. We haue sore prouoked thine anger O Lord thy wrath is waxed hote and thy heauie displeasure is sore kindled against vs. Thou hast in thine indignatiom striken vs with greeuous sickenesse and by and by we haue fallen as leaues beaten downe with a vehement winde In deede we acknowledge that our punishmentes are lesse then our deseruinges but yet of thy mercie Lorde correct vs to amendment and plague vs not to our destruction For thy hand is not shortned that thou canst not helpe neither is thy goodnesse abated that thou wilt not heare Thou hast promised O Lord that afore we crie thou wilt heare vs whilest we yet speake thou wilte haue mercie vpon vs. For none that trust in thee shall be confounded neither any that call vpon thee shal be despised For thou art the onely Lord who woundest and doest heale againe who killest reuiuest bringest euen to hell and bringest backe againe Our father 's hoped in thee they trusted in thee and thou diddest deliuer them They called vppon thee and were helped they put their trust in thee and were not confounded O Lorde rebuke vs not in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauie displeasure O remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy thinke thou vpon vs O Lord for thy goodnes Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord for we are weake O Lord heale vs for our bones are vexed And nowe in the vexation of our spirits and the anguish of our soules we remember thee and we crie vnto thee heare Lord and haue mercie For thine owne sake and for thy holy names sake incline thine eare and heare O mercifull Lord. For we doe not powre out our prayers before thee trusting in our owne righteousnes but in thy great and manyfold mercies Wash vs throughly from our wickednes and cleanse vs from our sins Turne thy face from our sins and put out all our misdeedes Make vs cleane heartes O God and renne a right spirite within vs. Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glorie of thy name O deliuer vs and be mercifull vnto our sinnes for thy names sake So we that be thy people sheepe of thy pasture shall giue thee thanks for euer and will alwaies be shewing foorth thy praise from generation to generation Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. A psalme of thankesgiuing for deliuerance from the plague or any other kind of sicknes trouble or affliction LOrd thou art become gratious to thy lande thou hast turned away the afflictions of thy