so vse my rule and authority ouer theÌ that I may alway remember that thou art the common Lord of all and we all thy seruauntes again y t I mai not forget that we be all brothers hauing one father which is in heaueÌ and look for one glorious kingdome where thou with the father and the holy Ghost liuest and raygnest true and euerlastyng God for euer Amen ¶ Of Seruauntes O Lord we are coÌmaunded by thy blessed Apostles that we should honour obey our bodely masters with fear and trembling not onely if they be good courteous but also though they be froward and serue them not vnto the eye as meÌ pleasers but with singlenes of hart not churlishly answering them againe nor picking stealing or conueying awaye anye parte of theyr goods vniustli but shewing all good faythfulnes vnto our masters as though we serued God and not men Graunt me grace I moste humbly beseeche thee so to serue my master and my superiours that there may be found no fault in me but y t I behauing my self vprightly iustly faithfully and truli in my vocacion maye doo worship to the doctrine of thee my God and Sauiour in all things Amen ¶ Of Mayds THere is nothing that becommeth a mayd better theÌ silence shame fastnes chastitye of bothe body and mynde For these thynges beiÌg once lost she is no more a maid but a Strompet in the sight of God howsoeuer she disgiseth her selfe dissembleth with the world I therfore moste humbly beseeche thee O merciful Father from whom commeth euery good and perfect gift and without whom we are able to doo nothing y t thou wilt so order my tong and dispose my talke y t I speak nothing but that become mi state age and person nether that I delight to heare any talk that might in any point moue me to lewdnes seeyng that euil words corrupt good maners Geue me also such shaine fastnes as may pluck me away from the delectacion either of thinking speaking hearing seing or doing euil that my whole delight may be in vertue in godlines in exchewing ydlenes in geuing my selfe continually to some godly exercyse but aboue all thinges in thinking and speaking of thee in reading thy blessed worde and heauenly law which is a laÌtern to my feet and a light to mi pathes Moreouer suffer neyther my minde to be defiled with euil thoughts nor my body to be corrupted with any kinde of vncleÌnes but geue me grace so to order my self in exchewing idlenes and wanton wicked coÌpany y tmy mynde being free from euill affectes and my bodye cleare from all vnclennes I may be found a mete temple for the holy Ghost to inhabit and if it bee thi good pleasure hereafter to call me vnto the honorable state of Matrimony y t I may bring also vnto my husbande a pure and vndefiled body and so liue with him in thi feare vnto y e praise and glori of thy blessed name Amen ¶ Of Singlemen LOrd thou hast commaunded by thine holi Apostle that we should abstaine from fornicacion and that euerye one of vs shoulde knowe how to keep his vessel that is to say his body in holines and honour and not in the lust of concupiscence as doo the heathen whiche knowe not God I beseeche thee geue me grace to behaue my selfe according to thys thy holy commaundemente ⪠that in this time of my single lyfe I defile not my body w t who redom or with ani other vnclennes but so order my self with all honesty and purenes of life that I may glorify thee my Lord God both in body and spirite Amen ¶ Of Husbandes FOrasmuche O heauenly father as thou hast called me from the single lyfe vnto the holy state of honourable wedlocke which is thy good and blessed ordinauÌce for all them to liue in that haue not the gift of contineÌcy and hast geuen me a woman to wyfe that I liuing with her in thy feare mai auoid al vncleÌnes I moste hartelye pray thee geue me grace to liue with her accordinge to thy godly pleasure Kil in me al filthy fleshly lustes Suffer me not to delyght in any straunge fleshe but to content my self onely with her loue to loue her as Christe loued the congregacion to cherishe her as I wold cherishe mine owne body so prouide for her according to my ability to instruct her with y e knowledge of thy blessed worde quietly and peaceably to liue with her and to agree together in suche perfecte concorde and vnitie as is founde among many members in one body ⪠seing now y t we also are nomore two but one fleshe that other seeyng our godly and quiet conuersacion may her by be prouoked to forsake theyr filthy liuing so embrace the holy state of honorable wedlock vnto y e glori praise of thi holi name AmeÌ Â¶ Of Wyues Lord forasmuch as thou Oof thy Fatherly goodnes hast vouchedsafe to keep me from my tender age vnto thys presente and hast now called me from mi single life vnto the holy state of honorable wedlock that I liuing therein might according to thine ordinaunce bring forth childreÌ vnto thy glori Geue me grace I moste entierlye beseche thee to walke worthy of mi vocacion to know ledge my husbande to be my head to be subiect vnto him to learn thy blessed word of him to reuereÌce him to obey him to please him to be ruled by him peaceably and quietly to liue with him to weare suche apparell as is mete for midegree and bi no meanes to delight in costly Iewels and proud galaunt vestures but alway to vse suche clothing as become a sober Christen woman circumspectly warely to look vnto my housholde that nothing perish through my negligence and alwayes haue a diligent eye that no dishonesty no wickednes no vngodlynes be coÌmitted in my house but y t in it all thinges be ordeined according to thy holy wil whiche art worthy all honour glory and prayse for euer and euer Amen ¶ Of Housholders TO haue childreÌ and seruaunts is thy blessinge O Lord but not to order theÌ according to thy word deserueth thy dredful cursse Graunt therfore that as y u hast blessed me with an houshold so I may diligentlye watche that nothing becommitted of y e same that might offend thy fatherli goodnes and be an occasion of turning thi blessing into curssiÌg but that so manias thou hast coÌmitted to my charge may exchew all vice embrace all vertue lyue in thy feare call vpon thi holi name learn thi blessed commaundementes heare thy holy worde and auoyding idlenes diligentlye execute them selues euerye one in his office according to theyr vocacion and callyng vnto the glorye of thy moste honorable name Amen ¶ Of all Christians Albeit O heauenly Father all we that vnfaynedly professe thy holy religion and faithfully call on thy blessed name are thy sonnes and heyres of euerlasting glory yet as all the members of a body
haue not one office so likewyse we being many making one body whereof thy dearely beloued Sonne is the head haue not all one gifte neyther are we all called to one office but as it hath pleased y e to distribute so receyue we We therfore moste humbly pray thee to send the spirit of loue concord amoÌg vs that without any disorder or debate eueri one of vs may be content w e our calling quietly lyue in y e same study to doo good vnto all men by the true and diligeÌt exercise therof without to muche seking of our owne priuat gain so order our lyfe in all points according to thy godly will that by wel doing we mai stop y e mouthes of such foolish and ignoraunt people as report vs to be euill dooers cause theÌ through our good works to glorify theÌe our Lord god in y t dai of visitacion Amen ¶ For the Grace fauour of God WHosoeuer liueth w t out thy grace fa uour O moste gracious and fauorable Lorde although for a time he waloweth in all kinde of fleshely pleasures and abound with to muche wordly ryches yet is he nothing els but y e wretched bond slaue of sathan the vile duÌghil of syn Al his pleasure is extreme poison all his welth is nothing but plain beggeri For what felicitie can ther be where thy grace and fauour wanteth ⪠But where thi grace and fauour is present though the Deuel roar the world rage y e flesh swel ther is true blissednes vnfained pleasure coÌtinual welth Pour down therfore thi heaueÌly grace fatherly fauour vpoÌ vs that we beeynge assured of thy fauorable goodnes towards vs may reioyce and glory in thee and haue mery hartes when so euer we be most assailed with any kinde of aduersitie be it pouerty or sicknes losse of freends or persecution for thy names sake to whom be glorye for euer Amen ¶ For the gift of the holy Ghost SO frayl is our nature so vile is our flesh so lewd is our hart so corrupt are our affects so wicked are al our thoughts euen froÌ our child hod vpward y t of our selues we can nether thinck breath speak or doo any thing y t is praise worthy in thy sight O heauenly father yea except thou doost assist vs with thy mercifull goodnes all things are so far out of frame in vs that we se nothing present in our selues but thy heauy displeasure and eternal damnacion Uouche safe therfore O swete father to send thy holy spirite vnto vs whiche may make vs new creatures put away froÌ vs al fleshly lustes fil our harts w t new affects spiritual mocioÌs so altogether renew vs bothe in body soule through his godly in spiracion y twe may dye vnto olde Adam lyue vnto thee in newnes of lyfe seruynge thee our Lorde God in holines and righteousnes all y e daies of our lyfe Amen ¶ For the true knowledge of our selues IT is written in thy holye Gospel moste louing Sauiour y t thou cammest into this world not to call y e righteous that is such as iustifie theÌ selues but sinners vnto repentaunce Suffer me not therfore o lord to be in y e nuÌber of those iusticiaris which boasting their owne righteousnes theyr owne wurks and merits despise that righteousnes that commeth by faith whiche alone is alowable before thee Giue me grace to knowe to knowledge my selfe as I am euen y e sonne of wrath by nature a wretched synner and an vn profitable seruaunt wholy to depend on thy mercifull goodnes with stroÌg and vnshaken faith y t in this world thou mayest continually call me vnto true repentaunce seeyng I continually sinne and in y e worlde to come briÌg me vnto euerlasting glorye Amen ¶ For a pure and clene Hart. THe hart of man naturalli is lewd and vnsearcheable through the multitude of sinns which as in a stinking duÌghil lyeth buried in it in so much that no man is able to say mi hart is clene and I am cleane from syn Remoue from me therfore O heaueÌly Father my leud stony stuburn stincking and vnfaithfull hart Creat in me a clene hart free from al noisom and vngodly thoughts Breath into my hart by thy holy spirit godly and spirituall mocions that out of the good treasure of the hart I maye bring foorth good things vn to the praise and glory of thy name Amen ¶ For a quiet conscience THe wicked is like a ragiÌg sea whyche is neuer in quiet neither is ther ani peace to the vngodly but such as loue thy law O Lorde they haue plenty of peace they haue quiet mindes and contented consciences whiche is the greatest treasure vnder y e Sun geueÌ of thee to so mani as seek it at thy hand wyth true faith coÌtinuall praier Gyue me O Lord that ioyfull Iewell euen a quyet mynde and a free mery conscience y tI beeing free from the damnable accusacions of SathaÌ from the crafty perswacions of the worlde from the subtil entysements of the flesh from the heauy curs of the law and fully perswaded of thy merciful goodnes toward me through faith in thy Sonne Christe Iesu may quietly serue thee both bodyly and ghostly in holines and rightuousnes al the dayes of my lyfe Amen ¶ For Faith FOrasmuche as nothiÌg pleaseth thee that is doon w t out faith appereit before the blinde world neuer so beautyful and commendable but is counted in thy sight sinfull and damnable yea the selfe syn and damnacion this is moste humbly to desyre thee O father for Christes sake to breathe into my hart bi thi Spirit this moste precious and singular gifte of faith which worketh by Charity whereby also we ar iustified and receiued into thy fauor y t I truly beleeuing in thee and fully perswaded of the trueth of thy holy word may be made thy sonne and inheritour of euerlasting glorye throughe Iesu Chryste our Lorde Amen ¶ For Charitie THy cognisaunce badge whereby thy Disciples are knowen O Lorde sauiour Iesu Christe is charitie or loue which cometh out of a pure hart and of a good conscience and of faith vnfayned I pray thee therfore gyue me this Christen loue and perfect charitie that I may loue thee my Lord God with all my hart with al my minde with all my soule and with all my streÌgths dooing alway of very loue y t onely whiche is pleasaunte in thy sight again that I may loue my neighbour and Christen Brother as my self wishing as well to him as to my self redy at al tymes to doo for him what so euer lieth in my power that when we al shal staÌd before thy dreadful iudgyng place I beeing knoweÌ by thy badge may be nuÌbred among thy disciples and so through thy mercye receyue the reward of eternall glory Amen ¶ For Pacience WHen thou liuedst in thys world O Lorde Christe thou shewedst thy self a mere mirrour
for this my poore nedy lyfe yet for as much as y u hast bothe commaunded and taught me by thy deere Sonne to praye vnto thee for thinges necessary for thys my lyfe I am bolde at this present to come vnto thi diuine maiesty moste humbly beseching thee that as thou hast geuen me lyfe so thou wylte giue me meat and drincke to sustayn the same Again as thou hast geueÌ me a body so thou wilt gyue me clothes to couer it that I hauing sufficyent for my liuing may the more fre ly with the quieter minde apply my selfe vnto thy seruice and honour Amen ¶ For a pacient and thankfull hart in sicknes WHoÌ thou louest O lorde him doost thou chasten yea euery soÌne that thou receiuest thou scourgest in so dooing thou offerest thy self vnto him as a father vn to his SoÌne For what soÌne is he whom the father chast neth not Graunt therfore I moste hartely pray thee that wheÌsoeuer thou layest thy cros on me and visitest me with thy louing scourge of sicknes I may by no meanes striue against thy fatherly pleasure but paciently thankfully abide thy chastisemeÌt euer being perswaded that it is for y e helth bothe of my body and soule that by this meanes thou wurkest my saluacion subduest the fleshe vnto the spirit makest me a new crea ture that I may hereafter serue thee the more freely coÌtinue in thy fear vnto my lyfes ende Amen ¶ For strength against the deuell the world and the flesh O Lorde God the Diuell goeth about like a roring LioÌ seeking whom he may deuour The Flesh lusteth against the Spirite The world perswadeth vn to vanities y t we may forget thee our Lorde God so for euer be daÌned Thus are we miserably on euery side beseeged of cruell vnrestful enemies like at eue ri moment to perish if webe not defended with thy godly power against their tiraÌny I therfore poore wretched siner dispairiÌg of mine owne strengthes whiche in deed are none moste hartely pray thee to endue me w t streÌgth from aboue that I may bee able through thy help with strong faith to resist SataÌ with serueÌt prayer to mortify y e raging lusts of the Fleshe with continuall meditation of thy holy law to auoyde the foolish vanities transitory pleasures of this wicked world that I through thy grace be ing set at libertie from the power of mine enemies may liue and serue thee in holines rightuousnes all the days of my life Amen ¶ For the helpe of Gods holy Aungels AN infinit nuÌber of wicked Aungels are there O Lorde Christe whiche without ceasing seek my de struccioÌ Against this exceding great multitude of euill spirits seÌd thou me thy blessed and heauenly angels which may pitche their teÌts round about me so delyuer me from their tirany Thou o lorde hast deuoured hel ouercom y e Prince of darknes with all his ministers yea and that not for thy self but for them that be leue in thee Suffer men of therfore to bee ouercome of Satan of his seruaunts but rather let me triuÌphe ouer them y t I through stroÌg faith the help of the blessed angel hauing the victory of the hellish armi mai with a ioisul hart sai Death where is thy stiÌg hel where is thy victory so for euer euer magnifi thy holy name AmÌ Â¶ A prayer to our Lorde Iesus Christe called Conditor celi et terrae OH maker of heauen and earth king of kinges Lorde of Lordes whiche of nothing didst maâe me to thy image and likenes didst redeem me with thine owne precious bloud whoÌ I a siner am not wurthy to name neither to call vpon neither w t my hart to think vpon humbli I desire thee and meekly pray thee that gentli thou doo beholde me thy wicked seruauÌt haue merci on me whiche hadest merry on the womaÌ of CaÌnane and of Mari Magda leÌ whiche didst forgeue the ãâã ãâã the theef hanging on y e cros Unto the I confes O most holy father my siÌnes which if I would I cannot hide from thee Haue mercy on me Christe for I a wretche haue sore of fended thee in pride in couetousnes in glotony in lechery in vainglory in hatred in enuy inadultry in theft in lying in backbitiÌg in sporting in dissolute and wanton laughing in idle wurds in hearing in tasting in touching in thinking in sleping in wurking in all wayes in whiche I a fraill man moste wretched sinner might sinne Mi default my moste greuous default Therfore I moste huÌbly pray beseech thy geÌtlenes which for my helth descended froÌ heueÌ whiche didst holde vp king Dauid that he should not fall into sin Haue mercy on me oh Lorde haue merci on me O Christe the which didst for geue Peter that did forsake thee Thou art my creatour and my helper my maker my redeemer mi gouernor my father my lord my god and my king Thou art my hope my trust my gouerner my help my coÌfort my strength my defence my redemption my life my helth and my resurrection Thou art my stedfastnes my refuge or succour my light my help I moste humbly hartely desire and pray thee help me defeÌd me make me strong and coÌfort me make me stedfast make me mery geue me light and visit me reuiue me again which am dead For I am thy makiÌg thy wurk oh Lorde despise me not I am thy seruant thy bondmaÌ although euill although vnwurthy a sinner But whatsoeuer I am whether I bee either good or bad I am euer thine Therfore to whom shall I flee except I flee vnto the if thou cast me of who shal or will receiue me If thou despise me turn thy face from me who shal look vppon me Recognise knowledg me although vnwurthy comming to thee allthough I be vile vnclene for if I be vile and vnclene thon canst make me clene If I be sick thou canst heal me If I be dead buried thou canst reuiue me For thy merci is much more theÌ mine iniquitie thou caÌst forgeue me more theÌ I can offend Therfore Oh lorde doo not coÌsider nor haue respect to the number of my sinnes but according to the greatnes of thy merci forgeue me and haue mercy on me most wretched sinner Say vnto my soule I am thy helth which saidst I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he liue and be conuerted turn to thee Oh lorde bee not angry with me I pray thee moste meek father for thy great mercy I most humbely secheech thee that thou bring me to the blis that neuer shall ceas AmeÌ Â¶ For the glory of heauen THe ioyes o lorde which thou hast prepared for them y t loue thee no eye hath seen no eare hath heard nether is any hart able to thiÌk But as the ioyes ar great vnspeakeable so ar there
through faith vnto his grace wherin we staÌde and reioyce in hope of the glory of God we thanke thee for all thy benefytes moste humbly beseeche thee to geue vs grace faithfully to beleue in thee stedfastly to confesse thee true God and true maÌ earnestlye to acknowledge thee our alone redemer sauiour Satisfier RecoÌciler Intercessor Mediator and Aduocate that we altogether depending on thee and thy merites on thy blessed passion precious death and glorious resurrection maye study through thy grace so to order our lyfe in true holines and innocency that at the day of iudgement thou mayst present vs both body and soule vnto thy heauenly father and so for euer and euer placevs in thi glorious kingdome Amen ¶ Unto God the holy ghost O Holy and blessed spirit which being true and euerlasting God with God the father and God y e sonne procedest from them bothe full of maiestie and power which also with thy heaueÌly breath quycknest y e mides of theÌ that afore were dead through sinne makest mery the hartes of y e faithful penitent bringest into y e waye of truth al suche as haue erred and are deceyued settest at one such as wer at debate coÌ fortest the soules of them y thuÌger and thirst after righteousnes and plenteouslye enrichest them w t diuers giftes whyche pray vnto thee in the name of Iesu Christ Purifye our hartes we beseeche thee with the fyre of thy loue mortify in vs what soeuer is not thine renue garnishe our mindes with thy heauenly benefites and spirituall giftes that they may be made thy temples leade vs into all necessary trueth suffer vs not to be caried about with diuers straunge doctryne but alway to remaine in that doctryne wherof thou alone art y e author enarme our soules against the crafty assaultes of suttil Satan against the vain pleasures of the wicked world and against the leude lustes of filthy fleshe that we beeing replenished with thy holy breath may doo y toneli whiche is acceptable in thy godly sight Amen ¶ Particular prayers to be sayed of the Magistrates FOrasmuch as it is thi godli pleasure O king of kinges and Lorde of Lordes to appoint me among other a ruler of thy people geue me grace I beseeche thee so to minister the commoÌ weale and so to execute my office y t I may please thee and hurt no man in all my doinges but iudge equally and iustli rule according to thy wyll shewe my self a father vnto thy people and so behaue my self in all myne enterprises y t I seking thy glory y e furtheraunce of thy blessed gospel the weale of y tsubiectes may when thou shalt render to euery man according to hys deeds be found blameles in thy sight through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ Of the ministers of Gods word Thou hygh Priest and O euerlasting bishop Iesus Christ the alone teacher of all godly trueth and the onely Curate of oure soules whyche by thy holye worde hast appointed some of thy congregacion to be Ministers and Preachers of thy blessed lawe and Gloryous gospell y t by this meanes the holy ghost also working they may call synners vnto repentaunce preache remission of synnes in thy name perswade vnto vertue and disswade froÌ vice forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to cal me an vnprofitable seruauÌt vnto that holy office of ministracion and to make me a preacher of thy worde I moste humbly beseeche thee to geue me thy holy spirite whiche may lead me in to all trueth instruct me with the knowledge of thy holimisteries and through his heauenly inspiracion so prepare my harte and order my tuÌg that I may neyther thinke breath nor speak any thyng but that may turne vnto thy glory and the edifying of thy flock Graunt also that what soeuer I preache in word I may fulfil the same in work vnto the example of that thy flock which thou haste purchased w t thi precious bloud y t when thou the cheef shepeheard shalt appeare I beyng found faithfull in my office mai through thi goodnes re ceiue y e incorruptible crown of glory Amen ¶ Of Subiectes or Commens AS it is thy godly appoiÌtment O Lorde God y tsum should bear rule in this worlde to see thy glorye set forth and the commoÌ peace kepte so it is thy pleasure againe that some should be subiectes and inferiours to other in theyr vocation although before thee there is no respecte of persons And forasmuch as it is thy good wil to appoint me in the nuÌber of subiectes I beseeche thee to geue me a faithfull an obedieÌt hart vnto the hye powers y t there may be fouÌd in me no disobedience no vn faithfulnes no reasoÌ no falshod no dissimulacion no iusurrectioÌ no coÌmocioÌ no coÌspiracy nor ani kind of rebellioÌ in word or in dede agaiÌst the ciuil magistrates but all faithfulnes obedieÌce quietnes subiectioÌ humility and whatsoeuer els becommeth a subiecte that I liuiÌg here in all lowlinesse of mynde may at the last day through thy fauoure be lifted vp vnto euerlasting glory where thou with the father and y e holy ghost liueste raignest very God for euer Amen ¶ Of Fathers and Mothers THe frute of the wombe the multitude of childreÌ is thy gifte and blessing O Lorde geuen to this ende y t they may liue to thy glory the coÌmodity of their neighbour For asmuche therfore as thou of thy goodnes hast geuen me children I beseeche thee geue me also grace to traine them vp euen from theyr Cradels in thy nourtoure doctrine in thy holy lawes blessed ordinauÌces that from theyr very yonge age they may know thee beleue in thee feare loue thee and diligently walke in thy commaundements vnto the praise of thy glorious name Amen ¶ Of Children THou haste geuen a commaundemeÌt in thy law O heaueÌly father that children should honour theyr fathers and mothers I moste humbly beseeche thee therfore to breath thy holy spirit into my brest that I maye reuerence and honoure my father mother not oneli w t outward gestures of mi body but also with the vnfayned affeccioÌ of the hart loue them obey them pray for them help them and doo for theÌ both in worde and dede whatsoeuer lyeth in my power that thou seeing myne vnfayned harty good wil toward my Parentes mayst become my louing heauenly father number me among those thy children whoÌ thou hast appointed from euerlasting heires of thy glorious kyngdom through thy welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ Of Masters THy commaundement is by thine holy Apostle O most merciful Lord Christ y e masters should entreat their seruauntes gently puttyng away threatninges doing that vnto theÌ whiche is iust and equal forasmuch as we also haue a maister in heaueÌ with whom there is no respect of persones GrauÌt I most hartely pray thee I may so order my seruauntes that I atteÌpt none vnrighteousnes against them but