An exercise for a Christian FAMILIE Contayning a short sum of certayne poyntes of Christian religion with certaine godly Prayers psalmes thanâ—â—giuings both before and after meales ¶ Very necessary to be vsed in euery Christian Familie By R. M. AT LONDON ¶ Printed by Robert Walde-graue 1585. ¶ A short SVMME OF THE cheefe groundes of christian religion set down in fiue speciall points Sanctify the lord God in your hearts 1. Pet. 3.15 be ready alwayes to giue an answere to euery one that asketh you a reason of your fayth that with meekenesse and reuerence Keepe the true patern of the wholsome words which thou haste heard of me in faith and loue 2. Tim. 1.13 which is Iesus Christe I Beleeue and confesse first Rom. 10.10 that there is * one God onelye who * is a spirituall nature Ioh. 45.5 without any bodily or visible sharpe Ioh. 4.24 1. Tim. 6 16. Exo. 34.6 Psa 95.4 * of infinite power wisedome * goodnesse and glory creator and gouernour of heauen and earth that this one god is distinct into * three persons the father Iohn 5.7 the son and the holy ghost Secondly that the same God did in the beginning * make mankinde in an excellent state of all perfection happines Gen. 1.26 euen according to his owne * holinesse righteousnesse Eph 4.24 Thirdly that we fell afterwards through the disobedience of Adam into a cursed kind of al misery Rom. 5.12 euen * into the wrath of God and eternal damnation of body and soule Fourthly that the deliuerance and redemption from this misery is fully wrought by * Iesus Actes 4.12 Christ onely both God man who hath * suffered all the punishments of our sinns Rom. 13 4 that we might not bee damned for them 1. Ioh. 1 7 1. Pet. 2 24. * hath perfectly kept the * ten commaundements for vs which we could not do to bring vs again to the * loue of God Rom. 5.19 21 and to eternal life Fiftly that they onely are partakers of Iesus Christe and * this great worke of our redemption Math. 7.7 which do earnestly and faithfully praye for the grace of his holy * Spirite Rom. 10 11 that thorough the * preaching of the Worde Iohn 3.36 there maye bee wroughte in their heartes a * stedfast fayth Iam. 2.18 21. to be saued by his sufferings and holinesse onely and that their fayth may be shewed and iustyfied by continuall repentance and a Godly life that is Deu. 12 12. by * shunning those thinges which hee forbiddeth and dooing those thinges which he commaundeth This is lyfe eternall Iohn 17.3 to knowe thee to bee the onelye true God and him whome thou haste sente Iesus Christe Ioh. 17.3 Iesus sayd take heede and beware of the leauen of the pharisees saduces Mat. 16.6 12. which is their doctrine Cast away prophane and old wiues fables 1. Tim. 4.7 exercise thy selfe vnto godlinesse I will pray vnto God Psal 55.16 and the Lord shall saue mee euening and morning and at noone day will I pray and he will heare my voyce Prayers for the morning necessary to be vsed of all housholders in their families MATH 26.41 VVatch and pray least ye enter into temptation O moste mighty God our heauenly and mercifull father we most wretched sinners humblye confesse vnto thy maiesty that all good thinges wee haue doe come from thy onelye mercy that we are most vnworthy of them and yet altogether vnable heartily to pray for the continuaunce thereof yet seeing thy dear son Iesus Christe hathe commaunded vs in his name to pray and that with assurance to speed and to be heard wee beseeche thee for his sake to prepare oure heartes by thy holye spirite to put oute of our mindes all worldlye thinges and vayne fantasies and to stir vs vp earnestly to coÌ„sider what greate neede wee haue of thy continuall help both in our soules and bodies O Lord we haue through our manifold sinns deserued thy wrath and eternall damnation of body soul yet by the vertue of the great sufferinges of Iesus Christ and the shedding of his precious bloud forgiue and wash away al our offences wee are vnworthy of thy fauour either in this life or in the life to come yet thorough his holines receiue vs vnto mercy make vs heirs of thy blessed kingdom and so increase in oure hearts euery day vnfained repentaunce for our former wickednes in that we haue neither worshipped thy maiesty nor liued towardes others accordinge to thy worde Strengthen our faith O Lord in Iesus Christe for the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and for thy tender mercy sake powre into our hearts the grace of thy holy spirite which may stirre vp in vs a more hearty loue vnto thee and thy blessed worde that by it we may learn to worship thee aright and to liue faithfullye truelye towardes all men in our callings striuing coÌ„tinually against all sinne chiefly in our selues and then also in others so that whensoeuer it shall please thee to call any of vs out of this short sinfull life we may willingly deliuer vp our soules into thy blessed kingdome and may come with ioy as louing children to thee our heauenly and merciful Father O lord make vs thankful for all thy corrections giuing vs grace by them to fear thee more carefully to sorow for our sinnes more heartily Make vs also thankfull for all thy benefites namely for the sweete sleepe and quiet rest wherby thou haste this nighte refreshed vs wee beseeche thee now in like manner O gratious God for Christs sake to receiue vs this day into thy blessed keeping preserue vs froÌ„ al perils dangers froÌ„ sinn froÌ„ the wicked cares of this life and the vaine desires of the flesh shinning into our hearts by the grace of thy holy spirit and the true knowledge of Iesus Christ the true light of the worlde that wee may guid al ourthoghts words deeds according to the same and walk painfully and truly in our callings to the glorye of thy blessed name the good example of al others and the great assuraunce of our own saluation through thy deare Sonne Iesus Christe our onely sauiour in whose name we pary for these and al other graces as hee hath taught vs saying Our father c. Another Prayer for the Morning ALmighty God and moste mercifull Father Dan. 9 we do not * preseÌ„t our selues heere before thy maiesty trusting in oure owne merites or worthinesse but in thy manifolde mercies which hast promised to heare our prayers and * graunt oure requests Iohn 16. which we shall make to thee in the name of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde who hath also commanded vs to asseÌ„ble our selues together in his * name Math. 18. with full assurance that he will not onely bee amoÌ„g vs but also be our mediator
increase the number of them place ouer euerye Church a painfull watch man remooue all idle lubbers confound the power of Antichrist tourne the heartes of the people that they may be obedient to thy trueth Blesse the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxenforde and all the Studentes of the same with all Schooles of learning Beholde all those that bee afflicted with any kind of crosse that they may profit by thy correction in newnesse of life Lastly for our selues heere gathered together wee heartily craue at thy handes that it woulde please thee to make vs thankfull vnto thy maiestie for all thy louing kindnes shewed vnto vs euen from our infancy especially that thou haste this present night deliuered vs frō all dangers both of body and soule wherinto many haue fallen as we in like maner shoulde haue doone if wee had not beene stayed with thy merciful hand that thou hast also graunted vnto vs so sweet comfortable reste and haste now presently brought vs to the beginning of this daye For these thinges good Lord we yeelde vnto thee moste harty thanks besehcing thee to make vs more more daylye thankfull vnto thy maiestye for thē pardon oure vnthākfulnes And as thou hast safely preserued vs vnto this presenthowre frō all the daungers of this life so we beseech thee continue thy fauor towardes vs this day the whole course of our life Defend vs O lord that we now entring into the affayres of this daye bee not drawne away with the vayne alluremēts of this world to sinn and wickednes that we walk not in the shadowes of death that we be not intangled in the snares of sinne that wee stumble not at the blockes of iniqnity that we finallye fall not into the pit of death and destructiō but being shadowed vnderthy wings we may cheerfully and constantlye goe on forward to the end of our course Graunt vnto vs O Lorde our God that this good time which thou grantest vnto vs in this life bee not idly or vainly of vs consumed but that euerye one of vs maye bee diligentlye exercised in his calling this day and all our life long being assured that thou wilt once call vs to yeelde an account of our stewardship Indue vs we besech thee with those giftes and graces which bee needfull for vs in our calling that with a pure and sincere conscience we may vse them to the benefite of our brethren and discharge of our own consciences before thy maiesty We beseech thee O Lord that in all oure confultations words works this day and the whole course of oure life wee maye alwayes haue thee present before our eyes knowing that thou seest euen the very deepe thoughts of our harts which alwais maye bee as a brydle to pull vs backe that wee neither do nor yet consent vnto anye sinne or wickednes but that alwayes we may be so exercised in the affayres of this life that we loke still to the ende of our course when it shall please thee to bring vs through the pilgrimage of this life to our euerlasting reste with thy deare Sonne IESVS CHRIST oure Sauiour In whole name for these mercies and what soeuer thou knowest to be needefull for vs and for the whole Church we pray vnto thee as he him selfe hath taught vs in his holye worde saying Our father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shyne vppon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lorde tourne his fauourable countenaunce towards vs grant vs his peace The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the holye Ghoste be with vs preserue and keepe vs this day and euermore Amen A CONFESSION of sinnes with faith and repentance O Merciful and Heauenlye Father wee thy seruaunts do humbly prostrate our selues before thy maiestye acknowledging heere in thy sight our hainous offences committed against thy maiestye seeing and beholding thy heauye wrath againste them wee feele oure selues laden O Lorde our God with a huge companye of horrible sinnes wherof euen the verye leaste beeing but conceiued in thought is sufficient in iudgement to throw vs down to the euerlasting burning lake Our owne consciences O Lorde do beare witnes against vs of oure manyfolde transgressions of thy blessed law of our security sencelesse blindnes running head-long to destruction committing sinne after sinne although not notorious to the world yet horrible before thine eye The thoughtes of oure hartes rise vp in iudgement against vs the vanity of our talke before thy maiestye condemneth vs the wickednes of our deedes from thy sight reiecteth vs al our wicked thoghts words and deeds with the inward corruption of our nature do altogeather as it were a whole lump and loade of sinne lye heauie vppon vs and with their intollerable weight do euen presse vs down to hell Wee do daylye grone vnder the burthen of them inwardly lamenting our owne folly so greedily running into them In Heauen Earth or Hel wee see none able to sustaine the weight of them but euē the dearlye beloued Sonne Iesus Chrst who in mercy infinite and compassion endlesse hath sustained and ouer come that endlesse punnishement due vnto them in him therefore in him most meeifull father through him wee come to thee being fully assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept and take that ful recompence which hee thy deere Sonne hath made for vs as a iust raunsome for all the sinnes of all those who with a true faith take houlde on him In him therefore we see thine anger towards vs appeased thy wrath satisfied and our debts payde Increase in vs good Lord we beseech thee this liuely and feeling faith for wee feele it oftentymes in vs verye weake troubled with many doubtes increase it in vs O Lorde that wee may through thy holy spirite bee assured that the punnishement of our sinnes is fully in thy sonne discharged Make vs O Lorde our God to feele this same in our soules and consciences that IESVS CHRIST is ours and all that hee hath done that we are graffed into his body and made one with him and therfore fellow heires with him of euerlasting life Let vs not onely haue these wordes in our mouthes good Lord but through thy holye spirite lette vs feele the comfort of them in our heartes fully sealed and setled in vs that we feling our selues inwardly before thy iudgment seat discharged and our consciences towardes thee appeased may bee swallowed vp with an vnfained loue towarde thy heauenly Maiestie and towardes thy brethren for thy sake Make sin to dye in vs dayly more more that we may hate detest vtterly abhor all sin and wickednesse in all men but especiallye in oure selues that wee maye strongly thorough thy holye spirite sette our selues in open warre defiance against all sinn and wickednesse that we please not ourselues in our sinnes but straitlye examining sin
their craft and oure simplicitye their watchfulnesse and oure sluggishnesse their long experience and our rawnesse their preparation our nakednesse and that wee haue not only nothing to helpe vs but also to carry about vs our own concupiscences readye to betraye vs into the handes of our enemies it maye please thee to furnish vs from aboue giuing vs the strength of thy holy spirit in the inner man reaching vnto vs the compleat harnes of thy grace wherewith we beeing armed on both sides maye be prepared at all assaies against all assaults of our enemies And forasmuch as in this weakenesse wee oftentimes giue backe and sometimes runne away wee pray thee O Lord that with the hand of faith wee may lay holde on the victory of our Sauiour Iesus Christ that albeit we be not able to ouercome in our owne persons yet notwithstaÌ„ding we may ouercom in his who hath ouercommed for vs all so bee partakers of those promises that thou hast knit vnto that glorious victory And we most humblye thanke thee also for those graces both of the bodye and soule which pertaine to this present life desiring thee to increase them vppon vs and in vs so farre foorth as thou seest wee haue neede of to thy glory the commodity of others and our owne comforts therfore we beseech thee Lord to teach vs with thy holy Spirite the lawfull vse of theÌ„ that thou wouldest not suffer our harts to bee rooted in them but that at all times we maye be willing to part from them And whensoeuer it shall please thee to call for vs wee may willingly goe vnto thee as childreÌ„ to their deare Fathers strangers vnto their own Country and members of the body vnto their Head and so much the gladder by how much thou Lord art better then all the men in the worlde and the kingdome that thou hast prepared better then all the kingdomes thereof We pray not only for our selues O most mercifull Father but for all those that thou hast appointed to eternall life beseechinge thee to gather the number of those that are to bee gathered those that thou haste alreadye called thou wouldest alwayes keepe and to this end good Lorde rayse vp faithfull ministers both of thy church and common weale whose heartes thou wouldest fyll with the graces of thy holy spirit meete for their callinges meete also for these dangerous times roote out from among thy church al rauening and deuouring beasts which to fyll their own bellies distroy thy flok ease thy selfe of all hirelings idle shepherds which haue no care nor skil to feed thi flok with the holsom food of thy blessed worde nor to rule them with that equitye wherewithall thou wilte haue thy people to bee ruled those Pastoures that thou haste giuen it woulde please thee to increase the number of them those that are fallen asleepe and carried awaye with the corruptions of these tymes that thou wouldest awake letting them vnderstande the charge that thou haste committed vnto them the trust that thou hast put them in and the accoÌ„pt that thou wilt take at their handes Be gratious O Lorde vnto this lande of ours and enter not into iudgement with the horrible sins of it namely the coÌ„tempt light esteming of thy holye worde so many yeares offred vnto vs and we being trusted withall so manye nations better then we being passed by which woulde haue brought foorth the fruit thereof more theÌ„ we haue don and we not onely haue brought forth no good fruit but rotten vnsauory to prouoke rhy Maiestye withall notwithstanding all these our sins it would please thee in that loue wherwithall thou haste firste loued vs when we hated thee in that long patience wherein thou hast hitherto born with vs and dost yet beare tarriest for our repentance to grant vs heartie and earnest repentaunce our heartes being effectually touched with thy holye Spirite strikinge these rockye hearts of ours that thei maye bee resolued into riuers of teares for oure synnes making them soft and meeke to receiue the print of thy holy word and seale of thy blessed spirite writing with thy fynger thine own laws in theÌ„ so that thou maist read thine owne hande acknowledge thine owne seale so passe by vs when thou shalt bring thy iudgement vppon the face of the earth for the iniquities thereof whereof thou haste giuen and still giuest froÌ„ time to time diuers tokens which we beseech thee may be profitable vnto vs whilste first of al we acknowledge thy hande striking vs and thy counsayle callinge vs thereby to repentaunce that thy heauier iudgementes doe not fall vpon vs to our vtter destruction Moreouer we thank thee O Lorde for that it hath pleased thee to be the watch-man and as it were the spie of this Church and common wealth and haste foreseen al the stormes and treasons comming againste it and againste â—hine annoynted oure SOVERAIGNE whome thou in mercye hast appoynted to rule ouer it and haste scattered them and broughte them to naught and haste pursued certayne of thyne Ennemyes and ours vnto death be seeching thee to continue this watchfull and carefull eye ouer vs still to doe vs good and to pursue the rest of thine enemies and ours vnto the graue giuing notwithstanding repentaÌ„ce vnto them vnto whom thou haste left place of repentaunce And to this ende raise vp the harts of our most gratious QVEENE her honourable Counsell thy Magistrates that as they sit in thy seate and are called by thy name so they maye execute thy iustice which thou so well approouest of whereof also thou wilt require a straighte accompt at their hands Wee desire thee also to shewe these thy graces to all other Churches of thine namely thy Church of Englande that it may enioye that peace that thou hast giuen it and graunt that the same be referred to that end wherfore thou hast giuen it namelye to the ful establishment of the throne of thy dear sonn our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST to the building of his Kingdome there Wee besech thee also for the churches which thi haÌ„d hath plaÌ„ted long since especiallye those from whoÌ„ we haue receiued knowledge in time of our ignoraÌ„ce places of refuge in time of persecution that it woulde please thee to continue thy louing kindnes towards them and therefore cause them to continue their faith toward thee obedience towards thy holy worde And whensoeuer it shal bee thy pleasure to try them with any kinde of affliction it woulde please thee to graunt vnto them that they maye put their truste in thee hauing regarde to the truth of thy promises and to the good experience that they haue of thy helpe in tymes paste and thereby conceiue comfort hope O Lorde euen of life in death and of saluation in destruction We praye thee also good lord that we may haue the feeling of the miseries of our brerhren as members of the same body those that liue by the same spirite
teares for oure synnes making them soft and meeke to receiue the print of thy holy word and seale of thy blessed spirire writing with thy fynger thine own laws in thē so that thou maist read thine owne hande acknowledge thine owne seale so passe by vs when thou shalt bring thy iudgement vppon the face of the earth for the iniquities thereof whereof thou haste giuen and still giuest frō time to time diuers tokens which we beseech thee may be profitable vnto vs whilste first of al we acknowledge thy hande striking vs and thy counsayle callinge vs thereby torepentaunce that thy heauier iudgementes doe not fall vpon vs to our vtter destruction Moreouer we thank thee O Lorde for that it hath pleased thee to be the watch-mā and as it were the spie of this Church and common wealth and haste foreseene all the stormes treasons comming againste it and againste thine annoynted oure Souaraigne whōe thou in mercye hast appoynted to rule ouer it and hast scattered them and brought thē to naught and haste pursued certaine of thine enemyes and ours vnto death be seeching thee to continue this watchfull and carefull eye ouer vs still to doe vs good and to pursue the rest of thine enemies and ours vnto the graue giuing notwithstanding repentāce vnto them vnto whom thou haste left place of repentaunce And to this ende raise vp the harts of our most gratious QVEENE her honourable Counsell thy Magistrates that as they sit in thy seate and are called by thy name so they maye execute thy iustice which thou so well approouest of whereof also thou wilt require a straighte accompt at their hands Wee desire thee also to shewe these thy graces to all other Churches of thine namely thy Church of Englande that it may enioye that peace that thou hast giuen it and graunt that the same be referred to that end wherfore thou hast giuen it namelye to the ful establishment of the throne of thy dear sonn our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST to the building of his Kingdome there Wee besech thee also for the churches which thi hād hath plāted long since especiallye those from whō we haue receiued knowledge in time of our ignorāce places of refuge in time of persecution that it woulde please thee to continue thy louing kindnes towards them and therefore cause them to continue their faith toward thee obedience towards thy holy worde And whensoeuer it shal bee thy pleasure to try them with any kinde of affliction it woulde please thee to graunt vnto them that they maye put their truste in thee hauing regarde to the truth of thy promises and to the good experience that they haue of thy helpe in times past and thereby conceiue comfort hope O Lorde euen of life in death and of saluation in destruction We praye thee also good lord that we may haue the feeling of the miseries of our brethren as members of the same body those that liue by the same spirite And therefore we pray thee that according to the manyfold troubles that thou shalt visite them with it woulde bee thy good pleasure to measure out rhy grace in such plentifull maner that thy children maye patiently beare and ioy fullye attende for the good howre wherein thou wilt pul them out of all their troubles And especially we pray thy maiesty for our brethren that are afflicted for thy Gospell sake namelye those that suffer imprisonment or otherwise in any nation for the clearer testimony of it that it woulde please thee to giue thē patience in all theire troubles wisedom and mouthes to defend thy cause against all those that rise vp againste it that thou woldst blesse their trauels and sufferings for that for which they are taken which is to giue a freer course of thy gospel into al places And therewithall wee beeseeche thee for the churches of France and Flaunders which are so miserably racked and torn in sunder and which are almost consumed with these fierie trials that it wold plese thee to looke vpon the sighings and gronings the teares that fall from their eies continually the bloud that is shed in all the partes of the Lande the bodies that lye vnburied to bee meate to the foules of the ayre and Fishes of the Sea the lonenes of wiues lacking ther husbāds children their fathers euery frend his freind And for asmuch as those thynges are come vppon them for thy names sake let it be thy good pleasure to helpe them considering that they are forsaken of all their friends roūd about and therefore praye thee that thou wouldest not looke vppon our sinnes nor the sins of our forefathers wherby we deserue not onelye this correction but vtter destruction as Sodom Gomorrha but rather to looke vpthy mercies which were before them whereby thou hast sayde that although we doe offend and thou doest correct vs yet thou wilt not take awaye thy mercies from vs but wilt leaue a remnant which thou wilt multiply and make as the starres of the heauen and as the sandes of the sea Looke also O lord vpon the outragiousnes and cruelty vnfaithfulnes and blasphemy of the enemies wherewithal they blaspheme thee and prouoke thee to thy face and therefore in thine owne cause and for thine own sake take the matter into thine owne handes and pay into the Bosomes of thine enymies double and treble of that they haue giuen to thee Notwithstanding those amongest them that belong to thine holy election hasten their calling that afterward thy iudgement may hasten vpon the earth and the inhabitants therof may learn to knowe thee by thy iudgementes that would not vnderstand and come to thee by the louing callinge of thy Gospell Wee pray thee O Lorde for our brethren that are vp in arms in both those coūtries that thou wouldst goe before them and come behinde them and on euerye syde of them couer their heads in the daye of battell teache their handes to fyght their fingers to war giue them wisdom valiantnes and good succes in al their enterprises strike a dizinesse maze of spirite into the enimies hearts and take away from them al force and disappoint all their counsels And vpō our brethren in Flāders we beseeche thee that thou wouldest comfort them ouer all thy troubles that they haue receiued and breaches that haue beene made in vpon them where there are new forces euery day gathered new sleights inuented to destroy thē it maye please thee to scatter their forces and bring their sleights to nothing Yea grant also O lord that that which they haue deuised against thy children may come vppon their own heades And for oure Brethren in Fraunce wee beseeche thee O Lorde what straights so euer thei be in thou wouldest deliuer them and althogh they be forsaken in the iudgement of all the world and in their own iudgementes notwithdanding thou that hast the issues of death in thine owne handes deliuer those that are appoynted to
the light of thy glorious gospell and that thy Churche flourishe and increase beeing thorough thy protection ayded supported maintayned and defended we beseeche thee by thy holy Spirit guid and rule euerye parte and member thereof especially thy seruaunt ELIZABETH our Queene whome thy gratious fauoure and prouidēce hath appointed a cheefe member in the same vnder whose winges next vnto thy protection it hathe a cheefe succour and support Graunt vnto her O LORDE a pure and perfecte zeale aboue all thynges to promote thy Glorye first and chiefly in laboring and endeuoring of her self earnestly in wiping away and purging out of thy Church all blots and deformityes to reduce the same to a pure sincere forme of worship agreing to thy blessed word vtterly to mooue all stumblinge blockes which stay and hinder the course of thy gospell giue her in like maner O Lord the spirite of wisdome discretion and gouernment that with equitye and iustice she maye see this whole Realme which thou hast committed to her charge peaceablye and quietly gouerned that she may studiously labour that as wel thorough the whole realm vertue be exalted and vice abandoned as specially in her own house and Court that all wicked vanityes of this world all licentious inordinate life all flattering and dissimulation being vtterly banished the feare of thy glorious Maiestye maye so raigne in the heartes of all within her pallace Court that their liues and conuersation may be agreable to thy blessed wil in sincerity and true holines and integrity of life that from them as from the head maye shine puretye of life and conuersation as an example and patterne of true Godlines to the whole Realme Preserue her wee beseech thee good Lord from all conspyracies and treasons that if it be thy good will shee may haue a long quiet raigne ouer vs to the benefit of thy Church the aduancement of thy glory Indue the whol coūsel good lord with the true perfect wisdom that in all their consultatiōs coūsels hauing thee present before their eies thy mai consult of those things which principally and cheefely may be for the aduauncement of thy glory the cōmodity of thy church and next for the quiet peace and gracious gouernmente of this realm So lightē al inferior magistrats of this realm good Lord with the brightnesse of thy holy Spirite that vnderstanding thy will they may zealously defend maintain further the course of the Gospell with the swoord of iustice cut off the wicked cherish the godly Defend and gouern by the holye spirite the Pastours of thy church labourers in thy vine yarde that they maye zealously earnestly and diligētly feed thy flock committed vnto them with the foode of lyfe thy blessed word wherwith their soules maye bee nourished to life euerlasting Increase the number of them deare Father place ouer euerye flocke a godly learned and painful Pastor who may painfully and carefully trauail euery one in his charge to bring thy people which now alas in most partes doe wander and goe astray like lost sheepe to the true knowledge of thee their lord God and of their deare Son Christe Iesu their Sauiour And for thy mercy we beseech thee to take pity vpon thy poore and simple flocke roote out al rauening wolues whiche haue craftilye crept into thy sheepefolde and do make hauocke of the soules of thy simple flocke Cast out all hirelinges time-seruers and dumbe Dogges whiche to fill theire bellyes onelye haue thrust them selues among the sheep do pitifully suffer the flock of Christ thy sonne to bee deuoured and scattered of the wolfe Stir vp good Lord place in their rooms faithfull shepheards which diligently paynfully carefully and earnestly may labour in thy vineyard seek to win the souls of thy people out of the tyranny and power of Satan to the freedome of thy deere son Christ Iesu our Lord. And that thy Church may be furnished with Godly learned pastors we beseeche thee prosper and encrease in all Godly knowledge all Schooles of learning especiallye the two vnyuersities CAMBRIDGE and OXFORD grant deer father vnto all the students of the same that the cheef end of all their studyes maye be to the furtheraunce of thy Church and maintenance of the common wealth Blesse their studies deare Father that all vaine studies set a side they may so fructify and profit in all profitable and godly sciences that heereafter they may become profitable members in thy Church and godly vpholders of the common wealth Graunt good Lord to all the whole Commons of this realm that their hartes beeing touched with a sincere fear and reuerence of thy heauenlye maiestye acknowledging thy mercy in placing ouer them a godly Princesse they may euery one in their callinges walke in all true and humble obedience vnto her in thee for thee without resistaunce tumultes insurrections conspiracies or rebellions knowing that to resiste the higher powers is to rebell against thy maiesty Finally we beseech thy goodnesse so guid and gouerne the harts of all the whole realme of euery degree that euery one in his calling being by thy grace supported may so occupy his Talent that thy glory in al thinges may be aduanced thy Church enlarged this whole realm into sincere godlinesse vertuously reduced Moreouer we beseech the O Lord our God in mercye beholde all those which suffer persecution for thy glorious wordes sake whether it be imprisonmēt death or banishment or whatsoeuer els strengthen then them good Lord that they hauing thee alwais before their eies and the glorye layde vp for them in the lyfe to come may cōtinue constaunt in defending thy truth with out feare of man or vain alluremēts of the world that whether it come by lyfe or death they may glorify thy holye name in continuing in the truth to the ende Preserue in like maner wee beseech thee all others thy children whome it hath pleased thee with anye other kinde of Crosse to chasten for their amendment whether by pestilence famine war pouerty imprisonment sicknes or banishment trouble of conscience vexation of spirite disquietnes of mind want of spirituall comfort or what soeuer kind of affliction of bodye or minds thou doest try them with that by thy holy spirite beeing fully assured that thou by this thy correction mindest to call them backe to a feeling of their sin and due consideration of their life and conuersation that they maye patiently abide thy Fatherly triall looking for aide helpe and comfort from thee when it seemeth most conuenient to thy godly wisdome and beeing by thy mercyfull hande once deliuered may acknowlege thy singular power and worke giuing all laude and praise to thy glorious Name and afterwardes all the dayes of their life studye to liue before thee in sincerity and perfect holinesse euen to their liues ende Amen A PRAYER FOR all estates O Lorde God Father of light with whōe is no chaunge neither yet shadow of
* aduocate towardes thy maiestie 1. Tim. 2. that we may obtain * all things which shall seem expedient to thy blessed will for our necessities 1. Ioh. 3. Therefore wee beseech thee most mercifull father to turne thy louing countenāce towards vs Psal 32. and * impute not vnto vs our manifolde sins offences whereby wee iustly deserue thy wrath sharp punishment but rather receiue vs to thy mercy for Iesus Christes sake accepting his death and passion as a iust recompence for all our offences in whom only thou art pleased through whome thou canst not bee offended with vs. And seeing that of thy great mercies wee haue quietli passed this night grant o heauēly father that wee may bestowe this day wholly in thy seruice so that all oure thoughtes wordes and deeds may redound to the glory of thy name and good example to al men who seeing our good works may glorify thee our heauēly father And forasmuch as of thy mere fauour and loue thou hast not only created vs to thine own similitude likenesse but also haste chosen vs to bee heires with thy dear sonne Iesus Christ of that immortall kingdom which thou prepa redst for vs before the begining of the world wee beseech thee to increas our faith know ledge to lighten our heartes with thine holy spirit that we may in the meane time liue in godly conuersation integrity of life knowing that * idolaters Gal. 5 adul terers couetous men contentious personnes drunkardes gluttons such like shall not inherite the kingdome of God And because thou haste commaunded vs to pray one for another we doe not onely make request O Lord for our selues and them that thou hast already called to thee true vnderstanding of thine heauenly will but for all people * natiōs of the world Actes 10. 1. tim 2. who as they knowe by thy wonderful workes that thou art God ouer all so they may be instructed by thine holie spirite to beleue in thee their onely sauiour and Redeemer But forasmuch as they can not beleeue except they * hear Rom. 10. nor cānot hear but by preaching and none can preach except they be sent therfore O lord raise vp faythfull distributers of thy misteries who setting aparte all worldly respectes may both in their life and doctrine only seeke thy glory Contrarily confounde * Sathan Rom. 16. Antichrist with all hirelings and papistes whō thou hast already cast of into a reprobate sense that they may not by sects schismes heresies and errours disquiet thy little flocke And because O Lorde wee be fallen into the latter dayes 2. tim 3. and daungerous times wherin ignorance hath gotten the vpper hand and Satan with his minysters seeke by all meanes to quench the light of thy Gospell we beseeche thee to maintaine thy cause against those * rauenous wolues Mat. 7 and strengthen all thy seruauntes whome they keepe in prison bondage Let not thy long suffering bee an occasion eyther to increase their tyranny or to discourage thy children neyther yet let oure sinnes and wickednesse bee an hynderaunce to thy mercyes but with speede O Lord consider the greate myseries and afflictions of thy poore Church which in sundry places by the rage of enimies is greeuously tormented and this we confesse O Lord to come moste iustlye for our sinnes which notwithstanding thy manifold benefites whereby thou doest dayly allure vs to loue thee and thy sharp thretnings wherby we haue occasion to feare thee and speedily to repent yet continue in our owne wickednes and feel not our hearts so touched with the displeasure of our sinnes as we ought to do Therefore O Lorde create in vs newe heartes that with feruent minds we may bewaile our manifolde sinnes earnestly repent vs for our former wickednesse and vngodly behauiour towardes thee and wheras wee can not of oure selues purchase thy pardon yet wee humblye beseeche thee for Iesus Christes sake to shewe thy mercies vppon vs and receiue vs again to thy fauour Graunt vs deare father these oure requestes and all other thinges necessary for vs and thy whole Church according to thy promise in Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we beseech thee as hee hath taught vs saying Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name c. A GODLY PRAIER to be sayde at all times HOnour and prayse bee giuen to thee O Lord God almighty moste deare Father of heauen for all thy mercies louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs in that it hath plesed thy gratious goodnesse and freely of thine own accord to elect chuse vs to saluatiō before the begining of the world euē like cōtinual thanks be giuē to thee for creating vs after thine own image for redeeming vs with the precious bloude of thy deare sonne when we were vtterlye loste for sanctifying vs with thine holye Spirite in the Reuelation and knowledge of thyne holy word for helping and succouring vs in all our needes and necessities for sauing vs from all daungers of bodye and soule for comforting vs so fatherly in all our tribulations persecutions for sparing vs so long and giuing vs so large a time of repentaunce These benefits O most merciful father like as wee knowledge to haue receiued them of thine onely goodnesse euen so wee beseech thee for thy dear son Iesus Christes sake to grant vs alwais thine holy spirit whereby we may continually growe in thankfulnes towards thee to bee led into all truethe and comforted in all oure aduersities O Lord strengthen our faith kindle it more in feruentnes and loue towardes thee and our neighbors for thy sake Suffer vs not most dear Father to receiue thy word any more in vain but graunt vs alwayes the assistaunce of thy grace and holy spirite that in heart word and deede we may sanctify and doe worship to thy name helpe to amplify and increase thy kingdome that whatsoeuer thou sendest we maye be hartely well content with thy good pleasure and wil. Let vs not lack the thing o father with out the which we cannot serue thee but bless thou so all the workes of our handes that we may haue sufficient and not to bee chargeable but rather helpfull vnto others Be mercifull O Lorde to our offences and seeing our debt is great which thou haste forgiuen vs in Iesus Christ make vs to loue thee and our neighbors so much the more Be thou oure Father oure captaine and defender in all tentations holde thou vs by thy mercifull hand that we maye bee deliuered from all inconueniences end our liues in the sanctifiing honor of thy holy name through Iesus christ our Lord only Sauioure so be it Let thy mighty hande and out-stretched arme O Lorde bee still our defence thy mercye and louing kindenesse in Iesus Christ thy dear Sonne oure saluation thy true and holy word oure instruction thy grace and holy spirite our comfort and consolation vnto
by the iust rule of thy holy Lawes wee maye vtterly from the bottom of our hearts condemn euen the leaste sinne in our selues hauinge our whole ioy comfort and consolation vppon those thinges whiche bee agreeable to thy blessed will alwayes beeing afrayde to doe any thing contrarye to the same that we may euen from the bottom of our hearts examine and try our thoughtes before thy presence that they be vpright vnfayned not hipocriticall in outwarde shew onely and appearance but that euen all corners of our harts being opened and disclosed before thee we maye euen as though it were openly before the face of the whole worlde bring them in shewe knowing that a dubble hart is detestable in thin eyes and that we may walke alwaies as before thine eyes not only before the eyes of man beeing more careful to walke circumspectlye in this respect that wee haue thee to be a vewer of our doinges a thousande folde more then the eyes of man that thus we maye walke as becommeth thy children not onely in outwarde shew but also in sincerity of hart abhorring euen the least sinn in our selues stryuing resisting and fighting against sinne not delighting our selues in sinne nor norishing the same in our brest but earnest lye embracing and studiouslye seeking after those thinges which be pleasant in thine eyes that neither the feare of man nor losse of goods life landes possessions or friends draw vs away from thee to doe anye least thing contrarye to thy will and pleasure neither the fauoure or friendship of man nor yet the flattering entice mentes of this worlde nor the vaine promotions of the same doe moue vs any whit from the true and endles ioy delighte and pleasure which we ought to haue in those thinges which be agreeable to thy wil and the constaunt performance of the same but that alwayes to the end of our lyfe we may continue in thy pathes growing and increasing from faith to faith from strength to strength till at length we shall come to thy euerlasting rest A FORME OF MORning praier necessarye for this present time for godly christians to vse in their houses and families WE most humblye thank thee O heauenlye Father for the sweete quiet rest that we haue had this night for the louing and fauourable deliueraunce out of all dangers both of bodye and Soule which we iustly deserue to be throwne into for our manyfolde sinnes for that thou haste raysed vs vp this morning we pray thee to goe before vs and for as much as thou seest our sluggishnes and drowsines it woulde please thee good Lord to pull vs after thee and to shewe vs those wayes which thou hast appoynted vs to walk in And as thou renuest this morning so renue thy mercies and as thou causest the Sun comfortablye to shine to our bodilye eyes so vouchsafe wee praye thee to be Sunne vnto our bodyes and to our soules by the beames of thy holy Spirite and Starre of thy blessed Word shining into the middest of our harts to driue away all the night and darknes of all prophanenesse to chase awaye all want of true feare of thy good Maiesty and in place therof bring in loue towardes thy glory zeale of thy house loue also towardes our brethren especiallye those that thou aboue the rest cōmendest vnto vs that we may loue them with that loue wherewithall thou hast first loued vs which is pure vncorrupt vehement and euerlasting and therfore we praye thee to ridde our hartes of all naughtye and corrupt loue and whatsoeuer is vnmeete to bee in those vessels that are to serue such a mightye Prince as thou arte and in those houses wherein it pleaseth thy maiestye by thy holye Spirite to dwell and therefore on the other side good Lord chace away from vs all rancor and malice all pride enuiousnesse disdaynefulnesse vncharitablenesse vnnaturalnesse vnkindenesse and whatsoeuer is contrarye to that loue wherof thou hast giuen vs a liuelye example in our saniour Iesus christ vnto the which example grant good Lord that wee may alwayes haue oure eyes lifted vp and therein holden and caused thereby to profit vntill such time as we come to that perfection wherunto thou hast appointed we shall come Vouchsafe more ouer by the comming of the selfe same Spirit to scatter in vs all the night and darknesse of ignoraunce and forgetfulnesse and of all those things which pertaine to the clearer and fuller knowledge of thy truth Take from vs all negligence all want of iudgment and discretion deliuer vs from al those thinges which thou knowest to bee hinderaunces to vs either to walke in that great callinge of Christianitye whervnto thou hast called vs or in those seuerall and particular callinges wherin thou hast placed euery one of vs that we maye walke so good Lorde both in the one in the other that thy name maye be glorified in both We praye not onely for our selues O moste merciful Father but for all those that thou hast appointed to eternall life beseechinge thee to gather the number of those that are to bee gathered those that thou haste alreadye called thou wouldest alwayes keepe and to this end good Lorde rayse vp faithfull ministers both of thy church and common weale whose heartes thou wouldest fyll with all graces of thy holy spirit meete for their callinges meete also for these dangerous times roote out from among thy church al rauening and deuouring beasts which to fyll their own bellies distroy thy flok ease thy selfe of all hirelings idle shepherds which haue no care nor skil to feed thi flok with the holsom food of thy blessed worde nor to rule them with that equitye wherewithall thou wilte haue thy people to bee ruled those Pastoures that thou haste giuen it woulde please thee to increase the number of thē those that are falne a sleepe caried away with the corruptions of these times that thou wouldest awake letting them vnderstande the charge that thou haste mitted vnto them the trust that thou hast put them in and the accōpt that thou wilt take at their handes Be gratious O Lord vnto this land of ours and enter not into iudgemēt with the horrible sinnes of it namelye the contempt and light esteeming of thy holy word so many yeares offered vnto vs and wee beeing trusted withall so manye Nations better then we being passed by whiche woulde haue brought foorth the fruite therof more then weehaue done and we not onely haue brought foorth no good fruite but rotten and vnsauourye to prouoke thy Maiestye withall notwithstāding all these our sinnes it woulde please thee in that loue wherewithall thou hast first loued vs when we hated thee in that long patience wherein thou haste hitherto borne with vs and doest yet beare and tarriest for ourrepentance to grant vs heartie and earnestrepentaunce our heartes being effectually touched with thy holye Spirite strikinge theserockye hearts of ours that thei maye bee resolued into riuers of
vs but mercifullye chastice vs with a fatherly affection that all the worlde may know that at what time soeuer a sinner doth repēt him of his sinn frō the bottō of his hart thou wilt put away his wickednes out of thy remembrance Finally for as much as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to reste in as thou haste ordayned him the daye to trauaile graunt O deare Father that wee may so take our bodely rest that our soules may continuallly watch for the time that our Lord Iesus Christ shal appear for our deliuerance out of this mortall life and in the mean season that we not ouercome by any fantasies dreames or other temptations may fully set our mindes vppon thee loue thee fear thee rest in thee Furthermore that our sleep be not excessiue or ouer much after the vnsatiable desires of the fleshe but only sufficiēt to cōtent oure weake nature that we may be the better disposed in all godly cōuersation to the glory of thy holy name profite of our brethren So be it ¶ A Prayer for all times O Lord God Father of mercy and God of al consolation without whome wee haue neither hope nor comfort we pore wretches miserable sinners beseech thee of thy fatherly goodnes to look vpō vs and so make vs partakers of thy gratious goodnes that we may stil increase in all goodnesse so that euermore we may set forth thine honor glory let our conuersation bee such that a great mani beholding our good workes may glorify thee oure heauenly father so direct our ways that we may hold forth the professiō of thy gospel as a lanthorn to lighten the steps of a greate many that they may turne to thee praise thy name in their visitation Thus O Lord we beseeche thee to deale with vs that in deed we may be vessels of honour vnto thee now to set foorth the praise of thy name and after this transitory life to behold thy glory who haste immortality alone and dwellest in lighte that no man hath approched vnto remoue far from vs our sinns iniquities that they may not seperate betweene vs and thee blot out all our offences and make our prayers righteous that thou mayst fauourably grant our requests looke vpō vs with thy fauourable mercie that thou mayst haue pitty vpon vs and beholde in the righteousnesse of thy beloued Sonne Christ Iesu and that wee may bee presented faultlesse in thy sight and thou accepting vs as only we may finde the Grace euermore to set foorth thy honour and glory and to speake of thy prayses in the middes of all thy people Let vs loue O Lord the thinges that thee good and hate the things that are euill let vs delight in all things that may please thee let vs bee greeued with whatsoeuer is displeasant in thy sight And to the intent wee may haue true vnderstāding and be able to discerne betweene things what is good or euill we beseech thee let thy word dwell plentifully in vs which may guide oure vnderstandings so that we may abound in all knowledge and do according to that which is righteous And in this estate of the true Christianity being instructed in minde and ready in body to all holy obedience wee beseeche thee make vs to growe and encrease frō grace to grace frō fayth to fayth vntill we come vnto the fulnesse of age to be perfect members of the body of Christe waiting for the blessed hope of thine elect and sighing in spirite vntill that thy children shal be reuealed In the meane season let vs sigh withal those that haue receiued the first fruits of thi spirit that these days of sinne may cease that satan be trodē down vnder feet that Antichrist may be reuealed yet to many thousandes that be in ignoraunce that the number of thine elect may be full the body of thy saintes made perfect all teares wiped from oure eyes euen then when thy sonne shal appear again the second time to iudge the quicke and the deade which time O Lorde send quickly according to thy good will and teache vs to pray with all thy Sayntes Come Lord Iesu come quickly graunt this O Father for thy Sonnes sake in whose name we pray vnto thee And although wee bee but Earth and Ashes yet are we bolde to say vnto thee the GOD of all glory euen as hee hath taught vs. Our Father whiche art in Heauen hallowed bee thy name c. A Prayer for the estate of the whole church O Lorde our God heauenlye Father forasmuche as by thy holy word we are commaunded in our prayprayers not only to be mindfull of our selues but also of al others thy children yea euen of our enimies wee commend vnto thy Maiesty all thy whole true and Catholique Church euery member thereof that as it hath pleased thy goodnesse by the bright beams of thy holy worde to shine ouer the whol world wherbi thou hast expelled driuen away caused to vanish the dark misty clouds of ignorance superstitiō so thou woldest vouchesafe by thy holy spirit to touch the hearts of men that thei may ioyfullye embrace that thine so high treasure sent amongest vs that thorough our vnthākfulnes we prouoke not thy maiesty in anger to take it from vs. Crush bruse destroy with the breath of thy mouth the mighty power of that man of sin which so proudly exalteth him selfe aboue all that is called God Let not thy simple flocke deare father in whose consciences he of long time hath and yet doth sit as God be any longer poisoned with his sweet enticing poisons but so lightē their harts that they may perceiue his iuglinges and embrace the sweet comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting reuealed in thy glorious Gospell And for asmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy aboue all natiōs in the earth to powre down the sweet showers of thy Heauenlye Graces vppon this our English nation aboundantlie in more plentifull wise watering the same with the giftes of the holy spirite in promoting thy Gospell ouerthrowing Idolatri we besech thee cōtinue thy fauour toward the same vtterly root out al remnants reliques Monumentes of Idolatry that thy glorious name may be throughlye exalted in sincere pure and holy worship And as thou haste in mercy from amongst vs in this thy Church vtterly banished all false venemous and poysonfull doctrine wherwith the soules of thy Children heeretofore haue bene woūded to death and in place therof hast placed the true comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting wherewith the soules of thy Children be fedde and nourished to euerlastinge ioy so in like mercy fauour we beseech thee deere father establishe in the same thy church a true perfect and sincere regiment thereof according to the prescript rule of thy blessed worde all fantasies of mans brayne and Dreames of humane policy vtterlye abolished that thy glorious Maiestye onelye maye bee exalted in