to mortifie my erthly membres Ro. 8. Yea dere father sithe thy spirite which raised vp Christ frō death dwelleth within mee do thou who raisedst Christ frō death quickē my mortal body through thy spirite so dwellyng in me I beseche thee Iohn 14. Yea lorde Iesu according to thy promise because thou art now gone to thy father make me work this wōderful great worke the thou speakest of I meane make me Collo 3. being of my self but a lumpe of synne and a monster moste ougly as the vyces whereon the membres of my earthly body aboue declared to be compacte doo proue make me I saye yet throughe thy grace to hate abhorre flee and subdue all adultery whoredome vncleannes vnnaturall lustes euyl concupiscence vnordinate desyres wantonnes tendernes delicatenes idlenes drunkennes gluttony slouthfulnes distruste dispaire ignoraunce weakenes wilfulnes Idolatry superstition hypocrisie heresye errour sectes variaunce strife wrath enuie slaunders lyeng swearing cursyng vayne glory pride couetousenes thefte disceite flattery and what so euer elles lord feighteth or rebelleth against thy holy spirite And then lorde Father I will boast and make vaunte agaynste myne ennemie the deuyll that I haue doone greater workes then thy dere sonne Iesus dyd at what tyme he spake these wordes amōg the iewes because Iohn 14. albeit he vanquissehed Sathan yet in as muche as he hym selfe was vtterly without synne the victorie semed the wore easy But I to vanquishe sathan being my selfe altogether synful yea contrary to my most synfull nature to subdue synne the deuyll and myne owne fleshe it seemeth a more victorye and greater worke then the other For the whiche neuerthelesse I wyll with all submission acknowledge vnto thy diuyne maiestie taht the whole victory lord in deede is thine and thy holy spirit the begynner and fynisher bothe of the will and worke Nowe therfore Lorde Iesu strēthen me with thy grace myght that thou mayste by me a moste synfull wretch drawe al these my earthly membres and horrible vices before rehersed vnder my feete that I maye not onely mightely fyght againste them but also subdue them so that they may al turne to the best for me Rom. 8. Io. 12. as mete matter wheron I may exercise my fayth powre forth harty prayer and geue thee most hartye thanckes for victorie whereby I maye learne haue experience that thou haste in me drawen althinges vnto thee in so muche as thou thus lord of thy diuine power drawest bothe the deuill and the synne that dwelleth in mee to set forth thy honour and glory whiche thyng for thy mercies sake brynge to passe O God my creatoure preseruer and euerlastinge defēdour ¶ A Prayer of a christian man expressing his great anguishe heuines of minde that he had before time for his sinnes for that he felt not his hart cōforted in the ioy of gods great loue towardes him with the maner of his prayers groninges which he then made nowe powreth forth againe vnto god for his grace assistance in his new assaultes wherby the broken harted afflicted for their sinnes maye learne to stirre vp strengthen their faith and hope in like dangers and trouble of conscience 1. EVen in the myddes of the desperate assaultes of my soule the intollerable heuinesse of my minde hath heretofore Lorde cryed as shrill in thine eares as thoughe I had shryked and with lamentations cryed out saying Help helpe me my god my creatour my most prouident keper and euerlasting defender for beholde I peryshe 2 On this occasion Lorde that heauines of mynd did heretofore assault me I remembred that thou haddeste manye tymes set before myne eyes the wonderfull greatues of thy most tender loue towardes me by great multitude of thy benefites powred vpon me whiche benefytes euery of thy workes as they came before mine eyes gaue me iuste occasyon to be mindefull of 3 Wolde not thought I if I had in a maner any grace at all wolde not suthe loue brynge nowe into my harte a wonderfull delectation comforte ioye in god for the same 4 And againe coulde suche delyghte in goddes swete mercy and tender loue towardes me if I were not as euyll as a cast awaye that were none of goddes chyldren be without lothing of my syn and lust desire to do goddes holy wyl And these thinges thought I fye vpon the vnthankeful wretche are either not at all in me or elles in deede so coldelye and sclenderly that they beynge truelye waied and compared to righteousenes Esa 64. are more vile then a sylthye clothe starched in corrupte bloudde 5 Oh thought I I am aferd I haue deceyued my selfe for thy seruauntes at al times I trowe feele otherwise then I nowe do the fruites of thy spirite as Loue Ioye Peace and suche lyke But my loue alas towards thee what is it my ioye oh woe is my hart therefore is not once almost felte of me for my very soule within me as Dauid in his heuynes said refuseth comfort and fareth as though it dyd vtterly despaire Psal 77. And what peace can I feele then or certaintie of thy fauoure and loue Iustely may I powre out this dolorous lamentation of Sion the lorde hath forsaken me Esai 49. and my lorde hath forgotten mee 6 Euen in the middes I say of these my former desperate assaultes myne in tollerable heuines cryed to my god and from heauen he heard my gronynges therupon first prepared my hert to aske comfort of him then he heard my praier and gaue me plētefully my asking 7 Oh my soule consider wel that thou art neuer hable to declare the excedynge goodnes of god in this that he heard the very desires of thee being afflicted who is soo redy fauourablye to graunte the requestes of the afflicted that often tymes he taryeth not vntyll they do call but or euer they cal vpon him he fauourably heareth thē as the psalmist saith the desires of the afflicted thou heareste O lorde thou preparest theyr hartes thine care heareth fauourably Psal 10. 8 Oh lorde my god marueilous thinges are these whether I consyder this marueilous maner of thy hearing orels the marueilous nature and propertye of thy goodnes Marueilous no doubt is that thy hearinge wherby the very desires of the afflicted are hearde but muche more marueilous is this thye goodnesse which taryeth not vntyl the afflicted do desire thy help but prepareth first their hartes to desyre and then thou geuest them their desires 9 Yea Lorde worthye of all praise it can not otherwise be For how shouldst thou do otherwise then thy nature and propertie is art not thou very goodnes and mercy it self how canst thou then but pitie and helpe miserie 10 Art not thou both the creatour and also the conseruer of all thinges In so much as the lyons whelpes roaryng after their pray do seeke their foode at thy handes Psa 104. Psal 147. and the rauens byrdes lackyng meate
and life Io. 8. Gal. 5. Ro. 8. 1. Pet. 1. Ephe. 5. Ephe. 2. Heb. 4. Ro. 3. Mat. 25. Iohn 14. Luke 12. Luke 22. Apo. 2. Phil. 3. Ephe. 2. Ephe 1. Apo. 13. that by hym alone thou doest acknowledge vs to be thy chyldren and heires that by hym alone we haue entrance to the throne of thy grace that by him alone we are possessed in our spirituall kingdome to eate and drinke at his table with whom we haue our conuersation presentely in heauen and by whom our bodies shal be raysed vppe agayne from the dust and shal be placed with him in that endeles ioye whiche thou O father of mercie hast prepared for thine elect before the foūdatiō of the worlde was layed And these most inestimable benefites we acknowledge and confesse to haue receiued of thy fre mercie and grace Ro. 3. Ephe. 2. Tit. 3. by thine only beloued son Iesus Christe For the whiche therfore we thy congregation moued by thy holy spiryte Ro. 8. render to thee all thanckes prayse and glory for euer and euer ¶ A Thankesgeuinge after the receauiuge of the communyon * MOste mercyfull Father we render vnto thee all prayse thankes honour and glory for that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercies to graūt vnto vs miserable sinners so ercellent a gift and treasure as to receaue vs into the felowship and company of thy deare sonne Iesus christ our lord 1. Cor. 10. whom thou hast deliuered to death for vs and haste geuen him vnto vs as a necessary fode nourishment vnto euerlasting life Rom. 4. Io. 6. And nowe wee besech thee also O heauenly father to graunt vs this request the thou neuer suffer vs to become so vnkind as to forget so worthy benefites but rather imprint and fasten them sure in our hartes that we may growe increase dayly more and more in true faythe Luke 17. whych continually is exercised in all maner of good workes Gala. 5. and so muche the rather O Lorde confirme vs in these perilous dayes and rages of Sathan 1. Tim. 4. Ephe. 5. 2. Pet. 3. Mat. 5. 1. Pet. 2. that wee maye constantly stande and continue in the confessiō of the same to the aduancement of thy glory which art God ouer all thinges blessed for euer So be it ¶ A prayer to be sayde before meate ** O Eternall god Ebre 13. the very god of peace all consolation whych broughtest againe from death our lorde Iesus the great shep herde of the shepe throughe the bloud of the euerlastinge couenante make vs frutefull in all good workes to do thy will worke in vs that which is acceptable in thy sighte sanctify vs throughout and kepe our whole spyrite soule and bodye fautlesse vnto the comming of thy deare sonne our lord Iesus Christ Thou art faythfull O father who haste promysed this who also shall bringe it to passe to thee therfore be geuē euerlasting praise honour and glory Amen ¶ A Thankesgeuing after meate MOste bountifull gracious god which feedest all fleshe and haste promised that asking of thee we shall not lacke if we first seke thy kingdome and the righteousenes therof we felinge presently the benefite of this thy gracious promise in feeding our bodies with these corporall benefites do render vnto the most harty thaks for the same besechīg the likewise to fede our soules with that heuenly fode which perisheth not Ihon. 6. but abideth into euerlasting life so that we being noryshed by thy goodnes both in body and soule may be apte and redy to doe all good workes which thou hast prepared for vs to walk in through Iesus Christ our Lorde Vnto hym that loued vs wasshed vs from our sinnes in his bloud and made vs kinges priestes vnto God his father 1. Pet. 5. be all glory power and dominion for euermore Amen ¶ A prayer for true mortification O God my creatour preseruer euerlastinge defendour where fyrst in my creatiō I was made lyke vnto thyne owne likenesse the deuyll alas hath synce by Adams faule made me oughlye monstruous and lyke euyll fauoured to hym selfe For what are now lord mine earthly mēbres Colo. 3. but as is written in the .iii. to the Colloss adulterie whoredome vncleannes vnnatural lustes euyl cōcupiscence couetousnes which is the worshippynge of Idoles and suche other for the whiche thy wrath is wōt to come vpon the children of vnbelefe Neuerthelesse lorde of thy gret mercie and goodnes against this very great mischiefe a much greater remedy thy fatherly prouidence hath ordeined 1. Io. 3. For thou hast sent Iesus christ thy deere and onely naturall sonne into this worlde the vale of miseries to lose the workes of the deuyll and to take away my sinnes Therfore Sathan hath now nothing to bragge of for through Christ all that beleue in thee and so become thy children 1. Ihon. 5. do ouercome the world the fleshe and the deuyl 1. Ihon. 5. And this is the victorie whiche ouercommeth them all euen our Fayth Io. 3. That Faith I meane which is perswaden that who so euer be leueth in christ shal not perishe but haue euerlasting life 1. Iohn 5. That fayth whiche beloueth the testimonie to be true whiche thou God the Father doeste testifie of thy sonne so making thee no lyer and this is that testimonie that thou haste geuen vs eternall life Ro. 8. That faith wheche beleueth that thou father who raysedst vp Christ frō death shalt also quicken our mortall bodies through thy holy spirite dwellig in vs. Io. 14. That faith whiche beleueth it to be true which thy son Christe affirmed with a double othe saying Verely verely I say vnto you he that beleueth in mee the workes that I do the same shall he do and greatter workes then these shall he do because I go vnto my father Iohn 12. And fynally that fayth whiche beleueth that now Christ hath ben lifte vppe on the crosse he shal draw all thinges vnto hym this fayth I say is the victory whicke ouercommeth our ennemies the deuyll the worlde and our fleshe Iohn 14. Thou therfore lorde father whiche hast promised to geue what so euer I shall aske in thy deere Sonne Iesus name for thy great mercy and infallible truethes sake do nowe in mee the thynge that he came for lose in me the workes of the deuyl 1. Iho. 3. and take away my synnes I beseche thee make stedfast my Faithe confidence in thy promised mercies merciful promises Iohn 3. so that I assuredly beleuīg in thee may haue as thou promisest euerlasting lyfe makynge thee deere God no lyar maye beleue feele and knowe in my hart and conscience the the same euerlastyng lyfe is thy mere free gift vnto me yea already of thy great goodnesse vndoubtedly geuen mee beinge now translated frō death to life Of a thanckefulnes wherof Lorde cause me now dayly
meditate very profitable to euery Christian WAtche and Pray Part. 4. that ye enter not into temptation c. For the deuyll your aduersary goeth about lyke a roaryng lion seking whō he may deuoure Committe thy selfe and all thye doinges vnto god with feruent and faithfull praier and then doubte nothing at all of the good and profitable successe of the same Pray before thou comest into any cōpany that thou geue no offēce in worde or dede but rather mayst geue good exaumple to edyfie Pray also that thou mayst marke wel and immitate that whiche is well done and spoken and that thou maist forget and flie from that whiche is euyll doone or spoken of any one where thou shalte come Pray when thou art come alone from company with any that god wyl make them to forgette the euyll example thou hast geuen in worde or dede In euery prayer begge of god the spyrite of grace and prayer zacha 12. that thou maist haue delight in praier and talking with God aske I say continually his holy spirite with encrease of Faith Hope In euery benefite behold goddes grace and stay not the considering of the same tyll thou comest to the oryginall rote that is the grace of god in Christ before the worlde was made so shal euery benefite confirme thy Faith Speake thinke and do al thinges as in the sight of god and as vnto god Of all thy thoughtes Eccle. 7. woordes and dedes consider the ende and thou shalt neuer do amisse Trust in god whē thou felest no cause in thy selfe for that is the gretest honour thou canst geue vnto him and a sure token that thou arte his Chylde for euer When thou beholdest any of the workes of god beware thou do it not to cōprehende him for so thou loosest thy labour but loke vpon theym to beholde him to be a God of might and power in the diuersitie of theym to be exceadynge wise by the multitude of theym to be good and gracious whiche hath so done them that they ought to be had in remēbraunce of vs And when thou hast this profite by them then be thou thanckful to god who hath geuen it thee The more sure we are of our saluatiō that we be the children of god the temples of the holy ghost the inherytours of heauen the more we cannot but loue long for the dissolutions of our bodies Vse therfore to beg of god by continual praicr his spirite to cōfirme you in this certen perswasion that god loueth you In the lawe behold god to be thy god to be holy to be iust and seuere against synne and thy selfe vnholy vniust and full of contumacie therfore not mete nor worthy to be where god is but to be reiected frō him and worthy dampnation therfore feare him sinne not In the gospell beholde god to be thye father to loue the euerlastingely to for geue thee all thy synnes to geue thee eternall saluation through his sonne Iesus Christe who hath ouercome sinne death and hell for thee hath brought lyfe ymmortalitie vnto light therfore loue him as a son loue hym for he loued thee fyrst loue hym I say in and for his Christ loue his Christ loue him euer Onely beleue in him forget not to be thanckefull to hym for that he is thy god and thy father for his loue for his Christ for thy saluation for the forgiuenesse of thy synnes for thy delyueraunce from dispaire for the sure certificate of thyne election for the delyueraunce from errour into his truthe for calling the into this grace wherin thou standest and therfore reioyce in hope of the glory of God R. Coles A Complaynt of the Tiranny vsed against the sainctes of god conteyning a confession of our sinnes a praier for the deliuerance and preseruation of the Church and confusion of the enemyes ** ETernall and euerlyuinge god father of our lord Iesus Christ who hast commaunded vs to praye and promised to heare vs euē when we do call from the pyt of desperation the miseries of these our moste wycked dayes compell vs to poure forth before thee the complaintes of our wretched hartes oppressed wyth sorrowe Our eyes do beholde and our eares do heare the calamities and opressions whiche no tongue canne expresse neyther yet alas doo oure dull hartes rightly consider the same For the Heathen are entred into thine inherytance they haue poluted thy sanctuarye prophaned and abolished thy blessed instytutions moste cruelly murthered and dayly doe murther thy deare children Thou hast exalted the arme and force of our enemies thou hast set vs forth as a praye to ignomy and shame before such as persecute thy truth Their wayes do prosper they glory in mischefe speake prowdely agaynste the honoure of thy name Thou goest not forth as a captaine before our hostes The edge of our sword which somtime was most sharp is now blunt and doth returne without victorye in battaile It apereth to our ennemies O lorde that thou hast broken that league whiche of mercie goodnes thou hast made with thy churche For the libertie whiche they haue to kil thi childrē like shepe and to shed their bloudde no man resistinge doth soo blynde and puffe theim with pride that they ar not ashamed to affirme that thou regardest not our intreatinge Thy longe suffering and pacience maketh them hold from crueltie to procede to the blasphemy of thy name And in this meane season alas we do not consider the heauines of our sinnes which longe haue deserued at thye handes not onely these temporall plagues but also the tormentes prepared for the inobediēt For we knowing thy blessed will haue not applyed our dilygence to obey the same but haue folowed for the most parte the vaine conuersation of the blind world and therfore in very iustice hast thou visited our vnthanckfulnesse But O lorde if thou shalt obserue and kepe in mind for euer the iniquities of thy children then shal no fleshe abide nor be saued in thy presence And therfore cōuicted in our own consciences that most iustly we suffer as punished by thy hande do neuerthelesse cal for mercy according to thy promes And first we desire to be corrected with the rod of thy children by the whiche we maye be brought to a perfect hatred of synne and of our selues therfore that it would please thee for Christ Iesus thy sonnes sake to shewe to us thy whole church vniuersally persecuted the same fauoure and grace that some times thou diddest whē the chiefe members of the same for anguish and feare were compelled to cry why haue nations raged why hathe the people made vprores and why haue princes kings coniured against thyne anointed Christ Iesus Then diddest thou wonderfully assiste and preserue thy smale and dispersed flock then diddest thou burste vp the barres and gates of yron then dyddest thou shake the foundations of stronge prysons then dyddeste thou plague the cruell