me into his fauour againe Therfore most merciful father séeing thou haste not denied to geue vp thine onely begotten sonne to the shameful death of the crosse to redéeme me from the bondage of death hell Inspire I beseche thée my minde with thy heaueÌ„ly spirite that I maye doe suche thinges as please thee and turne to kill sinne with all other vngodly lustes concupiscence that I maye be made a sweete smelling sacrifice to thee and the temple of the holy ghost for euer that I may liue vprightly and honestly in my calling without reproofe ensuing the right pathe of thy holy commaundementes And for as muche as it hath pleased thee to ordaine the night for men to rest in and the day to labour graunt I beseche thee most merciful Father that I may so take my bodily rest that my soule may continually watche for that happie and ioyfull tyme when Iesus Christ shal appeare for my deliueraunce out of the miseries of this transitorie lyse And in the meane season that I be not ouercome by any phaÌ„tasies dreames or other temptations but maye haue my minde alwaye fixed vppon thee to loue thee feare thee and rest in thee for euer Moreouer that my sleepe be not excessiue or ouermuche after the vnsatiable desyres of the fleshe but so much as maye suffise to content and satisfie my feeble nature wherby I may be the better disposed to lyue in al godlye conuersation to the glory of thy holy name and the commoditie of my neyghbour To thee with the sonne and the holy ghost be al honor glory for euer euer AmeÌ„ A prayer for VVednesday morning O Almightie most merciful father haue pitie and compassion vppon the weakenesse of me thy vnworthy chylde and be thou prest and redy O heauenly father to helpe me with thy heauenly spirit to assist my weake spirite againste all assaultes of the wicked worlde the fleshe and the deuyll whiche striue continually with fayre allurementes and prouocations to drawe my mynde from thy commaundementes into the hartfull and damnable way of error and iniquitie but myne only stay and coÌ„fidence is in the multitude of thy mercies with a sure and certayne hope that thou wylt so direct my steppes both this day and euer hereafter that all my thoughtes words deedes may be found acceptable in thy sight and accordyng to the godly liue and rule of thy vndefiled lawe Therefore I beseech thee heauenly father to shewe thy mercy vpon me and to prosper me in whatsoeuer I goe about in thy name so that thou geuyng me lyght I may learne to knowe what thinges are acceptable before thee and by the vertue of thy grace I may haue an earnest yeale desyre to folow the same in my life to â—ay glory the commoditie of my neighbour That thou being my guide and leader I may walke in the path of vnderstanding and righteousnesse without stumbling or wandring astray for in my selfe I haue nothing but mistrust and inabilitie to do any thing that maye please thée sauing only by the motion of thy holy spirit in my mind which spirit assureth my spirite that the meane to please thée is a constant and immoueable fayth in Christe Iesus with repentaunce of my sinnes and amendment of lyfe to ensue the steppes of equitie and vnderstanding to cleaue to the stedfast rocke of thy heauenly worde and promises to loue my neighbour as my selfe for hereby shall it be knowen that we be thy childreÌ„ if we loue one another to geue ouer my portion to the poore to take vp my crosse and folowe thée to abounde in all maner good workes whiche are the fruites of fayth in Christe iesu Geue me grace most mercyful father to kyll the buddes of sinne in my fleshe to bridle myne owne destres to kepe my body in subiectioÌ„ wherby I maye be sanctified in thee and made an vndefiled â—â—â—ple for the holy ghost ful of the spirite of trueth and vnderstanding And sith it hath pleased thee of thy fatherly pitie to preserue me from all perils daungers both of body and soule this night and al the rest of my lyfe tyme tyll this present houre I beseeche thee also most merciful father to protect me with thy grace all this daye euer hereafter that I may safely walke in my vocatioÌ„ with thy feare before myne eyes in all things that I take in hand And vouchsafe most mercyfull father so to direct the reÌ„nant of my course which I haue yet to runne in this lyfe that at the laste I may come to dwell with thée in thy euerlasting kingdome and there to haue fruition of eternall ioye and felicitie through Iesus Christe our onely mediatour sauiour Amen A prayer for VVednesday euening O Mercyfull Lorde Iesu I beseche thée to be fauourable to me a wretched sinner that all my lyfe tyme haue folowed the lustes of myne owne minde and neuer harkened to thy voyce wherby I might liue in thy lawe that thou hast appointed for me Put away I beseeche thée all my sinnes out of thy remembrance washe me cleane with thy pretious blood sanctifie me with thy bitter passion and death clense me throughly restore me agayne to the innocencie whiche thou gauest me in baptisme that I may be truely regenerate borne a newe in thée my swéet sauiour only redeemer so that I maye acknowledge thée onely the author of my redemption and the principal cause of my iustification to shew my felâ—e a thankefull Samaritane for that thou hast vouchsafed by thy death and bloodshedding to purge me from the leprosie of sinne and al kinde of vncleannesse yeelding thée immortal thanks continually for that all other gratious benefites which thou of thy fatherly liberalitie bountie vouchsafest dayly to bestow vpon me And among all the rest geue me grace swéet Iesu to haue alwaies in remembraÌ„ce thy sincere loue fatherly affection and gratious charitie towardes me in that thou hast vouchsafed to take my nature vpon thée to be made man in all respectes lyke vnto me sinne onely excepted and for my sake to be borne in a stable and as an infant to be wrapped in clothes to be swadled laide in a maunger there to be fed with the materiall milke of thy blessed mother the virgin Marie For my sake sweet Iesu thou hast susteyned hunger colde pouertie and many other agonies didst thou susteyne for me most miserable and wretched sinner Thou hast suffered thy selfe to be betrayed to be apprehended and taken shamefully to be bounde vnworthyly to be beaten cruelly to be condemned vniustly and to be brought to that shameful death of the crosse where for my sake thy pretious bodye was rent and torne and thy moste sweete blood aboundauntly shedde where thou yéeldedst vp the ghost to God the father and descendedst agayne into the graue lyke a dead man but dyddest ryse agayne the thirde daye and ascendedst into heauen where thou sittest at
neuer at all otherwise enclined that then you woulde vouchsafe to take this booke in hand and turning to any title whatsoeuerâ— may serue your tourne to apply the prayer folowing vnto your present purpose But perchaunce you will say that there are alredy extantâ— diuers sundry bookes of prayers which haue bene set fourth by men of greater vnderstaÌ„ding riper iudgement then I and therfore it was a needeles and superfluous trauaile to wade any furthar in that matter Indede Madame I graunt that ther are many praier bokes published but yet I am of this opinion that if there were ten tymes as many yet there were not to many For the common prouerbe is Bâ—num quo â—â—oÌ„munius eo melius The more common a good thinge is the better it is And therefore will I hardly be perswaded that my laboure could anye way haue bene better employed then in suche causes as concerne the aduauncement of Gods glory and the propagation of vertue VVell such as it is I haue presumed to offer vnto your honoures iâ—dgement with assured hope that you will deeme of it as your noble nature hath ben alwaies enclined to iudge of them that attempt the like enterprises that you will accept it as a sure tokeÌ„ and testimonie of his loyall affection and readie dutie that would thinke himselfe happie to bee accoumpted but as the least in the number of those that woulde be allwayes at your Ladiships commaundement Thomas Achelley Morning Prayer O Almighty and moste mercifull Father who of thine vnspeakeable loue and pitie toward the disobediente and loste children of Adam when wee were caried awaye thorough sinne and ignoraunce to damnation folowing Sathan after the blind and vnbrideled lusts of the fleshe diddest reconcile vs to thee by grace and adopcion in Christ Iesus the righteous and immaculate Lambe by faith and sure confidence grounded on the merites of his death whereby we are redeemed from the eternall prison of death and damnation haue mercy vpon vs mosâ—e mercifull louing Father so quicken our dul and heauy mindes by the inspiration of thy holy spirite that we maye shake of this dead sleepe continualy watch in thee abandoning the worckes of darcknes and walking in the worckes of light whereby we may be worthy to walk in this holy vocation where vnto thou haste called vs and with thine elected sainctes to sing prayses vnto thee and at all seasons times to glorify thy holy name And among all other benefites which thou of thy free mercy doste dayly and hourely most aboundantly bestow vpon vs we yeeld thée mortall thankes for that thou haste vouchsaâ—ed to presâ—rue vs both this night and all the time and dayes of our life vnder the shadowe and protection of thy winges keeping our eyes waking in thée without any idle dreames or phantasies that might disturbe our mindes from the meditation of thy grace and haste safely brought me to the beginning of this daye from the drousy graue of my bed which manifestly resembleth in lying downe my death and in rysing vp a manifest tipe and figure of my resurrection Therfore sith thou of thy mercy haste raysed me vp from this earthly reast wherein my mortall body and corrupt nature hath ben partly recreated from the laboures trauayles which I dayly sustayne in this terestrial pilgrimage vouchâ—aâ—e also I beséech thee to direct me with thy holy spirite both this day and euer that all my doinges maye tend to thy glory and to the commoditie of my neighbouâ— And graunt most merciful Father that the residue of my whole life froÌ„ heÌ„ceforth may he gided happly vnder thy tuition whereby all maner of darkenes misbeliefe infidelitie carnall lustes and affections may be vtterly chased driuen out of my hart and that I may be iustified saued both body and soule through a right and perfect fayth in Christ Iesu and so walke in the light of thy most holy word coÌ„maundements all the dayes of this my fraile and transitory being Arme vs with thy grace most mercifull father and strengtheÌ„ vs by thine assistaunce to vanquishe the power of the sinfull flesh and Sathan that hauing victory in the end we may ioyfully triumphe in thy saluation that art the God of our strength and might Endue our blynde hartes with thy heauenly spirite that being strong in fayth although â—éeble in the flesh we may so rule the bridle of our course both now and euer from henceforth that we sleepe not in sinne as the vnbeleuers doo which haue no hope of resurrection in Christ Iesu but folowing the motion of their owne common sence are so linked and tyed to the ground that their grosse capacitie is not of force to loke vp and to be holde the brightnes of thy diuinitie which art God from the beginning for euerlasting world without ende To whome with the sonne the holy Ghost be al honor and glory for euer euer Amen A Prayer for Euening O Almighty and moste mercifull Father maker of heauen and earth with all that is therein whose works are insercheable whose mercy is inâ—â—nite whose power is aboue the Cloudes of heauen we beséech thee of thy accustomed fatherly piety and pittie that thou wilte vouchsafe to be our watche man this night and euer to gard vs from all our enemies both bodily or ghostly that endeuour to disturb the externall rest of our body or to assalt the infernall Closet of our Conscience with any sinful suggestions or deuilish deuises of Sathan our mortall foe and deadly aduersary We acknolege and confesse moste mercifull Father that of our selues we are not worthy to lifte vp our eyes towarde heauen much lesse to presume in presenting oureselues before thy deuine maiestie with confidence that thou wilte heare our prayers or incline to our petitions if we call to remembraunce the vnworthines of our own merites and desertes for we are nothing else but a lumpe of sinne conceaued and borne in iniquity folowing the right path of our naturall imbecilitie and weakenes in Adam euer more prone and apt to folowe the filthy appetite of our own desire like vnbrideled Colts and reiecting the holsome discipline and instructions of thy most holy wil and commaundements Our own consciences accuse vs and our own sinz beare witnes against vs that we are nothing else but miserable wretches subiect to corrupcion clothed with iniquity and not of our selues able to thinck as muche as one good thought so that wée are not able to abide the extremitie of thy straighte iudgement knowing that by the worckes of the flesh we are condemned to deth yet quickned in the spirite and iustified by grace in Christ iesu Wee knowe most merciful Father that thou art a righteous Iudge such a one as visiteth the sinz of the Fathers vpon the Children to the thirde and fourth generation and doest not Iustify the synners and them that walk in the waye of iniquitie but punishest the falts of al such
diuine prouidence and protection most mercyfull Father the enemie had longe agâ—ne deuoured vs yea he had so wiped and blowen vs away the scarse any remembraunce of our beinge had remayned on the earth Wherefore sith it is thy good pleasure that the name of Israell should not be vtterly extinguished geue vs grace to 〈◊〉 our steppes in the path of thy coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts that all our deedes wordes thoughtes may tend to thy glory and the commoditiâ— of the common wealth Endue we be sech thee the mynde of our soueragine Quâ—ene Elizabeth that aboue al thinges she may seke thy honor and glory the maintainance of true religion the prosperous and quiet state of her subiectes Directe the myndes of her Maiesties Counsell and the rest of the nobilitie that they may alwayes liue in thy feare with â—rue obedience to the prince deuising suche lawes and statutes as may bee most auailable to the conseruation and publike commoditie of the common welth Inspire the mindes of such as thou hast called to be the ministers of thy word w the spirite of truth and vnderstanding that they may preach the pure doctrine of thy heauenly word reuokeing sinners into the way of repentaunce and amendement of life to embrace the sweete yoke of thy lawe whereby their soules may be saued from euerlastinge â—alnâ—atiâ—n Gâ—ue grace most heauenly Father to all the 〈◊〉 of thys Realme that aboue alâ— things they may laâ—our to followe thy commaundements to liue in due obedience to their Prince and Magiestrâ—tes and to be ruled by the holsome and spirituall counsell of their pâ—stours And 〈◊〉 thy grace in generall most mercyfull Father to the whole body of the Realme that altogether both the Prince Nobilitie Clargy and 〈◊〉 may chiefly 〈◊〉 to abuaÌ„ce thy Gospell and secondly the happy and prosporous â—ate of the coÌ„mon wealth Through Christ. c. A Prayer for patienâ—e in trouble ALmighty and most mâ—rcifull Father which art the onely stay and comfort of all them that are afflicted with the scourge of aduersitie bowe down thy mercifull eare vnto the voyce of my lamentation which am nothing else but a lumpe of sinne euery houre declyninge from thy coÌ„maundements into the reprobate way of iniquitie that I must néedes confesse that myne owne merites and deseruinges haue iustly procured this worthy plage wherin like a vyle and wretched 〈◊〉 I am entangled But thou O most mercyfull and louinge Father thou art alwaies ready to shewe mercy to the repentant sinner which hast promised to put all my offeÌ„ces and misdeedes out of thy remembraunce whensoeuer I repent from the bottome of my hart haue mercy vppoÌ„ my miseries and velease me of this aduersitie which hath worthely chaunced by reason of the innumerable multitude of my sinnes And if it be thy good will and pleasure to proue the more 〈◊〉 with temtations or any other kinde of afflection that thou shalt lay on me then vouchsafe most mercifull Father to arme mée wyth the spirite of 〈…〉 which it hath pleased thy diuine Maiestie to lay vpon me that I murmure not at thy workes neyther blaspheme thy name when I am in miserie but that I maye alwaies haue in mynde that thou art a mercifull iudge and a reuenger of iniquitie to whome onely it beelongeth to throwe downe to hell 〈◊〉 to rayse vp to heauen againâ—â— where with thy sonne Iesus Christ and the holy Ghost c. A prayer against temptation O Lord Iesus Christ the onely defence and pyller of our estate the hope confidence of all them that sleepe in the vaile of this wicked worlde which by the merites of thy most pretious death passion didst ouercome death and triumphest ouer the sting therof in thy heauenly kingedome geue strength vnto vs feeble and impotent sinners against the râ—aringe Lyon whiche continually wandreth aboute séekynge whom he may deuoure endeâ—ouringe alwayes wyth subtill awaitinges strong temtations to withdrawe our myndes from the faith which we haue in thee of euerlastinge lyfe into a reprobate sence to geue ourselues vp to the 〈◊〉 lustâ— and affections of the fleshe to vncleannes Idolatriy innumerable other like abhominatioÌ„s that are chiefe aduersaries and enemyes to the spirite of truthe and vnderstanding Thou therfore that art the iâ—â—aculate Lambe the vanquisher of sinne death and hell geue vnto vs thy little shéep the strength and vertue of thy spirit that being in our owne selues weake and feble and in thée strong and valiant we may be able to withstande and subdue all the assaults of the Deuill that our ghostly enemie may not triumph ouer vs but being coÌ„querors through thée wée maye geue thankes to thy mercy which neuer leaueth them destritute of sucâ—oure whose onely confidence and aâ—â—iance is reposed in the sure defence and sauegerde of thy mercy Thou knowest O Lord that we are but earth and ashes subiect to corrupsion mortalitie the flesh euer rebellinge against the spirite whereby we are alwaies more prone apt to runne the carles race of ignorance and iniquitie then to frame our steppes in the narowe and strayte path of vertue and vnderstanding Therfore illuminate we besech thée our blinde eyes with the light of thy heaueÌ„ly spirit that abhoring the workes of darkenes and preuaylinge against all temptations of the worlde the flesh and the Deuill we may be wholie bent to serue thy diuine Maiestie in truthe and vnderstanding sauinge alwayes an assured hope of a gloryous resurrectioÌ„ on thy right hand wher we may be pertakers of that ioyfull sentâ—nce of life whiche thou wilt pronounce to all them that shall inherite that heauenly kingdome with thée our onely redéemer and Sauiour To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost c. A prayer for the obtayning of wisdome O Almighty Lord most mercifull Father the fountayne and welspring of all heauenly gifts and graces geue me wisdom to knowe what thy will and pleasure is for I thy seruant and the sonne of thy haÌ„d mayde am a féeble person engendred and created of the frayle substaunce of the flesh enuironed round about wyth the darke shadowe â—ayle of ignoraunce that by meanes thereof the beames of my mynde are so obscurely eclipsed that I cannot once looke vp vpon the brightnes of thy diuine Maiestie nor excercyse my selfe at all in contemplation of the misteries of thy heaueÌ„ly word and promises whereby I might saue my soule from hell Inspire therfore most mercifull Father my dull and heauy mynde with the light of the true wisdome and not with worldly wit and policy onely which concerne humayne affayres but with the true vnderstaÌ„ding of thy sacred scripturs wherein thou hast made a faithfull promise of eternal saluation to all them that vnfaynedly beleue that Iesus Christ is the sonne of God and the onely redéemer of all mankinde Thou knowest O Lord that my dull capacitie is farre to grosse to attaine to the knowledge and vnderstandinge of thy iudgemeÌ„ts 〈◊〉 lawes â–ª for I am but meere
thankes geuing bowe downeth neeare to our huÌ„ble petitâ—ons that procedeth from vnâ—â—yned lippes And sith it hath pleased thy diuine Maiestie to giue vp thy onely begotten Sonne Iesus Christ to the deathe of the Crosse for our redeÌ„ption vouchsafe O Lord so to direct our myndes in the way of thy coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts that we may partly seeme worthy of the inestimable price of so great a benefite as the raunsome of our iniquitie hath cost and kepe the eyes of our mynds alwaies waking that we fall not a sléepe in sinne as they doe which haue no hope of resurrection from the dead Engender in our hartes the true zeale of thin vndefiled word and religion that we maye bee alwaeis meditatinge vpon thy promises not founde idle nor vnprouided when the good man of the house shall come but that we may be found wakinge in thée with plenty of oyle in our lampes as the fyue wise Uirgins had â–ª O drawe vs neere vnto thee by the operation of thy heauenly grace heare our prayers forgeue vs our offences coÌ„fort vs in our afflicâ—tions forgeue our enemies as we hope to haue forgeuenes of all our sinns at thy haÌ„ds by the meriâ—es of our Sauiour Iesus Christ let not myne enemies triumph ouer me nor the roaring Lyon deuour me but protect me alwayes most mercifull Father vnder the shadow of thy winges that I may strongly constantly withstand his inuasions by the vndoubted hope and confidence that I haue reposed in thy mercy And graunt that I maye die in thy true fayth and rest with thee in thy euerlasting kingdome To whome with thy Sonne Iesus Christ and the holy Ghoste be all honour and glory for euer euer A prayer to God the Sonne O Most mercifull Iesu and onely Sauiour of all maÌ„kynde whose loue to vs all was so pure and vnfayned that thou didest not denie to take our flesh vpon thee and to submit thy selfe to the death in offeringe vp thyne owne bodey as a swéete smelling sacrifize to appease the indignatioÌ„ of thy father who was worthyly inflamed for the transgression and breach of his holy coÌ„maundements O swéete Iesu the onely author of our saluation our most louing mediatour to thy Father haue mercy vpon me and cast me not away whome thou with thy pressious bloud haste â—edéemed O reiect me not for I am the price of thy passion thou with the effusion of thy most pretiouâ— bloud halfe payd the raunsome of mine iniquitie and made a full aâ—d perfect satisfaction for my offences O then looke downe vpon my miseries consider my distresse Behold the hell that tormeÌ„teth my conscience as ofte as I call to remembrance my lyfe so wickedly past and the innumerable multitude of my sinnes which are moe in number theÌ„ the heares of my head or the sandes of the Sea. Geue me grace to repent my wicked lyfe with Mary Magdelen and to wash thy feete wyth the moysture of my teares and lamentation Geue me grace to be sory for my sins and to wéepe with Peter to crye with the thefe that hanged on the right side at the time of thy passion Lorde remember me when thou coÌ„mest into thy kingedome O geue me grace to call my selfe to remembraunce to examine mine owne conscience to recount the number of my sinnes and to cast my selfe flat prostrate at the féete of thy mercy bewayllinge my sinfull lyfe with many a riuer of teares to acknowledge mine own wickednes vnto thée to craue remissioÌ„ of my faultes and by the continuall teares of repentaunce to recouer thy fauour againe and to die ther in Geue me grace to leade a new lyfe to put of the person of Adam and to bée regenarate and new borne in thée my Lord and Sauiour Geue me grace swéet Iesu to cry Peccaui with Dauid and vnfaynedly to lament my sinnes Geue me grace swéet Iesu to returne againe with the prodigall or lost Sonne and to crye Father I haue sinned agaynst heauen and against thée and I am no more worthy to be called thy Sonne make me as one of thy hyred seruaÌ„ts O swéete Iesu haue mercy vpoÌ„ me and forgeue me my sinnes renew a right spirit within me wash me wyth Isope and I shal be made whyter then Snowe for vnto thée belongeth mercy and with thée is plentifull redemption O thinke not vpon the offences of my youth wherein I haue raunged to much at randon lyke an vnbrideled coult neglecting the way of vnderstandinge and loathing the path of thy coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts I acknowledge fréely that if thou sholdest deale with me according to iustice I haue deserued euerlasting death neyther should I be able to abide thy sharpe iudgemeÌ„t but should sinke downe into the bottoÌ„les dungeoÌ„ of eternall damnation But hauinge a sure and certayue confidence fixed on the ancer or hould of immoueable fayth I vndoubtedly beléeue that by thy merites I am made partaker of euerlasting lyfe being fréely iustified with absolute remision of all my sinnes synce the first houre of my Natiuitie Which fayth I ground neyther on the merites of any mortall man neyther vpon any Romish Pardons or Indulgences but onely vpoÌ„ thée my Lord and Sauiour who with thy most precious blodsheding hast payde the price of my iniquitie and suffered thy glorious body to be mangled and torne for my transgression Geue me grace swéete Iesu so to order the reste of my lyfe as becoÌ„meth a true Christian to doe walkyng in the light of thy holy Gospell eschewing the workes of darkenes behauinge my selfe obediently to my superiors louingely to my felowes and conrtiousely to myne inferiors bearinge no grudge in my conscieÌ„ce offering wronge to no man but paciently to sufier iniuries without desire of reuenge forgeueinge euery man whatsoeuer hée hathe donne against me as I my selfe would desire to be forgeuen of thée my swéet Sauiour and onely redéemer Geue me grace swéete Iesu to perseuer in my faith till the end that all myne actions may be donne in the name of Iesu and all my thoughts vpon Iesu both at my down lying and vp rysinge all the terme of my lyfe and at the very instant of death when I fetche the laste gaspe my mynd may be withdrawen with no idle or phantastical cogitations but continually excercised in the meditation of the sweete and comfortable name of Iesu iesu iesu To thee swéete Iesu with the Father and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory for euermore Amen A prayer to God the holy Ghost O Holy and blessed spirite which being true euer lastinge God wyth God the Father and God the Sonne procéedest from theÌ„ both coequall in deytie and dignitie of person which art the onely comforter of them that trauayle in this earthly Pilgrimage and by thy heauenly wisdome directest them that right way to attaine to heauenly vnderstandinge of the will of god Quicken most holy sprite by thy heauenly breath the myndes of them that afore were dead through sinne make mery the
perfect figure and remembraunce of thy bodie and the wyne of thy bloud whiche was shed vpon the Crosse for my redemptioÌ„ Geue me grace sweete Iesu to confesse my sinnes wyth the Publicane and to crye Lord be mercifull to me a sinner and that with Mary Magdeline I may washe thy feete with the teares of repentaunce geue me grace to reconcile my selfe to my brother while he is in the waye to examyne mine owne consience and if in ought I haue offended any man first of all to desire forgeuenesse at the hands of thy deuine Maiestie and next of him whome I haue trespassed I my selfe to forgeue all men whatsoeuer they haue done said or imagined agaynst mée euen as I hope to haue remission at thy Fathers handes of all myne offences by the merites of thy pretious deathe and passion Geue me grace to serch my conscience so narowly that if any one sâ—râ—ple doe stycke in my mynde I may humbly confesse it before the feete of thy mercy crauing pardon therof with grace necessary to leaue a newe lyfe That with a pâ—â—e hart and cleare coÌ„science confessing my sins from the bottome of my hart I maye this daye receaue the Sacrament of thy precious body and bloud to my soules health that thou from henceforth mayst dwell in me I in thee for euer whereby I may obtayne and attaine to that longe desired marke whereto the race of all true Christians tendeth that is euerlasting lyfe in that heauenly Ierusalem where all the elect Saintes shall liue for euermore worlde wythout end In the meane spâ—ce vntill it shall seeme good to thy Maâ—estie to abridge the course of my dayes in this lyfe I humbly desire thée moste sweete Sauiour to admit me to the coÌ„munion of thy Supper that I may be worthy to be accompted a member of thy mysticall bodie here in earth among the number of thy chosen Sayntes in thy congregation And after the receit of thy body bloud vouchsafe I besâ—che thée to illuminate the eyes of my hart with the light of thy heauenly spirit that SathaÌ„ enter not into me as he did into Iudas but graunt that the rest of my lyfe may be so ordred that sinne may be subdued in me thy glory aduaunced thy faith embraced and thy holy commaundementes studiously followed through the merites of thy passion Amen A thankes geuing after the receauing of the CoÌ„munioÌ„ I Render moste hartie and infinite thankes vnto thée swéete Iesu for thyne vnspeakable goodnesse because thou hast fed me this day with thy most pretious bodie and bloude in the Sâ—crament wherby I am iustified by an inmoueable and constante fayth in thy grace and passion being made an vndefiled member of thy church A Temple for the holy Ghost and a fellow heire or partaker in thy glorious kingdome in the bosome of Abraham where the spirites of the elect shall rest for euermore Graunt therfore sweet Iesu that this SacrameÌ„t which I haue receaued may through the operation of the holy Ghost be to mee a purgation and clensing of all my sinnes a spirituall streÌ„gthe agaynst my boâ—â—ly frailtie a preparature and preseruature against the teÌ„ptatyons of Sathan a bridle mean of restraint against the vntamed lusts of the flesh a defence against worldly troubles and aduersitie and finally a perfect medicine of lyfe and a continuall remembrauncâ— of thy blessed passion by meanes wherof I stande in assured hope of eternall saluation with frée iustification and remission of all my sinnes So that it may conduct and guyde me in the way and when I am out of the way it maye reduce me wheÌ„ I slide it may vpholde me when I fall it may rayse me vp agayne when I liue it maye bée a salue to my soule when I am weake it maye streÌ„gtheÌ„ and confirme when I am in darkenes it may illuminate me wyth the light of true fayth and vnderstanding Let the receauing thereof excuse so effectuall an operation in my hart that I neuer ioye in other comfort but in thée that I neuer féele other sweetenes but thee that I neuer seke other place of refuge but thée that my mynd be enamoured vpoÌ„ no other louer but thée that I séeke for no other succoure but at thée thát I trust in none other but in thée myne onely Lorde and redemer who didest not denie to haue thy moste pretious body scourged and mangled and thy bloud to be shed most aboundantly for my sake whereby I might be brought from errour to trueth from ignoraunce to vnderstaÌ„ding froÌ„ darkenes to light from vanitie to veritie from mortalitie to immortallitie â—roÌ„ corruption to incorruption from damnatioÌ„ to iustification from eternall death to the incoÌ„prehensible ioyes of eternall lyâ—e and saluation â–ª To thee swéete Iesus wyth the Father the holy Ghost be all honour glory from thys tyme forthe for euer more worlde without ende Amen A prayer to be said wheÌ„ ye take a iourney by lande O Almighty Lord most mercifall father the wachman of them that sleepe the Physicion of them that are diseased the comfort of theÌ„ that are afflicted the garder and protector of them that are in any daunger or aduersity vouchsafe I besech thée to sende downe thyne heauenly Aungell to be my guide conductor and leader in the waye where I walke that by thy gracious protection I may be defended froÌ„ all myne enemies bothe Ghostly and bodily from all perills or daungers that by any extraordinary meanes may be fall me if I be alone without company kepe my mynde free from all maner idle phantasies and fonde cogitatioâ—s that may withdrawe me from the meditation of thy heauenly word and let al my thoughts consist in the contemplation of thy comfortable promises and coÌ„maundementes And if it so chaunce that I trauayle in the companie of others I beseche thee so to direct my tonge that no word of ribaldrie or vnhonest talke proceede out of my mouth but that al my communications thoughts and déedes may tend to the aduauncement of thy glorie and to the edification both of me and all els that shall heare it Send downe most heauenly Father thy messenger to conduct me as thou dydst yong Iobias in his iourney to Rages whiche moste mercifully defended him from the iawes of the monstrous Fishe and from the power of the euil spirit Thou hast promised that thou wylt at all tymes be readie both to heare their prayers and minister present helpe to all them that vnfaignedly call vppon thy name encline therefore thine eare vnto me moste mercifull Father whiche powre foorth my prayers before the throne of thy mercie and vouchsafe to garde me vnder the shadow of thy winges that I may safely trauaile in trade of my vocation without daunger of anye ghostly enimie that may hurt the soule or anye other humaine chaunce or casualtie that may annoye the body Direct most mercyfull Father the procâ—â—se of my businesse to a happie and prosperous ende
hartes of that faythfull peniteÌ„t bringe into the way of truth all such as haue erred and wandred astray in the vale of erroure and ignoraunce comfort the soules of all them that hunger thurst after righteousenesse and suffer persecution for the Testimony of the Gospell inrich theÌ„ plentiousely with heauenly gyfts which praye vnto thée in the name of Iesus Christ our onely mediatour redemer Purifie our hartes we besech thée with the fire of thy loue that all that course of our frayle and mortall life may be directed by thy heauenly motion as with an infallible rule and compas that caÌ„not lightly erre Mortifie in vs all worldly care carnall lustes concupiscence couetousenes wrath gluttony pryde and all other sinfull inclinations that may wythdrawe vs from the contemplation of thy glorious deitie Renue our spirites wythin vs that we may seeme regenerate or new borne as infantes and illuminate our myndes wyth thy heauenly benefites and spirituall gifts that our bodies may be made thy temples wythout spot or blemishe at that dreadfull daye when euery man must yeld account of the workes of his body Leade vs into the way of truth and suffer vs not to be caried away wyth diuers and straunge doctrin but alwayes to remayne in that doctrine whereof thou art the author and vouchsafe to strenghten our myndes in the same that if an Angell of heauen should teache any other doctrine then that which thou hast already taught we may not beleue him but whosoeuer preacheth any doctrin contrary to that we haue receaued we may houlde him accursed Strengthen our soules against all assaltes of our ghostely enemy Sathan and his cheife minister Anti-christ that séeketh by all meanes possible to remoue the foundations of our fayth and to pull the word of truth out of our hartes and to throwe vs headlonge into the dungeon of erroure and ignoraunce Strength vs against the vaine allurementes of the wicked woeld and against all vncleaÌ„ lustes of the fleshe that wée beinge replenished wyth thy holy breath may bée founde pure and sanctified in thée and doe those thinges onely that may be acceptable in thy sight To whome with the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory now for euer Amen A prayer to the blessed Trinitie O Most glorious blessed Trinitie the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghoste thrée persones and one God omnipotent and euerlasting without beginninge or ending whome we doe confesse to be one in trinitie thrée in vnitie haue mercy vpon me saue me and defend me from all myne enemies both bodely and ghostly by thy mercifull goodnes and cleamency vouchsafe so to direct my mynde in the way of thy commaundementes that all my doinges may be acceptable before thee which art the God of my strength and my saluation I beseche thée also moste blessed and gloryous trinitie that those sâ—arkes of fayth that by thy heauenlie grace are already planted in my hart may by the operation of thy diuine breth within me euery daye more and more enflame by contiuall meditation of thy holy scriptures increase mightily within me to the suppression of vice and aduauncement of vertue wherby I may walke worthy of that profession wherevnto thou haste called me walking in the same with true zeale and simplicitie of hart all the dayes of my life I besech thée also most blessed Trinitie that thou of thy accustomed mercy and loue wilt make perfect in me that good worke which thou haste begonne and leade me in all truth and godlynes hauing my mynde alwaies fixte vpoÌ„ thée my moste louinge and mercyfull Father cause me alwaies to thinke and speake and to doe those thinges that may he acceptable to thée restrayne my tonge from all idell and vnhonest talke because that at that dreadfull daye of iudgement I am to render an accompte of euery idell word that I haue spoken during the terme of my former lyfe Kepe my hart and body my sences my doinges my talke and communication in thy holy lawes in the workes of thy coÌ„maundements Geue me grace to leade an vpright lyfe wythout â—ffence to my brethren obedient to myne elders louing to all sortes degrées enuious to no man but framing my lyfe vprightly and innocâ—ntly my conuersation orderly honestly my doinges circumspectly vertuously hauing thy feare before myne eyes in all my thoughtes deedes and words when Ilie downe and when I ryse vp at my last â—nd and euer more Amen A prayer before the receauing of the communioÌ„ O Swéet Iesu the Sonne of the euerliuing God thou gauest thy body to be cruelly tormented to the death to deliuer and redeme me most miserable wretched sinner that by the lawe was dead in iniquitie subiecte to the misery of eternall damnation haue mercy vpoÌ„ me poore miserable wretch whome the multitud of myne offences doeth so terrifie and driue into such méere desperation that I dare not once looke vp vpon the brightnes of thy glory nor presume to present my selfe before thy deuine Maiestie in hope to obtayne remission of my sinnes but depending onely vpoÌ„ a sure faith in thee my Lord and Sauiour by whose death and passion I am assuredly informed by faith that I am fréely iustified with absolute remission of all myne offences Wherefore I most humbly appeale vnto thy Throne of mercy crying with the Publicanne Lorde haue mercy vpoÌ„ me thy mercy pardon my faltes bynde vp my woundes and poure in thy sweet oyle like a good Samaritan whereby I may be purified and purged from those naughty tares of sinne which haue plowed me euen as a shadowe foloweth the body from the verye instant of my Natiuitie I come as an abiecte wretch and reprobate to thée that art the mediator and intercessor to reconcile me to thy Father from whose sauoure I fell for transgression of his coÌ„maundement in my greate Grandfather Adam moste humbly desiring thee to heale myne infirmitie and sickenes to washe away my sinne and filthynes to illuminate my blyndenes to conduct me to the right way that nowe wander in the wide dessert of error to comfort mee destitute of all helpe and goodnes I confesse most swéete Sauiour that I am but earth and ashes a confused Chaos and lumpe of sinne and of my selfe not worthy to loke vp toward heauen much lesse to presume vnto thy holy table to the communication of that most blessed Sacrement of thy body whereof whosoeuer eateth worthylie with a stedfast and inmoueable fayth in thee hath euerlasting lyfe but whosoeuer eateth thereof vnworthily as Iudas dyd eateth his owne dampnation Therefore although I come lyke an vncleane sinner beâ—â—â— polluted both in body 〈◊〉 yet reposinge my whole fayth and confidence in the merites of thy passioÌ„ I haue presumed to come to thy table to be made partaker of that vnspeakeable benâ—â—te of thy death feedinge outwardly vpon materyall bread but inwardly by faith vpon thy blessed bodye the bread representing a