a Comforter to the comfortlesse a Deliverer to the captiues and a Physician to the sicke Grant that the sicknesse of their bodies may make for the good of their soules Especiallie wee beseech thee to bee present with those that are at the poynt to die Fit them for their journey before their departure Arme them with faith and patience Seale vnto them by thy holie Spirit the pardon and forgiuenesse of all their sinnes And so let thy servants depart in peace and bee translated from death to lyfe to liue with thee for evermore Heare vs wee beseech thee praying for our brethren heare our brethren for vs and Iesus Christ our elder brother for vs all Wee know O Lord that thou hearest him alwayes Heare vs lykewyse wee beseech thee for his sake and accept our THANKSGIVING Wee render most heartie thankes vnto thee for our Saviours 4 Incarnation for his 5 Passion for our 3 Redemption by his most precious blood Wee thanke thee for â— forming vs in our mothers wombe for 1â— washing vs in the laver of baptisme for 6 calling vs by thy word for 7 expecting our conversion for 8 converting vs vnto the fayth for 13 strengthening our fayth by the participation of Christs bodie and blood for 9 sealing vnto vs the pardon of our sinnes for 15 giving vs a promise of everlasting lyfe Wee thanke thee for all other thy blessings 11 corporall and spirituall internall and externall for our 10 continuance in that which is good for 14 deliverance from all evill Wee thanke thee for thy often deliverances of this Church and kingdome from forreyne invasions and homebred conspiracies â— Wee thanke thee for 2 preserving vs ever since wee were borne for defending vs this night past from all perills and dangers for the quiet rest wherewith thou hast refreshed our bodies for thy mercie renewed vnto vs this morning Let thy mercie bee continued vnto vs this day let thy Spirit direct vs in all our wayes that wee may walke before thee as children of the light doing those thinges that are pleasing in thy sight Let the dew of thy blesing descende vpon our labours for without thy blessing all our labour is but in vaine Prosper thou the workes of our handes vpon vs O prosper thou our handie worke Grant that wee may conscionablie in our callings so seeke after thinges temporall that finallie wee lose not the thinges which bee eternall Wee are vnworthie O Lord wee confesse to obtaine anie thing at thy hands eyther for our selues or anie others even for the sinfulnesse of these our prayers But thou hast promised to heare all those that call vpon thee in thy Sonnes name Make good therefore we beseech thee thy promise vnto vs now calling vpon thee in thy Sonnes name and praying as he hath taught vs in his holie Gospell Our Father which art in heaven c. An Evening prayer for a familie gathered here and there out of Gerards Meditations and Prayers MOst glorious LORD GOD whose dwelling is in the highest heavens and yet beholdest the lowlie and the humble vpon earth wee blush and are ashamed to lift vp our eyes vnto heaven because we haue sinned against thee which dwellest in the heavens But looke downe wee beseech thee from heaven thy dwelling place and beholde the humilitie of thy servants heere on earth which prostrate themselues at the foot-stooll of thy mercie confessing their owne guiltinesse and begging pardon for their sinnes Wee confesse Almightie Creatour that thou madest vs at the first after thyne owne image thou cloathedst vs with innocencie as with a garment thou seatedst vs in paradise a place of all delight and pleasure But wee haue defaced thine image wee haue cast off our first covering we haue thrust our selues out of that pleasant place Wee ran away from thee and were not obedient vnto thy voyce Wee were lost and condemned before wee came into this world Our first parents sinned agaynst thee and we sinned in them They were corrupted and wee are inheriters of their corruption They were the parents of disobedience and wee are by nature the children of wrath Sinfull and vnhappie children of sinfull and vnhappie parents Thou mightest in thy displeasure after their fall haue plunged them into the bottâ—mlesse pit and made them the fewell of hell and sent their posteritie after them And neyther they nor wee could justlie haue complained Righteous O Lord art thou in thy judgements And our miserie is from our selues But great was thy mercie vnto vs. Wee came into this world in a flood of vncleannesse wallowing in our mothers blood and thou didst set open a fountayne for vs to wash in Wee were washed in the laver of baptisme and wee haue returned with the swyne to our wallowing in the myre Wee came from a place of darknesse into this world we lived as children of darknesse wee sat in darknesse and in the shadow of death Thou gavest vs thy word to bee a lanthorne vnto our feete and a light vnto our paths that in thy light wee might see light that so walking in the way of trueth wee might attayne everlasting lyfe But wee haue loved darknesse more than light haue not beene obedient vnto thy word Wee came into this world crooked even from our mothers wombe and thou gavest vs thy law to be a glasse wherein we might see our deformitie and a rule whereby to square all our actions words thoughts But wee haue shut our eyes that wee might not see and wee haue refused to bee ruled by thy law The law of sinne in our flesh doeth daylie captivate vs. The roote of originall sinne which lyeth hidden in vs doth everie day put foorth new branches All the parts and faculties of our bodies and soules are so manie instruments of vnrighteousnesse to fight agaynst thy divyne Majestie Our hearts imagine wicked things our mouthes vtter them and our handes put them in practice Thy mercies everie day are renewed vnto vs and our sinnes are everie day multiplied agaynst thee In the day of health and prosperitie we forget thee and we never thinke vpon the day of sicknesse and adversitie Thy benefits heaped vpon vs doe not allure vs to obey thee Neyther doe thy judgements infflicted vpon others make vs afrayde to offend thee What couldest thou O Lord haue done more for vs or what could wee haue done more agaynst thee Thou didst send thy Sonne in the fulnesse of time to take our nature vpon him to fulfill thy law for vs and to bee crucified for our sinnes Wee haue not followed the example of his holie lyfe but haue everie day afresh crucified him by our sinnes And now O LORD if wee shall become our own judges we cannot but confesse that wee haue deserved everlasting torments in hell-fire But there is mercie with thee O Lord therefore will wee not despare Our sins are manie in number But thy mercies are without number The weyght of our sinnes is great But the weyght
thou drye and vnhappie wood that hast alwayes served as a slaue the everlasting fire of hell What must thou feare when thou seest these things come to passe in the greene wood Christ is the greene tree In the roote of his divinitie in the loue of his humanitie in the boughes of his vertues in the leaueâ— of his holie wordes and in the fruit of his good works Hee is the cedar of chastitie the vine of joyfulnesse the palme of patience and the oliue of mercie But if the fire of the divyne anger inflameth this greene tree of lyfe How much more shall it consume the sinner lyke drye wood for his vnfruitfull workes In what capitall and bloodie letters are my sins ingraven in the bodie of Christ How conspicuous O thou most just GOD is thyne anger agaynst myne iniquities How straite must that captivitie needes bee in which my soule was held when so precious a ransome was payd for her delyverie How great must the staynes of my sinnes needs bee when rivers of blood flow downe from the bodie of Christ to wash them away O thou most just God and yet most mercifull Father consider what indignities thy Sonne hath suffered for me and forget the wicked works of me thy vnworthie servant Behold the proâ—unditie of his wounds and overwhelme my sinnes in the profound sea of thy mercie Amen THE SECOND PART Of thanksgiving for Benefits THE ARGUMENT The Meditation of Gods benefits doeth gather out of the garden of nature and of the Church sundrie those most fragrant 〈◊〉 of divine gifts and recreating it selfe with the odour thereof offereth againe to God the sâ—crifices of the lips for a savour of sweet smell Now the immense and innumerable benefits of God may be divided according to three articles of our Christian faith God hath created rédeemed and sanctified vs. Hee heapeth his benefits on vs in this life and hath promised greater vnto vs in the life that is everlasting Hee conferreth vpon vs the gift of the minde of the bodie and of fortune which wee caâ—â— externall goods He preserveth vs from evil and conserveth vs in good That which is pâ—â—t he covereth that which is to come hee governeth His privatiue blessings are more than his positiue In brieâ—e woe can neyther in word expresse nor in thoughâ— conceaue the number and dignitie of Gods benefits which will afford vnto vs hereafter in the world to come most plentifull matter of eternall praise and thanksgiving PRAYER I. Hee giveth thanks for our forming in the wombe and for our nativitie ALmightie eternal GOD Father Sonne and holie Ghost I giue thankes to thee I prayse thee I glorifie thee because thy hands haue fashioned mee and made mee whollie round about Thou formedst mee lyke clay in my mothers wombe Thou didst draw me lyke milke Thou didst curdlâ— mee lyke cheese With flesh and skinne hast thou covered mee and compacted mee together with bones and sinews Thou hast given mee lyfe and mercie and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit This thy great mercie bestowed vpon mee I will celebrate with perpetuall prayses Thy goodnesse I will sing of in continuall songs Thou didst protect mee in my mothers wombe I will confesse vnto thee For I am wonderfullie formed Marvelous are thy workes and that my soule knoweth right well My bones are not had from thee which thâ—n didst make in secret and deckedst me with divers members in the lower parts of the earth Thy eyes saw mee yet beeing imperfect and in thy booke were all my members written which day by day were fashioned when as yet there were none of them How precious vnto meâ— are thy thoughts O GOD How great iâ— the summe of them If I goe about to reckon them I finde them multiplied aboue the sands of the sea Thou didst show thy mercie vnto mee before I vnderstood it Thou didst prevent me with thy blessings before I did desire them Thy bountie did embrace mee on everie side before I could giue thankes for it Thou art hee who not onlie didst forme mee wonderfullie in the wombe but also didst take me out Thou art my hope even from my mothers breast Out of my mothers wombe I was cast vpon thee Thou art my GOD from my mothers wombe As often as I thinke vpon manie that haue beene extinct and never came to the light of this lyfe so often I admire and prayse thee for thy mercie which brought mee out of that prison into the theatre of this world safe and sound How manie yeares are past in which I was not and yet thou didst erect for mee this house of my bodie and didst bring mee out of that bottomlesse pit and the darknesse of my mothers wombe Thou gavest vnto mee a reasonable soule Thou madest mee a man not a stone or a serpent To thee O my God for this thy mercie bee honour and glorie for ever AMEN PRAYER II. Hee rendereth thankes for our sustentation I Render thanks vnto thee Almightie and mercifull God for that thou hast sustained me from the very first dayes of my life Naked I came into this world and thou coveredst mee most graciouslie Hungrie I entred into this world and thou hast hitherto fed me most bountifully In thee I liue moue haue my being Without thee I fall agayne into nothing and die Through thee I â—owe and moue my members Without thee I can neyther be partaker of life or motion Thyne is the sunne that giveth me light which I see daylie with mine eyes Thyne is the aire which I draw in with continuall breath The night is thine and the day is thine whose entercourses serue for my labour and rest Thyne is the earth whose fruits do nowrish mee most plentifullie Everie creature in heaven ayre earth and sea is thine and is appoynted for my vse and service Silver is thyne and gold is thyne Whatsoever is necessarie for the sustentation of this my present lyfe all that I receaue from thy most liberall and bountifull hands O GOD how liberall art thou to man-kinde All thinges thou createdst long agoe for the vse of man All thinges thou doest as yet preserue for the good of man Whatsoever thou of thyne infinite goodnesse affordest to the other creatures thou affordest also vnto me for as much as thou doest wonderfullie forme furnish and conserue them for my sake Some of the creatures serue to obey mee some to nowrish me some to cloathe me some to cure mee some to chastice mee But all of them to teach and informe mee Who can reckon vp those divers kindes of nutriments which thou hast created and doest as yet produce out of the earth vnto this day to nowrish vs Who can enumerate those divers species of herbs which thou doest everie yeare cause the earth to bring foorth to cure vs Who can in wordes comprehende those sundrie kindes of living creatures which were made for mans vse and
nature Receaue them into the everlasting tabernacles of the citie which is aboue whoÌ„ thou hast vsed as thy instruments to conferre vpon mee so manie and so liberall benefits My heart propoundeth vnto thee the infallible promise of thy word that thou wilt of thy meere free grace recompence even a cup of colde water How much more then wilt thou bee liberall and bountifull to those that with full hand bestow benefits of all kyndes vpon those that want Let not thy graces cease to runne downe vpon them that poure foorth so plentifullie vpon others Let the fountayne of thy goodnesse alwayes spring vnto them from whom such plentifull rivers of liberalitie doe flow Grant I beseech thee most mercifull GOD that they which â—ow temporall thinges so liberallie may reape with much increase things spirituall Fill their soules with joy that feede the bodies of the poore with meat Let not the fruit of their bountie perish though they show it by bestowing of the goods that perish Giue vnto them that giue vnto others thou that art the giver of everie good gift blessed for ever Amen PRAYER VI. He prayeth for enemies and persecutors LORD Iesu Christ the onelie begoten Sonne of GOD that hast prescribed vs in thy word this rule of charitie Loue your enemies blesse them that curse you doe good to them that hate you pray for them that despitefullie vse you and persecute you I beseech thee who art most gracious and most readie to forgiue to forgiue myne enemies and the persecutours of the Church Giue vnto mee the grace of thy holie Spirit that I may not onelie forgiue myne enemies from myne heart but also pray for their health and salvation even from my soule Whet not against them the sword of severe revenge but anoynt their heads with the oyle of thy mercie and compassion Extinguish the sparks of hatred and anger that are in their hearts that they breake not foorth into the infernall flames of hell Let them know and acknowledge that Our lyfe is but a vapour and a smoake that soone vanisheth away that our bodie is but ashes dust that flyeth away that they beare not immortall anger in their mortall bodies nor entertayne into this brittle tabernacle of clay their soules enemie Let them know lykewyse that inveterate hatred is their greatest enemie because it killeth the soule and excludeth them from the participation of heavenlie lyfe Illumiminate their myndes that they beholding the glasse of thy divyne mercie may see the deformitie of anger and hatred Governe their wills that beeing moved by the example of thy divyne forgiuenesse they may leaue off and cease to bee angrie and to doe harme Grant vnto mee mercifull GOD that as much as in mee lyeth I may haue peace with all men and turne the hearts of myne enemies to brotherlie reconcilement Let vs walke with vnanimitie and concord in the way of this lyfe seeing that wee hope all for a place in our celestiall countrey Let vs not disagree vpon earth seeing that wee all desire to liue together heereafter in heaven Wee call vpon thee our Lord and our God which art in heaven And it is not meet for the servants of the same Lord to fall out one with another Wee are one mysticall bodie vnder Christ our head And it is base and shamefull for the members of the same bodie to fight one with another They which haue one fayth and one baptisme ought to haue one spirit and one mynde Neyther doe I pray alone for my private enemies but also for the publike enemies and persecutoures of the Church O thou which art trueth it selfe bring them into the way of trueth O thou which art power it selfe bring to nought their bloodie endeavours and attempts Let the brightnesse of thy heavenlie trueth open their blinde eyes that the raging madnesse and desire to persecute which they haue in their myndes may heereafter cease Let them know O LORD and acknowledge that it is not onelie a vaine thing but also verie dangerous to kicke against the prickes Why doe they imitate the furie of wolues when as they know that the blâ—â—â— of Christ the immaculate Lambeâ—â— as poured out for vs Why doe they thirst to shed that innocent blood for which they know that the blood of the verie Sonne of GOD was poured foorth vpon the altar of the crosse Convert them O LORD that they may bee converted vnto thee from their heart and so obtayne the fruit of their conversion in this life and in that which is to come Amen PRAYER VII Hee supplieateth for those that are afflicted and in miserie ALmightie eternall and mercifull GOD which art the Saviour of all men especiallie of the â—â—ythfull and by the Apostle hast commanded vs to make prayers for all men I intreate thee for all those that are afflicted and in miserie that thou wouldest support them by the consolatioÌ„ of thy grace and succour them by the ayde of thy power Indue with power and strength froâ— aboue those that labour and sweâ—â— in the most grievous agonie of Satans tentations Make them partakers of thy victorie O Christ thou which didst most powerfullie overcome Satan Let the cooler of thy heavenlie comfort raise vp those whose bones are become dry with the fire of griefe and sorrow Beare vp all those that are readie to fall and raise vp those that are alreadie fallen Bee mercifull vnto those that are sicke and diseased and grant that the disease of the bodie may bee vnto them the medicine of the soule and the adversities of the flesh the remedies of the spirit Let them know that diseases are the handmaydes of sinne and the forerunners of death Giue vnto them the strength of fayth and patience O thou which art the most true Physician both of soule and bodie Restore them againe vnto their former health if it bee for the everlasting salvation of their soules Protect all those that are great with childe and those that bee in labour Thou art he that doest deliver children out of the straytes of their mothers wombe doest propagate mankinde by thy blessing be present with those that bee in labour O thou lover and giver of lyfe that they be not oppressed with an immoderate weyght of sorrows Nowrish those that are orphanes and destitute of all helpe and succour Defende the widows that are subject to the reproaches of all men thou which hast called thy selfe the Father of the fatherlesse and the Iudge and defender of the widows Let the teares of the widows which flow downe from their cheekes breake through the clowds and rest not vntill they come before thy throne Heare those that bee in danger by sea which cry to thee and sende vp their sighes vnto thee seeing before their eyes their neighbours suffer shipwracke Restore libertie vnto those that are captiue that with a thankfull heart they may sing of thy bountie Confirme those that suffer persecution
daylie falls and slips HOlie God and just Iudge There is no man innocent in thy sight no man free from the spote of sinne And I am bereaved of that glorie which I should bring with mee to judgement I am stripped of that garment of innocencie with which I ought to appeare arrayed before thee Seaven tymes yea and oftener everie houre I fall seaventie tymes seaven tymes I sinne everie day The spirit indeede is sometymes readie but the flesh is alwayes weake The inward man flowrisheth and is strong but the outward man languisheth and is weake For I doe not the good that I would but the evill that I would not How often doe vaine wicked and impious cogitations aryse in my heart How often doe vaine vnprofitable and hurtfull wordes breake foorth How often doe perverse wicked and vngodlie actions pollute mee All my righteousnesse is as the cloath of a menstruous woman Therefore I dare not pleade for my righteousnesse before thee But I humblie prostrate my selfe before thy most just tripunall and out of the deeps doe I cry vnto thee Lord if thou shalt decree to impute sinne who shall abyde it If thou wilt enter into judgement who shall stand If thou wilt call me to appeare according to the severity of thy justice how shall I come before thee If thou wilt exact a strict account of my lyfe I shall not bee able to answere thee one for a thousand Therefore my mouth is stopt and I acknowledge before thee that I haue deserved eternall torments and withall I confesse with teares that thou mayest justlie cast mee into prison for ever Therefore for these daylie sinnes of my lyfe I offer vnto thee holie Father the most precious blood of thy Sonne which was poured foorth on the altar of the crosse which washeth me from all my sinnes My sinnes which leade mee captiue are manie in number and most powerfull But the ransome of thy Sonne is much more precious and of more efficacie Let that most perfect plenarie and holie pryce payed by Christ obtayne for mee remission of sinnes Amen PRAYER IV. Hee examineth our lyfe according to the rule of the first table of the Commandements HOlie God and just Iudge Thou gavest vnto vs thy Law in mount Sinay and thou wouldst haue it to be the rule of all our actions words and thoughts That whatsoever is not squared by it should in thy judgement bee accounted sinne As often as I looke vpon that most cleare glasse I perceaue mine owne filthinesse and tremble everie part of mee I ought to loue thee O my God aboue all thinges But how often doe I loue the world and forget the loue of thee I am bound to feare thee O my God aboue all things But how often doe I consent to sinne and let thy feare slip out of my memorie Thou requirest that I should trust in thee O my God aboue all things But how often in adversitie doeth my soule waver and anxiouslie and carefullie doubt of thy fatherlie goodnesse I am bound to obey thee O my God with all my heart But how often doeth my refractarie flesh resist the resolution of obedience and leade mee captiue into the prison of sinne My cogitations ought to bee holie my desires pure and holie But how often is the quyet state of my mynde troubled with vaine and impious cogitations I ought to call vpon thee O God with all my heart But how often doth my minde wander in prayer and doeth anxioustie doubt whether her prayers be heard or no! How often am I remisse in prayer aud demisse in conceaving confidence How often doeth my tongue pray and yet I doe not worship thee in spirit and in trueth How profound oblivion of thy benefits doeth seize vpon mee Thou doest dayly poure thy benefits vpon me in a loving manner and yet I doe not daylie returne vnto thee thanksgiving How cold is my meditation of thy immense and infinite gifts bestowed vpon mee What slender devotion is there for the most part in my heart I vse thy gifts and yet I doe not prayse thee who art the giver I sticke in the rivers come not to the fountaine Thy word is the word of spirit lyfe But I through sinne and corruption haue destroyed the worke of thy holie Spirit within mee The sparks of a good resolution often inkindled I as often extinguish and yet I doe not sue to thee for increase of thy gifts For these and all other my sinnes and defaults I offer vnto thee O my God the most pure and perfect obedience of thy Sonne who loved thee in the dayes of his incarnation most perfectlie with his whole heart cleaved vnto thee most firmlie with all his soule in whose deeds words and thoughts there was found no blot of sinne nor spot of the least offence That which I want by faith I draw from his fulnesse Therefore for this thy wel-beloved Sonnes sake haue mercie LORD vpon thy servant Amen PRAYER V. Hee considereth our lyfe according to the rule of the second table of the commandements HOlie God and just Iudge It is thy eternall and immutable will that I should honour with due respect my Parents and the Magistrates But how often doe I thinke too meanlie of their authoritie How often doe I in heart refuse to obey them How often doe I traduce their infirmities O how often doe I omit by serious prayers to further their safetie I often cherish anger conceaved agaynst them whereas I ought with patience to submit my selfe vnto them Thy sacred will requireth that I should doe good to my neyghbour in all things to my power But how often doeth it irke mee to doe him good How doeth it goe against my stomacke to forgiue him How often am I solicited by my flesh to anger hatred envy and brawling how often doth the fire of my angrie heart burne within mee although contentious wordes bee not heard without Thy holie will requireth that I should liue chastlie modestlie and temperately But how often hath the loue of drunkennesse lust made my soule captiue to sinne How often doe fires of lust flame within mee although my outward members be restrained Hee that looketh vpon a woman to lust after her hath alreadie committed adulterie with her in his heart sayeth the Text How often therefore in the sight of GOD doe wee commit adulterie The inordinate and immoderate vse of meat drinke and wedlocke often stealeth vpon vs and maketh vs appeare guiltie before thee if thou wouldest enter into judgement with vs. Thy holie writ requireth that in bargaining I deceaue not my neighbour in anie sort but that I rather further and procure his good that I traduce not his faults but rather cover thē with the cloake of charitie and that I doe not censure him rashlie vnadvisedlie But how often doe I seeke mine own profite by injustice How often doe I spend my judgemēt
ever Amen PRAYER X. Hee rendereth thankes vnto God for conserving vs in that which is good TO thee LORD bee honour and glorie and blessing and thanksgiving for that thou hast not onlie in mercie receaved mee vpon my repentance but also hast enabled mee to abstaine from sinne and liue more reformedlie What should it profit a man to bee free from his sicknesse and presentlie to fall into a worse relapse What should it profite to bee absolved from sins past vnlesse grace bee conferred to leade a godlie lyfe Thou God most faithfull hast showed all the parts and offices of a faythfull and skilfull Physician in the cure of my souls wounds My wounds were deadlie and thou didst cure them by the wounds of thy Sonne But there was cause to feare that the wounds that were healed might waxe rawe agayne And thou by the grace of thy holie Spirit as it were a fomentation hast hindred it How manie bee those that after remission of sinnes obtayned returne agayne to their former course of lyfe and reiterating their sinnes more grievouslie offende GOD Alace how manie doe we see that beeing freed from the yoke of sinne returne to their former captivitie and beeing brought out of the spirituall Aegypt looke backe agayne to the pots They haue fled from the pollutions of the world by the knowledge of CHRIST and doe wallow agayne in the same by repeating the former conversation of their most wicked lyfe They were freed out of the bonds of Satan by their conversion and agayne are held entangled in the same by the delusion of wicked spirits Surelie their latter ende is worse than the beginning And it had beene better for them never to haue knowne the way of righteousnesse than having knowne it to turne away from the path of the holie commandements which were delivered vnto them These are the dogs that returne againe to their vomite and sowes that after their washing wallow agayne in the myre Whatsoever hath happened vnto them might haue happened vnto me but that it hath pleased thee by the grace of thy power the efficacie of thy holie Spirit to enable me to continue in that which is good The same wicked spirit that vanquished them assaulted mee The same world that seduced them enticed mee The same flesh that overcame them allured mee Onlie thy grace protected mee against their assaults and furnished me with power sufficient for victorie Thy strength was powerfull in my weaknesse From thee the strength of the Spirit descended with which I was enabled to bridle the assaults of the flesh Whatsoever good there is in mee it descendeth all from thee who art the fountaine of all good For in me by nature there is nothing but sin Therefore as manie good workes as I finde in mee which notwithstanding are impure and imperfect by reason of my flesh so manie gifts they are of thy grace I must needs confesse For this thine inestimable gift conferred vpon mee I will giue thee thankes for ever Amen PRAYER XI Hee rendereth thankes for all the gifts of the soule and bodie and for externall goods I Render vnto thee eternall and mercifull God as it is most due eternall thankes for that thou hast not onelie made mee a bodie and a soule but moreover hast furnished mee with sundrie gifts of the soule and bodie and also with externall goods Thou which art wisedome it selfe teachest men all knowledge If therefore I know anie good it is a demonstration of thyne aboundant grace towards mee Without thy light my minde is darksome Without thy grace my will is captiue If there bee in mee eyther anie wit or prudence it is all to bee attributed to thy clemencie Wisedome is the eye of the soule and divyne grace is the eye of wisedome Whatsoever wee know we know eyther by the light of nature or by the revelation of thy word But from thee O thou light of eternall wisedome doeth the illumination of nature spring From thee also doeth the revelatiō of the word come Therfore whatsoever wee know descendeth vnto vs as thy gift Thou O indeficient fountayne of lyfe art my lyfe and the length of my dayes Thou O eternall health it selfe art the strength of my body and the vigour of my vertue Man liveth not by bread onelie but by everie word that proceedeth out of thy mouth So then man is not preserved in health and strength by bread onlie neither is he preserved from diseases by Physicke onlie but by everie word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Tranquillitie of the mynde preserveth the health of the bodie And true godlinesse begetteth tranquillitie of the conscience From thee O thou chiefe good all true godlinesse all tranquillitie of the mynde without disturbance and all wished-for health of bodie doeth come Moreover whatsoever externall good I doe possesse all that I owe vnto thy liberalitie and bountie A crust of bread is not due vnto my deserts How much lesse then are all these externall goods which thou doest heap vpon mee They are called indeede the gifts of fortune But they are in deede and in trueth the gifts of thy grace There is nothing more blessed than to doe good and to bee liberall to others And thou hast made mee partaker of this blessednesse by bestowing liberallie these outward goods vpon mee Thou hast sowed in mee the seede of thy grace that from thence there may aryse to others an harvest of liberalitie and beneficencie Thou hast committed manie thinges vnto mee as vnto a steward that I might haue wherewithall to doe good to my fellow-servants From thee the fountaine of all good there descendeth vpon mee streames of goods Whatsoever I am whatsoever I possesse whatsoever I bestow dependeth all I confesse vpon thy bountie For this thine inestimable mercie I will giue thee thankes for ever Amen PRAYER XII Hee rendereth thankes for the sacrament of Baptisme TO thee O eternall and mercifull God Father Sonne and holie Ghost I render humble thanks for that thou hast washed me in the holie laver of baptisme from all my sinnes and for that thou hast receaved mee into the covenant of grace made me an heire of everlasting lyfe I acknowledge it is thy gift that I was borne of Christian parents and by them brought vnto this heavenlie fount How manie thousands of infants are borne in Gentilisme and without this sacrament doe die in their sinnes There is no difference in nature betweene mee and them Onlie thy superaboundant grace hath made a difference I was joyned with them in communion of sinne But I was separated from them by participation of thy grace How great is thy goodnesse that thou diddest finde mee when I sought thee not that thou didst heare mee before I asked that thou didst open vnto mee before I knockt This thy mercie exceedeth all prayse yea and all admiration I was baptized in thy holie Name thy Name for mee was called vpon Therefore
I am receaved into the heavenlie familie being made the sonne of my heavenlie Father the brother of Christ and the temple of the holie Ghost This is an holie and heavenlie laver In it therefore I am washed and purged from all my vncleannesse It is the laver of regeneration renovation By it therefore I am regenerated and renewed by the grace of the holie Ghost Whatsoever Christ my Saviour merited by his most holie obedience and by the effusion of his most precious blood of all that hee hath left the saving fount of baptisme as a pledge Therefore the conferring of baptisme is the besprinkling of the blood of Christ. That precious blood of Christ doeth make mee cleane from all my sinnes and maketh mee whiter than snow in the sight of God O eternall God thou hast made an eternall covenant with mee in baptisme vnto which I haue alwayes recourse by true and serious repentance Thou hast betroathed mee vnto thee for ever in judgement and righteousnesse in grace and mercie Thou hast given mee an earnest and pledge of thy Spirit in baptisme Therefore thou wilt not cast mee away from thy face but beeing mindfull of thy promise thou wilt leade mee into the joyes of the celestiall marriage As at the baptisme of Christ my Mediatour and head the heavens were opened So by the communion of the same baptisme thou hast opened vnto mee the gate of paradise As at the baptisme of Christ the holie Ghost descended vpon him and a voyce from heaven did testifie that hee was the beloved Sonne of GOD So by the same communion of the same baptisme I am made a partaker of the holie Ghost and adopted to bee a sonne of GOD. For which inestimable benefite I will giue thankes vnto thee my GOD for ever AMEN PRAYER XIII Hee rendereth thankes for the sacrament of the Lords Supper HOw great thanks doe Iowe vnto thee most high God for that in the most sacred mysterie of the supper thou doest feed me with the bodie and blood of thy Sonne What is there in heaven or in earth of more pryce and excellencie than that bodie which is vnited to thy Sonne personallie What more certaine testimonie and pledge of thy grace can there bee than the precious blood of thy Sonne poured out for my sinnes on the altar of the crosse The verie pryce of my redemption thou bestowest vpon mee that I may haue a most certaine testimonie of thy grace towards me As often as I fall through my sinnes from the covenant of baptisme So often by true repentance and the saving vse of this supper I am restored vnto it agayne It is a sacrament of the new Testament and it alwayes enricheth mee with new gifts of the Spirit In this bodie lyfe it selfe dwelleth and therefore it refresheth me quickneth mee vnto everlasting lyfe By the effusion of this blood satisfaction is made for our finnes And therefore by the drinking thereof the remission of my sinnes is confirmed vnto mee Christ sayeth it Trueth it selfe sayeth it Whosoever shall eate my flesh and drinke my blood hath eternall lyfe and I will raise him vp at the last day that is to the lyfe of glorie For this is the bread of lyfe which descended from heaven that whosoever shall eate thereof may not die but haue everlasting lyfe It is the eating by fayth that Christ so commendeth which must needs be added vnto the sacramentall eating that so that which was appoynted to lyfe may bee receaved by vs vn to lyfe I come therefore with true fayth vnto this heavenlie banquet beeing firmlie perswaded that the bodie which I eate was delivered vnto death for mee and the blood which I drinke was poured foorth for my sinnes I cannot in anie wise doubt of the remissioÌ„ of my sinnes when as it is confirmed by the participation of the pryce which was offered for my sinnes I cannot in anie wise doubt of Christ his dwelling in mee when hee sealeth vnto mee the same by the communion of his bodie and blood I cannot in anie wise doubt of the assistance of the holie Spirit when my Infirmitie is strengthened with such safegard I am not afrayde of Satans assaults when as this Angelicall foode doeth make mee strong to fight I am not afrayde of the allurements of the flesh when as this quickning and spirituall foode doeth corroborate mee by the vertue of the Spirit These taken and drunke doe make Christ to dwell in mee and mee in Christ. The good sheepherd will not suffer the sheepe that is fed with his owne bodie and blood to bee devoured by the infernall wolfe Neyther will the power of the Spirit suffer mee to bee overcome by the weaknesse of the flesh To thee O Saviour most benigne bee prayse honour and thanksgiving for ever and ever Amen PRAYER XIV Hee râ—â—ndâ—reth thankes to God for preserving vs from sundrie evills TO thee O eternall and mercifull GOD I render eternall thankes for that thou hast hitherto preserved mee from infinite evills and dangers and hast kept me safe by the guard of thy holie Angells Thy privatiue blessings by which thou doest keepe mee from evill are more in number than thy positiue by which thou doest conferre good vpon mee As manie evills of soule and bodie as I see in others so manie tokens doe I see of thy mercie towards mee For my deliverance from those evills is to be attributed as due onlie to thy goodnesse How great is the power of the devil How great is his subtiltie As often therefore as that malignant and most subtile spirit and our most potent adversarie doeth labour to doe vs anie mischiefe so often by the buckler of thy benignitie and by the guard of the holie Angells being protected I haue beene able to escape his nets But who can reckon vp the treacherous assaults and invasions of the devill Who can therefore reckon vp the riches of thy bountie When redst that I may bee able to endure and overcome all the violent invasions of the infernall powers Let my last word in this lyfe be the same with which thou didst consummate all vpon the crosse and receaue my soule which thou hast redeemed with so deare a pryce when I shall commend it into thy hands Let a blessed resurrection follow a blessed death In that great day of thy severe judgement delyver mee from that cruell sentence thou which in my lyfe didst with thy readie helpe protect mee Let my sinnes bee covered with the shadow of thy grace and overwhelmed in the bottome of the sea Let my soule bee bound vp in the bundle of the living that with all the elect I may come into the fellowship of everlasting joye Amen THE FOURTH PART Of Supplications for others THE ARGUMENT The meditation of our neyghbours wants and indigencies concerneth the common good welfare of the Church common-wealth and maketh vs looke vpon others miseries as our owne This is
shyne by the same first themselues beeing set on fire by the holie Spirit Before the words of exhortation bee heard let them first proclayme by their workes whatsoever they shal speake with their tongues Thrust foorth faithfull labourers into thy harvest that they may gather together many handfulls of Saincts Open lykewyse the hearts of the hearers that they may receaue the seed with holy obedience Giue vnto them thy grace that with a pure heart they may keepe thy holie word committed vnto them bring foorth plentifull fruit with patience Let them hearkeÌ„ attentiuelie let them heare carefullie let them practice fruitfullie that the word which is preached vnto them for want of faith condemne them not in the last day There is a notable promise of thy bountie that thy word shall not returne vnto thee spoken in vaine Bee mindfull of this thy promise and blesse the labour of him that planteth and him that watereth Suffer not the infernall crowes to picke out of the fielde of the hearers hearts the seede of thy holie word Suffer not the spinie thicket of the thorns of pleasures riches to choake it Suffer not the hardnesse of the stonie ground to hinder the fructification of it But poure downe the dew of thy heavenlie grace from aboue and water thy heavenlie seede that the fruit of good workes lyke standing corne may spring vp most plenteouslie Knit together in a neare bond of loue and charitie the hearts of the pastors and of the hearers that they may labour together with mutuall prayers and raise vp one another with mutuall comfort Amen holie that Nurserie of the Church and Common-weale Giue vnto virgins widows and married persons true sanctitie of mynde and pure chastitie of bodie Let virgins cleaue vnto thee without anie distraction Let widows persevere in prayers and supplications night and day Let those that are married loue one another with mutuall loue Let them all serue thee with their whole heart in holinesse Let the marriage bed bâ—e vndeâ—â—â—ed and let the mindes of them all bee vnspoted Let them bee violets of humilitie and lillies of chastitie Let them bee roses of charitie and balsame of sanctitie Tye the hearts of them that are knit together in holie wedlocke with the bond of chaste loue that they may mutuallie embrace obey one another and persevere in thy holie service Preserue thou them from the treacheries of Asâ—â—â—deâ—â— that they burne not with mutuall hatred one towards the other Let the wife bee an helpe vnto her husband and comfort him in adversitie Let the indissoluble bond of matrimonie bee a token and seale vnto vs of the loue that is betweene Christ and the Church By how much the nearer the societie is betweene the man and the wyfe by so much the more fervent let their zeale bee in prayer By how much the more obnoxious and subject they are to dangers and calamities by so much the more conjoyned let their myndes bee in pietie and prayer Bee present by thy grace with religious parents that they may bring vp their children in holie admonitions and instructions and good discipline Let them acknowledge those fruits of wedlocke to bee thy gift and restore them againe vnto thee by godlie and faithfull instruction Let them shyne before them by the example of their godlie lyfe and not become guiltie of that grievous sinne of scandall Bende lykewyse the hearts of the children that they may performe due obedience vnto their parents that they may become sweete smelling plants of the heavenlie paradise and not vnprofitable wood adjudged to the flames of hell-fire Let them cast foorth a most pleasant smell of pietie obedience reverence and all kinde of vertue that they fall not into that most filthie sinke of sinne and so consequentlie into the pit of hell Let them remember the commandement of honouring their parents let them bee carefull to recompense their parents after the manner of storks let them remember to feede them as they haue beene fed by them that they precipitate not themselues into the gulfe of sundrie evills Let parents and children with joynt desires studie in this lyfe to worship thee the true GOD that they may beare parts in consort and together prayse thee in the lyfe to come Let servants â—â—ey their masters with alacritie and with feare and with singlenesse of heart not with eye-service or to please men but as it becommeth the servants of Christ. In lyke manner let masters embrace their servants with fatherlie kindnesse that they turne not their just government into tyrannicall crueltie Let their societie in their private house bee an oeconomicall private Churce beloved of God and of the Angells AMEN PRAYER V. Hee prayeth for parents brethren sisters kinsfolke and benefactours MOst holie and mercifull God from whom large heapes of sundrie benefites descende downe vpon vs who hast given vnto mee kinsfolke and benefactours to bee helps vnto mee in this present lyfe I beseech thee to bestow vpon them in the lyfe to come everlasting rewards Those whom thou hast joyned vnto mee in a speciall bond of nature and blood I doe speciallie coÌ„mend vnto thy protection Those vnto whom I doe owe speciall loue and respect with serious and fervent prayers I commend vnto thy keeping Grant that my kinsfolke may with joynt consent and vnanimitie serue thee in the true fayth and with true pietie that they may receaue all of them heereafter a crowne of eternall glorie Vnto my parents whom thou hast made next after thee the authours of my life and my informers in true pietie I cannot by anie meanes render deserved rewards I humblie beseech thee therefore who art the authour of all good and the rewarder of all benefits to recompence their benefits heere with temporall rewardes and heereafter with eternall Let the example of Christ thy Sonne who about the agonie of his death commended vnto his disciple the care of his mother let his example teach mee even to the last breath to take care for my parents Let nature it selfe by the example of the storke teach mee that I owe perpetuall thanks and rewards vnto them for their merits Vnto thee mercifull Father I commend the care and tuition of my brethren sisters and kinsfolke Let them become the brethren and sisters of Christ and so heirs of the kingdome of heaven Let vs all be joyned together in the kingdome of grace whom thou hast joyned together In the lyfe of nature And let vs all together with those whom by death thou hast separated from vs and taken vnto thy selfe let vs all at length be joyned together in the kingdome of glori Make vs all citizens of the heavenlie Ierusalem as thou hast made vs in this lyfe members of the true Church The same lykewyse I intreate of thee for all my benefactours whose health welfare both of soule bodie I am bound to desire and further even by the law of