¶ Maister D. his councell to all that are his as also a briefe lesson for all estates KEepe counsell Vse not manye wordes Tell the truth Be slow to speake Brydle thine anger Appease debate Hinder no mans good name Take heede of drinke Remember thy ende Be mercifull Trie before thou trust Repose no confidence in a reconciled aduersarie Sorowe not for that which can not be got agayne Reioyce not in thy neyghbours crosse Striue not with thy ouer match Reueale not thy secretes to thy wife nor to thy children for women and children say all they know Three things vndid the Romanes reigne priuie grudge yong heaves and priuate gayne Beare with others as thou would haue others heare with thee Be not to rashe hasty bolde nor wyse in thine owne conceyte Doe not speake all thou knowest Doe not beleeue all thou hearest Doe not doe all thou canst Doe not say all thou seest Beholde the ende ere thou beginne Haue mynde on death and feare to sinne For death shall reape that lyfe hath sovvne And lyfe shall spring vvhere death hath movvne If thou by God arte set on hie Remember yet that thou shalt die Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the Soule Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the Mynde Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the and bodie If thou flie ydlenesse Cupid hath no might His Bowe lyeth broken his fire hath no light FEARE GOD And keepe his Commaundements GODLY priuate prayers for housholders to meditate vpon and to say in their families MARK 11.24 ¶ What so euer ye desire when ye praye beleeue that ye shall haue it and it shall bee done vnto you ROM 10.13 ¶ Whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lorde shall bee saued Psal. 55. verse 16. ¶ I will call vnto God and the Lorde will saue me Euening and morning and at noone will I pray and make a noise and he wil heare my voyce ¶ Godly priuate prayers for housholders to be saide in their Families A prayer conteyning the effect of the Housholders Catechisme ALmightie God and most mercifull Father I see in thy blessed lawes and commaundementes the greatnesse of my sinnes and wickednesse yea I see O Lord my god the whole course of my life to be almost nothing els but a continuall breaking of thy holy lawes and commaūdements The thoughts of my harte either in vanitie or els open wickednesse are in number infinite daily in the aboundance of them causing my mouth to speake my body to execute and do contrary to thy holy will. And againe O Lord I see thy heauie wrath vengeāce and iudgment against sinne to be intollerable that euen the least wicked thought and most secreat cogitation of my harte procureth thy heauy wrath and euerlasting curse the tormente of hell and euerlasting fire euen although I had but once in all my life broke any of thy commaundements so much as once in thought And I know O Lord God that thou art true and iust canst not abide sinne and wickednesse but wilt iustly punish euerie sinne euen with the selfe same tormentes of hell whiche thy iustice hath appointed euen for euery sinne This O Lord my God throweth me downe and euen amaseth me so that I knowe not what to do I looke into my selfe vewing mine owne power whither I am able to ouercome this punishment of my sinne or no and I see that al euē the most exquisite punishment which I can deuise to my selfe in whipping of my body as long as I liue wearing haire cloth pineing my selfe with fasting or any other paine I see I see O Lorde that all this punishmēt is not sufficient for one of my least sinnes because it deserueth euen the euerlasting paines of hell I looke to Heauen I see there is no Sainte nor Angel able to abide and ouercome this punishment of sinne I looke to men in this worlde euen to the Popes treasure that wicked man of sinne and I see that neither his masse nor purgatory pilgrimage pardons penance satisfactions nor any of suche like wicked stuffe alas I see they are nothing for the satisfying for one of my least wicked thoughts seeing the punishmente is by thy iuste decree and sentence thine euerlasting cursse Wherefore I am driuen out from my selfe and all that I can do to seeke this punishmente discharged other where or else to quall vnder the burthen I see there is no healpe for me in Angels Saintes nor mortall men but onelie in that perfecte man Christe Iesus thy deere sonne in whome I see the full punishment of my sinne wholy payd satisfied discharged and ouercome death vanquished the paines of hel in victorie swalowed vp the curse satisfied and the eternitie of the punishmente through his euerlasting power ouerreachead This I see O Lord by the eyes of faith being through thy holy spirite wholy assured that all the whole punishment of sinne payd by my Sauiour Christ is not onely payd for other men but euen also for me and my sinne This assurance of my faith being thine onely woork in me I beseech thee in mercy to strengthen increase for I feele it often ful of wauering doubting Graunt that I may daily more and more in my soule and conscience feele my selfe knit and grafted into the body of thy sonne whereby I may be assured that whatsoeuer He hath done pertaineth to mee and is fully wholy mine that I may through the power of his death feele daily sinne die in me and thorough the power of his resurrection feele my selfe risen from sinne to haue my full ioy and comforte in those things which be agreeable to thy holy wil vtterly detesting hating and abhorring from my hearte althinges which be contrarie to thy will and pleasure that euen in this life I may still looke for this endlesse ioy and felicitie vsing the thinges of this worlde as though I vsed them not till that good time that it shall please thee to call mee to thine euerlasting Kingdome of Glorie there to reigne with my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ for euer and euer Amen A prayer vppon the Lordes prayer O Moste mighty Lorde and eternall God who hast by thy deere sonne Christe Iesu our Lord and Sauiour reconciled vnto thy selfe all things in heauen and earth and in him haste made an euerlasting bond and couenaunte with vs thy faithfull children that thou wilt not onely be our God but also our moste louing and mercifull Father whereof as a pledge thou hast giuen vs thy holy Spirite of adoption whereby wee may with boldenesse and ful trust and cōfidence come to thee by harty praier as vnto our moste louing and mercifull Father being assured that thou wilt not deny vs any thing which thou knowest shal be expediēt for vs graunt we beseech thee deare Father that wee being fully persuaded in our harts of this thy fatherly loue and affection towards vs may be sturred
beeing altogether goodnesse it selfe giue good thinges to them that aske in thy Sonnes name And that although a mother should forsake her children yet wilt thou not forsake vs thy children whome thou haste before the bginning of the worlde in thy deere Sonne Iesu Christe chosen to be thy children and heires with him of thine immortall Kingdome Whereof that we in our selues mighte be sure and certaine and out of all doubte that wee are the children and heires of euerlasting life thou haste giuen into our heartes thy holy Spirite as a true pledge and earneste of our inheritaunce whiche Spirite doth assure our spirites that we are thy children and therefore crieth in our harts Abba Father Wee therefore as thy deere children raunsomed and boughte by thy deere sonne flee to thee our moste louing and mercifull Father who in goodnesse art infinite in mercy aboundant in substance incomprehensible in immortalitie euerlasting who by thy mightie power and singular prouidence rulest all thinges according to thy heauenly wisedome beseeching thee for thy deere sone Christ Iesus his sake that as thou hast sufficieÌ„tly sette forth thy glorious Name in making the whole worlde heauen earth and al things therein contained so we may in beholding and viewing thy creatures the works of thine handes be lifted vp to thee our Lord God the Creatour and Maker and in them glorifie thy holy name acknowledgeing in them thy singular goodnesse and loue towardes man for whose vse thou haste created all thinges both in Heauen and earth and that we may for the same euen from the bottom of our harts yeeld due honour praise and thankesgiuing to thee deere Father all the dayes of our life Graunte moste mercifull Father that wee may in hart and minde be fully assured that thou by thy heauenly prouidence rulest and guidest all things in heauen and earth so that nothing in the whole world commeth to passe but according to thine appoyntmente that thou guidest and framest the affaires and doings of men that thou haste euen their harts and all their powers in thy mercifull hande to turne them whiche way soeuer it seemeth best to thy godly wisedome so that whither wee be in prosperitie or aduersitie we may acknowledge both of them to be thy woorke in vs and therefore be no lesse thankful for sicknesse then for health for sorrowe then for comforte for a troubled mind then for a quiet for imprisonment and banishmente then for libertie especially seeing we know that y turnest them all seeme they neuer so sharp to the comforte and coÌ„modity of thy children which feare thee and that in al things whiche shall befal vnto vs whither they be greuous or ioyous prosperitie or aduersitie life or death thy holy Name may be sanctified in vs by yeelding due and continuall praise and thankesgiuing to thy eternall Maiestie that wee neuer cease to put our ful truste and confidence in thy merâ—y who haste promised to be our defender buckler and shielde to keepe vs as the apple of thine eye to deliuer vs when we call vppon thee to open when we knock to giue when wee aske that we knowing our owne weakenesse that of our selues we haue no power or strength to do no not so muche as to will that whiche is good wee may acknowledge all our strength comforte ioy faith loue hope and confidence to be thine only gifte and woorke in vs And for the same and the increase of the same and for all thy benefites in vs whereof we feele our selues destitute we may constantly flee vnto thee by harty prayer requiring the same at thy mercifull hande And hauing felt thy mercifull dealing towardes vs we may alway to the end of our life continue thankfull to thy blessed Name that wee neuer speake or thinke of thee O Lord God without high reuerence and an obedieÌ„t feare vnto thy Glorious Name And that thy kingdome O Lorde may more gloriously shine amongest men subdue the hearts of the people to be obedient to thy woorde Lighten all nations with thy glorious Gospell raise vp faithful ministers of thy woord aboundantly in euery place who with pure and perfect zeale in true knowledge may feede the hungrie soules with the foode of life Lighten the harts of thy children whome yet thou haste not called to the feeling of thy mercies in thy sonne reuealed Beate downe the furie and rage of the kingdome of satan and antichrist with all tyrants who shewe their vtter malice and furie against thy deare and faithfull flock Confounde their deuises suppresse their pride and so strengthen all thy true and faithfull seruauntes againste their rage that they may haue true wisedome to confound their enimies and steadfast constancie to professe the truth of thy glorious gospell euen to the death And that euery one of vs may feele the force of this thy kingdome particularly in our selues wee beseeche thee kill in vs by thy holy spirite all wicked delightes of sinne and vanities of this worlde Mortifie in vs our earthly and carnall affections and graunte that wee may haue our full delighte and pleasure in thee our Heauenly Father and in thy sonne Christe Iesu our Lorde and Sauiour and reuerently embrace thy holy Woord that our soules may be comforted therein and our faith thereby confirmed Lighten our vnderstanding that we may in thy holy woord learne and in heart be fully assured that thou art our most merciful Father and thy deere Sonne our Lorde and Sauiour Beate downe in vs all sinnefull motions of the aduersarie whiche do rebell againste thy holy spirite and settle and frame our mindes by thy holy spirite in vs that all rebellion in our fleshe being killed wee may quietly with stayed mindes and consciences sette our full ioy comforte and consolation in heauenly thinges walking before thee in sinceritie of mind put our ful trust and confideÌ„ce in thee rest and quiet our selues wholy in thy mighty protection and prouidence And forasmuche O Lord God as of our selues wee be nothing but stubbernesse and rebellion wee beseeche thee deere Father that as thine Angels in heauen doe willingly obey thy Will without resistance so wee thy children in earth all stubbernesse and peruersnesse by thy holy spirite in vs being vtterly extinguished and quenched wee may willingly submit our selues resigne and yeelde our whole affections to thee O Lord to be gouerned after thy blessed and heauenly Will. That we may feele in our selues no other motion or desire then a meete consente to thy holy Will that whatsoeuer affections in vs fighte against thy holy Will thou wilt vtterly make them voyde That wee neuer will any thinge of our selues but that thy holy Spâ—rite in vs may gouerne our heartes by whome inwardly being taughte wee may learne to love embrace and take comforte in those thinges that please thee and to hate those thinges that displease thee That our heartes mindes and willes beeing wholy subdued to thy moste blessed Will wee may willingly bee
deare Father mortifie subdue and kill in our fleshe all subtile suggestions and sinnefull motions of satan that we yelde not our selues as slaues thervnto but continually fight against them and bring them into subiection of the spirite Graunt vnto vs deere Father that wee bee not drawne through the subtilitie and sliely tormentes of satan to haue our delight and pleasure in the vanities of this presente world but by thy Grace might and power may so in the prosperitie of this life be vppholden that our mindes with full ioy and comfort may be lifted vp to our perfecte consolation in our Lorde and Sauiour Christe and in him take our full and perfecte ioy consolation so that no vaine delight of this worlde put vs from the same neither any sharp adversitie as pouertie miserie or calamitie through the malice of the diuell driue vs to despaire of thy mercifull goodnesse towardes vs but alwayes beeing through thy grace and assistance defended wee may be fully and perfectly armed againste all the subtile intrappings of satan and reste wholy in thy merciful defence and ayde For thou haste O Lord and eternall God in thy gouernement all things in heauen and earth all power and dominion ouer all creatures Angels and diuels to rule them according to thy good pleasure and will to the profite and commoditie of thy churche and euery faithfull member thereof and to thine owne incomprehensible glorie in all thinges in all ages for euer and euer thy glorious name may bee exalted and thy faithfull flocke edified thorough Christ our lord Amen ¶ A confession of sinnes with faith and repentaunce O Mercifull and heauenly Father wee thy seruauntes do humbly prostrate our selues before thy Maiestie acknowledging here in thy sighte our haynous offences committed against thy Maiestie seing beholding thy heauie wrath against them wee feele our selues laden O Lord our God with a huge companie of horrible sinnes whereofeuen the very leaste beeing but conceiued in thoughte is sufficient in iudgement to throwe vs downe to the euerlasting burning lake Our owne consciences O Lorde do beare witnesse againste vs of our manifolde transgressions of thy blessed lawe of our securitie senselesse blindenesse running headelong to destruction committing sinne after sinne although not notorious to the woorlde yet horrible before thine eye The thoughtes of our heartes rise vp in iudgmente against vs the vanitie of our talke before thy maiestie condemneth vs the wickednesse of our deedes from thy sight reiecteth vs all our wicked thoughtes woordes and deedes with the inwarde corruption of our nature do altogether as it were a whole lumpe and lode of sinne lye heauy vppon vs and with their intollerable weight do euen presse vs downe to hell Wee do daily grone vnder the burthen of them inwardly lamenting our owne folly so greedily rūning into them In Heauen earth or hell wee see none able to sustaine the weight of them but euen thy deerely beloued Sonne Iesus Christe who in mercy infinite and compassion endlesse hath sustayned and ouercome that endlesse punishmente due vnto them in him therefore in him moste mercifull Father and through him wee come to thee beeing fully assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept and take that ful recompence which he thy deere sonne hath made for vs as a iust raūsome for all the sinnes of all those whoe withe a true faithe take holde on him In him therefore wee see thine anger towardes vs appeased thy wrath satisfied our debts payde Increase in vs good Lorde wee beseeche thee this liuely and feeling faith for wee feele it often times in vs very weake and troubled with many doubtes increase it in vs O Lorde that wee may through thy holy spirit bee assured that the punishment of our sinnes is fully in thy sonne discharged Make vs O Lorde our God to feele this same in our soules and consciēces that Iesus Christ is ours and all that he hath done that wee are graffed into his body made one with him and therefore fellowe heires with him of euerlasting life Lette vs not onely haue these wordes in our mouthes good Lorde but through thy holy Spirite lette vs feele the comfort of them in our heartes fully sealed and settled in vs that wee feeling our selues inwardly before thy iudgemente seate discharged and our consciences towardes thee appeased may be swallowed vp with an vnfained loue towarde thy Heauenly Maiestie and towardes our brethren for thy sake Make sinne to die in vs daily more and more that wee may hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne and wickednesse in all men but especially in our selues that wee may strongly through thy holy Spirit set our selues in open warre and defiaunce againste all sinne and wickednesse that wee please not our selues in our sinnes but streightly examining sinne by the iuste rule of thy holy Lawes wee may vtterly from the bottome of our heartes condemne euen the least sinne in our selues hauing our whole ioy comforte and consolation vppon those thinges whiche bee agreeable to thy blessed will alwayes beeing afraid to do any thing contrary to the same that wee may euen from the bottome of our heartes examine and trie our thoughtes before thy presence that they bee vprighte and vnfained not hypocriticall in outwarde shewe onely and appearance but that euen all corners of our heartes being opened and disclosed beefore thee wee may euen as though it were openly before the face of the whole worlde bring them in shewe knowing that a double heart is detestable in thine eyes and that we may walke alwayes as before thine eyes not onely before the eyes of man being more carefull to walk circumspectly in this respecte that wee haue thee to be a viewer of our dooings a thousād fold more then the eyes of man that thus wee may walke as becommeth thy children not onely in outwarde shewe but also in sinceritie of heart abhorring euen the leaste sinne in our selues striuing resisting and fighting againste sinne not delighting our selues in sinne nor nourishing the same in our breste but earnestly embraceing and studiously seeking after those thinges whiche bee pleasante in thine eyes that neither the feare of man nor losse of goods life lāds possessions or friends drawe vs away frō thee to do any leaste thing contrarie to thy will and pleasure neither the fauour or friendshippe of man nor yet the flattering enticementes of this worlde nor the vaine promotions of the same do moue vs any whitte from the true and endlesse ioy delighte and pleasure whiche wee ought to haue in those things whiche bee agreeable to thy will and the constante performance of the same but that alwayes to the end of our life we may continue in thy pathes growing and increasing from faith to faith from strength to strength til at length wee shall come to thy euerlasting rest Amen A prayer for the estate of the whole Church O Lorde our God and Heauenly Father for asmuch as by thy
contente with that estate of life which it pleaseth thy goodnesse to excercise vs withal in this world whither it be in aduersitie or prosperitie in sicknesse or health in ignominie or glorie in quietnesse or trouble in sorrow or gladnesse Graūt vs deere Father this willing and patiente minde that euen in our greatest distresse wee may be content with thy good will and not to murmur or grudge againste thy Maiestie knowing that thou wilte lay nothing vppon vs but that whiche shall turne to our goodnesse or profite And that wee may patiently abide whatsoeuer it shall please thee to lay vppon vs that we be assured in our heartes that thou wilt not lay more vnto vs then thou wilte giue vs strength to beare and euen in our greatest afflictions wilte finde a way for our deliuerance and that thy power and strength is more fully declared when wee feele our selues vtterly voyde of all strength and see no way of deliueraunce that we may in our most grieuous assaults conflicts and anguishe of minde submitte our selues wholy to thy blessed will and looke for our deliueraunce at thy hand when thou knowest it shal be moste expedient for vs and most for thy glorie leauing the time and meane of deliueraunce to thy good Will and pleasure and that in the meane time wee neuer cease but call vppon thee by hearty prayers continually as thou haste commanded vntill suche time as thou shalt heare our petitions And although after many and sundry callinges vppon thee thou seeme not to regarde vs but rather deale more extreamely with vs yet notwithstāding strengthen vs so with perseuerance in prayer that we faint not but stil continue in praier being assured that although we feele our selues nothing released yet wee may quiet our selues herein that wee as thy children haue layd our complaints griefes and sorrowes in the bosome of thee our heauenly Father who wilt as a louing Father whē he seeth it moste conuenient healpe vs And that although thou seeme nothing to graunte our requestes yet wee honour thee in calling vppon thy Name seeing thou doeste accepte it as a moste chiefe honour to bee called vppon in the day of trouble And forasmuche deere Father as thou doeste by thy mighty power nourish feede sustaine preserue and maintaine all liuing creatures yea euen the verie yong fowles and beastes wee beseech thee to sende vnto vs thy children ouer whome thou haste a more speciall care all thinges necessarie for this our present life that wee hauing sufficient may walke euery one in our calling in sinceritie pure holinesse before thy face acknowledging all our benefits of richesse wealth health meate drink apparell and all our substance to bee thy mere gifts bestowed vppon vs and deliuered vnto vs from thy handes that wee bee not drawen from thee through setting our mindes to muche vppon them but so moderately vse them as thy benefites for a time bestowed vppon vs knowing that thou wilte at our handes require an accompte howe wee haue vsed them That wee do not carefully gape or seeke after them but discretely to thy glorie vse them acknowledging in them thy goodnesse liberalitie towardes vs And seeing moste mercifull Father that it is not our trauaile labour paines studie or endeuour whiche is able to gette vs our liuing but onely in so muche as it pleaseth thy goodnesse to blesse and prosper them wee beseeche thee that if through our greate trauailes and paines we be yet still in poore and meane estate that thou wilte giue vs a contented hearte knowing that thereby thou letteste vs vnderstande that it is thy good will and pleasure so to keepe vs vnder that wee more effectually may giue our selues to serue thee Or if it bee thy wil and pleasure more aboundantly to blesse vs and our trauaile to sende vs aboundaunce of all thinges wee beseech thee deere Father giue vs a thankefull hearte to acknowledge them to bee thy good gifts and frame our hearts with such liberalitie that we may be contented to distribute them according to the necessitie of thy children beeing assured that thou haste to that end made vs Stewards ouer them that thou mayest at his handes require muche on whome thou haste bestowed muche so that wee hauing the due estimation of thy benefites whiche wee oughte to haue may both reuerence thy goodnesse in thy benefites and supply the want of our brethren to the reliefe of their necessitie and furtheraunce of thy Glory And whereas moste mercifull Father thy Sonne our Lorde and Sauiour Christe Iesus hath in our nature payed the raunsome and debte of all our sinnes whiche wee haue from the beginning of our life committed and do daily committe we beseeche thy gratious goodnesse that thou wilte by thy holy Spirite in our hearts assure our soules and consciences with a liuely faith that by that same one alone sufficient sacrifice the punishment of our sinnes is payed thy wrath appeased and thy iustice satisfied whereby our consciences may be quieted and set at peace with thee our mercifull Father and god Let vs deere father feele in our soules and consciences that wee are vnited and knitte to thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ and made one body with him and heires with him of euerlasting glorie so coupled and ioyned with him that wee are members of his body so that what so euer he hath done in his body we may be assured that it is ours that his righteousnesse is our righteousnesse his sanctification and holinesse is ours the cursse condemnation and death which he suffered is the same cursse condemnation and death due for our sinnes that wee knowing that our sinnes bee done away and cleane forgotten and forgiuen by thy mercifull loue goodnesse declared in offering vp thy sonne to death for vs wee may be driuen to loue thee vnfaynedly from the bottome of our heartes for this thine vnspeakable loue And considering that thou haste in mercy pardoned so many our hainous offences wee may gladly be moued to forgiue one another their offences and put out of our hart al rancour malice and hatred towarde our brethren knowing that wee are all members of one body Christe our Sauiour that so surely as wee haue forgiuen al them that offend against vs wee may be so certainely assured that thou our mercifull Father haste forgiuen vs like as we haue forgiuen our brethren And forasmuche moste heauenly Father as wee of our selues be feeble fraile and weake and haue a strong and subtile aduersarie satan the diuel who goeth aboute continually like a roaring Lion seeking whome he may deuour wee beseeche thee strengthen vs by thy holy spirit that we may withstande his subtile suggestions and motions holde thou vs by thy mercifull hand and keepe vs alwaies in thy safegarde and protection that wee bee not ouercome in the mighty assaultes of our aduersarie And forasmuche as he often vseth euen our owne fleshe armed againste vs to conquer vs wee beseech thee
holy word wee are commanded in our prayers not onely to be mindefull of our selues but also of all others thy children yea euen of our enimies wee commend vnto thy Maiestie all thy whole true and catholike Churche and euery member thereof that as it hath pleased thy goodnesse by the brighte beames of thy holy woorde to shine ouer the whole worlde whereby thou haste expelled driuen away and caused to vanishe the darke and mistie cloudes of ignorance and superstition so thou wouldest vouchsafe by thy holy spirite to touche the heartes of men that they may ioy fully embrace that thine so high a treasure sente amongest vs that through our vnthankfulnesse we prouoke not thy Maiestie in anger to take it from vs Crush bruse and destroy with the breath of thy mouth the mightie power of that man of sinne whiche so proudly exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called god Let not thy simple flocke deere Father in whose consciences he of long time hath and yet doth sitte as GOD bee any longer poysoned with his sweete enticeing poysons but so lighten their heartes that they may perceiue his iuglynges and embrace the sweete and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting reuealed in thy Glorious Gospell And forasmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy aboue all nations of the earth to powre downe the sweete showers of thy Heauenly Graces vppon this our Englishe nation aboundantly in more plentifull wise watering the same with the giftes of thy holy Spirite in promoting thy Gospell and ouerthrowing idolatrie wee beseech thee continue thy fauour towarde the same and vtterly roote out all remnantes reliques and monumentes of idolatrie that thy Glorious Name may be throughly exalted in sincere pure and holy worshippe And as thou haste in mercy from amongst vs in this thy Churche vtterly banished all false venemous and poysonfull doctrine wherewith the soules of thy Children heretofore haue bene wounded to death and in place thereof haste placed the true and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting wherewith the soules of thy children bee fedde and nourished to euerlasting ioy so in like mercy and fauour wee beseeche thee deere Father establish in the same thy Church a true perfecte and sincere regiment thereof according to the prescripte rule of thy blessed woord all fantasies of mans braine and dreames of humaine policie vtterly abolished that thy glorious Maiestie onely may bee exalted in the lighte of thy glorious Gospel that thy Church may flourishe and increase beeing through thy protection ayded supported maintained and defended we beseech the by thy holy spirit guide rule euery part member therof especially thy seruant ELIZABETH our Queene whome thy gratious fauour and mercifull prouidence hath appointed a chiefe member in the same vnder whose winges next vnto thy protection it hath a chiefe succour and supporte Graunte vnto her O Lorde a pure and perfecte Zeale aboue all thinges to promote thy Glorie first and chiefly in labouring and endeuouring of her selfe earnestly in wiping away and purging out of thy Churche all blots and deformities to reduce the same to a pure and sincere fourme of worshippe agreeing to thy blessed woorde vtterly to remoue all stumbling blockes which stay and hinder the course of thy Gospel giue her in like manner O Lorde the spirite of wisedome discretion and gouernement that with equitie and iustice shee may see this whole Realme which thou hast committed to her charge peaceably and quietly gouerned that shee may studiously labour that as wel thorough the whole Realme vertue be exalted vice abandoned as especially in her owne house and court that all wicked vanities of this worlde al licentious and inordinate life all flattering and dissimulation beeing vtterly banished the feare of thy Glorious Maiestie may so reigne in the heartes of all within her palace and courte that their liues and conuersation may bee agreeable to thy blessed wil in sinceritie and true holinesse and integritie of life that from them as from the heade may shine puritie of life and conuersation as an example and patterne of true Godlinesse to the whole Realme Preserue her we beseech thee good Lorde from all conspiracies and treasons that if it bee thy good wil she may haue a long and quiet reigne ouer vs to the benefite of thy Churche and the aduauncement of thy glorie Indue the whole counsel good Lord with true and perfect wisedome that in all their consultations and counsels hauing thee present before their eyes they may consulte of those thinges which principally and chiefely may be for the aduancemēt of thy glorie the cōmoditie of thy churche and next for the quiet peace and gracious gouernment of this realme So lighten al inferiour Magistrates of this Realme good Lorde with the brightnesse of thy holy Spirit that vnderstanding thy wil they may zealously defend mainteine and further the course of the Gospel with the sword of iustice cut off the wicked and cherish the godly Defende and gouerne by thy holy Spirite the Pastours of thy Churche and labourers in thy vineyard that they may zealously earnestly and diligently feede thy flocke committed vnto them with the foode of life thy blessed word wherewith their soules may be nourished to Life Euerlasting Increase the number of them deere Father place ouer euery flocke a godly learned paineful Pastor who may painfully and carefully trauail euery one in his charge to bring thy people which nowe alas in moste partes do wander and go astray like loste sheepe to the true knowledge of thee their Lord and God and of thy deare sonne Christe Iesu their Sauiour And for thy mercie we beseeche thee to take pitie vpon thy poore and simple flocke roote out all rauening wolues which haue craftily crept into thy sheepefolde and do make hauocke of the soules of thy simple flock Cast out al hirelings time seruers dumb dogs which to fill their bellies only haue thrust themselues among thy sheep do pitifully suffer the flock of Christ thy sonne to be deuowred and scattered of the woolfe Stirre vp good Lord and place in their roomes faithfull sheepheardes which diligently painefully carefully and earnestly may labour in thy vineyard seeke to winne the soules of thy people out of the tyrannie and power of satan to the freedome of thy deere sonne Christ Iesu our Lorde And that thy Churche may better be furnished with Godly learned Pastours we beseeche thee prosper and increase in all Godly knowledge all Schooles of learning especially the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxforde Graunt deere Father vnto al the students of the same that the chiefe ende of all their studies may be to the furtheraunce of thy Churche and maintenance of the common wealthe Blesse their studies deere Father that all vaine studies set aside they may so fructifie and profite in all profitable godly sciences that hereafter they may become profitable members in thy church godly vpholders of the cōmon wealth Grant good Lord to al the whole
and all our life long being assured that thou wilt once call vs to yeelde an account of our stewardshippe indue vs we beseeche thee with those gifts and graces which be needeful for vs in our calling that with a pure and sincere conscience we may vse them to the benefite of our brethren and discharge of our owne consciences beefore thy Maiesty We beseech thee O Lord that in al our consultations woordes and workes this day and the whole course of our life we may always haue thee present before our eyes knowing that thou seest euen the very deepe thoughtes of our hartes whiche alwayes may be as a bridle to pull vs backe that we neither do nor yet consent vnto any sinne or wickednesse but that alwayes we may be so exercised in the affaires of this life that we looke stil to the end of our course whē it shal please thee to bring vs through the pilgrimage of this life to our euerlasting rest with thy deere Sonne Iesus Christe our Sauiour In whose name for these mercies and whatsoeuer thou knowest to be needful for vs and for the whole Churche we pray vnto thee as he himselfe hath taught vs in his holy word saying Our Father whiche art c. The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lorde turne his fauourable countenance toward vs and graunt vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christe the loue of God the Father the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the holy Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this day and euermore Amen ¶ Euening prayer for priuate houses and Families O Gratious God louing Father c. As in the beginning of the morning prayer reding so forth til ye come to this marke ‡ * ‡ Then read this folowing for the Euening Lastly for our selues here gathered we render most hartie thanks to thy maiestie O Lord which hast hitherto from our infancie preserued vs by thy mercie from all perils and daungers bothe of soule bodie wherevnto fraile man is subiect that thou hast sent vnto vs al things necessarie for this present life as healthe foode apparel and such like whiche many of thy deere children doe want being notwithstanding as preciously bought with the precious bloud of thy deere sonne as we be and yet lie in miserie and calamitie oppressed with pouertie nakednesse imprisonement and bannishment in which case also deere Father thou mightest haue brought vs saue onely that thou dealest herein more fauourably with vs then with them For the which thy louing kindenesse wee giue thee hartie thankes desiring thee that as thou hast hitherto thus fauourably in mercie preserued vs by thy protection and euen presently this day hast brought vs past all the daungers thereof so we beseech thee good Lorde in like fauour beholde vs this night that we taking our natural rest and quietnesse may through thy protection be defended that our bodies resting our soules may be occupied in beholding thy fauour and mercie towarde thy children stil looking for the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesu Christ for our full redemption Graunt that our sleepe be not immoderate according to the lust of our fleshe but as muche as is sufficient to refreshe our weake nature that beeing thus refreshed bothe the bodie and the minde may be more able to doe their seuerall office and function in that vocation vvherein thou haste placed vs. Graunt that wee laying our bodies downe to reste may be thereby put in minde of our long rest of deathe that as we doe nowe lay downe our bodies in bedde so wee may be thereby admonished that hereafter they shal be laide downe in graue to bee consumed to duste earthe and ashes from whence they were taken That wee hauing this before our eyes may be stirred vppe in minde warely to walke in this our pilgrimage not knowing when the time shal be of our departure but alwayes to be founde readie with our lampes of pure faithe clearely burning that we may be accepted to meete the Bridegrome when our mortall earthly and corruptible bodies shal be made like to the glorious bodie of our Lord and sauiour Christ Iesu there to reigne with him in perpetuall ioy cōsolatiō together with al the elect children of God continually lauding with all the heauenly multitude the glorious Maiestie of thee our Lorde God and heauenly Father in our Lord and Sauiour Iesu christ For these and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be needefull for vs and thy whole Churche we pray vnto thee as he himselfe hathe taught vs saying Our Father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vppon vs and bee mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance vnto vs and graunte vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the Holy Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this night and euermore Amen A prayer to bee saide before the studying or reading of holy Scripture O Heauenly Father what soeuer I am what so euer I haue whatsoeuer I know it is only by thy free grace For by nature I am the childe of wrath and I am not borne a newe of fleshe and bloude neither of the seede of man or of the will of man Fleshe and bloude cannot reueale the mysteries of thy Heauenly Kingdome vnto mee but by thy blessed will I am that I am and by the same knowe I that I knowe Therefore O Father do I commit into thy handes onely my saluation If my knowledge bee small yet I doubte nothing but that I am the childe of thy euerlasting kingdome and therefore by thy mightie power I shall growe when it shall bee thy good will and pleasure to a more full and riper knowledge as of a more perfecte age wherein my faith shal bee fully able to comprehend and perceiue the breadth deapth heigth and largenesse of thy greate mercies and gratious promises But seeing O Father this power of full knowledge and perfecte reuelation passeth all power naturall and remaineth onely in thy power and the light of thy spirite O Lord do thou whatsoeuer it shall please thee to open vnto me and all the rest of thine elect seruaunts and children depending vppon thee so muche of the lighte of thy countenaunce as may be moste for thy Glorie and our comforte yea and at suche time as shall seeme good to thy wisedome fatherly mercie In the meane while thus resting wholy vpō thee neither can I despaire neither wil I be to much careful althogh I cannot attaine to the knowledge of many of thy works neither to the vnderstanding of many places of thy scriptures But I will confesse vnto thee the weakenesse of my faith waiting alwais for the further reuealing of thy glorious light to be vttered vnto me thy poore seruant when thou shalt thinke of
thy fauour and hath giuen vs this boldenesse to call vppon thee vnto whom O Father with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour and glorie world without end Amen A prayer for all times O Lorde God Father of mercie and God of all consolation without whome we haue neither hope nor comfort we poore wretches and miserable sinners beseeche thee of thy fatherly goodnesse to looke vpon vs and so make vs partakers of thy gratious goodnesse that we may stil increase in all goodnesse so that euermore we may set forth thine honour and glorie let our conuersation be suche that a greate many beholding our good woorkes may glorifie thee our heauenly Father and so direct our wayes that we may holde foorth the profession of thy Gospel as a lanthorne to lighten the steps of a great many that they may turne to thee and praise thy name in their visitation Thus O Lord we beseeche thee to deale with vs that in deede we may be vessels of honour vnto thee now to set forth the praise of thy name after this transitorie life to behold thy Glorie who hast immortalitie alone dwellest in light that no man hath approched vnto remoue farr frō vs our sins iniquities that they may not separate betweene vs and thee blot out of vs our offences and make our prayers righteous that thou maiste fauourably graunt our requestes looke vpon vs with thy fauourable mercie that thou mayst haue pittie vpon vs and behold vs in the righteousnes of thy beloued sonne Christ Iesu that we may be presēted faultlesse in thy sight and thou accepting vs as holy wee may finde the grace euermore to set forth thine honour and glorie and to speake of thy praises in the middes of all thy people Let vs loue O Lord the thinges that are good and hate the thinges that are euill let vs delight in all thinges that may please thee and let vs be grieued with whatsoeuer is displeasant in thy sight And to the intent wee may haue true vnderstanding be able to discerne betweene things what is good or euil we beseech thee let thy word dwel plentifully in vs which may guide our vnderstandinges so that we may abound in al knowledge and do according to that which is righteous And in this estate of true Christianitie being instructed in minde readie in bodie to all holy obedience we beseech thee make vs to growe increase from grace to grace from faith to faith vntil wee come vnto the fulnesse of age to be perfecte members of the bodie of Christe wayting for the blessed hope of thine electe and sighing in spirite vntil the time that thy children shal be reuealed In the meane season let vs sighe with al those that haue receiued the firste fruites of thy Spirite that these dayes of sinne may cease that satan be troden downe vnder feete that antichrist may bee reuealed yet to manie thou sandes that be in ignoraunce that the number of thine electe may be full the bodie of thy Sainctes made perfect all teares wiped from our eyes euen than when the Sonne shal appeare again the second time to iudge the quicke and the dead whiche time O Lord send quickly according to thy good wil and teache vs to pray with all thy Sainctes Come Lord Iesu come quickly graunt this O Father for thy Sonnes sake in whose name wee pray vnto thee And although we be but earth and ashes yet we are bolde to say vnto thee the God of all Glorie euen as he hath taught vs Our Father which art in Heauen c. E.D. A prayer for all estates O Lord God Father of light with whome is no change neither yet shadow of change but hast established thine apointed coūsels which shal not be changed for euer thou O God hast made among vs this diuersitie of estates degrees according as euery cōmon wealth requireth keepe vs all we beseeche thee that we may walke obediently in our calling and followe the steppes that thou haste set before vs euen from the highest to the lowest let vs accomplishe that duetie vnto whiche thou haste appointed vs and with a faithfull remembrance of thy promise made of olde to our Father Abraham that thou art his exceeding great reward we may likewise depend on thy prouidēce seeke not any shameful ways to get our liuing wandring from the righteousnesse of our vocation into the manifolde errors of sinne iniquitie look vpon vs O Lord inrich vs with thy grace make vs obediēt to our inferiours meeke towardes our enimies faithful to our freendes true and iust towardes all men that wee may dwell stedfastly rooted in the hope of thine electe vntil thou shalt make an ende of all our labours looke vpon our moste excellent Queene and her Honourable Counsel and as thou hast called them to the highest roome so giue vnto them the greatest measures of grace that they faithfully dispence the talentes committed vnto them leade them with the good king Dauid into thy Sanctuarie that they may see thy louing kindenesse which is better then life and say with the Prophet Al flesh is grasse and the glorie of man is as the flower of the fielde and so consecrate themselues to do thy wil offer vp their bodies to be holy liuely and reasonable sacrifices vnto thee that they may be nurses and noursfathers vnto thy Churche looke also we beseech thee vppon thy ministers whome thou haste appointed to the preaching of thy Gospell make them O God faithfull dispensers of thy mysteries without respecte of persons to doe the worke vnto the whiche thou hast appointed them that they may conuert sinners and haue their glorie perfecte in the day of Christ and knit vs together in peace and loue that we may be full of compassion one towardes an other to reioyce with thē that reioyce and mourne with them that mourne especially to instruct one another in the wayes of righteousnesse that by our mutuall healpe we may the better withstande our enimie and dwell safe in hope of thine electe till our dayes shall bee full and we shall walke the wayes of all the worlde whiche time wee beseeche thee bring vs happily vnto euen for thy Sonnes sake wee beseech thee to whome with thee and the holy Ghost three persons one God be all honour and glorie nowe and for euermore Amen Amen A fourme of Morning prayer necessarie for this present time for Godly Christians to vse in their houses and families WE moste humbly thanke thee O Heauenly Father for the sweete and quiet rest that we haue had this night for the louing and fauourable deliuerance out of all daungers bothe of bodie and soule which we iustly deserue to be throwne into for our manifolde sinnes for that thou hast raised vs vpp this morning we pray thee to go before vs and for as muche as thou seest our sluggishnesse and drowsines it would please thee good Lord to pull vs after thee