Al the thoughtes and imaginations of my harte haue been sette to dooe euill euer since I was young O why do I dye in my sinnes lorde God seyng thy wil is not that a synner dye but returne from his synne and liue For thou art good and mercifull and accordyng to thy greate mercie sauest theim that be vnworthie For albeit no man is able to beare the punishemente whiche thou dooest threaten against sinners yet the mercie whiche thou hast promised is greate vnsearchable Thou hast shewed mercie a thousande tymes heretofore to make thy name glorious as it is euen yet still The olde fathers in their necessities cried vnto thee thou didst deliuer them ther putte their trust in thee and thei were not confounded When thei were at their wittes ende and wiste not what to dooe this was their onely refuge to lift vp their eyes to thee Thou didst saue theim for thy names sake to shewe in them thy might and streÌ„gth Many a tyme thei prouoked thee throughe their iniquities and stirred thy goodnesse to displeasure Yet when thou saweste their tribulation and their lowlie submission vnto thee Thou didst remember thy promise and by and by baddest pitie and compassion vppon theim accordyng to the multitude of thy mercies Haue mercie vpon me O lorde God omnipotent haue mercie vpon me for I am a miserable and a wretched creature make me whole I beseche thee whoÌ„ thou haste striken for my synne and iniquitie My soule is troubled greatly how long O lorde wilt thou not loke towardes me How long wilt thou reiect my praier thus criyng oute vnto thée Wilte thou heare me at no tyme Howe long wilt thou tourne awaie thy face from me Where be thy old mercies O Lorde whom thou haste stablished in thy truthe Wilt thou now O Lorde God cease to shewe mercie Or wilt thou withdraw thy goodnesse for displeasure Hast thou caste me awaie for euer That thou wilte neuer hereafter bee pleased with me Thy hande is not weakened but it maie help and thy eares bee not stopped that thei refuse to heare How long shall my minde bee troubled with painfull and heauie thoughtes How long shall sorowe formente my harte How long shall myne enemie haue the ouerhande of me loke towardes me lorde God and heare my praier Giue light to myne eyes for I haue slepte to longe in death and my synnes haue preuailed against me Tourne againe O Lorde turne again and deliuer my soule saue me for thy great mercies sake Loe nowe is the accepted tyme nowe bee the daies of healthe and grace In death who shall remeÌ„ber thee In hell who shall laude or praise thee He that liueth he that liueth shall praise thee shall make thy mercie knowen Lorde rebuke me not in thine anger nor punishe me in thy greate displeasure Cast not thy dartes at me nor laie not thy heauie hand vpon me For I haue borne thyne anger a loÌ„g while and of the Cup of thy high displeasure I haue drunke very deepe There is no health in my fleshe for feare of thy displesure I haue no peace nor reste when I beholde my synnes My iniquities bee gone ouer my head and like an heuie burdein thei daily presse me doune The woundes in my soule dooe fester and stincke euen through myne owne follie I am a wretche cast awaie froÌ„ thy fauour and presence and goe mournynge all the daie long My soule is full of filthynesse and no parte of me is whole and sounde Wherefore my enemies dooe persecute me the more the greatnesse of my paine maketh me to rore and crie My hart fainteth and treÌ„bleth within me and my strength is gone awaie O Lorde thou knoweste my desire and thou seest my necessitie Forgiue me all my sinnes O Lorde GOD almightie for thyne owne sake and put out of thy sight my heinous offences for according to thy goodnesse thou haste promised forgiuenesse of synnes to theim that doe penaunce Haue mercie on me lorde for the glorie and honour of thy name and bee no longer displeased with me and then thou shalt surely be knowen to bee iuste and true in thy wordes and shalt ouercome when thou art iudged For by this thy great grace shalbe knowen that thou takest mercy on them whiche haue not whereof thei maie glory in thy sight And all the dwellers on the yearth shall learne and knowe thy goodnesse when thou shalt conferre and giue thy benefites to vs for thy greate names sake and not after our euill waies and wicked deedes Uerely lorde God except thou shewe vnto vs thy manifolde mercies the worlde shall not haue life nor thei that dwell therein And if thou helpe vs not with thy goodnesse how may thei whiche haue offended be raised vp froÌ„ their sinnes Haue mercie on me o good father haue mercie on me and for thy glorious name be no loÌ„ger angrie with me Take me synner vnto thy mercie for the name of thy holy sonne Iesus whoÌ„ thou haste sente to bee the obtainer of mercie for our sinnes through faithe in his bloud Beholde holie father beholde thy childe whom thou hast chosen beholde thy welbeloued sonne in whom thy soule deliteth vppon whom thou hast put thy holy spirit and sent hym to preache the Gospell to the poore to heale theim whiche for their synnes bee sorowfull and contrite to comforte them that mourne to preache pardone to the prisoners and sight to the blinde Beholde thy littell one which was borne for vs behold thy sonne whiche is giuen to vs whom thou haste not spared but giueÌ„ to death for vs all to bee a sweete offeryng and sacrifice to thee Uerely be tooke vpon him in his bodie our infirmities and he bare our paines He was made weake for our sinnes and he was wouÌ„â—ed for our offences The correcttion for oure peace was laied vpon hym by the strokes that he suffered our wouÌ„des wer healed All wee went a straie like sheepe euery one followed his owne waie and thou O lorde puttest on him our iniquitie strikyng hym for the offences of thy people He gaue his bodie to bee beaten and his cheekes to be striken he turned not a waie his face from them that scorned him and spit vpon hym Through his loue mercie he hath redeemed theim that were loste and by his bloud shedde on the crosse he hath pacified all thynges in heauen and in yearth He gaue hymself to death and made his praiers for theÌ„ whiche were offenders Loke O mercifull father and consider who it is that thus did suffer and remember I besche thee for whom he hath suffered For this is that innocente whom thou gauest to death for vs euen then when wee were synners and shall wée not beyng now iustified by his bloud muche rather bee saued from wrathe through hym If we when we were yet enemies were reconciled to thee by the death of thy soÌ„ne shall wée not beyng reconciled muche rather bee saued by his life Behold that pure
and immaculate lambe whiche taketh a waie the sinnes of the worlde by whose precious bloud we are redemed from our iniquities Looke vpon that mooste méeke innocent whiche like a Lambe that was ledde to his death and beyng mooste cruelly intreated once opened not his mouthe Behold thine onely sonne whom although thou begattest of thy almightie power substaunce and nature yet thou wouldest he should bee partaker of my infirmitie Whiche being God in nature thought it no rauine to be equal with God but made hym self lowe takyng vpon him the shape of a seruaunt and commyng in the similitude of sinfull fleshe coÌ„demned synne in the fleshe submittyng hym self vnto thee O father euen to the death of the crosse and there putte on the hande writyng that was against vs conteined in the law written and taking it out of the waie fastened it to his crosse on the which he spoiled potestates and powers and made a shewe of them openly and triumphed ouer theÌ„ in his owne person Turne the iyes of thy maiestie O lorde God and loke vpon the woorke of thy ineffable goodnesse Behâ—ld thine owne swete sonne how all his bodie was drawen and stretched forthe on the crosse Looke vpon all the partes of his bodie from the croune of the heade vnto the sole of the foote and no paine shall be found like vnto his paine Behold O louyng father the blessed head of thy deare soonne crouned with sharpe Thornes and the bloud rennyng doune vpon his godlie visage Beholde his tender bodie how it is scourged his naked breast is striken and beaten his bloudie side is thrusted through his hart paÌ„teth his senewes bée stretched forth his Godlie eyes dasell and leese their sight his princely face is wanne and pale his pleasaunt tonge is inflamed for paine his inward partes waxe drie and starke his armes both blewe and wanne by striefe his bones bée plucked one from an other his beautifull legges bee feeble and weake the streames of blood issuyng out of his bodie renne doune apace vpon his feete Looke O my maker vpon the humanitie and geÌ„tlenes of thy deare soonne and pitie the infirmitie of thy weake handie woorke Beholde O glorious Father the bodie of thy deare soonne all too rente and torne and remember I beseche thee of how small substaunce I am Loke vpon the pain of him that is bothe God and man release the miserie of man whom thou hast made Beholde the greuous sufferyng of the redeemer and forgiue the sinne of him that is redemed Kéepe me froÌ„ all euill wayes and teache me by thy holy spirit to chuse the waie of truthe I beseche thée o thou king of holinesse by hym that is moste holy by this my redemer Christ that thou bryng me again into the right waie that I maie bee vnited and made one with hym in spirit whiche abhorred not to bee vnited with me in fleshe Make me to goe perfectly in thy pathes and to hate al wicked waies Washe my harte froÌ„ malice and clense me from my secrete synnes Clense me O holy father with the bloud of the newe Testament of thy welbeloued sonne which hath loued vs and washed vs with his bloud from our synnes and hath redemed vs from al iniquitie Purifie my harte by the sanctification of thy spirite the sprinklyng of the bloud of thy sonne froÌ„ al filthines of sinne and euil conscience O God almightie be mercifull vnto me sinner for thy glorious name sake and remeÌ„ber my sinnes no longer For thou arte God gracious and mercifull and paciently dooest suffer vs and wouldest that no maÌ„ should perishe but that all menne should returne to penaunce Make me O Lord God to retourne from my euill waies and wicked thougtes Remember not the synnes and abhominations of my youthe accordyng to thy mercie bee myndfull of me for thy goodnes sake O lorde Looke not vpon me with a greuous countenaunce for there is no manne that dare speake for me Enter not into iudgemeÌ„te with thy seruant for if thou accuse me I shall neuer bee quitte For if thou o lorde marke my synnes iniquitie who shall not fall before thee This is certaine and sure that then in thy sight no maÌ„ liuyng shalbe iustified seyng thou haste founde iniquitie euen in thy angels How muche rather in meÌ„ whiche is abhomination and filthinesse and dwelleth in the earthly house of this bodie and drinketh iniquitie as it were water Who is clene from filthinesse when all be corrupted Truely not one No though he haue liued but one daie on the yearthe and though his Monethes maie bee easilie numbred Of a truthe there is no mortal manne whiche hath not doen wickedly nor there is any righteous on yearth whiche doeth good and synneth not Yet bicause mercie is in thy hand O lorde although thou be dreadfull my hope is in thee in whom my soule trusteth My soule looketh for thee bicause mercie and pleÌ„tifull redemption is with thee For this I knowe assuredly that thou wilte not caste me awaie for euer But although thou caste me awaie for my synnes a while yet thou wilt haue mercie vpon me againe accordyng to the multitude of thy mercies For thou O lorde are â—ull of pitie and mercie and wilt not tourne thy face awaye from vs if we will retourâ—e to thee Thou art our God full of sweetenesse veritie and pacience and disposest all thinges by mercie The fouÌ„taines of thy goodnes be euer full flow ouer thy grace neuer decaieth All thy waies be mercieâ— truth to them that seke outthy couenaunt and testimonies How geÌ„tle and louyng the father is to his children so gentle and louyng arte thou O lorde to them that feaâ—e thee and for the habouÌ„dance of thy mercy thou doe it pardon our infirmities Thou â—nowest thine own handie worke thou rememâ—eâ—est what we are thou seest that we are fleshe and of no strength Thou hast not forgotten that this worlde is ful of vnrighteousnesse and wickednesse and that it is whollie set and bent on euill Yea neuerthelesse thou art mercifull and full of grace and like a mercifull lord forbearest to punishe synners when thei repente them self and returne froÌ„ their sinnes Haue mercie vpon me O Lorde God my Sauiour for the glorie of thy name And deliuer me forgiue me my synnes for thy names sake O righteous father looke not straitly vpon the multitude of my synnes but looke on the face of Iesu thy holie soonne whiche beyng without synne bare our synnes in his body on the free of the crosse Turne awaie thy face froÌ„ my synnes and putte out all my iniquities Make a cleane hart in me O God and renue me with a right spirite Caste me not awaie from thy presence and take not thy holy spirite from me Giue me againe the comfort of thy helpe and stablish me with thy mightie spirit Mollifie my harte o lorde God that I maie returne to thy pathes for I haue wandered ouer long in the waie of errour Tourne me
regarde that is precious in thy sight and that to refuse that is vile before thee Suffer me not to iudge thy misteries after my outward sences ne to giue sentence after the hearing of the ignorante but by true iudgemeÌ„t to discerne thynges spirituall and aboue all thinges alwaie to searche and followe thy will and pleasure O Lorde Iesu thou art all my richesse all that I haue I haue it of thee But what am I lord that I dare speake to thee I am thy poore creature a worm moste abiecte Beholde Lorde I haue nought and of my self I am nought worth thou art onely God righteous and holie thou ordereste all thynges thou giuest all thynges and thou fulfilleste all thynges with goodnesse I am a synner barren and voide of godlie bertue Remember thy mercies and fill my harte with plentie of thy grace for thou wilt not that thy woorkes in me should be in vaine How maie I beare the miserie of this life excepte thy grace mercy do coÌ„fort me Tourne not thy face from me deferre not the visityng of me ne withdrawe not thy comfortes least happely my soule be made as drie yearth without the water of grace Teache me lore to fulfill thy will to liue mekely and worthelie before thee for thou art all my wisedom and cunnyng thou arte he that knoweste me as I am that knowest me before y e world was made and before I was borne or broughte into this life to thee O Lorde bee honour glorie and praise for euer and euer Amen Laus deo in aeternum Amen ¶ A deuoute praier to bee saied daiely O Almightie and eternall God which vouchsauest that we as it were heauenly children should euery one of vs call thee our heauenly father Graunt that emong vs be purenesse and example of iâ—nocent life thy moste holy name may be sanctified that all other nations beholdyng our goodnesse and vertuous deedes that thou workest in vs maie bee stirred to hallowe and glorifie thee Graunt O lorde that the kyngdome of thy grare and mercy maie reigne continually in our hartes so that we maie he worthie to be partakers of the realme of glorie and maiestie Graunt that vnto the very death we refuse not to folowe thy deuine will that wée accordyng to the example of the celestiall citezens agreyng together quietly vnited in spirit all controuersie in opinions laied aparte the lustes of the fleshe beyng subdued and the flatteryng assaultes of the worlde and the Deuill ouercome neuer wrastell againste thy moste holie will but obeye it in all thynges Graunt O Lorde for our bodie néedefull sustenaunce that wee maie the more fréely serue thee Giue vs we beseche thee O mercifull father that heauenlie bread the bodie of thy sonne Iesu Christ the verie foode health of our soules giue vs the breade of thy diuine preceptes that we maie truely walke and liue after theim Giue vs the breade of the heauenly woorde whiche is thy stroÌ„g buttresse and sure defeÌ„ce of our soules that we beyng well fedde and filled with this foode may worthily come to the celestial feast where as is no huÌ„ger GrauÌ„t O lorde that wée paciently beare suffer our enemies and suche as hurte vs and willyngly to forgiue the offences coÌ„mitted against vs that so wee maie finde thee lord in forgiuing vs our trespasses milde and mercifull Graunt O lorde that we be not vtterly ledde into teÌ„ptation that thereby we should be loste but in all perilles of temptation and in the middes of the stormy tempestes and tribulations let vs thy children perceiue and feele thy fatherly succoure readie to helpe vs least that we ouercome with the naughtie craftes and deceiptes of the temptour should be drawen into euerlastyng destructioÌ„ but when we be well assaied approued and pourged with the fire of temptation then let vs finishe our course and so well and valiauntly fight that we maie for euermore liue with thee in that heauenly citie where against thee whiche no maner temptation can preuaile Finally graunte moste mercifull father that we through thy benigne goodnesse maie bee deliuered from all euils presente and to come bothe of bodie and soule and that at the last the yoke of the foule feinde beyng shaken of wee maie possesse the heritage of the heauenlye Kyngdome whiche thy soonne with his precious bloud bought for vs thy children and there for euer to haue the fruitioÌ„ of celestiall delectations accompanied with Angells blessed sainctes through the help benignitie and grace of our sauiour Iesu Christ to whoÌ„ and to thee our father and to the holie ghost be glorie and honor now and euer Amen ¶ An other praier O Heauenly father God almightie I praie and beseche thy mercie benignly so beholde me thy vnworthy seruaunt that I maie by gifte of thy holie spirite feruently desire thy kyngdom that I maie knowe thy will and worke thereafter Giue me O lorde wisedom Make me constaunte pacient and strong in thée Kepe me lord from the sleightie inuasioÌ„ of the old wilie serpeÌ„t Defende me from the counsailes and cursynges of euill tongues let thy mightie arme bée my shield againste all the malignitie of this wicked world Remember not O Lorde myne offences instruct prepare me to repent to be sory for my synnes Make me to loue Iustice and hate wrong to doe good and abstain from all euilles that I maie be worthie to be called thy childe To thee be honor and glorie for euer and euer AmeÌ„ ¶ A deuoute praier LOrde harken to my wordes consider the thought of mine harte Beholde hold loude I crie vnto thee Let my iuste praier enter into thyne eares whiche vnfainedly cometh fro mine hart Heare me Lorde for I am poore and destitute of mannes helpe Take care for my soule saue me thy seruaunte whiche wholie trust in thee haue mercie vpoÌ„ me o lord for I wil neuer cease criyng to thee for help For thou art milde and more mercifull then any tong caÌ„ expresse as often as aduersitie assaileth me I will crie and call for helpe vnto thée I will cal vpoÌ„ thee in the daie tyme and in the night my crie shal not bee hidde from thee O thou God of the heauens maker of the waters and lorde of al creatures heare me a poore sinner callyng vpoÌ„ thée puttyng my whole truste in thy mercie Haue mercie vpoÌ„ me for thy manifolde mercies sake forgiue me al mine offences Amen ¶ The Letanie O God the father of heaueÌ„ haue mercie vpon vs miserable synners O God the father of heauen c. O God the soonne redemer of the worlde haue mercie vpon vs miserable synners O God the sonne redemer c. O God the holy ghost proceding from the father and the soonne haue mercie vpon vs miserable synners O God the holie ghost c. O holie blessed and glorious trinitie three persones and one God haue mercie vpon vs miserable synners O holie blessed and glori c. Remember not Lorde our
ende Amen Glory be to the father c. As it was in the begin c. FINIS The Queenes praiers Or Meditations wherein the mynde is stirred to suffer all afflictions here Jmprinted at London by H. Wykes Colloss iij. ¶ If ye bee risen againe with Christe seke the thynges whiche are aboue where Christe sitteth on the righte hande of God sette your affection on thynges that are aboue not on thynges which are on the yearth MOoste benyng Lorde Iesu graunte me thy grace that it maie alwaie woorke in me and perseuere with me vnto thende Graunte me that I maie euer desire and will that whiche is moste pleasaunte and moste acceptable to thee Thy will bée my will and my will be to folowe alwaie thy will Lette there bée alwaie in me one will and one desire with thee and that I haue no desire to will or not to will but as thou wilt Lorde thou knowest what thynges is moste profitable and moste expedient for me Giue therefore what thou wilt as muche as thou wilt and when thou wilt Dooe with me what thou wilte as it shall please thee and as shalbe moste to thine honour Put me where thou wilt and fréely doe with me in all thynges after thy will Thy creature I am and in thy handes leade and turne me where thou wilt Loe I am thy seruaunte readie to doe all thinges that thou commaundest for I desire not to liue to my self but to thee Lorde Iesus I praie thee graunte me grace that I neuer set my harte on the thinges of this worlde but that all worldly and carnall affections maie vtterly dye and be mortified in me Graunt me aboue al thinges that I maie rest in thee and fullie quiete and pacifie my harte in thee For thou lorde art the verie true peace of harte and the perfecte rest of the soule and without thee all thynges be greuous and vnquiet My lorde Iesus I beseche thee bee with me in euery place and at all tymes and let it bee to me a speciall solace gladly for thy loue too lacke all worldly solace And if thou withdrawe coÌ„forte from me at any tyme keepe me O lorde from desperation and make me paceintly to abide thy will and ordinaunce O Lorde Iesu thy Iudgementes be rightous and thy prouidence is muche better for me then all that I can imagine or deuise Wherefore do with me in all thynges as it shall please thee for it maie not bee but well all that thou doest If thou wilte that I be in light bee thou blessed if thou wilte that I be in darknesse be thou also blessed If thou vouchsaue to comfort me be thou highly blessed if thou wilt I liue in trouble and without comfort be thou likewise euer blessed Lorde giue me grace gladly to suffer whatsoeuer thou wilte shall fall vpon me and pacientely to take it at thy hande good and hadde bitter and swete ioye and sorowe and for all thynges that shal befall vnto me hartely too thanke thee Kepe me lorde from sinne I shall then neither dread death nor hell O what thankes ought I to giue vnto thee which hast suffered the greeuous death of the Crosse to deliuer me from my synnes and to obtain euerlastyng life for me Thou gaueste vs mooste perfecte example of pacience fulfillynge and obeiyng the will of thy father euen vnto the death Make mée wretched synner obediently to vse my self after thy will in all thinges and paciently too beare the burdeÌ„ of this corruptible life For though this life be tedious and as an heauie burden to my soule yet neuerthelesse through thy grace and by example of thee it is now made muche more easie and coÌ„fortable then it was before thy incarnation and passion Thy holie life is our waie to thee and by followyng of thee we walke to thée that art our heade and sauiour and yet except thou haddest gone before and shewed vs the waie to euerlastyng life Who would indeuoure hym self to followe thée Seyng we bee yet so slowe and dull hauyng the light of thy blessed example and holie doctrine to lead and direct vs. O Lorde Iesu make that possible by grace that is too me impossible by nature Thou knowest well that I maie little suffer and that I am anone caste doune and ouerthrowen with a little aduersitie wherefore I beseche thée O lorde to strengthen me with thy spirit that I maie willyngly suffer for thy sake al maner of trouble and affliction Lorde I will knowledge vnto thee all myne vnrighteousnesse and I will coÌ„fesse to thee all the vnstablenesse of my harte Oftentymes a verie little thing troubleth me sore and maketh me duâ—le and slowe to serue thee And sometyme I purpose to stande strongly but when a little trouble commeth it is to me great anguishe and griefe and of a righte little thyng riseth a geeuous temptation to me Yea when I thynke my self to be sure and stroÌ„g and that as it semeth I haue the vpper hande sodainly I féele my self readie to fall with a little blaste of temptation Behold therfore good lorde my weaknesse and consider my frailnesse beste knowen to thee Haue mercie on me and deliuer me from all iniquitie and synne that I bee not intangled therewith OfteÌ„tymes it greueth me sore and in maner confoundeth me that I am so vnstable so weake and so fraile in resistyng sinfull motions Whiche althoughe they drawe me not awaie to consent yet neuerthelesse their assaultes bee verie gréeuous vnto me And it is tedious to me to liue in suche battaill albeit I perceiue that suche battaile is not vnprofitable vnto me For thereby I knowe the better my self mine owne infirmities and that I must seke help onely at thy haÌ„des O lorde God of Israel the louer of all faithfull soules vouchsafe to beholde the labour and sorrowe of me thy poore creature Assiste me in all thynges with thy grace so strength me with heauenly strength that neither my cruell enemie the fâ—ende neither my wretched fleshe whiche is not yet subiecte to the spirit haue victorie or dominion ouer me O what a life maie this be called where no trouble nor miserie lacketh Where euery place is full of snares of morall enemies For one trouble or temptation ouerpassed an other commeth by and by and the firste conflicte yet duryng a new battaile sodenly ariseth Wherefore Lorde Iesu I praie thee giue me the grace to rest in thee aboue al thinges and to quiete me in thée aboue all creatures aboue al glorie and honour aboue all dignitie and power aboue al cunnyng policie aboue all healthe and beautie aboue al riches and treasure aboue all ioye and pleasure aboue all fame and praise aboue al mirthe and consolation that mannes harte maie take or feele besides thee For thou Lorde God art best moste wise moste high moste mightie moste sufficiente and moste full of goodnesse moste swete and most coÌ„fortable moste faire most louyng moste noble moste glorious in whom