serpents head that thou alone in vs mightest haue the preheminence and that we might bee made partakers of the blessed inheritance of thy heauenlie kingdome Of this kingdome thou haste long since spoken by the mouthes of thy holie Prophets As that thou hast set thy king vppon Sion thy holie Mountaine and that thy throne O God is for euer and euer and the Scepter of thy kingdome a Scepter of righteousnesse To this kingdome of thy welbeloued son thou hast translated vs from the kingdome of darkenesse setting vs frée from the penaltie of sin and deliuering vs into the glorious libertie of thy sonnes Who then shall be able to laie anie thing to our charge It is thou O god which doost iustifie who shall then condemne It is Christ thy sonne and our king and Sauiour that died for vs nay rather which is risen againe and sitteth at thy right hande making intercession continuallie to thee for vs to bring vs vnto that heauenlie kingdome By this kingdome thou hast giuen vs euen in this life peace of conscience righteousnesse and reioicing in the holie ghost Encrease this ioy in vs O Lorde that our whole delight may bee to serue thée in holines and righteousnes all the dayes of our life Keepe vs O Lord from the poyson of false doctrine idolatrie superstition and incredulitie by which sathan vpholdeth his tyrannicall kingdome Mortifie and subdue in vs all carnall desires and lusts by thy holie spirite and by the same abandon out of our mindes vncleane thoughts breake the snares of sinne that the whole kingdome of the deuill may be destroied in vs. Renue thy kingdome in vs O heauenly Father we humblie beséech thee by giuing vnto vs the true knowledge of thée and thereby a liuelie faith in thy sonne Christ and regenerate vs by his holie spirit and word that by the obedience of faith wee maie wholelie be subiect vnto thée alone Make vs O Lorde to despise the glorie pompe and plesures of this worldly kingdome which sathan promiseth to the worshippers of him that we may still desire from our hearts euen as the Hart desireth the water Brookes the fruition of thy heauenlie kingdome The glorie and pleasures whereof are eternall and most delectable But the pleasures of this life momentanie and vaine and yet mixed with manifolde myseries Heere wee are vexed with tyrannies of beastes and of men The earth the water and fire as wearie of vs continuallie warreth agaynst vs. Those good creatures which thou hast giuen vs manie times through our sinnes are hurtfull and noysome vnto vs yea we are disquieted with our own bodies and with our own affections As menne therefore wearie of this wretched worldlie kingdome and desiring to be dissolued from the burthen of the flesh we heartilie praie thee that thy celestiall kingdome may come for our deliuerance where there is no hunger no nakednes no labour no infirmiite no sickenesse no infamie no hatred no enimie no dissimulation no warre no sorrow no moorning no feare no death All thinges are there ioyfull and full of blisse saluation and peace are euerie where and whatsoeuer happines may be wished for in such wise as neither the eie hath séene nor the eare hath heard nor at anie time hath entred into the heart of man Let this thy kingdome come O heauenly father we humblie pray thée For all the afflictions of this life are not so grieuous vnto vs as the ioy of this kingdome delights vs. Therefore with sighes and groues wee desire that this thy kingdom may come vppon vs as the reward of our conflict as the garlande and crowne of our course as the happie hauen of rest after our tossing on the surging Seas of this world which thou shalt giue vs for the merits of thy déere sonne Iesus Christ to whom with thée and the holie Ghost be all honor praise and glory world with out end Amen 3 Thy will be doone OUr knowledge our vnderstanding and our wil by naturall corruption O Lord is blind dul and rebellious against thy holie will insomuch that the naturall man vnderstandeth not heauenlie thinges nor desireth the participation of thy euerlasting kingdome but is an enimie vnto the same Therefore thy sentence remaineth true at what time thou saiedst Man is but flesh and all the imaginations of mans heart are euill For this cause we pray as thy beloued sonne hath taught vs héere that not ours but Thy will be doone Thy will is iust holie good and full of sauing health euen as thou art the bottomlesse well of all goodnesse and righteousnesse it selfe And as thou art our louing and most mercifull Father so there is no cause whie we shoulde doubt of thy good will which surmounteth the louing kindnesse of all earthlie fathers Thy will O god is omnipotent and euerlasting without shadowe of change thou wilt doo whatsoeuer séemeth good vnto thee and thy will shall stande for euer and euer and the thoughts of thy hart throughout alages Giue vs grace louing Father wee beseech thée that as we are ignorant of this thy secret will so we may alwayes humblie like obedient children submit our selues vnto the same to bee ordered thereby as shall séeme best to thy diuine wisedome But at this time O Lord especiallie wee pray for the execution of thy reuealed will which thy onely begotten son our sauiour hath manifested vnto vs in his most holy gospell and which at this day is reuealed vnto vs by the preaching of the same that wee might bee saued through Iesus Christ in whom thou hast chosen vs from euerlasting that wee might bee heires of his kingdome For this is thy wil saith our sauior christ that euerie one which beléeueth in the son should haue eternall life Giue vs fayth therefore O heauenlie Father wee beseech theee that this thy will may bee perfected and accomplished in vs that wee may tend vnto that end whereunto thou hast appointed vs That wee may beléeue in thee feare thee and loue thee for thy so great and fatherlie mercyes in Iesus Christ our Sauiour powred vpon vs. Let this thy most holie and holsome will be fulfilled in vs that being iustified through the merits of thy beloued sonne and thorough faith in him we may bee ioyned with thée Furthermore thy will is O god that they which are redéemed by thy sonne and doo stedfastlie beleeue in him should shew themselues obedient thankefull and readie to walke in his commaundements and that wee beeing wholie consecrated vnto him shoulde giue our selues to innocencie and puritie should not anie more defile our bodies with the filthines of sins which hee hath made the temples of the holie ghost For this is thy will O God euen our holinesse that wee should abstaine from fornication that euery one of vs should kéepe our vessell in sanctification and honour and not to walke in the lust of concupiscence as do the heathen which know not thee And as thou O father wouldest haue vs
chéerfull countenance Wee that plant and water are nothing Thou art all in all that giuest the increase Therefore we stand like poore beggers at thy doore crauing thy dailie almes and saying Giue vs this day our daylye bread And also we praie thee O Father that as thou makest these creatures of thine ours by thy frée gift so also they may bee ours by our labour and studie in that vocation whervnto we are called Giue vs thy grace wee beséech thee that wee eate not our breade with idlenesse that wee take not from our brethren theyr bread by rapine theft oppression vsurie briberie extortion and by such other vnlawfull meanes but that wee may receiue from thy liberal and most merciful hands our owne bread in the sweate of our owne browes that wee may bee blessed in the labour of our owne hands And as thou hast from daie to daie all the daies of our life hither to fed vs most liberally and preserued vs so wee beseech thee good lord that forsomuch as this daie wee doo hunger and thirst and shall daylie so long as wee are in this flesh stand in need of thy goodnesse thou wilt vouchsafe to giue vs this day our daylie bread And when thou hast satisfied our mouth with good things giue vs O Father contented mindes that wee followe not the insatiable lusts of our flesh which beeing neuer contented with thy good gifts abuse them intemperatly and deuise and desire new daintie dishes for lust and cause vs to say with the wanton Israelites Can God prepare a table in the wildernes Can he giue bread also prepare flesh for his people Represse in vs these carnall delights giue vs temperance that we maie liue not to eat but eat to liue For thy kingdome O God is not meate drinke but a reioysing in the holie ghost And as for the bellie and the meate thou shalt destroy them both If therefore it shall please thy goodnesse to giue vs our daylie bread in abundance giue vs also aboundance of thy grace that we be not proude intemperate or luxurious but that wee maie vse thy gifts to the relieuing of our faint and weake bodyes to the comfort and helpe of our brethren and also to the honour and prayse of thy holie name Make vs mindfull thankfull O heauenlie Father for thy great goodnesse that wee doo not sit downe at thy table as thy ghestes to eate thy bread and drinke thy drinke and then to rise vp to plaie and so to forget thee the author giuer of all good gifts Far be this grosse vnthankefulnesse from vs. For the oxe knoweth his owner and the asse his maisters crib and shall wee forget thee The horse loueth his keeper and the dog will fight for his maister The brute beare and the fierce Lion are thankefull to them that féede them And the earth yeeldeth fruite to him that tilleth it and shall wée so far degenerate that we shall bee more vnreasonable then brute beastes Farre be this O Lorde from thy children Make vs therefore O father to receiue our daylie breade with thankesgiuing that hauing thee alwaies before our eies which art the giuer of all good thinges and refreshest the hungrie soule with goodnes and considering also our owne néede and necessitie we may continuallie for our daily bread ascribe vnto thée our father with thy sonne our sauiour and the holie ghost our comforter all honour praise and glorie for euer and euer Amen 5 And forgiue vs our trespasses A praier for remission of sinnes WHen wee present our selues O father before thy diuine Maiestie sathan our aduersarie our continuall accuser and sworne enimie dooth trouble vs and striketh our consciences with the sting of our sinnes which aforetime wee haue committed agaynst thée Howe darest thou saith hee miserable man presume to come into the presence of God with thy praiers with what face canst thou call him thy father when as thou at no time hast shewed thy selfe an obedient son Art thou not ashamed to pray that he will sanctifie and glorifie his name when as thou dooest daylie prophane and dishonour the same what reason hast thou to desire him to come vnto thee with his kingdome which hitherto hast not submitted thy selfe vnto him and hast not suffered him to raigne in thee Also why doest thou praie that the will of God maie bee doone in thee when as thou hatest his will and willinglie runnest into disobedience Is it not impudent temeritie that thou askest thy daylie bread of God when as thou hast so ledde thy life hitherto that thou rather deseruest to bee called a dog then a sonne hast thou forgotten that the Lord hath said It is not meete to take the childrens bread and to giue it vnto dogges These such like heauie cogitations O Lord our enemie dooth assayle our mindes to discourage vs and to drawe vs away from calling vppon thy name But we being here taught by thy son Christ our sauior to make our petitions to thee and also he hauing giuen vs boldnesse to haue accesse vnto thee and hauing also giuen vs the earnest of his holie spirit whereby we crie Abba Father doo repell these gréeuous temptations and fierie darts of the diuell crieng vnto thee with true repentance Forgiue O father our trespasses and sinnes for wee haue sinned in déede agaynst heauen and agaynst thee and are no more worthie to bee called thy sonnes but haue in our selues deserued the wages of sinne eternall death For wee haue all sinned wee haue all gone out of the waie and are become vnprofitable Wee are Lorde conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquitie all the thoughts of our hearts are euill euen from our natiuitie we haue not beene so thankefull vnto thée for the benefits bestowed on vs as becommeth vs we haue manie waies abused thy gifts wee haue not receiued thy worde with that reuerend regarde that appertained to the same neither haue wee obeyed thy will therein reuealed yea in manie things wee offend all And although wee be renewed by the immortall seede of thy worde yet the corruption of our nature and the dregs of sinne remaine still in vs and the lawe of sinne in our members which holdeth vs captiue against the will of the spirit hath place in vs which is the cause that wee breake thy holie commandements We are therefore O father in respect of our guiltines inforced to crie vnto thée Forgiue vs our sinnes and thou in respect of the punishment which wee thereby haue deserued must forgiue vs for thy sonnes Christs sake or els wee shall for euer perish For if thou Lord doe in extremitie and iustice looke vppon our sinnes whoe shall abide it If thou enter into iudgement with thy seruant what flesh shall bee iustified in thy sight Wherefore we appeale to the high throne of thy mercie humblie beseeching thee O most louing God and mercifull Father according to thy great mercie and according to the multitude of thy compassions
Forgiue vs our sinnes Wash vs thorowly from our iniquities and clense vs from all our sins in such wise that they may no waie preuaile agaynst vs. Cast them into the bottome of the sea that they may neuer arise before thee in the daie of iudgement Let thy wrath and anger and heauie displeasure bee turned from vs which we haue deserued and take vs into thy fatherly fauour againe that we may be thy sonnes Shewe vs thy mercie O Lorde and graunt vs thy saluation for thy names sake It is thou O god alone that canst pardon and forgiue vs our sinnes it is thou alone that doost make vs happie and blessed by couering our iniquities and not imputing our sinnes vnto vs. It is thou alone that canst put awaie our transgressions like to a cloud and our sins as a mist None but thou O God alone can remit so great a debt as that ten thousand talents we owe vnto thee Forgiue vs therefore wee beseech thee O most liberall father which art rich in mercies al our sinnes not for our merits but for thy mercies sake and remooue them so farre from vs as the east is from the west Pardon vs we humbly beséech thee for our Sauiour Iesus Christes sake who hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrowes who was wounded broken for our iniquities on whom thou hast layd the chastisement of our peace that we might bee healed with his stripes Purge vs with his bloud from all our sins cancel the hand writing which is against vs which thy sonne fastened to his crosse for the full satisfaction of thy iustice Him O Lord wee oppose with his innocencie with his holinesse with his righteousnesse and with all the merits of his sufferings in the flesh agaynst thy iustice as our onlie sufficient mediatour our peacemaker and our reconciler to thy heauenly fauour who by thy will was made sinne for vs that wee might be thy righteousnes through him and also accursed for vs that wee might be blessed for euer Wherefore vpon sure trust and confidence of these thy great mercies offered to vs in thy son Iesus being bolde and ioyfull and also sorrowfull that euer wee offended thee so louing a Father wee doo with deepe sighes of heart crie vnto thee Forgiue vs our sinnes Remit our offences and couer our nakednes with the holines and righteousnes of our eternall Sauiour thy sonne Iesus Christ and from hence forth kéep vs from presumptuous sins and restore in vs the decayed image of thy heauenlie light that we maie hereafter serue thee in feare in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life through our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen As we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. A praier for brotherlie charitie AS thou art our heauenlie Father so O Lord it is necessarie that wee should be like thee in mercie in kindnes in loue shewing mercie kindnesse and loue vnto our enimies as thou hast loued vs when wee were thine enimies And herein wee shall shew our selues to bee led by thy spirit as thy déere sons whome thou hast adopted and therefore assured of remission of sinnes It hath pleased thy sonne our sauiour Christ therfore to adde this condition As wee forgiue them that trespasse agaynst vs that wee might bee ascertained of forgiuenesse to forgiue our brethren which trespasse against vs. What greater thing O Father can we aske of thee then forgiuenesse of our sins whereupon our euerlasting saluation dependeth For the which thou requirest neither gold nor siluer nor anie laborious worke of the bodie at our hands but onelie this that as thou of thy méere grace and fauour hast pardoned vs so we in like maner shoulde forgiue them which haue offended vs. Expresse in vs good Father wee humblie beseech thee this similitude of thy good wil and transforme vs into thy likenesse that our soules by the illumination of thy holie spirite may bee ioyned to thee and that the image of thy fatherlie kindnes mercie and loue may shine in vs. Stirre vp in vs a desire of brotherlie good will and Christian charitie that wee may haue care to helpe one another as members of one bodie Grant vs grace that our loue may bee perfect not fayned false or hypocriticall not in word and toong but in deed and truth That we may be patient curteous long suffering gentle méeke not suspitious not disdainefull nor easilie mooued to anger but forbearing and forgiuing one another through loue O heauenlie Father take from vs all bitternesse and anger and wrath and crying and euill speaking with all maliciousnes and inflame our mindes that after thy example wee may vnfeynedlie loue euen our verie enemies and blesse them that cursse vs doe good to them that hate vs and hurt vs leauing reuengement alwayes vnto thee That thus retayning mercie loue the bonde of all perfection and the fulfilling of the lawe we may declare our selues to dwell in thee and thou in vs to the honour and glorie of thy holie name Amen 6 And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill A prayer agaynst temptation O Heauenlie father and euerlasting God wee most humblie beseech thee protect and strengthen vs weake and feeble men agaynst all euill temptations of sathan the sworne and mortall enimie of mans saluation a lyer and our accuser that great Dragon the olde Serpent which is called the diuell a wicked spirite a deceyuer which goeth about like a roaring lion seeking whom hee may deuoure But especially in this latter age of the worlde he knowing his time of raging to be but short and perceiuing the day of iudgement to be verie nie at hand rangeth in a deadlie hatred against thy children and by all meanes séeketh the destruction of all mankinde and sundrie wayes by diuers subtleties hee layeth snares to entrap our soules bending his whole power against vs and prieng for anie occasion to break thy commandements and so at length to plunge vs horriblie into desperation And because wee of our selues are naturallie prone to all wickednesse hauing in vs the seede of sinne which is concupiscence hee taketh an aduantage héereof to tempt vs to wounde vs or at the least to hurt vs with one pricke or other hee prepareth baites to take vs and intrap vs in wealth in pouertie in pleasure and in the inticements of the flesh in griefe of minde in ambition and desire of glorie hee maketh vs euill contented with our vocation to grudge in our inferiour condition hee troubleth vs with excéeding cares of this life and maketh vs couetous malicious seeking reuenge he prouoketh to pride and presumption and woulde feine bring vs to doubt of thy diuine will and prouidence he taketh great paines to lull vs asléepe in the cradle of securitie Night and daie sléeping and waking eating or drinking hee is about vs seeking with open mouth to deuoure vs. O Lord our God who is able to stand agaynst the manifold assaultes and
to loue thee aboue all things so thou wouldest that we loue our neighbours also not in word and toong but in deede and veritie Let this thy will good Father bee fulfilled in vs. And we heartilie praie thée that as in prosperitie we can bee well contented with thy wil so also whensoeuer it shall please thée either for the punishment of our sinnes either for the tryall and exercise of our fayth or for anie other cause as shal séem best to thy fatherlie wisdom to afflict vs with diseases with languishing sicknesses with iniuries and reproches with persecutions or any other crosse whatsoeuer we may patientlie and willinglie euen from our heart saie Thy will bee doone For if we bee not vnder chastisement whereof all thy children are partakers in this life then might we déeme our selues bastards and not sonnes And séeing thy onelie sonne our Sauiour in whose mouth there was no guile for vs miserable and sinfull men vouchedsafe to stand as a méeke lambe dumbe before the fleecer and opened not his mouth but bearing the chastisement of our peace in the moste bitter agonie of death when hee sweat water and bloud most mildelie submitted himselfe to thy holie will wee heartilie praie thee for the same our Christs sake that we may bee appliable to thy will in all thinges after the example of thy deer sonne and maie without murmuring or grudging vnfeinedlie say Thy will be done Jn earth as it is in heauen THe celestiall creatures O God are prest and readie to obaie thy diuine will and whatsoeuer thou commandest them they doo it speedilie Among which are thy angels who alwaies stood stedfast in thy truth since the first beginning and doe still stande in thy presence to serue thee as ministring spirits to defend and gard thine elect These angels doo reioise in heauen for the fulfilling of thy will in the conuersion and repentaunce of sinners yea so prompt is their seruice and so willing is their obedience that nothing is more pleasant vnto them then when thy will O God is performed and executed The blessed saints also departed this life in soule and spirit haue the fulnesse of ioy in thy presence and the pleasures also which are at thy right hand for euermore This thy wil hath brought to passe And therfore being frée from the cares and labours of this life they doo still execute thy holie will falling before thee which sittest in the heauenlie throne and worshipping thee which liuest for euermore and sayeng Thou art worthie O Lorde to receyue glorie and honoure and power for thou hast created all things and for thy wils sake they are and haue beene created As the angels and saints doo thus rest on thy will O God alone euen so other celestiall bodies also doo obeie the same The perpetuall motion and true course of the heauens the sunne the moone and the stars do continuallie kéepe their prescribed order whereunto thou hast appoynted them The temperate and flourishing springtide the hot and dry summer the fruit full haruest and the chilling cold winter haue their times and returnes from yeare to yeare according vnto thy diuine will In the execution whereof they haue thus continued more than fiue thousand and sixe hundred yeares and yet in that same remaineth and endureth still stable and firme Make in like manner O Heauenlie Father wee beséech thee our stubborne disobedient and rebellious wils pliant tractable and obedyent to thy most holie will O that this flesh putting off the olde Adam which is made of earth might submitte it selfe so willinglie vnto thy will as that inwarde manne dooth which is regenerate and illuminated by thy holie spirite and therefore with groanes and sighes desyreth to doo thy will O that it might please thee to breake in sunder for euer the bandes of sinne wherewith our spirit is tied that beeing frée wee might serue thee continuallie as thou wilt O Father wee heartilie praie thee and for Christs sake humblie beséech thee disburthen vs of this earth wherewith we are ouerwhelmed and make vs heauenlie that thy name maie bee sanctified in earth as it is in heauen that wee may desire thy kingdome to come in earth as it is in heauen that wee may will thy will to bee done in earth as it is in heauen that nowe here in earth wee may begin to bee such as one day through thy grace and mercy we shall bee in heauen Where wee shall for euer praise thee and our lord Iesus Christ to whome with the holie Ghost bee all honour and glory world with out end Amen 4 Giue vs this day our daily bread A prayer for all needfull thinges both for the soule and bodie WE are O Father in our selues miserable and néedie beggers but thou art rich in mercie to all that call vppon thee Out of thy heauenlie treasure therefore wee beseech thee plentifullie powre downe thy giftes vppon vs and especiallie giue vs that breade that heauenlie Manna the spirituall foode of our soules thy omnipotent word Iesus Christ by whose word and blessed spirit we are fedde comforted and euermore preserued to come vnto eternall life For thou hast so loued the worlde that thou hast giuen thy onelie begotten sonne that euerie one which beléeueth in him should haue euerlasting life This foode thou dooest giue of thy meere grace make vs by faith to take and digest it And to the end we may be the more able to go forwarde in that state of life where vnto thou hast called vs helpe O God our infirmities and sustaine our earthlie bodies with that corporall food which from sunne to sunne wee can not spare We depende O Lorde vpon thy fatherlie prouidence which openest thy handes and replenishest euerie liuing thing Thou féedest the yoong Rauens that call vpon thee Thou dooest minister food to the hungrie lions when they roare after their prey and thou doost cloth and apparell the lillies and grasse of the field Therfore we humblie beséech thee let thine eie attend vpon vs to féede cherrish and preserue vs in such wise that wee may bee more apt to glorifie thy holy name Break this bread O Father to thy sonnes and giue it vnto them at such time and in such measure as is most méet and conuenient for them so shall it be most swéete and sauorie and wholsom for the children Thou onelie canst giue it thou onelie knowest howe to giue it thou onely art woont to giue it and wilt giue it still vnto thy children in the best measure If thou giue it not wee cannot haue it For who is he among the sons of men that can make the smallest graine of wheat or other seed to growe or the least hearbe to spring without thee It is thou O Lord that doost make the grasse to grow for cattell and herbe for the vse of men It is thou that giuest bread wine to strengthen and make glad the heart of man and Oyle also to make him haue a
O Merciful and most louing Father which hast no desire in the death of a sinner but rather that hee conuert and liue I acknowledge vnto thy highnesse all mine offences by mee committed which I cannot hide I consider the vile state wherto through sinne I am brought for thereby I haue worthilie lost thy fauour and am fallen from thy grace which while thou withdrawest from me I can doo no good thing nor thinke one good thought My sinne causeth thee to put mee out of thy remembrance and to forget me delaying to giue me that which is my strength and comfort But howe long wilt thou forget mee Lorde for euer How long wilt thou hide thy face from mee Howe long will thou withdraw thy grace from me Thou knowest my hartie contrition and sorrow for that I haue vnkindly forsaken thee and thy seruice and serued thine enimies the deuill and sin But trusting surelie in thy promises made to all men by the mouth of thy prophet Ezechiell that is if the sinner will turne away from all his sinnes that hee hath committed and keepe all thy commandements doubtlesse he shall liue and not die as for all his sinnes he did before thou wilt not thinke vpon them I most humblie beséech thee that as my sinnes were the cause why thou diddest put me out of thy remembrance euen so let my heartie penitence for them cause thee to put my sinnes out of thy remembrance Suffer me not long to remaine in this perpletitie of minde and to take sorrow in my heart from daie to daie continuallie fearing the punishment due to my sinne and looking still for thy comming into my soule by grace to deliuer me Hope hath caused me long to looke for thee that art my life and my helth Thy long delaie in comming hath much increased my desire My feruent desire at length is now turned to a vehement pain wherfore make hast lord to help my sick soul Let not mine enimie the deuill long triumph ouer mee whose propertie is to treade vnder his feete like a cruell prince all those that hee vanquisheth And that treading is dangerous and terrible for hee treadeth them downe to the pit of hell and to eternall death He did long holde in captiuitie all mankind vntill the comming and passion of Christ for our redemption And since through his craftie traines hath brought to vtter confusion manie of those that professe thy true religion Wherefore behold Lord and consider my miserable estate and heare my humble petition touching my deliuerance out of his danger Lighten the eie of my hart and vnderstanding with the light of thy grace and comfort thereby expelling the darkenes of ignorance Lighten also one other eie of my soule which is the light or eie of the affection The sight of this eie is so dim that it hath no perfect true iudgement yea it is blinded with the vanities of this world that one thing in appearance séemeth to be twentie things like the sight of deceytfull eies of glasse yea sometime the concupiscence therof is so great that the eie is cleane put out and the sight lost Mankind entreth into such league of a mitie with the diuell that hee is contented to haue one of his eies put out to win his fauour as the inhabitantes of Iabes were agreed to haue their right eies put out according to the desire of Nahas king of the Ammorites had not king Saule and the Prophet Samuell saued them there from and ouercome the said Nahas and his hoast Euen so moste mercifull Father I beséech thée saue my said eie of affection that it be not put out by our enimie the Deuill that it sléepe not in sinne which is the cause of eternall death Manne maie fall by frailetie and arise againe yea the custom of sinne maketh a man often to fall But to lie still sléeping and slumbring in sinne as dooth the swine in foule mire ingendreth obstinacie in amendment and delaie of penitence till the latter houre at which houre who can bee sure to haue thy grace at his pleasure that is onlie at thy will Lorde not at our commandement Wherefore I most humblie praie thee to send me the light of thy grace while I haue heere time and space of repentance that at my latter end mine enimies saie not reioicing and boasting that they had the vpper hand ouer me As the Philistines the figure of the wicked spirites after the death of king Saul in the mount of Gelboe cut off the head of Saul and sent it with his harnesse through their country for a shew they bare it also into the temple of their gods of a pride and ioy that they had of his death in such fashion will those cruell enimies that trouble mee reioice if I be cast downe or if I doo once swarue from thee and thy faith and so die without repentance They assault mankind by pleasant suggestion to sinne they wrastle with vs causing delectation therein They strike vs and wound vs when wee consent thereto They foile vs and bring vs vppon our knees when wee doo at anie time commit or go about the filthie action of sinne And by the custome thereof they giue a great fall with such violence that wee haue much to doo to rise againe But if we happen to die therin impenitent then they haue the victorie ouer vs. Then reioice and triumph they thereat euen as the conquerour triumpheth in his newe gotten conquest Then will they cast vs in a pit lay a stone of abstinencie vppon vs that we shall not arise againe And as there is much ioy in heauen when one sinner forsaketh his sinne and returneth vnto thee by pennance in like manner is there ioyfull triumphing among the wicked spirits in hell when one soule forsaking thée dieth in deadlie sinne but all my trust is in thy mercie O lord For although thou hide thy selfe in a cloud that my praier should not go thorough it vnto thine eares yet are not thy mercies cleane gone neither dooth thy louing kindnes cease Thou art therfore Lord my portion and in thy mercie still will I hope in none other creature knowing for certaine that as God thou onelie maiest helpe mee and as my louing father thou wilt helpe me Wherefore in thee my heart shall be ioyfull and in thy sauing helth which is thy sonne Iesus our Sauiour and redeemer The Philistins knowing the presence of thine ark to be in the camp of the Israelites the daie of their battell were sore afraid saieng who shall deliuer vs out of the hand of this mightie God Much more will I be glad and take sure trust in thee O Lorde hauing the presence and comfort of thy liuelie grace And in token of the victorie which thou hast giuen mee ouer mine enimies I will not cease as I haue good cause to sing the praise of the Lord that so louinglie hath dealt with me and praise the name of the most high all the