rashlie vpon my neighbour Thy holie will requireth that my spirit minde soule be free from coÌ„cupiscence But how often doth my flesh solicite mee to sinne and contaminateth my spirit with wicked concupiscences As a fountayne doeth abound with continuall bubbling of water So doeth my heart alwayes swell with evill concupiscence For these and all other my sinnes and defects I offer vnto thee most holie Father the most perfect obedience of thy Sonne who loved all men with perfect loue and in whose mouth was found no guyle in whose words and deeds no aberrations no corruption in nature To this propitiation I flee with true fayth and by fayth I sucke out of his wounds as much as is sufficient to justifie mee and saue mee Haue mercie on mee my GOD and my Father Amen PRAYER VI. Hee showeth that wee often partake in other mens sinnes HOlie God and just Iudge Thou hast committed vnto mee not only the care of mine own soule but also the care of my neighbours But how often doeth my neyghbour through my negligence suffer great losse of godlinesse How often doe I neglect freelie and boldlie to chyde him when hee sinneth How often doe I being hindred eyther by favour or feare reproue him for his sinnes more slightlie than I ought In pouring out prayers for his salvation I am too remisse in reprehending his sinnes I am too-too timerous in furthering his salvation I am too sloathfull insomuch that thou mayest justly require at my hands the blood of my neyghbour that perisheth If there were in mee a perfect and sincere loue of my neyghbour surelie from thence would proceed freedome in reproving of sinne If the fire of sincere charitie did burne in my heart surelie it would breake foorth more clearlie into the spirituall incense of prayers to be made for the salvation of my neyghbours For a man to pray for himselfe it is a duetie of necessitie But to pray for the salvation of his neyghbour it is a deede of charitie As often therefore as I neglect to pray for the salvation of my neyghbour so often I condemne my selfe for the breach of the commandement of the loue of my neighbour My neighbour dieth the death of the bodie and sorrow filleth all with lamentation and mourning when as yet the death of the bodie bringeth no hurt to a godlie man but rather giveth him a passage into a celestiall countrey My neighbour dieth the death of the soule and behold I am nothing troubled at it I see him die and grieue not at all when as yet sinne is the true death of the soule and bringeth with it the losse of the inestimable grace of God eternall lyfe My neighbour delinquisheth against the king who can onlie kill the bodie and beholde I seeke by all meanes his reconciliation but hoe sinneth against the King of all kings that can cast both bodie and soule into hell-fire and yet I beholde it in securitie and consider not that this offence is an infinite evill My neighbour stumbleth at a stone and I runne presentlie to saue him from a fall or otherwise to raise him vp if hee bee fallen Hee stumbleth at the corner stone of our salvation and beholde I securelie passe by it and labour not with care and diligence to lift him vp againe Mine owne sinnes are grievous anough And yet I haue not beene afrayde to participate in other mens sinnes Bee propitious O God vnto me great sinner and overburdened To thy mercie I flee in Christ and through Christ promised vnto mee I come vnto this lyfe beeing dead in sinne I come vnto this Way having gone astray in the path of sinne I come vnto this Salvation being by reason of my sinne guiltie of damnation Quicken mee guide mee and saue mee thou which art my Life my Way and my Salvation for ever and ever Amen PRAYER VII Hee showeth that wee are manie wayes convinced of sinne HOlie God and just Iudge If I looke vp to heaven I thinke with my selfe that I haue manie wayes offended thee my GOD and Father I haue sinned against heaven and before thee I am not worthie to bee called thy sonne If I looke down vpon the earth I thinke with my selfe how I haue abused thy creatures by my sinnes I haue infinitelie abused not onlie the darknesse of the night but also the light of the day to worke workes of darknesse If I looke vpon the examples of sinners vpon whom thou in thy just judgement hast inflicted punishment I finde that the weyght of my sinnes will counterpoise theirs If I looke vpon the examples of the Sayncts I finde that I come farre short of them in my holie service of thee If I thinke vpon the Angell my keeper I finde that often I put him to flight by my sinnes If I thinke of the devills I finde that I haue often given place to their suggestions If I weygh with my selfe the rigour of thy lawe I finde that my lyfe is manie wayes irregular If I looke vpon my selfe I finde that the verie cogitatioÌ„s of my heart doe accuse mee before thy judgement If I thinke vpon the houre of death to come I finde that it is the just reward of my sinnes and vnlesse thou of thy meere mercie for Christ his sake shalt receaue mee the gate and entrance into everlasting death If I thinke vpon the judgement to come I finde my deserts such that thou mayest justlie call mee to the most exact account and punish my sinnes according to the strict severitie of thy law If I thinke vpon hell I finde that I haue deserved by my sinnes the most just punishment there If I thinke vpon eternall lyfe I finde that I haue by my sinnes justlie fallen away from all hope of attaynment All thinges therefore convince mee of my sinnes Onlie thou thou O my God bee not thou extreame against mee To Christ thy beloved Sonne my onlie mediatour I betake my selfe By him I most firmlie belieue I shall obtayne thy grace remission of my sinnes Thy creatures accuse me the booke of my conscience accuseth mee both the tables of thy divyne law accuse me Satan accuseth mee day and night But take thou vpon thee my patronage O sweet Iesus To thee the poore man is left bereft of all solace of the creatures All my refuge is placed in thy satisfaction for my sinnes and in thy inteâ—cession at the right hand of the Father for mee My soule take thou the wings of the morning and lyke a doue hide thy selfe in the clests of the rocke that is in the wounds of Christ thy Saviour Hyde thy selfe in this rocke till the anger of the LORD bee passed by and thou shalt finde rest and thou shalt finde protection and thou shalt finde deliverance therein AMEN PRAYER VIII Hee by the effects of contrition argueth vs to bee convicted of the haynousnesse of sinne HOlie God and just Iudge My heart is
GERARDS PRAYERS OR A DAYLIE PRACTICE OF PIETIE Divided into foure parts 1 Of Confession of Sinnes 2 Of Thanksgiving for benefits 3 Of Petitions for our selues 4 Of Supplicatiōs for our neighbours Written originally in the Latine Tongue by Iohn Gerard Doctor in Divinitie and Superintendent of Heldeburg Translated and revised By Ralph Winterton Fellow of Kinges Colledge in Cambridge Wherevnto is added a Morning and Euening Prayer for a Familie Printed in ABERDENE by Edward Raban 1638. To the Reader DIstressed soule if thou conceav'st what 't is To mount vnto the tower of endles blisse Embrace this Work It reacheth to the Skie And higher if beyond it ought doeth lie Mans dull capacitie weake humane sense Wide worlds expansion starres circumference Can not it comprehend Prayer passeth even To GODS Pavilion to th' imperiall Heaven That is the Golden Chayne fixt to Gods eare Knocke Hee 'll open Call He will heare This surelie this is blessed lakobs Ladder On which our soules climbe by CHRIST to CHRIST'S FATHER Fayth is Prayers chiefe Attendant CHRIST the Way GOD'S Sprite both moues and help vs 〈◊〉 to pray True loue admittance gayn◠humble confession Both helps Devotion and procures Remission THE FIRST PART Of Confession of Sinnes THE ARGUMENT The Meditation of our Sinnes comprehendeth in it these two heads Of originall and actuall sinnes Actuall sinnes are committed in thought word and deed By the committing of evill and by the omitting of good Agaynst GOD our neyghbour and our selues The offences of our youth are manie and our daylie infirmities many We are often tempted of the flesh and we do often yeeld vnto it Wee partake many tymes in other mens sinnes and in many things wee are defectiue our selues Wee are convicted of our sinnes by all the creatures and wee behold the sexeritie of GODS anger agaynst our sinnes in the Passion and Death of CHRIST PRAYER I. Hee weygheth and considereth the grievousnesse of originall sinne HOlie GOD and just Iudge I know that I was conceaved and borne in sinne I know that I was formed of vncleane seede in the wombe of my mother That poyson of sinne hath so corrupted and putrified my whole nature that no facultie of my soule is free from the contagion thereof That holie pledge of the divyne image which was committed vnto mee in our first father is perished in mee There is no power at all in mee to begin to come vnto the saving knowledge of thee the feare of thee confidence in thee and loue of thee There remaineth no sufficiencie in mee to performe obedience vnto thy cōmandements My will is averse from thy law And the law of sinne in my members beeing repugnant to the law of my mynde maketh my whole nature become corrupt and perverse I wretched and miserable man doe feele the power of sinne cleaving fast to my members I doe feele the yoke of wicked concupiscence grievouslie pressing me For although I am regenerate and renewed by the spirit of grace in the laver of baptisme yet am I not as yet whollie free from the yoke and captivitie of sinne For that roote of bitternesse which lyeth hidden in mee doeth alwayes desire to put forth new branches The law of sinne reygning in my flesh doeth striue to captivate mee I am full of doubts distrust and desire of myne owne honour Out of my heart proceede wicked cogitations Filthie thoughts defile mee throughout in thy sight Out of that poysoned fountaine flow foorth rivers of poyson Enter not therefore into judgement with thy servant O LORD but bee propitiou◠vnto mee according to thy great mercie The deepe of my miserie calleth vpon the deepe of thy mercie For this vncleannesse and filthinesse of my polluted nature I offer vnto thee the most sacred conceptiō of thy Sonne For mee hee was borne For mee therefore hee was conceaved For me he was made sanctificatiō righteousnes For me therefore he is become purification and cleannes Throgh him for him thy Sonne haue mercie on mee O thou most highest and set not in the light of thy countenance that hidden corruption that cleaveth to my nature but looke vpon thy beloved Sonne my Mediatour and let his most holie and immaculate conception succour my miserie Amen PRAYER II. Hee recalleth to our memorie the sinnes of our youth HOlie GOD and just Iudge Remember not the offences of my sinnes that are past How manie venemous fruits hath the vicious roote of concupiscence that is inherent in mee brought foorth In my chyldhood what an innumerable brood of actuall transgressions hath the evill of originall sinne hatched The verie thoughts of my heart are wicked and perverse even from my chyldhood yea even from my tender infancie For when I was an infant but of one day I was in no wayes innocent before thee As manie as the dayes of my lyfe are so manie offences doe burden me yea manie more by farre in number seeing that the just man falleth seaven tymes in one day But if the just fall seaven tymes in one day then I wretched and vnjust man without doubt haue fallen seaventie tymes seaven tymes As my lyfe hath increased so hath the web of my sins increased as much as hath beene added to my lyfe by thy bountie so much hath beene added to the course of my sinnes by the wickednesse of my corrupt nature I examine my lyfe that is past and what else doe I beholde but a filthie stinking cloake of sinne I attend vnto the light of thy precepts and what doe I finde in the course of my yeares that are past but darknesse and blindnesse The tender flower of my youth ought to haue beene crowned with vertues and offred to thee for a sweet savour The best part of my age past did owe it selfe vnto thee the best Creatour of nature But the dirtie filth of my sinnes hath most foullie polluted the flower of my age and the stinking mud of my offences hath in a wōderfull miserable māner defiled me The first age of man is amongst all the rest the fittest for the service of GOD But I haue spent a good part thereof in the service of the devill The memorie of many sinnes which the vnbridled loosenesse of my youth hath committed is set in my sight and yet there are manie more which I cannot call to memorie Who knoweth how oft hee offendeth cleanse thy servant from secret faults For these offences of my youth I offer vnto thee holie Father the most holie obedience and perfect innocencie of thy Sonne who was obedient to thee vnto death even the death of the crosse When hee was but a chylde of twelue yeares olde hee performed holie obedience vnto thee and began to execute thy will with great alacritie This obedience I offer vnto thee just Iudge for a pryce and satisfaction for the manifolde disobedience of my youth Amen PRAYER III. Hee reckeneth vp our
daylie falls and slips HOlie God and just Iudge There is no man innocent in thy sight no man free from the spote of sinne And I am bereaved of that glorie which I should bring with mee to judgement I am stripped of that garment of innocencie with which I ought to appeare arrayed before thee Seaven tymes yea and oftener everie houre I fall seaventie tymes seaven tymes I sinne everie day The spirit indeede is sometymes readie but the flesh is alwayes weake The inward man flowrisheth and is strong but the outward man languisheth and is weake For I doe not the good that I would but the evill that I would not How often doe vaine wicked and impious cogitations aryse in my heart How often doe vaine vnprofitable and hurtfull wordes breake foorth How often doe perverse wicked and vngodlie actions pollute mee All my righteousnesse is as the cloath of a menstruous woman Therefore I dare not pleade for my righteousnesse before thee But I humblie prostrate my selfe before thy most just tripunall and out of the deeps doe I cry vnto thee Lord if thou shalt decree to impute sinne who shall abyde it If thou wilt enter into judgement who shall stand If thou wilt call me to appeare according to the severity of thy justice how shall I come before thee If thou wilt exact a strict account of my lyfe I shall not bee able to answere thee one for a thousand Therefore my mouth is stopt and I acknowledge before thee that I haue deserved eternall torments and withall I confesse with teares that thou mayest justlie cast mee into prison for ever Therefore for these daylie sinnes of my lyfe I offer vnto thee holie Father the most precious blood of thy Sonne which was poured foorth on the altar of the crosse which washeth me from all my sinnes My sinnes which leade mee captiue are manie in number and most powerfull But the ransome of thy Sonne is much more precious and of more efficacie Let that most perfect plenarie and holie pryce payed by Christ obtayne for mee remission of sinnes Amen PRAYER IV. Hee examineth our lyfe according to the rule of the first table of the Commandements HOlie God and just Iudge Thou gavest vnto vs thy Law in mount Sinay and thou wouldst haue it to be the rule of all our actions words and thoughts That whatsoever is not squared by it should in thy judgement bee accounted sinne As often as I looke vpon that most cleare glasse I perceaue mine owne filthinesse and tremble everie part of mee I ought to loue thee O my God aboue all thinges But how often doe I loue the world and forget the loue of thee I am bound to feare thee O my God aboue all things But how often doe I consent to sinne and let thy feare slip out of my memorie Thou requirest that I should trust in thee O my God aboue all things But how often in adversitie doeth my soule waver and anxiouslie and carefullie doubt of thy fatherlie goodnesse I am bound to obey thee O my God with all my heart But how often doeth my refractarie flesh resist the resolution of obedience and leade mee captiue into the prison of sinne My cogitations ought to bee holie my desires pure and holie But how often is the quyet state of my mynde troubled with vaine and impious cogitations I ought to call vpon thee O God with all my heart But how often doth my minde wander in prayer and doeth anxioustie doubt whether her prayers be heard or no! How often am I remisse in prayer aud demisse in conceaving confidence How often doeth my tongue pray and yet I doe not worship thee in spirit and in trueth How profound oblivion of thy benefits doeth seize vpon mee Thou doest dayly poure thy benefits vpon me in a loving manner and yet I doe not daylie returne vnto thee thanksgiving How cold is my meditation of thy immense and infinite gifts bestowed vpon mee What slender devotion is there for the most part in my heart I vse thy gifts and yet I doe not prayse thee who art the giver I sticke in the rivers come not to the fountaine Thy word is the word of spirit lyfe But I through sinne and corruption haue destroyed the worke of thy holie Spirit within mee The sparks of a good resolution often inkindled I as often extinguish and yet I doe not sue to thee for increase of thy gifts For these and all other my sinnes and defaults I offer vnto thee O my God the most pure and perfect obedience of thy Sonne who loved thee in the dayes of his incarnation most perfectlie with his whole heart cleaved vnto thee most firmlie with all his soule in whose deeds words and thoughts there was found no blot of sinne nor spot of the least offence That which I want by faith I draw from his fulnesse Therefore for this thy wel-beloved Sonnes sake haue mercie LORD vpon thy servant Amen PRAYER V. Hee considereth our lyfe according to the rule of the second table of the commandements HOlie God and just Iudge It is thy eternall and immutable will that I should honour with due respect my Parents and the Magistrates But how often doe I thinke too meanlie of their authoritie How often doe I in heart refuse to obey them How often doe I traduce their infirmities O how often doe I omit by serious prayers to further their safetie I often cherish anger conceaved agaynst them whereas I ought with patience to submit my selfe vnto them Thy sacred will requireth that I should doe good to my neyghbour in all things to my power But how often doeth it irke mee to doe him good How doeth it goe against my stomacke to forgiue him How often am I solicited by my flesh to anger hatred envy and brawling how often doth the fire of my angrie heart burne within mee although contentious wordes bee not heard without Thy holie will requireth that I should liue chastlie modestlie and temperately But how often hath the loue of drunkennesse lust made my soule captiue to sinne How often doe fires of lust flame within mee although my outward members be restrained Hee that looketh vpon a woman to lust after her hath alreadie committed adulterie with her in his heart sayeth the Text How often therefore in the sight of GOD doe wee commit adulterie The inordinate and immoderate vse of meat drinke and wedlocke often stealeth vpon vs and maketh vs appeare guiltie before thee if thou wouldest enter into judgement with vs. Thy holie writ requireth that in bargaining I deceaue not my neighbour in anie sort but that I rather further and procure his good that I traduce not his faults but rather cover thē with the cloake of charitie and that I doe not censure him rashlie vnadvisedlie But how often doe I seeke mine own profite by injustice How often doe I spend my judgemēt
contrite and humbled my spirit is heavie and in a great straite by reason of the burden of my sinnes where with I am oppressed The cowrage of my heart hath failed and the sharpnesse of my eyes is decayed My heart is pressed and from thence gush out teares My spirit is oppressed and I forget to take my bread My heart is wounded and from thence gusheth out blood and a fountayne of teares Who knoweth how of thee offendeth Who knoweth the sorrow of the heart that is in a great straite by reason of offences My soule is dry and broken in pieces and thirsteth after the fountayne of lyfe O Christ feede mee with the dew of thy Spirit of grace My heart that is in a great straite sigheth vnto thee O thou true joye giue vnto mee peace and quietnesse of heart that beeing justified by sayth I may haue peace with God My heart condemnâ—â—h mee But doe thou absolue me who art greater thaÌ„ my heart My conscience accuseth mee But doe thou absolue me who hast fastned to the crosse the hand-writing of my coÌ„science I offer vnto thee ô my God my contrite humbled heart for a most acceptable sacrifice I offer vnto thee my sighs as the messengers of true serious coÌ„trition I offer vnto thee my teares as abundant witnesses of my vnfeigned griefe In my selfe I despare In thee is my trust In my selfe I faint In thee I am refreshed In my selfe I feele straitnesse In thee againe I finde enlargment I am troubled and burdened overmuch Thou shalt refresh mee and giue rest vnto my soule One deepe calleth vpon another The deepe of my miserie calleth vpon the deepe of thy mercie Out of the deeps doe I cry vnto thee Cast thou my sinnes into the deepe of the sea There is no soundnesse in my flesh by reason of thy anger neyther is there anie rest to my bones by reason of my sinnes For mine iniquities are gone â—ver my head and become too heavie for mee Cure my soule thou heavenlie Physician that I bee not swallowed vp of eternall death Take the burden of my sinnes from mee thou that hast taken it vpon thy selfe on the crosse that I despare not vnder the intollerable burden thereof Haue mercie on mee thou fountaine of grace and mercie Amen PRAYER IX Hee declareth the number and greatnesse of Gods benefits vnto vs and the grievousnesse of our sinnes HOlie God and just Iudge By how much the more benefites thou hast bestowed vpon mee by so much the more I grieue that I haue so often displeased thee so loving a Father As manie gifts as thou hast heaped vpon mee so manie bonds of loue hast thou sent over vnto mee Thou wouldest haue bound mee vnto thy selfe But I haue forgotten thee and thy beneficiencie and linked sinne vnto sinne Father I haue sinned against heaven and before thee I am not worthie to bee called thy sinne make mee as one of thy hired servants I am altogether displeased with my selfe Make thou mee altogether to please thee Thy large bountie and wonderfull patience haue often invited mee to repentance But hitherto I haue beene backward to come Thou hast often called mee O most Bountifull GOD by the preaching of thy word by the teaching of thy creatures by the punishment of the crosse and by inward inspiration But I haue stopped the eares of my heart altogether at thy call All the faculties of my soule all the members of my body are thy gifts I ought therefore with all the powers of my soule and parts of my bodie be readie to doe thee all holie service which is due vnto thee But I haue made them the more is my griefe the weapons of iniquitie and vnrighteousnesse The breath which I fetch is thine the aire which I sucke in is thine the suÌ„ne whose light I see daylie is thyne All these ought to haue beene vnto mee as furtherances and instruments to sanctitie of lyfe But I haue abused them the more is my griefe to the slaverie of sinne Thy creatures I should haue vsed to the glorie of thee the Creatour But I haue wickedlie abused them to thy dishonour In the light of the sunne I should haue put on the armour of light But therein haue I committed the works of darknesse How much soever is added vnto my lyfe commeth all from thy bountie Therefore my whole life ought to be employed in thy service on whom it doeth whollie depende And yet I haue scarce bestowed the least part therof in thy service As manie good inspirations as I haue felt within mee so manie hand-maydes of thy grace hast thou sent as ambassadours to invite mee most lovinglie to returne vnto thee by true repentance But alace how often haue I stubbornlie refused to giue them audience But yet receaue him who now at length returneth vnto thee with sighing a contrite heart Sprinkle mee with the blood of thy Sonne that so being purged from all the pollutions of the flesh and the spirit I may become whiter than snow and with all thy elect prayse thee in the heavenlie Ierusalem world without ende AMEN PRAYER X. Hee considereth the severitie of GODS anger agaynst our sinnes in the death and passion of CHRIST HOlie God and just Iudge I beholde thy Sonne hanging vpon the crosse and pouring foorth plentifull rivers of blood â— behold him and behold for verie terrour I â—aint altogether My â—innes are those yron nayls with which I haue boared his hands and his feete My sinnes are those pricking thornes with which his most sacred head which is to bee reverâ—â—ed of the Angelicall powers was crowned My sinnes are those stinging thoÌ„gs with which his most pure bodie the proper temple of Divinitie was scourged A cruell wilde beast hath torne in pieces the heavenlie Ioseph and embrued his coat with his blood I miserable sinner am that wicked beast for my sinnes did make an assault and rush vpon thy most beloved Sonne If thy most obedient Sonne is so vexed troubled for other mens sinnes What cause hath the vndutifull and disobedient servant to feare in regard of his owne sinnes The wounds of my soule must needs bee great indeede and mortall when as thy onelie begotten Sonne is so miserablie smitten for to cure them The disease of my soule must needs bee great indeed and mortall when as the heavenlie Physician and lyfe it selfe doeth die vpon the crosse to cure it I see the torment of his most holie soule I heare the miserable exclamation of my most holie Saviour vpon the crosse For mee it is hee is so vexed it is for my sinnes that hee complaineth that hee is forsaken of GOD. If the weyght of other mens sinnes doeth so exceedinglie presse the Almightie Sonne of God that it wringeth from him a bloodie sweat How intollerable shall the anger of God bee and how vnmeasurable shall bee his wrath agaynst the vnprofitable servant O
conversion and thou didst differre my punishment I went astray and thou didst call mee I refused to come and still thou didst expect mee This thy goodnesse most indulgent Father I cannot extoll with sufficient prayses This thy long patience most mercifull GOD I cannot recompense with anie merits Thou didst preserue mee from manie sins whereinto the corruption of the flesh the deceat of the world and the perswasion of the devill would haue throwne mee headlong as well as others Neyther hast thou onelie kept mee from falling into sinne but also hast most graciouslie expected my conversion from sinne into which I had fallen I finde thee more mercifull than I am sinfull I sinned and thou madest as if thou didst not see it I contayned not my selfe from wickednesse and yet thou didst abstaine from punishment I did long tyme prolong my iniquitie and thou didst prolong thy pitie What were then my deserts Surelie evill and the worst of evills to wit my sinnes manie in number most grievous for weyght and detestable for varietie Therefore to thy grace and bountie alone doe I attribute it that thou hast so long expected my conversion and delivered my soule out of the sâ—ares of sinne To thee O Lord bee praise honour and glorie for ever and ever Amen PRAYER VIII Hee rendereth thankes for our conversion I Render thankes vnto thee my God for that thou hast converted my heart that was hard and knew not how to repent and for that thou hast taken from me my stonie heart and given mee an heart of flesh I had of my selfe power to sinne But I had not of my selfe power to ryse againe to repentance I could goe astray of my selfe But I could not returne againe into the way without thee For even as hee that is borne crooked from his mothers wombe cannot bee made straight by naturall meanes but onlie by divyne and supernaturall power So my soule being by nature crooked and prone to sinne and the loue of earthlie things could by no humane power but thy grace onlie bee rectified and lifted vp to the loue of thee heavenly things I could deforme my selfe by my sinnes most foullie But thou onlie couldst reforme mee As the Ethiopian cannot change his Skinne nor the Leopard his Spots So neyther can I doe that which is good beeing by nature addicted vnto the loue of that which is evill Thou my God didst convert mee and I was converted and when I was converted then I repented and when I was instructed then I smote my thigh I was dead in sinne And thou didst quicken mee As much power as a dead man hath to raise himselfe So much had I to convert my selfe Vnlesse thou hadst drawne mee I had never come vnto thee vnlesse thou hadst stirred mee vp I had never watched vnto thee vnlesse thou hadst illuminated mee I had never seene thee My sinnes were more sweete vnto mee than honey and the honey combe But I am to thanke thee that now they are sharpe and bitter vnto mee for thou hast given mee a spirituall taste The workes of vertue were more bitter vnto mee than gall and aloes But I am to thanke thee that now they are become pleasant and sweet for thou hast by thy Spirit changed the corrupt judgement of my flesh I went astray as a sheepe that is lost and declined to the way of iniquitie But thou which art the good sheepherd hast found me out and brought mee agayne vnto the flocke of thy Sayncts It was late ere I knew thee for there was a great darksome clowde of vanitie before mine eyes which would not suffer mee to see the light of the trueth It was late ere I saw the true light because I was blinde and loved blindnesse and walked through the darknesse of sinne into the darknesse of hell But thou hast illuminated mee thou soughtest me when I sought not thee thou calledst me when I called not vpon thee thou convertedst mee when I was not converted vnto thee and thou saydst with a most powerfull voyce Let there bee light in the inward parts of his heart and there was a light and I saw thy light and I knew mine owne blindnesse For this thy immense and infinite benefite I will prayse thy Name for ever and ever AMEN PRAYER IX Hee rendereth thankes for the forgivenesse of sinnes I Owe and render vnto thee eternall and mercifull GOD great thankes for that thou hast not rejected mee when I came vnto thee but diddest most readilie receaue mee and most mercifullie forgiue mee all my sinnes I was that prodigall sonne most indulgent Father I was that prodigall sonne that by living riâ—tâ—uslâ—e wasted his fathers substance For I haue defiled the gifts of nature I haue refused the gifts of grace I haue deprived my selfe of the gifts of glorie I was naked and destitute of all good thinges and thou coveredst and enrichedst mee with the robe of righteousnesse I was lost and condemned and thou of thy free grace hast bestowed vpon mee eternall salvation Thou of thyne ardent mercie didst embrace mee and kisse mee in sending thy most beloved Sonne that is in thy bosome and thy holie Spirit which is the kisse of thy mouth as ample witnesses of thyne infinite loue Thou cloathedst mee with my first robe in restoring me my former innocencie Thou gavest mee a ring for my hand by sealing mee with thy Spirit of grace Thou didst put shoes vpon my feete by arming mee with the Gospell of peace Thou killedst the fat calfe for mee by delyvering thy most deare Sonne to death for mee Thou didst cause mee to feast and make merrie by restoring the joye of heart and the true peace of conscience vnto mee I was dead and through thee I was restored to lyfe I went astray and through thee I came agayne into the way I was consumed with povertie and through thee I entred agayne into my former possession Thou mightest in thy just judgement haue rejected mee seeing that I was polluted with so manie sinnes covered with so manie offences and corrupted with so manie iniquities But thy mercie did abound aboue my sins thy goodnesse was greater thaÌ„ mine iniquitie How often haue I shut the gate of my heart when thou diddest knocke Therefore when I knocked thou mightest most justlie haue shut the doore of mercie agaynst mee How often haue I stopt mine eares that I might not heare thy voyce Therefore when I sighed vnto thee thou mightest most justlie haue stopped thyne eares and not hearkened vnto my voyce But thy grace was more aboundant than all my sinne and transgression Thou didst receaue mee with thy handes spread foorth and put away my iniquities as it were a clowde and cast all 〈◊〉 sinnes behind thy backe Thou remembrest my sinnes no more but receavest me into the most ample bosome of thy mercie For this thy inestimable benefite I will giue thankes vnto thee for
the first of true and sincere charitie which bindeth vs all together into one mysticall bodie vnder one head which is Christ and commendeth vnto us a serious care of the whole Church and of all the particular members thereof That is not a true member of the bodie which laboureth not as much as in it lyeth to preserue in safetie the whole structure of the bodie That is not a true member of the bodie which suffereth not with a fellow-member that suffereth And the same reason is of force in the mysticall bodie of Christ. Whosoever therefore is a true and a living member of the Christian Church let him daylie pray For the conservation of the word For pastors and people For magistrates and subjects and For the oeconomicall and houshold estate For these are those three Hierarchies and holie magistracies appoynted by GOD for the safetie and preservation of this lyfe and for the propagation increase of the heavenlie kingdome Let him pray also For his kinsfolke and his benefactors to whom hee must acknowledge himselfe to bee bound in some speciall bond of dâ—etie Let him pray For his enemies and persecutors and seriouslie desire their conversion and salvation Let him pray lykewyse For all those that are afflicted and in miserie and show himselfe to bee moved with a fellow-feeling of their calamities PRAYER I. Hee prayeth for the conservation and continuance of the word and for the propagation and increase of the Church ALmightie eternall and mercifull GOD Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that by thy holie Spirit doest gather thy Church out of mankinde and in it doest keepe the heavenlie doctrine committed vnto it In humilitie I adore and worship thee and pray vnto thee that thou wouldest bee pleased to continue vnto vs the saving doctrine of thy word inviolable and everie day propagate and inlarge the bounds of thy Church Thou hast of thine infinite mercie lighted vnto vs that were in the darknesse of this world the light of thy word Suffer not therefore the clowds of humane traditions to extinguish it or to obscure it Thou hast given vnto vs thy word for the wholesome meat of our soules Suffer it not therefore by the delusion of the devill and the corruption of men to bee turned into poyson Mortifie in vs the sinfull lusts of the flesh that thirsteth after earthlie thinges that so wee may taste the spirituall delicates of thy word which is that heavenlie Manna No man can feele the sweetnesse thereof but hee that will taste and no man can taste whose palate is corrupted with aboundance of worldlie delights Thy word is the word of spirit and lyfe of light and grace Take away therefore the carnall affections and the corrupt senses of our hearts that it may shyne to us within and bee a light to leade vs vnto the light of everlasting lyfe From the light of thy word let there aryse in our hearts the light of saving fayth that in thy light wee may see light in the light of thy word the light of thy Sonne As in the olde tyme that heavenlie Manna descended in the wildernesse with a wholesome dew So lykewyse by the hearing of thy word let our hearts bee silled with the fire of the Spirit that our colde lukewarme flesh may be excited and may bee tempered agaynst the boylings of sinfull lusts Let the seed of thy word take deepe roote in our hearts that by the dew of thy holie Spirit watering it it may bring forth wholsome fruit plentiful increase lyke standing corne Protect O Lord the vineyard of thy Church in which thy word is as seed scattered and fruit is gathered vnto everlasting lyfe Set an hedge of Angelicall guard round about it that the wilde boares and the foxes breake it not downe the wild boares by violent persecutions and the foxes by fraudulent delusions Erect vp in it an high tower of thy fatherlie providence that by thy custodie it may bee free from all devastation But if thou shalt at anie tyme thinke good to presse the grapes of this vineyard in the presse of the crosse and of calamities let them beeripened first by the heat of thy grace that they may yeeld the most delicious fruits of fayth and patience Whatsoever is put into the roote of the vyne is converted in the grapes into the most sweet liquor of wine Grant I beseech thee that whatsoever shall happen vnto vs in this lyfe whether scoffings persecutions prayses or whatsoever else our soules may turne it into the wine of faith hope and charitie and into the fruit of patience and humilitie Out of this militant Church translate vs at length into the Church triumphant And let this tabernacle of clay bee changed into that most beautifull and everlasting temple of the heavenlie Ierusalem Amen PRAYER II. Hee supplicateth for Pastors and their hearers O Iesu Christ Sonne of the living God our alone mediatour and redeemer who being exalted at the right hand of the Father doest send pastors aud teachers of thy word by whose ministerie thou doest gather together vnto thee thy Church amongst vs I humblie intreate thee the onlie true GOD together with the Father and the holie Spirit to governe these thy ministers in the way of trueth and to turne the hearts of their hearers vnto the true obedience of the fayth There is no state or condition of men that is more subject to the hatred and treacheries of Satan than the ministers of thy word Defende them therefore by the buckler of thy grace and furnish them with the strength of patience that Satan by his sleights may not supplant them Giue I beseech thee vnto thy ministers that knowledge that is necessarie for them and a pious vigilancie in all their actions that they may first learne of thee before they presume to teach others Governe and illuminate their hearts by thy Spirit that beeing in the place of GOD they preach nothing else but the oracles of GOD. Let them feede the flocke that is committed vnto them which thou hast bought and redeemed with thy precious blood Let them feede the flocke out of true and sincere loue and not for covetousnesse and ambition Let them feede them with their mynde with their mouth and with their workes Let them feede them with the sermon of the mynde with the exhortation of the word and with their owne example that they may bee followers of his steps to whom the cure of the LORDS flocke was three severall tymes commended Stirre them vp that they may watch over their soules that are committed vnto them as being to giue a strict dâ—eouâ—â— for them in the day of judgement Whatsoever they exhort by the word of their holie preaching let them studiouslie labour to demonstrate the same in their actions lâ—st that beeing lazie themselues and loath to worke they labour in vaine to stirre vp others Vnto what good workes soever they stirre vp others let them