shal we sleep vnlesse we betake vs into the hands of God when we go to bed It is a matter of great moment little regarded of worldly men But the children of God farre otherwise betake themselues to their corporall rest for they make their sleepe an image of their death and their bed they enter into as into their graue and in the morning when the sun and light appeareth they take a new occasion when they rise to contemplate of the celestiall and eternall light glorifying the name of God for his most gratious protection And therefore arise now all yee seruants of the Lord cry out in the night poure out your hearts like water before the face of our liuing God The Prayer for the Euening I Thanke thee good God and most mercifull father whose prouidence reacheth vnto the least of thy creatures and thy fauour and loue alwaies wait vpon thy children to preserue them thou hast executed thy sacred comforts towards me this day thou hast giuen me all things necessary and hast suffered none euill to annoy me And by thy mightie working I haue passed this day and am now come to the ende thereof entring into the dark and lothsom night wherin many dangers lurk and lie secretlie hidden to vexe thy children if thou preuent them not in thy wisedome and loue Haue regard therefore good Father vnto mee who am fraile and soone fall into many things offensiue vnto thy Maiestie and the right is often polluted with my sinnes insomuch as I cannot but accuse my selfe before thee that my sleepe cannot be iustified to be pure but euen therein by dreames fantasies of the flesh and many vaine temptations I am often mooued to consent vnto that which thou lothest and can in no wise then performe what thou louest Sith therfore my good father that I through my sinnes deserue no fauour but punishment I appeale vnto thy mercy in Christ beseeching thee for his sake to annoint the eies of my heart with the oyle of thy grace that though the naturall man slumber and in slumbering fall away by weaknes yet my soule may be refreshed this night with diligent watchfulnes least that the aduersarie sowing therein the tares of temptation I giue consent to sin and so endanger both body soule by my negligence Good Father pardon my sinnes for thy names sake be merciful vnto me receiue me this night into thy custodie and safe protection let thy grace comfort me and let thy continuall fauour defend me from all perils And in thy loue vouchsafe me such comfortable rest as thou shalt see expedient for the refreshment and preseruation of the helth of my bodie which els cannot but waxe feeble and be made subiect to such infirmities as I shall not be able to execute my dutie vnto thee In thy name therfore good Father I yeeld my selfe vnto my rest wherein let thy holy spirit keepe the doore of my hart and thy holy Angels attend about my bed for my safetie for Christ Jesus thy deare sonnes merits Amen O Lord increase our faith Before we goe to bed The Lorde will graunt his louing kindnesse in the day and in the night will we sing of him euen a prayer vnto the God of life Psal. 42. 8 OH Father ful of might and loue our castle and our stay Who rulest with thy power aboue The darksome night and day The day is thine and night also thou rulest with thy hand Both which were made for man we know and so was sea and land The sea and land and all the things therein which thou hast plast Thou gauest vs madst vs kings to vse them till the last Which blessings Lord this day we haue most richlie had froÌ„ thee Blesse â—â—ke this night good Lord we craue keep vs froÌ„ danger free Preserue vs when our drousie sleep our bodies shall possesse And let not Sathan creepe into nor our poore soules oppresse But let thy grace preuent his ire let nothing vs annoy Let faith preuaile let him retire and we good rest enioy Tremble and sinne not examine your owne hearts vpon your bed and be still Psal. 4. 4. O Lord increase our faith Hauing thus farre proceeded in our progresse wee must be forced to take vp our standing-house and for a time abide in the earthly mansions of our bodies before we can attaine vnto the end of our iourney and be fully possessed of that absolute heauenly hearts ease In which standing house we must consider how wee ought to carry our selues towards our Queene the head and gouernour of this houshold IT is a common matter and necessary for Princes and great estates vpon their repaire vnto any house wherin they purpose to make any small abode to take order that the same be cleansed swept garnished perfumed and set in decent and pleasing order as well for healths sake as for somelines pleasure and delight But much more it behoueth vs that haue taken by our lodgings and abiding places in these our mortall bodies to take order with our affections wils and dispositions that our conuersations be in such decent comely sweete and comfortable order disposed that our soules be not annoyd with the filth and stincke of our corruptions while we abide in the same but rather that our soules may be delighted with the sweete odours and sacred perfumes of sanctitie and spirituall graces Wee must therefore like vnto good Surueyers and ouerseers of our owne buildings carefully endeuour that all the noysome places within our building be clensed and the contagious sincks and vnseemely filth and rubble which disgrace or annoy the same be cast out and swept And aboue all we must looke into the heart for there lieth infinite filthines and vnles it be carefully seene vnto it wil hardly be throughly clensed for the hart is the place that is most deceitfull and wicked yea aboue all the other parts of the bodie and therfore it is demaunded who can know it In so much as the Prophet argueth that the heart is so subtil and deceitfull that vnles we most narrowly search it there will lye hidden filthinesse corruption when we thinke it is well swept and garnished It is a dangerous thing for vs to flatter our selues in our hearts saying our hearts are cleane and we shal haue peace and yet the filthines of sin rest in vs and y e roote that bringeth foorth gall and wormewood groweth in our willes behauiour But we must circumcise our hearts we must cut off all peruerse corrupt affections and purge vs of all iniquitie wherein we must craue the assistance of y e spirit of God which will purifie our hearts And hee that will not thus endeuour to cleanse this most filthie part of his house but resteth stiffe-necked and as it were of an vncircumcised hart and eare not forsaking his old wicked conuersation neither will heare wheÌ„ God speaketh vnto him he doeth as it were
vs a farre of namely vnfainedly purposing to amende our liues hee will come with his spirit and meete vs and will imbrace vs with the armes of his loue and will put on vs the robes of his owne righteousnes Loe his mercie is from genâ—â—â—tion to generation to them that feare him And therefore let vs feare no more for we are freely iustified by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus whome God hath set foorth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousnes by the for giuenes of our sins that are passed O let vs not therefore despise the riches of his bountifulnesse and patience and long suffering knowing that the bountifulnesse of God leadeth vs to repentance Let vs fall downe before him therefore and he will heare vs vp let vs crie out and he will heaâ—e vs let vs fly vnto him he wil come meet vs imbrace vs. If you sins were as red as skarlet he wil make them as white as snow Therfore wil euery man that is godly make his praier vnto him in a time wheÌ„ he may be fouÌ„d The Lord redeemeth the soules of his seruants and none that trusteth in him shall perish I should haue fainted but that I belieued to see the goodnes of the Lord in the land of the liuing Psa. 〈…〉 The prayer for the forgiue-of sinnes O God of my saluation I haue acknowledged my sins vnto thee I haue not hidden mine iniquities For thus my good God I thought I wil confesse my wickednes against my selfe vnto thee O Lord forgiue the punishment of my sinnes vnto thee O Lord I cry O my strength be not far from me lest that if thou answere me not I be like them that goe downe vnto the pit Remember not the sinnes of my youth nor my rebellions but according to thy kindnesse remember thou me euen for thy goodnesse sake remember thou mee gracious and righteous thou art and thou teachest sinners in the way O turne thy face towards mee let thy louing fauour and mercie euermore be extended for I am miserable sinfull and poore And I come vnto thee the fountaine of all helpe forgiue my sinnes wash me and I shall bee cleane let me taste of thy old louing kindnesse who haste euer bene readie to forgiue euer readie to helpe ready to receiue the complaint of the poore ready to receiue the miserable to imbrace them that returne from their euill ways as appereth by Dauid by Peter by Marie Magdalene and many other who repenting their sinnes haue found fauour Our fathers called vpon thee and thou didst heare them they trusted in thee and wer deliuered they depended vppon thee and were not confounded Wherefor haue mercie vpon mee O God haue mercy vpon me according to thy great mercies and according to the multitude of thy compassions do away mine iniquities O cleanse mee from my secrete sinnes and couer my known sinnes with the righteousnesse of thy Sonne remooue mine iniquities farre away from mee and be not angry with thy seruant for euer O enter not into iudgement with me for if no flesh before thee be iustified what shall become of me who haue â—o highly sinned Lord my God full of mercy I appeale vnto thee I flie vnto thee I rest vpon thee leaue thy displesure against mee and howsoeuer weake and vnable I be to stande in thy presence oh let thy spirit of strength hold me vp and say vnto me feare not for my grace is sufficient for thee I take hold of thy loue and I rest vpon thy fauour in Christ reiect mee not though there bee no good in mee powre downe that absolute good thing euen thy grace and let it direct me to amendement of my corrupt life Thou hast said that thou art wel pleased in Christ thy Sonne in him be thou also pleased with me and receiue mee againe into thy loue through his merites by whome euery sinner receiueth free accesse vnto thee And although I for my part most louing God be a vessell full of faultes and filthynes although I be no more worthy to bee called thy Sonne although I bee a seruant most vnprofitable yea a withered and starued branch who haue lost the quicknes and vigor of thy blessed spirit and am good of mine owne proper nature for nothing but for the fire Yet good Father haue mercy vpoÌ„ me haue patience with me cast me not from thee but rather endue me againe with a new spirite and a liuely feeling of thy pleasure and will and ablenesse to do thereafter that I may fill vp the residue of my daies in sinceritie in holines in righteousnesse and in the due seruice of thee in faith vnfained and in all singlenes of heart and soule that from henceforth insteede of straying from thee I may dwell and bee shrouded vnder the shadow of thy winges that in steede of sinne which heretofore hath miscaried me I may imbrace pietie godlynesse and true zeale and in steed of ignorance whereby I haue gone so long astray I may take hold of the knowledge of thy sauâ—ng truth And let it be as a lanterne vnto my feet a light vnto my pathes that so I may rest safe in thee through a liuely faith which neuer deceiueth And graunt that I may carefully performe what thou likest howsoeuer disliking it be vnto me and may watchfully auoid what thou lothest howsoeuer liking it be vnto me For I acknowledge good father that flesh and bloud sauor nothing of the things belonging vnto saluation but I waite in the spirite for thy louing kindnesse and mercie promised in Christ thy Sonne in whome I am bolde with deepe sighes of the heart to crie Lorde forgiue mine offences remit mine iniquities couer my sinnes and lay not my former euils vnto my charge Good Father giue the knewledge of saluation vnto me and to all thy people by the remission â—f our sinnes through the bowels of thy tender mercies that we may perceiue in our mindes both comfort peace and gladnes of thy holy spirite which may begin a newe lyfe in vs pleasing thee And for the beter perfourming of our duties vnto thee from hencefoorth quench all the corrupt motions of our minds striuing with thy diuine pleasure and restore againe in vs the image of thy deuine light whiche was lost that being thus inwardly renued in our minds we may reforme vs outwardly in our conuersations and may sing aloud vnto thee and may serue thee with gladnes and come alwayes vnto thee with ioy Amen O Lord increase our faith Sing vnto the Lord a new song O Sing vnto the Lord a new song Psal. 96. 1. Sing vnto the Lord and praise his name declare his saluation from day to day vers 2. To the prayse of God for the forgiuenesse of our sinnes WHat shal we do to thee O God for all that thou hast done Whose loue froÌ„ vs remoues y e rod which our offences
fall into manie euils yet hauing the earnest of this spirit we may boldely come vnto our GOD who hath promised to sende the same if we aske it at his handes â—e will giue it in such aboundance and full measure that by the vertue thereof we shall be able to pray according to the wil of God This is the coÌ„forter which Christ promised to sende vnto vs euen the holy Ghost which should teach vs all things And without it wee know nothing And alas what were it for vs to fall downe before God in most reuerent outwarde maner pouring foorth a huge heap of words from the lippes not hauing this inward director Surely it were but to spend time to no purpose It is the Spirit that crieth in our hartes Abba father The spirit of a man knoweth only the things that are of man but the Spirite of God knoweth and desireth the things that are of God And the naturall man perceiueth not the things of the spirit of God for they are folishnesse vnto him But he that hath the spirit of God he discerneth all things Let vs therefore pray in the holy Ghost let vs pray alwaies with all maner prayer and supplications in the Spirite And let vs pray continually for the ayde of this sacred guide the holy Spirit of God which will both mooue vs vnto and direct vs in all things that are requisite to the due performance of this godly exercise The prayer for the ayd of Gods Spirite FOrasmuch deare Father as euery man liuing is of him selfe before thee as a beaste neither knowing thee nor the thinges concerning their owne duties vnto thee I as one of the most peruerse filthy and corrupt doe here humble my selfe before thee begging at thy hands that which thou hast promised to giue vnto as many as ask it of thee thine holy spirit that sacred comforter which reuealeth thee and thy will to the simple and ignorant which also stirreth vp the minds and inward affections of thy children to call vpon thee it prepareth the hartes and openeth the mouthes of thy children to celebrate thy name Bestow it therfore good father bestow it vpon me thy poore creature and vpon all thy children And graunt that although all of vs are of corrupt affections and of polluted lippes yet we may bee besprinkled with that heauenly Isope that wee therby may haue our harts cleansed from the corrupt affections of the world and the eyes of our vnderstandings opened that we may see the good things that we should aske that our feet which are fettered with the cares of vaine things may be set at libertie that we may walk the right way vnto the kingdome of heauen that the hands of our soules may apprehend and take hold of the riches and righteousnes of thy son Christ Jesus And that by the aide of the saine spirite we may cast of all impediments lets and incumbraÌ„ces that detaine vs from comming vnto thee Sanctifie mee within and without wash me and I shall be whiter then snowe Let thy truth and thy spirit meet together in my soule that my praier may enter into thy presence And that thine eares may incline vnto my humble petitions so shall I declare thy louing kindnesse in the morning and thy truth in the night Thou knowest whereof we be made thou forgettest not that we are but dust vnprofitable people not fitte apt or able of our selues to pray vnto thee or praise thy name Wherefore good Father enlighten vs and teach our hartes rightlie to coÌ„ceiue our tongues freelie to speake what may be to thy glory and our comfort allure vs to seeke thee and graunt that our harts may reioyce in thee and that we may liue and die in thee Amen Let vs now seeke the Lord let vs seeke his strength yea let vs seeke his face continually Psal. 105 4. O Lord increase our faith A motion to prayer for Queene Elizabeth FOrasmuch as experience it selfe teacheth that as an euill Prince draweth the greatest parte of his subiects vnto the same profession and course of life which the Prince professeth and taketh and so the Prince and people as it were bound vnto sinne passe together in the way of death so the good and godly prince both by good example of life and by sacred lawes enciteth and winneth his people to the heauenly course which tendeth to the obtaining of freedome of soule and body to life eternall And as the former is sent in iudgement vnto a people for their punishment and his long continuance to be lamented so is the other giuen as a blessing and a most speciall token of the loue of God for whose long and prosperous raine euery subiect is in dutie bound louingly zealously and faithfully to pray vnto God If so what haue we to say what haue we to do and what haue we to think of our gracious Queene chosen of the Lord him selfe and miraculously preserued and louingly giuen vs for our most speciall good by whome wee haue the freedom and libertie of the Gospel which is the path to our heauenly hearts ease which before her days we knowe was stopt by with the briers and thornes of persecution and death and nowe laide open againe as a most euident token that the lord by her sacred gouernment will lead the people through the wildernes of all the diuisions hurliburlies tumults in this world and to that end hath raisd vp manie zealous graue and religious Counsellors and godly ministers who do direct the whole progresse and marching on of her obedient people in the path of a godly profession of the word of God wherby at length they shal com to that pleasant land of knowledge wher they shall euen in this life enioy the heauenlie harts ease the peace of a good conscience without reproofe Therefore it is most expedient that we should call to minde our duties which we ow vnto her Maiestie not only in regard of y â— commandement which Paule setteth down to Timothy That supplications praiers intercessions giuing of thaÌ„ks shuld be made for kings and such as are in authority but also in regard of the dayly experieÌ„ce of her most sacred gouernment which is such so gratious as the like benefite hath not beene extended to any nation before vs. And therefore that we may auoid negligence in that behalfe let vs according to the former counsell of Paule pray for her Maiesties prosperous continuance amongst vs. Let vs make intercession for her perseuerance and going on in her sacred dutie to God as she hath begunne and that hee will preuent the euils which her aduersaries maliciously pretend against her And finally let vs giue thankes for her so long comfortable being our nursing mother that shee may so continue if it please God to the shutting vp and finishing of all time vpon the earth that she with vs and we
with her may meet our sauiour Christ Jesus together in the cloudes when we shall enioy our absolute harts ease in heauen If we consider the perillous estate of our tune wherein wee liue and the danger of our dayes wee shall finde great occasion to humble our selues before the Lord in prayer for her that the bright beames of his fauour may shine vnto vs euen in her who as we see hungreth and thirsteth for the peace comfort and good of vs her people who being taken from vs we know not whether the Lorde will send vs in regard of our forgetting his so great a benefite in her a Dauid or a Saule and therefore it behooueth vs to pray that God wil lengthen her daies vpon the earth for the further comfort of his Church If we looke into the present estate of our neighbours in forraine partes it will if we be not carelesse strike vs with terrour least that God for our sins should also turne our peace into warre our plentie into want our comfort in her to miserie and trouble by forraine enemies Let this and many other deepe occasions carry vs into a desire to crie vnto our God for his continuall loue towardes her whose prosperitie is ours whose health is our happines and whose continuance is our comfort The right hand of the King of kinges holde her vp The Prayer for the Queene OUr omnipotent and mighty God that gouernest Kinges and kingdomes whose power exceedeth the power of all Potentates of the earth we acknowledge thy mercy we commend thy wisedome and praise thy mightie power in that thou hast so like a louing Father established the peace of thy church here in this our land and in that thou hast cast out the aduersaries of Israell and planted vs as thine owne people in their steeds Which waightie worke O good father such is thy strength that thou hast enabled thine handmaide not by tyrannie but by truth not by crueltie but by louing kindnesse to establish in this our realme who hath confirmed the same to thy obedience and hath reduced many of thin aduersaries from disobeying theee to loue thee from not knowing thee to serue thee And therefore good father we magnifie thy name we extol thee with praise And so much the more good father because she hath through thee driuen back our enemies and in thy name and by thy power troden downe such as rose vp against her and vs and aboue all for that vnder her we haue tasted how sweet louing and comfortable thou art towards vs. And thy fame in her is spread from one nation to another people yea from one end of y â— earth to the other and all the nations of the world do see and consider that great is her God for the wonders that thou hast done for her are maruelous in the eies eueÌ„ of her enemies for when men rose vp against her they preuailed not but stumbled and fell The experience of thy continuall fauour encreaseth yet daily euen to thy perpetuall praise Wherefore good father be still mindfull of her and blesse vs in her continue thy louing kindnes and make her daies ioyful that she may see the increase of thy glorie to shine in this land as the Sun in his strength And let her foes be beaten downe on al sides let not one of theÌ„ be able to stand in her presence graunt her continuall peace and true happines gouerne her well and sanctifie her affections and beautifie her crowne with the glorious ornaments of godlinesse of wisedome of knowledge of faith of zeale true humilitie before thee that she may continue a spectacle of sinceritie to all posterities And that the Princes of the earth may see her godly proceedings and in a godly emulation endeuor more more to follow her good and gracious example And let al her people practise euermore to serue thee and to celebrate thine euerlasting praises in her behalfe Hearken vnto her from heauen and vnto vs for her behold her from aboue and graunt that she may openly confesse that all her strength al her comfort and saluation coÌ„meth from thee Thou art her strength thou art her castle thou art the author of her perpetuall safetie Giue vnto her thy iudgements O Lord and thy righteousnes vnto her councel that they may iudge thy people with righteousnes and thy folke with equitie O let the mountaynes bring peace and the little hils righteousnesse vnto thy people Let there be no decay no leading into captiuitie nor any cause of lamentation in our land but let thy truth preuaile let thy peace continue and let her godly proceedings take effect vnder thee to the gratious gouerning of all thy people Let thy word breake foorth and the glorious beames therof shine foorth banish the obstinate and stiffnecked ignorance of such as delight in vanities And to this end good father exalt thine annointed let thy hand assist her and thy right arme hold her vp And let not her foes preuaile against her So shall she sing foorth thy praise and wee her people for euermore giue thankes vnto thee for thy louing hand and fauourable care of her sauing health Amen O Lord increase our faith A praise for her Maiesties most gracious gouernment REioyce O England blest Forget thee not to sing Sing out her praise y t broght thee rest froÌ„ God thy mighty king Our God and mighty king our comforts hath renewde Elizabeth our Queene did bring his word with peace endewde His word with peace and loue she planted and it stands Her helper was the king aboue she brings it from his hands She brings it from his hand his counsell and decree That she a Hester in this land should set his children free None ruleth here but she her heauenly guide doth show How al things should decreed be to comfort high and low Oh sing then high and low giue praise vnto the king That made her Queen none but a foe but will her praises sing All praises let vs sing to King of kings aboue Who sent Elizabeth to bring so sweet a tast of loue A short Prayer for the Queene OH Lorde almightie King all sufficient the gouernour preâ—eruer and continuall protector of princes to whole becke and will all kings of the earth are subiect looke in mercie and fauour vpon the estate of thy seruant our Queene Elizabeth Be vnto her a safe refuge in all times of daunger and let thine holye spirite bee vnto her a continuall guide of all her imaginations actions and proceedings And for as much as thou beholdest the present daunger of the estate of vs thy little flocke of this Realme in that the enemie of thy Sonnes Gospell vaunteth himselfe against vs thy poore people and against her our defender vnder thee Bee both to her and vs a tower of strength and fight thou with them that fight against her and vs be with our armies when soeuer they shal encounter the
of the spirite Saue thy selfe go not to Ierusalem to fall into trouble so shall we alwayes couet pleasing thinges but poysonâ—d things as riches preferment honor ease idlenesse negligence in our callinge excesse in buildinges superfluous diet most diuelish attire and what euill accompanieth not this It is thought an easy fault nay no fault to be enuious to bee a glutton to be drunken to be a blasphemer to receiue rewardes against iustice to be partiall in iudgement if it leane but a little awry and especially if it be not seene of men But this liberty of the flesh will be one day restrayned and Gods mercies deteined from such libertines who although they cannot nor will forsake or deny themselues as yet it may please God to rowse them out of this forgetfullnesse strike their hearts with such a feeling of his displeasure that they may cast off their affections of the flesh and measure all their thoughtes woordes and workes by the spirite and therefore it is good to pray vnto the Lorde for his assistance therein knowing this that he that cannot forsake himself and deny himselfe howsoeuer hee flattereth his owne security and integrity wherein he foolishly persuadeth hymselfe that hee followeth Christ he is far from Christ and surely he will say vnto him in the last day I know thee not It is not the buying of a farme the prouing of oxen nor the marriage of a wife that can excuse vs continuing in the flesh and fleshly desires It is not inough to obserue the letter of the law For then wee may still continue manslayers in wrath towards our brethren wee may commit adultery by lusting we may sinne in our communication exceeding yea and nay And therefore must we abstaine from all apparance of euill and in all purity both of soule mind and body through the power and strength of the spirite of God endeuor continually to forsake and deny our selues being made free from sinne let vs become the seruants of righteousnes and let vs giue all our members instruments of righteousnes in holynes and purenes When we were in the flesh sin had power in our members bringing foorth fruites vnto death But now being deliuered from sin we must serue the Lord in newnesse of spirite and not in our old conuersation Ther dwelleth no good thing in our flesh for we may feele continuall rebellions therein which repugne the lawe of the spirite which law giueth strickt commandement against the affections of the flesh and would haue all the corrupt motions therof to be vtterly denied And therfore let vs fight manfully against all euils in what degree so euer they rise against the spirite Wee must carefully watch the doors of our hearts with the weapons of the spirite least that sinne creepe into our inwarde partes which obtayning the consent of our minds yea but a little it will take such aduantage by pleading possession that it will be harde to remoue it And therefore let vs preuent the entry of sinne by mortifying the deedes of the flesh so shall it neuer beare fruite in vs to death And surely if the spirite that raised vp Christ dwell in vs our mortall bodies shall be quickened by the same spirite And so quickned that it shall bring foorth the fruites of true mortification in vs. And then shall we be knowne to be the sonnes of God euen by that badge of denying our selues Let vs pray therefore vnto the Lord that he wil sanctifie vs within that he will make our whole lumpe holy the roote and the branches holy If our heartes be pure all our actions will likewise be pure We must hunger and thirst for righteousnes if wee will bee blessed with the righteous Wee must runne the race of the godly if we will receiue the reward wyth the godly we must subdue our euils and conquer our corrupt motions as doo the godly if we will bee crowned with the godly We must haue our hearts hands all the partes of our bodies knit together in one consent to the true forsakinge and denyinge of our selues The inward shew and outward affections must concurre in the same so shall we be both outwardly approoued and inwardly assured that wee haue the spirit of trueth and so consequently that we are the Lordes who will alwayes attend our safety if wee thus carrie our selues before him Reade the 15. Psalme learne it and haue it in thine heart and obserue it in thy proceedings and it shall teach thee what it is that is required of thee to become a fit man to enter into the kingdome of God The Prayer for mortification O Righteous God mercyfull Father who art so pure and cleane that there is no euill dwelleth with thee no corruption resteth in thy sight But he that walketh vprightly he that worketh righteousnesse and speaketh the truth from his hart he is accepted with thee such a one thou louest such a one thou receiuest and such a one shall rest in thy holy hill But on the contrarie hee that walketh after his owne hearts desires hee that yeldeth vnto the corrupt motions of flesh and bloud and cloaketh iniquitie vnder the shew of godlinesse such a one doest thou hate such a one doth thy soule abhorre and such a one shall not come neere thee hee may pray and shall not be heard he may cry and call but thou wilt not helpe him Wherefore my good God sith there is required in all men the sinceritie and true inwarde zeale of the soule and an absolute killing of the motions of the flesh and mortifying af all fleshly affections Looke fauourably vppon me in whome doe dwell an innumerable troope of foolish fantasies a heape of sinfull affections I find and feele that though many times to will be present with me yet to perfoâ—rme is not in my power sinne preuaileth and deathe through sinne swalloweth mee vp so that I rest in darkenesse of sin and that by giuing scope vnto mine owne peruerse will And so long good Father as I dwell in this house of flesh and bloud detayned downe-warde wyth the pleasing and entising things therof I cannot maister my corrupt desires I cannot bridle mine affections but in steede of true mortification I breake out into such outrage by consent of all my members that my affections extend from conceiuing euill to performing of euill from desiring to sinne to commit sinne euen with greedinesse And yet such is my miserable estate being thus in my selfe that flesh and bloud flattereth it selfe and concludeth that whatsoeuer I purpose in an euill desire so that it breake not foorth into open grosse wickednesse that I am holy enough that I am as sincere as is requisite and that I stand too fearefull of thy iudgements when thou knowest that all and euery the least conceite of sin breaking into action in what couert measure or meane degree soeuer it by and by endaungereth my soule and
And heerein it is required that we be poore in spirit to hunger thirst for righteousnes to be meke to be mercifull to be pure in hart and gladly Suffer persecution for righteousnes sake We must be louing liberall pittifull patient in troubles and in all thinges wee must frame and conforme our wordes workes and thoughts to doe the will of our heauenly father To him we must fall downe to be strengthened in faith without which we cannot reteine this kingdome the liuely and effectuall word which that it may bee purely preached without fraud deliueâ—â— without vaine glory receiued and practised without faltring or fear we must pray vnto our God who hath promised and will perfourme to send vs his ayde to keepe vs vpright in this glorious path to eternall life And wee must pray vnto him that hee will make our vnderstandinges capable of the trueth of his will and what hee requireth at our handes in seekinge of this hys kingdome That he wil frame our liues in all simplicity of faith submitting our selues wholy vnto his word casting downe our own imaginations and euerie proude conceit of our selues that through meekenesse in true knowledge and obedience we may be made meete partakers of the euerlasting kingdome of God Hauing obtained this spirituall feeling of the will of God in his word and being sealed vp through faith in a longing desire for al spirituall perfection let vs proceede to the execution of our callinges which may aunsweare the commaundement of God heerein Let vs continually seeke new and dayly meanes by hearing the woorde preached by stirring vp one of an other and by giuing sacred examples of vertue and godlynesse that our callings may bee made sure to be founded and established in this kingdome Then may wee freely approach vnto our God and he will receiue vs we may cal on him and he wil heare vs we may beg of him and he wil giue vs al things necessary for body and soule Hee is our almighty king and he will defende vs he is our mercifull God and he will relieue vs and hee is our mercifull father and he will feede vs cloath vs and teach vs. And at last he wil crowne vs with the glorie of his sonne hee will make vs as the saintes in heauen and we shall receiue the inheritance of euerlasting blisse And therefore let vs seeke and praie vnto him that wee may obtaine this principall and chiefe foundation of all true comfortes in this life the kingdome of his Sonne Christ Jesus The prayer for the kingdome of God O Most gracious God and louing father it hath pleased thee to commaund vs first before all things to seeke thy kingdome and the riches righteousnes thereof with promise that then al things necessary for body and soule shal be giuen vs wherfore good father sith that our vnablenes is such that we cannot attaine vnto this high matter of our selues vouchsafe to prepare our heartes that at this time and alwaies wee may aboue all things hunger and thirst for this righteousnesse the absolute meane of our true comfort without which all our comfort is but care our wisdome but foolishnes our glory but shame our riches but pouertie our godlines impietie and all our praiers sin Wherefore good father I humbly praye thee in the behalfe of all thy children that thou wilt poure into our hearts a godly consideration of our imperfections not being endued with this absolute integrity that we may see our pouerty nakednes not being enriched cloathed with this riches weedes of sanctitie that wee may feele how ready we are to pine for want of this foode of our soules thy sacred woord the glorious Gospell of Christ wherein consisteth this heauenly kingdome which kingdome O Lord teach vs to find Endue vs with thy holy spirit poure into our harts that sacred gift which thou hast left for our comfort to leade vs to this kingdome that may direct vs in all truth that may manifest in vs the knowledge and exercise of thy word wherein resteth that spirituall happinesse which heere by faith we see as a shadow farre off which one day shall be manifest to our absolute ioy and saluation In the meane time good Father sanctifie our hearts with heauenly contemplations and sanctified meditations that our ioye which now is but in part may be dayly enlarged through the diuine fruites of loue to thy law faith in thy promises and of hope that our ioy shall be full at the appearinge of thy sonne So shall the kingdome of thy sonne appeare in vs and wee which wander in the darknesse of this polluted worlde shall appeare manifestly to bee the heires of thy kingdome through faith testified by the fruites of a sanctified life And to the end good father that thy kingdome may dayly more and more appeare and increase graunt free and comfortable passage to thy word and Gospell of Christ that it may be plainely purely and plentifully preached And vouchsafe to increase the number of the laborers in this worke who may faithfully and diligently worke therein That through the same thy people which now sit in darknes may be enlightened that such as are farre off may come neere and they that are without at thy good pleasure may be brought into this kingdome â—hat wee may all put on that sanctifâ—ed garment of a new life and sincere conuersation which may approoue vs to bee thy children and Citizens of thy kingdome and that as becâ—mmeth thy sonnes we may be reformed in our liues Giue vs thine holy Spirite that wee may beleeue thy worde and therby so direct our liues that we in all vertuousnes godlines of conuersation may finish our course vpon earth And afterward liue with thy Sonne in eternall blisse And seeing thy kingdome is not meat and drink neither consisteth in ceremonies and traditions deuised by man neither commeth it with obseruations neither is it in word but in righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost and in power Graunt that wee all may bee truely regenerate and borne new by the holy spirite and may no longer spend the dayes of our liues in the lusts of the flesh in the vanities of the mind and in pride of life But may eleuate and raise vpwarde all our affections euen vnto thy holy hill from whence commeth the life wherein we liue the helpe whereby wee stand and the power wherby we are defended And be thou present good Father in al readines to support vs being weak to releeue vs being poore and to traine vs vp in all heauenly knowledge being altogether ignorant And let euerie of thy children that thirst after that righteousnes bee filled with all good thinges within and without that wee may goe forwarde in dayly exercise of pietie and godlines in knowledge in faith in loue in hope and in true zeale that we may liue within the compasse of thy fatherly protection die in thy loue
for vs to rise earlie and to go to our rest late and in griefe to eate our breade vnlesse the Lorde giue a blessing vnto our labours and studies Wherefore let vs repayre vnto our good God with humble harts in faithful supplications that hee will giue vs ablenesse to performe our callings skilfully and religionslie that in quiet of conscience wee may eate the fruites of our labours and so prosper in al that we take in hand that our brethren be neither deceyued by vs nor our selues forced to vse any vnlawfull thing for our owne reliefe which may offend the Lord. The Prayer that euerie man may liue vprightly in his calling O God of all comfort and giuer of all consolation forgiue my sinnes cleanse mee and wash mee from all iniquitie which disable mee to performe my calling in such sinceritie as becommeth mee And through the bloud of thy Sonne purifie my heart and my imperfections increase my knowledge and sanctifie mine affections with thy grace that my sinnes being forgiuen I may rest in thy fauor and in thy fauour finde continuall comfort and be dayly blessed with new gifts that I may be founde perfect in my calling seasoned so with a liuely faith in thee that thy holy spirite may continually dwell and beare rule in me and lead mee to the due performance of those things which thou requirest to be done in my calling that all vnnaturall affections being truelye mortified I may onely rest in thee and relie on thee and be ruled by thee in all things Good Father graunt that I may take the direct right course in my vocation to eternall life In which course consisteth the inward peace of the soule which is onely delighted in thine inuiolable truth reueiled by thy Sonne and left vnto vs in his word and last will In which his last will and Testament are comprehended all necessarie rules and the sacred discipline whereby thy children are to guide them selues in their seuerall callings which directions are comprehended in three principall vertues by thee bestowed vpon them that seeke them at thy hands in the name of thy sonne faith hope and loue which three are so vnited and knit in one that they dwell altogether in thine elect children so precisely direct them through thy grace that they goe not awry in their callings I therefore good Father being of mine owne wisdom ignorant and of mine owne power vnable to comprehend the height the length and depth of my calling instantly beseech thee in mercy to beholde mee an vnperfect creature without these vertues and so adorne me with them that I may be made perfect in all good workes of the spirit that my bodilie labors be not in vayne in thee Graunt also that I may ioyne with all my trauailles labors affections desires and endeuours faith with faith knowledge with knowledge temperance with temperance patience with patience godlines with godlines brotherly kindnes and with brotherly kindnes loue that I bee not vnfruitfull in my calling But may acknowledge thy sonne Christ Jesus and in him to haue peace of conscience that I may bee patient in troubles long suffering in wronge◠meeke in trials faithfull in expecting helpe in distresse reioycing in heart quieted in minde in hope to inioy at thy handes and in thy good time whatsouer maketh to the true comforte of my soule and the reliefe of my bodie That in all truth and inward feeling of thine aide my calling may be made perfecte and sealed with the seale of thine owne spirituall approbation So shall I thine vnworthy creature and all such as thou hast committed to my charge bee directed in the true knowledge of thee and sustayned with thinges necessary while wee liue here Oh blessed Lord and louing father except thou thus direct me I cannot stande but shall fall into many miseries For no estate no degree no calling office function or trade of life can prosper or bee rightly performed without thy continuall ayde direction and prouidence Therefore Lord guide mee by thy spirite encrease my faith giue mee wisedome and ablenes in all thinges to execute calling as I ought and to the execution thereof blesse all my members make them apt and ready instrumentes to perform their duties that in no poynt I fayle in a Christian proceeding therein And bridle in mee the nature of flesh bloud which vnles thou season my affections by thy spirit will so much the more glorie by howe much thou hast exalted me to worldly preferment enable mee to liue in this world in higher reputation than other men whereunto flesh and bloud is ready to attribute chiefest harts ease And by that subtil shift Sathan manie times mooueth vs to relie vpon vain things And therfore good Father vouchsafe so to ground all mine affections vppon thy feare that I bee not miscarried in my calling from the true obedience vnto thee without which neither honour profit friendes wealth wisedome or any other blessing of thine can steede releeue or comfort me Be present therefore good and gracious Father with mee and grant that all thinges that I take in hand may begin in knowledge proceed in feare of thee and end in loue that my whole course of life may be blessed with good effect in all my endeuours That neither mine enemies reioyce at my miseries the godly bee offended at my rashnesse nor my estate hindered by my foolishnes Good Lord grant this for thy sonnes sake Amen For Gods direction in our callings O God of Gods O father great thou guide of all degrees The high and low look vp to thee attendant on their knees We haue our being and our food our wisedome and our skill Our high estate all honour eke and callings at thy will Al kings receiue their scepters pure and diademes from thee Thou makest thē apt to rule a land else they vnable be Thou giuest sage and sacred men and Senators most graue To guide thy people in the hestes that fit them best to haue Thou chosest eke the godliest ones and meetest men to be The preachers of thy satred will who learne to teach from thee Thy grace doth guide their lips aright els speak they all awry Thou art the fountaine ful of loue whereof they drinke or die The porest thou dost frame to skil the lowest learnes to liue Ech hand taks hold of art frō thee thou doest all blessings giue Els all their curious cunning failes our labours loose their grace In vaine we trauaile and our toyle turnes vs to poorest place Sith then good father ech degree depend on thee for aide The high and low wealthy wise els rest they all vnstaide Blesse all thy people in their charge our callings all direct Teach Prince people in the way that graceth thine elect A motion to a prayer wherein the soule must arme himselfe to suffer crosses and therefore it is necessarye to call to mind what is to be done when affliction commeth EUery one that