contente with that estate of life which it pleaseth thy goodnesse to excercise vs withal in this world whither it be in aduersitie or prosperitie in sicknesse or health in ignominie or glorie in quietnesse or trouble in sorrow or gladnesse Graūt vs deere Father this willing and patiente minde that euen in our greatest distresse wee may be content with thy good will and not to murmur or grudge againste thy Maiestie knowing that thou wilte lay nothing vppon vs but that whiche shall turne to our goodnesse or profite And that wee may patiently abide whatsoeuer it shall please thee to lay vppon vs that we be assured in our heartes that thou wilt not lay more vnto vs then thou wilte giue vs strength to beare and euen in our greatest afflictions wilte finde a way for our deliuerance and that thy power and strength is more fully declared when wee feele our selues vtterly voyde of all strength and see no way of deliueraunce that we may in our most grieuous assaults conflicts and anguishe of minde submitte our selues wholy to thy blessed will and looke for our deliueraunce at thy hand when thou knowest it shal be moste expedient for vs and most for thy glorie leauing the time and meane of deliueraunce to thy good Will and pleasure and that in the meane time wee neuer cease but call vppon thee by hearty prayers continually as thou haste commanded vntill suche time as thou shalt heare our petitions And although after many and sundry callinges vppon thee thou seeme not to regarde vs but rather deale more extreamely with vs yet notwithstāding strengthen vs so with perseuerance in prayer that we faint not but stil continue in praier being assured that although we feele our selues nothing released yet wee may quiet our selues herein that wee as thy children haue layd our complaints griefes and sorrowes in the bosome of thee our heauenly Father who wilt as a louing Father whē he seeth it moste conuenient healpe vs And that although thou seeme nothing to graunte our requestes yet wee honour thee in calling vppon thy Name seeing thou doeste accepte it as a moste chiefe honour to bee called vppon in the day of trouble And forasmuche deere Father as thou doeste by thy mighty power nourish feede sustaine preserue and maintaine all liuing creatures yea euen the verie yong fowles and beastes wee beseech thee to sende vnto vs thy children ouer whome thou haste a more speciall care all thinges necessarie for this our present life that wee hauing sufficient may walke euery one in our calling in sinceritie pure holinesse before thy face acknowledging all our benefits of richesse wealth health meate drink apparell and all our substance to bee thy mere gifts bestowed vppon vs and deliuered vnto vs from thy handes that wee bee not drawen from thee through setting our mindes to muche vppon them but so moderately vse them as thy benefites for a time bestowed vppon vs knowing that thou wilte at our handes require an accompte howe wee haue vsed them That wee do not carefully gape or seeke after them but discretely to thy glorie vse them acknowledging in them thy goodnesse liberalitie towardes vs And seeing moste mercifull Father that it is not our trauaile labour paines studie or endeuour whiche is able to gette vs our liuing but onely in so muche as it pleaseth thy goodnesse to blesse and prosper them wee beseeche thee that if through our greate trauailes and paines we be yet still in poore and meane estate that thou wilte giue vs a contented hearte knowing that thereby thou letteste vs vnderstande that it is thy good will and pleasure so to keepe vs vnder that wee more effectually may giue our selues to serue thee Or if it bee thy wil and pleasure more aboundantly to blesse vs and our trauaile to sende vs aboundaunce of all thinges wee beseech thee deere Father giue vs a thankefull hearte to acknowledge them to bee thy good gifts and frame our hearts with such liberalitie that we may be contented to distribute them according to the necessitie of thy children beeing assured that thou haste to that end made vs Stewards ouer them that thou mayest at his handes require muche on whome thou haste bestowed muche so that wee hauing the due estimation of thy benefites whiche wee oughte to haue may both reuerence thy goodnesse in thy benefites and supply the want of our brethren to the reliefe of their necessitie and furtheraunce of thy Glory And whereas moste mercifull Father thy Sonne our Lorde and Sauiour Christe Iesus hath in our nature payed the raunsome and debte of all our sinnes whiche wee haue from the beginning of our life committed and do daily committe we beseeche thy gratious goodnesse that thou wilte by thy holy Spirite in our hearts assure our soules and consciences with a liuely faith that by that same one alone sufficient sacrifice the punishment of our sinnes is payed thy wrath appeased and thy iustice satisfied whereby our consciences may be quieted and set at peace with thee our mercifull Father and god Let vs deere father feele in our soules and consciences that wee are vnited and knitte to thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ and made one body with him and heires with him of euerlasting glorie so coupled and ioyned with him that wee are members of his body so that what so euer he hath done in his body we may be assured that it is ours that his righteousnesse is our righteousnesse his sanctification and holinesse is ours the cursse condemnation and death which he suffered is the same cursse condemnation and death due for our sinnes that wee knowing that our sinnes bee done away and cleane forgotten and forgiuen by thy mercifull loue goodnesse declared in offering vp thy sonne to death for vs wee may be driuen to loue thee vnfaynedly from the bottome of our heartes for this thine vnspeakable loue And considering that thou haste in mercy pardoned so many our hainous offences wee may gladly be moued to forgiue one another their offences and put out of our hart al rancour malice and hatred towarde our brethren knowing that wee are all members of one body Christe our Sauiour that so surely as wee haue forgiuen al them that offend against vs wee may be so certainely assured that thou our mercifull Father haste forgiuen vs like as we haue forgiuen our brethren And forasmuche moste heauenly Father as wee of our selues be feeble fraile and weake and haue a strong and subtile aduersarie satan the diuel who goeth aboute continually like a roaring Lion seeking whome he may deuour wee beseeche thee strengthen vs by thy holy spirit that we may withstande his subtile suggestions and motions holde thou vs by thy mercifull hand and keepe vs alwaies in thy safegarde and protection that wee bee not ouercome in the mighty assaultes of our aduersarie And forasmuche as he often vseth euen our owne fleshe armed againste vs to conquer vs wee beseech thee
vp to make our petitions with suche an affection ardent desire loue and reuerence to thy maiesty that our mindes be not carried away with bythoughts creeping in but without all wandering may be fully bente and attentiue to the thing we aske and fully staide vppon thy merciful and iuste protection We then beseech thee deare Father that thou wilte strengthen our heartes with thy holy Spirite that considering thou hast made all thinges for the glory of thy Name so wee may in al our dooings enterprises counsels and purposes chiefly aboue all things seeke thy Glorie that wee may fully acknowledge thee not onely the Authour of all thinges but the ruler guider and gouernour of all thinges both in Heauen and earth that we neuer diminishe thine incomprehensible Glory by attributing vnto our selues any power strength or abilitie to do wil or think that which is good but from our harts we may acknowledge all our goodnesse to come from thee yelding for the same continually prayse and thankesgiuing to thy glorious Name that we neuer by distrusting thy mercifull prouidence dishonour thy Name but that euen in our greatest distresse we may put our ful confidence in thee not looking vppon our weaknesse but staying vpon thy power and promises by harty prayer fleeing vnto thee our onely refuge that our whole life may be so framed according to thy holy wil in al points that thy glorious Name in vs may be sactified and that we be not an occasion that thy holy Name be blasphemed through our wicked life and conuersation Let thy Kingdome most mercifull Father appeare and manifestly be declared in all the worlde but especially amongst thy Churche and faithfull flocke declare thy selfe Lord and King oue◠them ruling them by the scepter of thy holy woorde and force of thy holy Spirite Increase the number of faithful Pastors and Preachers amongst the people blesse their labours to the increase of this Kingdome of thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ and to the destruction of the kingdome of satan and antichrist Suppresse the rage of the enimies that they may knowe that thou O Lorde doest reigne in all ages to the behoofe of thy Church and terour of thine enimies Grāt these mercies good lord not onely to the whole Churche in generall but especially to euery one of vs thy Children particularly Graunte that we may effectually feele the force of this thy Kingedome in our heartes Beate downe in vs our olde corrupt Adam with all sinfull delightes thoughtes motions and desires and renew in vs day by day our spiritual and inwarde man that we may be wholy bente to delight thinke desire and do those thinges whiche be acceptable in thy sighte Frame our heartes good Lorde with suche humble obedience to thy holy will that we may be heartily wel content with whatsoeuer it pleaseth thy goodnes to lay vppon vs that wee neuer cease in our miseries but continually call vppon thee by hearty prayers although wee feele no release at all yet that still patiently we may abide and quietly waite for thy good leysure and appointed time of deliueraunce when thou knowest it shall be moste expedient for vs. Graunte vs deere Father that al our counsels studies labours and endeuours being by thy holy spirite guided and framed wee may euery one in that vocation in whiche thou haste placed him so faithfully trauaile to the discharging of our consciences and edifying of thy Churche that our accompt may be founde acceptable before thy throne and Iudgement seate So blesse our labours and trauels that we may haue sufficient for the preseruing of this present life and be content with those benefites whiche thou shalt bestowe vpon vs whether they be many or fewe acknowledging them to be receiued of thee not greedily to care for them or vainely to delight in them but thākfully esteeme of them as thy benefites bestowed vppon vs and as faithful Stewards moderately to vse them to the reliefe of our brethren and the discharge of our consciences Increase in vs good Lorde the gifte of faith that wee may daily more and more in our soules and consciences bee assured that our sinnes be defaced cleane blotted out and couered with the full perfecte and sufficient sacrifice of thy deare Sonne Christ Iesu our Lorde and Sauiour once made for vs ▪ that we are vnited knit and made one bodie with him partakers of his righteousnesse iustification and holinesse and euen fellow heires with him of euerlasting life that wee may vnfainedly from the bottome of our hearts loue thee for this thine vnspeakeable goodnesse and mercie forgiueing from our hearts our brethren which doe offend vs pray for them loue cherishe and comforte them as fellowe members all of one body with perfecte naturall loue and compassion linked together to our head Christe Iesu. Strengthen vs good Lorde with thy holy spirite that we be not ouercome with the subtile suggestions and sinneful motions of satan the diuell holde vs vp with thy mercyfull hand that we sleepe not in sinne that we be not drawen away with the wicked worlde nor the enticementes of the flesh to delighte in wickednesse but so arme vs with thy mightie power that we may strongly abyde all the assaultes and subtile sleightes of our ghostly enimy and sincerely to walke before thy face both in prosperitie and aduersitie to thy honour and glory the health of our soules profit of thy Church through Iesus Christe our onely Lorde and Sauiour Amen ¶ The Lordes prayer more at large O Moste mightie and eternall God who of thine infinite loue to mankinde haste giuen vs thine owne eternall sonne Christe Iesu our Lorde to be made man for vs in the similitude of sinnefull flesh to become flesh of our flesh bone of our bones in all things like vnto vs sinne onely excepted who being thy true and naturall sonne hath made vs with him sonnes children and heires to thee our moste mercifull Father giuing vnto vs by grace that which is his by nature And by his due alone once offered sufficient sacrifice hath payd the raunsome of our sinnes before thy diuine Maiestie to satisfie thy iustice vpon sinnful flesh Whiche debt being payde for vs he hath broughte vs in fauour with thee so that wee may now with boldnesse and truste come to thee as vnto our moste merciful and louing Father with full assuraunce that as thy loue is so much greater and more excellent towardes vs then all loue of earthly Parentes towardes their children as thou passest all men in goodnesse and mercy so thou wilte denie vs nothing which shall be expedient for vs So that although all the fathers which are in earth hauing shaken off all feeling of fatherly naturalnesse woulde forsake their children yet thou wouldest neuer forsake vs because thou canste not denie thy selfe who promisest that if earthly fathers being euill can giue good giftes to their children how much more wilt thou our heauenly Father
beeing altogether goodnesse it selfe giue good thinges to them that aske in thy Sonnes name And that although a mother should forsake her children yet wilt thou not forsake vs thy children whome thou haste before the bginning of the worlde in thy deere Sonne Iesu Christe chosen to be thy children and heires with him of thine immortall Kingdome Whereof that we in our selues mighte be sure and certaine and out of all doubte that wee are the children and heires of euerlasting life thou haste giuen into our heartes thy holy Spirite as a true pledge and earneste of our inheritaunce whiche Spirite doth assure our spirites that we are thy children and therefore crieth in our harts Abba Father Wee therefore as thy deere children raunsomed and boughte by thy deere sonne flee to thee our moste louing and mercifull Father who in goodnesse art infinite in mercy aboundant in substance incomprehensible in immortalitie euerlasting who by thy mightie power and singular prouidence rulest all thinges according to thy heauenly wisedome beseeching thee for thy deere sone Christ Iesus his sake that as thou hast sufficieÌ„tly sette forth thy glorious Name in making the whole worlde heauen earth and al things therein contained so we may in beholding and viewing thy creatures the works of thine handes be lifted vp to thee our Lord God the Creatour and Maker and in them glorifie thy holy name acknowledgeing in them thy singular goodnesse and loue towardes man for whose vse thou haste created all thinges both in Heauen and earth and that we may for the same euen from the bottom of our harts yeeld due honour praise and thankesgiuing to thee deere Father all the dayes of our life Graunte moste mercifull Father that wee may in hart and minde be fully assured that thou by thy heauenly prouidence rulest and guidest all things in heauen and earth so that nothing in the whole world commeth to passe but according to thine appoyntmente that thou guidest and framest the affaires and doings of men that thou haste euen their harts and all their powers in thy mercifull hande to turne them whiche way soeuer it seemeth best to thy godly wisedome so that whither wee be in prosperitie or aduersitie we may acknowledge both of them to be thy woorke in vs and therefore be no lesse thankful for sicknesse then for health for sorrowe then for comforte for a troubled mind then for a quiet for imprisonment and banishmente then for libertie especially seeing we know that y turnest them all seeme they neuer so sharp to the comforte and coÌ„modity of thy children which feare thee and that in al things whiche shall befal vnto vs whither they be greuous or ioyous prosperitie or aduersitie life or death thy holy Name may be sanctified in vs by yeelding due and continuall praise and thankesgiuing to thy eternall Maiestie that wee neuer cease to put our ful truste and confidence in thy merâ—y who haste promised to be our defender buckler and shielde to keepe vs as the apple of thine eye to deliuer vs when we call vppon thee to open when we knock to giue when wee aske that we knowing our owne weakenesse that of our selues we haue no power or strength to do no not so muche as to will that whiche is good wee may acknowledge all our strength comforte ioy faith loue hope and confidence to be thine only gifte and woorke in vs And for the same and the increase of the same and for all thy benefites in vs whereof we feele our selues destitute we may constantly flee vnto thee by harty prayer requiring the same at thy mercifull hande And hauing felt thy mercifull dealing towardes vs we may alway to the end of our life continue thankfull to thy blessed Name that wee neuer speake or thinke of thee O Lord God without high reuerence and an obedieÌ„t feare vnto thy Glorious Name And that thy kingdome O Lorde may more gloriously shine amongest men subdue the hearts of the people to be obedient to thy woorde Lighten all nations with thy glorious Gospell raise vp faithful ministers of thy woord aboundantly in euery place who with pure and perfect zeale in true knowledge may feede the hungrie soules with the foode of life Lighten the harts of thy children whome yet thou haste not called to the feeling of thy mercies in thy sonne reuealed Beate downe the furie and rage of the kingdome of satan and antichrist with all tyrants who shewe their vtter malice and furie against thy deare and faithfull flock Confounde their deuises suppresse their pride and so strengthen all thy true and faithfull seruauntes againste their rage that they may haue true wisedome to confound their enimies and steadfast constancie to professe the truth of thy glorious gospell euen to the death And that euery one of vs may feele the force of this thy kingdome particularly in our selues wee beseeche thee kill in vs by thy holy spirite all wicked delightes of sinne and vanities of this worlde Mortifie in vs our earthly and carnall affections and graunte that wee may haue our full delighte and pleasure in thee our Heauenly Father and in thy sonne Christe Iesu our Lorde and Sauiour and reuerently embrace thy holy Woord that our soules may be comforted therein and our faith thereby confirmed Lighten our vnderstanding that we may in thy holy woord learne and in heart be fully assured that thou art our most merciful Father and thy deere Sonne our Lorde and Sauiour Beate downe in vs all sinnefull motions of the aduersarie whiche do rebell againste thy holy spirite and settle and frame our mindes by thy holy spirite in vs that all rebellion in our fleshe being killed wee may quietly with stayed mindes and consciences sette our full ioy comforte and consolation in heauenly thinges walking before thee in sinceritie of mind put our ful trust and confideÌ„ce in thee rest and quiet our selues wholy in thy mighty protection and prouidence And forasmuche O Lord God as of our selues wee be nothing but stubbernesse and rebellion wee beseeche thee deere Father that as thine Angels in heauen doe willingly obey thy Will without resistance so wee thy children in earth all stubbernesse and peruersnesse by thy holy spirite in vs being vtterly extinguished and quenched wee may willingly submit our selues resigne and yeelde our whole affections to thee O Lord to be gouerned after thy blessed and heauenly Will. That we may feele in our selues no other motion or desire then a meete consente to thy holy Will that whatsoeuer affections in vs fighte against thy holy Will thou wilt vtterly make them voyde That wee neuer will any thinge of our selues but that thy holy Spâ—rite in vs may gouerne our heartes by whome inwardly being taughte wee may learne to love embrace and take comforte in those thinges that please thee and to hate those thinges that displease thee That our heartes mindes and willes beeing wholy subdued to thy moste blessed Will wee may willingly bee
deare Father mortifie subdue and kill in our fleshe all subtile suggestions and sinnefull motions of satan that we yelde not our selues as slaues thervnto but continually fight against them and bring them into subiection of the spirite Graunt vnto vs deere Father that wee bee not drawne through the subtilitie and sliely tormentes of satan to haue our delight and pleasure in the vanities of this presente world but by thy Grace might and power may so in the prosperitie of this life be vppholden that our mindes with full ioy and comfort may be lifted vp to our perfecte consolation in our Lorde and Sauiour Christe and in him take our full and perfecte ioy consolation so that no vaine delight of this worlde put vs from the same neither any sharp adversitie as pouertie miserie or calamitie through the malice of the diuell driue vs to despaire of thy mercifull goodnesse towardes vs but alwayes beeing through thy grace and assistance defended wee may be fully and perfectly armed againste all the subtile intrappings of satan and reste wholy in thy merciful defence and ayde For thou haste O Lord and eternall God in thy gouernement all things in heauen and earth all power and dominion ouer all creatures Angels and diuels to rule them according to thy good pleasure and will to the profite and commoditie of thy churche and euery faithfull member thereof and to thine owne incomprehensible glorie in all thinges in all ages for euer and euer thy glorious name may bee exalted and thy faithfull flocke edified thorough Christ our lord Amen ¶ A confession of sinnes with faith and repentaunce O Mercifull and heauenly Father wee thy seruauntes do humbly prostrate our selues before thy Maiestie acknowledging here in thy sighte our haynous offences committed against thy Maiestie seing beholding thy heauie wrath against them wee feele our selues laden O Lord our God with a huge companie of horrible sinnes whereofeuen the very leaste beeing but conceiued in thoughte is sufficient in iudgement to throwe vs downe to the euerlasting burning lake Our owne consciences O Lorde do beare witnesse againste vs of our manifolde transgressions of thy blessed lawe of our securitie senselesse blindenesse running headelong to destruction committing sinne after sinne although not notorious to the woorlde yet horrible before thine eye The thoughtes of our heartes rise vp in iudgmente against vs the vanitie of our talke before thy maiestie condemneth vs the wickednesse of our deedes from thy sight reiecteth vs all our wicked thoughtes woordes and deedes with the inwarde corruption of our nature do altogether as it were a whole lumpe and lode of sinne lye heauy vppon vs and with their intollerable weight do euen presse vs downe to hell Wee do daily grone vnder the burthen of them inwardly lamenting our owne folly so greedily rūning into them In Heauen earth or hell wee see none able to sustaine the weight of them but euen thy deerely beloued Sonne Iesus Christe who in mercy infinite and compassion endlesse hath sustayned and ouercome that endlesse punishmente due vnto them in him therefore in him moste mercifull Father and through him wee come to thee beeing fully assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept and take that ful recompence which he thy deere sonne hath made for vs as a iust raūsome for all the sinnes of all those whoe withe a true faithe take holde on him In him therefore wee see thine anger towardes vs appeased thy wrath satisfied our debts payde Increase in vs good Lorde wee beseeche thee this liuely and feeling faith for wee feele it often times in vs very weake and troubled with many doubtes increase it in vs O Lorde that wee may through thy holy spirit bee assured that the punishment of our sinnes is fully in thy sonne discharged Make vs O Lorde our God to feele this same in our soules and consciēces that Iesus Christ is ours and all that he hath done that wee are graffed into his body made one with him and therefore fellowe heires with him of euerlasting life Lette vs not onely haue these wordes in our mouthes good Lorde but through thy holy Spirite lette vs feele the comfort of them in our heartes fully sealed and settled in vs that wee feeling our selues inwardly before thy iudgemente seate discharged and our consciences towardes thee appeased may be swallowed vp with an vnfained loue towarde thy Heauenly Maiestie and towardes our brethren for thy sake Make sinne to die in vs daily more and more that wee may hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne and wickednesse in all men but especially in our selues that wee may strongly through thy holy Spirit set our selues in open warre and defiaunce againste all sinne and wickednesse that wee please not our selues in our sinnes but streightly examining sinne by the iuste rule of thy holy Lawes wee may vtterly from the bottome of our heartes condemne euen the least sinne in our selues hauing our whole ioy comforte and consolation vppon those thinges whiche bee agreeable to thy blessed will alwayes beeing afraid to do any thing contrary to the same that wee may euen from the bottome of our heartes examine and trie our thoughtes before thy presence that they bee vprighte and vnfained not hypocriticall in outwarde shewe onely and appearance but that euen all corners of our heartes being opened and disclosed beefore thee wee may euen as though it were openly before the face of the whole worlde bring them in shewe knowing that a double heart is detestable in thine eyes and that we may walke alwayes as before thine eyes not onely before the eyes of man being more carefull to walk circumspectly in this respecte that wee haue thee to be a viewer of our dooings a thousād fold more then the eyes of man that thus wee may walke as becommeth thy children not onely in outwarde shewe but also in sinceritie of heart abhorring euen the leaste sinne in our selues striuing resisting and fighting againste sinne not delighting our selues in sinne nor nourishing the same in our breste but earnestly embraceing and studiously seeking after those thinges whiche bee pleasante in thine eyes that neither the feare of man nor losse of goods life lāds possessions or friends drawe vs away frō thee to do any leaste thing contrarie to thy will and pleasure neither the fauour or friendshippe of man nor yet the flattering enticementes of this worlde nor the vaine promotions of the same do moue vs any whitte from the true and endlesse ioy delighte and pleasure whiche wee ought to haue in those things whiche bee agreeable to thy will and the constante performance of the same but that alwayes to the end of our life we may continue in thy pathes growing and increasing from faith to faith from strength to strength til at length wee shall come to thy euerlasting rest Amen A prayer for the estate of the whole Church O Lorde our God and Heauenly Father for asmuch as by thy
thy fatherly beneuolence and goodnesse meete and conuenient I knowing moste assuredly that thou wilt pitie my weake imbecillitie and childishe infancie and cause the same to serue for thy glorie and my greate commoditie seeing that I erre as a childe before suche a Father which canst not put off thy fatherly pitie and compassion but rather as thou haste bought mee vnto thee to be an heire of the kingdome by the bloud of thy naturall sonne my Sauiour Iesus Christ so am I sure that thou wilt lighten me in the end with full fruition of the brighte lighte of thy countenaunce that I may see thee and know thee as this thy sonn knoweth thee yea see thee and knowe thee my Father face to face and knowe as I am knowen Thus reste I onely in thy handes O my God crauing of thee to increase my knowledge in thy holy woorde wherby I may know thy good wil and pleasure And knowing the same giue me O Lord thy holie Spirit to conduct leade me in the same al the dayes of my life that in sinceritie of faith and purenesse of liuing and conuersation thy glorious Maiestie may be magnified in me for euer Graunt this O Father for thy deerely beeloued Sonne our sauiour Iesus Christe to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour glorie and prayse world without ende Amen Prayers and thankesgiuinges to bee saide before and after meate Prayer before meate O Lorde our God and Heauenlie Father in thy beeloued Sonne Iesus Christe woorke in our heartes true repentance with increase of a true and liuely faith make vs thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for all thy benefites whiche wee continually receiue at thy mercifull hand graunte vs the grace that wee may at this presente with thankfull hearts as from thy hands receiue meate and drink for the sustenance of our bodies with moderatiō vse them to thy Glorie and through thy blessing receiue by them perfect nourishment and aboue all we craue at thy handes good Lorde the heauenly foode of our soules which neuer perisheth that through thy gratious goodnes we may be nourished strēgthened both in soule and body to eternall life through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen Thankesgiuing after meate ETernall God and mercifull Father wee yeelde vnto thee moste heartie thankes for al thy benefites so plentifully bestowed vppon vs especially that thou haste at this presente fedde and nourished our mortall bodies with meate and drinke wee beseeche thee in like manner let our soules feele the sweete taste of thy heauenly foode that wee beeing fedde and nourished at thy hands both in soule and body may in this life walke as it becommeth thy children in the life to come be receiued to thine eternall Kingdome of glorie through Iesus Christ our Lorde and Sauiour Amen A Prayer beefore meate O Mercifull and Heauenly Father who giuest foode to euery liueing creature and without whome nothing can liue blesse and sanctifie our meates and drinkes whiche we are nowe about to receiue that they may turne to the nourishmente of our bodies whereunto thou haste appointed them that we acknowledging thy gratious goodnesse in prouiding so liberally for our bodies may with cheereful heartes be lifted vp earnestly to long after the foode of our soules whereby wee may be fedde eternally through Iesus Christ our sauiour Amen A thankesgiuing after meate O Heauenly Father for these thy benefites wherwith thou haste now sufficiently fedde our bodies we beseech thee make vs thankfull And as we feele the sweetnesse of them pleasant to our bodies so wee beseeche thee good Lorde that the foode of our soules may be as pleasante and comfortable vnto our soules and that we may with as careful harts prouide for the nourishmēt of our soules as we are careful for our bodies til it shal please thy Maiestie to bring vs to the place where we shal neuer hunger nor thirste more but liue eternally through Christe our Sauiour Amen A Prayer before meate O Lord our God heauenly Father which haste prouided meate and drink for the nourishment of our bodies giue vs grace to vse them reuerently as from thy handes with thankfull heartes And as wee do greately hunger and thirste for this foode of our bodies so wee beseech thee good Lord that our soules may earnestly hunger after the like food and nourishment that with earnest minds we may seeke to haue our soules fedd and refreshed eternally through our only Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it A Thankesgiuing after meate WOonderfull is thy prouidence O Lorde in preseruing all liueing creatures Graunte vs grace wee beseech thee that with thankfull harts wee may acknowledge thy bountifull goodnesse so liberally giuing vnto vs al things needeful especially feeding vs so plentifully at this presente with thy manifolde blessings whereof a greate many of our brethren are destitute as in like māner we shuld be if thou diddest not deale more liberally with vs graunt vs therefore gratious Lord that we may be thankful for this thy goodnesse and to be mindeful of them whiche haue not suche aboundance to relieue them that being all members of one body we may at length reigne with our heade Christe to whome be al honour and glorie woorlde without ende Amen A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of our bodily sustenance reading of some part of Gods holy word our spiritual foode O Lord our God the onely giuer of al good gifts who of thy great mercies hast made vs partakers bothe of the Heauenly gyftes of thy holy worde to feede our mindes and of thine earthly creatures for the necessarie sustenance of our weake bodies graunt we beseeche thee that through thy grace these thy gifts may be madeperfect vnto vs giue strength vnto our meate that it may be our healthful nourishment not to breede in vs any carnall desire of our vaine life but to enable our bodies to all good workes during the time of this present pilgrimage that so thy good creatures may be our good reliefe so long as thou wilt and so muche as thou knowest to be expediēt for vs thy seruants to finishe our dayes which thou hast numbred in the edifying of thy saincts and glorifying of thy Holy Name And because O Lord we know nothing of our selues but our ignorant hartes are full of darknesse therfore we beseech thee that this thy Worde whiche is thine eternal wisedome that nowe we haue read wherein wee haue had our conference may be in our minds a shining light of thine onely trueth and in our heartes a fruitefull seede of our newe birth so that thine owne Image may be happily againe restaured in vs and we may be made before thee a holie and righteous people by the inward working of thy gratious spirite daily strengthening our heartes in earnest loue of thy trueth and carefull obedience of thy commandementes through Iesus Christe our only Mediatour who in the sacrifice of his owne bodie hathe purchased vnto vs all
¶ Maister D. his councell to all that are his as also a briefe lesson for all estates KEepe counsell Vse not manye wordes Tell the truth Be slow to speake Brydle thine anger Appease debate Hinder no mans good name Take heede of drinke Remember thy ende Be mercifull Trie before thou trust Repose no confidence in a reconciled aduersarie Sorowe not for that which can not be got agayne Reioyce not in thy neyghbours crosse Striue not with thy ouer match Reueale not thy secretes to thy wife nor to thy children for women and children say all they know Three things vndid the Romanes reigne priuie grudge yong heaves and priuate gayne Beare with others as thou would haue others heare with thee Be not to rashe hasty bolde nor wyse in thine owne conceyte Doe not speake all thou knowest Doe not beleeue all thou hearest Doe not doe all thou canst Doe not say all thou seest Beholde the ende ere thou beginne Haue mynde on death and feare to sinne For death shall reape that lyfe hath sovvne And lyfe shall spring vvhere death hath movvne If thou by God arte set on hie Remember yet that thou shalt die Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the Soule Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the Mynde Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the and bodie If thou flie ydlenesse Cupid hath no might His Bowe lyeth broken his fire hath no light FEARE GOD And keepe his Commaundements GODLY priuate prayers for housholders to meditate vpon and to say in their families MARK 11.24 ¶ What so euer ye desire when ye praye beleeue that ye shall haue it and it shall bee done vnto you ROM 10.13 ¶ Whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lorde shall bee saued Psal. 55. verse 16. ¶ I will call vnto God and the Lorde will saue me Euening and morning and at noone will I pray and make a noise and he wil heare my voyce ¶ Godly priuate prayers for housholders to be saide in their Families A prayer conteyning the effect of the Housholders Catechisme ALmightie God and most mercifull Father I see in thy blessed lawes and commaundementes the greatnesse of my sinnes and wickednesse yea I see O Lord my god the whole course of my life to be almost nothing els but a continuall breaking of thy holy lawes and commaūdements The thoughts of my harte either in vanitie or els open wickednesse are in number infinite daily in the aboundance of them causing my mouth to speake my body to execute and do contrary to thy holy will. And againe O Lord I see thy heauie wrath vengeāce and iudgment against sinne to be intollerable that euen the least wicked thought and most secreat cogitation of my harte procureth thy heauy wrath and euerlasting curse the tormente of hell and euerlasting fire euen although I had but once in all my life broke any of thy commaundements so much as once in thought And I know O Lord God that thou art true and iust canst not abide sinne and wickednesse but wilt iustly punish euerie sinne euen with the selfe same tormentes of hell whiche thy iustice hath appointed euen for euery sinne This O Lord my God throweth me downe and euen amaseth me so that I knowe not what to do I looke into my selfe vewing mine owne power whither I am able to ouercome this punishment of my sinne or no and I see that al euē the most exquisite punishment which I can deuise to my selfe in whipping of my body as long as I liue wearing haire cloth pineing my selfe with fasting or any other paine I see I see O Lorde that all this punishmēt is not sufficient for one of my least sinnes because it deserueth euen the euerlasting paines of hell I looke to Heauen I see there is no Sainte nor Angel able to abide and ouercome this punishment of sinne I looke to men in this worlde euen to the Popes treasure that wicked man of sinne and I see that neither his masse nor purgatory pilgrimage pardons penance satisfactions nor any of suche like wicked stuffe alas I see they are nothing for the satisfying for one of my least wicked thoughts seeing the punishmente is by thy iuste decree and sentence thine euerlasting cursse Wherefore I am driuen out from my selfe and all that I can do to seeke this punishmente discharged other where or else to quall vnder the burthen I see there is no healpe for me in Angels Saintes nor mortall men but onelie in that perfecte man Christe Iesus thy deere sonne in whome I see the full punishment of my sinne wholy payd satisfied discharged and ouercome death vanquished the paines of hel in victorie swalowed vp the curse satisfied and the eternitie of the punishmente through his euerlasting power ouerreachead This I see O Lord by the eyes of faith being through thy holy spirite wholy assured that all the whole punishment of sinne payd by my Sauiour Christ is not onely payd for other men but euen also for me and my sinne This assurance of my faith being thine onely woork in me I beseech thee in mercy to strengthen increase for I feele it often ful of wauering doubting Graunt that I may daily more and more in my soule and conscience feele my selfe knit and grafted into the body of thy sonne whereby I may be assured that whatsoeuer He hath done pertaineth to mee and is fully wholy mine that I may through the power of his death feele daily sinne die in me and thorough the power of his resurrection feele my selfe risen from sinne to haue my full ioy and comforte in those things which be agreeable to thy holy wil vtterly detesting hating and abhorring from my hearte althinges which be contrarie to thy will and pleasure that euen in this life I may still looke for this endlesse ioy and felicitie vsing the thinges of this worlde as though I vsed them not till that good time that it shall please thee to call mee to thine euerlasting Kingdome of Glorie there to reigne with my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ for euer and euer Amen A prayer vppon the Lordes prayer O Moste mighty Lorde and eternall God who hast by thy deere sonne Christe Iesu our Lord and Sauiour reconciled vnto thy selfe all things in heauen and earth and in him haste made an euerlasting bond and couenaunte with vs thy faithfull children that thou wilt not onely be our God but also our moste louing and mercifull Father whereof as a pledge thou hast giuen vs thy holy Spirite of adoption whereby wee may with boldenesse and ful trust and cōfidence come to thee by harty praier as vnto our moste louing and mercifull Father being assured that thou wilt not deny vs any thing which thou knowest shal be expediēt for vs graunt we beseech thee deare Father that wee being fully persuaded in our harts of this thy fatherly loue and affection towards vs may be sturred
and all our life long being assured that thou wilt once call vs to yeelde an account of our stewardshippe indue vs we beseeche thee with those gifts and graces which be needeful for vs in our calling that with a pure and sincere conscience we may vse them to the benefite of our brethren and discharge of our owne consciences beefore thy Maiesty We beseech thee O Lord that in al our consultations woordes and workes this day and the whole course of our life we may always haue thee present before our eyes knowing that thou seest euen the very deepe thoughtes of our hartes whiche alwayes may be as a bridle to pull vs backe that we neither do nor yet consent vnto any sinne or wickednesse but that alwayes we may be so exercised in the affaires of this life that we looke stil to the end of our course whē it shal please thee to bring vs through the pilgrimage of this life to our euerlasting rest with thy deere Sonne Iesus Christe our Sauiour In whose name for these mercies and whatsoeuer thou knowest to be needful for vs and for the whole Churche we pray vnto thee as he himselfe hath taught vs in his holy word saying Our Father whiche art c. The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lorde turne his fauourable countenance toward vs and graunt vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christe the loue of God the Father the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the holy Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this day and euermore Amen ¶ Euening prayer for priuate houses and Families O Gratious God louing Father c. As in the beginning of the morning prayer reding so forth til ye come to this marke ‡ * ‡ Then read this folowing for the Euening Lastly for our selues here gathered we render most hartie thanks to thy maiestie O Lord which hast hitherto from our infancie preserued vs by thy mercie from all perils and daungers bothe of soule bodie wherevnto fraile man is subiect that thou hast sent vnto vs al things necessarie for this present life as healthe foode apparel and such like whiche many of thy deere children doe want being notwithstanding as preciously bought with the precious bloud of thy deere sonne as we be and yet lie in miserie and calamitie oppressed with pouertie nakednesse imprisonement and bannishment in which case also deere Father thou mightest haue brought vs saue onely that thou dealest herein more fauourably with vs then with them For the which thy louing kindenesse wee giue thee hartie thankes desiring thee that as thou hast hitherto thus fauourably in mercie preserued vs by thy protection and euen presently this day hast brought vs past all the daungers thereof so we beseech thee good Lorde in like fauour beholde vs this night that we taking our natural rest and quietnesse may through thy protection be defended that our bodies resting our soules may be occupied in beholding thy fauour and mercie towarde thy children stil looking for the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesu Christ for our full redemption Graunt that our sleepe be not immoderate according to the lust of our fleshe but as muche as is sufficient to refreshe our weake nature that beeing thus refreshed bothe the bodie and the minde may be more able to doe their seuerall office and function in that vocation vvherein thou haste placed vs. Graunt that wee laying our bodies downe to reste may be thereby put in minde of our long rest of deathe that as we doe nowe lay downe our bodies in bedde so wee may be thereby admonished that hereafter they shal be laide downe in graue to bee consumed to duste earthe and ashes from whence they were taken That wee hauing this before our eyes may be stirred vppe in minde warely to walke in this our pilgrimage not knowing when the time shal be of our departure but alwayes to be founde readie with our lampes of pure faithe clearely burning that we may be accepted to meete the Bridegrome when our mortall earthly and corruptible bodies shal be made like to the glorious bodie of our Lord and sauiour Christ Iesu there to reigne with him in perpetuall ioy cōsolatiō together with al the elect children of God continually lauding with all the heauenly multitude the glorious Maiestie of thee our Lorde God and heauenly Father in our Lord and Sauiour Iesu christ For these and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be needefull for vs and thy whole Churche we pray vnto thee as he himselfe hathe taught vs saying Our Father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vppon vs and bee mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance vnto vs and graunte vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the Holy Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this night and euermore Amen A prayer to bee saide before the studying or reading of holy Scripture O Heauenly Father what soeuer I am what so euer I haue whatsoeuer I know it is only by thy free grace For by nature I am the childe of wrath and I am not borne a newe of fleshe and bloude neither of the seede of man or of the will of man Fleshe and bloude cannot reueale the mysteries of thy Heauenly Kingdome vnto mee but by thy blessed will I am that I am and by the same knowe I that I knowe Therefore O Father do I commit into thy handes onely my saluation If my knowledge bee small yet I doubte nothing but that I am the childe of thy euerlasting kingdome and therefore by thy mightie power I shall growe when it shall bee thy good will and pleasure to a more full and riper knowledge as of a more perfecte age wherein my faith shal bee fully able to comprehend and perceiue the breadth deapth heigth and largenesse of thy greate mercies and gratious promises But seeing O Father this power of full knowledge and perfecte reuelation passeth all power naturall and remaineth onely in thy power and the light of thy spirite O Lord do thou whatsoeuer it shall please thee to open vnto me and all the rest of thine elect seruaunts and children depending vppon thee so muche of the lighte of thy countenaunce as may be moste for thy Glorie and our comforte yea and at suche time as shall seeme good to thy wisedome fatherly mercie In the meane while thus resting wholy vpō thee neither can I despaire neither wil I be to much careful althogh I cannot attaine to the knowledge of many of thy works neither to the vnderstanding of many places of thy scriptures But I will confesse vnto thee the weakenesse of my faith waiting alwais for the further reuealing of thy glorious light to be vttered vnto me thy poore seruant when thou shalt thinke of
not onely this correction but vtter destruction as Sodom and Gomorra but rather to looke vpon thy mercies which were before them whereby thou hast saide that although wee doe offend and thou doest correct vs yet thou wilt not take away thy mercies from vs but wilt leaue a remnant which thou wilt multiplie and make as the Starres of the Heauen and as the sandes of the Sea. Looke also O Lord vpon the outrageousnesse and crueltie vnfaithfulnesse and blasphemie of the enimies wherewithall they blaspheme thee and prouoke thee to thy face and therefore in thine owne cause and for thine owne sake take the matter into thine owne handes and pay into the bosomes of thine enimies double and treble of that they haue giuen to thee Notwithstanding those amongst them that belong to thine holy election hasten their calling that afterwards thy iudgement may hasten vpon the earthe and the inhabitants thereof may learne to know thee by thy iudgements that would not vnderstand and come to thee by the louing calling of thy Gospel Wee pray thee O Lorde for our brethren that are vp in armes in both those countries that thou wouldest goe before them and come behinde them and on euery side of them couer their heades in the day of battel teache their handes to fight and their fingers to warre giue them wisedome and valiantnesse and good successe in all their enterprises strike a dizinesse maaze of spirit into the enimies harts and take away from them all force and disappoint al their counsels And vpon our brethren in Flaunders we beseeche thee that thou wouldest comfort them ouer all the troubles that they haue receiued and breaches that haue beene made in vpon them and where there are newe forces euery day gathered new sleights inuented to destroy them it may please thee to scatter their forces and bring their sleightes to nothing Yea graunt also O Lorde that that which they haue deuised against thy children may come vpon their owne heades And for our Brethren in Fraunce wee beseeche thee O Lord what streights so euer they be in thou wouldest deliuer them and although they be forsaken in the iudgement of all the world and in their own iudgements notwithstanding thou that haste the issues of death in thine owne handes deliuer those that are appointed to deathe And finally we most humbly thanke thee for that it hath pleased thee to keepe vs this day and al the dayes and times of our liues beseeching thee that thou wouldest receiue vs this night into thy holy keeping that we may haue quiet rest not of bodies alone but of our soules also resting from all those thinges that are contrarie to thy moste holy will attending while thou raisest vs vppe in the morning to do all those thinges that thou haste appointed vs These things we desire of thee and al other things which thou knowest to be more needefull for vs and thy whole Church better then we ourselues do know for Iesus Christes sake saying the same prayer that he himselfe hath taught vs Our Father c. A prayer for the Queene O Gratious Lorde and moste mercifull father we acknowledge thee the Lorde of Lordes and the Kinge of Kings creating at the beginning and ruling all thinges euermore in heauen and earthe accordinge to thy wonderful wisdome and power and our selues to be thy poore seruantes the worke of thy handes the sheepe of thy pasture subiected to thy highe Maiestie and depending vppon thy fatherly prouidence for al thinges Neuerthelesse seing thou in thy wisdome annoyntest Kings and Queenes appoyntinge them to rule ouer thy people to sitt as Lieuetenantes in thy seate to minister iustice and most of all as Fathers and Nurses to mainteine cherish thy Church commaundinge vs not onely to obey and honour them but moreouer to pray for thē as watching ouer vs for our good we therfore beseech thee for thy greate names sake for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercy to all Kings and Princes that mainteine thy glorious Gospel but especially we praye thee to blesse our gratious Queene in all spirituall blessinges in Christ Iesus and in all temporall blessinges accordinge to thy good pleasure that in the greate measures of thy effectual Lawe she may more and more finde great increases of vertue and wisdome and strength in Christ Iesus to the faithful and happy discharge of her dutie that her holines and ioy and zeale of thy house may be multiplied and euerlasting And seeing it hath pleased thee of thy singular mercie to giue her this especiall honour firste to suffer for thy Glorious trueth and afterward miraculously deliuering her out of the handes of her enimies to set a Crowne vppon her heade and to make her the instrument to aduaunce thy Glorie and Gospel for whiche she suffered and to bring it out of darkenesse into light out of persecution into this great and long peace as we giue thee most hartie thankes for this singular benefite so wee beseeche thee to make her and vs euermore thankful for it and in thy good pleasure still to preserue her for the continuance of these blessings towardes vs with all increase from time to time to thy Glorie the benefite of the Churche and her infinite peace in Christ Iesus the Prince of Peace And furthermore we pray thee for her and the estate that such as be enimies of the Gospel and her enimies also for the defence thereof may not despise the peace offered them to repentance but that they may account thy long suffering and her peaceable and vnblouddie gouernement an occasion of saluation to their soules and unfeigned loue to the trueth their mercifull souereigne Otherwise if they still remaine disobedient to the trueth disobedient to her highnesse and daungerous to the state then O GOD of our Saluation as thou haste discouered them so discouer them still as thou haste preuented them so preuent them still and let their eyes waxe wearie with looking and their harts faint with waiting for the comming of that which yet commeth not neither let it come O Lord we beseeche the but a blessed and a long reigne to her and peace to Sion for euermore Also deere Father so blesse so loue so in thy Spirite sanctifie and keepe her that shee may in the Spirite of counsell and fortitude so rule that other sister also namely this her Common wealth that they may flourish together and growe vp together as Palme trees in beautie and in strength giueing ayde and helpe one to another that in the Churche the Glorie of God may appeare as the Sunne in his brightnesse and that the lande may flowe with milke and honie and true peace aboūd therin as in the triumphant reigne of Debora These graces O Lord are great and we miserable sinners vnworthie of the least of them therefore looke not to vs but to thy selfe not to our iniquities but to thy greate mercies acceptinge the death and passion of thy sonne as a full raunsome for al our offences throwing thē into the bothome of the sea and making his crosse and resurrection effectuall in vs to all obedience and godlines as becommeth thy Saincts that to all other thy good blessinges towarde our gratious Souereigne this may be added that she gouerneth blessedly ouer a blessed people a people blessed of the Lorde and beloued of the Lorde and that thy graces may abounde as the waues of the sea in the Prince and in the people in the Churche and in the common wealth frō day to day til the day of our translatiō into the kingdome where iustice inhabiteth where we also shal inhabite and reigne with thee according to thy promise for euer Graunte vs these thinges O mercifull father for thy deare sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we craue them at thy mercifull hande prayinge furthermore for them as he hath taught vs to pray Our father whiche art c. Our father which art in heauen Holowed be thy name Thy kindome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily bread Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Lead vs not into temptation Our father which art in Heauen Holowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily bread Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse againste vs. Leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill