so that none â—f those judgements which our â—â—nes have deserved have bin â—flicted upon us thou hast â—nlarged our time and opportuâ—ity to repent thou hast proâ—â—ded for our soules and bodies â—â—ou hast bin no way wanting â—nto us if we had hearts to acknowledge it Forgive us that â—e cannot acknowledge thy goodnesse as we ought to doe and more and more quicken uâ— in this dutie that we may with heart and voyce acknowledgâ— thee to be that Father of lights from whom we doe receivâ— every good and perfect giftâ— ascribing unto thee the whole glory of all that we enjoy both now and evermore And granâ— we pray thee that our thankefulnesse may not be onely verâ— ball but reall we labouring iâ— deede and in truth to be dutifulâ— unto thee that hast bin so bountifull unto us Pardon us for thâ— sinnes of this day wherein weâ— have offended thee whether open or secret of ignorance oâ— of knowledge of infirmity oâ— presumption of omission oâ— commission in thought word or deed The sinnes of this day are enough to plunge us soule and body into the bottomlesse gulfe of perdition If thou shouldest straightly mark them what answer shall we be able to make thee how shall wee dare to appeare in thy presence before whom all thy creatures feare and tremble But thy mercy is above all thy workes much more above all our works of sinne In the confidence of thy mercy we come unto thee beseeching thee in thy sonne Christ to be reconciled with us and to assure us hereof by the certificate of thine owne blessed spirit Breake the strength of sin that would subdue us more and more and reare in us cleane hearts and renew a right spirit within us Increase our faith in the sweet promises of the Gospell and our repentance from dead workes our hope of eternall life our feare of thy name our zeale for thy glory our hatred of sinne our love of righteousnesse our contentment in all estates our patience in adversity our prudence in prosperity that so being furnished with the endowments of grace here we may be fitted for the enjoyment of glory hereafter And because the night is now upon us and our bodies desirous of quiet rest wee pray thee to take us into thy blessed tuition and to refresh our wearied bodies with comfortable sleepe Protect us and all that doe belong unto us under the shadow of thy vings defend us from all evill both of sinne and punishment keepe us from security and carelesnesse from dulnesse and drowsinesse of spirit from fire and robbery from the malice of Satan and all his adherents from all perils into which for our sinnes wee might justly fall Let the sight of the bed minde us of that last bed the grave wherein wee are shortly to take up our lodging we know not how soone None of us here present can certainely tell whether these eyes of ours once closed up shall ever any more open againe in this world therfore receive us good Lord receive us into the armes of thy mercy unto thine Almighty protection wee bequeath our selves soules and bodies and all that we have upon thy mercy alone wee cast our selves both this present night and for evermore Bee mercifull to thy whole Church continue the flourishing state of the Kingdomes wherin we live Decrease in it the number of superstitious Papists and prophane Atheists and increase in it the number of such as unfainedly feare thee Preserve from all dangers and conspiracies our religious King Charles our gracious Queene Mary the Lady Elizabeth and her children Give them all such a measure of thy Spirit grace that they may seeke to advance thy kingdome on earth and at last be advanced to thine everlasting Kingdome in Heaven Endow the right Honourable of our Privie Counsell with all such graces as may make them fit for so high a place Stirre up Magistrates and men in authority to endeavour after the furthering of thine honour and the benefiting of thy people Make the Ministers able and willing to discharge the duties of their weighty calling with diligence and conscience water their indeavours with the dew of heaven that daily such as belong unto life eternall may be added unto the Church Comfort O comfort thine afflicted servants wheresoever or howsoever troubled sweeten their afflictions and season their sorrowes with the comforts of thy Spirit Give them all needfull assistance and in thy owne time a joyfull deliverance And make us ready for afflictions that they may not come upon us as a snare but that we may in good measure like wise Virgins bee prepared for the comming of Christ Jesus the sweet Bridegroome of our soules Finally wee pray thee beare with the weakenesse and coldnesse and imperfection of our prayers and to grant our requests not for our merits but for thine owne mercies and for the sake of thy dearely beloved Sonne Jesus Christ who died to make satisfaction for us and liveth to make intercession for us in whose words we shut up our imperfect prayers saying as himselfe hath taught us Our Father c. O Lord blesse and save us make thy face to shine upon us thy Word to instruct us thy grace to direct us thy Angels to protect us thy Spirit to comfort and support us unto the end and in the end Amen Amen A Prayer in time of VVarre O LORD GOD of Hoasts in power invincible in wisdome unsearchable in mercy incomprehensible that givest deliverance in the time of trouble assistance in the day of battel we most humbly and heartily beseech thee to save us from all those extremities and in speciall from our enemies which our sins do threaten to bring upon us Hitherto thou hast pleased to make our Nation a spectacle of thy ineffable goodnesse but we deserve to be made a spectacle of thy unsupportable wrath Our contempt of thy threatnings our abuse of thy mercies our neglect of thy judgements with infinite other innormities doe menace the taking away of thy old mercies and the bringing in of some judgement We have just cause to feare O Lord that our loud and crying sinnes doe call in our enemies upon us and arme them against us yea that they are already prest and prepared to execute thy vengeance Then open our eyes we pray thee that we may see thy Ensigne set up thy Banner displayed and the evidence of thy approaching sword open our eares that wee may heare thee blowing of thy trumpet and giving the alarum to warre open our hearts that we may not be secure in so great danger but may quake and tremble to see thy hand of vengeance before us And howsoever by our sinnes we are set in the middest of this danger yet let the hand of thy mercy which is as omnipotent as that of thy justice rescue us let thy out stretched arme deliver us Put up thy sword into the scabbard O bid it rest and be still Be favourable and gracious unto
serve thee faithfully both in the duties of piety and in other businesse of my place and calling that I may be a comfort to my husband aâ— example to my neighbours â— grace to my profession and â— meanes of glory to thy Name through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen FINIS THE COMMON CALLES CRIES and Sounds of the BEL-MAN OR Divers verses to put us in minde of our mortality Which serve as warnings to be prepared at all times for the day of death LONDON Printed by G. M. for M. S. Junior at the Blew Bible in Green-Arbour 1639. THE BEL-MANS SOVNDS For Christmas day REmember all that on this Morne Our blesseds aviour Christ was borne Who issued from a Virgin pure Our soules from Satan to secure And patronise our feeble spirit That we through him may heaven inherit For Saint Stephens day THis blessed time beare in your mind How that blest Martyr Stephen died In whom was all that good confinde That might with flesh and blood abide In Doctrine and example he Taught what to doe and what to flee Full of the Spirit he would preach Against opinions false and naught Confute them to and bouldly teach What Christ himselfe to him had taught For which at last he lost his breath Ston'd by the stonie hearts to death Let us then learne by this blest Martyrs end To see our follies and our lives amend For Saint Iohns day THis man the Word did bouldly teach Saw Christ transform'd and did preach The glory in that Mount he saw And by that glory strove to draw The soule of man from sinfull thrall To heaven to which God send us all For Innocents day THe swords of Herods servants tooke Such sweet yong things as with a look Might make a heart of Marble melt But they no grace nor pittie felt Some from the cradle some awake Some sweetly sleeping some they take Dandled upon their mothers lap Some from their armes some from the pap For New-yeares day ALL you that doe the Bell-man heere The first day of this hopefull yeare â—oe in love admonish you So bid your old sins all adue And walk as Gods just Law requires In holy deeds and good desires Which if to doe you le doe your best God will in Christ forgive the rest For Saint Davids day I Am no Welchman but yet to show The love I to the Countrey owe I call this morning and be seeke Each man prepare him for his Leeke For as I heare some men say The first of March is Saint Davids day That worthy Britaine valiant wise Withstood his countries enemies And caused his Souldiers there to choose Leekes for to know them from his foes Who bravely fought and conquest wone And so the custome first begun Then weare your Lecks and doe not shame To memorize your worthies name So noble Britaines all adew Love stil King Charles for he loves you For the 5. of Novemb. AWake Britaines subjects with one accord Extoll and praise and magnifie the Lord Humble your hearts and with devotion sing Praises of thanks to God for our most gratious King This was the night when in a darkesome Cell Treason was found in earth it hatcht in hell And had it tooke effect what would avail'd our sorrow The traine being laid to have blowne us up o' th' morrow Yet God our guide reveal'd the damned plot And they themselves destroy'd and we were not Then let us not forget him thanks to render That hath preserv'd and kept our faiths Defender For Good Friday ALL you that now in bed do lie Know Iesus Christ this night did die â—â—r soules most sinfull for to save That we eternall life might have His whips his grones his crown of thorns Would make us weep lament and mourn For Sunday LEt labour passe let prayer be This day the chiefest worke for thee Thy selfe and servants more and lesse This day must let all labour passe ALL hale to you that sleepe and rest Repent awake your sins detest Call to your mind the day of doome For then our Saviour Christ will come Accompt to have he hath decreed Of every thought word worke and deed And as we have our times here past So shall our judgements be at last AS darke some night unto thy thoughts present What 't is to want the daies bright Element So let thy soule descend through contemplation Where utter darknesse keepes her habitation Where endlesse easelesse paines remedilesse Attend to torture sins curst wilfulnesse O then remember whilst thou yet hast time To call for mercy for each forepast crime And with good David wash thy bed with teares That so repentance may subdue hels feares Then shall thy sovle more purer then the Sunne Ioy as a Gyant her best race to run And in unspotted robes her selfe addresse To meet her Lord that Sonne of righteousnesse To whom with God the Father and the Spirit Be all due praise where all true joyes inherit THe Belman like tho wakefull morning Cocke Doth warne you to be vigilant and wise Looke to your fire your candle and your locke Prevent what may through negligence arise So may you sleepe with peace and wake with joy And no mischances shall your state annoy YOur beds compare unto the grave Then think what sepulcher you have For though you lay you downe to sleepe The Bell-man wakes your peace to keepe Andnightly walks the round about To see if fire and light be out But when the morne daies light appeares Be you as ready for your prayers So shall your labours thrive each day That you the Bel-man well may pay LIke to the Seaman is our life Tost by the waves of sinfull strife Finding no ground whereon to stand Vncertaine death is still at hand If that our lives so vainelesse be Then all the world is vanitie THose that live in wrathfull ire And goe to rest in any sinne They are worse unto their house then fire Or violent theeves that would breake in Then seek to shun with all your might That Hidras head that monstrous sin That God may blesse your goods abroad And eke also your selves within SLeepe on in peace yet waking be And dread his powerfull Majestie Who can translate the irkesome night rom darknesse to that glorious light Whose radient beames when once they rise With winged speed the darkenesse flies THou God that art our helpe at hand Preserve and keep our King and land â—rom forraigne and domesticke foes â—uch as the word and truth depose And ever prosper those of pittie That love the peace of this our Citie AWake from sleepe awake from sin With voice and heart to call on him VVho from above pleas'd to descend From Sathans malice to defend Our forfeit soules to that rich grace Where we may still behold his face LEt us repare and God implore That henceforth we transgres no more And that our joy be at this tide That we in him be satisfide Then shall we all for his deare sake
grace that I may now willingly leave this fraile and wicked flesh in hope of the resurrection which in better manner shall restore it to me againe grant me O Lord God that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all temptations and that thou wilt cover and defend me with the buckler of thy mercy against the assaults of Satan I acknowledge that there is in my selfe no hope of salvation but all my hope and trust is in thy most mercifull goodnesse I have no merits nor good workes which I may alleadge before thee of sinnes and evill works alas I see a great heape but through thy mercy I trust to be of the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sins but take and impute mee for righteous and just and to be the inheritor of everlasting glory Thou O most mercifull Lord wert borne for my sake thou didst suffer both hunger and thirst thou didst preach teach pray and fast for my sake thou didst all good works and sufferedst most grievous pangs and torments for my sake and finally thou gavest thy most precious body to dye and thy blessed bloud to bee shed on the Crosse for my sake wherefore most mercifull Saviour let all these things profit me which thou hast freely given mee which hast given thy selfe for me let thy bloud cleanse and wash away the spots and foulenesse of my sinnes let thy righteousnesse hide and cover my unrighteousnesse let the merits of thy bitter sufferings be a sufficient and propitiatory sacrifice and satisfaction for my sinnes give me O Lord thy grace that my faith and beleefe of thy true and grievous death waver not in me but ever be firme and constant that the hope of thy mercy life everlasting never decay in me that charity waxe not cold in me and finally that the weaknesse of my flesh be not overcome with the feare of death grant me also O most mercifull Saviour that when death hath shut up the eyes of my body yet the eyes of my soule may still behold and look upon thee and that when death hath taken away the use of my tongue and speech yet my heart may cry and say unto thee O Lord into thy hands I give and commit my soule Lord Jesus receive my spirit and take me to thy mercies Amen A Prayer for a Woman in time of her travaile RIghteous and holy Lord God I doe now finde by experience the fruit of my sinne that I must travaile in sorrow and bring forth in paine and I unfainedly adore the truth of thy sacred Word as certifying unto me that sorrow must be in the Evening so comforting me also against the Morning that a Childe shall be borne Willingly I doe desire to submit my selfe in hope unto this thy chastisement and to learne the desert of my sinnes horrible in themselves that these temporall paines are forerunners of eternall and yet by thy mercy may be so sanctified unto me as not onely to prevent eternall vengeance but also prepare for eternall comforts even to be saved by bearing of Children Grant me therefore gracious Father true repentance and pardon for my sinnes past that they may not stand at this time in this my need betweene mee and thy mercy Give mee a comfortable feeling of thy love in Christ which may sweeten all other pangs though never so violent or extreame make me still to lift up my soule unto thee in my greatest agonies knowing that thou alone must give a blessing to the ordinary meanes for my safe deliverance Lay no more upon me then I am able to endure strengthen my weake body to the bearing of what sorrowsoever by which it shall seeme good unto thee to make triall of me Grant mee to consider that howsoever it be with me yet I am alwaies at thine hand whose mercies faile not who wilt bee found in the Mount and greatest extremitie and to whom belong the issues of death so prepare me therefore to death that I may be fit for life even to yeeld fruit alive unto the world and to be renewed and enabled to nourish the same And when thou hast safely given mee the expected fruit of my wombe make me with a thankfull heart to consecrate both it and my selfe wholly to thy service all the daies of my life through Jesus Christ mine onely Saviour and Redeemer Amen A Thankesgiving after safe deliverance O Blessed for ever bee thy great and glorious Name most deere and loving Father for thy great mercy to me most weake and sinfull woman Wonderfull art thou in all thy workes O Lord the riches of thy mercies are past finding out thou hast plunged me with great afflictions and yet thou hast returned and refreshed me againe thou hast brought mee to the feare of the grave and yet thou hast raised me up again to life O how hast thou shewed thy power in my weaknesse How hath thy loving kindnesse prevailed against my unworthinesse Thou mightest for my sinnes have left me to perish in mine extremities but thou hast compassed me about with joyfull deliverance thou mightest have made my wombe a grave to bury the dead or in affoording life to another thou mightest have procured my death but yet thou hast not onely made my wombe a well-spring of life but restored life unto me also for the cherishing thereof Marveilous O Lord are thy workes infinite are thy mercies my soule by present experience knoweth it well O my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy name My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits Thou hast heard my prayers and looked upon my sorrow thou hast redeemed my life from death and healed mine infirmities and crowned me with thine everlasting compassions O give me I humbly pray thee a thankfull heart not onely now while the memory and sense of thy favour is fresh before me but continually even so long as I have any being Grant that I may learne by his lively evidence of thy power and mercy for ever hereafter â—o depend only on thee Quicâ—en me also to all holy duties â—hat my thankfullnesse may appeare in my pure and Christian â—arriage Make me a kind and carefull â—nother willing to undergoe the â—aine and trouble of education â—et no nicenesse or curiositie â—inder me from those services â—o whom both nature and reliâ—ion hath appointed me let me â—â—so be carefull when time reâ—uireth to season the fruit thou â—ast given me with the saving â—nowledge of thee thy deere on that my desire may manifestly appeare to be set for the â—ncrease of thy Kingdome Vouchsafe so to order my affections and to bring them in obedience unto thee that if it should bee thy pleasure either now oâ— hereafter to take this infant from me I may as willingly part with it as thou freely gave it me And now O God perfect in mee that strength which thou hast begun make me to grow in care to