the three persons of thy most simple Deitie or separating the onelie and indiuisible substance thereof each person retaineth that which is proper to it selfe in the workes of thy hands especiallie in that which concerneth our saluation So the beginning of all and euery action is properly attributed vnto thee O Father of the whole world and to Iesus Christ the wisdome the counsel and the order to dispose all things and to the Holy-ghost the virtue and supporter of all thy workes According whereunto we also doe acknowledge from thy loue and from thy eternall decree that which thou hast prouided for vs in thy sonne very God made very man such a mediatour and sauiour as was necessary for vs and we do render vnto him the honour of the fulnesse of thy loue towards vs and of that perfect obedience which he hath yeelded to thy ordinance euen to the death of the crosse for vs in most bitter anguish as also from the vertue of the Holy-ghost wee doe confesse the efficacie and healthfull application of this great principal worke-manship of our redemption But thy wisdome O Lord resteth wholy in mysterie that is to say it is hidden except vnto those to whom thy spirit giueth sight For true it is that Christ calleth all men vnto him by his Gospel spreading forth to that effect his light throughout the whole world Whoso followeth him shall not walke in darkenesse for hee is the Sunne of righteousnesse and the way to go to heauen But his sheep only do heare his voice and follow him as also hee knoweth them and giueth vnto them life euerlasting euen by the meere efficacie of his spirit which quickeneth lighteneth all thy elect O God to make them in thy word to behold the onely lampe of thy kingdome the knowledge of saluation the stedfast good of the soule and the sure and only means to obtaine the same all people may reade thy sacred writings only they can gather the sence to the peace of their soules whom it pleaseth thee as a Father to illuminate from aboue For so may they see howe in the crosse of Iesus they doe obtaine their triumph in his shame their glory in his paine their peace in his teares their ioy in his sorrowe their comfort in his death their life in his resurrection the fulnes of their hope I beseech thee therefore my God to powre vpon me this thy spirit of wisdome and reuelation and grace and mercie through the force of his beames to scatter the darkenesse of my vnderstanding and with the propertie of his fire to purifie my peruerse affections with his celestiall lamp to kindle in my hart the true zeale of his glorie with his holie oyntment to enbaulme my conscience with his sacred oyle to reioyce and refresh my bowells and with his vertue to renew in me an vpright spirit to the end that my soule thus cleansed from the dead workes of the flesh may be replenished with faith working all righteousnesse whereby to ouercome all the enemies of my peace Sathan the flesh the world and my owne lusts But aboue al things O Lord make that by the efficacy of thy holy spirit I may obtaine the true and firme consolation of the faithful soule the height of his ioy of his quiet and content and the infallible direction to his perfection namely the assurance that thou my heauenly Father hast adopted mee into the number of thy children by that grace that thou hast giuen vs in Christ who was made our wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption And that being so ouershadowed with the hope of Christians which neuer at all confoundeth I may bee supported euen to the end of my dayes by thy holy spirite which then especially may help my weakenesse that I may yeeld vnto thee O my God my last groanes to thee acceptable and to me salutiferous as being in the throne of thy glorie approoued capable of the contemplation thereof in the heauenly Ierusalem through thy goodnesse and mercy in Iesus Christ our Lord To whom with thee O Father and the holy spirit one onely God bee all honor glory and dominion for euermore So be it The seuenth Prayer To craue of God the light of his word God hauing at sundrie times and in diuers manners spoken to our Fathers by the Prophets In these last dayes hee hath spoken vnto vs by his Sonne All Scripture is giuen from aboue by inspiration and is profitable to teach to conuince to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be accomplished and perfectly instructed to al good workes Heb. 1. Tim. 3. LOrd GOD eternall who knowest that euerie man is but flesh and that flesh is but corruption so that although thou hast endued him with a reasonable soule which doth distinguish him from other creatures yet his light is notwithstanding conuerted into darknes when therby he seeketh to penetrate into the glorie of thy kingdome and the mysteries of thy grace who knowst that this poore blind borne destitute of thy supernaturall light doeth in lieu of his God forge to him selfe an idol and instead of truth taketh lies for thy worde his owne inuentions for goodnesse vanitie and for the path to life the way to death And albeit thou hast euen from the beginning made thy selfe as it were visible to man in the table of the Vniuersall worlde that thou hast many times reuealed thy selfe vnto him in a liuely voyce by thy eternall worde in Heden Horeb in the burning bush and elsewhere afterward by thy prophets insinuating thy selfe by thy spirit into their harts thoghts to the end by their ministrie to instruct thy people and finally that thou hast also manifested thy selfe in greater light by thy owne worde made flesh for our redemption and speaking vnto vs by his mouth Yea which is more that thou hast so farre graced vs that this thy word of life hath beene and stil remaineth among vs faithfully collected in the sacred registers of the holy scripture so to be vnto vs the image of thy glory the Lawe of thy Kingdome the ladder to Heauen the gate to paradice the trumpet of saluation to be briefe the treasury of piety vertue wisdome consolation and perfection Yet the flesh neuerthelesse ignorant rash and peruerse hath neither eyes to perceiue these spirituall riches nor eares to heare the wholsome doctrine but dooth rather disdaine it as it were some deuised discourse vnprofitable voice or howsoeuer it be suffering it self to be carried away with it owne feeble imaginations taketh in this verely the thorne for the rose the leafe for the fruite and the huske for the kernell And thus are wee all borne in this error in this calamitie in this waie to mortall ruine vntill that thou O mercifull God makest vs to be borne againe of the spirite and in will to make our thoughts capaof the light of thy word through true faith to apprehend the mysteries of thy kingdome
sufficiently preach forth the infinite power of thy hand which had created him such a one I wil not neither can I ascend higher then thy word teacheth me to enquire wherefore thou wouldest not so establish the blessed being of this the greatest and chiefest of thy visible workes that he might not fall I haue matter enough to occupy the strength of my soule to meditate vpon to haue in detestation yea euen before thy Maiestie to accuse the pride of our nature which thought not it selfe in honor sufficient vnlesse it were equall with thy deitie freeing it selfe from all feare and obedience vnto thee and by that rash ingratitude cast himselfe headlong from innocency into sinne from life into temporall and eternall death To thee O Lord belongeth righteousnesse and to man confusion shame and thou after thy good pleasure shewest mercy to whom thou wilt shew mercy The vaine Philosophie and foolish curiositie which is not content with the simplicitie of Christian faith retained within the limits of thy sacred Oracles shal make much enquiry about this fall of Adam to the end if she could to penetrate into thy secret counsaile about the creation and end of thy workes yea euen in that which toucheth the election and reprobation of mankind shee dareth in this bottomlesse pit to dicourse of thy infinite iustice the argument of thy incomprehensible glory measuring both the one and the other with her terrestiall conceits for to declare in her imaginations thy grace to the elect and thy iudgement against the reprobate daring to pleade their cause as also she will resolue of their estate after this life and of the qualitie of their punishments But thy children O heauenly Father instructed by thy doctrine through the light of thy spirit will in their hearts humblie reuerence thy decrees which are alwayes iust euen in the first condemnation of al mankinde and will be content to magnifie thy goodnesse for the grace that it hath pleased thee to bestow vpon them in Iesus Christ adopting them by him of thy free mercy into thy family For they haue learned in thy schoole that the inaccessible brightnesse of thy iudgements dazleth the best sighted mindes and spirits yea wasteth and consumeth them when they presume to approach to enquire the secret causes This doe I know neither will I know any more that all things doe worke for the best in thy elect because that hauing known them before all ages thou hast also predestinated them to be made conformable to the image of thy Son called and iustified them to be glorified The vessels of wrath prepared to perdition do feele none of these free mercies and celestiall riches whereof it comes that when they thinke vpon death they see nothing but feareful horrible damnable all intollerable paine without diminution or end an infernall diuelish and endlesse torment a gnashing of teeth with blasphemy and dispaire a perpetuall disquiet both in body and soule an eternity to their woe and damnation and which is worse a most merciful God whom they shall know to be in heauen and yet not to bee their God but their aduersary soueraigne Iudge to be as seuere and rigorous to them as he shall be gentle and fauorable to his children This is in summe all that the reprobate may expect or hope for in death This also maketh that when they find they are vtterly destitute of the pledge of their fredome which thy elect O Lord doe carry with them in this sinne of nature namely faith in Christ dead for their sinnes and risen againe for their righteousnesse these miserable men departe this their earthly habitation with great griefe and trembling vsually at the hower of death casting forth many woeful sobbes infallible fore-runners of their misery at hand As in truth they want no more thereof but the proofe that they are going to make of the eternall torments with the diuells in the burning lake of fire and brimstone which is neuer quenched giuen to the soule presently vpon the temporall death and to both body and soule in the day of the resurrection of all flesh I say in the second eternall death a death which continueth without dying and without consuming or destroying that which it makes to languish for euer in a furnace always burning deuouring and consuming amongest which vnspeakeable torments yea such as mans thought is not able to conceiue this paine is not the least to the damned but rather an other cruell death that they neuer haue any motion of the spirit to repent or conuert vnto thee the onely and true God I beseech thee therefore O Lord that as thou hast giuen me grace to belieue that by thy grace I am made a vessell of mercy I may liue in the life of the righteous sanctified by the spirit of Christ to depart happily in him and so to ascend vnto thee into thy new Sion and there to receiue the price of the victorious crown which this great Sauior of the elect hath purchased for the perfection of their glory So be it The one and twentieth Prayer For the Morning O Lord euen in the morning heare my voice Earlie in the morning will I direct my praier vnto thee and will looke vp O Lord I crie vnto thee and earlie shall my praier come before thee Let my helpe and beginning be in the name of god Father Sonne and holi-ghost who hath made heauen and earth Psal 5. 88. O Lord my God eternal and almightie to whom I owe all glory and obedience I doe humbly prostrate my selfe before thy face and lift vp my heart and voice to thee my Father which art in heauen to sanctifie thy name to craue thy mercy and to giue thee thankes for thy benefits I acknowledge of thy prouidence and benignitie that hauing passed this night vnder thy gard and protection I may yet see the light of the day in the workes of thy hands contemplate the greatnesse of thy power and here below enioy those temporall benefites that thou powrest plentifully or largely vppon thy creatures But because of thy vnmeasurable bountie thou makest earthlie things common to all men and that the effects of the Sonne doe stand vs no steede but for the life of the bodie I beeseech thee merciful Father more and more to raise vpon my heart thy eternall light our Lord Iesus Christ and by the vertue of thy spirit so to scatter the darkenesse of my vnderstanding and to breake the hardnesse of my heart that so farre as it may suffize for my saluation I may apprehend the glorie of thy Kingdome and the mysteries of christian faith together with the dutie of my calling that I may constantly walke in the same in a good conscience and as before thee the searcher of our harts with all my thoughtes worshipping and louing thee in spirit and trueth according to thy word louing also in thee my neighboures as my selfe to pleasure them so farre forth as I may by
al quiet obedience Receiue him into thy heauenly Hierusalem for hee hath his whole recourse vnto thee by one onelie mediatour Iesus Christ and all his confidence is in thy mercy In steade of bodilie death graunt him the life of his soule amongest thy Angels vntil that by the resurrection of all flesh in the great day of the LORD he may liue a whole man in the contemplation of thy glory And to vs all heere present likewise graunt thy grace that we may as we ought beholde in this myrror the shortnesse and vncertainetie of our dayes that hereafter we may not desire anie thing so much as to employ them carefully to thy honour and seruice For all these thinges doe we pray vnto thee in the name of thy Sonne in that Prayer which himselfe hath taught vs Our father which art in heauen c. The eight and twentieth Prayer For him that feeleth his death at hand Wee knowe that if this earthly tabernacle be destroyed we haue a building giuen of God that is a house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens The body is sowen in corruption it shall rise againe in incorruption 2. Cor. 5. 1. Cor. 15. O GOD my God and FATHER iustly was man thy creature when by sinne he had turned from thee who art the life cast headlong into the curse both of temporall and eternall death for thy Maiestie being infinitely offended ought also in iustice to require a punishment without end which beginneth euen in this life in many miseries and is perpetuated hell whereto death is as it were the gate O Lord The cause of so lamentable a mishap is in our nature But in thee is pittie and compassion O mercifull Father who after thy vnspeakeable goodnesse makest the temporall death which to all men is ineuitable and to the reprobate an entry into hel to change his qualitie concerning the Elect beeing vnto them a ioyfull passage to that happinesse which is in heauen For Iesus Christ thy eternall Son to purchase vs this benefit did put on our flesh and therein healed the wound of sinne by his righteousnesse and by his oblation satisfied for our debt triumphing by his resurrection ouer Death Sathan and Hel for the saluation of those to whome thou giuest grace to belieue in his name Now then my God sith it hath pleased thee of thy great loue thus to accomplish the high mysterie of our redemption I beseeche thee grant mee to feele the fruite and efficacy thereof through the vertue of thy spirit euen to the last gaspe of my life that then I may render to thee my soule in peace For I am baptized in the name of Christ I belieue his holy gospel and am fed with his body and blood in the holy Church True it is O Lord that the remembrance of my sins whereof my conscience doeth accuse mee doeth greatly trouble me for the darkenesse of my vnderstanding hath kept me from knowing thee aright and the corruption of my heart from worshipping thee in spirit and truth according to thy word I haue neglected this pretious treasure euen the voice of my Redeemer and by my slackenesse made the seede therof vnfruitfull in my soule many times preferring the loue of my selfe and the vanities of the world before the loue that I owe vnto thee my Creator and my neighbour for thy sake I haue not affected the crosse of thy Sonne that I might cheerefully carry mine after him in renouncing all my concupiscences neyther haue I applied thy chastizement to an vpright amendment of life I haue beene weake in faith slow in hope cold in charitie vnpatient in tribulation and more stiffe in retaining other mens offences against mee then ready to pardon them what more shal I say my God Also many other sins which I cannot expresse which being euen at this day hidden from mee in my infirmities doe ouerwhelme my soule were it not for the repentance that thou grauntest mee and the trust that I haue in thy mercy through the righteousnesse of my Sauiour Iesus Christ which it pleaseth thee in thy Fatherly loue to make mine I see nothing but matter of dispaire His sacrifice giueth mee peace with thee his blod cleanseth me his obedience absolueth me his woundes doe cure mee In his torments my soule findeth her rest for of all these benefites doe I feele thy promise sealed in my heart by thy spirit which maketh me to crie vnto thee Abba Father and assureth me that thou wilt of thy free mercy in the name of thy Sonne and for his sake giue mee remission of my sinnes and eternal life being illuminated therefore by this celestiall light I doe with the eies of my mind behold the ship that shall carry me ouer from earth to heauen no farther off from the presence of my Redeemer then was that of his Disciples when they rowed against the tempest to whom he said feare not for it is I. For in like maner commeth hee to meete mee to say vnto me Feare not assure thy selfe be constant It is I not the death which thou maist peraduenture feare but hee that hath broken the sting thereof that hath led it in triumph that hath broken the barres and bonds euen in hell and who therefore doeth make thee to ascend from the graue into the Pallace of my glorie Thus my God strengthened by thy grace with Christian hope which is not confounded and couered vnder the buckler of Faith which the darts of the diuell cannot wound I am able with a strong motion to paâ—â—e in peace from this prison of nature with these last words of Iesus Christ vpon the crosse Into thy hands O LORD I commend my spirit and the same Christ saying vnto me as to the poore theefe that was dying Sonne reioyce this day thou shalt be with me in Paradice FINIS
lippes which the Lord requireth of vs vnlesse the same be also guided with the holy affections of the soule for he harkneth rather to the heart than to the voyce and giueth to vs openly that which he seeth vs in secret to desire with our affections mortified in his sight Therefore wee must praying carefully lift vppe our heartes with a true zeale to GOD banishing out all other thoughts abandoning Sathan with all his baites opening our harts that our Heauenly Father may thereinto infuse and powre downe his blessings Neyther ought our prayer to bee bare or naked but conioyned with reading and meditation of Gods holy worde as also fruitfull in all goodnesse But alas if it bee most true that in all our exercises of piety wee be neuer able to seperate our selues from our selues but that our corruption wil stil euidently appeare it is sure the same will especially befall vs when wee prepare our selues to pray vnto God and frame our petitions according to his will for besides that the diuel doth at al times lie in waite to seduce vs so doeth hee especially at such times seeke to creepe into our minds to diuert our thoughts elsewhere that they may bee polluted with many blemishes notwithstanding that they of themselues sufficiently goe astray yea our vanitie imperfection and coldnesse doeth many wayes bewray it selfe that we may well say in one word no man prayeth rightly but he whose mouth and minde Christ doth direct with his spirit And therefore hath he deliuered vnto vs a sacred forme for all holy prayers in that prayer which is vsually termed The Lords Prayer wherein hee hath set downe the perfect rule whereby we may rightly forme our petitions and keepe them within their bounds that is the glory of God our saluation And this are wee dilligently to note as being assured that so we shall be heard albeit our frailty do hinder vs from praying with that zeale feeling and feruency of faith which true prayer doth require Let vs winne from our selues so much as wee may calling to minde for our comfort that we do offer our prayers to the father in the name of his wel-beloued sonne and by his own mouth couered with his righteousnesse who therefore will accept of them according to his promise but withall let vs also remember that such who vse many times to say O Lord help vs do not notwithstanding thereby obtaine saluation but they who doe his will and to that end doth he command vs that we haue his word dwelling peaceably in our hearts that we may be ready to performe euery good worke These things therefore being by God conioyned vnto prayer let vs take great heed that wee seperate them not considering that by the same we conuerse with our father which is in heauen and so enioy the fulnesse of his blessings for whensoeuer we apply our eyes or our eares to those things which he declareth vnto vs in the holy scriptures hee speaketh vnto vs and calling vpon his name we speake vnto him Moreouer in asmuch as naturally wee are but little inclined or rather vtterly carelesse of these spirituall exercises it will not be amisse if we restraine our selues to praier at certaine houres of the day not for superstition but to withstand our slouth slackenesse and other worldly matters which otherwise might induce vs to ouerslippe diuerse dayes without any practise of this duetie Dauid bearing vppon his shoulders the burden of a great Kingdome prayed morning at noone and at night yea seauen times a day did he sing praises to God day and night meditating in his Lawe Nowe therefore gentle Readers feeling my self toward the declining euening of my dayes with a taste of so many solide and permanent ioyes as are daily to be found in prayer withall being inflamed with a desire to finish the rest of my course in this sweete labour which I finde to be accompanied with so large a recompence I haue here formed for my selfe and for any other that list to reade it this small mannell of holy short and familiar prayers grounded vpon the texts of scriptures such as are indeed to instruct comfort and make vs perfect in faith loue constancy and to be short in all christian life Be of good cheere then all godly soules and let vs vnite all our petitions in this so deuoute and profitable an exercise of all true faithfull people Let vs pray and meditate if not incessantly yet at the least dayly at certaine set houres and as often as wee may as well in the congregation as in our families morning and euening amongst our houshold as also in our secret chambers Thus shall wee with our lippes vpon the Altars of our hearts offer vp many acceptable sacrifices of sweete sauor before his presence whereof the benefite will redound to our selues in that God will blesse vs in our vocations workes and labors Oh how happy shall these men then be whom the Lord shall finde thus watching and praying for they shall depart vnto him in peace in the contemplation of his glory which grace God graunt vnto vs all Amen E R HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE Holie Prayers of a faithfull Soule For the Consolation and Perfection of a christian life The first Prayer Vpon the Lords Prayer When you pray vse no vaine repetitions as the Heathen for they thinke to be heard for their much babbling Be yee not like them therefore for your Father knoweth whereof yee haue neede before yee aske of him After this maner therefore pray yee Mat. 6. Our Father which arte in Heauen O Lord God almightie the knowledge of whome is life whome to serue is to raigne and vnto whom to pray is the ioy and peace of the soule wee cannot knowe thee but in thine owne image Iesus Christ and that by the operation of thy spirit neither serue thee except wee follow thy word neither call vpon thee but in the name of the same Christ and according to that forme which himself hath prescribed vs. Thus euerie faithfull creature sayeth vnto thee Our Father giue vnto vs forgiue vs. For thus hath thy sonne the head of that vnion which is among al christians commanded that our prayers should bee common for al thy people as being all one body which thou gouernest by one onely spirite and forasmuch as our being dependeth vppon thee onely and being in our birth corrupted by sinne thou makest vs to be renewed vnto righteousnesse through the same eternal word wher by thou hast created vs we doe rightly cal thee euen by a double right Our Father A happie and louing beginning of prayer wherin the new man reconciled vnto thee in Iesus Christ thus speaketh to thee his father I do beleeue that I am of the number of thy children through thy mercy which it hath pleased thee to vouchsafe me and therfore O my God I cannot see doubt hereof but that thou dost louingly heare me and art inclined to
for our sinnes according to the scriptures and that hee was buried that he rose againe the third day O Lord God gouernour of the whol world immortall invisible and onely wise for whose glory al things are It hath pleased thee according to the decree of thy vnserchable counsel that man formed after thy image falling through mistrust and curiositie should by faith be restored to the excellency of his nature as he sought knowledge aboue thy commaundement and so strayed from thee and wandred out of thy kingdome so he should be revnited and reduced into the path of saluation by beleeuing thy onely word in the promised Messias bending the power of his soule to the knowledge of thee in embracing the preaching of the crosse which the world would accompt folly But because we al are borne blind corrupt in our vnderstanding and wil it therfore followeth that all the imaginations and thoughts of our hearts are at all times nothing but euill our knowledge but vanitie our learning but ignorance our iudgment but errour our virtue but pride our wisedome but folly the viuacitie of our spirit but the instrument of ruine our delight but filthinesse our faith but incredulitie our hope but fancie our charitie but coldnes to be briefe our pietie but hipocrisie or superstition and our righteousnesse but couetousnesse or ambition So O Lorde we of our selues are not capable somuch as of any good thought vntill thou that knowest how to drawe light out of darkenesse doest returne to recreate'vs and by thy spirit to shine in the firmament of our soules to the end to frame vs to euery faithfull disposition and obedience and so to make vs beleeue in the gospell of thy grace and in the mysteries of our saluation I doe therefore beseech thee my God according to the'fficacy of thy vertue to change in me all that I haue of my selfe euen my rockie and stony heart and to make it pliable and flexible vnto the voice of my Redeemer who is come according to thy promise to the end that with a ful and liuely faith I may cleaue to his eternall truth for to comprehend according to the measure of the gift of thy grace the summe and perfection of al spirituall wisedome which is taught vs in the articles of the true faith and sound principles of religion Surely my soule is ouermuch enclined to incredulity and mistrust neither is it any way able to pierce into these high and profound secrets of pietie where we haue a full declaration of all the figures and prophesies of the Lawe with a most pure and perfite doctrine of foure pointes which are the end of all religion and in regard whereof it is called Catholike For we find thee there thou only and true God the Father authour and gouernour of all things by thy almightie power goodnesse and prouidence Next is our Lord Iesus Christ thy word and eternall wisedome therein taught vnto vs together with the holy history of our redemption Thirdly wee there find the Holy-ghost the infinite vertue of thee the father and of the sonne three persons of one sole and simple essence and in equality of glory And finally therein is shewed vnto vs the Church with a description of these celestiall graces which thou pourest vpon her whereof the forgiuenesse of sins is the summe and life euerlasting the onely scope Giue therefore vnto me O merciful father of this thy spirit of reuelation of grace and of mercy to the end that the brightnesse and operation therof may make my soule capable of these great mysteries of thy Kingdome so farre forth as may be expedient for me to know for the seruice of thy glory and my owne saluation that I may obtaine the onely true and sound knowledge whose subiect and end is the onely true solide soueraign good both of men and angells namely to know thee to glorifie thee and him whome thou hast sent the Sauiour of the worlde So that with my hart I do belieue before thee and before al men I do with my words and workes confesse this acceptable message of the Messias come borne in the Cittie of DAVID which is CHRIST the lord God manifested in the flesh iustified in the spirit seene of the Angelles preached to the Gentiles beleeued by the elect and exalted into glory for our righteousnesse holinesse and glorification And further also O Almightie Lord print in my heart the feeling knowlege of this thy vnspeakable goodnesse and loue extended vnto vs miserable sinners in that thou hast giuen vnto vs in sacrifice thy only Sonne sauing vs by the onely merits of his death to the end that as the efficacie of thy loue hath redounded vnto mee wretched creature so I may also sufficiently meditate vppon thy great mercie incessantly yeelde thankes vnto thee and feele thy eternall consolation vntil that I departing in peace towardes thee my Father which art in Heauen may obtaine full knowledge of those things that thou hast giuen me to belieue and in the perfect contemplation of the same the soueraigne good of Angells and Saints So be it The third Praier Vpon the Decalogue or ten Commaundements God spake all these words saying Heare O Israel I am the Lord thy god that hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage Thou shalt haue none other Gods before me c. Exod. 20. O Lord GOD Almightie the Author of all righteousnesse and perfection of life Yea euen thou that arte essentially Iustice perfection and life I doe truly know that man created righteous perfect and by cleauing to thee blessed but free and mutable hath through sin turned from thee plunging himselfe headlong into the sinke of vnrighteousnesse imperfection and death The which hath depriued him of all power to obey the Law and consequently beereaued him of the reward of eternall blessednesse And albeit of especiall grace thou doost call vs by the Gospel to the free righteousnes of Christ to the end that beleeuing in him wee might confesse him for the obtayning of saluation Yet are we neuerthelesse so much inclined to distrust corruption and disorder that hardly we are entred into the waie of his vocation but we retyre immediatly straying out of that course which might purchase vnto vs the prize and so through our workes denie our faith and our profession Now as the first principal manner of thy honour O onely true GOD consisteth in beleeuing reposing our whole confidence in thee alone so the second and inseperable from true faith resteth in obedience to thy holy and good will For we must be doers of that which thy holie worde teacheth vs and not hearers only deceiuing our selues Thou hast chosen and adopted vs to be thy Children but it is vpon this condition that wee should be reformed to the Image of Iesus Christ the first borne inheritour of all things Thou hast chosen vs to be his Temple now his habitation
cannot be but holy for thy spirit dwelleth therein Thou hast redeemed vs with the price of his blood and that to the ende thou maist bee glorified both in our bodies and soules Thou hast freed vs from sinne euen to the ende we might be seruants to righteousnes Thou hast giuen vs the Sauiour of the World to be our iustification but to the end also that we possesse him in sanctification Thou wouldest that he should die for all men euen to make him liue in thy elect and they in him And this is the reason wherfore the institution of our faith together with the spirituall consolations that support the same is accompanied with the ten precepts of thy law the certaine and assured meanes to honor and serue thee in liuing religiously to thy glory vprightly to the profit of our neighbours For albeit in the Gospel wee be free from the rigor punishment of the Law yet neuertheles the rule of pietie and holie life contained in the Decalogue abideth with vs as a perpetuall patterne whereby to frame our temporall course of life And accordingly we do also consider of it in two partes according as it pleased thee O Lord to write it with thy finger and to deliuer it vnto Moses in two tables of stone for thy people whereof the first containeth foure Commandements of our duetie towardes thee and the second sixe of that which wee owe to our neighbors Also the summe fulfilling of all these holy precepts importeth that wee loue thee O onely true GOD with our whole heart soule and thought and then all other men especially the houshold of faith as our selues But O Lord such is the weakenesse of all flesh that there is no man able to attain to the perfection of thy Law and yet thou willest that here in thy children shoulde comfort themselues that there is left vnto them some measure to approach thervnto and so to bee acceptable vnto thee namely when with their whole strength preuented by thy grace they studie to attaine the end of thy word walking going forward by the steps thereof still with sighing for their infirmities For al the faithfull may so belieue that with thee their Father there is mercy for them in thy welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ I beseech thee therfore O my God to cast vpon me the eye of thy clemencie and goodnes therby throgh th' effects of thy spirit to restore in my soule the breaches of sinne to illuminate my vnderstanding and to possesse my hart with the loue of thy truth to the end that in all knowledge and obedience of faith I may constantly walke in the paths of thy lawe so that I may worship scare loue thee as the Lord to whome I wholy owe my selfe for thou hast created mee and which is more redeemed mee from eternall death whence I do also learne to loue all men in thee for thy sake because they beare thy image so that perseuering thus in the duty of my vocation I may so much the rather feele thy peace in my conscience and thy blessing vppon all the workes of my hands that filled with dayes I leaue my life to enioy rest eternally Amen The fourth praier To one only God in Trinitie of persons God in the beginning created Heauen and earth The word was with god and this word was God And the spirit of GOD mooued vpon the waters Gen. 1. Iohn 1. O Eternall true and only God in three persons coequall almightie of one sole and simple essence inuisible and infinite The Father the word and the holy Ghost who being the soueraign good sufficient to thy selfe needing no newe matter wouldest not for euer inioy thy glorie alone but according to thy vnmeasurable altogether incomprehensible goodnesse reueale thy selfe at thy good pleasure in foure workes altogether diuine singular The creation of the world of all nature the redemption of mankinde the building thy church thy graces the same O Lord who only art in trueth permanent and stable through whome euery thing is that is in respect of whome all is lesse then nothing who giuing by thy word beeing to that that was not at all hast out of a confused voyd and dark substance drawne light beauty and order stretching forth the heauen as a vault or tent vnder the same the earth and the inhabitants thereof who hast made al things in number weight and measure from whose prouidence doeth proceede the moderation and gouernement of all that is whether it liueth feeleth or vnderstandeth O holy thrice holy admirable and amiable who being righteous wouldest not suffer man made after thy image to go vnpunished when he had sinned and who beeing mercifull hast not left him without grace who being good hast not neglected the least of thy works euen to the haire of a beast the lightest fether of a fowl and the least flower or leafe of grasse in euery of these things grauing certaine tokens of thy glory and maiesty by the harmonie agreement of al these smal creatures with the greatest of the world O Father and moderator of all things I beseech thee let thy eternall wisedome reach to me euen through the light of thy spirit which seeth all things which soundeth all thinges which searcheth into all things and which with his presence of grace maketh his residence in al peaceable cogitations to lift them vp by the effects of his gifts vnto the fanctuarie of thy supercelestiall pallace there to make them see heare and worship in spirit truth the diuine maruels of thy Kingdome the mysteries of the adoption of thy elect So that being thus taught by the most sacred Oracles I belieue in hart and with vnderstanding meditate vpon the true eternall existence of thee O Father borne of none the first Soueraigne and Almighty cause of al things and especially of our saluation throgh thy loue Of thee O Sonne eternally begotten by the Father and by whom he hath made all his works who art the principall cause which giues vs life happines according to the fulnesse and perfection of thy loue and of thee O Holy Ghost from al eternitie proceeding from the Father the Son and by whome all creatures doe subsist and saluation is communicated vnto vs three persons of properties distinct yet not seperate in vnitie of essence and equalitie of glory in thee one and true God not created infinit and almighty the God of thy people And that through this healthfull knowledge I doe worship serue and call vpon thee only for euer without declining from thy word Wherupon likewise through a stedfast faith in thy promises depending vppon an assured hope and true loue I doe more and more draw vpon my self the sauour of thy holie blessings to the end that as the Angels aboue doe praise thee the powers of heauen do blesse thee all the spiritual armies do magnifie thee I likewise may heere belowe haue this
felicitie to finish my course in singing thy praises and so leauing this terrestriall life to ioyne my selfe altogether to the celestial with those blessed spirits in the ful contemplation of thy face to sing with them without ende this song of perfect ioy Glory be to the Father that hath created vs Glorie bee to thee Sonne that hath redeemed vs Glory be to the Holy-Ghost that hath sanctified vs Glorie bee to the most high Trinitie one onely God and Lord whose kingdome is euerlasting The fift Prayer For the obtaining of the knowledge of God in Iesus Christ The word was made flesh and dwelled among vs full of grace and truth the Image of the inuisible God which is Christ the Lord who by himselfe hauing purged our sinnes sitteth at the right hand of the Maiesty in the highest places Ioh. 1. Col. 1. Lu. 2 Heb. 1. O GOD and Father of our Lord CHRIST IESVS of all them whom in thy loue thou hast giuen to him to be his brethren it hath beene thy good pleasure to settle our true and only felicitie in the knowledge of thy holy name and the effects of thy grace But we are vnable to know thee or to feele the efficacy of thy loue towards vs but only in the same Christ who is the brightnesse of thy glory and the engrauen character of thy person God with thee and man with vs. By this thy eternall word thou hast created all the world giuing vnto vs the first testimony of the manifestation of thy wisedome and prouidence But thou giuest vnto vs a more singulare benefite in the miraculous worke of our redemption which doeth moreouer represent vnto vs both thy great goodnesse and loue and thy Iustice infinit power Thy loue in that thou hast vouchsafed freely to redeeme man who prowde and vnthankefull withdraweth himselfe from thee his Father and Benefactor to surrender himselfe vnto Sathan the ennemy to our saluation and of the honor of thy name Thy Iustice in that thou hast not spared the blood of thy innocent sonne to the end in his sufferings to iustifie thy goodnesse and mercie Thy power in that for the accomplishing of this supernatural worke thy word which from all eternitie was resident in thy bosom of one essence glory with thee was made flesh Neuerthelesse I doe very well know that the depth of these profound mysteries cannot bee discouered to our sences likewise that the treasures of thy wisedome of thy counsell of thy iudgements are a very bottomlesse gulph and thy wayes vnpossible to bee found out Also O Lord I doe not rashly enter into that place which is forbidden mee neither will I imitate my first Father Adam who coueting to knowe too much stretched forth his hand vnto the forbidden tree desiring one onely fruite was depriued of all the rest I doe onely with flexible heart embrace and carefully in my cogitation according to the measure of thy gifts meditate vpon that secret of godlinesse which I haue receiued by the preaching of thy gospell and doe in part know it attending vntil that beeing deliuered from sinne corruption I may see thee face to face and in presence behold that which now I see as it were in a very darke Glasse I beseech thee therefore my God vouchsafe by the light of thy spirit to addresse and guide mee to the faithfull knowledge of this great Sauior whom thou Father hast promised from the beginning and in the latter times reuealed in signes and wonders surpassing all miracles to the end that being instructed by his doctrine I may by him and in him know thee to be the eternall liuing God and the God of thy people that according to his word I may worship and serue thee in spirit and trueth and in his name call vpon thee only in full confidence of thy mercy accompting him the onely subiect thereof and the onely mediatour of my saluation who died for my sinnes and rose againe for my righteousnesse euen O Lord because it pleased thee in this maner to ordaine of the estate of humane nature the worke of thy hand For who was thy councellor and what haue wee that wee haue not receiued graunt me therfore in the study and meditation of so manie mysteries so high and so wholesome that I may humbly condiscend to thy diuine counsells in worshipping them with this resolution of thy Apostle that I will not knowe any thing but Christ neither possesse any thing but him sith that in him the treasures of all wisdome doe consist and that they who lodge him in their harts haue thee O God verily present and doe enioy thee and thy benefites Make mee also to feele and confesse this necessitie common to all the children of Adam that for the cancelling of this obligation which held vs bound to eternal death the iust reward of sinne wee were forced to haue this great King of heauen holy innocent and seperate from all sinners to be our high Priest our sacrifice and oblation vppon the Altare of the crosse to the end O Lord that according to thy vnsearchable decree grounded vpon mercy iustice thy welbeloued sonne hauing to himselfe vnited our nature the bondslaue of sathan might leade it to the combate directing it how to ouercome this great aduersarie And this hath he done obtaining for vs the victory when he brake the sting of death and the bonds of hell and that hee rose out of the sepulchre carrying with him this humane nature as the earnestpeny of our hope to thy right hand into heauen Of this so singular a benefit let the remembrance be alwaies before my face that I may offer vnto thee O my God the sacrifice of thanksgiuing all the dayes of my life so that hauing my redeemer for a perpetuall obiect and sure foundation of my Faith in the knowledge of thy name I may throughly learne Christ not onely to beleeue by his word the sacred history of his conception and birth with his office of a soueraigne King great Prophet and perpetuall law-giuer of his church also his passion death resurrection and ascention but also that in ful assurance in his promises I may appropriate to my selfe the gifts and graces which he purchased for vs by fullfilling that charge that he had receiued from thee O father to th' end through him to make vs worthie of thy saluation so as I may comfort and wholy repose my selfe vpon his obedience and righteousnesse shewing forth and sealing this my hope by good workes to thy glory O eternall God and the peace of my conscience So be it The sixth Prayer For obtaining the gift of the Holy-ghost By the eternall Spirite Christ hath offered himselfe to GOD the Spirit which soundeth the profound things of God which also testifieth with our spirit that we are the children of God Heb. 9.1 Cor. 2. Rom. 8. O Lord God almightie wee doe learne in thy word the vnchangeable trueth how without confounding any thing in
of thy Sonne crucified and risen againe and in his bloud shed for the washing of our soules when at his holie Table the sacred signes are by his ordinance deliuered vnto vs and that we doe receiue them as hee hath commanded expecting that aboue in heauen without any exterior meanes we may eate this bread of life and drinke this sweete drinke in the company of the Angels of all the blessed then at the ful inioying of our vnion with thee O great God and the ioy of our beatitude accomplished O most desired daie wherein we shall be fed and satisfied with this celestiall bread that we may neuer die nor thirst againe in this newe life where thou O eternall God shalt bee wholy in vs. Oh happie are wee already who already in Christ in the communion of the faithfull do taste the sweetnes of this celestiall banquet wherin we shall see thee and face to face contemplate Father Word Spirit one only and true God beeing filled with thy glory in endlesse peace To the end therfore that according to thy Commaundement O Lord I may worthily present my self to this holy banquet of sacred foode which the Angelles doe admire and honour which also thou dost not communicate but to thy flesh I beseech thee giue mee grace well to discerne the bodie of my Sauiour in trying my selfe according to his word so as my hart may be cleansed from sinne and vncleanenesse and replenished with thy loue and with euery other spirituall vertue to the end that euen this day harbouring therein this great King of heauen I may encrease in the faith and hope of my saluation by his holines and righteousnesse I haue reposed al my confidence in thy mercy I neither seeke nor hope for any good or grace but from thee my God and in thy sonne and for his sake I doe desire in my place with simplicitie to celebrate the remembrance of his death in the holy church to the glory of thy name and the peace of my soule I renounce the deadworkes of the flesh and the lusts thereof I doe put off all enmitie and malice with a good intent to embrace the liuely workes of the spirit and to dwell in loue and charitie with my neighbours I do belieue in the promises that Christ the infallible truth hath pronounced with his owne mouth That at his holy table he will truely make me partaker of his body and blood to the end I may possesse him wholy and in such sorte that being made flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone he may liue in mee aad I in him for euer Helpe O Lord the weakenesse of my faith support mee in my infirmity and in that desire which thou giuest me to profit in the sound knowledge of thy mysteries and in the practise of the pathes of thy kingdome conioyne vnto the same desire the performaunce of the deede For it is onely by the vertue of thy spirit in sinceritie of heart that I shall this day receiue from the same Iesus the effect of his word in participating truely in his new and eternall testament the couenant of grace so to perseuer in this blessed societie of his Bodie that from him I may incessantly gather strength and life and vnited with him I may also attaine to bee one with thee my Creator Grant mee therefore that in this maner I may with thy Church celebrate the most holy remembrance of our Lord and of the worke of our redemption to the end that so receuing this great sacrament of his body with a newe augmentation in all heauenlie grace with so much the greater confidence I may againe call vpon thee my God and my Father and more more glorifie my selfe in thy mercies So be it The eleuenth Prayer For thanksgiuing after the Communion And when they had sung a Psalme they went out vnto the Mount of Oliues Mat. 26. O Lorde my God my Father euen from the bottome of my heart and with all my soule I yeelde thee praise and thankes for that it hath pleased thee to enlarge so great a benefite to mee miserable sinner as to haue drawn and receiued mee into the sacred Communion of thy son Iesus Christ my sauiour The heauen of heauens are not able to comprehend him yet doth he so farre honour vs as to vouchsafe to communicate with vs yea euen to enter into vs poore wormes of the earth For such was thy good pleasure O Lord to deliuer him once to the death for the redemption of thy elect and as to euery one of them so doest thou this day giue him to mee to be my foode and spirituall sustenance that I may liue of him and in him blessed both in body soule eternally I beseech thee therefore O mercifull Father so to blesse in me this holy and mysticall action that my vnworthinesse make it not vnprofitable vnto me that the pretious bloud of thy sonne bee not in vaine shed for mee and offered me to drinke but that washed in the same and cleansed from my sinnes I may obtain that iustification and holines that beseemeth thy children who haue this most holy one to be their hoste and head thy spirit for their light Let me not be so wretched as to abuse these sacred meates which thou dost communicate to thy houshold of faith onely the prouision whereof cost thy welbeloued son Iesus so deere Rather my God grant that in true efficacie I may participate in this sacrament of his body to encrease in faith loue and all other thy gifts that I may neuer abandon thy holy couenant Alas whither should I go but to thee the fountaine of eternall life by Christ who is the fulnes thereof and by whom it runneth into vs Cast from me all carnall cogitations and delights and all these earthly baites which turne to gall and corruption because I haue in my bowels an incorruptible foode more sweeter then honny the bread of Angels the bread of heauen the bread of life which with out any sacrament wee shall feede on aboue without ende where Christ according to his promise shall with vs drinke the fruite of the new vine yeelding vppe vnto thee the kingdome O eternal God that thou maist be all in all I doe therefore resigne my self into thy hands and vnder thy conduct that I may runne my race in ioy and a good conscience before thy face and before men And that I may departe in peace when my houre is come because Christ is my life To thy name therefore O almighty Creator to thee Redeemer of the elect to thee Comforter of the faithfull who by thy secret vertue doest worke this vnspeakeable and miraculous coniunction of our soules with the body of the Lord. To thee Trinity Father Word Spirit one only and true God be all honour and glory Amen The twelfth Praier To obtaine the gift of Faith The law was our schoolmaister to bring vs to Christ that wee might bee
the Holighost whom thou hast giuen vs and thy Sonne Iesus is the mean and fulnesse according as in him doth remaine all that is beautifull delectable peaceable rich permanent and glorious aboue in Heauen which thou hast promised vs. Of which treasure of inestimable valew thou doest thus euen already graunt mee the vse by the effects of thy diuine vertues which make mee to pierce through the heauens with my imagination and to establish my soule in thy peace as if in my bosome I kept the full fruit of thy promise and did alreadie liue there aboue in like estate as the Angells For O eternall God thy mercy is vpon me as I doe trust in thee And therfore albeit I creepe here vp and downe through manie infirmities Yet will I in patience abide the appearing of thy glorie in the daie of the comming of thy Sonne to iudge the quicke and the dead as being thorowly assured through thy grace in the end of my course to obtain the diadem wherewith thou crownest thine and at the last day and euer in my flesh to behold that great Sauiour of the elect who liueth with thee and the Holyghost one god eternally Amen The fourteenth Prayer To obtaine the vertue of Loue. God is loue and he that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God and God in him The end of the Law is loue out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith vnfained 1. Ioh. 4. 1. Tim. 1. O Eternall who art al loue and who according to the infinite vertue thereof hast loued vs before we wer as also since the time that wee were thy enemies vnthankefull sinners adiudged to death and to the paines of hell thou hast I say freely so loued vs that thou hast giuen thy onely sonne to the world to redeeme vs with the price of his blood and for vs to purchase righteousnesse and a blessed life This being so O Lord the original and fountaine of loue make it with efficacy reflection to shine into al places whither the knowledge of thy grace shall come likewise that where thou doest more neerely communicate thy selfe by making the flames of thy loue to bee more liuely felt graunt also that there by the effects of thy spirit the greater loue towardes thee may appeare I beseech thee make mee more and more to meditate and comprehend this thy admirable loue that I may accordingly frame my selfe to that loue thou requirst of thy children truely faithfull which is also the end of the whole law and precepts of the gospell So that in purenesse of heart with an vpright conscience and with a true and liuely faith I may attaine to the knowledge of thy truth and will to the end in all through al to obey thee with a quiet conscience the same being the chiefest the highest and the most perfect degree of loue that we can testifie vnto thee O our God and that which leadeth vs to the perfection of Christian life which of mortall men maketh vs as it were Angels which albeit wee liue vppon earth maketh vs Cittizens of heauen to bee briefe it is that which in the secret of our hearts giueth vs a sweet feeling of thy peace which surmounteth all the reason of our vnderstanding That also thereby I may learne that there is none that can loue thee perfectly vntill he hath bin preuented by the sweetnesse of thy vnmeasurable loue and kindled with the flame That we loue thee because thou first louedst vs like as also through thy grace thou makest thy selfe thy benefites knowne vnto vs. The more therefore that wee finde our selues disposed to loue thee the more shuld we beleeue that thou makest thy selfe to be felt in the inwarde partes of our soules to bee our God and our Father and that therefore wee haue the greater cause to confirme and comfort our selues in the loue that thou bearest vs. O Lord make me also to vnderstand that as Christian charitie doth especially regard and looke vppon thy holy deitie Father Son and Holy-ghost one onely God that we may loue thee with our whole hearts mindes and strengths so hath shee a like regard to her neighbour that in thee and for thy sake because he beareth thy image we may loue him as our selues for in these conioyned and reciprocall things also Christ teacheth vs the bond of perfection euen that wee shall indeede be his disciples if we loue one another because he so shal fullfill his loue in our hearts But being O Lord very true that the faith which thou giuest vs doth singularly vnite thy familie together graunt me the spirite of loue which leading me to doe well to all men doth teach me principally to loue the houshold of thy Church that I may with a ready will yeelde them all helpe in their necessities In asmuch also as our redeemer the perfect pattern of charitie hath loued his enemies procuring them good for euill and blessing for iniurie I beseech thee my GOD giue me grace to extend my loue to those that hate mee that without hypocrisie or vaine glory I may to my power help forward their good and saluation And so that I may beare an vpright and lowly heart to all men whereby all the faithfull may be edefied and comforted and others seeing my good works rather thine than mine may be constraind to glorifie thee O our father which art in heauen c. The fifteenth Prayer That we may well vse afflictions If any man will follow me let him forsake himselfe and take vp his crosse and follow me By manie tribulations wee must enter into the Kingdome of heauen Hee chastizeth him whom he loueth and scourgeth euerie childe that hee receiueth Mat. 16. Act. 14. Heb. 12. O Lord my GOD and my father I learne in thy worde that none be true Disciples of Iesus Christ but they that followe his steppes wherof he hath deliuered vs a sure marke in these two chief points the renouncing of our selues and the voluntarie enduring of the crosse For naturallie we are inueagled with a disorderly loue to our selues and doe presume too much of our owne persons It is therefore necessarie for vs to renounce our own nature and reason and to abandon our owne affections to suffer thee thy loue O our God to liue raigne in vs. Then must we proceede to the other point that is cheerefully to beare out the afflictions and miseries of this life wherein it pleaseth thee especially to exercise thine vpon diuerse good considerations namely to make them conformeable to the image of thy Sonne to the end that suffering with him they may also raigne in his glory For it is very true that al men by sinne doe eate the fruites of the earth in labour and bread in the sweate of their browes that they all liue in a sea tossed with many stormes crossed with many anguishes But all haue not the gift of thy spirit to learne by his doctrine that the
to bee dissolued and to be with Christ howbeit if notwithstanding in the infirmitie of my flesh the fearefull Image of death trouble me in the straites of my departure If the world that doth alwayes too much bewitch vs maketh my thoughts then bowe to his will If Sathan pitcheth his assaults and snares and vpon the remembrance of my sinnes setteth hell before my face moreouer if my owne perturbations keepe me from apprehending thy eternall consolations in such most necessarie extremities vouchsafe my good God and father in these anguishes to approach vnto me to saue me from the running and swift streame of such brookes that they may not carrie meaway to perdition illuminate my thoughts with thy spirite waken my soule out of the sleep of death renew my hart by the vertue of thy spirit and put into my hands the staffe of thy assured conduct to bring mee out from the laborinth of this sorrowful passage causing me with the eyes of my faith to behold my righteousnes vpon the crosse of my Sauiour the discharge of my debts in his sacrifice my victorie in his combats my life in his death my glorie and ioy in his resurrection that so replenished with peace I may cheerfully resigne my bodie to the earth as assured that it shall rise againe and my soule to heauen with these last words of Christ Into thy hands O Father I commit my spirit So be it The nineteenth Prayer For heauenly life Hee that heareth my worde and beleeueth in him that sent me hath life euerlasting and I wil raise him again at the latter day Father concerning those whome thou hast giuen me my desire is that they may be where I am that they may be with me to beholde my glory Iohn 5. 6. 17. O Soueraign Father of al thinges by a singular priuiledge Father of the children whome it hath pleased thee to adopt in our Lord Iesus Christ to be coheires with him in the celestiall life I learne in thy word that this inheritance blessed estate is acontemplation of the glory of this great Sauiour of the elect in an vnspeakeable beatitude onely worthy to be loued and to bee sought incessantly night and day with the lamp of thy trueth Which is to see him as he is true God and true Man and perfectlie to enioie his presence with communicating of all his goodnesse to be in the ioy of his Lord as a loyall seruant and to beholde him face to face in his diuine essence one with the father and with the holy ghost one onelie God in soueraigne Maiestie which is to be vnited and conioyned with him and by him vnto thee O eternall GOD who art all light and life of the soule at her departure out of her earthly habitation afterward reuested with it flesh in that great day of the glorious comming of the same Christ when hee shall wholy render vppe vnto thee the kingdome of thy grace that thou maist be all in all To be briefe which is both in body and soule to be in him and to liue of his glory And this also is the eternall life a life accomplished in knowledge in loue in righteousnesse in rest in honour in beautie in constancie in ioy felicitie and peace a life wherin the Angels and Saintes incessantly do sound out and celebrate O Lord thy great name in perfect and rauishing melodie replenished both with a desire and a fulnesse of the celestiall bread Iesus Christ God man without this desire breeding any griefe or this fulnesse any molestation In summe a life which by the full view that wee shall haue of thy eternall deitie O almightie GOD shall make vs knowe thee as thou hast knowne vs and as thou art in Trinitie of persons Father Word Spirit and in vnitie of essence likewise to loue thee according to the excellency of thy nature with our whole heartes and thoughts and our whole strength and might and in this loue to obtaine our perfect full contentment To this heauenlie life O Lord my soule directeth her flight this is the marke that shee aymeth at the end whereto shee tendeth and the reward that she by thy grace promiseth her selfe for seeking after thy welbeloued Sonne in whome it pleaseth thee to be my God and my Father Oh! I shall indeede goe and liue in this holy and sacred place of the habitation of thy glorie and there shall contemplate that which neuer eye sawe vnder the heauen neyther eare hath heard nor heart comprehended of the solide Riches whiche thou doost keepe from all eternitie for thy children I shall see I say these diuine wonders in thy sanctuary in thy light inaccessible for all flesh knowing in the brightnesse of thy countenance thy infinite power O Father thy incomprehensible wisedome O Sonne and thy incomparable vertue O Holy-ghost one onely true God A knowledge so singular and pretious that therein resteth all the felicitie of the Angels and saints their only plentiful reward their scepter the diademe of their glory and the full and perpetuall ioy that couereth their heads as with a crowne of victory in a peace durable for euer I beseech thee therfore O Lord to giue mee grace that withdrawing my affection more and more from the darke cloysters of the earth sprinckled with teares I may lift vp my desires to the lightsome habitation of thy deitie where the treasures and incomparable ioyes of thy paradise do remaine in an eternall life So that I may finishe my course in an earnest and perpetuall meditation of this angelical and diuine being and comforting my self incessantly night and day in that the promise is made vnto mee through my sauiour Iesus Christ to the end that in my last hower come out of my misery and entered into my felicitie I may with a happy flight goe take my rest aboue in thy peace O my God which surmounteth all vnderstanding and for to sing Psalmes of thanksgiuing vnto thee without end So be it The twentieth Praier Vpon eternall death Of those that sleepe in the dust of the earth some shall awake to euerlasting life others to rebuke and shame without end Their worme shall not die and their fire shall not be quenched there shal be weeping gnashing of teethe Dan. 12. Esay 66. Mat. 15. ALmighty god for whose glorie all nations are created Thou which art the mightie and the faithfull God keeping thy couenant and free mercy with a thousand generations of those that loue thee and obey thy commandements which giuest againe the very same vnto those that hate thee and rebell against thee with euery of them euen to their face whose will is the iust and soueraigne cause of all that is done in heauen and in earth whose counsailes are vnsearchable and iudgements most profound and admirable O Father and gouernor of all things thou hast euen from the beginning of thy vnspeakable good nesse framed man and reclothed him with such an excellency as did