flesh but casting away the workes of darknes enioy the pure light of the Gospell and perseuer and abide therein enioying thy fauour loue vnto the ende without fainting in anie tribulation or vexation of Spirite going forwarde in hope in feare in loue and vnfeyned zeale towardes thee That I may obteine at thy mercifull hands whatsoeuer is necessarie in this life or for the obteyning of the life to come and after this life ended enioye thy celestiall purchased inheritaunce sweete Sauiour Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose I Humbly beseeche thee Oh mercifull God for thy sonne Jesus Christes sake to powre into mine heart by the operation of thine holie spirite one sparckle of true sayth whereby I may truelie beleeue in thy Son Jesus Christe as our onelie mediatour and â—duocate through whose death and passion we are restored to our former happines wherein we were in the beginning placed which none can beleeue but through the holie ghaste Encrease therefore my faith that working by charitie I may doo that which may be acceptable vnto thée all the dayes of my life Through Jesus Christ. Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A prayer against the deuill the world and the fleshe very necessary to bee often sayde If thou these Captaine foes wilt flye Thou must craue ayde of God on hie THe deuill who is Prince of darknes Eph 6. and wbo ruleth in this world goeth about seeking whom he may deuoure and leade headlong into destruction by putting before our eyes the vaile of the vanities of this worlde that we should not see the light of the trueth but to continue in darknes in hautines and pryde as bondslaues and captiues to him whose children they are 2. Tim. 2. that continue in voluntarye blindnes whose end shalbe the fire euerlasting Ioh. 8. prepared for him and his Angells Mat. 25. Pray that the worlde ouercome you not 1. Ioh. 5. wherein resteth nothing but wickednes and sinne The whole world 2. Esd. 4. is full of vnrighteousnes and wickednes which who so loueth is an enemye to God They that are in the fleshe can not please God Ro. 8. but shall die Eâ—de That is such as yeelde them selues to followe the lustes thereof shall haue the rewarde of the wicked in eternall perdition Praye therefore that ye enter not into temptation but that yee may walke godly as the seruauntes of Christe and not as the seruants of sinne OH Christ sonne of the liuing GOD who in the time of thy humanitie wheÌ„ thou walkedst heere in the vaile of this miserable worlde in the forme of a seruaunt in the substance of mankinde art not ignoraunt of the sundrye greeuous assaultes and temptations wherewith sathan that monstrous enemie to mankind tryed thee thou beeing altogether cleane and cleere from all corruption yea without all desire of sin yet hardlie assaulted by sundrie meanes to procure thee to yeelde to his allurings wherby sweet Iesus thou haddest sufficient try all and experience of his like assaultes vnto our corruptible and weake flesh who are by reason of the fall wilfull transgression of our great Graundfather Adam as thou knowest moste easie to bee ouercome who in all assaults haue none other refuge or defence but onely to flie vnto thee and to reste vnder the shaddowe of thy winges which is so sure a haâ—bour and so strong a defence as who so faithfully betaketh him vnto the same is safe froÌ„ al the raging stormes of sathan the deceites of the worlde and motions of the vnbrideled fleshe all which are vnto our soules moste monstrous mortall and most cruell enemies Oh Lorde let thine holy spirite dwell in mee let it neuer depart from the inner part of mine hearte but decking the house of my soule with the flowres of loue faith and vnfeined zeale it may please thy diuine Maiestie to settle thee and frame thy selfe therein to abide that thy presence may bee so terrible vnto his assaultes as he approching neere vnto me seeing thee and hearing thy name Oh Iesus may flye away as hee did from thee in the wildernesse as hee dyd from thee on the Penicle and in all his temptations Thou wert pure at that time without spotte of sinne I am sinfull and full of corruption He could not ouercome or preuaile against thy sanctetie but I am prone to fall therefore easie to be ouercome strengthen me therefore stande with me fyght for me that he take mee not captiue and make me a bondslaue of sinne keepe me free out of his clawes sweet Iesus let the brightnes of thy grace so shine about me that his darknes come not neere me to ouershadowe mee with the darknes of iniquitie Let thy sauour bee a wall a bulwaâ—ke and strong buckler for my defence for Lorde thou knowest that his force is so great his will so ready his doings so wily as if thou doo but pluck backe thine hande he striketh vs if thou turne thy face he winneth vs to his will and if thou depart vtterlie from vs we shall runne headlong into moste horrible destruction Wherefore Oh sweete Iesus saue me sweete Iesus keepe me sweete Iesus imbrace me holde thine holy hand ouer me conducte me and leade me in the middest of the path of truth to celestiall happines and let me not bee drawen awrye to the left hande or to the right but keepe a middle and directe course vntill I come to the place of celestiall blisse where neither sathan shall ouercome me the world deceiue me nor the fleshe procure me to sin but be in the light of thy most glorious presence with the residue of thy saints singing eternall praises vnto thee But Oh my most louing redeemer my time is not yet come my iourny is not yet at an end my daies which though they be but a span long are not yet finished And vntill this body of mine shal passe to the graue my poore soule must haue and abide continuall conflictes with the deuil the king and Emperor of this world and with as many his ministers as my tongue can not number and principally with the world who setteth before mee insteede of diuine and heauenly contemplations worldlie vanities insteede of celestial and true comfort worldly delights insteede of heauenly hope worldly and vnauailable promises to bring as much as in him lyeth my godly enterprises to wicked end Lord he labours by all meanes to drawe vs into dispayre by loding our mindes with too much doubt of the performaunce of thy most comfortable promises But sweet Iesus though his power be in show great thine is in deede greater though he be strong thou art stronger though his instigations prickings for warde to wickednes be many thy louing and father lie callinges to grace are more Thou hast promised vs thy helpe and that most meruey lous to our eyes for thou hast said that thou wilt giue vs power to doo not onelie as thou didst but more and greater
hold of thy miracles wonders which thou so apparantly diddest worke to declare and manifest thy selfe to be our redeemer and aduocate and to confirme the same in our heartes by faith as thou diddest in the heartes of thy Disciples who notwithstanding there beeing present with thee continued yet neuerthelesse in darknes and misbeleefe without the working of thine holy spirite in them whereby they confessed thee to be very Christe son of the liuing God and onely sauiour of the world Among all which thy great benefits Oh good Iesus we yeelde thee all possible thankes for that it hath pleased thee to leaue vnto vs after thy departure vnto the right hande of thy father the Lanterne of light the Gospell of comfort the word of trueth the foode whereon our soules may continually feede at full without the which wee had beene left vnto our former darknes walking in error in our wonted ignoraunce And for that thou knowest vs from the beginning to be carryed into blindnes and error wrongfully interpreting the parrables darke sentences of thy gospel through the same thy loue hast left vs a continuall coÌ„forter euen thine holy Ghoste proceeding froÌ„ thy father thee who in the likenes of a Doue discended froÌ„ heauen vpon thee showing himselfe vpon the Apostls in fiery tongues Oh holy ghost our coÌ„forter we yeeld thee most huÌ„ble thanks that through the gift of thy grace we haue our harts prepared our vnderstaÌ„ding lightned mouthes opened to conceiue rightly thy word to declare abroad the wonderfull thinges of thy lawe and to manifest the secrete misteries of the kingdome of God Thou â—rt the true light and the light of trueth without the which it is impossible to please God the father nor haue accesse to God the Sonne who together with thee Oh holy ghost are but one God in esseÌ„ce though three in person Make our heartes pure make vs cleane sanctifye vs and seale vs among the number of the electe and chosen that when wee shall approche vnto the seate of iudgment we may receiue through the merittes of Iesus Christ not onely the stipende of seruants but the rewarde of obedient children euen the inheritaunce of the kingdome of heauen There to rest with thee Oh Father our maker with thee sweete Iesus our Sauiour and with thee Oh holy ghoste our comforter and sanctifier for euer and euer To whome bee all prayse and eternall glory world without ende Amen Oh Lord increase our fayth A praier to be saide before the receiuing of the Communion THere is sayde sufficient in a certaine exhortation set downe in the booke of coÌ„mon prayer to stirre vppe the minds of all well disposed persons willingly and zealously to come to this holy table wher vnto before we come wee ought to addresse and prepare our hearts to put of all rancor mallice wickednes and all kinde of vice with the fruites of the olde man which is disobedience and sinne and to put on the newe man which is righteousnes comming therevnto in a pure cleane hart abounding with loue peace fayth charity that wee may receiue it to our comfort Reade the 11. chap. of the firste Cor. from the 20. verse vnto the 29. and there shall you finde not onely the manner of the institution and celebration thereof but also howe to receiue it with heauenly profit the daunger in the vnreuerent and vnfaythfull receyuing of the same to the cosort of the Godly shame of the wicked SVVeete Iesus sonne of the euerliuing and omnipotent GOD vouchsafe I humblye pray and beseeche thee euen for thy death sake to instill into mine hart the gift of thy grace whereby approching vnto the sweete banquet of thine holy body blood which thou vouchfafest to giue for the redemption of vs miserable sinners I may by faith eate and drinke the same and be made a fitte and faithfull member of thy misticall body laying aside the darknes of olde Adam embracing the light of thine obedience loue and patience that that most preacious bodye of thine bee not giuen not thy blood shed for me in vaine but may direct the whole course of the residue of my life by thine holy spirite according to thine heauenly wil in all thinges that after this life ended I may appeare before the tribunall seate of his high and heauenly maiestie as a faythfull member of thine and enioy that heauenly enhearitaunce which thou our head and guide hast purchased for all true beleeuers in thee Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth At the receiuing of the breade say thus Vouchsafe oh sweet Iesus that as thou hast giuen thy flesh to be the breade of our eternall saluation So vouchsafe to worke in me by a liuely faith that I receiuing the same may be and euermore continue one in thee and thou in me Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth At the receiuing of the cuppe say thus Oh lorde vouchsafe that as thy blood was shed for me a sinner So graunt that it may through a liuely faith wash me from the filth of sinne and renue in mee the fruites of righteousnes that I may become a fitte member of thee liue and dye in thee for euermore Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A prayer after the receiuing of the Communion VSe not the manner of many who in the day wherein they repayre vnto the holy table of the Lorde doo not onely lightlye esteeme the weightines of the matter but lewdly gyue themselues to wanton companyes gadding heere there to banquets tauerns loosly aboue other dayes giue theÌ„ selues to wanton behauiour but remember thy promise that thou hast made to god to become a new man to 〈…〉 all wantonnes and cleaue vnto godlines of life Be not like the dog that 〈…〉 â—o his vomit or the â—â—w to her wanted wallowing in the dyrt of sinne 〈…〉 â—e holy as your heaueÌ„ly 〈…〉 er is holy Seeke the 〈…〉 me of God and the 〈…〉 thereof and all thinges shall bee gyuen â—â—u and as the true members of Christ in the ende râ—igne with him in eternal glory OH omnipotent most mercifull father I thy silly creature praise thee not able to yeeld thee thanks sufficiently for thine vnspeakable fauour and louing kindnes in feeding mee at this time with the spiritual foode of the body blood of thy sonne our sauior Iesus Christe whom thou vouchsafest to send for our redemptioÌ„ into this miserable world and to giue him euen to the death in remembraunce whereof vntyll his second comming hee hath willed vs to eate his bodye and to drinke hys blood to thende by sayth we should be vnited and knitte vnto his body and beeing washed from all our sinnes to leade a new life vouchsafe I humbly beseeche thee for his sake to endue mee with thine holy spirit wherby heerafter casting aside the workes of darknes I may from hencefoorth walke in the light of thy Gospell in the number of thy chosen wayting faithfully when he shall come
in vs hauing yet a longing desire Let vs then in hart faythfully say Oh Lord increase our faith and let vs bee occupyed in continuall contemplation of heauenly thinges and no doubt but dulnes will soone vanish and the spirit haue his effecte for it is not the tongue onely or lippes that maketh the sacrifice of prayer sweete and acceptable to God but an humbled minde a contrite and sorrowfull spirit declyning from sinne and inclyning to God wherefore it behooueth vs vnder the burden of our sins with Dauid to groane in heart saying wee haue sinned we haue doone amisse we haue dealt wickedly and in the name of that seconde Adam let vs pray for power to tread the fruites of the first Adam vnder our feete for of our selues we are weake we are of no force to remooue that is euill or to imbrace and follow that which is good but all what good is commeth from God to whom we ought at all times to bend our repentaunt heartes and pray him for his sweete and welbeloued sonne Iesus Christes sake to shew vs and guide vs by the working and direction of his holy spirite the right pathe vnto the kingdome of heauē that all things as wel ghostly as bodely may be ministred vnto vs. It were superfluous to make any great collection of proofes of the singuler effect of this most excellent practise of earnest faythfull prayer for praying in the name of Christ he shall obteyne whatsoeuer hee knoweth needefull for vs examples whereof are infinite wherefore omitting further discourse I haue sett before euery perticuler prayer certaine godly motions vnto the prayer following the rather to induce and stirre vppe the godly minded to the vse thereof hoping by his assistāce by whose these small fruites haue proceeded to performe the execution of my small Tallant to a further benefit of others heereafter It resteth now right worshipfull to pray your fauourable pardon for presuming to publish the same vnder your good acceptaunce not standing in deede long in suspence to whose handes firste to committe my trauaile But your woonted clemencye wisedome and zeale soone stirred my willing minde to present it vnto your selues dismaid at nothing but at the simplenes of the painetaker onely who beeing in all respectes poore presenteth this day a poore gift praying pardon for his boldnes and lawfull fauour at your handes for his rewarde And though many be the precious giftes that this day passe from one to another and they tende but as the smallest and simplest to the remembraunce of the newe yeere I most humbly beseech your worships willingly to accept this handfull of cold water flowing from the fountaine of the well of life which gift as it is not mine so I craue but contentation at your hands wylling enterteinment of the simple messenger the presentor heerof with him to giue thanks to the heauenly giuer In whom as all wisdome consisteth so I humbly pray hym to instill into our hearts that water of heauenly life his holy spirite to direct vs al to perfect perfection in heauēly things for his sons sake in whose name I hartely wyshe you as a whole happy new yeere many heereafter to his wil so new ioyes heere and in the end eternall ioyes of eternall blisse Westminster 22. December Your worships bound and obedient Seruaunt Iohn Norden Meditationes siue sententiae piae de huius vite fragilitate et de vita eterna secundum ordinem Alphabetarij in nomen Henrici Knyuet militis H HEC est voluntas Domini vt omnes qui videt filium eius credit in eum habeat vitam eternam Ioh 6. E Estote parati quia filius hominis veniet in hora qua non putatis Luk. 18. N Nolumus nos ignorari fratres de dormientib vt non contristemini sicut et ceteri qui spem non habent 1 Thes. 4. R Recordatus est dominus quia puluis sumus homo sicut foenum dies eius tanquam flos agri sic efflorebit Psal. 102. I In imagine pertransit homo sed et frustra conturbatur Thezaurizat et ignorat cui congregabit ea Psal. 38. C Cuncti dies nostri dilabuntur Annos nostros finimus dicto citius Psal. 89. V Vniuersa vanitas omnis homo viuens Psa. 83 S Statutum est ominbus hominibus semel mori post illud autem iuditium Heb. 7. K Kahos hulus mundi in principio formauit Deus et statuit iterum semel perire cum omnibus in eo continentibus Gen 1. N Nihil intulimus in mundum nec offerre quicquid possumus 1. Tim. 6. I Illi serui beati quos cum venerit dominus inuenirit vigilantes Luk. 18. V Vita nostra quid est vapor est ad modicum patens deinceps exterminabitur Iam. 4. E Eccemensurabiles posuit dies nostros dominus et substantia nostra tanquam nihilum ante illum Psal. 38. T Traditus est Christus propter dilicta nostra et resurrexit propter iustificationem nostram Rom. 4. Certaine godly precepts Alphabetically sett downe vppon the name of the right worshipfull the Lady Elizabeth Kniuit E Endure temptations patiently L Liue as thou mayst liue eternally I Imbracing trueth vnfeynedly Z Zealously and freely A Aske God mercy heartely B Beware of euill warely E Endure all crosses willingly T Trust in GOD faythfully H Heare his word attentiuely K Know him thy maker rightly N None helpes but hee effectually Y Yeelde him prayses dayly V Vse his gifts reuerently E Embrace them thankfully T Take all thinges of him ioyfully A godly motion to awaken the heartes of such as sleepe in securitye by the Lady Anne Kneuet A Arise Oh sinfull soule in haste lye not in slumber still N Now time beginnes to fly full fast to make his finall will N Now come the dayes of wofull sights or now the dayes of blisse E Eternall ioyes the lost shal see feele paines who doo amisse K Knock now or neuer at thy brest thou soule that liest secure N Neglect not time for tune doth paste tho time for aye endure E Eche 〈◊〉 that hopes to haue good hap that happy life hath led V V 〈…〉 shall hap the same when cleiesh corps are dead E Exchange thy choise of worldly weale for heauenly harbor heer T Too late to turne when Trumpet soundes final flames appeare The Printer to the godly Reader I Craue thy fauourable pardon Gentle Reader for sundry faultes past in the impression and thine owne willing amendment of them in reading as they are heerevnder corrected The cause of so many committed was that the Author could not haue the examination of the proofes therof But at the next impression more care and dilligence shalbe giuen by the grace of GOD whose grace I wish to direct thee Amen Leafe Page Line Fault Correction 4 2 25 thy busines my busines eodem eodem 26 my blessing thy blessing 9 1 18 to y e sanctetie the sanctetie 10
eodem 27 where were 25 eodem 24. desease deseased 26 2 4 as white be as white 32 eodem 6 learne teache 59 2 9 vndeserudly deseruedly eodem eodem 27 wylles wyles ¶ A pensiue mans practise Before we pray we must forgiue if we haue any thing against any man otherwise our heauenly Father will not forgiue vs. Mar. 11. A prayer to Christ. O Sweete Iesus who haste taken vppon thee to bee our intercessor Aduocate vnto God thine heauenlie Father vouchsafe I humbly be secche thee to accompanye me in these my supplications and prayers presenting them vnto his heauenlie maiestie in such sorte as for thy sake sweete Iesus they may be acceptable vnto him to the washing away of my sinnes obteining thinges necessarie for me and all men according vnto his will in all things Amen O Lord increase my faith O Lorde open thou my lips that my mouth may extoll thee with prayse and bee thankfull vnto thee for thy benefites grant that I speake nothinge but that which may bee to thine honour glorie to the reliefe of our necessities bodelye and ghostlie Amen O Lord make speede to sende vs helpe succor from the Tower of thy strength O Lord let thine heauenly kingdome bee alwayes readie to receiue vs to eternall saluation Eternall praises be vnto thee oh God So be it A praier for the assistaunce of Gods holy Spirite Aske what thou wilt and thou shalt haue If thou in Christ the same doo craue For Christ thy Mediator sees When thou to him doost fall on knees ASke and yee shall haue seeke and yee shal finde knocke it shalbe opened vnto you Matt. 7. If yee that he euill can giue vnto your Children good giftes when they aske them how much more shall our heauenlie father giue his holie spirite to theÌ„ that faithfully desire it Luk. 11. VVe knowe not what to aske nor how to pray as we ought but the spirite it selfe maketh request for vs with sighes which can not be expressed Rom. 8. Seeing therefore our prayers be vaine and of none effecte without the grace and assistaunce of Gods holie spirite let vs fail downe vnto the throne of his Maiestie praying faithfullie for the same and it shall be giuen vs. O Almighty God omnipoteÌ„t father who comfortest such as be sorrowfull and who giuest all good and perfect giftes as thou of thy free fauour and loue hast willed vs in all our afflictions and necessities and as often as we finde our selues burdened with any kinde of tribulation or afflictioÌ„ either of bodie or minde to call for ease at thy mercifull handes So vouch safe to heare my crye and to consider the secrete groanes sighes and sorrowes of my sillye soule Oh blessed and eternall God loe heer before the throÌ„e of thy mercy euen at the gate of thy sweete promises I thy silly creature worke of thine owne hands prostrate my selfe in hearte most humbly beseeching thee to sende downe vppon my darke vnderstanding the bright beames of thine holy spirite to lighten me and to direct me in all my supplications and prayers and especially at this time Oh Lorde for that thou knowest my weakenes wickednes and ignoraunce to be such as I am altogether vnable to frame my requestes according to thy will or to seeke that is truelie for mine owne soules health and am altogether ignoraunt of the right gate to knocke at without thine especiall grace directing and assisting mee VVherefore I most humbly beseeche thee to addresse and prepare mine heart to the true vnderstanding of thy will and my tongue and lippes to the pure and vnfeyned calling on thy holy name euen for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake our onely Mediatour and Aduocate for whose bitter deathes sake I humbly beseeche thee of thy meere fauour and louing kindnes to wasn me and to make me cleane by the operation of thine holy spirite that beeing sanctified I may vtter those thinges which may bee vnto thee an acceptable sacrifice through the same thy sonnes mediation and intercession And that nothing passe the bandes of mine vnstaâ—ed lippes but that which may beseeme a single heart alwaies sounding to thine honour and setting foorth of thy most woorthy prayse both at this time and at all times Let thâ—ne holie spirite Oh Lorde come vnto me let it continue with me worke and preuaile effectuallie in me vnto the ende that I may both at this time beginne and for euermore continue as thou willest I shoulde namelie in faith that I fall not in anie temptations In hope that I may constantliâ— looke for and faithfully attaine vnto perfit vnderstanding of thy will and ablenes in all thinges to fulfill the same Make me also good Lord feruent in charitie that I may freelie and vnfeynedlie euen from mine heart forgiue and forgett all iniuries wronges and euill dooings of such as by any meanes haue ostended me with hartie prayer for their amendment that I approching vnto the throne of thy mercie in a pure and simple hart may hartelie as wel for all others as for my selfe for thinges necessary both for bodie and soule say that prayer which thy deerlie and well beloued sonne Iesus Christ taught vs to say Oh our Father which art in heauen c. Oh Lorde increase our faith A shorter prayer to the like purpose OH God almighty most louing and moste righteeus who vouchsafest to instill into the heartes of thy chosen seruauntes grace vnfeynedly to serue thee and to call vpon thine holy name in their necessitie and distresse Uouchsafe I humbly beseeche thee â—f thy méere mercie to expell out of mine heart all naturall dulnes misbeléefe and blindnes of error And through thine holie spirite to plant in steede thereof perfect zeale and vnfeyned desire to prostrate my selfe in heart before thine heauenlie Maiestie in fayth vnfeyned That at thys time it may please thée so to accept these my supp 〈…〉 cations and prayers as I may obteyne at thy mercifull handes what soeuer thou seest necessary bothe for body and soule through Jesus Christ our onely Sautour and Redéemer Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A morning prayer for the working day Before thou dâ—o thy worke beginne Thanke God craue pardon for thy sin And then thy worke shall prosper so As want shall neuer breede thee woe WHat a great benefit we receiue at the handes of almightie God by our naturall sleepe none is ignoraunt what perrils wee escape in the darke dolefull night wee may easilie iudge And what fauome the almighty extendeth towardes vs in giuing vs lodging not in the fieldes but in houses not vpon the harde and colde grounde but vppon softe pillowes warmelie couered experience teacheth VVhat thankes for this so bountifull benefits of his we are daily bounde to yeelde I woulde we allknewe and had will to yeelde them accordingly as did Dauid who Psal. 55 in the morning at midday and at night calling on the name of the Lord with thankes sayde Psal.
VV iddowes and be helpfull vnto them in their distresses Lord haue mercy vpon all men forgiue our enemies and such as persecute vs and if it please thee turne the heartes Fructifie those thinges on earth which thou hast appoynted for our vse and so increase the same that we may enioy the fruites thereof with sufficiencie for our necessities in time conuenient And vouchsafe to giue vs grace to fall downe vppon the knees of our hearts with vnfeyned repentannce of all our sinnes that we may obteyne at thy mercifull handes pardon for our offences negligences and ignoraunces and vouchsafe to endue vs with thine holy spirite that we may goe forward in daily amendmēt of our liues gouern the same according to thy wil. Amen Oh sonne of almighty God we beseeche thee to heare vs. Oh Lambe of God that takest away the sins of the world graunt vs thy peace and haue mercy vpon vs. Oh Lord increase our fayth Amen A prayer for the fulfilling of the tenne Commaundements Pray that thou maiest fulfill the will Of him whose hand defends thee still And these precepts forget thou not Which Moyses for thy safety wrot BLessed is the man as sayth Dauid Psalm 1. 2. that delighteth in the Lawe of the Lorde and meditateth therein day and night he shall be blessed in his goodes in all that hee taketh in hand at his going out and his comming in and in all thinges But contrariwise he that declyneth from his commaundemēts and neglecteth them shall be accursed in all his waies and nothing shall prosper with him although for a tyme it flourishe in showe heere the ende of the same will be euill And therfore Dauid in all his prayers considering his owne infirmitie besought the Lord to instruct him in his commaundements saying make mee Oh God to vnderstand thy lawes and I will meditate vppon all thine wonderous works Yea his delight was in the commaundements of God And Saloman sayth Pro. 28. that hee that turneth away his eares from hearing the lawe his prayer shall be abhominable For it is the loue of God that we should keepe his commaundements 1. Ioh 5 Praye therefore that God will stirre vp in you an vnfeyned zeale in all your dooings and enterprises to obserue the law of the Lorde OH almighty Iehouah God of heauen earth who haste promised thy selfe euen from the beginning to be our Lorde and our God our shielde and our Fortresse our buckler and defence our Castell and refuge And who hast brought vs with a mighty and strong hand with an outstretched Arme out of the Lande wherein wee were straungers wherein we liued in bondage vnder the yoke and tytannye of Antechriste and sathan into the lande land that floweth with the Milke and Honny of true religion wherewith thou feedest the soules of thy faithfull ones Grant that as through thy meere mercye and loue thou vouchsafest to bring vs into this worlde and to frame vs to thine owne image and likenes So we may account thee as our onely God worshipping none other besides thee making vnto our selues none image of any likenes either of thinges aboue or thinges beneathe nor bowe or seeke helpe at the handes of any as a God beside thee who as by thy mightye power thou broughtest the children of Israell out of Egipt by the handes of Moses and Aaron where they were in bondage where they were continually oppressed with sundry kindes of vexations both of body and minde So hast thou vhuchsased to bring vs and to deliuer vs from a greater bondage seruitude and stauery euen from the power of Sathan vnder whose tyranny we rested and now escaped not by the pollicie strength or power of any Moyses but by the blod shedding of thine only son Iesus Christ who tooke vpon him the death of the crosse for our sakes to bring vs frō darknes wherein we walked according to the will of the flesh vnto the true knowledge of thee againe to redeeme vs out of the bondage of sin into the land of righteousnes from blinde ignoraunce to the bright shining day-starre of thine heauenly will who art not onely a most loouing and gentle Father but also a moste sharp punisher and reuenger who art not onely desirous that we should come vnto thee but art also most ielious ouer vs least we should seeke or follow any other God besides thee yea in all our afflictions and troubles to seeke onely vnto thee and beeing releeued to attribute the onely meane thereof vnto thy selfe whereby thou hast promised to bee mercifull vnto thousandes that loue thee feare thee seeke thee and truely take hold◠of thee as theyr onely God And againe threatnest thy vengeaunce and heauy displeasnre to continue vppon the thirde and fourth generation of them that hate thee and folow straunge Gods Oh sweete God vouchsafe that it may be farre from our mindes to haue any desire once to put our foote towardes any straunge Gods appeare their helpe neuer so likely or plentifull but that it bee bothe now and euer in our hearts to confesse both in word and conuersation that there is none other God besides thee who art most glorious and a most louing Father haue mercy vpon vs. And so vouchsafe to direct vs in all our dooinges cogitations and wordes as we may alwayes and in all thinges fulfil thy will neuer taking thine holy and most glorious name in vaine by blasphemous speeches dishonouring the same Keepe vs moste louing Father not onely from the most detestable sinne of periury whereby thine holy name is often defaced and as it were troden vnder foote as in making it the author of abhominable falshoodes and lyes but from all friuolous and vaine othes which to the great greefe of thy children are moste vncomly in the mouthes of such as vnreuerently and rashly vse it euen in common speeches without any vrgent cause or matter forcing wherby they fal into the most hemous sinne of taking thy most glorious name in vaine but that we may vse such a reuerent manner godly order of vsing thy name for trial of any matter in lawfull causes as thou maist alwaies find vs true hallowers of it therby And forasmuchas thou within sixe daies didst finish al things in the be ginning in the seauenth day didst rest from the same labor commanding vs likewise to obserue the sanctification of the same for euer and to rest from all labours trauailes and worldly busines and not onely our selues but all other whom thou hast committed to our charge as seruaunts Oxen and Asses and such like graunt that wee may not onely lay aside all worldly cares and busines on the Sabaoth day resting our wearied members but may in all thinges sanctifie it and keepe it holy with godly exercises diuine prayers and heauenly meditations with carefull and diligent regard to the auoyding of all wanton pastimes foolish and vncomly exercises and vnlawfull practises whereby oftentimes the affection beeing mooued to impatience powreth
things for our vse in time conuenient as by the placing the stars in heauen with the son mone their course orderly motiōs the hearbs of the field and due manner of their spring fading withering agayne The sea so inuironed compassed notwithstāding the rage force thereof kept within his limmits appointed boūds with the fishes so infinit therein both smal great the ebbing flowing therof which all serueth only for the vse seruice of man yea with out the which man coulde not continue yet especially aboue al things so great was his loue that he spared not for our sakes to giue his only son euen to dye most vndeseruedly vpon the crosse for our redemption which loue of the father therin as it moueth or shold moue a great desire of thanksgiving in vs so doth the obedience of the son giue vs a greater occasion of thankes giuinge then the tongue of any mortall man can expresse by whose acceptance of the pangs of death came the remission of al our sins as witnesseth the holy ghost the water of life which beeing sprinckled in our harts procureth vnfeyned looue whereby wee haue accesse to Christ our onely mediator to God the father Prayse God the father who made vs prayse God the sonne who redeemed vs and is our continuall aduocate to his heauenly father prayse God the holye Ghoste who hath sanctified gods electe and gyueth light vnto the hearts of all such as serue the Lord vnfeynedly OH almighty God maker and creator of all thinges conseruer of all that thou hast made and protector of all that loue thee who in the beginning madest all thinges of nothing which al rest in thine hādes haue their continuaunce beeing without whose prouidence they shold cōuert againe to nothing we yeeld vnto thee al lawd praise and glory vnto thee ascrib al power maiesty dominion who rulest all things workest al things disposest all things after thy wil to thine owne glory to our vnspeakable vndeserued cōfort who are as Pilgrims and strangers without the same thy continuall protection as creatures forsaken castawaies Lorde thine hād guideth al thinges preserueth al thinges guiueth all thinges for our vse most disobediēt stifnecked childrē who not withstanding thou through thy meere mercy loue vouchsafed in the beginning to place in the garden of happines where we shold haue cōtinued had not our firste parent by transgression made forfeiture therof so highly displeased thee that thou repēting of the makīg of vs didst drown the whole world for our sins sake yet so tender was thy loue so soone was thine anger conuerted into a desire of our saluation that thou vouchsafedst to sende into thys world Iesus Christ to redeeme vs into thy fauor again a surpassing loue where the offended shold seek attonemēt wyth the offendour for which thy singuler loue mercy in finit we can not sufficiēly thanke thee god of our cōfort nor thee sweetsaui our Iesus christ for thine obediēce for thine vndeserued humility and ardent desire of our reconciliation and eternall saluation Lorde increase my faith sende mee thy grace and endue me with thine holy spirite that I may hartely render and continually yeelde all possible thankes vnto thee not onely for creating keeping and preseruing vs hethervnto but also for reaching vnto vs thine hande of loue againe after our so greate and long disobedience I thanke thee Oh sauiour Iesus Christe redeemer and sauiour of our soules who refusedst not but most wilingly acceptedst for our sakes for our redemptiō from hell and eternall death beeing then thine enemies the approbrious death of the crosse among notorious offenders beeing often spightfully intreated buffeted spette at reuiled and most iuiuriously handled not for thine owne sweete Iesus but for our offences for our sinnes yea to purchace that by thine obedience which we lost by willfull rebellion against thyne heauenly fathers precept and will Oh good Iesu we thanke thee that it hath pleased thee to leaue the sacred mansion of thy Fathers right hand thy celestiall beeing and to put on the base attyre of a seruaunt to walke in the troublesome pathes of this miserable world and yet thinking it no robbery to be equall with God though leauing his heauenly habitation for a time according to his prouidence and heauenly knowledge to suffer heer in this vale of misery in this desert of sinne moste cruell and most shamefull abuses onely for our sins which were so odious and vile in the sight of our good God that no sacrifice or oblation coulde appeaze his wrath and deserued displeasure towardes vs for the same but thy death onely and sacrifice of thy precious and vndefiled body vpon the Aulter of the crosse who willingly sufferedst the same for our sakes notwithstanding they were so greeuous so in tollerable and odius that by reason of the extremitie and anguish rhereof thou werte constrained to sweat water and bloode Oh surpassing loue Oh loue without the which the hatred of thine omnipotent father had not been appeazed nor remooued from vs. Oh loue without the which we had beene barred of all accesse vnto the seate of mercy and woonted fauour of almightye God and continued in his heauy displeasure for euer to our vtter distruction death and damnation Oh sweete Iesus Oh healthfull comforter and giuer of health and restorer of life howe can wee but prayse thee how can we but loue thee howe can wee but magnifie and extoll thine holy name for euer who haue receiued at thy mercifull handes so vnspeakable a benefitt yea and who so tenderly louedst vs that by thy meanes without our deserts we are restored from death to life frō the deserued displeasure of our creator to his vnspeakable loue and fauour without which we had perished both body soule we haue attonement now with him that before we had so greatly offended euen God our maker without whose fauoure wee fall and without whose helpe wee perishe and passe to naught Oh sweete Iesus thou haste also taken vppon thee not onely to dye for our redemption and rise againe for our Iustification and to place vs in the sweete mansion of thine heauenly knowledge But haste also promised to continue our mediatour to thine heauenly father for euer while wee mortall men liue sinners on earth making continuall intercession for vs that he will vouchsafe neuer to withdrawe his louing countenaunce from vs his poore creatures but to be our Castell staye and strong refuge vnto the ende Oh Lord Iesus Christ we giue thee thankes not onely for that thou haste beene for a time heer present with vs on earth to manifest thy selfe vnto vs by the visible showe of thine humanity but in making the cause of thy comming certainly known vnto vs which was indeed in that thou wast verie God to call vs from blindnes error wherein we walked according to the will of sathā to take
Philosopher beeing demaunded what was the hardest thing in the world aunswered for a man to know himselfe beeing then demanded what was the easiest thing he answered for a man to giue good counsaile vnto another Both which his resolutions to the sayde demaunds I may be thought rightly to verify by this mine enterprise beeing of so slender iudgment and young of experience taking vpon me to discribe vnto the learned and wyse a forme for their better instruction wherein many may condemne my selfe in neglecting the principles of the same But right worshipful notwithstanding my weaknes my good meaning is not heerein altogether to be condemned who of my selfe am nothing and can doo nothing Sed Deus bene facientes adiuuat God is euer ready to further the good attempts of euery man his hand is ready to guyde the pen of all that endeuour to glorifie his name by their dooings from whom if I should not acknowledge all godly desires to proceede and attribute the benefit of euery mans godly trauaile vnto his prouident care of our welfare I should not but thinke my selfe an enemy vnto his diuinity VVherby incurring his heauy displeasure my trauaile should turne to mine own trouble and my desired prayse vnto my deserued paines But for asmuch as Lex domini imaculata est conuertans animas testimonium eius fidele sapientiam prestaus paruulis The Law of the Lord beeing vndefiled conuerting the soule his testimony faithfull and gyuing wisedome euen to the babes and little ones mine hope is that his hand was the directour of my pen and his grace the gouernour of my heart in my proceeding and as my selfe haue had no small comfort and sweetenes in the exercise thereof already And so much as I perswade my selfe it can not be but likewise beneficiall to such as in â—eale shall vouchsafe to bestowe some time in the faythfull practise thereof Notwithstanding some will say there is prayer bookes inough in my iudgement not too many so that they bee consonant and agreeable to that forme of prayer which Christ himselfe sette downe and prescribed wherein is conteyned sixe petitions or requests vnto God whereof the three first are for the setting forth of the glory of God the three last pertayne onely to our owne commodities as for all thinges necessarye for our bodies for remission of sinnes and to bee preserued from temptations which concerne the soule in which sixe petitions is conteyned the some of all prayers whatsoeuer And as it hath beene lawfull for the zealous godly for their owne godly practise heeretofore to writ the same for the benefit of others allowed to bee published I presume acknowledging my trauaile altogether inferior to those to coÌ„mit this my practise to the Print not deemeing it of my selfe worthy but by the iudgment of others learned perswaded to consent therevnto the rather wylling for that my purpose in wryting and intent in publishing rightly wayed and the matter duely considered none or rather the lesse by reason of your good countenaunce wyll seeme to vomit out theyr conteÌ„ptuous termes of the worke or reproches of the poore paintaker as against the best booke and most zealous Author that euer wrote the enuious haue doone but for mine owne part I hold me rather woorthy rebuke then reward for wading so farre into that that belongeth vnto the zealous learned and men of most sounde iudgement to sette foorth and I beeing as it were ignoraunt should put before the eyes of such as haue bothe knowledge and wisedome a glasse or spectacle for their better light and furtheraunce when as in deede I should rather repayre vnto them as blinde for theyr ayde to direct my selfe But right worshipfull acknowledging my fault heerein vpon hope of your taking it in good part I presume to present this my simple trauaile vnto you taking it in hand with no lesse good meaning vnto the highnes my light guyde with no lesse good will to you then he who hath deserued farre better for his trauaile I haue intituled it A pensiue mans practise and I thinke not vnfitly who in my too much liberty in the seruice of the right worshipfull Lady Ann Knyuet your late disceased mother and my good Lady and Mistresse spending many dayes in idlenes and voyd of good but in fryuolous exercises among many inclyning to theyr owne pleasaunt deuises considering that S. Ierom sayth that Per publicaÌ„ viam non ambulemus we shoulde not walke after the moste And weying the sentence of Terence who sayth truely that Omnes deteriores sumus licentia All men are the worsse for too much liberty I withdrewe me from their so familiar society insomuch as I was thought of some sulleyne of some prowde of some foolish and none past with out his verdite of my solitarines wherevnto vpon these considerations I had drawne mine vntoward desires in so much as by sundry sodaine passions and greefes of heart for thinges passed and to come I was often perplexed the grace of God onely of his mercy more preuailing with me theÌ„ an infinite troope of carnall perswasions I betooke me to often sundry prayers vnto almighty God in all my perplixities and troubles with earnest de sire to the reading of that that most might stirre my dulled and vntoward minde to the desire therevnto whereby by little and little feeling a certaine inwarde sweetenes and comfort to grow in myne heart by the practise thereof the flesh being alwayes repugnant it began to be of such force to my comfort in my necessities as I thought it a fitte practise in allpensiuenes a practise in all perplexities most precious in all distresses most delectable yee in all thynges in all places at all tymes most requisite and comfortable which although some wyll condemne my circumstaunce mooued mee to gyue it the tytle of A pensiue mans practise which I speake not to myne owne glory I woulde that euery one in all extreamityes would vse the same I meane prayer he should finde comfort therein yea he shoulde finde as I know by experience pleasure in perplexitye for no thing mooueth sooner desire of inuocation vpon God theÌ„ bodely necessities for the pleasure of the body taketh away the good desire of the soule we ought to pray for the gyft of the spirite of God and then shall not our desires depart empty away a zealous and faythfull inwarde desire without motion of the tongue in our distresse sendeth vppe euen to the throne of God so sweete a sauour That euen the holy ghost in our greatest pensiuenes wylbe most ready to giue assistaunce to our good desires and wyll bring the same to most wished perfection But corruption aboundeth in all men all men are prone to doo euyll euen by nature and none there is that dooth good no not one The spyryte is often wylling but the flesh is alwayes weake we must therefore pray continually and when we are so dull as that the outward showe dooth argue insufficient feruency
143 6. Lord let me heare thy louing kindnesse betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust So let vs yeelde his maiestie due prayses for his continuall louing kindnes towardes vs saying OH almightie God father of our lorde Iesus Christ who hast vouchsafed of thy thy great fauour loue euen from my childhood vnto this day to take such fatherly care of me that nothing hath destroied or hurte me but haue beene saselie preserued bothe day and night froÌ„ sodaine death and from all other perrils and dangers incident vnto mankinde haue all my life beene preserued And of thy free fauour and loue without aâ—â—e deserte or merite of mine to my great comforte enioyed the sweete benefite of sleepe and rest which is most wholesome for my poore and weake body yea and so good a nuâ—â—iture therevnto as good soile to the barraine field or thy timely showres to the dry ground or meate acceptable to the hungry stomacke Oh sweete Lord such hath beene thy fatherly care of me this night past that the sleepe which thou hast giuen me is most coÌ„fortable bothe to my bodie and soule in so much as I am the more aptly giuen to the execution of my worldlie busines and the seruice of thy diuine maiestie this morning wherein asist me sweete Lorde with the helpe of thine holie spirite comfort and defende me this day and euer with thy mercifull ayde that none affliction hurte or misfortune dismay me no tribulation or anguish of minde draw me from thee no worldlie care delight or fantasie carrie me at any time into anie wicked cogitation action or speeche for Lord I knowe that it is not thy wil that any euill shouldedwell in vs or that we shoulde at anie time offende thee but to keepe our hearts pure and vndefiled as a fitte receptacle for thy Maiestie Yet thou sufferest sometimes vnlawfull affections to haue the vpper hande to the end that we feeling our weaknes and corruption should wholie confesse all our strength all our godlie cogitations and workes to proceede from thee And for that all flesh is full of sinne and that the iust fall seauen times a day forgiue Lord my wickednes mine offences and sinne committed either this night past by foolish dreames fantasies or other temptations or at anie time since I came into this miserable worlde beeing a moste sinfull creature and that beeing pardoned by thy mercie in Iesus Christ I may proceede in the residue of my dayes gouerned by thy holie spirite voyde of all offences vsing my vocation and calling so as may be to the setting foorth of thy glorie maintenaunce of thy fauoure towardes me and getting those thinges which may be sufficient for the maintenaunce of mine estate heere and for the reliefe of such as are committed to my charge And graunt me alwaies such regarde of seruing thee as thine hande may alwaies directe mee to good and happy successe in all mine affayres Blesse thou the worke of mine handes good Lorde and graunt mee so to flye ydlenes the mother and Nurce of all euill that both this day and all my life I may by godlie care and trauaile get me a sufficient competent liuing heere that I be no burden and charge to such as are rich and welthie nor depend vpon the succor helpe and furtheraunce of others whose helpe is moste slippery and deceitfull Least that in hope thereof I giuing my selfe to ydlenes and loytering when their helpe shalbe with-holden from me I be driuen as the wise man sayth to goe in a ragged coate to want my foode But contrary wise Oh Lorde graunt that I may so imploy my selfe to laboure and dilligent execution of thy busines this day and euer that I may through my blessing luckelie prosper therein and shew my selfe so helpefull to the poore impotent and needy as the fruite of my trauaile shall extende vnto That thou maiest fulfill in me that most sweete promise of thine That who so considereth the poore and needye thou wilt deliuer him in the tyme of trouble Lord thy mercie is infinite and thy loue towardes vs vnspeakeable wherefore giue me grace alwayes to serue thee yea at all times and in all places both in laboure and rest welth and pouertie sicknes and health yea all my life and at the howre of my death that I may passe this day and all the rest of my transitorye life in the fulfilling of thy lawes and be readie at thy fauourable becke and call to come and appeare before thy throne of mercie in perfect hope of thy louing receiuing me into the bosome of thy sweete imbracinges not for my woorthines or dâ—serces which is but corruption but for the merites of thy sonne Iesus Christ there to rest inioying the fruites and benefit of his death and bitter passion in whose name I referre my selfe and all mine both this day and euer vnto thy Fatherlie protection humbly beseeching thee to direct almy thoughtes wordes and actions vnto my liues ende Good God Amen Oh Lorde increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose I Thanke thee most mercifull Father my maker and preseruer that thou hast so louinglie vouchsafed to tender my safety this night past giuing me sweete sléepe to the refreshment of my feeble and weake bodye So of thy goodnes vouchsafe to extend y e like louing fauour to wardes me this day whereby I may bée both safelie preserued from all kinde of euill and imploy my selfe dilligentlie vnto the execution of my vocation to the releefe of mee and mine and to thy glory Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A prayer for the Queene What so thou he pray God alwayes To blesse our Queene with happy dayes Whose wisedome vnder God so long Hath kept this Realme from sorrame wrong THe vnspeakeable benefite of our long peace and gratious tranquilitie may without manie circumstaunces or manie wordes suffice to mooue thankfull mindes to praise the God of Heauen for his vnspeakable loue towardes vs in giuing vs so gratious a gouernesse vnder whom we haue not only these xxv yeeres peaceablye liued but enioyed the comfortable passage and foode of the gospell when manie other nations haue wanted the same to the famishing as it were of their poore soules wherefore considering that wee may if not the more to our shame feede thereof at ful and thereto freendlie intreated and inioyned not onelie which is generall by the word it selfe but by seuerall iniunctions sette forth for the further aunce of Gods glorie and our profit by her maiestie in England onelie And therefore as we ought for all men so especiallie we are commanded to pray for the good prosperous estate of Kings and Princes and those in authoritie 2. Tim. 2. Let vs as we haue vnspeakable cause beseeche God of his goodnesse fauourably to looke vpon our most gratious Queene Elizabeth to graunt vnto her a prosperous raigne with manie and happie dayes to the plesure of him and comfort of vs Let
vs not forgitt it leaste God forgett vs. ALL possible thanks we giue vnto thee Oh Lord of mercy King of all the Kinges and kingdomes of the earth for that thou hast vouchsafed to place ouer vs thy little flocke of thys Realme so pure a guide of true religion Elizabeth by thine heauēly prouidēce our Queene vnder whom enioying the free libertie of the true seruice of thee we rest in a quiet estate bothe of bodie and minde We humbly pray thy fauourable regarde to beholde with mercifull eies the same thy seruant our soueraigne Lady and gouernes And so fructify her heart with the good graine of thine holye spirite that she alwayes inclined by the working thereof to the settinge foorth of thy worde may walke according to the truth of the same sincerelie that we thy seruants and vnder thee her subiects seeing her godly example may be ashamed to fall frō that due forme of honouring thy name which for thy glory shee hath through thy grace by the rule of thy worde prescribed vnto vs. Banish good Lord from her heart all ignoraunce and print therein perfect wisdome and knowledge of thine heauenly will giue her an obedient minde abounding withall humilitie towardes thy diuine maiestie Saue and defende her from the tyrannie of forraine power and authoritie and from all such as profesle not inwardlie vnfeyned zeale of thy Gospell giue her godlie Counsellors and such zealous and true harted ministers of thy wyl that she and we according to the trueth of euerye our seueral functions may truelie serue thee in this life and in the ende for euermore raigne with thee in thine heauenly kingdome for Iesus Christes sake our only Redeemer Aduocate and sweete Sauiour Amen Oh Lord increase our fayth A prayer for the Sunday morning Let labour passe let prayer bee This day the cheefest worke for thee AS the Lorde hath assigned vnto mā sixe dayes of seauen for his necessarie trauaile So hath he expreslie commanded Gen. 2. the seauenth to be hallowed and kept onely for the seruice of him wher in all busines sette aparte we should referre our selues to prayer to the hearing or reading of the worde of the Lorde without any vngodlie exercise at all wherfore as did Dauid Psal. 55. 6. euery day so let vs especiallie this day instantlie call vppon the name of the Lord and he will heare vs. And with Esay Esay 26. Let our soules with a longing desire in the night seeke vn to the Lorde and in the morning earelie call vppon his name so shall our dooings please him all shall goe well with vs. And especiallie vpon this day which the Lord hath reserued for the seruice of himselfe Nu. 1◠Punishing such euen with death who breake the same as appeareth in the booke of Numbers by him who was at the commaundement of the Lorde stoned to death for gathering stickes on the Sabaoth day Esay 56. Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabaoth day vndefiled seruing the Lorde in prayer Esay 58. Not in seeking his ownewil nor speaking a vaine word Pray that it may bee honoured and not abused dishonoured as it is least God the Creator of it and vs punish our disobedience OH almightye Father most wholesome protectoure keeper both of soules and bodyes of the faithfull I yeelde the humble and hartie thankes for defending sauing mee thy sinfull creature this night past and all my life hethervnto frō suddaine death and from other perrils daungers wher into my sillie soule and weake bodie are subiecte to fall And wherewith I am so besette that had I not beene preserued by thee it could not otherwise haue beene but my bodie had perished and my sillie soule beene carryed into eternall perdition But most sweete Lord my strong Castell defence my shield buckler my sure refuge and succour who hast continuall regarde of the safety of thy seruants that thou neuer sufferest them to bee ouercome with any kinde of euill nor to fall into any kinde of daunger vouchsase to forgiue me what soeuer I haue committed and doone against thy diuine will eyther sleeping or waking this night or anie time secretlie or openlie heeretofore by reason of the corruption which remaineth in me And vouchsafe that as I haue quietlie passed this night so I may enioy at thy merciful hands whatsoeuer thy fatherlie prouidence shall thinke meete and conuenient for mine owne and for the releefe of such as thou hast committed vnto my charge and gouernement Establish good Lorde within my weake feeble bodie strength to withstande all euill motions of the flesh all vngodlie desires of the minde worldlie vanities that I may feruentlie as I ought continuallie both in the morning and at night and at noone day yea and at all times and in all places truely serue thee without hypocrisie dissimulation or mallice And for thy mercies sake keepe mee this day and all the rest of my transitory life from suddaine and vnprouided death keepe my tongue and lips that I speake or vtter nothing which may be eyther vncomelie to be spoken or whereof may redownde hurt or hinderaunce to my selfe or others but that I may endeuoure as much as in me lyes to speake and vtter those thinges which may be to the setting foorth of thy glorie maintenaunce of peace and concorde and to the reducing such into the right way as wander and goe astray As for slaundering lying backbyting falsewitnes bearing enuie and such like good Lorde take vtterly from me And keepe mine heart and minde from the moste damnable sinne of murmuring against thee and from dyspayre that in all aduersities tribulations and troubles I may alwayes beare a patient contented faithfull and a thankfull minde with full perswasion that if thou suffer mine aduersaries being maliciousliebent against me to reuile me persecute me to molest or hurte me or if thou permitt either fire to consume me or my substaunce or any other casuall meane to diminish mine estate and stay of my liuing or if I sustaine losse of freendes sicknes of bodie or hurt of my limmes it proceedeth not but by thy diuine prouidence yea onelie of thy meere loue and fatherlie care which thou hast of mine amendment for nothing happeneth to those whome thou louest breede it within theyr weake mindes neuer so great greefe or fall it out neuer so contrary to theyr desires but it bringeth with it some secrete working for their good Wherefore in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ I most humbly beseeche thee that thou wilt vouchsafe to settle in mine heart such perfection of patience as what soeuer eyther this day or heereafter shall happen or befall vnto me I may accept it as a most wholesome medicine for my so deadlie disease of securitie and so in hope of thy louing kindnes and mercie to goe forwarde this day and all my life in perfect loue vnfeyned zeale and continuall obedience to thy will In hearing thy worde attentiuelie in reading the
ingraffe the same in mine heart that I may both nowe and euer make vnseyned confession thereof as thine Apostls haue sette downe in these wordes I beleeue in God c. Oh Lord now vouchsafe to imbrace me with the Armes of thy mercie vouchsafe to receiue me into the bosome of thy loue shaddowe me with thy winges that I may safely take my rest this night in peace in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christe in whose name I referre me wholie into thy louing protection beseeching thee that when my last sleepe shall come I may take mine euerlasting rest with thee in thy celestiall kingdome sweete God Amen Oh Lord into thine handes I commend my selfe Oh Lord increase my faith A short prayer to the like purpose OH almightie Lord God I thanke thee that this day past thou hast of thy meere mercy vouchsafed vnto me thy poore creature not enelie protection against all daungers and euills But also all thinges necessary So I humbly beseecâ—â— thee of the same thy mercy and for thy sonne Jesus Christ his sake to 〈…〉 de the like protection and fauour towardes me this night that I may enioy at thine handes safe and quiet rest to the comforte and refreshment bothe of my bodie and soule for Jesus Christes sake Amen Oh Lorde increase my fayth A prayer for the increase of Fayth If thou wilt haue what thou doest craue Pray thou in saith the Gospell sayth FAith as saith S. Paule vnto the Hebrues Heb. 11 is a sure foundation of thinges hoped for an euident feeling of the manifolde promises which God the father hath made vnto vs 1. Pet. 1 touching our saluation in his sonne Christe our sauiour and whereby also wee already inwardely taste of the vnspeakable toyes wher of wee shalbe heereafter made full pertakers Heb. 11 in Heauen without it wee can doo nothing But by it Gal. 3. wee are blessed of him and by it 1. Pet. 1 we are saued by it Eph 6 are all the fiery darts of hell and sathan quenched The iust man Aba 2. shall liue by fayth the daughter of the woman of Canaan Ma. 8. was healed by the faith of her mother Elias the Thesbyte 3 Kin. 16. 17. through fayth was fed with Rauens in his distresse and hunger hee prayed for rayne and through fayth obteyned it by his faith was the Oyle of the widdowe of Zarphat encreased Dan. 6. her child raysed from death to life The three Children were deliuered from the whot fornace by fayth and Daniell out of the Lyons denne by sayth the sinfull woman Luk. 7. obteyned pardon the Apostles by sayth Act. 3. healed sundry diseases Nowe wl at greater Iewell can there be had at the handes of God then fayth for haue fayth and all thinges foode sent from heauen defence from Lyons saftye from fire in the whott Ouen forgiuenesse of sinnes and whatsoeuer els concerneth eyther body or soule And therefore let it be a principall requeste vnto his Maiestie that he will vouchsafe that gift VVithout wauering aske it and God will giue thee it aboundantly VVithout sayth Heb. 11. it is impossible to please God Neyther can we haue accesse to Christe Eod. without it who is the Mediator betweene God the Father and vs. O Halmighty God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ by whose worde we are taught that to loue thee feare thee and serue in trueth godlines and sinceretie of life is the onely way and meane to continue thy loue and fauour towardes vs without the which wee can not but perish And beleefe and confidence in thy sonne Iesus Christe the onely meane of our redemption and attonement with thee the onely holde of our saluation whereof we can not be sufficiently assured without thine especial gift of faith which is the ancor wherevnto the cable of our saluation is fastned And beeing broken the hope also of our saluation decayeth waxeth of none effecte plant therfore most merciful God one sparcke of true faith in mine harte that I may certainlye know thee perfectly loue thee and duely feare thee and vnfeynedly acknowledge Iesus Christ to bee sent into this miserablâ— world to saue vs miserable sinneâ—s for vs by his bitter death to purchase thy fauoure and loue againe which we had loste by the fall of our Father Adam Oh Lorde graunt me to take such holde of his death passion resurrection and assention as by his death we may haue pardon by his resurrection rise to righteousnes by his assention ascende with him to celestiall glorie and finally attribute the cause and meane of our saluatioÌ„ to proceede onely by his passion Increase this faith in vs good Lord dayly more and more that it may growe by the working of thine holie spirite to full perfection accompanied with good workes and godlie behauiour without the which I caÌ„ fesse faith caÌ„not be that I may bothe in life and conuersation fulfill thy diuine will in all things with-holde not from me good Lorde that singuler gift of thine which is the stay of our happines the want therof a most certaine token of our perdition It is the strength of the weake feeble ones the staffe stay that guids the blind the onlie way that leads vnto the vnspeakable ioies of eternal blisse the meane to obteine possesse enioy the only good which is the knowledge of thy will the bande of mutuall peace the Forte the Castell and comfort of a distressed minde and the onelie harbour of a sorrowfull soule no good thing wanteth to him on whom thou vouchsafest to bestowe the same to whom all thinges are light in whom remaineth no darknes at all Banish therefore sweete Lorde all misbeleefe all wauering and doubting out of mine heart and plant insteede thereof vnfeyned fayth that applying the same to euery affliction both of bodye and minde I may vanquish and ouercome sathan with stande the delightes of the worlde and suppresse the corruptible motions of the flesh ouercome my bodely enemies and enioy at thy good pleasure health of bodie soundnes of minde perfection of limmes and all thinges els requisite for me as no thing is impossible to him that enioyeth this thy gift estecttually indeede a most precious iewell an vnspeakable good thing for thou sayst VVho so heareth thy word and beleeueth in Iesus Christe whome thou haste sent shall haue euerlasting life Then Lorde on the contrary he that beleeueth not is in daunger of euerlasting death Oh Lord increase my faith wher by I may beleeue in that thy sonne and take hold of all his promises who said That who so beleeueth in him shall want no manner of thing that is good Lord I beleeue helpe mine vnbeleefe Giue mee fayth but as the grayne of a Musterde seede and I shall be able to doo great wonders yea I shall bee able to remooue sathan out of his desired habitation expelling him and his ministers out of my minde and walke no longer according to the will of the
bitter and most perilous insomuch as it bringeth shame and confussion to the so vnaduised enterprisers of the same Lord thou sayest that a Sparrow can not light on the grounde without thy permission and prouidence which is a creature of small value in respect of man whom thou hast made to thine owne image and likenes and whom thou accountest of more value then many Sparrowes in respect whereof good Lord and for thy meere mercies sake extende so thy fauourable care vnto me thy frayle creature that all mine intents may haue theyr beginning by the working of thine holie spirite and mine actions end in the same and not according to the motions of mine owne foolish desires Thou like a most louing father willest vs to take counsaile at thee in all our exercises concerning either bodie or soule before we proceede too farre in them Oh Lord blesse me with thine heauenly inspiration that my minde imagine nothing but what is according to the Lawe of righteousnes Oh Lord blesse the workes of mine hands the sight of mine eyes blesse mine eares that they hearkeÌ„ not but to the hearing of godly and vertuous communication and thine holie word my tongue lippes with decent speeche and my feete that they may keepe the way of righteousnes And place within the secret corners of my heart such due regard what I goe about or determine as before I proceed to farr in request of good luckie successe I may vnderstaÌ„d by the secrete working of thine holie spirite whether my request bee according vnto thy will And graunt that I neuer absolutelie craue thy furtherance in accomplishing any my desires vntil by the same spirite I be truelie resolued that my desires be lawfull consonaunt and agreeable to thy diuine wyll but may faithfully referre all my matters vnto thee whether they be heard or not heard whether presently or tarrying long not giuing ouer feeling in my selfe by thy grace that it pleaseth thee constantlie continuing thy good pleasure though it come not as I wish let me not by and by fall from my good beginning but perseuering in continuall prayers for thine assistaunce and fatherly helpe vnto the end for thou hast promised neuer to deceiue our godly disires nor to sende them away frustrate mercifully heare me Oh Lorde in time conuenient And attentiuely heare me approching vnto thee with vnfeyned desire and hope of thy helpe that when any plague any affliction misery or vexation shall come vpon me when the want of any necessary thing oppresseth me or accomplishing of any lawfull sute mooueth me I flying vnto thee as the fountaine from whence floweth all true helpe all perfect assistaunce all good successe and prosperous euents of all godlie endeuours not seeking any other by meane either to auoide the one or to obteine the other then thy fatherly directions and spirituall motions I may obteyne the same according vnto my necessities and in thy good time oh heauenly God for thy sonne our Lorde Iesus Christes sake graunt this sweete God Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose COnsidering mine owne blindnes ignoraunce and the wilfull obstinacie of my corrupt nature which seeketh rather the fulfilling of the fantasticall deuises of mine owne brayne then thy diuine will And to vse humaine ayde rather then to craue thine helpe vouchsafe I humbly beseeche thee to establish godlie feare in mine heart and vnfeyned obedience to thine holy ordinaunces that in all mine enterprises which in thy name I take in hande thou wilt vouchsafe to direct me according to thy will and to giue me prosperous successe for thy sonne Jesus Christes sake Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth The sorrowfull sinner afflicted in conscience by reason of his sinnes may say thus If thou with sinne afflicted be Oh then saith Christ come thou to me LEt vs acknowledge our selues to bee wretched sinners and with feare fall downe before the mercies seate of the highest iudge Contemning our selues to be moste vnrighteous and iustly deseruing confusion And then as S. Iohn sayeth 1. Ioh. 1. 9. wee shall finde God moste mercifull vnto vs who is most faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to clense vs from al our vnrighteousnes for hee desireth not the death of a sinner but that he turne from his wickednes and liue And therfore as Ezekiell sayth Ezek. 23. Turne you turne you from your wicked wayes for why sayeth he wil you dye in your sinnes And againe Ioell sayth Ioell 2. 13. Rent your hearts and not your garments and turne to the Lorde your God Because hee is gentle and mercifull and of much mercy and such a one as is sorye for your afflictions wherefore if thou bee afflicted in conscience by reason that thou haste beene a notorious offender remember Mary Magdalen whose wickednes was great vpon repentaunce receyued pardon as also the theefe and the Publicau and many other Dispayre not but in heartie prayer and by vnfeyned repentaunce turne to the Lord. O Almighty god father of merci who art more ready to giue then wee to aske more apt to pardon then we to repent more willing to receiue the contrite in heart into thy fauour and mercy againe then they to offer themselues by vnfeyned repeÌ„taunce Lorde I come heere prostrate in hearte before the throne of thine infinite mercie louing kindnes as one altogether ashamed to looke vpon the detestable vile and abhominable offences which I haue doone against thee beeing so heauie a burden for my poore soule that the shoulders of my poore diseased conscience beginne to sincke vnder the same and am altogether destitute of any proppe or meane to support the same or to ease me therof but onelie thy death and bitter passion sweet Iesus who camest into this worlde to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance Lord I bewayle mine heâ—nous offences and am moste sorye for my sins which are so vile the burden of them so intollerable that when I turne mine eyes but to the beholding them a farre off I am by and by stryken with so great dreade that I am driuen to most heauie sighes greeuous groanes and thinke my life an enemie vnto mee wishing the beginning of my dayes had beene the day of my departure out of this miserable worlde But moste sweete Lorde when I note them perfectlie in my minde take as it were a straight account what the deedes of my youth haue beene beeing indeede most lewde most euill most vile and sinfull what a terror doo I suffer in minde what a dungion of dollours doth open it selfe as it were to swallowe mee vp what gryping greefes doo torment my poore conscience in so much as I am at the pittes brincke of dispayre wauering in minde to and fro seeking rest but loe Lorde vnquietnes of minde oppresseth me so sore that considering with my selfe what I haue beene and what I am a greate matter vexeth me But when I looke into the time to
vnto our heauenly father for whatsoeuer we want as did Iacob Gene. 28. who prayed for foode and apparell and obteyned it with aboundance God seeth before wee aske what we want and yet to show our dutiful obedience to acknowledg our helpe to come from hym wee must prostrate our harts be fore him in fayth asking and he will giue knocking and he will open seeking we shall surelie finde what we want Dut. 20. For God of his meere mercy feedeth the fatherles voucbsasing vnto them al good thinges wherefore whatsoeuer thou be pray faythfully vse the giftes of God thankfully and reuerenly and thinke not that thy freendes can helpe thee thy fruites satisfie thee or laboure preuayle thee without the blessing of God Tim. 6. wherby enioying foode and apparrell be therewith content and in any case dispayre not for the prouidence of God is great to giue foode and things necessary to such as trust in him And it is not daintye feare that feedeth so much as the trust in God can releeue with a small simple dyet as doth appeare in the 1. of Daniell by theÌ„ that were so well replenished with pulse and water OH almighty God and louing father who of nothing hast created all thinges liuing whose care is so great ouer them all that thou sufferest not the moste vile or symplest of them to perishe for want of foode and thinges requisite for theÌ„ but seeking the same at thy handes thou gyuest it them in due season And by thyne vnsearchable wysedome haste appoynted to euerye liuing creature an abyding according to his kinde But such was thine vnspeakable care of man whome thou hast created to thine own image that he is as a king and gouernour ouer all the rest of thy creatures whome thou haste sette appointed vnder him beeing so farre inferiour vnto him as where thou haste planted in him reason wysedome and gouernment in them brutishnes beeing altogether vnreasonable and where they liue haue there beeing vppon the tops of cold mountaines in desartes vpon hilles on hie and in vallies below and in sundry other vncouth and vnknowne places where tempest heate hardnes and colde and other continual dangers oppresse them thou hast giuen and prouided for man houses castelles and townes to preserue them from the force of windes tempestes and stormes and from the assaultes of wilde beastes of the fielde in the night and darknes quietly to rest And although born naked thou giuest him ray ment to couer and to clothe him hearbes for his vse and oyle to make him a cheereful and glad heart and ioyfull countenaunce Besides all this of thy meere goodnes haste giuen him the beastes of the fielde the fowles of the ayre and fishes of the sea to be his foode and sustinaunce yea Lorde such is thy fauour towardes man that all the rest of thy creatures thou hast ordeyned for his vse and seruice wherfore I thy sillie creature and worke of thine handes humblie prostrate my selfe in heart beseeching thee fauourably to looke downe vpon my necessitie and graunt me whatso euer thou seest necessarie for me euen a competent and necessarie portion heere not ouermuch least I wexe prowde or disdaine mine inferiors and if it be thy will vouchsafe vnto me not ouer little least vrgent necessitie driue me to ouer much care ouer much care carry me to vnlawful means so runne headlong into thy disâ—auor But fill my Baskett blesse my store Oh Lord that I may enioy at thy mercifull handes sufficieÌ„cie for my selfe for the releefe of such as thou hast coÌ„ mitted vnto my gouernment and for as much good Lord as all mine industry carke and care great trauaile can not any thing furder me releeue or satisfie me in my necessitie vnlesse thou vouchsafe therevnto good successe for thy mercies sake blesse me in all mine affayres blesse my fruites in the field my cattell and all other thinges belonging eyther to my selfe or any other thy seruauntes as by the fruites thereof I and they may be releeued Blesse the workes of mine handes that they may prosper blesse my sences that they wexe not dull but be alwaies capable of such thinges as belong vnto my vocation effectually to execute the same both according to thy lawes and the trueth of that which I take in hand for without thy blessing and fatherly furtheraunce I can not sufficiently execute neither can that prosper where vpon the whole state of my liuing and maintenaunce dependeth VVherefore good Lorde guide mine handes and blesse mine vnderstanding to the prosperous execution of all thinges concerning my vocation that I may gett those thinges which may be sufficient for the releese and maintenaunce of me and mine to the profit of my neighbours and glory of thy blessed name And what so euer dooth happen vnto me pouertye or ritches make me good Lord of a patient contented and thankfull minde that in aduersitie I runne not headlong into such meanes as are vngodlye neither in prosperitie wexe the prowder but waight thy good pleasure in them both with thankfulnes euer more liue in thee by thee in the end raigne with thee in heauen where thou sittest as Author and giuer of all thinges graunt this for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake to whom with thee and the holie ghost be all honour for euer Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A prayer necessarie after the hearing of the word of God Attende vnto the Ghospell bright Heare it and reade and liue vpright Consider when thou hearest the worde of God preached it dooth but as it were beat thyne eares and rendereth no further benefitt vntyll by the workyng of GODS holye spyrite it bee inwardlye reuealed vnto thee For GOD by two meanes speaketh vnto vs namely by the Preacher whome hee sendeth to teache vs. And by hys holy Spyrite wherby hys doctrine is so setled in our heartes that we inwardly enioy the true benefit therof For wythout the helpe of the holye ghost the voyce of the preacher vanisheth and the hearers profite nothing at all S. Iohn saith That he that knoweth God heareth his word 1. Iohn 4. but he that is not of God heareth it not wherby the spirite of trueth is discerned from the spirite of error For the word of God is liuelie Heb. 4. and effectuall and pearceth more then a two edged sword entring euen into the diuision of the soule the spirite c. wherefore pray that as the Lorde sendeth his messengers to showe his will So you may both heare it vnderstand it purelie liue thereafter pray for fayth For without fayth Heb. 4. the hearing of the word profiteth nothing OH heauenlye Father who hast not onely vouchsafed to make vs to thine owne image and likenes but also to sende thy sonne Iesus Christe into this worlde for our saluation and hast by him not only giuen vs knowledge of thy diuine will heere on earth and lefte it for our learning But also
freely taken away our synnes and sette vs downe the perfecte rule to directe all our actions and dooinges by the same which yet neuertheles continues harde and darke to such as neither by thy grace haue beene inlightened nor by the preaching of such as thou hast sent beene taught which also is of none effecte without thine especiall grace wor king to the true setling thereof within the bowells of the inner man for Lorde although wee heare with our eares wee can not conceiue it in our heartes nor showe it in conuersation without the especial woorking of thine holie spirite within vs. Oh Lord I thanke thee that thou haste vouchsafed vs to liue in the time wherein darknes and ignoraunce is so much defaced and superstition suppressed That thy trueth the word of life the seede of our saluation is bountifully distributed throughout this our Countrey to our vnspeakable comfort and greate terrour of such as hate the same Lorde I thanke thee that it hath pleased thee to feede vs at this time with the wholesome bread of life the heauenly Manna the word of eternall trueth wherewith graunt vs so to be replenished and fedde at full that we may loathe and abhorre all thinges which are not of the true table of our saluation the gospell of thy sonne Iesus Christ. But forasmuch Oh mercifull Lord God as wee may heare and not perceiue and reade and not vnderstand without the light of thine holy spirite guiding and instructing vs I humblie beseeche thee to inspire our heartes with a true vnderstanding of that which this day we haue hearde with our outward eares pronounced by the Messenger and Preacher of thy worde and graunt that it may so worke to the amendment of our liues and the increase of our faith feare and loue of thee continually abyding with vs and to our great comfort effectually worke in vs vnto our liues ende accepting the same at the mouth of thy messenger as deliuered euen by thine owne heauenly voice as indeede it is as long as it differeth not from thine holye worde and gospell giuing all the prayse and glory vnto thine owne selfe for he is but a Minister to declare thy will vnto vs who are the grounde and thy word the seede which beeing sowne in our hearts by this thy minister may not onely take some roote but grow vppe effectually to our comfortable edification and learning beeing so liuely and effectuall as it entreth euen into the diuision of the soule and spirite giue vs grace Oh heauenly God in this so pernicious a time of sectes scismes and daungerous controuersies that we may beare constant hearts carefull and deuoute mindes to the trueth auoyding with dilligence the perswasions of such as seeke to sette vppe superstition and to maintaine errours and vntrue doctrine And as the Niniuites at the preaching of Ionas repented their sinnes so giue vs grace not only to repent for a time but earnestly to bewaile our manifolde offences and wholie cleaue to fulfill the trueth of thy lawes to the saluation of our poore soules Let not sathan sweete Lorde at any time wrest thy trueth sowne in our heartes neither let him nor his ministers preuaile in sowing tares cockle or Darnell among the good Wheat of thy gospell as they continually seeke and desire to marre the Haruest of our good fruites which though they be fewe by reason of our owne corruption which we haue gathered by the hearing of thy ghospell yet sweete Lord vouchsafe to increase them by vertue of thine holie spirite working within vs. And let not our desire of seruing thee be either choaked or snared with the vnlawfull desires of this moste wretched worlde but rightly and truely discerning the trueth from false doctrine may vnderstand who are thy true ministers with earnest attentiuenes vnto the vtterance of thy wil by thē carefully warily auoyding the counterfeit barking of such as speake for their own benefit hauing further respect to their owne pleasure profit and commoditie then to the edifying of our poore soules whom thou resemblest to Wolues taking vppon them vnder the shaddow of simplicitie and feyned show of innocencie to guide thy flocke who indeede are moste detestable Hipocrites and deuourers of thy sheepe whom I beseeche thee to cutte off from that godlie and diuine function and office of preaching that thy trueth beeing at all times purely vttered by godly and deuout Pastours wee thy poore flock may for euermore be truely edified and continue within the Hardels of sincere conuersation and godlie liuing to the prayse of thy holy name and to the attainment of our heauenly inheritaunce for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake Amen O Lord increase our fayth and make vs euermore attentiue hearers true conceiuers and dilligent fulfillers of thy will Amen A short prayer to the like purpose OH Lorde vouchsafe that as of thy goodnes thou hast through thy sonne our Sauiour left for our learning and to our vnspeakable comfort the word of trueth the gospell of our saluation which none can learne vnlesse he be sent I humbly beseeche thee to giue me thy grace that as I haue heard the same at this time by thy minister and messenger So I may be able perfectly to retaine the same in the inner part of mine hearte according to the trueth and that I may expresse the same in my conuersation and life dooing all thinges according to thine heauenly will vnto my liues ende Amen Oh Lorde increase my faith A thankes giuing to God for his benefites Blesse thou the Lord that giueth blisse Heblesseth him that thankfull is BE thankfull vnto almightie God Ephe 5. for all thinges in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe who hath left vs a perfecte patterne of thankfulnes Mat 26. alwayes lifting vp his eyes vnto heauen giuing thankes vnto his heauēly father So must we beare alwayes a thankfull heart as a testimonye of our good wills for the benefites of God toward vs let vs pray alwayes 1. Thes 5. let vs alwayes reioyce without ceasing giue thāks for it is the will of God the father in hys sonne Iesus Christ towardes vs Saint Augustine breefely in this wise exhorteth vs to bee thankfull namely hartelye to say God be thanked A sweete sauour no doubt it is in the nostrelles of hys heauenly Maiestie and an acceptable sacrifice Chrisostome also willeth vs to giue thanks vnto the Lord and to blesse him yea although euill chaunces happen vnto vs and then shal those euills be taken away and on the contrary as it must needes follow he saies that if prosperous thinges happen vnto vs and we continue vnthankfull our prosperitie shalbe turned in to aduersitye So pure a balme and sweete odoure is giuing of thankes that the Lord taketh it as a moste acceptable recompence for all his benefites which as wee can not otherwise deserue let vs continually say the name of God be praysed Although it bea terme sometimes vsed of the wicked who haue their reward
and haue a taste of eternall saluation that death bee not terrible vnto me but rather when it cōmeth I may with ioy receiue the same in the name of Jesus Christe mine onely sauiour and redeemer Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A praier vppon the Lettany or praier for all men at all times necessary Pray thou in faith for eache degree As God by Iames commandeth thee So shalt thou prosper in thy wayes And liue both many and happy daies THe Lettany beeing a moste singuler deuout praier for the estate of all men in generall and sette out for the vse of the whole congregation as it were with one mouth one voyce to be pronounced begging at the handes of God not onely pardon for such seuerall offences as are therein expressed but also crauing thinges necessary as well for them that are absent as present yea for all men a thing most commendable godly praying one for another as S. Iames willeth Iam. 5. vs to pray one for another that wee may be hearde of God for the prayer of the righteous auaileth much And because the zealous may without the so often repitition of these wordes Good Lorde deliuer vs and we beseech thee c. priuatlye vtter his godly desire of the prosperitie of his Christian bretheren without answering himselfe in those respectes I thought it not much amisse to contriue it into this prayer following the which I pray the Reader willingly to accept OH almighty God and father of all that beleeue and trust in thee Oh Lorde God sonne redeemer aduocate of all thē who faithfully serue thee Oh God holy ghoste who proceeding from the father and the sonne santifiest the elect and chosen ones Oh blessed most glorious Trinitie three personnes and yet but one God haue mercy vpon vs who most miserablie haue offended Remember not our offences nor the offences of our fore-fathers nor punishe vs according to the multitude of our sins Spare vs good Lorde whome thou hast redeemed and so directe all our cogitations and actions that wee giue none occasion of thine anger towardes vs for euer mercifully saue and defende vs frō sinne mischeefe from the craftes and assaults of sathan from thy displeasure and eternall damnation good Lorde for thy mercies sake deliuer vs from darknes of misbeleefe from hautines of minde from mallice enuie hatred and double dealing from euill motions of our corrupt fleshe and from all worldly vaneties Saue vs from plague pestilenee from extreame hunger and famine from sodaine death from heresie and false doctrine and graunt vs alwayes will and ablenes to fulfill all thy most godly commaundementes with a cleane and a pure heart Oh sweete Iesus deliuer vs from all euill euen by thy death and passion by thine anguish of mind by thy bloody sweate by thy glorious resurrection from the deepe of death and hell and by thine assention into thy celestiall kingdome Bee present with vs good Lorde in all our troubles vexation of minde at the howre of our departure hence And for thy meere mercies sake be thou fauourable vnto vs in the day when we must giue account for our life past that we be not rewarded according to our desertes but by thy merites may enioy eternall saluation Oh most mercifull and euerliuing God wee most miserable and most wretched sinners heere humbly prostrating our selues before thee beseeche thee to listen to our petitions and graunt vnto thine vniuersall Church godly deuout preachers of thy word and gospel that it may dayly increase in vertuous and godly gouernment dayly growing and proceeding from faith to faith truely knowing thee and vnfeynedly seruing thee Graunt vnto thy seruaunt Elizabeth our Queene true vnderstanding of thy will and vnto her counsaile knowledge and wisedome That vnder her for her and in thy name they may establish godly Lawes statutes and ordinaunces for our good and godly gouernment and vnto vs thy people grace continually to follow and fulfill the same Be thou good Lord her defendour in all aslaultes of her enemies and so rule her hearte in thy faith seare and loue that she may alwaies seeke to aduaunce thine honour and glory deface superstiton errour and false religion and euer be able to vanquish and ouercome suchas rise vp against her to seeke the contrary Lighten the hearts of all Byshops ministers and Pastours of thy church with right vnderstanding and knowledge of thy worde that they may not onely in speeche doctrine but also by their conuersation and life soundly and sincerely vtter the same to the true edification of thy people Oh Lord let not such as are put in authority to see the due execution of thy lawes be slowe negligent or ignorant therin but endued with grace wisdom vnderstanding boldnes may execute iustice maintain thy trueth without affectiō fauor or respect of persons vouchsafe to endue vs all with continuall vnfeined good will one towards another that wee may liue all the daies of our life in vnitye peace godly agreement pleasing thee by liuing according to the rule of thy blessed commandements Graunt vs Oh Lord feruent desire to be where thy word gospell is preached taught and endue vs with thy grace to heare to beare away not only to heare and beare away but to expresse the same in our life conuersation that the truth of thy gospel which is the fruit of thine holy spirit may dailye increase in vs call home all wandring soules which are carried into blindnes by the subtiltie procurements of sathan his wicked ministers following strange Gods worshipping that that cannot auaile them in their distresse and giue them Oh Lord repenting heartes conuerting the soule Shewe them thy true light that they seeing it though a farre off may by little and little attaine vnto the perfit enioying of the same Strengthen al them that haue taken holde of thee by true faith and pure religiō that they fall not from thence by any deceiuable show of any counterfeit secte comfort those that are weake lift vp those that are downe that they by thee thou in them maist beate down keepe sathan vnder their feete Vouthsafe good Lord to giue succor help cōfort to all such as are in any kind of affliction daunger necessity or tribulation preserue and keepe safe all such as labour trauaile by sea or land for the benefit of our common weale Strengthen all women with child and sende them good deliueraunce comfort all them that are sicke and giue them either patience to beare it or mittigate their greefe giue health and nourishment to al young children and graunt them grace to goe forward in nurture and knowledge of thy will Lorde we beseeche thee to showe compassion vppon all such as suffer impty sonment and giue them deliueraunce at thy good pleasure Prouide good Lord for such poore children as are fatherles or helples consider the cause of all
forth chollour to the dishonoring of thy name Let our conuersation be altogether modest mortefiing our own desires wholy appliing our selues not onely on the Sabaoth day but all the weeke yea all our whole life to the sreuice of thee to the honouring and glorifying of thy name to the benefit of our soules profit of our neighboures and due reuerence to our parents whom thou hast commaunded vs to honour loue and obey as the instruments of our beginning thou beeing the workman Graunt Lord that we may truly and vnfeynedly reuerence them as thou willest we should that we may long continue vpon the earth not in the number of careles and disobedient Children in whom resteth no thankfulnes for so great benefits had and receiued at the hand of their parents from whom thou hast saide thou wilt with hold thy blessings and altogether depriue them of theyr liberty and liuing But graunt that we may so order our selues by thy grace both to them and to other our Superiours as wee may bee blessed with many good giftes and length of dayes heere according to thy will And that it may please thee so to confirme theyr blessings in and vpon vs as that it may goe well with vs all the dayes of our liues Take from vs sweete Lorde all desire of reuenge all rancor malice and hatred least the deuill who redily standes to prick vs forwarde to a desperate minde procure vs to slay the innocent we beseeche the Lord let not at any time such euill imaginations enter into any parte of our heartes least we giuing our selues ouer thervnto lose the raynes of our naturall disposition which is so inclined to wrathe that vnlesse the strength thereof be subdued or the venoumous sting thereof pluckt out by vertue of thine holy spirite it wil no doubt prouoke vs to wait oportunity to wreake our mallice with violence vppon such as by slight occasions haue offended vs yea and by little and little breake out into the flame of deadly hatred and so seeke to destroy the innocent most wickedly Oh Lorde forbidde it and keepe vs from the most pernicious sinne of adultery which being so odious in thy sight thou causedst to fall in one day for the same three and twenty thousande Oh Lorde indue vs with thine holie spirite that we may keepe our bodies cleane and vndefiled members of thee beeing indued with perfect chastitie may abandon all occasions that may procure vs to offende thee reteyning a godly behauiour which thou so deerely louest and expell euill concupiscence which thou so much abhorrest Oh mercifull God vouchsafe to keepe vs from taking any thing by secrete meanes or otherwise from our neighbours whom we ought to loue as our selues The desire whereof good Lord proceedeth often by scarcitie and want by pouertye and neede which indeede thou art able and willing to releeue without any such vnlawfull meanes And therefore I beseeche thee to graunt vs a sufficient necessary portion or els constancie and vnfeyned hope in thee to be relieued in thy good time and vtterly to derest the horrible sinne of stealing for thou hast promised neither to faile vs nor forsake vs calling faithfully vpon thee And as we ought to beware of taking any thing from others by stealth so likewise vouchsafe vs grace when any occasion serueth or matter forceth to beare witnes of the truth in any controuersie betweene bretheren graunt vs heedefull mindes to depose and testifie that which is trueth according to our knowledge without respecte either of the ability freendshippe or fauoure of the one or the enuie malice or pouerty of the other And graunt that we rayse no false accusation or slander vpon any man considering that the same faulte whereof we wrongfully accuse another shalbe imputed as great vnto our selues but that wee may keepe our mouthes from speaking any thing hurtfull vnto others And like good men muse and meditate before hand what we ought to speake not letting the brydell of our lippes loose to babble out that which first commeth into our mindes and that we may content our selues with our estates whatsoeuer thou sendest without any vngodly desire of any thing that belongeth vnto our neighbours And graunt vs thine especiall grace euer more truely to obserue and faithfully to fulfill all thy most godly commaundements In the name and for the sake of thy Sonne Iesus Christ in whose name as well for grace to keepe thy lawes as also for all necessaries for body and soule I hartely pray thee by that prayer which he hath sette downe vnto vs in these wordes Our Father which are in heauen c. Oh Lord increase our faith A short prayer to the like purpose FOr as much oh God of all wisdome and mercy as thou for our direction and godly lyuing hast by the handes of thy Prophet set downe and prescribed vnto vs godly institutions for vs to followe considering our corruption and naturall declination from following thy Lawes and howe we are inclined to the thinges forbidden by thee therein I most humblye pray thee to vouchsafe me not onely dilligent care and daily endeuour but especiall grace to fulfill them according to thy blessed will in all thinges through Jesus Christ. Amen Oh Lord increase our faith A prayer for the true ordering of worldly riches very necessary for such as God hath endued with the wealth of this world Euen as thy wealth increaseth so Pray that them wel thou mayst bestow For they that haue theyr wealth at wyll Are plagued worst vsing it ill OVr Lord sauiour Iesus Christ. Ma. 19 the fountaine Mar 10. of all liberality Lu. 18. an hundred folde in this life and life euerlasting in the worlde to come to all such as for his sake◠shall forsake all worldly goods to followe him But let not sayth he againe Matth. 7 thy left hand know what thy right hand giueth Giue Luk. 6. and it shall be giuen thee and minister vnto the holye ones of God Ro. 12. and it shal be rewarded thee Breake thy breade vnto the hungry Esa. 58. giue drinke vnto the thirstie c. And take heede that when thou doost intend to giue 1. Cor 7. let it be for Gods sake who hath giuen thee store to the ende that thou shouldest extende thy liberalitye to the releefe of the necessity of his Saintes neyther grudgingly nor by compulsion nor for praise or vaine glory but with modesty zeale concealing thy good deedes and thine heauenly father shall reward thee Couet not to be rich leaste thou fall into temptations snares and into many foolish and noysome lustes which drowne men in perdition and destruction for the desire of mony is the roote of al euill and causeth men to fall from fayth to pearce themselues with many sorrowes Trust not in vncertaine riches but in the lyuing God whose hāds preserueth the poore aswell as the rich ye◠respecteth the cause of the needy that trust in him and sendeth the secure rich men
Iesus Christes sake Amen Oh Lord increase our fayth A short prayer to the like purpose LOrd I am a sinfull creature and haue deserued thine indignation against me yea I confesse that I haue deserued many and great punishments yet Lord for thy mercies sake turne thee vnto me and haue mercy vpon me let not mine enemies preuaile in theyr mischeuous deuises against me I am in thine hand and they are within the compasse of thy power stay theyr furye let them not take effect in theyr deuises against mee but for thy sonne Jesus sake stand betweene me and them and put them backe and as I haue offended thee by naturall blindnes so by the working of thine holy spirite I shall ryse to thee and liue in thee againe through Jesus Christ our Lord which vouchsafe to graunt that they may not onely not preuaile but be ashamed and flye swéets God Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A prayer when a man taketh a iourney Before thou take thy iourney pray That God by Christ will guide thy way FOr asmuch as the earth is replenished with many perrils and sodaine daungers haue diligent regarde that when thou takest thy iourney to desire instantly the almighty God to conduct thee as he vouchsafed to conducte Tobye by the hande of hys Angell Raphaell in his iourney to Rages Toby 5 defending him from many daungers and especially from the fishe which was like to haue deuoured him So shall hee likewise sende his Angels to take charge of thee that no kinde of danger shal preuaile against thee if thou hartely praye his ayde behauing thy selfe godly and vertuously not prouoking his anger by enterprysing that which is either vncomly or vnlawfull but be dooing good as S Paule in all his â—â—urnyes saying faithfully and often the right hand of the Lord mightely defend me Act. 1 ALmightie God most mercifull father who guidest and defendest all those that in thy name walke trauaile in this world vouchsafe to stretch forth thine hand ouer me thy poore creature leade mee and conducte me in thys my iourney which vrgent occasion forceth considering good Lord that the pathes yea euerye corner of thys wretched vale of miserye is replenished with innume rable perrils and dangers both of bodye and soule whereinto without thine assistaunce protection ayde without the helpe of thy mighty hand and out stretched arme wee can not but fall and perish walking and wandring in the troublesome and daungerous coastes of the earth where robbers theeues and euil affected persons in greate number secretely lurke violently to take not onely our proper substaunce and goods which by the great labour and sweat of our bodyes we haue gotten or otherwise by thy prouidence giuen vs but out liues also if we be not preuented and by thy good and fatherly prouidence defended Wherefore I humbly beseeche thee Oh God almighty if any such lye in wayte in my waye at this time graunt me foreknowledge thereof that of thy meere mercy I may happily auoyde theyr pretended euill either by betaking me another way or may bee defended vnder the shaddowe of thy winges and so encounter with them that by the force of thy right hand I may ouercome them beeing of mine owne selfe of no force neither lyeth it in the strength of our owne handes to put backe or ouercome such as in this wicked intent arise vppe against vs. It is not the sword good lord I confesse the speare nor strength of the Horse but thine owne power that ouercommeth for vs. Vouchsafe therefore Oh Lord thine holy Angell to goe with me let him goe before me to direct me to saue me preuenting me from all daungers as he did thy seruant Toby going into a straunge Countrey Conduct me safely sweete God in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ that my busines may take good successe and I make a safe and prosperous returne without hurte either by the merciles and great waters by wilde Beastes of the fielde saue me from the stroke of Thunder from lightning and tempest preserue and keepe me as the apple of thine eye vnder the shaddow of thy winges from the wayes of the wicked that accomplishing the end of my iourney I may effectually finish and with happy successe ende my busines and by thine omnipotent conduction prosperously returne againe according to thy wil sweet God Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A thankes giuing after returne At thy returne giue God the prayse Who still conducts thee in thy wayes COnsider what daungers thou hast escaped in passing the pirrilous places of this worlde no place or tyme beeing without his danger And therefore at thy returne eyther vnto thine owne home or to any other place of rest Bee not vnmindfull to giue God hartye and vnfeyned thankes for his gracious protection and fatherly conduction So shall he our heauenly protectour euermore bee mindfull to directe thee in all thy wayes I Thanke thee Oh most louing and most mercifull God that it hath pleased thee to giue mee prosperous and happye returne from thys my iourney escaping dyuers and sundrye daungers which doo abound in all corners of the earth and hast giuen mee such successe in my busines as I trust shalbe for my best and hast of thy goodnes meere mercy brought mee againe vnto myne owne home and dwelling place to recreate my wearied members Also I thank theee Oh mercifull God for protecting and sauing mee thy silly creature from all pirrills as from drowning by water from the stroake of thunder and blastes of lightning from the clawes and iawes of wilde beastes of the feelde and for defending me from theeues robbers and men of blodie conditions which and sundry other mishaps I haue in thys my iourney escaped and whereby I haue bothe seene and hearde of diuers other to haue perished acknowledging it thine onely goodnes thine vnspeakable loue and meere mercy not able sufficiently to prayse thee for the same nor to yeelde sufficient thankes for thy fauour therein To thee sweete Lord be all honoure pray se dominion and glory for euer and euermore Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A thankes giuing to God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy ghost worthy to be often sayde Giue thankes to God who did vs make And to his sonne so deere Who did our raunsome vndertake With tho'ly Ghost so cleere ALthough we can not sufficientlye prayse God our heauenly father for his exceeding loue in making creating vs in the beginning to hys owne image likenes and that when we were not let vs yet humble our selues with dutifull obedience as good children to a louinge father praying for grace to set forth as much as in vs lyes his praises with Dauid who saide Psam 145. great is the lord meruey lous woorthy to bee praised who made heauen earth the sea al that is therein who keepeth his couenaunt fidelity for euer giuing vs for his son Iesus Christs sake al
again for our deliueraunce out of thys mortall life And whilest I liue heere vouchsafe mee an vnfeyned desire to be partaker of that his holy institution and through thine holy spirite to leade my life according vnto thine heauenly will in all thinges keeping my body vndefiled as a fitt receptacle for so heauenly foode that my soule may enioy the benefitte of the mistery thereof by saith according to thine heauenly prouidence through Iesus Christ our sauiour and redeemer Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A deuout meditation or confession of our sinnes with humble request vnto almightye God that he will vouchsafe to establish true repentaunce in our heartes and of his mercy turne away his plagues which we iustly haue deserued for our manifold iniquities Let vs fall downe with weeping eyes With one consent from heart on knees Our sinnes haue so deserued thâ—all Nothing so sure as sodaine fall LEt vs sette as a glasse before the eyes of our heartes the cause of the firste floode which was falling from God working iniquity where in the whole worlde Noe wyth a small number of persons only excepted perished Gen. 6. Let vs likewise call vnto our remembraunce the sodayne distructioÌ„ of Sodom Gomorra with sue and brimstone from heauen for disobeying the voyce of the lord pronouÌ„ced by Lot for their repentaunce wherein we may as it were beholde before hand what will becoÌ„e of vs without our spedy repentance neglecting as we do the words message of the Lord reuealed vnto vs by his prophers prechers threatning plagues to follow our wilful â—eâ—ellion let vs not be like vnto the deaf Adder stopping our eares froÌ„ hearing of our iniquiry which wee embrace with such greedines but like relenting harted Niniuits put on the sackcloth of vnfeined repentaÌ„ce mourning for our many thousand sins with fasting earnest praier froÌ„ the lowest to the high est after the good example of Dauid Iob prostrate our selues in hearte with lameÌ„ting spirits vnto the mercies seat of our good god who as he is not hastye in plaging expecting our repentaunce so will his punishment bee the greater without our harty speedy conuersioÌ„ let vs not therfore be slowe to turne vnto him let vs not deferr from day to day for sodainly wyl the wrath of god come wheÌ„ we think not of it in hys vengance wil be destroy vs vnawares Paâ—â— 7. yet so louing is he merciful that if we cal vpon his name making our prayers vnto him vnfeinedly repenting vs of our sins from the bottome of our harts he will heare vs from his holy heauens receiue vs again vnto hys mercy Esd 10. according to his promise vnto Israell let vs remember the wicked king Achab who humbling himselfe and clothing himselfe in Sackcloth sleeping in heirecloth obteined pardon for his sinnes The mercye of the Lorde is so great towardes them that repent that the examples thereof are infinite in the scriptures VVherefore let vs speedely for sake our sins and more and more growe in hatred therof Eccl 17. vnfeynedly cleauing vnto rightcousnes and holynes of trueth Eph. 4. Repent repent for the kingdome of God is at hand Mat. 3. OH Lorde vouchsafe to poure thine holye spirite into our heartes whereby we may sighe lament weepe and euen rent our hearts at the consideratioÌ„ of the wicked and abhominable estate of this world which is so farr gonne with the child of selfe loue that without thine vnspeakable mercy it is euen at the point to be deliuered into the pitt of eternall perdition wherefore gyue vs grace wee humblye beseech thee from the high est to the lowest from the greatest to the leaste to repent vs of our sinnes and heartily to turne vnto thee whose high displeasure wee haue deserued through our manifolde transgressions whoÌ„ thou hast in respecte of our disobedience pronounced rebels bastards children of the bondwomaÌ„ without repentance barred froÌ„ the inheritance which thy son Iesus Christe hath purchased for all true beleeuers Lord what shall become of vs we haue so much yeelded our selues to the desire of sin walked according to the coÌ„uersatioÌ„ of the olde man which is corruption so far degenerating froÌ„ thy lawes diuine institutions fellowing so much the wil of sathan the lusts of the flesh the vile alluringes of the wicked world that thou hast caste vs off as none of thy children in so much as when wee consider the heauy intollerable burden which by our vnrighteousnes wee haue deseruedly heaped vpoÌ„ our selues in loosing the fauour of so louing and bountifull a father and so sweete a sauior it driues vs into a greate feare and terrour procuring a great dislike and lo thing of our selues for the time but our nature beeing nothing but corruption falleth into a present forgetfulnes of our ende and turneth forthwith vnto his vomitt againe But most louing God euerliuing when the deserued punishments which hangeth ouer our heades shall light and fall vppon vs for the same what shall wee doo It is prepared and it is comming we can not by any deserts of ours but onely by the intercession mediation and desertes of Iesus Christ which neyther auaileth without our true repentaunce auoyde it Mollifie therefore our harde and stony heartes Oh Lorde for the same thy sonne Iesus Christes sake giue vs lamenting spirites endue vs with vnfeyned sorrow for our sinnes and make vs wylling and ready to returne vnto thee our nature beeing so vile and our blindnes so great that we are moste apte euen with great obedience care and dilligence to serue to please and to obey men of Aucthoritye heere in thys world by whose disâ—auour there can aryse but some smal or no hurte or punishment at all And neuer giue our selues or very seldome to the fulfilling of our duties to thee by executing those thinges which thou commaundest vs wherby we breake and forfeit that bande which thy sonne Iesus Christe sealed with his preacious blood vpon the crosse therby confirming for euermore a league and peace betweene thee and such as forsake sinne and cleaue vnto righteousnes and trueth Oh vnhappye creatures that we are who beeing in the very bosome of so louing and so mercifull a God shoulde by yeelding vnto the desires of the fleshe the vanities of the world and the will of sathan bee thruste out of thy presence wherein consisteth all peace all loue all hope quietnes of minde patience long suffering meekenes and all good whatsoeuer But wandring and going astray after our owne corrupt desires what remaineth in vs but strife hatred misbeleefe dispayre couetousnes adultery witchcraft contempt of thy Lawes and all kinde of euill and rest as accursed Lord we acknowledge that sinne iniquity hath gotten the highest roome it sitteth and ruleth in all corners of the earth and righteous dealing simplicity and innocency is condemned of many Roote out therefore good Lorde roote out of our heartes all hautines deceit
wrongfull dealinges and euill imaginations and plant in steede thereof humility iusâ—â—ce and â—â—leyned good will and helpe one towardes another Let not sathan rule let not the flesh pâ—â—â—aiâ—e against the spirit let not the world beguile vs who are our enemies our mortall enemies most strong 〈…〉 ost weake in so much as they are not so ready to encounter with vs as wee are ready to yeeld they are most pollitique we most ignoraunt forgiue vs Lord forgiue vs for thy son Iesus Christes sake strengthen vs good Lord streÌ„gtheÌ„ vs with thy grace we haue erred we haue doon amisse we haue followed too much the will of sathaÌ„ we haue yeelded too much to the motions of the flesh and too much embraced the pleasures of thys world whereby we haue lost the most sweete comfort of thy celestiall promises who hast sayd that who so obeyeth thy voyce in keeping and fulfilling thy Lawes shall be most blessed yea in al his wayes in his going foorth and comming in and in al thinges which he taketh in hand Oh sweete Lord howe can we therefore but lament our estates how can we but sigh and sorrow that wee haue made forfeyture of so many and so sweete blessings and incurred the penalty of infinite curses of thine by disobeying thy will and precepts which thou mioynedst vs in all thinges to fulfill and obserue Vouchsafe good Lorde vouchsafe of thy mercye for Iesus Christes sake to turne away thine heauy displeasure and punishment which we haue deserued that they lighte not vpon vs for our misdeedes Blot out all our iniquities lay not our vnrighteousnes our vnthaÌ„kfulnes and wilfull rebellion against thee to our charge for if thou shouldest Lord what should become of vs what might we looke for â—as our â—â—â—st rewarde but death and damnation Oh Lord we doo confesse that for so sundry and bountifull beuefits receiued at thine handes such is our corruption that we doo not onely take them without thankes vse them without feare but moste foolishly and wrongfully attribute the gift thereof to some creature and cast the pray se vpon him or els we receiue them as giuen by fortune and take not onely the due honour from thee but make the creature the Author of that that commeth onely from thee the onely creator and giuer of all thinges Oh most sweete Lord such is our ignoraunce such is our blindnes and such is the error that resteth and remaineth in vs from Adam through our voluntary blindnes which though we imbrace thou offerest light we refuse the same we are ignorant thou giuest wisedoÌ„e we neglect the same we go astray thou callest vs but we refuse to come Lord wee are like the vntamed Heyser which resuseth the yoke wee are like the deafe Adder which resuseth to heare the voice of the Charmer charme he neuer so wisly we harden our hearts as the Adamant we will not receiue thy gentle callinges thy fatherly admonitions and louing corrections Thou commaundest vs to cast away the darknes of ignoraunce and to put on the light of thy Gospell but wee stoppe our eares we refuse to heare opening our eares to pleasures and fyxing our eyes vppon vanitye erring in the pathes of vngodlines drinking the puddelles of iniquity and dispising the sweete water of life Our heartes are alwayes ready to embrace delightes and fantasies vtterly dispising nurture correction and knowledge we remember the time present the time past for which we haue to aunswer the time to come in which we must aunswer Good Lord we think not on we consider not that our time is like the flowre of the fielde to day fresh and fayre to morrow cut downe dryed vppe and withered we conceiue not that we passe as dooth the shaddowe and vanish as the bubble of water as the smoake and waues of the sea Oh Lord notwithstanding all this we folishly deferre thamendment of our liues vpon hope of thy long sufferaunce and consider not that thy wrathe commeth sodainly wee consider not the sodaine death of sundry beeing nowe most lusty gaye and strong and by and by dead and layde with the substaunce of theyr owne flesh euen the earth where the wormes possesse that that they so daâ—ntily fedde with sundry fine delicates clothed with nice moÌ„strous and gorgious sutes of apparrell sumptuous attyre broidered heire and setled theÌ„selues in sâ—ately high houses euen to the skies theyr soules departing with the glutton where is not water to coole the heate of thy displeasure against them Oh Lord thou laughest at our vanitie yet most sorrye to see vs so ledde by the direction and hand leading of sathan whose desire is to deuoure if he could euen thy chosen ones Thou wouldest not that we should perish thou desirest rather that we should conuert liue thou reioysest not at the death of a sinner but there is great ioy in heauen of his repeÌ„tance where vnto though louingly thou cal vs we goe still in our wickednes Thou gyuest vs knowledge of thy will by preaching and thine omnipotencie thou manifestest by thy creatures bothe in the firmament aboue and in the earth and Sea belowe But we vnderstand it not we beare it not away we consider it not The good which we should doo we doo not but the euil which we should not that we greedelie followe notwithstanding all which our corruption our disobedience and wilfull wickednes thou of thy mercy aboundaunt so intirely louest vs that thou gauest thine onely begotten sonne to suffer the most shame full death of the crosse for vs and hast sette him as equall with thy selfe euen at thine owne right hand to the ende he might make continuall intercession for vs vnto thee and that through him we might haue attonement with thee and accesse vnto thee for euer VVretched sinners that we are if we by our wickednes rebellion and loosenes of life loose so great a benefit which he so deerely purchased for vs euen thy woonted mercy and louing fauour and make of none effect his dying for vs what remaineth for vs but the most fearefull sentence of iudgement in the day when all secretes shall be opened and euery man receiue according to his deserts to whom thou wilt say Goe yee cursed into the flames of eternall fire prepared for the deuill and his Angels which neuer shall be quenched where shall be continuall weeping wayling anguish and gnashing of teeth when we shalbe neither our selues able to pleade to the contrary nor haue any aduocate to gaine saye thee in thy iustice Then shall we be sory then shall we lament but too late Then shall wee heare the most comfortable entertainment of the godly wheÌ„ thou shalt say Come yee blessed possesse yee the kingdome prepared for you froÌ„ the beginning where shalbe nothing but ioy without ceasing continual gladnes comfort and vnspeakable consolations euen for such as clothed thee fedde thee lodged thee and visited thee beeing in prison Them shalt thou embrace them shalt thou meete in
the clowdes with most sweete wordes of comfort but such as haue seene thee euen the poore and little ones to bee sicke and comfortles and haue denyed them helpe releefe and ayde or hungrye and haue with-helde foode Thirstye and haue not giuen drinke naked and haue not clothed them Such sweete Lorde shall suffer hunger colde nakednes and thirst with vnspeakable greefe of conscience which shall neuer haue ende Oh that it woulde please thee therefore Oh mercifull God of thy greate goodnes fauour and louing kindnes to consider of these latter dayes and perrilous times wherein we liue wherein eniquitie hath gotten the vpper hand charity waxing cold and loue banisht from amongst brethren and thy selfe sweete Lorde euen thy poore and little ones the Orphanes and Widowes not onely not releeued not comforted not defended but troden vnder feete neglected and forgotten euen of such as haue aboundaunce Vouchsafe vouchsafe good Lorde according to thy promise to shorten these dayes least also thine elect be seduced with vanitie and forsake thee theyr onely comfort It is come to passe which thou hast sayde That as towardes the Summer trees and plantes of the earth doo budde so before thy comming to make vs so much the more prepared thou hast promised to sende vs foreknowledge by sundry signes and tokens bothe in the earth belowe which hath by thy passing as it were by vs quaked already at thy presence as also by the Sunne and moone other thy creatures apparantly showing thy rodde of vengeaunce to be ouer our heades ready to strike Oh Lorde wee cannot but looke for vtter distruction according to the weight and aboundance of our sins and iniquities vnles it may please thee to show thy mercy for Iesus sake in coÌ„uerting vs we haue sinned we haue gonne astray we haue wrought wickednes in yeelding to the will of the flesh but most sweete Lorde let thy light so shine into our hearts that we may now beginne to seeke onely thy kingdome leaue the darknes of sinne growe to all goodnes and be mortefied as touching the olde man which is corruption dye to the world And remooue sathan that with godly desires we may attayne vnto the perfecte feeling of thy grace that hauing obteined the pure vnderstanding of thy word we may guide our liues by the rule therof that after the finishing of this our pilgrimage we may thorow the merites of thy sonne Iesus Christ enter into thy kingdome of eternall glory there for euer and euer to raigne enioying the sight of thee and to thy name with the rest of thy saintss sing laude and prayse eternally Oh Lord increase our fayth and giue vs grace vnfeynedly to repent vs of our sinnes Amen A praier necessarie to bee sayd after and at the end of all our prayers VOuchsafe Oh Lord and mercifull Father in whose handes resteth the harts of all men who knowest what wee want before we pray what wee will aske before we speake what wee doo in al thinges Vouchsafe to forgiue mine ignorance dulnes and slacke comming vnto thee the fountaine of all health and helpe encrease my faith dayly more and more and kindle in me the perfecte gift of prayer that I may at all times serue thee in trueth and whatsoeuer I haue asked according vnto thy wyll at this time giue me and what I haue omitted vnrequested for my selfe or any for whom thou wouldest we should pray for for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake gratiously graunt for which and for al thinges els necessary for mee and theÌ„ for body or soule I pray thee as thy sonne taught vs saying OVr father which art in heauen hallowed bee thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will be doone in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our daily breade And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse agaynst vs. And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from all euill Amen Oh Lord increase our fayth and continue the same effectually in me all men vnto the end Amen Great plagues remaine for the vngodly but who so putteth his trust in the Lorde mercy imbraceth him on euery syde Psal. 32. PAule before he would presume to eate gaue thanks Act. 27 35 Christ likewise before hee gaue the bread and Fyshes to them that were wyth hym in the wyldernes yea although he were Lord of all looking vppe to heauen from whence commeth all goodnes blessed it and gaue thankes and brake it vnto them Mat 14. the store beeing small replenished many thousandes and left many Baskets full wherefore take the blessings of God with thankes A prayer before meate OH bountifull GOD vouchsafe to looke downe with thy fauourable eyes of pittie vpon our weaknes and want and giue vs at this time those things which may be to our coÌ„fort sanctifie these thy gifts that our bodyes beeing replenished we may be thankfull and enioy at thy mercifull handes the bread of eternall life to the releefe of our poore soules through Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour Amen God saue and still increase thy flocke Keepe vs within thy folde Vouchsafe to heare when wee doo knocke Oh Lord our strongest holde Preserue our Queene be thou her stay This Realme of thine defend Indue vs with thy grace for aye On thee we all depend Oh Lord increase our fayth WHen God hath fedde your poore bodyes bee not therewith pust vppe with forgetfulnes what he requireth at our handes for his blessings but in a reuerent and deuout manner giue thankes that he may continue his louing kindnes to your comfort vnto the ende A thankes giuing after meate WE thanke thee most bountifull Lord for this thy fatherly feeding our hungry bodies so vouchsafe to feede our silly soules with the breade of eternall life That after this life ended we may ascend where Christ is gonne before Amen Sith God hath fedde our bodyes poore VVhich els would soone decay Remember such as lye at doore Say not their cryings nay God saue his Church our Queene defende this Realme preserue for aye And graunt vs all a godly ende And ioyfull rysing day Oh Lord increase our fayth FINIS A Table to finde out the principall Prayers conteined in this booke A Prayer to Christ. Folio 1. A prayer for the assistaunce of Gods holy spirite fol. eodem A short prayer to the like purpose fo 3 A morning prayer for the working day fol. eodem A short prayer to the like purpose fol. 5 A prayer for the Queene eodem A prayer for the Sunday morning fol. 7 A short prayer to the like purpose fol 9. A confession of sinnes eodem A short prayer to the like purpose fol. 11 A prayer for the euening fol. 12 A short prayer to the like purpose fol. 14. A prayer for the increase of fayth eodem A short prayer to the like purpose fol 17. A prayer against the deuill the world and the fleshe very necessary to be often sayd eodem A short prayer to the same effecte fol. 20. A prayer for the helpe and assistaunce of God in all our dooings and that we doo nothing but in hys feare and due obedience eodem A short prayer to the like purpose folio 23. The sorrowfull sinner afflicted in conscience by reason of his sins may say thus eodem A short prayer to the like purpose fol. 26. A prayer for a competent necessary liuing fo eod A prayer necessary after the hearing of the worde of God folio 29 A short prayer to the like purpose folio 31 A thankes giuing to God for his benefits eodem A deuout prayer or meditation that we may alwais haue consideration that we must dye which as it is good at all times so especially in the time of any common plague or sicknes a godly meditation folio 33. A short prayer to the like purpose fol. 37 A prayer vpon the Lettany or prayer for all men at all times necessary eodem A prayer for the fulfilling of the tenne commaundements fol. 40 A short prayer to the like purpose foli 44. A prayer for the true ordering of worldly titches very necessary for such as God hath endued with the wealth of this world eodem A short prayer to the like purpose foli 47 A prayer to be sayd of a woman with child fol. 48 A short and most necessary prayer alwayes to bee sayd of one with childe folio 49 A thankes giuing to God after the deliuery fol. eod A prayer for wisedome folio 51. A short prayer to the like purpose foli 53 A prayer in misery and trouble fol 54 A short prayer to the like effecte often to be sayde folio 57. A payer to be defended from enemies eodem A short prayer to the like purpose folio 60 A prayer when a man taketh a iourney folio 61. A thankes giuing after returne folio 62 A thankes giuing to God the father God the sonne and God the holy ghoste woorthy to bee often sayde folio 63 A prayer to bee sayde before the receiuing of the Communion fol. 67 A prayer after the receiuing of the communion fol. 68. A deuout meditation or confession of our sinnes with humble request vnto almighty God c. folio 69 A prayer necessary to be sayde after and at the ende of all our prayers fol. 74. A prayer before meate folio 75 A thankes giuing after meate fol. 76 FJNIS ·GOD· ·IS· ·MY· HELPER a 〈…〉 te the rest 〈…〉 Child be de 〈…〉 ying the 〈…〉 prayâ—r and 〈…〉 at the â—ude 〈…〉 prayer