cold and vnfruitful ground may become profitable let vs both outwardlie embrace thy doctrine with a care and inwardlie feele the operation therof in our minds and so rushing out of the bowels of the earth and deliuered from tentation bring out plentiful fruite to the glorie of thine holie Name Worke so within vs that the Diuel take not away the seede of thy word sowen in our harts let it not waxe barren neither let vs be forgetful nor like vnfruiteful hearers which heare thy word to their iudgement and greater condemnation Furthermore keepe vs in thy faith and feare that come what crosses and aduersities there can we may continually stick vnto thee in al our miseries Likewise aide vs O God of our saluation that the seede of thy word be not choaked among vs through cares riches and pleasures of this world And finallie assist vs that we be neuer found in the companie of mockers into whome the Diuel hath entered and blinded their minds and therefore make a so of at the preaching of thy word which walking after the lusts and desires of their owne flesh doe wrap themselues in the horrible confusion of their owne desires and shameful wickednes whereby like mad men they cast themselues headlong into euerlasting destruction O Christ Sonne of God fountaine of al mercie and compassion which art the Lorde of the whole flock and chiefe Byshop of our soules worke thou effectuallie by thy ministers speake within vs vnto our harts the voice of thy Father grant that we may truelie discerne the same and distinguish it from the howling of woolues For thy doctrine is pure conuerting the soules the testimonie of the Lord is sure and giueth wisedome vnto the simple Grant therefore that al of vs hearing thy word may receiue the same to our learning amendment comfort and instruction which is in righteousnes and in an honest and good conscience that hauing heard the same we may keepe it bringing forth fruit with patience and continue in the same al our life time and neuer be tossed or carried about with euerie winde of doctrine And thou holie Spirit eternal God kindle our cold harts with the fire of thy loue cherish vs with thine healthful heate and purge the filthines of our corrupted nature keepe vs in thy lap and worke within vs righteousnes and a life acceptable in thy sight Regenerate and transforme vs into newe men make vs diligent in the study of thy word beate into our minds a true feare and loue of thy name that al vncleannes and superfluitie of malice being cast off we may receiue with meekenes thy word ingrafted which is able to saue our soules in this world by inchoation hereafter in ful perfection Amen 7. A praier against false Prophets MErciful GOD louer of mankinde which hast forewarned vs of thine vnspeakeable goodnes to take heed of false Prophets comming vnto vs in sheepes clothing being for al that inwardlie rauening woolues And forasmuch as in the latter daies wherein we liue it was prophecied there should be perilous times wherein the Diuel doth transfigure himselfe into an Angel of light and false teachers with subtile workemen hauing put on the person of Christ and of his Apostles doe transforme themselues into the ministers of righteousnes carrieng the shew of godlines but denie the power therof And besides sith by thine holie Spirit thou hast foretold that the wicked man the sonne of perdition should come and carrie awaie many vnto eternal death and perpetual damnation Grant merciful God that embracing the loue of thy truth we may shun al spirits of lieng together with al errors and shew of falshood and at no time be carried away from the true sense of thy worde neither wander from the scope of our saluation but perseuering constantlie and firmelie vnto the ende in thy word may abide in the vnitie of the true catholike faith Christian religion and be neuer deceaued any waie neither by signes nor miracles nor lies neither by anie deceaueablenes of vnrighteousnes through the craft and subtiltie of men whereby they beset vs but following thy truth simplie in loue may continue salfe from al corruption and constant in the profession of the truth Keepe vs omnipotent and eternal God from al fanatical opinions from seducing spirits which sowe errors and deadly contentions in thy Church from false teachers which priuilie bring in pernitious heresies and denie euen the Lord which hath dearelie bought them By whom the waie of the Lorde is il spoken of and which make sale of their hearers through couetousnes Keepe vs from greeuous and greedie wolues which spare not the flock but cruellie deuour thy beloued sheepe through the poison of their liues and erronious doctrine From men speaking peruerse things to draw disciples after them and to engender schismes to the tearing in peeces the vnitie of the Church From men of wicked and corrupt opinions raising dissentions sondrie offences From tares which the enuious man which is the Diuel soweth and scattereth among good wheat ▪ From false Prophets which speake the visions of their own hart not from the mouth of the Lorde which preach their owne dreames and fancies seducing the people with lies From theeues and robbers of soules which kil both bodie and soule and cast them headlong into hel fire Deliuer vs from the rage of the Diuels thine enimies which in their members vtter out most horrible outcries against the truth and departing frō the rule of thy doctrine propose the fained opinions of their owne inuentions manifestlie repugnant to thy Commandements Keepe thine elect in this most wicked world that being seduced into foule errors they swarue not from the truth Shorten the euil daies of this dangerous and troblesome time Dispatch that sonne of iniquitie by the breath of thy mouth and cut him of through the brightnes of thy comming Cause thy word O God to sound in our eares purelie and syncerelie and make vs to follow the same with our whole hart true faith Christian obedience and throughlie to vnderstand the manifold precepts of thy pure word that so approuing the good we may shun the waies of strangers leading from the right waie Be thou our shepherd O eternal God so shal we want nothing put vs in the places of thy greene pasture and bring vs vnto the waters of comfort leade vs in the pathes of righteousnes for thy Name sake that we may haue hope and not be confounded in that daie when thy Sonne our Lord shal appere which liueth with thee and raigneth in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God for euermore Amen 8. Euening praier on the Lordes daie O Almightie and eternal God Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which together with thy Sonne and the holie Ghost didest create man after thine owne
and merciful God before thee doe we sigh beseeching thee by the death and burial of our Lord and Sauior Christ thy welbeloued Sonne that thou wouldest vouchsafe to couer and burie al our misdeedes whatsoeuer from our infancy vntil this present houre either wittinglie or ignorantlie we haue committed and especiallie those which this weeke we haue done in thought word or deede against thy diuine maiestie and commandements al which to thee alone which knowest al things we confesse with broken harts and lowlie spirits beseeching thee to pardon them and to forgiue al our sinnes whereof thou knowest we are guiltie and to deliuer vs from al euils both present and to come O Lord heare the voice of our praier encline thine eare vnto vs in the daies of our necessitie when we shal crie vnto thee The snares of death haue compassed vs about and the straightes of hel haue taken holde of vs we haue lighten vpon sorowe and troble Notwithstanding we wil cal vpon the Lord O Lord deliuer our soules Gratious is the Lord and righteous yea our God is merciful The Lord preserueth the simple we were in troble and he helped vs. Turne then againe vnto your rest O our soules For the Lorde wil blesse ye Thou wilt deliuer our soules from death our eies from teares and our feete from falling that we may walke before thee in the lande of the liuing O Christ God and Sauior of the worlde saue vs Lord watching keepe vs sleeping that in peace we may both rest and wake Be thou our light in darknes then shal our life be as cleere as the noone daie and shine forth as the morning so that with confidence and securitie we may lie downe and sleepe none shal make vs afraid because thou art our protector O Sonne of righteousnes and brightnes of perpetual charitie lead vs into the vision of thy light where thou shalt euerlastinglie shine vpon vs and thou God be our glorie The Sunne there shal not go downe neither the Moone be hid but thou Lorde shalt be our euerlasting light that our sorowful daies may take an ende Grant likewise that leauing this place of darkenes we may be translated into the true and new light which we now looke for through faith vntil the perpetual morning appeere vnto vs that we may beholde thee in a cleere light face to face where shal be no night and we shal neede no candle neither light of the Sunne but thou Lorde wilt lighten vs. O holie Spirit God be thou a light vnto vs At our last gaspe when our harts pant our strength faileth our sight departeth our hearing is deafe our mouth dōme when our feete cannot go nor our hands feele when al our senses forsake vs giue vs some sense of eternal life that we may taste in this world the beginnings of thine euerlasting ioie and at our departure out of this world behold by faith thy diuine presence and so sleepe quietlie to eternal life Amen Here follow certaine peculiar praiers for some special persons A praier for anie Preacher or Shepherd of soules O Eternal God which of thy great mercie hast vouchsafed to cal me a miserable and most vnworthie man to the ministerie of thy Gospel and hast appointed me to be a feeder of soules and a fisher of men and now at the length segregated me according to thy good pleasure to preach the word of saluation vnto this flock and people committed to my charge With lowlines of spirit sighes vnfained I beseech thee O Christ which art our chiefe shepheard and Archbishop make me an able minister of the newe Testament a chosen vessel and profitable instrument for the carrieng of thy message before the nations and Princes of this world as it becommeth the minister of Christ and faithful dispenser of the mysteries of God and neuer let me proue an idol or idle shepherd Worke thou effectuallie through me and grant good successe vnto my doings that fruitefullie I may vtter to mine auditors the healthful and heauenlie foode of their soules which is the syncere preaching of thy gratious worde without al corruption or deprauing of the same Take not fro my lips the word of truth and let me not speake either the imaginations of my foolish braine or the vaine perswasions of my owne hart but may vtter thine heauenlie worde and minister according to the virtue which thou dost grant that in al things thy glorie may be sought of me That I follow not after couetousnes feeding my selfe and forsaking my flock but giue me such an earnest care of their wel doing that without constraint cheerefullie and gladlie being bounde therevnto I may discharge mine office That I be not desirous of filthie lucre but with a willing minde may profit the Church neither as an exerciser of auctoritie ouer my flock but that euen through an hartie zeale of thine holie Name I may feede and make fat in the plentiful and godlie pastures of thy pure worde thy sheepe committed to my trust That I may retaine a diligent consideration of the weaker sort and helpe the feeble heale the sick strengthen the bruzed that I may bring home that which is seduced and seeke that is lost and carefullie prouide for that which is strong that I labor not in mine office negligentlie nor accomplish the worke of thee my maister with deceipt O almightie God whose dwelling is aboue the cloudes which hast appointed me a keeper and watchman for thy people to forewarne the simple that they be not through the subtiltie of vaine teachers deceiued seduced and made a praie and spoile for the beasts of the field make me so watchful and careful ouer thy flock that couragiouslie I may withstand and beate awaie those rauening wolues which teare and scatter thy flock and by reprouing and refuting their heresies ouercome false prophets Giue me that vtterance and wisedome which none may resist or gainesaie Grant me a learned and eloquent vtterance to diuide thy word rightlie and wisedome distinctlie and in right order to propose the same and to be able and readie to admonish and to comfort the weake and if anie offende through weakenes to wyn him vnto weldoing by the spirit of meekenes and modestlie to rebuke such as may be recouered but those which openlie doe sinne without blushing to take vp before the congregation not regarding the person that the rest by their example may feare and forsake their wickednes O Sonne of God our continual Intercessor which hast ordeined me to be a voice crieng endue mee with the grace of thine holie Spirit that I may exalt my voice like a trumpet and declare their wickednes vnto thy people and neuer shewe my selfe as a domme dog which cannot bark so shal I not be partaker of their
turnedst from the fiercenes of thine indignation Be mindful of thy woonted mercie and receiue vs into thy fauor For we depend vpon thee alone being destitute of al worldlie aide our trust wholie is in thee and al our confidence resteth in thy stretched out arme O Lorde couer vs with thy grace as it were with a shield that so we may be blessed and abiding in the house of thy congregation may acknowledge and cal vpon thee according to thy word reuealed and praise thee euermore through our Lorde Iesus Christ Amen 5. A praier for the Preachers of Gods word O Almightie and merciful GOD which through thy Sonne our Lorde and Sauior Christ hast commanded vs to praie that laborers may be thrust into thine haruest we beseech thee by the same thy Sonne that thou wilt send into thy Church faithful ministers and syncere Preachers of thy worde and those in number many and in operation woonderful Giue vnto vs such teachers as are both in thy mysteries learned and for their conuersation cōmended Direct them being illuminated with thine heauenly light that they may rightlie deliuer and diuide vnto vs the principles of true doctrine the worde of truth and the Gospel of life and open the difference betweene the Lawe and the Gospel and preach those things which are agreeable vnto the rules of faith and can strengthen vs to beware of the leauen of the Pharisies and the contagious doctrine of mans traditions Giue vnto vs euermore syncere Preachers and sounde interpreters and arme them with the gift of tongues for the propagation of thy doctrine that many through their labors and diligence may be conuerted to the true knowledge of thy diuine pleasure For how should we heare without a Preacher And how should men preach except they be sent Wherfore send into thy Church O most louing Father Byshops of thine owne instructing good shepherdes sound Preachers faithful workmen godlie ministers which may faithfullie ouersee and by thy word of saluation luckilie gouerne thy Church being deerelie bought with the precious blood of thine onely Sonne So shal the Gospel thy pure word to the praise and glorie of thy Name to the saluation and profit of many men with good successe fruitefully be declared and vniuersallie preached throughout al the world Giue vnto vs Lord eternal God teachers of righteousnes which reteining the forme of wholesome doctrine may informe vs in al spiritual wisedome of thine essence and diuine pleasure and through thy Spirit and word bring vs vnto perfection whereby we may be blameles both in Christian religion and in behauior that they may reduce sinners into the way of truth strengthen the weake in faith and comfort the afflicted and wounded consciences against al the darts of our deadlie enimie Which may be able to exhort by sound doctrine whereby the hartes of men being terrefied through the sense of Gods indignation and oppressed with cares may finde true consolation and which are able to conuince the gainesaiers of the truth and stop the mouth of the impudent which may be examples for the faithful both in speech and conuersation and may become al in al to gaine manie vnto thee our eternal God And may reioice in affliction fearing neither the hatred nor the ingratitude of this world but may persist vnto the death constantlie in the confession of the truth so shal both offences be shunned thy most holie name glorified and thy ministerie which thou hast instituted for the safetie of our soules which beleeue notablie made of mainteined Make them perfect therfore that they may proue the vessels of thy mercie and profitable instruments of thy Church let not their labors be in vaine but take good successe in the Lord. Grant likewise holie God that al the Preachers of thy word may be blameles not subiect to manifest impietie but the husbands of one wife shunning extrauagant and filthie lustes also be they watchful ouer the flock cōmitted vnto them least the Diuel priuily make a praie of thy sillie sheepe Be they sober and temperate looking to their charge with great discretion Modest and of good behauior endued with al grauitie liberal toward exiles and al such as are persecuted for the confession of thy word apt to teach no quarelers not giuen to filthie gaming patient sufferers of iniurie voide of contention and couetousnes wise gouernors of their owne houses hauing children in subiection with al reuerence Not puffed vp no giuers of occasion of offence either in worde or deede whereby any may iustly be offended and carpe at the ministerie But in al things let them shew out themselues as the ministers of God in much suffering in affliction in extremities and trobles and neuer forsake their calling either through persecution or the manifold ingratitude of the world Keepe vs louing Father from euil workmen in thy vineyard from vnfaithful hirelings which preach and feede themselues studieng to please men and to get popular credit turning religion according to the wil of men for their owne gaine making marchandise of the word by transforming the Gospel into an external pompe and meanes to liue by For these men can neuer continue constant in the confession of true doctrine but are like reedes tossed by the wind and are easelie broken through the feare of perils which accompanie the ministerie Amen 6. A praier for the hearers of the word of God. O Most gratious GOD which of thy meere compassion and diuine pittie hast purelie and plainelie deliuered vnto vs thy healthful word which is the foode of our soules For the Gospel is the power of God vnto saluation to al beleeuers euen as thy Sonne doth say Blessed are they which heare the word of God and keepe it Againe He that keepeth my word shal not die eternallie We humblie beseech thee on the behalfe of al hearers of thy word Open our harts vnlock the eares of our vnderstanding that hearing thy worde profitablie we may obserue learne and embrace such things as are necessarie to the confirming of our faith amendment of life Let thy word therefore abide plentifullie among vs in al wisdome giue vs thine holie spirit that we may heare Sermons not as the words of men but as they are in deede the word of God and walking worthie the same as becommeth the Sonnes of God may liue in al godlines and honestie vsing thy word preached vnto the edification of our consciences to our instruction to the comfort of our minds and to the kindling of good motions for the better seruing of thee in Christian patience that we be not idle hearers onely but ernest fulfillers of thy word Bring to passe we beseech thee O Lord that the word thy seede may stick in our harts and take deepe roote and that the dunging of our
thee and may be thine properlie abiding in thy kingdome serue thee with a willing minde in righteousnes and true holines so that at length in the latter daie we may rise againe with our bodies vnto a blessed life and so both in bodie soule being redeemed from al euils in perpetual blisse happines may triumph with al thine holie Angels Patriarches Prophets and al thine elect and endued with vnspeakable and euerlasting ioie may praise thee our Sauior which hast ascended aboue al the heauens sittest at the right hand of God the Father almightie with whom thou liuest and reignest for euermore Amen 3. A praier for Faith. O Eternal God and heauenlie Father which art Alpha Omega the beginning the ending thou art the cause and absolute perfection of our life and saluation the euerlasting and infinit good from whom proceedeth euerie good giuing and euerie perfect gift to wit from the Father of lights with whom is no variablenes neither shadowing by turning We beseech thee in the Name of our Sauior Christ thy Sonne that through thine holie Spirit thou wilt plant in our harts a true knowledge of the same thy Sonne and keepe vs therein euermore make it plentiful and prosper euerie daie that replenished with the knowledge of thy wil in al wisedome and spiritual vnderstanding we may walke worthie the Lorde pleasing thee in al things being fruitful in al good works and encreasing in thy knowledge strengthened in al might through his glorious power vnto al patience and long suffering with ioiefulnes and may abounde in faith and word and knowledge and al diligence For this cause we bowe our knees vnto thee Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ of whom is named the whole family in heauen in earth that thou wilt grant vs according to the riches of thy glorie that we may be strengthened by thine holie Spirit into new men that Christ may dwel in our harts by faith being rooted and grounded in loue may be able with al Saints to comprehende the true knowledge of thine essence and wil according vnto thy word reuealed No man hath seene thee O God at anie time neither hath anie behelde the countenance of thy Maiestie For no man knoweth the Sonne which is of thy verie substance but thou the Father alone neither hath any knowen thee but the Sonne he to whom he doth reueale thee Wherefore we beseech thee of thine infinit goodnes and mercie draw vs vnto him let him bring vs vnto thee Giue the knowledge of saluation to thy people by the remission of their sinnes through thy tender mercie that in thy Sonne we may find righteousnes euen remission of sinnes reconciliation and newnes of our mindes through the holie Spirit whereby we may become heires of eternal life being iustified by the grace of Christ in whom we beleeue which was offered for our sinnes For he taking our punishment vpon himselfe did satisfie thy iustice fullie and washed vs by his pretious blood from al our iniquities and reconciled vs in the bodie of his flesh through death to make vs holie and blameles and without fault in thy sight Make vs therfore strong in faith and constant to resist al the ingins of Satan and proceeding from faith to faith to attaine that righteousnes which is auaileable before thee by the redemption which is in Christ Iesu whom thou hast appointed to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood that iustified by his grace we may haue peace of conscience and free accesse vnto the Father Holie and merciful God we humblie beseech thee which hast raised in vs the sparkles of true faith make perfect this good which thou hast begon in vs and bring it vntil the daie of our Lord Iesu Christ wherby abounding more and more in knowledge and in al iudgement we may allow the better and be pure without offence vntil that daie filled with the fruite of righteousnes which are by Iesus Christ vnto the glorie and praise of God. Wherefore appoint thy strength establish O God which thou hast wrought in vs that fighting a good fight we may retaine faith a good conscience least vnder persecution and aduersities being tossed we make shipwrack of our faith Helpe our weake and feeble faith which is like the graine of mustard seede within vs that encreasing dailie more and more it may take deepe roote and remaine firme alwaies and immoueable and neuer vanish awaie among so many sectes and diuisions in this worlde Extinguish al the doubtings of thy wil sticking in our corrupt nature let vs not mistrust thy promises of eternal and temporal benefits but applieng thy promises vnto our selues alwaies giue credit vnto thy worde and so depending wholie therevpon contrarie to al sense of humane reason we shal obteine a crowne of immortal glorie Grant likewise heauenlie Father that our faith be not barren vaine or dead without good workes and fruites of the Spirit but effectual working by charitie that we may receiue the ende of our faith euen the saluation of our soules and behold thee whome we now see by faith as it were in a glasse darklie in another world looking vpon thy Maiestie face to face in Christ our Sauior our Lord and God Amen 4. A praier for the Kingdome of God. MErciful and gratious God which hast called vs vnto thy kingdome and glorie and of thy fatherlie and good pleasure enioined vs this care that first and afore al things we should seeke thy Kingdome and the righteousnes thereof We beseech thee through and for thy Sonne our Lorde and Sauior Christ his sake teach our weake minds gouerne our wil and harts that without inuerting this thine appointed order we may first seeke that thou maiest shine within vs apprehende thy righteousnes by a true and liuelie faith and be vnited vnto thee our eternal King. Grant therefore that thy worde may be preached euerie where plainelie and purelie without fraud and that we may cast downe al our imaginations and euerie hie thing that is exalted against thy knowledge and leade our vnderstanding captiue to the obedience of the worde which thou hast deliuered and obey thy Gospel in al simplicitie of faith according to the good plesure of thy wil to the praise of the glorie of thy grace Assist vs O our Father which art in heauen that both thy word may be purely and sincerely preached we thereby as becometh the sonnes of God reformed in our liues Giue vs thine holie Spirit that we may beleeue thy word through thy grace and so leade a godlie and virtuous life in this worlde and liue hereafter with thy sonne in eternal blisse Breake thou of and hinder al the consultations and deuises both of the diuel the worlde and the flesh which do neither sanctifie thine
of al beleeuers an aider of the oppressed a refuge in the time of troble a physition for the sicke yea our life and salfegard in the peril of death By al thy paines passions which thou didst suffer for vs and wherby in the flesh thou tookedst vppon thee thou feelest our infirmities we beseech thee that pittieng our sicknes and diseases thou wilt succor al that are sicke and especiallie such as in their agonies do encounter with many sondrie tentations Giue them grace to know that al sicknes and miseries of the bodie whatsoeuer come not by chance but to be sent of thee our God without whose wil and permission none aduersitie can come vpon vs For al the heares of our heads be nombred Let them knowe that sicknes is sent through thy good counsaile not for our destruction but for our amendment and to cal vs vnto repentance and either to keepe vs in our calling or to driue vs from wickednes whervnto by nature we are inclined For when we are iudged we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the worlde And iudgement commonlie beginnes at the house of God. Finallie diseases be certaine instruments whereby thou dost exercise vs to the mortification of our flesh O thou most excellent curer both of soules and bodies diseased which hast showen that sicknes and miseries of the bodie are the punishments of sinne and warnings of thy displeasure against our wickednes Spare vs O Lorde spare thy people and forgiue our sinnes whereby we haue prouoked these manifold diseases and miseries Speake vnto our trobled harts in this conflict of the conscience reuiue them with the sweete and liuelie comfort of the free remission of our sinnes purchased by Christ and take awaie the prick of sinne and stings of death that we feele not the gnawing worme of a guiltie conscience Grant vs quiet mindes through the consolation of the scriptures and working of the holie Ghost that we may surelie rest vpon thee and thy promises neuer doubting of thy fatherlie kindnes toward vs. Heate our colde harts and fainting members by thy Spirit that they may be nimble to fulfil thy pleasure and suffer afflictions laide vpon them with a quiet minde and neuer murmuringlie resist thy wil but alwaies thinke that whom the Lord loueth him he chasteneth and scourgeth euerie sonne that he receiueth Therefore strengthen vs that we may suffer thy fatherlie correction with quiet minds O Lord looke downe from heauen from thine holie Court and behold the humilitie and affliction of al weake persons take from them their extreme paine or at the least mitigate their sorrowes whereby they may feele some ease and let thy yoke be vnto them easie and thy burden light Restore the weake to their woonted strength and heale their griefes according to thy diuine pleasure to their welfare Wype away alteares from their eies and helpe them on the bed of their sorow and make their beds in their weakenes Heale and bind vp their wounds for great is thy power and thine hand is not shortened For when al hope of worldlie helpe doth faile that can assist Thy mightie right hande can alter euery thing yea if thou onlie saie the word the weake shal be healed that without the means of any natural thing Grant likewise that al which are recouered may wel vse their health least otherwise they forgo through sin y which they receiued by grace be thankful alwaies warie least a woorse thing happen vnto them And concerning such as it pleaseth thee to take out of this miserable worlde into thine euerlasting kingdome confirme those with thine holie Spirit that at the houre of their departure they may peaceably rest vpholden with a trust of free remission of their sinnes and hope of a ioieful resurrection of the dead and life euerlasting Shorten the paines which they suffer now in their mortal bodies and turne their sorrow into perfect and eternal ioie and make them willing to be dissolued from their bodies to be with thee and to withdraw themselues from al such things as doe hinder the spiritual course as are the loue of this present life the pleasures of the world the desires of the flesh earthlie cogirations riches and vaine glorie O Christ our eternal Sauior we beseech thee which hauing ouercome the sting of death hast opened the kingdome of heauen to al beleeuers according to our faith wilt come to be the iudge of the quick and dead haue mercie on thy seruants whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood Amen 7. A praier against the tentation of Satan O Most heauenlie Father and eternal God vnto thee do we crie protect strengthen vs weake and feeble ones against the tentation of Satan which is the sworne and extreeme enimie to mans saluation a slanderer and our accuser that great Dracon the old serpent which is called the Diuel carrieng away the whole world a coosener wicked spirit a deceauer which goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuour And especiallie in this doting age of the world as he knoweth his time of raigning is but short perceiueth the day of iudgement to be verie nigh at hand wherein his filthines shal be made manifest to al creatures to his euerlasting torments so now he rageth and raungeth in a deadlie hatred against thy flock by al meanes seketh the destruction of al mankind diuers waies and by vnspeakeable subtiltie doth he laie snares to entrap our soules egerlie doth he beset vs and al his power and pollicie doth he powre out against vs he prieth for any occasion wherby he may allure vs to shameful offending and so at length horriblie to cast vs headlong into extreeme desperation For as many corporal affections as be in man so many occasions doth he take to tempt vs thereby to wound vs or at least to hurt vs with one prick or other He laieth snares to take vs in wealth in pouertie in pleasure and in the inticements of the flesh in anguish of minde in ambition and desire of glorie in the wearisomnes of our calling and inferior condition in cares both for the back and bellie in couetousnes and loue of monie in lust of reuenge He ticles some with a desire of glorie and promotion he imprinteth in others a vaine of curiositie and pride into others he instilleth suspicions and doubtings of thy diuine wil and prouidence he bloweth into others a perswasion of wisedome and knowledge some he carieth awaie in securitie night and daie whether we sleepe or wake he is about vs with foming mouth and open iawes neieth to deuour vs that our senses may be corrupted from the simplicitie which we owe to Christ euen as the serpent deceaued Eaue by his subteltie O God who is able to flie awaie or to persist against
thee in the crosse and praier is then most effectual when it is exercised in affliction For the minde vtterlie destitute of al other helpe of second causes wherevnto it woulde easilie cleaue then doth open it selfe before thee and wholie dependeth vpon thee not trusting in it selfe but altogether in thee O God which raisest the dead to life and so our faith is founde more precious than any gold that perisheth to the praise and glorie of thy Name Finallie it behooueth vs at the length to be conformed like the bodie of Christ in his passion that suffering with him we may also raigne together with him as his felowe heires For vnles we be wearie of this life we shal not easelie aspire to our celestial countrie For which cause it is thy wil that by many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of heauen Wherefore we beseech thee giue vs godlie minds that we wonder not when we are tried by the fire as though a strange thing did happen vnto vs but rather let vs reioice that we are partakers of the afflictions of Christ that when his glorie appeareth we may be merie and glad Assist vs that through patience we may runne to the battel that is before vs looking vnto Iesus the Captaine and finisher of our faith who for the ioie that was set before him endured the most shameful crosse Let vs beare in minde that he endured such speaking against him of sinners that we should not be weried and faint in our minds but strengthened with al might through thy glorious power vnto al patience and suffering to continue vnmooueable in al tentations neuer casting awaie our confidence which hath a great recompence appointed For we haue neede of patience that after we haue done the wil of God we may receiue the promise For yet a litle while and he that shal come wil come and wil not tarie O blessed God and Father of our Lorde Iesu Christ which art the Father of mercie and God of al consolation comfort vs in al our afflictions that as the afflictions of Christ doe abound with vs so with al by him our consolation may abounde Amen 5. A praier for women with child and in childbed O Most wise God eternal Father of thy beloued sonne our Lord and Sauior Christ Creator and keeper of al thy creatures which through thine excellent wisedome counsaile hast enioined to womankind that in paine and sorow they should bring forth children whereby not onelie this world is replenished but a Church which doth celebrate thy Name for euer is gathered vnto thee And forasmuch as the paine of a woman in trauel is most extreeme which makes the Prophets many times to repeate the same in exaggerating the afflictions of punishment which the holie Spirit doth threaten vnto the impenitent We beseech thee in the Name of Christ thy Sonne be merciful vnto al women either with child or in childbed giue them grace to cal into minde the decree and pleasure of thine heauenlie wil let them neuer striue against thee through impatience but in true faith and inuocation of thy Name suffer thy crosse quietlie knowing that by the seede of the woman which hath broken the old serpents head they are reconciled vnto thee In this seede which is Christ the curse is cleane taken awaie and blessing restored to vs that we may receiue the promise of the Spirit and the inheritance of eternal life O Almightie God conuert now the sorowes of women in trauel into gladnes that they remember not their paines with mourning for ioie that a man childe is borne into the world Comfort them in the middes of their anguish and helpe aswel the mother as the babe especialie in the danger of deliuerance If thou blessed God be not present they perish vndoubtedlie al the worlde cannot helpe them in that extremitie O eternal God which of the seed of man framest the liuing infant in the mothers wombe and nourishest the same congealed in blood that the flesh within the time of ten monethes may take shape drawing nourishment from the mother we are al the workmanship of thine handes We giue thee thankes Lord for fearefullie wonderfullie are we made maruelous are thy workes and that our soules knowe right wel Our bones are not hid from thee though we were secretlie made neither our substance in the inner parts of our mothers wombe Thine eies did see our substance being vnperfect and in thy booke were al our members written Thy hands haue made vs and facioned vs altogether with skin and bones hast thou couered vs and ioined vs together with bones and sinewes thou hast giuen vs life and grace and thy visitation hath preserued our spirits Grant we beseech thee to al infants yet vnborne that knit together with their due vaines and members they may come forth into this worlde sounde and perfect without fault or deformitie Staie the furiousnes of wicked spirits that they shewe not their tyrannie vpon yong infants Keepe al with child that no waie being terrefied or trobled extreemelie they be vntimelie deliuered Giue grace also to the babes newlie borne that together with their outward baptisme they may be receiued into the congregation of the faithful with wholesome water through the renuing and regeneration of the holie Spirit which thou wilt plenteouslie poure vpon them through Iesus Christ our Sauior that being iustified by grace they may be made heires according to the hope of eternal life and become new creatures through him Strengthen al women deliuered that being restored to their woonted health they may glorifie thee their helper in the time of neede learne afterward to repose their whole confidence in thee which art nigh vnto al that cal vpon thee to al we saie calling vpon thee in truth And if at any time through thine vnsearchable iudgement an vntimelie birth or if without offending thy godhead we may saie vnluckie deliuerance happen so comfort O merciful GOD the mourneful sad parents that they faint not with sorow but beleeue rather that the woful chance is a trial of their faith hope and patience For thou art a merciful and gratious God forgiuing our sinnes Though thou art angrie with our wickednes yet in thy displeasure thou remembrest thy mercie that the trobled may take comfort and the afflicted finde grace For thus doe al thy seruants perswade themselues that if they be tried they shal be crowned if they be trobled they shal be deliuered and if they be chastened they shal be saued For thou hast no pleasure in our damnation which bringest faire weather after stormes and gladnes after teares Thy Name O Lord be praised for euer Amen 6. A praier for captiues O Lorde our gouernor thou hast prepared thy seate in the heauens thy kingdome is an
with al the affections and desires thereof for the better seruing thee and walking in the Spirit For we are debtors not to the flesh to liue after the flesh but the deedes of the flesh being mortified to liue renued after the holie Spirit in righteousnes and true holines Sanctifie vs holie Father that we defile not our selues with carnal vices with riotousnes bellicheere nor by vnlawful pleasure casting of thine holie Spirit that we make our bodies the houses of filthie feends which carie awaie and cast headlong al intemperate and secure persons into euerlasting destruction Be it far from vs that we make our members the members of harlots whereby thy holie Spirit is banished and man becommeth a denne for theeues and a sink of filthines Gouerne vs that we may shun the works of the flesh and be careful to doe the works of the Spirit as thy chosen seruants And forasmuch as the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit contrarie to the flesh for they are contrarie and continuallie striue together be thou merciful vnto vs O God helpe vs with thy diuine power that the holie Spirit which thou didst poure into vs at our baptisme may beare the rule in our members and preuaile ouer the flesh and al the affections of the same Extinguish the flames of carnal desires and represse our raging lustes so shal we auoide enormous offences and shun the wicked actions of our owne inuentions And if at any time being subdued by flesh and blood we shal wander from the path and direction of the Spirit to something vnseemelie for our calling impute not we praie thee that fault vnto vs but remember that we are flesh and conuert vs by thy diuine power And seeing that flesh of itselfe is vnbridelie and wilde not abiding correction but is like a fat wanton calfe which is not vsed to labor put thy yoke vpon vs tame our flesh by thy Spirit that walking soberlie and modestlie we may bridle the same and humble it vnder thy commandements by withdrawing of delicious fare For with ouermuch fine fare our mindes waxe wanton and ouerlustie Aide vs that by temperance moderation abstinence from superfluous meats drinks we may bind our flesh to the direction of the holie Spirit and mortifie our bodies of sinne so shal we praise and magnifie thy Name which liuest in vs worlds without ende Amen 8. Euening praier on Friedaie WE wil praise thee O eternal God Father of our Lorde IESV Christ for maruelous things hast thou done for vs thou hast deliuered our soules from death and our feete from falling Blessed be God which hath heard our praiers and brought vs out of the lake of miserie out of the myre and claie which set our feete vpon the rock and ordered our goings which hath saued vs this daie from al perils and comforted our soules Wherefore we wil extol thee and celebrate thy Name euerie daie and at night wil we talke of thy righteousnes We wil magnifie the Lord our God and bow our selues at his footestoole for he is holie We wil praise thee O Lord because thou hast set vs vp and hast not made our foes to triumph ouer vs Thou hast brought our soules from hel and saued our liues from them that go downe into the pit Wherefore we wil sing praises vnto thee and yeelde thee thanks for a remembrance of thy holines O most louing Father here prostrating our selues before thy feete we beseech thee in the Name of thy Sonne who suffered for vs a most cruel death blot out al our transgressions whereby we haue offended thy Maiestie and especiallie those which this day we haue committed Be merciful vnto vs O Lord for thy Name sake For greatlie haue we sinned and our offences are mo than the sande of the sea We haue prouoked thee vnto anger and done euil in thy sight But now we bend the knees of our hart requiring thy mercie O Lord we haue sinned we acknowledge our sinnes with griefe and sorow Pardon O pardon our sinnes and destroie vs not together with our iniquities neither reserue euil for vs for euer but of thine infinit goodnes saue vs miserable and most vnworthie men For thou O Lord according to thy wonted mercie hast promised forgiuenes of sinnes to al repenters Therefore we wil praise thee continuallie al the daies of our life al the host of heauen praise thee worldes without end Who is such a God as thou that pardonest wickednes and forgiuest the offences of the remnant of thine heritage Thou keepest not thy wrath for euer for thy delight is in mercie Thou turnest againe and art merciful vnto vs thou puttest downe our wickednes castest al our sinnes into the bottome of the sea In this euening now the Sunne is gone we praie thee O God depart not from vs which art the Sunne of righteousnes neither let thine aide be far from vs but abide with vs O Lord for it draweth toward night and the daie is far spent Forsake vs not O Lord our God neither depart from vs for tribulation is at hand and there is none to helpe O GOD of our saluation make haste to helpe vs haue a regard to our defence redeeme our soules in peace from those that war against vs. Deliuer vs from such as marke our goings Plucke our feete out of the snare and leade vs in the path of righteousnes that our feete slip not and we take a fal Guide vs by thy wisedome that when we walke it may leade vs when we sleepe it may keepe our feete and when we wake we may talke thereof And therefore sleeping we wil not feare but rest quietlie and our sleepe shal be sweete we wil not quake at the sudden terror neither at the ranging of the vngodly when it happeneth The Lord shal be on our side and protect our feete that we be not taken yea the Lord shal be our light and saluation in darknes He is our hope which hath appointed vs so high a refuge Let none euil come vnto vs neither suffer the whip to be nigh our tabernacle O Lord be thou our watchman and protector that trobles vaine cogitations doe not inuade vs and neither the feare of death ouerwhelme vs nor the sleepe of night alter our thoughtes and vnderstanding when we should take our rest and ease in our chambers but grant vs a good quiet sleepe and after the same to rise vp in the morning and to render due thanks and praise to thee our most merciful protector For our helpe is from the Lord which hath made both heauen and earth He wil not suffer our feete to be mooued and he that keepeth Israël wil not sleepe to whom be praise now and euermore Amen 1. On Saturdaie Morning praier O Lord God maker of al things which art feareful
infinite that it can neither be augmented nor diminished For looke how hie the Heauen is in comparison of the earth so great is thy mercie also towardes them which feare thee And as far as the East is from the West so far hast thou set our sinnes from vs. For as a Father pittieth his owne children euen so art thou merciful to al which feare thee Yea though a Mother doe forget hir infant and take no pittie on the sonne of hir wombe yet wilt not thou forget vs for we are written vpon thine hands The mercie of the Lord is vnchangeable infinite and neuer faileth but dailie ariseth newe and fresh vpon vs. The merciful goodnes of the Lord endureth for euer and euer vpon them which feare him his righteousnes vpon childers children such as keepe his couenants and thinke vpon his commandements to doe them Thy mercie is on such as feare thee from generation to generation The mercie that a man hath reacheth vnto his neighbor but the mercie of the Lorde is vpon al flesh chastening and teaching and nurturing yea euen as a shepheard turneth againe his flock so doth he al them which receiue chastening nurture and doctrine Merciful art thou vnto al them which receiue correction and diligentlie seeke after thy iudgements And although for a while thou forsakest vs yet afterward in much fauor wilt thou gather vs together In the time of thy wrath thou hidest thy face from vs for a little season but for al that thy mercie towarde vs is euerlasting Blessed be thy Name O God of our Fathers which when thou art angrie shewest mercie and in the time of troble forgiuest the sinnes of them which cal vpon thee This thy goodnes and ouerabounding mercie which hath bin from the beginning and for euer shal continue ouer al which vnfainedlie repent neuer languishing or failing but abiding perfect alwaies in the highest degree we wil praise and confesse from one generation to another For gratious and merciful is the Lord patient and long suffering bent to shew fauor and meruelouslie gentle towards al that cal vpon him Praise the Lord al ye heathen and glorifie him al nations For his merciful kindnes is euer more and more toward vs. We wil not keepe back thy louing mercie and truth from the great congregation withdraw not thou thy mercies from vs O Lorde let thy kindnes and truth alwaie preserue vs. O let thy merciful kindnes be our comfort according to thy worde vnto thy seruants O deale with thy seruants according to thy great mercie and teach vs thy statutes that in like maner we may be merciful toward al men without respect of persons or hope of gaine willinglie without morositie that in thy iudgement we may finde mercie through the passion and death of thy sonne Iesus Christ which liueth raigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God worlds without ende Amen 3. A praier for an happie departure out of this worlde O Most gratious God thy yeares endure throughout al generations thy daies are without ende or beginning but the daies of man surelie are determined which he can not ouerpasse and the nomber of his moneths are knowen to thee thou hast appointed him his bounds which he cannot go beyonde Thou hast nombred our daies which vade awaie sodainelie like the grasse For we are soone dispatched and easelie consume Our daies are like a shadowe and wither awaie like grasse A man in this world is euen like a vapor that vanisheth awaie For al flesh is grasse and al the glorie thereof as the flower of the fielde which florisheth in the morning and afterwarde withereth and vadeth Behold our daies are to be measured they are as it were a spanne long and our age is nothing in respect of thee And verilie euerie man liuing is altogether vanitie Our age is folden together and taken awaie from vs like a shepherdes cotage our life is cut of by our sinnes like the thred of the weauer which is sodainlie broke of Wâ— are but strangers in this woâ—â—de and soiourners as were our fathers our daies on the earth also are but as a shadow and we are as nothing in respect of thee Our life speedilie goeth awaie like the weauers shuttle and it abideth not Wherefore Lord let vs know our end and the number of our daies that we may be certified how long we haue to liue and what is yet to come Instruct vs O Lord that being alwaies mindful of our mortalitie we neuer promise to our selues manie yeeres nor long liues in this pilgrimage of ours so shal we not liue securelie deferring our conuersion to thee from daie to daie nor yet put confidence in this fraile and vncertaine life as did that rich man saieng Soule thou hast much good laid vp in store for manie yeeres take thine ease eate drinke and be merie Whose soule notwithstanding was taken from him the same night But giue grace that in thy feare we may dailie prepare oâ— selues to depart out of this prison for nothing is more certaine than death though nothing more vncertaine than the houre thereof Therefore let vs haue alwaies before our eies an image and meditation of our departure the better to know the fleeting and vanitie of this combersome and vncertaine life that we may liue to thee our God being sounde in faith and strong in hope loking with cherefulnes for the daie of our departure the ioiful appearing of thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Redeeemer and as long as we abide in this tabernacle of our bodies with al studie ministering to our faith virtue to virtue knowledge to knowledge temperance to temperance patience to patience godlines vntil this tabernacle being laid awaie we shal passe ouer to our dwelling place not made with hande but euerlasting in the heauens where we shal be clothed with eternal glorie immortalitie when this earthlie house is put of and destroied Grant also that trusting firmelie to thy promises we may be readie and glad to returne to our euerlasting and celestial country for while we are in this bodie we wander froÌ„ thee our God for now we walke in faith not in the enioieng and possession of eternal goodes wherfore whether we be at home or from home let vs endeuor our selues to be acceptable in thy sight Make vs faithful and wise seruants alwaies loking for the comming of our Lord for we know not when he wil come at the euening or at midnight whether at the cock crowing or in the dawning least by a suddaine houre of death being ouertaken and as it were caught in the foulers trap we be found vnreadie but contrariwise by prudent watching in true conuersion and repentance may continuallie couet to be dissolued and to be with
Christ our Redeemer Grant also that at the point of death hauing escaped al hardnes and tentations we may triumph like conquerours and beholde the presence and power of thine holie Spirit let our last words be that which thy Sonne did vtter vpon the altar of the Crosse saieng Father into thine hands I commende my spirit when our speech is taken from vs heare O God the groanings of our harts And the houre of death being come let thy seruants depart in peace because our eies haue seene thy saluation which thou hast prepared before the face of al people a light to be reuealed vnto the Gentiles and the glorie of thy people Israël through our Lorde Iesus Christ Amen 4. A praier for the nourishment of this life OMnipotent and eternal Father which hast giuen to thy Church certaine promises of corporal things we thy children crie vnto thee for our dailie bread and else what pertaining to the sustentation of our mortal bodies Make our fieldes fertile that the seede sowen may come vp and our ground yeelde vs a ioieful haruest Prosper thou the labors of al artificers and let their doings take good successe Blesse Lorde the workes of our hands our heardes of cattel and flocks of sheepe that they may prosper and encrease and we feele no barennes desolation nor decaie Sende thy blessing into our barnes and storehouses For it is the blessing of God that maketh rich and causeth plentie Except the Lord build the house their labour is but lost that build it It is but vaine for vs to rise earlie and late to take rest eating the bread of sorowe For thou Lord giuest to thy beloued sleepe they wake they much plentie al kind of happines Make vs therfore bountiful God to loase our nets in thy Name and to doe the works of our calling earnestlie with inuocation of thy diuine assistance that by thy blessing we may haue good successe Protect al waifaring men and trauelers either sailing by seas to far countries or iorneieng by land for our common welfare that they may safelie returne home againe Take thou the defence of Merchants with their goods and riches so shal they be secure from al misfortune Dispose their minds and wits that in their trafike they may deale without fraude couen and abuse of thy Name measuring al things according to the rule of iustice and therby reteine a good conscience Make them to loue virtue to keepe promise to obserue couenants that no man oppresse or circumuent his brother for God is the reuenger of al such Grant also to al buiers of villages houses lande yokes of oxen that for the loue and desire of earthlie riches and filthie lucre they forget not the kingdome of God and so make excuse that they cannot come to thy great and heauenlie supper wherevnto al men are called by the Gospel Let them not delight in wrong doing and roberie If riches encrease let not their harts be set vpon them but afore al thinge prouide for themselues the treasure hid in the field and the pretious iewel of thy celestial kingdome To al workemen and laborers grant that they be faithful in their busines make them also strong aswel in bodie as in iudgement Giue vs good seruants vpright gouernors an happie state of Commonweale a wholesome temperature of aire health peace discipline c. Keepe our mindes from couetousnes which is the roote of al euil least being bewitched therewithal we swarue from the faith and wrap our selues in manie sorrowes But gouerne vs by thy Spirit that al our care may be cast vpon thee our Father and we be content with dailie bread Blesse vs moreouer that we abuse not thy temporal benefits neither glut our selues with meate drinke to the ouercoming of our harts by surfetting and dronkennes but may vse thy blessings moderately to our comfort Giue patience to the poore that they neither murmur against thy wil and their condition neither enuie their betters and so offend thee and breake thy commandements Let not rich men be either high minded or confident in vncertaine riches but in thee the liuing God which giuest to vs abundantly al things to enioie that they doe good and be rich in good workes that they be readie to giue glad to distribute and laieng vp in store for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may obteine eternal life Two things we doe require of thee our God denie them not before we die Remoue from vs vanitie and lies giue vs neither pouertie nor riches onlie grant vs things necessarie for this life least peraduenture being ful we should denie thee and saie Who is God or being oppressed with pouertie we fal to stealing and take the Name of thee our God in vaine Amen 5. A praier for the afflicted and such as suffer persecution O Christ eternal God which hast commanded vs to denie our selues and dailie to take vp our crosse follow thee our capitaine and maister in much patience For it cannot be auoided but that al which desire to liue godlie in thee our Lorde must suffer persecution And wee cannot be thy seruants and soldiers vnles wee can abide the persecution of the greater part of mankinde For Satan wil neuer surcesse from arming his villains with furiousnes against thy members And it falleth out commonlie in this licentious wickednes of the world that the godlie euen through the zeale of righteousnes doe purchase to themselues the hatred of the wicked Especiallie it is incident vnto Christians to be abhorred of the maior part of mankinde For flesh in no case can awaie with the preaching of the Gospel and none welsuffer the reprehension of their vices Hence arise persecutions for the destruction of the godlie whereby in no place they can be safe and secure but their endes are sought by al kindes of crueltie Wherfore we beseech thee on the behalfe of al persecuted for righteousnes sake against whom despiteful words are vsed lies inuented and for as manie as for thy Name sake are detained in prison fettered attainted before counsels whipped brought afore Kings and Princes to be tormented with exquisite and diuers punishments for the confession of true religion for such as are exiled from their natiue soiles banished spoiled of their goods abhorred of the world tried by torments racked hanged vpon forkes vpon wheeles killed by swords like sheepe for the slaughter murthered and throwen out to be deuoured of the rauenous and cruel beasts for thy Gospels sake Al these assist and laie to thine hande for our strengthening the glorie and Spirit of God may rest vpon vs by whose consolation we may suffer al trobles and by an inuincible courage get the victorie in al these and neuer fal from the hope of our saluation Grant therefore that we may haue
sinnes nor guiltie of their condemnation neither wilt thou require their blood at mine hands Wherefore againe and againe I beseech thee assist me euermore that through an open and bold reprehending of their wickednes I may deliuer my soule in the daie of wrath and teach thy waies vnto the wicked whereby the vngodlie may repent Finallie so blesse me with thy fauor that I may walke in thy feare as it becommeth me and be an ensample of good life vnto my flock least while I preach vnto others my selfe proue a castawaie that in no case through my wicked conuersation I giue occasion to anie man of blaspheming thy worde and that in trobles and persecutions I faint not but may suffer patientlie the reproch of this world and the manifold trobles that Satan stirreth vp to disquiet thy Church Grant also to as manie as shal heare thy worde from my mouth that they may firmelie with me beleeue the same and be the followers of me as I followe thee and haue consideration of such as walke so as becommeth Christians that together we may continue in faith and patience euen for thine owne sake Amen A praier for anie hearer of Gods worde I Giue thee most hartie thanks O eternal God Father of our Lord Iesu Christ for that it hath pleased thee of thine vnspeakable mercie and goodnes in al ages continuallie to sende into the worlde men wonderful in thy gifts and knowledge of thy wil to be renuers and spreaders forth of thy truth Like thankes I ascribe vnto thy sacred Maiestie for allowing vs shepherds and preachers in these our daies for the gathering together of thy Church out of al mankinde to the building of the bodie of Christ. Humblie I beseech thee gratious GOD continue alwaie among vs thy pure worde through thy ministers gather vnto thy selfe an euerlasting Congregation so instruct mine hart with thy Spirit of truth that vnfainedlie I may assent to thy wholesome worde proue a liuelie member of thy bodie and be incorporated into that societie which both in this world doth syncerelie confesse thee and euermore extol thine holie Name Keepe those Preachers which thou dost and wilt giue in the certaine knowledge of thy blessed wil that they may from time to time both open vnto vs thine intent concerning the repairing of mankinde the saluation and redemption of our soules through thy free mercie and also teach vs how to liue in new obedience and to abstaine from carnal desires which fight against the soule Inspire thy ministers and preachers of thy word with thine holie Spirit that they may vtter thy wil purelie as they haue receiued it from thine hands retaining the forme of wholesome words and sounding onlie that doctrine which is vttered by thy Sonne out of thy bosome For otherwise departing from the order of faith and the rule of thy worde they wil greatlie obscure the light of thy doctrine and obtrude vpon vs the vanitie of their owne inuentions Wherefore let them speake thy word not deceiptfullie but syncerelie euen as from thee and in thy sight Grant also that by transforming thy ministerie into policie they Lord not ouer thine elect neither contend about superioritie and primacie in thy Church but onelie to seeke the glorie of thy Name and the saluation both of themselues and vs. Giue them libertie of speech boldlie without feare to blame and rebuke al false doctrine blasphemous superstition and abuses in thy Church Open vnto them the doore of vtterance that they may speake the mysteries of Christ and manifest them as they ought to doe so shal their doings be profitable vnto the godlie Assist them also with thine especial grace that they disgrace not their doctrine by impuritie of life but let their conuersation answere vnto the doctrine which they teach and preach Especiallie for the shepherd of my soule frō whose mouth I learne thy blessed wil I hartilie praie that thou wilt keepe him in religion syncere and pure from enormous offences in outward conuersation endue him with a long and healthful life if it be thy good pleasure that manie a good daie and yeere he may continue in preaching the gladsome voice of thy gratious Gospel among vs without contention and strife And O Sonne of God which art the Lord of al the flock worke thou effectuallie by thy preachers speake thou within vs to our harts the blessed wil of thine eternal Father and confirme thy doctrine in our minds by thine holie Spirit Grant that we may truelie know and discerne the same from the houling of wolues and from the inchanted songs of seducing hirelings and grant that we may know thee euen as thou knowest thine heauenlie Father and to walke religiouslie and righteouslie in thy sight shewing our selues to be of that holie seede which praiseth thy Name for euermore Come holie Spirit open mine hart and eares that I may conceaue the profite of thy wholesome doctrine and the sweete comfort reuealed in thine holie word by the preaching of the Gospel O Lorde I acknowledge with teares my sluggishnes carelesnes in seeking thy truth and bewaile the wretched coldnes and hardnes of mine hart beseeching thee to endue me with an vnfained longing and an ardent desire of holie Sermons Grant that in this life I may worship the feete of the preachers of peace and reuerence the true dispensors of thy mysteries thy faithful ministers with doble honor and none otherwise to obeie their godlie sermons than I woulde if a voice should sounde from the heauens Let me not for the blemishes and imperfections of some particular men vnreuerentlie conceaue of thine whole ministerie Worke also within me that despising thy word deliuered vnto vs I neuer seeke after strange reuelations or violent rauishings both besides and contrarie to thy worde but bearing alwaies in minde the order which thou hast appointed may constantlie embrace thy word manifested in the Church Finallie impart such grace vpon vs that we may imitate and folowe the good workes of holie men casting of the old man by putting on the new which is created after God in righteousnes and true holines Amen A praier for a Prince or Magistrate BLessed art thou Lord God of Sabbaoth For to thee appertaineth al magnificence and power and glorie to thee belongeth al honor and auctoritie For whatsoeuer is either in the heauens aboue or in the earth beneath it is thine Thine O Lord is the kingdome thou art aboue al Princes Kings Riches are thine glorie is thine and thou art Lorde ouer al. In thee remaineth virtue and power greatnes and gouernement O God of my Fathers Lord of mercie which hast made al things by thy word and by thy wisedome appointed man to rule the creatures which thou hast made and to gouerne the world with equitie and iustice I praise thee and extol thy glorious Name for appointing me
THE Enimie of Securitie OR A dailie exercise of godly meditations drawne out of the pure fountaines of the holie Scriptures and published for the profite of al persons of any state or calling in the German and Latine tonges by the right reuerende Maister Iohn Auenar publike Professor of the Hebrue tonge in the famous Uniuersitie of VViteberge ▪ In Englishe by Thomas Rogers Maister of Artes and student in Diuinitie Newlie corrected and augmented Marke 13 33. Watch and Praie I saie vnto al watch Praie continuallie Marke 13 37. 1. Thes. 5 17. 1. Thes. 5 18. In al things giue thanks Seene and allowed according to the Queenes Maiesties Iniunctions 1579. To the Reader BEsides what hath bin added to this Booke which is apparent you shal find two faults especialie amended by this impression One is the confusion of number For in a praier sometime the person of one sometime of many praieng was vsed which thing in my iudgement caused some iar For the auoiding whereof I haue thought it best to amend that fault and I trust with the good liking both of the Autor and as manie as shal reade them henceforth to vse altogether the plural number in those praiers which are for euery daie of the weeke albeit the rest are in the singular number forasmuch as they are praiers for some special persons The other is the difficultie properlie to applie diuers of those textes of scripture placed in the margins For manie times the places of Scripture were falselie quoted But now how soeuer the Compositor haue set them if you marke the letters of the Alphabet a b c d c. vsed both in euerie praier and margin they wil rightlie direct thee to the textes Other things besides these are amended which are needeles to be vttered in this place Some perhaps wil mislike the applieng of praiers vnto certaine daies but for that a better some doe both like wel enough thereof and laude God for this dailie exercise of their faith prescribed and also because it is not done as againe in the table to this booke I protest to tie thee superstitiouslie to our order I haue nothing varied from the former and first impression in that point doubting not but thou canst and wilt vse this booke to thy profit and be thankeful Farewel T. R. ¶ To the honorable Sir Frances Walsingham Knight one of hir Maiesties chiefe Secretaries of the right honorable priuie Counsaile and Chancelar of the Order Grace and peace in our Sauior Christ. THAT THE world was made for man euen Philosophers through the instinct of humane reason coulde and the carnal worldlinges through the often hearing of Gods holy worde can confesse that man is created for God me thinks there should be none so barbarouslie ignorant or in this cleere light of the glorious Gospel so desperatelie secure as to doubt A notable cause were there no mo but that why dailie and euermore we shoulde extol and with diuine praises celebrate the most sacred Name of almightie God but manie waies besides are we bounde to doe the same For consider wee either the commandements of God or his benefits or the frailenes of our corrupt nature or Satans snares or the miseries aswel publike as priuate or our couenant made with God in baptisme or the vncertaintie of the daie either of our death or general iudgment and we shal finde that the least of these things offereth sufficient occasion continuallie to praie and to praise God. For touching the commandements God saith by the Prophet Dauid Cal vpon me in the time of trouble so wil I heare thee and thou shalt praise me by his Sonne our Sauiour Watch and praie by Saint Paule the Apostle Continue in praier and watch in the same with thankesgiuing Yea not onlie he commaundeth so to doe which prooueth the excellencie of the exercise but also promiseth to heare our petitions which declareth how surpassinglie sweete are deuout Meditations in the eares of god As in that afore mentioned Psalme of Dauid Cal vpon me c. Againe Seeke and ye shal finde knocke and it shal be opened vnto you and againe for al Whatsoeuer yee shal aske the Father in my name he wil giue it you His benefits are for nomber infinite for greatnes wonderful excellent for their worthines whether we respect the gifts of the minde or the goods of the bodie spiritual or corporal bestowed vpon some particularlie or generalie vpon al men Who can declare the goodnes of God that I may ouerpasse the temporal benefits either common to vs with al men or specialie bestowed vpon vs before al who can I saie declare the goodnes of God sufficientlie for creating vs after his owne image for reuealing himselfe vnto vs for redeming vs by his deare Sonne for choosing vs before the foundations of the world were laide for enduing vs with his holie spirit and for exalting vs to eternal life What therfore shal we render vnto the Lord for al these things Let vs take vp the cup of saluation and celebrate the name of our God. If we consider the frailenes of our nature we shal find that continualie we are subiect to sinning to offending to erring to conceauing amisse of the wil of our God to our certaine condemnation There is none of vs al which standeth not in neede of counsaile of props and of helpe The general miserie of mankind is triple c. For both we are easie to be seduced and vnable to doe wel and weake to resist If we would discerne betwene good and euil we are deceaued if we go about to doe good we quicklie faint If we endeuour to resist euil we cannot endure but are easilie ouercome The consideration of this frailetie of ours made our Sauior Christ graciouslie to admonish his Disciples saieng Watch and praie least ye enter into tentation Againe the tyrannie and rage of the diuel is vnspeakeable and his power mightie being the Prince of this worlde We wrestle not against blood and flesh but against rule against powers against worldlie gouernors of the darkenes of this worlde against spiritual wickednes in heauenly places It behooueth vs therefore according to the counsaile of Saint Peter to watch and praie For our aduersarie the Diuel as a roaring Lion rangeth about seeking whome he may deuoure But as the Lion at the sight of a Cocke is discomforted and at his crowing betaketh him to his heeles so doth Satan both stande in feare of a godlie man and flie at his praier As Lactantius noteth Diuels doe hurt but the faint harted such as the great and mightie hande of God doth not protect which are prophane from the Sacrament of truth but the iust that is the true worshippers of God doe the Diuels feare What should I speake of the tyrannie of mightie men of the miserie of poore how wickednes doth abound
and heresies ouerflowe Wherefore wel may I say as did Nestor vnto his children Praie for vnles that God helpe vs we al perish Furthermore our couenant made with God at our Baptisme whereby we promised to forsake the Diuel al his workes c. to beleeue al the articles of the Christian faith and to keepe Gods holie wil and commandement c. shoulde driue vs therevnto For neither can Satan be resisted nor our faith manifested nor GOD duelie honored without praier Finallie omitting al other reasons which are infinite the shortnes of our life the suddaines of Christes comming his seuerenes in iudgement when he is come should make vs not slightlie to ouerpasse this noble exercise For what auaileth it though in this worlde we abounde in wealth excel in honor haue al thinges according to our harts desire and then when Christ shal returne we are founde vnreadie and so lose our soules Happie therefore is that seruant whome the Lorde at his comming shal find watchfull and happie are those Virgins which expect the bridegroome with oyle in their lamps But that euil seruant which shal saie in his hart my Lorde wil long be a comming and so begin to smite his fellowes yea and to eate and drinke with the dronken his Lord wil come in a daie when he looketh not for him and in an houre when he is not aware of and shal hew him in peeces and giue him his portion with hypocrites there shal be weeping and gnashing of teeth and those virgins which are careles and secure accompanie not the bridegroome to his wedding but are excluded out of the gates and heare I knowe yee not The waightines of these reasons Honorable haue especialie mooued me through the earnest request of some which for their godlie zeale I loue vnfainedly and reuerence did greatlie prick me forwarde to bring these diuine Meditations I cal them diuine partlie because they are of diuine matters concerne the glorie of God partlie for that they procede from a diuine spirit but in this respect chiefly because they are wholy as fewe or no other praier Booke is that I knowe taken out of the pure fountaines of the diuine Scriptures of the right learned and vertuous of famous memorie Maister Iohn Auenar into our English tongue A booke certes most necessarie in respect of the extreeme securitie wherein we liue Gratefullie it hath bin accepted hetherto in the Latine and Germane tongues and now by the working of Gods holie spirit shal profite verie much if it be vsed as it should be that is if the vser thereof praie Religiouslie in faith charitablie being voide of rancor and malice zealouslie with an ardent affection of the minde and humbly without pride 1 Faith is necessarie For without faith it is impossible to please God. Therfore onely the faithful doe praie For how can men cal vpon him in whome they haue not beleeued It is sinne whatsoeuer is not done through faith Therefore the praier of infidels is no praier but hypocrisie and a damnable abuse of good words neither can it obtaine any thing at the handes of God according to that of Saint Iames He which wauereth let him not thinke that he can obtaine any thing from God. 2 Charitie is necessarie For we must praie one for another and for our enimies as our Sauior doth counsaile vs saieng When ye stande praieng forgiue if yee haue ought against any man that your Father also which is in Heauen may forgiue you your trespasses c Againe the spirite of God saith Forgiue thy neighbor the hurt that he hath done thee and so shal thy sinnes be forgiuen thee also when thou praiest A man that beareth hatred against another how dare he aske forgiuenes of god He that sheweth no mercie to a man which is like himselfe how dare he aske forgiuenes of his sinnes c. and for al men as may appeare in the first Epistle of Saint Paule vnto Timothie 3 Zeale is necessarie For what is praier without the same but a verie babling and vaine multiplication of words yea there is no praier where this affection is not For praier is a vehement desire of the hart to obtaine something at the hands of god God loketh not vpon the face as man doth but beholdeth the hart neither doth he listen to the sounde of the mouth but to the sighes of the minde After this manner doe Christians praie their affections are bent towardes God they alwaies hunger and thirst after righteousnes 4. Humilitie is necessarie For vpon whome shal my spirite abide saith the Lord but vpon him which is of a lowlie spirite The praier of him which humbleth himselfe goeth through the clowdes Much better is it for a sinner to be humble than for a righteous man to be arrogant as may appeare in the Pharisie Publicane It remaineth now that as the Auctor of this Booke choase for patrone thereof not for any defence that it needed but because others the more willinglie woulde reade and accept the same being dedicated vnto an honorable person gratious in the eies both of the Nobilitie and baser sort the mightie Prince Lorde Augustus Duke of Saxonie c. so mooued thervnto by the singular fame of your honors most virtuous inclination I present the same now translated for what other paines I haue taken I spare vpon good considerations to vtter vnto your honor beseeching you to accept this my doing in good part as my hope is you wil and then I doubt not being graciously receaued of so worthie a person but gratefullie it wil be vsed of the better sort for whose sake I haue published the same God almightie which is the father of lights mercy and consolation from whom euery good gift and euerie perfect gift doth proceede blesse your honor as with accesse of temporall benefits so especially and aboue all with encrease of his heauenlie blessings that long you may liue a godlie Counsailer to our virtuous Queene a profitable member to this Realme of Englande a speciall fauorer of the Church of Christ and a famous aduancer of his truth and glorie to your euerlasting comfort and felicitie Amen At London the tenth of October An. D. 1579. Your honors to commande Thomas Rogers ¶ A Preface of Maister Iohn Auenar Doctor of Diuinitie and Publike Professor of the Hebrue tongue in the Vniuersitie of Witeberge taken out of his Epistle before his Booke of daily Praiers dedicated to the most mightie Prince and Duke Augustus High marshal of the Romane Empire c. THe chosen vessel of God Saint Paule in his former Epistle vnto Timothie doth exhort that first of al deprecations supplications intercessions and giuing of thankes be made for al men For Kings and for al that are in auctoritie that we may leade a quiet and peaceable life in al godlines
and honestie Likewise vnto the Philippians he saith be careful for nothing but in al things let your petition be manifest vnto God in praier and supplication with giuing of thankes By which words we are not onely pricked forward vnto the Godly exercise of praier but admonished besides that there be foure kinds therof al necessary to be vsed euery day The first are Deprecations whereby we beg at the hands of Almightie God either altogither to turne away his heauie displeasure conceaued through our sinnes or at the least to mitigate the punishments due for our offences Supplications are called requestes wherby we craue such things as are necessarie either for the sustentation of this present life or for our euerlasting comfort in the worlde to come Intercessions are praiers made in the behalfe of others By thankesgiuing we praise God and celebrate his holie name for al benefites conferred both vpon our soules and bodies In this my Booke I haue had special regarde vnto these foure kinds of praier For first for euery day of the weeke I haue made a morning praier containing both a thankesgiuing for the blessed rest receaued and a deprecation for the escaping of al euils which may happen in the day time Afterwarde followeth a thankesgiuing for some singular benefite receaued Then two supplications or petitions for blessinges aswel eternal as temporal Next vnto them are placed two intercessions for men of euerie state or degree After them ensueth a praier against the sondrie enimies of Christs Church And last of al an euening praier containing a thankesgiuing vnto God for his preseruing of vs in the day time a deprecation that no euil hurt vs in the night and a petition of his fatherlie protection is annexed And this manner I haue obserued in distinguishing the praiers for euerie day For it is our partes daily in al our necessities to cry vnto God as our Sauior teacheth to this purpose Praie alwaies be not wearie And Saint Paule willeth the same saieng Praie continually in al things giuing thanks For this is the wil of God through Iesu Christ toward you Againe be not let to praie alwaies and be not let vnto the death to exercise thy selfe in righteousnes Thus did the kingly prophet Dauid which of himselfe saieth seauen times a day doe I praise thee because of thy righteous iudgements And certes it is a goodly worke to cal vpon God in praier and to enioy his familiar speech The which also Saint Ambrose witnesseth saieng To praie much and often is a worke grateful to god Howe excellent a thing it is for man to intermingle his talke with God no man is ignorant and that excellencie is attained by praier onely which ioineth vs to the societie of Angels through ascribing due praise and glorie vnto Almighty God as their office doth binde them Hence doth the Psalmist say In the sight of Angels wil â— sing praise vnto thee I wil worship toward thy holy temple and extol thy name For in other things there is much difference betweene their condition and ours whether we respect their nature or their kinde of life their wisedome or their vnderstanding but to praie is a worke common both to Angels and men For praier doth seperate vs from brute beastes and associate vs with Angels Yea an easie matter is it for one to attaine to their nature dignitie wisedome and vnderstanding if al his life time he giue himselfe wholy vnto praier and the seruice of god For if they which frequent the companie of wise men by reason of their continual meetings in short space are so changed that they represent the wisedome of such as they company withal what shal we saie of them which dailie talke with God in praier Wherefore it behooueth vs obeieng the wil of our Heauenlie Father to spende our life time in the lauding of God and in deuout meditations But he which neither wil praie nor praise God neither yet delight in this diuine communication surelie liuing he is dead without life without â—ense or vnderstanding as witnesseth Saint Chrysostome The frute and profite coming by godly praiers doth Saint Iames expresse on this manner The praier of faith shal saue the sicke and the Lord shal raise him vp and if he haue committed sinnes they shal be forgiuen him c. Againe The feruent praier of a righteous man auaileth much Elias was a man vnder infirmities euen as we are and he praied in his praier that it might not raine and it rained not on the earth by the space of three yeres and sixe moneths And he praied againe and the heauen gaue raine the earth brought forth hir frute By these words it appeareth that the praier of faith can obtaine and bring to passe al things belonging either to the safetie of the bodie or saluatioÌ„ of the soule As that king and Prophet Dauid by praier repelled the horrible crewe of his mortal enimies So in like maner Ezechias the King of Iuda Ierusalem being besieged by Sennacherib King of the Assirians gathered not a company of soldiours but onely went against his enimies in praier preuailed against them and preserued the Cittie with the vtter ouerthrow of his aduersaries Likewise by his humble praier he escaped death and faithful supplication prolonged his daies This made Saint Augustine to saie The praier of the righteous is the keie of heauen The praier of the godlie doth ascende and the mercie of God doth come downe So that knowing the dignitie of this familiar talke with God and considering the commoditie which cometh thereby me thinkes nothing should dismay a Christian from calling vpon god For notwithstanding it exceede the power of man to reason with God yet doth the holy spirit dwelling in the faithful helpe our weakenes and not onely emboldeneth vs to approche before his Maiestie but also maketh intercession for vs with groanes vnspeakeable As we reade that women being of nature weake vessels oftentimes by praier haue apprehended God detained him as may appere in the woman of Canaan Finally so many occasions are there to mooue and stir vs daily vnto praier that sufficiently they cannot be expressed And if at any time often praier were needeful I perswade my selfe that nowe in this last and olde age of this doting worlde wherein as more grieuous and wofull wickednes doth raigne than at any time so it is to be feared that in the Church more horrible punishments and in common weales more miserable confusion wil ensue than euer did it should be practised which euils can by no other meanes be auoided but onely by dailie earnest and faithfull praier The fountaine of al true wisedome and learning God almightie continue among vs for his Sonnes sake the puritie of his worde together with the studie
of good letters maintaine peace and concorde in his Church and make vs al continually to addict our selues to aduance his glorie both in deede and worde and to benefite his Church to the vttermost of our power that liuing alwaies in his feare we may die in his fauor and rise againe to euerlasting blessednes Amen A Praier to be saide at the comming into the Temple O ALMIGHTIE God and heauenlie Father in the multitude of thy mercie we wil come into thine house and in thy feare wil we worship towardes thine holie Temple Direct our step◠in thy worde Bring vs into the path of thy commandements For thou art the God of our saluation Lorde we haue loued the habitation of thine house and the place where thine honor dwelleth O Lorde of hostes how amiable are thy Tabernacles Our soules long yea and pine away through the desire to come vnto thy court Wee wil acknowledge thee in a great Congregation we wil praise thee among much people Come let vs worship fal downe and kneele before the Lord our maker For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his hande Exalt the Lorde our God and fal downe before his footestoole for he is holie We wil go vnto the altar of God euen vnto the God which comforteth our soules and in an acceptable time doe we make our praier euen in the multitude of thy mercie O God heare vs in the truth of thy saluation Amen An earnest petition for the assistance of Gods holy Spirit that our praiers may be zealous and effectual O Almightie and merciful God Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ forasmuch as it is thy wil and plesure that in al our necessities we should cal vpon thee our God worship thee and with yeelding hartie thankes extol thine holie Name and therwithal hast promised to heare our petitions we are emboldened to direct our praiers vnto thy diuine Maiestie But considering the weakenes of our nature to be such that we knowe not how to aske as we should and thou alone both wiselie doest knowe and effectually canst grant not onely what we doe desire but a great deale more than we can thinke vpon our praier shal be vnto thee our God that according to thy promise thou wilt poure vpon vs the Spirit of grace and praier which may with vnspeakable groanings make intercession for vs that not with lips onely our harts being far from thee but with minde and mouth together we may vnfeinedlie as becometh true worshippers in spirit and truth with a burning affection of the hart cal vpon thee which art the true and eternal God and offer the grateful sacrifice of thankesgiuing Prepare thou our minds to praier make them zelous least otherwise we be like such as praieng tempt god Therefore in our praiers let vs not dissemble like Hypocrites neither boast of our wel doing like Pharisees to be seene of men but onely set forth thy glorie and aduance thine holie Name Turne our harts from beholding either images or strange Gods or else dead Saints but let vs worship 〈◊〉 onelie serue thee in our praiers which art our Lord God Creator of al things sercher of the hart rich towards al that cal vpon thee Instruct our minds that we desire not foolishlie vaine and transitorie things But let vs alwaie craue corporal things according to thy wil with this condition If they bring none hurt vnto our soules and euermore prefer celestial things which are to be asked without al exception before worldelie that our ioie may be perfect in the heauens Grant therefore almightie Father that we may certainely perswade our selues that whatsoeuer we shal aske at thine hands through faith we shal obteine the same and let vs neuer doubt of thy fatherlie affection towarde vs or bring thy willingnes to grant our petitions into question but through a liuely faith and firme confidence let vs constantly beleeue that our praiers shal effectually be hearde through and for thy Christs sake in whom al thy promises are yea and are in him Amen Furthermore if at any time our praiers be not granted speedilie according to our wish giue vs a strong faith that wee faint not but may through patience expect thine aide knowing that coming it wil come and thy truth wil not linger Gouerne therfore our harts by thine holie spirit that we appoint not a time manner or limits of helping vs but may in al thinges submit our selues to thy most heauenlie pleasure and commende our praiers vnto thee in hope silence for thou wilt not misse an houre but wilt come at a time conuenient Likewise illustrate our mindes with thy light that we cast not forth our praiers trusting in our owne righteousnes but in thy manifolde mercies through Christ by whome we haue boldnes by faith to approch vnto thy throne to cal thee Abba Father Couerne our harts and mindes that in praieng we neither presume nor trust vpon our owne worthines so through pride contemne others but let vs humblie and louinglie like brethren praie one for another that we al may be saued Take away from vs al babling and superfluitie of words that we be not as Ethnikes which for their long speach thinke to be hearde Assist vs also that the sight and remēbrance of our owne vnworthines doe not terrifie vs from praier and that we be not let by other causes from ernest crieng vnto thee night and daie that the wil of thy seruants and reuenge of thine elect may be fulfilled Now therefore heauenlie Father and eternal God giue grace that in al places we may praie lifting vp pure handes without wrath or doubting and saie Forgiue vs our trespasses and with deepe sighings sure confidence continuallie persist in making of supplications praiers intercessions and giuing of thankes for al men that according to thy promise we may receiue as wel temporal as heauenlie benefites For this is the confidence which we haue in thee that whatsoeuer we shal aske according to thy wil thou wilt grant vnto vs. And hearing al our petitions we doubt not but that our requestes which at this time we haue made vnto thee by Christ our Lorde shal in like manner be granted who liueth and raigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God now and for euermore ▪ Amen A dailie praier for the perpetual happines of our sacred and most gratious Soueraigne and Queene Elizabeth OAlmightie GOD King of Kings and Lord of Lords in thine hands is al power both in heauen and earth thou confirmest kingdoms and againe dost alter them according to thine heauenlie pleasure We praise thee we magnifie thee we extol thine holie Name for that it hath
pleased thee to appoint ouer vs a good and gratious Queene which doth gouerne with counsaile and rule with wisedome Grant hir we beseech thee continual peace long life and much happines and deliuer not hir Maiestie into the hands of hir enimies Rule thou hir minde and wil that she may serue thee alwaies in feare and reioice in trembling Let hir maintaine and imbrace pure religion and defend hir people in the profession of Christes Gospel against al errors and superstition whatsoeuer Giue hir wisdome and vnderstanding to doe such things as are grateful in thy sight profitable for vs hir subiects and hurtful to none O God eternal Father heare the petitions of our Queene in al hir trobles the Name of Christ our Sauiour glorifie hir and the comfortable aide of the holie Spirit vpholde hir now and euermore Be mindeful of hir grace for hir good giue to hir according to hir harts desire and prosper al hir purposes that we may reioice in thy saluation and triumph in the Name of our God. Blesse hir Lorde euermore that we may know that hir protector is in the cloudes Harken vnto hir from thine holie heauens by thy mightie right hande which bringeth saluation For though some trust in horses and others in chariots yet wil we remember the Name of our God. They shal fal and be ouercome but we couragiouslie wil persist O Lord protect hir Maiestie heare vs when we cal vpon thee That in thy strength she may reioice and mightilie triumph in thy saluation Grant hir the desire of hir hart and denie not the petitions of hir lips For thou hast preuented hir with notable blessings put a crowne of pure gold vpon hir head She hath asked life of thee thou wilt giue hir a long life Great is hir glory in thy saluation honor and fame hast thou put vpon hir Thou hast ordeined hir for exceeding blessednes and dost comfort hir hart with thy cheereful countenance And why Because she delighteth in thy Christ and doubteth not of thine euerlasting mercie Let thine hand O Lord light vpon hir enimies and thy right hand finde out al such as hate thee and enuie hir prosperitie Put them into a burning furnace in the time of thy displeasure the Lord in his anger shal consume and fire shal deuour them Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth and their seede from the sonnes of men Because they intended euil against thee and imagined mischiefe against the innocent which they could not bring to passe Therfore wilt thou turne them into flight and bend thy bowes against their faces Triumph O Lorde in thy virtue and we wil sing out and commende thy power Saue our Queene O merciful God in despite of al hir enimies which either secretlie or openlie go about to bring hir life to the graue and hir glorie to the dust Giue thy iudgement O Lord vnto hir grace and thy righteousnes vnto hir Counsaile that they may iudge thy people with iustice thy poore with equitie Let the mountaines bring peace and the little hils righteousnes vnto thy people Let them iudge the afflicted among the people and saue the sonnes of the poore Make them to destroy the backbyter that he persist not to afflict the miserable and such as trust in thy mercie and protection So shal quietnes and peace abound among vs like the hillockes on the earth Lord shielde our Soueraigne exalt thine Annointed let thine hande assist and thine arme strengthen hir Neuer let hir foes preuaile against hir nor the child of wickednes bring hir to destruction Banish from hir Court al hir priuie enimies and preserue hir euermore from dissembling friendes Grant this O most merciful Father for thy deare Sonne our Sauiour Christ his sake Amen 1. Morning praier on the Lordes daie O Almightie and merciful God eternal Father Sonne and holy Ghost three in persons one in substance God in verie deede and from euerlasting We extol thy sacred Maiestie we praise thine vnspeakeable mercie thy diuine truth we exceedingly comend for that of thy fatherlie and wonderful goodnes thou hast protected vs this night vnder the shadow of thy wings yea thou also hast made vs quietlie to take our rest notwithstanding the dangerous snares of our deadlie enimie the diuel Thou art the God which exaltest vs from the gates of the shadowe of death and from the power of darknes thou deliuerest vs. Therefore we wil acknowledge thee for thy goodnes for the wonderful things which thou dost among the sonnes of men We wil magnifie thee in the great Congregation and among much people wil we praise thee Our harts be readie O our God our harts be readie We wil praise thee O Lord among the people sing to thee among the nations For thy mercie is great aboue the heauens and thy truth vnto the cloudes We wil not hide thy mercie and truth in the great Congregation Because it is a good thing to praise the Lorde and to sing to thee O thou most High To declare thy louing kindnes in the morning thy truth in the night Blesse the Lord O our soules and al that is within vs praise his holie Name Which forgiueth al our iniquities and healeth al our infirmities Which redeemeth our liues from destruction and crowneth vs with mercie and compassion Which satisfieth our longing with good things and protecteth vs from our youth Which also hath kept al our bones this night Not one of them is broken To thee King euerlasting immortal inuisible onely wise God be honor and glory for euer euer Amen Vnto thee O Lord doe we lift vp our soules O God earelie wil we seeke thee our soules thirst for thee our flesh lusteth after thee in a barren drie lande where no water is to see thy strength and glorie O eternal God which hast brought vs to the beginning of this daie defend vs with thy mightie power that this day we fal into no sinne but let al our cogitations wordes and workes tende to the setting forth of thy righteousnes Lighten our minds this morning with the shining and clearenes of thy wisedome that in our harts that true day star may rise shine as it were a candle burning in a darke place Giue vs thy Spirit of wisdome and reuelation in the knowledge of thee And lighten the eies of our vnderstanding that we may know what our hope is how great the glorie of our inheritance and what the excelent greatnes of thy power toward vs. Fil vs with thy mercy in the morning so shal we be glad and reioice al our life long Merciful God endue vs with thine holie Spirit that we may neither thinke speake or doe anie thing this day
but that which may please thee and tend to the aduancement of thy glorie and health of our soules Gouerne thou our vnderstanding and wil and so direct al the cogitations of our hart that we may wholie be thine and sauor of nothing besides thee our God and Redeemer Teach vs the waie of thy Commandements O Lord and we wil keepe it vnto the ende Giue vs vnderstanding to keepe thy lawes and to loue thee our Lord God with al our hart with al our soule and with al our strength and let al thy restimonies be our delight and Counselers Comfort the soules of thy seruants for vnto thee O Lord haue we lifted vp our soules For thou Lorde art good and gentle and of great kindnes to as many as cal vpon thee Behold God earelie now this Morning we doe offer our selues a Morning sacrifice vnto thee a trobled spirit a broken and an humble hart O Lorde thou wilt not despise Make vs fit that we may likewise We see the workmanship of thine hands the Moone and Stars which thou hast ordained and we wil signifie thy glorie vnto al nations and among al people wil we declare thy wonderful things For thou art mightie O Lord and worthie to be praised great is thy virtue and thy power wonderful We thanke thee holie Father God of heauen because thou hast created by thy worde of power the vniuersal worlde with al the creatures and whatsoeuer is liueth or mooueth in the same By thy wisedome thou doest gouerne and by sending of thy Spirit as yet doest vpholde and cherish the same For al woods fruteful trees stones graine flowers herbes and al the grasse of the fielde hast thou ordained for the vse of man. We magnifie thee O God most wise for creating the sea springs of water by the power of thy worde and for giuing them virtue to bring forth fishes of al kinde to be eaten of man. We blesse thee O eternal God for making the superior and lower regions of the aier with al birdes and fethered foules of sondrie kindes for the foode of man. We glorifie thee for giuing the whole frame of this earth with al the creatures in the same vnto mankind and setting man ouer the works of thine hands hast subiected al things vnder his feete Al sheepe and oxen yea and al the beastes of the field The foules of the aire and the fish of the sea which walke through the paths of the sea Especially we praise thee our Lord and maker for making vs thy creatures reasonable men according to thine owne similitude for giuing vs reason and al the senses and for preseruing vs hitherto Thou didst nourish vs that wonderfully being within our mothers wombe and out thereof hast thou brought vs sound in al parts without imperfection and yet continuest thy fauor and dost keepe vs against al dangers and deliuerest vs from al euil and al these things dost thou of thy fatherlie and diuine goodnes without any merit or desert of ours for al which we are bound to thanke thee to praise thee to serue honor and obey thee We extol thy sacred Name O God most high for separating from the rest a Sabbaoth daie that so men cessing from their handie labor the better might serue and celebrate thine honor Who is he that can recite al the power of the Lorde or declare al his workes who can number out al his praises No man can vtter al his benefits Notwithstanding although we be miserable men and wretched sinners and therefore most vnmeete to extol thee according to thy deserts yet wil we not be stil we wil praise thee euermore to the vttermost of our power We wil declare thy iustice and mercie and while we liue wil we remember thy goodnes and at no time forget thy benefits O our soules praise the Lord we wil praise the Lord during our life we wil sing to the Lorde while we haue breath We wil be mindful of our maker euen from our youth and seeke him euermore yea euen vnto our old age and graie head O God forsake vs not vntil we haue declared thy power vnto al nations that are to come Praise the Lord al ye nations praise him al ye people For his louing kindnes is great toward vs and his truth endureth for euer Praise ye the Lord in his sanctuarie praise him in the firmament of his power Praise him in his mightie actes praise him according to his excellent greatnes Let euerie thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lorde 3. A praier for the remission of sinnes RIghteous and merciful God which art cleere from spot and sin al thy waies are mercie and truth We miserable folkes and wretched sinners acknowledge the horrible corruption of our nature and with humble and sorrowful harts bewaile our filthines whereby we haue polluted that image imprinted within vs at our first creation We openlie confesse that manie and great are our sinnes our offences wonderful our transgressions are infinite euen as the sand of the Sea which cannot be numbred For al the cogitations of mans hart are prone to euil euermore O Lord who knoweth his sinnes or who can recite al the transgressions of man Behold we confesse our offences and our sinne is alwaies before vs. Against thee onelie we haue sinned and done euil in thine eies that thou maiest be iust when thou speakest and pure when thou iudgest Behold we were borne in iniquitie and in sin did our mothers conceaue vs and those our sinnes haue we multiplied in our dailie transgressions and therefore haue deserued thy iust displeasure with paines eternal Notwithstanding we appeale vnto thy mercie O Lord beseeching thee not to enter into iudgement with thy seruants for no flesh is righteous in thy sight For if thou streitlie obseruest iniquities O Lorde who shal stand If thou wilt contend with mâ—n he shal not be able to answere thee one for a thousand For what is man that he shoul be cleane and he that is borne of a woman that he should be iust Behold thou foundest no stedfastnes in thy Saints yea the heauens are not cleare in thy sight How much more is man abominable and filthie which drinketh iniquitie like water Behold Lord we are al become vncleane and al our righteousnes is like a filthie cloute Wherfore we humbly beseech thee haue mercy vpon vs O God according to thy great mercy and according to the multitude of thy compassions doe away our iniquities Wash vs throughly from our iniquities and clense vs from our sinne For thy Name sake O Lord be merciful vnto our iniquitie for it is great Remember not the sinnes of our youth nor our rebellions but according to thy kindnes remember thou vs
euen for thy goodnes sake O Lord. Remember thy tender mercies and louing kindnes which haue bin for euer Remember also that we are flesh a wind that passeth and cometh not againe Therefore leaue thy displeasure against vs be not angrie for euer neither doe thou threaten vs perpetuallie Deale not with vs according to our sinnes neither reward vs after our iniquities but conuert vs O our God of saluation and turne away thy displeasure against vs. Shewe vs thy mercie O Lord and grant vs thy saluation for thy Name sake O most merciful God we confesse in deede that it lies not in our power to put away purge our sinnes and to purchase thy fauor but onelie it is the passion and most innocent death of thy Sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ the immaculate lambe which is a sufficient recōciliation for our sins and yet not for ours alone but for the sinnes also of the whole world For his bloud which was shed for vs doth clense vs from al sinne And if we confesse our sins thou art faithful and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to clense vs from al vnrighteousnes Wherefore through confidence of this thy mercie promised by thy Sonne we are bold with deepe sighes from hart to crie Lord forgiue our offences remit our iniquities couer our sinnes and impute not our faults vnto vs Purge vs O Lord from our secret faults Keepe thy seruants also from presumptuous sinnes let them not raigne ouer vs so shal we be vpright purged from our greatest wickednes that tasting the sweetnes of thy benignitie we may be secure and certaine of the remission of our sinnes Giue the knowledge of saluation to thy people by the remissiō of their sinnes through the bowels of thy mercie whereby the day spring from on high hath visited vs that we may perceiue in our minds both comfort peace and gladnes of the holy Spirit which may begin a new life in vs pleasing thee quench al the motions of our minds striuing with thy diuine pleasure and restore in vs the image of thy diuine light which was lost that being deliuered out of the hands of our enimies we may serue thee in feare in holines and righteousnes al the daies of our life through Christ in whom thou art wel pleased and for whose sake al our works howsoeuer vnperfect are acceptable in thine eies Amen 4. A praier for the preseruation of the Church OCelestial God and Father of infinite mercie and compassion which not onely gatherest to thy self an holy Church in this worlde out of mankinde through the operation of the holie Ghost and preaching of thy word but also preseruest the same being gathered and adornest it with al kind of temporal things and which more is with eternal blisse We humbly beseech thee gratious Lord that of thy goodnes thou wouldest vouchsafe euermore to maintaine this thy little flock embracing preaching and professing thy word through thine especial grace continue thy fauor toward the same keepe it in sound doctrine constant confessing in the lawful vse of thine holie Sacraments and in purenes of life that neither the gates of hel the rage of Satan nor yet the rigorousnes and tyrannie of this world oppresse the same Protect and keepe this thy boatē and little Bark tossed among manie perilous tempests and miserable surges in the raging Sea of this troblesome world that it perish not being ouerwhelmed Vphold thy Church which is builded vpon a sure rock and dependeth vpon Christ a sound and vnmooueable foundation O Lord of hosts returne looke downe from heauen and behold visit thy vine make it perfect which thy right hand hath planted thou hast chosen to thy selfe Hedge the same about with thy strong defence that the branches therof being spred out and pruned may bring forth abundance of frute Raise vp thy power Come God saue vs Conuert vs shew forth thy countenance and we shal be saued Enclose thy sheepe within thine hardles so shal we be quiet from al inuasion and scatterings neither can any drawe vs by force out of thine handes Defend vs from al such as seeke the vtter ouerthrow of pure religion and in place thereof labour to bring in the shameful instauration of blasphemous Idolatrie Suffer not thy word that most cleere and vnchangeable light to be corrupted or put out by our meanes but gather to thy selfe through the sound of the Gospel such a Church as may harken vnto thee honor and sanctifie thy Name as wel in word as in honest conuersation that so thou maiest haue a righteous and holy generation celebrating thy goodnes for euermore Ioine vs vnto that company which doth worship thee continuallie that we may be Citizens of thy kingdome among thy Saintes Grant that we erre not from the foundation of wholsome doctrine answering to the rules of the sacred Scripture and that we offend not against our conscience but separate vs from the companie of vngodlie ones and from the damned crewe of the reprobate Let vs not so much as take their names into our mouthes which poure out heapes of blasphemies to thy great dishonor and defacing of the truth vnto whom thy Sonne is a destruction and stone of offence For they despise his base estate and the foolish preaching of thy Gospel and the deformed shew of the Church placed in the middes of al kind of miseries they loath and abhor preferring vncertaine riches lordlie auctoritie and the vaine pleasures of this transitorie world before the profession of the truth and so making war with thy Sonne they doe purchase euerlasting destruction vnto themselues Keepe vs euermore that we may abide in that Church which is truelie Catholike consisting of members of many nations but linked vnto thee in one and the same confession Sanctifie vs with thine holie Spirit that our sinnes being forgiuen we may take another trade of life in acknowledging thee to be the onelie true God and Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent Giue vnto thy Church resting places and nestes where they may sound thy sacred Gospel purelie without corruption Suppresse the diuel which spreadeth blasphemies against thy doctrine that so neither feined Gods may be erected nor superstitious inuocations confirmed nor thy glorie defaced Weaken the power of thine enimies which boile in hatred against thy truth and conspire the death of thine elect so neither shal stables of woolues be made nor dennes of theeues established O Lord God returne and quicken vs so shal thy people reioice in thee Let al such as trust in thee reioice and triumph for euer dwel thou in them and let those which loue thy Name reioice in thee O Lord remember not our offences thou which wast somtimes merciful And forgauedst the wickednes of the people and hidedst al their sinnes Which with drewedst al thine anger and
affliction Wherefore we wil not for euer be forgetful of thy iustifications for they haue reuiued vs. Vnto thee Lord wil we list vp our eies on hie from whence our helpe shal come Betimes in the morning doe we cal vpon thee that thy mercie may preuent vs and thy goodnes ouertake vs quicklie Let thy fauor preuent vs as doth the Sunne which rising spreadeth his beames ouer al the partes of the earth and as the light of the morning when the Sunne appeareth earelie when it shineth without the cloudes After the same sort giue vs thy cleerenes and shew thy countenance ouer vs that lightened by thy word we may walke al this day long circumspectlie and warelie in the waies of thy commandements that being blinded in the daie time we runne not into darkenes neither grope at noone day as in the night wandering from the pathes of thy iudgements O God be merciful vnto vs and blesse vs shew vs the light of thy countenance and be gracious vnto vs That we may know thy way vpon earth and thy sauing health among al nations O most merciful GOD turne thine eies of compassion vpon vs and haue mercie on vs Looke vpon vs with thy fauorable coūtenance and turne not thy face from thy seruants Open our eies that we may consider the wonderful things in thy Lawe and make vs in the morning to behold thy glorie O God guider of our life forsake vs not neither giue vs a prowd looke and turne from vs the filthines of desire Remooue from our harts al concupiscence and take from thy seruants too ouerbolde a stomack suffer vs not to run headlong into riotousnes and bellichere let not vnlawful loue ouercome vs and giue not thy seruants ouer into impudent mindes Turne our eies that they behold no vanitie and strengthen vs in thy waie grant that the offences in this world ouerthrow vs not Beholde Lord our soules lust after thy saluation and we long for thy worde We beseech thee O Lord with a most ernest affection and humbly craue at thy merciful hands that this daie and euermore thou wilt keepe vs and al ours from the arrow flieng in the daie from the pestilence and plague that destroieth at noone tide Hide vs vnder thy wings and vnder thy feathers we wil haue hope Blinde the eies of our enimies that they see not and make their loines alwaie to tremble But open thine eies ouer vs and be thou vnto vs a mightie protector this daie a firmament of strength a couering against heate and parching a shadowe at noone tide a defence from offending an assister from falling a comforter of our soules a lightener of our minds and a giuer of health and happines in Christ our Lorde Amen 2. A thankesgiuing for our redemption O Iesu Christ Sonne of the liuing God which art the eternal word that was in the beginning the true substantial image of thine eternal Father the character and brightnes of his glory begotten of him before al worlds of one vndiuided essence of like maiestie and equal glorie We worship thee light of lights verie God of verie God begotten not made of one substance with the Father by whom al things were made We thanke thee for al thy benefits generallie speciallie for that at an appointed time according to the eternal counsaile and decree of the Father thou didst voluntarilie for vs men and for our saluatiō descend from heauen and was incarnate by the holie Ghost borne of the vnspotted and pure virgine Marie and truelie toke our flesh vpon thee and saued vs miserable wretched and damned sinners and deliuered vs from death and power of Satan not with golde and siluer but by thine holie and precious blood and by thine vndeserued passion and death and that of thine infinite goodnes and mercie without any merits or worthines of ours For al which we yeeld thee most hartie thanks as we are bounde For thou alone being iust hast satisfied by thine obedience the iudgement of the Father and on our behalfe offering the sacrifice of thy bodie hast deliuered vs from the tyrannie of death whereby we were held captiues For so great was the displeasure of thy Father against our sinnes that no creature could asswage the same but thou alone O onely begotten Sonne of God. O Christ most merciful God how inestimable is thy loue towards al mankind how infinite and vnspeakable thy goodnes how woonderful thine humilitie For thou being iust didst die suffer for the vniust A greater loue can no man haue than to giue his life for his friend but thou commendest thine abundant most burning affection toward vs in that being voide of al fault thou wouldest suffer death for our sakes being as yet strangers thine enimies and hast reconciled vs by thy death vnto thy Father and appeased his most heauie displeasure forgiuing al our sinnes and cancelling the hand writing which was against vs which was contrarie vnto vs hast taken it out of the way and fastened it vpon the crosse And hast spoiled principalities and powers and made a shew of them openlie triumphing ouer them by thy selfe and by thy profitable arising againe from the dead hast repared our true righteousnes which consisteth in the forgiuing of our sins and hast made vs acceptable to thy Father whereby wee please him through our reconciliation thou dost comfort our harts by the preaching of thy Gospel which worketh in vs the beginning of eternal life and by thine holie Spirit thou kindlest in vs like motions vnto thy selfe whereby we please thy Father through thee and thine obedience O Lord Iesu Christ lambe of God which takest awaie the sins of the world haue mercie vpon vs thou which sauest vs through thine owne merit virtue grant vs thy grace that the fruit of thy most sacred passion may worke effectually and profitablie within vs let not the labor which thou hast taken the paine that thou hast suffered for our redemption be in vaine through our vnthankfulnes O thou eternal intercessor word of God and his wisedome which outwardlie speakest vnto vs by the preaching of the Gospel instruct inwardlie our troubled harts by thy liuely word and effectual consolation that being mindful of thy sacrifice and suffering for our sinnes we may feele true comfort and peace of the holie Spirit in our harts Kindle in our brests a liuelie faith depending vpon thy benefits that being deliuered from the feare of hel we may finde righteousnes in thee eternal life For thou didst suffer for our sinnes rise againe for our iustification that liuing we shold her after not liue to our selues but to thee which diedst and rosest againe for vs. Grant therefore that likewise being quickned we may rise againe from al our sinnes and liue in
holie Name nor suffer thy kingdome to be brought vnto vs. Comfort and keepe vs stronglie in thy word and faith euen til our liues ende that so both thy good and gratious wil may be done in our harts and they which as yet beleeue not thy worde by our good conuersation may be wonne to thy Gospel and glorifie thee our God to the encrease of thy celestial kingdome Make vs meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Thou which hast deliuered vs from the power of darknes translated vs into the kingdome of thy beloued sonne in whom we haue redemption through his blood that is the remission of sinnes that we may be grounded and stablished in faith and not mooued awaie from the hope of the Gospel but may walke vnblameable and without fault in thy sight as it becommeth the children of light in al godlines and honestie And forasmuch as thy kingdome is not meate nor drinke neither consisteth in ceremonies and traditions which are inuented by man neither commeth it with obseruations neither is it in word but in righteousnes and peace and ioie in the holie Ghost and in power Grant O eternal God that we being borne anew by thy word and holie Spirit may attaine the inheritance of eternal life and lifting vp our harts on hie where Christ sitteth at thy right hande may set our affections on things which are aboue and not on things on the earth Therefore be thou present with vs in these latter daies of the world and begin thy kingdome in vs prosper the same with thy diuine assistance that we may be conformable vnto thy godlie pleasure purchasing thy fauor in this world and afterward in thy newe kingdome in the kingdome of glorie where thou God art al in al may ioiefullie remaine with thee for euermore Grant therefore that we may be poore in spirit in hart humble sorowful in minde for our offences and may with al our harts hunger and thirst after righteousnes Make vs lowlie and courteous liberal and pittiful pure in hart and peace-makers likewise in persecutions and trobles patient that we neither take nor giue offence vnto any but may exercise our selues in the workes of charitie and of mercie feeding the hungrie giuing drinke to the thirstie clothing the naked lodging strangers comforting the weake and visiting the imprisoned Finallie of thine abundant mercie grant that in thy last iudgement we may heare that ioieful and most cōfortable voice of thy welbeloued Sonne saieng Come ye blessed of my Father inherite the kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the worlde Amen 5. A praier for Magistrates OMost mightie GOD King of al the world which by thine holie Spirit hast commanded that supplications praiers intercessions and giuing of thanks be made for al men for Kings and for al that are in auctoritie which thou hast placed to be rulers of the earth according to thy good wisedome and set in gouernement at thy good pleasure For thou exaltest some vnto the top of honor and protectest their dignitie thou castest not downe the mighty which art mighty thy selfe and placest Kings in their throne For al power is from thee We beseech thee therefore euen with deepe sighs of hart O Lord of Lordes that forgiuing our sinnes thou woldest giue good Rulers and also maintaine their auctoritie For among men there is no place for Lawe and iustice where the rulers and princes whom thou hast appointed are not feared Vphold al the states and gouernors of this realme and protect them from destruction in these greuous calamities and miserable disorder of these latter daies Especiallie preserue our Noble Queene and hir godlie Counsaile grant them a long healthful good life that they may deuoutlie serue thee and iustlie doe their office Lighten their minds with the knowledge of thy sacred word that they may deale wisely and be learned which iudge the earth seruing thee in feare and reioicing in trembling Let them embrace discipline and kisse the Sonne the Sauior of the world least happilie he be angrie and they perish in the waie Blesse them O God that they may alwaies hope in thee nourish thy ministers giue reliefe vnto thy Gospel and open their gates that the King of glorie may come in the Lord of power which is mightie in battel Giue them a care of godlines that they may giue their goods to the erecting cherishing of the church and shew themselues Patrones and defenders of the same Make them diligent in rooting out superstition and in promoting thy Kingdome in maintaining the puritie of doctrine in remoouing al offences and finallie in wyping awaie al filthines which both defile thy religion and deface thy glory that the commers after vs haue none occasion of transgressing Blesse them with sober counsaile wisedome industrie and courage of minde Giue them good successe in al their enterprises prosper their doings Let them consider that they are placed to defend the good and innocent and with seuere punishment to correct the wicked and rebellious so shal wickednes be taken from among vs and the publike state remaine in safetie to the preseruation of mankind and continuance both of common Christian peace to the glorie of thy sacred Maiestie and the commoditie of their subiects to the rooting out of ignorance and error and to the furtherance of good artes honest trades and liberal studies And forasmuch as the harts of Kings Queenes and of al men are in thine handes so that thou canst turne them at thy pleasure we beseech thee almightie and merciful God that it would please thee to turne from crueltie to clemencie the minds of al Tyrans and vnmerciful Princes that they mooue not war against thee rashlie wherby the course of thy diuine worde may be hindered worldlie substance wickedlie consumed and their subiects polled vnreasonably deuoured But giue vnto al in auctoritie quiet harts desirous of christian concord that they may remember they are the ministers of God to maintaine his glorie to keepe their people from iniurie and oppression and beare the sword to take vengance on them which doe euil on the behalfe of god For they rule not for their owne cause but for the publike welfare neither may they doe what they list but are bound to seeke the profit of their subiectes and to set forth the glorie of God. Let them not therefore abuse their auctoritie power but grant them grace to remember continuallie that they are mortal men whose Lord is in heauen which respecteth no person and afore whose iudgment seat they must al appeare and giue an account vnto thee the true and righteous God iudge both of the quicke and dead which raignest and rulest for euermore Amen 6. A praier for Subiects O Most merciful God at
8. Euening praier on Mondaie O ALMIGHTIE and merciful God thou hast made the Moone for certaine seasons the Sunne which thou hast created knoweth his going downe Thou makest darknes and it is night wherin men betake them to rest cease from their worke and recreate their wearied members through sleepe Thou art the God forming light and creating darknes Therefore in the euening we wil praise thee and going to bed wil giue thee thanks because thou hast kept vs this daie of thine onelie mercie without any merit of ours from al danger and hurt When we are in troble we cal vpon thee and in the euening wil we remember thy mercie and truth which thou hast shewed vnto vs abundantlie Our eies preuent the night watches to meditate vpon thy wonderful things and our studies shal be alwaies of the excellencie of thy Name For thou hast sent from heauen and deliuered vs and hast brought them to shame that troade vpon vs O God thou hast sent thy mercie and truth and taken our soules from the mids of them which compassed vs about Therefore we wil sacrifice freelie vnto thee and praise thy most glorious Name For thou hast deliuered vs from al troble and our eies haue seene our desire vpon our enimies O Lorde God of our saluation daie and night doe we crie before thee when our eies are trobled through griefe and bitternes of our soules we poure out our teares before thee and in this place we humblie beseech thee couer and put out al our offences that as the Sunne of this daie is now downe and hidden so thou woldest also hide al our iniquities and drowne al our offences in the bottom of the sea that they neuer be seene with eies nor come forth into iudgement O our God we blush and are ashamed to lift vp our eies vnto thee For we are not worthie to lift vp our eies vnto Heauen because our sinnes are mo than the heares of our head Our offences haue taken such hold on vs that we are vnable to looke vp We haue sinned O Lord we haue sinned and haue committed iniquitie yea we haue rebelled and departed from thy precepts from thy iudgements We haue not obeied thy seruants which spake in thy Name to our Kings to our Princes and to our Fathers and to al the people of the lande O Lord righteousnes belongeth vnto thee but vnto vs open shame and confusion O Lord thou art iust and al thy works and al thy waies are mercie and truth thou iudgest truelie and rightlie for euer Remember vs and looke vpon vs according to the multitude of thy mercies neither punish vs for our sinnes nor remember our offences nor our forefathers which haue not obeied thy commandements We faint in our mourning we wil cause our bed to swim and water our coutch with teares Our eies be trobled through the griefe of our wickednes and our faces be withered O Lord God of hosts heare our praier O God our protector behold and looke vpon the face of Christ thine onelie begotten Sonne making intercession for vs and winke at our offences Hide thy face from our sinnes blot out al our iniquities Create in vs cleane harts O God and renue right spirits within vs Cast vs not away from thy presence take not thine holie spirit frō vs Restore to vs the ioie of thy saluation and stablish vs with thy free Spirit that we may doe al things according to thy wil and serue thee alwaies with a willing minde O Christ King of glorie we beseech thee blessed Lorde defend vs this night let our rest be in thee graunt vs thy grace that neither much sleepe ouerwhelme vs nor Satan inuade vs nor the flesh betraie vs vnto him and make vs giltie in thy sight Let our eies sleepe but let our harts wake cause thy right hand to protect such as trust in thee O Lord lighten our eies that we slepe not in death that Satan hurt vs not and our enimie saie I haue preuailed against them Watch ouer vs O eternal Sauior least the subtil tempter ouertake vs and we sleepe a perpetual sleepe and wake no more For thou art made our euerlasting helper Keepe vs as the apple of thine eie hide vs vnder the shadowe of thy wings O Lorde that neither ouglie visions nor horrible dreames nor sightes and monsterous apparitions troble vs in the darke In thy Name O sweete Iesu wil we go to bed and giue sleepe to our eies and slomber to our eie lids compasse vs about and raise vs againe to the ioieful sight of tomorrow light and after this miserable life bring vs to the beholding of eternal happines that in thy light we may see light and euermore praise thee raigning worlds without ende Amen 1. On Tuesdaie Morning praier O Almightie euerliuing true merciful God eternal Father of our Lord Iesu Christ which together with thy Sonne and the holie Ghost hast created the frame of this worlde withal things therin conteined and preseruest the same as yet according to thy free pleasure al creatures without ceassing euermore should extol and praise thee that doe euen the very fowles of the aire which earelie in the morning among the thick branches of trees and from the mids of rocks giuing out their sound and flieng about in the aire with most pleasant tunes doe magnifie thee the eternal God Lord and Creator of al things And therfore we men also earelie in the morning shold praise thee for thy benefits and euermore extol thy mercie with diuine commendations Thou hast preserued vs this night passed and from our cradles to this present houre hast thou kept vs safe Thou hast caused vs to come from sleepe and darkenes vnto the light of this daie and from our beds through thy benignitie we doe arise in safetie Hadst not thou O Lorde bin present with vs and watched vs the insatiable crueltie of Satan had deuoured vs Hadst not thou kept our houses and vs the keeper of the Citie had watched in vaine If the Lorde had not bin on our side when men rose vp against vs they had then swallowed vs vp quicke when their wrath was kindled against vs then had the waters of troble drowned vs and the streame of miseries had gone ouer our soules yea the swelling merciles waters had gone ouer our soules Blessed be the Lorde which hath not giuen vs a praie for their teeth Our soules are escaped euen as a bird out of the snare of the foulers the snare is broken and we are deliuered Our helpe is in the Name of the Lorde which hath made both heauen and earth Now harken therefore vnto our words O Lorde marke our crie vnderstand the voice of our praier our King and our god For vnto thee Lorde
we wil praie heare our voice in the morning Earelie wil we stand before thee and behold thy fortitude and Maiestie looking for thine assistance with a woonderful desire O God and gouernor raise vs vp earelie earelie we saie liâ—t vp our eares to the hearing of thee our instructor Open thou our eares that we rebel not against thee neither yet go backwarde but let thy voice sound in our eares make them obedient vnto thee that we be not obstinate like the serpent neither hardened like the deafe adder which stoppeth his eares but let them be open to heare thy Lawes and testimonies and harken alwaies vnto the crie of the poore that the morning light may rise vnto vs and our light breake foorth as the daie and our health spring vp sodeinlie Againe shut vp our eares hedge them in with thornes and put bars vpon them that they neither admit nor allowe false doctrine and that they turne not from the truth to fables and other follies But thou O our God and Creator which didst plant the eare hearest al things make the same with a willing and readie minde to obeie thee our maker and Redeemer Heare vs Lorde for thy louing kindnes is good turne vnto vs according to the multitude of thy tender mercies stop not thine eare from our sighing and from our crie Incline thine eare O Lord and heare vs for we are poore and needie Haue mercie on vs O Lord because we crie vnto thee al the daie long Let vs heare thy louing kindnes in the morning which is better than al riches yea than life it selfe make vs to heare ioie and gladnes that the bones which thou hast broken may reioice We beseech thee O eternal God by the incarnation and natiuitie of thy Sonne Iesu Christ that through thy worde entering into our eares and mindes thou wilt transforme vs into new men and be borne of thee and as new borne babes may desire that milke not of bodie but of the minde which knowes no deceipt whereby we may growe and taste how sweete thy promise is vnto the godlie which embrace the same through faith and that laieng aside al malitiousnes and guile and al dissimulation and enuie we may walke as children but in vnderstanding may be perfect And being thus regenerated kepe vs O eternal God both this day and at al times from euil tydings that our eares heare no rumors of wars nor be terrefied by any greeuous chance Fil vs in this houre with thy fauor that al this daie reioicing together we may delight in thy praises through our Lord Iesus Christ which liueth and raigneth with thee for euermore Amen 2. A thankesgiuing vnto God for our Sanctification O God the holie Ghost which proceedest from the Father and the Sonne and with them art worshipped and glorified in the vnitie of the true and eternal Deitie and art also the substantial amitie betweene the Father and the Sonne We worship thee we praise and glorifie thee and with our whole hart we thanke thee for al thy benefits especiallie for calling vs by the voice of the Gospel vnto the Christian congregation for illuminating vs with thy gifts for sanctifieng vs with a stedfast faith and for keeping vs hetherto in the same For by the font of the wholesome lauor that is by the water of holie baptisme being poured into vs thou dost continuallie worke in vs regeneration and renuing of the inwarde man. Harken we beseech thee vnto our supplication teach vs miserable men which by the proper strength of our only reason caÌ„ by no meanes trust in or approch to Christ our Lorde and Sauiour teach vs O our God what thy pleasure is and leade vs into al truth For without thine assistance none can saie that Iesus is the Lord. O blessed light fil the inwarde partes of thy faithful without thy grace nothing is within man which is not hurtful Wash that is filthie water that is drie heale that is wounded bow the obstinate cherish the frozen and reclame them which wander Giue to thy faithful trusting in thee the reward of wel doing the entrance into happines and euerlasting comfort Thou in thy giftes seuenfold which art the Spirit of the Lord the spirit of wisdome vnderstanding the spirit of counsel strength the spirit of knowledge and of the feare of the Lord inspire into vs through the preaching of the Gospel thine heauenlie wisedome about thine essence and diuine pleasure which is hid from the world Grant that we may know the Father and the Sonne by thee and may alwaies beleeue that thou art the spirit of them both and so worship one God in trinitie and the trinitie in vnitie whose wil is that not one should perish but be conuerted and liue and that as many as beleeue in the Sonne should haue euerlasting life For the Father sent the Sonne not to condemne the worlde but that the worlde through him might be saued O Lightener of the minde poure vpon vs thy new light and purge the horrible darknes of our minds so that we may see and knowe our chiefe Father whom pure eies onlie doe behold O thou heauenlie comforter giue vnto vs a testimonie grant vnto our minds a token of the certaintie of our beliefe so that wee doubt not neither wauer about thy diuine goodnes toward vs. Make our harts quiet and secure that with a ful trust and confidence we may approch to the throne of thine heauenlie grace receiuing by adoption the right of children and inflamed with spiritual ioie in al boldnes and libertie may crie Abba Father Thou which art the earnest of our inheritance to the redemption of the promise and art effectual by thy worde and Sacraments signe our harts with the seale of thy promise whereby we may haue the same and retaine it surelie in our harts through thy deede Thou most faithful Aduocate strengthen vs against al the assaults and tentations of Satan so that we may neuer doubt of thy diuine prouidence and predestination whereby we are chosen and called in Christ vnto euerlasting life and neuer being stroken with a seruile feare and oppressed with dreadful doubtings may in a rage flie and forsake our God. O surpassing comforter leaue vs not destitute of thine aide and patronage but vouchsafe euermore to be present with vs in our crosses and trobles least otherwise we faint But rather make vs to reioice in tribulations knowing that a crowne of life is laide vp for such as loue him O thou teacher of men instruct vs how and what we ought to praie for according to thy wil that we may be heard and make thou intercession for vs with sighes that cannot be expressed O thou clenser of the hart giue vnto vs the simplicitie of minde without gal
from aboue but earthlie sensual and diuelish For where emulation and strife is there is sedition and al manner of euil works Grant therefore that al of vs being humble may be exalted to eternal life Amen 5. A praier for wedded folkes O Most holie God and mercisul father which of thy singular prouidence and woonderful wisedome diddest ordaine matrimonie in Paradyse and that in the time of innocencie for the multiplieng and conseruation of mankinde thereby to gather vnto thy selfe continuallie out of godlie families an holie catholike church which may rightly acknowledge serue and celebrate thine holie name for euermore and deliuer the true vnderstanding of thee vnto posterities by one generation to another This thine institution did thy Sonne God coequal with thee and coeternal confirme and adorne in Cana of Galile by turning water into good wine A notable honoring of mariage doubtles for Christ not onlie to be present himselfe at the nuptial feast but also to set out the same with the first myracle that he wrought after his natiuitie Likewise thy holie Spirit doth witnes by the worde deliuered vnto vs and saith that mariage is honorable among al. And the same thy Spirit reioiceth in three things which are commended both before God and man in the concorde of brethren in the loue of neighbors and in a man and wife that agree wel together For such as be at variance can neither cal vpon thee as they should nor please thee as they ought O eternal God it is sufficientlie apparent with what a rage and insatiable hatred Satan the most deadlie enimie to al thy works doth labour and set himselfe to the breaking of and ouerthrow of this thy sacred ordinance Wherefore we beseech thee impart thy fauor vnto al maried folks that they may acknowledge thee to be the autor and institutor of this knitting together in wedlock and knowe and beleeue stedfastlie that they are in a good estate wherein they may please thee through christ thy Sonne For hauing this comfort they wil more willinglie and cheerefully discharge the duties of their calling in true confidence and calling vpon thy Name But such as doubt of their kinde of life hauing their conscience wounded trobled minds can neither cal vpon thee truelie nor cheerefullie go about and finish their affaires Grant therefore vnto al and euerie married bodie that in true faith and confession they may retaine the indissoluble chaine of wedded state and the strong bonds of godly fellowship that they may loue one another and in the sweate of their browes eate their bread and bring vp their children in al godlines through instruction and information of the Lorde and neuer feare the crosse which accompanieth this kinde of life Worke so that Satan by no meanes weaken and ouerthrowe this thine ordinance nor that married folkes wearied with the trobles of wedded life raise mortal hatred among themselues and so detest and abhor this thine holie institution seeke vnlawful diuorcements For by this engine of incredulitie and snare of mistrust being comprehended they wil easilie rush headlong into enormous offences by casting of the yoke of the Lorde and be carried through dissention into horrible cōfusions of concupiscence to adulterie whoredome wicked forsakings so long til polluted with filthie spots and defiled with most horrible staines they bring themselues hedlong into euerlasting torments Grant therefore O most merciful God that al at debate may come to amitie and be reconciled in thy Name and being mindful of the knot of mariage and mutual bond betweene them may dwel and liue peaceablie together in true faith and feare of thy Name That husbands abusing their auctoritie doe not exercise tyrannie ouer their wiues but rather loue them and dwel with them according to knowledge giuing honor vnto them as vnto the weaker vessels euen as to them which are also heires of grace and life Likewise that matrones contemne not their husbands denieng subiection but rather studie by chaste obedience and holie conuersation and lowlines to ouercome them Let neither hate other extremelie and so violate the state of mariage and bring themselues out of thy fauor through their discorde and contention wherby their praiers be interrupted For where neither part doe their dutie there must needes ensue first pouertie subtiltie lieng and al impietie afterward a wounded conscience and last of al vtter despaire O most chaste God which didst therefore institute the order of matrimonie that by the same both the weake nature of mankinde might liue purelie in lawful wedlock and an holie Church be gathered vnto thy selfe giue thy blessing to al which are married that they may haue godlie children their wiues proue like the fruiteful vine and their children appere like the oliue branches round about their table and may see their childers children the peace safetie of the Church the which Christ thy Sonne repairer of mankind by taking our flesh vpon him hath copled to himselfe which liueth and raigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God for euermore Amen 6. A praier for yong folkes OMost merciful God and eternal Father which out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength of thy praise and wilt also that yong men and maidens old men and children should praise thee the eternal God in true confessing inuocating and celebrating of thy diuine maiestie through al generations for euermore Thou hast enioined vnto children that they shewe due honor subiection and reuerence to their parents and obeie them willinglie in al good and lawful things We beseech thee on the behalfe of al infants children and yonger sort as wel maidens as of the male-kind implant in them a true fear o◠thy Name that from their youth they may confesse thee to be the onelie true God and Iesus whom thou hast sent to be Christ and encrease daily in this wholesōe knowledge profiting as in yeeres so in fauor both before thee and men Let them not cast of the yoake of obedience and subiection neither yet abuse the gentlenes of their parents and elders vnto libertie of sinning nor by their hardnes and austeritie conceaue an hatred against them and refuse their correction but make them pacientlie to take the warnings and discipline of their parents in good part to the glorie of thy Name and saluation of their owne soules O Christ louer of mankind which cōmandest children to be brought vnto thee and receiuing them into thine armes in token of a singular and deere good wil laieng thine hands vpon them didst blesse them We beseech thee which for our sakes wast borne an infant and didst shed thy most innocent blood vpon the altar of the crosse aswel for infants as for elder folkes blesse thou al infants and children impart thy grace vpon them that they may feare thee and haue their parents in great reuerence according to thy wil which
those things which delighted our sences and fantasies For by nature we were the sonnes of wrath euen as others But now thou O God which art rich in mercie for thy great kindnes sake wherewith thou louest vs gouerne vs by thine holie Spirit that we neuer forsake the faith which thou hast giuen vs but perseuering in the rase begunne may attaine through thy grace to the saluation of our soules Take awaie from vs that which is deformed by our corrupt nature continue that which thy grace hath wrought within vs that sin raigne not in our mortal bodies neither we obeie it in the vnlawful lustes therof Assist vs with thine aide that being deliuered from sinne we may be the seruants of righteousnes and obeie that doctrine from the hart wherevnto we are brought giuing our members seruants of righteousnes vnto sanctification so shal we serue thee our true GOD here in the kingdome of grace herafter in the kingdome of glorie which liuest with God the Father and the holie Ghost for euermore Amen 8. Euening praier on Tuesdaie BLessed GOD and Father of our Lord Iesu christ of thine abundant great mercie hast thou preserued vs miserable men this daie from the crueltie and tyrannie of Satan and from sondrie perils and calamities Thou hast shewed vs great trobles in our life notwithstanding thou returnedst and diddest reuiue vs tokedst vs out from the depth of the earth Thou hast encreased our honor and returning didst comfort vs. Strangers rose vp against vs and vnto vs. Admonish our soules of miseries to come Euen as thou diddest arme the Patriarches and Prophets by dreames and visions in the night when sleepe came vpon them from dāgers nigh at hand through thine heauenlie oracles so gouerne and preserue vs in sleepe that our soules come not into danger neither fal vpon the sword and pit of perils Defende vs this night from vncleane and troblesome Spirits let not their rushings ragings and misrule disquiet vs Kepe vs good God from sights of Satan from snares and illusions of the Diuel O thou maker of al things according to thy woonted goodnes be thou our watchman and keeper so shal no vaine apparitions and dreames of the night troble vs nor the Diuel disquiet vs. For in the waie of thy iudgements we doe looke for thee O Lord the desire of our soule is to thy Name and to the remembrance of thee With our soules haue we desired thee in the night and with our spirits within vs wil we seeke thee in the morning Our soules waite on the Lord more than the morning watch watcheth for the morning Heare our crie O God giue eare vnto our praier From the endes of the earth we wil crie vnto thee when our harts be opprest bring vs to the hie rock for thou art our hope a strong tower against the face of the enimie We wil dwel in thy tabernacle for euer we shal be protected vnder the couering of thy wings Lengthen our daies and yeres according to thy good pleasure for thy mercie and truth shal keepe vs. O Christ our defender beholde represse our enimies gouerne thy seruants which thou hast bought with thy precious blood be mindful of vs O Lord in this heauie bodie thou which art the defender of the soule be present with vs. To God the Father and to his onelie Sonne with the Spirit the comforter be al praise and glorie for euermore Amen 1. On VVensdaie Morning praier O Almightie and merciful GOD which gauest the people of Israël in charge euerie daie both in the morning and at night to offer vnto thee a burnt offering for a sweete sauor in thine eares that thereby they might glorifie thee and giue thee thankes for the benefite of their protection both night and daie rising this morning we offer vp vnto thee the sacrifice of thankesgiuing We glorifie thee O eternal God for breaking the chaines of the darknes of this night We wil offer vnto thee a sacrifice of praise and cal vpon thy Name We wil praise our God which brought vs out of darknes and the shadowe of death and brake the bonds wherewith we were tied this night he hath deliuered our soules from perils by bringing vs safe and sound to the morning light Wherefore we offer before thee the calues of our lips for a morning sacrifice and with our tongues doe we praise thee O Lord. Our mouthes shal be filled with thy praise and with thy glorie euerie daie Our tongues shal talke of thy righteousnes and saluation euerie daie Our lips shal speake of thy praise and our tongues shal entreate of thy worde Our soules shal be filled as it were with fatnes and with the lips of reioicing shal our mouth extol thee We wil praise thy Name with songs and magnifie thee with thankesgiuing which please thee better than either oxe or calfe that hath hornes and hooues Wherefore let the sacrifice of our mouthes which we offer vnto thee now this morning and the meditations of our hares be grateful in thy sight O Lorde we beseech thee accept the free offerings of our mouth and teach vs thy iudgements that we may doe thy wil according to thy good pleasure Vnto thee O Lorde we wil crie and earelie shal our praiers come before thee In this morning doe we beseech thee by the resurrection of our Lord Iesu Christ thy welbeloued Sonne that as he was raised from the dead by thy glorie so thou wilt raise and lift vs vp this morning that rising out of the filth of sinne and leauing the beds of vnrighteousnes we may put on the newe man which is renued in knowledge after the image of thee which didst create him and giue not ouer our selues to sleepe and snorting Awake now our soules which sleepe rise from the dead Christ wil lighten yee For certes it is hie time that we should arise from sleepe the houre of our watching being nigh and our saluation neerer than when we beleeued The night is passed and the day is at hand Grant therfore merciful God that casting of the works of darknes and putting on the armour of light we may walke honestlie as in the daie not in gluttonie and drunkennes neither in chambering and wantonnes nor in strife and enuieng but may put on our Lord Iesu Christ by true faith and good works which may smel of him that tasting of his sweetenes at no time we may be separated frō him Wherefore we beseech thee O Lord continue thy goodnes toward vs and grant that al our praiers and workes may both begin from thee and ende through thee Vouchsafe O Lord to keepe vs this day without sinne Let thy mercie be vpon vs as we trust in thee O Lord keepe our tongues from euil and our lips that
they speake no guile Remoue from vs al filthy speech vanitie of wordes and al scurrilitie that we blab out nothing rashlie or vndiscreetelie to the hurt of our neighbour Who shal set a locke vpon our mouth and a sure seale vpon our lips that we offende not in our speech that our tongues do not destroie vs. Omnipotent GOD put thou a watch vpon our mouth a doore vpon our lips that our mouth transgresse not neither our lips be opened to speake that is vnseemelie that our mouthes may meditate vpon the truth and our lips abhor wickednes that al the words of our mouthes may be syncere and no lewdnes or frowardnes be found in them Grant merciful GOD that descending into our soules we may reprehende and condemne the spots and vices within vs and not forgetting our selues iudge others and therby fal into thy dreadful iudgements O Lorde deliuer vs from lieng lips and from a deceitful tongue whose mouth is softer than butter and their words more gentle than oile and are most pearcing dartes They haue sharpened their tonges like serpents the poison of aspes is vnder their lips Keepe vs O Lord both now and euermore Sende thy word and heale vs Lord through our Sauior Christ thy beloued Sonne Amen 2. A thankesgiuing for the knowledge of God. WE giue thee thanks O Father Lord of heauen earth because thou hast hid the mysterie of thy worde which is the Gospel of our saluation by thy Sonne from the wise and men of vnderstanding in this world and hast reuealed the same to babes of base degree certainlie such was thy good pleasure Thou hast giuen vs al things in thy Sonne whom none knoweth but thou Father neither doth any knowe thee except thy Sonne and he to whom thy Sonne shal reueale thee We worship thee we praise thee we glorifie thee we giue thee thāks for the hid wisedome which thou didst determine before the worlde for our glorie which was neuer knowne to the Princes of this world nor at any time to the sonnes of men as it is now reuealed by the Spirit to knowe the communion of the mysterie which was hid from al ages but is nowe opened to thy Saints to whom thou woldest haue made knowen what be the riches of this glorious mysterie It is thine owne working and of thy free mercie that we are made heires and partakers of the promise in Christ Iesu through the Gospel which bringeth vs tydings and assurance of the euerlasting riches of thine infinit goodnes and mercie Blessed be God ▪ euen the Father of our Lord Iesu Christ which hath blessed vs with al spiritual blessings in heauenlie things by Christ and hath chosen vs in him before the foundations of the worlde that we shoulde be holie and without blame before him by loue who hath predestinated vs to be adopted through Iesus Christ vnto himselfe according to the good pleasure of his wil whereby he loueth vs by his beloued in whom we haue redemption by his blood euen the forgiuenes of sinnes according to the riches of his grace wherin he hath abounded towarde vs in al wisedome and vnderstanding hath opened vnto vs the mysterie of his wil according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in himselfe euen vntil the dispensation of the fulnes of time that he might gather in one al things both which are in heauen and which are in earth euen in Christ by whom also we are chosen when we were predestinated according to the purpose of him which maketh al things after the counsel of his owne wil that we might be to the praise of his glory which hoping haue beleeued in Christ when we heard the worde of truth euen the Gospel of saluation And this grace thou didst extend toward vs not by the works of righteousnes which we had done but according to thy mercie thou sauedst vs and diddest cal vs with an holie calling not according to our works but according to thine owne purpose and grace which was giuen to vs through Christ before al times and is now made manifest by the appearing of our Sauior Iesus Christ which hath abolished death and brought life and immortalitie vnto light through the Gospel To thee therefore which art of power to establish our harts according to the reuelation of the mysterie which was kept secret since the world began but now is opened and published among al nations by the scriptures of the Prophets at the commandement of the euerlasting GOD for the obedience of faith to thee we saie God onelie wise be praise through Iesu Christ for euer Amen We beseech thee that according to the operation and working of thy mightie power we may continue constant in true faith and wholsome doctrine and at no time forsaking the wisedome opened in the Gospel may follow the iudgement of worldlie reason and fleshlie vnderstanding which thou hast besotted and altogether confounded in searching thy hidden mysteries For that spiritual wisdome doth far exceede al wisedome and vnderstanding of the creatures whervnto flesh cannot attaine neither can our blood reueale nor yet the natural man although he be endued with great sharpnes of wit and worldlie vnderstanding perceiue the same Grant we beseech thee that we may be thy simple and little ones receiuing from thee the worde of truth without contradition and disputation and that in the articles of faith wee bring not fleshlie wisedome but being made voide of our proper vnderstanding may bring our mindes into a godlie captiuitie Let thy Sonne which descending from about brought with him the eternal wisdome of the Gospel from thy bosome and was made a sacrifice on our behalfe but now exalted to thy right hande bestoweth his gifts let him we beseech thee shine in our harts Likewise cause thine holie Spirit to instil into vs his diuine light and breath vpon vs the newe flame of thine heauenlie knowledge til departing into the eternal life we may beholde thee the onelie and true God face to face which liuest and raignest in perpetual glorie Amen 3. A praier for the attaining of Christian Charitie O Christ Sonne of God which art the syncere and perfect charitie louing vs euen to the ende and thereby didst suffer a cruel death vpon the altar of the crosse to deliuer vs from euerlasting death and perpetual torments and to allure vs by that thine example to amitie That as thy wil was to suffer death on our behalfe so we hauing the riches of this worlde shoulde be so far from keeping back our almes and reliefe from the poore or shutting vp our bowels of compassion frō them that in the case of necessitie we should giue our liues for our brethren For both our profession requireth the same and it is the token whereby the true Christians are knowen according
to thy worde By this shal men know that ye are my disciples if ye loue one another Which loue ought to be the rule of al our actions For al things are to be examined by the rule of charitie which being banished al other gifts are corrupt and profite nothing We besech thee by thine hote burning and abundant loue enflame our cold harts with the affection of vnfained good wil that we may loue thee the Father and the holie Spirit in one eternal and inseperable essence aboue al things with our whole hart with al our soule and with al our strength and keepe that commandement which againe peculiarlie thou didst commend vnto vs saieng A new commandement giue I vnto you that yee loue one another as I haue loued you that euen so ye loue one another Thou likewise O Sonne of God when thy death was nigh didst beg that the loue where with the eternal Father loueth thee may be in thy seruants Expresse in vs the similitude of thy good wil and turne vs into such a shape that our soules by the light and motion of the holie Spirit may be coupled with thine eternal Father and that the image of like integritie knowledge righteousnes and affections may shine in vs as doth in thee which art the brightnes of the eternal Father in the most pleasant and perpetual harmonie Raise vp in vs a desire of brotherlie and entire good wil that euery one may haue a care to helpe his brother euen as members of one bodie haue a mutual compassion ech of other so we may loue among our selues vnfainedlie and abounde in mutual friendship one towards another that our harts may be confirmed and vnblameable in holines before God. Giue grace that our loue may be perfect wanting no part due vnto the same not fained false or hypocritical not waiward tedious disdainful nor hunting after profit Grant therefore that we may abhor that which is euil and be affectioned to loue one another with brotherlie loue Make vs patient bountiful not enuious no boasters not puffed vp not proud no seekers of our owne not easie to be moued vnto anger no thinkers of euil no reioicers in wickednes but reioicers in the truth to suffer al things beleeue al things hope al things and so to loue one another mutuallie not in word and tong onlie but in deede and truth not abusing christian libertie as an occasion vnto the flesh but by loue to serue one another Inflame our brests that after thine example we may vnfeinedlie loue euen our verie enimies and blesse them that cursse vs doe good vnto them which hate and hurt vs leauing reuengement alwaies to thee O lambe of God which takest away the sinnes of the worlde take from vs al bitternes anger and wrath and crieng and euil speaking with al maliciousnes For he which loueth not his brother knoweth not God but abideth in death and doth vainlie boast against the truth Grant therefore to vs which are translated from death to life that retaining the studie of concord we may loue one another and put away bitter emulation forgiuing al men euen from the hart euen as thou hast forgiuen vs. Let not the sunne go downe vpon our wrath giuing place to the Diuel but let vs be quiet putting on tender mercie kindnes humblenes of minde meekenes and aboue al charitie which is the bond of perfection the ende of the commandement the fulfilling of the law so that by loue our faith may be fruitful and we at no time seuered from thee For thou art loue and he that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in thee and thou in him so that no creature can separate such a man from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesu which liuest and raignest with the Father and the holie Spirit a true and one God in the loue of the perpetual vnitie worldes without ende Amen 4. A praier for the frute of the earth O Lord God almightie King of heauen and earth which of thine aboundant goodnes dost adorne and replenish the earth with al kinde of frute and graine whereby the life both of man beast is sustained We beseech thee euen of thy free mercie that thou wouldest vouchsafe to blesse our fields and ground and to make them prosperouslie to yeelde their corne and encrease For without thy blessing and fauor neither can the earth of it selfe bring foorth any whit nor we by our paines make the same to prosper Wherefore grant to al thinges springing from the earth a meete temperature of aire that luckilie they may take and encrease Keepe our frute vpon the face of the earth from al infection of the aire from thunder haile from vntimelie showers from too great drines and ouermuch heate from wormes hurtful beasts deuouring it before their prime and from al other corruption that our lande in thine anger be not desolate and denie vs frute enioieng hir woful Sabbaoth Shut not vp the heauens in thine indignation for our sinnes that it be not as iron nor our earth as brasse whereby it cannot be tilled ploughed nor sowed and so come to a verie plaine and vtter wildernes but of thy goodnes giue vs both the earelie and latter raine that we may haue abundance of al frute and a ioieful haruest with a plentiful vintage O God send a gracious raine vpon thine inheritance and giue thy blessing that our grounde may bring forth hir frute Cause thy raine to poure downe in due season that it may be raine of blessing whereby both trees may giue their frute and the grounde yeeld forth hir graine Grant also that the aier be pure from infection our bodies free from sickenes to our whole realme peace and quietnes that safelie without troble we may enioie thy gifts Driue away and repel from vs malediction and the destroier Giue vs not in steede of raine dust and ashes but open thy good treasure and visit the land with thy blessing make it drunken and enrich it abundantlie Thy riuer O Lorde is ful of water prepare our corne dispose our earth to prosper water abundantlie the furrowes of the same and cause the raine to descend into the valleies thereof make the same soft with showers and blesse our buddes Crowne the yeare with thy goodnes and let thy clowdes drop fatnes Let them drop vpon the pastures of the wildernes and make the litle hils reioice on euerie side Let the plaines be replenished with sheepe and the valleies with corne that the inhabiters of the earth may reioice and be merie O Lorde thou causest grasse to grow for cattel and herbes for the vse of mā thou bringest forth bread out of the earth and wine to make glad the hart of man
oile to make the countenance cheereful bread for to strengthen the hart Haue therefore a care O heauenlie Father of the seede other things springing from the earth keepe them both in cold raine ice snow from the beating of winds and iniurie of weather Preserue thē in extreeme heate drines moistnes and such like that they perish not afore their time Roote out the destroier that there be neither mildew nor grashopper neither caterpiller hurting the frute of the earth Keepe vs O Lord in the time of dearth that we perish not for hunger nor be confounded in the perilous time For thou art our GOD Creator which satisfiest the thirstie soule and fillest the hungrie with goodnes which hast saide I wil not faile neither forsake thee wherby being faithful we may say The Lord is with vs therfore we wil not feare what man can do vnto vs. Behold we miserable and great sinners doe confesse our wickednes with groanings and griefe of hart crieng vnto thee which art in heauen Heare our praiers in thy dwelling place and be merciful to thy people which haue sinned against thee and forgiue al our iniquities wherein wee haue transgressed against thee By our sinnes we haue brought al these miseries which hang ouer our heads but blot out al our offences O God after thy manifold mercies take awaie from vs the curse of our ground that the people may praise thee O God yea that al the people may praise thee and the earth bring foorth hir encrease through our Lord Iesu Christ thine onelie sonne which liueth and raigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God for euermore Amen 5. A praier for sinners O Eternal Father maker gouernor of al the worlde from the bottome of our harts we thanke thee in the Name of our Lord Iesu Christ for that thou hast not vtterlie cast away mankinde hauing fallen from the state of paradise by sinne into euerlasting damnation as thou didst the Diuels but of thine vnspeakeable goodnes through thy secret counsaile wouldest nedes that thy Sonne should take our flesh vpon him be a mediator betweene thee and vs and be sacrificed for our sinnes For thou wilt not the death of a sinner neither art thou delighted in the destruction of the wicked but that he repent and liue Againe thy Sonne came not to cal the righteous but sinners to repentance We beseech thee on the behalfe of al sinners for al in bondage to Satan and for as many as are ouerwhelmed in wickednes grant them grace merciful God that they may escape the snares of the Diuel and acknowledge their offences strike into them a feare of thine indignation and paines of hel that their minds be not darkned and so they become strangers from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the hardnes of their hart that they come not to that passe that they forsake al sorrowing so giue themselues to cōmit wantonnes euen with gredines For they which breake thy precepts wilfullie and haue no feare nor feeling of thy iudgements but runne on securelie pleasing themselues taking pleasure in their impietie whose consciences do soundlie sleepe the feare of thy iudgement being cleane extinguished in them and prostitute themselues to al vncleannes they heape vnto themselues the wrath of God according to their hardnes and harts which cannot repent giue themselues ouer into reprobate mindes to doe those things as be vncomelie being ful of al vnrighteousnes fornication wickednes couetousnes malice ful of enuie of murther of debate of deceipt corrupted in manners whisperers backbyters haters of God dooers of wrong proude boasters inuenters of euil things disobedient to parents without vnderstanding breakers of promises far from al charitable affection yea they giue themselues wholie to the works of the flesh that so forgoing al sense of godlines they may obstinatelie go forward in wickednes to their euerlasting perdition Bring them merciful God to thy truth and giue them grace vnfeinedlie to repent and to escape the snares of Satan wherein they are intangled and deteined at his pleasure Take away stubbornes hardnes of their minde and this damnable securitie that wickednes doe not vtterlie blinde them Bestow vpon them a new hart and put a new spirit within them take away that stonie hart out of their flesh and giue them a fleshie hart and put thy spirit within their brestes Merciful God guide vs with thine holie Spirit that bewailing our sins from the bottome of our harts we may flie to thine vnspeakeable mercie which thou dost promise to as manie as in faith turne vnto thee and laieng away as concerning the conuersation in times past the old man which is corrupt through the deceaueable lustes may be renued in the spirit of our minds and put on the newe man which after God is created in righteousnes and true holines Assist vs O God that putting away lieng we may speake euery one the truth to his neighbor because we are the members one of another and in anger offende not Let him that stoale steale no more but rather let him labor working with his hands the thing which is good that he may giue vnto him which needeth Come into our harts through thy word and by thy Spirit begin a new and holie life stir vp good motions agreeable to thy wil and answering to the rule of thy worde reuealed in the congregation For thou God art rich towards and ouer al that cal vpon thee and repent Yea it is not thy wil that any of the least should perish but that al be saued and come to the knowledge of the truth And for this cause no man be he neuer so wicked ought to despaire For it is a true saieng and by al meanes worthie to be receaued That Christ Iesus came into the worlde to saue sinners and so verie many being somtime notable transgressors haue attained mercie for an example to such as afterwarde shoulde beleeue on him to their euerlasting happines Giue vs therefore O most gentle God peniten 〈…〉 arts that we may throughlie examine our waies and trie them and returne to thee O Lorde lifting vp our harts with our hands vnto thee which art in the heauens We which haue sinned and rebelled with griefe and sorrowe of hart acknowledge al our filthie faults and with a true faith approch to the throne of thy grace trusting in the reconciliation made by thy Sonne our propitiator and raised vp in his faithful and infallible promise we purpose through thine assistance to begin a newe life to the glorie and praise of thy sacred Name Amen 6. A praier for the Sick. O Christ which art the virtue that is made perfect in infirmitie the strength of the weake the saluation
so diuers strokes and assaults of the Diuel Vnles thou O most mightie protector defend vs alas we perish For thou knowest we are too weak to resist no strength is in vs no aid prudence or policie is in our nature against so strong and subtile an enimie Beholde our nature is accursed vncleane our flesh is weake our life transitorie and we alas therefore be cowardes and without armor giuen to sleepe and slothfulnes and endeuor not couragiouslie to withstand the fraudes of the Diuel Wherefore expel from vs this deepe sluggishnes of ours open the eies of our mindes that we may behold how great the power endeuors strength and malice of this aduersarie is with whom we are to encounter For we wrestle not against flesh blood but against rules against powers against gouernors and rulers of the darknes of this world against spiritual wickednes in heauenlie places O thou Sonne of God which art that blessed seede broozing the head ▪ of the most subtile serpent bring and brooze our enimie Satan vnder thy feete Thou which didst appere to destroie the works of the Diuel driue awaie from vs lieng Spirits that they hurt vs not Thou our chiefe champion which of thine owne accord enteredst into tentations that so thou mightest as it were hand to hand wrestle with our enimie and purchase a triumph for vs by thy victorie hold him fast bound that he exercise not his deuises vpon vs as he desireth make vs partakers of thy victorie that euen as thou in thy bodie ouer camest the diuel so thou wilt vtterlie dispatch him in thy members And therefore giue vnto vs thine whole armor that like right soldiors we may resist in the euil daie and vanquish our enimie Girde vs with the truth put vpon vs the breast-plate of righteousnes and let vs be shod to the propagation of the Gospel of peace Aboue al things giue vs the shield of faith which can extinguish al the fierie darts of wicked spirits Bestow vpon vs the helmet of saluation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God that through thee we may encounter valiantly and gloriouslie attaine the victorie And holie Spirit almightie God comfort thou and strengthen our minds against so diuers conflicts of Satan which besetteth vs by manie snares and especiallie then most of al doth he seeke our destruction when we seke deliuerance by other meanes than by thy word reuealed grant therefore that leauing thy worde deliuered vnto vs we looke not after new reuelations or violent rauishings but may resist the Diuel by thy word so wil he flie from vs Amen 8. Euening praier on VVensdaie O Lorde God which art our life and the length of our daies our vpholder protecting vs from our youth we thanke thee this euening and with our lips wee extol thy woonderful goodnes because thou hast defended vs this daie against al aduersities both of bodie and soule O Lord vnto thee doe we crie heare vs harken vnto our voice when we crie vnto thee Let our praiers be directed in thy sight as the incense and let the lifting vp of our hands be an euening sacrifice For thou delitest not in the offering of Buls and Rams but the sacrifice of thankesgiuing shal honor thee Who so keepeth the Law bringeth offerings enough he that holdeth fast the commandement offereth an offering of saluatiō He that is thankful to them which haue wel deserued offereth fine flower and he that giueth almes sacrificeth praise Therefore in this euening-tide doe we offer vnto thee the continual sacrifice of thankesgiuing praising thy goodnes for thy merciful protection and defence We wil commend thee for thy truth and sing of thee O thou most Hie Our lips shal sing of thee and our soules which thou hast redeemed yea and our tongues shal dailie speake of thy righteousnes because they are confounded and put to shame that sought after our soules We wil giue thankes vnto thee O Lorde with our whole hart because thou hast heard al the words of our mouthes In the sight of the Gods we wil praise thee We wil worship toward thine holy Temple and celebrate thy Name because of thy great mercie truth For thou hast magnified thy Name and thy word aboue al things Whensoeuer we called vpon thee thou diddest heare vs and enduedst our soules with much strength And now we crie vnto thee O Lorde with our voice yea in thy sight doe we poure out our praiers and in our troble doe we vtter them before thee that thou maiest pardon al our offences and those especiallie which we haue committed this daie Bring not into thy iudgement O Lord al our idle and vaine words pardon our babling vaine speech and impute not our foolishnes vnto vs. Be merciful vnto vs O Lord for we are greatlie pensiue for our sins our harts be trobled within vs and the feare of death is fallen vpon vs. Fearefulnes trembling are come vpon vs and an horrible dread hath ouerwhelmed vs. But O Lord absolue vs from al our sinnes through thy worde bringing vnto vs the ioieful tydings of gratious deliuerance O comfort the harts of thy seruants for vnto thee Lord haue we lifted vp our soules For thou art milde gentle and of much mercie to as manie as cal vpon thee Blessed be the Lorde which hath heard the voice of our humble petitions O God thou art our strength and our shield our harts trusted in thee and we are holpen therefore our harts doe daunce for ioie and in our songes we wil praise thee We cried vnto thee O Lord and saide Thou art our hope and our portion in the lande of the liuing Consider our complaint for we are brought verie lowe O deliuer vs from our persecutors for they are too strong for vs Bring our soules out of prison that we may giue thanks vnto thy Name O holie Trinitie and perpetual vnitie protect vs this night that the Diuel haue no power ouer vs. O Father gouerne vs by thy power O Sonne reuiue vs with thy wisedome and lighten vs O holie Ghost with thy virtue O Creator be thou present with vs O Redeemer aide vs O our Comforter abide with vs. The Lord blesse vs and keepe vs The Lorde make his face to shine vpon vs and be merciful vnto vs the Lorde lift vp his countenance vpon vs and giue vs peace This blessing of God be this night and euermore a safetie protection against al enimies both visible and inuisible that they hurt vs not anie waie Euen as the piller of cloude in the desert stood betweene the tents of the Egyptians and the tents of the children of Israël that none hurt might come to the people of Israël so be thou O Lord the protector of our soules and liues be
attained by the onelie industrie and power of man. Thou giuest and we gather thou openest thine hande and al liuing creatures are filled with thy blessing For without thee al our endeuors be in vaine and if thou blesse not our labors we do but beate the winde and receiue no profite Great is thy mercie O Lorde which disdainest not to prouide for sinful flesh O Lord our God great are thy wonderous works which thou hast done for vs the which we can not so much as in thought comprehend much lesse in words expresse When we would report and vtter them we founde them moe than we coulde recite But notwithstanding thine infinite benefits cannot be comprehended of man yet wil we not surcesse to set forth thy praise nor hide thy goodnes from the sonnes of men but wil declare it and speake of thy truth from one generation to another Blessed art thou O our God for euer and euer al that is either aboue in the heauens or in earth beneath is thine Al things come from thee and from thine hands we receiue whatsoeuer we possesse And al those things of thy meere mercie without our merits or worthines Therefore we wil magnifie the Lord which doth mightie things in al the corners of the earth which doth nourish vs from our mothers wombes and giueth vs al good things Grant vs likewise quietnes of minde and peace in our time that thy grace may abound towarde vs continue and defende vs while we liue O Almightie and merciful Father by thy breath we toke life the which through thy blessing doth abide in vs In thee we liue moue and haue our being For man liueth not by bread onelie or by his owne wisedome and forecast neither art thou bounde with a fatal chaine of second causes but by thy decree and wil we enioie life al things created at thy beck doe continue while thou thinkest good Giue vs not onelie store of al things to the necessitie of our life but grant also to our meate drink virtue and power to relieue and strengthen our bodies For thou alone vpholdest al thinges by thy worde of power Vnles thou dailie didst feede vs with thy hidden grace which thou dost enspire into the bread to feede vs al the heapes of our yeerelie encrese were to smal purpose For be it that there be abundance of wheat wine and of al other things yet vnles they be watred by thy blessing quicklie would al come to naught and we shoulde perish for lacke of foode in al that abundance For al the substance which we possesse what is it without thou prosper and fructifie the same with thy blessing And albeit we feede on bread yet we ascribe not our life to the virtue of the bread neither is thy power tied to the bread nor mans life included within the same but altogether it dependeth vpon thy wil and good pleasure We besech thee for thy most large and bountiful liberalitie cast vs not of in the time of our old age and when our strength faileth vs forsake vs not Likewise confirme our faith that we distrust not thy promises neither be we driuen from thee by any meanes seeme they neuer so contrarie to natural causes but giue grace that we may withdrawe our eies from al wordlie consultations and as touching our foode and other necessaries for this life may wholie depend vpon thee and at no time go beyond the limits which thou hast prescribed through our Lord Iesu Christ which liueth and raigneth with thee for euermore Amen 3. A praier for vni tie in Religion O Eternal God which hast called vs to the vnitie of the true catholike faith and gathered vs by thy word into the lap of the Christian congregation that we may be al of vs one bodie and one spirit euen as we are called in one hope of our calling One Lord one faith one baptisme one God and Father of al which is aboue al and through al and in vs al. For euen as thou Father art in thy Sonne and he in thee so should we also be one in thee our God. And therefore we crie vnto thee O almightie Father and eternal God teach vs thy waies that we may walke in thy truth O knit our harts vnto thee that we may feare thy Name Grant that al thy faithful may be like affected and of one minde as thou art thinking the same thing after the ensample of Christ our Sauior and that as wel in minds as with mouth we may agree among our selues both in true doctrine and in outwarde behauior of conuersation For the scope of the Churches felicitie consisteth in the vnitie of true faith and religion Keepe vs in the true vnderstanding and right knowledge of thy sacred scriptures that without strife and contention we may speake one thing Let there be no dissentions nor schismes among vs let nothing be done through contention or of vaine glorie but let vs be one bodie endued with one minde and iudgement according to thy worde reuealed vntil we attaine to the vnitie of faith and knowledge of thy Sonne into a perfect man according to the measure of the age of the fulnes of Christ which is the head by whom the whole bodie being copled and knit together by euerie ioint for the furniture therof according to the effectual power which is in the measure of euerie part receiueth encrease of the bodie vnto the edifieng of it selfe in loue O most holie Father keepe vs by thy Name that we may be one in thee and that among vs which are beleeuers there may be one hart and one minde O Christ our onelie Sauior and Mediator which before thy passion didst praie that we might be one in thee euen as thou art in thy Father grant that thy Church may be at concorde and agree in one true faith and confession Let there continue among vs a godlie consent let there be one agreement in faith one mind in praier that we may grow vp in thee and that al our harts may be copled together by the bond of the Spirit vsing thy gifts as they should be to the aduancement of thy glorie and to the common profit both of thy Church and Common-weale and walking worthie our calling whervnto we are called with al humilitie gentlenes with al lenitie forbearing one another through charitie being careful to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bonde of peace Represse the furiousnes of Satan which soweth discention among thy flock to weaken our faith and to hinder our praiers whereby thy glorie is defaced Grant therefore that we proue not desirous of vaine glorie prouoking one another and enuieng one another that we bite not one another to our destruction For of emulation spring contentions which being once enflamed boile out into mortal diuisions And as many as maintaine emulations
contentions and factions are carnal and walke as men Wherefore take from vs the zeale of the flesh which is foolish And let al enuie wrath pride and arrogancie be far from vs. Likewise let vs auoide foolish and vnlearned questions knowing that they engender strife and contention and serue for nothing but to the subuerting of the hearers and engrafting of errors Where a desire of strife is there certainlie God dwelleth not and they which raise tumults of nothing and disquiet thy flock those wilt thou O Sonne of God destroie Come holie Spirit replenish the harts of the faithful and inflame in them the fire of thy loue which once didst gather the nations into the vnitie of the faith through the diuersitie of tongues Ioine our harts together that we may nourish christian concorde among vs and that we al glued as it were together in louing harts may be of one minde in thee so shal thy pure doctrine zelouslie be maintained and no false interpretation of the Scripture obstinatelie be defended Bring home to thy fold al such as are turned from the vnitie of true religion that there may be one pastor and one folde To such as are gone out from vs grant constancie that they may continue with vs teaching the Gospel to the saluation of the hearers And if it fortune that any contrarie to the doctrine which we haue learned raise dissention and offences grant that we may auoide them least the harts of the simple through their sweete perswasions and flatterie be deceaued O God autor of peace and concorde giue grace that euerie of vs may thinke the same thing according to our Sauiour Christ Amen 4. A praier for peace O Most Hie God and holie Father which art not the Autor of dissention but of peace not of confusion nor of inordinate life but the keeper of discipline and quietnes from thee come holie cogitations and good counsailes and righteous deedes Giue vnto vs thy seruants that peace which the world cannot giue that both our harts and works may be applied to thy commandements and that our daies through thy protection be alwaies quiet from troble Gouerne thou the whole state both of the Chuch and Common weale and rule our life that in our daies iustice may take place and peace continue as long as the moone shal haue hir course Speake thou peace vnto the common people and ouer thy Saints and likewise to them which are conuerted and turned to a better minde Let thy saluation be nigh them that feare thee that glorie may dwel within our lande Let mercie and truth meete together yea let iustice and peace embrace ech other Let truth arise out of the earth righteousnes looke downe from heauen Let the mountaines and the hils bring peace to thy people by iustice Blesse Lord al Countries Cities Townes and places where thy word doth abide and is purelie preached Let them haue much peace that loue thy Lawe and doctrine and let them be without stones to stumble at and offences let there be peace within their wals and prosperitie within their palaces O Lord strengthen the locks of our ports and blesse thy children within them put peace for our endes and bounds and fil vs with the fat of the corne that thou King of glorie and Lord of hostes maist enter by our gates and the pure worde may abide not onelie in our wals but also in our wils to the glorie of thy Name and comfort of our soules and that honest discipline together with integritie of virtue maners and humane literature may be maintained O eternal God which hast called vs in peace grant that with al men as much as in vs lies we may haue peace and let vs account of holines without which none shal see the Lord. Asswage our harts that we may cleane forget al iniuries and forgiue ech other in many things least by reuenging our selues we take awaie the publike tranquilitie Represse the Diuel the breaker of godlie concord and christian peace which ranging throughout al regions soweth euerie where the seede of strife and debate O God of peace which makest an ende of war in al the worlde and breakest the bowe and knappest the speares asunder and burnest the chariots with fire protect vs from war and slaughter scatter the nations that wish for war. Breake thou and hinder al euil counsailes and the purpose of such as mind and thirst after nothing els but the shedding of innocent blood Confound them in their imaginations that they take none effect let them be turned back and put to shame Let them come to shame and perish through their owne imaginations that Churches and schooles wel ordained be not ouerthrowne nor Idolatrie get the dominion ouer vs. Ingraffe therefore into al men of what calling soeuer a desire of peace contented minds in their vocations and a carefulnes to aduance the welfare of that place where they doe abide so shal they neither through a desire of others wealth nor by ambition or vaine glorie raise any tumults to our disquietnes And where strife contention discord is among men there doe thou O most mightie God reconcile their harts and minds that those flames and fires may speedilie be put out For thou canst conclude a truce for vs with the stones of the grounde and compel the beasts of the fielde to seeke those things as belong to our peace and the wolfe to dwel with the Lambe and the Leopard to lie downe with the Kid. Therefore make our tabernacles safe quiet that about them there may be a rich tranquilitie which may abound like the streame running ouer his bank and our righteousnes as the waues of the sea which is neuer without water In the Lorde shal we haue our wished peace and the worke of righteousnes shal be peace hir frute rest and quietnes for euer And thy people shal dwel in the Innes of peace and in sure dwellings in safe places of comfort In ioie shal we go forth and returne in peace the mountaines and hils shal sing with vs for ioie and al the trees of the field shal clap their hands Heare vs O Lord of peace and grant that thy peace which passeth al vnderstanding may keepe our harts and minds in our Lorde Iesu Christ which liueth and raigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God now and for euermore Amen 5. A praier for vnbeleeuers VNto thee doe we crie O Lord Father and maker of al men which art rich vnto al that cal vpō thee and which commandest the light to shine out of darknes For thou wilt that al men should be saued and come to the knowledge of the truth And therefore of thy great loue thou diddest cal vs to the participation of the lot of the Saints in light which are by
nature the children of wrath and of death aliens and strangers from the testaments of promise hauing none hope and without God in the world but now are fellowe Citizens with the Saints and of the housholde of GOD built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophetes Iesus Christ being the head corner stone which sustaineth the whole building by his word of power Heare vs thy seruants making supplication for such as yet haue not heard the sound of thy Gospel neither knowen thy Name but sitting in darknes and in the shadow of death haue their minds darkned and are alienated from the life of God by the ignorance that is in them and are carried away vnto dumbe Idols and fained Gods euen as they are led and runne to worship that which is no God. Giue grace that thy word may be knowen among them and preached in euerie land and the sound thereof go out into the endes of the worlde that thou also maist be found of them which sought thee not and famous among such as neuer asked after thee Send forth thy worde that they may be healed walke no more in the vanities of their minde O God Father of our Lord Iesu Christ King of glorie giue them the Spirit of wisedome and reuelation through the confessing of thee lighten their mindes that they may know what the hope is wherevnto thou hast called vs and how precious the glorie is of thine inheritance in the Saints and how excellent the greatnes of his power is toward vs which beleeue according to the working of his mightie power which thou hast wrought in him when he was raised by thee from the dead and placed at thy right hand in heauenlie places aboue al principalities and powers Open the harts of vnbeleuers that hearing thy word they may acknowledge thee the onelie true God Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent and may worship thee the Father in the Sonne the Sonne in thee the Father with the holie Ghost euen as thou hast reuealed thy selfe Take the vale from the harts of the Iewes least being blinded in the reading of the old Testament they stumble at the stone and rock of offence by incredulitie and hardnes of their harts that thy Sonne Christ crucified and preached be not vnto them a stumbling block and thy Gospel the sauor of death vnto death but that being conuerted by true faith to the knowledge of thee the Father in the Sonne their face being vncouered they may behold thy glorie knowing by the writings of the Prophets the Messias which thou hast appointed to be the Sauiour of the world Likewise gather thou the Gentils to whom thy Gospel the word of the crosse is meere foolishnes into thy Congregation that they may embrace thy mysterie casting of al fleshlie wisedome and leade al their cogitations captiue to the obedience of the Gospel Moreouer our praier and supplication is not onelie for those aboue mentioned but also for such as either although they resist not thy truth and pure religion openlie and obstinatelie professe our religion yet mingled with manie superstitions and abuses worshipping and calling vpon Saints departed out of this life or be addicted to outward ceremonies and rudiments of this world burdening their consciences with mans obseruations and traditions of their fathers or trusting to their owne righteousnes or rather to the workes and deedes of the flesh refuse and make little account of thy righteousnes which is the true iustification and go about to establish their owne righteousnes But Christ is the ende of the Lawe for righteousnes to as manie as beleeue And an other foundation can no man laie than that is laide in thy Sonne the Messias which is the waie the truth the life and the ende of the Lawe For by his perfect obedience and fulfilling of the Lawe by his innocent and bitter death he hath restored vnto vs true saluation and perfect righteousnes that euerie one which beleeueth on him might not perish but haue euerlasting life O God the sight of the blind bring them home againe which through ignorance either are entangled in doubtful labyrinthes and grosse errors or countenance polluted religion that lightened by thy spirit they may returne into the right waie And such as with impudent faces and stiffe necks do obstinatlie with an affected ignorance withstande thine holie Spirit whose senses the God of this worlde hath blinded that the light of thy glorious Gospel shine not ouer them represse bridle their malice that by slaughters persecutions they nether troble nor destroy thy Church Amen 6. A praier for our benefactors O Merciful faithful and louing God rewarder of al good workes Forasmuch as ingratitude is the most odious detestable vice of al the which both thou doest abhor no wise man can abide as a thing deseruing infinit paines and rigorous punishment For he which rendreth euil for good euil shal not depart from his house And the hope of the vnthankful shal melt away like the winter ice and flow away as vnprofitable water We beseech thee giue vs grateful mindes alwaies remembring benefits receiued least forgetting the merits exhibited vpon vs we fal into the filthie and abhominable fault of ingratitude But gouerne vs with thine holie Spirit that we may alwaies giue thanks vnto thee a most bountiful God for such benefits as thou hast bestowed not vpon vs onelie but vpon al mankind For creating vs after thine owne image for redeeming vs being sinners forlorne and condemned for deliuering vs from sinne death and hel by the most holie and pretious blood of thy deere Sonne for bestowing thy righteousnes thine holie Spirit and euerlasting life vpon vs for conseruing our soules and bodies safe and sounde finallie for giuing and that abundantlie al such things as are necessarie for the sustentation of this life and besides for thy merciful protection against al dangers al which thou doest of thy meere mercie and Fatherlie goodnes without any merits or worthines of ours And therefore we wil extol thee O God of our life and yeeld thanks to thy Name O most hie For thou art gratious and thy mercie endureth for euer We wil giue thee thanks O Lord among the people we wil sing to thee among the nations For the greatnes of thy mercie reacheth vnto the heauens So infinite and great are thy benefits conferred vpon vs O Lord that we are vnable to conceiue them in our minds Notwithstanding our mouthes shal speake of thy righteousnes and saluation for we know none end thereof What recompence shal we make to the Lord for al the benefits that he hath done vnto vs We wil take vp the cup of saluation and cal vpon the Name of the lord We wil pay our vowes vnto the Lord in the presence of his
people We wil neuer forget thy benefits and woonderous works which thou hast done for vs To thee O God the Father be thanks for al things in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ. Secondlie we thinke it our bounden dutie to praie for our benefactors that haue begot brought vp taught and promoted vs that it woulde please thee to repaie them and al other for whom I am bounde to praie whose necessities are knowen to thee These I commende to thy mercie in our praiers that thou maist blesse them both with temporal and euerlasting rewards O celestial God and most excellent recompencer thou hast power and mercie to render to euerie one according to their workes Do wel O Lorde vnto those that be good and true of hart Vouchsafe to reward al our benefactors let them receiue most plentiful benefits according to the multitude of thy mercies Shewe mercie vnto them O Lord that haue comforted vs and so blesse their families that they may finde mercie with thy Sonne our Lord and Sauior Christ at that daie when we shal al appeere before his tribunal seate to giue an accompt of our works O Sonne of the liuing God which dost ascribe and impute the same to be done vnto thee which is extended vnto any of thy seruants and dost promise a most liberal reward euen for a cup of cold water requite according to thy woonted goodnes euerie one which haue extended the works of mercie and the duties of humanitie vpon vs that they may be blessed and enriched mightilie with the encrease of good things He which hath consideration of the poore and needie let him be deliuered O Lord in the euil daie Keepe him giue him life make him blessed in the land and giue him not vp to the wil of his enimies but comfort him when he lieth sick in his bed and in the daie of troble heare his praiers Let his almes be alwaie in thy sight and be mindful of him for euer that when he falleth he may be vpholden Grant Lord that according to our habilities we may recompence benefits receiued and shewe our selues grateful in deede that our leaues wither not neither that we So that al things as it were ouerburdened and wearied doe grone and trauel in paine together with thine elect and desire a deliuerance from such and so great euils whervnto they are subiect and made to serue to vanitie at the lust of the wicked Vnto thee doe we crie from the bottome of our harts Segregate vs O Lord from the darknes decept and filthines of this world and withdrawe vs from the desire of earthlie things that being incorporated into thy congregation where thy Diuinitie doth abide we may seeke after heauenlie things and forsake earthlie which are fraile and transitorie O righteous Father the worlde doth not knowe thee but thy Sonne doth know thee and they to whom thy Sonne doth reueale thee by thine holie Spirit Giue vs the same thy Spirit that we may know what riches we haue receiued by Christ and speake not the things which mans wisedome doth teach but which thy Spirit shal teach comparing spiritual things with spiritual Keepe vs in the confession of thy Name that thou in vs maist be glorified and that we fauor not of terrene and wordlie things but dwelling in minde in heauen may seeke those things that are aboue and be made partakers of the diuine nature and flie from the corruption which is in the world least in this miserable and dronken state therof we enwrap our selues in worldlie cares which withdraw our minds from the exercise of godlines and choake the good motions of the holie Spirit Grant therefore that we loue neither the world nor the things in the world but vsing this world we may be as those which vse it not For the forme of this world doth passe awaie Rule thou our harts that we giue not our selues to the pleasures of this world neither enter into the broade waie and wide gate which bringeth to eternal destruction but shunning al the enticements of this world may go in at the narrow gate to the kingdome of heauen O Christ our Redeemer which hast chosen and seuered vs from this world that not imitating the same we might be saued giue grace that al which haue promised wholie to serue thee which dost ouerthrow the prince of this world may be safe from al the assaults of the subtile spirit For it were a shameful and traitorous deed to promise wholie to be thy seruants and yet to fauor thy mortal enimie and to followe his workes But he that warreth laboreth to please him which hath chosen him to be a soldior Guide vs that we follow not the vading glorie of this world neither delite therein For he which wil fauor the world is an enimie to god But let the world be crucified to vs and we to the world through the denial of our selues and renouncing al the enticements of the same Grant vs grace that we may walke wiselie and circumspectlie in this present world not as fooles and vnwise but as wise and shun al occasions of falling and redeeme the time because the daies are euil O God the holie Ghost poure into vs thine heauenlie wisdom which is from aboue that in spiritual matters we may cast off altogether the wisdome of the world which is foolishnes with God in the simplicitie of mind cleaue vnto thy word Instruct vs that hauing renounced vngodlines we may walke vprightlie and godlie in this worlde looking for that blessed hope and appearing of the glorie of the great God and of our Sauior Iesus Christ which gaue himselfe for vs to redeeme vs from al iniquitie and to make vs a pure peculiar people vnto himselfe zelous of good works Comfort our minds that our harts be not trobled when the worlde doth persecute vs For we are counted no better than the verie excrements and ofâ—couring of this world And therefore make vs pacientlie to beare not onelie euerie miserie incident to al men but also the peruerse and sinister iudgement of the world the which also thou didst suffer for our sakes Vphold vs in the mids of our afflictions that both the world and the prince thereof may wel knowe that thou hast a tender care ouer thy poore flock wilt protect and saue the same euerlastinglie Amen 8. Euening praier on Thursdaie WE thanke thee King of heauen earth for protecting vs this daie by thy strong hand stretched out arme from al perils The right hande of the Lorde bringeth mightie things to passe the right hand of the Lord hath exalted vs the right hand of the Lord doth great things it hath kept vs from al euil the Lord hath saued our soules Therefore we wil be mindful of thee O Lord vpon our beds and
waking wil we meditate of thy goodnes because thou hast bin our helper vnder the shadow of thy wings wil we reioice Our soules cleaue vnto thee because thy right hand hath vpholden vs and saued vs in our extremities We wil be mindful of the time past wherein thou maruelouslie didst assist vs and meditate of al thy deedes We wil discourse of the workes of thine hands and wil neuer forget thy mightines For thy mercie endureth for euer thou wilt not despise the workmanship of thine owne hands Now blesse the Lord al his seruants which stand in the house of the Lord in the courts of the house of our GOD in the night lift vp your hands to his sanctuarie and blesse the lord The Lorde which made both heauen and earth blesse vs from aboue Vnto thee O Lorde doe we lift vp our hands and beseech thee with al humblenes of minde pardon al our sinnes which this daie we haue committed either against thee or our neighbors Our handes are defiled with blood and our fingers with much iniquitie Our transgressions are afore thee and make answere against vs. But doe not thou Lorde beholde the wickednes of thy people but remember thy couenant which thou hast made with vs in the blood of thy Sonne neither consider thou our wicked enterprises but haue in mind that thy testimonies are pure among vs and thy worde vndefiled Thinke not vpon those that haue walked fainedlie before thee but remember them which according to thy wil doe feare thee Neither doe thou destroie them which haue liued beastly looke vpon them that not onelie teach but obserue thy commandements Take thou none indignatiō at them which are worse than beasts but loue them alwaies that put their trust in thy righteousnes and glorie For we and our Fathers haue al the same sicknes but because of vs sinners thou shalt be called merciful For if thou hast mercie on vs thou shalt be called merciful to vs that haue no works of righteousnes And therefore be thou merciful vnto vs O Lord for thy Name sake and pardon al our transgressions whereby most infinitelie we haue deserued thine euerlasting displeasure Let thine hand be readie to saue vs that we may prefer thy commandements aboue al things and fulfil them with our fingers O Lord in our troble doe we seeke thee our hands in this night season are lifted vp to thee Neither shal anie thing be in cause but that in this darke and dreadful night thou shalt lighten and illustrate euerie darke corner of our habitation that our candels go not out by night When we sit in darknes bring vs into the light saue vs from vtter darknes where is weeping and gnashing of teeth Thou art the God which giuest light to our candle lighten therefore our darknes O our God that we sleepe not in death And protect vs by the shadow of thine hand that none euil stick to vs this night Deliuer vs from the snare of the hunter and from the noisome pestilence Defende vs vnder thy wings and vnder thy feathers we shal be safe Let thy truth compasse vs like a shield that we be not afraid for any terror by night nor yet either for the pestilence that walketh in darknes or for the sicknes that destroieth at noone daie A thousande shal fal beside vs and ten thousand on our right hand but it shal not come nigh vs. O Lorde deliuer vs out of the hands of our enimies and saue vs from such as persecute our soules they imagine wickednes in their chambers they sleepe not except they haue done mischiefe and sleepe is taken from them vntil they haue done harme O Lord keepe vs O Lord be thou our defence ouer our right hande that the sun parch vs not by day nor the moone by night The Lord is our light and our saluation whom then should wee feare The Lord is the strength of our life of whom then should we be afraide Though an host of men were laide against vs yet shal not our harts be afraid and though the wicked should rise vp against vs to deuour our flesh yet it shal be our comfort alwaie that thou wilt hide vs in thy tabernacle in the euil day and defende vs in the secret place of thy dwelling through Christ our Lord Amen 1. On Friedaie Morning praier BLessed is the Lord God of Sabbaoth which by his commandement created the morning and assigned to the daie spring his place where arising euery daie it apprehendeth the wings of the earth and speedilie runneth to the vttermost parts of the world Who is like our God which doth woonderous things both in heauen and earth O Lord heauen is thy seat and the earth is thy footestoole Vnto thee doe we bend our selues yeelding most humble thankes for that it hath pleased thee of thy wonted goodnes to preserue vs this night vnder thy merciful protectiō Of thy clemencie hast thou deliuered our soules from the mids of Lions among whom we laie with thy shielde of saluation hast thou compassed vs about like as a shepherd watcheth and looketh to his flock Wherefore we wil sing of thy power and praise thy mercie betimes in the morning For thou hast bin our defence and refuge in the daie of our troble We beseech thee euen for the bloodie sweate of thy Sonne our Lord and Sauior Christ that thou wouldest vouchsafe this morning to moisten and mollifie our harts through the grace of thine holie Spirit As the morning dew spreading it selfe earelie before daie doth wet and fil the earth and as the morning raine by drops doth water drie places wherby they do fructifie and bring forth herbes and grasse so extende thy grace toward vs and by thine heauenlie dewe besprinkle our hard and drie harts that we may wholie delight in the waies of thy righteousnes walke in the pathes of thy commandements Let thy liuing Spirit guide vs forth into the land of righteousnes O Lorde for thy Name sake quicken vs in thy righteousnes that thy word may be a lanterne vnto our feete and a light vnto our steps Shew vs thy waies O Lord and teach vs thy pathes Order our steps according to thy word so shal no wickednes haue dominion ouer vs neither shal we wander from the right waie Take from vs the waie of lieng and grant vs graciouslie thy lawe O would to God our waies were directed to the keeping of thy statutes that we might not walke in the counsel of the wicked nor stand in the waie of sinners nor sit in the seate of the scorneful but delight in the lawe of the Lorde and exercise our selues therein daie and night then should we be as a tree planted by the riuers of waters that bringeth forth
hir frute in due season O Lorde in our trobles we wil seeke thee earelie in the morning and returne vnto thee our GOD which art readie as the spring of the daie and wilt come vnto vs as the fructifieng raine and as the timelie and latter shoure which doth good to the earth be thou in like maner a refuge vnto the poore and a timelie helper in our troble We wil loue thee deerelie O Lorde our strength thou art our rock and our defence our Sauior our God and our might in whom we wil trust our buckler the horne of our saluation and our refuge Keepe vs Lord from the hands of the vngodlie preserue vs from wicked men which are purposed to ouerthrow our goings The proude haue laide a snare for vs and spred a net abroad with cordes yea and set traps in our waie But deliuer thou our soules from death and our feete from falling For thou art righteous O Lorde and dwellest in the middes of vs doing none iniquitie but earelie earelie euerie morning bringest thou forth thy iudgement into light and wilt not be drawen awaie from sauing vs that we be not hurt of bloodie felowes of theeues murtherers whose feete are swift to shed blood In thy Name O Christ King of eternal glorie we wil tread vpon the Serpents and Scorpions ouer the whole power of the enimie and he shal not hurt vs for thy worde shal saue vs which liuest and rulest with the Father in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God for euermore Amen 2. A thankesgiuing for the passion of Christ. WE thanke thee O Lord Iesu Christ God and man for that of thine onlie and free mercie without any works or worthines at al of ours thou hast redeemed vs and damned men through thy most innocent and holie passion O sweete Iesu how bitter and great were thy paines how horrible and cruel thy punishment how greuous and lamentable thine affliction how bloodie thy wounds thy dolors how diuers and thy death how shameful which thou sufferedst for vs How inestimable was the loue that mooued thee to endure such and so great torments to reconcile vs to the Father In the mount of Oliues through our infinite sinnes lighting vpon thee and sense of the most heauie displeasure of thy Father against our wickednes that didst sweate contrarie to our common nature blood that the drops like blood trickled vpon the earth so after a maruelous maner blood came out of thee being expelled through the resolution of the spirits nature being broken and languishing by reason of thine intolerable sorrowes and torments And therefore thy Disciples being fled thou didst voluntarilie commit thy selfe into the handes of the cruel Iewes which brought thee most rigorouslie bounde without compassion from the presence of one corrupt Iustice vnto another more cruel where thou being falselie accused was vniustlie condemned contemptuouslie spit vpon opprobriouslie obraided and buffeted most iniuriouslie For our offences thou wast wounded and for our wickednes broozed for the offences of thy people thou wast beaten killed and with sharpe thornes crowned and contumeliouslie dealt withal For our sinnes thou wast cruellie handled a worme not a man a verie scorne of men and the outcast of the people Thy looke was odious and il fauoured a man thou wast ful of sorrowes without forme or beautie so that they had no lust vnto thee Besides some couered thine eies and laide vpon thy face with their fists exasperating thy torments with manie scoffes and mockes Thy blessed bodie was so mangled and cut with stripes that euen an Ethnike pittieng the same vttered these words Behold the man. Finallie for our enormous offences thou wast hanged like an accursed wretch betweene two theeues afflicted with a most odious kind of death pierced through the hands and the feete whereby thou didst encounter with most extreeme torments which were so great that for a space thou wast after a sort without al maner comfort and so constrained through thy great sorowe and greeuousnes of paine to drinke vineger so in the extremitie of paine thou didst giue vp thy Ghost cōmending the same vnto thy deere Father in wonderful patience like a sheepe lead to the slaughter and as a lambe quiet before the shearer thou didst not open thy mouth to raile yea that was so far from thee that thou praiedst for thine enimies that so by thy torments hauing quited vs from al guilt aswel of fault as of punishment we might be healed For to this ende didst thou be are the burden of our sinnes vpon the woode of the crosse that thou mightest recouer the peace of soules for such as are healed by thy stripes and obteine the true righteousnes for as manie as beleeue on thee that the wrath of thine eternal Father which is a consuming fire doe not deuour vs. O Iesu Christ sonne of the liuing God for these torments al other thy passions we wil honor praise and thanke thee for euermore beseeching thee most humblie that thy passions may worke and take effect in vs and be a present most wholesome medicine in al necessities and that alwaies being mindful of the same we may reioice therein make it a comfort for our selues against al the tentations of Satan and the force of sinne the Law that thy crosse may be an ensample to vs that walking in thy steps we render not rebuke for rebuke but may imitate thy long suffering and praie for such as curse vs and finallie may so thinke vpon and celebrate the cause of thy death that the consideration thereof may vtterlie both extinguish al the flames of vnlawful concupiscence and burie the enticements of the flesh and also raise vp the seede of godlines and nourish the loue of virtue within vs that so being wholie dead vnto sinne we may liue vnto righteousnes serue thee which barest our sinnes in thy bodie vpon the crosse but liuest now and raignest with the Father in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God for euermore Amen 3. A praier for true repentance O Lord God which artful of compassion mercie long suffering and of great goodnes thou continuest thy mercie for thousands taking awaie iniquitie sinnes and offences thou callest vs after thy woonted mercie by thy worde to repentance and hartie conuersion For vnto al and euerie one is repentance and forgiuenes of sinnes preached in thy Name Moreouer we knowe the riches of thy lenitie patience and long suffering in this that thou dost not suddainelie at vnawares take awaie sinners from the earth neither ouerwhelme them by by through thy iustice in their wicked deedes doing but giuest them a space to repent which is a most notable argument that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he be conuerted
euerlasting kingdome and thy dominion endureth throughout al ages In thine hande is strength and auctoritie none can resist thy power We beseech thee be merciful vnto al in captiuitie and oppressed with most greeuous slauerie especiallie vnto such as for the confession of thy Gospel doe suffer persecution banishment imprisonment perils of life of good name and of goodes comfort them with thy Spirit deliuer them from cruel bondes by thy diuine power and grant such lawful meanes according to thy wisedome that thy faithful may be deliuered O Lorde bring home thy captiues exiled for thy Name sake that they may confesse thee and extol thy goodnes O that God woulde heare the mournings of the imprisoned and deliuer the sonnes appointed vnto death O that God would bring home the captiuitie of his people then should we be like such as dreame and our mouthes shoulde be filled with laughter and our tong with ioie Then should they saie among the Gentils The Lord hath done great things for them yea the Lord hath dealt maruelouslie with vs we are made iocond Turne our captiuitie O Lord as the riuers in the South For thou alone art our assister of whom commeth saluation thou deliuerest such as are bounde by thy power and despisest not the groanings of the afflicted Praised be God continuallie which helpeth vs and poureth out his benefits vpon vs which letteth loose his captiues and that without gifts or rewarde freelie for his holie Name sake Therefore shal the people worship thee O Lord and praie vnto thee for thou saiest vnto the bound Come out and to those that sit in darknes Come to light O Lord cal into minde thy manifold mercies deale with vs according to thy woonted goodnes and giue not thine inheritance into the hands of thine enimies least they make sale of vs and spoile our lande Forgiue our sinnes and transgressions let not aliens haue dominion ouer vs neither let our houses passe vnto strangers let vs not be as exiles and pupils without a Father neither our mothers as widowes without husbands let not our old men be wanting in our ports nor yet our coūtrie lament for the waste which the enimie would make Heale the sorrowes of the daughter of thy people and be merciful to our sinnes for the glorie of thy Name sake Breake thou the chaines of the imprisoned and deliuer such as are bound with manacles and fetters cast of their yoke that they may praise thee for euer Bring them out of darknes and the shadow of death Breake the gates of brasse and smite the bars of iron in sunder that they may know that thou art their Lorde when thou hast broken the bonds of their yoke and deliuered them out of the hands of those that serued themselues But if it be thy wil for the trial of their faith and pacience to detaine some in exile and seruitude a longer time then comfort such with thy spirit and mitigate their paines that they may finde fauor in the sight of them whom they are compelled to serue and cast not them of for euer Aboue al keepe them in the confession of true faith and Christian religion against al false worshippings that so they may comfort themselues with the gratious pardoning of their sinnes through Christ and their harts may be sealed with the earnest of the holie Spirit bearing witnes to their spirits that they are deliuered from perpetual captiuitie and bondage of hel O Christ our Redeemer deliuer our soules from the chaines of darknes and snares of death which sufferedst thy selfe to be bound that thou mightest vnloose the most hard bands and knots of our transgressions and wast sent of thine eternal Father into this world to preach libertie vnto captiues and deliuerance to such as are shut vp Grant that being entangled with the cordes of iniquitie we giue not our members as weapons of vnrighteousnes vnto sinne Breake in peeces the chaines of Satan and turne vs into thy flock that none vnrighteousnes haue dominion ouer vs. Deliuer him that is in bondage vnto Satan and bring forth the bound by the blood of thy couenant out of the pit wherein is no water that he ▪ spoile and kil vs not Giue grace also that being snarled with humane traditions we entrap not our consciences by false opinions but may serue thee our true God in Christian libertie and neuer abuse the same to the offence of any Take vs miserable men out of the bodie of this death which maketh vs captiues to the lawe of sinne which is in our members that deliuered from sinne and death we may serue thee in true vprightnes and euerlasting life which raignest for euer one God in the trinitie of persons Amen 7. A praier against the tentation of the flesh O Merciful God we miserable men acknowledge confesse that in vs that is in our flesh there dwelleth no good thing But in sinne we were borne and our mothers conceaued vs of corrupt seede For our nature is defiled and prone vnto al wickednes euen from our youth so that by the strength of our proper reason we cannot sauor those thinges which belong to the Spirit For the natural man speaketh and fauoreth of earthlie things and of himselfe is not meete so much as to thinke anie thing that good is without the assistance of thy power Vnto thee doe we crie with our whole harts that it woulde please thee to open vnto vs by thy Spirit the true knowledge of thine essence and wil as thou hast reuealed thy selfe in thy worde that we may not folow the sence of our flesh in iudging of spiritual things neither by our blinde baiardlie reason measure thine heauenlie saiengs For blood and flesh perceiue not the things which belong to the Spirit and the fleshlie mind is enmitie against God for it is not obedient vnto the Lawe neither can be And they which are in the flesh cannot please God. Seing therefore that in vs abideth the seede of sinne which is concupiscence and a proanes vnto wickednes is ingraffed into vs by nature yea and original sin through our first parents doth oftentimes prick vs vnto impietie For euerie one is tempted when he is drawen awaie and enticed with the baite of his owne concupiscence then when lust hath conceaued it bringeth forth sinne and sinne when it is furnished bringeth forth death Giue vs grace that we folow not the concupiscence of our flesh neither prouoke our sences by vnbrideled libertie but stoutlie to resist them For vnles that wicked concupiscence be driuen from our mindes it wil neuer cesse til it haue brought forth deadlie sinne Wherefore assist vs that we may tame these bodies of ours bring them into subiection least our flesh being ouerlustie doe offende and ouerpasse the prescribed limits Assist vs we beseech thee to crucifie our flesh
and strong and righteous and merciful which art onelie a gratious King onelie liberal onelie iust almightie and euerlasting which deliuerest vs from al trobles both by daie and night which hast made vs thy chosen through the blood of thy Sonne our Lorde and Sauior Christ which was shed for vs and hast sanctified vs by thy Spirit giuen into our hartes that wee should be a chosen generation a roial priesthood to offer acceptable sacrifices vnto thee Receiue now the sacrifice of praise from our mouthes for thy benefites conferred vpon vs. We thanke thee O eternal God not onlie for keeping vs this night passed but also for defending vs this whole weeke yea and al our life time from the snares of wicked spirits that they could not circumuent and ouerthrow vs. We wil praise thee O Lord with our whole hart we wil speake of al thy maruelous works we wil be glad and reioice in thee Our songs wil we make of thy Name O thou most Hie which exaltest vs from the gates of death that we may declare al thy praises in the portes of thy Churches we wil exceedinglie reioice in thy saluation Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel because he hath visited and redeemed his people And hath raised vp an horne of saluation vnto vs and deliuered vs from our enimies and from the hande of al that hate vs He hath bin merciful vnto vs in lightening those which sat in darknes and in the shadow of death to direct our feete into the waie of peace To thee doe we offer the sacrifice of praise that is the frute of lips confessing thy Name Our mouthes shal praise thee O Lord and our tongues declare thy righteousnes Lo we wil not refraine our lips O Lord that thou knowest yea we wil lift vp our hands vnto thy sanctuarie and with our feete wil we hasten towards thine house and in thy Congregation we wil praise thee We wil magnifie thee O God our King and will blesse thy Name for euer and euer Euerie daie wil we giue thankes vnto thee and praise thy Name perpetuallie For great art thou O Lord and maruelous worthie to be praised there is none ende of thy greatnes Al generations shal extol thy workes and speake of thy power they shal talke of thy worship glorie praise and wonderous workes and we wil declare thy mightines The memorial of thine abundant kindnes shal be shewed and men shal sing of thy righteousnes The Lord is gratious and merciful long suffering and of great goodnes The Lord is louing vnto euerie man and his mercie is ouer al his works Al thy works praise thee O Lord and thy Saints giue thanks vnto thee from one generation to another O God earelie now this morning doe we cal for thine vnspeakeable mercie beseeching thee from the bottome of our hart that this morning thou wilt lighten our minds so that the shining brightnes of thy knowledge may rise in vs which are called out of darknes into the maruelous light of thy glorie that being awaked out of sleepe we may giue our selues to the works of light and walke honestlie as in the daie not in rioting and dronkennes neither in chambering and wantonnes neither in strife and enuieng For we beleeuers are the children of light and of the daie not of night and of darknes Therefore giue vs grace that we sleepe not as others doe but make vs to watch and be sober putting on the brest-plate of faith and charitie and for an helmet to take the hope of saluation For thou God hast not ordeined vs to wrath but to obteine saluation through our Lorde Iesus Christ which died for vs. Giue vs grace likewise we beseech thee that we abuse not this daie and other thy creatures vnto vanitie neither giue our members as instruments vnto sinne by doing such deedes as fight against the soule wounde the conscience and greeue the same Succour vs gratious God that painefullie we may shunne and auoide sixe things which thou doest hate yea seauen which thy soule doth abhor to wit a proude looke a lieng tong hands that shed innocent blood an hart that goeth about wicked imaginations feete that be swift in running to mischiefe a false witnes which bringeth forth lies and him that soweth discord among brethren O Lord God of our saluation into thine hands wil we deliuer our harts that earelie they may watch to thee our maker and in thy sight wil we praie that thou maist protect vs in the daie of troble In sixe calamities deliuer vs O Lord and in the seuenth let none euil come to vs in famine saue vs from death in battel frō the power of the sworde hide vs from the scourge of the tong when destruction commeth let vs not feare in dearth make vs merie and let not the beasts of the earth apale our courage Grant this O Father for thy deere Sonne our Sauior Christs sake Amen 2. A thankesgiuing to God for his mercies O Most holie Trinitie which art the true eternal Vnitie of equal glorie and maiesty we worship thee we praise thee we thanke thee for al thy benefits as it is truelie meete iust and good for vs alwaies to giue thanks vnto thee O Lord most holie eternal God and Almightie Father through Christ our Lorde by whom Angels praise thee Kings adore thee and powers doe feare thee the heauens and heauen of heauens yea the blessed Seraphins with ioie together doe magnifie thee saieng with humble confession Holie Holie Holie Lord God of Sabaorh the whole earth is ful of thy glorie Especiallie at this time O Father most Hie we thanke thee for thy mercie abunding toward vs which of thy great loue wherewith thou louedst vs yea when we were dead through sinne didst quicken vs together with Christ and being raised with him hast made vs to sit together in heauenlie things thereby to shew to al ages hereafter the exceeding riches of thy grace in thy kindnes toward vs through Iesus christ For by grace are we saued through faith and that not of our selues it is the gift of God not of workes least anie man should boast Besides thou hast by thine holie Spirit sealed and prepared vs vnto good workes which thou didst before ordeine that we might walke in them and please thee in newe obedience We wil declare the goodnes of the Lord yea and praise the Lord for al that he hath giuen vs. Great is thy mercie O Lord and thy goodnes incomparable toward vs. Who shal be able to expresse thy workes or who can seeke out the grounde of thy noble actes who shal declare the power of thy greatnes or take vpon him to tel out thy mercie which is such and so
the testimonie of a good conscience knowing that we are punished vndeseruedlie not as murtherers or theeues or euil doers or busiebodies in other mens matters And suffering as Christians let vs not be ashamed but glorifie God on that behalfe Giue vs grace to account it for exceeding ioie when we fal into diuers tentations and afflictions and to glorie therein For affliction bringeth forth patience patience experience experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed And let their example which before vs did suffer the like in their bodies be a comfort vnto vs For so did the vngodlie persecute the Prophets which were before vs. And especiallie thy steps which are left to be followed are aboue al to be allowed of For thou diddest saie The seruant is not greater than his maister if they haue persecuted me they wil persecute you also Finallie giue grace that respecting the vnspeakable reward which of thine onelie mercie thou diddest promise to al which perseuer vnto the ende by thine assistance we may ouercome al the greeuousnes of affliction For blessed dost thou pronounce them which suffer persecution for righteousnes sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen that when they are prooued they may receiue the crowne of life which thou hast promised to such as loue thee Wherefore indue al in affliction with thy fortitude from aboue that with a bolde and stoute courage they may reioice that they are counted worthie to suffer shame and al kindes of affliction for thy Name Make them constant in the true confession that through the consideration of cruel punishment they depart not from the faith and forsake the profession of true religion Likewise shew forth thine omnipotencie with thy mightie hand deliuer them from the power of Tyrans from the mouthes of Lions and violence of fire And as concerning such whose bodilie deliuerance were not best but are fittest for martyrdome those strengthen in the middes of paine that they feare not such as kil the bodie but cannot kil the soule that being afflicted according to thy wil they may commit the keeping of their soules to thee with wel doing as vnto a faithful Creator and so though they leese as may seeme their soules in this world yet shal they find them safe and blessed in another life which is eternal where thou liuest and raignest with the Father in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God for euermore Amen 6. A praier for Widowes and Orphanes O Most merciful and faithful God father of orphanes iudge of widowes Looke downe from heauen thou which considerest our labor and sorow and in whose hands al our saluation doth consist The poore is left vnto thee for thou art the helper of the fatherles The Lord doth heare the desire of the poore thou preparest their harts and thine eare harkeneth thervnto to helpe the fatherles and widowe vnto their right that the man of the earth be no more exalted against the miserable We beseech thee O most righteous auenger haue thou a consideration of al widowes and orphanes and prouide for them by ministring clothes nourishment vnto them haue pittie on them in al their perils and necessities stretch out thine helping hande and deliuer them as thou didest that widowe whose pitcher of oile by the Prophet Elias thou didest so encrease with thy blessing that not onlie she deliuered hir children in bondage for debt out of the hands of hir creditors but also of the oile she sold had wherewith to sustaine both hir selfe and hir children For thou art the Lord which carest for strangers and relieuest the fatherles and widowes but destroiest the waies of the vngodlie Thou art touched with a care of the afflicted and despisest not the desires of the fatherles nor the widow when she poureth out hir praiers before thee For the teares running downe the cheekes of the widow ascend vp into the heauens and hir crie against him which wringes it out Grant therefore merciful God that in the sight of al gouernors and iudges they may find fauor and haue equal iudges and patrones of their matters that the iudgement of the stranger and fatherles be not peruerted nor the cause of the widow neglected but that iudgement may be sought according to thy lawe the oppressed holpen iudgement giuen for the orphane and the widowe defended For thou hast giuen a straight commandement vnto al iudges saieng Keepe equitie and righteousnes deliuer the oppressed from the power of the oppressor doe not grieue nor oppresse the stranger the fatherles nor the widowe and shed none innocent blood For thou art the God which wil auenge thine elect that crie vnto thee thou keepest truth for euer and euer doing iustice to the oppressed with wrong Now deliuer O Lord the fatherles and widowes out of the pawes of rauening theeues which eate vp the houses of widowes vnder the pretence of godlines and colour of right Deliuer them out of the hands of wicked iudges which faine and inuent lawes to suppresse the poore and to hurt the cause of the base among the people that widowes may be a praie for them and that they mayâ—rob the fatherles such peruerse iudges O God in the daie of their visitation and calamitie from a far thou wilt vtterlie destroy Appoint vnto orphanes and widowes faithful patrones which wil be touched with an earnest care of their welfare Also giue vs willing mindes to pleasure widowes and fatherles children according to our habilitie to deliuer the poore when he crieth and the fatherles which hath none to helpe to helpe him that is readie to fal to comfort the widowes hurt euermore to be as fathers to the fatherles and from our tender yeares to minister instruction to the widowe and suffer them neuer to perish but in blessing to blesse them and to fil them with bread For pure religion and vndefiled before thee O God our Father is to visit the fatherles widowes in their aduersitie and to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world For he which is merciful towards the orphane as a father sheweth himselfe as an husband towards his mother in taking the defence of their cause vpon him he shal be as an obedient sonne of the Hiest and thou God wilt more fauor him than a mother can pittie hir sonne But they which despise the sight and teares of the widowe keepe back their loafe that the fatherles eate not thereof and suffer them to perish for want of clothing and apparel yea which lift vp their hands to afflict them shal greuouslie be punished their shoulders shal fal from their ioints and their armes be broken from the bones of them O merciful God extende thy fauor vpon al widowes that at al times and in al afflictions they may trust in thee the liuing God and continue
thy seruant to rule and gouerne this thy people committed vnto my charge Now therefore gratious Lord fauor ablic beholde me that I may treade the path of truth righteousnes and synceritie of hart in thy sight Let me not abuse mine auctoritie but gouerne with lenitie gentlenes the people vnder me that liuing a godlie and honest life mankind may enioy their desired peace Giue therefore vnto thy seruant an hart desirous of instructions that I may iudge the people descerne betweene good and euil and neither declining to the right hand or to the left stoutlie and valiantlie maintaine the cause of the righteous Grant me counsel and assistance to doe such things as are grateful vnto thee good for thy Church and profitable for my people and Commonweale Giue me thy wisedome and reiect me not from thy children For I thy seruant and sonne of thine handmaide am a fraile man of a short time and ful weake in the vnderstanding of iudgement and the lawes Thou hast chosen me a gouernor of thy people and a iudge of thy sonnes and daughters sende me therefore wisedome from thy sacred heauens and from the seate of thy magnificence that it may be with me and labor with me whereby I may perceiue what is acceptable in thine eies and learne that I haue no power of my selfe but from thee which art almightie raignest ouer the kingdomes of men giuing them at thy pleasure Grant that I neuer conceaue proudlie of my selfe but may receiue in patience the discipline of thy Lawe Make mee wise and circumspect that I neither offer ▪ iniurie to anie man neither suffer anie to be iniuried that so equitie may be maintained and iustice among men preserued Let me at no time vnder the shewe and color of equitie vphold or countenance a wicked cause neither yet without sufficient examination and trial of both parties giue sentence against anie Allowe me such counselers gouernors and ouerseers as are of courage fearing God dealing vprightlie hating couetousnes that by them the burden charge and care which I sustaine may be somewhat lightened Endue both me and them with thine holie Spirit that with earnest studie and watchful minds we may discerne betwene matters that no man through our negligence haue the ouerthrow in a righteous cause but that sentence be rightlie pronounced betweene a man and his brother and a stranger without respect of anie person in iudgement Let vs heare aswel the litle as the great and feare no man Because the iudgement is thine which standest in the companie of iudges and among the Gods thou plaiest the iudge For the iudgement is not of man but of the Lord and whatsoeuer we shal iudge it wil come vpon vs. Wherefore let thy feare be with vs that we may doe al things with care and circumspection that we proue not children in vnderstanding neither giue our selues to dronkennes and bellicheere but to eate our meate in due season and that for strength not for dronkennes For thou wilt make earnest and diligent enquirie of al our workes and search al our cogitations because we are thy seruants and deputies to gouerne men of a very short life and he which is to daie a King to morow may be dead For we be al mortal and subiect to one and the same corruption Besides an horrible iudgement is nigh for such as walke not after the wil of thee our god For he that is most low shal finde mercie but the mightie shal be mightilie tormented For thou which art the Lord ouer al regardest not the person of anie neither doest thou feare the greatnes of the mightie Because aswel the great as the smal are the workemanship of thine handes thy care is equal ouer al and giuest to godlie Princes eternal happines which art the Iudge both of the quicke and dead liuing and raigning with thy Sonne in the vnitie of the Spirit a God for euermore Amen A praier of Subiects for their Prince O Almightie God King of Kings and Lord of Lords in thine hande is al power both in heauen and earth thou confirmest kingdomes and againe doest alter them according to thine heauenlie pleasure c. This praier you shal finde afore pag. 7. A praier for a married man. O GOD almightie auctor and institutor of matrimonie which in the copling together of male and female dost offer vnto vs a consideration of the sacred and great mysterie of the marriage of our Lord and Sauior Christ with his spouse the Church and with al expresse the most burning affection of thy sonne towards his beloued Spouse For he offered himselfe vpon the altar of the crosse to sanctifie and clense hir by the washing of water through the word and to make hir glorious for himselfe without spot or wrincle or any such thing For euen as the husband by an inseparable bande of good wil is bound to the wife so that both prosperitie and aduersitie is common to them both so is Christ copled to his Church through suffering vpon his owne flesh the punishmēt which was due vnto hir and by making vs with him felowe heires of eternal ioie by couering our offences So that now there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesu which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Whereby we gather that man should loue his wife euen as his owne bodie For no man euer yet hated his owne flesh howsoeuer crooked old weak leane or deformed it be but so much the more carefullie doth hide couer those faults by how much they appeere the more deformed Yea he doth nourish and cherish that weake part euen as Christ doth loue his Church though foule and deformed with sinne which casteth not hir of though she seeme il fauored but healeth hir griefes dissembleth much forgiueth and wypeth awaie hir offences I beseech thee O Father which art neither made nor begotten marrie mee for euer vnto thy Sonne marrie me vnto him in righteousnes iudgement in godlines and mercie marrie me vnto him in faith that I may truelie knowe thee my Lorde and God which wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he repent and liue O thou onlie begotten Sonne of God ioine me I beseech thee vnto thy bodie that ingraffed in thee I may drawe from thee the iuice of life and of heauenlie wisedome Defende mee and thine whole Church against the rage of Satan the world and the flesh Loue cherish and comfort such as are ingraffed to thy flesh Purge and wash me fro my sinnes filthines and spots through thy great mercie and merits Deck me with thy gifts goodnes Wash me with water purge me with thy blood Annoint me with thine oile of gladnes put vpon me thy roabes of righteousnes and couer me with thy glorious purple
daie O Lord our God we haue sinned we haue done wickedlie we haue behaued our selues vngodlie in al thine ordinances Turne thy wrath from vs we beseech thee for we are but a fewe left in this place O Lord God which hast promised that when either pestilence is among vs or the aire infected or any other plague or sicknes is hot thou wilt heare the praiers and grant the requests of any man among the people praieng from the bottom of his hart acknowledging his sinnes vnfainedlie and lifting vp his hands vnto thee through Iesus Christ before the throne of grace Be thou merciful giue vnto euerie man according to al his petitions For thou alone knowest the harts of al the children of men Heare thou our praiers and petitions and deliuer vs from this contagious and deadlie pestilence Commande thine Angel which striketh vs to put vp his sworde into the sheath that he strike vs not to our final and vtter destruction proceede not in thy wrath spare vs froÌ„ death and bring not our ende by the plague Let the heauens be milde our dwelling places healthful least the aire being infected poure downe the contagion thereof vpon vs to our destruction O Lord turne awaie thine hand it is sufficient let now thine hand cease that al the earth may know how that thou Lord art our God and that we doe cal vpon thy name O Lord looke downe from thine holie house vpon vs encline thine eare and heare vs. Open thine eies and beholde the affliction and mortalitie of thy people For the dead whose spirits are taken awaie giue vnto thee neither praise nor righteousnes but the â—oule that is vexed for the multitude of hir sinnes which goeth on heauilie and weakelie whose eies begin to faile yea the hungrie soule is it that ascribeth due praise and righteousnes vnto thee O Lord. For we poure out our praiers before thee and require mercie in thy sight O Lord our God not for anie worthines either of our owne or of our fathers but in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ in whom thou art wel pleased we beseech thee be merciful vnto vs and helpe vs in necessitie Turne thee againe O Lord at the last and be merciful vnto thy seruants that this poisoned infection may be taken from vs. Notwithstanding if it be thy pleasure to visite our offences with the rod thy blessed wil be done and giue vs grace to beare thy fatherlie correction laide vpon vs pacientlie remembring alwaies that we are chastened of thee our Lorde in this world that we be not condemned with the reprobate in the world to come Amen A praier for the sicke you shal find afore pag. 153. A praier to auoide both raging tempests and vnseasonable weather O Most wise and mightie God thou art a glorious King in al the world thy woonderful maiestie doth shine and is knowen also by raine thundering lightening and other meteors ingendered in the aire thy throne is among the cloudes thou hast made darckenes thy secrete place and thy pauilion about thee euen darknes of water and cloudes of the aire At the brightnes of thy presence the cloudes doe passe awaie so doe the hailestones and fierie coles Thou dost thunder from the heauens and giuest thy voice hailestones and coales of fire Thou sendest thy arrowes and scatterest them thou encreasest lightnings and destroiest them Who is so great a God as thou our God Thou art the God which dost woonders and declarest my power among the nations Thou redeemest thy people with thine arme The waters sawe thee and were afraide the depthes trembled The cloudes poured out water the aire thundred thine arrowes went abroade The voice of thy thunder was heard round about the lightnings lightened the worlde the earth trembled and shooke The foundations of the earth were discouered at thy rebuking O Lord at the blasting of the breath of thy nostrels Therfore shal the verie heauens extol thy wonderous workes and the Saints set forth thy truth in the Congregation For who is equal to thee in heauen and who like thee among the sonnes of the Gods Thou art verie terrible in the assemblie of the saints and to be reuerenced aboue al that are about thee O Lord God of hosts who is like vnto thee which art a mighty Lord and thy truth is about thee Thou rulest the raging of the sea thou stillest the waues therof when they doe arise Thou onelie art of power to resolue into vapors the drops of the sea by the heate of the sunne thou takest the same vp being turned into airie substance and againe turnest it into meere water and makest it to come pouring downe vpon the face of the earth Whatsoeuer thou wilt thou dost in heauen and in earth and in the sea and in al deepe places With thy power thou madest the earth with thy wisedome thou hast established the world and with thy discretion stretched out the heauens Assoone as thou lettest thy voice be heard the waters in the aire waxe fierce thou drawest vp the cloudes from the ends of the earth thou turnest the lightening into raine and bringest foorth the winde out of thy treasures thou couerest the heauens with clouds and preparest raine for the earth thou makest the grasse to growe vpon the mountaines and prouidest herbes for the vse of man thou giuest to beasts their foode and to the yong rauens that crie Behold so great art thou that thou passest our knowledge neither can the nomber of thy yeres be searched out When thou restrainest the drops of water the raine poureth downe by the vapors thereof and falleth abundantlie vpon man. Thou bringest forth the windes out of thy treasures that is from the secret places where thou didst hide them in great abundance that they might be readie at thy commandement and come forth when thou thinkest good Thou makest the cloudes to labor to giue water to the earth and scatterest the cloude of thy light Thou turnest it about by thy gouernment that they may doe whatsoeuer thou commandest them vpon the whole world O God mine hart is trobled very sore when I beholde the immoderate showers and heare the terrible thunder yea it forsaketh his place when I heare the noise of thy voice and the speech proceeding from thy mouth O God which rulest heauen and earth I most humblie beseech thee mercifullie to driue awaie or at least to mittigate these mightie streames and most raging tempests Restraine the thunderbolts and thy fierie darts that they hurt vs not Keepe vs and our nestes that we perish not through lightenings nor be destroied by thy thunder-claps Protect our houses vs that we be neither consumed by thy firie meteor nor be drowned by any suddaine flood O
merciful God raine not I beseech thee hailestones vpon the face of the earth neither strike such as are in the fieldes be they man or beast Strike not thou therewithal the herbes of the fielde neither breake thou gracious Lord the trees of our lande Destroie not our corne with hailestones nor with hailestones smite thou our cattel and deliuer our flocks from the thunderbolt Cast not the fiercenes of thy wrath anger and displeasure vpon vs. Giue vs not hailestones for raine neither flames of fire in our lande but of thy mercie conuert the thunder into gentle raine whereby it may bring out fruite abundantlie Sende not among vs either vntimelie or vntemperate showers which be either noisome to the fruite and bring the mildewe or destroie the corne Restraine in like sort the windes and violent tempestes that they bring none hurt neither to vs or our goods euen for Christes sake our Lorde and Sauior Amen A praier for waiefaring men and Trauelers O Almightie eternal and liuing God Father of our Lord Iesu Christ I thanke thee with mine ▪ whole hart for sending of thine infinite and vnspeakeable goodnes to manwarde thine onelie Sonne into this worlde to suffer on our behalfe al the miseries of this life which in the state of extreeme basenes traueling from one region to another to preach the Gospel of thy kingdome suffered no doubt the sondrie infirmities of our mortal bodie For passing through Samaria he was wearie by reason of trauel and rested himselfe on Iacobs wel In al things he was like vnto vs For we haue not an hie Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in al things tempted like as we are and yet without sinne In his Name I take my iournie whose wil it is that whatsoeuer we doe either in worde or deede we shoulde doe it in the Name of our Lorde and Sauior Christ giuing thanks vnto thee our God and Father through him For his sake which went about doing good and healing al that were oppressed of Satan I beseech thee giue thine holie angels charge to keepe me in al my waies and to guide me to and fro in my iournie euen as Tobie the yonger was guided of the Angel Raphaël vnto Gabaël habiting in Rages a citie of the Medes Guide me with strength and courage and direct my steps in the course of my iournie that I wander not out of the right waie into bywaies neither cast my selfe into dangers And therefore holie Father be thou the directer of my waies and keepe me out of the clawes of spoilers Saue mee from the deuouring iawes of sauage beasts Compasse me about with thine heauenlie protection that I fal not into any euils either of soule or bodie Be thou vnto me a faithful companion as thou wast to Iacob the Patriarch traueling into Mesopotamia and descending into Egypt Likewise as thou diddest lead the children of Israël through the red sea and through the vncomfortable wildernes going before them by daie in a piller of a cloude and by night in a piller of fire to lighten them in the way that they went vouchsafe to accompanie gouerne and direct me in this my iornie Shew mee also such fauor that wheresoeuer I go I may find godlie men which may entertaine lodge and curteouslie entreate me least otherwise I fal into perils and be iniuried of the wicked Be thou with me night and daie that none hurt light vpon me protect me both against the iniurie of cold and the vehemencie of heat and from al enimies deliuer me O Lord giue me bread to eate and clothes to put on And as the wise men by the direction of a star in the East came ioiefullie into Iurie and afterward being admonished in a dreame so to doe returned into their countrie another waie so my busines being wel finished bring me home againe in safetie that I may praise thee my God and Lorde continuallie in the Congregation of thy Saints O Lorde heare my praier and with thine eares consider my complaint holde not thy peace at my teares For I am a stranger in this worlde as al my forefathers were Our daies like a shadowe vpon the earth doe passe awaie and continue not We are strangers and wander out of our true countrie For the daies of our pilgrimage are but short yet be they full of miserie troble Giue me grace that I set not my minde on this worlde but to lift vp mine eies vnto heauen and desire a better that is an heauenlie countrie And as long as wee are absent from the bodie let vs be of good courage suffer vs not through feare to faint in afflictions but firmelie to trust that shortlie we shal returne vnto thine habitation and there enioy thy sight in deede euerlasting life where thou with thy Sonne and the holie Spirit liuest and raignest one eternal God for euermore Amen A Praier before the receiuing of the holie Communion O Iesu Christ holie and eternal God I miserable man and wretched sinner acknowledge confesse that I am not worthie the least of al thy mercies most vnworthie to receaue thee vnder the roofe of my soule by participating of thy most blessed bodie and blood For horrible and infinite are the sinnes wherwith I am defiled Wo is me Lord for I am a man of polluted lips and dwel among people that haue vncleane lips And therefore the verie entrales of mine hart are trobled and my bones doe shake because I finde my soule a most vnworthie ghest for so heauenlie a supper And yet againe mine hart is wonderfullie lightened when I cal into minde that thou the deere sonne of almightie God camest not into this worlde to cal the righteous but sinners vnto repentance For they that be whole neede not the Phisition but they that are sick Besides I knowe right wel and constantlie doe beleeue that notwithstanding my filthines thou canst make me worthy which alone canst make that cleane which is conceaued of vncleane seede and righteous men of sinners when thou forgiuest our sins of thy wonted grace thine holie Spirit being poured vpon vs. Through which thy power and mercie I beseech thee grant such grace vnto me a sinner that I may worthilie approch to this heauenlie Sacrament least otherwise by mine vnworthines I be made guiltie of thy bodie and blood and so instead of life receaue my iudgement and condemnation Giue grace therefore that afore I presume to come vnto the participation thereof I may examine my selfe by calling my sinnes into minde searching out my waies by vnfained and hartie repentance returning vnto thee my Lord least otherwise by concealing my sinnes with Iudas the traitor I eate the bread of the Lord against the Lord by abusing
waie where we shal not deale with mysteries as in this worlde but shal beholde thee face to face when thou hast deliuered the kingdome to God the Father and so God shal be al in al Amen A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the holie Communion O Iesu high and eternal Priest sitting on the right hande of the throne of maiestie in the heauens gouernor of the Saints Thou art an high Priest of good things to come which by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with handes that is to saie not of this building neither by the blood of goates calues but by thine owne blood didst enter once into the holie place and founde eternal redemption when through the eternal spirite thou offeredst thy selfe a pure sacrifice without spot to God purging our consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing God I yeelde thee hartie thankes for suffering vpō the altar of the crosse a most shameful death for our sins and that of thine owne accorde mooued therevnto by a singular affection of good wil towards vs. I blesse thee for instituting this Sacrament of thy bodie and blood in remembrance of our euerlasting redemptiō that at no time it might slip out of our minds but be an holie signe and testimonie of thy perpetual friendship and a seale of the confirmation of the newe and eternal couenant which thou hast entred into with vs concerning the free remission and forgiuenes of our sinnes I magnifie thee also with al reuerence of mind for bidding vs miserable men and sinners both vnto the participation of thy most holie supper and also to the receiuing of al celestial riches wherein thou bestowest and appliest particularlie to euerie of vs al the merits and good things which by thine obedience and death thou hast purchased on our behalfe that we may become partners and fellow heires of eternal blessednes O sacred banket wherin heauenlie dainties are set afore vs which reuiue the soule and thou lambe of God after a wonderful and mystical manner giuest thy selfe to refresh the inwarde man. We diminish thee not in eating thee but thou endurest whole perpetuallie And although the visible signes are consumed yet canst not thou be deuoured Thou art the meate of the soule not of the bodie and fattest our minds not our bellies Thou changest the eater into thy selfe and yet art not changed into the eater as other corporal foode is changed commonlie So that we participate of thy diuine nature and thou no whit art altered into our sinful flesh I humbly beseech thee Sonne of God by thy most sacred blood shed for vs giue me grace that participating of this visible Sacrament I may withal finde and feele in mine hart the inuisible working of thine heauenlie grace which is conteined in this mysterie that this supper may be as some refreshing vnto my bodie so a special medicine of my soule Quicken and raise vp in me by this blessed Sacrament a continual remembrance of thy bitter passion make me to retaine the same firmelie and fresh in my minde and shew it foorth as an onelie and sufficient ransome of my redemption vntil thou returnest Let me neuer doubt of the forgiuenes of my sinnes which thou assurest me of by thy bodie blood in thine holy couenant concluded in thy last supper by the breaking of bread and giuing foorth the cup to thy chosen Disciples and by them to as manie as are incorporated into thy Church through Baptisme That as often as Satan assaileth vs with his deadlie tentations we may runne to our sanctuarie as it were to a strong anchor of defence apprehending the promise ratified by the seale of this couenant and neuer giue ouer in fight but stil be refreshed with newe virtue from aboue nor breake our harts through the consideration of sundrie misfortunes which the vngrateful worlde by the instinct of their capitaine the Diuel woulde bring vpon vs but calling into minde thy death into the which we are baptized may escape from al calamities So that no tribulation nor anguish nor persecution neither hunger nor nakednes neither perils nor sworde neither death neither life may separate vs from our head wherevpon being made fast by this holie Sacrament receaued we as liuing members doe depende And finallie may knowe that we are fed and refreshed by thy flesh and pretious blood that washed therewith we should not hereafter giue our selues to carnal pleasures nor feede vpon the leauen of malice and wickednes but resisting them liue in al sinceritie truth as it becommeth such as doe eate of the immaculate Paschal lambe whose life is hid with thee but when thou shalt be reuealed then shal we also appeare in glorie For this blessed meate doth truelie witnes that our bodies sprinkled with the virtue of thy quickening flesh as it were with celestial dewe shal rise againe vnto immortalitie and euerlasting glorie Wherefore giue grace that al thy Saints participating of the bread of eternal life may be replenished with the fruition of thy blessed sight for euermore in thy celestial paradise Amen Another thankesgiuing after the receipt of the holie Communion I Thank thee O Christ lambe of God for offering thy selfe vpon the altar of the crosse to thy father an offering and a sacrifice of a sweete smelling sauor to God for our sinnes to reconcile vs vnto him for certaintie whereof and confirmation of our faith thou hast instituted on our behalfe this holie Sacrament of thy supper that as often as we receiue the same we may celebrate thy memorie and with thankesgiuing remember the merite and frute of thy passion I beseech thee by thy bitter death stir vp our minds that by often receiuing this thine ordinance and institution we may consider howe bitter a death thou didst suffer on our behalfe and how great the loue was which draue thee to take so cruel and shameful a death to saue vs and withal continuallie yeelde as we are bounde hartie thanks vnto thee for the same and after the like sort answere to our power that vnspeakeable good wil by our good life and careful obseruation of thy commandements and may when either through frailetie of our flesh or by any other fault preuented we sinne runne by and by vnto thee by repentance and through consideration of this new and eternal couenant touching the remission of sinnes made with vs be erected and vpholden vnto a liuelie and constant hope O sweete Iesu grant that being fast linked vnto thee by this holie mysterie I may receaue power and strength from thee beleeuing thy promises and be wholie addicted therevnto without any doubting that so my conscience in feare and trobles may haue perfect consolation Suffer me not to be separated from the members of thy bodie which is the Church whereof thou art head fulfilling al in al but grant that abiding in thy word and kingdome I may
16 verse 23. 4. From the greatnes of Gods benefites h Gen. 1 26. Colos. 3 10. i 1. Pet. 1 19 Heb. 9 14. k Psal. 116 ver 12. c. 5. From the weaknes of our nature l Bernarde serm 7 de aduentu Domini m Matt. 26. verse 41. 6. From the fury rage of Satan n Ephe. 2 2. Iohn 12 31. o Ephes. 6 verse 12. p 1. Pet. 5 8. q Gaudentius Merula de memorabilibus lib. 2 cap. 9. r Lactantius de Origine erroris â–ª cap. 16. 7. FroÌ„ the miseries both priuate and publike Nestor 8. From our couenaunt made with God at our Baptisme 9. From the vncertaine time of the daie either of our deth or iudgmeÌ„t s Mat. 16 26. t Matt. 24 verse 46. u Matt. 25 verse 4. x Matth. 24 verse 48. Luk. 12 45. y Matt. 25 vers 10 c. The occasion of publishing this Booke How he muste be qualified y in praieng wold please God vse this Booke to his profite z Heb. 11 6. 1. Faith. a Rom. 10 verse 14 â–ª b Rom. 14 verse 23. c Iames. 1 verse 7. 2. Charitie d Iames. 5 verse 16. e Matth. 6 verse 14. Matth. 5 44 â–ª Mark. 11 25 Luk. 23 34. f Eccle. 28 verse 3 c. g 1. Tim. 2 8 3. Zeale Prayer what h Matt. 5 6. 4. Humility i Esai 66 2. k Eccle. 35 verse 17. l Luk. 18 10. m Jam. 1 17. n 2. Cor. 1 3 a 1. Timo. 2 verse 1. c. b Philip. 4. verse 6. Kindes of praier 1. Deprecations what 2 Supplications what 3. Intercessions what 4. Thankesgiuing what Th' order of this Booke 1 2 â–ª 3 4. 5 6. 7 8 Daily praier is inioined vs. c Luk. 18 1. d 1. Thes. 5 verse 17. e Eccles. 18 verse 21. f Psal. 119 verse 164. A noble exercise to praie Ambrose Praier ioyneth vs to the blessed company of the Angels in heauen g Psal. 138. verse 1. To praie to praise God a thing common to men with Angels The comoditie which the dailie exercise of praier doth bring The state of him which vseth not to praie The frute and profit of faithful praier h Iam. 5 15. i Iames. 5 vers 16. c. 1. Kings 17. verse 1. Eccle 48 1. Luke 4 25. The force of faithful praier k 1. Sam. 30 verse 4. 2. Sam. 5 19 l 4. kings 19 verse 15. 2. Chro. 32 verse 20. Eccles. 48 verse 20. 2. Kings 20 vers 3 5. Esaie 38 vers 2 5. 2. Chro. 32 verse 24. m Augustin Nothing should dismaie a christian from praieng vnto God. Though of our selues we are vnworthie to open our mouthes in the preseÌ„ce of God â–ª yet through the grace of Gods holie Spirite wee are emboldened so to doe n Rom. 8 verse 26. o Matt. 15 vers 22. c. The necessitie of dailie and continual praier Other causes mouing vnto praier you shal finde in the Epistle dedicatorie a Psalm 5 7. b Psa. 138 2. c Psal. 119 verse 133. d Ps. 119 35 e Psa. 19 46. f Psal. 26 8. g Psal. 84 1. Psal. 84 2. h Psa. 35 18 i Psal. 95 6. Psalm 95 7. k Psal. 99 5. l Psal. 43 4. m Psa. 69 13. a Psa. 50 15. Psal. 91 15. b Psa. 50 15. Psa. 145 18. Iohn 16 23. c Ro. 8 26. d Eph. 3 20. e Zac. 12 10. f Rom. 8 26. g Esa. 29 13. Matth. 15 8. h Ioh. 4 23. i Psa. 50 14. Psal. 116 17. k Eccle. 18 verse 22. l Matt. 6 5. m Deut. 5 9. n Mat. 4 10. o 4. Es. 6 45. p Ier. 17 10. Reuel 2 23 1. Sam. 16 7. q Ro. 10 12. r Mat. 20 21 s Ioh. 16 24. t Mar. 11 24 Matth. 7 7. Mat. 21 22. Iames. 1 6. u Ioh. 14 13. Iohn 16 23. x 2. Cor. 1 verse 20. y Rom. 8 25. z Abac. 2 3. a Esa. 30 15. b Iohn 2 4. c Psal. 32 5 â–ª d Eph. 3 12. e Rom. 8 15 Galath 4 6. f Luk. 18 9. g Iam. 5 16. h Matt. 6 7. i Luk. 18 7. k 1. Tim. 2 8. l Mat. 6 12. Mark. 11 25 m 1. Tim. 2 1. n 1. Iohn 5 verse 14. Matth. 7 7. Matt 21 22. 1. Ioh. 3 22. a Sirach 10 verse 4 15. b Psalme 4 verse 1 c. c Psal. 2 11. 12. d Psal. 20 1. e Psa. 20 4. 5. f Psal. 20 6. 7. 8. 9. g Psal. 21 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Psalm 21 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. h Psal. 72 1. Psal. 72 2. 3. 4. i Psa. 89 21. 22. 23. a Psal. 17 8. b Psal. 9 13. c Psa. 107 8. d Psal. 35 18 e Psal. 57 7. f Psa. 57 9. Psal. 108 3. g Ps. 108 4. h Psal. 40 10 i Psal. 92 1. 2. k Psa. 103 1. 3. 4. 5. l Psa. 34 20 m 1. Tim. 1 verse 17. n Psal. 25 1. o Psal. 63 1. p 2. Pet. 1 19 q Eph. 1 17. r Eph. 1 18. s Psa. 18 19. t Psa. 90 14. u Psa. 119 33 x Ps. 119 34. y Deut. 6 5. Matt. 22 37. Luk. 10 27. z Psal. 119 verse 24. a Psal. 86 4. b Psa. 86 5. c Psa. 51 17. Psalm 8 3. e Psal. 96 3. f Ecc. 43 29 4. g Genes 1 verse 1. c. Hebru 1 2. Psalm 104 verse 1 c. h Gen. 1 11. Psalme 104. verse 14. 15. i Gen. 1 6. 20. 21. Psa. 104 25 10. k Gen. 1 6. 2. Esd. 6 41. l Psal. 8 6. m Psal. 8 7. 8. n Gen. 1 26. 5 1. 9 6. 1. Cor â–ª 11 7. Coloss. 3 10 o Psal. 22 9. p Psal. 71 6. q Eccl. 33 9. Genes 2 3. Exod. 20 11. Deut. 5 14. r Psa. 106 2. Eccl. 43 30. s Psa. 146 1. 2. t Eccl. 13 15 u Psa. 71 18. x Psa. 117 1. 2. y Psa. 150 1. 2. 6. a Psa. 25 10. b Gen. 6 5. 8 21. Matt. 15 19. c Psa. 19 12. d Psal. 51 3 4. 5. e Psa. 143 2 f Psa. 130 3. g Iob. 9 3. h Iob. 15 14. 15. 16. i Esai 64 6. k Psal. 51 1. l Psal. 51 2. m Psa. 25 11 7. 6. n Psa. 78 39 Psa. 103 14. o Psal. 103 9. 10. p Psal. 85 7. q 1. Ioh. 2 2. r 1. Ioh. 1 7. 9. s Psal. 32 1. t Psa. 19 12. 13. u Luk. 1 77. 78. x Mat. 3 17. Matth. 1 9. Luke 3 22. a Iohn 17 verse 6. c. b Luke 12 verse 32. c Mat. 16 18 d Mat 8 26. e Mat. 16 18 f Psa. 80 14. 15. 16. g Psal. 80 7. h Ioh. 10 28 i Esai 6 13. k Psal. 16 4. Exod. 23 13 l Luk. 2 34. Rom. 9 33. m 1. Co. 1 18 n Ioh. 17 3. o Psal. 85 6. p Psal. 5 11. q Psal. 85 1. 2. 3. Psal. 85 4. r Psal. 5 11. Ps. 84 9 11. a Mat 9 38. Luke 10 2. Iohn 4 35. b Matth. 13 verse 11. c 1. Tim. 2 verse 15. d Mat. 1â—