vnto vs when we were all perished and lost through the sinne of Adam For when thou mightest iustly haue condemned vs cast vs into perpetual damnatioÌ„ thou like a father of singuler great loue haddest pity on vs and sauedst vs by the death passion of thy welbeloued sonne oure Lorde and sauioure Iesus Christ which gaue himselfe a ransome for all our sinnes and paide sufficient price by his precious bloud for all the wickednesse that wée euer committed in times past or hereafter shall commit thorowe oure frailtie and weakenesse so that we repent and beleue Neyther wast thou thus contented he should onely dye for oure sinnes but thou didst raise him also againe for our iustification to make vs righteous in thy sight Moreouer after that hee hadde shewed himself vnfainedly aliue to his apostles by manifest and euident tokens certayne dayes after hys resurrection thorowe the power of his Godhead ascended vp into heauen perfect God and perfect man where he sitteth now on the right hand and maketh intercession for vs being our onely Mediatour and alone Aduocate From thence we looke for him to come againe at the day of Iudgement not as a cruell Iudge to condemne and cast vs away into perpetuall damnation but as a most louing Lorde and gentle Sauiour to cary vs with him into perpetuall glory there alwayes to remayne in euerlasting ioye praysing thée worlde with out end For these thy most bounteous giftes and for other innumerable which dayly thou giuest vnto vs of thy great mercy wee thanke thee most gentle mercifull father desiring thee with all humblenes of minde that thou wilt giue vs grace through thy holie spirit not to be vnthankful but to walke worthy this thy kindnes and so to behaue our selues in this wretched worlde according to thy word that at the last day we may be found in the number of them to whome thy onely begotten Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ shal say come ye blessed of my father possesse that kingdome which was prepared for you from the beginning of the worlde Lord let it so come to passe Amen An other confession of our sinnes to our Lord Iesus Christ. O Lorde Iesu Christe whiche art the onely and alone Phisicion of the wounded conscience we poore miserable sinners trusting on thy goodnesse and grace doe here briefly declare vnto thée the euill trée of oure heart with the rootes braunches leaues fruits of the same which all we vnfaynedly confesse to be euill and wicked For thou doest no lesse consider weigh and ponder the inward lustes of oure heart which is froward and vnsearchable then these outward grosse sinnes that we wickedly commit eyther in word or déede Therfore we beséech thée pray thée euen so heartily as our weaknes will suffer although we be very vnapt to praye that thou wilt mercifully circumcise cut away our stony heart yea for this olde heart create in vs another new hart replenish it with thy spirite water it and make it moyst with the iuyce or humoure of heauenly grace and wyth the fountaynes of Spirituall waters that the inwarde poyson and the noisom iuice of the flesh may be dried vp the custome of the olde man abolished our heart after this no more bring foorth thorns and cockle fit stuffe â—or the fire but spirituall fruits in righteousnes and holinesse vnto euerlasting life So be it Grace before meate GIue thanks to God the Lorâ— oâ— might as it becommeth Christians right And euer when thou 〈◊〉 thy meate Remember God before thou eate And then God will remember thee Anâ— wiâ—h his food will nourish thee And after thiâ— life ended is Wee shall remayne with him in blisse God saue his vniuersall Church Our noble Queene defend Gâ—aunt that thy people may enioy thy peace vnto the end Grace after meate OF Dyues and Lazarus the scripture telleth plaine How Dyues liued in welth ease and Lazarus in great paine The rich man he was clothed wel and 〈◊〉 of the best But Lazarus for hunger great could haue but 〈◊〉 rest But full of sores lay crying stil for some man to reâ—â—eue him With 〈◊〉 that fell froÌ„ Diâ—es 〈◊〉 wherof no man did giue him Thus perished poore Lazarus and that for lacke of food And also the rich glutton died for all his worldly good Therefore all yee that present be remember this thing well That how this man vnmerciful is buryed now in hell From the which torments great the Lord vs all deliuer And grant we may be mercifull while we liue here togither Then shaâ— we raign with Lazarus with ioyes that be indinabâ—e Euen by the bloud of Iesus Christ for our heaâ—th most profitable Now therfore lord we thee beseech to make vs all consent Grace before meate To pity those that haue most neede and the our sinnes repent Grace before meate ALl that is and shall be set vpon this â—ord Be the 〈…〉 by the Lords word So be it Grace after meate HE that is king and Lord ouer all Bring vs to the table of lyfe eternall Grace before meate THanks be giuen vnto our lord Iesus Christ both nowe and alwayes for these and all other his benefitâ— so mercifully louingly and aboundantly powred vpon vs. Amen Grace after meate THe God of all glory and peace who hath created redemed and presently fed vs be blessed for euer anâ— euer Amen FINIS
¶ The perfect path to Paradice Contayning diuers most ghostly and wholsome Prayers fruitfull and Christian Meditations for the comfort of euery afflicted conscience Published in these dangerous dayes of wickednesse and deliuered to all those that feare God and hope for saluation in Christ Iesus as a spirituall weapon to beate downe sinne sathan and all the power of hell c. By Iohn Phillips Matthew 3. Repent and amend your lines for the kingdome of God is at hand ¶ Imprinted at London in Fleetstreete by H. Iackson 1588. To the Right Honourable Lord Robert Deuorax Erle of Essex and Ewe Visecounte of Herrifard and Bourchire L. Ferres of Chartley Bourchire and Louaine Maister of the Queenes Maiesties horsse Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Iohn Philips his humble well-willer wisheth the feare of God continuall health of body and minde peace and quietnesse of conscience with all other the giftes of grace prrceeding from God the Father through the intercession of Christ Iesus c. RIght honorable when I call to memory how apt and redie wee are of our selues to fall into the filthy quagmire of the olde Adams corruption wherein wee are moste monstrously soyled with all kindes of wickednesses which make vs detested in the eyes of our heauenly father whose loue wee by the exercise of our notorious euils dayly committed against his deuine maiestie we most wilfully conuert to hatred I am driuen into no small admiration But truly as these are the dangerous dayes of wickednesse wherein sinne aboundeth and iniquitie hath obtayned the preheminence and vpper hand so it is expedient for all those that haue the feeling of GODS grace in their consciences to arme thēselues in this worldly Laberinth of vncleannesse with a liuely faith and earnest repentance and to continue in prayer and supplication to the almightie to abridge these dayes of wickednesse and to hasten his comming For vnlesse this perillous season as Christ himselfe hathe foretolde vs should be shortned wherein sinne is exalted to the subuersion of vertue there shoulde no fleshe be saued It shall bee necessary for vs therefore that seeke dayly and hourely by the vsuall practise of our innumerable euiles to offend the Lord our gracious God whose heauy indignation we haue worthely heaped vp vnto our selues and whose vengeaunce wee haue iustly deserued Nowe euen nowe and hencefoorth for cuer to return with Dauid from our impieties to mourn with Magdalin for oure iniquities to weepe with Peter for our offences and to crye out with the prodigal child for the mispending of oure portions ryotously Yea and thē the Lord our God whose wrath we haue kindled vp agaynst vs like consuming coales of fire beholding the sorrowes of oure contrite hartes the grieuous gronings of our sinful soules and our wet and blubbered eyes weeping for oure wickednesses wil repēt him of these plagues that he had prepared to poure forth vpon vs for our destructiōs Yea he wil cast aside the vioals of his wrath yea hee wil in his mercy quenche the burning coales of his furie Yea he will vnbend the bowe of his anger and breake asunder the arrowes of his displeasure wherewith he had in his diuine iustice prepared to wound vs For faithful praier and hartie repentance are acceptable to God The which weapons if we wil take vpon to vse vndoubtedly in steede of cursinges wee shal obtayne blessings in steed of penury we shal reape plentie in steed of battel wee shal haue peace in steed of sicknesse wee shal finde health yea and at the last of vncleane vessels we shalbe made vessels of honor and heires of his heauenly kingdome God for hys sonne Christ his sake giue vs the grace therefore whilest mercy as yet keepeth his indignation at a baye to continue in prayer and to shew vs hartie repentant for our sins for the day of oure visitation draweth nigh Thus ceasing right honorable I leaue you to the merciful protection of the almightie beseeching him in this life to blesse and defend you from al peril and daunger to continue your health to his good guiding wil prouident pleasure to giue you victorie ouer al the enemies of God and hir royal maiestie and in the world to come to crown your head with honour and glorie Your honours in al humilitie and reuerence IOHN PHILIPS ¶ When that thou preparest thy selfe to pray look that thou with all humblenesse of mynde kneelest downe and lifting vp thy hart thy handes and thine eyes vnto heauen to God the Father almightie praye on this manner O Lorde open thou my lippes that my mouth may speake and shew forth that whiche is to thy glorie and praise A prayer for the Morning O Omnipotent Father and euerliuing GOD the Fountayne of al felicitie from whom onely procéedeth all good giftes most hūblie I beséech thée of thyne aboundante mercye and exceding kindnes so to direct and gouerne me this day and euer with thy good guyding spirite that all my thoughts words and déeds maye onely be occupyed in thy seruice fayth feare and loue and so assist strengthen me with thy grace O most mercifull and louing father for thy sonne Iesus Christ his sake that nether sinne death hell nor Sathan haue the dominion vpper hande of mée Indue my heart with the true vnderstanding of thy true and liuely word that I may be ready proane manfully to fight vnder the standerd of my glorious captain Iesus Christ agaynst the world the flesh that cruell Serpente the olde Leuiathan which hunteth continually like a roaring lion seeking the vtter destruction of my soule Make me constant in time of temptation y e whē or at what time my rebelling and sinfull fleshe shall intice me to luste after the pomps and vanities of this wicked worlde I may by a strong liuely and vnshakeable fayth thorowe the bitter tormentes that my sauiour Christe Iesus suffered for me and al that faythfully beleue and cal vpon him so mortifie and subdue the olde Adam that I maye bée dead and buryed from sinne and all iniquity the new man Christ Iesus may continually dwell and raign in mee by whose meanes I shall be garnished decked by the meanes of a fruitfull fayth with immortalitie heauenly blessednes vouchsafe O Lord I beséech thée according to the multitude of thy mercies to looke vpon mée and by thy celestiall prouidence so illuminate the eyes of my soule that I may continually watche for the glorious cōming of thy anoynted son Iesus Christ. Roote oute O Lorde in and from me the vilde and corrupt branches of rapine deceipte auarice luxurie concupiscence and all vngodlinesse let the motions of my minde altogether depende vppon thée prepare my tongue to publishe thy prayse let my lippes be locked vp from all scurillitic vncomely talke let myne eares loathe and abhorre to heare thy glorious and blessed name blasphemed thy trueth to be by any Sectarian ill spoken of and slaundered kéepe and
and pitie I knowe that of thine infinite goodnesse onely thou didst make man after thy similitude likenes placing hym in the moste delectable place of Paradice and althoughe he did transgresse thy commaundemente and therby deserue eternal deth damnation yet thou lyke a most louing pitifull Father didst not vtterly reiect him but gently correct him after that thou hast sente hym into the earth cōmanding him there to increase and multiply thou didst instruct his posterity with thy lawe thou didst teach them by the Propehtes and after that sentest down thine only begotten sonne to take vpon him our nature and to suffer death for our sinnes thereby to make a recompence for the offence which man had committed against thée and al this thou didst of thy excéeding great mercye and kindnesse without any deserte of mankinde not being so muche as by any one prayer or yet intreatie thervnto incited Therefore I being boldened with such inestimable benefits so fréely giuen and bestowed doe without any feare at this time appeare before thy diuine maiestye prostrating my selfe before the seate of thy mercye and with al humblenes of hart and minde doe make this my prayer vnto thee Dispise me not O Lorde God being defiled with sin and iniquitie for beholde I present my self before thée not presuming vppon myne owne worthinesse but trusting in thy goodnesse Be mercifull vnto me a sinner light thou the dull sighted eyes of my minde open y u the stopped eares of myne hart y e I may both sée heare and perceiue vnderstande that which thou teachest alwayes do that which thou commandest make me not only a hearer of thy heauenly doctrine but also a perfit follower of the same direct sanctifie gouerne my life be thou alwayes present readie both to heare and to help me Saue defend mée from al shame and reproch be thou my shield and buckler against al temptations clense my minde thought from all vncleannesse kéepe and preserue mée from all danger both of body soule This fraile life is nothing else but a continuall warfare in this worlde our sins most like to cruell enemies assault vs on euery side agayne our dayes are but fewe in number Guide me therefore with thy grace so to spende my small short and transitory time in this worlde the very Fountayne welspring vale of all miserie that I maye be made a member of Christ a partaker of thine eternall felicitie To the which séeing that thorowe mine owne deserte I shall neuer be able to aspire for sin truely so aboundeth in me that ech déede and act of mine is not onely infected but altogether poluted therwith none other remedie haue I to ease my self none other salue to ease my sore but only to take hold of that promise of thine whereas thou sayest Come vnto me all ye that labor be ouerloden I will refresh you this is my holdfaste this is myne Ankor and sure stay for verily swéete Sauiour when I looke vppon myne owne fraylenesse beholde how readie I am to offende thée then I quake for feare then I am almoste in vtter dispaire but assoone as I call to minde thy great loue and kindnesse and how that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that hée should repent and liue and that in what daye soeuer he doth hartily repent and cal vnto thée thou wilte heare him then I am relieued then I am not a little comforted knowing surely that thou wilte performe that whiche thou hast promised In faithful assurance wherof I nowe say vnto thée Tourne thou mée O my God and I shalbe tourned from all my wickednesse deliuer me Heale my soule which is wounded with sin for I doe acknowledge my iniquitie am hartily sory for mine offences Correcte mée O Lorde but yet not in thy furie look not vpon my weakenes but thinke vpon thine owne worthines remember thy louing kindenes and in the aboundance and multitude of thy mercies wipe clene away pardon and forget all my sins throw whiche I haue either in word or déed thought or any other kinde of waye offended thée blot them out of thy remembraunce let the bloude of that Immaculate Lambe Iesus Christ washe them away let mine old offences so decay die in me that I neuer commit them any more or by any meanes renew them in thy sight And in the meane time do not withdraw thy grace frō me but cause me to do all y t which good is O Father remoue thy wrath away from me and restore vnto me thy fauour Turne thou thy louing countenance vnto me and plentifully poure forth thy mercy vpō me Incline my heart to doe that onely whiche is acceptable in thy sight Guide thou my footesteps in thy pathes suffer me not at any time to stray from thy wayes let me alwayes haue the feare of thée in my hart and the remembrance of thy benefits fresh in my memory if at anye time thorow weaknes and frayltie I do transgresse thy commandemēts yet do not therfore reiect cast me out of thy sight but be thou that good Samaritane poure the Oyle and wyne of mercy forgiuenesse into those woundes which sinne shall make in me Disdaine mée not for my reuoulting but haue mercy vpon me according to thy great goodnes according to the multitude of thy mercies wipe awaye mine iniquitie hide me vnder the shadow of thy winges and protection lighten mée with thy holye spirite Make mée thy seruant so indue me with thy grace that I maye vnfaynedlye with hart and voyce serue honor and prayse thee al the dayes of my life Amen A Prayer for patience in trouble and meekely to suffer aduersitie O Gracious Lord Omnipotent whose mercy is euerlasting infinite bow downe thyne eare and harken vnto this my prayer whiche I make before thy diuine Maiestie most humbly beséeching thée of thyne acustomed goodnes to indue me with the works of mercie déedes of charitie and aboue all things to giue me pacience in aduersitie méekly to suffer and pacientlye to take whatsoeuer it shall please thée to laye vpon me and neuer to murmur or to grudge therat but alwaies to thinke thy louing gentle correction to be muche lesse than the desarts of my great manifold offences Againe if I be not vnder correction then am I not thy childe for what father is he who correcteth not his Children whome he moste intyrely beloueth Thys thē is an euident tokē that thou louest vs whē as thou correctest vs for as the scripture sayth Whome God loueth him he chasteneth Thou séest all thinges thou vnderstandest knowest al thinges so that not so much as one little Sparrow lighteth vpon the ground without thy knowledge yea our very thoughts are foreknowen vnto thée thou disposest orderest all things as séemeth best to thy holy will and pleasure by thy helpe I maye doe all thinges wythout
and euer worlds with out end Amen A prayer against the councels of the ennemyes of God and of his diuine verite AH Lorde thou puissant strong mightie God which destroyest the councels of the vngodly riddest away the tyrantes of this world out of the earth at thy pleasure so that no councell or strength at all can resist thine eternal wisdome and euerlasting determination which thou hast to fore appointed by thine vnsearcheable wisedome from the beginning We thy poore creatures simple wretches and vnprofitable seruants doe most instantly and hartely desire thee for the loue that thou haste to thy welbeloued and onely begotten sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ that thou wilt looke vpon thy cause for it is time O Lorde and bring to naught all those things that are or shall bée appoynted determined and fully agréed vpon among the wicked against thée and thy holy word Let not the enemies of thy trueth so miserably oppresse thy seruauntes which seeke thy glory tender the aduauncement of thy pure religion and aboue all thinges wish in their heartes that thy most holie name may onely be glorified among all nations Whatsoeuer the vngodly goe about contrary to thy glory and thy worde let it not take effect O swéete father yea rather destroy it vtterly bring it to nought that all men may knowe that thou alone art that almightie and euerlasting God which rulest and subduest all inhabiters of the earth from the highest to the lowest after thy moste holye will and pleasure But to them that walk not in the councell of the vngodly nor tread not y e way of sinners giue thou good lucke prosperous successe in thy name that their holy trauailes and vertuous enterprises may come vnto a godly end Defend them that they sit not in the chaier of the pestilent scorners which spitefully rayling on thy trueth do defend with high tirannie both their wicked doctrin and liuing Grant to thy seruantes the mouthe of thy wisedome which no man may resiste whereby they may know y t thou alone art the Lorde that none is to be compared vnto thée al the enemies of thy Godly truth with their wicked counsels destroyed and put out of the way we may with feruēt minds receiue the trueth of thy most holy word order our life according to the same sing perpetuall prayses to thy most blessed name worlde without end through Iesu Christ thy sonne our Lord. So be it A prayer for the vnitie concord and perfect agreement in things concerning Christian religion O Euerlasting and merciful God which art the God of peace loue vnitie and concord not of strife debate discorde and confusion thou seest how miserably thy holy congregation is rent torne and deuided into diuers sectes whyle fleshly mē leauing the holsome instruction of thy most blessed word which is the alone truth and righteousnesse set foorth and maintaine euery mā as his fansie leadeth thinges of their owne brayne inuented by carnall wisedome without the authoritie of thine vndefiled lawe And hereof commeth it to passe that so great dissention reign now a dayes in the worlde and that so manye and diuers sectes schismes and heresies spring vpp in euerie place vnto the great perturbation of the christian publicke weale For so long as men set aside the rules and ordinances of thy holie Scripture and appoynt things of their own imagination and stiffely defend them it cannot come to passe that christian peace and vnitie of spirite with heartie concorde can haue place among vs. Therefore we wretched sinners to whome knowledge of these thinges thorow thy grace haue chanced doe pray and moste feruently desire thy great mercy that for asmuch as there is but one euerlasting God and one heauenly father which thou art and one fayth and one baptisme which we al professe y e cal on thy name thou wilt thorow thy onely spirit gather togither such as are dispersed into diuers sects into y e vnitie of true pure vnderstanding of thy word by fayth bring them againe whose mindes are disseuered into one bodye that there may be no dissention among them But specially O most mercifull father graunt that we which doe breath and for our little power labour vnto the true vnitie in Christ may lay aside al dissension and seeke that thine only euerlasting trueth which is contained in thy word that wee together may growe into one iudgement sentence and minde yea and that which floweth and commeth forth from the intelligence and vnderstanding of our Lord Iesu Christ and euermore guide and leade vs agayne vnto him that we with one perfect agréement of minde and with one mouth may praise magnifie thée the celestial father of our Lord Iesu Christ through the same Iesu Christ thy sonne the holy ghost So be it A prayer for spiritual ioy O Lorde Iesu the redéemer and comforter of mankinde which hast prepared for them that forsake the vaine pleasures of this worlde for thy loue farre better delectations pleasures through y e holy ghost that most swéete comforter which the worlde knoweth not measuring the griefes of this life with inwarde and secret comforts and renewe to vs as a certayne gage or pledge of the glorie that hereafter shall come wherewith we being refreshed comforted may run vnto thée with the more chearefull minds I beséech thée that the annoynting of thy sprite may continually beate out of me the tediousnes of euils and make my minde merry with healthfull ioy and be annoynted thorow thy aboundant mercie with the oyle of gladnesse and ghostly comfort which liuest and reignest with the father and the same spirite very GOD worlde without ende Amen A prayer vnto Christ our sauiour for the glory of heauen O Lorde Iesu Christe which art the onely and euerlasting sonne of God the father which also becamest man for oure sake that thou shouldest bring vs vnto God y e father and therfore thou going vnto the father occupiest hys right hand graunt that we may be cōuersant now with thée thorowe fayth in the holy Ghost after an heauenly manner and that after this exyle and banishment we being illumined with thy brightnesse may remaine with thée for euer which liuest and reignest with God the father the holy ghost very God world without end Amen Thanks gyuing to God for his benefites O Lorde God our heauenly father we right hartely thanke thée for thy manifold and inestimable benefites which thou haste giuen to vs deseruing nothing lesse than to receiue of thy boūtie so great kindnesse We thanke thée that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercie first to create and make vs according to thy likenes and to place vs in ioyful Paradise there perpetually to haue remayned if through the subtile and deceitefull suggestions of Satan our aduersarie we had not transgressed thy most holy commandment We thank thée also O most bounteous father for thy louing kindenesse which thou shewest
all inwarde heauinesse thought and care for any losse and discommodity receiued by worldly goods and alwayes to thinke that as well pouertie as riches néedinesse as aboundance sicknesse as health aduersity as prosperity come from thée and that it is knowne to thine vnserchable iudgement onely why and wherfore thou sendest eyther of these vpon vs and therefore let not my minde bée troubled with any feare of thinges to chaunce sauing onely to feare to displease thée but alwayes to be merry in thée with sobernesse and to cast all my care of worldlye affayres vppon thée For as much as thou hast commanded that we shoulde not be careful what to eat or what to drink or with what rayment we should be clothed for y u wilte not sée the righteous forsaken or their children begging their breade and that thou tournest all thinges to the best to them that serue thée and flie vnto thée for succour in the tyme of their distresse Let this O Lord be euer more fresh in my memorye grauen in my heart and redy in my mouth so that I leauing all néedlesse feare may alwayes giue thanks vnto thée and prayse thy holye name Amen The prayer vnto God the Father ALmightie God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ whome no deserte merite or worthinesse of oures but thyne own great clemencie mercy and pity caused to send downe thyne onely begotten sonne into this world to beare the burthen of our sinnes with the which we moste miserable sinners were ouerladen that he shoulde suffer moste cruell tormentes yea and also most bitter and shamefull death and sanctifie the reprochefull name of the Crosse with the renting of his blessed bodye and shedding his most precious blood thereon Thereby to make attonement betwéene thée vs thereby to pay the ransome for our soules thereby to consumate and finish the perfection of oure redemption and saluation Whiche thing it was thy good will that he should doe not only to aswage thy wrath and indignation but also to bring vs agayn into thy grace and fauour that wée being deliuered out of the bondage of sinne hell might serue thee in righteousnes and holynesse all the dayes of oure life and by thy frée gift and benefite of his deathe and passion be made partakers of his resurrection and of thyne endlesse vnspeakable glory Wherefore my God my maker my Lord my kyng séeyng thou hast so aboundauntly bestowed thy Heauenly giftes vpon me all mankind and hast so plentifully poured out thy grace and fauour on vs that for our sakes thou wouldst not spare thy owne sonne How shal we escape thine indignation whiche for this care and kindnesse of thyne are most carelesse and vnkynd and among all other which way shall I poore creature turne me how shall I who haue bene moste vnthankefull for his benefites and moste vnmindefull of them be so bolde as to lifte vp my hart or hands vnto the heauens and to call vpon thée thou of thy singuler goodnes diddest so prouide that the wickednesse of olde Adam shoulde be purged and washed away with the bloud of Iesus Christe but I haue wilfullye fallen into sinne againe Thou madest me the child of light but I haue made my selfe an inheritor of darknes thou madest mée thyne by creation I haue made my selfe the childe of perdition What shall I now therefore do shall I doubt of anie further mercie and forgiuenesse No no sweet Lord so great is thy mercye whiche surmounteth al thy works so large are thy promises so sure is the perfourmance of them to al such as take hold thereof so deare in thy sight are the merites of thy sonne Iesus so acceptable vnto thée is the harty repentance of a sinner that with the remembrannce thereof I am prouoked to crye vnto thée saying Father I haue sinned agaynst heauen and agaynst thée I am no more worthye to bée called thy childe Neuertheles behold thou me not as I am a gréeuous offendour but as thy creature haue nowe no respect to mine offences but behold my repētance think not vpon my wickednesse but vpon the wounds of my sauiour Iesus looke not vpon my false hart which hath wauered from thy lawes but behold the bléeding hart of thy sonne Iesus Chryst whiche was pierced to release me and set me frée my sinnes I cast vpon his back beséeching thée that hys merites may beare them and thy mercy pardon them Heare me O Lorde my God heare me for I knowe the more earnestlye that I séeke for desire thyne ayd the readier y u art to stretche forth thine hand to help me Heare me therfore O Lord bow downe and incline thy eare vnto my praier inspire me so with thy holy spirite that I may loue thée aboue al things and that I neuer fayle to put my hope trust of saluation in him whome thou wouldest to be my Redéemer and sauiour Make mée by the forsaking of all wickednes so to rise from falling into sinne that I may obtayne the true seruing of thée with innocency and purenesse of life Graunt this O Lorde for Iesus Christes sake to whom with thée and the holye Ghoste be all honor and glory Amen A Prayer vnto God the Sonne O Most sweete Sauiour O moste mercifull Redéemer O bountifull Iesu the sonne of God who although thou art highe yet thou art moste humble although thou arte Omnipotente thou arte also moste méeke and as thou art most mightie so art thou moste merciful To thée O Christ the guyde of al felicitie the Father of heauen hath gyuen all power both in heauen and in earth Thou art the true Pastor of our soules thou art oure Messias y u castest off none that sue vnto thée but as thou hast taken awaye the hande wryting that was agaynst vs and hast fastned it to thy Crosse so art thou ready to imparte the merits of thy Passion vnto all such as with true repentaunce of their sinnes call vppon thée faythfully Wherefore my swéete Iesus I most faythfullye and vnfaynedlye acknowledge y e benefites that thou hast bestowed vpō me and steadfastlye beléeue that thou being an Immaculate Lamb in whose mouth was neuer found guyle didst suffer most cruell torments at the hands of sinners for the loue of vs moste wretched sinners for the which cause I most hartily beséeche thée and most humbly pray thée to accept me into the number of thē whome thou wilt make Coinheritours of thy bitter paynes and although I of my selfe be moste vnworthy thereof yet thy merites can make me worthy to them doe I flye crauing that I may be so armed and defened by them that I maye subdue the world the fleshe and the Deuill euen as thou hast gloriously conquered sin death and Hell Thou seest O my Sauiour how I am daily and howerly beset with these thrée ennemies and so hardly beséeged of them y t without thy help I can by no meanes escape but that I must néedes be a
pray vnto one of them Strengthen me therefore O Lorde that neyther the one with carnall lusts neyther the other with delectable pleasures nor sathā him selfe with all his crafty and suttle deuises get the dominion ouer mee Thou haste bought me thou haste payd for me take thou me saue kéepe and defend me be alwayes ready at the voyce of my crying poure into mée thy grace paciently to abide thy diuine wil pleasure in all things make me both at this present and all y e dayes of my life to haue in minde and profoundlye to roote in my heart the misteries of thy painefull passion and so to be filled with the remembraunce thereof that sinne may no more enter into me and that Sathan mine olde enimie may wel perceiue that he hath neyther parte nor fellowship in me But that I am both body soule altogether thine To whom be all prayses worlde without end Amen A Prayer vnto God the holy Ghost O Holye Ghoste O blessed and Holye Spirite comforter of them that be afflicted Thou procéeding from the Father and the Sonne art the true instructour and teacher of the deuine and heauenlye veritye Wherefore I with all humilitie praye thée to renewe and make in mee a cleane hearte to grafte a right spirite in me Guide and gouern mée that I may thinke nothing speake nothing doe nothing but that only which shall please thée And whereas I haue not ceased to offend my Lorde God and Maker and moste gréeuouslye to transgresse agaynst Iesus my redéemer and sauiour I pray thée that I maye haue inwarde sorrow repentance and shame thereof and that euer hereafter I may performe my duety as I ought to doe and so bring forth the fruites of repentance that the passion of Iesus Christ may defend me from all sinne and wickednesse and bring me to the ioyes of Paradice So be it A deuoute Prayer REmember not O Lorde GOD thine anger agaynst me an offender but be myndefull of thy mercye towardes me a true penytente forget that through pryde I haue prouoked thée to yre and fauourablye harken vnto my prayer What is Iesus but a Sauioure therefore O bountifull Iesu be thou my Sauiour ryse vp in thyne owne strength to helpe me saye vnto my soule I am thy safegarde In thy goodnesse do I trust in thée is my hope and for as much as thou hast willed that we should without ceasing séeke and sue vnto thée beholde I being counsayled and foretolde by thy cōmandementes doe nowe both aske séeke and knock But thou which commandest me to aske graunt that I may receiue thou bidst me séeke make me to find Thou hast taught me to knocke open vnto me y t stand knocking strengthen mee that am weake restore me that am lost reuiue me that am dead by sinne make me to serue thée to liue to thée to giue my selfe wholy to thée I knowe my God that because thou madest me I owe my selfe vnto thée for that thou hast redéemed mée I shuld owe thée more than my self But behold I haue no more to giue neither can I giue my selfe vnto thée vnlesse thou make me willing therevnto Take thou me draw me vnto thée that as I am thine by creatiō so I may be thine by folowing of thée whiche liuest raignest for euer euer Amen An other Prayer HAue mercie vpon me O Lord haue mercy vpon mée moste miserable Creature which doe that which I ought not and feare that whiche I haue moste iustly deserued if I weigh with my selfe the wickednes that I haue done the punishmēt therby deserued is not halfe so great as the sinne that I haue committed but y u art a mercifull God thy iudgementes are right neyther doest thou at any time punishe vs vniustly Thou almightie god madest vs whē as we were not and when as we were loste and damned thou didst miraculously restore vs. I knowe and am sure that our life is not led by sodaine and vncertayne motions but is disposed and directed by thée thou hast a fatherly care of vs al but specially of all suche as do put their whole trust and confidence in thy mercy Therfore I humbly pray and beséeche thée that thou wouldest not deale with me after my deseruings but according to thy great mercy which doth excéed the sinne of the whole world And as often as thou doest punish me outwardly giue me grace inwardlye with patience to beare the same and that thy praise neuer depart out of my mouth Order my doinges euen as shall be most necessary both for my body and soule Thou onely hast power ouer all things thou knowest all thinges to thée be al honour for euer Amen A Prayer for the obtayning of mercie BEholde out from the bottom of my hearte doe I crie vnto thée O lord beséeching thée that thou wouldest saue me from the bottomlesse pitte of Hell I knowe that there is mercie with thee Doe not therfore marke what I haue done amisse Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for then can I by no meanes be iustified in thy sight The remembraunce of mine offences is grieuous vnto me therefore I right humbly craue pardon thereof My heart is troubled my soule is vexed there is no health in my flesh Forsake me not myne onely stay and comforte Dispise not my contrite heart open the bosome of thy mercie take clean away mine iniquity bring my soule out of tribulation turne the extremitie of thy iustice into thy tēder mercy and when thou shalt come to iudge y e quicke and the dead be not reuenged on mée by eternall damnation but to take me amongest thyne electe into the blessed state of Saluation Graunt this O Father for Christes sake our Mediatour and Aduocate Amen An other Prayer O Lorde my GOD although I haue committed that whereby I am an offendour can I make my selfe not to be thy creature though through sin I haue loste my cleannesse puritie haue I also taken away thy goodnesse and mercye thoughe I haue committed that wherefore thou mayest condemne me hast thou not done that whereby thou mayest saue me True it is O Lord that my conscience doth shewe me that I haue deserued damnatiō but thy mercy excéedeth all offensyon Spare mée O God because it is not vnpossible for thy power it is not vnmeet for thy mercy it is not vnacustomed or yet contrary to thine infinite goodnes Wherefore thou whiche hast created me doe not destroye me Thou O Iesu whiche hast redeemed mée do not condemne me thou whiche hast made me let not thy worke be cast away by my wickednes Wype away all that is myne and draweth me from thee and knowledge all that is thine in mée and may bring me vnto thée Which liuest and raignest one God in persōs thrée to whome be al honor now and euer Amen A necessary prayer in Meeter O Lorde my God make thou my hart repentant for to be The spirite of contrition doe thou
ingrafte in me Unto myne eyes let there be giuen aboundance of weeping And let my handes be occupied With often almes gyuing O thou my king quench out of me all foule fleshly desire And with the loue of thee alone set thou my hart on fire O my Redeemer dryue away the spirite of pride from me And graunt to mee that great treasure of meeke humilitie Take from me O my Sauiour the furious rage of yre The shield of pacience giue to me the which I doe desyre O Creator roote out of mee all spitefulnesse of mynde And graunt in steede thereof agayne meekenâ—sse that I may fynde O Bountifull father giue me a fayth that shall indure With hope agreeing therevnto and charitie most sure O thou my guyde keepe from my lips all lying vanitie And from my minde driue farre away all vayne vnconstancie All wauering takâ— from my heart and from my mouth scoffing With all proud lookes glottony backbiting slandering Couetousnesse wipe cleane away with curiositie The fond desire of vayne glory with all hipocrisie Let me neuer the poore despise nor yet the weake oppresse And let me not blaspheme for then I dye remedilesse O thou which didst mee forme and make take all rashnesse from me And leaue me not such a minde as will not with peace agree Take from me ydlenesse and sloth with heauie lumpishnesse Take from me disobedience and also stubburnnesse O my God for thy deare Sonnes sake I humbly beseeche thee To graunt me the works of mercy aboundance of pitie That I may thee both loue feare and eke pitie the poore Make mee good men alwayes to loue and wicked to abhorre Make me so little to esteeme those thinges that worldly bee With harte and voyce that I maye craue in Heauen to be with thee amen ¶ Beeyng tempted by the ghostly ennemy as all that feare God are to doubt in any article of the Catholike Fayth to dispayre in Gods mercye to yeelde to melancholye fantasies to bee vexed with vnkindnes of friends or the malice of ennemies to bee troubled with sicknesse or any other wayes oppressed with griefe of body and mynde say deuoutly as followeth I Humblye accept moste mercifull Iesus this heauie temptation whiche nowe I suffer at the handes of thy diuine prouydence and would a greater if thou please to laye it on me for thy sake Who hath ordayned this from the beginning for the tender loue thou bearest to the health of my sinfull soule and I most hartily thanke thée for it I confesse I haue deserued worse for my sinne and vnkindenesse towardes thée and I am not worthie to receyue any comfort or consolation at thy handes therefore to the honor of the passion and death whiche thou wyllinglye sufferedst on the Crosse I offer my selfe to sustayne this or any other aduersitie with al my hart not séeking other ways ease or reliefe then in and by thee O Lorde and as thy good will and pleasure shal appoint yet this one thing I craue and beséech thée for the tender loue thou bearest to mée and all mankinde for in mée is no vertue or ought that is good to helpe and assist me with thy holy spirite as my trust is thou wilt who promiseth that no man shall be tempted more than he shalbe able to beare and giue me all what euer shalbe necessary to sustayne with patience this painfull Crosse temptation which thy deuine wisdome hath apointed for me to the inteÌ„t that I bearing y e same wyllingly with thée here in this worlde may conceiue assured hope to bée partaker of thy glorye in the worlde to come grant me my request moste mercifull Sauioure not for my merite or deseruing but onely for the merites of thy death and bitter passion I humblye beséeche thée Amen A Prayer for the obtayning of grace and mercy O Moste mercifull Lorde God whose Maiestie is incomprehensible and power infinite whose magnificence is exalted aboue the heauens vouchsafe I beséech thée from thy high Throne to beholde the worke of thy handes Haue pitie on the vnhappy desolate condition of thy creature I am a sinner conceiued in sin of my selfe I haue no good thing wherefore O Lord I cleaue to the Altare of thy mercy Thou art my Ankor my hope my refuge staye Therefore O Lorde haue mercy vpon me for no flesh can be iustified in thy sight Thou knowest the frayltie weakenes of men we are taught by the fall of Peter y t we can doe nothing wythout thée Graunt vs therfore good lord thy grace without which in this world we are lyke by the waues of temptations to be swallowed in the gulph whyrlepoole of sinnes to be drownd as the ship without Ankor Pylate in euerye Tempest to runne on the Rocke and perishe Guide vs therfore by thy grace good Lorde thorow the flouds of this carefull worlde that wee maye rest for euer in the pleasant Porte and happye hauen of euerlasting ioy with thyne elected thorough our blessed Sauiour Iesus Chryst. To whome wyth thée and the holye Ghoste bée all honour and glorye in all worldes Amen A Prayer for the Penitent O Lord I am a sinner my sins are heauy vpon me the burthen of them is intolerable refresh me with thy grace washe away mine offences I shall be whiter than the snow let the chéerfull beames of thy countenance shine vppon mée and giue light to the darknes of my life We can looke for nothing as deserued but punishment due to oure offences Wherfore good lord not according to thy iustice but in the multitude of thy mercies deale with thy seruant Remember not the sinnes of my forefathers think not on the misdemeanor of my youth passed haue pitie on thy creture which acording to the likenesse of thy selfe thou hast made shaped of earth How long wilt thou turne thy face away froÌ„ me forsake me not O my God but renewe in me thy holy spirit Pluck away from me all that withdraweth mée from thée Graft in my hart thy grace y t I may loue thée and feare thée and so finallye reioyce in thy goodnesse with thy elected and prayse thée in thy wondrous works for euer Graunt thys most mightie God for our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake To whome with thée and the holye Ghost be all honour and glory for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for Fayth O Blessed sauiour Iesus sonne of the euerliuing God the vnspeakeable ioye of thy seruantes moste present coÌ„fort to sinners which camest into y e world to saue offenders whiche so louest the world that thou sparedst not thy most pecious blood to redéeme the losse of oure first father Adam to make vs Coheires of the forfaited inheritance with thy selfe that al which beléeue in thée might be saued good Lorde whiche hast promysed to them that knocke it shal be opened that they whiche seeke shall finde graunt I beséeche thée that I maye search thy holye lawes and finde
the trueth of thy holye worde that I may alwayes constantly confesse shewe thée thy goodnesse as well in my words as lyuing Inspire me with thy holye spirite that I may know thée stedfastlye trust in thée and serue thée in prayers well doing all the tyme of my life O most mercifull Lord and sauiour of the world for the glory of thy names sake I beséeche thée to heare my praiers My soule reioyce in God thy sauing healthe for he hath bene good to thée he hath kept thée frō the snare of the hunter blessed thée The lord is a merciful God let all the earth feare him let the mouthes of all men sounde prayses vnto hym God is a good Lord dayly increaseth his good giftes to his seruants the Lord wyll encrease my fayth in hym and I shalbe saued Amen A Prayer for righteous iudgement O Lord God of all iustice whiche in equall Ballance doest weigh the cause of the Prince and of the poorest man whiche despisest not the sutes of the simple whiche deliuerest the Captiue and comfortest the desolate and carefull O Lord whiche hast blessed them that are poore in spirite reléeue thy seruaunt oppressed with griefe remoue from me the clowdes of my sorrowes O Lorde stretche forth thy mightie hand and helpe me let me not sincke in the Seas of slaunder and shame Thou knowest the secretes of my heart defend me in myne innocencie Pleade thou my cause agaynst the vngodly whiche haue layd their nets for me O God thou which hast deliuered Ioseph Danyell Mardocheus and Susanna from captiuitie and instant death and didst cloath them with honoure good Lorde strengthen me and be my defendour against all euils and let not the poysoned arrowes of malicious tongues doe me any harme Graunt these my prayers good Lorde I bseeche thée for our Sauioure Iesus Chryst his sake Amen A Prayer agaynst lying and euill imaginations O Lorde cleanse my heart I beséeche thée from all impure and wicked cogitations and thoughtes and giue me a cléere conscience shamefast eyes innocente handes and a tongue to tell the truth Séeing that there is nothyng hidde that shall not be discouered good lord I beséeche thée to search my thoughtes and renewe in me thy holye spirite directe my féete in thy wayes that walking after thée in the pathe of the righteous I may passe thorow this vale of misery bearing thy banner stowtly in my warfare and obtaine euerlasting ioy the promised hire to such as here haue paciently borne thy crosse and valiauntlye fought with the armoure of fayth against temptations and all euils vouchsafe O Lorde to graunt my peticions I most humbly beséech thée for thy onely begotten sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake Amen A thankesgiuing for the goodnesse of God to vs. O Almightie God and euer ruling King whose infinit power maiesty our wyts cannot comprehende whose glorious brightnesse with our mortall eyes wee cannot behold whose wonderous workes manyfold mercyes the tongues of mē cannot sufficiently declare Good Lord I yéeld thée most humble thankes for thy singuler great gifts and benefites bestowed vppon me a sinner Good Lord thou hast blessed me with knowledge with increase and plenty of all thinges thou hast giuen me friends health and rest That I shoulde eate my meate with ioy and prayse thée in al thy gifts works I know that I haue no good thing but it commeth from thée and onely for thy mercies sake thou hast so regarded me thy seruaunt wherfore good lord I beséech thée to grant me thy grace withall that I maye vse these thy gifts to thy honour and glory the comfort of them that néede that vsing the talent whiche thou hast lente mée I maye become a good seruaunt and obtayne eternal blisse the promised hire to suche as doe well Uouchsafe good Lord for thy sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christe his sake to heare my prayers ALmightie God refreshe me with thy grace I beséech thée comfort me wyth thy mercye and blesse mée that safe from all euils frée from feare of all daungers in peace and quietnesse I may sing prayses to thy holy name and reioice in thée with thine elected for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to liue well GOod Lorde so rule the eyes of my heart that they being kept simple and pure my bodye may bée a cleare and shining temple of thy holy spirite so kindle in vs the loue of thy glorious sonne that we following his steps may doe that which is good and declyne from the euill so that our light shyning before men we may glorifie thée by our good works with thy blessed sonne our Sauiour and the holye Ghost To whose infinite maiestie in trinitie and vnitie be all honour and glory for euer Amen A confession for the penitent O Moste mercifull Lorde God I haue offended against the Throane of thy Maiestye my sinnes are euer before myne eyes I am not worthy to liue or enioy the fruites wherewith thou hast blessed the earth my owne conscience is my tormenter bringing testimonie and witnes against me The Sunne doth hyde hys light agaynst mee and the place is the worse wherein I become O Lorde what shall I doe shal I dispayre No thou art mercifull and more ready to forgiue then we to aske I will confesse my sins to thée I am weary of my sinfull life I am sory in my soule for myne offences wherefore good Lorde thou whiche doest case them that are laden and refreshe them that trauayle thou which hast promised mercy to the penitente looke on thy seruant with thy chearefull countenaunce beholde me with those pittying eies with whiche thou didst Mary Magdalen and the woman taken in Adulterye thou whiche hast shedde thy bloode on the Alter of the Crosse offering thy moste precious bodye an eternall Sacrifice for our sinnes dispyse not that whiche thou hast redéemed Thou which camest into the world to cal sinners to repentaunce and to saue the lost shéepe of Israell haue mercye vppon me leade me by thy grace to the Foulde among thy Sheepe for they go in sweet Pasture are not in daunger of Wolues for thou art their shepheard and kéepest good accounte of euery one of them thoughe I haue gone astray wandring from thy flocke and borne the markes of the worlde yet good Lord disclaime not thy right I beséeche thée but take me vnto thée that I may be safe vnder the shaddow of thy winges He may sléepe soundly whome thou doest kéepe thou arte the watchman of Israell All honour and glorye be vnto thée for euer A Prayer for humilitie O Lorde I am a sinner sorry for mine offences I cannot make satisfaction for my defaultes if I haue any good thing it cōmeth of thée The moste acceptable sacrifice to thée is a contrite and humble hart O God let me not be oppressed with the waues of sinne let mée not sinke into the Whyrlepoole and gulph of dispayre thou which liftest
Aungels in the shyning glorye and Maiestye to iudge the quicke the dead I may be in the number of the blessed ones whom thou shalt call to possesse thy kingdom prepared for them by thy father saying Com ye blessed children of my father receiue y â— kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the worlde Thou whiche didst dye and ryse agayne wilt rayse and bring to life all those that are dead beléeuing in thy faith Comfortable Exhortations against the manifolde assaultes of Sathan IF thou perceyue that the storme of temptation doth verye often and greeuously assault thee dismay not therefore thy selfe neither bee displeased with thy selfe as though almighty God nothing regarded thee but rather thanke him that hee instructeth and teacheth thee as one to bee hys heyre that he punisheth correcteth thee as his most deare sonne that he proueth assayeth thee as his welbeloued friend It is a manyfest and great token that man is reiect from the mercy and fauour God when hee is troubled with no temptation In thy temptatioÌ„ remember the holy Apostle S. Paule which being wrapt to the misteries of the thirde heauen was vâ—xed with the aungel of sathan remember the temptation of the holy man Iob other which were grieuouâ—ly troubled with their offences O happy fortunate man in whome this earthly Adam is so mortified and subdued that it in no wise resisteth the spirit but whether thys perfit quyetnes may be in any I will not affirme peraduenture it is not necessary to be For Paule in this life notwithstanding his highe perfection and grace had a motion of the flesh to vexe trouble him And when he thrice desyred God to be deliuered from the sayd motion He only had this answer Paul my grace is sufficient for vertue is made perfit by vexatioÌ„ Paul was vexed by pride that he should not be proud to be perfite strong in God he was caused to be weak feeble For he carryed the treasure of heaueÌ„ly reuelation in a frayle britle vessel that the honor victory should only be in God not in himself this one example of Paul is eruditioÌ„ lerning in many things when that we be intised moued to sin that we diligently cal to almighti god by prayer Remember that Dauid the Prophet King Salomon Peter the Apostle notwithstanding they were great lightes examples of holynesse yet they fell into grieuous and great sins whom almighty God peraduenture suffred to fall for this cause speciallye that thou shouldest not dispaâ—re Lyft vp thy selfe therefore vppon thy feete and with high courage bolde stomack returne againe into battayle agaynst thy enemies not onely more fierce and bold but also more ware diligent and think with thy selfe what intollerable and inuincible temptations Christ suffred for thee wherin there appeared no help comfort ayd nor defence anye where wherein God and the whole worlde seemed to be his most cruell and malycious enemyes when that he cryed alowd My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Truely this was a most grieuous paynfull and bitter temptatioÌ„ which Christ suffred for vs that he might make the way of the crosse easy for vs. Therefore prepare thou thy â—elf paciently to drink of that Cuppe which Christ Iesu thy head hath so willingly dronke on for the saluation of al mankynd And seeing therefore that Christ so willingly put himselfe in subiection and dipped himselfe in those so horrible and intollerable sorrowes and calamities oure moste louing and heauenly Father willing the same out of doubt he also vnderstandeth and knoweth our infirmitye out of doubt hee taking compassion on vs will not extreamly deale with vs but will rather beare with our imbecillitye and weakenes Doth not he himselfe calling al men vnto him say Come vnto me al yee that labor and are heauy laden and I will refresh you what more greater comfort I pray you can be giuen vs. How could Christ speak more mercifull vnto vs. There bee manye things that greeuously vex trouble man but what thing can more cruelly vex torment his conscience ouerwhelmed with sin then when he doubteâ—h of the mercy of God when he dreadeth least God be his aduersary and will reiect him when he is not able to conceiue this fayth of his mercy doth imagine himself to be cast away as a dry member that is cut of Be present here O Iesus Christ with thyne ayde help here we haue need of thy comfort let not this blacke violent horrible teÌ„pest of troubls ouerthrow drown wretched man but there is no cause why we should doubt Christ is true he wil make his promises to appear he wil help vs refresh vs. Therfore where as thy faith is not strong ynough wheras thou feelest thy self to doubt of Gods mercy and haste well neare no fayth at all strayght waies cal vpoÌ„ God bewail tho misery lack of belief before him seek for his aid succour by feruent prayer he wil both help refresh thee he hath taken vpon him thus to do he wil bring it to pas but take heed thou cease not to call vpon god beseech thou without al ceasing the Father of all consolation comfort with sighs from the bottom of thine hart that he turne not his face from thee lay thy weakenes vppon him poure out into his bosom all things which trouble torment thee Crye out with his disciples O Lord increase my fayth Lykewise say thou with the Father of the lunaticke child lord I beleâ—ue help thou mine vnbeliefe Make hast O lord to help mee before that I oppressed wyth this weight be drowned O moste louing mest merciful Father lord God of my health our only help and refuge Enter not into iudgemente with thy seruauntes Christ is my righteousnes redemption and innocencye whiche suffred most bitter and cruell death for my sake Let those things mooue thee O Father of all compassion haue mercy vpon me for thy sons sake confirme and strengthen my hearte by Faythe in Christ Comforte mee with the consolations of the holy ghoste that I may enioy the true ioyes of euerlasting lyfe through the merites of my Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the holy ghost be all praise and glorye for euer and euer Amen A Psalme to be sayd at all tymes REioyce in GOD my soule for he is my lighte and my defence my helpe the lanterne to my féete he hath heard my prayer when I called on him he hath holpen me in my néede he hath deliuered mee in my daungers The Lorde is the kéeper of my life from whome shall I shrinke whom shall I feare lying prostrate at the féete of my Lorde I bewayled my case and hée heard my complaint he forsaketh not his seruaunts Wherefore if armies of men stoode vp agaynst mée I shoulde not feare for if God be on my syde who can preuayle against mée Hée is
whose guiltie stomacks are gorged with grudge enuie mallice hatred disdayne and al vncharitablenes for their throts are like vnto an open sepulchre or swallowing graue their tongues are giuen to slaunder and backbite their neighboures the poyson of Adders lyeth hidden vnder their lippes and in fine they as thyne enemies blaspheme thy holye and blessed name and contemne thy testimonies O Lorde gine me thy grace to be conuersant with good godly men such as fauoure thy gloryous Gospell doe their indeuour to practise thy preceptes to the glorye of thy holye blessed name make mee by their example to exercise my selfe in the heauenly verity that thereby I maye bee instructed in the liuely knowledge of thy commandements obtaine such wisedome from aboue that by saythe I may cleaue to thee the fellowship of those y t feare thy holy name and so auoyde the company of the wicked and vngodly worldlinges whiche haue layde snares to intrap mée Graunt this O most mercifull Father for thy sonne Iesus Christ hys sake who euer liueth raigneth with thee and the holye Ghost to whome be all lawd glorye power and prayse for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to be purged from syn and vncleannesse TAke awaye from mée O Lorde the burthen of my corruption which by the continual exercise of my sinne and wickednesse hath wounded my soule wofullye with the daungerous dartes of transgression so that I feele my putrifaction abounding and my festred conscience ouerladen wyth vncleannesse so that I haue no other meane or remedye but to prostrate my seffe before the Throane of thy glorious Maiestye beséechyng thee intyrely of thy gracyous goodnesse to salue my sores wyth the comfortable Oyle of thy mercye thou onely O Iesus arte the swéet phisition of my soule sprinckle vppon mée Isope and I shall be made whyter than snow if thou of thy excéeding bounty and fauour good Lord wilt vouchsafe to washe awaye the spottes of my sinne and wickednesse that heapeth thy indignation and furye agaynst me I shall then excell the Gold that hath beene purified in the Furnace seuen folde let it therefore good Lord and mercyfull Father seeme pleasaunt vnto thy deuyne Maiestye to touche my corrupted vncleane heart wyth the heauenlye finger of thy grace that I maye bryng foorth the fruites of true repentaunce whiche are more acceptable to thy glorious and deuyne presence then the offering of Calues Bullockes shéepe Goates or any other burnt offring or sacrifice of peace a contrite and sorrowfull soule is the thing that thou doest moste delight an humble and a lowlye spirite is the oblation that thou doest desire A cleane and pure heart O Lorde my God I knowe thou doest loue and fauoure wherefore I beseeche thée to purge me from my sinne and iniquitie of thy great mercy let the bitter deploration of myne offences hartye contrition thorough thy glorious merites and paynefull passion O Iesus be y ◠only meane and way to set me frée from the powers of hell death damnation and sith I am by thy goodnesse begotten and borne anew strengthen me good Lord that I neuer slyde nor fall from thée but that I maye continuallye beare in my remembrance the state whereto I am called by thée thorowe thy aboundaunt loue and kyndenesse wype away good lord all my sinnes out of thy remembraunce cleanse me in the bloude of thy spotlesse Lambe Iesus Chryste and I shall be made cleane pure and safe Graunt this moste mercifull God for the honour and glory of thy name sake thorow the bitter deth of thy sonne Iesus Christe my mediatoure and Aduocate to whom with thée and the holye Ghoste be giuen lawd glory power praise for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to be sayde in tyme of peace and prosperitie GIue vs good Lorde the comfortable and healthfull spirite of thy grace and aboundaunt fauoure that wee maye wythout ceasing make oure continuall boast of thy prayse we know and from the bottomes of oure heart confesse that thou hast dealte more louinglye with vs then thou hast done with our next neighboures whose painefull miseries and bloudy broyles may be a sufficient warnyng vnto vs to hate oure sinne iniquitie least the like calamitie or euer we be aware doe compasse hedge vs rounde about giue vs grace therefore in time of peace and happie prosperitie so to walke that thy fatherlye blessing bée not withdrawn nor taken from vs and the rod of thy sharpe correction be layde vppon our neckes euen in such sorte as thou hast visited oure brethren in other Countreyes whose bodyes by the meanes of cyuill discention haue béene made a praye to the sworde we heare and vnderstande that not farre off but euen hard at the gates of our borders the father is readye in armes to séeke the destruction of hys sonne the sonne is as gréedye to gape for the blood of his father we heare how vyolentlye the brother thirsteth after the bloude of hys brother frind is against friend neighboure agaynst neighbour young men are murthered olde men are sodaynlye slayne manye a wife is husbandlesse many a childe is desolate and fatherlesse the cruel harted enemy spareth none he maketh hauocke no teares can staye hym from hys affectioned Tyrannye the tender infantes are haled from the earnfull paps of their wéeping mothers and torne to péecemeale before the sorrowfull eyes of their carefull parentes Olde age is contemned godly Matrons are abused Uirgines are deflowred and rauished by violence a spectacle or extreame crueltie for vs to beholde and a glasse of great carefulnesse for vs to looke vppon that haue worthely deserued like or far greater punishmentes yet withholdeste thou from vs thy scourge although our offences are so great and diuers that might heap vp the sentence of thy excéeding iustice agaynst vs in place of war and bloudye battayle thou hast giuen vnto vs prosperitie and perfit peace in place of penury dearth scarcity thou hast giuen vs increase fulnesse and great plentie in stead of discorde and discention thou hast sent vs vnitie and concorde and by thy celestiall prouydence wee are defended from the cruell enemie and from the domesticall and ciuill warre and besides these thy gracious giftes to heape vp our consolation ioye thou hast giuen vs thy true and lyuely word as a Lanterne to direct and guide our footsteps from vanitie to vertue from wickednesse to godlye wisedome from lycentious libertie to newenesse of life and godly conuersation besides all these thyne inestimable graces fréelye bestowed vppon vs thou haste giuen vs godly zealous Preachers whiche plenteously breake vnto vs out of thy eternall testamēt the breade of life whereon good Lord giue our soules such power to féede by fayth that they maye be nourished to eternall ioye and we by the diligent obseruing and obeying of thy commandementes maye be preserued from all kind of discention and peaceably enioye the fruites of pure peace trustie tranquilitie Grant this
grace to printe in my remeÌ„brance thy manifolde mercies that feeding in soule by faith in thée I may attaine vnto those end lesse ioyes that thou haste prepared for thy adopted sonnes and chosen children in thy kingdome of euerlasting righteousnesse And so escape those euerlastinge torments which thou haste prepared for the Diuel and his Angels from the which place of woefull vexation and endlesse miserie deliuer me O heauenly father for the loue of Iesus Christ his sake to whome with thée and the holy Ghost be all lawde and praise for euer Amen A prayer to be sayde at the hower of death MOst mightie art thou O Lorde in all thy déedes and most holy in all thy wayes blessed bee the name of my father my God and glorious creator who by his deuine power and celestiall prouidence of nothing made all things fish fleshe fowles fruits trées herbes all other thinges whatsoeuer are contayned both in Heauen earth Seas and the nethermost partes thereof Man concerning the outward parts thou by thy celestial prouidence and fatherly bounty framedst and createdst of clay but concerning the inward substance of thy creature man thou didst fashion make euen according to thine owne similitude and likenesse Moreouer such and so great was thy loue and good wil towards him that all the Creatures or workes of thy creation serued to his vse In earth thou haste made him Lorde king ouer the fruits therof the beastes of the Field the Foules of the ayre and the fishes of the little floods and great waters In the Firmament thou hast placed the glistering Sunne with his oryent beames to giue him light by day and therewith thou hast giuen him the Moone the stars to gouerne him by night for the which cause aboue all other the workes of thy creation man shoulde and ought of right to giue thée that glory that to thée belongeth But alas such and so great is the corruption of our frayle and sinful flesh that for all these thy graces we are carryed away from thée and enter into contempt of thy precepts for which cause thou ofteÌ„times doest correct and punish vs to the inteÌ„t we might therby feeling thy rod of correction bee driuen to imbrace harty and true repentance but when thy threates and the stripes of thy displesure laide vpon vs cannot take place amongest vs thou oftentimes giuest vs vp to follow our lustes and affections but at last when thou doest beholde our inormities thou in a moment by the power of thy deuine iustice restrayned the rope of our disordered libertie and cuttest in sunder the Brydle of our voluptuousnesse eyther by sodayne death sworde fire famine or other thy deuine sentences of thy conceiued yre to the intent that other thy creatures might by the terrour of thy Iustice auoyde sinne and learne to amende their liues least they fall into the like calamitie or daunger True and moste true it is good Lorde that by the exercise of sinne we are the children of death destruction but by grace of the almightie and victorious conqueror swéet Iesus Christ we are the adopted sonnes of thy father and made fellowe heires with thee our perfect Emanuel in whose name with all humilitie lowlinesse of heart mind I come vnto thée in this great extremitie and daunger of death beséeching thée to bée present with mee to forget mine offences to thinke vpon thy mercies and although I haue not deserued so much as the least drop of thy fauor by means of the great burthen of my sins which are in the presence of thy diuine maiesty most vgly and loathsome to behold yet respect thou not O Father mine iniquity but haue an eye I beséech thée to the merits of my sauior Christ Iesus to whom as my mediatour sauiour Redeemer I apeale who hath promised comfort and sweete consolation to all those that in thy name flye vnto thée for reléefe I confesse thâ—e worthily thou hast visited me and yet not according to the multitude of my sins but in the fulnes of miseration and fatherly pitie giue me grace therefore in these bitter bruntes of death who vehemently at this present beginneth to combat with fainting féeble life constantly to cleue vnto thée let not y e plesures of this wicked worlde bee a let or impediment for mée to come vnto thée let not my fraile feeble flesh subiect to sin which hath thorow my transgression made mee a bondman to death moue me to dispaire in thy great mercy neither yet let that cauilling aduersary y e enemy of mankinde at my last end triumph ouer mée gyue me patience to suffer and gladly to beare abide this thy scourge and visitation and so fortifie mée in soule and body that so long as life shall indure in mée I may neuer cease to call vpon thy holy and blessed name yea and when death is most busiest make thou me most constant yea wheÌ„ he séeketh most strongly to assayle my féeble body giue mée thy grace good Lorde that I may in spirite hart minde and all the powers of my soule giue praises vnto thée that of thy grace inestimable kindenes hast sent thy sonne Christ Iesus to raunsome me by his blodie death and passion from the power of hell Giue me grace therefore nowe that thou hast appoynted thy messenger death to finishe the days of my pilgrimage and to call me by his sommons from out this vale of misery wrecchednesse to build stedfastly vpon him faithfully to hope for life saluation in and alone thorow him let the remembraunce of my 〈◊〉 wickednes be 〈…〉 vpon 〈…〉 thy glorious â—ight bâ—hâ—â—de my sorrowâ—â—l true repentant heart which come vnto thee with teares not building on my merites but vppon thy mercies though I be sinful thy son my sauiour is righteous though I be wicked yet he is most holy though I be full of iniquitie yet he full of all goodnes though I haue grieuously offended thee yet he hath fully contented thee though I haue transgressed thy lawe yet he hath fulfilled the same hath promised in his blood to wash away their sinnes that by faith continue in him constant to the ende I therefore in 〈…〉 gâ—â—at and â—aynefull â—â—onie beholding Death 〈◊〉 heate at the gates of my body come vnto thee by the vertue of a fruitefull fayth beséeching thée when thou shalt see it méete and conuenient that hee shall dissolue the bandes of this fadyng life which endureth but a whyle for a thousand yeres are as yesterday in thy sight to take my soule into thy glorious and blessed hands and so to confirme mee thy truth that at the last when it shall please thée by the sounde of a trumpe to raise my body from the graue when and in which time body and soule shal vnite come before thy presence I may by faith in thée passe ouer the mount of my corruption shake off the bands of sin be set frée from
death and destruction and being by the vertue of thy righteousnesse made holy I may triumph with happie victorie ouer sinne death and al the powers of hell and enter with thée the felowship of thy chosen Sayntes into euerlasting rest grant this most louing father for Christ Iesus sake to whom with thée and the holy ghost be rendred al laude glory honour and prayse for euer Amen THe Lorde God bee mercifull vnto me pardon forgiue me my sinnes looke vpon me with thy gratious and blessed countenaunce preserue mee from the second death and euerlasting destruction of body soule The Lord God iustifie me in his death bloode cloath mée with his euerlastinge righteousnes and register my name in the booke of life The Lorde God comfort my guiltie conscience with the euerlasting light of his bountiful fauor lot my place among his saints in his heauenly kingdome The Lord God for his mercies sake after this my bodily death giue me the fruition of his presence in his right palace of endlesse glory to whose mercifull protection I commend with al humilitie and reuerence my soule Lord Iesus preserue me Lord Iesus comfort me Lord Iesus refresh mée Lorde Iesus praye for me for only into thy hands that hast redéemed mee O Lorde God of truth I commend my soule Amen A prayer vnto the holy Ghost against the temptations of Satan the malicious and wicked spirite AH Lord the euerlasting and heauenly spirite which sanctifiest and quicknest the hartes of the faithfull For as much as there is an other spirit which cōtrary to thy heauenly mocions moueth and prouoketh vnto infidelitie malice lying pride wrath whoredome fornication glotonie dronkeship enuy couetousnesse contention errour deceyte hypocrisie straunge religion fayned holinesse impietie desperation c. which is called the Prince of the world the great dragon of Hell the authoritie of all euilles the father of lying and a murtherer from the beginning to whom it is euident that we are poore wretched and miserable fallen away frō God walke in th◠lustes of the flesh liue after the trade of the world and doe that that is pleasaunt to the corrupt affections and are far away estraunged from the citie of righteous Israel as straungers partaine nothing vnto the couenaunt and promises of grace Wherefore while we thus consider this our damnation and the word of thy promise and commandement we are earnestly mooued to flie vnto thée humblie to desire and beséech thée trusting that we shal obtayne For thou promisest and also commaundest to trust an looke for this that through the good will of thy spirite thou wilt gather receaue vs into thy people that we may bee made a spirituall Israell renew vs that is to say beget vs a new vnto repentance godly liuing turne vs with an earnest zeale of our heart drawe vs vnto thée that from henceforth we may abstaine from the workes of darkenesse death Destroye in vs the kingdome of sinne that is to say exclude frō vs not onely euill words déeds but also plucke out of our minds all euil thoughts noysome coūcels furious effectes and the stinking course of this flesh Turne vs from euil wayes vnto the right path of repentance Let our members be so addict to righteousnes and sanctification that they may bee made fitte to serue thée Let vs increase and be plenteous in al such works as bee pleasaunt vnto thée Forsake vs not in tentatiō but rather strēgthē vs with that thy secret vertue inward power Bring to passe that we giue no eare to his flattering deceits nor yet to his beautyfull glistering falaces least he corrupt our mindes and abuse our flesh vnto our destruction which at the beginning full craftely hee brought to passe by his subtyle and swéete suggestions but rather throwe downe and treade vnder our féete this our cruel enemie that we being frée frō his deceitfull tyranny may through thy ghostly inspiration obtayne such peace and quietnes in our harts that we may serue thée with a cleane bodie and pure mind through Iesu Christ vnto the laude prayse and glory of God the heauenly father So be it A prayer for true repentaunce and for the comming of the kyngdome of Christ. O Lord and our God Iesu Christ the scripture testifieth of thee that when thou wast in the worlde thou diddest preach repentance and the comming of the kingdome of heauen and after thou wast risen agayne thou saidest that it behoued thée so to suffer on the thirde daye to rise agayne from the deade and that both repentaunce and remission of sinnes shoulde be preached to euery creature in thy name And that whosoeuer beléeued were baptised shoulde bee saued Agayne than full louingly diddest bid them that labor and are laden to come vnto thée and promised that thou wouldest vnlade refreshe them Uerely it is no small company of wicked spirites cleueth which is also a roring Lyō and earnest accuser of the sons of God yea and such an enemy of God and of thē that pertain vnto him as by no means neither will nor may be reconciled Therefore we all of vs which thorow thy grace are bound and giuen ouer to serue God most humbly beséech thée O holy spirit that thou wilt defend vs against al the wicked temptations and pernicious breathings of the most wicked spirite that all vice excluded all vertue and godlinesse may spring growe increase in vs vntil we be made perfect auncient in Christ Iesu our Lord in his holy law Take away infidelity and engraffe in our brest a true and vnfayned faith Take away pride wrath enuye debate whoredome glotonye dronkeshippe couetousnesse errour hypocrisie with all kinde of vngodlines and print in our hearts humilitie loue chastity and concord purity of life temperance sobriety mercy liberality towarde the poore truth pure holynesse with all kinde of vertue Take awaye from vs all that euer is of Sathan the flesh and the world and giue vs that which onely commeth from the heauenly father and from his onely begotten sonne and from thée that holy spirit Teach vs all trueth enarme vs with the shield of true faith that we may so quench the firie dartes of Sathan Graunt that wee may so watch and shewe such diligence that wee may perceiue his craftie assaultes and daungerous vnto thee that wee liue not heare after in the fleshe but rather that wee abhorre from all filthinesse and impuritie thereof and that we being brought into the kingdome through thy precious bloud may obtayne dayly more more perfect remission of our sinnes So be it A prayer for the knowledge of Gods wyll O Lord God our heauenly father giue vs grace that wee may neuer cease diligently to cal vpon thée with most humble minds to desire thée that through thy great mercies we may be fulfilled with plenteous and rich knowledge of thy diuine will and that wée may encrease dayly more