Teach mee to doe the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy good spirit leade me vnto the land of righteousnesse A prayer for deliuerance from sinne to be restored to Gods grace fauour againe OH Almightie and euerlasting Lorde GOG which hast male heauen and earth and all thinges therein contained O incomprehensible vnitie Oh alwaies to bee worshipped most blessed trinitie I humblie beseech thee and pray thee by the assumption and crucified humanitie of our Lorde Iesus Christ that thou wouldest incline and howe downe the great depth of thy Deitie to the bottomlesse pit of my vilitie Driue me from al kind of vice wickednes sin Create in mee a cleane heart and renue in me a right spirit for thy holy names sake Oh Lorde Iesu I beseeche thy goodnesse for the exceeding great loue which drew thee out of thy Fathers bosome into the wombe of the holie virgin and for the assumption of mans nature wherin it pleaseth thee to saue mee and to deliuer mee from eternall death that thou wouldest drawe mece out of my selfe into thee my Lord God and graunt that this my loue may recouer againe to me thy grace to increase make perfect in me y t which is wanting to raise vp in me y t which is faln to restore to me that which I haue lost and to quicken in mee that which is dead shoulde liue so that I may become comformable vnto thee in al my life conuersatioÌ„ thou dwelling in me I in thee my heart being coupled with thy grace setled in thy faith for euer Oh my God loose and set at libertie my spirit from al inferior things Gouerne my soule and so work that both in soule and body I may be holie liue to thy glorie world without end Amen I. B. A prayer necessarie to be said at all times O Bountifull lorde Iesu O sweet Sauiour O Christ the sonne of God haue pittie vppon mee mercifully heare mee and despise not my prayers Thou hast created mee of nothing thou hast redEemed mee from the bondage of sinne death hell neither with gold nor siluer but with thy most precious body once offered vpon the crosse and thine owne bloud shed once for al for a ransome Therefore cast me not away whome thou by thy greate wisedome haste made Despise mee not whome thou hast redeemed with such a precious treasure nor let my wickednesse destroye that which thy goodnesse hath buâ—lded Now whiles I liue O Iesu haâ—e mercie on mee for if I die out of thy fauour it wil be too late afterwarde to call for thy mercy Whiles I haue time to repent looke vpon mee with thy mercifull eies as thou diddest vouchsafe to looke vpon Peter thine Apostle that I may bewayle my sinful life obtayne thy fauour to liue and by therein I acknowledge that if thou shouldest deale with me according to thy iustice I haue deserued euerlasting death Therefore I appeale to thy highe throne of mercy trusting to obtayne thy fauour not for my merites but for thy desertes O Iesu who hast giuen thy selfe an acceptable sacrifice to thy father to appease his wrath to bring all finners truly repenting amending their euil life vnto his fauour againe Accept mee O Lorde among the number of them whom thou hast in Christ elected and chosen to saluation Forgiue me my sinnes giue mee grace to leade a godly and innocent life graunt mee thy heauenly wisedome inspire my hearte with faith hope and charitie giue mee grace to be humble in prosperity patient in aduersity obedient to my rulers in al my doinges faithfull dealing truly with al men to liue chastly in wed locke to abhore adultery fornication and al vncleannesse to do good after my power vnto al men to hurt no man that thy name may be glorified in me during this presentlife that I afterward may attain euerlasting life through thy mercie and the merites of thy death and passion Amen A prayer for grace and remission of sinnes O Lorde God mercifull Father I poore wretched sinner come vnto thee in the name of thy dearely beloued sonne Christ Iesus my Sauior beseeching thee for his sake to be merciful vnto me to cast all my sinnes out of thy sight euen through the merites of his bloudie death Powre vpon mee O lorde thy holy spirite of grace and wisedome to gouerne lead my body and soule in thy holy work commandements Shew thy mercy vpon mee so lighten the natural blindnes and darkenes of my heart through thy grace that I may daily be renewed by thy holie spirite Open my heard heart grosse eares to heare and reade thy worde and heauenly voyce and to beleeue and followe it in my conuersation and euer to hold fast that blessed hope of euerlasting life Mortifie and kill all vice in mee that my life may expresse my faith in thee Mercifully heare the humble supplications of thy seruaunt and graunte mee thy peace al my daies Graciously pardon my infirmities and defend mee in al daungers hath outwardlie in my bodie goods and name and inwardlye in my soule against al euil temptations and subtile baites of sathan that roaring Lyon seeking whome hee maye deuoure Graunt O Lorde that I and euery member of thy Church in his vocation and calling may trulie and godlilie serue thee Graft in my hearte the loue of thy name increase in mee true religion replenish mee with all goodnesse and of thy greate mercie keepe me in the same vnto the ende Giue vnto mee the spirite of praier true humilitie perfect patience and continuall ioy in the holy Ghost I commend vnto thy pratection O Father my house all that thou hast giuen me my whole family my wife children and mee that I may wel and holily gouerne nourish and bring them vp in thy feare seruice And forasmuch as in this worlde I must alwayes be at war not with one sort of enimies but with an infinite number not only with flesh bloud but with the diuel which is the prince of darknes grant mee thy grace that being armed with thy defence I may stand in this battaile with an inuincible constancy against all corruption which I am incompassed with on all sides vntil such time as I hauing ended the combat which during this life I must sustaine in y e end I may attaine to thy heauenly rest which is prepared for mee through Christ our Lorde and Sauiour Amen A praier taken out of the first Psalme ALmightie and moste gracious GOD take away from vs all euil counsel and then our sins sufer vs not to runne into an vngodlye and wicked life and finally keepe out mindes farre from the contempt of godlinesse and scorning of vertue 〈◊〉 in the steade of these euils grant 〈◊〉 we may continually bee occupied in thy law and sacred scriptures that we be not carried about like the wicked as like dust and fruitlesse chaffe with
good father help me that I might heartily loue thee complaine to thee in all my needes alwaies by prayer to powre out my heart before thee Amen Iohn Bradford A meditation vpon the Lords prayer Our Father THou good Lorde which madest heauen and earth the sea and all that is therein together with thy dearlie beloued sonne Iesus Christ and with thy holy spirite thou the same God which openedst thy selfe to Adam by thy promise thou the god of Abraham Isaac Iacob thou which broughtest thy people of Israel forth of Egipt with a mightie hand and a stretched out power thou which giuest the Lawe vpon Mount Sinai thou which spakest by thy prophets and last of all in these latter daies by thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ whom thou wouldest should be made a second Adam that as by the first wee are children of wrath carnall and full of concupiscence so by him wee might bee made children of grace and spirituall by communicating with him the qualitie merites vertues and grace of his flesh through the operation of his holy spirite as hee communicated with vs the substance of our fleshe in the wombe of the Virgin Marie in the operation of the same holy spirite being that blessed seede which was promised to Adam AbrahaÌ„ Isaac Iacob and Dauid which should bruse the serpents heade which shoulde bring the blessing on all nations which should reigne â—uer his house for euer and mightily â—uercome thine and out enemies as in deede he did by his incarnation natiuitie circumcision exile baptisme fasting temptation doctrine miracles workings agonies bloudie prayer passion death resurrection and ascension and yet hee still doeth by his mediation intermission for vs and at the length will on all partes fully accomplished by his com ming to iudgement which will bee sodainly in the twinckeling of an â—ie in the blast of a trumpet and shoute of an Archangell when hee shall bee seene with thousandes of Saintes innumerable thousands of Angels al the whole world being on fire al the people that euer were are or shall bee then standing before his tribunall or iudgmente seate to render an account of that they haue done in this bodie be it good or bad Thou I say this God which are holy righteous true wise pure chast mightie mercifull good gratious an hater of sinne a reâ—enger of vnrighteousnes c. wouldest that I which am borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquitie which by nature am a childe of width and in whome dwelleth continuall enmitie against thee that I which 〈◊〉 nothing but sinne and one that doth euil alwaies before thee should call thee and beleeue thee this God and Father of our Lorde Sauiour Iesus Christ to be in veâ—ie deede my father that is thou wouldest I should be most assured that thou of thine owne good will which thou barest to me wards before I was yea before the worlde was hast in Christ chosen mee to be thy Childâ— and through him art become my most louing Father from 〈◊〉 I should â—ooke for all good things be most certeinly perâ—â—â—aded that looke howe much thou art more than a man so much thy loue and fatherly prouidence towardes mee passeth the loue and prouidance of any father towardes his childe in louing mee caring howe to helpe mee prouiding for mee nurturing mee helping me in all my needes So certaine thou mouldest haue mee to hee of this that to doubt of it doeth most displease thee and dishonour thee as though either thou were not true or not able to doe these thinges 〈◊〉 else becamest not my father in respect of thine owne goodnesse in Christ only but also in respect of my worthinesse and descrets And that I should not 〈◊〉 or doubt of this that thou art my deare Father and I thy childe for euer through Iesus christ it 〈◊〉 required in the first 〈…〉 saith I am the Lord thy God thou shaâ—â— haue none other Gods but me Againe thy sonne doth here commaunde mee to call the by theâ—name of father Moronuer in the first article of my beleefe I professe the same in saying I beleeue in God the Father almightie Besides this there are many other thinges to confirme me he erein as the creation and gouernement of the worlde generally and of euerie creature particularlie for all is made and kept for man and so for me to serue me for my commoditie necessitie and admonition Againe the creation of me in that then hast made mee after thy things hauing a reasonable soule bodie shape c. where thou mightest haue made me a Toad a Serpent a Swine deformed frantick c. Moreover thy wonderful conâ—etuation nourishing keeping of mee 〈◊〉 in my infanâ—◠〈…〉 c. An these I say shoulde confirme my faith in thy fatherly loue But of al things the opening of thy selfe by thy word and promise of grace made after mans fall first to Adam then to Abraham Isaac Iacob and so to other being published by the Prophets from time to time and last of all accomplished by thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ in whom thy promises are yea and Amâ—n the opening of thy selfe thus I say in and by Christ is the most thiefe and sure certificat that thou art my father for his sake I thy deare child although of my selfe I am most unworthy For thou according to thy promises hast not spared thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ but giuen him to the death of the Crosse for my sinnes Thou wouldest he shoulde he made flesh of our flesh and bloud of our bloude in the wombe of the Virgin Marie by the operation of thy holy spirite that we by the working of the same spirite through the merrits of his flesh and bloud might be made flesh of his fleshe and bloud of his bloud that is as he hath the substance of our fleshe and bloude men so we might haue and for euer enioy in him and through him the qualities vertues giftes of righteousnesse holinesse innocencie immortalitie and glory wherewith he hath endued our nature in his owne person for vs all that as nowe in faith and hope we haue the same so in his comming we might fullie enioy them in verie deed for then shall our bodies nowe vile bee like to his glorious bodie Herein appeareth thy loue not that we loued thee but that thou louedst vs and hast giuen thy Sonne for vs. Heerein eocst thou commend vnto vs thy loue that when wet were yet sinners Christ thy deare sonne died for vs so that nothing shoulde seperate vs from thy loue in Christ Iesus neither affliction anguishe persecution famine neither life nor death c. For when wee were enimies wee were reconciled vnto thee by the death of thy sonne much more wee being reconciled shal be saued in this life And that I shoulde not doubts
and heauenlie thinges and that I should see further by corporal benefits thy heauenly prouidence for me For if thou place mee thus on earth and thus blesse me as thou doest and hitherto hast done from my youth vp in that thou art nothing so carefull for my bodie as for my soule how should I but think much of thy prouidence for it is thy home where is such glorie as the eie hath not seene c. Of which thinges these corporall benefits of thine giuen mee on earth shoulde bee as it were inductions and the taking of them away admonitions to bee more mindfull of permanent thinges and lesse mindfull of transitorie thinges By reason heereof I haue greate cause to lament and to reioyce To Lament because I am so earthlie minded so little desirous of my home so vnthankefull for thy prouidence and fatherly protection heere on earth To reioyce because of thy home and the greate glorie thereof because thou dost so prouide for me heere because thou doest so cortect and chasten me c. But alas I am altogether a wretch earthly and vnthankfull not onely for these corporall benefites health riches friendes fame wisdome c. for thy fatherly correction sicknesse temptation c. but also for thy heauenly benefites for Christ Iesus for the promise of thy spirit for thy Gospel c. yea euen for heauen it selfe and thy whole glorie as the Israelites were for the lande of Canaan and therefore neuer enioyed it but perished in the wildernesse I am proude in prosperitie and forget thee waxing secure and carelesse I am impatient in thy crosse and too much consider worldly discommodities Oh deare father forgiue mee for thy Christes sake all mine vnthankfulnesse loue of this world contempt and obliuion of the heauenly benefites and grant me thy holy spirite to illuminate the eies of my minde with the light and liuely knowledge of thy presence power wisdom and goodnesse in thy creatures but specially in Christ Iesus thy sonne and so by the same spirit inflame mine effections that I may desire nothing on yarth but thee and to bee presente with thee that my conuersation may bee in heauen continuallie from whence graunt mee still to looke for the Lorde Iesus to make this my vile bodie like vnto his owne glorious and immortall bodie according to his owne power by which he is able to do all things As thou hast giuen me to be thy childe so I pray thee giue me these thinges which bee the properties of thy children giuen from thee in thy good time Hallowed be Thy name Thy name is that whereby thou art knowne for names serue to decerne and knowe one thing from another Nowe though thou art knowne by thy creatures yet is this our corrupt estate they serue but to make vs excuselesse Therefore most properly liuely and comfortablie thou art knowne by thy holie word and specialy by thy promise of grace and freelie pardoning and receiuing vs into thy fauour for Christ Iesus sake For the which goodnesse in Christ thou art praised and magnified according to thy name that is so much as men know thee in Christ they magnifie thee and praise thee which here thou callest hallowing or sanctifying For that thou art the more holy not in respect of thy selfe but in respect of men who the more they know thee the more they cannot but sanctifie thee that is they cannot but as in themselues by true faith loue feare and spiritual seruice honour thee so also in their outward behauiour and wordes they cannot but liue in such sort as other seeing them may in and by their holinesse and godlie conuersation be occasioned as to know thee so to sanctifie thy name accordingly and therefore thou settest forth here vnto me what is the chiefe and principall wishe and desire of thy children and people namelie that thou in Christ mightest be truelie knowne and honoured both of themselues and of other inwardly and outwardly as by the contrary a man may castlie perceiue that the greatest sorrowe and griefe thy people haue is ignorance of thee false seruice or religion and wicked conuersation Against the which they pray and labour diligently after their vocation as they for the obtaining of the other both to other and to themselues doe take no smale paine in prayer studie and godly exercise By reason heereof I see that I am farre from this desire lamentation which is in thy children I see mine ignorance of the true knoweledge of thee and thy name for else it had not needed thee so by thy word to haue reuealed thy selfe I see also mine owne ignorance of the excellencie of the same for else wouldest thou not haue toulde mee that the sanctifiyng of thy name is the chiefest thing thou requirest of euery man Againe I see my greate want of holynesse for else thou needest not to teach mee to seek and pray for that I want not Moreouer I see my greate peruersitie which would not seeke at thy handes for sanctification although I see my neede thereof For the which thou wouldest not haue commaunded me to pray if I seeing my want would haue prayed vnto thee for the same Last of all I see thy wonderful goodnesse which wilt vndoubtedly giue vnto mee sanctification and holinesse for thou wouldest not that I should aske for that thing that thou wilt not giue me So that I haue greate cause to lament and reioyce To lament because I am so farre from this desire and lamentation which thy children haue Also because of my ignorance pouertie peruersitie vnthankfulnes c. But most of all because thy holy name worde and religion is so blasphemed both in doctrin and in liuing of many especiallie in this realme To reioyce I haue great cause for thy exceeding goodnesse and mercie which wouldest so disclose thy selfe by thy workes worde and Gospell which wouldest open these thinges thus vnto me and so giue vnto mee and others sanctification in thy sight by faith and in the sight of men by purenesse of life and godlie conuersation But alas I doe heartily neither the one nor the other that is lament or reioice as thou father which searchest my hearte doest right wel know Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me yea giue me of thine owne pittie thy holie spirit to reueale and open to my mind effectually my miserable estate condition my ignorance peruersitie and my carelesnes for thy true honour and dishonour in such sort that I may heartily lament these euils and haue them pardoned and taken from me through Iesus Christ our Lord. Againe good father giue mee the same thy holie spirit to reueale to me thy name word and Gospell that I may liuely know thee vnfaynedlie â—â—oue thee heartilie obey thee and aboue all thinges desire and labour by all meanes lawfull that all godlines in doctrine and conuersation may bee exercised both in me and in all others
father euen in corporall thinges that I may see thy mercye thy presence power wisedome and righteousnesse in euery creature and corporall benefite and that in such sort that I may be throughly affected truely to reuerence feare loue and obey thee to hang vpon thee to bee thankfull to thee in all my neede to come vnto thee not onelye when I haue ordinarie meanes by the which thou commonly woorkest but also when I haue none yea when all meanes helps are cleane against me Heere remember the state of your children and family also your parents neighbors kinsfolks also your friends countrie magistrates c. as you shall haue time thereto and by Gods good spirite shall be prouoked Forgiue vs our debts as we forgiue them that are debtors vnto vs. BY Our debts wee vnderstand not onely the things wee haue done but the omission and leaueing vndone of the good thinges we ought to doe By Our we vnderstand not onely the particular sinnes of one but also generally the sinnes of all and euery one of the church By Forgiuenesse wee vnderstand free pardon remission of sinnes by the merites and desertes of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe a raunsome for vs. By Our Forgiuing of other mens offences to vs ward weé vnderstand thy good will not onely that it pleaseth thee that we shoulde liue in louâ— and amitie but also that thou wouldest haue vs to be certaine of thy paâ—â—doning vs of our sinnes For as certain as we are that we pardon theâ— that offend vs so certaine should wâ— be that thou doest pardon vs whereof the forgiuing our trespasses is as it were a sacrament vnto vs. So that by this petition I am taught to see that thy children although by imputation they bee pure from sinne yet they acknowledge sin to be and remayne in them and therfore doe they pray for the remission and forgiuenesse of the same Againe I am taught heereby to see how thy children do consider and take to heart not onely the euils they doe but also the good they leaue vndoone and therefore they pray thee heartily for pardon Moreouer I am heere taught is for that thy children are careful for other men and for their trespasses and therfore pray that they might be pardoned in saying Our sinnes and not my sinnes Besides this I am taught heere to see how thy children not onlie forgiue all those that offende them but also pray for the pardoning of the offences of their enimies and such as offend them So farre are they from maliciousnesse pride reuengement c. Last of al I am taught to see how mercifull thou art which will haue vs to aske pardon wherof thou woldest that we should in no point doubt but be most assured that for Christs sake thou hearest vs and that not only for our selues but also for many others for thou doest not commaunde vs to aske for any thing which thou wilt not giue vs. By reason whereof I haue greate cause to lament and reioyce To lament because of my miserable estate which am so farre from these affections that are in thy children which am so ignorant and carelesse of sinne not onely in leauing good vndone but also in doing euil and that daily in thought word and deede c. I speak not of my carelesnes for other folkes sinnes as of my parents children family magistrates c. neither of the sinnes of them to whom I haue giuen occasion of sinne To reioyce I haue greate cause because of thy mercie in opening to mee these things in commaunding me to pray for pardon in promising mee pardon and commanding others to pray for mee And surely I ought to be perswaded of thy mercie though my sinnes be innumerable for I see not only in this but in euery petition how that euery one of the Church praieth for mee yea Christ thy sonne who sitteth on th right hand praieth for me c. Oh dearey father be merciful vnto me and forgiue me all my sinnes and of thy goodnesse giue mee thy holie spirite to open mine eies that I may see sinne the better to knowe it the more truelie to hate it and most earnestlie to striue against it and that effectually both in my selfe and others Againe graunte mee the same thy holy spirite to reueale vnto mee the remedy of sinne By Christ onlie and to worke in mee faith to imbrace the â—ame by Christe and thy mercies in him that I may henceforth be indued with thy holy spirite to beginne to obey thy good will more and more and to increase in the same for euer Heere call to minde the special sins you haue committed heeretofore Remember if you haue occasioned anie to sinne to praie for them by name Remember that Gods lawe shoulde bee so deare vnto vs that the breaking thereof in others shoulde be an occasion to make vs to lament with teares c. Leade vs not into temptation BEcause of our continuall great infirmities because of the greate diligence and subtilties of our enemies and because thou art wont to punish sinne with sinne which of all punishmentes is the greatest and most to bee feared in this petition thou wouldest haue thy children to haue the same in remembrance and for a remedie heereof thou hast appoynted praier so that the only cause why anie are ouercome and led into temptation to see that they forget what they desire in the petition going before this which should neuer be out of their memorie to prouoke them to bee more thankefull to thee and more vigilant and heedy heereafter for falling into the like perils For which to be auoyded thou dost most gratiously set forth a remedy in commaunding vs to pray ofter pardon for our sinnes past and for thy grace to guide vs so that wee be not lid into temptation but might be deliuered from euil And because thou wouldest haue all thy children to hang wholy vpon thee to feare thee only and ouly to loue thee noht dost not teach theÌ„ to pray Suffer vs not to be led but lead vs not into temptation that I say they might only feare thee and certainly know that Sathan hath no power ouerso much as a pigge but whatsoeuer thou giuest vnto him and of thy secrete but most iust iudgment doest appointe him to vse not as hee will for then wee were all lost but as thou wilt which canst will nothing but that which is most iust as to giue them to the guiding of sathan which will not be guided by thy grace as then diddest Saul c. Occasions to euil are in two sorts One by prosperitie and successe an other by aduersitie and the crosse c. The euils coming of successe commonly are vnthankfulnes pride securitie and forgetting of our selues forgetting of others forgetfulnesse of God of our mortalitie c. The euls comming of aduersitie commonly are impatiencie murmuring grudging dispairing contemning of God flattering of men stealing
to lament and reioyce To lament because I consider not these thinges in prayer in such sorte as should moue mee to admiration and gratitude because I consider not thy power and wisedome generally in all things because I am so carelesse for thy kingdome and because I am so full of dubitation and doubting of thy goodnesse To reioyce I haue great cause because thou reuealest these things vnto me on this sorte because of thy power kingdome and glorie which maketh to the hearing of my prayers and helping of mee because thou wilt vse me as thine instrument to set forth thy kingdome power and glorie and because iâ— pleaseth thee to heare my prayer and assuredly wilt saue mee for euer But alas howe farre am I from these lamentings and reioycinges By reason whereof I deserue damnation O bee mercifull vnto mee and forgiue me and of thy goodnesse grant me thy holy spirite to reueale to mee my blindnes obliuion contempt of thy kingdome power and glore with the greatnes of my doubtings that as I may heartily lameÌ„t them so haue them pardoned taken from mee through the merites of Iesus Christ thy sonne Againe giue me thy holy spirit to reueale to me in such sort thy kingdome power glorie eternitie that I may alwaies haue the same before mine eies be moued with the admiration thereof labour effectually to set forth the same finally as to haue the fruition thereof after this life so to increase in an assured certaine and liuelie expectation of the same that I may alwaies and in all thinges reioyce in thee through Christ and giue laudes thanks and praises perpetually vnto thy most holie name Oh blessed Father Sonne and holie Ghost three persons and one God to whome bee all honour and glorie world without ende Hâ—ere thinke that if the kingdome power glorie and eternitie bee Gods which is our Father what our dignity is which be his children If the power bee our fathers of whome should wee bee afraide Let the diuell bee subiect to the Lordes power and kingdom as he is how can the subiect haue power ouer vs which be sonnes and heirs in that he hath not power ouer poâ—kets without the proudence and permissioÌ„ of God Therefore ful well should wee pray 〈…〉 power is the Lords and the Diuel hath none but that he hath of Gods gift No he were not able to receiue power if God did not make him able although the execution of it is rather of Gods permission Giue al thanks praise and glorie to God our Father through Christ our Lord and Sauiour So be it Iohn Bradford PRIVATE PRAIERS for the Morning and Euening and for other times of the day When you awake out of your sleepe pray thus MOst mercifull God and Father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ I most humbly thanke thee for the sweete sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuen mee this night past beseeching thee that like as thou hast nowe awaked my bodie from sleepe so thou wouldest awake my soule from the sleepe of sinne and darkenesse of this worlde and that which thou hast new awaked out of sleepe thou wouldest after death whereof this sleepe is but an image restore and rayle againe to life euerlasting O gratious God make my body I heartilie pray thee such a coÌ„panion or rather a minister of godlinesse to my soule this day all the time of this preseÌ„t life that in the life to come it may be partaker with the same of euerlasting happines through Christ Iesus our Lord. Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead Christ shal shew light vnto thee Ephes 5. Occasions to medâ—tate Here call to minde the great mirth blessednesse of the euerlasting resurrection Also remember to muse vpon that most cleare light that bright morning and new clearenesse of our bodies after the loÌ„g darknes which they haue bin in All then shall be ful of vnspeakable ioy and felicitie When you beholde the dailight pray O Lorde God thou most glorious and true light from whence this light of the day sunne doth spring and shine vnto vs O light which lightenest euery man that commeth into this world O light which knowest no night nor euening but art al way a midday most cleare and faire without whom all is most horrible darkenesse and by whome al thinges are most cleare and bright O thou wisedome of the eternall father of mercies lighten my minde that I may see those thinges onely which pleasethee and may be blinded to all other thinges Grant me so to walk in thy waâ—â—s by the light of thy holie word that nothing else may bee light and pleasant vnto me Lighten mine eies Oh Lord that I sleepe not in death least mine enemies say I haue preuailed against him Psal 30. Occasions to meditate Muse a while howe much the light and eie of the mind and soule is better than of the bodie Also howe much more we ought to care for the soule that it may see well than of the bodie Moreouer that beasts haue bodily eies as wel as men but men onely haue eies of the mind and that such as are godly wise When you arise pray OVR first parentes cast downe themselues from a most excellent high and honorable state into shame miserie and into the deepe sea of all wickednesse and mischiefe but oh Christ thou putting forth thy hande didst raise them vp againe Euen so wee except we be raised vp by thee shal ly still for euer O good Christ our most gracious Redeemer as thou doest mercifully raise vp now this my bodie euen so I beseech thee raise vp my minde heart to the true knowledge loue of thee that my conuersation may be in heauen where thou art If thou be risen with Christ thinke vpon those things that be aboue Col. 3 Occasions to meditate Thinke howe foule the fall of Adam was by reason of sinne and so euerie one of vs froÌ„ the hight of Gods grace Againe thinke vpon the inestimable benefite of Christ by whose helpe wee daily rise againe from our fallings When you apparrell your selfe pray O Christ cloath mee with thine owne selfe that I may be so far from making prouision for the flesh to fulfill the Iustes thereof that I may cleane put off all desires and crucifie the kingdome of the flesh in mee Be thou vnto me a garment to keepe me warme and to defend me from the cold of this world If thou be absent deare Lorde all thinges are colde weake and dead but if thou be with me all thinges are warme fresh and cheerefull c. Graunt therefore that as I coÌ„passe this my body with this garment so thou wouldest cloath me wholy but specially my soule with thine owne selfe Put vpon you as the elect of God bowels of mercie meekenesse loue peace c. Col. 3. Occasions to meditate Call to minde a little howe we are incorporate into Christ Againe howe he doth cloath vs
confidence in our selues feruent lusting after carnall thinges of this worlde and this tree of our corrupt nature bringeth forth continually in vs none other fruites but rotten and vnsauorie workes of the flesh in thoughts words and doings vnto condemnation Wherefore we humbly beseech thy fatherlie goodnesse euen for thy sonne Iesus christes sake whome thou hast set foorth for a purchaser of mercie to vs through faith in his bloud make our heartes cleane take away our stony hearte and giue vnto vs a true and liuely faith working in vs vnfained repentance and amendement of our sinfull life Haue mercie vpon vs and forgiue vs our sinnes for thy sonnes sake certifie our consciences of the remission of the same by thy holy spirite by whose operation so mortifie in vs our olde man the whole body of sin that we continually dying vnto sinne maie walke in a newnesse of life to the glory of thy holy name through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen Another confession of sinnes O Eternall God most merciful father wee confesse and acknowledge here before thy deuine maiestie that we are miserable sinners conceiued and borne in sinne and iniquitie so that in vs there is no goodnesse for the flesh euermore rebelleth against the spirite whereby we continually transgresse thy holy precepts and commaundements and to purchase to ourselues through thy iust iudgment death and damnation Notwithstanding O heauenly father for asmuch as we are displeased with our selues for the sinnes we haue committed against thee doe vnfainedly repent vs of the same we most humbly beseech thee for Iesus Christs sake to shewe thy mercie vpon vs to forgiue vs all our sinnes to increase thy holy spirit in vs that wee acknowledging from the bottome of our hearts our own unrighteousnesse may from hence foorth not onely mortifie our sinfull lustes and affections but also bring foorth such fruits as may be agreeable to thy most blessed wil through Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour whome thou hast alreadie giuen an oblation and an offering for our sinnes and for whose sake we are certainly perswaded that thou wilt denie vs nothing that we shall aske in his name accorâ—ding to thy will For thy spirit doth assure our consciences that thou art our mercifull Father and so louest vs thy children though him that nothing is able to remoue thy heauenly grace and fauour from vs. To thee therefore with the sonne the holy Ghost be all honor and glory world without end So be it A prayer to be said in the Morning O Eternall GOD and heauenly Father seeing that by thy great mercie we haue quietly passed this night graunt we beseech thee that we may bestowe this day wholy in thy seruice so that all our thoughts wordes and deedes may redounde to the glorie of thy name and good example of our brethren And as it hath pleased thee to make the Sun to shine vpon the earth to giue vs bodily light euen so vouchsafe to illuminate our vnderstanding with the brightnesse of thy spirit to direct vs in the way ofrighteousnes so that what thing so euer wee shall applie our selues vnto our speciall care and purpose may be to walke in thy feare and to serue and honor thee looking for all our wealth and prosperitie to come from thy onely blessing that we may take nothing in hand which shal not be agreeable to thy most blessed will Furthermore that we may in such sort trauail for our bodies and for this present life that wee may haue alwaies a further regard that is to the heauenly life which thou hast promised to thy children and in the in meane seasone that it way please thee to preserue and defende vs both iâ— body and soule to strengthen vs against all the temptations of the diuell and to deliuer vs from all perils and daungers that may happen vnto vs if we be not defended by thy godly power And for as much as to begin wel and not to continue is nothing wee beseech thee to receiue vs not onelie this day into thy holy protection but also for the time of our whole life continuing and increasing in vs daily thy good grace gifts thereof vntill thou shalt bring vs to that happy state where wee shall fully for euer bee ioyned vnto thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour which is y â— true light of our soules shining day and night perpetually And to the ende that we may obtaine such grace at thy hand vouchsafe most mercifull Father to forgiue and forget all our sinnes which wee haue heeretofore committed against thee for thine infinite mercies sake to pardon the same as thou hast promised to those that aske of thee with vnfained heart for whom as for our selues we make our humble petitions vnto thee in the name of thy sonne our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ in such sorte as he hath taught vs saying Our Father c. Another praier to be saide in the Morning O Almightie and most gratious God we heartely thank thee for the sweete sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuen vs this night past and forasmuch as thou hast commanded by thy holy worde that no man should bee idle but all occupied in godly and vertuous exercises euery man according to his calling wee most humblie beseeche thee that thine eies may attende vpon vs daily defend vs cherish comfort gouerne vs and al our counsels studies and labors in such wise that wee may spend and bestow this daie according to thy most holy will seting thee alwaies before our eyes liuing in thy feare working that may be found acceptable before thy diuine maiestie through Iesus Christ our Lord So be it Another prayer for the Morning VVE humbly and heartily giue thanks vnto thee O heauenly Father through thy deerely beloued son Iesus Christ that to thy innumerable benefits hither to powred vpon our soules and vppon our bodies thou hast kept vs this night past from manie euils both spirituall and corporall and 〈◊〉 of thy mercie doest offer giue vs time to repent and amende our liues so that we might liue henceforth not as we will but as thou wilt and as our bodies do draw continually neerer neerer their ende the graue I meane so our soules might approch to their end that is heauen not hel for in one state we stand not still but either we are neerer y â— neerer happie state of life or else the vnhappie condition of death eternall Wherefore wee beseech thee to be mercifull vnto vs good Father and as of thy goodnesse thou giuest vs time to repent and liue godlie so of y e same thy goodnesse in Christe wee humbly beseech thee to giue vs thy gracious gift of true holy perfect perpetuall repentance that we may more and more lamente our former sinnefull life trusting vnfainedly in thy rich mercie through the merites of Iesus Christ for the pardon of all â—ur sinnes
and that wee may vnfainedly purpose and effectually labour to amend our liues this day so long as wee haue to liue in all our doings and wordes and euen in our verie thoughtes to the prayse of thy holy name and good example of our doings and words and euen in our brethren And for as much as thou knowest our weakenesse our ignorance and great vntowardnesse to carrie anie great crosse or affliction wee beseech thee our sweete Father so temper and order all things towards vs this day and for euer that we bee neuer further proued tempted than thou wilt make vs able to beare and so to helpe vs in the same as may be most 〈◊〉 thy glorie our saluation through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An Euening prayer O Lord God Father euerlasting and full of pitie wee acknowledge and confesse that wee bee not worthy to lift vp our eies to heauen much lesse to present our selues before thy diuine maiestie with confidence that thou wilt heare out praiers and graunt our requests if wee consider our owne wretched deseruings For our consciences doe accuse vs our sinnes witnes against vs wee know that thou art an Vpright Iudge which doest not â—ustifie the sinners and wicked men but punishest the faultes of such as transgresse thy commandements Yeâ— most mercifull Father since it hath pleased thee to commaunde vs to caâ—â— vpon thee in all our troubles and aduersities promising euen then tâ— helpe vs when we feele our selueâ— as it were swallowed vp of death 〈◊〉 desperation we vtterly renounce alâ— wordly confidence and trust flie to thy soueraigne goodnes as our only stay and refuge beseeching thee not to cal to remembrance our manifold sinnes and wickednesse whereby we continually prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligeÌ„ce nor our vnkindnes which haue either worthelie esteemed nor in our liues sufficieÌ„tly expressed the sweet comfort of thy holy Gospel reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience and death of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who by offering vp his bodie in sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompence for all our sinnes Haue mercie therefore vpon vs O Lorde and forgiue vs our offences Teach vs by thy holy spirit that we may rightly weigh them earnestly repent vs for the same and so much the rather O Lord our God because that the reprobate such as thou hast forsakeÌ„ caÌ„not prayse thee nor cal vpoÌ„ thy name but the repenting heart the sorrowfnl minde the conscieÌ„ce oppressed hungring thirsting for thy grace shall euermore set forth thy praise and glorie And albeit we be but wormes and dust yet thou art our creator and we be the worke of thy handes yea thou art our father we thy childreÌ„ thou art our shepheard and we thy flocke thou art our redeemer and wee thy people whome thou hast deerelie bought thou art our God and wee are thine inheritance Correct vs not therefore in thine anger O Lord our God neither according to our desertes doe thou punish vs but mercifully chastice vs with a fatherly affection that all the worlde may knowe that at what time so euer a sinner dooth repente him of his sinne from the bottom of his hart thou wilt put away all his wickednesse out of thy remembraÌ„ce as thou hast promised by thy holie Prophet Finally forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to rest in as thou hast ordayned him the day to trauell graunte O deare father that we may so take our bodily rest that our soules may continuallie watch for the time that our Lord Iesus Christ shall appeare for our full deliuerance out of thâ—â— mortalll life and in the meane seasoÌ„ that wee be not ouercome by anie fantasies dreames or other temptations but may fully set our mindes vpon thee loue thee feare thee and rest in thee in such sort that our very sleepe also may be to the glorie of thy holie name Furthermore that our sleepe bee not excessiue or ouermuch after the insatiable desire of the flesh but only sufficient to contente our weake nature that wee may the better be disposed to liue in all godlie conuersation to the glorie of thy holy name profit of our brethren through Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs. Our Father which art c. Almightie and euerliuing God vouchsafe we beseech thee to graunt vs perfect continuance in thy liuelie faith augmenting and increasing y e same in vs dailie vntil we growe to the full measure of our perfection in Christ whereof wee make our confessior saying I beleeue in God the father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and bee mercifull vnto vs the Lordâ— â—urne his fauorable countenaunce towards vs and graunt vs his peace The grace of the Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God and the communion of the holy Ghost bee with vs and remayne with vs for euer So bee it 2. Cor. 9. 13. An other Euening prayer MOst mercifull God and tender father which besides thine inestimable mercies declared giuen vnto vs in the making of the world for our sakes in the redeeming of vs by the death of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ in the calling of vs to the knowledge of thy blessed worde in keeping of vs hitherto in thy holie Church and in thy most gratious gouerning of vs and all thinges hitherto for our singular wealth commoditie hast also most fatherlie cared for vs and kept vs this daye from all daungers both of soule and bodie giuing vs health foode apparell and al other things necessary for the comfort and succour of this poore and miserable life which manie other doe want for these and all other thy good giftes and gracious benefites which thou of thine own goodnesse onely and fatherly prouidence hast hitherto powred vpon vs and doest presently powre vpon vs and many other we most humbly thanke thee and praise thy holy name beseeching thee that as all things are now hidden by meanes of the darkenesse which thou hast sent ouer the earth so thou wouldest vouchsafe to hide and burie all our sinnes which this daie or at anie time heeretofore wee haue committed against thy holie commandements and as nowe wee purpose to laye our bodies to rest so graunt the gard of thy good Angels to keepe the same this night for euermore and whensoeuer our last sleepe of death shall come grant that it may be in thee good father so that our bodies may rest both temporally and eternally to thy glorie and our ioy through Iesus Christ our lorde So be it Another Euening prayer O Eternall God and most mercifull-father who this day and al the time of our life hast graciouslie defended nourished and preserued our soules and bodies
and made such fatherlie prouision for vs poore sinners that of thy louing kindnesse we haue rich portions not onely in the creatures of heauen and earth but also in that plentifull redemptioÌ„ which thy most deare Sonne Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs grant vnto vs O merciful father the assistance of thy grace and holy spirite that as our bodies shall nowe take their natural rest euen so our soules and mindes at the beholding of thy goodnesse towardes vs may quiet themselues in thee conceiue such inward pleasure heaueÌ„ly sweetnes in thy loue that whatsoeuer we shal from henceforth either thinke speak or we it may be all to the honour of thy holy name through Iesus christ thy deare sonne our Lorde and onely Sauiour Amen Thy mightie hand and outstretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercie and sâ—â—ing kindnesse in Iesus Christ thy deare sonne bee our saluation thy trueth and holy worde out instruction thy grace and holy spirite our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the ende A prayer for the remission of sinnes O Almightie and euer liuing Lord God the deare father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ which hast made heauen and earth the sea and al that therein is which art the only ruler and gouernour conseruer keeper of all things together with thy dearely beloued Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord and with the holy Ghost our comforter O holy righteous a wise O strong terrible mightie fearefull Lord God gouernor of the whole world iudge of al meâ—â— O exorable patient most gracious Father whose eies are vpon the wayes of all men and are so clean'â— that they cannot abide impietie thou searchest the hearts and triest the verie thoughtes and reines of all men thou hatest sinne abhorrest iniquitie For sinnes sake thou hast greeuously punished maÌ„kinde thy most deare creature as thou hast declared by the penalty of death laide vpon all the children of Adam by the casting of Adam and his ofspring out of Paradise by the cursing of the earth by the drowning of the worlde by the burning of Sodom and Gomor by hardening the heart of Pharao so that no miracle could conuert him by the drowning of him and his people in the red sea by the ouerthrowing of the Israelites in the wildernesse so that of fire hundreth thousand there were but two that entred into the land of promise by reiecting Kingâ— Saul by the punishmentes vpon thy seruant Dauid notwithstanding his heartie repentance by greeuously afflicting Salomon in himselfe and his posteritie by the captiuitie of the ten tribes and by the thraldome of the Iewes wherein vntill this present day they continue a notable spectacle of thy wrath to the worlde against and for stâ—ne But of aâ—â— spectacles of thy anger against sinne the greatest and most notable is the death and bloudie passion of thy dearely beloued Sonne Iesu Christ Great was thine anger against sinne when in heauen earth nothing could be found which might appease thy wrath saue the bloudshedding of thine onely most dearely beloued sonne in whom was and is all thy delight Great was the sore of sinne that needed such a salue mightie was the maladie that needed such a medicine If in Christ in whome was no sin thy wrath was so fierce for our sins that he was constrayned to cry My God my God why hast thou forsaken me How great importable then is thine anger against vs which art nothing but sinfull They that are thy children through the contemplation of thine anger against sinne set forth most euidently in the death of Christ doe tremble and are afraide lamenting themselues vpon him and heartily crying for mercy wheras y â— wicked are altogether carelesse and conteÌ„ptuous nothing lamenting their iniquities or crying to thee heartily for mercy and pardon Amongest whom wee are rather to be placed than amongest thy childreÌ„ for that we are so shamelesse for our sinnes carelesse of thy wrath heaping dailie sinne vpon sinne so that the measure hath ouerflowed and ascended vp to heaueÌ„ brought thy heauy plagues vpon vs which are but earnest for geeater to ensue therefore to vs pertaineth shame and nothing else is one but confusion What shall we doe what shall wee say who shall giue vs peniteÌ„t harts who can open our lippes that our mouthes might make acceptable coÌ„fession vnto thee Alas of our selues we caÌ„not think any good much lesse wish it and least of all we it As for Angels or any other creatures they haue nothing but that which they haue receiued and they are made to minister vnto vs. So that where iâ— passeth the power of the maister the minister must needes want Alas then what shall we doe Thou art holie and we vnholie thou art good and wee nothing but euill thou art pure we altogether impure thou art light and we most darke darkenesse howe then can there be any agreement betwixt vs O what now may we do Dispayre No. for thou art God and therfore good thou art mercifull and therefore thou forgiuest sinnes with thee is mercie and propitiation and therefore thou art worshipped When Adam had sinned thou gauest him mercy before hee desired it wilt thou deny vs mercy which now desire the same Adam excused his fault and accused thee but we accuse our selues and excuse thee and shall we be sent emptie away Noe founde fauour when thy wrath abounded and shall wee seeking grace be frustrate Abraham was pulled out of Idolatrie when the worlde was drowned therein and art thou his GOD onely Israel in captiuitie in Egypt was graciously visited deliuered deare God the same good Lord shall we alwaies be forgotten Now often in the wildernes didest thou deferre spare thy plagues at the requestes of Moses wheÌ„ the people themselues made no petition to thee and seeing we not onelie now make our petitioÌ„s vnto thee through thy goodnesse but also haue a mediatour for vs farre aboue Moses euen Iesus Christ shall wee I say deare Lorde depart ashamed So soone as Dauid said I haue sinned thou diddest forthwith answere him that he should not die thou hast takeÌ„ away his sinnes and gratious God euen the selfe same God shall not wee not we which now with Dauid gladlie confesse that we haue sinned shal we I say not heare by thy good spirit that our sinnes bee pardoned O graunt that with Manasses wee may finde fauour and mercie Remember that thou hast not spared thine owne onely deare Sonne Iesus Christ but giuen him to die for our sinnes to rise for our righteousnesse to ascend for our possession taking in heauen and to appeare before thee for vs for euer a high priest after the order of Melchizedech that through him we might haue free accesse to come to thy throne now rather of grace than of Iustice RemeÌ„ber that thou by him hast bidden vs aske promised that we shoâ—lde receiue saying Aske and yee shall haue seeke and yee
shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you O deare God and most meeke and mercifull father we heartily beseech thee to be mercifull vnto vs for this thy Christs sake for his deaths sake for thy promise trueth mercies sake Haue mercie vpon vs pardon and forgiue vs all our sinnes iniquities and trespasses whatsoeuer we haue committed against thee in thought word or deed euer or at any time hitherto by any meanes Deare father haue mercy vpon vs. Though we be poore yet our Christ is rich though wee be sinners yet hee is righteous though wee be fooles yet he is wise though we be impure yet he is pure and holie for his sake therefore bee merciful vnto vs. Call to minde how thou hast promised that thou wilt powre out of thy cleane waters wash vs from our filthe and cleanse vs from our euils Forget not that thou hast promised to take from vs our stonye heartes and to giue vs soft heartes newe heartes to put in the middest of vs right spirits Remember thy couenant namely that thou wilt be our God and wee shal be thy people that thou wilt put out of thy memory for euer al our vnrighteousnesse and hast promised to write in our mindes and hearts thy law and testimonies Remember that thou doest straitly charge vs to haue none other Gods but thee saying that thou art the Lorde our God O then declare the same to vs all we heartilie now beseech thee Forgiue vs our sinnes forget our iniquities cleanse vs from our filthines wash vs from our wickednesse powre out thy holy spirite vpon vs. Take from vs our harde heartes our stonie heartes our impenitent heartes our distrusting and doubtfull heartes our carnall our secure our idle heartes our impure malitious arrogant enuious wrath full impatient couetous hypocriticall and epicurall hearts and in place thereof giue vs new harts soft harts faithfull hearts mercifull hearts louing obedient chast pure holy righteous true simple lowly and patient hearts to feare thee to loue thee to trust in thee for euer Write thy law in our hearts graue it in our mindes we heartilie beseech thee Giue vs the spirite of prayer make vs diligent and happie in the workes of our saluation sake into thy custodie and gouernaunce for euer our soules and bodies our liues all that euer we haue Tempt vs neuer further than then wilt make vs able to beare and whatsoeuer thou knowest wee haue neede of in soule or bodie deare God gratious father vouchsafe to giue vs the same in thy good time and alwayes as thy children guide vs so that our life may please thée and our death praise thee through Iesus christ our Lorde for whose sake wee hartilye praye thee to graâ—nt these thinges thus asked and all other things necessarie for soule bodie not onely to vs but to all others also for whome thou wouldest that we should pray specially for thy children that bee in thraldome in exile in prison misery heauinesse pouertie sickenesse c. Be mercifull to the whole realme of England and graunt vs all true repentance and turne from vs the euils that wee so wickedlie haue deserued Pardon our enemies persecutors slaunderers and if it bee thy pleasure turne their harts Bee mercifull vnto our parents brethren and sisters friendes kinsfolkes and familiars neighbours and such as by anie meanes thou hast coupled and lincked to vs by loue or other wise and vnto vs poore sinners here gathered together in thy holie name graunt thy blessing and holie spirite to sancâ—fie vs dwell in vs as thy deare children to keepe vs this day and for euer from all euill to thy eternall glorie and euerlasting comforte and the profite of thy Church which mercifully maintaine cherish and comfort strengthenning theÌ„ that stand so that they neuer fall lifting vp them that bee fallen and keepe vs from falling from thy trueth through the merits of thy dearelie beloued sonne Iesu Christ our onelie Sauiour which liueth and raigneth with thee and the holy Ghost to whome bee al praise and honour both now for euer Amen I. B. A prayer for the true knowledge of the mysterie of our redemption in Christ O Almightie God and father of our Lorde Iesus Christ and by him also our Father the Father of all mercy God of all consolation haue mercy vpon vs and heare our praiers wee most humblie beseeche thee for thy deare sonne Iesus christ his sake for his merites and cruell death which he suffered to deliuer vs from eternal death and the power of darkenesse sende into our hearts the spirit of truth to worke in vs a true liuely stedfast faith that the cleere light and brightnesse of thy Gospell the glorie of Christ may shine vnto vs and lighten our minds that wee may learne and vnderstand the wonderfull and vnspeakeable riches of y e mystery of our redemption in Christ and by Christ O Father of glorie giue vnto vs the spirit of wisedome and bring vs vnto the true knoweledge of this thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ and the knowledge of thy selfe Open and lighten the eyes of our mindes and vnderstanding that wee may knowe what the hope is whereunto thou hâ—st called vs and howe rich the glorie of thine inheritance is vpon thy Saints and the exceeding greatnesse of thy power towardes vs that by trne faith by vnderstanding knowledge of thine eternall-wisedome which is Iesus Christ we may be indeede as wee are called true Christians and vnfained professours of thy holy name to worship thee in spirit and trueth to set forth the glory of thy grace giuen vnto vs in Christ Iesu our lord Amen O deare father write in our harts loue of thy law hate to al sin thankfulnesse of heart and continual heat of thy holie spirite for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake To whome with thee and thy holy spirit be al honour maiestie glory thanks rule empire and dominion for euermore Amen A forme of thankesgiuing for our redemption and prayer for the strength increase of faith Lord incrâ—ase our faith Luc. 17. ETernall praise and thankes bee giuen vnto thee deare God and Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which hast blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in heaueÌ„ly things by Christ in that thou hast chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world was laide that we should bee without blame before thee through him by whom we haue redemption through his bloud euen the forgiuenesse of our sinnes in whome after we heard y e word of truth the Gospell of our saluation wherein we beleeued we are sealed with the holie spirite of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance which spirit hath and doeth beare witnesse vnto our spirits that we are thy children and therefore crieth into our harts Abba Father And thus most gracious father when thou hast once giuen the earnest penie of our saluation into our heartes thou doest not repent
of the gift and calling neither wilt thou at any time breake thy couenant of race and mercy in Christ thy sonnes merites confirmed in vs by that seale loue token For what though wee be weake in our beleefe shal our vnbeleefe make thy promise of no effect No thou wilt alway bee founde true but all men are lyars And yet Lord thou doest most graciously behold accept bee it neuer so little a sparke of faith We say therfore cry vnto thee with one y e wept said I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeleefe Yea that little be it neuer so little is thy meere gift also The which as thou hast begun so most merciful Lord increase the same more more to the peace and comfort of our conscience and the glorie of thy name through Iesus Christ Amen A thankesgiuing to God for his great benefites HOnour and prayse bee giuen to thee Lorde God almightie most deare Father of heauen for all thy mercies and louing kindenesse shewed vnto vs in that it hath pleased thy gracious goodnesse freelie and of thine owne accorde to elect and choose vs to saluation afore the beginning of the worlde and euen like continuall thankes bee giuen vnto thee for creating vs after thine owne image for redeeming vs with the precious bloud of thy deare Sonne when we were vtterlie lost for sanctifying vs with thy holie spirite in the reuelation and knowledge of thy sacred word for helping and succouring vs in all our neede and necessity for sauing vs from all daunger both of bodie and soule for comforting vs so fatherlie in al our troubles and afflictions for sparing vs so long and giuing vs so large a time of repentance These benefites O most mercifull Father like as we do acknowledge that wee haue receiued of thy onelie goodnesse euen so wee beseech thee for thy deere sonne Iesus Christ his sake to graunt vs alwaies thy holy spirite whereby we may continually growe in thankefulnesse towardes thee be lead in all trueth and comforted in all aduersitie Strengthen our faith O lorde kindle it more and more in feruentnesse and loue towardes shee and our neighbours for thy sake Suffer vs not most deere Father to receiue thy word any more in vaine but graunt vs alwaies the assistance of thy grace and holy spirite that in heart word and deede we may sanctifie and doe worship to thy holy name that wee may helpe to amplifie and increase thy kingdome and that whatsoeuer thou sendest we may heartily wel be content with thy good wil and pleasure Suffer vs not to lacke the thing O Father without the which wee cannot serue thee but blesse thou so all the workes of our hands that we may haue sufficient and not to bee chargeable but rather helpefull vnto other Bee mercifull O Lorde vnto our offences and seeing our debt is great which thou hast forgiuen vs in Iesus Christ make vs to loue thee and our neighbors so much the more Be thou O father our captayne defender in all temptations holde thou vs by thy mercifull hande that we thereby may be deliuered from al inconueniences and end our liues in the sanctifying and honouring of thy name through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen A prayer for true mortification O God my creator preseruer and euerlasting defender where first in my creation I was made like vnto thine owne likenesse the deuil alas hath since by Adams fall made mee vgly monstrous and euill fauored like to him self For what are nowe Lorde mine earthly members but as thine Apostle writeth adulterie whoredome vncleanesse vnnaturall lustes euill concupiscence couetousnes which is the worshipping of Idols such other for the which thy wrath is wont to come vpon the children of vnbeleefe Neuerthelesse Lord of thy great mercy and goodnesse against this so greate a mischiefe a much greater remedy thy fatherly prouidence hath or dayned for thou hast sent Iesus Christ thy deare only natural sonne into this world the vale of miseries to loose the workes of the deuill and to take away my sinnes Therefore Sathan hath nowe nothing to brag of for through Christ al that beleeue in thee and so become thy children do ouercome the world the flesh the deuil And this is the victorie which ouercometh them al euen our faith That faith I meane which is perswaded that whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ shall not perish but haue euerlasting life That faith which beleeueth the testimony to be true which thou God the father doest testifie of thy sonne so making thee no lyar and this is y â— testimonie that thou hast giuen vs eternall life That faith which beleeueth that thou Father who raisedst vp Christ from death shalt also quicken our mortall bodies through thy holie spirit dwelling in vs. That faith which beleeueth it to bee true which thy Sonne Christe affirmed with a double oth saying Verily velily I say vnto you hee that beleeueth in mee the works that I doe the same shall hee doe and greater workes than these shall he doe because I goe to my Father And finally that faith which beleeueth that nowe Christ hath been lift vpon the crosse he shal drawe all thinges vnto him This faith I say is the victory which ouercommeth our enemies the deuil the world and our flesh Thou therfore deare father which hast promised to giue whatsoeuer I shall aske in thy deare sonne Iesus name for thy great mercie and infallâ—ble truethes sake do now in mee y e thing that he came for loose in me the workes of the diuel take away my sinnes I beseech thee make stedfast my faith and confidence in thy promised mercies and merciful promises so that I assuredlie beleeuing in thee may haue as thou hast promist euerlasting life making thee deare God no â—iâ—r may beleeue feele know in my heart and conscience that the same euerlasting life is thy meere and free gift vnto mee yea all readie of thy great goodnes vndoubtedly giuen me being now traslated from death to life Of a thankfulnesse wherof Lord cause me now dailie to mortifie my earthlie members yea deare father â—â—th thy spirit which raysed vp christ from death dwelleth within me doe thou who raisedst Christ froÌ„ death quicken my mortal bodie throgh thy spirit so dwelling within me I beseech thee yea Lord Iesu according to thy promise because thou art now gone to thy father make mee worke this woÌ„derful great work that thou speakest of I meane make me being of my selfe but a lumpe of sinne and a monster most vgly as the vices whereon the members of my earthlie body are aboue declared to be compact doe proone make me I say yet through thy grace to hate abhorre flee and subdue all adultery whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturrall lusts euill concupiscence vnordinate desires wantonnesse tendernesse delicatenesse idlenesse drunkennesse gluttonie slouthfulnesse distrust despaire ignorance
weakenesse wilfulnesse idolatrie superstition hypocrisie herese error sects variance strife wrath enuie slaunders lying swearing cursing vaineglory pride couetousnesse theft deceite flatterie and whatsoeuer else O Lord fighteth or reblelleth against thy holy spirit and then O Father I will boast and make vant against mine enemie the deuill that I haue done greater workes than thy deare sonne Iesus did at what time hee spake these wordes among the Iewes because albeit he vanquished Sathan yet in as much as he himselfe was vtterlie without sin the victorie seemed the more easie But I to vanquish Sathan being my selfe altogether sinful pea contrary to my most sinfull nature to subdue sinne the diuell and mine owne fleshe it seemeth a more victorie a greater worke than the other For the which neuerthelesse I will with all submission acknowledge vnto thy diuine maiestie that the whole victorie Lorde inDEEDE is thine and thy holy spirit the beginner and finisher both of the will and the works Now therefore Lorde Iesu strengtheN mee with thy grace and might that thou maiest by me a most sinfull wretch drawe all these my earthlye members horrible vices before rehearsed vnder my feete that I may not onlie fight against them but also subdue them so that they may all turne to the best for mee as meete matter whereon I may exercise my faith power forth my hearty prayer giue thee most heartie thanks for victorie whereby I may learne and haue experience that thou hast in me drawn al things vnto thee insomuch as thou thus Lorde of thy diuine power drawest both the diued the sin that dwelleth in me to set foorth thy honor and glorie which thing for thy mercies sake bring to passe O God my creator preseruer and euerlasting defender A meditation for the exercise of true mortification HE that will be readie in weightie matters to denie his owne will and to be obedient to the will of God the same had neede to accustome himselfe to denie his destres in matters of lesse weight and to exercise mortification of his owne wil in trifles For if that our affections by this daily custome bee not as it were halfe slayne surely surelie when the plunge shall come wee shall finde the more to do If we cannot watch with Christ one houre as he saieth to Peter we vndoubtedlie can much lesse goe to death with him Wherefore that in great tentations we may be readie to saie with Christ Not my will but thy will be done for as much as this commonlie commeth not to passe but where the rootes of our lustes by thy grace deare father are almost rotten and rooted out by a daily deniall of that they desire I humbly beseech thee for Christs sake to helpe me herein First pardon mee my cherishing and as it were watering of mine affections obeying them in their deuises and superfluous desires where through in that they haue takeÌ„ deepe roote and are too liuely in mee I secondly doe beseech thee to pull them vp by the rootes out of my heart and so heÌ„ceforth to order mee that I may continually accustome my selfe to weaken the principall roote that by the rootes and braunches they may loose all their power Graunt mee I beseech thee that thy grace may dailie mortifie my coÌ„cupiscence of pleasure in things that is of wealth riches glorie libertie fauour of men meates drinks apparell ease yea life it selfe that the horrour and impatience of more greeuous thinges may be weakened and I made more patient in aduersitie Whereunto I further lâ—stre and pray thy goodnesse deare father that thou wilt ad this namely that I pray for euer become obedient and ready to do thy good wil in althings heartily and willingly to serue thee and doe whatsoeuer may please thee For doubtlesse although wee accustome our selues in y e pleasant things of this life to a mortification and deniall of ourselues yet we shall finde inough to doe when more bitter and weightie crosses come For if thy Sonne our Sauiour euer wont to obey thy good will praied so heartily and often Not my will but thy will be done whereby hee declareth himselfe to be verie man how can it bee but wee whose nature is corrupt not only in natiuity but in the rest of our whole life also shall finde both our handes full in greate and greeuous temptations wholie to resigne our selues vnto thee Graunt therefore deare father for thy Christes sake to me a most miserable wretch thy grace and spirit to be effectual in mee that daily I may accustome my selfe to denie my will in more easie and pleasant things of this life that when neede shall bee I may come vnto thee with a resigned wil alwaies stedfastlie expecting thy mercie and in the meane season continually obeying thee with readinesse I willingnesse dooing whatsoeuer may most please thee through Christ our Lord who liueth with thee c. A meditation of the coÌ„ming of Christ to iudgement and of the reward both of the faithfull and vnfaithfull OH Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of the euerlluing GOD by whom al things were made are ruled and gouerned as of thy loue for our redemption thou diddest not disdain to bee our mediator and to take vpon thee our nature in the wombe of a virgin purely and without sinne by the operation of thy holy spirit that both thou mightest in thine owne person wonderfully beautifie and exalt our nature and worke the same in vs also first abolishing the guiltines of sinne by remission then sinne it selfe by death and last of all death by raising vp againe these our bodies that they may bee like to thine owne glorious and immortall bodie according to the power wherewith thou art able to subiect all thinges vnto thee as I say of thy loue for our redemption thou becamest man and that most poore and afflicted vpon earth by the space of three thirtie yeeres at the least in most humilitie and paiedst the price of our ransome by thy most bitter death and passion for the which I most heartily giue thankes vnto thee so of the same thy loue towardes vs in thy good time thou wilt come againe in the clouds of heauen with power I greate glory with flaming fire with thousands of saintes with Angels of thy power with a mighty crie shout of an Archangel and blast of a trumpe sodenly as a lightening which shineth from the East c. when men thinke least euen as a theefe in the night when men be asleepe thou wilt so come I say thus sodainely in the twinckling of an eie all men that euer haue beene be or shall bee with women and children appearing before thy tribunall seate to render an account of all thinges which they haue thought spoke and doone against thy lawe openly and before all Angels Saintes and diuels and so to receiue the iust reward of thy vengeance if they haue not repented and obeyed thy Gospell and so departe from
vertue may lighten and cheere vs that the want of feeling of our sorrow maye to recompensed plentifully with the liue y â— senâ—e of hauing thee to our eternal ioy therefore thou swarest that in thine euerlasting mercy thou wilt haue compassion on vs. Of which thing to the ende we might bee most assured thine oth is to bee marked for thâ—n sayâ—stâ— As I haue sworne that I will neuer bring anie more the waters to drowne the world So haue I sworne that I wil neuer more bee angrie with thee nor 〈◊〉 thee The mouâ—t◠〈◊〉 shall 〈◊〉 the hilles shall fall downâ— but my louing kindnesse shall not mooue and the bond of my peace shall not faile thee Thus saiest thou the Lord our mercifull redeemer Deare Father therfore I praie thee remember euen for thine owne trueth and mercie sake this promise and euerlasting couenaunt which in thy good time I may thee to write in my hart that I may know thee to bee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent that I may loue thee with all my heart for euer that I may loue thy people for thy sake that I may bee holie in thy sight through Christ that I may alwaies not onely striue against sin but also ouercome the same dayly more and more as thy children do aboue al things desâ—ring the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doing of thy will heere on earth as it is in heauen c. throguh Iesus Christ our redeemer mediator and aduocate Amen I. B. A praier against our spirituall enemies the diuell the world and the flesh O Lorde God the diuell goeth about like a roring Lyon seeking whome hee may deuoure the flesh lusteth against the spirite the worlde perswadeth vnto vanities y â— we may forget thee our Lord God so for euer ve damned Thus are we miserably on euery 〈◊〉 befet and â—eâ—â—eged of cruell a vnrestful enemies and like euerie momente to perish if we be not defended with thy godly power against their tyrannie Wee therefore poore and wretched sinners despayring of our owne strength which indeede is none most heartily praie thee to indue vs with strength from aboue that wee may bee able through thy helpe with strong faith to resist Sathan with feruent praier to mortifie the lustes of the fleshe with continual meditation of thy holie lawe to auoide the foolish vanities and transitorie pleasures of this wicked worlde y â— through thy grace wee beeing set at libertie from the power of these our mortall enemies may serue thee heere in true holinesse and righteousnes and after be partakers of the euerlasting ioyes prepared for thy children which as they are great and vnspeakeable so are there fewe that doe inioy them For straite is the way and narrowe is the gate that leadeth therunto and few there be that find it Notwithstanding O God thou hast a litle flock to whom it is thy pleasure to giue that ioyfull kingdome whose names are written in the booke of life Make vs therefore of that nuÌ„ber for Iesus christes sake place vs amongest those thy sheepe which shal stand on thy right hande to receiue that blessed inheritaunce and dwel with thee for euermore A prayer for present helpe in tentation DEare father to whom it is more easie to doe all thinges then for mee to thinke anie one goodthing Loe doe thou but speake a worde and thy deadlie sicke seruaunte my sonle shall be made whole Helpe O Lorde for the great mercy sake for thy trueth sake and for thy deare sonne Iesus Christs sake set thy sterngth suffice against my weakenesse and the holy-spirit against my sinfull flesh and olde man Thou art faithfull O Father who hast promised that I shall not bee tempted further than thou wilt make me able to beare Giue nowe therefore thy grace and strength vnto thy seruaunt that I may with a strong faith in thy in fallible trueth promised mercie vanquish and subdu whatsoeuer rebelleth against thy most blessed will Preserue and keepe holie my soule and bodie and let them not bee defiled and made a dangeon of diuels wicked spirits through delectation in sinne Behold deare Father the postes thereof are sprinkled with y e precious bloud of thy deare son and of thy great mercy that are made the temple and tabernacle of thy holy spirit Shall nowe alas the Diuell the worlde or the flesh plucke from thee that thing which presently cryeth to thee with assured trâ—st in thy promised helpe Nay father but graunt that I may by thy mightie power turne al their crafts decrits and raging assaultes vnto the increase of my faith and that by experience of thy fatherlie assistance in this my present temptation I may with assured hope and trust in thy readie helpe and comfort ouercame my saide enimies heereafter in like assaults prayse thy holy name for the victory through Iesus Christ our Lord. My sonne if thou wilt come into these rule of the Lorde stande fast in righteousnes feare and prepare thy soule to tentation Eccles 2. Remedies against sinfull motions and tentations First remember that sinne is so hainous a thing that God by his iustice might worthilie damne thee for the same and is therefore to bee abhorred as a sweete poyson a flattering death destruction of the soule which woulde cut thee off from God thy Sauiour and make thee a bondslaue to Sathan thy deadlie enemie Auoide therefore euen at the first the occasions thereof betimes quash out the braines of the childreÌ„ of Babylon against the hard stones whiles yet they bee young and weake least when they be growne elder stronger they dash thee to peeces And for remedie against the same flee vnto God who commandeth thee to call vpon him in thy troubles and promiseth to deliuer thee and wil not suffer thee to be further tempted than hee will make away out whereby thou shalt escape and doubt not but he that causeth thee to hate the sinne which thy nature is to loue will deliuer thee also from the daunger thereof and make thee to triumphouer Sathan to his confusion to Gods glorie and thy great comfort which are causes that our tender louing father sendeth tentations vnto vs he that is not tempted what is he Nowe after thou hast obtained the victory remember two thinges first to giue most heartie thankes to God for his grace and assistance whereby thou hast ouercome and bee not vnthankefull in anie wise and then that hee who continually goeth about like a roring Lion seeking whome he maie deuoure wil not be long or farre away from thee but will attempt againe the same or as euill waies to ouercome thee Watch therefore and praye A prayer for the auoiding of Gods heauie wrath and vengeance for our sins OH Lord God strong and mighty great and feareful which dwellest in the heauens and workest great wonders we thy miserable children heere vpon
to resist to whom it belongeth iustly to punish sinners and to be mercifull vnto them that truly repent we confesse thou doest most iustly punish vs for vnto haue uâ—â—ously finned against thee and wee acknowledge that in punishing vs thou doest declare thy selfe to be our most merciful father aswell because thou doest not punish vs in any thing as we haue deserued as also because by punishing vs thou doestcal vs and as it were drawe vs to increase in repentance it fayth in prayer in contemâ—ing of the world and in heartie dâ—â—â—ing for euerlasting life thy blessâ—â— presence 〈…〉 therefore gracious 〈…〉 Lorde thankefully to acknowledge thy great mercy which hast thus fauourablie dealt with vs in punishing vs not to our confusion but to our amendement And seeing thou hast sworne that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but that hee turne and liue haue mercie vpon vs and turne vs vnto thee for thy dearelie be oued Sonne Iesus Christs sake whom thou wouldest should be made a slayne sacrifice for our sins thereby declaring thy great and vnspeakable anger against sinne and thyne infinite mercy towardes vs sinnefull wretches And for asmuch as the dulnesse blindnes corruption of our hearts is such that we are not able to arise vp vnto thee by faithful and heartie prayer according to our great necessitie without thy singular grace and assistaunce graunt vnto vs gracious Lord thy holy and sanctifying spirite to worke in vs this good work with grace to weigh and consâ—â—r the neede and greatnesse of that we doe desire and with an assured faith trust that thou wilt graunt vs our requestes because thou are good and pracious â—ueÌ„ to young Raunes calling vpon thee much more then to before whoÌ„ thou hast made al things yea and hast not spared also thyne than deare Sonne because thou hast commaunded vs to call vppon thee because thy throne wherto we come is a throne of grace and mercie because thou hast giuen vs a mediator Christ to bring vs vnto thee beeing the way by whome we come being the doore by whom we enter and being our head on whom we hang and hope y t our poore petitions shall not be in vayne through him and for his names sake Wee beseech thee therefore of thy rich mercie wherein thau art pleÌ„tifull to al them that call vpon thee is forgiue vs our sinnes namely our vnthankefulnesse vnbeleef self loue neglect of thy worde security hypocrisie coÌ„tempt of thy long suffering omission of prayers doubting of thy power presence mercy and good 〈◊〉 towardes vs vnsensible of thy grace â—â—â—patience â—c to this thy benefit ofim correcting vs adde thy gracious gift of repentance sayth the spirit of prayer e the contempt of this worlde and heartie desiringâ— for euerlasting life In due vs with thy holy spirit according to thy couenant and mercy aâ—â—el to assure vs of pardon and that thou 〈◊〉 accept vs in thy fauour as thy 〈◊〉 children in Christ for his sake as to write thy same in our hearts 〈◊〉 to worke in vs that wee may nowe begin and go forwarde in beleeuing â—uing fearing obeying praying hoping a seruing thee as thou doest require most fatherly most iustire of vs accepting vs as perfect in thy light through Iesus Christ our lord â—men A Praier of the afflicted for the profession of Gods worde O Gracious God which seekest almeanes possible how to bring â—y children into the feeling and â—re sence of thy mercie and therfore then prosperity wil not serue then â—ndest thou aduersity graciously corâ—ting them heere whom thou wilt 〈◊〉 elsewhere to liue with thee forâ—er we poore wretches giue huÌ„ble â—aises thanks to thee y t thou hast â—â—ched vs worthy of thy correctioÌ„ at 〈◊〉 preseÌ„t hereby to worke y t which 〈◊〉 in prosperity liberty did neglect For the which neglecting and many other our greeuous sinnes whereof we now accuse our selues before thee Most mercifull Lorde thou oughtest most iustly haue giuen vs ouer and destroied vs both in soule body But such is thy goodnes towards vs in Christ that thou seekest to forget all our offences and as though we were far otherwise than we bee indeed thou wilt that we should suffer this crosse now layd vppon vs for thy trueth and Gospels sake and so be thy witnesses with thy Prophets Apostles Martyrs and Confessors yea with thy dearely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ to whome thou doest now heere beginne to fashioÌ„ vs like that in his glorie we may be like to him also O good God what are we on whâ— thou shouldest shew this great mercie Oh louing Lord forgiue vs our vnthankefulnesse and sinnes Oh faithfull Father giue vs thine holie spirite nowe to crie in our heartes Abba deare father to assure vs of our eternall election in Christ to reueale more and more thy truth vnto vs to confirme strengthen and stablish vs in the same that wee may liue die in it as vessels of thy mercy to the glorie and to the commoditie of thy Church Indue vs with the spirite of thy wisedom that with good conscience we may alwaies so aunswere the enimies in thy cause as may turn to their conuersion or confusion and our vnspeakable consolatioÌ„ in Christ Iesus for whose sake wee besâ—â—che thee hence foorth to keepe vs to giue vs patience and to will no otherwise for deliuerance or mitigation of our misery than may stand alwaies with thy good pleasure and mercifull will towards vs. Graunt this deare father not onely to vs in this place but also to all others elsewhere afflicted for thy names sake through the death and merites of Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen I. B. A praier to God the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost O Almighty and euerliuing God the eternall Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which of thy vnmeasurable goodnes hast opened thy self vnto vs and with a loude voyce hast saide of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde Heare him O maker and prâ—seruer of all thinges with thy coeternall sonne our Lorde Iesus christ which raigneth with thee and was manifested in Ierusalem with thy holie spirit which was powred vpon the Apostles O wise God mercifull Iudge and mightie Lorde which hast saide As truelie as I liue I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert and ameÌ„d which also haste saide Call vppon me in the day of trouble and I will deliuer thee haue mercie vpon vs for Iesus Christes sake whome thou wouldest of thy meruailous incomprehensible counsaiâ—e shoulde be made for vs a staine sacrifice mediatour reconciler and peacemaker to the ende that thou mightest shâ—we â—hine exceeding great wrath against 〈◊〉 and thine in estimable mercy towards mankind Sanctifie illuminate our hearts and soules with thy holy spirit that wee may trulie â—eleeue in thee call vpon thee bee thankeful vnto thee and obedient 〈◊〉 thy holy will Defende gouerne â—nd cherish thy church as thou hast
â—â—omised saying This is my couenant â—â—at I haue made with them my spirite â—hich is in thee and my worde which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy feede for euer Preserue those kingdomes common weales which giue harborough to thy people and maintaine the ministerie of thy holy worde and Gospell that the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ may increase and shine throughout all the world O Iesu Christ Sonne of the euerliuing God crucified for vs and raised also from the dead and nowâ— raigning at the right hand of thy father that thou maist giue giftes vnto 〈◊〉 which hast saide Come vnto mee all yee that labour are heauie loaden and I will refresh you Hauâ— mercie vpon vs praie for vs vnto thy eternall father sanctifie and gouerne vs with thy holy spirit helpâ— and succour vs in all our necessitieâ— as thou hast promised saying I willâ— not leaue you comfortlesse O holy and blessed spirite together with the father and the son one true and euerlasting God full of maiestie and power which with thy heauenly inspiration quickenest the mindes of those that afore were dead in sinne makest ioyfull the heartes of the faithfull penitent bringest into the way of truth all such as haue erred and gone astray comfortest the soules of such as hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and plenteously inrichest those with diuers giftes which aske them in Iesus Christes name purifie our heartes wee beseech thee and inflame them with the fire of thy loue replenish them with thy heauenly benefites and spirituall blessinges that they may bee made meete temples for thee leade â—s into all truth which art the onely fountaine of truth and mortifie in vs whatsoeuer proceedeth not of thee Or else pray thus O Holie spirite powred vnto the Apostles which hast promised vnto vs by the Sonne of God our Redeemer to kindle in vs a true knowledge and inuocation of God as it is written I will poure vpon you the spirit of grace and of compassion make to arise in our hearts a true feare of God and faith and knowledge of thy mercie which the eternall father of our Lord Iesus Christ hath promised vnto vs for his sonnes sake Be our comforter in all our counsels and daungers Illuminate our vnderstanding and fill our herrtes with newe affections and spirituall motions and renewe vs both in soule and bodie that wee may die to sinne and liue to righteousnes and so in true obedience may praise the father of our Lord Iesus Christ and his sonne our redeemer and thee also our comforter euerlastingly A thanksgiuing to God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost VVE render thanks vnto the O Almightie and eternall God with thy deare sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ and with thy holy spirite for that of thine exceeding great goodnes thou hast made thy selfe knowen vnto vs by most assured and euident testimonies and for that thou hast gathered and chosen vnto thy selfe a perpetuall Church and wouldest that thy Sonne our Lorde Iesus Christe shoulde suffer death to restore vs from death to life for that thou hast giuen to vs thy Ghospel the Holye Ghost for that thou forgiuest vs our sinnes deliuerest vs from the power of the deuell and from eternall death and giuest vnto vs euerlasting life finally for that thou hast visited vs with manye great benefites giuing vs life foode doctrin peace in such places as we haue liued in hast diminished the pains which we haue iustly deserued Wee giue thankes vnto thee O Lorde Iesus Christ sonne of the liuing God crucified for vs and risen againe because thou hast coupled vnto thee our humaine nature and of thy inestimable loue didest giue thy selfe to death for vs turning vppon thee the greate wrath of GOD the Father conceiued against vs to reconcile vs vnto him and to purchase vs eternall redemption because thou hast brought vs to this grace wherein we stande and reioyce in hope of the glorie of GOD because thou dost preserue cherishe and defend thy church against the Diuell and all thine enemies because thou giuest and renewest often the light of thy Gospell and maintainest the ministerie of thy worde because thou doest forgiue vs our sinnes and giuest vnto vs euerlasting life because thou art our mediatour and makest continuall intercession for vs and finally because thou dost succour and preserue vs in all our necessities dangers and afflictions Wee giue thankes also vnto thee Oh holy spirite the giuer of life which wast powred vppon the Apostles because thou kindlest thy light in our heartes because thou rulest instructest admonishest and helpest vs because thou gouernest and guidest the labours and workes of our vocation and sanctifiest vs to eternall life A prayer to God for his helpe and Protection against the obstinate enemies of the truth MOst righteous Iudge God of all mercie and comfort which by thy secret iudgment and wisedome doest suffer the wicked to triumph and increase for a time for trial of the faith of thy welbeloued little flocke and the mortifiing of their lusts but at length to the vtter confusion of thy enemies and ioyfull deliuerance of thy people looke downe wee beseech thee on thy dispersed sheepe oute of thy holy habitation in heauen and strengthen our weakenesse againste their furious rages abate their pride ass wage their malice confound their deuises wherewith they lift vp them selues against Christ Iesus thy sonne our Lorde and Sauiour to deface his glorie and to set vp Antichrist Wee be not able of our selus to thinke a good thought much lesse to stande against their assaultes except thine vndeserued grace and mightie arme defende and deliuer vs. Performe thy promises made to Iacob stoppe the mouthes of the cursed Edomites Cal them to repentance whom thou hast appointed to saluation bring home them that runne astray lighten the blinde and teach the ignorant forgiue all those that wilfully and obstinately rebell not against thy holie will Let thy fearefull threatninges pearce our stâ—nie heartes and make vs tremble at thy iudgements Make the examples of them whom thou hast ouerthrâ—wne in their owne deuises as Cain Cham Nymrod Esau Pharaoh Saul Achitophel Iudas such other to be a warning for vs that we set not vp our selues against thy holy will Grant free passage to thy holy worde that it may worke effectually in vs the worke of life and blessed hope of our saluation to the eternall praise of thy maiestie through our mediatour Christ Iesus to whome with thee and the holy ghost three persons and one God bee praise and thankesgiuing in all congregatioâ—s world without end So be it A praier for the afflicted and persecuted vnder the tyranny of Antichrist O Mercifull Father who neuer doest forsake such as put their trust in thee stretch forth thy mightie arme to the defence of our brethren by the rage of enimies persecuted and
members of the mysticall bodie of Christ Iesus wee made out requestes vnto thee O heauenly father for all such as are afflicted with any kinde of crosse or tribulation as war plague â—â—mine sicknesse pouertie imprisonment persecution banishment or my other kinde of thy rooddes whether it be griefe of bodie or vnquietâ—es of minde that it would please thee to giue them patience and constancie till thou sende thein full deliuerance out of all their troubles Finally O Lord we most humbly beseech thee to shewe thy great mercie vpon our brethren which are persecuted cast in prison and dayly condemned to death for the testimonie of thy trueth and though they be vtterly destitute of all mans aide yet let thy sweet comfort neuer departe froÌ„ theÌ„ but so inflame their harts with thy holy spirit that they may boldly cheerefully abide such trial as thy godly wisedome shall appoint so that at length aswel by their death as by their life the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ may increace shine throughall the worlde In whose name wee make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our father which art c. A praier to be said before the receiuing of the communion O Father of mercie and God of al consolation seeing all creatures do acknowledge and confesse thee to be their gouernor Lord it becommeth vs the workmanship of thine own hands at al times to reuerence magnifie thy godly maiestie First for that thou hast created vs to thine owne image and stmilitude but chiefly because thou hast deliuered vs froÌ„ that euerlasting death damnation into which Sathan drew mankind by the meanes of sinne from the bondage whereof neither man nor Angell was able to make vs free but thou O Lord rich in mercy and inâ—â—nite in goodnesse hast prouided our redemption to stand in thine onely wel beloued sonne whom of verie â—oue thou diddest qiue to bee made man like vnto vs in all things sinne excepted that in his bodie hee might receiue the punishment of our transgression by his death to make satisfaction to thy iustice and by his resurrection to destroy him that was the author of death and so to bring a gaine life to the worlde from which the whole ofspring of Adam was most iustly exiled O Lorde wee accknowledge that no creature was able to comprehende the length and breadth the deepenesse and height of that thy most excellent loue which mooued thee to shewe mercie where none was deserued to promise and giue life where death had gotten victorie to receiue vs into thy grace when wee could doe nothing but rebell against thy Maiestie The blinde dulnesse of our corrupt nature will not suffer vs suffâ—â—antly to weigh these thy most ampâ—â— benefites Yet neuerthelesse at the commaundement of Iesus Christe our Lorde wee present our selues to this thy table which hee hath left to bee vsed in remembrance of his death vntill his comming againe to declare and witnesse before the worlde that by him alone wee haue receiued libertie and life that by him alone thou doest acknowledge vs to be thy children and heires that by him alone wee haue entrance to the throne of thy grace that by him alone wee are possessed in our spirituall kingdome to eate and drinke at his Table and with whome wee haue our conuersation presently in heauen and by whome our bodies shall be raised by againe from the dust shall be placed with him in that eâ—dlesse ioye which thou O Father of mercie hast prepared for thine elect before the foundation of the worlde was laide And these most inestimable benefites wee acknowledge and confesse to haue receiued of thy free mercy and grace by thine onely beloued son Iesus Christ For the which therefore we thy congregation moued by the holy spirite doe render to thee all thanks praise and glory for euer and euer A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the holy Communion MOst mercifull father wee render vnto thee al praise thankes honour glory for that it hath pleased the of thy great mercies to grant vnto vs miserable sinners so excelleÌ„t a gift and treasure as to receiue vs into the fellowship and companie of thy deare son Iesus Christ our lord whom thou hast deliuered to death for vs hast giuen him vnto vs as a necessary foode and norishment vnto euerlasting life And now wee beâ—â—ech thee also O heauenly father to grant vs this request that thou neuer suffer vs to become so vnkind as to forget so worthie benefits but father imprint and fasten them sure in our hearts that wee may grow increase daily more and more in true faith which continually is exercised in all manner of good works and so much the rather O Lorde confirm vs in these perillous daies â—ages of Sathan that wee may constantly stand and continue in the confession of the same to the aduancement of thy glorie which art God ouet all thinges blessed for euer A lamentation of a sinner afflicted in consciencâ—â—â— his offences IN the midde stâ—â— the desperate assaultes of my soule the intollerable heauinesse of my minde hath hereto fore LORD cried as shrill in thine eare as though I had shriked and with lamentations cried out saying Helpe helpe me my God my creator my most prouident keeper euerlasting defender for beholde I perish On this occasion Lorde when heauinesse of minde did heeret ofore assault mee I remembred that thou haddest many times set before mine eyes the wonderfull greatnesse of thy most tender loue towardes mee by the great multitude of thy benefites powred upon met which benefites euerie of thy workes as they came before mine eies gaue mee iust occasion to be mindfull of Would not thought I if I had in any manner any â—â—â—race at al would not such loue brinâ—â— nowe into my heart a wonderâ—â—â—â—electation ioy and comforte in God for the sameâ— And againe coulde such delight in Gods sweete mercie and tender loue towards mee if I were not as euil is a cast-awaye that were none of Gods children bee without loathing of my sinne and lust and desire to doe Gods holy will And these thinges thought I fie vpon mee vnthankefull wretch are either not at all in mee or else in deed so coldly and stenderly that they being truely weighed and compared to right cousnesse are more vile than a filthy cloth starched in corrupt bloud O thought I Iain afraid I haue deceiued my selfe for thy seruantes at all times I trowe fâ—â—â— otherwise than I now doe the fruitâ— of thy spirit as loue ioy peace such like But my loue alas towardes thee what is it my ioy is not once almost felt of mee for my very soule within mee as Dauid in his heauinesse said refuseth comfort and fareth as though it did vtterly despaire what peace
all thinges in this world as they be transiâ—orie soone vanishing away and my selfe also with them drawing towardes mine end For nothinge vnder the Sunne may long abide but all is vanitie and affliction of spirite Oh Lorde God which art sweetenesse vnspeakeable turne into bitternesse vnto me all transitorie earthly delights which may drawe mee from the loue of eternall things and for al worldly comforts giue me the sweete comfort of thy holy spirit for thou Lord art my ioy my hope my crowne and my glorie Blessed are they that for the loue of thee set not by the pleasurs of this worlde but crucifie the flesh and the iustes thereof so that in a cleane pure conscince they may offer their praiers vnto thee and be accepted to haue companie with thee together with the Angels heauenly spirits O euerlasting light send down the beames of thy brightnesse and lighten the inward partes of my heart Open my heart that I may behold thy lawes and teach me to walke in thy commaundements Beholde my weaknes O Lord be clarified and made glorious in thy kingdome Oh holie father thou hast ordeyned it so to be and it is done as thou hast appoynted Wherefore O Lorde giue mee the grace to rest in thee aboue all things and to quiet my heart in thee aboue all creatures aboue all glorie and honour aboue all dignitie and power aboue all health and beauty aboue all riches and treasure aboue al ioy and pleasure aboue all fame praise aboue al mirth and consolation that mans hart may take or feele besides thee For thou Lorde art most good most wise most righteous most holie most iust most blessed most high most mightie most comfortable most beautifull most louing most glorious in whom all treasures of goodnesse most perfectâ—y rest And therefore whatsoeuer I haue besides thee it is nothing vnto me or my heart may not rest nor fully bee pacified but onely in thee Oh Lord Iesu who shall giue mee wings of perfect loue that I may fly vp from these worldly miseries and rest with thee Oh Christ the king of euerlasting glorie my soule crieth vnto thee with continual gronings saith How long tarrieth my Lord God to come to me Oh when shall the ende come of all these miseries When shall I cleane be deliuered from the bondage of sinne When shall I Lord haue my minde onely fixed on thee and be merrie in thee with perfect ioy and gladnes When shal that blessed houre come that thou shalt visit mee and make mee glad with thy blessed presence when thou shalt bee to mee all in all When shall I come vp to thee and feele and enioy those sweete consolations which with thy blessed Saints are alwaies present When shall I haue peace without trouble peace without peace within and on euery side stedfast sure O Lord Iesu when shal I stand and behold thee and haue full sight contemplation of thy glorie When shall I bee with thee in thy kingdom that thou hast ordained for thine elect before the beginning Oh blessed mansion of that heauenly citie Oh most cleare daie of eternitie whom the night may neuer darken This is the daye alwaies cleare merrie alwaies sure and neuer changing This daye shineth cleare to thy saints in heauen Oh gracious God with euerlasting brightnesse but to vs heere on earth so great is y e darknes of sinne in vs it shineth obscurely and as it were a farre off wee see but a glimmering thereof Would to GOD this day might shortly appeare and shine vnto vs and that these wordly vanities were at an ende Thy heauenly Citizens know and feele how ioyfull this day is but we the children of Eue strangers exiles here on earth do lament and bewaile the bitter tediousnesse of this present life short and euil ful of sorrow and anguish Where man is oftentimes defiled with sinne disquieted with troubles oppressed with cares busâ—ed with vanities blinded with errors ouercharged with labours vexed with tentations ouercome with vaine delightes and pleasures of the worlde and miserably wrapped in manie kindes of calamities Wherefore O Lord arise helpe mee comfort mine exile asswage my sorrowe destroy the power of mine enemies the kingdom of sinne Sathan the worlde my wicked flesh which alway make battel against me and bring these coÌ„flicting daies to an end So shal I sing praises vn to thee O God of my saluation magnifie thy holy name world with out end Amen A confession of sinnes and a prayer for the remission thereof O Lorde God rich in mercie and of â—reat goodnesse who of thy tender loue towardes vs euen wheÌ„ we were thine enemies didst sende into the worlde thine owne deare Sonne Iesus Christ to be a slayne sacrifice for our sinnes so that whosoeuer beleeueth in him shoulde not perish but haue life euerlasting haue mercy vpoÌ„ me acording to thy great mercies according to the multitude of thy compassions put awaie mine iniquities For mine iniquities are gone â—uer my head and as a weightie burthen they presse me downe Against heauen and against thee haue I stâ—ned O Lorde I am not worthy to be called thy childe I am ashamed to lift vp mine eies vnto thee for my sinnes are asceÌ„ded vp into thy sight There is nothing sounde in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne Behold I am solde vnder sin in my flesh ther dwelleth no good thing For the good which I would doe I doe not but the euill which I would not doe that I doe â—â—tash me therfore O Lord froÌ„ mine iniquities clense me from my sinne Purifie my hart by the sanctifying of thy holy spirite by the sprinckling of the bloud of thy deare Sonne from the filth of sinne and an euil coÌ„science Make mee to heare ioy gladnes that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce Create in mee a new hart O God and renew a right spirit within mee Cast mee not away from thy presence take not thy holy spirite from mee Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and stablishe mee with thy free spirite For thou art good to them y â— trust in thee and to the soule that seeketh thee AL thy waies are mercy and trueth to them that seeke out thy couenaunt and thy testimonies The fountaine of thy goodnes is euer full and ouerflowing thy mercie neuer decayeth Thou woundest and healest againe thou killest and reuiuest bringest euen downe to hell and bringest backe againe Thou raysest vp those that are fallen thou comfortest y e broken harted Thou strengthenest the wearie standes and crooked knees out of the gulfe of hel thou deliuerest the afflicted Out of darknes thou bringest light out of death life and out of damnation thou bringest saluation Heare me therefore O Lorde according to thy louing kindnes turne vnto mee according to
our hope be fully sixed vpon him In whome it hath pleased him that the fulnesse of his grace shuld dwel that from thence wee might all drawe as out of a most plenâ—ifull fountaine the waters of eternall lyfe This secrete and greate mysterie is reuealed to such onely whose eies the Lorde hath opened to see light in his light Therefore since we are taught by faith that whatsoeuer wee haue need of and is wanting in vs the same is laid vp with God for vs in Christ it remaineth that wee seeke it in him and with prayer craue it of him The Apostle therefore to shewe that true faith cannot be separate from the inuocation of Gods holie name hath set this order that as faith commeth by the gospell so by the same faith our heartes are stirred vp to call vpon the name of God and therefore he saith that the spirite of adoption which sealeth in our hearts the witnesse of the Gospell raiseth vp our spirites that they dare with boldnesse shew foorth their desires it stirreth vpon vs vnspeakable gronings and causeth vs to crie with confidence Abba Father By the benefit of prayer therfore we attaine to those riches which God hath laid vpon store for vs for thereby we haue familiar accesse to God and boldlie entring into the sanctuarie of heauen we put him in mind of his promises so that now by experience we feele and finde that to bee true indeed which by the word we did before but onely beleeue now we inioy those treasures by praier which by faith wee did before but onelie beholde in the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Now howe necessarie and profitable this exercise of praier is appeareth in that the Lord himselfe witnesseth our whole saluation to consist in the calling vpon his name wherby he is whollie present with vs namelie by his prouidence fatherly care by the which hee watcheth ouer vs by his power by the which hee sustaineth and succoureth our weaknesse being euery moment readie to perish and by his goodnes mercie by the which he receiueth vs into fauour being miserably loaden pressed downe with sin And hereby groweth singular rest and quiernesse to our conscience For when we haue disclosed to him our necessitie herein wee finde most ioyful and perfect quietnesse that none of our euils are hidden from him whom we are perswaded to bee-both most willing and also most able to help vs. Now that our praiers may be made in such wise as it ought to be first we must see that we be in heart and mind no otherwise prepared then be commeth those that enter into talke with God as we are taught Eccl 28 Before thou pray prepare thy self and be not as one that tempreth God We must consider therfore when we pray in whose presence we stande to whome wee speake and what we desire We stand in the presence of the almightie Creator of heauen and earth all things therin contained to whose eternall Maiestie innumerable thousands of Angels do assist serue and obey we speake vnto him who knoweth the secrets of our harts before whom nothing is more odious thé hypocrisie and dissimulation we ask those things which be most to his glory and the comfort of our consciences We must therefore diligentlie endeuour our selues to remoue all such things as may offende his diuine Majestie And first that wee be free from all worldlie cares and fleshlie cogitations wherby our minds are caried hither thither and being drawne out of heauen and from the pure beholding of God are pressed downe to the earth And heere let vs call to mind howe vnreuerently we abuse the great goodnes of god calling vs into familiar talke with him wheÌ„h we haue not that reuerent fear of his sacred Maiestie that we would haue of an earthly creature or a worldlie prince but suffering our hearts to be carried away with wandering thoughts and worldly imaginations are otherwise occupied and forsake him in the mids of our prayer As God is a spirite so will he be worshipped in spirite and truth that is in the inward affections of the heart and with a true faithful vnfained kind of worship And therefore as at all other times hee requireth the heart so specially in the time of prayer when we shew our selues in his presence enter into communication with him and therupon when he promiseth to heare all those that call vpon him he maketh a restraint saith that call vpon him in truth Seeing therfore that the chiefe dutie of praier consisteth in the heart we must with our whole hart pour out our prayers vnto God the searcher of hearts and with a syncere vnfained ardent affection opening of our heart before god call vpon him or els we shal not find him Let vs knowe therefore that none prepare themselues rightlie to prayer but such as haue a reuerende feare of Gods Maiestie which they cannot haue that come not to iâ— vnburthened of earthlie cares and affections And this is it that is meant in the Scriptures by the lifting vp of handes that we should remember our selues to bee farre off from God vnlesse we lift vp our harts and minds also on high And therefore it is said in the Psalme To thee haue I lifted vp my soule 〈◊〉 Scripture vseth also this maner of speeche To lift vp prayer that they which desâ—â—e to be heard of God should not haue their mindes carried away with earthly cogitations and vanitie And though it bee hard to bee so bent to praier but that we shal find that manie by-thoughtes will creep vpon vs to hinder our praier yet the more harde it is the more earnestlie wee must wrastle to ouercome al lets and hindrances labour withinward groaninges vnto the Lorde that he will linke our hearts fast vnto him and not suffer vs to bee ledde awaie from him by the vaine suggestions of Sathan who at all times compassing vs about is neuer more busie then when we addresse our selues to prayer secretelie and subtillie creeping into our breasts calling vs back from God so that oftentimes when we with all reuereÌ„ce shuld speake to God we finde our hearts talking with the vanities of the worlde or with the foolish imaginations of our owne hearts Finally we must be in christian charity loue and concord with al men seeking vnfained heartie and brotherlie reconciliation if we haue offended any man before we enter into prayer or els God wil not heare our praiers yea they are otherwise execrable and ful of damnable hypocrisie in Gods sight And this that is spoken of praier may bee saide also of hearing of Gods word or anie other seruice of God We must therefore laie aside all malice enuie wrath grudge contention wrangling dissimulation all guilefull craftie and subtle dealing and with a single heart doe to other as wee would they shoulde doe to vs Peter willeth that such as haue once tasted how good and bounteous
the Lorde is and are becom new creatures by the heauenlie regeneration through the doctrine of the gospell should like holie and innocent babes lay aside all such workes of the flesh which do depriue a man of the kingdome of God And Saint Paule commaundeth vs that laying aside those cursed vvorkes of darknesse vve should in the steed thereof put on euen as the elect of God holie and beloued tender mercie kindness humblenesse of minde meeknesse long suffering forbearing one another forgiuing one another if anie haue a quarrell to another as Christ forgaue vs end aboue all these things saith he put on loue vvhich is the bond of perfection let the peace oh God rule in your hearts vvhen ye shall stand and praie saith Sâ— Marke forgiue if ye haue anie thing against anie man that your Father also vvhich is in heauen maie forgiue you your trespassesâ— for if yee vvill not forgiue your father vvhich is in heauen vvill not pardon you your trespasses Moreouer we must haue such a feeling of our owne miserie and wretehednes as may worke in vs an earnest sorrowe and vexation of minde for the same Example whereof wee may see in the deare seruantes of God when they say that out of the deep deepenesse and out of the middes of the iawes of death they vtter vnto the Lord a sorrowfull voice He that desireth mercy must haue a feeling of his owne miserie And therefore saith Dauid Heale my soule O Lord for I haue sinned against thee There is nothing in my flesh saith hee because of thy displeasure neither in there any rest in my bones because of my sin This anguish and sorrowe stirreth vp in Gods children a feruent desire to obtain coÌ„fort help and succour at Gods hande and therfore such as fâ—ele themselues oppressed with great calamities hauing by the help of man no hope of deliuerance doe crie vnto God with afflicted hearts as Dauid did in his distresse My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God and as the hart being vvounded braiâ—th for the riuers of vvater so panteth my soule after thee O God This is that godlie sorrow which S. Paule saith worketh in Gods children repentaunce to saluation The Lorde is nigh to them saith Dauid that are of a contrite heart and vvill saue all such as are afflicted in spirite To him vvill I looke euen vnto him saith the Lord that is afflicted and broken hearted and trembleth at my vvordes Therefore Dauid calleth the time of trouble the fit and conuenient time for the faithful to fly vnto God by prayer And albeit they be not at al times in like distresse or continuallie groning vnder the burthen of present euils yet must they needes bee euer in dread of new daungers and carefully â—ffraid of further troubles to follow As trouble and feare therfore are the verie spurs to â—ir them vp to heartie and feruent prayer â—o by occasion thereof they haue more free accesse vnto God as though he did therby call them vnto him This godly sorrow for sinne and feruent desire and longing for Gods louing mercie and fauour commeth not of our selues but of the speciall goodnesse of God for we are of our selues dul and without al lust to pray â—ea so great is our imperfection that wee know not howe to pray as wee ought and therefore the spirite helpeth our infirmities instâ—ucteth vs what is right and guideth our affections Hee maketh intercession for the Saintes saith 〈◊〉 Paule according to the vvill of God and that vvith Vighes and grâ—anings vvhich cannot be expressed that is hee stirreth vp our he arts giueth vs a desire and boldnesse to pray causeth vs to mourn when we are by any meanes hindred from it and feele not our selues moued therunto with such feruent zeale and affection as we should be Now although wee knowe that it is the only work of the holie Ghost thus to moâ—e and incline our heartes to prayer notwithstanding we may not be negligent slouthfull to dispose and stirre vp our selues therevnto but rather contrariwise so often as we feele our selues colde and not disposed to praier as we ought to be wee must make our supplication vnto the Lorde that it woulde please him to inflame vs with his holie spirit wherby we may be framed to pray with such feruencie of mind as we ought to doe When we are cast downe by the sence feeling of our owne infirmity sinne aud miserie Yet must we pray notwithstanding in sure and stedfast hope to obtaine our requests These be things in deed contrarie in shewe to ioyne with the feeling of the iust vengeance of God sure affiance of fauour which things doe yet verie wel agree in that it is the goodnesse of God onlie that raiseth vs vp being oppressed with our owne euils from the which of our selues we cannot rise For as repentance and faith are knit as companions together albeit the one driueth vs downe with feare and the other lifteh vs vp again with comfort so in praying they must needs go together And this agreement Dauid expresseth in few wordes I vvill saith he in the multitude of thy mercies enter into thy house and in the temple of thy holinesse I vvill vvâ—rship thee vvith feare Therefore when wee are once touched with true repentance and feling of our own miserie we must withall haue such a perswasion of Gods fauor and mercie towards vs in all our praiers that they shall be accepted of God so far foorth as it shall be necessary for â—s This is the assurance saith S. Iohn that vve haue in God that if vve aske anie thing according to his vvill he heareth vs. If we haue not a sure â—rust and confidence in the mercie and promises of God it is vnpossible to make our praier to him aright and whosoeuer doubteth whether God heareth his prayer that man obteineth nothing to such praiers God hath made no promise But contrariwise he saith vvhatsoeuer ye shall aâ—ke in praier if ye beleeue ye shall receiue it And againe VVhatsoeuer yee desire beleeue that yee shall obtaine it and it shal be done vnto you Ask saith Saint Iames in faith and vvauer not for hee that vvauereth is like to the vvaues of the sea vvhich are tossed of the vvind and caried avvaie And why should wee wauer or doubt seeing the holie scriptures testifie of God that he is faithful iust and true in all his wordes and promises saying The Lord is faithfull in all his vvordes hee vvill euer bee mindfull of his couenant the trueth of the Lorde endureth for euer And although our faith be not so strong and therfore our prayer so hearty and zealous as it ought to be yea though our faith be faint and cold yet let vs hold fast this principle that our praiers are not frustrate or in vaine For our comfort herein we haue an example in the father which brought his sonne first to the Apostles and
do appertaine vnto this commaundement Thou shalt not â—ake the name of the Lord thy God in vaine and so praier is a worke and chiefe seruice belonging to this commandement Wee may not therefore thinke that there are no sins but Idolatrie murther theft whoredome and such like but that it is vndoubtedlie a great sin also not to render this seruice to GOD that is not to praie not to aske not to looke for helpe from God in our necessities not to render thanks for the benefits we haue receiued Therefore if our vnworthines at any time do crie out against vs stop or feare vs in such â—orte that our consciences are astonied and flie from God if we doubt whether God hath respect to our paiers groannings and teares we must set before our eies how that we are commanded though we be neuer so vnworthy and our sinnes neuer so manie and great to pray for reconciliation Gods fauour and forgiuenes of our sinnes For els whereas God commaundeth vs to abstain from theft murther whordome c. we maie in like sort excuse our selues and say that we are vnworthie to obeie Gods commandements great is our iniquitie manifest is our contempt and despising of God when wee neglect and delaie to call for his help Such as flie vnto God therefore to call vpon him in their necessities obeie his will and find therein no small consolation knowing that therby they doe vnto him most acceptable seruice for as much as he pronounceth that nothing is to him more acceptable then obedience to his wil and commandement As wee are commanded of God boldlie and without all respect of our owne vnworthinesse to come vnto him as a mercifull father and one that knoweth our necessity pittieth our miserie so hath he promised verie gratiously to heare vs and graunt our requestes And hereof riseth yet a farre more comfortable and greater consolation wherin conâ—isteth our whole coâ—â—idence and trust of obtaining succour and mercie at Gods hand VVherefore he allureth vs with manie sweete promises to call vppon him Aske saith he and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall find knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you yee shall crie vnto me and I vvill heare you ye shall seeke me and ye shall find me Call vpon me in the daie of trouble and I vvill deliuer thee The Lord is nigh to all them that call vpon him that cal vpon him in truth hee doth the vvil of them that feare him and hee vvill heare their prayers Hee shall call vpon me and I vvill heare him I vvill bee vvith him in his trouble I vvil deliuer him and glorifie him At the voice of thy crie hee vvill certainlie haue mercie on thee vvhen he heareth thee he vvill ansvvere thee He that is lorde ouer all is rich and bountifull tovvardes them that call vpon him Hee vvill fulfill the desire of them that feare him he vvil heare their crie and vvill saue them And God to declare his readinesse in hearing of sinners saith Before they cry I vvill ansvvere and vvhiles they are yet thinking vvhat to speak I vvil heare Among many sweete promises of GOD though these might be sufficient to prouoke vs to feruent and hearty prayer yet there be certaine other notable and most comfortable promises which we shuld speciallie hauein remembrance as these If yee vvhich are euill can giue good giftes to your children havv much more shall your heauenlie father giue the holie Ghost to them that desire him Consider the olde generation and marke them vvell vvas there euer anie confounded that put their trust in the Lord or vvho hath continued in his feare and vvas forsaken or vvhom did he euer despise that called vpon him And of all other that is the most notable which by the Prophet Ioel is added immediatlie after the prophesie of that horrible destruction that was at hande saying VVhosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shal be saued Heere let vs consider the order of promises which pertaine either outwardlie to the bodie or inwardly to the soule Which parte the soule I mean because it is much more precious than the other wee must firste craue such things as properlie belong to the saluation thereof But first of all confessing our sinnes vnto God with most humble and penitent hearts let vs set before vs the promises of remission of the same For this sentence is true God heareth no sinners that is such as delight and continue in sin Wherfore in all other praiers yea when we bee about to aske any other thinges whatsoeuer they be let vs first thinke of the remission of sinnes hauing alway in our sight some comfortable promises thereof as this If vve confesse and acknovvledge our sinnes hee is faithfull and righteous to forgiue our offences and to cleanse vs froÌ„ all iniquities And hereunto let vs craue the light of the holie Ghost to kindle and confirme in vs the true knowledge of God Let vs pray for the continuance of Gods holie word and Gospel among vs for the enlarging of his kingdome and the aduancing of his glorie Let vs beg the gift of faith repentance feare patience prayer hope loue ioy peace of conscience with such other fruites of the spirit and for euerlasting lyfe And here also we must remember that we do not onely call our selues continuallie to account for our new sinnes crauing at gods hand mercie and forgiuenes of the same but also for those sinnes which might seeme to haue been long agoe forgotten as Dauid hauing confessed an hainous offence by that occasion returneth euen to his mothers wombe wherein he had gathered the infetion heaping together the sins of the whole life Euen so in another place when hee asketh another thing hee saith Remember not the sinnes of my youth remember me according to thy mercie for thy goodnesse sake O lord Againe Looke vpon mine affliction and trauell and forgiue all my sinnes VVhen we haue thus prayed for thinges pertaining to the soule and to the kingdom of God we must praie also for corporall benefits as well common as priuate as peace and tranquillitie of those Countries which giue harbrough to the true professors of the gospel and godlie congregations being in this life as Daniell in the mids of the Lyons Pray for the peace of Ierusalem saith Dauid Also for defence from miserie deliuerance froÌ„ trouble for happy successe in the workes of our vocation for health liuing protection of life goods name c. And although the Lorde knoweth before we aske what we haue need of and is ready to giue liberally yea doth giue oftentimes vndesired and furthermore hath promised that seeking first the kingdome of god the righteousnes thereof all other things should be giuen vs yet he commaundeth vs to aske corporall benefits and that for three causes First that wee shoulde knowe that hee is the author and giuer thereof and
the increase of thy spirite And sometimes when they see thy glorie more put backe than it was wont to bee eyther in themselues or in any other then are they much more disquieted and vexed But because they knowe that thou doest rule all thinges after thy good will and that none other can helpe them in their neede they oftentimes doe goe aside al businesse laide apart and giue themselues to godly cogitations talke with thee complaining to thee as to their Father of those thinges that grieue them begging thereto and that most earnestly thy helpe not onely for themselues but also for others specially for those whome singularly they imbrace in thee and often doe repeate and remember thy gracious benefits both to others and to themselues also where through they are prouoked to render to thee heartie thankes theirby beeing inflamed as well assuredlie to hope well of thy good will towardes them and patiently to beare al euils as also to study and labour to mortifie the affections of the flesh and to order all their whole life to the seruice of their brethren and to the setting forth of thy glory This they knowe is that prayer which thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord coÌ„maunded to be made to thee in the chamber the doore being shut In this kind of praier hee himselfe did watch often euen all the whole night Heâ—rein was Paule frequent as all the Saints bâ— This kind of praier is the true lifting vp of the minde to thee This standeth in the affections of the heart not in words and in the mouth As thy children be endued with thy spirite so frequent they this talke with thee The more thy spirit is in theme the moreâ— are they in talke with thee Oh giue me plentifully thy spirits which thou hast promised to powre out vpon all fleshe that thus I may with thy Saintes talke with thee night and daie for thy onely beloued Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Moreouer thy Saintes to prouoke them to this kinde of praier do vse first there necessitie which they consider in three sortes inwardlie concerning their soules outwardly concerning their bodies and finally concerning their name fame wherto they adde the necessitie of these that he committed to them the necessitie of thy Church and of the common weale Secondly they use thy commandements which require them vnder paine of sinne to pray to thee in all their neede Thirdly they vse the consideratioÌ„ of thy goodnesse which art naturallie mercifull to young Rauens calling vpon thee much more then to them for whome Rauens and all thinges else were made for whome thou hast not spared thy deare sonne but giuen him c. Fourthly they vse the 〈◊〉 sweet and free promises made to heare and helpe all them that call vpon thee in Christes name Fiftly they vse examples ho we that thou which art the GOD of all and rich vnto all them that call vpon thee in Christs name hast hard and holpen others calling vppon thee Sixtly they vse the benefites giuen them before they asked thereby not onely prouoking them to aske more but also certifying their faith that if thou wast so good to graunt them many thinges vnaskt nowe thou will not denie them any thing they aske to thy glory and their wealth Last of all they vse the reading and weighing of Psalmes and other good praiers because they knowe that thereby peculiarlie besides the other Scriptures there is no small helpeâ— as may appeare by Paule Ephes â— whereby he willeth the congregation to vse Psalmes hiâ—â—es and spirituall songes but so that in the heart wee woulde sing and say them Not that thy children doe not vse their tongues and wordes in praying to thee for they doe vse their tongues speeche and wordes to stirre vp their inwarde desire and feruencie of the minde ful wel knowing that else it were a plaine mocking of thee to pray with lippes and tongues onely Oh that I might feele nowe the spirite so to affect mee that both with heart and mouth I might heartily and in faith pray vnto thee Now concerning the things that are to bee prayed for thy children knowe that the prayer taught by thy sonne most surely and plainly doth containe the same and therefore they often vse it first asking of thee their heauenly father through Christ that thy name might euerie where bee had in holynesse and praise then that thy kingdome by regeneration the ministerie of the Gospell might come so thirdly that willinglie perfectlie and perpetuall they might studie to doe yea doe indeede thy will with thy holy and heauenly Angels and spirits These things they seeke and pray for namely thy kingdome and thy rigâ—hteousnesse before anie worldly benefite After which petitions because all thinges yea euen the benefits of this present life doe came from thee they doe godly desire the same vnder the name of daily bread being instructed of thy wisdome that after spiritual benefites to aske corporal is not vnseemly vnto thy children which knowe both spirituall and corporall to come 〈◊〉 thy mercie In the other petitions they prair for thinges to bee taken from them beginning with forgiuenesse of sins which were impudentlie praied for if that their heartes were not so broken that they coulde forgiue all things to al men for their part They adde their profession that is charytie whereby they professe that they haue forgiuen all offences doone to them How be it because it is not enough to haue pardon of that which is past except they bee preserued from newe offences they pray thee not to kinde them into temptation by permitting them to the peruerse suggestions of Sathan but rather to deliuer them from his importunitie and power vnderstanding Sathan the authour of all euill Oh deare God that thou wâ—uldest endue mee with thy spirite of grace and prayer with thy children accordinglie to make this prayer alwaies whensoeuer I doe pray As for outwarde euils so long as they doe not as it were inforce thy people to sinne in that Christian perfection doth account them amongest thy benefites Thy Sonne hath not taught thy Church to pray for the taking away of them in their prayer for heere he hath contained but those thinges for the which all Christians generally and particularlie may of faith pray at all times It often commeth to passe that exterior euils because they bee not euils indeede that is they bee not against Gods grace in vs therefore they cannot of faith bee praied for to bee taken away for thy children that haue faith doe alwaies preferre thy iudgement before their owne The which iudgement when they knowe by that which hapneth to them they submit themselues thereto wholy although the spirit make his vnspeakable gronings to helpe their infirmities by prayer not to haue them taken away but that they might haue strength and patience to beare the burden accordingly Which burthen if it bee too heauie in the bitter sense end feeling thereof they
in their preiers doe complaine some thing rather than pray to haue it taken away as our Sauiour did in he garden when he added to his complaint Not my will but thy wil be done So do thy people in all their complaintes adde Not as we will but as thou wilt For they are taught by thy spirit no otherwise to pray for the taking away of corporall euils either from themselues or from others vnlesse they by the same spirite doe certainely see the same to make to thy glorie as 〈…〉 Apostles and scrâ—â—ntes when absolutelie and without condition they did aske health or miracle for anie when they healed or raised the deadâ— by praier for they knewe nothing can bee better than when it is according to thy will Oh that I might alwaies know thy will in al things and for euer applie myselfe thereto Heereof it commeth that thy saints and deare children which loue their neighbours as themselues doe yet notwithstanding in their praiers aske vengeance of some as wee may read in the Psalmes of Dauid because in praying and talking with thee they see by thy holy spirit for without it is no true praier sometimes thy iudgments vpon some which they perceiue to sinne to death and therefore ought not to be praised for because thy glory cannot die for fâ—â—th as it shoulde bee without their destruction Thy will is alwaies best and the thing whereto they frame 〈◊〉 their desires Therefore when they perceiue that it is decreed with thee such and such by their destruction to set forth more mightily thy glory â—owe shoulde they but desire and pray for the same and write as Dauid hath 〈◊〉 that the godly in reading and weâ—ing such praiers might receiue comfort and the vngodly bee afraid else 〈◊〉 that they perceiue not so manifestly the determined iudgement of God they in their praiers doe most heartely pray for them 〈◊〉 Samuell did for Saule Moyses for the Israelites and Abraham for the Sâ—domiteâ— Oh good father for thy merites sake giue me the 〈◊〉 loue of mankinde but yet so that I may loue 〈◊〉 thee and in thee 〈◊〉 alwaies preferre thy glory aboue all thinges through Christe our Lorde Nowe though thy children doe knowe that thy will cannot but bee doone and nothing can bee done but that thou of thine owne will hast determined to doe although no man shoulde desire the same yet are they earnest and frequent in prayer first to render obedience to thee which requirest prayer as a spirituall seruice to thee secondly because thou hast ordained praier to bee as an instrument and meane by the which thou workest thinges with thee alreadie decreede and determined Thy children doe vse prayer to offer thee their seruice if it shall please thee to vse the same and as they doe eate and drinke which is a meane ordained of thee for the conuersation of their life not looking thereby to lengthen their daies aboue their bounds which alreadie thou hast appointed but as it becommeth them to vse the meanes which thou hast ordained to serue thy prouidence so do they as men heerein not curious to knowe thy prouidence further than thou reuealest it vse prayer as a mean by the which thou art accustomed to worke many of thy childrens desires that according to thy good will thou mayest vse the same They doe not thinke a mutability in thee for thou art God art not chaunged with thee there is no variablenesse and therefore they pray not as men which would haue thy determination and ordinances which are in most wisedome and mercy to bee â—â—tered but rather that they might submite their wils to thine and make them more able to beare thy will and pleasure They knowe thou hast promised to helpe them calling vppon thee wherfore they doubt not but so thou wilt doe and therefore praie accordinglie They loue thee hartilie and therefore they cannot but desire much to talke with thee that is to pray euen as a well manered and louing wife will not take vpon her to aske anie thing of her husband at all but that she hopeth hee wil take in good part and do of his own free wil although she had spoken nothing thereof When she knoweth what her husbandes will is in thinges she gladly talketh with him thereof and according as shee seeth hee is disposed to doe she wil often desire him to doe it Euen so thy children I say which heartilie loue thee in that they know thy wisedome and will is best howe can they but often talke with thee and desire thee to do that which they knowe is best which they know also thou wouldest do if none shoulde ask or pray for the same Thy children vse prayer as a meane by the which they see plainly thy power thy presence thy prouidence mercie and goodnesse towards them in graunting their petitions and by prayer they are confirmed of them al. Yea thy children vse praier to admonish them howe that all things are in thy handes In praier they are as it were of thee put in minde of thâ—se thinges which they haue doone against thee their good Lorde By reason whereof repentance ensueth and they conceiue a purpose to liue more purely euer afterwardes and more heartilie to applie themselues to all innocencie and goodnesse Who nowe considering so manie great commodities to come by reason of prayer would maruell why thy children are much in prayer and labouring to prouoke others therevnto For as none that is a â—â—ter to any other will vse anie thing which might offend or hinder his suite so no man that vseth praier will flatter himselfe in any thing that shoulde dâ—â—please thee to whom by prayer he moueth sute whensoeuer he praieth so that nothing is a more prouocation to all kinde of godlinesse than prayer is As concerning outward thinges which thy children praie for although they know thy will and decree is not variable thy purpose must needes come to passe yet doe they receiue by their prayer no small commoditie For either they obtaine their requestes or not If they doe obtaine them then proue they by experience that thou doest the will of them that feare thee and so they are more kindled to loue and serue thee And in deed for this purpose thou art wont when thou wilt doe good to anie to stirre vp their mindes to desire the same good of thee to the ende that both thou and thy giftes may bee so much the more magnified and set by of them by howe much they haue beene earnest â—uters and petitioners for the same For howe can it but inflame them with loue towardes thee to perceiue and feele thee so to care for them heare them and loue them If they doe not obtaine that they pray for yet vndoubtedly they receiue great comfort to see that the euils which presse them and whereof they complaine still do not oppresse and ouercome them and therefore they receiue strength to beare the same the better O
hereof but certainely be perswaded all this to pertaine to me where I might haue beene borne of Turkes and infidels lot thou wouldest I shoulde bee borne of Christian Parentes brought into thy Church by Baptisme which is a Sacrament of adoption and requireth faith as well of remission of my sinnes as of sanctification and holynesse to bee wrought of thee in mee by thy grace and holy spirite Where I might haue beene boâ—e in an ignorant time Region thou wouldest I shoulde be borne in this time and Region wherein is more knowledge reueales than euer was heere or any place is where I might haue beene of a corrupt iudgement and intangled with many errurs loe thou of thy goodnesse as thou hast reformed my iudgement so doest thou keepe it nowe for the same iudgments sake doâ—st vouchsafe somwhat by the Crosse to trie mee By all which thinges I shoulde confirme my faith of this that thou alwaies hast been art and wilt be for euer my deere father In respect whereof as I shoulde be certainâ— of saluation of the inheritance 〈◊〉 heauen for 〈◊〉 should I bee thankfull cast my whelt cant on thee trust to thee and call on thee with comforte certaine hope for all things that I want For in that thou hast giuen to me this benefite to bee thy childe vndeserued and undesired on my behalfe simply and onely in respect of thine owne goodnesse and grace in Christ least at any time I shoulde doubt of it how should I but hope certainely that nothing profitable to me can be denied in that thy power in infinite For as thy good will is declared in adopting me so nothing can be finally wanting in mee which may make for my weale for then should not thy power be almightie therefâ—re my beliefe requireth that I shoulde beleeue in thee the father almighty In consideration whereof I should in all thinges behaue my selfe as a child reioice in thee praise thee trust in thee feare thee serve thee love thee call vpon thee c. But alas howe heauiâ— harted am I Now vnthankfull am I Nowe full of vnbeleife doubting of this thy rich mercie Nowe little doe I loue thee feare thee call vpon thee c. Oh be mercifull vnto mee forgiue me good Father for thine o wne sake and grant mee the spirit of thy children to reueale thy selte vnto me and Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne our Lorde by whome wee art made thy children that I may truely knowe thee heartily loue thee faithfully hang vpon thee in all my needes with good hope call vpon thee tender faithfully this honor to thee that thou art my God and Father and I thy deare Childe through thy grace in Christ â—nd so alwaies be indued with an assured hope of thy goodnes and a faithfull obedient heart in all things to thy holy will At thy handes and from thee as I must looke for allthings so come I vnto thee pray thee to giue mee these thinges which thy deere children haue and thou requirest of mee that I may come and aske them of thee as now I do through Iesus Christ our Lord. As by this worde Father I am taught to glory of thee and in thee and all that euer thou hast for thou art wholy mine my Lorde my God my father so by this word Our I am taught to glory of all the good that all and euerie of thy seruantes that euer were are or shalbe had haue or shall haue For now I am taught to beleeue that thou hast called mee into the communion of thy Church and people whome heereby I perceiue thâ—â— host commaunded to bee as carefull for mee as for themselues and in all their praiers to be as mindful of me as of themselues Againe as by this word Father I am taught to remember render my duty I ow to thee wardes faith loue feare obedience c. So by this word Our I am taught my dutie towards thy people to be carefull of them and to take their sorrow pouertie affliction c. as mine owne and therefore to labour to helpe them in hart and hand after my vocation and ability vtterly abhorring all pride selfe loue arrogancie and contempt of anie By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lament because I am so farre from consideration much more from doeing my duetie to thy people in thoughts words and deeds To reioyce because I am called of thee and placed in the blessed society of thy Saintes and made a member and citizen of the heauenly Ierusalem because thou hast giuen in commaundement to all thy Church to bee as carefull for me as for themselues But alas how farre am I heerefrom As I am guiltie of vnthankfulnesse for this thy callyng mee into the blessed communion of thy deare sonne and Church yea of thy selfe so I am guiltie of selfe loue vnmercifulnesse pride arrogancie forgetfultnesse and contempt of thy children for else I could not but bee otherwise affected and otherwise labour than I doe Oh be mercifull vnto mee good Father forgâ—ue me and grant for Christes sake that as my tonge scundeth this worde Our so I may in heart feele the true ioy of thy blessed compassion and the true loue and communion which thy children haue and feele towardes their brethern that I may reioyce in all troubles in respect of that ioyfull communion that I may denie my selfe to honour thy children vpon earth and endeuour my selfe to doe them good for thy sake through Iesus Christ our Lorde I come onely to thee to giue mee that which I cannot nor must not elsewhere haue and thou requirest it of me that therefore I should as thy childe come and crane it to thy glorie Which art in heauen AS by these wordes Our Father I am taught to glorie and reioyce for the blessed communion which I am called to with thee deare Father with thy Christ and with thy holy Church so also am I heere taught by these wordes which art in heauen to reioyce in respecte of the place and blessed ioyes whereunto at the length in thy good time I shall come For nowe I may perceiue that as heauen is thy home so is it mine also being as I am thy child through Christ although here for a time I am bodily on earth and in miserie Againe by these wordes which art in heauen I am admonished not onlie to discerne thee from earthly Fathers and to know howe that thou art Almighty present in all places and of moste puritie to confirme thereby my faith to be prouoked the more to feare thee to reuerence thee c. But also I am admonished to iudge of thy fatherly loue by heauenly benefites and not by corporal simply and alonely for oftentimes the wicked prosper more in the world and haue more worldly benefites then thy children So that by this I see thou wouldest pull vp my minde from earth and earthly thinges to heauen
for whom thou wouldest I shoulde praie Here think vpon the state of religion the life of the professors of the Gospel that thou maist lament some pray for some and giue thankes for some Let thy kingdome come THy Kingdome is in two fortes to be considered vniuersally and particularly vniuersally according to thy power wherwith thou gouernest al things euery where in earth heauen hell diuels Angels men beastes foules fishes and all other creatures Of this kingdome spake Dauid when he saide His kingdom ruleth ouer all Particularly thy kingdome is to be considered according to thy grace wherewith thou raignest onely in thy Church elect people ruling and gouerning all and euerie member of thy Church to thy glorie and their eternal comfort Not that out of this Church I exclude thy power for as there with thou defendest thy people so thou punishedâ— thy enimies but because thy grace is specially considered beeing as it were the verie keeper that keepeth and guideth thy people The time will be when this kingdome of grace and power now being as dinstinct shal be vnited and made one kingdome of glorie which will be when Christ shall giue vp his kingdome into thyne handes that is in the resurrection When death the last enimie shall be subdued and thâ—â—â— shalt be all in all In the meane season this kingdome of grace is miraculously and mightiely propagated enlarged and gonerned by the true Ministerie of thy woord and sacramentes through the working of thy holy spirit and this is the meane and waie whereby as thou didst first plant so doest thou enlarge amplifie and preserue the same This kingdome of grace begunne continued and inlarged by the true preaching of thy Gospell and ministration of thy Sacramentes is the thing which Christ teacheth here thy children to pray for that it might come that is to say that thy Gospel might so mightily purelie and plenteouslie bee preached maugre the heade of all thine enemies that the number of thine electe might bee brought in and so the kingdome of thy glorie might appeare So that as I see thy children desire pray and labour that thy Gospell might bee trulie preached hearde and liued in themselues and in others so they lament the not preaching and refusing the not lining and not beleeuing thy Gospell yea they lament the lingring of y e comming of thy Christ for in his comming they know they shall be like vnto him and hauing this hope they purifie themselues as he is pure By reason heereof I see first that I am farre from this desire and lamenting which thy children haue I see my ignorance of thy kingdome and power euery where also of thy grace in thy Church only and of thy glory when al the enemies of thy grace shal bee cast downe and thy glorie and power shall embrace each other I see my ignorance howe acceptable a seruice to thee is the true preaching and the hearing of thy Gospel for els thou hadst not needed to haue placed this petition next to the petition of the sanctifying of thy name Againe I see heere mine vnableneesse to enter into thy kingdome and to attaine to it for els what neede shoulde I haue to pray for that to come from thee which otherwise may be atchieued Thirdlye I see my peruersity and contempt of thy kingdome grace for although I see my want yet I woulde not desire thy kingdome to come if thou diddest not commande me so to pray and if I woulde haue praied for it thou wouldest not haue commaunded me Last of all I see thy goodnesse which wilt bring thy kingdome and that as generally by sending foorth ministers to preach truly so particularlye by regenerating mee more and more and by giuing me as grace heere so glorie elsewhere for thou wouldest not I should pray for that which thou wilt denie So that I haue great cause to lament and reioice To lament because of my miserable state and condition because of my sinne ignorance rebellion peruersity Sathans power contempt of thy grace thy Gospell and ministery here or elsewhere To reioice because of thy goodnesse great mercie which hast brought me into thy Church keepest me in it aud wilt do so still Also because of the ministerie of thy word sacrameÌ„acute ts by which the holy Ghost is and will be effectuall and finally because of the great glory whereunto thou hast called mee and which now thou wilt giue vnto mee asking the same But alas how vnthankefull I am and sorrowlesse Lord thou knowest for my heart is not hid from thee Oh be merciful vnto me and forgiue me good father and graâ—nt me the spirit of thy children to reueale vnto mee my ignorance of thy kingdome my pouertie and peruersitie that I may lament the same and daily labour for thy helpe and thy holye spirite to suppresse the kingdome of sinne in my selfe and in others Againe graunt me that same thy holie spirit to reueale to me thy kingdome of power grace and glorie to kindle mine affections to regenerate me more and more to raigne in me as a peece of thy kingdome to giue to me to desire to pray and to labour for thy kingdome both to my selfe and to others effectually to thy glorie and to assure my conscience of thy goodnes that thou wilt giue me grace glorie c. Here call to minde the state of the ministery and ministers the light and life of Gospellers the errors and heresies which men be intangled withall Thy will be done AS thy power is infinit so is thy wisedome accordinglie Whereby as we may perceiue that nothing is or can bee done against thy power or otherwise than by it so is there not nor cannot be any thing done against or otherwise then by thy omnipotent and secret wil which is alwaies as tâ—ou art good holie and iust how farre so euer it seeme otherwise to our foolishe reason and iudgement and therefore here we are taught to pray that thy wil may bee done here without sinne on mans behalfe as it is on the Angels behalfe in heauen Againe for as much as thou art incomprehensible of thy selfe as well concerning thy power as concerning thy wisdome we may not according thereto search thee but rather adore and worship thy maiestie and tremble at thy iudgments and works and therefore praie alwaies we may bee content with thy wil and be buxomr and obedient thereto And for as much as thou hast reuealed vnto vs somuch of thy wil in thy word writtenas is necessary for vs in this life to knowe yea as wee can attaine vnto a little further wee ought to take al things done against the same as â—â—nne and transgression although thou canst vse the same sinne to serue thy preuidence of the which prouidence we cannot nor may not iudge further than thou hast and shalt open it vnto vs. So that this petition Thy wil be done is
not simply to be vnderstoode concerning thy omnipotent wil vnreuealed against the which nothing is nor can be done but rather concerning thy will reuealed in the lawe and Gospell the which thou heere teachest mee that wee shoulde desire not onely to know it but also to do it and that in such perfection and willingnesse as it is in heauen The which thing I perceiue hereby that thy children doe desire daily in and for themselues and othrs and doe la ment the contrarie in whom so euer it be so that often their eies gush out with riuers of teares because men keepe not thy lawes By reason hereof I see that I am far from the sighes and teares of thy people I see my ignorance of thy wil if thou hadst not opened the same by thine owne mouth I see my ignorance how acceptable a seruice obedience to thy wil is and therefore do est thou place this petition amonge the first and continuall desires of thy children Againe I see my pouertie in godlie obedience which had neede to be taught to praie for it therby to signifie vnto me my want vnability to attaine it but by thy gift Thirdlye I see my disobedience for else neuer wouldest thou haue commanded me to haue praier for the doing of thy holy wit if I seeing my want would haue prayed so Last of all I see thy goodnesse which wilt giue to me and others to obey thy will that is to loue thee with al our harts to loue our neighbor as our selues to dy to our selues to liue to thee to take by our crosse and to followe thee to beleeue to repent c. for els thou wouldest neuer haue bidden vs to pray for a thinge which we should not looke for So that I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament because of my miserable estate and condition because of my sinne ignorance pouertie and peruersitie and because thy will is euery wher either not known or contemned and Sathans wil the will of the world and of the flesh readily obeied To reioice I haue great cause for that thou hast opened thy selfe will vnto mankind for that also thou peculiarlie hast taught me these things because thou wilt graunt me grace to doe the same But alas how vnthankfull I am and how hard hearted thou Lord doest know Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me I beseeche thee gracious God Graunt me thy holie spirit to reueale to mee my ingnorance of thy will my pouerty peruersitie that I may heartilie be watle it c. and by the helpe and working of the same spirit may suppresse the wil of the fleshe Againe graunt mee thy holie spirit to reueale to mee thy wil declared in thy lawe and Gospell that I may trulie knowe the same and inflame so my affections that I may wil and loue the same in such sorte that it may be my meat and drinke to doe thy wil. Heere call to mind the ten commandementes of God particularlie or generally what therein herequireth and praie for the same particularlie as you see your neede and that not onelie for your selfe but also for others Praie for patience to suffer what crosse soeuer God shall lay vpon and pray for them that be vnder the crosse that they may be patient praie for spirituall wisedome in euery crosse peculiar or publike that you maye see and loue Gods will Giue vs this day our daily bread BY Bread the foode of the body are vnderstode all thinges necessarie for this corporall life as meate drinke health sâ—ccesse in our vocation c. By this worde Giue wee shoulde vnderstand that not onely spirtuall thinges but also corporall benefites are Gods free gifts a come not for our worthines or trauel taken about the same although our trauels be of tentimes meanes by the which God doth giue corporall things By daylie we vnderstand the contented mindes of thy children with that which is sufficient for the preseÌ„t time as hauing hope in thee that they shall not want but daily shall receiue at thy handes plentie and inough of all thinges By this word Our are as wel vnderstood publike benefites as peace in the common weale good Magistrates good lawes reasonable weather c. also particular benefites namely children helth succes in the workes of our vocation c. And besides this by it wee shoulde see the care euen for corporal things which thy children haue for others as wel as for themselues So that heere I may learne how farre I am from that I shoulde bee and that I see thy children are come vnto I see my ignorance also howe that as spirituall thinges do come from thee so doe temporall thinges and as they come from thee so are they conserued and kept of thee and therefore thy children are thankefull and look for them as thy meer gifts notwithstanding the meanes which they vse if they haue them howbeit they vse them but as meanes for except thou worke therewith all is in vaine Againe heere I am taught to bee content with that which is sufficient for the present time as thy children bee which haue the shortnesse of this life alwayes before their eyes and therfore they aske but for dailie sustenance knowing this life to be compared to a day pea a watch a sound a shadow c. Moreouer I may learn to see the compassion and brotherly care which thy children haue one for another Last of all heere I may see thy goodnesse which as thou wilt giue me all things necessarie for this life or els thou wouldest not bid me aske c. so thou commandest all men to pray and care for mee and that bodily much more then if they be able they are commanded to help mee both in body and soule By reason wherof I haue greate cause to lament and reioyce To lament because I am not so affected as thy children be because of my ignorance my ingratitude my peruersitie and contempt of all goodnes and of the necessitie of thy people which alas be in great miserie some in exâ—â—e some in prison som in pouertie â—â—cknesse c. To reioice I haue great cause because of thy goodnes in teaching mee these things in commaunding mee to aske whatsoeuer I want in giuing me so many thinges vnasked in keeping the benefites giuen me in commaunding men to care for me to pray for me to helpe me c. But alas how far I am either froÌ„ true lamenting or reioycing Lorde thou knowest Oh be merciful vnto mee and helpe mee forgiue mee and grant me thy holie spirite to reueale to mee my neede ignorance great in gratitude and contempt of thy mercies thy people that in such sort that I might hartely lament and be wail my misery through thy goodnesse bee altered with thy people to mourne for the miseries of thy children as for mine owne Againe reueale to mee thy goodnesse deare
lying with many other euils whereto tentations will intice a man that is left to himselfe whereas to one that is guided with Gods spirit temptations are but trials to the glorie of GOD comfort of the tempted and edyfâ—ing of thy Church But as I saide if a man bee left alone tentations entice euen to the diuel himselfe and therefore thy children praye to bee deliuered from euill vnderstanding thereby Sathan himselfe the sower of and supporter of all euill And this thy children do as well for others as for themselues So that I may learne heereby many good thinges First to remember often our infirmitie and weakenesse the daungerous estate wee stand in in respect of our fleshe of the worlde which is full of euil of Sathan which seeketh to sift vs and as a roaring Lion to destroy vs and of our sinnes which deserue al kinde of punishments and correction that I might with thy children feare thee watch pray and desire the daye of redemption and deliueraunce from all euils Againe I may learne heere that to auoide all daungers and euils is not in the power of man but onelie thy worke By reason whereof I shoulde consider thy great goodnesse which hitherto hast kept me from so many euils both of soule and bodie yea of name goods c. as thou hast doone in my infancie childhood youth middle age c. Thirdly I may learne heere that I should bee careful for others both that they might bee deliuered from their euils and that they might bee preserued from temptation and from being ouercome in the same and thâ—rfore thou teachest me not to pray Deliuer me from euil simplie but Deliuer vs from euiil Last of all I am taught thereby to see thy goodnes towards me which will deliuer mee from euill and from being ouercome in tentations for thou wouldest not haue mee aske for that which I should not certainly looke for at thy handes By reason whereof thou wouldest haue mee to bee in a certainety of my saluation for euer For else I cannot beleeue my prayer to bee heard if that finally I shoulde not bee deliuered from euill and therefore thou ioynest hereto a giuing of thanks which with thy Church I should say For thine is the kingdome thine is the power thine is the glorie for euer By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lament because of my corruption infirmitie weakenesse obliuâ— on and carelesnesse for thy people ingratitude c. because of Sathans power vigilancie and prudencie which hatâ— ouercome most graue wise and holâ— men whereof some neuer recouercâ— as Cain Cam Achitophel Saul Iuda 〈◊〉 To reioyce because of thy goodnesse which teacheth me this aâ— shewest mee the remedie commaundest all thy church to pray for mee and wilt at length deliuer mee from all euill and giue me glorie But alas I am altogether carelesse and miserable Oh be merciful vnto mee deare father and for Christs sake for giue me all my sinnes grant me thy holy spirit to reueale to me mine infirmities weakenes perils dangers c. in such sort that as I may heartily lament my miseries so I may aske and obtaine thy grace to guide me from all euill for euermore Againe grant mee the same thy holy spirite to reueale to me thy loue and kindnesse towards me and that in eternitie in such sort that I may be throughly perswaded of the same become thankeful vnto the a dailie expect and look for the reuelation of thy kingdom power and glorie as one that for euer shall haue the fruition of the same through thine own goodnes and mercie in Christ prepared for mee before the beginnings foundation of the world was laide Heere call to minde our securitie sathans vigilancie our negligence his diligence our infirmitie his abilitie our ignorance his craft and subtiltie c. Againe call to minde howe that he hath ouerthrowne for a time many of the deare saintes of God to whom we are to be compared in nothing as Adá Eue Lot Iudas Thamar Moses Aaron Myrian Samson Gedeon Ely Dauid Solomon Ezechias Iosias Peter Thomas and innumerable moe Also call to minde the goodnesse of God and of our sheepehearde Christ which hath kept vs hitherto keepeth vs still and teacheth vs heere to know that hee will keepe vs for euer for hee woulde not haue vs aske for deliuerance from euil if that hee would not wee shoulde certainely looke for the same If thou doubt of small perseuerance thou dishonourest God Bee certaine therefore rest in hope bee still in his worde See also how he hath commmaunded his whole church and euery member thereof to pray for thee all well as for themselues in these and all other thinges Nowe and then goe about to recken how many and diuerse kindes of euils there bee and thereby as you may know you are deliuered from none but by Gods greate goodnesse so may you see that the number of euils that you haue are nothing to bee compared to the multitude of euils wherewith if your Christ were not the diuel would all to beray you infect and corrupt you But what are all the miseries and euils that can bee to be compared to â—he least ioy prepared for vs in heauen Oh thinke of those ioyes and pray that when the tide of death commeth we may hale forth of the haueh of this flesh and this world ioyfully In praying this petition call to minde the euils you haue beene in the euil you are in and the euils you may fall into if God shoulde not preserue you that you might be stirred vp the more to thankefulnesse to prayer to trust in God For thine is the kingdom thine is the power thine is the glory for euer AS in the beginning of this prayer by these wordes Our father which art in heauen thy children an excited stirred vp to a ful confidens of obtaining the petitions following all things necessarie so in the latter end thou hast added for the same pâ—â—â—pose these wordes For thine is the kingdom thineis c. Wherin I 〈◊〉 taught these many things First that iâ— prayer I should haue such consideration of thy kyngdom power glorie eternitie that my minde should be striken with an admiration of the same Secondly that I should so consider theÌ„ especially in prayer that I should not doubt but that thou workest rulest gouernest all things euery where in all persons and creatures most wisely iustly and mercifully Thirdly that in praier al my petitions should tend to the setting footh of the power of thy kingdom and of thy glorie Last of all that in prayer I should in no wise doubt of being heard but be assured that thou which hast commaunded me to pray and hast promised to heare mee doest most gratiousâ—e for thy mercies sake and truthes sake heare my petitions according to thy good wil through Iesus Christ thy deare sonne our Lords and only Sauiour By reason whereof I haue greate cause
but all libertie all light all pleasantnesse all ioye reioycing mirth pleasure health welth riches glorie power treasure honor triumphe comforte solace loue vnitie peace concorde wisedome vertue melodie meekenesse felicitie beatitude and al that euer can be wished or desired in most securitie eternitie and perpetuitie that ma bee thought not onely of man but of Angels and Archangels yea aboue all thoughts The eie hath not seene the like the eare hath not hearde nor no hearte is able to conceiue in anie point anie parte of the blisseful beatitude which is with thee most deare Lorde and sauiour most gracious God and comforter Where thou art O blessed GOD the Archangels Angels Thrones Powers Dominations Cherubines Seraphins Patriarches Prophets Apostles Martyrs Virgins Confessours and righteous spirites cease not to sing night and day holy holy holy Lord God of Hoasts honour maiestie glorie power empire and dominion be vnto thee Oh God the creatour O Lord Iesu the redeemer O holy spirite the comforter In recordation of this O howe thy children reioyced Howe coÌ„temne they the pleasures of this worlde How little esteeme they anie corporall griefe or shame How desire they to be with thee Howe amiable are thy tabernacles O Lorde GOD of hostes say they My soule hath a desire to enter into the Courtes of the Lorde my hearty and my soule reioyceth in the liuing GOD blessed are they that dwell in thy house that they maie bee alwaies praysing thee For one daie in thy Courtes is better than a thousand elsewhere I had rather be a doorekeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tentes of vngodlinesse for the Lorde God is a light and defence And againe Like as the Hart desire the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O God My soule is a thirst for God yea euen for the liuing God When shall I come to appeare before the presence of God My soule thirsteth for thee my soule also longeth after thee in a barren and dry land where no water is They thy children I meane O Lorde desire the daie of that their redemption Still they crie Let thy kingdome come They crie Come Lord Iesus They lift vp their heades looking for thy appearing Oh Lorde which wilt make their vile bodies like to thine owne glorious and immortall bodie For when thou shalt appeare they shall bee like vnto thee Thy Angels will gather them together and they shall meete thee in the cloudes and bee alwayes with thee They shall heare this ioyfull voyce Come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning Then shall they be like to thy Angles Then shall they be like vnto the Sonne in thy kingdome Then shall they haue crownes of glorie and be indued with white garments of innocencie and righteousnesse hauing palms of victory in their hands Oh happy is he that may but see that immortall and incorruptible inheritaunce which they shall inioy for euermore Amen I. B. A meditation of the presence of GOD. THere is nothing that maketh more to true godlinesse of life than the perswasion of thy presence deare father and that nothing is hid from thee but all to thee is open naked euen our very thoughts which one day thou wilt reueale and open either to our prayse or punishment in this life as thou diddest Dauids faultes which he did secretly 2. Keg 12. or in the life to come Matth 25. for nothing is so hid that shall not be reuealed Therfore doth the Prophet saie Woe to them that keepe their secret thoughts to hide their counsell from the Lorde and doe their workes in darknesse saying who seeth vs Graunt mee therefore deare God mercie for all my sinnes especyallie my hid and close sinnes Enter not into iudgemeÌ„t with mee I humbly beseech thee giue me to beleeue truely in the Christ that I neuer come into iudgement for them and that with Daâ—id I might so reueale theÌ„ vnto thee that thou wouldest in thy great mercie couer them And graunt further that henceforth I may alwaies thinke my selfe continually conuersane before thee so that if I do well I need not to passe of the publishing of it as hypocrites 〈◊〉 If I think o do any euill I may â—â—â—th with know that the same shall not alwaies be hid from men Graunt mee that I may alwaies haue in minde that daie wherein the hid workes of darknesse shall be illuminated and also that sentence of thy sonne that nothing is so secret which shall not be reuealed So in trouble and wrong I shall finde comfort and otherwise be kept through thy grace from euill which doe thou worke I humbly beseech thee for Christs sake I. B. A meditation of the prouidence of God THis ought to bee vnto vs moste certaine that nothing is done without thy prouidence O Lord that is that nothing is done bee it good or bad sweete or sowre but by thy knowledge that is by thy will wisedome and ordinaunce for all this knowledge both comprehendâ—â— in it as by thy holie worde wee are taught in many places that euen y e life of a sparrow is not without thy wil nor anie libertie or power vpon a porket haue all the diuels in Hell but by thy appontment and will which will we alwaies must beleeue most assuredly to be al iust and good howsoeuer otherwise it seeme vnto vs for thou art maruellous and not comprehensible in thy waies holy in all thy workes But hereunto it is necessarie also for vs to knowe no lesse certainlie that though all thinges bee done by thy prouidence yet the same prouidence hath many diuers meanes to worke by which meanes beeing contemned thy prouidence is contemned also As for example Meat is a meane to serue thy prouidence for the preseruation of health life heere so that he which contemneth to eate because thy prouidence is certaine and infallible the same contemneth thy prouidence In deede if it were so that meate could not be had then should we not tie thy prouidence to this meane but make it free as thou art free that is that without meate thou canst helpe and giue health and life for it is not of any neede that thou vsest any instrument or meane to serue thy prouidence Thy power and wisedome is infinite and therefore shoulde wee hang on thy prouidence euen when all is cleane against vs. But for our crudition and infirmities sake it hath pleased thee by meanes to worke and deale with vs heere to exercise vs in obedience and because we cannot else so great is our corruption sustaine thy naked and bare presence Graunt me therefore deere Father I humbly beseech thee for Christes sake that as I somthing now know these things so I may vse this knowledge to my comfort commodity in thee that is grant that in what state soeuer I be I may not doubt but
to all euill and continually desire the dissolution of it with Paule and the deliuerance from it as much as euer did prisoner his deliuerance out of prison for alâ—â—ely by it the Diuell hath a doore to tempt and so to hurt mee in it I am kept from thy presence thou from being so conuersant with me as else thou wouldest be by it I am restrayned from the sense and feeling of all the ioyes and comfortes in maner which are to bee taken as ioyes and comfortes indeede If it were dissolued and I out of it then coulde sathan no more hurt me then wouldest thou speak with me face to face then the conflicting time were at an end then sorrowe would cease and ioy would increase and would I enter into inestimable rest Oh that I could consider this accordingly I. B. Another meditation concerning the sober vsage of this bodie and pleasure in this life The beginning of all euill in our kinde of liuing springeth out of the deprauation and corruptnesse of our iudgement because our will alwaies followeth that which reasoÌ„ iudgeth to be followed Nowe that which euery man taketh to be friendly and agreeing to his nature the same doth he iudge necessarily to be good for him and to be desired This is meate drinke apparel riches fauour dignitie rule knowledge and such like because they are thought good agreeing either to the bodie or to the minde or to both for they helpe either to the coÌ„uersation or to the pleasure of man accounted of euerie one amongst good things Howbeit such is the weakenes of our wit on the one part the blindnes and too much rage of our lustes on the other part that wee being left to our selues cannot but in the desire of things which we iudge good and agreeing to our nature by the iudgement of our senses and reason â—e cannot I say but ouerpasse the boundes whereby they might be profitable vnto vs so wee make them hurtful vnto vs which of theÌ„selues are ordained for our health What is more necessarie than meat and drinke or more agreeing to nature but yet how few be there which do not hurt themselues by them In like maner it goeth with riches estimation friends learning c. yea although wee be in these most temperate yet when there wanteth the spirite our regenerator we ar so drowned in them that we vtterly neglect to lift vp your minds to the good plesure of God to the ende we might imitate and follow God our maker by yeelding our selues ouer dulie to vse his giftes to the common priuate vtilitie of our neighbors But now God only is life and eternitie and cannot but demaund oâ— vs his handy woorke that we should render our selues and al we haue to the end wherefore wee were made that is to resemble for our portion his goodnesse as they which be nothing else but witnesses and instruments of his mercie So that when wee wholly doe naturally striue against that kind of life whereunto he hath created vs by seeking alwaies our selues what other thing ought to ensue but that he should again destroy vs and take away his notable gifts wherwith he therfore indued vs that by al kind of wel doing wee should resemble his image yea what other thing may ensue but that hee should leaue vs and that eternally that wee might feele and by experience proue howe bitter a thing it is to leaue the Lord in whome is all goodnes Oh that I might therfore â—â—nde such fauour in thy sight deare father that thou wouldest work in mee by thy holy spirite a true knowledge of all good thinges heartie loue to y e same through Christ Iesus our Lorde and onelie Sauiour Amen I. B. A meditation of death and the commodities it bringeth VVHat other thing doe we daylie in this present life but heape sinne vpon sinne and hoorde vp trespasse vpon trespasse so that this day is wâ—rse alwaies then yesterday by increasing as daies so sins and therefore thy indignation good Lord against vs but when we shall be let out of the prison of this body and so taken into thy blessed companie then shall we be in most safetie of immortalitie and saluation then shal come vnto vs no sickenesse no neede no paine no kind of euil to soule or bodie but whatsoeuer good we can wish that shall we haue and whatsoeuer wee loath shall be farre from vs. O deare father y t wee had faith to behold these thinges accordingly O that our hearts were perswaded thereof and our affections inflamed with the desire of them Then should we liue in longing for that which now wee must loath Oh helpe vs and graunt that wee beeing ignorant of thinges to come and of the time of our death which to thee is certayne may so loue finish our iourney here that we may be readie and then depart when our departing may make most to thy glorie our comfort through Christ What is this life but a smoke a vapour a shadowe a warre farre a bubble of water a worde grasse a flower That thou shalt die it is most certaine but the time no man can tell when The longer in this life thou doest remayne the more thou sinnest which wil turne to thy more paine By cogitation of death our mindes be often in maner oppressed with darkenesse because we doe but remember the night of the body forgetting the light of the minde of the resurrection Hereto remeÌ„ber the good thinges that after this life shall insue without wauering in certaintie of faith and so shall the passage of death bee more desired It is like a sailing ouer the sea to thy home and countrie it is like a medicine or purgation to y e health of soule body it is the best Phisition it is like to a womans trauell For as the childe being deliuered commeth into a more large place than the womb where in it did lie before so thy soule being deliuered out of the bodie commeth into a much more large and faire place euen vnto heauen A meditation vpon the passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christ OH Lorde Iesus Christ y e sonne of the euerliuing God by whom all things were made and bee ruled and gouerned thou the liuely Image of the substance of the Father the eternall wisedome of God the brightnesse of his glorie GOG of God light of light coequall coeternall and substantiall with the father thou which of the loue thou hadst to mankinde when hee was fallen from the fellowshippe of God into the society of Sathan and al euil didst vouchsafe for our redemption to become a mediator betweene God man taking to thy godheade our nature as concerning the substance of it and so becamest man also the heire of all and most merciful Messias which by the power of thy Godheade and merites of thy manhoode hast made purgation of our sinnes euen by thine own selfe whilest thou wast heere on earth beeing nowe set
that Father to whome we are made Children of adoption through thee Oh our head raigning on high in glorie forget not vs thy poore members heere on earth whereunto abasing thy selfe thou camest downe and sufferedst for vs most cruell death Out of this thy throne of Maiesty glore thou puttest vs in assured hope and confidence that wee also shall attayne to that blessed place whither thou art gone before to take possession for vs. Oh our stroÌ„g tower of defence and succour what can hurt vs nowe trusting in thee Most vnhappie are they which are ignorant of thee Most happy are they which alwaies behold thee Blessed are they which haue knowne thee heere in the dayes of their mortalitie But more blessed are they which see thee in the heauens and shall see thee reigning with thy father in ioyes incomparable Oh Lorde the onelie ioye and comfort of our souls shew vs thy louing countenance embrace vs with the armes of thy mercie receiue vs O good Ioseph thy younger brethreÌ„ with the kisse of comfort powre into our hearts thy holy spirite pluck vs vp from the earth earthly things open our eies and lift them vp vnto thee open thy mouth call vs vnto thee open our eares that wee may heare thee so that whatsoeuer we do speake or thinke it may bee directed vnto thee alone our redeemer mediator and aduocate If ye be risen againe with Christ seeke the thinges which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God set your affection on thinges that are aboue and not on thinges which are on earth Col. 3. Another THou Lord diddest put away Marie Magdalen from the kissing of thy feete because thy flesh was not yet exalted and she knew not yet the dignitie of thy clarified bodie and beautified with the glorie of immortalitie but was addicted only to thy bodily presence She yet sought the liuing among the dead neither was it knowne to her that thou was equall with thy father Wherfore thou wouldest not suffer her so much as to kisse thy feet because it was a thing vnworthy for thy maiesty Oh thou mighty Lion of the tribe of Iuda thou conquerour of hel and death euerliuing and immortall thou art nowe risen from death for vs thou art now ascended to thy father and our father and sittest at his right hand in glorie suffer vs to come neere vnto thee that wee may kisse thee yea Lorde thou louer of our soules come thou rather vnto vs and kisse vs with the kisse of thy mouth that wee may bee glad and reioyce in thee drawe vs that wee may runne after the sauour of thy sweete oyntments that wee may behold thee in righteousnesse and when thy glorie shall appeare wee may bee satisfied for in thy presence there is fulnesse of ioy and in thy right hande there are pleasures for euermore A prayer for true repentance MOst gratious God and mercifull father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ because I haue sinned done wickedlie through thy goodnesse haue receiued a desire of repentaunce whereunto this thy longâ— suffering doth drawe my hard heartâ— I beseech thee for thy great mercies sake in Christ to worke the same repentaunce in mee and by the spirite power and grace so to humble mortifie and feare my conscience for my sinnes to saluation that in thy good time thou maiest comfort and quickeÌ„ me again through Iesus Christ thy dearely beloued sonne So be it I. B. A prayer for the strength and increase of faith O Merciful God and deare father of our Lorde Sauiour Iesus Christ in whome as thou art well pleased so hast thou commaunded vs to heare him for as much as hee often biddeth vs to aske of thee and also promiseth that thou wilt heare vs and graunt vs that which in his name we shall aske of thee loe gracious father wee are bold to beg of thy mercie through thy sonne Iesus Christ one sparkle of true faith and certaine perswasion of thy goodnesse loue towardes vs in Christ where through I being assured of y e pardon of all my sins by the mercies of Christ thy sonne may be thankful to thee loue thee a serue thee in holinesse and righteousnes al the daies of my life I. B. A prayer for the true sense and feeling of Gods fauour and mercie in Christ OH Lorde God and deare Father what shall I say that feele all thinges to bee in manner with mee as in the wicked blind is my mind crooked is my will and peruerse concupiscence is in mee as aspring or stinking puddle O howe fainte is faith in mee How little is my loue to thee or to thy people How greate is selfe loue Howe harde is my heart By the reason whereof I am mooued to doubt of thy goodnesse towardes mee whether thou art my mercifull father and whether I bee thy childe or 〈◊〉 In deede worthily might I doubt of that the hauing of these were the cause and not the 〈◊〉 rather of thy children The 〈◊〉 why thou art my father is thy mercie goodnesse grace and trueth in Christ Iesus which cannot but remaine for euer In respect whereof thou haste borne me this good will to bring me into thy Church by baptisme and to accept me into the number of thy children that I might bee holy faithfull obedient and innocent and to cal me diuers times vp the ministerie of thy worde into thy kingdome besides thy innumerable other benefites alwayes hitherto powred vpon mee All which thou hast done of this thy good will which thou of thine owne mercie barest to mee in Christe and for Christe before the world was made The which thing as thou requirest straitely that I should beleeue without doubting so wouldest thou that in all my needes I should come vnto thee as vnto a Father and make my moâ—e without mistrust of being heard in thy good time as most shall make to my comfort Loe therefore to thee deare Father I come through thy sonne our Lorde mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for mee and pray thee of thy great goodnesse and mercy in Christ to bee mercifull vnto mee that I may feele in deede thy sweete mercie as thy childe The time Oh deare Father I appoint not but I praie thee that I may with hope fâ—ll expect and looke for thy helpe I hope that as thou for a little while hast left mee so thou wilt come and visit mee and that in thy great mercie wherof I haue neede by reason of my great miserie Thou art wont for a little season in thine anger to hide thy face from them whom thou louest but surelie O Redeemer in eternal mercies thou wilt shew thy compassions For when tho â—eauest vs O Lord thou doest not leaue vs verie long neyther doest thou leaue vs to our own losse but to our lucre aduantage men that thy holy spirite with bigger portion of thy power and
greeuously tormented in sundry places for the true profession of thy holy Ghospel who in their extreme necessities cry for comfort vnto thee Let not thy long suffering O Lord be an occasion either to increase the tyranny of thy enimies or to discorage thy children but with speede O Lorde consider their greate miseries and afflictions Preuent the cruell deuise of Hamon stay the rage of Holophernes breake off the counsel of Achitophell Let not the wicked say Where is now their God Let thy afficted flocke feele present aide and releefe from thee O Lord looke down vpon them with thy pytiful eye from thy holy habitation sende terrour and trembling among their enemies make an ende of their outragious tyranny beate backe their boldenesse in suppressing thy truth in destroying thy true seruants in defacing thy glorie and in setting vp Antichrist Let them not thus proudly aduance themselues against thee and thy Christ but let them vnderstande and feele that against thee they fight Preserue and defend the Wine which thy right hande hath planted and let all Nations see the glorie of thine annointed Amen A prayer to be saide before the preaching of Gods worde ALmightie God and most mercifull father whose worde is a lanterne to our feete and a light vnto our steppes we most humbly beseech thee to illuminate our mindes that wee may vnderstand the misteries conteined in thy holy lawe and into the selfe same thing that wee godly vnderstand we may be vertuously transformed so that of no part wee offend thy diuine maiestie through Iesus Christ our Lord. An other IN this great darknes of our souleâ— O Lord thou shinest diuers waieâ— vnto vs by the light of thy grace but in nothinge so effectually as in the preaching of thy worde Greate is the Haruest as thou thy selfe hast saide and the workmen are few The greatest part of men are ignorant wrapped in miserable blindnesse and fewe there bee that teach thy worde truely and as they ought Wee beseech thee therefore to sende foorth woorkemen into thy haruest Sende â—eachers O Lord which are taught of thee and instructed by the spirite of godly wisdome and vnderstanding which by their preaching will â—eeke not themselues but thee because they are godly and can so doe because they are wise vnderstand â—iue to the preacher of thy worâ—e are present out of the treasures of by wisdome that which hee may â—â—wre vpon vs to our saluation and â—â—to vs giue thy grace holy spirite O Lord so to heare and to receiue thy worde that the good seede which falleth vppon vs bee not choked with thornes or withered away with heate or deuoured by the foules of the aire but may grow vp in a good-grounde and fructifie with greate increase A prayer to be sayde after the preaching of Gods worde ALmightie God and most mercifull Father wee heartely beseech thee that this seede of thy worde noâ— sowen amongest vs may take such deepe roote that neither the burning heate of affliction or persecutiâ—e cause it to wither neither the thâ—â—â—nie cares of this life doe choke it be that as seede sowen in good ground it may bring foorth thirtie sixtie 〈◊〉 an hundred folde as thy heauenâ—â— wisedome hath appointed And â—â—â—cause wee haue neede continually to craue many thinges at thy hands we humbly beseech thee O heauenly father to grant vs thy holy spirite so to direct our petitions that they may proceede from such a feruent minde is may be agreeable to thy most blessed will And seeing that our infirmitie is such that wee are able to doe nothing without thy helpe and that thou art not ignorant with howe manie and â—reate tentations wee poore wretches are on euery side compassed and inclosed let thy strength O Lorde â—ustaine our weakenesse and assist vs with thy grace that wee may be fafeâ—pre serued against all the assaultes 〈◊〉 Sathan who goeth about like a â—aring Lyon seeking to deuour vs. Increase our faith O merciful Father that wee doe not swarâ—e at aâ—etime from thy heauenly worde Augment in vs hope and loue with a carefull keeping of all thy commandements that no heardnes of heart no hypocrisie no concupiscence of the eyes nor intisements of the worlde doe drawe vs away from thy obedience And seeing the times are dangerous wherein wee liue let thy fatherly prouidence defende vs against the violence of all our enimies and specially against the furious rage of that Romish Idoll enimie to thy Christ Furthermore for as much as by thy holie Apostle wee bee taught to make our prayers and supplications for all men wee praye not only for our selues heere present but beseech thee also to reduce all such as bee yet ignorant from the miserable captiuitie of blindnesse and error to the pure vnderstanding of thy heauenly trueth that wee all with one consent and vnitie of minde map worship thee our onely God and sauiour Wee beseech thee also most decare Father for pastors and ministers to whome thou hast committed the dispensation of thy holy worde and charge of thy chosen people that both in their life and doctrine they may bee founde faithfull setting onely before their eyes thy glorie and that by them all poore sheepe which wander and goe astray may be sought out brought to thy fold Againe that it woulde please thee to deliuer thy church from such idle â—hâ—pe heardes wolues and hirelings â—s seeke themselues and their bellies and not thy glorie and the safegarde of thy flocke Moreouer because the heartes of â—ulers are in thy handes wee make our praers vnto thee for all Princes and Magistrates to whome thou â—ast committed the administration of iustice especially O Lord for the Queenes Maiestie that it woulde please thee to Indue her with thy plentifull grace and principall spirit that she may with a pure faith acknowledge Iesus Christ thy onely sonne to bee King of all Kinges and gouernour of all gouernours euen as thou hast giuen all power vnto him both in heauen and earth and so work in her heart that shee considering whose Minister shee is may heartely seeke and zealously promotâ— thy true honour and glorie carefully trauelling to bring thy people comemitted to her charge and yet remaining almost in all partes of this Realme in miserable blindenesse and darke ignorance to the true knowledge of thee ruling guiding them as shee is taught and commanded by thy holy worde Also wee beseech thee to indue all such as are in any authoritie vnder her with thy grace and holie spirite that they may bee found vpright and faithfull in their calling fauoureres and furtherers of thy holy Ghospell maintainers defenders of the true Preachers and Ministers thereof such as in singlenes of heart wil seeke not themselues but thy glory and the commâ—â—tie of thy people And for that wee bee all
can I feele then or certaintie of thy fauour and loue Iustly may I powre out this dolorous lamentation of Sion The Lorde hath forsaken me and my Lorde hath forgotten me Euen in the middest I say of these my former desperate assaultes mine intollerable heauines cryed to thee O my God from heauen thou heardest my gronings and thervpon first preparedst my heart to aske comfort of thee and then thou didst accept my praier and gauest me plentifully my asking Oh my soule consider well that thou art neuer able to declare the exceeding goodnes of GOD in this that hee heard the verie desires of thee beeing afflicted who is so readie fauorably to grant the requests of the afflicted that oftentimes he tarieth not vntil they doe call but or euer they call vpon him fauourably hearest them as the Psalmist sayth The desire of the afflicted thou hearest O Lord thou preparest their heartes thine eares heare them Oh Lorde my God meruailous things are these whether I consider this meruailous manner of thy hearing or else the meruelous nature propertie of thy goodnes Meruailous no doubt is that thy hearing whereby the very desires of the aflicted are heard but much more maruailous is this thy goodnes which tarrfest not vntil the afflicted do desire thy helpe but preparest first their hearts to deâ—â—re and then thou giuest them their destres Yea Lorde worthy of all praise it cannot otherwise â—e For howe shouldest thou do otherwise than thy nature and property is Art not thou verie goodnesse mercy it selfe How canst thou then but pitie and helpe miserie Art not thou both the creator and also the conseruer of all thinges In somuch as the Lyons whelpes roaring after their praye doe seeke their foode at thy handes and the Rauenes birdes lacking meate do cal vpon thee If then thy fatherly prouidence and tender care O Lorde vppon all thy creatures be so great that the verie beastes and foules haue this experience of thy goodnesse in their necessities that their roarings and cryings haue the strength of earnest calling and desires howe much rather doe these sighinges groninges and desperate heauinesse of men but chiefely of thy children crie and call lowde in thine eares though they speake neuer a word at all Should I then now despaire of thy fatherly mercie whiles presently I feele thee stirre vp my soule and heart to craue helpe at thy handeâ— Shoulde I thinke that thou wilt absent thy selfe for euer that thou wilt bee no more intreated that thy mercie is cleane gone that thy promise is come vtterly to an ende and that thou wilt now shut vp thy louing kindnesse in displeasure Nay Lorde for all alterations are of thy right hande and turne al waye to the best to them that feare thee All this is but mine owne inffrmitie for thou art euer one thy promises bee infallable and the loue towardes thine euerlastingly during I will therefore in this my present tentation greeuous assault powre â—ut the heauinesse of my heart before thee deare Father Out of the deep wil I crie and lift by my soule vnto thee from whome I assuredly knowe my helpe is comming I wil also for my present comfort call to remembrance O Lord my God thy tender mercies towards mee already shewed the multitude of thy benefits the greatnes of the same the long coÌ„tinuance of them euen from my conception vntill this instant finally thy continuall lust desire to powre them vpon me And moreouer fith thy goodnesse is so great O Lord that thou doest not onely pitie miserie but also callest the heauy hearted and afflicted unto thee promising that thou witt ease their miserie for as much as by the motion of thy good spirit I loath and abhor my sâ—nnes feele the gree uousnesse of them and thy heauie wrath towards mee for the same finally what neede I haue of thy gracious aide and succour heresore O Lorde in thy sonne Christes name with sure confidence and trust in thine infallible promise in this mine anguish and trouble I come vnto thee at thy mercifull calling craue comfort at thy hand For thou hast promised that when I loath my sinnes thou wilt vtterly forget them when I feele the greeuous burthen of them thy mercie swalloweth them vp when I seeke that I want thou wilt assuredly grant it me For â—â—th tthou moouest my heart to desire help how should I mistrust but thou wilt for thy trueths sake guie mee my asking Yea where I knowe not how or what to desire as I ought thy holy spirite gratiously working in mee maketh intercession mightily for me with gronings which cannot bee expresseth and therewith certifieth my spirite that by adoption through thy great mercie and goodnesse I am become thy childe and heire Why should I not then bee of good comfortand ioyfull in thee my God For if thou bee on my doe who can be against mee Since thou diddcst not spare thine owne sonne but gauest him for mee euen when I was thine enemie howe fhalt thou not with him nowe that by his death I am brought into thy 〈◊〉 giue mee all thinges with him and for his sake Who shall lay any thing to the charge of thine elect It is thou Lord which iustifiest mee It is Christe that hath died for mâ—e yea ratheâ— that is risen againe for mee Who also is set on thy right hand and hat taken possession yea and perpetually there maketh interrcession for mâ— vntill that ioyfull day be come whâ— I shall haue ful fruition of the most glorious presence of thy diuine maie sty in that kingdom which thou hast prepared before the begining of the world but in time to thy gratious goodnesse thought best make known to me by giuing thy holy spirit into my hearte whereby when I first Lorde beleeued thy holy worde which is thine owne power to saue al that beleeue I was sealed confirmed stablished in the certaintie of that thine euerlasting kingdom and inheritaunce For the which inestimable benesite of the rich grace Oh Lorde my God I beseech the euen for the loue thou barest to Christ Iesus thy son and thy mercie thou haddest on him when he cried on the crosse My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Helpe help I say inflame my hart with loue so plentifully towardes thee againe that I may be euen swallowed vp in the ioyful feeling of the same in such sort that I may of very thankefulnesse loue thee my God alone thee I say my deare God and nothing but thee and for thy sake O holy spirite whose worke this is in mee increase this the work of thiue infinite mercie preserue mee that I neuer become vnthankefull vnto thee therefore Amen A praier for the sicke O Most merciful God which according to the multiude of thy mercies doest so put away the sinnes of those which truly repeÌ„t that thou rememberst them no more open thy
worke in vs that which is acceptable in thy sight SanctifiE vs thoroughout and keepe our whole spirit soule and bodie faultlesse vnto the comming of thy dear sonne our Lord Iesus Christ Thou art faithful O Father who hast promised this who also shall bring it to passe to thee therfore be giuen euerlasting praise honour and glorie Amen A thankesgiuing after meales LEt al nations magnifie the Lord let all people reioyce in praysing and extolling his greate mercies For his fatherly kindnesse is plentifully shewing foorth vpon vs and the truth of his promise endureth for euer Wee render thankes vnto thee O Lord God for thy manifold benefits which we continually receiue at thy bountifull hand not onely for that it hath pleased thee to feede vs in this present life giuing vnto vs al things necessarie for the same but especially because thou hast of thy free mercie fashioned vs anewe into an assured hope of a farre better life the which thou hast declared vnto vs by thy holie Gospel Therefore we humbly beseech thee Oh heauenly father that thou wilt not suffer our affections to bee so intangled and roâ—ted in these earthly corruptible things but that we may alwayes haue our mindes directed to thee oâ— high continually watching for the coÌ„mming of our lord Isesus Christ what time he shal appeare for our full redemption To whom with thee and the holy Ghost bee all honor and glorie for euer and euer So bee it Another thankesgiuing after meales GLorie praise and honour be vnto thee most mercifull and omnipotent Father who hastfed and daylie doest feede of thy most bountifull goodnesse al liuing creatures we beseech thee that as thou hast nourished these our mortal bodies with corporall food so thou wouldest replenish our souls with the perfect knowledg of the liuely word of thy beloued son Iesus Christ to whom with thee the holy Ghost be praise glorie and honour for euer So be it Another MOst bountifull and gratious God which feedest all flesh and hast promised that asking of thee we shall not lacke if wee first seeke thy kingdome the righteousnes thereof we feeling presently the benefit of this thy gratious promise in feeding our bodies with this corporal foode do rendervnto thee most harty thanks for the same beseeching thee likewise to feed our soules with that heauenlie foode which perisheth not but abideth vnto euerlasting life so that we being norished by thy goodnesse both in bodie soule may be apt readie to do al good workes which thou hast prepared for vs to walke in through Iesus Christ our Lord. Vnto him that loueth vs and washed vs from our sinnes in his bloud and made vs Kings and Priestes vnto God his father be all glory power and dominion for euermore Amen Another THe God of glorie who hath created redeemed and presently fed vs be blessed for euermore Amen The God of all power who hath called from death the greate pastor of the sheepe our Lord Iesus comfort defend the flock which he hath redeemed by the bloud of the eternall Testament increase the number of true preachers represse the rage of obstinate tyrants lighten the harts of the ignorant releeue the pains of such as be afflicted but specially of those that suffer for the testimonie of thy truth and finally confound Sathan by the power of our Lord Iesus Christe So be it Prayers commonly called Lydleys prayers with certayne godly additions Before thou prayest forgiue if thou hast any thing against any man and come not to GOD with a double heart but lift vp pure handes without wrath or doubting 1. Tim. 2. AL mightie and most mercifull Father I thy poore creature work of thy hands acknowledge confes vnto thee my manifolde sinnes and â—ffences which I froÌ„ my youth vp vnto this day haue committed against thee in thoughte word deede beseeching thee for Iesus Christ thy deere sonnes sake to haue mercie vpon mee and to pardon the same according to thy greate mercie which hast promised that At what time soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart thou wilt put his wickednesse out of thy remembrance O Lord I confesse that I was borne in sinne and conceiued in wickednesse and am by nature a childe of wrath for in my flesh dwelleth no good thing and of my selfe I am not able to thinke a good thought much lesse to doe that thou in thy lawe requirest of mee saying Cursed is he that continueth not in all thinges that are written in the lawe to doe them Againe thy lawe is spirituall but I am carnall sould vnder sinne Therefore O LORD I come vnto thee for grace which hast said Aske ye shal haue seeke ye shall find knock it shal be opened vnto you to preuent draw my will vnto all goodnesse for none can come vnto thee except he be drawn except we be borne from aboue we cannot see the kingdom of God Therefore O Lord renew in mee a right spirit that I may receiue strength and ablenes to doe thy righteous will Grant that I may euer desire and will that which is most pleasing and acceptable to doe thy will Thy will be my will and my will be alwayes to follow thy will Let there be euer in mee one will one desire with thee and let me neuer desire to will or not to will but as thou wilt Graunt mee that aboue all things I may rest in thee and fully quiet pacifie my heart in thee for thou Lord art the true peace of the heart and the perfect rest of the soule Thou knowest Lord what is most profitable expedient for me where fore doe with mee in al things as it shall seeme best vnto thee For it may not be but well that thou dost which doest most iustly and blessedly dispose al things after thy most godly wisedome Therefore whether it be by prosperitie or aduersitie losse or gain sicknesse or health life or death thy will be done Cast out of my heart al vnprofitable cares of worldly thinges and suffer me not to be lead with the vnstable desires of earthly vanities but giue me grace that all worldlye and carnal affections may bee mortified die in mee Graunt vnto mee the strength of thy holie spirite to subdue this body of sinne with the whole lustes thereof that it may be obedient both in wil minde and members to do thy holy wil Assist me with thy grace O Lord that I may be strenthened in the inwarde man and bee armed with thy holy armor which is the breast-plate of righteousnesse the shielde of faith the hope of saluation for an helmet and the sworde of the spirit which is thy holy word that I may stand perfect in all that is thy will be found worthy through Christ to receiue the crowne of life which thou hast promised to all them that loue thee Giue me grace that I may esteeme
the multitude of thy tender mercies Looke vpon mine affliction and my trauell and forgiue mee my sinnes Remember not the offences of my youth nor my rebellioÌ„s against thee For if thou Lord shouldest marke our iniquities Lord who should bee able to stand in thy sight Seeing thou hast found iniquity euen in thine Angels the heauens are not clean in thy sight much more is man abhominable filthie which drinketh iniquite like water Notwithstanding thou hast said O lord that as the reghteousnes of the righteous man shal not saue him whensoeuer he offendeth so shal not the wickednesse of the wicked man hurt him whensoeuer hee forsaketh his wickednes and turneth to thee For thou knowest thine owne handie work thou remeÌ„brest what wee are thou seest that we are but weake and feeble flesh Looke not therefore vpon my sinnes O Lorde but looke vpon the face of thine annoynted For he hath borne our iniquities he hath caâ—ried our sorrowes Hee was wounded for our transgressioÌ„s he was broken for our iniquities the chastisemeÌ„t of our peace is laid vpon him He gaue his bodie to be beaten and his cheekes to bee stricken he bare y â— sinnes of manie and prayed for the offenders He came to bring glad tidings to the poore to bind vp y e broken hearted to preach liberty to the captiues to coÌ„fort them that mourne in Sion and to giue vnto them beauty for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning the garment of gladnes for y e spirite of heauinesse that they might be called trees of righteousnes the planting of the Lord. For his sake therefore O Lorde be mercifull vnto me and saie vnto my soule behold I come to thee thy health and thy saluation A prayer for the true knowledge and vnderstanding of the worde of God LEt my praier come before thee O Lord giue mee vnderstanding according to thy worde Blessed art thou O Lord teach me thy statutes That with my lips I may declare all the iudgements of thy mouth That I may delight in the way of thy testimonies aboue all riches That I may meditate in thy precepts and consider thy waies That I may take pleasure in thy statutes and not forget thy word Be good vnto mee thy seruant O Lord y â— I may liue keep thy word Open mine eies that I maye see the wonders which are in thy lawe I am a stranger vpon earth notwithstanding hide not from mee thy commaundementes For my hart languisheth with the desire that it hath to thy iudgments Thy testimonies are my delighte and my counselles I will praise thee with an vpright â—â—art when thou hast taught mee the â—udgmentes of thy righteousnesse Shewe mee thy waies O Lorde and teach me thy paths Leade mee foorth in thy trueth and each mee for thou art my God and â—y saluation in thee doe I trust al the day long Make mee vnderstand the way of â—hy preceps and I will consider thy â—onderous workes Thy handes haue made mee and â—ashioned mee giue mee vnderstanâ—ing that I may learne thy commandementes That they which feare thee seeing mee may reioyce because I haue trusted in thy word Shewe the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant and teach me thy ordinances Thou art good and gracious therefore according to thy goodnesse teach me thy statutes O Lorde of whose goodnesse the earth is ful teach me thy ordinances O lorde I beseech thee accept the sacrifice of my lippes and teach mee thy iudgements The righteousnesse of thy testimonies is euerlasting graunt me vnderstanding and I shall liue Deale with thy seruaunte according to thy mercies and teach me thy statutes I am thy seruant graunt mee vnderstanding that I may knowe thy testimonies My lips shall shewe foorth thy praise wheÌ„ thou hast tanght me thy statutes My tong shall talke of thy word for al thy commandements are righteous For in thee is awel of liuing waters aud euer flowing in thy light shall wee see light A prayer for the leading of a godly life I Crie vnto thee with my whole heart heare me O Lord guide â—e that I may keepe thy statutes I call vpon thee saue mee that I may keepe thy testimonies Let my prayer bee directed in thy â—â—ght as incense the lifting vp of â—y handes as an euening sacrifice I haue gone astray like a loste â—eepe seeke thy seruant for I doe not forget thy commandements Teach me thy way O Lord that I may walke in thy trueth knit my heart vnto thee that I may feare thy name Let thy louing kindnes come vnto mee O Lorde and thy saluation according to thy promise Let my heart be vpright in thy statutes that I be not confounded Oh that my waies were so directed that I might keepe thy statutes Then shall I not bee confounded when I haue regarde vnto all thy commandements I made my supplication in thy preseÌ„ce with my whole hart be mercifull vnto mee according to thy promise Guide mee O Lorde that I may consider my waies and turne my feeâ— into thy testimonies Wherewith shal a man redresse his waies In taking deed therto according to thy word Teach me O Lorde the may of thy statutes that I may keepe them to the ende Giue me vnderstanding that I may keepe thy law yea that I may keepe it with my whole heart Direct me in the path of thy commaundements for therein is my delight Turne away mine eies that I regard not vanitie quickeÌ„ me in thy waie Stablish thy promise to thy seruaunt whereby he may be taught to feare thee Direct my steppes in thy worde and let not iniquity haue dominion euer me Let not the foote of pride come against me let not the hande of the wicked moue mee Gather not my soule with the sinners nor my life with y e bloudy men Let my foote stand in vprightnes that I may praise thee O Lorde in the congregation Let not the word of trueth depart out of my mouth for I trust in thy iudgements Set a watch O Lorde before my mouth keepe the dore of my lips Let not mine heart bee inclined to euil to worke wicked workes with them that worke iniquitie Teach me good iudgment knowledge for I do beleeue thy commandements Staie my steps in thy pathes that my feete do not slide Stablish mee in thy promise that I may lâ—ue and let me not be disappoynted of my hope Staie thou me O Lord I shal be safe and I will delight continually in thy statutes O God create in me a pure heart renue a right spirit within mee Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirite from mee Restore me to the ioy of thy saluation and stablish mee with thy free spirite Let me heare thy louing kindnes in the morning shew mee the waye that I should walke in for in thee is my trust
euery blast of affectioÌ„ and doctrine but rather that wee as trees planted by the water brooks indued with the life of the spirit and faith may also bring forth y e fruits of good workes and that whatsoeuer weâ— take in hand may prosper tende to the praise and glory of thy name and furtherance of our saluatioÌ„ at the last when the wicked shal fall away in thy iudgment we may stand stedfast and be made perfect through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmighty God we are sufficiently taught that grieuous calamiâ—ies and miserable plagues do thereâ—ore daily vex and trouble the church â—ecause we haue not ceased to follow â—he counsel of the vngodly which being once knowne wee ought to haue schewed The way also of y e wicked â—e haue not shunned yea wee haue not ceased to walke their race by conâ—inuall transgressing of thy commanâ—ements wee haue also of long time â—â—ntemned al godly correction disâ—â—pline whatsoeuer hath bin taught â—s out of thy word hath bin too litle â—egarded yea without al shame negâ—ected and scorned Wherfore it is no meruaile if we 〈◊〉 the steede of that happinesse and met peace which we alas haue too â—ing abused bee nowe compelled to suffer all heauie grieuous and most bitter plagues But now O God in humblencs of hart we fly vnto thee confessing our grieuous offences wee most humblie and heartily beseech thee y t those euils which we so foolishly wretchedly haue committed thou wilt mercifully for giuâ— vs and frame our mindes wholiâ— to the obedience of thâ— lawe insuch wise that our hearts might be occupied both day and night in nothing else but in the meditation of thy holy Scriptures for so shall we giuing credite to thy wordes bringâ— foorth seasonable and pleasant fruit and shall not be spoyled of the graceâ— of the holy Ghost yea our doing shal neuer be without happy successeâ— Now we are tossed hither thither not vnlike to leaues and chaffe witâ— the mind of aduersity and affliction yet graunt O most merciful father that our life perish not with the wicked but that y e cause of the iust may bee defended by thy singular prouidence and protectioÌ„ so that in iudgment and in the company of the iust we may be able to stand and not bee confounded through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmightie GOD for asmuch as we haue nowe learned that a great part of our felicitie so long as we liue heere consisteth in this that we refrayne from vngodly counsaile and wicked manners and also auoid the companie of those that despise â—eride all good thinges and that in the steade of these euils we giue our selues to the heauenly studie of thy â—olie lawe to be occupied and exercised therein both daye and nighte whereby we doe perceiue that wee haue very much erred straied from this way of our saluation yea wee haue in these things most wickedlie offended therefore we beseech thee euen for thy mercies sake that thou wilt pardoÌ„ our offences that hence forth by continuall study exercise of thy worde thou wilt vouchsafe to make vs fruitfull plants y â— wee may not only bring forth wholsom fruits in thy Church whiles we liue heere but also may be able in y â— other world to stand in iudgment before thee who best knowest the way of the iust thorough Iesus christ our Lord Amen A prayer taken out of the second Psalme VVE perceiue most mercifull and mightie God that not onely Antichrist but also the power strength of the whole worlde conspireth against thee and against thy Christ which thinke the Gospel and the building vp again of the Church to vs an intollerable bondage 〈◊〉 yoke Wherefore they labour by 〈◊〉 possible meanes to breake asunder the societies and congregations of the faithfull and cast away all disciplinâ— But for asmuch as thou â—iuttest to heauen and art not ignorant what the diuell or wicked flesh goeth about laugh thou to scorne their value counsels and bring their purposes to might Let them feele thine 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 kindled against them and make them astonished at the 〈◊〉 of thâ—â—t inâ—â—gnation so that they may not be able to destroy the Church ouer whom thou hast appointed Iesus Christ our onely sauiour to be a gouernour thee in 〈◊〉 raigne vp his 〈◊〉 and spirite with 〈◊〉 might and power Wherefore 〈◊〉 vnto vs although vnworthy and shrinking children such faithe constancie that we may find him and also confesse him to be our only king and that we may nothing doubt but that wee be his nation people and heritage being most assured of this that he is of such strength 〈◊〉 and wee that with his word more 〈…〉 yron be is eble to destroy whom he will and breake them in peeces like earthen â—ots Therefore O GOD turne the Kings and Princes of the world vnto to thee that they may be wise and vnderstand whereby they may vnfainedly acknowledge imâ—race and kisse his sonne least when his wrath shall once bee kindled they perish and be destroyed for euer And wher it shall bee thy good pleasure make them blessed 〈…〉 themselues to thy gouernancâ— and protection by Christ Iesus our Lord Amen Out of the same Psalme MOst mightie and merciful Lord God though the diuel rage the powers of the world daily rise vp the flesh with all her bondâ—aâ—ce conspire against the kingdome of thine onely begotten son Iesus Christ our Lord yet make vs to vnderstand and with constant faith to be perswaded that thou deridest and contemnest all such whom thou canst in thine anger fierce displeasure when thou wilt â—odainelie destroy bring to nought In this faith seeing wee are sometimes so weake that being ouercome with sundrie kinds of terrours and dreade we are not so obedient to thy commandements as we ought to be wee therefore beseech thee for thy great goodnesse sake to be mercifull vnto vs and grant that we may constantly beleeue thy Sonne our king aâ—d our redeemer to hauethe highest power and dominion with thee in all things For seeing thou hast begotteÌ„ him thou hast also deliuered to him all nations to be ruled by his power as his owne inheritance Graunt therefore vnto vs that yet at the length we may be wise understand in such sort as wee may serue thee with all due feare and worshipp that in the last day wee be not dashed in peeces as earthen vessels with the rod of thine indignation through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen A praier which M. Iohn Bradford saide a little before his death in Smithfield MErcifull God and Father to whome our sauiour Christ approched in his feare need by reason of death and found comfort gratious God and most bounteous Christ on whom Stephen called in his extreeme neede and receiued strength most benigne holy spirite which in the midst of all crosses and death didst comfort the
to bring foorth the fruites of the spirâ—te We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to bring in to the waie of trueth all such as haue erred and are deceiued We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand and to comfort and helpe the weake hearted and to raise vp them that fall and finally to beate downe sathan vnder our feete We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort al that he in daunger necessitie and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by lande or by water all women laboring of childe all sicke persons and yong children to shewe thy pittie vpon al prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to defende and prouide for the fatherles children and widowes and al that be desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to haue mercie vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to forgiue our enimies persecutors and slaunderers and to turne their hearts We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to out vse the kindly fruits of the earth so as in due time we may enioy them We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue vs true repentance to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to indue vs with thy holy spirit to amend our liues according to thy holy word We beseech thee to heare vs c. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God we beseech thee c. O lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Graunt vs thy peace O lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Haue mercie vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Our father which art in heauen c. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euil Amen The versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The answere Neither reward vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God mercifull father which despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desires of such as be sorrowfull mercifully assist our praiers that we make before thee in all our troubles aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs gratiously heare vs that those euils which the craft and subtiltie of the diuell or man worketh against vs bee brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that me thy seruantes being hurt by no persecution â—aie euermore giue thankes vnto thee in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble workes that thou diddest in their daies and in the olde time before them Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thine honour Glorie 〈◊〉 to the father and to the Sonne and to the holy ghost As it was in the beginning is now euer shall be worlde without end Amen From our enimies defend vs O Christ Gratiously looke vpon our afflictions Pitifully behoulde the sorrowes of our hearts Mercifully forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauorably with mercy heare our prayers O Sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon vs. Both nowe and euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Graciously heare vs O Christ graciously he are vs O Lord Christ O Lorde let thy mercy be shewed vpon vs. As we doe put our trust in thee Let vs pray VVE humblie beseech thee O Father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glorie of thy names sake turne from vs all those euils that we most righteously haue deserued and graunt that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercie euermore serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of liuing to thy honor and glorie through our onely mediatour aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A prayer for the Queenes Maiestie O Lord our heauenly father high and mighty king of kings Lord of Lords the onely ruler of princes which doest from thy throne beholde all the dwellers vpon the earth most hartily we beseech thee with thy faâ—our to behold our most gratious soueraine Ladie Queene Elizabeth so replenish her with thy grace of thy holy spirit that she may al waies incline to thy wil walk in thy waies endue her plentifully with heauenly gifts grant her in health welth loÌ„g to liue strengthen her that she may vâ—â—quish ouercome al her enemies finally after this life shee may attaine euerlasting ioy and felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A prayer for Bishops and Ministers of the Church ALmightie and euerliuing God which onely workest great marueiles send down vpon our Bishops and Pastours and al congregations committed to their charge the health full spirit of thy grace and that they may truely please thee powre vpon them the continual dewe of thy blessing Graunt this O Lorde for the honor 〈◊〉 aduocate and mediatour Iesus Christ For Raine O GOD heauenlie Father which by thy son Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that seeke thy kingdome and thy righteousnes thereof al things necessarie to their bodily sustenance send vs wee beeseech thee in this one 〈…〉 moderate rained showers that wee may receiue the fruits of the earth to our comfort and to thy honor thorough Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 Lorde Amen For â—aire weather O Lorde God which for the 〈◊〉 of man drodest once drowne all the worlde except eight persons afterwarde of thy great mercie diddest promise neuer to 〈◊〉 it so againe we humblâ—e 〈◊〉 if that although we for our 〈…〉 haue worthyly deserued this plague of raine and waters yet thou wilt send vs such weather whereby 〈◊〉 may receiue the fruits of the earth in due season and learne both by thy punishment to amend outlines and for thy clemencie to giue thee praise glorie through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen In the time of dearth and famine O Merciful God and heauenly father whose gift it is that y e raine dothfal the earth is fruitfull man and beastes increase and fishes doe multiply beholde we beseech thee the afflictions of thy people and graunt that the scarcitie dearth which we doe now most iustly suffer for our iniquitie may through thy goodnes bee mercifully turned into cheapnes and plenty for the loue of Iesus Christ our Lorde to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be praise for euer Amen In the time of warre ALmightie God king of al kings and
gouernour of all thinges whose power no creature is able to resist to whome it belongeth iustly to punish sinners and to be mercifull to them that truely repent saue and deliuer vs we humbly beseech thee froÌ„ the hands of our enimies abate their pride asswage their malice and confound their deuises that wee being armed with thy defence may be preserued from all perils to glorifie thee which art the onely giuer of all victorie through the merites of thy only sonne Iesus Christ our Lord So be it In the time of anie common plague or sicknesse O Almightie God which in thy wrath in the time of King Dauid diddest stay with the plague of pestilence threescore and ten thousand and yet remembring thy mercie didst saue the rest haue pittie vpon vs miserable sinners that 〈◊〉 are visited with great sicknesse mortalitie that like as thou diddest then commaund thine Angel to cease from punishing so it may now please thee to withdrawe from vs this plague grieuous sickenesse through Iesus Christ our Lord. A prayer for the strength and comfort of the holy Ghost ALmightie most mercifull God which giuest to thine elect people thy holy spirit as a sure pledge of thy heauenly kingdome wee most humbly beseech thee so to replenish our hearts with the grace of thy holy spirit that he may bear witnes to our spiritâ— y e we be thy children heires of thy kingdome that by thy gratious working of this thy good spirite we may kil al carnal lustes vnlawful pleasures concupiscences and euil affections contrarie to thy most blessed pleasurs concupiscences and euill affections contrarie to thy most blessed wil through our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ So be it For 〈◊〉 hope and sure taste of euerlasting life O Almightie God which hast prepared euerlasting life for al those that be thy faithfull seruants grant vnto vs 〈◊〉 hope of this 〈◊〉 euerlasting y t whites we bee heere in thit miserable world we may haue some tast and feeling of it in our heartes through the merits of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ So be it For the true knowledge of God and his word and a life agreeable to the same GRaunt vnto vs O mercifull God we most heartelie beseechâ— thee knowledge and true vnvnderstanding of thy blessed will and word that all ignorance being expelled we maie know what thy wil and pleasure is in all things and how to doe our duetie and truly to walke in our vacation and that also wee may expresse in our liuing those thinges that me doe knowe that wee bee not onely knowers of thy wil woorde good Lord but also may be heartie faithfull workers of 〈◊〉 same through our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ So be it A prayer for the strength and increase of faith O Almighty and euerlasting God which not onely 〈◊〉 euerye good and perfect gift but also increasest those giftes that thou haste giuen â—e most humbly beseech thee 〈◊〉 in vs y e gift of faith that we may true lie beleeue in thee in thy promises made vnto vs in Christ su our Lorde and that neyther our negligence nor infirmitie of the flesh nor by grieuousnesse of tentations neither by the subtil craftes and assaultes of the diuel wee be driuen from this faith in the bloud of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ So be it For a godly life ALmighty God giue vs grace that we may cast away the works of darknes put on vs the armour of light now in the time of this mortall lifâ— in the which thy soâ—l Iesus Ihrist came to visit vs in great humilitie that in the last day when be shal come again in his glorious maiesty to iudg the quick the dead we may rise to the life immortall through him who liueth raigneth with thee y â— holie Ghost now and for euer So be it A prayer for the true perseuerance and assured hope of eternall life BLessed God which hast caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning grant that we may in such wise heare them reade them marke them and inwardly printe them in our heartes that by patience comfort of thy holy word we may imbrace and euer hold fast the blessed hope of euerlasting life which thou hast giuen vs in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it A prayer for the obtaining of our petitions ALmightie God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee and doest promise that when two or three be gathered together in thy 〈◊〉 thou wilt grant their requests fulfill now O Lorde the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them graunting vs in this world knowledge of thy truâ—â— and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen The end of the Letanie A GODLIE INSTRVction conteining the summe of all the diuinitie necessary for a Christian conscience Made by Iohn Bradford A Man that is regenerate and borne of GOD the which thing that euerie one of vs bee our Baptisme the Sacrament of regeneration doth require vnder paine of damnation and therefore let euerie one of vs with the Virgin Marie say Bee it vnto mee O Lorde according to thy worde according to the sacrament of baptisme wherin thou â—â—st declared our adption and let vs lament y â— doubting hereof in vs 〈◊〉 against it as we shall be made able of the Lorde a man I say that is regenerate consisteth of two men as a man may say namely of the old man and of the newe man The old man is like to a mightie Giant such a one as was Goliah for his birth is now perfect but the newe man is like vnto a little child such a one as was Dauid for his birth is not yet perfect vntil the day of his generall resurrection The olde man therefore is more stronger lustie and stâ—ring then is the newe man because the birth of the new man is but begun now and the olde man is perfectlie borne And as the oldeman is more stirring lustie and stronger than the newe man so is the nature of him cleane contrarie to the nature of the new man as being earthly and corrupt with Sathans seed the nature of the newe man beeing heauenly and blessed with the celestial â—eed of God So that one man in as much as hee is corrupt with the seede of the serpent is an olde man and in as much as he is blessed with the seede of God from aboue hee is a new man And as in as much as hee is an olde man he is a sinner and an enemie to God so in as much as he is regenerate hee is righteous and holie and a friend to God the seede of God preseruing him from sinne so that he cannot sin as the seede of the serpent wherewith he is corrupt euen from his conception inclineth him yea inforceth him to sinne and nothing