so manie and great things to no other end but that I should destribute them to the poore and needie Oh Lord giue mee a willing heart and readie minde to doe good according to that abilitie that thou in mercie hast bestowed vppon me And as I acknowledge them to be thy gifts so giue me grace good Lord that I neuer mispend them in glâ—tonie drunkennesse riot or exceâ—e neither yet in prsde or anis other vncleannesse vanitie or follie knowing that thou wilt one day requier a straite account of me both howe I haue gotte my goods how I haue kept them and howe I haue spent and layd them forth And as thou hast made mee rich in temporall blâ—ssings and things of this life so make me much more rich in spirituall gifts and graces that in the end I being founde a faithfull and 〈◊〉 Steward of thy goodes may receiue the crowne of immortall glorie in the kingdome of heauen thorow the merits of Iesus Chrâ—st to whom be all honor and glorie foreuer A praier for those that bee poore and needie GRacious father who hast apoin ted in thy vnsearchable wisedome sundrie states and conditions of men and hasâ— commaunded euerie one to bee contented with his state and calling where in thou hast placed him without all repâ—ning murmuring or grudging against thée for the same I a poore worme before thée and one whom thou hast placed in the lowest degrée and meanest state amongest men most intirelie beséech thy fatherly goodnesse to giue me grace to be heartilie well contented with thy good will and pleasure being assured that thou knowest what is best for me and workest all thinges for thy owne glorie and our good Make me therefore good father willinglie to submit my will to thy blessed will to depend vpon thy prouidence and to cast all my care vpon thee who hast promised to be carefull for mee And albeit I bee poore and néedie yet kéepe me farre from all infidelitie and incredulitie from all mistrust and distrust and from all dispaire of thy help whatsoeuer Finallie grant O Lord that I walking in thy holie feare and doing those things which please thee may at the last receiue the reward of euerlasting glorie thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. A praier for the increase and preseruation of the fruits of the earth AS thou hast appointed man how long he hath to liue vpon the face of the earth most mercifull father so hast thou ordained him meanes to preserue and continue this his life withall as séemeth best to thy godlie wisedome and to that end hast appoinnted the earth to bring forth all maner of fruites of infinite varietie for his reliefe and sustenance Blesse therefore I beséech thée the fruits of the earth vniuersallie and of me particularlie whose ground for the multitude of my sinnes thou hast made barren Enter not into iudgment with me O Lord neither punish me according to my deserts but in mercie looke vpon me and so multiplie my store as thou diddest the Oyle of the woman of Sareptha thy seruant And if it please thée good Father to multiplie and increase the fruits of the earth generally and of mee particularlie grant seasonable and temperate weather also for the gathering and reaping of them that we hauing plentie of all things may be rich and plentifull in all good works and with ioifull hearts may laud and praise thy souereigne maiestie all the daies of our liues thorow Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A praier against couetousnes and auarice OH lord my God most blessed and holie Father who hast commanded euerie man to labor and trauaile in his vocation for the maintenance of his estate hast promised therto thy blessing blesse I beséeth thée all my labours actions enterprises affaires which I shall take in hande in thy holie name at anie time hereafter for the necessarie maintenance of my poore estate so as I hauing alwaies sufficient maie be frée from all couetousnes ambition and filthie auarice being alwaies perswaded that godlinesse is great riches if a man bee content with that that he hath for we brought nothing into this world neither shall we carie anie thing out Grant good Lord that I hauing sufficient foode and raiment for my bodie with al other necessaries néedfull for this my life may be heartilie well content therewith not desiring or coueting more Withdrawe my heart O Lord from the loue of this vaine world and of all things in the worlde Make mee to loue and desire â—hée and nothing but thée knowing that he that loueth anie thing beside thée loueth thee so much the lesse To thee therefore oh Father with thy Sonne and the holy Ghost be all glorie and prayse for euer Amen A praier to be said before the reading studying or hearing of Gods word FOr that thy word O Lord as Dauid thy seruant witnesseth is a light vnto our paths and a lanterne vnto our feet and for that all humaine wisdom is nothing but foolishnessé before thee and altogether vnable to pearce into the bowels and secrets of thy reuealed will without the illumination of thy holie spirite Instill therefore O Lord into my heart and soule the spirite of wisedome knowledge and vnderstanding that I may be able to vnderstand the â—isteries of thy law Kéepe me farre from all sects schismes heresies and errours contrarie to thy worde and so roote thy truth in my heart that it may neuer be remoued but alwies remaine firme and stedfast in thée And in the reading hearing studying conferring reasoning disputing or talking of thy word giue me most glorious father not onelie the spirite of holie wisdom to vnderstand it aright but also grace to humble my selfe vnto thée in all holie obedience reuerence humilitie and feare that I obeying thee in thy worde and liuing thereafter may come to those euerlasting ioies which thou hast prepared for them that loue thée thorowe Iesus Christ our Lord. A praier against swearing SEing that thy holie name oh most gracious God and louing father is both so honourable maiestiâ—all as the same is neuer to bee either remembred or once spoken of without great reuerence feare and dread at the glorious naming wherof the verie deuils themselues doquake tremble as thy holie Apostle Iames recordeth And seeing thou hast commanded vs that wee should not sweare at all but that all our communication should be yea yea nay nay and in as much as thy holie reuerence hast promised that thou wilt not holde him guiltlesse that take◠〈◊〉 name invain I besâ— thâ—e therefore good father so to direct me by thy spirite that I may neuer thinke nor speake of thée but with al holy reuerence feare and dread And in all my communications speeches good Lorde keepe me I prâ—y thée from all maner of swearing forswearing blaspheming and prophaning of thy sacred name And for that thou hast giuen vnto mankind onelie tho vse of the tongue aboue other creatures to this end no doubt that
hee might glorifie thée therewith I pray 〈◊〉 holie father so to qualifie the affections of my minde and to order the words of my mouth that in all my thoughts wordes and déedes I maie do worship to thy glorious name thorow Iesus Christ thy onelie begotten sonne to â—hom with thy blessed maiestie and the holie spirit be all honour and glorie for euer A praier against drun kennesse MOst mercifull and holie father who in thy great liberalitie hast giuen vnto man the fishes of the sea the foules of the heauens and the beasts of the earth with other thy good creatures of infinite varietie for the sustentation and maintenance of this his life and hast commaunded them to bee receyued with praise and thankesgiuing vnto thée for the same I beséech thée therefore O Lord my good God and holie father to giue me grace to vse all thy creatures both soâ—erlie and temperatelie and alwaies to rest thankefull vnto thée for them Giue me grace blessed Lorde that I neuer abuse them nor offend thee in them thorow drunkennesse gluttonie or anie other kind of superfluity riot or excesse knowing that the abusing of thy good creatures reacheth euen to thy owne reuerence Finallie grant that I walking in al sobriety and integritie of life may at the 〈◊〉 receiue the reward of euerlasting glorie in the kingdome of heauen thorow Iesus Christ and for his sake Amen A praier against slouthfulnes and idlenesse WE are faught O Lord in thy holie worde that solenesse is the mother nurse of al wickednes and sinne for the bodie being idle the mind is naturallie occupied in vaine thoughts and foolish imaginations and so consequently made weaker readier for the enimie to assault I beséech thée therfore oh my good God kéepe me from all idlenesse and slouth and grant that I may be alwaies occupied in some good thing to the glorie of thy name and the benefite of my brethreâ— And as it may please thée O Lord in mercy to keepe my bodie from all maner of idlenesse slouth so I beséech thée to kéepe my soule euer exercised in bolie meditations and 〈◊〉 contemplations thinking alwaies of thée louing thée and euer praysing thée in all things till I come to the perfect fruition of thy heauenly ioies thorow Iesus Christ. Amen A praier for those that 〈◊〉 persecuted for the truth OH Lord Iesus Christ who comming into this miserable worlde and taking our nature vpon thée didst thereby not onelie deliuer vs from sinne but also remembring thy mercies diddest also leaue vnto vs the iâ—imable treasure of thy blessed word as a perfect direction and rule for vs to frame our liues by and which alone is able to saue our soules Blesse therefore this thy holie word vnto vs make it a worde of power to regenerate and beget vs a new vnto eternall saluation of our bodies and soules And strengthen all thy seruants which in anie place are persecuted imprisoned condemned and dailie put to death for the sincere profession of the same and for the testimonie of a good conscience Be mercifull vnto them O Lord and although they séeme destitute of all mans ayde or worldly comfort yet let thy swéete comfort and grace neuer depart from them O Lord let no further triall be laid vpon them then they may be made able by thee to beare And as thou hast by the power of thy might not onlie vanquished and ouercome all corporall and bodilie enemiâ—s where or whatsoeuer but also thy and our spirituall aduersaries so strengthen all thy seruans that suffer anie kind of crosse persecution trouble or veration either in bodie or mind for the constant profession of thy holie worde and sacred religion Giue them patience good Lord to beare thy crosse thankfullie with strength to go thorow and to perseuere to the end euen to the effusion of their bloud knowing that they who denie thée before men thou wilt denie them before thy heauenlie father and his holie Angels in heauen And for that there is no true wisdom whereof thou art not the authour inspire their hearts with the spirite of true wisedom knowledge and vnderstanding that they may know thy will aright and that they may bee able by the same spirite to confound and ouerthrow all the enimies of thy truth Grant this swéets Iesus for thy holie names sake Amen A praier for Godly wisedome IConfesse good Father that so long as we beare about vs this earthâ—e tabernacle imprisoning the soule that our nature is so corrupted as it alwaies rebelieth against the spirit accompting that true wisedome which is nothing but méere foolishnesse in déed Wherefore good Lorde vouchsafe to send downe thy holie spirite euen the spirite of wisedome which waiteth vpon thy throne into my heart that I may know and vnderstand what things are good and acceptable before thée that I may attaine euerlasting life thorow the merits of thy sonne his most bitter death passion Amen A praier for grace to be mindfull to die OH lord our God in whose handes standeth the life and death of all mankind vouchsafe I beséech thée for thy sonne Christ his sake to make me mindefull and readie to depart out of this miserable and transitory life And al though my bodie doth creep here vpon the earth yet let my conuersation bee alwaies in heauen from whence we looke for a sauiour euen Iesus Christ the righteous who shall chaunge our vile bodies and make them like to his glorious bodie by the mightie power whereby he is able to subdue all things to himselfe Teach me good Lord to know that wee are al here strangers pilgrims and haue in this worlde no dwelling place but looke for one to come in regarde whereof giue me grace I be séech thee willinglie to forsake this wicked worlde with all the vanities therof to hunger thirst after that life which neuer shall decay Make me good Lorde to estéeme all things in this worlds as dongue that I may winne Iesus Christ. And for that that remembrance of death terrifieth vs from sin as thy seruant Salomon beareth record giue mee grace I most humblie intreat thée alwaies to remember and beare in mind that I am mortall and therefore must once of necessitie depart hence either to euerlasting glorie or else to euerlasting paines and confusion both of bodie and soule Oh Lord assist mee with thy holie spirit that I male so liue in this present euill world as I may not feare either but whensoeuer he approcheth I may with bolde confidence crie out say Oh Death where is thy sting oh Hell where is thy victory Grant this O Lorde my God for Iesus Christ thy onelie begotten sonne his sake Amen A Thanks-giuing to God for all his graces blessings bestowed vpon vs. SUCH is thy liberalitie and mercie O Lord towards mankinde that for all thy blessings and benefits both inâ—nite and inestimable beâ—owed vppon him thou requireth nothing againe but thankfull hearis to thee Wherfore most holy father I render al praise and thanks to thee from the bottom of my heart generallie for all thy benefites and blessings for all thy great mercies and louing kindnesse shewed towards me in Iesus Christ and particularly for that it hath pleased thée to elect and chuse mee in Christ Iesus to euerlasting saluation before the foundations of the world were layde for creating me after thine owne similitude and likenesse for redéeming of me by the death and passion of thy owne Son Iesus Christ when I was 〈◊〉 lost and cast awaie for euer for regenerating and renuing of me by thy holie Spirit for sanctifying of me by the same spirit for instilling into my heart a true a liuely and tustifying faith in Iesus Christ for giuing me grace to be penetent and sorowfull for my sinnes for inspiring my heart with a true and constant hope looking for the accomplishment of all thy gracious promises made vnto me in thy beloued without all doubting or â—uering For giuing me wisedonie vnderstanding and knowledge in some competent measure I praise thée and I thanke thée also O Lord for feeding nourishing clothing and sustaining my bodie euer since I was born for defending of me from infinite perils and daungers yea from infinite deathes which at diuerse times and in sundrie places haue laine in waite for me and threatned my destruction and into which I had certainlie fallen had I not béene by thy gracious goodnes supported protected defended Last of all I thanke thee good Lord and I prayse thée for thy swéete promises of euerlasting saluation made vnto mee in Iesus Christ. For these and all other thy most gracious benefites and blessings oh most glorious Father I prayse thée moste humblie beséeching thée for Iesus Christ thy sonne his sake to pardon and forgiue mee my great vnthankefulnesse ingratitude and vnkindnesse towards thee and from hencefoorth giue mee thy holy grace that I may procéede from thankfulnesse to thankfulnesse from gratitude to gratitude and from kindnesse to kindnesse towards thée that I be neuer accounted amongst the number of those ix vnthankefull leapers who being cleansed from their leprosie returned not againe to giue thée thanks Graunt these my petitions vnto me oh most benigne father with all other good thinges which thou knowest to be necessarie for me better then I can either wish or desire euen for the glorie of thy great name for the truth of thy promises and for Iesus Christ thy Sonne his sake my onelie Lorde Sauiour Kedéemer Mediatour and Aduocate to whome with thy blessed Maiestie and the holie Spirite one true and euerlasting GOD bee all honour glorie prayse dominion power and thanksgiuing for euermore Amen Vni Deo trino sit omnis gloria FINIS
receyue of thy merciful liberality Amen A thankesgiuing after meate O Lord God which of thy great bountie and fatherly kindnesse hast at this time most plentifully fedde our weake bodies giue vs grace continuallie to bee thankefull vnto thy Maiestie for these and all other thy benefites most aboundantly at all times bestowed vpon vs thorow Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen A note to knowe the beginning and ending of the foure Tearmes of the yeare HIllarie Tearme beginneth the three twentie of Ianuarie which if it be Sunday then the next day following and endeth the twelft of Februarie Easter Tearme beginneth seuentene dayes after Easter and endeth foure dayes after Ascension day Trinitie Terme beginneth the next day after Corpus Christi day and endeth the wednesday fortnight after Michaelmasse Tearme beginneth the ninth of October if if be not Sunday and endeth the eight and twentie of Nouember The Queenes Maiesties Iudges neither sit in Westminster hall nor heare anie matters pleaded in these dayes following Namely on the Ascension Saint Iohn Baptist All Saints the Purification of Marie nor the Sabboth dayes Note also that the Eschequer openeth eight dayes before any Terme begin except Trinitie Terme in which it openeth but foure dayes before Speciall Medita tions for all times and for all per sons _ 〈◊〉 meditate with thy self and thinke what god is namely a diuine spirite or spirituall bring and therefore will bee worshipped in spirite and 〈◊〉 Consider howe that this blessed God being diuided into a Trinitie of persons the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost yet all one in substance and essence hath by his almightie power created all things both spirituall and temporall visible and inuisible whatsoeuer And as he hath created them by his omnipotent power so doth hee rule and gouerne them by his prouidence according to his good will and pleasure And therefore think that nothing commeth to passe by fortune or chance but by his heauenlie determination and appointment Consider how he hath created thée after his owne siâ—itude and likenesse and therefore oughtest thou to be holic as he is holie How he hath predestinate and chosen thee before the foundations of the world were layde to euerlasting saluation in Iesus Christ how he hath and doth iustifie thee that is acount thée iust and righteous by a true and liuelie fayth in the blood of his Sonne howe he doth call thée to the knowledge of his will and to the state of grace First by the secret working of his spirite secondlie by the preaching of his word thirdlie by the sight and vse of all his creatures of infinite varietie Confider howe he made thée holy pure and righteous and howe thou by thy rebellion pride infidelitie and disobedience madest thy selfe sinsull and wicked Then consider howe hee sent his owne sonne Christ Iesus to redéeme thée by the shedding of his blood Who as he is our onelie saniour and redéemer so is he our onelie mediator and aduocate and onelie to be called vppon inuocated and neither Angel nor saint martyr nor confessor patriarch nor father nor any other creature whatsoeuer Consider with thy selfe that as he hath fulfilled all things for vs reconciled vs to his father so is he now ascended into the heauens to prepare a place for vs who at the great day of accounts shall come againe in the same shape and with the same bodie that he receyued of Marie to iudge both the quicke and the dead and to rewarde euerie man according to his works Thinke that after the generall iudgement our bodies being made immortall and incorruptible shall bee vnited againe to their proper soules and for euer inherite the euerlasting kingdome of heauen where is such ioy as no heart can conceiue no tongue no not of Angels themselues expresse nor any penne is able to write These and the like meditations ended render most heartie thanks vnto god in the name of Iesus Christ for all his benefites and blessings in mercie bestowed vppon thee pray for grace to bee thankfull craue pardon for â—hy vn thankfulnesse and the morning approching exercise thy selfe as followeth Precepts and directions for the morning WHen thou arisest in the morning lift vp thy handes thy eyes thy soule and mind towards heauen giuing God heartie thanks as generally for all his graces and louing kindnesse shewed towards thée in Christ so particularly for the quiet rest and sléepe which hee hath giuen to thy bodie that night Pray for his protection and assistance in the residue of thy life which done meditate thus with thy selse Meditations in the morning SAy thus to thy selfe This day which I now enter into is my last day nay this moment my last breath I haue no fréehold of my life fee simple of my dayes no charter of my yeares no not for one minute of an houre or twinckling of an eye Death yea infinite deathes daylie waite vpon me and threaten my destruction yea my body it self earieth in finit deaths in it selfe being indéed the efficient cause of it owne miserie and calamitie Think also that as shy bodie now resesh out of thy materiall bâ—d so shal it rise out of the bed of thy graue at the great day of the Lord and appeare before the tribunall seat of God all naked as euer thou wast borne there to receiue either the incorruptible crowne of euerlasting glorie or else the iust rewarde of perpetuall confusion Thinke also that as thou risest forth of thy bed to be occupied and emploied in the labours and trauailes of this life so shouldest thou arise out of the bed of sinne to serue the liuing God in holines and righteousnes all the dayes of thy life Meditations to bee conside red of at the rising of the Sunne AS now this temporall Sunne in the heauens representing vnto vs the true Sunne of God Christ Jâ—sus is now risen and hath spread his beames vppon the whole face of the earth so shall the sonne of God indéed at the time appointed manifest himselfe to the whole worlde in vnspeakable glorie to iudge all flesh and to reward euerie worke vnder the Sunne according to the qualitie and merite of the same Thinke also what infinite glorie is treasured vp in the kingdom of heauen for the elect and chosen of God after this life For if this Sunne in the element being made but one lie for mans vse and to giue light to the world for a time bee so glorious as no mortall eie without teares can beholde the same how much more glorious shall we think the ioies of heauen to be prepared for the elect after this life Thinke also that the Sunne in the element doth not onelie giue light to the world by his radiations and glistering beames but also doth quicken reuiue fructifie and cause to growe all naturall thinges vpon the whole face of the earth so Christ Iesus the sonne of God doth not onelie inlighten man by the beames of his grace and inspiration of
his holie spirite but also doth reuiue and quicken both our bodies and our soules being dead in sin and also maketh vs fruitfull and plentifull in all good workes to the praise and glorie of his holie name Thinke also of the immensitie of this visible Sunne which beeing in appearance but a small creature yet such is the maiestie and glorie thereof that it conueyeth his beames vnto euerie corner of the earth and thereby gather thou the immensitie and vnmeasurablenes of the son of God Christ Iesus who being the verie light and life of the world sitteth as a most glorious sonne in the middest of his creatures imparting to euerie one of them certaine sparkes of his glorie which beeing taken away they all consume and come to nothing These meditations ended humble thy selfe before God and pray as followeth or otherwise as the spirit of God shall 〈◊〉 thy spirite A praier for the morning OH most glorious God and louing Father who as thou hast by thy mightie power created all things so hast thou by thy vnsearchable wisdome ordered and disposed them as may best serue for the benefit and comfort of man I render most humble and heartie thankes â—nto thée for all thy benefites and blessings both infinite and inestimable in merciâ— bestowed vpon mee and namely for the swéete sléepe quiet rest which thou hast giuen to my bodie this night And as thou hast preserued me this night from all perils and daungers so I beséech thée to kéepe my body and my soule this â—ate not onely from committing that which is euill in thy sight but also from sustaining any euil thorow the enuy of the diuel the malice of his ministers the allurements and intisements of the worlde or the corruptions of the 〈◊〉 And for that thou 〈◊〉 commaunded euerie man to labor and 〈◊〉 in his vocation and calling for the maintenance of his estate I pray thée 〈◊〉 father so to blesse all my labours and the workes of my handes which I shall take in hand in thy blessed and holiâ— name this day so as they may tend to thy honour and glorie the reliefe of my necessities and the common benefite of all men In all which my labours giue mee grace I beséech thée most mercifull Father to deale faithfullie trulie vprightly with all men and not to increase my wealtth by 〈◊〉 wicked or vnlawful means Grant that I maie spende this daie in such holie exercises as thou hast commanded in thy blessed word 〈◊〉 those things which are euill and following those thinges which be good And for that we are as it were besieged and on euerie side beset and most stronglie assailed with many and puissant enemies as the deuill his members which are infinite on the one side the world the flesh on the other I beséech thée good father to preserue mee thy seruaunt from all their rage and furie from al their force violence And to this end let thy holie Angels pitch their tents round about me conduct me by their ministery preserue me by thy mightie power so shall I prayse thée for euer in the congregation of thy Saints thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Precepts at thy going foorth of thy Chamber WHen thou goest forth of thy chamber salute thy bedfellow if thou hast any giuing him the time of the day in méeting others do the like for ciuilitie requireth it And when thou commest into the presence of thy parents not onely salute them but also fall downe vpon thy knees before them and desire them to praie to God to blesse thée When thou hast so done wash thy face and thy hands and kéepe thy bodie cleane and neat in the doing wherof meditate thus with thy selfe Meditations in the washing of ones face and hands AS the filthinesse and pollution of my bodie is washed and made cleane by the element of water so is my bodie and soule purified and washed from the spottes and blemishes of sinne by the precious bloud of Iesus Christ. Thinke also this washing putteth me in remembrance of my baptisme of my spirituall birth and regeneration whereby I am not onelie borne anew by the operation of the holie Ghost but also am sealed vp to eternall saluation thorowe the redemption that is in Christ. These Meditations ended pray as followeth A praier to be said at the wa shing of ones face and hands MOst gratious God ind louing father who hast giuen thy onelie begotten son Jesus Christ to suffer death vpon the Crosse for my redemption graunt I most intirelie beséech 〈◊〉 for his sake that as this my bodie is nowe washed and made cleane by the element of materiall water so my bodie and soule may both be purified and purged from all vncleannesse and filthinesse of sinne thorow the efficacie of thy sonne his most precious bloud These things thus ordered go forth to thy labours in the feare of God doing all things to his glorie and the good of thy brethren Meditations before and at dinner WHen dinner time approcheth meditate thus with thy selfe as this earthly tabernacle of my bodie hath néed to be relieued and sustained with common aire and materiall foode so my sonle hath much more néede to be refreshed and fedde with the incorruptible food of the word of God and then as thou dost hunger after the one so thirst thou much more after the other This done draw néere to the table with reuerence and with heartie affection pray as followeth A praier before meate MErcifull father who in thy great wisedome and incomprehensible power hast not only created the foules of the aire the beasts of the earth and the fishes of the sea of infinite varietie for the benefite and vse of man but also by thy blessing doest dailie multiplie and increase them for the sustentation of mans bodies sanctifie I beseech thee these thy creatures by the power of thy worde giue them strength to nourish my bodie and me grace to vse them to thy glorie and my owne comfort And as in mercie thou doest feede my bodie with these earthlie creatures which are transitorie so vouchsafe to feede my soule with the spirituall foode of thy blessed word which is euerlasting and neuer shall decay thorow Jesus Christ my onelie Lord and sauiour and for hs sake Amen Directions how a Christian should behaue himselfe at the table WHen thou comest to the table shew all obeysance and curtesy be hauing thy selfe modestlie humblie and soberlie as in the presence of God Eate so much as nature requireth not how much insaciable appetite desireth Be spare as well of hande as tongue Let thy countenance be amiable and pleasant toward all men Let all thy communication bee seasoned with salt as the Apostle speaketh that it may giue grace to the hearers remembring that wee must giue accounts at the day of iudgement for euerie idle word Use not to laugh much to iest or scoffe to floute or mocke to deride backbite 〈◊〉 detract anie
glorie of thy holie Å„ame that I hauing plentie of al good things in this life may bee rich and plentifull in all good workes to the glorie of thy holie name and profite of my brethren through Jesus Christ our Lord. A praier for a competent and a necessarie liuing OH Lord our God most gracious holie father whose loue towards man in Christ Jesus is infinite and vnspeakable whose tender care ouer him is such that thou hast promised that who soeuer beléeueth in thée dependeth vppon thy proufdence and séeketh his reliefe at thy blessed handes shall neuer want anie good thing ether necessarie for soule or bodie Wherefore most gracious father I thy â—elie creature of my selfe poore yea pouertie and nakednesse it selfe most intirelie beseech thée for Jesus Christ his sake that thou wilt giue vnto me a competent and a necessary liuing as meate drinke and cloth with all other thinges néedfull for my bodie that pinching pouertie oppresse me not nor that I bee not drawen to attempt wicked and vnlawfull meanes for the maintenance of my life To this ende therefore good father blesse my store and replenish my basket with thy blessings that I may be able thorow thy beneficiall liberalitie to liue out of debt and danger of all men and to occupie my selfe in the exercise practise of good works to the reliefe of them that haue néede and the setting forth of thy honour glorie thorow Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A praier for grace that wee may vse our wealth to the glorie of God ALmightie most mercifull father the onelie giuer of al good things the onelie stay and comfort of all mankind giue mee grace thy humble seruant that as thou hast blessed my store increased my wealth excéedinglie farre beyonde either my deserts or expectation insomuch as I haue not onelie sufficient to supplie mine owne want but also inough to relieue others that haue need so I beséech thée to remooue farre from mâ—e all couerous desires of lucre and gaine and giue me a willing mind and readie desire to distribute to the necessitie of thy saints according to the abundance of my wealth to féed the hungrie to cloth the naked to harbour she harbourlesse to visite the sicke and needie and to do all other good works which thou requirest of me in this life that I liue not to my selfe and for my selfe onelie but to the helpe and reliefe of all that haue néed of my furtherance in this life that treasuring vp for my selfe a good foundacion in the kingdome of heauen I may inherite eternall life thorow Jesus Christ my onelie Lord and sauiour Amen A praier to be said of women with childe ALmightie most mercifull Father creator of heauen and earth who in the begining for the sinne of our first parents diddest laie a most heauie iudgement vpon the sinfull daughters of disobedient Eue namelie that in sorrow great paines wee shoulde bring forth our fruit And for that our nature is weake and our sex fraile altogither vnable to beare the pangs the throbbes and throwes which accompanie vs poore women in these our trauailes I most humblie beséech thee holie Father for Iesus Christ his sake that thou wilt extend to me and to all others in the like case thy mercie and louing fauor to mâ—gate the paines therof that we maie be able to sustaine and to indurs the pangs and paines of our trauailes at the appointed time that the fruite of my wombe where with I am now laden maie graciousâ—ie ve deliuered from my weake and frail bodie to thy praise and glorie and my comfort Send vs good sather both easie and spéedie deliuerance that wèe maie become ioiful mothers of happie children Graunt both to me and to all others who by thy blessing haue conceiued with childe strength to bring foorth that which thy almightie hand hath so wonderfullie wrought in vs. Bee present with vs good Lord in all our trauailes helpe vs and most graciously deliuer vs. Let thy mightie power and outstretched arme be no less manifested in the deliuerie then it was and is in the forming and framing of thy creature in our wombs and after our deliuerie vouchsafe holie father to restore vs to our former strength and abilitie of bodie againe that we maie sing vnto thée the Psalmes of praise thankesgiuing all the daies of lour liues thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. A praier for godly wise dome HOlie father who art wisedome it selfe light it self and vnderstanding it selfe vouchsafe to giue vnto me thy sâ—elie creature that excellent gift of wisedome discretion and vnderstanding replenish my heart with all heauenlie prudence renue a right spirite within me and write thy holy lawes in the tables of my hart by the finger of thy holie spirit that I walke not in the waies of errour neither yet be caried awaie with euerie blast of vain doctrine Swéet father giue me this blessed gift of heauenlie wisedome that I may perfectlie knowe and vnderstande what thy holie will and pleasure is in all things and grant that I knowing it may faithfully obey it and walke in the true obseruation thereof all the daies of my life that hauing the lampe of loue and the candle of true faith continuallie burning in the secrete closets of my heart I maie at the last enter with thine elect into the kingdome of heauen purchased with the blood of thy sonne to all faithfull beléeuers To thée therefore witth thy deare sonne Iesus Christ and the holie spirit be all honour and glorie for euer Amen A praier against all kind of enemies OH Lord such is the malice of Sathan that he not onelie séeketh my confusion himselfe but also raiseth vp his members wicked men in number manie in power strong and mightie to practise my destruction â—erfore holie father receiue me into thy protection and safegard driue backe and confound them all that rise vp against mee fight for me against them that fight against me Strike a terrour into their harts oh lord that they may not dare to lift vp a hand against me Turn their wicked imaginations deuises from mee either to their amendment or to their owne confusion Let all the woordes whiche they vtter to my discredite redound to their owne shame Let thy holie angels pitch their tents about me and defende mee from the rage and furie of all my enimies that they maie not onelie not preuaile against me but also maie flie before my face by the mightie power of thine owne right arme Good Father looke vpon them either in mercie to conuert them and to turne their hearts or else in iustice to confound them that thâ—y neuer haue power to hurt me thy seruaÌ„t either in body goods or name so â—hall I praise thée for euer thorow Iesus Christ my onelie Lord and sauiour Amen A praier when one taketh a iourney in hand O Lord God who not onlie guidest and directest all those that walke and trauaile