in darknesse 11 My Louers and those which I tooke for friends because they see me goe about to forsake my euill courses stand aloofe of from my sore in stead of giuing me comfort become mine aduersaries and my kinsmen who in my prosperitie fawned on mee now stand a farre of and leaue me comfortlesse 12 They also of mine enemies that seeke after the ouerthrow of my life and eternall happinesse lay snares and tentations for me and they that seeke my hurt in bereauing me of my good name speake mischieuous and false things to my reproach and imagine deceit how to diuert me from the right way all the day long 13 But I being resolued to persist in the way of repentance and to trust wholly in the mercy of God behaued my selfe to them as a deafe man giuing no eare to their allurements and made as though I heard them not and I was in my behauiour to them as a dumbe man that knew not how to speake and that opened not his mouth 14 Thus carefull was I least mine enemies should entrap me and I continued still as a man that heareth not nor is moued with their tentations and in whose mouth notwithstanding their euill deedes to me are no reproofes 15 For in thee O Lord let them doe what they can doe I hope and put my confidence that thou wilt keepe thy promise and heare me when I call vpon thee O Lord my God and Sauiour 16 For I said in my prayer to thee heare mee O Lord least if thou forsake me they should reioyce and triumph ouer mee for when and as soone as my foote of faith slippeth neuer so little by infirmitie they presently imagine that thou hast forsaken mee and magnifie themselues as though they had obtained a great victory against me 17 For I cannot maruell that they should so doe considering that when I feele the waight of my sinnes I my selfe am ready to halt and despaire and the reason of my sorrow is because thy Iudgements are euer before mee and in my thoughts 18 For remedy whereof I wil declare and confesse to thee O Lord in the bitternesse of my soule my iniquitie and take reuenge of my selfe for it yea I will be as long as I liue heartily sory and much grieued for my sinne past though it be forgiuen 19 But mine enemies thinke not of forsaking their waies they are liuely and merry and crie peace peace to their soules and they are strong to doe euill and they also that hate mee because they see my conuersion wrongfully and without cause are multiplied and excedingly increased 20 They also that vnthankefully render euill to me for the good which I haue done vnto them are also become mine aduersaries and doe vnto mee all the mischiefe they can and why because they perceiue my conuersion and that I follow and loue the thing that good is which they hate 21 Forsake mee not either in tentation or tribulation though they persecute mee O Lord the author of my saluation O my God whom I desire to serue be not farre from me by withdrawing thy grace from me 22 Make hast least I faint vnder the burden of my sinnes to helpe me against my enemies O Lord who art my only stay in this life and my Saluation in the life to come Glory be to the Father c. 4 Psalme 51. 1 HAue mercy vpon me miserable sinner O God full of mercy and compassion according to thy louing and infinite kindnesse to the sonnes of men and as my sinnes are infinite so according to the multitude of thy tender mercies which thou hast euer shewed to penitent sinners blot out of the booke of thy remembrance my innumerable transgressions 2 Wash mee throughly with the blood of thy deare Sonne from mine iniquitie whereby I haue so often offended thy Maiestie and cleanse me in the fountaine of thy mercies from my sinne whereby I haue also offended my neighbour 3 For behold O Lord I hide not nor excuse but in the bitter teares of repentance acknowledge and confesse my horrible transgressions against thee and my grieuous sinne in which I did for a time take delight is growne odious to mee and is euer before me in remorse of conscience 4 Against thee most mercifull Father only haue I sinned and though I were ashamed to commit sinne in the sight of men yet I haue done this great euill in thy alseeing sight yet O Lord be mercifull to mee and pardon it that thou mightst be iustified and found true and faithfull when thou speakest as thou hast often done of mercy and forgiuenesse to the penitent and bee cleare from the imputation of iniustice when thou art arrogantly and falsely Iudged for seueritie thy punishments being iust though the eyes of our vnderstanding be not so cleare as to perceiue the iustice of them 5 Behold O Lord that I as all mankinde was shapen in the iniquity of originall sinne from which fountaine springeth my misery and in sinne and concupiscence did my mother conceiue me from whence groweth the infirmitie of my flesh 6 Behold also O LORD I know that thou desirest Truth Faith and Integrity in the inward parts of my conscience and in the hidden parts of mee my Soule thou shalt make me by the illumination of thy Holy Spirit to know Wisedome to eternall life 7 Purge mee leprous sinner with spirituall Hyssope the blood of thy Sonne in stead of the Hyssope which was wont to cleanse the leprous in the lawe and by that blood I shall be cleane and purified from the leprosie of sinne Wash me in the fountaine of Grace and then by the teares of repentance and the merits of my Sauiour I shall bee whiter in thy sight then Snow 8 Make mee poore wretch to heare and sensiblie feele the ioy and comfort of remission of my sinnes and let me finde gladnesse in the promise of life eternall that the Spirituall bones of my soule which thou hast broken with tentations and afflictions may reioice and giue thee thankes and praise 9 Hide and turne away thy face and wrathfull countenance from my sinnes lay them not to my charge and blot out of thy Register all mine iniquities that they neuer appeare to condemne me 10 Create an new forme in me polluted sinner a cleane and pure heart O God the Creator of all things and renew by thy Grace aright and sanctified Spirit within me 11 Cast me not away into the pit of desperation by debarring me from thy presence where only is fulnesse of ioy and take not for euer thy Holy Spirit of comfort from me 12 Restore vnto me rather the vnspeakeable ioy of thy Saluation in Christ Iesus which they feele in their consciences to whom thou remittest their sinnes and when I am re-instated in thy fauour vphold and keepe me from falling againe with thy free powerfull and sauing Spirit 13 Then euen when I shall be so restored I will by word of exhortation and example
and the poore importunate widow intimating thereby vnto vs that of necessity if wee hope to receiue any good or auoid any euill wee must keepe our selues to this holy Duty of earnest Prayer The Dignity And if there were no necessity imposed on vs to pray yet the Dignitie and Honour wee receiue by prayer is sufficient to incite vs to it For Prayer as a father well saith is a familiar conference with God Ep◅ By it wee talke with him as it were face to face By other of his Graces as in the Word and Sacraments hee vouchsafeth to speake to vs by this wee haue accesse and speake to him for what we stand in neede of And what greater Dignity what greater priuiledge can be affoorded to poore sinfull creatures Dust and Ashes as we are then familiarly to talke with so great and powerfull a God and to haue dayly so free and easie admittance to his presence to manifest our necessities to him and to craue his supply and succour Then The Benefit if wee consider the profit which ariseth by the due performance of this Dutie wee shal be the easilier drawne to performe it for if nothing else quicken vs yet matter of Benefit doth vsually worke with vs. And assuredly the benefit which ariseth by it is and euer hath beene great For by prayer we doe not only obtaine of God all good things pertaining to this life as the necessaries thereof and to the life to come as the gifts and graces of his Holy Spirit but also we auoide preuent and remoue by it all the dangers and euils of both liues as the losses and dangers incident to this life and the punishment due to our sinnes hereafter If you please you may take a short view of the wonderfull effects which haue been wrought and the benefits which haue been obtained and the punishments which haue beene auerted in former times when recourse was had to God by Prayer By it The Iewes ouercame The Amalekites Exo. 17. Samuel ouercame The Philistims 1. Sam. 7. Iudith ouercame Holofernes Iudeth 13. The Reubenites ouercame The Agarens 1. Chr. 5.20 Asa ouercame The Ethiopians 2. Chro. 14. Iosaphat ouercame The Ammonites 2. Chro. 20. Ezechias ouercame Sēnacherib 2. King 19.15 Manasses was restored to his kingdome 2. Chr. 33.15 By it Hanna became fruitfull 1. Sam. 1.9 Elias obtained fire from Heauen 1. King 18. as also raine and faire weather Iames 5. By it The rebellious Iewes escaped Punishment Exod. 32. Num. 21.7 The Niniuites escaped Destruction Ion. 3. Ezechias escaped Death 2. Kings 20. The 3 Children escaped The fierie Fornace Dan. 3. Daniel escaped The Lions Daniel 6. Ionas escaped The Whale Ion. 2. The Disciples escaped Drowning Mat. 8.25 Peter escaped Bonds Acts 12. Paul and Silas escaped Imprisonment Acts 16. Dauid stayed the Pestilence 2. Sam. 24. The Lepers were cleansed Luc. 12. The Centurions seruant was healed Mat. 8. The blinde receiued sight Mat. 9.20 Luc. 18. The womās daughter The mans son were deliuerd frō the deuill Mat. 15.17 By it The sicke were made whole Act. 28. The widow of Sarepthas son 1. King 18. The Shunamites son 2. King 14. The Rulers daughter Mat. 9. Dorcas Act. 7. were reuiued The Publican obtayned Remission of sinnes Luc. 18. The Theife obtayned Paradice Luc. 23. St. Stephen obtayned Heauen Act. 7. Directions how to pray Now seing that for these respects Pray we must in the next place we are to consider How prayer is to be made that it turne not to sinne 1. To God only First prayer must be made to God and to none other 1. Because God hath so commanded a Deut. 6.13 For prayer is a part of his Seruice and Worship And his Seruice and Glory he will impart to none else b Mat. 4.10 Him onely shalt thou serue And c Io. 19.23 Io. 4.21 whatsoeuer you shall aske of my Father not of Angels Saints or the like 2 In regard of his Glory and Maiesty Psal 24.8 96,6 99,2 104.1 wherein he excelleth all others and ought therefore aboue all to be prayed vnto 3 In regard of his Singular Knowledge Lue. 11.13 for he knoweth our necessities better then wee our selues 4 In regard of his Power and Ability to helpe vs. Esa 40.10.12 Psal 66.2 Psal 17.6 18,6 103. Esa 46.4 5 In regard of his willingnesse and readinesse to relieue vs. 6 In respect of the practise of all the Saints and of Christ himselfe Of a 1. Sam. 1 15. Hanna b Psal 25,1 73,25 5.1 77,1 Dauid c Psal 22.4 of the Saints d Mat. 14.23 of Christ 7 In regard of the absurditie in praying to those which cannot helpe themselues much lesse vs. For to which of the Saints or Angels can be properly said Our Father which art in Heauen or hallowed bee thy Name c. But to God alone Esa 43.11 45.5 is this seruice to be done for he onely saueth vs and besides him is no Sauiour 2. In Faith Secondly our prayers ought to be made in Faith for whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne and whosoeuer desireth to haue good successe in his prayers ought to beleeue and not to pray waueringly Our Sauiour said to the petitioner for his deafe and dumb son If thou canst beleeue al things are possible to him that beleeueth Mat. 9.23 And to his Disciples 21.22 All things whatsoeuer ye shall aske in prayer beleeuing ye shall receiue which lesson also Saint Iames teacheth in his first Chapter Ia. 1.5.6 If any man lacke Wisedome let him aske of God c. But let him aske in faith 3. In Hope Thirdly as faith is the foundation and first vertue required in prayer So Hope certaine and assured is to bee fixed and setled in vs when we Pray that God wil performe the promises which he hath made Psal 22.4.121 and that hee will heare and grant those things which we shall desire according to his Will 4. In Charity And that our prayers may the better ascend they are to put on the wings of Charity which is one of the fruits of the holy Spirit Gal. 5.21 For without this quality our prayers will proue cold heauie and lumpish and will returne empty vnto vs. This Charity is two fold First towards God Secondly towards our Neighbour 1. Towards God in keeping his commandements for our Sauiour saith Io. 14.21,23 Hee that keepeth my commandements is he that loueth me and the Apostle saith 1. Ioh. 3.22 Wee receiue of him because wee keepe his commandements that is we loue him so that wee are loth to offend him 2. Towards our Neighbour which Charitie is also manifested two waies 1. In forgiuing all iniuries receiued from him or by his meanes after our Sauiours rule
assisting grace that they may perseuere in goodnesse To all my friends kindred and enemies and to those which pray for me giue all thy good blessings Keepe vs all from all euill and make vs to continue in thy Seruice to our liues end and after the course of this miserable life ended bring vs to thine euerlasting Kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. Or thus ALmighty and Euerlasting GOD I praise and blesse thee from the bottome of my heart that of thy infinite goodnesse thou hast preserued me this night past and hast with the impregnable defence of thy Prouidence defended mee from the power and malice of the Deuill and kept me both in soule and body from all his deuices and snares and raised me from sleepe the Image of death and not left me to be stifled in the darknesse of my sinnes but hast giuen me a longer space to repent me of them I humbly intreat thee that thou wouldest not withdraw thy hand of Protection from me but take mee into thy Tuition Watch ouer me with the eyes of thy mercy and direct me in the way of thy Commandements Endue me with those graces of thy Holy Spirit which may assist me to passe this day and the rest of my life to the praise and glory of thy holy Name the benefit of my Neighbour and the saluation of my sinfull soule Keepe me O Lord from all sinne bridle and mortifie my flesh that I offend not nor fall into any transgressions which may prouoke thy wrath against mee Direct my soule and body my words and actions according to the rule of thy Will Diuert my heart from fastning too much on transitory pleasures and conuert it to the delight of eternall ioyes And because I am not worthy O Lord that thou shouldest heare me poore wretched sinner behold I set before thee the merits of thy only Sonne who is the propitiation of our sinnes looke vpon him and for his Righteousnesse pardon the offences of thy Seruant and grant to me Those things by thy mercy which by the strict Rule of thy Iustice are not due to me Defend me O Lord from all mine enemies Arme me with thy Spirituall weapons put on me the Clothing of wisedome and strength Ephes 6. the Brestplate of Righteousnesse the Helmet of Saluation the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit that in this earthly Pilgrimage I may manfully oppose the enemies of my Soule the Concupiscence of the Flesh Tentations of the World and Malice of the Deuill that so hauing finished valiantly the course of this Terrestriall warfare I may hereafter praise thee in thy Celestiall Kingdome And thou O Lord who giuest food to euery liuing Creature Psal 147.9 and feedest the young Rauens which call vpon thee be mercifull vnto me in the supply of those necessaries which I dayly want Preserue mee in health 1. Tim. 6.8 giue mee foode and rayment and sufficient to maintaine me in that course of life to which it hath pleased thee to call mee that hauing sufficient in all things I may abound in good workes And grant that I may leade a quiet life in all Godly conuersation that hauing and vsing thy blessings worthily I may passe this life with ioy and comfort till it please thee to call me to a better Giue thy blessings to the Kings Maiestie the Queene and the whole estate of this Kingdome and grant that we all may bend our thoughts and studies to please thee that at the last by the merits and intercession of Iesus Christ we may bee receiued to thy Heauenly Kingdome Amen Or thus O Almighty Lord God which day after day dost minister to sinfull man infinite occasions whereby hee may be stirred vp to praise thy holy Name and art most plentifull in pittie and fauourable to those which with pure hearts and vnfained faith call vpon thee behold me thy poore vnworthy seruant with the eyes of compassion that at this time aâ—… bold to offer vp vnto thee a morning Sacrifice of praise and thankes for all thy blessings and amongst the rest for that thou hast vouchsafed after a sufficient and quiet sleepe to raise me safe from my bed againe which fauour thou hast not affoorded to many others who in farre greater measure haue deserued it then my selfe for which mercy of thine I am not able through my insufficiencie and weakenesse to giue vnto thee due praise and thankesgiuing I pray thee therefore in thy deare Sounes Name In whom thou art well pleased to accept these poore and weake thankes and for his sake also to be further aiding and assisting vnto me this day following in whatsoeuer I shall take in hand For thou knowest O Lord how feeble mans nature is insomuch that if he trust to his owne strength of necessitie he must fall into many miseries errors and dangers Haue mercy therefore vpon mine infirmities and be propitious and helping to me that by thine Illumination I may discerne and perceiue good from euill and by thy leading and direction may follow the one and auoid the other Lord so guide me with thy Holy Spirit that I may neither doe speake nor thinke any thing this day contrary to thy holy Will Behold O Lord I offer my selfe a Liuing Sacrifice to thee and humbly pray thee to aceept it Good God direct my soule in the way of thy Commandements increase my faith strengthen my Hope enlarge my Charitie and infuse all the good graces of thy Holy Spirit into me Giue me grace so to remember my sinnes as that thou mayest forget them and so to forsake them as that thou mayest forgiue them Instruct me in all goodnesse and giue me the grace of Perseuerance that I flye not backe from any good courses in this life but that I may goe forward and continue in them to the end of my dayes O Lord who hast promised the necessaries of this life to those which shall first seeke thy Kingdome I humbly intreat thee to giue vnto me this day all things necessary for my sustentation as foode rayment health of body ioy of heart peace of conscience and a blessing to all my endeauours giue me a minde contented with that which shal be sufficient and not desirous of that which is superfluous that I may passe the rest of my dayes on earth religiously honestly and soberly as becommeth thy seruant to thy honour and my endlesse comfort Bee gratious to the Kings most excellent Maiestie his Royall Queene the whole Estate Cleargie Nobility Gentry Magistrates and Commons giue vs all grace in our seuerall places to doe our Duties as in thy sight that at the last by the merits of Iesus Christ our Sauiour we may receiue the reward thereof in thy Eternall Kingdome where thou raignest together with the same our Lord Iesus Christ and the Holy Spirit World without end Morning Prayer for a Family O Almighty Lord God heauenly Father we giue thee most humble and heartie thankes in that thou
from the sicknesse that destroyeth in the noone day Esa 38.12 Who hast not cut of my life like a weauer nor made an end of me O Lord I confesse that as my dayes haue increased so hath my sinne multiplied Pro. 24.16 The iust man falleth seuen times a day But I miserable sinner seuenty seuen times seuen times But I returne to thee O Lord and repent Luc. 17.4 Let not the Sunne goe downe in thy wrath O Lord whatsoeuer good I haue done this day I acknowledge that thou hast wrought it in me and desire thee gratiously to accept of me for it as thy Instrument only O Lord whatsoeuer euill I haue committed this day I confesse it to be the worke of mine owne hands and heartily pray thee to pardon it O Lord which giuest the sleep of health to them that loue thee and causest those that feare thee to sleepe confidently Psal 13.4 Lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not in death Keepe me from the terrors of the night and from the workes of darknesse Psal 91.5 Lord though I sleepe yet let my heart watch to thee and when I wake let me be presently before thee let my thoughts ascend to thee Grant that I may alwaies remember that the night is no night with thee and that the darkenesse and light are to thee alike Psal 139.12 Grant that I may alwaies meditate vpon the long and last sleepe the sleepe of death the bed of my Graue and the Couering of wormes and dust Let my sleepe be a cessation from sinne and let me not in my sleepe doe or thinke any thing that may offend thee or defile my selfe And grant that after the sleepe shall depart from mine eyes I may remember thee search my reynes and trye my heart O Lord I commend my selfe and all that of thy bounty is mine to thee In thee I put all my trust and confidence Thou seest in what dangers we are what snares the Deuill layeth for vs. I humbly therefore pray thee to defend me from him And grant me so to order and end my life that I may sleepe peace and take my rest with thee for the merits of Iesus Christ c. Psal 4.9 I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest for it is thou Lord onely that makest me dwell in safety Euening Prayer for a Family O Almighty and euerlasting God who hath appointed all times and seasons to succeede in their due course and hast ordained the day for the workes of the day and bodily labour and the night to take our quiet rest and refreshing by whose prouidence and mercy we haue beene preserued this day from all dangers and haue beene furnished with all things necessary for this life wee humbly pray and beseech thee that now in this time of night and darkenesse wherein we poore and miserable sinners stand in most need of thy helpe and aide thou wouldest be pleased to keepe vs from all dangers spirituall and temporall O Lord we confesse that we haue not deserued the least of thy fauours nay if thou shouldest with strict eye examine our actions how we haue spent this day and the rest of our daies past we should not be able to stand in thy sight much lesse beg any further blessings of thee For notwithstanding thy manifold and daily fauours wee haue in all things beene rebellious and repugnant to thy blessed Will and obedient and comformable to the command of our enemies the Flesh the World and the Deuill in so much as wee haue lost our liberties and are become seruants and slaues vnto them For we haue wholly giuen our selues to serue the pleasures of the Flesh in concupiscences and other carnall Acts we haue hearkened too much to the delights of the World in couetous desiring that which is not our owne in abusing the Creatures thereof which were created for our necessary vse and not for our wanton and insatiable desires and wee are become the seruants of Sathan in not opposing and resisting his vncleane and wicked tentations Our sinnes are infinite and our iniquities are numberlesse so that wee cannot nor are any way able to recount them vnto thee We haue fled from thee seeking vs neglected thee Louing vs stopped our eares to thee speaking to vs turned our backes to thee reaching thy hand to vs forgotten thee doeing good to vs and despised thee correcting vs. Yet O Lord we humbly intreat thee to shew thy accustomed mercy to vs poore and miserable sinners who in griefe and anguish of soule confesse these our offences and earnestly and bitterly bewaile them Looke vpon vs with the eyes of compassion not for any thing in vs but for the loue and respect which thou bearest to thy Sonne Christ Iesus in whom we verily beleeue that thou art fully reconciled vnto vs. Take away our sinnes and the punishment due vnto vs for them Let thy wrath be turned from vs and destroy vs not together with our manifold transgressions Lord thou seest our wickednesse and withall how and in whose name we craue thy mercy Turne thee O Lord from thine anger which thou mightest iustly power vpon vs and bee gratious vnto vs according to thy wonted goodnesse who abhorrest nothing which thou hast made Create also we beseech thee in vs new hearts hearts fit to serue thee and write thy Law in them with the finger of thy Holy Spirit that all our desires and all our actions may bee conformable to thy blessed Will And now againe O Lord we desire thy Maiestie to take our soules and bodies into thy protection this night following suffer vs not to sleepe in sinne but watch ouer vs and defend vs vnder the shadow of thy wings Let not our sleepe bee excessiue or immoderate but raise vs againe in due time that after a quiet and moderate sleepe we may arise to serue and praise thee ioyfully beginne and perfect our workes iustly labour in our vocations truely and seeke thy Kingdome earnestly that at the last by thee with thee and in thee wee may come vnto the same Kingdome by the merits of our Sauiour Iesus Christ in whose Name and Prayer wee are bold to call further vpon thee saying Our Father c Prayers for seuerall Persons For a married man O Heauenly Father Maker and Preseruer of Heauen and Earth who in the beginning didst institute Matrimony foretelling the mysticall vnion of the Church with our Sauiour Christ who also in the time of his being vpon earth did honour Marriage with his first Miracle Ioh. 2. and hast appointed it also for a meanes whereby mankinde is propagated Gen. 2. for a remedy to auoide vnlawfull lust and for the mutuall comfort and consolation of thy Children I humbly entreat thee to giue me the assistance of thy diuine Grace that I may liue according to thy commandements with my wife whom thou hast giuen for my helpe and comfort in this world Mortifie in me all vncleane
dwellings vnto health and safetie Keep those which are well and release those vpon whom thou hast laid the rod of thy afflictions Thou hast promised O Lord that if at any time thou sendest the Pestilence among the people 2. Chro. 7.13 14. If that people doe humble themselues 1. Kings 8. and pray and seeke thy presence and turne from their wicked waies thou wilt heare in Heauen and be mercifull to their sinne and heale their Land wee humbly pray thee O Lord to make good thy promise and ease vs of our afflictions For behold O Lord wee humble our selues vnder thy mighty hand we bewaile and lament our sinfull liues past and humbly beseech thee to giue vs thy assisting Grace that we may henceforth order our waies to please thee Then shall no Contagion hurt vs Dan. 9.18 but we shall liue to praise thy Name and all the world shall know that thou art our God and that thy Name is called vpon by vs. Heare vs O Lord and be mercifull to vs euen for Iesus Christs sake the Righteous To whom with thee and the Blessed Spirit be ascribed all honour and zpraise now and for euer Amen Confession of Faith Mar. 9.24 Lord I beleeue Helpe thou my vnbeleife In God The father Almightie Maker of heauen and earth In which words I consider his naturall affection his sauing power his Prouidence in disposing preseruing gouerning all things Eph. 1.10 Who in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times will gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heauen and earth In Iesus Our Sauiour Christ The Anoynted His onely Son Euen of God the Father Our Lord By creating and redeeming vs. 1. Who was conceiued by the holy Ghost To purge the vncleanesse of our conception 2. Borne of the Virgin MARY To purge the vncleanenesse of our Birth 3. Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate Those thinges which wee should haue suffered that we might not suffer them 4. Was crucified To take away the Curse of the Law 5. Dead To take away the Sharpenesse of death 6. Buried To take away the corruptiō of the Graue 7. Descended into Hell Whither wee ought to haue gone that we might not goe thither at all 8. The third day he rose againe from the dead That hee might raise with him our nature being made the first fruites of them which sleepe 1. Cor. 15.20 9. He ascended into Heauen To prepare vs a place whereto we had no right 10. Hee sitteth at the right hand of the father Incessantly to intercede for vs. 11. From thence he shall come To receiue vs 12. To iudge both the quicke and the dead Euen to the consummation of all things In the Holy Ghost In whom I consider a power sanctifying frō aboue and quickening to immortalitie working powerfully and inuisibly in vs. By the Illumination of knowledge Luc. 12.12 And Infusion of grace 1. Ioh. 2.27 b Io. 16.8 In reprehending things euill in vs c Io. 14.26 Teaching vs things we know not Suffering and forbearing vs. d Gen. 20.6 Preuenting vs from doing euill Ro. 8.26 Encouraging vs vs to doe good Assisting vs in our Prayers Striuing for our good Ioh. 14.16 Comforting vs in our necessities  All these being Graces and fruits of the Holy Spirit 4. The Holy Catholique Church Which is the mysticall body of the head Christ Iesus composed of all people throughout the World which are called by the Spirit to the Beleife of Diuine Truth and holinesse of Conuersation And of all these members of his body there is a reciprocall participation to the Communion of Saints and Forgiuenesse of Sinnes For the present To the hope of The resurrectiō of the body and Life euerlasting hereafter Lord I beleeue Helpe the defects of my faith That I may loue thee as a Father Reuerence thee as Almighty Commend my selfe to thee as to a faithfull Creator That I may be mindefull to giue thankes to Thy only Sonne As to the purger of our nature In his Conception and Birth As to our deliuerer In his Passion Crosse and Death As to the triumpher ouer Hell In his Descension Ouer death In his Resurrection As to our fore runner In his Ascension As to our Aduocate In his Session As to the establisher of our faith In his Second Comming That he may be fashioned in me That I may be made conformable to him To his Conception To his Natiuitie In Workes In Faith In Humility That for his Passions 1. I may Sympathize with him as with one that suffered for me and be ready to suffer of him and for him when it shall be his good pleasure 2. I may haue an Antipathie with sinne as being the cause of his Sufferings and bee Reuenged of Crucifie Mortifie Bury Sinne in my selfe 3 I may conforme my selfe 1. To his descension into Hell By often descending thither in meditation 2 To his Resurrection By rising to newnesse of life 3. To his Ascension By sauouring and seeking those things which are aboue and neerer to my Saluation 4. To his Iudgement By Iudging my selfe least I bee condemned with the World That when I am cold in Prayer and want any Spirituall grace or comfort I may remember thy Session and Intercession And when I am feruent in any euill affection or concupiscence I may not forget thy fearefull and terrible Iudgement Seat and the sound of the last Trump That for thy only Son Christs sake I may also receiue thy Vnction euen thy sauing grace the vnspeakeable guift of the Holy Ghost and neuer a 1. Thess 5.19 extinguish b Eph. 4.30 grieue c Act. 7.51 resist or d Mat. 12.32 reproach it That so I may bee called into thy Catholique Church where I may be partaker of the Persons Actions prayers and Examples of Saints To the assured beliefe of Remission of sinnes To the hope of Resurrection and Translation to Life euerlasting Lord increase my Faith Luc. 17.6 Mat. 17.20 as a graine of mustard seed Not Dead Temporary or Hypocriticall But a 1. Tim. 1.5 Pure and vnfeigned most b Holy c Eph. 3.11 Liuely and d Ia. 2.26 working by Charity Confession of Faith O Almighty and Eternall Lord God I poore vnworthy and wretched sinner and bold to renew that couenant of Faith which in my Baptisme I made vnto thee I beleeue and confesse that all those things which thy most beloued Sonne Christ Iesus did suffered and taught while he was conuersant in the Flesh here vpon the Earth are most most true and certaine I professe that I beleeue all the Articles of the Apostles Creed and the Holy Gospell of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ which is preached through all the World To this Faith I binde my selfe and purpose Gods grace assisting mee neuer to depart from it and acknowledge that without beleeuing thus I cannot be saued I am heartily glad O Heauenly Father euen in my
of conuersation teach transgressors how they shall keepe thy waies and commandements and by that meanes thy Grace assisting they which now are sinners shall forsake their wickednesse and shall bee truely conuerted to thee 14 Deliuer me and quit me from my former bloody offences and keepe mee henceforth from blood guiltinesse and carnall corruptions O God my protector Thou God which art my Redeemer and Author of my Saluation and all the dayes of my life my tongue for ioy thereof shall sing vnto thee and that aloud and cheerefully and praise thy Name by extolling of thy righteousnesse who dost iustifie sinners and art mercifull to the penitent 15 O Lord who giuest wisedome to the simple Open thou my lippes which are closed by sinne from doing any seruice vnto thee and then with boldnesse my mouth shall vtter and shew forth thy praise for to thee alone belongeth all Honour and Glory 16 For thou O God desirest not that I should offer the Sacrifice of Goates and Calues to expiate my offences else would I willingly giue it and lay it on thy Altar but thou hauing by sending thy Sonne Christ Iesus abrogated the ceremonies of the Law delightest not any longer in burnt offerings but in obedience to thy Commandements 11 The Sacrifices accepted of God and whereby wee are in Christ reconciled to him are a broken and humble Spirit deiected with the sight of sinne a broken and contrite heart truly mortified and repentant O God thou hast promised that thou wilt not despise but louingly accept 18 Doe good O God in thy good pleasure and be fauourable and gratious vnto Sion thy Catholique Church Build thou vpon a sure foundation of religion and establish the hearts of thy Saints and Seruants the walles of thy Church Ierusalem 19 Then shalt thou in Christ Iesus be pleased with vs and with the Sacrifices of Righteousnesse in thy Congregation And with burnt Offerings and Oblations of our hearts Then shall they thy Seruants thus established offer bullockes the Sacrifice of praise vpon thine Altar in thy presence to the honour of thy most holy Name Glory be to the Father c. 5 Psalme 102. 1 HEare my prayer which in the bitternesse of my soule I make to thee O Lord whose mercy is the Sanctuary of distressed sinners and let nothing stand betweene that mercy and me which may hinder my cry to come to thee 2 Hide not thy face turne not away thy countenance from me as if thou wert offended at me but rather in the day of aduersity when I am in trouble and sorrow encline thine eare of pitie vnto me and that right soone and speedily 3 For my daies which I haue mis-spent are cōsumed away like smoke which for want of substance resolueth to nothing and my bones which by my broken spirit are dried vp are burnt vp as a firebrand 4 My heart is deiected and smitten with the thought of thy Iustice and it is withered with remembrance of thy Iudgements like grasse without iuyce or sap so that in this anguish of soule I forget and loath to eate my bread 5 By reason of the grieuous voyce of my groaning sighes and teares I am so consumed away that my bones for want of flesh cleaue to my skinne and I am nothing but skin and bone 6 I am for shame that I haue offended thee become in condition like a Pellican that liueth solitarily in the Wildernesse and I am like an Owle not daring to be seen but that auoideth the light and is continually in the desert shunning the company of other birds 7 I watch and sleepe not for the thought of my sinnes and am as a sparrow that caring for no company sitteth alone making grieuous lamentation in a mournfull note vpon the house top 8 Mine enemies seeing mee thus penitent reproach mee with opprobrious speeches all the day continually deriding mee and they that while I was their companion in sinne applauded mee are vpon my conuersion mad against me and doe combine and are sworne to doe me mischiefe and to that end set themselues against me 9 For this cause taking no pleasure in this world I haue eaten ashes and fed vpon course meate like as if it were fine bread and dainty fare and I haue mingled my drinke with teares weeping and lamenting for my sinnes 10 Because of thine indignation at me for them and thy wrath against my life past all this euill and more hath befallen me for thou hast lifted mee vp very high and from thence hast cast mee downe that my fall might be the greater 11 My dayes few and euill are passed like a shadow vpon a Sun-diall that declineth toward the euening and I that lately seemed to flourish am withered and dryed vp like grasse without sap for want of thy comfort 12 But thou O Lord which wert and art shalt continue immutable and shalt endure for euer while all transitory things passe and come to nothing and thy glorious workes shall be had in remembrance vnto all generations euen vnto the end of the world 13 Thou O Lord who seemest to men to sleepe shalt arise in thy strength and haue mercy and compassion vpon Sion thy Church militant now oppressed with the tyranny of Antichrist for the time to looke vpon her and fauour her is at hand yea the set time which thou hast decreed for her deliuerance is or will not be long ere it come 14 For they which bee thy true and faithfull Seruants take pleasure and delight in her stones their fellow Seruants and are glad when they see them prosper and fauour and pitie the very dust and ruines thereof when they see them vnder persecution 15 So that when they shall be deliuered from their misery the very heathen shall feare and tremble at the Name of the Lord and be conuerted to him and all the Kings and Potentates of the earth which now oppose the Truth shall acknowledge thee O Lord to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords and be afraid at the greatnesse of thy Glory and Maiestie 16 When the Lord by his almighty power shall build vp Sion and repaire the ruines of his Church he shall then to the confusion of his enemies appeare in his glory which they shall not be able to endure 17 He will then in mercy regard and hearken to the prayer of his poore seruants and the destitute of his helpe and not any longer seeme to turne away his face from them nor despise their prayer and earnest supplications 18 This mercy of his shall then be recorded and written as a remembrance for the generations to come euen to the end of the world which shall attempt the like against his Church and the people yet vnborne that shall succeed and be created in ages to come shall praise and magnifie the Lord which only doth marueilous things 19 For hee hath in mercy by sending his Sonne Christ Iesus looked downe from the height of his Sanctuary his holy place euen from
strength in affliction and tentation Let it be a light and guide to my actions and my onely comfort in the day of my dissolution Let the Palate of my soule be so changed thereby that it may relish nothing besides thee Graunt also that I may hunger and thirst after this bread of life and cup of saluation and that I may with a pure minde and chast affection receiue it often that thereby my soule and body may be preserued to life euerlasting To thee be all praise power and dominion ascribed now and for euer Or thus I Yeeld thee all possible thanks O mercifull Lord that of thy owne meere goodnesse and without any merit of mine thou hast so plentifully at this time satisfied me with the extraordinary food of my soule thy blessed body and blood O Lord I heartily repent me of my many sinnes past and am heartily sory when I consider how vnprofitablie and wickedly I haue spent my life hitherto I desire O Lord to amend what is amisse in me bee thou aiding I beseech thee to mee that I may not only duely bewaile and lament for that which is past but take heede to my waies for the time to come And to this end O Lord doe thou strengthen me with thy spirituall aid for without thy helpe and the direction of the Holy Spirit I shall not bee able to doe any good thing or performe that which is pleasing to thee Grant O Lord that I may hereafter faithfully follow and serue thee who hast at this time so louingly vouchsafed to come to me And because through my infirmitie I cannot follow thee as I would be pleased to assist mee with thy power and draw me after thee Let my soule be so strengthned by vertue of this Sacrament that it may esteeme nothing pleasing or delightfull in comparison of thee that it may lust after no transitory thing nor be disquieted with any worldly crosse but by thy assisting grace I may ouercome all the difficulties of this life and blesse thee in the life to come Or thus O Blessed Lord Iesus who of thy vnspeakeable loue hast condescended to my infirmity and vouchsafed in these misteries to come vnto me and hast made me partaker of thy blessed body and blood I humbly intreate thee of thy infinite goodnesse not to looke backe vpon my sinfull life past and to giue me grace to obey thy Commandements hereafter 2. Pet. 2.22 and not to returne to those former sinnes as a dogge to his vomite Grant that this most holy Sacrament may be to me life and Saluation and not turne to my greater punishment and condemnation Graunt that it may cleanse my soule from sinne past and strengthen mee against all tentations to come Graunt that it may bee so wholsome and nourishing to mee that I may walke in the strength thereof all the dayes of my life and at last be brought by thy merits to that place of Glory where thou dost raigne together with the Father and the Blessed Spirit for euer Psal 103. Praise the Lord O my Soule and all that is within me praise his holy Name Praise the Lord O my Soule and forget not all his benefits Which forgiueth all thy sinne and healeth all thine infirmities Which saueth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and louing kindnesse Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things c. Motiues to thankesgiuing IT is not the least part of the Duty of a Christian in the sight of God to be thankefull to him for the benefits hee dayly bestoweth upon vs. For as God is kinde mercifull and louing to vs so hee expecteth that wee should render backe thankes to him for those blessings which wee receiue from him For we haue nothing else to retribute to him but a thankefull memoriall of his blessings And this King Dauid well vnderstood when he said what shall I render to the Lord Psal 116.12.17 for all the benefits hee hath done vnto mee I will offer to thee the Sacrifice of thankesgiuing c. As therefore we ought to be diligent in Prayer for those things we want so ought we also to bee perpetually thankefull for them when we haue obtained what we desire And when we haue done all that we can we cannot giue him due praise and thanks for the least part of that which wee daily receiue For if wee respect that which is past present or to come wee shall still meete with matter enough which expresseth his goodnesse and loue to vs and exacteth this Duty from vs. If we consider that which is past then we shall soone perceiue that but for him we had not beene at all nor beene preserued hitherto amongst so many dangers without his protection if that which is present wee cannot but acknowledge that by his alone goodnesse we liue and enioy those blessings wherewith we are loaded beyond desert if that which is to come he is our hope of all good things which we desire or expect either for this life or for the life to come And as God accounteth Thankes-giuing a Duty Psal 50.23.15.14 so hee taketh it for an Honour done vnto him if we performe it He hath so much esteemed of it alwaies euen from the beginning that he reputed and accounted it aboue the rest of the Sacrifices offered vnto him Ose 14.2 Mala. 1.11 Besides we may consider that in the Law God himselfe instituted a peculiar and speciall Sacrifice of oblation of thankes For the Feast of the Paschall Lambe was no other thing but an Eucharisticall or thankfull seruice Exo. 12. in remembrance of the wonderfull deliuery of the Iewes from their seruitude Our Sauiour also instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist Luc. 22. for a perpetuall remembrance and memoriall of all his benefits to mankinde especially of our Redemption by his death Hester established a feast Hest 9. to preserue a thankefull memory of the Iewes deliuerance from the plots of Haman And in briefe it was generally euermore the practize of Gods Saints to expresse this Duty as may bee seene by many Songs Hymnes Psalmes and Prayers of thankesgiuing which are left vnto vs in the Scriptures as patternes for vs to imitate Of a Exo. 15. Moses and Miriam b Deut. 32. Of Moses alone c Iud. 5. Of Deborah d 1. Sam. 2. Of Hanna e Psal 34.96.103.107.111.113 c. Of Dauid in diuerse places of the Psalmes f Esa 18.10 Of good King Ezechias g Io. 2.3 Of Ionas h Abac. 3.2 Of the Prophet Habacuc i Dan. 3 Of the three Children k Luc. 2.19 Of the Angels l Luc. 1 68. Of Zachary m Luc. 1.46 Of the Blessed Virgin Mary n Act. 4.24 Of the Church o Rene. 5.12 And of the Elders And after those examples of necessity wee must frame our selues for bee sure of this That whensoeuer praise and thankes shall faile and he wanting on our parts
healeth all thy diseases and thy infirmities by the regeneration and renewing of his holy Spirit in thee 4 Who only redeemeth and saueth thy life from destruction and vtter ruine and who instead of taking iust and seuere reuenge of thee for thy sinnes crowneth and compasseth thee with louing kindnesse many blessings and comforteth thee with his tender mercies which are aboue the rest of his workes 5 Who in his prouidence satisfieth and filleth thy mouth and desire with all good things necessary for thy sustentation so that thy youth by his power is renewed like the Eagles by curing thy weaknesse and infirmitie and making the lustie and strong 6 The Lord releeueth them that suffer wrong and executeth Righteousnesse and Iudgement without respect of persons and standeth for all that are vniustly oppressed against those that are too mightie for them 7 He in former times at the publishing of the Law made knowne his wayes and taught his Commandements vnto Moses by whom he gaue directions to succeeding ages what they were to follow and what to auoid and his mightie acts were well knowne vnto the children of Israel by their many and great deliuerances 8 The Lord our God is mercifull in forgiuing offences and gratious in not imputing our sinnes vnto vs he is slow to anger expecting the conuersion of sinners and plenteous in mercy exceeding in his loue and liberall in his benefits to those that feare him 9 He will not alwayes chide nor be euer displeased with his children neither will he remember our sinnes and keepe his anger against vs for them for euer but in his wrath he will euer be mindfull of his mercy 10 He hath not dealt with vs nor punished vs rebellious wretches after the qualitie of our sins wherewith we haue dayly offended his patience nor hath he rewarded or retributed to vs according to the hainousnesse of our iniquities for he knoweth that if hee should strictly enter into Iudgement with vs no flesh could be saued 11 For like as the Heauen is high as we see and farre aboue the earth so great is his mercy aboue his Iustice towards them that feare him and in remorse for their offences truely turne vnto him 12 As farre also in distance as the East part of the world is scituate from the West which by reason of their separation can neuer come neere to each other so farre at the least hath hee remoued and put away our transgressions and sinnes from vs that they neuer shall come neere vnto vs to doe vs any harme 13 Like as a tender and compassionate Father pitieth his disobedient Children and vpon submission receiueth them againe to Grace so the Lord who is the Father of mercies pitieth and grieueth to see the afflictions of them that in feare and trembling for their sinnes returne vnto him 14 For hee the Lord which knoweth all things knoweth also our frame that wee consist of flesh and bloud subiect to corruption and frailty and he with all remembreth and considereth that we are but euen Dust fashioned out of the earth and therefore must needs partake and sauour of earthly substance 15 As for wretched and fraile Man therefore his dayes are but as grasse which is greene in the morning and before night is cut downe and withered and as a fading flower of the field which for a while only in the spring time is beautifull and afterward is cropt or decayeth euen so and in no more assurance is he that in the greatest prosperitie flourisheth For after a while in a short time hee is no more seene nor his remembrance shall be no where found 16 For as the Winde and Stormes passeth ouer it and presently it is gone and withered and the place thereof where it grew shall not know it nor beare it no more So man after he hath a while left the troubles and stormes of this world shall soone die and bee forgotten and the place of his being will bee no more knowne 17 But yet the mercy and louing kindnesse of the Lord to the Sonnes of Men is and was from euerlasting and shall continue to euerlasting to the end of the world and shall euer be vpon them especially that which vnfeined hearts serue loue and feare him and his righteousnesse in all his promises shall bee accomplished to his seruants and vnto their Childrens Children their posteritie through many generations 18 To such especially as forget not his Commandements but faithfully keepe and obserue his Couenant and to those that remember and be mindefull of his Commandements and frame themselues to doe them 19 The Lord who commandeth the obseruance of his Lawes is most worthy of all Honour and not to be neglected for hee hath before the foundations of the World prepared his Throne and seate of Maiestie in the Heauens where hee is attended on by the glorious company of Angells and his Kingdome is not streightned or limited to one peculiar place or countrey but he Ruleth and commandeth ouer all people and nations 20 Blesse therefore the Lord that is so mighty ye that be his holy Angels magnifie and laud his holy Name ye that excell in strength and that gladly doe and execute his Commandements and that by hearkning vnto and obeying the voice of his Word willingly execute his Will and pleasure 21 Blesse ye and praise I say the Lord your and our God all ye his heauenly Hostes ye blessed Angels ye that are Ministers and Seruants of his that willingly and gladly execute and doe his pleasure 22 Blesse and praise together with one accord the Lord our God all his workes which hee hath created for the celebrating of his Glory where so euer ye remaine in all places of his Dominion euery where and lastly as I began with thee O my Soule to stirre thee vp to his praise so I end with the same excitation Blesse Praise Laud and Magnifie the Lord thy God O my Soule to whom hee hath euer beene so gratious and mercifull Glory be to the Father c. 5 Psalme III. 1 I Will praise the Lord and giue thankes vnto his holy Name with my whole heart and that not only in my priuate deuotions but in the publique assembly and meeting of the vpright in heart and in the congregation of the faithfull the Church also 2 The wondrous workes of the Lord our God euen from the beginning through all ages euen to this time are so great and glorious that worthily he alone deserueth to be magnified for them they are sought out and searched into of all them that haue pleasure and delight in meditating and contemplating therein 3 His worke in the creation and fabrique of the vniuerse is honourable and glorious of all his creatures worthily to bee admired and his righteousnesse and equitie his care and prouidence in the preseruation and gouerment of it is likewise to be magnified because it is permanent and endureth for euer 4 He hath made and perfected his wonderfull workes with
desire that thy Name may be Hallowed glorified and magnified from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe thereof euen through all parts of the world and that it may the better spread from one Nation to another giue vs grace who haue receiued the adoption of Children so to walke before thee Eph. 1.4 in holinesse and righteousnesse that the Heathen Mat. 5.16 who haue not knowne thy Name seeing our good workes may glorifie thy Name together with vs. Thou seest O Lord Thy Kingdome come that we haue many Tyrants amongst vs in this life as the Deuill malicious and cruell the World vaine and curious the flesh fraile and deceiptfull and our owne Will vile and corrupt all which doe impetuously tyrannize ouer vs and oppose themselues against thy Kingdome Arise therefore O Lord and suppresse these Tyrants and rule ouer thine and our enemies by thy power and in vs by thy Grace that we may hereafter be subiects in thy Kingdome of Glory Let thy Kingdome come and gouerne vs by thy Prouidence defend vs by thy Might lead vs by thy Spirit and teach vs by thy Word Driue farre from vs the Prince of this World and doe thou only Rule in vs. Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs grace to follow the example of thy Blessed Angels and all other thy Creatures who readily and ioyfully doe thy Will Let our wills follow thine in all things and let nothing be displeasing to vs which thy Will hath decreed either for our prosperitie or aduersitie Let vs doe nothing contrary to thy Will but let the performance and execution of thy Will be the whole scope and aime of our thoughts words and actions And to this end giue vnto vs thy holy Spirit which may direct our Wills enlighten our vnderstandings mollifie our hearts and make them obedient to thy Will Giue vs this day our daily Bread We further crie vnto thee O Lord who giuest foode to euery liuing Creature and feedest the young Rauens that call vpon thee and pray thee Psal 145.15.147.9 that thou wouldest likewise giue vnto vs this day our dayly bread First and aboue all the Bread of Life which may nourish vs spiritually and after that Bread for our bodies to sustaine nature Giue vs we beseech thee all things necessary not superfluous for this life and graunt that we vsing thy blessings as becommeth vs may be strengthned and enabled to passe this life quietlie and soberly and at the end of these our dayes by the merits and intercession of our Sauiour Iesus Christ obtaine life eternall And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And for as much O Lord as wee know that thou hearest not vnrepentant sinners and that our sinnes haue long since preuented our prayers and ascended into thy presence to stop the current of thy mercies and to call for vengeance against vs O Lord behold that we earnestly repent vs of them and are heartily sorrowfull for them Wherefore we humbly pray thee for thy great mercies to mankinde in thy Son Christ Iesus that thou wouldest be pleased to be reconciled vnto vs and to forgiue vs our trespasses Enter not into Iudgement with vs Psal 130. for if thou doe no man is able to abide the mildnesse of thy Iustice much lesse the seueritie of it Giue vs also grace to follow the Example of our blessed Sauiour who forgaue his enemies and prayed for them that wee may forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Lest when thou comest to Iudgement thou dealest as seuerely with vs as thou didst with him Mat. 18. who had much forgiuen and would not forgiue a little And lead vs not into temptation Thou knowest O Father how vnapt wee are of our selues to thinke a good thought much lesse to resist so great enemies as are hourely ready to assaile vs suffer vs not therefore to bee tempted aboue our abilities Neither by forsaking vs or withdrawing thy hand of protection from vs Lead thou vs into tentation but Lord so strengthen vs that although it be not good for vs to be altogther free from tentation yet by thy aide and Grace wee may haue a happy issue and ioyfull deliuerance from it But deliuer vs from euill And as wee haue humblie prayed thee not to leade vs in So we further desire thee to deliuer vs out of all euill For as long as we remaine in this flesh we shall haue continuall striuings wrestlings with diuerse euils but especially with the Euill spirit the enemie to Mankinde who omitteth no opportunitie to bring vs into his bondage But wee are comforted O Lord with the assurance of thy mercy which can effect worke more to our Saluation then his Malice to our Destruction Graunt therefore O Lord that wee may be deliuered from all euill and from all our enemies spirituall and temporall that so wee may serue thee euer hereafter in holinesse and righteousnesse Luc. 1.15 all the dayes of our life Amen Hauing thus discouered and laid open our necessities to thee O Lord in that forme and manner which thy Sonne directed vs wee humbly pray thee to say Amen to all our petitions In his Name and for his merits sake we pray thee to grant them For though wee haue no deserts to challenge them yet his Merits are numberlesse by which wee plead for them And with this Sacrifice and Oblation wee are bold to come vnto thee not only crauing pardon for our sinnes but supply of our necessities Wee come not to thee of our selues presuming of any thing in vs but wee are sent by thy Sonne Iesus Christ who hath commanded vs with confidence to presse vnto thy Throne and in his Name to aske whatsoeuer we shall need either for this life or the life to come And as hee hath sent vs so hath hee also put into our mouthes words meete for our requests O Lord take notice of the Stile it is his owne and for his sake say to what we haue required Amen So be it And thou O Blessed Sauiour God and Man intercead we beseech thee for vs for thou only art our Aduocate Mediator and Intercessor to the Father Couer our imperfections and nakednesse with the Robes of thy Righteousnesse and supply our pouerty with the Riches of thy Merits and cast not those from thy fauour and grace whome by Nature thou of thy goodnesse hast vouchsafed to make thy Brethren Who liuest and raignest with the Father and Holy Spirit now and for euer Amen Petitions for Spirituall Graces Psal 119.5 OH that my waies were directed to keepe thy Statutes O Lord. Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou teachest out of thy Law Psal 119.18 Open mine eyes that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law Psal 143.10 Teach me to doe thy Will for thou art my God let thy good spirit lead me into the
land of Righteousnesse Giue me grace O Lord. Rom. 7.18 To know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing To abstaine from fleshly lusts which fight against the Soule To keepe in minde alwayes that the world passeth away and the desires thereof and that the benefit which a man getteth by the world is nothing but destruction Truely to say Psal 119.52 I haue remembred thy euerlasting Iudgements and my Soule receiueth comfort thereby O Thou that a 1. Pet. 5.5 giuest grace to the humble giue me grace to be humble Giue me a good heart which Luc. 8.15 hearing thy Word may keepe it and bring forth fruit with patience O Lord Gen. 6.8 let me finde grace in thine eyes Heb. 12.17 Let me finde a place and time of Repentance Let me not receiue thy Grace in vaine 2. Cor. 6.1 Let Heb. 12.15 mee not faile or fall from it But Act. 13.43 let me continue in it And 2. Pet. 3.18 let me grow in it To the end of my daies 2. Cor. 7.11 Giue me O Lord the workes of RepentaÌ„ce Carefulnesse Defence or clearing my selfe Indignation Feare Vehement desire Zeale Reuenge Phil. 4.8 Giue mee Grace to thinke vpon doe Whatsoeuer things are True Venerable Honest Iust Pure Louely Of good report Giue vnto me ô Lord Humility of heart Charity to my Neighbour Patience of minde Temperance of life Chastity of body Contentednesse of minde Alacrity of Spirit Giue vnto me good Lord. Perfect knowledge of my sinnes Hearty sorrow for them Perfect hatred against them Feruent loue to all goodnesse True obedience to thy Will 2. Pet. 1.5 Giue mee grace O Lord to adde To faith Vertue To Vertue Knowledge To Knowledge Temperance To Temperance Patience To Patience Godlinesse To Godlinesse Brotherly Kindnesse To Brotherly kindnesse Charitie Gal. 5.22 Giue vnto me ô Lord the fruites of the spirit Loue Ioy Peace Long suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith Meekenesse Temperance Giue vnto mee good Lord. Contempt of the world Hatred of sinne Loathing of the flesh Desire of Heauen Giue vnto me O Lord. A right Faith to liue well A sure Hope to perseuere well A perfect Humility to obay well A true Charitie Neuer to be diuided from thee Giue mee grace O Lord To be content with that which â—s necessary To despise that which is superfluous Grant O Lord That I may so liue that I repent not to haue liued That I may so liue that no man may know I haue liued amisse That I may so liue that I may alwaies liue Luc. 2.29 That dying I may liue and liuing I may dye and say with a chearefull Spirit Lord now lettest thou thy Seruant depart in peace Phil. 1.23 I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ Prayers for Spirituall Graces O Blessed LORD Iesus Christ who art my only Tutor and instructer and from whom I haue learned whatsoeuer I know I beseech thee that thou wouldest further teach me those things whereof I am ignorant and which are necessary for my Saluation that thou wouldest keepe me in those things which I haue already learned and rectifie mee in those matters wherein as a man I erre strengthen mee and make mee firme whereinsoeuer I wauer and am doubtfull and keepe me from that which is erroneous and hurtfull Aboue all things O Sauiour strengthen my Faith and giue me grace dayly to profit in the knowledge and vnderstanding of thy Holy Word and so gouerne all my actions by thy Holy Spirit that my life may be answerable to my knowledge and that I may shew the fruites of whatsoeuer I haue learned by my good and religious conuersation Giue mee a firme and assured hope in thee and thy gratious promises that in all my troubles and necessities I may haue an assured confidence in thy mercy Be vnto me a strong tower of defence against mine enemies that whether the world allure me the Deuill assayle me or the flesh rebell I may flie vnto thee for refuge And although thou presently put not forth thy hand to helpe me but deferre thy comfort according to thy good pleasure yet keepe me from doubting or despairing of thy aid because thy promises are sure Giue me a feruent loue and perfect charity to my neighbour that I may be as kinde to him and as carefull of him as of one who is a member with mee of the same body whereof thou O sweete Sauiour art the Head Let my loue to him bee sincere and vnfained which may charitably releeue him in his wants patiently beare with his infirmities and willingly forgiue him all his trespasses against me Create in mee I beseech thee a pure milde peaceable and humble heart which may thinke harme to no man nor recompense euill for euill but good for iniuries Cleanse me from all vncleane and earthly desires and lift vp my heart to thee and Heauenly things and so write thy Lawes in it that I may wholly bend my selfe to keepe them and please thee perseuering in the same to my liues end Giue me O Lord true Compunction of heart and so water it with the dew of thy heauenly Grace that I may in the bitternesse of my soule with abundance of teares sighes and groanes bewaile and lament all my hainous and grieuous transgressions against thee Giue mee grace O Lord that I may not boast in any merits or workes of mine owne or haue any confidence in them but let mee glory in this alone that I am a member of that Body of thine which was crucified for me and did sufficiently satisfie for all the sinnes of the world If thou O Lord looke or expect or any merits from me behold I tender vnto thee thine owne merits the merits of thy death and Passion which thou hast vouchsafed to make me partaker of by vertue whereof alone I dare boldly appeare before thy Tribunall These merits I set betweene my sinnes and thy Iustice and otherwise or in any other manner I dare not I will not contend with thee O sweet Iesu I desire thee to offer them to the Father as a propitiatory Sacrifice for all my great and grieuous offences that when my soule shall depart from this body it may by the same be freed and deliuered from all the Iudgements and punishments which are due vnto it for sinne and be carried to that blessed Place where there is no sorrow but endlesse felicitie where thou together with the Father and the blessed Spirit liuest and raignest for euer Before Prayer O Almighty and euerliuing God Heauenly Father to whom it is manifestly knowne how inconstant and wandering the mindes of Men are in any good actions and how easily we suffer our selues to be carried away from the contemplation of thee by diuersity of distractions and vnseasonable thoughts which take hold of vs in the time of our deuotions and praiers vnto thee who also by thine only begotten Sonne Christ Iesus didst
prescribe vnto his Disciples a forme of Prayer to be offered vp to thee and hast deriued the same from them to vs. Behold me most wretched sinner wholly depraued and corrupt intreating thee by the same Sonne that for his sake thou wouldest infuse thy holy Spirit into mee which may adopt me into the number of thine Elect that it may teach me how I ought to pray according to thy Holy Will that it may allay all troublesome and wandering thoughts in me while I offer vp my prayers and praises vnto thee Suffer me not to serue thee with my lippes and be absent in heart from thee but create a right spirit within me that I being sensible of all thy graces and comforts may with ioyfull and holy zeale performe my dutie to thee that so my prayers and desires may appeare before thee and in thy Sonnes Name I may effectually be heard and my petitions may bee granted to the glory and honour of thy most Holy Name and the endlesse comfort of mine owne Soule through the same our only Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Before a Sermon O Most louing SAVIOVR I most humbly intreat thee that rhou wouldest be pleased at this time to enlighten my vnderstanding and to open my inward eares with the grace of thy holy Spirit that I may heare the Sacred VVord with an humble heart and reioyce in it in the obedience of the Spirit that I may be fully instructed thereby how to doe good and auoid euill and bring forth the fruite thereof in my life and conuersation that thy Honour and Glory may bee thereby increased the Deuill and all other the enemies of my soule may bee vanquished my Soule may bee saued and at the last I may appeare with boldnesse before thy Tribunall and receiue the reward of a good and faithfull seruant euen his Masters ioy euerlasting Blessednesse and that by thy merits onely O Blessed Sauiour Petitions for Temporall Blessings In which we are to desire of God THat he would be pleased to continue vnto vs The Blessing of a good King iust and religious To giue vnto vs Magistrates and Iustices vpright and carefull to see good Lawes duely executed Teachers to direct vs in the Truth That he would blesse vs with Length and goodnesse of Dayes Health of Body Contentednesse of Minde Competencie of Estate Foode and Rayment Conueniencie of Dwelling Wholesomenesse of Ayre Fruitefulnesse of Cattell That he would make vs happy In Wedlocke In Children In Faithfull friends In Peaceable louing neighbors In Honest Seruants In Skilfull Phisicians That hee would preserue Our Goods Good Name Our Senses and vnderstanding That he would protect vs From Trouble From Enemies From Dangers From Losses From Sicknesses That he would giue Peace To all Nations To our Land In our priuate dwellings Rules to be obserued in the Morning WHen thou awakest in the Morning shut and close vp the entrance to thy heart from all vncleane prophane and euill thoughts and let the consideration of God and goodnesse enter in When thou art arisen and art ready retire thy selfe to thy Closet or other priuate place and offer to God the first fruits of the Day and in praying to him and praysing him remember 1. To giue him thankes for thy quiet rest receiued for deliuering thee from all dangers ghostly and bodily and for all other his benefits to thee 2. Offer vnto him thy selfe and all things that thou dost possesse and desire him to dispose of thee and them according to his good pleasure 3. Craue his Grace to guide thee and to strengthen thee from and against all Tentations that so thou mayest doe nothing the day following contrary to his will 4. And lastly beg of him according to the Rules before prescribed all things needfull for the Soule and Body To which purpose pray as followeth Morning Prayer I Thanke thee O Heauenly Father LORD of Heauen and Earth for all thy Blessings which I vndeseruedly haue receiued from thee that thou gauest me a being from honest Parents and in that part of the world where thy Sonne Christ Iesus is purely professed that thou didst endue me with reason and vnderstanding and didst also giue mee perfect members and sences that thou hast preserued me since my birth and vouchsafed me health and liberty and a competencie of meanes to maintaine me and those whom thou hast placed vnder me that thou hast Elected me in thy Loue Redeemed me by thy Sonne Sanctified me by thy Spirit and kept me this night past from all perills of body and Soule and giuen me a sweete and comfortable rest O Lord I commend into thy hands my soule and body thoughts words and actions and humblie beseech thee that thou wouldest guide and order them all to thy honour and glory and my endlesse and eternall happinesse Enlighten my minde that the Darkenesse and cloudy mists of mine offences being dispelled I may walke before thee in my vocation without offence as in the day cleane vnspotted and vnblameable Giue vnto me thy Holy Spirit which may bridle my vaine cogitations and head-strong desires and order thou I beseech thee my words and rectifie all my actions O Lord as thou hast of thy bounty raised vp my body from sleepe so stirre vp my drowzie soule from the sleepe of sinne and carnall securitie Let my body be euer assistant to my soule in all good actions in this life that they may both be partakers of life euerlasting Thou O Lord hast promised to those which shall faithfully aske all things necessary for this life giue I beseech thee vnto mee if it seeme good vnto thee such a competent estate as shall be expedient to support my life in a ciuill modest and religious manner Giue vnto me that which shall be conuenient but especially O Lord 1. Tim. 6.8 a heart and minde contented with whatsoeuer thou shalt be pleased to allot vnto me Grant O Lord that in thy Name I may cast forth my net into the Sea of this world and diligently carefully and with an vpright conscience follow that vocation in which thou hast placed me that by thine aid and assistance I may prosper and haue good successe in all my affaires Blesse O Lord the Kings Maiesty gouerne his heart in thy feare and guide his vnderstanding to doe those things which shall be acceptable to thee and profitable to his kingdomes Giue him louing and loyall Subiects and suppresse his open and secret enemies And together with him blesse his Queene make her as the fruitfull Vine on the house top Psal 128.3 Blesse all the estate Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill from the highest to the lowest Comfort the comfortlesse and helplesse Bring all Trauellers to their owne beings in safety and direct all vpon the Seas to their safe Ports Shew the light of thy Truth to those which wander out of the right way Giue to all sinners true and hearty repentance strengthen those which haue begun well and giue them thy
O Lord that I haue offended thy Maiestie in Repeat the sinnes thou canst call to minde And not onely these doe I acknowledge but all the rest which I haue committed from my Infancy to this present houre wittingly or ignorantly in thought word or deed against Thee my neighbour and my selfe O Lord I confesse my weaknesse I doe not that which I should Rom. 7.19 and would doe but that which I should not and am vnwilling to doe I doe not regarding or fearing thy incomprehensible glory venerable presence terrible power exquisite Iustice nor thy goodnesse vnspeakeable for which if thou shouldest enter into iudgement what would become of me But O Lord for as much as thou art a Father of mercies and dost not desire the death of a sinner if hee returne vnto thee by vnfeined repentance I most humbly in the Name and Mediation of our blessed Sauiour Christ Iesus craue pardon for them Lord I repent helpe my impenitencie and heare my request Be mercifull to mee a sinner and pardon all my offences whereof thou O Lord knowest me to be guilty And I beseech thee O Lord for the time to come to mollifie my heart water it with the dew of thy heauenly Grace that I may not alwaies bring forth Thornes and Weedes fit for nothing but the fire Conuert me O Lord I shall be conuerted open mine eyes direct my heart and wayes Draw me after thee and being conuerted suffer me not to returne againe with the Dogge to his vomit 2. Pet. 2.22 And for as much O Lord as thou hast appointed the Night to refresh our bodies I humbly pray thee to defend mee as well sleeping as waking from the snares of the Deuill Psal 31.5 O Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit which thou by thy pretious death and passion hast redeemed Suffer it not to sleepe in sinne and in it to lie languishing vnto death and so be buried in the graue of thy Iudgements but watch ouer it I beseech thee and defend it vnder the shadow of thy Wings Let me not be oppressed with vnnecessary sleepe but raise me in due time to thy Seruice and Praise Thou knowest O Lord that of my selfe I haue no strength waking much lesse when I sleepe I humbly therefore pray thee to defend my soule body goods and all things which thou hast bestowed vpon me this night from all euill and damage and so to dispose of me that I bee not troubled with any terrors terrified with any vaine phantasies weakned by any sicknesse or impouerished with any casualties or crosses Keepe me O Lord from all euill dreames and vncleane thoughts and compasse me with a wall of thy mercies that the Tempter approach not to my Bed so that being preserued by thy protection and refreshed with comfortable rest I may arise and offer vnto thee my daily bounden duty and seruice euen praise and thankes to thy most Holy Name Or thus O Blessed Lord Iesus Christ to whose inexhaustible bounty we owe all honour and praise I giue thee all possible thankes that thou hast vouchsafed to keepe me this day from all euill so that none of thy fearefull Iudgements to which I was iustly lyable haue fallen vpon me but of thy vnspeakeable mercy thou hast preserued mee from them and hast also liberally and with a bountifull hand supplyed me with the necessaries of this life notwithstanding my great and manifold sinnes committed against thee O Lord I confesse that I haue wasted the time which thou hast giuen mee for repentance altogether idely vainly and vnprofitably not so much as considering or taking notice that this day might haue beene the last of my life but haue added and heaped vp sinne vpon sinne in thy alseeing sight as if I had stood in no feare of thee at all dayly renewing as much as in me lay thy torments and passions for which I haue deserued that the earth should open vnto me and hell deuoure mee and which that it is not come to passe I ascribe withall thankefull acknowledgement to thy infinite mercy and goodnesse O Lord I acknowledge that it is of thy goodnesse alone that I am thus preserued from al thy iudgements seeing that many calamities haue befallen diuers others who haue lesse deserued them then my selfe That therefore some haue perished by water some by fire some by sword others by sudden and violent death and that I liue that some haue beene taken blinde some lame some distracted in their sences that others haue sustained much damage in their worldly estate and I haue escaped and not been punished in any of these kindes to what shall I ascribe and attribute the cause surely to thy mercy alone for which I cannot giue vnto thee sufficient thankes But O Sweete Sauiour as thy mercy exceedeth so doe our necessities increase thou canst not want matter for thy mercy to worke vpon by reason of our inabilities to helpe our selues wherefore I further pray thee that this night following may be also safe and prosperous vnto me that by a sweete sleepe and comfortable refreshing I may be fitted when I awake to serue thee with a thankefull and chearefull heart And because O Lord that this life hath not one certaine houre Psal 13.4 I beseech thee to enlighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death and grant that after I haue rested quietly I may by thy grace and mercy arise to serue thee in singlenesse of heart Lighten O Sauiour my darkenesse and mercifully keepe me from all dangers of this night Saue mee waking and keepe me sleeping that I may watch in thee and rest in peace There is nothing that more resembleth our life then the Day nor Death then the Night nor the Graue then our Beds O Lord therefore when I am laid downe and by sleepe made vnable to helpe my selfe being like vnto a dead man defend me then by thy power from the crafts and assaults of the enemy that he doe me no harme so that though my body sleepe my soule may watch vnto thee and contemplate of the life to come And graunt that hauing passed the night quietly I may arise as well from the sleepe of sinne as from my naturall sleepe and with all alacrity passe the day following in thy seruice and in the end of my pilgrimage by thy merits receiue the Crowne which thou hast promised to those that loue thee in that day which no night shall follow and in that heauenly Kingdome where thou raignest togither with the Father and the Blessed Spirit world without end Euening Prayer Psal 141.2 LEt my prayer O Lord be set forth in thy sight as the incense and let the lifting vp of my hands be an euening Sacrifice Psal 55.18 In the Euening Morning and at noone day will I pray and that instantly and thou Lord shalt heare my prayer Psal 91.5 Blessed be thou O Lord who hast preserued me from the arrow that flyeth by day and
still remaine in my pollution I am hardned as well with thy punishments as with thy blessings being rebellious to the one and vnthankefull for the other And what shall I further say but that my heart soule thoughts and body are all impure and defiled and that of all sinners I am the chiefe 1. Tim. 1.15 vnworthy that the Earth should any longer sustaine me or that I should expect any thing from thee but thy seuerest Iudgements For it thou sparedst not Lucifer and his Angels for one only sinne of Pride but didst cast them from Heauen Iude. 6. to bee reserued for euerlasting chaines of darknesse vnto the Iudgement of the great day what can I hope or looke for that haue offended thee not in one offence alone but in all kinde of transgressions For my sinnes are in number numberlesse in so much that I hate my selfe for my madnesse that from so noble a liberty I am fallen into so base a seruitude and finde my selfe ouerwhelmed with the horrible dread of thy fearefull Iudgements Psal 55.5 Yet when I behold and consider that infinite mercy of thine which surpasseth all the rest of thy workes Psal 145.9 I am a little refreshed and my soule is a little comforted and reuiued for as by the examination of the haynousnesse of my sinnes and the strictnesse of thy Iustice I did almost despaire so considering and weighing the testimonies of thy Seruants left vpon record Ezech. 18. Ioel 2. for the cōfort of poore distressed soules I am some-what againe cheered and raised vp For besides those places of consolation and many more I finde by diuerse Parables and similitude of thine owne how ready and propense thou art to receiue and pardon the penitent As Luc. 15. by the lost peny the lost sheepe and by the Prodigall Son whose Image I finde in my selfe and whose life mine doth fully paralell Wherefore O Lord I humbly intreat thee to restore me thy lost Sonne to thy fauour and withall to giue mee true sence and knowledge of the Innocency I haue lost I doe not desire that thou shouldest deale so kindly with mee as that Father did with his Son but I shall be happy and glad if thou wilt entertaine me as one of the meanest of thy hired Seruants My hope and confidence is that thou wilt pitie mee because thou art the fountaine of pittie and compassion Behold mee therefore with the eyes of pitie looke on me and ease me who come vnto thee laden with the heauy burden of my sinnes pardon them Mat. 11.28 and saue mee for thy infinite mercie and remember not my sinnes but thine owne sufferings thinke not on me as a proud and rebellious malefactor but as an humble and penitent conuert Looke on mee with those eyes of compassion wherewith thou didst sometime behold a Luc. 7.48 Mary Magdalen b Luc. 22.62 Peter and c Luc. 23.43 the good Theefe giue mee true knowledge of my sinnes with the first true contrition with the second and receiue mee with the third into thy Heauenly Paradice Let thy obedience satisfie for my rebellions thy innocency for my guilt thy humility for my arrogancy thy fasting for my intemperance and thy Iustice for my iniquity Mat. 26.39 Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me whole and rerestore mee to thy former grace Purifie purge and cleanse mee from my offences opē mine eies that I may clearely see mine own pollution and make me to grieue that I haue not grieued for my sinnes as I ought to haue done And as thou hast by thy long suffering hitherto expected my repentance so of thy infinite mercy and goodnesse pardon mee repenting and grant mee grace that I may bee affraid to offend thee hereafter Heare me O sweet Sauiour and make intercession for me to the Father with whom and the Holy Spirit thou dost liue and raigne coequall and coeternall Lord God World without end Amen Confession of sinnes I confesse O Lord That Iob 14.4 I was borne in vncleannesse That Psal 51.5 I was shaped in wickednesse and in sinne my mother conceiued me Deut. 29.18 That I am a roote of bitternesse Deut. 32.32 A wilde Vine of Sodome Rom. 11.24 A branch of the wilde Oliue Eph. 2.3 The childe of wrath A Vessell of dishonour and perdition That Osee 7.16 my heart is rebellious like a starting Bow That Psal 5.10 my throat is an opē sepulchre venting all folly That Esa 6.5 I am of polluted lippes That Psal 144.11 my tongue talketh nothing but vanity That Mat. 7.22 mine eyes are euill proue to lust That Psal 58.4 mine eares are vncircumcised and like to the deafe Adder That Ier. 3.3 I haue a Forehead of brasse and a necke of yron That Heb. 12.12 my hands are slow to good That Rom. 3.15 my feete are swift to euill I haue sinned against thee O Lord and in thy sight not fearing thy Maiestie My sinnes are In quantitie Esa 57.8 Psal 25.11 Large and of a great size Of long continuance From my mothers breasts Hos 9.9 Deepe Heauy Like a Psal 38.4 Burthen Like Zach. 5.7 Lead Stretching to heauen with their cry Ier. 30.14.15 Many in number Like the Starres Psal 40.12 More then the hayres of my head Esa 57.20 Oftentimes reiterated Ier. 6.7 As a Fountaine casting out water Till they become as a habite Esa 1.18 As red as Scarlet and Crimson Rom. 7.14 1. King 21.25 I am sold vnder sinne Till they become naturall to me Ier. 13.23 Like the Aethiopians skin The Leopards spots In qualitie The worst of sinnes Strong Esa 5.18 like Cords Cart-ropes Rom. 6.21 Gaining nothing thereby For Ezech. 13.19 a handfull of Barley a little bread Committing Eph. 4.19 sinne with greedinesse sinne vpon sinne Ier. 3.3 with impudence 6.15 not being ashamed Gal. 2.18 Ia. 4.17 knowing it to be sinne Mat. 18.7 giuing offence thereby Rom. 1.21 vnthankefully 2. Pet. 2.22 like the Dog to his vomit the Sow to the mire Psal 119.137 Therefore O Lord because thou art Iust and thy iudgements true I reape the fruit of my foolishnesse Rom. 6.21 For what fruite haue I in those things whereof I am ashamed My dayes are consumed in vanity and my yeeres in the bitternesse of my Soule Psal 38 3. And now there is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sinne My heart trembleth also with remembrance of thy Iudgements I feele bitternesse aboue the bitternesse of death in that I haue forsaken thee O God and that thou hast forsaken me Woe vnto me rebellious wretch for thus doing See and consider O Lord how vile I am become for my soule abhorreth to liue Psal 38.8 I haue roared for the
righteousnesse is so couered in this World that it bee not laid open at the day of Iudgement in respect of the punishment 2 Blessed and happy is the man vnto whom in regard either of offence or punishment the Lord accepting the merits of Christ imputeth no sin but giueth so ample a remission of them that hee taketh no notice of any sinne in him and in whose Spirit as well as outward shew is no guile but penitently without hypocrisie bewaileth his offences 3 When I my selfe I speake by experience kept silence dissembling and couering my sinnes wherewith my conscience was oppressed my bones and inward parts waxed old and feeble through my roaring which God regarded not though I cried all the day long and that because I confessed not my sinnes aright vnto him 4 For day and night continually thy hard hand of affliction was heauy vpon me to punish my obstinacy and to reduce me to repentance and by reason thereof my moisture and vigor which I formerly had is turned like to the drought of Summer and is almost withered and dried vp 5 My sinne therefore at the lest being thus handled by thee did I resolue to acknowledge vnto thee in contrition of soule and mine iniquitie which I formerly concealed I haue not any longer hid but humbly confessed vnto thee 6 I further said within my selfe when thy grace began to worke in me that I will no longer continue in my rebellion but penitently confesse all my transgressions and iniquitie vnto the Lord gracious and mercifull and I had no sooner done it but thou of thy wonted compassion forganest the iniquitie and punishment of my sinne committed against thee 7 For this remission of finne as it was necessary for me to pray for it so shall euery one of what condition soeuer that is godly for the iust also fall pray vnto thee O Lord in a time when thou mayest be found in a fit season But in the greatest danger of Flouds and swelling of the great waters of afflictions God will so preserue the iust man that they shall not haue power to come nigh vnto him to oppresse or ouerwhelme him 8 Thou O God art my hiding place and refuge in all tribulations thou for in none other will I trust shalt preserue mee by thy power from trouble and aduersitie Thou shalt compasse me about with thy mercy and I will sing vnto thee Songs of praise for my deliuerance 9 I will instruct thee saith God O man if thou wilt bee ruled by me and teach thee in the way of righteousnesse which thou shalt walke in without erring I will guide thee in the right way with mine eye of prouidence that no euill shall happen vnto thee 10 Be ye not therefore O foolish men since I am so carefull ouer you without reason as the vnruly Horse and dull Mule which haue no vnderstanding to bridle their head-strong desires Whose hard Mouth must bee held in with strong hand and with bit and bridle and you with tribulations and afflictions if you be then as they must be held in lest they come neere thee and fall vpon their rider or kicke at them so shall you be forced by aduersitie to know your selues lest you oppose God your Creator 11 Many sorrowes either in this world or torments in the world to come shall be to the obstinate and vnrepentant wicked but he that with his whole heart dependeth on and trusteth in the Lord his God the Mercy of God shall compasse and defend him on euery side from all dangers 12 Be glad then Oye seruants of the most High in the saluation of the Lord and not in your owne strength and reioyce in feruency of spirit ye that are iust and righteous shout for ioy in the comfort of a good conscience all ye that are vpright in heart For that the Lord is gratious to those that loue him and hath delight in the prosperity of his Seruants Glory be to the Father c. 3 Psalme 38. 1 O Lord I do not altogether decline from and refuse thy corrections only this I require of thee that thou rebuke me not in thy fierce wrath by condemning me with the reprobate neither chasten me poore sinner too seuerely by the extraordinary afflictions of this as if it were in thy hot displeasure 2 For it is not without cause that I should thus deprecate thine anger for thine arrowes of griefe and anguish sticke fast in me and are sore vpon me already and thy hand of present affliction presseth and troubleth me sore 3 There is no soundnesse nor health in my flesh because of the vehemency of thine anger against me Neither is there any rest or quiet in my bones and inward parts when I consider that thy displeasure ariseth to ward me because of the gricuousnesse and wickednesse of my sinne 4 For hauing recollected my thoughts I find that mine iniquities which hitherto I regarded not are so many that they are gone ouer my head they are past my vnderstanding for quantitie and qualitie and as a heauy burthen for the weight of them they are become too heauie for me to beare any longer they presse me downe so much that I cannot looke vp to heauen or heauenly things 5 My wounds which sinne hath made in my conscience stinke in the nostrils of God and they are so abominable that now they corrupt and putrifie in mine owne sight and all this is come vpon me because of my foolishnesse that haue let them goe so long vnsearched vnrepented of that they are almost past cure or remedy 6 I am troubled notwithstanding that I haue so long put of my conuersion I am bowed and pressed downe with the waight of my transgressions and am humbled in soule for them greatly and craue pardon for them I goe mourning and grieuing all the day long bewailing the former time of my life mispent 7 For my loines are filled and infected with a loathsome disease of carnall concupiscence and there is no soundnesse nor goodnes at all in my flesh for that it rebelleth against the Spirit 8 I am feeble in body and sore broken in minde in so much that considering with my selfe how grieuously I haue offended thee I haue roared and cryed bitterly by reason of the disquietnesse of my heart O Lord therefore forgiue my offences 9 Lord who knowest all things and dost search into the hearts of all men all my desire to be reconciled to thee and to lead a new life is before thee thou knowest it and my groaning and earnest Prayer mingled with sighes and teares is not hid from thee but I hope is ascended into thy presence 10 My heart which hath lost the peace of conscience panteth with feare of thy Iudgements my wonted strength faileth me and I am growne weake as for the light of mine inward eyes wherewith I was wont to discerne good from euill it is also dimme and gone from mee and I am become like to them that walke
Heauen his Fathers bosome did the Lord Iesus behold the earth and had compassion vpon all the Sonnes of men 20 To heare and pitie the groaning of the prisoners such as did groane vnder the burden of the law and to loose and set at liberty by his passion and intercession those of the posterity of Adam that are appointed to suffer death for not fulfilling the same 21 To the end that they being so deliuered may declare and shew the power and the Name of the Lord which is Iesus the Sauiour in Sion his Church and magnifie and extoll his praise in Ierusalem his holy habitation 22 When the faithfull people which are yet dispersed ouer the face of the earth are gathered together and made one congregation and the Kingdomes of the earth which are yet in darknesse are instructed to serue thee the only Lord of Heauen and earth 23 He euen the Lord in the time of this expectation hath weakened and abated my strength so that I can doe no good of my selfe in the way of this my earthly pilgrimage he hath shortned and cut off my dayes by afflicting me for my sinne 24 I said yet in this weakenesse and anguish of my soule O my God withdraw not now thy mercy from me and take me not away out of this world in the midst of my dayes in the chiefe time of my strength as for thy yeeres as they are from all eternity so shall they endure throughout all generations euen for euer 25 Of old at the beginning of time hast thou of thine owne power layd and created the foundations of the earth the visible world anwd all things in it and the heauens and firmament thereof are the onely worke of thy almighty hands and power 26 They euen heauen and earth and all things in them shall passe away and perish from the forme they now haue but thou O Lord the creator of them shalt endure immutable Yea without all doubt all of them as thou hast decreed shall waxe old and consume with age like a garment long worne and as a vesture or garment shalt thou by the sound of the last trump change and dissolue them and they shall yeeld to thy power and be changed 27 But thou O Lord art the same alwayes vnchangeable and thy yeeres being from all eternity shall haue no end but continue for euer 28 The children and posterity of thy faithfull Seruants begotten by the seedes-men of thy Word shall continue in grace in this life and their righteous seed shall stand fast and be established for euer together with them in glory hereafter and enioy euerlasting happinesse before thee in thy blessed presence Glory be to the father c. 6 Psalme 130. 1 OVt of the depth of tentations dangers and sorrowes for my sinnes wherein my Spirit is almost ouerwhelmed haue I by feruent prayer cryed and called vnto thee O Lord who onely art able to giue me reliefe 2. Lord of thy mercy haste thee and heare my voyce and petition and deliuer me from my misery O my God Let thine eares of pitie and compassion be attentiue to consider and well weigh the lamentable voyce of my humble supplications and let not my prayer returne vnpitied or vnheard of thee 3 If thou Lord contrary to thy disposition shouldest be so exact and extreame as in the rigour of thy Iustice to marke the iniquities which we by our naturall corruption dayly fall into and punish vs accordingly O good Lord who none not the most vpright shall be able to answere one for a thousand or stand before thee without much horror at thy Iudgement seate 4 But for the comfort of poore wretched sinners and to keepe vs from vtter desperation we finde it recorded by the holy Spirit that There is forgiuenesse of sinnes and mercy towards sinners repenting with thee by Iesus Christ who came to saue sinners and yet this mercy of thine is tyed with such conditions that thou who also art Iust mayest be also feared lest thy lenity be abused 5 I for my part wait and confidently expect for the Lord to receiue mercy from him My sinfull but repentant soule doth wait to receiue consolation and in his Word whereby he promiseth mercy to repentant sinners doe I hope and place my whole confidence because I know that he which hath promised is Iust 6 My sinfull Soule in this expectation waiteth for the Lord and tarieth his good pleasure to comfort it more earnestly then they that in a disconsolate long night watch for the morning yea I say it againe more zealously then they that are weary of the night and watch for the light of the morning 7 Let Israel and all Gods faithfull people hope still and put their trust in the goodnesse of the Lord and not without cause For with the Lord though hee iustly take vengeance on vs for our sinnes yet there is euer was and will bee found Mercy towards penitent sinners and with him by Iesus Christ is not onely forgiuenesse for a few sinnes but plenteous redemption from the captiuity of the Deuill and sinne 8 And he euen Iesus Christ by his merits and intercession shall redeeme and saue Israel and each of his faithfull seruants from all his iniquities and the punishment due for them Glory be to the Father c. 7 Psalme 134. 1. HEare my earnest and humble Prayer O Lord which in misery I make vnto thee Giue eare and be not deafe to my supplications in the time of my distresse but in thy faithfulnesse and truth which endureth for euer answer me and grant my petition which I make not trusting in any merits of mine owne but in thy righteousnesse 2 And my further petition to thee is that thou enter not into the throne of thy Iudgement by strictly examining my misdeeds and dealing rigorously with me thy poore Seruant who hath misspent his talent for in thy all-seeing sight shall no man liuing in this vale of misery be iustified or found innocent 3 For the old enemie of mankinde the Deuill hath by his malice persecuted and sought to entrap my soule to separate it from the loue of thee he hath smitten and cast my life and soule downe to the ground and filled me full of earthly desires he hath made and caused me to dwell and take pleasure in the darkenesse of my sinnes as those that are without sence and haue beene long dead 4 Therefore O Lord considering my desperate estate is my spirit ouerwhelmed with griefe within me and my heart is disquieted within me and is also desolate and sore troubled 5 I yet in the midst of the sorrowes that are in my heart doe remember what I haue read and heard what thou hast done in the dayes of old how that thou hast beene gratious to the penitent and seuere against the vnrepentant sinner I meditate also on all thy workes but especially on that of thy mercy and I muse and exercise my selfe in contemplating on the worke
of thy hands admiring thy Power and Wisedome in the creation of all things 6 I stretch forth and lift vp my hands in my prayers vnto thee O Lord my soule which is drie for want of the deaw of thy grace thirsteth after thee for the water of life as a thirsty land in a time of drought 7 Heare me and answer me speedily delay not O Lord for my spirit waxeth faint and faileth me in my deuotion Oh hide not thy face and louing countenance from me miserable sinner least it come to passe that I bee like in condition vnto them that goe downe headlong after their owne inuentions into the pit of destruction and perdition 8 Cause mee by thy spirit to heare and feele thy louing kindnesse and mercy in the morning speedily least I perish for in thee only and not in the helpe of men or Angels doe I place my whole trust and confidence cause mee by thy grace to know and learne the way of thy testimonies wherein I should and ought to walke without declining to the right hand or the left For I lift vp my soule by prayer and repentance vnto thee who only canst direct me aright 9 Deliuer me O Lord by thy power from all mine enemies visible and inuisible for I flie and make hast for succour vnto thee as to my protector to hide and defend me from their violence 10 Teach and instruct mee that am ignorant to doe thy Will and those things which thou commandest for thou art my God and director Thy Spirit is good and all sufficient for me Lead me therefore by it into the right way which bringeth into the land of righteousnes and truth 11 Quicken mee againe O Lord and reuiue mee from the death of sinne for thy Names sake which is Iesus and for thy righteousnesse sake and loue to goodnesse bring my soule by thy grace out of the trouble and anguish whereinto my sinnes haue brought me 12 And of thy tender mercy and compassion cut of and kill in me mine enemies the concupiscences of the flesh and destroy and confound all them that with iniuries and tentations afflict and disquiet my soule which is wholly deuoted to thee for I am thy Seruant and Sonne of thy handmaid and desire to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of my life Glory be to the Father c. Directions before receiuing the Holy Communion AS many as desire to be partakers of the holy Sacrament of the Bodie and blood of Christ as of necessitte euery one must be that intendeth to receiue benefit by him ought before the taking of it to prepare his soule and fit it for the due receiuing of it and not come to it carelessely without due examination of himselfe and respectiue consideration of the excellency and worth thereof And therefore before the time of communicating wee ought to spend some time or dayes the more the better In meditating vpon the great and vnspeakeable loue and mercy of God toward vs. miserable sinners in ordeining so powerfull a meanes to purge and cleanse vs and bring vs to him In beleeuing all his promises made to vs in Christ Iesus in applying them to our selues in performing the workes of charitie in examining in what estate our soules doe stand in calling to minde our sinnes and confessing them to God in grieuing and repenting for them and that in all humility and Godly sorrow in a Luc. 15.20 returning with the Prodigall smiting our brests with the Publican b Luc. 18.13 weeping with Mary Magdalen begging mercy with the theefe on the Crosse Luc. 7.38 and lastly in promising to God to lead a better life for the time to come Thus if wee doe no doubt but wee shall be welcome guests to this feast as being of that number for whom it was prepared For by how much the more we come prepared to take this Sacrament so much the greater shall bee the grace which we shall receiue by it There are foure Duties required in euery Communicant First Faith to beleeue that Iesus Christ did and suffered all things which are written of him in the Holy Scriptures for the Redemption of mankinde Secondly Repentance by which a man confessing his sinnes to God with a purpose to lead a new life is reconciled to him Thirdly Reuerend behauiour that in all humility we make our selues fit guests for such a feast Fourthly Meditation and Attention that we during the time of the administration of the Sacrament attend no earthly thoughts but wholly fixe our soules vpon our Sauiour Christ and meditate on nothing but this great and high benefit and thereby bee inflamed with a hearty loue and thankefull minde to God not only for his infinite loue in suffering so great things for vs but also for instituting this blessed Sacrament to remaine to the end of the World as a sure pledge of his continuance amongst vs and perpetuall care ouer vs. After we haue communicated and are refreshed wee ought also to be thankfull to God for so great a benefit thankfulnesse being not the least dutie of this seruice The Sacrament it selfe being called Eucharistia which is thankesgiuing and to striue to imitate him as well in life as death to liue purely and not to defile our soules againe being purged and cleansed by the powerfull operation of this blessed Sacrament that so by Examination meditation thankesgiuing faith and constant resolution of amendment Wee may worthily receiue Christ into our soules and be made members of his mysticall bodie Meditations and Prayers before the Communion WHat am I O Lord that I should be so bold as to come neere to thee what am I that should attempt to receiue this so great and high a mystery what is man by nature but a vessell of corruption vnapt to any good and propense and most ready for any euill What is man but a creature of all others most wretched blinde in Iudgement inconstant in his actions vncleane in his desires and though small in desert yet proud and great in his owne conceit Thou seest O Lord what I am But thou O Lord art great good wise and eternall omnipotent in strength wonderfull in wisedome deepe in thy counsells terrible in thy Iudgements and absolutely perfect in all thy workes How then dare I that am so base and vncleane a creature approch to the Feast of so great a God and a Lord of so great Maiestie Behold the Heauens are not cleane in thy sight Iob 15.15 and the pillers of Heauen shake and tremble at thy nod Saint Iohn the Baptist who was sanctified in his mothers wombe professed himselfe not worthy to vnloose the latchâ—t of thy shoes Ioh. 1 27. Saint Peter cried out to thee Luc. 5.8 to depart from him a sinfull man How then can I the chiefe of all sinners but tremble at thy presence O LORD I feare that being thus wretched and vnfit I shall not bee admitted to this Feast but rather
this bread 1. Cor. 11.27 and drinke this cup of the Lord vnworthily shall bee guilty of the bodie and bloud of the Lord. I am in such a streight that I know not what to doe For gladly would I receiue this Sacrament being desirous to liue but fearefull I am to take it vnworthily trembling at thy Commination I come therefore to thee the fountaine of mercy hoping that thou wilt wash me I come to thee the good Samaritan Luc. 10.34 hoping that thou wilt cleanse my wounds I open my griefe and discouer my iniquities to thee I looke vpon my finnes great and grieuous and thereupon tremble Yet beholding thy mercies great and plentifull I am therewith againe refreshed Remember O Lord how many drops of Sweat and Bloud thou didst shed How many Paines and Sorrowes thou didst sustaine to expiate my sins I entreate thee therefore by them to purge and purifie me that I may worthily bee incorporated into thy body which is thy Church and may worthily also receiue this blessed Sacrament that so together with thy whole Church I may giue thee praise euerlastingly Or thus O Mercifull Lord Iesus I confesse my selfe to be a most grieuous and wretched sinner not worthy to approach into thy presence altogether vnfit and vnmeet Luc. 7.6 to receiue thee vnder the roofe of my soule in respect of the staynes and pollutions thereof and that it is not decked and fitted with such good graces as thy Maiestie and presence requireth and therefore am afraid to come neere vnto thee Yet O Lord considering thy comfortable saying that Thou dost not desire the death of a sinner Mat. 11.28 but that he should turne vnto thee and liue and thy blessed inuitation how louingly with the armes of thy mercy stretched out thou hast called all that are heauily oppressed with the burden of their sinnes to come to thee for comfort and ease And lastly thy vsuall practize in pitying and releeuing those which were cast downe with the thought of their misdeedes as the a Luc. 23. Theefe on the Crosse b Luc. 7. Mary Magdalen c Ioh. 8. The woman taken in adultery the d Luc. 18. Publican e Luc. 26. Peter and Paul all of them grieuous sinners I am comforted and emboldned to come vnto thee assuredly trusting that thou wilt of thy goodnesse supply my defects and make me a worthy receiuer of the high mystery and benefit of thy blessed Sacrament whereof of my selfe I am altogether vnworthy Stretch out thy right hand O sweete Iesu to me thy poore seruant and giue out of thy rich store-house of mercy what I want that thereby I may be made a liuing Temple to thee and an acceptable habitation for thine honour to abide in And grant that being cleansed by thy mercy and goodnesse I may by thy grace and power perseuere in all godlinesse and holinesse of conuersation to the end of my dayes and attaine to that blessed place where thou raignest with the Father and holy Spirit world without end Amen Meditations and Prayers after the Sacrament receiued IF all the Creatures in the world should offer themselues together with me to praise thee O Lord yet is it certaine that we could not giue thee sufficient thankes for the least of thy mercies and if together we cannot sufficiently praise thee for the least how much lesse can I alone performe so great a duty for such inestimable blessings as I haue at this time receiued for vouchsafing to visite me comfort me honor me with acceptance and admittance of me to thy blessed Table Luc. 1.43 If Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist vpon the Virgin Maries entrance to her house said Whence is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me What shall I say whom the Lord himselfe hath visited and vnited to him by his blessed Sacrament being a vessell and receptacle of all impuritie who hath so often offended despited and neglected him King Dauid wondred Psal 8. why God should so esteeme of or visite man But I wonder much more why hee should be made man for man abide with him suffer death for him and giue himselfe to him for spirituall food Salomon after he had built a Temple to God reasoned thus 1. Kings 8.27 But will God dwell indeed on the earth Behold the heauen of heauens cannot contayne thee how much lesse this house that I haue builded May not I much more maruell that God will not disdaine to come and abide in this my poore and wretched soule What greater benefit or grace what greater argument of his loue is there can there be shewed to me Oh my soule if thou wouldest but throughly conceiue the happinesse that commeth to thee by this holy Sacrament then consider and well weigh what benefits it bringeth with it By it the sonnes of men are made the Sonnes of God and all that is earthly or carnall in vs is mortified that the Deity may liue and abide with vs. What therefore O my Lord shall I doe What thankes shall I render to thee with what feruency shall I loue thee For if thou so mightie a Lord hast vouchsafed to loue me poore wretched creature how should it be but that I should returne loue againe to thee And how shall I expresse my loue better then in forbearing those things which thou dost abhorre and following those things which thou dost command Giue O Lord to this end thy concomitant grace to mee whereby I may returne a reciprocall loue to thee and loue those things which are acceptable to thee and auoide those things which are to thee vnpleasing Giue me a heart which may loue thee with so true faithfull and constant affection as that nothing vnder the Sun may separate me from the loue of thee Rom. 8.39 Let me not follow the loue of the world or delight in the vanities of it any longer but giue me power to kill and quench all other loue and desires and to loue thee onely desire thee only and only thinke of thee and thy Commandements that all my affections and thoughts may be fixed on thee that in all tentations and aduersities I may haue recourse to thee onely and receiue all comfort from thee alone who liuest and raignest one God world without end Amen Another I Humbly thanke thee O sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ that thou hast so plentifully refreshed my dry and fainting soule with the holy Sacrament of thy pretious bodie and bloud I earnestly entreat thee further that whatsoeuer is in me vicious or contrary to thy blessed will may by vertue of this Blessed Sacrament bee rooted out of me that my soule may become a fit habitation for thy holy Spirit Let it be to me the absolution of my sinnes the confirmation of my faith an encrease of all thy graces in me the viands of this my peregrination and pilgrimage the only delight of my soule peace and ioy in tribulation health and
Seruants to whom in particular thou extendest thy mercy shall blesse and continually praise thee for the same 11 They especially shall not bee silent but speake of and declare vnto those that haue not knowne thy Name the Glory and Maiestie of thy Kingdome which is aboue all the kingdomes of the earth and shall wheresoeuer they come talke of and set forth thy mightie power which no potentate is able to resist 12 To make knowne and to make manifest thereby to the sonnes of men euen all the gratiousnesse to come his mightie and wonderfull acts which he hath done in our time and in the ages foregoing and also the glorious Maiestie and super-excellency of his Kingdome and power 13 Thy kingdome O Lord is not temporary or of short continuance but it is an euerlasting Kingdome was without beginning and neuer shall haue end and this thy dominion and rule endureth firme stable throughout all generations to the end of the world 14 The Lord in his mercy vpholdeth and lifteth vp all those that fall by frailty and weakenesse and raiseth vp by the grace of his holy Spirit all those that be deiected bowed and cast downe with the thought of their sinnes 15 The eyes of all creatures waite and are fixed vpon thee as vpon their carefull father for sustenance and helpe and they no sooner call vnto thee but thou of thy prouidence suppliest their wants and giuest them their meate and all things necessary for them not onely in due proportion but in due season and time also 16 Thou openest thy hand of bounty and satisfiest the insatiable desire of men which nothing but thy selfe can satisfie and of euery other liuing thing besides 17 The Lord is only righteous iust and vnreproueable in all his wayes and actions and it is hee only that is holy and pure in all his workes 18 The Lord is nigh and ready at hand vnto all them that in distresse call vpon him and seeke vnto him for helpe Yea to all without respect of persons that call vpon him in truth faith and vprightnesse of heart 19 He is so gratious that he will not only heare them but grant their petitions and fulfill and satisfie the desire and request of them that feare and serue him he also will heare their cry in time of affliction and will saue and deliuer them out of all their trouble 20 The Lord by his omnipotent power preserueth and keepeth all them that loue him sincerely and obey his Commandements but as for all the wicked and vnrepentant obstinate sinners those will he destroy from the face of the earth 21 My mouth shall as long as I haue any being speake of and declare the praise and Maiestie of the Lord most mightie and as I doe so Let all flesh people nations and kindreds from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe thereof blesse land and magnifie together with me his holy and great Name euen for euer and euer from this time forth for euermore Glory be to the father ' c. Imprecation THis part of Deuotion or of zeale as I may call it although it seeme harsh and not well to stand with the Charitie of a Christian yet in these Cases it hath beene and may be lawfully vsed 1 When the Church of God in any part of the World lyeth as it were at the stake and groaneth vnder the burden of Persecution and the enemies thereof are incorrigeable and not to be reconciled in this case not onely a priuate man in his Deuotions but the Church also in generall may vse these Imprecations to the end that the Church may by these kind of Prayers and Gods assistance recouer its former peace and quiet 2 When as a Christian man shall perceiue that his enemies ayme altogether against the Rules of Charitie at his vtter subuersion both in Body and Soule in this case also a man may without breach of Charitie vse these Imprecations And in either of these Cases if the children either of Gods or our owne enemies shall ioyne assist or persist maliciously in the steps of their Parents they are in our estimation to be accounted of no better nay not so well as the very Heathen who haue not knowne the name of God at all And to this end I haue onely giuen you a taste of some of the zealous wishes and earnest desires or Imprecations of some Holy men Prophets and Apostles which are set downe in sacred Scripture and left no doubt for our imitation in the seuerall Cases before named Imprecations against the enemies of God and his Church REspect not thou their offering Num. 16.15 The Lord shall trouble thee Ios 7.25 Destroy them Psal 5.10 let them fall by their owne counsels Breake the arme of the wicked Psal 10.15 Breake their teeth O God Psal 58.6 Let them be scattered Psal 68.1.2 Let them flee Driue them as Smoake melt them as waxe Powre out thy wrath vpon them Psal 79.6 Make them like a wheele Psal 83.13 and as the stubble before the winde Burne them as the fire burneth the wood Psal 83.14 Persecute them with thy tempest Psal 83.15 Fill their faces with shame Psal 83.16 Let them be confounded and troubled for euer Psal 83.17 Let them be as grasse on the house top Psal 129.6 Grant not their desires Psa 140.8 Let the mischiefe of their owne lips couer them Psa 140.9 Let burning coales fall vpon them Psa 140.10 Let them not be established vpon the earth Psa 140.11 Let euill hunt them If any man loue not the Lord Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 16.22 let him be Anathema Maranatha If any man preach any other Gospell Gal. 1.9 c. Let him be accursed I would they were euen cut off Gal. 5.12 Against the enemies of our Soules Let them be confounded and put to shame Psal 35.4 that seeke after my soule Let them be as chaffe before the winde Psal 35.5 Let the Angell of the Lord chase them Let their way be darke and slipery Psal 35.6 Let the Angell of the Lord persecute them Let Destruction come vpon them Psal 35.8 Let them be confounded and ashamed Psal 40.14 Let them bee driuen backward Let them be desolate Psal 40.15 Let death seize vpon them Psal 55.15 Let them go downe quicke to Hell Let them be couered with reproach and dishonour Psal 71.13 Set a wicked man ouer him Psal 109.6 Let Satan stand at his right hand Let his prayer become sinne Psal 109.7 Let his daies be few Psal 109.8 Let his children bee fatherlesse Psal 109.9 and his wife a widdow Let his children be vagabonds and beggers Psal 109.10 Let the extortioner catch all he hath Psal 109.11 Let there be none to extend mercy to him or his children Psal 109.12 Let his posteritie be cut of Psal
patient with them In their Correction and bearing with all their Infirmities That which we are forbidden to do against them is Exo. 21.17 Leuit. 20.9 Not to speake euill of them or to curse them Mat. 15.5 Mat. 7.11 Not to see them want Not to be ashamed of them for pouerty or other cause whatsoeuer That thy dayes may c. 2. The Promise is made to all such as shall keepe this Precept which is Long dayes of life here and happy too else they would be no better then a Curse Long dayes hereafter for euer in blisse which is the highest blessing that can befall to any This Promise God made 1. To prouoke vs to that Dutie of reuerencing and obeying our Parents and Superiours 2. To shew how highly he esteemeth of it The sixth Commandement Thou shalt not kill THis Commandement followeth properly and in order in the next place for mans life being the most previous thing in this world and vpon which all other things depend God seemeth to take care by this Commandement for peace and quietnesse whereby mans life may be preserued Thou shalt not kill Neither thy selfe nor others Neither shalt thou haue any desire to doe any such act Vnder this Commandement are diuers other particulars forbidden for as God forbiddeth the Act so doth he command that all occasions or meanes to execute that Act be forborne and taken away If God command vs not to kil then he prohibits Anger Quarrelling Chiding Hatred Mat. 5.22 And all other things of this nature which may be as prouocations ro flaughter And on the contrary hee enioyneth vs. To loue our neighbours as our selues To liue peaceably and quietly with them To doe good for euill And all this because Man is the Image of God Flesh of our Flesh The thing that Christ paid so deare for The seuenth Commandement Thou shalt not commit Adulterie Thou shalt not commit adulterie THe chiefe aime and scope of this Commandement is to preserue the marriage bed inuiolate And with great reason it is placed next to the prohibiting of homicide because that next and dearest to a man after his owne life is the preseruation and Honot of his wife for they two are but one flesh Gen. 2.24 And by this Commandement is also implicitly and secretly forbidden Whoredome Incest Sodomy a Rom. 1.26 Sinnes against Nature b Mat. 5.28 Vnlawfull desires and affections Vncleannesse Euill talke Obscene songs and impudent behauiour vnciuill sights Lasciuions Pictures Intemperance of diet Delicacy and excesse in Apparrell and the like being prouocations to the Sinne here forbidden And as wee are prohibited these things so are we commanded hereby To liue Chastely Temperately Mat. 5.8 Modestly and Purely in heart For by these Vertues as our Sauiour telleth vs wee shall come to the beatificiall vision of God and enioy that Blessednesse which he hath promised to those that in purenesse of heart loue and serue him The eight Commandement Thou shalt not steale Thou shalt not steale THat is thou shalt not take from another any thing which is not thine owne And against this Commandement we may offend diuers waies By committing Sacriledge taking any thing from the Church By with holding that which is due to King or Prince By robbing on the high way or out of houses By deceiuing any man In bargaining In false weights and measures In being bankrupt without cause By oppressing the poore or keeping his pledge By encroching vpon the possessions of any other either by violence openly or by fraud in remouing Land markes c. By keeping that which is found from the true owner By denying or concealing a trust By detaining the Laborers hire By Liuing idlely and eating out of another mans labour By neglecting a Masters Seruice and mispending his goods The Ninth Commandement Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy Neighbour Thou shalt not beare false witnesse c. THou shalt not giue false euidence before a Iudge against any man Whosoeuer doth so is not only guilty of the breach of this Commandement but of the Third also in committing Periurie Neither is false Testimony with an Oath forbidden only but also without an Oath 1 Thou shalt not accuse thy brother vniustly Slander him Reuile him Backebite him Abuse him by vnciuill iests 2 Thou shalt not lie or equiuocate Either for sport Or to auoid danger or losse For although some seeme to approue Of Iacob Gen. 27.19 in lying to his Father that he was Esau The Midwines Exo. 1.19 to saue the Children Rahab the Harlot Iosu 2.4.5 to saue the spies Michol 1. Sam. 19.14 to saue Dauid her Husband Iudith Iud. 11.5 to deceiue Holofernes Aug. Yet it is safer with Saint August to hold that all lyes being directly opposite to truth must needs be sinne The Tenth Commandement Thou shalt not couet thy Neighbours house Thou shalt not c. THis Commandement is directly against Couetousnesse or euill Concupiscence the issue of Originall Sinne which was deriued to all mankinde after the fall of Adam Not Couet No man ought to couet or desire no not so much as in his heart any thing which belongeth to another man and whereby he may receiue any damage or detriment Neither his house which is his inheritance and his defence against the heate of the Sunne and the sharpnesse of the cold Nor his wife which is bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh His partner as well in sorrow as pleasure Nor his Seruants without whose helpe and labour he cannot dispatch his affaires Nor his Cattell which doe his worke In conclusion nothing which may any way preiudice him Now seeing that Ia. 2.10 He which is guiltie in breaking one part of the Law offendeth in all and that to the keeping of it the whole inward and outward man is required and that the flesh while wee are in this world is wholly opposite to the Spirit It is impossible for vs to fulfill the same by our owne endeauours For it is with vs as it was with Saint Paul Rom. 7.18 In our flesh dwelleth no good thing and the good that we would we doe not but the euill which we would not that we doe And seeing also that Rom. 3.20 by thee deedes of the Lawe no man can be iustified not that the Lawe is in fault being good of it selfe but our owne flesh Rom. 8.7.8 the carnall minde being enmitie with God and they which are in the flesh not being able to please him for the comfort therefore of all when as neither the workes of the Law could iustifie vs nor we were able to fulfill the same God of his infinite mercy sent his Sonne Christ Iesus into the world Galat. 3.13.14 that he suffering death for vs might redeeme vs from the curse of the Law that we might receiue the promise of the Spirit through Faith For in him all the
Promises Ceremonies and the Law it selfe were fulfilled and ended 1 The Promises As Gen. 1.15 the seed of the woman shall breake the Serpents head Gen. 22.18 In thee shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed 2 The Ceremonies The Priesthood by his eternall Priesthood Psal 110.4 The Sacrifices by his owne Oblation Heb. 7.27 Circumcision Luc. 2.21 3.21 by his Circumcision and Baptisme Passeouer by the Eucharist Mar. 14.22 3 The Lawe By his satisfaction and absolute fulfilling of it in whom was no sinne nor spot Cant. but an absolute and perfect Righteousnesse which Righteousnesse hee hath of his free will and mercy imputed to vs and made ours if with a liuely Faith we apprehend him and beleeue on him And in this respect it may be said that he obserueth and fulfilleth the Law of God who not trusting to himselfe or his owne workes commendeth himselfe wholly to the Grace of God Rom. 8.3.4 2. Cor. 5.21 and seeketh all his righteousnesse by Faith in Christ Iesus So that wee are to rely on those words which Saint Paul spake in his Sermon at Antioch Bee it knowne vnto you therefore Act. 13.38 men and brethren that through this man Christ Iesus is preached vnto you the forgiuenesse of sinnes And by him all that beleeue are iustified from all things from which you could not be iustified by the Law of Moses But yet wee must take this along with vs. That this Faith whereby we beleeue that Christ satisfied the Lawe and is become our Righteousnesse and Perfection is meerely by Gods Grace and Fauour infused into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which stirreth vp in vs a loue and desire to keep the Law of God which though the same desire neuer attaineth to perfection while we liue in these earthly tabernacles for the frailtie and indisposition of the Flesh yet God in his mercy accepteth the same for Christs sake For the better conceiuing of the drift and scope of these Commandements wee are to take notice of two things 1 Whereas in euery Commandement the grossest sinne tending to the breach of that commandement is only forbidden by name yet wee are to conceiue that all sinnes of that nature though lesser in degree and not named togither with the prouocations thereunto are likewise inclusiuely contained in that prohibition 2 And where any Vertue is commanded to be obserued there all the Vices and Sinnes contrary to that Vertue are forbidden And where any Vice is prohibited there all opposite Vertues to it are enioyned Meditations of Death THat all men must dye being long since enacted by Statute in the Parliament of Heauen vnrepealed and the knowledge of the day of Death being by God kept from vs Aug. in Psal 34. Conc. 1. lest we should promise to our selues any thing for future time I shall not neede to spend many words to proue either the absolute necessitie of the one or the vncertaintie of the other Only giue mee leaue to conclude this worke with a few meditations and Prayers which may serue as well for those who feele the hand of God by sickenesse as for those which are in perfect health to meditate and thinke vpon that they be not taken vnprouided And this exercise of Meditation of death and resolution to die ought not to seeme strange or hard to Christians For the Philosopher in his time accounted all dayes spent without serious consideration of our end to be but fondly consumed and affirmed that the whole life of a wise man Plato was nothing but a meditation of death And therefore it hath been obserued that Abraham Gen. 23.3 19. when he was in the Land of Canaan purchased no more Land then would serue to bury his dead To teach vs that we should not fixe or fasten our mindes upon the transitory things of the World but haue our affections bent vpon another world and meditate vpon the day of our death which bringeth two benefits with it first it deliuereth vs out of many cares and troubles and secondly it leadeth vs to ioyes vnspeakeable The first of these benefits the Heathen man could see Artabanus to Xerxes Herod l. 7. by the light of Nature when hee said that No man liued in so flourishing estate who if not often yet once iâ— his life did not desire rather to die then to liue For the vnauoidable calamitie and greeuous diseases incident to this life doe so often disquiet and vexe a man that notwithstanding our life is naturally short yet sometime it seemeth ouer long vnto him And therefore saith he Death is the most acceptable and wished for Sanctuary and place of refuge for a life full of misery and griefe And for the second take amongst many that of Saint Cyprian Cypr. Wee passe by death to immortality neither can wee come or attaine to eternall life but by leauing this life Nor is our corporall death to bee accounted an end or period of life but a passage to a better for by this temporall journey wee passe to Eternitie For this separation of the soule and body commonly called Death if we consider the true scope and aime of God in it is not inflicted by him as a seuere Iudge to punish the Elect but as a most mercifull Father who only calleth his Children from a dungeon of misery to a place of all felicitie and happinesse And this is that which hath alwaies made the Godly to leaue this life with such willingnesse and ioy and to endure with so great courage and constancie all their greatest agonies Meditations for the sicke Set thy house in order for thou shalt die Esa 38.1 Iob. 19.25 I Know that my Redeemer liueth and that he shall stand at the latter day vpon the earth Iob. 19.26 And that I shall be againe cloathed with this skin and in my flesh I shall see God Iob. 19.27 whom I my selfe shall see and mine eyes shall behold This hope is laid vp in my brest Lord let me know mine end and the number of my dayes that I Psal 39.5 may be certified how long I haue to liue Psal 39.6 Behold thou hast made my dayes as it were a span long and mine age is as nothing in respect of thee and verily euery man liuing is altogether vanity Psal 39.7 For man walketh in a vaine shadow and disquieteth himselfe in vaine he heapeth vp riches and cannot tell who shall gather them Psal 39.8 And now Lord what is nay hope truely my hope is euen in thee Psal 39.9 Deliuer me from all mine offences and make me not a rebuke to the foolish Psal 3911. Take away thy stroake from me for I am consumed by the meanes of thy heauy hand Psal 39.12 When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sinne thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moath fretting a garment euery man therefore is but vanity Psal 39.13
Heare my Prayer O Lord and with thine eares consider my calling hold not thy peace at my teares Psa 39.14 For I am a stranger with thee and a soâ—ourner as all my fathers were Psa 39.15 O spare me a little that I may recouer my strength before I goe hence and be no more seene Iob 13.23 Answer me O Lord How many are mine iniquities and sinnes make me to know my transgressions and my sinnes Iob 13.24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face from me and holdest me for thine enemie Iob 13.25 Wilt thou breake a leafe driuen to and fro and wilt thou pursue the drie stubble Psal 71.8 Oh cast me not away in my weakenesse forsake me not when my strength faileth me Though I be afflicted yet let me not be destressed Though in want of some of thy comforts yet not of all Though chastned yet not forsaken Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastnest O Lord and teachest him in thy law Psal 94.13 That thou mayest giue him rest in the dayes of euill Psal 119.67 Before I was troubled I went a stray but now I shall learne thy Word Psal 25.7 O Lord remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth Nor iudge me according to my workes For I haue done nothing worthy of thy sight but of eternall death Wherefore I pray thee Psal 51.1.2 blot out all my offences and wash me throughly from my wickednesse and cleanse me from my sinne Iob. 7.20 I haue sinned what shall I doe vnto thee O thou Preseruer of men Why hast thou set me as a marke against thee so that I am a burden vnto my selfe Iob. 7.20 And why dost thou not pardon my transgressions and take away mine iniquitie for now I shall sleepe in the dust and thou shalt seeke me in the morning but I shall not be Iob 10.20 Are not my dayes few cease then and let me alone that I may take comfort a little Iob 10.21 Before I goe whence I shall not returne euen to the land of darkenesse and shadow of death Iob 10.22 A land of darkenesse as darkenesse it selfe and of the shadow of death without any order and where the light is as darkenesse Psal 89.27 What man is he that liueth and shall not see death shall he deliuer his Soule from the hand of the graue Psal 55.4 The feare of death ouerwhelmeth me and my heart is disquieted within me for that I haue daily sinned and not repented considering that from the Infernall pit there is no redemption But be thou mercifull to O Lord and save me for thy Names sake and in thy strength deliuer and comfort me Psal 119.75 I know O Lord that thy iudgements are iust and that thou of very faithfulnesse hast caused me to be troubled Oh let this light affliction which will quickely be gone cause vnto me afterward a more excellent and eternall waight of glory 2. Cor. 4.17 Psal 94.19 In the midst of the sorrowes that are in my heart let thy comforts O Lord refresh my Soule Iob. 10.8 Thine hands haue made me and fashioned me round about yet thou dost destroy me Iob. 10.9 Remember I beseech thee that thou hast made me as the clay and wilt thou bring me into the dust againe Iob. 10.10 Hast thou not powred mee out like milke and crudled mee like a cheese Iob. 10.11 Thou hast cloathed mee with skinne and flesh and fenced mee with bones and sinewes Iob. 10.12 Thou hast granted me life and fauour and thy visitation hath preserued my Spirit O Lord thou numbrest my Iob. 14.16 steps and dost set a watch ouer my sinne Iob. 17.1 My breath is corrupt my daies are extinct the Graue is ready for me Iob. 14. I haue said to corruption thon art my Father and to the worme Thou art my Mother and Sister Iob. 7.1 Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth and are not his dayes as the daies of an hireling Iob. 9.25 My dayes are swifter then a Post they flee away and see no good Iob. 30.23 I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appoinfor all the lining Woe is me therefore O Lord that I haue sinned What shall I doe whither shall I flie but to thee O Lord my God Be mercifull to mee in the last day My soule is very much disquieted within me but Lord I require thy aidee and comfort Bee mindefull O Lord of thy Psal 119.49 Word wherein thou hast caused mee to put my trust and let thy mercy come vnto me according to thy Promise For thou art my maker and I am the worke of thy hands Deliuer me O Lord from eternall death in that day wherein Heauen and Earth shall be dissolued when thou comest to Iudge the Earth I am affrighted when I consider that day the day of thy wrath the day of misery that great and exceeding bitter day O Lord in that day where shall I hide my selfe from the face of thine anger O Lord when thou comest to Iudgement condemne mee not I beseech thee but deliuer from the gates of hel my poor soule which I commend vnto thee Acknowledge then O Lord thy Creature not made by any strange gods but by thee the true and liuing God Make my Soule ioyfull with thy presence and remember not my sinnes but according to thy great mercy thinke vpon mee in that day for the merits of my Blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer for the Sicke ALmightie and most mercifull Lord God who by the infirmities of this life dost put vs in minde of our mortalitie and by these outward afflictions dost call vs to inward Repentance I crie vnto thee with my whole heart Psal 6.1 Rebuke me not in thine anger neither chasten me in thy displeasure Psal 6.2 Haue mercy vpon me O Lord for I am weake O Lord heale me for my bones are vexed Thou art He O Lord a Iob. 5.18 That woundest and healest againe b 1. Sam. 2.6 that killest and reuiuest that leadest to the gates of Hell and bringest backe againe If this my sickenesse O Lord be not vnto death helpe me on this my bed of infirmity and strengthen me If thou thinkest expedient rather that I should die then liue doe with me according to thy good pleasure and receiue my Spirit to thy peace which I commend into thy hands who liuest and raignest God of all mercy world without end Amen Or thus O Mercifull Lord God who of thy great mercy dost forgiue the offences of those who truely repent mercifully looke vpon me thy poore Serand hearken vnto me who humbly craue of thee remission of my sinnes Renew O Lord in me whatsoeuer is corrupt and decayed by the Deuils malice or mine owne frailtie Pitie my sighes pitie my teares pitie my groanes vouchsafe to be reconciled