sinnes Answere Neyther reward vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God mercifull Father that despisest not the sighing of a contrit hart nor the desire of such as be sorrowful mercifully assist our prayers that wee make before thée in all our troubles and aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and gratiously heare vs that those euills which the craft and subtlety of the Deuill or man worketh against vs be brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnes they may bee dispersed that we thy seruantes being hurt by no persecutions may euermore giue thankes vnto thée in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliver vs for thy Names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our Fathers haue declarud vnto vs the noble workes that thou diddest in their dayes and in the olde time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliver vs for thine honour Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne c. From our enemies defend vs O Christ Gratiously looke vpon our afflictions Pittifully behold the sorrows of our hearts Mercifully forgiue the sins of thy people Fauourably with mercy hear our Prayers O Sonne of David haue mercy vpon vs. Both now euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Gratiously heare vs O Christ gratiously heare vs O Lord Christ The Versicle O Lord let thy mercy bee shewed vpon vs. Answere As we doe put our trust in thée Let vs Pray VVE humbly beséeth thee O father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glory of thy names sake turne from vs al those euils that we most righteously haue deserued graunt that in all our troubles wee may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy and euermore serue thee in holinesse and purenes of liuing to thy honour and glory through our onely mediatour and aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ¶ A Prayer for the Kinges Maiestie O Lord our heauenly Father high and mightie King of Kings Lord of Lords the onely Ruler of Princes which doest from thy throne behold all the dwellers vpon earth most heartily wee beseech thee with thy fauour to behoid our most gratious Soueraigne Lord King Iames and so replenish him with the grace of thy holy Spirite that hee may olway encline to thy will and walke in thy way indue him plentifully with heauenly gifts grant him in health wealth long to liue strengthen him that hee may vanquish and ouercome all his enemies and finally after this life he may attaine euerlasting ioy felicity through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer for the Queene and Prince and other the King and Queenes Children ALmighty God which hast promised to be a father of all thine Elect and of their séede we humbly beséech thée to blesse our gratious Quéene Anne Prince Henrie and all the King and Quéenes Royall Progenie endue them with thy holy Spirite enrich them with thy heauenly Grace prosper them with all happines and bring them to thine euerlasting kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ALmighty euerlasting God which onely workest great maruailes send downe vpon our Bishoppes and Curates and all Congregations cōmitted to their charge the healthfull Spirite of thy Grace and that they may truely please thée powre vpon them the continual dew of thy blessing graunt this O Lord for the honour of our Aduocate and Mediator Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer of Chrysostome ALmighty God which hast giuen vs Grace at this time with one accorde to make our common Supplications vnto thée and doest promise that when two or thrée bée gathered together in thy Name thou wilt graunt their requests fulfill now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them graunting vs in this worlde knowledge of thy truth and in the worlde to come life euerlasting Amen THe Grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ and the Loue of GOD and the Fellowshippe of the Holy Ghost be with vs al euermore Amen For Raine if the time require O God Heauenly Father which by thy Son Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that séeke thy Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof all thinges necessarie to their bodily sustenance sēd vs we beseech thée in this our necessity such moderate raine and showres that wee may receiue the fruites of the earth to our comfort and to thy honour through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen For faire weather O Lord god which for the sin of man didst once drown all the world except eight persons and afterward of thy great mercy diddest promise neuer to destroy it so againe we humbly beseech thee that although wee for our iniquities haue worthily deserued this plague of raine and waters yet vpon our true repentance thou wilt send vs such seasonable wether wherby wee may receiue the fruits of the earth in due season and learn both by thy punishment to amend our liues and for thy clemencie to giue thee prayse and glory through Iesus Christ our Lord Amē In the time of Dearth and Famine O God heauenly Father whose gift it is that the raine doth fall the earth is fruitfull beasts increase and fishes doe multiplie behold wee beseech thée the afflictions of thy people and grant that this scarsitie and dearth which wée doe now most iustly suffer for our iniquitie may through thy goodnesse bee mereifully turned into cheapenesse and plenty for the loue of Iesus Christ our Lord to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour c. Amen In the time of warre O Almighty God King of all Kinges and Gouernour of all things whose power no Creature is able to resist to whom it belongeth iustly to punish Sinners and to bee mercifull to them that truely repent saue and deliuer vs wée humbly beséech thée from the hands of our enemies abate theyr pride asswage their malice and confound their deuises that wée being armed with thy defence may bee preserued euermore from all perils to glorifie thee which art the onelie giuer of all victorie through the merites of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen In the time of any common plague or sickenesse O Almighty God which in thy wrath in the time of King David diddest slay with the plague of pestilence threescore and tenne thousand and yet remembring thy mercy diddest saue the rest haue pitty vppon vs miserable Sinners that now are visited with greate sickenesse and mortality that like as thou diddest then cōmaund thine Angell to cease from punishing so it may now please thee to withdraw from vs this plague and grieuous sicknesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen O God whose nature property is euer to haue mercy and to forgiue receiue our humble Petitions and though we be tyed and bound with the chaine of our sinnes yet let the pittifulnesse of thy great mercy loose vs through Iesus Christs sake our Mediatour and Aduocate Amen A Thankesgiuing for Raine O God our heauenly Father who
THE POESIE OF Floured Prayers Containing sundrie Meditations and Prayers gathered out of the sacred letters and vertuous Writers disposed in forme of the Alphabet of the most vertuous Lady the Lady Elizabeths name Set forth by Sir IOHN CONVVAY Multae tribulationes Iustorum de omnibus liberabit eos Dominus Psal 34. AT LONDON ¶ Printed for Va. Sims and are to be sold by Ed White An. 1611. TO THE MOST Gracious Ladie the Ladie ELIZABETH eldest daughter to our Soveraigne Lord the KING I MAY NOT doubt most gracious Ladie but certainly belieue that as you are religiously devoted so you are sufficiently stoared with Meditations Prayers and Supplications of Saintes best befitting your Royall Estate So that by reprinting of these ancient Prayers and causing them to be disposed to your Graces Name I may seeme to offer a needlesse Supply Nevertheles presuming vppon your wel-knowē Princely and gracious acceptance of all that which proceedeth frō well-meaning mindes I have adventured in all humilitie to offer them vnto your most Royall Service to bee respected or reiected at your pleasure for whose most happy cōtinuance in this world and participation of perfect ioye in the world to come I also will not cease to pray to almighty God Your Graces most humbly VALENTINE SIMS HONI · SOIT · QVI · MAL · Y · PENSE Prou. 31. BEautie and favour are things deceitful vaine but the heart of a woman that feareth the Lord her body is a rich portion and she is worthy to be honoured for shee openeth her mouth with wisdome in her tongue is the Law of grace Prou. 16. COnfesse thy workes vnto the LORD and looke what thou deuisest it shall prosper Esay 58. THy light shall spring out in the darknesse and thy darkenesse shall bee as the noone day Pro. 28. HE that hydeth his sinnes shall not prosper but who so acknowledgeth them and forsaketh them shall haue Mercie A Morning Prayer O LORD Iesus Christ which hast redéemed all mankind from sinne Death and Hell thou which hast sayd I am the waye truth and life A way in doctrine commandements and examples Truth in promises Life in reward I come vnto thée early now this morning I pray thée by thine ineffamable loue wherewith thou hast vouchsafed wholy to bestowe thy selfe for our security that thou wilt not suffer me euer to straye from thée because thou art the way nor at any time distrust thy promises which art Truth and performest whatsoeuer thou promisest neither let me rest in any other thing because thou art eternall life without the which there is nothing that ought to bee desired neither in Heauen nor in Earth But let me learne as thou hast exactly taught what to belieue and what to do what to hope for and in whome we ought to rest Thou which by the examples of thy life hast shewed vs the way to immortality and by thy steps hast restored to vs a plaine easie and profitable way out of an vneuen and rough way Vphold mee in thy benignity with thy sure promises that after this life I may enter into thy heauenly heritage Therefore whilest I am in this iourney bee a sure hope vnto me to bee in stéed of a staffe vnto me wherwith I am sustained O Lord that knowest the weakenesse of my flesh in the meane time with the comfort of thy Spirit so refresh my strength wherby I may runne chéerefully And as thou being made vnto me a way doest driue awaye all errour So being made Truth take awaye all distrust Finally beeing made life vnto vs I beséech thée reuiue mee dead in sinne to liue by thy spirit relieuing all things vntill in the resurrection all mortality vtterlye abolished I may always liue with thée and in thée when Christ shall be to vs all in all For eternall life is to knowe the Father the Son and the holy Ghost to be one true God whome now through Faith wée behold only in a glasse and Riddle and then séeing more felowly the glory of the Lord we shal be transformed into the same Image Therefore I beséech thée most mercifull Sauiour that thou wouldest nourish Faith in thy Seruant that I may neuer wauer in thy heauenly doctrine Encrease obedience that I neuer turne from thy Precepts Fortifie constancie that entring into thy steppes it bee not pulled backe nor through the terrour or intisementes of Sathan ouerthrowne but may perseuer in thée which art the true-waye vnto life Build my sure trust that being accustomed with thy promises I neuer waxe old in the exercise of Vertue but forgetting those things which are past I may continually striue to come to perfecter Accept my contrite heart the woonted sacrifice of thy delight and the oblation of these my Peticions graunting the summe of my requests Blot out all my offences for thine own sake defend me this day with thy mighty hand increse thy grace in me that I may in all thinges carrye vpright sway and equall iudgement liuing with thy people in the light of thy worde and feare of thy Lawes And daylie more more die to my selfe and liue and bee lead by thy Spirit fearing nothing but thée then the which nothing is greater or mightier louing nothing beside thée then whome nothing is more to be beloued glorying in nothing but in thée which art the glory of all Saints requiring nothing beside thée which art the best desiring nothing but thée which art the full and perfect felicitie with the Father and the holy Ghost aboue the Starrie Firmament to whome be prayse both now and euer Amen ¶ A discreet and wise woman is an high portion shee honoureth GOD and beautifieth the world vpon her right hand standeth Ioye and Peace and vpon her left hand Riches and Honour her body is the sweet tree of long life to him that layeth hold on her and blessed is he that keepeth her fast ¶ A Prayer for the Euening O Gracious GOD and most mercifull Father being infinitely bound vnto thée for thy manifold mercies extended towards mee I humbly giue thee thankes among the rest for thy protection of me this day And I most humbly pray thée to forgiue mee all my sinnes and naughtines whereby I am made vnwoorthy of thy further goodnes and mercie O Lord receaue the intercession of thy Sonne for all mine offences Accept this sacrifice of my soule and body which I offer to be disposed off at thy pleasure Consider the vnfeined sighes which I send from my heart for that I haue offended thée and giue eare to my prayers which I powre foorth before thée to obtaine thy pardon Giue me a true and liuely faith whereby I may laye holde vpon the merites of the death and passion of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Let his righteousnes make satisfaction to thy iustice for my vnrighteousnes and his obedience procure pardon for my disobedience and his holy perfection helpe and amend my vn-holy imperfections Protect me this
and frée my féet from the paths of such venemous Serpents O Lord thou séest they haue stopped vp my well-springes of truth how they haue broken mée in péeces preferred their guils altogether laid me waste I am made their mark to shoot at their strongest Bowes haue beene against me out of their malitious quiuer they haue shot their sharp shafts of eger envie yea euen into my raines They laugh me to scorne in their dissembling hearts and yet bear me faire countenance No regard is had of my Truth and vtter confusion is come vpon me thy gifts Lord proper to my selfe are holden from me and I perish in waÌ„t hauing of mine owne The leauen of my bread is made with cruell cares and my drinke mingled with salt teares they haue ouerwhelmed mée with heaped stones and haue buried my innocency in shamefull graue I am sequestred from all fréedxme and thou Lord knowest I am not guilty Correct me not in thy iustice for in my misdéedes towards thée Lord but in the mildenesse of thy mercy for I acknowledge I haue don things vnlawfull against thy throne and am no more worthy to be called thy Child Yet Lord from the bottome of a broken heart I aske thy pardon and my Spirite trusteth in thy mercy requireth that mine enemies may no longer triumph ouermee Lord looke downe and remedy my misery and thraldome Remember how long I haue been fedde with sorrow care how my body wasteth and my Soule melteth away I fear Lord thou hast forsaken me and set vp the horn of mine enemies that thou giuest theÌ„ this long Glory ouer me O mercifull Father do not so I beseech thée If my scorge be determined with thee for any my contemptes of thy will yet deliuer me from the hands of the malitious I acknowledge my faultes towardes the Celestiall Seate and say my righteousnesse al is stained I appeale to thy mercy for thy truth and sons sake But Lord if my breast euer harboured any vniust pretence or act against thy seruaant Iames my gratioua King and Gouernour as a ioyfull pray bestow mee amongst mine eager enemies To this day from my birth thou knowest Lord I haue honoured him with loyal loue serued him with true heart and innocent hands Now Lord if such discharge of duty hath euer wonne victory ouer any his woorthie thoughtes I beséech thée not in my deserts to thee but for my truth to him multiply in secret breast such thoughts to sure encrease of firme beliefe as through thée inspired with my large truth which might neuer boast her selfe I may bée saued from the snares of the malitious and my innocency knowne to him Wake Lord I beséech thée and renue on mee thy mercies and help as euer thou hast done of olde My Soule saith within me thou Lord art her onely portion and therefore she will hope in thée And my body hast thou alwayes deliuered in greatest perill whensoeuer I haue put my trust in thée Arise most mighty helper and aide thy Seruant who onely séeketh succour of thée Sure I am in mine enemies pitts thou wilt not that mine Innocency perish neyther destroy mée vtterly in mine vnrighteousnesse towardes thee for that my contrite heart appealeth to thy mercy and thy condition is not to seeke the death of a sinner neyther to be found vntrue in thy promises wherein my spirite onely trusteth Amiddest my forrowfull plaints and scorching sighes Lord powre out the comfortable dew of thy compassion for in no other helpe will I trust but in thine though the whole Earth would assure me mine enemies swarme as Bées to the Hieue and spread as flowers of the spring my friends walke in single number and hundreds that erst professed saith deny their sentence such as would me good want the meane thereto and those that best may with Fort nes threats are beaten down and made lame Wherfore Lord wash the vnderstanding of my gratious Gouernor with the flowing springes of thy Truth Cause him with spéedy hand to comfort the comfortlesse Guide his minde stil in thy loue and feare with such perfect wisedom true iustice and pittifull compassion shewing whose member hee is that hath thus worthily preserued thy people Yea further Lord guide so his course on earth that thou maist afferwardes of right equal him in ioyes with the blessed Cherubines about the hie heauens Continue in him thy grace which giuest euery good gift that as he is thy chosen vessel no vsurping heart nor bloody hand may euer haue power against him But replenished with thy holy Spirite may execute thy will and walke in thy pathes neuer wanting the strength of thy right hand to beat downe his enemies But found worthy of thy rich goodnesse wee may long enioy so matchlesse a head and Gouernour grant this Lord I beséech thée with exchange of my hard state into better euen at thine owne will and my Spirite shall neuer cease to giue prayse and thankes to holy Name Amen To the Reader MY willing minde sundry wayes aâ—oied in the purpose of my penn is forced here to offer thee courteous Reader in supply of void paper these few selected Sentences out of Holy Scripture and other divine ancient writers which for their worthinesse thy behoofe and lesse labour if thou accept better placed theÌ„ barren paper and grant their once reding I haue my desire after I deeme that if knowledge of Vertue may allure thee or view of vice abash thee thou wilt often read and vnread them to embrace the good and eschew the evill which the heavenly Father graunt vs all his grace to fulfill Sentences out of the Holy Scripture THe feare of God is worshippe triumph gladnesse and a ioyful crown yea who so feareth the Lord shall be happy and when hee hath need of comfort he shall be blessed The Séede of them which feare the Lord shal be brought to honour but the generation of the proud deceitful and malitious shal perish with the shame of their wickednesse Labour to gett thée a good Name for that shall continue by thee surer then a thousand greater treasurs of gold A good life hath a number of dayes but a good name endureth for euer The vntruth of a lying tongue murdereth the Soule vpon the head of the backbiter blasphemer with terrour shall the Lord send the thunder of his wrath and consume them hastily He that loueth Riches shall not be iustified who so followeth corruption shal perish in the same Gold and Siluer is the trée of falling to euery one that gréedily séeketh the same blessed is the Rich which is found without blemish Trauaile and carefulnesse for riches taketh away the sléepe and maketh the flesh to consume they helpe not in the day of iudgement Righteousnesse shall crowne thee Through thy euil gotteÌ„ goods shalt thou perish The ioy and chearefulnes of the hart is the pure life of man And his cleare conscience a fure fortresse against death The tree
timebo Dominus Protector Vitae me à quo trepidabo The Lord is my light and my saluation whome then shall I feare the Lord is the strength of my life of whome then shall I be afraide Amen A ALL thy delight being in equitie and Iustice incline thine heart to me cy then shall thy light breake forth as the morning spring and thy health florish thy righteousnesse shall preserue thee and the glorie of the Lord shall imbrace thee ASsist me oh God with thy grace and enrich me with thy Spirit illuminate my mind with thy vnderstanding be vnto me a sure saluation and whome should I feare Trulie neither will I feare any bodilie or ghostlie enimie thou being the strength of my life Though innumerable hostes doe rise against me my Spirite shall trust in thee and in my heart will I neuer bee affraide Arme mee with strength of warre oh GOD and teach my hands to wage battaile And I shall laye flat the enemies of thy truth and ioyfullie resist all those that rise against me My life shall euer declare thy sauing health and my soule shall not cease to sing thy praise Thou haste deliuered mee from the chaines of Hell and when I haue beene wrapped in the dangers of death thou hast cleared my pathes of all stumbling blocks and made thy rich mercie my Candle Lord if I haue beene vnthankefull a broken minde shall bee thy sacrifice my heart shall euer dwell in the house of thanksgiuing and my sptrit still mourne for her vnkindnesse Saue mee Lord I beseech thee in the day of my distresse for thou art the Horne of my health the shield of my glorie and bearest vp mine infirmitie Let them bee consumed in their deuises that shall worke against mee and faile of their force in the houre of their pretence Powre vpon them the Viall of thy wrath let them sinke by themselues and saue thy Seruauntes that trust in thy mercie I will honour thée for my sauiour and praise thée for a God aboue all Gods Amen D DOubtles God is gracious and mercifull he forgiueth sinnes in time of trouble and is a defender of them that seeke him with heartie prayer and wholie put their trust in his mercie and truth DIrect my feete oh Lord in the waies of peace and keepe my hands cleane from innocent blood Lord giue me grace to performe the trauailes of this Pilgrimage before thée with a pure mind and cleare conscience that when thou shalt shew thy selfe towards euerie creature according to their déedes I may be rich in thy mercie and not dread thy presence To thy mercie I appeale I flie vnto thee I depend on thée fearing thee and reuerencing thee louing thee and trusting in thee If thy wrath waxe hot against mee I cannot withstand If thou punish me according to my deserts I cannot beare deale mercifullie therefore with mee heale my sores and pardon my sinnes Whilest I tread this wearie Laborinth leaue mee not Lord to my selfe but graunt mee thy continuall grace for my staffe I am not of might in my selfe to doe any thing that is good my righteousnesse and glorie stand in thy hand Therefore oh Lord I appeale to thy mercie and pray thy grace that I may in mind be made strong with thy holie Armour which I desire may bee thy righteousnesse for my Brest-plate firme faith for my Target hope of mercie for my Helmette and true knowledge of thy woord for my Banner so that I may stand here strong and perfect against thine enemies and in a newe life participate thy ioyes I will blow thy wonderous name through thy people and will praise thee amongst all the faithfull My praises shall haue being vnto the farthest part of thy congregation and my vowes will I performe in the sight of all them that feare thee I will endeauour that the endes of the World shall remember themselues and will do my best to turne them vnto thee Giue me therefore ioyfulnesse of heart rest of conscience continuall comfort in thy word and truth and that I may with a thankefull mind aduance thy name for euer y YEa in the feare of God who so liueth shall gather his Fruites in a pleasant Garden of blessinges it giueth thee true Honour Glory Triumph and ioyfull Crowne YEa in the multitude of all my sorrowes that euer I haue had in my heart Thy comforts oh Lord haue euer refreshed me Such is thy louing kindnesse and aboue all thy mercie that if I should straie farther in my vnthankefulnesse mine owne thoughtes would accuse me Therefore I doe come vnto thee to bee taught thy Testimonies that I may make thy Lawes my delight Truelie hoping of thy grace for my assistance I do meane to make thy cōmandements an Alley of my pleasure to walke in and the Trueth of thy woords will I weare on as an Armour against mine enemies Guide my fleshlie eies oh Lord least they behold vanities and my heart in thy righteousnesse Plucke my féete into the pathes of thy Precepts when they would wander print the remembrance of thy goodnesse alwaies in the table of my heart and let my power faile to offend thée Heape my hands with sure hope of my saluation satisfie my faith in the forgiuenesse of my sinns that my fraile flesh wauer not in thy mercie Temper my tongue oh Lord that it alwaies teach thy Testimonies locke vppe my lips that out of my mouth doe not procéede neither blasphemie of thy name Hazard to my soule nor hinderance to any creature Bowe downe thine eares oh Lord and strengthen me in these requestes For behold I bowe the knées of a contrite heart and with assured mind do hope them for the truth-sake which I will euerlastinglie praise To thée bee glory for euer and euer Amen E EXercise mercie and set thy bread and Drinke vppon the table of the poore and hungry couer the Naked with thy clothes and these shall deliuer thee from Sin and Death and not suffer thy Soule to come in darkenesse EZechiell the Prophet saith When the wicked turneth from his vngodlines hee hath done he shall saue his Soule With thy Seruant Esay therefore I say oh Lord thou art a great and feareful God Thou kéepest couenant and mercie with them which loue thée and kéepe thy commaundements And with thy Apostle Barnabie I acknowledge I haue sinned I haue offended I haue beene disobedient and gone backe yea I haue departed from all thy pathes and Iudgements Lord to thée belongeth righteousnesse and Mercie to me shame and destruction for my Iniquitie Yet Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for no flesh is righteous in thy sight neither correct mee in thy wrath for then I shall not abide it Haue mercie vpon me oh Father from the depth of thy mercie take pittie vppon mee forgiue Lord heare my Praier and blot out mine offence Let thy louing face shine ouer the worke of thy handes that lieth waste Lord for thy owne sake doe it Encline
thine eare and heare mee behold how desolate I am stretch out thy hand and helpe mee Lord I desire to come to thée and my weakenesse is such as without thy helpe I am not able to raise my selfe vnto thée Therefore Lord remember thy swéet promises tarrie not ouerlong strengthen me with thy holie Spirit heare my Praiers and wash me in thy righteousnes I cast not these peticions before thee hoping in mine owne Merites which are are none but trusting in thy great mercie and swéet promises Wherefore Lord heare me and forgiue me and I shall liue for euer L LEt Enmity passe which seeketh Death and Destruction and before thou prayest forgiue els thou heapest vengeance on thy selfe LOrd make thy waies knowen vnto me that I may walke so perfectlie that no kind of Sinne ouercome me Thou leadest straight in iudgement and giuest sight to the blind Thou art neare vnto them that call vpon thée with faithfull heart haue mercie vppon mee heare me and giue me a Heart to pray vnto thée Laye not against mee my sins past but for thine own sake forget them I vnderstand not all mine errours my sinnes haue taken hold on mee and of my selfe I am not able to return Send me therefore thy holy helpe to strengthen mine infirmitie Kéepe my mouth and lips and let the thought of my heart bee acceptable in thy sight Permitte not the woord of Truth to depart my breast suffer not Malice to dwell in my heart Deliuer me from false surmises and accusations of men rule mee after thine owne will and pleasure Remooue from me vanities and let not the foote of Pride take holde on mee so shall I be frée from the greatest sin Stay and kéepe me from euerie euill waye for in thée I trust it is thou onely that canst helpe Looke vnto mee with thy mercies and graunt me grace in thy sight Amen I IN equitie Loue and Truth gather all thy riches in the handes of the poore laye vppe thy Almes and these shall defend thee from euill fight for thee against thy enemies better then the strength of mightie men preserue thy fauour as the apple of an Eye and rise with thee in the day of Iudgement to paye thy reward on thy head IN hope of thy mercie and forgiuenesse most mightie and dreadfull God whose truth is vnspotted I am bold to come before thée My trust is good I shall be heard for that thou hast euer béene the true head of all Iustice and delightest in truth Denie thy selfe thou canst not for thou hast promised In what time soeuer a Sinner doth with a broken heart repent his wickednesse at that instant thou wilt cansell the recordes of thy remembraance and the fowlenesse of his fault shall remaine no blemish to his soule Heare mee now therefore oh Maker of Heauen and earth I acknowledge I haue sinned and done vnpleasant things in thy sight I confesse the misdéedes which rebell against my Soule with Saul saying I haue sinned I haue played the Foole and haue erred excéedingly And with like humble lowlie and faithfull heart as did King Dauid who vnfainedlie cried out his Sinne and became thy seruant So most Holie in hope of the same hire with contrite heart I sigh and say I haue broken thy Lawes and not walked in thy Commandements If I should now recite and number the Mountaines of my misdéedes which ouerwhelme my bodie and that are eager enemies to my pining Soule the day were too short Lord I néede not thy blisfull Seate is aboue the starry Firmament and thou sittest on high beholding what is done amisse in the Earth belowe My wickednes that I most secretlie haue cōmitted to th◠Celestiall eies haue béen manifest Forgiue me good Lord that my tongue may iustifie thy euerlasting Truth that others beholding in me thy manifold mercies may likewise with me be ashamed of their euill and séeke after thy mercie Woe am I that my heart hath béen so long vnacquainted with the Welspringes of thy Truth that my handes haue wrought vnrighteousnesse and heaped sinne vpon sinne Turne awaye from the sight thereof the fulnesse of thy furie Exchange the roughnesse of thy rage into méeke mildnesse before thou correct mee most louing Sauiour I am not able to abide thy heauie displeasure if thou chastice me with thy rodde of Iustice I perish I haue not one good déed to preferre mine offences beare number with the flowers and blossomes of the Spring my truth is no whitte and with vnrighteousnesse all is defiled Forgiue me oh Heauenly King forget thou that art the swéet spring of my soule Giue mee thy holy Spirite that it may be with mee and labour with me to attain thy blessed fauour for mine ignorance cannot desire that I ought neither can my féeble strength without thine ayde rayse mee vnto thy presence Thy Spirit will helpe my debility and make right intercession for all my necessities Thy Spirit will make mee praye with such humblenesse of heart and sorrowfull sighings as no tongue can tell That gift most precious will hold mee vp where flesh would fall and guide my féeble féete in the light of the Lord. The Spirit I say will purge me from all earthly affects and lift me vp to heauenly things Therefore conioyne mee oh God of all mercy to thy holye Spirit to teach mee to tread the steady steppes of thy worthy will So shall I lead my Life in the true Lawe of thy louing kindnesse and with a strong and stable mind perseuer in Prayer vnto the end Graunt mee therefore for thy Truth and Sonnes sake that I may enioye this swéet possession of thy holy Spirit which may alwayes lead my labours after thy lyking and kéepe my heart in thy feare Swéet Iesu make a couenant with mee that I neuer may become an enemie vnto thée any more nether be found vnwoorthy of thy rich mercy and bountifull benefites but that the remainder of my life imployed in thy Seruice may iustly mooue thee to forget the iniquity of my tender yeares Continue thou God of all comfort with increase by the assistance of thy grace what I haue begun So shall I liue to glorifie thy might and mercy for euer and euer Amen Z ZEale anger carefulnesse and sorow cause celeritie of old Age Iustice mercie equity and truth make glad the holy Ghost and to a merrie heart is giuen long life sweet tast ZAcharie spake from thée O Lord saying Like as I deuised to punish you what time your Fathers prouoked mee vnto wrath and spared not Euen so am I now minded to doe well vnto the house of Iuda and Hierusalem therefore feare it not Now the thinges you shall doe saith the Lord are these speake euery man the truth to his neighbour execute Iudgement truely and peaceable within your Portes none of you Imagine euill in his heart and loue no false oathes O Lord of my selfe I am so sinnefull and ignorant that I cannot speake nor thinke a good
holy spirit to the felowship of my soule powre vpon me the blessed deawes of thy grace enritch me with thy high vnderstanding and send wisdome in her glory from thy Sacred seate to dwell in mée that shée may giude me vphold me and labour with me to the end that in all my trauelles enterprises proceedinges and studies I may preuail to thy glory Do this deare Father for the triumph of thy name Bow downe thine eares and mercifully heare and receiue the summe of all my requests graunt that all thinges which I aske according to my necessity I may effectually obtaine to thy glory and profit of my soule through Iesus Christ my only Lord Sauiour Amen I I Giue and commit into thy hands my Spirite yea rather I may say thy Spirite seeing thou hast giuen it mee linke it to my body for a season and séeing it is thy image and Figure made after thine owne likenesse séeinge thy deare Sonne did climbe the direfull steppes of death for redemption therof O moste fauorable Father and méeke God of all mercy and compassion I eftsoones commende this my Spirit into thy hand I am thine whatsoeuer I am receiue thine I beséeche thee preserue mee and comforte mée for no man can help mee besides thée Onlye thou art the sureste resister of all mischiefe thou art oh God the readiest helpe in all trouble thou art my hope strength In thée doo I put my trust let mee not bée confounded let mee neuer be rebuked thou art my strong rock and my Castle thou art my sauiour my portion is in thy hands Lighten thy face vppon thy Seruant and saue mee O Lord in thy mercy Amen E EVen now I sée that no brickle nor corrupt gold or Siluer hath redemed my soule O Heauenly Father but the pretious bloud issuing frō Christ as of a lambe vndefiled and without spot make mée therefore O Lorde for his sake to put on his humility patience vertue and vnspotted life rendring suche accompt of this my pligrimage as best may agrée to his merit and thy mercy Let mée not be found vnthankfull to so swéet a Lord and Sauiour what is most righteous acceptable and pleasant in thy sight let mée alwayes O God preferre in faith and workes and whatsoeuer is to approoue mée vnworthy of his tender and surmounting loue that may alter his louing kindnesse or exchang his wonted compasion towards mée Lord let mée euer fayle in strength to do it but assisted by thée I may euerlastingly be found to liue in him Amen E EVery one that sayeth Lord Lord shall not enter the Kingdom of heauen Therfore confirme my Faith strong in thée O heauenly Father and in my Sauiour Iesus Christ quiet my mind with sure hope of his promises and thy Saluation Destroy in mée the kingdome of Sinne the power of Sathan the desires of the world the delights of the flesh Guide my feete in the pathes of thy precepts bring the conflicting daies of mine enemies to an end Make me that am weak in my selfe strong in thee to cōquer the force of their armes So shal my lippes powre out continuall prayse vnto thée O god of my Saluation and magnifie thy Maiesty world without end Amen L LOoke not extremly what is done amisse in mée for no fleshe is righteous in thy sight I offer vp my selfe wholy with all my vnsauory and corrupt abuses both in will works vnto the flowing fountayn of thy mercy to be chasticed pollished and washed and made cleane euen at thine owne will and pleasure Wherefore impute not the frailty of my tender yéeres vnto my charge but that thou maist ouercom when thou art iudged Forgiue me receiue me and so arme me with thy holy Spirit that I may tread the rest of my dayes with an vpright sway a cleare conscience and a single hart to thy Glory and profite of my Soule Amen I I Liue Oh God in a most wretched Vale of mysery where continually thy creatures are stained with sinne assayled with affliction vexed with troubles choked with cares infected with ambition vexed with temptations blinded with errours ouercom with vanities of the world and miserably wrapped in all vntruth and wretchednesse wherefore O Lord arise stretch out thy hand helpe and comfort me Asswage my sorrow assist mee with thy Holy Spirit that mine owne substance ouercome mee not this glittering vaine world of infinite sorowes and fewe felicities deceaue me not that Sathan supplant me not but giue mee inuincible power to encounter them patience in suffering them in thy word constancye in perseuering to the end Amen Z ZEale anger hatred and from respect of any persons in Iudgement LORD make me free Arme me with the patience of my Sauiour Christ giue me the Breast-plate of his righteousnesse the helmet of his equitie Make mee to exercise his Mercie Truth Méekenes Faithfulnesse Temperance and Humilitie Cast out of my heart all that may offend thée and disprofit my soule Let all worldly things be vile vnto mee for thy sake let me reioyce in nothing without thée nor loue nothing but to thy glory So shall my hart kéepe thy lawes and my mouth for euer and euer speak thy praise Amen A ACcepte mée Lord in the number of thy elect behold in mée the Image of thy selfe and the worke of thine owne hands remember thou hast giuen thy deare Son to the bitter Passiō of the Crosse for my redemption Let me not be rewarded therefore according to the deepe sea of my sinnes for then I perish But for thy Truth Mercie and deare Sonnes sake correct mee strengthen mee and imbrace mee yea linck mee so surely to the loue of thy lawes that I neuer leaue thee and in the day of my trouble and houre of death Lord deliuer me so shall I liue and glorifie thee through all worlds Amen B BEhould my infirmities O Lord and consider my frailnes best known vnto thee So oft as I shall fall make me lift vp my heart agayne vnto thee seeke thee feare thee and loue thee and euer to be sorry with so stedfast a purpose of amendment that my earnest desire may rightly stire vp thy mercy and procure me the assistance of thy grace to conioyne mee to all Heauenly things and to destroy al earthly affections and temptations that dayly pluck mee backe and rebell not suffering my soule to liue in rest Against which builde thy feare in my breste true knowledg of thy word in my heart fortifie my faith with sure hope of thy Heauenly blisse enter the shining light of thy woorde so deepe in my minde that all my studies thoughts being onely occupied therein my other parts may euer want power to offend thée and my tongue and lippes euer bee singing thy laude and glory Amen E ENritch my Soule with the continual felowshippe of thy Holy Spirit whose diuine humanitie may so temper my grosse substance with trew condition that alwaies I may séeme low in mine
take vpon thē a shewe of thy name remooue from vs that Spirit of Pride and vayn glory and the study of prayse and glory Graunt that in all our troubles and euilles we may call vppon thy holy name yea in the feare of our conscience and euen when death assayleth let vs not be forgetfull of thy holy name Sée that in all our successe both in woordes and déedes we may praise worship thee onely and not séeke out of these ours but the glory of thy name which alone possessest all things take frō vs O Lord that most foule vice of ingratitude Plant in vs such good workes and life that others may be allured to vs not to our but vnto thy praise and glorie Lord let not other be offended through the vices or euill workes which yet remayne in vs least thy name for our sinnes should be ill spoken of or not henceforth praised Suffer vs not to aske any thing of thee either momentary or eternall which agreeth not to the glorie of thy holy name and praise if wee do aske any such thing of thée in that heare vs not graunt vs so to liue as becommeth Gods Children that we seme not vnworthy of thy holie name Thy Kindgome come IN this miserable and wretched life all kindes of sensual apetite wickednesse beare rule in vs and the euill spirit head and fountaine fo all siin hath gouernment But in thy kingdome O Lord grace and vertue guide the sway Iesus Christ thy deare sonne true patrone of all grace and vertue holdeth empire Thou therefore deare Father fauor vs with thy grace Giue vnto vs a true and constant faith in Christ fortifie vs with a firme sure hope in thy mercy where with our weake and feble conscience may be raysed vp from the feling of sins loade vs with an earnest loue both towardes thée all other thy good Creatures Take from vs distrust desperation and hatred remoue from vs the delightes of the flesh and plant in their stéede an earnest study of chastity with perfect fayth in thée which may worthely winne the rewarde of vndefiled battaile Make vs frée O Lord from discordes ambition warre and discention and let thy kingdome come let vs leade a peaceable mutuall and quiet life Graunt that neither zeale anger or other vyces with the which dissembling hatred are nourished rayne in vs but a milde simplycitie brotherly loue all kind of duties contentment and humilitie suffer vs not to bée afflicted with immoderate sorrow and heauinesse but let vs feele the pleasantnesse of thy grace and mercy and that in fine al our sinnes may be taken away and wée abounding through grace and vertue in our good workes may bee thy kingdome I say our mind our soule with all our strength which thou hast powred on vs may obay thy commaundements and beare thy gouerment neither follow themseules the world the fleshe nor the Deuill Sée Lord that this thy kingdom happely begunne in vs may so grow be increased that wée bée not vnaduisedly oppressed of sin neither causeles do cease from good woorkes for so it may come to passe that we shall labour in vaine Giue therefore vnto vs a firme faith wanting no strength which not onely may instruct vs to a better kind of life but also in that same may happely go forward and euer amongst vs encrease as the Prophet saith Psalm 13. Illuminate mine eies that I slepe not lest whilest the Christian life is but begunne wée negligently goe forward and finally come againe into Sathans power Graunt that wee may constantly endure and thy kingdome to come may performe and consummate the rule begunne in vs. Take vs from this life which is full of sinne and daungers make vs to desire that other life and let vs beginne and continew to hate this graunt that we doe not feare death but rather wish and desire it let vs cast out of our minde the loue of this life thot thou onely maist raigne in vs. Thy Will be done IF wee should conferre our wil with thine it is alwaies naught but thy will is euer best which deserueth that we should loue and desire that Therefore haue mercy vpon vs deare Father and let not any thing be done after our will Grant if any thing happen contrarie to that wee would we may patiently bear it temper so our brickle mettall being the worke of thy hands that if any either speak or hold his peace doe or omitt any thing contrary to our will that thereby wee bee not provoked to anger and impatience Let vs not blaspheme complaine crie out iudge condemne or malitiously accuse others therfore but grant that wee may quietly giue place to those which worke contrary to our will prayse them giuing thankes as to those which stirre vp thy will which is good against ours which is ill And further assist vs that we may patiently beare all trouble need pouerty sicknesse slander imprisonment and all other discommodities and acknowledge all these to happen vnto vs by thy will that our will may be mortified let vs patientlie beare iniuries and take from vs the desire of reuengement suffer vs not to encounter one euill with another nor resist force with strong armes but graunt thy will which hath throwne vs into those euils may satisfie vs and that with thanks-giuing we may beare aduersities If any ill come contrary to that wee would graunt we beseech thee that we iudge not that calamity to proceede either of Sathan our wicked enemy or of ill men but of thy diuine will which doth minister all thinges so that it may let our wil wherby thou mightest the better raigne and beare rule in vs. Graunt that wée may patiently and with ioyfull minde die least any being ouercome with impatience or desperation we séeme lesse obedient to thy will Grant that all members of our body eies tongue heart hands and feete follow not their owne delights but ouercome and constrained may doe all things after thy will Take from vs O Lord a hardened and an vntractable heart frée vs from frowardnesse obstinate and stubborne minds grant that we may obey thy will that we commit our selfe wholy to thy iudgement in all thinges whether they pertaine to the body or the soule whether they bee momentarie or eternall take from vs these horrible vices that we impeach not the fame of any slaunder any rashlie iudge accuse or condemn thē that vice of the tongue I beséech thee amend in vs and teach that if others commit anie euill we may retaine and hide it to thée only let vs shew it and leaue it to thy iudgement that wee may remitte what is committed against vs and let vs take pittie vpon them teach vs to know that none can hurt vs but hée shall more disprofite himselfe before thee that we may bée the rather stirred to mercy then to anger in any thing let vs not reioice if they bee throwne into calamitie which