health and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousnesse Thou shalt open my lips O Lord and my mouth shall shew thy praise For thou desirest no sacrifice else would I giue it thee but thou delightest not in burnt offerings The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit a broken and contrite hart O God shalt thou not despise O be fauourable and gratious to Sion build thou the walles of Hierusalem Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousnesse with the burnt offerings and oblations then shall they offer yong bullocks vpon thine altar 5. Domine exaudi Psal 102. HEare my praier O Lord and let my crieng come vnto thee Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble incline thine eares vnto me when I call O heare me and that right soone For my daies are consumed awaie like smoke and my bones are burnt vp as it were a firebrand My hart is smitten downe and withered like grasse so that I forget to eate my bread For the voice of my groaning my bones will scarse cleaue to my flesh I am become like a Pellicane in the wildernesse and like an Owle that is in the desert I haue watched am euen as it were a Sparowe that sitteth alone vpon the house top Mine enimies reuile me all the daie long and they that are mad vpō me are sworne togither against me For I haue eaten ashes as it were bread and mingled my drinke with weeping And that because of thine indignation and wrath for thou hast taken me vp and cast me downe My daies are gone like a shadowe and I am withered like grasse But thou O Lord shalt endure for euer and thy remembrance throughout all generations Thou shalt arise and haue mercie vpon Sion for it is time that thou haue mercie vpon hir yea the time is come And why thy seruants thinke vpon hir stones and it pitieth them to see hir in the dust The heathen shall feare thy name O Lord and all the kings of the earth thy Maiestie When the Lord shall build vp Sion and when his glorie shall appeare When he turneth him vnto the praier of the poore destitute and despiseth not their desire This shall be written for those that come after and the people which shall be borne shall praise the Lord. For he hath looked downe from his Sanctuarie out of the heauen did the Lord behold the earth That he might heare the mournings of such as bee in captiuitie and deliuer the children appointed vnto death That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion and his woorship at Hierusalem When the people are gathered togither and the kingdomes also to serue the Lord. He brought downe my strength in my iournie and shortened my daies But I said O my God take me not awaie in the midst of mine age as for thy yeares they endure thoroughout all generations Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth and the heauens are the worke of thy hands They shall perish but thou shalt endure they shall all waxe old as doth a garment And as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed but thou art the same and thy yeares shall not faile The children of thy seruants shall continue and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight 6. De profundis Psal 130. OUt of the deepe haue I called vnto thee O Lord Lord heare my voice Oh let thine eares consider well the voice of my complaint If thou Lord wilt be extreame to marke what is done amisse oh Lord who may abide it For there is mercie with thee therefore shalt thou be feared I looked for the Lord my soule doth wait for him in his word is my trust My soule flieth vnto thee Lord before the morning watch I saie before the morning watch O Israell trust in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercie and with him is plentious redemption And he shall redeeme Israell from all his sinnes 7. Domine exaudi Psal 143. HEare my praier O Lord consider my desire hearken vnto me for thy truth and righteousnesse sake And enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified For the enimie hath persecuted my soule he hath smitten my life downe to the ground he hath laid me in the darkenesse as the men that haue beene long dead Therefore is my spirit vexed within me and my heart within me is desolate Yet doo I remember the time past I muse vpon all thy works yea I exercise my selfe in the works of thy hands I stretch foorth my hands vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirstie land Heare me O Lord and that soone for my spirit wareth faint hide not thy face from me least I be like vnto them that go downe into the pit O let me heare thy louing kindnes betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust shew thou me the waie that I should walke in for I lift vp my soule vnto thee Deliuer me O Lord from mine enimies for I flee vnto thee to hide me Teach me to doo the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy louing spirit leade me foorth into the land of righteousnesse Quicken me O Lord for thy name sake and for thy righteousnesse sake bring my soule out of trouble And of thy goodnesse slaie mine enimies and destroie all them that vexe my soule for I am thy seruant Glorie be to the Father to the Sonne and to the holie Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and euer shall be world without end Amen Heerevnto you may adde as occasion and time will serue these select and notable Psalmes of Dauid as they are at large in the Psalter that is to saie the 5 7 13 17 22 25 31 35 42 43 55 56 57 69 71 77 86 88. Other Psalmes or Praiers compiled out of holie Scriptures verie necessarie to be vsed of the afflicted soule for obteining the remission of sinnes and mitigation of miseries O Lord of lords GOD almightie great and dreadfull which by thy word hast made heauen earth the sea all things conteined in them Nothing is able to resist thy power thy mercie is ouer all thy works All things be vnder thy dominion and rule both man and beast and all liuing creatures Thou art mercifull to whome thou wilt and hast compassion on whome it pleaseth thee Thy counsell shall stand for euer and whatsoeuer thou wilt shall be done Power dominion and glorie is thine which art aboue all things and in all things and in vs all Thou art Father of mercies and God of all grace peace and comfort which wilt not the death of a sinner nor delightest in the damnation of soules O Lord God which art rich in mercie and of thine especiall loue towards vs euen when we were thine enimies didst send into the world thine onelie begotten Sonne Iesus Christ that whosoeuer beleeueth dulie in him
the lowest bottoms of the darke vallie and least the shadowe of the earth should come betweene and separate it from thee that art the bright sunne of righteousnes and least it once hid with the clouds of darknesse should not haue libertie but be letted to looke for heauenlie things which be aboue Therefore I doo assaie to go vpward vnto the ioies of quietnesse and peace and vnto the delectable and pleasant state of light O hold mine hart with thine hand bicause it cannot be drawne vnto high things without thee Thither doo I make haste whereas most chiefe and principall peace reigneth and continuall quietnesse shineth foorth Hold and gouerne my spirit and take it according to thy will that thou being a guide vnto it it may ascend into the region and countrie of plentifulnesse wheras thou feedest Israel euerlastinglie with the food of truth to the intent that there at the leastwise with my swift cogitation and thought I may come nigh thy wisedome which remaineth aboue all things ouerpasseth all things and gouerneth all things But alas there be manie things which when my soule would flie vnto thee doo crie out vpon it Command them all O Lord to hold their peace and speake not vnto me As for my soule it selfe let it giue neuer a word to answer Let it passe by all things Let it clime aboue althings that be created come vnto thee And that it may fasten the eies of faith vpon thee which art the onlie Creator of all things Let it couet vnto thee and be bent towards thee Let it thinke vpon thee by meditation and contemplation let it laie thee before hir eies for it selfe Let it roll and tosse thee in hir hart thee I saie which art the true and chiefe goodnesse and the ioie that will remaine without ending There are surelie manie contemplations in the which mans soule is maruellouslie fed of thee but in none of them is my soule so much delighted or yet hath so good rest in as in thee and when as it thinketh vpon thee and hath thee onelie in contemplation Oh how much is thy sweetnesse O Lord How maruellouslie dooest thou inspire the harts of them that loue thee How delectable is thy loue the fruition whereof they haue that loue nothing but thee they seeke nothing else they couet nothing else happie are they whose onelie hope thou art which haue no trust but in thee onlie and all their whole worke is praier Blessed is he that sitteth solitarie alone and holdeth his peace and standeth vpon his ward that he is set to keepe continuallie daie and night that yet whilest he is in this fraile bodie he may be able to taste somewhat thy pleasures I require thee by those thy wounds which bring health vnto vs which wounds thou sufferedst vpon the crosse for our health out of the which thy pretious bloud wherewith thou redeemedst vs did distill and drop downe wound this my sinful soule for the which also thou didst vouchsafe to die wound it I saie with the fire and mightie dart of thy great charitie For the word of God is liuelie and effectuous and more pearcing and sharpe than anie two edged sword Thou O chosen dart and most sharpe sword which art able by thy power to pearce through the hard shield or buckler of mans hart fasten and strike the shaft of thy loue in mine hart that my soule may saie vnto thee I am wounded with thy charitie so that foorth of that same wound of thy loue teares may flowe most plentiouslie both daie and night Strike O Lord strike I beseech thee this most indurated and hardened hart and mind of mine with the sharpe dart of thy loue and pearce it deeper deeper into the innermost parts thereof by thy mightie power and so bring out of my head aboundance of water and out of mine eies a verie well of teares continuallie running through the great affect and maruellous desire to see thy glorie that I may moorne daie and night without taking anie comfort in this life vntill in thy heauenlie wedding chamber I may see thee my welbeloued and beautifull spouse my God and my Lord and that there when I see thy glorious maruellous and beautifull face full of all sweetnes togither with them which thou hast chosen then I saie I may worship humblie thy Maiestie and there at the last being replenished with heauenlie and vnspeakable reioicing of euerlasting gladnesse I may euer crie out with them that loue thee saieng Behold that which I haue long desired now I haue obteined for I am ioined in heauen vnto him whome when I was in earth I loued with all my strength with all my charitie I embraced him vnto whome with all my loue I did sticke and cleaue Him doo I praise blesse and woorship that liueth and reigneth God world without end Amen Another praier to Christ ascended and reigning in glorie OH good Christ our first begotten brother and tender-harted Ioseph Oh naturall Sonne of that father to whome we are made children of adoption through thee Oh our head reigning on high in glorie forget not vs thy poore members heere on earth where-into abasing thy selfe thou cammest downe and sufferedst for vs most cruell death Out of this thy throne of maiestie and glorie thou puttest vs in assured hope and confidence that we also shall atteine to this blessed place whither thou art gone before to take possession for vs. Oh our strong tower of defence and succour what can hurt vs now trusting in thee Most vnhappie are they which are ignorant of thee and most happie are they which alwaies behold thee Blessed are they which haue knowne thee heere in the daies of this mortalitie but more blessed are they which see thee in the heauens and shall see thee reigning with thy Father in ioies incomparable Oh Lord the onelie ioie and comfort of our soules shew vs thy louing countenance embrace vs with the armes of thy mercie Receiue vs O good Ioseph thy yonger brethren with the kisse of comfort Powre into our harts thy holie spirit Plucke vs vp from the earth and earthlie things Open our eies and lift them vp vnto thee Open thy mouth and call vs vnto thee Open our eares that we may heare thee so that whatsoeuer wee doo speake or thinke it may be directed vnto thee alone our redeemer mediator and aduocate Amen Another THou Lord didst put awaie Marie Magdalen from thee kissing of thy feet because thy flesh was not yet exalted and she knewe not yet the dignitie of thy clarified bodie and beautified with the glorie of immortalitie but was addicted onlie to thy bodilie presence She yet sought thee liuing among the dead neither was it knowne to hir that thou wast equall with thy Father wherefore thou wouldest not suffer hir so much as to kisse thy feet because it was a thing vnworthie for thy Maiestie O thou mightie Lion of the tribe of Iuda thou conqueror of hell and death
precepts and examples meet for meditation instruction and imitation to all posteritie And now in most dutifull maner commending and appropriating so diuine exercises of the church vnto your Maiestie the most naturall mother and noble nursse thereof the cause of a virgine to a Virgine the works of Queenes to a Queene your owne praiers to your selfe to whom indeed the particular interest and due praise and honour thereof iustlie belongeth I here prostrate on my knees in most humble maner meekelie beseech your excellent Maiestie gratiouslie of your woonted clemencie to pardon and forgiue this my too rash and bold enterprise attempted both with bashfulnesse feare and trembling and fauourablie as in like cases you are accustomed to accept these your liege subiect his great labors and painfull trauels in good part which he not to instruct your Highnesse of whose notable learning I am not able to speake but onelie for a monument of the hartie loue he beareth both to the church his deere mother and to your Maiestie his dread Souereigne hath in a godlie zeale and conscience bestowed to the good and profit of his countrie That by your Graces good liking and princelie approbation they may be both patronized against the wicked and practised of the godlie And so manie by that means with due reuerence and great honour to so honourable works may receiue these lamps as from your bountifull hand to inlighten them by your good industrie in all vertue and to prepare them by your holie example like wise virgins to perseuerance in all good works of the spirit And that therein manie may often looke and labour mightilie for your Highnesse as they are bound in feruent praier and manie mo thanks I saie be giuen of manie faithfull harts on your Maiesties behalfe for the benefit of such and so manie needfull and readie helps ministred and afoorded by your painfull hand and princelie affabilitie to your euerlasting comfort and renowme the praise of God and glorie of his deerest sonne Iesus Christ your sweet spouse Whom now for a conclusion as I began I most entirelie beseech that as of his owne good will he first loued his church my deere mother and gaue himselfe freelie for hir to sanctifie and clense hir in the most holie fountaine of water through the word to make hir vnto himselfe a beautifull virgine and glorious spouse without spot or wrinkle that she should be holie pure perfect and without blame before him so he will vouchsafe in like mercie still both to cherish defend and maintaine the same in his continuall grace religion and holinesse that she may yet bring foorth more fruit in hir age and members to his glorie and also as your spirituall spouse to set your Maiestie a most woorthie and mightie gouernor of the same euer as a seale vpon his hart to tie you fast as a signet or bracelet vpon his arme to beare you still in his owne bosome to set his eie ouer you continuallie for your health wealth and prosperitie to bend his desires alwaies towards you to doo you good that so your Highnesse may be kept in his continuall grace peace and fauour long to reigne ouer vs and also defended and preserued euermore from all bodilie and ghostlie perils and enimies to your euerlasting comfort and the reioice of all christian harts Finallie the Lord blesse your Maiestie euen out of Sion with all his heauenlie gifts and spirituall graces that hauing the principall heroicall spirit of your holie father good king Dauid doubled yea trebled in your noble and princelie hart you may as in numbers of yeeres beyond manie ages so in singular pietie and godlines far surmount excell your most noble progenitors that the remembrance of you our good Iosias may to all posterities be like the composition of the most pretious perfume of the Apothecarie and as sweet as honie in all mouthes and as harmonicall musicke at a banket of wine that in you our zealous Hezechias I saie we may still remaine in happie peace and haue an hiding place from the wind and a refuge from storms and tempests and riuers of waters to quench our thirst and temperate shadowes to shrowd vs from parching heate in a drie land so shall the harts of manie thousand virgins in England and else-where be ioifull and thankfull to God and your Maiestie so shall the daughters of Ierusalem sing ioifullie the sweet songs of Sion in their owne land with great triumph to their celestial King reigning on high ouer all yea so shal all your faithfull and louing subiects I saie in all humble obedience and dutifull seruice both towards God your Maiestie and their countrie resound by all possible meanes to all posterities your most excellent and woorthie praises vntill the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be all empire honor dominion and praise now and for euer Amen Your Maiesties humble faithfull and obedient subiect THOMAS BENTLEY Lampas Virginitatis ECce tibi lucet Princeps clarissima lampas In tenebris gressus dirigat illa tuos Siquaeris librum cur lampada virginis istum Inscribam causas dico fuisse duas Vna est quòd talem praefert ecclesia lucem Expectans sponsum virgo pudica suum Altera quòd manibus virgo reginea librum Sumit cuiverae lampadis instar erit Dum Domino litat sacris indicit honorem Nuncupat Christo vota secunda suo Anna sibi lucem sibi Debora praetulit istam Inque suis Princeps ELIZABETHA malis Sic didicit lenire suas sic fallere curas Praesentémque sui poscere regis opem Quem non plena sacris placant altaria donis Non oblatorum corpora caesaboum Ille Deus Deus ille humili libamine vocum Irae deponit iusta flagella suae Illecebras carnis vincunt mundique furores Et sathanae faciunt fulmen inane preces Afflictis illae praestant solatia rebus Illis caelestes effodiuntur opes Hoc oleo plenam Domino qui lampada praebet Ille sacrificio nobiliore litat To the Christian Reader grace and truth in Christ HAuing my selfe taken no small comfort good Christian Reader by the reading and pervsing of diuers verie godlie learned and duiine treatises of meditations and praier made by sundrie right famous Queenes noble Ladies vertuous Virgins and godlie Gentlewomen of al ages who to shew themselues woorthie paternes of all pietie godlinesse and religion to their sex and for the common benefit of their countrie haue not ceased and that with all carefull industrie and earnest indeuour most painfullie and diligentlie in great feruencie of the spirit and zeale of the truth euen from their tender maidenlie yeeres to spend their time their wits their substance and also their bodies in the studies of noble and approoued sciences and in compiling and translating of sundrie most christian and godlie bookes a tast whereof you haue here in the second Lampe as
forsaken and the Sauiour of them that are without hope Surelie surelie thou art the God of my fathers and the God of the inheritance of Israel the Lord of heauen and earth the Creator of the waters the King and Lord of all creatures O heare thou my praiers heare me I saie poore woman calling vpon thee and putting my trust in thy mercie Remember thy couenant O Lord and minister words in my mouth and stablish this deuise in my hart that thy house may continue still in holinesse yea grant me words I saie and craft and a wound and a stroke against them that enterprise cruel things against thy couenant and against thine holie house and against the top of Zion and against the house of the possession of thy children Shew euidentlie among all thy people and all the tribes that they and all the heathen may knowe that thou art the God of all power and strength and that there is none other that defendeth the people of Israel but thou So be it Iudith hir praier that shee made secretlie or mentallie in hir hart when she stroke off the head of proud Holophernes Iudith 13 4. O Lord God of all power behold at this present and haue respect vnto the works of my hands in this houre for the exaltation of Ierusalem that thou maiest set vp thy citie like as thou hast promised Strengthen me O Lord God of Israel and grant that I may performe the thing which in hope that it may be done by thee I haue deuised For now is the time to helpe thine inheritance and to execute mine enterprises to the destruction of the enimies which are risen against vs. Strengthen me therefore this daie O Lord God of Israel now strengthen me I saie O Lord God euen in this houre Iudith hir song of praise and thankesgiuing which she togither with all the people made for their deliuerance from the hands of the Assyrians by the destruction of Holophernes Iudith 16. BEgin vnto my God with Timbrels sing vnto my Lord with Cimbals O tune vnto him a Psalme and sing a new song of thankesgiuing vnto him exalt his praise be ioifull and call vpon his name For it is the Lord that destroieth wars and breaketh battels euen the Lord is his name It is God which hath pitched his tents or campe in the mids of his people and deliuered me and them out of the hands of all the persecutors our enimies Assur came out from the mountaines of the north in the multitude of his strength he came with thousands in his armie so that the multitude of his people stopped the water brookes and their horses couered the vallies He purposed to haue burnt vp my borders and land and said that he would kill my yoong men with the sword dash the suckling children against the ground and lead awaie my children and my virgins as a praie or spoile into captiuitie But the almightie Lord hindered him and deliuered him into the hands of a woman which hath brought him to naught and confusion For the mightie Holophernes did not fall nor was destroied by the yoong men It was not the sonnes of Titan that slue him neither haue the great giants inuaded him or set themselues against him but Iudith the daughter of Merari with hir faire beautie and comlie countenance hath discomfited and brought him to naught For she put off and laid awaie the garment of hir widowhood and put on the apparell of gladnesse for the exaltation and reioicing of those that were oppressed in Israel She annointed hir face with ointment and bound vp hir heare in a coife and tooke a new stole or linnen garment to beguile him Hir slippers rauished his eies hir beautie captiuated and tooke his mind prisoner with the sword or faulchin smote she off his head The Persians were astonished at hir boldnesse and the Medes were troubled with hir hardinesse But mine afflicted reioiced and my feeble ones that appeared drie of thirst showted for ioie then the Persians and Medes feared they lift vp their voice and howled and turned backe The children of maides or the sonnes of the daughters haue pierced them through and wounded them as they fled awaie like fugitiue children they perished in the battell for the verie feare of the Lord my God I will sing vnto the Lord a song of thankesgiuing a new song of praise will I sing vnto my God O Lord Lord thou art a great and glorious GOD maruellous mightie and inuincible in power whom no man may ouercome Let all thy creatures serue thee For thou spakest but the word and they were made thou sentest thy spirit and they were created and there is none that can resist or withstand thy voice For the mountaines mooue and leape vp from their foundations with the waters the stonie rocks melt at thy presence like waxe yet thou art mercifull to them that feare thee For all sacrifices are too little for a sweet sauour and all the fat is too little for thy burnt offering But they that feare thee O Lord shall be great with thee in all things at all times Wo to the people and nations that rise vp against my generation and kindred For the almightie Lord will take vengeance himselfe of them and in the daie of iudgement will hee visit them in sending fire and woormes in their flesh and they shall burne and feele them and weepe for euermore So be it The praier of Queene Hester which she made for the deliuerance of hir selfe and hir people out of the bloudie hands of Haman that conspired their death Hester 14 3. O My Lord thou onlie art our King helpe me desolate woman which haue no helper but thee For my danger miserie and destruction is hard at hand From my youth vp I haue heard in the kindred of my father that thou O Lord tookest Israel from among all people and our fathers from their predecessors and foreelders that they shuld be thy perpetuall inheritance And looke what thou didst promise them thou hast performed and made it good vnto them Now Lord we haue sinned before thee therefore hast thou giuen vs into the hands of our enimies bicause we worshipped their gods O Lord thou art righteous neuerthelesse it satisfieth them not that we are in bitter and heauie captiuitie and oppressed among them But they haue stroken hands with their idols that they will abolish and take awaie the thing that thou with thy mouth hast ordeined and appointed and destroie thine inheritance to shut and to stop vp the mouthes of them that praise thee and to quench the glorie of thy temple and worship of thine house and altar and to open the mouthes of the heathen that they may praise the power and vertue of the gods or idols and to magnifie a fleshlie king for euer O Lord giue not thy scepter vnto them that be nothing least they laugh vs to scorne in our miserie and fall but turne their deuise vpon themselues and
punish him this wicked Haman I meane and make him an example that hath begun the same against vs. Think vpon vs O Lord shew thy selfe vnto vs in the time of our distresse trouble and strengthen mee O thou King of gods and Lord of all power Giue me an eloquent and pleasant speech in my mouth before the lion king Ashuerus my husband Turne his hart to hate our enimies and to destroie him that Hamam I meane and all such as consent vnto him but deliuer vs with thy hand and helpe me thine handmaid that am solitarie and haue no defence nor helper but onlie thee O Lord. Thou knowest all things O Lord thou wotest that I hate the glorie and worship of the vnrighteous and that I abhor the bed of the vncircumcised and of all the heathen Thou knowest my necessitie that I hate this token of my preeminence worship and dignitie which I beare vpon mine head what time as I must shew my selfe and be seene and that I abhor it as an vncleane or menstruous cloth and that I weare it not when I am quiet and alone by my selfe Thou knowest also that I thine handmaid haue not eaten at Hamans table and that I haue had no pleasure nor delight in the kings feast nor drunke the wine of the drinke offerings And that I thine handmaid haue no ioie since the daie that I was brought hither vntill this daie but in thee O Lord GOD of Abraham O thou mightie God aboue all heare therfore the voice of them that haue none other hope and deliuer vs out of the hand of the wicked and deliuer me out of my feare So be it Susanna hir praier which she made at what time she was condemned by false witnesses to die for adulterie Susanna 1 42. O Euerlasting God thou searcher of secrets that knowest all things before they come to passe Thou knowest that they haue borne false witnesse against me and behold I must die whereas I neuer did anie such thing as these men haue maliciouslie inuented against me A praier of the Church made in hir affliction and captiuitie Psalme 123. VNto thee lift I vp mine eies O thou that dwellest in the heauens Behold euen as the eies of seruants looke vnto the hand of their maisters and as the eies of a maiden vnto the hand of hir maistresse euen so our eies waite vpon the Lord our God vntill hee haue mercie vpon vs. Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord haue mercie vpon vs for we are vtterlie despised Our soule is filled with the scornefull reproofe of the wealthie and with the despitefulnesse of the proud The song of the blessed virgine Marie the mother of our Sauiour Christ which she made at the time that she felt hir selfe conceiued of our Sauiour Iesus in hir wombe Luke 1 46. MY soule magnifieth the Lord and my spirit reioiceth in God my Sauiour For he hath looked on the poore degree and lowlinesse of his handmaiden and seruant for behold from hencefoorth now shall all generations call me blessed Bicause he that is mightie hath done for me great things and holie is his name And his mercie is on them that feare him from generation to generation He hath shewed strength with his arme he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their harts He hath put downe the mightie from their seates and exalted them of lowe degree He hath filled the hungrie with good things and sent awaie the rich emptie He hath vpholden and helped his seruant Israel being mindfull of his mercie Euen as he spake to our fathers Abraham and to his seede for euer The woman of Canaans praier vnto Christ for hir sicke daughter Matthew 15 22. HAue mercie on mee O Lord thou sonne of Dauid My daughter is grieuouslie vexed with a diuell Lord helpe me and vouchsafe I beseech thee that the whelpes may eate of the childrens crums which fall from their maisters table The praier but all too late of the fiue foolish virgins Matthew 25 11. Lord Lord open to vs. To God onlie be all glorie AMEN THE SECOND LAMPE OF VIRGINITIE Conteining diuers godlie Meditations and Christian Praiers made by sundrie vertuous Queenes and other deuout and godlie women in our time and first A Godlie MEDITATION of the inward loue of the soule towards Christ our LORD composed first in French by the vertuous Ladie Margaret Queene of NAVARRE aptlie exactlie and fruitfullie translated by our most gratious Souereigne Ladie Queene ELIZABETH in the tender and maidenlie yeeres of hir youth and virginitie to the great benefit of Gods Church and comfort of the godlie ¶ Imprinted at London by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater noster Rowe at the signe of the Starre 1582 Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis Certaine godlie Sentences out of the 13. Psalme written by the Queenes Maiestie in Latine French and Italian Latine Stultus dixit in corde suo Non est Deus Illi corrupti sunt abhominabiles in sua impietate nullus est qui aliquid boni facit French Le fol dit en son coeur Il n'y a point de Dieu Ils sont corrompus abhominables en leur impieté iln'y a nul qui face aucun bien Italian Lo stolto disse ne'l suo cuore Egli non vi è Dio. Essi son corrotti abomineuoli ne la lor ' impietà non vi è nessuno che faccia alcun bene A godlie meditation of the inward loue of the Christian soule towards Christ our Lord. The first Chapter Of the soules slauerie by sinne and redemption by Christ his passion WHere is the hell full of trauel paine mischiefe and torment Where is the pit of cursednesse out of which doth spring all desperation Is there any hel so profound that is sufficient to punish y e tenth part of my sinnes which in number are so manie that the infinit swarme of them so shadoweth my darkened senses that I can not account them neither yet well see them And I so farre am entred among them that I haue no power to obteine the true knowledge of the deepe dangers of them I perfectlie feele also that the roote of sinne is so graffed in me that in my selfe I find none other effect but all is either branch leafe or fruit that it bringeth foorth in me And if I looke for better a branch therof shadoweth mine eies and in my mouth doth fall when I would speake the bitter fruit of cursed sinne If my spirit be stirred to harken then the noise of hir leaues stoppeth mine eares and filleth my nostrils with the smell of hir flowers Behold now therefore how in paines my soule a slaue and prisoner without light or comfort lieth crieng and weeping hauing hir feete bound with the chaine of concupiscence and hir armes fast tied thorough euill vse Who then hath power to helpe or remedie it Not I neither haue I power to crie for succour And as I can perceiue there is no helpe of hope for
of the physician Behold Lord how I come to thee a sinner sicke and grieuouslie wounded I aske not bread but the crums that fall from the childrens table Cast me not out of thy sight although I haue deserued to be cast into hell fire If I should looke vpon my sinne and not vpon thy mercie I should despaire For in my selfe I find nothing to saue me but a dunghill of wickednesse to condemne me If I should hope by mine owne strength and power to come out of this maze of iniquitie and wickednesse wherein I haue walked so long I should be deceiued For I am so ignorant blind weake and feeble that I can not bring my selfe out of this intangled and wayward maze but the more I seeke means waies to winde my selfe out the more I am wrapped and tangled therein So that I perceiue my striuing therein to be hinderance my trauell to be labour spent in going backe It is the hand of the Lord that can and will bring me out of the endlesse maze of death For without I be preuented by the grace of the Lord I can not aske forgiuenesse nor be repentant or sorie for them There is no man can auow that Christ is the onlie Sauiour of the world but by the holie Ghost yea as S. Paule saith no man can saie The Lord Iesus but by the holie Ghost The spirit helpeth our infirmitie and maketh continuall intercession for vs with such sorowfull gronings as can not be expressed Therefore I will first require and praie the Lord to giue me his holie spirit to teach me to auow that Christ is the Sauiour of the world and to vtter these words The Lord Iesus and finallie to helpe mine infirmities and to intercede or intreate for me For I am most certaine and sure that no creature in heauen nor earth is of power or can by anie meane helpe me but God who is omnipotent almightie beneficiall and mercifull welwilling and louing to all those that call and put their whole confidence and trust in him And therefore I will seeke none other meanes nor aduocate but Christes holie spirit who is onlie the aduocate and mediatour betweene GOD and man to helpe and releeue mee The third Chapter VVhat true faith worketh in the soule of a sinner BUt now what maketh me so bold and hardie to presume to come to the Lord with such audacitie and boldnesse being so great a sinner Trulie nothing but his owne word For he saith Come to me all ye that labour and are burdened and I shall refresh you What gentle mercifull and comfortable words are these to all sinners Were he not a frantike madde beastlie and foolish man that would runne for aide helpe or refuge to anie other creature What a most gratious comfortable and gentle saieng was this with such pleasant and sweete words to allure his verie enimies to come vnto him Is there anie worldlie Prince or Magistrate that would shew such clemencie and mercie to their disobedient rebellious subiects hauing offended them I suppose they would not with such words allure them except it were to call them whome they cannot take and punish them being taken But euen as Christ is Prince of princes and Lord of lords so his charitie and mercie exceedeth and surmounteth all others Christ saith If carnall fathers do giue good gifts to their children when they aske them how much more shall your heauenlie father being in substance all holie and most highlie good giue good gifts to all them that aske him It is no small nor little gift that I now require neither thinke I my selfe worthie to receiue such a noble gift being so ingrate vnkind and wicked a child But when I behold the benignitie liberalitie mercie and goodnesse of the Lord I am encouraged boldened and stirred to aske such a noble gift The Lord is so bountifull and liberall that he will not haue vs satisfied and contented with one gift neither to aske simple and small gifts and therefore he promiseth and bindeth himselfe by his word to giue good and beneficiall gifts to all them that aske him with true faith without which nothing can be done acceptable or pleasing to God For faith is the foundation ground of all other gifts vertues and graces and therefore I will praie and saie Lord increase my faith For this is the life euerlasting Lord that I must beleeue thee to be the true God and whom thou didst send Iesus Christ By this faith I am assured and by this assurance I feele the remission of my sins This is it that maketh me bold this is it that comforteth me this is it that quencheth all despaire I knowe O my Lord thine eies looke vpon my faith S. Paule saith We be iustified by faith in Christ and not by the deeds of the lawe For if righteousnes come by the lawe then Christ died in vaine S. Paule meaneth not here a dead humane and historicall faith gotten by humane industrie but a supernall and liuelie faith which worketh by charitie as he himselfe plainlie expresseth This dignitie of faith is no derogation to good works For out of this faith spring all good works yet we may not impute to the woorthinesse of faith or works our iustification before God but ascribe and giue the woorthinesse of it wholie to the merits of Christs passion and refer and attribute the knowledge and perceiuing thereof onlie to faith whose verie true and onlie propertie it is to take apprehend and hold fast the promises of Gods mercie the which maketh vs righteous and to cause me continuallie to hope for the same mercie and in loue to worke all maner of waies allowed in the Scripture that I may be thankfull for the same Thus I feele my selfe to come as it were in a new garment before God and now by his mercie to be taken iust and righteous which of late without his mercie was sinfull and wicked and by faith to obteine his mercie the which the vnfaithfull can not enioie And although S. Iohn extolleth charitie in his Epistle saieng that God is charitie and he that dwelleth in charitie dwelleth in God Truelie charitie maketh men liue like Angels and of the most furious vnbrideled and carnall men maketh meeke lambes Yea with how feruent a spirit ought I to call crie and praie to the Lord to make his great charitie to burne and flame my hart being stonie and euill affected that it neuer would conceiue nor regard the great inestimable charitie and loue of God in sending his onlie begotten and deere beloued sonne into this vale of miserie to suffer the most cruell and sharpe death of the crosse for my redemption Yea I neuer had this vnspeakeable and most high charitie and abundant loue of God printed and fixed in my hart duelie till it pleased God of his meere grace mercie and pittie to open mine eies making me to see and behold with the eie of liuelie faith Christ crucified to be mine
of them but he hath ouerthrowne and vanquished them after such a sort that all things serue to our helth He might and could haue taken them all awaie but where then should haue beene our victorie palme and crowne For we dailie haue fights in the flesh and by the succour of grace haue continuall victories ouer sinne whereby we haue cause to glorifie God that by his sonne hath weakened our enimie the diuell and by his spirit giueth vs strength to vanquish his ofspring So doo we knowledge dailie the great triumph of our Sauiour reioice in our owne fights the which we can no wise impute to anie wisdome of this world seeing sinne to increase by it And where worldlie wisedome most gouerneth there most sinne ruleth For as the world is enimie to God so also the wisdome therof is aduerse to God and therefore Christ hath declared discouered the same for foolishnesse And although he could haue taken awaie all worldlie wisedome yet he hath left it for his greater glorie and triumph of his chosen vessels For before whereas it was our ruler against God now by Christ we are serued of it for God as of a slaue in worldlie things albeit in supernaturall things the same is not to be vnderstood And further if at anie time men would impugne and gainsaie vs with the wisedome of the world yet we haue by Christ so much supernaturall light of the truth that we make a mocke of all those that repugne the truth Christ also vpon the crosse hath triumphed ouer the world First bicause he hath discouered the same to be naught that whereas it was couered with the vaile of hypocrisie and the vesture of morall vertues Christ hath shewed that in Gods sight the righteousnesse of the world is wickednesse and he hath yeelded witnes that The works of men not regenerated by him in faith are euill and so Christ hath iudged and condemned the world for naught Further more he hath giuen to all his so much light and spirit that they knowe it and dispraise the same yea and tread it vnder their feet with all vaine honours dignities pleasures not taking the faire promises neither the offers which it doth present naie they rather make a scorne of them And as for the threatnings and force of the world they nothing feare Now therefore we may see how great the victorie and triumph of Christ is who hath deliuered all those the father gaue him from the power of the diuell cancelling vpon the crosse the writing of our debts For he hath deliuered vs from the condemnation of sinne from the bondage of the lawe from the feare of death from the danger of the world and from all euils in this life and in the other to come And he hath inriched vs made vs noble and most highlie happie after such a glorious and triumphant waie as can not with tongue be expressed and therefore we are forced to saie his triumph is maruellous It is also seene and knowne that Christ is the true Messias For he hath deliuered man from all euils and by him man hath all goodnesse so that he is the true Messias Therefore all other helpers be but vaine and counterfeited sauiours seeing that by this our Messias Christ wholie and onlie we be deliuered from all euils and by him we haue all goodnesse And that this is true it is euident and cleare bicause the verie true Christian is a Christian by Christ And the true Christian feeleth inwardlie by Christ so much goodnesse of God that euen troublous life and death be sweet vnto him and miseries happie The true Christian by Christ is disburdened from the seruitude of the lawe hauing the lawe of grace grauen by the spirit inhabiting his hart and from sinne that reigned in him from the power of the infernall spirits from damnation and from euerie euill and is made a sonne of God a brother of Christ heire of heauen and Lord of the world so that in Christ and by Christ he possesseth all good things But let vs knowe that Christ yet fighteth in spirit in his elect vessels and shall fight euen to the daie of iudgment at which day shall that great enimie death be wholie destroied and shall be no more Then shall the children of God reioice on him saieng O death where is thy victorie and sting There shall be then no more trouble nor sinne naie rather none euill but heauen for the good and hell for the wicked Then shall wholie be discouered the victorie triumph of Christ who after Paule shall present vnto his father the kingdome together with his chosen saued by him It was no little fauour towards his children that Christ was chosen of God to saue vs his elect so highlie by the waie of the crosse Paule calleth it a grace and a most singular grace We may well thinke that he hauing beene to the world so valiant a captaine of God was full of light grace vertue and spirit therefore he might iustlie saie Consummatum est Wee seeing then that the triumph and victorie of our captaine Christ is so maruellous glorious and noble to the which war we be appointed let vs force our selues to folowe him with bearing our crosse that we may haue felowship with him in his kingdome The sixt Chapter That we ought to submit our selues to the schoole of the Crosse and still looke and learne in the booke of the Crucifix TRulie it may be most iustlie verified that to behold Christ crucified in spirit is the best meditation that can be I certeinlie neuer knew mine owne miseries and wretchednes so well by booke admonition or learning as I haue done by looking into the spirituall booke of the Crucifix I lament much I haue passed so manie yeeres not regarding that diuine booke but I iudged thought my selfe to be well instructed in the same wheras now I am of this opinion that if God would suffer me to liue here a thousand yeeres and should studie continuallie in the same diuine booke I should not be filled with the contemplation thereof Neither hold I my selfe contented but alwaies haue a great desire to learne and studie more therein I neuer knewe mine owne wickednes neither lamented for my sinnes trulie vntill the time God inspired me with his grace that I looked in this booke then I began to see perfectlie that mine owne power and strength could not helpe me and that I was in the Lords hand euen as the claie is in the potters hand then I began to crie and saie Alas Lord that euer I haue so wickedlie offended thee being to me from the beginning so gratious and so good a father and most speciallie now hast declared and shewed thy goodnesse vnto me when in the time I haue done thee most iniurie to call me and also to make me knowe take thee for my Sauior and redeemer Such be the wonderfull works of God to call sinners to repentance to make
Christian libertie is godlie intreated of Trulie it is no good spirit that moueth men to find fault at euerie thing and when things may be well taken to peruert them into an euill sense and meaning There be in the world manie speakers of holines and good works but verie rare and seldome is declared which be the good and holie works The works of the spirit be neuer almost spoken of and therefore verie few knowe what they be I am able to iustifie the ignorance of the people to be great not in this matter alone but in manie other the which were most necessarie for Christians to knowe Because I haue had iust proofe of the same it maketh me thus much to saie with no little sorowe and greefe in my hart for such a miserable ignorance and blindnesse amongest the people I doubt not but we can saie all Lord Lord. But I feare God may saie vnto vs This people honoureth me with their lips but their harts be far from me God desireth nothing but the hart and saith He will be worshipped in spirit and truth Christ condemned all hypocrisie and feigned holines and taught sincere pure and true godlinesse but we worsse than frantike or blinde will not followe Christs doctrine but trust to mens doctrines iudgements and saiengs which dimmeth our eies and so the blind leadeth the blind and both fall into the dich Trulie in my simple and vnlearned iudgement no mans doctrine is to be esteemed or preferred like vnto Christs and the Apostles nor to be taught as a perfect and true doctrine but euen as it doth accord agree with the doctrine of the Gospell But yet those that be called spirituall pastours although they be most carnall as it doth verie euidentlie and plainelie appeare by their fruites are so blinded with the loue of themselues and the world that they extoll mens inuentions and doctrines before the doctrine of the Gospell And when they be not able to mainteine their owne inuentions and doctrines with anie iot of the scripture then they most cruellie persecute them that be contrarie to the same Be such the louers of Christ Naie naie they be the louers of the wicked Mammon neither regarding God nor his honour For filthie lucre hath made them almost mad but frantike they be doubtlesse Is not this miserable state of spirituall men in the world much to be lamented of all good Christians But yet I cannot allowe neither praise all kind of lamentation but such as may stand with Christian charitie The eight Chapter Of the fruites and rules of true Christianitie for men to followe CHaritie suffereth long and is gentle enuieth not vpbraideth no man casteth frowardlie no faults in mens teeth but referreth all things to God being angrie without sinne reforming others without slanders carrieng euer a store-house of mild words to pearce the stonie-harted men I would all Christians that like as they haue professed Christ would so endeuour themselues to folowe him in godlie liuing For we haue not put on Christ to liue anie more to our selues in the vanities delightes and pleasures of the world and the flesh suffering the concupiscence and carnalitie of the flesh to haue his full swinge For we must walke after the spirit and not after the flesh For the spirit is spirituall and coueteth spirituall things and the flesh carnall and desireth carnall things The men regenerate by Christ despise the world and all the vanities and pleasures thereof They be no louers of themselues For they feele how euill and infirme they be not being able to do anie good thing without the helpe of God from whome they knowledge all goodnesse to proceede They flatter not themselues with thinking euerie thing which shineth to the world to be good and holie For they knowe all externe and outward works be they neuer so glorious and faire to the world may be done of the euill as well as of the good And therefore they haue in verie little estimation the outward shew of holinesse because they be all spirituall casting vp their eies vpon heauenlie things neither looking nor regarding the earthlie things for they be to them vile and abiect They haue also the simplicitie of the doue and the policie of the serpent For by simplicitie they haue a desire to do good to all men and to hurt no man no though they haue occasion giuen and by policie they giue not nor minister anie iust cause to anie man whereby their doctrine might be reproued They be not also as a reede shaken with euerie winde but when they be blasted with the tempests and stormes of the world then remaine they most firme stable and quiet feeling in spirit that God as their best father doth send and suffer all things for their benefit and commoditie Christ is to them a rule a line an example of Christian life They be neuer offended at anie thing although occasion be ministred vnto them For like as Christ when Peter would haue withdrawne him from death answered and said Go backe from me Sathan for thou offendest me that is As much as lieth in thee thou giuest me occasion with thy words to make me withdrawe my selfe from death although I yeelded not thereto For this thy procurement can not extinguish the burning desire I haue to shed my bloud for my chosen Euen so the perfect men are neuer offended at anie thing For although the world were full of sinne they would not withdrawe themselues from doing of good nor waxe cold in the loue of the Lord. And much lesse they would be moued to do euill yea rather they be so much the more moued to do good The regenerated by Christ are neuer offended at the works of God because they knowe by faith that God doth all things well and that he can not erre neither for want of power nor by ignorance nor malice For they knowe him to be almightie and that he seeth all things and is most aboundantlie good They see and feele in spirit that of that will most highlie perfect can not but proceede most perfecte works Likewise they be not offended at the works of men For if they bee good they are moued by them to take occasion to folowe them and to reknowledge the goodnes of God with giuing of thanks and praising his name dailie the more But if they be indifferent and such as may be done with good and euill intents they iudge the best part thinking they may bee done to a good purpose and so they bee edified But if they bee so euill that they can not bee taken in good part by anie meanes yet they bee not offended although occasion bee giuen naie rather they be edified in asmuch as they take occasion to be better though the contrarie bee ministred to them Then begin they to thinke and saie thus If God had not preserued me with his grace I should haue committed this sin and worsse O how much am I bound to confesse and knowledge
counted as sheepe appointed to bee slaine neuerthelesse in all these things wee ouercome through him that loueth vs. For I am sure that neither death nor life neither Angels nor rule neither power neither things present neither things to come neither quantitie or qualitie neither anie creature shall bee able to depart vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesu our Lord. They are not by this godlie faith presumptuouslie inflamed nor by the same become they loose idle or slowe in dooing of godlie works as carnall men dreme of them so much the more feruent they be in dooing most holie and pure works which God hath commanded them to walke in They wander not in mens traditions and inuentions leauing the most holie and pure precepts of God vndone which they knowe they be bound to obserue and keepe Also they worke not like hirelings for meede wages or reward but as louing children without respect of lucre gaine or hire They be in such libertie of spirit and ioie so much in God that their inward consolation can not be expressed with tongue All feare of damnation is gone from them for they haue put their whole hope of saluation in his hands which will and can performe it neither haue they anie post or piller to leane to but God and his smooth and vnwrinkled Church For he is to them all in all things and to him they leane as a most sure square piller in prosperitie and aduersitie nothing doubting of his promises and couenants For they beleeue most surelie they shall be fulfilled Also the children of God be not curious in searching the high mysteries of God which be not meet for them to knowe neither doo go about with humane and carnall reasons to interpret Scripture persuading men by their subtile wits and carnall doctrine that much knowledge of Scripture maketh men heretikes without they temper it with humane doctrine Sophistrie Philosophie and Logicke wherewith to bee seduced according to the traditions of men after the ordinances of the world and not after Christ S. Paul doth most diligentlie admonish vs which arts are not conuenient meet to be made checkmate with Scripture For the Scriptures be so pure and holie that no perfection can be added vnto them For euen as fine gold doth excell all other mettals so doth the word of God all mens doctrines I beseech the Lord to send the learned and vnlearned such abundance of his holie spirit that they may obeie and obserue the most sincere and holie word of God and shew the fruits thereof which consisteth chieflie in charitie and godlie vnitie that as we haue professed one God one faith and one baptisme so we may be all of one mind and one accord putting awaie all biting and gnawing For in backbiting slandering and mis-reporting our Christian brethren we shew not our selues the Disciples of Christ whom we professe In him was most high charitie humilitie and patience suffering most patientlie all ignominie rebukes and slanders praieng to his eternall father for his enimies with most perfect charitie and in all things did remit his will to his fathers as the Scripture doth witnesse when he praied in the Mount A godlie example and lesson for vs to followe at all times and seasons as well in prosperitie as in aduersitie to haue no will but Gods will committing and leauing to him all our cares and greefes and to abandon all our policies and inuentions For they be most vaine and foolish and indeed verie shadowes and dreames But we be yet so carnall and fleshlie that we run headlong like vnbrideled colts without snaffle or bridle If we had the loue of God printed in our harts it would keepe vs backe from running astraie And vntill such time as it please God to send vs this bit to hold vs in we shall neuer run the right waie although wee speake and talke neuer so much of God and his word The true followers of Christs doctrine haue alwaies a respect and an eie to their vocation If they be called to the ministerie of Gods word they preach and teach it sincerelie to the edifieng of others and shew themselues in their liuing followers of the same If they be maried men hauing children and familie they nourish and bring them vp without all bitternesse and fiercenesse in the doctrine of the Lord in all godlinesse and vertue committing the instruction of others which apperteine not to their charge to the reformation of God and his ministers which chieflie be Kings and Princes bearing the sword euen for that purpose to punish euill dooers If they be children they honour their father and mother knowing it to be Gods commandement and that he hath thereto annexed a promise of long life If they be seruants they obeie and serue their maisters with all feare and reuerence euen for the Lords sake neither with murmuring nor grudging but with a free hart and mind If they be husbands they loue their wiues as their owne bodies after the example as Christ loued the congregation and gaue himselfe for it to make it to him a spouse without spot or wrinkle If they be women maried they learne of S. Paule to be obedient to their husbands and to keepe silence in the congregation and to learne of their husbands at home Also they weare such apparell as becommeth holinesse comlie vsage with sobernesse not being accusers or detractors not giuen to much eating of delicate meats and drinking of wine but they teach honest things to make the yong women sober minded to loue their husbands to loue their children to be discreet chaste houswifelie good and obedient vnto their husbands that the word of God be not euill spoken of Uerelie if all sorts of people would looke to their owne vocation and ordeine the same according to Christs doctrine we should not haue so many eies and eares to other mens faults as we haue For we be so busie and glad to find and espie out other mens dooings that we forget and can haue no time to weigh ponder our owne which after the word of God we ought first to reforme and then we shall the better helpe an other with the straw out of his eies But alas we be so much giuen to loue and to flatter our selues and so blinded with carnall affections that we can see and perceiue no fault in our selues And therfore it is a thing verie requisite and necessarie for vs to praie all with one hart and mind to God to giue vs an heauenlie light and knowledge of our owne miseries and calamities that we may see them and acknowledge them trulie before him The twelfe Chapter The conclusion with a Christian exhortation to the amendement of life IF anie man shall be offended at this my lamenting the faults of men which be in the world fantasing with themselues that I doo it either of hatred or of malice to anie sort or kind of people verelie in so dooing they shall doo me
good and bad bitter and sweete ioie and sorrowe and for all things that shall befall vnto me hartilie to thanke thee Keepe me Lord from sinne and I shall then neither dread death nor hell O what thanks ought I to giue vnto thee which hast suffered the greeuous death of the crosse to deliuer me from my sinnes and to obtaine euerlasting life for me Thou gauest vs most perfect example of patience fulfilling and obeieng the will of thy father euen vnto the death Make me wretched sinner obedientlie to vse my selfe after thy will in althings and patientlie to beare the burden of this corruptible life For though this life be tedious and as an heauie burden to my soule yet neuerthelesse thorough thy grace and by example of thee it is now made much more easie and comfortable than it was before thine incarnation and passion Thy holie life is our waie to thee and by following of thee we walke to thee that art our head and Sauiour and yet except thou hadst gone before and shewed vs the waie to euerlasting life who would endeuor himselfe to followe thee Seeing we be yet so slowe and dull hauing the light of thy blessed example and holie doctrine to leade and direct vs. O Lord Iesu make that possible by grace that is to me impossible by nature Thou knowest well that I may litle suffer and that I am anon cast downe and ouerthrowne with a little aduersitie wherfore I beseech thee O Lord to strengthen me with thy spirit that I may willinglie suffer for thy sake all maner of trouble and affliction The second Chapter A confession of our infirmities with a desire to rest in God aboue all things LOrd I will knowledge vnto thee all mine vnrighteousnesse and I will confesse to thee all the vnstablenesse of my hart Oftentimes a verie little thing troubleth me sore and maketh mee dull and slowe to serue thee And sometime I purpose to stand stronglie but when a little trouble commeth it is to mee great anguish and greefe and of a right little thing riseth a greeuous temptation to mee Yea when I thinke my selfe to bee sure and strong and that as it seemeth I haue the vpper hand suddenlie I feele my selfe readie to fall with a little blast of temptation Behold therefore good Lord my weakenesse and consider my frailenesse best knowne to thee Haue mercie on me and deliuer me from all iniquitie and sinne that I bee not intangled therewith Oft times it greeueth mee sore and in a maner confoundeth mee that I am so vnstable so weake and so fraile in resisting sinfull motions Which although they drawe me not alwaie to consent yet neuerthelesse their assaults bee verie greeuous vnto mee And it is tedious to mee to liue in such battell albeit I perceiue that such battell is not vnprofitable vnto mee for thereby I knowe the better my selfe and mine owne infirmities and that I must seeke helpe onlie at thy hands O Lord God of Israel the louer of all faithfull soules vouchsafe to behold the labour and sorowe of mee thy poore creature Assist mee in all things with thy grace and so strengthen me with heauenlie strength that neither my cruell enimie the feend neither my wretched flesh which is not yet subiect to the spirit haue victorie or dominion ouer mee O what a life may this bee called where no trouble nor miserie lacketh Where euerie place is full of snares of mortall enimies For one trouble or temptation ouerpassed another commeth by and by and the first conflict yet during a new battell suddenlie ariseth Wherefore Lord Iesu I praie thee giue me thy grace to rest in thee aboue all things and to quiet mee in thee aboue all creatures aboue all glorie and honour aboue all dignitie and power aboue all cunning and policie aboue all health and beautie aboue all riches and treasure aboue all ioie and pleasure aboue all fame and praise aboue all mirth and consolation that mans hart may take or feele besides thee For thou Lord God art best most wise most high most mightie most sufficient and most full of all goodnesse most sweet and most comfortable most faire most louing most noble most glorious in whom all goodnes most perfectlie is And therefore whatsoeuer I haue besides thee it is nothing to mee For my hart may not rest ne fullie bee pacified but onlie in thee O Lord Iesu most louing spouse who shall giue mee wings of perfect loue that I may flie vp from these worldlie miseries and rest in thee O when shall I ascend to thee and feele how sweet thou art When shall I wholie gather my selfe in thee so perfectlie that I shall not for thy loue feele my selfe but thee onlie aboue my selfe aboue all worldlie things that thou maist vouchsafe to visit mee in such wise as thou dooest visit thy most faithfull louers Now I often mourne and complaine of the miseries of this life and with sorowe and great heauinesse suffer them For manie things happen dailie to mee which oftentimes trouble mee make mee heauie and darken mine vnderstanding They hinder mee greatlie and put my mind from thee and so encumber me manie waies that I can not freelie and cleerelie desire thee ne haue thy sweet consolations which with thy blessed Saints be alwaie present I beseech thee Lord Iesu that the sighings and inward desires of my hart may moue and incline thee to heare mee The third Chapter A recounting of Gods benefits with praier to obtaine a free and cleane mind with hartie wisdome and deliuerance OIesu King of euerlasting glorie the ioie and comfort of all Christian people that are wandering as Pilgrims in the wildernes of this world my hart crieth to thee by still desires and my silence speaketh vnto thee and saith How long tarieth my Lord God to come to mee Come O Lord and visit mee for without thee I haue no true ioie without thee my soule is heauie and sad I am in prison and bounden with fetters of sorowe till thou O Lord with thy gratious presence vouchsafe to visit me and to bring me againe to libertie and ioie of spirit and to shew thy fauourable countenance vnto me Open my hart Lord that I may behold thy lawes and teach me to walke in thy commandements Make me to knowe and folowe thy will and to haue alwaies in my remembrance thy manifold benefits that I may yeeld due thanks to thee for the same But I knowledge and confesse for truth that I am not able to giue thee condigne thanks for the least benefit that thou hast giuen me O Lord all gifts and vertues that anie man hath in bodie or soule naturall or supernaturall be thy gifts and come of thee and not of our selues and they declare the great riches of thy mercie and goodnesse vnto vs. And though some haue mo gifts than other yet they all proceed from thee and without thee the least cannot be had O Lord I accompt it for a
hart shall not be changed from thee but be surelie fixed and finallie rest and be quieted in thee I am nothing else of my selfe but vanitie before thee an vnconstant creature and a feeble And therefore whereof may I rightfullie glorie Or why should I looke to be magnified Who so pleaseth himselfe without thee displeaseth thee and he that delighteth in mens praisings looseth the true praise before thee The true praise is to be praised of thee and the true ioie is to reioice in thee Wherefore thy name O Lord be praised and not mine thy works be magnified and not mine and thy goodnesse be alwaies lauded and blessed Thou art my glorie and the ioie of my hart in thee shall I glorie and reioice and not in my selfe nor in anie worldlie honor or dignitie which to thine eternall glorie compared is but a shadowe and a verie vanitie O Lord we liue here in great darknesse and are soone deceiued with the vanities of this world and are soone greeued with a little trouble yet if I could behold my selfe well I should plainelie see that what trouble soeuer I haue suffered it hath iustlie come vpon me because I haue often sinned greeuouslie offended thee To me therefore confusion and despite is due but to thee laud honour and glorie Lord send me helpe in my troubles for mans helpe is little woorth How often haue I beene disappointed where I thought I should haue found friendship And how often haue I found it where as I least thought Wherefore it is a vaine thing to trust in man For the true trust and helth of man is onlie in thee Blessed be thou Lord therefore in all things that happen vnto vs. For we be weake and vnstable soone deceiued and soon changed from one thing to another O Lord God most righteous Iudge strong and patient which knowest the frailtie and malice of man be thou my whole strength and comfort in all necessities For mine owne conscience Lord sufficeth not Wherefore to thy mercie I doo appeale seeing no man may be iustified ne appere righteous in thy sight if thou examine him after thy iustice The fift Chapter Of the euerlasting daie and anguish of this life OBlessed mansion of thy heauenlie Citie O most clearest daie of eternitie whom the night may neuer darken This is the daie alwaie cleare and merrie alwaie sure and neuer changing his estate Would to God this daie might shortlie appeare and shine vpon vs and that these worldlie fantasies were at an end This daie shineth clearlie to thy Saints in heauen with euerlasting brightnesse but to vs pilgrims in earth it shineth obscurelie and as through a mirrour or glasse The heauenlie Citizens knowe how ioious this day is but we outlawes the children of Eue weepe and waile the bitter tediousnes of our daie that is of this present life short and euill full of sorowe and anguish Where man is oftentimes defiled with sinne incumbred with affliction inquieted with troubles wrapped in cares busied with vanities blinded with errors ouercharged with labours vexed with temptations ouercome with vaine delights and pleasures of the world and grieuouslie tormented with penurie and neede O when shall the end come of all these miseries When shall I be clearelie deliuered from the bondage of sinne When shall I Lord haue onelie mind on thee and fullie be glad and merrie in thee When shall I be free without letting and be in perfect libertie of bodie and soule When shall I haue peace without trouble peace within and without and on euerie side stedfast sure O Lord Iesu when shall I stand and behold thee and haue full sight and contemplation of thy glorie When shalt thou be to me all in all And when shall I be with thee in thy kingdome that thou hast ordeined for thine elect people from the beginning I am left here poore and as an outlawe in the land of mine enimies where dailie be battels and great misfortunes Comfort mine exile asswage my sorowe for all my desire is to be with thee It is to me an vnpleasant burden what pleasure soeuer the world offereth me here I desire to haue inward fruition in thee but I can not attaine thereto I couet to cleaue fast to heauenlie things but worldlie affections plucke my mind downeward I would subdue all euill affections but they dailie rebell and rise against me and will not be subiect vnto my spirit Thus I wretched creature sigh in my selfe and am grieuous to my selfe while my spirit desireth to be vpward and contrarie my flesh draweth me downward O what suffer I inwardlie I go about to mind heauenly things and streight a great rable of worldlie things rush into my soule Therefore Lord be not long awaie ne depart thou in thy wrath from me Send me the light of thy grace destroie in me all carnall desires Send foorth the hot flames of thy loue to burne and consume the cloudie fantasies of my mind Gather O Lord my wits and the powers of my soule togither in thee make me to despise all worldlie things and by thy grace strongly to resist and ouercome all motions and occasions of sinne Helpe me thou euerlasting truth that no worldlie guile nor vanitie hereafter haue power to deceiue me Come also thou heauenlie sweetnesse and let all bitternesse of sinne flie far from me Pardon me and forgiue me as oft as in my praier my mind is not surelie fixed on thee For manie times I am not there where I stand or sit but rather there whither my thoughts carie me For there I am where my thoughts be and where as customablie is my thought there is that that I loue And that oftentimes commeth into my mind that by custome pleaseth me best and that delighteth me most to thinke vpon Accordinglie as thou dost say in thy gospell Where as a mans treasure is there is his hart Wherefore if I loue heauen I speake gladlie therof and of such things as be of God and of that that apperteineth to his honour and to the glorie of his holie name And if I loue the world I loue to talke of worldlie things and I ioie anon in worldlie felicitie and sorowe and lament soone for worldlie aduersitie If I loue the flesh I imagine oftentimes that that pleaseth the flesh If I loue my soule I delight much to speake and to heare of things that be for my soules health And whatsoeuer I loue of that I gladlie heare and speake and beare the images of them still in my mind Blessed is the man that for the loue of the Lord setteth not by the pleasures of this world and learneth trulie to ouercome himselfe and with the feruour of spirit crucifieth his flesh so that in a cleane and a pure conscience he may offer his praiers to thee and be accepted to haue companie of thy blessed Angels all earthlie things excluded from his hart The sixt Chapter A sweet praier wherein being pressed downe with troubles we
intituled Miserere mei Deus Haue mercie vpon me O God which in most deuout manner she said to the verie end with these hir last words LORD into thy hands I command my spirit ¶ Morning and Euening praiers with diuers Psalmes Hymnes and Meditations made and set forth by the Ladie ELIZABETH Tyrwhit A Confession to be said before Morning praier I Doo acknowledge and confesse vnto thee O most mercifull and heauenlie father mine often and grieuous offences that I haue committed against thy diuine Maiestie from my youth hitherto in thought word and deed leauing vndone those things which I ought and should haue done and dooing those things which I ought not to haue done prouoking thy wrath and indignation against me And now lamenting this my wickednes I appeale vnto thy mercie saie with the Publicane O Lord GOD be mercifull vnto me a most wretched sinner forgiue all that is past saue and defend me from euill and confirme me in good life to the glorie of thy name So be it A praier to be said at our vprising I Doo thanke thee my most mercifull and heauenlie Father by thy deerelie beloued sonne Iesu Christ that this night thou hast giuen me sleepe and rest preseruing me from hurt and perill I crie thee mercie for mine offences and most humblie beseech thee that thou wilt likewise this daie keepe me from sinne and all euill so that all my thoughts words and works may please thee I doo commit my selfe both bodie and soule and all things that I go about into thy hands beseeching thee that thine holie spirit may abide with me least my deadlie aduersarie the diuell haue power ouer me Amen Another praier at our vprising OBlessed Iesu this daie I commend me and all my proceedings into thy hands this daie I most humbly praie thee to helpe me which hast made me to thine owne image and in thy bloud hast clensed me which art my hope in heauiuinesse my comfort in care and trust in trouble Although sweete Lord my conscience accuseth me and the lawe condemneth me yet thy pretious death and testament hath deliuered me with thee to reigne in glorie after death hath arrested me the earth consumed me yet good Lord I trust in the resnrrection to dwell with thee eternallie through thy promise made to me and to all that doo beleeue in thee and call vpon thy holie name Thy kingdome come this daie to me from Sathan deliuer me with the bread of Angels feede me from fleshlie lusts purge me from sudden death and deadlie sinne O Lord take me Giue me an hart to beleeue in thee and that all my senses may obey thee and of thy mercie accept my praiers this daie before thee which art one God in Trinitie to whom be all honour and glorie Amen The Hymne or praier to the sonne of God THe beamie sun large light doth giue chase away the night So blesse vs with thy benefits endue vs with thy spirit Swéet dews frō heuen to earth God grant of peace quiet mind That we may serue the liuing God as his statutes doo bind O mightie Lord our helpe at néed driue far awaie the féend That sinne nor hell doo vs molest when as our life shall éend Thou art the euer lasting daie which shinst in euerie place And féedest euerie liuing wight with plentious gifts of grace Into thy heauenlie hands déere God my spirit I doo commend This day from sin and Sathans power thy seruant me defend We laud thée Father for thy grace We praise the Sonne which made vs frée We thanke the holie Spirit for our solace Which is one God and persons thrée An Antheme HIs deerlie beloued sonne God did not spare but for vs all deliuered him How shall he not with him giue vs all things also A praier to God the father to be vsed before Morning praier OUr mercifull father which in teaching vs to praie by thy sonne Christ hast commanded vs to call thee father and to beleeue that we are thy beloued children who stirrest vp none of thine to praie but to the intent that thou wouldest heare them giuing vnto vs also all things more effectuallie and plentiouslie than we can either aske or thinke We do beseech thee for thy sonnes sake to giue vs grace to beleeue and knowe assuredlie that thy sonne our Sauiour Christ is giuen of thee vnto vs to be our Sauiour our righteousnesse our wisdome our holines our redemption and our satisfaction O Lord suffer vs not to trust in anie other saluation but in thy sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it The Hymne of our redemption by Christ. PRaise we our father louinglie which gentlie vs preserued When we forsooke him wretchedlie death by sinne deserued His mercie was so bountious that though we from him fell Fréelie in Christ he pardoned vs and vs redéemd from hell Glorie be to the Trinitie the Father Sonne and spirit liuing Which art one God persons thrée to whom be praise without ending Amen A forme of priuate Morning Praier Our father which art in heauen c. O Lord open thou my lips that my mouth may speake and shew foorth that which is to thy glorie and praise And shut my mouth from speaking of anie thing whereby I should offend thy diuine maiestie or be hurtfull to my neighbor O God make speede to saue vs. O Lord make haste to helpe vs. Glorie be to the Father and to the Sonne and to the holie Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and euer shall be world without end Amen Praise ye the Lord. Thanks be giuen to God The first Psalme at Morning Praier O Lord heare my words marke my crieng O my King and my God for vnto thee onelie come I to praie neither doo I looke for succour anie where else than of thee O Lord I beseech thee that thou wilt gratiouslie hearken to my petitions that thy grace may spring in my hart with the morrowe light of thy comfort the night of care and perturbation being ouerpassed suffer me not to perish with the vngodlie folke whome thou cursest I come running to thee not trusting in mine owne righteousnes but to thy great and manifold mercies O Lord with the rule of thy iustice will I be directed For thy name sake make plaine thy waie before me and my waie before thee least the spirit of malice doo turne me thence Let them reioice that repose themselues and trust alwaies in thy mercie let them sing Hymnes and Psalmes which doo glorie and reioice in thee let them triumph which loue thy name Defend me O Lord with thy grace as with a shield in time of perill to the intent that when I am assaulted with them I may yet with constant cheere growe vp vnto my full perfection Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the c. The second Psalme OH Lord GOD and father I beseech thee by Christ our Lord that of thine infinite
Christ for this thy blessed oblation haue mercie on me now and in the houre of death that in the dreadfull daie of iudgment sinne death and hell may not preuaile against me sinfull creature but haue mercie vpon me according to thy greatest mercie which is this thy death and passion for which be praise to the holie Trinitie for euer and euer Amen The Hymne of the passion of Christ IEsus which is the liuelie well of wisdome And the heauenlie truth of the father eternall Which from heauen to this world did come To deliuer vs thrales from paines infernall Of Iudas was sold and of the Iewes taken And of his Disciples at midnight was forsaken We laud thee father for thy grace We praise the sonne which made vs free We thanke the holie spirit for our solace Which is one God and persons three In the dawning of the daie they did him fast bind And before Pilate he was then conuented False witnesse against Iesus they did then find When the cruell Seniours in iudgement him presented Beaten was his bodie defiled was his face And yet God and man the verie well of grace We laud thee father c. When thrée houres were past before Pilates throne All the people cried Kill Iesus the Iewes king His crowne was thornes in purple he made mone With a crosse ouer Cedron they did him bring And prepared his deadlie place on Galgatha hill To suffer pains for Adams gilt so was his fathers will We laud thee father c. The sirt houre approched his painefull end When on the trée his bodie they nailed In heauen was his helpe in earth he had no freud He died betwéene two théeues on him the Elders railed Then he thirsted for his elect which subiect were to thrall Unthankefullie they offred him vinegre mingled with gall We laud thee father c. This verie God Gods onlie begotten child Said to his father Why hast thou me forsaken Yet receiue this sacrifice and my spirit vndefild The heauens were darkned asunder the stones were shaken Bloud and water then sprang from this blessed lamb Then graues opened the dead aliue foorth came We laud thee father for thy grace c. The second Meditation or praier of our frailtie and miserie O Miserable wretched woman that I am how may I be compared to any of thy saints that shall dwell in thy Tabernacle or holie hill For they loue to be in holie contemplation and I in the vaine multitude forgetting thee they be meeke and I vnpatient they do not forget thee but my good Lord when do I remember thee but when affliction enforceth me or the lamentable fall of my breethren constraine me to thanke thee Thou most mightie and fearefull God of hosts thy holie name be blessed foreuer Amen What shall I saie my God Thou art most good and I euill thou holie and I miserable thou art light and I am blind thou art the blessed ioie and I am carefull and full of sorowe My Lord thou art the Physician and I the miserable patient I am nothing but vanitie and corrupt as euerie liuing man is What shall I saie O Creator but this that I am thy creature and shall I perish Thy hands haue made me and were wounded for me thy bloud was shed for me and hath washed me thy holie Ghost hath sanctified me and taught me yet Lord my daies are nothing What should I mortall creature thus talke with my selfe Lord God but that need hath no lawe Sorowe hath compelled me to seeke comfort sicknesse enforceth me to folowe the Physician conscience pricketh me to crie to thee my Lord for a heauenlie cordiall of comfort which am in great discomfort borne of a woman full of miserie and shortnesse of time and passe awaie like a shadowe neuer content with one estate but in earth remaine for euer The Hymne to God the Creator O Creator to thée thy creature I call Who made of mould do liue in paine And sicke in soule my flesh is thrall O wo is me my daies be vaine Yet vnto God I call for grace My soule in heauen to haue a place A praier to the blessed Trinitie Let vs praie O Holie blessed and glorious Trinitie three equall and coeternall persons but one God almightie haue mercie vpon me vile abiect abhominable and sinfull wretch meekelie acknowledging before thy diuine Maiestie my long continued life in sinne euen from my childhood hitherto Then good gratious Lord as thou giuest me the grace to acknowledge them so giue me grace not in word onlie but in hart also with sorowfull contrition to repent and vtterlie to forsake them Forgiue me also those sinnes through which by mine owne fault wicked affection and euill custome my reason is with sensualitie so blinded as I cannot discerne them for sinne Illuminate my hart good Lord and giue me grace to acknowledge them Forgiue me my sinnes negligentlie forgotten and bring them to my mind with grace to be throughlie repentant for them O mercifull God grant me thy grace so to despise sinne and all worldlie vanities that I may saie with the blessed Apostle Saint Paule The world is crucified to me and I to the world Christ is to me life and to die is my gaine and aduantage I desire to be loosed and to be with Christ Lord giue me thy grace to amend my life and to haue an eie to mine end without anie grudge or feare of death which to them that die in thee is the gate of eternall life Almightie God teach me to doo thy will take my right hand and leade me in the true waie from mine drawe me after thee bind my mouth with snaffle and bridle when I will not drawe vnto thee Oh gratious God all sinfull feare all sinfull sorowe and pensiuenesse all sinfull hope all sinfull mirth and gladnesse take awaie from me On the other side concerning such feare such heauinesse such comfort consolation and gladnesse as shall be profitable for my soule doo with me according to thy great goodnesse O Lord giue me grace in all my feare and agonie to haue recourse to that great feare and wonderfull agonie that thou my sauiour hadst at the Mount of Oliuet before thy most bitter passion and in the meditation thereof to conceiue ghostlie comfort and consolation profitable for my soule Almightie God take from me all vaine-glorious minds all appetites of mine owne praise all enuie couetise gluttonie sloth and lecherie all wrathfull affection all appetite of reuenging all desire of delight of other mens harmes all pleasure in prouoking anie person to wrath and anger all delight in taunting or mocking anie person in their affliction or trouble And giue vnto me O Lord an humble quiet peaceable patient charitable kind tender and pitifull mind in all my words my works and thoughts to haue a tast of thy holie and blessed spirit Giue me good Lord a full faith a firme hope a feruent charitie a loue to thee good Lord incomparable
to thy mercies in all euents purpose firmelie as I now doo euerie daie to amend my life Deliuer me my gratious God from all mortall sinne for euer and giue me grace to persecute my vices with sorowe during life And for the satisfaction of these and all my former sinnes as also for all thine ineffable benefits bestowed vpon me and all mankind I offer vnto thee the merits of thy bitter passion those most pretious drops of bloud thou sheddest for me and that inflamed charitie wherewith thou wholie resignedst thy selfe to all thy torments for my sake and in the vnion of this thine oblation on the crosse I offer vp my selfe soule bodie and all I haue of thine within or without me to thine honour and euerlasting glorie I retaine nothing to my selfe but giue all to thee whose it is and make that thine by my will which is thine of iustice Giue me thy grace O my God to liue better herafter and to confesse my sinnes in due time vnto thee Giue me true humilitie continuall repentance and grace both to knowe thee and also my selfe Giue me puritie of hart in all my dooings patience chastitie and perfect charitie Giue me a good life and a good death and in the dangerous houre of my departure the assistance of thy blessed Saints and Angels with whom I may through thy mercie in another world praise and glorifie thee euerlastinglie Amen The Hymne or praier to God the Father BLessed be God father of heauen Which hath strengthned his féeble flocke With stedfast faith and boldnesse euen To beare his crosse burden and yocke These are the last daies perillous Fréelie Christs Gospell to professe Come downe Lord shortlie to iudge vs And take vs from the heauinesse An Antheme WHosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued A praier to God the Father to be vsed before Euening praier O Mercifull Lord and louing Father without whose aid and motion I am not able to stir one member toward heauenlie seruice the burden of this slowe and sinfull flesh doth so ouercharge my weake soule According to thy fatherlie pitie looke vpon me O God and quicken my dull spirit with thy grace to rise out of this mirie puddle and to come before thy presence in humble repentance crauing thy mercie for my miserable sinnes and wickednesse that being released in the bloud and righteousnesse of Iesus Christ I may ioifullie serue honour and praise thine eternall Maiestie through thy deere sonne my mercifull Lord and redeemer to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all glorie and thanks for euer Amen The Hymne of our redemption by Christ. PRaised be God for his excéeding fauour Wich hath giuen vs his sonne to be our Sauiour We are sinners vnrighteous foolish and fleshlie Christ is our mercie-stoole righteousnesse wisdome verelie We are vncleane holden vnder the danger of deth sins exaction Christ is our holines our life our redemption and satisfaction Glorie be to thée O Lord borne of the vndefiled virgin Glorie be to the Father and to the holie Ghost our soules surgin So be it A forme of Priuate Euening praier Our Father which art in heauen c. COnuert vs our Sauiour and turne awaie thy wrath from vs. O God make speede to saue vs. O Lord make haste to helpe vs. Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the be c. Praise ye the Lord. Thanks be giuen vnto God The first Psalme at Euening praier BOw downe thine eare O Lord to my requests and suffer me to exhibit my supplication vp vnto thee For behold night and daie I trace and hunt after thee by all meanes I can To thee onelie earlie and late doo I still call and crie for mercie according as thou hast giuen mee in commandement For when I call to memorie the time of my life euill dispent I quake to thinke vpon thee yea and my spirit faileth me so sore am I afraid of thy iudgements Yet well pondering the processe of thy grace mercie promised me in Christ I cease to despaire knowing that thou O GOD hast not forgotten thy gifts of grace and that thy power to haue compassion is not waxen faint but that both thou canst and wilt put backe thy wrath most iustlie conceiued against me for my sinne In full trust whereof O Lord I come vnto thee beseeching thee to hide my life with Christ within thee and vnder the shadowes of thy wings to defend me that thy grace couenant may be with me euermore Turne not thy mercie from me O Lord nor bring me downe to destruction as I haue deserued but shew thy grace and fauour vnto me that I may liue and being exalted through thy righteousnesse praise thy name most ioifullie Remember my corrupt nature O Lord how short my life is and that thou madest not man for nothing No man can deliuer himselfe from death no man can saue his owne soule from hell thou onelie O Lord must do it namelie to such as beleeue in thee This life passeth as doth a dreame or grasse in the field which to daie is greene and to morrow drie If thou be displeased then we be lost if thou chafe then we shrinke for feare for through sinnes we be dead vnto thee with whome a thousand yeares be but as one daie yea as the least minute of an houre Certesse Lord if thou haue respect to our sins who shall continue Shew me therefore how manie be the daies of my life that I may dispend them wiselie to the praise of thy name least that I foolishlie trusting vpon long life suddenlie might perish come to death Come Lord now vnto vs and comfort vs. Come O God and hide not thy face from me that I be not like vnto those that be hurled into the pit of perdition And after this night of calamitie ouerpassed let the pleasant morning of comfort luckilie shine vpon me that betimes I may heare and feele thy goodnesse for in thee is all my trust Deliuer me this night from the snare of Sathans gard which hunt in the darke how to plucke me from thee Let me not stand in the feare of the night-euill of vnbeleefe and of thy strait iudgement neither let me be afraid of the fleeing arrowe in the daie time Let me not be in feare of that horrible pestilence creeping in through darkenesse I meane let me not be ignorant how detestable my sins be that I dissemble them not nor qualifie them Let me not dread that middaie diuell which abuseth thy Church vnder a title and pretence of holinesse neither let Sathan though he change himselfe into an Angel of light strike anie feare in me But both on the right side and on the left as well in the night as in the daie that is as well in aduersitie as prosperitie and as well in spirituall businesse as in corporall let thy holie Angels diligentlie wait vpon me that I do not stumble then
and euer and especiallie all things that shall turne to thy displeasure And with all my hart I thanke thee most mercifull Lord for the great benefits that thou hast bestowed vpon me largelie in this world afore manie creatures which are more woorthie a thousand times than I but my most gratious Lord I wot and knowledge verelie that all good gifts doo come freelie from thee of thine abundant mercie Wherefore with all my hart I thanke thee and all worship praises and thanks be to thee and none other Therefore I saie with the Prophet Dauid Not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name be giuen all honour glorie Also I commit to thy mercie mine enimies persecutors and slanderers beseeching thee to turne their harts and to giue vs grace one to forgiue another from the verie botome of our harts that from hence-foorth we may liue in loue and charitie to thy glorie and to the increase of thy kingdome I doo commit to thy mercie our Queene Elizabeth and this Realme beseeching thee to incline hir hart to all godlinesse and vertue that she may long reigne ouer vs in peace and tranquillitie to liue in thy feare and call vpon thy holie name and to be readie at all times to set foorth thy blessed lawes and commandements and that thou O omnipotent God with thy mightie hand and stretched out arme wilt confound all Idolatrie and superstition and set vp thy true and holie religion that thy faithfull seruants may triumph and reioice in thee with merie harts and sing vnto thy praise that this the mightie hand of GOD hath brought to passe and to thy name giue the honour and glorie to whome all honour and glorie is due I doo commit vnto thy mercie all those that in this transitorie life be in sorowe sicknesse neede tribulation or anie other aduersitie and speciallie all those that for the profession of thy Gospell and the defence of the saine doo put their liues vnto the edge of the sword O Lord for thy mercies sake forgiue them and vs our offences past comfort them in their greeuous afflictions strengthen them in their weakenesse send them patience in their tribulations abate the pride of their and our enimies asswage the malice of them confound their wicked deuises that we and they being armed with thy mightie defence may be preserued euermore from perils to glorifie thee which art the onlie giuer of all victorie through y e merits of Christ So be it I commit to thy mercie all those that doo faithfullie professe thy holie Gospell beseeching thee to giue vs grace to liue according to thy lawes that by well dooing we may stop the mouthes of the vngodlie aduersaries of the Gospell and thereby win them to the right waie that we may all with one hart and one mouth glorifie thee O Lord God in the daie of visitation to whome all honour and glorie is due And now O my most mercifull Lord and louing father I finallie commit vnto thy mercie my wretched soule and bodie humblie beseeching thee to haue mercie vpon me according to thy great bountifull mercie and according to the multitude of thy tender compassions doo awaie I beseech thee my most greeuous iniquities Unto God the father the sonne and the holie Ghost be now and euer eternall honour and glorie world without end Amen A praier at night going to bed THe God of Angels and men the founder of all creatures visible and inuisible in whose hand is life and death light and darknesse and all the motions of soule and bodie without whome there is no good gift nor perfect quietnesse of conscience but onlie vanitie and vexation of mind and vtter confusion of soule and bodie and finall torments in the horrible pit of darknesse now my Lord God darknesse doth approch this daie hath lost his beautie I as vnworthie of thy benefits most humblie praie thee this night to blesse me and with thy holie Angels assist me thy holie spirit this night lighten me which hast of earth made me and by thy creatures doest nourish me and with thy bloud hast consecrated me with thee to dwell eternallie in glorie when death hath dissolued me which am but vanitie c. And banish Sathan from me that neither mine owne conscience now vexe me nor mine old offences trouble me I most humblie beseech thee this night to pardon me which haue sore offended thee in thought word and deede against thy diuine maiestie which sore repenteth me Saue me good Lord this night sleeping from dreadfull dreames and painefull slumber deliuer me that I may awake in Christ and rest in peace So be it The Hymne or praier for night PRaise ye the Lord his seruants all lift vp to him your hands The night singers in Gods courts in all Christian lands Praise we the Lord our God king which made the earth heuen His blessing be on vs this night which made the planets seuen Into thy hands O Lord our God our soules we do commend This night from sinne Sathans power thy mercie vs defend We laud thee Father for thy grace We praise the Sonne which made vs free We thanke the holie Spirit for our solace Which is one God and persons three Amen Another Hymne or praier to be said when ye go to bed I Go to bed I hope to sléepe God knoweth when I shall rise My soule O Lord defend and kéep from it turne not thine eies This daie I haue committed sinne a hundred times and more I was conceiued and borne therein forgiue me Lord therefore To thée I will my soule betake sinfull it is to sée For I do knowe thou canst it make as pure as néede to bée Forgiue me mine offences all my soule Lord do not kill To thée I will betake my soule accept my zealous will Thy pardon Lord I trust to haue as Dauid had and mo My soule I trust thou wilt now saue from death damned wo. In thée O God I put my trust to guide and aide me still To kéepe me alwaies true and iust according to thy will Thou God of might great renowme I trust thou wilt me kéepe Lord with thy leaue I will lie downe to take my rest and sléepe So be it M. W. The Antheme WE looke for our sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ which shall change our vile bodie that it may be like to his glorious bodie according to the power whereby he is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe Amen Let vs praie Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. * Our Father which art in heauen c. VIsit we beseech thee O Lord this our dwelling and driue from it all the assaults of our enimie let thy holie Angels dwel in it which may keepe vs all this night in thy peace and euer let thy blessing be vpon vs. Grant this O most mercifull father for thy sonnes sake Iesus Christ who with thee and
the holie Ghost liueth and reigneth one God world without end Amen SAue vs O good Lord waking and keepe vs sleeping and be so mercifull to vs that with Christ we may wake and quietlie to rest in peace So be it The conclusion after Euening praier O Lord Iesu Christ that art in heauen perfect God and man heare my praiers haue mercie vpon me and praie vnto thy father for me Be thou my mercifull mediator vnto thy father that I might find mercie for my sinnes at all times and thy holie Angels to guide me this night and all the time and daies of my life and at the generall daie of iudgement that I may be partaker of that ioifull voice of thine saieng Come hither ye blessed and possesse euerlasting life Amen The Blessing GOD euen our owne GOD blesse vs and graunt vnto vs and all our faithfull and deere freends his continuall benediction and health Yea let thy mightie hand and outstretched arme O Lord be still my defence thy mercie and louing kindnesse in Iesu Christ thy deere sonne my saluation thy true and holie word my instruction thy grace and holie spirit my comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end So be it ¶ Certaine godlie sentences written by the Ladie E. T. Vse inuocation of Gods holie name Thinke vpon the needie once a daie The life to come forget not Further the iust sute of the poore Prefer Christ his kingdome Offend not in euill doing Set little by the iudgement of man but feare the iudgement of God Be at peace with all men Vse to be acquainted with the godlie Helpe to pacifie displeasure Hastilie iudge not anie bodie Kill anger with patience VVith pitie rebuke Make much of modestie Harbour a harmelesse hart Let no good deed Speake in season He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life In being well occupied thinke not long Lose as little time as ye may Be alwaies one Fauour the friendlesse Be not vnthankefull Trust not the world Deceiue none Rather take hurt than do anie Auenge not Let once be amended Fauour not flatterie Looke cheeflie on your selfe Do not forget your charge Let your mind be occupied well Vse pleasures after a meane Once you were not heere Awaie you must and turne to dust Finis ê™ E. T. The Praiers made by the right Honourable Ladie Frances Aburgauennie and committed at the houre of hir death to the right Worshipfull Ladie MARIE Fane hir onlie daughter as a Iewell of health for the soule and a perfect path to Paradise verie profitable to be used of euerie faithfull Christian man and woman A fruitfull praier to be said in the Morning AL mightie God and most mercifull father the fountaine of all felicitie from whom onelie proceedeth all good gifts most humblie I beseech thee of thine abundant mercie exceeding kindnesse so to direct and gouern me this daie and euer with thy good guiding Spirit that all my thoughts words and deeds may onelie be occupied in thy seruice faith feare and loue and so assist and strengthen me with thy grace O most mercifull and louing father for thy sonne Iesus Christ his sake that neither sinne death hell nor Sathan haue the dominion and vpper hand of me Indue my hart with the true vnderstanding of thy true and liuelie word that I may be readie and prone manfullie to fight vnder the standard of my glorious captaine Iesus Christ against the world the flesh and that cruell Serpent the old Leuiathan which hunteth continuallie like a roring Lion seeking the vtter destruction of my soule Make me constant in time of temptation that when or at what time my rebelling and sinfull flesh shall intise me to lust after the pompes and vanities of this wicked world I may by a strong liuelie and vnspeakable faith through the bitter torments that my Sauiour Christ Iesus suffered for me and all that faithfullie beleeue and call vpon him so mortifie and subdue the old Adam that I may be dead and buried from sinne and all iniquitie and the new man Christ Iesus may continuallie dwell and reigne in me by whose meanes I shall be garnished and decked by the means of a fruitfull faith with immortalitie and heauenlie blessednesse Uouchsafe O Lord I beseech thee according to the multitude of thy mercies to looke vpon me and by thy celestiall prouidence so illuminate the eies of my soule that I may continuallie watch for the glorious comming of thine annointed son Iesus Christ Roote out O Lord in and from me the vile and corrupt branches of rapine deceit auarice luxurie concupiscence and all vngodlinesse let the motions of my mind altogether depend vpon thee prepare my tongue to publish thy praise let my lips be locked vp from all scurillitie and vncomlie talke let mine eares loath and abhor to heare thy glorious and blessed name blasphemed and thy truth to be by anie Sectarian ill spoken of slandered keepe and defend me vnder the wings of thy comfortable protection from all errours schismes and detestable heresies Make me without faining firmelie and constantlie to build vpon the truth wherein is perfectlie set forth thy great mercie and diuine iustice Let the zeale of thy promises in all distres be my chiefest ioie and consolation giue me grace from aboue that as I make my boast of thy mercies and louing kindnesse by vertue whereof I am by my Sauiour Christ Iesus quickened from death to life and in his deerest death and pretious bloud-shedding regenerated and borne anew not of water but of the spirit by faith So Lord I may with thine abundant loue shewed to me ward and the whole posteritie of Adam I may be afraid wilfullie or of a set purpose to transgresse thy commandements and so incur therby thy displeasure that the effects of thy iustice in the day of thy comming to iudgement be pronounced against me to the vtter destruction of bodie and soule Make me alwaies willing good Lord to heare thy word by the power wherof my faith is increased and there withall plant in me perfect loue and obedience and so direct my footesteps in this vale of miserie that I may tread the path that leadeth to thee with whom my soule thirsteth to rest euen as vehementlie as the Hart longeth after the water brookes Grant this O mercifull God for the honour and glorie of thy name sake Amen A fruitfull praier to be said at the going to bed of euerie Christian. MOst mercifull Father I most wretched and vnwoorthie sinner prostrate my selfe before the throne of thy heauenlie grace yeelding vnto thee most humble and hartie thanks that hast of thine exceeding loue and fauour preserued me this daie from all perill and danger humblie beseeching thy diuine Maiestie this night to preserue me for the loue of thine onlie sonne and my sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ mediatour and aduocate who continuallie pleadeth and maketh intercession to thee for me and all the rest of thy chosen children presenting his bloudie
soone after doth my corrupt and infected nature offend and displease thy diuine Maiestie so that I am prone and readie to run headlong into all kind of wickednesse and sin such is my strength such is my force or rather weakenesse in perfourming those things which thou requirest at my hands So that good Lord I am readie vtterlie to despaire and forsake thee vnlesse thou of thy great mercie and pitie send thine aide from aboue and powre into me thy most healthfull grace that I may make hast to flee vnto thee with most bitter teares a sorrowfull hart and bowing knees lamenting my sinfull life and greeuous offences committed against thee trusting most assuredlie and faithfullie in the merits of my Sauiour Iesus Christ that by his most bitter death bloud-shedding which is of far greater force vertue and effect in preseruing me than all my sinnes and offences are in condemning and casting me awaie for whose sake I most assuredlie beleeue all my sinnes and offences are cleerelie forgiuen and shall neuer be laid to my charge but that I shall enter with thee in the last daie into thine euerlasting kingdome there to be with thee for euermore to whome be all honour praise and glorie for euer and euer Amen A praier to God the father ALmightie God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ whome no desert merit or worthinesse of ours but thine owne great clemencie mercie and pitie caused to send downe thine onlie begotten sonne into this world to beare the burden of our sinnes with the which we most miserable sinners were ouerladen and that he should suffer most cruell torments yea and also most bitter and shamefull death and sanctifie the reprochfull name of the crosse with the renting of his blessed bodie and shedding his most pretious bloud thereon thereby to make attonement betweene thee and vs thereby to paie the raunsome for our soules thereby to consummate and finish the perfection of our redemption and saluation Which thing it was thy good will that he should doo not onelie to asswage thy wrath indignation but also to bring vs againe into thy grace and fauour and that we being deliuered out of the bondage of sinne and hell might serue thee in righteousnesse and holinesse all the daies of our life and by the free gift and benefite of his death and passion be made partakers of his resurrection and of thine endlesse and vnspeakable glorie Wherefore my God my maker my Lord my King seeing thou hast so aboundantlie bestowed thy heauenlie gifts vpon me and all mankind and hast so plentifullie powred out thy grace and fauour on vs that for our sakes thou wouldest not spare thine owne sonne how shall we escape thine indignation which for this care and kindnesse of thine are most carelesse and vnkind And among all other which waie shall I poore creature turne me How shall I who haue beene most vnthankefull for thy benefits and most vnmindfull of them be so bold as to lift vp my hart or hands vnto the heauens and to call vpon thee Thou of thy singular goodnesse didst so prouide that the wickednesse of old Adam should be purged and washed awaie with the bloud of Iesus Christ but I haue wilfullie fallen into sinne againe Thou madest me the child of light but I haue made my selfe an inheritour of darkenesse Thou madest me thine by creation I haue made my selfe the child of perdition What shall I now therefore do Shall I doubt of anie further mercie and forgiuenesse No no sweete Lord so great is thy mercie which surmounteth all thy workes so large are thy promises so sure is the performance of them to all such as take hold thereof so deere in thy sight are the merits of thy sonne Iesus so acceptable vnto thee is the hartie repentance of a sinner that with the remembrance thereof I am prouoked to crie vnto thee saieng Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee I am no more worthie to be called thy child Neuerthelesse behold thou me not as I am a greeuous offender but as thy creature Haue now no respect to mine offences but behold my repentance thinke not vpon my wickednesse but vpon the wounds of my Sauiour Iesus Looke not vpon my false hart which hath wauered from thy lawes but behold the bleeding hart of thy sonne Iesus Christ which was pierced to release me and set me free My sinnes I cast vpon thy backe beseeching thee that his merits may beare them and thy mercie pardon them Heare me O Lord my God heare me for I knowe the more earnestlie that I seeke for and desire thine aide the readier thou art to stretch foorth thine hand to helpe me Heare me therefore O Lord bow downe and incline thine eare vnto my praier inspire me so with thy holie spirit that I may loue thee aboue all things and that I neuer faile to put my hope and trust of saluation in him whome thou wouldest to be my redeemer and sauiour Make me by the forsaking of all wickednesse so to rise from falling into sinne that I may obtaine the true seruing of thee with innocencie and purenesse of life Graunt this O Lord for Iesus Christs sake to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie Amen A praier vnto God the sonne O Most sweet sauiour O most mercifull redeemer O bountifull Iesu the sonne of God who although thou art high yet thou art most humble although thou art omnipotent thou art also most meeke and as thou art most mightie so art thou most mercifull To thee O Christ the guide of all felicitie the father of heauen hath giuen all power both in heauen and in earth Thou art the true pastor of our soules thou art our Messias Thou castest off none that sue vnto thee but as thou hast taken awaie the hand-writing that was against vs and hast fastened it to thy crosse so art thou readie to impart the merits of thy passion vnto all such as with true repentance of their sins call vpon thee faithfullie Wherefore my sweet Iesus I most faithfullie and vnfeinedlie acknowledge the benefits that thou hast bestowed vpon me and stedfastlie beleeue that thou being an immaculate lambe in whose mouth was neuer found guile didst suffer most cruell torments at the hands of sinners for the loue of vs most wretched sinners For the which cause I most hartilie beseech thee and most humblie praie thee to accept me into the number of them whom thou wilt make coinheritours of thy bitter paines And although I of my selfe be most vnworthie thereof yet thy merits can make me woorthie to them do I flie crauing that I may be so armed and defended by them that I may subdue the world the flesh and the diuell euen as thou hast gloriouslie conquered sinne death and hell Thou seest O my sauiour how I am dailie and hourlie beset with these three enimies and so hardlie beseeged of them that without thy helpe I can by
forgiue vs our iniquities Whosoeuer calleth on thy name shall be saued Thou hast no pleasure in the death of a sinner but rather desirest that they should liue and be conuerted Thou hast so loued the world that thou not onlie didst become man and tooke our nature vpon thee but wert content also to suffer most cruell death on the Crosse to purge our nature from mortall sinne and corruption and adorne it with immortalitie and eternall glorie not onelie in thine owne person but in vs also to satisfie the iustice of the Father for our sinnes Oh blessed shepheard thou doubtedst not to spend thy most pretious blood to saue thy beloued sheepe from rauine and spoile Good Lord so increase thy grace in me that thy holie word may take roote and flourish in me that the good seed may not be choked with thornes So order my liuing that when by course of nature I shall be dissolued from the prison of my bodie I may come to thee that when thou more bright than the sun shalt come in the midst of the legions of Angels in thy shining glorie and Maiestie to iudge the quicke the dead I may be in the number of the blessed ones whom thou shalt call to possesse the kingdome prepared for them by thy Father saieng Come ye blessed children of my Father receiue the kingdome prepared for you before the beginning of the world Thou which didst die and rise againe wilt raise and bring to life all those that are dead beleeuing in thy faith So be it A praier to liue well GOod Lord so rule the eies of my hart that they being kept simple and pure my bodie may be a cleere and shining temple of thy holie spirit So kindle in vs the loue of thy glorious sonne that we following his steps may doo that which is good and decline from the euill so that our light shining before men we may glorifie thee by our good works with thy blessed sonne our Sauiour and the holie Ghost to whose infinite Maiestie in trinitie and vnitie be all honour and glorie for euer Amen A praier for humilitie O Lord I am a sinner and sorie for mine offences I can not make satisfaction for my defaults If I haue anie good thing it commeth of thee The most acceptable sacrifice to thee is a contrite and humble hart O God let mee not be oppressed with the waues of sinne let mee not sinke into the whirlepoole and gulph of despaire Thou which liftest vp the fallen and raisest the humble and meeke clothing them with purple and settest them vp with princes in the seates of honour thou which despisest the imaginations of the proud and resistest their enterprises blesse me in all my dooings send mee happie successe in all mine affaires that I may reioice in thy goodnesse with thine elected for euer and euer Accept my humble suite good Lord I beseech thee for the glorie of thy name sake Amen A praier for the obteining of Gods grace O Almightie and mercifull God shine we beseech thee through the power of our Lord Iesus Christ and the comfortable working of thy sacred spirit the heauenlie comforter vpon our minds and harts with the glorious beames of thy heauenlie grace Giue vs such plentie of wisedome and vnderstanding from aboue that through the knowledge of thee the man of sinne that is our fraile and feeble flesh with the wicked lusts and desire of concupiscence may lie dead and buried in vs. Giue vs good Lord the feeling of thy grace that by the vertue and diuine operation of thy word the eies of our soules may be illumined and made so light that the Prince of darkenesse with all his vnrighteous ministers may be expulsed and banished from our memories So establish vs in thy truth that our harts minds and thoughts may continuallie be occupied in thy testimonies that thereby thou good Lord effectuallie shining in our harts by the vertue of thy good spirit we may learne to knowe and vnderstand what is the fulnesse of our calling and how rich thou art in the glorie of thy celestiall and heauenlie heritage of thy Saincts and that excellent greatnesse of thy power and louing kindnesse towards vs which beleeue without faining thy holie Gospell according to the might and force of thy strength which thou shewedst in Christ Iesus when thou didst raise him from the dead and didst set him on thy right hand far aboue all empire power authoritie and dominion and euerie name that is named not onlie in this world but in the world to come By whose pretious death and deerest bloud-shedding we are assured that sinne death and hell are vanquished ouercome and vtterlie destroied And if we beleeue without wauering we shall in him be able to resist all the power of hell and in Christ as conquerors to triumph with victorie ouer sinne death and Sathan and at the last to haue and enioie the fruition of his rich and glorious kingdome which he by most painefull agonie bloudie stripes greeuous and bloudie wounds and lastlie by his most painefull death purchased for his chosen and elect To whome for our sanctification iustification redemption and our saluation be rendred with his celestiall Father and the holie Ghost all laud glorie power honour and dominion for euer and euer Amen A praier against presumptuous pride and vaine-glorie WE heare O heauenlie Father and are dailie taught and instructed out of thine eternall word how greatlie the greeuous sinne of presumption pride and vaine-glorie displeaseth thy diuine maiestie We are learned that for the practise of this pestilent and heinous euill thou hast not spared the verie Angels but hast throwne them in thy displeasure for their pride vaine-glorie and presumption from beatitude to miserie from ioie without end to perdurable paine from brightnesse of thy glorious presence to vtter extreame and palpable darkenesse from the glorious fruition and participation of thine euerlasting kingdome to the bottomlesse pit of hell death damnation and endlesse flames of fire Besides this we are taught that by the transgression of Adam whose haughtie presuming through the entisement of the subtile and perillous allurement of the Serpent thought to be as thy selfe but in fine thy iustice condemned him and all his posteritie This pestiferous sinne of pride drowned him in the flouds of all dangerous euils as gluttonie luxurie and such other perils that had not thy mercie taken effect to keepe and hold plea for his and our safegard and thy sonne Christ embased the glorie and power of his diuine essence and taken vpon him our flesh and fraile nature sinne onlie except who freelie offered his innocent bodie to the death of the crosse we had perished euerlastinglie and beene vtterlie confounded Print therefore good Lord and write these examples in my memorie that I fall not from thy fauour by the exercise of this detestable sinne Make me still to consider that the proud and disdainefull are alwaies abhorred in thy sight And sith
it is thy good will and gratious pleasure to regard the humble and lowlie man giue me such meekenesse from aboue that I may continuallie present thee with the sacrifice of a gentle meeke and contrite spirit that I may auoide the plagues and punishments which thou hast prepared for the proud and haughtie minded Graunt this good Lord for Iesus Christ his sake mine onlie mediator aduocate who liueth and reigneth with thee and the holie Ghost in glorie permanent euerlasting Amen A praier against couetousnesse or too much care of the world GOod Lord seeing that it is thy pleasure that we shall not be carefull for worldlie things if a sparowe falleth not on the ground without thy fore-sight how much more care doest thou take for vs thy children Good Lord thou feedest the birds of the aire and cloathest the lillies of the feeld which take no care Wherefore good Lord so prouide for our necessitie and sicknesse we beseech thee that we casting all our care vpon thee may cheeflie studie to please thee and serue thee which liuest and reignest king of all kings for euer Amen A praier against lieng and euill imaginations O Lord cleanse my hart I beseech thee from all vnpure wicked cogitations and thoughts and giue me a cleere conscience shamefast eies innocent hands and a tongue to tell the truth seeing that there is nothing hid that shall not be discouered Good Lord I beseech thee to search my thoughts and renew in me thy holie spirit Direct my feete in thy waies that walking after thee in the path of the righteous I may passe through this vale of miserie bearing thy banner stoutelie in my warfare and obtaine euerlasting ioie the promised hire to such as here haue patientlie borne thy crosse and valiantlie fought with the armour of faith against temptations and all euils Vouchsafe O Lord to graunt my petitions I most humblie beseech thee for thy onlie begotten sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake Amen A necessarie praier in Meeter against vices O Lord my God make thou my hart repentant for to be The spirit of contrition do thou ingraffe in me Unto mine eies let there be giuen aboundant teares of wéeping And let my hands be occupied with often almes giuing O thou my King quench out of me all foule fleshlie desire And with the loue of thée alone set thou my hart on fire O my redéemer driue awaie the spirit of pride from me And graunt to me that great treasure of méeke humilitie Take from me O my Sauiour the furious rage of ire The shield of patience giue to me the which I do desire O Creator roote out of me all spitefulnesse of mind And graunt in stead thereof againe méekenes that I may find O bountifull father giue me a faith that shall endure With hope agréeing therevnto and charitie most sure O thou my guide kéepe from my lips all lieng vanitie And from my mind driue far awaie all vaine vnconstancie All wauering take thou from my hart from my mouth scoffing With all proud lookes and gluttonie backbiting slandering Couetousnes wipe cleane awaie with curiositie The fond desire of vaine-glorie with all hypocrisie Let me neuer the poore despise nor yet the weake oppresse And let me not blaspheme for then I die remedilesse O thou which didst me forme make take all rashnesse from mée And leaue me not such a mind as will not with peace agrée Take from me ydlenesse and sloth and heauie lumpishnesse Take from me disobedience and eke all stubbornesse O my God for thy déere sonnes sake I humblie beséech thée To graunt me the works of mercie with aboundance of pitie That I may thée both loue and feare and eke pitie the poore Make me good men alwaies to loue and wicked to abhor Make me so little to estéeme those things that worldlie bée With hart voice that I may craue in heauen to be with thée Amen A thankesgiuing for benefits receiued at Gods hand O Most mercifull Father I yeeld thee most humble thanks for thy great benefits bestowed vpon me a sinner of thy free mercie onlie Thou hast of thy fatherlie loue brought me vp tenderlie and instructed me in thy holie lawe Thou hast giuen me knowledge and vnderstanding Thou hast preserued me from manie dangers and euils which diuers men haue felt Thou hast blessed me with health quietnesse ioie plentie and wealth which a number doo want Thou hast taken care of me and done all things for me Lord though I can deserue nothing but punishment by thy iust displeasure yet good Lord I trust to thy goodnesse crauing mercie and not iustice And for thy mercie sake I beseech thee to continue thy grace and to increase thy good gifts towards me and haue me in thy protection till my liues end Good Lord blesse me that I may enioie the fruits of the earth and vse them to thy honour and glorie Good Lord be thou mine aid and guide in all my dooings my buckler and defence in all dangers that I may freelie and ioifullie sing praises to thee which liuest and reignest one God almightie and incomprehensible worlds without end Amen Another thankesgiuing for the goodnesse of God to vs. O Almightie God and euer-ruling King whose infinite power and maiestie our wits can not comprehend whose glorious brightnesse with our mortall eies we can not behold whose woonderous works and manifold mercies the tongs of men can not sufficientlie declare Good Lord I yeeld thee most humble thanks for thy singular great gifts and benefits bestowed vpon me a sinner Good Lord thou hast blessed me with knowledge with increase and plentie of all things thou hast giuen mee friends health and rest that I should eate my meate with ioie and praise thee in all thy gifts and works I knowe that I haue no good thing but it commeth from thee and oulie for thy mercies sake thou hast so regarded me thy seruant Wherefore good Lord I beseech thee to graunt me thy grace withall that I may vse these thy gifts to thy honour and glorie and the comfort of them that neede that vsing the talent which thou hast lent me I may become a good seruant and obtaine eternall blisse the promised hire to such as doo well Uouchsafe good Lord for thy sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake to heare my praiers Almightie God refresh me with thy grace I beseech thee comfort me with thy mercie and blesse me that safe from all euils free from feare of all dangers in peace and quietnesse I may sing praises to thy holie name and reioice in thee with thine elected for euer and euer Amen A praier to be said in time of quietnesse and prosperitie GIue vs good Lord the comfortable healthfull spirit of thy grace and aboundant fauour that we may without ceasing make our continuall boast of thy praise We know and from the bottome of our harts confesse that thou hast dealt more louinglie with vs
prosperitie at the Lords hand and not to be content with aduersitie And alwaie to thinke vpon this Happie are they whome thou doest punish For though thou make a wound thou also giuest a plaister though thou smitest thy hand maketh whole againe Mine iniquitie is great but be thou merciful vnto my wickednes O deliuer me from thine anger and presse me not further than I shall be able to beare But now that I acknowledge that whatsoeuer trouble thou hast sent me or wilt laie vpon me is either for the punishment of mine iniquitie or for the triall of my constancie I may with repentant Dauid find remission of my sins and with patient Iob release of mine aduersitie and obtaine such fauour in thy sight that thou neuer againe so greeuouslie punish me but that I may so passe this life that I may afterward liue with thee to whome be honour and glorie for euer and euer Amen Another praier in trouble and aduersitie HAue mercie vpon me O Lord haue mercie vpon me most miserable creature which doo that which I ought not feare that which I haue most iustlie deserued If I weigh with my selfe the wickednesse that I haue done the punishment thereby deserued is not halfe so great as the sinne that I haue committed But thou art a mercifull God and thy iudgements are right neither dooest thou at anie time punish vs vniustly Thou almightie God madest vs when as we were not and when as we were lost and damned thou didst miraculouslie restore vs. I knowe and I am sure that our life is not led by sudden and vncertaine motions but is disposed and directed by thee thou hast a fatherlie care of vs all but especiallie of such as doo put their whole trust and confidence in thy mercie Therefore I humblie praie and beseech thee that thou wouldest not deale with me after my deseruings but according to thy great mercie which doth exceede the sinnes of the whole world And as often as thou dooest punish me outwardlie giue me grace inwardlie with patience to beare the same and that thy praise neuer depart out of my mouth Order my dooings euen as shall be most necessarie both for my bodie and soule Thou onlie hast power ouer all things thou knowest all things to thee be all honour for euer Amen Another praier in trouble for the obteining of mercie BEhold out from the bottome of my hart doo I crie vnto thee O Lord beseeching thee that thou wouldest saue me from the bottomlesse pit of hell I knowe that there is mercie with thee doo not therefore marke what I haue done amisse Enter not into iudgment with thy seruant for then can I by no meanes be iustified in thy sight The remembrance of mine offences is greeuous vnto mee and therefore I right humblie craue pardon thereof My hart is troubled my soule is vexed there is no health in my flesh Forsake me not mine onlie staie and comfort despise not my contrite hart open the bosome of thy mercie take cleane awaie mine iniquitie bring my soule out of tribulation turne the extremitie of thy iustice into thy tender mercie And when thou shalt come to iudge the quicke and the dead be not reuenged on me by eternall damnation but to take mee amongst thine elect into the blessed state of saluation Grant this O Father for Christ his sake our mediator and aduocate Amen Another O Lord my God although I haue committed that whereby I am an offender can I make my selfe not to bee thy creature Though through sinne I haue lost my cleannesse and puritie haue I also taken awaie thy goodnesse and mercie Though I haue committed that wherefore thou maiest condemne me hast thou not done that whereby thou maiest saue me True it is O Lord that my conscience doth shew me that I haue deserued damnation but thy mercie exceedeth all offension Spare me O God bicause it is not vnpossible for thy power it is not vnmeete for thy mercie it is not vnaccustomed or yet contrarie to thine infinite goodnesse Wherefore thou which hast created me doo not destroie me Thou O Iesu which hast redeemed me doo not condemne me Thou which hast made mee let not thy worke be cast awaie by my wickednesse Wipe awaie all that is mine and draweth me from thee and knowledge all that is thine in me and may bring mee vnto thee which liuest and reignest one God in persons three to whom be all honour now and euer Amen Another praier wherin the penitent longeth for comfort HOw long O Lord wilt thou turne awaie thy face from me How long wilt thou bee angrie with thy seruant How long shall I abide mourning and solitarie as the bird that hath lost hir yoong O Lord thinke on me in thy mercies and doo not correct me in thy wrath for then shall I become as the dust and smoke in the wind O Lord forsake not thy seruant Israel whom thou hast chosen My hart being comforted in thy mercies shall reioice and I will sing vnto thee and praise thee in thy good works and miracles which thou hast done in our fathers time So be it Being tempted by the ghostlie enimie as all that feare God are to doubt in anie article of the Catholike faith to despaire in Gods mercie to yeeld to melancholie fansies to be vexed with vnkindnes of friends or the malice of enimies to be troubled with sicknesse or anie other waies oppressed with griefe of bodie and mind saie deuoutlie as followeth I Humblie accept most mercifull Iesus this heauie temptation which now I suffer at the hands of thy diuine prouidence and would a greater if thou please to laie it on me for thy sake who hast ordeined this from the beginning for the tender loue thou bearest to the health of my sinfull soule and I most hartilie thanke thee for it I confesse I haue deserued woorse for my sinne and vnkindnesse towards thee and am not woorthie to receiue anie comfort or consolation at thy hands Therfore to the honour of the passion and death which thou willinglie sufferedst on the crosse I offer my selfe to sustaine this or anie other aduersitie with all my hart not seeking otherwise ease or reliefe than in and by thee O Lord and as thy good will and pleasure shall appoint Yet this one thing I craue and beseech thee for the tender loue thou bearest to me and all mankind for in me is no vertue or ought that good is to helpe and assist me with thy holie spirit as my trust is thou wilt who promisest that no man shall be tempted more than he shall be able to beare And giue me all what euer shall be necessarie to sustaine with patience this crosse and temptation which thy diuine wisdome hath appointed for me to the intent that I bearing the same willinglie with thee here in this world may conceiue assured hope to be partaker of thy glorie in the world to come Grant this my request most mercifull
Sauiour not for my merit or deseruing but onlie for the merits of thy death and bitter passion I humblie beseech thee Amen A praier against the feare of worldlie casualties O Most bountifull and louing Father mine onlie guider and comforter the well of mercie the true light of the world take awaie the darknesse of my mind lighten my hart senses indue me with thy grace arme me so stronglie with sure hope confidence and trust in thee that I neuer be driuen into feare either by the subtile inuasions of our ghostlie enimie Sathan or by the craftie wilinesse of the world neither yet by losse damage hurt or hinderance of anie of those vaine and transitorie things which we in this world doo possesse but alwaies whatsoeuer shall becom of them to thinke that they are but things lent and not our owne and that we shall make a streight account of the vse or abuse of them whereby the more we possesse thereof the greater shall be our paine if we abuse them Wherefore take from mee all inward heauinesse thought and care for anie losse or discommoditie receiued by worldlie goods and alwaies to thinke that as well pouertie as riches needinesse as abundance sicknesse as health aduersitie as prosperitie come from thee and that it is knowne to thine inscrutable iudgement onlie why and wherefore thou sendest either of these vpon vs. And therefore let not my mind be troubled with anie feare of things to chance sauing onlie to feare to displease thee but alwaies to be merrie in thee with sobernes and to cast all my care of worldlie affaires vpon thee forasmuch as thou hast commanded that we should not be carefull what to eate or what to drinke or with what raiment we shall be clothed For thou wilt not see the righteous forsaken or their children begging their bread and that thou turnest all things to the best to them that serue thee and flie vnto thee for succour in the time of their distresse Let this O Lord be euermore fresh in my memorie grauen in my hart and readie in my mouth so that I leauing all needlesse feare may alwaies giue thanks vnto thee and praise thy holie name Amen A praier to be deliuered from enimies and dangers O Most mightie Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob which didst leade the children of Israel through the red sea and madest the streames of Iordan runne backe into their springs againe that thy people might passe through the midst thereof Good Lord whose heasts the flouds obeied at whose voice the hils doo leape and the earth doth tremble O most mightie Lord which canst destroie the proudest kings with verie flies and ants which madest little Dauid to triumph on the giant Goliah which deliueredst his enimie king Saule into his hands gauest Gedeon thy seruant with his few souldiours victorie of so manie legions of strong men Thou which hast subdued so manie mightie kings and sundrie nations vnto thy people Israel O God which workest all in all things which giuest victorie alwaies as seemeth best to thine vnsearchable wisdome defend me alwaies I beseech thee against mine enimies and all euils that my ship tossed and beaten in the waues of this world may rest in thy happie hauen of euerlasting ioie for euer My soule cleaueth vnto thy mercie as to an holie sanctuarie O God if thou shouldest not be mercifull who could abide the heat of thy displeasure But thou O Lord art good to thy seruants and I hope to see thy goodnesse in the land of the liuing All glorie be to the most high and mercifull God for euer and euer Amen A praier for righteous iudgement in matters of controuersie O Lord God of all iustice which in equall ballance dooest weigh the cause of the Prince and of the poorest man which despisest not the suites of the simple which deliuerest the captiue and comfortest the desolate and carefull O Lord which hast blessed them that are poore in spirit releeue thy seruant oppressed with griefe remooue from me the clouds of my sorowes O Lord stretch forth thy mightie hand and helpe me Let me not sinke in the seas of slander and shame Thou knowest the secrets of my hart defend me in mine innocencie pleade thou my cause against the vngodlie which haue laid their net for me O God thou which hast deliuered Ioseph Daniel Mardocheus Susanna from captiuitie and instant death and didst cloth them with honour good Lord strengthen me and be my defender against all euils and let not the poisoned arrowes of malicious tongues doo me anie harme Grant these my praiers good Lord I beseech thee for our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Psalme to be said after trouble escaped MY soule reioice in God for he is my light and my defence my helpe the lanterne to my feet He hath heard my praier when I called on him he hath holpen me in my neede he hath deliuered me in my dangers The Lord is the keeper of my life from whome shall I shrinke whome shall I feare Lieng prostrate at the feete of my Lord I bewailed my case and he heard my plaint he forsaketh not his seruants Wherefore if armies of men stood vp against me I should not feare For if God be on my side who can preuaile against me He is happie and safe whome God the mightie God of Israel keepeth The Sun shall not burne him by daie nor the Moone by night Chrise blessed is he that feareth the Lord for he shall see happie daies As the Hart thirsteth after the water springs so my soule hath longed for my Lord the liuing God When shall I come to appeare before thy presence to see thee in thy glorious maiestie face to face O Lord let thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesus that I may see the daie of my redemption Good Lord make hast to helpe me All glorie maiestie and empire be vnto God the Creator God the Redeemer and God the holie Comforter for euer and euer Amen Comfortable exhortations against the manifold assaults of Sathan IF thou perceiue that the storme of temptation doth verie often and greeuouslie assault thee dismaie not therefore thy selfe neither be displeased with thy selfe as though almightie God nothing regarded thee but rather thank him that he instructeth and teacheth thee as one to be his heire that he punisheth and correcteth thee as his most deere soune that he prooueth and assaieth thee as his welbeloued freend It is a manifest and great token that man is reiect from the mercie and fauour of God when he is troubled with no temptation In thy temptation remember the holie Apostle S. Paule which being rapt to the mysteries of the third heauen was vexed with the Angel of Sathan Remember the temptation of the holie man Iob and other which were greeuouslie troubled with their offences O happie and fortunate man in whome this earthlie Adam is so mortified and subdued that it in no wise resisteth the spirit But whether
the almightie and victorious conquerour sweete Iesus Christ we are the adopted sonnes of thy Father and made fellowe-heires with thee our perfect Emanuel In whose name with all humilitie and lowlinesse of hart and mind I come vnto thee in this great extremitie of sicknesse and danger of death beseeching thee to be present with me to forget mine offences to thinke vpon thy mercies And although I haue not deserued so much as the least drop of thy fauour by meanes of the great burden of my sinnes which are in the presence of thy diuine Maiestie most ouglie and loathsome to behold yet respect thou not O Father mine iniquitie but haue an eie I beseech thee to the merits of my Sauiour Christ Iesus to whom as my Mediator Sauiour and Redeemer I appeale who hath promised comfort and sweete consolation to all those that in his name flie vnto thee for releefe I confesse that woorthilie thou hast visited me with this sicknesse and disease and yet not according to the multitude of my sinnes but in the fulnesse of miseration and fatherlie pitie Giue me grace therefore in these bitter brunts of death who vehementlie at this present beginneth to combat with fainting and feeble life constantlie to cleaue vnto thee Let not the pleasures of this wicked world be a let or impediment for me to come vnto thee let not my fraile and feeble flesh subiect to sinne which hath through my transgression made me a bondman to death mooue me to despaire in thy great mercie neither yet let the caueling aduersarie the enimie of mankind at my last end triumph ouer me Giue me patience to suffer and gladlie to beare and abide this thy scourge and visitation and so fortifie me in soule and bodie that so long as life shall endure in me I may neuer cease to call vpon thy holie and blessed name Yea and when death is most busiest make thou me most constant yea when he seeketh most stronglie to assaile my feeble bodie giue me thy grace good Lord that I may in spirit hart mind and all the powers of my soule giue praises vnto thee that of thy grace and inestimable kindnesse hast sent thy sonne Christ Iesus to ransome me by his bloudie death and passion from the power of hell Giue me grace therfore now that thou hast appointed thy messenger death to finish the daies of my pilgrimage and to call me by his summons from out of this vale of miserie and wretchednesse to build stedfastlie vpon him and faithfullie to hope for life and saluation in alone through him Let the remembrance of my former wickednesse be no more thought vpon let mine offences be blotted out of thy glorious sight Behold my sorowfull true repentant hart which come vnto thee with teares not building on my merits but vpon thy mercies Though I be sinfull thy sonne my Sauiour is righteous though I be wicked yet he is most holie though I be full of impietie yet he is full of all goodnesse though I haue greeuouslie offended thee yet he hath fullie contented thee though I haue transgressed thy lawe yet he hath fulfilled the same and hath promised in his bloud to wash awaie their sinnes that by faith continue in him constant to the end I therefore in this my great and painfull agonie beholding death to be at the gates of my bodie come vnto thee by the vertue of a fruitfull faith beseeching thee when thou shalt see it meete and conuenient that he shall dissolue the bands of this vading life which endureth but a while for a thousand yeeres are as yesterdaie in thy sight to take my soule into thy glorious and blessed hands and so to confirme me in thy truth that at the last when it shall please thee by the sound of a trumpe to raise my bodie from the graue when and in which time bodie and soule shall vnite and come before thy presence I may by faith in thee passe ouer the mount of my corruption shake off the bands of sinne be set free from death and destruction and being by the vertue of thy righteousnesse made holie I may triumph with happie victorie ouer sinne death and all the powers of hell and enter with thee and the felowship of thy chosen Saints into euerlasting rest Grant this most louing Father for Christ Iesus sake to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be rendred all laud glorie honour and praise for euer Amen The Lord God be mercifull to me pardon and forgiue me my sinnes looke vpon me with his gratious and blessed countenance preserue me from the second death and euerlasting destruction of bodie and soule The Lord God iustifie me in his death and bloud cloath me with his euerlasting righteousnesse and register my name in the booke of life The Lord God comfort my guiltie conscience with the euerlasting light of his bountifull fauour and lot my place among his Saints in his heauenlie kingdome The Lord God for his mercies sake after this my bodilie death giue me the fruition of his presence in his rich palace of endlesse glorie to whose mercifull protection I commend with all humilitie and reuerence my soule Lord Iesus preserue me Lord Iesus comfort me Lord Iesus refresh me Lord Iesus praie for me For onlie into thy hands that hast redeemed mee O Lord God of truth I commend my soule Amen A deuout meditation to be vsed after praier REmember not O Lord God thine anger against me an offender but be mindfull of thy mercie towards me a true penitent Forget that through pride I haue prouoked thee to ire and fauourablie harken vnto my praier What is Iesus but a Sauiour Therefore O bountifull Iesu be thou my Sauiour rise vp in thine owne strength to helpe me Saie vnto my soule I am thy safegard In thy goodnesse doo I trust in thee is my helpe And forasmuch as thou hast willed that we should without ceasing seeke and sue vnto thee behold I beeing counselled and foretold by thy commandements doo now both aske seeke and knocke But thou which commandest me to aske graunt that I may receiue thou biddest me seeke make me to find thou hast taught me to knocke open vnto me that stand knocking strengthen me that am weake restore me that am lost reuiue me that am dead by sinne make me to serue thee to liue to thee to giue my selfe wholie to thee I knowe my God that because thou madest me I owe my selfe vnto thee and for that thou hast redeemed me I should owe thee more than my selfe But behold I haue no more to giue neither can I giue my selfe vnto thee vnlesse thou make me willing therevnto Take thou me draw me vnto thee that as I am thine by creation so I may be thine by following of thee which liuest and reignest for euer and euer Amen A Praier deciphering in Alphabet forme the name of the right Woorshipfull Ladie MARY FANE M MOst mightie art thou Lord in all thy deedes
may with the enimies of mans felicitie be vanquished and subdued and I by him may liue in Iesus Christ E EXpell and roote out in and from my remembrance the detestable branches of wrath pride concupiscence vaine-glorie and all other horrible vices and noisome euils that heape vp thy greeuous displeasure against me Take from me all abuse let me neuer blaspheme thy blessed and glorious name let my tong be purged by thee from all corrupt and vncomelie talke let all my thoughts be occupied in thy seruice faith feare and loue Make me good Lord alwaies obedient to doo thy will and to walke in the waies of thy commandements and to delight in thy blessed testimonies And graunt me thy grace that by the hearing of thy Euangelicall and heauenlie doctrine my faith may be increased made strong and fruitfull to exercise the works of charitie and loue to all men and chieflie to those that constantlie fauour thy Gospell and continue faithfull in Christ Iesus Euermore I saie good Lord giue me thy blessings from aboue and let my hart my soule and tong be euer readie for thy gratious benefits receiued to publish and set foorth thy glorie and praise in weale and wo in pouertie and prosperitie in time of peace and in time of danger Stretch foorth thy hand to protect me and I by thee deliuered from all perils shall make my boast of thy mercies freelie showne vnto me without my deserts and with the felowship of thy Saints giue such honour praise and reuerence vnto thee as of right and bounden dutie I ought to doo And forasmuch as not euerie one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of God and Christ make me not then a professor of thy word with my lips but an earnest louer of the same a faithfull folower of thy commandements least at the comming of the great and rich Bridegroome Iesus Christ I be refused as were the fiue vndiscreet and foolish virgins that wanted oyle to garnish their Lamps For if thou O Lord passe by and finde me vnprouided the gates of thy grace being fast shut vp and locked close I shall then stand knocking and calling the Lord all in vaine For thou wilt giue answere thou knowest me not and being forsaken of thee I shall perish euerlastinglie Giue me grace therefore O good Lord to be readie prepared with my wedding garment and oyle in my Lampe that I may continuallie watch thy comming and so enter with thee as thy ghest to the rich banqueting house of euerlasting glorie Amen F From sinfulnesse preserue me Lord R Renew thy spirit in my hart A And let my tongue therewith accord V Vttering all goodnesse for his part N No thought let there arise in me C Contrarie to thy statutes ten E Euer let me most mindfull be S Still for to praise thy name Amen A As of my soule so of my bodie B Be thou my guider O my God V Vnto thee onlie I do crie R Remoue from me thy furious rod. G Graunt that my head may still deuise A All things that pleasing be to thee V Vnto mine eares and to mine eies E Euer let there a watch set bee N None ill that they may heare and see N No wicked deede let my hands do Y Yn thy good paths let my feete go Finis ¶ Certaine praiers made by godlie women Martyrs The praier of Agnes the Martyr at hir death O Eternall Gouernour vouchsafe to open the gates of heauen once shut vp against all the inhabitants of the earth and receiue my soule oh Christ that seeketh thee The song of Eulalia the Martyr at hir death BEhold O Lord I wil not forget thee What a pleasure is it for them O Christ that remember thy triumphant victories to attaine vnto those high dignities The praier of Anne Askue the Martyr before hir death O Lord I haue mo enimies now than there be heares on my head yet Lord let them neuer ouercome me with vaine words but fight thou Lord on my side For on thee cast I my care With all the spite they can imagine they fall vpon me which am thy poore creature yet sweete Lord let me not set by them which are against me for in thee is my whole delight And Lord I hartilie desire of thee that thou wilt of thy most mercifull goodnesse forgiue them that violence which they doo and haue done vnto me Open also thou their blind harts that they may hereafter doo that thing in thy sight which is onlie acceptable before thee and to set foorth thy veritie aright without all vaine phantasies of sinfull man So be it O Lord So be it The praier that maister Bradfords morher said and offered vnto God in his behalfe a little before his martyrdome AH good Father which dooest vouchsafe that my sonne Iohn Bradford being a greeuous sinner in thy sight should find this fauour with thee to be one of thy sonne Christ his captaines and men of war to fight and suffer for his Gospels sake I thanke thee and praie thee in the same thy deere sonne Christs name that thou wouldest forgiue him his sinnes and vnthankfulnesse and make perfect in him that good which thou hast begun in him Yea Lord I praie thee make him worthie to suffer not only imprisonment but euen verie death for thy truth religion and Gospell sake As Hanna did applie dedicate and giue hir first child and sonne Samuel vnto thee euen so doo I deere Father beseeching thee for Christs sake to accept this my gift and giue my sonne Iohn Bradford grace alwaies trulie to serue thee and thy people as Samuel did Amen Amen Other godlie praiers taken out of the Psalmes written by a godlie harted Gentlewoman POnder my words O Lord consider my meditation O harken thou vnto the voice of my wofull mourning my King and my God for vnto thee will I make my praier Heare my voice O Lord betimes earlie in the morning will I direct my praier vnto thee for thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickednesse neither shall anie euill dwell with thee Thou hatest all them that worke vanitie leade me therefore in thy righteousnesse O Lord for I am weake and without thee I haue no strength at all therfore O Lord God rebuke me not in thine indignation neither chasten me in thy heauie displeasure Haue mercie vpon me O Lord and deliuer my soule Oh saue me for thy mercie sake I am almost wearie of my groning Euerie night wash I my bed and water my couch with my teares O Lord my God in thee haue I put my trust saue mee from all them that persecute me and deliuer me O Lord my God if I haue done anie such thing as is laid to my charge or if there be anie such wickednesse in me then let mine enimie persecute my soule and take me captiue Hast not thou O Lord my God defended me from such vngodlinesse Oh how long wilt thou hide thy selfe from me
thy poore afflicted seruant Oh how long shall I seeke comfort in my soule and be so vexed in my hart Yea how long shall mine enimies triumph ouer me Consider and heare me O Lord my God lighten mine eies that I sleepe not in death least mine enimies saie I haue preuailed against him For if I be cast downe then they that trouble me will reioice at it But my trust is in thy mercie O Lord and my hart is ioifull in thy saluation For after a storme thou makest the weather faire and still after weeping and heauinesse thou giuest great ioie Thy name O most mightie God be praised for euer and euer Amen Another praier O Lord consider my meditation and complaining Oh harken thou vnto my praiers that go not out of fained lips Let my sentence come foorth from thy presence and let thine eies looke vpon the thing that is equall O hold thou vp my goings in thy waies that my footsteps slip not I haue called vpon thee O God for thou shalt heare me incline thine eare to me and hearken vnto my words Shew thy maruellous louing kindnesse thou that art the Sauiour of all them that put their trust in thee Keepe me as the apple of an eie hide me vnder the shadowe of thy wings from the vngodlie that trouble me Mine enimies compasse me round about to take away my soule Up Lord let not man haue the vpper hand let the heathen be iudged in thy sight that they may knowe themselues to be but men Yet of thy mercie O Lord forgiue all mine enimies and turne the harts of such as hate me Who can tell how oft he offendeth Oh clense thou me from all my secret offences Keepe thy seruant also from presumptuous sinnes least they get the dominion ouer me so shall I be vndefiled and innocent from the great offence Let my mourning teares and the sorowfull sighing of my hart come before thy presence and be alwaies accepted in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer let it be thy good pleasure to rid and deliuer me out of all my troubles I most humblie beseech thee and shew some token of thy fauor to me poore wretched sinner which am as a banished woman Looke vpon me O Lord I beseech thee as thou didst looke vpon Susanna and Sarai the daughter of Raguel Those holie women trusted in thee and thou didst deliuer them they hoped in thee and were not forsaken I knowe Lord thy strength is not weakened neither is thy power abated so that if it be thy good pleasure O Lord thou wilt helpe and make thy power to be knowne In the meane time O mercifull and most gratious Lord God giue me grace thankfullie and patientlie to take all whatsoeuer it shall be thy good will and pleasure to laie vpon me O Lord grant me those things which I hartilie haue praied for euer for Iesus Christs sake my Lord and my redeemer To whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour glorie and praise Amen When God hath deliuered thee out of thy troubles sing those Psalmes the 9 30 33 34 116 145 146. And euer be giuing thanks to God the almightie Lord and King saieng as followeth A thankesgiuing after trouble THe Lord is my strong rocke and my defence my Sauiour my God and my might in whom I will trust the horne also of my saluation and my refuge Yea the Lord is my shepheard therfore can I lacke nothing He hath comforted my soule and brought it out of trouble euen for his mercies sake Though I walke through the vale of the shadowe of death I will feare none euill for thou art with me thy rod and thy staffe comforteth me For in thee O Lord haue I put my trust and I feare not what flesh and bloud can doo vnto me I haue waited long and with weeping teares haue I taried the Lords leasure and now he hath of his great goodnesse deliuered me out of all my trouble Most mightie God of thine accustomed mercie preserue me from all sinne and wickednesse O Lord I feele mine owne infirmitie and weakenesse O most mercifull Lord keepe me in as it were with a bit or bridle that in this my ioifulnesse I doo not forget my dutie to thee and my neighbours For when we haue althings at our owne pleasure and nothing to trouble vs then is our dailie enimie readie to puffe vs vp with pride and vnthankfulnesse yea and with forgetfulnesse of thy lawes Wherefore most mightie Lord looke downe from thy holie heauens euen with thy fatherlie eies of pitie and strengthen my trembling soule with thy holie spirit Guide me that I swarue not frō thy truth taught in holie Scripture but that all my thoughts words and deeds may redound to the glorie honour and woorthie praise of thy most holie name This with teares I most humblie beseech thee to grant euen for Iesus Christs sake in whose name I come to thee and in none other saieng O our Father c. Another thankesgiuing after trouble O Lord I most humblie render lauds thanks and praises vnto thee For thou hast set me vp and not made my foes to triumph ouer me O Lord my God I cried vnto thee and thou hast heard me yea thou broughtest my soule out of trouble and girded me with ioie and gladnes Sing praises vnto the Lord with me Oye Saints of his let vs all giue thanks vnto him for a remembrance of his holinesse For his wrath indureth but the twinkling of an eie and in his pleasure is life euerlasting Heauinesse may endure for a night but ioie commeth in the morning Thou didst turne thy face from me O Lord and lo I was sore troubled then cried I vnto thee O Lord and praied vnto my God right humblie saieng Heare O Lord and haue mercie on me Lord be thou my helpe in all my trouble bow downe thine eare to me and make haste to deliuer me for thou art my strong rocke and deliuerer Into thy hands Lord I commit my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God most high Oh what reward should I giue vnto the Lord for all the maruellous benefits that he hath done vnto mee which I can not woorthilie expresse For in my trouble I called vpon the Lord and he heard me at large and in my temptation with his holie spirit he mightilie preserued me Therefore I knowe that the Lord is on my side and I will not feare what man can doo vnto me For it is better to trust in the Lord than to put anie confidence in Princes for with the Lord there is mercie and with him there is plentious redemption The earth O Lord is full of thy mercie therefore will I talke of thy praise all the daie long and sing Psalmes of thankesgiuing vnto thee It is good for me that I haue beene in trouble else should I not haue learned thy statutes If my delight had not beene in thy lawes I should
surelie haue perished in my trouble The lawe of my God is more deerer vnto me than thousands of siluer and gold yea all the riches in the world is nothing woorth in comparison of thy word For it is more comfortable than the most costliest and pretious restoratiue that anie Physician can make For it comforteth nourisheth and preserueth the soule leading it vnto life euerlasting Oh Lord God of hosts who is like vnto thee Thy truth most mightie God endureth for euermore I will alwaies giue thanks vnto thee for the great benefits that thou hast bestowed on me The righteous shall heare thereof and reioice with me yea and the vnrighteous shall feare the Lord and saie Doubtlesse there is a GOD that defendeth his seruants and he also doth punish the wrong dooers Thou art the God that dooest woonderous things O Lord who may be compared vnto thee For thou deliuerest me thy poore oppressed seruant from the hand of my strong enimie yea from such a one as was too mightie for me to deale withall Thou hast I saie mightilie defended me and now O Lord be mindfull of me and command my spirit to be receiued in grace when it is thy good pleasure Amen An instruction for Christians conteining a fruitfull and godlie exercise as well in wholsome and fruitfull praiers as in reuerend discerning of Gods holie Commandements and Sacraments translated out of French into English by a right vertuous and godlie Matrone and Gentlewoman named Mistresse DORCAS MARTIN Psalme 119. verses 37 133. From vaine desires and worldlie lusts Turne backe mine eies and sight Giue me the spirit of life and power To walke thy waies aright Direct my footesteps by thy word That I thy will may knowe And neuer let iniquitie Thy seruant ouerthrowe The Lords praier OUr Father which art in heauen halowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this daie our dailie bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill for thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen The Articles of the Christian faith I Beleeue in God the father Almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onlie sonne our Lord which was conceiued by the holie Ghost Borne of the virgin Marie Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into hell The third daie he rose againe from the dead He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the father almightie From thence shall he come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleeue in the holie Ghost The holie Catholike Church The communion of Saints The forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie And the life euerlasting Amen The ten Commandements of Almightie GOD Exod. 20. The Preface HEarken O Israel I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage The first Table _1 THou shalt haue none other gods before me 2 Thou shalt make thee no grauen image neither anie similitude of things that are in heauen aboue neither that are in the earth beneath nor that are in the waters vnder the earth Thou shalt not bow downe to them nor woorship them For I am the Lord thy God a gealous God visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children vpon the third generation and vpon the fourth of them that hate me and shewing mercie vnto thousands in them that loue me and keepe my commandements 3 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him giltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 4 Remember the Sabboth daie to keepe it holie Sixe daies shalt thou labour and doo all thy workes but the seauenth daie is the Sabboth of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt not doo anie worke thou nor thy sonne nor thy daughter thy man-seruant nor thy maide-seruant nor the stranger that is within thy gates For in sixe daies the Lord made the heauen and the earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seauenth daie therfore the Lord blessed the Sabboth daie and halowed it The second Table _5 HOnour thy father and thy mother that thy daies may bee prolonged vpon the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee 6 Thou shalt not kill 7 Thou shalt not commit adulterie 8 Thou shalt not steale 9 Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour 10 Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house neither shalt thou couet thy neighbours wife nor his seruant nor his maide nor his oxe nor his asse neither anie thing that is thy neighbours The Summe THou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thine hart with all thy soule and with all thy mind This is the first and the greatest commandement And the second is like vnto this Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe On these two commandements hangeth the whole Lawe and the Prophets Matth 7. verse 12. Whatsoeuer ye would that men should doo to you euen so doo ye to them For this is the Lawe and the Prophets Iohn 15. verse 12. This is my commandement that ye loue one another as I haue loued you Iohn 13. verse 35. Heereby shall all men knowe that you are my disciples if ye loue one another A praier to be said in the Morning when one awaketh Our helpe be in the name of the Lord who hath made heauen and earth O My God and father I most humblie praise and thanke thee for this that of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie it hath pleased thee to watch for me this night whiles I slept preseruing me from so manie kinds of dangers wherevnto this miserable life is subiect O Lord I beseech thee bring into my memorie thy other great and innumerable benefits also according as I may be able to comprehend them to the end that I may likewise render thanks for the same least I be vngratefull towards thy maiestie as thou hast done me this good not to forget that thou alone hast preserued me from all inconuenience And herewithall I beseech thee most gratious father through thy mercie to continue this thy fatherlie care which thou hast for me vntill such time as I shall rest in that happie sleepe whereof they reioice which sleepe in peace through our Lord Iesus Christ thy sonne who in the vnitie of the holie Ghost liueth and reigneth God with thee eternallie So be it The exercise of an housholder with his familie to praie in the Morning O Our God Father Sauiour seeing it hath pleased thee to giue vs grace to passe this night to come vnto this daie present vouchsafe now also to bestowe this goodnesse vpon vs that we may emploie our selues altogether to thy seruice in such wise that we neither thinke saie or doo anie thing but onlie to please thee
and to obey thy good will to the end that by this means all our works may be to the praise of thy name and to the edifieng of our neighbours And as it hath pleased thee to cause thy Sunne to shine vpon the earth to lighten vs corporallie vouchsafe also by the cleerenesse of thy spirit to illuminate our vnderstandings and our hearts to direct vs vnto the streight waie of righteousnesse Euen so to what thing soeuer we may applie our selues let our chiefe end purpose be alwaies to walke in thy feare to serue and honour thee looking for all our wealth and prosperitie from out of thy holie blessing to the end we enterprise nothing which shall not be agreeable vnto thee Moreouer let vs so trauell for our bodie and for the life present that we alwaie haue a further regard namelie to the life of heauen which thou hast promised vnto thy children Neuerthelesse let it please thee to be our protector both touching the bodie and touching the soule strengthening vs against all temptations of the diuell and deliuering vs from all the dangers that may come vnto vs. And because there is nothing well begun which doth not continue vouchsafe to receiue vs into thy holie gouernance not onlie for this present daie but for our whole life continuing and increasing dailie thy grace in vs till thou hast brought vs vnto the full coniunction of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who is the true Sun-light of our soules shining daie and night without end perpetuallie And to the intent that we may obteine these graces of thee O vouchsafe to forget all our faults past pardoning vs them through thine infinite mercie as thou hast promised vnto all them that seeke thee with a good heart Heare vs O father of mercie for thy sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake So be it Out of the 143 Psalme 8 Let vs heare thy louing kindnesse in the morning for in thee is our trust O shew vs the waie that we should walke in for we haue lift vp our hart vnto thee 9 Deliuer vs O Lord from our enimies for we haue cried vnto thee 10 Teach vs to doo thy will for thou art our God A praier to saie before one begin his worke THE Lord God and Father vouchsafe to assist vs through his holie spirit and by him to gouerne and guide vs in such sort as all that we shall doo saie or thinke may be to his glorie in the name of his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord So be it Another praier to the same purpose O Our God Father and Sauiour seeing it hath pleased thee to command vs to trauell for the sustentation of our necessitie vouchsafe through thy grace so to blesse our labour that thy blessing may extend vnto vs without the which also we are not able to continue And let such fauour of thine serue vs for a testimonie of thy bountifulnesse and assistance and that we by the same may knowe the fatherlie care which thou hast for vs. Moreouer let it please thee O Lord to assist vs by thy holie spirit to the end that we may be faithfullie exercised in our estate and vocation without anie guile or deceit but that we rather regard to followe thine ordinance than to satisfie our owne desire of gaine And if it please thee to prosper our labor giue vs also a willing mind to succour those that are in necessitie according to the abilitie which thou hast granted vs so yet that we mind not to lift vp our selues aboue those which haue not receiued of thee such liberalitie And when thou wilt handle vs with greater pouertie and necessitie than our flesh shall desire let it please thee O Lord to shew vs this grace euen to knowe that thou through thy bountifulnes wilt continuallie nourish vs least we be tempted with mistrust but that we patientlie abide vntill thou replenish vs not onelie with thy corporall gifts but also with thy spirituall graces that we may still haue more ample matter and occasion to thanke thee sincerelie to staie our selues vpon thine onlie goodnesse Heare vs O Father of all mercie through thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord So be it A praier to saie afore one begin to studie his lesson Out of the 119 Psalme verses 9 18 34. WHerewithall shall a yoong man redresse his waie Euen in taking heede therevnto according to thy word Open thou mine eies that I may see the maruellous works of thy lawe O giue me vnderstanding and I shall keepe thy lawe yea I shall keepe it with my whole hart O Lord which art the fountaine of all wisdome and knowledge seeing it hath pleased thee to giue mee the meanes to be instructed in the age of mine infancie to make mee knowe how to gouerne the whole course of my life holilie and honestlie vouchsafe also to illuminate mine vnderstanding which of it selfe is blind that it may comprehend the learning which shall be taught me O vouchsafe to confirme my memorie for to keepe it well O let it be thy pleasure to dispose my hart to receiue it willinglie and with such a desire as is conuenient that through mine ingratitude the occasion that thou offerest me be not lost For to doo this vouchsafe to powre vpon me thy holie spirit the spirit I saie of all vnderstanding veritie iudgment prudence and learning which may make me able to profit well to the end that the trauell which shall be taken to teach me be not lost And to what studie soeuer I applie my selfe make me to reduce it vnto the true end namelie to knowe thee in our Lord Iesus Christ to haue full affiance of saluation and life in thy grace and to serue thee vprightlie purelie according to thy good pleasure so as all that I shall learne may be as an instrument to aid me vnto the same And seeing thou promisest to giue wisdome vnto babes and to the humble and to confound the proud in the vanitie of their owne minds likewise to shew thy selfe vnto those that are of a right hart and contrarilie to blind the wicked peruerse vouchsafe to bring me vnto true humilitie whereby I may yeeld my selfe apt to learne and obedient first vnto thee secondlie to my superiours whom thou hast ordeined to rule and to teach me Furthermore vouchsafe to dispose my hart to seeke thee without feinednesse renouncing all carnall and euil affections and that in such sort I may prepare my selfe now to serue thee once in that estate vocation to the which it shall please thee to ordeine me when I shall come to age Heare me O Father of mercie through our Lord Iesus Christ So be it Psalme 25. verse 13. THe Lord sheweth his secrets vnto them that feare him and maketh them to knowe his couenant A praier or grace to saie afore meate ALl things wait vpon thee O Lord and thou giuest them meate in due season when thou giuest it them they gather it and
when thou openest thy hand they are satisfied with good things O Lord in whom consisteth the fulnesse of all good things vouchsafe to extend thy blessing vpon vs thy poore seruants sanctifie vnto vs thy gifts which we receiue of thy liberalitie that we may vse them soberlie and purelie according to thy good will and by this meanes to knowledge thee to be the Father and author of all goodnesse still seeking principallie the spirituall bread of thy word whereby our soules may bee nourished eternallie through Iesus Christ thy sonne our Lord So be it Matthew 4. verse 4. MAn liueth not by bread onlie but by euerie word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Grace after meate LEt all nations praise the Lord let all people sing praise vnto him For his mercie is multiplied vpon vs and his truth endureth for euer We render thanks vnto thee O Lord God for all the benefits that we receiue continuallie at thy hand for that it pleaseth thee to sustaine vs in this corporall life ministring vnto vs all our necessities and speciallie for that it hath pleased thee to regenerate vs into the hope of a better life which thou hast reuealed vnto vs by thy holie Gospell We beseech thee not to suffer our affections to be here rooted in these corruptible things but that we alwaies haue an higher respect waiting for our Lord Iesus Christ vntill he appeere in our redemption So be it A praier to be said before sleepe Exhortation LEt vs all fall downe humbling our selues before the high and soeuereigne Maiestie of our good God and Father acknowledging vs to be as we are namelie poore and miserable sinners praieng hartilie vnto him as followeth O Lord God Father eternall we beseech thee that it will please thee to cast the eie of thy fatherlie mercie vpon vs thy poore seruants not laieng to our charge so manie faults and offences whereby we are worthie to be brought vnto thy iudgement and whereby wee cease not to prouoke thy wrath against vs. And forasmuch as we are too vnwoorthie to appeare before thy holie Maiestie vouchsafe to receiue vs in the name of thy welbeloued sonne our Lord Iesus Christ accepting the merits of his death and passion for a recompense of all our faults regarding rather the obedience which he hath rendred vnto thee and not the manifold faults that we dailie commit against thy Maiestie O Lord God seeing it hath pleased thee to create the night for mans rest so as thou hast ordeined him the daie to trauell grant vs grace so to take our bodilie rest this night that our soules may alwaie watch vnto thee that our harts be lift vp in thy loue and that we so renounce all earthlie cares that we succour our selues according as our infirmitie requireth Let vs neuer forget thee but let the remembrance of thy goodnesse and grace continue alwaie printed in our memorie and by this meanes our consciences also shall haue their spirituall rest as our bodies take theirs Furthermore let not our sleepe be excessiue to accomplish the ease of our flesh beyond measure but onelie to satisfie the frailtie of our nature that we may be disposed to serue thee Moreouer let it please thee to preserue vs vnderfiled both in our bodies and in our spirits and to keepe vs against all dangers that our verie sleepe may be to the glorie of thy name And seeing the daie is not so passed but that we haue offended thee manie waies according as we are poore sinners so that all is now hid through the darknesse that thou sendest vpon earth vouchsafe also to burie all our faults through thy mercie least we thereby bee taken from thy presence Let it please thee also O Lord God to illuminate vs by thy holie spirit in the true vnderstanding of thy holie will and bring to passe also that we may yeeld vnto thee the loue and feare that true and faithfull seruants doo owe vnto their masters and children vnto their parents seeing it hath pleased thee to shew vs such grace as to receiue vs into the number of thy seruants and children Amen The praier of the Church of the faithfull to speake the word of God with all boldnesse Acts 4. verse 24 c. O Lord thou hast made the heauen the earth the sea all things that be in them Which through thine holie spirit hast said by the mouth of Dauid thy seruāt Wherfore haue the nations raged the people haue imagined vaine thoughts The kings of the earth haue assembled and the princes are come togither against the Lord and against his Christ For trulie Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentils and the people of Israel haue gathered themselues together in this citie against the holie child Iesus whom thou hast annointed to doo those things which thy hand and thy counsell hath determined to be done And now Lord behold their threatnings giue vnto thy seruants that they may speake thy word with all boldnesse so that thou stretch foorth thine hand that healing signes and woonders be done by the name of thy holie child Iesus Amen ¶ The maner how to examine such yong persons as be willing to receiue the Supper of our Lord Iesus Christ Mother IN whome beleeue you Child In God the Father and in Iesus Christ and in the holie Ghost Mother The Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost are they more than one God C No. M Must God be serued after his owne commandements or after the traditions of men C He must be serued according to his owne commandements and not according to the commandements of men M May you accomplish Gods commandements of your selfe C No. M Who is it then that accomplisheth them in you C The holie spirit M And when God giueth you his holie spirit can you perfectlie accomplish them C No. M And yet notwithstāding God cursseth reiecteth all such as do not sincerelie fulfill his cōmandements C It is true M By what meanes then shall you be saued and deliuered from the cursse of God C By the death passion of our Lord Iesus Christ M How is that C Because that by his death he hath restored life vnto vs and reconciled vs vnto God his father M And whome praie you vnto C To God M In whose name praie you C In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ who is our aduocate and intercessor M How manie Sacraments are in the Christian Church C Two M Which be they C Baptisme and the Lords Supper M What is the signification of Baptisme C It hath two parts For our Sauiour doth therein represent vnto vs the remission of our sinnes then our regeneration or spirituall renouation M And the Supper what signifieth it vnto vs C It signifieth vnto vs that by the communion of the bodie and bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ our soules are nourished in hope of the life euerlasting M What is it that the bread and wine which
seruice of God C It is to obeie the lawe of God in true charitie out of a pure hart and out of a pure conscience and of faith vnfained M What is this charitie here required C It is to loue God with all our hart soule vnderstanding and power and our neighbour as our selfe M This true obedience and charitie proceedeth it not of faith C Yea all the good works here commanded which God hath prepared that wee should walke in them M Faith then it is not an opinion vaine and fleshlie to entise vs to sinne more boldlie and to liue in all carnall libertie C No. For if we by faith be trulie graffed in Iesus Christ and call vpon God to saluation we will no more bring foorth the works of the flesh but the fruits of the spirit M Which are the works of the flesh C Adulterie fornication filthinesse outragiousnes idolatrie enimitie strife emulation anger altercation sedition sects enuie murther dronkennesse gluttonie and things like vnto the same M And which are the fruits of the spirit C Loue ioie peace patience benignitie goodnesse faith caurtesie temperance M Seeing we are all carnall euill and seruants of sinne haue we power of our selues to doo good and to keepe vs from euill C No not so much as to thinke anie good thing For it is God that worketh in vs both the will and the deed according to his good will M We must not then doo euerie one of vs what seemeth vnto him good and right what good nature inclination or free will soeuer he alledge C No. For of vs can come nothing but perdition but ail our goodnes aid saluation comneth of God onlie M Our reason wisdome and intent can the same be the rule to knowe and discerne of our works whether they be good or euill C No. For we haue all but one Lawe-giuer who hath giuen vs the true and perfect rule out of the ten commandements of the lawe M What conteine the foure commandements of the first table C How God declareth himselfe to be our God and therefore by good right he requireth of vs faith homage adoration obedience and dutie M And the six commandements in the second table what doo they conteine C Our office and dutie towards our neighbour which is to doo vnto him as we would be done vnto our selues and not to doo vnto him that which wee would not to be done vnto our selues M Go to recite now this holie lawe C Harken O Israel I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thee out of the land of Aegypt c. as Exodus 20. M And how is it that Iesus Christ accomplished in vs this lawe so perfectlie C In giuing vs his holie spirit who ingendreth in vs a continuall desire and mind to doo all that the lawe commandeth vs as neere as we can M And this obedience so vnperfect doth it please God C Yea by this that our imperfection is not imputed vnto vs bicause of Iesus Christ whose iustice and perfect obedience is ours through faith M Alas who shall giue vs the hart and the power to doo the will of God which he here hath declared vnto vs by his holie ordinances C It shall be euen he himselfe by his spirit in the name of Iesus Christ his sonne whom he hath giuen vnto the death to deliuer vs from the condemnation of the lawe and from the bondage of sinne that is to saie from eternall death Of Confession Mother WHat is the fourth point of Christian adoration and seruice of God C It is the solemne confession or acknowledging that we make in the Church through the vse of the Sacraments M What confession C Of all good things both generall and particular which we receiue in the Church through the communion that we haue with Iesus and togither among our selues one with another M Doo we not dailie make such a confession vnto God in hearing his word and calling vpon him seeking to obeie him according to the benefits which hee hath giuen vnto vs Sacraments Child YEa certainlie But we make it also through the exercise of the Sacraments in greater force and edifieng M Shew the reason C Bicause they are annexed to the preaching and promises of the Gospell to mooue our soules and bodies to praise God with greater confirmation of our faith and loue M Understandest thou not that there is one like saluation by preaching and by the Sacraments offered vnto all as well to the faithfull as to the vnfaithfull C Yea but the vnfaithfull in respecting this saluation receiue nothing but the word outward signes to their condemnation M Neuerthelesse the Sacraments doo not signifie and represent lesse to one than to the other C It is certaine For God is alwaie true and vseth not to teach lies M The Lord then hath ioined the Sacraments with the preaching and promises of the Gospell as the seales are ioined with the letters and instruments which they confirme C Yea to print seale them the more in our soules bodies to mooue all our senses vnto this confession M The Sacraments then are vnto vs great succor and comfort C Yea in our infirmities disquietnesse and temptations which come dailie vnto vs as well from the diuell and the world as from our owne flesh M Which are the Sacraments that the Lord Iesus hath instituted in his Church C Baptisme and the Supper putting end vnto Circumcision and to the Paschall Lambe M How is it that he himselfe hath authorised and sanctified them C In that he would receiue Baptisme in his owne bodie and to be the first administrator of the Supper M Where is it y t the Lord commandeth Baptisme C In S. Matthew the last Chapter And Iesus came and spake vnto them saieng All power is giuen vnto me in heauen and in earth Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost teaching them to keepe all those things that I haue commanded you M Is Baptisme a washing of bodilie filthinesse C No. For so little water can doo nothing to vs. M From what filthinesse then are we there washed C From spirituall filthinesse which are our sinnes M We come then into the world all filthie and corrupt C If we were not conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquitie we should not haue to doo with baptisme M In whose name be we baptised C In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost who is our onlie and verie true God in three persons M And with what water are we washed and regenerated C With the water of life which is the holie spirit in the bloud of Iesus Christ M Baptisme then representeth vnto vs assureth vs of the full remission of our sinnes and exchanging of our wicked nature C Yea and by the same both we and our children are receiued into the Church as partakers of the couenant
of the Lord as well as Abraham and his seed by circumcision M Seeing that by baptisme we are borne clothed washed and regenerated in the house of God which is the Church with what meat and with what drinke are we nourished and fed C Euen with himselfe who hath begotten vs. For as he is our washing and clothing so is he vnto vs meate and drinke M Is this bicause he is the word of God which is the true food of our soules C Yea and we must go further seeing that his word became flesh whereof it commeth that we are nourished with his flesh with his bloud into life eternall M And how is it that his bodie was made meate or heauenlie bread and his bloud drinke vnto vs C By his death and passion as he declareth in his holie Supper M Where shall we find the institution of the holie Supper C In three Euangelists and verie largelie declared in the first to the Corinthians the xi Chapter M Reade the place C I receiued of the Lord that which I haue giuen vnto you namelie that the Lord Iesus in the same night that he was be traied tooke bread and when he had giuen thanks hee brake it and said Take eate this is my bodie which is broken for you doo this in remembrance of me Likewise after supper he tooke the cup saieng This cup is the new testament in my bloud doo this as often as you shall drinke it in the remembrance of me For as often as you shall eat of this bread and drink of this cup ye shall declare the Lords death vntill he come Wherefore whosoeuer shall eate of this bread or drinke of this cup vnwoorthilie shall be guiltie of the bodie and bloud of the Lord. But let a man examine himselfe and so let him eat of this bread and drinke of this cup. For whosoeuer eateth and drinketh vnwoorthilie eateth and drinketh his owne damnation making no difference of the Lords bodie or not discerning the bodie of the Lord. M Did not the Lord then minister vnto all equallie one bread and one wine in his Supper C Yea as indifferentlie as he died for all and commanded to take eate and drinke M What signifieth then the bread of the Supper C The pretious bodie of Iesus which he gaue vnto the death of the Crosse for vs. M And what signifieth the wine C His pretious bloud which he shed vpon the Crosse for vs. M This bread and wine being called the bodie and bloud of the Lord doo they change their substance and nature C No but as we corporallie eate the bread drinke the wine so spirituallie we eate the bodie and drinke the bloud of the Lord. M And how may we ascend vp to heauen where he is to eate his flesh and to drinke his bloud C By loue and liuelie faith seeing that alreadie we haue there our conuersation and that the words of the Lord are spirit and life M And he being in heauen how is it that he communicateth vnto vs his bodie and his bloud we being heere belowe vpon the earth C By the vertue of his holie spirit by whome he ioineth vs vnto himselfe and maketh vs partakers of himselfe in true holinesse of soule and bodie M The Infidels may they eate the bodie and drinke the bloud of the Lord C Naie for through their infidelitie they receiue it to their condemnation as did Iudas M How must we prepare our selues before we come to this holie Table C Euerie one must proue himselfe whether he come with true faith and repentance and with Christian charitie as he witnesseth M The true preparation then and worthinesse consisteth not in this that our faith charitie be so great as it ought to be C No for though we ought continuallie to tend therevnto yet shall we neuer be able to come at it M How is it then that our faith so little and vnperfect saueth vs and maketh vs worthie to receiue that which is offered vnto vs by the Gospell and the Sacraments C In that that it soundeth vs and maketh vs wholie to rest in the righteousnesse dignitie and perfection of Iesus vnto whome onlie the father hath regard M Must all they be receiued that present themselues to the Supper C Yea all those whom we knowe to be disciples and members of Iesus willing to liue and die in this faith and doctrine thereof A collection of the principall points which they ought to knowe that will communicate at the holie Supper of the Lord Iesus Christ THere is one onlie God on whome all things depend 1 The first point to honor God well consisteth in this that we haue all our confidence in him and that we perceiue the meanes to knowe him namelie in Iesus Christ Heerevnto serueth the confession of faith before recited The said confession conteineth foure parts The first is of God the father who is the beginning and principall cause of all things The second of his sonne Iesus Christ who is the eternall wisdome of God And in this part is comprehended the whole historie of our redemption to know that by Iesus Christ alone we obteine saluation and the meanes whereby he hath purchased it for vs The third of the holie spirit who is the vertue and power of God which he powreth vpon his creatures and neuerthelesse is resident still in himselfe The fourth of the Church and of the graces of God towards the same 2 The second point to honour God aright consisteth in this that we obey his will The rule to obey him is giuen vs in the ten commandements of the lawe The foure first commandements conteine the dutie that we owe vnto God The sixe following conteine the dutie that we owe vnto our neighbours 3 The third point to honor God aright consisteth in this that in all our necessities we call vpon him alone The instruction to call rightlie vpon God is giuen vs in the praier of our Lord Iesus Christ The three first petitions of the same praier concerne the glorie of God The other three concerne our owne welfare profit 4 The fourth point to honour God aright lieth in this that we looke for all good things at his hand as it is he onlie from whom all good things proceede The promises of this free goodnesse that God vseth towards his owne are conteined in the Gospell The same promises are comprehended by faith Faith is an assured knowledge of the good will of God towards vs grounded vpon the free promises which is giuen vnto vs in Iesus Christ and confirmed in our hearts by his holie spirit Because of the weakenesse of our faith our Lord hath giuen vs the Sacraments A Sacrament is an outward testimonie which by a visible signe representeth vnto vs the promises of God spirituallie accomplished in vs. Baptisme is vnto vs as an entrance into the Church of God and representeth vnto vs the remission of our sinnes and our renouation of life The water as the
propertie thereof is to wash doth signifie the washing of our soules which is done for vs through the bloud of Iesus Christ in the forgiuenes of our sins The water also is put vpon the head in signe of death neuerthelesse in that it is done but for a little time it is a figure of our resurrection The Supper was instituted of our Lord to assure vs that by the communion of his bodie of his bloud our soules are nourished in hope of life euerlasting The bread and the wine signifie vnto vs the bodie bloud of Iesus Christ which haue the same propertie towards our soules that the bread and wine haue towards our bodies namelie to nourish strengthen The right vse of cōmunicating at y e supper is chieflie a man to proue himselfe whether he haue true faith with repentance charitie towards his neighbours FINIS D. M. A godlie exhortation to mortification of our sinfull affections and to holinèsse of life written by a vertuous Gentlewoman IF yee liue after the flesh you shall die but if ye through the spirit doo mortifie the deeds of the bodie ye shall liue For as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sonnes of God Rom. 8. This also we knowe the season that we should now awake out of sleepe For now is our saluation neere the night is passed the daie is come nie let vs put on the armor of light let vs walke honestlie as it were in the day light not in eating and drinking neither in chambering and wantonnesse neither in strife and enuieng but put yee on the Lord Iesus Christ and make no prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it Rom. 13. The reward of sinne is death but eternall life is the gift of God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6. Deerlie beloued abstaine from fleshlie lusts which fight against the soule and see that ye haue honest conuersation among the Gentils that wheras they backbite you as euill dooers they may see your good works and glorifie God in the daie of visitation 1. Peter 2. I saie walke in the spirit and fulfill not the lusts of the flesh For the flesh lusteth contrarie to the spirit and the spirit contrarie to the flesh These are contrarie one to the other so that ye can not doo whatsoeuer ye would but and if ye be led of the spirit then are ye not vnder the lawe The deeds of the flesh are manifest which are these adulterie fornication vncleannesse wantonnes worshipping of images witchcraft hatred variance zeale wrath strife seditions sects enuieng murther dronkennesse gluttonie such like Of the which I tell yee before as I haue told you in times past that they which commit such things shall not be inheritours of the kingdome of God They trulie that are Christs haue crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof Galat. 5. Let no filthie communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to edifie withall as oft as neede is that it may minister grace vnto the hearers and grieue not the holie spirit of God Phil. 4. Followe not thy lusts but turne thee frō thine owne will For if thou giuest thy soule hir desires it shall make thine enimies to laugh thee to scorne Sirac 18. An adulterous woman shall be troden vnder foot as mire of euerie one that goeth by the waie Sirac 9. Ye adulterers and women that breake matrimonie knowe ye not how that the friendship of the world is enimitie to God-ward Whosoeuer will be a friend of the world is made enimie of God Submit your selues to God and resist the diuell and he will flie from you drawe nie to God and he will drawe nie to you Clense your hands ye sinners and purge your harts ye wauering minded suffer afflictions sorrowe ye and weepe let your laughter be turned to mourning and your ioie to heauinesse Cast downe your selues before the Lord and he shall lift you vp Iames. 4. For the children of adulterers they shall come to an end and the seed of an vnrighteous bed shall be rooted out And though they liue long yet shall they be nothing regarded and their last age shall be without honour If they die hastilie they haue no hope neither shall they be spoken to in the daie of knowledge For horrible is the death end of the vnrighteous Wisd 3. The children of the vngodlie are abhominable children and so are all they that accompanie with the vngodlie The inheritance of vngodlie children shall come to naught and their posteritie shall haue a perpetuall shame and confusion Wo be vnto you ye vngodlie which haue forsaken the lawe of the highest If ye doo liue ye shall be cursed if ye die the curse shall be your portion Labour to get thee a good name for it shall continue surer by thee than a thousand great treasures of gold Sirac 41. The Lord alloweth the righteous but the vngodlie and him that delighteth in wickednesse doth his soule abhor Upon the vngodlie he shall raine snares fire and brimstone storme and tempest this shall be their portion to drinke For the righteous Lord loueth righteousnesse Psal 11. As for sinners they shall be confounded out of the earth and the vngodlie shall come to an end Psal 103. Another godlie exhortation to moue vs to praier and to cause vs to be in a continuall readinesse to waite on our Maister Christ when he shall come againe to iudge both the quicke and dead written by the same godlie Gentlewoman REioice in the Lord alwaies and againe I saie reioice let your softnesse be knowne to all men The Lord is euen nie at hand be carefull for nothing but in all praier and supplication let your petitions bee manifest vnto God with giuing of thanks Be feruent in spirit applie your selues to the time reioice in hope be patient in tribulation continue in praier Rom. 22. Take heed therefore how ye walke circumspectlie not as vnwise but as wise men redeeming the time bicause the daies are euil Wherfore be ye not vnwise but vnderstand what the will of the Lord is And be not dronken with wine wherin is excesse but be filled with the spirit speaking vnto your selues in Psalmes and Hymnes and in spirituall songs singing and making melodie to the Lord in your harts giuing thanks alwaies for all things vnto God the Father in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ submitting your selues one to another in the feare of God Epes 5. Praie alwaies with all maner of praiers and supplications in the spirit and watch therevnto with all instance and supplication Ephes 6. Uerelie verelie I saie vnto you saith Christ Whatsoeuer yee aske the father in my name he will giue it you Aske and yee shall receiue that your ioie may be full And when thou praiest thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are for they loue to praie standing in the Synagogues and in the corners of the streetes because they
setting foorth of thy most glorious inuisible and eternall Maiestie in this my fraile earthlie and visible maiestie may cleerelie shine and appeare in me to the benefit of thy Church farre and neere And that I remembring whose minister I am may first aboue all things in a perfect zeale of thy house and loue of thy people euer seeke thy honour and glorie and studie continuallie to preserue thy people committed to my charge in wealth peace and godlinesse Deere Father so blesse mee so loue mee so in the spirit of counsell prudence knowledge and fortitude sanctifie strengthen and direct me that in a perfect faith feare and loue as in thy sight I may walke vprightlie without offence giuing in the obedience of thy holie word and fulfilling of thy blessed commandements all the daies of my life and may be a true follower of that King which is the Souereigne ouer the holie hill of Zion whose seate and kingdome endureth for euer Giue mee grace both thankfullie to acknowledge thy manifold great benefits bestowed vpon mee and also faithfullie and diligentlie to discharge my dutie towards thee and thy people in executing thy iudgements indifferentlie without parcialitie to the aduancement of thy kingdome the establishment of my throne and the vniuersall comfort and commoditie of all thy people Make me good Lord of an entire affection and perfect hart towards thee and of an humble and gentle spirit towards all vnder my gouernement after the example of Christ our eternall King who to fulfill thy will O GOD did vouchsafe to take flesh of the virgin Marie and became man for man that man might become a God vnto men and who also did verie much abase and humble himselfe as a seruant euen vnto the death of the Crosse to redeeme both Prince and people out of thrall and bondage of sinne Sathan death and hell Let my naturall affection and disposition I saie O Lord continue to my foes terrible to my subiects amiable to mine offenders mercifull to the vertuous bountifull to all men indifferent and parciall to none that being guided by thee to gouerne thy people iustlie in all godlie peace and quietnesse I may be able with a good conscience to witnesse of mine integritie before thee and all the world as thy faithfull seruants Moses Samuel and Nehemias somtimes did of theirs and boldlie and trulie with them saie Behold here I am beare record of me before the Lord before his annointed Whose oxe or whose asse haue I forceablie taken awaie Or whom haue I done anie wrong to Or whom haue I iniured or hurt Or of whose hand haue I receiued anie bribes to blind mine eies therewith and I will restore it you that my people seeing and well perceiuing my motherlie affection faithfull gouernement carefull diligence and diligent watchfulnesse ouer them by all meanes to doo them all the good I possiblie may or can in thee may woorthilie witnesse rightlie answere and iustlie confesse and saie of me to thy glorie and my perpetuall praise as the Israelites heretofore said of Samuel That I haue not grieued them nor troubled my land by oppression or iniurie that I haue not hurt them nor taken ought of anie mans hand nor by anie meanes either by my selfe or others willinglie abused my power or dealt vniustlie with my people Oh kindle more and more in my hart I beseech thee most holie Father a pure zele aboue all things to promote thy glorie and a vigilant care not onelie to serue thee my selfe sincerelie but also to haue thee diligentlie serued of my familie people And to this end vouchsafe I praie thee both to adorne me with all thy heauenlie gifts and also to blesse my whole familie court and houshold with thy graces and vertues that all these both high and lowe one and other which are placed therein vnder me may for their vertuous life true faith and right religion towards thee their God and for their loiall harts and conscionable obedience towards me their Prince and Mistres and for their entire affection and charitie one towards another as brethren and lastlie for their hartie loue and naturall good-will they beare to their Commonwelth and countrie be an example and patterne of true godlinesse and puritie both in religion and life for all the whole Realme and countrie yea the whole world besides to followe as their head fountaine and light Moreouer O blessed God as hitherto by thy mightie protection thou hast preserued me and in thy great mercie maugre the heads of all mine enimies miraculouslie hast deliuered me and established me in this my kingdome thus long in admirable peace and blessed quietnesse all glorie and praise be rendered vnto thy glorious name therfore so I beseech thy gratious goodnesse O Lord in like mercie to blesse preserue maintaine keepe and defend me and my Realme still from all both forreine and domesticall conspiracies treasons deceits and violences of enimies and from all other dangers and perils imminent and to come both bodilie and ghostlie publike and priuate that I may still gouerne blessedlie ouer a blessed people and my Realme and people by thy defence and protection continue in the truth of thy Gospell and happie enioieng of perfect peace and quietnesse both outward and inward Thou O Lord of hosts hast ordeined me the Gouernour ouer thy people and made my people to be thy people and thou Lord art become our God yea and our great and mightie God besides whom wee haue none other God I knowe also my God that thou triest the hart and hast pleasure in righteousnesse behold therefore I offer vow and dedicate my selfe willinglie and entirelie in the vprightnesse of my hart to serue and worship thee onelie for euer with ioie and therfore am I thine handmaid bold to praie this praier vnto thee beseeching thee for euer to keepe me and to helpe me in this my good purpose of holie seruing and worshipping of thee For that which I haue hitherto done is nothing at all to speake of O direct thou continuallie the thoughts of my mind and prepare my hart euermore vnto thee Giue vnto me thine handmaid a perfect hart to keepe thy commandements thy testimonies and thy statutes and cause me to vse my power lawfullie to the reforming both of thy house and estates according to the prescript rule of thy written word reuealed will that so it may please thee O Lord God to confirme for euer thy mercifull promises made vnto me in my father DAVID and to blesse the throne or house of thy seruant with thy blessing that it may continue and be established before thee for euer And that this may the better come to passe to the glorie of thy name the benefit of thy Church and wealth of my Realme as I hartilie wish and desire remoue far from thy Church far from me O excellent father all those which fall from thee by infidelitie and are through obstinate wilfulnesse traiterous rebels to thy sacred
circumspect that I neither offer iniurie to anie man neither suffer anie to be iniuried that so equitie may be mainteined and iustice among men preserued Let me at no time vnder the shew and colour of equitie vphold or countenance a wicked cause neither yet without sufficient examination and triall of both parties giue sentence against anie Allow me such Counsellers Gouernours and Ouerseers as are of courage fearing God dealing vprightlie hating couetousnesse that by them the burthen charge and care which I susteine may be somewhat lightened Endue both me and them with thine holie spirit that with earnest studie and watchfull minds we may discerne betweene matters that no man through our negligence haue the ouerthrowe in a righteous cause but that sentence be rightlie pronounced betweene a man and his brother and a stranger without respect of anie person in iudgement Let vs heare as well the little as the great and feare no man because the iudgement is thine which standest in the companie of iudges and among the gods thou plaiest the Iudge for the iudgement is not of man but of the Lord and whatsoeuer we shall iudge it will come vpon vs. Wherefore let thy feare be with vs that we may doo all things with care and circumspection that we prooue not children in vnderstanding neither giue our selues to lusts pleasures but to eate our meate in due season and that for strength not for dronkennes For thou wilt make earnest and diligent inquirie of all our works and search all our cogitations because we are thy seruants and deputies to gouerne men of a verie short life and he which is to daie a King to morowe may be dead for we be all mortall and subiect to one and the same corruption Besides an horrible iudgement is nigh for such as walke not after the will of thee our God for he that is most lowe shall finde mercie but the mightie shall be mightilie tormented for thou which art the Lord ouer all regardest not the person of anie neither doest thou feare the greatnesse of the mightie because as well the great as the small are the workemanship of thine hands thy care is equall ouer all thou giuest to godlie Princes eternall happinesse which art the Iudge both of the quicke and dead liuing and reigning with thy Son in the vnitie of the Spirit a God for euermore Amen Another FOrasmuch as it hath pleased thee O King of kings and Lord of lords to appoint me among other a Ruler of thy people giue mee grace I beseech thee so to minister the Common-weale and so to execute mine office that I may please thee and hurt no man in all my dooings but iudge equallie and iustlie rule according to thy will shew my selfe a Mother vnto thy people and so be haue my selfe in all mine enterprises that I seeking thy glorie the furtherance of thy blessed Gospell and the weale of thy subiects may when thou shalt render to euerie one according to his deedes be found blamelesse in thy sight through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another OAlmightie God Lord of heauen and earth which hast appointed me thy seruant to bee a gouernour of thy people and a ruler ouer men I most humblie beseech thee send me thy wisdome from aboue whereby I may vprightlie iudge thy people rightlie discerne betweene good and euill and constantlie continue in dooing my dutie without respect of persons Giue me power and wisdome to do that is gratefull in thy sight profitable for my subiects and good for the continuance of peace Let me alwaies remember that I haue no power of my selfe but of thee and that the iudgement is not of man but of thee my God which standest among the iudges and plaiest the Iudge among the gods Giue me grace likewise to consider that one daie how soone I knowe not thou wilt bring me to a reckning and make diligent inquirie how I haue behaued my selfe in my place and office For I thy seruant haue but a short race to run and such is the state of vs all he which is to daie a King to morrowe may be dead And forasmuch as an horrible iudgement shall be giuen vpon such as rule not vprightlie nor walke after thy will for mightie men shall mightisie be tormented thou being Lord ouer all wilt spare no person nor feare anie greatnesse for thou hast made the small and great and carest for all alike I beseech thee gratious and eternall God giue mee grace to learne what thy will is and to deale wiselie to infer none iniurie vnto anie nor to suffer anie to be iniured to countenance none euill cause nor to slide from the path of iustice For I thy seruant am a fraile person of a short time and full weake in the vnderstanding of iudgments and the lawes Send me therefore wisdome from the throne of thy Maiestie that she may be with me labour with me that I may knowe what is acceptable in thy sight and be led by hir in all my dooings and preserued by hir power so shall my works be acceptable and then shall I gouerne thy people righteouslie in Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen Another HEare mee O LORD thou high and mightie God whose Maiestie may not bee comprehended whose worde is true whose commandement is strong thou that ridest vpon the Cherubins fliest with the wings of the wind Thou God of all mercie most woorthie to be sought before whome the hosts of heauen stand with trembling whose ordinance is dreadfull whose lookes drie vp the depths whose hands rule the starrie firmament whose goodnesse onelie giueth the fruits of the earth whose wrath maketh the mountaines to melt and consumeth the wicked whose truth beareth witnesse and mercie saueth the sorowfull sinner Thou thou incomprehensible Creator that neuer tookest beginning and wantest end Sith of nothing thou hast wrought me with the woonders of the world to thy most seemelie shape and vouchsafest thy dririe death and passion to drowne the danger of my sinful deserts and hast as a carefull captaine cherished my bodie with comfortable gifts vnto this present daie continue O God such goodnesse towards me vnwoorthie which doo here with contrite hart and bowed knees appeale to the heigth of thy mercie and louing kindnesse to accept mine vnequall thanks for the same humblie beseeching thy fatherlie goodnesse that thy holie hand may stil renew in me thy former gifts plentiouslie powred vpon me from the prime of my birth vnto this present not remembring good Lord mine vnwoorthinesse of the same nor frailtie of my passed yeeres that speaketh against me but altering the ministers of thy wrath into mild mercie Grant I beseech thee that through the assistance of thy holie spirit I may be led to correct that is amisse and that I may now perseuere in setting ordering and reforming all my trauels counsels and studies as best may accord with thy blessed will and cancell the bonds of my heauie charge wherein
remember his iniquities Ezech. 18 verse 27. BEhold good Lord now are the daies of sorowe now are the daies of calamitie and now is the time wherein I must call on thee For now feele I mine old cankered and festered sores of sinne readie to breake foorth in me to my vtter confusion Behold good Lord all my desires and all my lamentable and sorowfull sighes I powre them all before thee crieng and saieng O Lord cleanse me from my sinnes for I am vncleane and filthie before thee Increase therefore thy light in me that I may be a vessell of thy grace kindle my hart with thy loue put out all feare for perfect loue expelleth feare Let the loue of the world the loue of the flesh the loue of vaine-glorie and the loue of my selfe vtterlie depart from me that I may through thy mercie be cleansed from mine iniquities by the which I haue offended thee Cleanse me therefore O Lord with the water of thy gratious fauour of which water he that drinketh shall no more thirst but it shall be made in him a fountaine of liuing water running and flowing into eternall life Cleanse mee I saie O Lord with the water of thy weeping teares cleanse me with the comfortable waters of thy sacred Scriptures that I may be numbred among them vnto whome thou saiedst Now are yee cleane through the words that I haue spoken to you AMEN Z ZACHE was a perfect man and thou Lord saiedst vnto him when he was in the figtree ZACHE come downe for to daie I will come into thy house and he came downe and ioifullie receiued thee Luke 19 verse 5. O Mercifull God how manie sinnes haue I don in thy sight which I would in no wise haue done before mortall men I feared men more than thee because I was blind and loued blindnesse I had onlie eies of flesh therfore did I onlie feare and looke on men which are flesh O my God behold I stand before thy face that I might finde mercie I stand before thy goodnesse and benignitie looking for thy fauorable answere haue mercie therefore on me Thou saiedst to Zache This daie I will abide in thy house and he ioifullie receiuing thee said Lord the halfe of my goods I giue to the poore and if I haue done anie man wrong I will restore him fourefold But Lord Iesu I will not part halfe that I haue but I bequeath my selfe wholie vnto thee reseruing nothing from thee promising to serue thee for euer with a cleane and pure hart O sweet Lord Iesus what sawest thou in Zache euen thine owne image for he had cast off the image of the diuell which before was on him and had put on him thine image If then thou didst see in Zache by putting from him the image of the diuell that which did drawe thee to his house take then from me sweet Iesus all my sinnes and wickednesse all I praie thee that none may remaine in me which may keepe thee from me that I may put off as Zache did that euill which is in me that thou maist see in me which thou sawest in Zache that when thou shalt call me out of the figtree of this miserable world thou maist saie vnto me Come downe for this daie I will abide with thee AMEN A A Pure heart create in me ô GOD and a right spirit renew within me Psalme 51 verse 10. ALas my Lord and Sauiour my hart hath forsaken thee it is turned from thee and is gone astraie it is wandered into strange countries and ensueth vanities hir eies are in the vttermost part of the world It is lost gone and sold vnder sinne It is stonie yea harder than the Flint or Adamant stone which relented and yeelded at thy sonnes death What now Lord What shall I saie A pure hart create in me a fleshie hart a mollified and soft hart an humble hart a penitent hart a mercifull hart a deuout hart a religious and zealous hart yea and such a hart as will loue thee aboue all things Create therefore good Lord such a hart in me that it may be of such efficacie through thy grace as nature is not able to make it Giue me also a right spirit that I may loue and worship thee which art the chiefe and principall spirit For thou art a spirit and wilt be worshipped in spirit and veritie My soule good Lord is also a spirit and so made of thee that of it selfe it is right For of hir owne nature she loueth thee aboue hir selfe and desireth all things for thy glorie so that hir owne naturall loue is right because it commeth of thee Make stedfast therefore in me O Lord through thy gratious fauour this spirit that it may according to his owne nature leade and keepe me in the waie of thy commandements and that by it my heart may be so inflamed with heauenlie loue that it may cause me to sigh vnto thee to embrace thee continuallie and neuer to forsake thee but alwaies to be firme and constant in thee Giue me therefore an vpright spirit not seeking hir owne glorie but thy will and glorie Renew it in me I praie thee good Lord renew it I saie for my sins haue quenched the first that thou gauest me AMEN B BEhold LORD against thee onlie haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight that thou maist be iustified in thy words and maist ouercome when thou art iudged Psalme 51 verse 4. TO thee onlie O Lord it is proper to forgiue and to be mercifull for through mercie and forgiuenesse thou dooest declare thine almightinesse I graunt therefore Lord and confesse that against thee onlie I haue offended and haue done that which is euill in thy sight Haue mercie therefore on me O Lord haue mercie Expresse and shewe foorth thine omnipotencie in me that thou maist be iustified in thy words For it is written Thou camest not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Graunt me therefore good Lord a true repentant hart and iustifie me according to thy words Call me receiue me and giue me thy grace so that thereby I may do the works of repentance Thou saiedst When I am lifted vp from the earth I will drawe all vnto my selfe Uerifie Lord the words on me drawe me after thee and let me run with thee in the sweetenesse of thine ointments Againe thou saiedst Come vnto me all yee that labour and are loden and I will ease you Behold my Lord and my God I a sinner do come vnto thee all loden with sinnes daie and night labouring in the sorowe of my hart for thy grace and mercie Refresh and ease me therefore good Lord that thou maist be iustified and proued when thou art iudged For there are manie which saie There is no helpe for him in his God Ouercome Lord these persons when thou art thus iudged of them and forsake not me at anie time but giue to me thy creature thy mercie and pardon and then are they vanquished which
saie There is no helpe for him in his God AMEN E EStablish me ô LORD with a free and principall spirit and restore vnto mee the ioie of thy sauing health Psalme 51 verse 12. IT is a great thing O heauenlie father that I desire of thee seeing thou art a great Lord and King aboue all gods He doth thee iniurie which asketh of thee small things and he which asketh of thee bodilie things asketh but vaine trifles He therefore that desireth spirituall things desireth great things but he that desireth thy ioie and sauing health desireth the greatest thing thou hast to giue What is thy sauing health but Iesus Christ thy onlie sonne which is verie God and euerlasting life And forsomuch as thou hast bin so louing and liberall a father as to giue him vnto the death of the crosse and there to offer him for me why should I be ashamed to aske him of thee whome thou hast giuen for me Giue me therefore thy principall spirit that I may reioice in thy sauing health And forsomuch as in thy holie word thou biddest me aske and knocke euen till I see me importunate and what can I aske that should be more wholesome to me than that thou shouldest make me reioice in thy sonne our sauing health I will therfore continuallie crie to thee saieng Make me againe to reioice in thy sauing helth and restore to me againe the thing which my sinnes haue lost Restore to me that which through my fault is perished in me Restore me I beseech thee for his mercies sake that euer sitteth on thy right hand and maketh intercession for me that by his gratious fauour I may at my last end enioie the fruitfull benefite of thy sauing health AMEN T THov euer ô LORD hast loued truth and the vnknowne things of thy wisdome hast thou reuealed vnto mee Psalme 51. verse 6. WHat meaneth it to saie Thou louest truth but that of thy gratious mercie thou makest vs promises and fulfillest them for thy truths sake Thou didst promise vnto Abraham a sonne when he was aged thou fulfilledst thy promise in old and barren Sara because thou louest truth Thou madest promise vnto Dauid thy seruant saieng Of the fruit of thy bodie will I set vpon the regall throne and it came to passe because thou louest truth Thou hast promised vnto sinners which will come vnto thee forgiuenesse and fauour and thou hast neuer defrauded anie man for thou louest truth There are other innumerable promises in the which thou hast euer bene faithfull because thou louest truth Loue therefore O father of mercies this truth in me which with repentant hart turneth to thee Behold therefore thy creature in whome thou maist keepe it and to whome thou maist forgiue manie sinnes Spare good Lord spare thy seruant and command me to be of the number of the babes that the vnknowne things of thy wisdome which thou hast opened vnto me may lead me vnto the fountaine of wisdome which is on high that thou maist be praised in the works of thy mercie which thou dooest exercise towards thy seruant O LORD which neuer forsakest them that trust in thee AMEN H HAddest thou ô LORD desired sacrifice I would haue giuen it thee but thou delightest not in burnt offerings Psalme 51. verse 16. MY mouth Lord shall shew foorth thy glorious fame For I knowe it to be most acceptable before thee seeing thou hast declared it by the mouth of the Prophet saieng The sacrifice of praise shall glorifie me by which meane saith the Lord I shall be entised to shew him my sauing health Psal 48. Therefore will I offer praise vnto thee for my sinnes euen the praise of infants and sucklings And why shall I offer praise for my sinnes rather than sacrifice Bicause thou delightest not in burnt sacrifice For if thou hadst desired sacrifice I had surelie offered them but thou delightest not in them And againe thou saiedst I require mercie and not sacrifice Ose 6. Therefore my mouth shall shew foorth thy praise bicause thereby I doo shew foorth thy honour and it sheweth me through thy grace the waie to my sauing health O Lord thou madest the bodie for the spirit therfore seekest thou spirituall things and not bodilie things For thou saiest My sonne giue thy hart vnto me Prou. 23. which is the sacrifice that pleaseth thee Let me therefore offer vnto thee O Lord a hart repenting and sorrowing for my sinnes and inflame it with a desired loue of heauenlie things and then wilt thou desire no more of me for with such sacrifices wilt thou O Lord be pleased AMEN REGINA R REbuke me not ô LORD in thine anger neither chasten thou mee in thy heauie displeasure but haue thou mercie on me for I am weake and in miserie Psalme 6 verse 1. MY sinnes O Lord are so manie that the burden of them hath weakened me My bones are so bruised my sinewes are so shrunken my strength so faileth me the rod of thy displeasure hath so chastened me that I feele no helpe in my selfe I appeale therfore O Lord to thy mercie crieng out with the prodigall and vnthriftie sonne saieng O Father I haue sinned against heauen and before thee haue mercie therefore haue mercie on me not bicause I haue deserued thy mercie but bicause thou art mercifull Sith therefore thou art mercifull what art thou but euen the verie mercie it selfe And what am I but verie miserie Behold therefore O God which art mercie behold miserie is before thee What shalt thou doo O mercie Trulie thy works Canst thou go backe from thy nature And what is thy nature Uerelie to take awaie miserie Haue mercie therefore on mee O God God which art mercie take awaie my miserie for the depth of miserie requireth the depth of mercie The depth of sinne requireth the depth of grace and fauour Greater is the depth of mercie than the depth of miserie Let therfore good Lord the one depth swallowe vp the other Let the bottomlesse depth of mercie swallowe vp the depth of miserie AMEN E EXcept LORD the praier of thy seruant as thou diddest the praier of Cornelius and cast me not confused from thy presence Acts 10 verse 6. O Sweet Iesus who euer came to thee with a pure and stedfast faith and went awaie confused Or who euer desired thy fauour and went without it Surelie thou passest in thine abundant pitie both the deseruings and also the desires of them that praie vnto thee For thou giuest more than man can desire The woman of Canaan followed thee she cried and made a pitious noise she mooued thy Disciples to compassion worshipped thee and said Lord helpe me but yet wouldest thou not answere Yet shee trusting in thy mercie praied againe saieng Lord helpe me Unto whose importunitie thou diddest answere saieng It is not good to take the childrens bread and cast it vnto dogs O Lord who would not haue beene confounded and haue gotten him awaie at these thy words And yet
did this woman continue still in praier and said It is truth Lord that thou saiest it is not meete to cast the childrens bread vnto dogs But yet Lord the dogs doo eate of the crums which fall from the childrens table And thou Lord reioicing in hir great constancie didst saie O woman great is thy faith be it vnto thee as thou desirest Now therefore sweet and mercifull Lord Iesu as thou diddest vouchsafe to accept and heare the praier of Cornelius and of this woman of Canaan so I hartilie beseech thee to heare my humble praiers which I make daie and night before thee not onelie that thou shouldest deliuer me from bodilie oppressions but also from the spirituall power of the diuell that after this mortall life I may come to thy blessed presence in the euerlasting kingdome where thou reignest God with the Father and the holie Ghost AMEN G GIue eare Ô LORD and let all my sorrowfull complaints which go foorth of vnfeined lips come before thee that my mouth may shew foorth the woorthie praise of thy name Psalme 17. verse 1. THy praise is a great thing O Lord for it proceedeth out of the fountaine whereof no sinners drinke There is no glorious praise in the mouth of a sinner Deliuer me therefore O Lord from the waie of sinners and my tongue shall magnifie thy righteousnesse and my lips and my mouth shall shew foorth thy praise Thou hast the key of Dauid which shuttest and no man openeth and openest and no man shutteth Therefore open thou my lips as thou hast opened the mouths of infants out of whose mouths thou hast established thy praise Trulie the Prophets and Apostles and all other thy Saints praised thee despised themselues The sucklings extoll thy fame and glorie which they knowe through thy heauenlie and celestiall grace Thy friends which spreading thy glorie haue conuerted innumerable soules from sinne vnto vertue and true felicitie Thy beloued haue openlie preached thy bountious gentlenesse and mercifull fauour which thou shewest in thy deere sonne vnto all the world Now therefore mercifull God giue me true humilitie that thou maist stablish thy praise by my mouth Make me as one of the infants and sucklings that I may euer hang on the paps of thy wisdome For thy paps O Lord are better than wine and thy wisdome better than riches Make me as one of thy friends or beloued that I may constantlie abide in thee that my mouth and voice may among the sucklings extoll and set foorth thy praise saieng and singing Ozanna in the highest AMEN I I Am filthie and vncleane before thee Ô LORD If thou therefore sprinkle me with Isope I shall be cleane If thou wash me I shall be whiter than snowe Psalme 51. verse 7. I Sope Lord is a lowe herbe it is hot and of a good sauour which signifieth nothing else but thine onlie sonne Iesus Christ which humbled himselfe vnto death euen vnto the death of the Crosse which with the heate of his feruent loue loued vs and washed vs from our sinnes in his bloud which also with the redolent and sweet sauor of his beneuolence and righteousnesse hath replenished the world Therefore with this Isope shalt thou O holie Father sprinkle me when thou shalt powre vpon me the vertue and bloud of thy deere sonne Christ when he through faith shall dwell in me when through loue I am ioined with him when I shall imitate and followe his humilitie and passion then shall I be cleansed from all mine vncleannesse Then shalt thou wash me with mine owne teares which flowe out of the loue of thy sonne Christ Then shall I sigh till I be wearie then shall I water my bed euerie night with my teares so that it shall swimme in them and then Lord shalt thou wash me and I shall be whiter than snowe AMEN N NOT euerie one that saith to me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but he that doth the will of my father which is in heauen Matth. 7 verse 21. THy will is O heauenlie father that we do beleeue in thy beloued sonne whome thou hast sent Thy will is that we beleeue that he whome thou hast sent is come in the flesh And thy will is that we imitate and keepe his saieng Thy will is also that we should heare him For thou spakest from heauen saieng This is my welbeloued Sonne in whome I delight heare him Giue me therefore O heauenlie father a stedfast faith a strong faith yea such a faith that no tribulation that no vexation that no persecution may cause me to denie thy Son whom thou hast sent but that I may with a pure and constant faith confesse him to be come in the flesh for the redemption of the world and that I may imitate and folowe him that I may keepe his saieng who was deliuered for my sinnes and was raised againe for my iustification Giue me also O holie father a perfect hearing and not a corrupt hearing but that I may through the teaching of the holie Ghost heare thee out of the Prophets out of the Apostles out of the pen of the Euangelists and out of the mouth of thy Spouse the Catholike Church to whome thou saiedst I will send you a comforter euen my spirit which shall leade you into all truth Grant me O Lord this spirit for there is none that can saie Iesus is the Lord but by this thy holie spirit AMEN A A Sacrifice to God is a troubled spirit a contrite and humble hart ô GOD shalt thou not despise Psalme 51. verse 17. A Broken and troubled spirit and not broken and troubled flesh pleaseth thee O Lord. For the flesh is broken and vexed because it hath not the carnall things that it desireth or else feeleth in it selfe things which it hateth The spirit is broken and vnquieted for his fault because it hath offended against God whom it loueth He soroweth that he hath sinned against his maker and redeemer and that he hath not regarded such a good and louing father This broken and sorowing spirit is vnto thee O Lord a sacrifice of most sweet sauour which notwithstanding hath his confection of most bitter spices euen of the remembrance of his sinnes For when our sinnes are gathered together into the morter of the hart and beaten with the pestle of compunction and made into powder and moistened with the water of teares therof is made an ointment and sacrifice most sweet which being offered to thee O Lord thou wilt not despise Marie Magdalen which was a great sinner made such an ointment and put it into the Alablaster boxe of hir hart She feared not to enter into the Pharises house and there humbling hir selfe at thy feete sweet Lord washed them with hir teares wiped them with hir heare and annointed them with most pretious ointment and ceassed not to kisse them Surelie Lord hir sacrifice was right acceptable and pleased thee so that thou preferredst it aboue the Pharisie which
in his owne sight was righteous O Lord great is thy power great is thy might which declareth it selfe most chieflie in sparing and hauing compassion on sinners shewing to vs that a contrite and humble hart thou wilt not despise Accept therefore sweete Lord Iesu this my sacrifice of praise proceeding out of a broken and sorowfull hart And if it be vnperfect amend thou the fault mercifull Lord which onlie art of power to doo it that it may be an holie and acceptable sacrifice inflamed with the feruent heate of thy bountious charitie that it may be acceptable vnto thee or at the least that thou despise it not I knowe well that I shall find fauour in thy sight and that heereafter none of thy Saincts either in heauen or in earth shall despise me Accomplish therefore in me euen now O Lord that which I so oft do craue of thee which is that thou wilt haue compassion on me according to thy great mercie and that also thou wilt receiue me for a sacrifice of righteousnesse for a holie oblation for a burnt sacrifice of good liuing and for a Calfe to be offered vpon thine Altar or Crosse by the which I may passe this vale of miserie vnto that ioie which thou preparest for them that loue thee AMEN * ANOTHER ELIZABETH E ENgraue thy lawes in the depth of my heart O Lord that being instructed in thy commandements I may serue thee in feare and reioice in thee with trembling and take hold vpon thy discipline in all things least at anie time thou become angrie and I perish from the right waie Amen L LORD giue me helpe from my trouble for vaine is the helpe of man in thee I haue strength and thou bringest vnto nothing those things which trouble me let my soule be subiect vnto thee For from thee proceedeth my patience For thou art my God and Sauiour my helper and I will not depart from thee In thee is my helth and my glorie thou art the God of my helpe and my helpe is in thee Amen I I Haue broken thy fold and wandered long as a lost sheepe let me returne O Lord bicause I haue not forgotten thy commandements The misdeeds and ignorances of my tender yeers remember not Lord but according to thy mercie haue mind on me For thy goodnesse O Lord keepe my soule and deliuer me let me not be ashamed bicause I haue trusted in thee Turne my heauinesse into ioie cut off my sacke of sorowes and gird me with gladnes that my glorie may signe vnto thee and I shall not be greeued Z ZORobabel King of Iuda in the depth of thy displeasure tasted of thy mercie and receiued by the mouth of Aggeus thy Prophet sweete comfort and knowledge of thy fauour and grace yea after thy determination to destroie the whole kingdome of the heathen thy right hand did preserue him and thine incomparable mercie did choose him for a seale to thy selfe Lord this happie King in thy goodnesse was but an earthlie creature and then could he haue no righteousnesse in himselfe to moue such thy compassion If it proceeded from the multitude of thy mercies that surmount the iniquities of the whole world and that thou didst onlie vouchsafe to behold in him the image of thy selfe bow downe thine eies Lord and behold the selfe-same in me Certifie my conscience with remission of my sinnes that my sorowfull soule may be at rest within me Send downe thy holie spirit to remaine with me that I may become with that good King thy chosen seale and seruant and so graunt thy people that I may with them and they with me neuer deserue further than to tast of thy rod of fauorable correction but that all my labours and studies may euer bend to the performance of thy holie will and discharge of my dutie Amen A ARise and illuminate my mind most benigne Sauiour that I sleepe not at anie time in death least mine enimies saie they haue preuailed against me They which trouble me will be glad if I be cast downe but I haue fixed my hope in thy mercie Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for no liuing creature shall be iustified in thy sight I will euer looke vpon the Lord for he shal be on my right hand that I be not mooued For this my hart is glad and my tongue reioiceth yea moreouer my flesh shall rest in hope Amen B BE thou vnto me O Lord in the daie time a defendour and in the night season a place of refuge that thou maist saue me for thou art my strength and vnto thee I flie Lord God deliuer me from the hand of sinners and from the Lawe-breaker and the wicked dooer for thou Lord art my patience thou art my hope euen from my youth In thee I am confirmed euen from my mothers wombe thou art my protector in thee shall be my song for euer and euer Amen E EUER my tongue shall be telling of thy rich mercie and woonderous works O Lord for thou hast caused me to passe through fire and water and led me into a fresh place thou hast giuen my soule life and hast not suffered my feete to fall According to the multitude of my sorowes thy comforts haue made my soule merrie My soule is like a Sparowe taken out of the Fowlers snare Thou hast deliuered my life from death and my hands from bloud that I may please thee O Lord in the light of the liuing Amen T THOU art iust O Lord and all thy commandements be true and all thy waies mercie truth and iudgement And now Lord be mindfull of me take not reuengement of my sinnes remember not mine offences neither the offences of my fathers because we haue not obeied thy precepts Giue me an hart of vnderstanding and set thy feare alwaies before mine eies that I may be obedient in word deed and thought to all that is thy will Lord giue vnto me the power of thy holie spirit to rule and gouerne thy people committed to my charge in all godlie feare and knowledge of thy word and that I may be vnto them an example in all godlinesse and vertue to the praise of thy holie name Amen H HEALE me Lord and I shall be healed saue me and I shall be saued My life cleaueth vnto the earth Quicken me according to thy word according to thy mercie releeue me and I will keepe the testimonies of thy lips Helpe me Lord so shall I be safe and I will from hencefoorth studie thy righteousnesse Thy mercies are manie O Lord according to thy word restore my health AMEN REGINA R REgard my praiers O thou God of my life leaue me not in the thoughts of euill Deliuer me from the wicked man let not the foote of pride come vpon me and to vaine-glorie giue me not Take from me all sinfull lusts let no desire of vncleannesse take hold vpon me giue me not ouer to an vnshamefast and obstinate mind but correct me in thy mercie
for into thy hands I commit me Amen E ENter thy iudgements in the tables of my hart destroie mine affections with thy loue send thy wisdome from the holie heauens and from the seate of thy Maiestie that she may be with me and labour with me that I may knowe what thing is acceptable before thee and may iudge the people righteouslie and discerne betweene good and euill G GRatious Lord thou that art the most high God aboue all the earth long-suffering and of much mercie sorowing the sinnes of man and of thy great goodnesse hast promised to the penitent remission of sinnes Lord I haue sinned mine iniquitie is multiplied aboue the sands of the sea and there is no hope of life in me because I haue stirred thee to anger in multiplieng offences before thee And now O Lord trusting in thy mercie I bow the knees of my hart beseeching thee of thy goodnesse destroie me not togither with mine iniquitie For the dead whose soules are out of their bodies can neither praise nor thanke thee but the sorowfull hart and the thirstie soule ascribe praise vnto thee O Lord I powre my praiers before thee and require mercie in thy sight saue me which am vnwoorthie and reserue not eternall punishment for mee For thine owne sake I aske it and will praise thee all the daies of my life Amen I ILluminate my hart O Lord with the light of thy word leade me Lord in thy waie and I shall enter into thy truth Print thy feare in my hart that I may reioice in thee Let thy word be a lanterne vnto my feet and a lampe of light vnto my paths so shall I not erre from the right waie but walke like a pure and wise virgin with an vpright hart chaste mind and cleane conscience and single eie before thee this daie and euermore Amen N NEuer will I cease to call vpon thee most mightie God of hosts which sittest vpon the Cherubins and hast dominion ouer all the kingdoms of the earth Thou which madest the heauens all things comprehended in them bow downe thine eare and heare open thine eies and behold saue mee from the hand of mine aduersaries suffer no euill to happen vnto me that all the people may knowe that thou alone art my God Amen A ASsist mee O Lord my God with thy heauenlie grace and renew in mee a right spirit that I may receiue strength ablenesse to doo thy righteous will and to stand against all the assaults of wilie Satan that they may haue no place in mee but that the old man which I beare about in my bodie may be crucified and dailie die in me that the desire of sinne errour and of worldlie vanities may vtterlie be destroied that I may euermore be renewed in the spirit of my mind that the life of my Sauiour Christ may alwaies appeare in me to whome with the Father and the holie Ghost be all honour triumph and glorie for euer and euer Amen The versicle EUen now and euer vouchsafe O LORD for thy deere sonnes sake to heare my humble petitions The answere REceiue my praiers I saie O GOD and in thy truth and mercie pardon mine offences and grant mee thy grace The Collect. O Emanuel my Lord and my GOD Iesus Christ sonne of the pure virgin Marie thou art not onelie the sweete spouse of my soule but with God the Father a most meeke Mediatour full of mercie and truth Wash awaie my sinnes with the most pretious bloud of thy holie passion make me rich in thy mercie and my faith so strong in thee that assisted with thy grace and holie spirit to all duties and works in this life towards thee I may enioie afterwards the glorie of thy blessed kingdome with thy holie Saints and pure Uirgins in euerlasting honour and triumph Amen The Praier O Roote of Iesse my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ which hast redeemed all mankind from sinne death and hell thou which hast said I am the waie truth and life The waie in doctrine commandements and examples truth in promises life in reward I praie thee by thine ineffable loue wherewith thou hast vouchsafed wholie to bestowe thy selfe for our securitie that thou wilt not suffer me euer to straie from thee bicause thou art the waie nor at anie time to distrust thy promses which art the truth and performest whatsoeuer thou promisest neither let me rest in anie other thing bicause thou art eternall life without the which there is nothing that ought to be desired neither in heauen nor in earth By thee we learne the sure and expedient passage vnto true helth that we wander no longer in the Laberinth of this world Thou hast exactlie taught what to beleeue and what to doo what to hope for and in whom we ought to rest By thee wee learne how wee were of that first Adam vnfortunatelie borne by thee we are assured there is no hope of health but through faith in thee that thou art the onlie brightnesse which giuest light to all men trauelling the darke desarts of this world where is nothing but a profound dimnesse wherby we neither see our calamities nor frō whence we ought to seeke remedie of our euill Thou vouchsafedst to descend into the earth disdainedst not to take our nature vpon thee that by thy doctrine thou mightest shake off the dimnesse of our ignorance by thy commandements mightest direct our feete in the waie of truth peace By the examples of thy life thou hast shewed vs the waie to immortalitie and by thy steps hast restored to vs a plaine easie profitable waie out of an vneeuen and rough waie So thou art made vnto vs a waie which knoweth no error in the which least we should be wearie thou hast vouchsafed to vphold vs in thy benignitie with great sure promises For who can be wearie accounting himselfe redie through thy steps to enter thy heauenlie heritage Therefore whilest we be in this iournie thou wouldest be a sure hope vnto vs to be in steed of a staffe vnto vs wherewith we are sustained Neither was thy goodnes content with this but knowing the weaknesse of our flesh in the meane while with the comfort of thy spirit dooest so refresh our strength whereby we run cheerefullie And as thou being made vnto vs the waie dooest driue awaie all errour so being truth dooest thou take awaie all distrust Finallie being made life vnto vs dooest reuiue the dead in sinne to liue by thy spirit releeuing all things vntill in the resurrection all mortalitie vtterlie abolished we may alwaies liue with thee and in thee when Christ shall be to vs all in all For eternall life is to knowe the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost to be one true God where now thorough faith we behold onlie in a glasse and riddle And then seeing more felowlie the glorie of the Lord wee shall be transformed into the same image Therefore I beseech thee most mercifull Sauiour that
if thou carefullie behaue thy selfe walke in the waies that I haue commanded thou shalt be woorthilie honored indeed with that name wherby mine authoritie ouer all men is declared and I thy GOD and heauenlie Father will imbrace thee with my speciall fauour as my deerelie beloued Dooue and obedient child Yea so shall the KING haue pleasure in thy fairenes and loue thy goodlie personage and it shall come to passe that thou shalt bee more and more in the high fauour of thy spirituall spouse Christ my sonne to whom onlie it is meete that thou shouldst be subiect as to thy souereigne Lord King and head and vnder whose gouernement thou shalt remaine most honourable and admirable for the singular and vnspeakeable gifts of his grace to all maner of people strangers others of whom euen the most mightie and most rich shall desire to see thee and to be linked in friendship with thee For then shalt thou come foorth of thy princelie yuorie palace and statelie roiall throne most gloriouslie adorned with gorgious garments and roiall robes that smell most fragrantlie and yeeld their sweete sauours and odoriferous odours most pleasantlie spred ouer all those men and people who to declare their ioie and good-wils towards thee shall run and presse togither by thousands to see praise and extoll thy renowmed name and Maiestie crieng alowd and saieng GOD saue the QVEENE To conclude here in my house the Church thou shalt see thy children and offspring who by publishing and promoting my Gospell thou hast borne after a maner vnto thy husband Christ flourishing and spred both abroad and at home and nothing inferiour vnto those thy most noble Elders reigning ouer the prouinces of the whole world But at home chieflie euen in heauen with mee thy Father and with thy husband Christ thou shalt sit at my right hand beautified with all my gifts and most richlie beedecked all ouer with glorious garments broidered with gold hauing a crowne of most pure gold vpon thy head Euen thus roiallie I saie shalt thou then O Uirgin ô QVEENE O deerlie beloued Daughter be set before the KING thy husband with such and so pretious apparell the Uirgins thy companions waiting vpon thee and going with thee vnto the most glorious KING of kings whilest that you altogither with most great triumph mirth ioie reioicing shall enter into the highest mansion of the heauenlie Paradise most holie palace there to enioie a most certaine vnchangeable and euerlasting kingdome glorie dignitie blisse and felicitie and to sing praises vnto the name of the holie Trinitie together with all Kings Queenes Saints Uirgins and elect people of the world that euer were are or shall bee worlds without end The Queenes Vow or selfe-talke with GOD Collected out of the Psalmes of the princelie Prophet King DAVID as they are paraphrasticallie expounded by that godlie learned man THEODORE BEZA Wherein the Queenes Maiestie after a most Christian maner euen with Dauids spirit his sweet words and diuine sentences first inciteth prepareth hir hart and mind to deuotion Secondlie acknowledgeth the omnipotent power of God ouer all kings kingdoms and creatures and after a true rehearsall of his manifold benefits bestowed vpon hir from hir birth with an acknowledgement of hir souereigntie to come onelie from the Lord she thirdlie confesseth hir vnwoorthinesse and reioiceth greatlie in his protection and mercie towards hir since hir comming to the Crowne Fourthlie hauing his wonderous works and benefits done for hir preseruation in great admiration shee not onelie yeeldeth condigne thanks for the same but exhorteth all creatures both in heauen and earth to praise God together with hir And so lastlie she bindeth hir selfe as it were by a solemne oth vow and promise to consecrate hir life wholie to the true worship and sincere seruice of God in all holie obedience to his lawes to the glorie of God and full discharge of hir dutie both in hir Court and Realme * The first part of the VOW RABBONI my hart so voileth within mee that I must needes burst foorth that which it hath conceiued euen a magnifical Uow of a QVEENE consecrated to the KING of heauen himselfe and that with such zeale and feruencie that no penne may seeme to be able to attaine vnto the voice of the speaker Therefore O my God I being now prepared with my whole hart with my whole hart and mind I saie haue great desire to speake vnto thee and in this my present most happie estate to call into my remembrance thy woonderfull works wrought and brought to passe by thine almightie power for me from my conception euen vntill this houre Neither will I doo it O Lord with my mouth onlie as hypocrites vse to doo but I will vnfeinedlie testifie thee my God to be mine onlie maker redeemer preseruer and Sauiour with praise that shall proceed euen from the deepe bottome of my hart Go to then my tongue go to my mouth I saie bee thou no longer dumbe but open thy selfe wide to speake out the most excellent praises of my God and make thy hartie Uowes and saie as followeth The second part conteining foure Chapters CAP. I. O Heauenlie Father my almightie maker my greatest King mine onlie GOD and souereigne Sauiour thou which art the King of glorie and most glorious King the Lord of hosts strong valiant and mightie whose seate is in the highest heauens and thy dominion is stretched foorth ouer all things without exception I humblie acknowledge thee to be the verie God of Angels and of men the most sacred Emperour of the most mightie spirits and holie companie of the heauenlie armies which celebrate thy truth and praise perpetuallie in the regions aboue vs yea the greatest God highest Lord and most magnificall King far aboue all Emperours Kings Lords and Princes how great soeuer Euen the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob and of my father Dauid and his posteritie Kings and Queenes my predecessors which art higher than the heauens and the mightie Monarch of the whole world hauing of nothing made heauen and earth and all things therein by thine almightie power guiding preseruing and ruling by the same the state of kingdoms and all the creatures and people that dwell in the world reseruing in thy power and authoritie as the Lord of all both the lowe secret parts of the earth the deepe bottoms of the Sea and the high tops of the mountaines reigning euer full of Maiestie power and authoritie and that most gloriouslie and triumphantlie in an eternall and euerlasting kingdome For whereas all other kingdoms trulie are transitorie and subiect to destruction thy kingdome onlie O God I confesse is not limited in anie bounds nor subiect to anie tearme of yeares or time but alwaies endureth one and vnchangeable from all eternitie to eternitie as he whose throne is for euer and euer and which hast raised a kingdome for thy selfe among thine Angels and people both in heauen and in
permanent vnchangable and vnmooueable lift vp the head of thine handmaid as it were of an Unicorne being annointed by thee with fresh oile and laden with new benefits continuallie Thou art he I saie by whose power consisteth whatsoeuer is high in the world euen by thy might which as it establisheth the kingdoms and policies whereby mankind is preserued so also by these testimonies of thy most mightie power the inhabitants of the earth being conuinced doo tremble and keepe silence And this peace being restored in my dominion thou causest that my people againe doo leade their liues both daie and night in comfortable peace godlie tranquillitie Wherefore thou hast giuen me great cause of new ioie and to reioice in thee O Lord my God who hast thus mercifullie dealt with me thine handmaid and especiallie bicause thou hast granted vnto me to ouercome all mine enimies how manie and how mightie soeuer and to compose and set my kingdome in peaceable order and to place in Iuda the throne of iudgement and iustice being directed by thy word O GOD which I haue and whereof I glorie still will glorie To conclude I doo reioice bicause thou Lord art my louing shepheard and feedest me in the greene pastures and sweet medowes of thy word with ioie and solace making me that was sometime as a barren woman without comfort now a ioifull and glad foster mother of manie spirituall children to thee Yea euen in the verie sight of mine enimies dooest thou O most bountifull Father prepare a deintie table for me and reaching vnto me a full cup thou giuest me drinke of thy pleasant springs and causest thy goodnesse and mercie thy bountie and liberalitie to followe me wheresoeuer I become blessing both me and my people with all thy blessings continuallie Finallie it is thou O Lord onlie who of thy singular goodnesse hast assuredlie fortified my hill woonderfullie with honour health peace and securitie and that dooest presentlie keepe me in safetie and causest me quietlie to lie downe and take my rest in thee Thou doost ward the gates of my Cities with bars and mightilie multiplie and cherish thy familie my citizens Thou bringest me into amitie with my neighbors and feedest me with the finest flower of wheate And these things verelie doo testifie most plainlie both thine infinite goodnesse and power yet surelie they are nothing in comparison of that benefit of the doctrine of saluation and holie word which thou hast bestowed vpon thy people and deliuered vnto vs as a rule to lead our liues both godlie and honestlie neither is there anie nation vnder heauen with whom thou hast so dealt as with vs herein Therfore hauing such experience of thy support I will comfort my selfe in thee my strength my shield in whom my hart doth rest neither will thine Annointed trust in anie other but onelie in thee which giuest power vnto Princes Euen I will blesse and praise thee O Lord which thus hast blessed both me and my people with thy continuall blessings And in this my present blessed state I will not cease to magnifie thee O Lord my deliuerer but I will declare set foorth before all people the maruellous works which thou my God hast done for me and whereof I my selfe from the beginning of my life vnto this houre haue had good proofe experience The fourth part of the Vow conteining fiue Chapters CAP. I. OH Lord my God how excellent is thy name ouer all the earth Aduancing mee thus to glorie far aboue my deserts I as one nothing able to compasse such great mercies am euen astonished with the admiration of thine excellent liberalitie and fatherlie prouidence ouer me O how greatlie doo these so manie and so great benefits binde me vnto thee And what shall I giue againe vnto thee for all thy bountie which thou hast bestowed vpon me Uerelie I will paie that which onlie I am able namelie I will take in my hands the Lampe which thou hast ordeined for thine annointed and will therein continuallie magnifie thy mercie I will take in my hands I saie the cup of thankefull sacrifice and calling vpon thee by name O Lord I will testifie openlie that I knowledge this my deliuerance and honour to be onelie of thee And those things which I vowed vnto thee O Lord when I was in danger will I now paie in the presence of all the people For thou art he by whose benefit I remaine aliue thou art my defence my tower my sauiour my sheeld my refuge finallie thou art he who onelie hast subdued all this people vnto me and therefore well deseruest the renowme and praise of all these victories by most worthie right Wherefore by good right O Lord I will declare thy praises euen with a sounding voice And bicause it becommeth all men and women that haue receiued benefits of thee and to whome thou grantest the vse of this life and deliuered from so manie not dangers but deaths to doo this thing diligentlie and continuallie I will labour to commit the memoriall of thy benefits vnto others and exhort them to accompanie me in the dutie of thankefulnesse earnestlie and saie CAP. II. O All yee holie spirits the apparitors of the Lords Maiestie which are diuided into innumerable garrisons go yee before others in this his praise and sound them foorth euen from the most high heauen O yee Citizens of Zion reioice yee in the Lord your King and Gouernour and set foorth his praise far and wide not onlie priuatelie but also publikelie Praise the Lord I saie for his infinite goodnesse and euerlasting mercie deserueth the same O you the innumerable multitude whome God hath deliuered out of manifold dangers and foorth of the hands of your enimies and persecutors praise the Lord for his infinite goodnesse and euerlasting mercie deserueth the same and acknowledge this thing with me For how manie hath he gathered from the beginning of the world which were scattered from the East and the West from the North and South Ocean sea How manie wandering wretches in the waste wildernesse and seeking a Citie commodious to dwell in halfe dead and killed with famine and thirst crieng vnto thee O God in their extreame miseries hast thou heard and drawing them foorth of their distresse hast brought into the right waie and led them into commodious Cities of refuge to dwell in peace O let these men therefore set foorth this thy great mercie before thee O Lord thy selfe and shew foorth thy maruellous works to other men who hast thus refreshed them panting for thirst and fed them so mercifullie being hunger-starued How manie also being shut vp in darke prisons and euen as it were in the darkenesse of death being chained in their mind with sorow and in their bodies most strictlie with iron fetters And that worthilie I confesse because they did not obeie thy commandements oh God which are engrauen in the minds of all men but rather followed their owne lusts than the wholesome counselles
Lord with the hyssope of true repentance and sorowfull contrition that being clensed in the most cleere fountaine of thy grace I may be whiter than snowe and also bee able euer hereafter to serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of liuing through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Wash your hands yee sinners and cleanse your harts ye wauering minded Isaias 4 verse 8. I will wash my hands in innocencie ô Lord and so will I go to thine altar Psal 26 verse 6. Or else praie thus HAue mercie vpon mee O God and pardon the wicked deeds which my hands haue committed Wash my soule with the holie fountaine or well which I beleeue did flow from thy hart and naked side and sanctifie and purifie not onlie my hands and face from filth but my hart soule and conscience also from all contagion of sinne and iniquitie that I may be pure both in bodie and soule and serue thee in holinesse and puritie all the daies of my life So be it Though I wash my selfe with snowe water and purge my hands most cleane yet shalt thou plunge me in the pit and mine owne cloths shall make mee filthie Iob. 9 verse 30. Meditations THinke now of thy vow and promise made to God at thy baptisme to forsake Sathan to renounce the world and to mortifie the flesh and how oft since thou hast broken it and be hartilie sorie therefore Thinke also vpon the vnspeakable loue and mercie of Christ our Sauiour who hath washed vs from our sins in his owne pretious bloud and purged our conscience from dead works to the end we should serue him in holinesse and innocencie of life And consider that it shall little auaile thée to haue washed thy selfe if thou touch filth againe that is if thou confesse thy faults and after commit them againe and so wich the dog returne to the vomit and with the washed sow to the wallowing in the mire againe ¶ When you be made readie first before all things looke that either by your selfe or with your familie with all humblenesse of mind you kneele downe by your bed-side in your parlour or other sweete cleane and conuenient place and there taking both time and leasure to serue the Lord lift vp your hart hands and eies and praie vnto his diuine Maiestie saieng in manner and forme following A premeditation or first forme of praier to be vsed before praier O Mercifull Lord and louing father without whose aid and motion I am not able to stir one member toward heauenlie seruice the burthen of this slowe and sinfull flesh doth so ouercharge my weak soule according vnto thy fatherlie pitie looke vpon me O God prepare my hart to praier and quicken my dull spirit with thy grace to rise out of this miserable puddle and to come before thy presence in humble repentance crauing thy mercie for my miserable sinnes and wickednesse and being released in the bloud and righteousnesse of Iesus Christ I may ioifullie serue honor and praise thine eternall Maiestie through thy deere sonne my mercifull Lord and redeemer to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all glorie and thanks for euer Amen Another meditation before praier VNto thee O heauenlie father doo I heere prostrate on my knees lift vp my hart my hands mine eies and praiers beseeching thy Maiestie and saieng Helpe me O my Lord and God in this my good purpose and holie worshipping or seruing of thee and grant vnto me to make a perfect entrance and beginning this present daie that I maie doo all things in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost For that which I haue hitherto done is nothing at all The Confession and Praier O Father of heauen O sonne of God redeemer of the world O holie Ghost three persons and one God haue mercie vpon me most wretched caitife and miserable sinner I haue offended both heauen and earth more than my tongue can expresse my sins are aboue all mens both in number and greatnesse which I haue committed Whither then may I go And whither should I flee To heauen I may be ashamed to lift vp my face and in earth I find no place of refuge or succour To thee therefore O Lord doo I runne to thee doo I humble my selfe saieng O Lord my God my sinnes be great and innumerable but yet haue mercie vpon me for thy great mercie The great mysterie that God became man was not wrought for little or few offences Thou didst not giue thy sonne O heauenlie father vnto death for small sinnes onlie but for all the greatest sinnes in the world so that the sinner returne vnto thee with his whole hart as I doo heere at this present Wherefore haue mercie on me O God whose propertie is alwaie to haue mercie wherefore haue mercie on me O Lord for thy great mercie I craue nothing O Lord for mine owne merits but for thy name sake that it may be halowed thereby and for thy deere sonne Iesus Christes sake and now therefore Our father of heauen halowed be thy name c. Another Confession and praier OH almightie euerlasting God and most gratious deere louing father I beseech thee for Iesus Christes sake thy most deere and onlie sonne to haue mercie pitie and compassion vpon me most vile wretched and miserable sinner whose innumerable offenses both old new be most horrible heinous and great where through I haue iustlie deserued thy greeuous wrath and euerlasting damnation But now good Lord heere I do appeale to thy great mercie onlie which far surmounteth all thy works as thou hast promised the same in thy holie and infallible word where thou hast said yea and sworne as trulie as thou liuest that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert and liue Ah deere Lord I confesse that I am a great and greeuous sinner and yet now by thy grace and good working of thy holie spirit something turned vnto thee Oh let me liue and not die the euerlasting death of the soule which I so deepelie haue deserued but make me a vessell of thy great mercie that I may liue and praise thy name among thy chosen children for euer Oh let not my horrible sinnes separate me from the sweet sight of thy Maiestie but let thy great power and mercie be magnified in me as it is in Dauid in Peter in Magdalen and in the notable Theefe which was crucified with Christ thy deere sonne in whose most pretious death and bloud-shedding onlie O Lord I put my whole trust and confidence For he onelie hath taken awaie the sinnes of the world he came not to condemne the world but to saue it that none that trulie beleeue in him should perish but haue life euerlasting He saith he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Oh gratious God giue me true earnest hartie and vnfeigned repentance that I may from the verie bottome of my hart continuallie lament my manifold
shall or will receiue me If thou despise me and turne thy face from me who shall looke vpon me Recognise and knowledge me O Lord to be thine although vnworthie comming to thee although I bee vile and vncleane For if I be vile and vncleane as I confesse my selfe in deede to be thou canst make mee cleane If I be sicke thou canst heale me If I be dead and buried thou canst reuiue me for thy mercie is much more than mine iniquitie Thou canst forgiue me more than I can offend Therefore O Lord doo not consider nor haue respect to the number of my sinnes but according to the greatnesse of thy mercie forgiue me and haue mercie on me most wretched sinner Saie vnto my soule I am thy health which saiedst I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he liue and be conuerted and turne to thee O Lord bee not angrie with me I beseech thee but for thy great mercie sake forgiue and pardon me all my misdeeds and bring me to the blisse that neuer shall cease Amen Another forme of Confession and praier to be vsed of the Maister and Mistresse with their families in priuate houses euerie morning ALmightie God and most mercifull Father we doo not present our selues heere before thy Maiestie trusting in our owne merits or woorthinesse but in thy manifold mercies which hast promised to heare our praiers and graunt our requests which we shall make to thee in the name of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who hath also commanded vs to assemble our selues together in his name with full assurance that he will not onelie be amongst vs but also be our mediator and aduocate towards thy Maiestie that we may obtaine all things which shall seeme expedient to thy blessed will for our necessities Therefore we beseech thee most mercifull father to turne thy louing countenance towards vs and impute not vnto vs our manifold sinnes and offences whereby wee iustlie deserue thy wrath and sharpe punishment but rather receiue vs to thy mercie for Iesus Christes sake accepting his death and passion as a iust recompense for all our offences in whom onlie thou art pleased and through whome thou canst not be offended with vs. And seeing of thy great mercies we haue quietlie passed this night grant O heauenlie father that we may bestowe this daie wholie in thy seruice so that all our thoughts words and deedes may redound to the glorie of thy name and good example to all men who seeing our good works may glorifie thee our heauenlie father And forasmuch as of thy meere fauour and loue thou hast not onlie created vs to thine owne similitude and likenesse but also hast chosen vs to be heires with thy deere sonne Iesus Christ of that immortall kingdome which thou preparedst for vs before the beginning of the world we beseech thee to increase our faith and knowledge and to lighten our harts with thy holie spirit that we may in the meane time liue in all godlie conuersation and integritie of life knowing that idolaters adulterers couetous men contentious persons drunkards gluttons and such like shall not inherit the kingdome of God And because thou hast commanded vs to praie one for another we doo not onlie make request O Lord for our selues and them that thou hast alreadie called to the true vnderstanding of thy heauenlie will but for all people and nations of the world who as they know by thy wonderfull works that thou art God ouer all so they may be instructed by thy holie spirit to beleeue in thee their onlie Sauiour and Redeemer But forasmuch as they can not beleeue except they heare nor cannot heare but by preaching and none can preach except they be sent therefore O Lord raise vp faithful distributers of thy mysteries who setting apart all worldlie respects may both in their life and doctrine onelie seeke thy glorie Contrariwise confound Sathan Antichrist with all hirelings whome thou hast alreadie cast off into a reprobate sense that they may not by sects schismes heresies and errors disquiet thy little flocke And because O Lord we be fallen into the latter daies and dangerous times wherein ignorance hath gotten the vpper hand and Sathan by his ministers seeke by all meanes to quench the light of thy Gospell we beseech thee to mainteine thy cause against those rauening Woolues and strengthen all thy seruants whom they keepe in prison and bondage Let not thy long-suffering be an occasion either to increase their tyrannie or to discourage thy children neither yet let our sinnes and wickednesse be an hinderance to thy mercies but with speede O Lord consider these great miseries For thy people Israel manie times by their sinnes prouoked thine anger and thou punishedst them by thy iust iudgement yet though their sinnes were neuer so greeuous if they once returned from their iniquitie thou receiuedst them to mercie We therfore most wretched sinners bewaile our manifold siunes and earnestlie repent vs for our former wickednesse and vngodlie behauiour towards thee And whereas we cannot of our selues purchase thy pardon yet we humblie beseech thee for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercie vpon vs and receiue vs againe to thy fauour Graunt vs deere father these our requests and all other things necessarie for vs and thy whole Church our Queene and Realme according to thy promise in Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we beseech thee as he hath taught vs saieng Our Father c. Almightie and euerlasting God vouchsafe we beseech thee to graunt vs perfect continuance in thy liuelie faith augmenting and increasing the same in vs dailie vntill we growe to the full measure of our perfection in Christ whereof we make our confession saieng I beleeue in God the Father almightie c. Almightie God which hast promised to heare the petitions of them that aske in thy Sonnes name wee beseech thee mercifullie to incline thine eares to vs that haue now made our praiers and supplications vnto thee and graunt that those things which wee haue faithfullie asked according to thy will may effectuallie be obteined to the releefe of our necessitie and to the setting foorth of thy glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauorable countenance towards vs and graunt vs his peace Amen The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God and the communion of the holie Ghost be with vs and remaine with vs for euer So be it A Morning praier for Sundaie AFter due examination of my former life with an humble and contrite hart with a sorowfull and repentant spirit I sue vnto thee most mercifull father beseeching thee of mercie and forgiuenesse of mine offences which in this night or at anie time heeretofore I haue committed against thy godlie will and pleasure by anie manner of vncleannesse of soule or bodie that I haue fallen into
by the illusion of the diuell or else by frailtie of mine owne flesh trespassing against thy godlie Maiestie either in thought consent delectation word or deede And I most hartilie thanke thee for the sweet sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuen me this night and that to the innumerable benefits hitherto powred vpon my soule and bodie thou hast vouchsafed to preserue me this night past from sudden death and all other euill and mischiefe spirituall and corporall that anie person man or woman hath beene striken withall by thy permission and sufferance knowing of a suretie that the selfe-same or such like had worthilie light on my head also haddest not thou defended and preserued me and giuen me time to amend my life so that I might liue henceforth not as I will but as thou wilt And now seeing thou O almightie God and most mercifull father in the tables of the commandements deliuered to the hands of thy seruant Moses vpon the mount Sina among other precepts diddest giue charge vnto thy chosen children of Israel that in sixe daies they should doo all such works and aaffaires as they had to doo and rest from labour the seuenth daie graunt I beseech thee blessed father that siuce I haue by thy mercie happilie passed ouer this whole weeke vnder thy gratious protection I may not onelie rest this daie from my dailie trauels but that I may abstaine also from the works of sinne and iniquitie and sanctifie this daie wholie vnto thee with praiers and thankes-giuing abounding in all works of loue and charitie as thou hast commanded in thy holie word that I may be found pure without spot or blemish at that daie when thy Sonne Iesus Christ shall come to iudge the world with righteousnesse and equitie And forasmuch as thou hast ordeined this daie among the rest wherein we should meete all together with brotherlie loue and affection to yeeld thee praises for the innnumerable benefits we haue receiued at thy hand to acknowledge thy fatherlie loue and pitie towards vs from time to time and to giue thee thanks in generall for all and vniuersall thy benefits hitherto bestowed vpon vs I beseech thee to grant me thy holie spirit that I may be the more zealouslie inflamed to serue thee in true holinesse and integritie of life and by the operation of that spirit I may kill all carnall lusts vnlawfull pleasures concupiscence and all other spots of vncleannesse whereby I may be made thy child by adoption and grace and my bodie the temple of the holie Ghost being throughlie purged and purified from the dregs of iniquitie and abhomination Giue me grace most mercifull Father to spend this daie to thy pleasure in all good works of the spirit and charitie proceeding from an vndefiled faith in Christ Iesu that I fall not into anie kind of danger but that all my dooings may be ordered by thy gouernance to doo alwaies that is righteous in thy sight through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another Morning praier on the Lords daie O Almightie and mercifull God eternall Father Sonne and holie Ghost three in persons one in substance God in verie deede and from euerlasting I extoll thy sacred Maiestie I praise thine vnspeakeable mercie thy diuine truth I exceedingly commend for that of thy fatherlie and woonderfull goodnesse thou hast protected me this night vnder the shadowe of thy wings Yea thou also hast made me quietlie to take my rest notwithstanding the dangerous snares of my deadlie enimie the diuell Thou art the God which exaltest vs from the gates of the shadowe of death and from the power of darknesse thou deliuerest vs. Therefore I will acknowledge thee for thy goodnes and for the woonderfull things which thou dooest among the sonnes of men I will magnifie thee in the great congregation and among much people will I praise thee My hart is readie O my God my hart is readie I will praise thee O Lord among the people and sing to thee among the nations For thy mercie is aboue the heauens and thy truth vnto the clouds I will not hide thy mercie and truth in the great congregation bicause it is a good thing to praise the Lord and to sing to thee O thou most high to declare thy louing kindnesse in the morning and thy truth in the night Blesse the Lord O my soule and all that is within me praise his holie name Which forgiueth all thine iniquities and healeth all thine infirmities Which redeemeth thy life from destruction crowneth thee with mercie and compassion Which satisfieth thy longing with good things and protecteth thee from thy youth Which also hath kept all my bones this night not one of them is broken To the King euerlasting immortall inuisible and onlie wise God be honor and glorie for euer and euer Amen VNto thee O Lord doo I lift vp my soule O God earlie will I seeke thee my soule thirsteth for thee my flesh lusteth after thee in a barren and drie land where no water is to see thy strength and glorie O eternall God which hast brought me to the beginning of this daie defend me with thy mightie power that this daie I fall into no sinne nor run into anie kind of danger but let all my cogitations words and works tend to the setting foorth of thy righteousnesse Lighten my mind this morning with the shining and clearnesse of thy wisdome that in my hart that true daie-star may rise and shine as it were a candle in a darke place Giue me the spirit of wisdome and reuelation in the knowledge of thee and lighten the eies of mine vnderstanding that I may knowe what my hope is how great the glorie of mine inheritance and what the excellent greatnesse of thy power towards me is Fill me with thy mercie in this morning so shall I be glad and reioice all my life long Mercifull God endue me with thine holie spirit that I may neither thinke speake or doo anie thing this daie but that which may please thee and tend to the aduancement of thy glorie and health of my soule Gouerne thou mine vnderstanding and will and so direct all the cogitations of my hart that I may wholie be thine and sauour of nothing besides thee my God and redeemer Teach mee the waie of thy commandements O Lord and I will keepe it vnto the end Giue me vnderstanding to keepe thy lawes and to loue thee my Lord and God with all my hart with all my soule and with all my strength and let all thy testimonies be my delight and counsellers Comfort the soule of thy seruant for vnto thee O Lord haue I lifted vp my soule For thou Lord art good and gentle and of great kindnesse to as manie as call vpon thee Behold O God earlie now this morning I doo offer my selfe a morning sacrifice vnto thee a troubled spirit a broken and an humble hart O Lord thou wilt not despise Make me fit that I may likewise dailie offer vp
my bodie a liuing sacrifice holie and acceptable vnto thee which is a reasonable seruice gratefull obedience Both now and euerie daie Lord I commend my soule and bodie into thy hands thou hast redeemed me O God of truth Compasse me about with the watch of thine Angels which are ministring spirits sent out for their defence which are the children of saluation that they may pitch their tents about me and incounter with Satan the dragon to defend me from euill Giue thine holie Angels charge of me that they protect me in all my waies least happilie I hurt my feete against a stone so will I praise thee and magnifie thy name which liuest and reignest a true and eternall God worlds without end Amen Another praier verie effectuall to be vsed vpon the Lords Sundaie or other holie or festiuall daies SEing that the verie solemne times festiuall holidaies doo vndoubtedlie greatlie renew the reioicing of the godlie yea that more is with a certaine heape as a man would saie doo maruelouslie augment and increase their spirituall ioie in thee O most holie Lord God of Saboth and make it greater than it was For they are kept to continue and stir vs vp vnto the remembrance and recounting of thy woonderfull acts things and miracles wrought and done by thine almightie Maiestie for the conseruation and saluation of mankind and by that occasion doo exceedinglie cheere vp and fill the harts of the godlie with spirituall ioies in thee Moreouer bicause good exercises are to be renewed often but especiallie vpon the Sundaie and holie daies as though at that time we were departing out of this life and going to the euerlasting holie daies of spirituall rest and continuall ioie and therefore ought we at that time especiallie to prepare our selues with carefulnes to shew our selues more godlie and to doo thy cōmandements more straightlie as they y t shall receiue reward of our trauels at thy hand ere it be long Behold I thy sillie creature desirous to keepe the godlie rest of the new Saboth better than hitherto I haue done for which as for all other my defaults I crie thee hartilie mercie doo now therefore most humblie beseech thee O holie Father to powre plentiouslie vpon me thy blessed spirit through whose diuine power vertue and grace I may this daie be throughlie sanctified clensed dedicated and prepared both bodilie and ghostlie perfectlie to serue and worship thee according to thy will O holie God which hast commanded vs to sanctifie our selues and to be holie as thou art grant me grace with S. Iohn to be in the spirit on the Sundaie and this daie to be holie with them that be holie and altogither giuen to serue please thee in spirit and truth as becommeth the true worshippers of thee Make thou me this daie to refraine my selfe from dooing anie bodilie labour or seruile worke and vtterlie to forbeare all maner of vngodlinesse displeasant vnto thee as namelie not to abuse or mispend this holie daie in pranking packing priinting pointing frisling or vaine attiring of my selfe to be gorgious and gaie and to prance in pride neither yet in vnlawfull plaies idle sports games Ethnicall pastimes feasting banketting bellie-cheere gluttonie riot excesse chambering wantonnes nicenesse contention pride couetousnesse or in anie other fleshlie filthinesse and vaine pleasures of this transitorie world but contrariwise to occupie and giue my selfe obedientlie vnto the vertuous works and holie exercises of thy diuine precepts namelie vnto the expending of the spirituall rest and euerlasting repose of all Christian soules in heauen vnto the meditation of thy woonderfull works and vnspeakable benefits which thou O God continuallie bestowest vpon thy Church and to bee thankefull for the same to studie the Scriptures to heare and reade thy sacred word and followe the same to call vpon thee by ardent praier with hartie thankesgiuing for all thy mercies to exercise thy holie Sacraments and to comfort and giue almes gladlie according to mine abilitie to the releefe of the poore and comfort of the needie Make me I saie O Lord with holie Dauid both most willing and glad this daie to go foorth with my whole familie and the multitude into thy house and temple in the voice of praise and thankes-giuing among such as keepe it holiedaie vnto thee and at all seasons by common order appointed diligentlie to frequent the populous resort and Christian assemblie of the congregation in the Church and to be present with other thy people often in that most sacred place on earth at the most holie and alwaies to thee O God most acceptable sacrifice of praise inuocation diuine worship giuing of thanks singing of hymnes hearing of thy word vsing of thy holie Sacraments praiers intercessions and supplications which at the comming together of the whole congregation is vsed ordinarilie to be made vnto thee in the Church with verie great ceremonie and reuerence that thus being free from the trauels and drudgerie of this world and by thy grace cleansed from all mine owne carnall affections and wholie giuen ouer to serue and sanctifie thee in true rest and spirituall ease as also to bestowe consecrate and hallowe this thy sacred Sabboth or Sundaie with all other festiuall holie daies most glorious vnto thee in all holie and spirituall exercises of a faithfull and obedient Christian according to thy will I may euen heere in this vale of teares amidst all my miseries be thereby occasioned with cheerefull hart both outwardlie and inwardlie exceedinglie to reioice and trust in thee my most mercifull God and louing sauiour and after this transitorie life ended be worthie happilie to enter into thy holie Mountaine the Tabernacle of thine elect and kingdome of euerlasting blessednesse where the soules of all holie folke doo rest and there with them to be partaker of perfect holinesse and of the vnspeakable benefit of the wished wealefull rest and eternall endlesse ioie of ioies in the Paradise of God to see loue and praise thee most ioifullie in happie mirth for euer and euer through Iesus Christ our Lord to whome with thee O Father and the holie Ghost be immortall glorie infinite power euerlasting kingdome perpetuall praise and continual thanks-giuing by all creatures through all ages worlds world without end Amen See more for Sundaie afterward Meditations HEere call to mind the commandements of almightie God concerning the kéeping of the Sabboth daie holie vnto him as namelie the third commandement Remember thou keepe holie the Sabboth daie c. Exod. 20 verse 11. Call to mind also his promises touching the same who saith If thou turne awaie thy foote from the Sabboth from dooing thy will on the Sabboth daie and call the Sabboth a delight to consecrate it as glorious vnto the Lord and shalt honor him not dooing thine owne waies nor seeking thine owne will nor speaking a vaine word then shalt thou delight in the Lord and I will cause thee to mount vpon the high places of the earth
and feede thee with the heritage of Iacob thy father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Esaie 58 verses 13 14. Yea blessed is he that keepeth the Sabboth and polluteth it not and keepeth his hands from doing anie euill Esaie 56 verse 2. Then his threatenings where he saith Yee shall therefore keepe the Sabboth for it is holie vnto you he that defileth it shall die the death therefore whosoeuer worketh therein the same person shall be euen cut off from among his people Exod. 31 verse 14. Of going to Church AND to the end you may the spéedilier addresse your selfe to frequent the Church often not alone but with your whole familie as you ought first call diligentlie to your mind some of these sentences of holie Scripture following ¶ Esaie 66 verse 23. AND it shall come to passe that from Moone to his Moone from Sabboth to his Sabboth all flesh shall come to worship before me saith the Lord. ¶ Esaie 2 verses 2 3. AND it shall come to passe in the latter daies the hill of the Lords house shall be prepared in the height of the mountaines and shall be higher than the hilles and all nations shall prease vnto him and a multitude of people shall go speaking thus one to another Come let vs ascend to the hill of the Lord c. ¶ Agge 1 verses 4 5 6 c. Zach. 14. THus saith the Lord of hostes Consider your owne waies in your harts ô yee people get yee vp to the mountaine and fetch wood and build this house and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified saith the Lord. Is it time for your selues to dwell in seeled houses and this house lie waste Ye haue sowne much but ye bring little in ye eate but ye haue not ynough ye drinke but ye are not filled ye cloath you but ye be not warme and he that earneth wages putteth it into a broken bagge ye looke for much and lo it came to little And when ye brought it home I did blowe vpon it and why saith the Lord of hosts Because of my house that is waste and you run euerie one into his owne house Therfore vpon you is the heauens staied from deaw and the earth is staied from yeelding her increase and I haue called for a drought vpon the land and vpon the mountaines and vpon the corne and vpon the wine and vpon the oile and vpon all that the earth bringeth foorth vpon men and vpon cattell and vpon all the labour of thy hands c. Thus hauing well perused and weied these holie sentences stir vp your selfe and exhort all your children seruants strangers and neighbours about you with chéerefull minds willinglie and diligentlie to resort to the Church especiallie euerie Sundaie and Holiedaie saieng vnto them as followeth An exhortation to be vsed of Maisters and Dames euerie Sundaie morning COme let vs ascend to the hill of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob and he will there instruct vs of his waies and teach vs how to walke in his paths For out of Zion shall come a lawe and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem and hee shall giue sentence among the heathen and shall reforme the multitude of the people Come therfore I saie let vs cheerfullie ascend and go vp to Ierusalem the hill and house of the Lord. O let vs go our waies into his gates with thanks-giuing and into his courts with praise that we may present our selues to daie holie before the Lord and serue him with gladnesse ¶ When you be going towards the Church the better to expell idle thoughts and noifull cogitations and to prepare your harts to deuotion euen by the waie as ye go meditate and saie with your selfe some of these Psalmes and praiers following the which also for more readinesse would be learned by hart and said without booke Praiers to be vsed going to Church A Psalme I Was glad when they said vnto me We will go into the house of the Lord our feete shall stand in thy gates O Ierusalem Ierusalem is builded as a Citie that is at vnitie in it selfe For thither the Tribes go vp euen the Tribes of the Lord to testifie vnto Israel and to giue thanks vnto the name of the Lord. For there is the seate of iudgement euen the seate of the house of Dauid O my soule praie for the peace of Ierusalem they shall prosper that loue it Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the c. Another Psalme LORD I haue loued the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth yea the zeale of thine house hath euen eaten me Therefore will I wash my hands in innocencie O Lord and so will I go to thine altar that I may shew the voice of thankes-giuing and tell of all thy woonderous works in the great congregation Behold I will go with the multitude that by the motion of the spirit are brought forth into thy house O God euen vpon the multitude of thy mercies in thy feare will I among such as keepe holiedaie worship towards thy holy Temple make haste vnto thy Tabernacle to vnderstand thy worthie wais diuine wil. For vnto thee O God which hearest the praiers vnto thee shall all flesh come to worship thee in Zion praier shall be made euer vnto thee and dailie shalt thou be praised in Ierusalem O therefore let the congregation of thy people come about thee O God that they may shew all thy praises within the portes of the daughter of Zion and reioice in thy saluation Remember also I beseech thee good Lord according to the fauour that thou bearest vnto thy people and visit me with thy saluation that I may see the felicitie of thy chosen children and reioice in the gladnesse of thy people giue thee thanks with thine inheritance O make me one of the houshold of faith and congregation of them that seeke thee euen of them that seeke thy face O Iacob saieng Lo I come to fulfill thy will O God O send out the light of thy truth that they may leade me and bring me vnto thy holie hill and to thy dwelling and that I may go vnto the altar of God euen vnto thee the God of my ioie and gladnesse With ioie and gladnesse I saie cause thou me to be brought to thy mansion house and to enter into the Kings palace That I may ascend vnto the hill of the Lord and rise vp holilie in his holie place That I may receiue the blessing from the Lord and righteousnesse from the God of health and saluation Another verie godlie praier to be vsed going to Church either at morning or euening praier IAm now entred into the voiage of saluation conduct me O Lord luckilie vnto the port that deliuered by thee from the verie death I may escape all dangers and come to the verie life Behold Lord my hart hunteth thee out and would God I
might dailie more and more trace thee out yea I haue a great while sore longed with so godlie affection as I could to celebrate thee in the frequented assemblies of the godlie which trulie I will now doo accordinglie by the grace and assistance of thy holie spirit and that with a most readie and ioifull mind as it behooueth And that this mine enterprise and beginning may proceede to a further good successe and amendment of my maners and imbettering of my life doo thou finish the thing O God which thou hast begun in me and make me continuallie to increase from faith to faith Yea so renew and shape me againe in innocencie and righteousnesse O grations Lord I beseech thee that as a person new borne of thee I may insearch thee againe and againe both in the dawning of the daie morning noone euening and night Now lead me forooard O Lord I beseech thee in thy righteousnesse let thy louing spirit direct my feete and make thy waies plaine before my face bicause of my mortall and inuisible enimies And doo thou vouchsafe luckilie to conduct my bodie this daie vnto thy materiall temple and to bring my soule at the last vnto thy holie hill and blessed mountaine which thou hast purchased with thy right hand that I may rest both bodie and soule in heauen and remaine with thee foreuer Amen Or praie thus O GOD the word who art the light by whom light was made who art the waie truth and life in whom there is no darknes ouersight vanitie nor death shine foorth O Lord my light mine inlightening and my welfare whom I will reuerence my Lord whom I will honour my Father whom I will loue my Iudge whom I will feare my Bridegroome whom I will cleaue vnto and keepe my selfe an vndefiled spouse Shine foorth O euerlasting light shine foorth I saie and lighten the Lampe of my virginitie with the oile of thy diuine grace and mercie that this blind soule of mine which yet sitteth in darknesse and shadowe of death may see the light and eschew darknesse see the waie and eschew straieng see the truth and eschew leasing see the life and eschew death And guide thou my feete vnto the waie of peace that by thy mercifull protection I may see the light walke in the light and neuer stumble vpon the snares of Sathan but may now passe thereby into the palace of thy woonderfull tabernacle and be able to climbe vp euen vnto the holie house and temple with the voice of gladnesse and confession there to abide and receiue at thy hands both mercie righteousnesse health blessing and euerlasting saluation with my fellowe-citizens thy Saints and houshold menie Amen Another godlie praier to be said either going towards or being in the Church LOoke what earnest and feruent desire soeuer the old fathers had O most mightie GOD to come vnto the place wherein thou hadst appointed a tabernacle to thy selfe for that time euen the like am I kindled withall in beholding the repairing of thy sacred Church and to see therin a very great companie of godlie men women lawfullie assembled together for the aduancement of thy glorie hearing thy holie doctrine dulie receiuing of thy blessed Sacraments accordinglie Wherefore I humblie beseech thee which art my God my King that I may this daie reioice to be there For what felicitie soeuer may be attained vnto in this fraile life I doubt not but it will light vpon the sacred companie of the godlie there assembled Giue eare therefore O excellent Father vnto mine earnest praiers grant that I make none other account of thy blessed house than thy will and pleasure is I should doo For a more blessed thing it were for me to haue one daies meeting and abode therein than if I abide neuer so great a time of continuance in the congregation of the vngodlie or in such a one as is not lawfullie assembled with the aduantage and ouer-plus of all the pleasures of this transitorie world Seeing that therefore thou art our most splendent light and strong defence cause our assemblies on the earth O God so to redound to thine vnspeakable glorie that our assured hope by comming in the end vnto thee in the euerlasting tabernacles of the heauens may be augmented and verie much increased through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen VVhen you enter into the Church meditate thus with your selfe and saie LORD who shall ascend into thy high hill Or who shall rise vp in thy holie place Euen he that hath cleane hands and a pure hart and hath not lift vp his mind vnto vanitie nor sworne to deceiue his neighbour He shall receiue the blessing from the Lord and righteousnesse from the God of his saluation This is the generation of them that seeke him euen of them that seeke thy face O Iacob Lift vp your heads O ye gates and be ye lift vp ye euerlasting doores and the King of glorie shall come in euen the Lord of hosts most mightie and strong Open me the gates of righteousnesse O Lord that I with the righteous nation that keepe thy truth may go into them and giue thanks vnto thee This is the gate of the Lord the righteous shall enter into it Yea blessed are they that doo thy commandements O God For their power shall be in the tree of life and they shall enter in through the gates into the holie citie new Ierusalem But without shall be dogs and inchanters and whooremongers and murderers and idolaters yea there shall enter into it none vncleane thing neither whatsoeuer worketh abhomination or maketh lies but they onlie which are written in the Lambes booke of life Amen Or thus LOrd who shall enter into thy sanctuarie to consider thy mightie power except thou open it vnto him And who shall open it if thou shut it Trulie O Lord my God I sillie worme and claie am not able to enter into thine euerlastingnesse vnlesse thou which hast made all things of nothing doo lead me in Yea I knowe Lord I knowe and confesse that I am vnwoorthie to enter vnder thy roofe but yet I beseech thee let a blessed entrance to the house of eternall felicitie whither I haue dailie a feruent desire to come be set open and made as a free passage vnto me O God And giue mee leaue now I praie thee though a dog and an vnwoorthie wretch euen for thine owne honour sake to enter into thy holie house and to approch thy sacred presence and confound not thy seruant that seeketh thee and putteth all hir trust and confidence in thy mercie Oh suffer me not I saie good Lord to knit vp and finish my last daies with malefactors and wicked persons but grant that after my long and dailie trauell in this transitorie world I may in the end at length be permitted through thy mercie to enter the courts of thy diuine presence and with thine elect and chosen seruants for euer inhabit the hauen of eternall felicitie through
such things as be allowed and pleasant vnto thee least at anie time cleauing to superstition and hypocrisie I doo worship thee amisse but fill my hart with grace and stuffe it with sweetnesse of spirit euen as my bodie is stuffed with abundance of meats Lord rid me out of mine vngodlinesse plucke from me mine ignorance of thee banish my slothfulnesse of insearching thee Compell my flesh through thy spirit to his bounden dutie and obedience and bring to passe that I may now alwaies applie my selfe wholie without wearinesse and drinesse of mind vnto the right sincere worshipping and seruing of thee here in thy presence O Lord open thou my lips and then shall my mouth extoll thy renowmed name and publish thy praise not with fained lips but with a full glad hart lustie stomach and quicke spirit and saie with the congregation Our Father c. As at euening praier in the Church Another Meditation before Euening praier in the Church SEing thou hast beautified all those with a notable promise O most mightie God which are knit together in the honouring of thy blessed name so that thou wilt not onlie be present with them but also bestowest excellent gifts and benefits vpon these men whosoeuer they are that excell in sincere faith and pure godlinesse and haue an exceeding desire to be often in the blessed congregation in so much as there is nothing which they more couet or desire than to appeare diuers times in the daie before thee in the sacred assemblies yea it ought to be a most pleasant thing vnto vs to celebrate thy high praises perpetuallie and shew foorth thy maruellous works without ceasing For the performance whereof godlinesse would require that wee should not onlie doo the same in the daie time but also in the night season We will therefore lift vp pure hands in all places touching the publishing of thy glorious name and render perpetuall thankes according to our bounden dutie for thine vnspeakable goodnesse and louing kindnesse extended towards vs. But seeing that this ought to be done in the most sacred and holie assemblies our earnest request is to haue thee present heere with vs and to bestowe thy plentifull blessings vpon thy beloued Israel First deliuer vs wee humblie beseech thee from our heinous faults enorme sinnes and lewd corruptions wherewith we haue greatlie defiled our selues And then let our weake and feeble harts be strengthned in thy blessed waie and the withered powers of our mind which are dried vp watered with the holie Ghost that we being altogither repaired and wholie renewed may continuallie celebrate and praise thee and haue a great desire to direct our praiers vnto thy mercie-seate with a most holie intent as Christians ought to doo Cause vs now not constrained and brought thereto by compulsion but of a willing hart to come before thy presence and become true worshippers of thee yea and such as doo thinke it a goodlie matter to spend not onlie houres but daies and nights yea and all our yeares and life in the sincere seruice and right worshipping and honouring of thee in the sacred Church Let nothing be so deere and pretious vnto vs as to continue in the praises and commendations of thy glorious name from morning to night praieng both publikelie and priuatelie for all other as well as for our selues Graunt O excellent father that we in giuing due thanks for thy benefits may ioifullie sing double praises to thy glorious name for euermore that our minds I saie may dailie more and more bee strengthened hartilie to confesse couragiouslie to extoll and aboue all things to exalt thy wonderfull praises vncessantlie through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Psalme of exhortation to praier in the morning or euening O Come let vs worship fall downe and kneele before the Lord our maker and let vs hartilie reioice in the strength of our saluation Let our soules reioice I saie in the mercie of the Lord and not be ashamed to publish his praise Let vs doo our duties betimes both earlie and late and he will giue vs a reward in his due time For a good thing it is to giue thanks vnto the Lord and to tell of his louing kindnesse earlie in the morning O come therefore praise the Lord with me and let vs magnifie his name together Bring hither the booke take the Psalter and sing vnto the Lord a new song Let vs sing praises I saie lustilie vnto him with a good courage and shew our selues glad in him with Psalmes euen now in the time appointed and vpon our solemne feast-daie For great is the Lord and highlie to be praised in the Citie of our God euen vpon his holie hill of Zion Glorie be to the c. As it was in the c. Another Psalme exhorting all creatures to praise God O Praise the Lord of heauen yee Angels of his ye Saincts that excell in strength and fulfill his commandements yee seruants of his that harken to the voice of his words and doo his pleasure Praise him in the height ye children of Zion and be ioifull in your King with glorie For God is verie greatlie to be feared in the counsell of his Saincts and to be had in reuerence of all them that are about him Praise him all yee heauens and ye waters that bee aboue the heauens O God the verie heauens shall praise thy woonderous works and thy truth in the congregation of the Saincts Yea let heauen and earth praise thee the Sea and all that moueth therein O sing vnto the Lord all the whole earth woorship him and stand in awe of his iudgements ye multitude of Isles Praise the Lord O Ierusalem praise thy God O Zion Praise the name of the Lord O yee seruants of the Lord yee that by daie or by night stand in the house of the Lord euen in the courts of the house of our God O all yee righteous that loue and seeke the Lord and be true-harted towards him praise his holie name and magnifie him all yee seed of Israel that feare and dread his Maiestie Praise the Lord also all ye heathen and nations of the world worship you him and glorifie his name For he is great passing all praise Praise the Lord O ye Kings of the earth Princes and all Iudges of the world yea worship him all yee gods For he is higher than the heauens and far exalted aboue all gods O yee kindreds of the people ascribe vnto the Lord the worship power and honour due vnto his name bring presents and come into his courts with praise Let the people praise thee O God yea let all the people praise thee both yong men and maids old men and children let them all remember thy holie name and declare thy power from one generation to another world without end O speake good of the Lord all yee works of the Lord in all places of his dominion Let euerie thing that hath breath praise the Lord. For his
vnholie may appeare before thee graunt that both now at this present and so oft heereafter as I shall enter into this holie place and Tabernacle of the congregation and appeare before thee I may be throughlie sanctified both bodilie and ghostlie by the diuine graces of thy spirit the better therein to serue and worship thee The which thing that I may euen now this daie the better accomplish and doo according to thy will as I hartilie desire and to the glorie of thy name and the full discharge of my christian dutie I most entirelie beseech thy Maiestie first to sanctifie purifie cleanse make happie and keepe holie my wretched soule and sinfull bodie the posts whereof deere father are sprinkled with the pretious bloud of thy deere Sonne who most deerelie bought them O comfortable ghest of the soule leaue not our houses desolate cease not to fill vs by thy continuall presence with thy life and righteousnesse Dresse cleanse and sweepe the foreletten cottage once againe I saie good Lord with the beesome of thy celestiall grace and heauenlie felicitie from all the pollution and filth of sinne and wickednesse Once againe O Christ vouchsafe to cast out of the house of my soule that vncleane spirit and foule feend Sathan mine old ghest and enimie with the finger of God and when he is cast out of me giue me grace to watch still continuallie by hartie and earnest praier that he enter not againe into me For being once mine old ghest he knoweth euerie hole and corner of my house Therefore grant me grace to watch continuallie I saie O Lord by feruent praier and vertuous works proceeding from a firme faith least he returne into the house from whence hee was cast out and finding it emptie swept and garnished he go and take vnto himselfe seuen other foule spirits worsse than himselfe and they enter in also and dwell there with him and so mine end be woorsse than my beginning which God forbid Oh suffer not the holie house Lord of thy Diuinitie and Temple of the holie Ghost my bodie and soule I meane cleansed with thy bloud and decked with thy righteousnesse to bee by my mortall enimies defiled spoiled or made a cage of vncleane birds a dungeon of diuels a den of theeues a hell of wicked spirits and a sinke of sinne through delectation in sinne and infidelitie Withdrawe not thy hand from me let me not returne vnto my vomit like the dog let not mine end be worse than my beginning as hapned to Caine Saule Iudas Arius and manie mo But as by thy great mercie my body and soule are made the temple tabernacle of y e holie spirit so by the same thy rich mercie infinite goodnes grant that the same may now become thy holie habitation sacred seate of euerlasting glorie and so be purified cleansed throughlie sanctified and made cleane by thy diuine inspiration and gratious presence that no heapes of soile dregs of dust or remnants of filth be to be found in any priuie or secret corner of this thy spiritual temple to offend y e celestiall eies of thy diuine maiestie so shall thy holie Hall which is my clensed soule in all reuerence deuotion godlie worship this daie and euer resound in the Church all places of thy dominion with thy perpetuall praises to thine eternall glorie Amen Another praier to serue God sincerelie in the Church O LORD God our celestiall Father whose fidelitie and truth is stablished in the high heauens among thy chosen beleeuers who also art woonderfull in the congregation of the faithfull and most mightie of all power and present euerie-where beholding all things done in all places on earth Forasmuch as thou O gratious God hast chosen this house that thy name might be called vpon therein and that it should be an house of praier and petition for thy people mercifullie promising therewithall that wheresoeuer two or three be gathered together in thy name there thou wouldest be in the middest of them and whatsoeuer they beleeuing asked of thee it should be done vnto them Behold we therefore whome by thy grace thou hast elected to be thy people and heritage and with whome thou hast made an eternall couenant and promise to helpe heare assist and confirme in all goodnesse righteousnesse and holinesse doo heere now at this present through the motion of thy good spirit assemble and gather our selues together in thy name with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee and according to our bounden dutie with one mind and mouth in spirit and truth to laud and magnifie thy holie name and maiestie Humblie beseeching thee O Lord to haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners to purge vs and iustifie vs through faith from all our offences old and new to inflame and lighten the lamps of our harts with the oile of sanctification which is thy holie spirit and so there-through to sanctifie our soules to prepare our harts and dispose all our members wholie to true pietie godlinesse and deuotion that we may be woorthie continuallie to lift vp in this holie place of thy glorious presence and diuine habitation pure harts innocent hands and most feruent praiers vnto thee in heauen Grant also O gratious God that we with one hart and voice in all holinesse and godlinesse trembling dread Christian reuerence humble obedience spirituall worship and diuine seruice may incessantlie giue all honour and glorie vnto thee and for euer to celebrate thy most holie name and Maiestie in this thy holie temple as it apperteineth euen by offering vp dutifullie vnto thy diuine Maiestie the most sweet and acceptable sacrifice of broken and contrite harts of zealous and true repentance of humble and vnfeined confession of pure and incessant praier and of most woorthie and condigne lauds and praises that so wee may continue blessed in thy holie mountaine for euer and in the end according to thy faithfull promise obtaine euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen How the soule should rightlie worship and praise the Lord in all places O GOD the true and the souereigne life of whom in whom all things doo liue whatsoeuer things doo liue trulie and in happie state O God euen goodnesse and goodlinesse from whom through whom in whom are all good goodlie things which art good and goodlie God whose faith quickeneth hope erecteth and loue linketh vs. God who hast commanded vs to praie vnto thee and makest thy selfe to be found and openest to him which knocketh God whom none seeketh but the admonished and no man findeth but the purged God whom to knowe is life whom to serue is to reigne whom to loue is the saluation and ioie of the soule Thee both with my lips and with mine hart and with all my strength I doo praise blesse and worship To thy clemencie and goodnesse I doo yeeld humble thanks for all thy benefits and to thy Maiestie doo I sing holie holie holie O blessed Trinitie
I beseech thee vouchsafe to come vnto me and to make me a meet temple for thine holinesse I doo praie the Father through the Sonne I praie the Sonne through the Father I praie the holie Spirit by the Father and the Sonne that all wickednesse may be set far awaie from me and that all the holie vertues may be implanted within me O infinite God of whom through whom and in whom are all things made both visible and inuisible which inclosest thine outward works and fillest thine inward gouernest them aboue and bearest them belowe keepe me the worke of thine hands which trust in thee and hope onlie in thy mercie Keepe me I beseech thee both here and euerie-where now and alwaie within and without before and behind aboue and beneath round about so that there be no place for the snares of the enimie against me Thou art God almightie keeper and protector of all that trust in thee without whom none is in safetie no man is free from danger Thou art God and beside thee there is none other either in heauen aboue or in earth belowe which doost great things and vnsearchable and maruellous things without number Meete it is therefore that thou be praised that thou be honored that thou be magnified with commendations To thee the whole troupe of Angels to thee the heauens and the powers doo sing and continuallie yeeld praises as creatures to their Creator seruants to their Lord souldiers to their King Euerie creature doth extoll and euerie soule doth glorifie thee the holie and vndefiled Trinitie To thee the holie and humble men of hart to thee the spirits and soules of the righteous to thee doo all the supernall citizens together with all the orders of blessed spirits yeeld humble praise and glorie and exalt thee aboue all things for euer O Lord gloriouslie and honourablie doo those heauenlie citizens adorne thee with praises Man also the most excellent among thy creatures doth magnifie thee yea and I too a miserable sinner doo exceedinglie desire to praise thee and greatlie doo I loue to loue thee aboue all things O my God my life my strength and my praise giue me grace to praise thee Put thy light in my hart and thy word into my mouth that both my hart may thinke vpon thy glorie and my tongue sing and speake out thy praises euerie daie But for as much as praise is not seemelie in the mouth of a sinner and I am a woman of polluted lips purge mine hart I beseech thee from all iniquitie sanctifie me both within and without O almightie sanctifier and make me worthie to sound foorth thy praise Receiue in good part from the hand of the hart and from the loue of the mind receiue I praie thee the sacrifice of my lips and let it be acceptable in thy sight and ascend vp vnto thee like a sweete smelling sauour Amen Another MY soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holie name My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits Praise the Lord all yee his works in all places of his dominion My soule praise thou the Lord. Praise we the Lord whom Angels praise dominions adore powers doo reuerence to whom the Cherubins and Seraphins continuallie doo crie Holie holie holie Ioine we therefore our voices to the voices of the holie Angels and according to our abilitie let vs praise the God which we both haue For they whose eies euermore be fixed vpon the Lord whom they behold not through a glasse darklie but face vnto face they doo most purelie and without ceasing praise the Lord. O Lord that immortall people of thine Angels doo praise thee and the celestiall powers doo magnifie thy name who haue no need either to read this our scripture or to seeke after the knowledge of thee the holie and glorious Trinitie For they alwaies behold thy face where they read without syllables of time what thine eternall pleasure is they read they choose and they loue yea alwaies they read and what they read they forget not By choosing and louing they read this constancie of thy counsell and their booke shall at no time be shut and folded bicause thy selfe art and wilt euerlastinglie be this to them O much blessed are those heauenlie powers that can religiouslie and purelie with an exceeding delight and vnspeakable ioie magnifie thee with praises Thence they praise whence they reioice forsomuch as alwaies they behold that which offereth them continuall occasion both to praise and reioice But we pressed downe with the weight of flesh and placed far awaie from thy countenance in this exile and distracted through varieties of the world we alas are not able woorthilie to praise thee through faith We praise thee not of perfect knowledge but these angelicall spirits praise thee of knowledge not through faith For our flesh is the cause why we praise thee otherwise than they doo Notwithstanding albeit we sing praises to thee after diuers sorts yet thou art but one God Creator of all things to whom is offered the sacrifice of praise both in heauen and in earth But one daie we shall come vnto their companie with whom alwaies we shall see thee and praise thee without ceasing Now then O Lord grant that whiles I doo liue in this fraile bodie both mine hart and my tongue and all my bones may glorifie thee and saie Lord who is like vnto thee Let thine holie memorie and thy blessed sweetnesse possesse my whole soule and rauish me with desire of inuisible things Let my soule I beseech thee passe from visible vnto inuisible from terrestriall vnto heauenlie from transitorie things vnto eternall let it passe I saie and see thy woonderfull vision Thou art God almightie three in persons yet but one in the substance of the Godhead whom we serue and worship namelie the Father vnbegotten the Sonne onlie begotten of the Father the holie Spirit both proceeding from and remaining in them both an holie glorious Trinitie one God almightie which when we were not didst mightilie make vs and when thorough our owne default we were lost mercifullie and maruellouslie hadst deliuered vs. Oh suffer vs not to prooue either vngratefull for so great benefits or vnwoorthie so manifold mercies Unto thee doo I praie sue and beseech increase my faith increase my hope yea and increase my loue also Through the same thy goodnesse make vs to be euermore stable in faith and fruitfull in all good works that by a right faith and works agreeable vnto faith we may come through thy mercie vnto euerlasting life where seeing thy perfect and full glorie euen as it is we may worship thy Maiestie and being made woorthie to behold thy glorie may sing Glorie to the Father who hath made vs. Glorie to the Sonne who hath redeemed vs. Glorie to the holie Ghost that hath sanctified vs. Glorie to the souereigne and blessed Trinitie whose works are vnseparable and whose kingdome hath none end Unto thee
that were dead in sinne thou changest sinners and they are while they liue here no deadlie or damnable sinners Take awaie therefore from me whatsoeuer is in me that pleaseth not thee For thine eies doo see much vnperfectnesse in me Laie the hand I beseech thee of thy pitie on me whatsoeuer offendeth the eies of thy pietie remoue it from me In thy sight is both my health my disease the one I beseech thee to preserue the other to cure Doo thou heale me O Lord and I shall be healed do thou make me safe I shall be saued Thou I meane which dooest make whole them that be diseased and dooest preserue them that be cured which onlie with a becke dooest restore and repaire things that be decaied and fallen into ruine For if thou wilt vouchsafe to sowe anie good seed in the feeld of my hart of necessitie thou must plucke vp first with the hand of thy pittie the thornes of vices which be in it O most gratious most gentle most louing desired amiable and louelie of all others powre in my hart I beseech thee so great plentie of delectation in thee that I may desire no earthlie or carnall thing nor yet thinke vpon them but that I may loue thee alone that I may haue thee onlie in my hart in my mouth Write with thy finger in my brest the delectable remembrance of thy sweet name and so that it may not be blotted out with anie forgetfulnesse Write thy will in the tables of mine hart and also thy iustifications that I may alwaies and in euerie place haue thee O Lord before mine eies and in my sight Inflame my mind with that fire which thou diddest send into the earth and willedst it to be kindled that I might offer vnto thee dailie with teares a sacrifice of a troubled spirit and a repentant hart O sweet Christ O good Iesu euen according vnto my desire and euen as I hartilie require thee with my whole mind giue me thy holie and chast loue which may replenish and keepe me and also fullie possesse me Giue me an euident signe and token of thy loue euen a flowing well of teares which will continuallie runne that those teares may somewhat testifie thy loue in me that they may shew foorth and declare how much my soule loueth thee whiles for the great delectation it hath in the sweetnes of thy loue it may not refraine from shedding teares O good Lord I call to my remembrance sometimes that vertuous woman Hanna which came to the Tabernacle to praie that God would send hir a sonne of whom the scripture maketh mention that hir countenance after hir teares and praiers was not againe changed or altered But when I thinke vpon so great vertue constancie and stedfastnesse of that woman I doo blush and am vexed with sorrowe and confounded with shame bicause I a wretch doo perceiue my selfe to be fallen ouermuch from thee For if that good woman did weepe after such a sort and continued so in weeping which did search for nothing else but a sonne how ought my sinfull soule to mourne and to persist and abide in weeping that seeketh and looueth God and hath a desire to come vnto him How ought such a soule to mourne and weepe which seeketh God daie and night which will loue nothing but Christ My teares now trulie should be made meate vnto me daie and night Looke vpon me therefore O Lord and take pittie on me bicause the dolours and sorrowes of my hart are manie in number Giue me thy heauenlie consolation and doo not despise nor cast awaie a sinfull soule for the which thou didst die Giue me inward teares I beseech thee from the bottome of my hart which may wash awaie the spots of my sinnes Replenish my soule alwaies with heauenlie delectation and myrth that I may obteine some little portion or part in thy kingdome although not amongst the perfect men whose steps I cannot followe yet at the least among the religious women and inferiour sort And heere now the maruellous deuotion of another woman called Marie Magdalen commeth into my mind which with vertuous loue and godlie affection did seeke thee lieng in the sepulchre which when thy Disciples went awaie and departed from thee did remaine with thee hir selfe which sate there sad and sorowfull weeping long and verie much and when she did arise she searched with a diligent eie and with manie teares the corners of the sepulchre which was left emptie if she might espie thee out in anie place whom she with a feruent desire sought Yea and moreouer she went againe and againe to the sepulchre but that was not inough vnto hir neither did it satisfie hir desire For the grace of a good worke is to perseuere and continue in the same And bicause she did loue more than other and that in louing she wept and in weeping she searched and in searching she continued therfore was it thy pleasure that she should first find thee see thee and talke with thee before all other And not onelie this but also shee was a tidings-bearer of thy glorious resurrection vnto thy Disciples when thou didst command and bid hir saieng Go and tell my brethren that they go vnto Galilie there they shall see me c. Seeing therfore that that deuout woman did weepe after such a sort and continued in weeping which did seeke thee that wast aliue among the dead and touched thee with the hand of hir faith how ought a soule to mourne and to continue in mourning which beleeueth in thee with hir mouth doth acknowledge thee to be hir redeemer that sittest now in heauen and reignest euerie where How much therefore ought such a soule to mourne and weepe which loueth thee with all hir hart and with hir whole desire dooth couet to see thee Oh onlie refuge the onlie hope of wretches vnto whom no man or woman needeth at anie time to praie without hope of mercie grant vnto me this grace for thy sake and for thy holie name sake that as oft as I thinke vpon thee as oft as I speake of thee write of thee read of thee confer of thee as oft as euer I remember thee stand before thee offer vp praises praiers and sacrifice vnto thee so oft I may weepe abundantlie with teares in thy sight so that my teares may be to me in stead of bread daie and night Thou trulie O King of glorie and maister of all vertues hast taught vs with thy word and with thine example to mourne and weepe whereas thou saiest Blessed be they that mourne for they shall be comforted Thou didst weepe for thy frend Lazarus that was dead and didst let teares fall downe plentiouslie for the Citie which should perish I beseech thee O good Iesu by those most pretious teares and by all thy mercies and pities wherewith thou didst vouchsafe maruellouslie to helpe and succour vs that were lost giue me the grace to weepe and to be
vnitie peace and concord We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue vs an hart to loue and dread thee and diligentlie to liue after thy commandements We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue all thy people increase of grace to heare meekelie thy word and to receiue it with pure affection and to bring foorth the fruits of the spirit We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to bring into the waie of truth all such as haue erred and are deceiued We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to strengthen such as doo stand and to comfort and helpe the weake-harted and to raise vp them that fall and finallie to beate downe Sathan vnder our feete We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort all that be in danger necessitie and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring of child all sicke persons and yoong children and to shew thy pitie vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse children and widowes and all that bee desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to haue mercie vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to forgiue our enimies persecutors and slanderers and to turne their harts We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindlie fruits of the earth so as in due time we may enioie them We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue vs true repentance to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to endue vs with the grace of thy holie spirit to amend our liues according to thy holie word We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. O Lambe of God that takest awaie the sinnes of the world Grant vs thy peace O Lambe of God that takest awaie the sinnes of the world Haue mercie vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Our father which art in heauen c. The Versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The Answere Neither reward vs after our iniquities Let vs praie O God mercifull father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite hart nor the desires of such as be sorowfull mercifullie assist our praiers that we make before thee in all our troubles and aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and gratiouslie heare vs that those euils which the craft and subtiltie of the diuell or man worketh against vs be brought to naught and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that we thy seruants being hurt by no persecutions may euermore giue thanks vnto thee in thy holie Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy name sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble works that thou diddest in their daies and in the old time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thine honour Glorie be to the Father and to the Sonne c. As it was in the beginning is now and euer c. From our enimies defend vs O Christ Gratiouslie looke vpon our afflictions Pitifullie behold the sorrowes of our harts Mercifullie forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauourablie with mercie heare our praiers O sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon vs. Both now euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Gratiouslie heare vs ô Christ Gratiouslie heare vs ô Lord Christ The Versicle O Lord let thy mercie be shewed vpon vs. The Answere As we doo put our trust in thee Let vs praie WE humblie beseech thee O Father mercifullie to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glorie of thy name sake turne from vs all those euils that we most worthilie haue deserued and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercie and euermore serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of life to thy honour and glorie through our onlie mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for the Queenes Maiestie O Lord our heauenlie father high and mightie King of kings Lord of lords the onlie ruler of princes which dooest from thy throne behold all the dwellers vpon earth most hartilie we beseech thee with thy fauour to behold our most gratious souereigne ladie Queene Elizabeth and so replenish hir with the grace of thy holie spirit that she may alwaie incline to thy will and walke in thy waie Indue hir plentifullie with heauenlie gifts graunt hir in health and wealth long to liue strengthen hir that she may vanquish and ouercome all hir enimies and finallie after this life she may attaine euerlasting ioie and felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for Bishops and Curates ALmightie and euerlasting God which onlie workest great maruels send downe vpon our Bishops and Curates and all congregations committed to their charge the healthfull spirit of thy grace and that they may trulie please thee powre vpon them the continuall dewe of thy blessing Grant this O Lord for the honour of our Aduocate and Mediatour Iesu Christ Amen A praier of Chrysostome ALmightie God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee and dooest promise that when two or three be gathered together in thy name thou wilt grant their requests fulfill now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them granting vs in this world knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen 2. Corinth 13 verse 13. THE grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the fellowship of the holie Ghost bee with vs all euermore Amen ¶ Other godlie Collects and praiers to be vsed after the Letanie as occasion serueth and first In time of drought for raine O GOD heauenlie father which by thy sonne Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that seeke thy kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof all things necessarie to their bodilie sustenance send vs wee beseech thee in this our necessitie such moderate raine and showers that we may receiue the fruites of the earth to our comfort and to thy honor through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another ALmightie God mercifull Father who in thy holie word hast promised to
miseries which hang ouer our heads but blot out all our offences O God after thy manifold mercies and take awaie from vs the curse of our ground that the people may praise thee O God yea that all the people may praise thee and the earth bring foorth hir increase through our Lord Iesus Christ thine onelie sonne which liueth and reigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie spirit a God for euermore Amen For faire weather O Lord God which for the sinne of man didst once drowne all the world except eight persons afterward of thy great mercie didst promise neuer to destroie it so againe we humblie beseech thee that although we for oure iniquities haue woorthilie deserued this plague of raine and waters yet vpon our true repentance thou wilt send vs such weather whereby we may receiue the fruits of the earth in due season and learne both by thy punishment to amend our liues and for thy clemencie to giue thee praise and glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier in time of vnseasonable showers for faire weather O God and mercifull Father wee acknowledge that we through our manifold sinnes haue deserued to be sharpelie rebuked and corrected of thee but if thou shouldest deale with vs after our sinnes we are not able to abide thy wrath and heauie hand Wherfore deale mercifullie with vs O Lord after the greatnesse of thy goodnesse and the multitude of thy mercies that wee rather may reioice and be thankfull vnto thee for the abundance of thy great mercie and louing kindnesse than be cast downe and discouraged by the heauie weight of thy hand In thy hands O Lord are both heauen and earth so gouerne them therefore we beseech thee for thy name sake that we may haue seasonable weather to receiue the fruits of the earth Staie the unmoderate plentie of raine and vnseasonable weather and powre rather vpon vs the plentifull dew of thy spirit that we may dailie growe to the perfection of Christian men and women Take awaie from vs our stonie harts and giue vnto vs in stead there of harts of flesh that we may cease at the length thus to prouoke thy wrath to bring vpon vs either this so great a plague as the losse of the fruits of the earth either else other plagues of thy iust iudgments Grant that we may so repent vs of our former euils that hereafter the woorthie fruits of true repentance may continuallie appeare therein and so to passe ouer and to end our mortall liues that at the last we may attaine vnto the blessed resurrection and life euerlasting through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen In time of thunder lightening raging tempests and vnseasonable weather praie thus O Most wise mightie God thou art a glorious King in all the world thy woonderfull maiestie doth shine and is knowne also by raine thundering lightening and other meteors ingendred in the aire Thy throne is among the clouds thou hast made darkenesse thy secrete place and thy pauilion about thee euen darknesse of water and clouds of the aire At the brightnesse of thy presence the clouds doo passe awaie so doo the haile-stones and firie coales Thou dooest thunder from the heauens and giuest thy voice hailestones and coales of fire Thou sendest thine arrowes and scatterest them thou increasest lightenings and destroiest them Who is so great a god as thou our God Thou art the God which dooest woonders and declarest thy power among the nations Thou redeemest thy people with thine arme The waters sawe thee and were afraid the depths trembled The clouds powred out water the aire thundered and thine arrowes went abroad The voice of thy thunder was heard round about the world the earth trembled and shooke The foundations of the earth shooke and were discouered at thy rebuking O Lord at the blasting of the breath of thy nostrels Therefore shall the verie heauens extoll thy woonderous works and the Saints set foorth thy truth in the congregation For who is equall to thee in heauen And who like thee among the sonnes of the gods Thou art verie terrible in the assemblie of the saints and to be reuerenced aboue all that are about thee O Lord God of hosts who is like vnto thee which art a mightie Lord and thy truth is about thee Thou rulest the raging of the sea thou stillest the waues thereof when they doo arise Thou onlie art of power to resolue into vapours the drops of the sea by the heat of the sunne thou takest the same vp being turned into airie substance and againe turnest it into meere water and makest it to come powring downe vpon the face of the earth Whatsoeuer thou wilt thou dooest in heauen and in earrh and in the sea and in all deepe places With thy power thou madest the earth with thy wisdome thou hast established the world and with thy discretion stretchest out the heauens As soone as thou lettest thy voice be heard the waters in the aire waxe fierce Thou drawest vp the clouds from the ends of the earth thou turnest the lightening into raine and bringest foorth the wind out of thy treasures Thou couerest the heauens with clouds and preparest raine for the earth Thou makest the grasse to growe vpon the mountaines and prouidest herbs for the vse of man Thou giuest to beasts their food and to the yoong rauens that crie Behold so great art thou that thou passest our knowledge neither can the number of thy yeeres be searched out When thou restrainest the drops of water the raine powreth downe by the vapours thereof and falleth abundantlie vpon man Thou bringest foorth the winds out of thy treasures that is from thy secret places where thou diddest hide them in great abundance that they might be readie at thy commandement and come foorth when thou thinkest good Thou makest the clouds to labour to giue water to the earth and scatterest the cloud of thy light thou turnest it about by thy gouernement that they may doo whatsoeuer thou commandest them vpon the whole world O God mine hart is troubled verie sore when I behold the immoderate showers and heare the terrible thunder yea it forsaketh his place when I heare the noise of thy voice and the speech proceeding from thy mouth O God which rulest heauen and earth I most humblie beseech thee mercifullie to driue awaie or atleast to mitigate these mightie streames and most raging tempests Restraine the thunderbolts and thy firie darts that they hurt vs not Keepe vs and our nests that we perish not through lightenings nor be destroied by thy thunderclaps Protect our houses and vs that we be neither consumed by thy firie meteor nor drowned by thy sudden floud O mercifull God raine not I beseech thee hailestones vpon the face of the earth neither strike such as are in the fields be they man or beast Strike not thou therewith all the herbes of the feeld neither breake thou gratious Lord the trees of our land Destroie not our
for not worthilie preparing themselues and for misvsing the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and manie died thereof as thine holie Apostle Saint Paule hath taught vs. Since which time O Lord as the Monuments of thy Church and other Chronicles doo declare thou hast from time to time so plagued with pestilence not onelie cities but also whole countries for these and other like causes that we may iustlie looke for the comming of our Sauiour so manie and so horrible pestilences haue beene among vs alreadie All which causes O Lord for the which thou hast so afflicted thy people are through the malice of Satan and our wilfull consenting vnto him growne so ripe in vs that were it not for the exceeding greatnes of thy mercie and compassion we should all presentlie perish and that woorthilie so horrible and outragious are our iniquities For we loath not onelie the plentifull prouision of wholesome victuals and apparell which thou hast giuen vs for our bodies more abundantlie than to manie nations trauelling by all meanes to get wherewith to pamper our flesh with wines spices silks and other vaine costlie and delighting things but the pretious Manna of our soules thy holie word and Sacraments we can not awaie with we are so full that we are glutted therewith We so little esteeme the heauenlie kingdome which our Sauiour hath so deerlie prepared and kindlie promised to vs that we abhor it and are readie to stone those few that commend it and exhort vs for our owne good to trauell thitherward better liking and crediting those false prophets the Epicures and Atheists that with their lies discourage vs therefrom What murmuring and grudging make we against the ministers of thy word which thou of thine especiall goodnesse hast in mercie giuen vs How despise wee our bishops preachers and other ministers of thy holie Sacraments whom thou hast commanded vs to reuerence and honour Did not we through our wicked liues wretchedlie leese the Arke of thy holie word and the true ministration of Sacraments not manie yeeres agone which the popish Philistines tooke from vs And now when thou through thy plagues laid vpon them hast miraculouslie sent it againe see how hold we be with the Beth-samites vnreuerentlie to receiue it For manie make of it a gazing-stocke to serue their eies and tongues rather than a lawe to obeie and followe in their liues Yea the knowledge of thy truth goodnesse and mercie breedeth in manie of vs a carelesse securitie and a contempt of thy holie ordinances For we presume vpon thy mercie and promises not regarding the conditions nor anie of thy commandements which in our baptisme we vowed to obserue Yea we make thy Gospell a cloke of our couetousnesse vnder colour whereof we seeke our owne lucre and hide all our wicked and filthie practises If the Corinthians deserued to be plagued for abusing thy holie Sacraments how much more are wee woorthie of fierce wrath that not onelie abuse it but also abhor contemne it bicause it is ministred as it ought For thou knowest O Lord what a sort there are which bewitched with the diuell and the Popes doctrine doo vtterlie abhor Christs holie communion and sauing for feare of the lawe would neuer come at it In what sort these receiue and how they be prepared is not vnknowne vnto thee How rashlie also and vnaduisedlie and vnprepared the common multitude doo frequent it partlie appeareth in that manie of them neuer forgiue old offences nor reconcile themselues nor in anie thing doo amend their old sinnes and vices Seeing then that we Lord the common sort and multitude doo thus abound in all kind of wickednesse how can it be but that thou of thy iustice must suffer our magistrates to offend also in somewhat to the end thou maist iustlie take vengeance of our sinnes For these manifold heapes of sinnes and wickednesses O Lord thou hast iustlie at this present sent this dangerous pestilence among vs as thou hast often and long time threatened by the mouthes of thy faithfull preachers who continuallie haue called vpon vs to staie thy wrath by earnest repentance amendement of life but we haue alwaies beene deafer and deafer The delight in our sinnes not onlie stopped our eares but also hardened our harts against their hartie and friendlie admonitions And in that we now O Lord doo begin to feele and acknowledge our sinnes it commeth more of thy rigour in plaguing vs than of anie good inclination of our selues Mollifie therefore O Lord our flintie harts with the suppling moisture of thy holie spirit Make vs to reuerence thee as children for loue of thy mercies and not to dread thee like slaues for feare of punishment Seruants Amen Maister or Maistres O deere Father reclaime vs thy lost children O mercifull Sauiour pitie vs thy putrified members O holie Ghost repaire vs thy decaied temples O holie and glorious Trinitie haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners Seruants Amen Maister Grant vs O Lord such true repentance as may through the bloud of our Sauiour blot out the staines of our heinous iniquities Forgiue vs our sinnes O Lord forgiue vs our sinnes for thine infinite mercies sake Seruants Amen Maister Forgiue vs our blasphemies idolatries and periuries Forget our vaine and outragious oths As thou hast by thy rigour and plagues forced vs to acknowledge thee to be our iust and righteous Lord so let vs through thy mercie and forgiuenesse feele thee to be our mild louing Father and giue vs grace for euer hereafter to reuerence this thy glorious name Seru. Amen Maister Take from vs O God the care of worldlie vanities Make vs content with necessaries Plucke awaie our harts from delighting in honours treasures and pleasures of this life And ingender in vs a desire to be with thee in thine eternall kingdome Giue vs O Lord such taste and feeling of thine vnspeake able ioies in heauen that we may alwaie long therfore saieng with thine elect Hasten thy kingdome O Lord take vs to thee Seru. Amen Maister Make vs O Lord obedient to thy will reuealed in thy holie word Make vs diligent to walke in thy commandements Forgiue vs our contempt and murmuring against the magistrates and ministers whom thou hast in thy mercie appointed make vs obedient vnto their godlie lawes doctrine Saue and preserue O Lord thine annointed our QVEENE ELIZABETH that she in thy grace and feare may long reigne amongst vs. Giue peace to all Christian nations Mooue vs by thy spirit to loue one another as the members of our bodie that we may all doo thy will in earth as it is in heauen Seru. Amen Maister Dig out of vs O Lord the venemous roots of couetousnesse and concupiscence or else so represse them with thy grace that we may be contented with thy prouision of necessaries and not to labour as we doo with toile strength guile wrong and oppression to pamper our selues with vaine superfluities Feed our soules O
Lord dailie with the true Manna of thy heauenlie word and with the grace of thy holie Sacraments Giue vs grace continuallie to read heare and meditate thy purposes iudgments promises and precepts not to the end we may curiouslie argue therof or arrogantlie presume thervpon but to frame our liues according to thy will that by keeping thy couenants we may be sure of thy promises and so make our election and vocation certaine through our constant faith vertuous and godlie liuing Seru. Amen Maister Confirme vs O Lord to the image of our Sauiour So lighten the lamps of our harts with the fire and burning flames of thy loue that no enuie rancor hatred or malice doo remaine in vs to quench it but that we may gladlie forgiue whatsoeuer wrong is or shall be either maliciouslie or ignorantlie done or said against vs. And here Lord in thy presence for thy Maiestie is euerie where we forgiue whatsoeuer hath beene by anie man or woman practised against vs beseeching thèe of thy goodnesse likewise to forgiue it And further for thy mercies sake and for our Sauiour Iesus Christs sake we beseech thee O deere Father to forgiue vs these horrible and damnable sinnes which we haue committed against thy Maiestie for which thou hast now iustlie brought the pestilence and plague vpon vs. Let the ceasing thereof we beseech thee certifie vs of thy mercie and remission Seru. Amen Maister We knowe O Lord the weakenesse of our selues and how readie we are to fall from thee Suffer not therfore Satan to shew his power and malice vpon vs. For we are not able to withstand his assalts Arme vs O Lord alwaies with thy grace and assist vs with thy holie spirit in all kinds of temptations Seruants Amen Maister Deliuer vs O deere father from all euils both bodilie and ghostlie Deliuer O Lord from trouble of conscience all that are snarled in their sins Deliuer O Lord from feare of persecution and tyrannie our brethren and sisters that are vnder the crosse for profession of thy word Deliuer O mercifull father those that for our sinnes and offences are alreadie tormented with the rage of pestilence Recouer those O Lord that are alreadie striken and saue the rest of my houshold and else-where from this greeuous infection Seruants Amen Maister Finallie O Lord God which for our innumerable sinnes dooest heere fatherlie correct vs to the end we should not feele the rigour of thy seueare iudgement in eternall condemnation we humblie submit our selues vnto thy grace and pitie beseeching thee for our Lord Iesus Christes sake that although we haue iustlie deserued this plague now laid vpon vs yet it may please thee in the multitude of thy mercies to withdrawe thy rod from vs. Grant O Lord true repentance of our sinnes which as it did in that good King Ezekias may deliuer vs from the plague laid vpon vs and cause those that be sicke heere in my house or otherwhere to recouer Or if thou haue determined to take a number of vs out of the miseries of this present euill world giue vs the comfort of thy holie spirit that may make vs glad and willing to come vnto thee Giue vs grace O Lord so to prepare our selues that we may be readie with the wise virgins to enter into life with our sauiour Christ whensoeuer it shall please thee to call vs. Seruants Amen Maister Grant this O deere father for Iesus Christes sake our onlie Mediator Aduocate Lord Redeemer and Sauiour to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor and glorie world without end and in whose name we altogether with one hart and voice crie furthermore and praie vnto thee as he in his holie word hath taught vs saieng Maister and seruants altogether Our Father c. Other Psalmes and praiers to be said in the time of anie common plague sicknesse or other crosse and visitation of God by the Maister and Mistresse with their familie O Come let vs humble our selues fall downe before the Lord with reuerence and feare For he is the Lord our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his hands Come therefore let vs turne againe vnto our Lord for he hath smitten vs and he shall heale vs. Let vs repent and turne from our wickednesse and our sinnes shall be forgiuen vs. Let vs turne and the Lord will turne from his heauie wrath and will pardon vs and we shall not perish For we knowledge our faults and our sinnes be euer before vs. We haue sore prouoked thine anger O Lord thy wrath is waxed hot and thy heauie displeasure is sore kindled against vs. Thou hast made vs heare of the noise of warres and hast troubled vs by the vexation of enimies Thou hast in thine indignation striken vs with greeuous sicknes and by and by we haue fallen as leaues beaten downe with a vehement wind Indeede we acknowledge that all punishments are lesse than our deseruings but yet of thy mercie Lord correct vs to amendment and plague vs not to our destruction For thy hand is not shortened that thou canst not helpe neither is thy goodnesse abated that thou wilt not heare Thou hast promised that afore we crie thou wilt heare vs and whilest we yet speake thou wilt haue mercie vpon vs. For none that trust in thee shall be confounded neither anie that call vpon thee shall be despised For thou art the onlie Lord who woundest and dooest heale againe who killest and reuiuest bringest euen to hell and bringest barke againe Our father 's hoped in thee they trusted in thee and thou didst deliuer them They called vpon thee and were helped they put their trust in thee and were not confounded O Lord rebuke vs not in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauie displeasure Oh remember not the sinnes and offences of our youth but according to thy mercie thinke vpon vs O Lord for thy goodnesse Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord for we are weake O Lord heale vs for our bones are vexed And now in the vexation of our spirits and the anguish of our soules we remember thee and we crie vnto thee heare Lord and haue mercie For thine owne sake for thy holie name sake incline thine eare and heare O mercifull Lord. For we doo not powre out our praiers before thy face trusting in our owne righteousnesse but in thy great and manifold mercies Wash vs throughlie from our wickednesse and cleanse vs from our sinnes Turne thy face from our sinnes and put out all our misdeeds Make vs cleane harts O God and renew a right spirit within vs. Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glorie of thy name O deliuer vs and be mercifull vnto our sinnes for thy name sake So we that be thy people and sheepe of thy pasture shall giue thee thanks for euer and will alwaies bee shewing foorth thy praise from generation to generation Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the
c. Another praier to be said in the time of the plague sicknesse and mortalitie O Lord our God great and fearefull art thou keeping couenant and mercie with them that loue thee and keepe thy commandements We haue sinned O Lord and haue committed iniquitie We haue don wickedlie yea wee haue rebelled and haue departed from thy iudgements We haue not obeied thy seruants the Prophets which spake in thy name to our kings and princes to our forefathers and to all the people of the land O Lord righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee but vnto vs open shame and confusion as it is come to passe this daie by the plague and sicknesse reigning among vs and among all the dwellers of this land because of the sins which we haue done against thee Unto thee O Lord and God pertaineth compassion and forgiuenesse though we haue rebelled against thee We haue not obeied thy voice to walke in the lawes which thou hast laid before vs. We haue hitherto despised thy diuine word yea we haue loathed preaching and haue loased the bridle to all beastlinesse of desires Therefore the cursse and oth which is written in the lawe of Moses thy seruant is powred vpon vs and we through the plague and corrupt aires with burning feauers and greeuous sicknesse are lamentablie consumed euerie daie Yea in our knees and legs are we smitten with most lothsome botches and those incurable from the sole of the foote vnto the top of the head Because we repent not neither obserue all the words written in thy lawe nor feare thy glorious and dreadfull name thou doest according to thy threatnings aforetold increase our plagues the plagues of our seed Thou sendest great plagues and of long continuance euill sicknesse and of long durance Thou bringest vpon vs vncurable diseases all maner of sicknesse and all kinds of plagues besides those written in the booke of the lawe All these plagues according to thy word are come vpon vs yet haue we not praied vnto thee our Lord that we might euerie one turne from our vngodlie waies Therefore hast thou bin wrathfull in punishing vs and in bringing these euils vpon vs. Thou art righteous O Lord and true is thy iudgement O God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ thou hast got thee a glorious name as may appeare this daie O Lord our God we haue sinned we haue done wickedlie we haue behaued our selues vngodlie in all thine ordinances Turne thy wrath away from vs we beseech thee for we are but a few left in this place O Lord God which hast promised that when either pestilence among vs or the aire infected or anie other plague or sicknesse is hot thou wilt heare the praiers and grant the requests of anie man or woman among the people praieng from the bottome of his hart acknowledging his sinnes vnfeinedlie and lifting vp his hands vnto thee thorough Iesus Christ before the throne of grace Be thou mercifull giue vnto euerie man according to all his petitions For thou alone knowest the harts of all the children of men Heare thou our praiers and petitions and deliuer vs from this contagious and deadlie pestilence Command thine Angel which striketh vs to put vp his swoord into the sheath that he strike not to our finall and vtter destruction Proceede not in thy wrath spare vs from death bring not our end by the plague Let the heauens be mild and our dwelling places healthfull least the aire being infected powre downe the contagion thereof vpon vs to our destruction O Lord turne awaie thine hand it is sufficient let now thine hand cease that all the earth may knowe how that thou Lord art our GOD and that we doo call vpon thy name O Lord looke downe from thine holie house vpon vs incline thine eare and heare open thine eies and behold the affliction and mortalitie of thy people For the dead whose spirits are taken awaie giue vnto thee neither praise nor righteousnes but the soule that is vexed for the multitude of hir sins which goeth on heauilie and weaklie whose eies begin to faile yea the hungrie soule is it that ascribeth due praise and righteousnesse vnto thee O Lord. For we powre out our praiers before thee and require mercie in thy sight O Lord our God not for anie woorthinesse either of our owne or of our fathers but in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ in whome thou art well pleased we beseech thee be mercifull vnto vs and helpe vs in necessitie Turne thee againe O Lord at the last and be mercifull vnto thy seruants that this poisoned infection maie be taken from vs. Notwithstanding if it be thy pleasure to visit our offences with the rod thy blessed will be done and giue vs grace to beare thy fatherlie correction laid vpon vs patientlie remembring alwaies that we are chastined of thee our Lord in this world that we be not condemned with the reprobate in the world to come Amen A fruitfull Praier verie necessarie to be hartilie said at the appearing of monsters and in anie earthquake or other plagues that God would turne awaie his vengeance hanging ouer vs for our sinnes OH Lord God strong and mightie great and dreadfull which dwellest in the heauens and workest great woonders we thy miserable children here prostrate vpon the earth doo most humblie beseech thee to be mercifull vnto vs to pardon our offences and to forgiue vs all our sinnes O Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruants for if thou doo there shall no flesh be saued in thy sight We confesse and acknowledge O Lord that it is our sinnes which haue mooued thee to wrath and to shew such fearefull tokens of thy displeasure towards vs in these our daies First with fire from heauen betokening thy hot burning indignation and wrathfull displeasure for sinne which aboundeth at this daie and then with such horrible and monstrous shapes against nature as it was neuer seene here in our daies nor in anie time before vs which betoken to vs none other thing but thy plagues to come vpon vs for our degenerate and monstrous life and conuersation and of late by the strange terrible earthquake that shooke or rather that euen vomited vs with fearfull trembling harts and amazed spirits out of our houses which we so shamefully haue polluted and defiled with our vile sinnes and wickednesse and now last of all by the long and great mortalitie plague and pestilence thou doost hast terribly threatened vs fatherlie warned vs and mercifullie called vs to repentance The axe is set to the roote of the tree and if we be not as rotten members without all sense and feeling we may perceiue our fearefull destruction and desolation to be at hand vnlesse we speedilie repent and turne to thee bicause we haue beene so long taught out of thy most holie and sacred word and yet no fruits of true repentance or Christian life will appeare Wo and alas to these our daies that neither preaching by word
generall earthquake praie OH eternall mightie and most louing Father which hast no desire of the death of a sinner but that he conuert and liue and vnto whom nothing is so pleasant as the repentant contrite and sorowfull hart of a penitent person For thou art that kind father that fallest most louinglie vpon the necke of the lost sonne kissest imbracest and feastest him when he returneth from the puddle of pleasures and swill of the swine and disdainest not the repentant praier of thy poore and sinfull seruants whensoeuer with true faith they returne and call vpon thee as we haue most comfortable examples in Dauid Manasses Magdalen Peter and the theefe vpon the gibbet We most hartilie and humblie beseech thy fatherlie goodnesse to looke downe from the throne of thy mercie-seate vpon vs most miserable and sinfull slaues of Satan which with fearfull and trembling harts doo quake and shake at the strange and terrible tokens of thy wrath and indignation appearing most euidentlie vnto vs by the shaking moouing of the earth which is thy footestoole whereby if we be not vtterlie destitute of grace we be warned that thy cōming-downe amongst vs to visit our sinnes in most terrible maner can not be farre off seeing thou treadest so hard vpon this thy footestoole the earth which we most shamefullie haue polluted and defiled with our most wicked sinfull and rebellious liues notwithstanding thy continuall crieng and calling vpon vs by thy seruants the prophets and preachers by whome we haue learned thy will but haue not followed it We haue heard much and done little yea nothing at all but like most peruerse and vnthankfull children haue made a mocke of thy word derided thy ministers and accounted thy threatenings trifles and thy warnings of no weight or moment Wherefore we haue iustlie deserued to taste most deeplie of the bitter cup of thine anger and bengeance by wars famine pestilence yea and eternall death if thou shouldest not temper the rigour of thy iustice with the mildnesse of thy mercie But such is thy fatherlie affection towards vs that thou shewest thy selfe slowe to anger long suffering and of much patience and mercie yea thou art a thousand times more readie to forget and forgiue than we to aske and require forgiuenesse Therefore though we be not woorthie of the least mite of thy mercie yet gratious Lord looke not vpon vs and our sinnes but vpon thine owne selfe and thy sonne Iesus Christ the fountaine of grace the treasure of mercie the salue of all sicknesse the iewell of ioie and the onlie hauen of succour and safetie By him we come to thee in him and for him we trust to find that we haue lost and gaine that he hath got He is the scale of Iacob by whom we climbe vp to thee and thou by the Angels of thy mercie cōmest downe to vs. Him we present vnto thee and not we our selues his death and not our dooings his bloudie wounds and not our detestable deseruings whose merits are so great as thy mercie cannot be little and our ransom so rich that our beggerlie and beastlie sinnes are nothing in thy sight for the great pleasure and satisfaction that thou takest of his paines and passion Turne this late earthquake O Lord to the benefite of thine elect as thou didst when thou shookest the prison loosedst the locks fetters and chaines of thy seruants Paule and Silas and broughtst them out of prison and conuertedst their keeper so gratious Lord strike the harts of tyrants with the terrour of this thy woorke that they may knowe that they are but men and that thou art that Samson that for their mocking and spiting of thee and thy word canst shake the pillers of their palaces and throwe them vpon the furious Philistines heads Turne thy wrath oh Lord from thy children that call vpon thy name to the conuersion or confusion of thine enimies that despise and abhorre thy name and deface thy glory Thou hast knocked long at their doores but they will not open to let thee in Burst open therefore the brasen gates of their stonie harts thou that art able of stones to raise vp children to Abraham And finallie so touch our harts with the finger of thy grace that we maie deeply muse vpon our sinfull liues to amend them and call for thy mercie to forgiue and pardon them through Christ our Lord who liueth with thee and the holie Ghost three persons and one eternall God to whome be all dominion and glorie with praise and thanks-giuing for euer and euer Amen Or else praie thus O Almightie God and most mercifull Father which willest not the death of a sinner but rather that hee should returne and liue we thy seruants most humblie confesse that we haue most greeuouslie offended against thy diuine Maiestie and prouoked thy heauie wrath against vs in that we haue not beleeued and folowed thy Gospell preached vnto vs nor beene thankfull for thy manie verie great benefits bestowed vpon vs yea and being warned by the dangers of other haue beene too carelesse to serue thee oh Lord the Father of all mercie and the God of all consolation which in thy wrath remembrest mercie We acknowledge that in the late terrible earthquake which suddenly shooke vs out of our houses and dwelling places thou didst warne vs of thy iustice and that we for our great vnthankfulnesse and disobedience haue deserued most iust iudgement O Lord we thy seruants being vile earth and miserable sinners yet trembling and quaking at the remembrance of that terrible looke of thy wrathfull displeasure neuer to be forgotten most humblie craue pardon for our sinnes and grace to conuert vnto thee in time Conuert vs O Lord and we shall be conuerted Mollifie our hard harts grant vs a contrite spirit and to turne vnto thee vnfeinedlie in fasting weeping praier Enter not into iudgement with thy seruants spare thy people O Lord spare them and let not thine heritage be brought to confusion Haue mercie vpon vs for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake Giue vs grace hencefoorth to amend our liues and to serue thee in holines and righteousnesse So we acknowledging thy iustice and remembring alwaies that fearefull signe of thy furie in the memorable earthquake which thou sentest y e sixt of Aprill in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred fourescore we shall praise thee for thy mercie and glorifie thy holie name for euer through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen At the sight of a blasing starre or other meteors or prodigious signes of Gods iudgment in the heauens praie to preuent the euils foreshewed thereby and saie O Almightie Lord and God whose workemanship is the whole world the heauen and the earth with all the beautie and blessings of the same at the presence of whose power all things doo quake and tremble whose indignation when it threatneth vengeance vnto sinners is vnsufferable and whose promises of mercie are vnmeasurable bicause thou art euen the most high Lord ouer
all the earth full of patience forbearance pitie and repentance ouer the wickednesse of sinfull people declaring the sharpnesse of thy iudgements for their amendment and deliuerance from punishment Thou O Lord hast promised according to thy bottomlesse bountie and goodnesse a penitent spirit not to iust and righteous Abraham Isaac and Iacob which haue not offended against thy Maiestie but to those that are ouerwhelmed with the tempestuous tides of their transgressions We O Lord haue offended and our fathers haue committed sinne in thy sight We haue defiled our selues in the filthie puddle of iniquitie and therefore beholding in the verie heauens such dreadfull tokens of thy wrathfull indignation hanging ouer our heads for our monstrous and prodigious life we bow before thee the knees of our harts beseeching thee to be gratious vnto vs and to open thine eares to our praiers We haue sinned O Lord we haue sinned and we acknowledge our misdeeds humblie beseeching thee to forgiue vs our offences O forgiue vs and deliuer vs not ouer to destruction with our iniquities neither laie thou vp in store vengeance against the daie of iudgement O reserue not for vs the whip of wo and wretchednesse but in mercie pardon our misdeeds and let not the fierie flames of thy furie and wrath waxe hot against vs to burne and consume vs in our iniquities Amen In the time of warre O Almightie God King of all kings and Gouernor of all things whose power no creature is able to resist to whom it belongeth iustlie to punish sinners to be mercifull vnto them that truelie repent saue and deliuer vs we humblie beseech thee from the hands of our enimies abate their pride asswage their malice and confound their deuises that we being armed with thy defence may be preserued euermore from all perils to glorifie thee which art the onlie giuer of all victorie through the merits of thine onlie sonne Iesus Christ our Lord Amen In time of rebellion or intestine warre O Most mightie and mercifull Lord God which art King of glorie and Lord of hosts the Gouernour of all creatures the onlie giuer of all victories who alone art able to strengthen the weake against the mightie and to vanquish infinite multitudes of thine enimies with the countenance of a few of thy seruants calling vpon thy name and trusting in thee defend O good Lord thy seruants and our gouernour vnder thee our most gratious and souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth and all hir faithfull subiects and people committed to hir charge And especiallie at this time O Lord haue regard to those hir trustie louing and obedient subiects which be sent into the north parts of this Realme or ouer the seas to the aid of such as be persecuted for the profession of thy holie name to withstand the crueltie force and power of certaine false and vnfaithfull subiects yea rather cursed rebels and wicked traitours and all those which be common enimies as well to the truth of thine eternall word as to their owne naturall Prince and countrie and manifestlie against the Crowne and Realme of England which thou hast by thy diuine prouidence assigned in these our daies to the gouernement of thy seruant our souereigne Ladie and most gratious Queene to the great comfort of all vs hir louing subiects and faithfull commons thy most glorious name be praised therefore O Lord God of hosts which by thine Angel therevnto appointed doost minister both warre and peace and which diddest giue vnto Dauid both courage and strength being but a little one vnarmed and vnexpert in feates of warre with his sling to set vpon ouerthrowe the great huge giant Goliah our cause now being iust and being forced to enter into warre and battell we most humblie beseech thee most gratious God so to turne the harts of these rebels thine and our enimies to the desire of peace that no Christian bloud be shed or spilt Or else grant O Lord that with small effusion of bloud and to the little hurt and damage of thy seruants who doo ieopard their liues for the defence of thy holie Gospell our Queene Realme against the aduersaries thereof we may to thy glorie obteine the victorie and that the warres being ended the rebels soone put to flight and vanquished we may all with one hart and mind knit togither in godlie concord and vnitie laud praise thee which art our God O most mercifull Father if it be thy holie will make soft and tender the stonie harts of all those I saie that exalt themselues against thy truth and seeke either to trouble the quietnesse of this Realme of England or to oppresse the Crowne of the same and conuert them to the knowledge of thy sonne the onelie Sauiour of the world Iesus Christ that we and they may iointlie glorifie thy mercies Lighten we beseech thee their ignorant harts to embrace the truth of thy word or else to abate their crueltie O most mightie Lord that this our Christian Region with others that confesse thy holie Gospell may obteine by thine aid strength suertie from all our enimies without shedding of Christian and innocent bloud whereby all they which be in feare of their crueltie may be comforted and finallie that all Christian realmes and especiallie this Realme of England may by thy defence and protection continue in the truth of the Gospell and enioie perfect peace quietnesse and securitie and that we for these thy mercies iointlie all together with one consent hart and voice may thankfullie render vnto thee all laud and praise that we knit in one godlie concord and vnitie among our selues may continuallie magnifie thy glorious name And furthermore for as much as it is thy good will and pleasure to appoint vs in the number of subiects we most humblie beseech thee O heauenlie Father to giue vs faithfull and obedient harts vnto our dread souereigne Ladie the Queenes most excellent Maiestie and to the high powers and godlie rulers that are in authoritie vnder hir noble Grace that there may be found in vs no disobedience no vnfaithfulnes no treason no falsehood no dissimulation no insurrection no commotion no conspiracie nor anie kind of rebellion in deede word or thought but all faithfulnesse obedience quietnesse subiection and humilitie and whatsoeuer else becommeth faithfull subiects vnder so good and so gratious a Prince that we liuing heere in all lowlinesse of mind may at the last daie through thy fauour be lifted vp into euerlasting glorie where thou O most mercifull Father with thy sonne and the holie Ghost liuest and reignest one verie true and perfect God for euer and euer Amen A thankes-giuing for the suppression of rebellion or insurrection O Heauenlie and most mercifull Father the defender of those that put their trust in thee the sure fortresse of all them that flie to thee for succour who of thy most iust iudgements for our disobedience and rebellion against thy holie word and for our holie profession whereby we haue giuen
occasion that thy holie name hath beene blasphemed among the ignorant hast of late yeeres sore abashed the whole Realme people of England with the terrour and danger of rebellion thereby to awake vs out of our dead sleepe of carelesse securitie and hast yet by the miseries following the same rebellion most sharpelie punished part of our countriemen and Christian brethren who haue most neerelie fealt the same and most dreadfullie hast scourged some of the seditious persons with terrible executions iustlie inflicted for their disobedience to thee and to thy seruant their Souereigne to the example of vs all and to the warning correction and amendment of thy seruants of thine accustomed goodnesse turning alwaies the wickednesse of euill men to the profit of them that feare thee who in thy iudgements remembring thy mercie hast by thine assistance giuen the victorie to thy seruant the Queene hir Nobilitie and faithfull Subiects with so little or rather no effusion of Christian bloud as also might iustlie haue ensued to the exceeding comfort of all sorrowfull Christian harts and that of thy fatherlie pitie and mercifull goodnesse onelie and euen for thine owne name sake without anie our desert at all Wherefore we render vnto thee most humble and hartie thanks for these thy great mercies shewed vnto vs who had deserued sharper punishment most humblie beseeching thee to grant vnto vs all that confesse thy holie name and professe the true and perfect Religion of thy holie Gospell thy heauenlie grace to shew our selues in our liuing according to our profession that we trulie knowing thee in thy blessed word may obedientlie walke in thy holie commandements and that we being warned by this thy fatherlie correction doo prouoke thy iust wrath against vs no more but may enioie the continuance of thy great mercies towards vs thy right hand as in this so in all other inuasions rebellions and dangers continuallie sauing and defending our Church our Realme our Queene and people of England that all our posterities ensuing confessing thy holie name professing thy holie Gospell and leading a holie life may perpetuallie praise and magnifie thee with thy onlie sonne Iesus Christ our sauiour and the holie Ghost to whome be all laud praise glorie and empire for euer and euer Amen In time of extreame troubles by reason of the tyrannie of strange and forraigne gouernours ETternall and euerlasting God father of our Lord Iesus Christ thou that shewest mercie and keepest couenant with them that loue thee and in reuerence keepe thy commandments euen when thou powrest foorth thy hot displeasure and iust iudgements vpon the obstinate and inobedient we heere prostrate our selues before the throne of thy Maiestie from our harts confessing that iustlie thou dooest punish vs by the tyrannie of strangers and that more iustlie thou maist bring vpon vs againe the bondage and the yoke which of thy mercie for a season thou hast remoued Our kings princes and people in blindnesse haue refused the word of thine eternall veritie and in so dooing we haue refused the league of thy mercie offered vnto vs againe in such aboundance that none can be excused by reason of ignorance Yet neuerthelesse to the iudgement of men impietie ouerfloweth the whole face of this Realme For the great multitude delight themselues in ignorance and idolatrie And such alas as appeere to reuerence and embrace thy word doo not expresse the fruits of repentance as it becommeth the people to whome thou hast shewed thy selfe so mercifull and fauourable These are thy iust iudgements O Lord whereby thou punishest sinne by sinne and man by his owne iniquitie so that there can be no end of sinne except thou preuent vs with thy vndeserued grace Conuert vs therefore O Lord and we shall be conuerted Suffer not our vnthankefulnesse to procure of thy most iust iudgments that strangers againe haue empire aboue vs neither yet that the light of thy Gospell bee taken from vs but howsoeuer it be that the great multitude be altogether rebellious and also that in vs there remaine perpetuall imperfections yet for the glorie of thine owne name and for the glorie of thine onlie begotten sonne Iesus Christ whose truth and Gospell thou of thy meere mercie hast manifested among vs it will please thee to take vs into thy protection and defence that all the world may know that as of thy mercie thou hast begun this worke of our saluation by the publishing and preaching of thy Gospell among vs so of this same mercie thou wilt continue it maugre the heads of all our malicious enimies Grant vs this mercifull father for Christ Iesus thy sonnes sake So be it A thanks-giuing after our deliuerance from the tyrannie of strange enimies with praier for continuance of peace betwixt Realmes NOW Lord seeing that we enioie comfort both in bodie and in spirit by reason of this quietnesse of thy mercie granted vnto vs after our most desperate troubles in the which we appered vtterlie to haue beene ouerwhelmed we praise and glorifie thy mercie and goodnesse who pitiouslie lookedst vpon vs when we in our selues were vtterlie confounded But seeing O Lord that to receiue benefits at thy hands and not to be thankefull for the same is nothing else but a seale against vs in the daie of iudgement wee most humblie beseech thee to grant vnto vs harts so mindfull of the calamitie past that we may continuallie feare to prouoke thy iustice to punish vs with the like or worsse plagues And seeing that when we by our owne power were altogether vnable to haue freed our selues from the tyrannie of strangers and from the bondage thraldome pretended against vs that of thine especiall goodnesse didst moue the harts of our neighbours of whome we had not deserued so much fauour to take vpon them the common burthen with vs and for our deliuerance not onlie to spend the liues of manie but also to hazard the state tranquillitie of their Realme and Common-wealth Grant vnto vs O Lord that with such reuerence we may remember thy benefits receiued that after this in our default we neuer enter into hostilitie against those Realmes and Nations Suffer vs neuer O Lord to fall to that ingratitude and detestable vnthankefulnesse that we should seeke the destruction and death of those whome thou hast made instruments to deliuer vs from the tyrannie of mercilesse strangers Dissipate thou the counselles of such as deceiptfullie trauell to stir vp the harts of the inhabitants of either Realme against the other Let their malicious practises be their owne confusion and grant of thy mercie that loue concord and tranquillitie may continue and encrease among the inhabitants of both Realmes especiallie of this Isle of England euen till the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ by whose glorious Gospell thou of thy mercie dooest call vs both to vnitie peace and Christian concord the full perfection whereof we shall possesse in the fulnesse of thy kingdome when all offences shall be remooued
we be tied and bound with the chaine of our sinnes yet let the pitifulnesse of thy great mercie loose vs for the honour of Iesus Christes sake our onlie mediator and aduocate Amen The end of the Letanie Praiers to be vsed before and after the first and second lessons the Gospell and Pistle and before and after the Sermon or Homilie Before the first or second lesson praie BLessed Lord which hast caused all holie Scriptures both in the old and new Testaments to be written and red for our learning grant vs that we may now in such sort heare them reade them marke learne and inwardlie digest them that by patience and comfort of thy holie word we may embrace and euer hold fast the blessed hope of euerlasting life which thou hast giuen vs in our Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen After the first or second lesson praie GRatious God and most mercifull father which hast vouchsafed vs the rich and pretious iewell of thy holie word assist vs with thy spirit that it may be written in our harts to our euerlasting comfort to reforme vs to renew vs according to thine owne image to build vs vp and edifie vs into the perfect building of thy Christ sanctifieng and increasing in vs all heauenlie vertues Grant this O heauenlie father for Iesu Christs sake Amen Or thus THanks be vnto thee O our celestiall father through Christ our Redeemer that thou hast so cleerelie by thy Patriarchs Prophets and Apostls reuealed vnto vs these so secret mysteries of our saluation in Christ for whose sake also we beseech thee to giue vs the verie feare and faith in thee that we constantlie beleeuing thy truth and following that thou commandest vs in thy word may by no meanes hinder thy glorie or the course of thy word by our lewd conuersation but in all obedience helpe to amplifie and increase thy kingdome to the perpetuall praise of thy name through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Before the reading of the Epistle or Gospell praie ALmightie God and most mercifull Father who by thy holie spirit in thy seruants the Apostles and the Euangelists hast left vnto vs the storie of the doctrine and deedes of our Sauiour Christ that thereby as he is in deede so we might beleeue him to be thy Sonne and the Sauiour of the world put our trust in thee through him that so beleeuing we might attaine to euerlasting life grant vs we beseech thee the same most holie spirit to open our harts and lighten our minds that by the reading and hearing of the same our faith in thee through him may continuallie be strengthened till we attaine to the end thereof euen the saluation of our soules through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen After the reading of the Epistle or Gospell WE giue thee thanks most mercifull Father for that it hath pleased thee in great mercie towards vs to cause the holie writings and traditions of the Apostles and Euangelists to come to this our time place and eares that thou hast vouchsafed also to open reueale thy holie will vnto them to approue thy sonne so manifestlie to the world and to confirme vnto vs by them the truth of thy Gospell that in the mouth of so manie faithfull witnesses we might haue more full assurance in thy mercifull promises Helpe vs O good Father we beseech thee that by thy grace we may doo in deede that which we now by them doo vnderstand And least heerein we be through thy iustice more greeuouslie condemned and punished if that we neglect to doo thy will which through thy grace thou hast reuealed graunt vs the fruit of this thy care towards vs in the strength of faith that hauing read and heard so notable things in this his holie storie and acts and writings of the holie Apostles recorded and left vnto vs by so true and most faithfull witnesses appointed and ordeined therevnto by thee we may now by the effectuall working of thy holie spirit receiue and acknowledge him for thine onlie sonne and our onlie sauiour to the saluation of our soules and the glorious praise of thy name and so being lead from one witnesse to another we may according to thy holie word go from faith to faith till we atteine to the euerlasting life which thou hast prepared for vs in thy sonne to whome with thee O Father and the holie Ghost be all honor glorie and praise both now and for euer Amen Before the Sermon or Homilie read some of these sentences of Scripture exhorting to the attentiue hearing of the word Deuteronomie 18. THE Lord said to Moses I will raise them vp a Prophet from among their breethren like vnto thee and will put my words in his mouth and he shall speake vnto them all that I shall command him vnto him shall yee harken And whosoeuer will not harken vnto my words which he shall speake in my name I will require it of him Psalme 119. GReat is the peace they haue which loue thy lawe and they are not offended at it Prouerbs 8. BLessed is that man or woman that heareth me watching dailie at my gates and giuing attendance at the posts of my doores For he that findeth me findeth life and shall obteine fauour of the Lord but he that sinneth against me hurteth his owne soule and all that hate me loue death Prouerbs 28. HE that turneth awaie his eare from hearing the lawe euen his praiers shall be abhominable VVisdome 3. WHo so despiseth wisdome discipline is miserable and their hope is vaine and their labours are foolish and their works vnprofitable and their wiues are vndiscreet their children wicked and their of-spring is accursed Ecclesiasticus 5. BE humble to heare the word of God that thou maist vnderstand it and make a true answere with wisdome Be swift to heare good things and followe the word of peace and righteousnesse Luke 11. THE Queene of the South shall rise in iudgement with the men and women of this generation and shall condemne them For she came from the vttermost parts of the earth to heare the wisdome of Salomon and behold saith Christ of himselfe a greater than Salomon is heere speaking vnto you Iohn 8. HE that is of God heareth Gods word Yee therefore heare them not because ye are not of God Reuelation 2. LET him that hath an eare heare what the spirit saith to the Churches or congregation c. A praier for the heedfull hearing of Gods word FOR as much O most mercifull God as faith without the which it is impossible to please thee in anie thing we doo commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God in so much as he or she that turneth awaie his eare frō hearing the lawe euen his praier shall be abhominable and turned into sinne yea bicause also it is a farre more blessed thing to heare and keepe thy word than to haue had the honour to haue borne or nursed thine owne sonne grant vs grace therefore I
most humblie beseech thee in zeale and loue to doo this one thing so acceptable a seruice to thee and most needfull for vs to be done euen with attentiue and desirous minds to heare thy holie word preached and so farre to exceed the Queene of Saba and those which haue sought for wisdome from the vttermost parts of the earth as the wisdome thou offerest vs in it exceedeth all other and so much more redilie to practise it than they did which heard thy Prophets as thy sonne is aboue all the Prophets that we with wise Martha making our choise by thy grace of the better part may be made wise in him vnto saluation and it neuer be taken from vs but remaine with vs till it put vs in possession of that happie life which in a blessed hope we looke for by it And grant vs so to be carefull ouer our dutie which thou hast commanded that wee especiallie regarding that which is chiefest with thee and most needfull for our selues may therby declare our selues to be in deed of God bicause we heare Gods word and to be the true sheepe of thy fold bicause we harken diligentlie to thy voice and followe thee with Susanna Ioanna Marie Magdalen and all other godlie men and women and so by this meanes finallie not faile of thy promises but obteine to our endlesse comfort and the glorie of thy name the blessing and gift of eternall life among all faithfull beleeuers in the kingdome of heauen through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another verie Christian praier both of the preacher and auditorie present OH Lord how beautifull are the feete of them that bring the glad tidings of the Gospell of peace of saluation of all good things Surelie without preaching we should all perish Blessed and praised be thou therefore O Father for that thou hast giuen to vs thy Gospell life foode doctrine and peace in our time Blessed and praised be thou therefore O Christ bicause thou giuest and renewest often the light of thy Gospell and maitainest the ministers of thy word and preseruest cherishest and defendest thy catholike Church against the diuell and all thine enimies Yea blessed I saie and praised also be thou therefore O holie spirit bicause thou being powred vpon the Apostles dooest now also kindle thy light in our harts rulest instructest admonishest helpest vs gouernest and guidest oâ—â— labours to a prosperous end and sanctifiest vs to eternall life And now for as much as the chiefe authoritie of speaking is indeed of thee O Lord alone for a mortall man hath but a dead hart I humblie beseech thee to blesse this thy preacher heere present with thy diuine grace that he may doo the worke of an Euangelist and make thy Gospell knowne vnto vs. Giue vnto him the spirit of feare godlinesse fortitude counsell zeale knowledge discretion wisedome vnderstanding and constancie and let him as he hath receiued thy gifts so like a good and faithfull disposer of thy manifold graces trulie minister the same vnto vs. Lord let him come vnto vs with abundant knowledge and abilitie of the diuine mysteries of the blessings of the Gospell of Christ to communicate and impart vnto vs. And now that he is about to speake grant that he may speake in thee that is by thy helpe and grace and as he is allowed of thee so to vtter the words of God as he hath receiued them from thee that thou in althings maist be glorified Put vpon his hart the breast-plate of perfect iudgement the Urim of knowledge and the Thumim of holines and righteousnes of life and puritie of doctrine Let thy word be in his hart as a burning fire shut vp in his bones yea let his bellie be as the wine which hath no vent or like the new bottles that burst that being full of good matter thy spirit within may compell him to speake his mind effectuallie Yea doo thou O Lord I saie secretlie speake and worke in him and let thy secret power and vertue be put here vnto this action to this his labour and exercise of faith that he may accomplish that thou requirest to be done for the conuersion and saluation of thy people present Giue him the earnest-penie of thy spirit in his hart and open the doore of vtterance vnto him that he may make manifest the sauour of thy life and knowledg vnto vs. Lord thou hast said Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Open thou therefore his lips that his mouth may shew forth thy praise and shew vs the waie wherein we may walke straight to thee O let his mouth I saie be filled with thy praise that he may preach thine vndefiled lawe to the conuerting of soules and giue wisdome to the simple and light to the blind Let vtterance be giuen now vnto him that he may open his mouth boldlie to publish the secrets of the Gospell whereof he is an Ambassadour that therein he may speake boldlie as he ought to speake not sparing anie man nor hauing regard to please anie maner of person Touch thou O God the mouth of this thy preacher with the hot glowing cole of thy spirit whereby he being first clensed may the more feruentlie and purelie preach thy Gospell vnto his brethren in the discharge of his dutie as he that first is mooued with the zeale of thy glorie and then touched with a carefull affection towards thy people as Esaie was Giue vnto this thy preacher the audacitie of Eliah Iohn Baptist that like the true minister of God he may stoutlie boldlie without anie respect of persons or desire to please men as he that feareth God more than the faces of men reproue the people of their sinnes Let him as thou hast giuen in commendement crie alowd and spare not let him lift vp his voice like a trumpet and with all diligence and discretion shew thy people their transgressions and reprooue vice vnfeinedlie And bicause O Lord in vaine shall he cast the net of thy word except thou blesse the draught and his labour yeeld no profit vnlesse thou prosper it doo thou therefore luckilie set him on loose thou his tongue to speake and put thou into his hart what to saie Blesse him that thy word may be with him that he may be able thoroughlie to instruct vs what is thy will that he may catch our soules and by thy secret diuine power drawe vnto him the harts minds and eares of the hearers so shall he conuert and win manie vnto thy Christ and thou thereby be highlie glorified Let thy spirit speake by him and thy words be in his tongue that he vtter nothing rashlie or vndiscreetlie but by the motion of thy good spirit speaking sincerelie and holilie of thee as in thy sight Giue to him and to all such as beare thy word and are the ministers of the spirituall life such care zeale and diligence that they may indeuour faithfullie and painfullie to fulfill their office to the vttermost And
finallie let him not defile the euangelicall function by anie meanes no not with the least suspicion of glorie or lucre neither let his mouth speake wickednesse nor his tongue set foorth deceit but as he dooth preach thy lawes and take thy couenant in his mouth so grant he himselfe also may not hate to be reformed nor at anie time cast thy holie word behind his backe And now bicause thou O Lord so mercifullie offerest vnto vs thy saluation I am to desire thee furthermore in the behalfe of this congregation present that we also for our parts may of our owne accord willinglie receiue the same saluation of the Gospell now so gratiouslie offered vs that as thy preachers for their parts doo publish thy glorious name so we as greene grasse may receiue the heauenlie dew of thy doctrine and that the barren earth of our harts may be thereby moistened with the liuelie water of thy grace and holie spirit to fructifie in the same Grant that we may receiue these holie things high mysteries and most pretious pearles not as dogs or swine to tread them contemptuouslie vnder our feete as wicked Atheists and vngodlie contemners of thy Gospell to our damnation but as thy children and those that are of God and sheepe of his fold with all meeknesse obedience christian feare and reuerence grant that we may both heare receiue and fulfill them to thy glorie and our saluation Furthermore as thou in mercie openest their mouth to speake vnto vs so giue vs grace to open our harts and eares to receiue the wholesome instructions and fatherlie admonitions which proceed thereout O giue vs grace I saie to applie our harts to instruction and our eares to the words of knowledge Let vs be still desirous of thy heauenlie kingdome Let the holie bread of thy Gospell and foode of heauenlie dainties be onlie sweet vnto vs and sauorie in our mouths that we may depart well refreshed and full fraught with the largesse and plentie of thy word and Euangelike feast Make thou vs true Conuerts and more and more to increase and growe from faith to faith vertue to vertue Let vs neuer loath this heauenlie Philosophie but let vs be as the learned that are taught of thee and made meet by this thy preacher to receiue thy doctrine to our health The preacher heere present is vndoubtedlie thy mouth and messenger whom thou hast sent O therfore let vs not dare either barbarously to misvse our selues towards him in word deed or thought or scornefullie disdaine to be taught of him but with all feare of thy Maiestie and reuerence towards him let vs with all attentiue and ghostlie greedinesse marke his words well to followe whatsoeuer shall be godlie vttered by him And finallie touch thou so our harts we beseech thee O God to beleeue thy word and to repent with speed that the preaching of thy Gospell may take place in vs to practise the works of faith and shew foorth fruits worthie the same so that we with this and all other thy preachers and they togither with vs leading a right vertuous and godlie life according to the rules prescribed in thy word may be brought in the end vnto thee the chiefe shepheard of our soules where wee may iointlie be partakers of eternall good things and most excellent felicitie thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another IN this great darknesse of our soules O Lord thou shinest vnto vs with the lightsome lampe of thy grace but in nothing so effectuallie as in preaching of thy word Great is the haruest as thou thy selfe hast said and the workemen are few The most part of men are ignorant and wrapped in miserable blindnesse and few there are that teach thy word trulie and as they ought I beseech thee therefore that thou wilt send foorth workemen into thy haruest send teachers O Lord which are taught of thee and instructed by thy spirit of godlie wisdome and vnderstanding which by their preaching will seeke not themselues but thee because they are godlie and can so doo because they are wise and vnderstand Giue to the preacher of thy word heere present out of the treasures of thy wisedome that which he may powre vpon vs to our saluation And in vs open the windowes of our harts that they may receiue into them the most holie and wholsome light and that the good seede which falleth vpon vs be not choaked with thornes or withered awaie with drought nor be deuoured by the fowles of the aire but may growe vp in good ground and that fruitefullie with great increase to thy glorie and our saluation Amen Another praier to be vsed of anie hearer of Gods word I Giue thee most hartie thanks O eternall God father of our Lord Iesu Christ for that it hath pleased thee of thine vnspeakable mercie and goodnesse in all ages continuallie to send into the world men woonderfull in the gifts and knowledge of thy will to be renuers and spreaders foorth of thy truth Like thanks I ascribe vnto thy sacred Maiestie for allowing vs shepheards and preachers in these our daies for the gathering together of thy Church out of all mankinde to the building of the bodie of Christ Humblie I beseech thee gratious God continue alwaie among vs thy pure word through thy Ministers gather vnto thy selfe an euerlasting congregation and so instruct mine hart with thy spirit of truth that vnfeinedlie I may assent to thy wholesome word proue a liuelie member of thy bodie and be incorporated into that societie which both in this world doth sincerelie confesse thee and euermore extoll thy holie name Keepe those preachers which thou dooest and wilt giue in the certaine knowledge of thy blessed will that they may from time to time both open vnto vs thine intent concerning the repairing of mankind the saluation and redemption of our soules through thy free mercy and also teach vs how to liue in new obedience and to abstaine from carnall desires which fight against the soule Inspire the ministers and preachers of thy word with thine holie spirit that they may vtter thy will purelie as they haue receiued it from thy hands reteining the forme of whoalsome words and sounding onlie that doctrine which is vttered by thy sonne out of thy bosome For otherwise departing from the order of faith and the rule of thy word they will greatlie obscure the light of thy doctrine and obtrude vpon vs the vanitie of their owne inuentions Wherefore let them speake thy word not deceiptfullie but sincerelie euen as from thee and in thy sight Grant also that by transforming thy ministerie into policie they lord not ouer thine elect neither contend about superioritie and primacie in the Church but onlie to seeke the glorie of thy name and the saluation both of themselues vs. Giue them libertie of speech boldlie without feare to blame and rebuke all false doctrine blasphemous superstition and abuses in the Church Open vnto them the doore of vtterance
that they may speake the mysteries of Christ and manifest them as they ought to doo so shall their dooings bee profitable vnto the godlie Assist them also with thine especiall grace that they disgrace not their doctrine by impuritie of life but let their conuersation answer vnto the doctrine which they teach and preach and especiallie for the pastor of this parish and shepheard of my soule heere present from whose mouth I learne thy blessed will I hartilie praie that thou wilt keepe him in religion sincere and pure from enorme offences in outward conuersation Endue him with a long and healthfull life if it be thy good pleasure that manie a good daie and yeare he may continue in preaching the gladsome voice of thy gratious Gospell among vs without contention and strife And O sonne of God which art the Lord of all the flocke worke thou effectuallie by thy preachers speake thou within vs to our harts the blessed will of thine eternall father and confirme thy doctrine in our minds by thine holie spirit Grant that we may trulie knowe and discerne the same from the howling of woolues and from the inchanted songs of seducing hirelings And grant that we may knowe thee euen as thou knowest thine heauenlie father and to walke religiouslie and righteouslie in thy sight shewing our selues to be of that holie seede which praiseth thy name for euermore Come holie spirit open mine hart and eares that I may conceiue the profit of thy whoalesome doctrine and the sweet comforts reuealed in thy holie word by the preaching of the Gospell O Lord I acknowledge with teares my sluggishnesse and carelesnes in seeking thy truth and bewaile the wretched coldnesse and hardnesse of my hart beseeching thee to endue me with an vnfeigned longing and an ardent desire of holie Sermons Grant that in this life I may worship the feet of the preachers of peace and reuerence the true dispensers of thy mysteries thy faithfull ministers with double honor and none otherwise to obeie their godlie sermons than I would if a voice should sound from the heauens Let me not for the blemishes and imperfections of some particular men vnreuerentlie conceiue of thy whole ministerie Worke also within me that despising thy word deliuered vnto vs I neuer seeke after strange reuelations or violent rauishings both besides and contrarie to thy word but bearing alwaies in mind the order which thou hast appointed may constantlie embrace thy word manifested in thy Church Finallie impart such grace vpon vs that we may imitate and followe the good works of holie men casting off the old man by putting on the new which is created after God in righteousnesse and true holinesse Amen A praier that God would both feede and defend his Church to be vsed before the Communion O Heauenlie heardman and nursse of all things liuing which of thy meere goodnesse satisfiest all creatures that haue life suffer not thy Church to pine awaie and be famished for lacke of the food of thy blessed word but feed vs continuallie with thy goodnesse Suffer not thou O Lord which giuest sustenance to all flesh thy faithfull seruants to be depriued of perfect doctrine and most pure and sound Sacraments which are indeede the food of eternall life but feed vs continuallie with Angels food that is with thy holie word and with Christ Iesus whereby our harts may bee made righteous strong to him-ward Let vs not like the children of Israel loath this heauenlie manna which thou so mercifullie and aboundantlie powrest downe vpon vs neither let vs lust againe after the flesh-pots of Aegypt least thy wrath being kindled against vs also thou cause it not onelie to cease and to fall no more from heauen vpon vs but also thou smite vs with most greeuous plagues as thou diddest the Israelites But rather as new-borne babes remembring how it is written that man shall not liue by bread onlie but by euerie word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God let vs hartilie desire the sincere milke of thy word let our soules delight in fatnesse let vs come earelie and late to the waters to buie and eate to satisfie our hunger and thirst let vs harken diligentlie vnto thee and eate that which is good and labour continuallie without wearinesse for the meate that perisheth not O Lord let vs neuer see the daie wherein thou shalt be prouoked to send a famine in our land againe a famine I saie not of bread nor a thirst of water but of the hearing of thy word O God Far bee that famine from vs good Lord. Neither let vs anie more deserue to be cast out of our owne cities townes and houses and to wander in strange lands from Sea to Sea from the North to the South from East to West running to and fro like hunger-starued wretches to seeke the food of thy word as we sometimes haue done O Lord and yet not find it least by that meanes we doo not onelie perish in bodie but also in soule for lacke of thy word which is the verie food thereof But let thy word O God be still neere vs euen in our mouthes and in our harts the word of truth I saie which now is preached taught and receiued and feed thou vs whensoeuer the famine either of bodie or spirit vexeth vs. O our father giue vs this daie our daily bread that we may walke in the strength thereof daie and night vntill we come to the holie hill of Horeb. Behold Lord according to thy commandement we doo open our mouths wide fill thou it full of thy heauenlie dainties as thou hast promised Lord euermore giue vs the bread of life and of heauen that we may stedfastlie beleeue in thee For behold O Lord we come vnto thee as though we were famished let vs not therfore go awaie vnfed We are an hungred let vs not be sent awaie fasting Our minds alas hunger and thirst greatlie after toies and gauds of this world and we haue nothing to set afore it because wee are poore and beggerlie wretches But thou O Lord art rich in all good things and the most plentifull giuer of the dainties of heauenlie satietie O therefore we beseech thee giue vs somewhat to eate giue meate I saie vnto the wearie wandering souls yet not such as they lust after but such as is conuenient for them that being refreshed of thee which art the liuing and heauenlie bread wherewith when we are once well fed and that our strength is come to vs againe we may ascend vnto more high things and neuer heereafter hunger or thirst anie more after vanities Amen Another praier to be vsed at the Sermon before a Communion THou vsest O most mightie God to preserue those thy children whom thou hast louinglie adopted with no lesse care and diligence than if they were sheepe and the same alwaies fed led of thee being their most louing shepherd toward their owne health and perfect commoditie who so long as they haue thee
for their Maister and Gouernour they shall be destitute neither of the meate nor drinke of thy most wholesome doctrine and Sacraments Whereby it is manifest that if we pine awaie so long as we liue in this miserable and wretched life for the hunger and thirst of true and perfect goodnesse it happeneth for this cause in that wee haue forsaken thee and followed strange guides wherof and of none other come the great perils and miserable troubles of mind which fall vpon vs. Wherefore we humblie beseech thee O most faithfull and louing shepheard to call vs backe from errours into the right and perfect waie Correct the vices of the wandering and straieng flocke with the rod and sheephooke of thy righteousnesse so that we may feed at length orderlie purelie and chastlie of the most wholsome delicates of thy sacred word blessed Sacraments by which meanes the whole head hart and all the powers of our mind may be made fat and well liking and we alwaies so vnderpropped with thy louing mercies as we may finallie enioie in thy house the souereigne delights and deinties of euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another praier to be said before the Sermons at the Court. ALmightie God and most mercifull Father who hast in thine infinite wisedome hidden honour in shame and life in death that thou mightest make foolish the wisdome of this world and that hee that glorieth should glorie in the Lord giue vs grace that we stumble not as some did at the base estate and small shew that outwardlie appeared in thy sonne but that rather denieng our owne wisedome to seeke for our saluation where thou hast hidden laid it vp for vs that is in the simple ministerie of thy Gospell that it may haue such place amongst vs as it may reforme both Kingdoms and Courts and our priuate houses and persons that we may ioie in the present light of that lampe to our feet and followe it whither it goeth giuing no rest to the dealers of it till they haue satisfied our hungrie soules withall assuring our selues that we shall not want things needfull for this life but shall be nourished by thee haue thine assistance and helpe to deliuer vs from all trouble and finallie the enioieng of thy presence where anie trouble shall not come neere vs anie more but we shall be satisfied and haue perfect ioie in the sight of thee our most louing God and Father in Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be praise and glorie for euermore Amen Another ALmightie God and most mercifull Father who hast annointed thy sonne with thy holie spirit and sent him to preach the Gospell that we who before were in prison and bondage to sinne and to death might by him be set at libertie and haue our wounded harts healed by faith of his sweete doctrine grant vs that we loue not bondage rather than libertie nor death rather than life but that we may so receiue his word as we may attaine to euerlasting freedome and life by it And for as much O Lord as thou declarest that for contempt of thy word thou dooest oftentimes withdrawe the preachers of it euen from those to whom they seemed especiallie to haue beene sent grant vs so to receiue the teachers of thy truth as they may be continued amongst vs to our euerlasting comfort in thee to whom with the sonne and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie for euer Amen Another praier against hardnesse of hart and contempt of the word of God FOr as much as thy sacred doctrine O most mightie God is especiallie taught in the sacred Church wherby both thou thy selfe art manifestlie knowne singularlie preached and highlie magnified and we also thereby still called to heauen and heauenlie things it behooueth vs as manie as professe to be of thy schoole greatlie to reioice to be there and as thy faithfull Disciples with all our harts to desire for to giue diligent eare vnto thee alone and thy most wholsome instructions For thou hast oftener than once as thou diddest vnto the Israelites both by thy sacred Scriptures and also through the ministers of thy blessed word protested vnto vs on this wise Giue eare vnto me O my people acknowledge me trulie to be thy God not in words I saie onelie but in mind verelie and with a perfect and most pure worshipping But we alas haue turned our harts from thy holie words and so wretchedlie despised the doctrine of thy sacred lawe and Gospell that we haue alwaies hitherto beene a slander vnto the same But now are we verie hartilie sorie for it who trusting in the death and bloudshedding of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour doo with great feruencie and most earnest praiers lamentablie call vpō thee for pardon of all our sinfull crimes And seeing we acknowledge thee to be our onlie God we earnestlie desire thy gratious goodnesse to grant vs this request that we may now and from hence-foorth for euer giue eare onelie vnto thy diuine Maiestie and honour thee alone neither make anie thine equall or prefer anie thing before thee Suffer not our sinfull hart which of nature is disposed vnto euill to be hardened at thy fatherlie and friendlie admonitions make the same soft we hartilie praie thee with the inspiration of thy good grace and holie spirit neither suffer vs whom thou of thine infinite goodnesse and not for our merits sake hast chosen to be thy blessed people and sheepe of thy pasture to striue struggle against thy blessed commandements like vnto the stiffe-necked Iewes who wouldest oftentimes put therto the traill of thy mightie power But grant thou O most deere and excellent Father who speakest alwaie peaceable matters and those things which are for our singular commoditie that we which haue heretofore beene maruellous rebellious stubborne burdenous and troublesome vnto thee may now become thy tractable conformed and obedient children and euer hereafter haue so great a regard to thy blessed words that with verie attentiue minds we may giue good eare to those things which thou speakest and willest vs to doo So dooing we shall not onlie be saued adorned with glorie but also euerie thing of ours shall be replenished with goodnesse truth righteousnesse and peace Faith shall abound and through the same shall we be plentiouslie iustified through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnesse of hart and contempt of thy word and commandement good Lord deliuer vs. That it may please thee to giue to all thy people increase of grace to heare meekelie thy word and to receiue it with pure affection and to bring foorth the fruits of the spirit we beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to bring into the waie of truth all such as haue erred are deceiued to strengthen such as doo stand and to comfort and helpe the weake-harted and to raise
vp them that fall and finallie to beate downe Satan vnder our feete we beseech thee to heare vs good Lord Amen A verie necessarie praier against hypocrites false teachers and deriders of the Gospell WHosoeuer they be O almighty God that make a true account of sincere goodlinesse and pure religion are exceeding sorowfull if they see the sacred Church scattered wholesome doctrine derided the praises of thy diuine name had in contempt and such things as appertaine to a deuout woorshipping of thee turned vnto heathenish gewgawes and voluptuous pleasures To the intent therfore these things may in no wise happen as now vnto vs which we see not to be far off we powre foorth dailie before thee with great submission these our dolfull complaints That thou wouldest first of thine exceeding great goodnesse and louing mercie blot out all our heinous sinnes and offences being in a maner infinite and exceeding greeuous committed not onelie through weakenesse and ignorance but also done oftentimes both maliciouslie and of set purpose Be fauourable I saie O God vnto our greeuous sinnes and turne awaie from vs in such sort the most fierce wiles and subtil laiengs await of Antichrist as thy sacred Church be not depriued of all blessed ioie and spirituall gladnesse O Lord I beseech thee shew some experiment and proofe of thy selfe declare thy name and thy power amongst those thy spitefull enimies Bring downe Antichrists kingdome with all his vngodlie sects and schismaticall factions Certes ouerlong it hath oppressed vs yea and at this verie daie it still letteth hindereth and holdeth vnder foote verie manie which else speedilie would haue run to the kingdome of libertie and beleeued the Gospell Pull it therfore downe O Lord with all his stumbling blocks euill examples peruerse doctrine and neuer suffer it to recouer againe Lord thou both seest and right well perceiuest how the cruell malicious and vngodlie Antichristians would inuade the Church being so puft vp with pride inflamed with furie scorning as well diuine lawes as humane with like statelinesse and equall contempt dooing nothing with courtesie and faithfulnesse but practising mischiefe and naughtinesse and endeuouring so much as in them lieth that thy blessed word may no where flourish that true religion might be vtterlie extinguished that the perfect inuocating and calling vpon thy glorious name might be quite rooted out and to bring all things to naught by forged tales mens traditions politike deuises diuelish deceipts and verie much outrage But as for thy beloued Israel sith she hath by thy great mercie enioied so long peace and blessed tranquillitie let hir be ioined more and more vnto thee hir welbeloued so as she may continuallie laie sure hold vpon thy worthie praises Suffer not the mouths of hir good and wholesome instructors to be closed vp and put to silence Permit not thy due honour to be had in obliuion nor yet let the hymnes and songs wherwith thou art highlie praised and celebrated be vsurped of such as will haue the same in derision and scorne Finallie we humblie beseech thee O excellent father that what wrath or indignation so euer is due vnto vs by reason of the heinous sinnes we haue wickedlie committed thou wouldest yet for the glorie of thy famous name turne it frō thy sanctified Church thy deere spouse and powre out the same rather vpon them who with an enimielike rage and most malicious affection imagine nothing else but quite to marre and vtterlie laie waste thy blessed heritage and in deede be no lesse aduersaries to thy blessed name than of our peace and quietnesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for vnbeleeuers that all men may embrace the Gospell VNto thee doo we crie O Lord father and maker of all men which art rich vnto all that call vpon thee and which commandest the light to shine out of darkenes For thou wilt that all men should be saued and come to the knowledge of the truth And therfore of thy great loue thou diddest call vs to the participation of the lot of the Saints in light which are by nature the children of wrath and of death aliens and strangers from the testaments of promise hauing none hope and without God in the world but now are fellowe Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ beeing the head corner stone which susteineth the whole building by his word of power Heare vs thy seruants making supplication for such as yet haue not hard the sound of thy Gospell neither knowe thy name but sitting in darkenesse and in the shadowe of death haue their minds darkened and are alienated from the life of God by the ignorance that is in them and are caried awaie vnto dumbe idols and fained gods euen as they are led and run to worship that which is no God Giue grace that thy word may be knowne among them and preached in euerie land and the sound there of go out into the ends of the world that thou also maist be found of them which sought thee not and famous among such as neuer asked after thee Send foorth thy word that they may be healed and walke no more in the vanities of their mind O God father of our Lord Iesu Christ King of glorie giue them the spirit of wisedome and reuelation through the confessing of thee inlighten their minds that they may knowe what the hope is wherevnto thou hast called vs and how pretious the glorie is of thine inheritance in the Saints and how excellent the greatnesse of his power is toward vs which beleeue according to the working of his mightie power which thou hast wrought in him when he was raised by thee from the dead and placed at thy right hand in heauenlie places aboue all principalities powers Open the harts of vnbeleeuers that hearing thy word they may acknowledge thee the onlie true God and Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent and may worship thee the father in the sonne and the sonne in thee the father with the holie ghost euen as thou hast reuealed thy selfe Take the vaile from the harts of the Iewes least being blinded in the reading of the old Testament they stumble at the stone and rocke of offence by incredulitie and hardnesse of their harts that thy Sonne Christ crucified and preached be not vnto them a stumbling blocke and thy Gospell the sauour of death vnto death but that being conuerted by true faith to the knowledge of thee the father in the sonne their face being vncouered they may behold thy glorie knowing by the writings of the Prophets the Messias which thou hast appointed to be the Sauiour of the world Likewise gather thou the Gentiles to whome the Gospell the word of the Crosse is meere foolishnesse into thy congregation that they may embrace thy ministerie casting off all fleshlie wisedome and leade all their cogitations captiue to the obedience of the Gospell Moreouer our praier and
Christs sake Amen Another praier for the accomplishing of Gods will reuealed in his lawe SUCH truelie are to be accounted right happie amongst mortall men O most good and mercifull God as haue thy sacred lawe alwaie set out before the eies of their mind which they make as a patterne to begin their life by and as a rule to proceed by when they haue begun so that if they shall happen to go astraie their fault may both be amended thereby and they also leade a more vertuous life according vnto iustice These shall liue blamelesse and when their dooings shall be examined by vpright iudgement they shall not be ashamed which will greatlie auaile if it be diligentlie practised from the tender age But I hartilie acknowledge and earnestlie confesse O most deere father that all mans policie is altogether vnprofitable and none accompt at all to be made thereof vnlesse thou be present with thy blessed spirit and dooest direct our minds For otherwise what gaine may we haue by hearing or meditating of thy holie lawe than a cold and verie hurtfull knowledge Wherefore my earnest request is that thou wouldest not onlie minister strength vnto vs by thy grace for the accomplishing of these things which thou commandest in thy diuine lawe but also to bring this vnto good effect so that we may haue more felicitie in them than in all our owne deuises and take a greater delight in the continuall practise and due execution thereof than in anie fleshlie or worldlie pleasures through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another praier for strength speedilie to accomplish Gods diuine lawe WHen as we on the one side doo consider the weaknes of our strength O most mightie God and contrariwise the absolutenesse and perfectnesse of thy blessed lawe we euidentlie perceiue that for the obteining thereof thy most puissant helpe will stand vs in verie great steed First therefore teach vs the true waies of thy holie commandements moreouer illuminate in such sort our mind and vnderstanding as we may be able to incline with great feruencie vnto those things which thou hast both taught and commanded Furthermore it is needefull for thee to graunt vs power and abilitie to performe whatsoeuer we haue learned of thee otherwise it shall profit vs little or nothing at all to haue knowledge vnlesse some part of obedience be either performed or at least-wise begun in vs which the lewd inclination of our sinfull harts doth greatlie hinder and finallie our senses and corrupt affections are woonderfull huge aduersaries heerevnto Succour thou vs therfore we humblie beseech thee with thy good grace and aboundant fauour forgiuing whatsoeuer we haue committed and doo dailie after a most sinfull manner against thy sacred lawe neither let it be imputed vnto vs for our eternall destruction And in the meane season O good God quicken and lift vs so vp with thy vnspeakable louing mercie which we see offred vnto vs in the benigne promises of thy holie scriptures that thou wouldest not permit vs to swarue from thy sacred lawe which thou hast vouchsafed to set before vs who doo with much feruencie desire to be vnseparablie annexed vnto thee But grant that we may execute with an exceeding feruent desire the charge which is left vnto vs so that we may maruellous speedilie bestir our steps and feet towards the fulfilling of thy blessed lawe Cause thou vs O excellent father we humblie beseech thee to cut off and cast aside all delaies and that contrarie to the expectation of the vngodlie who alwaies cast lets to entrap vs we may be obedient to thy sacred precepts so that all those which honour and loue thee purelie may accompanie vs that like as the earth is euerie-where replenished with thy inestimable goodnes so the number of thy true and faithfull suppliants may be dailie more and more greatlie augmented through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier to be vsed of anie excommunicate person or notorious sinner before the dooing of open penance in the Church for true conuersion and repentance c. ETernall and euerliuing God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ thou that by the mouth of thy holie Prophets and Apostles hast plainelie pronounced that thou desirest not the death of a sinner but rather that he may conuert and liue who also hast sent thine onelie sonne to suffer the cruell death of the crosse not for the iust but for such as find themselues oppressed with the burthen of sinne that by him and his aduocation they may haue accesse to the throne of thy grace being assured that before they crie they shall find fauour and mercie Unto thee most mercifull God doo I miserable wretch crie whome for my filthie life lewd conuersation and proud contempt of thee and thy holy lawe thou to the griefe dolour of manie good Christian harts dooest iustlie scourge and punish by the censures of thy Church and hast woorthilie cut off secluded and reiected by excommunication from thy mysticall body making me now a spectacle to God to angels and to men Unto thee I saie O Lord and maister of all power which callest offenders vnto thee by waie of iudgement and affliction and knowest the hardnesse of our harts which haue no power of our selues to returne and rise vp doo I come and that in the name of thy Sonne my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to acknowledge before thee and this congregation my heinous sinnes wherewith I haue too shamefullie polluted my selfe and offended thee and thy Church And heere prostrate at the feete of thy Maiestie I craue mercie and pardon of thee and aske forgiuenesse of all the world especiallie of this congregation whome I confesse I haue offended Most humblie beseeching thee O father of mercies to looke vpon me with thine eies of pitie euen as thou lookedst sometime vpon the sinfull woman taken in adulterie and vpon Marie Magdalen in the banket which prostrating hir selfe at thy feet bitterlie did bewaile hir wickednesse Likewise fauour me as thou didst the Publicane standing a far off in the Temple without lifting vp his eies vnto heauen for shame but striking his brest onelie said Lord be mercifull vnto me a sinner And first O God that thou wilt pierce through my hardened hart and moue it by the power of thy holie spirit in such sort that I may come to a true knowledge of my sinnes and feele in my soule and conscience the terrour of thy iudgement vpon all offenders Especiallie O Lord that as I haue offended thy Maiestie and a great number of this thy Christian congregation by my detestable fact and greeuous sinne so beeing armed by thy grace to endure this mortification of my flesh like as my Sauiour Iesus suffered for me in his flesh I may now subiect my selfe to the iust ordinance of thy Church and not refuse openlie heere to acknowledge and confesse my faults and that with all Christian patience and true humiliation giuing to thee the glorie of thy name before the face
of thee and this congregation present who may be eie-witnesses of the same But because O Lord the externall confession and outward acknowledgement of my sinnes without the inward contrition dolour of the hart and soule auaileth nothing in thy presence which art the searcher of the hart and sifter of the reines I most humblie beseech thee that thou wilt so touch my hart and conscience and effectuallie worke in me perfect remorse and detestation of my former offences that without anie hypocrisie and with true compunction of soule and sincere confession of the mouth I vtterlie loathing and condemning mine owne impietie and damning that which the lawe pronounceth vniust and damnable may attaine to some sense and feeling of thy mercie which thou hast aboundantlie shewed vnto all mankind in Christ Iesu our Lord. Conuert me O Lord and I shall be conuerted because thou art my God and being conuerted I will doo penance Heale me O Lord and I shall be healed saue thou me and I shall be saued for thou art my praise To me I confesse shame and confusion of face is due as I iustlie suffer this daie but to thee honor and glorie for my redemption who by thus iudging and punishing me dooest by little and little giue me place to amend and space to repent and hast not suddenlie and at vnwares taken me awaie from the face of the earth and ouerwhelmed me by and by through thy iustice in my wicked deedes dooing as I deserued and thou iustlie mightest For which thy lenitie patience long-suffering and mercie O thou louer of my soule I most humblie thanke thee beseeching thee so to mollifie my hart that I may repent and esteeme greatlie of so great riches and inestimable treasures of thy goodnesse Moreouer O good Lord Iesus Christ grant I beseech thee that among all the feares and terrours of my conscience I may take hold of thee by a liuelie faith which hast redeemed me from the cursse of the lawe and art made for me wisedome and righteousnesse sanctification and redemption and may not in the fight of conscience yeeld my selfe a slaue still to Sathan and despaire of thy mercie but vpholden by the voice of thy Gospell may flee vnto thee my mediator and iustified by faith may haue peace with God that so comming vnto thee by hearing thy word to repentance the Angels in heauen may continuallie haue occasion to reioice and I auoiding the fearefull vengeance which most assuredlie shall fall vpon the inobedient may be restored into the right of thy lawe and receiued againe into the bosome of thy Church as a member of thy mysticall body and from my hart walke in all holie obedience to thee and thy holie word to the praise of thy name the comfort of thy Church and the confusion of Sathan Amen A thankes-giuing and praier vnto God of a reconciled offender or excommunicate person restored into the Church to be vsed after open penance done at a Sermon or otherwise HEauenlie father fountaine of all mercie and consolation I confesse my selfe the chiefest of all sinners and a wretch most vnworthie to bee counted amongst thy children or to be a member of thy Church if thou haue respect to the corruption of my nature and horror of my manifold misdeeds But seeing it hath pleased thy fatherlie goodnesse not onlie freelie to elect and choose me in thy deere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ by his death to redeeme me by his Gospell to call me and by his holie spirit which both are thine to illuminate me but also that thou hast commanded thy holie word and sacred Gospell to be preached not onlie to me but to all the world to the end that the penitent may haue an assurance of the remission of all their sinnes great and small old and new not onlie for a time but euen as oft as they from sorowfull harts and broken spirits in bitter teares shall bewaile the same and call for thy grace and mercie In consideration of this thy fatherlie adoption and ineffable clemencie shewed vpon mee an vnwoorthie wretch I can not but highlie praise and magnifie thy fatherlie mercie A testimonie whereof I not onelie feele now in my selfe but others also see the same euidentlie in this my conuersion and confession of my fore-passed faults in the which my penance dooing I am assured that I haue not so much shamed my selfe before this godlie congregation as I haue thereby confounded and ouercome mine enimie Satan who for a time had me in bondage and by whose venem and deceiuable entisements I heretofore haue beene verie rebellious to the wholesome admonitions of the Church for the which vile sinnes rebellion and contempt I confesse I haue beene woorthilie excommunicate and punished by the censures of the same But now O Lord seeing that the spirit of our Lord Iesus Christ hath so farre preuailed in me that by the power therof I am now set at freedome by thy mercie am returned againe to the societie of thy Saints and mysticall bodie of thy Church I beseech thee for the obedience of our Lord Iesus Christ so to accept me sorowfull conuert and to allow of this mine vnfeined repentance and confession that my former inobedience and faults be neuer laid to my charge Haue mercie vpon me O God haue mercie vpon me and absolue me thy poore creature not onelie from the sentence of excommunication but also from the sinnes by me committed and from all censures of the Church laid against me for the same or before and that Lord giuen according to this my hartie and vnfeined repentance before thee and all this congregation and as I hartilie forgiue all the world that in anie thing hath offended against me O Lord pronounce thou my sinnes to be cleansed and they shall be cleansed absolue thou me from the chaine of mine iniquities wherewith I am fast tied and bound and I shall be absolued loose thou my sins in earth and they shall be loosed in heauen that being now by thy great goodnesse and mercie acquited and sent awaie vncondemned of thee as that sinfull woman taken in adulterie was from hir accusers and receiued againe to the societie of Iesus Christ into the bosome of his Church to the participation of his blessed Sacraments and finallie to the fruition of all thy benefits I may by the perpetuall assistance of thy holie spirit not onelie more and more be displeased with my sinnes and bridle hencefoorth my corrupt affections till Satan be cleane troden vnder my feet by the power of my redeemer Christ but also be so conducted in all the course of my life hereafter that I neuer fall into the like sinnes impietie and contempt of God and godlinesse anie more but that continuallie I may be subiect to the voice of the Church and to the ministers of the same and proceed dailie in all maner of good works and Christian obedience to the praise of thy holie name and edifieng of thy Church by
Iesus Christ our Lord and onelie Sauiour to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be giuen all honour glorie praise and thankes-giuing not onelie of me miserable sinner and vnwoorthie wretch but also of all men Angels and creatures both in heauen and in earth from this time foorth for euermore Amen Luke 15 verses 6 7. Reioice with me saith Christ For I haue found my sheepe which was lost yea I saie vnto you there is ioie in heauen in the presence of the Angels of God ouer one sinner that repenteth more than ouer ninetie and nine iust persons which neede no repentance A praier to be vsed for the conuersion of anie notorious sinner that doth open penance in the Church PItifull God omnipotent Lord and mercifull Father who for that good will thou bearest vnto vs in Iesus Christ thy deere sonne wilt not the death and destruction of a sinner but rather that he by the inspiration and moouing of thy holie spirit conuert and liue who also doost witnesse the vertue and strength of thy word to be such that it causeth the mountaines to shake the rocks tremble and the flouds to drie vp behold we thy children and people here prostrate before thee most humblie beseech thee for Iesus Christs sake pitifullie to looke vpon all sinners and especiallie vpon this our sister here present who once was baptised in thy name and hath professed hir selfe subiect to this religion and vnto the discipline of thy Church though Satan alas now for a while hath so blinded hir that wilfullie shee hath contemned both the one and the other But O Lord as thou alone knowest so maist thou alone change and mollifie the harts of the impenitent sinners thou I saie which by the voice of the prophet Nathan awakedst Dauid from his deadlie securitie and who without anie prophet didst beate downe the pride of Manasses in the prison after that he had filled Ierusalem with all kind of impietie thou which turnedst the hart of Peter at the onelie looke of thy deere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ after that fearfullie with horrible imprecations hee had thrise denied and openlie forsworne thee thou which openedst the eies of the blind excommunicate man and causedst him to beleeue thy saiengs which forgauest the woman taken in adulterie sentst hir awaie vncondemned of thee hir accusers thou I saie O Lord whose mercies without measure endure for euer To thee doo we praie for this our sister heere presentlie punished and dooing open penance for hir offences earnestlie desiring thee O father of mercies first so to pierce and moue hir heart with the feare of thy seuere iudgements which sufferest no child of thine to go vncorrected in this world to the end they may escape vnpunished in the world to come and so to open hir eies that she may begin to see and vnderstand how fearefull and terrible a thing it is to fall into thy hands and to prouoke thy wrath and indignation against hir Let it please thy Maiestie by the vertue of thy holie spirit so to mollifie hir hard hart I saie that she may now at length feele how greeuouslie she hath offended both against thee and the Church and giue hir thy grace to acknowledge accuse and damne as well before vs whome she hath offended as before thy presence this hir contempt and sinne so notorious and damnable least that by hir obstinacie and wilfull rebellion thy Church and congregation being further prouoked be compelled with greefe of harts to cut hir quite off from thy mysticall bodie whome we O Lord vnfeinedlie desire to receiue within the Church as a liuelie member of thy deere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ Heare vs mercifull father call backe againe this our deere sister from eternall destruction where-into Sathan would leade hir that we all who before thy presence euen for hir rebellion and transgressions doo mourne may receiue hir againe with gladnes and ioie and so render praise and honour vnto thee before this thy holie congregation We grant our selues O Lord vnworthie whome thou shouldest heare because we cease not to offend thee by our continuall transgressing of thy holie precepts Looke not vpon vs mercifull father in this our corrupt nature but looke downe to thy deere sonne whome thou of thy meere mercie hast appointed our head high Bishop aduocate mediator and onlie propitiator In him and in the merits of his death we humblie beseech thee mercifullie to behold vs and suffer not the most innocent bloud of thy deere sonne shead for vs and this our penitent sister to be prophaned by the tyrannie and sleight of Sathan but by the vertue of the same let our sister be brought to vnfeined repentance and conuersion that so she may escape that fearfull indignation into the which she appeareth to haue fallen Grant I saie O Lord vnto this our sister the repentance of the hart and sincere confession of the mouth to the praise of thy name to the comfort of thy Church and to the confusion of Sathan And vnto vs grant O Lord that albeit we cannot liue altogether cleane from sinne and void of offences yet that we fall not into the like horrible crimes of impietie and contempt to the dishonour of thy holie name to the slander and offence of our brethren and sisters and infamie of thy holie Religion and Gospell which we professe Let thy godlie power O Lord so perpetuallie assist and strengthen our weakenesse and conduct vs in all the course of our whole life that neither the craft of Sathan nor the tyrannie of sinne drawe vs vtterlie from the obedience required in true Christians but that contrarilie beeing subiect to the voice of thy Church and to the ministers of the same vnder thee by holinesse and innocencie of life we may declare to the wicked generation what difference there is betweene the children of light and the children of darkenesse that all men seeing our good works may praise thee in the daie of visitation This we aske of thee O heauenlie Father in the boldnesse of our head and mediator Iesus Christ praieng furthermore as he hath taught vs Our Father c. Another praier to be said of the beholders of anie offender in the Church or else-where ALmightie God and most mercifull father whose iudgements are vnsearchable and whose waies are past finding out teach vs to iudge wiselie of this our sister and all other afflicted with thy hand not condemning them but rather profiting by them that their example may leade vs to repentance and bringing foorth such fruits as thou requirest of all those that are planted in thy Church least by continuing fruitlesse we prouoke thee at the last to the cutting of vs downe And because thou hast giuen vs a sauiour able to heale all our infirmities deliuer vs by him O Lord from all the bonds of Sathan that being set at libertie by him we may fore-see the straight doore and enter into it leauing the wide gate that leadeth
to destruction that we may be saued with those few that are appointed therevnto in Iesus Christ to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor praise and glorie for euermore Amen A thanks-giuing for the conuersion of an excommunicate person or other publike offender after penance WE thanke the mercie and goodnesse of our God through Iesus Christ our Lord for the conuersion patient penance doing of this our sister whereby she hath not so much endured the reproch and infamie of hir owne sinnes as in deede she hath confounded and ouercome Satan hir deadlie foe who went about to make hir his continuall slaue and by whose subtile sleights and euill suggestions she hath heretofore beene disobedient to thy holie lawes and wholsome admonitions of thy Church And now O Lord seeing that the spirit of our Lord Iesus Christ hath so farre preuailed in hir that she is returned to our societie let it please thee for the obedience of the same our Lord Iesus Christ so to accept hir that hir former disobedience and sinnes be neuer laid to hir charge but that she may increase in all goodnesse till Satan finallie be troden vnder hir feete and ours by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holie Spirit be all honor and glorie now and euer Amen Before the publike administration of the holie sacrament of Baptisme the better to call to mind our owne vow and promise made long since vnto God praie priuatelie to your selfe and saie O Most blessed fore-goer and guide of Christian people Iesu Christ who submitting and humbling thy selfe vouchsafedst to be baptised of Iohn in the riuer Iordan and wast not onlie baptised in water but also in blood and in the holie Ghost vouchsafe euen so to incline bow and dispose our outwarde life with our inward mind affects and desires in the fulfilling of all righteousnesse so that we being now mortified dead to the old Adam through thy holie witnesse of baptisme by the working and operation of the holie Ghost may alwaie haue our holy couenant in remembrance before our eies that couenaunt vow and promise I saie which we haue taken vpon vs in our baptisme to the intent that we as faithfull champions striuing against the world the flesh and the diuell may vanquish and ouercome them with all other which might be noifull and hurtfull vnto vs Amen Or giue thanks for our regeneration and sanctification as afterward in the praier vpon Whitsundaie Or praie thus for the spirituall washing awaie of thy sinnes HAue mercie on me O GOD according to thy great tendernesse of hart For in wickednesse borne I was and in sinnes my mother conceiued me so that of nature all that I am I am but sin This my confession of the truth I knowe well is right acceptable vnto thee wheras in the most part of others thou hast either hid the same or made it vnknowne Purge and sprinkle mee with the bloud of Iesus Christ thine vnspotted lambe If thou wash me I shall be as white as snowe wash me thoroughlie therfore from mine errours clense me not onlie of my sinnes passed but also of my whole life to come so shall I receiue these glad tidings into my hart that my sins be forgiuen me With the baptisme of spirit in the fire of thine illumination baptise me which is the might efficacie of baptisme which we receiued in our childhood Grant that the same spirit might alwaie conduct vs let this spirituall washing of baptisme continue with vs vntill the infection and vice which we haue by nature of old Adam be perfectlie taken awaie by the death of the flesh through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Or praie that the benefits of both the holie Sacraments may be applied vnto our soules health O Blessed Trinitie and eternall God of one essence giue grace that in euerie combate and especiallie at the point of death being mindfull of thy couenant made with vs at our Christening of thy most comfortable promise anexed He which beleeueth and is baptised shall bee saued we may neuer doubt either of thy mercifull good-will towards vs or of the free remission of our sinnes but by often remembring this signe and couenant may dailie more and more be confirmed in faith and hope of perpetuall happinesse and applie thy benefits which certainlie thou hast promised and faithfullie wilt performe vnto our selues For thy promises made to such as beleeue and trust in thee be not vaine and to no purpose Likewise vphold our soules by the Sacrament of thy Supper that strengthened with the seale of this new testament we may be the more certaine and confirmed touching our reconciliation and euerlasting righteousnesse alwaies beare it fixed in our minds For if the testament of a man which is prooued after the death of the Testator be not small accounted of much more should the last testament and holie Sacrament of our Sauiour Christ remaine pure and in continuall force and remembrance Or praie that we may rightlie and trulie receiue the blessed Sacraments O Most mercifull God and louing father who by thy son Iesus Christ hast abrogated the superfluous ceremonies of the Lawe and hast deliuered vs from the bondage thereof giuing vnto vs sure certaine seals and sacraments of thy grace and our free redemption through the most pretious bloud of thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ Grant O Lord we beseech thee that we may euermore vse them according to thy sonne our Sauiours institution who hath left them as pledges of his great loue towards mankind as continuall remembrances of his most pretious death which he suffered vpon the wood of the crosse for our redemption who by the fountaine of water hath regenerated vs and by his most pretious bloud hath purged vs. Make vs therefore to receiue these holie mysteries without corruption to vse them without alteration to continue them without superstition to the honour and glorie of thy most holie name through Iesu Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie now and for euer Amen After publike baptisme praie and giue thanks secretlie to yourselfe as time will serue saieng WE yeeld thee most hartie thanks O heauenlie Father for that it hath pleased thee to regenerate vs with the fountaine of water by faith in the bloud of thy sonne Iesus Christ and to purge vs from that originall sinne which we receiued of the old Eue. But who is able oh Lord to to giue thee sufficient praises Or who can expresse thy louing kindnesse and great mercies towards mankinde who hast not onlie redeemed him from the yoke of the lawe the bondage of hell and destruction of the diuell but also like a mercifull and louing father euen in our first entrance into this world washedst vs from iniquitie and hast giuen vs the Sacrament of Baptisme euen as a memoriall of our election in thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord whereby
beeing made thine adopted children we may by the sanctification of thy spirit inherit the euerlasting kingdome through the same Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Or praie for the fruits of Baptisme thus MOst heauenlie and eternall father we thy humble seruants entirelie desire thy fatherlie goodnesse that as thou hast begun in vs a newe birth washed vs with the fountaine of regeneration whereby we are made members of thy bodie and elected into the number and felowship of thy Church and congregation so thou wouldest powre vpon vs the grace of thy spirit to direct our liues according to this beginning in holinesse and purenesse that we may mortifie the lusts of the flesh resist the assaults of Sathan and auoide the alurements of the wicked world remembring alwaies that Baptisme doth represent vnto vs our vocation quenching those sparks of concupiscence that we all drawe from the old Adam and quickning vs in those good fruits of Christ our Sauiour who continuallie preserue vs with his holie spirit for euer and euer Amen Or praie for the continuance of the true institution of the Sacraments thus O Most mightie and most mercifull God by whose power the heauens and earth and all things therein are created who hast placed euerie thing in a most excellent order and hast framed man after thine owne similitude and image raising him from hell to heauen from wo to ioie from damnation to saluation and hast giuen him through thy sonne Iesu Christ a most sure bond of thy promise made in the beginning to mankind for the redemption of the world sending thine onlie begotten Sonne Iesu Christ to performe the same who made one onelie oblation and sacrifice for the sinnes of the whole world and did ordaine and institute two most holie Sacraments to continue the remembrance of the same make vs euer mindfull we beseech thee of these thine inestimable treasures Continue oh Lord this thy fauour towards vs. Let not tyrants preuaile against thy Church but let thy mightie power be shewed that the sacred rites may cōtinue in thy Church that the enimies may be ouerthrowne as the Turke who would vtterlie destroie those most holie Sacraments which thou hast ordeined for our saluation as the Anabaptists which like heretikes alter thy most holie institution as the Atheists who bred in them great corruption Conuert them we beseech thee O Lord and establish vs in the truth of thy holie spirit by thy mightie power that both now and euer wee may continue in the right institution of thy Sacraments which thy Sonne our Sauiour Christ hath left most perfect vnto vs to the endlesse ioie and consolation of our soules To whome therefore with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour glorie and praise world without end Amen Prouerbes 9. verse 1. WIsedome hath built hir house and hewen out hir seauen pillers she hath killed hir victuals drawne hir wine and prepared hir table she hath sent foorth hir virgins and crieth vpon the high places of the citie saieng Who so is simple let him come hither and to him that is destitute of wisedome she saith Come and eate of my meate and drinke of my wine that I haue drawne Canti 5. I AM come saith Christ vnto his spouse the Church into my garden my sister my spouse I gathered my mirrh with my spice I ate my honie-combe with my honie I dranke my wine with my milke Eate ô freends drinke and make ye merrie ô welbeloued Reuelation 19. HAppie and blessed are they which are called vnto the Lambes supper Christian praiers to be said before at and after ye receiue the holie Communion and first An effectuall meditation of the right Christian beleefe in the holie Sacrament of the Lords supper and of the woorthie and fruitefull receiuing the same to our comfort and saluation to be diligentlie read before you receiue O My soule let vs now carefullie consider first whether we bee come namelie to the celestiall table heauenlie banket greate feast costlie repast and sumptuous supper of the most puissant glorious mightie and magnificent King of kinges and Lord of lordes Iesus Christ thy most mercifull maker righteous redeemer souereigne sauiour and deere spouse and that of necessitie as both forced therevnto by his iust commandement and also allured and inuited by his mercifull promises Secondlie O my soule let vs rightlie knowe and diligentlie marke what things are heere presentlie set before vs on this holie Table and prouided for vs in this blessed banket to taste of namelie that the deintie dishes and the refection and meate which we must in verie deede seeke for onelie in this sacred supper are no vaine ceremonies no bare signe no vntrue figure of a thing absent no earthlie bodie no carnall meate nor anie fleshlie substance but as the sacred Scripture saith and other holie men doo rightlie tearme and call them The Bread and Cup of the Lord a heauenlie refection the sweet deinties of our sauiour the nourishment of our soules an inuisible meate a spirituall foode a ghostlie substance which all are heere now most mercifullie offered and exhibited vnto vs and all other faithfull soules as the soueraigne preseruatiue against death the conseruatorie to euerlasting life the comfortable medicine of the soule the salue of immortalitie the pledge of eternall health the defence of faith the hope of the resurrection the memorie of Christ the annuntiation of his death finallie the communion of the bodie and bloud of the Lord Iesus in a maruellous incorporation which by the holie Ghost the verie bond of our perfection with Christ is through faith wrought in the soules of the faithfull whereby not onlie their soules doo liue to eternall life but also they surelie trust to win to their bodies a resurrection to immortalitie In the which also we may not onlie heare see taste and knowe the mercie of God our Creator sealed the sanctification by Christ our redeemer towards vs confirmed the remission of our sinnes through the holie Ghost our comforter and regenerator fullie satisfied and established but also most sensiblie and effectuallie to our further comfort in deed feele wrought in vs the tranquillitie of conscience the increase of faith the strengthening of hope and the long spreading abroad of brotherlie loue and kindnesse with manie other sundrie maruellous graces and benefits of God most profitable vnto vs. Which things well considered and weighed my soule O with what feruent affection and earnest zeale ought they now to inflame our hart and kindle our mind greedilie to couet and desire the participation of these most holie mysteries yea often to long and hunger after this healthsome bread and continuallie thirst for this diuine heauenlie and blessed food Thirdlie and lastlie O my soule let vs aduisedlie call to mind and well vnderstand the cause wherefore wee are now come vnto this holie table of the Lord which indeed is onlie to this end that we should now be godlie ghests not idle gazers hungrie eaters not steruing
and so much the more as we see the daie approching Amen Another most Christian and deuout praier to be said before the receiuing of the holie Communion O Christ our Lord and Sauior which before thy greeuous agonie and heapes of trouble thorough the wrath of thine almightie Father lighting vpon thee commandedst thy Disciples Peter and Iohn to prepare the passouer that together they might eate the same Thou longedst for our saluation and didst eate of the lambe which was a figure of thy selfe and expressedst the image of that banket which thy people the Israelits vnder the conduction of thy seruant Moses about to depart out of Aegypt did celebrate Hauing finished the supper of the old couenant thou begannest a new couenant testifieng of thy presence and benefits in the Church Mooue thou our harts to thankfulnesse that with like desire we may desire to come vnto thy table and seeke the nourishment to eternall life Suffer vs not to loath thine heauenlie banket as prophane and curious men doo which contend with thee contemne the order which thou hast appointed Amend all abuses and prophanings of thine holie table horriblie deformed with filthinesse for the which we are punished in all places with manifold plagues and diseases By thy wisedome thou healest our diseases and infirmities and by the visible signes of Sacraments thou confirmest our faith Thou art effectuall by them in the beleeuers according to thy promise We blesse the bread and wine as thou hast willed and beleeue that with them we receiue thee in true faith and puritie of mind Thou declarest by this thy Supper that trulie thou tookedst our flesh vpon thee for our sakes euen to ingraffe vs to thine owne flesh and bring vs to eternall life This is eternall life which is begunne in this world whereby the soule is renewed vnto eternall happinesse Moreouer this blessed meate doth witnesse and testifie that our bodies which are replenished with the sense of thy liuing flesh shall rise againe to perpetuall glorie Increase and nourish by the profitable taking of thee this light within vs. Worke that thy Sacraments taken and digested thou maist come into vs and we into thee Assist vs thy ghests O sweet housholder that woorthilie we may feed vpon thy meate Trie our soule with earnest and vnfeined conuersion Let vs not plaie the hypocrites nor prophanelie dallie with thee and thy holie Sacraments Cause vs rightlie to discerne thy bodie and bloud from other common meate Let vs neuer eate the bodie of the Lord against the Lord. Grant in true and vnfeined faith we may enter into this thy sacred couenant that we may alwaies abide in thee and thou in vs. Likewise by thine holie spirit which is the bond of loue in this publike and common banket ioine vs to thine other members of thy Church Giue grace that all which feed of this bread may be one bodie knit vnto thee which art the head working all things in all Let the diuell at no time disturbe this pleasant concord betweene thee and vs as is betweene the head and other members of the bodie Let vs gather also by the same the summe of doctrine which is preached in the Church Let it raise vs vp vnto thankfulnesse for thy benefits Increase our desire to continuall praier whereby we craue all things which we stand in need of Continue that custome euen till thou returnest gloriouslie in the clouds to iudgement Maintaine some places for preaching and godlie ceremonies and bring in at no time barbarous ignorance Furthermore the dooing herof is a ministerie of our profession against Sathan and all his instruments Confirme in our minds by thy spirit this sound and pure vnderstanding Let vs not be oppressed with idolatrous darknesse approouing horrible abuses in carrieng about in laieng vp in offring the halowed bread without any vse not so much as one sillable of all these things can be seene in thy first institution Wherefore represse the diuell blasphemouslie dealing with this thine ordinance And first consume this world vtterlie with fire before we be wrapped againe in such horrible darknesse of idolatrie and superstition Mitigate the punishments sicknesse infections warre and miseries which for the prophaning of this Supper the whole world doth endure Let thine Angel spare such as with griefe of hart bewaile these abuses Feed vs and fill vs thy ghests with thy liuelie presence Dwell thou in vs. Worke in vs. Sharpen the remembrance of thy benefits within vs. And finallie at our resurrection from the graue giue vs a place in thy seat where we shall find a new taste in the kingdome of thy Father So be it Another praier to be said before the receiuing of the blessed Communion as you kneele at Gods boord O Lord although I be not woorthie to receiue thee into the house of my soule for mine innumerable offences and sins done against thy great goodnesse yet trusting good Lord in thy great pitie and infinite mercie I come to receiue thy blessed bodie as a sicke creature to thee that art the health of life vncleane to thee that art the well of mercie blind by ignorance to thee that art the light euerlasting needie of thy grace and poore in vertue to thee that art the King of heauen and earth naked of good works to thee that art the author of grace I come as a wretch to thee my Lord and maker all desolate and comfortlesse to thee my helpe and succour For besides thee there is no consolation I come as a sinner to thee that art the mediatour and meane betwixt God and man I come as a caitife to thee my most mercifull Sauiour I come all sinfull to thee the granter of remission and pardon dead by sinne to thee that art the restorer to life euill to thee that art all goodnesse hard-harted to be releeued by the infusion of thy super-abundant grace desiring thee meekelie to heale mine infirmities and sicknesse to wash awaie my sinne and filthinesse to lighten my blindnesse to reduce me to the right waie where I am out thereof to comfort me desolate of goodnesse Haue mercie on my wretchednesse pardon my sinfulnes giue me the light of grace thus burdened in sinne that I may receiue thee the food of all Angels the King of glorie the Lord of all lords with such chastitie of bodie with such purenesse of mind and cleannesse of soule with such contrition of hart and abundance of weeping teares with such spirituall ioie and gladnesse with such dread and reuerence with such faith hope and charitie with such obedience and humilitie with such loue deuotion faithfulnesse and thankfulnesse as it is beseeming for such a Lord to be receiued and to my soule most expedient And be not displeased good Lord that I a sinner with an vncleane hart and polluted mind come hither this daie to receiue thy pretious bodie in sacramentall bread and wine but remember mercifull Lord that thou refusedst not the sinfull Marie Magdalen being
creature O Lord whome thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloud Wo is me that euer I haue offended thee but now I purpose by thy grace to amend my life Take from me therefore O mercifull father all my sinnes and iniquities Cast out of my soule all the filthie fowle matter of the venemous contagion and infection of sinne and by thine ancient and accustomed mercies powre thy heauenlie medicine and preseruatiue of thy loue into my wounds which may refresh and restore me to my former puritie and cleannesse that being purified both in bodie and mind I may deserue and be made fit thorough Christs merits woorthilie to tast of these most holie mysteries Come this daie O Lord and minister vnto my sicke and languishing soule some heauenlie cordiall of comfort not because I am iust but a sinner because not the whole but the sicke haue neede of a Physician O verie true Charitie in which is euerlasting felicitie O the onlie hope of my soule haue mercie vpon me and blot out all my misdeeds Thee doth my hart expect and desire fulfill my lust and longing which thou hast put in me euen as thou wouldest I am thine O Christ forsake me not as vnmeete or a stranger Let thy right hand alwaie preuent me and defend me from all euill Come O Lord whome I wretch haue sore offended and forgiue and forget all mine offences for the which thou hast shead thine owne most pretious hart bloud Come sweet Lord and giue me the meate of eternall health Come O vnspotted sacrifice deliuer me from euerlasting death Come thou Physician of the weake and diseased Come thou food of the hungrie Come Lord visit this house dedicated and consecrated in thy name And behold I come to thee whome with all my hart I couet and desire towards whome with all earnest consideration of mind I aspire and studie to attaine whome with all mine entrailes I hartilie loue and embrace whose blessed bodie and bloud in these holie mysteries I earnestlie desire to receiue that thou maist alwaies abide in me and neuer forsake me or depart from me O most sweet father So be it Another ALmightie God and most mercifull Father who most louinglie callest vs to the participation of all good things in Christ Iesu giue vs also grace woorthilie to esteeme the honour thou vouchsafest vs of in bidding vs to the marriage feast of thy Sonne so that we may esteeme of nothing in comparison of it And seeing few are chosen though manie be called giue vs also O Lord a liuelie faith working by loue as a seemelie garment for so great a solemnitie that being entred by thy fauour into thy house we dishonest it not and so honourable a companie as thou hast called vnto it by our wicked conuersation that as vnwoorthie we be not cast out againe but in all our behauiour may doo honour vnto both that we may alwaies remaine with thee and enioie the happinesse thou hast prepared for vs in thy Sonne the full fruition whereof because thou hast deferred to the rising vp againe of the dead strengthen in vs O Lord the blessed hope of this resurrection that according to thy promise thou maist make vs like to thine Angels that are in heauen and the glorious estate of Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and praise now and for euer Amen Another O Sonne of God Lord and Sauiour Christ which delightest in those bankets whereby men approch to the companie of thy celestiall wel-fare we beseech thee conuert vs O Lord and we shall be conuerted Graunt that with Marie Magdalen casting our selues before thy feete we may earnestlie with teares bewaile our offences and againe lifting vp our hand vnto thee we may laie hold on thee and embrace thee as she did Kisse thou vs with thine holie kisse and by thy spirit powred into vs stirre vp in vs a new life which may annoint thee by true confessing of thy goodnesse and delight thee with the sweet sauour of true inuocation and new obedience Grant also that in this life we may worship thy feet which bring tidings of peace And forasmuch as in this last age of this world the messengers of peace are vitterlie to weepe assist vs that we may be touched with the miseries of thy Church and studie to our power to mitigate them and so be made members of that companie vnto whome thou hast forgiuen much and which againe entirelie doth loue thee and againe being called out of the vale of teares may come to thy heauenlie banket which shall be without teares without grudging without greefe sinne and offences in the house of thy father where be manie ample dwelling places Amen Another praier to be said a little before you receiue the Bread O God which art rich in mercie and in all good things the most plentifull giuer and bountifull bestower of the deinties of celestiall satietie and heauenlie repast giue meate to my soule that is wearie and faint not such as it lusteth after but such as is conuenient for it For lo I a poore wretch come now vnto thee which art rich a sinner vnto thee which art mercifull O let me not returne home contemned and despised with nothing I begin an hungred let me not leaue off fasting I come vnto thee as though I were famished O let me not go awaie vnfed Although before I eate I sigh and sorowe yet good Lord I beseech thee giue mee somewhat to eate For behold with that godlie heroicall matrone of Canaan Matth. 15 verse 21. I come vnto thee and saie Lord helpe me according to thy promise for I feele the burthen of thy displeasure euen my miseries and vncleannesse and suffer not the sight of mine owne vnwoorthinesse to withdrawe me from thee Make me sweetlie and reuerentlie to reason with thee as thy holie spirit enforced that good woman to doo in these and the like words I am vnwoorthie I am giltie and vncleane I am a dog I was an outcast from thy house and courts I haue barked against the glorious maiestie of thee and thine eternall father I am defiled with the filth of idolatrie with fowlenesse of life with the spots of disobedience against thee but haue mercie vpon me O sonne of God which appearedst in the flesh and becamest a worme to wash vs from our sinnes which were vncleane beasts Haue mercie vpon me O Lord haue mercie vpon me For behold I am vnto thee euen as the little whelpe nigh famished for lacke of meate and drinke wearied with seeking about for releefe and almost dead I fall downe before thy glorious table where the sweet ypocrasse and pretious nectar of immortalitie is tasted The Fathers Prophets Confessors and Virgins most excellent lights of thy Church sit alreadie at thine heauenlie table they feede vpon the meate of eternall glorie O suffer me to eate of the crums Thou art the bread of life repell my hunger satisfie my desire
and let not perpetuall food be wanting to our weakenesse wherewith to feed and replenish vs. Let me taste of the pleasant riuers of the holie Ghost that I may be refreshed and that my soule may be cooled with the sweet liquors thereof so that I burne hencefoorth with no iniquitie or lust to sinne Make me to quaffe hartilie the cup of thankes-giuing yea let my bowels be filled with the pleasant wine of thy loue and refresh me continuallie with the most sweet riuers of thy heauenlie consolation Thou art my life whereby I liue the hope that I sticke vnto the glorie that I desire O giue me vnderstanding cheere vp my loue Lift thou vp my soule and drawe the mouth of my spirit which thirsteth after thee vp to the water streames that are aboue Uouchsafe sweet Iesu in the midst of my monings sore complaints and deepe sighs of my hart to take vp my sad and sorowfull mind to the top of the high mountains euen to the beds of sweet spices putting me in a place of pasture by the riuers of sweet waters where thou preparest a table diuerselie furnished for thy friends against they come to refresh mine appalled spirits to cheere vp my heauie hart make it merie Through the which deinties I being at the length well refreshed may forget my manifold miseries and the vanities of this life and rest in thee which art the true peace euerlasting passing all vnderstanding Lord God which art the sanctifier of the Saints I beseech thee consecrate and make me meete for thy dwelling and continue thou euer with me vouchsafe all to besprinkle me with the bloud of thy onlie begotten sonne by which one souereigne thing both in bodie and soule I may be reuiued with a maruellous comfortable ioie O Lord these are thy great benefits wherewith thou wilt releeue the want of thy thirstie children grant I beseech thee that I may drinke on thy cup with a glad mind willing hart pure conscience and clensed spirit and bring to passe by thy mercie that this drinke which I shall now drinke may be to my health and saluation Finallie grant O good God that I may through thy most rich spirit and his eternall deinties enioie the princelie palace of heauen and quaffing verie abundantlie of the well-spring of life which is with thee I may by the excellent benefit of thy glorious passion death resurrection and light behold the brightnesse of perpetuall felicitie and see thee face to face where my mind may be fed and full satiate with the meate and drinke of life without end For like as the hart thirsteth after the water springs so thirsteth my soule after thee O Lord my GOD and King Amen When you are about to receiue the wine or cup praie I Thanke thee deere father that thou didst not spare thine onelie and most deerlie beloued sonne Iesus Christ to shed euen his most pretious bloud vpon the altar of the Crosse for to wash awaie our sinnes In remembrance whereof I now in trembling and dread drinke of this cup humblie beseeching thee O Father that the crucifieng of his blessed bodie and shedding of his pretious bloud may be meritorious to my saluation Amen Or else thus O Blessed and mercifull Father thy loue towards me sinfull creature is so exceeding great and vnspeakable that I can not but giue vnto thee most humble thanks namelie for the shedding of the most pretious blood of thy deere sonne Iesu Christ by the vertue whereof thy wrath stirred vp against me wretched sinner is pacified my ransome is paid the lawe is fulfilled mine enimies are ourcome and put to flight In remembrance of this so noble a victorie and of so great a benefit I am come vnto this thy table O mercifull father to drinke of this cup desiring thee that as my outward man is comforted by the drinking of this wine so likewise my inward man may be comforted and made strong by true faith in the pretious blood of thy most deere sonne O Lord and my heauenlie Father giue me thy holie spirit which may so rule and gouerne my hart that I neuer be vnthankfull nor forgetfull of this thine exceeding kindnesse but to traine my life according to thy blessed will that whatsoeuer I doo speake or thinke may be vnto the glorie of thy blessed name and the health of my soule through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen After you haue receiued the holie Communion giue God thanks and saie I Thanke thee good Lord of thine infinite goodnesse that thou this daie hast fed me with thy blessed bodie bloud in the Sacrament desiring thee meeklie that this Sacrament which I haue receiued may be to me a purgation and clensing of my sins a fortitude spiritual strength against my frailtie a sure defence against worldlie troubles and aduersities a purchasing of grace and pardon a medicine of life and a continuall remembrance of thy blessed passion so that in the waie it may conduct me when I stumble it may vphold me and when I am fallen it may raise me so that by good continuance in thy will to euerlasting glorie it may bring me And so order the tallage and taste of my hart that I neuer seeke other sweetnesse but thee that I neuer seeke other louer but thee nor none other comfort beside thee so that I care for none other delight but thee nor anie other honour but thine And giue mee such perfect loue towards thee wherewith I may come to as great merit in heauen as though I had spent all my life daies in the remembrance of thy blessed passion and gratiouslie deliuer me from all tribulations of bodie and soule captiuitie anguish and perils This grant not onlie vnto me but also vnto all thine elect and chosen Christian people heere and else-where for thy holie name sake Amen Another thanks-giuing after the Communion I Thanke thee O Christ Lambe of God for offering thy selfe vpon the altar of the crosse to thy Father an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet sauour to God for our sinnes to reconcile vs vnto him for certaintie whereof and confirmation of our faith thou hast instituted on our behalfe this holie Sacrament of the supper that as oft as we receiue the same we may celebrate thy memorie and with thankes-giuing remember the merit and fruit of thy passion I beseech thee by thy bitter death stirre vp our minds that by often receiuing this thine ordinance and institution we may consider how bitter a death thou didst suffer on our behalfe and how great the loue was which draue thee to take so cruell and shamefull a death to saue vs and withall continuallie yeeld as we are bound hartie thanks vnto thee for the same and after the like sort answer to our power that vnspeakable good will by our good life and carefull obseruation of thy commandements and may when either through frailtie of our flesh or by anie other fault preuented we sinne runne by and by
be most expedient for them granting vs in this world knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen When the people arise to depart out of the Church saie thus to thy selfe RIse vp O Lord arise and let thine enimies be scattered yea let all them that hate thee and prophane thine honour flee before thee but gather the Saincts togither continuallie and let them neuer depart from thy Church So be it So soone as you be out of the Church dore saie BLessed bee the glorie of the LORD out of his place Going homeward from the Church meditate and praie as followeth O Christ whose home is heauen and whose house is a place of ioies eternall I thanke thee for all thy great mercies shewed towards me especiallie for vouchsafing mee yet time to repent and liue godlie grant also I beseech thee that being trulie humbled before thee this daie I may by my good life declare that I haue not come to Church in vaine and that with the penitent Publicane I may returne home now to my house vnder thy protection imbettered and iustified both before God and man and in all holie obedience glorifie thee both at home and abroade in my life and in my death Amen Another BEhold me O Lord I praie thee a poore seelie woorme here creeping walking bodilie on earth for a time in this life which is our pilgrimage and passage to our home and make me more mindfull of mine euerlasting home and very desirous to returne to the house of the liuing that hauing mine affections inflamed by thy holie spirit I may vtterlie contemne all earthlie things and couet euermore to be present with thee that my conuersatoin may be in heauen whither grant mee at the length to come there in my long home with thy children to be partaker of thy glorie and to reioice as thy child bicause of this my euerlasting home and the great glorie thereof For I knowe O Lord that if mine earthlie house of this tabernacle my bodie were destroied I haue a building of thee euen an habitation not made with hands but eternall in heauen for the which I sigh desiring to be further clothed with my house which is from heauen that mortalitie might be swalowed vp of life bicause I knowe that as long as I am at home in the bodie I am absent from thee therefore had I rather to be absent from the bodie and to be present with thee O Lord neuerthelesse whether I be at home or from home I am of good comfort and alwaies of good cheere in thee beseeching thee in mercie to grant me grace to endeuour my selfe so to walke by faith in thy feare after the inward appearance that when we shall all appeare before the iudgement-seate of Christ euerie one to receiue the works of his bodie according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad I may be found accepted vnto thee Amen When you enter into your house praie THY fauour and grace O God being my guide I enter into this my materiall house and home beseeching thy mercie so to blesse and preserue my comming in and my going out both now and euer that thy peace O God which passeth all vnderstanding may be euermore therin and that I neuer turne back or be deformedlie scattered abroad from thee vntill thou bring me home from this painfull pilgrimage whereas be the first fruits of my spirit So be it Being come home praie LORD blesse vs and make our houses Churches of thy saints linked in one confession and religion that being by thee made all of one mind in this house we may with the deuout Galileans praise thee for thy benefits both now and euer O Lord now fashion conforme me by thy holie spirit in this house of my peregrination that herein enioieng the benefit of perfect peace most seemelie quietnesse and comlie order I may make thy mysteries my songs vntill it shall please thee to lead me vpward vnto the peace of thy children euen into thy holie house and mansion place where thou hast placed vs and where we shall will or desire nothing else but to tarrie and remaine for euer For whilest we are clad with this bodie we doo as it were go astraie and are strangers vnto thee neither haue we here anie abiding place for euer but we must seeke for one that is to come To the which thou bring vs that camest from thence to redeeme vs Iesus Christ the righteous to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be all possible praise and endlesse glorie now and for euer Amen Praiers before meate on Sundaie ALmightie God and most mercifull Father who hast taught vs that outward things defile not a man but those that proceede from the hart grant vs so to esteeme cleane that thou pronouncest cleane as that by praier and thankes-giuing the vse of thy creatures made for our benefit may be sanctified vnto vs and of the other part so to abhorre the pollusion of sinne which onelie thou declarest to be common and vncleane that wee may auoid by thy grace all murders adultries thefts false-witnesse-bearing vnlawfull desires and concupiscence and whatsoeuer thou hast forbidden touching our dutie towards men or seruice and obedience vnto thee that being thus sanctified by thy grace we may alwaies haue free accesse vnto thy sanctuarie in this life and be receiued into the heauenlie Ierusalem where no Canaanite nor vncleane person shall enter in the life to come through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour glorie and praise for euer Amen Another O Sonne of God which by thy miraculous multiplieng of a few fishes and loaues of bread didst feed fiue thousand of thy people in the wildernesse both inwardlie with spirituall comfort and outwardlie with corporall food thereby shewing thy selfe in deed to be the Creator susteiner of all things we beseech thee who onelie giuest vs the breath of life and knowest what we need and alone canst giue a reason why after this maner thou wilt feed vs with corporall things and not as thou dooest the startes without anie nourishment Giue vnto thy Church of thy wisedome such things as are necessarie for the sustentation of this life wherein the ioies of the life eternall and to come doo begin And albeit somtime we lacke diuers things although thine aduersarie throweth stones at vs for bread yet by thy power strengthen vs that we faint not And that we which liue not by bread alone or by our owne industrie being armed with thy word and promise the spirituall food and sword of our soule may receiue comfort thereby and being protected by thee after a woonderfull sort to liue and glorifie thee both here and in the world to come Amen Another praier before meat to be vsed that daie that you haue receiued the holie Communion WE thanke thee O eternall housholder for that after the banket of paradise troubled
Giue vs not onlie store of all things to the necessitie of life but grant also to our meate and drinke vertue and power to releeue and strengthen our bodies For thou alone vpholdest all things by thy word of power Unlesse thou dailie didst feed vs with the hidden grace which thou dooest inspire into the bread to feed vs all the heapes of our yeerelie increase were to small purpose For be it that there be aboundance of wheate wine and of all other things yet vnlesse they be watered by thy blessing quicklie would all come to naught and we should perish for lacke of food in all that aboundance For all the substance that we possesse what is it without thou prosper and fructifie the same with thy blessing And albeit we feed on bread yet we ascribe not our life to the vertue of the bread neither is thy power tied to the bread nor mans life included within the same but altogither it dependeth vpon thy will and good pleasure We beseech thee for thy most large and bountifull liberalitie cast vs not off in the time of our old age and when our strength faileth vs forsake vs not Likewise confirme our faith that we distrust not thy promises neither be driuen from thee by anie meanes seeme they neuer so contrarie to naturall causes but giue grace that we may withdrawe our eies from all worldlie consultations and as touching our food and other necessaries for this life may wholie depend vpon thee and at no time go beyond the limits which thou hast prepared through our Lord Iesus Christ which liueth and reigneth with thee for euermore Amen At noone-tide or mid-daie saie thus O Lord my light my inlightning and my welfare from whence all true brightnesse and light doth come grant I beseech thee that as of thy goodnesse thou hast giuen me thus plentifullie this corporall light to compasse my bodie on euerie side so of thy mercie giue me aboundantlie the spirituall light of thy grace and knowledge which may inlighten my mind and cause mine age to appeare as cleere as the noone daie And because O Lord nothing in this world is so perfect and glorious but when it is at the full it will decrease and weare awaie euen as we see in the course of this thy glorious creature the Sunne which now being at the highest will begin to drawe downeward Graunt also I beseech thee that when at the age of fortie yeeres my bodie by little and little shall begin to fade and the beautie thereof wither and drawe towards an end it togither with my soule in the daie of iudgement may shine as bright as the Sunne being now at the highest doth and may then begin to be glorified to the full in the region of the celestiall world where the Sunne of all righteousnesse and the brightnesse of perpetuall charitie and felicitie doth euerlastinglie shine and inlighten all the holie companie of heauen Amen Or else thus LOrd let thy fauour preuent vs as doth the Sunne which being now in the highest region spreadeth his beames ouer all the parts of the earth And as the brightnesse therof shineth now without the clouds after the same sort giue vs thy cleerenesse and shewe thy bright countenance ouer vs that lightened by thy word wee may walke this daie thorough circumspectlie and warilie in the waies of thy commandements that being blinded in the mid daie we run not headlong into darkenesse neither grope at noone daie as in the night wandering from the paths of thy iudgements Open thine eies O God ouer vs be thou vnto vs a mightie protector this daie a firmament of strength a couering against heate parching a shadow at noone tide a defender from offence an assister from falling a comforter of our soules a lightener of our minds and a giuer of health and happines in Christ our Lord Amen ¶ After meate the better to keepe you from vaine exercises and idle cogitations and to spend the Sabboth daie both wholie and holilie to the Lord as it behooueth take occasion on Gods name either to cathechise your children and familie or to praie for the preseruation of the Queenes most excellent maiestie or to reade deuoutlie some of these godlie meditations and praiers of Gods works and feasts following On Sundaie A praier for the right keeping of the Sabboth or Sundaie O Eternall father of our Lord Iesu Christ which togither with thy Sonne and the holie Ghost didst create man of thine infinite mercie powredst into him a similitude of those things which are most excellent in thee the fountaine of all goodnesse and wouldest in that nature as it were in a Temple seeing thine image to shine therein continue and celebrate the ioifull Sabboth When man had defaced thine image and was pluckt from thee it was thy will that the Sonne of thine owne substance should take our flesh vpon him and be made a sacrifice for the sinnes of mankind bee crucified die yea and on the great Sabboth daie of the lawe lie in the graue where the word after an vnspeakable manner rested that we may receiue againe the societie of the new and celestiall Sabboth We beseech thee grant that thy Sonne which is the Lord of that Sabboth may begin in this life to rest in vs to heale the corruptions of our nature by his holie spirit which is the heauenlie fire to drie vp the dropsie of our flesh that he may loue vs which are bone of his bones to make vs one with him through his spirit and finallie to bring vs into that glorious companie where the eternall Sabboth is in such excellencie as can not be conceiued by the hart of man In the meane while let vs ceasse from this hurlie burlie this toiling and drudging in the vaine trumperie of this world so as once at last we may religiouslie halowe and keepe the godlie rest of the new Sabboth in doing such things as be allowable and pleasant vnto thee and sanctifieng thee in true rest and peace Drawe vs from the vaine fantasies of present things that we may attend and await vpon thee and thy ioifull comming Grant I saie that we may be humbled vnder thy mightie hand that we may knowe our infirmities obeie thee in our crosses and correction looke vnto thee in a liuelie faith and hope of a ioifull deliuerance which then shall be perfect when thy Sonne by his trumpet shall summon the new Sabboth and drawe vnto him on high where he sitteth at thy right hand exalted thine elect all thine enimies which through beastlie arrogancie blushed not to contend and fight against thee being subdued Amen Another ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie father who after that in sixe daies thou haddest created all things didst rest the seauenth daie and sanctifiedst it teach vs to keepe holie the Sabboth daie not in shew and cercmonie onlie but much more in euerie good woorke which thou hast commanded not in part for fashion sake but wholie
vs. We thanke thee we praise thee and we laud and magnifie thy glorious name O most meeke Lord for all thy benefits especiallie for that thou hast not thought it inough for thee to haue giuen vs the heauens and earth and all that is therin to serue vs and to instruct vs but also hast vouchsafed to send thine onlie deere beloued Sonne our Sauior Iesus Christ downe amongst vs into this vale of teares and after that he was ascended into heauen hast left vs thy holie word and sent thy holie Ghost into vs to the intent we should learne of him all truth in thy word might in deed behold more effectuallie better and cleerer thy Godhead We now also praie and humbly beseech thee O most mercifull God that thou wilt gouerne vs and driue awaie from vs all fleshlie conuersation to the intent we may hencefoorth liue a godlie and ghostlie life so that we through the flesh may not be hindered to passe our pilgrimage in such perfection as thou requirest in Christian men but that we may knowe and discerne and vse to thy glorie the vnmeasurable great good things which thy large and bountifull hand hath giuen and reached vnto vs through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A meditation of mans creation O Almightie Lord God that hast created heauen and earth and all that is therein of naught but especiallie hast made man vnto thine owne godlie image infunding and creating in him a reasonable soule not mortall nor transitorie as are the soules of vnreasonable beasts but such a soule as liueth like the spirit or ghost of God for euer By which soule man knoweth thee to be his God doth beleeue thee and shall behold thee And with soule and bodie together thou hast made man aboue all other creatures so much superiour and hast so highlie exalted him that thou hast made him prince and chiefe gouernour lord and captaine ouer all thy other creatures that be in the earth and hast cast them all vnder his feet and subiection O most mercifull Lord powre into vs thy heauenlie light through which we may euer haue in due regard the vile and lothsome stuffe or matter that thy godlie hand hath made vs of and how thou hast neuerthelesse exalted vs so mightilie of miserie Let vs knowe I saie O Lord that man is crept out of the dust and mire and the woman but out of the rib of hir husband to the end we may not by anie meanes be puffed vp with pride by vaine-glorie and presumption of the great glorie wherewith thou hast vouchsafed to endue and cloath vs but that in true humilitie we may impute and exhibit all things vnto thine onlie goodnesse clemencie grace and mercie And that we may bee drawne thereby vnto the loue of thee and to kindle the lampe of our soules which is cold in thy loue with the light of thy grace so that we may diligentlie fulfill and accomplish all that thou hast commanded vs and leaue that which thou hast forbidden vs like as it becommeth thine obedient children so that we both here in this vale of miserie and also afterward in that heauenlie paradise being vndefiled and like vnto thee may be found like as thou hast created vs like vnto thine owne similitude image likenesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another meditation of mans creation THine almightie hand O GOD keeping alwaies at one staie created the Angels in heauen and the feelie woormes vpon earth and yet was neither higher in the one nor lower in the other For like as none other hand could haue created an Angel so could none other hand haue created a woorme like as none other could haue created heauen so could none other haue created a leafe of a tree like as none other could haue made a bodie so could none other make a haire white or blacke but onlie thine almightie hand wherevnto all things are possible alike For it is not more possible with thee to create a woorme than an Angel nor more impossible to spread out the heauen than a leafe nor easier to fashion a haire than to fashion a bodie nor vneasier to stablish the earth vpon the waters than the waters vpon the earth but all that thou listest to doo that hast thou done According as thou listedst thou hast made all things in heauen and in earth and in the sea and in all deepe places and among all other things thou hast made me according as thou listedst couldest and knewest how to doo it Certes Lord thy hand could haue made me some stone or some bird or some serpent or some beast and it knew how to haue done it but it would not bicause of thy goodnesse Why then am I not a stone some tree or some beast Trulie bicause thy goodnesse hath so ordeined it and bicause thou louedst me first And why hast thou done so to me O maker of heauen and earth and of the bottomlesse deepe who hast no neede of me Wherevpon commeth it that thou hast thus loued me For lo I am bicause thou hast created me and the cause that thou didst create me and account me in the number of thy creatures was thy fore-ordinance from euerlasting before thou madest anie thing euen from the beginning before thou didst spread all the heauens when as yet there were no deepes neither haddest thou yet made the earth nor founded the mountaines neither were anie water-springs yet broken out Before thou madest all these things I saie which thou madest by thy word thou foresawest by the most assured prouidence of thy truth that I should be thy creature and also thou willedst that I should be thy creature And whence commeth this to me O most gentle Lord most high God most mercifull Father and alwaies most meeke What had I deserued What kindnesse had I shewed that it should like thy roiall Maiestie to create me I was not and thou diddest create me I was nothing and of nothing thou madest me somewhat And what maner of somewhat Not a drop of water not fire not a bird or fish not a serpent or some of the brute beasts not a stone or a block not of those sort of things which haue but being onelie or of those things that haue but onelie being and growing nor yet of those kind of things that haue but onlie being growing and feeling But aboue all these things it was thy will to haue me both of that sort which haue but being onlie for I am and of those that haue no more but being and growing for I am and growe also of those kind of things which haue both being growing and feeling for I am and also doo both growe and feele Yea and thou hast made small ods betweene me and the Angels For I haue receiued reason to knowe thee and thy hand as well as they But I did well to saie there was some ods betweene vs. For they haue the happie knowledge of thee alreadie in possession and I
haruest thou wilt vouchsafe to bring vs into thy wished barne like good and clensed corne that is to saie into thine euerlasting kingdome there to rest with thy chosen Abraham Isaac and Iacob in all eternitie So be it The song of Anania Azariah and Misael wherein they exhort all creatures both in heauen and earth to praise and magnifie the Lord their maker O All ye works of the Lord blesse yee the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye Angels of the Lord blesse yee the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye heauens blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye waters that be aboue the firmament blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O all ye powers of the Lord blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye sunne and moone blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye starres of heauen blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye showers and dew blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye winds of God blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye fire and heate blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye winter and summer blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye dewes and frosts blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye frost and cold blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye yee and snowe blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye nights and daies blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye light and darknesse blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye lightenings clouds blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O let the earth blesse the Lord yea let it praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye mountaines and hils blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O all ye greene things vpon the earth blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye welles blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye seas and flouds blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye whales and all that moue in the waters blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O all ye fowles of the aire blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O all ye beasts and cattell blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye children of men blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O let Israel blesse the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye priests of the Lord blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye seruants of the Lord blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye spirits and soules of the righteous blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye holie and humble men of hart blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O Ananias Azarias and Misael blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Of the incomprehensible praise due vnto God for all his works and benefits HOW shall I do O Lord Whence shall I haue praise to praise thee withall For like as thou madest me without mine aduise as it liked thy selfe best so hast thou praise without me as it liketh thee Thou thy selfe Lord art thiue owne praise All thy works creatures both in heauen and earth praise thee according to thy manifold greatnesse Thy praise O Lord is incomprehensible no hart can comprehend it no tong can measure it no eare can receiue it for these things passe awaie but thy praise O Lord continueth for euer Thoughts haue a beginning and thoughts haue an end voices make a sound and foorthwith passe awaie the eare heareth and the hearing ceasseth but thy praise standeth fast for euer Who is he then that can praise thee What man is able to vtter foorth thy praises Thy praise is euerlasting and not transitorie That man praiseth thee which beleeueth thee to be thine owne praise The man praiseth thee which acknowledgeth himselfe vnable to attaine to thy praise O praise perpetuall which neuer fadest in thee is our praise in thee shall my soule be praised It is not we that praise thee but it is thou thy selfe that dooest it both thy selfe and in thy selfe and we also haue praise in thee Then haue we true praise when we haue praise of thee when light alloweth light for thou beeing the true praise yeeldest vs true praise And looke how often we seeke for praise at anie other bodies hand than thine so often doo we forgo thy praise because the other is shadowish but thine is euerlasting If we hunt after the transitorie praise we loose the eternall praise O praise eternall O my Lord God of whome is all praise without whome there is no praise I am not able to praise thee without thee Let me haue thee and I will praise thee For what am I of my selfe Lord that I should praise thee I am but dust and ashes I am but a dead and stinking dog I am but woormes and rottennesse I what am I to praise thee O most mightie Lord God How can the breath of no better than flesh praise thee which dwellest in euerlastingnesse Can darkenesse praise light or death life Thou art light I darkenesse thou life I death Can lieng praise truth Thou art truth and I am a woman no better than vanitie it self How shall I then praise thee O Lord Shall my wretchednesse praise thee Shall stinch praise sweet sents Shall mans mortalitie which is heere to daie and gone to morrowe praise thee Shall man which is but rottennesse or the sonne of man which is but woormes praise thee O Lord can he praise thee which is bred borne and brought vp in sinfulnesse Praise is not seemelie in the mouth of a sinner O Lord my God let thine owne incomprehensible power let thy vnbounded wisedome let thine vnspeakable goodnesse let thine ouerpassing mercie let thy superabundant pitie and let thine euerlasting vertue and Godhead praise thee Praised be thou by thine owne almightie puissance and also by thy singular gratious goodnesse and louingnesse whereby thou hast created vs O Lord the life of my soule Of Gods manifold benefits generallie with an humble thanks-giuing vnto his Maiestie for the same AND I thy handmaid whome thorough thy goodnesse thou hast created will to the vttermost of my power praise thee my God my creator my preseruer and my deliuerer with all my hart and call to mind all the good that thou hast done me from my youth vp to this instant For I knowe that
by thine owne name and sealed me with thy blood that the remembrance of thee should be euermore with me and that he should neuer depart from my hart who for my sake shunned not the crosse Thou hast annointed me with the oile wherewith thou thy selfe wert annointed that I might be called a Christian after thy name Christ Behold thou hast registred me vpon thine hands to the end that the remembrance of mee might be alwaies present with thee yet notwithstanding so as if the remembrance of thee be alwaies present with me Thus then haue thy loue thy grace and mercie alwaies preuented me For thou hast oftentimes deliuered me from manie and great perils O my deliuerer When I went astraie thou broughtest mee backe againe when I was ignorant thou taughtest mee when I sinned thou diddest chastise me when I haue beene in heauines thou hast cheered me when I haue beene in despaire thou hast recomforted me when I haue beene fallen thou hast lifted me vp when I haue stood thou hast vpholden me when I haue gone thou hast guided me when I haue come thou hast receiued me when I haue slept thou hast watched me and when I haue cried vnto thee thou hast heard me O Lord where shall I haue words to vtter the signes of thy singular loue toward me considering thine innumerable benefits wherin thou hast brought me vp from the beginning Namelie euen from the benefit of the creation when at the first beginning thou madest me of nothing after thine owne image in honouring and aduancing me among the creatures which thou madest and innobling me with the light of thy countenance which thou imprintedst vpon the lampe of my hart thereby disseuering me as well from sensible as from senselesse creatures and abasing mee but little beneath the Angels And yet was all this but a small matter in the sight of thy Godhead For without ceassng thou hast dailie nourished this vnprofitable woorme which stinketh with sinne with all the singular and exceeding great store of thy good gifts and benefits and thou hast as it were suckled and strengthened me thy little tender babe with the teates of thy comfort For to the intent that I should wholie serue thee thou hast appointed all thy creatures to serue me These and manie other good turnes hast thou done vnto me O Lord my God the life of my soule for all which I render vnto thee againe most humble and hartie thanks-giuing beseeching thee O Lord that it may be a pleasure to me wretch that I am to be alwaies talking of them alwaies thinking vpon them and alwaies giuing thee thanks for them O my God shew me I saie how much I am bound to loue thee make it appeare to me how much I ought to please thee Open me the doore of thy light that I may enter in and both knowe acknowledge vnto thee with my whole hart that thy mercie is great toward mee and that thou hast deliuered my hart from the bottome of hell so as I might euer praise thee for all thy good gifts and loue thee with all my hart and with all my soule and with all my mind and with all my strength yea and that with the verie bowels and intrailes of my hart and of all my sinewes O Lord my God the blessed sweetnesse of all that delight in thee whose name is woonderfull and praise woorthie through heauen and earth So be it Another forme of thanks-giuing vnto God for all his benefits and praier for grace to confirme and increase the same O Most highest almightie and eternall God whose glorie replenisheth heauen and earth If thy holie and celestiall powers doo neuer cease in lauding thy most holie Maiestie how should we cease earthlie and lowlie seruants which are redeemed with the pretious bloud of thy onelie sonne And for as much as thy louing kindnesse and fauour in especiallie worketh towards vs we also ought continuallie to giue thanks for thy great goodnesse but haue mercie O mercifull father For the necessitie of this life dooth not suffer vs to thanke thee continuallie Wherefore though not continuallie as I ought I worship thee my maker with trembling feare I giue thee thanks for all thy benefits that when I was nothing thou madest mee gauest me a liuing soule quickened with thy holie spirit formed mee with thine owne image that it might be able to receiue thee which art the high God By thy prouidence thou hast brought me to those things that are expedient for me giuen to me knowledge and true faith in thee and planted a godlie mind in me and instructed me in the mysteries of thy holie word Sacraments But oh Lord how dare I recite thy benefits by number seeing thy louing kindnesse is an vnsearchable bottomlesse sea and an innumerable For I can not so soone giue thanks for thy benefits shewed of old as new haue euen ouerwhelmed me Oh Lord how great a benefit is this that I may to thee giue thanks For what fellowship hath vnrighteousnesse with righteousnesse What partaking darkenesse with light What agreement filthinesse with puritie Follie with wisedome Mortalitie with thee that art immortall Oh my vilenesse Oh thy goodnesse Yea though the spirit were readie yet is the flesh fraile but thou O Lord if thou wilt canst make me strong And so O most mercifull father vouchsafe that I may euer giue thanks and laud to thee For what good gift did I euer desire of thee but thou first willedst it to me Who better knoweth what is good for me than thou And because I need a mediator accept thine innocent Sonne Iesus Christ with his crosse and passion bloud-shed death and resurrection for me I haue not this deserued but thou father of thy mercie and truth hast by the same thy deerelie beloued Sonne promised and giuen vs thy mercie and fauour Open therefore O my mercifull Father for this thy deerelie beloued Sonnes sake euen this daie thy woonted hand of mercie and fulfill my mind and hart with a good will and let thy right hand defend me And if my sinnes which I acknowledge to be great and innumerable therefore I repent and am hartilie sorie doo let thy goodnesse O father wipe them awaie for this is thy glorie to forgiue sinnes and therefore no flesh may reioice before thee for thou Lord onlie art pure and without sinne Haue mercie vpon me thy bondseruant and vppon all people and O father bring them vnto the knowledge of thee that art onlie God and of Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent the onlie sauiour and redeemer mediator and aduocate for vs and after this present life bring vs to eternall blisse and felicitie by the deere merits of thy Sonne Iesus Christ For thine is the power kingdome and glorie for euer Amen Another to the same effect HOnour and praise be giuen to thee O Lord God almightie most deere father of heauen for all thy mercies and louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs in that it hath
pleased thy gratious goodnesse freelie of thine owne accord to elect and choose vs to saluation afore the beginning of the world and euen like continuall thanks be giuen vnto thee for creating vs after thine owne image for redeeming vs with the pretious bloud of thy deere Sonne when we were vtterlie lost for sanctifieng vs with thy holie spirit in the reuelation and knowledge of thy sacred word for helping and succouring vs in all our need and necessitie for sauing vs from all dangers of bodie and soule for comforting vs so fatherlie in all our troubles and afflictions for sparing vs so long and giuing vs so large time of repentance These benefits O most mercifull father like as we acknowledge to haue receiued of thine onlie goodnesse euen so we beseech thee for thy deere sonne Iesus Christes sake to grant vs alwaie thy holie spirit whereby we may continuallie growe in thankefulnesse towards thee be led into all truth and comforted in all aduersitie Strengthen our faith O Lord kindle it more and more in feruentnesse and loue towards thee and our neighbours for thy sake Suffer vs not most deere father to receiue thy word anie more in vaine but grant vs alwaie the assistance of thy grace and holie spirit that in hart word and deede we may sanctifie and doo woorship to thy holie name that we may help to amplifie thy kingdome and that whatsoeuer thou sendest we may bee hartilie well content with thy good will and pleasure Suffer vs not to lacke the thing O father without the which we can not serue thee but blesse thou so all the works of our hands that we may haue sufficient and not to be chargeable but rather helpfull vnto others Be merciful O Lord vnto our offences and seeing our debt is great which thou hast forgiuen vs in Iesus Christ make vs to loue thee and our neighbors so much the more Be thou O father our Captaine and defender in all temptations Hold thou vs by thy mercifull hand that we thereby may be deliuered from all inconuenience and end our liues in the sanctifieng and honouring of thy holie name through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ¶ On the seuenteenth daie of Nouember commonlie called The Queenes daie Sundrie formes of Christian praiers and thanks-giuings vnto God for the preseruation of the most vertuous Ladie Elizabeth our most deare and dread souereigne Quéene of England France and Ireland defender of the faith c. verie necessarie to be vsed as generallie of all faithfull subiects continuallie so especiallie of the Mother and hir Daughter vpon the seuentéenth daie of Nouember and euerie Sabboth and holie daie in honourable remembrance of that ioifull Sabboth rest and peace from carefull mourning which that memorable seuententh daie brought to vs the banished exiles of England and persecuted members of Christ by the most happie entrance of hir most roiall and excellent Maiestie into this hir Emperiall Crowne and kingdome A Psalme Mother COme O all you that feare God come hither I praie you and giue eare a while and reherse with me y e great benefits that he the Lord hath bestowed vpon vs. Daughter For lo when the most mightie men gathered their power against vs and laie in wait for our life they conspired togither to worke our destruction as though the Lord had determined the same and exhorted one another saieng God hath forsaken them therefore persecute them now flieng awaie and take them being destitute of all helpe Moth. These men our aduersaries I saie wheresoeuer we remoued or went by sea or by land laie in wait most diligentlie for vs yea multitudes of the cruell enimies did not ceasse craftilie to enuiron and beset vs round about and ran vpon vs with gaping mouthes like raging and roring lions of malicious minds to bring vs to extremitie and to deuoure vs. Daugh. For thy sake O Lord alone were we killed euerie daie neither were we in anie better condition than sheepe appointed of butchers to the slaughter Moth. Manie of vs wandered in the waste wildernesse and sought strange cities commodious to dwell in halfe dead and killed with famine and thirst ouerwhelmed with the shadowe of death and being cast downe by the burthen of our miseries laie downe flat cleauing to the earth Daugh. The bands of death compassed vs round about and bound vs most wicked men like most raging flouds made vs afraid enuironing vs round about Moth. We were snared and cast fast bound with chaines into most darke dungeons yea we tasted the heate of the fire and the force of the water Daugh. Then we called vpon the Lord in these extremities We called vpon the Lord I saie and he heard our voice out of his high palace and receiuing into his eares the crie that we made vnto him he deliuered vs from our miseries and distresse Moth. He gathered vs home which were scattered from the East the West from the North South and brought vs from the dungeons of the prisons and darkenesse of death breaking the fetters and giues of iron in peeces Daugh. The Lord hath deliuered our life from death he staid the teares of our eies and established our feet that they did not fall he hath brought vs out of our distresse Hence haue we our light whereby he causeth vs to shine and hath driuen awaie our darkenesse Moth. Therfore will we praise thee O Lord among the nations and will sing lauds vnto thy Maiestie yea we will declare thy power and will shew foorth thy praise and mercie earlie in the morning because thou hast defended vs and wast our refuge in extreme dangers Daugh. Oh acknowledge and declare ye openlie that the Lord is good for his bountious goodnesse is for euer Let all the sincere worshippers of the Lord now confesse that his louing kindnesse is perpetuall Praise ye the Lord. Moth. Glorie be to the Father and to the c. Daug. As it was in the beginning is now c. ¶ The Versicles Mother O Lord shew thy great mercie vpon vs miserable sinners Daughter And grant thine euerlasting helth and saluation vnto vs. Moth. O Lord saue Elizabeth our gratious Queene and Gouernor Daugh. Which putteth hir onlie confidence in thee O God hir tower Moth. Oh send hir still continuall helpe from thy most holie place Daugh. And euermore from dangers all defend thou hir most roiall Grace Moth. O let not the infernall fo haue anie aduantage of hir Daugh. Nor let the wicked enimie once approch to hurt hir Moth. Indue hir ministers alwaie with righteousnesse and equitie Daugh. And make thou thy chosen seruants full ioifullie to praise thee Moth. O Lord saue thy people from all perils and dow them with thy gifts Daugh. And blesse thou thine inheritance with all thy bountious benefits Moth. In our time O Lord giue vs thy peace which passeth all vnderstanding Daugh. Bicause none other God dooth fight for vs but onelie thou our King Moth. O soften thou our hardened
rapine and murder the people killed strangled starued spoiled and mocked bound and caried awaie to be sold as beasts in the market to seruitude and slauerie there to consume their daies in miserable thrall and sorows the kingdome and inheritance transported to the possession of the destroier who raised vp in thy wrath and armed with the power of thy displeasure ministreth due punishment for the sinne and disobedience of ech reuolting nation that falleth away from thee and will not be reconciled to grace witnesse of all the states empires kingdoms tongues nations peoples and kindreds of the earth from the beginning of the world to this daie but in these latter daies speciallie of the Iewes Aegyptians Armenians Graecians Italians Hungarians Polonians and others whose seruile thrall and calamities ought neuer to be out of our remembrance which should mooue vs continuallie to behold the blessing of thy loue and the heauie sorrowes of thy displeasure Wherefore in the abundance of thy mercies and louing kindnesse and for loue of thy deere Sonne whom through the gift of thy grace we professe in the truth of his Gospell we beseech thee O mercifull Father fauourablie to looke vpon this Realme and people of England Turne not awaie thy face O Lord take not thy grace and holie spirit from vs let vs still enioie the blisse and comfort of thy louing countenance keepe vs in thy waie and couer vs vnder the shadowe of thy wings suffer vs not to be taken from thee make vs to followe and to put our whole trust and confidence in thee then shall we be safe Thy mightie hand O God giueth the victorie and in the power of thy fauour shall the enimie be vanquished and his strength brought to nothing Safe is the citie where thou O Lord art the watch-man but who so standeth out of thy tuition he is a readie praie vnto y e destroier therefore go not farre from vs O God For thine elect sake were the heauens and the earth with all their implements formed made of nothing for their preseruation maintenance was rule gouernment deuised and stablished And for their sakes are empires kingdoms countries and nations preserued saued and blessed and for iniurie and ignominie done to them and to thy truth and holie name are they changed plaged subuerted and destroied Great is thy mercie compassion O Lord long suffering ready to forgiue behold vs O Father and haue mercie vpon vs remember not our iniquities nor the iniquities of our forefathers take not iust vengeance of our sinnes neither reward thou vs after our deserts Spare vs good Lord spare vs and for thy sweet Sonnes sake Christ Iesus our Sauiour haue mercie vpon vs. Yea Lord haue mercie vpon vs and vpon our posteritie holding continuallie thy holie hand ouer vs and blesse vs. Increase our faith make our children childers childrē obedient to thy word and through holie conuersation in thy Sonne our redeemer make vs and them acceptable vnto thy selfe O GOD that being sanctified in faith and loue toward thy heauenlie will and Maiestie we and they may be deliuered from thy wrathfull displeasure for euermore Powre foorth abundance of thy grace and blessing vpon our Queene that in the fulnesse of thy gratious fauour she may haue long life in health and happie daies aided with faithfull vertuous prudent counsellers and ministers to doo all things to the nourishing and maintenance of true religion and vertue Increase the light of thy Gospell the number of faithfull and godlie preachers and ministers of thy word whose industrie and labour by the peace and tranquillitie of thy Church may largelie augment the number of thy Saints to the glorie of thy name and to the ioie and blessing of the land and people For the preseruation and continuance whereof in the bowels of thy fatherlie care and fauor remember vs O louing God Leaue neither vs nor our posteritie headlesse neither put vs ouer to the yoke of a strange nor irreligious Prince but after the blisse-full daies of this thy gratious handmaid our Queene whom O Father let it please thee to reserue in happie and ioifull state to the end giue peace and concord to thy people with a vertuous wise godlie and fortunate Prince whose constant zeale care industrie and endeuour towards the cherishing and aduancement of thy truth and glorie may purchase thy fatherlie loue and furtherance to fill the land and people with all maner of blessings as thy heauenlie wisedome knoweth necessarie where beautified with vertue and godlinesse it shall prosper and triumph in continuall peace and victorie giuing honor and gladsome thanks to thy glorious Maiestie that with thy deere Sonne our Lord and Sauiour and with the holie Ghost reignest in vnitie of power glorie and dominion praised for euer and euer Amen Another verie godlie praier meete to be said of all true subiects in time of anie priuie conspiracie or open rebellion for our gratious Souereigne Queene Elizabeth and for the present state O Almightie God King of kings Lord of lords the onelie God and gouernour of all things thou art he by whom alone kings doo reigne Thou most high bearest the rule ouer the kingdoms of men Thou in Christ thine onelie Sonne being the most gratious Father of thy chosen Church doost for the comfortable nourishing of it dispose the roiall state among men Through this thy grace it is come to passe that we the English nation now a portion of the same thy Church doo enioie the gouernement of Elizabeth our Queene whom thou hast against all practises of thine and hir aduersaris deliuered out of perils and by thy mightie hand brought to reigne ouer vs. Mercifullie guiding hir thou hast made hir to vs a mother to thine afflicted flocke a nurse in that benefit which we haue in libertie in true religion and common peace maruelouslie protecting hir thou hast kept hir to defend vs to vse and hold this benefit quietlie And euen now in thy mightie maruelous mercie thou hast discouered the practises of such craftie cruell enimies as purposed to spoile hir of vs vs of hir and both hir and vs of thy religion and of peace determining to deliuer vs ouer to the tyrannie of that shamelesse man of Rome and the bloudie sword In which purpose of mischiefe if thou haddest permitted them to preuaile we had suffered for our sinnes at thy hand O Lord most iustlie but at their hands most vnnaturallie and vniustlie For we doo offend thy Maiestie manie waies we offend not them anie waies yet such is their wickednesse that they will hate vs onelie bicause we in truth doo professe to serue thee For this cause they conspire against thee O God like hypocrites against our Queene like traitours against our Commonwelth and countrie like spoilers against vs euen as Cain did against Abel But thy great goodnesse hath deuised better for vs than they doo Thou hast spared vs whom they would haue spoiled
of all as fathers and nursses to mainteine and cherish thy Church commanding vs not onlie to obeie and honor them but moreouer to praie for them as watching ouer vs for our good We therefore beseech thee for thy great names sake and for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercie to all Kings and Princes that mainteine thy glorious Gospell but especiallie we praie thee to blesse our gratious Queene Elizabeth in all spirituall blessings in Christ Iesus and in all temporall blessings according to thy good pleasure that in the great measures of thine effectuall lawe she may more and more find great increase of vertue and wisedome and strength in Christ Iesu to the faithfull and happie discharge of hir dutie that hir holinesse and ioie and zeale of thy house may be multiplied euerlasting And seeing it hath pleased thee of thy singular mercie to giue hir this especiall honor first to suffer for thy glorious truth and afterward miraculouslie deliuering hir out of the hands of hir enimies to set a Crowne vpon hir head and to make hir the instrument to aduance thy glorie and Gospell for which she suffered and to bring hir out of darkenesse into light out of persecution into this great and long peace as we giue thee most hartie thanks for this singular benefit so we beseech thee to make hir and vs euermore thankefull for it and in thy good pleasure still to preserue hir for the continuance of these blessings towards vs with all increase from time to time to thy glorie the benefit of thy Church and hir infinite peace in Christ Iesus the Prince of peace And furthermore we praise thee for hir and the estate that such as be the enimies of the Gospell and hir enimies also for the defence therof may not despise the peace offered them vnto repentance but that they may accompt thy long suffering and hir peaceable and vnbloudie gouernement an occasion of saluation to their soules and vnfeigned loue to the truth and their mercifull Souereigne Otherwise if they stil remaine disobedient to thy truth disloiall to hir Highnesse and dangerous to the state then O God of all saluation as thou hast discouered them so discouer them still as thou hast preuented them so preuent them still and let their eies ware wearie with looking and their harts faint with waiting for the comming of that which yet commeth not neither let it come O Lord we beseech thee but a blessed and a long reigne to hir Grace and and peace to Zion for euermore Also deere Father so blesse so loue so in thy spirit sanctifie and keepe hir that she maie in the spirit of counsell and fortitude so rule that other sister also namely this hir Common-wealth that they may flourish together and growe vp together as Palme-trees in beautie and in strength giuing aid and help one to another that in the Church the glorie of God may appeare as the Sunne in his brightnesse and that the land may flowe with milke and honie and true peace abound therein as in y e triumphant reigne of Debora These graces O Lord are great and we miserable sinners vnwoorthie of the least of them therefore looke not to vs but to thy selfe not to our iniquities but to thy great mercies accepting the death and passion of thy Sonne as a full ransome for all our offences throwing them into the bottome of the sea and making his crosse and resurrection effectuall in vs to all obedience and godlinesse as becommeth thy Saincts that to all other thy good blessings towards our gratious Souereigne this may be added that she gouerneth blessedlie ouer a blessed people a people blessed of the Lord and beloued of the Lord and that thy graces may abound in the Church in the Common-wealth from daie to daie till the daie of our translation into thy kingdome where iustice inhabiteth where we also shall inhabit and reigne with thee according to thy promise for euer Grant vs these things O mercifull father for thy deere Sonne our Lord Iesus Christes sake in whose name we craue them at thy mercifull hand praieng furthermore for them as he hath taught vs to praie Our Father c. Psalme 72. Another praier for the prosperous estate and flourishing reigne of our right vertuous souereigne Queene Elizabeth O GOD without whose wisedome no kingdome can stand who of a speciall consideration hast ordeined this kingdome in the familie of Dauid teach our Queene Elizabeth whome thou hast appointed the rules of right gouernement teach I saie the Daughter of this thy Dauid whome thou hast chosen to thy selfe the rule of righteousnesse that she may iustlie gouerne not hir people but thine especiallie that she may defend the poore against the iniuries of the mightie thus the people being scattered heere and there in the mountaines and hilles being safe vnder a iust gouernment shall abound with all the commodities of peace Grant this vnto hir that she being far from all tyrannie may be a sure refuge for the poore that she may comfort the families oppressed with pouertie and iniuries that she may keepe vnder y e false accusers with most sharpe punishment so will it come to passe O Lord that the state of this kingdome being ordered by thine authoritie all men as it is meete shall acknowledge and feare thee and not for anie short continuance of time but that the Sunne and Moone shall sooner ceasse their course than thou shalt faile to be woorshipped And thou againe wilt powre downe vpon thy people from heauen all good things like a showre comming downe vpon the new mowne medowes and none otherwise than thou vsest to water the earth with showers in due season whilest Elizabeth reigneth thus gouerned by thy grace and holie spirit the iust shall flourish and great peace shall be so continued as is the firme course of the starres and the Queene hir selfe shall haue dominion from the one sea to the other euen frō Euphrates to the farthest coasts of the earth The inhabitants of the countries of the desert shall come vnder hir yoke falling downe vnder hir feet and hir enimies falling downe before hir shall licke the dust of the earth The kings of Silicia and of the Ilands shall offer presents vnto hir The Ethiopians also and the Arabians shall bring hir gifts finallie all Kings shall haue hir in admiration for hir renowme and vertue and all nations shall reuerence hir name and maiestie For hir righteousnesse shall bee praised through out all the whole world because she heareth the crie of the poore and doth defend the needie forsaken of other She hath mercie on them that are needie and she refresheth those that are in danger of their life She defendeth the poore against the iniurie of the mightie neither doth she suffer the violence done vnto them to be vnreuenged Therefore thou O God wilt keepe hir safe and gold shall be brought vnto hir out of the midst of Arabia all men shall make
with hir Who so leadeth a godlie life men of good conscience let such be hir seruants Let no deceitfull person haue anie place in hir house him that telleth lies or is a reuenger of bloud cause hir speedilie to cast out of hir sight Finallie grant hir will and power O Lord of hosts dailie to suppresse all the vngodlie in the land that she may root out from the citie of God all wicked dooers Queene Elizabeth hath done that is lawfull right wherefore O Lord leaue hir not to such as doo offer hir wrong For thine owne goodnesse sake take hir thine handmaid vnto thy protection let not the proud oppresse hir with wrong Deale with thine handmaid according to thy louing kindnesse and teach hir thy statutes She is thy seruant grant hir vnderstanding that she may knowe thy testimonies Thy testimonies conteine woonderous things therefore cause hir hart to be zealous in keeping of them The first entrance of thy words will illuminate giuing vnderstanding euen vnto the simple Worke in hir hart so feruent desire of thy word that through affection thereto she may be like one that panteth openeth his mouth for breath Looke thou vpon hir O Lord and be mercifull vnto hir as thou vsest to doo vnto them that loue thy name Direct hir steps in thy word and so let no wickednesse haue dominion ouer hir Redeeme hir from the fraudulent dealings of men and cause hir to keepe thy commandements Make the light of thy countenance shine vpon our Queene Elizabeth thine handmaiden and teach hir thy statutes Heare my praiers O God and giue good eare vnto mine intercessions For behold from the ends of the earth I call vnto thee for our deere Souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth whensoeuer hir hart is in heauines oh set hir vp vpon the rocke that is higher than she For hitherto thou hast beene hir defence and a strong tower for hir against the face of the enimie Let hir dwell I beseech thee in thy tabernacle for euer let hir trust be vnder the couering of thy wings For thou O Lord heardst hir desires and hast giuen hir an heritage ouer those that feare thy name O grant vnto the Queene a long life that hir yeeres may endure manie generations Let hir dwell before the Lord for euer O appoint thy louing mercie and truth that they may preserue hir so cause hir alwaies to sing praise vnto thy name that she may daie by daie performe hir vowes and keepe thy heasts Finallie giue thy iudgment O Lord vnto hir Grace and thy righteousnesse vnto hir Counsell that they may iudge the people with iustice and the poore with equitie Let the mountaines bring peace and the little hils righteousnes vnto the people Let them iudge the afflicted among the people and saue the sonnes of the poore make them to destroie the backe-slider that he persist not to afflict the miserable and such as trust in thy mercie and protection so shall quietnesse and peace abound among vs like the hillocks on the earth Cause hir enimies to feare hir so long as the sunne and moone shineth from one generation to another Water hir with thy grace from heauen as thou didst Gedeons fleece of wool with dew and as thou refreshest with drops of raine the new cut grasse vpon the earth In hir daies let the righteous flourish and great abundance of peace so long as the moone is in the firmament Defend the dominions that thou hast giuen hir within the seas and from the floud vnto the end of the earth Cause hir foes to kneele downe before hir and hir enimies to licke the dust of hir feete Giue hir a long and prosperous reigne indue hir with abundance of riches and wealth heape glorie and honour vpon hir head and let hir be partaker alwaies of the praiers of the iust and be dailie blessed The Lord euen the God of Israel which onelie worketh woonderous things blesse our gratious Queene Elizabeth and blessed be the name of his Maiestie for euer yea let all the earth be filled with his glorious praise Amen And she shall magnifie thee O Lord hir King and she shall praise thy name for euer Euerie daie let hir giue thanks vnto thee O Lord and praise thy name for euer and euer Grant this O most mercifull Father for thy deere sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christs sake Amen Amen Another praier for the Queenes most excellent Maiestie WOnderfull O most excellent and almightie GOD is the depth of thy iudgements Thou King of kings Lord of lords thou which at thy pleasure doost take awaie and transpose roote out and plant confound and establish kingdoms Thou of thy singular goodnesse hast deliuered our gratious Souereigne Queene Elizabeth thy chosen Handmaid when she was almost at deaths dore yea thou hast deliuered hir out of prison and setled hir in hir fathers throne to thee therefore doo we render thanks to thee doo we sing laud and praise thy name doo we honour daie and night Thou hast restored againe the libertie of our countrie and the sinceritie of the doctrine with peace and tranquillitie of thy Church Thine thine O Lord was the benefit the meanes the labour and seruice was hirs a burthen too heauie alas for a womans shoulders yet easie and tollerable by thy helping hand Assist hir therefore O most mercifull father neither respect hir offences or the deserts of hir parents or the manifold sinnes of vs hir people but thinke vpon thy woonted compassion alwaies at hand to thy poore afflicted Preserue hir kingdome mainteine religion defend thy cause our Queene Elizabeth vs thy sheepe and hir people scatter thine enimies which thirst after war let them be ashamed and confounded that woorship idols let vs not be a praie vnto forraigne nations nor to the people that knowe not thee neither call vpon thy name Strengthen and confirme O Lord the good worke which thou hast begun inspire our gratious Queene thy seruant and vs thy poore flocke with thy holie spirit that with vncorrupt life we may ioine puritie of religion as we may not yeeld and bring foorth wild and bastard fruits but mild and sweet grapes and fruits beseeming a liuelie faith and true repentance and meet and conuenient for thy Gospell to the intent we may enioie this immortall treasure and that liuing and dieng in thee we may finallie possesse the inheritance of thy heauenlie kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. For thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer Amen A forme of blessing or praier for our most gratious Queene Elizabeth Christ his deere spouse out of the Scriptures COme downe O Lord come with thousands of thy Saincts and appeare gratiouslie vnto thy Church of Saincts Come visit the people and congregations of Iacob whersoeuer assembled whome thou so tenderlie louest and which are humbled at thy feet to yeeld thee thanks for all thy blessings and benefits receiued Come downe I saie O God of Iacob and blesse Israel yea come
sakes but for thy name sake and through the merits of Iesus Christ our onlie guide and chiefe shepheard who liueth and reigneth with thee and the holie Ghost now and euer Daughter Amen For all Vniuersities and Schooles Mother BLesse thou therefore O Lord with the dew of thy spirit all Uniuersities and Schooles that sith it hath pleased thee that from them as by thine appointed meanes we should haue our preachers and teachers they may be there instructed in all godly knowledge and learning and be made fit to walke woorthilie in their vocation at what time soeuer it shall please thee to call them forth Grant we besech thee that as they ought to be lights and nursses vnto their countries euen so they may giue vnto them a godlie and perfect life and nourish them vp in good and sound doctrine to thy glorie our comfort and the discharge of their duties And for bicause that now a daies charitie waxeth cold and the number of couetous worldlings is much increased which seeke rather to keepe backe their liuings and to plucke awaie from them rather than to bestowe anie thing to the maintenance of their studie blesse thou them therfore with all things sufficient to the seruice of thee and increase of good learning that the lacke thereof be no hinderance to the building of thy house and to the setting foorth of thine honour and glorie And remooue from among vs most mercifull Father whatsoeuer is occasion of let or hinderance vnto all those that couet knowledge to the sanctifieng of thy holie name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Daughter Amen For the good estate of this Realme Mother BEcause also thou hast commanded vs to call vpon thee in the daie of troble promising that thou wilt heare our praiers we therefore humblie beseech thee to be fauourable vnto this our Realme and not to visit our offences so sharpelie neither to giue vs to drinke of so bitter a cup as vnto our iudgement it seemeth thou hast prepared for vs. What are we O Lord that wee may abide the force of thy iudgments We denie not but that we haue most woorthilie deserued whatsoeuer punishment thou hast euer hertofore powred forth vpon anie other nation But sith thy name is now called on among vs sith we make no account of anie helpe but onlie in thee sith we acknowledge our offences and humblie desire pardon for the same in Iesus Christ O let not thy iust iudgements laie hold vpon vs if it be expedient for vs and more to thy honour and glorie that we taste of thy mercie Thou hast hitherto dealt exceeding mercifullie with vs thou hast planted among vs a goodlie vineyard and that of the best plants thou hast walled it round about and watered it plentifullie with the dew of thy blessing in so much that thou couldest haue done no more for vs than thou hast done neither hast thou dealt so with other nations But we alas wretched sinners contrarie to the deserts of this thy louing kindnesse haue brought foorth wild grapes which thou hatest in steed of good and sweet grapes which thou lookest for Wee haue taken thy word into our mouthes but we haue hated to be reformed thereby yea we haue vtterlie despised thy holie word and had the preachers thereof in derision and so haue we made open the readie waie vnto all our damnable works blasphemie idolatrie murther adulterie pride couetousnesse disobedience sensualitie vnmercifulnesse oppressions slanders vnthankfulnesse whatsoeuer else our corrupt natures casting aside grace and discipline is woont to bring foorth And whilest we did all these things thou heldest thy peace and winkedst thereat therefore did we foolishlie imagine that thou art like vnto vs and delighted with sinne as we are And thus haue we in all our works prouoked thy diuine Maiestie to greeuous displeasure against vs. But now O holie God seeing that by thy long sufferance thou hast so mercifullie striken our hard harts with secret consideration of our miserable estate we beseech thee for Iesus Christs sake to giue vs likewise a repentant hart sorowfull for all our former misdeeds that thereby we may also attaine to the promises which thou hast annexed therevnto namelie that thou breake not downe the wall of this thy vineyard that thou suffer it not to be eaten vp or troden downe that thou laie it not waste so that briers and thorns growe vp therein And that thou command not the clouds not to raine vpon it neither that thou turne our roote into rottennesse neither yet that thou make our buds to rise vp like dust bicause we haue cast off thy lawe O Lord God of hosts and contemned thy word O holie one of Israel O make vs not a byword vnto our neighbours and a scorne vnto those that dwell about vs but rather grant we beseech thee that hencefoorth we may hartilie repent and walke before thee in newnesse of life to thy honor and glorie to the example of our neighbours to the conuersion or confusion of our enimies and to our euerlasting comfort through Iesus Christ our Lord. Daughter Amen A praier for repentance Mother ALthough our infirmities doo euidentlie appeare and by diuers waies shew foorth themselues vnto vs almightie and most mercifull God yet in nothing more than that we cannot perceiue and behold our owne wickednesse in such sort as it is indeed With our tongs we can not but confesse because thou thy selfe hast said it that we are altogither vnrighteous that there is not one of vs that doth good that we all imagine mischiefe But although we are driuen by thine eternall truth outwardlie to confesse the same yet haue we no such inward feeling thereof as we ought to haue because we are altogither closed vp in our owne stubbernesse and selfe-loue Wherfore it commeth to passe that we can neither repent vs of that we should amend neither yet hartilie acknowledge that we certainlie knowe to be within vs. But O holie God how long shall we be cleane without vnderstanding How long shall our flesh haue dominion ouer thy good spirit in vs How long shall the cloud of our vnsensiblenesse darken and blemish our inward sight Uerelie our sinnes haue deserued that not onlie thou hide thy face awaie from vs for a time but that thou shouldest vtterlie cast vs off from thy fauour and grace to eternall damnation But sith that thou art wont to deale more mercifullie euen with the sonnes of men and vnto vs also hast giuen a good likelihood thereof in that that now thou hast striken our harts with some feeling of our owne wretchednesse which putteth vs in good comfort and hope that thou hast done it to this end to the intent that thou maist bestowe larger graces on vs also therefore we are somewhat emboldened although we are but dust and ashes humblie to desire of thee that in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ euen now at the length thou wilt vouchsafe to giue vnto vs the
be ransomed with his owne goods and that one man woman might loue another the more hartilie God I saie appeared in the shape of a man to the end that both bodie and soule might be made blessed by renewing the eie of the mind in his Godhead and the eie of the bodie in his manhood so that whether man went in or out he might find food in him laid vp in store by him in his humane nature Most iniurious therefore is that man or woman to Gods diuinitie that so by hating of their brethren and sisters their owne flesh contemne Christ and offend his humanitie The Thanks-giuing ILift vp my hart vnto thee O God for it is verie meet right and my bounden dutie that I should at all times in all places giue thanks vnto thee O Lord holie father almightie and euerlasting God because thou didst giue Iesus Christ thine onlie Sonne to be borne as this daie for me and all mankind who by the operation of the holie Ghost was made verie man of the substance of the blessed Uirgin Marie his mother and that without all spot of sinne to make vs cleane from all sinne Therefore with Angels and Archangels and with all the holie companie of Saincts and Uirgins in heauen I laud and magnifie thy glorious name euermore praising thee and saieng Holie Holie Holie Lord God of hostes heauen and earth are full of thy glorie Glorie be to thee O Lord most high Amen 3. On Newyeares daie Of Christ his circumcision in the flesh The Preface CIrcumcise the foreskin of your hart and be no more stiffenecked Deuter. 18. Be ye circumcised in the Lord I saie and cut awaie the foreskin of your hart and euill affections all ye inhabitants of Iuda and Ierusalem Iere. 4. For the circumcision of the hart which consisteth in the spirit and not in the letter is the true circumcision whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 4. Yea we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and reioice in Christ Iesus and haue no confidence in the flesh Philip. 3. For circumcision verelie auaileth if thou keepe the lawe but if thou be a breaker of the ordinances of the lawe thy circumcision is made vncircumcision c. Rom. 2. Oh that my waies were made so direct that I might keepe thy statutes so shall I not be confounded Order my steps in thy word and so shall no wickednesse haue dominion ouer me I will keepe thy ceremonies O forsake me not vtterlie Halleluiah The Praier O Lord Iesus Christ Sonne of the liuing God we thanke thee forasmuch as after thy decree concerning the redemption of mankind from the beginning thou hast beene present with thy Church outwardlie by speaking vnto hir by thy ministers and inwardlie by kindling thy light and righteousnesse in the harts of the faithfull Thou hast ratified thy promises by outward signes and ceremonies whereby euerie man may applie the benefits vnto himselfe So did thy burnt offerings and sacrifices testifie of thee which afterwards should be slaine The flames of fire which from heauen did set on fire the offerings did witnesse of thy presence that as manie as should behold thy benefits with a true faith thou wouldest quicken with the sacrifice of thine holie spirit which inflameth true knowledge and good motions within the godlie That life was giuen to them of thy meere mercie the first parents did knowe full well when it was said that a woman shall bring foorth And because the mediator was called that seed of the woman and withall promised to be the subduer of Sathan they knew that he should be both God and man The same promise was repeated vnto Abraham the father of the faithfull And forasmuch as restraint was made vnto a certaine nation thou didst adde a new rite of circumcision whereby not onelie the posteritie of Abraham was discerned from other nations but also it was a testimonie admonishing of the seed to come which was Christ who should take our weake flesh vpon him and beare our nature and bring both Iewes and Gentils vnto eternall felicitie Wherefore we yeeld thee humble thanks forasmuch as hitherto thou hast continued this sound of thy person and office notwithstanding the great raging of thine enimies for appearing at the length in the flesh for giuing thy selfe vnto vs for a Newyeares gift of inestimable price for being made vnder the lawe a cursse to saue vs wretches from the cursse of the lawe and to restore vs vnto innocencie lost through sinne For which cause thy blessed will was as vpon this daie to be circumcised in the flesh and now first of all to shead thy pretious bloud for vs that are of vncircumcised harts and lips and all to shew that thou camest in deede of the verie seed of Abraham and wast subiect to the lawe cursse and condemnation for vs and that our corrupt nature by thy holinesse might be sanctified and haue through thee an obedience to answere the same withall We beseech thee therefore grant vs the true circumcision of the spirit that our harts all our members being mortified from all worldlie and carnall lusts we may in all things obeie thy blessed will and heere staie our selues and put our trust in thee that thus hast humbled thy selfe so lowe for vs that we may be exalted by thee And from our harts we praie thee ioine vs to that holie companie that did wait for thy redemption before it came and doo reioice in it now it is come and performed and with the sacred host of Angels to giue all glorie renowme vnto thee for bringing thy peace which passeth all vnderstanding vpon the earth and declaring so great kindnesse and good will towards vs as to giue thy selfe and thereby euerlasting ioie and blisse for a Newyeares gift of worthie memoriall and inestimable value to be our owne for euer and euer Speake hencefoorth to our harts with thy louelie voice Lighten the lampe of our minds with thy heauenlie knowledge Confirme vs with thy blessed Sacraments which are the certaine tokens of thine vndoubted regeneration and quickning of vs. Oh take awaie the cursse the wrath of God damnation the works of the flesh and the diuell Grant me I beseech thee that thy grace may dailie mortifie my concupiscence of pleasures in things of this world that is of wealth riches glorie libertie fauour of men meates drinks apparell ease yea and life it selfe that the horror and impatiencie of more greeuous things may be weakened and I accustome my selfe to denie my will in more easie and pleasant things of this life and for euer become obedient and readie in all Christian patience to doo thy good will in all things hartilie and willinglie to serue thee and doo whatsoeuer may please thee Make me I saie through the effectuall power of thy grace and holie spirit working in me most miserable wretch to hate abhor flie and subdue all adulterie whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturall lusts
euill concupiscence inordinate desires wantonnes tendernes delicatenes idlenes dronkennes gluttonie slothfulnes distrust despaire ignorance weakenes wilfulnes idolatrie superstition hypocrisie heresie error sects variance strife wrath enuie slanders lieng swearing curssing vaine-glorie pride couetousnes theft deceit flatterie and whatsoeuer else O Lord fighteth or rebelleth against thy holie spirit And strengthen me so with thy might that I may not onlie drawe all these mine earthlie members and horrible vices before rehearsed vnder my feet but also fight continuallie against them subdue them so that they may all turne to the best for me as meet matter whereon I may exercise my faith powre foorth hartie praier and giue thee most hartie thanks for victorie Finallie worke in me thy blessing with all the fruits of the spirit righteousnes peace loue ioie in the holie Ghost long-suffering gentlenes goodnes faithfulnes meekenes temperance strength patience and such like Grant vs the remission of our sinnes righteousnes and life Restore in our minds thy lawe and begin such a new conformitie this new yeare in this our life and conuersation as may be perfect in the life to come Be thou our sauiour by thy power and merit that in our minds we may perceiue that thy Father is at peace with vs through thy death and find thee dwelling within vs to eternall life and happinesse Amen Halleluiah 4. On the Epiphanie or twelfe daie Of the apparition of Christ and the three Kings and their offerings to Christ The Preface GET thee vp beetimes and be bright O daughter Ierusalem For thy light commeth and the glorie of the Lord is risen vpon thee Lift vp thine eies looke round about thee For behold the Gentiles shall come to thy light and kings to the brightnesse that springeth foorth vpon thee The multitude of camels and dromedaries that bring the riches of the Gentiles shall couer thee all they of Saba Mada and Epha shall come bringing gold incense and shewing foorth the praise of the Lord. All these gather themselues and come to thee thy sonnes shall come vnto thee from farre and thy daughters shall gather themselues to thee on euerie side frō the east and from the west The isles also shall wait for me and speciallie the ships of Tharsis that they may bring thy sonnes and daughters from farre and their siluer and their gold with them vnto the name of the Lord thy God vnto the holie one of Israel that hath glorified thee Strangers shall build vp thy wals and their kings shall doo thee seruice yea kings princes and the host of the Gentils shall see and arise and worship thee For I haue made thee the light of the Gentiles that thou maist be my health vnto the end of the world Thou shalt suck the milke of the Gentils and kings brests shall feed thee kings I saie shall be thy nursing fathers and Queenes shall be thy nursing mothers And those shall come kneeling vnto thee that haue vexed thee and all they that despise thee shall fall at thy feet before thee with their faces flat vpon the earth and licke vp the dust of thy feet Yea euerie people and kingdome that serueth not thee shall perish and be destroied with vtter destruction and thou shalt knowe that I am the Lord the Sauiour and Redeemer euen the mightie one of Iacob and that whosoeuer putteth his trust in me shall not be confounded They that dwell in the wildernes I saie shall kneele before the Kings sonne his enimies shall licke the dust The king of Tharsis and of the isles shall giue presents the kings of Arabia Saba shall bring gifts All kings shall fall downe before him all nations shall doo him seruice He shall liue and vnto him shall be giuen the gold of Arabia Praier shall be made euer vnto him and dailie shall he be praised The Lord declared his saluation his righteousnesse hath he openlie shewed in the sight of the heathen All the world shall worship thee O God sing of thee and praise thy name most high The Lord is King the earth may be glad thereof yea the multitude of isles may reioice and bee glad thereof Bring therefore vnto the Lord O ye mightie bring presents and gifts vnto the Lord O ye kindreds and nations of the world Come I saie into his courts with praise and speake good of his name Ascribe vnto the Lord onelie the strength power kingdome and glorie worship God I saie O ye gods kings iudges and rulers of the earth worship him with an holie worship and giue him the honor due vnto his name O make his praises to be glorious in your liues and conuersation For he it is that hath exalted you and is himselfe exalted farre aboue all gods and his praise and glorie is aboue heauen and earth Halleluiah The Praier OEternall God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which after a woonderfull maner reuealedst thy selfe at the baptisme of Christ standing in the water of Iordan at such time as thou diddest testifie of thy sonne and the holie Ghost appeared in the likenesse of a dooue gouerne vs by thine holie spirit that in true faith we may obeie thee kindle in our minds a true knowledge of thy benefits bring to passe that approching vnto thee in our praiers we may discerne thee the true God aboue all feined gods in mind turne our selues into that banke of the water into the companie of those godlie auditors and beholders before whom this noble appearing was made Speake vnto vs by thy sonne in the holie Ghost and turne vs vnto true obedience And as thou broughtest godlie auditors vnto the sight of Christ which taking our flesh vpon him became our mediatour and thou eternall Father spakest out of the cloud and the holie Ghost appeared in the likenes of a dooue so bring to passe that in this life we may depend vpon the benefit of thy soone which coupled our nature vnto his to make an eternall couenant with vs. Cause the heauens in like maner to be opened vnto vs that we may heare thy voice and thy spirit rest vpon vs. Worke in vs the beginning of eternall life vntill in thy visible presence we shall be hold thy diuinivntill in the heauens not darklie and in a cloud but face to face beeing made like thy sonne And as those Christian Magicians or Philosophers of Persia some remnants of the schoole of Daniel by the conduct and leading of a starre came from farre to see thee and gaue a notable testimonie of the birth of Christ Iesus our Sauiour so mainteine euermore for thine owne glorie sake some congregation which may set foorth and celebrate thy benefits Grant that that luckie starre the light of faith may rise vnto vs which seeketh thee in Bethlem in a manger in thy word reuealed in the ministerie that we wander not from the right waie neither seeke fained bywaies of humane opinions seruice Suffer not the lampe of thy light to be extinguished either
with a crowne of the more glorie for it and to the intent that thou mightest likewise ouercome sathan in thy members as thou hast afore done in thine owne person Giue thou we beseech thee vnto vs thy souldiers O Lion most victorious of the tribe of Iuda strength against the roring Lion which continuallie wandereth to and fro seeking whome he may deuour Thou being that same Serpent the true giuer of health and life that was nailed on high vpon a tree giue vnto thy little seelie ones wilinesse against the deceiptfull awaitings of the most subtil serpent Thou being a Lambe as white as snowe the vanquisher of sathans tyrannie giue vs thy little sheepe the strength and vertue of thy spirit that being in our owne selues weake and feeble and in thee strong and valiant wee may withstand and ouercome all assaults of the diuell so that our ghostlie enimie may not glorie ouer vs but being conquerours through thee we may giue thanks to thy mercie which neuer leauest them destitute that put their trust in thee who liuest and reignest God for euermore world without end Amen 7. On Thursedaie next before Easter commonlie called Maundie Thursedaie Of Christ his last feast or institution of the Sacrament of the Supper and of his great humilitie in washing his disciples feet afterward The Preface I Saith Wisedome haue killed my victuals drawne my wine and prepared my table Come now vnto me all ye poore in spirit that are emptie and an hungred come ye fat and rich also vpon earth that go astraie and faint for thirst Come I saie O freends eate of my meate woorthilie and worship me drinke of my wine purelie and glorifie me Make ye merrie at my table holilie and praise me O welbeloued For it is I that satisfie the mouth with good things and fill the hungrie soule with spirituall deinties Yea my flesh is meate in deed and my bloud is drinke in deed which I haue prouided for my people and he that eateth me euen he shall liue by me Happie and blessed therefore are they that are called to the Lambs supper for they shall eate Manna euen Angels food in the kingdome of heauen Lord bid me vnto this feast and grant that I may sup with thee and thou with me Lord wash not my feet onlie but my hands and head also for I am altogither vncleane and if thou wash me not I shall remaine filthie still O wash me therefore throughlie from my wickednes and cleanse me from my secret faults and purge me from my presumptuous sinnes For I haue sinned I haue offended oh forgiue me and haue mercie on me The Praier O Blessed Sauiour and deere Redeemer Iesu Christ which in the holie mysterie of thy last Supper with thine Apostles didst deliuer thy blessed bodie and bloud vnder the forme of bread wine and ordeinedst that as thy bodie was broken and thy bloud shead for vs so we should thankefullie celebrate and keepe a solemne memorie of thy death till thou come Grant vs we beseech thee euer stedfastlie to beleeue and kindlie to acknowledge thine infinite and almightie power thine incomprehensible loue towards vs and that we may alwaie worthilie receiue the same blessed Sacrament according to thy holie ordinance that thereby we may obtaine increase of all goodnes in vnitie of spirit with thee our head and by thee and thy spirit with all the companie of them that be trulie thine which be thy spirituall and mysticall bodie and our spirituall and Christian brethren and sisters Suffer vs not also we beseech thee to fall into anie slothfull and carelesse negligence whereby we should vnkindlie forget so inestimable a benefit but rather at all occasions with minds woorthilie prepared for so holie an action thankefullie to renew the memorie of thy so infinite loue towards vs and to receiue the grace which thereby is offered vnto vs to the ioining of vs continuallie neerer vnto thee till we be ioined without anie separation vnto thee through thee Finallie as in thine owne blessed person thou hast giuen an example of perfect loue whereby in humblenesse and meekenesse we should serue one another as thou being the Lord and maister of vs all didst vouchsafe after thy last Supper to wash the feet of thy disciples and seruants grant vs that louing and meeke spirit of thine whereby we may be far from disdaine and despising of our brethren and readie in all good things to be dutifull and seruiceable vnto them in thee and for thee that as thou hast left vs in commandement we may loue one another as thou hast loued vs and thereby be knowne to be thy disciples especiallie O Christ that we may be faithfull in our loue toward thee who for our sakes wast content to be vnfaithfullie and vnfriendlie betraied of him that had liued familiarlie with thee that thou mightest thereby assure vs of thine euerlasting loue and mercie To thee therfore with the Father and the holie Ghost be all praise honour and glorie now and for euer Amen I haue sinned I haue sinned haue mercie on me 8. On Good Fridaie Of Christ his passion and shamefull suffering for our sinnes Leuiti 23 27 c. THIS is the daie of reconciliation to make an attonement for you before the Lord your God therefore shall it be an holie conuocation vnto you And you shall humble your selues this daie in fasting and praier and offer sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lord. And whatsoeuer soule it be that thus humbleth not himselfe this daie euen he shall be cut off and destroied from among his people Let this be a lawe and ordinance in your generations and in all your dwellings for euer saith the Lord. The Preface CHrist now once in the end of the world through the eternall spirit offered himselfe a Lamb without spot to God suffered for sinnes the iust for the vniust died for all and was killed vpon the altar of the crosse as perteining to the flesh but was quickned in the spirit to put awaie sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe Wo and alas that euer I sinned Christ became sinne and a cursse for vs to redeeme vs sinners from the cursse of the lawe and to reconcile vs vnto the blessing and fauour of God his father that we should be made the righteousnes of God in him Wo and alas that euer I sinned Christ was obedient vnto the death euen vnto the most vile and shamefull death of the crosse to deliuer vs from death hell and damnation and to translate and bring vs into the kingdome of God his father Wo and alas that euer I sinned Christ being in the forme of God tooke on him the forme of a seruant and made himselfe of no reputation but for the ioie that was set before him endured such blasphemie railing euill speaking against him of shamelesse sinners and when he was reuiled reuiled not againe when he suffered threatened not but committing the vengeance to him that iudgeth righteouslie despised
Father making intercession for vs sounded continuallie in the eares of God Worke so that we be not found in the number of those into whome sathan hath entred which blaspheame thee despise thy benefits and destroie themselues vtterlie Increase our faith and knowledge of thee that the eternall Father through thy sacrifice being pleased may forgiue all our sinnes and receiue vs into that companie which is glorious in thine eies Under the crosse standeth thy noble but sorowfull mother hir sister and other good women with thy disciple Iohn whome thou louedst O blesse vs and of thy goodnes ioine vs to that companie In thy mother there shineth a notable light and strength of faith she beholdeth in thee hir Sonne those sights than which none could be more greeuous in this world she sawe the rage of thine enimies and thine intollerable torments yet she beleeued notwithstanding the greeuousnes of thy paine the shedding of thy pretious bloud the flight of thy disciples the crueltie of thine enimies and the odiousnes of thy death she beleeued I saie O the force of faith that thou wast God by nature and shouldest rise againe and reigne euerlastinglie ouercome death and the diuell and subdue all thine enimies O Sonne of God kindle within vs we praie thee the like sparks of faith giue vs grace with thine elect neuer to be ashamed to stand vnder thy crosse And as thou euen of an entire good will mercifullie among thy seruants didst speake vnto and comfort thy pensiue and moorning mother so speake vnto vs and thy troubled Church in miserie comfort hir with thy sweet voice and presence Thou commendedst thy mother to thine Apostle Make vs vnfeignedlie to loue the Church thy sweet and true mother and grant that euerie of vs may cherish the same louinglie and mainteine it to the vttermost of our powers Especiallie guide the Preachers that they may loue the mother nourish the vnitie of pure doctrine auoid the seed of heresies and remooue all stumbling-blockes all occasions of hindering of faith and praier in yoong Christians At thy sides hang two theeues punished for their sinnes according to the lawe and their deserts whereof one desperatelie powring out blasphemous speeches the other godlie requiring thy fauour he ended his daies All mankind Lord doo likewise hang in miseries for their sinnes whereof some are so captiued in their minds that at the point of death they scoffe blaspheme and desperatelie to their vtter condemnation finish their daies but giue vs grace we beseech thee that we may imitate the example of the gratious theefe which before his passage out of this life moued by infallible arguments of thine almightinesse and mercie required pardon of his offences and obteined the same according to his request Giue grace that we may imitate his hartie repentance his sorowe for sin his notable faith his zealous confession and other good works of his We beseech thee mercifull Lord be mindfull of vs. O Lord be mindfull of vs. Thou sittest in the kingdom of thy Father we are in the miseries of the world but be thou mindfull of vs. Begin thy kingdome in vs heere in this world and in euerie combate of our conscience especiallie at the point of death pronounce to our hearts this comfortable absolution This daie shalt thou be with me in Paradise Shew vnto vs thy paradise that departing out of this life we may find rest for our soules Open to our soules the gates of Paradise place them in the seates of immortalitie and state of blisse where thy Father togither with the blessed companie of Angels and men sheweth himselfe euen as he is In the meane while thy combate is not yet finished thou criedst in most pittifull maner My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Thy diuinitie was not then separated from thy humanitie which neuer lost that which once it tooke neither surcessedst nor dooest thou surcesse at anie time to be equall and one with thine eternall father but then was the houre of thy humiliation wherein after a woonderfull and vnspeakable maner thy diuinitie hid it selfe as it were and would haue this obedience to be showne and thought not best to destroie the Iewes thine enimies and murtherers Yea it hid it selfe that the streames of Gods displeasure against the sinnes of men should so fall vpon thee O Christ that they should wrestle with extreame torments such as for a certeine space thou perceiuedst no comfort notwithstanding thy diuinitie confirmed thine humane nature which was to suffer all the passions For thy diuinitie could not suffer anie passion at all therefore it confirmed the same that there might be a sufficient satisfaction for the sins of men For they which haue endured most greeuous torments could neuer abide these for if God comfort vs we may abide the punishment of men and then it may be said Though bodies greefe did feele Yet had their soules great ioie And vertuous hope did strengthen so That paines did naught annoie But intollerable is it for a creature to suffer the punishment of God and be saued thereby Wherefore O Sonne of God in displeasure bee mindfull of thy mercie be thou our protection that the wrath of thine eternall father doo not destroie vs. Euen a little taste of Gods displesure bursteth in peeces all the bones of men like a lion And therfore by and by after thou vtteredst the like complaint saieng I thirst thy soule languished through the greatnesse of thy paines Thy spirits were resolued through thy woonderfull greefe of hart Thy bowels dried awaie and no moisture abode in them and therefore trulie didst thou both inwardlie thirst and desire some vertue and comfort from thy Father and outwardlie to haue thy bodie refreshed O Iesu Christ which art the fountaine of eternall life giuing the water which quencheth all thirst from whose bellie springeth the well of life suffer vs not to taste such a greeuous thirst as did that merciles rich glutton in hell which neuer was quenched but with the godlie to saie My soule stucke vnto my iawes I had no quietnes in my bones Lord in thy iudgements correct me not in thy furie least I come vnto nothing If thou obseruest iniquities O Lord Lord who shall be able to abide Thus doo thy Saincts crie I saie in their troubles Wherefore kindle not thy wrath altogither against vs. Cease not to comfort our weake nature striuing against thy iudgements with the iuice of thy word and comfortable waterings of thy spirit Unto thee did thine eternall Father manifest his presence and comfort for our sakes when some while after being better quieted thou saiedst It is finished Thou gauest thanks to thine eternall father for helping thee whereby the sacrifice of welfare to the elect for euermore was fulfilled Oh most sacred Priest imprint within vs this celestiall conclusion this notable finishing of thy sacrifice that vndoubtedlie we may thinke that by this sacrifice the remission of sinnes and life eternall is purchased for vs.
vnto thee we haue not here an abiding place for euer but we seeke for one that is to come our abiding place is in heauen whither thou art ascended Therefore thy fauour and grace my guide I enter into the chamber of my hart and sing vnto thee songs of loue my King and my GOD mourning with maruellous sighings in this place of my peregrination whereas thy iustices are my songs and whereas I am tossed with stormes on euerie side For in this great floud of this life there is no stedfast standing or place high inough aboue the waters no not for the foot of a doue to rest vpon In this life I saie there is no safe or quiet peace no where anie sure rest euerie-where battell and strife euerie-where enimies and fightings without doores and frights and feares within doores And for asmuch as the one part of vs is heauenlie and the other earthlie our bodie which is corrupt doth loden and is burdenous vnto the soule therefore my mind which is my felowe and freend being wearie with wandering foorth of the waie is sicke and lieth all to torne and rent of those things which it hath passed by It hungreth and thirsteth greatlie after vanities and I haue nothing to set afore it bicause I am poore and a begger Thou O Lord my God art rich in all good things and the most plentious giuer of the deinties of heauenlie satietie Giue meate vnto the wearie not such as it thirsteth after but such as is conuenient for it Gather togither the dispersed renew and refresh the torne Lo he standeth at the doore and knocketh I beseech thee by the bowels of thy mercie wherwith thou being the daie-spring from an high hast visited vs open the hand of thy pitie to a wretch that knocketh and vouchsafe mercifullie to enter into thee and that I may rest with thee and be refreshed of thee which art the liuing heauenlie bread wherewith when I am once fed and that my strength is come to mee againe I may ascend vnto more high things and be lifted vp out of this vale of miserie and teares and with the wings of my godlie desires I may flie vp vnto thee and the heauenlie kingdome Let my spirit O Lord I beseech thee take wings as an Egle and flie without fainting let it flie vp and come to the beautifulnesse of thine holie house and to the place of heauen where thy glorie dwelleth whereas vpon the meate-tables of thy supernall citizens it may be fed full of thy secrets in the place of thy pasture by the most plentifull riuers sides Let mine hart rest in thee my God my hart I saie which is as though it were a great sea swelling with waters Thou diddest rebuke the winds and the sea and there was made streightwaies a great calme O come and wake vpon the fluds of mine hart that all things which belong vnto me may be made calme and cleere that I may imbrace thee which art mine onelie God and that I may behold thee which art the sweet light nf mine eies without anie blind darknesse of troublesome cogitations and thought Let my mind flie O Lord vnder the shadowe of thy wings for meate that it being couered with the temperatenesse of thy pleasant coolnesse may sing ioifullie and saie I will laie me downe and rest in peace Finallie let my memorie sleepe O my God I beseech thee from all euils make it to hate iniquitie and to loue righteousnesse For what can be better or more delectable than in the middes of the darknesse of this life and among the manifold and bitter miseries of the same to desire feruentlie heauenlie sweetnesse To couet euerlasting blessednesse Or our mind to be held euer there whereas we may be most sure to haue infallible and true ioies Oh Lord which for thy louing kindnesse art most woorthie to be desired and coueted of all things when shall I see thee When shall I appeere before thy face When shall I be satisfied of thy glorie When wilt thou bring me foorth of this darke prison that I may confesse thy name so that afterward I bee no more pricked When shall I passe and go to that maruellous and beautifull house of thine whereas the voice of gladnesse and reioicing doth sound in the tabernacles of iust men Blessed are they that dwell in thine house O Lord they shall praise thee euer world without end Blessed are they yea blessed indeed whom thou hast chosen and taken into that heauenlie inheritance Behold O Lord thy Saints flourish before thee like vnto lillies For they are replenished with the plentiousnesse of thine house and thou dooest giue them to drinke of the flowing riuer of thy pleasure bicause thou art the well of life and in thy light and brightnes they doo see light and that so greatlie that they themselues which are a light and are made bright by thee O Lord which doost giue them light doo shine like vnto the sunne in thy sight O how maruellous how faire and beautifull how acceptable are the mansions and dwelling places of thine house O Lord of powers my sinfull soule dooth couet to enter into them O Lord I haue loued the comlinesse of thine house and the place where thine honour dwelleth I asked one petition of the Lord and the same will I require that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life Like as the Hart coueteth to go vnto the water brookes euen so dooth my soule desire to come vnto thee O Lord. When shall I come and appeare before the face of my Lord When shall I see God after whom my soule longeth verie sore When shall I see him in the land of the liuing For in this land of the dead he cannot be seene with mortall eies What shall I doo wretch that I am which am fettered with the heauie gieues of mortalitie What shall I doo Whiles we continue in this bodie wee go astraie from the Lord we haue here no abiding place for euer but we labour for one that is to come Our free citie is in heauen Wo is me me thinke I dwell among the barbarous nations and infidels and not amongst the faithfull Israelites I lead my life in the tents of Cedar My soule hath dwelt too long with them that hate peace and quietnesse Who will giue me wings as a dooue that I may flie awaie and rest me There is nothing that I desire or delight so much in as to be in my Lords companie It is good for me to cleaue vnto God Oh grant me O Lord whilest I am in these fraile members to sticke vnto thee as it is written He that cleaueth vnto the Lord is all one spirit with him Giue me therefore I beseech thee the wings of contemplation wherewith when I am apparelled I may flie vpward And for asmuch as euerie vnluckie and infortunate thing lieth beneath doo thou O Lord hold vp my mind least it fall headlong into
euerliuing and immortall thou art now risen from death for vs. Thou art now ascended to thy Father and our Father and sittest at the right hand in glorie grant that we also in hart and mind may thither ascend and with thee continuallie dwell Suffer vs to come neere vnto thee that we may kisse thee Yea Lord thou louer of our soules come thou rather vnto vs and kisse vs with the kisse of thy mouth that we may be glad reioice in thee Drawe vs that we may runne after the sauour of thy sweet ointments that we may behold thee in righteousnes and when thy glorie shall appeare we may be satisfied For in thy presence there is fulnes of ioie and on thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore So be it Halleluiah A Thanks-giuing WE lift vp our harts vnto thee O Lord God for it is verie meete right and our bounden dutie that we should at all times and in all places giue thanks vnto thee O Lord holie Father almightie euerlasting God through thy most deere beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who after his glorious resurrection manifestlie appeared to all his Apostles and in their sight ascended vp into heauen to prepare a place for vs that where he is thither we might also ascend to reigne with him in glorie Therefore with Angels and Archangels and with all the companie of heauen we laud and magnifie thy glorious name euermore praising thee and saieng Holie holie holie Lord God of hoasts heauen and earth are full of thy glorie Glorie be to thee O God most high So be it 11. On Whitsundaie or the feast of Pentecost Of the sending of the Comforter euen the spirit of truth The Preface THE spirit of the Lord filleth the round compasse of the world and vpholdeth all things Halleluiah The spirit of wisedome is louing and will not absolue him that blasphemeth with his lips Halleluiah The holie spirit of discipline flieth from deceipt and withdraweth himselfe from thoughts that are without vnderstanding Halleluiah This therefore is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loue darkenesse more than light Halleluiah But O Father leaue vs not comfortlesse but come vnto vs and giue vs the Comforter euen the holie spirit of truth which the world can not receiue that he may abide with vs and dwell within vs for euer Halleluiah Come holie Ghost and teach vs in all thy waies and bring all things to our remembrance whatsoeuer God hath commanded vnto vs that we may speake with new lips and magnifie God according to his will Halleluiah Make me a cleane hart O God and renew a right spirit within me Halleluiah Cast me not awaie from thy presence and take not thy holie spirit from me Halleluiah O giue me the comfort of thy help againe and stablish me with thy free spirit Halleluiah Then shall I teach thy waies vnto the world and sinners shall be conuerted vnto thee Halleluiah Halleluiah The Praier IF ye loue me keepe my commandements and I will pray the Father and he shall giue you another Comforter that he may abide with you for euer euen the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receiue c. Oh heauenlie speech to be had in perpetuall remembrance Thou O Christ promisest such as keepe thy commandements such as in faith and a good conscience obeie thee to bee loued intirelie of thy Father and their brests to be the inhabiting place of thy diuinitie Nothing is more lamentable than to be cast from God into feare and fire vnquenchable nothing more comfortable than to haue thy fauour and to be loued of God This so excellent a benefit thou doest promise to thy disciples wherfore ingraffe vs to the blessed companie which thy Father doth loue whose sinnes are forgiuen through thy deserts and they are receiued into mercie and the inheritance of eternall life through thy death Neither is it thy will to haue vs present in loue and by the imputation of thy righteousnes onlie but also by a naturall participation and reall conformitie with God in deed Man deceiued by the diuell forsooke God his gouernour conceiued so highlie of himselfe that he would rule himselfe without God Let God defend thy life the rest seeke from thy selfe saie the wise men of this world and they commend that man whose onlie hope dependeth vpon himselfe But O lamentable darkenesse how shamefullie doth man fall without God assist How miserablie doth he perish whome God forsaketh Wherefore taking pitie on our wretched state thou restorest the ancient order interrupted through sinne and wilt that the harts of the faithfull shall againe be made y e dwelling place temple of diuinitie The God-head in deed is euerie where vpholding as long as hee thinketh good the whole frame of the world and the substance of euerie particular thing therein and againe destroieng all when he thinketh good so to doo notwithstanding he abideth onlie in the soule which receiueth Christ into it doo the Father and the word breath of their spirit and link it to themselues in like light righteousnesse and life In the Sonne the glorie of the Father doth shine and filleth that humane substance which the word through an eternall couenant coupleth to himselfe with the same spirit and powreth it into the harts of beleeuers to make them like vnto him For the word through the same spirit quickeneth both his owne and our flesh And this is the beginning of eternall life in this miserable world This spirit imprinteth the image of God which the word present in our minds doth speake in our soule kindeling a light and knowledge conformable to the Gospell turneth vs to the true seruice of GOD and stirreth vp in our wils so holie motions agreeing to the lawe of Christ as shine in that humane nature of Christ now glorified who cureth our infirmitie He commeth from the Father sent by the Sonne to renew vs according to the image of Christ He returneth to the Sonne and Father to couple vs vnto God to make intercession for vs with grones vnspeakable and to mooue the hart of eternall God vnto mercie and compassion towards vs. Such is our nature that through Gods spirit we reason christianlie and thinke godlie then how can it be but that the spirit must raise godlie cogitations good motions in our minds which is by nature a God and therefore substantiallie doth he mingle himselfe with our spirits springing in our nature but regenerated by him to imprint in vs another light and newnesse than is naturall wisdome and righteousnesse and therefore manie sighes doo we fetch euen these deepe sighes And thou word dwelling in our minds be thou present and kindle our harts by thy blast Conuert vs Lord and we shall be conuerted Turne vs to the acknowledging of our sinnes erect vs by the preaching of the Gospell and grant that through faith we may receiue the promise of the spirit Strengthen vs that we may retaine so
art also the substantiall amitie betweene the Father and the Sonne we worship thee we praise and glorifie thee and with our whole hart we thanke thee for all thy benefits especiallie for calling vs by the voice of thy Gospell vnto the Christian congregation for illuminating vs with thy gifts for sanctifieng vs with a stedfast faith and for keeping vs hitherto in the same For by the fount of the wholesome lauour that is by the water of holie Baptisme being powred into vs thou dooest continuallie worke in vs regeneration and renewing of the inward man Harken we beseech thee vnto our supplication and teach vs miserable women which by the proper strength of our onlie reason can by no meanes trust in or approch to Christ our Lord and Sauiour teach vs O our God what thy pleasure is and leade vs into all truth For without thine assistance none can saie that Iesus is the Lord. O blessed Lampe of light fill the inward parts of the faithfull with the holie oile of thy manifold heauenlie gifts and graces without the which nothing is light and pleasant in man but euerie thing darke obscure and hurtfull Wash thou that is filthie water that is drie heale that is wounded bow the obstinate cherish the frosen and reclaime them which wander Giue to the faithfull trusting in thee the reward of wel-doing the entrance into happines and euerlasting comfort Thou in thy gifts seauen-fold which art the spirit of the Lord the spirit of wisedome and vnderstanding the spirit of counsell and strength the spirit of knowledge and of the feare of the Lord inspire into vs through the preaching of the Gospell thine heauenlie wisedome about thine essence and dinine pleasure which is hid from the world Grant that we may knowe the Father and the Sonne by thee and may alwaies beleeue that thou art the spirit of them both so worship one God in Trinitie and the Trinitie in vnitie whose will is that not one should perish but be conuerted liue and that as manie as beleeue in the Sonne should haue euerlasting life For the Father sent the Sonne not to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saued O lightener of the mind powre vpon vs thy new light and purge the horrible darkenes of our minds so that we may see knowe our chiefe Father whome pure eies onlie doo behold O thou heauenlie comforter giue vnto vs a testimonie and grant vnto our minds a token of the certaintie of our beleefe so that we doubt not neither wauer about thy diuine goodnes towards vs. Make our harts quiet and secure that with a full trust and confidence we may approch to the throne of thy heauenlie grace receiuing by adoption the right of children and inflamed with spirituall ioie in all boldnesse and libertie may crie Abba Father Thou most faithfull aduocate strengthen vs against all the assaults and temptations of sathan so that we may neuer doubt of thy diuine prouidence and predestination whereby we are chosen and called in Christ vnto euerlasting life and neuer being stroken with a seruile feare and oppressed with dreadfull doubtings may in a rage flee and forsake our God O surpassing comforter leaue vs not destitute of thine aid and patronage but vouchsafe euermore to be present with vs in our crosses troubles least otherwise we faint but rather make vs to reioice in tribulations knowing that a crowne of life is laid vp for such as loue him O thou teacher of men instruct vs how and what we ought to praie for according to thy will that we may be heard and make thou intercession for vs with sighes that can not be expressed O thou cleanser of the heart giue vs the simplicitie of mind without gall and bitternes which descendedst in Iordan vpon our Lord and Sauiour Christ in the likenes of a dooue that we may be void of bitter enuie and contention in our harts and haue no roote among vs that bringeth foorth gall and woormewood O thou substantiall flame proceeding from the breast of the Father and his eternall Sonne lighten our harts with the fire of chaste and burning loue Thou which appearedst as vpon this daie at the feast of Pentecost vnto the Apostles in clouen tongs like fire see our coldnesse and comfort vs with thy quickening heate and breathings that we may receiue thy chrisme and annointment O thou ghest of the soule make thee a mansion place within the secret parts of our hearts that we may be an house for thy diuinitie which may dwell perpetuallie in our members and neuer depart from vs through our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A thanks-giuing WE lift vp our harts vnto thee O Lord GOD. For it is verie meet right and our bounden dutie that we should at all times and in all places giue thanks vnto thee O Lord holie Father the almightie euerlasting GOD through Iesus Christ our Lord according to whose most true promise the holie Ghost came downe this daie from heauen with a sudden great sound as it had beene a mightie wind in the likenes of fierie tongues lighting vpon the Apostles to teach them and lead them to all truth giuing them both the gift of diuers languages and also boldnesse with feruent zeale constantlie to preach thy Gospell vnto all nations whereby we are brought out of darknesse and errour into the cleere light and true knowledge of thee and of thy Sonne Iesus Christ Therefore with Angels and Archangels with all the blessed cōpanie of heauen we laud and magnifie thy glorious name euermore praising thee and saieng Holie holie holie Lord God of hosts heauen and earth are full of thy glorie Glorie be to thee O Lord most high So be it 12. On Trinitie Sundaie An acknowledgement of the almightie Trinitie and his vndiuided God-head essence power and maiestie The Preface WHen Iesus was baptised in the water lo the heauens opened and the spirit of God descended like a dooue and lighted vpon him and behold there came a voice from heauen saieng This is my deerlie beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased Holie holie holie Lord God almightie Halleluiah There are three which beare record in heauen the Father the Word and the holie Ghost and these three are one Holie holie holie Lord God of Saboth Halleluiah The Praier O Most high Trinitie one onlie power and vndefiled maiestie our God God almightie the beholder and searcher of mine hart I the abiect and hindmost of all thy seruants confesse and acknowledge thee and being the least member of thy Church I woorship thee with a due sacrifice of praise for so much as I am able and can according to that which thou hast vouchsafed to endue me withall And forasmuch as I am destitute of outward gifts to offer vnto thee those vowes of praise which I haue of the gift of thy mercie behold willinglie and gladlie I offer them vnto thee which be an vnfeigned faith and a
agree vnto thee God the Father but the same also may fitlie be referred vnto the Sonne and holie Ghost We saie how thou the Father art naturallie God so is the Sonne naturallie God and the holie Ghost naturallie and yet not three Gods but one God naturallie the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost And therefore O God holie Trinitie in persons thou art inseparable in sense are they to be vnderstood though in sound you haue separable names For you receiue no plurall number in the nature For hereby it is declared how the persons in the holie Trinitie which is one verie God can not be diuided for that the name of euerie person respecteth alwaie another person If I say the Father I point vnto the Sonne if I name the Sonne I presuppose a Father if I mention the holie Spirit I must necessarilie vnderstand of whom he is the Spirit namelie of the Father and of the Sonne For this is the true faith proceeding from sound doctrine this vndoubtedlie is the catholike and right faith which God of his goodnesse hath taught me in the bosome of the mother Church The faith or beleefe of a true Christian concerning the blessed Trinitie most notablie described O My light I praise thee for inlightening mee whereby I knowe thee but how do I knowe thee I knowe thee to be God alone a liuing God a true God my Creator I knowe thee to be the maker both of heauen and earth of all things visible and inuisible a verie GOD almightie immortall inuisible vncompassable vnlimitable euerlasting to whom none can approch vnto nor comprehend nor find out who art vnchangable vnmeasurable infinite the beginning of all creatures be they visible or inuisible by whom all things were created through whom all the elements doo consist whose maiestie as it neuer had beginning so it shall neuer haue end I knowe thee to be one God alone the true God namelie the eternall Father Sonne and holie Ghost three persons indeed but one simple substance and vnparted nature the Father made of none the Sonne of the Father alone the holie Ghost of the Father and of the Sonne alwaies without either beginning or end A Trinitie yet but one onlie and verie God omnipotent the onelie beginning of all things maker of all creatures both visible and inuisible spirituall and temporall which by thine almightie power at the beginning diddest of nothing make togither both creatures spirituall corporall that is to saie Angelicall and worldlie and after the humane as a middle nature consisting of bodie and spirit I knowe and confesse thee GOD the Father to be vnbegotten thee God the Sonne to be begotten of the Father thee God the holie Ghost the comforter to be neither made nor begotten With mine hart I beleeue vnto righteousnesse and with my mouth I confesse vnto saluation this holie and single Trinitie in the three coequall consubstantiall and coeternall persons to be a Trinitie in vnitie and an vnitie in Trinitie I knowe thee Iesus Christ our Lord to be a true God the onlie begotten Sonne of God and the Creator Sauiour and Redeemer not of me onelie but also of all mankind whom I acknowledge to be begotten of the Father before all worlds God of GOD light of light verie God of verie God begotten not made being of one substance and coeternall with the Father and the holie Ghost by whom all things at the beginning were made stedfastlie beleeuing and trulie confessing that thou Iesus Christ the onelie begotten Sonne of God for our saluation by the consent of the whole Trinitie tookest flesh and wert conceiued by the holie Ghost of the virgin Marie and wert made verie man of a reasonable soule and humane flesh subsisting Thou for so much as in respect of thy God-head being the onlie begotten Sonne of God thou couldest neither suffer nor die through thine exceeding loue wherewith thou hast loued vs. Thou the verie same Sonne of God for all that becamest subiect to sufferings and mortalitie in respect of thy manhood and O onlie Sonne of God for the saluation of mankind didst suffer death vpon the wood of the Crosse to saue vs from euerlasting death Thou the author of light descendedst into hell and like a glorious conqueror rosest againe the third daie taking to thee againe thy sacred bodie which for our sinnes had lien in the sepulchre and quickening it according to the scripture the third daie that thou mightest place the same at the right hand of the Father For thou the verie Sonne of God taking againe vnto thy selfe the substance of our flesh that is to saie the soule and humane bodie which thou tookest of the glorious virgin art ascended vp aboue all the heauens and mounted aboue the orders of Angels where thou sittest at the right hand of God the Father and whereas the fountaine of life is the light which none can attaine vnto and the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding There we doo worship thee there we doo beleeue thee to be the verie God and verie man confessing God to be thy Father and from thence wee looke that thou wilt come a Iudge in the end of the world to iudge both the quicke and the dead and to render to all men good and bad according to their deeds which they haue done in this life either reward or punishment according as euerie one is woorthie rest or torment For all men euen as manie as haue receiued soules in their humane flesh which they had in this world shall rise at that daie through the sound of thy power that whole man may receiue either the glorie of heauen or the paine of hell according to his deserts Thou art our resurrection and the life it selfe whom we looke for euen the Lord Iesus Christ our Sauiour who shail change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie I knowe thee the holie Spirit both of the Father and of the Sonne to be one God and a verie GOD proceeding alike from them both of one substance and coeternall with the Father and the Sonne our comforter and aduocate which camest downe in the likenesse of a dooue vpon the same God and our Lord Iesus Christ and shewedst thy selfe vpon thine Apostles in fierie tongues which also euen from the beginning hast instructed with the gift of thy grace all the Saints and chosen of God and opened the mouthes of the Prophets that they might declare abroad the woonderfull mysteries of the kingdome of God who also togither with the Father and the Sonne of all the Saints of God art worshipped and glorified Among whom I thine handmaid doo glorifie thy name bicause thou hast inlightened me For thou art the verie light the true light the fire of God the maister of spirits which by thine ointment teachest vs all truth the Spirit of truth without which it is impossible to please God For thou thy selfe art God of God and light of light vnspeakablie proceeding
Lord God heauenlie King God the Father almightie O Lord the onlie begotten Sonne Iesu Christ O Lord God Lambe of God Sonne of the Father that takest awaie the sinnes of the world haue merrie vpon vs. Thou that takest awaie the sinnes of the world haue mercie vpon vs. Thou that takest awaie the sinnes of the world receiue our praiers Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father haue mercie vpon vs. For thou onlie art holie thou onlie art the Lord thou onlie O Christ with the holie Ghost art most high in the glorie of God the Father to whome be all kingdome power honor and glorie world without end Amen 13. On euerie Sundaie holidaie or weekedaie Of Christ his second and last comming to iudgement The Preface THE kingdome of heauen is neere at hand euen at the doores Take heed watch and praie The sonne of man shall come as a theefe in the night suddenlie and vnwares at an houre that ye knowe not Take heed watch and praie Euen Iesus which was taken vp from vs into heauen shall so come againe to gather vs vnto him as he was seene to haue gone into heauen Come Lord Iesu Behold he commeth with clowdes and euerie eie shall see him yea euen they which pierced him through and all kindreds of the earth shall vaile before him Come Lord Iesu Our God shall come and shall not keepe silence there shall go before him a consuming fire and burne vp his enimies on euerie side the hilles shall melt like waxe at the presence of the Lord a mightie tempest shall be stirred vp round about him Come Lord Iesu He commeth he commeth to iudge the earth and with righteousnesse to iudge the world and the people with equitie and truth Come Lord Iesu Therefore yet a verie little while O my soule take heed watch praie and he that shall come will come and will not tarrie Come Lord Iesu Surelie I come shortlie saith Christ and my reward is with me to giue to euerie one according as his works shall be either good or bad For I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end the first and the last Blessed are they that watch and keepe my commandements vnto the end Come Lord Iesu Euen so saith the spirit and the bride Come Lord Iesu come quicklie Amen Amen Halleluiah The praier to haue Christs sudden comming euen in our remembrance and that we may be in a readinesse against his most glorious appearing The Preface Vt supra Iesus The Praier BEholding O heauenlie Father the daie of accompts ouer all flesh to be euen now at hand namelie the last daie the daie of iudgement the great and notable daie of the Lord wherein the whole generation of mankind from the beginning of the world shall rise againe shall appeare both in bodie and soule before the presence of the most iust iudge thine eternall Sonne and our righteous God to receiue their owne doome for weale or wo for life or death for ioie or paine and that eternallie with the saincts in heauen or for euer with the diuels in hell we beseech thee most humblie O gratious God to haue mercie vpon all thine inheritance dispersed in these our euill and dangerous daies in the midst of this wicked most sinfull and vntoward generation vpon the face of the earth amongst whome we are most miserablie entangled contemned cruellie dealt withall and stirred to all abhominations O heauenlie Father we acknowledge before thee in our selues the greatnesse of our owne frailtie our corrupted lust to lewdnesse the fulnesse in our selues of our owne iniquitie and our accustomed inclination at all times to wickednesse O Father of mercies tender vs in our weakenes haue compassion vpon our infirmities pardon our sinfulnesse and grant vnto vs thine holie spirit to worke speedie mortification in vs to keepe lowe the pride of our flesh to humble our soules in thy sight to strengthen vs in righteousnesse to feare alwaies thy iudgements to thinke vpon thy wrathfull indignation and vpon the houre of the vengeance to come when thou for our wickednesse shalt turne awaie thy face from vs. Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord haue mercie vpon vs for Christ Iesus thy Sonne sake and so prepare all our harts soules and bodies to the necessitie of the time that we may haue therein good regard to our selues that our harts be not ouercharged with excesse of eating surfeting and dronkennesse or otherwise vexed with the cares of this wretched world to hinder vs and to drawe vs backe from our carefull attendance or diligent waiting for the Lords sudden comming to iudgement but that we may continuallie attend wait watch and praie for the speedie appeerance of his glorious Maiestie that when he shall at the rising againe of all flesh by the sound of the last trumpet come to iudge both the quicke and the dead we may be then in a readinesse to meet him aboue in the heauens and there to stand before his presence to behold the glorie of his most gratious countenance to see how in mercie he shall separate vs from the wicked as sheepe from the goates to set vs also on his right hand to giue the sentence of blessing vpon vs and to commend vs vnto the kingdome of thee his heauenlie Father which he himselfe hath prepared and so pretiouslie purchased with the price of his own bloud there with him with thee O Father and with the holie Ghost to liue in euerlasting ioie and felicitie Grant this O heauenlie Father euen for the onelie merits sake of that thy deere Sonne and our Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen Another meditation of the signes which shall appeare before the end of the world IT is thy saieng O Sonne of God that in the last and doting age of the world both greater and more greeuous miseries and confusions among men should bee than euer were and also for all that that thou which art the defender of thy Church in the midst of such calamities and crueltie of thine enimies wilt preserue some remnant of the faithfull that thy seruice be not vtterlie extinguished before the end of this world Wherefore being oppressed through the intollerable burden of miseries heaped therefore vpon vs bicause the sins of this withering world are most greeuous and lamentable but especiallie for that Sathan thine enimie seeth the daie of iudgement to be verie nigh at hand wherein his abhomination shall openlie be laid before all thy chosen creatures and he be cast hedlong into eternall torments which makes him extreamelie to rage against thy chosen flocke and to seeke by all meanes that possiblie he can to withdrawe vs from thee and to make vs blaspheme thy sacred Maiestie Wee as it standeth vs vpon flie vnto thee with all humblenesse of mind in these our extremities The whole frame of this world groaneth also with thine elect and earnestlie desireth to be renewed Therefore according to thy gratious admonition we call into mind the signes
enioie although heere they bee tormented prisoned burned solicited of Sathan tempted of the flesh and intangled with the world wherethrough they are inforced to crie Thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesu c. How amiable are thy tabernacles Like as the hart desireth the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O God Now Lord let thy seruant depart in peace I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ We moorne in our soules waiting for the deliuerance of our bodies c. Oh gratious Lord when shall I find such mercie with thee that I may repent beleeue hope and looke for these things with the full fruition of those heauenlie ioies which thou hast promised and prepared for all them that feare and loue thee and so rest with thee for euermore Amen 2. Peter 3 10 11 12. The daie of the Lord will come as a theefe in the night in the which the heauens shall passe awaie with a noise and the element shall melt with heate and the earth with the works that are therein shall be burnt vp Seeing therefore that all these things must be dissolued what manner persons ought yee to be in holie conuersation and good liues looking for the hastning vnto the comming of God by the which the heauens beeing on fire shall be dissolued and the elements shall melt with heate ¶ Other godlie Praiers to be vsed vpon euerie Saincts daie as they fall orderlie in the yeare And first 1. On Saint Andrewes daie My hart is readie O God my hart is readie prepared to séeke thée and to followe thy Lawe O let me not go wrong out of thy commandements WE thanke thee O Sonne of God head and keeper of thy Church for gathering to thy selfe out of the vncleane companie of men an holie Church which is knit to thee in true confession righteousnesse and life Manie times didst thou repeate thy promise touching the bringing of man fallen into thy fauour againe and by the continuall preaching of thy Ministers hast giuen vs the light thereof Thou didst in like manner appoint a tower and ordeine the Commonwealth of Moses in the middest of that part of the world inhabited from whence it might be heard of all mankinde At the length thou appearedst in the flesh brakest the bands of the old testament and entredst into a new couenant with vs and calledst thine holie Apostle Andrew and the rest to be the publishers and witnesses of thy truth and gauest them authoritie to preach and sufficient testimonie that they publish the truth Mainteine among vs this light that we may giue credit to thy Ministers and their writings as to a voice sounding from heauen that we may be citizens of that companie which is builded vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles in which building thou art the corner stone bearing the whole house by the word of thy power Grant that imitating the examples of Saint Andrew and the rest of the holie Doctors and Apostles who by thy grace readilie obeied the calling of thy Sonne Iesus Christ and followed him without delaie we also being called by thy holie word may likewise foorthwith giue ouer our selues obedientlie to followe thee and thy holie commandements Of them it it is said They went foorth and sowed their seed with teares but they shall returne with ioie Giue also to thy Church in all ages for euermore faithfull and holie teachers which may be fishers of men reteine the forme of sound doctrine dispense thy mysteries faithfullie and gather to thy kingdome great companies till the number of thine elect being filled the net shall be cast off and thy whole Church enioie thy visible and blessed sight for euermore Amen 2. On Saint Thomas daie I beléeue O Lord helpe mine vnbeléefe and increase my faith LOthsome is the darkenesse and horrible the streames of diffidence and mistrust euen in the elect as the Apostle Thomas albeit he had sensiblie heard the voice of the Sonne of God seene the miracles which bare testimonie that he taught and preached the truth yea albeit in mind inwardlie he beheld the presence of his Lord yet beleeued he not the resurrection of Christ which is the principall article of our faith neither gaue he credit to such as had seene the Lord liuing againe which doubting thou didst suffer in him for the more confirmation of the faith But confirme thou vs as thou didst confirme this thy weake disciple Thomas and grant vs so perfectlie and without all doubt to beleeue in thy Sonne Iesus Christ that our faith in thy sight neuer be reproued Strengthen our frailtie by thy liuelie presence Appeare to vs in the night that humane darkenesse doo not extinguish the light in vs. Bring thy gifts into houses shut vp into our poore cottages which are in great danger by reason of thine enimies Speake thou vnto vs with thy blessed voice outwardlie by thy word and inwardlie by thy spirit working thy peace within vs that filled with the sense of thy presence we may rest coupled through thee in the spirit vnto thine eternall Father Take vs vp being fraile and fallen downe in this life Shew vs thy woonders that in the fight of our conscience with the displeasure of thine eternall Father we may remember thy merits Laie vs miserable and weake ones in thy side and wounds that we may be hid and couered from the wrath of God and sucke from thy bodie the water which washeth all our vncleannesse and the liuelie nourishment of thy bloud which may strengthen vs into euerlasting life that we be not vnbeleeuers but in the number of the faithfull and from our hart may imitate that noble confession of this thine Apostle Saint Thomas and against all the blasphemous spirits and thine enimies acknowledge that thou art the Lord and our God euen that God which from the beginning hath beene present with his Church both externallie by his Ministers and inwardlie by the secret working of his holie spirit which may euermore defend his Church against the rage of his enimies and by a couenant with mankind knitteth the faithfull to his owne flesh Grant O Sonne of God and mightie Iehoua that firmelie we may beleeue this thy promise depend vpon thee hope of thine aid against hope begin our saluation from thy word reuealed that beleeuing in thee our Sauiour which art Christ our high Priest King we may find eternall life in thee Amen 3. On Saint Steeuens daie VVho was the first that was martyred and shed his bloud for Christ crucified They gather themselues togither against the soule of the righteous and condemne the innocent bloud O Christ our Lord and sauiour which with greefe of hart didst bewaile the ingratitude of the Iewish nation which both vnkindlie contemned thy benefits killed thy Prophets most cruellie we beseech thee make vs euermore to haue in mind and acknowledge the greatnesse of thy loue towards mankinde Thou art that naturall hen Thou begettest to thy selfe a
that light should be made and so not onlie bodies shining with noble light yet vnreasonable were made but besides also other spirituall natures as Angels were brought foorth into which thou powredst the beames of thy light of thy wisedome of thy righteousnesse and life and appointedst a companie of them which remained in their innocencie to euerlasting righteousnes and life that alwaies they might behold the countenance of the eternall Father being replenished with perfect goodnesse Thou hast ordeined and constituted in a woonderfull order that most excellent nature of all Angels to serue thy Church to defend the weake and feeble companie of men which in this life turne vnto thy Sonne our verie Michael Thou commandest those heroicall and valiant spirits to protect thy Church kingdoms and godlie schooles and places where thy Church doth abide calling vpon thee in feare and continuing in thy seruice We thanke thee from our harts for this great and vnspeakable benefit beseeching thee most humblie mercifullie to grant that they which alwaie doo thee seruice in heauen may by thine appointment succour and defend vs here in earth Conuert vs O Lord and we shall be conuerted teach vs to confesse this thy goodnesse and following the example of thine holie Angels to serue thee and thy congregation in true and sincere humilitie Compasse our Churches Common-weales and houses with the watch of thine Angels driue awaie from vs and our houses diuels thine enimies lieng blasphemous cruell murdering and incestuous spirits which through extreme hatred of thee and thy Sonne torment man labouring to bring it about that all flesh may blaspheme thee Represse the rage of them in their members in false teachers in the enimies of thy truth in Turks and other tyrants which persecute vs. Helpe vs in this world being ingraffed into that Church which thou dooest protect and may continue faithfull vnto the death and afterward being translated into eternall life be like the Angels yeelding immortall thanks vnto thee for thine infinite benefits Amen 19. On Saint Luke the Euangelists daie It is neither herbe nor emplaster that restoreth vs to health but thy word O Lord which healeth all things O Omnipotent almightie and euerliuing God which calledst Luke the Physician whose praise is in the Gospell to be a Physician of the soule it may please thee by the wholsome medicine of his doctrine to heale all the diseases of our soules And as by thy Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Christ thou hast commanded vs to praie that labourers may be thrust into thy haruest so grant vnto vs for the same thy sonne Bishops of thine owne instructing good shepherds sound preachers faithfull workmen and godlie ministers which may faithfullie ouersee and by thy word of saluation prosperouslie gouerne thy Church being deerlie bought with the pretious bloud of thine onelie Sonne Giue vnto vs such teachers as are both learned in thy word and commended for their good liuing direct them being illuminated with thine heauenlie light that they may rightlie deliuer and diuide vnto vs the principles of good doctrine the word of truth and the Gospell of life and open the difference betweene the lawe and the Gospell teach vs to beware of the leauen of the Pharisies and the contagious doctrine of mans traditions informe vs in all spirituall wisedome and bring vs by the operation of thine holie spirit vnto perfection both in the eies of God and sight of the world Grant that their labours may take good successe to the increase of thy celestiall haruest Giue them grace to continue constant in their profession fearing neither the hatred nor ingratitude of this world beleeuing certainlie that such as despise them are despised of thee and that thou neither wilt of thine holinesse nor wilt of thy iustice suffer such blaspemous impietie to go vnpunished Amen 20. On Simon and Iudes daie Apostles Thou hast made them princes in all lands therefore shall they remember thy name O Lord from one generation to another ALmightie God which hast builded thy congregation vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesu Christ himselfe being the head corner stone grant vs so to be ioined togither in vnitie of spirit by their doctrine that we may be made an holie temple acceptable to thee And O Lord Iesu Christ which after this maner diddest comfort thine Apostles whom the world would hate and abhorre saieng I haue chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you Separate vs we humblie beseech thee from the darknesse idolatrie and wickednesse of this world and ioine vs to that companie among which thy Godhead dooeth dwell Grant that in true loue we may be ioined vnto thine eternall Father through thy spirit which is the bond of peace Make vs nothing to dread the sinister iudgements of the world neither yet for anie perils to forsake thy truth but patientlie suffer the iniuries from which thy selfe wast not free Let vs alwaies thinke that the seruant is not greater than the maister and so togither with thee and thine Apostles suffer those troubles and crosses which of God for our sinnes and amendement shall be laid vpon vs Amen 21. On All Saints daie Let the righteous be glad and reioice before God let them also be merie and ioifull WE thanke thee O almightie God our heauenlie Father for that of thine infinite mercie through our Lord and Sauiour and working of thine holie spirit thou gatherest out of mankind an euerlasting Church hast knit togither thine elect in one communion and felowship in the mysticall bodie of the same thy Sonne Christ our Lord defendest the same mightilie against the rage of the diuels and tyrannie of his members yea and hast promised one daie by thy Sonne to raise the same from death and to adorne it with vnspeakable glorie We beseech thee haue mercie on vs for the sake of the same thy Sonne our Mediator and Sauiour and grant vs grace so to followe thy holie Saints in all vertue and godlie liuing that we may come to those vnspeakable ioies which thou hast prepared for them that vnfeinedlie loue thee And gather from among vs euermore some religious companie which may serue thee in faith and a good conscience Assist that in this life that benefit of eternall life may begin that we may in a contrite hart obeie thee patientlie suffer the troubles which accompanie thy Gospell shew our selues meeke and mercifull hungring and thirsting from our hart after thy righteousnesse and seeking for the food of our soule aboue all things Make our ioie perfect and reioice in deed looking through faith vpon that blessed companie of Angels and men which enioie thy visible presence among whom thy Sonne is whom they see face to face and filled with vnspeakable delight here discoursing of thy woonderfull wisedome both in gathering and preseruing thy Church bring vs gratious Lord vnto the blessed cōpanie of thy Saints in this world and afterward make vs citizens of thine eternall kingdome togither
with all thine Angels and men O Lord blessed are they which dwell in thine house foreuer euer they will praise thee Amen Sée another pag. 622. THE DOLEFVLL DOOVE Or Dauids penitentiall Psalmes verie necessarie to be vsed as most effectuall praiers of all godlie and deuout Christians especiallie when being afflicted and chastised of the Lord for their sinnes either by sicknes or otherwise in bodie or mind they feele Gods heauie hand and feare his dreadfull threats whereby they are mooued not onlie trulie to conuert and turne vnto him by hartie repentance earnest contrition and humble confession of their faults and infirmities but also by earnest and feruent petitions in fasting weeping lamentation mourning most desirouslie to craue at Gods hands as well mercie and forgiuenesse of their sinnes as also mitigation of their present miseries and deliuerance from all euils bodilie and ghostlie There with all inwardlie thirsting and longing in soule not onelie to be restored to Gods grace and fauour againe but also to be gouerned by his holie spirit the better to spend the rest of their life in the true feare and seruice of God as Dauid that holie man and his chosen vessell did to the glorie of God and our euerlasting comfort 1. Domine ne in furore Psal 6. O Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation neither chasten me in thy displeasure Haue mercie vpon me O Lord for I am weake O Lord heale me For my bones are vexed My soule is also sore troubled but Lord how long wilt thou punish me Turne thee O Lord and deliuer my soule Oh saue me for thy mercies sake For in death no man remembreth thee and who will giue thee thanks in the pit I am wearie of my groning euerie night wash I my bed and water my couch with my teares My beautie is gone for verie trouble and worne awaie bicause of all mine enimies Awaie from me all ye that worke vanitie for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping The Lord hath heard my petition the Lord will receiue my praier All mine enimies shall be confounded and sore vexed they shall be turned backe and put to shame suddenlie 2. Beati quorum Psal 32. BLessed is the man whose vnrighteousnesse is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered Blessed is the man vnto whom the Lord imputeth no sinne and in whose spirit there is no guile For while I held my tongue my bones consumed awaie through my dailie complaining For thy hand is heauie vpon me daie and night and my moisture is like the drought in summer I will knowledge my sinne vnto thee and mine vnrighteousnesse haue I not hid I said I will confesse my sinnes vnto the Lord and so thou forgauest the wickednesse of my sinne For this shall euerie one that is godlie make his praier vnto thee in a time when thou maiest be found but in the great water-fluds they shall not come nigh him Thou art a place to hide me in thou shalt preserue me from trouble thou shalt compasse me about with sons of deliuerance I will informe thee teach thee in the waie wherein thou shalt go and I will guide thee with mine eie Be ye not like horsse and mule which haue no vnderstanding whose mouthes must be holden with bit and bridle least they fall vpon thee Great plagues remaine for the vngodlie but who so putteth his trust in the Lord mercie embraceth him on euerie side Be glad O ye righteous and reioice in the Lord and be ioifull all yee that are true of hart 3. Domine ne infurore Psal 38. PUt me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger neither chasten me in thy heauie displeasure For thine arrowes sticke fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there anie rest in my bones by reason of my sinne For my wickednesses are gone ouer my head and are like a sore burthen too heauie for me to beare My wounds stinke and are corrupt through my foolishnesse I am brought into so great trouble and miserie that I go moorning all the daie long For my loines are filled with a sore disease and there is no whole part in my bodie I am feeble and sore smitten I haue roared for the verie disquietnesse of my hart Lord thou knowest all my desire and my groaning is not hid from thee My hart panteth my strength hath failed me and the sight of mine eies is gone from me My louers and my neighbours did stand looking vpon my trouble and my kinsmen stood a far off They also that sought after my life laid snares for me and they that went about to doo me euill talked of wickednesse and imagined deceipt all the daie long As for me I was like a deafe man and heard not and as one that is dumbe which dooth not open his mouth I became euen as a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofes For in thee O Lord haue I put my trust thou shalt answere for me O Lord my God I haue required that they euen mine enimies should not triumph ouer me for when my foote slipt they reioiced greatlie ouer me And I trulie am set in the plague and my heauinesse is euer in my sight For I will confesse my wickednesse and be sorie for my sinne But mine enimies liue and are mightie and they that hate me wrongfullie are manie in number They also that reward euill for good are against me because I followe the thing that good is Forsake me not O Lord my God be not thou far from me Haste thee to helpe me O Lord God my saluation 4. Miserere mei Deus Psal 51. HAue mercie vpon me O God after thy great goodnesse according vnto the multitude of thy mercies doo awaie mine offences Wash me throughlie from my wickednesse and cleanse me from my sinne For I knowledge my faults and my sinne is euer before me Against thee onlie haue I sinned and done this euill in thy sight that thou mightest be iustified in thy saiengs and cleare when thou art iudged Behold I was shapen in wickednesse and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me But lo thou requirest truth in the inward parts and shalt make me to vnderstand wisedome secretlie Thou shalt purge me with hysope and I shall bee cleane thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter than snowe Thou shalt make me heare of ioie and gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may reioice Turne thy face from my sinnes and put out all my misdeeds Make me a cleane hart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not awaie from thy presence and take not thy holie spirit from me O giue me the comfort of thy helpe againe and stablish me with thy free spirit Then shall I teach thy waies vnto the wicked and sinners shall be conuerted vnto thee Deliuer me from bloud-giltinesse O God thou that art the God of my
proceedings For in thy hand is the life of euerie liuing thing and the spirit also of euerie man Thou shewest thy mercie to whome thou wilt and thou art gratious to them whome thou fauourest Thou dooest kill and thou dooest quicken thou leadest downe to hell gate and bringest vp againe Thine eies behold the waies of euerie man and thou searchest the harts of men There is no place so secret or darke wherein sinners may hide themselues from thee Nor anie man may so lurke and hide himselfe in caues but thou shalt see him which dooest fulfill both heauen and earth in euerie part Why hast thou cast me awaie from thy presence and takest me for thine enimie Why hast thou laid vpon my head the heauie weight of my sinnes seeing no man is able to beare thy displeasure What meaneth it that thou shewest thy power against a wretch Why destroiest thou me for the sinnes of my youth If I haue sinned what shall I doo to thee And if my sinnes be increased what shall I doo If I doo iustlie what shall I giue to thee Or what shalt thou receiue at my hand My wickednesse shall hurt my selfe and my righteousnesse shall profit me The life of man is a temptation vpon the earth and if I haue sinned as all men haue what may I doo Shall anie man be found cleane and without sinne before thee Or shall anie man be without default in his deeds How may a mortall man be pure from sinne in thy sight Or how may he which is borne of a woman be righteous Remember O Lord I beseech thee that thou hast made me of the earth and that thou shalt bring me againe into the dust of death My daies passe and vanish awaie like smoke they waste dailie there is no tarieng My life flieth awaie as the winde and considereth not that which is good I was but latelie borne into this world and shortlie I shall be taken awaie hence by death I neuer continue still in one state The daies of my life be few and short thou hast appointed an end which I shall not passe Naked and bare I came out of my mothers wombe and naked and bare I shall returne againe trulie all men liuing are vanitie Haue pitie O Lord on them that are in miserie and despise not the works of thy hands Though we sinne yet are we vnder thee for wee knowe thy power and strength and if we sinne not then are we sure that thou regardest vs. Cease thine indignation O Lord and turne it from me and cast all my sinnes behinde thy backe Take awaie thy plagues from me for thy punishment hath made me both feeble and faint For when thou chastisest a man for his sinnes thou causest him by and by to consume and pine awaie Whatsoeuer is delectable in him perisheth like vnto the cloth that is eaten with mothes Would God I had one to defend me a while vntill thine anger were turned awaie or that thou wouldest set me a time in the which thou wouldest remember me I am cleane cast awaie from thy presence shall I neuer heereafter see thy face againe Behold I haue opened the griefes of my soule the daies of my sorrowes haue taken me The flouds of tribulation compasse me round about and the streames of thy furie run ouer me And I crie vnto thee O Lord God but thou hearest me not I aske mercie but thou reiectest my praiers Why thrustest thou downe a poore wretch from thy presence Or why forsakest thou me so long time Why takest thou not away mine iniquitie And why puttest thou not awaie the wickednesse of mine hart Arise and tarie no longer O Lord arise and reiect me not for euer Haue me in remembrance I beseech thee for I thoroughlie tremble and shake for feare Yet I will not hold my tongue but crie still vnto thee with a moorning and an heauie hart Turne awaie the stroke of thy vengeance from me bring my mind out of troubles into rest I am here no long continuer but a pilgrime and a stranger as all other mortall men be And what is man that thou shouldst be angrie with him Or what is mankind that thou shouldest be so heauie Lord vnto vs What Wilt thou bring sorowe vpon sorowe I pant for paine and find no rest My sorowe greeueth me when I should eate and sudden sighs ouerwhelme mine hart I am as if my bones were all to broken when I heare mine enimies raile vpon me and saie to me daie by daie Where is thy God Why turnest thou thy face awaie from these things O Lord Why hast thou no regard of my trouble I earnestlie make my praiers dailie in thy sight and the heauinesse of mine hart I doo shew vnto thee My spirit is carefull and troubled within me and desperation hath entered into mine hart Is it thy pleasure O Lord God to cast awaie thine owne handie worke Deliuer my soule from corruption and my life from euerlasting darknesse What auaileth it me that euer I was borne if thou cast me straight into damnation seeing that the dead shall not praise thee nor anie of them that go downe to hell I haue sinned what shall I doo to thee Why hast thou put me to be contrarie to thee I am wearie of mine owne selfe Why searchest thou out my sinnes so narrowlie when there is no man that can take out of thine hand If I would saie that I were righteous and without sinne then thou mightest woorthilie condemne me to the fire prepared for the diuell and his angels But I confesse that I am a sinner and doo humble mine hart in thy sight Surelie if anie man would stand with thee in iudgment he shall not be able to answere one word to a thousand things wherewith thou mightest charge him This maketh me to feare all my deeds knowing that thou sparest not him that offendeth If I looke vpon thy power O how mightie and strong art thou If I shall call for iudgement who shall defend my matter or speake for me To thee O Lord I call and crie to thee my God I make mine humble suite Turne awaie thine anger from me that I may knowe that thou art more mercifull vnto me than my sinnes deserue What is my strength that I may endure Or what is the end of my trouble that my soule may patientlie abide it My strength is not a stonie strength and my flesh is not made of brasse There is no helpe in my selfe and my strength flieth awaie from me Although thou hide these things in thine hart yet I knowe that thou wilt remember me at length For thou art true and iust O Lord God thou dooest not condemne vniustlie which rewardest man according to his deserts All this is come vpon me bicause I haue forgotten thee and not vsed my selfe trulie in thy testament Mine hart hath turned backward and I haue followed the desires of my flesh And thou hast surelie knowne this thing which knowest the
my soule Preserue my going out and my comming in that my feet may stand in the courts of Ierusalem I lift vp mine eies vnto thee that dwellest in the heauens Deliuer my soule out of the snare of the foulers least I put foorth mine hands vnto wickednesse Fill my mouth with laughter and my tongue with ioie replenish my longing with good things that thy beloued may find rest and blesse me out of Sion that I may see the welth of Ierusalem hauing escaped the cords of wickednesse Let thine eares attend vnto the voice of my praiers O Lord. Let not mine hart be hautie nor mine eies loftie but giue me grace to thinke humblie vntill I find a place for the Lord an habitation for the mightie God of Iacob There the Lord hath appointed the blessing and life for euer There will I lift vp mine hands to thy sanctuarie and praise thee who iudgest thy people and art pacified towards thy seruants O God of gods and Lord of lords now weeping and worshipping towards thine holie temple trie me and knowe me marke and consider my paths and leade me in thy waie for euer Deliuer me O Lord from the euill man and preserue me from the cruell man Let my praier be directed in thy sight as incense Bring my soule out of prison that I may praise thy name Heare my praier O Lord in thy righteousnesse and enter not into iudgement with thy seruant Heare me speedilie O Lord least my spirit faile me for thou God art my refuge and my deliuerer And forasmuch as thou art great and most woorthie to be praised and thy greatnesse is incomprehensible raise vp the crooked loose the shackeled and giue sight to the blind thou which dooest build vp Ierusalem And when thou hast made the barres of thy gates strong let me be coupled to thy children within As the Angels and all the powers in the kingdome of heauen doo praise thee there let me triumphing gloriouslie in the congregation of the Saints with the sounding Cimbals of my lips praise and magnifie thy name the which is holie and glorious and reigneth now and euerlastinglie Amen Shus-hanna hir Psalter conteining verie deuout praiers for remission of sinnes for the auoiding of all kind of sinne and for the leading of a godlie life O Almightie and euerliuing GOD thou God of al power before whose eies all things be naked and bare O Lord thou great and terrible God I saie that keepest couenant mercie with them that loue thee and doo thy commandements Let thine eares bee open that thou maist heare the praiers of thy seruant which I make before thee at this time and let them ascend vp before thy presence and be accepted in thy sight for Iesus Christs sake Haue mercie vpon me thy poore creature and worke of thine hands For I haue sinned and done wickedlie and haue offended thy Maiestie greeuouslie in that I haue gone backe and departed from all thy precepts and iudgements and haue not followed thy seruants the Prophets that spake vnto me in thy name but haue from daie to daie prouoked thy iust wrath and indignation against me O Lord I acknowledge and confesse vnto thee my manifold sinnes and wickednesse the which I haue vnrighteouslie most greeuouslie committed against thee in thought word and deed from my youth vp vntill this daie for the which I am now taught by thy word and grace to be hartilie sorie and doo vnfeinedlie repent purposing euermore through the assistance of thy grace to walke in a new life Desiring thee for the pretious bloud-shedding of Iesus Christ thy deere Sonne our Lord to haue mercie vpon me and forgiue me all those mine offences according to thy great mercie and promise which hast said At what time so euer a sinner dooth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his hart I will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance O Lord remember not therefore the multitude of my misdeeds I beseech thee but according to thy great mercies thinke vpon me Call to remembrance for Christs sake thy louing kindnesse and thy tender mercie the which hath euer beene of old Hide not thy face from me nor cast not off thy seruant in thy displeasure For thy mercies sake deliuer me from all my sinnes and make me not a scorne vnto the foolish Turne not awaie thy mercie from me but let thy most louing kindnesse and truth alwaie preserue me Helpe me for thy name sake and deliuer me in thy strength Heare my praier O Lord and consider the words of my mouth for my misdeeds preuaile against me O bee thou mercifull vnto my sinnes Let the sorowfull sighing of the prisoner come before thee O Lord and comfort the soule of thy seruant for vnto thee doo I flie for succour Satisfie me with thy mercie and that soone so shall I reioice and be glad in thee all the daies of my life Looke not extreamlie what is done amisse in me for I haue sinned against heauen and before thee and am no more woorthie to be called thy child yet Lord of thy great goodnesse powre downe some of the crums that fall from thy childrens table and make me as one of the least of them Reward me not according to my deseruings for then I must needs perish for vnto me perteineth nothing but open shame confusion and damnation but with thee there is mercie forgiuenesse and plentious redemption Therefore I come vnto thee O Lord thou louer of soules not hoping in mine owne righteousnesse but trusting onlie in the multitude of thy great mercies which thou hast made and laid foorth before the eies of all people offering saluation to the whole world and hast promised that whosoeuer he or she be of the whole generation of man that will receiue grace repent and turne vnfeignedlie from his sinnes shall haue free remission and forgiuenesse through Iesus Christ our Lord which is our onelie aduocate and mediator in whome our saluation lieth and of whome thou hast said This is my deere Sonne in whome I am well pleased and well pacified For this thy Sonnes sake by whome I am bold to come vnto thee which appeareth now in thy sight making continuall intercession for vs haue mercie vpon me O thou mightie God cleanse me from all my sinnes and doo awaie all mine iniquities Oh let me feele thy mercies towards me for I doo confesse my sinnes vnto thee O Lord and hide not mine vnrighteousnesse I doo acknowledge mine offences and accuse my selfe before thee of all my misdeeds Helpe me O God my sauiour for the glorie of thy name O deliuer me and forgiue me my sinnes for thy rich mercies sake Remember not the offences of my youth O Lord but thinke vpon thy great mercies and couenant made vnto me in Christ Iesus For thy tender mercie sake laie not my sinnes to my charge but forgiue that is past and giue me grace to amend my life to decline from sinne and incline to
vertue that I may walke with an vpright hart a cleane conscience and single eie before thee this daie or night and euermore Put me not from thy presence oh thou God of all comfort but incline thine eare vnto my calling Strengthen thy seruant with the power of thy right hand and helpe thine handmaiden Comfort my soule with thy sweet promises and let thy mercies couer mine infirmities O most mercifull Father consider mine infirmities I saie which are manie and great beare with mine imperfection for thy Sonne my sauiour Iesus Christes sake which had good experience of our infirmitie that he might be mercifull vnto all them that are afflicted Consider the enimie hath gotten an open waie into my flesh wherein I confesse that there dwelleth nothing but sinne wretchednesse and miserie Yea O Lord I acknowledge that I was borne in sinne and conceiued in wickednesse and am by nature a child of wrath For in my flesh dwelleth no good thing and of my selfe I am not able to thinke a good thought much lesse doo that thou in thy lawe requirest of me to bee done which hast said Cursed is he that continueth not in all things that are written in the lawe to doo them Againe the lawe is spirituall but I am carnall sold vnder sinne Therefore O Lord my God I call vnto thee for grace which hast said Aske and yee shall haue seeke and yee shall finde knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you to preuent and drawe my will to all goodnesse for none can come vnto thee except he be drawne and except we be borne from aboue we cannot see the kingdome of God Assist me therefore and guide me with thy holie spirit from time to time Drawe me and I shall runne after thee and giue me strength and ablenesse through Christ our Lord to accomplish and fulfill thy righteous will and to stand against all the assaults of the diuell that they may haue no place in me but that the old man which I beare about in my bodie may be crucified and dailie die in me that the lusts of sinne may vtterlie be destroied that I may euermore be renewed in the spirit of my mind and that the life of Christ may alwaies appeare in me Good Lord for thy great mercies sake deliuer me from all kinds of euill namelie from the spirit of pride boasting vaine-glorie hypocrisie wantonnesse haughtinesse of mind presumption selfe-loue and make mee poore in spirit humble meeke gentle and lowe in mine owne sight that I lift not vp my selfe aboue my brethren and sisters but esteeme my selfe to be as a seruant and hand-maiden to all men and women to doo them good after the example of Christ who came not to be ministred vnto but to minister who also hath said Blessed are the poore in spirit Againe Thou resisteth the proud but giuest grace to the humble Take from me my stonie vnbeleeuing blind doubtfull vnfaithfull and vnthankefull hart and giue me an hart of flesh to loue and incline to thy will my carnall secure and impenitent hart take awaie from me and giue me an hart to feare loue and obeie thee write thy lawe in my hart graue it in my mind that I may beleeue trust and liue in thee for euer Take from me the wicked spirit of suspicion enuie hatred variance strife sedition sects euill gealousie vaine surmises murmuring and grudging backbiting or slandering of anie especiallie such as be in authoritie and ministers of thy holie word O Lord keepe me from all wrath malice and hastinesse all respect of persons in the faith all idolatrie superstition vanities lieng euill words debate contention murther theft false-witnesse-bearing flattering dissimulation hypocrisie blasphemie and vaine swearing by the name of God his works or creatures from all lightnesse idle words and all vnstablenesse of hart Oh Lord deliuer thou my hart from all surfeting dronkennesse gluttonie and leacherie and from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit from all vncleane thoughts and vnlawfull desires euill concupiscence fornication adulterie and lusts of the bodie Take vtterlie from me also couetousnesse and inordinate care of riches all deceipt and guile or dooing of wrong to anie in my calling and office all idlenesse sloth and beastlie securitie and giue me not ouer vnto an vnshamefast and obstinate minde but hold me alwaies vnto thy nourture and correction and bow my hart alwaies vnto thee that I may serue thee all the daies of my life in such holinesse and righteousnes as is acceptable before thee Giue me thy grace oh Lord that I may haue thee alwaies before mine eies that I may also haue a respect vnto thy iudgements that whatsoeuer I saie thinke or doo it may be agreeable to thy holie will and word that I be not minded as the vngodlie and wicked men and women are let me haue no pleasure in such things as please them and grant that whensoeuer I be ouertaken with anie kind of sinne and wickednesse either in thought word or deede or that I feele mine owne infirmitie and weakenesse I may immediatelie with hartie repentance returne to thee againe and not to lie still in the securitie of sinne Make me able and contented with patience to heare all occasions of offence when they be offered or giuen me and not to recompense euill for euill and suffer me not good Lord to giue occasions of euill to anie man and if I doo make me willing to confesse my fault and to amend it Giue me grace that I neuer enuie anie good mans loue or womans because they doo either loue God and his people more than I or else that they be beloued of him or his more than I. Make me to reioice in other mens gifts and not to enuie them because they be better than mine but rather to giue thanks for them with all my hart desiring that they may be increased in them and in me Increase my faith O Lord my sauiour in thee and in thy Christ make it strong to beleeue thy promises Increase my loue O my redeemer to thee and to thy righteous people and make it perfect true and vnfeined to all vertue and godlinesse Increase a sure hope in me of my saluation O my iustifier without doubt or wauering in aduersitie and without pride or presumption in prosperitie so that I may serue thee with reuerence and godlie feare all the daies of my life Increase in me strength to resist sinne and to get the victorie and masterie to stand against all euill temptations and assaults of the flesh the world and the diuell that they may haue no place in me and that according to thy promise I be neuer further prooued nor tempted than thou wilt giue me strength to ouercome Increase in me O Lord all other vertues agreeable to a godlie life for I come vnto thee my God as vnto the well and euerlasting fountaine of all health and saluation Good Lord giue me grace therefore all the daies of this my
pilgrimage to walke with a good conscience and pure mind both before thee and towards all men in my dooing that I be not a reader of thy holie word and a talker onlie but that it may appeare also in my life and conuersation Regenerate my hart with the spirit of grace dailie more and more giue me an inward taste and feeling of thy fauour and mercie towards me in Christ Iesu our Lord that I may knowe thee to be my God and Father and my selfe to be thy child for euermore Assist thy seruant against this world with the vaine pompe pleasures and beautie thereof that it may be vnto me as vile dust filth and slime that I may vse it as though I vsed it not and that it may serue me and I not it that I may take my part thereof vnto my necessitie with thanks-giuing that I doo not vse thy creatures voluptuouslie but that I may liue soberlie and godlie in this present life to thy glorie Preserue and defend thy seruant from all false opinions that I be not deceiued and caried awaie in the errour of the wicked but that I may growe in grace and knowledge of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ O Lord giue me wisedome knowledge and vnderstanding to perceiue those false lieng and flattering spirits which doo deceiue the harts of innocents and begile vnstable soules Giue me also O Lord a right a reuerent and a pure iudgement and vnderstanding of thy holie word and to auoide all rash iudgements and peruerse interpretations that I may neuer swarue from the true sense and meaning therof and grant that my cheefest felicitie may be in the same thy holie word in hearing reading and talking of it and in watching praier fasting mortifieng mine owne will and members O Lord plant in me true obedience to thy lawe and let not the cares of this world choke thy word in me Make me to lift vp my hart oftentimes to thee and if I chance to fall or slip make me to thinke on thee and to be sorie with a stedfast purpose of amendment Oh Lord I offer vp my selfe whollie with all my crooked and corrupt nature so much as it is in will and works vnto thy mercie to be corrected and reformed at thine owne will and pleasure O let not the hand of the vngodlie cast me downe but saue my soule O my Lord God whither it bee through prosperitie or aduersitie losse or gaine sickenesse or health life or death Aid strengthen succour and defend thy seruant in all aduersities tribulations and temptations and suffer me not to be tempted aboue my strength Increase my ioie and comfort in thee and thy holie spirit that I may reioice in all trouble and affliction and imbrace the same to my consolation and comfort and thinke my selfe happie when I am counted woorthie to suffer anie trouble for thy name sake Take from mine hart the thoughts of earthlie comforts onlie set before mine eies the ioie of the crosse of Christ that I may take comfort therein and despise the shame for the great reward that is laid vp in heauen for all those that with patience suffer in aduersitie and continue in well-dooing vnto the end Oh Lord take from me I saie a carefull hart in all worldlie things let them be vile vnto me for thy sake and grant that neither pouertie oppresse me and driue me to despaire or falshood neither wealth and prosperitie lift me vp to forget thee or my selfe but that in prosperitie I may be thankfull and in aduersitie patient and humble Lord let me be merie without lightnesse sad without mistrust sober without dulnesse fearing thee without desperation trusting in thee without presumption let me not be merie with the ioie that is without thee and let me desire nothing besides thee Good Lord giue me ioifulnesse of hart and peace of conscience continuall gladnesse and consolation in thy word and promises that I may euermore be thankfull vnto thee and praise thy name for euer Let thy kingdome come vnto me which is righteousnesse peace and ioie in the holie Ghost long suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faithfulnesse meekenesse temperance strength and patience with all such like vertues as are prescribed vnto me in thy holie word Grant me O God a tender louing and mercifull hart towards my brethren long amitie and perfect patience to beare all things well that thy prouidence shall see meet to laie vpon me Of thy fatherlie mercie O God leaue me not to my selfe but stand thou alwaies by me For I am too weake of mine owne power to doo anie thing that is good but my righteousnesse and strength lieth onelie in thee Therefore O Lord I come vnto thee requiring mercie in thy sight and the assistance of thy grace that I may bee strengthened with power in the inward man and be armed at all assaies with thine holie complet armour which is the breast-plate of righteousnesse the sheeld of faith the hope of saluation for an helmet and the swoord of the spirit which is thy holie word that I may stand perfect in all that is thy will and bee found woorthie through Christ to receiue a crowne of life which thou hast promised to all them that loue thee in purenesse of mind Now therefore O Lord I giue ouer my selfe into thine holie hands desiring thee for Christs sake that I thus armed may remaine vnder the protection and strong defence of thy power and that thine holie Angels may pitch their tents round about me and compasse me alwaies And I beseech thee O Lord giue vnto thy seruant the strength of thine holie spirit to subdue this bodie of sinne with the whole lusts thereof that it may bee made obedient both in will mind and members to doo thine holie will that when thou shalt appeare to reward euerie one according to their deeds I may reioice and not be ashamed of thee at thy comming Moreouer O Lord I beseech thee thinke vpon all thy people which are straied here and there from the farthest part of the earth which be entered into couenant with thee and are minded to walke after thy will Grant O Lord that we may growe togither in loue through the knowledge of thy word to keepe the vnitie of the spirit through the bond of peace to the vtter confounding of errour and all false opinions and to keepe vs cleane from all hypocrisie and superstition and to make vs strong in all trouble and affliction O heauenlie Father grant vnto me and all other I saie wheresoeuer they be dispersed throughout the vniuersall world which professe thy holie word so to liue that we may die to sinne and lead a godlie conuersation walking innocentlie before thee Rule and confirme our harts with thy spirit O Lord lighten our minds and guide vs alwaies with the lightsome lampe of thine holie Gospell Gouerne and preserue thy Church and defend those Realmes and Cities that giue succour and harbour to thy people make vs all diligent
and happie in the works of our vocation take into thy custodie for euer our soules and bodies our liues and all that euer we haue Be gratious and fauourable oh Lord to all men and euen to our verie enimies and according to thy good will and purpose forgiue them their sinnes conuert vnto thy truth all those whom thou hast appointed in Iesus Christ to saluation Be mercifull O God to all our brethren and sisters that suffer anie kind of persecution or affliction whether in mind or in bodie especiallie such as suffer for thy name and Gospell giue them patience constancie and stedfast hope till thou send them full and good deliuerance of all their troubles Be gratious to all those whom thou hast coupled and linked to vs in loue and friendship whose harts thou hast mooued to praie for vs to wish vs good to succour and helpe vs in our necessities grant vs all thy blessing and holie spirit to sanctifie vs in the vnitie of faith and dwell in vs for euer Finallie oh Lord haue mercie vpon mine husband children and familie which thou hast giuen vs make me to be content with him as thy gift and increase thy feare in our harts that we may trulie loue thee and one another of vs in thee so that we may be pure both in soule and bodie and may godlie liue togither according to thine holie ordinance Giue him an hart of wisedome and vnderstanding and set thy feare alwaie before mine eies that as Ioseph cast off all surmises of the mis-behauiour of Marie his spouse and obeied the word of thine holie Angel so he may beare with mine imperfections and bee obedient in word deed and thought to all that is thy will Oh Lord giue vs the power of thy spirit to gouerne our selues holilie and to rule and bring vp these our children and familie in all godlie feare nurture information of the Lord and knowledge of thy holie word and that we may be alwaies vnto them an example in all godlinesse and vertue to the praise of thine holie name Plant in mine hart all vertues that be necessarie and requisite in a Christian woman giue mee grace so to vse them and all other good gifts which I haue receiued at thy mercifull hands as may be most to thy glorie and praise to my consolation and saluation and to the profit of thy Church Behold Lord although I am but dust earth and ashes yet I haue taken vpon me and am bold to come and make these petitions and requests vnto thee not trusting in mine owne woorthinesse or righteousnesse which I doo acknowledge with the Prophet to be stained and defiled but onlie in thy great mercie and promise and through the merits of Christs death bloud-shedding to laie mine humble praiers before thee requiring mercie pardon and forgiuenesse of all my sinnes and also the assistance of thy grace to doo thy will all the daies of my life and to obteine all these my petitions O therefore heare me speedilie good Lord forgiue me fauourablie O Lord and tarie not ouerlong but for thine owne sake doo it and for thy deere Sonne Iesus Christs sake in whom all thy promises are Yea and Amen which is our onelie Redeemer Mediator Sauiour and Iustifier to whom with thee O Father and the holie Ghost be all honour glorie and praise now and euer Amen Another good and godlie praier to be said at all times of euerie Christian both man and woman O Almightie and euerlasting GOD Father Sonne and holie Ghost thou that hast made heauen and earth and all things in them conteined haue mercie vpon me poore wretched sinner dailie assaulted with all kind of miserie and wretchednesse I beseech thee O Father for the loue of thy Sonne Iesus Christ consider my weakenesse frailtie and imperfection and haue mercie vpon me Increase thy graces in me my souereigne Sauiour my deere Redeemer and mine onelie Iustifier For I come vnto thee O Lord according to the words of our Sauiour Christ who hath said Come vnto me all ye that labour and are laden and I will ease and refresh you Oh most mercifull Father ease me of and from the great burden of my sinne which I haue vnrighteouslie committed against thee either in thought word or deed and refresh my soule dailie with thy mercies Sprinkle me with the sweet hysop of thy mercie and then shall I be cleane wash me and then shall I be whiter than snowe Powre vpon me ioie and gladnesse and make my bones reioice which thou hast smitten Turne thy face from my sinnes and put out all my misdeeds Make me a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not awaie from thy presence and take not thy holie spirit from me Oh giue me the comfort of thy helpe againe and stablish me with thy free spirit Then shall I teach thy waies vnto the wicked that sinners may be conuerted vnto thee Deliuer me from bloud guiltinesse O God thou that art the God of my health that my tongue may praise thy righteousnesse Open my lips O Lord then shall my mouth shew foorth thy praise Consider mine imperfection and helpe it with thy mercies Remember thine old woonted mercies and faithfull promises made vnto our forefathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob and all other Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs and other thy Saints in our Sauiour Christ Iesus who being compassed with infirmitie and weakenesse of the flesh came vnto thee O Lord as vnto the well and euerlasting fountaine of their health and saluation and thou mercifullie susteinedst them keepedst them deliueredst them in all their temptations and tribulations If their feet at anie time slipt or went out of the waie and committed sinne against thee yet thy mercie was alwaies readie so that thou by thine holie spirit diddest procure them to repentance so that they turned againe vnto thee which conuersion and turning againe thou mercifullie acceptedst at their hands For bicause they were desirous to liue perfectlie in thy sight thou preseruedst them so that they were found faithfull before thee O Lord thou art the same and thy yeeres endure for euer I beseech thee O Father beare mine imperfection and helpe it likewise with thy mercie if at anie time I happen to fall and commit sinne against thee as thou saiedst by thine holie Apostle Paule Let thy grace at all time be sufficient for me in such wise that I may immediatelie turne againe by true repentance vnto thee which conuersion and turning againe accept alwaies at mine hands for Iesus Christs sake so shall I be found perfect before thee For although the spirit bee willing yet is the flesh vntoward and weake Therefore doo I not leaue mine owne righteousnesse before thee For I knowe and confesse in me that is to saie in my flesh is nothing but plaine miserie wretchednesse and sinne Therefore doo I come vnto thee and beseech thee for Christes sake to extend thy mercifull hand towards me
and to doo awaie mine offences For I knowe O Lord that all grace and goodnesse commeth of thee and therefore art thou praised loued and feared in the congregation among the Saincts For thou art onlie he that giuest victorie O Lord of hosts and that as thou saiest by thy Prophet neither through an host of men nor through strength but through thy spirit Therefore I beseech thee giue me not onlie strength and knowledge of thee but also a readie earnest purpose and will to subdue mine imperfections and grace at all times to liue as thou in thy holie word hast prescribed vnto me Moreouer I beseech thee make me perfect in thy sight that I may render continuall thanks by Iesus Christ to thee And where I haue not hitherto indeuored my selfe according to that power which thou hast giuen me to liue after thy will I praie thee forgiue me for Iesus sake And now I protest before thee through the helpe of the spirit to order my life from hence foorth according to thy word and to walke perfectlie before thee neuerthelesse I beseech thee for Christes sake at all times to beare the imperfections that shall or may at anie time be found in me and deliuer me by thy power and mercie Increase my faith O my sauiour increase my faith O my iustifier increase my faith O my redeemer increase faith hope and charitie and all other vertues in me consonant and agreeable to a godlie life For I come vnto thee the well and euerlasting fountaine of all health and saluation O my heauenlie Father let me and all other men and women liue in thy sight which seeke thy word to the intent to forsake sinne and all vngodlie liuing and to walke in a godlie conuersation innocentlie before thee And I thanke thee O Lord with all my hart and mind that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercie and goodnesse to create and forme me of the mould of the earth and giuen me all my members requisite and needfull to the bodie and that it hath pleased thee to preserue all that which thou hast created in me sith the time of the creation vntill now and that it hath pleased thee to defend me this daie or night and all the daies and time of my life hitherto from all hurt and perils and deliuered me from the hour of temptation and tribulation as well when I was asleepe and forgetfull as when I remembred and called vpon thee And that it hath pleased thee to minister to my necessitie meate drinke and cloathing inward reioicing quietnesse of mind health of bodie and such like and that it hath pleased thee to giue me this man and my brother in profession T. B. to be my husband vaile remedie consolation and comfort in my necessities Grant me grace in him O Lord trulie to honor loue serue and obeie thee for I knowe whatsoeuer I doo to him be it good or euill it shall be rewarded of thee Lighten vs dailie with thy grace that we may gouerne our selues the houshold and children which thou hast giuen vs in the true faith feare and knowledge of thee so that it may be an acceptable sacrifice vnto thee by Iesus Christ our Lord. And seeing it hath pleased thee O Father to lighten the inward eies of my mind with thy grace and to call me from the great blindnesse of ignorance and sinne wherein all men are borne to the knowledge of thee let it now more as S. Paule saith please thee to preserue me and all other whome thou hast called which are dailie oppressed by sinne which desire to turne and to come vnto thee of what tongue or nation soeuer they be through the whole world And seeing it hath pleased thee to call me by grace to the knowledge of thy word giuen me a will to seeke it to loue and beleeue it let it be thy will to direct my waies that I erre not Oh staie my feet with thy holie hand and preserue me with thine arme for I am else farre too weake without thee I can doo nothing Oh let me liue in thy sight O Lord and put me not from thee but giue me a new hart and a new spirit yea a pure mind and a cleane conscience make thou in me then shall I be perfect before thee Then shall I call vpon thee in time of my trouble and offer acceptable sacrifice vnto thee by Iesus Christ euen the fruit of these lips which confesse thy name and patientlie receiue the cup of health at thy hand and call vpon thy name in time of aduersitie Oh heare my praier I beseech thee let my power and pleasure alwaie be in the tree of life and in the fruit thereof which standeth in the midst of the Paradise of God O accept this voluntarie sacrifice at my hand as the sweet smell of incense and let the lifting vp of my hart with my hands be an euening sacrifice pleasant and acceptable vnto thee through Iesus Christ our Lord to whome be euerlasting praise honor and glorie now and euer Amen Another Christian praier for grace and remission to be dailie vsed O Most mightie God mercifull and louing Father I wretched sinner come vnto thee in the name of thy deerelie beloued sonne Iesus Christ my onlie sauiour and redeemer and most humblie beseech thee for his sake to be mercifull vnto me and to cast all my sinnes out of thy sight and remembrance through the merits of his bloudie death and passion Powre vpon me O Lord thy holie spirit of wisedome and grace Gouerne and leade me by thy holie word that it may be a lampe vnto my feet a light vnto my steps Shew thy mercie vpon me so lighten the naturall blindnesse and darknesse of my hart through thy grace that I may dailie be renewed by the same spirit grace by the which O Lord purge the grosenesse of my hearing vnderstanding that I may profitablie reade heare vnderstand thy word heauenlie will beleeue and practise the same in my life conuersation euermore hold fast y t blessed hope of euerlasting life Mortifie and kill all vice in me that my life may expresse my faith in thee Mercifullie heare the humble suite of thy seruant and grant me thy peace all my daies Gratiouslie pardon mine infirmities and defend me in all dangers of bodie goods and name but most chieflie my soule against all assaults temptations accusations subtill baites and sleights of that old enimie of mankind Sathan that roring Lion euer seeking whome he may deuoure And heere O Lord I prostrate with most humble mind craue of thy diuine Maiestie to be mercifull vnto the vniuersall Church of thy Sonne Christ And especiallie according to my bounden dutie I beseech thee for his sake to blesse saue defend the principall member thereof thy seruant our most deere and souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth increase in hir roiall heart true faith godlie zeale and loue of the same and grant her
victorie ouer all hir enimies a long prosperous and honourable life vpon earth a blessed end and life euerlasting Moreouer O Lord grant vnto hir Maiesties most honourable Counsellers and euerie other member of this thy Church of England that they we in our seuerall callings may trulie and godlie serue thee Plant in our harts true feare and honor of thy name obedience to our Prince and loue to our neighbours Increase in vs true faith and religion Replenish our minds with all goodnes and of thy great mercie keepe vs in the same till the end of our liues Giue vnto vs a godlie zeale in praier true humilitie in prosperitie perfect patience in aduersitie and continuall ioie in the holie Ghost And lastlie I commend vnto thy fatherlie protection all that thou hast giuen me as husband children and seruants Aid me O Lord that I may gouerne nourish and bring them vp in thy feare and seruice And forasmuch as in this world I must alwaies be at warre and strife not with one sort of enimies but with an infinite number not onelie with flesh and bloud but with the diuell which is the prince of darkenesse and with wicked men executors of his most damnable will grant me therefore thy grace that being armed with thy defence I may stand in this battell with an inuincible constancie against all corruption which I am compassed with on euerie side vntill such time as I hauing ended the combate which during this life I must susteine in the end I may atteine to thy heauenlie rest which is prepared for me and all thine elect through Christ our Lord and onlie sauiour Amen Another praier for mortification and holinesse O Lord our God most gratious and most mercifull I doo acknowledge before thee that I am vnwoorthie to appeare before thy high Maiestie to offer vp vnto thee a sacrifice of praier being full of sinne and corruption naturallie glad of euill and vnprofitable to good yea beeing so miserable that I see not my miserie I feele it not I bewaile it not as I ought to doo but multiplie mine iniquities prouoking thy iust iudgement against me My zeale is cold my loue feeble my exercises of religion faint and few and I take no waie but that which leadeth from euill to worsse and finallie would leade me from sinne to the reward of sinne All this is true deere Father yet my hart is not moued with feare all this true yet I doo not sorowe for it but walke with ioie where I must if I continue reape affliction Therefore be mercifull vnto me and blesse me be mercifull vnto me and in Christ Iesus wash awaie all mine iniquities be mercifull vnto me and create in me a new hart and prepare it to praier and to thy holie seruice For thou alone O Lord art my hope and the mightie God of my saluation Thou hast giuen me a desire to serue thee O teach me that I may doo it and the good worke which thou hast begun make it perfect in me that I may no more loue goodnesse and yet followe vanitie but that my good desires in thee may be increased and all of them accomplished so shall I praise thee and magnifie thee for euer For there is no honour but thy honour no glorie but thy glorie O Lord. It is in vaine to trust in princes but trulie to trust in the Lord bringeth plentifull saluation From age to age it hath appeared that thou O Lord God art mercifull and that in thy courts there is nothing but truth and holinesse This world is full of vanitie full of pride full of rebellion and the flesh also The world hath manie baits to destruction and the flesh doth delight in them they are sworne togither to betraie vs to Sathan yea we betraie our selues Therfore deere Father by the crosse of Christ mortifie in vs the deeds of the flesh and crucifie both vs to the world and the world to vs that our soules may liue In our generall calling make vs obedient to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of our life in our particular callings also make vs faithfull that we may neither put awaie a good conscience nor make shipwracke of faith I beleeue O Lord helpe mine vnbeleefe In the daie of peace and prosperitie make vs sober in the daie of trouble and aduersitie make vs to looke vp and cheerfullie to wait and trust in thee for our deliuerance that our enimies mouthes may be stopped by our godlie conuersation and their harts pricked with zeale to turne vnto thee Neither doo I praie O Lord for my selfe alone but for the whole bodie vnto the which I am ingraffed by Christ Iesus that is for thy Church O God for thine inheritance that thou wouldest increase it from one end of the world to another that all nations may worship before thy footstoole Especiallie O Lord I praie for them that professe thy Gospell as for this our nation that thou wouldest be mercifull vnto it turning our harts to thee for our gratious Souereigne the Queene and for all hir Counsell that thou wouldest powre thy graces vpon them to the discharge of their dutie and our peace for all the holie teachers of thy Church that thou wouldest blesse them and their labours for the peace and full beautie of this Church for the peace and wealth of the Commonwealth We praie thee also for to blesse the meanes to bring this to passe also we praie thee for our parents for all others to whom we owe especiall loue or seruice but principallie we beseech thee to shew thy compassion vpon all that are in persecution for thy Gospell O Lord increase and renew their strength giue them victorie and turne their aduersaries harts if they apperteine to thine holie election otherwise O Lord bring vpon them the cōfusion that they would bring vpon others and into the pit that they haue digged let them fall and neuer rise vp againe O Lord heare vs in these suits pardon our dull spirits in praier and giue vs these and all other graces needfull for vs and thy Church to thy glorie for our Lord Iesus Christs sake in whose name as he hath taught vs so we praie saieng Our Father c. After that you may ad anie morning or euening praier Another verie deuout praier for grace and mercie O Lord God almightie three in persons yet but one GOD who both art in all and wast before all and wilt be in all things a blessed God for euermore Now and alwaies into thine hands I doo commend both my soule my bodie my sight hearing tasting smelling and feeling with all my cogitations affections actions outward and inward things my sense and vnderstanding my memorie my faith and beleefe and perseuerance that thou maiest keepe them daie and night euerie houre and moment O sacred Trinitie heare my petition and saue mee from all euill from offending and from sinning anie maner of waie from all snares and pursuits
of Sathan and of enimies visible and inuisible Expell farre from me the hautinesse of mind and increase within me the sorowe of hart diminish my pride and establish true humilitie within my breast fetch teares from mine eies mollifie mine hard and stonie hart and saue Lord both me and my soule from all traps of the enimie and continue me in thy pleasure Teach mee to doo thy will for thou art my God Giue me perfect sense and vnderstanding O Lord that I may be able to conceiue the deepnesse of thy mercie Grant me grace to beg that at thy hands which may both be ioifull for thee to grant and behoofull for me to receiue Make me vnfeinedlie to be waile my sinnes and manifold offences Heare O my Lord and my God heare O light of mine eies heare my petition and grant that what I request I may obtaine If thou despisest me I am vtterly vndone if thou hearest me I take hart againe if thou examinest my righteousnesse lo I stinke like a dead carion but if in mercie thou respect me thou raisest him that stinketh out of the graue What thou hatest in me remooue farre from me and ingraffe the spirit of chastitie and of a cleane life in my mind that in asking anie thing at thine hands I may not offend thee in asking the same Take from me whatsoeuer is hurtfull to my soule and giue whatsoeuer is behoofull O Lord giue me a salue to heale my greeuous wounds Indue me good Lord with thy feare with sorowe of hart with humilitie of mind and with a pure conscience Giue me grace Lord to keepe brotherlie concord euermore to remember my transgressions not to meddle with the dealing of other men or women Pardon my soule pardon my sinnes my wickednesse pardon O pardon mine offences visit me that am weake cure me that am sicke heale me that doo languish and raise me which am dead O Lord giue me both an hart to dread thee a mind to loue thee sense to knowe thee eares to heare thee eies to see thee Haue mercie on me O God haue mercie on me looke vpon me from the holie seat of thy Maiestie and illuminate the darknesse of mine hart with the beames of thy brightnesse Giue me wisedome O Lord to discerne betweene good and euill and grant me a watchfull vnderstanding Forgiue all my sinnes I beseech thee and in this time of necessitie and trouble be thou good and gratious to me I onlie beseech thee After thy woonted mercie and most louing kindnesse O Lord I beseech thee vouchsafe to giue me the life which euer shall endure O Lord Iesus Christ giue both to thy ministers vnitie of mind and to magistrates iudging vprightlie peace and tranquillitie Furthermore O Lord my request is for the whole catholike and holie Church for men and women for religious and for secular men for all Christian gouernours and people beleeuing in thy name which labour for thine holie loue that they may haue grace to continue in well-dooing O Lord eternall King giue to virgins chastitie to the vnmaried continencie to the wedded puritie to repenters mercie to widowes and orphans comfort to the poore protection to trauellers a safe returne to mourners consolation to sea-faring men a ioifull hauen to the good zeale to persist to the well inclined a mind to prooue better to the wicked and sinfull as to me a wretch and chiefe of sinners grace with speed to repent O sooeete Lord and most mercifull Iesus Christ Sonne of the liuing God redeemer of the world I acknowledge that among all and aboue all sinners I am most wretched but thou most gratious and high Father who takest mercie vpon all canst not suffer me to be vtterlie destitute of thy mercie O thou Lord King of kings who grantest truce of life stir in mee a mind alwaie and aboue all things to seeke to desire to loue to feare thee and to doo thy will who art euerie-where all whole a Trinitie and but one God Especiallie O Lord holie Father who art blessed and glorious for euermore I beseech thee in most humble sort vouchsafe to gouerne and keepe them from destruction who either doo make mention of me in their praiers or haue commended themselues to mine vnwoorthie supplications or haue done good whether it bee vnto my bodie with temporall benefits or to my soule with profitable instructions or be linked vnto me either in kindred friendship or good-will Furthermore both for all Christians which are aliue I praie thee stand thou at their elbowe to assist them and for such also as are dead and euerlastinglie doo rest from their labours I yeeld thee immortall praise Finallie this one thing more grant me O Lord I doo earnestlie beseech thee who art Alpha and Omega that when the vttermost daie and end of my life shall come thou wilt be a mercifull iudge to me against that malicious accuser the diuell and that thou wilt continuallie protect me against the snares of the old Serpent and finallie conduct me into the societie of Angels and of all Saints in thine holie paradise who art blessed now and euermore Amen Another praier for grace and newnesse of life O Lord my God giue me grace from the verie bottome of mine hart to desire thee in desiring to seeke thee in seeking to find thee in finding to loue thee in louing vtterlie to loath my former wickednesse O Lord my GOD giue I beseech thee to mine hart repentance to my spirit contrition to mine eies a fountaine of teares to mine hands liberalitie vnto the poore O my King quench in me the desires of the flesh and inflame within my breast the fire of thy loue Driue awaie from me the spirit of pride O my redeemer and of thy mercie bestowe vpon me the treasure of thine humilitie O my Sauiour remooue from my mind the rage of wrath and gratiouslie giue me the sheeld of patience Plucke euen from the verie roote of mine hart the rancor of malice O my Creator and make me to enioie the sweetnesse of a quiet mind Giue me O most louing Father a sound faith a right hope and a constant loue O my gouernour driue awaie farre from me all vanitie and suffer me to haue neither an vnconstant nor a wandering hart nor a scurrilous mouth nor a proud looke nor a greedie bellie nor a slandering tongue nor itching eares after curiositie nor a couetous mind after riches nor polling hands to abuse my power nor ambitious motions to get vaine glorie let both cursed hypocrisie and poisoned flatterie and proud contempt of the poore and violent oppression of the weake let both burning couetousnesse and cankered enuie with damnable blaspheming of thy name be alwaies farre from me thy seruant O my maker make a large distance betweene me and rashnesse betweene me and wickednesse betweene me and frowardnesse betweene me and vnquietnesse betweene me and idlenesse betweene me and drowsinesse betweene me and blockishnesse Grant that mine hart prooue
not blind my senses obstinate my maners sauage but let me delight in goodnesse and followe counsell and neuer loose the bridle to my tongue nor cruellie make a praie of the poore nor violentlie oppresse the weake nor vniustlie slander the innocent nor negligentlie regard inferiours committed to my charge Finallie let mee vse neither crueltie towards my seruants nor treacherie towards my friends nor violence vpon my neighbours O my God my mercifull God euen through thy beloued Sonne I beseech thee giue me grace to exercise my selfe in the works of mercie and in godlie cogitations namelie to weepe with them that weepe to instruct such as go astraie to helpe the afflicted to cherish the poore to comfort the sorowfull to releeue the oppressed to nourish the hungrie to refresh them which mourne to forgiue my debters to pardon them which haue hurt me to loue them which hate me to render for euill good to despise none but to honor all to imitate the vertuous to shun the wicked to embrace vertue to flee sinne in aduersitie to be patient in prosperitie to be continent to set a watch before my mouth and a seale of wisedome before my lips to despise earthlie and to couet after heauenlie things Thus my maker I haue asked much and yet haue deserued naught I confesse yet alas I confesse that not onlie I deserue not those blessings which I doo require but also doo deserue manie exquisit torments notwithstanding euen publicans harlots theeues who in a moment pluckt from out the iawes of the enimie are taken into the armes of the shepheard doo embolden me to doo as I doo Wherefore haue mercie vpon me O good Lord I beseech thee and vouchsafe fauourablie to heare me and grant my requests So be it A praier called ô bone Iesu necessarie to be said at all times for mercie and grace O Bountifull Lord Iesu Christ O sweet Sauiour O Christ the sonne of God haue pitie vpon me mercifullie heare me and despise not my praiers Thou hast created me of nothing thou hast redeemed mee from the bondage of sinne death and hell neither with gold nor siluer but with thy most pretious bodie once offered vpon the crosse and thine owne bloud shed once for all for my ransome Therefore cast me not awaie whome thou by thy great wisedome hast made despise me not whome thou hast redeemed with such a pretious treasure nor let my wickednesse destroie that which thy goodnesse hath builded Now whilest I liue O Iesu haue mercie vpon me For if I die out of thy fauour it will be too late afterward to call for thy mercie Whilest I haue time to repent looke vpon me with thy mercifull eies as thou didst vouchsafe to looke vpon Peter thine Apostle that I may bewaile my sinfull life and obteine thy fauour to liue and die therein I acknowledge that if thou shouldest deale with me according to thy iustice I haue deserued euerlasting death therefore I appeale to thy high throne of mercie trusting to obteine thy fauour not for my merits but for thy merits O Iesu who hast giuen thy selfe an acceptable sacrifice to the Father to appease his wrath and to bring all sinners trulie repenting and amending their euill life into his fauour againe Accept me O Lord among the number of them whome thou hast in Christ elected and chosen to saluation forgiue my sinnes giue me grace to leade a godlie and innocent life grant me the heauenlie wisedome inspire my hart with faith hope and charitie giue me grace to be humble in prosperitie patient in aduersitie obedient to my rulers faithfull vnto them that trust me dealing trulie with all men to liue chastlie in wedlocke or in this my single life to abhorre adulterie fornication and all vncleannesse to doo good after my power vnto all men to hurt no man that thy name may be glorified in me during this present life and that I afterward may atteine euerlasting life through thy mercie and the merits of thy pretious death and passion Amen A forme of praier conteining a paraphrasis of these words of Dauid in his 119. Psalme Order my steps in thy word and so shall no wickednesse haue dominion ouer me O Eternall God Father of our Lord Iesu Christ which with thine onlie begotten Sonne and the holie Ghost art the maker preseruer and helper of all creatures Upon thee doo I call in the name of Christ the Mediator Helpe and gouerne mee with thy holie spirit that with a stedfast purpose I may constantlie cleane vnto thy word that my steps my thoughts intents purposes actions and all the course of my life may be directed made conformable to thy commandements and promises and that I may euer haue thy word before mine eies to followe it as the onlie and most infallible rule of my life and lightsome lampe to my feet Order my steps in thy word that I may feare in my hart thy great wrath and threatnings against sinne and quake and tremble at the dreadfull examples of punishments which therefore from the beginning thou hast published in the world against all the wicked and vngodlie ones that haue and doo contemne thy word and that I may acknowledge those punishments to be forewarnings of thy iudgements to come in the which this most dreadfull sentence shall be pronounced against all the vngodlie Go yee cursed into euerlasting fire Order my steps in thy word that in true feare and awe of thy Maiestie I may tame my mind bridle my lusts keepe vnder mine affections rule mine imaginations restraine my thoughts represse and stop all vicious motions shun all wickednesse and kill the life of sinne in me Order my steps in thy word that in frights and feares in terrors and temptations in all astonishments troubles afflictions distresses and dangers bodilie or ghostlie with fixed eie and firme faith I may behold looke vpon thy grace and mercie which for thy sonne our Lord Iesus Christes sake is shewed and declared vnto vs in thy Gospell and neuer seeke thy will anie where else but in thy word and surelie persuade my selfe that trulie to be thy will which in thy word and promises is reuealed and set foorth Helpe me also O God I beseech thee that in all mine agonies feares I may cheere and raise vp my selfe with the heauenlie comfort of thy word and so with a constant faith in thy mercifull promises that I find there I may repose my trust and quiet my conscience in Christ my mercifull Mediator assuring my selfe vndoubtedlie that for his sake I shall be both heard receiued helped deliuered and saued Order my steps in thy word that in all this short course of my life I may be obedient vnto thee and serue thee faithfullie and diligentlie in my vocation that I may keepe my selfe within the limits of my charge and serue thee trulie in those works which thou requirest of me in my seuerall calling Order my steps in thy word that this
knowledge of thy word in me be firme constant certaine immoueable and vnchangeable that my mind wauer not nor wander to and fro neither be caried hither and thither inconstantlie with euerie blast of opinions Order my steps in thy word that in the race course of this life there be no obstacles lets or vaine strife and contention betweene flesh and bloud to burst the bonds of my vocation but let it be constant healthfull happie and prosperous to the end and helpe me therein that I may perseuere in a right course and win the goale and make me an instrument and vessell of mercie caring and ministring healthfull and good things both to my selfe and to others that I may be comforted in this thy promise which saiedst Thy labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord and all that thou dooest shall prosper But alas sinne dwelling and sticking in this our corrupt nature doth too too much trouble and hinder our steps Our vntamed lusts vncomlie affections and inordinate desires euen like furious mad men doo solicit vs vexe disquiet and torment vs and quite drawe driue and carrie our steps foorth of the true waie which thy word sheweth into the by-paths and strange waies that are most perillous dangerous pernicious and leade to destruction Yea alas such is the miserie of our corrupt nature that sinne a thing most horrible and detestable doth smile vpon vs and is become verie delightfull and pleasant vnto vs and most willinglie and gladlie we obeie and are readie to followe the flickering intisements and vaine allurements of all manner of vices Yea so great and lamentable is the weakenesse and imbecillitie of our nature thus corrupted that quicklie and easilie we suffer our selues continuallie to be more and more remooued driuen backe and distracted from the right waie that leadeth to thee Order my steps therefore in thy word O Lord I beseech thee and so rule direct gouerne helpe me that sinne neither dwell in me nor haue dominion ouer me in action nor to damnation O let not sinne reigne in mee I saie to action as it did in Dauid by forcing me to follow the sugred suggestions of Sathan the delightsome vanities of the world nor the brittle and short pleasures of the flesh nor by compelling and driuing my deeds and actions to obeie cleane contrarie to my conscience Neither let sinne reigne in me to damnation as it did in Saule by not regarding thy word by furie wrath malice and contempt of thy commandements that I be not ouerwhelmed in terrors and woonderfull great furies nor drowned in eternall damnation but helpe me that in temptations I may constantlie stand and valiantlie resist and in all dread and distresse be lifted vp and comforted with the voice of the Gospell as it is written Sinne shall not beare rule ouer you for you are not vnder the lawe but vnder grace So shall it come to passe that though this tyrant sin rob and rage neuer so cruellie yet I through faith imbracing the sweet comfort of the Gospell and beleeuing surelie that it is pardoned and the terrors of the lawe ouercome by the conquest and triumph of our mediator and Lord Iesus Christ it shall not ouercome me but I it in him through the helpe of his holie spirit power and grace which grant vnto me O Lord I beseech thee for thy holie name sake Amen Meditations after praier O Lord God heauenlie Father which to declare thy readines in hearing of sinners most mercifullie hast said that before they crie I will answer and whilest they are yet in thinking what to speake I will heare vouchsafe we beseech thee for the same thy great mercies sake fauourablie to heare our requests and gratiouslie grant all these our poore petitions which we haue asked of thee not trusting in our owne righteousnesse which we acknowledge with the Prophet to be stained and defiled but onlie in thy manifold mercies and promises And grant that at what time soeuer thy good spirit doth mooue vs to call vpon thee we may aske such things and in such sort as thou requirest to thy honor and glorie our neighbors profit and our owne soules health through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Or thus for a conclusion of the whole praiers O My good God which hast commanded all men to call vpon thee in all their troubles need and necessitie and hast promised so to heare them and deliuer them that they shall praise thee and hast promised to be prest and readie at hand to all such as feare thee and call vpon thee faithfullie and that thou wilt fulfill their desires and helpe them now I haue called vpon thee not in mine owne woorthinesse for to me belongeth nothing but wrath shame and confusion but in the name and woorthinesse of thy sweet Sonne Iesus Christ mine onlie mediator and aduocate For vnto thee belongeth mercie and forgiuenesse Oh deere God I beseech thee for his sake forgiue me all my sinnes increase my faith purge my corruption helpe mine infirmitie confirme mine hope and grant me all those things that I haue praied for and all other things that thou knowest to be most necessarie profitable and expedient for me and thy whole Church although mine infirmitie dare not and my blindnesse can not aske them so as the same may redound to thy glorie and profit of thy Church the reformation of my life and mine assured saluation and consolation in thy Sonne Iesus Christ mine onelie Lord Mediator and Sauiour in whose name I beseech thee Our Father which art c. EVENING praiers and first At the Sunne setting praie O Sunne of righteousnesse euermore arising and neuer going downe O brightnesse of perpetuall charitie euer shining and neuer darkened In this Euening now the Sunne hath run his course and is going downe and the daie being farre spent it draweth towards night I praie thee de part not thou from vs neither let the Sunne of thy grace set or cease to giue light vnto our soules but that in thee we may abide and alwaies haue daie light most cleerelie in our minds to knowe loue and praise thee perpetuallie in the vision of that light where thou the Sunne of all glorie dooest euerlastinglie shine vpon thine elect making them to shine as the Sunne before thee where the Sunne shall not go down by daie nor the Moone lie hid by night For there shall be no night neither light of the Sunne or Moone but thou O Lord our God shalt be our euerlasting light and inlighten vs with vnspeakable glorie for euer Amen Lord let not the Sunne go downe vpon our wrath but make vs to feare thee as long as the Sunne and Moone endureth Meditation THinke now of the brittle state of the world the glorie whereof like the Sunne or Moone is verie vnconstant variable and now vp now downe but the goodnesse of God onelie is permanent and endureth for euer Thinke also that as it is no gréefe for vs to sée the
Sunne to set bicause we expect his arising againe in the morning no more ought we as men without hope to be sorie for the death of the bodie knowing that in the morning light of the resurrection it shall eftsoones arise receiue the soule againe to ioie or paine eternall VVhen the candles or lamps be light praie THanks be giuen to thee O Lord which after daie when night commeth hast giuen vs for the remedie of darknesse this artificiall light of the candle or lampe whereby we see and discerne those things in this night of our bodies which are expedient for vs to vse But especiallie we render immortall praise vnto thine holie Maiestie for the light of thy doctrine which thy Sonne against the horrour of sinne and ignorance hath brought vnto vs for a remedie against death eternall Grant we beseech thee O Lord of light and Maister of all truth that the most thicke and obscure clouds of our minds may be so driuen awaie and expelled by the lampe of thy grace and candle of knowledge and right vnderstanding that in bodie corporallie and in soule spirituallie wee may euer see by both these lights to glorifie thee both in our liues and in our deaths Thy word ô Lord is a lampe to our feete and a light vnto our paths O light thou our candle and make our darknesse to be light that with our lamps euer burning we may still watch for thy comming Amen Meditation THinke now that as without this materiall light of the candle all would be horrour and vncouth darknesse euen so without the spirituall light of Gods diuine word and wisedome all our light is darknesse our knowledge errour and our life death and vtter confusion Thinke also that as the candle is not put vnder a bushell but set on a candlesticke to giue light to all in the house so likewise ought we to let the light of our faith shine bright before men that other séeing our good works may therefore glorifie God Euening praiers for Sundaie to be said kneeling by the bedside before you make you vnreadie ¶ Here you may saie one of the confessions for the Sabboth daie as before pag. 384 387. WE render vnto thee euerlasting praises most mercifull Father for that of thy gratious fauour and loue towards vs thou hast vouchsafed to preserue vs this daie and the rest of our life hitherto vnder the shadowe of thy most mercifull protection beseeching thee also to take vs into thy tuition this present night and euer that we be not tempted with anie suggestion of Sathan but being thoroughlie armed with the holie Ghost we may haue power and force to resist his assaults by a sure faith and confidence in the bloud of thy blessed Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus Giue vs grace to repent vs of our sinnes vnfeinedlie to craue remission of them vncessantlie to imbrace thy holie word and commandements sincerelie and to expresse them in our liuing effectuallie whereby we may walke vprightlie in our conuersation with sure and certaine hope of the resurrection to eternall life by the merits of Christ Iesus that with the wise virgins we may be found waking and watching for his comming when he shall come to iudge the world with equitie and to reward euerie man according to the works of his bodie Grant vs grace most mercifull Father to behaue our selues so vprightlie in this life that then we may be made partakers of thy kingdome with thine elect there to liue in eternall ioie and felicitie world without end Amen Another Euening praier on the Lords daie O Almightie and eternall God Father of our Lord Iesu Christ which togither with thy Sonne and the holie Ghost didst create man after thine owne likenesse and breath into him the breth of life the which through thy goodnes continueth at thy pleasure Thou hast made of one bloud all mankind and assigned times and length of our life in this world thou giuest life to the people on the earth and breth to the walkers therein which if thou take awaie they shall depart and be turned into dust We blesse thee heauenlie Father and with all our harts giue thee thanks not onelie for sauing vs this daie from dangers but also from our cradles for defending both our soules and bodies from death Wherefore magnifie the Lord O our soules and our spirits reioice in God our Sauiour For he hath looked vpon the basenesse and afflictions of his seruants He that is mightie hath done for vs great things and holie is his name Wherefore we will praise the Lord for euermore bicause his mercie endureth from generation to generation on such as feare him We will shew foorth his power in the euening and when we go to bed we will remember his mercie Arise now our soules in the night praise your God In the beginning of the watches powre out your harts like water before the face of the Lord. For the Saints will be ioifull with glorie sing lowd vpon their beds Wherefore we also will praise thee continuallie and will confesse thy name for euermore For thou art the God which delighteth our harts and maketh our soules merie Therefore in the night we will thinke vpon thy benefits and our spirits shall consider of thy woonderous works For thou hast commanded that thy mercie be celebrated in the daie time and thy truth in the night season O our Lord and God of mercie gentlenesse patience pitie and truth which she west mercie vnto thousands and blottest out all our offences we lift vp our soules vnto thee and from our harts we praie thee put not before thine eies the horrible confusion vncleannesse and wickednesse of our minds being replenished with loathsome darknesse and ignorance full of doubtings and errors Our harts and will are turned from thee our God and all the powers and strength both of our soules and bodies are defiled and filthilie weakened but Lord of thy great merice blot out our offences looke vpon the troubles and dolours of our harts and forgiue all our sinnes For lo our soules are wounded and can not be holpen but onelie through mercie There is no health in our flesh bicause of thine anger neither is there rest in our bones bicause of our sins For our iniquities haue gone ouer our heads and as an heauie burden haue pressed vs down Our wounds are putrified and corrupt bicause of our foolishnesse Asswage thine anger and turne from thine indignation Pardon our faults remit all punishment and restore in vs the light of thy goodnesse which was lost O Lord heare O Lord forgiue harken O our God for thine owne sake For thy name is called vpon by vs. O God of heauen and earth in this euening tide doo we call vnto thee that remitting our sinnes which this daie especiallie we haue committed against thee in breaking thy Saboth and prophaning this our holie daie with our vnholie deeds speech and cogitations thou wouldest receiue vs into thy
protection and keepe vs and all ours this night that the diuell haue no power ouer vs. Be thou watchfull ouer vs O eternall Sauiour least the subtill tempter apprehend vs. For thou art made for vs an euerlasting protector For behold whether we sleepe or wake whether we liue or die we are thine thou art our Creator and redeemer Stand therefore on our behalfe in the watch with the armie of thy celestiall warriers thine Angels which being filled with perfect goodnesse and perpetuall integritie behold thy face alwaies in the heauens Expell from vs and our houses wicked spirits which bee our mortall enimies that they damage vs in no case and deliuer vs from persecutors which laie snares for our destruction Turne not away thy mercie and truth from vs. O God assist vs that peaceablie we may rest and sleepe in quiet We will laie vs downe in peace and sleepe For thou Lord alone makest vs to dwell in safetie without danger Hide vs in thy tabernacle O Lord that sitting in thy secret place and abiding vnder the shadowe of thy wings we may saie vnto thee Lord thou art our keeper and our refuge O God we will trust in thee and will feare no danger And although we were in extreame darknesse yet will wee not feare Though we should walke in the midst of the shadowe of death yet will we dread none euill for thou art with vs thy rod and thy staffe they doo comfort vs. Let thy mercie O God followe vs all the daies of our life that we may dwell in thy house in longnesse of daies praising thee euermore with the Sonne holie Ghost one true God reigning worlds without end Amen Another more large Euening praier with Confession O Lord God Father euerlasting and full of pitie we acknowledge and confesse that we be not woorthie to lift vp our eies to heauen much lesse to present our selues before thy Maiestie with confidence that thou wilt heare our praiers and grant our requests if we consider our owne deseruings For our consciences doo accuse vs and our sinnes beare witnesse against vs and we knowe that thou art an vpright iudge which dooest not iustifie the sinners and wicked men but punishest the faults of all such as transgresse thy commandements Yet most mercifull Father since it hath pleased thee to command vs to call on thee in all our troubles and aduersities promising euen then to helpe vs when we feele our selues as it were swallowed vp of death desperation we vtterlie renounce all worldlie confidence and flie to thy souereigne bountie as our onlie staie and refuge beseeching thee not to call to remembrance our manifold sinnes and wickednesse whereby we continuallie prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligence and vnkindnesse which haue neither woorthilie esteemed nor in our liues sufficientlie expressed the sweet comfort of thy Gospell reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience and death of thy Sonne who by offering vp his bodie in sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompense for all our sinnes Haue mercie therefore vpon vs O Lord forgiue vs our offences Teach vs by thy holie spirit that we may rightlie way them and earnestlie repent for the same and so much the rather O Lord because that the reprobate such as thou hast forsaken can not praise thee nor call vpon thy name but the repenting hart the sorowfull mind the conscience oppressed hungering and thirsting for thy grace shall euer set forth thy praise and glorie And albeit we be but woorms dust yet thou art our Creator and we be the worke of thy hands yea thou art our Father and we thy children thou art our shepheard and we thy flocke thou art our redeemer we the people whom thou hast bought thou art our God and we thine inheritance Correct vs not therefore in thine anger O Lord neither according to our deserts punish vs but mercifullie chastise vs with a fatherlie affection that all the world may knowe that at what time soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sins from the bottome of his hart thou wilt put awaie his wickednesse out of thy remembrance as thou hast promised by thy holie Prophet Finallie we humblie thanke thee O mercifull Father by thy deerelie beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour for all thy benefits bestowed vpon vs from the beginning of the world to this time for our election our creation our redemption our sanctification continuall preseruation and namelie for that of thy mercie and goodnesse thou hast preserued vs this daie and all the time of our life hitherto from all misfortunes hurts and dangers bodilie ghostlie And forsomuch as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to rest in as thou hast ordeined him the daie to trauell and that whither we sleepe or wake liue or die we are alwaies thine grant O deere Father that we may so take our bodilie rest this night that our soules and harts being kindled with the light of thy countenance may continuallie watch for the time that our Lord Iesus Christ shall appeare for our deliuerance out of this mortall life And in the meane season take thou O God care and charge of vs and all ours that we perish not in the works of darkenesse and that we not ouercome by anie fantasies dreames or other temptations may fullie set our minds vpon thee loue thee feare thee and rest in thee Furthermore that our sleepe be not excessiue or ouermuch after the insatiable desires of the flesh but onlie sufficient to content our weake nature that enioieng sweet sleepe and comfortable rest both in bodie and mind we may healthfullie and ioifullie rise againe and be the better disposed to liue in all godlie conuersation and perfect obedience of thy word to the glorie of thy holie name and profit of thy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we furthermore make our humble petitions vnto thee not onlie for our selues but for all others whome thou wouldest we should continuallie praie for saieng as he in his holie word hath taught vs Our Father which art in heauen c. O Lord increase our faith strengthen it in thy manifold sweet promises and grant vs a perfect continuance therein to our liues end whereof we humblie make our confession saieng I beleeue in God c. Let thy mightie hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercie and louing kindnes in Iesu Christ thy deere Sonne our saluation thy true holie word our instruction thy life holie actions our imitation thy grace holie spirit our comfort consolatiō vnto the end in the end and the blessing of God almightie Father Sonne and holie Ghost be with vs and remaine with vs now euer Amen A forme of generall praier to be vsed in priuate houses and families euerie Euening O Lord prepare our harts to praier for if we praie with our lips onlie our praiers
are abhominable O teach vs therefore by thy holie spirit to praie rightlie according to thy will and giue eare gratiouslie to our calling O Gratious Lord louing Father according to thy commandement we doo heere present our selues before thy Maiestie humblie prostrating our selues before thy throne of mercie acknowledging and confessing from the bottom of our harts that we be miserable sinners dailie breaking thy commandements both in thought word and deede wherein we iustlie deserue euerlasting damnation and to be vtterlie throwne from thy presence Yet O Lord we see thy goodnesse againe towards vs who not suffering vs thus to perish in our sinnes hast sent thine owne deere Sonne Iesus Christ to take vpon him whatsoeuer is due to reconcile and make vs at one with thee againe In him therefore good Lord and through him doo we come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that we feeling the greeuousnesse of our sins and groaning vnder the burthen of them may feele the release and ease of them in that we be through thy holie spirit assured and stedfastlie beleeue that Christ hath borne the burthen of them euen for vs. Grant O Lord that we being assured heereof in our conscience may through thy holie spirit be renewed in the inward man to hate detest and abhorre sinne and to studie to liue acording to thy blessed will during this whole life We doo not onlie praie for our selues O Lord but also for all the whole Church especiallie such as be persecuted for thy word grant vnto them that whither it be by death or life they may glorifie thy name to their liues end Be mercifull to this Church of England and Ireland we beseech thee good Lord and preserue euerie part and member of the same especiallie thy seruant Elizabeth our gratious Queene and Gouernour Grant hir all such gifts as be needfull for so high a calling to the aduancement of thy glorie and the benefit of this Common-wealth to the establishing of a perfect gouernement of thy Church according to the prescriptrule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of all superstition idolatrie and relikes of Antichrist to the gouerning of hir subiects in all peace and tranquillitie Defend hir O Lord from all conspiracies treasons and rebellions and so worke in the harts of all hir subiects that knowing hir authoritie doth come from thy heauenlie Maiestie they may with obedient harts humblie obeie hir in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Counsell the Magistrates of the Realme that being lightened by thy holy spirit they may defend the truth suppresse wickednesse and mainteine equitie Behold all the pastors and preachers of thy word blesse their labours increase the number of them place ouer euerie Church a painefull watchman remoue all idle lubbers and confound the power of Antichrist and turne the harts of the people that they may be obedient to the truth Blesse the two Uniuersities Cambridge and Oxford and all the students of the same with all the Schooles of learning Behold all those that be afflicted with anie kinde of crosse that they may profit by thy correction in newnesse of life Lastlie for our selues heere gathered togither we render most hartie thanks to thy Maiestie O Lord which hast hitherto from our infancie preserued vs by thy mercie from all perils and dangers both of soule and bodie wherevnto fraile man is subiect that thou hast sent vnto vs all things necessarie for this present life as health food apparell and such like which manie of thy deere children doo want being notwithstanding as pretiouslie bought with the pretious bloud of thy deere Sonne as we be and yet lie in miserie and calamitie oppressed with pouertie nakednesse imprisonment and banishment in which case also deere Father thou mightest haue brought vs saue onlie that thou dealest heerein more fauourablie with vs than with them For the which thy louing kindnesse we giue thee hartie thanks desiring thee that as thou hast hitherto thus fauorablie in mercie preserued vs by thy protection and euen presentlie this daie hast brought vs past all the dangers thereof so we beseech thee good Lord in like fauour behold vs this night that we taking our naturall rest and quietnesse may through thy protection be so defended that our bodies resting our soules may be occupied in beholding thy fauour and mercie towards thy children still looking for the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesu Christ for our full redemption Grant that our sleepe be not immoderate according to the lusts of the flesh but as much as is sufficient to refresh our weake nature that being thus refreshed both the bodie the mind may be more able to doo their seuerall office and function in that vocation wherein thou hast placed vs. Grant that wee laieng our bodies downe to rest may be thereby put in mind of our long rest of death that as we doo laie downe our bodies in bed so we may be thereby admonished that hereafter they shall be laid down in graue to be consumed to dust earth and ashes from whence they were taken that we hauing this before our eies may be stirred vp in minde warilie to walke in this our pilgrimage not knowing when the time shall be of our departure but alwaies be found readie with our lamps of pure faith clearelie burning that we may be accepted to meet the bride groome when our mortall earthlie and corruptible bodies shall be made like to the glorious bodie of our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus there to reigne with him in perpetuall ioie consolation togither with all the elect children of GOD continuallie lauding with all the heauenlie multitude the glorious Maiestie of thee our Lord God and heauenlie Father in our Lord and Sauiour Iesu Christ In whose name for these thy mercies and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be needfull for vs and thy whole Church we praie vnto thee as he himselfe hath taught vs saieng Our Father which art in heauen c. The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance towards vs and grant vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the most comfortable felowship of the holie Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this night and euermore Amen VVhen you vncloth yourselfe and make you vnreadie to bedward praie THis our life and weake knit bodie by reason of sinne by little and little shall be dissolued and so shall be restored to the earth from whence it was taken then will be an end of this vanitie which by our foolishnes we haue wrought to our selues O most meeke Father so doo thou vntie and loose me for thou hast knit me togither that I may perceiue my selfe to be loosed and dissolued and so may remember both of whom I was made and also whither I go least I be had vnprepared vnto thy tribunali and iudgement
seate And as I willinglie now put off my garments which in the morning I shall put on again so let me not vnwillinglie put off this my bodie whensoeuer by death it shall please thee O God to call me especiallie for that I knowe that after the night of this world is expired I shall receiue it on againe in much better light to immortalitie So be it Put off the old man with his lusts and concupiscences and be content with Ioseph to put off your prison apparell that you may put on new I haue put off my cloaths how shall I put them on O Lord I will confesse my wickednesse and that of my selfe I haue nothing Cant. 5 3. VVhen you wash your feete praie thus to your selfe O Most meeke and louing Iesu the perfect paterne of all humilitie who being Lord of heauen and earth didst not disdaine to wash thy Disciples feet and wipe them cleane with the towell wherewith thou wast girt and that for our example to teach vs to loue and serue one another in thee haue mercie on me a miserable sinner which from top to toe both within and without am altogither polluted and defiled with sinne in thy sight And with Peter I humblie beseech thee vouchsafe now to wash me in the sweet bath of thy pretious bloud from all the filth and pollusions of my sinnes that I may be whiter than snowe Wash thou I saie not my feet onelie O Lord but my hands and head yea my verie hart soule and conscience also For if thou wash me not I shall haue no part with thee but if thou wash me I shall be cleane euerie whit in all parts yea cleaner than the glasse O wash mee therfore cleane from mine vncleannesse and doo awaie all my sinnes negligences and ignorances yea so purge and scowre all mine affections by thy grace and mercie that with both my feete that is to saie with perfect loue to thee and true charitie to my neighbor I may walke in the paths of thy peace by the direction of thy spirit and at the last come pure and cleane vnto thee my purifier to the confusion and shame of mine enimies which in the daie of my death shall most busilie watch to trip and ouerthrowe me so shall I blesse and praise thee with thine elect and holie Saints in euerlasting happinesse Amen I haue washed my feete how shall I file them againe Cant. 5 3. Another O Most mercifull Iesu which gentlie sufferedst that sinfull woman Marie Magdalen to approch vnto thy presence and to wash thy blessed feet with hir teares to wipe them with hir heare and to kisse and annoint them with costlie oile and diddest greatlie commend this hir fact to all posteritie haue mercie on me a more sinfull woman in thy sight and grant me grace likewise continuallie to wash thy feete with the teares of true contrition to wipe them with the heare of mine obedience to kisse them with the kisses of feruent loue of thee and thy Saints and to annoint them with the sweet oile of deuout praiers confessions and thanks-giuing that I may obtaine by thy mercie forgiuenesse of all my manifold sinnes and feele my selfe much bound vnto thee for my saluation Finallie let me thine handmaid be a seruant I praie thee to wash the feet of the seruants of my Lord make me I saie of the number of those holie matrons that willinglie wash the feet of thy Saints that minister vnto them that are in aduersitie that are continuallie giuen to euery good worke and be well reported of for their vertues through Iesu Christ our Lord Amen Wash you make you cleane take awaie the euill of your works from before mine eies cease to doo euill and learne to doo well Esai 1 16. VVhen you enter into your bed praie I Enter into my bed and laie mee downe to rest in the name of the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost The Lord Iesu Christ which was crucified dead and buried for me blesse preserue and keepe me both bodie and soule and raise me with him at the last daie by the power of his glorious resurrection to life euerlasting Amen And grant O God I beseech thee that as I am not afraid now to enter into my bed and to dispose my selfe to sleepe so I may not be afraid or loth to die but rather cheerfullie prepare my selfe thervnto and euermore desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ my Sauiour Amen Being new laid in your bed saie this Psalme O Lord thou hast searched me out knowne me thou knowest my downe lieng and mine vprising thou vnderstandest all my thoughts long before Thou art about my path and about my bed and spiest out all my waies For lo there is not a word in my tongue but thou O Lord knowest it altogither Thou hast fashioned me behind and before and laid thine hand vpon me Such knowledge is too woonderfull and excellent for me I can not attaine vnto it Whither then shall I go from thy spirit Or whither shall I go from thy presence If I clime vp into heauen thou art there if I godowne to hell thou art there also if I take the wings of the morning and remaine in the vttermost parts of the sea euen there also shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me If I saie Peraduenture the darkenes shall couer me then shall my night be turned to daie yea the darknesse is no darkenesse with thee but the night is as cleere as the daie the darkenesse and light to thee are both alike For my reines are thine thou hast couered me in my mothers wombe I will giue thanks vnto thee for I am fearefullie and woonderfullie made Maruellous are thy works and that my soule knoweth right well My bones are not hid from thee though I be made secretlie and fashioned beneath in the earth Thine eies did see my substance yet being vnperfect and in thy booke are all my members written which daie by daie were fashioned when as yet there was none of them How deere are thy counselles vnto me O God O how great is the summe of them If I tell them they are more in number than the sand when I wake vp I am present with thee Trie me O God and seeke the ground of my hart prooue me and examine my thoughts looke well if there be anie waie of wickednesse in me and leade me in the waie euerlasting Let me neuer imagine mischiefe vpon my bed as doo the vngodlie that set themselues in no good waie and can not sleepe before they haue done some harme but make me to abhorre the thing that is euill and to commune with mine owne hart and in my chamber to be still that with the Saincts I may be ioifull with glorie and reioice on my bed with them that praise thee daie and night Finallie grant that I may behold thy presence in righteousnesse and when I awake vp after thy likenesse bring
to passe that I may be satisfied with it and glorifie thee eternallie Amen The Praier THE daie now ended men giue themselues to rest in the night and so this life finished we shall rest in death Nothing is more like this life than euerie daie nothing more like death than sleepe nothing more like to our graue than our bed O Lord our keeper and defender grant that I now laieng me downe to rest being vnable to keepe my selfe may be preserued from the crafts and assaults of the wicked enimie and grant furthermore that when I haue tunne the race of this life thou wouldest of thy mercie call me vnto thee that I may liue and watch with thee for euermore And now O gratious God giue me to take my rest in thee bring to passe that thy goodnesse may be euen in sleepe before mine eies that sleeping I be not absent from thee but may haue my dreames to drawe me vnto thee and so both in soule and bodie may be kept pure and holie for euer Amen I will laie me downe in peace and take my rest for it is thou Lord onlie that makest me dwell in safetie Psal 4. 9. Another praier to be vsed of the husband and wife so soone as they are laid in their bed O Lord our GOD our protector and defender which diddest gratiouslie preserue and keepe thy seruant holie Tobie when he laie with his wife Sara by the gard of thine holie Angel so that Sathan was bound and had no power ouer them keepe vs also O King of kings and Lord of lords this night and euermore that that subtill Serpent by no meanes haue power to vexe or greeue vs but that we may slepe this night in the remembrance of thee into whose tuition and keeping we commit vs both bodie and soule which hast bought redeemed vs with the pretious bloud of that immaculate Lambe thy deere sonne and our deere beloued Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie Amen Meditation REmember now that you be néerer your end by one daies iournie than you were in the morning Also that this troublesome daie is past and night come and ther withall rest quietnesse and pleasant sléepe which maketh most excellent princes and poore wretches all alike for the time euen so after the tumults troubles temptations and tempests of this life if we beléeue in Christ we haue prepared for vs an hauen and rest most pleasant ioifull and perpetuall VVhen you put out the candle saie THE light of the vngodlie shall be put out and the light of his candle shall not shine the light shall be darke in his dwelling and his candle shall be put out with him yea full often shall the candle of the wicked be put out and their destruction shall suddenlie come vpon them so that all shall be horror and full of darknes with them O Lord let not our candle be put out nor the light that is in vs be turned into darknesse but lighten thou our candle and make thou our darknesse to be light yea lighten thou our darknesse we beseech thee O Lord that we sleepe not in death and by thy great mercie defend vs from all perils and dangers of this darke and dredfull night and lighten illuminate thou euerie darke corner of our habitation with thy light that our candle go not out by night for the loue of thy Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ So be it A little while after saie O God although we were in extreame darkenesse yet will we not feare and though we should walke in the midst of the shadowe of death yet will we dread none euill For thou art with vs thy rod and thy staffe doo comfort vs. Now therefore that we lie in darknesse be thou our protector bring vs to thy light and saue vs from vtter darkenesse where is weeping and gnashing of teeth that we may behold thee in that cleere light of the perpetuall morning where shall be no darknes no night nor need of anie candle or materiall light but thou Lord wilt inlighten vs with vnspekable glorie So be it VVhen you feele sleepe to be comming and dispose your selfe to rest praie O Lord Iesu Christ my watchman and keeper take me to thy care grant that my bodie sleeping my mind may watch in thee be made merie by some sight of that celestiall and heauenlie life wherein thou art the King and Prince togither with the Father the holie Ghost where thine Angels and holie spirits be most happie citizens Oh purifie my soule keepe cleane my bodie that in both I may please thee sleeping and waking for euer Amen Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit For thou hast redeemed me ô Lord thou God of truth Psal 31 6. Another praier to be said last of the husband and wife before they giue themselues to sleepe O Lord assist vs that peaceablie we may now rest and sleepe in quiet Let our eies sleepe but let our harts wake vnto thee O lighten thou our eies that we sleepe not in death that Sathan hurt vs not and our enimie saie I haue preuailed against thee but watch ouer vs O eternall sauiour least the subtill tempter ouertake vs and we sleepe a perpetuall sleepe and wake no more For thou art made our euerlasting helper and protector Giue vs this night a good sleepe that quietlie without cares and anguish of mind we may take our rest Let not troublesome dreams and vaine fantasies and apparitions of the night nor the diuell disquiet vs. Defend vs this night from vncleane and troublesome spirits let not their rushings ragings and misrule disquiet vs. Keepe vs good Lord from sights of Sathan from snares and illusions of the diuell But admonish our soules of miseries to come euen as thou didst arme the Patriarches and Prophets by dreames and visions in the night when sleepe came vpon them from dangers nigh at hand through thine heauenlie oracles so gouerne and preserue vs in sleepe that our soules come not into danger danger neither fall vpon the swoord and pit of perils Let vs not sleepe in sinne and contempt of saluation as doo the children of night and darkenesse but make vs of the number of those which sleepe in Iesus and whome thou O Lord in the resurrection of the iust comming of thy Son shalt not suffer to be preuented with sleepe but wilt bring with thine elect to meete him in the clouds that whether we wake or sleepe we may liue togither with him and obteine euerlasting saluation through the merits of his death passion In thy name O sweet Iesu will we giue sleepe to our eies and slumber to our eie lids O Sauiour of the world saue vs Lord watching and keepe vs sleeping that in peace we may both rest and wake and let our sleepe be sweet and healthfull to our bodies that waking in the morning we may rise in good health and delight in thee our
God Grant also that both being in bed asleepe and awake we may alwaies remember our death which is a passing to an immortall life and withall our ioifull resurrection to euerlasting glorie Finallie at our last gaspe when our harts pant our strength faileth our sight departeth our hearing is deafe our mouth dumbe when our feet cannot go nor our hands feele when all our senses forsake vs giue vs O blessed Trinitie some sense of eternall life that we may tast in this world the beginning of thine euerlasting ioie and at our departure out of this world behold by faith thy diuine presence and so sleepe quietlie to eternall life Amen Amen Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord into thy hands we commend our soules because thou hast redeemed vs. Lord Iesu receiue our spirits At mid-night if you happen to awake praie HAue mercie vpon me O God after thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies doo awaie mine offenses Turne thy face from my sinnes and put out all my misdeeds Make me a cleane hart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holie spirit from me I will remember thee O God in my bed and thinke vpon thee now that I am waking because thou hast beene mine helper Euen now in the night season while thou holdest mine eies waking I saie will I thinke of thee my creator and make my praiers vnto thee my redeemer and God of my life that my soule may not refuse hir comfort In my bed now by night will I seeke thee whom my soule loueth O let me find thee and my soule embrace thee For with my soule doo I desire thee now in the night season and with my spirit within me will I seeke thee in the morning Yea at mid-night I will arise vp to giue thanks vnto thee O Lord because of thy righteous iudgements and in the night watches I will lift vp my hands towards thy holie place and blesse thee and powre out my hart before thee and saie Haue mercie vpon me O God haue mercie on me a most miserable sinner From the snares of the diuell O Lord deliuer me from the mid-night euill defend me and in the houre of death helpe me Our father which art in heauen c. Meditation AT mid-night there was a crie made Behold the bridegrome commeth go out to meet him blessed are those virgins whom the Lord when he commeth shall find waking O my soule let vs therfore take héed watch and praie that wée may bée found prepared with our Lamps burning readie to enter with our spouse and Lord Iesus vnto the wedding In the night when you heare the clocke strike praie THE clocke of our conscience dooth ring euerie minute the houre of death to be at hand O mercifull God grant vnto me therefore I beseech thee a happie houre blessed departure out of this life whensoeuer it shall please thee to call me hence and cause my soule to flie out of this bodie Be mercifull vnto me O God be mercifull vnto me a most miserable sinner and deliuer me from the houre of temptation death and damnation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Meditation HE that hath ears to heare let him heare The daie of the Lord will come as a théefe in the night Watch therefore because yée know neither the daie the time nor the houre when the sonne of man will come to iudgement VVhen you giue your selfe to sleepe againe and commend your selfe last to God Praie INto the hands of thy vnspeakable mercie O Lord I commend my wretched soule and bodie my senses speech counsell thoughts works all things belonging vnto me my lieng downe and rising vp my faith and conuersation the whole course and end of my life the daie and houre of my departure out of this world finallie my death buriall rest and resurrection beseeching thee O Lord now suffer mine eies to sleepe mine eie lids to slumber the temples of my head to take some rest that my bed may comfort me and my couch giue me some refreshing Grant that I may so sleepe gouerne and end my life that I may sleepe in peace and rest in thee Sticke thou to me O my God euen to the end that sleepe with rest and rest with quietnesse quietnesse with euerlastingnesse may receiue me For lo I giue my selfe once againe to sleepe and rest in the name of thee O Father Sonne and holie Ghost euermore crieng and saieng Haue mercie on me O glorious Deitie Haue mercie on me O triumphant humanitie Haue mercy on me O blessed Trinitie and receiue my spirit yea rather thy spirit into thy holy hands send me a ioifull resurrection with all thy Saints elect people Amen Amen The Conclusion NOt vnto vs O Alpha not vnto vs O Omega but vnto thy name O Iehoua be giuen all the glorie for thy louing mercie and for thy truths sake For thou hast directed the thoughts of our harts and prospered the works of our hands vpon vs euen thou I saie O Lord hast gouerned all our counsels enterprises from heauen hast gratiouslie wrought all our works for vs. O let our mouthes therfore be filled with thy praise and make vs continuallie thankefull that we may giue woorthie honor and glorie to thée for so great graces and manifold benefits bestowed vpon vs. And now forsomuch as thou hast giuen euerie one of vs that portion of thy graces that hath pleased thée and hast commanded vs to occupie and vse them to thy honor till thou come grant vs whether we haue receiued little or much that we doo not idelie or slothfullie neglect our dutie herein Suffer vs not I saie O swéet Christ with the rest of the world to fall asléep in the pleasant vanities of this life and to forget the waiting for thy comming but rather stirre vs vp by thy holie spirit faithfullie to vse thy gifts giuen vnto vs and in all warie watching fasting and earnest praier continuallie to prosper and go forward in our holie calling prouoking one another by good example to followe thée in true worship and due obedience and grant that all ambition vaine glorie hypocrisie and dissimulation being remooued our chéefe care may be in all our dooings studies and labours euer to séeke the increase of thine honor and the aduancement of thy kingdome and so with a single eie respecting the praise which is of thée looke and wait for the reward and recompense of our labours not of men but of thée that in that daie of thy second comming which shall be sudden and fearefull to the wicked we may with ioie and comfort méet thy sonne in the aire and when thou shalt heare our accounts we may also receiue of thée through our redéemer Iesus not onlie praise and commendation as thy good and faithfull seruants whose liues are hid in thée but also obtaine the finall
harts and clense our filthie soules from sinne Daugh. And by thy spirit and gifts of grace make vs a holie life for to beginne The praier Mother O Lord GOD most mercifull father who as vpon this daie placing thy seruant our most deer Souereigne and most gratious Queene Elizabeth in the Empire of this kingdome diddest deliuer thy people of England from danger of war and oppression both of bodies by tyrannie of conscience by superstition restoring peace and true religion with libertie both of bodies and minds and hast continued the same thy blessings without all desert on our part now by the space of these foure and twentie yeeres We who are in memorie of these thy great benefits assembled here togither most humblie beseech thy fatherlie goodnesse to grant vs grace that we may in word deed and hart shew our selues thankfull and obedient vnto thee for the same and that Elizabeth our vertuous Queene through thy grace may in all honour goodnesse and godlinesse long and manie yeeres liue and reigne ouer vs and we obeie and enioie hir Maiestie with the continuance of thy great blessings which thou hitherto hast by hir thy blessed minister powred vpon vs hir people This we beseech thee to grant vnto vs for thy deere Son Iesus Christs sake our Lord and Sauiour Daughter Amen Or else saie thus WE yeeld vnto thee most mightie and mercifull father immortall thanks for that it hath pleased thee of thy meere mercie and fatherlie bountie after the stormes of so manie troublesome times to conduct vs as vpon this daie out of banishment and exile into the comfortable port of tranquillitie by the hand of thy most gratious seruant and our deere Souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth When we were as sheepe wandering astraie in the wildernesse thou ordeinedst hir Maiestie to bee our shepheard to gather vs againe into thy sheepefold When we had beene long tossed hither thither with the outrage and cruell furie of tyrannicall persecution like a poore weather-beaten barke that hath beene continuallie tormoiled and tossed on the perilous surges of the outragious and swelling seas finding no sure rode nor harborough wherein to rest but continuallie in danger either to sinke into the sands or to be ouerwhelmed with waues or violentlie to be dashed in peeces against the maine rocks Euen then I saie when we despaired vtterlie of safegard standing stil in feare of the hazard of euerlasting confusion thou cōmittedst the helme to be guided by hir Graces wisedome who at last conducted vs into the hauen of this long desired peace and tranquillitie Therefore whereas thou hast placed hir in the regal throne to be our Dauid our Iosias our Samuel yea to be our shepheard and ring-leader in the waie of true holinesse and sincere religion Inspire hir mind with the manifold blessings of thy grace that she may walke all the daies of hir life in the path of thy commandements and happilie discharge hir dutie in that stewardship and dispensation which thou hast committed to hir Maiesties hands Inflame hir mind more and more with the loue of thy holie Gospell that all hir deeds thoughts and practises may tend to the propagation and planting of thy word and Christian religion in these hir Maiesties dominions Incline the motions of hir vertuous disposition aboue all things to seeke thine honour and glorie to sowe the seeds of the Catholike faith abundantlie in all places to cut off the brood of superstition and idolatrie to constitute true preachers of thy word and stablish euerie where thine holie Gospell and true religion Preserue hir most mercifull Father as hitherto thou hast most miraculouslie done from the diuelish deuises and practises of hir enimies that she may haue a long and happie reigne among vs to the aduancement of thy glorie and ioie and comfort of all vs hir subiects Let hir naturall disposition continue to hir foes terrible to hir subiects amiable to hir offenders mercifull to the vertuous bountifull indifferent to all men and in all respects parciall in no point neither in causes ecclesiasticall nor yet in matters concerning politike gouernement Assist hir most mercifull Father with the might of thy heauenlie spirit to quaile the pride of the triple-headed Romish Cerberus to banish his beggerlie ceremonies to abridge the terme of his reigne and finallie to cut off and preuent the seeds that continuallie striue to spring vp from abhominable superstition and idolatrie Grant hir grace most mercifull Father to run the remnant of hir race in the right path of thy commandements declining neither to the right hand nor to the left but so vsing all times thy heauenlie word as the rule and compasse to direct hir course Preserue hir Grace most mercifull Father in continuall health of bodie and quietnesse of mind that she may be alwaies able to rule the bridle of hir high charge and to execute right and iustice to all sorts and degrees to the aduancement of thy glorie and the vniuersall commoditie of hir Maiesties subiects And finallie grant O most mercifull Father that when it shall please thee to end the terme of hir daies in this world thou wilt make hir partaker of the celestiall ioies which are prepared for them that feare and loue thee since the foundation of the world Grant this most mercifull Father for thy deere Sonne our Lord Iesus Christs sake to whom with thee and the holie Ghost three persons one God be all glorie honour and praise world without end Amen Another thanks-giuing and praier vnto God for the preseruation of the Queenes Maiestie and the Realme ALmightie God and most mercifull Father which in thy great mercies hast both giuen vnto vs a peaceable Prince and gratious Queene and also haft hitherto verie often and miraculouslie saued hir from sundrie great perils and imminent dangers and by hir mercifull vnbloudie and gratious gouernement hast preserued vs and the whole Realme from manifold mischiefs and dreadfull plagues wherewith nations round about vs haue beene and yet be most greeuouslie afflicted haue mercie vpon them O Lord and grant vs grace we beseech thee for these thy great benefits that wee may be hartilie thankfull and obedient vnto thee to flie from all things that may offend thee and prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs and to order our liues in all things that may please thee that thy seruant our Souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth and we thy people committed to hir charge may by thy protection be continuallie preserued from all treacherous deceits and violences of enimies and from all other dangers and perils both bodilie and ghostlie and by thy goodnesse may be maintained in all peace and godlinesse Grant this O mercifull Father for thy deere sonnes sake our Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie for euer and euer Amen Another meditation to be vsed especiallie vpon the 17. daie of Nouember wherein the godlie English giueth thanks to God for the