best and finally desiring nothing but theé who with the father and the holy Ghost art the full and perfect felicity for all euer Amen ⧠A Prayer to the holy Ghost O Holy Spirit worthy of all worship which makest vp the almighty trinity which proceédest from the father and the sonne and art equall to either of them differing from them in only propriety of person which of thy â—nd Enoch walked with God and he was no more sene for God tooke him away c. Gen. â— There appeared a charet of fire and horses of fire to Elias went vp by a whirlwind c 2. Reg. 2 So after the Lord hâ—d spoken vnto them he was receiued into heauen and sate at the right hand of god And they went forth and preached â—c Mar. 16 goodnes forgeuest the sinnes of them that amend which with thy holy breth cleansest mennes mindes comforting them when they be in sorrow cheéring them vp with pure gladnes when they be in heauynes leading them into all truth when they be out of the way kindling in them the fire of charitye when they be a cold knitting them together with the glew of peace when they be at varyance and garnishing and inriching them with sundry giftes which by thy meanes profes the name of the Lord Iesu by whose working all things liue which liue in deéde whose delight is to dwell in the harts of the simple which thou hast vouchsafed to consecrate for temples to thy selfe I beseéch theé maintayne thy giftes in me increase the things dayly which thou hast vouchsafed vpon me that by thy gouernance the lustes of the flesh The birth of blessed Mary the virgine the mother of Christ c. There shall come a rod forth of the stocke of Iâ—ssâ— and a graffe c. Esay 11. There shall come a star of Iacob and a scepter shall rise of Israell c. Num. 24. may dye more and more in me and the desire of the heauenly life more quicken and increase Let me so passe through the misty desert of this world by thy light going before me as I may neither be defiled with Sathans vices nor be intangled with any errors disagreéing from thy truth which the true catholick church hath delyuered vs by the instinct of theé which liuest raignest euerlastingly with the Father and the Sonne Amen * A Prayer to God for his Spirite and grace to pray effectually ETernall and most mercyfull Father we know not our selues neither can easely vnderstand what or how we should pray as we ought But thou shalt goe vnto my fathers house and to my kinred and take a wifâ— c. Gen. 24. I will speak for her that she may be geuen theâ— to wife for to thee doth the right of her c. Tob. 6. Mary the mother of Iesu betrothed to Ioseph her husband before they came together was founde with childe by the holy ghost TheÌ„ Ioseph her husband being a iust men c Math. 1. Geue vs the Spirit ô Lord to help our infirmytyes which maketh requeste for vs vnto theé with sighes which cannot be expressed I lift vp mine eyes to theé that dwel lest in the heauens Stir vp my hart and mind ô Lord come into me ô spirite of God that I may come vnto theé with hart soule not with mouth and lips only Geue vs thy grace that we may call vpon theé as true worshippers in spirite and truth with the inward attention without hipocrisie and ambition Graunt that I aske nothing of theé but that which may agreé to thy holy will to thy prayse and glory and to the health of my soule â—nd in the â—i moâ—rt the Angell Gabrielâ— was sent froÌ„ God to a citie in Galile naâ—med Nazareth to a virgine affianced to a man whose name was Ioseph of the house of Dauid c. Luke 1. â—he â—aâ—de of the womâ—n shall â—read vpon the head of the serpent Gen. 3. The Angel sayd to him the Lord is with thee â—hou valyant man â—udges 6 Neither let my praiers ô Lord prescribe the time when and how they should be fulfilled But let me submit my selfe to thy holy will in all things with hope patience and humilitie of hart Thy will be done in earth ô Lord as it is in heauen I will wayt patiently ô Lord for theé that thou mayst incline vnto me and heare my prayer Behold euen as the eies of seruants looke vnto the hand of their masters and as the eyes of a mayd vnto the hand of her maistresse so our eyes will wayt vpon theé ô Lord vntill thou haue mercy vpon vs. â—nd Moyses returned to Iethro his father in law and sayd to him I pray c. Exo. 4. My soule doth magnify the Lord and my sprite doth reioyce in God my sauiour Luke 1. Aâ—d Mary câ—ose and went with hast into the hilly contrey to a citie of Iuda 〈◊〉 entred into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth And it came to passe c. Luke 1. In his name through faith we come to the throne of thy grace receiuing the spirite of adoption we cry Abba Father StrengtheÌ„ vs O Lord least the vnworthynes of our life withdraw and intice vs from prayer Assist vs therfore O most mercifull father that we may pray euery where lifting vp pure hands without wrath or doubting with supplications prayers intercessions geuing of thanks for our selues and for all men Graunt this through Iesus Christ our Lord who is also at thy right hand and maketh request for vs To whom with theé and thy holy Spirit be all laud and glory Amen When the dayes were accomplished Mary brought forth her first begotten sonne and wrapped him in swadling clothes and layd him in the manger because there was no roume c. Lu. 2. Put thy shoes of thy feete for the place wheron thou standest is holy ground Exod. 3. Aarons rod being put in the tabernacle did blossom and I will make cease c. Num. 17. * A Prayer for the whole Realm and the body of the Church with the members therof according to their estates degrees Abraham circumcised his sonne Isaac when he was eight dayes old as God had coÌ„maunded him c. Gen. 2. Let euery maÌ„ child among you be circumcised That is ye shal circumcise the foreskin of your flesh c. Ge. 17 And when the viii dayes were accomplished that they should circumcise the childe his name was then called Iesus which was so named of the Angel before he was conceiâ—ed c. Luke 2. And forasmuch as thou hast commaunded vs to pray inespecially for kings and Princes and for all such as are set in authoritie that the company of mankind may liue peaceably and quietly vnder them in all godlines and honesty considering how burthensome crownes and scepters are how hard the wealding of them is and how difficult a matter it is to discharge them well whether it be in respect of themselues or of their
A BOOKE OF Christian Prayers collected out of the aunciēt writers and best learned in our tyme worthy to be read with an earnest mynde of all Christians in these daungerous and troublesome dayes that God for Christes sake will yet still be mercyfull vnto vs. AT LONDON Printed by Iohn Daye dwellyng ouer Aldersgate 1578. ¶ Cum Priuilegio Elizabeth Regina 2. PARALIPOM 6. ¶ Domine Deus Israel non est similis tui Deus in coelo in terra qui pacta custodis misericordiam cum seruis tuis qui ambulant coram te in toto corde suo ⧠To the Christian Reader zeale and knowledge in true and harty prayer through Christ Iesus DAuid a Prophet and a Prince to whom the lord had done many great singular benefites bethought him selfe not so much to increase thē by vse as to requite them by thankes He therefore willing as a Prophet able as a prince but not able in deede though willing so to doe opened his good hart and sayd Quid retribuam Domino What reward shall I geue vnto the Lord Being resolued he answered I will receaue I will call and I will pay Psal. 116. Doe thou the like Christiā Reader which art as farre indebted as euer he And seeing that Iesus Christ him selfe calleth saying Come vnto me all you that labor and are laden and I will refresh you Mat. 11. Answere thou I come Lord Iesu I come I come and will pay my vowes promysed to thee in the presence of all thy people euen in the Courtes of thy house when I was receaued into the houshold of faith I come and will pray and prayse thee for al thy benefites I come and will harken to thy blessed word and keepe the same I come and will receaue the cup of saluation at thy holy table in remēbrance of thy death with thanksgeuing In this sort so many waies by Baptisme by prayer by hearing his blessed word by frequenting his table must we come vnto him and that with a liuely faith The Spirite is willing but the flesh is weake Mat. 26 ▪ come vnto him therfore especially by prayer Pray that he would strengthen both flesh and Spirite And thinke it not superfluous to pray because God already knoweth what we neede and what we will aske But pray because God hath commaunded Luke 8. Pray to humble thy selfe before the feete of his maiestie Pray because 〈◊〉 doest hourely want that grace which he will assuredly geue Pray therfore that you may haue Mat. 7. And pray least you fall into temptation Luke 12. And because God vnderstandeth pray not thou therfore in a language which thou vnderstandest not but with Spirite and Vnderstanding 1. Cor. 14. Not with mouth and lippes onely but with the hart Mat. 15. For the spirite also helpeth our infirmities making request for vs with sighes which cannot be expressed Rom. 8 As Anna and Mary Magdalen with teares from a groning hart spake nothing 1. Reg. 1 Luke 7. For God must be worshipped in spirite and truth Iohn 14. And pray not with much babling and vayn repetition Math. 6. Neither be rash with thy mouth neither let thy hart be hasty to bring forth a word in the sight of God for God is in heauen and thou art in earth therfore let thy words be few For as a dreame commeth by multitude of busines so is the voice of a foole in the multitude of words Eccle. 5. Prepare therfore thy selfe and soul to pray Eccle. 18. with teares Mach. 5. with watching Col 4. with almes Act. 10 with fasting Luke 1. as the Niniuites Iona. 3. as Dauid 2. Reg. 2. as Daniell cap. 9. For with fasting prayer is good Tob. 12 Which exercises as they are the only meanes not onely to excite and stirre vs vp to pray but also to make them acceptable before God through Iesus Christ so also a great care diligence must be vsed of vs to vse the same not of constraint but willingly geuing our selues therunto Luke 5. without ostentatiō Mat. 6. praying continually 1. Thessal 5. without ceasing Col. 1. as the widow Luke 18. and as the woman of Canaan Mat. 15. Praying alwayes 1. Thess. 1 and at al times day and night 2. Tim. 1. in all places euery where 1. Tim. 2. in the Temple and congregation Act. 22. and that bare headed 1. Cor. 11. at home in thy chamber secretly Mat. 6. in thy bed Psal. 6. at meale and meate Mat. 26. morning and euening Psal. 44. abroad in the field Luke 6. The Scripture is full of examples Peter prayd in the vpper part of the house Act. 10. Eliseus aboue in his chamber 4. Reg. 4. Danyell in the kinges chamber secretly Cap. 6. and among the Lyons Dan. 14. Moyses in the wildernes Iosu. 1. Ezechias the king in his bed Esay 34. Ionas in the Whales belly Cap. 3. Christ in fieldes and gardens Math. 26. and on his cros Mat. 27. For the place of prayer is not materiall Ioh. 4. I meane of Priuate prayer in which consideration pray in all places at all times whether it be seuen times a day with Dauid Psa. 118. or thrise a day with Danyel Cap. 6. Whether on the Sabaoth day or at the ninth houre especially when Gods Spirite shall moue thee so to doe For at any such time to defer thy prayer vntill thou find a better place to sitte stand or kneele is as much as to hinder if not to quench Gods Spirite Now it followeth to whom we must come To me sayth Christ for without me you can doe nothing Ioh. 15. whatsoeuer you shall aske the father in my name it shall be geuen you Ioh. 16. Come to no earthly man for cursed is he that putteth his trust in man Ier. 17. and who shall deliuer his brother or make agreement with God for him Psal. 49. Come to no heauenly saint For Christ is our onely Mediator and intercessor betweene God and vs. 1. Tim. 2. and whom haue I in heauen but thee saith Dauid Psal. 33. Come onely vnto him therfore And why to him only For in him the Father is well pleased Mat. 3. No man can come to the Father but by him Ioh. 14. He onely is present euery wher to heare the prayers of the whole world All power is geuen into his hands Ioh. 5 He onely knoweth the secrets of our hartes But who shall come Al you saith he that labour and are laden How laden Not with bags of gold and brags of righteousnes For he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Luke 5. Presēt not therfore thy prayers in thine own righteousnes Dan. 9. Play not the Pharisie but pray as the Publicane Luk. 18. And albeit God heareth not sinners Ioh. 9. yet that is meant of desperate sinners malicious despicers of Christ his Gospel not of the repentant in whom as it is requisite there be no brag of righteousnesse so is it as necessary that there
and the decree DestructioÌ„ was preached to the Niniuites if they repented not this was the condition and the decree Niniue repented and was not destroyed but saued was therfore Gods decree altered no For he decreed their destruction but vpoÌ„ this condition if they repented not Pray therfore if thou be godly that he would geue thee the grace to coÌ„tinue and if thou be sinful pray that he geue thee the grace to repent And thus very well our prayers haue strength to stay Gods wrath his decree remayning immutable because it is threatned but vpoÌ„ a condition if we repent not But whence hath prayer this strength of it self No. For we being iustified through faith haue peace toward God that is the fauor of God through our Lord Iesus Christ. Rom. 5. So that Christ is our mouth whereby we speake to the Father our eyes by which we see the Father our right hand by which we offer to the Father Which Christ except he be our aduocate neither we nor all the saints can haue any thing to doe with god For no maÌ„ coÌ„meth to the father but by him Ioh. 14. Why then are not our prayers alwayes heard hauing continually such a spokesman who hath all power both in heauen and earth Truely because either we aske amisse not according to Gods will and that which is not for vs to receaue or it pleaseth the Lord to defer our requestes for tryall of our faith and patience HereupoÌ„ it was that Dauid sayd Expectans expectaui Dominum With long wayting I waited for the lord and he inclined vnto me and heard my calling Psal. 40. Pray therfore continually with faith loue vnderstanding in the name of Iesus Christ pray for al men at al times in al places and for al things according to Gods wil. Though thou be a sinner though God foreknoweth the hart though his decree be immutable yet pray vnto him in Iesus Christ and he will refresh thee Of this I thought good to admonish thee Christian Reader because it is an easy thing to pray but to pray aright is a thing very difficult Here are prepared for thee zealous and godly prayers some translated out of Latin French some made by the best learned of our time Use theÌ„ as I haue taught thee that they may be to good vse Accuse not mine insufficiency in teaching but amend thine owne imperfection in praying praying that we talke not smoothly walk crookedly but that we may giue to God the father our maker obedience faith to Iesus Christ our redemer and mortification of the flesh to God the holy ghost our comfortor Fare wel in Christ Iesu. R. D. ⧠The Preface or preparation to prayer O Lord my good God and Father blessed be thy name for euer dispose my hart open my lips and guide me by thy holy spirite to a true acknowledgement of all my sinnes that my prayer may be heard of theé in the name of thy Sonne Iesus Christ So be it ¶ A prayer to be sayd at our first waking O God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ whom no man knoweth but by thy specyall gift graunt that vnto the rest of thine exceéding great benefites towards me this which is the greatest that can be bestowed vpon mankind There shall come a rod forth of the stocke of Iesse and a graffe c. Esay 11. There shall come a star of Iacob and a scepter shall rise of Israell c. Num. 24. The birth of blessed Mâ—ry the virgine the mother of Christ c. may be added also namely that as thou hast raysed vp my body from fast and sound sleépe so also thou wilt deliuer my mind from the sleépe of sin and from the darcknes of this world and after death restore the same body to life as well as thou hast called it agayne from sleépe For that which is death to vs is but sleépe vnto theé I pray and beseéch theé that through thy goodnes this body of mine may be a fellow and furtherer of all godlinesse to my soule in this life so as it may also be partner with it of the endles felicitie in the life to come through Iesus Christ thy sonne our lord For whose sake and by whom thou geuest vs all good and holsome thinges to our welfare Amen Another MUch better is the light of the soule and the insight of the Mary the mother of Iesu betrothed to Ioseph her husband before they came together was founde with childe by the holy ghost TheÌ„ Ioseph her husband being a iust man c Math. 1. But thou shalt goe vnto my fathers house and to my kinred and take a wife c. Gen. 24. I will speak for her that she may be geuen thee to wife for to thee doth the right of her c. Tob. 6. minde then the light or eyesight of the body The eyesight of the body euery silly beast hath but the sight of minde none hath but men Yea none haue it but wise men Thou therfore O Lord Iesu Christ which art the greatest of all lights the only true light the light from whence springeth the light of the day and the sonne Thou light which inlightenest euery man y commeth into the world Thou light whereon there commeth no night nor euentide but continuest euer bright and cleére as at midday Thou light wherewithout all things are deépe darcknesse and whereby all things were made lightsome Thou mind and wisdom of the heauenly Father inlighten my minde that being blind in all other things I may seé nothing but that which beloÌ„geth to theé and that I may thereby walke in thy wayes without fantasying or lyking The seede of the woman shall tread vpon the head of the serpent Gen 3. The Angel sayd to him the Lord is with thee thou valyant man Iudges 6 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 the â—ngell Gabriel was sent fro God to a citie in Galile 〈◊〉 Nazareth 〈◊〉 virgine affianced to a man whose name was Ioseph of the house of Dauid c. Luke 1. of any other light els Lord I beseéch theé inlighten mine eyes that I may neuer slumber in darcknes least my ghostly enemy say at any time I haue preuayled against him Amen * A prayer at our vprising OUr first father Adam being tumbled down from most excellent and glorious highnes into the dungeon of shame and sinck of all sinne was releéued lifted vp again by thy hand O Sauyour Iesus christ And we likewise should lye wallowing in the same plight for euer if we were not raysed vp by theé Wherfore O most mercifull Redeémer of mankinde like as thou of thy goodnes hast raysed vp this heauy and burthensome body euen so vouchsafe to lift vp my minde to the knowledge and loue of thy highnes Amen And Mary arose and went with hast into the hilly contrey to a citie of Iuda and entred into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth And it came to passe c Luke 1. And Moyses returned
to Iethro his father in law and sayd to him I pray c. Exo. 4. My soule doth magnify the Lord and my sprite doth reioyce in God my sauiour Luke 1. I Thanke theé O Lord Iesu Christ that it hath pleased theé to geue me good rest this night past And I beseéch theé likewise to prosper me all this day following to the glory of thy name and to mine own soules health And thou which art the true daylight that neuer knoweth any euentide And the euerlasting dayson which quickneth cherisheth and cheéreth all thinges vouchsafe to shine into my minde that I may not stumble into any sinne but by thy guyding come to eternall life Amen Another I Thank theé O holy Lord father almighty and euerlasting God that thou hast vouchsafed to keépe me this night through thy great mercy And I beseéch theé of thine vnmeasurable clemency to geue me grace so to pas this day now comming in all lowlynesse Put thy shoes of thy feete for the place wheron thou standest is holy ground Exod. 3. Aarons rod being put in the tabernacle did blossom and I will make cease c. Num. 17. When the dayes were accomplished Mary brought 〈◊〉 her first â—e â—otten sonne and â—rapped him in swaâ—lâ—ng clothes and layd him in the manger because there was no roume 〈…〉 meéknes chastity charitie patience goodnes feare and warynesse as my seruise may please theé through him which shall come to iudge both the quick and the dead the world by fire keépe and preserue me from all euil from all stumbling and geuing of offence from all wilfull sinning and from all the crafts and assaultes of wicked feénds and enemies seéne or vnseéne through our Lord Iesus Christ thine onely begotten sonne To whom be prayse and glory with theé for euermore Amen * A Prayer at the putting on of our Clothes MOst gracious and merciful sauyour Iesus Christ thou knowest how we be borne clothed clogged with the greéuous and heauy burthen of the first man who fell away vnto fleshlynesse through disobedience And when the viii dayes were accomplished that they should circumcise the childe his name was then called Iesus which was so named of the Angel before he was conceiued c. Luke 2. Abraham circumcised his sonne Isaac when he was eight dayes old as God had coÌ„maunded him c. Gen. 21 Let euery maÌ„ child among you be circumcised That is ye shal circumcise the fores skin of your flesh c. Ge. 17 Uouchsafe therefore I beseéch theé to strip me out of the old corrupt Adam which being soked in sin transformeth him self into all incumberances and diseases of the minde that may lead away from theé Rid me also quite and cleane of that his tempter the deceitfull Eue which turneth vs away from the obedience of thy Father Clothe me with thy self O my redeémer and sanctifyer clothe me with thy self which art the second man and hast yealded thy self obedient in all things to God thy father to rid away all lustes of the flesh and to destroy the kingdome thereof through righteousnes Be thou our clothing and apparrell to keép vs warme from the cold of this world For if thou be away by and by all things become noume weake and stark dead Wheras if thou be present they be liuely sound strong and lusty Abner said to Dauid make couenant with me and be hold mine hand shal be with thee c. 2. Sam. 3. The Queen of Saâ—a bring gifts to Ierusalem to Salomon with a very great trayâ—e c. 3. Reg· 10. â—here is the king of the Iewes that is 〈◊〉 for we haue 〈◊〉 his starre in the East and are â—ome to worship him When Herode the king heard this he was troubled all Ierusalem â–ª c. Math. 2. And therfore like as I wrap my body in these clothes so cloth thou me all ouer but specially my soule with thine own selfe Amen ⧠A Prayer to be sayd at our first going abroad I Must be fayn to go abroad among the snares which the deuill and his handseruant the world haue layd for me and I cary with me besides the stinges of mine own flesh Guyde me therfore O thou most sure guide be thou my leader thou God of my welfare Defend me O captayn from the traynes and stalles that are layd for me that whatsoeuer thinges I shall meéte with I may make no more accouÌ„t of them then they are worthy of but keép on my way with mine eyes so fast fixed and setled vpon theé alone as I may not deal with any thing further 〈◊〉 the dayes of Purification after the law of Moses â—â—re accomplished they brought Iesus to Ierusalem to preseÌ„t him to the lord as it is written in the law of the lord Luke 2. God sayd to Moses sanctify vnto me all the first borne that open al maner matrices among the childreÌ„ c. Exo. 13 Anna bare a sonne brought him into the house of the Lord in Siloh and the child was young c 1. Sam. 1. forth then it hath respect vnto theé Lord shew me thy wayes and lead me in thy pathes for thy Sonnes sake Amen * A Prayer to be sayd at our returning home O How excellent and ioyfull shall our returning home be into the euerlasting quyet and blessed house of heauen where there is no troble nor incumberance at al. All the mirth and gladnes of this world is but a shadow in comparysoÌ„ of the pleasures that are there Nothing O Lord is liker to thy holy nature then the minde that is setled in quietnesse Thou hast called vs into that quietnes and peace of thine froÌ„ out of the turmoiles of this world as it were from out of stormes into a hauen Which is such a peace as the world cannot geue and as passeth all capacitie of man. Behold thy brother Esau is coÌ„forted agaynst ther meaning to kill thee Gen. 27. Michaell spake vnto Dauid If thou saue not thy self this night to morrow c. 1. Sa. 19· â—rise and take the babe and his mother and flie into Egipt and be there till I bring thee word for Herode will seeke the babe to destroy him So he arose toke the babe his mother c Math. 2 Houses are builded for vs to repair into from the anoyance of the wether from the cruelty of beastes and from the waues and turmoiles of this troublous world Graunt now O most mercifull Father that through thy singular goodnes our bodies may so resort into theÌ„ from our outwarde doinges as our mindes may yeald them selues obedyent vnto theé without striuing that they may the better and more quyetly exalt them selues into that souerayne rest of thine aboue Graunt that nothing may disturb and disquyet them here beneath but that all things may be quyet and calme through that peace of thine The peace of Christ be to this house and to all that dwell therin Amen * A Prayer to be sayd
subiects 〈◊〉 is the king of the Iewes that reâ—orne â–ª for we haue â—ene his starre in the â—ast and are come to â—orship him â—heâ— Herode the king â—eard this he was â—roubled all Ieruâ—alem c. Math. â— Abner said to Dauid make couenant with me and be hold mine hand shal be with thee c. â— Sam. â— The Queen of Saba bring gifts to Ierusalem to Salomon with a very great trayâ—e c. 3. â—eg· 10. O Lord our good God thou hast set her vp to raigne ouer thy people geue vnto her thy handmaid and to al other princes thy seruants geue them wisdome and vnderstanding to iudge thy people and to discerne betweéne good and bad that they may not be vnprofitable and much lesse hurtfull in so holy a vocation God sayd to Moses sanctify vnto me all the first borne that open al maner matrices among the childreÌ„ c. Eâ—o 1â— Anâ—â— bare a sonne bâ—ought him into the house of â—he Lord in â—iloh and the child was young c. 1. Sam 1. 〈…〉 â—uriâ—â—cation after â—e 〈◊〉 of Moses â—ere accomplished 〈…〉 Iesus to Ierusalem to preseÌ„t him to the lord is it is written in the law of the lord Luke â— Also I pray vnto theé O Sauyour and father of truth for all those whom thou hast ordayned to be true Shepheards to thy faithfull and to whom thou hast coÌ„mitted the charge of mens soules and the dealing forth of thy holy gospell Guid them by thy holy spirite that they may be found faithfull and diligent in their holy vocation Arise and take the babe and his mother and flie into Egipt and be there till I bring thee word for Herode will seeke the babe to destroy him So he arose toke the babe his mother c Math. 2 Behold thy brother Esan is coÌ„forted against thee meaning to kill thee Gen. 27. Michaell spake vnto Dauid If thou saue not thy self this night to morrow c. â— Sa. 19. Let it please theé to make a general deliuerance and restitution of thy churches through the wholl world by sending forth laborers into thy haruest able and sufficient men to gather the poore stray sheépe together vnder the sheéphooke of the great shepherd of our soules thy sonne Iesus Christ. Moses cast the tables out of his handes and brake them in pâ—eces because of their idolatry c. Exo. 12 The Philistines â—nde Dagon fallen downe before the ark of the Lord c. 1. Sam. 5. He shall breake downe their altars he shal destroy their images For now they shall say we haue no king because we feared not the Lord and what should a king do to vs Osc. 10. As touching their hearers vnto such as profes thy name already geue true perseuerance in faith charitie and all good works to the glory of thy name to the health of their own soules And as touching the residue which walk as yet in the vanity of their own mindes touch thou their harts and geue them inlightned eyes that all of them may yeald them selues to serue and please theé Finally ô God of all coÌ„fort I beseéch theé haue pitie vpon the miseries and afflictions of all thy creatures in generall of the nations whom thou visitest with pestilence war or famine of the persons whom thou smitest with pouerty imprisonment sicknes banishment or other thy rods whether it be in their bodies or in their mindes and specially of thy chosen that suffer for the testimony of thy gospell Herode caused all male children to bâ— sâ—aine that were in Bethlehem and in all the costes theroâ— from two yeare olde and vnder according to the tyme which he had diligently searched c Mar. 2. Sâ—ul sayd to Doeg â–ª 〈◊〉 thou and fall vpon the priestes and Doeg the Edomite turned c. 1. â—a 22 Athalâ—a seing her sonne to be dead destroyed all the kings seed But Iehosheba c. Reg. 11. God spake to Iacob get thee out of this countrey Iacob toke all his gooddes and cattell c. Gen. â—1 Dauid asked counsel of the Lord saying Shall I go vp into any cities of Iudah c. 2. Sam. 2. The Angel sayd to Ioseph Arise and take the babe and his mother and go into the land of â—â—â—rael for they are dead which sought the babes life Then he arose and toke the babe c. Mat. â— * Another prayer for the church and all the states thereof by Iohn Foxe And Iesus when hâ— was baptised camâ— straight out of the water And lo the heauens were opened vnto him and Iohn saw the spirite of God descending like a doue c. Math. 3. Lift vp thy rodde and stretch out thine hande vpon the sea c. Exodus 14. They cutte down a branch with one cluster of grapes and bears vpon c. Num. 13. Esau selleth his byrth â—â—ght for a mâ—sse of pottage c. Gen. 25. The woman seyng the tree to be pleasaunt tooke of the fruit c. Gen. 3. The tempter 〈◊〉 to Christ saying If thou be the sonne of God commaunde that these stones be made bread But he aunswering sayd it is written Man shal not liue by bread only c. Math. 4. Behold a woman a Cananite came out of the sea coastes â–ª and cried saying vnto him Haue mercy on me O Lord c. Math. 15. â— certayne man was diseased 38. yeâ—res when Iesus saw him lie and knew c. Iohn â— â–ª And in the 〈…〉 of the night Iesus went vnto them walking on the sea c. Math. 14. But here alack commeth another mischief as great or greater then the other For the Turk with his sword is not so cruell but the bishop of Rome on the other side is more fierce and bitter against vs stirring vp his bishops to burne vs his confederates to conspire our destruction setting kinges against their subiects and subiects disloyally to rebel against their princes and all for thy name He that is without fault let him cast the first stone c. Iohn â— Iesus seyng their fayth sayd to the sick of the paulsey sonne c. Math. 9. And he tooke the v. loaues and two fishes and looked vp to heauen and blessed and brake and gaue the loaues to his disciples and the disciples c. Math. 14. Amongest vs Englishmen here in England after so great stormes of persecution and cruell murther of so many martires it hath pleased thy grace to geue vs these Alcyon dayes which yet we inioy and beseéch thy mercifull goodnes stil they may continue Christ cried with a loud voyce Lazaruâ— come forth Then he that was dead came forth â—ound hand â— foote with bandes and his face was bound with a napkin Iesus said vnto them c. Iohn 11. Helâ—as stretched himselfe vpon the childe and the Lord heard the voyce of Helâ—as c. â— Reg. 17. Heâ—â—â—ens comming into the house and behold the childe was dead and he stretched c. 4. Reg. 4. Abraham said Lord if I
words but also in dedes of purpose that we should follow thine example We pray theé therfore to shead in to vs the spirit of thy mildenesse that we may patiently suffer both the euill will and the euill speéch and the euill doings of our enemies as we hear say thou diddest and as we dayly perceiue that thou doest still Let vs nether requite wrong in deéd nor take vpō vs to reuenge our selues Charitie visiteth the sick I was sick ye visited me Math. 25. Let it not greue thee to visit the sick Eccle. 7 in words nor wish or desire any such thing in hart or minde but let vs be so farre of from all reuenge as we may euen doe them good and help them to the vttermost of our power and with earnest prayer and supplication craue good things of theé for them namely that thou vouchsafe to geue thē a good minde and al other things which thou knowest to be for their welfare profit commoditie and soul health so as we may be thy children in deéde which bestowest thy bounteousnes not only vpon the good and thankful but also vpon the wicked and vnthankfull and also thy kindly disciples which prayed thy father to forgeue their most vnrighteous tormentors Amen * Another MOst mercifull and louing Father which hatest not any of the Charitie visiteth prisoners I was in prison and ye came Math. 25. Onesiphorus oft refreshed me was not 2. Tim. 1. thinges which thou hast made but sufferest and bearest with mennes misdoinges winking at them to prouoke them to repentance We beseéch theé most humbly euen with all our harts to poure out vpon our enemies with bountifull hand whatsoeuer thinges thou knowest may doe them good and cheéfly a sound and vncorrupt minde wherthrough they may know theé and seéke theé in true charitie with their wholl hart and loue vs thy children for thy sake Let not their hating of vs turne to their harme neither let vs in any wise hurt them seéing that we cannot doe them good for want of abilitie Destroy thē not O father for their hatred towards vs but saue them at our intreatance for them Lord we desire their amendment and not their punishment Separate them not from vs by punishing Sight Let thine eyes behold that is right Prouerb 4. them but ioyne and knit them to vs by thy fauorable dealing with them And seéing we be all ordayned to be Citizens of the one euerlasting Citie let vs begin to enter into that way here already by mutuall loue which may bring vs right forth thether through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen * A confession of our sinnes O Lord my God euerlasting and almighty Father I acknowledge and confesse before thy holy and high Maiestye that I was bread and borne in sinne and corruption and that since my birth I haue not ceased nor doe cease dayly to transgresse thy commaundements In respect whereof I cannot escape ruine and destruction according to thy rightfull iustice Notwithstanding forasmuch as I am sory that I haue offended theé and doe condemne Hearing The eare of ielosy heareth all thyngs Wisdome 1. both my self and my sinne and forasmuch as it hath plesed theé to loue vs euen when we were thine enemies and for assurance therof to giue vs thy only and welbeloued sonne our Lord Iesus Christ to be a mediator aduocate betweéne theé and vs promising vs that we shall obtayn whatsoeuer we aske of theé in his name Uouchsafe O most louing God and mercifull Father to pardon and forgeue me in his name and for his sake and not only to cleanse my hart from all vanitie and vncleannes but also to gouern and guid me by thy holy spirit in all my wayes that I may liue according to thy holy and heauenly cōmaundements all the dayes of my life to the glory of thy name through the same thy wel beloued Sonne So be it Taste The mouth tasteth the meats Iob. 34. * A Prayer for remission and forgeuenes of sinnes SO huge is the heape of our sinnes and in so sundry wise haue we offēded O righteous and holy lawmaker that vnles we lift vp our mindes to the considering of thy goodnes we must neédes despaire Theé we displease to theé doe we bid battail through our wicked deédes To theé do we profes enmitie euen to theé which art almighty which hast no neéd of any thing whom nothing can hurt and yet art thou the party that doth first offer peace and attonement Because nothing hapneth oftner to vs thē to fall into this disease we haue neéde of nothing so much as of the medicine of thy mercy and thou doest alwayes offer it vs redely and set it before vs. Smelling Geue a swete smell as incense c. Eccle. 39. Wherfore graunt we beseéch theé O most mild and kindharted Father that we may both discern our diseases and know the remedies of them and seéke them as it becommeth vs at thine only hand who art wont to graunt them so easely at our requestes for the loue of thine only sonne Iesus Christ Amē Another MOst mercifull and gratious father I beseéch theé let not other mennes naughtines hurt me but rather let their goodnes further me thou art the terrible ielious God which reuengeth the wickednes of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate theé and againe on the other side art treatible and mild insomuch that thou shewest mercy vnto thousands in them Touching Touch no vncleane thing 2. Cor. 6. that loue theé and keép thy commaundements Adde this also as an increasement of thine exceding great goodnes that the faults of my forefathers in the flesh light not vpon my head but that the weldoing of thy sōne Iesus Christ who is our father may succor me Be not angry with me for their sakes that begate this body of mine but let me feéle theé fauourable to me for Iesus Christes sake who hath begotten my soule new again Amen Another Esay 2. 19. Math. 24. Mark. 13. Luke 17 The sun shall be darkned the moone shal lose hir light the starres shall fal from heauen Two men shall be in the field the one receaued the other shall be refused Alas how sore are we nouseled in sinne by custome in so much that as now we can almost doe nothing els and yet we perceiue not when we do amisse O how small an account doe we make of it We lie wallowing vp on the ground in dirt and dung and yet we neuer strayne our selues so much as to lift vp our heads that we might not rot as we lye What father would forbeare vs so often in breaking his commaundements Yet not withstāding thou O God doest bear with vs and winkest at our sinnes and thy goodnes and long sufferance allure vs to amendement To thee therefore be glory and prayse for euer and euer Amen Two women shall be grinding at the mill the one shall be receaued the
other shall be refused Another O Souerain creator of al things when I consider what maner of maiestie I haue offended with my sins I doe euen shudder at mine own rashnes When I bethink me how gracious and bountifull a father I haue forsakeÌ„ I abhorre mine own vnkindnes When I perceue from how blessed freédome of minde into how miserable thraldome I haue cast my selfe I condemn mine own madnes and I vtterly mislike of my self and my conscience is put in such terror by thine vneschuable iustice as I seé nothing before me but helfire and disparre The Sea shall swell higher theÌ„ any hill shall fal agayne as low fishes monsters of the Sea shal appere with roaring voyce Again how redy thou art to pardon such as amend thine own only begotteÌ„ sonne doth beat into our heads by many parables as of the lost groate and the finding thereof again of the shepherds bringing home of his stray sheép vpon his shoulders but most euidently of the prodigall sonne whose Image I seé plainly in my selfe The sea and all fluddes shall burne trees and herbes shal drop bludâ— Cities and all buildings shall be ouerturned O let thy mercy receiue him now submitting himself whom thou hast he therto borne withall so gentely in his straying from theé I am vnworthy to lift vp mine eyes to theé or to call theé by the name of father Neuerthelesse vouchsafe I beseéch theé to cast thine eye vpon me For thy loking towardes the sinner maketh him to reuiue when he is dead and to returne home again when he is lost Stoneâ— shall tuÌ„ble together and make a huge none Tirrâ—ble earthquakes shall make meÌ„ hide theÌ„selues Valyâ—s shall be 〈◊〉 and hils broght low Slaue that I am and worthy of all maner of punishment I seeke not that thou shouldst imbrace me and kisse me I craue not the long robe and the ring which are the badges of the former dignity that I did hold scorne of I sue not to be receiued to the honor of thy children It shall be a benefite great inough for me if thou admit me but into the number of thy basest seruantes euen of such as are bronded brought again from roging that I may at least wise be some hanger on vnto theé for in thy house there are many roumthes They that hid theÌ„selues shall runne forth like mad meÌ„ â–ª The bones of the dead shall appere aboue the Sepulcres The powers of heauen shall be shaken It shall not greéue me to be counted among the abiects in this life and to be racked with repentance and to be sullied with mourning so I may not be separated from theé for euer I pray theé and I beseéch theé by the death of thy dearly beloued and only begotten sonne impart thy spirit vnto me to cleanse my hart and to strengthen it with his grace that I slide not thether again through ouersight from whence I was called back by thy mercy Amen * Another I Haue gone astray like a lost sheep seeke out thy seruant O Lord for I haue not been vnmindfull of thy coÌ„maundements The offences ouersightes of my youth remember not O lord Be mindfull on me according to thy mercy For thy goodnes sake Euery one liuing shall dye presently Heauen earth all elementes shall burne The dead shall rise O Lord keepe my soule and deliuer me so shall I not be ashamed of putting my trust in thee Turne my mourning into ioy Rend my sackcloth asunder and compasse me about with gladnes that my tongue may sing to thee without prick or sting of conscience Amen * Another IF thou looke straitly to our sinnes O Lord Lord who shall abide it But forasmuch as there is mercy with thee I haue waited vpon thee for thy lawes sake O lord My soule hath held out in thy word my soule hath trusted in thee O lord For with thee there is mercy and plenteous redemption and thou redemest Israell from all his iniquities Amen Another Knowledge of God in Iesus Christ is life Mahomet and his Alcoron is perdition THou hast chastised me O Lord I am brokeÌ„ as an vntamed youÌ„g bullock Turne me I shal be turned for thou art the Lord my God for wheÌ„ thou hadst once turned me I amended and when thou hadst shewed me my faults I strake my thigh I was ashamed and blushed because I abode the reproch of my youth Another O Good Iesu O sweét Iesu y soÌ„ne of the virgine Mary full of mercie and truth O sweét Iesu haue pitie vpoÌ„ me according to thy great mercy O louing Iesu I beseéch theé by that precious bloud of thine which thou didst vouchsafe to shed for vs wretched sinners vpon the altar of the crosse put away all my sinnes and despise me not in myne humble sute calling vpon this thy most holy name of Iesus This Loue of God is in spirite and truth Idolatry is Spirituall adultery name Iesus is a swet name this name Iesus is a healthfull name For what els is Iesus but Sauior O good Iesu which hast created me redeémed me with thine own bloud suffer me not to be damned whom thou hast created O good Iesu let not my wickednesse destroy me whom thy almighty goodnes hath made O good Iesu consider what is thyne in me whatsoeuer is otherwise wipe it away O good Iesu haue mercy vpon me while the tyme serues to haue mercy least thou destroy me in the tyme of thy dreadful doome O good Iesu although I myserable sinner haue iustly deserued euerlasting punishment for my most greéuous sinnes by thy rightful iustice yet do I appeal from thy rightfull iustice to thyne vnspeakable mercie therfore pity thou me as a louing Father and mercifull lord O good Iesu what profit is ther Fayth apprehendeth Christ Iesus Cayne dispaireth of mercy Aboue al take the shield of fayth Ephe. 6. Behold thou hast cast me out Genesis 4. in my bloud that I should go down into euerlasting corruptioÌ„ For the dead shall not prayse theé O Lord nor yet they that goe downe into hell O most mercifull Iesu haue mercy vpon me O most sweét Iesu set me at liberty O louing Iesu be fauorable to me sinner O Iesu admit me wretched sinner into the number of thy chosen O Iesu the health of theÌ„ that trust in theé O Iesu the welfare of them that beleue in theé haue pity vpon me O Iesu the sweéte remission of all my sinnes O Iesu the sonne of the virgine Mary poure thy grace wisedome louingnes charity and humility into me and in all mine aduersityes geue me holy patience that I may be able to beare thy crosse with theé to loue theé to glory delight in theé for euer and euer Amen Another Hope maketh not ashamed Iudas ashamed anâ— hanged him selfe MOst righteous and mercifull god remember that thou art pitiful and that thou art my redeemer As thou art a iudge to condemne offenders so art
may be moued with pitie towardes those whom we seé oppressed with the Vse a little wine for thy stomack 1. Tim. 5 Woe vnto them that 〈◊〉 vp early c. Esay 1. Measure in vvine comforteth Excesse vvalketh vvantonly same aduersities O most milde and mercifull Christ we beseéch theé brethe vpon vs the spirit of thy meékenes and goodnes that like as thy pitying of vs made theé to indure most bitter death and torments for vs so our pitying of our neighbors may lead vs to succour them to our power Amen Another WHere Charitie and Loue are there is the congregatioÌ„ of the Sayntes There is neither wrath nor disdayne but stedfast charitie for euer Therfore graunt vs O Lord God that we may loue one another vnfaynedly for where loue is there art thou and he that loueth his brother is born of thee and dwelleth in thee and thou in him And where brethren doe glorifie Sobriety watcheth her mouth Voluptuousnesse â—yoteth Let vs which are of the day be sober 1. Thess. 5. For it is suffycient for vs c. 1. Pet. 4. thee with one accord there doest thou poure out thy blessing vpon them Loue vs therefore O Lord and shead thy loue into our hartes that we may loue thee and our bretheren in thee and for thee as all children to thee through Iesus Christ Amen ⧠A Prayer for the afflicted and persequuted vnder the tiranny of Antichrist O Mercifull Father who neuer doest forsake such as put their trust in theé stretch forth thy mighty arme to the defence of our brethren by the rage of enemies persequuted and greéuously tormented in sundry places for the true profession of thy holy Gospell who in their extreém necessitie cry for comfort vnto theé Let not thy long suffering O Lord Whose apparailing let not be c. 1. Pet. 3· The steps of a strange woman c. Prouerb 5. Chastitie is secrete and clean Vncleanes is like a Goate be an occasion either to increase the tyranny of thy enemies or to discourage thy children but with speéde O lord consider their great miseries and afflictions Preuent the cruell deuise of Haman Stay the rage of Holophernes Breake the counsell of Achitophell Let not the wicked say Where is now their God Let thy afflicted flock feéle present ayde and releéfe from theé O Lord look down vpon them with thy pitifull eye from thy holy habitation send terror and trembling among their enemies make an end of their outragious tiranny beate back their boldnes in suppressing thy truth in destroying thy true seruants in defacing thy glory and in setting vp Antichrist Let them not thus proudly aduaunce themselues against theé and thy Christ but let them vnderstand and feéle that against theé PerseueraÌ„ce â—ndureth to the end Reuolting a Sow in the mire If they continue grounded in faith 1. Tim. 2. He that endureth to the end shal be saued Mat. 10 they fight Preserue and defend the vine which thy right hand hath planted and let all nations seé the glory of thine annoynted Amen * A Prayer for our bretheren that are in aduersitie MOst gratious and merciful sauiour we finde by experience almost euery minute of an houre that this life of oures is fraughted with aduersities which grow vnto euery of vs either out of the sinfulnes of the flesh or of ech mannes own folly or of other mennes spitefulnes Besides this other mennes misfortunes are both an increase and an example of our own For we seé by them that the like may befall vs and brotherly charity compelleth vs to be sory for them In respect wherof thou also hast commaunded vs to weépe with them Charitie feedeth the hungry I was an hungry and ye gaue me meate Mat. 25. If thine enemy hunger feede him Prouer. 25 â–ª that weépe and to mourn with theÌ„ that mourn and to be like minded one towards another as members all of one body Thou therfore O mercifull Redeémer which hast borne our infirmities harken to the prayers which we poure out before theé for the releéfe of our bretherens aduersities increase not our sorrowes by the sorrowes of our frends Rid them out of their miseries that they may the more quietly set their minds vpoÌ„ theé we through thy gratious goodnesse be discharged of no small peéce of our heauines Or if it be not expedient either for them or vs for thou only knowest what is expedient for euery man at least wise giue them power of minde and strength of bâ—dy to bear their sore crosses the easilyer so as neither their bodies may be vnable to abide and indure the paines nor their harts quayle vnder the grief Charitie geueth drinke to the thirsty I thirsted and you gaue me drink Mat. 25. The Niggard witholdeth drinke from the thirsty Esay 32. wherby they might be dryuen to doe say or thinke any thing which thou mightest mislike of or which might turne to their own hurt through impatience or dispayre Amen ⧠A Prayer for them that be in pouertie THey that are snarled and intangled in the extreém penury of things neédfull for the body cannot set their minds vpoÌ„ theé O Lord as they ought to doe but when they be disapoynted of the thinges which they doe so mightely desire their harts are cast down and quaile for excesse of grief Haue pitie vpon them therfore O mercifull father and releéue their misery through thine incredible riches that by thy remouing of their vrgent necessitie they may rise vp vnto theé in minde Thou O Lord prouidest inough for all men Charitie harboâ—eth strangers I was a stranger ye lodgeed me Mat. 25. I haue not suffered a stranger to lye without Iob. 31. with thy most liberall and bountifull hand but wheras thy gifts are in respect of thy goodnes freé fauor made common to all men we through our naughtines nigardship and distrust doe make them priuate and peculiar Correct thou the thing which our iniquity hath put out of order let thy goodnes supply that which our niggardlynes hath plucked away Geue thou meate to the hungry and drinke to the thirsty Comfort thou the sorrowfull Cheére thou vp the dismayd StreÌ„gthen thou the weake Deliuer thou them that are prisoners And geue thou hope and courage to them that are out of hart O Father of all mercy haue compassion of so great misery O Fountain of all good thinges and of all blessednes wash thou away these so sundry so manifold so great miseries of oures Charitie clotheth the naked I was naked ye clothed me Mat. 25 If a brother or Sister be naked or destitute Iames. 2. with one drop of the water of thy mercy for thine only Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christes sake Amen * A Prayer to be sayd for our Euilwillers MOst mercifull Redeémer thou hast commaunded vs to pray for them both which wish vs euill and as much as in them lyeth doe worke vs euill and that hast thou done not only in