thy holy Commandments And as thou didst confirm the faith of Thomas thy Apostle whom thou didst suffer to be doubtful of thy Sons resurrection so grant unto us that we may so perfectly and without all doubt believe in thy Son Jesus Christ that our faith in thy sight may never be reproved And as thou didst chuse thy faithful servant Matthias in the place of the traytor Judas to be numbred with the Twelve Apostles so grant still that thy Church being alwayes preserved from false Apostles may be ordered and guided by faithful and true Pastors And seeing thou hast instructed thy Church with heavenly doctrine in thy Gospel by the labour and care of St. Mark and the other Evangelists give us grace that we be not like children carried away with every blast of vain doctrine but finally be established in the truth of thy holy Gospel and grant us perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way the truth and the life whom truly to know is everlasting life as thou hast taught Philip and the other Apostles And O Lord as thou didst earnestly command thy Apostle Peter to feed thy flock make we beseech thee all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy word and the people obediently to follow the same that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory And as thy holy Apostle James leaving his Father and all that he had without delay was obedient to the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ and followed him so we forsaking all wordly and carnal affections may be evermore ready to follow thy commandements that as he preached what he was taught from thee so we may believe what he preached and love what we do believe And let the example of Matthew who readily obeyed thy blessed Sons call from the receipt of custome to be an Apostle and Evangelist be our imitation in forsaking all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches and to follow thy Son Jesus Christ who is God blessed for ever Grant us to love our enemies by the example of thy Martyr Stephen who prayed for his persecutors and cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church that it being lightned by the doctrine of thy Apostle and Evangelist John may attain to thy everlasting gifts And seeing we read those young innocent children of Bethlehem did shew forth thy praise not in speaking as witnesses but in dying for thy names sake mortifie and kill all vices in us that in our conversation our life may express thy faith which with our tongues we do confess And as thou wert pleased to teach the world through the preaching of thy blessed Apostle Paul grant we beseech thee that we which have his wonderful conversion in remembrance may follow and fulfil the holy doctrine which he hath taught us whom with Barnabas as thou didst endue with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost so let us not be destitute of thy manifold gifts nor yet of grace to use them always to thy glory And seeing thou hast ordained and constituted the services of all Angels and men in a wonderful order mercifully grant that they which alway do thee service in Heaven may by thy appointment succour and defend us in earth And as thou didst call Luke the Physician whose praise is in the Gospel throughout the Churches to be a Physitian of the Soul may it please thee by the wholsome medicines of his doctrine to heal all the diseases of our Souls and thus O Lord seeing thou hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the head corner stone and that thou hast knit together thy Elect in one Communion and fellowship in the mystical body of thy Son We beseech thee grant that we may so be joyned together in unity of spirit by the doctrine of thy Apostles that we may be made an holy Temple acceptable unto thee as also that we may so follow thy holy Saints in all vertuous and godly living that we may come to those unspeakable joyes which thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour in whose name and words we further call upon thee saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Heavenly Prayer VI. O Most holy and merciful God We do here humbly and thankfully acknowledge thy infinit love in the great work of our redemption by thy Son Jesus Christ the glad tidings of whose incarnation Conception of our Saviour thou wert pleased to make known unto us by the message of an Angel We beseech thee poure thy grace into our hearts that as we are brought to the knowledge of his conception so by his Cross and Passion we may be translated unto the glory of his Resurrection Thou wert gratiously pleased to give him thy only begotten Son to take our nature upon him and to be born of a pure Virgin Grant Birth that we being regenerate and made thy children by Adoption and grace may dayly be renewed by thy holy Spirit through the same our Lord Jesus Thou didst also make thy blessed Son to be circumcised and obedient Circumcision to the law for man grant us the true circumcision of the heart that our hearts and all our members mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts may in all things obey thy blessed will And as thou wert pleased by the leading of a Star to manifest thy only begotten Epiphâ—â—y Son to the Gentiles mercifully grant that we which know thee now by faith may after this life have Presenting in the â—emple the fruition of thy glorious Godhâ—ad And as he was presented in the Temple in the substance of our flesh So grant that we may be presented unto thee with pure and clean mindes And as by thy providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born and sent to prepare the way to the manifestation of thy Son our Saviour by preaching of repentance make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life that we may truly repent according to his preaching and after his example constantly speak the truth boldly rebuke vice and patiently suffer for the truths sake And O Lord who of thy tender love towards man hast sent our Saviour Jesus Christ not only to take upon him our flesh but to suffer death upon the Cross mercifully Passion grant that we may both follow the example of his great humility and patience and be made partakers of his Resurrection And we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family for the which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed and thus to be given up into the hands of wicked men And not only us but the whole body of thy Church which by thy Spirit is governed and sanctified and all estates of men in thy holy Congregation for whom we beseech thee to receive our supplications and prayers which we now offer before thee for them that every member of the same in
the same to serve better to godlinesse XXXIII Of excommunicate persons how they are to be avoided THat person which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the unity of the Church and excommunicated ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithfull as an Heathen and Publicane untill he be openly reconciled by Penance and received into the Church by a Judge that hath authority thereto XXXIV Of the traditions of the Church IT is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one or utterly like for at all times they have been divers and may be changed according to the diversity of countries times and mens manners so that nothing be ordained against Gods word Whosoever through his private judgment willingly and purposely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church which be not repugnant to the word of God and be ordained and approved by common authority ought to be rebuked openly that other may fear to do the like as he that offendeth against the common order of the Church and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate and woundeth the consciences of the weak brethren Every particular or nationall Church hath authority to ordain change and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained onely by mans authority so that all things be done to edifying XXXV Of Homilies THe second Book of Homilies the severall titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth contain a godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former book of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixth and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may be understanded of the people ¶ Of the names of the Homilies 1 OF the right use of the Church 2 Against perill of Idolatry 3 Of the repairing and keeping clean of Churches 4 Of good works first of Fasting 5 Against gluttony and drunkennesse 6 Against excesse of apparell 7 Of prayer 8 Of the place and time of Prayer 9 That common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministred in a known tongue 10 Of the reverent estimation of Gods word 11 Of alms-doing 12 Of the Nativity of Christ 13 Of the Passion of Christ 14 Of the Resurrection of Christ 15 Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ 16 Of the gifts of the holy Ghost 17 For the Rogation dayes 18 Of the state of Matrimony 19 Of Repentance 20 Against Idlenesse 21 Against rebellion XXXVI Of consecration of Bishops and Ministers THe book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of Priests and Deacons lately set forth in the time of Edward the sixt and confirmed at the same time by authority of Parliament doth contain all things necessary to such Consecration and ordering neither hath it any thing that of it self is superstitious and ungodly And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that book since the second yeer of the afore-named King Edward unto this time or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites we decree all such to be rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered XXXVII Of the civill Magistrates THe Queens Majesty hath the chief power in this Realm of England and other her Dominions unto whom the chief government of all estates of this Realm whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Civill in all causes doth appertain and is not nor ought to be subject to any forreign Iurisdiction Where we attribute to the Queens Majesty the chief goverment by which Titles we understand the mindes of some slanderous folks to be offended we give not to our Princes the ministring either of Gods word or of the Sacraments the which thing the Injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth our Queen do most plainly testifie but that onely prerogative which we see to have been given alwayes to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself that is that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Temporall and restrain with the civill sword the stubborn and evil doers The Bishop of Rome hath no Iurisdiction in this Realm of England The Lawes of the Realm may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences It is lawfull for Christian men at the commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in the wars XXXVIII Of Christian mens goods which are not common THe riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right title and possession of the same as certain Anabaptists do falsly boast Notwithstanding every man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give almes to the poor according to his ability XXXIX Of a Christian mans oath AS we confesse that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ and Iames his Apostle So we judge that Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may swear when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charity so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in justice judgment and truth LX. The Ratification THis Book of Articles before rehearsed is again approved and allowed to be holden and executed within the Realm by the assent and consent of our Soueraign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith c. Which Articles were deliberately read and confirmed again by the subscription of the hand of the Archbishop and Bishops of the upper House and by the subscription of the whole Clergy in the neither House in their Convocation in the yeer of our Lord God 1571. THE END Books Newly Printed Ecclesiae Anglicanae Suspiria The teares sighs complaints and prayers of the Church of England in four Books by J. Gauden D. D. Folio The Refuter Refuted or Dr. Hammonds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 defended by a third person 4.
excellent prayer pag. 28. Psalm 95. O come let us sing c. pag. 34. We praise thee O God c. pag 35. Luk. 1. 68. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel c. pag. 37. Psalm 100. O be joyful in the Lord c. pag. 38. Luk. 1. 46. My soule doth Magnify the Lord c. pag. 39. Psalm 98. O sing unto the Lord a new song c. pag. 40. Luk. 2. 29. Lord now letest thou thy servant depart c. pag. 41. Psam 67. God be Mercifull unto us and blesse us c. pag. 41. The Creed I believe in God c. pag. 42. The Nicen Creed I believe in one God c. pag. 43. The Creed of Athanasins commonly so called Whosoever will be saved c. pag. 45. The Ten Commandements 49. Some Choice sentences out of Scripture used at the beginning of prayer c. pag. 51. Prayers for raine faire wether in time of dearth and famine in time of war in time of any common plague or sicknes and thanksgivings for the returne of each pag. 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59. A thanksgiving of Women after Childbirth pag. 59. The Seven administrations 1. Baptisme pag. 63. 2. Communion pag. 75. 3. Visitation of the sick pag. 91. 4. Catechisme pag. 117. with confirmation pag. 128. 5. A day of fasting or Humiliation pag. 131. 6. Matrimony pag. 141. 7. An Exhortation at the Buriall pag. 153. Some prayers used upon the Fifth of November pag. 161. A prayer formerly used by the Speaker of the house of Commons in Parliament pag. 169. A prayer for the Parliament used in the house pag. 174. The substance of the Ancient manner of Ordination in the Church of England pag. 177. The Articles of the Church of England An Advertisement PAge 80 81 82. some Prayers at the Communion in relation to the Nativity Resurrection and Ascension of our Saviour Pentecost Trinity-Sunday are intended only for their proper festivals but may be used at the discretion of the Minister Page 27. line 18. read glory and triumph into thy kingdome of Heaven p. 29. l. 21. dele any hurt by p. 31. l. 13. dele in their lawful affairs p. 118. l. 4. r. and I heartily thank our Heavenly Father that he hath called me to this state of salvation through Jesus Christ our Saviour p. 123. l. 27. r. be merciful unto us and p. 199. dele 100. DEVOTIONS OF THE ANTIENT CHURCH A Prayer for the Morning I. ALmighty God and in thy Son Jesus Christ our most mercifull Father we acknowledge we have erred and strayed from thy wayes like lost sheep we have followed too much the corrupt desires of our own hearts and have offended against thy holy lawes by leaving undone those things which we ought to have done and doing those things which we ought not to have done So that in us dwelleth no good thing We beseech thee to have mercy upon us who are miserable offenders to spare us who do confesse our faults and restore us who are penitent for them according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant O most mercifull Father for his sake that we may hereafter live a godly righteous and sober life to the glory of thy holy name And O Lord in regard we heare out of thy word that thou desirest not the death of a sinner but rather that he may turne from his wickedness and live and hast given power and commandement to thy Ministers to declare and pronounce to thy people being penitent the forgiveness and remission of their sinnes And that thou wilt pardon all them that truely repent and unfeignedly believe thy holy Gospell We beseech thee to grant us true repentance and thy holy Spirit that those things may please thee which we do at this present and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy so that at the last we may come to thy eternall joy where our lips shall be opened and our mouth continually shew forth thy praise in giving glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost world without end And O Lord our heavenly Father who art the author of peace and lover of concord in the knowledge of whom standeth our eternall life whose service is perfect freedom mercifully heare us now we call upon thee defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies that we surely trusting in thy defence may not feare the power of any adversaries but by thy being with us and shewing thy mercy upon us and granting us thy salvation thy chosen people may be still joyfull in thee peace may be given and continued in our time O Lord and thy inheritance even thy people may be blessed and saved and taught to put their trust in thee there being no other that fighteth for us but only thou our God and do thou make cleane our hearts within us that thy holy Spirit be not taken from us And seeing O Lord thou hast safely preserved us hither to this day defend us in the same with thy mighty power and grant that this day we fall into no sinne neither run into any kind of danger but that all our doings may be ordered by thy Governance to do allwayes that which is righteous in thy sight And we humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to looke upon our infirmities and for the glory of thy names sake turne from us all those evills that we most righteously have deserved and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy and evermore serve thee in holiness and purenes of living to the honor and glory of thy name And O Lord who art the Governor of all things whose power no creature is able to resist to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners and to be mercifull unto them that truely repent wee beseech thee to save and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies abate their pride aswage their malice and confound their devices that we being armed with thy defence may be preserved evermore from all pâ—rills to glorifie thee who art the only giver of all victories And seing thou hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee and dost 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 servants as may be most expedient for them granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life everlasting Through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose name and words we further pray saying OUr Father which art in heaven hallowed by thy name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as wee forgive them that trespasse against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evill for thine is
the crumbs under thy table But thou art the same Lord whose property is alwayes to have mercy We beseech thee therefore gratious Lord who of thy great mercy hath promised forgivenes of sinns to all them which with hearty repentance and true faith turne unto thee have mercy upon us pardon and deliver us from all our sinns confirme and strengthen us in all goodness and bring us to everlasting life And O Lord unto whom all hearts be open all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy holy spirit that we may perfectly love thee and worthily magnify thy holy name And seeing it is meete right and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places lift up our hearts even lift them up unto the Lord in giving thanks unto our Lord God holy Almighty and Everlasting Father for all thy mercyes and blessings So do we now more specially prayse thee for thy Son and our Saviours incarnation who by the operation of the holy Ghost was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary his Mother and that without spot of sin to make us cleane from all sin But chiefly we are bound to prayse thee for the glorious resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord for he is the very Paschall Lambe which was offered for us and hath taken away the sins of the world who by his death hath destroyed death and by his rising to life againe hath restored to us everlasting life Who also after his most glorious resurrection manifestly appeared to all his Apostles and in their sight ascended up into heaven to prepare a place for us that where he is thither might we also ascend and reigne with him in glory And we do also praise thee for that according to his most true promise unto them the holy Ghost came down from heaven with a sudden great sound as it had been a mighty wind in the likeness of fiery tongues lighting upon the Apostles to teach them and to leade them into all truth giving them both the gifts of divers languages and also boldness with servent zeale constantly to preach the Gospell unto all nations whereby we are and have been brought out of darkness and errour into the cleere light and true knowledge of thee and thy Son which art one God one Lord not one only person but three persons in one substance by whom we have been taught that what we believe of the glory of the Father the same we believe of the Son and of the Holy Ghost without any difference or inequality For these inestimable benefits we do with Angells and Arch Angells and with all the company of heaven laud and magnify thy glorious name evermore praysing thee and saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God of hoasts heaven and earth are full of thy glory Glory be to thee O Lord most High And O Heavenly Father who of thy tender mercy didst give thy only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption who made there by his one oblation of himself once offered a full perfect and sufficient sacrifice oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world and did institute and in his holy Gospel command us to continue a perpetual memory of that his precious death untill his coming again hear us O most merciful Father we beseech thee and grant that we receiving these thy creatures of bread and wine according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christs holy institution in remembrance of his death and passion may be partakers of his most blessed body and blood that we may so spiritually eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ and drink his blood that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body and our souls washed through his most precious blood and that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us and hereafter dwell with him in his Kingdome of glory even for Jesus Christ his sake our only Lord and Saviour Amen After this Prayer the Minister taking the Bread into his hand may stand up and say these words following Our Lord Jesus in the same night that he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he brake it and gave it to his Disciples saying Take Eat this is my Body which is given for you do this in remembrance of me And taking the Cup into his hand may say Likewise after Supper he took the Cup and when he had given thanks he gave it to them saying Drink ye all of this for this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins Do this as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me After the Minister hath received the Communion himself he may say thus in delivering the Bread and Cup to the several Communicants The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ which was given for thee preserve thy Body and Soul into everlasting life And take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee and feed on him in thine heart by faith with thanksgiving The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for thee preserve thy Body and Soul into everlasting life and drink this in remembrance that Christs blood was shed for thee and be thankful After the Communion is done this Hymn at the discretion of the Minister may be said which hath been of great Antiquity in the Church GLory be to God on high and in earth Peace good will towards men We praise thee we bless thee we worship thee we glorifie thee we give thanks unto thee for thy great glory O Lord God Heavenly King God the Father Almighty O Lord the only begotten Son Jesu O Christ Lord God Lamb of God Son of the Father that takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon us thou that takest away the sins of the world receive our Prayers thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father have mercy upon us for thou only art holy thou only art the Lord thou only O Christ with the Holy Ghost art most High in the glory of God the Father Let us Pray OUr Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evill for thine is the kingdome the power and the Glory for ever Amen O Lord and Heavenly Father we thy humble servants entirely desire thy Fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this our Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving most humbly beseeching thee to grant that by the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ and through faith in his blood we and all thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins and all other benefits of his passion And here we offer and
Royal branches with the Nobility Clergy and Commons of this Realm assembled together in Parliament by Popish treachery appointed as sheep to the slaughter and that in most Barbarous and Savage manner no age yielding example of the like cruelty intended towards the Lords anointed and his people Can this thy goodness O Lord be forgotten worthy to be written in a pillar of Marble that we may ever remember to praise thee for the same as the fact is worthy a lasting monument that all posterity may learn to detest it From this unnatural conspiracy not our merit but thy mercy not our foresight but thy providence hath delivered us not our love to thee but thy love to thine anointed servant and thy poor Church with whom thou hast promised to be present to the end of the world And therefore not unto us not unto us Lord but to thy Name be ascribed all honour and glory in all Churches of the Saints throughout all generations for thou Lord hast discovered the snares of death thou hast broken them and we are delivered be thou still our mighty protector and scatter our cruel enemies which delight in blood infatuate their counsel and root out that Babylonish and Antichristian sect which say of Jerusalem down with it down with it even to the ground And to that end strengthen the hands of our gracious King the Nobles and Magistrates of the land with judgement and justice to cut off these workers of iniquity whose Religion is rebellion whose faith is faction whose practise is murthering of souls and bodies and to root them out of the confines and limits of this Kingdome that they may never prevail against us and triumph in the ruine of thy Church and to give us grace by true and serious repentance to avert these and the like judgements from us This Lord we earnestly crave at thy merciful hands together with the continuance of thy powerful protection over our dread Soveraign the whole Church and these Realms and the speedy confusion of our implacable enemies and that for thy dear Sons sake our only mediatour and advocate II. ALmighty God and heavenly Father which oâ— thy everlasting providence and tender mercy towards us hast prevented the extream malice and mischievous imagination of our enemies revealing and confounding their horrible and devilish enterprise plotted against our Soveraign Lord the King his Royal house and the whole State of this Realm for the subversion thereof together with the truth of thy Gospel and pure Religion amongst us and for the reducing into this Church and land of Popish superstition and tyranny we most humbly praise and magnifie thy glorious name for thine infinite gracious goodness in this our marvellous deliverance we confess it was and is thy mercy thy mercy alone most merciful Father that we are not consumâ—d that their snare is broken and our soul is escaped For our sins cried to Heaven against us and our iniquities justly called for judgement upon us but thy great mercy towards us hath exalted it self above judgement not to deal with us after our sins to give us over as we deserved to be a prey to our enemies but taking our correction into thine own hands to deliver us from their blood-thirsty malice and preserve from death and destruction our King and State with thy holy Gospel and true Religion amongst us Good Lord give uâ— true repentance and unfeigned conversion unto thee to prevent further judgâ—ments increase in us more and more a lively saith and fruitful love in all obedience that thou mayest continue thy loving favour with the light of thy Gospel to us and our posterity for evermore Make us now and alwayes truely thankful in heart word and deed for all thy gracious mercies and this our special deliverance Protect and defend our Soveraign Lord the King with the Queen and all the Royal progeny from all treasons and conspiracies preserve them in thy faith fear and love under the shadow of thy wings against all evil and wickedness prosper their raign with long happiness on earth and everlasting glory following in the kingdome of Heaven Bless the whole State and Realm with grace and peace that with one heart and mouth we may praise thee in thy Church and alwayes sing joyfully that thy merciful kindness is ever more and more towards us and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever through Jesus Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer Amen III. ETernal God and our most mighty protector we thy people of this land confess our selves above all the Nations of the earth infinitly bound unto thy heavenly majestie for thy many unspeakable benefits conferred and heaped upon us especially for planting thy Gospel among us and placing over us a most gracious King a faithful professour and defender of the same both which exasperate the enemies of true religion and enrage their thoughts to the invention of most dreadful designes all which notwithstanding it hath pleased thee hitherto either to prevent or overthrow at this time principally thou hast most strangely discovered an horrible and cruel plot and device for the massacring as well of thy dear servant and our dread Soveraign as of the chief States assembled in thy fear for the continuance of thy truth and good of this Realm We humbly present our selves at thy feet admiring thy might and wisdome and acknowledging thy grace and favour in preserving them and the whole Realm by their safety beseeching thee for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake to continue still thy care over us and to shield our gracious King under the shadow of thy wings that no mischievous attempt may come near nor the sons of wickedness may hurt him but that under him we may still enjoy this his peaceable government with the profession of the Gospel of thy Son Christ Jesus to whom with thee and the holy Ghost c. IV. O God infinit in power and of endless mercy we give thee all possible thanks that it hath pleased thee so miraculously to discover and defeat the mischievous plots of thine and our enemies thou hast delivered our dread Soveraign from the snare of the fowler and his Nobles from the fire and the fury of the wicked he shall rejoyce in thy salvation and we his people shall triumph in this thy wonderful deliverance thy Gospel shall prosper and thine adversaries shall be confounded And multiply good Lord we beseech thee thy great goodness towards our gracious King and his kingdomes from this time forth through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer used by the Speaker of the Commons House of Parliament I. O GOD most great and glorious which dwellest in the Heavens over all yet humblest thy self to behold the things that are done upon the earth we the people and sheep of thy pasture assembled by thy providence to the performance of this high service whereupon the honour of thy name the beauty of thy Church amongst us the glory of our King and wealth
heaven hallowed be thy name c. A Prayer for the Evening IIII. ALmighty God and our most mercifull Father who hast given thy only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of godly life give us the grace that we may alwayes most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit and also dayly endeavour our selves to follow the blessed stepps of his most holy life And as thou doest shew unto all men that be in errour the light of thy truth to the intent that they may returne unto the way of righteousnes grant unto all them that be admitted into the fellowship of Christs religion that they may eschew those things that be contrary to their profession and follow all such things as be agreeable to the same And O Lord which dost make the minds of all faithfull men to be of one will Grant unto thy people that they may love the thing which thou commandest and desire that which thou doest promise that among the sundry and manifold dangers of the world our hearts may surely be there fixed where true joyes are to be found And as from thee all things do come so grant us thy humble servants that by thy holy inspiration we may think the things that be good and by thy mercifull guiding who art the strength of all that put their trust in thee may performe the same And because the weakenes of our mortall nature can do no good thing without thee grant us the helpe of thy grace that in keeping thy commandements we may please thee both in will and deed Lord make us to have a perpetuall feare and love of thy holy name And in regard thou never failest to helpe and governe them whom thou doest bring up in thy stedfast love but art the Protectour of all that put their trust in thee without whom nothing is strong nothing is holy encrease and multiply upon us thy mercy that thou being our ruler and guide we may so passe through things temporall that finally we may not lose the things eternall And grant that the course of this world here may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance that thy congregation may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietnes And seeing thou hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as passe all mens understanding power into our hearts such love towards thee that wee loving thee in all things may obtaine thy promises which exceed all that we can desire And O Lord who art the God of all power and might the author and giver of all good things graft in our hearts the love of thy name encrease in us true religion nourish us with all goodnes and of thy great mercy keepe us in the same and because thy providence is never deceived wee humbly beseech that thou wilt put away from us all hurtfull things and grant those things which be profitable for us and that we may have thy Spirit to think and do alwayes such things as be righteous that we which cannot be without thee may by thee be able to live according to thy will And let thy mercifull eares O Lord be open to the prayers of thy humble servants and that we may obtaine our petitions move us to aske only such things which may please thee And as thou doest declare thy Almighty power most chiefly in shewing mercy and pity so give unto us abundantly thy grace that we flying to thy promise may be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure And O mercifull God of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithfull people do unto thee true and laudable service grant we beseech thee that we may so run to thy heavenly promises that wee faile not finally to attaine them and give unto us the increase of faith hope and charity and that we may obtain that which thou doest promise make us to love that which thou doest command And we beseech the to keepe thy Church with thy perpetuall mercy and because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall keepe us ever by thy helpe and leade us to all things profitable to our salvation And let thy continuall pity cleanse and defend thy congregation and because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour preserve it evermore by thy helpe and goodnes Let thy grace alwayes prevent and follow us and make us continually to be given to all good workes and carefull to avoid the infections of the Divell the world and the flesh and with pure heart and mind to follow thee the only God And for as much as without thee we are not able to please thee grant that the working of thy mercy may in all things direct and rule our hearts And let thy bountifull goodnes keepe us from all things that may hurt us that we being readie both in body and in soule may with free hearts accomplish those things that thou wouldest have done And we beseech thee to grant unto thy faithfull people pardon and peace and keepe thy household the Church in continuall godlines that they may be cleansed from all their sinnes and serve thee with a quiet mind and through thy protection they may be free from all adversities and devoutly given to serve thee in good workes to the glory of thy name O Lord. Be readie to heare our devout prayers who art our refuge and strength that those things we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually Absolve thy people from their offences that through thy goodnes we may be delivered from the bonds of all those sinns which by our frailty we have committed And stirre up the wills of thy faithfull people that they plenteouslly bringing forth the fruit of good workes may of thee be plenteously rewarded in thy eternall glory And take us wee beseech thee into thy care and protection this night following that we may be preserved from all dangers which wee are subject unto And in regard we find thou art alwayes more ready to heare then we to pray and art wont to give more then either we desire or deserve Poure down upon us the abundance of thy mercy forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid and giving unto us that which for our own sake our prayers could not presume to aske but only for the infinit merits of thy Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ our Lord in whose name we further pray saying Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy Kingdom come c. A most profitable Prayer V. O Most holy Lord God seeing we hear that what is recorded in holy Scripture of thy Apostles and Saints was written for our instruction and imitation give us grace so to be followers of them as they were of thy Son Christ Jesus Thou didst incline the heart of thy Apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the calling of thy Son and followed him without delay grant unto us all that we being called by thy holy word may forthwith give over our selves obediently to follow
his vocation and Ministery may truly and godly serve thee And O Lord who hast made all men nor wouldest the death of a sinner but rather that he should be converted and live have mercy upon al Jews Turks Infidels and Hereticks and take from them all ignorance and hardness of heart and contempt of thy word and so fetch them home blessed Lord to thy flock that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites and be made one fold under one shepherd Jesus Christ And merciful God which through thy only begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death and by his resurrection Resurrection opened unto us the gate of everlasting life We humbly beseech thee that as by thy special grace preventing us thou doest put into our mindes good desires so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect And as thou didst give him not only to die for our sins but to rise again for our justification grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth And as thou didst give him both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of godly life give us the grace that we may alwayes most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit and also dayly endeavour our selves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life And like as we do believe thy only begotten Son our Lord to have ascended with Ascension great glory into the Heaven so we beseech thee grant us that we may also in heart and mind thither ascend also and with him continually dwell who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost And do not leave us comfortless but according to thy promise send us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour is gone before And as thou didst after our Saviours Ascention teach the hearts of thy faithful people by thy sending them the light of thy Holy Spirit Sending the holy Spirit Grant us by the same spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoyce in his holy comfort through the merits of Christ Jesus And seeing thou hast given us grace thus by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternall Trinity and in the power of Trinity the Divine Majesty to worship the unity We beseech thee that through the stedfastnes of this faith wee may evermore be defended from all adversities through Jesus Christ our Saviour who liveth and reigneth with the in the unity of the selfe same Spirit one God world without end Amen An Excellent Prayer VII O Almighty and Everliving Lord God God the Father God the Son God the holy Ghost holy blessed and glorious Trinity three persons and one God have mercy upon us Remember not our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sins but spare us good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most pretious blood and be not angry with us for ever Preserve us from all evill and mischief from sin from the crafts and assaults of the Divell from thy wrath and from everlasting damnation Deliver us from all blindnes of heart from pride vaine glory and hypocrisie from envy hatred and malice and all uncharitablenes from fornication and all other sins the wages of which is death and from all the deceits of the world the flesh and the Divell keep us from any hurt by lightning and tempest from the plague pestilence and famine from battels and murder and from sudden death deliver us from all sedition and privy conspiracy all false doctrine and heresie hardnes of heart and contempt of thy word and commandements And these things wee beseech of thee for and through the mystery of thy holy incarnation thy holy nativity and circumcision thy baptisme fasting and temptation through thine agony and bloody swet thy crosse and passion thy pretious death and buriall thy glorious resurrection and ascension and the comeing of the holy Ghost And O Lord God we do beseech thee that it would please the to rule and governe thy holy Church universall in the right way Illuminate all Bishops Pastors and Ministers of the Church with true knowledge and understanding of thy word and that both by preaching and living they may set it forth and shew it accordingly Be pleased to blesse and keepe the Magistrates giving them grace to execute justice and to maintaine truth And Blesse and keepe all thy people give us all hearts to love and dread thee and diligently to live after thy commandements That we may have increase of grace to heare meekely thy word and receive it with pure affection and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit Wee beseech thee to give unto all Nations unity peace and concord bring into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived strengthen such as do stand comfort and helpe the weake-hearted raise up them that fall and finally beate down Satan under our feete Be pleased O Lord to succour helpe and comfort all that be in danger necessity and tribulation preserve all that in their lawfull affaires travell by land or water all women labouring with child all sick persons and young children and to shew thy pitty upon all prisoners and captives defend and provide for the fatherlesse children and widdowes and all that are desolate and oppressed and let it please thee to have mercy upon all men Forgive our enemies persecutors and slanderers and turne their hearts And we beseech the to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth so as in due time we may enjoy them and deale not with us after our sins nor reward us after our iniquities but give us true repentance forgive us all our sins negligences and ignorances indue us with the graces of thy holy Spirit to amend our lives according to thy holy word And O mercifull father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desires of such as be sorrowfull mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles and adversities whensoever they oppresse us and gratiously heare us that those evils which the craft and subtilty of the divell or man worketh against us be brought to nought and by the providence of thy goodnes they may be dispersed that we thy servants being hurt by no persecutions may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church And seeing we have heard with our eares and our fathers have declared unto us the noble works that thou didst in their dayes and in the old time before them We beseech thee in the midst of these our divisions and distractions to arise and helpe us by thy power and deliver us for the honour of thy name defend us from all our enemies and let thy mercy be shewed upon us as we do put our trust in thee
Good Lord we beseech thee to heare us and graciously looke upon our afflictions pittifully behold the sorrowes of our hearts favourably with mercy forgive the sins of thy people and grant us what else thou knowest more necessary for us even for Jesus Christ his sake who is the Son of God and Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world in whose blessed name and words we conclude our imperfect prayers saying as he himself hath taught us OUr Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evill for thine is the kingdome the power and the Glory for ever Amen These particulars following having been in the peoples memories and still are it is good to preserve them so by an often rehearsal in their due time and place most of them being either select places out of holy Scripture or containing the necessary points of faith to be believed by us Psalm 95. (a) This was wont to precede the reading of the Psalms O Come let us sing unto the Lord let us heartily rejoyce in the strength of our salvation Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and shew our selves glad in him with Psalms For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all Gods In his hands are all the corners of the earth and the strength of the hills is his also The Sea is his and he made it and his hands prepared the dry land O come let us worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord our maker For he is the Lord our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hands To day if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the provocation and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness When your fathers tempted me proved me and saw my works Forty years long was I grieved with this generation and said it is a people that do erre in their hearts for they have not known my wayes Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning c. (b) This is both a hymn and a Creed and if 1200. years continuance in the Church may not be a suflicient plea for the keeping its place after the first Chapter out of the old Testament in the morning the Ten Commandements much neglected may be read in the room of it WE praise thee O God we knowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee the Father everlasting To thee all Angels cry aloud the Heavens and all the powers therein To thee Cherubin and Seraphin continually do cry Holy Holy Holy Lord God of sabbath Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory The glorious company of the Apostles praise thee The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise thee The noble army of martyrs praise thee The holy Church throughout all the world doth knowledge thee The Father of an infinit majesty Thine honourable true and only Son Also the Holy Ghost the comforter Thou art the King of glory O Christ Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man thou didst not abhorre the virgins womb When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death thou didst open the kingdome of Heaven to all believers Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge We therefore pray thee help thy servants whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood Make them to be numbred with thy Saints in glory everlasting O Lord save thy people and bless thine heritage Govern them and lift them up for ever Day by day we magnifie thee And we worship thy Name ever world without end Vouchsafe O Lord to keep us this day without sin O Lord have mercy upon us have mercy upon us O Lord let thy mercy lighten upon us as our trust is in thee O Lord in thee have I trusted let me never be confounded Luke 1. 68. (c) This or the next were wont to be read after the second lesson or chapter out of the New Testament in the morning BLessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us in the house of his servant David As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have been since the world began That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers and to remember his holy covenant To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham that he would give us That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear In holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of our life And thou childe shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his wayes To give knowledge of salvation unto his people for the remission of their sins Through the tender mercy of our God whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace Or Psalm 100. O Be joyful in the Lord all ye lands serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song Be ye sure that the Lord he is God it is he that hath made us and not we our selves we are his people and the sheep of his pasture O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise be thankful unto him and speak good of his name For the Lord is gracious his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth from generation to generation Luke 1. 46. (d) This or the next were used to be read after the first chapter at the Evening MY soul doth magnifie the Lord my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour For he hath regarded the lowliness of his hand-maiden For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed For he that is mighty hath magnified me and holy is his Name And his mercy is on them that fâ—â— him throughout all generations He hath shewed strength with his arm he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meek He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away He remembring his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel as he promised to our
forefathers Abraham and his seed for ever Or Psalm 98. O Sing unto the Lord a new song for he hath done marvellous things With his own right hand and with his holy arm hath he gotten himself the victory The Lord declared his salvation his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen He hath remembred his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God Shew your selves joyful unto the Lord all ye lands sing rejoyce and give thanks Praise the Lord upon the harp sing to the harp with a Psalm of thanksgiving With trumpets also and shawms O shew â—our selves joyful before the Lord the King Let the Sea make a noise and all that therein is the round world and they that dwell therein Let the floods clap their hands and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord for he is come to judge the earth With righteousness shall he judge the world and the people with equity Luke 2. 29. (e) This or the next were wont to be read at the Evening after the second chapt LOrd now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy Word For mine eyes have seen thy salvation Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel Or Psalm 67. GOd be merciful unto us and bless us and shew us the light of his countenance and be merciful unto us That thy way may be known upon earth thy saving health among all nations Let the people praise thee O God yea let all the people praise thee O let the nations rejoyce and be glad for thou shalt judge the folk righteously and govern the nations upon earth Let the people praise thee O God let all the people praise thee Then shall the earth bring forth her increase and God even our own God shall give us his blessing God shall bless us and all the ends of the world shall fear him Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen The repetition of this ancient doxology had this pious intention viz. to keep the mystery of the blessed Trinity in the mindes of the vulgar who else may be in danger to forget it Which with the other according to the rule were to be read by the Minister alone and not interchangeably by the people though the common practice had prevailed otherwise The Creed (f) This was wont to be read after the second chapter both at morning and evening I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord which was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into Hell the third day he rose again from the dead he ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead I believe in the Holy Ghost the holy Catholick Church the communion of Saints the forgiveness of sins the Resurrection of the Body and the life everlasting Amen The Nicene Creed (g) This was used to be read in the morning I Believe in one God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible and in one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God begotten of his Father before all worlds God of God Light of Light very God of very God begotten not made being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary and was made man and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate He suffered and was buried and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of the Father And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead whose kingdom shall have no end And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord and giver of life who proceedeth from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets And I believe one Catholick and Apostolick Church I acknowledge one Baptisme for the remission of sins And I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come Amen The Creed of Athanasius commonly so called (h) This was appointed to be read about thirteen times in the year to the people if it were now read once a month it were very convenient WHosoever will be saved before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholick faith Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled without doubt he shall perish everlastingly And the Catholick faith is this that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance For there is one person of the Father another of the Son and another of the Holy Ghost But the God-head of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is all one the glory equal the Majesty coeternal Such as the Father is such is the Son and such is the Holy Ghost The Father uncreate the Son uncreate and the Holy Ghost uncreate The Father incomprehensible the Son incomprehensible and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible The Father eternal the Son eternal and the Holy Ghost eternal And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal As also there are not three incomprehensibles nor three uncreated but one uncreated and one incomprehensible So likewise the Father is Almighty the Son Almighty and the Holy Ghost Almighty And yet they are not three Almighties but one Almighty So the Father is God the Son is God and the Holy Ghost is God And yet they are not three Gods but one God So likewise the Father is Lord the Son Lord and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords but one Lord. For like as we be compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every person by himself to be God and Lord. So are we forbidden by the Catholick Religion to say there be three Gods or three Lords The Father is made of none neither created nor begotten The Son is of the Father alone not made nor created but begotten The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son neither made nor created nor begotten but proceeding So there is one Father not three Fathers one Son not three Sons one Holy Ghost not three Holy Ghosts And in this Trinity none is afore or after other none is greater or less then another But the whole three persons be coeternal together and coequal So