stocke vnto the wicked nor wrap me vp with the deceitfull when they are put to shame for séeing my troubles come of thy appointment I will with thy helpe indure them with patience for I put not my trust in anie worldlie thing but in thée O God my maker and defender I will serue thée with a pure affectiō and with the godlie that worship thée in spirit and truth which that I may the better fulfil blesse me with thy grace now and for euer Amen 25. A praier for the increase of faith wherein also the vnmeasurable loue of God the Father is recorded O Mercifull GOD that art so good and louing a Father make me heire of thy heauenlie kingdome with thy blessed sonne Iesus Christ increase my faith in thée O Lord that I may most faith fullie beléeue all that thou hast commanded in thy holie word for whatsoeuer is not of faith the same is sinne Faith is the sure and perfect foundation of all christian religion wherby thy faithfull hope surelie that all thy promises made vnto them of thy méere goodnes and liberalitie shall surelie and vndoubtedlie be fulfilled Heauen and earth shall perish rather than thy word and promise shal be vnperfourmed By faith Abraham was iustified and by faith he was readie to make sacrifice of his onlie begotten sonne Isaac Vpon those that were faithfull did our Sauiour worke his miracles in so much that in his countrie of Galilie he did not manie bicause of their vnbeléef And by this faith with the helpe of thy grace at this daie and to the end of the world are and shall all thy chosen people be saued and that fréelie without anie deseruing of theirs And being fullie persuaded by thy holie scripture I beléeue in thée my most mightie God thrée persons in one essence and in all things conteined in thy holie word and the same faith I will not let to confesse before all the world I will not doo as manie of the Iewes did which beléeued on thy sonne yet durst they not boldlie confesse him neither make their faith known least they should haue béene expelled out of the synagog They more estéemed the glorie of this world than they did estéeme the glorie of God But through the helpe of thy grace Lord I will speake nothing but that I firmelie beléeue and that which I doo beléeue I will by no meanes hide but speake boldlie for I know that who so dooth confesse thée before men him wilt thou confesse before thy father which is in heauen Faith causeth me to loue thée for thine own sake aboue all creatures Loue causeth me to confesse thée before all the world and for thy sake to worke towards my neighbour as thou haste commanded me It is thy grace that maketh man vertuous and good which grace is the nurse of all good things it leadeth man from one vertue to another it kéepeth vs from falling lifting vs vp againe when we are fallen Thy louing kindnesse hath béen from euerlasting and endureth for euer What shall I giue againe vnto thée O Lord for thy manifold benefits that thou hast doone vnto me Great cause haue I to be thankfull when I remember thy tender loue shewed vnto man in his first creation next in power wisedome knowledge and vnderstanding to the nature of angels made also touching the soule like vnto thine owne image which he through frailtie did abuse yet neuertheles thou of thy mercifull pitie being willing that this noble worke of thine should not vtterlie be lost diddest send thine onelie begotten sonne to become man and wiledst him to suffer death for mans redemption What more loue could be shewed than thou hast shewed what more could be doon to thy vineyard than thou hast doone thy charitie was feruent to vs when we were all sinners few men would now die for their righteous fréend but thou sendedst thy sonne to suffer death for thine enimies that were sinners yea when we dailie now doo fall still from thée by committing all kind of vices yet dooest thou mercifullie suffer vs and gentlie receiue vs so oft as we do returne againe to thée by repentance We forgiue our neighbours scarselie one or twise when they displease vs but thou Lord forgiuest vs not seuen times but seuentie times seuen that is so often as we fal Euen so willest thou vs to forgiue one another Wherefore Lord reach vnto me thy helping hand as thou diddest vnto Peter and as he was thereby made able to walke vpon the water so shall I be able thereby to performe thy holie lawe which my hart is desirous to doo in the presence of all the congregation that other may take example by my dooings and glorifie thy Maiestie for thy noble gifts Strengthen me Lord with thy holie spirit giue me an hart and will rather to choose to suffer death than to breake anie of them for right deare in thy sight is the death of thy saints Thy name will I call vpon and honour it all the daies of my life I will also as I haue promised fulfill my vowes that I haue made vnto thée I will giue vp my selfe to thée as an oblation and séeing I am thy image I will declare vnto the holie congregation how mercifullie thou hast receiued me to thy grace I will honor thée in thy church wherof I am partaker through the meanes of thy sonne Christ Iesus my onelie Lord and sauiour Amen 26. A praier vnto God the father wherein the sinner openeth his greefe of conscience O GOD I am not worthie of the least of thy mercies and truth which thou hast shewed vnto me thy seruant for though thou hast O Lord assaide me with the one hand thou hast euer holden me vp with the other for thou art euer present with vs to succor vs in our troubles And if thou O God diddest not open our eies we could neither sée nor vse the meanes which thou hast set before vs. As for me when thou openedst mine eies and heart I was readie to obeie thée being assured that I was written in the booke of thine elect to this end for thy prouidence watcheth alwaies to direct thy children that they slide not Wherefore now O Lord call to remembrance the cares and gréefes which we haue suffered consider and sée our confusion Our inheritance is turned vnto strangers we are become carefull and fatherlesse our parents which now are gone haue sinned and we must beare their wickednesse Alas that they and we haue sinned so sore Therefore is our hart full of heauines but thou O Lord that remainest euermore and thy seat world withou end doo not forget vs. Let all the world sée thy iudgements in that thou art our God and ruler ouer all which we will euer confesse bicause thou art so glorious and through thy mercifull aid I will remaine stedfast being vpholden by thy power O GOD. For I haue euer this hope of conscience that thou wilt not impute vnto me my ignorance
thy poore creature and handie worke granting me the fruit of thy sonnes passion which he suffered for my redemption to whom with thée O Father and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie all power and dominion now and for euermore Amen Amen 18. A praier of the afflicted person O Lord God thou art iust and all thy works and waies are mercie truth and thou iudgest trulie for euermore remember me and looke on me O Lord God and punish me not according to my sinnes or mine ignorance but deale with me as it séemeth best vnto thée And now O Lord worke thy will in me and command my spirit to be receiued in peace that I may be dissolued of this fowle fleshie masse thorough the which I doo nothing but offend thée my Lord God Yet neuerthelesse if it be thy blessed will to giue me longer life in this vale of miserie forgiue me all my sinnes for Christs sake for thou art a mercifull God slowe to conceiue wrath and most readie to forgiue Wherefore extend thy fauour vpon me O Lord which shall confirme the faith of others Though I deserue destruction yet let thy mercie pittie my frailtie for thou art great O Lord for euermore and thy kingdome is world without end Thou scourgest and healest thou leadest vnto hell and bringest backe againe and there is none that may escape thy hand O giue thanks vnto the Lord ye children of men for there is none holie but he none almightie but thou O Lord God Thou hast chastined vs for our misdéeds and of thine owne mercie sake thou hast saued vs wherefore thée will we feare and dread and magnifie the euerlasting king in his works As for me and my soule whilest I liue will I praise thy Maiestie as long as I haue anie being For euer since I was borne thou hast giuen me great cause to praise thée for thou hast béene the defense of my iust cause Heare now my vehement praier my secret complaint and my sighes which I make before thée this daie into whose holie hands I commit my bodie and soule for thou hast redéemed me O thou God of truth Amen 19. A praier of the iustice of God and for the assistance of Gods spirit with an inuocation vpon the Trinitie O Lord I confesse thou dooest not punish me without my deserts therfore I will neuer accuse thée of rigour as the wicked doo for I acknowledge that when thou laiest thy hand heauie vpon anie there is iust cause why thou shouldest so entreat them We are occasion of our owne perdition and can pretend no ignorance to excuse vs withall for thou O God callest vs by thy word and works to follow vertue and flie vice which if we bend our selues vnto depending onelie vpon thée thou hast promised to be our schoolemaister and protectour Thy prouidence O GOD dooth not onelie watch ouer thy church in generall but also ouer euerie member thereof for thy word O Lord is easie to find if we haue a desire therevnto if we be not blinded by the prince of this world Thou most mightie hast power both of land and sea stretch foorth thy mercifull hand to helpe them vp that sinke to kéepe them vp that stand for thou art aboue all and ouer all kingdomes of the earth Thou hast made the heauen and earth Lord bow downe thine eare and heare Lord open thine eies and behold Our true refuge and succour in all temptations and dangers is to flie vnto thée by most earnest praier Thou wilt not here O Lord God for manie words sake or often repetition but thou doost consider our faith and feruent mind for thou doost looke vpon the heart of man and not vpon the outward appearance It is great gréefe O Lord vnto thy children when they sée not the fruits of their praiers which causeth them to thinke that thou hearest not yet doost thou but defer them to cause them to praie more earnestlie and often For when there séemeth to mans iudgement to be no recouerie but all things are brought to despaire then thou O GOD doost shew thy mightie power there is nothing doone without thy prouidence and decrée Wherefore I will call vpon thée with a stedfast faith being assured of thy mercies bicause I haue found thy helpe at néed in my most danger for thou neuer forsakest them that put their trust in thée bicause of nature thou art verie mercifull Therefore the faithfull reuerence thée and are bold to approch néere thy mightie Maiestie most humblie beséeching thée for Iesus Christ his sake that thou wilt cast all our sinnes behind thy backe and giue vs thy grace and holie spirit to lead the rest of our liues in thy feare dooing alwaies that is righteous in thy sight For whosoeuer walketh in his vocation and hath the light of God for his guide néedeth to feare no danger thy rodde and thy staffe shall alwaies hold him vp Guide me O Lord and giue me the most pretious gift of faith which is the head spring of all good works Baptise me inwardlie with the holie Ghost burne and consume all vice in me inflame my hart with the loue of thée and cast thy fauour vpon me O Lord and holie father So doo likewise O Christ my Lord and Sauiour who wast contented to put off all thy glorie that thou wast in before the beginning of the world to take our nature vpon thée and to suffer most bitter passion vpon the crosse for our redemption Wash me with thy pretious bloud and make me a chosen vessell to thy selfe giue me a thankefull hart to praise thy name with continuall thankesgiuing for thy great mercies Come holie spirit inspire my hart with the true knowledge of the father and the sonne procéeding from them both one God in Trinitie and Trinitie in vnitie world without end Amen 20. A praier for faith and grace LOrd giue me faith and grace that I may be wounded in hart to séeke vnto thée for mercie for thou O God hast taught vs in thy holie word to looke for aide and helpe of thee in all perils and that thou art the onlie giuer of victorie in all temptations of our enimies bodilie gostlie For when thou giuest sentence against the wicked they must néeds confesse thée to be iust and themselues sinners For thou O GOD which louest purenes of hart maiest iustlie destroie man who is by nature a sinner much more wilt thou laie thine hand vpon them whom thou hast instructed in thy heauenlie wisdome Thy fauour O God is the fountaine of all prosperitie for thou O Lord doost still behold vs. Thée will we reuerence in what place soeuer we be Helpe me therefore O Lord God in my good purposes and holie worshipping or seruing of thée and grant vnto me to make a perfect enterance and beginning in thée for I haue bin an vnprofitable seruant hitherto O Lord giue me a mind neuer to shew my selfe vnthankful for all thy benefits for
13. A praier wherein wee desire the life to come O Most high mightie prince of power Lorde of hosts GOD and Lord of the heauenly armie of angels that are thy ministers when I consider the greatnes of thy mightie Maiestie I am so rapt with the desire thereof that my hart and my flesh reioiceth in nothing but in thée alone that art the liuing God All earthlie tabernacles and worldlie goods I nothing estéeme when I behold thine euerlasting felicitie which although I sée now but darkelie as in a glasse I hope to sée thée face to face Grant me therfore O Lord whilest I am in this tabernacle to build vpon faith which is the altar of thée that art the Lord most mightie my King and my God vpon which we giue vnto thée sacrifice laud and praise in the vnitie of thy faithfull Church whereof thy Sonne Christ is the sure rock The faithfull build on this foundation Blessed are they Lord therefore that dwell in thy house who haue occasion to praise thée They are replenished with aboundance of all things that they desire they are made like vnto thée they sée thée euen as thou art of which sight they shall neuer be fullie satisfied such ioie and loue shall they conceiue of the sight of thy glorious maiestie But to this beatitude can we not atteine mercifull God of our owne strength and power but through the helpe of thy gratious assistance Thou must ingraue in our harts thy lawes and direct vs in thy waies and when we are brought to thée by the right waie we must be continuallie aided by thy grace that thou maiest staie and kéepe our féet from slipping Who so trusteth to his owne strength or power or to the helpe of man is much deceiued and leaneth to a rotten staffe contrariwise he that putteth his trust in thy gratious power wanteth neuer succour at néed Thou hast put vs into this present world to fight and to striue with our enimies who doo continuallie assault vs but thy grace maketh vs able to repell all their inuasions Thou sufferest vs not to be tempted aboue our strength and for our triumph thou rewardest vs with a crowne of glorie and immortalitie The vngodlie fall from thée descending downeward from one vice to an other but thy faithfull and elect increase dailie in godlines For of thée Lord commeth all our power and strength to doo good and of thy sonne Christ Iesus our maister our teacher and gouernour who promiseth that if we wéepe and morne heare in this vale of miserie for our sinnes we shall hereafter laugh and be ioifull in eternall glorie If we sowe with heauines we shall reape with gladnes if we perseuere good strong champions héere in batell we shall for our reward behold thy glorious face in thy heauenlie mansion we shall sée also thy sonne Christ who is thy wisedome and thy power which who so séeth enioieth all pleasures to sée that delectable sight our hearts doo much desire of thée that art the Lord of hosts For this we make humble petition to thée that art the GOD of Iacob who wrestled with thine angel and preuailed whose name thou diddest change and calledst him Israel that is the feare or beholder of God Euen so make me a strong wrestler against mine enimies in this world that I may after this life behold thy incomprehensible deitie to the full contentation both of my soule and bodie We are much vnworthie to obteine anie thing of thée considering our vnkindnes shewed vnto thée and our wretched estate wherein we remaine Neuerthelesse Lord we praie thée to be our defender and protector through thy grace not for our merits but for the merits of thy most entirelie beloued sonne Christ thine onelie annointed aboue all other with the oile of ioie and gladnes He is our head we are the members of his bodie he dwelleth in his faithfull and they in him Who so receiueth anie of his elect receiueth him He was incarnate for vs suffered death for vs bare our iniquities on his backe and rose againe for our iustification Wherefore we doubt not but that through the infusion of thy grace thou wilt looke vpon him in vs and shewe vs mercie for his sake that we may haue aboundance of grace through him and casting all the vanities of this world behind our backes we may enter into the court of thy bright heauenlie Ierusalem where one daies abiding is better than a thousand in this wretched world Iohn Baptist as witnesseth our Sauiour was the greatest and most perfect vpon earth yet said he the least in the kingdome of heauen is greater than he Wherefore most mightie Lord thy faithfull doubt not whilst they are here in this vale of miserie but that thou wilt euer assist them guide them and blesse them that put their whole trust in thée who art the liuing God and giuest to thine aboundantlie all things necessarie to this present life and afterwards the fruition of thy Godhead in heauen eternallie there to dwell with thée euerlastinglie Amen 14. A praier for comfort in trouble THe chiefest comfort that I receiue in this miserable wretched troublesome world O heauenlie Father and God almightie is when I call to mind the truth of thy great promises made to me in Iesus Christ for whose sake onelie I doo acknowledge and confesse that thou art my mercifull and louing Father and so carest for me through him that nothing is able to remooue thy grace and fauour from me Wherefore I come vnto thée in humblenes of hart crauing at thy bountifull hands the assistance of thy holie spirit to suppresse my wicked affections that I may with a stedfast faith obeie thy most diuine Maiestie in thought word and déed For thou disposest all things most wiselie and preseruest thy children in their greatest dangers Wherefore thy holie name be praised now and for euermore through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen 15. A praier for the prosperitie of the Church O Most holie glorious and blessed trinitie thrée persons in one Godhead by whose goodnesse all creatures haue their being whose eies behold althings as well that are past as that are to come and are accoumpted as present to thy mightie Maiestie we thy poore faithful subiects of the Church here militant vpon earth shew foorth our lamentable praiers beséeching thée pitifullie to behold the miserable estate thereof which neuer had more néed of thy godlie assistance than at this present it hath The nature of man is so corrupt and abhominable in wickednesse that none dooth good vpon the earth for many there be that despise God oppresse the poore Wherefore Lord we beséech thée to arise vp for the trouble sake of the oppressed and at the complaint of the poore helpe him and set him at rest Thy Sonne Christ is our sauing health in whom who so trusteth resteth in suertie and cannot be deceiued Arise vp we praie thée mercifull God and cast vs not away
thou destroie all the vngodlie yet haue wée a sure hope thou wilt deliuer our soules from the power of hell and receiue vs to thée by grace here in this world and after when thou shalt come to the last iudgement to take vs to thy selfe in glorie that where thou art there may we be with thée For we are not gréeued at the vngodlie nor afraid when they be made rich and the glorie of their houses increased We knowe that their honour indureth but a small season vanisheth awaie as dooth the smoke for thou regardest them not therfore thou giuest them things of small estimation Abraham gaue gifts to the sonnes of his concubines and sent them awaie but vnto Isaac he gaue his possessions and all that he had so Lord to the wicked thou giuest temporall things but for thy faithfull thou reseruest thy euerlasting heauenlie inheritance This is a sure and permanent reward the othee soone slippeth awaie their time here is but short and when they die they shall carrie nothing awaie with them neither shall their pompe followe them For thou O Lord wilt driue them awaie As wax melteth at the heat of the fire so shall the vngodlie perish at thy presence then shalt thou change their honour into shame for while they liued they were counted happie men and so long as they were in prosperitie men spake good of them but when they followe their fathers generation they shall neuer sée light any more They were the children of Canaan come of a wicked progenie they haue followed their forefathers steps their déedes were euill they loued darkenesse better than light Wherefore they shall haue euerlasting darknes with torments they shall haue fire but it shall giue them no comfortable heat These paines are ordained for them that were in honour and had riches in aboundance and did forget their estate and for lacke of knowledge were led into captiuitie Wherefore O good God let vs not be of the number of them but build vs vpon thy blessed sonne Iesus Christ the head corner stone in him whosoeuer is builded groweth vnto an holie temple in the Lord his God For of our selues we haue hard harts to beléeue except thou write thy law in our harts by thy holie spirit Now is the acceptable time Lord let vs find grace and fauour in thy sight pardon our wickednes and sinne and take vs to thine inheritance that we may reigne with thée in glorie for euer and euer Amen Amen 31. A praier that we may heare the word of God and keepe it I Am thy seruant Lord giue me vnderstanding that I may learne thy lawe and decrées incline my soule to the words of thy mouth bicause thy talke floweth like vnto dew The Israelits said vnto Moses Speake thou vnto vs and we will heare shée but let not the Lord speake least we die Howbeit I praie not so O Lord but rather with the prophet Samuel I doo humblie and earnestlie beséech thée thus Speake on Lord for thy seruant dooth hearken for thou art the giuer and inspirer of life who art able without anie to instruct me Thy Ministers speake for thée thy secreats but thou vnlockest the vnderstanding of the things pronounced they rehearse to vs thy commandements but it is thy aid and helpe that giueth strength to walke ouer the same and giuest light vnto the minds Wherefore bicause thou art the euerlasting truth speake thou Lord my God vnto me least I die and be made vnfruitfull for thou hast the words of euerlasting life Speake therefore that thing which may bring both comfort vnto my soule and amendment vnto my life and also may cause glorie and immortall honor vnto thée For man dooth perish but thy truth indureth O God for euer Blessed are they therefore whom thou instructest and giuest knowledge vnto O Lord and doost teach thy lawe that thou maist helpe them in time of trouble that they perish not Looke fauourablie vpon me O GOD and grant I praie thée that thy truth may teach me kéepe me and bring me vnto a happie end Let the same deliuer me from all wicked lusts and from inordinate loue Thou hast infinit means and all creatures are at thy commandement therefore good Lord shewe some signe whereby I shall be deliuered and send thine holie angell before me to kéepe me in thy waie and to bring me to the place which thou hast prouided for me that I may liue with thée euerlastinglie world without end Amen 32. A praier wherein the word of God is praised and what things are thereby to be wrought accomplished his mercie and iustice also is heare declared GRant me good Lord to serue thée with a perfect hart and willing mind for thou Lord serchest the hart and vnderstandest all our imaginations and thoughts If we séeke thée thou wilt be found but if we forsake thée thou wilt cast vs off for euer If we depend onelie vpon thée O God we shall not néed to be troubled with these worldlie respects for thou wilt giue vs at all times that which shall be necessarie for bodie and soule if we feare thée and obeie thy holie word which thou wilt haue found true and also magnified for thine owne honour and glorie and for our commoditie Vpon thée therefore will I still call trusting that thou wilt shortlie heare and helpe me I will also call vpon the mightie name of thy sonne Iesus Christ in whose name the faithfull haue and doo dailie cast out diuels from the possessed They haue spoken and doo speake with new toongs And though they drinke anie deadlie thing it shall not hurt them By which also they are procured to leaue their wicked minds and diuelish works in the which they before lead their liues They speake thy holie word and also set foorth thy veritie leauing all lies and deceits They doo suppresse the old serpent sathan plucking out the sting of his taile wherewith he was accustomed to wound them And if at anie time they haue consented to sinne and receiued his poison this name of our sauiour shall kéepe them from all hurts bicause they made inuocation on his holie name which dooth purge them cleane after their heartie repentance For thou O Christ wilt deliuer thine though all worldlie meanrs faile And though we be committed by tyrants vnto temporall death yet through thée shall we vanquish all our enimies for the death of thy saints is deare and pretious in thy sight they néede not feare those that haue power onelie to kill the bodie but let vs feare thy mightie hand which hast power to slea both bodie soule This worldlie death is a waie to bring vs from much trouble to the hauen of euerlasting health into the land of liuers Neuerthelesse Lord of thy iustice let the vniust and cruell enimies of the faithfull stand in dread of thy stretched out arme wherewith in thine anger thou wilt strike them Of thine infinite goodnes thou sufferest long abiding their
when we swarue at anie time out of the right waie by which we iudge that he dooth loue vs for whosoeuer he be that he loueth him he dooth chasten Christs strong shéepheards staffe dooth staie vs when we are weake as a sicke man is by his staffe In Christ thy sonne is the fulnes of grace from whom distilleth all goodnesse that we haue through his holie spirit is our cup filled full of pure liquor it causeth vs for ioie of heauenlie contemplation to forget all the troubles and miseries of the world the dregs of worldlie pleasures and carnall affections For as thy mercie hath gone before vs plentifullie giuing vs aboundance of thy great graces so we trust and doubt not but it will followe vs all the daies of our liues and kéepe vs that we fall not from faith Thou Lord must helpe our house or else we labour in vaine thou must be our beginning and end and then we be sure to dwell in the house of the Lord for euer For we know surelie that if our earthlie mansion wherein we now dwell were dissolued we haue a building ordeined of God an habitation not made with hands but eternallie in heauen where is perpetuall ioie and beatitude world without end Amen 37. A breefe confession that we receiue all goodnes from God ARise vp O Lord God and let thine enimies be scattered before thée and let them that hate thée be brought to confusion Declare O Lord thy might and power for thou art a consuming fire and a gelous God visiting the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation For thy gouernement is so iust constant and without change or repentance that thy verie enimies shall be compelled to confesse the same O God almightie thou doost punish thine elect by measure giuest them grace to beare it but to the reprobate it is thy iust vengeance to driue them headlong to all madnesse For thy omnipotencie hath all power in it selfe to execute thy terrible iudgment against obstinate sinners as thou art rich in mercy to comfort them which obeie thy word and loue thée The faithfull in all their aduersities doo knowe that all shall go well with them for GOD will be mercifull and iust and though they want for a time yet thou wilt send them comfort in due season For thy Maiestie is so great that it filleth both heauen and earth and there is no power so high that can let thée when thou wilt deliuer thine The wicked rise vp suddenlie to honour and perish as quicklie but the inheritance of the children of God continueth for euer For thou O GOD wilt take vengance vpon the wicked and measure them according to their dealings Thus thou O God canst plucke backe the bridle of tyrants and deliuer thine owne out of the lions mouth for though the wicked swell neuer so much yet we feare them not They cannot vtterlie destroie vs for thou Lord hast promised to abide with thy faithfull people to the end of the world Thy grace will not leaue vs nor anie that loue thée and serue thée with a faithfull heart Thy fauour O God resteth on thine for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake that from him we might receiue thy blessings For we deserue nothing of our selues but thy wrath and indignation Wherefore grant vs good Lord first to séeke thy glorie and aboue all things reigne thou ouer vs al and let vs render to thée perfect obedience as thine angels doo whom thou hast commanded to take charge of thy children For the which if the wicked despise them thou of thy mercie wilt reuenge their cause for thou wilt preserue the faithful branches of thy vineyard but the rotten stocks wilt thou destroie according to their hypocrisie For there is none like vnto thée in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath Thou dooest blesse the labour of the poore and consumest the goods of them which are negligent bicause they boast and thinke they haue enough The wicked wallow in their riches yet are they but slaues to the godlie that are true professors of the gift of God The cup which thou gauest to the wicked to drinke is much bitter than that thou doost bestow on thine own them thou measurest by mercie the other by iustice And though thou suffer thy children to liue vnder the crosse least they should imbrace wickednesse yet thou wilt not suffer it to rest vpon them that it should driue them from their hope for all thy promises are true Wherefore we are sure of thy helpfull deliuerance séeing the earth and all creatures remaine in that estate wherein thou hast created them much more thy truth indureth constant and vnchangeable Blessed be thou O God of truth and blessed be the glorie of thy holie name world without end Amen Amen 38. A praier wherein is shewed that there is none omnipotent but God alone O Lord GOD almightie it is not in mans power or counsell to hinder that thou hast determined shall come to passe for as the insensible heauen is not subiect to anie alteration and change so shall the truth of thy promises be vnchangeable sith our infirmities cannot in any wise comprehend thée in thy maiestie There is none like thée neither is there anie God besides thée thou killest and giuest life thou woundest and makest whole Wherefore blessed are they that confesse thée and obeie thy word to them thou giuest life and felicitie The ioies that are stedfast and perdurable are giuen of thy goodnesse to those that are méeke and humble in spirit Thou dooest grant to the faithfull of thy goodnesse both grace and glorie so that no good thing shall be withholden from them that liue in thy feare for thou castest awaie none that will séeke thée in righteousnes And though thou suffer the world to hate thine elect it is bicause thy children should forsake the filthines of this world and cleaue vnto thée Wherefore grant vs O Lord that we may alwaies haue the eies of our faith fixed vpon thée for whatsoeuer thou O GOD hast promised shall surelie be performed For as it was thy frée mercie O God that did choose vs so is it thy frée mercie that must saue vs. Thou doost call vs by thy rod to consider the shortnes of our life for our sinnes haue abridged our daies which be not onlie short but miserable bicause we are so sinfull that we doo nothing but prouoke thée to wrath so weake we are so fraile and vnable of our selues to doo that good is inclining alwaies to things forbidden There is nothing so secreatlie doone on earth but thou O God doost sée it who dooest fulfill both heauen and earth Grant vs O Lord alwaies thy feare which shall be a bridle to staie vs from all wickednesse For as thou hast created all people euen so dooest thou gouerne the hearts of all ioining the saluation of thine with thine owne honour so that they cannot perish vnlesse thy glorie should
for the which I despise all earthlie things in respect of of thée the euerlasting GOD without measure who féedeth all things Thou art the comfort of the soule and the true ioie of the heart Wherefore Lord continue thy graces towards vs and helpe our present necessities for we are far vnworthie of thy great benefits which thou bestowest vpon vs and all people who appointest the earth to bring foorth to mans vse Thou art a most nourishing father prouiding for all creatures their dailie food for none is able to do anie thing but as thou appointest them sith they are but instruments to doo thy worke though intentions be diuers Thou O God art the sender of peace and warre prosperitie and aduersitie punishing whole nations for their sinnes How can we then so foolishlie persuade our selues that we shall escape vnpunished for our offenses Séeing thou hearest and séest all things who hast in all ages plagued all such as maliciouslie and contemptuouslie depart from thy truth For who so forsaketh thée O God shall be punished and made wearie of his sinnes wherein he delighteth As for me I hate them O Lord that presumptuouslie dare attribute vnto themselues that they can guide their owne harts séeing it lieth in thy omnipotencie to giue the will and further the worke For there is none able to speake a word except thou giue it him neither is anie able to thinke a good thought without thée much lesse may anie doo the thing that good is without the assistance of thy holie spirit Wherefore regenerate me O Lord God by the same spirit and restore me to thine image giuing me grace and an assured faith to thinke doo that which is righteous in thy sight For I desire to liue but onelie to please thée as thy seruant Moses did who was brought vp with the daughter of Pharao and taken as hir sonne where he might haue liued still in much wealth if he would But when he was great through faith he refused to be called hir sonne chose rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of God than to enioie the pleasure of sinne for a while and all for that he had respect to the reward to come in thy heauenlie house Which grant me to aspire vnto for thy mercie sake whatsoeuer vexation or trouble my bodie bide For what should all the world gaine me if I lose my soule Better I were in this world to féed vpon the bread of teares and to wash my cup with moorning than to liue in all prosperitie wallowing in worldlie wealth and forget thée my God as the rich glutton did For assuredlie it is thy plague when the rich man hath not a liberall hart to vse his riches to thine honour and glorie For there is no power so high or mightie but thou O God canst visit him with thy rod neither is there anie mountaine or hill so strong or mightie that it can preserue the wicked from thy wrath O most mightie when thou wilt strike for thine office is to take vengeance on the wicked and to reward them according to their wickednes and deseruing Blesse me O GOD and make me of that number which regard not the pleasures of this world with the temporall commodities thereof but make me strong against my spirituall enimie that I may be thy well beloued child and seruant for I haue no other refuge but thée O Lord in whom my conscience is at rest Thou art named mercifull gratious and long suffering Lord shew thy selfe so vnto me thy poore creature who is most weake and fraile of all other Lord I haue confessed all mine offenses and imperfections vnto thy Maiestie and now I depend wholie on thée resting still on thy most holie word beséeching thée to strengthen my poore soule which sigheth and groneth vnto thée with gréefes that cannot be expressed vntill thou haue mercie vpon me Which grant me for thy deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and sauiour Amen So be it 43. A praier for the good estate of the church and congregation of God ARise O LORD GOD and haue mercie vpon thy church and faithfull congregation Giue vs that be of the houshold of faith ioie and consolation Thou didest euer shew mercie vnto thy seruants for euer since the fall of angels vnto the end of the world thy mercie hath euer béene and shall be aboundantlie shewed to all mankind but chéefelie it was shewed when thy sonne was sent into this world to suffer death whereby the gate of heauen was opened which before was shut that no man might enter This time was the beginning of grace and was certeinlie appointed when the fulnes of time was come which was before sinne by the euerlasting wisdome of thy deitie whereby thou dooest all things in most perfect order This time of grace we trust shall continue for euer to those that are penitent Wherefore we praie thée without ceasing to haue mercie vpon thy church for we faithfullie build vpon a sure rocke thy sonne Iesus Christ is our foundation Wherefore most louing father turne thée vnto the praiers of vs that are poore destitute of any helpe but onelie of thy helpe through thy mercie Despise not we humblie beséech thée our humble desire Behold our petitions with thy fatherlie eie wherewith thou didst looke vpon the oblation of Abel and receiue it thankfullie wherewith also thou beheldest the the praier of the Israelties being in bitter bondage in Aegypt and deliueredst them with those same mercifull eies vouchsafe to looke vpon vs and our praiers whereby the noble fame and praise of thy mercie shall be written for those that come after which shall be borne in faith by baptisme and may praise thée For those that be thy children shall haue a power aboue nature in their age shall they bring foorth most swéet and pleasant fruit Thou wilt euer declare thy selfe the preseruer of the church in destroieng thine enimies as thou diddest in thy red sea Thou O God art mercifull and wilt not forsake vs neither destroie vs nor forget the appointment of our Fathers which thou swarest vnto them And forsomuch as thou O God hast appointed that thy church in this world shal be vnder the crosse both bicause we should learne not to put our trust in anie worldlie thing and also féele thy comfort when all other helpe faileth Therfore we humblie beséech thée O Lord gather thy church which is dispersed and giue vs constancie vnder the manifold crosses which we suffer that we may with one consent all togither praise thée for euer For thou hast promised by the mouth of thy swéet sonne Iesus Christ that thy power and thine assistance shall be with hir vnto the end of the world Strengthen vs therefore with thy grace and holy spirit that we may sowe the séed of good works in this world that they may declare vs to be thy faithfull seruants and that they may be acceptable fruit in thy sight for thou dooest trie
lead and now beginne to frame a new spirituall godlie life building the house of our soules on the sure rocke which is thy sonne Iesus Christ resting in him as a sure habitation For it is he Lord that thou hast annointed aboue all other to be our mediatour and mercie seat who is so gentle mercifull and louing that he is most readie to receiue vs whensoeuer we come vnto him O glorious God how excellent art thou How noble and manifest be thy works passing farre the capacitie of all thy creatures to comprehend But thou full wiselie hast wrought all things by the same wisedome that hath bin with thée before anie thing was created and before all times by the which thou hast numbred the sands of the sea the drops of raine the daies of time By it hast thou measured the height of heauen the breadth of the earth and the déepenesse of the sea This wisedome is thy verie sonne our Lord and Sauiour the second person in Trinitie he is the power in whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge By him hast thou wrought the worke of our redemption and deliuered vs from eternall damnation And although thou be sometimes angrie with vs for our wickednes yet neuerthelesse if we call vpon thée in thy sons name thou wilt shew vs mercie for it is thy nature and his to be mercifull Lord kéepe our enimie farre from vs let him not deuoure those for whose redemption and saluation thou vouchsafedst to send thy most entirelie beloued son to suffer death and passion Bring them also we humblie beséech thée into the true faith of thy holie church that they may knowe thée and him whom thou hast sent for the saluation of the world that there may be on both sorts one shéepheard and one flocke Send vs all most mercifull father thy gratious fauor and open thy liberall hand and fill vs all with thy goodnes hide not thy face from vs for our offenses O send forth good Lord thy swéet breath vpon vs make vs new againe that we may leaue our old naughtines and become new creatures We acknowledge our selues to be dust and ashes send therefore thine holie spirit to renew our soules making it conformable to thine image according as thou diddest first create it which through sinne we haue made verie fowle and deformed Then shall we giue glorie vnto thy maiestie which indureth for euer and thy kingdome from one generation to another world without end Amen 47. A praier wherein is shewed how blessed they are that feare the Lord. O Lord Lord thou art a great God mightie in power whom no man may ouercome Let all thy creatures praise thée for thou spakest the word and they were made thou sentest thy spirit and they were created and there is none that may withstand thy voice The mountaines shall remooue from the foundations and the waters shall melt like wax but they that feare thée shall be great with thée in althings For thou dooest abhorre the sacrifice of the vngodlie but the praier of the righteous is acceptable vnto thée and whosoeuer followeth righteousnes him thou dooest loue The feare of thée O Lord God is a well of life and the right waie to auoid the snares of death for thou preseruest the welfare of the godlie and defendest them that walke innocentlie and kéepest them in the right path preseruing still the waie of thy saints and neuer suffering their soules to féele hunger but giuing them long life As for the vngodlie thou puttest him from his desires shortening his yeares with gréefe Lord grant me therefore to put my trust in thée with all my hart that I neuer leane vnto mine owne vnderstanding but in all my waies to haue respect vnto thée so wilt thou order my goings For it is thou O Lord that giuest wisedome out of thy mouth commeth knowledge and vnderstanding O God my father thou art he that hast brought me vp and lead me from my youth therefore of thy mercie haue regard vnto me and kéepe me stedfast in the feare of thée in mine age vntill I depart in peace according to thy word For mine eies doo dailie sée thy saluation which thou hast prepared for all thy people which is thy deare sonne Iesus Christ He is my mercifull mediator aduocate and intercessor by whom I hope to haue pardon of all my sinnes in him I liue mooue and haue my being and after I am dissolued of this my corruptible bodie I beléeue through his mercie to rise againe an incorruptible bodie for that I knowe my redéemer liueth by whom I shall liue and shall sée him face to face not with other eies but with the same eies which I doo now O God my sauiour lift vp with a sorrowfull and repentant heart for my most gréeuous sinnes and iniquities vnto the seat of thy maiestie Beséeching thée O my most swéet Lord Iesus to wash me cleane with thy most pretious blood and make me one with thée as thou and thy heauenlie father art one and as thou ouercamest so grant me to ouercome all the temptations of the diuell that I may be a piller in the temple of my God and sit with thée on thy seat as thou hast promised to all that ouercome the world and die in the faith of thée Thou art the waie the truth and the life No creature commeth to the father but by thée and none can trust in thée except the father drawe him O déere father which art the good husbandman graft me in the true vine thy son O Lord Iesu Christ nourish me a true branch in thée that I may abide euerlastinglie and bring forth much fruit O holy ghost water me with the dew of thy grace that I may be gréene and growe in the loue and fauour of my father and redéemer O thou which art the finger of Gods hand touch my hart and vnlose the same from all blindnesse and hardnesse that I may heare the voice of Gods heauenlie word and bring foorth much fruit vntill I be come vnto my full perfection that I may be worthie to be placed among thy chosen and elect people through the pretious death and blood shedding of Iesus Christ my onelie Lord and sauiour to whom with thée and the father be all honour and glorie now and for euer Amen 48. A praier wherein is shewed that God dwelleth in the harts of the righteous though his seat be in heauen THe mightie power of thy diuine maiestie O Lord of Lords and God of all gods with the plentifull aboundance of thy goodnesse daily declared vnto mankind inforceth me to consider mine owne weakenes and insufficiencie in yeelding to thée anie recompense Thou Lord art omnipotent and madest al things of naught I am thy simple creature made with thy hand and without thy help I am able to doo no good thing Thou art the GOD eternall besides whom there is no god I am a woorme of the vile earth not worthie to
beare the name of a christian for that through mine own sin I haue defaced the beautie of the principall part of man which is my soule made to thy godlie image Neuerthelesse since thou art the reformer of all our harts and the inspiror of all grace and goodnesse I most humblie beséech thée to correct by thy power that which through my frailtie is amisse Redres by thy pitie that which I haue mard through my follie make me able to yéeld vnto thée that which thou requirest of me acknowledging mine owne vnworthines and to render vnto thée noble praises and louing thanks for thy manifold gifts of grace wherby thou hast of thy méere liberalitie indued both my soule and bodie Make me worthie to laud thée which I cannot doo vnlesse thou giue me grace to wipe awaie all mine iniquities For thy praises be not séemelie in the mouth of a sinner Yea Lord I praie thée inflame my hart with the loue of thée so that from the bottome thereof I may speake them and not to loue anie thing in this world but thée for thée Thou art the true God and sauiour and there is none but thou O Lord. Out of thy mouth commeth the word of righteousnes which no man may turne Wherefore all other gods set I asside to thée onelie will I sing praises and confesse thée onelie to be the liuing GOD which I will acknowledge before the whole congregation of the faithfull Thou knowest the inward intent of the heart for in the hearts of the beléeuing is thy seate and resting place The soules of the iust are the temples wherein thou dooest inhabit To this temple good Lord will I turne my selfe by pondering the state of mine owne soule for strength whereof I call most humblie vnto thée most mercifull God that I may be able to vanquish the illusions of the subtill serpent Performe in me that which thou hast promised for all thy waies are mercie and truth Thy mercie reacheth vnto the heauens and thy faithfulnesse vnto the clouds thy righteousnes stands like the strong mountaine When thy goodnes is considered all the rulers of the earth must néeds confes that great is thy might and thy glorie Neuerthelesse although thou dwellest aboue the heauens yet hast thou a louing respect vnto the lowlie and méeke of spirit and dooest behold them as one looketh on his friend if they trust in thée Thou drawest néere vnto them that séeke thée to heare their praiers yea thou art their shéeld and protection in all their necessities as for the proud workers of iniquitie thou séest them a far off thou beholdest them with a fearse looke to their confusion to destroie and roote out their memoriall out of the euerlasting beatitude Who so therfore will haue thy maiestie come néere vnto him must plucke downe his mind and become lowe in heart For the méeke humble people be those that shall enioie the heuenlie countrie And though they walke in the middest of trouble yet shalt thou refresh and quicken them This world is a place ordeined for trouble and not for rest Here we are appointed to trauell in this place is no want of tribulation but thou euer gratiouslie comfortest the faithfull thou sufferest them not to be ouercome in any tribulation for through thée they vanquish all their enimies Wherefore Lord powre out thy mercies I beséech thée vpon thy flocke deliuer vs from all our enimies spirituall and temporall let thy right hand saue vs and lead vs through thy grace into eternall felicitie As for riches ease honor or any kind of temporall pleasure which be thy gifts also but of thy left hand we nothing estéeme Manie times thou bestowest these benefits vpon thine enimies the other thou reseruest for thine elect to receiue after manie tribulations And the same Lord I humblie beséech thée to kéepe in store for me thy poore seruant Regard not the wickednes which I dailie commit but looke vpon the merits of thy son Iesus Christ my God and my sauiour for it is he that hath paied my debt and thou Lord hast sealed the acquitance grant me to honour thée therefore as I ought to doo now and for euer Amen Amen 49. A praier wherein is shewed that God is alwaies our protection if we trust in his sonne Iesus Christ O Lord thou art my God I will praise thée and magnifie thy name and thy word aboue all things Thou bringest maruelous things to passe according to thy will and pleasure Thou art the poore mans helpe a strength for the néedfull in the time of trouble defending them against all weathers and their shadowe in the time of heate Likewise to the presumptuous thou art like a strong whirle wind that casteth downe the boasting of the vngodlie bicause they know not thée to be the euerlasting strength but the righteous Lord haue a respect vnto the waie of thy iudgements and thy name and remembrance reioiseth their hearts As for my soule it thirsteth after thée both daie and night and my mind hasteth fréelie vnto thée bicause thou art so mercifull vnto all them that séeke thée in singlenesse of heart for thou wilt be found of them that thirst after thée Thou art the well of pleasant waters whorewith whosoeuer is filled they shall neuer be a thirst for thou O lambe of GOD that dwellest in the middest of the throne wilt lead thine vnto the founteine of liuing waters and giue them euerlasting rest bicause that in this world they made themselues white in thy blood bearing thy crosses with willing minds and confessed thée before men on earth For this cause wilt thou acknowledge them before God thy father in heauen where they shall praise thée and him world without end O God most holie I acknowledge that I am none of those that haue deserued halfe such mercie at thy hands but I hope through the mercies and merits of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and sauiour to be made as perfect before thée O heauenlie father as if I had neuer sinned For thus I stedfastlie beléeue if I come vnto him he will not refuse me and if I praie heartilie desiring his helpe he will heare me and cloath me with his righteousnes and take from me all the sinnes that euer I haue committed from my birth vntill this present houre as he hath promised in his holie word Come Lord Iesus for thou art true and iust in all thy waies and wash me with thy most pretious blood Sanctifie me with thy bitter passion pretious death and glorious resurrection Restore me to those ioies that thine elect doo find in thée powre thy holie spirit into my heart that he may draw my mind continuallie vnto thée for thou art the waie the truth and the life Blessed are they that trust in thée and with a stedfast faith make thée their onelie staie and refuge they shall be sure of all happinesse in this world and when it shall please thée to call them hence they shall enioie with thée the crowne of glorie who hast all power giuen thée both in heauen and earth for the father iudgeth no man but hath committed all vnto thée who art the verie wisedome of God Wherfore Lord Iesu make me blessed with thée like as thou art blessed for I commit my selfe both bodie and soule into thy mercifull hands who hast redéemed me O thou God of truth Thou O Lord art worthie to receiue all glorie and honour and might for thou hast created all things and for thy willes sake they were and are created O most noble creator of light shine into my hart that it may cléerlie sée the excellencie of thy maiestie and quicken my soule and spirit that they may continuallie be stirred to honour and glorifie thée as thou art worthie which by thy grace I shall not cease to do with hart soule mind and strength among thy faithfull congregation which of thy mercie Lord preserue and kéepe that we may praise thée one God in persons thrée and euerlasting in vnitie world without end Amen FINIS 1584 H D OS HOMINI SVBLIME DEDIT Imprinted at London by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater noster Rowe at the signe of the Starre Cum priuilegio