lamented and an establishment of concord amongst our selues to be sought and hartily prayed for The word warranteth our obedience vnto Magistrats therfore woe be vnto him that wil teach vs contrarie doctrine Let vs indeuor to performe our duties and giue vnto God that which is Gods vnto Caesar that which belongeth vnto Caesar. And for the controuersie of the inequalitie of Church gouernours it is to bee considered that there are seuerall functions in the Church and euerie function hath his seuerall person and place let vs therfore pray that euery person may measure his calling by the word and limit his superiority or inferiority as they are therein directed then shall not the people of God want their due food in regard of humane contentions Oh that euery one woulde enter into his owne conscience and as much as in him lieth cast away all carnall consideration and what the word of God warranteth let him holde and giue no grounde to the cauillers and shun the contrary And for vs that are the common people that must expect to be fed by the ministery let vs pray for their vnitie and that God will giue them humble spirits vigilant and watchfull eyes knowledge loue zeale and constancie that the false prophets may be abandoned and the true ministers of God bee esteemed and imbraced as the Ministers of God Let vs obey them that haue the ouersight of vs and submit our selues for they watch ouer oursoules as they that must giue accounts that they may do it with ioy and not with griefe for that is vnprofitable for vs knowing that false prophets are the enemies to the crosse of Christ whose end is damnation whose God is their bellie whose glory is their shame which mind earthly things If any man therfore purge himself from these he shal be a vessel of honor and sanctified and meet for the Lord. And therfore let euery man pray vnto God that they may all speake one thing that there may be no dissentions amongst vs but we may bee knit together in one mind and in one iudgment so shal the glorie of God appeare and our Church prosper The Prayer against false Prophets errors and Schismes and for increase of Christianitie FOrasmuch good Father as the â—atter times of the â—orlde are come vpon vs and we are by thy diuine prouidence alotted vnto these dangerous and euil daies wherein as we haue bene foretold many false prophets and peruerse teachers dreamers of dreames and lying Apostles are risen vp and Sathan that wicked serpent hath turned himselfe into an Angell of light and his Ministers into the forme of thy Sonne Christ and his Apostles wherby hee endeuoureth to continue his kingdome and to hinder the passage of thy diuine word to exalt errour to stop the truth to confirme vanitie and to blemish thy word And forasmuch also good father as that man of sin the son of perdition heretofore foretolde to come is alreadie come and hath established his seate of pride and sendeth abroade his lying Ministers to seduce such as haue not sufficient taste of thy worde and whome thy grace directeth not to beware of his wicked practises Graunt oh mercifull God that we may through the assistance of thy diuine spirite be wise in thee and be so guided by thee that the deceiuing deuises of these lying spirits withdraw not our minds hearts and soules from the true imbracing of thy sacred worde Grant O Lord that wee wander not from the path of thy heauenly kingdome but may constantly and firmely perseuere in thine infallible trueth vnto the ende and may banish all errors and shew of falshoode and abide in the vnitie of thy true Church and Christian religion for euer let no deceitfull thing miscarrie vs let not the craft and subtiltie of Sathan nor the hypocriticall habite of holinesse wherewith many of the children of perdition are clad to deceiue the simple and true of heart preuaile with vs. Defend vs good father from erroneous sectes and let vs not in any sorte ioyne with the schismes diuisions of the world for good Father as they are many so are they in many sorts dangerous for they all carie shewe of truth some mixed with the truth and all of them defended for a truth in so mâ—ch as the trueth it selfe is little yea least of all maintayned but suppressed persecuted and vpbrayded eueÌ„ with the titles of error heresie falshood noueltie cause of tumults of rebellioÌ„s and contempt of Magistrates and such like persecutions which how contrarie it is thou knowest It is hard therefore vnlesse thou vouchsafe the light of thy holy spirit to discerne betweene these and as hard to stande without beeing seduced through their subtilties send downe therefore thy grace and direct vs in thy truth and gather vs together in one sound profession enable vs to conceiue aright the things that belong vnto saluation and keepe vs from such as come into the Church in sheeps clothing but are inwardly rauening wolues which spare not thy flocke but cruelly deuoure thy beloued sheep with the poyson of erronious doctrine and roote out the tares cockle and darnell of error already sowne from the good seed of thy word And forasmuch good father as the case standeth so that who so will professe thy name and seeke to sanctifie the same in a sincere and right course of life not bending his affections or yeelding liking to the wicked course of this world in whose proceedinges standeth but the shadow without the substanciall fruite of sinceritie cannot wade through this vale full of confused corruptions but he shall fall into the hands of such as carrie the titles of Christians will yet seeke Antichristianlie to impose themselues against him with y â— bitternesse of their vpbraydings to quaile if it were possible and to discomfite nay to seduce euen the faithfull from the sincere seruice of thee And this deere Father is dangerous vnto the weak and feeble ones wherefore giue vs aide and strength that we slide not by their slipperie practises from a constant perseuerance in the inuiolable truth but rather may with all willingnes not only lay down our goods all naturall respects but euen life it selfe rather than to shew our selues as broken bowes to start aside with euerie blast of vaine doctrine and thereby be carried away into vanitie and errour And according vnto thy promise vouchsafe that whensoeuer any of thy children for the testimonie of their faith in thee and for their ardent zeale in thy word shall be apprehended reprooued or exacted before Princes or rulers howsoeuer vnlearned or vnable they shall be in respect of deepe literature or worldly wisedom thine holie spirite may enlighten their vnderstandings giue knowledge vnto their heartes and vtterance vnto their lips that they may be able to speake defend thy truth to the vtter confutation of such false teachers as shall withstande the same giue them alâ—o knowledge and boldnesse
their owne perdition all their plots snares and pittes to catch themselues is not this maruelous in our eyes But the truth is great and it preuaileth It is the Lord that hath doone this great thing It is hee that driueth backe the heauen and that planteth his church it is he that destroyeth the aduersaries maketh his own people to grow it is he that giueth strength vnto his people blesseth vs with peace Why then doe the foolish heathen thus rage why do these peeuish people murmure against the church of Christ in vaine When their hope was to haue preuailed with their peeuishly tearmed inuincible armie they stumbled and fell the hande of the iust God was against them and his mighty hand cast them into the bottome of the sea and with his power he confounded their deuise and howsoeuer they seeme to continue malicious and in a deepe desire to cut vs off and to dispeople vs let vs not feare but duely call vpon the name of God our head and husbande and hee will breake their bowes hee will shiuer their speares in sunder their owne swordes shall pearce themselues and their owne bullets shal rent themselues in peeces Let vs therefore continually fal downe before him in prayer and in due obedience vnto his worde submit our selues vnto his will and if hee will that wee suffer for his name and truethes sake let vs glorifie him in our sufferinges knowing this that a crowne of life is laide vp in store for as many as take his yoke with patience and faithfully endure vnto the ende If it please him hee can make warres to cease from one ende of the world to the other but if it be his pleasure to raise vp new euils against vs for our sinnes let vs acknowledge his iudgementes to be iust and our deserts to be vile And let vs serue him continually without feare of them that can but kill the body and can not annoy the soule then shall nothing seperate vs from this our Christ nor from the vnity of his Church neither tribulation nor anguish nor persecution nor famine nor nakednesse nor peril of the sword nor death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any creature neither Pope Spaniard Turke nor Infidell nothing shall seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Let euerie member then of this true Church with all power and diligence endeuour to approoue himselfe by knowledge by faith by praier by humilitie and patient abiding the Lordes leasure in all thinges so will our louing God keepe vs vnder the shadowe of his winges and preserue vs as the apple of his eye that wee may grow vp bring forth fruite a thousand fold to the glorie of his name and whether by life or by death he hath decreed to glorifie vs let vs take either in all godlie obedience vnto his will and present our continuall praiers vnto his Maiestie for the comfort and preseruation of the vniuersall Church The Praier for the church of God to bee saide at all times and especially in daungers O Almightie God and euerliuing Father who hast vouchsafed to gather vnto thy self an holy companie out of all nations of the world whom thou hast most gloriously entituled with the names of thy Church thy spouse and thy members and whome also thou teachest louest and feedest whome also thou so tenderly considerest that howsoeuer the wicked euen thine enemies doe seeke to annoy it thou so defendest gardest blessest it that no haire of the head or the least member thereof falleth much lesse any one of that coÌ„panie perisheth or is troden down without thy prouidence Yet good father such is thy pleasure that while this companie shall dwell in earthly vessels it is as a ship tossed and tumbled with the cruel storms and dangerous waues of the sea of continuall persecutions subiect to often assaults of the enemie dashed sometime against the sword sometime beaten with slaunders backbitings reproches somtime to beatings buffettings crossings and sometime to massacres murthers and most cruell death It is neuer free from perill it is alwaies and by all meanes tryed There is no comfort no ioy no rest as long as it is in this life but in hope wayting patiently the comfortes and consolations in heauen It continually depainteth out the sufferings the crosses and ignominious course which Christ himselfe was forced to suffer here in earth In so much as it is made knowne to be thy Church by the continuall calamities which here in this life it endureth Good father thou seest how the heathen do rage and how the froward people of the earth do murmure against thee in these thy members how the Kinges of the earth band themselues the princes assemble and consult together against thee thy Christ and against his Church But make thy people strong in faith that we may breake their bands and cast their cordes from vs For saluation belongeth vnto thee and thy blessing is vpon thy people Thou seest O Lord thou seest how the wicked bende their bowes and make ready their arrowes that they may secretely shoote at thy children and to hit them that feare not But thou righteous Lord louest righteousnes thy countenance doth behold the iust and thine hand shal hold them vp Withdraw not therfore thy tender mercies from thy Church let thy mercie and thy trueth alway preserue it for thou seest that innumerable trobles are raised against it but send thou thy light and thy truth and let knowledge faith and true obedience in lowlines zeale lead it and by thy mightie hande preserue it in thy holy mountaine and let it alwaies rest in thy tabernacles furnish it with all ioye and gladnes gird it about with streÌ„gth Let it through thee be able to thrust back her aduersaries and in thy name tread downe such as rise vp against her Let thy church continually sing The Lord is my light my saluation whom shall I feare the Lord is the strength of my life of whom shal I be afraid In the time of trouble and daunger hide thy people in thy tabernacle in the secret place of thy pauilion hide them O Lord and set them vpon a sure rocke that when the wicked euen their enemies and their foes come vpon them to deuoure them let them stumble and fal Be thou our strength shield Thou giuest strength to thy people and blessest them with peace But good Father thou seest that the wicked furiously rage and endeuour to rush in vpon thy sanctuarie they imagine mischief against thy church and seeke by all meanes to deuour thine inheritance They lay snares O Lord to entrap thy spouse to dismember thy Christ. They take wicked counsaile and in deceit doe they worke all their diuises they â—â—y wait for the righteous companie and seeke to destroye them But they
with her may meet our sauiour Christ Jesus together in the cloudes when we shall enioy our absolute harts ease in heauen If we consider the perillous estate of our tune wherein wee liue and the danger of our dayes wee shall finde great occasion to humble our selues before the Lord in prayer for her that the bright beames of his fauour may shine vnto vs euen in her who as we see hungreth and thirsteth for the peace comfort and good of vs her people who being taken from vs we know not whether the Lorde will send vs in regard of our forgetting his so great a benefite in her a Dauid or a Saule and therefore it behooueth vs to pray that God wil lengthen her daies vpon the earth for the further comfort of his Church If we looke into the present estate of our neighbours in forraine partes it will if we be not carelesse strike vs with terrour least that God for our sins should also turne our peace into warre our plentie into want our comfort in her to miserie and trouble by forraine enemies Let this and many other deepe occasions carry vs into a desire to crie vnto our God for his continuall loue towardes her whose prosperitie is ours whose health is our happines and whose continuance is our comfort The right hand of the King of kinges holde her vp The Prayer for the Queene OUr omnipotent and mighty God that gouernest Kinges and kingdomes whose power exceedeth the power of all Potentates of the earth we acknowledge thy mercy we commend thy wisedome and praise thy mightie power in that thou hast so like a louing Father established the peace of thy church here in this our land and in that thou hast cast out the aduersaries of Israell and planted vs as thine owne people in their steeds Which waightie worke O good father such is thy strength that thou hast enabled thine handmaide not by tyrannie but by truth not by crueltie but by louing kindnesse to establish in this our realme who hath confirmed the same to thy obedience and hath reduced many of thin aduersaries from disobeying theee to loue thee from not knowing thee to serue thee And therefore good father we magnifie thy name we extol thee with praise And so much the more good father because she hath through thee driuen back our enemies and in thy name and by thy power troden downe such as rose vp against her and vs and aboue all for that vnder her we haue tasted how sweet louing and comfortable thou art towards vs. And thy fame in her is spread from one nation to another people yea from one end of y â— earth to the other and all the nations of the world do see and consider that great is her God for the wonders that thou hast done for her are maruelous in the eies eueÌ„ of her enemies for when men rose vp against her they preuailed not but stumbled and fell The experience of thy continuall fauour encreaseth yet daily euen to thy perpetuall praise Wherefore good father be still mindfull of her and blesse vs in her continue thy louing kindnes and make her daies ioyful that she may see the increase of thy glorie to shine in this land as the Sun in his strength And let her foes be beaten downe on al sides let not one of theÌ„ be able to stand in her presence graunt her continuall peace and true happines gouerne her well and sanctifie her affections and beautifie her crowne with the glorious ornaments of godlinesse of wisedome of knowledge of faith of zeale true humilitie before thee that she may continue a spectacle of sinceritie to all posterities And that the Princes of the earth may see her godly proceedings and in a godly emulation endeuor more more to follow her good and gracious example And let al her people practise euermore to serue thee and to celebrate thine euerlasting praises in her behalfe Hearken vnto her from heauen and vnto vs for her behold her from aboue and graunt that she may openly confesse that all her strength al her comfort and saluation coÌ„meth from thee Thou art her strength thou art her castle thou art the author of her perpetuall safetie Giue vnto her thy iudgements O Lord and thy righteousnes vnto her councel that they may iudge thy people with righteousnes and thy folke with equitie O let the mountaynes bring peace and the little hils righteousnesse vnto thy people Let there be no decay no leading into captiuitie nor any cause of lamentation in our land but let thy truth preuaile let thy peace continue and let her godly proceedings take effect vnder thee to the gratious gouerning of all thy people Let thy word breake foorth and the glorious beames therof shine foorth banish the obstinate and stiffnecked ignorance of such as delight in vanities And to this end good father exalt thine annointed let thy hand assist her and thy right arme hold her vp And let not her foes preuaile against her So shall she sing foorth thy praise and wee her people for euermore giue thankes vnto thee for thy louing hand and fauourable care of her sauing health Amen O Lord increase our faith A praise for her Maiesties most gracious gouernment REioyce O England blest Forget thee not to sing Sing out her praise y t broght thee rest froÌ„ God thy mighty king Our God and mighty king our comforts hath renewde Elizabeth our Queene did bring his word with peace endewde His word with peace and loue she planted and it stands Her helper was the king aboue she brings it from his hands She brings it from his hand his counsell and decree That she a Hester in this land should set his children free None ruleth here but she her heauenly guide doth show How al things should decreed be to comfort high and low Oh sing then high and low giue praise vnto the king That made her Queen none but a foe but will her praises sing All praises let vs sing to King of kings aboue Who sent Elizabeth to bring so sweet a tast of loue A short Prayer for the Queene OH Lorde almightie King all sufficient the gouernour preâ—eruer and continuall protector of princes to whole becke and will all kings of the earth are subiect looke in mercie and fauour vpon the estate of thy seruant our Queene Elizabeth Be vnto her a safe refuge in all times of daunger and let thine holye spirite bee vnto her a continuall guide of all her imaginations actions and proceedings And for as much as thou beholdest the present daunger of the estate of vs thy little flocke of this Realme in that the enemie of thy Sonnes Gospell vaunteth himselfe against vs thy poore people and against her our defender vnder thee Bee both to her and vs a tower of strength and fight thou with them that fight against her and vs be with our armies when soeuer they shal encounter the
And heerein it is required that we be poore in spirit to hunger thirst for righteousnes to be meke to be mercifull to be pure in hart and gladly Suffer persecution for righteousnes sake We must be louing liberall pittifull patient in troubles and in all thinges wee must frame and conforme our wordes workes and thoughts to doe the will of our heauenly father To him we must fall downe to be strengthened in faith without which we cannot reteine this kingdome the liuely and effectuall word which that it may bee purely preached without fraud deliueâ—â— without vaine glory receiued and practised without faltring or fear we must pray vnto our God who hath promised and will perfourme to send vs his ayde to keepe vs vpright in this glorious path to eternall life And wee must pray vnto him that hee will make our vnderstandinges capable of the trueth of his will and what hee requireth at our handes in seekinge of this hys kingdome That he wil frame our liues in all simplicity of faith submitting our selues wholy vnto his word casting downe our own imaginations and euerie proude conceit of our selues that through meekenesse in true knowledge and obedience we may be made meete partakers of the euerlasting kingdome of God Hauing obtained this spirituall feeling of the will of God in his word and being sealed vp through faith in a longing desire for al spirituall perfection let vs proceede to the execution of our callinges which may aunsweare the commaundement of God heerein Let vs continually seeke new and dayly meanes by hearing the woorde preached by stirring vp one of an other and by giuing sacred examples of vertue and godlynesse that our callings may bee made sure to be founded and established in this kingdome Then may wee freely approach vnto our God and he will receiue vs we may cal on him and he wil heare vs we may beg of him and he wil giue vs al things necessary for body and soule Hee is our almighty king and he will defende vs he is our mercifull God and he will relieue vs and hee is our mercifull father and he will feede vs cloath vs and teach vs. And at last he wil crowne vs with the glorie of his sonne hee will make vs as the saintes in heauen and we shall receiue the inheritance of euerlasting blisse And therefore let vs seeke and praie vnto him that wee may obtaine this principall and chiefe foundation of all true comfortes in this life the kingdome of his Sonne Christ Jesus The prayer for the kingdome of God O Most gracious God and louing father it hath pleased thee to commaund vs first before all things to seeke thy kingdome and the riches righteousnes thereof with promise that then al things necessary for body and soule shal be giuen vs wherfore good father sith that our vnablenes is such that we cannot attaine vnto this high matter of our selues vouchsafe to prepare our heartes that at this time and alwaies wee may aboue all things hunger and thirst for this righteousnesse the absolute meane of our true comfort without which all our comfort is but care our wisdome but foolishnes our glory but shame our riches but pouertie our godlines impietie and all our praiers sin Wherefore good father I humbly praye thee in the behalfe of all thy children that thou wilt poure into our hearts a godly consideration of our imperfections not being endued with this absolute integrity that we may see our pouerty nakednes not being enriched cloathed with this riches weedes of sanctitie that wee may feele how ready we are to pine for want of this foode of our soules thy sacred woord the glorious Gospell of Christ wherein consisteth this heauenly kingdome which kingdome O Lord teach vs to find Endue vs with thy holy spirit poure into our harts that sacred gift which thou hast left for our comfort to leade vs to this kingdome that may direct vs in all truth that may manifest in vs the knowledge and exercise of thy word wherein resteth that spirituall happinesse which heere by faith we see as a shadow farre off which one day shall be manifest to our absolute ioy and saluation In the meane time good Father sanctifie our hearts with heauenly contemplations and sanctified meditations that our ioye which now is but in part may be dayly enlarged through the diuine fruites of loue to thy law faith in thy promises and of hope that our ioy shall be full at the appearinge of thy sonne So shall the kingdome of thy sonne appeare in vs and wee which wander in the darknesse of this polluted worlde shall appeare manifestly to bee the heires of thy kingdome through faith testified by the fruites of a sanctified life And to the end good father that thy kingdome may dayly more and more appeare and increase graunt free and comfortable passage to thy word and Gospell of Christ that it may be plainely purely and plentifully preached And vouchsafe to increase the number of the laborers in this worke who may faithfully and diligently worke therein That through the same thy people which now sit in darknes may be enlightened that such as are farre off may come neere and they that are without at thy good pleasure may be brought into this kingdome â—hat wee may all put on that sanctifâ—ed garment of a new life and sincere conuersation which may approoue vs to bee thy children and Citizens of thy kingdome and that as becâ—mmeth thy sonnes we may be reformed in our liues Giue vs thine holy Spirite that wee may beleeue thy worde and therby so direct our liues that we in all vertuousnes godlines of conuersation may finish our course vpon earth And afterward liue with thy Sonne in eternall blisse And seeing thy kingdome is not meat and drink neither consisteth in ceremonies and traditions deuised by man neither commeth it with obseruations neither is it in word but in righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost and in power Graunt that wee all may bee truely regenerate and borne new by the holy spirite and may no longer spend the dayes of our liues in the lusts of the flesh in the vanities of the mind and in pride of life But may eleuate and raise vpwarde all our affections euen vnto thy holy hill from whence commeth the life wherein we liue the helpe whereby wee stand and the power wherby we are defended And be thou present good Father in al readines to support vs being weak to releeue vs being poore and to traine vs vp in all heauenly knowledge being altogether ignorant And let euerie of thy children that thirst after that righteousnes bee filled with all good thinges within and without that wee may goe forwarde in dayly exercise of pietie and godlines in knowledge in faith in loue in hope and in true zeale that we may liue within the compasse of thy fatherly protection die in thy loue
they persecute his children It appeared as soone as the maister was taken away the seruantes were despised when the shepheard was gone the sheepe wandred abroad and all the children of God were tryed some by mockings and scornings som by bondes and imprisonment some were â—ewne in peces some stoned some slaine with the sword some wandred vp and downe in sheepe skinnes destitute of comfort afflicted and tormented some wandred in the mountains and in the wildernes hiding themselues in caues and dennes of the earth and none escaped the hand of the enemie yet they were such as the world was not worthy of Paul the Apostle was mightily persecuted of the Iewes after hee became a member of this Church Peter Iohn were also bitterly persecuted Stephen most miserably handled and at last stoned Al the Apostles and Disciples of Christ were persecuted and hauock was made of the Church of God in so much as all such as tooke on them the profession of Christ or had but the name of Christians were forced to taste of the cup whereof their master tasted And we that followe them in profâ—ssion must be contented to follow them in troubles to take vp the crosse and to beare what the world will lay vpon vs. There is no way to the kingdom of heauen but by Christ and there is no way to Christ but by tribulation The wicked do continually seek to oppresse such as are true of hart they make sharp their swords they bend their bowes and dispose their arrowes in the stringes coueting to shoote at those that feare God The Kinges of the earth band theÌ„selues the Princes of the world assemble themselues together against God and his church England since it hath come to the tast of true religion hath tasted how true it is that is said that they that will liue vprightlie shall haue many that will rise vp against them How hath the rage of Sathan appeared against vs with bitter threats froÌ„ Spaine with excommunications and condemnations from Rome how haue we bin labored to haue bene seduced by Priests and Seminaries from our bounden loue and dutie not onely towards her Maiestie but towards our God if cursings if blessings if disswasions or perswasions if threats of hell if promises of heauen if throwing downe or exalting high if feare of fire and sword could haue preuailed we had falne and forsaken God ere this day how haue they sought the death and destruction of our gratious Queene and graue Counsellors by inchantments by magick by murther and by all deuilish practises Haue we not bine enuironed by Fleetes of foes at sea by armies of rebels by land and endaungered by hidden Traytors at home hath there yeâ— any of their conspiracies preuayled hath not God stood our defence hath not our Christ the head of our Church stood in the gap against these trecheries and tumultes and doeth there not herby appeare a Church militant a Church still driuen to defende it selfe and a Church malignant a Church fraught with malice against the truth a Church offended and a Church offending a Church suffering and a Church persecuting And who doth not see how manifestly it appeareth that our Church is that Church which resembleth our head Christ Jesus in suffering and the other to be the Church resembling their father the Deuill by massacring and killing who seeing his kingdome to bee neeâ—e at an ende and noting how his Church and the reprobates companie diminisheth beginneth to enkindle the coales of dissention betweene kings and kingdomes and stirreth vp traitors vnder collour of teachers murtherers in the name of catholiques and deuils vnder the habit of a religion by whome the whole worlde is at this day set all in a flame and they labour by all means to peruert with the venom in their tayles the consciences of al true Christians and where they see they cannot preuaile by the trueth they seeke it by tyrannie in the place and steede of mercie they vse massacres in steed of peace which the truth imbraceth they stirre vp warres and in steede of loue the badge of Christians they execute all hatred euen to bloud If we looke into late yeares wee shall finde in Fraunce how thousands of the Church of God haue bene murthered some in their beds some in the streetes some in the temple some preaching some praying and whosoeuer was noted to serue god aright was swallowed vp in this deuilish furie and for that the more they striued to suppresse the truth the more seeing it to preuaile they by the instigation of the adulterer of Rome proceed on to new deuises sparing neither old nor yong great nor small but take all by the throat euen their Kinges and with butcherly hands defile their pallaces with most cruel murther killing euerie innocent euen such as can but name the Lord Christ and him serue as their onely redeemer in the lowest measure doe they most cruelly cut off with vntimely death Is it not therfore high time for the poore Church of God in regard of this bloody worke of the Deuill to poure foorth continuall ardent prayers vnto our God for his present helpe in this trouble And howsoeuer we rest in great measure freed from massacres and open murthers heere in England through the louing hande of our good God yet are we not without continuall occasions to moue vs to godly supplications that God in his mercies will coÌ„tinue our fauourable God for euer and that he will be still mindfull of vs that wee fall not into our enemies hands who as we see practise by all kindes of pollicies to presse in vpon vs to deale with vs as they haue dealt with other nations nay to make vs to be no more a people The remembrance of our little persecution in the time of Queene Marie may moue vs to due obedience vnto our God who did speedilie deliuer vs by the gracious hand of our most sacred Queen Elizabeth in whome vnder our good God we haue bene this 39 yeares almost compleat so happily defended that wee haue had free scope to serue our God in truth whereas wee see other nations to bee so suppressed by the heauie hande of the wicked man that none dare stand vp to professe God but with present torture Oh let vs therfore be thankfull to our mighty God for his help in all former dangers and pray that we may shew our selues as wise as Serpents as innocent as doues that we may stand sound and vnblameable in our professions in faith strong in loue vnfayned and constantly perseuering in this inuiolable truth that the gates of hell nor the tyrannie of the euill man preuaile not against vs that the fond and idle furie of that Romish Idol terrifie vs not whome together with his worshippers our alsufficient God laugheth to scorne who as we see and haue tasted hath by his prouidence turned their practises to
shall not be destroid in the perillous time For thou Lord hast promised to stand in the defence of thine owne people Thou hast saued vs from our aduersaries and hast put them to confusion that hate thy people Up Lord and beholde how yet the enemie seeketh to destroye vs O hide not thy face forget not our miserie and affliction thou God art the king of all the earth thou raignest and rulest ouer the heathen therefore will we not feare The Lorde of hostes is with vs the God of Jacob is our refuge yea this God is our God for euer and euer hee is the guide of his Church and he it is that wil come and will not keepe silence a fire shall deuoure before thee so that thine enemies shall not bee able to stand in thy presence they shall be scattered abroad come to shame suddainely Thou God hast giuen a banner to them that feare thee that it may bee displaide in testimonie of thy truth That thy beloued euen thy spouse may bee deliuered â— that euery member of thy church may dwell in thy tabernacle for euer and may rest vnder the couering of thy wings when the wicked shal fal and be vtterly discomforted Oh â—ow terrible art thou in thy works through the greatnesse of thy power shall thine enemies bee subiect vnto thee And although thou sufferedst the wicked to ride euen ouer our heades although we haue bin forced to passe through fire and water yet hast thou deliuered vs and brought vs into a wealthie place where thy word and Gospell euen the truth of our saluation is freely deliuered Wherefore O God arise let thine enemies bee scattered Let them that hate thee flie before thee as the smoke vanisheth so let thine enemies be driuen backe let them not come neere thy sanctuarie As waxe melteth before the fire so let the enemies of thy Church perish at thy presence and let thy people be glad let thy congregations sing and reioyce let thy beloued leape for ioy O send downe thy gracious raine vpon thine inheritance refresh the weary members of thy Church such as haue felt the woe of thine enemies Let them bee recomforted Let the solitarie poore man that thirsteth for thy sauing health be filled with the hid treasures of thy loue Deliuer the unprisoned and let the children now in captiuitie be set free Wound the heads of the obstinate and stiffe-necked aduersaries of thy church and bruse the hairye scalps of such as seeke to destroy thy people Destroy the companie of the spearemen the multitude of the proud whose hearts are lifted vp against thy people Scatter those idle and euill affected ones whose delight is in warre so shall all kingdomes of the earth seeke thee and the nations dispersed shall attend vnto thy voice all such as know thee shall sing foorth thy praises yea they shal sing vnto him that rideth vpon the high heauens ascribe al power vnto thee our great God our mighty king our husband and head O God of hostes cause thy face to shine vpon vs and we shall be saued O Lord increase our faith A Praise of Gods fauour in protecting his Church comfortable to the faithfull Sing faithfully vnto God our strength sing aloud vnto the God of Iacob Psal. 81. 1. OVr God is good why shuld we theÌ„ so long neglect his praise His help doth passe the helpe of meÌ„ whose lawes and loue decaies But lo the loue of God endures from day to day it stands His spouse to loue liue he lures and breaks her cruel bands He sends his word and giues her light his gospell feedes his flocke His people onely take their flight to him their liuely rocke On him they stay on him they staÌ„d band and he extends his aid He breaks with truth the dolefull whereat his Church dismaid No pompous Pope no Spaniard proud no direfull drum of foe No shaft no shot no rainles cloude can daunt his spouse with wo What though the peeuish maÌ„ of sin his bloudy badge display What if he vainly vaunt to win be still he shall decay The proudest of our foes shall fall their stoutest strength shall rue The stately strumpet fraught with gall shall faint and all her crue Iehouah yet his Church shall saue and with his hand defend Who then will rest a popish slaue and not our Englands frend Breath out thy word O God our guide let it be publisht so That it may stand and still abide and teach thy Church to grow Let truth preuaile let faith abound let all reforme their waies Our Queen preserue her foes confound send peace in al her daies A Prayer for the Church of Christ. MOst gracious God and louing Father in Jesus Christ look in fauour vppon the estate of thy Church generally dispersed through the whole world and whome by the malâ—ice of Sathan and tyrannie of Antichrist thou seest continually assayled with many dangers Be thou therefore a castle and defence a buckler and rocke strong and forceable to withstand the furie and force of all aduersaries for the better comfort endue it continually with faith vnfayned wherein it and euerie member thereof may safely runne and repayre vnder the shadowe of thy winges whensoeuer perill appeareth Graciously guide and gouerne it be present with it and take the defence thereof into thine owne hands to whome it specially and alone belongeth and let it hold on the true course of professing and practising thy true Religion that the aduersaries maye haue no cause to condemne it through sinne which howsoeuer it may seeme to dwell in the most godly while wee liue here yet let vs alwaies haue an eye and diligent watch ouer our thoughtes words and actions that our light may shine to thy glorie our good and example of other in peace and warre in comfort and calamitie and not bee dismaid at the noyes and report of the greatest daunger Amen O Lord increase our faith ¶ A motion to a Prayer wherein the soule must arme it selfe against daungers of the time in regarde of false doctrine CHrist forseeing in the daies of his flesh that after his departure his Children shoulde be in danger to be seduced from his sincere truth by the ministers of Sathan false Prophets and lying teachers hath very graciously giuen vs a forewarning to take heede of such as enter in amongst vs in sheeps clothing who are inwardly rauening wolues who should priuilie bring in damnable heresies euen denying the Lord who hath brought them and who bring vpon themselues swift damnation yet many shall follow their destructions by whome the way of truth is euill spoken of It was prophecied long agoe that in the latter dayes euen in the dayes wherein wee liue should rise vp very dangerous doctrines Sathan should transforme himselfe into an Angell of light and false Apostles hauing put on the person as it were of Christ himselfe and of his Apostles should creep into the hearts of Gods
children and so enchant them with their counterfet holines that many through their hypocrisie should be deceiued Many such haue in our dayes risen vs and haue caried great shew of being of the flocke of Christ but by their actions haue shewed them selues verie deuourers of the sheep of Christ and haue sought to suck the bloud of his saints of which kind of deceiuers there are manie kindes and they most subtile and wilie in their generation therefore it behooueth the children of God to be carefull watchfull and obedient vnto the wil and word of God which is the line wherby we must direct our course to sayle aright vnto the harbour of the heauenlie truth Wee must touch the compasse of our heartes with the loadstone of truth wherby we shal be able to eleuate all our affections vnto the heauenly day star Christ Jesus that no counterfet stone of mans deceitful opinions shal draw vs from the course vnto our heauenly harbour the kingdome of God wher we shall enioy our true and heauenly hearts ease euen in this life Let vs therefore pray that we be not miscarried by the deceits of the wicked pilot sathan whose directions are meerely indirect and whole sailes are deecitfull being glorious to the eye and the barke wherein he carrieth his vnhappie passengers seemeth to be a most secure cradle gliding on without tempest or waue vntill it come to the end of their race where alas they fall into the gulfe of perpetuall perdition such a maister is he and such mariners are his false Prophets that they delight flesh and bloud and all their course seemeth sweete but short and soure merchandize shall they haue that passe in the pinnise of his poisoned errours Let vs therefore be watchful and flie his painted poyson for wee may be soone miscarried if we enter but one step into this course Let vs cal to mind that Paul hath forewarned vs of a very perillous gulf wherin without great watchfullnes and praier we may easilie fall and that is into peruerse opinions drawn thereinto by such as should enter in euen amongst our selues yea of our selues eueÌ„ of the fellow teachers in our congregations that should speake peruerse things yea and draw disciples after them The strength of whose inchantments we haue seene euen in our owne Church of England whose peruerse doctrines might be recited but more fitlie omitted the spirite speaketh euidently that in the latter tunes some shall depart from the faith and shall giue heede vnto spirits of error and doctrines of deuels which speak lies through hipocrisie and haue their consciences burned with an hot iron Let vs harken vnto the worde of the Lord unbrace it Therfore let vs couet in all obedience and meekenes to be taught the trueth pray for vnderstanding and fulfilling of the same that we may bee able to discern these false prophets dreamers of dreames of whome Moses also forewarned the children of Israel willing them not to hearken vnto the idle fantasies of men who prophecie vnto vs lies and teach vs vanitie that speake the visions of their owne hearts and that teach those things that they themselues haue inuented of their owne brains and which they haue not learned out of the word of the Lord and yet say The Lord hath said it being puffed vp and yet know nothing but doting about questions and strife of wordes whereof commeth enuie strife raylings euill surmisings c. And yet feare not nor blush to make the Lord of heauen the authour of their lies and vanities who beeing enemies of God very traytors against his crowne kingdom and dignitie sticke not to collour their deuilish practises peeuish opinions and grosse errours with the worde of God when indeede the worde of God bewrayeth them confuteth them and confoundeth them Are not these false apostles deceitfull workers saith Paule transforming them selues into the Ministers of Christ and into his Apostles Such a strong deceiuer arose of late euen yesterday that hideous Hacket stirred vp by Sathan who was traÌ„sformed into no lesse in arrogation of title then into Christ himself hauing on a kinde of habite of holinesse his heart fraught with a â—egion of Deuilles who poured out mightie blasphemies against God high treasons against her innocent Maiestie and most detestable practises against his countrie And yet a Christ nay a cursed caitife in whom was performed the saying of Christ our Sauiour that there should arise false Christes that should showe such strength of errour that if it were possible the very elect should be seduced by them And surely it is dangerous for the weaker sort to touch them in discourses in disputations or any coÌ„ference vnles it please god to arme them strongly with the sword of the spirit that by the sword of truth they may bee enabled to confound them in their argumentes for the very true Christians may often fall through frailtie in some conceit of thinges euill to be good and good things to be euill and speciallie when it shall carrie collour of Godlynesse to conceiue it so And manie times it falleth out that euill things carry collour to preach vnto vs good as in the adherents of this wicked man the two Gentlemen that were deceiued by him and drawne to enter into an vnlawfull action that that action carried collour of loue in that they preached repentance vnto their countrie it carried collour of Religion in that they preached as Messengers sent from God But see howe all these gay showes were mingled with mischeifes tending to stirre vp vprores and tumults among the people and to raise an euill opinion and disloyaltie in the subiectes towards her Maiesty moreouer it tended to enuie and wicked zeale to bring Magistrats into contempt All which preach vnto vs that it is time for al estats to looke about them to be watchfull and to be ready to stand in the day of trial for these are persecutions raised against the highest euen by such as are with vs in some outward shewes but not of vs as the issue of their workes declare but in my poore opinion this their preaching publisheth vnto vs gods displeasure for ouermuch security If they being false Prophets preach vnto vs repentance it is time for the true Ministers of God to crie out for repentance for God many waies preacheth vnto vs repentance and amendment of life And because the deuill to an euill purpose preacheth that which may admonish vs let vs vse the meanes to learne howe to amende what is to be amended so shall we tread him and his purposes vnder our feete and God himselfe will send preachers to publish his pleasure and to declare his truth with warraÌ„t of his word whose exhortations shall not be by deceit nor by vncleannes nor by guile but as they were allowed of God and to whom the Gospell being committed they shall speake not as they that please men but God
for vs to rise earlie and to go to our rest late and in griefe to eate our breade vnlesse the Lorde giue a blessing vnto our labours and studies Wherefore let vs repayre vnto our good God with humble harts in faithful supplications that hee will giue vs ablenesse to performe our callings skilfully and religionslie that in quiet of conscience wee may eate the fruites of our labours and so prosper in al that we take in hand that our brethren be neither deceyued by vs nor our selues forced to vse any vnlawfull thing for our owne reliefe which may offend the Lord. The Prayer that euerie man may liue vprightly in his calling O God of all comfort and giuer of all consolation forgiue my sinnes cleanse mee and wash mee from all iniquitie which disable mee to performe my calling in such sinceritie as becommeth mee And through the bloud of thy Sonne purifie my heart and my imperfections increase my knowledge and sanctifie mine affections with thy grace that my sinnes being forgiuen I may rest in thy fauor and in thy fauour finde continuall comfort and be dayly blessed with new gifts that I may be founde perfect in my calling seasoned so with a liuely faith in thee that thy holy spirite may continually dwell and beare rule in me and lead mee to the due performance of those things which thou requirest to be done in my calling that all vnnaturall affections being truelye mortified I may onely rest in thee and relie on thee and be ruled by thee in all things Good Father graunt that I may take the direct right course in my vocation to eternall life In which course consisteth the inward peace of the soule which is onely delighted in thine inuiolable truth reueiled by thy Sonne and left vnto vs in his word and last will In which his last will and Testament are comprehended all necessarie rules and the sacred discipline whereby thy children are to guide them selues in their seuerall callings which directions are comprehended in three principall vertues by thee bestowed vpon them that seeke them at thy hands in the name of thy sonne faith hope and loue which three are so vnited and knit in one that they dwell altogether in thine elect children so precisely direct them through thy grace that they goe not awry in their callings I therefore good Father being of mine owne wisdom ignorant and of mine owne power vnable to comprehend the height the length and depth of my calling instantly beseech thee in mercy to beholde mee an vnperfect creature without these vertues and so adorne me with them that I may be made perfect in all good workes of the spirit that my bodilie labors be not in vayne in thee Graunt also that I may ioyne with all my trauailles labors affections desires and endeuours faith with faith knowledge with knowledge temperance with temperance patience with patience godlines with godlines brotherly kindnes and with brotherly kindnes loue that I bee not vnfruitfull in my calling But may acknowledge thy sonne Christ Jesus and in him to haue peace of conscience that I may bee patient in troubles long suffering in wronge◠meeke in trials faithfull in expecting helpe in distresse reioycing in heart quieted in minde in hope to inioy at thy handes and in thy good time whatsouer maketh to the true comforte of my soule and the reliefe of my bodie That in all truth and inward feeling of thine aide my calling may be made perfecte and sealed with the seale of thine owne spirituall approbation So shall I thine vnworthy creature and all such as thou hast committed to my charge bee directed in the true knowledge of thee and sustayned with thinges necessary while wee liue here Oh blessed Lord and louing father except thou thus direct me I cannot stande but shall fall into many miseries For no estate no degree no calling office function or trade of life can prosper or bee rightly performed without thy continuall ayde direction and prouidence Therefore Lord guide mee by thy spirite encrease my faith giue mee wisedome and ablenes in all thinges to execute calling as I ought and to the execution thereof blesse all my members make them apt and ready instrumentes to perform their duties that in no poynt I fayle in a Christian proceeding therein And bridle in mee the nature of flesh bloud which vnles thou season my affections by thy spirit will so much the more glorie by howe much thou hast exalted me to worldly preferment enable mee to liue in this world in higher reputation than other men whereunto flesh and bloud is ready to attribute chiefest harts ease And by that subtil shift Sathan manie times mooueth vs to relie vpon vain things And therfore good Father vouchsafe so to ground all mine affections vppon thy feare that I bee not miscarried in my calling from the true obedience vnto thee without which neither honour profit friendes wealth wisedome or any other blessing of thine can steede releeue or comfort me Be present therefore good and gracious Father with mee and grant that all thinges that I take in hand may begin in knowledge proceed in feare of thee and end in loue that my whole course of life may be blessed with good effect in all my endeuours That neither mine enemies reioyce at my miseries the godly bee offended at my rashnesse nor my estate hindered by my foolishnes Good Lord grant this for thy sonnes sake Amen For Gods direction in our callings O God of Gods O father great thou guide of all degrees The high and low look vp to thee attendant on their knees We haue our being and our food our wisedome and our skill Our high estate all honour eke and callings at thy will Al kings receiue their scepters pure and diademes from thee Thou makest thē apt to rule a land else they vnable be Thou giuest sage and sacred men and Senators most graue To guide thy people in the hestes that fit them best to haue Thou chosest eke the godliest ones and meetest men to be The preachers of thy satred will who learne to teach from thee Thy grace doth guide their lips aright els speak they all awry Thou art the fountaine ful of loue whereof they drinke or die The porest thou dost frame to skil the lowest learnes to liue Ech hand taks hold of art frō thee thou doest all blessings giue Els all their curious cunning failes our labours loose their grace In vaine we trauaile and our toyle turnes vs to poorest place Sith then good father ech degree depend on thee for aide The high and low wealthy wise els rest they all vnstaide Blesse all thy people in their charge our callings all direct Teach Prince people in the way that graceth thine elect A motion to a prayer wherein the soule must arme himselfe to suffer crosses and therefore it is necessarye to call to mind what is to be done when affliction commeth EUery one that
trauel and go to the play house bowling Allyes Beare gardens Ale houses Tauernes and gaming where they lose their time cōsume their thrift and offende the lawes of God and her Maiesty And the Sabboth day which shoulde bee sanctified with prayer and hearing of the worde is prophaned with these accustomed euils which if they were cast out as vnprofitable in this our earthly abiding place wee should the more sweetely passe on the way to our heauenly harts ease For out of these euils of idlenesse and loytering spring many noysome thinges that blemish our body here as filthines of the flesh drunkennes gluttony swearing and blasphemy forgetfulnes of God and contempt of Magistrates wherewith our abode here being grossely defiled such will be our vnsauery dwelling that our spiritual guest the holy Ghost wil refuse to abide with vs. I herefore O yee men of God whom the spirit of God directeth flie these things and followe after righteousnes godlines faith patience and meekenesse fight the good fight of faith lay holde of eternal life wherunto ye are called haue professed a good profession before many witnesses Keepe on the course ye haue begun without spot vnrebukeable vntil the appearing of our Lorde Iesus Christ who only hath immortalitie and dwelleth in the light that none can attaine vnto whome neuer man saw neither can see Vnto whome be honour and power euerlasting Amen A short praier against errours scismes WE humbly pray thee most merciful father in mercy to looke down vpō the dangerous estate of thy Church which is much pestered infected w t the suds of errour insomuch as it seemeth to be swallowed vp of the perilous inundations of sectes and scismes coined by the subtilties of that wicked one Sathan whose practise is euer from y e fall of Adam to stop the pure proceedinge of the Gospell by the peruerse workes of darkenesse Sanctifie therefore thy children with thine especiall grace and manifest thy truth vnto them that by the light therof they may know how to shape the way to the true seruice of thee And let them be able to discerne betweene truth and errour y t they may be alwaies free from heresies and not be intangled with false doctrine nor defiled w e the lothsome pitch of mans inuentions but being indued with the purity of heauenly knowledge wee may all ioyne together in one truth wherein we may liue and dye and so in Christ thy Sons merites liue with thee in heauen eternally Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A short Prayer in crosses troubles and afflictions OH Father full of mercie and loue in Jesus Christ haue compassion vpon me whome thou hast touched with thy hand of correction Thou hast found me out in my sinnes and beaten me thy hand lyeth heauie vpon me I am not able to sustaine the burden of my miseries I can not but faint in my distresses and run too and fro for help but loe oh Lord my crosses increase and thy anger I can not beare wherefore good Father in Christ haue compassion vpon me recomfort me againe be pleased with me and take thy heauie displeasure from mee and though my sinnes haue deserued more then I can beare the merites of thy Sonne are greater then my sinns And therefore for his sake come againe in loue and by thy mercie and power repayre my decayes relieue my wants and cure my diseases speake the word and it shall be done all things obey thy voyce wherefore blesse thy creatures all to my vse that I may haue them all in this life blessed vnto me and I blessed by thee in Christ Amen O Lord increase our faith A short Prayer that all men may liue vprightly in their calling LOrd God Almightie mercifull pure be pleased in fauour to consider the weaknes of man and so sanctifie vs with thy grace that we may all confesse our sinnes and cry to thee for pardon all acknowledge our weakenes and cry to thee for strength all see our ignorance and come to thee for knowledge how to behaue vs in this mortall life in our seuerall callings that thereby both thou mayst be glorified our bretheren comforted and our selues relieued that when we shall be called by thee to render accompt of our stewardships we may be able to stand before thee acquitted from all that eyther sinne the deuill or our corrupt flesh may charge vs with not through our owne deseruings which in our best endeuours are euill euermore but in the merites of thy Sonne Christ Amen O Lord increase our faith The conclusion wherein is exhorted vnto watchfulnes for the appearance of our Lord Iesus Christ in whome and by whome we shall enter after this progresse ended into our euerlasting hearts ease HAuing attained thorough the diuine assistance of my good God vnto the ende of this my poore trauaile I can not but conclude with an earnest intreatie of all such as couet this eternall hearts ease that they wil in this standinghouse of the body call continually to minde the absolute end of this Progresse of pietic which principally tendeth vnto the finishing of the iourney and pilgrimage of this life in all godlines faith zeale and ardent loue of that heauenly mansion which so farre excelleth this earthly tabernacle as the purest gold exceedeth the filthiest and most lothsome dirt dung of the earth and the hearts ease thereof is much farre sweeter then the hearts ease of this world as the sweetest honey passeth in sweetnes the most bitter gall and happy is that man that soonest atteineth to the enioying thereof but in part that is eyther in this life through the quietnesse of conscience in our Christ or being departed hence hath the fruition thereof in spirit expecting the comming of that great Judge when soule and body shall enioy the same at full Oh let vs all therefore in all godly watchfulnesse in this our pilgrimage which shortly shall haue ende haue due regard vnto our walking that we walke not awry Let vs dayly examine our selues consider with iudgement that we shall all appeare before that high Judge frō whome no step of our progresse shall be hidden and whome soeuer he shall finde halting or walking awry he will bereaue of that most sweete hearts ease in heauen and will giue most sowre and vnsauery hearts sore in hell If I should discourse of the comforts which shal be shewed vnto such as walke this progresse and end the same as they ought as they are cōmaunded alas I am as vnable nay there is no toong of man or angell can neerer declare y e deapth of the sweetnes therof then I am able to number y e starres in the firmamēt the excellencie thereof is such so vnspeakeable as no hart is able to comprehend or conceiue the same but let this satisfie all curious conceits that that our heauenly mansion our euerlasting tabernacle that our spirituall inheritance is such and so full fraught with such variety