heigot of that most excessent loue which moued thee to shew mercie where none was deserued to promise and giue life where death had gotten the victorie to receiue vs into thy grace when we could do nothing but rebel against thy maiestie O Lord the blind dulnesse of our corrupt nature will nto suffer vs sufficiently to weigh these thy most ample benefites yet neuerthelesse at the commaundement of Iesus Christ our Lord we present our selues to this thy Table which hee hath left to bee vsed in remembrance of his death vntill his comming againe to declare and witnesse before the world that by him alone we haue receiued libertie and life that by him alone thou doest acknowledge vs to be thy children and heires that by him alone wee haue entraunce to the trone of thy grace that by him alone we are possessed in our Spiritual kingdome to eate and drinke at his Table with whom we haue our conuersation present in Heauen and by whom our bodies shall be raised vp againe from the dust and shall be placed with him in that endlesse ioy which thou O father of mercie hast prepared for thine elect before the foundation of the world was laid And these most inest imable benefits we acknowledge and confesse to haue receiued of thy free mercie and grace by chine onely beloued sonne Iesus Christ For the which therefore we thy congregation moued by the holy Spirice render to thee all thankes praise and glorie for euer and euer Amen ¶ A thankes giuing after the receiuing of the holy Communion MOst mercifull father we render to thee all praise thankes honour and glorie for that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercy to graunt vs miserable sinners so excellent a gift and treasure as to receiue vs into the fellowship and companie of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lord whom thou hast deliuered to death for vs and hast giuen him vnto vs as a necessarie foode and nourishmēt vnto euerlasting life And now we beséech thée also O heauenly father to graunt vs this request that thou neuer suffer vs to become so vnkind as to forget so worthie benefites but rather imprint and fasten them sure in our hearts that we may grow and inicrease dayly more and more in true faith which continually is exercised in all manner of good workes and so much the rather O Lord confirme vs in these perillous dayes and rages of Sathan that we may constantly stand and continue in the confession of the same to the aduauncement of thy glorie which art God ouer all things blessed for euer Amen A comfortable Prayer O Lord God almigbtie and Father most mercifull there is none like thee in heauen or in earth which workest all things for the glorie of thy name and the comfort of thine elect Thou diddest once make man ruler ouer all thy creatures and placed him in the garden of all pleasure but how soone alas did he in his felicitie forget thy goodnesse Thy people Israel also in their wealth did euermore run astray abusing thy manisld mercies like as all flesh contimually rageth when it hath gotten libertie and externall prosperitie But such is thy wisedome adioyned to thy mercies deare Father that thou seekest all meanes possible to bring thy children to the sure sence and liuely feeling of thy fatherly fauour And therefore when prosperitie will not serue then sendest thou aduersitie graciously correcting all thy Children whom thou receiuest into thy houshold Wherfore I wretched and miserable sinner render vnto thee most humble and heartie thankes that it hath pleased thee to call me home to thy folde by thy fatherly correction at this present whereas in presperlite and aduersitie I did neglect thy greace offered vnto me For the which negligence and many other grieuous sinnes where of I now accuse my selfe before thee thou mightest most iustly haue giuen me vp into a reprobate minde and induration of hart as thou hast done others But such is thy goodnesse O Lorod that thou séemest5 to forget al my offences and hast called me of thy good pleasure from all idolatrie to professe thy name and to suffer some Crosse amongst thy people for thy truth and Gospel sake and so to be thy witnesse with the Prophets and Aposties yea with thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ our head to whom thou doest being heere fashion me like that in his glorie I may also be like him when he shall appeare O Lord God what am I vpon whom thou shouldest shewe this great mercie O most louing Lord forgiue me my vnthankefulnesse and all my sinnes for Iesus Christes sake O heauenly Father increase thy holy Spirit in me to teach my heart to crye Abba deare Father assure me of thy eternall election in Christ to reueale thy will more and more towards me to confirme mee so in thy trueth that I may liue and dye therein and that by the power of the same Spirite I may boldlie giue an account of my faith to all men with humblenesse and meekenesse to the glorie of thy most holy name Thorowe Iesus Christ our Lor and onely Sauiour So be it A meditation for a vvoman vvith childe and specially vvhen she entreth in to trauell O Almightie and mercifull Father which of thy bountifull goodnesse hast fructified my wombe and of thy gracious blessing hath created mee a reasonable creature I most heartily thanke thee not only for this thy gracious gift but also for that thou hast at all times since I conceiued preserued me from all perils both of soule and bodie and hast so moderated all my nips pinches throwes and pangs that I haue hetherto right well escaped them I acknowledge O Lord iustly for our sinfull transgression of thy commaundements thou saidst vnto the first woman and in her to vs all I will increase thy sorrowe when thou art with childe with paine shalt thou bring forth thy children And our paines therefore that we suffer in this behalfe are none other thing but a worthie Crosse layde vpon vs by thy godly ordinance to the which with heart and minde I humbly submit me trusting surely and being fully perswaded in my faith that thou callest none into perrill and daunger but both thou canit and wilt at conuenient season deliuer them Thou most gracious GOD hast commaunded vs in all our trouble to call vpon thee for ayde and helpe and not only hast commaunded vs but also of thy mercifull goodnesse hast promised to vs good deliuerance saying Call vpon mee in the time of trouble and I will deliuer thee O good Lord how greatly doe these words comfort my hart and sustaine my sillie soule Who would not greatly reioyce that knoweth certainely almighty God to be present with him in his trouble Saith not God thus Or euer they cal saith he I shall aunswere them while they are yet but thinking how to speake I shal beare them and in the Psalme I am with him saith God in his trouble out of which I
prisoners of the Diuell and yet thou vouchsafest to release and forgiue vs the whole number of our deadly iniquities and couered all haynous offences Notwithstanding therefore we are now also very vngratefull and such as be not worthie of thy gracious benefits our earnest request is that thou wouldest withould thy selfe from thy wrathful indignation Surely thou art iustly angry with vs but for the glorie of thy name represse this furie which is stirred vp by reason of our grieuous sinnes and lead vs into the siraite way of perfice health for as much as it appertaineth not to thy louing kindnes to be alwaies offended with thy faithfull seruants or to contiuue thy heauie wrath and sierce indignation vnto many generations Deale with vs after thy olde accustomed maner not according to our leand deserts scatter abroade our cruell enemies and put them to flight whome thou being prouoked through our great default wouldest that wée should feele Thou which in thy great wrath dost kill and being pacified quickened again shew thy mercie and sauing health like as thou hast set destructioÌ„ before our eles to the intrut thou wouldest both terrifie and chastice vs. Graunt that we which haue heretofore been maruellous rebellions and very stubborne may euer hereafter giue obedient care to these â—â—â—ngs which thou â—pâ—akest and willest vs to doe Let thy â—nspeakeable louing mercie and famous truth be linked in vs together and vouchsafe that peace and righteousnesse may with an vndissoluble band sticke fast in our hearts that when as thou hast deliuered vs from the hands of the most outragious Antichrist and his cruell champions we may yeeld vnto thee the plentifull fruites of holinesse through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer vpo the xiij Psalme O Lord how long wilt thou forget me for euer O good God how long wilt thou hide thy gracious countenance from me How long shall I be carried and tossed about with heause and trouble some cogitations and thoughts How long shall my heart wither and drie vp with sorrowe But now O my Lord God consider me regarde me with the eyes of thy mercie he are mee O Lord lighten mine eyes and my vnderstanding O my God least I be blinded with the reprobate and superish in my sins I beseech thee most humbly let not my enemies glorie and triumph among themselues as though they had wonne the victorie let them not rise vp against me as if I were vanquished grant me Lord that my hart may â—â—â—orâ—â— to thy saluationâ— so that with own voyce I may sing praises and render thankes to thee for that through thy helpe A aut redeemed and brought againt into ioye after my gricuous transgressions and sorrows Amen A Prayer vpon the xiiij Psalme O Lord delier me from al impietie and vnrighteousness deliuer me from my blind ignorance that I may earnestly séeke thâ—â— for we be al generally borne in calamiâ—â—e and forgetfulnesse and there is not one man which can vnshackle or deliuer him selfe by his owne propper strength and vertue there is no help but only by thy grace and power O Lord graunt that I may call vpon thee with an vnfained hart whensoeuer I shall be tempted by these aduersaries Let stedfastnesse of faith alwaies goe before me let me not be troubled with feare of any thing saue only of thy iudgements let all my trust defence and fortresse be in thee O Lord Send O good God from thy celestiall Syon that only protector which shall deliuer thy people from the horrible captiuitie of a troublesome conscience so that we may reidyce in him without ceasing So be it A Prayer vpon the xv Psalme O Lord purge me againe and iustifie me through faith from mine offences that I may dwell in thy aberuacle and continue blessed in thy holy Mountaine Graunt me O Lord this benefit that I may confesse thy truth without hypocrisie with an vpright hart Grant me that I deceiue no person neither by wrong to circumuent any creature Keepe me from flattering the peruerle and wicked men that I may loue and obey those which loue God in renerence whatsoeuer occasion the wicked take thereby to slaunder me let me not be trouble some or burdenous to any man but that I may serue all with vnfained affection to edifie my brethren thorow faith in Iesus Christ Amen A moditarion vpon the Lords Prayer OVr Father which art in heauen We being gloriously formed vnto the image of thy diuine maiestie created by thy gracious goodnes to most high honor how beit through sin dissigured with vilenes deseruing damnatieÌ„ and yet by Christs death redeemed and restored vnto grace to be Citizens with saints of the samilie of God now altogether in Christian vnitie as members of one bodie we pray desire and trust to obtaine of thee our heauenlie father according vnto thy gracious goodnesse mightie power and faithfull promise vnto vs that aske abundance of thy grace That thy name may be halowed That thy diuine power and glorious maiesty may be certainly known and reuerently honoured That the hearts of vs men by thy word and praier may be sanctified from all sin and vanitie so that we with all that we haue seruing thee in holinesse and righteousnesse may so shine afore men vpon earth that they may thereby be occasioned to honour thee our Father which art in heauen Thy kingdome come That thy worde may be so fruitfullie preached amongst vs thy people that we may be throughly instructed and taught to bridel our sensuall appetites by natural reason and to submit our â—â—â—s and reasons vnto a godly spirite and to trie our spirits by the true Scriptures So that within vs may raigue the kingdome of God which is neither meate nor drinke which is neither supersticious ceremoutes voluptuons pleasures nor vaiur glorie but righteousnesse peace and comfort in the holy Ghost by the which we now tasting of thy heauenlie ioyes may be made from henceforth wearie of all worldlie vanities continuallie looking praying for the appearance and comming of thy eternall and euerlasting kingdome Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heauen In Heauen the Angels of reuerent loue do thy will and commoundement with comfortable courage and ioyfull pleasure In hell the wicked Spirits thorowe malice and enuie repining and grudging doe torment and vexe themselues whatsoeuer they bee doing And vpon earth men being subiect vnto sinne doe thinke it is a labour and paine to be occupied in any thing that is good and godly Wherefore we pray thee that the grace of thy heauenly spirit may so worke in our earthly bodies that wee being deliuered from sinne and vanitie may freelie delight and take pleasure to doe thy will and commandement here on earth as thy glorious Angels doe in heauen Giue vs this day our dailie bread We hauing great néed and not able of our selues to deserue any thing beseech thee of thy fatherly goodnes to giue freely vnto vs all so that none be
Lord. Amen A prayer for the Queenes Maiestie O Lord our heauenly Father high and mightie King of Kings Lorde of Lords the onely ruler of Princes which doest from thy throne behold all the dwellers vpon earth most hartily we beseech thee with thy fauour to beholde our most gracious Soueraigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth and so replenish her with the grace of thy holy Spirite that she may alway incline to thy will and walke in thy way indue her plentifullie with heauenly gifts graunt her in health and wealth long to liue strength her that she may vanquish and ouercome all her enemins Adn finally after this life she may attaine euerlasting ioy and felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen A prayer for Pastors and Ministers of the Church ALmightie and euerlasting God which onely workest great meruailes send downe vpon our Bishops and Curates and all Congregations committed to their charge the healthfull spirit of thy grace and that they may truely pleas thee powre vpon them the continuall dewe of thy blessing Graunt this O Lord for the honour of our Aduocate and meditatour Iesus Christ Amen A prayer of Chrysostome ALmightie God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accorde to make our common supplication vnto thee and dost promise that when two or three be gatheren together in thy name thou wilt grant their requestes fulfill now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them graunting vs in this worlde knowledge of thy trueth and in the worlde to come life euerlasting Amen A prayer necessarie for all persons O Mercifull GOD I a wretched sinner reknowledge my selfe bound to keepe thy holy commaundements but yet vnable to performe them and to be accepted for iust without the righteousnesse of Iesu Christ thy onely Sonne who hath perfectly fulfilled the Lawe to iustifie all them that beleeue and trust in him Therefore graunt me grace I beseech thee to be occupied in doing of good workes which thou commaundest in holy Scripture all the dayes of my life to thy glorie and yet to trust onely in thy mercie and in Christs merites to be purged from my sinnes and not in my good workes be they neuer so many Giue mee grace to loue thy holy word feruently to search the scriptures diligentlie to reade them humbly to vnderstand them truly to liue after them effectuallie Order my life so O Lord that it be alway acceptable vnto thee Giue me grace not to reioyce in any thing that displeaseth thee but euermore to delight in those things that please thee be they neuer so contrarie to my desires Teach me so to pray that my petitions may be graciouslie heard of thee Keepe me vpright among diuersitie of opinions and iudgements in the worlde that I neuer swarue from thy truth taught in holy Scripture In prosperitie O Lorde saue me that I waxe not proude In aduersitie helpe mee that I neither dispaire nor blaspheme thy boly Name but taking it patiently to giue thee thanks and trust to be deliuered after thy pleasure When I happen to fall into sinne through frailtie I beseech thee to worke true repentance in my heart that I may be sory without desperation trust in thy mercie without presumption that I may amend my life and become truly religious without hypocrisie lowly in hart without fayning faithfull and trustie without deceite merie without lightnesse sad without mistrust sober without slothfulnesse content with mine owne without couetousnesse to tell my neighbour his faultes charitably without dissimulation to instruct my householde in thy Lawes truely to obey our Queene and all gouernours vnder her vnfainedlie to receiue all lawes and common ordinances which disagree not from thy holy word obedientlie to pay euery man that which I owe vnto him truely to backebite no man nor slaunder my neitghbour secretly and to abhorre all vice louing all goodnesse earnâ—sâ—ly O Lord graunt me thus to to doe for the glory of thy holy Name Amen GOd preserue our Quéene Elizabeth God destroy all her enemies God preserue her most honourable Counsellors God ayde te Clergie in fetting forth of his trueth God preserue the Nobilitie of this Realme and all the Commons of the same God defend the fauourers of the Gospell God chaunge the hearts of our enemies and send them a better mind The power â—f God destroye Autichrist with all his wicked kingdome God send the Gospell a ioyfull and free passage through the whole world God send vnto all degrees such grace that they may walke worthilie in their vocation and calling Amen FINIS
beneath yet is he present with vs his members euen to the end of the world ini preseruing and gouerning vs with is effectuall power and grace who when all things are fulfilled which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his Prophetes since the world began will come in the same visible forme in the which he ascended with an vnspeakable matestie power and companie to separate the Lambes from the Goates the Elect from the reprobate So that none whether he be aliue then or dead before shall escape his iudgement Moreouer I beleeue and confesse the holy Ghost God equall with the Father and the Sonne who regenerateth and sanctifieth vs ruleth and guideth vs in all truth perswading most assuredly in our consciences that we be the Children of God Brethren to Iesus Christ and tellowe heires with him in life euerlasting Yet notwithstanding it is not sufficient to beleeue that God is omnipotent and mercifull that Christ hath made satisfaction or that the holy Ghost hath his power and effect except we doe applie the same benefites to our selues which are Gods Elect. I beleeue therefore and confesse one holy Church which as members of Iesus Christ the only head thereof consent in faith hope and charitie vsing the giftes of God whether they be temporall orspirituall to the profit and furtherance of the same Which church is not séene to mans eye but only known to God who of the lost Sons of Adam hath ordained some as bessels of wrath to damnation and hath chosen others as vessels of his mercy to be saued the which also in due time he calleth to integritie of life and godly conuersation to make them a glorious church to himselfe But that church which is visible and séene to the eye hath thrée tokens or marks wherby it may be discedice First the word of God contained in the old and new Testament which as it is aboue the authoritie of the same Church and only sufficient to instruct vs in all things concerning saluation so it is left for all degrees of men to reade and vnderstand For without this word neither Church counsel or decree can establish any poynt touching Saluation The second is the holy Sacraments to wit of Baptisme and the Lords Supper which Sacraments Christ hath left vnto vs as holy signes and seales of Gods promises for as by Baptisme once receiued is signified that we as well infants as others of age and discretion being strangers from God by originall sinne are receiued into his familie and congregation with full assurance that although this roote of sin lye hid in vs yet to the elect it shall not be impured So the Supper declareth that God as a most prouident Father doth not only feede our bodies but also spiritually nourisheth our Soules with the graces and benefites of Iesus Christ which the Scripture calleth eating of his flesh and drinking of his bloud neither must we in the administration of these Sacraments followe mans phantasie but as Christ himselfe hath ordained so must they be ministred and by such as by ordmarie vocation bee thereunto called Therefore whesoeuer reserueth or worshippeth these Sacraments or contrarywise contemneth them in time and place procureth to himselfe damnation The third marke of this Church is Ecclesiasticall discipline which standeth in admonition and correction of faults The finiall end whereof is excommunication by the consent of the Church determined if the offender be obstinate And besides this Ecclesiasticall censure I acknowledge to belong to this Church a politicall Magistrate who ministreth to euery man Iustice desending the good and punishing the euill to whom we must render honour and obedience in all things which are not contrary to the word of God And as Moses Ezechias Iosias and other godly rulers purged the Church of God from Superstition and Idolatrie so the defence of Christs Church apperteineth to the Christian Magistractes against al Idolaters and Heretikes wherein standeth only remission of sinnes purchased by Christs bloud to al them that beleeue whether they be Iewes or Gentiles and leades vs to vayne confidence in Creatures and trust in our own imaginations The punishment whereof although God oftentimes deferreth in this life yet after the general resurrection when our soules and bodies shall arise againe to immortalitie they shall be damned to vnqueachable sire and then we which haue forsaken all mans wisdome to cleaue vnto Christ shall heare that ioyfull voyce Come ye blessed of my Father inherice ye the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world and so shall goe triumphing with him in bodie and soule to remaine euerlastingly in glory where we shall see God face to face and shall no more need one to instruct another for we shall all know him from the highest to the lowest To whom with the Father the Sonne and holy Ghost be all praise honor and glorie now and for euer So be it The Commandements of God giuen by Moses and expounded by Christ The first Table THou shalt haue none other Gods bt me Exo. 20. Deut. 6. I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thee out of the land of AEgypt out of the house of bondage Christ Mat. 6. Heare Israel Our Lord God is one Lord and thou shalt loue thy Lord God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy mind and with all thy strength Matth. 4. Thou shalt worship thy Lord God and him onely shalt thou serue ij Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath nor in the water vnder the earth thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a ielous God and visit the sinnes of the Father vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewe mercie vnto thousands in t hem that loue me and keepe my commandements Iohn 1. No man hath séene God at any time The only begotten Sonne which is in the bosome of the Father hath declared him Christ Iohn 4. God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth Acts 18. For as much as we are the generation of God wee ought not to thinke that the Godhead is like vnto Gold Siluer or Stone grauen by craft or imagination of man 1. Iob. 5. Babes kéepe you from Images Sap. 14. Cursed is the I dol that is made with hands yea both it and he that made it because it was called God whereas it is but a fraile thing For the vngodly and his vngodlines are both like abhominable vnto God iij. Thon shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine For the Lord will not hold him guiltles that taketh his name in vaine Christ Mattth 5. Ye haue heard how it was sayd vnto them of olde tyme Thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe but shalt perfourme thyne othes to the Lord. But I