doo so shalt thou practise with ease hauing a guide and amend with profit hauing a zeale It is easier to see these than to learne begin at the easiest to come to the harder see thou hir confession that thou maiest learne hir repentance practise hir perseuerance that thou maiest haue like amendment despise thy selfe in eschewing vice that thou maiest please God in asking grace let not shame hinder the confession which hindered not the offense Be thou sure if we knowledge our sinnes God is faithfull to forgiue vs and to clense vs from all vnrighteousnes Obeie the Prophets saieng Declare thy waies to the Lord. Thus far thou maist learne to knowe thy selfe next this be thou as diligent to releeue thy selfe in Gods mercie as thou hast beene to reueale thy selfe in thine owne repentance For God hath concluded all things vnder sinne bicause he would haue mercie vpon all who hath also borne our sinnes in his bodie vpon the tree that we should be deliuered from sinne and should liue vnto righteousnes by whose stripes we be healed Here is our anchor here is our shepheard here we be made whole here is our life our redemption our saluation and our blisse let vs therefore now feed by this gratious Queenes example be not ashamed to become in confession Publicanes since this noble Ladie will be no Pharisie And to all Ladies of estate I wish as earnest mind to followe our Queene in vertue as in honour that they might once appeare to prefer God before the world and be honourable in religion which now be honourable in vanities so shall they as in some vertuous Ladies of right high estate it is with great comfort seene taste of this freedome of remission of the euerlasting blisse which exceedeth all thoughts and vnderstandings and is prepared for the holie in spirit For the which let vs with our intercession in holines and purenes of life offer our selues to the heauenlie father an vndefiled host to whom be eternall praise and glorie throughout the earth without end Amen The Lamentation or Complaint of a sinner made by the most vertuous and right gratious Ladie Queene CATHERINE bewailing the ignorance of hir blind life led in superstition verie profitable to the amendment of our liues The first Chapter Of an humble confession of sinnes to the glorie of God WHEN I consider in the bethinking of mine euil and wretched former life mine obstinate stonie and vntractable heart to haue so much exceeded in euilnesse that it hath not onelie neglected yea contemned despised Gods holie precepts and commandements but also imbraced receiued and esteemed vaine foolish and feined trifles I am partlie by the hate I owe to sinne who hath reigned in me and partlie by the loue I owe to all Christians whom I am content to edifie euen with the example of mine owne shame forced and constrained with my hart and words to confesse and declare to the world how ingrate negligent vnkind and stubborne I haue beene to God my Creator and how beneficiall mercifull and gentle he hath been alwaies to me his creature being such a miserable and wretched sinner Trulie I haue taken no little small thing vpon me first to set foorth my whole stubbornesse and contempt in words the which is incomprehensible in thought as it is in the 12. Psalme Who vnderstandeth his faults Next this to declare the excellent beneficence mercie and goodnesse of God which is infinite and vnmeasurable Neither can all the words of Angels and men make relation thereof as apperteineth to his most high goodnesse Who is he that is not forced to confesse the same if he consider what he hath receiued of God doth dailie receiue Yea if men would not acknowledge and confesse the same the stones would crie it out Trulie I am constrained and forced to speake and write thereof to mine owne confusion and shame but to the glorie and praise of God For he as a louing father of most abundant and high goodnesse hath heaped vpon me innumerable benefits and I contrarie haue heaped manifold sinnes despising that which was good holie pleasant and acceptable in his sight and choosing that which was delicious pleasant and acceptable in my sight And no maruell it was that I so did For I would not learne to knowe the Lord and his waies but loued darknesse better than light yea darknesse seemed to me light I embraced ignorance as perfect knowledge and knowledge seemed to me superfluous and vaine I regarded little Gods word but gaue my selfe to vanities and shadowes of the world I forsooke him in whom is all truth and followed the vaine foolish imaginations of my hart I would haue couered my sinnes with the pretence of holinesse I called superstition godlie meaning and true holinesse errour The Lord did speake manie pleasant and sweet words vnto me and I would not heare he called me diuerslie but through frowardnesse I would not answere Mine euils and miseries be so manie and so great that they can accuse me euen to my face Oh how miserablie and wretchedlie am I confounded when for the multitude and greatnesse of my sinnes I am compelled to accuse my selfe Was it not a maruellous vnkindnesse when God did speake to me and also call me that I would not answere him What man so called would not haue heard Or what man hearing would not haue answered If an earthlie Prince had spoken either called I suppose there be none but would willinglie haue done both Now therefore what a wretch and caitife am I that when the Prince of princes the King of kings did speake manie pleasant and gentle words vnto me and also called me so manie and sundrie times that they can not be numbred and yet notwithstanding these great signes and tokens of loue I would not come vnto him but hid my selfe out of his sight seeking manie crooked and biwaies wherin I walked so long that I had cleane lost his sight And no maruell or woonder For I had a blind guide called Ignorance who dimmed so mine eies that I could neuer perfectlie get anie sight of the faire goodlie streight and right waies of his doctrine but continuallie trauelled vncomfortablie in foule wicked crooked and peruerse waies Yea and bicause they were so much haunted of manie I could not thinke but that I walked in the perfect and right waie hauing more regard to the number of the walkers than to the order of the walking beleeuing also most assuredly with companie to haue walked to heauen wheras I am most sure they would haue brought me down to hell I forsooke the spirituall honouring of the true liuing God and worshipped visible idols and images made of mens hands beleeuing by them to haue gotten heauen yea to saie the truth I made a great idole of my selfe For I loued my selfe better than God And certainlie looke how manie things are loued or preferred in our harts before God so manie are taken and esteemed for idols and false
them to take Christ his welbeloued sonne for their Sauior this is the gift of God of all Christians to be required and desired For except this great benefit of Christ crucified be felt and fixed surelie in mans hart there can be no good worke done acceptable before God For in Christ is all fulnesse of the Godhead and in him are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge Euen he is the water of life whereof whosoeuer shall drinke he shall neuer more thirst but it shall be in him a well of water springing vp into euerlasting life S. Paule saith There is no damnation to them that are in Christ which walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Moreouer he saith If when we were enimies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son much more seeing we are reconciled we shall be preserued by his death It is no little or small benefit we haue receiued by Christ if we consider what he hath done for vs as I haue perfectlie declared heretofore Wherefore I praie the Lord that this great benefit of Christ crucified may be stedfastlie fixed printed in all Christians harts that they may be true louers of God and worke as children for loue and not as seruants compelled with threatenings or prouoked with hire The sincere and pure louers of God doo embrace Christ with such feruencie of spirit that they reioice in hope be bold in danger suffer in aduersitie continue in praier blesse their persecutors Further they be not wise in their owne opinion neither high minded in their prosperitie neither abashed in their aduersitie but humble and gentle alwaies to all men For they knowe by their faith they are members all of one bodie and that they haue possessed all one God one faith one baptisme one ioie and one saluation If these pure and sincere louers of God were thicke sowne there should not be so much contention and strife growing on the fields of our religion as there is Well I shall praie to the Lord to take all contention and strife awaie and that the sowers of sedition may haue mind to cease their labour or to sowe it among the stones and to haue grace to sowe gratious vertues where they may both take roote and bring foorth fruit with sending also a godlie vnitie and concord amongst all Christians that we may serue the Lord in true holinesse of life The seuenth Chapter A Christian bewailing of the miserable ignorance and blindnesse of men THe example of good liuing is required of all Christians but speciallie in the Ecclesiasticall pastors and shepheards For they be called in scripture Workemen with God Disbursers of Gods secrets The light of the world The salt of the earth at whose hands all other should take comfort in working knowledge of Gods will and sight to become children of light and taste of seasonable wisdome They haue or should haue the holie spirit abundantlie to pronounce and set foorth the word of God in veritie and truth If ignorance and blindnesse reigne amongst vs they should with the truth of Gods word instruct and set vs in the truth and direct vs in the waie of the Lord. But thanks be giuen vnto the Lord that hath now sent vs such a godlie and learned King in these latter daies to reigne ouer vs that with the vertue force of Gods word hath taken awaie the vailes and mists of errours and brought vs to the knowledge of the truth by the light of Gods word which was so long hid and kept vnder that the people were nigh famished and hungred for lacke of spirituall food Such was the charitie of the spirituall curats and shepheards But our Moses and most godlie wise Gouernour and King hath deliuered vs out of the captiuitie and bondage of Pharao I meane by this Moses King Henrie the eight my most souereigne fauourable Lord and husband one if Moses had figured anie mo than Christ through the excellent grace of God meete to be an other expressed veritie of Moses conquest ouer Pharao And I meane by this Pharao the bishop of Rome who hath beene and is a greater persecutor of all true Christians than euer was Pharao of the children of Israel For he is a persecutor of the Gospell and grace a setter foorth of all superstition and counterfeit holinesse bringing manie soules to hell with his alchimie and counterfeit monie deceiuing the poore soules vnder the pretence of holinesse but so much the greater shall be his damnation bicause he deceiueth and robbeth vnder Christs mantell The Lord keepe and defend all men from his iuglings and sleits but speciallie the poore simple and vnlearned soules And this lesson I would all men had of him that when they begin to mislike his dooing then onlie begin they to like God and certeinlie not before As for the spirituall pastors and shepherds I thinke they will cleaue and sticke to the word of God euen to the death to vanquish all Gods enimies if neede shall require all respects of honour dignitie riches welth and their priuate commodities laid apart following also the examples of Christ and his chosen Apostles in preaching and teaching sincere and holesome doctrine and such things as make for peace with godly lessons wherewith they may edifie others that euerie man may walke after his vocation in holinesse of life in vnitie and concord which vnitie is to be desired of all true Christians It is much to be lamented the schismes varieties contentions and disputations that haue beene and are in the world about Christian religion no agreement nor concord of the same among the learned men Trulie the diuell hath beene the sower of the seede of sedition and shall be the mainteiner of it euen till Gods will be fulfilled There is no war so cruell and euill as this For the war with sword killeth but the bodies and this slaieth manie soules For the poore vnlearned persons remaine confused and almost euerie one beleeueth and worketh after his owne waie and yet there is but one truth of Gods word by the which we shall be saued Happie be they that receiue it and most vnhappie are they which neglect and persecute the same For it shall be more easie for Sodom and Gomor at the daie of iudgement than for them And not without iust cause if we consider the beneuolence goodnesse and mercie of God who hath declared his charitie towards vs greater and more inestimable than euer he did to the Hebrues For they liued vnder shadowes and figures and were bound to the lawe And Christ we being his greatest enimies hath deliuered vs from the bondage of the lawe and hath fulfilled all that was figured in their lawe and also in their prophesies sheading his owne pretious bloud to make vs the children of his father and his brethren and hath made vs free setting vs in a godlie libertie I meane not licence to sinne as manie be glad to interpret the same when as
surelie haue perished in my trouble The lawe of my God is more deerer vnto me than thousands of siluer and gold yea all the riches in the world is nothing woorth in comparison of thy word For it is more comfortable than the most costliest and pretious restoratiue that anie Physician can make For it comforteth nourisheth and preserueth the soule leading it vnto life euerlasting Oh Lord God of hosts who is like vnto thee Thy truth most mightie God endureth for euermore I will alwaies giue thanks vnto thee for the great benefits that thou hast bestowed on me The righteous shall heare thereof and reioice with me yea and the vnrighteous shall feare the Lord and saie Doubtlesse there is a GOD that defendeth his seruants and he also doth punish the wrong dooers Thou art the God that dooest woonderous things O Lord who may be compared vnto thee For thou deliuerest me thy poore oppressed seruant from the hand of my strong enimie yea from such a one as was too mightie for me to deale withall Thou hast I saie mightilie defended me and now O Lord be mindfull of me and command my spirit to be receiued in grace when it is thy good pleasure Amen An instruction for Christians conteining a fruitfull and godlie exercise as well in wholsome and fruitfull praiers as in reuerend discerning of Gods holie Commandements and Sacraments translated out of French into English by a right vertuous and godlie Matrone and Gentlewoman named Mistresse DORCAS MARTIN Psalme 119. verses 37 133. From vaine desires and worldlie lusts Turne backe mine eies and sight Giue me the spirit of life and power To walke thy waies aright Direct my footesteps by thy word That I thy will may knowe And neuer let iniquitie Thy seruant ouerthrowe The Lords praier OUr Father which art in heauen halowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this daie our dailie bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill for thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen The Articles of the Christian faith I Beleeue in God the father Almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onlie sonne our Lord which was conceiued by the holie Ghost Borne of the virgin Marie Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into hell The third daie he rose againe from the dead He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the father almightie From thence shall he come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleeue in the holie Ghost The holie Catholike Church The communion of Saints The forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie And the life euerlasting Amen The ten Commandements of Almightie GOD Exod. 20. The Preface HEarken O Israel I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage The first Table _1 THou shalt haue none other gods before me 2 Thou shalt make thee no grauen image neither anie similitude of things that are in heauen aboue neither that are in the earth beneath nor that are in the waters vnder the earth Thou shalt not bow downe to them nor woorship them For I am the Lord thy God a gealous God visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children vpon the third generation and vpon the fourth of them that hate me and shewing mercie vnto thousands in them that loue me and keepe my commandements 3 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him giltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 4 Remember the Sabboth daie to keepe it holie Sixe daies shalt thou labour and doo all thy workes but the seauenth daie is the Sabboth of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt not doo anie worke thou nor thy sonne nor thy daughter thy man-seruant nor thy maide-seruant nor the stranger that is within thy gates For in sixe daies the Lord made the heauen and the earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seauenth daie therfore the Lord blessed the Sabboth daie and halowed it The second Table _5 HOnour thy father and thy mother that thy daies may bee prolonged vpon the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee 6 Thou shalt not kill 7 Thou shalt not commit adulterie 8 Thou shalt not steale 9 Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour 10 Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house neither shalt thou couet thy neighbours wife nor his seruant nor his maide nor his oxe nor his asse neither anie thing that is thy neighbours The Summe THou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thine hart with all thy soule and with all thy mind This is the first and the greatest commandement And the second is like vnto this Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe On these two commandements hangeth the whole Lawe and the Prophets Matth 7. verse 12. Whatsoeuer ye would that men should doo to you euen so doo ye to them For this is the Lawe and the Prophets Iohn 15. verse 12. This is my commandement that ye loue one another as I haue loued you Iohn 13. verse 35. Heereby shall all men knowe that you are my disciples if ye loue one another A praier to be said in the Morning when one awaketh Our helpe be in the name of the Lord who hath made heauen and earth O My God and father I most humblie praise and thanke thee for this that of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie it hath pleased thee to watch for me this night whiles I slept preseruing me from so manie kinds of dangers wherevnto this miserable life is subiect O Lord I beseech thee bring into my memorie thy other great and innumerable benefits also according as I may be able to comprehend them to the end that I may likewise render thanks for the same least I be vngratefull towards thy maiestie as thou hast done me this good not to forget that thou alone hast preserued me from all inconuenience And herewithall I beseech thee most gratious father through thy mercie to continue this thy fatherlie care which thou hast for me vntill such time as I shall rest in that happie sleepe whereof they reioice which sleepe in peace through our Lord Iesus Christ thy sonne who in the vnitie of the holie Ghost liueth and reigneth God with thee eternallie So be it The exercise of an housholder with his familie to praie in the Morning O Our God Father Sauiour seeing it hath pleased thee to giue vs grace to passe this night to come vnto this daie present vouchsafe now also to bestowe this goodnesse vpon vs that we may emploie our selues altogether to thy seruice in such wise that we neither thinke saie or doo anie thing but onlie to please thee
the strawe wast thou laid and among the beasts diddest thou send foorth thy crie The seed of Dauid had almost withered awaie Thy good mother that blessed virgin Marie nursed and nourished thee vp as a spring in a drie land among much troubles and in thy tender age what with the tyrannie of Sathan and the crueltie of Herod into a farre countrie thou wast exiled The good old man Ioseph thy foster-father and thy blessed mother Marie at the commandement of the Angel astonished through the feare of danger at hand in the night stole awaie with thee and tooke a long iournie euen with greefe of hart An hundred miles trauelled they through the desolate wildernesse by the craggie and solitarie places of Arabia euen through that nation which alwaie for theft robberie theeuerie and crueltie hath been most infamous and at length they brought thee into the prouince of the Emperour of Rome whom God would should bee thy protectour The watch of Angels did defend thee with thy blessed mother they were thy leaders and companions of thy banishment and draue awaie the cruell theeues alwaies from thee Hereby hast thou O Sonne of God put vs in mind both of our miserie and of thy benefits For mankind was banished out of paradise from the state of happinesse and ioie into the miseries of this life Yea thy Church in this world is in banishment and oppressed with men of might The most excellent members of thy Church most commonlie are pursued to the death but taking compassion on our miseries of thine owne accord thou becamest an exile for our sakes and an intercessor for mankind Thou madest thy selfe of no reputation thou tookest vpon thee the miserable masse and skin of our nature thou wast a pilgrime in this world thou haddest not a place to hide thine head in thou vsurpedst none authoritie without calling after a woonderfull maner did the word lurke thy flesh suffering and dieng and all to bring vs againe into our natiue countrie indeed from whence our beginning was and where our citie is Wherefore from the bottome of our hart we beseech thee Sonne of God instill into vs a true loue of that celestiall countrie kindle within vs a true desire of thy companie comfort vs in this our banishment and send thine holie Angels to protect vs to driue awaie the tyrannie of Sathan and of thine enimies Finallie when our soules shall depart out of this vale of miseries place them we beseech thee in the tower of our true countrie And as thou sauedst thy Church notwithstanding the raging tyrannie of cruell Herod when both thou with thy carefull parents tookedst thy flight into Aegypt and Iohn the Baptist was hid in the desert beyond Iordan so hence forward defend vs against the furie of diuels and men Oh Lord from the brests and imbracements of their tender mothers did the cruell and wicked seruants of bloudie Herod the tyrant as this daie plucke awaie the yoong infants And such is the outward state of thy Church manie times that of hir it may be said Rachel would not be comforted bicause hir children were not left aliue vnslaine yet maintainest thou for all that some remnant and castest thine enimies into eternall damnation Wherefore as thy praise was this daie confessed and shewed foorth not in speaking but in dieng by the yoong babes infants and innocents who washed their wounds and tender skins in the bloud of the Lambe and bare witnesse of thy comming in the flesh by their death the which are exalted into a farre better life where thou wipest all teares from their eies and at the glorifieng of thy Church wilt place before all thine elect this sweet companie in vnspeakeable glorie and rebuke to their vtter confusion the diuell and his instruments hired for their wickednesse so mortifie and kill all vice in vs that in our conuersation our life may expresse thy faith which with our tongues we doo confesse and keepe vs in the profession of thy truth Mitigate the troubles of thy Church that it perish not altogither and being deliuered from this sorowfull banishment ioine vs to the citizens of thy kingdome which folowe the Lambe whither soeuer he goeth and cheerfullie sing Glorie be to God on high Amen 6. On the daie of Saint Paules conuersion from a persecuter to an Apostle Their sound is gone out into all lands and their words into the ends of the world WE yeeld thee most hartie thanks O Lord Christ Sonne of the liuing God for gathering alwaies to thy selfe a Church out of mankind through the voice of the ministerie and especiallie at this time for sending thine elect vessell Paule thine Apostle to spread foorth the memoriall of thy benefit among the Gentiles and people whose life at that time was most filthie vnder that monster among men Nero the Emperour Great was the benefit which came by his preaching and as great was and is the commoditie which they did in foretime and we in these last daies of the world doo reape by his godlie and heauenlie writings We beseech thee euen with deepe sighes continue oh continue among vs thy light inflamed through the ministerie of this heroicall Doctor And grant that as thou hast taught all the world through the preaching of this thy blessed Apostle so we which haue his woonderfull conuersion now in remembrance may followe and fulfill the holie doctrine that he taught Grant that manie labourers mightilie may be thrust into thy vineyard and faithfull obseruers of the doctrine of Paule earnest seekers of the aduancement of thy truth right diuiders of the word of life learned in shewing the difference betweene the Lawe and the Gospell wise in comforting the troubled conscience of the wicked patternes of the faithfull in word and conuersation such as may become all in all to winne manie to the glorieng in afflictions fearing neither the hatred of men nor the ingratitude of the world shewing constancie vnto the death in the confession of the truth Blesse also the hearers of Saint Pauls preaching that they may prooue the true followers of Paule fighting a good fight keeping faith and a good conscience casting off the old man and putting on the new euen thee Iesus Christ being renewed by thy spirit vnto a true light and life trulie touched with a desire of thee trulie coueting to be dissolued and to be with thee that translated out of this darkenesse into thy woonderfull light they may see thee face to face and knowe the causes of secret things which are hid from vs in this life And forasmuch as in this world thou wilt haue the beginning of thy wisedome to be learned and biddest vs to drawe our water from thee the fountaine grant that heerein also manie may imitate the faithfulnesse and labour of thine Apostle make them as diligent in reading and preaching so in brideling and chastising their bodies painefull and constant in thy seruice till they be brought vnto thy schoole where all thy Saints
thee I will look vpon none other thing that might keepe me backe from the beholding of thy diuinitie Seeing that I doo heare thee I will heare nothing that letteth me from the fruition of thy voice Seeing that I may freelie talke with thee I will common with none other Seeing it pleaseth thee to put me so neere thee I will rather die than to touch anie other and seeing I serue thee I will serue none other Seeing that thou hast ioined thy hart with mine if it depart from thee let it be punished for euer For the departing from thy loue is harder than any damnation I doo not feare the paine of ten thousand hels as I doo feare the once loosing of thee Alas my God my Father and Creator doo not thou suffer that the enimie inuenter of all sinne haue anie power to make mee to loose thy presence For whosoeuer shall feele the losse of thy loue shall saie he would rather be bound for euer in hell than to feele the paine thereof one moment of time O my Sauiour doo thou not permit that euer I depart from thee againe but that it may please thee to put me in such a place that my soule through wantonnesse of sinne be neuer separated from thy loue The sixt Chapter Of the longing of the soule by death to feede with Christ IN this world I can not perfectlie haue this my desire which thing maketh mee feruentlie to desire the departing from this bodie of sinne not fearing death nor anie of hir instruments For what feare ought I to haue of my God which through loue offered himselfe and suffered death not of debt or dutie but onlie bicause he would for my sake vnder the power of mortall death Now is Iesus dead in whom we are all dead and through his death we all shall liue I meane those which through faith are partakers of his passion For euen as the death before the great mysterie of the crosse was hard to euerie man there was no man but was feared therewith considering the copulation of the bodie and the soule their order loue and agreement so were their sorowes extreme in departing of the one from the other But since it hath pleased the sweet Lambe to offer himselfe vpon the crosse his great loue hath kindled a fire within the hart so vehement that euerie true beleeuer esteemeth the passage of death but a plaie or pastime and so prouoketh other constantlie to die And euen as the feare of death doth retrograde vs so ought loue to giue vs a desire to die For if true loue be vnfainedlie within the hart of man he can feele none other thing bicause loue is so strong of it selfe that she keepeth all the room and putteth out all other desires suffering nothing there but God onlie For wheresoeuer true and perfect loue is there is remembred neither feare nor sorowe yet our owne pride to attaine honour causeth vs to seeke death by manie strange waies As if a man to haue his foolish pleasure putteth himselfe in ieopardie of life if a merchant to obtaine riches doth danger himselfe somtime for a small value if the theefe conceiuing of roberie or murther crueltie or deceit doth so blind a man that he doubteth nothing the danger of death neither yet misfortune when he seeketh to aduenge himselfe or doth any other euill if the furie of sicknesse or the rankenesse of melancholie causeth a man fiercelie to wish for death or oftentimes to drowne hang or kill themselues Such euils are sometimes so great that they cause their pained patient to choose death for libertie If it so be then that these paines full of euils and imperfections cause them not to feare the hazard of death but rather to thinke that death tarieth too long alas what ought true laudable loue to doo What ought the loue of the eternall creature to wish Should she stir a hart in such wise that she being maistered with such affections should feele none other thing in hir Alas yea For death is a pleasant thing to the soule which is in loue with God and esteemeth the passage easie thorough the which she commeth out of prison For the hard waie where through she commeth can be no let for hir to embrace hir husband O my Sauiour how good and pleasant is the same death through whom I shall haue the end of all sorowes by whom I shall enioie thy sight without impediment and be transformed into the likenesse of thy maiestie O death through thy force I trust to haue such honour as vpon my knees with crieng and weeping I dailie doo desire Therefore come quicklie and make an end of my sorowes O happie daughters right holie soules ioined to the citie Ierusalem open your eies and with pitie looke vpon my desolation I beseech you that for me and in my name ye doo shew vnto my deere and best beloued my God my friend my King how that euerie houre of the daie I doo languish for his presence O sweet death come vnto me and louinglie bring me vnto my Lord God O death where is now thy sting and dart Alas are they banished from mine eies Is not rigour changed into sweetnesse seeing that for my sake my friend did suffer vpon the crosse whose death doth so encourage me that death I wish to followe him The seuenth Chapter Of the trust the soule hath in the merits of hir Redeemer against the dread of hell and desperation SIth then that death is so pleasant to me that it pleaseth me more than it feareth me then ought I to feare nothing but onlie the right iudgement of GOD. My sinnes with his iust ballance shall be weied and all that I haue done openlie shall be shewed my thoughts and words shall be better knowne than they were written in a roll Wherefore I may not thinke that charitie would offend iustice and truth For certaine it is whosoeuer liueth vnfaithfullie shall be punished in euerlasting paine For God is iust and his iudgement righteous and all that he doth is perfect in all things What am I then considering mine owne righteousnesse A wretch and poore creature I knowe that all the works of iust men are so full of imperfection that afore God they are more filthie than mire or other vilenesse What will it be then concerning the sins which I haue committed whereof I feele the burden importable I can nothing else saie but that I haue woon by them damnation Is this the end Shall despaire then be the comfort of my great ignorance Alas my God no For the inuisible faith causeth me to beleeue that all things which are impossible to man are possible vnto thee so that thou doo conuert my worke which is nothing into some good worke of thine in me which is speciallie faith Then my Lord who shall condemne me Or what Iudge will damne me Sith that thou which art my Iudge art also my father my spouse and my refuge
mercie thou keepe me so as at no time I followe the counsell of the vngodlie which knowe thee not or of Hypocrites which with their harts seeke thee not O Lord suffer me not to enter into the waie of sinners with a mind to fulfill the desires and lusts of the flesh But whensoeuer through frailtie of my corrupt nature I shall chance to run astraie then O Lord staie me and plucke my foote backe againe Keepe me that I sit not in the seate of pestilent scorners which cloaking their Pharisaicall and diuellish intents condemne in other men thy veritie Gospell Oh Lord bring to passe that I may burne in the desire of thy lawe that vpon the aduancement of thy word my mind may alwaies be occupied that I may euermore choose that which is most pleasant to thee and hate that both in my selfe and others which to thee is displeasant Make I praie thee that I may be a tree planted by the sweet riuers of thy ghostlie waters to the intent I may bring foorth fruit to thy glorie and to the profit of my neighbour as often as thou shalt minister time and occasion therevnto Least my leaues which are my words and works should fade and fall awaie but that all things may prosper whatsoeuer I shall doo in thy name Assist me I beseech thee and grant O most mercifull father that for Iesu Christs sake I may take roote in the ground of life least with the vngodlie like chaffe and dust I be blowne abrode with the most pernicious winds of this world And grant that I may stand in the assemblie of the righteous and that I may enter into iudgment without punishment and escape euerlasting damnation Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the begin c. The third Psalme TO thee O Lord I lift vp my mind in thee I trust O Lord God let me not be confounded least mine enimies make me a iesting stocke and a matter to laugh at O Lord make thy waies knowne vnto me and trade me in thy paths Direct me in thy truth and instruct me for thou art God my Sauiour I looke after thee euerie daie O Lord thou art sweet and rightfull and bringest againe into the waie them which went out Thou leadest strait into thy iudgement them that be mild and tractable and teachest them that be meeke thy word and testimonies Thou healest them that be contrite in hart and asswagest their paines and griefe Thou holdest vp all them which else should fall and all that are fallen thou liftest vp againe Thou giuest sight to the blind and loosest them that be bound Thou art nigh vnto all them that call vpon thee so that they call vpon thee faithfullie Thou fulfillest the desire of them that doo feare thee and hearest their praier and sauest them Haue mercie vpon me O God haue mercie vpon me for in thee my soule trusteth Uerelie my soule hath a speciall respect to thee For my health my glorie and all my strength cōmeth from thee For thine owne sake oh Lord God laie not my sins to my charge I vnderstand not all mine errours innumerable troubles doo close me round about my sinnes haue taken hold vpon me and I am not able to looke vp Put to thy hand to helpe me and leade me right in all my works Make me to walke perfectlie in thy waies that no kind of sinne ouercome me Set a watch before my mouth and keepe the doore of my lips Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my hart be euer pleasant and acceptable in thy sight Let the word of truth neuer go awaie from my mouth and suffer no malice to dwell in my hart O Lord deliuer my soule from lieng lips and saue me from the deceitfull tongue Put into my mouth thy true and holie word and take from me all idle and vnfruitfull speech Deliuer me from false surmises and accusations of men rule me euen as thou thinkest good after thy will and pleasure Turne awaie mine eies that they behold no vaine things fasten them in thy waie Take from me fornication and all vncleannesse and let not the loue of the flesh beguile me Yea deliuer my soule from pride that it doo not reigne in me and then shall I be cleane from the greatest sinne Staie and keepe my feete from euerie euill waie least my steps swarue from thy paths Mine eies looke euer vnto thee O Lord bicause thou art nigh at hand and all thy waies be the truth Thy mercies be great and manie O Lord blessed is he whosoeuer trusteth in thee For when I said vnto thee My feete be slipped thy mercie O Lord by and by did hold me vp Teach me to doo thy will and leade me by thy path-waie for thou art my God Oh Lord saue my soule and deliuer me from the power of darknesse Let the brightnesse of thy face shine vpon thy seruant for vnto thee O Lord God I haue fled for succor Looke vnto me and haue mercie vpon me for I am desolate and poore Keepe my soule and deliuer me that I be not confounded For I haue trusted in thee O Lord God forsake me not although I haue done no good in thy sight For thy goodnesse grant me that at the least-wise now I may begin to liue well O Lord shew thy seruants thy works and their children thy glorie and the gratious maiestie of the Lord our God be vpon vs. Oh prosper thou the works of our hands oh prosper thou our handie works Glorie be to the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and euer shall be world without end Amen A contemplation of Christes Passion O What loue and mercie of man vndeserued from God the father through his onlie sonne Iesu Christ by whose flesh and bloud we haue cleane remission of our offences when we call to mind this mysterie of our redemption and our sufficient sacrifice whereby sinne death and hell be put to exile and grace mercie and peace be obteined For this we haue not onlie occasion to lament our selues which were the verie causes why Iesus did lament in care and became poore in bodie sweat water and bloud against his death praied in affliction and suffered for our redemption but also to giue dailie thanks and to reioice to God the father for this his sonne by whom we haue felowship with Angels and are become Citizens of the saints and of the houshold of God partakers of euerlasting life for euer O happie be they which forget not this heauenlie Philosophie this giltlesse passion of Iesu Christ To knowe beleeue this is life euerlasting and the quietnesse of conscience This passion is our riches in pouertie and helpe in aduersitie and onlie life in death By this his painefull affliction were all the Patriarches Prophets Martyrs and euerie beleeuing bodie saued that euer was or shall be without which all flesh is damned and accursed Now sweet
shall I tread vnderfoot that hellie dragon Yea so shall I of dutie be bound alwaie with couragious spirit to praise and hallowe thy name not onlie in the morrowe when all things shall chance to my harts desire to ascribe all to thy goodnesse without anie deseruing on my behalfe but also in the night of trouble and aduersitie when I shall call vnto mind thy most faithfull and trustie promises that I despaire not thus to praise thy meere and speciall grace and blesse thee saieng Blessed art thou O Lord God of our fathers for thou art praise and honour worthie and to be magnified for euer Blessed be the glorie of thy holie name for it is worthie to be praised aboue all to be magnified for euer Blessed art thou O father O Sonne and O holie Ghost for thou art worthie to be praised and aboue all to be magnified for euer Blessed be thou in the firmament of heauen for thou art praise-worthie for euer O giue thanks vnto the Lord all his creatures for he is kind-harted and mercifull yea his mercie endureth for euer Oh speake good of the Lord all ye works of his in all places of his dominion and let euerie thing that hath breath praise the Lord and giue him thanks for his mercie endureth for euer O that all men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare the wonders that he doth for the children of men Praise thou the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefits yea and all that is within me praise his holie name for his louing mercie and for his truth which endureth for euer worlds without end Amen Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the begin c. The second Psalme MY God my God remember me forsake me not suffer me not to be lost sith both night and daie I crie to thee heare me my Lord. Our father 's trusted in thee and thou helpedst them whensoeuer they called vpon thee at no tune thou failedst them but wast alwaies at hand to assist them Come foorth father most deerelie beloued in my hart restore me from Sathans kingdome Thou drewest me foorth of my mothers wombe and hast preserued me vnto this daie Of thy benignitie and mercie which I beseech thee denie me not at this my neede go not awaie from me for anguish and pensiuenesse of hart drawe nigh vnto me and yet is there none that can helpe me but thou onlie Let me escape from these dangers through thy Christ my sauiour who for my sake hath suffered so spitefull and bitter paines who for me was sore vexed cruellie scourged wounded nailed and hanged on the crosse Let me escape I saie for his bloud sake which he so largelie shed for vs to cause vs obteine forgiuenesse of our sinnes and enioie the new and euerlasting couenant made betwixt thee and vs. Stand not farre from me O Lord my refuge and strength come neere and helpe me deliuer my life from the sword and my soule from the wood dogs from the Lions iawes restore me betweene the hornes of the Unicornes heare thou me Then shall I blowe abroade thy name with all praises vnto my brethren and in the assemblie of the holie persons I shall commend thee Despise not the praiers of the poore turne not awaie thy face heare my crie for I will record this thy goodnesse among the miserable painefull and troublesome consciences that they thereof may take hart of comfort growe in hope cleaue more feruentlie vnto thee blowe abroade thy most glorious name and giue thee euerlasting thanks for their saluation Amen Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. The third Psalme OUT of the furthest angles of the earth on euerie side thou shalt with a mightie voice call men to iudgement Lord God omnipotent to whome nothing is hid Open our eares that we may heare this thy promise I shall be your God In thee constantlie beleeue we with thy foison we be filled Prudentlie thou dost declare and testifie that of our goods and sacrifices thou hast no need and doest not either regard or measure them for all be thine and in thee it lieth to make the things we now possesse to be ours or not ours Thou onlie requirest sacrifices of thanke sgiuing let vs therefore disclose the bottome of our harts to thee let vs knowledge thee to be our God Let vs halowe thy name in all things flowe in thy word render thanks both in weale and wo require thy succours in straits and necessities in which time thou hast promised to helpe vs then shall we so deliuered blase thy name Lord God most iust true of promise and deerest Father thee beseech I to send succours vnto me euen of thine infinite goodnesse For thy renowmes sake for Iesus Christs sake thy beloued sonne and for his pretious bloud largelie shed for vs on the crosse haue mercie vpon me so that once purged I may come againe in fauour with thee Pitie me heare me out of the straits of this sinfull flesh wherewith on euerie side I am hampered in Set me at large againe rid me from mine enimies which seeke to drawe me awaie from thy true seruice In thy comfort let me reioice and be full of spirituall ioie let me euer brute thy name not vnmindfull of thy benefits Releeue me most pitifull God according to thy word which is the truth Most tender father shew me that thy ioifull health Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the begin c. The fourth Psalme THy clemencie and blessing most mightie God we craue and require of thee full instantlie Let thy countenance shine vpon vs haue compassion vpon vs that here in earth wee may find out the waie which leadeth vnto thee and may attaine thy saluation among the Gentils O that all people would confesse thee with louing harts for thy manifold benefits and pleasures which they haue receiued at thy hands who dost with iustice gouerne men and art their leader vpon earth Powre downe Lord thy goodnesse and continuall blessings vpon vs and then shall the earth yeeld vnto thee glorie and praise and to vs fruits for meate Thou God the father blesse vs thou God the sonne blesse vs and thou God the holie Ghost blesse vs yea thou holie blessed and glorious Trinitie grant vs thy continuall blessing O that all the coasts of the earth Lord God would feare and stand in awe of thee Would God that we also might studie to worke no man either pleasure or displeasure that should be against thy will but that we may doo all things according to thy commandements Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the begin c. A contemplation and praier exclaming of the carefull passions of the soule and bodie WO is me carefull carcase and filthie defiled flesh conceiued and borne in sinne depriued of originall iustice compared to a beast in Adam fallen as a
forgiue vs our iniquities Whosoeuer calleth on thy name shall be saued Thou hast no pleasure in the death of a sinner but rather desirest that they should liue and be conuerted Thou hast so loued the world that thou not onlie didst become man and tooke our nature vpon thee but wert content also to suffer most cruell death on the Crosse to purge our nature from mortall sinne and corruption and adorne it with immortalitie and eternall glorie not onelie in thine owne person but in vs also to satisfie the iustice of the Father for our sinnes Oh blessed shepheard thou doubtedst not to spend thy most pretious blood to saue thy beloued sheepe from rauine and spoile Good Lord so increase thy grace in me that thy holie word may take roote and flourish in me that the good seed may not be choked with thornes So order my liuing that when by course of nature I shall be dissolued from the prison of my bodie I may come to thee that when thou more bright than the sun shalt come in the midst of the legions of Angels in thy shining glorie and Maiestie to iudge the quicke the dead I may be in the number of the blessed ones whom thou shalt call to possesse the kingdome prepared for them by thy Father saieng Come ye blessed children of my Father receiue the kingdome prepared for you before the beginning of the world Thou which didst die and rise againe wilt raise and bring to life all those that are dead beleeuing in thy faith So be it A praier to liue well GOod Lord so rule the eies of my hart that they being kept simple and pure my bodie may be a cleere and shining temple of thy holie spirit So kindle in vs the loue of thy glorious sonne that we following his steps may doo that which is good and decline from the euill so that our light shining before men we may glorifie thee by our good works with thy blessed sonne our Sauiour and the holie Ghost to whose infinite Maiestie in trinitie and vnitie be all honour and glorie for euer Amen A praier for humilitie O Lord I am a sinner and sorie for mine offences I can not make satisfaction for my defaults If I haue anie good thing it commeth of thee The most acceptable sacrifice to thee is a contrite and humble hart O God let mee not be oppressed with the waues of sinne let mee not sinke into the whirlepoole and gulph of despaire Thou which liftest vp the fallen and raisest the humble and meeke clothing them with purple and settest them vp with princes in the seates of honour thou which despisest the imaginations of the proud and resistest their enterprises blesse me in all my dooings send mee happie successe in all mine affaires that I may reioice in thy goodnesse with thine elected for euer and euer Accept my humble suite good Lord I beseech thee for the glorie of thy name sake Amen A praier for the obteining of Gods grace O Almightie and mercifull God shine we beseech thee through the power of our Lord Iesus Christ and the comfortable working of thy sacred spirit the heauenlie comforter vpon our minds and harts with the glorious beames of thy heauenlie grace Giue vs such plentie of wisedome and vnderstanding from aboue that through the knowledge of thee the man of sinne that is our fraile and feeble flesh with the wicked lusts and desire of concupiscence may lie dead and buried in vs. Giue vs good Lord the feeling of thy grace that by the vertue and diuine operation of thy word the eies of our soules may be illumined and made so light that the Prince of darkenesse with all his vnrighteous ministers may be expulsed and banished from our memories So establish vs in thy truth that our harts minds and thoughts may continuallie be occupied in thy testimonies that thereby thou good Lord effectuallie shining in our harts by the vertue of thy good spirit we may learne to knowe and vnderstand what is the fulnesse of our calling and how rich thou art in the glorie of thy celestiall and heauenlie heritage of thy Saincts and that excellent greatnesse of thy power and louing kindnesse towards vs which beleeue without faining thy holie Gospell according to the might and force of thy strength which thou shewedst in Christ Iesus when thou didst raise him from the dead and didst set him on thy right hand far aboue all empire power authoritie and dominion and euerie name that is named not onlie in this world but in the world to come By whose pretious death and deerest bloud-shedding we are assured that sinne death and hell are vanquished ouercome and vtterlie destroied And if we beleeue without wauering we shall in him be able to resist all the power of hell and in Christ as conquerors to triumph with victorie ouer sinne death and Sathan and at the last to haue and enioie the fruition of his rich and glorious kingdome which he by most painefull agonie bloudie stripes greeuous and bloudie wounds and lastlie by his most painefull death purchased for his chosen and elect To whome for our sanctification iustification redemption and our saluation be rendred with his celestiall Father and the holie Ghost all laud glorie power honour and dominion for euer and euer Amen A praier against presumptuous pride and vaine-glorie WE heare O heauenlie Father and are dailie taught and instructed out of thine eternall word how greatlie the greeuous sinne of presumption pride and vaine-glorie displeaseth thy diuine maiestie We are learned that for the practise of this pestilent and heinous euill thou hast not spared the verie Angels but hast throwne them in thy displeasure for their pride vaine-glorie and presumption from beatitude to miserie from ioie without end to perdurable paine from brightnesse of thy glorious presence to vtter extreame and palpable darkenesse from the glorious fruition and participation of thine euerlasting kingdome to the bottomlesse pit of hell death damnation and endlesse flames of fire Besides this we are taught that by the transgression of Adam whose haughtie presuming through the entisement of the subtile and perillous allurement of the Serpent thought to be as thy selfe but in fine thy iustice condemned him and all his posteritie This pestiferous sinne of pride drowned him in the flouds of all dangerous euils as gluttonie luxurie and such other perils that had not thy mercie taken effect to keepe and hold plea for his and our safegard and thy sonne Christ embased the glorie and power of his diuine essence and taken vpon him our flesh and fraile nature sinne onlie except who freelie offered his innocent bodie to the death of the crosse we had perished euerlastinglie and beene vtterlie confounded Print therefore good Lord and write these examples in my memorie that I fall not from thy fauour by the exercise of this detestable sinne Make me still to consider that the proud and disdainefull are alwaies abhorred in thy sight And sith
when thou openest thy hand they are satisfied with good things O Lord in whom consisteth the fulnesse of all good things vouchsafe to extend thy blessing vpon vs thy poore seruants sanctifie vnto vs thy gifts which we receiue of thy liberalitie that we may vse them soberlie and purelie according to thy good will and by this meanes to knowledge thee to be the Father and author of all goodnesse still seeking principallie the spirituall bread of thy word whereby our soules may bee nourished eternallie through Iesus Christ thy sonne our Lord So be it Matthew 4. verse 4. MAn liueth not by bread onlie but by euerie word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Grace after meate LEt all nations praise the Lord let all people sing praise vnto him For his mercie is multiplied vpon vs and his truth endureth for euer We render thanks vnto thee O Lord God for all the benefits that we receiue continuallie at thy hand for that it pleaseth thee to sustaine vs in this corporall life ministring vnto vs all our necessities and speciallie for that it hath pleased thee to regenerate vs into the hope of a better life which thou hast reuealed vnto vs by thy holie Gospell We beseech thee not to suffer our affections to be here rooted in these corruptible things but that we alwaies haue an higher respect waiting for our Lord Iesus Christ vntill he appeere in our redemption So be it A praier to be said before sleepe Exhortation LEt vs all fall downe humbling our selues before the high and soeuereigne Maiestie of our good God and Father acknowledging vs to be as we are namelie poore and miserable sinners praieng hartilie vnto him as followeth O Lord God Father eternall we beseech thee that it will please thee to cast the eie of thy fatherlie mercie vpon vs thy poore seruants not laieng to our charge so manie faults and offences whereby we are worthie to be brought vnto thy iudgement and whereby wee cease not to prouoke thy wrath against vs. And forasmuch as we are too vnwoorthie to appeare before thy holie Maiestie vouchsafe to receiue vs in the name of thy welbeloued sonne our Lord Iesus Christ accepting the merits of his death and passion for a recompense of all our faults regarding rather the obedience which he hath rendred vnto thee and not the manifold faults that we dailie commit against thy Maiestie O Lord God seeing it hath pleased thee to create the night for mans rest so as thou hast ordeined him the daie to trauell grant vs grace so to take our bodilie rest this night that our soules may alwaie watch vnto thee that our harts be lift vp in thy loue and that we so renounce all earthlie cares that we succour our selues according as our infirmitie requireth Let vs neuer forget thee but let the remembrance of thy goodnesse and grace continue alwaie printed in our memorie and by this meanes our consciences also shall haue their spirituall rest as our bodies take theirs Furthermore let not our sleepe be excessiue to accomplish the ease of our flesh beyond measure but onelie to satisfie the frailtie of our nature that we may be disposed to serue thee Moreouer let it please thee to preserue vs vnderfiled both in our bodies and in our spirits and to keepe vs against all dangers that our verie sleepe may be to the glorie of thy name And seeing the daie is not so passed but that we haue offended thee manie waies according as we are poore sinners so that all is now hid through the darknesse that thou sendest vpon earth vouchsafe also to burie all our faults through thy mercie least we thereby bee taken from thy presence Let it please thee also O Lord God to illuminate vs by thy holie spirit in the true vnderstanding of thy holie will and bring to passe also that we may yeeld vnto thee the loue and feare that true and faithfull seruants doo owe vnto their masters and children vnto their parents seeing it hath pleased thee to shew vs such grace as to receiue vs into the number of thy seruants and children Amen The praier of the Church of the faithfull to speake the word of God with all boldnesse Acts 4. verse 24 c. O Lord thou hast made the heauen the earth the sea all things that be in them Which through thine holie spirit hast said by the mouth of Dauid thy seruāt Wherfore haue the nations raged the people haue imagined vaine thoughts The kings of the earth haue assembled and the princes are come togither against the Lord and against his Christ For trulie Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentils and the people of Israel haue gathered themselues together in this citie against the holie child Iesus whom thou hast annointed to doo those things which thy hand and thy counsell hath determined to be done And now Lord behold their threatnings giue vnto thy seruants that they may speake thy word with all boldnesse so that thou stretch foorth thine hand that healing signes and woonders be done by the name of thy holie child Iesus Amen ¶ The maner how to examine such yong persons as be willing to receiue the Supper of our Lord Iesus Christ Mother IN whome beleeue you Child In God the Father and in Iesus Christ and in the holie Ghost Mother The Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost are they more than one God C No. M Must God be serued after his owne commandements or after the traditions of men C He must be serued according to his owne commandements and not according to the commandements of men M May you accomplish Gods commandements of your selfe C No. M Who is it then that accomplisheth them in you C The holie spirit M And when God giueth you his holie spirit can you perfectlie accomplish them C No. M And yet notwithstāding God cursseth reiecteth all such as do not sincerelie fulfill his cōmandements C It is true M By what meanes then shall you be saued and deliuered from the cursse of God C By the death passion of our Lord Iesus Christ M How is that C Because that by his death he hath restored life vnto vs and reconciled vs vnto God his father M And whome praie you vnto C To God M In whose name praie you C In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ who is our aduocate and intercessor M How manie Sacraments are in the Christian Church C Two M Which be they C Baptisme and the Lords Supper M What is the signification of Baptisme C It hath two parts For our Sauiour doth therein represent vnto vs the remission of our sinnes then our regeneration or spirituall renouation M And the Supper what signifieth it vnto vs C It signifieth vnto vs that by the communion of the bodie and bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ our soules are nourished in hope of the life euerlasting M What is it that the bread and wine which
are giuen vs in the Supper doo represent vnto vs C They represent vnto vs that the bodie and bloud of Iesus Christ haue such vertue towards our soules as the bread and wine haue towards our bodies M Understand you that the bodie of Iesus Christ may be inclosed in the bread and his bloud in the wine C No. M Where then must we seeke Iesus Christ to enioie him C In heauen in the glorie of his father M What is the meanes to come vnto heauen there as Iesus Christ is C It is faith M It behooueth vs then to haue true faith before we can well vse this holie Sacrament C It is so M And how may we haue this faith C We haue it by the holie spirit that dwelleth in our harts and assureth vs of Gods promises which are made vnto vs in the Gospell Unto God the Father of whom and by whom and in whome are all things And vnto Iesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer of the world And vnto the holie Ghost be honour and glorie for euer So be it The true summe of all Christian Religion Mother MY child art thou a Christian Child Yea by the grace of God whereas of nature I was a child of wrath as well as others M Art thou certaine that thou art a Christian C Yea through faith and the holie spirit who giueth witnesse vnto my spirit that I am the child and heire of God M What is it to saie a Christian C It is the same which by faith in Iesus Christ hath receiued the holie spirit as a child of God dooing his dutie in time and place M What is the dutie of a Christian C It is for to knowe God for to serue him in spirit and truth according to the doctrine of Iesus Christ M In how manie points consisteth the true Christian adoration and the true seruice of God C It is faith which is the onelie foundation of Christians M The faith commeth it of vs C No for it is the gift of God M Where lieth this faith C In the hart for with the hart we beleeue to righteousnesse with the mouth we confesse to saluation M Be we then bound to render a reason of our faith and hope C Yea to all men that demand it of vs so that it be done with wisedome gentlenes reuerence and gratious words M And he that confesseth not Iesus Christ in time and place doth he not renounce him C Yea for he that is not with him is against him he that gathereth not with him scattereth abroade M Giue me then a reason of thy faith and first what confession makest thou of the Christian faith C The same that the Church holdeth being founded vpon the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles which is brieflie comprehended in our Creede M Canst thou make confession in the common language C Yea I thanke God M Saie it with an high voice and pronounce it well C I beleeue in God the Father almightie c. M Beleeuest thou that thou art saued by this faith of the Church C Yea well if I haue it in my selfe as the first word sheweth I beleeue in God For the iust shall liue by his owne faith M What is it to beleeue in God C It is a full assurance and hope to trust and commit all to him according to his promises in Iesus Christ M Can we haue this faith in perfection whiles we be in this world C No. For we haue neede with the Apostles to require augmentation of faith The Lord increase it in vs and make vs perseuere in it vnto the end Of Inuocation Mother WHat is the second part of Christian adoration and seruice of God Child It is inuocation whereby we haue all our refuge vnto our father through faith in the name of Iesus Christ M Why puttest thou inuocation after faith C Because it is one of the greatest and principall fruite of the same For whosoeuer calleth vpon the name of the Lord in faith shall be saued M Haue we commandement to call vpon God onlie and not vpon others C Yea euen as we are commanded neither to beleeue nor worship anie other but him alone M Should we not praie to the father in the name of other but of Iesus Christ C No. For the father hath giuen vs none other aduocate but him who onlie is verie God and verie man and we haue no promise to be heard in the name of anie other but in his name onlie M Yea but we knowe not what we ought to praie as apperteineth C Iesus Christ teacheth vs by his holie spirit according to the forme that he hath giuen vs. M Rehearse it in the common language to the end that we all may vnderstand it and be edified C Our father which art in heauen c. M Wherefore will he that we call him father C To declare the loue that he beareth towards vs in Iesus Christ to the end that in full assurance and boldnesse we may come to him onlie and not to be afraid of him no more than a child is of his father M What doth this word our shew C The vnitie and charitable brotherhood which ought to be heere well practised among vs according as the communion of Saints requireth M Seeing that God is euerie where and filleth heauen and earth ought not we to seeke and worship him in all his creatures C No. For he is a spirit and incomprehensible wherfore he willeth that in Iesus Christ we seeke and worship him in spirit and truth lifting vp our hearts aboue all corruptible things M What conteine the sixe petitions comprehended in this praier C The three first all y t which makes for the aduancement of the honor and glorie of God which we ought to desire with our whole hart and before all things M And the three last what doo they conteine C Our entertainement and saluation which is also the glorie of God M Why addeth he to the end For thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer C To shew that the dignitie efficacie of our praiers consisteth not in vs but altogether in that good father by Iesus Christ working in vs by the holie spirit M Then is it to saie that we all will liue and die in his obedience subiection and glorie C Yea acknowledging him to be the author of all goodnesse and vnto whome onelie apperteineth the true maiestie roiall with all power and glorie for euer M What is the conclusion of this praier C It is that all our desires requests and actions of grace be addressed vnto God alone through Iesus Christ confirming vs throughlie in substance vnto that which it conteineth as vnto the perfect rule of all true godlinesse M Why is this word added to the end Amen or So be it C To assure vs that our praier made thus in truth and according to his will is trulie heard Of Obedience Mother WHat is the third point of Christian adoration and
for into thy hands I commit me Amen E ENter thy iudgements in the tables of my hart destroie mine affections with thy loue send thy wisdome from the holie heauens and from the seate of thy Maiestie that she may be with me and labour with me that I may knowe what thing is acceptable before thee and may iudge the people righteouslie and discerne betweene good and euill G GRatious Lord thou that art the most high God aboue all the earth long-suffering and of much mercie sorowing the sinnes of man and of thy great goodnesse hast promised to the penitent remission of sinnes Lord I haue sinned mine iniquitie is multiplied aboue the sands of the sea and there is no hope of life in me because I haue stirred thee to anger in multiplieng offences before thee And now O Lord trusting in thy mercie I bow the knees of my hart beseeching thee of thy goodnesse destroie me not togither with mine iniquitie For the dead whose soules are out of their bodies can neither praise nor thanke thee but the sorowfull hart and the thirstie soule ascribe praise vnto thee O Lord I powre my praiers before thee and require mercie in thy sight saue me which am vnwoorthie and reserue not eternall punishment for mee For thine owne sake I aske it and will praise thee all the daies of my life Amen I ILluminate my hart O Lord with the light of thy word leade me Lord in thy waie and I shall enter into thy truth Print thy feare in my hart that I may reioice in thee Let thy word be a lanterne vnto my feet and a lampe of light vnto my paths so shall I not erre from the right waie but walke like a pure and wise virgin with an vpright hart chaste mind and cleane conscience and single eie before thee this daie and euermore Amen N NEuer will I cease to call vpon thee most mightie God of hosts which sittest vpon the Cherubins and hast dominion ouer all the kingdoms of the earth Thou which madest the heauens all things comprehended in them bow downe thine eare and heare open thine eies and behold saue mee from the hand of mine aduersaries suffer no euill to happen vnto me that all the people may knowe that thou alone art my God Amen A ASsist mee O Lord my God with thy heauenlie grace and renew in mee a right spirit that I may receiue strength ablenesse to doo thy righteous will and to stand against all the assaults of wilie Satan that they may haue no place in mee but that the old man which I beare about in my bodie may be crucified and dailie die in me that the desire of sinne errour and of worldlie vanities may vtterlie be destroied that I may euermore be renewed in the spirit of my mind that the life of my Sauiour Christ may alwaies appeare in me to whome with the Father and the holie Ghost be all honour triumph and glorie for euer and euer Amen The versicle EUen now and euer vouchsafe O LORD for thy deere sonnes sake to heare my humble petitions The answere REceiue my praiers I saie O GOD and in thy truth and mercie pardon mine offences and grant mee thy grace The Collect. O Emanuel my Lord and my GOD Iesus Christ sonne of the pure virgin Marie thou art not onelie the sweete spouse of my soule but with God the Father a most meeke Mediatour full of mercie and truth Wash awaie my sinnes with the most pretious bloud of thy holie passion make me rich in thy mercie and my faith so strong in thee that assisted with thy grace and holie spirit to all duties and works in this life towards thee I may enioie afterwards the glorie of thy blessed kingdome with thy holie Saints and pure Uirgins in euerlasting honour and triumph Amen The Praier O Roote of Iesse my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ which hast redeemed all mankind from sinne death and hell thou which hast said I am the waie truth and life The waie in doctrine commandements and examples truth in promises life in reward I praie thee by thine ineffable loue wherewith thou hast vouchsafed wholie to bestowe thy selfe for our securitie that thou wilt not suffer me euer to straie from thee bicause thou art the waie nor at anie time to distrust thy promses which art the truth and performest whatsoeuer thou promisest neither let me rest in anie other thing bicause thou art eternall life without the which there is nothing that ought to be desired neither in heauen nor in earth By thee we learne the sure and expedient passage vnto true helth that we wander no longer in the Laberinth of this world Thou hast exactlie taught what to beleeue and what to doo what to hope for and in whom we ought to rest By thee wee learne how wee were of that first Adam vnfortunatelie borne by thee we are assured there is no hope of health but through faith in thee that thou art the onlie brightnesse which giuest light to all men trauelling the darke desarts of this world where is nothing but a profound dimnesse wherby we neither see our calamities nor frō whence we ought to seeke remedie of our euill Thou vouchsafedst to descend into the earth disdainedst not to take our nature vpon thee that by thy doctrine thou mightest shake off the dimnesse of our ignorance by thy commandements mightest direct our feete in the waie of truth peace By the examples of thy life thou hast shewed vs the waie to immortalitie and by thy steps hast restored to vs a plaine easie profitable waie out of an vneeuen and rough waie So thou art made vnto vs a waie which knoweth no error in the which least we should be wearie thou hast vouchsafed to vphold vs in thy benignitie with great sure promises For who can be wearie accounting himselfe redie through thy steps to enter thy heauenlie heritage Therefore whilest we be in this iournie thou wouldest be a sure hope vnto vs to be in steed of a staffe vnto vs wherewith we are sustained Neither was thy goodnes content with this but knowing the weaknesse of our flesh in the meane while with the comfort of thy spirit dooest so refresh our strength whereby we run cheerefullie And as thou being made vnto vs the waie dooest driue awaie all errour so being truth dooest thou take awaie all distrust Finallie being made life vnto vs dooest reuiue the dead in sinne to liue by thy spirit releeuing all things vntill in the resurrection all mortalitie vtterlie abolished we may alwaies liue with thee and in thee when Christ shall be to vs all in all For eternall life is to knowe the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost to be one true God where now thorough faith we behold onlie in a glasse and riddle And then seeing more felowlie the glorie of the Lord wee shall be transformed into the same image Therefore I beseech thee most mercifull Sauiour that
with speciall fauour as a father his children yet thinke that I haue not exempted you from my power and authoritie and that though you be Princes and Magistrates yet knowe that you are mortall euen as other men yea remember that you shall once die and shall stand at my iudgement-seate euen as euerie most vile and poore man to render and giue an accompt of your stewardship and of all things done in the flesh CAP. II. BEware therefore that yee abuse not this authoritie giuen vnto you by me vnder certaine lawes and conditions See that you directlie followe the waies that I haue appointed you to walke in and take heed that you be not drawne awaie to the right hand or to the left with the error of the wicked to forsake my lawes and ordinances and to fall from me your God who haue exalted you For be you sure that I haue placed you in this seate vpon this condition and giuen it vnto you in plaine charge and commandement that you should decree iust lawes and execute iudgement by right and equitie without fauour parcialitie or regard to anie partie that you should deuise all manner of godlinesse and shew your selues openlie to be freends to vertue and foes to vice and to weigh nothing but equitie and iustice in your balance That as the verie lawe of Nature doth require you should releeue them that are spoiled by violence defend the fatherlesse mainteine the poore against the iniuries of the rich deliuer the miserable from the hands of the wicked and see diligentlie that the wringing worldlings and cruell extortioners exercise not their tyrannie and oppressions continuallie ouer the godlie and feeble of my people Moreouer that you should make diligent inquisition for bloudshead and murther to reuenge it carefullie search out wickednesse and abhomination to condemne it to execute the traytor murtherer and theefe to pull the praie out of the teeth of the spoiler to breake downe the power of the wicked mightie ones to destroie the workers of iniquitie and vtterlie to roote out sinne and vngodlinesse from the earth euen all such as conspire against the soules of the righteous abusing iustice by colour of lawe gather themselues together to sit condemne the innocent bloud and trouble my heritage Finallie it is I that in the disordered state of the world which seemed to be vtterlie void of iustice haue set thee O Daughter of my people now at the last to restore the same to that ancient and most right godlie order of iustice religion and faith that thou shouldest be a defence and fortresse among my people and followe me thy God with great cheerefulnesse and haue thy delight fullie fixed in my lawes and statutes daie and night that being well exercised therein as it behooueth thou maist be able to knowe sift and trie the waies of all men and iudge betwixt right and wrong CAP. III. HArken therefore vnto me O Daughter and take heed that thou haue nothing to do with the stoole of wickednesse and that the throne of iniquitie tyrannicall domination which forgeth wrong for a lawe and adioineth authoritie to most wicked decrees haue no fellowship nor be agreeable with thee And bicause the wicked doo wander on euerie side when the woorst men are exalted into the highest place of honour and offices in the Common-weale therfore I aduise and counsell thee betimes to expell and thrust out of thy Court and house all the vnwoorthie and vngodlie men flatterers parasites iesters atheists and reuengers of bloud and place the woorthie and godlie in their roomes that they may sit among the Princes of my people and be assistant vnto thee O make much of them that feare the Lord let all thy delight be vpon my Saints which are on earth be carefull alwaie to preserue the vertuous and exalt the best most woorthie persons Call such to be thy states of dignitie Senatours Counsellers Iudges and Magistrates vnder thee as are graue wise learned godlie zealous of my truth gelous of thy renowme Aduance such men I saie to honour and office vnder thee as be of a good conscience sound religion and vpright life such as will be painfull watchmen and diligent stewards and both can and will make iust decrees and execute good lawes euen such as will care for nothing more than to knowe what is their dutie and that therefore are most willing to doo their dutie hating vnfeinedlie all maner of vice and louing intirelie all maner of vertue Come foorth I saie O deere Daughter come foorth thou most beautifull of all women and fairer than the children of men thou Ô QVEENE Uirgin I saie of incomparable eloquence and grace of speech come foorth thus and shew thy beautie so full of maiestie and grace that in this thy gouernement and pastorship there may want neither integritie and vprightnesse in taking of counsell neither wisdome in performing of thine interprises but doo all things prudentlie and prosperouslie caried vpon the triumphant Chariot euen the word of God as a wise and vertuous Gouernour directing it and let truth mercie iustice and equitie drawe it round about thy dominion Thus shalt thou declare thy selfe a bountifull Daughter of this Prince and woorthie Gouernour if vsing thy power neither weakelie nor idlelie thou gouerne my people by moderate equitie and punish mine enimies and thine by seueritie of iudgement as shee before whom also sitting vpon thy throne of Maiestie the two pillers mercie and truth are seene to stand and support thee CAP. IIII. AND I Ô QVEENE will surelie performe my couenant begun with thy father DAVID that chosen man vnto thee also his Daughter whom I will indue also with eternitie and make thy kingdome perpetuall in heauen and I as is his will will continuallie defend thee with a certaine speciall power together with the people and land which I haue chosen and giuen vnto thee My hand I saie shall establish thee and mine arme strengthen thee so that no enimie shall ouercome thee by subtiltie nor anie wicked man oppresse thee by force Yea and though thou shalt not want manie those most mightie enimies both domesticall and forreine which shall resist thee O sacred QVEENE and thy godlie proceedings yet I assure thee all their enterprises shall be in vaine and frustrate and thou for all those miseries most greeuous and battell wherewith thou maist seeme to be vexed shalt suffer no detriment but contrariwise by this same meanes as it is plaine by experience thou louing righteousnes hating whatsoeuer is against it and being armed with sharpe arrowes and the sword of the word shalt not onlie therwith wound the hearts of thine enimies cast them downe to the ground and tread them vnder thy feete but also bring maruellous things to passe in my name by this thy mightie power For I the Lord IEHOVA which am the reuenger of roiall dignitie and the defender of DAVID my seruants posteritie will destroie all that would
imbrace with most great loue those things which thou hast testified vnto me and to keepe all thy Heasts most diligentlie yea I will so behaue my selfe in this my gouernement that none shall worthilie complaine of me that I haue committed anie thing against them contrarie to right and equitie For I doo beare thy Heast in my hand as a Lampe ordeined of thee for to lighten me in thy perfect paths and waie And I laie vp thy word in my hart as a pretious treasure least I offend thee in anie least thing And how sincerelie I doo this that is how without all hypocrisie I applie my selfe to fulfill thy commandements and to accomplish and doo to the vttermost of my power all things that thou hast testified vnto me it is best knowne vnto thee who being my witnesse and priuie to all my thoughts and doings I doo whatsoeuer I doo O Lord vnto whome I appeale and whome I can not deceiue though I would I am throughly knowne and manifest vnto thee I saie For no part of my life is vnknowne vnto thee whether I sit or I rise yea thou doest euen vnderstand all my thoughts a far off and thou obseruest narrowlie my walking and my lieng downe neither is anie of those things hidden from thee which I go about For thou knowest euen my words O Lord before my tongue pronounce them I submit my selfe O God in this thing therefore to thy triall how I doo prefer the consideration of thy woonderfull works words and benefits before all others which are so great verelie that I am not able once to accompt the summe of them nor to reach to the height depth length and bredth of thy great mercies towards me For I find them mo than the sands of the sea or the heares of my head Wherefore I onlie refer my selfe to thee my God I saie that thou maiest throughlie prooue thine handmaid and see if my hart be not altogether fixed vpon thee and vtterlie search out all my thoughts to write them downe in thy booke of consciences Finallie consider Lord I praie thee whether I haue prouoked the vngodlie with giuing anie offence as thou knowest me innocent so preserue thou me and gouerne the course of my life with thy counsels Yea thou knowest O Lord that I haue neuer bent mine eies to high things nor entangled my selfe willinglie with great matters whereby I might win to my selfe the opinion of excellencie aboue all other neither yet haue reached vnto such things as were aboue my capacitie But contrarilie vnlesse I haue bene content with my state howsoeuer and haue staid my mind to depend wholie on thee as they teach the weaned child to forget the Nursse and to regard the mother alone vnlesse I saie I haue so behaued my selfe hitherto as the weaned infant let me in deede be refused of thee Therefore according to this mine innocencie O Lord by the assistance of thy grace I will proceed yea surelie Lord according to my power as I haue begon in thee so I will endeuour my selfe to end in thee and to walke with thee vprightlie and setting all my confidence in thee alone I am fullie minded to continue to the end of my life without wauering in the faith of a right Christian feare and loue to thee That I stand vpright in the waie of thy truth I doo attribute it onlie vnto thee O Lord my God and will therefore magnifie thy name in the publike congregation And I doubt not but thou O Lord thine owne selfe wilt sullie performe the worke that I haue enterprised by thine authoritie For this is thine euerlasting mercie testified by thy word neither wilt thou I knowe leaue the worke vnperfect which thou hast once begun by me and in me And now surelie mine eies are still alwaies bent vpon thy goodnesse and I haue appointed thy truth to be the guide and leader of my life yea I vnfeinedlie vow and make a solemne promise before thee and all thy holie Angels that I will giue all possible diligence both that I may throughlie knowe the right waie appointed by thee and also may obserue the same purelie in my house and Realme I will neuer set before me to doo anie wicked thing but will endeuour my selfe to godlines more and more and keepe my hands pure from all iniurie and wrong that I may so liue the true life and spend the whole course of this my peregrination in setting foorth thy glorie CAP. IIII. HEnce from me therefore ye wicked ones that I may keepe the precepts of my God so much more purelie For I abhor the wauering and wanderings to and fro in religion and I count thy word and doctrine most deere and pretious I will forsake them that are of corrupt maners neither will I take such vnto me I will put far from me the authors of euill counsels neither will I embrace at anie time the thing that I knowe to be euill Yea Lord thou knowest how carefullie I haue auoided the companie of these most vaine men and I haue fled awaie from these deceitfull dealers They that run after another God I vtterlie detest Their drinke-offrings of bloudie sacrifice which I am afraid euen once to name will I not offer All such abhomination my soule doth vtterlie abhor For I as thou knowest loue righteousnesse and holinesse and hate whatsoeuer is against it And bicause they hate thee O Lord which art righteousnesse it selfe therefore doo I againe hate them and doo euen abhor them bicause I perceiue them to rise vp against thee I hate the superstitious crue of the vngodlie I saie vtterlie and count them for my greatest enimies much lesse will I ioine my selfe vnto them or can abide to winke at their wickednesse and rebellion Yea I fullie determine to exercise thy power giuen vnto me and to destroie the wicked and prophane vtterlie that thy Church may be well purged and free from these cruell and bloud-thirstie hypocrites from these men I saie which speake blasphemie against thee so great and so proud is the crueltie of those not of mine enimies so much as of thine For they abuse thy holie name and Maiestie Those superstitious men I saie Lord that beare thy name in hypocrisie shall haue their mouthes stopped and be put to silence in the congregation and that bicause they be deadlie enimies to thy word and holie Gospell which I professe Therefore bicause they resist not me but thee O God thy selfe therefore thou shalt carie in thy hand a cup full of troubled wine and full of dregs the which thou shalt giue to all the wicked to sucke vp and to drinke euen the verie dregs thereof Yea with the edge of the sword will I cut off the horns of the wicked and rebellious and will execute the iudgement appointed and commanded by thee my God vpon them till they be consumed that the honor dignitie of thy Saints may flourish in Israel in all pietie and peace All those
might dailie more and more trace thee out yea I haue a great while sore longed with so godlie affection as I could to celebrate thee in the frequented assemblies of the godlie which trulie I will now doo accordinglie by the grace and assistance of thy holie spirit and that with a most readie and ioifull mind as it behooueth And that this mine enterprise and beginning may proceede to a further good successe and amendment of my maners and imbettering of my life doo thou finish the thing O God which thou hast begun in me and make me continuallie to increase from faith to faith Yea so renew and shape me againe in innocencie and righteousnesse O grations Lord I beseech thee that as a person new borne of thee I may insearch thee againe and againe both in the dawning of the daie morning noone euening and night Now lead me forooard O Lord I beseech thee in thy righteousnesse let thy louing spirit direct my feete and make thy waies plaine before my face bicause of my mortall and inuisible enimies And doo thou vouchsafe luckilie to conduct my bodie this daie vnto thy materiall temple and to bring my soule at the last vnto thy holie hill and blessed mountaine which thou hast purchased with thy right hand that I may rest both bodie and soule in heauen and remaine with thee foreuer Amen Or praie thus O GOD the word who art the light by whom light was made who art the waie truth and life in whom there is no darknes ouersight vanitie nor death shine foorth O Lord my light mine inlightening and my welfare whom I will reuerence my Lord whom I will honour my Father whom I will loue my Iudge whom I will feare my Bridegroome whom I will cleaue vnto and keepe my selfe an vndefiled spouse Shine foorth O euerlasting light shine foorth I saie and lighten the Lampe of my virginitie with the oile of thy diuine grace and mercie that this blind soule of mine which yet sitteth in darknesse and shadowe of death may see the light and eschew darknesse see the waie and eschew straieng see the truth and eschew leasing see the life and eschew death And guide thou my feete vnto the waie of peace that by thy mercifull protection I may see the light walke in the light and neuer stumble vpon the snares of Sathan but may now passe thereby into the palace of thy woonderfull tabernacle and be able to climbe vp euen vnto the holie house and temple with the voice of gladnesse and confession there to abide and receiue at thy hands both mercie righteousnesse health blessing and euerlasting saluation with my fellowe-citizens thy Saints and houshold menie Amen Another godlie praier to be said either going towards or being in the Church LOoke what earnest and feruent desire soeuer the old fathers had O most mightie GOD to come vnto the place wherein thou hadst appointed a tabernacle to thy selfe for that time euen the like am I kindled withall in beholding the repairing of thy sacred Church and to see therin a very great companie of godlie men women lawfullie assembled together for the aduancement of thy glorie hearing thy holie doctrine dulie receiuing of thy blessed Sacraments accordinglie Wherefore I humblie beseech thee which art my God my King that I may this daie reioice to be there For what felicitie soeuer may be attained vnto in this fraile life I doubt not but it will light vpon the sacred companie of the godlie there assembled Giue eare therefore O excellent Father vnto mine earnest praiers grant that I make none other account of thy blessed house than thy will and pleasure is I should doo For a more blessed thing it were for me to haue one daies meeting and abode therein than if I abide neuer so great a time of continuance in the congregation of the vngodlie or in such a one as is not lawfullie assembled with the aduantage and ouer-plus of all the pleasures of this transitorie world Seeing that therefore thou art our most splendent light and strong defence cause our assemblies on the earth O God so to redound to thine vnspeakable glorie that our assured hope by comming in the end vnto thee in the euerlasting tabernacles of the heauens may be augmented and verie much increased through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen VVhen you enter into the Church meditate thus with your selfe and saie LORD who shall ascend into thy high hill Or who shall rise vp in thy holie place Euen he that hath cleane hands and a pure hart and hath not lift vp his mind vnto vanitie nor sworne to deceiue his neighbour He shall receiue the blessing from the Lord and righteousnesse from the God of his saluation This is the generation of them that seeke him euen of them that seeke thy face O Iacob Lift vp your heads O ye gates and be ye lift vp ye euerlasting doores and the King of glorie shall come in euen the Lord of hosts most mightie and strong Open me the gates of righteousnesse O Lord that I with the righteous nation that keepe thy truth may go into them and giue thanks vnto thee This is the gate of the Lord the righteous shall enter into it Yea blessed are they that doo thy commandements O God For their power shall be in the tree of life and they shall enter in through the gates into the holie citie new Ierusalem But without shall be dogs and inchanters and whooremongers and murderers and idolaters yea there shall enter into it none vncleane thing neither whatsoeuer worketh abhomination or maketh lies but they onlie which are written in the Lambes booke of life Amen Or thus LOrd who shall enter into thy sanctuarie to consider thy mightie power except thou open it vnto him And who shall open it if thou shut it Trulie O Lord my God I sillie worme and claie am not able to enter into thine euerlastingnesse vnlesse thou which hast made all things of nothing doo lead me in Yea I knowe Lord I knowe and confesse that I am vnwoorthie to enter vnder thy roofe but yet I beseech thee let a blessed entrance to the house of eternall felicitie whither I haue dailie a feruent desire to come be set open and made as a free passage vnto me O God And giue mee leaue now I praie thee though a dog and an vnwoorthie wretch euen for thine owne honour sake to enter into thy holie house and to approch thy sacred presence and confound not thy seruant that seeketh thee and putteth all hir trust and confidence in thy mercie Oh suffer me not I saie good Lord to knit vp and finish my last daies with malefactors and wicked persons but grant that after my long and dailie trauell in this transitorie world I may in the end at length be permitted through thy mercie to enter the courts of thy diuine presence and with thine elect and chosen seruants for euer inhabit the hauen of eternall felicitie through
highest coasts of the heauen of heauens and sittest in the celestiall throne of eternall glorie betweene the Cherubins and Seraphins Looke downe I saie O most mightie Iehoua and haue respect now I beseech thee vnto thy sacred Sanctuarie and holie house of praier Let thine eies I saie O Lord be euer open towards thy blessed Tabernacle night and daie euen towards thy Church thy Temple and most sacred place on earth where thine honor dwelleth and whereof thou hast said My house shall be an house of praier for all people and nations and my name shall be called vpon therein that thou maist harken this daie vnto the praiers which we thy poore creatures and most vnwoorthie seruants make before thee in this place Heare thou therefore O our God euen from heauen the place of thy glorious habitation the supplications of thy seruants and also what praiers and supplications soeuer shall be made vnto thee of anie particular man or woman and of all the people Giue good eare I saie O Lord vnto all the cries praiers and petitions of thy people heere assembled or that shall be gathered together in thy name who with rent harts bowed knees and stretched out hands returne vnto thee and present themselues here this daie to confesse thee call vpon thy holie name in this place And when thou hearest pardon the sinnes of thy seruants and be mercifull vnto the offences and iniquities of thy people wherewith they haue sinned and transgressed or shall offend against thy Maiestie Heare vs I saie O Lord O holie Lord God heare vs we praie thee be mercifull vnto thine inheritance and doo and giue to euerie one of vs according vnto all and euerie thing that we call and praie for vnto thee this daie in this thy holie house according to thy will thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Amen A psalme of preparation to praier in the morning I will giue thanks vnto the Lord with my whole hart secretlie among the faithfull and in the congregation and will saie O God my hart is readie my hart is readie here now now in thy holie house to paie thee my vowes which I promised with my lips and spake with my mouth when I was in trouble My voice shalt thou heare beetimes O Lord earlie in the morning will I direct my praiers vnto thee will looke vp I my selfe will awake right earlie to sing and giue praise vnto thee with the best member that I haue Unto thee my God will I lift vp my hands hart in this thy holie habitation towards the mercie-seat of thy holie temple In the voice of praise and thankes-giuing among such as keepe it holie daie For this is the daie which thou O Lord hast made I will reioice be glad in it In this daie of thy power will I offer the free-will offerings with an holie worship and magnifie thee in the congregation of the people From the ground of my hart will I reioice and giue thanks vnto thee my God in the seate of the elders for a remembrance of thy holinesse O let my mouth be filled with thy praise that I may sing of thy glorie and praise now and for euermore Glorie be to the c. As it was in the c. A Psalme to be vsed priuatelie before Euening praier in the Church IN the euening and morning and at noone daie will I praie and that instantlie he shall heare my voice My hart is fixed redie O God my hart is fixed redie I will praise thee and thy faithfulnesse yet more more with the best member that I haue euen with all my hart will I thanke thee and praise thy name for euermore My lips be faine to sing vnto thee and so is my soule whom thou hast deliuered yea my soule shall be satisfied with marowe and fatnesse when my mouth praiseth thee with ioifull lips For it is a good thing to giue thanks vnto the Lord and to sing praises vnto thy name O most high to tell of thy louing kindnesse earlie in the morning and of thy truth in the euening and night season yea a ioifull and pleasant thing it is to be thankfull vnto thee our God alwaie Therefore I will sing seuen times a daie and will praise thy mercie late in the euening bicause of thy righteous iudgements As for me I will be talking of thy worship thy glorie thy praise and woonderous works from time to time For great art thou O Lord and maruelous worthie to be praised and feared aboue all the gods yea thou canst not woorthilie be praised for there is none end of thy greatnesse nor goodnesse Behold now therfore praise the Lord all ye seruants of the Lord ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord euen in the middest of the courts of the house of our God Lift vp your hands in the sanctuarie and praise the Lord together with me For he is good and gratious and his mercie endureth for euer Yea let euerie good man and woman sing of thy praise O God and speake of thine honour in thy temple with cheerfull minds and that without ceasing for euer and saie The Lords name be praised from the rising vp of the sunne vnto the going downe of the same blessed be the Lord God of Israel from euerlasting worlds without end Amen Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the c. Another preparation of the hart before euening praier in the Church LORD behold mine hart is at this present readie to sing praises more and more vnto thee and againe and againe to render vnto thee woorthie thanks here now in the assemblie of Saints Onelie I desire thee to hallowe vs from heauen thy dwelling place powre downe vpon vs thy holie sanctifieng spirit which may so wholie possesse our soules and preserue vs from all euill cogitations and motions of sinne and iniquitie that we may hallowe thy name this euening and euermore in all things flowe in thy word render the sacrifice of praise and thankes-giuing vnto thee and worship thee onelie in spirit and truth as our God most mightie in heauen and earth our righteous maker and the worker of all goodnesse in all such as beleeue in thee A cleane hart O God make thou in me restore in me a willing and a right spirit denie me not the holie Ghost For of my selfe I can performe nothing that is good Blesse me therefore O benigne Lord and indue me plentifullie with thy grace to the intent I may offer the acceptable euening sacrifice of thankes-giuing for nothing else verelie requirest thou and with glad semblance imbrace and celebrate thy righteousnesse espied in the releasing forgiuing of my sinnes Giue mee of thy goodnesse to this end that I may continuallie praise thy Maiestie daie and night with mysticall Psalmes spirituall songs Be thou euermore working through thy holie spirit in me which presentlie keepeth the godlie rest of the new Saboth
vnitie peace and concord We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue vs an hart to loue and dread thee and diligentlie to liue after thy commandements We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue all thy people increase of grace to heare meekelie thy word and to receiue it with pure affection and to bring foorth the fruits of the spirit We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to bring into the waie of truth all such as haue erred and are deceiued We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to strengthen such as doo stand and to comfort and helpe the weake-harted and to raise vp them that fall and finallie to beate downe Sathan vnder our feete We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort all that be in danger necessitie and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring of child all sicke persons and yoong children and to shew thy pitie vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse children and widowes and all that bee desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to haue mercie vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to forgiue our enimies persecutors and slanderers and to turne their harts We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindlie fruits of the earth so as in due time we may enioie them We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue vs true repentance to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to endue vs with the grace of thy holie spirit to amend our liues according to thy holie word We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. O Lambe of God that takest awaie the sinnes of the world Grant vs thy peace O Lambe of God that takest awaie the sinnes of the world Haue mercie vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Our father which art in heauen c. The Versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The Answere Neither reward vs after our iniquities Let vs praie O God mercifull father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite hart nor the desires of such as be sorowfull mercifullie assist our praiers that we make before thee in all our troubles and aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and gratiouslie heare vs that those euils which the craft and subtiltie of the diuell or man worketh against vs be brought to naught and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that we thy seruants being hurt by no persecutions may euermore giue thanks vnto thee in thy holie Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy name sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble works that thou diddest in their daies and in the old time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thine honour Glorie be to the Father and to the Sonne c. As it was in the beginning is now and euer c. From our enimies defend vs O Christ Gratiouslie looke vpon our afflictions Pitifullie behold the sorrowes of our harts Mercifullie forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauourablie with mercie heare our praiers O sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon vs. Both now euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Gratiouslie heare vs ô Christ Gratiouslie heare vs ô Lord Christ The Versicle O Lord let thy mercie be shewed vpon vs. The Answere As we doo put our trust in thee Let vs praie WE humblie beseech thee O Father mercifullie to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glorie of thy name sake turne from vs all those euils that we most worthilie haue deserued and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercie and euermore serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of life to thy honour and glorie through our onlie mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for the Queenes Maiestie O Lord our heauenlie father high and mightie King of kings Lord of lords the onlie ruler of princes which dooest from thy throne behold all the dwellers vpon earth most hartilie we beseech thee with thy fauour to behold our most gratious souereigne ladie Queene Elizabeth and so replenish hir with the grace of thy holie spirit that she may alwaie incline to thy will and walke in thy waie Indue hir plentifullie with heauenlie gifts graunt hir in health and wealth long to liue strengthen hir that she may vanquish and ouercome all hir enimies and finallie after this life she may attaine euerlasting ioie and felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for Bishops and Curates ALmightie and euerlasting God which onlie workest great maruels send downe vpon our Bishops and Curates and all congregations committed to their charge the healthfull spirit of thy grace and that they may trulie please thee powre vpon them the continuall dewe of thy blessing Grant this O Lord for the honour of our Aduocate and Mediatour Iesu Christ Amen A praier of Chrysostome ALmightie God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee and dooest promise that when two or three be gathered together in thy name thou wilt grant their requests fulfill now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them granting vs in this world knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen 2. Corinth 13 verse 13. THE grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the fellowship of the holie Ghost bee with vs all euermore Amen ¶ Other godlie Collects and praiers to be vsed after the Letanie as occasion serueth and first In time of drought for raine O GOD heauenlie father which by thy sonne Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that seeke thy kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof all things necessarie to their bodilie sustenance send vs wee beseech thee in this our necessitie such moderate raine and showers that we may receiue the fruites of the earth to our comfort and to thy honor through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another ALmightie God mercifull Father who in thy holie word hast promised to
finallie let him not defile the euangelicall function by anie meanes no not with the least suspicion of glorie or lucre neither let his mouth speake wickednesse nor his tongue set foorth deceit but as he dooth preach thy lawes and take thy couenant in his mouth so grant he himselfe also may not hate to be reformed nor at anie time cast thy holie word behind his backe And now bicause thou O Lord so mercifullie offerest vnto vs thy saluation I am to desire thee furthermore in the behalfe of this congregation present that we also for our parts may of our owne accord willinglie receiue the same saluation of the Gospell now so gratiouslie offered vs that as thy preachers for their parts doo publish thy glorious name so we as greene grasse may receiue the heauenlie dew of thy doctrine and that the barren earth of our harts may be thereby moistened with the liuelie water of thy grace and holie spirit to fructifie in the same Grant that we may receiue these holie things high mysteries and most pretious pearles not as dogs or swine to tread them contemptuouslie vnder our feete as wicked Atheists and vngodlie contemners of thy Gospell to our damnation but as thy children and those that are of God and sheepe of his fold with all meeknesse obedience christian feare and reuerence grant that we may both heare receiue and fulfill them to thy glorie and our saluation Furthermore as thou in mercie openest their mouth to speake vnto vs so giue vs grace to open our harts and eares to receiue the wholesome instructions and fatherlie admonitions which proceed thereout O giue vs grace I saie to applie our harts to instruction and our eares to the words of knowledge Let vs be still desirous of thy heauenlie kingdome Let the holie bread of thy Gospell and foode of heauenlie dainties be onlie sweet vnto vs and sauorie in our mouths that we may depart well refreshed and full fraught with the largesse and plentie of thy word and Euangelike feast Make thou vs true Conuerts and more and more to increase and growe from faith to faith vertue to vertue Let vs neuer loath this heauenlie Philosophie but let vs be as the learned that are taught of thee and made meet by this thy preacher to receiue thy doctrine to our health The preacher heere present is vndoubtedlie thy mouth and messenger whom thou hast sent O therfore let vs not dare either barbarously to misvse our selues towards him in word deed or thought or scornefullie disdaine to be taught of him but with all feare of thy Maiestie and reuerence towards him let vs with all attentiue and ghostlie greedinesse marke his words well to followe whatsoeuer shall be godlie vttered by him And finallie touch thou so our harts we beseech thee O God to beleeue thy word and to repent with speed that the preaching of thy Gospell may take place in vs to practise the works of faith and shew foorth fruits worthie the same so that we with this and all other thy preachers and they togither with vs leading a right vertuous and godlie life according to the rules prescribed in thy word may be brought in the end vnto thee the chiefe shepheard of our soules where wee may iointlie be partakers of eternall good things and most excellent felicitie thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another IN this great darknesse of our soules O Lord thou shinest vnto vs with the lightsome lampe of thy grace but in nothing so effectuallie as in preaching of thy word Great is the haruest as thou thy selfe hast said and the workemen are few The most part of men are ignorant and wrapped in miserable blindnesse and few there are that teach thy word trulie and as they ought I beseech thee therefore that thou wilt send foorth workemen into thy haruest send teachers O Lord which are taught of thee and instructed by thy spirit of godlie wisdome and vnderstanding which by their preaching will seeke not themselues but thee because they are godlie and can so doo because they are wise and vnderstand Giue to the preacher of thy word heere present out of the treasures of thy wisedome that which he may powre vpon vs to our saluation And in vs open the windowes of our harts that they may receiue into them the most holie and wholsome light and that the good seede which falleth vpon vs be not choaked with thornes or withered awaie with drought nor be deuoured by the fowles of the aire but may growe vp in good ground and that fruitefullie with great increase to thy glorie and our saluation Amen Another praier to be vsed of anie hearer of Gods word I Giue thee most hartie thanks O eternall God father of our Lord Iesu Christ for that it hath pleased thee of thine vnspeakable mercie and goodnesse in all ages continuallie to send into the world men woonderfull in the gifts and knowledge of thy will to be renuers and spreaders foorth of thy truth Like thanks I ascribe vnto thy sacred Maiestie for allowing vs shepheards and preachers in these our daies for the gathering together of thy Church out of all mankinde to the building of the bodie of Christ Humblie I beseech thee gratious God continue alwaie among vs thy pure word through thy Ministers gather vnto thy selfe an euerlasting congregation and so instruct mine hart with thy spirit of truth that vnfeinedlie I may assent to thy wholesome word proue a liuelie member of thy bodie and be incorporated into that societie which both in this world doth sincerelie confesse thee and euermore extoll thy holie name Keepe those preachers which thou dooest and wilt giue in the certaine knowledge of thy blessed will that they may from time to time both open vnto vs thine intent concerning the repairing of mankind the saluation and redemption of our soules through thy free mercy and also teach vs how to liue in new obedience and to abstaine from carnall desires which fight against the soule Inspire the ministers and preachers of thy word with thine holie spirit that they may vtter thy will purelie as they haue receiued it from thy hands reteining the forme of whoalsome words and sounding onlie that doctrine which is vttered by thy sonne out of thy bosome For otherwise departing from the order of faith and the rule of thy word they will greatlie obscure the light of thy doctrine and obtrude vpon vs the vanitie of their owne inuentions Wherefore let them speake thy word not deceiptfullie but sincerelie euen as from thee and in thy sight Grant also that by transforming thy ministerie into policie they lord not ouer thine elect neither contend about superioritie and primacie in the Church but onlie to seeke the glorie of thy name and the saluation both of themselues vs. Giue them libertie of speech boldlie without feare to blame and rebuke all false doctrine blasphemous superstition and abuses in the Church Open vnto them the doore of vtterance
that they may speake the mysteries of Christ and manifest them as they ought to doo so shall their dooings bee profitable vnto the godlie Assist them also with thine especiall grace that they disgrace not their doctrine by impuritie of life but let their conuersation answer vnto the doctrine which they teach and preach and especiallie for the pastor of this parish and shepheard of my soule heere present from whose mouth I learne thy blessed will I hartilie praie that thou wilt keepe him in religion sincere and pure from enorme offences in outward conuersation Endue him with a long and healthfull life if it be thy good pleasure that manie a good daie and yeare he may continue in preaching the gladsome voice of thy gratious Gospell among vs without contention and strife And O sonne of God which art the Lord of all the flocke worke thou effectuallie by thy preachers speake thou within vs to our harts the blessed will of thine eternall father and confirme thy doctrine in our minds by thine holie spirit Grant that we may trulie knowe and discerne the same from the howling of woolues and from the inchanted songs of seducing hirelings And grant that we may knowe thee euen as thou knowest thine heauenlie father and to walke religiouslie and righteouslie in thy sight shewing our selues to be of that holie seede which praiseth thy name for euermore Come holie spirit open mine hart and eares that I may conceiue the profit of thy whoalesome doctrine and the sweet comforts reuealed in thy holie word by the preaching of the Gospell O Lord I acknowledge with teares my sluggishnesse and carelesnes in seeking thy truth and bewaile the wretched coldnesse and hardnesse of my hart beseeching thee to endue me with an vnfeigned longing and an ardent desire of holie Sermons Grant that in this life I may worship the feet of the preachers of peace and reuerence the true dispensers of thy mysteries thy faithfull ministers with double honor and none otherwise to obeie their godlie sermons than I would if a voice should sound from the heauens Let me not for the blemishes and imperfections of some particular men vnreuerentlie conceiue of thy whole ministerie Worke also within me that despising thy word deliuered vnto vs I neuer seeke after strange reuelations or violent rauishings both besides and contrarie to thy word but bearing alwaies in mind the order which thou hast appointed may constantlie embrace thy word manifested in thy Church Finallie impart such grace vpon vs that we may imitate and followe the good works of holie men casting off the old man by putting on the new which is created after God in righteousnesse and true holinesse Amen A praier that God would both feede and defend his Church to be vsed before the Communion O Heauenlie heardman and nursse of all things liuing which of thy meere goodnesse satisfiest all creatures that haue life suffer not thy Church to pine awaie and be famished for lacke of the food of thy blessed word but feed vs continuallie with thy goodnesse Suffer not thou O Lord which giuest sustenance to all flesh thy faithfull seruants to be depriued of perfect doctrine and most pure and sound Sacraments which are indeede the food of eternall life but feed vs continuallie with Angels food that is with thy holie word and with Christ Iesus whereby our harts may bee made righteous strong to him-ward Let vs not like the children of Israel loath this heauenlie manna which thou so mercifullie and aboundantlie powrest downe vpon vs neither let vs lust againe after the flesh-pots of Aegypt least thy wrath being kindled against vs also thou cause it not onelie to cease and to fall no more from heauen vpon vs but also thou smite vs with most greeuous plagues as thou diddest the Israelites But rather as new-borne babes remembring how it is written that man shall not liue by bread onlie but by euerie word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God let vs hartilie desire the sincere milke of thy word let our soules delight in fatnesse let vs come earelie and late to the waters to buie and eate to satisfie our hunger and thirst let vs harken diligentlie vnto thee and eate that which is good and labour continuallie without wearinesse for the meate that perisheth not O Lord let vs neuer see the daie wherein thou shalt be prouoked to send a famine in our land againe a famine I saie not of bread nor a thirst of water but of the hearing of thy word O God Far bee that famine from vs good Lord. Neither let vs anie more deserue to be cast out of our owne cities townes and houses and to wander in strange lands from Sea to Sea from the North to the South from East to West running to and fro like hunger-starued wretches to seeke the food of thy word as we sometimes haue done O Lord and yet not find it least by that meanes we doo not onelie perish in bodie but also in soule for lacke of thy word which is the verie food thereof But let thy word O God be still neere vs euen in our mouthes and in our harts the word of truth I saie which now is preached taught and receiued and feed thou vs whensoeuer the famine either of bodie or spirit vexeth vs. O our father giue vs this daie our daily bread that we may walke in the strength thereof daie and night vntill we come to the holie hill of Horeb. Behold Lord according to thy commandement we doo open our mouths wide fill thou it full of thy heauenlie dainties as thou hast promised Lord euermore giue vs the bread of life and of heauen that we may stedfastlie beleeue in thee For behold O Lord we come vnto thee as though we were famished let vs not therfore go awaie vnfed We are an hungred let vs not be sent awaie fasting Our minds alas hunger and thirst greatlie after toies and gauds of this world and we haue nothing to set afore it because wee are poore and beggerlie wretches But thou O Lord art rich in all good things and the most plentifull giuer of the dainties of heauenlie satietie O therefore we beseech thee giue vs somewhat to eate giue meate I saie vnto the wearie wandering souls yet not such as they lust after but such as is conuenient for them that being refreshed of thee which art the liuing and heauenlie bread wherewith when we are once well fed and that our strength is come to vs againe we may ascend vnto more high things and neuer heereafter hunger or thirst anie more after vanities Amen Another praier to be vsed at the Sermon before a Communion THou vsest O most mightie God to preserue those thy children whom thou hast louinglie adopted with no lesse care and diligence than if they were sheepe and the same alwaies fed led of thee being their most louing shepherd toward their owne health and perfect commoditie who so long as they haue thee
for their Maister and Gouernour they shall be destitute neither of the meate nor drinke of thy most wholesome doctrine and Sacraments Whereby it is manifest that if we pine awaie so long as we liue in this miserable and wretched life for the hunger and thirst of true and perfect goodnesse it happeneth for this cause in that wee haue forsaken thee and followed strange guides wherof and of none other come the great perils and miserable troubles of mind which fall vpon vs. Wherefore we humblie beseech thee O most faithfull and louing shepheard to call vs backe from errours into the right and perfect waie Correct the vices of the wandering and straieng flocke with the rod and sheephooke of thy righteousnesse so that we may feed at length orderlie purelie and chastlie of the most wholsome delicates of thy sacred word blessed Sacraments by which meanes the whole head hart and all the powers of our mind may be made fat and well liking and we alwaies so vnderpropped with thy louing mercies as we may finallie enioie in thy house the souereigne delights and deinties of euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another praier to be said before the Sermons at the Court. ALmightie God and most mercifull Father who hast in thine infinite wisedome hidden honour in shame and life in death that thou mightest make foolish the wisdome of this world and that hee that glorieth should glorie in the Lord giue vs grace that we stumble not as some did at the base estate and small shew that outwardlie appeared in thy sonne but that rather denieng our owne wisedome to seeke for our saluation where thou hast hidden laid it vp for vs that is in the simple ministerie of thy Gospell that it may haue such place amongst vs as it may reforme both Kingdoms and Courts and our priuate houses and persons that we may ioie in the present light of that lampe to our feet and followe it whither it goeth giuing no rest to the dealers of it till they haue satisfied our hungrie soules withall assuring our selues that we shall not want things needfull for this life but shall be nourished by thee haue thine assistance and helpe to deliuer vs from all trouble and finallie the enioieng of thy presence where anie trouble shall not come neere vs anie more but we shall be satisfied and haue perfect ioie in the sight of thee our most louing God and Father in Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be praise and glorie for euermore Amen Another ALmightie God and most mercifull Father who hast annointed thy sonne with thy holie spirit and sent him to preach the Gospell that we who before were in prison and bondage to sinne and to death might by him be set at libertie and haue our wounded harts healed by faith of his sweete doctrine grant vs that we loue not bondage rather than libertie nor death rather than life but that we may so receiue his word as we may attaine to euerlasting freedome and life by it And for as much O Lord as thou declarest that for contempt of thy word thou dooest oftentimes withdrawe the preachers of it euen from those to whom they seemed especiallie to haue beene sent grant vs so to receiue the teachers of thy truth as they may be continued amongst vs to our euerlasting comfort in thee to whom with the sonne and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie for euer Amen Another praier against hardnesse of hart and contempt of the word of God FOr as much as thy sacred doctrine O most mightie God is especiallie taught in the sacred Church wherby both thou thy selfe art manifestlie knowne singularlie preached and highlie magnified and we also thereby still called to heauen and heauenlie things it behooueth vs as manie as professe to be of thy schoole greatlie to reioice to be there and as thy faithfull Disciples with all our harts to desire for to giue diligent eare vnto thee alone and thy most wholsome instructions For thou hast oftener than once as thou diddest vnto the Israelites both by thy sacred Scriptures and also through the ministers of thy blessed word protested vnto vs on this wise Giue eare vnto me O my people acknowledge me trulie to be thy God not in words I saie onelie but in mind verelie and with a perfect and most pure worshipping But we alas haue turned our harts from thy holie words and so wretchedlie despised the doctrine of thy sacred lawe and Gospell that we haue alwaies hitherto beene a slander vnto the same But now are we verie hartilie sorie for it who trusting in the death and bloudshedding of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour doo with great feruencie and most earnest praiers lamentablie call vpō thee for pardon of all our sinfull crimes And seeing we acknowledge thee to be our onlie God we earnestlie desire thy gratious goodnesse to grant vs this request that we may now and from hence-foorth for euer giue eare onelie vnto thy diuine Maiestie and honour thee alone neither make anie thine equall or prefer anie thing before thee Suffer not our sinfull hart which of nature is disposed vnto euill to be hardened at thy fatherlie and friendlie admonitions make the same soft we hartilie praie thee with the inspiration of thy good grace and holie spirit neither suffer vs whom thou of thine infinite goodnesse and not for our merits sake hast chosen to be thy blessed people and sheepe of thy pasture to striue struggle against thy blessed commandements like vnto the stiffe-necked Iewes who wouldest oftentimes put therto the traill of thy mightie power But grant thou O most deere and excellent Father who speakest alwaie peaceable matters and those things which are for our singular commoditie that we which haue heretofore beene maruellous rebellious stubborne burdenous and troublesome vnto thee may now become thy tractable conformed and obedient children and euer hereafter haue so great a regard to thy blessed words that with verie attentiue minds we may giue good eare to those things which thou speakest and willest vs to doo So dooing we shall not onlie be saued adorned with glorie but also euerie thing of ours shall be replenished with goodnesse truth righteousnesse and peace Faith shall abound and through the same shall we be plentiouslie iustified through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnesse of hart and contempt of thy word and commandement good Lord deliuer vs. That it may please thee to giue to all thy people increase of grace to heare meekelie thy word and to receiue it with pure affection and to bring foorth the fruits of the spirit we beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to bring into the waie of truth all such as haue erred are deceiued to strengthen such as doo stand and to comfort and helpe the weake-harted and to raise
and of thy free mercie that we are made heires and partakers of thy promise in Christ Iesu through the Gospell which bringeth vs tidings and full assurance of the euerlasting riches of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie Blessed be God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in heauenlie things by Christ and hath chosen vs in him before the foundations of the world that we should be holie and without blame before him in loue who hath predestinated vs to be adopted through Iesus Christ vnto himselfe according to the good pleasure of his will whereby he loueth vs by his beloued in whom we haue redemption in his bloud euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes according to the riches of his grace wherein he hath abounded towards vs in all wisdome and vnderstanding and hath opened vnto vs the mysterie of his will according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himselfe euen vntill the dispensation of the fulnesse of time that he might gather in one all things both which are in heauen and which are in earth euen in Christ by whom also we are chosen when wee were predestinated according to the purpose of him which maketh althings after the counsell of his owne will that we might be to the praise of his glorie which hoping haue beleeued in Christ when we heard the word of truth euen the Gospell of saluation And this grace thou didst extend toward vs not by the works of righteousnesse which we had done but according to thy mercie thou sauedst vs and didst call vs with an holie calling not according to our works but according to thine owne purpose grace which was giuen to vs through Christ before all times and is now made manifest by the appearing of our Sauiour Iesus Christ which hath abolished death and brought life and immortalitie vnto light through the Gospell To thee therefore which art of power to establish our harts according to the reuelation of the mysterie which was kept secret since the world began but now is opened and published among all nations by the Scriptures of the Prophets at the commandement of the euerlasting GOD for the obedience of faith to thee we saie God onelie wise be praise through Iesus Christ for euer Amen We beseech thee that according to the operation and working of thy mightie power we may continue constant in true faith and wholesome doctrine and at no time forsaking the wisedome opened in the Gospell may followe the iudgement of worldlie reason and fleshlie vnderstanding which thou hast beesotted and altogither confounded in searching thy hidden mysteries For thy spirituall wisedome dooth farre exceed all wisedome and vnderstanding of the creatures wherevnto flesh can not attaine neither can our bloud reueale nor yet the naturall man although he be indued with great sharpenesse of wit and worldlie vnderstanding perceiue the same Grant we beseech thee that we may be thy simple sheepe and little-ones receiuing from thee the word of truth without contradiction and disputation and that in the articles of faith we bring not fleshly wisedome but being made void of our proper vnderstanding may bring our minds into a godlie captiuitie Let thy Sonne which descending from aboue brought with him the eternall wisedome of the Gospell from thy bosome and was made a sacrifice on our behalfe but now exalted to thy right hand bestoweth his gifts let him we beseech thee shine in our harts Likewise cause thine holie spirit to instill into vs his diuine light and breath vpon vs the new flame of thine heauenlie knowledge till departing into the eternall life we may behold thee the onlie and true God face to face which liuest and reignest in perpetuall glorie Amen Another thankes-giuing after the Sermon WE render vnto thee O heauenlie father most hartie thanks for this spirituall heauenlie nourishment of thy blessed word wherewith our soules are not onelie well refreshed at this present but also our faith is strengthened our loue kindled and our conscience quieted Wee most humblie beseech thee to giue vs grace not onelie to be hearers of thy word but dooers also of the same not onelie to loue but also to liue thy Gospell not onlie to fauour but also to followe thy godlie doctrine not onelie to professe but also to practise thy blessed commandements that whatsoeuer we outwardlie heare and inwardlie beleeue we may shew foorth the same in our conuersation and liuing vnto the honour of thy holie name the comfort of our Christian brethren and the health of our soules Amen Another O GOD wee haue heard with our eares and our fathers and preachers haue declared vnto vs the noble works that thou hast done of old time for vs. Grant therefore we beseech thee O thou heauenlie husbandman that this seed of thy word now sowne amongst vs may take such deepe root in our harts that neither the burning heate of persecution cause it to wither neither the thornie cares of this life doo choke it but that as seed sowne in good ground it may bring foorth thirtie sixtie and an hundred fold as thy heauenlie wisedome hath appointed to the glorie of thy holie name Amen Another praier or thankes-giuing after the Sermon I Giue thee most humble thankes Lord Iesu Christ that thou hast vouchsafed euen now abundantlie to refresh and feed vs with the food of thy word And I beseech thee that the vnderstanding and knowledge of this thy word may be wholsome comfortable and effectuall in vs that this heauenlie seed now sowne doo not die or perish in vs without fruit Keepe our harts O Lord inuiron and compasse them about with the inclosure or hedge of thy grace and by thy holie Angels preserue and watch ouer the same that the infernall fowle bird Satan pull not out thy sacred word out of our harts But prepare our breast and make apt our harts vnto thee good Lord that they may firmelie keepe thy word and that they may alwaie sticke and be as new and fresh in our memories Giue vs also strength possibilitie and power that our life may answere to thy doctrine heard Giue increase also to thy word O heauenlie husbandman that in vs it may augment growe and that by thy holie speech and heauenlie eloquence it may not onlie bring vs to the knowledge of thy will but also that we may execute accomplish and fullfill that thou commandest and willest and so perseuering to the end may at the last aspire to thy celestiall kingdome Amen Another O Gratious God and most mercifull Father which hast vouchsafed vs the rich and pretious iewell of thy holie word assist vs with thy spirit that it may be written in our harts to our euerlasting comfort to reforme vs to renew vs according to thine owne image to build vs vp and edifie vs into the perfect building of thy Christ sanctifieng and increasing in vs all heauenlie vertues Grant this O heauenlie Father for Iesus
lookers on to feede our selues and not to hire others to feed for vs that so we may liue by our owne meate and not perish for hunger while other deuoure all We are come togither I saie O my soule with this congregation assembled presentlie to celebrate a sacrifice not priuatelie in one kind for the dead nor to make a mysterie a sacrifice nor of a communion to make a priuate eating nor of two parts to haue but one nor yet to applie it for the dead and so we to loose the fruit that are aliue No no my soule God forbid that we should come to celebrate this holie mysterie after anie such sort or to anie such vse or purpose For that were to declare our selues vnwoorthie of the Lord yea to be accursed of him for committing such spirituall blasphemie and robberie But knowe that we are come hither now publikely and openly at this the Lords boord to minister doo that which he himselfe a little before his death vouchsafed in his owne person most wiselie kindlie and louinglie to inuent prouide institute ordeine doo establish and command as a most necessarie waie and meane for it the better to take some place in vs and not to be frustrate of it end and purpose Yea to doo that which his holie Apostles also afterward togither with the godlie fathers in the primitiue Church both vsed practised authorised and confirmed according as it was deliuered and giuen by the first author thereof onelie that is to saie euen openlie and publikelie to celebrate in the Lords most happie commemoration and remembrance at this his holie table the heauenlie memorie of that most maruellous worke and deere bought benefit of our redemption and saluation wrought by Christ Iesus to our endlesse consolation profit commoditie and eternall saluation in his with all reuerence named most pretious death painfull crosse bloudie passion And wite thou well O my soule that like as Moses Aaron and Phinees long since did somtimes eate Manna in the wildernesse then spirituallie vnderstanding those visible things euen so now we in like maner spirituallie vnderstanding these holie mysteries for it is the spirit that quickeneth and giueth life the flesh profiteth vs nothing as saith our Sauiour must here also spirituallie hunger spirituallie taste spirituallie eate the flesh of Christ and spirituallie drinke his bloud indeed in these holie mysteries by faith onlie and assured constant beleefe that the blessed bodie of Christ was crucified and his pretious bloud shed vpon the Crosse for our saluation And so receiue this the Lords supper euen for a token badge or cognizance of this faith and saluation in Christs merits declaring therby euermore his death and passion with thanks-giuing vntill he come Neither must we now so much as once dreame of anie grosse or carnall eating or fleshlie feeding or thinke that we are come at this present to feed our senses and bellie to corruption for that were baselie to abiect and bind our selues to the elements and creatures and so to declare our selues drowned in deed in the dirtie lake of blindnesse and ignorance but onlie and in truth to nourish and feed our inward man to immortalitie and life euerlasting namelie that as our outward man is nourished by letting in this bodilie meat into the stomach that is helthsome and sound to be digested so our inward man may be spirituallie fed and satisfied by receiuing the meate thereof into our soule and hart sound and whole in faith And therfore we shall not need now at this present time in dooing these things to whet our teeth O my soule but as S. Cyprian saith with sincere faith to breake and diuide this holie bread For surelie without faith which indeed is the onelie instrument most necessarie in the right vse of all these holie mysteries it is impossible to please God heerein neither can the vnbeleeuers and faithlesse folke feed vpon the Lords pretious bodie nor enioie the eating and drinking of this so high and diuine nourishment of spirituall food Yea to haue anie other eating than spirituallie by faith onelie is plaine idolatrie It behoueth vs therfore O my soule diligentlie to ponder weigh and consider of these things that now at the last we may not onelie vnfeinedlie and thoroughlie trie prooue and examine our selues our owne consciences and liues but also humblie acknowledging our faults vnto God hartilie repenting our former sinfull life asking mercie of GOD the Father for Christs sake and gladlie forgiuing all our offenders effectuallie and carefullie there withall plucke vp euen the verie roots of heathenish infidelitie and all distrust in Gods mercifull promises to the end we may thereby in verie deed shew our selues liuelie plants of the fruitfull oliue liuing branches of the true vine and woorthie members of Christs mysticall bodie euen such as haue our life our abiding our vnion and as it were our incorporation with him Finallie O my soule we must not now like chattering Iaies so much regard or consider these earthlie elements and terrene creatures which we see with our corporall eie and still remaine so but especiallie and in deed haue respect to the heauenlie graces and benefits which our faith beholdeth in and by them Neither must we by anie meanes cleaue to these inferiour or base things which lie here beneath and are visiblie discerned but leauing them altogether wee must rather resemble and plaie the parts of the Egles who flie mount vp thither where the dead bodie lieth that is giuing credit to the words of Christ who saith The words that I speake are spirit and life And againe remembering that God willeth such as will be true worshippers of him to worship him in spirit and truth we must now so behold the bread and wine with our naturall eies that we may neuerthelesse especiallie lift vp the eies of our mind to heauen and looke vp by faith vpon the holie bodie and bloud of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ God and man as he is there sitting at the right hand of God his Father in equall glorie power and maiestie alwaies seeking it there where the sunne of righteousnesse euermore shineth continuallie holding fast and still cleauing by faith onlie to the rocke whence we may sucke in deed the sweetnes of euerlasting saluatin So shall we O my soule now repenting hartilie our former fowle life being in perfect loue and charitie with all men maruelling with reuerence and feare at these sacred things now touching these holie and fearfull mysteries with our mind receiuing them with the hand of our hart and taking them fullie with our inward man by faith onelie be sure at this holie table euen now presentlie to receiue not onlie the outward Sacrament but the spirituall thing also not the figure but the truth not the shadowe but the bodie and that not to death but to life not to our destruction but to our saluation which God euen our owne God for his mercies sake grant vs now effectuallie to
be most expedient for them granting vs in this world knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen When the people arise to depart out of the Church saie thus to thy selfe RIse vp O Lord arise and let thine enimies be scattered yea let all them that hate thee and prophane thine honour flee before thee but gather the Saincts togither continuallie and let them neuer depart from thy Church So be it So soone as you be out of the Church dore saie BLessed bee the glorie of the LORD out of his place Going homeward from the Church meditate and praie as followeth O Christ whose home is heauen and whose house is a place of ioies eternall I thanke thee for all thy great mercies shewed towards me especiallie for vouchsafing mee yet time to repent and liue godlie grant also I beseech thee that being trulie humbled before thee this daie I may by my good life declare that I haue not come to Church in vaine and that with the penitent Publicane I may returne home now to my house vnder thy protection imbettered and iustified both before God and man and in all holie obedience glorifie thee both at home and abroade in my life and in my death Amen Another BEhold me O Lord I praie thee a poore seelie woorme here creeping walking bodilie on earth for a time in this life which is our pilgrimage and passage to our home and make me more mindfull of mine euerlasting home and very desirous to returne to the house of the liuing that hauing mine affections inflamed by thy holie spirit I may vtterlie contemne all earthlie things and couet euermore to be present with thee that my conuersatoin may be in heauen whither grant mee at the length to come there in my long home with thy children to be partaker of thy glorie and to reioice as thy child bicause of this my euerlasting home and the great glorie thereof For I knowe O Lord that if mine earthlie house of this tabernacle my bodie were destroied I haue a building of thee euen an habitation not made with hands but eternall in heauen for the which I sigh desiring to be further clothed with my house which is from heauen that mortalitie might be swalowed vp of life bicause I knowe that as long as I am at home in the bodie I am absent from thee therefore had I rather to be absent from the bodie and to be present with thee O Lord neuerthelesse whether I be at home or from home I am of good comfort and alwaies of good cheere in thee beseeching thee in mercie to grant me grace to endeuour my selfe so to walke by faith in thy feare after the inward appearance that when we shall all appeare before the iudgement-seate of Christ euerie one to receiue the works of his bodie according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad I may be found accepted vnto thee Amen When you enter into your house praie THY fauour and grace O God being my guide I enter into this my materiall house and home beseeching thy mercie so to blesse and preserue my comming in and my going out both now and euer that thy peace O God which passeth all vnderstanding may be euermore therin and that I neuer turne back or be deformedlie scattered abroad from thee vntill thou bring me home from this painfull pilgrimage whereas be the first fruits of my spirit So be it Being come home praie LORD blesse vs and make our houses Churches of thy saints linked in one confession and religion that being by thee made all of one mind in this house we may with the deuout Galileans praise thee for thy benefits both now and euer O Lord now fashion conforme me by thy holie spirit in this house of my peregrination that herein enioieng the benefit of perfect peace most seemelie quietnesse and comlie order I may make thy mysteries my songs vntill it shall please thee to lead me vpward vnto the peace of thy children euen into thy holie house and mansion place where thou hast placed vs and where we shall will or desire nothing else but to tarrie and remaine for euer For whilest we are clad with this bodie we doo as it were go astraie and are strangers vnto thee neither haue we here anie abiding place for euer but we must seeke for one that is to come To the which thou bring vs that camest from thence to redeeme vs Iesus Christ the righteous to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be all possible praise and endlesse glorie now and for euer Amen Praiers before meate on Sundaie ALmightie God and most mercifull Father who hast taught vs that outward things defile not a man but those that proceede from the hart grant vs so to esteeme cleane that thou pronouncest cleane as that by praier and thankes-giuing the vse of thy creatures made for our benefit may be sanctified vnto vs and of the other part so to abhorre the pollusion of sinne which onelie thou declarest to be common and vncleane that wee may auoid by thy grace all murders adultries thefts false-witnesse-bearing vnlawfull desires and concupiscence and whatsoeuer thou hast forbidden touching our dutie towards men or seruice and obedience vnto thee that being thus sanctified by thy grace we may alwaies haue free accesse vnto thy sanctuarie in this life and be receiued into the heauenlie Ierusalem where no Canaanite nor vncleane person shall enter in the life to come through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour glorie and praise for euer Amen Another O Sonne of God which by thy miraculous multiplieng of a few fishes and loaues of bread didst feed fiue thousand of thy people in the wildernesse both inwardlie with spirituall comfort and outwardlie with corporall food thereby shewing thy selfe in deed to be the Creator susteiner of all things we beseech thee who onelie giuest vs the breath of life and knowest what we need and alone canst giue a reason why after this maner thou wilt feed vs with corporall things and not as thou dooest the startes without anie nourishment Giue vnto thy Church of thy wisedome such things as are necessarie for the sustentation of this life wherein the ioies of the life eternall and to come doo begin And albeit somtime we lacke diuers things although thine aduersarie throweth stones at vs for bread yet by thy power strengthen vs that we faint not And that we which liue not by bread alone or by our owne industrie being armed with thy word and promise the spirituall food and sword of our soule may receiue comfort thereby and being protected by thee after a woonderfull sort to liue and glorifie thee both here and in the world to come Amen Another praier before meat to be vsed that daie that you haue receiued the holie Communion WE thanke thee O eternall housholder for that after the banket of paradise troubled
breed in vs anie carnall desire of our vaine life but to enable our bodies with all good works during the time of this present pilgrimage that so thy good creatures may be our good releefe so long as thou wilt and so much as thou knowest to be expedient for vs thy seruants to finish our daies which thou hast numbred in the edifieng of thy Saincts and glorifieng of thy holie name And because O Lord we knowe nothing of our selues but our ignorant harts are full of darkenesse therefore we beseech thee that this thy word which is thine eternall wisdome that now we haue read and wherein we haue had our conference may be in our minds a burning lampe and shining light of thine onlie truth in our harts and in our soules a fruitefull seed of a new birth so that thine owne image may be happilie againe restaured in vs that we may bee made before thee a holie and righteous people by the inward working of thy gratious spirit dailie strengthening our harts in earnest loue of thy truth and carefull obedience of thy commandements through Iesus Christ our onlie mediator who in the sacrifice of his owne bodie hath purchased vnto vs all thy fauour and hath giuen vs boldnesse to call vpon thee vnto whome O father with thee and the holie Ghost bee all honour and glorie world without end Amen Another praier after meate on the Lords daie SAnctified be thy name O eternall father who by thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord dooest euermore protect and prouide for thy Church both spirituall and corporall blessings bestowing most liberallie vpon vs all good things asked according to thy will Lift vp thine eies O Christ and behold thy miserable people which depend altogither vpon thy prouision and acknowledge our selues to be fed and defended miraculouslie by thee Assist vs that we also may withdrawe our eies from the consultations of flesh and bloud and looke vpon thee our Lord by whose blessing we eate and store our selues And albeit all worldlie helps do faile yet bee thou a firie wall still about vs and feed and defend thy Saincts in the feelds of comfort vntill thou begin that ioifull Passouer and euerlasting Sabboth and bring vs out of the wildernesse out of the sea and penurie into the court of ioie wealth satietie and euerlasting welfare In the meane while make vs thankfull for the benefits which we enioie Let vs gather vp the remnants or fragments cast from thy sumptuous and rich banket vnto vs. Preserue our baskets and blesse our store euen the arts and schooles of learning that by them thy doctrine may be spread abroade in the world Make vs not onlie to honour thee for these thy corporall benefits but much more for giuing thy selfe vnto vs which art the bread of life Be thou our King defending vs in this life against the power of Sathan and feed vs with thy heauenlie bread which may nourish vs to eternall life and happinesse Amen Another praier after meate that daie you haue receiued the holie Communion SEeing that of thy free grace and mercie O almightie God thou hast made vs partakers this daie of all thy riches both in spirituall and corporall things in Christ Iesu who of our selues are vnwoorthie to haue gathered the crumbs vnder thy table make vs more and more mindfull of so great mercies and continuallie thankefull to thee for so manifold benefits and to walke woorthie the honour and dignitie thou hast done vnto vs that we may receiue the full accomplishment of thy loue towards vs in the life to come through the same our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie world without end Amen Another thanks-giuing vnto God for our food to be read and meditated vpon after meate WE thanke thee O King of glorie Lord of heauen and earth because thou hast from our youth to this present houre maruellouslie nourished vs giuing vs meate drinke cloathing with all other things perteining to the sustentation of this present life Naked and bare came we out of our mothers wombs wee brought nothing into the world but whatsoeuer we haue thou gauest the same yea it was afore we were borne and in our mothers wombe didst thou ordeine things necessarie for this life and sufferedst vs to enioie all things aboundantlie Alwaie thou hast a care of vs as a father vseth his children neither art thou ignorant that we stand in need continuallie of thy blessings and dailie are destitute of new releefe all which thou giuest after thy woonted and vnspeakable goodnesse We acknowledge that whatsoeuer we haue or possesse it is thy gift and confesse thee to be the fountaine of all good things and perceiue thy fatherlie goodnesse to be spread not onlie ouer all mankind but also ouer the liuing creatures Thou giuest meate to all flesh thou giuest fodder to the cattell and feedest the yoong rauens that call vpon thee For corporall goods are not distributed among men by chance or without thy prouidence neither be they atteined by the onlie industrie and power of man Thou giuest and we gather thou openest thy hand and all liuing creatures are filled with thy blessing For without thee all our endeuours be in vaine and if thou blesse not our labours we doo but eate the wind and receiue no profit Great is thy mercie O Lord which disdainest not to prouide for sinfull flesh O Lord our God great are thy woonderous works which thou hast done for vs the which we can not so much as in thought comprehend muchlesse in words expresse When we would report and vtter them we found them more than we could recite but notwithstanding thine infinite benefits can not be comprehended of mortall man yet will we not surcease to set foorth thy praise nor hide thy goodnesse from the sonnes of men but will declare it and speake of thy truth from one generation to another Blessed art thou O our God for euer and euer all that is either aboue in the heauens or in the earth beneath is thine All things come from thee and from thine hands we receiue whatsoeuer we possesse and all these things of thy meere mercie without our merits or woorthinesse Therefore we will magnifie the Lord which doth mightie things in all corners of the earth which dooth nourish vs from our mothers wombs and giueth vs all good things Grant vs likewise quietnesse of mind and peace in our time that thy grace may abound toward vs continue and defend vs while we liue O almightie and mercifull father by thy breath we take life the which through thy blessing doth abide in vs. In thee we liue moue and haue our being For man liueth not by bread onlie or by his owne wisedome and forecast neither art thou bound with a fatall chaine of second causes but by thy decree and will we enioie life and all things created at thy becke doo continue while thou thinkest good
vs. We thanke thee we praise thee and we laud and magnifie thy glorious name O most meeke Lord for all thy benefits especiallie for that thou hast not thought it inough for thee to haue giuen vs the heauens and earth and all that is therin to serue vs and to instruct vs but also hast vouchsafed to send thine onlie deere beloued Sonne our Sauior Iesus Christ downe amongst vs into this vale of teares and after that he was ascended into heauen hast left vs thy holie word and sent thy holie Ghost into vs to the intent we should learne of him all truth in thy word might in deed behold more effectuallie better and cleerer thy Godhead We now also praie and humbly beseech thee O most mercifull God that thou wilt gouerne vs and driue awaie from vs all fleshlie conuersation to the intent we may hencefoorth liue a godlie and ghostlie life so that we through the flesh may not be hindered to passe our pilgrimage in such perfection as thou requirest in Christian men but that we may knowe and discerne and vse to thy glorie the vnmeasurable great good things which thy large and bountifull hand hath giuen and reached vnto vs through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A meditation of mans creation O Almightie Lord God that hast created heauen and earth and all that is therein of naught but especiallie hast made man vnto thine owne godlie image infunding and creating in him a reasonable soule not mortall nor transitorie as are the soules of vnreasonable beasts but such a soule as liueth like the spirit or ghost of God for euer By which soule man knoweth thee to be his God doth beleeue thee and shall behold thee And with soule and bodie together thou hast made man aboue all other creatures so much superiour and hast so highlie exalted him that thou hast made him prince and chiefe gouernour lord and captaine ouer all thy other creatures that be in the earth and hast cast them all vnder his feet and subiection O most mercifull Lord powre into vs thy heauenlie light through which we may euer haue in due regard the vile and lothsome stuffe or matter that thy godlie hand hath made vs of and how thou hast neuerthelesse exalted vs so mightilie of miserie Let vs knowe I saie O Lord that man is crept out of the dust and mire and the woman but out of the rib of hir husband to the end we may not by anie meanes be puffed vp with pride by vaine-glorie and presumption of the great glorie wherewith thou hast vouchsafed to endue and cloath vs but that in true humilitie we may impute and exhibit all things vnto thine onlie goodnesse clemencie grace and mercie And that we may bee drawne thereby vnto the loue of thee and to kindle the lampe of our soules which is cold in thy loue with the light of thy grace so that we may diligentlie fulfill and accomplish all that thou hast commanded vs and leaue that which thou hast forbidden vs like as it becommeth thine obedient children so that we both here in this vale of miserie and also afterward in that heauenlie paradise being vndefiled and like vnto thee may be found like as thou hast created vs like vnto thine owne similitude image likenesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another meditation of mans creation THine almightie hand O GOD keeping alwaies at one staie created the Angels in heauen and the feelie woormes vpon earth and yet was neither higher in the one nor lower in the other For like as none other hand could haue created an Angel so could none other hand haue created a woorme like as none other could haue created heauen so could none other haue created a leafe of a tree like as none other could haue made a bodie so could none other make a haire white or blacke but onlie thine almightie hand wherevnto all things are possible alike For it is not more possible with thee to create a woorme than an Angel nor more impossible to spread out the heauen than a leafe nor easier to fashion a haire than to fashion a bodie nor vneasier to stablish the earth vpon the waters than the waters vpon the earth but all that thou listest to doo that hast thou done According as thou listedst thou hast made all things in heauen and in earth and in the sea and in all deepe places and among all other things thou hast made me according as thou listedst couldest and knewest how to doo it Certes Lord thy hand could haue made me some stone or some bird or some serpent or some beast and it knew how to haue done it but it would not bicause of thy goodnesse Why then am I not a stone some tree or some beast Trulie bicause thy goodnesse hath so ordeined it and bicause thou louedst me first And why hast thou done so to me O maker of heauen and earth and of the bottomlesse deepe who hast no neede of me Wherevpon commeth it that thou hast thus loued me For lo I am bicause thou hast created me and the cause that thou didst create me and account me in the number of thy creatures was thy fore-ordinance from euerlasting before thou madest anie thing euen from the beginning before thou didst spread all the heauens when as yet there were no deepes neither haddest thou yet made the earth nor founded the mountaines neither were anie water-springs yet broken out Before thou madest all these things I saie which thou madest by thy word thou foresawest by the most assured prouidence of thy truth that I should be thy creature and also thou willedst that I should be thy creature And whence commeth this to me O most gentle Lord most high God most mercifull Father and alwaies most meeke What had I deserued What kindnesse had I shewed that it should like thy roiall Maiestie to create me I was not and thou diddest create me I was nothing and of nothing thou madest me somewhat And what maner of somewhat Not a drop of water not fire not a bird or fish not a serpent or some of the brute beasts not a stone or a block not of those sort of things which haue but being onelie or of those things that haue but onelie being and growing nor yet of those kind of things that haue but onlie being growing and feeling But aboue all these things it was thy will to haue me both of that sort which haue but being onlie for I am and of those that haue no more but being and growing for I am and growe also of those kind of things which haue both being growing and feeling for I am and also doo both growe and feele Yea and thou hast made small ods betweene me and the Angels For I haue receiued reason to knowe thee and thy hand as well as they But I did well to saie there was some ods betweene vs. For they haue the happie knowledge of thee alreadie in possession and I
and blesse thy chosen and deere beloued seruant Elizabeth our Queene whome thou hast set vp a mightie Prince and mother ouer thy people and Citie Zion and made the chiefe gouernour among the nations O let Elizabeth liue and not die neither let hir honour be anie thing diminished for our sinnes and offences Heare O Lord the voice of hir humble and dailie praiers and let hir continue a Prince of peace roiall Ruler ouer thy people Hir hands shall be good ynough for hir if thou helpe hir still as thou hast done against hir enimies Right and light be with thine holie handmaid whome thou didst prooue with great temptations and triall as thou didst Ioseph before thou didst annoint hir Queene and whome hitherto thou hast preserued a pure and vndefiled virgin to promote thy glorie as thou didst Dauid She that in all hir manifold afflictions hath more esteemed the seruing of thee hir God than sauing of hir selfe and loued not hir life so deere as she loued thy lawe yea that preferred thine obedience before sacrifice and all things in the world beside O let hir our gratious Queene Elizabeth I saie who hath thus don hir dutie be plentifullie rewarded therefore of thee hir God from heauen with the perpetuall crowne of glorie and palme of victorie She euen she hath taught Iacob thy iudgements and Israel thy lawe she hath put incense before thy face and the burnt offering vpon thine altar She euen she O God hath with Hezechias restored thy sincere religion and woorshippeth thee aright with euerie one that is godlie in thee Blesse therefore O Lord hir substance and first fruits and accept the works of hir hands Smite through the loines of them that rise vp against hir and of them that hate hir that they rise not againe O let the beloued of the Lord dwell euer in safetie by thee yea doo thou Lord vouchsafe stil to be hir vale and defence all hir life long and dwell with hir heere in the Church as hir beloued spouse head and gouernour Laie thy left hand vnder hir head and let thy right hand embrace hir that she may find continuall comfort in thy presence O fountaine of the gardens O well of liuing waters Arise O North and come O South and blowe on thy spouse which is as a goodlie and pleasant garden inclosed and as a fountaine sealed vp for thy selfe and water it with the springs of Lebanon that it may growe great and that the sweet spices and smell therof may flowe out into thy nostrels and thou eate of the pleasant fruit in hir Kisse hir with the kisses of peace and righteousnes and let hir two breasts satisfie thee be like two yoong roes that are twins feeding vpon the lillies Set hir as a seale on thine hart and as a signet vpon thine arme and let the lampe of hir loue be a verie vehement flame vnquenchable Let hir be a sure wall or foundation wherevpon thou maist build a golden palace and let hir breasts be as towers vnassaultable that she may be meet for thee hir spouse to dwell in and be in thine eies as she that findeth perpetuall peace and quietnesse O God in whose sight hir fathers did walke thou O God which hast fed hir all hir life long vnto this daie and deliuered hir hither to from so manie not euils but deaths blesse hir still euen with the blessing of Abraham Isaac Iacob and all the Patriarchs with all the blessings of thy mercies promised vnto hir father Dauid In hir let Israel also be blessed in hir let thy graces so plentifullie and manifestlie appeare that the people may thence take a patterne of blessing thee and teach their posteritie to blesse and praise thee for thy goodnesse and mercie both towards hir and them For she is to vs thy might thy strength the noblenesse of dignitie and the excellencie of power She as a lionesse is laid downe and couched safelie after the spoile Who shall stir hir vp Hir enimies doo all feare hir And doo thou still charge the daughters of Ierusalem that they stir not vp thy loue nor awake hir by troubling hir quietnes peace vntill she please Hir fellowe virgins praise hir hir hand shall be in the necke of hir enimies hir fathers people doo bow downe vnto hir saieng Good lucke haue thou with thine honour Ride on because of the word of truth which thou embracest with meekenesse O let not the brethren of euill the reuengers of bloud nor the instruments of violence and crueltie bee in hir court and habitation O let not crueltie or falsehood come into hir soule Into their secrets let not hir soule come neither let hir glorie be ioined nor stained with the assemblie or damned crue of the wicked Curse them that curse hir blesse them that blesse hir diuide them in Iacob and scatter them in Israel which shameleslie in their rage dare cruellie attempt anie treacheries or treasons against hir innocent and roiall person yea let them be condignelie punished whosoeuer go about to trouble the state or ouerthrowe hir kingdome Let not the scepter depart out of hir hand nor hir kingdome be diminished but let this thy most wise lawe-giuer our meeke Moses continue amongst vs with honour to iudge thy people and gather them vnto thee long in rest and peace euen vntill Silo our Sauiour Iesus the giuer of all prosperitie come to crowne hir in his euerlasting kingdome with his saluation Let hir see that rest and peace is good and that it is thou that hast made hir to ouercome all hir enimies at the last Blesse hir Lord with great increase of all maner of good profitable and pleasant things Hir bread let it be fat that she may giue pleasant gifts woorthie such a Queene Let hir be as an Hind sent vnto vs from thee for a pretious present giuing goodlie words to hir people Let Elizabeth be the daughter of increase and like a flourishing and fruitfull palme tree by the waters side whose small branches or virgins may run and spread themselues fruitfullie also and shew verie greene vpon the wals of thy house The archers hir enimies haue greeuouslie prouoked hir and shot against hir with venemous darts they haue hated hir to hir hinderance and griefe great and manie haue beene hir afflictions and persecutions But hir bowe abode fast and strong and the hands of hir armes were strengthened by the hands of the mightie God of Iacob Hir deliuerance was euen by the stone of Israel by whom she is appointed a mother in Israel euen by the God of hir father who hath helped hir and by the almightie who hath blessed hir with heauenlie blessings from aboue with blessings of the deepe that lieth beneath and with blessings of the brests and of the wombe The time now is come that the blessings of GOD shewed vnto hir father shall take effect and be stronger in hir than the blessings of hir elders Unto the vttermost ends
of the hils of the world they shall all be blessings vpon the head of Elizabeth and on the top of the head of hir that is separate from hir birth and consecrated from the wombe to dignitie and honour far aboue hir felowe virgins and made the annointed of the Lord to beare rule and to haue dominion ouer men Euen as the morning light when the sunne riseth gloriouslie without clouds in the faire morning so she being iust and ruling in the feare of God let hir house growe and be with thee O God that it may continue perfect in all points sure and euerlasting according to thy couenant and promise made to hir father Dauid and not as the grasse of the earth is by the bright raine which groweth quicklie and fadeth sooner Hir beautie and glorie let it be like the first borne bullocke and hir strength as the Unicorne with the horne of hir power let hir smite the people togither euen the ten thousands of Ephraim and the ten thousands of Manasses Blesse hir in hir going out and comming in and prosper hir at home and abroad in all hir affaires by land and by sea Make hir glad ioifull and willing to call thy people vnto the holie hill of Zion and there in thy Church to offer with them togither the offerings of righteousnesse that she and they may sucke of the abundance of the sea and of the treasures hid in the earth Blesse hir O Lord that she may dwell as a Lion that catcheth for a praie the arme with the head and be most victorious ouer hir enimies that hate hir and despise thee Blesse hir with thy graces that she may looke well to hir selfe as in the beginning when she was a portion of thee the lawe-giuer hid and reserued for vs thy people that she may now come with the heads of the people and execute the righteousnesse of the Lord and his iudgements with Israel A lions whelpe let hir be to leape from Basan and make hir strong inough to defend hir selfe from Balaks curse and against all the treasons of Zimri and Achitophel O satisfie hir with thy fauour and fill hir with thy blessings let hir possesse both the east west south and north parts of the earth Blesse hir with people and make hir acceptable vnto hir brethren and sisters and to dip hir feet in oile Hir shoes let them be iron and brasse and hir glorie health wealth and strength continue as long as the sunne Who is like thee O God of Israel which though thou sit vpon the heauens and ridest vpon them as vpon an horse yet art thou hir helper Sauiour whose glorie is in the clouds and celestiall places The eternall God be still hir refuge and vnder the armes of the euerlasting God let hir liue for euer hee shall cast out the enimie before hir face and shall command hir to destroie them That then Israel as euen now at this present may still dwell alone in safetie and the fountaine of Iacob be plentifull in issue in the land of wheate and wine and the heauens drop the dew of thy blessing plentifullie vpon hir and hir countrie Happie and blessed art thou O Israel that hast such a Queene Who is like vnto thee O people saued by the Lord which is the shield of thy helpe and sword of thy glorie Therefore thine enimies haue lost their strength to thee ward be subiected to thee and thou shalt tread vpon their high places Blesse hir still O Lord and giue power vnto thy Queene that she may be strong to keepe the feet of thy Saints within the wals of thy Church and to cause the wicked for euer to keepe silence in darknes Amen Amen A praier to be said mentallie or alowd of all true harted English men and women for the Queenes Maiestie when she rideth by them at anie time GOd saue your roiall Maiestie The GOD of gods preserue your noble Grace Good lucke haue you with your honor O you the fairest among women Ride on O Queene according to the great worship and high renowme wherewith the King of kings hath innobled you bicause of the word of truth of meekenesse and righteousnesse which you professe so shall your right hand teach you terrible things The Lord himselfe be your keeper and preserue you from all euill The Lord of heauen and earth be your defence on your right hand and on the left The Lord preserue your going out and your comming in from this time foorth for euermore so that the sunne shall not burne you by daie neither the moone by night The King of kings haue pleasure in your beautie and make you his daughter his spouse and virgin most glorious within The most mightie Iehoua establish you in his seate of iudgement euen in the throne of your father Dauid that you may become an old mother in Israel Peace prosperitie be vnto them that loue your honour but horror of conscience and confusion of face be vnto all those that hate you for your indurable gifts of Gods graces all people doo highlie praise you and for your zeale to Zion all the world doth honour you therefore for Zions sake also we wish you all maner of prosperitie yea bicause of the house of the Lord which you haue reformed and his religion which your Grace hath restored we will continuallie triumph in his mercie and praie still for the renowme of your most roiall name and Maiestie that your fame may more more be vniuersallie spred ouer the earth and be remembred from one generation to another For the Gospels sake I say which your Maiestie doth maintaine we will vncessantly praise God for you and with lowd voices crie and say God saue our most gratious Queene Elizabeth Iesu blesse your Highnesse The holie Ghost from heauen comfort conduct your Maiestie in all your wais Blesse our souereigne Ladie O blessed Trinitie Heape glorie and honour vpon Elizabeth our Queene O glorious Deitie Blesse hir sacred Maiestie I saie O God frō this time foorth for euermore O King of heauen receiue our Queene receiue and imbrace this thy most glorious virgin and deere daughter accompanied with hir felowe virgins the princes daughters and honourable women into thy tuition and protection With ioie and gladnesse I saie let hir the liuelie image of thy princelie Maiestie be brought safe and vnhurt home againe vnto hir iuorie palaces and at the last enter into the Kings court hir fathers house where she may enioie a perpetuall crowne and euerlasting kingdome and reioice in thee hir God hir spouse and hir Sauiour for euer and euer so shall she and we hir people giue thanks vnto thee O Lord world without end Amen A compendious forme of praier for the whole estate of Christes Church necessarie to be vsed of all estates at time conuenient especiallie euerie Sabboth or Holidaie in the Euening by the Mother and Daughter and their familie A Psalme preparing the hart to
and properlie vpon all the holie Feasts and Saints daies throughout the yeere as they fall in order and are commonlie kept here in the Church of England and Ireland And first vpon the principall Feast daies of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ that is to saie On Aduent Sundaie In memorial of Christ his First comming in the flesh Christmas daie In memorial of Christ his Natiuitie and birth On New yéeres daie In memorial of Christ his Circumcision On Twelfe daie In memorial of Christ his Apparition On Ashwensday the 1. day of Lent In memorial of Christ his Fasting On First Sundaie in Lent In memorial of Christ his Temptation On Maundie Thursdaie In memorial of Christ his Last Supper On Good Fridaie In memorial of Christ his Passion On Easter daie In memorial of Christ his Resurrection On Ascension daie In memorial of Christ his Ascension On Whitsundaie In memorial of Christ his Sending of the holie Ghost On Trinitie Sundaie In memorial of Christ his The blessed Trinitie On Euerie Sundaie holie-day and working-day In memorial of Christ his Last comming to iudgment 1. On Aduent Sundaie Of the comming of Christ in the flesh The Preface BE of good cheere and feare not O you that are of a fearfull hart for behold your God commeth his owne selfe to take vengeance on his enimies and will deliuer you Hosanna to the sonne of Dauid O daughter Zion be glad O daughter Ierusalem reioice For lo the King commeth vnto thee euen the righteous thy Sauiour lowlie meeke and simple riding vpon the fole of an asse and bringing his recompense with him Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. Out of Zion hath God appeared in perfect beautie Hosanna in the highest Remember me O Lord according to thy fauor that thou bearest vnto thy people O visit me with thy saluation Hosanna Shew me thy waies O Lord and teach mee thy path Hosanna in the highest Hosanna The praier THE time is now at hand when the Church calleth into mind the benefits of the sonne of GOD which taking vpon him our fraile nature appeared to the world and came to visit vs in great humilitie And at the last daie and resurrection of all mankind will come againe in his glorious Maiestie to iudge both the quicke and the dead and shew himselfe both to punish his enimies with euerlasting paines and to adorne his Church and chosen people with eternall glorie Wherefore O Sonne of God Lord and Sauiour Christ which as this daie in roiall pompe didst enter into the holie citie Ierusalem for a publike testimonie of thine appearing remooue all impediments we praie thee that may hinder thy comming and make a plaine and most easie waie for thy selfe vnto vs. Gather vs we beseech thee into that companie which are prepared to receiue thee the King of all kings and which set foorth thy glorie in spirituall songs not onelie this daie through all the world but also continuallie and beare palmes of victorie before thee and spred their garments in the waie for ioie of thy comming Assist vs that being greatlie separated from the damned crue of diuels and wicked persons wee may sound and set foorth thy truth in perfect confession and righteousnesse all the daies and time of our life Bee thou our King both here in this world and hereafter in the world to come replenishing vs against all the wicked enterprises of thine enimies and making vs though babes and littleones to extoll and magnifie thy name for euer Keepe vs thy weake children depending vpon thee and running vnto thy lap euen as infants vnto their parents Make vs to followe thy words which through thy spirit doo sound within vs and powre thy wisedome into vs miserable men and women that the pride and power of thine enimies may be confounded Grant that with gratefull minds we may publish abroad thy glorious victorie according to our calling and abilitie cherish thy ministers and venter both our life liuing for the maintenance of thy truth Moreouer blesse vs O thou blessed seed of Abraham by the vertue of thy presence number vs among thy chosen which haue their names from thee And finallie giue vs grace now in the time of this mortall life so to cast awaie from vs the works of darknes and to put vpon vs the armour of light that in the last daie of thy second comming in the clouds we may rise through thee to life immortall and so being adorned with that glorie which thou hast receiued from thine eternall Father we may perpetuallie praise and extoll thy Maiestie both heere in this world and for euermore in the world of worlds to come Amen Hosanna to thee O sonne of God in the highest Hosanna 2. On Christmas daie Of the natiuitie and birth of Christ our Sauiour The Preface A Child is borne vnto vs and a sonne is giuen vnto vs. Glorie be to God on high Unto vs is borne this daie in the citie of Dauid a Sauiour which is Christ the Lord. Halleluiah The Lord sent a word vnto Iacob the same is come into Israel an euerlasting Prince of peace Halleluiah Mercie and truth are met togither righteousnesse and peace haue kissed each other truth shall flourish out of the earth and righteousnesse hath looked downe from heauen vpon vs to speake peace vnto his people and gladnesse to his Saints Halleluiah Of the fruit of thy bodie will I set vpon thy throne and in Zion shall I make the horne of Dauid to flourish Halleluiah The Sunne commeth foorth of his tabernacle the heauens as a bridegroome out of his chamber and reioiceth as a Giant to run his course Halleluiah He shall giue his Angels charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy waies they shall beare thee in their hands that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone Halleluiah For thou art fairer than the children of men full of grace are thy lips bicause God hath blessed thee for euer yea God euen thine owne God hath annointed thee with the oile of gladnesse aboue thy fellowes Halleluiah Therefore in this daie of thy power shall the people offer the free-will offerings with an holie worship bicause the dew of thy birth is of the wombe of the morning Halleluiah Glorie be vnto God on high in earth peace and good will towards men Halleluiah Halleluiah Halleluiah The Praier NOW is the ioifull time wherein all Saincts both in heauen and earth doo magnifie and praise almightie God for the incarnation of his onlie begotten Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ who as this daie was borne of the pure Uirgin Marie the which also the holie Angels of the Lord did celebrate with a most heauenlie song And no doubt the blessed companie of the elect departed out of this world enioieng the comfortable sight of God replenished with eternall wisedome light and righteousnesse yeeld most humble thanks vnto the Sonne of God their Sauiour and Redeemer for his incomprehensible goodnesse declared vnto mankind
praier to Christ crucified wherein we deuoutlie call to mind what great things he hath done for vs and what benefits we reape by the remembrance of his holie wounds EXceeding greatlie haue I sinned against thy Maiestie O Lord and mine owne conscience findeth mee guiltie of manie offences and yet doo I not despaire neither will I in anie thing at all be doubtfull because that whereas sinne hath abounded there hath thy grace O God ouer-abounded He that despaireth of the forgiuenes of his sinnes denieth thee O God to be mercifull Yea great wrong doth he to thee O God which distrusteth in thy mercie For as much as in him lieth he denieth thee to be louing true and mightie which are the things wherein my whole hope consisteth that is to weet in the loue of thy adoption in the truth of thy promise and in the power of thy redeeming Now let my vnwise imagination murmur as much as it listeth and saie Who art thou how great is thy glorie and by what deserts hopest thou to obtaine it and I will answer boldlie I knowe whome I haue credited and that thou of thine exceeding great loue hast adopted me to be thy child that thou art southfast of promise that thou art mightie of perseuerance and that thou maist doo what thee listeth I can not bee feared with the multitude of my sinnes if I bethinke me of the death of thee my Lord because my sinnes are not able to ouercome thee Thy nailes and thy speare crie vnto me that I am throughlie reconciled to thee O Christ if I loue thee Longius hath opened me thy side deere Iesu with his speare and I am gone into it and there doo I rest in safetie He that is afraid let him loue for loue driueth feare out of the dores There is no remedie so mightie and effectuall against the heate of leacherie as is the death of thee my redeemer Thou stretchest out thine armes vpon the crosse and thou holdest out thy hand in a readines to imbrace vs sinners Betweene the armes of thee my sauiour mind I to liue and die there shall I sing safelie there will I glorifie and exalt thee O Lord because thou hast taken me vp and hast not giuen mine enimies their pleasure ouer me Thou O our Sauiour hast bowed downe thy head at thy death to receiue the kisses of thy beloued and so often doo we kisse thee O Lord as we be throughlie touched with the loue of thee who for loue to mankind being God camest to man camest into man and becamest man who for loue being an inuisible God becainest like thy seruants and who for verie loue wast wounded for our sinnes and in those wounds of thine O my Sauiour is the safe and quiet rest of vs weakelings and sinners there doo I dwell at ease and by thy wounds haue I a waie in vnto the bowels of thy mercie Whatsoeuer is wanting of my selfe that doo I borowe out of the bowels of thee my Lord for in them is aboundance of mercie and there want no holes for it to flowe out at By the holes of thy blessed bodie are opened vnto me the secrets of thy hart a great pledge of thy kindlie loue euen the bowels of the mercie of thee our God whereby the daie spring hath visited vs from aloft Thy wounds O sweet Iesu Christ are full of mercie full of pitie full of sweetnesse and full of loue They bored thy hands and thy feet and pierced thy side with a speare By these holes may I taste how sweet and mild thou art in deed and how mercifull thou art to all that call vpon thee in truth to all that seeke thee and cheeflie to all that loue thee Plentious redemption is giuen vnto vs in thy wounds O sweet Sauiour Iesu Christ Great aboundance of sweetnes great plentie of grace and great perfection of vertues is giuen vs in thy pretious wounds O sweet Sauiour Iesu Christ O most bountifull Iesu grant therefore I humblie beseech thee that whensoeuer anie fowle thought assaulteth me I may forthwith runne to thy wounds O Christ When my flesh presseth me downe I may rise vp again by remembring thy wounds O Lord. When the diuell laieth wait for me I may flee to the bowels of thy mercie O Iesu so shall he quicklie depart from me Or if at anie time the heate of lecherie prouoke my members let it be quenched I praie thee by calling to mind thy wounds O Sonne of God Finallie in all mine aduersities let me find no remedie so effectuall as thy wounds O Christ In them I saie let me sleepe without care and rest without feare Thou O Christ hast died for vs and now is there nothing so bitter to the death which is not swallowed vp by thy death O sweet Iesu All my whole hope therfore is and shall be in thy death O Lord my God Thy death is my desart and my refuge my welfare life and resurrection and thy mercifulnesse O Lord is my merit I am not poore of merit so long as thou the Lord of all compassions failest not As long as thou art manifold in mercie so long am I also manifold of deserts The mightier thou art to saue the more am I without care Wherefore O most excellent goodnes withdrawe not thy mercie O most mightie maker despise not thy worke O most prudent redeemer suffer not to perish the price of thy redemption O most gentle ghostlie and heauenlie hoast and ghest purifie saue dresse and keepe thy house and dwelling place the which thou dedicatedst and sanctifiedst to thee in the sacrament of Baptisme O most blessed most charitable and sweet Iesu O most bounteous excellent and glorious Iesu O most innocent mercifull meeke louing and deere Iesu haue mercie vpon me haue mercie vpon me and forgiue me all my sinnes When shall I loue thee When shall I be sorie for my sinnes When shall I loath and forsake my sinnes When shall I detest and abhore my sinfull life and turne vnto thee by grace When shall I remember thy benefits thy meekenes thy pouertie and bitter passion thy patience thy obedience thy loue and thy charitie When shall I sanctifie worship magnifie and loue hartilie thee in heauen and thy Saints on earth and celebrate thy feasts accordinglie that is to saie thy incarnation passion resurrection ascension and such other with due reuerence Christian deuotion If thou be the most dredfull maister where is my dread Lord Iesu If thou be the most loued Father where is my loue If thou bee my Lord and my Redeemer where is my seruice If thou be mine hoast and dwell in my soule by thy grace and mercie where is my chastitie puritie and cleannesse meet and according to such an hoast If thou be the life of Saints the fairenesse and beautie of Angels where is my thanking Now therfore good Lord Jesu Christ wound my hart with thy most holie wounds moist my mind with thy most pretious bloud that
vnspeakable maner that thy humane nature might suffer and die Quench also in vs by thy spirit mercilesse fires of hatred and desire of reuenge which as worldlie men doo saie is sweeter than life it selfe with all the flames of pride Grant that acknowledging our filthines prostrate before thy face in true lowlinesse we may aske thine helpe being healed may perseuere in the imitating of thy perfect example Assist vs that while we liue in euerie trouble and temptation of ours we may drawe the water of comfort from thee which art the well of life and afterward enioie perfect ease and a ioifull sabboth and feastfull holidaies in the heauens at such time as thou wilt shew thy Father to thine elect where each shall behold the other face to face Amen 9. On the feast daie of the annuntiation of the blessed virgin Marie Shew vs thy mercie O Lord and grant vs thy saluation BY thy wisedome O eternall God are the times distinguished whereby we are certified of thy benefits and euerlasting blisse which after this life and destruction of the world is prepared for thine elect Now are there passed 5543 yeeres sith the creation of heauen and earth of thine Angels of all creatures By thy word thou madest man out of the slime of the earth thou breathedst on him the breth of life and inspiredst into him a soule adorned with perfect wisedome and righteousnesse Afterward thy Sonne did vtter a secret decree about the restoring of man fallen through sinne out of thy fauour into euerlasting death About the same time of the yeere was innocent Abel murdered which was a figure of the sacrifice to come whose bloud indeed crieth vnto thee Father in heauen and beggeth the forgiuenesse of sinnes to all beleeuers In the like time was Isaac carried to be offered and thou commandedst the people of Israell to keepe holie these daies in which thou wouldest haue thy benefits to bee spoken of Likewise on this solemne and ioifull daie of the Equinoctiall spring time which sithence is 1582 yeeres thy Sonne as the Angel Gabriel signified to Marie the virgin by the working of the holie Ghost coupled the humane nature to himselfe after a woonderfull and vnspeakable maner The same daie 1549 yeeres sithence thy Sonne redeemer of mankind in his weake and bloudie flesh hoong vpon the Crosse being the true Silo. And when the sunne going betweene Orion and the Pleiades leeseth his light he left his life through intollerable sorowe and torments And an old saieng it hath beene that about this time of the yeere our Lord and Sauiour Christ will returne in the clouds both to vanquish his enimies and to exalt his Church and chosen most gratiouslie vnto a new and eternall kingdome O Sonne of God stir vs vp vnto the consideration of those so excellent mysteries and worke thou so in our harts by thy grace that as we haue knowne thy holie incarnation by the message of an Angel so by thy crosse and passion we may be brought vnto the glorie of thy resurrection Through the protection and watch of thine Angel the holie families of chaste virgins and matrons remained safe and vnspotted among infinite dangers by thy spirit the truth was sealed in them that they could not be subdued by the errours of the Pharisies and Saduces Preserue likewise in this last age of the world some holie assemblies and suffer not the whole world before thy cōming againe to become blasphemers This shall be the wisedome of eternall life in which thou wilt open the causes why thou wouldest after this maner restore mankind and how God the word could couple our flesh to himselfe Assist vs that in this life we may learne the elements and in true faith be ioined through the holie spirit to thy bodie which thou tookest from the sanctified bodie of the sacred virgin And as thou cariest and liuest in the same flesh so make vs branches of the tree of life and fruitfull vine and replenish vs with like light life and glorie Be thou our Sauiour through thy merit and vertue Thine eternall Father hath placed thee in the throne of Dauid that thou maist be the head of the Church working all in all and the giuer of all good things and of the blessings promised to Dauid Thou reignest in this life by thy ministerie gathering to thy selfe an eternall Church and repressing thine enimies by thy mightie power Thou sittest exalted in light and incomprehensible glorie at the right hand of thy Father making alwaies intercession for vs vntill thou bring thy Church vnto thy selfe in glorie at the generail resurrection and shine in them visiblie and for euer O Sonne of God we are bone of thy bones and flesh of thy flesh Thou broughtest not thy flesh from heauen neither was the same borne of the substance of thy Father but truelie thou tookest thy flesh from the seed of Abraham out of the sanctified wombe of the holie and blessed virgin S. Marie This nature did the word couple to himselfe by an eternall couenant and adorneth the same with surpassing glorie which thou she wedst not in the time of thine humiliation Therefore in truth did blessed Marie beare God euen that person in which two natures that is to saie the word and flesh were vnited togither and that without anie confusion euen as the soule and bodie are coupled in vs men Wherefore we come vnto thee our Mediator God and man and respecting thy promise in a liuelie faith we beseech thee haue mercie vpon vs wash vs with thy bloud and make vs members of thy bodie and nature No man at anie time hath hated his owne flesh make vs to sticke vnto thee by the same spirit and to drawe from thee the iuice which may strengthen vs to eternall life Amen 10. On Saint Marks daie Thou hast made them princes in all lands therefore shall they remember thy name O Lord from one generation to another O Eternall omnipotent and euerliuing God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which togither with the Sonne and the holie Ghost hast not onelie created the whole frame of this world with all things therein conteined but also appointed thy Sonne the word to be a Mediator for vs men and for our saluation we beseech thee most humblie from the bottome of our harts thou which art the good husbandman ingraffe vs in thy Sonne which is the true vine make vs branches of his bodie purge vs from the horrible corruption of our nature giue vs grace to continue in the vine that being deliuered from sinne we may bring foorth abundance of fruit to thy honour and glorie O Christ thou art the vine we are the branches through thy grace not of our owne goodnesse gratiouslie behold vs we beseech thee that euermore we may cleaue to thee For alas without thee what can we doo that good is Abide thou in vs that we may abide in thee giue vs of thy vertue let thy light shine in our
that light should be made and so not onlie bodies shining with noble light yet vnreasonable were made but besides also other spirituall natures as Angels were brought foorth into which thou powredst the beames of thy light of thy wisedome of thy righteousnesse and life and appointedst a companie of them which remained in their innocencie to euerlasting righteousnes and life that alwaies they might behold the countenance of the eternall Father being replenished with perfect goodnesse Thou hast ordeined and constituted in a woonderfull order that most excellent nature of all Angels to serue thy Church to defend the weake and feeble companie of men which in this life turne vnto thy Sonne our verie Michael Thou commandest those heroicall and valiant spirits to protect thy Church kingdoms and godlie schooles and places where thy Church doth abide calling vpon thee in feare and continuing in thy seruice We thanke thee from our harts for this great and vnspeakable benefit beseeching thee most humblie mercifullie to grant that they which alwaie doo thee seruice in heauen may by thine appointment succour and defend vs here in earth Conuert vs O Lord and we shall be conuerted teach vs to confesse this thy goodnesse and following the example of thine holie Angels to serue thee and thy congregation in true and sincere humilitie Compasse our Churches Common-weales and houses with the watch of thine Angels driue awaie from vs and our houses diuels thine enimies lieng blasphemous cruell murdering and incestuous spirits which through extreme hatred of thee and thy Sonne torment man labouring to bring it about that all flesh may blaspheme thee Represse the rage of them in their members in false teachers in the enimies of thy truth in Turks and other tyrants which persecute vs. Helpe vs in this world being ingraffed into that Church which thou dooest protect and may continue faithfull vnto the death and afterward being translated into eternall life be like the Angels yeelding immortall thanks vnto thee for thine infinite benefits Amen 19. On Saint Luke the Euangelists daie It is neither herbe nor emplaster that restoreth vs to health but thy word O Lord which healeth all things O Omnipotent almightie and euerliuing God which calledst Luke the Physician whose praise is in the Gospell to be a Physician of the soule it may please thee by the wholsome medicine of his doctrine to heale all the diseases of our soules And as by thy Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Christ thou hast commanded vs to praie that labourers may be thrust into thy haruest so grant vnto vs for the same thy sonne Bishops of thine owne instructing good shepherds sound preachers faithfull workmen and godlie ministers which may faithfullie ouersee and by thy word of saluation prosperouslie gouerne thy Church being deerlie bought with the pretious bloud of thine onelie Sonne Giue vnto vs such teachers as are both learned in thy word and commended for their good liuing direct them being illuminated with thine heauenlie light that they may rightlie deliuer and diuide vnto vs the principles of good doctrine the word of truth and the Gospell of life and open the difference betweene the lawe and the Gospell teach vs to beware of the leauen of the Pharisies and the contagious doctrine of mans traditions informe vs in all spirituall wisedome and bring vs by the operation of thine holie spirit vnto perfection both in the eies of God and sight of the world Grant that their labours may take good successe to the increase of thy celestiall haruest Giue them grace to continue constant in their profession fearing neither the hatred nor ingratitude of this world beleeuing certainlie that such as despise them are despised of thee and that thou neither wilt of thine holinesse nor wilt of thy iustice suffer such blaspemous impietie to go vnpunished Amen 20. On Simon and Iudes daie Apostles Thou hast made them princes in all lands therefore shall they remember thy name O Lord from one generation to another ALmightie God which hast builded thy congregation vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesu Christ himselfe being the head corner stone grant vs so to be ioined togither in vnitie of spirit by their doctrine that we may be made an holie temple acceptable to thee And O Lord Iesu Christ which after this maner diddest comfort thine Apostles whom the world would hate and abhorre saieng I haue chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you Separate vs we humblie beseech thee from the darknesse idolatrie and wickednesse of this world and ioine vs to that companie among which thy Godhead dooeth dwell Grant that in true loue we may be ioined vnto thine eternall Father through thy spirit which is the bond of peace Make vs nothing to dread the sinister iudgements of the world neither yet for anie perils to forsake thy truth but patientlie suffer the iniuries from which thy selfe wast not free Let vs alwaies thinke that the seruant is not greater than the maister and so togither with thee and thine Apostles suffer those troubles and crosses which of God for our sinnes and amendement shall be laid vpon vs Amen 21. On All Saints daie Let the righteous be glad and reioice before God let them also be merie and ioifull WE thanke thee O almightie God our heauenlie Father for that of thine infinite mercie through our Lord and Sauiour and working of thine holie spirit thou gatherest out of mankind an euerlasting Church hast knit togither thine elect in one communion and felowship in the mysticall bodie of the same thy Sonne Christ our Lord defendest the same mightilie against the rage of the diuels and tyrannie of his members yea and hast promised one daie by thy Sonne to raise the same from death and to adorne it with vnspeakable glorie We beseech thee haue mercie on vs for the sake of the same thy Sonne our Mediator and Sauiour and grant vs grace so to followe thy holie Saints in all vertue and godlie liuing that we may come to those vnspeakable ioies which thou hast prepared for them that vnfeinedlie loue thee And gather from among vs euermore some religious companie which may serue thee in faith and a good conscience Assist that in this life that benefit of eternall life may begin that we may in a contrite hart obeie thee patientlie suffer the troubles which accompanie thy Gospell shew our selues meeke and mercifull hungring and thirsting from our hart after thy righteousnesse and seeking for the food of our soule aboue all things Make our ioie perfect and reioice in deed looking through faith vpon that blessed companie of Angels and men which enioie thy visible presence among whom thy Sonne is whom they see face to face and filled with vnspeakable delight here discoursing of thy woonderfull wisedome both in gathering and preseruing thy Church bring vs gratious Lord vnto the blessed cōpanie of thy Saints in this world and afterward make vs citizens of thine eternall kingdome togither
shall not perish but haue euerlasting life Haue mercie vpon me haue mercie vpon me according to thy great mercie And according to the multitude of thy mercies put awaie mine offences O God most holie wash me from my wickednesse and make me cleane from mine vncleannesse For I acknowledge O Lord my heinous sinnes and accuse my selfe of mine vnrighteous deeds I confesse against my selfe the wickednesse of mine hart which hath beene euer vnfaithfull and rebelling against thy precepts I haue beene an vntrue and froward child to thee and haue prouoked thee with my vanities O holie Father I haue offended thy diuine Maiestie and am not woorthie to be called thy child Bicause I prouoked thee to anger through the multitude of my sinnes and haue not exercised my selfe in thy righteous lawes I haue turned backe from thy waies and done euill before thee I haue done wickedlie and vniustlie behaued my selfe leauing thy commandements and murmuring against thy correction I haue turned my selfe awaie and not kept my promise made vnto thee I haue walked in an euill waie after mine owne thoughts and fantasies choosing the things that thou wouldest not O Lord God almightie I haue not feared thee nor shewed due reuerence vnto thee but I haue beene disobedient and stubborne vnto thee As a common harlot is without shame euen so am I without shame of my sinnes for behold I speake vnto thee and yet I sinne more and more I haue left that which is good and gone backe from thee and I haue not put my trust and hope in thee my maker but haue sought for helpe and safegard otherwise I haue ploughed wickednesse and reaped iniquitie and eaten the fruit of lies bicause I haue trusted in mine owne waie I haue cast thy lawes behind my backe not regarding thy commandements nor leauing mine owne lewd customs I haue not giuen my hart to returne to thy paths for I would not knowe thee but haue fallen through mine iniquitie I neuer vnto this daie turned trulie vnto thee with all my hart but as a woman that breakech hir fidelitie and promise vnto hir husband euen so O LORD God I haue broken my promise vnto thee For I haue liued abhominablie and haue had no remorse nor repentance for my euill deeds but haue run from sinne to sinne following the lewd desires of my hart Thou knowest all things O Lord how I haue prouoked thee to displeasure by my lewd inuentions and none of all my sinnes be hid from thee I hated thy discipline and correction and regarded not thy words and saiengs I haue not done penance for my malice but haue increased in much vanitie Mine hart hath beene void of truth and my hands haue wrought vnrighteousnesse My tongue hath spoken sinfullie and I haue laboured with the imaginations of mine hart to find out lies and deceits and no truth hath beene in my waies I haue accustomed my tongue to speake trifles and vanities fulfilling my fleshlie desires and thoughts my purposes and inuentions haue beene contrarie to thy will whereby I haue offended the eies of thy Maiestie Thou hast seene all these things O Lord and hast holden thy peace and yet they were euill in thy sight and displeased thee In thine anger thou hast cast me awaie and art diuided from me now manie daies Thou hast giuen me vp to the desires of my hart to doo the things which be not seeming Wo I am that I haue gone from thee great is my miserie that I haue led my life in sinne Wo is me that I haue forsaken thee to doo my deuises not after thy mind to accomplish my thoughts which haue not proceeded of thy spirit but haue heaped vp sinne vpon sinne Mine infamie and reproch is dailie before mine eies and for shame I dare not shew my face And now O Lord God why forgettest thou mee Why keepest thou awaie so long thy mercie from me Heare now my cause gratiouslie although thou hast beene displeased with me a great while for thou art mercifull be not angrie alwaies I beseech thee Cast not awaie a contrite and penitent person a wretch and an abiect which humblie calleth vpon thy name Turne againe a little toward me O Lord God and forgiue me my mischieuous deeds Order me not according to my sinnes nor punish me as my wickednesse deserueth Shew not foorth thy power against a poore wretch persecute hir not so sore which is without all strength Turne not thy face awaie from my praiers but according to thy promise take me againe vnto thy fauour For I am thine O righteous Father whom thine onlie deere Sonne hath redeemed with his pretious bloud And now my soule abhorreth mine old conuersation and of thee which art iudge of all men I aske mercie I doo submit my selfe vnto thy mightie hand for after thine anger thou shewest mercie and in the time of tribulation thou dooest forgiue sinnes I acknowledge that I am a sinner beseeching thee Lord God almightie of thy goodnesse to doo with mee according to thy great mercie I am confounded and ashamed to lift vp mine eies vnto thee for my sinnes are ascended vp vnto thy sight Against thee O Father against thee haue I sinned and done euill before thee thou seest that mine iniquitie is great Trulie I haue beene an offender against thee euen from my cradle and since I sucked my mothers brests I haue not ceased to doo euill Behold I was begotten in iniquitie and my mother brought me into this world defiled with sinne For the corne of an euill seed is sowne in mine hart and how much wickednesse hath sproong thereof vnto this daie thou knowest O Lord. I can not shake off my sinnes and offences but I carie still with me the infamie of my youth Behold Lord I am sold vnder sinne and in my flesh I find not that which is good For the good that I would that doo I not but the euill that I hate that I doo All the thoughts and imaginations of mine hart haue beene set to doo euill euer since I was yoong O why doo I die in my sinnes Lord God seeing thy will is not that a sinner die but returne from his sin and liue For thou art good and mercifull and according to thy great mercie sauest them that be vnwoorthie For albeit no man is able to beare the punishment which thou doost threaten against sinners yet the mercie which thou hast promised is great and vnsearchable Thou hast shewed mercie a thousand times heretofore to make the same glorious as it is euen yet still The old fathers in their necessities cried vnto thee and thou diddest deliuer them they put their trust in thee and they were not confounded When they were at their wits end and wist not what to doo this was their onelie refuge to lift vp their eies to thee Thou didst saue them for thy name sake to shew in them thy might and strength Manie a time they prouoked thee through their iniquities and
are abhominable O teach vs therefore by thy holie spirit to praie rightlie according to thy will and giue eare gratiouslie to our calling O Gratious Lord louing Father according to thy commandement we doo heere present our selues before thy Maiestie humblie prostrating our selues before thy throne of mercie acknowledging and confessing from the bottom of our harts that we be miserable sinners dailie breaking thy commandements both in thought word and deede wherein we iustlie deserue euerlasting damnation and to be vtterlie throwne from thy presence Yet O Lord we see thy goodnesse againe towards vs who not suffering vs thus to perish in our sinnes hast sent thine owne deere Sonne Iesus Christ to take vpon him whatsoeuer is due to reconcile and make vs at one with thee againe In him therefore good Lord and through him doo we come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that we feeling the greeuousnesse of our sins and groaning vnder the burthen of them may feele the release and ease of them in that we be through thy holie spirit assured and stedfastlie beleeue that Christ hath borne the burthen of them euen for vs. Grant O Lord that we being assured heereof in our conscience may through thy holie spirit be renewed in the inward man to hate detest and abhorre sinne and to studie to liue acording to thy blessed will during this whole life We doo not onlie praie for our selues O Lord but also for all the whole Church especiallie such as be persecuted for thy word grant vnto them that whither it be by death or life they may glorifie thy name to their liues end Be mercifull to this Church of England and Ireland we beseech thee good Lord and preserue euerie part and member of the same especiallie thy seruant Elizabeth our gratious Queene and Gouernour Grant hir all such gifts as be needfull for so high a calling to the aduancement of thy glorie and the benefit of this Common-wealth to the establishing of a perfect gouernement of thy Church according to the prescriptrule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of all superstition idolatrie and relikes of Antichrist to the gouerning of hir subiects in all peace and tranquillitie Defend hir O Lord from all conspiracies treasons and rebellions and so worke in the harts of all hir subiects that knowing hir authoritie doth come from thy heauenlie Maiestie they may with obedient harts humblie obeie hir in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Counsell the Magistrates of the Realme that being lightened by thy holy spirit they may defend the truth suppresse wickednesse and mainteine equitie Behold all the pastors and preachers of thy word blesse their labours increase the number of them place ouer euerie Church a painefull watchman remoue all idle lubbers and confound the power of Antichrist and turne the harts of the people that they may be obedient to the truth Blesse the two Uniuersities Cambridge and Oxford and all the students of the same with all the Schooles of learning Behold all those that be afflicted with anie kinde of crosse that they may profit by thy correction in newnesse of life Lastlie for our selues heere gathered togither we render most hartie thanks to thy Maiestie O Lord which hast hitherto from our infancie preserued vs by thy mercie from all perils and dangers both of soule and bodie wherevnto fraile man is subiect that thou hast sent vnto vs all things necessarie for this present life as health food apparell and such like which manie of thy deere children doo want being notwithstanding as pretiouslie bought with the pretious bloud of thy deere Sonne as we be and yet lie in miserie and calamitie oppressed with pouertie nakednesse imprisonment and banishment in which case also deere Father thou mightest haue brought vs saue onlie that thou dealest heerein more fauourablie with vs than with them For the which thy louing kindnesse we giue thee hartie thanks desiring thee that as thou hast hitherto thus fauorablie in mercie preserued vs by thy protection and euen presentlie this daie hast brought vs past all the dangers thereof so we beseech thee good Lord in like fauour behold vs this night that we taking our naturall rest and quietnesse may through thy protection be so defended that our bodies resting our soules may be occupied in beholding thy fauour and mercie towards thy children still looking for the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesu Christ for our full redemption Grant that our sleepe be not immoderate according to the lusts of the flesh but as much as is sufficient to refresh our weake nature that being thus refreshed both the bodie the mind may be more able to doo their seuerall office and function in that vocation wherein thou hast placed vs. Grant that wee laieng our bodies downe to rest may be thereby put in mind of our long rest of death that as we doo laie downe our bodies in bed so we may be thereby admonished that hereafter they shall be laid down in graue to be consumed to dust earth and ashes from whence they were taken that we hauing this before our eies may be stirred vp in minde warilie to walke in this our pilgrimage not knowing when the time shall be of our departure but alwaies be found readie with our lamps of pure faith clearelie burning that we may be accepted to meet the bride groome when our mortall earthlie and corruptible bodies shall be made like to the glorious bodie of our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus there to reigne with him in perpetuall ioie consolation togither with all the elect children of GOD continuallie lauding with all the heauenlie multitude the glorious Maiestie of thee our Lord God and heauenlie Father in our Lord and Sauiour Iesu Christ In whose name for these thy mercies and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be needfull for vs and thy whole Church we praie vnto thee as he himselfe hath taught vs saieng Our Father which art in heauen c. The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance towards vs and grant vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the most comfortable felowship of the holie Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this night and euermore Amen VVhen you vncloth yourselfe and make you vnreadie to bedward praie THis our life and weake knit bodie by reason of sinne by little and little shall be dissolued and so shall be restored to the earth from whence it was taken then will be an end of this vanitie which by our foolishnes we haue wrought to our selues O most meeke Father so doo thou vntie and loose me for thou hast knit me togither that I may perceiue my selfe to be loosed and dissolued and so may remember both of whom I was made and also whither I go least I be had vnprepared vnto thy tribunali and iudgement
saie There is no helpe for him in his God AMEN E EStablish me ô LORD with a free and principall spirit and restore vnto mee the ioie of thy sauing health Psalme 51 verse 12. IT is a great thing O heauenlie father that I desire of thee seeing thou art a great Lord and King aboue all gods He doth thee iniurie which asketh of thee small things and he which asketh of thee bodilie things asketh but vaine trifles He therefore that desireth spirituall things desireth great things but he that desireth thy ioie and sauing health desireth the greatest thing thou hast to giue What is thy sauing health but Iesus Christ thy onlie sonne which is verie God and euerlasting life And forsomuch as thou hast bin so louing and liberall a father as to giue him vnto the death of the crosse and there to offer him for me why should I be ashamed to aske him of thee whome thou hast giuen for me Giue me therefore thy principall spirit that I may reioice in thy sauing health And forsomuch as in thy holie word thou biddest me aske and knocke euen till I see me importunate and what can I aske that should be more wholesome to me than that thou shouldest make me reioice in thy sonne our sauing health I will therfore continuallie crie to thee saieng Make me againe to reioice in thy sauing helth and restore to me againe the thing which my sinnes haue lost Restore to me that which through my fault is perished in me Restore me I beseech thee for his mercies sake that euer sitteth on thy right hand and maketh intercession for me that by his gratious fauour I may at my last end enioie the fruitfull benefite of thy sauing health AMEN T THov euer ô LORD hast loued truth and the vnknowne things of thy wisdome hast thou reuealed vnto mee Psalme 51. verse 6. WHat meaneth it to saie Thou louest truth but that of thy gratious mercie thou makest vs promises and fulfillest them for thy truths sake Thou didst promise vnto Abraham a sonne when he was aged thou fulfilledst thy promise in old and barren Sara because thou louest truth Thou madest promise vnto Dauid thy seruant saieng Of the fruit of thy bodie will I set vpon the regall throne and it came to passe because thou louest truth Thou hast promised vnto sinners which will come vnto thee forgiuenesse and fauour and thou hast neuer defrauded anie man for thou louest truth There are other innumerable promises in the which thou hast euer bene faithfull because thou louest truth Loue therefore O father of mercies this truth in me which with repentant hart turneth to thee Behold therefore thy creature in whome thou maist keepe it and to whome thou maist forgiue manie sinnes Spare good Lord spare thy seruant and command me to be of the number of the babes that the vnknowne things of thy wisdome which thou hast opened vnto me may lead me vnto the fountaine of wisdome which is on high that thou maist be praised in the works of thy mercie which thou dooest exercise towards thy seruant O LORD which neuer forsakest them that trust in thee AMEN H HAddest thou ô LORD desired sacrifice I would haue giuen it thee but thou delightest not in burnt offerings Psalme 51. verse 16. MY mouth Lord shall shew foorth thy glorious fame For I knowe it to be most acceptable before thee seeing thou hast declared it by the mouth of the Prophet saieng The sacrifice of praise shall glorifie me by which meane saith the Lord I shall be entised to shew him my sauing health Psal 48. Therefore will I offer praise vnto thee for my sinnes euen the praise of infants and sucklings And why shall I offer praise for my sinnes rather than sacrifice Bicause thou delightest not in burnt sacrifice For if thou hadst desired sacrifice I had surelie offered them but thou delightest not in them And againe thou saiedst I require mercie and not sacrifice Ose 6. Therefore my mouth shall shew foorth thy praise bicause thereby I doo shew foorth thy honour and it sheweth me through thy grace the waie to my sauing health O Lord thou madest the bodie for the spirit therfore seekest thou spirituall things and not bodilie things For thou saiest My sonne giue thy hart vnto me Prou. 23. which is the sacrifice that pleaseth thee Let me therefore offer vnto thee O Lord a hart repenting and sorrowing for my sinnes and inflame it with a desired loue of heauenlie things and then wilt thou desire no more of me for with such sacrifices wilt thou O Lord be pleased AMEN REGINA R REbuke me not ô LORD in thine anger neither chasten thou mee in thy heauie displeasure but haue thou mercie on me for I am weake and in miserie Psalme 6 verse 1. MY sinnes O Lord are so manie that the burden of them hath weakened me My bones are so bruised my sinewes are so shrunken my strength so faileth me the rod of thy displeasure hath so chastened me that I feele no helpe in my selfe I appeale therfore O Lord to thy mercie crieng out with the prodigall and vnthriftie sonne saieng O Father I haue sinned against heauen and before thee haue mercie therefore haue mercie on me not bicause I haue deserued thy mercie but bicause thou art mercifull Sith therefore thou art mercifull what art thou but euen the verie mercie it selfe And what am I but verie miserie Behold therefore O God which art mercie behold miserie is before thee What shalt thou doo O mercie Trulie thy works Canst thou go backe from thy nature And what is thy nature Uerelie to take awaie miserie Haue mercie therefore on mee O God God which art mercie take awaie my miserie for the depth of miserie requireth the depth of mercie The depth of sinne requireth the depth of grace and fauour Greater is the depth of mercie than the depth of miserie Let therfore good Lord the one depth swallowe vp the other Let the bottomlesse depth of mercie swallowe vp the depth of miserie AMEN E EXcept LORD the praier of thy seruant as thou diddest the praier of Cornelius and cast me not confused from thy presence Acts 10 verse 6. O Sweet Iesus who euer came to thee with a pure and stedfast faith and went awaie confused Or who euer desired thy fauour and went without it Surelie thou passest in thine abundant pitie both the deseruings and also the desires of them that praie vnto thee For thou giuest more than man can desire The woman of Canaan followed thee she cried and made a pitious noise she mooued thy Disciples to compassion worshipped thee and said Lord helpe me but yet wouldest thou not answere Yet shee trusting in thy mercie praied againe saieng Lord helpe me Unto whose importunitie thou diddest answere saieng It is not good to take the childrens bread and cast it vnto dogs O Lord who would not haue beene confounded and haue gotten him awaie at these thy words And yet
did this woman continue still in praier and said It is truth Lord that thou saiest it is not meete to cast the childrens bread vnto dogs But yet Lord the dogs doo eate of the crums which fall from the childrens table And thou Lord reioicing in hir great constancie didst saie O woman great is thy faith be it vnto thee as thou desirest Now therefore sweet and mercifull Lord Iesu as thou diddest vouchsafe to accept and heare the praier of Cornelius and of this woman of Canaan so I hartilie beseech thee to heare my humble praiers which I make daie and night before thee not onelie that thou shouldest deliuer me from bodilie oppressions but also from the spirituall power of the diuell that after this mortall life I may come to thy blessed presence in the euerlasting kingdome where thou reignest God with the Father and the holie Ghost AMEN G GIue eare Ô LORD and let all my sorrowfull complaints which go foorth of vnfeined lips come before thee that my mouth may shew foorth the woorthie praise of thy name Psalme 17. verse 1. THy praise is a great thing O Lord for it proceedeth out of the fountaine whereof no sinners drinke There is no glorious praise in the mouth of a sinner Deliuer me therefore O Lord from the waie of sinners and my tongue shall magnifie thy righteousnesse and my lips and my mouth shall shew foorth thy praise Thou hast the key of Dauid which shuttest and no man openeth and openest and no man shutteth Therefore open thou my lips as thou hast opened the mouths of infants out of whose mouths thou hast established thy praise Trulie the Prophets and Apostles and all other thy Saints praised thee despised themselues The sucklings extoll thy fame and glorie which they knowe through thy heauenlie and celestiall grace Thy friends which spreading thy glorie haue conuerted innumerable soules from sinne vnto vertue and true felicitie Thy beloued haue openlie preached thy bountious gentlenesse and mercifull fauour which thou shewest in thy deere sonne vnto all the world Now therefore mercifull God giue me true humilitie that thou maist stablish thy praise by my mouth Make me as one of the infants and sucklings that I may euer hang on the paps of thy wisdome For thy paps O Lord are better than wine and thy wisdome better than riches Make me as one of thy friends or beloued that I may constantlie abide in thee that my mouth and voice may among the sucklings extoll and set foorth thy praise saieng and singing Ozanna in the highest AMEN I I Am filthie and vncleane before thee Ô LORD If thou therefore sprinkle me with Isope I shall be cleane If thou wash me I shall be whiter than snowe Psalme 51. verse 7. I Sope Lord is a lowe herbe it is hot and of a good sauour which signifieth nothing else but thine onlie sonne Iesus Christ which humbled himselfe vnto death euen vnto the death of the Crosse which with the heate of his feruent loue loued vs and washed vs from our sinnes in his bloud which also with the redolent and sweet sauor of his beneuolence and righteousnesse hath replenished the world Therefore with this Isope shalt thou O holie Father sprinkle me when thou shalt powre vpon me the vertue and bloud of thy deere sonne Christ when he through faith shall dwell in me when through loue I am ioined with him when I shall imitate and followe his humilitie and passion then shall I be cleansed from all mine vncleannesse Then shalt thou wash me with mine owne teares which flowe out of the loue of thy sonne Christ Then shall I sigh till I be wearie then shall I water my bed euerie night with my teares so that it shall swimme in them and then Lord shalt thou wash me and I shall be whiter than snowe AMEN N NOT euerie one that saith to me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but he that doth the will of my father which is in heauen Matth. 7 verse 21. THy will is O heauenlie father that we do beleeue in thy beloued sonne whome thou hast sent Thy will is that we beleeue that he whome thou hast sent is come in the flesh And thy will is that we imitate and keepe his saieng Thy will is also that we should heare him For thou spakest from heauen saieng This is my welbeloued Sonne in whome I delight heare him Giue me therefore O heauenlie father a stedfast faith a strong faith yea such a faith that no tribulation that no vexation that no persecution may cause me to denie thy Son whom thou hast sent but that I may with a pure and constant faith confesse him to be come in the flesh for the redemption of the world and that I may imitate and folowe him that I may keepe his saieng who was deliuered for my sinnes and was raised againe for my iustification Giue me also O holie father a perfect hearing and not a corrupt hearing but that I may through the teaching of the holie Ghost heare thee out of the Prophets out of the Apostles out of the pen of the Euangelists and out of the mouth of thy Spouse the Catholike Church to whome thou saiedst I will send you a comforter euen my spirit which shall leade you into all truth Grant me O Lord this spirit for there is none that can saie Iesus is the Lord but by this thy holie spirit AMEN A A Sacrifice to God is a troubled spirit a contrite and humble hart ô GOD shalt thou not despise Psalme 51. verse 17. A Broken and troubled spirit and not broken and troubled flesh pleaseth thee O Lord. For the flesh is broken and vexed because it hath not the carnall things that it desireth or else feeleth in it selfe things which it hateth The spirit is broken and vnquieted for his fault because it hath offended against God whom it loueth He soroweth that he hath sinned against his maker and redeemer and that he hath not regarded such a good and louing father This broken and sorowing spirit is vnto thee O Lord a sacrifice of most sweet sauour which notwithstanding hath his confection of most bitter spices euen of the remembrance of his sinnes For when our sinnes are gathered together into the morter of the hart and beaten with the pestle of compunction and made into powder and moistened with the water of teares therof is made an ointment and sacrifice most sweet which being offered to thee O Lord thou wilt not despise Marie Magdalen which was a great sinner made such an ointment and put it into the Alablaster boxe of hir hart She feared not to enter into the Pharises house and there humbling hir selfe at thy feete sweet Lord washed them with hir teares wiped them with hir heare and annointed them with most pretious ointment and ceassed not to kisse them Surelie Lord hir sacrifice was right acceptable and pleased thee so that thou preferredst it aboue the Pharisie which
of the stormie sea to guide vs vnto thee our hauen Lord gouerne our ship with thy right hand by the helme of thy crosse that wee perish not in the waues that the tempest of the water drowne vs not and that the deepe swalowe vs not vp but with the hooke of thy crosse plucke vs backe out of this vast sea vnto thee our onlie comfort whom we see waiting for vs a farre off as the morning-starre and as the daiesunne of righteousnesse in maner with weeping eies vpon the shore of the heauenlie countrie Behold we whom thou hast ransomed doo crie vnto thee yea euen we as yet thy banished exiles whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloud doo crie vnto thee heare vs O God our Sauiour the hope of all the ends of the earth and of all them that be in the sea a farre off We be conuersant in a troublesome sea and thou standing vpon the shore lookest at our perils Oh saue vs for thy name sake that we perish not And Lord grant vs so to keepe our course betweene Scylla and Charybdis and to hold so with thee that we may escape the dangers of both and come safe to land without losse of ship or fraight Amen Another meditation of the happinesse of the good soule hence departing at burials HAppie is the soule which departing from the earthly bodie goeth directlie into heauen secure it is and quiet and feareth neither enimie nor death For it enioieth continuallie thy presence O God vncessantlie beholdeth the most glorious Lord whome she hath serued and loued and whom now at the length full ioifullie and gloriouslie she hath attained vnto And this glorie of so great blessednesse neither time shall diminish nor anie wicked person take awaie The daughters of Zion haue seene hir and counted hir blessed euen the Queenes and the concubines haue praised hir saieng Who is she that commeth vp out of the desert abounding in pleasure leaning vpon hir welbeloued Who is she that looketh foorth as the morning faire as the Moone pure as the Sunne terrible as an armie with banners How cheerefullie goeth she out hastneth runneth when all amazed shee heareth hir beloued saieng vnto hir on this wise Arise my loue my faire one and come awaie For behold the winter now is past the raine is changed and gone awaie the flouds appeere in our earth the time of the singing of the bird is come and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land The fig-tree hath brought foorth hir yong figs and the vines with their small grapes haue cast a sauour Arise my loue my faire one and come awaie my doue that art in the holes of the rocke in the secret places of the staires shew me thy sight let me heare thy voice for thy voice is sweet and thy sight comelie Come awaie my chosen my faire one my doue mine vnspotted one my spouse come awaie and I will put thee into my bed-chamber because I haue longed after thy beautie Come awaie that thou maist triumph in my presence with mine Angels whose companie I haue promised thee After manie perils and labour come awaie enter into thy maisters ioie the which no man shall take from thee Amen Another which may be vsed on all Saincts daie OH happie are all thy Saincts O Christ which haue passed ouer the sea of this mortalitie and attained vnto the hauen of perpetuall quietnesse securitie and peace where they are at rest and alwaie ioifull and merrie Wherfore of thy tender loue I beseech thee O Christ who art without care of thy selfe be carefull for vs who needest not to care for incorruptible glorie haue thou a consideration of our manifold miseries O our God who hast chosen a people to thy selfe and endued them with glorie making them both immortall of thine immortalitie and ioifull through thy blessed sight I beseech thee be thou alwaies mindfull of vs and helpe vs who as yet in the salt seas of this life are tossed with the surges about vs. O thou goodlie gate who art raised into a maruellous highnesse helpe vs vile pauement lieng much beneath thee giue vs thine hand and raise vp such as lie vpon the ground that waxing strong out of weakenesse we may be made couragious in battell Make thou intercession for vs continuallie and vncessantlie praie for vs wretches and most negligent sinners that through thy praiers we may be conioined to the holie companie of saincts for otherwise we shall neuer be saued For alas we are verie fraile weakelings of no courage creatures giuen to the seruice of the bellie and flesh hauing in vs almost no sparkle of vertue and yet placed vnder thy confession O Christ we are borne by the wood of the crosse through this great and wide sea where are things creeping innumerable both small beasts and great wherein the most cruell dragon is alwaie prepared to deuour vs wherein be the dangerous rocks Scylla and Charybdis with other such like innumerable things whereby the heedlesse and wauering in faith make shipwracke Wherefore O Christ praie for vs O good Christ praie thou we saie for vs that through thy good praiers and merits we may deserue ship and merchandise being saued to attaine vnto the port of perpetuall saluation quietnesse peace and securitie which neuer shall haue end Amen After the seruice and common praier ended praie thus O Iesu Christ the verie true Aaron and onlie high Bishop of our soule which in thine own name art gone vp into the most holie place and bearest our names before the Lord vpon thy shoulders for a continuall remembrance Forsomuch as our offerings and sacrifice cannot be so perfect but that through our frailtie some fault and imperfection shall be found therein in thy sight vouchsafe we beseech thee O holiest of all holies and our most perfect high priest in mercie to beare the iniquities of our publike praiers and common sacrifice which we thy people with one accord by thy grace haue heere at this time made and offered vnto God the Father in thy name Pardon O pardon our dulnesse and coldnesse in deuotion and let this our oblation be alwaies vpon thy forehead to cause these our burnt offerings to be presented and accepted for a sweet sauour of rest before the Lord our God that through thy onelie mediation he being pacified our sinnes pardoned and we gratiouslie reconciled and sanctified may be woorthie often to haue accesse to thy mercie-seate to woorship thee in thy holie Temple and now as thy seruants to go in peace to glorifie thee in all holie obedience to thy word to doo vnto the poore as much as we can So be it Or else thus ALmightie God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee and dooest promise that when two or three be gathered togither in thy name thou wilt grant their request fulfill now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may