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
counted as sheepe appointed to bee slaine neuerthelesse in all these things wee ouercome through him that loueth vs. For I am sure that neither death nor life neither Angels nor rule neither power neither things present neither things to come neither quantitie or qualitie neither anie creature shall bee able to depart vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesu our Lord. They are not by this godlie faith presumptuouslie inflamed nor by the same become they loose idle or slowe in dooing of godlie works as carnall men dreme of them so much the more feruent they be in dooing most holie and pure works which God hath commanded them to walke in They wander not in mens traditions and inuentions leauing the most holie and pure precepts of God vndone which they knowe they be bound to obserue and keepe Also they worke not like hirelings for meede wages or reward but as louing children without respect of lucre gaine or hire They be in such libertie of spirit and ioie so much in God that their inward consolation can not be expressed with tongue All feare of damnation is gone from them for they haue put their whole hope of saluation in his hands which will and can performe it neither haue they anie post or piller to leane to but God and his smooth and vnwrinkled Church For he is to them all in all things and to him they leane as a most sure square piller in prosperitie and aduersitie nothing doubting of his promises and couenants For they beleeue most surelie they shall be fulfilled Also the children of God be not curious in searching the high mysteries of God which be not meet for them to knowe neither doo go about with humane and carnall reasons to interpret Scripture persuading men by their subtile wits and carnall doctrine that much knowledge of Scripture maketh men heretikes without they temper it with humane doctrine Sophistrie Philosophie and Logicke wherewith to bee seduced according to the traditions of men after the ordinances of the world and not after Christ S. Paul doth most diligentlie admonish vs which arts are not conuenient meet to be made checkmate with Scripture For the Scriptures be so pure and holie that no perfection can be added vnto them For euen as fine gold doth excell all other mettals so doth the word of God all mens doctrines I beseech the Lord to send the learned and vnlearned such abundance of his holie spirit that they may obeie and obserue the most sincere and holie word of God and shew the fruits thereof which consisteth chieflie in charitie and godlie vnitie that as we haue professed one God one faith and one baptisme so we may be all of one mind and one accord putting awaie all biting and gnawing For in backbiting slandering and mis-reporting our Christian brethren we shew not our selues the Disciples of Christ whom we professe In him was most high charitie humilitie and patience suffering most patientlie all ignominie rebukes and slanders praieng to his eternall father for his enimies with most perfect charitie and in all things did remit his will to his fathers as the Scripture doth witnesse when he praied in the Mount A godlie example and lesson for vs to followe at all times and seasons as well in prosperitie as in aduersitie to haue no will but Gods will committing and leauing to him all our cares and greefes and to abandon all our policies and inuentions For they be most vaine and foolish and indeed verie shadowes and dreames But we be yet so carnall and fleshlie that we run headlong like vnbrideled colts without snaffle or bridle If we had the loue of God printed in our harts it would keepe vs backe from running astraie And vntill such time as it please God to send vs this bit to hold vs in we shall neuer run the right waie although wee speake and talke neuer so much of God and his word The true followers of Christs doctrine haue alwaies a respect and an eie to their vocation If they be called to the ministerie of Gods word they preach and teach it sincerelie to the edifieng of others and shew themselues in their liuing followers of the same If they be maried men hauing children and familie they nourish and bring them vp without all bitternesse and fiercenesse in the doctrine of the Lord in all godlinesse and vertue committing the instruction of others which apperteine not to their charge to the reformation of God and his ministers which chieflie be Kings and Princes bearing the sword euen for that purpose to punish euill dooers If they be children they honour their father and mother knowing it to be Gods commandement and that he hath thereto annexed a promise of long life If they be seruants they obeie and serue their maisters with all feare and reuerence euen for the Lords sake neither with murmuring nor grudging but with a free hart and mind If they be husbands they loue their wiues as their owne bodies after the example as Christ loued the congregation and gaue himselfe for it to make it to him a spouse without spot or wrinkle If they be women maried they learne of S. Paule to be obedient to their husbands and to keepe silence in the congregation and to learne of their husbands at home Also they weare such apparell as becommeth holinesse comlie vsage with sobernesse not being accusers or detractors not giuen to much eating of delicate meats and drinking of wine but they teach honest things to make the yong women sober minded to loue their husbands to loue their children to be discreet chaste houswifelie good and obedient vnto their husbands that the word of God be not euill spoken of Uerelie if all sorts of people would looke to their owne vocation and ordeine the same according to Christs doctrine we should not haue so many eies and eares to other mens faults as we haue For we be so busie and glad to find and espie out other mens dooings that we forget and can haue no time to weigh ponder our owne which after the word of God we ought first to reforme and then we shall the better helpe an other with the straw out of his eies But alas we be so much giuen to loue and to flatter our selues and so blinded with carnall affections that we can see and perceiue no fault in our selues And therfore it is a thing verie requisite and necessarie for vs to praie all with one hart and mind to God to giue vs an heauenlie light and knowledge of our owne miseries and calamities that we may see them and acknowledge them trulie before him The twelfe Chapter The conclusion with a Christian exhortation to the amendement of life IF anie man shall be offended at this my lamenting the faults of men which be in the world fantasing with themselues that I doo it either of hatred or of malice to anie sort or kind of people verelie in so dooing they shall doo me
namelie among the rest the godlie and learned treatise called The lamentation of a sinner written long since by the vertuous Ladie Queene Katherin which for the excellencie thereof was first published in print by Sir William Cicill now the right Honourable Lord Treasurer of England as by his verie godlie learned and eloquent Epistle therevnto prefixed and here also in this edition now inserted to Gods glorie and his high commendation doth and may appeere but especiallie and aboue all the most diuine learned and godlie treatise intituled The Queenes meditation written first in French by the vertuous Ladie Margaret Queene of Nauar and after verie exactlie and faithfullie translated by our mostgratious souereigne and learned Ladie Queene ELIZABETH who among manie Queens virgins and women through the feare of the Lord hath doone verie vertuouslie and gotten thereby great renowme And therevpon considering with my selfe what great profit and singular pleasure might thereby come also to other of like mind to my selfe if the same their excellent and rare works dispersed into seuerall pamphlets and in part some thing obscured and worne cleane out of print and so out of practise were by some painefull hand collected togither and reuiued or brought againe to their former good and godlie vse in the church mee thought I could not better spend my time nor emploie my talent either for the renowme of such heroicall authors and woorthie women or for the vniuersall commoditie of all good christians than in and by some apt treatise or collection to reduce these their manifold works into one entire volume and by that meanes for to register their so rare and excellent monuments of good record as perfect presidents of true pietie and godlinesse in woman kind to all posteritie Wherevpon God working in me both the will and consent I vndertooke the same in his feare which when after a sort I had doone and perceiued that there wanted per manie things to make the same an absolute and perfect booke for the simpler sort of women according to my mind to satisfie my selfe further in this my purposed collection I fell to the pervsing of the holie Bible and manie other good bookes as well of praier as of other diuine matter such as from time to tune haue beene penned by diuers godlie learned men out of the which that I might now particularlie applie that vnto them women I meane which generalise hereto fore was written of them or by some other for them as also to the inter that all godlie and deuout women readers might haue in some measure wherewith to exercise their faith to stir vp their deuotion and to satisfie their godlie desires and also verie readilie find without tediousnesse or distraction of the mind vertuouslie inclined whatsheuer they would either by praier aske by meditation ponder by precepts learne or by examples imitate or auoid to their comfort edification I indeuoured for their sakes by all possible diligence to cull and bring out of the rich store and treasurie of the approoued works of manie learned men things both old and new concerning the same both for priuate and publike vse adding therevnto such plentie of heauenlie and spirituall helpes both for profit and pleasure as the diuersities of so diuine matter and varietie of so honourable inuentions would affoord Besides to auoid confusion and disorder a thing verie preiudiciall to so holie an exercise I haue carefullie digested the same into such a plaine easie familiar and certeine method order and direction both for matter and maner as I could possiblie deuise or was requisite for such a worke to make it profitable to the simple and vnlearned reader Lastlie bicause the diuersitie of matter forced a distinction of the treatises I fitly as I could haue diuided and contriued the whole booke into seuen seuerall parts or Lampes all which for diuers good and approoued considerations I terme or intitle by this generall name THE MONVMENT OF MATRONES And now make bold yet vnder the deliberate view and carefull correction of manie vevie graue wise learned and godlie Diuines therevnto appointed by authoritie as also with the approbation and allowance of the right reuerend father in God my Lord the bishop of London to publish the same abroad in print as a booke in the iudgement of them that are learned not vnprofitable to the church but verie necessarie and in some respect more proper and peculiar for the priuate vse of women than hertofore hath beene set out by anie Which I haue doone not for that there lacked praier bookes sufficient for women to read but onelie to increase the plentie of heauenlie comforts wherewith this our church and realme of England thanks be to God floweth as also to make this treatise heretofore in part priuate to my selfe and a few of my freends now publike and common also to you good christian readers For behold I protest I haue not laboured for my selfe but for you and all them that seeke knowledge feare God be deuout and would not by fits and starts as those that can find scarse anie leisure to attend vpon the Lord and his seruice as they ought but daie and night continuallie and incessantlie either silentlie in hart with Hanna or openlie in mouth with Marie as they are bound spend their whole life and make it their whole worke to praie meditate and read Gods word with other such good bookes or at the least to allow to themselues some little portion or part of the daie and night to prostrate themselues apart from all companie in praier and meditation before the Lord of heauen and earth their creator redeemer and sauiour and that in all christian perfection and humble obedience to his word and commandements So haue you good reader by the goodnesse of God who worketh all our works for vs here now at the length in this Monument or collection conteined if you list so for distinction or names sake to call or intitle them not onelie a burning Lampe for virgins but also a christall Mirrour for Matrones as also a delectable Diall for to direct you to true deuotion with a perfect President or register of holie praier for all women generally to haue recourse vnto as to their homelie or domestical librarie First a Lampe readie replenished and prepared of the wise virgins with that fragrant oile pretious perfume and odoriferous incense of holie inuocation pure praier diuine sacrifice and heauenlie worship wherewith God is so highlie pleased and whereby at his holie hand the virgine or single woman through the intercession of Christ obteineth the gift of puritie modestie shamefastnesse and chastitie the deflowred woman findeth grace to repent and to be restored to fauour both with God and men the naturall or stepdaughter to reuerence and obeie hir parents in all childlike duties the wooed woman not to be by anie meanes cosined or abused in marriage the yoong married wife to consecrate hir selfe to liue holilie in that honourable estate
within booke or without and repent from the bottome of my hart the often omission of it in times past so I wish you good readers which christianlie haue consecrated and vowed to giue your selues to this holie exercise as the Lord I saie in mercie shall giue you grace leisure time and occasion and not suffer you to be tired with anie worldlie necessitie in the name and feare of God to obserue this or that order method forme or direction which he in his word dooth allow of or you knowe best will keepe you in the continuall faith feare and fauour of God For trust me if you will but a little together with me call these ten memorable things to your christian remembrance in this so holie an exercise First the commandements of almightie God himselfe whom in consideration of our owne great miserie and necessitie and common lacke of the christian congregation hath willed vs to call vpon him saieng Praie alwaies with all maner of praiers and supplications in the spirit and watch therevnto with all perseuerance Secondlie his most sweet and comfortable promises made gratiouslie both to heare and grant our godlie and lawfull requests saieng Aske and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall find knocke and it shall be opened vnto you for euerie one that calleth vpon the name of the Lord and departeth from iniquitie shall be saued c. Thirdlie our great and manifold sinnes whereof we are guiltie which will not suffer vs to sit still without care but briueth vs of necessitie to beg his most gratious pardon Fourthlie our feeble flesh and weake nature vnable in euerie respect to doo anie good thing which requireth continuall praier to aid and strength it Fiftlie the wilie subtiltie of our spirituall enimie sathan who priuilie lurketh in the inward parts waiting euen in our best actions to trip and ouerthrowe vs against whom we must by feruent praier vehementlie striue Sixtlie our owne greeuous assalts and cruell temptations which neuer giue vs truce rest nor quietnesse but hasten vs verie much vnto God for helpe Seuenthlie the zeale of the glorie of God and aduancement of his kingdome which ought wholie to drawe and moone vs continuallie to exercise our selues in the seruice of GOD. Eightlie the dailie dangers and continuall calamities that hourelie hang ouer our heads which giue vs all cause enough yea euen the most holie and that with sighs and grones continuallie to flie vnto God our heauenlie father and call vpon him by feruent praiers Ninthlie the infinite benefits and great blessings of God so bountifullie and plentifullie euerie waie powred continuallie vpon vs which giue vs both ample matter and iust occasion hourelie by thankesgiuing euen from the bottome of our harts to praise and magnifie him for the same Tenthlie and lastlie the great excellencie woorthinesse necessitie vertue fruit and profit of true and christian praier consisting partlie in the dignitie of God the commander and partlie in the effect of obteining of whatsoeuer we aske according to his will These things I saie good reader well considered I suppose you will saie here is nothing superfluous but all little enough to so needfull and profitable an exercise of our faith praier I meane as wherein the peace of conscience yea our whole saluation consisteth and whereby God himselfe is said to be present with vs not onelie by his prouidence to watch ouer vs but also by his power to susteine and succour vs and by his goodnesse and mercie to receiue vs into his fatherlie grace and fauour Yea I doubt not but you will willinglie confesse with me I saie that all sorts of deuout women haue great cause and that continuallie to take these lamps into their hands thereby either with vanished Hagar to acknowledge Gods graces towards them or with desolate Naomi to praie that God would blesse their children to be staies and staues of their age to their comfort or with heuie Hanna to powre out their harts before the Lord in teares for a sonne and for his mercie and fauour towards them or with wise Abigael by praier to preuent the mischeefes that hang as well ouer their heads as their families yea or with hir often on their knees to praie for the good prosperitie and preseruation of their gratious gouernour Queene ELIZABETH or with the church and faithfull soule of all christians to long for the kisses of the peace of Christ their spirituall spouse and neuer to cease daie nor night to seeke him whom their soule loueth till by praier and meditation they haue found him or with the wofull daughter of Sion to lament and mourne pitiouslie for their sinnes till their miseries be mitigated and they comforted or with sorrowfull Sara Tobit in fasting and teares to be deliuered from dailie reproches and slanderous roongs or wich vertuous Iudith in sack cloth and ashes to obteine strength and courage mightilie to destroie and ouercome proud Olophernes with all the huge host of his bloudie ruffians or with noble Queene Hester to proclaime a fast and call their virgins families and people together to praie daie and night to the hazarding of their owne liues also if need so require for their owne further preseruation and their peoples and subiects safetie and deliuerance out of the hands of cruell Haman and all his seditious conspirators or with chast and innocent Susanna to appeale to God the high iudge of iudges to be acquitted from a violeut death by false accusation and more vniust condeinuation or with the afflicted church in exile to acknowledge their sinnes and call for mercie to be deliuered from distresse or with the woman of Canaan to flie vnto Christ in all necessities to be releeued both bodilie and ghostlie or with our most gratious Souereigne Ladie Queene ELIZABETH to muse diuinelie of the inward loue of the soule towards Christ their spouse their Lord and father mother and brother or with the vertuous Ladie Queene KATHERINE to vewaile the ignorance of their blind life led in superstition and with hir also in all their troubles to stir vp their godlie minds patientlie to suffer all afflictions for the loue of euerlasting felicitie or with the right godlie Ladie Iane Dudley to endure the crosse to death most patientlie or with good Ladie Tirwit to exercise them selues morning and euening in fruitfull and godlie praiers psalmes hymnes and meditations or with the honourable Ladie Aburgauennie by the like to tread the path to paradise for the health of their soule or with holie Agnus and Eulalia the martyrs to triumph in the victorie of Christs death or with Anne Askew the marryr to praie hartilie for their enimies or with maister Bradfords mother to be petitioners vnto God for the constancie in faith to death of their children or with mistresse Dorcas Alarten carefullie to instruct their whole familie in the principall points of christian religion or with other graue and godlie matrones vnknowne to exhort others to mortification and holinesse of life
inrollment of their condigne praises and memorable dooings to all posterities but especiallie for that I might hereby as much as in me lieth incourage prouoke and allure all godlie women of our time in some measure according to their seueral gifts giuen them of God to become euen from their youth more studious imitators and diligent folowers of so godlie and rare examples in their vertuous mothers that as they either in sex name or estate are equall with them so in learning wisedome good industrie and in all holie studies and vertuous exercises commendable for women they would dailie endeuour themselues to become like them that so being lightened by their good examples both of life and doctrine they may shine also together with them on earth as burning lampes of verie virginitie and in heauen as bright starres of eternall glorie which God for his owne name sake grant Amen VVhat ceremonie euerie woman ought by Gods word to vse in the time of praier publike or priuate 1. Corinth chapter II verse 4 c. EVerle man praieng or prophesieng hauing anie thing on his head dishonoureth God his head but euerie woman that praieth or prophesieth bare headed dishonoureth hir husband hir head For it is euen one verie thing as though she were shauen Therefore if the woman be not couered let hir also be shorne and if it be a shame for a woman to be shorne or polled as in deed it is then for shame let hir be couered and keepe hir haire trussed vp vnder a kercher For a man ought not to couer his head but ought to be polled and bare for somuch as he is the image and glorie of God in whom his maiestie and power dooth shine concerning his authoritie ouer his wife and other of Gods creatures subiected vnder his dominion and rule But the woman is the glorie of the man or receiueth hir glorie in commendation of man and therefore is subiect for the man is not of the woman but the woman of the man neither was the man created for the womans sake but the woman for the mans sake Therefore ought the woman to haue power on hir head that is some thing to couer hir head in signe of subiection bicause of the angels to whom also they shew their dissolution and shame and not onelie to Christ and his church or congregation where they praie Iudge you in your selues also is it comelie that a woman praie vnto God bare headed Dooth not nature it selfe teach you that if a man haue long haire like a woman it is a shame vnto him but if a woman haue long haire it is a praise vnto hir for hir haire is giuen vnto hir for a couering and to the end she should trusse it vp about hir head to declare that she must couer hir head But if anie man list to be contentious we haue no such custome neither the church of God ¶ The first Lampe of Virginitie conteining the diuine PRAIERS HYMNES or SONGS made by sundrie holie women in the Scripture something explaned in the hardest places for the better vnderstanding and edifieng of the vnlearned Reader and first The praier of Hagar the handmaid of Sarai which she made in hir trouble and banishment wherein she rebuketh hir owne dulnesse and acknowledgeth Gods graces who was present with hir euerie-where Genesis 16 13. THou GOD lookest on me haue I not also looked here after him that seeth me The song of thankesgiuing of Moses which Myriam the Prophetesse and sister of Aaron together with all the women sang vpon Timbrels to the praise of God for the people of Israëls deliuerance out of the hands of Pharao c. Exodus 15 1. SIng ye vnto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriouslie the horse and his rider hath he ouer throwne in the sea The Lord is our strength and praise and he is become our saluation he is our God and we will glorifie him hee is our fathers God and we will exalt him The Lord is a man of war Iehouah is his name in battell he stil ouer commeth is euer mindfull of his promise Pharaos chariots and his host hath hee cast into the sea his chosen captaines also are drowned in the red sea The deepe waters haue couered them they sunke to the bottome as a stone Thy right hand Lord is become glorious in power thy right hand O Lord hath all to dashed the enimie And in thy great glorie thou hast ouerthrowne them that rose vp against thee thou sentest foorth thy wrath which consumed them as the stubble Through the blast of thy nostrils the waters gathered together the fluds stood still as an heape and the deep waters congealed together in the hart or depth of the sea The enimie said I will pursue them I will ouertake them I will diuide the spoile and my lust shall be satisfied vpon them I will drawe my sword mine hand shall destroie them Thou didst blowe with thy winde the sea couered them they sanke as led in the mightie waters Who is like vnto thee O Lord among the gods or mightie men of the world Who is like thee so glorious in holinesse fearefull in praises shewing woonders Thou stretchest out thy right hand the earth swalowed them Thou in thy mercie hast caried this people which thou hast redeemed and deliuered and thou wilt bring them in thy strength vnto thine holie habitation the land of Canaan or Mount Zion The people and nations shall heare and be afraid sorowe shall come vpon the inhabitants of Palestina Then the Dukes of the Edomites shall be amazed and trembling shall come vpon the great and mightiest men of the Moabites all the inhabitants of Canaan shall waxe faint harted Feare and dread shall fall vpon them bicause of the greatnes of thine arme or power they shall be as still as a stone till thy people passe through O Lord till this people passe through which thou hast gotten or purchased Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in the mountaine of thine inheritance which is Mount Zion the place Lord that thou hast made and prepared for to dwell in euen the sanctuarie O Lord which thine hands shall establish The Lord shall reigne for euer and euer For Pharao on horsebacke went with his chariots and horsemen into the sea and the Lord brought the waters of the sea vpon them but the children of Israel went on drieland in the mids of the sea Sing ye therefore vnto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriouslie the horse and him that rode vpon him hath he ouerthrowne in the sea The song or thankesgiuing of Deborah and Barak after the victorie giuen of God by the hands of Iaël against Sisera Iudges 5 2. PRaise ye the Lord for the auenging of Israel and for the people of Zabulon and Nepthali that offred themselues gladly and became so willing to resist their enimies Heare O ye kings harken O ye princes I euen I will sing vnto the Lord I will sing praise
them among princes and to make them inherit the seate of glorie for the pillers of the earth are the Lords and he hath set the world vpon them therefore he may dispose all things at his pleasure and prefer whom he will to honour He will keepe the feete of his Saints so that they shall neither walke nor fall into any euill the wicked shall keepe silence in darkenesse for in his owne might shall no man be strong The Lords aduersaries shall be destoried and out of heauen shall he thunder vpon them y e Lord shall iudge the ends of the world and shall giue power vnto his king Iesus exalt the horne of Christ his annointed The song of the women of Israël in the praise of Dauids victorie ouer Goliah 1. Samuel 18 7. SAule hath slaine his thousand and Dauid his ten thousand The praier or wish of Abigaël for king Dauid against his enimies 1. Samuel 25 24 OH my Lord I haue committed the iniquitie and I praie thee let thine handmaid speake vnto thee and heare thou the words of thine handmaid Let not my Lord I praie thee regard this wicked man Nabal for as his name is so is he Nabal is his name and follie is with him but I thine handmaid sawe not the yoong men of my Lord whome thou sentest Now therefore my Lord as the Lord liueth as thy soule liueth the Lord I say that hath withholden thee from comming to shed blood and that thine hand should not saue thee nor reuenge thée on thine enimies So now I pray God that thine enimies and they that intend to doo my Lord euill may be as Nabal and I praie thee forget the trespasse of thine handmaid c. The song of Sion or the familiar talke and mysticall communication or diuine dialogue of the speciall loue betwene the spirituall bridegrome Iesus Christ and the bride the faithful soule his sanctified chaste and holie spouse the Church commonlie called The Song of songs or Ballat of ballats made by king Salomon Cantic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. The Church or faithfull soule speaketh to Christ O That thou wouldest kisse me with the kisses of thy mouth euen with thy peace which passeth all vnderstanding for thy loue O Christ is better and more pleasant vnto me than wine and that bicause of the good and pleasant sauour of thy most pretious balmes or ointments euen of thy great benefits which I taste and féele from thée Thy name O Christ is as a sweet smelling ointment when it is powred out and shed foorth thy mercie is set foorth and published by preaching thy Gospell therefore the Uirgins euen they that are pure in hart and conuersation doo loue thee Drawe thou me O swéete Christ vnto thee and wee will run after thee for otherwise I confesse we can not come to thée except we be drawne of thée The King hath brought me into his priuie chambers and reuealed vnto me the secret ioies not knowne to the world we will therefore be glad and reioice in thee yea wee thinke more of thy loue than of wine For they that be righteous loue thee aboue all things I am blacke I confesse through the spots of sinne persecution and troubles O ye daughters of Ierusalem but yet comelie faire and welfauoured through faith in the blood of Christ in whose fauour I haue confidence and trust as the fruites or tents of the Kedarens or Arabians and as the hangings or curtens of Salomon which within were all set with pretious stones and iewels Maruell not therfore at me bicause I am so blacke nor regard or consider me by the outward apperance for why the sunne euen the corruption of nature through sinne and affliction hath looked and shined vpon me Yea and my mothers children euen mine owne brethren which should haue most fauoured me were angrie against me and hauing euill will at mee they made me the keeper of the vineyards but mine owne vineyard haue I not kept such alas hath béene mine owne negligence Therefore féeling my faults and imperfections I flie now vnto thée O Christ my spirituall husband onlie for succour beséeching thée and saieng Tell me O thou whom my soule loueth where thou feedest the sheepe O shew me I saie where thou liest and makest them rest at the noon day for why should I be like hir that turneth aside or goeth wrong about the flocks of thy companions whome thou hast called to the dignitie of pastors in thy Church and yet they like apostataes not onelie set foorth their owne false dreames and traditions in stéed of thy true doctrine but also are become the domesticall enimies that persecute the Church Christ speaketh to his Church or the faithfull soule O Thou the fairest among women if thou knowe not thy selfe but art ignorant in my waies then go thy way foorth after the footsteps of the flock of sheepe euen after the doctrine of the Apostles and feede thy goates and kids by the tents of the shepheards and learne of the true pastors and spirituall doctors I haue compared thee O my loue vnto the troupe of horses in the chariots of Pharao bicause that for thy spirituall beautie and excellencie there was no worldlie treasure to be compared vnto thée Thy cheekes and thy neck are beautifull as the turtles and behanged with spangles chaines and goodly iewels a neckband also imbrodered with gold and studs or buttons of siluer will I make thee The Church WHen the King sitteth at the table and is at his repast hee shall smell my Nardus or spikenard for I reioice that I am admitted to the companie of my husband Christ yea my welbeloued is as a bundle of Mirrh vnto mee and he shall lie betwixt my brests for he is most déere vnto me my welbeloued I saie is as a cluster of Camphire vnto me in the vineyards of Engedi wherfore so long as I followe my Christ I can not erre from the true faith of saluation CHRIST O How faire art thou my loue Oh how faire art thou Thine eies are like the dooues eies behold most acceptable art thou vnto me and I commend thy beautie The Church OH how faire art thou also my beloued How welfauoured and pleasant art thou Our bed euen the hart of the faithfull where thou O Christ dwellest by thy spirit is all greene bedecked with flowers the beames or seelings of our house are of Cedar trees and our crosse ioints of Cipresse I am the rose of the field and the lillie of the vallies CHRIST YEa like as the lillie among the thornes so is my loue among the daughters for my Church is to be preferred before aboue all other things yea so am I also among mine enimies The Church LIke as the apple tree among the trees of the forest so is my welbeloued among the sonnes of men I can not but testifie my loue and great desire towards him for my delight is to sit and rest vnder his
shields hang therein yea and all the weapons and targats of the giants or strong men are fixed therein Thy two breasts the old Testament and the new wherin are knowledge and zeale two pretious iewels are like two twins of yoong Roes which feede among roses O that I might go to the mountaine of Mirrh and to the hill of frankincense till the daie breake and till the shadowes be past awaie Thou art all faire O my loue and no spot or blemish is there in thee in my sight Come to mee from Lebanon O my spouse come to me from Lebanon Looke from the top of Amanah from the top of Shenir and Hermon from the dens of the lions and from the mountaines of the leopards euen from all the corners of the world will I call thee my Church and faithfull vnto me O my sister for so I cal thée my Church in respect that I haue taken the flesh of man vpon me O my spouse thou hast wounded or bewitched my hart with loue O my sister and spouse thou hast wounded my hart with one of thy eies and with a chaine of thy necke yea I loue my gifts in thée whom I haue therewith made so beautifull and rich O how faire are thy brests my sister my spouse how faire is thy loue Thy breasts or loue are much better and more pleasant vnto me than wine and the sauour of thine ointments passeth all spices Thy lips O my spouse bicause of thy confession thankesgiuing and through preaching of the Gospell drop as the honie combe and bring foorth much consolation and comfort yea milke and honie are vnder thy tongue and the sweet smell or sauour of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon My sister my spouse is as a garden well locked or inclosed as a spring shut vp and a fountaine sealed vp The fruits that are planted in thee are like a verie paradise or orchard of pomegranates with sweete fruits as Camphire Nardus or Spikenard Saffron Calamus and Cinamon with all sweet smelling trees of incense Mirrh Aloes and all the best spices The Church O Fountaine of the gardens O Well of liuing waters and the springs of Lebanon I confesse that all my glorie and beautie commeth of thée O Christ who art the true fountaine of all grace and goodnesse to me the Church thy spouse Arise O north wind and come O thou south wind come and blowe on my garden that the spices smell thereof may flowe out and be carried on euerie side yea let my welbeloued come to his garden and eate of the sweet and plesant fruits that growe therein For this is all my desire to haue thée O Christ my beloued spouse to come and comfort me and to powre the graces of thy holie spirit from all quarters vpon me CHRIST I Am come into my garden euen vnto my kingdome and Church where I prepare the banket for mine elect and bestowe vpon them my singular benefits O my sister my spouse I haue gathered my Mirrh with my spice I haue eaten my honie with the honie combe I haue drunke my wine with my milke Eate ye also O friends drink ye and make you merrie O welbeloued The Church I Sleepe and am troubled with the cares of worldlie things but mine hart waketh I heare the voice of my welbeloued that knocketh saieng CHRIST OPen to me O my sister my loue my dooue my derling mine vndefiled For mine head is full of dew and the locks of my heare are full of the night drops hauing long patience towards sinners The Church I Haue put off my cote and confesse my nakednesse hauing of my selfe nothing how shall I put it on againe I haue washed my feete and am made cleane how shall I defile my selfe againe Yea therefore séeing I am once by thée made cleane I here promise now vnto thée neuer to defile or pollute my selfe with sinne againe My welbeloued put in his hand by the hole of the doore and my hart and bowels were affectioned or moued towards him I rose vp to open to my beloued and my hands dropped with Mirrh and the Mirrh ran downe my fingers vpon the hands of the barre or locke I opened vnto my welbeloued but he was departed and gone his waie past me and my hart was gone when he did speake For when I sought him and would faine haue béene annointed of Christ I could not find him bicause I thought to annoint him with my good works I sought him I saie and could not find him I called and cried vpon him but he answered mee not For he left me for a time to the end he might stir vp in me a greater desire of him by continuall praier So the wicked watchmen and false teachers that went about the citie found me they smote me and wounded my conscience with their traditions yea the watchmen that kept the walles tooke awaie my vaile or kerchife from mee I charge you therefore O ye daughters of Ierusalem ye godlie watchmen of Zion from whence the lawe saluation commeth if ye find my welbeloued that you tell him that I am sicke of loue and that ye direct me vnto him The daughters of Ierusalem or faithfull Christians to the Church saie O Thou fairest among women what maner of man is thy welbeloued aboue other louers or what is he more than other welbeloued or what can thy loue doo more than other louers that thou dost so straightlie charge vs The Church MY welbeloued to describe his perfect beautie and comlinesse vnto you is white and ruddie coloured the goodliest and chiefest person among ten thousand His head is as the most fine gold his locks are curled and blacke as a rauen His eies are like dooues eies by the water brookes which looke as though they were washed with milke and remaine by the fullers vessels and are set like pearles in gold His cheekes are like a garden bed wherin the Apothecaries plant all maner of sweete spices flowers and things His lips are like lillies that drop downe pure and sweet smelling Mirrh His hands are like gold rings set with the Chrysolite or pretious stone of Tharsis His bellie is like white Iuorie deckt or couered ouer with Saphyres His legs are as the pillers of marble set vpon sockets of fine gold His face or countenance is as Lebanus and excellent as the beautie of the Cedar trees His mouth and the words thereof are sweet and he is altogither louelie and wholie delectable euen this or such a one is my loue O yee daughters of Ierusalem and such a maner of man is this my welbeloued spouse Christ The daughters of Ierusalem or the faithfull to the Church saie O Thou fairest among women whither is this thy welbeloued Christ gone whither is thy welbeloued turned aside that we also may seek him with thee For hearing of this his excellencie and beautie we are inflamed greatlie with desire to knowe how and where to find him also The
raged blasphemed and conspired against thee O GOD and thy truth like hypocrites against mee and my Crowne like traitours and against their Common-wealth and countrie like spoilers and that for no offence of mine to themward LORD thou knowest but onelie of cruell spite they beare mee bicause in truth I professe thy Christian religion and seeke by establishing the same through good and godlie lawes to serue thee zealouslie sincerelie and purelie according to the rule and veritie of thine eternall word Which thy great benefits when I well consider togither with mine vnwoorthinesse thereof I am euen forced with my father DAVID to giue humble thanks and to blesse thee before all the congregation and saie Blessed be thou O LORD GOD of Israel our Father for euer and euer Thine O LORD is greatnesse and power and glorie and victorie and praise For all that is in heauen and in earth is thine Thine is the kingdome O LORD and thou excellest as head ouer all Both riches and honour come of thee and thou reignest ouer all and in thine hand is power and strength in thine hand I saie O mightie GOD it is to make great and to giue strength vnto all now therefore I thanke thee and praise thy glorious name for euer But who am I O Lord GOD and what is my people that thou hast brought mee to this honour and thus redeemed and deliuered both mee and thy people out of thrall vnto thy selfe and art beecome our GOD Dooth this apperteine to man O LORD Or commeth not this rather of thy free mercie more than of anie our woorthinesse And what can ELIZABETH saie more vnto thee For thou Lord God knowest thy seruant euen for thy words sake according to thine owne hart hast thou made my fountaine become a floud and my light to shine as the sunne and done all these great things to make them knowne vnto thy seruant Now therefore for this thy gratious fauour after so long restraint so great dangers ouerpassed such blusterous storms ouerblowne so many iniuries digested wrongs susteined by thy mightie protection O mercifull God to my no small comfort thy peoples commoditie in exalting erecting and bringing me out of thrall to libertie out of darknesse into light out of danger to peace and quietnesse from dread to dignitie from miserie to maiestie from mourning to ruling breeflie of a prisoner to make me a Prince and to place me in the roiall throne there to sit as Queene now full 24. yeeres in the admirable rest blessed quietnesse and long peace which I now enioie For this thy diuine wisdome O heauenlie father in vnfolding reuealing frustrating the proud platformes peeuish practises of Achitophels all mine enimes For this thy meere mercie O deere Christ in spacing me and my people so long frō the bloudie hands of spoilers oppressors traitors vsurpers For this thy heauenlie prouidence O holie Ghost in preuenting their diuelish purposes and so gratiously protecting preseruing and defending me as wel before I was Queene as since from so extreme miseries and manifold dangers as also frō the hands and violences of al mine enimies visible inuisible domesticall foraine Finallie for these for all other thy great graces singular blessings and mestimable benefits principall vertues spirituall corporall O glorious Trinitie which through the mercie merits of my sweet Sauior Iesus Christ thou hertofore frō my birth hast presentlie dooest or hereafter vnto my death shalt bountifullie bestowe vpon me and my people I most hartilie laud entirelie magnifie and incessantlie extoll thy most high holie and renowmed name and sacred Princelie Maiestie And as I meeklie euen of dutie from the bottome of my hart render vnto thee my GOD and my King all condigne honour woorthie praise and possible thanks togither with the vnfeined resignation of all empire kingdome power rule dominion maiestie and glorie both in heauen and in earth as to thee onlie and most iustlie belongeth so now I most humblie and hartilie beseech thy diuine Maiestie O excellent Father and most mercifull GOD to haue mercie vpon me thine humble handmaid and sinfull seruant And be not prouoked good Lord with my sinnes nor with the sinnes of my parents people to giue vs ouer to the lust of our enimies Make vs not a reproch vnto the foolish nor let our aduersaries in our ouerthrowe triumph against vs saieng Where is now their God But of thy rich mercie and woonted compassion in Christ Iesu forgiue me my sinnes both old and new both secret and open both past present and to come yea from both mine owne and others faults O God I beseech thee deliuer me and cast all mine offences into the bottomlesse depth out of thy remembrance and sight for euer making the crosse and passion the death and resurrection of thy most deere and onlie sonne my sweete Sauiour and onlie Redeemer Iesus Christ the righteous and immaculate Lambe most effectuall in mee to all vertue godlinesse of life and pietie as best becommeth thy daughter thy virgin thine annointed and elect vessell of honour That to all other thy good graces bountifull benefits alredie shewed towards me the which of thine accustomed goodnesse I beseech thee to confirme finish and worke out in mee as thou hast gratiouslie begun and continue towards mee to the end according to thy good pleasure with such further increase thereof from time to time as best shall serue to the setting foorth of thy glorie the benefit of thy Church to all posteritie mine eternall peace in Christ Iesus the Prince of peace Grant I saie O Lord this also may be added namelie that as it hath pleased thee in thy secret wisdome to quicken me that was Tanquam ouis euen as a seelie sheepe or lambe led to be slaine to raise me vp out of the dust and mire of persecution to lift me vp out of the pit and dungeon and to set me the chiefe of the Princes of this land and to make mee meete to inherīt the seate of glorie yea to build me the chiefe and head piller of this thy Church of England France and Ireland wherevpon the whole bodie of thy Saints therein doo staie themselues in thy blessed peace and vnitie As I saie it is thy good will not my deserts to exalt the horne of thine annointed to appoint me a fraile woman thy Lieutenant here on earth and to giue power vnto thy QVEENE to iudge the ends of thy dominions and execute thine office here amongst thy people for a space in the regall seate of iustice and mercie so vouchsafe thou O gratious God and louing Father in like mercie to powre downe continuallie vpon me all those thy speciall good gifts princelie vertues and heauenlie graces fit for this my so high calling that being plentiouslie indued therewith the bright shining beames thereof as from a glittering Star in the firmament or the glorious Sunne in his orient arising to the
Lawe and sincere Religion which I professe Let backbiters together with such as are proud and those that dare shameleslie presume anie thing be vtterlie rooted out but contrariwise let there be space in especiallie for such as be verie zealous of the truth that they onlie may be conuersant with me before thee and cause me to feede them with a singular faith and innocencie and minister all things diligentlie vnto them Finallie let not the enimies of thy Gospell I beseech thee O gratious and mightie God thus despise thy grace offered them vnto repentance but those that are to be conuerted conuert and turne them O God speedilie if it be thy will Make thou Saule at the length to become a Paule and let not the persecutor persist in his errours but let them rather accompt thy long suffering and my peaceable and vnbloudie gouernement an occasion of saluation to their soules and of vnfeigned loue to thy Church Otherwise if they will needes remaine still disobedient to thy truth disloiall vnto me dangerous to the state and enimies to their Countrie and Common-wealth then O God of my saluation arise and helpe to wound the head of thine enimies and the hearie scalpe of such as go on still in their wickednesse Let thy right hand find out them that euerie daie prouoke thee and reuenge thy selfe on those blasphemous hypocrites that thus proudlie contemne thee to thy face And as thou hast discouered them and their peeuish practises against thee and thine annointed so discouer them still As thou hast preuented their diuelish purposes and execrable intents so preuent them still Yea let their firie eies waxe wearie with looking their bloudie harts and hands faint with waiting for their golden daie and that which commeth not yet neither let come O Lord I beseech thee but in thy good time and according to thy will a blessed and healthfull reigne vnto my selfe much ioie and comfort to my subiects and long peace to Zion for euermore Lastlie O most mightie God looke what remaineth yet of the happie building enlarging and finishing of thy Church and to the establishing and planting of thy Religion perfectlie therein according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word and full discharge of my dutie when I shall be called to render an accompt before the iudgement seate of Christ because that without thee I can do nothing neither is it possible to please thee do thou O father of light from whome all good gifts doo come and proceede vouchsafe to powre downe plentifullie of thy principall spirit vpon me and so rauish my hart with the flame of the loue of thee and thy people with an earnest zeale of thy house that with Ioseph I may carefullie and faithfullie prouide for thy people with Moses painefullie leade them out of the deserts of errour and oppression and with Ioshua bring thy people into the land of promise with Debora fight thy battels with Iahel knocke Sisera of Roome in the temples of his vsurped headship with Iudith cut off the head of proud Holophernes with Hezekias and Iosias roote out and destroie all superstition and relikes of idolatrie with Dauid and Salomon finish and consecrate to eternitie thy glorious Temple among thy people and with them all most earnestlie and continuallie to praie vnto thee for their saluation That heere on earth for the time after their vertuous example dooing that which is good in thy sight reigning blessedlie ruling prudentlie and like a louing mother and tender nursse giuing my fostermilke the foode of thy word and Gospell aboundantlie to all in all places of my dominion and endeuouring my selfe faithfullie to discharge the great trust committed vnto me when thy sonne to whome not onlie the sea and windes but all creatures are subiect shall come as King of kings to require an accompt of the charge committed vnto me I may be found faithfull and not faile finallie in heauen but in the purenesse of my virginitie and holinesse of mine innocencie be presented to the Lambe my souereigne Lord and onlie God my heauenlie Bridegroome and spirituall spouse my euerlasting King deere Christ and onlie sweet Sauiour Iesus there to see the Saincts and to be a Sainct and with all the holie Patriarches Iudges Kings and Queenes yea with all the Archangels Angels Saints Martyrs Confessors Uirgins and the whole companie of thy celestiall and blessed spirits to reigne with him ouer spirituall powers and principalities for euer and sing the sugred songs of my wedding-daie to my perpetuall ioie and thine eternall praise O most glorious Trinitie the Father the Son and the holie Ghost one inuisible God almightie blessed for euer and euer Amen Amen Another praier to be said of the Queenes Maiestie BLessed art thou Lord God of Sabbaoth for vnto thee apperteineth all magnificence and power and glorie to thee belongeth all honour and authoritie For whatsoeuer is either in the heauens aboue or in the earth beneath it is thine Thine O Lord is the kingdome thou art aboue all Princes Kings Riches are thine glorie is thine and thou art Lord ouer all In thee remaineth vertue and power greatnesse and gouernement O God of my fathers and Lord of mercie which hast made all things by thy word and by thy wisdome appointed man to rule the creatures which thou hast made and to gouerne the world with equitie and iustice I praise thee and extoll thy glorious name for appointing me thy seruant to rule and gouerne this thy people committed vnto my charge Now therefore gratious Lord fauourablie behold me that I may treade the path of truth righteousnesse and sinceritie of hart in thy sight Let me not abuse mine authoritie but gouerne with lenitie and gentlenesse the people vnder me that liuing a godlie and honest life mankind may enioie their desired peace Giue therefore vnto thy seruant an hart desirous of instructions that I may iudge the people and discerne betweene good and euill and neither declining to the right hand or to the left stoutelie and valiantlie mainteine the cause of the righteous Grant me counsell and assistance to doo such things as are gratefull vnto thee good for thy Church and profitable for my people and Common-weale Giue me thy wisdome and reiect me not from thy children for I thy seruant and handmaiden am a fraile woman of a short time and full weake in the vnderstanding of iudgements and the lawes Thou hast chosen me a Gouernour of thy people and a Iudge of thy sonnes and daughters send mee therefore wisdome from thy sacred heauens and from the seate of thy magnificence that it may be with me and labour with me whereby I may perceiue what is acceptable in thine eies and learne that I haue no power of my selfe but from thee which art Almightie and reignest ouer the kingdomes of men giuing them at thy pleasure Graunt that I neuer conceiue proudlie of my selfe but may receiue in patience the discipline of thy Lawe Make me wise and
praier to bee vsed of all christians 2 l. pag. 139. Before one begin his worke 2. l. pag. 226. Another to the same purpose ibid. Before one begin to studie his lesson 2. l. 227. Before or after the sermon 2. l. pag. 162 231. At burials 2. l. pag. 168. Before the receiuing of the holie communion 2. l. pag. 163. After the receiuing of the Lords supper 2. l. 166. ¶ Graces A praier before meate 2. l. pag. 229. A praier after meate ibidem ¶ Confessions Lamentations and complaints A confession before morning praier 2. l. 103. Another before euening praier 2. l. pag. 117. A confession of a penitent person for his sinne 2. l. pag. 148 149 153. An humble confession of sinnes to the glorie of God 2. l. pag. 37. A lamentation complaint of a sinner bewailing the ignorance of hir blind life led in superstition with hartie repentance in faith to obteine remissiō through Christ 2. l. pag. 42. A christian bewailing of miserable ignorance and blindnesse of men 2. l. pag. 60. ¶ Contemplations Of Christs passion 2. l. pag. 111. Of the carefull passions of the sinfull soule bodie 2. l. pag. 128. ¶ Meditations Of the spirituall loue betweene CHRIST the bridegroome and the faithfull soules of his church the brid 1. l. pa. 8. Of the inward loue of the christian soule towards Christ 2. l. pag. 1. Of the soules slauerie by sinne and redemption by Christ ibid. Of the soules affinitie with Christ 2. l. pag. 5. Of the soules infidelitie and apostasie from God 2. l. pag. 10. Of the intire affection and loue of God towards the sinfull soule of man 2. l. pag. 15. Of the vnion of life and death in the faithful soule by Christ 2 l. pa. 21. Of the longing of the soule by death to feed with Christ 2. l. pag. 24. Of the trust the soule hath in the merits of hir redeemer against the dread of hel and feare of damnation 2. l pag. 27. Of the incomprehensible loue of Christ to the sinfull soule of man and of the benefits that come of a true faith 2. l. pag. 31. ¶ Of true faith and what it worketh in the soule of a sinner 2. l. pag. 45. Of the great loue of God towards mankind and of the inward beholding of Christ crucified 2. l. pag. 49. Of the glorious victories of Christ ouer all enimies 2. l. pag. 51. Of the schoole of the crosse wherevnto wee ought to submit our selues and of the booke of the Crucifix wherein we ought often to looke 2 l. pag. 58 Of the miserable ignorance and blindnes of men much to be bewailed 2. l. pag. 60. Of the fruits and rules of true Christianitie to be followed 2. l. pag. 64. Of the fruites of infidelitie and of the office of weakelings to be eschued 2 l. pag. 66. Of carnall gospellers by whose ill liuing Gods truth is shamefullie slandered 2 l. pag. 69. Of the vertues and properties of Gods children following their vocation 2. l. pag. 73. Of amendement of life in all estates 2. l. pag. 77. ¶ Of our frailtie and miserie 2. l. pag. 113. Of the dreadfull day of iudgement 2. l. pag. 129. Of the vnspeakeable ioyes of heauen and the vntollerable paines of hell 2. l. pag. 198. ¶ Praiers ¶ The Lords praier 2. l. pag. 221. The Creed or articles of christian faith 2. l. pag. 222. The ten commandements 2. l. pag. 222. ¶ The praiers also Of Hagar 1. l. pag. 1. Of Naomic 1. l. pag. 6. Of Hannah 1. l. pag. 6. Of Abigael 1. l. pag. 8. Of Sarra Tobit 1. l. pa. 39. Of Iudeth 1. l. pag. 41. 43. Of Q. Hester 1. l. pag. 46. Of Susannah 1. l pag. 48. Of the Church 1. l. pa 48. Of the woman of Canaan 1. l. pag. 49. Of the fiue foolish Virgins 1. l. pag. 49. Of the Queenes Maiestic 2. l pag. 1. 35. 36. Of Q Katherin 2. l. pag. 37. 80. c. Of L. Iane Dudly 2. l. pag. 98. Of Ladie Tirwit 2. l. pag. 103. c. Of the L. Aburgaueny 2. l. pag. 139. Of Agnes the Martyr 2. l. pag. 214. Of Eulalia the martyr ibid. Of An Askew the martyr idid Of Mistres Bradford 2. l. pag. 215. Of a certeine godlie Gentlewoman ibid. Of mistres Dorcas Martin 2. l. pag. 221. ¶ Proper praiers to be vsed onelie of the Queens most excellent Maiestie 3. l. pag. 253 c. 261. 273. 275. 276. 277. 279. 280. 297. The Kings heast 3. l. pag. 307. The Queenes vowe 3. l. pag. 321. ¶ Praiers to God the Father 2. l. pag. 121. 154. To God the Sonne 2. l. pag. 156. To God the holie Ghost 2. l. pag. 157. To the blessed Trinitie 2 l. pag. 114. ¶ Alphabeticall praiers desifering the name of the Queens Maiestic 3. l. pag. 280. 297. 303. The name of the L. Aburgaueny 2. l. pag. 207. 213. ¶ For the whole estate of Christes church 2. l. pag. 131. For faith 2. l. pag. 162. For the true worship of God 2. l pag. 158. For remission of sins and to obtaine a vertuous life 2. l. pag. 144. For the obtaining of grace and mercie 2. l. pag. 147. 150. 152. For to be purged from fin and vncleanenesse 2. l. pag. 151. For the obtaining of mercie and mittigating of miseries 189. 190. c. For wisedome to gouerne well 3. l. pag. 279. For humilitie 2. l. p. 170 For the obtaining of Gods grace and all good gifts of the spirit 2. l. pag. 170. For to liue vprightlie and to dwell in the euerlasting tabernacles 2. l. pag. 159. 168. 169. For patience and meeknesse to beare all afflictions 2. l. pag. 184. For the preachers to speake the word of God boldly 2. l. pag. 231. ¶ Against presumptuous pride and vaine glorie 2. l. pag. 172. Against couetousnesse and too much care of the world 2. l. pag. 173. Against lieng and eull imaginations 2. l. pag. 173. Against the feare of worldlie casualties 2. l. pag. 192. Against the fellowship of the vngodlie 2. l. p. 161 Against all vices generallie 2. l pag. 174. ¶ In time of sicknesse For a sick child 1. l. p. 49 Of tho sick at the houre of death 2 l. pag. 202. To die in faith c 2. l. pag. 168. ¶ In time of plague In the time of any common plague c 2. l. p. 180 ¶ In time of battell In the 2. lamp pag. 178. ¶ In time of anie trouble In banishment 1. l. pa. 1. Against barrennesse 1. l. pag. 6. Against enemies of the Church c 1. l pag. 8. A lamentation of miseries and plagues for our sinnes 1. l. pag. 25. c. 28. 33. 34. 38. To be deliuered from reproch 1. l. pag. 39. For deliuerance from enemies 1. l. pag. 41. For strength to ouercome all enemies 1. la. pag. 43. For deliuerance out of the hands of traitours c 1. l pag. 46. 2. l. pag. 36. Of one wrongfullie condemned to death 1. l. pag. 48. Of
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
For God there is all in all whome they doo alwaies behold and by beholding him continuallie they burne the more in loue towards him They loue and they praise him they praise and they loue him all their worke is to praise God without ending without fainting without toiling O happie yea and euermore happie shall I be if after the resolution of this mortall bodie I may heare those celestiall songs of melodie which are sung vnto the praise of the eternall King by those citizens of the supernall countrie and by the companies of the blessed spirits Happie then yea much happie should I be might I be counted woorthie to sing those sugred songs and to wait on my King my God and my Captaine to behold him in his glorie according as he hath promised saieng Father I will that they whome thou hast giuen me be with me euen where I am that they may behold my glorie which I had with thee before the foundation of the world And in another place If anie man serue me let him followe me For where I am there shall also my seruant be And againe He that loueth me shall be loued of my father and I will loue him and will shew mine owne selfe vnto him Another godlie and Christian praier for the Church and congregation presentlie assembled ALthough the holie Scriptures doo teach vs euerie where that the heauen O most good and mercifull God is thy dwelling place yet the same doth in such wise set out thine infinite goodnesse as the Church is both called and also is in deede thy sanctified house wherein thou most frequentest wherein also thy blessed name is lifted vp with high praises the faithfull instructed in thy sacred words and the holie Sacraments dulie receiued And therefore the godlie hauing an especiall regard to the honour of thy glorious name most earnestlie with a feruent mind and vehement affection doo continuallie stir vp one another to make holie assemblies with woonderfull exhortations to the intent the pure worshipping and holie inuocating of thy blessed name might onlie be therein practised Now therefore and at what time so euer we shall come together in the holie congregation our earnest request is that wee may be there with cheerefull and verie desirous minds For thou trulie hast of an exceeding liberalitie adorned thy holie Church with most flourishing right excellent gifts neither is there anie thing pretermitted that apperteineth to hir garnishing which may either belong to the spirituall decking and beautifieng thereof or to the plentious enriching of it in abundance of all heauenlie good things Which seeing they haue proceeded most fullie from thee this onlie remaineth that thou wouldest be present with vs and them which are assembled together in the name of Iesus Christ and so condescend vnto our feruent praiers who thereby doo call vpon thee as the members thereof may be annexed together with a perpetuall concord Cause all our meetings I saie good father to be in such sort as we may render due honour vnto thee Let the sacred Scriptures be heere purelie and sincerelie interpreted and let thy glorious kingdome from daie to daie be more and more inlarged making all these things to be established with thy ioious peace and the tranquillitie of thy holie spirit yea so long as we praie for the quietnesse and felicitie heereof Let vs procure substantiall and perfect good things both to our neighbours and also vnto thy blessed house and holie sanctified Church And cause that those Citizens which doo credit the sacred doctrine of thy holie Church may by thy excellent benefit become frends and faithfull brethren one to another and in the end beeing quite deliuered from thrall bring thou to passe that one daie we may altogether repose our selues in the true and most holie Ierusalem through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another praier for the increase of the Church THE Church is vnto thee O most good and mercifull GOD as a most roiall Queene espoused to the intent she may bring foorth vnto thee a most plentifull and holie seede Wherefore forasmuch as thou hast coupled hir vnto thee to be thy wife by faith and that she is reputed of the vngodlie as a barren woman because shee seemeth to haue left off child-bearing grant hir to be made vnto thee through thy sacred word and holie spirit afruitfull and ioifull mother of manie holie and vertuous children by whome thy glorious name may be exalted with perpetuall praises in thine holie house euen as it becommeth them Let hir be glad with a perfect and substantiall ioy for the great number of hir most faithfull religious sonnes and daughters Multiplie increase the issue of thy sacred Church I saie O God with a plentifull and an innumerable issue and let hir ingender godlie children vnto thee dailie more and more euen such as are worthie of such a father mother and to be partakers of thy blessed spirit Grant that we may altogether aspire vnto the loue of thee our most delectable bridegroome and that throughour labour laid together in stead of our forefathers who are now alreadie gathered vnto thee manie mo faithfull religious and holie children may be begotten vnto thee anew with whom we may alwaies in our posterities set out celebrate thy famous honour most noble praises Shine thou downe out of Zion O God euen from thine exceeding high vnapprochable light vpon the virgin thy blessed Church preserue hir from the number of perils which she is in cōtinuall danger of Let hir not fall to ruine nor be as a lampe despised in the opinion of the rich welthie men of this world but let thy mountaines glister and giue their light as lamps of fire Yea let righteousnes saluation breake forth out of zion as a shining light and burning lamp that all men may see it and glorifie thee Let the lamps of hir loue I saie O God be as coales of fire and a verie vehement flame of the Lord to dazell ouercome and consume hir enimies after a woonderfull and miraculous manner and cause the seuen lampes of the Uirgins euen all thy spirituall gifts and graces O GOD in the Saincts to burne bright and cleere without anie quenching before thy throne for euer Let thy Church be as a flourishing Uine spreading it selfe far abroade so that Antichrist with all his craft and industrie may not be of force to cut and hew it downe And euen as thou O Lord hast euerie where maruellouslie replenished the earth with thine inestimable goodnesse so in like manner be so good as to let the number of thy true and faithfull suppliants bee dailie more and more greatlie enlarged Let there bee continuall labouring in thy beloued Church by doctrine and example to nurture the blessed children so that their works may be a singular ornament thereof to thy glorie and the increase of all manner of vertue Let hir I saie be made dailie like vnto a most fruitefull woman that
praiers for hir life and safetie and shall dailie wish all prosperitie vnto hir And seeing the safetie of all the families of our nation consisteth in the preseruation of hir Maiestie let vs hartilie as we haue good cause praie incessantlie for hir Grace and for the safetie and welfare of the Church and of all those that loue and fauour hir therein Defend O God with thine owne hand this woorthie woman and sacred Queene whose endeuour thou hast vsed to restore peace to thy Church and religion to thy people O saue this woorthie Princesse Elizabeth I saie whome for this purpose thou hast indued with most rare and singular wisedome power constancie and roiall gifts of grace And grant that all men may dutifullie honour and obeie hir as a prince of peace a mother of Israel a nurse of thy Church woorthilie for hir vertues set ouer vs by thee O God to reigne Finallie grant that in this gouernement of our pastor chiefe shepheard there may want neither integritie vprightnesse in taking of counsell neither wisedome in performing all hir enterprises according to thy will Then shall wheate be reaped euerie-where with full handfuls in the verie tops of the mountaines the corne growing as high as the trees of Libanus and there shall be such a multitude of inhabitants in the cities that they may almost seeme like plants springing out of the earth yea then shall hir noble memorie and roiall fame be for euer euen durable as the sunne and our Queene Elizabeth be an example of all pietie and felicitie vnto all kingdoms nations of the world which shall accept hir blessed among women But vnto thee O Lord the Prince of the celestiall companies and the author of all things for so woonderfull rare gifts in hir Maiestie shall all possible praise be especiallie giuen yea the fame of thy glorie be praised and magnified for euer and euer and let it fill both heauen and earth So euen so let it be O God Amen Another dailie praier for the perpetuall happinesse of our sacred and most gratious Souereigne and Queene Elizabeth O Almightie God King of kings and Lord of lords in thine hand is all power both in heauen and in earth thou confirmest kingdoms againe doost alter them according to thine heauenlie pleasure we praise thee we magnifie thee we extoll thine holie name for that it hath pleased thee to appoint ouer vs a good and gratious Queene which dooth gouerne with counsell and rule with wisdome Grant hir we beseech thee continuall peace long life and much happines and deliuer not hir Maiestie into the hands of hir enimies Rule thou hir mind that she may serue thee alwaies in feare and reioice in trembling let hir maintaine and imbrace pure religion defend hir people in the profession of Christs Gospell against all errors and superstition whatsoeuer Giue hir wisedome and vnderstanding to doo such things as are gratefull in thy sight profitable for vs hir subiects and hurtfull to none O God eternall Father heare the petitions of Elizabeth our Queene in all hir troubles the name of Christ our Sauiour glorifie hir and the comfortable aid of the holie Spirit vphold hir now and euermore Be mindfull of hir grace for hir good Lord remember all hir offerings make hir praiers acceptable in thy sight Giue to hir according to hir harts desire fulfill all hir petitions and prosper all hir purposes that we may reioice in thy saluation and triumph in the name of thee our God Blesse hir Lord euermore that wee may knowe that hir protector is in the clouds Harken vnto hir from thy holie heauens Oh send hir helpe from thy sanctuarie and aid hir from aboue by thy mightie right hand which bringeth saluation Let all hir enimies plainlie knowe O GOD that thou wilt saue thine annointed For though some trust in horses and other in chariots yet will we remember the name of our God they shall fall and be ouercome but wee couragiouslie will persist O Lord protect hir Maiestie and heare vs when we call vpon thee that in thy strength she may reioice and mightilie triumph in thy saluation Grant hir the desire of hir hart and denie not the petitions of hir lips For thou hast preuented hir with notable blessings and put a crowne of pure gold vpon hir head She hath asked life of thee and thou wilt giue hir a long life Great is hir glorie in thy saluation honour and fame hast thou put vpon hir Thou hast ordeined hir for exceeding blessednesse and doost comfort hir hart with thy cheerfull countenance And why Bicause she delighteth in Christ and doubteth not of thine euerlasting mercie O God that giuest victorie vnto kings and didst deliuer Dauid from perill of the sword saue and redeeme our deere Queene Elizabeth and deliuer hir from the hands of the children of another deuotion than she is whose mouth vttereth vanitie and their right hand is a right hand of falshood Yea let hir hand O Lord light vpon hir enimies and thy right hand find out all such as hate thee and enuie hir prosperitie Put them into a burning fornace in the time of thy displeasure the Lord in his anger shall consume them and fire shall deuour them Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth and their seed from the sonnes of men bicause they intended euill against thee and imagined mischiefe against the innocent which they could not bring to passe Therefore wilt thou turne them into flight and bend thy bowe against their faces Triumph O Lord in thy vertue and we will sing out thy glorie and commend thy power Saue our Queene O mercifull God in despite of all hir enimies which either secretlie or openlie go about to bring hir life to the graue or hir glorie to the dust Lord shield our Souereigne exalt thine annointed let thine hand assist and thine arme strengthen hir Neuer let hir foes preuaile against hir nor the child of wickednesse bring hir to destruction Banish from hir Court all hir priuie enimies and preserue hir euermore from dissembling friends Mercie and iudgement be Queene Elizabeths song vnto thee O Lord let hir sing thy magnificall mercies Worke in hir roiall hart an endeuour to be fullie instructed in the perfect waie of thy roiall lawes for so much as thou hast made hir Queene ouer this Relme With thy grace open hir hart instruct hir and lead hir vp and downe in the midst of hir people in perfectnesse of hart Let hir neuer set before hir eies anie diuelish thing Cause hir to detest the worke of back-sliding from God let that take no hold in hir Driue far awaie from hir the men of froward harts let hir not once be acquainted with euill persons Who so priuilie slandereth his neighbor let hir destroie him Who so hath also a proud looke and an hautie stomach cause hir to loath him Settle hir eies vpon such in the land as are faithfull that they may dwell
with hir Who so leadeth a godlie life men of good conscience let such be hir seruants Let no deceitfull person haue anie place in hir house him that telleth lies or is a reuenger of bloud cause hir speedilie to cast out of hir sight Finallie grant hir will and power O Lord of hosts dailie to suppresse all the vngodlie in the land that she may root out from the citie of God all wicked dooers Queene Elizabeth hath done that is lawfull right wherefore O Lord leaue hir not to such as doo offer hir wrong For thine owne goodnesse sake take hir thine handmaid vnto thy protection let not the proud oppresse hir with wrong Deale with thine handmaid according to thy louing kindnesse and teach hir thy statutes She is thy seruant grant hir vnderstanding that she may knowe thy testimonies Thy testimonies conteine woonderous things therefore cause hir hart to be zealous in keeping of them The first entrance of thy words will illuminate giuing vnderstanding euen vnto the simple Worke in hir hart so feruent desire of thy word that through affection thereto she may be like one that panteth openeth his mouth for breath Looke thou vpon hir O Lord and be mercifull vnto hir as thou vsest to doo vnto them that loue thy name Direct hir steps in thy word and so let no wickednesse haue dominion ouer hir Redeeme hir from the fraudulent dealings of men and cause hir to keepe thy commandements Make the light of thy countenance shine vpon our Queene Elizabeth thine handmaiden and teach hir thy statutes Heare my praiers O God and giue good eare vnto mine intercessions For behold from the ends of the earth I call vnto thee for our deere Souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth whensoeuer hir hart is in heauines oh set hir vp vpon the rocke that is higher than she For hitherto thou hast beene hir defence and a strong tower for hir against the face of the enimie Let hir dwell I beseech thee in thy tabernacle for euer let hir trust be vnder the couering of thy wings For thou O Lord heardst hir desires and hast giuen hir an heritage ouer those that feare thy name O grant vnto the Queene a long life that hir yeeres may endure manie generations Let hir dwell before the Lord for euer O appoint thy louing mercie and truth that they may preserue hir so cause hir alwaies to sing praise vnto thy name that she may daie by daie performe hir vowes and keepe thy heasts Finallie giue thy iudgment O Lord vnto hir Grace and thy righteousnesse vnto hir Counsell that they may iudge the people with iustice and the poore with equitie Let the mountaines bring peace and the little hils righteousnes vnto the people Let them iudge the afflicted among the people and saue the sonnes of the poore make them to destroie the backe-slider that he persist not to afflict the miserable and such as trust in thy mercie and protection so shall quietnesse and peace abound among vs like the hillocks on the earth Cause hir enimies to feare hir so long as the sunne and moone shineth from one generation to another Water hir with thy grace from heauen as thou didst Gedeons fleece of wool with dew and as thou refreshest with drops of raine the new cut grasse vpon the earth In hir daies let the righteous flourish and great abundance of peace so long as the moone is in the firmament Defend the dominions that thou hast giuen hir within the seas and from the floud vnto the end of the earth Cause hir foes to kneele downe before hir and hir enimies to licke the dust of hir feete Giue hir a long and prosperous reigne indue hir with abundance of riches and wealth heape glorie and honour vpon hir head and let hir be partaker alwaies of the praiers of the iust and be dailie blessed The Lord euen the God of Israel which onelie worketh woonderous things blesse our gratious Queene Elizabeth and blessed be the name of his Maiestie for euer yea let all the earth be filled with his glorious praise Amen And she shall magnifie thee O Lord hir King and she shall praise thy name for euer Euerie daie let hir giue thanks vnto thee O Lord and praise thy name for euer and euer Grant this O most mercifull Father for thy deere sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christs sake Amen Amen Another praier for the Queenes most excellent Maiestie WOnderfull O most excellent and almightie GOD is the depth of thy iudgements Thou King of kings Lord of lords thou which at thy pleasure doost take awaie and transpose roote out and plant confound and establish kingdoms Thou of thy singular goodnesse hast deliuered our gratious Souereigne Queene Elizabeth thy chosen Handmaid when she was almost at deaths dore yea thou hast deliuered hir out of prison and setled hir in hir fathers throne to thee therefore doo we render thanks to thee doo we sing laud and praise thy name doo we honour daie and night Thou hast restored againe the libertie of our countrie and the sinceritie of the doctrine with peace and tranquillitie of thy Church Thine thine O Lord was the benefit the meanes the labour and seruice was hirs a burthen too heauie alas for a womans shoulders yet easie and tollerable by thy helping hand Assist hir therefore O most mercifull father neither respect hir offences or the deserts of hir parents or the manifold sinnes of vs hir people but thinke vpon thy woonted compassion alwaies at hand to thy poore afflicted Preserue hir kingdome mainteine religion defend thy cause our Queene Elizabeth vs thy sheepe and hir people scatter thine enimies which thirst after war let them be ashamed and confounded that woorship idols let vs not be a praie vnto forraigne nations nor to the people that knowe not thee neither call vpon thy name Strengthen and confirme O Lord the good worke which thou hast begun inspire our gratious Queene thy seruant and vs thy poore flocke with thy holie spirit that with vncorrupt life we may ioine puritie of religion as we may not yeeld and bring foorth wild and bastard fruits but mild and sweet grapes and fruits beseeming a liuelie faith and true repentance and meet and conuenient for thy Gospell to the intent we may enioie this immortall treasure and that liuing and dieng in thee we may finallie possesse the inheritance of thy heauenlie kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. For thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer Amen A forme of blessing or praier for our most gratious Queene Elizabeth Christ his deere spouse out of the Scriptures COme downe O Lord come with thousands of thy Saincts and appeare gratiouslie vnto thy Church of Saincts Come visit the people and congregations of Iacob whersoeuer assembled whome thou so tenderlie louest and which are humbled at thy feet to yeeld thee thanks for all thy blessings and benefits receiued Come downe I saie O God of Iacob and blesse Israel yea come
the shame and endured the crosse and suffered for vs wretches leauing vs an example that we should likewise followe his steps by whose stripes we are healed Wo and alas that euer I sinned Oh my soule come therefore let vs laie awaie that that presseth downe and the sinne that hangeth so fast on and let vs run with patience vnto the battell that is set before vs loking vp vnto Iesus the captaine and finisher of our faith and onelie reioice in the crosse of Christ And seeing we haue redemption by his bloud euen the forgiuenesse of our sins past present and to come and for as much as we knowe how we are redeemed from our old vaine conuersation not with corruptible things as siluer and gold but euen with the pretious bloud of Christ who in his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his bodie on the tree that we being deliuered from sinne should liue vnto righteousnesse who suffered also for vs in the flesh that we hencefoorth should liue as much time as remained in the flesh not after the lusts of men but after the will of God and reioice onelie in the crosse of Christ Let vs take heed we walke not with those that are enimies to the crosse of Christ and crucifie him dailie afresh by blasphemie and all maner of vngodlinesse whose bellie is their God whose glorie is their shame and whose end is eternall damnation both of bodie and soule but rather with those that haue their consciences purged from dead works to serue the liuing God Let vs now passe the rest of the time of this our abode here in trembling and feare and euer reioice in the crosse of Christ For it is sufficient for vs that wee haue spent the time that is past of this life after the will of the Gentiles walking in wantonnesse in lusts in excesse of wines in excesse of eating and drinking and in excesse of riot and abhominable idolatrie Therefore I crie wo and alas that euer I sinned out vpon me wretch that thus greeuouslie haue offended O God my God I aske thee mercie haue mercie vpon me O Lord haue mercie vpon me wo is mee that euer I transgressed Oh my soule let vs now esteeme to knowe nothing saue Iesus Christ and him crucified Yea God forbid that we should reioice in anie thing but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ whereby the world is crucified to vs and we vnto the world that being crucified with Christ we may liue with God And hauing now libertie to enter into the holie place in the bloud of Iesus by the new liuing waie which he hath prepared for vs through the vaile of his flesh let vs consider one another to prouoke vnto loue and good works and drawe nigh with a true and penitent hart in assurance of faith sprinkeled in our harts from an euill conscience to meditate dailie of his mercies and to giue him thanks continuallie for the benefits of his passion our eternall redemption and still to reioice in the crosse of Christ Iesu our Lord and saie The Praier O Lord Iesu Christ Sonne of the liuing God both with mouth and hartie affection wee glorifie thee and praise thy name with immortall thanks for that of thine infinite good-will towards mankind thou vouchsafest to become an intercessor for vs vnto thine heauenlie Father for bearing his horrible wrath conceiued against vs through our sinnes and for offering thy selfe to death to adorne vs with eternall glorie Thou wast hanged on the crosse made a cursse for vs ouerwhelmed with sorowes too heauie for flesh and bloud to beare Thou sufferedst the displeasure which is a consuming fire of GOD. Thou shedst thy bloud from thy whole bodie at thy death thy members beeing pierced Oh Christ oh sweet Iesu thou shedst thy pretious bloud I saie sixe seuerall times from sundrie parts of thy blessed bodie afore and in thine execution for vs miserable sinners as namelie first in thy Circumcision which was the beginning of our redemption secondlie in thy praier in the garden which was for the earnest desire of our redemption thirdlie in thy whippings and fourthlie in thy crowning with thornes which was for the reward of our redemption for by thy stripes were we healed fiftlie in thy crucifieng and nailing on the crosse when thy hands and feet were bored through to fasten thee thereon which was the price of our redemption sixtlie and lastlie in the wounding and piercing of thy blessed side yea of thy verie hart thou hanging dead on the crosse which was the true sacrament of our redemption whereby we are cleansed purified and washed from all our sinnes Among these thy diuers torments both afore in thy execution thy spirits being resolued through the sense of the infinite anguishes which thou sufferedst and enduredst oh Christ thou vtteredst diuers words partlie by reason of intollerable greefe and partlie of thine vnspeakable goodnes Oh teach vs by thy wisedome reuerentlie to listen vnto them and to put them carefullie in the bottome of our minds At thy death mankind was seuered into two parts Thou the head of the pensiue Church hangedst vpon the crosse redie to yeeld vp the Ghost Under the crosse stands thy louing mother Marie a few godlie women and Iohn thy weake disciples moorning through the rage of the Iewes hide themselues Nichodemus and Ioseph of Aramathie to the great greefe of their minds are faine to hold their tongs and to winke at the outragious crueltie of their nation against thee The gracelesse Iewes the vngodlie souldiers of Pilate and Herode laie hold on thee mocke thee blindfold thee buffet thee pierce thee plaie for thy garments The epicures and tyrants the high Priests and their parasits haue thee in derision laugh in their sleeues to see how thy death is conspired and they may walter in all superstition and wickednesse All this while the multitude of Ethniks in all quarters of the world celebrate their filthie and vngodlie feasts in the great dishonour of thy name Thou beholdest this diuersitie of men which seest all things both in heauen and earth and beeing in deed humble and meeke in hart thou powredst out a most charitable praier on this wise Father forgiue them for they knowe not what they doo These be the words of thy priesthood Thou which art the chiefest Priest bedewed with thine owne bloud entring into the holiest of holie places touchest the brest of the Father and searchest enen his secret counsell Thou praiest not onlie for thy weake auditors to be strengthned but also for thy verie enimies which put thee so shamefullie to death if they will returne vnto repentance yea and for all mankind thou praiedst and namelie for all and euerie one which should beleeue in thy name O most mercifull intercessor we include our selues in these thy generall praiers recited before thine agonie repeated on the crosse yea vttered from the beginning of the world and standing at the right hand of thy
is the daie which the Lord hath made we will reioice and be glad therein and euermore sing Halleluiah Halleluiah The Praier OF thy woonderfull victorie and resurrection from death and glorious kingdome O Sonne of God it was said In that daie the roote of Iesse shall stand to be a signe to the people vnto him shall the nations flie and his rest shall be glorie Thou art that blessed branch of Dauid thou tookest mans nature vpon thee and camest of the line of Dauid but in the time of thy humiliation thou wast but a sprig as it were in a drie ground a notable and heauenlie plant but oppressed with miseries Thy soule dried awaie being beaten with the mightie tempest of Gods displeasure against our sinnes notwithstanding that goodlie roote through the power of thy diuine nature was not vtterlie choaked Thou art deliuered from the midst of death and by thy diuine power thou standest victoriouslie ouer thine enimies and art readie to bring vs thy souldiers from all euils and make vs partakers of thy most glorious conquest in thy kingdome which is altogither otherwise than the triumph and glorie of this world Death endeth all the pride power and pompe of this world but thy death and rest is glorious thy kingdome and glorie beginneth when our life is ended O Christ Sonne of God how woonderfull was thy rest Man at the first was made to be a noble and holie Temple wherein a perpetuall Sabboth should be celebrated and a diuine nature should abide filling and comforting him with plentie of heauenlie riches But this rest was turned into vnquietnes and this ioie into sorowe through the hatred of sathan thine enimie which prophaned this temple and sabboth brought in an horrible misorder and wickednes Wherefore it pleased thine almightie Father of his goodnes to send thee his onlie Sonne from his owne bosome to restore againe this Sabboth Hence it was that after a woonderfull manner in the daie of the great Sabboth according to the lawe of Moses thine humane nature through death which separated the soule from the bodie rested in the sepulchre and the word which forsooke not that nature no not at the graue reuiued that flesh the third daie and so thou rosest againe when the time of our redemption was expired victoriouslie vnto thy kingdome and giuest an eternall Sabboth and rest to such as flie vnto thee O Sonne of God call thou sinners euen vs miserable and vncleane persons vnto that sacred feast which in this world through thee the cheefe Priest is begun and shall be then made perfect when the elect for euermore shall followe the Lambe whithersoeuer he go Put on vs the festiuall garment the garment of thy righteousnes and benediction that we putting awaie the leauen of malice and wickednes may celebrate the feast in the sweet bread of sinceritie serue thee in purenes of liuing and truth This yeare from thine incarnation 1582. are passed 3091 yeares since the first passouer which the Israelites did celebrate going out of Egypt so long hast thou preserued thy Church and we beseech thee preserue it euerlastinglie notwithstanding the rage of the diuell and his ministers And as thou defendedst thy people which eate of the Lambe and moreouer going through out Egypt slaiedst in thy righteous iudgements all the first borne in the land so assist vs that with a liuelie faith we may feed on thee the true Lamb. Keepe vs among all the miseries of this last age of the world The carcases remaining were cast awaie and condemned but thy oblation is gratefull in the sight of God it appeaseth the wrath of the eternall Father and by the eating of thee which art the Lamb of God taking awaie the sinnes of the world righteousnes and life is giuen to beleeuers The word raiseth againe and quickneth the flesh that vnto vs ingraffed therevnto by faith the like life may be giuen and the bodie of sinne mortified in vs and thou liue and reigne in vs for euermore wherefore let thy glorious rest be in vs. We are made of earth and after sinne our bodies were appointed to the earth yea the vngodlie shall abide for euer in the earth and neuer appeare in thy glorious heauen But after thou touchedst the death with thy liuelie flesh thou madest it light thou tookest awaie the heauinesse thereof Through the blast of the first serpent manie times euen mans flesh is turned into verie serpents And in the graue of the wicked more horrible is the filth of spirituall dragons and serpents which deuour them euerlastinglie and keepe them in perpetuall death But thou O Sonne of God makest the graues of thy saincts euen pleasant chambers as it were Thou driuest far awaie from thence all filthinesse of sathan Thou settest about them the watchmen euen thy pure Angels which bring their soules into paradise commending them into the hands and bosome of thy Father and keepe also their ashes which both were and shall be at thy returne the house of the holie ghost Beautifie vs in like manner with this thy glorie of true knowledge and calling vpon thee Be present with vs at the point of death receiue our soules at their departure into thine hands shew thou thy comfort ioie till at the resurrection of mankind thou crowne thine elect with perfect endlesse glorie a taste wherof might be seene in those fortie daies after thy resurrection Neuer was there so goodlie a world as that was when thou rosest from death and broughtest out of their graues a great companie of thy Saincts as the Scripture plainelie but breeflie for the vngodlie doth testifie Familiarlie did the holie fathers and matrones remaine with thy sweet mother and Apostles Pleasant speeches and much talke was made no doubt of the miseries of man of the vnspeakable benefits gotten by thee and of the glorie of eternall life O Lord raise thou vp our harts that with a true desire we may long to come into this faire companie Let vs turne our selues in cogitation vnto that holie assemblie Let vs hearken vnto and learne thy wisedome reuealed in thy word In this life thy Church is in darkenesse in miseries men are occupied in the obseruation of outward ceremonies as those godlie women they will annoint thy bodie Manie times thy Church seemeth to be depriued of thy sweet presence and vttereth these sorrowfull words They haue taken awaie my Lord and I can not tell where they haue laid him But O Sonne of God amend the mortall darkenesse within vs kindle in our soule thine inward seruice which pleaseth thee manifest thy selfe vnto vs in affliction speake these comfortable words in our calamitie vnto vs Weepe not that euen in death we may thinke with our selues that thou art present and after death rise againe to the fruition of eternall life with thy blessed Saincts Amen Another ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie Father who hast raised vp thy Sonne for our iustification as thou gauest him to
of Sathan and of enimies visible and inuisible Expell farre from me the hautinesse of mind and increase within me the sorowe of hart diminish my pride and establish true humilitie within my breast fetch teares from mine eies mollifie mine hard and stonie hart and saue Lord both me and my soule from all traps of the enimie and continue me in thy pleasure Teach mee to doo thy will for thou art my God Giue me perfect sense and vnderstanding O Lord that I may be able to conceiue the deepnesse of thy mercie Grant me grace to beg that at thy hands which may both be ioifull for thee to grant and behoofull for me to receiue Make me vnfeinedlie to be waile my sinnes and manifold offences Heare O my Lord and my God heare O light of mine eies heare my petition and grant that what I request I may obtaine If thou despisest me I am vtterly vndone if thou hearest me I take hart againe if thou examinest my righteousnesse lo I stinke like a dead carion but if in mercie thou respect me thou raisest him that stinketh out of the graue What thou hatest in me remooue farre from me and ingraffe the spirit of chastitie and of a cleane life in my mind that in asking anie thing at thine hands I may not offend thee in asking the same Take from me whatsoeuer is hurtfull to my soule and giue whatsoeuer is behoofull O Lord giue me a salue to heale my greeuous wounds Indue me good Lord with thy feare with sorowe of hart with humilitie of mind and with a pure conscience Giue me grace Lord to keepe brotherlie concord euermore to remember my transgressions not to meddle with the dealing of other men or women Pardon my soule pardon my sinnes my wickednesse pardon O pardon mine offences visit me that am weake cure me that am sicke heale me that doo languish and raise me which am dead O Lord giue me both an hart to dread thee a mind to loue thee sense to knowe thee eares to heare thee eies to see thee Haue mercie on me O God haue mercie on me looke vpon me from the holie seat of thy Maiestie and illuminate the darknesse of mine hart with the beames of thy brightnesse Giue me wisedome O Lord to discerne betweene good and euill and grant me a watchfull vnderstanding Forgiue all my sinnes I beseech thee and in this time of necessitie and trouble be thou good and gratious to me I onlie beseech thee After thy woonted mercie and most louing kindnesse O Lord I beseech thee vouchsafe to giue me the life which euer shall endure O Lord Iesus Christ giue both to thy ministers vnitie of mind and to magistrates iudging vprightlie peace and tranquillitie Furthermore O Lord my request is for the whole catholike and holie Church for men and women for religious and for secular men for all Christian gouernours and people beleeuing in thy name which labour for thine holie loue that they may haue grace to continue in well-dooing O Lord eternall King giue to virgins chastitie to the vnmaried continencie to the wedded puritie to repenters mercie to widowes and orphans comfort to the poore protection to trauellers a safe returne to mourners consolation to sea-faring men a ioifull hauen to the good zeale to persist to the well inclined a mind to prooue better to the wicked and sinfull as to me a wretch and chiefe of sinners grace with speed to repent O sooeete Lord and most mercifull Iesus Christ Sonne of the liuing God redeemer of the world I acknowledge that among all and aboue all sinners I am most wretched but thou most gratious and high Father who takest mercie vpon all canst not suffer me to be vtterlie destitute of thy mercie O thou Lord King of kings who grantest truce of life stir in mee a mind alwaie and aboue all things to seeke to desire to loue to feare thee and to doo thy will who art euerie-where all whole a Trinitie and but one God Especiallie O Lord holie Father who art blessed and glorious for euermore I beseech thee in most humble sort vouchsafe to gouerne and keepe them from destruction who either doo make mention of me in their praiers or haue commended themselues to mine vnwoorthie supplications or haue done good whether it bee vnto my bodie with temporall benefits or to my soule with profitable instructions or be linked vnto me either in kindred friendship or good-will Furthermore both for all Christians which are aliue I praie thee stand thou at their elbowe to assist them and for such also as are dead and euerlastinglie doo rest from their labours I yeeld thee immortall praise Finallie this one thing more grant me O Lord I doo earnestlie beseech thee who art Alpha and Omega that when the vttermost daie and end of my life shall come thou wilt be a mercifull iudge to me against that malicious accuser the diuell and that thou wilt continuallie protect me against the snares of the old Serpent and finallie conduct me into the societie of Angels and of all Saints in thine holie paradise who art blessed now and euermore Amen Another praier for grace and newnesse of life O Lord my God giue me grace from the verie bottome of mine hart to desire thee in desiring to seeke thee in seeking to find thee in finding to loue thee in louing vtterlie to loath my former wickednesse O Lord my GOD giue I beseech thee to mine hart repentance to my spirit contrition to mine eies a fountaine of teares to mine hands liberalitie vnto the poore O my King quench in me the desires of the flesh and inflame within my breast the fire of thy loue Driue awaie from me the spirit of pride O my redeemer and of thy mercie bestowe vpon me the treasure of thine humilitie O my Sauiour remooue from my mind the rage of wrath and gratiouslie giue me the sheeld of patience Plucke euen from the verie roote of mine hart the rancor of malice O my Creator and make me to enioie the sweetnesse of a quiet mind Giue me O most louing Father a sound faith a right hope and a constant loue O my gouernour driue awaie farre from me all vanitie and suffer me to haue neither an vnconstant nor a wandering hart nor a scurrilous mouth nor a proud looke nor a greedie bellie nor a slandering tongue nor itching eares after curiositie nor a couetous mind after riches nor polling hands to abuse my power nor ambitious motions to get vaine glorie let both cursed hypocrisie and poisoned flatterie and proud contempt of the poore and violent oppression of the weake let both burning couetousnesse and cankered enuie with damnable blaspheming of thy name be alwaies farre from me thy seruant O my maker make a large distance betweene me and rashnesse betweene me and wickednesse betweene me and frowardnesse betweene me and vnquietnesse betweene me and idlenesse betweene me and drowsinesse betweene me and blockishnesse Grant that mine hart prooue