mée iudging mée according vnto the same I were not able to suffer or abide it but must needes perish and be damned for euer So little helpe comfort or sucour is there either in me or in any other creature whatsoeuer Only this is my cōfort O heauenly father the thou diddest not spare thy only dearely beloued Son but diddest giue him vp vnto the most bitter most vile and slaunderous death of the Crosse for mee that so hee might in his obedience pay the ransome for my sinnes satisfie thy iudgement still and pacifie thy wrath recōcile mée vnto thée againe purchase mée thy grace and fauour and euerlāsting life Wherefore through the merites of his most bitter death and passion through his innocent bloudshedding I beséech thee O heauenly Father that thou wilt vouchsafe to bee gracious mercifull vnto mee to forgiue and pardon me all my sinnes to lighten my heart with thy holy Spirit to renew confirme and strengthen mee with a right and stedfast faith and to enflame mee in loue towardes thee and my neighbour for thy sake that I may henceforth with a willing and a glad heart walke as it becommeth mee in the obedience of thy most godly and most blessed Commandements and so glorifie and praise thée euerlastingly and also that I may with a frée conscience a quiet spirit in al manner of temptations afflictions and necessities and euen in the very pangs of death boldly faithfully say I beleeue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Mary Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate Was crucified dead and buried Hée descended into hell The third day hée rose againe from the dead Hee ascended into Heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almightie from thence he shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beléeue in the holy Ghost The holy Catholike Church The communion of Saints The forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie And the life euerlasting Amen But O Lord heauenly Father to comfort my selfe in afflictions temptations with the assured féeling of these Articles of the Christiā faith it is not in my power for faith is thy gift And therefore forasmuch as thou wilt be praied vnto and called vpon for it I come vnto thée to pray and beséech thée both for that for al my other necessities bodily and spirituall euen as thy dearely beloued sonne our Sauiour Christ Iesus himselfe hath taught vs and from the very bottome of my heart I cry and say vnto thée Our Father which art in heauē halowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will bée done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our dailie bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euill For thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen vnto the lappe of thy pitie For loe thou art my hope and trust in whom I onely repose my selfe hauing in thee ful confidence and faith so that now I may say with a very faithfull heart trusting in thy mercie I beléeue in thee O God the Father in thee O God the Sonne and in thee O God the holy Ghost thrée persons and one true and also verie God besides whom I acknowledge none other God in heauen aboue nor in earth beneath And yet I poore sinner cannot but accuse my selfe vnto thee deare Father that I haue fore and grieuously offended thy almightie goodnesse and Maiestie in the committing of mine exceeding grieuous and manifold sins and wickednes For I haue not kept the least of thy most godly and blessed commaundementes like as thy righteousnes may require indéed doth demād the same of me I haue not I say honoured thee like my God dread thée like my Lord loued thée like my father nor trusted in thee like my creator my sauiour Thy holy and dreadful name vnto which al glory honour belongeth haue I vsed in vaine I haue not sanctified the Sabboth day with workes which bee acceptable to thée nor instructed my neighbour in vertue accordingly I haue not honored my parents nor bin obedient vnto thē through whom as by an instrumēt thou hast wrought my comming into this world The high powers and rulers which receiue authoritie of thee I haue not willingly obeyed I haue not kept my heart pure and cleane from malice and manslaughter yea had not thy grace and mercy defended mee the better I should haue committed the verie deede also I likewise am not pure from theft nor from adulterie nor frō false witnesse bearing but haue in my heart and mind wished and desired my nighbours goods and thinges I haue followed the great Prince of this Worlde Sathan which hath been a lyer from the beginning in concupiscence of the flesh in pride of liuing in deceiptfulnes in lecherie in hatred and also enuie in backbiting in despaire and also misbeléefe And as I haue abused my will vnderstanding which are faculties and powers of my soule so my senses also which thou hast giuen mee to vse to thy glorie and my neighbours good and mine own lawfull delight I haue misused and mispent in hearing séeing smelling tasting and feeling also things that I should not or else suffring thē to be too violētly caried to things I might haue vsed But in what manner soeuer that I haue offended and sinned against thy eternall Maiestie for no man knoweth throughly his sinnes as the Prophet witnesseth whether it hath béen by day or else by night yea euen from my childhood vnto this day were it in workes wordes or thoughts secretly or openly O my mercifull God I am sorie for it euen from the very bottome of my heart yea my soule mourneth for very sorowe most mercifull Father that I am not a thousand times more sorie than I am howbeit in token of great repentance though all hearts bée knowne well enough vnto thée I doe knocke strike my breast and say in bitternesse of heart and soule Lord GOD the Father Sonne and holy Ghost haue mercie Spare mee of thine infinite mercie deare Lord now and all the daies of my life let me bee made partakers of thine abundant grace in such sort that I may chaunge my sinfull life and put thou out of mee the olde man with al his concupisences and lustes graunting mee grace dayly to die vnto the world and that the world may bée crucified vnto mee and I so dayly goe forward in newnes of life Strengthen mee O Lord in a true humble heart in sound loue hope and trust in thée giue my soule grace to desire in thée onely to reioyce and repose my selfe that I may vtterly renounce and forsake the vaine assistance of this world so that thou mayst finde me readie to méete
RIGHT GODLY RVLE How all faithfull Christians ought to occupie and exercise themselues in their dayly prayers Luke 22. Matth 26. Christ teacheth vs in his Gospel 〈◊〉 Watch and pray least yee fâ—â—â— into temptation Imprinted at London by F. Kingston 1602 GODLY PRAYERS For Munday Morning Prayer O Most louing God and gracious father in Christ wee thanke thee for that sweete sleepe and comfortable rest that thou hast giuen vs this night and forasmuch as thou haâ—t commaunded vs by thy 〈◊〉 wâ—rd that no man sâ— bee idle but alwaies ocâ—pied in vertuous exercises euerie man according to his calling wée most humblie beséech thée that thine eies may attend vs dayly and defend vs and in sorrowe succour cherish and comfort vs. And so gouerne good Lord all our counsailes studies and labours that wee may spend this day according to thy most blessed â—â—ll without hurting of our â—â—â—â—hbour yea that 〈…〉 diligently and warily eschew and auoyd all things that should displease thée set thée alwayes before our eyes and liue in thy feare and euer worke thou so in vs that wee may bee found continent pure of liuing temperate and acceptable before thy diuine Maiestie vnto the praise of thy most holy blessed name through Iesu Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen For Tuesday Morning Prayer SEeing that thou oh heauenly Father art that one and alone Almightie God which art in euerie place beholdest the counsailes deuices and workes yea the very thoughts of all men and giuest to euery one â—â—cording to their déedes wee humbly beseech thee for Christ Iesus his sake to giue vs this grace that forasmuch as thou hast graciouslie preserued vs this night past wee may not spend this day present nor any other day of our liues after our owne mindes and pleasure which is alway euil and wicked but more earnestly looke vpon and diligently follow thy fatherly will thy euerlasting counsaile thy faithfull word and pleasure which is alwaies good perfite and holy and performe the same with chearefulnes that thy diuine name may alway bee sanctified both now and euermore of vs miserable sinners thorough thy dearely beloued Son Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen For Wednesday A Morning prayer O Lord Iesus Christ which art the bright Sun of the world euer rising neuer falling which with thy wholesome looke preseruest nourishest and makest ioyfull all thinges that are in heauen and earth shine fauourablie I beséech thée into my spirite that the night of sinnes and mists of errors being driuen away by thy inward light I may walke this day and all the daies of my life without stumbling or offeÌ„ce comely as in the day time being pure froÌ„ the works of darknesse Grant this O Lord which liuest raignest with God the Father in vnitie of the holy Ghost world without end Amen For Thursday Morning Prayer O Lord Iesu Christ to whom before whom all things are manifest and plaine which also sufferest not a Sparrow to light on the grounde without thy prouidence and which in times past by thy holy Spirit diddest guide our forefathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob in thy pathes and waies in a strange countrey didst appoint the same thy blessed Spirit and messenger to bee their guide Graunt me this day most wretched sinner whom by thy word thou doest encourage to call vpon thee in all time of neede necessities that I may haue the same thy holie Spirit to direct my pathes and waies this day that I may walke according to thy godly will and pleasure to the profite of my neighbour and glorie of thy name which liuest and raignest world without end Amen For Friday A Morning prayer O Mercifull Lord God heauenly Father I render most high lande praise and thanks vnto thée for that thou hast preserued me both this night and all the time and daies of my life hetherto vnder thy defence hast suffered me to liue vnto this present hower I beséech thée heartilie that thou wilt vouchsafe to receiue me this day and the residue of my whole life from hencefoorth into thy tuition ruling and gouerning mee with thy holie Spirite that so all manner of darkenes of misbeliefe infidelitie carnall lustes and affections may bee vtterly chosed driuen out of my heart and that I may be iustified and saued both body soule through a right and stedfast faith and so walke in the light of thy most godly truth to thy glorie praise and to the profit and furtherance of my neighbour through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen For Saturday Morning Prayer O Heauenlie Father which like a diligent watchman attendest alwaies vpon thy faithfull people whether they wake or sleepe and mightily defendest theÌ„ not only froÌ„ Sathan that old enemie of mankind but also froÌ„ al their aduersaries so that through thy godly power they bee preserued harmelesse I huÌ„bly thanke thee for that it hath pleased thy goodnesse so to take care for me thy vnprofitable seruaÌ„t this night past that thou hast both safely kept me from all mine enemies and also giuen mée swéete sléepe vnto the great comfort of my bodie I farther entirely beseech thée most mercifull and swéete father to shewe the like kindnesse towardes me this day in preseruing my bodie For Sunday or the Sabboth Morning Prayer O Gracious Lord God and heauenly Father I humblie beséech thée in Christ so to sanctifie me thoroughout in body soule and spirit that I may religiously kéep and sanctifie this Sabbath vnto thee according to thy holy word not thinking therein mine own thoughts nor speaking mine owne words nor doing mine own works but thinking speaking and doing that which is agréeable to thy blessed will Giue me grace carefully to frequent the publike assemblies of thy Saints and diligently to profite by all holy exercises there Graunt me a religious heart to consent to the praiers of the Church and an attentiue minde to heare and vnderstand the good things of truth and life that shal be deliuered to mee out of thy word And assist me so further that when I shal depart from thy people I may call mine owne heart to account in the thinges I haue heard and may confer christianlie with others for the strengthening of our faith in our hearts and for a glorious confession of the same with our mouthes to the euerlasting praise of thy glorious name and the eternall saluation of our soules through Iesus Christ thy deare son our only mediator and aduocate So be it A generall Morning prayer O Almightie God and our most mercifull father in Iesus Christ I confesse and acknowledge that I am a miserable a wretched sinner and haue manifold waies most grieuously transgressed thy most godly and blessed commaundementes through wicked thoughts vngodly lustes sinfull words and déedes all my whole life In sinne was I conceiued and borne and there is no goodnesse in mée insomuch that if thou shouldest enter into thy narrow iudgment with
will thy might to resist all errour and wicked imaginations thy wisedome to know the truth For I confesse and knowe O Lord that all worldly wit policie knowledge and strength is but foolishnes in thy sight Therefore I aske and continually craue good Lord that helpe and most humbly desire that thy holy spirit may guide all the imaginations thoughts and desires of my heart not onely altering in me my fleshly minde but also inabling me in body soule and spirit to serue thy blessed maiestie for this I know the most perfect amongst men lacking thy wisedome are nothing worth And great reason because the thoughts of mortall men are miserable and our forecastes are vncertaine And why Our nature surely is so vitiated and our will so depraued and our vnderstanding so corrupted that it museth most yea altogether on vaine things Therefore good Lord I beséech thée comfort my sicke soule that it may walke in thy lawes and wayes and worke thy will And Lord like as thou knowest the secrets of my heart and the desires of the same and séest indéede that I would verie earnestly walke in thy trueth and worke the workes of the same truth so Lord I beseech thee refresh my soule according to thy mercifull calling where thou saidst Come to me all that labour and are laden and lowly of heart and you shall finde rest to your soules and I shall refresh you O Lord I miserable sinner would gladly labour in acceptable wayes and haue some care that my good will and desire might not swarue from thée but bee wholy bent towardes thée and like as thou knowest the same to bee vnfained in mee because it is thine own worke So Lord refresh me with thy mercifull grace that now and for euer I may bée stedfast in the true faith and that I may be alwayes obedient vnto thy lawes and commaundements and that I may neuer swarue from the holy and blessed ordinances of thy true and catholike Church which is thy spouse and for the most part speaketh thy words of truth and life but that I may vse them receiue them and honour thée in them so farre forth as they concerne thy worship and are according vnto thy most holy will and pleasure as in things which thou hast left to declare thy loue vnto vs and by them to assure our hope and to exercise our faith that it should not bee idle nor wauering whereunto howsoeuer I bee proue thorough the corruption of my nature and Satans malice against me as I am on the other side vnwilling and vnable to doe that which is good yet O Lord sith all things are possible with thée though they séeme neuer so vnpossible to vs help and reach out thy most mightie and mercifull hand O most louing father I know that by my sins I am not worthie thy blessed comfort nay I am most worthie to be depriued of that and all other fauours but Lord sith thou hast said that in what houre soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sins thou wouldest no more remember them and also thou wouldest not despise the sighing of a contrite heart I am bold in confidence and trust of thy mercie méekly and with a lowly heart to call to thée for grace and helpe in this troublous time of temptation and trying of our faith I am as one laden yea ouer laden with ignorance not knowing the height of thy heauenly misteries nor the deceitfull déepnes of the craftie and subtill arguments and perswasions of my ghostly enemies which daylie doe assault my sinfull soule and so burden the same that it can finde no rest Therefore O Lord like as thou knowest my will and heartie desire is to serue thée notwithstanding these suggestions within me and without me and that I haue a desire to liue and dye in thy most holy faith so Lord I beséech thée neuer suffer the subtill perswasions contrarie to thy truth to take place or roote in my heart But like Lord as thou hast created my heart and giuen me in som measure a will to order the same according to thy blessed will so Lord I humbly yéeld the same againe into thy hands desiring thée by thy holy spirit so to direct my wayes words and workes that now and alwayes they may be accepcable in thy sight And good Lord suffer not my soule to perish which thou hast bought so dearely with thy most precious bloud for the which great mercie sake of thine heretofore shewed vnto mee haue mercie on me continually and mak mee poore in spirit and low of heart and content with my vocation submitting my selfe wholy into thy hands so that my desire may bee to thy will and that no desire remaine in me but onely to doe thy will and pleasure And grant I beséech thée that I may haue none other trust but only in thée which art onely to be trusted and all trust it selfe and none besides thée Graunt further O Lord that my poore soule may rest in thée yea in thée alone for thou hast sayd they shall neuer be confounded that put their trust in thée which trust Lord graunt me neuer to forsake for any vaine trust or temptation or tribulation that may any manner of way fal out to vexe my poore soule but graunt me thy holy spirit to comfort and defend mee from all things that should procure thy displeasure As thou art in Trinitie one God and Lord ouer all which liuest and raignest world without end To thée bee all honour glorie and praise for euer Amen A prayer that wee may haue the feare of God before our eyes in all our doings O Almightie and euerlasting God thy holy word teacheth vs that thou art not onely a father but also a Lord not onely a forgiuer but also a reuenger not onely a Sauiour but also a iudge and as thou being a father a forgiuer and a Sauiour doest pardon and shewe mercie so thou being a Lord a reuenger and a iudge punishest and condemnest Neither doth thy holy scripture onely set foorth vnto vs a Gospell which comforteth vs quickneth vs sheweth vs glad and ioyfull tidings forgiueth our sinnes and quieteth our consciences and bringeth vs vnto euerlasting life but also a law which reproueth accuseth condemneth vs woundeth and slayeth our conscience yea and throweth vs down headlong into the déepe dungeon of hell And as the holy Gospell lifteth vs vppe and maketh vs glad with the hope of remission and forgiuenes of our sinnes so doth the lawe plucke vs downe and almost driue vs vnto desperation for feare of thy plagues and euerlasting punishments so that we not onely loue thée as a father a forgiuer a Sauiour but also feare thée as a Lord a reuenger a iudge For asmuch therefore O most gracious God and merciful Sauiour and most righteous iudge as this doth so mightily put away sinne and make vs to walke in the way of thy commaundements namely reuerently to feare thée and to stand in awe
honor is 〈◊〉 thy face holines and magnificence is in thy Sanctuarie With iustice and iudgement thy royall throne is established mercie and trueth goe before thy face Blessed art thou O Lord which hast not holden backe thy mercie from thy seruant After that I had long looked for thée O Lord 〈◊〉 the last thou didst attend vpon mee and hearof 〈◊〉 â—rye Thou hast taken me out of the Lake of miserie set my féete vpon a rocke and made my steps sure Thou hast giuen me my desire I haue séene thy ioyfull countenance Thou hast striken all my aduersaries and hast abated their strength Thou hast rebuked the â—ablement of them that vexed me and hast plucked me forth of their hands â—hou hast cast them hâ—â—â—â—â—ng into their owne 〈◊〉 their féete bee wrapped in the net which they laide priuily for me Mine enemies are recoyled backe they are fallen downe and destroyed from thy sight Thou hast been the poore mans defence and his helper in tribulation when most néede was Thou hast executed iudgment for me thou hast defended my cause against mine accusers And although thou were very angry with mee a little yet now I liue through thy mercie and goodnes Verily I supposed with my selfe that I was cleane cast out of thy fauour But thou hast heard my prayers and according to thy great mercie hast taken me againe into thy â—â—â—our O Lord of thâ—â— owne 〈…〉 hast 〈…〉 â—â—rength 〈…〉 when the◠〈…〉 from me O Lord how greatly astonied was I When I was in aduersity then I cried vnto thee and thou didst aunswere me When my soule was in great anguish and trouble then O Lord I remembred thee I haue tasted and séene how sâ—eet thou art truly blessed iâ—â—he maÌ„ that trustâ— in th◠〈◊〉 â—â—rding to thy 〈…〉 thy commen◠〈◊〉 and praise but thy counsailes touching vs be without example and greater then with wordes can bee expresseâ— Dominion power and glory he thine for thou hast made all things and because thy wâ—ll is so they doe still â—ontinâ—â—â— Thy name 〈◊〉 blessed pâ—â—ised and mâ—â—nified both 〈…〉 woâ—ld with◠〈…〉 â—men A Psalme of the benefites of God with thankes for the same MY soule praiseth thee O Lord and all that is within mee praiseth thy holy name My soule giueth thee humble thankes and thy benefites â— will neuer forget Whâ—â— for 〈…〉 sinnes 〈◊〉 healâ—â—◠〈…〉 infirmties Which hast saued my life from destruction and shewed in me thy grace and mercie Which hast satisfied my deâ—â—e with good things and shall once restore my youth againe Thou hast intreated me mercifully at all times and hast reuenged me of my enemies Thou haâ—â—â—éen a defence to mâ— O Lord and a sure foundation of my wealth Thou hast guided mee with thy counsaile and taken me vnto thee through thy mercie Thou hast many wayes declared in mee thy great might and power and after thy anger hath béene past thou hast turned again and comforted me Thou hast sent me many grieuous troubles but at the leÌ„gth thou hast brought mee out of the bottomes héepenes Thou hast made me priuie to thy wayes hast not hid thy counsails from me Thou art full of mercy and grace O Lord slow to wrath readie to goodnes Thy displeasure lasteth not alway and thou kéepest not backe thy mercies in thine anger for euer Thou rewardest vs not after our sins nor punishest vs according 〈◊〉 our deserts Looke how high the heauen is in comparison of the earth so great is thy mercy towarde vs. How far as the East is distant from the West so far O Lord remoue our sinnes from vs. Like as a naturall father hath pitie vpon his children euen so O Lord God thou hast had compassion vpon vs. Thou hast not forgotten thy creature thou remembrest that we are flesh yea all men liuing are vanitie And that the age of man is like vnto grasse and may be compared to the flowers of the field which as soone as the sharpe winde hath blowne vpon them with his blasts wither away and die so that no man can tell where thy did grow But thy mercie O Lord and louing kindnes is alwaies vpon the 〈◊〉 that feare thée and thy righteousnes endureth for euer So that we kéep our promise and couenant with thée and so remember thy commaundements that we doe them indeede O Lord thou hast stablished thy throne in heauen thou gouernest al things by thy imperiall power I will magnifie thee O Lord and land thy name world without end I will giue thankes alway make thy name glorious for euer O Lord thou art puissant and great and thy magnificence is vnsearchable One generation shall shew to another thy works and they shall declare thine ancient noble acts They shall euer praise the magnificence of the glory of thy holines and the memorie of thy great goodnes For thou art good â—â—d gracious to al men thy mercy excéedeth all thy workes The eâ—â—â— of all things beholde 〈◊〉 fruite vpon thee that thou shouldst giue theÌ„ their sustenance in time conuenient Thou openest thy hand and sillest euery liuing creature with food necessarie O Lord thou art rightfull in all thy wayes and holy in all thy deedes Thou keepest all them that loâ—â— thée and the torment of malice shall not touch them My mouâ—h shall sprake thy glory and praise and all liuing creatures shall honor thy holy name for euer Praise our Lord O yee his angels mighty in power which doe his commaundements and obey the voice of his word Praise yee altogether God O al ye hosts you his ministers that due his will and pleasure Praise our Lord as I do and let vs â—â—gnifie his name together Prâ—â—â— our Lord O ye al his saints for his name is glorious and his praise aboue heauen and earth Praise our Lord together O ye al his workes euery thing that liueth praise our Lord. Amen The complaint of a sinner MY God my God why hast thou forsaken mee it semeth that I shall not obtaine deliuerance though I seeke it with loud cries My God I wil cry all the day long but thou wilt not answere and all the night long without taking any rest The meane time thou most holiest séemest to sit still not caring for the things that I suffer which so oft hath helped mee heretofore and hast giuen to thy people Israel sufficient arguments and matter to praise thée with songes wherewith they haue 〈◊〉 thankes to thee for thy benefites Our forefathers were wont to put their trust in thée and as often as they did so thou diddest deliuer them As oft as they cryed for helpe to thée they were deliuered as oft as they committed themselues to thée they were not put to shame But as for meâ— I séeme rather to be a worme than a man the dunghill of Adam the outcast of the vulgar people As many as haue séene me haue laughed me to scorne and reuiled me and shaking their heades in derision at mee
weaknes of my flesh bée not ouercome with the feare of death or any other temptation whatsoeuer Yea graunt me mercifull Sauiour I humbly beséech thee that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my bodie yet that the eyes of my soule may still beholde and looke vpon thée and may assuredly féele thée in my selfe for my selfe to bee the mightie conqueror of death and the deuil sinne and hell and all other enemies of mine whatsoeuer so that when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue and spéech yet that my heart may cry and say vnto thée O Lord into thy hands I giue and commend my spirit Lord Iesus receiue my soule vnto thée Amen The prayer of Salomon for to obtaine wisedome 1 King 2. THOU hast shewed Lord vnto thy seruant Dauid my Father great mercie when hee walked in thy sight in truth and iustice and in vprightnes of heart with thée Thou shewest vnto him thy great mercie and gauest him a sonne sitting vpon his throne as it is at this day And now Lord God thou hast made thy seruant to raigne in the roome of Dauid my Father I am a very babe and know not how to goe out and in And thy seruant is in the middest of an infinite number which thou hast chosen which cannot bee numbred nor counted for multitude Wherefore giue to thy seruant an heart apt to bee taught and full of vnderstanding to iudge thy people that I may discerne betwéene good and bad For who is able to iudge this thy mightie people A prayer for obtaining of wisdome Sapient 9. GOd of our fathers and Lord of mercie thou hast made all things with thy word and ordained man through thy wisedome that hee should haue dominion ouer the creatures which thou hast made that hee should order the world according vnto equitie and righteousnes and execute iudgement with a true heart giue mee wisedome which is euer among the children of Israel For I thy seruant and sonne of thy handmaide am a féeble person of a short time and too young to the vnderstanding of thy iudgements and though a man bee neuer so perfect among the children of men yet if thy wisedome be not with him he shall be nothing worth Oh send thy wisedome out of thy holy heauens and from the throne of thy Maiestie that she may be with me and labour with me that I may knowe what is acceptable in thy sight for she knoweth and vnderstandeth all things and she shall conduct me right soberly in all my workes and preserue mee in her power so shall my workes bee acceptable Amen A prayer for a competent liuing Prouerb 30. TWo things Lord I demand that thou wilt not deny mee vntill I dye vanitie and words of leasings remoue farre from me pouertie or riches giue me not onely giue me that is necessarie for my liuing least being in full abundance I might be prouoked to denie thée and say Who is the Lord or being compelled by necessitie I might steale and forsweare the name of God Another Prayer GOod Lord God and swéete Sauiour Iesus Christ the sonne of the euerlasting God grant vnto me most fraile sinner and miserable wretch this grace and mercie that I may euer haue present before the eyes of my soule thy holy life thine example and behauiour and that according to any measure of mercie thou hast béen pleased or shalt be pleased to bestowe vpon me I may in liuing and manners follow the same And cause mee good Lord to profite grow and increase therein to such a notable measure as may be acceptable vnto thée being thine own grace and comfortable to my selfe as comming from thée for the saluation of my soule Lighten Lord and make cleere and bright my heart with the glorious light of thy grace that it euer may goe before mee and follow mee in all my acts so that by thy grace and power conducting and guiding I may accomplish and fulfill al that may please thy goodnes and vtterly eschue and auoide all that in any wise should displease the same Vouchsafe sweete Sauiour I beséech thée to direct and order all my cogitations and thoughts all my spéech and wordes all mine acts and déedes in thy law and commaundements in thy monitions and counsels and take me good Lord wholly so vnto thée that here in all things doing thy will I by grace may bee one of the soules that thou hast appointed to euerlasting saluation thorough Christ Iesus Amen A deuout prayer to our Lord God O LORD which hast vouchsafed of thy vnspeakeable goodnes to make me and ordaine me thy creature to liue in this transitorie life giuing me a reasonable soule by the which inlightned with the truth of thy word I know thée to be my Lord my God and my maker which also I may in some sort well perceiue by the visible sight of thy wonderfull workes as by heauen the earth and the creatures in them contained together with the commodities blessings that we daylie receiue by them at thy hand all which declare the great loue that thou hadest in our first creation and also doe expresse the singular care and prouidence that yet still thou hast for vs and further doe declare to vs thée to be the only God and Lord ouer all and that there is none aboue thée and that there is no wisdome knowledge power or strength of value besides thée and yet further also thou knowing our necessarie néede of thy holy of thy most louing fauour hast not disdained to say to me and to other thy people by thine owne most blessed word to the great comfort of all our consciences Aske and it shall bee giuen séeke and yee shall finde knocke and it shall be opened to you And yet for further declaration of thy great loue toward vs hast most familiarly sayde If we that be euill can giue vnto our children when they aske good things how much more then shall our heauenly Father giue his holy spirit to them that earnestly desire it What a swéete and comfortable saying is this In confidence of this truth O most blessed Lord I wretched sinner doe aske at thy hands mercie and grace confessing my selfe to bee a most wicked and abominable sinner in thy sight most weake of all other to stand to or in thy truth most fraile to fall and readie to breake all thy holy commandements by the kéeping of which we are knowne to bee thy true seruants O most mercifull Lord God I acknowledge my selfe daylie and hourely to breake the same but where I haue thus offended thy diuine Maiestie I humblie for Christ Iesus sake aske of thee mercie and forgiuenes minding by thy most mightie assistance neuer hereafter to offend in the same And Lord that I may bee the better perswaded of the assured performance of the same I humbly aske and desire thy strength continually to make me stand fast in faith thy knowledge and power from thée to worke thy blessed