my bodie a liuing sacrifice holie and acceptable vnto thee which is a reasonable seruice gratefull obedience Both now and euerie daie Lord I commend my soule and bodie into thy hands thou hast redeemed me O God of truth Compasse me about with the watch of thine Angels which are ministring spirits sent out for their defence which are the children of saluation that they may pitch their tents about me and incounter with Satan the dragon to defend me from euill Giue thine holie Angels charge of me that they protect me in all my waies least happilie I hurt my feete against a stone so will I praise thee and magnifie thy name which liuest and reignest a true and eternall God worlds without end Amen Another praier verie effectuall to be vsed vpon the Lords Sundaie or other holie or festiuall daies SEing that the verie solemne times festiuall holidaies doo vndoubtedlie greatlie renew the reioicing of the godlie yea that more is with a certaine heape as a man would saie doo maruelouslie augment and increase their spirituall ioie in thee O most holie Lord God of Saboth and make it greater than it was For they are kept to continue and stir vs vp vnto the remembrance and recounting of thy woonderfull acts things and miracles wrought and done by thine almightie Maiestie for the conseruation and saluation of mankind and by that occasion doo exceedinglie cheere vp and fill the harts of the godlie with spirituall ioies in thee Moreouer bicause good exercises are to be renewed often but especiallie vpon the Sundaie and holie daies as though at that time we were departing out of this life and going to the euerlasting holie daies of spirituall rest and continuall ioie and therefore ought we at that time especiallie to prepare our selues with carefulnes to shew our selues more godlie and to doo thy cōmandements more straightlie as they y t shall receiue reward of our trauels at thy hand ere it be long Behold I thy sillie creature desirous to keepe the godlie rest of the new Saboth better than hitherto I haue done for which as for all other my defaults I crie thee hartilie mercie doo now therefore most humblie beseech thee O holie Father to powre plentiouslie vpon me thy blessed spirit through whose diuine power vertue and grace I may this daie be throughlie sanctified clensed dedicated and prepared both bodilie and ghostlie perfectlie to serue and worship thee according to thy will O holie God which hast commanded vs to sanctifie our selues and to be holie as thou art grant me grace with S. Iohn to be in the spirit on the Sundaie and this daie to be holie with them that be holie and altogither giuen to serue please thee in spirit and truth as becommeth the true worshippers of thee Make thou me this daie to refraine my selfe from dooing anie bodilie labour or seruile worke and vtterlie to forbeare all maner of vngodlinesse displeasant vnto thee as namelie not to abuse or mispend this holie daie in pranking packing priinting pointing frisling or vaine attiring of my selfe to be gorgious and gaie and to prance in pride neither yet in vnlawfull plaies idle sports games Ethnicall pastimes feasting banketting bellie-cheere gluttonie riot excesse chambering wantonnes nicenesse contention pride couetousnesse or in anie other fleshlie filthinesse and vaine pleasures of this transitorie world but contrariwise to occupie and giue my selfe obedientlie vnto the vertuous works and holie exercises of thy diuine precepts namelie vnto the expending of the spirituall rest and euerlasting repose of all Christian soules in heauen vnto the meditation of thy woonderfull works and vnspeakable benefits which thou O God continuallie bestowest vpon thy Church and to bee thankefull for the same to studie the Scriptures to heare and reade thy sacred word and followe the same to call vpon thee by ardent praier with hartie thankesgiuing for all thy mercies to exercise thy holie Sacraments and to comfort and giue almes gladlie according to mine abilitie to the releefe of the poore and comfort of the needie Make me I saie O Lord with holie Dauid both most willing and glad this daie to go foorth with my whole familie and the multitude into thy house and temple in the voice of praise and thankes-giuing among such as keepe it holiedaie vnto thee and at all seasons by common order appointed diligentlie to frequent the populous resort and Christian assemblie of the congregation in the Church and to be present with other thy people often in that most sacred place on earth at the most holie and alwaies to thee O God most acceptable sacrifice of praise inuocation diuine worship giuing of thanks singing of hymnes hearing of thy word vsing of thy holie Sacraments praiers intercessions and supplications which at the comming together of the whole congregation is vsed ordinarilie to be made vnto thee in the Church with verie great ceremonie and reuerence that thus being free from the trauels and drudgerie of this world and by thy grace cleansed from all mine owne carnall affections and wholie giuen ouer to serue and sanctifie thee in true rest and spirituall ease as also to bestowe consecrate and hallowe this thy sacred Sabboth or Sundaie with all other festiuall holie daies most glorious vnto thee in all holie and spirituall exercises of a faithfull and obedient Christian according to thy will I may euen heere in this vale of teares amidst all my miseries be thereby occasioned with cheerefull hart both outwardlie and inwardlie exceedinglie to reioice and trust in thee my most mercifull God and louing sauiour and after this transitorie life ended be worthie happilie to enter into thy holie Mountaine the Tabernacle of thine elect and kingdome of euerlasting blessednesse where the soules of all holie folke doo rest and there with them to be partaker of perfect holinesse and of the vnspeakable benefit of the wished wealefull rest and eternall endlesse ioie of ioies in the Paradise of God to see loue and praise thee most ioifullie in happie mirth for euer and euer through Iesus Christ our Lord to whome with thee O Father and the holie Ghost be immortall glorie infinite power euerlasting kingdome perpetuall praise and continual thanks-giuing by all creatures through all ages worlds world without end Amen See more for Sundaie afterward Meditations HEere call to mind the commandements of almightie God concerning the kéeping of the Sabboth daie holie vnto him as namelie the third commandement Remember thou keepe holie the Sabboth daie c. Exod. 20 verse 11. Call to mind also his promises touching the same who saith If thou turne awaie thy foote from the Sabboth from dooing thy will on the Sabboth daie and call the Sabboth a delight to consecrate it as glorious vnto the Lord and shalt honor him not dooing thine owne waies nor seeking thine owne will nor speaking a vaine word then shalt thou delight in the Lord and I will cause thee to mount vpon the high places of the earth
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
gods Alas how haue I violated this holie pure and most high precept and commandment of the loue of God Which precept bindeth me to loue him with my whole hart mind force strength and vnderstanding And I like vnto an euill wicked and disobedient child haue giuen my will power and senses to the contrarie making almost of euerie earthlie and carnall thing a god Furthermore the bloud of Christ was not reputed by me sufficient for to wash me from the filth of my sinnes neither such waies as he had appointed by his word but I sought for such riffraffe as the Bishop of Rome hath planted in his tyrannie and kingdome trusting with great confidence by the vertue and holinesse of them to receiue full remission of my sinnes And so I did as much as was in me obfuscate and darken the great benefit of Christes passion than the which no thought can conceiue anie thing of more value There cannot be done so great an iniurie and displeasure to almightie God our father as to tread vnder foote Christ his onlie begotten and welbeloued sonne All other sinnes in the world gathered together in one be not so heinous and detestable in the sight of God And no wonder For in Christ crucified God doth shewe himselfe most noble and glorious euen an almightie God and most louing father in his onlie deare and chosen blessed sonne And therefore I count my selfe one of the most wicked and miserable sinners in the world bicause I haue beene so much contrarie to Christ my sauiour Saint Paule desired to knowe nothing but Christ crucified after he had beene rapt into the third heauen where he heard such secrets as were not conuenient meete to vtter to men but counted all his works and doings as nothing to win Christ And I most presumptuouslie thinking nothing of Christ crucified went about to set foorth mine owne righteousnesse saieng with the proud Pharisie Good Lord I thanke thee I am not like other men I am none adulterer nor fornicator and so foorth with such like words of vaine glorie extolling my selfe and despising others working as an hired seruant for wages or else for reward and not as a louing child onlie for verie loue without respect of wages or reward as I ought to haue done Neither did I consider how beneficiall a father I had who did shew me his charitie and mercie of his owne meere grace and goodnesse that when I was most his enimie he sent his onlie begotten and welbeloued sonne into this world of wretchednesse and miserie to suffer most cruell and sharpe death for my redemption But my hart was so stonie and hard that this great benefit was neuer trulie and liuelie printed in my hart although with my words it was oft rehearsed thinking my selfe to be sufficientlie instructed in the same and being in deede in blinde ignorance and yet I stoode so well in mine owne iudgement and opinion that I thought it vaine to seeke the increase of my knowledge therein Paule calleth Christ the wisdome of God and euen the same Christ was to me foolishnesse My pride and blindnesse deceiued me and the hardnesse of my hart withstoode the groning of truth within it Such were the fruits of my carnall and humane reasons to haue rotten ignorance in price for ripe seasonable knowledge such also is the malice and wickednesse that possesseth the harts of men such is the wisdome and pleasing of the flesh I professed Christ in my baptisme when I began to liue but I swarued from him after baptisme in continuance of my liuing euen as the heathen which neuer had begun Christ was innocent and void of all sinne and I wallowed in filthie sinne and was free from no sinne Christ was obedient vnto his father euen to the death of the crosse and I disobedient and most stubborne euen to the confusion of truth Christ was meeke and humble in hart and I most proud and vaine-glorious Christ despised the world with all the vanities therof and I make it my God because of the vanities Christ came to serue his brethren and I coueted to rule ouer them Christ despised worldlie honour and I much delighted to attaine the same Christ loued the base and simple things of the world and I esteemed the most faire and pleasant things Christ loued pouertie and I wealth Christ was gentle and mercifull to the poore and I hard-harted and vngentle Christ praied for his enimies and I hated mine Christ reioiced in the conuersion of sinners and I was not greeued to see their reuersion to sinne By this declaration all creatures may perceiue how far I was from Christ and without Christ yea how contrarie to Christ although I bare the name of a Christian Insomuch that if anie man had said I had beene without Christ I would haue stiffelie denied and withstoode the same and yet in deede I neither knew Christ nor wherefore he came As concerning the effect and purpose of his comming I had a certaine vaine and blind knowledge both cold and dead which may be had with all sinne as doth plainelie appeare by this my confession and open declaration The second Chapter A lamentation of a sinner with hartie repentance in faith to obtaine absolution and remission through the merits of Christ. WHat cause now haue I to lament sigh and weepe for my life time so euill spent With how much humilitie and lowlinesse ought I to come and knowledge my sinnes to God giuing him thanks that it hath pleased him of his aboundant goodnesse to giue me time of repentance For I knowe my sinnes in the consideration of them to be so greeuous and in the number so exceeding that I haue deserued verie often eternall damnation And for the deferring of Gods wrath so manifoldlie due I must vncessantlie giue thanks to the mercie of God beseeching also that the same delaie of punishment cause not his plague to be the sorer since mine owne conscience condemneth my former doings But his mercie exceedeth all iniquitie And if I should not thus hope alas what should I seeke for refuge and comfort No mortall man is of power to help me and for the multitude of my sinnes I dare not lift vp mine eies to heauen where the seate of iudgement is I haue so much offended my God What Shall I fall in desperation Naie I will call vpon Christ the light of the world the fountaine of life the reliefe of all carefull consciences the peacemaker betweene God and man and the onlie health and comfort of all true repentant sinners He can by his almightie power saue me and deliuer me out of this miserable state and hath will by his mercie to saue euen the whole sin of the world I haue no hope nor confidence in anie creature neither in heauen nor earth but in Christ my whole onlie Sauiour He came into the world to saue sinners and to heale them that are sicke For he said The whole haue no neede
of them but he hath ouerthrowne and vanquished them after such a sort that all things serue to our helth He might and could haue taken them all awaie but where then should haue beene our victorie palme and crowne For we dailie haue fights in the flesh and by the succour of grace haue continuall victories ouer sinne whereby we haue cause to glorifie God that by his sonne hath weakened our enimie the diuell and by his spirit giueth vs strength to vanquish his ofspring So doo we knowledge dailie the great triumph of our Sauiour reioice in our owne fights the which we can no wise impute to anie wisdome of this world seeing sinne to increase by it And where worldlie wisedome most gouerneth there most sinne ruleth For as the world is enimie to God so also the wisdome therof is aduerse to God and therefore Christ hath declared discouered the same for foolishnesse And although he could haue taken awaie all worldlie wisedome yet he hath left it for his greater glorie and triumph of his chosen vessels For before whereas it was our ruler against God now by Christ we are serued of it for God as of a slaue in worldlie things albeit in supernaturall things the same is not to be vnderstood And further if at anie time men would impugne and gainsaie vs with the wisedome of the world yet we haue by Christ so much supernaturall light of the truth that we make a mocke of all those that repugne the truth Christ also vpon the crosse hath triumphed ouer the world First bicause he hath discouered the same to be naught that whereas it was couered with the vaile of hypocrisie and the vesture of morall vertues Christ hath shewed that in Gods sight the righteousnesse of the world is wickednesse and he hath yeelded witnes that The works of men not regenerated by him in faith are euill and so Christ hath iudged and condemned the world for naught Further more he hath giuen to all his so much light and spirit that they knowe it and dispraise the same yea and tread it vnder their feet with all vaine honours dignities pleasures not taking the faire promises neither the offers which it doth present naie they rather make a scorne of them And as for the threatnings and force of the world they nothing feare Now therefore we may see how great the victorie and triumph of Christ is who hath deliuered all those the father gaue him from the power of the diuell cancelling vpon the crosse the writing of our debts For he hath deliuered vs from the condemnation of sinne from the bondage of the lawe from the feare of death from the danger of the world and from all euils in this life and in the other to come And he hath inriched vs made vs noble and most highlie happie after such a glorious and triumphant waie as can not with tongue be expressed and therefore we are forced to saie his triumph is maruellous It is also seene and knowne that Christ is the true Messias For he hath deliuered man from all euils and by him man hath all goodnesse so that he is the true Messias Therefore all other helpers be but vaine and counterfeited sauiours seeing that by this our Messias Christ wholie and onlie we be deliuered from all euils and by him we haue all goodnesse And that this is true it is euident and cleare bicause the verie true Christian is a Christian by Christ And the true Christian feeleth inwardlie by Christ so much goodnesse of God that euen troublous life and death be sweet vnto him and miseries happie The true Christian by Christ is disburdened from the seruitude of the lawe hauing the lawe of grace grauen by the spirit inhabiting his hart and from sinne that reigned in him from the power of the infernall spirits from damnation and from euerie euill and is made a sonne of God a brother of Christ heire of heauen and Lord of the world so that in Christ and by Christ he possesseth all good things But let vs knowe that Christ yet fighteth in spirit in his elect vessels and shall fight euen to the daie of iudgment at which day shall that great enimie death be wholie destroied and shall be no more Then shall the children of God reioice on him saieng O death where is thy victorie and sting There shall be then no more trouble nor sinne naie rather none euill but heauen for the good and hell for the wicked Then shall wholie be discouered the victorie triumph of Christ who after Paule shall present vnto his father the kingdome together with his chosen saued by him It was no little fauour towards his children that Christ was chosen of God to saue vs his elect so highlie by the waie of the crosse Paule calleth it a grace and a most singular grace We may well thinke that he hauing beene to the world so valiant a captaine of God was full of light grace vertue and spirit therefore he might iustlie saie Consummatum est Wee seeing then that the triumph and victorie of our captaine Christ is so maruellous glorious and noble to the which war we be appointed let vs force our selues to folowe him with bearing our crosse that we may haue felowship with him in his kingdome The sixt Chapter That we ought to submit our selues to the schoole of the Crosse and still looke and learne in the booke of the Crucifix TRulie it may be most iustlie verified that to behold Christ crucified in spirit is the best meditation that can be I certeinlie neuer knew mine owne miseries and wretchednes so well by booke admonition or learning as I haue done by looking into the spirituall booke of the Crucifix I lament much I haue passed so manie yeeres not regarding that diuine booke but I iudged thought my selfe to be well instructed in the same wheras now I am of this opinion that if God would suffer me to liue here a thousand yeeres and should studie continuallie in the same diuine booke I should not be filled with the contemplation thereof Neither hold I my selfe contented but alwaies haue a great desire to learne and studie more therein I neuer knewe mine owne wickednes neither lamented for my sinnes trulie vntill the time God inspired me with his grace that I looked in this booke then I began to see perfectlie that mine owne power and strength could not helpe me and that I was in the Lords hand euen as the claie is in the potters hand then I began to crie and saie Alas Lord that euer I haue so wickedlie offended thee being to me from the beginning so gratious and so good a father and most speciallie now hast declared and shewed thy goodnesse vnto me when in the time I haue done thee most iniurie to call me and also to make me knowe take thee for my Sauior and redeemer Such be the wonderfull works of God to call sinners to repentance to make
them to take Christ his welbeloued sonne for their Sauior this is the gift of God of all Christians to be required and desired For except this great benefit of Christ crucified be felt and fixed surelie in mans hart there can be no good worke done acceptable before God For in Christ is all fulnesse of the Godhead and in him are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge Euen he is the water of life whereof whosoeuer shall drinke he shall neuer more thirst but it shall be in him a well of water springing vp into euerlasting life S. Paule saith There is no damnation to them that are in Christ which walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Moreouer he saith If when we were enimies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son much more seeing we are reconciled we shall be preserued by his death It is no little or small benefit we haue receiued by Christ if we consider what he hath done for vs as I haue perfectlie declared heretofore Wherefore I praie the Lord that this great benefit of Christ crucified may be stedfastlie fixed printed in all Christians harts that they may be true louers of God and worke as children for loue and not as seruants compelled with threatenings or prouoked with hire The sincere and pure louers of God doo embrace Christ with such feruencie of spirit that they reioice in hope be bold in danger suffer in aduersitie continue in praier blesse their persecutors Further they be not wise in their owne opinion neither high minded in their prosperitie neither abashed in their aduersitie but humble and gentle alwaies to all men For they knowe by their faith they are members all of one bodie and that they haue possessed all one God one faith one baptisme one ioie and one saluation If these pure and sincere louers of God were thicke sowne there should not be so much contention and strife growing on the fields of our religion as there is Well I shall praie to the Lord to take all contention and strife awaie and that the sowers of sedition may haue mind to cease their labour or to sowe it among the stones and to haue grace to sowe gratious vertues where they may both take roote and bring foorth fruit with sending also a godlie vnitie and concord amongst all Christians that we may serue the Lord in true holinesse of life The seuenth Chapter A Christian bewailing of the miserable ignorance and blindnesse of men THe example of good liuing is required of all Christians but speciallie in the Ecclesiasticall pastors and shepheards For they be called in scripture Workemen with God Disbursers of Gods secrets The light of the world The salt of the earth at whose hands all other should take comfort in working knowledge of Gods will and sight to become children of light and taste of seasonable wisdome They haue or should haue the holie spirit abundantlie to pronounce and set foorth the word of God in veritie and truth If ignorance and blindnesse reigne amongst vs they should with the truth of Gods word instruct and set vs in the truth and direct vs in the waie of the Lord. But thanks be giuen vnto the Lord that hath now sent vs such a godlie and learned King in these latter daies to reigne ouer vs that with the vertue force of Gods word hath taken awaie the vailes and mists of errours and brought vs to the knowledge of the truth by the light of Gods word which was so long hid and kept vnder that the people were nigh famished and hungred for lacke of spirituall food Such was the charitie of the spirituall curats and shepheards But our Moses and most godlie wise Gouernour and King hath deliuered vs out of the captiuitie and bondage of Pharao I meane by this Moses King Henrie the eight my most souereigne fauourable Lord and husband one if Moses had figured anie mo than Christ through the excellent grace of God meete to be an other expressed veritie of Moses conquest ouer Pharao And I meane by this Pharao the bishop of Rome who hath beene and is a greater persecutor of all true Christians than euer was Pharao of the children of Israel For he is a persecutor of the Gospell and grace a setter foorth of all superstition and counterfeit holinesse bringing manie soules to hell with his alchimie and counterfeit monie deceiuing the poore soules vnder the pretence of holinesse but so much the greater shall be his damnation bicause he deceiueth and robbeth vnder Christs mantell The Lord keepe and defend all men from his iuglings and sleits but speciallie the poore simple and vnlearned soules And this lesson I would all men had of him that when they begin to mislike his dooing then onlie begin they to like God and certeinlie not before As for the spirituall pastors and shepherds I thinke they will cleaue and sticke to the word of God euen to the death to vanquish all Gods enimies if neede shall require all respects of honour dignitie riches welth and their priuate commodities laid apart following also the examples of Christ and his chosen Apostles in preaching and teaching sincere and holesome doctrine and such things as make for peace with godly lessons wherewith they may edifie others that euerie man may walke after his vocation in holinesse of life in vnitie and concord which vnitie is to be desired of all true Christians It is much to be lamented the schismes varieties contentions and disputations that haue beene and are in the world about Christian religion no agreement nor concord of the same among the learned men Trulie the diuell hath beene the sower of the seede of sedition and shall be the mainteiner of it euen till Gods will be fulfilled There is no war so cruell and euill as this For the war with sword killeth but the bodies and this slaieth manie soules For the poore vnlearned persons remaine confused and almost euerie one beleeueth and worketh after his owne waie and yet there is but one truth of Gods word by the which we shall be saued Happie be they that receiue it and most vnhappie are they which neglect and persecute the same For it shall be more easie for Sodom and Gomor at the daie of iudgement than for them And not without iust cause if we consider the beneuolence goodnesse and mercie of God who hath declared his charitie towards vs greater and more inestimable than euer he did to the Hebrues For they liued vnder shadowes and figures and were bound to the lawe And Christ we being his greatest enimies hath deliuered vs from the bondage of the lawe and hath fulfilled all that was figured in their lawe and also in their prophesies sheading his owne pretious bloud to make vs the children of his father and his brethren and hath made vs free setting vs in a godlie libertie I meane not licence to sinne as manie be glad to interpret the same when as
Christian libertie is godlie intreated of Trulie it is no good spirit that moueth men to find fault at euerie thing and when things may be well taken to peruert them into an euill sense and meaning There be in the world manie speakers of holines and good works but verie rare and seldome is declared which be the good and holie works The works of the spirit be neuer almost spoken of and therefore verie few knowe what they be I am able to iustifie the ignorance of the people to be great not in this matter alone but in manie other the which were most necessarie for Christians to knowe Because I haue had iust proofe of the same it maketh me thus much to saie with no little sorowe and greefe in my hart for such a miserable ignorance and blindnesse amongest the people I doubt not but we can saie all Lord Lord. But I feare God may saie vnto vs This people honoureth me with their lips but their harts be far from me God desireth nothing but the hart and saith He will be worshipped in spirit and truth Christ condemned all hypocrisie and feigned holines and taught sincere pure and true godlinesse but we worsse than frantike or blinde will not followe Christs doctrine but trust to mens doctrines iudgements and saiengs which dimmeth our eies and so the blind leadeth the blind and both fall into the dich Trulie in my simple and vnlearned iudgement no mans doctrine is to be esteemed or preferred like vnto Christs and the Apostles nor to be taught as a perfect and true doctrine but euen as it doth accord agree with the doctrine of the Gospell But yet those that be called spirituall pastours although they be most carnall as it doth verie euidentlie and plainelie appeare by their fruites are so blinded with the loue of themselues and the world that they extoll mens inuentions and doctrines before the doctrine of the Gospell And when they be not able to mainteine their owne inuentions and doctrines with anie iot of the scripture then they most cruellie persecute them that be contrarie to the same Be such the louers of Christ Naie naie they be the louers of the wicked Mammon neither regarding God nor his honour For filthie lucre hath made them almost mad but frantike they be doubtlesse Is not this miserable state of spirituall men in the world much to be lamented of all good Christians But yet I cannot allowe neither praise all kind of lamentation but such as may stand with Christian charitie The eight Chapter Of the fruites and rules of true Christianitie for men to followe CHaritie suffereth long and is gentle enuieth not vpbraideth no man casteth frowardlie no faults in mens teeth but referreth all things to God being angrie without sinne reforming others without slanders carrieng euer a store-house of mild words to pearce the stonie-harted men I would all Christians that like as they haue professed Christ would so endeuour themselues to folowe him in godlie liuing For we haue not put on Christ to liue anie more to our selues in the vanities delightes and pleasures of the world and the flesh suffering the concupiscence and carnalitie of the flesh to haue his full swinge For we must walke after the spirit and not after the flesh For the spirit is spirituall and coueteth spirituall things and the flesh carnall and desireth carnall things The men regenerate by Christ despise the world and all the vanities and pleasures thereof They be no louers of themselues For they feele how euill and infirme they be not being able to do anie good thing without the helpe of God from whome they knowledge all goodnesse to proceede They flatter not themselues with thinking euerie thing which shineth to the world to be good and holie For they knowe all externe and outward works be they neuer so glorious and faire to the world may be done of the euill as well as of the good And therefore they haue in verie little estimation the outward shew of holinesse because they be all spirituall casting vp their eies vpon heauenlie things neither looking nor regarding the earthlie things for they be to them vile and abiect They haue also the simplicitie of the doue and the policie of the serpent For by simplicitie they haue a desire to do good to all men and to hurt no man no though they haue occasion giuen and by policie they giue not nor minister anie iust cause to anie man whereby their doctrine might be reproued They be not also as a reede shaken with euerie winde but when they be blasted with the tempests and stormes of the world then remaine they most firme stable and quiet feeling in spirit that God as their best father doth send and suffer all things for their benefit and commoditie Christ is to them a rule a line an example of Christian life They be neuer offended at anie thing although occasion be ministred vnto them For like as Christ when Peter would haue withdrawne him from death answered and said Go backe from me Sathan for thou offendest me that is As much as lieth in thee thou giuest me occasion with thy words to make me withdrawe my selfe from death although I yeelded not thereto For this thy procurement can not extinguish the burning desire I haue to shed my bloud for my chosen Euen so the perfect men are neuer offended at anie thing For although the world were full of sinne they would not withdrawe themselues from doing of good nor waxe cold in the loue of the Lord. And much lesse they would be moued to do euill yea rather they be so much the more moued to do good The regenerated by Christ are neuer offended at the works of God because they knowe by faith that God doth all things well and that he can not erre neither for want of power nor by ignorance nor malice For they knowe him to be almightie and that he seeth all things and is most aboundantlie good They see and feele in spirit that of that will most highlie perfect can not but proceede most perfecte works Likewise they be not offended at the works of men For if they bee good they are moued by them to take occasion to folowe them and to reknowledge the goodnes of God with giuing of thanks and praising his name dailie the more But if they be indifferent and such as may be done with good and euill intents they iudge the best part thinking they may bee done to a good purpose and so they bee edified But if they bee so euill that they can not bee taken in good part by anie meanes yet they bee not offended although occasion bee giuen naie rather they be edified in asmuch as they take occasion to be better though the contrarie bee ministred to them Then begin they to thinke and saie thus If God had not preserued me with his grace I should haue committed this sin and worsse O how much am I bound to confesse and knowledge
the goodnesse of God! They go also thinking and saieng further He that hath sinned may be one of Gods elect peraduenture the Lord hath suffered him to fall to the intent he may the better knowe himselfe I knowe he is one of them that Christ hath shed his bloud for and one of my Christian brethren trulie I will admonish and rebuke him and in case I find him desperate I will comfort him and shewe him the great goodnesse and mercie of God in Christ and with godlie consolations I will see if I can lift him vp And thus ye may see how the men regenerated by Christ of euerie thing win and receiue fruit The ninth Chapter Of the fruits of infidelitie and offence of weakelings AND contrariwise the yonglings and vnperfect are offended at small trifles taking euerie thing in euill part grudging and murmuring against their neighbor and so much the more as they shew themselues feruent in their so doing they are iudged of the blind world and of themselues great zeale-bearers to God If this were the greatest euill of these yonglings it were not the most euill But I feare they be so blind and ignorant that they are offended also at good things iudge nothing good but such as they embrace and esteeme to bee good with murmuring against all such as folowe not their waies If there be anie of this sort the Lord giue them the light of his truth that they may increase and growe in godlie strength I suppose if such yonglings and vnperfect had seene Christ and his Disciples eate meate with vnwashen hands or not to haue fasted with the Pharisies they would haue beene offended seeing him a breaker of mens traditions Their affections dispose their eies to see through other men and they see nothing in themselues where charitie although it be most ful of eies to see the faults of others whome it coueteth to amend thinketh none euill but discreetlie and rightlie interpreteth all things by the which more iustlie and trulie euerie thing is taken Now these superstitious weaklings if they had been conuersant with Christ and seene him leade his life sometime with women sometime with Samaritanes with Publicanes sinners and with the Pharisies they would haue murmured at him Also if they had seene Marie powre vpon Christ the pretious ointment they would haue said with Iudas This ointment might haue beene sold and giuen to the poore If they also had seene Christ with whips driue out of the Temple those that bought and sold they would foorthwith haue iudged Christ to haue beene troubled and moued with anger and not by zeale of charitie How would they haue beene offended if they had seene him go to the Iewes feast heale a sicke man vpon the sabboth daie practise with the woman of Samaria yea shew vnto hir of his most diuine doctrine life They would haue taken occasion to haue hated persecuted him as the Scribes and Pharisies did and euen so should Christ the Sauiour of the world haue beene to them an offence and ruine There be an other kind of little ones vnperfecte which are offended after this sort and maner As when they see one that is reputed and esteemed holie to commit sinne forthwith they learne to do that and woorse and waxe cold in dooing of good and confirme themselues in euill and then they excuse their wicked life publishing the same with the slander of their neighbor If anie man reprooue them they saie Such a man did this and woorse So it is euident that such persons would denie Christ if they sawe other men doe the same If they went to Rome and sawe the enormities of the Prelates which is said to reigne there among them I doubt not if they sawe one of them sinne which were reputed and taken for holie their faith should be lost but not the faith of Christ which they neuer possessed but they should loose that humane opinion which they had of the goodnesse of the Prelates For if they had the faith of Christ the holie Ghost should be a witnes vnto them the which should be mightie in them that in case all the world would denie Christ yet they would remaine firme and stable in the true faith The Pharisies also tooke occasion of the euill of others to waxe hautie and proud taking themselues to be men of greater perfection than anie other bicause of their vertue euen as the Pharisie did when he sawe the Publicans submission And so they be offended with euerie little thing iudging euill murmuring against their neighbour and for the same they are of manie reputed and taken for the more holie and good whereas in deed they be the more wicked The most wicked persons are offended euen at themselues For at their little stabilitie in goodnesse and of their delectable and euill life they take occasion to despaire where they ought the more to commit themselues to God asking mercie for their offences and foorthwith to giue thanks that it hath pleased him of his goodnesse to suffer them so long a time But what needeth it anie more to saie The euill men are offended euen at the works of God they see God suffer sinners therefore thinke they sinne displeaseth him not And bicause they see not the good rewarded with riches oftentimes they imagine that God loueth them not It seemeth to them God is parciall bicause he hath elected some and some reprooued And therefore they saie that the elected be sure of saluation taking by that occasion to doo euill inough saieng Whatsoeuer God hath determined shall be performed If also they see the good men oppressed and the euill men exalted they iudge God vniust taking occasion to liue euillie saieng Inasmuch as God fauoureth the naughtie men let vs doo euill inough to the intent he doo vs good If then the wicked be offended euen at God it is no woonder if they be offended at those that followe and walke in his paths and waies The tenth Chapter Of carnall gospellers by whose euill liuing Gods truth is shamefullie slandered IWill now speake with great dolor and heauinesse in my hart of a sort of people which be in the world that be called professors of the Gospell and by their words doo declare and shew they be much affected to the same But I am afraid some of them doo build vpon the sand as Simon Magus did making a weake foundation I meane they make not Christ their chiefest foundation professing his doctrine of a sincere pure and zealous mind but either for bicause they would be called gospellers to procure some credit and good opinion of the true and verie fauourers of Christs doctrine either to find out some carnall libertie either to be contentious disputers finders or rebukers of other mens faults or else finallie to please and flatter the world Such gospellers are an offence and a slander to the word of God and make the wicked to reioice laugh at them saieng Behold I praie
should be visited sometime with some aduersitie wherby we might both be tried whether we be of thy flocke or no and also knowe thee and our selues the better yet thou that saidst that thou wouldst not suffer vs to be tempted aboue our power be mercifull vnto me now a miserable wretch I beseech thee which with Salomon do crie vnto thee humblie desiring thee that I may neither be too much puffed vp with prosperitie neither too much pressed downe with aduersitie least I being too full should denie my God or being too lowe brought should despaire and blaspheme thee my Lord and Sauiour O mercifull God consider my miserie best knowne vnto thee and be thou now vnto me a strong tower of defence I humblie require thee Suffer me not to be tempted aboue my strength and power but either be thou a deliuerer vnto me out of this great miserie either else giue me grace patientlie to beare thy heauie hand and sharpe correction It was thy right hand O God y t deliuered the people of Israel out of the hands of Pharao which for the space of four hundred yeares did oppresse them and keepe them in bondage Let it therefore like wise seeme good to thy fatherlie goodnes to deliuer me sorowfull wretch for whome thy sonne Christ shed his pretious bloud on the Crosse out of this miserable captiuitie and bondage wherein I am now How long wilt thou be absent For euer Oh Lord hast thou forgotten to be gratious and hast thou shut vp thy louing kindnesse in displeasure Wilt thou be no more intreated Is thy mercie cleane gone for euer and thy promise come vtterlie to an end for euermore Why doest thou make so long tarieng Shall I despaire of thy mercie oh God Far be that from me I am thy workemanship created in Christ Iesu giue me grace therefore to tarie thy leasure and patientlie to beare thy works assuredlie knowing that as thou canst so thou wilt deliuer me when it shall please thee nothing doubting nor mistrusting thy goodnesse towards me For thou wotest better what is good for me than I doo Therefore doo with me in all things what thou wilt and plague me what waie thou wilt onelie in the meane time arme me I beseech thee with thine armour y t I may stand fast my loines being girded about with veritie hauing on the brestplate of righteousnes and shod with the shoes prepared by the Gospell of peace aboue all things taking to me the shield of faith wherewith I may be able to quench all the firie darts of the wicked and taking the helmet of saluation and the sword of the spirit which is thy most holie word praieng alwaies with all maner of praier and supplication that I may referre my selfe wholie vnto thy will abiding thy pleasure and comforting my selfe in those troubles that it shall please thee to send me seeing such troubles be profitable for me and seeing I am assuredlie persuaded that it cannot be but well all that thou doest Heare me oh mercifull father for his sake whome thou wouldest should be a slaine sacrifice for my sinnes to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie for euer Amen An exhortation written by the Ladie IANE the night before she suffered in the end of the new Testament in Greeke which she sent to hir sister the Ladie Katherine I Haue here sent you good sister Katherine a Booke which although it be not outwardlie trimmed with gold yet inwardlie it is more worth than pretious stones It is the booke deere sister of the lawe of the Lord it is his Testament and last will which he bequeathed vnto vs wretches which shall leade you to the path of eternall ioie And if you with a good mind reade it and with an earnest desire folowe it it shall bring you to an immortall and euerlasting life It will teach you to liue and learne you to die It shall win you more than you should haue gained by the possessions of your wofull fathers land For as if God had prospered him you should haue inherited all his lands so if you applie diligentlie this booke seeking to direct your life after it you shall be an inheritour of such riches as neither the couetous shall withdrawe from you neither the theefe shall steale neither yet the moths corrupt Desire with Dauid good sister to vnderstand the lawe of the Lord your God liue still to die that you by death may obtaine eternall life or after your death enioie the life purchased you by Christes death And trust not that the tendernesse of your age shall lengthen your life For as soone if God call goeth the yong as the old And labour alwaie to learne to die denie the world defie the diuell despise the flesh and delight your selfe onlie in the Lord. Be penitent for your sins and yet despair not be strong in faith and yet presume not and desire with Saint Paule to be dissolued and to be with Christ with whome in death there is life Be like the good seruant and euen at midnight be waking least when death commeth and stealeth vpon you like a theefe in the night you be with the euill seruant found sleeping and least for lacke of oile in your lampe ye be found like to the fiue foolish virgins and like him that had not on the wedding garment and then be cast out from the mariage Reioice in Christ as I trust you do And seeing you haue the name of a Christian as neere as you can folowe the steps of your maister Christ and take vp your crosse laie your sinnes on his backe and alwaies embrace him And as touching my death reioice as I doo good sister that I shall be deliuered of this corruption and put on incorruption For I am assured that I shall for losing of a mortall life win an immortall life the which I praie God grant you and send you of his graces to liue in his feare and to die in the true christian faith from the which in Gods name I exhort you that ye neuer swarue neither for hope of life nor feare of death For if ye will denie his truth to lengthen your life God will denie you and yet shorten your daies And if ye will cleaue to him he will prolong your daies to your comfort and his glorie To the which glorie God bring me now and you heereafter when it shall please God to call you Farewell good sister and put your onlie trust in God who onlie must helpe you Your louing sister Iane Dudley * Certaine verses written by the said Ladie Iane with a pinne Non aliena putes homini quae obtingere possunt Sors hodierna mihi cras erit illa tibi IANE DVDLEY Deo iuuante nil nocet liuor malus Et non iuuante nil iuuat labor grauis Post tenebras spero lucem ¶ Hir praier that she said at the time of hir death was the 51. Psalme of Dauid here after following
forgiue vs our iniquities Whosoeuer calleth on thy name shall be saued Thou hast no pleasure in the death of a sinner but rather desirest that they should liue and be conuerted Thou hast so loued the world that thou not onlie didst become man and tooke our nature vpon thee but wert content also to suffer most cruell death on the Crosse to purge our nature from mortall sinne and corruption and adorne it with immortalitie and eternall glorie not onelie in thine owne person but in vs also to satisfie the iustice of the Father for our sinnes Oh blessed shepheard thou doubtedst not to spend thy most pretious blood to saue thy beloued sheepe from rauine and spoile Good Lord so increase thy grace in me that thy holie word may take roote and flourish in me that the good seed may not be choked with thornes So order my liuing that when by course of nature I shall be dissolued from the prison of my bodie I may come to thee that when thou more bright than the sun shalt come in the midst of the legions of Angels in thy shining glorie and Maiestie to iudge the quicke the dead I may be in the number of the blessed ones whom thou shalt call to possesse the kingdome prepared for them by thy Father saieng Come ye blessed children of my Father receiue the kingdome prepared for you before the beginning of the world Thou which didst die and rise againe wilt raise and bring to life all those that are dead beleeuing in thy faith So be it A praier to liue well GOod Lord so rule the eies of my hart that they being kept simple and pure my bodie may be a cleere and shining temple of thy holie spirit So kindle in vs the loue of thy glorious sonne that we following his steps may doo that which is good and decline from the euill so that our light shining before men we may glorifie thee by our good works with thy blessed sonne our Sauiour and the holie Ghost to whose infinite Maiestie in trinitie and vnitie be all honour and glorie for euer Amen A praier for humilitie O Lord I am a sinner and sorie for mine offences I can not make satisfaction for my defaults If I haue anie good thing it commeth of thee The most acceptable sacrifice to thee is a contrite and humble hart O God let mee not be oppressed with the waues of sinne let mee not sinke into the whirlepoole and gulph of despaire Thou which liftest vp the fallen and raisest the humble and meeke clothing them with purple and settest them vp with princes in the seates of honour thou which despisest the imaginations of the proud and resistest their enterprises blesse me in all my dooings send mee happie successe in all mine affaires that I may reioice in thy goodnesse with thine elected for euer and euer Accept my humble suite good Lord I beseech thee for the glorie of thy name sake Amen A praier for the obteining of Gods grace O Almightie and mercifull God shine we beseech thee through the power of our Lord Iesus Christ and the comfortable working of thy sacred spirit the heauenlie comforter vpon our minds and harts with the glorious beames of thy heauenlie grace Giue vs such plentie of wisedome and vnderstanding from aboue that through the knowledge of thee the man of sinne that is our fraile and feeble flesh with the wicked lusts and desire of concupiscence may lie dead and buried in vs. Giue vs good Lord the feeling of thy grace that by the vertue and diuine operation of thy word the eies of our soules may be illumined and made so light that the Prince of darkenesse with all his vnrighteous ministers may be expulsed and banished from our memories So establish vs in thy truth that our harts minds and thoughts may continuallie be occupied in thy testimonies that thereby thou good Lord effectuallie shining in our harts by the vertue of thy good spirit we may learne to knowe and vnderstand what is the fulnesse of our calling and how rich thou art in the glorie of thy celestiall and heauenlie heritage of thy Saincts and that excellent greatnesse of thy power and louing kindnesse towards vs which beleeue without faining thy holie Gospell according to the might and force of thy strength which thou shewedst in Christ Iesus when thou didst raise him from the dead and didst set him on thy right hand far aboue all empire power authoritie and dominion and euerie name that is named not onlie in this world but in the world to come By whose pretious death and deerest bloud-shedding we are assured that sinne death and hell are vanquished ouercome and vtterlie destroied And if we beleeue without wauering we shall in him be able to resist all the power of hell and in Christ as conquerors to triumph with victorie ouer sinne death and Sathan and at the last to haue and enioie the fruition of his rich and glorious kingdome which he by most painefull agonie bloudie stripes greeuous and bloudie wounds and lastlie by his most painefull death purchased for his chosen and elect To whome for our sanctification iustification redemption and our saluation be rendred with his celestiall Father and the holie Ghost all laud glorie power honour and dominion for euer and euer Amen A praier against presumptuous pride and vaine-glorie WE heare O heauenlie Father and are dailie taught and instructed out of thine eternall word how greatlie the greeuous sinne of presumption pride and vaine-glorie displeaseth thy diuine maiestie We are learned that for the practise of this pestilent and heinous euill thou hast not spared the verie Angels but hast throwne them in thy displeasure for their pride vaine-glorie and presumption from beatitude to miserie from ioie without end to perdurable paine from brightnesse of thy glorious presence to vtter extreame and palpable darkenesse from the glorious fruition and participation of thine euerlasting kingdome to the bottomlesse pit of hell death damnation and endlesse flames of fire Besides this we are taught that by the transgression of Adam whose haughtie presuming through the entisement of the subtile and perillous allurement of the Serpent thought to be as thy selfe but in fine thy iustice condemned him and all his posteritie This pestiferous sinne of pride drowned him in the flouds of all dangerous euils as gluttonie luxurie and such other perils that had not thy mercie taken effect to keepe and hold plea for his and our safegard and thy sonne Christ embased the glorie and power of his diuine essence and taken vpon him our flesh and fraile nature sinne onlie except who freelie offered his innocent bodie to the death of the crosse we had perished euerlastinglie and beene vtterlie confounded Print therefore good Lord and write these examples in my memorie that I fall not from thy fauour by the exercise of this detestable sinne Make me still to consider that the proud and disdainefull are alwaies abhorred in thy sight And sith
remember his iniquities Ezech. 18 verse 27. BEhold good Lord now are the daies of sorowe now are the daies of calamitie and now is the time wherein I must call on thee For now feele I mine old cankered and festered sores of sinne readie to breake foorth in me to my vtter confusion Behold good Lord all my desires and all my lamentable and sorowfull sighes I powre them all before thee crieng and saieng O Lord cleanse me from my sinnes for I am vncleane and filthie before thee Increase therefore thy light in me that I may be a vessell of thy grace kindle my hart with thy loue put out all feare for perfect loue expelleth feare Let the loue of the world the loue of the flesh the loue of vaine-glorie and the loue of my selfe vtterlie depart from me that I may through thy mercie be cleansed from mine iniquities by the which I haue offended thee Cleanse me therefore O Lord with the water of thy gratious fauour of which water he that drinketh shall no more thirst but it shall be made in him a fountaine of liuing water running and flowing into eternall life Cleanse mee I saie O Lord with the water of thy weeping teares cleanse me with the comfortable waters of thy sacred Scriptures that I may be numbred among them vnto whome thou saiedst Now are yee cleane through the words that I haue spoken to you AMEN Z ZACHE was a perfect man and thou Lord saiedst vnto him when he was in the figtree ZACHE come downe for to daie I will come into thy house and he came downe and ioifullie receiued thee Luke 19 verse 5. O Mercifull God how manie sinnes haue I don in thy sight which I would in no wise haue done before mortall men I feared men more than thee because I was blind and loued blindnesse I had onlie eies of flesh therfore did I onlie feare and looke on men which are flesh O my God behold I stand before thy face that I might finde mercie I stand before thy goodnesse and benignitie looking for thy fauorable answere haue mercie therefore on me Thou saiedst to Zache This daie I will abide in thy house and he ioifullie receiuing thee said Lord the halfe of my goods I giue to the poore and if I haue done anie man wrong I will restore him fourefold But Lord Iesu I will not part halfe that I haue but I bequeath my selfe wholie vnto thee reseruing nothing from thee promising to serue thee for euer with a cleane and pure hart O sweet Lord Iesus what sawest thou in Zache euen thine owne image for he had cast off the image of the diuell which before was on him and had put on him thine image If then thou didst see in Zache by putting from him the image of the diuell that which did drawe thee to his house take then from me sweet Iesus all my sinnes and wickednesse all I praie thee that none may remaine in me which may keepe thee from me that I may put off as Zache did that euill which is in me that thou maist see in me which thou sawest in Zache that when thou shalt call me out of the figtree of this miserable world thou maist saie vnto me Come downe for this daie I will abide with thee AMEN A A Pure heart create in me ô GOD and a right spirit renew within me Psalme 51 verse 10. ALas my Lord and Sauiour my hart hath forsaken thee it is turned from thee and is gone astraie it is wandered into strange countries and ensueth vanities hir eies are in the vttermost part of the world It is lost gone and sold vnder sinne It is stonie yea harder than the Flint or Adamant stone which relented and yeelded at thy sonnes death What now Lord What shall I saie A pure hart create in me a fleshie hart a mollified and soft hart an humble hart a penitent hart a mercifull hart a deuout hart a religious and zealous hart yea and such a hart as will loue thee aboue all things Create therefore good Lord such a hart in me that it may be of such efficacie through thy grace as nature is not able to make it Giue me also a right spirit that I may loue and worship thee which art the chiefe and principall spirit For thou art a spirit and wilt be worshipped in spirit and veritie My soule good Lord is also a spirit and so made of thee that of it selfe it is right For of hir owne nature she loueth thee aboue hir selfe and desireth all things for thy glorie so that hir owne naturall loue is right because it commeth of thee Make stedfast therefore in me O Lord through thy gratious fauour this spirit that it may according to his owne nature leade and keepe me in the waie of thy commandements and that by it my heart may be so inflamed with heauenlie loue that it may cause me to sigh vnto thee to embrace thee continuallie and neuer to forsake thee but alwaies to be firme and constant in thee Giue me therefore an vpright spirit not seeking hir owne glorie but thy will and glorie Renew it in me I praie thee good Lord renew it I saie for my sins haue quenched the first that thou gauest me AMEN B BEhold LORD against thee onlie haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight that thou maist be iustified in thy words and maist ouercome when thou art iudged Psalme 51 verse 4. TO thee onlie O Lord it is proper to forgiue and to be mercifull for through mercie and forgiuenesse thou dooest declare thine almightinesse I graunt therefore Lord and confesse that against thee onlie I haue offended and haue done that which is euill in thy sight Haue mercie therefore on me O Lord haue mercie Expresse and shewe foorth thine omnipotencie in me that thou maist be iustified in thy words For it is written Thou camest not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Graunt me therefore good Lord a true repentant hart and iustifie me according to thy words Call me receiue me and giue me thy grace so that thereby I may do the works of repentance Thou saiedst When I am lifted vp from the earth I will drawe all vnto my selfe Uerifie Lord the words on me drawe me after thee and let me run with thee in the sweetenesse of thine ointments Againe thou saiedst Come vnto me all yee that labour and are loden and I will ease you Behold my Lord and my God I a sinner do come vnto thee all loden with sinnes daie and night labouring in the sorowe of my hart for thy grace and mercie Refresh and ease me therefore good Lord that thou maist be iustified and proued when thou art iudged For there are manie which saie There is no helpe for him in his God Ouercome Lord these persons when thou art thus iudged of them and forsake not me at anie time but giue to me thy creature thy mercie and pardon and then are they vanquished which
oppresse thee before thy face I will slaie all thine enimies and fill them with shame and confusion My mercie shall neuer faile thee my truth shall neuer forsake thee and thou trusting to my fauour shalt lift vp thine head most high crowned with euerlasting glorie I will cause thee to haue one hand vpon the sea and another vpon the flouds and thou shalt call mee thy Father thy God and thy safe tower And I will place thee as my first begotten Daughter in the sacred familie of the Kings of the whole world euen in a throne most high aboue others Yea thou being a pure Uirgin borne of my kindred shalt be so highlie exalted of IEHOVA which hath decreed this from all eternitie that thou shalt sit a glorious QVEENE ouer a mightie people and shalt haue rule dominiō ouer all thy subiects without exception Euen I the mightie IEHOVA will giue vnto thee in Zion a kingdome of stabilitie ouer all the ends of the earth in the which kingdome thy power shall be so great that the more enimies thou hast the more excellent and more euident shall thy fame and renowme be to all nations And the people shall willinglie and obedientlie offer themselues to be gouerned by thee after the infinite victories which thou shalt haue ouer the enimies that vexe thee And the daie shall come that when thou hast ouercome all thine enimies thou shalt muster all thine armies to appeare before thee and to make a triumph also in garments of triumph which shall be holie most pure and most shining Then I saie Ô QVEENE thou shalt behold the multitude of thy most chosen yoong men and beautifull virgins which the morning of that most heauenlie light shall bring foorth vnto thee by powring downe hir most plentifull deaw vpon the earth Yea I will arme thee with a double edged sword in thy hand wherewith thou maist punish the prophane Gentiles and auenge the crueltie of the proud people and also maist drawe their kings and nobles bound in chaines and iron fetters and execute the iudgement appointed and commanded by me thy Lord God vpon them And this verelie is the dignitie the honour and renowme that I will giue thee O daughter whome I haue receiued into my fauour euen to bring into subiection vnto thy kingdome the people far and wide and sauing thine owne nation to make an horrible slaughter of the rebels and traitors euerie-where that go about to ouerthrowe the Monarch which ruleth and shall rule both far and neere I will defend thee I saie O my deere Daughter with euerlasting mercie and my couenant made with thy father DAVID shall be established for euer in his generation Thy throne shall be as the Sunne before me it shall continue as the Moone in all ages and be as stable as heauen it selfe For I the holie one haue once sworne by mine owne selfe and neither will I breake my promise nor violate my couenant nor will change anie of those things that I haue spoken to DAVID thy Father These things haue I promised of old I saie and now will I vndoubtedlie bring them to passe If thou my Daughter keepe my commandements and do not violate the ordinances that I haue commanded thee but order thy selfe and thy people by the rule of the lawes that I haue prescribed vnto them So shall all things be in good order and nothing confounded yea the verie foundations of the earth also shall be firme and remaine stable Peace righteousnesse and iudgement and all good things else shall remaine safe and sure amongst men Neither will I suffer that in this thy dangerous iournie and perillous pilgrimage thou shouldest so stumble that thou shouldest fall or be compelled to go backe and though manie doo lie in wait for thy destruction yet I preuenting all dangers will bee thy watchfull keeper For seeing that I haue taken in hand freelie of mine owne good will to call thee to this excellent estate of a Prince haue hitherto bene verie carefull to defend thee and my people Israel I will not now once slumber much lesse will I be so deepe in sleepe that I will suffer thee to be oppressed Therefore let this be a thing certainlie determined vnto thee and bee thou comforted and confirmed with this onlie hope in all distresse that I the Lord am thy keeper and a shadowe for thee against all stormes and that I am present by thee and will neuer faile thee And as I was present of old when thou returnedst out of the Egypt bondage of the spirituall Pharao so now also I will be present with thee against y e heate of the Sunne in the daie-time against the noisome humors which the Moone vseth to raise in the night season For like as the Citie Ierusalem is compassed round about with massie mountaines so I the Lord stand round about thee and thy people trusting in me on euerie side and will neuer forsake you But as I haue done hitherto so surelie I will continue to defend them that loue vertue and to bind thee vnto me by new benefits I will bring to passe that thou shalt enioie a stable peace and sure tranquillitie and that thou shalt see Ierusalem flourishing so long as thou doest liue Yea I the Lord will so blesse thee from heauen with most plentifull blessings that by the power of my Maiestie all thy counselles and enterprises shall prosper and haue good successe continuallie I will preserue thee safe against all discommodities and defend thy life from violence yea which waie soeuer thou shalt go or ride I euen I thy mightie maker and God will be with thee when thou goest foorth and commest in from place to place and not onlie in this temporall voiage or iournie but for euer will I gouerne and guide thee Thou shalt neuer be laid open to the reproch of men Thy Crowne shall neuer be cast to the ground nor thy selfe reiected All thy fortresses and cities shall stand vnassaulted and thy forts and strong castels and holds shall not be battered nor laid open with breaches to the spoile of passengers The edge of thy sword shall neuer waxe blunt thy scepter neuer broken nor thy crowne cast downe into the dust nor thy power stained But I will minister continuall power and cause of ioie vnto thee ô QVEENE and take awaie all courage and force from thine enimies so that they shall not be able to arise or stand against thy mightie power Finallie this my league which I haue made with thee shall neuer be abrogated For I will come downe from my Sanctuarie to helpe thee euen frō the mount Zion to strengthen thee in all dangers And when thou callest vpon me by praier I will heare thy petitions and grant vnto thee that thy hart desireth and accomplish all thy purposes so that thou doubtlesse shalt bee preserued and deliuered a waie by me that haue annointed thee to be QVEENE CAP. V. THus I saie my deere Daughter
world euermore arising and neuer going downe which by thy most whole some appering and light dooest bring foorth preserue nourish and refresh all things as well that are in heauen as also that are on earth I beseech thee mercifullie fauourablie to shine into our harts that the night and darkenesse of sinnes and the mists of errors on euerie side driuen awaie thou brightlie shining within our harts we may all our life space go without anie stumbling or offence and may decentlie and seemelie walke as in the daie time and cleare sun-shine being pure and cleane from the works of darkenesse and abounding in all good works which GOD hath prepared for vs to walke in Amen The Lords name be praised from the rising of the sunne vnto the going downe of the same Psal 113 verse 3. To you that feare my name shall the sunne of righteousnesse arise and shine Mala. 4 verse 2. Another O Mightie God which hast created the heauens and all the beautifull ornaments of the same roiallie to set vp thy glorie to declare eueriwhere all the wonderfull works of thy hands wrought through thy sonne Iesus Christ whome as the bright shining Sunne of righteousnesse and vnderstanding thou hast assigned to haue his residence in those heauens Suffer I beseech thee that by the beames of his grace and beneuolence most louinglie shining and spread abroad he may cast his light into the world and kindle in the harts of men a feruour of spirit Let him come foorth as a bridegroome from his chamber yea let him appeare couragious as a valiant champion to run through his course and iournie euen till he haue conducted vs vnto the highest heauens and holie citie Ierusalem where shall be no need either of sunne or moone to shine and where we shall walke with those that are saued in the light of the Lambe and glorie of God Amen They that loue the Lord shall be as the sunne when he ariseth in his might Iudg. 5 31. Meditation REmember thy maker that knew thée before thou wast and knowe that the eies of the Lord are tenne thousand times brighter than the Sunne than the which though nothing be more cléere yet shall it faile For God which liueth for euer beholdeth all the waies of men and the bottomlesse depth looking euen into mens harts be they in neuer so darke and secret corners And therefore wheresoeuer thou art and whatsoeuer thou dooest feare thou the eies of God more than the eies of men Now also while the light is swéet and it is a pleasant thing to sée the Sunne remember the daies of darknesse that followe and are manie And looke that béetimes before the Sunne set or that the light of the moone and starres be darkened thou feare GOD and vse the light walking therein as a child of light knowing that he that maketh the Sunne to shine and arise both vpon the good and bad will call thée to an account for thy works done both in darknesse and in light Putting off your neerest garment praie thus MOst gratious and mercifull Sauiour Iesus Christ thou knowest how we be borne cloathed and clogged with the greeuous heauie burden of the first woman Eue who fell awaie vnto fleshlinesse through disobedience vouchsafe therefore I beseech thee to strip me out of the old corrupt Eue which being soked in sinne transformeth hir selfe to all incombrances and diseases of the mind that they may lead vs awaie from thee Rid me also quite and cleane of that hir tempter the deceitfull serpent which turneth vs awaie from the obedience of the Father So be it I haue put off my cloathes how shall I put them on Cantic 5 3. Beholding your nakednesse praie thus LOrd how wretched miserable poore blind and naked am I I am naked O Lord yea euen starke naked for that thou seest me in my bloud and corruption Open mine eies also I beseech thee that I may more and more see my nakednesse feele my miserie and confesse my wretchednes that thou of verie pitie and compassion maist cloath me with thine innocencie and holie vertues and so couer my filthinesse that mine enimies neuer behold the same to my reproch Finallie giue me the grace of perfect charitie to doo the works of faith acceptable to thee especiallie so to cloath the naked and after my power to releeue the needie that when I shall depart hence naked and bare as euer I was borne and shall carie awaie nothing of all my labours yet in thy sight at the generall iudgement daie I may not appeere naked of good works or void of the marriage garment of faith and the gifts of grace through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Naked came I out of my mothers wombe and naked shall I returne thither Blessed be the name of the Lord. Iob. 1 21. Putting on your neerest garment praie thus PUt vpon me O Lord the pure garment of the innocencie and holines of Christ my Sauior O couer thou my nakednesse and shame with the fine linnen robe of his righteousnesse and vertue so shall not my filthinesse be discouered vnto mine enimies for them to gaze and laugh at as cursed Cham did at the nakednesse of his father Noah Yea make thou my linnen cloaths as white as snowe and shining like the light that I maie be of the number of those that haue beene called from the beginning of the world and shall be sanctified that haue departed from the shadowe of the world and shall receiue glorious garments euen of those holie ones I saie that haue put off the mortall cloathing and haue put on the immortall which haue confessed thee O God and thy Christ and are alreadie crowned with glorie and haue receiued palmes of victorie in their hands triumphing ouer all their enimies and policies of this world So be it Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments cleane and white least he walke naked and men see his filthinesse Reuel 16 15. Or praie thus LOrd send me a ioifull resurrection and while I liue giue me grace so to ouercome the temptations of flesh and bloud and Christianlie to confesse thy holie name that in the last generall daie of thy iudgement I maie be found among the number of thine elect seruants which shall stand on thy right hand and being clad with the long white robes and shining raines of the righteousnesse of thy Saints who haue hated euen the garments spotted by the flesh and kept their consciences vnpolluted with sinne and haue made their long garments white and cleane in the bloud of the Lambe Christ I may togither with them enter into the holie citie and remaine in the presence of the throne of God and serue thee ioifullie daie and night in thy holie temple for euer and euer Amen At all times let thy garments be white and thy works please God Eccles 9 7. Meditation THinke now how the children of GOD while they are burdened in this earthlie tabernacle sigh desiring to be
shall or will receiue me If thou despise me and turne thy face from me who shall looke vpon me Recognise and knowledge me O Lord to be thine although vnworthie comming to thee although I bee vile and vncleane For if I be vile and vncleane as I confesse my selfe in deede to be thou canst make mee cleane If I be sicke thou canst heale me If I be dead and buried thou canst reuiue me for thy mercie is much more than mine iniquitie Thou canst forgiue me more than I can offend Therefore O Lord doo not consider nor haue respect to the number of my sinnes but according to the greatnesse of thy mercie forgiue me and haue mercie on me most wretched sinner Saie vnto my soule I am thy health which saiedst I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he liue and be conuerted and turne to thee O Lord bee not angrie with me I beseech thee but for thy great mercie sake forgiue and pardon me all my misdeeds and bring me to the blisse that neuer shall cease Amen Another forme of Confession and praier to be vsed of the Maister and Mistresse with their families in priuate houses euerie morning ALmightie God and most mercifull Father we doo not present our selues heere before thy Maiestie trusting in our owne merits or woorthinesse but in thy manifold mercies which hast promised to heare our praiers and graunt our requests which we shall make to thee in the name of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who hath also commanded vs to assemble our selues together in his name with full assurance that he will not onelie be amongst vs but also be our mediator and aduocate towards thy Maiestie that we may obtaine all things which shall seeme expedient to thy blessed will for our necessities Therefore we beseech thee most mercifull father to turne thy louing countenance towards vs and impute not vnto vs our manifold sinnes and offences whereby wee iustlie deserue thy wrath and sharpe punishment but rather receiue vs to thy mercie for Iesus Christes sake accepting his death and passion as a iust recompense for all our offences in whom onlie thou art pleased and through whome thou canst not be offended with vs. And seeing of thy great mercies we haue quietlie passed this night grant O heauenlie father that we may bestowe this daie wholie in thy seruice so that all our thoughts words and deedes may redound to the glorie of thy name and good example to all men who seeing our good works may glorifie thee our heauenlie father And forasmuch as of thy meere fauour and loue thou hast not onlie created vs to thine owne similitude and likenesse but also hast chosen vs to be heires with thy deere sonne Iesus Christ of that immortall kingdome which thou preparedst for vs before the beginning of the world we beseech thee to increase our faith and knowledge and to lighten our harts with thy holie spirit that we may in the meane time liue in all godlie conuersation and integritie of life knowing that idolaters adulterers couetous men contentious persons drunkards gluttons and such like shall not inherit the kingdome of God And because thou hast commanded vs to praie one for another we doo not onlie make request O Lord for our selues and them that thou hast alreadie called to the true vnderstanding of thy heauenlie will but for all people and nations of the world who as they know by thy wonderfull works that thou art God ouer all so they may be instructed by thy holie spirit to beleeue in thee their onlie Sauiour and Redeemer But forasmuch as they can not beleeue except they heare nor cannot heare but by preaching and none can preach except they be sent therefore O Lord raise vp faithful distributers of thy mysteries who setting apart all worldlie respects may both in their life and doctrine onelie seeke thy glorie Contrariwise confound Sathan Antichrist with all hirelings whome thou hast alreadie cast off into a reprobate sense that they may not by sects schismes heresies and errors disquiet thy little flocke And because O Lord we be fallen into the latter daies and dangerous times wherein ignorance hath gotten the vpper hand and Sathan by his ministers seeke by all meanes to quench the light of thy Gospell we beseech thee to mainteine thy cause against those rauening Woolues and strengthen all thy seruants whom they keepe in prison and bondage Let not thy long-suffering be an occasion either to increase their tyrannie or to discourage thy children neither yet let our sinnes and wickednesse be an hinderance to thy mercies but with speede O Lord consider these great miseries For thy people Israel manie times by their sinnes prouoked thine anger and thou punishedst them by thy iust iudgement yet though their sinnes were neuer so greeuous if they once returned from their iniquitie thou receiuedst them to mercie We therfore most wretched sinners bewaile our manifold siunes and earnestlie repent vs for our former wickednesse and vngodlie behauiour towards thee And whereas we cannot of our selues purchase thy pardon yet we humblie beseech thee for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercie vpon vs and receiue vs againe to thy fauour Graunt vs deere father these our requests and all other things necessarie for vs and thy whole Church our Queene and Realme according to thy promise in Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we beseech thee as he hath taught vs saieng Our Father c. Almightie and euerlasting God vouchsafe we beseech thee to graunt vs perfect continuance in thy liuelie faith augmenting and increasing the same in vs dailie vntill we growe to the full measure of our perfection in Christ whereof we make our confession saieng I beleeue in God the Father almightie c. Almightie God which hast promised to heare the petitions of them that aske in thy Sonnes name wee beseech thee mercifullie to incline thine eares to vs that haue now made our praiers and supplications vnto thee and graunt that those things which wee haue faithfullie asked according to thy will may effectuallie be obteined to the releefe of our necessitie and to the setting foorth of thy glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauorable countenance towards vs and graunt vs his peace Amen The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God and the communion of the holie Ghost be with vs and remaine with vs for euer So be it A Morning praier for Sundaie AFter due examination of my former life with an humble and contrite hart with a sorowfull and repentant spirit I sue vnto thee most mercifull father beseeching thee of mercie and forgiuenesse of mine offences which in this night or at anie time heeretofore I haue committed against thy godlie will and pleasure by anie manner of vncleannesse of soule or bodie that I haue fallen into
Lord dailie with the true Manna of thy heauenlie word and with the grace of thy holie Sacraments Giue vs grace continuallie to read heare and meditate thy purposes iudgments promises and precepts not to the end we may curiouslie argue therof or arrogantlie presume thervpon but to frame our liues according to thy will that by keeping thy couenants we may be sure of thy promises and so make our election and vocation certaine through our constant faith vertuous and godlie liuing Seru. Amen Maister Confirme vs O Lord to the image of our Sauiour So lighten the lamps of our harts with the fire and burning flames of thy loue that no enuie rancor hatred or malice doo remaine in vs to quench it but that we may gladlie forgiue whatsoeuer wrong is or shall be either maliciouslie or ignorantlie done or said against vs. And here Lord in thy presence for thy Maiestie is euerie where we forgiue whatsoeuer hath beene by anie man or woman practised against vs beseeching thèe of thy goodnesse likewise to forgiue it And further for thy mercies sake and for our Sauiour Iesus Christs sake we beseech thee O deere Father to forgiue vs these horrible and damnable sinnes which we haue committed against thy Maiestie for which thou hast now iustlie brought the pestilence and plague vpon vs. Let the ceasing thereof we beseech thee certifie vs of thy mercie and remission Seru. Amen Maister We knowe O Lord the weakenesse of our selues and how readie we are to fall from thee Suffer not therfore Satan to shew his power and malice vpon vs. For we are not able to withstand his assalts Arme vs O Lord alwaies with thy grace and assist vs with thy holie spirit in all kinds of temptations Seruants Amen Maister Deliuer vs O deere father from all euils both bodilie and ghostlie Deliuer O Lord from trouble of conscience all that are snarled in their sins Deliuer O Lord from feare of persecution and tyrannie our brethren and sisters that are vnder the crosse for profession of thy word Deliuer O mercifull father those that for our sinnes and offences are alreadie tormented with the rage of pestilence Recouer those O Lord that are alreadie striken and saue the rest of my houshold and else-where from this greeuous infection Seruants Amen Maister Finallie O Lord God which for our innumerable sinnes dooest heere fatherlie correct vs to the end we should not feele the rigour of thy seueare iudgement in eternall condemnation we humblie submit our selues vnto thy grace and pitie beseeching thee for our Lord Iesus Christes sake that although we haue iustlie deserued this plague now laid vpon vs yet it may please thee in the multitude of thy mercies to withdrawe thy rod from vs. Grant O Lord true repentance of our sinnes which as it did in that good King Ezekias may deliuer vs from the plague laid vpon vs and cause those that be sicke heere in my house or otherwhere to recouer Or if thou haue determined to take a number of vs out of the miseries of this present euill world giue vs the comfort of thy holie spirit that may make vs glad and willing to come vnto thee Giue vs grace O Lord so to prepare our selues that we may be readie with the wise virgins to enter into life with our sauiour Christ whensoeuer it shall please thee to call vs. Seruants Amen Maister Grant this O deere father for Iesus Christes sake our onlie Mediator Aduocate Lord Redeemer and Sauiour to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor and glorie world without end and in whose name we altogether with one hart and voice crie furthermore and praie vnto thee as he in his holie word hath taught vs saieng Maister and seruants altogether Our Father c. Other Psalmes and praiers to be said in the time of anie common plague sicknesse or other crosse and visitation of God by the Maister and Mistresse with their familie O Come let vs humble our selues fall downe before the Lord with reuerence and feare For he is the Lord our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his hands Come therefore let vs turne againe vnto our Lord for he hath smitten vs and he shall heale vs. Let vs repent and turne from our wickednesse and our sinnes shall be forgiuen vs. Let vs turne and the Lord will turne from his heauie wrath and will pardon vs and we shall not perish For we knowledge our faults and our sinnes be euer before vs. We haue sore prouoked thine anger O Lord thy wrath is waxed hot and thy heauie displeasure is sore kindled against vs. Thou hast made vs heare of the noise of warres and hast troubled vs by the vexation of enimies Thou hast in thine indignation striken vs with greeuous sicknes and by and by we haue fallen as leaues beaten downe with a vehement wind Indeede we acknowledge that all punishments are lesse than our deseruings but yet of thy mercie Lord correct vs to amendment and plague vs not to our destruction For thy hand is not shortened that thou canst not helpe neither is thy goodnesse abated that thou wilt not heare Thou hast promised that afore we crie thou wilt heare vs and whilest we yet speake thou wilt haue mercie vpon vs. For none that trust in thee shall be confounded neither anie that call vpon thee shall be despised For thou art the onlie Lord who woundest and dooest heale againe who killest and reuiuest bringest euen to hell and bringest barke againe Our father 's hoped in thee they trusted in thee and thou didst deliuer them They called vpon thee and were helped they put their trust in thee and were not confounded O Lord rebuke vs not in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauie displeasure Oh remember not the sinnes and offences of our youth but according to thy mercie thinke vpon vs O Lord for thy goodnesse Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord for we are weake O Lord heale vs for our bones are vexed And now in the vexation of our spirits and the anguish of our soules we remember thee and we crie vnto thee heare Lord and haue mercie For thine owne sake for thy holie name sake incline thine eare and heare O mercifull Lord. For we doo not powre out our praiers before thy face trusting in our owne righteousnesse but in thy great and manifold mercies Wash vs throughlie from our wickednesse and cleanse vs from our sinnes Turne thy face from our sinnes and put out all our misdeeds Make vs cleane harts O God and renew a right spirit within vs. Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glorie of thy name O deliuer vs and be mercifull vnto our sinnes for thy name sake So we that be thy people and sheepe of thy pasture shall giue thee thanks for euer and will alwaies bee shewing foorth thy praise from generation to generation Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the
vp them that fall and finallie to beate downe Satan vnder our feete we beseech thee to heare vs good Lord Amen A verie necessarie praier against hypocrites false teachers and deriders of the Gospell WHosoeuer they be O almighty God that make a true account of sincere goodlinesse and pure religion are exceeding sorowfull if they see the sacred Church scattered wholesome doctrine derided the praises of thy diuine name had in contempt and such things as appertaine to a deuout woorshipping of thee turned vnto heathenish gewgawes and voluptuous pleasures To the intent therfore these things may in no wise happen as now vnto vs which we see not to be far off we powre foorth dailie before thee with great submission these our dolfull complaints That thou wouldest first of thine exceeding great goodnesse and louing mercie blot out all our heinous sinnes and offences being in a maner infinite and exceeding greeuous committed not onelie through weakenesse and ignorance but also done oftentimes both maliciouslie and of set purpose Be fauourable I saie O God vnto our greeuous sinnes and turne awaie from vs in such sort the most fierce wiles and subtil laiengs await of Antichrist as thy sacred Church be not depriued of all blessed ioie and spirituall gladnesse O Lord I beseech thee shew some experiment and proofe of thy selfe declare thy name and thy power amongst those thy spitefull enimies Bring downe Antichrists kingdome with all his vngodlie sects and schismaticall factions Certes ouerlong it hath oppressed vs yea and at this verie daie it still letteth hindereth and holdeth vnder foote verie manie which else speedilie would haue run to the kingdome of libertie and beleeued the Gospell Pull it therfore downe O Lord with all his stumbling blocks euill examples peruerse doctrine and neuer suffer it to recouer againe Lord thou both seest and right well perceiuest how the cruell malicious and vngodlie Antichristians would inuade the Church being so puft vp with pride inflamed with furie scorning as well diuine lawes as humane with like statelinesse and equall contempt dooing nothing with courtesie and faithfulnesse but practising mischiefe and naughtinesse and endeuouring so much as in them lieth that thy blessed word may no where flourish that true religion might be vtterlie extinguished that the perfect inuocating and calling vpon thy glorious name might be quite rooted out and to bring all things to naught by forged tales mens traditions politike deuises diuelish deceipts and verie much outrage But as for thy beloued Israel sith she hath by thy great mercie enioied so long peace and blessed tranquillitie let hir be ioined more and more vnto thee hir welbeloued so as she may continuallie laie sure hold vpon thy worthie praises Suffer not the mouths of hir good and wholesome instructors to be closed vp and put to silence Permit not thy due honour to be had in obliuion nor yet let the hymnes and songs wherwith thou art highlie praised and celebrated be vsurped of such as will haue the same in derision and scorne Finallie we humblie beseech thee O excellent father that what wrath or indignation so euer is due vnto vs by reason of the heinous sinnes we haue wickedlie committed thou wouldest yet for the glorie of thy famous name turne it frō thy sanctified Church thy deere spouse and powre out the same rather vpon them who with an enimielike rage and most malicious affection imagine nothing else but quite to marre and vtterlie laie waste thy blessed heritage and in deede be no lesse aduersaries to thy blessed name than of our peace and quietnesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for vnbeleeuers that all men may embrace the Gospell VNto thee doo we crie O Lord father and maker of all men which art rich vnto all that call vpon thee and which commandest the light to shine out of darkenes For thou wilt that all men should be saued and come to the knowledge of the truth And therfore of thy great loue thou diddest call vs to the participation of the lot of the Saints in light which are by nature the children of wrath and of death aliens and strangers from the testaments of promise hauing none hope and without God in the world but now are fellowe Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ beeing the head corner stone which susteineth the whole building by his word of power Heare vs thy seruants making supplication for such as yet haue not hard the sound of thy Gospell neither knowe thy name but sitting in darkenesse and in the shadowe of death haue their minds darkened and are alienated from the life of God by the ignorance that is in them and are caried awaie vnto dumbe idols and fained gods euen as they are led and run to worship that which is no God Giue grace that thy word may be knowne among them and preached in euerie land and the sound there of go out into the ends of the world that thou also maist be found of them which sought thee not and famous among such as neuer asked after thee Send foorth thy word that they may be healed and walke no more in the vanities of their mind O God father of our Lord Iesu Christ King of glorie giue them the spirit of wisedome and reuelation through the confessing of thee inlighten their minds that they may knowe what the hope is wherevnto thou hast called vs and how pretious the glorie is of thine inheritance in the Saints and how excellent the greatnesse of his power is toward vs which beleeue according to the working of his mightie power which thou hast wrought in him when he was raised by thee from the dead and placed at thy right hand in heauenlie places aboue all principalities powers Open the harts of vnbeleeuers that hearing thy word they may acknowledge thee the onlie true God and Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent and may worship thee the father in the sonne and the sonne in thee the father with the holie ghost euen as thou hast reuealed thy selfe Take the vaile from the harts of the Iewes least being blinded in the reading of the old Testament they stumble at the stone and rocke of offence by incredulitie and hardnesse of their harts that thy Sonne Christ crucified and preached be not vnto them a stumbling blocke and thy Gospell the sauour of death vnto death but that being conuerted by true faith to the knowledge of thee the father in the sonne their face being vncouered they may behold thy glorie knowing by the writings of the Prophets the Messias which thou hast appointed to be the Sauiour of the world Likewise gather thou the Gentiles to whome the Gospell the word of the Crosse is meere foolishnesse into thy congregation that they may embrace thy ministerie casting off all fleshlie wisedome and leade all their cogitations captiue to the obedience of the Gospell Moreouer our praier and
supplication is not onlie for those aboue mentioned but also for such as either although they resist not thy truth and pure religion openlie and obstinatelie professe our religion yet mingled with manie superstitions and abuses worshipping and calling vpon Saints departed out of this life or be addicted to outward ceremonies and rudiments of this world burdening their consciences with mans obseruations and traditions of their fathers or trusting to their owne righteousnesse or rather to the works and deedes of the flesh refuse and make little accompt of thy righteousnesse which is the true iustification and go about to establish their owne righteousnesse But Christ is the end of the lawe for righteousnesse to as manie as beleeue and another foundation can no man laie than that is laid in thy sonne the Messias which is the waie the truth the life and the end of the lawe For by his perfect obedience and fulfilling of the lawe by his innocent and bitter death hee hath restored vnto vs saluation and perfect righteousnesse that euerie one which beleeueth on him might not perish but haue euerlasting life O God the sight of the blind bring them home againe which through ignorance either are intangled in doubtfull labyrinths and grosse errours or countenance polluted religion that lightened by thy spirit they may returne into the right waie And such as with impudent faces and stiffe neckes doo obstinatelie with an affected ignorance withstand thine holie spirit whose senses the god of this world hath blinded that the light of thy glorious Gospell shine not ouer them represse and bridle their malice that by slaughter and persecutions they neither trouble nor destroie thy Church Amen After the Sermon reade some of these sentences of Scripture exhorting to the diligent obseruing and following of Gods word beard Deuteronomie 28 verse 1. IF thou shalt obeie diligentlie the voice of the Lord thy God walke in his ordinances and obserue keepe and doo all his commandements which I command thee this daie then all these blessings shall come on thee and ouertake thee Blessed shalt thou be in the citie and blessed in the field c. But and if thou wilt not obeie the voice of the Lord thy God to keepe and doo all his commandements and his ordinances which I command thee this daie then all these curses shall come vpon thee and ouertake thee Curssed shalt thou be in the citie and curssed in the field c. as in the whole Chapter Ecclesiasticus 35. WHO so keepeth the lawe bringeth offrings inough he that holdeth fast the commandements offereth an offering of saluation Matthew 7. WHO soeuer heareth of me saieth Christ these words and doth the same I will liken him to a wise man which hath builded his house on a rocke c. But whosoeuer heareth these my words and doth them not shall be likened vnto a foolish man which hath builded his house vpon the sands c. Luke 11. BLessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it Luke 12. THE seruant that knoweth his maisters will and doth it not shall be beaten with manie stripes Romans 2. THE hearers of the lawe are not righteous before God but the dooers of the lawe shall be iustified Iames. 1. WHerefore be yee dooers of the word and not hearers onelie deceiuing your owne selues For if anie heare the word and doo it not he is like vnto a man that beholdeth his naturall face in a glasse For when he hath considered himselfe he goeth awaie and forgetteth immediatlie what manner of one he was But who so looketh in the perfect lawe of libertie and continueth therein he not beeing a forgetfull hearer but a dooer of the worke shall bee blessed in his deed Iohn 15. NOw are yee cleane through the word which I haue spoken vnto you Abide in me and I in you c. I am the vine yee are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth foorth much fruit For without me can ye doo nothing If yee abide in me and my word abide in you aske what yee will and it shall be done vnto you Reuelation 2. FOR he that ouercommeth and keepeth my words vnto the end to him will I giue power ouer nations Reuelation 3. REmember therefore how thou hast heard and receiued and hold fast and repent Hold that I saie which thou hast that no man take thy crowne and watch Then giue thanks and praie vnto God after the Sermon and saie IMmortall praise and thanks be giuen vnto thee O almightie God and most mercifull father who hast giuen vs so pretious a gift of thy holie word and vouchsafed vs to heare so glad tidings of thy sacred Gospell by the hand of this thy minister who presentlie by thy mercy hath vttered it vnto vs. And seeing thou hast delt so gratiouslie with vs in the free publishing of thy Gospell amongst vs this foure and twentie yeeres that it seemeth thou hast euen lifted vs vp to heauen with the cities wherein our Sauiour taught most in his being vpon the earth and hast now in a manner throwne them downe to hell and left in them a terrible and a fearfull example of thy iudgements against those that walke not woorthie the graces offered vnto them Grant vs so to profit by this their chastisement and correction that as of thy grace thou hast reuealed thy will vnto vs which otherwise we could neuer haue knowne so now strengthen vs O Lord that we neuer refuse thy Gospell in vnbeleefe nor seeke in the persons of the preachers of it anie causes and pretences of our infidelitie but hauing thy word alwaies in our harts and thy praises in our tongues we may walke woorthie thy so great graces bestowed vpon vs and haue our conuersation in heauen that after wee may be taken vp thither vnto thee alwaies to glorifie thee with thy Sonne and the holie Ghost Amen A thankes-giuing for the knowledge of God in his word WE giue thee thankes O Father Lord of heauen and earth because thou hast hid the mysterie of thy word which is the Gospell of our saluation by thy Sonne from the wise and men of vnderstanding in this world and hast reuealed the same to babes of base degree certeinlie such was thy good pleasure Thou hast giuen vs all things in thy Sonne whom none knoweth but thou Father neither dooth anie knowe thee except thy Sonne and he to whom thy Sonne shall reueale thee We worship thee we praise thee we glorifie thee we giue thee thanks for the hid wisedome which thou didst determine before the world for our glorie which was neuer knowne to the princes of this world nor at anie time to the sonnes of men as it is now reuealed by the spirit to whom the communion of the mysterie which was hid from all ages but is now opened to thy Saints to whom thou wouldst haue made knowne what be the riches of this glorious mysterie It is thine owne working
of thee and this congregation present who may be eie-witnesses of the same But because O Lord the externall confession and outward acknowledgement of my sinnes without the inward contrition dolour of the hart and soule auaileth nothing in thy presence which art the searcher of the hart and sifter of the reines I most humblie beseech thee that thou wilt so touch my hart and conscience and effectuallie worke in me perfect remorse and detestation of my former offences that without anie hypocrisie and with true compunction of soule and sincere confession of the mouth I vtterlie loathing and condemning mine owne impietie and damning that which the lawe pronounceth vniust and damnable may attaine to some sense and feeling of thy mercie which thou hast aboundantlie shewed vnto all mankind in Christ Iesu our Lord. Conuert me O Lord and I shall be conuerted because thou art my God and being conuerted I will doo penance Heale me O Lord and I shall be healed saue thou me and I shall be saued for thou art my praise To me I confesse shame and confusion of face is due as I iustlie suffer this daie but to thee honor and glorie for my redemption who by thus iudging and punishing me dooest by little and little giue me place to amend and space to repent and hast not suddenlie and at vnwares taken me awaie from the face of the earth and ouerwhelmed me by and by through thy iustice in my wicked deedes dooing as I deserued and thou iustlie mightest For which thy lenitie patience long-suffering and mercie O thou louer of my soule I most humblie thanke thee beseeching thee so to mollifie my hart that I may repent and esteeme greatlie of so great riches and inestimable treasures of thy goodnesse Moreouer O good Lord Iesus Christ grant I beseech thee that among all the feares and terrours of my conscience I may take hold of thee by a liuelie faith which hast redeemed me from the cursse of the lawe and art made for me wisedome and righteousnesse sanctification and redemption and may not in the fight of conscience yeeld my selfe a slaue still to Sathan and despaire of thy mercie but vpholden by the voice of thy Gospell may flee vnto thee my mediator and iustified by faith may haue peace with God that so comming vnto thee by hearing thy word to repentance the Angels in heauen may continuallie haue occasion to reioice and I auoiding the fearefull vengeance which most assuredlie shall fall vpon the inobedient may be restored into the right of thy lawe and receiued againe into the bosome of thy Church as a member of thy mysticall body and from my hart walke in all holie obedience to thee and thy holie word to the praise of thy name the comfort of thy Church and the confusion of Sathan Amen A thankes-giuing and praier vnto God of a reconciled offender or excommunicate person restored into the Church to be vsed after open penance done at a Sermon or otherwise HEauenlie father fountaine of all mercie and consolation I confesse my selfe the chiefest of all sinners and a wretch most vnworthie to bee counted amongst thy children or to be a member of thy Church if thou haue respect to the corruption of my nature and horror of my manifold misdeeds But seeing it hath pleased thy fatherlie goodnesse not onlie freelie to elect and choose me in thy deere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ by his death to redeeme me by his Gospell to call me and by his holie spirit which both are thine to illuminate me but also that thou hast commanded thy holie word and sacred Gospell to be preached not onlie to me but to all the world to the end that the penitent may haue an assurance of the remission of all their sinnes great and small old and new not onlie for a time but euen as oft as they from sorowfull harts and broken spirits in bitter teares shall bewaile the same and call for thy grace and mercie In consideration of this thy fatherlie adoption and ineffable clemencie shewed vpon mee an vnwoorthie wretch I can not but highlie praise and magnifie thy fatherlie mercie A testimonie whereof I not onelie feele now in my selfe but others also see the same euidentlie in this my conuersion and confession of my fore-passed faults in the which my penance dooing I am assured that I haue not so much shamed my selfe before this godlie congregation as I haue thereby confounded and ouercome mine enimie Satan who for a time had me in bondage and by whose venem and deceiuable entisements I heretofore haue beene verie rebellious to the wholesome admonitions of the Church for the which vile sinnes rebellion and contempt I confesse I haue beene woorthilie excommunicate and punished by the censures of the same But now O Lord seeing that the spirit of our Lord Iesus Christ hath so farre preuailed in me that by the power therof I am now set at freedome by thy mercie am returned againe to the societie of thy Saints and mysticall bodie of thy Church I beseech thee for the obedience of our Lord Iesus Christ so to accept me sorowfull conuert and to allow of this mine vnfeined repentance and confession that my former inobedience and faults be neuer laid to my charge Haue mercie vpon me O God haue mercie vpon me and absolue me thy poore creature not onelie from the sentence of excommunication but also from the sinnes by me committed and from all censures of the Church laid against me for the same or before and that Lord giuen according to this my hartie and vnfeined repentance before thee and all this congregation and as I hartilie forgiue all the world that in anie thing hath offended against me O Lord pronounce thou my sinnes to be cleansed and they shall be cleansed absolue thou me from the chaine of mine iniquities wherewith I am fast tied and bound and I shall be absolued loose thou my sins in earth and they shall be loosed in heauen that being now by thy great goodnesse and mercie acquited and sent awaie vncondemned of thee as that sinfull woman taken in adulterie was from hir accusers and receiued againe to the societie of Iesus Christ into the bosome of his Church to the participation of his blessed Sacraments and finallie to the fruition of all thy benefits I may by the perpetuall assistance of thy holie spirit not onelie more and more be displeased with my sinnes and bridle hencefoorth my corrupt affections till Satan be cleane troden vnder my feet by the power of my redeemer Christ but also be so conducted in all the course of my life hereafter that I neuer fall into the like sinnes impietie and contempt of God and godlinesse anie more but that continuallie I may be subiect to the voice of the Church and to the ministers of the same and proceed dailie in all maner of good works and Christian obedience to the praise of thy holie name and edifieng of thy Church by
doo through the onelie merits of our Lord and Sauiour Jesus Christ to whom be all honour glorie dominion power and praise for euer and euer Amen The praier ALmightie and most mercifull God my heauenlie Father I thy poore child and most vnwoorthie bidden ghest to this thy prepared sacrifice and celestiall feast after due examination of my former life with an humble and contrite hart with a sorowfull and repentant spirit and with a forgiuing and charitable mind heere prostrate on my knees before thy throne of mercie with most lowelie hart humblie beseech thy Maiestie euen for thy deere and onelie sonne Iesus Christs sake whom thou hast once for all euer alreadie giuen an oblation and offering for our sinnes to haue mercie pitie and compassion vpon me most vile wretched and miserable sinner and to forgiue me all mine innumerable and horrible offences both old and new committed against heauen and earth and against thee And new I praie thee sanctifie me throughlie O God and make me who hartilie desire in feare trembling to please thee in all things that I doo a woorthie communicant a godlie ghest and fit partaker heere this daie of thy heauenlie food in this great and sumptuous Supper of my Lord and my God by giuing vnto me of thine accustomed goodnesse the right knowledge and vnderstanding out thy word of the thing it selfe these holie mysteries I meane and the manifold fruits and benefites thereof and also by causing me through the working of thy mercie and grace to bring now with me a true and constant faith the roote and wel-spring of all newnesse of life as well in praising thee and louing my neighbour as purging mine owne conscience by earnest repentance and continuall contrition from dead works and filthinesse of sinne so that neither the ignorance of the thing O gratious God may cause me to contemne it nor vnfaithfulnesse make it void of fruit nor sinne and iniquitie procure me thy heauie plagues but grant that I may by faith in knowledge and amendment of life in faith be heere now so vnited to thy sonne Christ my head and most deerelie beloued spouse in these his holie and heauenlie mysteries to my comfort both in bodie and soule that afterward I may haue full fruition of him in deede to mine euerlasting ioie and saluation in eternall life through the same Iesus Christ our Lord blessed for euer Amen Another godlie praier O Iesu Christ holy and eternall God I miserable woman and wretched sinner acknowledge and confesse that I am not woorthie the least of all thy mercies and most vnwoorthie to receiue thee vnder the roofe of my soule by participating of thy most blessed bodie and bloud For horrible and infinite are the sinnes wherewith I am defiled Wo is me Lord. For I am a woman of polluted lips and dwell among people that haue vncleane lips And therefore the verie entrailes of my hart are troubled and my bones doo shake because I finde my soule a most vnworthie ghest for so heauenlie a supper And yet againe mine hart is woonderfullie lightned when I call to mind that thou the deere sonne of almightie God camest not into this world to call the righteous but sinners vnto repentance For they that be whole need not the Physician but they that are sick Besides I knowe right well and constantlie doo beleeue that notwithstanding my filthinesse thou canst make mee woorthie which alone canst make that cleane which is conceiued of vncleane seed and righteous men of sinners when thou forgiuest our sinnes of thy woonted grace thine holie spirit being powred vpon vs. Through which thy power and mercie I beseech thee graunt such grace vnto me a sinner that I may woorthilie approch to this heauenlie sacrament least otherwise by mine vnwoorthinesse I be made giltie of thy bodie and bloud and so in stead of life receiue my iudgement and condemnation Giue grace therefore that afore I presume to come vnto the participation thereof I may examine my selfe by calling my sinnes into mind searching out my waies and by vnfeigned and hartie repentance returning vnto thee my Lord least otherwise by concealing my sinnes with Iudas the traitor I eate the bread of the Lord against the Lord and by abusing thy gentlenesse heape vengeance vnto my selfe against the daie of vengeance O make me therefore I saie to confesse my sinnes and that with hartie sobs so thou being a faithfull and iust God wilt abandon all mine offences and cleanse me from my sinnes and wilt not disdaine to accept me into fauour when I doo not refraine to acknowledge my wickednesse Moreouer powre into me a true and liuelie faith that I neuer mistrust thy word annexed to the Sacraments which promiseth vnto mankind the remission of sinnes For to eate or drinke with the mouth onelie is to no purpose but faith must come therevnto and apprehend the word with the promises annexed for they are the grounds and principles of this sacrament so that whosoeuer giueth credit to these words Which was giuen and shead for you in the remission of sinnes the same man hath that which is promised by them namelie eternall life and saluation For where the remission of sinnes is there likewise righteousnes life and saluation is But he which doubteth of these words he without doubt is an vnworthie receiuer and commeth vnprepared For the doubting man neither eateth the flesh spirituallie nor yet drinketh the bloud though carnallie and to our eies he seemeth to consume the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud with his teeth and mouth but his damnation rather not bicause thy supper is poison but for that an euill man taketh a good thing naughtilie Finallie grant also that receiuing this thy Sacrament of the new Testament I may put off according to the former conuersation the old man which is corrupt according to the lusts of error and be renewed in the spirit of my mind putting on the new man which after God is shapen in righteousnesse and holinesse of truth And albeit my nature be such that I can not liue without spots of wickednesse yet so blesse me that I may neuer offend willinglie but altogether depending vpon thy goodnesse whose manner is to pardon the true penitent that sinners may boldlie approch to thine holie supper especiallie seeing we haue libertie to enter into the holie places through thy bloud by the new and liuing waie which thou hast prepared for vs through the vaile that is by thy flesh And seeing we haue an high Priest ouer the house of God make vs to drawe nigh with true harts in assurance of faith sprinkled in our minds from an euill conscience and washed in bodie with pure water Cause vs to hold fast the profession of the hope without wauering For he is faithfull that promised and let vs consider one of another to prouoke vnto loue to good works not forsaking the assemblie of the faithfull as the maner of some is but exhorting one another
Remember now O my soule that thou art brought from thy vaine conuersation and that thy freedome is purchased neither with gold nor siluer but with the deere price of the most pretious hart bloud of that innocent and immaculate lambe Iesus Christ And euen now at the least O my soule begin and take in hand in the name and feare of God to purge the old leauen of sinne and wickednesse that corrupteth and sowreth the sweetnesse of thy life before the maiestie of God that thou maist be as new and fresh dough void of all sowre leauen of wickednesse so shalt thou shew thy selfe to be sweet bread to God that he may haue his delight in thee so shalt thou declare thy selfe a worthie host for such a ghest and that Christes gifts and graces haue their effect in thee and that thou hast the right beleefe and knowledge of his holie mysteries now receiued of thee finallie so shalt thou in applieng thy faith to the vertue of this holie Sacrament and in thy life and conuersation conforming and fashioning thy selfe to the example and signification meant thereby be most certaine and sure to liue in this life happilie in the world to come to dwell with Christ whome thou hast now receiued in euerlasting glorie which God for his mercies sake and for the deere and pretious merits of his onelie Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christs sake grant vnto vs Amen The Praier SO great and manifold are thy benefits O most good and mercifull God towards mankind as all people in euerie place ought greatlie to laud woorthilie to praise and highlie to extoll magnifie thy blessed name For what thing can be more pleasant to men than that thou dooest easilie heare them at what time they call vpon thee for such things as they stand in need of In what other good things ought we more to reioice of than this for that thou yeeldest thy selfe appeased and fauourable to our iniquities Or why bee we not right happie and blessed whome thou diddest vouchsafe to annexe vnto thy selfe in thy sacred congregation in feeding our hungrie stomachs with spirituall good things and heauenlie deinties and refreshing vs continuallie with the most exquisite and well furnished banket of thy blessed Sacraments making vs to eate aboundantlie of thy heauenlie Manna and food of Angels and to drinke plentiouslie of the full cup of thy holie spirit and diuine grace to our endlesse comfort and consolation in thee Oh Lord thou dealest fauourablie euen with all other creatures also for thine elects sake Thou stablishest the mountaines stillest the raging of the sea appeasest the madnesse of the people and dooest refresh and lighten with great ioie the vttermost parts of the earth through the brightnesse of the heauenlie fires Thou sendest seasonable weather and timelie showers whereby onlie commeth fertilitie of the feelds woonderfullie garnished with all kinde of fruites whereby both men and beasts haue aboundantlie wherewith to feed Grant thou therefore thus much also vnto vs who art the author of so manie good things that we may alwaie be mindfull thereof to render most condigne thanks vnto thee and that an alteration of our old leauen being now made through the vertue of this blessed Sacrament which we haue receiued we may like the eagle from time to time renew our youth in godlines of life and vse to our health and comfort those things which thou so louinglie bestowest vpon vs thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen At the solemnization of Matrimonie praie thus ALmightie God and most mercifull father who hast ordeined marriage to be kept without blame or breach to the end not suffering that anie should put asunder those whome thou hast ioined together Sanctifie those which are called to this estate of life to keepe it according to thy holie institution and ordinance And furthermore as thou requirest that we should loue thee aboue all things esteeming more thy fauour than either the riches or honour of this world or life it selfe so we beseech thee O Lord to teach vs how to vse these transitorie things that we abuse them not in setting our harts vpon them or delighting more in them than is meete but that we may so loue our husbands children house lands and our owne liues or whatsoeuer thou giuest vs for our comfort heere for a time that we may keepe still the highest degree of our loue for thee our spirituall husband so that where the question shall be betweene thee and anie thing else we may make losse of all things to abide perfectlie in our loue towards thee to the end to whome with the father and the holie ghost be all laud and praise for euer and euer Amen Or as at the solemnization of Matrimonie in the fift Lampe At the buriall of anie meditate and praie as followeth O Lord Iesu Christ Sonne of God which art the giuer of eternall life we hartilie thanke thee because thou art inwardlie touched with mercie towards vs oppressed both with temporall and euerlasting miseries thou hast tasted death and with thy flesh thou hast touched the graue and earth wherby it is sanctified and made light to the godlie so that it can not keepe them in etternall death According to thy commandement there stand the bringers and ministers of death euen sinne and Satan but thou pluckest the faithfull out of the iawes of death bringest them to a new life through the comfort of thy Gospell teachest them to speake and sound foorth thy glorie cōmendest them in this life to the mother the Church and at length death and all euils being subdued thou wilt bring them into thy kingdome Wee humblie beseech thee take mercie vpon thy Church in these miserable daies For she is as a widowe destitute of all worldlie helpe and dependeth onlie vpon thy mercifull aid and protection Speake vnto hir with cheerfull voice and saie Weepe not powre vpon thine the true light of faith and comfort lift vs vp in the mids of death with a confidence of thy presence and hope of eternall life Driue awaie the gard of death teach vs to set foorth thy truth and at the length let vs be placed with the sweet mother of all Saints in the true countrie of that happie citie Ierusalem where we shall for euermore enioie the blessed sight both of thee and thy heauenlie congregation Amen Another deuout praier at burials LORD thou art God for euer short is our life alwaies some of vs die other some come into the world and with thee a thousand yeeres bee but one daie yea as the least minute of an houre This life passeth awaie as dooth a dreame euen as grasse in the field greene to daie and drie to morowe If thou be displeased then we be lost if thou chasten then shrinke we for feare For thorough sinnes we be dead vnto thee Certes Lord if thou haue respect to our sinnes who shall continue Shew vs how manie be the daies of our life that we
by the diuell man thou hast againe of thine infinite goodnesse through thy sonne prepared a sumptuous supper and great feast And for as much as thy people among whom the tower of thy daily iunkets was placed togither with the most part of the world do despise thy holie table and suffer themselues to be caried about vnto the bankets of Satan and vaine pleasures of this world Thou hast vouchsafed to call vs most vnwoorthie wretches being lame blind and beggerlie in this last age of the world that the number of thine elect may be filled yea thou compellest some lieng in the high waies and about hedges by reason of the troubles and decaie of kingdoms through the preaching of thy word to come to the participation of thy banket We humblie beseech thee bring vs to thine heauenlie table appoint vs a place therein euermore Grant that from thy sonne which is the bread and liuelie wine we may drawe nourishment and iuice that the drinesse of our nature may be watered and we at length taste of thy supper in the table of euerlasting life and drinke the new wine of thy sonne enioieng his visible sight in the blessed societie of all thine elect Amen When you begin to eate immediatelie blesse and saie LORD God which art the sanctifier of thy Saints and the euerlasting suffisance that shalt be giuen to the hungrie blesse thou from heauen these thy good creatures and great benefits which thou hast created to releeue the want of thy hungrie children and to be receiued with thanks-giuing with thy celestiall benediction that they may be as a healthfull medicine or remedie to our humane nature And grant that by the inuocation of thy holie name we now soberlie taking and temperatelie and thankfullie tasting hereof may therewithall receiue both helth of bodie and safegard of soule through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Or else praie thus for the sober vsing of your meate and drinke GRant O most mercifull God that so long as we wander in this wretched world we may so take our meate and drinke for the infirmitie of our flesh that we neuer be corrupted by fine fare wherein the flesh delighteth neither yet by anie foolish superstition nor that we be drawne awaie at anie time from temperance and sobrietie but let vs alwaies remember so to vse our abundance that when we abound in all things most plentifullie we may giue our selues to moderate abstinence continuallie as also that we may patientlie beare all pouertie and hunger when it commeth and that wee may so vse libertie in our meates and drinks that alwaies the glorie of thy name O Lord may be before our eies and that such frugalitie may appeare in all our life that we may continuallie seeke that satietie and fulnesse whereby we shall be satiate for euer most abundantlie when the glorie of thy countenance shall appeere vnto vs in the heauens through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen When you take salt meditate a little to your selfe and saie EUerie man shall be salted with fire and euerie sacrifice shall be seasoned with salt Salt is good but if the salt be vnsauourie wherewith shall it be seasoned O God giue vs grace to haue salt in our selues and to haue peace one with another let all our communication now be so well sauoured and powdered with salt that is to saie seasoned with godlie wisedome that we knowing how and when to speake all our talke may tend to the glorie of thy name and the edifieng of our owne soules through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen In the meale time LET one of your children or seruants that best can reade this caution following and after that some chapter or portion of the Scripture distinctlie and reuerentlie that all at the boord may giue diligent eare therevnto The cautions or remembrances to be said of the child in the meate time REmember that these meates and drinkes heere set before you are giuen you of God to vse but not to abuse in surfeting and dronkennesse Remember that they are giuen you to profit your bodies and not to hurt your soules Remember that they are not giuen to you alone but vnto others also that need the same by your liberalitie and almes to their releefe In eating and drinking remember that you doo but feed the woormes and pamper the carcasse and ouercharge your soule if yee surfet with taking too much In the midst of your mirth and abundance remember the poore prisoners the sicke and the afflictions of Ioseph and his persecuted members as though yee were in their case Finallie remember the food of your soules Christs bodie broken and his bloud shead Desire the meate I saie that lasteth for euer Labour for it and harken diligentlie to his word which now shall be read vnto you And first let vs praie A praier to be said of the child or seruant in the meale time before the reading of the Chapter out of the Bible O Lord which hast prouided these earthlie creatures for the feeding of our mortall bodies direct vs carefullie to seeke and with delight to tast of thy most holie word that we may by that immortall seed be begotten to be thy children and thereby be nourished and fed vntill we become perfect men in thy Sonne Christ Iesus So be it Or else thus BLessed Lord which hast not onlie created all things for mans sustenance but also hast caused all holie Scripture to be written for our learning grant vs to be so conuersant among these thy gifts purelie and holilie because thou art so that we may in such sort also now both reade thy word heare it marke learne and inwardlie digest this heauenlie food of our soules that being well refreshed and vertuouslie transformed both in bodie and soule we may holilie walke in the strength thereof to glorifie thee through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen After the Chapter read saie thus BLessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it Grant therefore we beseech thee O Lord that we may not onlie be readers and hearers of thy word but dooers and followers also of the same that beeing now fed and nourished at thy hands both in soule and bodie we may heere bee apt and readie to doo all good works which thou hast prepared for vs to walke in and in the life to come be receiued to thine eternall kingdome of glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another thanks-giuing after the receiuing of our bodilie sustenance and reading of some part of Gods holie word or spirituall food O Lord our God the onlie giuer of all good gifts who of thy great mercies hast made vs partakers both of the heauenlie gifts of thy holie word to feed our minds and of thine earthlie creatures for the necessarie sustenance of our weake bodies grant we beseech thee that through thy grace these thy gifts may be made perfect vnto vs. Giue strength vnto our meate that it may be our healthfull nourishment not to
breed in vs anie carnall desire of our vaine life but to enable our bodies with all good works during the time of this present pilgrimage that so thy good creatures may be our good releefe so long as thou wilt and so much as thou knowest to be expedient for vs thy seruants to finish our daies which thou hast numbred in the edifieng of thy Saincts and glorifieng of thy holie name And because O Lord we knowe nothing of our selues but our ignorant harts are full of darkenesse therefore we beseech thee that this thy word which is thine eternall wisdome that now we haue read and wherein we haue had our conference may be in our minds a burning lampe and shining light of thine onlie truth in our harts and in our soules a fruitefull seed of a new birth so that thine owne image may be happilie againe restaured in vs that we may bee made before thee a holie and righteous people by the inward working of thy gratious spirit dailie strengthening our harts in earnest loue of thy truth and carefull obedience of thy commandements through Iesus Christ our onlie mediator who in the sacrifice of his owne bodie hath purchased vnto vs all thy fauour and hath giuen vs boldnesse to call vpon thee vnto whome O father with thee and the holie Ghost bee all honour and glorie world without end Amen Another praier after meate on the Lords daie SAnctified be thy name O eternall father who by thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord dooest euermore protect and prouide for thy Church both spirituall and corporall blessings bestowing most liberallie vpon vs all good things asked according to thy will Lift vp thine eies O Christ and behold thy miserable people which depend altogither vpon thy prouision and acknowledge our selues to be fed and defended miraculouslie by thee Assist vs that we also may withdrawe our eies from the consultations of flesh and bloud and looke vpon thee our Lord by whose blessing we eate and store our selues And albeit all worldlie helps do faile yet bee thou a firie wall still about vs and feed and defend thy Saincts in the feelds of comfort vntill thou begin that ioifull Passouer and euerlasting Sabboth and bring vs out of the wildernesse out of the sea and penurie into the court of ioie wealth satietie and euerlasting welfare In the meane while make vs thankfull for the benefits which we enioie Let vs gather vp the remnants or fragments cast from thy sumptuous and rich banket vnto vs. Preserue our baskets and blesse our store euen the arts and schooles of learning that by them thy doctrine may be spread abroade in the world Make vs not onlie to honour thee for these thy corporall benefits but much more for giuing thy selfe vnto vs which art the bread of life Be thou our King defending vs in this life against the power of Sathan and feed vs with thy heauenlie bread which may nourish vs to eternall life and happinesse Amen Another praier after meate that daie you haue receiued the holie Communion SEeing that of thy free grace and mercie O almightie God thou hast made vs partakers this daie of all thy riches both in spirituall and corporall things in Christ Iesu who of our selues are vnwoorthie to haue gathered the crumbs vnder thy table make vs more and more mindfull of so great mercies and continuallie thankefull to thee for so manifold benefits and to walke woorthie the honour and dignitie thou hast done vnto vs that we may receiue the full accomplishment of thy loue towards vs in the life to come through the same our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie world without end Amen Another thanks-giuing vnto God for our food to be read and meditated vpon after meate WE thanke thee O King of glorie Lord of heauen and earth because thou hast from our youth to this present houre maruellouslie nourished vs giuing vs meate drinke cloathing with all other things perteining to the sustentation of this present life Naked and bare came we out of our mothers wombs wee brought nothing into the world but whatsoeuer we haue thou gauest the same yea it was afore we were borne and in our mothers wombe didst thou ordeine things necessarie for this life and sufferedst vs to enioie all things aboundantlie Alwaie thou hast a care of vs as a father vseth his children neither art thou ignorant that we stand in need continuallie of thy blessings and dailie are destitute of new releefe all which thou giuest after thy woonted and vnspeakable goodnesse We acknowledge that whatsoeuer we haue or possesse it is thy gift and confesse thee to be the fountaine of all good things and perceiue thy fatherlie goodnesse to be spread not onlie ouer all mankind but also ouer the liuing creatures Thou giuest meate to all flesh thou giuest fodder to the cattell and feedest the yoong rauens that call vpon thee For corporall goods are not distributed among men by chance or without thy prouidence neither be they atteined by the onlie industrie and power of man Thou giuest and we gather thou openest thy hand and all liuing creatures are filled with thy blessing For without thee all our endeuours be in vaine and if thou blesse not our labours we doo but eate the wind and receiue no profit Great is thy mercie O Lord which disdainest not to prouide for sinfull flesh O Lord our God great are thy woonderous works which thou hast done for vs the which we can not so much as in thought comprehend muchlesse in words expresse When we would report and vtter them we found them more than we could recite but notwithstanding thine infinite benefits can not be comprehended of mortall man yet will we not surcease to set foorth thy praise nor hide thy goodnesse from the sonnes of men but will declare it and speake of thy truth from one generation to another Blessed art thou O our God for euer and euer all that is either aboue in the heauens or in the earth beneath is thine All things come from thee and from thine hands we receiue whatsoeuer we possesse and all these things of thy meere mercie without our merits or woorthinesse Therefore we will magnifie the Lord which doth mightie things in all corners of the earth which dooth nourish vs from our mothers wombs and giueth vs all good things Grant vs likewise quietnesse of mind and peace in our time that thy grace may abound toward vs continue and defend vs while we liue O almightie and mercifull father by thy breath we take life the which through thy blessing doth abide in vs. In thee we liue moue and haue our being For man liueth not by bread onlie or by his owne wisedome and forecast neither art thou bound with a fatall chaine of second causes but by thy decree and will we enioie life and all things created at thy becke doo continue while thou thinkest good
Giue vs not onlie store of all things to the necessitie of life but grant also to our meate and drinke vertue and power to releeue and strengthen our bodies For thou alone vpholdest all things by thy word of power Unlesse thou dailie didst feed vs with the hidden grace which thou dooest inspire into the bread to feed vs all the heapes of our yeerelie increase were to small purpose For be it that there be aboundance of wheate wine and of all other things yet vnlesse they be watered by thy blessing quicklie would all come to naught and we should perish for lacke of food in all that aboundance For all the substance that we possesse what is it without thou prosper and fructifie the same with thy blessing And albeit we feed on bread yet we ascribe not our life to the vertue of the bread neither is thy power tied to the bread nor mans life included within the same but altogither it dependeth vpon thy will and good pleasure We beseech thee for thy most large and bountifull liberalitie cast vs not off in the time of our old age and when our strength faileth vs forsake vs not Likewise confirme our faith that we distrust not thy promises neither be driuen from thee by anie meanes seeme they neuer so contrarie to naturall causes but giue grace that we may withdrawe our eies from all worldlie consultations and as touching our food and other necessaries for this life may wholie depend vpon thee and at no time go beyond the limits which thou hast prepared through our Lord Iesus Christ which liueth and reigneth with thee for euermore Amen At noone-tide or mid-daie saie thus O Lord my light my inlightning and my welfare from whence all true brightnesse and light doth come grant I beseech thee that as of thy goodnesse thou hast giuen me thus plentifullie this corporall light to compasse my bodie on euerie side so of thy mercie giue me aboundantlie the spirituall light of thy grace and knowledge which may inlighten my mind and cause mine age to appeare as cleere as the noone daie And because O Lord nothing in this world is so perfect and glorious but when it is at the full it will decrease and weare awaie euen as we see in the course of this thy glorious creature the Sunne which now being at the highest will begin to drawe downeward Graunt also I beseech thee that when at the age of fortie yeeres my bodie by little and little shall begin to fade and the beautie thereof wither and drawe towards an end it togither with my soule in the daie of iudgement may shine as bright as the Sunne being now at the highest doth and may then begin to be glorified to the full in the region of the celestiall world where the Sunne of all righteousnesse and the brightnesse of perpetuall charitie and felicitie doth euerlastinglie shine and inlighten all the holie companie of heauen Amen Or else thus LOrd let thy fauour preuent vs as doth the Sunne which being now in the highest region spreadeth his beames ouer all the parts of the earth And as the brightnesse therof shineth now without the clouds after the same sort giue vs thy cleerenesse and shewe thy bright countenance ouer vs that lightened by thy word wee may walke this daie thorough circumspectlie and warilie in the waies of thy commandements that being blinded in the mid daie we run not headlong into darkenesse neither grope at noone daie as in the night wandering from the paths of thy iudgements Open thine eies O God ouer vs be thou vnto vs a mightie protector this daie a firmament of strength a couering against heate parching a shadow at noone tide a defender from offence an assister from falling a comforter of our soules a lightener of our minds and a giuer of health and happines in Christ our Lord Amen ¶ After meate the better to keepe you from vaine exercises and idle cogitations and to spend the Sabboth daie both wholie and holilie to the Lord as it behooueth take occasion on Gods name either to cathechise your children and familie or to praie for the preseruation of the Queenes most excellent maiestie or to reade deuoutlie some of these godlie meditations and praiers of Gods works and feasts following On Sundaie A praier for the right keeping of the Sabboth or Sundaie O Eternall father of our Lord Iesu Christ which togither with thy Sonne and the holie Ghost didst create man of thine infinite mercie powredst into him a similitude of those things which are most excellent in thee the fountaine of all goodnesse and wouldest in that nature as it were in a Temple seeing thine image to shine therein continue and celebrate the ioifull Sabboth When man had defaced thine image and was pluckt from thee it was thy will that the Sonne of thine owne substance should take our flesh vpon him and be made a sacrifice for the sinnes of mankind bee crucified die yea and on the great Sabboth daie of the lawe lie in the graue where the word after an vnspeakable manner rested that we may receiue againe the societie of the new and celestiall Sabboth We beseech thee grant that thy Sonne which is the Lord of that Sabboth may begin in this life to rest in vs to heale the corruptions of our nature by his holie spirit which is the heauenlie fire to drie vp the dropsie of our flesh that he may loue vs which are bone of his bones to make vs one with him through his spirit and finallie to bring vs into that glorious companie where the eternall Sabboth is in such excellencie as can not be conceiued by the hart of man In the meane while let vs ceasse from this hurlie burlie this toiling and drudging in the vaine trumperie of this world so as once at last we may religiouslie halowe and keepe the godlie rest of the new Sabboth in doing such things as be allowable and pleasant vnto thee and sanctifieng thee in true rest and peace Drawe vs from the vaine fantasies of present things that we may attend and await vpon thee and thy ioifull comming Grant I saie that we may be humbled vnder thy mightie hand that we may knowe our infirmities obeie thee in our crosses and correction looke vnto thee in a liuelie faith and hope of a ioifull deliuerance which then shall be perfect when thy Sonne by his trumpet shall summon the new Sabboth and drawe vnto him on high where he sitteth at thy right hand exalted thine elect all thine enimies which through beastlie arrogancie blushed not to contend and fight against thee being subdued Amen Another ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie father who after that in sixe daies thou haddest created all things didst rest the seauenth daie and sanctifiedst it teach vs to keepe holie the Sabboth daie not in shew and cercmonie onlie but much more in euerie good woorke which thou hast commanded not in part for fashion sake but wholie
and to the end for thine owne glorie sake And wee beseech thee O Lord to heale not onlie our heads and limmes but also our harts and soules that we may both in the lawfull keeping of thy Sabboth and all other thy commandements be obedient vnto thee the Lord of the Sabboth And as thou hast taught vs the right keeping of the Sabboth to stand chieflie in dooing of good one vnto another giue vs grace continuallie to keepe this Sabboth inuiolable and vnprophaned that we may onlie doo those things which are holie and acceptable vnto thee and may ceasse from all our lewd works and waies And especiallie O Lord grant that we may auoid carefullie the first step of the ladder that leadeth to that horrible sinne of blasphemie which is not to be forgiuen neither in this world nor in the world to come Amen Ghostlie Meditations with the which it is meete for vs Christians to occupie our selues once in the daie or at the least for those whose leasure will not serue once in the weeke and that euerie Sundaie and holie daie which the Author found in an old and ancient written copie for the excellent matter therin conteind hath thought it good now to publish it to the glorie of God and profit of his Church FIrst let vs call to our memorie the bountifull goodnesse of almightie GOD extended towards vs in the creation of the firmament the earth the sea and all that therein is conteined which he hath made for our onelie comfort and the seruice of vs. And let vs here with also consider the greatnesse and omnipotencie of his power which was able with his word onlie of nothing to make althings those so wonderfull works that they are not able to be comprehended within the compasse of mans reason Call we also to mind the vnsearchablenesse of his diuine wisedome through which in so goodlie order continuallie he both can doth conserue all those things and lastlie let vs not forget his incomparable loue towards vs who of his onlie meere goodnesse without anie part of ablenesse of our deserts hath prouided all these things for our vse and not onlie that but hath moreouer made vs of capacitie and vnderstanding to discusse and knowe how to vse the same for the seruing of our necessities as the diuersitie of times and occasion requireth Let vs not therefore shew our selues vnto him vnthankfull Nextlie let vs call to mind from how sundrie perils as well ghostle as bodilie he hath and dooth from time to time preserue vs namelie from perils on the land perils by water perils of fire perils through sicknes from imprisonment from open shame from slanders from extreme beggerie from famine from pestilence and other horrible diseases from sudden and shamefull death and sundrie other mischiefes which we may vnderstand to haue happened and dailie doo perceiue to happen vnto others which should in like sort haue happened vnto vs if through his mercifull goodnesse we had not beene therefrom preserued and herewith let vs also call vnto mind our health our wealth and all other Gods good gifts which he hath lent vnto vs and render vnto him most humble thanks therefore Also let vs thinke how he hath made vs of no vile sort nor condition but euen vnto his owne likenesse indued with the most pretious gifts of reason vnderstanding memorie and will which noble gifts he hath giuen vs to the intent we should with these honour him accordinglie which if we doo not but doo abuse the same to worldlie vaine and fantasticall delights we may then assure our selues not onelie to make a straight account thereof but also to be most greeuouslie punished therefore Moreouer let vs call to mind how mercifull and like a most louing Maister and Sauior Christ the Sonne of God and second person in Trinitie Lord and king ouer all rule and power descended downe from the bosome of his Father and from his heauenlie throne into this miserable world and here tooke vpon him our fraile flesh suffering in the same by the space of three and thirtie yeeres hunger thirst cold watch pouertie euil report hatred disdaine slanders rebukes checks taunts scornes buffets binding beating whipping wrongfull accusation false condemnation yea and at the last most vile spitefull cruell and shamefull death and that innocentlie and giltlesse thereby to deliuer vs from our gilt and the eternall death which all we by the transgression of our first parent Adam had most iustlie deserued And herewith let vs also thinke what reproch shame it is to vs to repine or grudge to suffer the like for his sake sith he being both our Lord and Maister of the singular loue he did beare vnto vs hath suffered all those for our sakes should not we then being but seruants or rather vile slaues in respect of him disdaine or repine at that which he not onelie our Maister but King ouer all kings hath not disdained to suffer Also let vs consider how that by the merits of his most bitter passion and his grace giuen vnto vs in the Sacrament of baptisme he hath forgiuen vs cleerelie clensed vs and vtterlie discharged vs of all our former sinnes Herevpon let vs call to mind how oft since that time we haue offended him by falling againe into deadlie sinne therewith let vs call to remembrance the particularitie of our offences the greeuousnesse of the same how long we haue continued in them without repentance taken for them and then let vs weigh the abundance of his great mercie first how gratiouslie he hath abidden the time of our repentance how readie he hath beene to forgiue vs vpon due repentance taken and perfect confession without dissimulation made thereof vnto him Remember we also how lewdlie how wickedlie and how sinfullie we haue bestowed the short time which God hath here in this world lent vnto vs to fight and warre continuallie against our most mortall aduersaries the world the flesh and the diuell which trauell without ceassing to worke our euerlasting destruction and to bring vs to euerlasting death and to beereue vs from the life eternall ioies endlesse Thinke we also if God of his great mercie had not gratiouslie spared vs life vntill we had repented that wickednes in what wretched condition and most extreme torments of hell paines had we beene in now and so should haue continued for euer world without end But how deere then should those short pleasures and vaine delights of the flesh haue beene vnto vs Let vs also call to mind the houre of death the vncerteintie of the time thereof and that we knowe not when where or in what maner it shall be but like as we are most certeine we can not escape it so are wee as sure if we happen then to depart this life in deadlie sinne that we shall then not onelie die the bodilie death but also the spirituall death which is eternall death both of bodie and soule Let vs therefore
endeuour our selues so to liue as though euerie houre should be vnto vs the last houre and by that meanes we shall not be vnreadie how suddenlie soeuer death shall steale vpon vs nor yet shall we feare his cōming Furthermore let vs thinke what shall become of our wretched bodies and vile carcases which we haue sought by all meanes to pamper whose ease wee haue so much procured which we haue so delicatelie nourished which we haue so finelie araied whose vaine pleasures we haue so much followed doubtlesse it shall then become an abhominable stinking carion from which those which be now our most deerest friends shall be forced to turne awaie their heads stopping of their noses for the verie noisomnesse of the corrupt sauour and euill stinch thereof Let vs also consider what shall then auaile vs for our possessions and riches which we haue sought for so busilie and so greedilie to heape togither We must then leaue behind vs and of them shall carie awaie nothing with vs sauing a heauie burden of conscience of such part of them which we doo vnlawfullie possesse wrongfullie withhold or else haue euill gotten Let vs then weigh what shall become of our soule when it shall leaue the bodie to rot in the earth and it selfe shall be called into iudgement before the high Iudge where it shall be forced to make a streight account of all works words and thoughts Where it shall be able to conceale nothing but the verie secrets of all our dooings shall then be made open and that which here we be ashamed to confesse shall then be manifest and the booke shall be opened in which all our deeds and thoughts shall be rehearsed before the whole companie of heauen and then shall be said to euerie one of vs Behold this man and his works then shall our conscience accuse vs all our euill deeds as witnesses shall come in against vs. The diuell shall be there readie to drawe vs with him into eternall perdition and with the terriblenesse of his countenance shall put vs in horrible feare Then shall we tremble and quake and desire to haue respite for the amendement of our former wicked life and to repent vs of our sinfull liuing but then in no wise it may bee granted vs for asmuch as then mercie must giue place to iustice Let vs now therefore while God doth lend vs time repent in time which if we doo vnfeinedlie then may we assure our selues to receiue mercie and forgiuenesse of God for asmuch as he willeth not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert and liue Then let vs also weigh with our selues what a noble thing our soule is how greeuous hir wounds were for the curing of the which our Sauiour Christ was of necessitie wounded Yea if those had not beene vnto death and that death eternall the sonne of God should neuer haue suffered Shall we then lightlie esteeme of the losse of the soule vnto whom we may perceiue so much compassion to be shewed of so great a Maiestie Then sith he hath shed his teares for vs let vs likewise nightlie wash our beds with cōpunction of hart and continuall teares for verie heauinesse that wee haue so greeuouslie offended so louing a Maister And sith he hath shed his pretious bloud for vs shed we ours also in a sort that is to saie with dailie affliction and mortifieng of our bodies And let vs not haue regard what the flesh desireth but what is most conuenient for our soules health For then shall our soules be glorious when they shall returne to our Lord God by true repentance and penitence Let vs then call to remembrance the louers of this world that were here among vs not long agone what is now become of them and that nothing remaineth of them but dust and woormes They haue beene men as we are they solicited and vsed all kind of mirth they banketed they were gorgiouslie apparelled they were verie pleasant and led their daies in all worldlie delights but suddenlie and as it were in the midst of their iolitie death arested them caried them downe into hell Here the flesh of them is appointed to feede the woormes and there their soules be euermore tormented in the vnquenchable flame of hell fire where now they find no profit of all those fleshlie pleasures worldlie reioicings and euill concupiscence And for so short and vaine pleasures what continuall torment and miserie doo they now endure where they neuer see light neuer receiue ease of their paine nor comfort of their heauinesse where the fire continuallie burneth them and yet neuer consumeth them nor by his long burning leeseth anie part of his heate Where the woorms doo gnawe their conscience where the diuels which are their tormentors waxe neuer wearie in tormenting of them or take anie pitie on them nor will be intreated to mitigate anie part of their torment Where nothing shall be heard but weeping lamentation groning and wofull criengs Where they shall sauour and smell nothing but horrible stinch and corrupt aire Where they shall see nothing but the monstrous shape of the horible tormentors the diuels Wherefore let vs now aduise our selues whether in folowing of the vaine worldlie pleasures we will giue our soules in like sort to be eternallie tormented or else in refusing them for the little times of paines we shall here suffer to reioice with Christ and to be blessed Saints in heauen for euer For whilest we are here in this world God dooth set before vs both fire and water that is to saie saluation and damnation that vnto which we will we may stretch our hands Let vs lastlie consider what comfort it is and shall be to all saued soules to see God and the brightnesse of his face to liue with God to possesse God which is high and perfect goodnesse and where the perfect goodnesse is there is the highest and most perfect felicitie there is the chiefe and perfect charitie eternall suretie and sure eternitie true gladnesse full knowledge all beautie all blisse In this sort shall the man be blessed with God in whose conscience shall be found no sinne he shall see God after his owne desire he shall possesse to pleasure and enioie to gladnesse he shall flourish in eternitie he shall shine in veritie he shall ioie in righteousnesse and as he shall haue eternitie of continuance so he shall haue facilitie of knowledge and felicitie of rest He shall be delighted in God whose countenance is amiable whose face is beautifull whose speech is pleasant He is delectable to behold sweet to possesse pleasant to enioie In him vnderstanding is made cleere affection is purified that we may loue and knowe him as he is so that then wee shall not need to seeke anie thing besides him For the whole is found in him so much as is to be desired or may possiblie reioice or delight vs. Let vs to conclude finallie thinke what madnesse doth then possesse vs so
of the hils of the world they shall all be blessings vpon the head of Elizabeth and on the top of the head of hir that is separate from hir birth and consecrated from the wombe to dignitie and honour far aboue hir felowe virgins and made the annointed of the Lord to beare rule and to haue dominion ouer men Euen as the morning light when the sunne riseth gloriouslie without clouds in the faire morning so she being iust and ruling in the feare of God let hir house growe and be with thee O God that it may continue perfect in all points sure and euerlasting according to thy couenant and promise made to hir father Dauid and not as the grasse of the earth is by the bright raine which groweth quicklie and fadeth sooner Hir beautie and glorie let it be like the first borne bullocke and hir strength as the Unicorne with the horne of hir power let hir smite the people togither euen the ten thousands of Ephraim and the ten thousands of Manasses Blesse hir in hir going out and comming in and prosper hir at home and abroad in all hir affaires by land and by sea Make hir glad ioifull and willing to call thy people vnto the holie hill of Zion and there in thy Church to offer with them togither the offerings of righteousnesse that she and they may sucke of the abundance of the sea and of the treasures hid in the earth Blesse hir O Lord that she may dwell as a Lion that catcheth for a praie the arme with the head and be most victorious ouer hir enimies that hate hir and despise thee Blesse hir with thy graces that she may looke well to hir selfe as in the beginning when she was a portion of thee the lawe-giuer hid and reserued for vs thy people that she may now come with the heads of the people and execute the righteousnesse of the Lord and his iudgements with Israel A lions whelpe let hir be to leape from Basan and make hir strong inough to defend hir selfe from Balaks curse and against all the treasons of Zimri and Achitophel O satisfie hir with thy fauour and fill hir with thy blessings let hir possesse both the east west south and north parts of the earth Blesse hir with people and make hir acceptable vnto hir brethren and sisters and to dip hir feet in oile Hir shoes let them be iron and brasse and hir glorie health wealth and strength continue as long as the sunne Who is like thee O God of Israel which though thou sit vpon the heauens and ridest vpon them as vpon an horse yet art thou hir helper Sauiour whose glorie is in the clouds and celestiall places The eternall God be still hir refuge and vnder the armes of the euerlasting God let hir liue for euer hee shall cast out the enimie before hir face and shall command hir to destroie them That then Israel as euen now at this present may still dwell alone in safetie and the fountaine of Iacob be plentifull in issue in the land of wheate and wine and the heauens drop the dew of thy blessing plentifullie vpon hir and hir countrie Happie and blessed art thou O Israel that hast such a Queene Who is like vnto thee O people saued by the Lord which is the shield of thy helpe and sword of thy glorie Therefore thine enimies haue lost their strength to thee ward be subiected to thee and thou shalt tread vpon their high places Blesse hir still O Lord and giue power vnto thy Queene that she may be strong to keepe the feet of thy Saints within the wals of thy Church and to cause the wicked for euer to keepe silence in darknes Amen Amen A praier to be said mentallie or alowd of all true harted English men and women for the Queenes Maiestie when she rideth by them at anie time GOd saue your roiall Maiestie The GOD of gods preserue your noble Grace Good lucke haue you with your honor O you the fairest among women Ride on O Queene according to the great worship and high renowme wherewith the King of kings hath innobled you bicause of the word of truth of meekenesse and righteousnesse which you professe so shall your right hand teach you terrible things The Lord himselfe be your keeper and preserue you from all euill The Lord of heauen and earth be your defence on your right hand and on the left The Lord preserue your going out and your comming in from this time foorth for euermore so that the sunne shall not burne you by daie neither the moone by night The King of kings haue pleasure in your beautie and make you his daughter his spouse and virgin most glorious within The most mightie Iehoua establish you in his seate of iudgement euen in the throne of your father Dauid that you may become an old mother in Israel Peace prosperitie be vnto them that loue your honour but horror of conscience and confusion of face be vnto all those that hate you for your indurable gifts of Gods graces all people doo highlie praise you and for your zeale to Zion all the world doth honour you therefore for Zions sake also we wish you all maner of prosperitie yea bicause of the house of the Lord which you haue reformed and his religion which your Grace hath restored we will continuallie triumph in his mercie and praie still for the renowme of your most roiall name and Maiestie that your fame may more more be vniuersallie spred ouer the earth and be remembred from one generation to another For the Gospels sake I say which your Maiestie doth maintaine we will vncessantly praise God for you and with lowd voices crie and say God saue our most gratious Queene Elizabeth Iesu blesse your Highnesse The holie Ghost from heauen comfort conduct your Maiestie in all your wais Blesse our souereigne Ladie O blessed Trinitie Heape glorie and honour vpon Elizabeth our Queene O glorious Deitie Blesse hir sacred Maiestie I saie O God frō this time foorth for euermore O King of heauen receiue our Queene receiue and imbrace this thy most glorious virgin and deere daughter accompanied with hir felowe virgins the princes daughters and honourable women into thy tuition and protection With ioie and gladnesse I saie let hir the liuelie image of thy princelie Maiestie be brought safe and vnhurt home againe vnto hir iuorie palaces and at the last enter into the Kings court hir fathers house where she may enioie a perpetuall crowne and euerlasting kingdome and reioice in thee hir God hir spouse and hir Sauiour for euer and euer so shall she and we hir people giue thanks vnto thee O Lord world without end Amen A compendious forme of praier for the whole estate of Christes Church necessarie to be vsed of all estates at time conuenient especiallie euerie Sabboth or Holidaie in the Euening by the Mother and Daughter and their familie A Psalme preparing the hart to
and properlie vpon all the holie Feasts and Saints daies throughout the yeere as they fall in order and are commonlie kept here in the Church of England and Ireland And first vpon the principall Feast daies of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ that is to saie On Aduent Sundaie In memorial of Christ his First comming in the flesh Christmas daie In memorial of Christ his Natiuitie and birth On New yéeres daie In memorial of Christ his Circumcision On Twelfe daie In memorial of Christ his Apparition On Ashwensday the 1. day of Lent In memorial of Christ his Fasting On First Sundaie in Lent In memorial of Christ his Temptation On Maundie Thursdaie In memorial of Christ his Last Supper On Good Fridaie In memorial of Christ his Passion On Easter daie In memorial of Christ his Resurrection On Ascension daie In memorial of Christ his Ascension On Whitsundaie In memorial of Christ his Sending of the holie Ghost On Trinitie Sundaie In memorial of Christ his The blessed Trinitie On Euerie Sundaie holie-day and working-day In memorial of Christ his Last comming to iudgment 1. On Aduent Sundaie Of the comming of Christ in the flesh The Preface BE of good cheere and feare not O you that are of a fearfull hart for behold your God commeth his owne selfe to take vengeance on his enimies and will deliuer you Hosanna to the sonne of Dauid O daughter Zion be glad O daughter Ierusalem reioice For lo the King commeth vnto thee euen the righteous thy Sauiour lowlie meeke and simple riding vpon the fole of an asse and bringing his recompense with him Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. Out of Zion hath God appeared in perfect beautie Hosanna in the highest Remember me O Lord according to thy fauor that thou bearest vnto thy people O visit me with thy saluation Hosanna Shew me thy waies O Lord and teach mee thy path Hosanna in the highest Hosanna The praier THE time is now at hand when the Church calleth into mind the benefits of the sonne of GOD which taking vpon him our fraile nature appeared to the world and came to visit vs in great humilitie And at the last daie and resurrection of all mankind will come againe in his glorious Maiestie to iudge both the quicke and the dead and shew himselfe both to punish his enimies with euerlasting paines and to adorne his Church and chosen people with eternall glorie Wherefore O Sonne of God Lord and Sauiour Christ which as this daie in roiall pompe didst enter into the holie citie Ierusalem for a publike testimonie of thine appearing remooue all impediments we praie thee that may hinder thy comming and make a plaine and most easie waie for thy selfe vnto vs. Gather vs we beseech thee into that companie which are prepared to receiue thee the King of all kings and which set foorth thy glorie in spirituall songs not onelie this daie through all the world but also continuallie and beare palmes of victorie before thee and spred their garments in the waie for ioie of thy comming Assist vs that being greatlie separated from the damned crue of diuels and wicked persons wee may sound and set foorth thy truth in perfect confession and righteousnesse all the daies and time of our life Bee thou our King both here in this world and hereafter in the world to come replenishing vs against all the wicked enterprises of thine enimies and making vs though babes and littleones to extoll and magnifie thy name for euer Keepe vs thy weake children depending vpon thee and running vnto thy lap euen as infants vnto their parents Make vs to followe thy words which through thy spirit doo sound within vs and powre thy wisedome into vs miserable men and women that the pride and power of thine enimies may be confounded Grant that with gratefull minds we may publish abroad thy glorious victorie according to our calling and abilitie cherish thy ministers and venter both our life liuing for the maintenance of thy truth Moreouer blesse vs O thou blessed seed of Abraham by the vertue of thy presence number vs among thy chosen which haue their names from thee And finallie giue vs grace now in the time of this mortall life so to cast awaie from vs the works of darknes and to put vpon vs the armour of light that in the last daie of thy second comming in the clouds we may rise through thee to life immortall and so being adorned with that glorie which thou hast receiued from thine eternall Father we may perpetuallie praise and extoll thy Maiestie both heere in this world and for euermore in the world of worlds to come Amen Hosanna to thee O sonne of God in the highest Hosanna 2. On Christmas daie Of the natiuitie and birth of Christ our Sauiour The Preface A Child is borne vnto vs and a sonne is giuen vnto vs. Glorie be to God on high Unto vs is borne this daie in the citie of Dauid a Sauiour which is Christ the Lord. Halleluiah The Lord sent a word vnto Iacob the same is come into Israel an euerlasting Prince of peace Halleluiah Mercie and truth are met togither righteousnesse and peace haue kissed each other truth shall flourish out of the earth and righteousnesse hath looked downe from heauen vpon vs to speake peace vnto his people and gladnesse to his Saints Halleluiah Of the fruit of thy bodie will I set vpon thy throne and in Zion shall I make the horne of Dauid to flourish Halleluiah The Sunne commeth foorth of his tabernacle the heauens as a bridegroome out of his chamber and reioiceth as a Giant to run his course Halleluiah He shall giue his Angels charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy waies they shall beare thee in their hands that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone Halleluiah For thou art fairer than the children of men full of grace are thy lips bicause God hath blessed thee for euer yea God euen thine owne God hath annointed thee with the oile of gladnesse aboue thy fellowes Halleluiah Therefore in this daie of thy power shall the people offer the free-will offerings with an holie worship bicause the dew of thy birth is of the wombe of the morning Halleluiah Glorie be vnto God on high in earth peace and good will towards men Halleluiah Halleluiah Halleluiah The Praier NOW is the ioifull time wherein all Saincts both in heauen and earth doo magnifie and praise almightie God for the incarnation of his onlie begotten Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ who as this daie was borne of the pure Uirgin Marie the which also the holie Angels of the Lord did celebrate with a most heauenlie song And no doubt the blessed companie of the elect departed out of this world enioieng the comfortable sight of God replenished with eternall wisedome light and righteousnesse yeeld most humble thanks vnto the Sonne of God their Sauiour and Redeemer for his incomprehensible goodnesse declared vnto mankind
and to doo awaie mine offences For I knowe O Lord that all grace and goodnesse commeth of thee and therefore art thou praised loued and feared in the congregation among the Saincts For thou art onlie he that giuest victorie O Lord of hosts and that as thou saiest by thy Prophet neither through an host of men nor through strength but through thy spirit Therefore I beseech thee giue me not onlie strength and knowledge of thee but also a readie earnest purpose and will to subdue mine imperfections and grace at all times to liue as thou in thy holie word hast prescribed vnto me Moreouer I beseech thee make me perfect in thy sight that I may render continuall thanks by Iesus Christ to thee And where I haue not hitherto indeuored my selfe according to that power which thou hast giuen me to liue after thy will I praie thee forgiue me for Iesus sake And now I protest before thee through the helpe of the spirit to order my life from hence foorth according to thy word and to walke perfectlie before thee neuerthelesse I beseech thee for Christes sake at all times to beare the imperfections that shall or may at anie time be found in me and deliuer me by thy power and mercie Increase my faith O my sauiour increase my faith O my iustifier increase my faith O my redeemer increase faith hope and charitie and all other vertues in me consonant and agreeable to a godlie life For I come vnto thee the well and euerlasting fountaine of all health and saluation O my heauenlie Father let me and all other men and women liue in thy sight which seeke thy word to the intent to forsake sinne and all vngodlie liuing and to walke in a godlie conuersation innocentlie before thee And I thanke thee O Lord with all my hart and mind that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercie and goodnesse to create and forme me of the mould of the earth and giuen me all my members requisite and needfull to the bodie and that it hath pleased thee to preserue all that which thou hast created in me sith the time of the creation vntill now and that it hath pleased thee to defend me this daie or night and all the daies and time of my life hitherto from all hurt and perils and deliuered me from the hour of temptation and tribulation as well when I was asleepe and forgetfull as when I remembred and called vpon thee And that it hath pleased thee to minister to my necessitie meate drinke and cloathing inward reioicing quietnesse of mind health of bodie and such like and that it hath pleased thee to giue me this man and my brother in profession T. B. to be my husband vaile remedie consolation and comfort in my necessities Grant me grace in him O Lord trulie to honor loue serue and obeie thee for I knowe whatsoeuer I doo to him be it good or euill it shall be rewarded of thee Lighten vs dailie with thy grace that we may gouerne our selues the houshold and children which thou hast giuen vs in the true faith feare and knowledge of thee so that it may be an acceptable sacrifice vnto thee by Iesus Christ our Lord. And seeing it hath pleased thee O Father to lighten the inward eies of my mind with thy grace and to call me from the great blindnesse of ignorance and sinne wherein all men are borne to the knowledge of thee let it now more as S. Paule saith please thee to preserue me and all other whome thou hast called which are dailie oppressed by sinne which desire to turne and to come vnto thee of what tongue or nation soeuer they be through the whole world And seeing it hath pleased thee to call me by grace to the knowledge of thy word giuen me a will to seeke it to loue and beleeue it let it be thy will to direct my waies that I erre not Oh staie my feet with thy holie hand and preserue me with thine arme for I am else farre too weake without thee I can doo nothing Oh let me liue in thy sight O Lord and put me not from thee but giue me a new hart and a new spirit yea a pure mind and a cleane conscience make thou in me then shall I be perfect before thee Then shall I call vpon thee in time of my trouble and offer acceptable sacrifice vnto thee by Iesus Christ euen the fruit of these lips which confesse thy name and patientlie receiue the cup of health at thy hand and call vpon thy name in time of aduersitie Oh heare my praier I beseech thee let my power and pleasure alwaie be in the tree of life and in the fruit thereof which standeth in the midst of the Paradise of God O accept this voluntarie sacrifice at my hand as the sweet smell of incense and let the lifting vp of my hart with my hands be an euening sacrifice pleasant and acceptable vnto thee through Iesus Christ our Lord to whome be euerlasting praise honor and glorie now and euer Amen Another Christian praier for grace and remission to be dailie vsed O Most mightie God mercifull and louing Father I wretched sinner come vnto thee in the name of thy deerelie beloued sonne Iesus Christ my onlie sauiour and redeemer and most humblie beseech thee for his sake to be mercifull vnto me and to cast all my sinnes out of thy sight and remembrance through the merits of his bloudie death and passion Powre vpon me O Lord thy holie spirit of wisedome and grace Gouerne and leade me by thy holie word that it may be a lampe vnto my feet a light vnto my steps Shew thy mercie vpon me so lighten the naturall blindnesse and darknesse of my hart through thy grace that I may dailie be renewed by the same spirit grace by the which O Lord purge the grosenesse of my hearing vnderstanding that I may profitablie reade heare vnderstand thy word heauenlie will beleeue and practise the same in my life conuersation euermore hold fast y t blessed hope of euerlasting life Mortifie and kill all vice in me that my life may expresse my faith in thee Mercifullie heare the humble suite of thy seruant and grant me thy peace all my daies Gratiouslie pardon mine infirmities and defend me in all dangers of bodie goods and name but most chieflie my soule against all assaults temptations accusations subtill baites and sleights of that old enimie of mankind Sathan that roring Lion euer seeking whome he may deuoure And heere O Lord I prostrate with most humble mind craue of thy diuine Maiestie to be mercifull vnto the vniuersall Church of thy Sonne Christ And especiallie according to my bounden dutie I beseech thee for his sake to blesse saue defend the principall member thereof thy seruant our most deere and souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth increase in hir roiall heart true faith godlie zeale and loue of the same and grant her
seate And as I willinglie now put off my garments which in the morning I shall put on again so let me not vnwillinglie put off this my bodie whensoeuer by death it shall please thee O God to call me especiallie for that I knowe that after the night of this world is expired I shall receiue it on againe in much better light to immortalitie So be it Put off the old man with his lusts and concupiscences and be content with Ioseph to put off your prison apparell that you may put on new I haue put off my cloaths how shall I put them on O Lord I will confesse my wickednesse and that of my selfe I haue nothing Cant. 5 3. VVhen you wash your feete praie thus to your selfe O Most meeke and louing Iesu the perfect paterne of all humilitie who being Lord of heauen and earth didst not disdaine to wash thy Disciples feet and wipe them cleane with the towell wherewith thou wast girt and that for our example to teach vs to loue and serue one another in thee haue mercie on me a miserable sinner which from top to toe both within and without am altogither polluted and defiled with sinne in thy sight And with Peter I humblie beseech thee vouchsafe now to wash me in the sweet bath of thy pretious bloud from all the filth and pollusions of my sinnes that I may be whiter than snowe Wash thou I saie not my feet onelie O Lord but my hands and head yea my verie hart soule and conscience also For if thou wash me not I shall haue no part with thee but if thou wash me I shall be cleane euerie whit in all parts yea cleaner than the glasse O wash mee therfore cleane from mine vncleannesse and doo awaie all my sinnes negligences and ignorances yea so purge and scowre all mine affections by thy grace and mercie that with both my feete that is to saie with perfect loue to thee and true charitie to my neighbor I may walke in the paths of thy peace by the direction of thy spirit and at the last come pure and cleane vnto thee my purifier to the confusion and shame of mine enimies which in the daie of my death shall most busilie watch to trip and ouerthrowe me so shall I blesse and praise thee with thine elect and holie Saints in euerlasting happinesse Amen I haue washed my feete how shall I file them againe Cant. 5 3. Another O Most mercifull Iesu which gentlie sufferedst that sinfull woman Marie Magdalen to approch vnto thy presence and to wash thy blessed feet with hir teares to wipe them with hir heare and to kisse and annoint them with costlie oile and diddest greatlie commend this hir fact to all posteritie haue mercie on me a more sinfull woman in thy sight and grant me grace likewise continuallie to wash thy feete with the teares of true contrition to wipe them with the heare of mine obedience to kisse them with the kisses of feruent loue of thee and thy Saints and to annoint them with the sweet oile of deuout praiers confessions and thanks-giuing that I may obtaine by thy mercie forgiuenesse of all my manifold sinnes and feele my selfe much bound vnto thee for my saluation Finallie let me thine handmaid be a seruant I praie thee to wash the feet of the seruants of my Lord make me I saie of the number of those holie matrons that willinglie wash the feet of thy Saints that minister vnto them that are in aduersitie that are continuallie giuen to euery good worke and be well reported of for their vertues through Iesu Christ our Lord Amen Wash you make you cleane take awaie the euill of your works from before mine eies cease to doo euill and learne to doo well Esai 1 16. VVhen you enter into your bed praie I Enter into my bed and laie mee downe to rest in the name of the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost The Lord Iesu Christ which was crucified dead and buried for me blesse preserue and keepe me both bodie and soule and raise me with him at the last daie by the power of his glorious resurrection to life euerlasting Amen And grant O God I beseech thee that as I am not afraid now to enter into my bed and to dispose my selfe to sleepe so I may not be afraid or loth to die but rather cheerfullie prepare my selfe thervnto and euermore desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ my Sauiour Amen Being new laid in your bed saie this Psalme O Lord thou hast searched me out knowne me thou knowest my downe lieng and mine vprising thou vnderstandest all my thoughts long before Thou art about my path and about my bed and spiest out all my waies For lo there is not a word in my tongue but thou O Lord knowest it altogither Thou hast fashioned me behind and before and laid thine hand vpon me Such knowledge is too woonderfull and excellent for me I can not attaine vnto it Whither then shall I go from thy spirit Or whither shall I go from thy presence If I clime vp into heauen thou art there if I godowne to hell thou art there also if I take the wings of the morning and remaine in the vttermost parts of the sea euen there also shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me If I saie Peraduenture the darkenes shall couer me then shall my night be turned to daie yea the darknesse is no darkenesse with thee but the night is as cleere as the daie the darkenesse and light to thee are both alike For my reines are thine thou hast couered me in my mothers wombe I will giue thanks vnto thee for I am fearefullie and woonderfullie made Maruellous are thy works and that my soule knoweth right well My bones are not hid from thee though I be made secretlie and fashioned beneath in the earth Thine eies did see my substance yet being vnperfect and in thy booke are all my members written which daie by daie were fashioned when as yet there was none of them How deere are thy counselles vnto me O God O how great is the summe of them If I tell them they are more in number than the sand when I wake vp I am present with thee Trie me O God and seeke the ground of my hart prooue me and examine my thoughts looke well if there be anie waie of wickednesse in me and leade me in the waie euerlasting Let me neuer imagine mischiefe vpon my bed as doo the vngodlie that set themselues in no good waie and can not sleepe before they haue done some harme but make me to abhorre the thing that is euill and to commune with mine owne hart and in my chamber to be still that with the Saincts I may be ioifull with glorie and reioice on my bed with them that praise thee daie and night Finallie grant that I may behold thy presence in righteousnesse and when I awake vp after thy likenesse bring
Lord God heauenlie King God the Father almightie O Lord the onlie begotten Sonne Iesu Christ O Lord God Lambe of God Sonne of the Father that takest awaie the sinnes of the world haue merrie vpon vs. Thou that takest awaie the sinnes of the world haue mercie vpon vs. Thou that takest awaie the sinnes of the world receiue our praiers Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father haue mercie vpon vs. For thou onlie art holie thou onlie art the Lord thou onlie O Christ with the holie Ghost art most high in the glorie of God the Father to whome be all kingdome power honor and glorie world without end Amen 13. On euerie Sundaie holidaie or weekedaie Of Christ his second and last comming to iudgement The Preface THE kingdome of heauen is neere at hand euen at the doores Take heed watch and praie The sonne of man shall come as a theefe in the night suddenlie and vnwares at an houre that ye knowe not Take heed watch and praie Euen Iesus which was taken vp from vs into heauen shall so come againe to gather vs vnto him as he was seene to haue gone into heauen Come Lord Iesu Behold he commeth with clowdes and euerie eie shall see him yea euen they which pierced him through and all kindreds of the earth shall vaile before him Come Lord Iesu Our God shall come and shall not keepe silence there shall go before him a consuming fire and burne vp his enimies on euerie side the hilles shall melt like waxe at the presence of the Lord a mightie tempest shall be stirred vp round about him Come Lord Iesu He commeth he commeth to iudge the earth and with righteousnesse to iudge the world and the people with equitie and truth Come Lord Iesu Therefore yet a verie little while O my soule take heed watch praie and he that shall come will come and will not tarrie Come Lord Iesu Surelie I come shortlie saith Christ and my reward is with me to giue to euerie one according as his works shall be either good or bad For I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end the first and the last Blessed are they that watch and keepe my commandements vnto the end Come Lord Iesu Euen so saith the spirit and the bride Come Lord Iesu come quicklie Amen Amen Halleluiah The praier to haue Christs sudden comming euen in our remembrance and that we may be in a readinesse against his most glorious appearing The Preface Vt supra Iesus The Praier BEholding O heauenlie Father the daie of accompts ouer all flesh to be euen now at hand namelie the last daie the daie of iudgement the great and notable daie of the Lord wherein the whole generation of mankind from the beginning of the world shall rise againe shall appeare both in bodie and soule before the presence of the most iust iudge thine eternall Sonne and our righteous God to receiue their owne doome for weale or wo for life or death for ioie or paine and that eternallie with the saincts in heauen or for euer with the diuels in hell we beseech thee most humblie O gratious God to haue mercie vpon all thine inheritance dispersed in these our euill and dangerous daies in the midst of this wicked most sinfull and vntoward generation vpon the face of the earth amongst whome we are most miserablie entangled contemned cruellie dealt withall and stirred to all abhominations O heauenlie Father we acknowledge before thee in our selues the greatnesse of our owne frailtie our corrupted lust to lewdnesse the fulnesse in our selues of our owne iniquitie and our accustomed inclination at all times to wickednesse O Father of mercies tender vs in our weakenes haue compassion vpon our infirmities pardon our sinfulnesse and grant vnto vs thine holie spirit to worke speedie mortification in vs to keepe lowe the pride of our flesh to humble our soules in thy sight to strengthen vs in righteousnesse to feare alwaies thy iudgements to thinke vpon thy wrathfull indignation and vpon the houre of the vengeance to come when thou for our wickednesse shalt turne awaie thy face from vs. Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord haue mercie vpon vs for Christ Iesus thy Sonne sake and so prepare all our harts soules and bodies to the necessitie of the time that we may haue therein good regard to our selues that our harts be not ouercharged with excesse of eating surfeting and dronkennesse or otherwise vexed with the cares of this wretched world to hinder vs and to drawe vs backe from our carefull attendance or diligent waiting for the Lords sudden comming to iudgement but that we may continuallie attend wait watch and praie for the speedie appeerance of his glorious Maiestie that when he shall at the rising againe of all flesh by the sound of the last trumpet come to iudge both the quicke and the dead we may be then in a readinesse to meet him aboue in the heauens and there to stand before his presence to behold the glorie of his most gratious countenance to see how in mercie he shall separate vs from the wicked as sheepe from the goates to set vs also on his right hand to giue the sentence of blessing vpon vs and to commend vs vnto the kingdome of thee his heauenlie Father which he himselfe hath prepared and so pretiouslie purchased with the price of his own bloud there with him with thee O Father and with the holie Ghost to liue in euerlasting ioie and felicitie Grant this O heauenlie Father euen for the onelie merits sake of that thy deere Sonne and our Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen Another meditation of the signes which shall appeare before the end of the world IT is thy saieng O Sonne of God that in the last and doting age of the world both greater and more greeuous miseries and confusions among men should bee than euer were and also for all that that thou which art the defender of thy Church in the midst of such calamities and crueltie of thine enimies wilt preserue some remnant of the faithfull that thy seruice be not vtterlie extinguished before the end of this world Wherefore being oppressed through the intollerable burden of miseries heaped therefore vpon vs bicause the sins of this withering world are most greeuous and lamentable but especiallie for that Sathan thine enimie seeth the daie of iudgement to be verie nigh at hand wherein his abhomination shall openlie be laid before all thy chosen creatures and he be cast hedlong into eternall torments which makes him extreamelie to rage against thy chosen flocke and to seeke by all meanes that possiblie he can to withdrawe vs from thee and to make vs blaspheme thy sacred Maiestie Wee as it standeth vs vpon flie vnto thee with all humblenesse of mind in these our extremities The whole frame of this world groaneth also with thine elect and earnestlie desireth to be renewed Therefore according to thy gratious admonition we call into mind the signes
which shall come before the finall destruction of this world and thanke thee for thy goodnesse in foretelling vs of them We lift vp our heads vnto thee which art aloft on the right hand of the eternall Father and in faith and praier looke for that ioifull daie when thou wilt appeare most gloriouslie in the clouds for the deliuerance of thy people out of these calamities Gouerne vs by thy word and spirit O most mightie protector that wee may bee watchfull and shun the cares of this transitorie world which withdrawe the mind from the exercise of godlinesse and choke all vertuous motions raised by thine holie spirit and flie from wantonnesse bellie-cheere and vnlawfull pleasures which both cause thy spirit to forsake our minds and make our bodies the receptacles of vnpure spirits whereby we are caried being secure vnto abhominable wickednes and from thence vnto euerlasting destruction Finallie purge thou our harts by thy spirit and let thy knowledge appeare in vs which may both expell our grosse darknesse and inflame in vs godlie motions that all the daies of our life we may continue in the true and sincere confession of thy name And for so much as thou hast promised to defend vs and to mitigate our paines grant that wee may both escape euils to come and stand ioifullie before thee at thy returne Amen Another ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie Father as in the destruction of Ierusalem thou hast left a fearefull example of thy horible iudgements against the contempt of the Gospell and the wickednesse of men threatenest such plagues to come for like wickednesse vpon the world as shall cause men to die for feare of them before they come grant vs so to read thy truth and to be obedient vnto it that when the signes of these things shall come which shall astonish the wicked wee may hold vp our heads with comfort waiting for our redemption so neere at hand watch with continuall praier that we may escape all these things which shall come vpon the world in that daie and that wee may stand before thy Sonne when he shall come to iudgement and be receiued of him to euerlasting glorie to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour glorie and praise for euer and euer Amen A godlie meditation of the comming of Christ to iudgement and of the reward both of the faithfull and vnfaithfull O Lord Iesu Christ the Sonne of the euerliuing God by whom althings were made are ruled and gouerned as of thy loue for our redemption thou diddest not disdaine to bee our mediator and to take vpon thee our nature in the wombe of a virgin purelie and without sinne by the operation of the holie Ghost that both thou mightest in thine owne person woonderfullie beautifie and exalt our nature and worke the same in vs also first abolishing the guiltinesse of sinne by remission then sinne it selfe by death and last of all death by raising againe these our bodies that they may be like vnto thine owne glorious and immortall bodie according to the power wherewith thou art able to subiect all things vnto thee As I saie of thy loue for our redemption thou becamest man and that most poore and afflicted vpon earth by the space of three thirtie yeeres at the least in most humilitie and paiedst the price of our ransome by thy most bitter death and passion for the which I most hartilie giue thanks to thee so of the same thy loue towards vs in thy good time thou wilt come againe in the clouds of heauen with power and great glorie with flaming fire with thousands of Saints with Angels of thy power with a mightie crie showt of an Archangell and blast of a trumpet suddenlie as a lightening which shineth from the east c. When we thinke least euen as a theefe in the night when men be a sleepe thou wilt so come I saie thus suddenlie in the twinkeling of an eie all men that euer haue beene be and shall be with women and children appearing before thy Tribunall iudgment seate to render an account of all things which they haue thought spoken and done against thy lawe openlie and before all Angels Saints and diuels and so to receiue the iust reward of thy vengeance if they haue not repented and obeied thy Gospell and so depart from thee to the diuell and his angels and all the wicked which euer haue beene be or shall be into hell fire which is vnquenchable and of paines intollerable endlesse hopelesse euen from the face of thy glorious Maiestie and mightie power But if they haue repented and beleeued thy Gospell if they be found watching like wise virgins with their lamps and oile in their hands if they be found readie apparelled with the wedding garment of innocencie if they haue not hardened their harts and hourded vp the treasure of thy vengeauce in the daie of wrath to be reuealed but haue vsed the time of grace the acceptable time the time of saluation that is the time of this life in the which thou stretchest out thy hand and spreadest thine armes calling and crieng vnto vs to come vnto thee which art meeke in hart and lowlie For thou wilt ease all that labour and are heauie laden If they haue visited the sicke and prisoners comforted the comfortlesse fed the hungrie cloathed the naked lodged the harbourlesse if they haue not loden their harts with gluttonie and surfetting and carefulnesse of this life if they haue not digged and hid their talent in the ground dooing no good therewith but haue been faithfull to occupie thy gifts to thy glorie and haue washed their garments in thy bloud by hartie repentance then shall the Angels gather them togither not as the wicked which shall be collected as fagots and cast into the fire but as the good wheate that is gathered into thy barne Then shall they be caught vp to meete thee in the clouds then shall their corruptible bodie put on incorruption then shall they be indued with immortalitie and glorie then shall they be with thee and go whither thou goest then shall they heare these ioifull words Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning c. Then shall they be set on seates of Maiestie iudging the whole world then shall they reigne with thee for euer then shall God be all in all with them and to them then shall they enter and inherit heauenlie Ierusalem and the glorious restfull land of Chanaan where it is alwaies daie and neuer night where is no maner of weeping teares infirmitie hunger cold sickenesse enuie malice nor sinne but alwaies ioie without sorowe mirth without measure pleasure without paine heauenlie harmonie most pleasant melodie saieng and singing Holie holie holie Lord GOD of hosts c. Finallie the eie hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither hath it entered into the hart of man that they shall then inherit and most surelie