grace especially vnto thee a most vile wretched sinner and chiefe of sinners doe I prostrate my selfe and confesse that my heart is so hardned in euill custome of sinne that when it commeth vpon me by the motion of thy spirit to desire to doe good I finde no meanes in my selfe to doe any thing that is good neither for the vertue it selfe nor as it is thy commandement so that thou mightest most worthily cast mee off as thou didst that vnmercifull seruant into bonds of death and imprisonment of hell for euermore But O Lord it is thy property alwayes to haue mercy Wherefore I beseech thee to bestowe this gift of loue on me that through thy acceptation it may couer in mee the multitude of my sinnes for vnto whom thou forgiuest much much is returned to thee againe wherefore O Lord let this gift of loue bee mighty and strong in me that I may loue thee againe as thou hast loued me and expresse my loue by being ready to forgiue all wrongs and offences of my brother and neighbour and not vnto seauen times but vnto seauenty times seauen O let mee loue thee and my neighbour out of a sincere faith and loue vnfained and at all times as thou hast forgiuen mee my debts offences and trespasses So O Lord make me ioyfull and willing to forgiue as I desire of thee to be forgiuen And seeing it is the end of thy Commandements and the fulfilling of the law O heauenly Father let this gift of loue through the operation of thy spirit bee neuer wanting or absent in this life nor in the life to come O Lord graunt that this marke of Adoption and stampe of Regeneration may encrease in mee not onely to my friends in affinity and consanguinity and acquaintance but vnto all men in generall as my owne flesh and thy image by which bonds thou hast commanded mee to doe good vnto all of all sorts that shall stand in neede of my helpe saying Be you mercifull as your heauenly Father is mercifull who doeth good vnto all in outward things of this world causing his raine to raine and his Sunne to shine vpon the vniust as vpon the iust And in the endeauour of doing this generall good O Lord let mee not forget to doe most good vnto the Saints and dye in loue to all men in thee and for thee and that through the loue of thee and my onely Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and the holy Ghost for euermore Amen Amen LACHRIM 9. The poore and distressed soule being loaden with the burthen of his sinnes â—eruently prayeth vnto God for his remission thereof O Lord come pittie my distresse see how I sigh and groane With teares and floods of heauinesse my heart is ouerthrowne No hope I finde no helpe I feele no cure nor salue I see None can my sinnes corruptions heale sweet Iesus comfort me My wounding sorrowes neuer cease my griefes growe more and more What I should kill doth still encrease Lord saue my soule therefore I liuing dye yet dying liue in life yet daily dye I sigh and groane yet cannot grieue sinne makes this mysterie Lord let me liue yet hourely dye in loue yet daily hate Let me embrace yet still defie let peace breede all debate O let me liue yet neuer liue aliue yet euer dead O let me grieue yet neuer grieue fed with thy liuing bread Let passions passe let groanes be gone let mâ—anes be turn'd to mirth I liue and dye to Christ alone Let sorrowes sinke to earth An exhortation to praise God and to acknowledge our Thanksgiuing to him without ceasing VVE praise thee God we acknowledge thee our onely Lord and Christ to be The earth and world doe worship thee eternall Father heauenly King To whom aloud bright Angels sing the Thrones and powers thee magnifie The Cherubins and Seraphin to crie to thee doe neuer linne Holy holy most holy Lord of Sabbath God of maiestie Heau'ns full of thy glory all Nations laude thy name and word The glorious ' postles companie the goodly Prophets vnitie The holy Martyrs noble Armie the holy Church the world throughout Doth spread the Gospell all about the Father of true pietie Thy sacred true and onely Sonne the holy Ghost vs comfort wonne Thou art of glory King O Christ thou art the euerlasting Sonne Of God whose blessed will was done by thee all people to deliuer Thou didst not the 〈◊〉 the virgins wombe abhorre nor loath that sacred Toâ—…be Till thou wast borne from God sent hether when thou thâ— serpents head hadst broken The Heauens Kingdomes gate set open for true beleeuers to come thither Thou siâ—sâ— on Gods right holy hand thy Fathers will doest vnderstand Whence thou shalt come our Iudge to be we therefore thy poore seruants pray Thy succour helpe and ayde that day whose pretious blood redeem'd vs free Let them with Saints be numbered in endlesse glory comforted Thy people Lord keepe saue and stay blesse saue thine owne inheritage Lift vp their hearts from age to age we magnifie thee day by day We worship thee world without end This day from sinne Lord vs defend Haue mercy mercy on vs Lord. Lord let thy mercy on vs light Our trust is on thee day and night We trust in thee with one accord O Lord I put my trust in thee Let neuer me confounded be All glory to the Trinity to God the Father and the Sonne And holy Ghost all praise be done for euer and euer eternally FINIS Psal. 51. Math. 26 1. Cor. 14. Math. 5. Acts 10. Iona. 3. 1. Thess. 5 Actes 10. Daniel 6.
euen in the lowest degree and breed in me a perfecâ—… hatred of them not in respect of punishment temporall or eternall but in filiall feare and godly affection grant for thy Christ his sake that I may hate and detest them and my selfe in them and for them And to this end Lord open mine eyes that in the hearing and reading of thy word as the linely and most effectuall meanes I may obtaine the assurance of thy loue and fauour and let it be that to mee which it is in it selfe thy strong power and mighty arme to my saluation Let it be vnto mee the sweete sauour of life vnto life and not at any time through my vnworthinesse the sauour of death vnto death Good Lord hereby create in me a cleane heart and renew a right Spirit within mee that I may delight in thy word aboue gold aboue much fine gold yea aboue thousands of gold and siluer let thy word bee a continuall light vnto my patheâ— and a daily lanterne vnto my feet ôlet me not stand at a stay in grace nor in any measure of gift of grace much less decline or goe backe in any grace or gift of grace but grant that I may in the vse of all holy meanes goe on in grace till I come vnto a perfect man in Christ â—esus Lord keepe me this day that I may not like Lots wife looke back again or like the vnthankful Israelites esteeme the homely fare of Egypt of this world of things of this life aboue the heauenly Manna thy word the only true food of life But like Abraham the rich Marchant leaue sell all that this world can affoord to attaine the Kingdome of heauen vnto which thou hast called mee by faith in Christ at this day and for euer Hauing begd these graces I returne vnto thee humble thanks for all thy benefits that I haue receiued not onely before but since my being as for my election before time and for my vocation in time from whence haue followed my iustification and some measure of sanctification in this life and my assured hope of glorification in the life to come For these inestimable blessings which no minde can conceiue nor tongue expresse I returne vnto thee all such possible praise and hearty thankes as my vnderstanding can conceiue beseeching thee that I may this day all the dayes of my life walke worthy of all these thy mercies O Lord I thanke thee for these other inferiour testimonies of thy loue which thou hast made more common with the vniust then with the iust I thanke thee ô Father that thou hast shared mee out so great a portion euen beyond many of thy Saints seruants Lord grant that while thou continuest the trust of them in my hands for they are thy talents and not mine I may soberly vse them to thy glory and to mine owne comfort and the comfort of the Saints O Lord grant I may abound in charitie to all of all sorts that I shall behold to stand in neede of my helpe but especially to the houshold of Faith and grant that I may giue no reliefe in worldly ostentation or vaine glory to bee seene or talked of of men but in an vpright heart good conscience vnto thee And all this I beseech thee to grant for Iesus Christ his sake my onely Lord and Sauiour Last of all I beseech thee as a seeling member of thy holy Church militant howsoeuer or wheresoeuer dispersed scattered or afflicted for all thine that suffer any kinde of sorrow neede sicknesse or any other aduersitie in soule or body by sea or land but especially for all thine that suffer bonds chaines or imprisonments with Ioseph for righteousnesse sake mittigate all their paines and troubles and giue them Faith and patience in all their seueral distresses as may bee most for thine owne glory and their comforts through Christ our Mediator and Redeemer To thee ô Father Sonne and holy Ghost the eternall and most blessed Trinitie bee rendred all praise and glory not onely by all men in generall but by me in speciall with thy holy Church this day and for euermore Amen Amen A particular confession of a sorrowfull sinner MOst mighty and all-knowing Lord â—…true spring of consâ—…ion J doe confesse with heaâ—t and voyce thou art my preseruation I haue offended griâ—uously by my transgâ—…ssions donâ— against thee And haue drawne downe a weight on mee of thy great Iudgements willfully Vnder which burden cannot I but faint and fall in wofull sort Vnlesse thy hand and thy mercy through Iesus Christ doe me support Thou knowest good Father I am weake and cannot beare thy heauy Ire Not knowing what to doe or speake or how to escape my sinfull hire Vnlesse thou point 〈◊〉 oâ—t the way with thy wise Spirit me directing Vnto my foe I am made a pray were not thy power me protecting Not euery one that heares thy word can vnderstand thy wiâ—edome great Nor euery one that cries Lord Lord shall enter in at heauens gate Who is not led by better line then doth proâ—… from fleâ—â— and blood Erres from the trueth and doeth decline from right to wrong to ill from good Whose end is death though for a time seemes sweete to please the outward man That 's nothing else but durt and slyme or like a puffe in length a span As honour riches friends and health Preferment life and Worlds delight Esteeming these true happy wealth but the true blisse is out of sight They thinke that sicknes pouerty imprisonment and enemies fell And worldly crosses verely are gates and entrance into hell So foolish and so ignorant are those thou guid'st not in thy way Mong'st whom euen I through wisdomes want haue bin misled vntill this day But hauing found the truth by triall that earthly ioyes are transitory When they me tempt I make deniall and onely seeke the eternall glory Now I disclaime all confidence in honour health in wealth or feature In wit or worldly Sapience or yet in any earthly creature And Lord I here doe dedicate all thou hast giuen me to thine honour My selfe I wholly consecrate to march and fight vnder thy banner And now I bid these toyes adue that onely-please my flesh and sences Because they all are most vntrue and still doe cause so great offences Because their glorious bounty fades and leaues nought but deformities Because they are nought else but shades and bring forth grosse enormities Because they are most false and fickle because they are indeed hels fewell Because their rose hath many a prickle because their slauery is most cruell Because they are not firme and stable because they are profane not holy Because they are but as a fable because they are but sottish folly Because my soule they coll and kill because they giue me Iudas kisse Because my good they spot and spill and draw me from mine heauenly wish Because like swords they wound my soule because like Serpents they doe
summe of all thy mercies whereof I haue beene this day partaker O Lord I am vile looke not vpon mine vnworthinesse folly and wickednesse but appease thy anger iustly conceiued against me and forgiue what hath beene amisse in me this day or at any other time euen for his sake who is thy well beloued Sonne and my deare Aduocate Roote vp ô Lord the thornes of mine euill inclination and affections and in their places make the fruits of vertue to spring inflame my heart with the desire of heauenly loue that I may loue obedience to thy Gommandements with zeale as hot as fire louing thee aboue all things and my neighbour as my selfe Giue me grace ô Lord to serue thee in true faith feare and holinesse all the dayes of my life and to ouercome my mortall enemies the desires of the world the pleasures of the flesh and the suggestious of the wicked Spirit remembring my promise made to thee in Baptisme for the performance whereof I depend onely vpon thy holy Spirit O God of glorious light let thine Angels pitch their tents round about this house for our defence now in the time of this darkenesse and grant that this nights sleepe may bee quiet vnto mee without griefe or trouble preserue me and mine both in body and soule from all dangers and offences which may come either by foolish dreames noysome spirits or vncleannesse of corrupt nature waken me againe ô Lord in due time and let me behold the light of the next day to my comfort prepare my heart and minde to thy seruice euery day in all trueth and sinceritie that when I haue runne the race of this life thou mayest please to call mee to be partaker of a better Comfort mee ô Lord in all those things wherein I haue beene any wayes dismayed this day take not thy holy spirit from me but continue the motions thereof in my heart that when as the tempter shalâ— come with his assaults I may bee furnished with the shield oâ— faith to quench his fiery darts Confirme my weakenesse and grant that this nights sleepe may be sweet and healthfull for my body and a profitable memoriall of that sleepe which at my last end in that great night shall make a separation betweene my body and soule Let alwayes thine vnspeakeable mercies preserue mee thy endlesse sweetnesse reioyce mee thy heauenly trueth strengthen mee thy knowledge embolden mee and thy goodnesse keepe me now and for euermore from mine enemies visible and inuisible that I may awake in the morning in perfect sense and good health and for the same bee thankefull vnto thee and carefully betake mee to my vocation and calling for Iesus Christs sake my onely Sauiour Amen Amen Another for the Euening MOst glorious and sacred Trinitie the most mighty God the Father the Sonne and the holy Spirit which art the authour and originall of all things both in heauen and in earth and that hast appointed vnto euery thing his end and way in this life The eyes of all things are towards thee to finish in their courses that obedience they owe vnto thee The Sunne the Moone the Starres in most constant order extend their light heate to the comforting not onely of fowles and beasts but specially to the direction of man how to know thee and walke in thy wayes as being the bookes and characters wherein wee may reade thy power wisedome and incomprehensible glory for their sound and language as a Harold is gone foorth to proclaime vnto the Nations both Pagan Christian that thou art the Lord God Almighty and most worthy to be praised as in the Morning so in the Euening also Therefore knowing the great dependancy that all things caelestiall and terrestriall haue on thee I doe humbly intreate thee to take mee into thy custody this night knowing that if a Sparrow cannot with safetie fall to the ground but by thee that without thee so great refreshing of sleepe cannot be attained vnlesse I begge it of thee many are the visions of the night as idle dreames and fancies that would interrupt my sleepe if thou Lord by thy gracious power and presence of thy good Spirit driue them not away And Sathan would like Abiâ—hai â—nto Saul in his sleepe with fearefull darts of despaire strike 〈◊〉 dead at once as Jacl did Siseâ—… vnto eternall death in soule 〈◊〉 body Therefore vnto thee the keeper of Israel that neither slumberest nor sleepest by night nor by day doe I come beseeching thee that laying my selfe to rest in thee I may in the acustomed time which thou hast appointed wake again but if thou pleasest that this night shall bee my last and that this mortall shall bee swallowed vppe in immortallity O Lord grant though I die in body yet I may awake in soule and liue with thee for euermore and that my body so sleeping yet againe may awake at the resurrection of the iust and with those that shall not sleepe bee caught vp with soule vnited by the same power by which thou ô Sauiour didst at once rise from death to life euen as that life which thou hadst with the father before the world was And as thou art one with him so grant that after my last sleepe I may be one with thee in the presence of the Father and the holy Ghost for euermore But ô Lord if thou please to raise me vp againe to spend more dayes in this vale of teares grant that I may liue honestly in the workes of my vocation which thou hast ordained me to liue in or liue by Grant that I may set thee before mine eyes day and night and behold thee alwayes in my presence that when I am tempted to any eueill in the work of my calling or any other wayes I may not bee tickled with the profit or pleasures therein obiected and so prouoked to sinne against thee Keepe my tongue from lying lest thereby I become the child of Sathan for hee is a lyer and the Father of lyes from the beginning keepe my tongue from swearing and that I may not take thy name in vaine empty my heart of couetousnesse of pride of vaine-glory and let mee not respect worldly vanitie let me not be selfe-conceited but ô Lord giue mee to bee of humble gentle harmelesse and courteous disposition and behauiour both in my words and deeds to my superiours and inferiours O Lord giue me to be of a charitable nature and of a pittifull affection toward all men in generall but especially towards all those that are of the houshold of Faith of broken and contrite hearts which thou Lord hast promised that thou wilt not despise Grant ô heauenly Father that Christ both sleeping and waking in this life and after this life may be to me aduantage O let me not fall into a custome or habite of sinning lest therewith my heart become hardened that I cannot repent but giue mee such a conscience of sinne that I may neuer commit sin either great or
hands and liues by which wee haue this day offended thee iniured and oppressed others but that thou mightest as on Iobs children suffer the deuill by his instigation of wicked men to robbe and spoyle vs not onely of our goods and cattell and other our personall estates but also of our liues But ô our good God wee are confident that through thy mercy and loue in Christ no euill shall come vnto vs for thou hast promised that thou wilt bee a refuge and fortresse to keepe safe all those that trust in thee not onely from the arrow of the day but from the terror of the night which thou at thy will and pleasure sendest for the punishmeÌ„t and correction of our sinnes as thou â—iddest Shemâ—i with his rayling â—ongue to aâ—â—â—ict Dauid O Lord for the wâ—rthinesse of thy Sonne our Sauiour in whom onely wee lay down our bodies to rest turne backe this night and at all other times of our sleepe all the euill and wicked purposes of those that intend vs any hurt in our bodies or goods and send thy holy Angels to protect vs with their hands as they did thee our Sauiour against the prince of darkenesse when he had ended on thee his three temptations in the wildernesse And as they fought against the Assirans hoaste that proudely boasted themselues against thy seruant Hezekiah So ô Lord let thine Angels fight against all our enemies and the enemies of thy church not of flesh but of Spirit which resolue our hurt whether walking in the day or sleeping in the night And though our sinnes in which wee so much abound haue deserued that thou shouldest send those ministring Spirits as on Egypts first borne in the night to take away this our dying life or life full of death yet for thy mercies sake let them be our gardians not ouely this night but all the dayes and nights of this life for euer to further our soules and bodies in thy obedience and in and after death to conduct them to Abrahams bosome to rest in ioy and blisse with thee for euermore yea let thine Angels of light that continually behold thy face in heauen bee about our bodies night and day and with louing and kind assistance keeping euill from vs and vs from euill not onely of sinne but of temptation with which that worldly Gouernour and Prince of the Ayre neuer ceaâ—eth millions of wayes to withdraw vs from thee if he cannot through couetousnesse as Iudas â—or through the world as Deâ—as and Achan yet through pleasure as into our first mother Eue Dauid Solomon Sampson hee will a thousand to one craftely enter and seate himselfe in our hearts O Lord if by thy holy Spirit we happen to be so strong as by none of these baites to bee caught then hee laboureth by temporall crosses and afflictions of body and minde as on Iob to draw vs to distrust and dispaire in thy mercie and loue in all which assaults let thy grace and our faith keepe vs that we may not bee ouercome but as valiant souldiers in Christ and through the Armory of God in which by our holy calling we are girt we may leade captiuitie captiue and bee more then Conquerours through him that loueth vs. So that neither the feares of the day nor the terrours of the night of death and hell should separate vs from the assured guard of thee and thy Angels the conductors and furtherers of our saluation This thy great helpe and especiall assistance wee are continually enforced to craue not for our owne sakes but for thy Sonne his sake and that as hee himselfe hath taught vs in his most holy word saving Our Father which art in heauen c. To the Lord of Hoastes and God of glory our Creatour to thee ô Christ Iesus our Mediator thee most holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Sonne bee ascribed all praise and glory this night and for euermore Amen Amen Another for the Euening O Eternall God and most mercifull Father wee acknowledge and confesse against our selues that our hearts and hands are full of all filthinesse and sinnes whatsoeuer and we are altogether vnworthy to speake vnto thee or to come neere thy presence Neuertheles being so much bouÌ„d vnto thee as this day past and all other times of our liues doe witnesse we most humbly offer vnto thy holinesse by the hands of Iesus Christ our Mediatour our humble duties of praise thanksgiuing for our Creation Election Redemption Vocation and Sanctification with all other good graces appertaining to this life or that which is to come And namely ô Lord our tongues and lippes shall glorifie thee sitting aboue the Cherubims for preseruing vs this day past from so many miseries and casualties whereunto wee might iustly haue fallen if thou wouldest haue entered into iudgement with vs but Lord thou art mercifull and passest by our manifold offences to winne vs by thy long sufferance we beseech thee make vs thankefull for thy mercies and carefull to doethy will O Lord pardon and forgiue vâ— all our sinnes and grant vs euery day more and more the sight oâ— them true vnfained sorrow anâ— repentance for the same Giue vs faith and grace to beleeue all the sweete promises that thou hast made to vs in Christ Iesus both for the remission of our sins and the hope of a better life strengtheÌ„ vs from aboue with thy mighty hand to walke in euery good way and to bring forth the fruits of a true liuely faith in our liues and conuersation all the daies of our pilgrimage here Arme vs ô Lord with thy grace and holy Spirit against all the corruptions of the world the temptations of the deuill the allurements of the flesh and settle our mindes to the continuall exercise of deuout prayer with the hearing of thy sacred word watching for thy comming both publicke and priuate Continue thy goodnes towards vs in prouiding for vs such things as are necessary for the maintenance of this present life blesse the same vnder our hands that the little which wee haue by thy goodnesse may be encreased and the encrease may serue as well to furnish our necessary vses as to minister vnto the necessitie of others according to our abilities Keepe vs Lord this night from all euils which may happen either to our bodies or soules Extend thy goodnesse towards all those that depend vpon vs or wee on them Giue vs quiet sleepe and rest and when we shall awake let all our thoughts and cogitations be holy meditations on thee and thy law Blesse vs ô Lord all the nights and dayes of our liues and at the end thereof send vs a blessed departure and afterward a ioyfull resurrection vnto life eternall grant vs these good things most mercifull Father and all other needefull graces for Iesus Christ his sake in whose name wee further call vpon thee as our Lord and Sauiour hath taught vs in his Gospell saying Our Father which are in heauen
hainous crimes When I should walk sin drowneth me with sleepe for one good thought I sinne a thousand times Sigh O my soule weepe sorrow and lament and seeke for helpe if any hope be left Pray vnto Christ for grace thou mayst repent before his merits from thee be bereft Though by his rod afflictions humble thee and for thy sinnes thou suffer grieuous paine Yet with his flesh he still vpholdeth thee frō deepe despaire in bliss with him to raigne All glory be to God on high and to his Son our Sauiour wise and iust To whom with ioy still pray and sing will I and to my Comforter the holy Ghost Whose being was from all eternity one Deitie distinct in persons three According to the blessed Trinity distinguisht to three yet one in vnitie Abba ben Ruach sacred trinitie one drop of Nectar Lord on me bestow That glorious blood to cure sinnes miserie that all mankinde thy loue to me may know Let not sinnes hire nor grieuous punishment be condemnation to my stained soule Be pleased with Christ his all-sufficient payment who ransom'd vs from sinnes eternall thralls A prayer to be said on a Sunday morning for the right sanctifying of the Sabbath O Lord of Sabbath that in the beginning after the finishing of the sixe dayes workes in which by thy most mightie word thou didst create the heauen and the earth and produce all this wonderfull variety of things which wee perceiue euery day most admirably to be made not onely in the sensible but also in all insensible liuing things of all which workes thou hast caused man chiefely to excell hauing in him most curiously epitomised all the glory of this earthly fabrick and for all this thy great goodnesse thou hast done vnto him hast onely required of him that he in the contemplation of these created things not only without but within himselfe might finde out thee a louing Father and Creatour and doe vnto thee that high homage that thou hast commanded on this day not as slaues and seruants but as sonnes filled with all duty obedience which that wee might doe thou hast charged vs on the seuenth day to remember our Creatour not onely by refraining our seruile labour which in the sixe dayes thou hast appointed vs but by leauing the wicked workes of darknesse vnto which we are by nature and wicked desires so much addicted O Lord graunt that I may sequester my selfe this day vnto thy praise not onely in thy holy Congregation but in the secret cogitations of my heart And graunt that euery word or thing that I shall this day heare with my eares or see with my eyes may be so digested in my soule as fit subiects out of which I may bee occasioned to magnifie thy praise and glory O heauenly Father graunt that all those Sabbath dayes which haue passed in my youth and manhood while I knew thee not may be now recalled by double diligence in the deuout hearing of thy Word receiuing of the Sacraments and calling vpon thy name which on this day thou hast for euer commanded to bee done vnto thee in thy Church and holy Congregation And O Lord let my heart depart edified in thy most holy feare not for the present while I am hearing but for euer while I shall liue and let some part of thy holy Word which I shall heare expounded this day abide in me that at all times when I shall haue occasion or be called thereunto I may bee fitted and furnished to giue a full account and reason of the hope I haue in thee O Lord thy Apostles haue called this day not now the seuenth day from the Creation but the first day and the Lords day putting vs in mind of that high and admirable benefit of our Redemption as on this day accomplished by his glorious resurrection for the which wee can neuer rēder too much thanks neither publick nor priuate O Lord make my heart like the good ground mentioned in the Parable that when it had receiued good seede it brought forth thirty sixty and an hundreth fold so most sweet Sauiour graunt that I may haue thy Word so deepely rooted by the power of thy holy spirit this day sent downe into my heart that I may bring it forth in an hundreth fold thy power in my saluation And let it abide this day and euer in my soule the most sweet sauour of life vnto life O Lord driue from mee all impediments arising from the thoughts of the world the flesh and the deuill by which Sathan laboureth to frustrate in me the sauing hearing of thy Word and make me to heare thy precious Word with all reuerence and humility not as the word of man but as it is indeede the word of God And seeing thou hast said not the hearers of the law but the doers of the law are iustified O Lord make me a doer of the law And as thou hast againe said Blessed are yee if ye doe these things Wherefore Lord that I may bee capable of thy blessing graunt that this day when I haue heard I may doe the things and as thy blessed Mother pondered all thy sayings and layd them vp in her heart to remember them O sweet Sauiour helpe me this day and other dayes and times so often as I shall heare thy word or reade the same that my memory may be so quicke and fresh that I may retaine and remember all that shal most especially concerne me and not to be filled with idle knowledge but with constant doing that I may be accepted among those builders that set their house vpon the rocke most blessed Lord let me not be so simple as to thinke my selfe blessed by bare looking into thy law by an outward conformity in comming to thy Church to heare lest in so doing I become as a forgetfull hearer that offers to thee a sacrifice of fooles and so in sanctifying this thy Sabaoth so idely thou cast mee out among the hypocrites the chiefe profaners of the Sabbath in the burning lake and vnquenchable fire O Lord let no wicked temptation of sathan or of my flesh enter into my minde in the hearing of thy Word to make it vnsauourie or bitter vnto my soule but let it be this day and euer more sweet vnto my soule then honey vnto my lips O Lord let it be in some measure my meate and drinke to doe thy will and graunt that I may this day learne so much thereof that I may become wiser then my Teachers or those that regard not to keepe thy law graunt all these my requests most louing Lord both to mee and all thine this day and for euermore Amen Amen A Prayer for godly zeale O Lord knowing that zeale doth sauour our knowledge sweeten our vnderstanding confirme our faith and make acceptable all our sacrifices and seruices vnto thee and being a most excellent and perfect gift that commeth from thee the Father of gifts and how all thy seruants Moses Iosuah
Phineas Sampson Dauid S. Paul and Stephen and all the rest of the Prophets and holy Martyrs both ancient and late haue abounded herein I doe prostrate and cast downe my selfe before thy most high Maiestie beseeching thee to giue mee this coale from thine Altar that I may delight my soule to be talking and singing thy continuall praise and inflame my spirit like the men that trauailed to Emmaus to be astonied in admiration and contemplation of thy exceeding loue O God my Sauiour let not my zeale be headie preposterous or ignorant zeale that there with I may neither offend thee disquiet thy Church or afflict my selfe as the Scribes and Pharisees in Ierusalem and the Israelites in the absence of Moses at mount Sinah or as Saul in his Pharisaicall deuotion giue me not knowledge without zeale nor zeale without knowledge and that all my vnderstanding in thy Word may euermore bee mixed with true zeale O let not my zeale be aboue knowledge lest while I thinke to serue thee in the breath of charity by the distemper thereof I bee inforced to dishonour and blaspheme thee as the blinde Heathen ignorant Papists or vndiscreete Protestants at this day doe Graunt this O Lord for the honour of my Aduocate and Mediatour Iesus Christ. Amen A feruent Prayer vnto God that the repentant may finde fauour in Christ. ATtend vnto my teares O Lord regard my wofull moane And seeke to saue me by thy Word or I am ouerthrowne For sinne doth so oppresse my minde that I am damn'd to hell Vnlesse by Christ I fauour finde whose wounds must make me well Cure thou my soule so sicke with sinne by merits of thy Sonne Marke not the estate that I liue in but marke what he hath done Most perfect hee though I be vilde to please when I offend He sits with thee though I exilde in glory to the end My nature is inclin'd to euill though his with good accord My sences seeke to serue the deuill his will to please the Lord. Wherefore O God that art most iust in him my debts to pay In his desert my soule doth trust thy wrath for to allay O Father full of knowledge deepe thou searchest secrets of each heart Beholdst desires wee priuate keepe with hidden silence in the darke But yet thou doest thus much require thy children should know and confesse Thee for to be their lightsome fire that iudgest their workes in righteousnesse As thou hast fram'd in man a heart wherewith his Maker to beleeue A tongue and lips and euery part wherewith he glory may thee giue And thou doest chalenge at his hands free sacrifice of prayers praise And honours due throughout all lands that all men canst deiect and raise Thy Children must not in their minde be dumbe nor in their tongues be mute When they should seeke thy helpe to finde and by petition shew their suite Thy Sonne doth bid me aske and haue and finde to seeke to knock to enter What they doe want that they may craue by faith in him they may aduenture Thou still art ready to be found and helpe thine owne in their distresse That in their faith are constant found and patient in their heauinesse Therefore deare Father I beset with many miseries distrest Come vnto thee thine ayde to get and after trouble to finde rest And haue thy Grace without within but I that am of sinners chiefe Because thou hat'st in me my sinne they doubt thou wilt not giue reliefe Alas poore wretch what shall I doe to aske I am so farre vnfit Vnapt my God to aske vnto vnworthy to haue benefit Of what I craue or doe desire and yet to cry I will not linne Till thou doest send refining fire and purifie me from my sinne A Prayer for the obtaining of Faith Hope and Charity and all Christian vertues O Lord and Father of lights from whom proceedeth euery good and perfect gift I beseech thee to blesse mee with all spirituall blessings in heauenly things in Christ. Increase the little graine of my weake and feeble Faith direct it to the true obiect the merits of Christ Iesus and let it not be bare and bad but effectually working by loue Make me strong therein and constant to giue credit to thy Word without doubting and protect mee among the diuers and manifold errors sects and heresies of this world that fight against the foundation Lord let me not be disappointed of my hope which I haue in thee but make good thy promises vnto mee and so worke in my heart that I may haue courage in conflict patience in trouble and comfort in all things Keepe mee from insolencie and pride and graunt mee true humility and lowlinesse of minde that I bee not puffed vp to contemne my brethren but giue mee that due consideration of my owne vilenesse and infirmities that as dust and ashes I may tremble and stand in awe of thy Iudgements and as a sinfull man esteeme better of others then my selfe O deare Father when Sathan shall accuse mee my owne conscience beare witnesse against mee the whole world forsake mee and all things set themselues against mee for my sinnes then strengthen mee in thy Faith that I fall not from thee inflame my cold heart with the vnfained affection of heauenly loue that I may loue thee O blessed Trinity withall that I haue aboue all my neighbour as my selfe Graunt me a compassionate and a charitable minde to helpe and succour others to my ability to forbeare and forgiue them though they bee mine enemies Inflame me with loue and charity towards all men to forgiue and forget to doe good to pray for them that I may follow the steps of my Sauiour open the eyes of my vnderstanding and helpe me to examine my selfe concerning my knowledge faith and repentance send me the hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and make mee verily and fully partaker of all the benefits of that bitter passion of my Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ To whom with thee and thy most holy Spirit be all honour and glory this day and for euermore Amen Amen The sighes and meditations of an afflicted conscience O Most mercifull God which by the sending of thy Sonne into the world hast brought to passe that where sinne abounded there grace abounded much more I forlorne wretch disquieted in minde and afflicted in conscience for feare of thy Iudgements vpon my sinne doe with bended knees and teares vnfained a most humble Suppliant begge and craue of thee some succour and reliefe open open the gates of thy mercies to the greatnesse of my miseries my abiect countenance witnesseth my distressed minde My spirit is sorrowfull my heart is heauie my words are stopt with sighes and my plants watered with teares to thee I hold vp my hands to thee I lift vp my heart to thee 〈◊〉 pray requiring thee of mercie O Lord what shall I desire of â—hee that deserue nothing at thy â—ands What can I hope for that â—m euen heartlesse
most watchfull to shed the blood of the righteous destruction and misery are in their wayes and the way of peace they doe not know For the feare of God is not before their eyes euery one deuiseth to worke mischiefe putting farre away the euill day professing themselues wise till they became fooles O Lord thou hast iustly done to the men of this world in these our dayes as vnto the ancient Philosophers who mightily boasted themselues of their wisedome generall knowledge and yet were ignorant of thee euen as the Antichristian enemies doe at this day boast themselues to be the onely true Church Yet because they knew thee in word and not in deede therefore thou gauest them vp vnto their owne hearts lusts to worship and serue the creature in steed of the Creator adoring the bread in the Sacrament for Christ himselfe and honouring the Pope a mere man as God himselfe saying hee is God euen as the heathen Gentiles vnto their wooden Gods sometime said thus O Lord because the Antichristian enemies haue agreed with the heathen to contemne thy Word thou hast iustly done to giue them vp vnto a reprobate minde to worke all manuer of vnrighteousnesse as at this day wee see the Romish Bishop Prelates Clergie and Professours to be the man and men of sinne that should sit in the Temple of God and in doctrine speake blasphemies and wicked vntrueths O God in thy Word thou hast euidently marked him out shewing that hee should pretend chastity in heart and body but indeede haue nothing lesse to claime all spirituall power to open and shut the gates of thy Kingdome at his owne will and pleasure and against whom hee lust to bee vniuersall Bishop through the whole world and supreame head of the Church and Kings and Princes to be his vassalls and at his making and deposing O Lord hee thrusteth out of the Church as heretickes all that speake against his blasphemies denouncing damnation to all that will not beleeue his exposition of thy Word saying that hee hath alwayes the holy Ghost in his breast and that hee cannot erre He hath forbidden the publique reading of thy Word as hereticall and dangerous especially for simple people and ordained thy seruice in an vnknowne tongue that the people might offer vnto thee the Sacrifice of fools in stead of the Sacrament which wee should often receiue he hath brought into the Church a superstitious sacrifice of the Masse in which they pretend to offer thee O Christ againe for the sinnes of the people and the Priests eating is sufficient for all the rest of the Church be they neuer so many or if they receiue it in one kinde it is enough for them saying that the body is noâ— without the blood quite gaine saying thy commandements drink yee all of this Hee teacheth for sound Doctrine that wee must be cleansed in Purgatory in which he can giue indulgence to release whom he will and that wee are saued by our good workes that wee may keepe perfectly all the commandements and so deserue our saluations by our owne merites and that in Prayer we should call on the virgin Mary as Queen of heauen to command her Sonne to heare vs teaching vs that she is our Aduocate that pleadeth for vs. He teacheth Pilgrimages worshipping Images keeping Reliques and that euery man hath â—is peculiar Saint in heauen to whom he liketh best to commend his sutes by saying that it is presumption to approach to thee onâ—y in thy Sonne though thou hast â—id There is no name in heauen â—r in earth whereby wee should â—e saued but onely by the name of â—esus to whom thou hast ordaiâ—ed euery knee to bow and onely â—or to come By these and infinite of Romish forgeries and blasphemies â—ath this strumpet of Babylon â—…de drunke the Kings and Prinâ—s of the earth by those abomiâ—ble and lying wonders and miâ—cles hath hee blinded the eyes 〈◊〉 Christian Kingdomes and Naâ—ons that they doe not know â—w to serue thee the Lord. Wherefore O Christ and most â—ly Lambe of GOD against â—…m he hath so long time warâ—d as it were drunke with the bloud of the Saints Yea O Lord with the brightnesse of thy comming let the violls of thy wratâ— be powred out vpon her to heâ— vtter desolation that the souleâ— of iust and righteous men togâ— ther with the Angels in the vnitâ— of the spirit may sing a song 〈◊〉 Halleluiah saying saluation glâ— ry honour and power be to thâ— Lord our God to the Lambe aâ— holy Spirit for euermore Ameâ— Come Lord Iesus come quicklâ— Amen LACHRIM 3. Wherein the distressed prayeth for faith zeale and strength in vndergoing Gods corrections O Lord I lift my heart to thee my soule in thee doth euer trust O let me not confounded be but make me righteous with the iust Let men not haue their wills ' gainst me but powre on me thy comforts sweet Thy sauing health Lord let me see who prostrate begge it at thy feete Let thy right hand and prouidence be stretched out to hold me vp And giue me grace and patience in lowlinesse to taste thy cup So shall I sit on surest rocke and strength and power to me get And stoutly shield mine enemies stroke though round about they me beset For why my comfort is in thee and on thy prouidence I depend O keepe me safe in liberty till all my troubles come to end From perils sixe hast me deliuered I know therefore thou wilt from seauen From earthly thoughts let me be seuer'd and conuersation haue in heauen I know that loue a multitude of shamefull sinnes doth closely couer Within the gates I me include thou art my soules true spouse and louer The faithfull thereby may take hold of hope to haue a prosperous end Of their desires this makes me bold for ayde and comfort to attend And with all patience to perseuer I know thy word it is most sure Poore penitent by faith I le euer stand firme and to the end endure Alas deere God I nothing crane to haue of thee by mine owne right But in Christs name I le aske and haue for he is most gracious in thy sight Yea for his merits thou do'st loue me in him I know thou art well pleas'd And hearest sinners when they moue thee for giu'st their sinne and they are eas'd Amongst whom Lord I am the chiefe and of good things am ignorant Yet on the Crosse didst saue the Thiefe for Christ his sake me mercy graunt In this world vanities most vilde I liue and haue no taste of truth I knew not I was in exile but did in folly spend my youth Of thee alone I knowledge haue for of my selfe I am but weake Thou art my God that strength me gaue to worke to rest to liue to speake For of my selfe is miserie and of my selfe is all that 's ill But from thee Lord comes all mercie and perfect power to worke thy will Within to consolation of my sad
our feete vnto which wee are so exceeding prone And that because we are thy temples and members one of another and of thy Sonne Christ especially And for our helpe herein giue vs grace that we may euery one seriously apply and diligently minde the things thou hast this day appointed vs to doe in our seuerall rankes and callings as we are either fathers masters children or seruants that we may both gouerne and obey as becommeth thy children and seruants which feare thy holy name and giue vs grace that wee may this day and all the dayes of our life perseuere in the faith and feare of thee and of thy Sonne Iesus our most louing and blessed Sauiour And grant most louing Father that as we haue begunne in him so wheresoeuer we are at the last we may finish our mortall race in him and change this life vnto his glory and our owne eternall comforts Now hauing continued our accustomed suites for spirituall blessings and graces we returne vnto thee most humble and hearty thankes for all those fauours which as assurances of all thy loue thou hast giuen euery one of vs here present as in our births into this present world thou didst safely bring vs through the straight gates of nature which â—ike Herod in the act of birth â—hreatneth nothing but present â—eath in infancy childhood and â—outh considering our weakenes â—nd wildnes might haue befallen â—nto vs many mischances of deâ—… 〈◊〉 in our bodies so since â—e came to manhood thou hast â—ept vs from the same dangers a â—ousand manner of wayes for â—hich we thanke thee O Lord â—e thanke thee also for our daily â—ead and contiâ—…all cloathing that through thy blessing doeth daily comfort vs in this present life for thee and for a thousand more of which we haue continuall experience both in body and soule wee are bound to continue and conclude these our prayers thankesgiuing and morning sacrifice vnto thee for our selues and thy holy Church as thy Sonne our Sauiour hath taught vs saying Our Father which art in heaueÌ„ c. To thee the Father the Son and the holy Ghost bee giuen all honour and glory by vs and all thine this day and for euermore Amen Amen Be mercifull ô Father of all mercies to thy Church vniuersall dispersed throughout the whole world and grant thâ—… they that dâ—e confesse thy name may agree in the truth of thy holy word liue in godly concord and vnitie More especially good Lord bee mercifull to all such as bee vnder persecution for the testimony of a good conscience and the profession of the Gospell of thy Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Defend and saue ô Lord those silly soules which as sheepe are appointed to the shambles and slaughter and represse the rage and tyranny of such as are bent to blood-shed and minde nothing but murthering thy Saints and children be mercifull to this sinfull kingdome wherein wee liue and be good and gracious to thine annoynted Charles our most gracious King blesse the honourable Counsell the Reuerend â—lergie the Nobilitie and Cominalâ—ie of this Land and also blesse â—s a portion of thine inheritance the which our Lord Iesus Christ was contented to redeeme with his most precious blood the alone mediator of all mercies to whom â—ith thee and the holy Ghost beeâ—â—â—l honour and glory for and euer Amen Amen Precepts of duty HIgh mighty God of righteousnes in wrath a dread consuming fire Thou didst in perfect happinesse make man that did 'gainst thee conspire And breake thy lawes with all despight when thou hadst made him pure and holy Plac'd him in garden of delight so great and wicked was his folly That hauing leaue to take or leaue to chuse refuse or vse at pleasure He did himselfe by sinne deceiue of that diuine surpassing treasure And by his mutabilitie regardlesse of thy sacred lawes He brought in instabilitie lost his free-will by breach of lawes Thou God of Iustiâ—e must doe right man wanting grace with want of grace By grace substraction didst requite and banish him that blessed place By meanes of which we are inclin'd from thy behestes to run astray Our tongue our heart our soule our mind by sinne is carried cleane away Thou hast vs Lord by grace elected and thy free mercy to inherit Thy blisse if thy blisse be respected and seal'd vs with thy holy spirit Thou madest vs free by thy Sonnes blood to th' end thou mayest be glorifi'd In soules and bodies for our good his passion hath vs purifi'd Thou freedst vs to that end we might serue thee in holy righteousnes Thou gauest thy Sonne and he vs bought from thraldome of our sinfulnes Thou would'st he should for all men die to make him liue in thine elect And they in him to â—ructifie and with his graces hast them deckt By grace and holy inspiration rebellious nature seek'st to tame With precepts for instruction and leau'st vs lawes in thine owne name The ready way of seruing thee and profit to our neighbours bring And louing thee most zealously who art our Father Lord and King Though by thy Gospell we be free from lawes their sting and punishment Yet rules of life and pietie thou hast precrib'd and to vs lent Thereby to manage all our deeds and guide vs lest we step awrie Obseruing carefull as we needs how well to liue and well to die These lawes thou writ'st in Table two with the pure finger of thine hand Deliuering them Moses vnto that we thy will might vnderstand The first containeth precepts foure Of precepts due vnto thy feare The second sixe Commanrements more of loue we should to neighbours beare The summe and substance of them all and that fulfilleth euery part Is thee to loue on thee to call with all our soule might mind and heart To other men especially thine houshold that are firme in faith As to our selues to giue supply with all our helpe as Scripture saith But we are weake the case thus stands In this â—raile mortall life of ours No man can keepe these thy commands but breakes them at all times and houres Yet thou thy children oft doest will themstlues to comfort hopefully There is left for them some measure still to come to thee regardfully Namely when they doe bend their strength daily preuented by thy Spirit And stand in hope to attaine at length what now they want by Christ his merit Walking and daily going one by steppes thereof to Paradise Praising and lauding thee alone bewailing their infirmities The faithfull know all and beleeue with thee our father mercy is Thou with thy Sonne doest all things giue how can we then of mercy misse Therefore my God now giue to me all that thou giuest to thine elect Of thine eternall clemency good Lord doe not my soule reiect Illuminate my knowledge darke possesse my heart with perfect loue What 's done amisse Lord doe not marke the guilt of sinne from me remoue That I most constantly may walke the
steppes and pathes of thy iust lawes And of thy goodnesse daily talke with feare end loue and all applause To thee I wholly owe my selfe for thou hast Lord created mee And bought me not with worldly pâ—lfâ— but by thy Sonne hast made me free Whence I doe also learne to loue all men in thee and for thy sake Who beare thy Image from aboue and vnto thee themselues betake O let me thus thy fauours find and peace of conscience vnderstand Thy blessings and thy mercies kind protected still by thy right hand That fill'd my dayes I leaue this life to take a life eternally Where Angels sing continually all glory be to God on high Amen A Morning Prayer O Blessed Lord God great in power fearefull in iudgeâ—ent and rich in mercy which â—indest and no man looseth and â—ooâ—est no man bindeth I yeeld â—hee most humble and hearty â—hankes for that of thy fatherly goodnesse thou hast vouchsafed â—e this last nights sleepe in peace â—nd rest and againe loosing the â—onds wherewith I was tied hast â—iuen me power to see this morâ—ing light Now ô Lord I beâ—ech thee powre vpon mee this â—y the heauenly dew of thy comâ—rtable blessing that through the â—eration of thy gracious beames â—hat am a poore tree weake and â—rren in my selfe may bud forth â—d beare the fruits of true faith 〈◊〉 my life and conuâ—rsation Continue this goodnesse and mercy towards mee and by thy power raise me from the deepe sleepe of all vnrighteousnesse discharge me from the workes of darkenâ—sse and cloath me with the armour of light that I may walke honestly as in the day and liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world Grant me ô Lord true vnderstanding and knowledge of thy word which is the glasse of thy will Increase in me all godly deâ— sires together with true contriâ— tion of heart that I may vnfainedâ— ly despise the pleasures of thiâ— world with hearty repentanâ— be conuerted vnto thee send thâ— holy Angel to guide me and keep me in all my wayes and prospâ— the worke of my hands that I nâ— uer faile in my vocation to dâ— some good to all men and escheâ— if it be possible all euill O Lord I beseech thee pâ— serue and keepe my senses â—aâ— and souÌ„d that I be neither corrup ted by prosperity nor deiected by aduersitie nor be too fearefull of thy iudgements or too bould on thy mercies But grant me grace ô mercifull Lord that I may apprehend all that comes from thee with a religious heart and contented minde O blessed Lord Iesus Christ blessed bee thy name for our redemption great was thy loue sore was thy passion print in our mindes we beseech thee the continuall memory thereof that wee may love thee which so louedst vs and euermore praise thee that hast bought vs at so deare a price Reiect not our prayers which we offer to bee presented to thy Faâ—her but mercifully helpe vs and heale all our infirmities encrease our Faith and teach vs obedience forgiue vs our offences and hide vs in thy wounds from thy faâ—hers iust wrath make good thy â—romises vnto vs for the world to come and enable vs with thy grace for the performance of all thy Commandements prosper ô Lord the workes of our hands and bring vs safe to the end of this day for thy truth and for thy names sake Amen Amen An Euening Meditation I Lay me downe to sleepe in peace for thou Lord onely makest me dwell In safety with great quietnes and doest ill dreames from me expell My body to enormities is subiect without rest and sleepe Because of mine infirmities my life and health it cannot keepe Good Father all sufficient my louing God I yeeld thee praise For this dayes blessings to me sent and guiding me in all my wayes In that thou hast this day now past me strongly guarded with thy hands With loue refresht me first and last with mercies more then sea-shore sands That hast me brought to this dayes end blacke night and darkenes drawing neare Wherein all creatures rest attend and lay them downe till day appeare I finding my debility poore creature run to the diuine O strength mine imbecility and aide this soule and body mine Thou hast me made of matter grosse and brittle substance out of clay Which still is subiect to the crosse a tennis ball for worldlings play He wanting comfort cannot liue after much sorrow and great griefe Therefore I doe my body giue and soule to thee Lord grant reliefe O Lord I doe thee humbly pray as thou art fountaine of all rest Bee thou my succour helpe and stay let me by thee this night be blest Consider me in my weakenesse and let my carefull eyes behold My miseries and my distresse to cry for mercy make me bold And since 't is time that night now brings the bodies rest and quiet sleepe O shadow me vnder thy wings let thy protection safe me keepe Looke ouer me with watchfull eyes when this corrupted flesh of mine In slumbring sleepe and dulnesse lyes depriu'd of sense with closed eyne Vnable my poore selfe to saue from dangers of the darkesome night Keepe me my bed else is my graue and I shall neuer see the light Lord thou that onely mak'st me dwell and in sure safety to abide Thou watchest ouer Israel watch ouer me be by my side Thou art my Castle and my Fort my sword my buckler and defence My rocke my refuge and comfort saue me from force and violence Alas without thee what am I a beast that rightly nothing knowes A senseles blocke sillie flie that no good doe nor no good showes Thy louing fauour Lord extend ouer the house wherein I rest My bed with Angels Lord defend and soule and body by thee be blest Oh lay me downe in rest and peace in rest and peace ô let me rise In rest and peace ô giue some ease from torments troubles teares und cries Let not the sleights of sinne deceiue nor wicked practise ouertake me Let nothing me of hope bereaue oh doe not thou though all forsake me Lord I am poore oh make me rich with those great riches of thy blessing My soule my soule is blacke as pitch let pardon follow my confessing In hope of this I lay me downe depending on thy prouidence I care not if the world doe frowne for I am safe by thy defence Lord let it be for I am thine my rest make sweete and comfortable To thee I doe my selfe resigne Lord grant all this for thou art able An Euening Prayer for a priuate person O Most holy Father and my most gracious God which giuest vnto all men the cheerefull light of the day that in thine assistance they may follow their honest vocations and likewise sendest the silent nights that then they my rest their wearied limbs and busied mindes and so returne their due thankes for thy goodnesse I sinfull creature adore and praise thee for the totall
small but my heart may affright terrific and amaze mâ— as it did Dauid when he cut off the lap of Sauleâ— garment And when I haue sinned let thy louing countenance shine vpon me as it did vpon Peter when hee had denied thee that I may poure forth a fountaine of teares And in bed if I happen to awake at midnight giue mee thy holy Spirit that with sobs sighes and groanes in the secret closet of my heart I may cast vp loude cryes vnto thee not onely for my sinnes past in the darke night of my childhood and youth while I knew not thee but euen now since I came to some groath and manhood in Christ I haue broken all thy Commandements thy Lawes thy Statutes thine Ordinances not in ignorance but in knowledge for which I haue neede againe to pray vnto thee Wherefore Lord forgiue mee forgiue mee for thy Christ his sake O my Loue my Doue the blessed and powerfull Sauiour of my soule thou knowest that I haue sought after thee euer since I knew thee by night in my bedde haue I sought thee whom my soule loueth O my Sauiour since thou hast first drawne mee with the cordes of thy loue let the strength thereof hold mee so fast that I may for euer abide constant in the like loue to thee againe Thou hast promised that him thou once louedst that thou wilt loue him vnto the end Good God in thy loue keepe mee this night in soule and body and not onely mee in mine owne person but all that belong vnto mee for the loue of thy onely Sonne Iesus to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory by mee and all thine this night for euermore world without end Amen Amen An Inuocation to God humbly praying for remission of sinnes VVEll-spring of bounty God of feare beginning that mak'st all begin With what oblation to appeare t' appease thy wrath that 's due for sin I know the blood of bulls and beast or sweetest Incense that doth rise From earth of old they were the least and are not now of any prise O how should I be reconcil'd againe vnto thy louing fauour How long Lord shall I be exil'd from my sweete Lord and onely Sauiour How long oh haue I call'd to thee to thee in name of thy deare Sonne Yet what I ask'd thou gau'st not mee and what I would is left vndone I long haue knocked at thy dore of mercy but no â—n rance finde Sorrowes and troubles more and more increase and vexe my soule and minde I daily waite most wofull motall before thy seate of clement grace But may not peepe within thy portall nor see thy glorious beauteous face I sighe I mourne my teares are seas I sinke vnder the burdenous load Of sinne and shame and finde no ease prouoke me forward with thy word My selfe chastising I desire to quench thy wrath with floods of teares Yet still encrease thy fearefull fire and so eucrease my daily feares By prayers thee to presse who dares except by thy Sonnes mediation To seeke thy glory 's all our cares and the end of earthly mens creation What course should I then poore wretch take to doe or aske that 's good and iust But vnto thee my prayers make and onely in thy Sonne put trust If that my sinnes shall thee offend then all thy creatures rage and storme And all conspire by thy command to punish me poore silly worme Where shall I be or whether flie from sight of thine all-seeing eyne As Noahs Doue on earth am I and cannot looke against thy shine But if thou show thy louing face all creatures on my seruice tend Men beasts and Angels doe me grace to helpe me all their powers doe bend What should I then say giue or doe what paine can gaine thy fauour lost Riuers of oyle or ought thereto they are thine owne and of thy cost Accept yet Lord the sacrifice of heart and calues of lippes vnfain'd This is that offering thou didst deuise to haue thy grace to be obtaind The free-will offerings of my zeale in sense of sighing still ascending They to thy mercies seate appeale and would make peace for mine offending Although mine heart and tongue doe falter Yet through my Sauiours blest mediatiâ— Receiue this offering on thine alter with all my best imagination Heare me in him in him relieue me for without him no helpe can bee None can my soules or hearts ease giue me nor can I inward comforts see Till I know that thy wrath 's appeas'd and haue thy Charter for my pardon Then shall I finde my heart so eas'd that I desire no further gueÌ„rdon And now I most vnhappy man that did offend my God so kind By grace in him in all I can I le seeke with heart with soule and mind To honour serue obey and please him that is my gracious maker Whom I beseech to grant me peace and make me of his ioyes partaker An Euening prayer to be said with a whole Family O Most blessed Sauiour bâ— whose merits alone theâ— is graunted vnto vs this preseâ— libertie to approach vnto the Fâ— ther and in thy name after thâ— end of our labours this day accomplished by which through thy goodnesse wee haue profited our selues and furthered the continuaÌ„ce of humane society which by no meanes could continue if wee did not seriously apply our selues in the workes of our vocation in which thou hast ordained that euery man should liue not onely to his present necessity but vnto the furthering of the welfare of our children and alliance which accordingly wee haue this day done so farre foorth as the approaching â—ight would suffer and as our fraile bodies soone spent and tired with the cares and labours of this world would giue vs leaue And seeing thou hast ordained the night for man by sleepe to refresh himselfe Lord we intreate thee to giue vnto our bodies such rest and sleepe this night that the day following wee may be raised strong in minde and body to goe on in our seuerall labours honest businesse and employments in moderation wisedome and discretion as may bee most to thy glory and to the honour of thy great name O Lord wee beseech thee let not our sinnes of which wee bee many wayes guilty cause thee to remooue away our sleepe from vs nor frustrate this dayes endeauours let no blasting or mildewe or any the euill that walketh in the darkenesse hurt the fruite of our labours Let no sons of Belial when we are in our fast sleepe come in vpon vs to spoyle without nor steale within that which thou through our honest endeauours or the gift of our parents hast blessed vs withall for as the beastes of the forreâ—… which are of sauage nature hunt after the prey so wicked meâ— that aske not their bread of thee doe in the night by violent hands robbe and spoyle thy people O Lord we know not but that for the wickednesse of our hearts
saying that they would honour him But O Lord how much more cruelly did they behaue themselues towards thee calling thee a sinner and friend of Publicans and sinners and the Prince of the deuils and would haue throwne thee the Lord of life as Sathan did the Heard of Swine from the Rock into the Sea And at last when nothing tooke effect according to their malicious minds they came out against thee as against a malefactour with clubbs and staues and tooke thee and carried their expected Messiah before Herod and Pontius Pilate and brought false witnesse against thee and preferred a murtherer before thee and though indeede thou wert their King yet in mockage they put vpon thee a purple roabe and in thy hand a Scepter of reede on thy head a crowne of thornes then buffetted they thee and spet vpon thy face contemning both thy princely priestly and propheticall offices in which thou wast their perfect Sauiour Then disroabed they thee and carried thee without the gates of the Citie and after an ignominious manner with two theeues vnto Golgotha the place of common execution and nayled thee to a woodden Crosse in the middest of them And after they had wounded thee in sundry places yet againe in their malicious and cowardly fury they pierced thy side with a speare euen when thou sighedst groanedst prayedst vnto thy Father to forgiue them their sinnes and to accept thy sacrifice Yea all this while they mocked thee and bid thee come downe from the Crosse to saue thy life as thou sauest others and wrote a title ouer thy head vnto all Nations in contempt of thee and when in the pangues of thy passion thou didst thirst for their pardon then they ranne and flapped in thy mouth not to comfort thee but to prolong thy sorrowes an hysope spunge dipt in vinegar and after thy death to make them sport they cast lots for thy garments O sweet Sauiour being thus abused by thy once peculiar people thou hast most righteously according to their wish brought vpon them and their children the reward of thy innocent blood and done iustly in forsaking the house of thine honour and put it into the possession of the Gentiles to bee battered downe that there might not bee left one stone vpon another and to scatter them into perpetuall captiuity as at this day we doe behold But O heauenly Father thou hast made knowne vnto vs Gentiles that beleeue in thee according to thy Word that they did no more then what they hand and counsell had determined long before to be done And had they knowne that they had crucified thy Sonne the Lord of glory no doubt they would not haue done it for in ignorance as did their Fathers they haue done it wherfore O God for the respect thou bearest to Abraham Isaac and Iacob and for thy seruant Dauids sake as thou hast promised that a remnant should be saued euen as many as thou wilt call and the first fruits being holy the branches descending thereof should be holy haue respect vnto them that with the fulnesse of vs Gentiles they may come againe into the folde of Christ. O Lord our Sauiour open their eyes that they may beleeue the Scriptures and so come againe and be grafted into their owne Oliue stocke for thou O God art able to graffe them in againe for thy gifts and calling are without repentance Wherefore take from them their vnbeliefe that wee both Iewes Gentiles may be saued through thy mercy O sweet Sauiour haue mercy on them call them home againe that wee and they may make one sheepe-fold and like good sheep know thy voice and follow thee our louing Shepheard in the sincere obedience of thy Gospell Heauenly Father blesse thy Church vniuersall that it may stand fast in the obedience and faith of Christ giue thy Gospell a free passage in it among all people that yet know not thee O thou which art the Lord of the haruest send forth diligent and painefull labourers into thy haruest Blesse all the reformed Churches in these westerne parts but especially this church of England that it bee an ensample of sound doctrine and godly life vnto all other Churches And graunt that the Kings Nobles and Senators may remaine and succeede nursing Fathers in it for euermore O Lord let not the wilde Boares of the Forrest the Turke nor Antichrist supplant the faith established among vs nor roote vp the vine that thine own right hand hath planted but continue the light among vs which now liue or hereafter shall liue euen as long as the Sun or the Moone shall endure O God as thou hast promised for thy Elect sake finish these dayes of sinne and hasten thy comming vnto glory And as by all thy workes in generall so by vs men in speciall yea by me with the residue of thy holy Church be especially giuen both now and for euermore all honour and glory world without end Amen Amen A Prayer for the discouerie and desolation of Antichrist O God of Hoasts the omnipotent inuisible and incomprehensible the Father the Son and the holy Ghost the eternall Creator and most mighty vpholder of all things in heauen and in earth and by whom Kings ruie and Princes raigne heare me a poore sinfull subiect of thy great dominions grieued and distressed in soule to behold how the enemies of thy trueth doe bandy themselues against thee and thy Christ the Annoynted of the Lord and the only King of Kings the wonderfull Counsellour the mighty God the euerlasting Father the Prince of peace Looke downe and discouer the haters of thy Word those that haue cast thy lawes behinde their backes and scorne to be ruled by the sincere trueth of the same yet shame not to take thy lawes in their mouthes though they hate to be reformed thereby O God we haue heard with our eares and our Fathers haue tolde vs that in the last dayes shall bee perilous times in which men shall be louers of themselues couetous proud boasters blasphemers disobedient vnto superiours vnthankfull vnholy without naturall affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good traytours heady high minded louers of pleasure more then of thee hauing a forme of godlinesse a great shew of righteousnesse wanting the power thereof being in trueth nothing but scoffers and walkers after their lust forbidding meates drinkes marriages which with thanksgiuing thou hast made holy and honourable being indeede giuen to adulterie fornication lasciniousnesse Idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulations strifes wrath seditions heresies murthers drunkennesse reuilings and infinite the like whereby it is come to passe that there is none righteous no not one none that vnderstandeth none that seeketh after GOD aright but haue stumbled at noone-day euen against that rocke of life thereby haue vsed their tongues to deceit and opened their mouthes full of cursing and bitternesse and haue runne as Caine with their feete to shed innocent blood yea