forth into thy light so in thy time adde him also to thy Church and beget him againe vnto a liuely hope by the immortall seed of thine holy word deliuering him from the power of darkenes in which by nature we are all into the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God And if it shall seeme good vnto thee to lay any further triall either of sickenesse or death vpon this thy seruant or the fruite of her wombe prepare vs all to a quiet and patient bearing of thine holy hand and to a comfortable and contented resting vpon thy prouidence assuring our selues that all things shall turne to the good and benefite of thy chosen And so into thine holy hands wee commend our selues with thy seruant and her issue together with hers and our Families and that great Familie of thy chosen wheresoeuer distressed and dispersed to be kept by thy mighty power through Faith vnto saluation Grant vs these things O God of our saluation for the merite of thy beloued Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for such as in this world be very rich and wealthy ETernall GOD and most mercifull Father from whom all good things doe come and proceede who in thy wisedome distributest thy benefits and bestowest thy blessings manifoldwife as seemeth good to thy heauenly will to some more to some lesse as thou who knowest all things seest it to be best for euery one I giue thee hearty thanks in that it hath pleased thee to bestow vpon me a most vnworthy sinner such large blessings of earthly treasures and riches in this life most humbly beseeching thee for thy great mercies sake to giue mee grace to vse them to thy glory and to the helpe and comfort of those that haue neede knowing that thou hast giuen mee this aboundance to the end that I should be ayding and helpfull to others vpon whom it hath pleased thee to lay the crosse of pouerty and that I am but as a Steward from thee which must render account how I haue bestowed them I beseech thee also good Lord that while I liue and possesse plenty of all things from thee I may bee carefull to doe good vnto all men but especially vnto them that be of the houshold of Faith according as thy holy word hath commanded me laying vp therby a good store of my selfe against the day of wrath and to make me friends of vnrighteous Mammon that when I depart hence they may receiue mee into euerlasting habitations And as these thy good gifts O heauenly Father so I beseech thee that I abuse them not either by getting retaining or otherwise by mispending of them Let not my heart at any time be affected towards them nor my minde drowned in the delight of them but that alwaies I may esteeme both them and all things else as vile dung and filthy durt in respect of thee And in the midst of mine aboundance keepe mee O Lord that I aduance not my selfe vaingloriously aboue my Brethren that I be not puffed vp nor high minded that I consume not thy treasure vpon pride whoredome gluttonie drunkennesse or any other wickednesse else whatsoeuer thereby purchasing thy heauy iudgement against me for the same But grant good Lord that as thou hast made me rich wealthy in worldly substance so thou wilt make me much richer in all goodnesse righteousnesse holinesse and innocencie of life thorough Iesus Christ our only Mediatour and Aduocate to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be praise for euer Amen A Prayer for such as bee poore and needy O Eternall and euerliuing God who appointed diuers sundry states and conditions of men some rich some poore some high some low and hast notwithstanding commanded euery one to be content with his estate and calling without repining or grudging against thee for the same I poore wretch and miserable caitiue whom it hath pleased thee to place in the lowest and meanest degree most entirely beseech thy Fatherly goodnesse to giue me grace to be well contented with the sâ—me to submit my will to thy will to depend wholly vppon thy prouidence to cast all my care vppon thee who hast promised to care for mee to repose all my affiance trust and confidence in theâ— and none else and to looke for all good things from thy mercifull hands And though I be poore and needy O Lord yet I beseech thee let mee not dispaire of thy helpe nor yet attempt any vnlawfull or vniust meanes to maintaine my estate withall contrary to thy will But grant that I hauing all things necessary in this life for body and soule may neither bee swallowed vp nor choaked with the cares of the world nor yet remaine barren and destitute of good workes through Iesus Christ our Lord who liueth and raigneth with thee and the holy Ghost world without end Amen A Prayer to obtaine grace of God against the assaults of the world the Flesh and the Diuell O Lord God of eternall glory and Father of endlesse mercy wee thy vnworthy Creatures are bold in the name of thy beloued Sonne to represent our selues before thee humbly beseeching thee for his sake that thou wilt vouchsafe to send downe thy holy Spirit into our hearts to guide and gouerne vs in all our godly waies and to defend vs from all manner of temptations of this world and the assaults thereof Lord God of thine vnspeakable goodnesse grant that thy grace may continue with vs alwaies and that at no time we swerue nor fall from thee Let thy truth euermore bee with vs and make vs constant in the same that wee neuer bee afraid of any thing which lieth in the power of man ouer our bodies but alwaies confessing that whomsoeuer thou pleasest to defend no Tyrant shall bee able to destroy Strengthen and increase Faith Loue and Charity in the hearts of all people Make vs able to resist the vaine pleasures of the world let not the perillous allurements haue any power to conquer ouercome vs nor the subtilties thâ—reof bee able to deceiue vs. Defend vs also O Lord from the many perils and temptations which the diuell our aduersarie practiseth against vs least wee fall into his snaâ—es Let neither his endeuours nor the wanton inticements of our owne flesh preuaile against vs. Wee know O Lord that without thy sufferance hee of himselfe can take no hold on vs nor bee able to diminish the least haire of our head Giue therefore vnto vs such grace from thee that we may be willing to striue against the world the flesh and the diuell and such strength as we may be able to breake and beate downe the forcâ— and vehemencie of their strong temptations Grant vs thy heauenly light whereby wee may perfectly see and perceiue those malicious and cruell engines which they lay to entrap vs least vnawares we fall into the fame Euen now O Lord in these perillous daies the diuell and his ministers doe most busily seeke to sift vs by
be greiued with whatsoeuer is displeasant in thy sight And to the intent we may haue true vnderstanding and be able to descerne betweene things what is good or euill wee beseech thee let thy word dwell in vs plentifully that it may guide our vnderstandings so that wee may abound in all knowledge and doe according to that which is righteous And in this estate of true Christianitie being instructed in mind and readie in body in all holy obedience we beseech thee make vs to grow and encrease from grace to grace from faith to faith vntill we come vnto the fulnesse of age to bee perfect members of the body of Christ waiting for the blessed hope of thine elect and sighing in spirit vntill the time that thy Children be reuealed In the meane season let vs sigh with all those that haue receiued the first fruits of thy spirit that these daies of sinne may cease that Sathan bee troden downe vnder feet that Antichrist may be reuealed yet to many thousands that bee in ignorance that the number of thine elect may be full the bodie of thy Saints made perfect all teares wiped from their eies euen then when thy Sonne shall appeare the second time to iudge the quicke and the dead which time O Lord send quickly according to thy good will and teach vs to pray with all thy Saints Come Lord Iesus come quickly Grant this O most mercifull Father for thy Sonnes sake in whose name wee pray vnto thee And although wee bee but earth and ashes yet wee are bold to say vnto thee the God of all glorie euen as hee hath taught vs. Our Father which art in heauen c. A Prayer for all estates O Lord God Father of light with whome is no change neyther yet shadow of change but hast established thine appointed counsels which shall not be changed for euer thou O God hast made among vs this diuersitie of estates and degrees according as euery Common-wealth needfully requiteth keepe vs all wee beseech thee that wee may walke obediently in our calling and follow the steps that thou hast set before vs euen from the highest to the lowest let vs accomplish that dutie vnto which thou hast appointed vs and with a faithfull remembrance of thy promise made of old to our Father Abraham that thou art his exceeding great reward wee may likewise depend on thy prouidence and seeke not any shamefull waies to get our liuing wandring from the righteousnes of our vocation into the manifold errors of sinne and iniquitie Looke vppon vs O Lord inrich vs with thy grace make vs obedient to our superiours meeke towards our enemies faithfull to our friends true and iust towards all men that wee may dwell stedfastly rooted in the hope of thine â—lect vntill thou shalt make an end of all our labour looke vppon our most excellent King and Prince with his Highnes honorable Counsell as thou hast called them to the highest roomes so giue vnto them the greatâ—st measure of grace that they faithfully dispense the Talents commited vnto them Lead them with good King Dauid into the Sanctuarie that they may see thy louing kindnes which is better then life and say with the Prophet All flesh is grasse and the glorie of man is as the flower of the field so consecreate themselues to do thy will offer vp their bodies to be holy liuing and reasonable sacrifices vnto thee that they may bee nurse-fathers vnto thy Church looke also wee beseech thee vppon the Ministers whom thou hast appointed to the preaching of thy Gospell make them O God faithfull dispencers of thy mysteries without respect of persons to do the worke vnto which thou hast appointed them that they may conuert sinners and haue their glorie perfect in the day of Christ knit vs together in peace and loue that they may bee full of compassion one towards another to reioyce with them that reioyce and mourne with them that mourne especially to instruct one another in the way of righteousnesse that by our mutuall helpe wee may the better withstand our enemie and dwell safe in hope of thine elect till our daies shall bee full and we shall walke in the waies of all the world which time we beseech thee bring vs happily vnto euen for thy Sonnes sake we beseech thee to whom with thee and the holy Ghost three persons and one God be all honor and glorie now for euer euermore Amen A Prayer to bee confirmed in the knowledge of God O Most mightie and eternall God thou that by the creatioÌ„ of the world the Sunne the Moone and Starres the Earth the Sea and all that therein is hath sufficiently declared thy selfe to be the euerlasting Almightie God for that these things doe farre passe the reach of mans wisedome And not herein onely hast thou declared thy selfe to bee a God but in that also that thou dost continually guide and gouerne all things of thee created It is thou therfore that thunderest from heauen that with lightnings and tempestes and of waters windes shewest thy terrible vengeance vpon sinfull flesh It is thou O God which lettest vs feele sensibly in our selues thy mighty power and working not only in that that thou hast made our bodies and soules but especially that thou makest vs euen of force to confesse thy eternall Spirit in vs who so mightily fighteth against the assaults of the enemie that of force we are driuen to acknowledge that it is thy working in vs and not we our selues Seeing therefore O most mercifull Father that wee haue both in thy creatures and also in our selues so manifest testimonie that thou onely art the eternall and euer-liuing God which raigneth in all thy creatures guiding them by thy heauenly prouidence grant we beseech thee that our hearts may be hereof fully assured to acknowledge thee not onely to bee God eternall who hath created all things but also that we may in heart be fully perswaded that thou O Lord God dost gouerne all things according to thy most blessed will so that nothing can bee done in the world without thine appointment and that thou hast such a singuler care ouer thine elected people so that not so much as an hayre of their head shall fall without thy prouidence that thou so guidest all their doings that all things shall turne to their commoditie and thy glory Grant O Lord God that hereof we may be fully assured in our hearts and soules that we may in all our doings set thee before our eyes acknowledging thee to bee our onely Lord and Father and by the working of thy holy Spirit in vs may bee confirmed in Faith and comforted in soule and lightened in vnderstanding that alwaies here vppon earth wee may glorifie thy holy name and after the dissolution of this body wee may attaine to euerlasting ioy through our Lord Sauiour Iesu Christ who liueth and raigneth world without end Amen A Prayer for the obtaining of sauing Faith O
Eternall God and mercifull Father who in the riches of thy mercy hast ordained thine onely Sonne Iesus Christ to bee the propitiation for the sinnes of thine elect that whosoeuer beleeues in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life that so many as receiue him and beleeue in his Name may haue power from him to bee the Sonnes of God and heires with him of eternall glory And in thine infinite wisedome hast so disposed of me thy Creature that being first estated by thee in a condition of holinesse and falling willingly from the same by mine owne rebellion into a most fearfull desprate estate of sinne and damnation I might bee restored againe to a better condition of life and immortalitie by the death passion of thy deere Sonne Looke downe I humbly pray thee with the â—ies of thy mercy vppon mee thy most vnwoâ—thy seruant who doth vnfainedly here confesse before thee that though I am by Nature most sinfull and miserable yet such herein is my desperate case that through the blindnes of my minde and hardnes of heart which cannot repent I am so farre from knowing my misery much lesse how to helpe my selfe out of this wofull estate that the very wisedome of my flesh is emnity against thee And my selfe not onely rebelling against the meanes which might discouer vnto mee my miserie but most desperatly peruerting those meanes to the further hardning of my heart and so to the more desperate enwrapping me in the bonds of damnation by heaping vp wrath against the day of wrath And therefore First I humbly pray thee Blessed Lord who hast the key of Dauid that openest and no man shuts that shuts and no man openest to open the blind eies of my mind that I descerne the wonderous things of thy law that so in the true glasse of thy holy law I may clearly discerne mine owne miserable estate and by the hammer of thy Law my hard heart may be throughly broken with the sence of my sinnes that so feeling my sinne a burthen which I am not able to beare I may be wholy confounded in my selfe as discerning my selfe to bee an vtter cast-a-way and reprobate branch fit for nothing but for the vnquenchable fire of thy Ielousie O make me Lord to see the inward vildnesse of mine heart and that all the thoughts and imaginations thereof are onely euill continually that though I may be happily free from grosse euils and seeme to shew forth some ciuill goodnesse yet those may bee coÌ„uinced to be most abhominable because they proceed from the filthy sink of my heart and the lesse I discerne the euill of my waies the more I may acknowledg the deceitfulnesse of mine heart the more I may conuince the obliquitie thereof that howsoeuer I seemed to be aliue as being ignorant of my misery yet now discerning my selfe in thy righteous Law I may not only acknowledge my selfe dead in sinnes and trespasses and so vtterly senselesse and vnable to helpe my selfe but also may renounce vtterly mine owne wit and wisedome to any good as being no better then desperate Rebellion against thee Thus beeing confounded and wholly cast out of my selfe and finding my case to be out of measure sinfull and so altogether desperate in regard of any ability as of my selfe to my recouery O let mee not sinke vtterly vnder this insupportable burthen but put thine holy hand vnder me to preuent vtter dispaire and sustaine mee secretly by thy mighty Power that I bee not swallowed vp in death Oh raise mee vp I humbly pray thee with the hope of thy mercie and leade me by the hand of thy grace to seeke it where it may bee found Bring me into the secret Chamber of thy gracious Presence where I may behold thy face in my Sauiour and grant me to admire thine infinite wisedome and mercie in prouiding so soueraigne a remedie for my distresse O giue me to be rauished with thy loue in the exceeding riches of my Redeemer and make me so to valew the worth of his Merit as for the obtaining thereof to resolue on vtter renouncing and parting with whatsoeuer I haue to obtaine the same And so finding now by thy Grace what neede I haue thereof oh worke in me a secret hope that thou maist be reconciled if I can fasten on the meanes thereto and grant me aboue all to hunger after his righteousnes that so mine iniquities being thereby couered I may draw neere with confidence vnto the Throane of Grace to begge vnfeignedly euen with strong cries the pardon of my sinnes And though I receiue not a present answer to my desire yet sustaine me I pray thee with thy gracious Spirit that so I may with patience waite thy good leysure and neuer giue ouer till thou hast saide vnto my Soule I am thy Saluation And though I do not presently feele this testimony of thy Spirit sealing me vp to the day of Redemption yet grant me I pray thee to be strong in Faith beleeuing what I feele not as I would and hoping for what I do not yet enioy that so thereby being knit vnto Christ my Sauiour and made one with him I may therby draw vertue from his death to the mortifying of my corrupt Nature and killing of those speciall lustes that do hindeâ— this sense of thy loue in him towards me that so feeling in me a dying to corruption I may also therby apprehend more fully the discharge of the guilt of my sinnes in the merites of my Sauiour and so therby renewing my peace with thee my gracious God I may reioyce in the hope of that glory which hee hath purchased for me And so in the hope of that Glory grant mee I humbly pray thee to draw vertue from the Resurrection of my Sauiour that so I may be raised vp with him to newnesse of life whereby I may render thanks vnto thee for this vnspeakeable gift and to bee made meete for the same in the acceptable time And that I may not be disappointed of my Hope Oh grant me still to liue by faith in the Sonne of God dayly denying mine owne righteousnesse that still I may bee found acceptable with thee in him aboue all worthinesse in my selfe of my imperfect endeauours only in his righteousnesse and so therby may be prepared to the hope of Glorie And seeing I am like to meete with many hinderances in pursuite of this Glory both from the World without either detaining mee in the way or drawing me from the marke as also from mine owne deceitful heart within as discouraging mee in my course and laggering mee in my pace and sometimes also blinding me either not to discerne or mistake the gole Oh grant me to walk by faith and not by sight as to rest on the foundation which stands sure the Lord knoweth who are his though sometimes in the building I may misse of it so to walke as a stranger Pilgrime in the world not clogging my selfe in my iourney with
increase and renew their strength giue them victorie and turne their aduersaries hearts if they pertaine to thy holy election otherwise O Lord bring vpon them the confusion that they would bring vpon others into the pit that they haue digged let them fall and neuer rise vp againe O Lord heare vs in these suites pardon our dull spirits in praier and giue vs these and all other graces needfull for vs and the Church to thy glorie for our Lord Iesus Christ in whose name wee pray as hee hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer for the feeling of the sinne of hyprocrisie that wee may direct our life according to the perscript rule of the word RIghteous Lord God and heauenly Father which art a iust â—udge to punish all them that doe continue to offend thee as thou art a Father most pittifull to receiue to mercie all those which giue ouer themselues to please thee shew mee thy grace and fauour To that I may be truely touched with inward displeasure of my sinnes and that in the place of flattering my selfe to sleepe in sinne I may be so cast downe in heart that the rather I may truely with mouth confesse most humbly to giue thee the honour glorie and prayse due vnto thy holy name and that as thou of thy great mercy dost instruct thereunto by thy holy word so for thy mercies sake make that the same may so lighten and cleere our conscience that in due examination of our life wee may truely learne to be angry and displeased with all our former and corruptible liuing O that it may please thee to draw neere vnto vs in addressing and guiding our footsteps in the true and perfect way of obedience to thy holy Lawes and Commandements Send thy holy Angell to pitch his Tents round about vs that Sathan and his infernall army neuer preuaile against vs but that alwaies with strong faith we may through Iesus Christ withstand all his crafty engines and snares knowing vndoubtedly that thou neuer forsakest them that put their trust in thee O let vs not bee led by the infirmity of our outward flesh but strengthen vs by the vertue of thy holy Spirit Suffer vs not to lie vnder thy heauy wrath and vengeance through hypocrisie but rather touch vs so inwardly that we may without ceasing sigh and grone vnto thee by true and vnfeigned repentance And although we be not alwaies so well disposed to aske and pray as we ought to doe yet good Lord for thy glorious Names sake stretch out thy mighty hand that by the gracious working of thy holy Spirit our mindes and hearts may be drawne from all earthly and corruptible things so that our prayers vnto thee may proceede of an inward earnest vehement affection so that wee neuer presume to come before the throne of thy Maiesty with a double heart knowing that whosoeuer asketh and prayeth for any thing of thee not asking in faith cannot obtaine Increase therefore sweet Lord our faith that we presently may liuely feele the benefite of remission and pardon all our sins through the merits and death of Christ Iesus our Sauiour and so worke in vs for euer heereafter to liue in thy feare and to stand in awe of thy displeasure that thou mayest continue our mercifull Father world without end Amen O Shepheard of sheepe seeke out mee thy wandring sheepe And being found lay mee vpon thy blessed shoulders and bring mee home to the very folde of thy flocke heale my sicke soule feede my hungry soule yea almost dying through hunger watch ouer the same O sweete Lord least the rauening Wolfe do inuade my soule and so slay it to vtter destruction Wherefore O most deere GOD be mercifull to mee a wretched sinner and grant pardon to him that repenteth giue not foorth the voice of thy sentence according to my demerits but like as thy mercy before hath done in the beginning of my life so let it conclude the end thereof to remaine with thee world without end Amen deere God Amen Forasmuch as in this life holy Scriptures doeth promise trouble penuries oppressions increase of griefe and aboundance of temptations vouchsafe O most louing Lord GOD to prepare my heart to all possible patience least I doe faint in thy foote-path compell my sweete Lord this stubborne and rebellious flesh of mine to bee subiect to thy holy Spirite beyond all expectation so that I may possesse my soule in patience and keepe the same continually in thy euerlasting seruice to the which purpose thou of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie hast created the same Wherefore O Lord GOD shew thine almighty power vnto mee most wretched sinner that so long as I fight in this wretched life I may obtaine victorie against mine enemies thou being my defence for there is none other that fighteth for mee but onely thou O God Now I say represse the violence of mine enemies and vouchsafe with great effect to bring into bondage my miserable flesh that tormenteth my soule So that obtaining victory I may giue praise to thee my onely deliuerer in perpetuall eternity Amen A prayer against tbe secret venim and great danger of prosperity O Lord prepare my heart to wisedom prepare it to prayer and teach my soule to feele all the dangers wherewith it is beset on euery side and grant good Father that I mâ—y not pray in wordes or in sound of speech but in Spirite and Faith I acknowledge to thee O Lord thy great mercies toward mee at this time for beside the vnspeakable graces of my redemption and of my holy calling in the Gospell which are euermore good thou hast giuen me a large measure of earthly blessings my table is richly and daintily furnished my Cup ouer-floweth mine enemies are chased away and I feele no want no affliction no sorrow My prosperitie leadeth mee as by the hand from one delight to another and from one pleasure to another In the morning peace is at my right hand and at night quietnesse at my left O Lord are not these thy blessings Hast not thou opened thy mercifull hand and filled me with all these comforts True it is O Lord that they came all from thee and for them I am indebted vnto thee and giue thee hearty thanks But alas O Lord I finde by experience that prosperitie such is our infirmitie carrieth vs too too farre away it feedeth vs from day to day and from time to time with new delights it ingendereth also secretly such peace and confidence in these things which are but as a reede to leane vpon that we are carried away wee forget not thee onely but our selues also But the day of aduersitie the day of sicknesse the day of trouble that layeth open our weakenesse it causeth much care to bee released it prouoketh many praiers for releefe O it is a happy day a day of returning to the Lord a day of repentance as in Sackcloath and Ashes O how may my soule praise the
commanded vs in thy holy word may receiue the reward of thy promise that is all things necessary for this life and in the life to come euerlasting glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer against vsuall and common swearing ETernall God and louâ—ng Father in thy holy word the word of truth thou sayest that the man who vseth to sweare much is accursed and the plague shall neuer depart from his house and in thy holy Gospell hast said that we shall render account at the day of iudgement for euery idle word that we shall speake O how much more shall we giue accounts of euery pâ—ophane blasphemous and bloody oath that wee sweare And therefore to the end wee might auoyd thy vengeance against that day thou hast commanded vs not to sweare at all but that our communication be yea yea nay nay for whatsoeuer is more then that commeth of euill Wherefore I beseech thee good Lord in the bowels of mercy so to dispose order my tongue and mouth the vse whereof thou hast giuen me aboue other creatures to glorifie thee withall that thereby I abuse nor blaspheme not thy holy name For true it is O Lord that swearers blasphemers of thy holy name as much as lyeth in them do crucifie thy Sonne afresh and are as guilty of his blood as Iudas was that betrayed him or the cursed Iewes that slewe him And seeing that to sweare by thee whose blessed name is neuer to bee thought of nor yet once called into question but with great reuerence feare and dread is most horrible blasphemy and to sweare by any creature else is most detestable Idolatry keepe me I beseech thee from all manner of vnlawfull swearing and from all wicked bloody Oaths that both my heart tongue and mouth and all parts else both of body and soule may bee instruments of praise to set forth thy glory all the daies of my life through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer against pride HOly Lord thou hast in thy blessed Gospell commanded vs by all meanes possible to eschew the filthy vice of pride which is a certaine rebellion of the heart against thee and aboue all things to embrace and euer hold fast the anchor of humility A perfect patterne whereof wee may learne in thee O blessed Sauiour who was humble lowly curteous gentle mercifull pittifull full of compassion and all goodnesse not disdaining the vilest person or loathsomest Lazer that euer liued if hee faithfully beleeued in thee Thou humbledst thy selfe that we might bee exalted thou becamest poore to make vs rich thou camest downe to the earth to liue in humility that we might be exalted to liue in felicity Thou wast poore in estate meane in attire and base in all things before the world in respect of thy humanity but before thy heauenly Father in respect of thy Deity most magnificall and glorious And therefore not without cause thou biddest vs learne of thee saying Learne of me for I am humble lowly your Soules shall liue Thou ouerthrowest the proud in their owne imagination and giuest grace to the humble yea thou so much abhorrest pride that thou iudgest them to eternall damnation that offend therein If wee would consider with our selues our owne misery wee should haue no cause to rise vp into pride For in respect of our bodies are wee any thing else then vile dung and ashes And in respect of our soules til they be regenerate by the Spirit of God are they not bondslaues to Sathan receptacles to fiendes and subiect to euerlasting damnation What haue wee now that we haue not receiued Or whereof may we be proud Wherefore O my God I beseech thee who art the true mirrour of all humility giue me the spirit of meeknes humblenesse and lowlinesse of heart and keepe me from all filthy pride arrogancy of body or mind that I neuer lift vp my selfe into pride against thee or thinke of my selfe aboue that which I am of my selfe but that I casting downe my selfe and distrusting mine owne worthinesse may be by thee aduanced to eternall glory Grant that those things which thou gauest me for necessities sake onely as thou diddst my apparell to hide my shame withall may neuer bee abused of mee as instruments of wickednesse And those things which thou gauest me to praise and glorifie thee withall as thou diddest my heart my tongue mouth I neuer abuse to thy dishonour And as it may please thee to indue mee with this true humility of mind towards thee so I beseech thee to giue me the true humility of body and mind towards my brethren also that I be not puft vp nor aduance my selfe aboue them disdaining or contemning them though otherwise neuer so meane or contemptible before the world And whensoeuer the Enemie assaulteth me to stirre mee vp to pride I beseech thee whose power is incomprehensible to strengthen mee to with-stand his temptations and set before the eies of my minde the examples of thy Iudgement inflicted vpon the children of pride in all ages as namely how thou threwest downe Lucifer a bright Angel in heauen into hell fire how thou condemnest Adam and all his posterity How thou destroyedst Nymrod that huge Giant Goliah that fierce monster Nabuchadnezar that ambitious bloody tyrant Herod that arrogant miscreant and many others who through the sinne of pride rebelled against thee and may by these examples bee terrified from committing that great heynous sinne against thee that I humbling my selfe in this world after the consummatioÌ„ of this life may bee exalted in the kingdome of heauen there to raigne with thee for euer and euer Amen A Prayer against Gluttony and drunkennesse BLessed Lord as thou hast created man after thy owne similitude and likenesse and hast giuen him a perfect body like vnto thy Sonne Iesus Christ so thou hast ordained and prouided for him ordinary meanes as meate drinke flesh fish hearbes oyles wines what not to keepe and sustaine the same And hast commanded these thy creatures to bee moderately taken to the sustentation of the body with praise and thanksgiuing to thee accursing them to hell who by abusing not lawfully vsing these thy blâ—ssings make them instruments of sinne and so consequently of damnation to themselues Giue me grace I beseech thee that I may neuer abuse thy giftes through gluttony drunkennesse riot or excesse but that I liuing in all godly temperance and sobriety may bee thankfull vnto thee for them and also vse them for my necessity Knowing that our meates without thy blessing cannot nourish the body but destroy it rather as experience daily teacheth Make me O Lord to loath and detest this horrible vice so much the more in respect of the filthynes of the same for besides that it transformeth man into the Image of a beast or rather maketh him worse then a beast for they neither eate nor drinke without measure it also blindeth his eies of reason
that he seeth not the wickednesse that hee committeth And therefore Lot being drunke perceiued not his incestuous fact committed with his two Daughters The Israelites swelling in gluttony and drunkennesse perceiued not their grieuous sinne of Idolatry which they fell into The rich glutton drunken with the aboundance of all things perceiued not his contempt of the poore nor yet their great want and therefore thou in thy great wrath tookest him away from the face of the earth By these and the like exampes of thy Iudgements grant O heauenly Father that I being admonished may bee carefull and studious neuer to bee culpable in this filthy vice least in thy wrath thou depriue mee of the vse of thy creatures in this life and in the world to come giue mee my portion with the wicked in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone that neuer shall be quenched This is the reward thou threatnest in thy holy word to all drunkards gluttons and ryotous persons saying by the mouth of the Apostle neither whoremongers adulterers gluttons drunkards nor such like shall euer enter into the kingdome of heauen Wherefore most deere Father I beseech thee to deliuer me in mercy that I neuer bee stayned therewith but may alwayes vse thy giftes to thy glory the releefe of mine owne necessities and the helpe comfort of others that doe want the same And grant that I seeking after not onely this corporal food which perisheth but also that sweet Ambrosia and heauenly Nectar the word of life which neuer decayeth may after the end of this life haue the full fruition thereof to my eternall comfort and for euer laude and praise thy blessed name through Iesus Christ our Sauiour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer against idlenesse and sloth MOst holy Fathâ—r after thou haddest created man thou placedst him in paradise commanding him for the avoyding of idlenesse to dresse and manure the same And afterward being cast out of paradise for the sinne of transgression and sent into the world thou enioynest him in the sweat of his face to eate his bread to the end he should not at any hand be idle and so minister occasion to the enemie to inuade him for man being idle and inclined to sloath the diuell he besiegeth vs with a thousand of temptations our flesh lusteth to euill our minds are inflamed to all kinde of wickednesse Wherefore most mercifull Father I most heartily beseech thee that duting the short course of my life in this world I may be alwaies godly occupied and vertuously exercised in the affayers of this life and in all manner of good workes before thee that my enemies the Diuell the World nor the Flesh preuaile not against me And considering that I must render account of all my actions whatsoeuer and of euery minute of an houre or iotte of time lent mee in this life I beseech thee giue me grace to spend my time in such godly actions as may please thee not in idlenes sloath or in any wanton lewd lasciuious or wicked exercise that being found faithfull and vigilant in my calling when the day of Tribulation commeth when euery man shall be rewarded according to his deeds I may obtaine euerlasting life And as it may please thee to keepe my body from idlenes sloath so vouchsafe I beseech thee to exercise my soule in godly contemplations and vertuous Meditations of thee and of thy holy and blessed word together with the heauenly ioyes and beatitudes prepared for all those that vnfeignedly long for thy comming In the practising whereof make mee to loue nothing but thee to honor and obey thee to feare dread and reuerence thee and to desire and couet nothing but thee that I dwelling with thee in minde onely during this life may after the dissolution of this earthly tabernacle dwell with thee both in body and soule world without end through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour to whome with thee and thy holy Spirit bee all praise and glory now and for euermore Amen A Prayer against Infidelitie and dispaire necessarie for a troubled and wounded spirit GLorious Lord God and our most tender Father in Iesus Christ in whom thou hast elected vs before all worlds to life and glorie and in thy due time hast called vs to a liuely hope of eternall happinesse that we might walke before thee in holinesse and righteousnesse and in thine infinite wisedome hast so disposed of vs in this estate of holinesse that thou maiest haue the glory of thy free grace and therefore as thou hast discharged vs freely of the guilt of our sinne by the blood of thy Sonne and accepted vs perfectly righteous in his obedience so also thou hast left corruption in vs to be daily maistered and subdued that so being thereby daily conscious of our owne vnworthinesse and vnsufficiency and subiect in regard thereof to much distraction and infidelity wee might learne still to liue by faith in the Sonne of God denying our owne righteousnesse that still we may be found in him to the glorious praise of his free grace and so may bee keept by his mighty power through faith vnto saluation Looke graciously vpon me thine vnworthy seruant who doe here vnfeignedly acknowledge before thee that thy Foundation stands sure thou knowest who are thine yet my faith is so weake that I ofttimes am to seeke whither I am thine or no. For such is my ignorance of what I should know that I sometimes grope at the light in the noone day neither knowing the worth of my holy calling nor being able to vse the meanes which may truly informe me therein but somtimes ouer value mine estate as if it were better with mee then it is and sometimes abase my selfe to bee worse then indeed I am or should be And my corruption sometimes breaking out into grosse rebellion doth so hinder and obscure my spirituall eye of faith that I can neither truly discerne whereto I am come neither can see afarre to what I should attaine yea many times it fareth so ill with me that for want of speedie endeauour to recouer my selfe by repentance I doe not onely plunge my selfe deeper into the snare of sinne by not applying the true remedie aright or stumbling vpon vaine helpes but hereby many times am cast into such straights that I not onely question all former truth of thy grace as if I were no better then an hypocrite and had builded on the sands but also am ready to giue ouer all hope of attaining the same as if either it did not belong vnto me or else it were too late to pursue and apprehend the same as if thou hadst forgot to be mercifull because I feele my selfe so miserable as if thy compassion were cleane gone because my rebellion seemes so desperate Hence it is O my God that I turne all thy comforts to be corrasiues vnto me and esteeme all thy threatnings no better then flashes of hell and enterances to eternall vengeance